₦airaland Forum

Gbawe: It was not working before and we will see how long it remains working given that mischief-makers start things they abandon quickly because of their shallow motivation. They also come here in droves but always leave in the end since longevity is related to passion and a genuine belief in what one supports.

while I get your point, I always understand the OP's motive. Have you noticed that the usual GEJ arrsselickers are not on this thread? I restate here that Fashola is the best for 2015, have you noticed that instead of setting up useless money-zapping committees he sets up working agencies

Rhino.5dm:
This kind news dey give all these internet mongrels sleepless night. Eko oni ba je

LMAO

OHIMAI, WE’RE NOT ALL PDP!!!

“We are not all PDP. I disagree with Ohimai. We don’t all belong to a party of murderers, looters and political juggernauts.” –Babatunde Rosanwo

As an avid reader and a very politically-conscious person, I read Ohimai Ahaize’s article, Like it or not, we are all PDP: http://www.ynaija.com/ohimai-amaize-like-it-or-not-we-are-all-pdp-y-politico/, with keen interest and an open mind. Ohimai acknowledged that it was his first article in three years or so. That set the tone for the seriousness with which it was written, which seriousness was not betrayed by the article’s overall compelling message. I therefore invite Ohimai and indeed everyone to equally accord this rejoinder, interspersed with citations on the subject from Babatunde Rosanwo, the open-mindedness and seriousness it deserves.

Ohimai articulated cogent and valid arguments but betrayed his bias for the PDP when he said “The current fad is how well you can demonise the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP). I have seen young people on Twitter curse PDP like our problems as a nation begin and end with the PDP.” Ohimai is wrong! Of course, the current fad is not necessarily how well one can demonise the PDP. Rather, most Nigerians on Twitter and Facebook, including me, lambast President Jonathan for his many blunders and failures. Many, again including me, who criticise the PDP have also criticised the ACN on a good number of occasions. In fact, some like me have had reason to express kudos to a PDP governor like Akwa-Ibom’s Godswill Akpabio. More importantly, Ohimai should know better that, given that the PDP has been in power, at the centre, since our present democratic dispensation in 1999, and considering world renown leadership expert, John Maxwell’s aphorism that “Everything rises and falls on leadership,” it is very safe to say Nigeria’s present and ongoing problems begin with the PDP and the buck that could help resolve many of those problems ends at the table of a certain PDP politician called Goodluck Jonathan!

In 2012, on the sidelines of the Olympic Games, Ohimai met and took a snapshot with one of Hollywood’s greatest actors of our time, Jean-Claude Van Damme. Such moments are special because people of great stature like Van Damme should inspire us to emulate the strides that made them great. Well, Ohimai may have kept such lessons (my literal assumptions) for future endeavours because at the moment there’s a great variance between the ideals captured in Van Damme’s showpiece of force movie (Street-fighter), for example, and Ohimai’s tour de force article.

Two days ago, I watched Van Damme beat the brutally oppressive villain, Bison, in his Street-fighter masterpiece blockbuster. In that movie, Van Damme was courageous to inspire a global regiment to take aim at Bison, a man who tormented people and held some hostage, whereas Ohimai smartly attempts to acquit the PDP, a worse-than any real-life Bison, of its many sins.

Ohimai clearly took the shine off his otherwise brilliant article by entitling it “We are all PDP”. No! My brother, we’re NOT all PDP! He should have been more cautious, especially following the recent pasting of PDP campaign posters for Jonathan’s 2015 re-election bid all over Abuja and the lacklustre reaction of his party to it.

It is one thing to inspire people to get involved in Nigerian politics and it is quite another to ask them to join the PDP. At the moment, there’s so much rot in the PDP that, other than a revolution, it will only take having the right will from its top brass, to effect positive changes. No number of youth joining the PDP will change things for good. As the Jonathan 2015 posters and the pro-Jonathan camp in Occupy Nigeria have shown, many a youth will join the PDP because they want a share of the spoil. Let me ask Ohimai: Does the PDP’s NWC, including the office of its National Youth Leader, have room for youth? Are there any chances that youth will be allowed as members of the body that elects the PDP’s presidential candidate?

Babatunde Rosanwo reacted to Ohimai’s article, saying: “If joining politics is a linear solution to Nigeria’s problems, then Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala joining PDP is not making a huge difference in PDP. The system perpetuated by PDP is one that’s destined to see the crème-de-la-crème fail. Ivy League products are struggling to grasp reality.” How true! The PDP system makes it all too certain for even technocratic Ivy League products to fail. What more of young Nigerian graduates or yet, the Nigerian uneducated mass? It will take political change from the top of both the PDP and the opposition parties to position them to lead a national renewal; not mass enlistment into politics! For now, there may be no difference between the PDP and opposition parties but that instead places a premium on the PDP, as the party in power, to set a positive example. Political power, especially for as many years as the PDP has wielded it at the centre, is one resource no person in their right senses, should overlook.

In addition, contrary to what Ohimai said, it’s not systematically true that Naira notes travel faster than a tweet. In the information age, social media is increasingly becoming a very powerful mobilising tool, even for raising Naira notes for charity. You can never undermine the potency of tweets, especially given the promise by the Minister of Communication Technology, Omobola Johnson to facilitate the development of Nigeria’s ICT infrastructure to increase the number of internet users in Nigeria from 33.5million to 70 million by 2015. Let it be known that tweets can spur a revolution!

By the way, if change is what Ohimai seeks, he should be careful to rather help in de-monetising our politics. Nigeria is direly in need of a politics of ideas than a politics of money. It’s time we de-emphasise the demonic role of money in our politics. Ohimai’s point does no justice to that effort.

It’s also not true that big bags of rice inspire more hope than well-written blogs. Blogs like ekekeee.com greatly inspire hope – and more so among an increasingly literate and conscious youth. With its exceptional pieces, the award-winning ekekeee.com highlights, in very clear terms, what has gone/is going wrong with the system and is thus inspiring hope and rallying good people to take on the challenge of making a better Nigeria more and more possible.

Nigeria’s challenges are beyond political participation alone. Whilst Nkrumah’s charge that we should seek first the political kingdom and all things shall be added unto it, is true in many respects, Nigeria needs more than just political participation. President Jonathan is a PhD holder whom Tunde Fagbenle describes as one who “displays a shocking lack of eloquence and depth, even of a good school certificate holder.” What this means is, political participation is only one part of the equation. We must get our education right! We must get our civic responsibilities aright. Again, Rosanwo opines, and rightly so, that: “[There’s a] dire need for Nigerians to pay more attention to their civic responsibilities, Ohimai is right only about those who seek political office.”

It’s not the first time Ohimai has stirred controversy with his affection for the PDP. Months ago, he called the PDP “a great party”. I wonder what form of greatness he was touting. If a catchphrase to his otherwise poignant article is what Ohimai sought, he is intelligent enough and should have picked a non-controversial option.

Lest anyone should say I wrote this rejoinder out of hatred or any semblance of it, for Ohimai, let me state that he’s a friend and I have agreed with him before. In fact, I solicited a meeting with him lately but he wasn’t able to see it through. I still look forward to meeting him someday. As our overall objective is to build a better Nigeria, all hands must be on deck – whether PDP hands or those of the opposition! As Rosanwo concluded, “Yet Ohimai’s clarion call must be met objectively. May the best of us who have something to offer, [lead] this nation.”

ne of the most profound arguments ever made for political participation remains the description of the “political illiterate” by German poet, playwright and theatre director, Bertolt Brecht.

Brecht, who was very familiar with the dangers of political ignorance, considers the political illiterate the worst illiterate. According to him, the political illiterate “doesn’t hear, doesn’t speak, nor participates in political events. He doesn’t know the cost of life, the price of beans, of fish, of flour, of rent, of shoes and of medicine, all depends on political decisions. The political illiterate is so stupid that he is proud and swells his chest saying that he hates politics. The slowpoke doesn’t know that, from his political ignorance is born the prostitute, the abandoned child, and the worst thieves of all, the bad politician, corrupt officials and lackeys of national and multinational companies.”

Ask any Nigerian youth on the street today if they are card-carrying members of any political party and you may find yourself embarrassed to scorn. Political party ke? Is it Koko Concert or Nigerian Idols?

We hate politics because we think politics is dirty. We despise politicians in government because we believe they are all rogues. We perch on our moral high grounds on social media and abuse them. We castigate them and blame them for everything. We are saints and politicians are devils.

The current fad is how well you can demonise the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP).  I have seen young people on Twitter curse PDP like our problems as a nation begin and end with the PDP. But what really is the PDP? The PDP is not a collection of aliens who just dropped from the skies? The PDP is a group of human beings who are Nigerian citizens. They were raised in this same country in Nigerian homes by Nigerian parents just like the rest of us. They grew up in our neighborhoods and were taught how to read and write in Nigerian schools. They worship in our churches and pray in the same mosques we know. Without doubt, the PDP is an assemblage of the good, the bad and the ugly. But ironically, so is our country Nigeria and every other nation in the world.

We have been told that opposition parties were founded in heaven while the PDP was conceived in the pit of hell. We have been told that nothing good can come out of the PDP because after 13 years in power, we have nothing to show for it as a nation. What’s my point? Am I saying the PDP has done well for Nigeria in 13 years? That is certainly not my conclusion. Is the PDP perfect? I do not think so. My argument is simply that there is a PDP in the best of us and a PDP in the worst among us. The PDP is only a micro-reflection of who we are collectively as a people.

We cry everyday about the kind of Nigeria we want to see. But that Nigeria will remain nothing but a tantalizing mirage if we refuse to embrace the huge responsibility that time and chance has conferred upon us. Whenever I see young Nigerians whining on Twitter about what government is not doing well, I feel like giving them a knock on the head. You find a way to get inside politics and governance and do a better job. We must rise from our political naivety as young people. Our problem is not politics or the PDP but the mass number of competent, sound and principled young Nigerians who have left politics in the hands of a few charlatans.

Make no mistake; politics is not a game of ludo. Politics is and will always remain a game of numbers. But the quality of numbers that add up to determine the political future of any nation is another issue entirely. It is in fact what determines the quality of ideas that govern a people.

In a democracy, the majority, no matter how stupid, will always have their way. Worse still, this is what happens when a few ruthless politicians control a majority of Nigerians who are stricken by poverty, hunger and illiteracy: Naira notes travel faster than tweets. Bundles of ankara penetrate the farthest nooks and crannies of our nation and big bags of rice inspire more hope than well-written blogs!

We can chose to be remembered as the generation that lamented about our problems or the one that took drastic decisions towards solving those problems. History has no trophy for those who abused politicians best. History will be kind only to risk-takers who put their careers, fame, relationships and lives on the line, all for the love of country.

——————————————-

Ohimai Godwin Amaize is popularly known as Mr. Fix Nigeria, Amaize was born on September 9, 1984. He is an alumnus of the premier University of Ibadan, Nigeria with a post-graduate certificate in “Managing for Integrity”, Central European University, Budapest, Hungary. He is a registered member, People’s Democratic Party. He tweets @MrFixNigeria.

the link is working sir www.watchinglagos.com

Gbawe: Yeah, I get your point but you need to beware of mischief-makers here who have no conscience and dwell on treacherous behaviour. I think Fashola has been identified as a threat to some because of his popularity hence the hyperventilation of some folks. Here we have male forum members registering and pretending to be female and we have all sorts of dubious characters pretending to be what they are not. The blog link this 'concerned citizen' and lover of Lagos provided does not even work. What does that tell you about the OP? Clearly he is not serious.

http://www.watchinglagos.com./

Rhino.5dm:
Bros, these squirrels don't deserve any space to continue their lies and propagate more stupidity. If he thinks lagos deserve watching, how about starting with Uduaghan and other jet buying thieves? Oh, you think we'll allow ediots drag fashola's name to the gutter?

if those in delta are concerned, they can start but I doubt they will. Remember the south south and south east refused to join occupy nigeria

Rhino.5dm:
Why don't you take your fight to the slowpoke occupying Aso Rock? Aren't you the worthless PDP mongrel with a new ID? You think we'll seat down and allow ediots bring down our very best from Odua nation? You must have been intoxicated by that raw gutter fluid you consumed.

Arrantus Nonsensicus!

the anger from the attack on lagos in the past weeks must have gotten to you, I feel your pain. Regardless, Fashola remains th3 best for 2015 but check out the OP's points. What I understand by this is that lg chairmen need to be checked too, that does not take the shine off fashola does it? Fashola remains a hero inlagos but he alone cannot fix lagos. Think about this

Guk: Why are you concerned about their relocation? Its the job of Govt to do so & they are up to the task. Am not aware of any legitimately displaced people in Lagos state that have not bn adequately relocated.

Why have people lost trust in this present administration? list out what they have promised you and betrayed you and other residents of LAgos state about?

exactly, houses are being demolished along lagos-badagry road, legitimate owners are being compensated. By law, makoko residents don't deserve compensation because they are not legitimate dwellers, they are illegal settlers who have become a nuisance. It is like coming to my house to settle unannounced, years laters I decide to send you packing and then you ask me to give you another house since I'm sending you away....hell no! ! !

aglomar: Fashola reasons to intl standards while most Nigerians have warped 3rd world mentality. Good initiative BRF! Poverty n ignorance have made us have little regard for our lives.

you'll notice the pdp/gej guys have nothing to say to this, it is because the right thing has been done. Whoever hates fashola has no consciencezm he's not perfect but before you condemn him,commend the things he has done right

AnodaIT: I just hope all the farmers won't join 2Go and start posting "weather for 2" when it's raining instead of planting yams.

N60b phones will benefit 10m farmers, here are a few tips.


"How do telephones enhance farming? Ok here are my suggestions.

1) There is an app in the apple store it's called iFARM,this app helps the farmer to know when and how to improve cultivation of crops.

2) the phone has a camera which will enable the farmer to upload pictures on Instagram and Facebook, so that he can easily tag his customers.

3) for those farmers that will receive blackberry phones, pinging will help them reduce the cost of making phone calls.

4) There is an app iFertilizer, it helps the crops to grow, just keep the phone closer to the farmland, it will do the trick.

5) Farmers need to tweet, e:g [size=16pt]farming things on point!!![/size]

6) There is an app, iTractor which helps the farmers to clear the farmland and harvest crops.

7) There is an app iDRIVE, this app helps the farmers to dodge all the pot holes and successfully transport their goods to the market.

There is an app iFirst aid, which helps recuse the farmers incase of accidents in the farm work.

9) There is an app iCANAL, this app helps to water the crops in the dry seasons.

10) There is an app i-info, this helps the farmers to be updated with new methods of improving farm output and other new technologies.

11) There is an app iPower, this provides 24/7 stand by electricity for those farmers who rear livestocks.

the op seems like a mischievous person, contradicting himself in the original post. How can someone who ha not contributed in the Senate become governor of a state like Lagos? Now going around nairaland using #OluremiTinubu2015 means he is a member of the laptop crew trying to poison People's mind against ACN

We create wealth & employment for China everyday, they laugh at our folly as we spend foolishly & borrow from them when broke!

Techwriter: Saharareporters does not carry this type of news. If they hear he is in comma or dead, then its worth reporting. Having operation base in the US is the problem-they are learning from CNN. If there are no disasters CNN wouldve closed since

have you checked the site and this news is not there?

vision2050: Backward govt. The price is now #110 or 120 in some filling station subsidy have been remove totally, yet no positive result. Gej and his cabinet suck=>

if subsidy is removed places that sell for 120 will sell for almost 200. I was in the east this time last year and I witnssed it

ANY-PEN :
THIS SCENARIO AWAITS MANY CHURCHES IN THE FUTURE.... CHURCHES THAT SEEMS TO BE HAVING IT ALRIGHT NOW BECAUSE THEIR FOUNDERS ARE STILL ALIVE.

the founder of cac died many years ago, other assemblies are peaceful though some might have Internal issues which are solved internally

churches do have problems an they have them solved internally, this assembly simply brought the 'Mushin ' factor into it

28 views and no response, seems we are satisfied with being scammed. I give up on this

this time last year we were having discussions whether subsidy should be removed or not and most people disagreed, subsidy was removed against the will of the people, they trooped out to Protest and the devlish people surrounding the President made him feel the opposition sponsored the Protests, now sure-p isn't sure anymore,plan to build refineries dropped, the existing ones are still in paralysis, aren't we justified?

Let me be the first to wish you'all here a happy and prosperous 2013

suniblu: Pls i currently use airtel bis on my lg p925. I want to kno d code for d unlimited package..
I also want to kno how to use mtm bis on my android.

I need someone who can root my android. And jailbreak my iphone..

Call me 08037603731. Festac Lagos

you can search how to root your phone online just like I did, and I stay in festac too. Can we hook up?

4llerbuntu: Yes I know it looks like shit. NL is not exactly the place suited to post a DIY how to with pictures.

Maybe a PDF will be a better idea. Just upload somewhere.....

please do, will be greatly appreciated

Various views and no comment. Anyway for me the supplementary budget hasn't been effective for me and people around me. Not all filling stations are selling and the few selling are selling from 100/110 a liter. Have we been scammed once again?

I got this from a site, please read and drop your comments

About three weeks ago, President Goodluck Jonathan asked for and was granted N161bn by the Senate so Nigerians can have fuel to power their vehicles and generators etc during the Yuletide, yet report of scarcity has bombarded the editorial desk of News Bytes, scarcity pervades and according to sources, Nigerians should be prepared to face more hardship beyond Christmas as the dearth of fuel might persist into the New Year.

Recall that shortly after the release of her mother from kidnappers two weeks ago, the Finance Minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala confirmed that payments have been made to marketers.

Why then are Nigerians still made to suffer? No fuel to buy and when motorists stumble on a dispensing gas station, they are forced to buy at prices ranging from N100 to N150 per litre, over and above the approved N97/litre?

Is News Bytes the only one asking questions?

News Bytes, by this, demand an explanation from Mr President, the Minister for Finance, the Petroleum Minister and as many officers as are responsible for the free flow of gasoline from either the refineries or from import points to Nigerians.

Leave your comment but most importantly, share until we get explanations!

Your voice counts…@newsbytesnow

source: http://newsbytesnow.com/2012/12/28/flash-fuel-scarcity-and-the-n161bn-question-2/

anulaxad: you live festac my uncle lives there do you know mr.adenuga not (mike adeunuga )

lol, is he a teacher?

the op na learner

PortHarcourtBoy: You see the name Fire Crackers and you still dey ask if e fit start fire?

Guy you dull oh

the problem with GEJ guys is that they feel their oga is getting undeserved and excess criticism + attention while others (governors)are not, occupy Nigeria was being contemplated due to the massive Corruption in the system, subsidy removal (+ spending unbudgeted amount for subsidy) simply triggered it
Remember Oyinlola established uniosun and charged like a private uni, Aregbesola came and reduced it, also OGD increased OOU fees to hundreds of thousand, Amosun came and slashed it, as for lasu I know something will happen soon afterall there are massive infrastructural projects going on right now in the school (costain and ccecc &co as contractors) but all these do not change the fact about our dear President afterall he governed small bayelsa what did he achieve?

Sincere 9gerian: Is occupy Nigeria only meant for FG and fuel subsidy? Why didnt you guys occupy LASU when the state govt increased school fees by 1000%

It annoys me when people kid that the occupy Protest was sponsored. Ojota, Ibadan, kaduna, Abuja were all sponsored? by who? name the sponsors Please, with evidence. If some opponents took advantage, it is because govt gave them something to talk about afterall if there is no opening in a wall then a lizard can't gain entry. I came here and posted pictures from occupy Amuwo which included participants from festac, mile 2, agboju, satellite, and its environs. We that started never knew each other, twitter brought us together and with the help of the indegenes who beleived in our cause, it was a success. No political opponent sponsored, even the local gov Chairman was not there. Eventually some of us were then being threatened by anonymous phone calls.

Afree the Protest, we've all remained as a team, working towards making government responsible to the masses in a country where looters divide the masses on ethnic grounds but are United in their looting.

ballabriggs: They have many federal roads in Lagos they are taking care of. Is there an unlimited pool of resources? Should he kill himself? Should he takeover a road wey Jona dey use chop N5 trillion? Do Jona and Ngozi really want that road completed? That is a cow for the selfish Jona and his PDP gang which they milk regularly. He has been told it has been awarded, wetin make e do again?

Make e carry KAI go pursue contractor for the road come start in own work?

I live in festac, an abandoned federal Estate. some roads meant to fixed by the federal housing Authority are being fixed by the local government with funds meant for other things/areas

talktimi: well it is a fact that 788 doctors were sacked in a swoop by gov fashola and also LASU fees were increased by over 1000%. I'm not saying Fashola didn't work in Lagos since there's a complete difference btw his impact and Tinubu's administration, all I'm saying is that the lagos state governor is just over hyped when you compare with states like Niger or Akwa Ibom. Its just my opinion based on facts and pls stop the insults to others on NL and the blasphemy here. Thank you

I was in akwaibom for a Conference in July and the deputy governor was there baosting that there's no single lot hole in the whole of Uyo, I told someone that 'take the population of Lagos, human and vehicular to akwaibom and watch those infrastructures crumble in a few months'. I've said that here before.

Never ever compare Lagos with akwaibom, except you take the population into consideration.

the annoying thing is Goodluck is bringing back slow locomotive trains while fashola is building fast light rail, not saying fashola is a Saint but he's way intellectually better than our dear President

Omo_Tier1: I was in Lagos last year, I saw the change for myself. I went to Oshodi to go see the true change and I do not need any body to preach to me Fashola handiwork. Also I do not need any body to tell me GEJ is a total failure. From the moment my plane touched down at the airport, it was obvious that GEJ Is a failure.

As I posted on the other thread

On my not inclusion to the eagles list i am not surprised. Not surprised Keshi and NFF couldn't tell me themselves. No personality!

We talk through press hahaha how come I am the only stubborn one but no ex eagles player was sent off from the team with respect

Keshi has no footballing reasons not to invite me but is not saying the truth. He s still in my plans he said haha coach u no dey my plans.

To some who wanna put mouth here please act like men. When two men talk 3rd has nothing to do. So ikpeba s and the rest talk to me face2face

This is all a comedy and our poor fans are being fed with lies while they cutting the cake for them selves.

Nff spokesman told MTN he is arrogant ? I am arrogant ? Why did country's president threaten to close down our federation for two years ?

[size=20pt]Why didn't Lagerback continue with supereagles after world cup ? Chop and run was his plan and they knew it. [/size]

[size=20pt]Nigerian fans voted me nigerian player of the year during world cup qualifiers & I was a spectator in the world cup and I should be quiet? [/size]

Cos after we got olympic silver I didn't say Siasia is ready for eagles he waited till he gets the job to axe me ?

Me and Apam begged him to take Kaita in the olympic team.He told us he wants to play Efe Ambrose there who is a centre back ? Good plan

The only reason me and Siasia fell out was over kits that were not enough cos they were on sale as the olympics were on going. Shame !

A joke from the american team to us - damn brothers ! U ve been wearing this same cloths all the time men !!! ( Will give details later )

Ok that childish thing about shirt aside. WBA needed me back 4 important game and Siasia refused to let me miss a midweek friendly game ?

Were is common sense there ? The game was played in a 80000 capacity stadium with 2000 spectators. That's how important the game was !

They can't spoil my name !!!

That's when I ask my self - do we not have a team captain and federation who can tell its common sense ? And settle the matter ? Na wow oh

Then they don't invite Enyama our number one for a crucial qualifying game cos he complained about a flight or something little? Ridiculous

Then SWAN sends a letter to NFF to warn me. (Sorry about that tweet didn't mean it that way). But tell ur colleagues not to make up stories

[size=13pt]The story is getting long and I don tire. I cared a lot about the team and wasn't passive. [/size]

This might sound disrespectful but eagles had no good captain for many years. Everyone looking only after himself.

[size=15pt]This might sound disrespectful but eagles had no good captain for many years. Everyone looking only after himself. [/size]

After Afcon in Ghana eagles fans were satisfied with our performance and Siasia after the tournament said I will take u to the olympics

They sacked Berti Vogts after it though and just a month after that Coach Amodu took over! In his first game in charge I didn't even warm up

I had to holla at him and Amokachi his assistant and next games I played and man of the match in half games of the team that year

Whatin I do them self ? Hahahaha

Nff member just called me. Ofcos got insulted. [size=20pt]I told him I sang national anthem for ten years to be treated like this.[/size]

That's it on this. Story ended. No more talks about national team again. I ve said all I wanted. If will be tempted will go off twitter.

If all players will speak out like this, we will have a better team soon. I'm not saying Osaze is a saint but let's tackle the right people first.

Omo_Tier1: If you ever manage a team, always know this, disruptive personalities are highly desirable and managing them always help to spur the team to great success. Osazee may no be a saint, however, you would agree most of his outburst is down to injustice.

The bolded is the reason why I have spoken in his defense