₦airaland Forum

brownlord: Bro, none of them can answer that, what matters most to them here is that hes a prof. And a vc. Abi na em start post ume, is this enuf to give him such position if he has no clue abt the ministry hes bn ask to head?

I may not tell you the exact course he studied but I know that when he stepped down as UNN VC we were told he was to Head a newly created dept under Engineering Faculty so I can conclude that he has an Engineering background.

May God bless whoever made this nomination for Nigeria, He stands today as the most respected VC among UNN VCs present and past. I only pray they wouldn't use politics to make a mess of his reputation.

BlueMurder: What's all these What's with the conjectures? Tomorrow, you will say you are educated!

I don't think it's ordinary conjectures, the people I mentioned earlier gave a contrary opinion to what the Sultan just said on what they assumed is the cause of the insecurity in the north. Ask Google if you are not aware.

So many Northerners will be sad with this news, they must have expected him to tell them that it was the FG under GEJ that withdrew the Children of the Northerners from school and made them Almajiris? They must have expected that he should have told the Governors that it was the inability of the South to respect PDP zoning arrangement that made the North poor and insecure. The Northerners would have been happier if he had said them that it was the Christians from the South that have stolen all the oil money allocation that was meant for the north's development.

Now Boko Haram, Elrufai and Sanusi will be so disappointed with the Sultan.

eriegua83: A virgin gave birth, moses parted the red sea, elijah was taken up in a chariot of fire, jesus fed 5000 people with 5 loaves of bread nd 2 fishe nd 12 baskets of leftovers after they ve eaten and many more in the holy book. If it were to be our time doubting THOMASES would still doubt.JESUS d same yterday, today nd 4ever. Let GOD be true and all MEN liars. God prooved himself with Adeboye.

It's funny when when people want to subject miracles to scientific analysis, the day science is able to explain miracles is the day miracles cease to exist. With human reasoning this is impossible but with God on one's side all things are possible.

Bribes exchanges hands between two Nigerian public figures with audio and video evidence to prove. One of the key actors said publicly that EFCC was fully involved in the bribing operations and till date our zealous Anti-corruption agency is still in search of evidence which is already in public domain. If they can't locate the evidence of bribery "transactions" that took place few metres away from Aso Rock how will they find the one in Australia? EFCC just want to appear busy maybe to justify their 2013 budgetary allocation.

Bamanga Tutur -- The Global Villager(2012)
Okonjo Iweala -- Reforming The Unreformable(2012)
Chinua Achebe -- There Was a Country(2012)
Peter Odili -- In Loving Memory of Conscience and History(2012)
El-Rufai -- The Accidental Public Servant(2013)

With the way everybody is writing a book these days it's either there is a sudden change of mentality or a new goldmine has just been discovered in that industry.

If their reason for saying the match was fixed is because of the penalty the Ref gave to Nsofor then I wonder how many matches are being fixed on weekly basis in England because I can mention several penalties that have been wrongly awarded in Premiership this season alone. FIFA is becoming a joke.

Double Post

I laugh whenever I hear people insist that everything must be shown in Black and white in the Bible. Can anybody tell me where the Bible forbids smoking in the Church? Can anyone show me where the Bible say that it a sin to eat while the Service is going on? If we want to be logical we will certainly find 1001 reasons to do so and still claim freedom. But God gave us our conscience and the Holy Spirit to direct us in certain things that are not explicitly stated in the Bible.

@OP, you may not see anything wrong with what you are doing but LOVE is not necessarily about yourself but about others around you. If people around you are uncomfortable with your dressing or behaviour, it'll be wise to consider them especially in the Church. How much more when the Church Authority frowns at your behaviour, in such case it'll be better to obey than to Sacrifice but if you feel they are wrong, it will be better to find another church where your behaviours are not frowned at because as long as you remain there God will see it as disobedience.

Ec 5:1 ¶ Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.

Godswill Akpabio is truly God's will for Akwa Ibom State.

Jumping from about 60th largest Economy @ d beginning of last decade to d current position of 31st largest Economy in the World (GDP wise), only an accute pessimist will think it's not possible. I only pray and hope it'll transcend to serious development.

I know that dangerous spot where the luxurious bus crashed into, it's so open and scary and whenever I pass there I keep wondering what it will cost the relevant authority to make it look responsible. Well now that it has probably taken a life, lets hope they will arise to their responsibility.

mavtrevor: https://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa45/lionking_rocks/sad%20photos%20of%20slavery/63513_Negro_Bill_Of_Sale_122_217lo.jpg

mavtrevor: Rare Photos Of African Slaves On A Slave Ship, HEADED TOWARDS THE STATES

https://img79.imageshack.us/img79/1815/slavphto10ta.jpg

https://img250.imageshack.us/img250/863/slavepht27eb.jpg

https://img254.imageshack.us/img254/7263/slavpht31ps.jpg

https://img337.imageshack.us/img337/626/slavpht47km.jpg

I feel like crying...man's inhumanity to man,

My dear OP, it's becoming more terrible by day. sometimes it's even hard to differentiate a religious gathering from what one sees at Rhythm unplugged, Koko Concert and the likes. You can't even move your eyes freely in the church of God on Sunday morning without seeing unmentionables. The worst is that some of them come late and still walk straight to the front seat. Don't also be surprised to hear some of them who know their true intention asking you what you eyes was doing when you dare raise an eyebrow. What is left is to start seeing live po**rn in churches and when you complain they will say you are judging them.

@ Kettykin, I respect Dangote for the number of people he has given jobs in the country but I hate the way he behaves like a Shylock. I know the dangers of unrestricted importation but how can someone reasonably conclude the the quantity Ibeto imports which is just 5% of local consumption causes a glut in the market? I inniatially wasn't happy that Ibeto is importing but when I realised that it's a sort of damages from a court judgement I could help but turn my annoyance to the schemes of the "Monopolist".

AjanleKoko: Well . . . Part of why Anambra might well remain a backwater for eons, and Lagos is primed to reap dividends over the next few decades, as a result of Fashola's bold moves.

As per social infrastructure . . . I doubt it is reasonable to borrow to finance that. There should be a federally-funded initiative to finance basic infrastructure (roads, healthcare, security) that can support the Nigerian citizens no matter where they choose to reside. Everything else, such as power, mega-city development (like Eko Atlantic etc), urban transportation, etc, should be strictly for-profit, and based on PPP or wholly-privatized models.

I am sorry to say, Lagos seems to be the only state on that road. At the end of this decade, Lagos will have two additional seaports, another international airport, and a brand-new premium city (Eko Atlantic). I wonder what the other governors, especially those who were said to have received 7.33trn since 1999 are doing.

Government should stop sharing the bulk of their oyel revenue between federal and state government functionaries, and use it to develop national security and healthcare initiatives, and also ensure that we have a decent inter-state road network pan Nigeria. They should privatize the goddamned power sector and be done with it, focus on regulation only. Everything else should be left to state. Let states develop as they are able, without waiting for the Abuja goodies.

I find the bolded in your statement contradictory, If you consider Fashola's borrowings at the state level to finance social infrastructure as a bold step why are u not considering FG borrowing for same purpose as a bold step too? Like I said earlier, there are situations where public borrowing are justified. Certain things are considered such as what the loans are meant for (that is if they will not be embezzled or diverted) and the cost of borrowing. In this case nobody can guarantee the safety of the loan from embezzlement but they seem to come cheap. I'll focus my criticism on how to safeguard the funds for now rather than avoiding borrowing altogether. I personally doubt if there is any single country in the whole world that doesn't borrow.

This is one of the major area of conflicts among great Economists all over the world. No prudent person will be happy to see his debt profile rising unnecessarily especially if it comes with high interest rate but on the other hand, there is no developing country/State that can do without debts finance. For instance, Lets compare Lagos State(one of the highest indebted States in Nigeria) and Anambra State(one of the least indebted states in Nigeria), while Lagos carries out most of its developmental projects through debt finance, Anambra State limits it's development strides to what the State can afford for now and it's left for us to decide who among the Governors is a better manager as far as development at the State level is concerned.

I seriously doubt if Nigeria can afford to limit its projects to the amount it has in its treasury especially now that we need to finance several critical social infrastructural projects. However, we should be more concerned with the prudent use of our borrowed funds.

hisblud: When its time for me to build, the price of cement must fall amen

Amen o which is why they should stop deceiving us with the story of glut when the price is still unchanged. The consumers are interested in the final price of the commodity not necessarily the quantity of the product in the market.

Hope this is not a case of politicing one of the most important products in the market. If there is a glut, why hasn't the price of Cement crashed?

Contrary to the recent claims by the Dangote Group that the nation’s cement market has been flooded with imported products, resulting in a glut, the Ibeto Group, the owners of Ibeto Cement Company Limited, has stated that there is no way the volume of cement which is imported by their company can induce any form of surplus as alleged.

In a statement issued by Ibeto Cement, the company clarified that a glut is an economic phenomenon that results when a market is excessively supplied with a particular product and the first evidence of such a situation is the drastic reduction in the price of the product and this has not been the case with cement which is still more expensive in Nigeria than in any other nation in the world.

The group, in a statement signed by its Executive Director of Strategy and Public Affairs, Dr. Ben Aghazu, noted that through a consent judgment entered by the Federal High Court to settle the dispute between the Federal Government and Ibeto Cement Company in suits number FHC/ABJ/CS/400/2006 and FHC/ABJ/CS/496/2010, Ibeto Cement Company Limited is currently the only authorised importer of bulk cement in the country.

Explaining how the consent judgment came about, Aghazu said the Federal Government had issued a guarantee to Ibeto Cement Company Limited that the company’s proposed cement bagging plant in Bundu Ama, near Port Harcourt, shall operate for a minimum period of ten years from commissioning so as to meet the strict funding requirements of the lending institutions.
The Federal Government had also encouraged the company with appropriate incentives such as reduced duty on imported equipment and a waiver on value added tax (VAT).

“However, in September 2005, a mere three months after our gleaming new plant began operation, Dangote Cement used its reach in the Federal Government to unjustifiably and unexplainably close down the operations of the Ibeto bagging plant,” he alleged.
He said after various efforts to appeal to the Federal Government failed, the company went to court in 2006 to seek justice and the dispute was finally settled out of court after extensive negotiations involving all relevant federal ministries and departments and agencies of government.

“In the judgment order, the Federal Government acknowledged that the Ibeto Cement Company Bagging Plant was unjustifiably closed down. The government also acknowledged the enormous losses suffered by Ibeto Cement Company from the unjustified closure from 2005 to October 2007,” Aghazu said.

[b]Referring to the judgment, he added that part of the order stated that Ibeto Cement Company Limited shall be allowed to import 1.5 million tonnes of bulk cement per annum for the period October 1, 2007 through September 30, 2017 in line with the Federal Government’s guarantee conveyed in the Ministry of Industry’s letters, reference HMSI/EXT/CORR/VOL.X/350 of June 5, 2002 and HMSI/EXT.CORR/VOL.XII/127 of November 29, 2002.

With this judgment making Ibeto Cement the sole importer of cement into the country for the specified period, the company argued that 1.5 million tonnes, which is less than 5 percent of the annual cement supply to the Nigerian market, cannot create a glut.
Aghazu accused the Dangote Group of trying to influence the Federal Government to, in effect, invalidate the essence of the court order that authorised Ibeto Cement to “import this small amount of cement until September 30, 2017, by raising the duty and other taxes on imported cement so as to make imported cement more expensive than Dangote Cement.[/b]

“We do not believe that the Federal Government should be misled into doing this, because doing so will go against the spirit of the out-of-court settlement agreement between the Federal Government and Ibeto Cement, especially since Ibeto Cement, as stated, is currently the sole importer of cement”

In order to position their proposed cement plant to be built in the South-south zone to operate monopolistically, Dangote Group, Aghazu said, is also trying to get the “Federal Government to ban the importation of clinker or in the alternative, drastically increase the duties and taxes on clinker imports so as to rattle and destabilise a cement manufacturer in that area and thus complete its strategic monopolistic domination of the Nigerian cement market.”
Aghazu also flayed the announcement of the closure of Benue Cement Company (BCC) on account of the “phantom” glut, describing it as dishonest and false.

“Time and unfolding events will show that Dangote Group is being economical with the truth in this assertion. We have it on good authority that the Dangote plant in Gboko (BCC) was programmed to shut down for turnaround maintenance only and will resume production when the maintenance has been completed,” he said.
He noted that the bulk cement imported, bagged and sold by Ibeto Cement Company Limited is different and superior to the cement made by Dangote Cement Company Plc.

“Ours is rapid hardening ordinary Portland cement preferred by first class construction companies. On the other hand, Dangote makes Portland limestone cement, which is used primarily in residential buildings.
“These facts are well known to and acknowledged by Dangote Group. Thus, strictly speaking, Ibeto Cement and Dangote Cement, being different in quality and also made for different purposes, should not really be competing,” he said.
He urged Dangote Group to accept reduced profits by lowering the price of their cement, a move that will be applauded by the consumers.

He also urged them to explore the export option, which it has so eloquently campaigned to have the capacity to carry out.
“The Dangote Group has been crowing about its plan to export cement from Nigeria. We urge them to start their export business forthwith. If there is a problem with the competitiveness of their made-in-Nigeria cement in foreign markets, we urge them to please take a close look at their components of the costs of goods sold,” Aghazu said.

Aghazu stated that it was imperative to alert the nation on the strategic risk posed by the situation. “We venture to assert that based on Dangote Group’s actions as it pertains to Ibeto Cement Company Ltd, the primary strategy of the Dangote Group in business is to use all available forces in the environment to make sure that they do not have any competition.
“In other words, they must operate as monopolists. Consequently, their roads to success are littered with the remains of would-be or attempted competitors,” he alleged.

He added: “In order to reduce the adverse effect of monopolies, for safety reasons, and in the interest of the common good, some countries have and enforce antitrust laws that control how much of any strategic market an individual or corporation is allowed to control.
“Unfortunately, in our country, the antitrust laws probably don’t exist or aren’t enforced when it pertains to the Dangote Group which holds a monopolistic stranglehold on several significant and strategic sectors of the economy,” he stated.

According to Aghazu, the assertion by Ibeto Cement regarding the dangerous effect of monopolies deserves serious study by the country’s economic planners and a healthy debate on the issue.


http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/ibeto-cement-claims-of-cement-glut-misleading/134729/

Osaze is talented no doubt but he lacks the character necessary for a player of his status. He faught the Last four coaches meaning that it's either something is wrong with all the coaches or something is wrong with him and if you ask me I'll say that something is wrong with Osaze. He must have felt bad for being dropped but he messed up the public goodwill he would've recieved with his Tweeter blabbings. Remember that talent alone can take you to the top but only character can keep you up there.

Can't believe my PIN is this predictable... *runs off to the ATM to change PIN*

How can a man who claim to fight corruption appoint the Director-General of Corruption as chairman of one of the corrupt institutions of our govt? I support GEJ most times but in this case am ashamed of his action. These sort of people who have proved to be above our laws should be left in retirement after decades of mismanaging our Economy.

Tunde Rahman
He kept sealed lips for more than five years over what actually transpired in those dying days in 2006, at the height of the race towards the 2007 presidential election.

Former governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Otunuya Odili, has now revealed the intrigues and power-plays that led to the emergence of the late Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate.

Odili also explained how he was nominated as Yar’Adua’s running mate only to be dropped dramatically at the Convention venue in Abuja through a complex power game between then President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman Nuhu Ribadu.

Odili’s revelations are contained in his new biography titled “Conscience and History: My Story,” a copy of which was made available to THISDAY at the weekend.

The former governor had moved from being a frontrunner in the 2007 presidential race to a sure bet as Yar’Adua’s running mate, but eventually emerged with nothing at the end of the day.

In the book, Odili narrated how Ribadu was deployed against him on what he considered spurious grounds, first to pave way for the emergence of Yar’Adua as PDP presidential candidate, and subsequently to knock him (Odili) off the ticket as running mate after which Dr. Goodluck Jonathan was drafted in.

[b]Odili said in the book: “On 12th December, a spurious and anonymous petition was posted on the internet from a questionable ‘source’ alleging CORRUPT practices against the Rivers State Government under me. These allegations were contrived into a petition by the EFCC under Nuhu Ribadu’s hand, to the President (Obasanjo) the same day.

“On the 13th of December 2006, Mr. President directed EFCC to investigate. On the 14th day of December, 2006, EFCC submitted a so-called 'interim' report to the then president who promptly minuted for my response on the same 14th December, 2006, but forwarded to me on 15/12/06, a day to the convention vide ref. PRES/44. I assembled what was left of my cabinet team, a few having been arrested and kept at the EFCC office in Lagos within these few days of urgent dramatic action.

“We submitted our response on the 15th day of December, 2006 by which time it had become clear what the whole exercise was about— 'get Odili out of the race for the presidency at all cost'.”

He said: “Till date the innocent uninformed still make reference to that judicially nullified and voided report. This became lucidly clear with the instant release of my staff who were being detained in Lagos by the EFCC as soon as I voluntarily and wisely withdrew from the contest. There was jubilation at the EFCC office immediately news of my withdrawal broke and all my staff were asked to go home immediately. This was on the 15th of December.

“Then came the ‘D’ Day- 16th December, 2006-the date of the convention. I was invited for morning prayers with the president at the presidential villa and after the prayers I had a brief chat with the then president in his private study at the residence. He acknowledged my letter of withdrawal from the race and informed me of his intention to get Umaru Yar’Adua-the now expected winner of the upcoming primaries at the convention- to make me his running mate.”
[/b]
The former governor spoke of the late President Yar’Adua’s readiness to work with him.
According to him: “I was persuaded to go and accompany Umaru to the convention venue. I had been informed earlier in the day that the news of my pairing with Umaru was in the air and that ‘some people’ were already ganging up to oppose the proposed pairing.
“It was, however, noteworthy that when I got to the Katsina State Lodge to join Umaru to proceed to the Eagle Square I met him downstairs in the company of some party leaders-Chief James Ibori, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, Dr Bukola Saraki, Alhaji Aliko Dnagote, Malam Nuhu Ribadu and Nasir el-Rufai.

“Their conversation stopped when I walked in but I read nothing sinister to the gathering or reaction to my entry. Umaru quickly took me upstairs and thanked me for coming and assured me of his happiness at the prospect of our working together.
“He called his wife Turai into the room and introduced us. We later proceeded to the Eagle Square together and were joined by other colleagues in waking round the square”.

He continued: “In the course of the night, I was invited to the VIP Guest Room at Eagle Square and was privileged to sight the typed copy of Umaru’s prepared acceptance speech. It was clearly stated that he had nominated Dr. Peter Odili as his running mate for the presidential race.

“This was at about midnight or so. In the course of the next few hours, information started reaching me that there was a strong pressure to drop me from the ticket.

“At about 3.30am or so, I was again invited to the VIP Guest room at Eagle Square and informed that there was a strong challenge to my being the running mate based on ‘some fresh information’ just received from Nuhu Ribadu, that would need to be sorted out later in the day.
“By the close of convention at dawn only 2 State Delegate Stands were still full-Katsina and Rivers- all others were empty or had one or two people left. The result was announced—Umaru was the winner and he promptly read a handwritten acceptance speech that excluded my name. He announced that further consultations were being made on the matter of his running mate.”

He said, however, that “By 4pm on Sunday 17th December, 2006 Dr. Jonathan was announced as the running mate to Umaru Yar’Adua. By Monday 18th December I congratulated Umaru and Jonathan and urged all my supporters nationwide and Rivers people to support the ticket. Odili was out of the race and the ticket.”

On why he was stopped from the race, Odili said he was later informed that Ribadu had told Obasanjo that some foreign missions in Abuja would not be happy to see him on the PDP ticket on the basis of the “EFCC interim report”.

In the book, the former governor also narrated how his anointed successor and current governor of the state, Mr. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, was disqualified from the governorship race.

He talked about the bad blood that would later be generated between Amaechi and him.
Odili also detailed all his legal battles to clear his name from what he labeled “mere contrivances” by Obasanjo and Ribadu to justify what they did against him.

He said it was after “a very astonishing meeting at the Presidency over the matter of my successor as Governor of Rivers State that I instructed my legal team led by the Attorney-General Odein Ajumogobia, SAN, to commence action first at the State High Court and then at the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, against EFCC.”

‘As I was Driving out of the Villa, Jonathan Was Driving in... Moments later, He Was Named Yar’Adua’s Running Mate’
Below are excerpts from the book “Conscience and History: My Story,” By Odili

With the failure of the constitutional amendments, which included tenure elongation, campaigns for the presidency in 2007 took off about the 3rd quarter of 2006 across the country. By October and November my campaign, led by Dr. Raymond Dokpesi, had penetrated every state in the Federation and it became obvious the Odili candidacy had attained national acceptance and had become a movement. Odili was seen as the frontrunner, the candidate to beat. Traditional rulers, emirs, tribal leaders, labour unions, stakeholders, etc had embraced and were favourably disposed to Odili. For some inexplicable reason, the plot to stop him, by some people, became pathologically ‘urgent’. The PDP convention for nomination of the presidential candidate was slated for 16th December, 2006.

The commissioning of the Omoku Power plant of 150 mega watts, and 120 km double circuit Transmission Line to Port Harcourt, by President Olusegun Obasanjo, took place on 5th December, 2006. This again was the biggest power plant designed, constructed, completed and functional by any state government, between 1999 and 2006, the second by Rivers State Government under Dr. Peter Odili. We were lauded very generously and extolled for the unprecedented feat.

Exactly one week later, 12th December, a spurious and anonymous petition was posted on the internet from a questionable ‘source’ alleging CORRUPT practices against the Rivers State Government under me. These allegations were contrived into a petition by the EFCC under Nuhu Ribadu’s hand, to the President the same day. On the 13th of December 2006, Mr. President directed EFCC to investigate.

EFCC's Interim Report
On the 14th day of December, 2006, EFCC submitted a so-called “interim” report to the then president who promptly minuted for my response on the same 14th December, 2006, but forwarded to me on 15/12/06, a day to the convention vide ref. PRES/44. I assembled what was left of my cabinet team, a few having been arrested and kept at the EFCC office in Lagos within these few days of urgent dramatic action. We submitted our response on the 15th day of December, 2006 by which time it had become clear what the whole exercise was about—“get Odili out of the race for the presidency at all cost.”

For maximum mischievous damage this contrived so-called “interim report” was hurriedly uploaded into the internet, but when our response to the spurious allegations was submitted on the 15th of December 2006, it was not accorded the same treatment. Why, you may ask? Some sense of fair hearing isn’t it?

Till date the innocent uninformed still make reference to that judicially nullified and voided report. This became lucidly clear with the instant release of my staff who were being detained in Lagos by the EFCC as soon as I voluntarily and wisely withdrew from the contest. There was jubilation at the EFCC office immediately news of my withdrawal broke and all my staff were asked to go home immediately. This was on the 15th of December. Then came the ‘D’ Day- 16th December, 2006-the date of the convention.

I was invited for morning prayers with the president at the presidential villa and after the prayers I had a brief chat with the then president in his private study at the residence. He acknowledged my letter of withdrawal from the race and informed me of his intention to get Umaru Yar’Adua-the now expected winner of the upcoming primaries at the convention- to make me his running mate. I thanked him for his kind thoughts and assured him I bore no grudge or ill-will for the turn of events and that all through my campaigns I had ended my speeches on the note: “let God’s will be done”.
I left him on that note at about 7.30-8.00am. The convention was to start at 10am. As at 12.30pm the venue was literally empty, I was informed that most of the delegates who were in support of my candidacy were upset and unwilling to go to the venue. It took extra-effort and persuasion of my campaign organisation to get most of the delegates out to the Eagle Square. By 3pm the venue became fairly full.

Meeting Yar'Adua
I was persuaded to go and accompany Umaru to the venue. I had been informed earlier in the day that the news of my pairing with Umaru was in the air and that ‘some people’ were already ganging up to oppose the proposed pairing.

It was, however, noteworthy that when I got to the Katsina State Lodge to join Umaru to proceed to the Eagle Square I met him downstairs in the company of some party leaders-Chief James Ibori, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, Dr Bukola Saraki, Alhaji Aliko Dnagote, Malam Nuhu Ribadu and Nasir el-Rufai. Their conversation stopped when I walked in but I read nothing sinister to the gathering or reaction to my entry. Umaru quickly took me upstairs and thanked me for coming and assured me of his happiness at the prospect of our working together. He called his wife Turai into the room and introduced us. We later proceeded to the Eagle Square together and were joined by other colleagues in waking round the square.

Convention started after the arrival of all dignatories and convention events proceeded peacefully. In the course of the night, I was invited to the VIP Guest Room at Eagle Square and was privileged to sight the typed copy of Umaru’s prepared acceptance speech. It was clearly stated that he had nominated Dr. Peter Odili as his running mate for the presidential race. This was at about midnight or so. In the course of the next few hours, information started reaching me that there was a strong pressure to drop me from the ticket. Since I did not lobby for it, I wasn’t bothered-I remained with my state delegates.

At about 3.30am or so, I was again invited to the VIP Guest room at Eagle Square and informed that there was a strong challenge to my being the running mate based on ‘some fresh information’ just received from Nuhu Ribadu, that would need to be sorted out later in the day. I took the information in my stride and went back to the Rivers’ Delegate Stand and didn’t say a word about it to anyone.

By the close of convention at dawn only 2 State Delegate Stands were still full-Katsina and Rivers- all others were empty or had one or two people left. The result was announced—Umaru was the winner and he promptly read a handwritten acceptance speech that excluded my name. He announced that further consultations were being made on the matter of his running mate. End of story! The plot had worked. This confirms what Russel Wayne Baker, an American Columnist, said in 1935 in ‘The Sayings of Par Russel’:

“The dirty work of Political Conventions is almost always done in the grim hours between midnight and dawn. Hangmen and politicians work best when the human spirit is at its lowest ebb.”

Announcement of Jonathan
By 4pm on Sunday 17th December, 2006 Dr Jonathan was announced as the running mate to Umaru Yar’Adua. By Monday 18th December I congratulated Umaru and Jonathan and urged all my supporters nationwide and Rivers people to support the ticket. Odili was out of the race and the ticket.

At the general election in April 2007, Rivers State under my leadership returned the highest votes in the country for Yar’Adua/Jonathan ticket for the presidency. But ‘how did water enter the mellon’? Let’s try and find out. So many conspiracy theories emerged in the days and months that followed. Since nothing is hidden under the sun someday God will reveal the truth.

What was the genesis of the fight against the possibility of an Odili presidency? Who was threatened by that possibility and why? Whose decision and when was it made to stop Odili by all means possible? Who was the fulcrum of the execution of that decision? How come that for 71/2 years nothing was raised by the EFCC or any relevant agency against Odili’s government in Rivers State and suddenly on the ‘eve’ of the PDP presidential primaries all conceivable vile allegations were unleashed? When did we Nigerians acquire such meteoric and forensic expertise and competence to produce a report within 36 hours of instruction to investigate? Just in time for the date line-December 16th 2006. These are questions yawning for answers. God’s time will tell.

On Sunday the 17th of December 2006 at about 3pm I was invited to the Villa to see the president. When I got there I met him sitting in his private study at the Residence with Chief Tony Anenih then Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the party, Dr. Ahmadu Ali then chairman of the party, the late Yar’Adua then flag-bearer of the party and Chief Bode George then Deputy National Chairman of the party. It was there and then I was informed that Nuhu Ribadu had informed the president that some ‘Foreign Missions’ in Abuja would not be happy to see me on the PDP ticket on the basis of the “EFCC Interim Report” which had been circulated to them. I was now formally told that I have been taken off the ticket.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/odili-how-jonathan-displaced-me-as-yar-adua-s-running-mate/134352/

What sort of welfarist economy is this man running in Imo state? So everybody that has something important to do with the govt of the state must be forced to sleep for 2 weeks. He better wake up before I lose the respect I have for him.

Why are these people constantly making unguarded statements that will turn around and hunt them. From Atiku's "we'll make the country ungovernable" speech to Buhari's "Dog and Baboon will be soaked in blood". The last time I checked ElRufai was still a Chieftain of CPC and he is among those "that have used their position unjustly to oppress the prepodonant population of the people" , will Buhari and CPC include him in the expected festival of blood or will he be among those that will do the execution? As usual, I expect them to deny this statement or claim they were quoted out of context but for some of us, they are saying exactly what they have in mind because "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh"

Am not Tupac's follower but right now his quote is the only answer I have for this thread.

"There’s no way that Michael Jackson or whoever Jackson should have a million thousand droople billion dollars and then there’s people starving. There’s no way! There’s no way that these people should own planes and there people don’t have houses. Apartments. Shacks. Drawers. Pants! I know you’re rich. I know you got 40 billion dollars, but can you just keep it to one house? You only need ONE house. And if you only got two kids, can you just keep it to two rooms? I mean why have 52 rooms and you know there’s somebody with no room?! It just don’t make sense to me. It don’t.”
― Tupac Shakur

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Whenever it comes to transportation, the govt seems to be more interested in the affairs of the Airline yet only minute percent of Nigerians make use of them especially during the festive periods like this. Few days from now there will be geometric increase in the number of people travelling across the country and majority of them will go by road. We know that Arik is said to be the best Airline in Nigeria but no one knows the Best transport company in the country. Sometimes one travels with some companies and the experience is not worth having a second time. The road users also deserve the best treatment while on a long journey, so by your experience which Transport company do you think is the Best in term of their services to Travelers?

I've travelled with Ifesinachi, Peace Mass Trans, Young Shall Grow, GUD and Ekenedilichukwu. Based on factors such as Vehicle breakdown, Entertainment and customer service, I will rank Ekene as the Best. I've heard so much about ABC Trans but am yet to travel with them otherwise, maybe they would have been my best. I'll like to hear from you, your experience could help others.

When this issue came up here months ago I asked some questions which no one was able to answer and I shall repeat them here. First, I respect Sanusi for being vocal especially when it comes to stating what he believes but my issue with him and his ardent supporters is the fact that they have systematically sold a great lie to Nigerians and the global community.

We were told that our BANKS would have collapsed but for his magic wand during the Global Recession but I'll like to ask:
1. How many Banks collapsed globally during this period?
2. How many banks collapsed in the whole of Africa during this period?
3. How many West African Banks collapsed during the global Melt-Down?

How come someone was able to tell Nigerians that our ENTIRE Financial system would have melted away if not that he sacked the "Criminals"? I used to think that it's only politicians that rubbish the achievements of their predecessors.