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 Politics › Re: Mission 2011- Vote Pdp Out by Pifa: 5:41am On Feb 09, 2010 |
blackmann:. . . then the incoming party, too, will be voted out at the next election. The cycle will continue until the political parties start attending to the needs of the people. When that happens, Nigeria will have matured as a democracy. |
| Politics › Re: Mission 2011- Vote Pdp Out by Pifa: 5:33am On Feb 09, 2010 |
sjeezy8:Jonathan is not the only one in government. The people can always vote out majority of the opposition and still vote for Jonathan as president. |
| Politics › Re: Jonathan Locks Out Maduekwe, Babalola For Lateness by Pifa: 5:28am On Feb 09, 2010 |
I was beginning to praise the Vice President until I read the reason the two ministers gave for their tardiness. If the newspaper reported correctly that the ministers were informed minutes before the meeting, then I'd have to disagree that it showed Mr. Jonathan's discipline. I thought it was insensitive and disrespectful to give a minister just ten minutes to arrive at an unscheduled meeting that was not a state emergency. I would imagine that ministers have daily itineraries and are not just sitting on their rear waiting to be called at the VP’s behest. Even the CEO of my company would have his secretary schedule a meeting with me based on my availability. If he always had to summon me 10 minutes before an unscheduled meeting, then he had to realize that I would be either late or I would keep interrupting important projects to attend to him. |
| Politics › Re: Why We Failed To Meet 6000mw – Minister by Pifa: 4:42am On Feb 07, 2010 |
It’s not exactly rocket science to make it difficult to vandalize pipelines. It may be costly, but the cost to the country in terms lost productivity, arrested development and health issues resulting from personal-generator pollution can be many times more. Adopting a security-fence technology known as “closed-loop, live-earth system” to wrap around the pipelines, and burying the pipelines deep underground are effective ways to make life difficult for vandals. Enclosing the pipelines in clam-shell type concrete pipes will add a redundant layer of security. The “closed-loop, live-earth system” technology can map the entire length of the pipeline in discrete sections. If the security of a section is breached, an alarm is sent to the pipeline security office, which can quickly dispatch armed personnel to the area. The protection inherent in this approach is that vandals have to spend hours digging through soil, reinforced concrete and electrified security enclosure to get to the pipeline. Throw in security cameras, off-limit perimeters along the pipeline, and constant patrol; you can achieve near-impenetrable security around the pipeline. The problem with Nigeria is not lack of money. The problem with Nigeria today is the culture of apathy and lack of accountability and dedication. The minister of power should know how to keep the pipelines safe from vandals. That’s his job. But since no one would hold him accountable, he has found it convenient to sidestep responsibility and blame his failure on vandals. |
| Politics › Re: ". .good For The Goose Is Good For. ."|fed. Character,let's Have State Character by Pifa: 3:59am On Feb 07, 2010 |
^^^^ First you disparaged Obama’s victory as a fluke (do you know what a fluke is?), then you went on to give the very cogent reasons for his election victory. What is your bearing? |
| Politics › Re: Lagos City Hall Is Back. I Tought Some Ignoramus Say Na Only Tiles Den Lay: by Pifa: 7:09pm On Feb 06, 2010 |
It's a damning indictment of the state of security in Lagos when every home, business, structure or facility must be fenced off like a prison in order to keep out miscreants. There was a time, when I was still quite young, we would walk from school and sit around the open plaza in front of city hall waiting for our parents to end work and take us home. It's commendable that the state has renovated the building, but I see despair when I look at pictures of Lagos with security fence surrounding every building. Public parks are fenced off. Shopping malls are fenced off. Even the police stations are walled off like prisons. I see photographs of the state secretariat in Ikeja and how government has partitioned itself from the citizens for fear of armed robbers. I've been to many communities in the US and Europe and I have yet to see a seat of government that had a fence around it. The idea of a walled-off seat of government will be anathema to the American psyche. It does nothing but isolate government from the governed, symbolically. Unfortunately, the walled fence has become regimented into the Nigerian psyche. There is nothing to celebrate here! |
| Politics › Re: Uniben Produces First Female S U G President. . . by Pifa: 7:17am On Feb 03, 2010 |
Demdem:Gracias! |
| Politics › Re: Uniben Produces First Female S U G President. . . by Pifa: 3:58am On Feb 03, 2010 |
What does SUG stand for? |
| Politics › Re: Eko O Ni Baje O. We'll Get It Together. by Pifa: 7:04am On Feb 02, 2010 |
Is it possible for Fashola to run as an independent? Does the Nigerian constitution or electoral laws even permit such an action? |
| Politics › Re: I ’ve Failed My People —niger Governor by Pifa: 6:54am On Feb 02, 2010 |
It's not enough to admit failure of leadership, although it was quite admirable of him to do so. He needs to "fall on his own sword" and resign. That will be the honorable thing to do. |
| Politics › Re: Turai Lambasts Former Head Of State Over 'eminent Elders Group,' Promises No Pow by Pifa: 11:47pm On Jan 30, 2010 |
Tsiya: Tsiya:Yours is one of the more intelligent posts I’ve read in this forum. How an ordinary spouse could be credited with such manipulative power is an indictment of the primacy of the legislature and the executive council in Nigeria. Neither the constitution nor statute provides for the spouse of the president any executive responsibility over the affairs of state. When lawmakers credit the president’s wife as the all-powerful manipulator-in-chief, they are in effect using her to sidestep their responsibility to the state. Whatever perceived powers this woman has can be neutralized by a single stroke of legislative resolution that temporarily strips the president of power until he can produce his physical self and evidence of fitness to resume his duties as president. Obviously, the legislators are too spineless undertake any such resolution. The problem with the current state of affairs in Nigeria is not Turai. The problem with Nigeria is the cultural disregard for the supremacy of the institution over the individual. As Obama said during his trip to Ghana last year, “Africa does not need strongmen; Africa needs strong institutions.” |
| Politics › Re: Fashola & Mega Corruption The True Face Of Lagos (part 1) by Pifa: 11:17pm On Jan 30, 2010 |
Let me clarify one thing here. The purpose of the investigation should not be to nail Fashola and his administration. The purpose should be to open up the procurement process and make it transparent to the public. Even the most ardent detractor of the governor will attest to the work he is doing in Lagos. But this is not the first time we've heard about misappropriation of funds and cozy dealings with political creditors. And given the aggressiveness with which the Fashola administration pursues tax collection in the state, shouldn't the taxpayers know how their money is being spent? We've learnt from news reports that the governor is pushing the FOI bill, which will be one of the best gifts he will deliver to Lagos, if he can push it through the legislature and endow it with some legal teeth. But it shouldn't absolve him or any member of his administration from accountability. There will be waste in government. That's an unavoidable fact of life, be it in Lagos, London or anywhere in the world. There will also be sweetheart deals. That, too, is unavoidable. If a contractor got a sweetheart deal at a reasonable sum and delivered a superb-quality road with good drainage and lasting street markings, is anyone going to complain? But talking to those on the ground in Lagos, you'll quickly learn that come rainfall, many of the new roads degenerate into vehicle-damaging, pothole-filled passageways that soon gobble up more funds in premature repairs. That's the issue! It is about the value taxpayers are getting for their money. |
| Politics › Re: Judge Awards ₦100m Damages To Uzoma Okere by Pifa: 9:58pm On Jan 30, 2010 |
ade_yinka:Muchisimas gracias, counsel! That’s Californian Spanish for “thank you very much.” I'll see how I can get my hands on the judgment. There is a precedent for this, actually. You might be able to dig it out in case law archive. https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-388585.96.html#msg5406356 See this post Most of us reading about this case are quite pleased that the courts in Lagos have stood up to the bullies in uniform again. One thing I would really like to see is dishonorable discharge of all the military men involved in this case, although I wouldn't hold my breath on that happening. In the US, dishonorable discharge would have been a fore-gone conclusion. Additionally, the district attorney of the locale would also prosecute them criminally. All in all, these thugs would lose out on three fronts: civil liability, criminal conviction and possible incarceration, and military dismissal. The military dismissal would be especially painful because the defendants might forfeit their pensions. The criminal conviction would also stay on their public records for ever, and would affect their ability to hold certain jobs for the rest of their lives. |
| Politics › Re: Fashola & Mega Corruption The True Face Of Lagos (part 1) by Pifa: 8:15pm On Jan 30, 2010 |
This is quite a long list of serious allegations. Even if some of them turn out to be baseless, as I expect (e.g. the commotion over the luxury yacht that fizzled no sooner than it bubbled up), the allegations need to be investigated by a non-partisan investigator who is not an employee of the state. The Lagos press, too, must pursue vigorously every of these allegations to unearth any veracity to them, if there are. One troubling part is the frequent mention of a Mr. Olowolafe and his success in repeatedly scoring contract awards from the state government. Is he really that good? And why should questions not be raised about his coziness with government officials? If Lagosians are not seeing the two recently-purchased helicopters in the sky do what they were purchased to do, shouldn't the government be compelled to tell the people why? There is a long list concerns about state expenditures and wasteful spending that need to be brought out in the open. I would expect the Fashola “Amen Choir” to come out and challenge these allegations as witch hunt by Fashola’s detractors. But no one can dispute the fact that transparency is missing from governance in Lagos. Even the little community where I live in the US could not buy an ordinary fire engine without fielding questions from taxpayers about the procurement process. Fashola cannot talk up the game of democracy without following its script. The Fashola government does waste funds and will continue to waste funds until erudite taxpayers are given the opportunity to peer through government processes and challenge ineffectual projects. This is not to say that people should expect perfection from government; that will be unreasonable. What matters though is the magnitude of those “imperfections” and the frequency with which they occur. There is a lot of money in the coffers of Lagos state – well, relative to the Nigerian standard of wealth – and no doubt, many of these contractors see the state as a springboard to business success and wealth. Reliance on government for business should never be a sin. The issue here is the quality and value of goods taxpayers are getting in return. |
| Politics › Re: Judge Awards ₦100m Damages To Uzoma Okere by Pifa: 12:21am On Jan 30, 2010 |
ade_yinka:What might be the basis for their appeal? If you’re in Lagos, you might have access to the record of the judgment, assuming such documents are available to the general public. Are you an attorney based in Lagos? |
| Politics › Re: Judge Awards ₦100m Damages To Uzoma Okere by Pifa: 12:05am On Jan 29, 2010 |
In any civilized society, the admiral and his goons would also face a criminal trial, as well as dishonorable discharge from the military. Does anyone know if they are still in uniform? |
| Politics › Re: Judge Awards ₦100m Damages To Uzoma Okere by Pifa: 11:51pm On Jan 28, 2010 |
Tudór:The news reports did a poor job of reporting by not stating the breakdown of the judgment among the defendants (including the Nigerian navy). However, for the plaintiffs, the second phase of this case will be to seek an order of garnishee against the defendants, their paychecks, their bank accounts and other assets the court might throw into the mix. As I was informed, the garnishment order will give the plaintiffs the right to go after the defendants' bank accounts. And by court order, the banks must garnish the accounts to pay the plaintiffs. If there is a Nigerian-based attorney in the house, please chime in and clarify my post. |
| Politics › Re: Judge Awards ₦100m Damages To Uzoma Okere by Pifa: 11:21pm On Jan 28, 2010 |
BlueDiva:The admiral, who is the first defendant in this case, has already served notice that he will appeal the ruling. I am not sure about jurisprudence in Nigeria, but where I live, you must have at least one ground on which to base your appeal. You can appeal if you can make an argument that the judge committed significant and relevant error in his or her judgment. You can appeal if you can make a case that the other party concealed evidence, which may be material to the case and favorable to you (this works one way and only in favor of a defendant in a criminal case). You can appeal if you can make a case that the judgment contained extrajudicial elements outside the guidelines for sentencing or assigning liability (e.g., the judgment award was excessively larger than liability guidelines allow). You can appeal on constitutional grounds. You can appeal if you can demonstrate jury tampering during the trial. The list goes on The scope of grounds for appeal is quite narrow. But it cannot be because you simply don't like the judgment! |
| Politics › Re: Judge Awards ₦100m Damages To Uzoma Okere by Pifa: 10:42pm On Jan 28, 2010 |
An0nimus:I think that is the better part of this judgment. What victims of crime want is not only punishment of their wrongdoer, but restitution as well. In this case, there is no way to make restitution for the physical assault on the victim. But a public apology will serve in the stead. |
| Politics › Re: Judge Awards ₦100m Damages To Uzoma Okere by Pifa: 10:27pm On Jan 28, 2010 |
frudokafor:What is "mopol"? |
| Politics › Re: Judge Awards ₦100m Damages To Uzoma Okere by Pifa: 10:25pm On Jan 28, 2010 |
There is a precedent for this type of judgment in an assault on a civilian by military personnel. From what family sources told me, during Gowon’s administration, the then governor of Rivers had his military hangers-around beat up a reporter in the state house. The reporter sued in court and was awarded what amounted to more than $10,000 at the time (based on 1:1 exchange rate). Adjusted for 5% annual inflation rate, $10k during Gowon’s administration may be the equivalent of $60k in today's buying power. Inflation in Nigeria may be more than 5%/yr, but 5% seems like a reasonable assumption. I am not sure of the correct spelling, but I think the governor's name sounded something like was Dieter Spiff. He, too, was a naval officer. ------------ My memory is sketchy, but this was told to me last November. Some of you may have more accurate information. |
| Politics › Re: Gold Discovered In South West by Pifa: 4:42pm On Jan 28, 2010 |
Sam Milla:Sam Milla, What is a "Ghana must go bag"? |
| Politics › Re: World Bank Votes $65m For Abuja Airport Fencing by Pifa: 7:46am On Jan 26, 2010 |
Kobojunkie:The reasons they’ll need that $65m fence are numerous. 1) Many (not all) airport fence systems are double-perimeter fences. The median between the perimeter fences is normally used for vehicular patrol. 2) The installation of the fence may require bush clearing. 3) The fence posts may need concrete anchors for stability. 4) Some high-security airport fences are electrified to a standard known as “closed-loop, live-earth system” to detect intrusion by two-legged animals. This is one aspect of security fence design that can drain a lot of money. Each section or fence panel forms an independent electrical circuit. In the common wire-mesh design for example, if an intruder were to cut or break a link in the wire mesh, it would break the closed circuit and send an annunciator to the security control room. Since each section of the fence is electrically mapped around the airport, security personnel will know exactly where the intrusion occurred. 5) The fence may also have closed-circuit television monitoring. 6) Adding barbed or razor wire to the fence to keep out both man and animals. 7) I think some airport security fences are electrified to give a mild but noticeable jolt (not sure about this). There are many more probable reasons for the high cost, but these are all I know. Airports – especially international airports – are very large places. So, the labor and material cost to clear the bush, pour concrete, erect the fences, pave the service road between double-perimeter fences, complete electrical wiring, install the CCTVs and build the security command center and all other activities will be enough to consume all that $65m. |
| Politics › Re: World Bank Votes $65m For Abuja Airport Fencing by Pifa: 6:13am On Jan 26, 2010 |
blacksta:There are quite a few of misstatements thrown around here and mostly due to ignorance. Did you guys ever stop to think that not all fire trucks are the same? Just like automobiles, they come in different shapes, sizes and are loaded with different equipment. There are fire engines that have 200 to over 2500 gallon water storage capacity as well as foam-discharging capacity. Fire fighters want to start fighting a fire right away rather than wait for hook up to a fire hydrant which may not be close by. That's why fire trucks carry foam and water. Modern fire engines come with pumping stations that boost the pressure from the trucks' tanks or fire hydrants before the water discharges through fire hoses. The type of fire engines used in airports must have powerful pressure pumps so that the fire trucks can fight an aircraft fire in a standoffish manner. You don’t want to get too close to a burning aircraft, if its fuel might ignite in your face. In fact, the greatest danger in an airliner crash is not always the crash itself, but the highly flammable jet fuel it carries. This is the reason airliners dump fuel before making a purposeful crash landing. Some fire trucks come with electrically-operated telescopic ladders (electro-hydraulics) that can reach a four-story or taller building. Modern trucks often have electrically operated fire-hose reels for faster and easier unreeling. Large fire trucks may have the capacity to carry 12 or more firefighters, and some have facilities that can be used as command centers by a fire chief in major fires. Modern fire trucks might carry communications gear the crew can use to summon help from neighboring or distant fire stations. All these add to the cost of the fire truck. To provide power for all these electrical equipment, fire trucks are equipped with generators. A large fire truck – the type used for high-rise-building fires and airport fires -- may have an on-board generator that can deliver 2-20kW of power. More cost adders. Now think of how large an engine the truck will need to haul all these equipment around. On large trucks, the engine alone cost well over $60K (how much do you think fuel tankers that ply the roads cost?). So, modern fire trucks can range in price from $75k for the smallest ones to over $1m for the largest ones with telescopic ladders. The small community where I live just purchased a new one last year at a cost of over $637,000. We live in a fire zone (almost everywhere in Cali is a fire zone), so having a well-equipped fire department is not something we take for granted. |
| Politics › Re: America Is Working To Destroy Nigeria by Pifa: 5:35am On Jan 19, 2010 |
It is quite absurd for anyone to suggest that the US working to destabilize Nigeria. No black nation on earth is more favored by the US in any category you can imagine than Nigeria. From the US visa lottery to monetary and technical aid to trade preferences, Nigeria had always topped America's roster of favored nations in Africa. Unfortunately, Nigeria has failed to utilize its preferred status (and in some cases abused it) for internal development. Recently, it was revealed that Nigeria has failed -- a word that is now becoming synonymous with Nigeria -- to take advantage of the US Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (a law passed by the US Congress) to promote its manufactured goods in the US because Nigeria produces few such goods that can meet America's quality standards. The Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, Europeans, South Americans all sell manufactured goods in the US market because they do the necessary due diligence to satisfy the safety and quality demands of the American consumer. Nigeria, on the other, has never bothered to work hard to develop its industrial base other than the promotion of its “naturally sweet” crude oil. Nigeria's leadership has failed time and again to seize the goodwill and assistance of the United States to raise the nation to economic and political prominence in the world. Rather, the ruling elite could see no further than milking the ND of its crude oil to feed unproductive states in certain parts of the country and line the pockets of the political elite. The US, Canada, Britain, France, Germany Australia, Japan – name any industrialized democracy – once placed their bet on Nigeria to be catalyst for democracy, industrialization and poverty alleviation in Sub-Saharan Africa. A developed Nigeria, the reasoning went at one time, would anchor democratic and economic renaissance in Black Africa. But corruption, incompetence, myopic vision and greed of the ruling class continue to damper that hope. America would want nothing more than a stable and prosperous Nigeria. Such socio-economic order in Nigeria would not only open up the country to US goods and technology, it would usher in a long-sought period of peace, stability and prosperity in Africa. So, in that respect, Nigeria is not only failing the West, it is failing Africa and the black race as well. |
| Politics › Re: Us Ambassadors - Nigeria Becoming An Islamic State by Pifa: 5:18am On Jan 19, 2010 |
Is is true that Sharia is recognized in the Nigerian Constitution? |
| Politics › Re: North Is Provoking Nigerians: Civil War Looms — Lam Adesina by Pifa: 5:14am On Jan 19, 2010 |
@Katsumoto & @Eziachi I learned a few things about Nigeria and the history of the Biafran war from your posts. As someone who left the country at a young age, I rely on historical publications -- such as the documents you posted -- for information about the country and its past. It was also quite pleasant to see you guys carry out this debate without hurling insults at one another. Well done! |
| Politics › Re: Lagos State Govt To Raise $1 Million For Haiti. Up Fashola by Pifa: 4:55am On Jan 19, 2010 |
babapupa: |
| Politics › The Schools Of Lagos by Pifa(op): 9:23pm On Jan 17, 2010 |
[url]http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/5475649-147/%27We_write_on_the_floor%27_.csp[/url] Yes, this is a school in Lagos, Nigeria! And so is this http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/5466132-147/The_school_that_time_forgot_.csp And this [url=http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/5480063-147/story.csp ]http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/5480063-147/story.csp [/url] And this one, too [url=http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/5506741-147/story.csp ]http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/5506741-147/story.csp [/url] Flooded Schools http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/5432675-147/story.csp http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/5470826-147/Schools_appeal_to_council_to_tackle.csp http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/5432440-147/story.csp Video clip of flooded school http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid17190315001?bctid=28312555001 If you're observant, you'll notice in the video that the school is built below grade level, which will make it impossible for water to flow by gravity into the open drainage in the street. Didn't the architect or builder do a site analysis before building this school? Every time I see images like this I often wonder if the gene that aspires to high standards is missing from the Nigerian DNA. No one is asking for Dubai-type architecture, but I don't see how youngsters can be motivated to reach for the moon when they’ve been conditioned since adolescent to live with and accept the mediocrity all around them. And then, there is the school built by a Church http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/5458170-147/story.csp |
| Politics › Re: American Ridicules Lagos From The Air by Pifa: 10:02pm On Jan 16, 2010 |
Sammy107_d:Thank you, Sammy107_d. I would give anything to keep that waterfront area an open space. It’s such a naturally beautiful and an ideal location for a park. Lagos is sorely lacking in this regard. I can see that area as the Grant Park of Lagos (Grant Park was where Obama delivered his acceptance speech on election night 2008). It can become a venue for free concerts, rallies, art exhibitions and so on. I salivate as I am thinking of the possibilities. I have an idea, though. I just need a way to reach the appropriate authorities. Does anyone know if that area is still an open space? |
| Politics › Re: Yara'dua: Wole Soyinka Calls For Civil Disobedience. by Pifa: 9:46pm On Jan 16, 2010 |
The dream must not die. The protests must continue until change comes to be. But will apathy overcome when the journey becomes long and arduous? |
| Politics › Re: American Ridicules Lagos From The Air by Pifa: 4:24am On Jan 16, 2010 |
[quote author=Sammy107_d link=topic=374997.msg5326340#msg5326340 date=1263607889][/quote]@Sammy107_d Note: Photo numbering is top to bottom as you scroll down. 1) Photographs 1-5: Is that green but narrow stretch of land a public park? If so, what is it called? 2) Photograph 10: The green area by the waterfront. Is that a public park? Do you know if there are plans to keep that area an open space? 3) Would you know if Lagos has public parks similar to Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, or Central Park in New York? 4) Are there even public parks in Lagos? I don’t mean small public gardens such as the Muri Okunola “park” on VI. Btw, I do remember Ikoyi Park as being quite large, with water streams running through it. But I think they've turned it into residential or commercial areas. Is that right? |
