₦airaland Forum

@Okija_Juju
Na wa oo. Wetin Ekiti do you this morning. Abeg forgive ooo.  

@topic;

Merging the states sounds easy, but in practical terms who will consider it? How cam Reps and Senators consider losing their source of income? How about the governors, their cronies et all? I dont see these happening without a major shake up of the Nigerian power/economic structure.

The governors should start think outside the box. They should look for novel well of increasing their IGR. Tourism is a very good strategy here. The state governors can actually start by improving tourist sites and encouraging internal tourism. Scheme parks, targeted taxes etc are simple things they could do.

But before this, cutting down waste and ensuring every kobo spent is worth it should be the first priority.

Edo Govt Denies Suit over SWF

28 Oct 2011

Font Size: a / A
1704F03.Adams-Oshiomhole.jpg - 1704F03.Adams-Oshiomhole.jpg

Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole

Edo State Government has denied reports that it was one of the states that went to the Supreme Court to challenge the Federal Government over the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF).

In a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Edo State Governor, Mr. Peter Okhiria, the state said it was never part of any meeting where it was decided that governors would go to court over the issue.

The statement read in part: “Our attention has been drawn to a report widely carried by newspapers on Tuesday (October 25, 2011) purporting that some states in the Federation including Edo States had gone to the Supreme Court to challenge the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF).

“To put the record straight, Edo State Government wishes to state that at no time was it part of a meeting where that decision was taken to go to court over SWF.  Nor did it authorise any lawyer to file such brief on its behalf.

“The truth of the matter is that Edo State Government and other states have been involved in dialogue with the Federal Govern-ment towards resolving the matter.  Also, it is true that Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, was consulted before the sum of $1 billion was committed to open the SWF by the Federal Government.

“The last meeting called by President Goodluck Jonathan and attended by Governors over SWF was not conclusive.  It was agreed that discussion would continue at the next meeting.


“The Edo State Government wishes to say that it remains committed to the ongoing conversation to resolve the matter.”


http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/edo-govt-denies-suit-over-swf/101499/


https://serving.thisdaylive.com/0bef99d6-acf5-4e2c-9779-8fa02ba3fcd4/assets/1704F03.Adams-Oshiomhole.jpg?maxwidth=400&maxheight=540

anishe:
Why are people castigating Aregbesola for his actions. I think it is higj time we started standing up to our useless leaders. Was GEJ right to order the police to stop ACN supporters from entering Abuja? Shame on Useless and coward GEJ that parade himself as Nigerian president. RUBBISH

If they were suspected of going to forment trouble, it is the duty of the police to stop them. Inflaming passion in Abuja is not particulary healthy with the kind of security situation we have now. Besides Tinubu does not suffer the lack of sycophants in abuja, why bring in more hired rascals and thug.

That said. The words of Aregbesola, and his body language towards the President is a brazen display of childishness and uncultured attitude. He likes are better suited for motor parks thugs, or at best KAI/LASTMA. He has no business in the state house with his this kind of bahaviour.

Osun state had simply dumped one rascal (from PDP plc) for another equally rascal fellow (from ACN Ltd). Nothing has changed!

Nigeria, Australia Reach Trade Agreement

28 Oct 2011

Font Size: a / A
2810N.Jonathan and Gillard.jpg - 2810N.Jonathan and Gillard.jpg

President Jonathan and President Gillard

From Ahamefula Ogbu in Abuja

Nigeria and Australia yesterday sealed a deal to mechanise agreements reached on the business front with the setting up of an Nigeria-Australia Trade and Investment Council to identify and further areas of economic cooperation and interests between them.,
The announcement, which came from President Goodluck

Jonathan and the Australian Prime Minister, Ms. Julia Gillard, after a series of meetings in Perth, Australia, said the Council would focus on the areas of energy, mining, agriculture and financial services, among others.

Gillard said the private sector in Nigeria would be highly involved in the activities of the Council, adding that the meeting would be convened early next year in Nigeria to kick-start and promote its activities in the country.

Two business giants from both countries were also named to co-chair the council, with Mr. Hugh Morgan representing Australia while Chairman of Diamond Group Advisory Board, Chief Paschal Dozie, would represent Nigeria.

Nigeria’s Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, and his Australian counterpart, Dr. Craig Emerson, were named patrons of the Council which would have secretariats in Lagos, Nigeria and Perth, Australia.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/nigeria-australia-reach-trade-agreement/101503/

https://serving.thisdaylive.com/0bef99d6-acf5-4e2c-9779-8fa02ba3fcd4/assets/2810N.Jonathan%20and%20Gillard.jpg?maxwidth=400&maxheight=540

Pukkah:
The CAN President also gave a condition: 'the Federal Government must convince Nigerians that the gains from the exercise will be judiciously managed for the benefit of the masses of the country'.

How possible is this?  How can a government that has not been able to police its borders or fight the corrupt oil cartel convince anybody that it will use the savings judiciously? In any case, won't the savings also be shared to those thieving governors over whom nobody has any control?  It is more difficult for a camel to walk through the eye of a needle than for the government to convince these long-suffering Nigerians.

Besides,  how come CAN is not calling the attention of the government to the state of the refineries in Nigeria?  Must we swallow this 'bitter pill'?  Must we shamefully remain as perpetual petrol importers?  We have continued to import fuel to the detriment of our naira exchange rate and local employment.  Is this how things will remain?

Men of God should nudge politicians in the right direction and not try to pander to their whims.

Personally, I don't think Government should be involved in building new refineries. Experience so far shows that it doesn't just work. But if Government has the resources and will power to do so, it would be nice.

desthan:
No comment. . . i was indoor all day casting my votes in the right ballot box

Lol, you must be from SW. Pray, what was the right ballot box?  

@Topic,

C.A.N is right on this one.

Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has thrown its weight behind the proposed oil subsidy removal, arguing that the Federal Government must convince Nigerians that the gains from the exercise will be judiciously managed for the benefit of the masses of the country.

Speaking in Lagos, yesterday, at the annual symposium on Christian unity, CAN National President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, said the decision to remove oil subsidy was an inevitable painful pill to swallow. He argued that if the government can assure Nigerians that this exercise will not go the same way of past ones, then the country would be better for it.

The responsibility is now on the government to explain to Labour, and Union leaders, and win them to the superior argument of the need for removal of subsidy.

@Topic,
[b]Decorum [/b]is one very crucial element for every political office holder.
Now [b]rascally [/b]behaviour as exhibited by this governor, is exactly the opposite of Decorum.

Yet people wonder why Aregbesola is variously calledd AregbeRascal, AregbeSewer, or why he 'allegedly' slapped Fashola.

If not for imposition, is this man the best Osun state can churn out? In any case, Osun state will have to endure this mistake of a governor for a while, I suppose

jmaine:
Buncha mourning folks . . . .you have the next 3 years to keep mourning . . . . so sad

Putting it mildly, like a true gentleman.

Oga Jason, i dey go work in the morning! A beg make I go sleep. Good nite.

@JASON
free and fair is relative. Hence relative to the past election in Nigeria 2011 is the freest and fairest. That shld settle the argument.

I don't know the number of hausa in the SE or how many of the turned out to vote, or if they even migrated to their different state to vote. But let me even ask u, how many relative do you have in the south east for starters? I know how many relatives i have far and wide in Nigeria.

Indeed election in Nigeria is always a matter of sentiment. Besides people vote for the man who draws close to them. Something buhari failed to do in the SE. It will be silly for him to expect any substantial vote in places where he had not even visible poster. That said, the underlying reasons why he lost so woefully in the SE is a matter for academics research. Speculations as per tribalism as the core motive is malicious and self serving. Or perhaps a way for losers to console themselves. Either way, GEJ is the president and i am sure he is doing his best.

^^^
@Jason
You don't have to be so sad. GEJ is much a better president than Buhari, I say this with deepest conviction.

^^^
State your and get out if the way. North is the one dragging Nigeria back. How come u are the only one who doesn't know this? Are u an abok?

@Jason
that is to say u conducted an exit poll at the polling station.

my fair suggestion to you is that, not every one believe in Buhari as u did. The earlier u understand that the earlier u know why he lost.

Jason, GEJ is president of Nigeria, not of ijaw, igbo, hausa, or Yoruba. He is not going to favour anyone over the other. Fairness is the concern here. Get over your tribal myopia already. The world has moved on.

@Asha80
thanks for pointing that out, the fool paints a region as tribalistic just to make a case that he is not. And he seems so sure of his assertions. People get issues here no be small.

People who voted for GEJ voted according to their need and conscience. It is very pathetic that due to myopia, self conceit, arrogance, and what have you, many of you have decided to be the judge of why the other person voted. Your inability to get over the fact that GEJ was voted by others for good reasons make you lots pathetic. Keep kicking at yourselves, while the rest of us move  on.

^^^
perfect cover for your ignorance.

@asha80,
would u be refering to me?

Core North!

True I see the tribal angle: an itsekiri not happy to see his sworn enemy - ijaw as a president. Pathetic!

@Igbo2011
Don't let alh haram confuse you. He does not know jack about what he is saying. Or do you agree with that Innoson will row out such product without serious safety consideration? Or u think SON would not have visited their office to harass them about safety? Besides how about foreign manufactured vehicles, ask him which body is responsible for safety checks on them.

friend haram is poison. He seeks to present his fictions as fact. Do be fooled!

@Ahj haram
The 2008 meltdown affected the Nigerian banks very badly. If u know anything about the banking sector u will not be talking like an ignoramus. It is partly due to the perceived inability for Soludo to prepare the Nigerian bank for the meltdown that led to his ouster for your mentor and champion SLS. Many banker lost their jobs in the re-organisation that followed. But u wouldn't know this because u think banks are busy employing 3rd class graduates, and all that nonsense you wrote. Which hole did you crawl out from?

@Ahj Harem, i still maintain u don't know jack about the banking sector and the stuff u r talking about. The most recent bail out was done by SLS and it is not in any distant past. The aftershock is still been felt as we speak. If banks employ 3 class graduates what has that got to do with anything?

I must be in very good mode to even entertain this appalling ignorance of yours. People will just open their mouth to yarn what they know next to nothing about. I am a American, as if that somehow manages to fill his knowledge gap.

@Igbo2011
i followed the meltdown and i know what Ford and other Detroit auto guys passed through before they could get the 'bailout' believe me it wasn't easy. Obama spent some political capita to even see it through. As for innoson, i am also very interested in their progress. But one poster did ask a very important question once? Why is the south east governor not patronizing them among others. I very much doubt if innson need very huge capital outlay by the government as much as they need patronage. Besides government how about individuals? Have u made enquiry about their products and or services? Have u tried buying anything from innoson or done any marketing for them?

Beyond innoson, do you personally buy Nigeria? Lets for once focus on what we can do as everything is not government.

@Alh Harem, u don't know jack about what you are talking about? Which banks are government funded? Or are u ignorantly referring to the rescue as government funding of banks. And who told banks are the biggest employer of youth in the country? Do u have any evidence? My friend sometimes it is better to shut up than to expose you level of ignorance.

By 2015 these question will be answered. By the way power is not always given, sometimes it is taken!

@Igbo2011,
lets be realistic in our expections and criticism. Outside subsidy, government is not in the business of funding private company. The banks are responsible for that at the own risk and premium. Besides, if it we so easy to throw money at companies and produce good result, the likes of oceanic, intercontinental, etc banks will not be having problems. Governance, policy making and economics planning is also not exact science. If in doubt ask Greece, Spain, Italy, and co. Yesterday's fantastic ideas, have turned to disasters today. Getting it right requires serious balancing act. So sir, i don't think urn idea can stand the test of time. It sounds like communism!

Presented with the choice of a bigot, a rookie, and an easy going well meaning man, the choice is obvious. GEJ stood head and shoulder above the other main challengers. Regrets are for those without convictions.

jason123:
There is nothing like ND republic except on the internet, of course. There is only Ijaw republic.

lol,

I am hearing Ijaw republic for the first time from you.

Niger Delta Republic has made headlines here and in diverse places. So you denial is completely discounted. Below is just of of the numerous call for Niger Delta Republic, stop distorting facts:

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/07/militant-group-demands-republic-of-niger-delta/

djustice:
This ediiot is talking about fraud Wonders shall never end!!

Fashola siphons from the joint State/LG account. The LGs get only about 20% of their Federal Allocations! This is a FACT. Plus, they're not allowed to collect any of the funds guaranteed them under Fourth Schedule of the Constitution, namely:

1. Private Houses and Tenements Fourth Schedule Part 1 (j) (Tenement Rate, now called Land Use Charge in Lagos State and collected by the state)

2. Waste Disposal: Now collected by LAWMA, an unconstitutional body, existing in direct contradiction of Fourth Schedule Part 1(h)

3. Abbatoirs: Collected by the state in direct contravention of Fourth Schedule Part 1(e)

4. Control and Regulation of Outdoor Advertising and hoarding: Collected by LASAA in direct contravention of Fourth Schedule Part 1(k)i

5. Control and Regulation of Shops and Kiosks, restaurants, bakeries and other places of sale of food to the public; and licensing control and regulation of the sale of liquor (last two includes hotels): All controlled and regulated in Lagos State, under all sorts of different charges, levies, fees and taxes charged directly by the state, in direct contravention of the Fourth Schedule Part 1(k) iii-vi

Fashola and Tinubu are collecting all these revenues, and when you ask, they'll say the Constitution empowers the State House of Assembly to make laws for the Local Governments, and all they are doing is within the ambit of Lagos State Law. However, Lagos State law cannot be and is not under any circumstances superior to the constitution, and where there are conflicts between the two, the constitution prevails. The same constitution, in the same Fourth Schedule, Part 1(d), says that the State House of Assembly may confer more functions in addition to the ones listed on Local Governments in their domain. Nowhere in the Constitution does it say that the state house of Assembly may TAKE AWAY the functions, responsibilities or abridge the rights of the LGs in their domain. These idiots are breaking the law, blatantly, and their poster boy is a SAN.

SAN my foot. Two kobo SAN. And he has the effrontery to talk about fraud! Yeye dey smell. Na stone we go stone all these charlatans for this Lagos seh!

Fashola is just deluding himself; by the time Tinubu layers of fraud are uncovered and he starts singing like a canary, I wonder if Fashola can still talk like a saint! For now let him continue to aid and abet in Tinubu's monumental fraud.

^^^

keep deluding yourself; keep pretending you know me.