₦airaland Forum

The starting point is always 'idea'. Let's hope they have the political, and bureaucratic will power to pursue this laudable idea - of course without losing sight of other sectors.

This is not a good idea.

Glo is and Nitel and both National Carriers.

Selling Nitel to Globacom will create and another unneeded monopoly.

@Topic,

1. The inflation has risen is a malicious lie. The actual fact is that inflation has fallen to it lowest in three years.
2. Unemployement has risen is a baseless conjecture - there is no veritable statistics or database to compare
3. Security problem has always been there; MEND just handed the baton to Boko Haram. If Jonathan had lost it would have been the MEND blowing up pipelines and kidnapping for ransom. By 2015, Boko Haram will either continue or MASSOB will start an armed campaign, either way it's more insecurity. Welcome to Nigeria.

Million of Nigerians who voted for GEJ, voted for unity, and stability, and by extension against religious bigotry, tribalism, sectionalism, dictatorship, disability of the polity as represented by the opposition. The GDP is improving, ministers are on top on their duties, and generally Nigerians have a lot of faith in GEJ and his team.

The article is a hatchet job done by the pro-losers groups.

Lagos Lawmakers Move to Save Speaker

By Gboyega Akinsanmi

Two days after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) operatives raided its complex and arrested two of its accountants, Lagos State House of Assembly will reconvene today for an emergency session.

THISDAY understands that there are concerted moves by key members of the House to save the Speaker, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, from those who want him removed following the allegations of N7 billion financial scam and perjury brought against him by a civil society group, Kick against Corruption.

The session has been slated to commence between 11am and noon, THISDAY gathered. It was learnt last night that the Deputy Speaker Taiwo Kolawole, along with other members, would address the press today to state the position of the House on the allegations.

They will dismiss the allegations as political witch-hunting, THISDAY learnt.The newspaper also learnt that some of the lawmakers, who were expected to resume on October from a 30-day vacation, initially wanted to convene an emergency session to pass a vote of no confidence on Ikuforiji over the allegations, which had led to the questioning of the speaker by EFCC.

He was also to be asked to explain how he spent the N7 billion running cost of the Assembly for a period of 14 months.Speaking with THISDAY on phone, House Ad hoc Chairman on Information and Strategy, Hon. Ipoola Omisore, confirmed that the lawmakers “will reconvene today between 11a.m. and mid-day”.

But the lawmaker declined comments on whether the meeting would be an emergency session where the Assembly would pass a vote of no confidence on the embattled speaker, who has been questioned twice on the allegations.

According to Omisore, “We are definitely holding a session tomorrow (today). But it is not true that we will be holding an emergency session to pass vote of no confidence on the speaker.”

THISDAY gathered that the anti-graft commission would invite some principal officials of the Assembly for questioning on the allegation of financial mismanagement levelled against the speaker.

The source named the principal officers to be invited to include former Deputy Speaker, Hon. Bola Badmus-Olujobi; the immediate past Clerk of the Assembly, Mr. Adewale T. Olatunji; ex-Majority Leader and current Deputy Speaker, Hon. Taiwo; and Chief Whip, Hon. Rasaq Balogun, all of whom are expected to offer explanation into the use of the N7 billion running cost.

Insiders at a meeting Ikuforiji held with selected lawmakers said the speaker briefed them about his trip to EFCC office in Abuja and told them that the principal officers of the assembly would be invited for further investigation.

Although Ikuforiji did not specifically name those who would be invited at the meeting, the source also told THISDAY that both former and serving principal officers might be invited. Also, sources at the meeting spoke on how the speaker pleaded with his colleagues, seeking their cooperation and understanding.

THISDAY checks at the EFCC revealed that Ikuforiji had claimed in his statement of defence last Friday that the assembly receives a monthly running cost of N500 million from the state government.

The investigation further revealed that the speaker told the anti-graft commission that of the N500 million, N5 million is monthly disbursed to each of the 40 members of the assembly.

https://serving.thisdaylive.com/0bef99d6-acf5-4e2c-9779-8fa02ba3fcd4/assets/0609F03.Ikuforiji-Adeyemi.jpg?maxwidth=400&maxheight=540
Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji

Whatever tickles your fancy!

If they churn out more of Amaechi and Chime sort of leaders, and perhaps Rochas and Fashola (without Tinubu), then I couldn't care less if they rule till infinity!

Gbawe:
Why not comment on the examples I cite that shows how GEJ went around promising to privatise the power sector only for that concept to now be relegated at the mercy of gradualism?

^^^^

I generally don't read every long comment. So if you want me to read all your comments. Keep them simple and short.

In any case, if GEJ promised to privatise, and now chooses gradualism, it means something has changed. Perhaps his economic teams has presented superior arguments, propositions. I am not naive; in politics you campaign  to win; the you modify your program to suit the reality on ground. It is only a fool who cannot change his mind in the face of compelling reasons to do so.

Private investors seems not to be taking the bait to invest in the power sector- should government wait endlessly while complaints abound? I am not in government economic team, and I dont pretend to be smarter or more intelligent then the Okonjo, Barth, Abati, and other accomplished Nigerians in his
cabinet. Nor do I profess to know what government (security assessment, pledges and capacity of the investors, etc). I am willing to give government a chance. I want electric power to work as much as other  Nigerians, and GEJ and his economic team would be very foolish not to work towards this.

^^^
We wait with bated breath.

@Gbawe,

The fact that Government plans to build more power stations by itself does not necessary translate to corruption. My grouse against it is that bureaucracy and mismanagement might affect the delivery of result, and it also against the spirit of privatization. Secondly, I also stated government frustration in getting private sector involvement. This problem is simply associated with the huge sum needed to build power station vis-a-vis the security challenges in the country. Investors are generally skeptical in atmosphere of insecurity.

Now government is faced with two choices:

1. Wait endlessly for foreign investors (who in turn are waiting for the security situation to improve)
2. Take the bull by the horn, and build more power station.

While I would favour the first option with a caveat that government deal decisively (whatever that means) with the security problem, Government having all the information (we are generally ignorant) decided that with the caliber of people they have now in government, they can easily circumvent the challenges and deliver electric power to the people. The old power stations were build by government.

Government building power stations, refineries, etc does not necessarily infer corruption or pandering to AGIP as you would have us believe. You do not work in government nor know their thought process!

Sure why not. He look cut out for Presidency in some Nigerian Prison - Alagbon or Kirikiri. Thats why crooks should rule!

@Topic,

Government has no business building power stations after initiating such comprehensive power road maps. I appreciate the difficulty in getting foreign investors to invest in massive infrastructural projects such as power, under the dark cloud of Boko Haramism; nevertheless, government should persevere and be tenacious in their drive towards privatization. Building of power stations by government is actually a step backward no matter the goodness of the intention.

^^
By OsunAregbesewer Defender

Reuben Abati is one of the sharpest mind in SW. He looked beyond the sentiment of ACN and their misadventure in regionalism to unleash his potential alongside some of brightest minds in Nigeria. Some edioots want good people in government, yet they criticize them destructively when they join. Shameless pandering hypocrites!

Carry on Mr. Abati, you are on track. Let the haters catch Boko Haram exploding bombs!

[img]http://3.bp..com/_oWnEufotiMg/TUbJ03pA8xI/AAAAAAAAABU/Q0EQ8vnbFtQ/s1600/yawn.jpg[/img]

^^^
Self assured indeed, leaping for joy over merger with ANPP. I laugh in self assured. 

I can only imagine what would have happened had you not.

FG earned N3.5tn in six months – Minister
By Ifeanyi Onuba, Abuja
Wednesday, 7 Sep 2011

A sum of N3.5tn was realised by the Federal Government as revenue in the first six months of this year, the Minister of National Planning Commission, Dr. Shamsudeen Usman, has said.


The minister gave the figure in Abuja at a media briefing to mark President Goodluck Jonathan’s 100 days in office.


Present at the briefing were the Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji, his counterparts at the ministries of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku; and Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen, respectively.


Usman said the amount, which represented an increase of 9.44 per cent over what was earned in the corresponding period of 2010 was 22.89 per cent of the country’s nominal Gross Domestic Product.


The minister said that owing to the various reforms spearheaded by the Jonathan administration, the positive trend witnessed in revenue generated would be sustained.


He put the country’s external reserves as at the end of last month at $35bn, adding that the amount was an improvement of $3bn over the position in May.


He said, “On the fiscal side, the various reforms embarked upon have paid off, as total revenue receipts from both oil and non oil sources during the first half of 2011 surpassed the figures for the corresponding period of 2010, due to improvements in oil production.


“In this regard, revenue collected during the first half of 2011 increased by 9.44 per cent to N3.511bn or 22.89 per cent of nominal GDP as against N3.20bn in 2010. This trend is expected to be sustained in the future.”


In order to ensure the effective implementation of the development plan of the Federal Government as encapsulated by the Vision 2020 blueprint, the government approved the establishment of a specialised department to monitor and evaluate the performance of MDAs.


Usman said the move was a radical departure from the old experience where lack of monitoring and evaluation became the bane of the country’s development strategies.


He said, “For the first time, key performance indicators have been developed for all the MDAs to facilitate the tracking of policies, programmes and projects.”


Usman pointed out that the monitoring and evaluation report for the first half of this year would soon be released, adding that the move was consistent with government’s commitment to transparency and public accountability.


On partnership with development partners, the minister said that the commission had reviewed its develo

pment assistance in order to ensure that donor assisted programmes were delivered in line with the country’s economic agenda.

http://www.punchontheweb.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201109073564625

https://www.punchontheweb.com/images/July/Wednesday/pix201107132293989.jpg
Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji

Osogbo war of 1840 revisited

Written by Adewuyi Adegbite
Tuesday, September 6, 2011

The Fulani Jihad, led by Sheik Usman Dan Fodio that began in 1804 in Sokoto, and spread gradually to Hausaland and down south of the River Niger, had telling effects, not only on Northern Nigeria, but virtually the whole of modern Nigeria. The cause, course and effects have been well documented by scholars, particularly historians. One lasting effect is the spread of Islam. Other consequences include restructuring of political setting and tribal maps in some parts of modern day Nigeria, including Yorubaland.


Ilorin and its region, which were on the northern fringe of Oyo Empire was sacked by Fulani elements domiciled in that nascent town in 1823 and it therefore, became a satellite of the Sokoto caliphate and a base from where the Jihadists attempted to penetrate, subjugate and Islamise Yorubaland.


Revisiting the Osogbo war of 1840 becomes imperative because many historical works on this aspect of the 19th century Yoruba history have ascribed or attributed the feat to debar the Fulani marauders from penetrating Yorubaland solely to the efforts of Ibadan warriors. Of importance among these wars is the Osogbo war of 1840 under discourse. That supposed feat and Ibadan's role in subsequent battles during the Yoruba internecine wars had led many scholars to also refer to Ibadan as the successor state to the 'erstwhile' Oyo empire. In addition, positions of some scholars have been the basis for Ibadan's clamour for superiority over not a few Yoruba towns, but the Alaafin of Oyo, the sovereign of the old Oyo empire, which was mere distortion of history and tradition.


Contrary to the above, efforts would be made to show that Fulani elements from Ilorin were repelled by combined Yoruba forces, drawn from all supporting towns of Oyo power, in line with defence arrangement perfected by Yoruba leaders led by Alaafin Atiba, at the new capital, Agodoyo around 1837.


Some of the classical literatures on Yoruba history related to the above topic include Iwe Itan Ibadan (History of Ibadan) by Isaac B. Akinyele (1911), History of the Yorubas by Samuel Johnson (1921), Iwe Itan Ogbomoso (History of Ogbomoso) by N.D. Oyerinde (1934), etc. These are some of the classical works by non academic historians from where modern historians drew their conclusions. A painstaking study of these works showed that topical issues like collapse of Oyo empire, Ibadan imperialism, etc, were inventions modern historians.


As an example, Oyo empire can not be said to have collapsed before 1893, in line with British conquest of Sokoto in 1903 and Benin in 1897, etc. What really happened was that the empire declined and its power waned. Research has shown that after the victory of the Ilorin over Yoruba forces during the Eleduwe war of 1835, Emir Shitta sent Ilorin forces to sack Oyo Ile and loot the palace. Consequent upon the attack, Oyo Ile was deserted and has been in ruins ever since. Logically, Oyo empire would have fallen if the Fulani had been able to overrun the whole of the empire as she did to Ilorin and Hausaland where emirs were imposed on conquered territories. However, that was not the case.


Invariably, remnants of the ruing dynasty at Oyo Ile, led by its scion, Abiodun Atiba transferred the capital to Ago Oja and restructured the political/military organisation to safeguard and halt the decline of the empire. Politically, Oluyole a warrior and ruler of the nascent Ibadan was installed Basorun. That was contrary to the tradition at Oyo Ile, which made the Basorun to domicile in the capital. Also, another warrior of note, Kunrunmi of Ijaye, and then head of Ijaye was made the generalissimo or Aare Onakakanfo of the empire. Militarily, a defence pact was made, which made it obligatory for Ibadan to defend the empire from attack from North-eastern and eastern part, while Ijaye was to lead other towns like Iseyin, Saki, Okeho and so on to defend the empire from Dahomey invasion. Ogbomoso another bulwark was mandated to protect the empire from the Fulani invasion from the North.


It should be noted that all the wars credited to Ibadan forces, either against Ilorin, Ijebu, Egba, Ijesha, Ekiti, etc, were in line with this arrangement.


Those wars were to protect the remnant of the empire on one hand and to bring back the breakaway satellites into the fold, on the other hand.


Another fact worth knowing is the composition of the Ibadan warriors. It composed of warriors from major Oyo supporting towns or satellites. For example, Ope agbe, Ogunmola, Delesolu Abayomi Lajubutan, Ali Iwo, Ibikunle, Mosaderin, etc migrated to Ibadan from Ogbomoso area. Equally, Mohammed Latosisa went to Ibadan from Ilora and Ajayi Ogboriefan from Ejigbo, etc.


Besides, all Yoruba towns sent their forces to fight along Ibadan during wars such as Osogbo, Jalumi, Ofa, Kiriji, etc. That was the practice at Oyo Ile and this they maintained until 1893. Equally, it was Adeyemi 1 that the warrior reported to after the wars and his quota of the war booty was sent to him as the sovereign. Vividly, like in Oyo Ile, there were over ambitious functionaries of government in the mould of Basorun Gaa, Edun of Gbogun and Afonja of Ilorin, etc who usurped the power of the Alaafin and insubordinated to him like Ogunmola, Latosisa, etc.


That did not mean that Oyo empire collapsed and Ibadan took over. Subsequent events during the course of the wars and the roles played by the


Alaafin until the signing of treaty of protectorate with British colonialist by Alaafin Adeyemi in 1893, buttressed the fact of survival of the Oyo empire.

Adegbite wrote in from Ogbomosho.

http://odili.net/news/source/2011/sep/6/600.html

oyb:
Wikileaks - President Goodluck Jonathan Had A "Chequered Past"


wikileaks -  telling us more of what we know

http://allafrica.com/stories/201109060826.html


U.S. Cable Says - Jonathan Ineffective As Governor

Habeeb I. Pindiga and Mohammed S. Shehu

6 September 2011

President Goodluck Jonathan had a "chequered past as a corrupt and ineffective state governor", according to a secret United States diplomatic cable leaked by whistle-blowing website Wikileaks.

The U.S. cable was prepared by its embassy in Abuja and sent to Washington in the wake of the terminal illness of then President Umaru Yar'adua, and was expressing fears over Jonathan's competence as he waited in the wings to take over in the event of Yar'adua's death.

The cable, dated December 1, 2009, said, "Dark rumors about Yar'adua's health have given way to broad fears that Yar'adua is likely entering his final days. Even if he defies the odds and returns to resume his duties, at least nominally, his authority has taken such a battering that he would be hard pressed to keep rivals in check, much less enforce his writ in government and the party. We will report on December 2 Vice President Jonathan's chequered past as a corrupt and ineffective state governor and his options in the current situation."

The cable did not state specifically what made the Americans formed this opinion about Jonathan. But another U.S. cable said in September 2006, the Economic and Financial Crimes commission (EFCC) seized USD 13.5 million from Jonathan's wife Patience at an airport. "Reports indicated the money was laundered through an associate; Jonathan managed to distance himself from the deal. The anti-graft commission investigating the source of the money has reported no findings to date. Although Jonathan's name was on the 2006 list of governors accused of corruption, he has not been publicly charged," the cable, created in 2007, explained.

When contacted for comments on the contents of the U.S. cables, Jonathan's spokesman Dr. Reuben Abati said, "These issues are totally immaterial in the present circumstance. I cannot react to it because my brief at the moment is that I speak for the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, not the governor of Bayelsa State. In fact, you should understand that Wikileaks is about conversations between people, it is about peoples' opinion on a particular matter. So, I have nothing to say on that."

The December 1, 2009 cable also quoted former information minister Professor Dora Akunyili as telling U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria Robin Sanders that the then Vice President Goodluck Jonathan was "symbolically in charge", but was afraid to exercise any authority.

She was quoted as telling the U.S. official that "the country is in a real mess as Yar'adua has been in and out of a comatose state since his arrival in Saudi, only coming out briefly afternoon of November 30, and since then he has been in a coma."

The report said when the Ambassador asked who was really running the day-to-day tasks of the country "as in the past it had unofficially been National Security Advisor Muktar and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), the former Information Minister admitted that this remained the case, but noted that Jonathan wanted to step into the light more, but was afraid to do so."

According to the cable, Akunyili said, "Yar'adua and Jonathan never had a good relationship" because the President mistrusted Jonathan and that there was always a sense from Yar'adua that the VP was "just waiting for him to die. "

In another cable, leaked by Wikileaks, the then Chief of Army Staff General Abdulrahman Dambazau said he was worried that Jonathan as acting president was becoming very sectional and that he was too easily influenced by others, particularly former president Obasanjo.

The meeting between Dambazau and the American ambassador took place on February 24. Dambazau told Ms. Sanders that Obasanjo was "in and out of Aguda House, Jonathan's residence, several times a day now, and it is making people uncomfortable, particularly in the North."

He urged the ambassador to call on Jonathan to be "his own man," which she did, as reported in another cable.

On the tension in the country in the days following Yar'adua's return to Nigeria from Saudi Arabia, Dambazau told Ms. Sanders that the "Katsina group" around Yar'adua had "caged" him off. He told the ambassador that Jonathan was beginning to exhibit similar tendencies, with the people around him behaving just as badly as the Katsina clique, and Jonathan handing out favors to his ethnic group.

"He (Dambazau) gave the example of the recent transfer of N19 billion of GON (government) funds to a Niger Delta environmental project that was done at the end of a meeting that Jonathan had with a group from his region. Dambazau said this was done outside of the normal Cabinet decision-making process." The cable said.

The cables were released last Friday in a mass publication of all the yet-to-be-released U.S. diplomatic cables obtained by Wikileaks. The website decided to publish everything following a disagreement with one of its partner newspapers, the Guardian of Britain. In November last year, Wikileaks began the piece-meal release of the 251,287 leaked cables.

The thing about Wikileaks that most people conveniently forget is that Wikileak is mainly opinion of people based on discussion. Some of these opinion might be true, some generalised, some baseless rumour, some unconfirmed reports, some might be deliberate misleading lies/information.

Bottomline, wikileaks might not be all that different from the discussions you and I have here on Nairaland, or read on Newspapers. So we shouldn't swallow everything hook, line, and sinker, just because it came from Oyiboland or Oyinbo man or woman.  

^^^
I did not state otherwise.

Negro_Ntns:
You should not abandon PDP. You currently have voice representation in PDP. Why would you want to dump that?  

I say remain in PDP but float APGA as a mainstream contender. Whichever way it ends, you have presence; it mat not be what you want, but you have a tangible power that you can use smartly to steadily and enduringly use to advantage and eliminate rivals and emerge as the top dawg!  

Did you not read what Obj said about House of Reps position few days ago?  Go and re-read and analyze his intent. The man is not silly, he is mischievious! I hope his mischief pays out in good favor.

Ordinary, I dont normally agree with you. But I will make exception this time. You are spot on.

This is not the time to abandon PDP. Why would SE want to start afresh. SE dont have one voice in PDP, they have multiples.
The SGF, Deputy Senate President, Deputy Speaker (and a closet Igbo President in GEJ)

Other voices are Amaechi, Okonjo, Barth, Chime, etc who could portray the SE in better light.

2015 PDP's Presidential Candidate Slot is SE Zone to lose, I wouldn't suggest going down without a fight.

Unless presented with superior argument, I agree SE could and should use the machinery of PDP to contest the 2015 general election. SE Politicians should not simply walk away from PDP gold mine, 'three feet' away from gold!

@Topic
No, certainly not. The bulk of them are simply Association of Clueless Nigerians.

They are the same people who predicted a landslide victory for Gen. Buhari at the last poll. What do they know, other than expressing their frustration and dreaming the Buhari will unseat GEJ at the election tribunal? Pathetic lot them.

And there are those who are professional critics, they criticise anything that happens, without any scruples (paid critics maybe).

But that said, there are also genuine critics, whose criticisms are borne out of real desire to see rapid improvement in the polity, and nation. These one are noted for there efforts in suggesting alternative solutions.

There you are my friend.  

Blueteeth, desoko, senate, and gbagbe will be the greatest obstacle towards achieving such in Nairaland.

Real monikers are not used to protect the guilty. Pun intended.

^^^

The key word there is converted to Islam in 2003. He probably also lived all his life in the North. Maybe his is another Sambo.  and their hasty news

South.East:
Point B
Could be a typo from the reporter. You know Naija type of journalism. Just reverse the figures for the test and total investment and you get the true sense.

Let's hope so.

@Gbawe,

Pointb, Beaf et all are more powerful than Aregbesewer. We single handedly caused the governor to gallivant, abandoning his state for no one in particular. Due to our persistent scheming, we made him not to appoint his commissioners in 9 months. We conspired to create rain in his first few months therefore making him push his road construction gimmicks to another dry season. Then our collaborative efforts caused the worker of Osun State to demand for better welfare by embarking on strike, after we made him promised to build phantom road (perhaps after four raining seasons) covering three states - from  Osun into the territories of  Ogun, and Lagos, while his mates are moving to rails.

Now bow before us your new Lords and Masters and beg for mercy, else  we will unleash further mayhem in Osun State, and make the gallivanting, clueless rascal -  Aregbesewer turn to Obj and PDP for solutions. 

Silly man! 

^^^^
The predicted he was going the win. His name is Mohammud bin Buhari.

^^^
Sure fair enough.

Demdem:
i agree to an extent however under the unable leadership of a failure (right from his bayelsa days) whose antecedents also precedes, i honestly see no light at the end of the tunnel for now

I will lose faith when Okonjo, Barth, Aganga, and Mrs. Omobola Johnson resign. I think they would be stu-pid to let anyone rubbish their antecedents, until then. No shaking!

A consortium of indigenous oil refinery companies known as Ozza Joint Ventures Oil Field Limited is to start refining crude oil in Umuokwo, Ukwa West of Abia State with a whopping sum of $100 million.

The consortium, Millennium Oil and Gas Limited, Emerald Oil and Gas and Hardy Oil Nigeria Limited, said the group has so far spent about A consortium of indigenous oil refinery companies known as Ozza Joint Ventures Oil Field Limited is to start refining crude oil in Umuokwo, Ukwa West of Abia State with a whopping sum of $100 million.

The consortium, Millennium Oil and Gas Limited, Emerald Oil and Gas and Hardy Oil Nigeria Limited, said the group has so far spent about $1 billion on various tests that will spur the commencement of production. on various tests that will spur the commencement of production.

Something is wrong with this picture.

You are invest a[b] whooping sum of $100 million, [/b] but you spend  about[b] $1 Billion on test[/b].
I think something is terribly wrong with this project, I am not jumping up!