We all know the ethnocentric, religiously prejudiced and sentimental nature of our own people. Yet we also have many Nigerians , whether supporters of the APC or PDP, who simply want a Country that works and delivers the basics others take for granted worldwide. If in this latter category do you believe, reading and truly thinking about the grave reality revealed below, that there is any fact-based, and I repeat fact-based justification for voting GEJ?

We have all seen the 'best' GEJ has to offer over 5 years. He totally destroyed Nigeria with wanton corruption as oil sold for $100.00 - $110.00 per barrel and with a relatively stable Naira that held its value well and aided Nigerian trade (private or government) with the rest of the world. What can the profligate and hideously corrupt GEJ, if handed another 4 years, be expected to do for Nigeria with our grave economic outlook occasioned by drastic drop in oil price, with per barrel price now around $50.00, and a Naira that has lost 25%-30% of its value and is expected to slip further in value? We must also remember that it is the GEJ government that wantonly and negligently failed to put 'buffer's' in place as well .

Does it make sense to vote for profligacy, elitism, crony capitalism, fiscal irresponsibility, corruption and waste personified in the form of GEJ given that Nigeria is heading into a very difficult period where it is an ultra-discipled, ascetic, principled, corruption-intolerant and pro-people leader willing to lead by example, like Buhari, that is required to guarantee our survival and progress? Pondering on what is revealed below dispassionately and without sentiments, while also assuming as predicted by many expert that oil prices remain low for the foreseeable future, can any Nigerian factually justify voting for a retention of our current government at the centre? The forum should note I err on the side of optimism with my $50 per barrel price since crude is today selling for around $43.23 per barrel.

http://money.cnn.com/2015/03/18/news/economy/nigeria-oil-finance-minister/

Oil price slump is choking this OPEC economy

Plunging oil prices are taking a heavy toll on one of Africa's top producers.

[size=14pt]Nigeria's currency is trading at a record low against the U.S. dollar, the stock market has slumped 15% this year -- making it the worst performer in Africa -- and financial reserves are being depleted.[/size]

"It's going to be a very difficult year," Nigeria's Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala told CNN. "We've had a more than 50% fall in the price of oil and that has naturally impacted the economy."
Nigeria is currently pumping about 1.8 million barrels of crude oil per day, making it OPEC's 7th biggest producer -- alongside Angola.
It relies on oil for 70% of its income, [size=14pt]and needs a price of nearly $120 a barrel to balance its budget, according to Deutsche Bank.[/size]
The slump has taken world prices below $43 a barrel, their lowest level in six years, and that has placed the economy under severe strain.
It is a crisis that is affecting rich and poor. Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote, the richest man in Africa, has lost over half of his $25 billion wealth in the crisis, according to Bloomberg. Much of that has been wiped out by the falling currency and the stock market crash.

http://www.nasdaq.com/markets/crude-oil.aspx

Nice one MR gbawe of progressive mind.

Meanwhile, Sai Buhari

..

Neyoor:
Nice one MR gbawe of progressive mind.

Meanwhile, Sai Buhari

My brother, I just want responsible Nigerian adults, of sound mind and reasoning, to look at everything dispassionately and ask themselves some questions. I want those capable of doing so to put ego aside and simply look at the reality of today for Nigeria, how we got there, who got us there and who can help us escape what is shaping up to be very painful, potentially crippling and bleak economic period.

so a government that increased salaries paid those salaries, rehabilitated and is currently rebuilding our rail system, rehabilitated our roads, fought and is still fighting bokoharam is reckless, corrupt filled and clueless? There are different sides to every story. Like adchie said when we read and understand the different sides of the story we regain a kind of paradise i hope u find a paradise in the nigerian political story op

You cannot begin to imagine the rippling effect of our rampaged economy. The elections have kept us distracted but we are all in for a shock after the elections. This country has been raped by this government. Only a change of government can rectify it. This president just does not get it nor give a damn.

Charlotte15:
You cannot begin to imagine the rippling effect of our rampaged economy. The elections have kept us distracted but we are all in for a shock after the elections. This country has been raped by this government. Only a change of government can rectify it. This president just does not get it nor give a damn.

Nonsense!
How can elections distract one from feeling the effects of a rampaged economy?

How can a man who was unable to manage when there was surplus manage in times of scarcity.

Nigerians are wiser and most know Jonadunce is a failure. Jonadunce also knows he has failed Nigerians hence his recent desperate moves.

March 28th us the day we shall give him his well deserved red card.

Sai Baba

Sai Buhari

#ihavedecided

Charlotte15:
You cannot begin to imagine the rippling effect of our rampaged economy. The elections have kept us distracted but we are all in for a shock after the elections. This country has been raped by this government. Only a change of government can rectify it. This president just does not get it nor give a damn.

It is the atrocities they are trying to hide by all means that is leading to the desperation to thwart Buhari by any means necessary. The current government cannot manage the economic hardship that has descended on Nigeria and will worsen as oil prices bottom-out, for a while at around $40.00 per barrel or less. Imagine a President who earned almost three times that amount when oil sold for $100.00 -$110.00 throughout his 5 tenure now asking for 4 more years when he is the same leader who was only able to take Nigeria backwards during a period of very high earnings. Such can only make sense to those who deceive themselves childishly.

garrix8:
How can a man who was unable to manage when there was surplus manage in times of scarcity.

Nigerians are wiser and most know Jonadunce is a failure. Jonadunce also knows he has failed Nigerians hence his recent desperate moves.

March 28th us the day we shall give him his well deserved red card.

Sai Baba

Sai Buhari

#ihavedecided

This is the bottom line. Every responsible Nigerian adult who wants progress for Nigeria will know that there is only one conclusion to draw from your statement.

Gbawe:


This is the bottom line. Every responsible Nigerian adult who wants progress for Nigeria will know that there is only one conclusion to draw from your statement.

Ministry of Works budget was slashed from 100 billion to 11 billion. One can only imagine the effect on construction companies. Many will have to fire workers massively and some will have to file for bankruptcy.

Meanwhile the drunkard is appointing two Ministers of State for foreign affairs.

Very Pathetic.

Its an apologetic situation to see my fellow youths sell their future for N5000 and some bowls of rice. How can someone expect a man that didnt provide power supply and sufficient jobs when oil business was booming to provide it now that prices are crumbling ? Its almost unbelievable that a man who went dancing after a bomb blast can be trusted by some people to provide security.. How can u trust a man who pardoned a world acclaimed thief to stop corruption ? Its even more nauseating that they want us to worship him for providing outdated trains. What is wrong with my country?

montedo:
Its an apologetic situation to see my fellow youths sell their future for N5000 and some bowls of rice. How can someone expect a man that didnt provide power supply and sufficient jobs when oil business was booming to provide it now that prices are crumbling ? Its almost unbelievable that a man who went dancing after a bomb blast can be trusted by some people to provide security.. How can u trust a man who pardoned a world acclaimed thief to stop corruption ? Its even more nauseating that they want us to worship him for providing outdated trains. What is wrong with my country?

I personally think the ethics and morality of a lot of Nigerians ha been bastardized and warped with extending suffering, poverty and deprivation. You will see citizens of 99 different nation out of 100 stating vehemently that it is wrong for a President to pardon a felon and then send him on the way to becoming a public servant. It is the Nigerian that will be the 1 out of 100 to argue proudly that he sees nothing wrong in that action of openly empowering corruption and wrongdoing. After a while one has to simply conclude that some Nigerians, like children copying adults, can only take their example and code of behaviour from the actions of their shameless leaders. This is why a lot of Nigerians talk and think like their leaders.

Word!!! ..Gbawe!

There is a world of difference between when an APC supporter speak and when a PDP supporter speak. You see coherent indepth reasoning that shows an acknowledgement of the past, an understanding of the present and a strong desire to change the future whenever APC speaks. But with PDP it is gloom and doom all thru no interest in changing the wrong trajectory the country is heading no interest in accepting they have misruled Nigeria and put it towards its dangerous path!

Nigerian youths must remember we will live thorugh the long term effects of Jonathan evil reign of corruption and terror! it is time we CHANGE for the better! Sai Buhari

Gbawe:



I personally think the ethics and morality of a lot of Nigerians ha been bastardized and warped with extending suffering, poverty and deprivation. You will see citizens of 99 different nation out of 100 stating vehemently that it is wrong for a President to pardon a felon and then send him on the way to becoming a public servant. It is the Nigerian that will be the 1 out of 100 to argue proudly that he sees nothing wrong in that action of openly empowering corruption and wrongdoing. After a while one has to simply conclude that some Nigerians, like children copying adults, can only take their example and code of behaviour from the actions of their shameless leaders. This is why a lot of Nigerians talk and think like their leaders.

Gbam! The funniest part is when u see them praying for the country to get better but fail to do what will make it get better. Nigerians want to vote for a man who doesnt even know them cos of ethnic sentiments, forgeting that power, jobs and security problems affect all and sundry.
I love my country but i dont know what it is turning into. Never before has the whole world agreed that a Nigerian president has failed as it has now. How can a sane person be forcing me to feel a transformation that is obviously not there?

Sometimes one is tempted to think that some Nigerians have anointing for suffering

The way their mindset have become so warped as to defend satanic evil of this Government due to their hatred of Buhari will make one weep for the future of this Nation

To whom much is give, much is expected. In this case Jonathan was given much but delivered absolutely nothing tangible other than the outdated rail coaches on already established rail tracks. Building universities when the already established ones are not functional says nothing other than cluelessness at it's peak. The callousness of this man when school girls were kidnapped and his aides tried to deny this fact will never be forgotten....and now is the time to pay. Nigerians must wake up and demand what is rightfully theirs. Jonathan must go, we know our people deserve better and no amount of 'egunje/aka stomach infrastructure, can make us sell our souls.

montedo:
Its an apologetic situation to see my fellow youths sell their future for N5000 and some bowls of rice. How can someone expect a man that didnt provide power supply and sufficient jobs when oil business was booming to provide it now that prices are crumbling ? Its almost unbelievable that a man who went dancing after a bomb blast can be trusted by some people to provide security.. How can u trust a man who pardoned a world acclaimed thief to stop corruption ? Its even more nauseating that they want us to worship him for providing outdated trains. What is wrong with my country?

The truth is that most have never seen or witness a working society and have surrendered themselves to mediocrity. They assume it is normal to go without lights for days yet pay outrageous bills month end, they believe good roads is a luxury exclusive to high brew areas, they believe good qualitative and free health care system is a myth, they believe a job of 50k a month is the peak for a young graduate.

The psyche of an average Nigeria living in penury is so bastardized that he believes his life is a worthless hopeless one because he feels the Government does not owe him a responsibility. The weekly welfare package for an unemployed citizen in the UK is more than the salary of most young graduates in Nigeria yet you will them suffering and smiling while celebrAting those who perpetually put them in servitude under the cover of he is our son, he is our brother, he comes from the south south so he is close to us, he is a Christian amd other stupid daft and crazy thoughts that one ponder if most Nigerians are cursed never to demand quality and responsive governance from.those who lead them.

Thank God there is massive re-awakening and with what I saw today at the APC meet the women town hall meeting I realize the South West have decided to take its destiny into its own hands. If there are tribes amd people who feel they are okay with the mediocrity of what is happening in Nigeria presently, then thats their own cup of tea.

Some Nigerians - Your life has not moved forward in the last 8 years. You hate change but will still vote PDP or the useless governor that has not impacted positively on your life on the basis of your hatred for one man called Tinubu.

I marvel when I try to comprehend the reasoning of a lot of Nigerians I interact with on a day to day basis - People whose lives have worsened over the years and can't afford to feed decently, people who you expect to be enraged by the squandering of their common wealth by the government of the day and people who you think should no better. They rise up in defense on mediocrity and raise all manner of ethnic and religious arguments to prove a foolish point.

Chronicle the acts of GEJ over the past 5 years. It's one scandal after another. It's one misstep after another. Hard times are ahead of us. Instead of facing the elephant in the room, we live in denial.

Ask them what the present administration can show as it flagship achievement for 5years plus, they will.tell.you Rails and Railway. But they stupidly didn't realize the 18th century rail renovation we are doing is WITH A LOAN FROM CHINA THAT WE WILL STILL PAY BACK not as if NIGERIA is financing it solely yet the CHINESE ensured the renovation will be exclusive to CHINESE FIRMS, thus making them engage THEIR SONS AND DAUGTHERS while young civil and mechanical engineers in Nigeria are roaming the streets. Since the bulk of the money comes from them do we have a choice.

Check the $40million Rail transformation in Ehiopia and compare with our own $12billion rails that Lord Lugard commissioned same type in 1914 then you begin to weep for Nigeria and its RAPED, Bastardized and maltreat people who celebrate their tormentors all because they have tribal and religious familiarity with him.

i weep for my country

I boarded a bus the other day from the East and the issue of the elections came up. Unsurprisingly, I was the only one who spoke in support of Buhari.
It is obvious that many supporters of Jonathan don't know the state of the economy at present. They don't know what Jonathan has done to our economy in the last four years. They don't know the extent of the large-scale looting and corruption. I had to explain to them with facts and figures and when I questioned their reason for supporting Jonathan, they had none other than the issue of religion/ethnicity.

Let's state the facts and be realistic: Jonathan cannot see this country through a period of recession.

Gbawe, nice one!

But please don't expect any TANdroid will actually come and give a credible, fact-based reason. There is simply none! You can't sell a bad product!

Now, just to respond to the post, if GEJ rigs himself in (Because he can't win in a free and fair election) Nigerians will be hit by a huge COMBO of;

The DOWNWARD spiral of the economy (fuel price, Naira, stock market etc)
+
The GEJ admin will IMMEDIATELY attempt to recoup all the DOLLARS it has been dolling out!

I don't even want to think of the consequences, but it won't happen, Amen!

obi4eze:
I boarded a bus the other day from the East and the issue of the elections came up. Unsurprisingly, I was the only one who spoke in support of Buhari.
It is obvious that many supporters of Jonathan don't know the state of the economy at present. They don't know what Jonathan has done to our economy in the last four years. They don't know the extent of the large-scale looting and corruption. I had to explain to them with facts and figures and when I questioned their reason for supporting Jonathan, they had none other than the issue of religion/ethnicity.

Let's state the facts and be realistic: Jonathan cannot see this country through a period of recession.

100% correct. In fact, Nigeria is displaying many of the characteristics of a failed State already. The economic hardship sure to come because of falling oil prices and a weakening Naira means that Nigerians cannot afford to mess around with a corrupt, irresponsible spendthrift like GEJ if at all we do not want to end up totally failed like Somalia or Afghanistan.

chemali:
Some Nigerians - Your life has not moved forward in the last 8 years. You hate change but will still vote PDP or the useless governor that has not impacted positively on your life on the basis of your hatred for one man called Tinubu.

I marvel when I try to comprehend the reasoning of a lot of Nigerians I interact with on a day to day basis - People whose lives have worsened over the years and can't afford to feed decently, people who you expect to be enraged by the squandering of their common wealth by the government of the day and people who you think should no better. They rise up in defense on mediocrity and raise all manner of ethnic and religious arguments to prove a foolish point.

Chronicle the acts of GEJ over the past 5 years. It's one scandal after another. It's one misstep after another. Hard times are ahead of us. Instead of facing the elephant in the room, we live in denial.

Indeed. This is the time, for anyone capable of doing so, to put sentiments aside for the sake of generations unborn. As we enter a period of economic hardship and uncertainty it is essential, now we have the chance, to reject the President (GEJ) and Party (PDP) that got us into this situation and give 'change' a chance.

pendy79:


The truth is that most have never seen or witness a working society and have surrendered themselves to mediocrity. They assume it is normal to go without lights for days yet pay outrageous bills month end, they believe good roads is a luxury exclusive to high brew areas, they believe good qualitative and free health care system is a myth, they believe a job of 50k a month is the peak for a young graduate.

The psyche of an average Nigeria living in penury is so bastardized that he believes his life is a worthless hopeless one because he feels the Government does not owe him a responsibility. The weekly welfare package for an unemployed citizen in the UK is more than the salary of most young graduates in Nigeria yet you will them suffering and smiling while celebrAting those who perpetually put them in servitude under the cover of he is our son, he is our brother, he comes from the south south so he is close to us, he is a Christian amd other stupid daft and crazy thoughts that one ponder if most Nigerians are cursed never to demand quality and responsive governance from.those who lead them.

Thank God there is massive re-awakening and with what I saw today at the APC meet the women town hall meeting I realize the South West have decided to take its destiny into its own hands. If there are tribes amd people who feel they are okay with the mediocrity of what is happening in Nigeria presently, then thats their own cup of tea.

This observation is correct. How can some Nigerians appreciate that they are living in hell when they have never experienced anything/anywhere else to compare their own backward existence with? How, for example, will a 30 year old who has experienced epileptic power supply throughout his entire life in Nigeria appreciate that this is not the norm worldwide? How will he understand that he deserves 24/7 electricity every single day of every year others worldwide take for granted?

Someone once said even if it is a dog that will contest against Jonathan, he will vote the dog and is ready to enjoy its barking. It has got to that level....

Imagine a Northern ruler saying that if Buhari wins, most of them will end up in detention.
Even our "amiable" mama peace said something related.
This shows the high level of corruption staring right in our faces.

I never really liked Buhari. But he is the only reasonable option now.

I pray things work out fine for my dear country.

A man who could not improve our fortune during a period of oil boom, how would he improve our fortune in this time of oil doom and plummeting oil prices? Think Nigerians, Nigerians Think.
Make Hay While The Sun Shine

Thoughtful posts all round.

Truly we deserve better than we are getting. I consider myself fortunate to have a good means of providing for myself and family but I see the frustration andcdespibdency etched on the faces of the less privileged and I know we are sitting on a keg of gunpowder.

Had a discussion with a friend and his Chinese businessman associate a while back. The man arrived at the same conclusion every sensible analyst of the Nigerian situation has arrived at and that is: Nigeria is headed for abyss if the style of governance we've seen in the last 5 years is allowed to continue for another 4 years.

Well, they say a people deserve the govt it gets. Maybe Nigerians don't deserve any better in the final analysis.