₦airaland Forum

I watched the Ribadu interview on BEN TV in the UK and I must say that I wasn’t impressed. Even though I commend him for being devoted to the war against corruption, I don’t think it is enough to elect him solely on the basis of fighting corruption.

Apart from lacking Presidential charm, Ribadu did not really mention a single policy that I could identify with, he lacked passion and zeal although he briefly mentioned something about a six point agenda. I think he wasted the opportunity to increase the scope of his support base.

It’s a shame that as a Nation we can’t get to view national debates by these presidential aspirants, that is when we would really be able to identify the candidates that are clueless.

A fantastic concept in general, however there are two things I’d like to discern

1. I doubt UK MP’s would be willing to support the cause to impose travel restrictions on individuals whose guilt has not been established yet. Innocent until proven guilty.

2. In order to extend your reach to a much wider social networking audience I suggest you launch a campaign on FaceBook and Twitter.

appletango:
you guys and your conspiracy theories

he has just spent the past week in europe and will be traveling to the US in the next few weeks to give a series of lectures.

Ohhh really, let’s wait and see what happens to Atiku in the next few days if he has the balls to go to the U.S.

I suppose this will answer all our questions.

Isn’t this just a matter of strategy? In order to successfully prosecute those big names that I will not mention linked to the case in Nigeria, I think they had to start the process this way. Furthermore, methinks pertaining to international relations, there is no way that this Administration or the Justice department would have announced this without the Yank Administration being aware.

I mean who knows, LOL, it might be a straight extradition swop, Chenney for Atiku who is wanted in the U.S. for Money Laundering which would be a killer chess move.

Has to be a Fashola/Sanusi team that would transform the country into a modern economy.

[size=20pt] Nigeria to Charge D. Cheney/ Halli Burton in Pipeline Bribery Case [/size]

Dec. 1 (Bloomberg) -- Nigeria will file charges against former U.S. Vice President D. Cheney and officials from five foreign companies including Halliburton Co. over a $180 million bribery scandal, a prosecutor at the anti-graft agency said.

Indictments will be lodged in a Nigerian court “in the next three days,” Godwin Obla, prosecuting counsel at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, said in an interview today at his office in Abuja, the capital. An arrest warrant for Cheney “will be issued and transmitted through Interpol,” the world’s biggest international police organization, he said.
Peter Long, Cheney’s spokesman, said he couldn’t immediately comment when contacted today and said he would respond later to an e-mailed request for comment.

Obla said charges will be filed against current and former chief executive officers of Halliburton, including Cheney, who was CEO from 1995 to 2000, and its former unit KBR Inc., based in Houston, Texas; Technip SA, Europe’s second-largest oilfield- services provider; Eni SpA, Italy’s biggest oil company; and Saipem Construction Co., a unit of Eni. Obla didn’t identify the former officials whom he said held office when the alleged bribes were paid.

Last week, Nigeria arrested at least 23 officials from companies including Halliburton, Saipem, Technip and a former subsidiary of Panalpina Welttransport Holding AG in connection with alleged illegal payments to Nigerian officials. Those detained were all freed on bail on Nov. 29.
Liquefied Natural Gas

Authorities in the West African nation are probing Halliburton, Saipem and Technip for the alleged payment of $180 million in bribes to win a $6 billion liquefied natural-gas contract. Panalpina is being investigated for illegal payments it allegedly made to Nigerian customs officials on behalf of Royal Dutch Shell Plc.

“Eni confirms its availability to cooperate with the local authorities in the ongoing investigations, as it has done in the past with Italian and U.S. authorities,” Gianni Di Giovanni, spokesman for the company, said in an e-mailed statement today.
Christophe Bélorgeot, who is listed on Technip’s website as a spokesman for the company, didn’t answer his phone when called today. No one answered the phone at Halliburton’s Nigerian office when called for comment. A person who answered a call to Halliburton’s Houston office said no one was available to comment. Teresa Wong, Halliburton’s spokeswoman, didn’t immediately respond to an e-mail seeking comment. Heather Browne, a spokeswoman for KBR, said by e-mail the company has no comment.

Bush’s Running Mate
Cheney, 69, left Halliburton in 2000 to become U.S. President George W. Bush’s running mate and then vice president. He formed the company’s KBR Inc. unit after acquiring Dresser Industries Inc. in 1998.
The plans to file charges against Cheney were reported earlier today in the Lagos-based Guardian newspaper. Femi Babafemi, a spokesman for the commission, confirmed the plans to file charges when contacted by phone today in Abuja. He wouldn’t comment any further.
Nigeria charged a former aide of President Olusegun Obasanjo with six counts of money-laundering on Oct. 13 in connection with the alleged payment of bribes.

KBR and Halliburton agreed to pay $579 million in February 2009 for bribery payments in Nigeria that stretched from 1994 to 2004.
‘All Potential Claims’
Technip took a charge of 245 million euros ($342 million) related to its stake in TSJK and discussed “resolution of all potential claims” with the U.S. Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Paris-based company said on Feb. 12. TSJK was a group of international companies comprising Technip, Snamprogetti SpA, a unit of Eni, KBR and JGC Corp. of Japan.
Panalpina, Royal Dutch Shell and five oil-services companies agreed to pay $236.5 million to resolve a U.S. probe of overseas bribery, the Justice Department said on Nov. 4. The bribes were paid to expedite the import of goods and equipment, avoid customs duties on imported goods, extend drilling contracts and lower tax assessments, according to the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Nigeria is Africa’s biggest crude producer and the fifth- biggest source of U.S. oil imports.
--With assistance from Dulue Mbachu in Abuja. Editors: Paul Richardson, Tony Aarons.
To contact the reporter on this story: Elisha Bala-Gbogbo in Abuja

Source: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-12-01/nigeria-to-charge-manliness-cheney-in-pipeline-bribery-case.html

Sanusi is an exceptional man, but a voice in the wilderness (amongst Northerners). I do not agree with the title of your thread,  you need to acknowledge that the country has been ruled mainly by Northern Leaders that have simply lacked imagination or have been unable to diversify the economy.

Prior to the implementation of SAP, Nigeria was never referred to as a ‘Third World’ country. As I keep on saying, any monkey can spend money, but it takes individuals with exceptional financial intelligence to make money or add value.

Nevertheless, I think that a Fahola/Sanusi team could reverse the fortune of the country within a couple of years because they’ve got the balls to carry out the necessary reforms in the State and Econony.

violent:
Not with crooks in NASS

the legislature controls the executive!

These two are exceptional and can relate to the people and have the balls to reform the scope and working of the State, Economy, Infrastructure that is much needed.

Fashola/Sanusi team would turn Nigeria around within a term.

Atiku is being interviewed on BEN TV by Alistair Soyede right now in the UK

Interesting points raised:

1. Reforms to the judicial system – fraud cases not to last longer than 6 months

2. Running mate not to be announced till after the primaries

3. Only seeks to run for one term

4. He is not being investigated by the EFCC and is not linked to HalliBurtonGate

5. Pro Diaspora voting in 2015 – If Iraq can do it so can we

[size=20pt]British Rule required (Phase 2) even though I'm cringing.[/size]

1. Nigeria can be turned around immediately with objectivity, passion and commitment
2. Nigerians prepared to make positive change will never get the top job
3. individual citizens will always put their selfish individual interests before national interest or that of the ‘Greater Good’.

Exploitation, poverty and corruption are not confined to geographical regions or tribes, they are universal or nationwide afflictions.
Even though I cringe to say this, if we can’t achieve separation, looser federalism, or adhere to constitutional principles such as the ‘rule of law’, ‘separation of powers’ and the ‘independence of the judiciary’ then it’s about time to call it a day and get our ‘imperialist creators’ to come back and govern.

The bottom line is that there is no justification for having such a dysfunctional State when all polities within the sphere fought for independence.
The State is dysfunctional (period). Things like having politicians wanted in other countries for financial crimes getting selected as potential Presidential aspirants does not reflect well at all. Or someone like ex-dictator Babangida aspiring to be President despite having unaccountable wealth is what people around the world laugh at.

We can’t even manage and implement a credible transparent national taxation system. We can criticize the U.S and Britain as much as we want, but no one can mess with their tax system. Presidents, and Prime Ministers change all the time but the system is unaffected and independent.   

Furthermore, rebranding Nigeria at this stage without a complete change of name is nonsensical and a complete waste of time and money. The damage already inflicted on the name is irreparable and any honest person in advertising will concur.

It is possible for one man to make a difference and reverse the fortunes of the country.

There are exceptionally talented individuals in Nigeria and the Diaspora, but I believe it is virtually impossible for such an individual to rise to the ultimate top within the country. Of course the individual will have to pick a team of like minded people.

It is the system that needs to be overhauled. Here comes my generalisation: Most Nigerians within the country have been conditioned to accept decay and dysfunctionality.  The effective change that is sought can only induced from the Diaspora (afterall, Nigerians in the Diaspora are excluded from the voting process for a reason  )

[size=20pt] Nigerians should get more business savvy!!! [/size]

[size=16pt] Head line should read: Fashola achieves efficiency gains of over 2330%, WOW!!! !!! [/size]

The actions of this reporter are outrageous. It took me less than one minute to find out who the CEO of ABC is online and it is definitely not Tinunbu. ABC is a consortium made up of Nigerians in the diaspora.

I also noted that the objectivity of the reporter was evidently clouded because he was more concerned with insinuating shady dealings between Fashola and Tinunbu as opposed to discerning the great strides in efficiency that the government had made.
For argument sake, so what if ABC belongs to Tinunbu. If this were true, then the most that Fashola could be accused of is ‘cronyism’ which isn’t against the law.

Di.ck Chenney,  a major shareholder and previous CEO of Halliburton was later elected  Vice President of the USA  on George Bush jnr’s ticket. Halliburton was later awarded huge reconstruction contracts worth billions of dollars $ in IRAQ after it was decimated by the allies in IRAQ war 2. My point is that this is cronyism at it’s worst (conflict of interest –business ethics?) however, it isn’t illegal.

All that matters here is business and good results or performance.  BRF stated that the implementation of the new computerised taxation system led to the increased total revenue collection from 600 million pcm to 14 billion pcm.

That is an efficiency gain of over 2330%. If these gains were achieved in the City of London or Wall Street BRF would be celebrated, given awards or given an annual bonus of over 100 million pounds. Furthermore, efficiency gains of over 2330% in my opinion would justify a remuneration of up to 10% to ABC, the company responsible for implementing such a system.
If BRF was President of Nigeria and in his first year was able to realize such gains as 2330% in the coffers of the state things would be drastically different.

Any monkey can spend money, but only exceptional individuals with financial intelligence can make money legitimately.

Whilst browsing music channels, I stumbled against this great gem,  a great song
with loads of depth and great lyrics –

check it out: El Dee - One Day

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBxUJd_cI40

buzugee:
you both have inducted yourselves into a separate class of nigerian (knowingly or unknowingly ). i get the feeling you both see yourselves as more sophisticated and somewhat better than the average nigerian.

Buzugee, you need to read what I stated carefully. I stated that I was the one that was labelled. I did not coin the words, ‘Aje butter, Agric, or Johnny Just Come’ , just be honest about this instead of attempting to distort what I’ve said.

Secondly, being honest there are differences in attitudes between those discerned in so many aspects, e.g. adherence to rules in general, rule of law, tribal prejudice, poverty and misery, level of reasoning – so I said it damnnnn

obowunmi:
^^^^ what makes you an "aje butter" what make another a "local Nigerian"

Is this an attempt on your part to associate yourself with a particular class ?

It seriously is not about class, it's about where you were born, this is an identity that is imposed on by others and not my creation.

[size=20pt]Any pro Fashola supporter is a Sychophant, WTF[/size]

What an absolutely nonsensical argument. I have come across this before, and it is absolutely ludicrous. How can an individual assert that the crowd at L.S.E. had a “sycophantic nature”. So everybody in that crowd was sucking up to BRF because they wanted contracts from him.
Furthermore, anybody that is pro BRF has ulterior motives, a sycophant.
Simply put, there are those pro BRF, and those against. Those pro base their support on what they deem as the progress (implementation of policies and measures) that his administration has made, that has had a positive impact on their lives.
Those against cite that he (BRF) has not done enough in his tenure and that he should have been able to deliver more irrespective of clawing back from over two decades of virtually unaccountable military government, without actually proposing any decent or tangible measures themselves.
The bottom line is both camps have a right to express their opinions. You are either for or against, that is the way to present arguments, and not to accuse people of being sycophants as if so many people have access to BRF.
I swear that there is something wrong with most Nigerians ability to reason, for fc.uk sake.

[size=20pt]This is Craaaazeeeee !!![/size]

Whilst it’s great to break records in general to increase morale, but can you envisage the Nigerian Fire Brigade saving lives from the top floor of that building if it was burning,  hell no ,  I wouldn’t go in it.

Imagine a 9/11 type attack on that building by the “champions of  reason”. 

juman:
Nigeria = Pakistan

More like Northern Nigeria = Pakistan
Southern Nigeria = could be have better prospects than India

DapoBear:
Tribal marks? That is a custom I am glad is dead or dying out. Not everything from the culture is appropriate for today.

Tribal marks only serve to separate the Yorubas – it’s used to visually distinguish sub identities. Yorubas should phase it out and focus on unification, hegemony and homogeneity.

Google Obat Oil and you will see what I mean. Also find out if there have been improvements to the living standards of the locals in the area.

For Yorubas to advance and make huge developmental progress there has to be reform in traditional forms of authority. The Obas and Cheiftancy system is all about self interest and making a selected few that can buy themselves titles more wealthy and powerful to the detriment of the masses that generally don’t get a sniff of the action. Yorubas should be able to learn from other societies in the Globe to learn about how they reformed and adapted to change to benefit their people or[b] ‘General good’.[/b]

If the emphasis can be shifted from the concentration of wealth in the hands of the few to the hands of the many then the Yorubas can potentially get to be extremely wealthy.

[size=20pt] The Olugbo of Ugboland, Oba Obateru Akinruntan is the CEO of Obat Oil [/size]
This is also about greed and self interest.

Becomerich, if your desire to unite all the Yorubas is genuine then you have to speak the truth.

The Olugbo of Ugboland, Oba Obateru Akinruntan is the CEO of Obat Oil, and there is no doubt in my mind that he has consolidated his position as the monarch only to further exploit the wealth that naturally belongs to all the people of that region, with very little visible gains for the common folk. Google Obat Oil and you will see what I mean. Also find out if there have been improvements to the living standards of the locals in the area.

For Yorubas to advance and make huge developmental progress there has to be reform in traditional forms of authority. The Obas and Cheiftancy system is all about self interest and making a selected few that can buy themselves titles more wealthy and powerful to the detriment of the masses that generally don’t get a sniff of the action. Yorubas should be able to learn from other societies in the Globe to learn about how they reformed and adapted to change to benefit their people or[b] ‘General good’.[/b]

If the emphasis can be shifted from the concentration of wealth in the hands of the few to the hands of the many then the Yorubas can potentially get to be extremely wealthy.

SapeleGuy:
Divide the thing, make everybody answer their papa name. No need for big English.

Yep it would be great to divide too, but we would still have to rebuild whatever region we're affiliated with that is left.

[size=20pt]IBB = International Barawo Bandit[/size]

May I remind everybody that Adolf Hitler got voted in via the democratic process, and as soon as he got in he suspended/destroyed the system and announced a  dictatorship.  IBB already has experience of manipulating the polity. 

1. The first strategy has to be currency parity. Re-evalution/restructuringof the Naira. 1 USD $ = 1 NGN .

2. Aim to make goods as cheap as possible.

3. Constant Power - Our National GDP would grow by 25% at least due to I.T. Industry and Jobs from abroad. Nigerians speak better english than    Indians. A lot of Call centre type jobs, Services could come to Nigeria.

4. Roads/transportation and Infrastructure Improvements - Would enable the growth of tourism. Nigeria has a better climate than Spain.

5. Security (Increased) - a lot of economic growth in the West is from small businesses. New York and London have businesses that operate 24 hrs a day. Some make most of their money overnight.

6. Make it mandatory for all students and pupils to read and debate this book in the Education system: An Inquiry Into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations. By Adam Smith

7. Implement low taxation policies and make it a tax haven.  With increased confidence foreigners will start bringing/investing in the economy.

n.b. The is no Welfare State in Nigeria and Nigerians are naturally enterprising.

WOW, this film is hardcore and the most disturbing film I have ever viewed. I really wish I didn’t view it . 

Images of Stark unclothed, AK47 totting, quasi transvestite, cannibal marauding killers who were boasting of sacrificing innocent toddlers by slitting them open, pulling out their pumping hearts, cutting them into tiny slithers and feeding on them prior to going into battle because they believed it would make invisible in battle.

A film of Nightmares.  A graphical depiction of African inhumanity, or neighbourly love, damnnnnn. Absolutely sick and horrifying.

The bit I also found disturbing is when Gen Butt claims he went to Nigeria, bought some meat from a street hawker, and noticed it was human flesh after shaking the pepper off it, he spat it out and reported it to the police, and now he doesn’t eat meat anymore.

DapoBear:
I've no clue how oil is the issue. In any case, we have oil off of our coast, and very likely additional blocks can be found.

Plus, it isn't as if you can really build an economy off of oil. You build an economy out of people, not oil.

Hey DapoBear, I agree with you about what’s highlighted in bold. I think the Ooni’s underlying message is good. (Generally for Yoruba's to collaborate and cooperate for the common good)

I just hope too much emphasis is not placed on the extraction of oil in that area without consideration of the environmental impact.

The Ilaje have been Fishermen for centuries in that area, and their traditions, and to some extent community at large will not survive if they are subjected to the environmental desecration as inflicted on the people of the Delta.

[size=20pt]This isuue is all about oil[/size]
Ilaje Land is the only oil producing area of Yoruba Land, and they have huge deposits.

I understand that the relevance of the Ooni’s traditional title is a point of discourse amongst Yoruba’s, but I thought I’d highlight the real issue behind this thread.

The Ilaje, even though being Yoruba have more in common with the Ijaws and Itshekiri. Traditionally, the other Yoruba’s used to look down at them for being poor and backward, because they are a riverine community with primary occupations of Fishing and Farming, but they are Christian and strongly believe in Education.

Ironically, as destiny has it they might turn out to be the wealthiest Yoruba community if all goes well in the future, and hence the Ooni’s message that it would be good for all Yoruba and traditional rulers to cooperate for the sake of development, LOL, funny sh.it, it’s the Nigerian way

Why would there be a total outbreak of war when bombing specific areas and assets is a much more effective terror weapon? 

[size=22pt]Don’t miss the point!!! Nigeria is a goldmine!!! [/size]
Why work for peanuts when you can get gold nuggets? There is no reason why Nigeria couldn’t be better than places like Dubai, or South Africa.

The problem with Nigeria stems from its citizens.

I would love for every Nigerian to be rich, or have the highest standard of living in the world irrespective of ethnic identity or class.

I love all Nigerians, Igbo’s Yoruba, Edo, Itshekiri, Ijaw, Effik and would expect that love reciprocated back. After all there are no genetic differences between us, only cultural differences.

I would love for Nigeria to be the hottest tourist spot in the world, afterall the weather is absolutely fabulous.

I would love Nigeria to be the land of opportunity, where every other Nationality wants to go and live; the hub of trade in western Africa. A place where goods are extremely cheap.

The British union only came about because the nations (England, Scotland, Wales, etc) recognised that they had a common vested commercial interest to increase their wealth, and the wealth of their citizens.

Listen to their anthem, “Hail Britannia, Britannia rules the waves, Britain never, never, never shall be slaves”.  Note that they were able to cooperate to make other nationalities slaves.

I would love to come back to build, but one knows that wanting every Nigerian to be rich, or have the highest standard of living in the world irrespective of ethnic identity or class would be hugely frowned upon. Nigerian mentality dictates that it is fashionable not to change the human condition of the masses, and that the masses deserve to be victims.

[size=18pt]I seriously wish that people would wake the fc.uk up. [/size]