₦airaland Forum

it is that kind of yeye thinking that gets people in trouble. why will u carry large sums of balary about when banks can transfer it for u? then l8r they will complain about robbers. dis was an inside job jo.

Channels Television on Friday night carried a report on the results of a poll conducted by NOI-GALLUP. Dr Ngozi Okonjo-iweala who was herself involved in conducting the survey was the guest respondent.

According to her,the poll established the fact that 74% of Nigerians and indeed 77% of Nigerians aged 45 and below want the Federation to remain UNITED(confirms my earlier assertion on this board that Nigeria will know respite from social turbulence when the manipulative generation of our fathers finally join their ancestors). This for the pollsters was a surprising twist given the country's long history of seemingly intractable regional rivalries,political brinkmanship and ethno-religious violence.

The findings further showed that 82% of Nigerians want a continuation of democratic governance. Finally, most respondents stated that job creation,constant electricity,water and infrastructure should be the focus of governments at all levels.

Ajayi123:
Texazzpete. Before you condemn the people of the Niger Delta be advised however, that it is not the people of the Niger Delta that are kidnapping these people but "disgruntled elements" of the Nigerian society that happen to be Niger-Deltans. Infact some of them actually include other "disgruntled elements" of the Nigerian society from the east or west, as the case may be, who partake in their plight. Having said that, no one condones the art of kidnapping as the perfect model for expressing ones grudges. If we attempt to be proactive in our thinking for once as a nation, we will find that the whole state of affairs can be traced back to the extreme lack of a reasonable system of governance, an apparent indecision as to where to go next in our development and a lack of basic education. I say a lack of basic educaion because if Nigerians were educated with regard to what the country possesses as natural resources, then all attention will not be placed on oil and if the people of the Niger-Delta say they want more development in the region, more jobs for their people and even any Nigerian as it were, then people will not necessarily feel that they are greedy because at that point they would know that there is more than enough to go round for everyone. Texazzpete please try and go to the forum which is discussing how George Bush rejected a visit from Nigeria's president elect and you would immediately see the predicament of the country there. It would become clear what those that recurrently ascend to positions of authority in that country are really interested in i.e. visiting George Bush even before they have been sworn in as president when there are issues that have plagued that nation since its independence; like constant electricity supply. This is the time that one would think any well meaning president elect will sit down and begin to draw up some memorandum that he will eventually intend to use to tackle very pressing outstanding issues that affect the nation's economy directly. Without electricity, no potential investor will ever be encouraged to invest or establish a centre of operation as it were in that country. Come to think of it, the whole purpose of running a business is to make profit and with the current state of affairs in Nigeria, profit from big businesses like manufacturing, design and production is in the mind of the beholder. Such investors may rather consider setting up things like warehouses in Nigeria; ofcourse so as not to take away the fact that most of the natural resources come from there but will cost more to set up a production facility and then look for nearby neighbouring West African countries to set up their production units. Now, the picture I have painted here is better imagined than experienced because not only will those countries be economically buoyant, Nigeria's economy may be heading for the crumbs with little or no employment and what is happening in the Niger-Delta now may soon affect other areas unless our "great" leaders own up to the realities and be honest about what needs to be done instead of on personality show to Whitehouse to see Bush even before they have been sworn in. We are at a crucial stage in our nations development and what is happening in the Niger-Delta is a reflection of this fact not stupidity.

normally i wont have answered u but it is clear dat u r spreading misinformation here. the so called disgruntled elements whatever u call dem appear to be speaking 4 us niger delta peple and are hell bent on taking us down with their greed. they talk about helping d people but they corrupt things with d way they act. what has kidnapping or making demands got to do woth actually helping out? all the ransome that they have been paid since 2003 where has it gone to? let us face d truth this militant business has become profitable and that is y it is persisting.

y cant u guys question d calibre of media carrying d news about yaradua visiting bush. r u sure d story is true? the people carrying d story r people who hav a grudge against yaradua.

if this story was true at least bbc would have carried it. they didnt.

yaradua did well in katsina

goodguy is just an ass licker.

why should i go?

http://davidylan..com/2007/04/sorry-davidylan-you-are-banned-from.html

another good member gone again?

he has a masters

so that you will makamarise the service?

peace at last

dem don start to dey prepare for d inauguration

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/24/AR2007042402349.html

so what is it?

I get one friend, ehn, wey dey interested in politriksting and while he's far from being a president e don make small progress in state legislature. But he's a god-fearing, big ikebe loving, well you know a good chap Very Happy

My question is, can you become the president of any country, serve your people, finish your mandate and step down without having the blood of a single innocent person on your hands? is this an impossible task? are you bound to kill, torture, silence, jail at least one innocent person no matter what you do? Can you name one former president who you think didn't kill anyone during his tenure? Gandhi maybe? does morality hit the trash can as soon as you assume a position of the highest leadership in a country?

even if we lay pipes all over nigeria so gas will get to peoples houses some one will sabotage it.

but for real ouk get serious entertainment value

texazzpete:
what are the women doing? Plenty! it's just that they get distracted what with the wave of romance centred stickies on the nairaland front page!
Besides, many gals are frequent contributors on the sports and technology sections.
also, i believe the 'politics' section is overrated, it's become an avenue for people to argue and rant about issues, for people to show off their 'stratospheric' IQs. IMHO, 70% of the posts in the politics section aren't what i'd call intelligent!

well said. r u d texazzpete dat chxta is lways yarning about on his blog?

http://chxta..com/2007/03/in-defence-of-shell.html

The post below is inspired by a comment made by Adaure in her blog some nine days back. She visited the Niger Delta probably for the first time and like more than enough people was shocked by what she saw. Like most people, she lays the blame squarely at the feet of the multi-nationals operating in the region. Hear her:

", the reason I stopped buying gas from Shell stations and the intrigue about the whole Ogoni Saga. It all makes a 'ship-load' of sense. What I saw brought tears to my eyes, "


The above is the impression that a lot of people have of the Shell Petroleum Development Company, especially given their not so clean record in Nigeria. You see, Shell is far and away the biggest oil operation in Nigeria, so they are the most obvious. Reminds me of the way people like myself always pick on Micro$oft,

Shell began operations in Nigeria in 1938, but had to wait twenty years before they finally started shipping. The breakthrough had come two years earlier with the first successful well drilled in Oloibiri in what is now Bayelsa State. As time has passed, Nigeria has gone through various upheavals from independence to civil war to the three Rs, from 'oil boom' to 'oil gloom', from civilian rule to military rule back to civilian rule, the company has remained in Nigeria, doing their business and feeding fat.

Shell is blamed almost entirely for the degradation, and about two months back, a report appeared in National Geographic's website which while trying to be objective, ended up like everyone else in placing the blame mostly at the doorstep of the oil companies.

It is my opinion that most people who comment on this issue couldn't be further form the truth.

I believe that while the oil majors such as Shell do have a significant share in the blame for the apparent destruction of the environment in the Niger Delta, they do not have a majority of the blame. As is usual, I'd rather look at myself (and my people) for faults before looking outwards.

One thing I find interesting however is that despite that record, Shell is probably the first choice company to work with for the average Nigerian graduate given that they pay very well by Nigerian standards. Nigerians dominate the workforce of the company and right now the MD (Basil Omiyi) is a Nigerian from the Niger Delta. Again, I wouldn't mind working for Micro$oft despite the fact that I slate them often, but then again, that is unlikely, I am not a programmer,

It is my opinion that Shell and the other oil companies do what they do in Nigeria because of the complicity of the government and people of Nigeria at all levels, Federal, State and Local. Anyone who has ever tried to do some work in the Delta would know about the brigandage of the youths who always make silly demands and generally make life difficult for all workers. There is no law enforcement in this situation, people do what they like, and that includes the oil companies. To be honest, were I in their position, I'd do the same.

Now let us look at some facts: Shell runs a business in Nigeria where they own only 35% of same. The Nigerian government through the NNPC owns 55% of the business. All Shell budgets have to be approved by the NNPC. Shell's community development budgets and sustainable development initiatives also have to be approved by the NNPC. Over the last 8 years these budgets have consistently been cut by the NNPC in order to divert the funds saved to the NDDC.

Shell's Port Harcourt office alone pays a minimum monthly PAYE tax of N300million to the Rivers State Government. This does not include other taxes both legal and those taken by coercion usually by youths doing the bidding of community chiefs and/or local officials. Shell pays production related taxes to the Federal Government and contributes 5% of its profit to the NDDC.

Shell cannot take money straight to the communities for project without the approval of the government through the NNPC. Same applies to the other oil firms in the region, although I must admit, NLNG has done a better job of sharing money to the community. I guess that is the reason that of all the oil firms, NLNG probably has the best relationship with its host community.

Granted there is pollution in the Niger Delta, and while the gas flaring is the fault of the oil companies, let's be frank, there is some (though it is half-hearted at the moment) effort to reduce it, and hopefully stop it in the near future. Most of the pollution in the Niger Delta in recent times unarguably comes from vandalism by the people of the region, and in a terribly twist of irony, these same people make concerted efforts to prevent the companies from cleaning up the damage that they caused. Many times when Shell staff go to communities to clean oil spillages, the community elders and youths prevent them. The reasoning behind this is to allow the spillage(s) to cause more damage to the soil and wait for claims later on.

Funny thing is that most times when such claims are paid, the money goes into the pockets of a few individuals. There was an incident where the traditional ruler of Evwreni, Delta State was beheaded by his own people after refusing to share the money that Shell gave to him. This was about seven years back. Did you hear of Afiesere clash where an entire family was almost wiped out after their father 'ate' the money given to the community by Shell? On a personal note, in late 2004, Chxta was involved in an installation project in Saigbama, Bayelsa State where a community leader at the time (his name is Ebisu), refused to give his permission for the installation of communications infrastructure that would have benefited his community. We were told that we had to come up with five million Naira in cash or get out. We got out. Look at the recent spate of kidnappings, look at the most recent kidnap, the guys taken hostage are involved in a road construction project that would benefit the entire region. There are so many of such stories, and it is disgusting.

Our government pays a lot of lip service to the plight of the Delta, and the world blames Shell. Is it Shell's responsibility to build roads, provide water, build hospitals, schools, and provide electricity while Odili et al buy jets?

Another terrible occurrence in the Niger Delta is the phenomenon of the community nominated contractor. As a result of this, 'indigenes' of the Delta have the first call when it comes to receiving Shell contracts. Do you know how many of such 'community nominated contractors' have collected money and abandoned their projects? According to a friend of mine, as at December 2006 Shell Eastern Division alone had over a hundred of such projects abandoned by community nominated contractors. Yet the communities would not allow any other contractor to go and complete these 'community assistance projects' except once again the 'community nominated contractors'.

At the end of the day, it is my opinion that we need to get our heads out of our arses. Shell and the other oil majors came to Nigeria to make money, and are not a fucking charity. If we want them to behave the way they behave in the Western world, then we need to get our own act together.

http://www.nationaldailyngr.com/cover.htm

PTDF review report
How Nnamani saved Obasanjo
By SULEIMAN OKARA

PRESIDENT Olusegun Obasanjo would have been removed from office last week if not for the selflessness and unrelenting effort of the Senate President, Ken Nnamani.


National Daily learnt that the anti-Obasanjo senators had secured the mandatory majority needed for them to pass a vote of no confidence on the president and proceed with impeachment procedures.


Obasanjo and Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar were indicted by the Senate committee which reviewed the report of the Victor Ndoma-Egba-led panel on the activities of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) which submitted its report to the Senate last Tuesday. The chairman of the committee is Senator Umaru Tsauri from Katsina State. Other members are: Senators Timothy Adudu, Chris Adighije, Akin Olasunkanmi, Abubakar Sa'ad Mohammed, John Azuta-Mbata and Bello Maitama Yusuf.


Obasanjo was found guilty of approving the payment of over $125 million in respect of projects commenced by the PTDF without due process and approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).


The projects are: incorporation of Galaxy backbone, purchase of computers for Computer for all Nigeria Initiative (CANI) and Defence Industry Corporation of Nigeria (DICON). The president later got the projects ratified retroactively by the FEC. The Review Panel referred Obasanjo to the Code of Conduct Bureau for further action.


On the part of Atiku, he was found culpable of the approval of $208 million of PTDF funds without the authority of the president. The committee viewed the approval of the vice-president as illegal and therefore also referred him to the Code of Conduct Bureau for further action. The panel, however, absolved Atiku of any culpability in respect of $125 million deposit in ETB and TIB because he acted within constitutional provisions.


The reaction of the president and his vice came simultaneously. While the Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Uba Sani, criticised the committee for purportedly doing a hatchet job in order to smear the president, the Atiku Campaign Organisation, however, commended the committee for “coming nearer to the truth” by vindicating Atiku on the $125 million deposit in ETB and FIB. Atiku's Spokesman, Garba Shehu, insisted that the president approved the $20 million PTDF project fund and said he will provide documented evidence if the president swears to an oath that he did not give his consent to the withdrawal.


The People's Democratic Party (PDP) and the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Nuhu Ribadu, were infuriated by the findings of the committee, specifically the indictment of the president, who had been absolved by the EFCC of any wrong-doing. Ojo Madukwe, PDP National Secretary, described members of the committee as saboteurs and men of questionable integrity.


Ribadu dismissed the report as hogwash and insisted that Atiku is corrupt.


National Daily leant that Obasanjo was shocked by the findings of the committee which tried to rubbish his image as a forthright and incorrigible leader.


“The president believed that he had acquainted himself of any unlawful conduct in his explanatory note to the Senate committee. He was not expecting to be indicted at all,” said an informed source.


Sources said the president would have been in more distress situation if the Senate president did not scuttle the last minute effort by pro-Atiku senators to disgrace him out of office.
Sources said that soon the radical group got the hint that the review committee final report tilted against the president, it began to mobilise support for a vote of no confidence and impeachment notice to be served on Obasanjo.


“The pro Atiku group were excited that Obasanjo has also been indicted and recommended for sanction as well as Atiku. To them, there is now no victor or vanquished between Obasanjo and Atiku. But they even have the opportunity of disgracing Obasanjo out of office” an inside source said.


The anti-Obasanjo senators, led by a senator from North Central are mostly those who were aggrieved that they lost their bid to secure a second term in the Senate, Senators who have been financially induced by the Atiku camp and members of the opposition, All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP) and Action Congress (AC).


These groups were said to have out-numbered the Senators who sympathised with the hapless president.

National Daily sources said the “operation indict Obasanjo” project gulped about N300 million and that the money was used to induce some independent-minded senators to cast their lot with the pro-Atiku group.

Inside sources told National Daily that the anti-Obasanjo senators tried to induce the committee members to write a report favourable to the group, but were allegedly rebuffed.“The Atiku group was desperate to deal with the president, you know they mobilised a lot of money to lobby the committee and other senators. I heard the committee rejected the monetary offer but I cannot absolve other senators,” said a source, adding: “our group (pro-Obasanjo) was caught napping, we didn't know they will try to influence the committee or buy over our colleagues.” While the Tsauri committee met to do justice to their assignment, the pro-Atiku group held several meetings at a popular hotel in Wuse 2, Abuja to fine-tune their strategies.


The Tsauri committee started writing its report on Sunday, March 18, before Otunba Johnson Fashawe made the stunning revelation that Obasanjo lodged N700 million in his MOFAS account despite the president's earlier denial that he had nothing to do with the said account.
By the evening of Monday, March 19, the committee concluded its report and was ready to present it on the floor of the Senate.


Meanwhile, the anti-Obasanjo group had resolved that as soon as the senate accepted the committee's indictment of Obasanjo, a popular senator from the South-East, who championed the opposition against the third term agenda, will move a motion for a vote of no confidence to be passed on him. Consequently, the president will be expected to toe the honourable path by resigning from office or face the humiliation of impeachment.


If the president refused to resign from office, a resolution would be passed asking the chief justice to constitute a panel which will investigate the allegations brought against him.
The time-frame between impeachment process and handover will not be a constraint because the Ndoma-Egba panel report and that of the review committee will be available to the chief justice panel. So, the chief justice panel would be expected to conclude its assignment before the end of April to enable the Senate accept its recommendations on the impeachment of the president.


However, as soon as the Senate President was informed of the plan of the senators, he moved to nip it in the bud.


First, Nnamani, in a secret meeting with the review committee members in the morning of March 18, pleaded with them to give him their report before bringing it to the floor of the Senate.


Nnamani reportedly told the committee members that the Presidency has been ridiculed by the PTDF scandal and the nation's image equally battered. He said the committee report if not well handled could finally pull down the Presidency and rubbish the image of the country in the comity of nations.


He urged Tsauri and his colleagues not to recommend the impeachment of the president.
The chairman Tsauri was said not to have given any assurance to the Senate president. He said the committee will consider national interest in the final report.


Not convinced that he has achieved the objective of this interactive session, Nnamani reportedly reached out to some influential senators and close associates of the review committee members, imploring them to put words across to the committee members.


Meanwhile, Nnamani himself was under severe pressure from the Presidency and the PDP echelon to save the president and the party the embarrassment of indictment and removal from office.


“They told the Senate president to do something quickly to scuttle whatever negative intention the committee and the aggrieved senators had against Obasanjo. Nnamani was so confused about what to do,” sources said.


The Tsauri committee, which sent shock waves across the Senate with its controversial resignation on March 19, finaly submitted its report to the Senate on March 20 at about 2.30pm.


Nnamani, perceiving that the anti-Obasanjo group was still yearning to take their pound of flesh that day, decided that the report will be debated behind close doors to enable him do the necessary manouvres before the finding is disclosed to the public.


During the closed-door deliberation, sources said the Senate president applied the stick and carrot tactic in persuading his colleagues to tamper justice with mercy.


He warned them not to be overwhelmed by selfish interest and unrestrained desire for vengeance, as their decision was capable of truncating the transition programme and possibly cause chaos in the polity.


He urged the senators not to move a vote of no confidence or impeachment motion against the president.

“Gentlemen, if we do the right thing, we will go down in history as statesmen,” Nnamani reportedly said.


National Daily learnt that Nnamani was pressured to support the removal of Obasanjo and Atiku so that he could become the president and organise elections after three months according to constitutional provisions, but he rejected the proposal. He said he is not an inordinately ambitious man but rather a statesman, who is committed to peace and the growth of participatory democracy.

agbaje. but i dont stay in lagos.

useless thread

una wey get iq of human well done o

9ja1, how does lagos aiport picture affect populatin?

una get wahala sha

tell us something new