₦airaland Forum

But in all seriousness the House of Assembly must be fought on their attempts to increase the oil benchmark. What are they going to do with the extra money and does more money automatically mean increased implementation? We need to start actually putting more money in our savings acount as a nation and increasing oil benchmark works against that. Again, what do they want to do with the extra money? They should be setting target of 85 percent implementation and working hard towards helping government achieve that, not worrying about oil benchmark, wetin consain dem?

With all due respect Mr Chukwumerije, I do not share your optimism. The only positive thing I saw in that report was the moving of Manufacturing facility for touch screen device to the state, and the patronising of local tailors for uniforms which are both good.

Correct me if I am wrong but Osun is not exactly a rich state, like most states it depends significantly on the federal government. Hence while social reforms might sound all good and nice with fuzzy feelings et al, we need to ask what has to give. Education is much more than infrastructure. Education is about quality. It goes beyond buildings to include lab equipments, teacher training, etc. The problem a lot of Nigerian Universities have is that they CANNOT source funds effectively enough to improve on the quality (equipment, training, infrastructure, etc). So what we end up with is many village schools we call universities whose bests are yet to crack the top 1000 in the world.

So the question is this, how does reducing University income help matters? And the most shocking thing, we are meant to celebrate government sending students abroad to get a better education in a place that can give them opportunities their state and country could not provide for them? How is that something to beat the chest about? Were these students made to sign contract saying when they finish they will come back to contribute meaningfully to their state? So what does the state gain from that?

There were other things to pick up on from that article but it is not worth the time. Sometimes I worry about the leaders we have. The positives are manufacturing site moving to the state. I liked the reforms for primary schools (assuming the state can EVEN afford it), but I saw nothing to be joyful about with regards to educational QUALITY for Secondary schools and Universities IN THE STATE.

I might just have to start ignoring news about Osun because me and that man think completely differently. Socialism is not cheap. We should be helping our Universities tap into global funds to help improve their quality and be trying to retain and meaningfully deploy local talent.

omo harry: .Lagos Police Command reads riot act to criminals, seizes 130 hoodlums that rape, rob victims

The Lagos State Police boss, Alhaji Umar Manko told reporters: “We have arrested some of them, they call themselves the ‘One Million Boys’, and they go from house to house, raping women and stealing from them.

“I assure you that even if they are up to one million in number, my command will neutralize them.

“We have arrested 130 of them and we are prepared for them.

“They should leave Lagos or face the wrath of my command.”

The Police boss also said his men had arrested bandits behind most of the bank robberies in Lagos, including the recent one at Sterling Bank, Matori, Mushin, in the metropolis.

http://www.osundefender.org/?p=40503

And what if they are from Lagos? Lagos state government should just take its time o. The rest of Nigeria is not its dumping ground!

playboy19: You know it's funny how Nigerians thinks. You are all here complaining about an Indian company "TaTa" bidding for our power distribution company while no one noticed the names of the local bidders being the same set of people indicted for Subsidy fraud. SMH

And FYI, Tata is a very credible conglomerate compare to all these your subsidy fraudsters. In case you dont know, Tata owns Tata car producing company, Jaguar Cars, and the almighty Land Rover, yes your Range Rover was produced by Tata, so how else do you want them to prove to be competent enough.

Aside from being subsidy fraudsters, you cannot attribute any good thing or products to any of our so called local bidders. My opinion though!

And how experienced is TATA in power? You mention that TATA own Jaguar but don't mention that they own it because they BOUGHT IT. They did not set up that business or the intellectual properties that went into creating that brand, so don't mix things up. Don't get me wrong TATA is not a bad company, but I was more relieved to see Honeywell in that list.

And yes the local bidders might be questionable, but that does not make this alternative the ideal by default. There are MANY good companies in the world that have experience with power. The countries we could look to are ENDLESS, so why India that struggles with its own power issues? Why not even South Africa?

torkaka:
LET ME GIVE YOU A TYPICAL NIGERIAN SCENARIO;

GOVT. SETS UP A COMMITTEE
FUNDS ARE PROPPED UP
THE STATE GOVERNOR(OR LOCAL GOVT, CHAIRMAN) IS GIVEN THE FUNDS
THE GOVERNOR(OR CHAIRMAN) CALLS A MEETING OF ELDERS(READ PARTY ELDERS) AND DOLES OUT THE FUNDS FOR DISTRIBUTION!! THE ELDERS KEEP 80% FOR THEMSELVES AND SHARE THE REMAINING AMONGST THE VICTIMS, STARTING FROM HIS IMMEDIATE RELATIVES TO THE DISTANT ONES!!



WHEN DANGOTE CONTRIBUTED MONEY TO FLOOD VICTIMS IN KOGI, WHO COLLECTED THE FUNDS?

Which is EXACTLY why the constitution of the committee should not be based on who is from the area. This is Nigeria, and we have a very long history of people stealing from their own people. Local knowledge can be hired as required. People are actually going to be depending on this relief, so not the time to be playing your kind of politics at all.

torkaka: IT'S A COMMITTEE!! THOSE DIRECTLY AFFECTED SHOULD ALSO BE CARRIED ALONG!!

They don't need to be in the committee to be carried along.

torkaka: AN INDIAN CANNOT UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEMS/ISSUES AFFECTING YOUR VILLAGE BETTER THAN YOU! SOME OF US ARE ON GROUND AND ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT TRANSPIRES!!

Keep on poit here, we are talking about Nigerian and not India. With your justifications perhaps only people from the exact villages or local governments flooded should be on the committee regardless of their competency in handling projects and regardless of the fact that the committee is set up to handle the flood issue of THE NATION. I just keep wondering why these people you speak of MUST be on the committee for it to have integrity. Is it that the knowledge they have can't be deployed in other aspects of the efforts? Why do they have to be on the committee in particular and beyond the knowledge of their own specific towns or villages what expertise can they bring to a project that is meant to cover the nation?

lagerwhenindoubt: 1. Alhaji Aliko Dangote - Co-Chairman : His presence provides a sense of credibility to the entire character of the committee. He can be hugely influential in lobbying large corporates for much needed funds in relief efforts. A sensible inclusion - no mistakes here
2. Mr. Olisa Agbakoba - Co-Chairman : An inescapable inclusion. He is a tried/tested human rights activists and his presence should give the committee a human face. - no mistakes here either
3. Dr. Mike Adenuga Jnr. - Chief Fund Mobilizer : Well he sure fits the bill and as Dangote' you cannot have the Goose and leave out the Gander - A politically correct inclusion given the North-South issues we have in Nigeria
4. Alhaji Karami Isiaku Rabiu - Member : If only the capacity to provide subsidized cement for reconstruction efforts, i am in full support. this BUA International oga definitely merits inclusion on this list - GEJ is starting to make sense
5. Alhaji Mohammed Indimi - Member : Well score one for this Pro-Military lobbyist and friend of elites. he is about to use his wealth in a positive way
6. Ngo Hannatu Cholum - Member: Ahhh. the gory days of Abacha must go. well she has sown some good seeds and has Nigeria at heart (in 2007) i see no value of her presence here
7. Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija - Member: Well.. she does look good and has a lot of billions in her account, why not
8. Prof. Dora Akunyili - Member : This is definitely a NO.. NO.. she was the bride in the past but unfortunately her foray into Dirty-Politics has shown her for the true spastic flippant rogue she is. perhaps Ndigbo pressure merited her posturing
9. Mr. Tony Elumelu - Member: Well what more can I say.. he has shown his worth and paid his dues - no mistakes here
10. Secretary-General, Nigerian Red Cross - Member
11. Representative of C.A.N. - Member - A Catholic Bishop rather than the emotional evangelists and prosperity preachers will do fine
12. Representative of N.S.C.I.A. - Member : Why not add Disabilities Association and perhaps Almijiris Union as well
13. Representative of the UNDP - Member
14. Representative of the European Union - Member
15. Representative of DFID - Member
16. Representative of USAID - Member
17. Perm. Sec., Fed. Ministry of Environment - Member
18. Perm. Sec., Fed. Min. of Water Resources - Member
19. Perm. Sec., Federal Ministry of Works - Member
20. Perm. Sec., Federal Ministry of Agriculture - Member
21. Perm. Sec. Federal Ministry of Health - Member
22. Perm. Sec., Federal Ministry of Finance - Member
23. Perm. Sec., Fed. Ministry of National Planning - Member
24. Director-General, NEMA - Member
25. Ag. Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees - Member
26. Perm. Sec., Ecological Funds Office - Member
27. Chairman, Senate Committee on Special Duties - Member
28. Chairman, House Committee on Environment - Member
29. Rep., Nigerian Union of Journalists - Member
30. Rep., National Council of Women’s Societies - Member
31. Mr. Tunde Lemo, (Representing the CBN) - Member : Sure sign that someone will milk N17,6 billion dry. this guy reeks
32. Ms. Fatima Wali - Member
33. Mr. Frank Nweke Jnr. - Member He has been very active in financing development and sustainability projects - VERY GOOD


THOSE LISTED BELOW HAVE NO BUSINESS ON THE COMMITTEE
34. Senator Florence Ita-Giwa - Member BIG BAKASSI MISTAKE RIGHT THERE

Don't use the word 'credibility' to try to sell Dangote please. Just say he is rich and doesn't need to steal chicken change. And your postulation is even more LAUGHABLE when you say Dangote is credible and pass aspersions on Akunyili who turned a defunct NAFDAC into a performing agency (even with threats to her life). Now I would be more confident in her management skills.

Zeddicus: Typical Nigerians. If the title was "South African Firm and Others Bid For Power Distribution Companies" you will rain abuses on them citing MTN and DSTV.

Address the issues raised and leave the smart retorts to the professionals. South Africa has a better power record than India (easily). China has a better power management record than India (easily). It is about competency. Unless you can find any where I have complained about MTN who provide services that Nigerians in fact rely on, I suggest you just walk on. India suffers from the same problems Nigeria suffers from, corruption being a major issue. If we are going to be led to greater heights I would prefer we be led there by people actually at greater heights - with a majority Nigerian share hold.

torkaka: there's what we call terrain and knowing the people/communities most affected etc! its is for the reason you have govt. at the local level (govt. closer to the people). it's not everything you shout qouta and get applauds for! if tomorrow you start hearing the victims complaining that relief materials did not get to them, look no further!

Spare me that excuse of terrain and 'local knowledge' because it is EXACTLY what I expected you to come up with. What about all the 'local' and 'indigenous' companies around the country that bid for government contracts under the same silly excuses and deliver sub standard work if they ever deliver at all. What is their excuse? What, the people on this committee can't go and ask questions or hire one or two local hands? I say rubbish. A Kogi or Benue man does not have to be in the committee for work to be done properly in those states.

I would like to know the percentage ownership of Tata in the consortium. I would be VERY uneasy at the idea of a foreign company controlling something as sensitive as power. Indian for that matter, they still suffer from power outages and just some months ago there was a huge outage that plunged about half a billion people in India into darkness. What, there were no South African bidders to manage? Give us people who have sucessful experience of doing this please - with a majority Nigerian share hold.

torkaka: as usual the brainless fisherman gets it wrong! what about people representing the affected areas? i don't see any benue or kogi man on that list!

A Benue or Kogi man being on that list should not be you concern, your concern should be whether the job gets done or not! What a silly little comment. This is how we like to play daft quota system with every single thing while relegating considerations of competence to the background!

With regards to the first few names: Hopefully they are too rich to be interested in stealing chicken change (that is the hope anyway). I won't automatically assume they were chosen for their project management skills because I never assumed they got to where they are in business as a result of such, especially knowing how things in Nigeria works. As long as the money is used with as little stealing as possible and with some degree of efficieny. . .

THAT WAS IT?

To be honest with you, apart from the politics of 'he is better than the other option', I have never fully understood the fascination with the Buhari candidacy. He suffers from what MOST Nigerian presidential aspirants suffer from: speaking in platitudes and being scanty on details. I don't want any more presidential aspirants telling me what is bad with Nigeria (they mostly say stuff a toddler can tell me with less sanctimonious outrage). I want candidates that can propose a way forward in the context of where Nigeria is at right now.

[quote author=MEGA-WATCH]E*X*P*L*O*S*I*V*E!

Speaking at a recent Leadership Newspapers Awards event held at Abuja and reported by Thisday Newspaper of September 19th 2012, Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar reportedly stated as follows.

[b]“I want to recall that during the 1994-95 Constitutional Conference, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, the Second Republic vice-president of this federation, introduced and canvassed for the concept of geopolitical zones.

“I was among those who opposed it because I thought that Ekwueme, coming from the defunct Republic of Biafra, wanted to break up the country again.

“Now, I realise that I should have supported him because our current federal structure is clearly not working. Dr. Ekwueme obviously saw what some of us, with our civil war mindset, could not see at the time. There is indeed too much concentration of power and resources at the centre.

“And it is stifling our march to true greatness as a nation and threatening our unity because of all the abuses, inefficiencies, corruption and reactive tensions that it has been generating.

“There is need, therefore, to review the structure of the Nigerian federation, preferably along the basis of the current six geopolitical zones as regions and the states as provinces.

“The existing states structure may not suffice, as the states are too weak materially and politically to provide what is needed for good governance.”[/b]

Personally, I support restructuring of Nigeria with the 6 geopolitical zones becoming 6 Regional Governments of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with as many states and LGA as they want to create. Derivation should be 50% to cure the regions of laziness while the Federal Government will share the remaining revenue strictly on the basis of equality of regions. Of course the centre will have a President with 6 Vice Presidents and part time national Assembly that convenes not more than 4 times per annum, to approve Federal Budgets and legislate on critical issues that will be left in the exclusive list. We need not pay them anything more than a fixed sitting allowance that will take care of their transport and accommodation at Abuja.[/quote]If Atiku Abubakar really made such statements, I am willing to listen to what HE supports as a replacement, and if he signs such a proposal as a promise to citizens, then I would be willing to listen to his proposal and consider him as a viable candidate. And i really do mean this.

We need to start getting smart and putting in people based on certain promises they make. His implementation might be questionable at best and it might all be political trickery, but Jonathan creates the impression that he at least listens. If not I don't know why people expect him passionately to review the structure of Nigeria when that was not what he campaigned on (change is a VERY vague term)? The only politician I know in Nigeria that had an extensive manifesto was Atiku, wether he had much input in its creation is a different matter.

We need to start sourcing candidates that we can hold to their word based on signed contracts. I just hope that if that candidate is found Nigerians don't reject him based on where he is from.

Achebe is entitled to his opinions. If the opinions of Achebe are potent enough to trigger war then Nigeria does not deserve to exist as a nation. It seems everything nowadays is capable of triggering war in Nigeria, including any talk of what happened in the past. One of the rather unfortunate things I find about Nigeria is its unwillingness to deal with its past as a nation.

Any child going through the Nigerian educational system might never know that Biafra ever happened or what it really was about. I don't know (and I might be terribly wrong)of any National museums that catalogue what IS our past in that regards. Such things are a bit worrying because they show the signs of a deeply insecure union where many monumental things are left unsaid because 'there will be war'.

It seems everything in Nigeria is capable of triggering war and instability except corruption and nepotism. So the question is this: Can we heal the union without talking about it as a nation? Can we move on without first looking back? And by the way when I mean talk about it, I don't mean the petty little spats that go on on this forum on a daily basis, I mean national discourse. People died on both sides of that war and yes, heavily on the side of the Igbos. As a nation, is ignoring them as if they never existed the sacrifice required to keep Nigeria together? What makes a nation and what makes a union?

We need more understanding of ourselves, because beyond the politics that goes on with the political elite where it seems we are all divided for the benefit of their continued control of the nation, many Nigerians want the same things: a nation where they can feel valued and achieve their potential. What has to give to get that?

asha 80: so you did not know about this till now?

There is a difference between 'knowing about it' and just hearing him speak about it so lackadaisically, it was just unnerving. It was like watching and listening to Abacha disolve all civil societies with the utterance of the word. When I watch that clip again from time to time after all these years, there is just something eerie about it. There seemed nothing nationally idealistic about any of the founding fathers even though they sounded more educated than all the people to come after them combined. It was all about power and the only constant that has remained through it all has been the culpability of the Nigerian people, always happy to be divided to be conquered. I guess why I was a tad shocked was because it was like I just saw the future. Nothing has changed and Nigeria might just be doomed to repeat that same cycle.

shymexx: All your founding founders were TRIBALISTS,[s] except the ones from Lagos, and the Ransome Kuti family(including Wole Soyinka)[/s]... I still don't know why they formed a country together - when they knew darn well they can't live together...

Corrected!

CyberG: Why is is shocking? I am sure you were NOT alive then to see it but what he is talking about is very obvious today and was he so right?! What he said is an accurate depiction of iboz and that is the same attitude iboz put up to most other Nigerians until they irritate most Nigerians and mistakenly do something stupi.d again! Then, all hell breaks lose! Is it not funny that ibozland with a land size just about that of Oyo state alone move to other people's land and start to insult them there because of this Federal style of government. Why should the Sardauna accept their empty boastfulness, thinking they are better than other Nigerians and shouldn't they be put in their place? Well, let iboz go and get a job in iboland and turn it into Canaan if they can but stop seeking employment in the north, west, south south or middle belt. Shikenan!

Please just ignore my post, I don't engage racists so all you sorts just keep walking!

Listening to Sardauna's northenisation policy of the civil service in the north was a tad shocking. 'If we can't get a northerner to fill the post on a permanent basis we'll try and get a white man on contract, if we can't get a white man on contract, THEN, we'll consider other Nigerians'.

Seems to me like the beginings of quota system and federal character. I just wonder why some of these characters are so romanticised in Nigerian history.

Thank you for posting this, very interesting. We are our own worst enemy, stubbornly refusing to learn from the mistakes of our fathers. Quite interesting to note how the dynamics in the relationship between a handful of men ('founding fathers') who seemed mainly interested in power has altered the way many Nigerians see themselves and their fellow country men. It would be terribly amusing if it wasn't so pathetically sad. Depresing to look back then and look at where we are, just terribly depressing.

The only thing left is for south Sudan to start taking off (I really hope they do), meanwhile we will still be there fighting our petty racist wars. What a contraption. Good to see a sub saharan city making strides.

I would be very worried. This place is full of hate, racism, bigotry, partisanship and immaturity. What kind of government do you want to make from that?

thehomer: So who is being held responsible? If no one gets punished, what will stop someone else from perpetrating the same act? This administration needs to be proactive in prosecuting offenders.

Not going to hold my breath, with all the scandals we've heard this year who has been prosecuted?

afam4eva: Is it the same TVC that currently airing a terrestrial channel? I actually think this is a welcome development. We need a channel that can project the good part of Africa to the outside world. it mustn't always be about war, poverty and starvation.

We need a voice that will tell our stories with a bit more objectivity and local insight, not a channel that will 'project the good part of Africa to the outside world'. The media can be a good tool in the process of democracy, we need to drop this ego tripping. If I want to read about just nice things I can pick up a children's novel about unicorns and fairies having tea with the farm animals.

dayokanu: I am interested in what part of his statement you pick that suggest ACN is a regional party

And where in any of what he said did you get any feeling of national concern that extended beyond the region (or 'the Yoruba race' as he called it)? It is what it is, this tends to be the tone of discourse in ACN speeches I see. There is nothing fundamentally wrong about those ideals (although I think its a bit of a shame since I feel Nigeria needs more national opposition parties). But as long as we don't try to call it what it isn't. I don't see anything nationalistic about the party, but if they can deliver for states in the southwest that voted them in then good for them, let us just stop calling blue red, it is patronising.

Was there even any mention of Nigeria in the article? And when he keeps on saying "we", who do you think the "we" refers to?

A little lost, wetin happen 2k con loss? Sharp sharp, naija fast guy no be thief
Abeg Seun hurry up and shake body let us do Nairaland delegation. I swear I can chop and still be objective

So with statements like these which are not uncommon (and coming from the party LEADER), is it now really that difficult to understand why people find it a challenge considering ACN as anything more than a regional party? Neever been a huge fan of Tinubu and I still feel a little disappointed.

apala911: “I assisted Mimiko to retrieve his mandate in 2009. Four years ago, he came to me in tears. Mimiko came with two of my brothers, rolling on the ground. He begged us to rescue him. We don’t like Poverty Development Party [PDP]. They just stole our votes then. We said no. Yoruba will allow that. We are not betrayers. We fought the battle. Aregbesola was fighting his own. We fought in Ekiti and Edo.

“I gave Mimiko money and everything that he needed to fight the battle. We took his case overseas. The white people collected money from us. Do you think white men will do anything for free? But he is now saying that we did nothing for him. When he was afraid to come to Ondo state, we gave him a bullet-proof car. The Holy Bible says in Psalm 17 verse 13 that if you reward good with evil, evil will not depart from your house. [size=14pt]I want you to use your votes to judge the case.[/size]”

http://dailypost.com.ng/2012/10/02/mimiko-ingrate-collected-money-betrayed-me-tinubu/

I mean, is he for real?

Afolabs101: They are going to toll the heck out of this road! They've already built the toll booths at the Lekki side of the bridge.

Is the tax + federal allocation fashola's collecting not enough to provide roads and bridges? If not, can the state govt not borrow to fund projects like this?

I'm willing to bet that the capital cost of the bridge + interest on funds borrowed to construct it can be taken care of from the state's recurrent expenditure.

Don't get me wrong, fashola is a good governor but I think that because are expectations are so low that someone who does the bare minimum is hailed

I agree with your last statement but let us tackle some issues with your others. Infrastructure is NOT CHEAP. If Lagos borrowed the money they would STILL need to pay it back. This bridge IS NOT the only project lagos state government has to fund and is working on, so that comment about using federal allocation to fund it is pointless. Things HAVE to be maintained with time. Maintenance COSTS money. We need to get into better habits of paying for what we want, everything can't be free. The money has to come from somewhere and at the end of the day something has to give (services or taxes)

Paentera: Chief, the main aim for the tolls is to tax those who use that route to make money. So if you're one of those who drive from home to work and back every week day, you really need to evaluate your need for that vehicle - is it cost effective? With BRT buses dotting every part of the metropole, I invite you to give public transportation a trial so you save that N500 daily which you can use at weekends when you use your vehicle for leisure purposes.

Agreed
Nigerians don't like paying for anything. Covering the cost through taxes might have been my suggestion but whatever;. . .

dnawah: minus abia state

Plus Abia state. I strongly agree with musiwa on that (shock horror, never knew I would see eye to eye with Nigeria01).
If the governor in Abia continues in its incompetency and the citizens refuse to revolt, that is their business!