₦airaland Forum

kaeto: If ACN is willing, with all due respect, we from the S.east 'must' swallow our pride and join forces with them. It almost happened in my state, Abia, in 2011 guber polls,were ACN's candidate was more prefered. Fashola could step up his game and become the president for good. I have waited long enough for good governance and I know you are completely out of patience too. This much needed and awaited change must come with a level of sacrifice,my opinion though.

Look at each potential government and individual on its own merit (Fashola and Oshiomole are the only ACN governors I hold in any regard). But I very much agree that Nigerians need to explore and consider more opposition candidates, it sends a message to failing parties.

afam4eva: I think the Nigerians especially the media are to blame for this.

Why do we say that "Fashola is doing well" rather than "Lagos government is doing well". What about the commissioners and other stakeholders that are working day in day out to produce the best results.

How come the faces of out government officials are added to just about every sign board that relates to their department. For example, we see BRF in so many places including BRT buses.

I've also noticed that the media is always fund of making statements such as "Governor Fashola was represented in the occassion by his deputy". Are the even supposed to say this? is the deputy not automatically supposed to be the second in command?

Why do we praise individuals rather than the institution?

Because he is ultimately the leader and Nigeria has very few functioning institutions so systems are more susceptible to changes in leadership. This is NOT the ideal, but this is where we are now. If NAFDAC could function smooth free on its own, why was it a mess before Dora Akunyili? Continuity is a problem in Nigeria which is why Lagos for now would probably be safe sticking with someone Fashola recommends in the next elections because at least you have continuity in reforms (hopefully). This is not to understate team work in anyway because such is VERY important, but for the level we are at now, if it is right for Fashola to take the blame when anything in Lagos goes wrong, I think it is only fair that he be allowed to also take the credit when things go right.

(Again this is not the ideal and does not help our democracy, but it is where we are)

I have seen better pictures of the bridge weeks ago (just can't be bothered to post it). The pictures up there do not capture the scale.

Good job! Actions speak louder than words.

kingoflag: Oh, now you remember the constitution? Tell me, what does the constitution say about rigging elections and foisting a clearly mentally unstable and unqualified person on the rest of us as head of the World's most populous black Nation just because of his language and tribal background?

Like I said when someone else complained about the Niger Bridge : IF YOU REALLY NEED IT THAT BAD, get all the Governors in the SE to come together, pool funds and erect it themselves.... then request a refund from the Center. Lagos and other Western States have done this before. My friend, Lagos kept going on for years when this same OBJ starved her of Federal Funds, so what is yall's excuse?

Hold your Governors accountable for their conscienceless decisions and stop always trying to cast blame at whoever's standing right next to you.

P.S: How are the Non-Federal Roads in the SE? Pristine or not?

I agree with the part in bold, that is why I am for the whole federal roads thing being abolished.

With regards to your first paragraph though: Nigerians need to learn how to take responsibility for their actions and stop being so DAFT and SHAMELESS. The man you have in power is the man most voting Nigerians voted for, learn to accpet this fact and stop looking for silly excuses to shy away from the role the citizens played in their own quandry. If there is anything worse than the Nigerian government it is the citizenry.
Nigerians need to learn that if the citizens don't play their part in a democracy we are going NOWHERE

I have never met a more disenginous set of people in my life. People DO NOT follow NASS elections during the election period because they deem it unimportant, then when NASS starts messing up we comfort ourselves with the DAFT assumption that they all fell from the sky and rigged their way in. Keep on blaming rigging for your quandry, don't open your eyes and get involved and pay attention next election. You will forever be crying rigging.

Some people say they wish they could borrow some leaders from some other countries. I just wish I could kick Nigerians out of Nigeria for a month and move the French in. You will start to see government working because those guys are politically active and don't take crap from their leaders.

This is why we really need to have that talk, call it whatever conference you like. I don't have very high hopes for whatever announced conference there is next year, but if it can lead to some sort of restructuring then it would be worthwhile. We should abolish things like FEDERAL ROADS and the money saved by that disolution used for something better. States that want to improve connection between themselves can work on improving connecting roads. The Federal Government has shown that it CANNOT maintain roads, and have become a convinient excuse for bad roads around the place. Mayors of cities should be given MORE power over development in cities, instead of the seemingly worthless roles they play now. We were told not too long ago that the federal government is planning on disolving some federal agencies. Curiously watching that space.

NTA really needs to upgrade, they are a disgrace. I thought the ringing in my ear was tinitus till I paused the video for a second to realise it was the video quality.

chino24: Africans are gradually taking over the developed nations of the world

. . . . .Would hardly call this a take over. And even that aside, if your own home remains crap of what benefit is this 'take over'?

I am so not interested in Nigeria and its overbloated ego trying to be a "world super power", it is the most useless thing to aspire to in my opinion. Let us just aim to be a good country and a good continent a bit more inward looking that strives to be the best it can be for its citizens. That will be more than enough for me. If we have to look abroad to one man who was 'raised abroad' because his parents were probably economic migrants who had to leave their country of origin for greener pastures to give us hope, I think we really are in trouble. It is the equivalent of Kenya trying to claim Obama (and he wasn't even born there)

Hmm. First impression on reading that: not a bad speech at all. I liked that he tried to sell what he has tried to do. Most of those things seem of little consequence, but I like the reduction of bureacracy, it shows thought. Reduction of clearing time at ports from six weeks to a week or less and with a target of 48 hours, that is good. Do these things justify a year's worth of work? That is a different matter, but good speech.

doctokwus: U failed to address my argument which is d fundamental basis of a SNC:if u say u wudnt use a subsisting NASS,how do u elect d pple to debate in dis SNC;who chooses d topics to b discussed or will there b no-go areas;what do u now do wt d present NASS,in otherwords,what will b its role.I agree d NASS as we av it is flawed in structure,personel& inputs,but what is good for d goose is good for d gender,i.e,d presidency as presently constituted is also flawed using d same parameters;so if u bye-pass d NASS,u also av to bye-pass d presidency

Read my last post to you again then get back to me, because it is obvious you didn't read it. And just to add to the side, what has been stopping NASS from debating these issues since? Sing another tune please. This is not about trying to make sure NASS saves face, there are more important things.

doctokwus: My guy I wudnt fashy d thing.So tell me,how do u appoint true representatives of d pple,just think& tell me d criteria dat shd b used in a country where ordinary elections are based on ur pocket's ability to outrig ur opponent.Den what do u do wt d present NASS,corrupt as dey are,who can dissolve dem,GEJ,u or I.D ironic thing is dat GEJ is d least competent person to accede or understand wat a SNC entails.So I won't fashy what I know is blowing thick air

But in the same vein your argument backfires. You already accept that NASS isn't perfect, but then who chooses the credibility of your 'independent inputs' in your proposal? To be honest the closer to the grass roots the better. I would prefer if state houses thrash out this issue and report to the centre than leaving this for NASS, and even that would not quite satisfy me because it is mstill the same questionable system. What we can do is just go old skool, town hall and village meetings across all states over a period of time to discuss certain issues, referendum around certain issues on the outcome of meetings, and we go from there.

doctokwus: There is nothing to celebrate.A sovereign national conference is more dan a president acceding to it.First what are d modalities of representation,or is it selected people frm d tribe of warlords,pirates,self made chiefs& gangsters whose only qualification is d size of their pockets,d armoury at their disposal?As long as d representation is flawed,its doomed.My suggestion is this:as flawed as d present NASS is,d common issues dat agitate nigerians as a people& nigeria as an entity(a no holds barred topic discussion) shd be debated by d members with independent input frm all strata of society ,organisations and professional bodies.After d debates,d collation of all agreed views based on majority opinions shd be concisely presented in a FREE,FAIR, referendum to the nigerian people.Otherwise any sovereign whatsover with an existing national assembly is flawed,unless d NASS itself is dissolved,which nobody has d power to do.

And what has been stopping NASS from doing this since? Abeg fashi dat tin.

chucky234: SNC is long over due as that will afford Nigerians the opportunity to put heads together and proffer solutions to our many problems and see how we can move this great nation forward together as one people in unity.
Haven said that implementation has been our major problem in this country and I doubt if whatever positive ideas that comes out of the SNC will be properly implemented to yield to desire results.

O boy, if an SNC is done properly, and after the nation comes to an understanding the National Assembly does not pass agreements made by the people into law and the people just 'siddon dey look', then the people deserve to be slaves and should try doing it while also shutting the hell up. You have to fight for your freedom!

divinelove: This clearly shows dt the national assembly have failed in their duties and gej has agreed to dt. Snc is timely but [size=14pt]d procedure of handling it ll determine its success or failure[/size]. I keep my fingers crossed as it unfolds.

EXACTLY. And the fact that the National Assembly SEEMS to be sidelined in driving or crucially participating in this IS hopeful. Don't even know why I am getting so excited, this is just news and we have had many "I will" news before. Let us see what happens.

bayooooooo: GEJ again? Does he now give a damn? A man who does not believe in state police, sees regional integration as balkanisation of Nigeria into "small tiny islands" is suddenly a convert of let's restructure Nigeria? Deception mixed with a dose of propaganda to further confuse the populace. He should try something else. Nigeria will be restructured when guys who actually favor restructuring the country get to power.

You are free to disagree but let us at least try to be fair. I support the IDEA of state police. but the reasons given against it are valid. Even Oshiomole is against state police.

duality: what of the one done during OBJ's reign? have we addressed those issues?

Who partook in that conference? What issues were raised there, what were the resolutions and where did we leave things? If you can't answer those questions then I think you commentary is invalid.

mymadam: A National Conference on its own will turn out to be a super exercise in futility and a possible criminal waste of tax-payers' money. The National Assembly, being the 'representatives of the Nigerian people' can handle that. What Nigerians want and deserve is a SOVEREIGN NATIONAL CONFERENCE, without no-go areas. The difference is clear. Well, we are waiting & watching. God bless Nigeria.

I disagree with the bolded part. Congress is made up of members in house of reps and senate. They are not all corrupt, but as an entity I don't trust that they feel the beat of the nation or have the interest of the people at heart. I think what we are actually being proposed here is what I had in mind anyway. A forum for Nigerians to discourse everything to do with out past, our present and what roads we want to take to our future. So far, I like what I am reading, especially the parts highlighted below (devolution of power, federalism, etc). The only part I am worried about is the involvement of the National Assembly in crafting the resulting bills. Nigerians should be ready to burn down Abuja if they even try to mess with the people's voice, and there should be referendums on certain issues.

[quote author=Erelu_Y][size=15pt]Jonathan okays national confab *Concludes consultations, SNC to take off next year[/size]

Written by Taiwo Adisa, Abuja
Sunday, September 30, 2012


PRELIMINARY consultations scheduled to lead to the convocation of a National Conference were said to have been wrapped up in the outgone week, as President Goodluck Jonathan was said to have given the green light on the planned confab. Investigations by Sunday Tribune revealed that President Jonathan had personally led some of the secret consultations with leaders of ethnic nationalities. Only a few of the consultations were held in the open, as it emerged that the president had also constituted a team that would midwife the conference.

A source said on Saturday that contrary to reports in a section of the media, the presidency was actually spearheading talks with some leaders of ethnic nationalities for the purpose of identifying the need for the much talked about national conference. According to findings, the conference is scheduled to start early next year, while the steering committee is now fine-tuning the modalities for the planned confab. Besides a number of consultations that took place in Abuja, it was gathered that a number of top presidency hands were deployed in Lagos, Kano, Kaduna as well as the South-East and South-South states to directly hold talks with leaders of many of the ethnic nationalities. Through the series of consultations, it was learnt that the consensus of opinion is that the country should provide a platform for the hitherto silent majority to ventilate their views on how to enhance Nigeria's unity and also ensure peaceful co-existence.

A source close to the arrangement said that the president had concluded on the need to ensure that Nigerians ventilate their views within the democratic space while the fears of various ethnic groups were also addressed. It was learnt that while the issues to be discussed at the confab would be moderated towards enhancing national unity, the government was willing to hear Nigerians out. Said a source in the know: "A lot has been said about the need for national conference or even the Sovereign National Conference and the president, being a listening leader, has actually consulted with many leaders from across this country. " There came the feeling that some Nigerians think the National Assembly may not really ventilate their views on devolution of powers, federalism and derivation, and that such issues are better thrashed out at the level of a national confab where people can truly agree on what they see as fundamentals." It was also learnt that the outcome of the planned confab would be handed over to the National Assembly, which would then prepare some bills in line with some agreed issues. A source said that the confab may last for only six months. In case the national confab could not complete its assignment before the completion of the ongoing constitution amendment exercise, a source said that the government would prepare separate bills for legislative action by the National Assembly.


SOURCES: http://www.tribune.com.ng/sun/front-page-articles/8677-jonathan-okays-national-confab-concludes-consultations-snc-to-take-off-next-year; http://odili.net/news/source/2012/sep/30/625.html


[size=15pt]I have two hopes. First, that GEJ unequivocally delivers on this and not renege on it. Secondly, that Nigerians adequately grab this unique opportunity for the sake of posterity.[/size][/quote]

[quote author=Mr.chippychappy][size=15pt]The Parasites in Nigeria go dey fear now . You know yourselves [/size][/quote]This is what I am worried about. We can't go into such things with such mind sets or it will achieve NOTHING beyond a shouting match. I hope Nigerians can be more mature than what is obtainable on this forum when this time hopefully comes.

[quote author=sweet_gala]This National congress should be an opportunity for Nigerians to trash out issues such as the percentage of our revenue which is used to service the government.
One of the main issues we have is an over-bloated government and the corruption it induces. Nigeria's problem is not tribalism it's corruption and a savage desire for the "national cake".

We have bad roads, poor electrical supply of energy we have bad leaders . Policemen and the armed forces are poorly rewarded compared to Legislators.

The initiators of the coup that lead to that trivialized civil war did not engage such an act due to tribalism but rather a perceived corruption in the government.[/quote]I hope it gets more fundamental than that. Nigeria's problem goes beyond infrastructue, it goes to the very fundamentals of nationhood, and we really need to discourse that and not shy away from it. Everything has to be on the table. Are all Nigerian's equal or are some more equal than the others? What I hope actually comes out of this apart from national understanding is NEW LAWS AND CLAUSES put in the constitution that addresses core issues raised (I have an idea of clauses I want in there but that's a different matter). And for heaven sakes, Nigerians for once don't be such LAZY DWEEBS, GET INVOLVED. Part of this plan should also be a publicity campaign aimed at informing the public. This is a really important issue.

[size=14pt]WOW[/size]

I am very eager to know the planned logistics of this. This is VERY interesting. If this actually happens this would be a real moment for democracy in Nigeria. I just hope the crazy racist bigots don't derail it and we can actually have a proper national discourse.

Hmm. So this man actually listens? I am eager to be proved wrong about him, especially if he pulls this off somehow BEFORE he leaves office.

PointB: The problem with regionalism is getting every part of the country on board. The (core) North will not agree to it and they will use their numeric advantage in the NA, bestowed upon them by successive military regime, to block such move. The only counter-measure to this is get some of the North Central states on board such plans. Additional states in the South (East) is also crucial in balancing the political odds necessary to achieve regionalism.

Broadly speaking, Ekueme is very much on point here.

Not necessarily. The argument of lopsided representation has its logic to it, but I don't see why we can't have LESS states, and some more reps and senatorial districs from the south to balance things out (if that is what the clamour is about). On a serious note we need to start merging some states and using the saved resources to develop some of the cities we have. Any part of the country that wants 100 states can have it, at the end of the day it WILL NOT bring development.

Ultimately, tomorrow remains the test.

[quote author=ndu_chucks]Insha Allah, once our people take control of power in Nigeria, we will forcibly retake Bakassi. The resulting war with Cameroon may be what Nigerians needs to become nationalists and patriots.

Moda F the foreign bodies who ruled against Nigeria and may OBJ and his cohorts pay dearly for giving these people away.[/quote]If war is the only thing that can unify this nation in patriotism then it doesn't deserve to stand, and even the very notion is truly disturbing. This is not a movie, it is real life. Would you even be prepared to fight in this war you propose and risk your own life? After the war and many of your fellow country men are dead then what, or are you hoping the death won't affect 'your people'?

Indeed the truly revealing part of your post is in the very first sentence. Ironically, it shows the very division you would want to gloss over with the distraction of war which you hope would induce FALSE patriotism and sense of nationhood. There are some things worth dying for, and I don't rank Nigeria's overbloated ego as one of them. Because let's not deceive ourselves, this gra gra is not out of some deep concern for the people of Bakassi who ironically, after any possible assimilation, would be deemed grossly audacious if any one of their sons ever decided to vie for the presidency. So who are we deceiving here?

Arrests are one thing though. But we need an effective and efficient judiciary to complement efforts or else it all comes to nought! How many arrested politicians have seen the inside of a jail? And all these jail breaks also need to be a thing of the past. Its just my convictions that firmly hold me to order, if not considering the damage these people have inflicted I might have been tempted to say bullet to the heads on the spot would not go amiss once your boko haram credentials have been verified and info obtained!

Dr Sadik Magaji: dis ain GEJ worK its d JTF ppl K

Gosh, stop being so childish. If it is ok to blame the insecurity of the nation on the current administration (which it is), it should also make sense to give the administration credit when strides are made, or else you just sound like someone with an irrational hate for Jonathan and nobody would take what you say seriously. It is ok to be objective you know? Hating the government in power just for the sake of it does not automatically make you progressive, you need to back things up with some reason people can follow.

Ogbonaikenna: yes i want nigeria dead. If gej doesn't appeal, the bakassi people will go for self determination on the 11th. Chinua achabe will lunch his biafra memoir on the 10th in nigeria with alot of media attention. Bringing the biafra story on the front burner. Biafra group will re-enact on november 5th the authority given by the eastern house of assembly to president Ojukwu. Coupled with the boko haram crises in the north. These might lead to the second civil war which the US predicted to start in 2013.

Just out of interest are you in Nigeria and are you willing to fight for your cause? War is not playing oga in the backyard with your sister, it is a serious thing.

Bliss4Lyfe:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAN2igqSXLE&feature=player_embedded

Bakassi hand-over was the height of 'Executive lawlessness' - Femi Falana

Interesting video. The ape thing . . . . . that was lost on me

Good work. If this government manages to fully tackle this Boko Haram issue without making any backroom deals they will gain credibility. Because it will show that it is not just about making noise and getting angry. We just need results, and with October 1st almost here I guess that will be a good test. An independence day without a bomb blast! Gosh, Christmas would be even more interesting!

Who cares if he invests or not? Others are welcome. I am much more interested in hearing about Nigerians (with a good track record) joining together to invest in Nigeria than hearing about foreigners investing in the country. From his antecedents I don't know how committed he will be to Nigeria and that to me is the difference. Would he just see it as another cash cow, or will he be committed enough to actually improving the business?

Bliss4Lyfe: I say desirable becos it provides Nigerians with an opportunity to externalize their suspicions and threat. Cameroon becomes the Enemy not Hausa, Fulani, Islam, Igbo or Yoruba but Cameroon. This war will unite Nigerians.

I can understand why you think that but I disagree. The only way this issue can ever be tackled equitably is a referendum. Why do we even assume that majority of Bakassi indigenes want to be Nigerians? Because some people say so? What benefits come with being a Nigerian? Give the indigenes a ballot: Nigeria, Cameroun or Independence; very simple. Unfortunately Nigeria is too insecure to do this because it is scared of the precedence this might set. But if we are going to tackle this issue then it has to be through the voice of the affected people, we can't bully anybody. There is nothing funny about war, and if care is not taken this Bakassi issue might just become Nigeria's undoing.

Abbycite: For all those clamouring for d disintegration of dis country.....by d time u realize that is not d problem of Nigeria it would be too late to go back....by dat time, each street would be clamouring for independence.

Really, are we as big as d Americans or are we as diversify as them....if they can pull their resources together to make a big nation as they were, I wonder why we find it hard to toe d same line...

O boy fashi that matter. Being a nation is much more than being rich. There has to be some sort of unity or shared vision. With the ammount of HATE you see spewed on nairaland EVERYDAY, you just have to freaking wonder how on earth Nigeria can ever be a nation if these people have to live together. It is ubiquitous in this section and rather shocking especially since these people seem to be "educated". The vitriol one reads on this site sometimes can only make one wonder. I just comfort myself with the knowledge of experience that these views are not in the majority and are mostly a loud minority. Because if they were even slightly in the majority, I would be one of those strongly leading calls for disintegration. It is not all about money, it takes more than money to make a nation, and I am not interested in being part of one where there is so much open HATE and RACISM.