₦airaland Forum

To be honest I think we really need to reflect on the fact that the only Nigerian presidential aspirant that seems to be working to campaign for the votes of the ordinary person is IBB. Honestly speaking what on earth does that say about our democracy? Do the other aspirants simply intend to rig and hence no need to guage public opinion? I don't think we should be giving out our vote for free and to be honest if IBB is the only person that would actually bother to fight for votes and actually attempt to discuss the issues (however shocking that sounds) staged or not, I would have no other choice than to consider him, its as simple as that. Where are all the so called "progressive" candidates? Only two people have taken campaigning seriously, IBB and Donald Duke (and IBB seems to be doing a much better job of it I might add). They are both PDP. Where is AC? Where are the other parties? Where is the so called "mega party" that would provide tough opposition? Where is the so called opposition? How dire and pitiful indeed.

Beaf:
[size=14pt]2011: Northern senators reject IBB, Atiku [/size]
Written by Taiwo Adisa, Abuja
Friday, 13 August 2010

FORMER military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar received the shock of their lives on Wednesday, following the refusal of the Northern Senators Forum (NSF) to back their ambition for the 2011 presidential race in line with the zoning arrangement of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Sources at the meeting held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, said that the senators pointedly told the two leaders that they had not shown seriousness about  their campaign for the number one seat and that their insistence alone was not enough.

A source said one of the senators told the ex-leaders  that it was wrong of them to start canvassing zoning, when they had led Nigeria as a united entity before now.

Another senator was said to have told the two leaders that if they were serious, one of them would have agreed to step down for the other and that their failure to yield the position to the other meant that they were playing games.

It was also gathered that IBB pleaded with the lawmakers to consider the interest of the North and support their agitation for zoning.

The former president was also said to have complained that the senators rejected his earlier request for them to back the retention of polling order, which makes the presidential election to come last in the order of elections.

The IBB camp had lobbied the senators in July to retain the polling order, as recommended by the Senator Isiaka Adeleke-led INEC committee, but the president’s camp intervened and ensured that presidential election comes second on the election order.

Another source quoted one of the senators as telling the ex-leaders to up their campaign and make it known to the South-South that it could not use oil as a bargaining chip for the presidency.

The senator from the North-West was said to have said that there were many countries without oil and which were surviving well.

“If the South-South is banking on oil to bargain, then they don't have anything to bargain with," the senator was said to have told the gathering.

However, Atiku was said to have declared that he and IBB would ensure that only a northern president would be acceptable to them in 2011.

http://www.tribune.com.ng/index.php/front-page-news/9650-2011-northern-senators-reject-ibb-atiku

I don't get the part in bold at all and would just assume it is a view held by just this senator and not all northern senators, if not why is there so much opposition to a more federal system? Why are people still fighting tooth and nail over oil derivation? What a knave. If we can do without oil why don't we just go ahead and do without it? Such throwaway statements really are irritating, all talk and no action.

rethink:
Some us can play the ostrich. We know that no one will invest even the One of the old naira notes that was used in the 80s unless they increase prices and gauranty money back to investor.

People love free light and that is what has killed us.

Unfortunately that is something people would choose to ignore when talking about the masses like they are just victims. How many people tap into free light illegally and don't pay bills? Yet those same people will shout "NEPA" when power goes out as if they were paying for it in the first place. Let us not be myopic because it is killing the nation.
If Power is sorted the resulting economic boom and opportunities would lift a lot of people out of poverty and the multiplier effect alone would probably be staggering. Let us for once not only think of what we will eat tonight. Investment in power is not cheap, it would require money. I am all for privatisation and think the power sector should be liberated, however, I find it amusing that people would shout "privatise" and not understand that it would probably lead to increased cost of power because infrastructure for power (especially when building from scratch) is not cheap.

FBS:
^^^ But you will agree that it is "better" to pay a higher price for services fully rendered that paying ALL the time for something you don't even get to see.

Sky Blue:
Haven't you got a pre paid meter? If you do then that nullifies your position. If people are going to be actually charged for the electricity they use then I don't see the problem. Generating power is not cheap and peopel who are shouting "privatise privatise" should know that if the private sector takes over the prices would (understandably) increase.

So what is the wahala again? In that sense wetin consain you consain whether it is 24 hours electricity you get if you only have to pay for what you use?

tkb417:
if ill get electricity 24/7 365 days

then we'll pay

any attempt at being epileptic with the supply will be met with stiff resistance

Haven't you got a pre paid meter? If you do then that nullifies your position. If people are going to be actually charged for the electricity they use then I don't see the problem. Generating power is not cheap and peopel who are shouting "privatise privatise" should know that if the private sector takes over the prices would (understandably) increase.

Iranoladun:
Now I know Sanusi is daft!

So he thinks that removal of Subsidy is the solution to electricity problem in Nigeria?

There is a good arguement to back up that. For how long now has the government been subsidising petrol and power? Any improvement so far? There are people making money out of the current subsidy and chaos.

Orikinla:
Nigeria cannot have a presidential election in January when we consider the present state of the political climate.

I believe the main reason for bringing the election forward was so we 'choose' a president before a governor. I know it sounds trivial to some, but it is quite significant. There were serious fights and tensions in the background to have the presidential elections before the gubernatorial ones to avoid a powerful governors lobby choosing who the next president would be. Just think about that for a second.

Acidosis:
Hazard allowance is just a cover-up, there is more to it. . .
If 10bn is meant for hazard only, 74bn is definitely not enough for other wages and allowances.

Cover up for what? If you did not understand what he meant by 'hazard allowance' why don't you just say so and perhaps seek or wait for elaboration or clarification? This scepticism just for the sake of it is getting quite tiring. What I am interested in is free and fair elections or at least a very very significant improvement from the last one. You install a man less than a year before elections are meant to be conducted and expect things to be done on the cheap? We want good roads and infrastrcuture but won't pay taxes, good leaders but won't even bother to vote talkless of defending our votes, reduction in corruption but would give police twenty naira just to make our lives more convenient, what a paradox.

trueword:
na wa o.  N84 Billion.  Well at least he is breaking down how he arrived at those numbers.  If he can hold an election that is credible enough to where some good people are put into important positions this money will be a drop in bucket to how the economy will grow.

I agree. If he can give a basic and sensible breakdown of what the money would be used for then I say give it to him.

One of the main reasons given by people who wanted the dates changed, was so we 'elect' a president before we 'elect' governors, hence we don't have powerful governors dictating who the next president would be (as they tend to do); and I agree with that. However, I really think this decision should have been run by Jega, he is the one conducting the elections after all so it would be good if the leader of INEC had a say so we know how feasible free and fair elections would be in such a relatively short planning period of time, and if not, what actions would be necessary to give us such something close to it.

[quote author=paddy_lo link=topic=484099.msg6440884#msg6440884 date=1279923482][b]For one he is from the Niger Delta,if anybody deserves to be the president in Nigeria today,its someone from there

so let them have it,so Nigeria can move forward. . . .

Also his policies are private sector friendly,and should continue with the reforms that has helped to grow our economy @ 6% since 2001

His finance minister is a great pick and will help to put a check on the overzealous SANUSI

He has done right by the INEC pick. . and our next set of elections should be credible

He is level headed. . .and is de-mystifyng the presidency.  .enough of this gra gra presidents like OBJ,IBB,Atiku,Buhari and so on

He is young enough. . . .He appointed the first female Oil Minister in Nigeria,and the First ever Female OPEC oil minister
so at the next OPEC meeting in OCTOBER all the arab oil shieks and other randy fellows,will be eyeing our OIL minister. . lol

I like the crowd he moves around with,Femi otedola,Dangote et al. . distinguished private sector achievers

Theres more but u get the point[/b][/quote]What are his 'policies' and perhaps more importantly, what has been done to actually implement these 'policies'? Weren't Yar Adua's seven point agenda policies also private sector friendly? Wasn't Yar Adua also trying to deregulate the oil and gas sector? What did he achieve?

Weren't people also praising the Professor Iwu pick when it happened? 'De-mystifying the presidency'? Oh please. I could pick that last point apart but I don't want to get too pedantic with this response. The point I am trying to make is in a country like Nigeria it is easy for anyone to have policies and what we should be looking for is achievers who can actually implement and push through on a policy. Like words, having policies in Nigeria can be cheap. Again I repeat, seven point agenda. What I found irritating is you making Jonathan out to be the only person (chosen even) capable of leading Nigeria in this "crucial time", when he is yet to put reasonable achievements against his name. Permit me to hold my views but I think what Nigeria needs is somewhat of a radical, and Jonathan has shown no such tendencies. You could claim he is simply being pragmatic and trying to get a second term before he really does something, but hey, this is Nigeria and thesame was said for OBJ. I don't even know what Jonathan's real policies and thoughts on a range of issues are because he has not even secured a ticket for the presidential elections talk less of even campaigning, so what specific policies are you talking about?

[quote author=paddy_lo link=topic=484099.msg6440061#msg6440061 date=1279915292]Yea i like this ish. . Goodluck Jo is the right man,at the right time in our critical history. . . .[/quote]Why is he the right man?? ?

presido1:
^^ If you like give the 55 trillion Nigeria election is Nigeria election. I wonder how people still have hope in Nigeria when thieves are in charge.

Look, how much money is squandered on absolute nonsense in Nigeria yearly? Does spending 55billion naira mean we will have credible elections? Not necessarily. However what I would find most irritating is if this whole issue is ignored then next year we are told after yet another decrepit electoral experience that this issue right here, was the reason we did not have free and fair elections. If the government/INEC is going to be insulting enough to lie to me I rather they actually put some effort in it. On the flip side and considering how much money is wasted yearly in the country anyway, I would say even if it would take 100billion naira and we have the possibility of getting free and fair elections based on a credible electoral register then so be it, whatever needs to be done, let the people be given a choice for once to choose who they want and have the leaders on all levels they want. 55billion naira spent in Nigeria for an action that could possibly lead to more credible elections? I say spend it.

If that is what it would take then so be it. The federal government should get on this, I am sure it is not hard to 'find' 55billion naira. Whatever needs to be done to avoid any excuses next year, that is my own.

Gbawe:
This is why no pragmatic Nigerian will cast a vote for Jonathan. He simply does not have the political will , integrity, single-mindedness and bravery required to implement badly needed reforms. He can talk the talk all he wants but he will never be able to walk the walk haven sold his soul , like Yar Adua, to the numerous godfathers/kingmakers who profit from the way Nigeria is.

Femi Otedola is one of the Chief sponsors of Jonathan's campaign. Why would one of Nigeria's diesel barons sponsor a President he genuinely believes can hurt his business and pocket in future? What was responsible for Yar Adua's insane and internationally disgraceful protection of Ibori if not that Yardy felt he 'owed' a favor to the main sponsor of his election campaign? Nigerians should wake up and smell the Coffee before it is too late . Even Buhari would make a far better President than Jonathan because the former General does not 'jump in bed' with ruinous hands merely to actualise a political ambition.

I don't know about the next elections, he certainly hasn't done enough to justify me voting for him, but there is still time (and I say it in hope). At least we have seen more progress in the last couple of months than we saw in the three years of Yar Adua. Electoral reform has been passed by congress, Iwu has been replaced, Jonathan has signed the oil and gas industry local content bill (which I think is an important one). He seems to be able to listen to the public too (in some degree), so I think the people can get something out of him before the next elections (if they push for it).

As long as these cars are actually given to officvers to be used for patrol and they are maintained. I don't get why people are shouting over this. You want the police to be able to despatch their duties but don't want them to be adequately equipped? Would you rather they used legedez benz to reach you when you call for help?

I don't get the point of the article, are we meant to feel sympathy for the government and see this as a reasonable excuse to give for no progress in implementation of power sector reforms? What on earth are the police there for? The excuse holds no water and the president better not revert to the old "there is a cabal" trite. He is the commander in chief of the armed forces of the federal republic of Nigeria. No group of people should be allowed to stop the rest from developing.

As long as the case brought up by some members which caused them to be suspended is not swept under the carpet like these things normally are. You see how the fight is not even about whether Bankole has anything to answer but about jurisdiction and such other matters. Bankole should be investigated. . .

Yes the police has a lot to answer for, however, the problems of high youth unemployment would not magically disappear by changing IG; the security issue is a bit more complex than that.

[quote author=bk/babe90 link=topic=479736.msg6398162#msg6398162 date=1279308309]Was about to say the same thing! As far as I understand, Lagos is the most developed part of Nigeria, no? Ok! And it belongs to the Yorubas! Right? And Ibos r always coming on threads telling folks wuts wrong with Lagos, how Lagos can improve ect? Why dont these Ibo men concentrate on their[b] Ibo country[/b]? Is that Eastern Nigeria is like the African replica of NY that there's no need for development there anymore? Are the Ibo highways U.S standard? Are their buildings up to par with wut obtains in the Western world? Their way of life? If they've achieved developmental success, then, kudos to them; theyve got every right to criticize anything Yoruba. But, if not, then I suggest they think of putting Televisions in their homes instead of worrying that another man hasnt fenced his.

  By the way, aint the Ibos the ones kidnapping any, and every, thing in Nigeria nowadays?!?!?[/quote]

babapupa:
Very well said.

Their end is crap because they have little or no time to spend on themselves and better their people because they spend so much time worrying about and blaming other people for everything under the sun.

Wow. So much for 'we are all Nigerians'. Isn't this thread about Lagos? . . . .  . .  . . .  . .

blacksta:
What causes sinkholes?

A sinkhole is a large depression in the Earth's surface, often shaped[b] like a well or a funnel[/b], that can be up to several miles in diameter. Sinkholes are [size=15pt]most common[/size] in limestone regions. Underground layers of limestone can be dissolved by groundwater or by seepage from above-ground streams.

http://www.enotes.com/science-fact-finder/earth/what-causes-sinkholes


I have seen a number of sink holes they all look round - The lagos one is not round and is not in a limestone area  it is simply substandard work

What do you understand by the phrase "most common"? Does that mean it can't happen in regions without high concentrations of limestone?

Zenyes:
The creation of GURARA State is a horrendous idea. This is not a matter of whether this civilian regime can demonstrate its power. And that should never be the driving-force behind state creation. The National Assembly must conduct an Economic Viability Assessment to discover whether the region of Gurara warrants the creation of its own state.

What does Gurara produce in State revenue? How many people does Gurara employ? What are the conditions of roads, schools, and hospitals in the Gurara? Creating a state out of that area cannot guarantee the provision of social amenities and infrastructure to the region.

State creation is a very strong move that is harder to dissolve. For example, tomorrow if the state is not doing well, the indigenes/settlers will find it very difficult to rejoin with their Kaduna and Niger State neighbours.

They want to put a knife and divide the things which hold us together, so that we will fall apart. 

My fellow country people, please say 'No' to further State creation. 

No to further state creation ke? I am open to more states o. In fact let people be a state unto themselves if they want, as long as we start implementing a system whereby states receive NO derivation funds or other such financial aid from the federal government in order to survive. The states should be supporting the federal government and not the other way around. You can be a state unto yourself if you want, as long as you are ready to be paying taxes to the federal government. Unfortunately we have an upsidedown system which enables people to afford the luxury of suddenly realising they "need" a state of their own, the audacity. There are certain fundamental things in Nigeria that need to be fixed by passing legislature, and a lot of the rest would just fall into place - an actual federal system is one of them.

Pennywise:
I have no problem standing by a skyscrapper built on solid ground. I prefer this to one built on reclaimed soil whether by dutch engr or not.

What we are talking abt is the necessity. A new biz district doesnt have to be at VI. Lagos still has tens of kms of land that can be dev for that purpose.

This is an ego trip by the CEO of a coy that feels it has arrived. We are simply asking him to be realistic and spend his shareholder's money wisely.

Is this the first time a project of this sort has been carried out? You know the project is all an ego trip for a CEO how? Are you a shareholder? Talk about taking panadol for another man's headache.

Pennywise:
You could be the first person that will be swept away if the landfill fails.

If the company insist on going ahead with this needless project a responsible govt which appreciates the risk to its citizens and its enviroment will tax them appropriately- both state and federal. Even local should find sth in their books.

You could also be the first person to be crushed to death if a nearby skyscraper you were walking past collapses. Does that mean skyscrapers shouldn't be built? The people handling the project, are they amatures? Is this their first foray into a project of this type? So what are you talking about? Why don't we as well ban anything that involves risk while we are at it? Was the research done before the project started? Were feasibility studies carried out? If so then what really is the issue here if it is not a case of complaining for the sake of it? People first cried "o you are wasting our money" and such were informed it was actually the private sector footing the bill. Now it is fear of risk that the project which is being undertaken by a specialist company might fail? Why don't we also abandon ideas of having a railway system as well since you might be the first to die if the train derails?

ode remo:
oh yeah,
why don't you put  your roof b4 foundation then, is that not what we are advocating here.?

Is it your money? Is it government money? So wetin consain you with how a private group wants to spend their money? Argument just for the sake of it?

As long as the legislature is also willing to merge some unviable states together to form more economically independent entities, then sure. It is easy to shout "give me state" when it is not you that would be paying to support the existence of more bureacracy. This so called 'federal structure' needs a serious reworking.

Cosigned. If some more time is needed then it should be given. We need to get this thing right and if more time would be needed to organise and conduct credible, free and fair elections, then pushing the date forward sounds logical.

ice234:
johnatan pls call off this independence celebration. put the money into eradicating poverty

6.6billion naira would not eradicate poverty or come close to fixing power, such things would not be fixed by throwing money at them, but by taking a different approach. My problem is how the 6.6 billion is going to be spent. If the money was going to be spent building 'independence celebration schools' or hospitals or 'independence day bridges (or whatever you want to call them), something that would actually benefit people, then sure. At least that sends a message that there is still work to be done and we are considering the welfare of the people (or something to that effect). Throwing one massive party seems like giving the country a pat on the back, . . . . but a pat on the back for what exactly? What have we achieved? No power, poor infrastructure, high youth unemployment, corruption, brain drain in the country, religous violence in the north, environmental degredation and militancy in the south, and most importantly government not seeming to see the problem as serious as the rest of the country sees it. . . . . so what are we celebrating and what message does fireworks and parties send? Once again, a hallmark of the insensitivity that the elite continue to show towards everyone else. If people are not careful one day someone would just snap and that would be the spark that lights the fire of a bloody cleansing.

ladi02:
I believe we have a listening President

It seems so, but the figure is still high. What is insensitive about the figure is the breakdown of how the money is actually going to be spent. No 16 or 6.6billion naira wouldn't fix the power problem (as people have out of what I would assume is frustration argued), but I really just don't know what we are celebrating as a nation.

Hmm. . . Pragmatic choice (he is more widely known than the other options on the list). Especially interesting when you consider the other candidates they allegedly deliberated. Could this finally be the beginning of a credible opposition in Nigerian federal politics?

babaearly:
Increase the minimum wage first of all.

Imagine. So everybody (including industries and the rest of the private sector) should forget about ever having the option to pay for stable 24hour power supply till the minimum wage is increased? Nigeria already has a ridiculously overbloated and extra large public civil service when compared with its economic wealth. The private sector should be allowed to grow unhindered and at all cost to be able to start absorbing some of sea of the abundance of graduates who are currently unemployed and have nothing to do. The private secotr needs power to grow, so do industries. Just give people the option to pay more for stable power. As long as its a free market and multiple distribution companies (under some regulation from the government) can set up, market forces should drive the prices down to somewhat affordable levels. But the growth of the private secotr should not be hindered. If government workers are not happy with their salaries they can switch.

naijaking1:
^^^^
Nobody is lecturing anybody. There's no way to break-up an old and gigantic utility like PHCN without making some mistakes, errors, etc, and even have somepeople crying foul, but we should stick to the big picture. 'The need to do it right' has been one of the arguments people advance as a reason to stick with the old system

Was not justifying anything with regards to delaying this further. The issue is whether this is simply another promise to add to the list of unfulfilled ones made by past administrations, hence why I am more interested in getting it backed by law otherwise there is nothing to celebrate yet unless people are prepared yet again to 'wait and see'. Now is that so unreasonable a position?