₦airaland Forum

Evathyst:
I rep the blues!

jaysniggs:
Baba is mouthed

Sleekpy:
Gradually, things changed for General Muhammadu Buhari for good. He is no more the ordinary Nigerian of yesterday. He is now the president-elect.

But that is no more news. The news now is that everything about the man has suddenly turned presidential: food, house, clothing, vehicles, name it. Have you seen him of late? Buhari has got swag. In fact, the usual Buhari’s two or three cars convoy has grown serpentine with fortified security presence.

But then, the man has lost his privacy. Ditto for his running-mate. The vice-president-elect, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has transformed from the ordinary preacher to wearing the executive stuff.

When Buhari threw his hat into the political ring in 2003, seeking the presidency, he was seen as the biggest joker of the century. Of course, the people rejected him. In 2007, he gave it another shot but was humiliated by his kinsman, the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. In 2011, he reappeared for the presidential contest, the same fate of the previous times befell him. By this time, he was already being dubbed a serial loser.

But as 2015 approached, signs of his coronation became clear. And on March 28, destiny crowned him the president-elect even at 72. Now, the serial loser has become the lucky winner. Once again, the general has been catapulted into a life of affluence and influence.

Nostalgically, the only time Buhari’s life assumed this dimension was during his military days when he was Head of State. But that was 30 years ago. Even at that, there is a difference between being a President and Head of State. It is not just because one is elected by the people but the fact that one would not be afraid of colleagues planning a coup and removing one. The military steals political power irrespective of the public odium it attracts but a President receives the mandate of the people.

Buhari suffered such military fate on August 27, 1985 when his colleagues ent him packing from office. Since then, he had led a private life.

But the man is back at the corridors of power. This time, through the front door. And, gradually, attention is fast shifting from the incumbent president to him.

First official bilateral engagement as president-elect

Watching Buhari receive the President of Ivory Coast, Allassane Quattara, at the presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja in the evening of Monday, April 20, upon his return from his home country, Daura, Katsina State, put in me the feeling of presidential reality. As a former Head of State, Buhari may be entitled to use the facility but definitely not with an air of presidential aura he exuded that day.

Quattara may have also met with President Goodluck Jonathan earlier that Monday, but not with the observable euphoria on his face, jolting him to some immediate memorial expeditions where he recalled his own election. Like Buhari, Quattara’s presidency was also tough, an eventual art of providence and destiny.

Said the Ivory Coast leader: “I have come to Nigeria to congratulate my brother the president-elect for his brilliant election and to let him know that the process of this election is a great pride to all of us and the rest of African countries.

“The peaceful process is a lesson for all African countries. You will recall that in my own country in 2010 when we had the presidential election, the former president did not want to leave office and this led to civil war with 3000 people died. So, we are very proud of the Nigerian people.

“I came to congratulate my brother President Buhari and tell him that my country and Nigeria will work hand in hand for stronger integration of the West African region. Nigeria is very important to all of us for its leadership and I think I met President Buhari few years back. We will continue to work together to make sure that the west African region and the people the region can seek more prosperity and better lives.”

While the Ivorian leader shared his ugly experience in the hands of his predecessor, Buhari recalled Jonathan’s benign stance which has saved Nigeria of a conceivable overt crisis.

“I think more specifically (Quattara’s visit is ) to congratulate president Jonathan for his statesmanship because when president Quattara referred to his own experience where he was under siege for more than four months because his predecessor refused to acknowledge his winning. In Nigeria opposite happened, hence we are enjoying the peace, so specifically congratulate president Jonathan for his statesmanship”, the president-elect said.

Buhari relocates to Defence House

Buhari’s presidential treatment did not just begin and end at the airport. It continued to Abuja metropolis and would continue over the next four years. Upon his return that Monday from Daura where he had been since the April 11 gubernatorial election, Buhari checked in at the luxurious Defence House in Maitama axis of town.

Understandably, the facility, which may also be called a safe house, was designed by the regime of a military Head of State and has since served as the temporary abode for an incoming president. In fact, only persons of presidential status use the place for official engagements and so, Buhari, being the presidential-elect, is entitled to use the facility which was recently renovated to receive his visitors. And you can bet the horde of security personnel that now surrounds the place.

ECOWAS Chairman’s visit

The first person to visit Buhari at the place was the Chairperson of Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, Ghanaian President, Mr. John Mahama, on Tuesday, April 21. He brought two things to Buhari: Congratulations and pledges to work with him on ECOWAS platform. But the contemporary xenophobic madness in South Africa, a sister country, stole the show. And you could trust that Mahama descended heavily on the country especially on its attack on Nigerians.

“I think it is an issue that we are all worried about because of the specific circumstances of South Africa and its most regrettable and most unfortunate. I think that the young people of South Africa do not know what happened before they gained their freedom. The whole of this continent stood behind South Africa. The whole of Africa stood behind South Africa to fight against apartheid. I remember all of us who growing up as secondary school children went on marches and where part of the African Youth command boycotted classes and all that all in the fight against apartheid”, Mahama said.

“Indeed for several of the countries where their citizens were brutalised in South Africa, these are countries called front line states and harboured the freedom fighters of South Africa and gave them safe haven, gave them passports to be able to avoid the clutches of the apartheid regime and even Nigeria. Nigeria even though not a neighbour of South Africa was considered a frontline state because of their economic contribution that Nigeria did to be able to liberate South Africa from apartheid and so, it is regrettable that the same people who fought against apartheid are being attacked.

“The pictures we have seen are horrible. As ECOWAS, we have issued a statement condemning what is happening, the unfortunate thing is this is not first time, it keeps flaring up and so while we are condemning this incidence we must work with South African government to ensure that it won’t happen again. We are trying to create an integrated continent where our people can move freely amongst our countries, this has not set a very good example for integration and especially for South Africa that has investments all over countries”.

On Nigeria’s elections, the ECOWAS leader said: “Earlier this morning I called on President Jonathan and also commended him for his maturity and statesmanship that he has shown in terms of conceding before the tally was done and calling President elect Buhari to congratulate him. I think that Nigeria has shown a good example for self regime that democracy and good governance have found a firm root in the ECOWAS.

The ECOWAS has a protocol on democracy, good governance and elections and I believe that has been properly followed here in Nigeria.

“We have five elections this year and Nigeria has set the pace and we still have Togo that is coming on Saturday 25th and in October we have Burkina Faso. We have cote d ivoire. We have Guinea, so I think that with what has happened in Nigeria, it is an example for other countries in terms of the standard electioneering. In my second heart as the president of Ghana as you know Ghana and Nigeria have very close relationship and we will continue to work closely with Nigeria, we share the same values our cultures are similar.

“Nigeria is the biggest economy in West Africa and is the most populous and also the biggest economy in Africa. So, it is a very valued member of ECOWAS and we will continue to expect that Nigeria would show a certain leadership and carry her responsibility in terms of the work of west African states”.

Ambassadorial visits

One of the campaign promises of Buhari was to restore Nigeria’s self respect in the international community and signs of that glowed on Wednesday, April 22 when, in one fell swoop, China, Israel, Equatorial Guinea, Iran and Morocco promised their cooperation with the incoming administration.

The assurances of those countries were conveyed through their ambassadors in Nigeria who visited to Buhari at the Defence House.

For China, Buhari’s regime would mark a new dawn of investments in agriculture and infrastructure.

“China and Nigeria are going to further our cooperation. As part of our desire for collaboration with Nigeria I discussed with the President- elect on some of the potential areas of investment. We plan to invest in such areas like Agriculture, infrastructure and other projects that is tailored to impact positively on the lives of the people of Nigeria. We came to present the best wishes and regards from our President and people of China to the president- elect”, the Chinese envoy, Mr. Gu Viaojie, said..

In the case of Morocco, the diplomatic row between it and Nigeria that resulted to the recalling of its ambassador to Nigeria was now a thing of the past.

“The new relations is for the good of both Morocco and Nigeria. I am here to give the President- elect a message from the King of Morocco. The message is for greetings and best wishes from Moroccan people. I believe that ( the ugly incident that led to the withdrawal of Moroccan Head of Mission) is in the past now. We are looking forward to the future now”, the Morrocoan ambassador, Mr. Mostafa Bouh, said.

Similarly, the Equatorial Guinea ambassador said Nigeria has shown exemplary leadership in Africa with the conduct of the peaceful elections just as the Israeli ambassador, Uriel Palti, expressed the readiness of his country to continue with the good relationship with Nigeria.

Last line

For sure, there is a season for everything. Like President Goodluck Jonathan, who had no shoes at a time, Buhari, in the last 30 years when he exited office, may not have played host to officials of other countries in the manner last Tuesday and Wednesday afforded him. Osibanjo also may have occupied the office of Commissioner for Justice somewhere but not as noticeably as the office of the number two citizen of a country.

These new titles with their inherent euphorias intoxicate. But no matter, the mistake both men cannot afford to do is to let the excitement get into their heads.

tchiwinnie:
Today's lunch. Garnished jollof rice wtgrilled chicken in tomato sauce.
Cococandy

icebot:
Sunday School Lesson:Behind every satisfied woman,There is a tired man...

SleekyP:
The Commissioner for Water Resources in Sokoto state, Alhaji Shehu Tangaza, has assured that the out-going administration of Governor Aliyu Wamakko would complete some ongoing water projects, which stand N7.5 billion, before the handover date of May 29, 2015.

Tangaza, who disclosed this to journalists in Sokoto on Saturday said: “Almost all the affected projects have reached between 80 to 90 per cent completion stage. They will be completed and inaugurated by the incumbent administration of Aliyu Wamakko for the benefit of the people of the state”.

The projects include the Bi-water and the three old water works in the city, which will cost N1.9 billion and the second phase of Asare water project.

Others are the construction of nearly 100 bore holes, expected to provide 40 million gallons of water per day to be located at Rugar Liman, Runjin Sambo, Gagi, Mana, Tamaje and Old Airport, among other areas in Sokoto metropolis.

The commissioner explained that the state water board provides about 70 million gallons of water every day.

“When ongoing projects are completed by next month, the board will be able to provide about 110 million gallons of water each day”.

khadupsie:
Oh... Pls use your detective sankey Skillz jor

psalmz:
Source of information or u just seeking for attention

SleekyP :
I don't know how to engage in a physical fight, not to talk of beating someone . So, it baffles me when I see or hear of these stuffs in relationships and marriages. But the truth is, some ladies of today don't deserve my kind of guy - the gentle type who you can talk to anyhow and all he does is to walk away.

Anyway, that's a topic for another day. I feel sad for my friend Anne Njemanze who has had to leave the house of her second husband, yet her first husband is now happily married with kids. What is the matter with her? Is it that she is in the category of ladies who are claiming "no man can control me"?

Sincerely, if your first husband sent you packing and your second husband has started using blows to design your face in less than two years of marriage, then you really need to check yourself...

The marriage between Anne Njemanze and Silver Ojieson is over and the saga didn't end well. It was fighting and beating all the way, to the extent she was injured.

In our society, mature ladies with few millions find it difficult to marry the kind of man a woman should marry; a man who is OK, a bit older than you, who you can respect and work with comfortably.

On the flip side, some young ladies who enjoy this privilege usually abuse it because they often think that it is possible for them to get a bigger and better man, hence they take what they have for granted.

But by the time they get to 30 plus and might have slept with several boyfriends and sugar daddies, it is then that reality will dawn on them that life cannot be lived solely based on how you wished it.

Sadly, Anne has learnt her lesson the hard way. The "young man" who married her and moved into her own apartment is now gone after everything, not to talk of the serious beatings. How sad!

Life can truly be sweet all the way, but only for ladies who imbibe the virtues of sincerity and honour.

SleekyP:
25 year old Aladi Sule was attacked with acid by her ex-lover, Kazeem Abdullahi, a few weeks ago in Kogi state. According to the story told by Vanguard, Ladi and the man who attacked her had been lovers since secondary school. When she fell pregnant, the couple decided to live together but unfortunately the child died.

Then when they began to have problems, the man married someone else, prompting Ladi to leave the house. Then the man came begging but her family demanded that he marry her properly first before she moves back in with her.

While they were making wedding preparations, the man rented a house for Ladi, who also managed to get some money to start a fruits shop. Eventually, the man decided he no longer wanted to marry Ladi and asked her to pack out from the home he rented for her. When Ladi refused, he threatened to deal with her and destroy the ‘beauty’ sh was using to pose around town. Aladi didn’t take him serious. Then he showed how serious he was.

A few weeks ago, Kazeem came to her house in the middle of the night and attacked her with acid. Kazeem was arrested but released three days later after his family agreed to pay the medical bills for Aladi who is currently receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, Kogi State.

MizMyColi:
Tosyne2much!

Happy Birthday.