₦airaland Forum

The True Costs of The 2nd Niger Bridge.

According to the federal government, the
construction of 2nd Niger Bridge would cost
N117 billion. To be funded through public
private partnership (PPP), and 25 years toll
collection on the new bridge.

Breakdown:
Total cost: N117 billion naira.
Federal government contribution = N30 billion
naira.
Business consortium's contribution=N87 billion
naira. The business consortium will collect tolls
for, 25 years.
N87 billion divided by 25 years , will give you
N3,480,000,000. This is the yearly amount the
consortium would collect from motorists using
the bridge for 25 years.(that is all things being
equal).

Assuming there are 5,000 vehicles/motorists
daily on that bridge, multiplied by 366 days
(per year) = 1,830,000. Now, let's divide, what
the business consortium, is expected to earn
yearly, in order to recover their investment by
total number of yearly vehicles/motorists using
the bridge. N3,480,000,000 ÷ 1,830,000 (yearly
motorists on the new bridge) = N1,902.

Assuming the construction costs remains the
same, and contractual agreements (toll
collections etc) remains same, with the
projected vehicular movements, N1,902 might
likely be the range of toll charges. Costs might
vary slightly due to trucks, buses etc paying
higher than cars etc.

This would definitely increase inflation in the
SE, since over 70% users are likely going to be
Igbos. Imagine what transporters between
Onitsha to Asaba and back will pay, or those
living in Onitsha and working at Asaba etc would
pay.
The government didn't consider the poor
masses while making this arrangements.

Ironically, it's the same poor Igbo masses about
to be exploited to death, that are killing
themselves for government of President GEJ.

This is not a good deal. Whoever packaged this
deal, doesn't have the interest of the poor
masses at heart.


www.cvakutamedia.com

nwanna89:
I am sure the current administration is doing all these. The real problem with this Boko Haram issue is internal sabotage. I think the govt realized this late, and has started dealing with the problem. Many soldiers and officers are being charged now. Honestly, none of the ideas in that post wowed me. From what my soldier friend who is in the Northeast told me, all those ideas are being implemented currently.

you may be wrong bro, how? if you may ask

I am sure you heard of a comment made by the president some year's back where Mr president categorically said that boko haram sponsors/members are even present in his government.
and what has Mr president done about it?

we hear no more of it

I could vividly recall a time when one private and standard organization released some names of some people sponsoring this dreaded sect,
what happens afterwards?

the government simply reject the report?

if Nigeria government failed to kill and bury this insurgency just because they never bleed together with their friends on the war front which otherwise affects the moral of our once respected military force them I suggest and in full support of a military man taking over

the president together with the respective ladies and gents in his cabinet are not sincere and you and I know that

Tallesty1:
Words...... Nobody trusts politicians anymore, what they say and what they do are never thesame. Jonathan is not perfect, that i know but GMB is not an option. I would have given them(APC) my vote if they had used another person.

yes nobody trust politicians but the masses and the soldiers still trust their commander.
as a retired.and experienced military man he has spoken, proposing some simple ideas

military men don't easily compromise

one thing I know for sure is that ' there is no coincidence in politics, everything is planned from the start.

with this in mind, I will bother myself less on political parties internal issues

kamez:
Do u really believe that buhari will effect dis corruption eradication claim? Especially amongst politicians? When he was the miltary president he was answerable to no one so it was easier but this time around he is answerable to APC tinubu and co..
Do u think this men would even dream of making buhari president if they felt he was serious about his corruption buhaha? Bearing in mind that they also fall into the corrupt elite?..


Surfice to say most present members of APC are the PDP members who decamped.. And are the same people APC have been accusing of corruption and embezzlement.. Why then are this people allowed to join APC...


I still feel its just a case of 'New car body, but same bad engine'

(())



to be upfront bro the answer is NO but with some reasonable reasons YES.

we must not forget that Buhari contested in last 3 elections and if you followed the respective presidential candidates you will know that he' s determine to fight corruption. I am not expectant of him to deliver a 100% of his promises because he won't be able to do so.

don't let us forget the fact that this is democracy era unlike military, now he will have to govern with the Senate and the reps before most bills and the yearly budget can be sanctioned or granted.

in summary, what I am trying to say and expecting from his government is just to step on toes on corrupt minority elites that sit on and benefits from the national treasure

kamez:
As far as this 2015 election is concerned.. I will sit on the fence..

Nigerians keep shouting change we need change we need..

We have lots of issues to tackle in this country b4 we can progress as a nation.. From security to unemployment, to poor health services, bad roads, epileptic power supply, bad economy corrupt leaders the list is endless.

"We want change we want change" and yet we select GEJ and GMB to contest for presidency

If out of 150 million people, GEJ and GMB are the best and only two candidates we can produce to effect this much needed change, then we re really not going to get this change ..except u guys are expecting a miracle..


Until we allow credible, intelligent, innovative, fearless economic and financial gurus rule this country, this stagnation will most likely continue into the foreseeable future.

Personally I don't care about the tribe, as long as the candidate is right..and these two candidates are more clueless than innovative..( So anyone of them dat wins na just management for another 8yrs)

MY CANDID OPINION.. ( Pls APC and PDP loyalist don't quote me. I'm a nigerian and I'm entitled to my own opinion same as u ) na beg I dey beg

on the contrary and an attempt to buttress your opinion I dare say neither of the APC n PDP is the best option for Nigeria, but Nigeria truly need right now is not someone that will bring about immediate nor definite change,
what Nigeria desperately need is someone that will firmly oppose the powerful and wealthy baron of corruption,
someone that dare point at them and tell the world they devilish
someone that dare look straight in the eye and tell them as long as he lives their evil doings will not go unchecked.

I don't see all this happening any time soon but GMB appears capable of this that GEJ.

not expecting a miracle though but I hope to see. the change we clamour

zantama05:
I think these crowd show that this shoeless boy should forget the entire Northern part of the country.

put south west join cuz south west never sleeps, in fact south west is the architect of all this.

even Nigeria politics as a whole

Abduletudaye:
Osinbajo..I like you and GMB...but don't come here and lie that you will bring steady electricity.. ..haba..which kin lie be that!

there is no foul saying. here bro

what they are doing is called integration.
a method that works in some states is a method that can work if adopted by the federal government, it's just sad that the federal government ignore this little things that could have change Nigeria story long long ago

YES, BUHARI IS SICK; AND SO AM I

Nigerians and their infinite capacity for facile
propaganda. I wake up this morning and what I
see all over social media is some poor taste,
childish diagnosis of Major General Buhari as
being sick.

Well, I agree. I agree that Buhari is sick. I am
sick, too. Any Nigerian who is not sick is not
sick because he or she is incurably sick. We are
all sick. And we should be sick. So, yes,...

...Buhari is sick of the monumental corruption
that has become institutionalized in Nigeria;

...Buhari is sick of the incompetence of a
government that cannot protect the lives and
properties of its citizens;

...Buhari is sick of the lack of a sense of
urgency in the circles of government in Nigeria;

...Buhari is sick of a country that has placed
itself on permanent reverse gear;

...Buhari is sick of a country that has left itself
naked as it is raped dry by vagabonds in power;

...Buhari is sick of a youth population without
jobs;

...Buhari is sick of a country where university
education has become comparable to 8th grade
competence in advanced civilizations;

...Buhari is sick of a country where roads are
death traps;

...Buhari is sick of a country where people go
into political offices near poor, but turn
stupendously wealthy overnight;

...Buhari is sick of a country where education is
priced beyond the reach of the common masses;

...Buhari is sick of a country where $20 Billion
(possibly $40 Billion) of public fund develops
legs and walks away, its whereabouts knowingly
unknown;

...Buhari is sick of watching the country he
loves ranked at the bottom of corruption index
by Transparency International
Buhari is sick of a country that earns billions of
dollars in oil revenue, yet has not a single
functional oil refinery;

...Buhari is sick of a country where government
has bowed to the dictates of power generator
cabals in a conspiracy that ensures perpetual
darkness;

...Buhari is sick of a country where senators
and congressmen earn more.

and the bitter truth is that in a country like this WE ARE ALL SICK

to those saying that confusion is in the tents of the APC or that they were making un-achievable promises,

I will like to tell you 3000000 employment provisions propaganda is a feasible project and that it is very practical and easy to achieve. this project is being practice in Osun state since the first year of the present government in power, year 2010 to be precise .

this is what the APC intend to integrate into all state in the federation.

if this can be achieved by the federal government and respective states buy this idea and practice same, 3,000,000 × 2 jobs will be created.

think again how the economy will be positively affected.

I have known that this ideology will go Mega throughout the federation one day.

to those saying that confusion is the tents of the APC or that they were making un-achievable promises,

I will like to tell you 3000000 employment provisions propaganda is a feasible project and that it is very practical and easy to achieve. this project is being practice in Osun state since the first year of the present government in power.

this is what the APC intend to integrate into all state in the federation.

if this can be achieved by the federal government and respectively states by the idea and practice same, 3,000,000 × 2 jobs will be created.

think again how the economy will be positively affected.

I have known that this ideology will go Mega throughout the federation one day.

Olutola88:
I didn't know when tears fell from my eyes while I was reading this

I Pray and Hope I positively impact millions of lives someday

someday is a practical procastination pal, why not start with what you have and where you are.

in short time, trust me you'll be happy you did and 'll be very very proud of yourself

TochiPhotos:
"After school, I help my mum sell oranges. I like going to the field cos I sell a lot there and also watch them play football, sometimes I wish I can play with the other children but I can't leave my market to play. When I grow up I want to be a billionaire so my mum won't sell oranges again." #humansoflagos

@op, pls if you have the opportunity to see this young man again, tell him he's not alone. many people were once in his shoe and many are still there as the likes n' share of his simple piece of mind indicated. and remember that your mother loves you dearly, I an sure if she knows other means to make ends meet she would not have stressed before she performs her parental duties.
young man, cultivate a hardworking habit just like your mother and learn to modest and. upright, given more to the world and expect Less for that is the key happiness and greatness. it shall be well with you.

alakaloko:
To the critics cum opposition , If truly you have what it takes to stop Boko Haram insurgency why waiting till you get to power before presenting the solution..

Hypocrisy is when you watch the very people you claimed to love and want to rule/lead been killed because you hate the person in power..

Where is your sense of patriotism?

Why can't you bury your ambition, save your people and watch if they will not compensate/appreciate your love?

I'm afraid you are not taking advantage of the messy situation we are going through to take charge and add insults to our injury...

If your passion for the soul of this country is genuine help the present Government in ending insurgency...

in the contrary, I am of the opinion that C n' C have all the resources at his disposal as well as power. unless the president doesn't know that he is responsible for every thing that happened under his watch.

ITbomb:
What really is CNN intentions for Nigeria
The military recently changed all kitting for soldiers involved in Boko Haram operations, the new kits are not found in the market to buy.

Why is America fueling misinformation to mislead the gullible minds

Islamic extremists have presents themselves to be a great treat to peace all over the world and timely and plain reports of their activities is used to track them and predict their possible next move.

Nigeria however, failed to stop them and also failed to give credible reports of their actions. though never owe CNN any reports but. they owe her citizens but failed to give unbiased report.

I am opportuned to meet a. friend of mine while is in the NA that narrated a moment in the battlefield with the bh when neither sides makes no advancement, he said the soldiers with their very own eyes saw a NA helicopter delivered harmo to the bh which had them withdrew from forefront and countless other similar but different occasions.

I knew something deadly is happening from my own perspective though, when soldiers run away! to neighboring country from battlefield plus those several occurrence of mutiny.

Nigeria government is hiding something

I stand to be corrected

The soldier-turned farmer was addressing a
group of APC chieftains who visited his
Abeokuta home. Among them were Gen.
Buhari, his running mate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo,
National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun,
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Barnabas Gemade, Chief
Audu Ogbe, Chief Bisi Akande and Senator
Bukola Saraki among others."


you mean a farmer turn soldier and now a retired soldier but an active farmer and politician

Also yesterday, Obasanjo advised the All
Progressives Congress (APC) and its presidential
candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, to
recruit “men and women of character” – if the
party wins the February 14 election."...



what is OBJ trying to say?

I have. come to realize that the best way to campaign for Buhari is give GEJ a mic.
philosophy of clueless PhD holder

BREAKING NEWS: Defections Hit Ondo PDP As
Jonathan Cancels Campaign
Happening Now!!!
All former Speakers in Ondo State House of
Assembly, five Commissioners in Mimiko's
administration and eight local government
chairmen
in Ondo State are right now at a defection rally
in
Akure where they dumped PDP for APC. Scores
of
councillors are also part of the defection train.
They are being led by former Chief of Staff to
the late
Governor Segun Agagu, Mr Femi Agagu.
The greatest shock at the rally is the defection
of
former Speaker Victor Olabimtan, a director in
President Goodluck Jonathan Campaign
Organisation
and also a current member of the Federal Civil
Service Commission.
In all, 48 PDP leaders in Ondo are leading
thousands
of their supporters to dump PDP for APC at a
ceremony currently taking place at APC
secretariat
along Oyemekun Road, Akure.
The defection earthquake has forced Jonathan
Campaign Organisation to cancel tomorrow
campaign
in Akure, the Ondo State capital, as majority of
known
supporters of the President have defected to
APC or
have traveled out of town. All mobilization
efforts for
the rally have crashed, forcing PDP leaders to
opt for
cancellation of Akure rally tomorrow, according
to
PDP sources in Ondo State.
The Monitors

this is beautiful but seriously you should see primary schools structure built by Osun State Governor Aregbesola.

you won't hesitate to compare the similarities


wetin be my own self, are they erecting these building with their money?

noooo, …. na the remains of our money them take dey build am o o o

of all the ministers in Nigeria that I believe has so far performing up to expectation are The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga and the minister of agriculture Dr Adesina.

I believe this man but he said it all when he said this is achievable if the "investment goes according to plan " .

I strongly doubt the realization of this plan in this corruption era, well not unless they have a plan that allows them being the dominant

[quote author=pigin post=29732071][/quote]half of the congregation? hmmm!!!
some church on campuses and environs filled with single young blood

abeg, anyone dey your area cuz the one here don tire me

as much as I. think how impossible it is for a former head of state and a general in the. military not to have the qualification before getting that far is the same way I think APC is most likely to be aware of this and will be a very poor decision on their party to walk that dangerous part.

In my own opinion Buhari is most likely certified and qualified

even if ladies get it for free, it will still be as useless as it is

to all my guys in the room, wetin matter between this two the buttz or the padd ?

no be pkekus & puny matter?

I used to undermine the Yorubas but their bold decisive and mature approach to situations whenever it nock on the door is inspiring.

consider for example the election in Osun where bags off rice and money was distributed few days before the election, they enthusiastic ally welcome & collected philanthropist gift and yet vote in the candidate of their choice.

I am sure most of the crowd have already manage to get their hand on a fraction of the billions naira in the air.

someone pls tell PDP to come do down to Osun ASAP

!!!!!!

can't wait. . .

can someone pls remind me who Commander and Chief of Arm Force and his responsibilities?

and under what circumstances should his people/army put little or no trust in him ?

"The last official act of any government is to
loot the treasury” has been a popular
quotation on many websites since the global
financial crisis of 2008. The quotation is usually
attributed to George Washington (1732-1799),
but there is no evidence that he ever said it.

Dear reader, please pardon me if it appears that
you are being suffused with another entrée on
corruption in our notoriously corrupt country.
But don’t you just have enough of day-to-day
corruption scandals on the pages of our
newspapers and in beer parlours, with no sign
of abating? And there doesn’t appear to be
anything done about the scandals? What would
it take for us to do to arrest the situation?
My late English Literature teacher and former
governor of Oyo State, Lamidi Adesina, fondly
known as Lam Ade (may his soul continue to
rest in peace), used to scare the hell out of us
when he wants to punish us by saying “you are
sitting on a keg of gunpowder, which is
about to explode” or “you are tottering on
the edge of a precipice, and you are about to
fall inside” or “you are walking at the edge
of a razor blade, and you will be severely
cut”. In those days, those warning phrases used
to strike terror into our simple hearts, because
what they mean was that the offending student
was nearing expulsion from the school.
For decades now, that is what Nigeria has been;
sitting on a keg of gunpowder, or tottering at
the edge of an abyss. In fact I always shake my
head in wonder that a total collapse of the
polity, the economy, the society and the fragile
thread holding the country together has not
been achieved. But then, it appears that this
non-collapse into anarchy and bloody
revolution has been due more to the lack of
courage, meek and cowardly acceptance of the
followers to the indignities and oppression
heaped upon them by their rulers and
indifference to their plight than the resilience of
a beaten, degraded and downtrodden people.
I have always been one to defend my people,
even when some of us averred in many essays
that we are cowards, fools, “munmuns” and
ignorant people. The reason being that as part
of those same people, I cannot accept that I am
in that denigrating category and neither are 160
million people.

Unfortunately for me, when one of our rulers,
Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State
recently blamed Nigerians for the level of
corruption in the country, saying that political
office holders loot the treasury because they
have not been stoned by the masses, it was time
to put on my thinking cap and look at things
from his perspective..

“Kleptocracy , alternatively cleptocracy or
kleptarchy, (from Greek: κλέπτης - kleptēs,
"thief" and κράτος - kratos, "power, rule",
hence "rule by thieves" is a form of political
and government corruption where the
government exists to increase the personal
wealth and political power of its officials and
the ruling class at the expense of the wider
population, often with pretence of honest
service. This type of government corruption is
often achieved by the embezzlement of state
funds. Raubwirtschaft (German for "plunder
economy," "robber economy," or "rapine" is a
form of economy where the goal is to plunder
the wealth and resources of a country or
geographical area. Referring to Russia, Daniel
Kimmage used the terms: "kerdocracy" ("rule
based on the desire for material gain" or
"khrematisamenocracy" ("rule by those who
transact business for their own
profit"” (Source: Wikipedia)

If it is any consolation, it means kleptocracy is
not unique to Nigeria; but I will not rejoice in
that knowledge, as some people will be quick to
point out to me. Is there, or has there ever
been, any country in the world ruled officially
by thieves? I have looked at my history books
and have not come across any, but then
thievery has never been legally recognised
officially. Nigeria will soon set another world
record by becoming the first unilaterally,
officially recognised Kleptocracy in the world.
Trust me, the way we a re going.
According to some research articles, “the effects
of a kleptocratic regime or government on a
nation are typically adverse in regards to the
faring of the state's economy, political affairs
and civil rights. Kleptocracy in government
often vitiates prospects of foreign investment
and drastically weakens the domestic market
and cross-border trade. As the kleptocracy
normally embezzles money from its citizens by
misusing funds derived from tax payments,
natural resources, internally and externally
generated revenues or money laundering
schemes, a kleptocratically structured political
system tends to degrade nearly everyone's
quality of life.
In addition, the money that kleptocrats steal is
often taken from funds that were earmarked for
public amenities, such as the building of
hospitals, schools, roads, parks and the like –
which has further adverse effects on the quality
of life of the citizens living under a kleptocracy.
[3] The quasi-oligarchy that results from a
kleptocratic elite also subverts democracy (or
any other political format the state is ostensibly
under)” (Source: “National Strategy Against
High-Level Corruption: Coordinating
International Efforts to Combat Kleptocracy”
Fact Sheet, Bureau Public Affairs, Washington,
DC, August 10, 2006)
In “Kleptocracy and Divide-and-Rule: A Model of
Personal Rule” Daron Acemoglu, James A.
Robinson, Thierry Verdier. NBER Working Paper
No. 10136 (National Bureau of Economic
Research) Issued in December 2003, “Many
developing countries have suffered under
the personal rule of kleptocrats', who
implement highly inefficient economic
policies, expropriate the wealth of their
citizens, and use the proceeds for their own
glorification or consumption. We argue that
the success of kleptocrats rests, in part, on
their ability to use a divide-and-rule'
strategy, made possible by weaknesses in
the institutions in these societies. Members
of society need to cooperate in order to
depose a kleptocrat, yet such cooperation
may be defused by imposing punitive rates
of taxation on any citizen who proposes such
a move, and redistributing the benefits to
those who need to agree to it. Thus the
collective action problem can be intensified
by threats which remain off the equilibrium
path. In equilibrium, all are exploited and no
one challenges the kleptocrat. Kleptocratic
policies are more likely when foreign aid and
rents from natural resources provide rulers
with substantial resources to buy off
opponents; when opposition groups are
short-sighted; when the average
productivity in the economy is low; and
when there is greater inequality between
producer groups (because more productive
groups are more difficult to buy off)”.
The above accurately defines Nigeria. A societal
observation of the wealth of Nigerian politicians
and civil servants showed that despite their
relatively low incomes, a significant number had
amassed personal wealth sometimes amounting
to sums exceeding several million, both in
Naira, US Dollars and Pound Sterling. We always
wonder how such colossal sums could be stolen,
but we now know that corruption is built into
the Nigerian system, accountability is non-
existent, and with a weak and corrupt judiciary,
totally besmirched crime-fighting agencies, an
unresponsive and irresponsible government,
and, throw in, a totally befuddled and
indifferent society, it is easy, at least for those
who have the access, to walk into the treasury
and take what they want.
We are already living in a KLEPTOCRATIC society
in Nigeria - run exclusively by kleptocrats! And
we the munmun citizens sit down as if nothing
is happening, some of us taking sides because of
misplaced political partisanship, religious
affiliation, ethnic loyalty and a dumbfounding
refusal to speak, see and accept the truth.
Challenging Nigerians to hold their leaders
accountable, Amaechi said, “If you see a thief
and you allow him to be stealing, what have
you done? You have stoned nobody; that is
why we are stealing. Who have you stoned?
They came out and started dancing oil
subsidy, oil subsidy. They told you that they
stole N2.3trn, what did you do? “Instead you
are protesting ‘bring more oil subsidy’; the
oil subsidy that is not reaching the poor. A
few individuals are going away with the
money and you have done nothing. You are
mourning Madiba, who lived up to 95, and he
was very angry with Nigeria when he died.
You’ve heard that $50bn is missing and you
have done nothing about it. In some
countries people will go on the street until
they return that money. It is N8trn, it can
change Nigeria”

So back to the discourse, "Power corrupts;
absolute power corrupts absolutely" (especially
made worse in a corrupt society) I have never
heard of any democratic country where an
appointed employee of the government will
obtain an injunction against the legislative arm
of government to stop them from probing
them. This is exactly what the all-powerful,
untouchable Minister for Oil, Mrs Diezani
Allison-Madueke achieved. Yes, if she feels
her rights are being infringed upon, all she has
to do is defend herself. She forgets that as an
appointed Minister, ALL her actions should be
accountable to the people, irrespective of what
she feels her rights are.
Earlier, several years ago, ex-governor of Rivers State, Dr Peter Odili obtained a similar injunction and for eight years now, nobody dared touch him and he is still laughing at the people of Nigeria.
Again, former Governor of the Central bank
of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido obtained another
injunction, but this time to prevent arrest. A
very bad precedent has been laid. Nigerians
have managed to turn democracy on its head
and turned to "demo-crazy". Other nations use
the court to fight corruption and recover stolen
national wealth; but we use the court to retain
and promote corruption.
When will someone or some people sensible in
the polity stop this display of impunity being
brought upon us? The oil minister had the
audacity to approach the court to obtain an
injunction to stop citizens’ representatives from
questioning her on issues relating to bad
governance and, adding 'salt to injury' the court
granted such injunction? Who is going to save
this country? Should we expect the heavily
compromised labour unions, heavily baggage
civil liberties groups, the Nigerian Bar
Association and other relevant establishments to
step in?
There is a form of government called
ANARCHISM (Anarchy refers to a society without
a publicly enforced government, which implies
political disorder or lawlessness within a
society). Why don't we just adopt that and stop
living this lie called democracy?

Another flaw or problem with our politics and
demo-crazy is that appointees, mostly square
pegs in round holes, into governments owe
allegiance ONLY to those who appointed them
(President and Governors) and NOT to the
service of the people whose very existence is
the reason for their appointments. In fact it
seems these mediocre appointees are
deliberately appointed to keep oiling the
machinery of corruption. These appointees not
only loot the treasury to further their own
political careers or businesses, but “donate” a
lot of the stolen funds to fight elections for
their masters.
2015, the year of the General Election,
most, if not all government ministries,
departments and agencies of government will
remain paralyzed and non-functional; while the
civil servants will be loitering about looking for
easy money to loot and share. And their "ogas"
will be looting and forced to divert looted funds
to sponsor elections.
That is what happens every time an election is
near. That is why you hear billions are missing
every time. Nobody to supervise and a vast
amount of money are lying around waiting to be
looted.
Maybe one day, we shall get out of our self-
imposed slavery and oppression....but don't fold
your hand for too long...you and I. You hear?
2015 is here. We have to do something to
reverse the downward spiral.
If we continue to do things the way we have
been doing for the past fifty-four years, we will
consistently be getting the wrong results that
we deserve. It means, continue to put the
wrong people in power, and we will continue to
get bad and evil governments of kleptocrats.
Simple! A holistic approach to Nigeria’s
problems is needed not jaw-jawing and double-
speak.

And what bearing does the title of this article
“All Loot and no Work makes Me a Rich Man”
has to do with the content? None at all, but
read between the lines. It is axiomatic of our
predicament.

Election is here, use your vote to get
better leaders, and hence, better lives. It is the
least we can do for our children, even if it is
too late for us.

The Truth shall be told always.

A former Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Alhaji Ghali Na’Abba, on
Tuesday said he has been searching for job
since he left the House in 2003. A member
of the People’s Democratic Party, Na’Abba
represented the Kano Municipal Federal
Constituency of Kano State from 1999 to
2003 during the Olusegun Obasanjo regime.
He said, “In the last 11 years since I left the
House of Representatives, I have been
trying to find what to do. I have looked and
considered various things to do
professionally; I still have not come out with
something. ………….” The Punch Newspapers.
August 19, 2014 by Olalekan Adetayo

While the statement or the title above would
sound amusing to many of us, it is however,
when looked at critically, very instructive and
must be of concern to Nigerians. It is a big
cause for concern because, like they say “The
devil finds work for the idle hands” and this
applies equally to jobless politicians who do not
have any job or anything to fall back on after
they exit their positions and power (and whose
fault, may I ask, is that?) They are therefore
prone to all kind of insidious and invidious
political intrigues and chicaneries, not to talk of
inanities and stupidities.
It is another confirmation to us that many of
our politicians and so-called leaders consider
politics and political positions as lucrative
career jobs, which if they lose, or do not have,
they cannot survive in the society. That is one
of the reasons why we have a dearth of good,
sincere, honest and committed leaders whilst we
have mediocre, corrupt, insincere and thieving
leaders in all areas of governance and legislature
in the country. It is the reason why Nigerian
politics is a “do or die” affair and why many will
go to extreme devilish and devious lengths to
either stay in power or get to the corridors of
power. By any means necessary, including the
taking of lives and fetishism.
The reasons are patently and painfully obvious
to us:
First, the pay is too damned good, in fact more
than good, many of them earning far more than
even the President of the United States earns,
and for a lot less work, and mostly for no work
at all; Second, there is the unfettered and
virtually unrestrained opportunity to loot the
treasury without being caught, and even if
caught, there is no punishment. And third, the
opportunity such positions create for and
affords them to oppress and intimidate their
own people – sirens blaring and scattering their
poor people on the roads, getting private jets to
travel instead of using the bad roads they have
condemned their people to use, going abroad
for medical treatment because they have not
funded and maintained the local hospitals to
adequately serve their people and of course
only care about themselves and their families
but not what happens to the common people
who voted them in, in terms of healthcare,
sending their children abroad for their
education because they have plunged the local
education system into an abysmal mess, and
generally showing us that they are mini-gods
and they hold our petty lives in their hands.
I am of the suspicion that Africans derive some
kind of warped joy and satisfaction, bordering
on sado-masochism, in seeing their fellow
Africans oppressed and suffering. It is the
African psyche, when you get to the top of the
ladder, not minding how you get there, and
then looking down at those at the bottom and
discourage them from climbing up after you; or
looking at those who are climbing already, and
trying to use your superior position to push
them off the ladder. It never fails.
In fact, the President, Dr Jonathan had made an
observation in a short message he delivered
during the first Sunday service of the year held
inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja in January
2014 and confirmed this suspicion of political
joblessness when he said that most politicians
are in politics because they were jobless. He
said over 50 per cent of those who call
themselves politicians today were not supposed
to be in politics and that most of them opted to
become politicians because they lacked any
other thing they could lay their hands on.
So the questions we should be asking Na’Abba
and his ilk are:
What were his qualifications before he went
into politics?
What was he doing in terms of career or job
before he went into politics?
Why couldn’t he get a job after leaving
politics? Was it because of his age,
qualifications or disposition and attitude?
What has he been living on for the past
eleven years that he did not have a job?
What kind of jobs was he looking for – is it
still in politics?
Why couldn’t he go back to his old job/
career before he went into politics? That is
if he had any before?
Is it compulsory he stays in politics?
Does it mean that once one was in politics,
one could never find nor do any other job
apart from politics?
Why is our own brand of politics so lucrative
and “to-die for”?
According to Abiodun Ogunseitan, Nigerian
politics is like the nature of the beast. This is
because Nigerian politicians only play politics
with the minds of the people since it is only in
Nigeria that a foreign concept allows politicians:
*To engage in political intrigue and shenanigans.
*To deal with the public in an opportunistic or
manipulative way.
*To embezzle money, loot the treasury and abuse
their powers, because there are no punitive
measures for wasting, stealing or squandering
public funds.
*To be largely educated illiterates.
*To lack foresight, vision and focus.
*To be imposed on the people by parties that
have no ideological bases about what the people
want.
Who do not care about criticism; they just
ignore it.
*To rule and ride roughshod over uninformed
and docile citizens who do not know their
rights.
*To have political influence, hence doing nothing
in office is business as usual.
Hence in Nigeria, crass politicians are lying and
cheating rogues that see the people as
uninformed mules and dumb followers.
These are people who read speeches and make
flattering statements on live TV but the fact is
these are written for them by their sycophantic
advisers. So therefore, these people have no
clue of what they are reading or its content and
measured objectives. It is just fine speeches and
rhetoric for the gullible. These speeches have no
meaning or value to the speaker hence they do
not recall the promises made or ideology
behind their speeches. Did President Jonathan
not promise in his manifesto to improve power
generation and distribution on resumption of
office on his second term in office? Ask him
again and he would prefer to talk about Boko
Haram to avoid embarrassment. Our political
leaders and politicians know there are no
consequences for their failures. Nobody takes
them to task, or asks or cares for their
performance reports. Ask any minister before
appointment and they would promise heaven
and earth and tell you what you want to hear.
Once in office, it is coffee time, looting spree
and strings of girls strolling in and out of Oga at
the Top’s office. These are Yes Men; paid fat
toads - ineffective, inefficient, grossly
incompetent and mediocre and absolutely
devoid of ideas of governance; and why?
Because they can and usually get away with it!
It is no wonder then that after exiting office
(usually, they are forced to exit office), they are
bereft of ideas on how to survive without
government largesse and corruption,
opportunity to steal or embezzle our money or
outside political patronage. Even those of them
who are well educated, (formerly) brilliant with
good and higher degrees, skills, experience and
abilities, eventually slump and descend into this
chasm of dismal non-engagement of their brains
and faculties. The lure of free and looted
money, perks, wealth and power have their
brains so addled and totally inoperative, that
they can’t even bear the thought of going back
to their former careers.
It is therefore not inconceivable or improbable
that the nethermost and basest of these jobless
politicians and political jobbers will fall into a
life of crime after their (often) inglorious and
ignominious exit from office, more often
sponsoring armed robbery and drug smuggling.
And of course, sponsoring and arming thugs,
scheming and plotting assassination of their
opponents.

Hence we should be concerned about these set
of people. The devil, as they say, will always
find work for the idle hands and rapacious
minds of our “jobless and expired” politicians.
We are seeing this manifestation every day,
aren’t we?

Let the Truth be said always!!

cocoduck:
the question is this, can the president oder the arrest of a sitting governor? remember this is a democracy not a military dictatorship, so how will Buhari jail a sitting governor? if Buhari's fighting style had worked we would definitely not be battleing with corruption today. as soon as he left office corruption came back with full force, but with Gej's fighting style, it is not immediately manifest but last almosti indefinitely. Will Buhari jail Atiku? kwankwashiokor? OBJ? Tinubu? Roaches? and Tambuwal? and all the peoplethat were in pdp before getting booted out? so it is clear that Buhari started on the wrong foot and he doesn't reallyhave anythingpointagainstGEJ

can you pls explain more on fighting corruption with style - it looks more like investing in corruption with style.
afterall 21.x billion naira return is not that bad for a start.

Just watching The Andrew Marr Show on the
BBC this morning.
The first discussion was about the Paris terrorist
outrage which has left over 20 people dead.
Over 1 million French and other people will be
marching in Paris today with David Cameron,
the British Prime Minister and over 40
European and world leaders joining the march
in solidarity with the French. Similar marches
are being held in many European cities.
Andrew Marr pointed out that the Paris outrage
has dominated the front page of the newspaers
in Europe for tha past four or five days now.
Andrew Marr then asked the panelists why is
that over 2000 people have been killed by the
Boko Haram in Nigeria, and hundreds of girls
missing, compared to the 20 in France, yet
Nigeria's outrage has rarely been on the front
pages of the world's newspapers, consigned to
the back pages or short columns or snips in the
European newspapers.
It was agreed that Europeans pay less attention
to African affairs. Do they care?
That is the way of the world. Africans will have
to deal with their own problems. Each to their
own. Don't expect a lot of sympathy and help
from elsewhere.
JE SUIS CHARLIE Still my Condolences to the
French People
Thanks Andrew Marr, anyway for bringing this
fact up.
(Andrew Marr, former BBC Political Editor,
interviews key newsmakers and shines a light on
what's happening in the world. Includes a
review of the Sunday newspapers, weather
forecast and news bulletin)

COPIED.....Dear Nigerians, The fear of Prison is
the beginning of Change. I have taken time to
hear from many people in PDP campaign
groups. I have observed that they are not
campaigning based on issues bothering the
masses. They are simply asking ; "DO You WANT
TO GO TO PRISON? " President Jonathan asked
the question, Governor Akpabio asked the same
question and so many of them were so much
campaigning against prison. Now I am
wondering why they are so much worried about
prison. Why the sudden fear of Prison? The
answer is: " when dry bones are mentioned in a
story, an old woman becomes very
uncomfortable " If they are not corrupt and are
really fighting corruption. Why are they so
much preaching against prisons? Now I
understand why former governor of Bayelsa was
pardoned. I understand why "corruption is not
stealing" and I understand why the audit report
on missing $20 billion won't be released. I
understand why we have more expensive GEJ
bill boards than road signs. Some billboards
cost more than a million and these people have
mounted thousands of them. Instead of
channelling resources appropriately. They
resorted to wasting them on billboards and
jingles on radio and TV. Who has been funding
these things and with which money? Now they
are asking us, the suffering masses if we want to
go to prison. President Goodluck from his
speech has shown that he is not ready to stop
corruption. You can't stop corruption without
sending ppl to jail. Idon't fear prisons and if I
commit a crime I should be given the
punishment I deserve. Why are there laws if we
can't use prisons? They have suddenly become
so afraid of Prison cell. They should also
remember God Almighty also has a prison :
HELL. If you want to help PDP please vote them
out. Let them go to prison cells so that they will
repent and avoid HELL. Vote APC, vote 
Buhari_Osibanjo