₦airaland Forum

cindylee:
Seun abi na Moderators na wa for una o. So you guys will just watch and let your forum to go tribalists and bigots and do nothing about it. Reading the thread from page 1 and I had to just stop.

Turning this forum to something else that intelligent folks can't even contribute to an otherwise good thread.

No worry Seun shey you want traffic abi (anyhow the traffic dey so far na traffic), Linda Ikeji blog go soon dey make money pass you, na that time your eye go clear! To clean a simple thread na hardwork! Shior!!!

Please. . . . .post the link.

Need an alternative to the joke called 'nairaland'

Thanks,

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Chai,

https://www.e-forwards.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/laughter-is-best-medicine-81.gif

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Pictures speak louder than words , . . . .

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Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation and its largest oil producer, is from all evidence being systematically thrown into chaos and a state of civil war. The recent surprise decision by the government of Goodluck Jonathan to abruptly lift subsidies on imported gasoline and other fuel has a far more sinister background than mere corruption and the Washington-based International Monetary Fund (IMF) is playing a key role. China appears to be the likely loser along with Nigeria’s population.

The recent strikes protesting the government’s abrupt elimination of gasoline and other fuel subsidies, that brought Nigeria briefly to a standstill, came as a surprise to most in the country. Months earlier President Jonathan had promised the major trade union organizations that he would conduct a gradual four-stage lifting of the subsidy to ease the economic burden. Instead, without warning he announced an immediate full removal of subsidies effective January 1, 2012. It was “shock therapy” to put it mildly.

Nigeria today is one of the world’s most important producers of light, sweet crude oil—the same high quality crude oil that Libya and the British North Sea produce. The country is showing every indication of spiraling downward into deep disorder. Nigeria is the fifth largest supplier of oil to the United States and twelfth largest oil producer in the world on a par with Kuwait and just behind Venezuela with production exceeding two million barrels a day. 1

The curious timing of IMF subsidy demand

Despite its oil riches, Nigeria remains one of Africa’s poorest countries. The known oilfields are concentrated around the vast Niger Delta roughly between Port Harcourt and extending in the direction of the capital Lagos, with large new finds being developed all along the oil-rich Gulf of Guinea.  Nigeria’s oil is exploited and largely exported by the Anglo-American giants—Shell, Mobil, Chevron, Texaco. Italy’s Agip also has a presence and most recently, to no one’s surprise, the Chinese state oil companies began seeking major exploration and oil infrastructure agreements with the Lagos government.

Ironically, despite the fact that Nigeria has abundant oil to earn dollar export revenue to build its domestic infrastructure, government policy has deliberately let its domestic oil refining capacity fall into ruin. The consequence has been that most of the gasoline and other refined petroleum products used to drive transportation and industry, has to be imported, despite the country’s abundant oil. In order to shield the population from the high import costs of gasoline and other refined fuels, the central government has subsidized prices.

Until January 1, 2012, that is. That was the day when, without advance warning President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan announced immediate removal of all fuel subsidies. Prices for gasoline shot up almost threefold in hours from 65 naira (35 cents of a dollar) a liter to 150 naira (93 cents). The impact rippled across the economy to everything including prices of grains and vegetables.2

In justifying the move, Central Bank Governor Lamido Sanusi insisted that “The monies will be used in provision of social amenities and infrastructural development that will benefit Nigerians more and save the country from economic rift.”3 President Goodluck Jonathan says he is phasing out the subsidy as a part of a move to “clean up the Nigerian government.” If so how he plans to proceed is anything but apparent.

The huge unexpected price hike for domestic fuel triggered nationwide protests that threatened to bring the economy to a halt by mid-January. The president deftly took the wind out of protester sails by announcing a partial rollback in prices, still leaving prices effectively double that of December. The trade union federation immediately called off the protests. Then, revealingly, Goodluck Jonathan’s government ordered the military to take to the streets to “keep order” and de facto prevent new protests. All that took place during one of the bloodiest waves of bombings and murder rampages by the terrorist Boko Haram sect creating a climate of extreme chaos.4

The smoking gun of the IMF

What has been buried from international accounts of the unrest is the explicit role the US-dominated International Monetary Fund (IMF) played in the situation. With suspicious timing IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde was in Nigeria days before the abrupt subsidy decision of President Jonathan.5 By all accounts, the IMF and the Nigerian government have been careful this time not to be blatant about openly announcing demands to ends subsidies as they were in Tunisia before food protests became the trigger for that country’s Twitter putsch in 2011. 

During her visit to Nigeria Lagarde said President Jonathan's 'Transformation Agenda' for deregulation "is an agenda for Nigeria, driven by Nigerians. The IMF is here to support you and be a better partner for you." 6 Few Nigerians were convinced.  On December 29 Reuters wrote, "The IMF has urged countries across West and Central Africa to cut fuel subsidies, which they say are not effective in directly aiding the poor, but do promote corruption and smuggling. The past months have seen governments in Nigeria, Guinea, Cameroon and Chad moving to cut state subsidies on fuel." 7

Further confirming the role US and IMF pressure on the Nigerian government played, Jeffery Sachs, Special Adviser to the United Nations (UN) Secretary General, during a meeting with President Jonathan in Nigeria in early January days after the subsidy decision, Sachs declared Jonathan's decision to withdraw petroleum subsidy  “a bold and correct policy.” 8

Sachs, a former Harvard economics professor became notorious during the early 1990’s for prescribing IMF “shock therapy” for Poland, Russia, Ukraine and other former communist states which opened invaluable state assets for de facto plundering by dollar-rich western multinationals. 9

Making the sudden decision to end the domestic fuel subsidy even more suspicious is the manner in which Washington and the IMF are putting pressure on only select countries to end subsidies. Nigeria, whose oil today sells for the equivalent of $1 a liter or roughly $3.78 a US gallon, is far from cheap. Brunei, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia all offer their petrol very cheap to their people. The Saudis sell their oil at 17 cents, Kuwait at 22 cents.10 In the US gasoline averages 89 cents a liter.11

That means the IMF and Washington have forced one of the poorest economies in Africa to impose a huge tax on its citizens on the implausible argument it will help eliminate corruption in the state petroleum sector. The IMF knows well that the elimination of subsidies will do nothing about corruption in high places.  

Were the IMF and World Bank genuinely concerned with the health of the domestic Nigerian economy, they would have provided support for rebuilding and expanding a domestic oil refinery industry that has been let to rot so that the country need no longer import refined fuels using precious state budget resources to do so.  The easiest way to do that would be to expedite a two-year-old deal between China and the Nigerian government to invest some $28 billion in massive expansion of the oil refinery sector to eliminate need for importing foreign gasoline and other refined products.

Quite the opposite—the criminal cabal inside NNPC and the Government making huge profits on the old subsidy system are suddenly making double and potentially triple more to maintain the old corrupt import system, and, of course, to sabotage Chinese refinery construction that could put an end to their gravy train.

Cutting their nose to spite the face…

Rather than benefit ordinary Nigerians as the IMF proclaims to want, the elimination of the subsidies has further pauperized the 90 per cent living on less than $2 a day, according to Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the Nigerian Central Bank governor.12 An estimated 40 million Nigerians are unemployed in the country of 148 million.

Because transport costs are a significant factor in delivery of food to the cities, food price inflation has soared along with costs of public transportation for the majority of poorer Nigerians. According to the Nigerian Leadership Sunday, “prices of commodities which shot up as a fallout of the fuel pump price increase have refused to come down.” Everything from street vegetable sellers to carwashes to roadside photographers are feeling the shock of the rise in fuel prices. Unemployment is rising as small businesses fold. 13

The argument of the IMF and  the Jonathan Administration  is that by freeing fuel prices, funds would be available to  more social services and rebuild Nigeria’s “infrastructure.” Both the IMF and the Government know it would have been far more economically viable to replace the current corrupt system of importing refined gasoline and fuels with investing in rebuilding Nigeria’s domestic refining capacity.

Son Gyoh of the Nigerian Awareness for Development organization stated, “Would it not be more expedient to pressure government to service the refineries to full production capacity given the implications on overhead and competitiveness for local industries?”  14

Gyoh pointed to the source of the problem: “Why have successive governments left the refineries in a state of disrepair while spending huge on subsidy? Is there any chance that the savings from subsidy withdrawal will go directly into rehabilitating the refineries? Does deregulation imply NNPC will no longer operate a monopoly in importation of refined petroleum product or is this lobby a self-serving lifeline to continue its monopoly? ” He concludes, “In any case, there is good reason to doubt subsidy removal will solve the fuel scarcity problem as the cabal will only regroup to change tactics, a fact Nigerians are only too aware of.” 15

After Nigeria partly nationalized its oil sector in the late 1970’s they also took control of Shell Oil’s Port Harcourt I refinery. In 1989 Port Harcourt II refinery was built. Both refineries fell into serious disrepair after 1994 when the Abacha military dictatorship cut the “take” of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) from domestic sale of refined oil products such as gasoline from 84% to 22%. That caused a cash crisis for NNPC and a halt to refinery maintenance. Today only one of four refineries operates at all.16

What developed since was a system of NNPC importing foreign gasoline and other refined products for Nigeria’s domestic needs, naturally at a far more expensive cost. The price subsidies were to relieve that higher import cost, hardly a sensible solution but a very lucrative one for those corrupt elements in the state and private sector making a killing, literally, off the import process. 

NNPC criminal enterprise

The IMF is well aware of the real cause of Nigeria’s fuel industry problems. A Nigerian legislative committee examining the sources of the industry’s problems recently released a report documenting that at least $4 billion annually is taken from taxpayers in fuel industry corruption with the state Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) at the center. According to the commission, “every day, fuel importers drop off 59 million liters of fuel. The country consumes 35 million liters daily. That leaves 24 million liters of oil available for smugglers to export, paid for by government fuel subsidies. This costs the Nigerian people roughly $4 billion yearly, according to Reuters.” 17

The Nigerian government has said that the 7.5 billion dollars spent yearly on fuel subsidies could be used to provide desperately needed infrastructure. But they omit any mention of the rampant siphoning off of $4 billion of oil by black market smugglers, reportedly with connivance of high NNPC government officials, to sell to neighboring countries at a hefty profit. The refined imported fuel is reportedly smuggled into neighboring countries like Cameroon, Chad and Niger where petrol prices are far higher, according to Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Deputy Governor of Kano State.18 

China as IMF target?

One major geopolitical factor that is generally ignored in recent discussion of Nigerian oil politics is the growing role of China in the country. In May 2010 only days after President Jonathan was sworn in, China signed an impressive $28.5 billion deal with his government to build three new refineries, something that in no way fit into the plans of either the IMF or of Washington or of the Anglo-American oil majors.19

China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited (CSCEC) signed the deal to build three oil refineries with Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), in the biggest deal China has made with Africa. Shehu Ladan, head of NNPC, said at the signing ceremony that the added refineries would reduce the $10 billion spent annually on imported refined products. As of January 2012 the three Chinese refnery projects were still in the planning stage, reportedly blocked by the powerful vested interests gaining from the existing corrupt import system.20

A report in China Daily last November quoted Nigeria’s Olusegun Olutoyin Aganga, the minister of trade and investment that Nigeria was seeking added Chinese investors for its energy, mining and agribusiness industries. Last September on a visit to Beijing, Nigeria central bank governor Lamido Sanusi  announced his country planned to invest 5 percent to 10 percent of its foreign exchange reserves in China's currency, the renminbi (RMB) or yuan, noting that he sees the yuan becoming reserve currency. In 2010 China's loans and exports to Nigeria exceeded $7 billion, while Nigeria exported $1 billion of crude oil, Sanusi stated.21

Until now Nigeria has held some 79% of her foreign currency reserves in dollars, the rest in Euro or Sterling, all of which look dicey given their financial and debt problems. The move of a major oil producer away from dollars, added to similar moves recently by India, Japan, Russia, Iran and others, augurs bad news for the continued role of the dollar as dominant world reserve currency. 22 Clearly some in Washington would not be happy with that.

The Chinese are also bidding to get a direct stake in Nigeria’s rich oil reserves, until now an Anglo-American domain. In July 2010, China's CNPC (China National Petroleum Corporation) won four prospective oil blocks -two in the Niger Delta and two in the frontier Chad Basin, with plans to become core investor in the Kaduna refinery, and construction of a double track Lagos-Kano railway.23  As well China’s oil company, CNOOC Ltd has a major offshore production area in Nigeria.

The IMF and Washington pressure to lift subsidies on imported fuels is at this point in question as is the future of China in Nigeria’s energy industry. Clear is that lifting subsidies in no way will benefit Nigerians. More alarming in this context is the orchestration of a major new wave of terror killings and bombings by the mysterious and suspiciously well-armed Boko Haram. This we will look at next in the context of Nigeria’s recent transformation into a major narcotics hub.

http://globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=28900

I blame OBJ for the mess Nigeria is currently in. . . .

I've secured a visa to Afghanistan . . . .

kizito96:
What are they fighting for? to bring Ghadafi back or what?

Saif Gaddafi is still alive and has not been handed over to the NTC or ICC.

Slowly support for the Gaddafi's will emerge and the NTC rats will be banished.

Ewu-Bayelsa

Maybe not the CIA - But Western Intelligee agencies are behind him and are ultimately his master.

Look at the election results - 98% trnout in almost all southern states!! Ncould achieve that.

That was the work of the west and their 'infamous excel counting program'.

GEJ is a puppet of the west and so are many of his ministers eg Ngozi Okonjo-Onyala

[quote author=dem_people link=topic=852132.msg10023179#msg10023179 date=1327252736]Lets be honest to ourselves.

From a suspect having an "association with the VP", to finding a suspect with an "airforce officer" in a "govt. house", to aiding  Boko Haram suspects by a "commissioner of police",  all of these, powerful connections. If there ever was/ is a chance of ending Boko Haram, its you northerners that would effect it.

GEJ has run out of ideas - and I don't blame him one bit.[/quote]GEJ has become a 'Boko Haramist' himself.

He couldn't beat them so he's joined them.

Dont expect anything from the GEJ regarding Boko - He's one of them and also one of the 'Mysterious Cabal' destroying Nigeria.

Kudos - Obi

Peter Obi - 2015

@poster

Fcu.k off . . . . . . thanks,

GEJ should give me the 'Tear Gas' contract - he will need alot of the stuff next year.

GEJ - RIP,

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cap28:
is there something wrong with Zuma's brain?

if he were so concerned about africa's sovereignty why did he along with the other two traitors Goodluck Jonathan and Bongo of Gabon vote in favour of the no fly zone over libya?

is the extent of his treachery now fully dawning on him?

is he cacking himself realising that he could be next on NATO's hit list?

the americans and europeans turn on their friends and collaborators whenever it suits them - perhaps he has realised that no african leader is safe from removal .

Zuma seems pissed off . . . . . .

My understanding is S.Africa must vote the same way as Israel at UN/nato meetings.

I think its been documented - that Israel controls S.Africa including the way they vote at UN meetings.

Anyway, his rumblings are pleasing to my ear - if all African leaders start singing the same tune then it would b a welcome start to what we need to do.

South African president, Jacob Zuma, Saturday called for closer ties between his country and Nigeria to save the Africa continent from Western domination.

Speaking against the backdrop of the attacks unleashed on Libya in a bid to unseat its deposed leader, the late Muammar Ghaddafi, Zuma said African countries should rise to defend their true sovereignty by freeing themselves from the apron strings of foreign countries so that they can formulate their own policies without imperialistic interference.
Zuma, who spoke in Abuja as the guest speaker at the Shehu Yar'Adua Anniversary lecture, called for what he called “African solutions to African problems.”

He and his Nigerian counterpart, President Goodluck Jonathan, also paid tributes to the late Alhaji Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, a former Chief of Staff, Supreme Headqua-rters during the General Olusegun Obasanjo military regime and an influential politician in the aborted Third Republic who died in prison under the General Sani Abacha regime.

Zuma said South Africa and Nigeria should collaborate and play the leading role by pursuing a common economic interest that will change the course of events in Africa.
He warned that unless there was cohesive leadership in the quest for change on the continent, the emerging balance of power to enable Africa to define and play its roles would not be achieved.

He particularly lamented the roles foreign powers play in Africa, especially the economic policies foisted on African nations which engender their economic woes and called for closing of ranks to harness the budding economic gains.

Zuma criticised the bombing of Libya by foreign powers in the guise of protecting civilians and the killing of Ghaddafi without recourse to the rule of law, adding, “Such can only happen in Africa.”

He commended the sacrifice made by the late Musa Yar'Adua in instilling and entrenching democracy, especially for risking his life by standing for the principles of democracy.

He said Africa was better today “thanks to the sacrifices of heroes like General Yar'Adua who were ready to pay the supreme price for a better and prosperous Africa.
“Indeed, two years before his untimely death in 1997 in prison, he wrote, saying, ‘Don't worry too much about me, it is the sacrifice that some of us must make for our country to be free.’”

He said there was some improvement both in the democratic and economic spheres of the continent, but expressed regrets at the violence arising from electoral disputes.
Zuma said: “That we still fight over the results of elections is one indication of the fragility of the progress we have made. Our democracy also requires strong, active and capable institutions which are complemented by independent constitutional bodies.

“Some may even go further to argue that our governments must reduce their dependence on overseas development assistance for fiscal support, in order for them to be truly independent and have control over their policy choices before they can stand on their own.

“The manner in which Libya was treated by some countries in the developed world remains a scar that will take many years to heal for Africa.

“The African Union Summit next month will have to deliberate very seriously on the Libyan question to help this country to return to normalcy.
“We must deliberate as well on how to ensure that we do not have a repeat of what happened in Libya.

“The Libyan situation is the latest challenge to the African continent. The challenge is how do we help Libyans build a democratic Libya.

“That is the challenge we face at the next summit. And we cannot do it alone; we need the Arab League to work with us. Those who bombed Libya, they do not have a solution now and the problem is not just Libya, it is all the countries that border Libya.

“Those countries for their own personal agenda hijacked a genuine democratic protest by the people of Libya to further regime change. Some of these countries however were looking for excuses to interfere in the continent.

“In the past, they used to say it was because of the absence of democracy. They are now confused about how to resolve the Libyan issue. Working with the Libyans, going forward, we need to work with all the affected regional bodies and the United Nations to assist Libyans.

“The Libyan situation is a reminder of how to entrench unity in Africa so we can deal with these challenges together in a focused manner to defend the place and authority of Africa and the AU on matters affecting the continent.”

According to him, looking back some years, the future of the continent looked bleak, but due to the vision and conviction of people like the late General Musa Yar'Adua who braced all odds, the continent is marching forward.

He thanked the people behind the Yar’Adua Foundation and its Board of Trustees for immortalising the late politician.

"Your Excellencies, dear brothers and sisters, the last tribute we can pay to General Yar'Adua is to not go back and rest on our efforts to strengthen democracy and the capability of our states to discharge their functions.
“General Yar'Adua was one of those leaders who represented the spirit and a deep-seated passion for justice and the rule of law in Africa. We have to promote true freedom and democracy in his memory.

“We have to promote sustainable development and eradication of poverty from our continent in his memory,” he added.

He said the philosophy of the late General Yar'Adua was proof that “we cannot have peace without development or development without peace; nor can we sustain democracy without economic prosperity in Africa.”

Jonathan, in his address, extolled the late General Yar'Adua for living according to his democratic convictions, which he lived and died for, and for displaying courage to give his best to the country.

Jonathan, represented by Vice President Namadi Sambo, said the late Yar’Adua was worthy of honour for dying to ensure the speedy transformation of the country and for distinguishing himself as a soldier, farmer, publisher, industrialist and banker.

“I am particularly struck by his dedication to move Nigeria beyond the confines of what he once described as the ‘siege mentality’ which he felt had been the bane of Nigeria politics since 1914.

“It was this commitment to a Nigeria, founded on the principles of equity and unity that pressed this great man into politics. His political vision inspired Nigerians all over the country and he paid the ultimate sacrifice for his beliefs and refusal to compromise on his dream,” he said.

Jonathan listed the efforts his administration was putting into transforming the country to include the building of power stations, restoration of critical infrastructure like the rail transportation, and electoral reforms that will reduce disputes among politicians.

Chairman of the occasion and former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, recalled the achievements of the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation, saying the last 10 years had seen it meeting its targets in respect of programmes aimed at immortalising the late General Yar'Adua.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar nearly ruffled feathers when he was asked to introduce Zuma as he recalled his travails as Obasanjo’s deputy which he likened to what Zuma experienced when he was deputy to former President Thambo Mbeki.

South African president, Jacob Zuma, Saturday called for closer ties between his country and Nigeria to save the Africa continent from Western domination.

Speaking against the backdrop of the attacks unleashed on Libya in a bid to unseat its deposed leader, the late Muammar Ghaddafi, Zuma said African countries should rise to defend their true sovereignty by freeing themselves from the apron strings of foreign countries so that they can formulate their own policies without imperialistic interference.
Zuma, who spoke in Abuja as the guest speaker at the Shehu Yar'Adua Anniversary lecture, called for what he called “African solutions to African problems.”

He and his Nigerian counterpart, President Goodluck Jonathan, also paid tributes to the late Alhaji Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, a former Chief of Staff, Supreme Headqua-rters during the General Olusegun Obasanjo military regime and an influential politician in the aborted Third Republic who died in prison under the General Sani Abacha regime.

Zuma said South Africa and Nigeria should collaborate and play the leading role by pursuing a common economic interest that will change the course of events in Africa.
He warned that unless there was cohesive leadership in the quest for change on the continent, the emerging balance of power to enable Africa to define and play its roles would not be achieved.

He particularly lamented the roles foreign powers play in Africa, especially the economic policies foisted on African nations which engender their economic woes and called for closing of ranks to harness the budding economic gains.

Zuma criticised the bombing of Libya by foreign powers in the guise of protecting civilians and the killing of Ghaddafi without recourse to the rule of law, adding, “Such can only happen in Africa.”

He commended the sacrifice made by the late Musa Yar'Adua in instilling and entrenching democracy, especially for risking his life by standing for the principles of democracy.

He said Africa was better today “thanks to the sacrifices of heroes like General Yar'Adua who were ready to pay the supreme price for a better and prosperous Africa.
“Indeed, two years before his untimely death in 1997 in prison, he wrote, saying, ‘Don't worry too much about me, it is the sacrifice that some of us must make for our country to be free.’”

He said there was some improvement both in the democratic and economic spheres of the continent, but expressed regrets at the violence arising from electoral disputes.
Zuma said: “That we still fight over the results of elections is one indication of the fragility of the progress we have made. Our democracy also requires strong, active and capable institutions which are complemented by independent constitutional bodies.

“Some may even go further to argue that our governments must reduce their dependence on overseas development assistance for fiscal support, in order for them to be truly independent and have control over their policy choices before they can stand on their own.

“The manner in which Libya was treated by some countries in the developed world remains a scar that will take many years to heal for Africa.

“The African Union Summit next month will have to deliberate very seriously on the Libyan question to help this country to return to normalcy.
“We must deliberate as well on how to ensure that we do not have a repeat of what happened in Libya.

“The Libyan situation is the latest challenge to the African continent. The challenge is how do we help Libyans build a democratic Libya.

“That is the challenge we face at the next summit. And we cannot do it alone; we need the Arab League to work with us. Those who bombed Libya, they do not have a solution now and the problem is not just Libya, it is all the countries that border Libya.

“Those countries for their own personal agenda hijacked a genuine democratic protest by the people of Libya to further regime change. Some of these countries however were looking for excuses to interfere in the continent.

“In the past, they used to say it was because of the absence of democracy. They are now confused about how to resolve the Libyan issue. Working with the Libyans, going forward, we need to work with all the affected regional bodies and the United Nations to assist Libyans.

“The Libyan situation is a reminder of how to entrench unity in Africa so we can deal with these challenges together in a focused manner to defend the place and authority of Africa and the AU on matters affecting the continent.”

According to him, looking back some years, the future of the continent looked bleak, but due to the vision and conviction of people like the late General Musa Yar'Adua who braced all odds, the continent is marching forward.

He thanked the people behind the Yar’Adua Foundation and its Board of Trustees for immortalising the late politician.

"Your Excellencies, dear brothers and sisters, the last tribute we can pay to General Yar'Adua is to not go back and rest on our efforts to strengthen democracy and the capability of our states to discharge their functions.
“General Yar'Adua was one of those leaders who represented the spirit and a deep-seated passion for justice and the rule of law in Africa. We have to promote true freedom and democracy in his memory.

“We have to promote sustainable development and eradication of poverty from our continent in his memory,” he added.

He said the philosophy of the late General Yar'Adua was proof that “we cannot have peace without development or development without peace; nor can we sustain democracy without economic prosperity in Africa.”

Jonathan, in his address, extolled the late General Yar'Adua for living according to his democratic convictions, which he lived and died for, and for displaying courage to give his best to the country.

Jonathan, represented by Vice President Namadi Sambo, said the late Yar’Adua was worthy of honour for dying to ensure the speedy transformation of the country and for distinguishing himself as a soldier, farmer, publisher, industrialist and banker.

“I am particularly struck by his dedication to move Nigeria beyond the confines of what he once described as the ‘siege mentality’ which he felt had been the bane of Nigeria politics since 1914.

“It was this commitment to a Nigeria, founded on the principles of equity and unity that pressed this great man into politics. His political vision inspired Nigerians all over the country and he paid the ultimate sacrifice for his beliefs and refusal to compromise on his dream,” he said.

Jonathan listed the efforts his administration was putting into transforming the country to include the building of power stations, restoration of critical infrastructure like the rail transportation, and electoral reforms that will reduce disputes among politicians.

Chairman of the occasion and former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, recalled the achievements of the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation, saying the last 10 years had seen it meeting its targets in respect of programmes aimed at immortalising the late General Yar'Adua.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar nearly ruffled feathers when he was asked to introduce Zuma as he recalled his travails as Obasanjo’s deputy which he likened to what Zuma experienced when he was deputy to former President Thambo Mbeki.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/zuma-we-must-save-africa-from-western-domination/104777/

South Africa's president, Jacob Zuma, yesterday called on his counterparts on the continent to ditch economic models offshore and stick to home-grown economic ideas to pull Africa from the woods.

Zuma's call came on the heels of an earlier speech by former vice president Atiku Abubakar, recalling his ordeal as vice president to ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo.

The South African leader said the economic crisis facing the west has put a question mark on their economic approach, which a few years ago was held as sacrosanct.

Zuma, who was the special guest of honour at the 1st Shehu Musa Yar'Adua Memorial Lecture in Abuja yesterday, also bemoaned the crisis situation in Libya and the eventual killing of her president, Col. Muamar Gaddafi.

He declared that the African Union (AU) must never allow such to happen again in the continent.

"Libya situation is the latest challenge to the African continent. We call on Africa to stand united and be counted among other nations of the world. The challenge is how to help Libyans to build a democratic Libya and we cannot do it alone; we need the Arab league to work with us. Those who bombed Libya are today without solution on how to tackle the Libya crisis," he said.

Zuma spoke extensively on the economic crisis in the developed countries: "The global balance of forces is undergoing a remarkable transformation. On one end, the world is facing economic crisis in the developed North and, on the other hand, there is the dramatic rise of China, India and Brazil on the Southern hemisphere as a new tenure in global economic growth and development. This is the context within which Africa must find its place and define its role in the 21st century. The economic crisis facing countries of the West has put a question mark on paradigm and approaches which, a few years ago, were celebrated as dogma to be worshiped.

"The painful years of Structural Adjustment Programme which was inspired by Washington consensus are still vivid in our mind. However, today, those economic models that were imposed on us are proving to be a source of economic difficulties unfolding in the North."

On peace and security, President Zuma, who was conferred with an honorary doctorate degree by the American University, Yola, said: "Peace and security in Africa also require our attention.

Yes, we are better than where we were a few years ago, but we still have Somalia, Cote d'ivoire who are emerging from painful crisis. The manner in which Libya was treated by some countries in the developed world remains a scar that will take many years to heal for Africa.

"The African Union summit next year will have to deliberate on the Libya question to help this country return to normalcy. We must deliberate as well as how to ensure that we do not have a repeat of what happened in Libya.

Continuing, the South African President said; "Developed countries have their own agenda. Some countries are forever looking for excuses to interfere in the continent. In the past they used to say it was because of the absence of democracy. The AU has never been confused about how to resolve the Libyan issue, working with the Libyans,

"The Libyan situation is a reminder of the need to entrench unity in Africa so that we can deal with the challenges together in a total manner to defend the place of the authority of Africa and AU on matters affecting the continent. Having said this, we need to continue to entrench democracy and democratic system in Africa. We have seen instances of political stability

Speaking on Gen. Yar'Adua, Zuma said: "Gen Yar'Adua showed us that we cannot have peace without development and we cannot have development without peace. And that we cannot sustain democracy without economic prosperity in Africa.

In his speech, Atiku said that "Zuma was persecuted and later removed from office. I was also persecuted and removed from office, but the constitution of Nigeria blocked them from removing me from office", he said.

President Goodluck Jonathan, who was represented by his Vice, Arc. Namadi Sambo, said the administration is doing everything possible to avoid sliding back to what late Gen. Yar'Adua refered to as 'siege mentality'.

To do this, he said that the administration is working hard to provide quality education for the people, noting that human development is essential if the country must develop.

The President who also revealed a damning figure of 9.5million Almajiris in the country, also said the government is taking seriously the programme of building men and material

http://allafrica.com/stories/201112110017.html

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According to Okogu, the sovereign debt crisis and the declining Gross Domestic Product in Europe, low manufacturing output in France, Germany, Italy and Spain and growing US debt to the Gross Domestic Product ratio have led to situations where Nigerians abroad are now finding it difficult to make ends meet. To survive the harsh economic climate abroad, Okogu said these Nigerians now beg their relations at home to send money to them. “This is what I have seen, this is what I have heard, and it is as bad as that,” Okogu said

LOL - I'm sure those In nigeria now dodge calls coming in from abroad as the calls are probably to beg for money.

Some wretched nigerians abroad will still like those in nigeria to believe their 'bubbling'.

Things are only going to get worse in the west - their great depression has started.

If only GEJ had the balls to nationalise the oil indstry and have it managed by competent uncorruptable individuals.

OAM4J:
lol 

All because i warned you to stop insulting others.

Show me[b] just one[/b] post where I insulted any tribe/ethnic group or race and I will resign as a moderator 

OAM4j, You were nominated based on your bias!!

And if I remember well, the only person you have ever asked me to stop insulting was yourself!

Anyway, my nomination stands - your bias makes you a tribalist of the worst kind.

Good-day,

1) Oam4j

2) Alj_haram

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Nigerians to dey rig . . . . .