₦airaland Forum

Afam4eva: So, in what capacity did he congratulate those guys? As an LGA chairman?

Who are these old politicians that he associates himself with? He seemed to have fallen out with the who's who and the creme de la cream of the political dynasty and that to me is a right step in the right direction. I also think the Theodore Orji analogy does not fit because Theo only broke himself from one man just like Chime did to Chimaroake and Orji Uzor Kalu. We're talking of political titans whose political career started pre and post independence and who have always been at the forefront of designing the political architecture that fits their selfish ambition.

No, in his capacity as Councillor! I won't engage you any further on GEJ's anti-party activities, its obvious you are blind to the truth.


How many of the creme de la creme did GEJ fall out with? The only one is OBJ. IBB was never in Jonathan's camp, AbdulSalam and Danjuma are not politicians and they still associate themselves with Jonathan when called upon. Because OBJ copied the letter to them does not indicate that they are at loggerheads with GEJ. He only copied them as statesmen, in fact, he also copied Alex Ekweme or is Ekweme an enemy of Jonathan?

Now I know you are unserious. So Anenih, Mantu, Umaru Dikko, Tukur, Zwingina, Edwin Clark, Jerry Gana, Bode George and many others are not old politicians? Are these people not his associates?

Afam4eva: So, because OBJ acknowledged it, it's the truth. The problem with some of you Nigerians is that it's difficult to please you folks. So, because Jonathan congratulated the opponents of his party after an election, it means he's fraternizing with them. Would you have preferred that he cancelled the election so that you guys will see an opportunity to label him him a dictator.

And yet you claim you are not a toady! Because you have failed to acknowledge it does not make it false. Are you expecting the President to come out openly to declare his support for a candidate who isn't a member of his party? Did I even mention the President in the post you quoted? Even if his enemy wins an election, he will have to congratulate him or her in his official capacity as President.


You claim he is a break from the norm yet he associates himself more with the wandering minstrels of yesteryears, class of recycled and corrupt politicians than the ordinary Nigerians who voted him into power. I can as well say, Theodore Orji who fell out with his godfather is a break from the past. I have nothing against GEJ and I believe he will win the next election but he is not different from other Nigerian politicians

Afam4eva: I think you have to first prove to the house how JOnathan supported candidates of other parties in Edo, Anambra and Ondo states. Also show us proof that he had a pact with Tinubu to win votes from the SW I also want to know how Tinubu influenced my vote in the SW.

I have nothing to prove because it is public knowledge. Even if you do not believe me, at least OBJ who acknowledged that fact would have seen his hidden hand in those elections. Have you asked why PDP was quick to congratulate the winners in those elections even when their candidates rejected the results? A case study is the Anambra election where the party's flagbearer was disenfranchised, yet the PDP was quick to tell Nigerians that the election was free and fair. A party is 'morally' binding to support its candidates till the end.

On Tinubu influencing the SW votes for GEJ. Its an allegation made by OBJ and also from other quarters, yet Tinubu and GEJ have not come out to dispel such allegation.

Afam4eva: Can you pls explain the bolded. Was he not elected by Nigerians and does the constitution not allow for two terms? it's not like he's asking for 3rd term.

Like i said earlier, Jonathan became the governor of Bayelsa by chance and also became Nigeria's president by chance. He's not your typical Nigerian politician. If all things were equall, then Jonathan would have probably being a local government chairman. Whichever way you look at it, he's a break from the norm politically.

Yes, he was elected by Nigerians and also qualified to contest for a second term! If you are in doubt of his lust for power, why did he engage in anti-party activities and secretly supported the candidates of other parties in the governorship elections held in Edo, Anambra and Ondo states and even OBJ made mention of how he entered into a pact with Tinubu for him to win the votes from SW? You can argue that those he supported were the popular candidates but for the fact that he was willing to throw his party members under the bus to gain the support of those not in his party speaks volume.



Nothing in this world happens by chance. Did he by chance become a deputy Governor? Did he not play along with OBJ to impeach Alams for him to become the Governor? Wasn't he compensated with the Vice presidential slot because he was loyal and supported OBJ's third term agenda? GEJ is a good schemer and your conventional Nigerian politician. He associates himself with our pastmasters who held us to ransom and he is a believer in the politics of patronage! If he is a break from the norm, why is he surrounding himself with the Anenih's, Clark, Bode George and co

Afam4eva: He has not always been. Infact the likes of Amaechi, Odilli etc had more political clout than him before became president. He may not be a common man in the truest sense of the world but he's not part of the caucus that has held this nation to ransom. He comes across as an outsider to me else the likes of OBJ, IBB etc won't have a problem with him.

Did he from 'Nowhere' rise to become the president? No. Does he belong to the political elite? Yes. Is he not also holding the nation to ransom with his unbridled lust for power?

Did IBB not have problems with OBJ during the latter's reign as civilian president? Yet both are members of the cabal and 'insiders'. In Nigeria, Politics is a strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles, so the bickering in the political arena shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone.

sammyzacks: But he is right. Jonathan is a common man like me and you. He was raised to be a lecturer, never imagined he could be here today. Unlike the Generals who were groomed to take power by the gun.

OBJ, IBB, Abacha and others excluding Yaradua who was born into a wealthy family are like you and I. It was 'Ambition' that made Jonathan to quit his lecturing job to venture into politics, likewise those former military heads of state schemed their way to power by plotting and executing coups in order to fulfill their personal ambitions, or where they the only military men groomed to take power through the use of force? A 'Nobody' cannot become Deputy Governor, Governor, Vice President and President in Nigeria, you have to be a member of the political cabal.

djon78: Afam may God bless u, GEj is the first comon man to take the exalted seat of governance.

What do you mean by 'the first common man to take the exalted seat of governance'? Jonathan is not a common man, he has always been a member of the wicked political elite. Did he from nowhere rise to become a President?

eGuerrilla: My position on this issue is quite simple. If Sanusi was methodical enough to mention the specific levy of N22 billion which had not been remitted, in his letter to Presido -



We must understand that he was addressing another specific concern when he employed "diverted away" as an operative phrase -


Source

If you read between the lines here, you would see that the NNPC's initial response, a few days ago, was clearly designed to obfuscate minds.

Who sanctioned the diversion of these funds? Who much interest was accrued?

I am surprised the DPR and FIRS have not officially and/or publicly come out to state the role(s) they played, if we are to believe the NNPC that those two agencies are responsible for the remittance of the $49billion. It would have doused the tension and allayed all fears if they had proven that they remitted the monies into the Federation account.

The $49billion if at all it is not missing, should reflect in the DPR's royalty account managed by CBN and the FIRS account also managed by CBN. The fact that the CBN is yet to trace the $49billion in those two accounts means the money is still missing in CBN's books.

I do not expect the CBN to join the NNPC in trading blames openly. The political atmosphere is already tense, and if the CBN should engage the NNPC in war of words, it would lead to opening of new cans of worms and will scandalize the government.

NNPC always have been and always will be a Thievery Corporation until we do the right things. The truth remains that NNPC accounts are shrouded in secrecy, its operations not transparent and stinks of corruption.

eGuerrilla: Sheathe your sword, sir. The issue being discussed is enough to rile anyone.

Ok sir, I'll do just that. I do not know what led to the animosity, its normal to see long epistles and babel of opinions here(NL) so wetin come be the problem now ?

Sincere 9gerian: We cannot be deceived by your subtle attempt to reduce the significance of this development. Fact is, Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke, has become the FIRST woman to be appointed President in the history of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Read more below.

I have advised you to rise above pettiness. Did you not see where I congratulated her? I only tried to clarify where @Op stated that "she will help increase Nigeria's voting right in her capacity as president of OPEC" which isn't quite the case. Nairaland is not a political battlefield, it is a place where we enlighten ourselves. Only sick grovelers despise the truth.

Sincere 9gerian: I cannot be deceived be half-hearted statements. All you do on this forum is attack , with so much vigour and anger, anything that has to do with the President, in line with the command of your master, Tinubu. What you represent here is Tinubu and APC and you'r well paid to defend their interest.

Here on this thread, the issue is about the lies and propaganda of APC and Tinubu slaves. But what was your response to it? Half-hearted and attempt to derail the thread as usual. If the lie exposed on this thread had something to do with the president, you would have written your usual long and hateful epistle, lambasting the president and anything that has to with PDP. You'r a shameless hypocrite.

You claim that those who post comments that differs from yours are paid? So who pays you for the position you take on this forum? Who pays you for staying up late at nights posting comments (check the time of the comment that I'm responding to)? Are you more patriotic than all of us? On what ground should you pontificate for others?

Meanwhile, I am not paid to post comments online but there is absolutely nothing wrong with people being paid to disseminate information or take positions online. The day someone starts pays me for posting online, I'll accept it with both hands. After all, footballers, film actors,etc are also paid to do what they enjoy doing.

If for instance someone creates a thread claiming a particular road project is completed, does it matter if the poster is paid or not? If you think any information posted here is WRONG, all you have to do express a contrary opinion backed with facts. But instead of doing that, Tinubu online slaves will start whining about payment or no payment.

And from all indications, it is the same APC e-warriors like you, who are always quick to blackmail others with being paid posters, that are the real paid Nlanders. There is popular saying in Igbo which states that those who have killed with a cutlass feel VERY UNCOMFORTABLE whenever a cutlass is taken past their back. That proverb is a perfect description of the antics of you and your fellow APC e-warriors

You had to type this long epistle to convince me you are not paid to defend the ills of those in Government. Nothing is more wretched than a guilty conscience!

Donmams: “Corruption is a serious issue for us because it is destroying our country, eating deep into the fabrics of the economy, we can’t have infrastructure and development with these level of corruption.”

“We are not helpless, but we need your help to grow the economy and it will begin with the private sector joining hands to help government fight corruption, mismanagement and waste in government.

“It begins with you to say I would not pay bribe, not only will I not pay, I will report to authorities, also by supporting those trying to fight corruption, not castigating those trying to fight it, where we are not doing well point it out to us, anywhere you see wastage report to us, we would do something about it,” she added.

The minister added that the fight was not for one individual or government noting that corruption was also rampart in the private sector.

“We need to have the courage to start the corruption fight, fighting corruption is not an easy thing, because you risk a lot of things but you must continue to fight it, she decleared”



http://leadership.ng/news/101213/corruption-destroying-our-economy-okonjo-iweala

I am glad this is coming from a leading light of this administration, and she deserves kudos for having the gut to admit the audaciousness of corruption and heinous profligacy in this country. Many of our pin-headed officials like Okupe, Maku and their Nairaland puppets won't admit to this ugly truth, instead they would give it a tribal/ethnic coloration and claim stories of monumental corruption and waste are just being orchestrated by the enemies of Jonathan to discredit his Government.


How do we join hands with Government to help fight corruption, waste and mismanagement? Did we not see how Government initially waved aside an evidence of waste(NCAA-Oduah BMW's) only to embark on a trail of the whistle-blower, threatening fire and brimstone? Can a citizen be so motivated, when he knows the final resting place of most half-hearted corruption investigations is either in the trash bin of EFCC/ICPC or in an abandoned cabinet in the Presidency after constituting needless committees to serve as red-herrings? How do we help in this fight when some untouchables in government are seen as Symbols of corruption who wear their loot as a badge of honor?

Corruption is the bread and butter of business activity in the civil service, if an official demands bribe from me who do I report to? Is it the Permanent Secretary or the directors of MDA's who are Kings and Queens of corruption? Do we have EFCC or ICPC desk(s) in all our MDA's and public institutions? N0! Do we have EFCC or ICPC offices in all the states of the federation? NO! Is the EFCC and ICPC well-funded? NO! Are these agencies truly independent? NO!

Yes, the fight against corruption is not for Government alone but Government needs to instill confidence in the people by doing the right things. Corruption is the bane of Nigeria's development!

Sincere 9gerian: You guys are capable of any form of mischief and evil schemes. You create scenerios and imput motives into them to suit your devilish political interest. Everyone is entitled to make his or her own choices. You or Tinubu cannot decide for me where I should post comments. I dont usually make comments on SR simply because its a bit more tedious to make comments there and sometimes, because comments dont appear immediately, they get lost. This is my decision and should not be your headache.

bros no be fight now. I am only against your use of 'usually' because I am certain you were a regular commenter before your redeployment to NL. I have no power to decide where you should and should not comment since that is what you are paid to do. You and Tinubu are part of Nigeria's problems. Tinubu is a corrupt politician while you are a corrupt-minded sychophant.

Sincere 9gerian: I never stopped visiting SR. It is a different thing that I dont usually comment on their site. SR as bad as it is, EFCC still releases 100% of its press releases on their website. I know what information to take seriously and the one to discard.

You only stopped commenting when you were redeployed to Nairaland. Abi no be you be Ify-Democracy4Ever? I've been a big fan of yours ever since you were employed Bros carry go nothing do you, all na survival..

theoctopus: shameless liars!

You are nothing but a lying idi0t who specializes in licking the bum-hole of politicians

theoctopus: You know you are a shameless dolt when you dont have any shame. Your house built on lies and falsehood will crumble eventually. I opened a thread this morning to put the records straight and some of your kid folks came spewing their trash as usual. You people have built a foundation of lies and you will eventually crash and burn! Very soon, boy! Very soon!

A profoundly stup1d, vile agent of falsehood and master of fascist propaganda who had to retire his old moniker/username "thelastpope"(or you think we are not aware it is you?) because it was synonymous with lies and with a long history of dishonesty is here accusing another. It is folks like you who are beholden to politicians and paid to disseminate lies that will eventually burn and crash.

Sincere 9gerian: This is not tales by moonlight. This was an INTERVIEW. It is not dem say, dey say, or information from "sources". The medium of the interview is immaterial. Because SR interviewed Okupe does not make them less anti-GEJ

It was you who gave the impression that you stopped visiting SR, so I wasn't expecting you to post an interview conducted by SR. It is now obvious that your day is never complete without visiting the site to read their 'tales by moonlight'.

@Op, so you now rely on a news from the same SR you have always discredited?

Even though I did not watch the interview and did not comment on the GEJ-Mandela post, Just because Okupe has denied uttering such fo0lish statement does not mean I will believe him. For all I know, Okupe is a trash-talking tool who have his assh0le where his mouth should be and capable of uttering the silliest statements.

Even in this interview conducted by SR, he also lied that Dokubo did not threatened violence if GEJ is not reelected in 2015.

So Jonathan has now assumed a Christ-like sanctity and have no capacity to do evil to anyone or any man? Okupe is trying to Plaster a veneer of Sainthood on a conventional Nigerian politician who cannot claim he has never embezzled public funds in all his years in politics. Corruption harms society!

1MCN: The minister of Petroluem in Nigeria, Mrs Deziani Allison-Madueke has been elected an Alternate President of the Organization of Petroluem Exporting Countries OPEC. Leaders of the two main oil and gas unions in Nigeria, NUPENG and PENGSSAN have hailed the development, describing it a good omen for the nation's economy. They were happy that her position will increase the voting right of Nigeria at the OPEC.

Sourced from Raypower fm

Congrats to DAM and Nigeria. This slot belongs to Nigeria and not the minister. If GEJ reshuffles his cabinet and appoint a new minister of petroleum, the new minister automatically becomes the Alternate President.

She cannot use her position to increase Nigeria's voting right, and she does not have a vote in her individual capacity as the President. The 'Conference' which is the supreme authority and consists of delegations headed by Petroleum Ministers operate on a principle of 'Unanimity and One Member State, One Vote. Nigeria is also not one of the founding members, so we do not have 'Concurring Vote' when the organization wants to admit a new member.

This isn't our first time also, Nigeria/Rilwan Lukman served as OPEC President for 8 consecutive terms(from 1986-1994), before he was elected as OPEC's Secretary General. All Member States have all had their turns as President of OPEC(election is just mere formality).

.

She's just being honest!

taharqa: Oh lawd!! You are so CONTRADICTING yrself here, guy... You said Sovereign Bonds to fund Deficits, BUDGETARY Deficits ie d Deficit projected in d budget based on d approved Oil benchmark. That you increased d benchmark might not mean that d Deficit (hence d bonds you wud raise wud decrease) ESPECIALI if the Projected Revenue falls significantly (which is d Crux of d mata here). In fact, if that happens you may then have to raise more bonds to fund d budget cos d Deficit (Expenditure- Projected Revenue) wud increase..... I wud later on reali comment on d Economics, esp relative to likely happenings in d Global market next year (eg Changing Oil market architecture, effects of imminent US Treasury Easing, etc) of this issue later

Where is the contradiction in there? I only used the 2012 sovereign bond sold to fund the 2013 deficit as an example and that does not mean we won't be selling bonds to fund the 2014 budget deficit.

If you deliberately lower your benchmark and therefore your revenue, you set yourself up for a budget deficit and you will have to go to the market to borrow for the purpose of financing the budget. Floating more sovereign debt instruments 'may' escalate our rising debt profile. We will be passing the burden to the future generation.

^ Bro, its difficult at times to read and understand your posts!

I see you still don't get my point. We are talking of a possible drop in price of crude oil to $50 after passing a budget premised on $76 or $79 into law. Those instruments will come in handy when managing the budget. If such a scenario should occur, we will struggle to meet up with the FAAC, and possibly not have a dime in the ECA.

Since a drop in oil price below the benchmark will affect the states, they will also use legislative mechanisms of an Amendment bill to adjust their budget and/or virement as an instrument in managing their budgets.

I think you should blame the FG more, oil theft is the major reason why we've been experiencing huge shortfalls. Even if the PIB is passed into law today, as long as oil theft still persists and oil price drops, we don enter am be that.

^those in the NA will also argue that the executive wants a lower benchmark so as to have more money in the ECA which would be depleted to fund their political ambitions in 2015.

In 2012 even with a $79 benchmark, we still sold 'Sovereign bonds' worth of N544billion to fund the 2013 budget deficit. If we have to reduce the oil benchmark for 2014 budget to $76.5, we will need to float more sovereign debt instruments which may lead to the escalation of the rising debt profile of the country.

We are already faced with the menace of oil theft, which means lower production of crude oil and less oil to sell. When we sell less oil, we won't be able to meet our revenue projection and will have to resort to more borrowings to finance the budget. It makes more economic sense to have a higher benchmark as we are yet to effectively deal with the menace of oil theft than putting more money in the 'contentious and often-mismanaged ECA.


With a benchmark of $79 for 2012, we all witnessed how states complained of difficulty in paying their bills on a regular basis and impoundment of their monies by the FG simply because of revenue shortfalls in the Federation Account. Won't the states face more difficulties if we reduce the benchmark to $76.5?

The HOR also have their points.

taharqa: What in God's Holy name are you talking about

No be Budget Office you dey work again ? @Ndu, predicted a scenario where the price of crude oil would be below the benchmark say,$50.


If the price oil crude oil falls below the benchmark used in passing an appropriation bill into law, an 'Amendment Bill' can be used to adjust to the reality of the time.

Virement is an administrative transfer of funds from one part of the budget to another. If the price of crude oil falls to below the benchmark, we will not have the funds to run the whole budget so virement allows the executive to prioritize and move funds from one part of the budget to another. In the event of an unprecedented fall in oil price, a certain percentage can be moved from the capital vote to the recurrent when unable to pay personnel costs(salaries, and related employment benefits) because of fall in the projected revenue.

Impoundment of appropriation funds, the decision of the President not to spend money appropriated by the NA.

[quote author=ndu_chucks]These Reps are senseless. $79 benchmark, when there are predictions out there which include oil prices of $50 per barrel lets hope they have plans of causing yawa in the middle east to cause the price to remain high. mumus[/quote]There is a legislative mechanism and process called Amendment bill, and even without an amendment bill, there are inherent clauses in the money bills such as virement and impoundment that can be triggered in an event of a free fall drop in the price of crude oil to anything below the benchmark.

The Executive and Senate both agreed to a benchmark of $76.5, so if we should go by your argument, they are also 'Senseless'.

anonimi: I hope you do not mean simply giving out money to people for doing nothing as "social welfare benefits"

How have the states and LGAs fared in carrying out their constitutionally assigned duties that entails recruitment of promptly & well paid civil servants and teachers to carry out monitoring, assessment of private enterprises and provide education to ALL children in their states among others

So you believe welfare benefits simply means giving handouts to people?

How have the FG fared in carrying out its constitutionally assigned duties? The three tiers of Government all share in the blame!