[b]The Jonathan “they” don’t know – by Jaafar Jaafar

“They” in this piece refers to all the liars, the scorecard-brandishing sophists, the subdued, appointed activists, the paid and overpaid, twisting, collective men of anger, the distracted, clueless leaders on Facebook, the guileless BBM-pinging lot of Nigeria, who seem to be in competition among themselves to muddle the affairs of their government.

Last weekend, the presidential spokesman Mr. Reuben Abati was in the news. He is still in the news. He will also be in the news.

As a dramatist, he acted just according to the president’s script. His, aside acting the stuntman, was to both edit – and dirty – what the president scribbled to him. In a plain language, what Abati often does was to add akamu into palm oil in order to increase its viscous quantity not quality.

While trying to defend their teetotalism, they end up behaving like drunkards. Does the following sentence really come from sober individual, a mind that did not guzzle bowls of kai-kai before taking the pen? I doubt.

The word “they,” he said in his latest piece, “refers to all the cynics, the pestle-wielding critics, the unrelenting, self-appointed activists, the idle and idling, twittering, collective children of anger, the distracted crowd of Facebook addicts, the BBM-pinging soap opera gossips of Nigeria, who seem to be in competition among themselves to pull down President Goodluck Jonathan.”

Are they glorifying the idleness of “idle and idling” Nigerians, for whom they failed to provide job opportunities? Are they unhappy that Nigerians are becoming social media savvy?

Sad enough, Abati ascribed himself a role even our goofing First Lady and Perm Sec in-situ Patience Jonathan does not, at least publicly, ascribe herself. The spokesman said he sees the president “up close and personal” everyday, as if it bears any relevance to the piece apart from its name-dropping effect. Sometimes I wonder why people have to open their mouth unnecessarily. Statements like “I have spent the last 14 months working with President Jonathan. I have followed him everywhere…” or “as one who sees him up close and personal each day…” or “well, I have enjoyed the privilege of eating at the President’s table” only show the emptiness of Abati’s recent messages. He seems to write to impress Nigerians, rather than to express government’s position on issues.

Before the clandestine appointment of Doyin Okupe as Senior Special Assistant to the president on Public Affairs, Abati has been silent on issues. It was really golden. Now that the once benign Rottweiler has suddenly grown teeth, he joins his vicious mate to go after the social media activists rather than the hardliners of the traditional media. Abati once tried his friend Dele Momodu, and he emerged bruised by the Ovation publisher’s heavy punches.


Though one can’t easily understand what really differentiates Abati and Okupe’s roles, it appears that they have the same role. As someone similarly posited, Abati’s role is to pour apu flour into Corn Flakes when there is no milk, while Okupe’s role is to pour salt into milk in the absence of sugar. It’s either that their perception on issues is hinged against this narrow prism or that they are deluding the president in order to save their necks.

Abati wants to tell us about the president we don’t know. He boasted he saw President Jonathan play squash and table tennis at State House squash court and Bayelsa Government House. And so, he knows him more than anybody else.

Now, Nigerians should tell us whether the clueless man they know can, in a squash court, play volley, trickle boast, dropshot, good length shot, mizuki, corkscrew or lob. These require some degree of agility, mental clue and stamina. Do you see these in the man they know? Or, do you see the mental ability in the president to loop, spin, smash, backswing or cork-spin while playing table tennis? With my about-two-decade break in playing table tennis, I see Abati’s principal as a pushover I can ‘cantab’ in the ping-pong game.


They say we don’t know him. But we know him. Hausa say that when a dog keeper is holding a party, the dog only got to know when it sees food on ground. So we will judge the president according to what we see on ground. Naught.

They don’t know we have a president that cannot fight corruption. A president who entangles Nigeria in a web of $45 billion debt despite taking the nation’s mantle of leadership in a solvent state. A man who was accused by former President Olusegun Obasanjo of mismanaging the foreign reserves to the tune of $35 billion.



A president who cannot get the country an Olympics medal despite spending billions in medal chase. A president who thinks 1,600 buses can transport 160 million Nigerians (in his calculation, each bus will carry 100,000 people!). A president who refused to reinstate Justice Salami despite the National Judicial Council, NJC’s recommendation. A president who orders a governor to appoint his wife permanent secretary. A president who increased the pump price in the name of subsidy removal but dined and wined with subsidy thieves in the name of “dialogue”. A president who reinstated the Director-General Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) despite her gross incompetence and public fury. A president who pays billions of dollars to militants but fails to pay the entitlements of NITEL and other government agencies’ workers.



When the president recently said he would assess his ministers based on their scorecard, I couldn’t help but laugh aloud. Jonathan should first fire himself and his kowtowing deputy, Mohammed Namadi Sambo before firing any member of the effete crowd that is Jonathan cabinet.



Ace Nigerian comedian, Klint The Drunk, recently tweeted that if a JAMB candidate applying for medicine scored only 65 points, then he is not fit to be a native doctor.

Going by Jonathan’s performance so far, I don’t think he is qualified to be the chairman of Okada riders’ union or chairman of Jigawa (not Ibadan) chapter of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW). I am not undermining the president. I draw inference based on his scorecard, abi?

But this is Nigeria, a place where a motor park thug stands a better chance of holding a political office than a rocket scientist, nuclear physicist or a globally-regarded automobile designer. This is a country where qualified aspirants who despite their lofty ideas and articulation, will end up with a few votes at polls, while someone who can mainly differentiate between catfish and tilapia will get millions of votes. This is simply because the godfathers consider that a sound politician may not play to the gallery.


And a nincompoop will.

Jaafar Jaafar

Jafaar can be reached on: jafsmohd@yahoo.com

[/b]


The bolded above is a write-up i came across and feel it will be nice to share it with you guys.
Now let the comments start.

Reading through several posts and something comes to mind... It's so amazing how GEJ seem to have won to himself several apologists who wait for the slightest criticism to haul insults at others.

Well, the beauty of democracy is opposition. But why these set of people are not willing to tolerate criticism in the face of mediocre and below average performance is what I don't understand. I see a well co-ordinated attempt to shore up the eroding goodwill of Nigeraians Mr president looses on a daily basis.. This development is not just on Nairaland, but also on Facebook and Twitter.

The battle has been taken to the internet and social media war front and the GEJ apologists are really having a good time not disappointing their pay masters.

werepeLeri:

You may actually not be thinking when you wrote that.

Thanks but i refuse to join issues with you. The best way to kill an argument is to label the other party insane. If you have better points why don't you state them instead of trying to attack my person?

Take a look at this:

The 2012 budget is a total of 4.7trillion at $70 dollars per barrel of crud oil as the bench mark. Today, crude oil is sold at $113 an excess of $43 which is about 50% increase in the estimated price of $70. The implication is that there is an excess of revenue accrued to the nation. this is apart from the additional barrel explored per day. Femi Falana made this calculation earlier this year and no one has disputed the figure as it came from the government.

1. Crude Oil production/day - 2.5M barrels
2. Current Price = $113/barrel
3. Daily Sales = 2.5M x 113 = $282.5million
4. Monthly Sales = 282.5M x 30days = $8.475billion
5. Yearly Sales = $8.475billion x 12 = $101.7billion
6. Naira Equivalent = 101.7billion x #160 = 16.272trillion naira per year.
7. Nigeria's budget for 2012 = 4.5trillion naira.

As at today, we are running on debt and GEJ led government is still toying with the idea of borrowing more with tacit endorsement from IMF and recommendation from Iweala.

See why I said your task master GEJ should resign rather than impoverish us in the midst of plenty? After reading all these, If you still maintain your current state of thinking, then i weep for your future generation.

We have had enough of these rhetoric.

This could be likened to a university student who kept gallivanting and flexing and kept failing his exams from 100L through 300L and and only consoles himself that he will perform well in 400L/500L. And still expect to make a first class!

Robert Collier says, 'Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.' Am afraid, current administration is not doing much to place it on the path of success come 2013.

My advise to GEJ is to resign and apologize to Nigerians for taking us backwards and allow someone who's got balls and competence, to step in after all he was never really prepared for this.. It only came by accident.

Mee234: Jonathab maybe clueless, a slowpoke and surround himself with people like himself but is the guy with the brain and courage to solve nigerias problem? Who is better than jonathan in nigeria rigth now that knows how to run nigeria? Among the present crops politician, who can u honestly point and say 'dis guy get quality e fit work'. From tunubu to buhari, bakare and co, who?

@op First, you need to go back to school or extra moral lessons to re-sit English Language in WAEC and JAMB, then come back and ask this question, maybe there will be an answer for you. Until then, I am sorry!
SMH.

Do federal ministers need to sign a performance contract bond before they can be fired for non performance?

Why is this coming only few weeks after the National Assembly threatened to impeach Mr President for poor budget implementation and lackluster performance of the executive?

Why was the signing event celebrated with fun-fare in the full glare of journalists and pressmen?

Are we not used to this usual antics of “motion without movement” and Raising artificial dust to quell public outcry and do nothing until similar criticisms crop up again?

Why is this coming now, when Mr President has been in power for over two years?

Is Mr President Proactive or Reactive?

Do SHOELESS young people become CLUELESS when old?

Just thinking aloud!

But readers Opinions and Answers are welcome!

Funkymallam: I believe u are a teneeger, cus to u Nigeria just started going to the Olympics in 1996 abi?

Do you knw how many medals GB won in Athens 04 but this yr, they are 3rg on the table. Ok! The Queen have been changed?

Nxt u will blame GEJ for ur failure in WAEC.

Maybe, topic should have been adjusted to Jona's admin worst of all in recent time! (Last two decades) especially!

We should be seen as progressing and NOT retrogressing in all areas of our national life..Sports inclusive.

Is your post above in defence of our poor performance or in defence of the current administration?

Goodluck to you.

Atlanta '96 - Abacha
Gold - 2
Silver - 1
Bronze - 3
Total - 6

Sydney '00 - Obasanjo:
Gold - 1
Silver - 2
Bronze - 0
Total - 3

Athens '04 - Obasanjo:
Gold - 0
Silver - 0
Bronze - 2
Total - 2

Beijing '08 - Ya radua:
Gold - 0
Silver - 1
Bronze - 3
Total - 4

London '12 - Goodluck
Gold - 0
Silver - 0
Bronze - 0
Total - 0 =D =)) [/b]

The Higher the corruption the lesser the medals..


Hi Nairalanders. I came across the above analysis/comparisons while discussing with a friend on Nigeria's woeful performance in the just concluded London 2012 Olympics .

Could the assertion on administration, corruption and number of medals won be true?

Irrespective though, one thing is certain: IT TAKES MORE THAN GOODLUCK TO SUCCEED IN A KEENLY CONTESTED COMPETITION LIKE THE OLYMPICS

Your opinions please.

Men of the State Intelligence Bureau of the Nigeria Police have extended invitation to fiery Lagos preacher, Pastor Tunde Bakare, over what police sources see as a controversial sermon against President Goodluck Jonathan.

The invitation is sequel to a sermon which he (Pastor Bakare) delivered in his church wherein he accused President Jonathan of deliberately trying to bankrupt the country.


Publicity secretary of the Save Nigeria Group, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, who confirmed the development in a chat with LEADERSHIP on telephone, however, said Bakare, the leader of the group, was aware of the summon.

Bakare, the running mate to the presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, in the last general election was billed to honour the invitation but had left the country on Wednesday.

“We saw an invitation by the police asking Pastor Bakare to honour an invitation regarding a sermon that he delivered sometime ago, but, as I am talking to you now, he is out of the country,” Odumakin said.
Though, it was speculated that security agents might prevent him from making the journey, which many believe was to the United States of America, he made without it hindrance.

Excerpt of Pastor Bakare’s Sermon
“We have vampires whose assignment is to kill Nigeria and to make sure that Nigeria does not exist thereafter. Suddenly Nigeria that was that cheered now has clueless, shoeless people take over the administration of Nigeria.

“And the one word I have for Nigerians is, don’t despair. Jonathan is dancing to the drumbeat of destiny. His destiny is to bankrupt Nigeria. All men of goodwill must rise up to stop him. And stop him we will do. And I said stop him we will do. Don’t make mistake about what you are hearing from me today, it is clear in my heart beyond any iota of doubt that Jonathan’s destiny is to bankrupt Nigeria, balkanize Nigeria.

And there are forces behind him totally committed and determined to do so. Oil vultures with petrol dollars and all kinds of political “tinkers” not thinkers are tinkering with the destiny of our nation with their palace prophets telling them peace when there is no peace.

I want to tell you that it does not matter what it takes, we will stop you. We will stop you dead in your tracks. You will not accomplish your assignment. You will not finish your assignment. Nigeria will vomit you in the name of Jesus Christ.

Turn your Bible with me to the Book of Chronicles. Tell it on the mountain top that this man is dancing the drumbeat of destiny.

His destiny is to bankrupt this nation and balkanize it and he has the full support of his corporate cowboys and oil vultures as well as their palace prophets who are telling them peace when there is no peace because I don’t understand how a nation will be going through calamity upon calamity and those who should be concerned will only be prancing around. I don’t understand it. I don’t understand how you can serve your nation and serve bomb blast inside a church in Jos for breakfast.

And before they could recover from that anguish you serve them air crash for lunch. And before they could gain their moment of sanity, you serve them with petro dollar bribe and now you vaunt about it telling us nothing can happen because you are in charge, the land will vomit you as the Lord lives in the name of Jesus Christ and every collaborator will not go unpunished.

Your year of punishment has come. Tell it on the mountain top that there are still men of goodwill who will stop you dead in your tracks.

I am not talking about deluded ambitious politicians who now think of 2015 when the nation is in a mess in 2012. We can do all the tinkering, if we don’t rise up now there will not be 2015.”

Source: Leadership Newspapers

@op.. But why have you tacitly evaded the location of this vehicle for possible inspection?

I will pay N680k.. Pls holla me if it can fly as i also want to re-sell it here in Abuja.

Thanks!

Jonathan Is Failing By Dr Malcolm Fabiyi

June 11, 2012 - 19:06 — siteadmin

Columnist: Malcolm Fabiyi

[b]No one should be adjudged a success or a failure based on the completion of just 25% of a task. However, it is perfectly reasonable to extrapolate from the trends of a person’s short run performance what outcomes can be expected in the long run. Given what President Goodluck Jonathan reported to the nation as his achievements after a year in office, he is on a path to failure.

Jonathan’s May 29th speech was an ode to incompetence. The accomplishments claimed in that speech were pathetic admissions of the lack of vision and direction in Nigeria’s leadership. The content of the speech and the premise upon which it was based are an indictment of government and the process of governance in Nigeria. It is not so much the litany of failures masquerading as achievements that are worrisome; it was the lack of shame in the very public admission of those failures by the President. The silence of the Nigerian people is also startling. We seem to have revised our expectations so radically, setting them so low, that anything, even stagnation, passes for progress.

There were a number of things that the President claimed as achievements which are considered normal expectations of any government. Maintaining stability in the polity and ensuring free and fair elections are the bare essentials in any society. That is the minimum that is to be expected of a legitimate government. There should be no apologies in telling President Jonathan that he should expect no thanks from Nigerians for doing the normal, or the expected.

It is odd that the President of the world’s largest African nation, thinks it is fitting to announce to the entire world that some of his government’s major accomplishments in the last one year include reducing how much time it takes to clear goods at the nation’s ports to 7 days, developing an employment initiative that has so far generated opportunities for 1,200 youth out of a population of 150 million people – a paltry 0.0008% of the population, and achieving 4,000 MW of peak power generation.

The failures in the power sector are particularly disconcerting. The leader of a nation that aspires to be one of the 20 largest economies in the world by 2020, thinks it is appropriate to call the generation of 4,000 MW of peak power a success? Let’s review the facts: In 1980, Nigeria was 97th in global per capita power production, 124th by 1999, and 125th currently. Thanks to Jonathan and the PDP, we have managed to maintain our dismal position in the bottom tier of global performance.

In 1999, peak power generation capacity in Nigeria was 3,000 MW. Now, the Jonathan led PDP government claims it is 1,000 MW higher. Progress is relative, and to understand the scale of Nigeria’s failures consider this; in the 13 years that the PDP has struggled to provide Nigeria with 1,000 MW of power, China has somehow managed to put in about 500 MW of new power generation capacity every week! That fact is numbing and damning. China has been able to develop in every two weeks, the same amount of power that Nigeria has spent 13 years and over $20 billion dollars struggling to generate.

For those who will argue that the power problem existed long before Jonathan case to office, the facts are that of the 13 years that the PDP has been in office, Goodluck Jonathan has been a part of the Presidency for 5 of those years, and President for the last two. Nigerians tend to suffer from collective amnesia, but surely we have not forgotten the dramatic manner in which Jonathan declared a state of emergency in the power sector when he took over after Yaradua’s death and named himself the Chairman of the Power Sector Reform effort. There is sadly still nothing to show in the power sector. China’s case however tells us what is possible. Under the PDP there has been close to $20 billion spent on power in Nigeria since 1999. This would translate to about $20 million per MW of installed capacity. The rest of humanity spends about $2 million per MW for large scale power generation, transmission and distribution.

Our President also brazenly admitted that the failures in the power sector are partly due to what he called “the problem of gas supply which arose essentially due to poor planning.” In case the import of this statement was lost to those who listened to the President’s speech, nothing speaks more to the abject lack of thought that goes into national planning in Nigeria, than the National Gas Strategy debacle to which the President alluded. The nation’s power plan is hinged on the use of natural gas as a fuel source. It appears that all the so called experts that were put on the power strategy committee were so focused on the monies to be made from the procurement and supply of generation, transmission and distribution assets that they forgot that without a fuel source, power cannot be generated.

Our experts forgot that Natural gas cannot magically move from Escravos and Bonny to locations in Lagos, Enugu, Abuja and Kano where power plants will be sited. Pipelines will have to be built, and in this era of rabid terrorism, Natural gas pipelines will be vulnerable to attack. Besides, it takes time to build pipelines. Without pipelines, the alternative will be to liquefy the gas and use tanker trailers or rail cars to transport the gas requirement. This will however also require major investments in liquefaction and storage capacity, and specialized cryogenic trailers to move the gas. For every 1,000 MW of power generation capacity, about 528 million gallons of natural gas will be required per day, as well as 88,000 cryogenic tanker trailers or 18,000 rail cars for transporting natural gas. Such massive infrastructural requirements cannot merely be imagined, conjured or prayed into existence. It takes planning – the type of detailed, rigorous, scenarios based planning that Nigeria’s leaders have proved they are incapable of.

In a serious nation, there ought to be consequences for such errors in planning, and a sense of urgency for recovering the opportunities lost. But this after all, is Nigeria – where the inept are rewarded and the corrupt are honored.

The other achievements the President mentioned are so comical, that while they do not bear serious discussion, they are worth repeating – even if only for their comic value. The achievements the President claimed in agriculture were not for novel technological advances, or policy changes that would enhance the access of farmers to sources of capital and expertise. Rather, we were regaled with stories about how one type of patronage in fertilizer procurement and distribution was replaced with another even more intrinsically corrupt form of patronage – the procurement and distribution of free cocoa pods to farmers. The brilliant strategy announced by the government for kick starting agricultural processing in Nigeria is the imposition of tariffs on wheat and the promotion of a cassava flour inclusion policy in bread making. Why is all this comical? It is because it is a little hard to imagine any of the Presidents of the world’s top twenty economies – a group to which Nigeria aspires – announcing such sophomoric policies to their nation and the world, as worthy achievements without laughing at the absurdity of not just the act itself, but the mere thought of such a show of shame.

The President announced an educational policy that called for more schools without addressing the severe challenges of quality in instruction and the dearth of materials that plague those schools that exist.
Jonathan talked about the Aviation sector and his administration’s efforts at making it safe and secure. The investigations are still on, but the unfortunate crash of the Dana Airline plane a few days after the President’s speech suggest that corruption by operators and regulators might have contributed to the loss of over 150 Nigerians in that crash.

The biggest joke of all was obviously the President’s claim that this administration is serious about tackling corruption. Under Jonathan, there has been no noteworthy prosecution and conviction of a public official by the EFCC or the ICPC. Besides, what moral authority does a President who has refused to publicly declare his assets have for claiming any seriousness in tackling corruption?

The biggest tragedy of all was the President’s failure to seriously address the issue of security. No one listening to Jonathan’s speech would have guessed that he was the President of a nation where lives are being lost daily to the menace of terrorism. The President’s speech offered no clarity on what his administration’s strategy would be to tackle the Boko Haram crisis. Nigerians want to know if there will be negotiations with Boko Haram. The long suffering Nigerian people who are losing their lives and limbs daily to bombs and rifle rounds deserve to know if they should expect an expanded security presence in their neighborhoods. They want to know when it will be safe to walk the streets again, and go to their places of worship without fear that they will be executed or bombed to smithereens. Nigerians want to know when they can breathe again. Those who expected any substantive proclamations on the nation’s grave security challenges would have been terribly disappointed by what the President had to say. Jonathan offered the usual palliatives - sweet nothings, topped off with the traditional sprinkling of patriotic pep talk. Nothing in his speech was even remotely reassuring. The fact that the bombs and the killings have resurfaced with a vengeance is testimony to the ineptitude of this government in guaranteeing the lives and security of its citizens. The fact that reprisal attacks have also begun is telling, and it forebodes a new phase in the crisis, one with severe implications for Nigerian unity. When citizens lose faith in their government’s ability to protect them, they are left with no recourse than to take the law into their own hands.

Jonathan’s May 29th speech was an unequivocal celebration of mediocrity. It was an announcement that at best what Nigerians can expect from this administration is stagnation and stasis. In today’s world, stagnation is retrogression. While Nigeria is marking time, mired in the cesspool of corruption and incompetence, other nations are making tremendous progress and taking giant strides.
Jonathan is failing. No alternative conclusion is possible.

Goodluck is just not the Messiah....................enjoy[/b]

@op, it's high time you posted the answer and let's get this done with.

@op, it's high time you post the answer and let's get this done with.

[b]AGBA OFIFO' PRESIDENCY! Beyond Words: Sampling Two Years’ Worth of Vows

Jonathan Vows to Contain Jos Crisis [AllAfrica, Jan 19, 2010 ]

Jonathan vows to consolidate the gains of the [Niger Delta] amnesty [CNIELTS, February 15, 2010]

Nigeria's president Goodluck Jonathan vows to hold clean elections [Christian Science Monitor, April 13, 2010]

New Nigerian President Vows Electoral Reform Before Next Year's Vote [Voice of America, May 07, 2010] “...Our total commitment to good governance, electoral reform, and the fight against corruption will be pursued with greater vigor."

Jonathan Vows to Tackle Erosion in South East [AllAfrica, 24 February 2011]

Jonathan Vows to Prosecute Those Behind Violence [AllAfrica, Apr 15, 2011]

Jonathan vows to end Boko Haram menace [AFP, April 19, 2012]

Jonathan vows 'major changes' for Nigeria [Dailymotion, April 20, 2011.

Jonathan Vows to Return Nation to Order [Vanguard, 21 April 2011.



Nigeria: President Jonathan vows to address falling education standard [West African Democracy Radio, May 18, 2011]

Nigerian President Vows to Strengthen Democratic Rule [Voice of America, May 30, 2011]

Corruption: No more sacred cows, Jonathan vows [Vanguard, July 26, 2011]; would rid the nation’s procurement process of all forms of corruption, he said at the fourth National Procurement Forum.

Nigerian president vows to bring terrorism under control, go after group that bombed U.N. building [Associated Press, August 27, 2011]

UN Building Bombing - Jonathan Vows to Track Down Bombers [Daily Trust, August 28, 2011]

Jonathan Vows To Crush Terror Groups, Says Sponsors of Terror groups now unveiled [Nigeria Tribune, September 23, 2011]

Jonathan vows to fix public institutions, Says strong institutions recipe for Nigeria’s Greatness The Sun, Sep 28, 2011 ]

President Jonathan Vows to Combat Security as Nigeria Celebrates its 51st Independence Day [IQ4News, October 1, 2011...

Jonathan Vows to get bombers (Vanguard, October 2, 2010); “It is a wicked independence anniversary gift.”

President Jonathan vows war on crime, saying he had put in place a new national security strategy, [Africa Review, October 2, 2011]

Jonathan vows war on crime as Nigeria turns 51 [Africa Review, October 3, 2011]

As Boko Haram changes gear, Mars Eid-El-Kabir celebrations in North, Jonathan vows to protect Nigerians [National Daily Newspaper, November 6, 2011]

Christmas carnage in Nigeria, Nigeria's president vows to bring those responsible to justice [CNN, December 25, 2011]

President Jonathan Vows To Exterminate Boko Haram [blanknewsonline, December 26, 2011]

Jonathan vows to "crush terrorists" [Reuters, Dec 31, 2011]who set off a series of bombs across Nigeria on Christmas Day. "We assure Nigerians that we will protect them…We will crush the terrorists. If there are institutions ... which are harbouring terrorists, we will deal with them."

Jonathan vows to protect Nigerians [National Daily], November 6, 2011

Jonathan vows vengeance; to "crush the terrorists" who set off a series of bombs across Nigeria on Christmas Day [Mail & Guardian, South Africa, Dec 31, 2011]

...it’s fight to the finish, Jonathan vows [The Punch, January 1, 2012]… he would not spare any effort aimed at fighting the sect, which he described as a “group of evil-minded people,” to the end.

Jonathan vows to work for the welfare and wellbeing of all Nigerians [Newsdiary, January 16, 2012]

Jonathan Vows to Check Destabilisation Plot [ThisDay, January 17, 2012]

We'll wipe out Boko Haram – Jonathan [The Punch, January 23, 2012]; vowed in Kano the federal government would soon wipe out the dreaded Boko Haram

Jonathan vows stronger relations between Nigeria and Ethiopia [Channels TV, Jan 31, 2012]

Jonathan vows to increase petrol refining capacity [The Moment, February 3, 2012]

Jonathan vows to sack appointees over 2015 campaign [ThisDay, Feb 21, 2012]

Jonathan vows justice [The Nation, January 23, 2012]

Jonathan vows to replicate Asian Tiger feat in Nigeria [Channels TV, March 26, 2012]

Revenge attacks follow Nigeria church blast, Goodluck Jonathan...vows "to end the spate of mindless attacks and killings" Al Jazeera (12 March 2012]

Jonathan vows to fast-track power masterplan (News Diary Online, March 26, 2012].

Jonathan Vows To End Boko Haram Menace In June [March 28, 2012, Yonhap News Agency, South Korea]

Jonathan vows to end culture of favouritism (Premium Times, April 12, 2012 ): “You don't have to know somebody who knows somebody before you can be given any high office to serve in the new direction we want to chart for the country.”

I will deal with Boko Haram, Jonathan vows [Apr 13, 2012]

Jonathan to sack heads of MDAs for distorting 2012 budget [Premium Times, April 13, 2012]

Jonathan vows “to sack heads of departments and parastatals indicted for lobbying members of the National Assembly for upward review of their budget (The Nation, April 14, 2012)

Jonathan vows to correct structural defects in education [Vanguard, April 15, 2012 ), lamenting that the defects in the system were responsible for the failure of children.

Jonathan vows to end Boko Haram menace [AFP News, April 19, 2012], “security situation in Nigeria is not as gloomy as it is painted and the government “is working very hard and that we’ll bring this under control…”

Jonathan vows to end Boko Haram menace [AFP News, April 19, 2012], “security situation in Nigeria is not as gloomy as it is painted and the government “is working very hard and that we’ll bring this under control…”

Jonathan vows to eradicate polio by 2015 (Channels Television, April 24, 2012): “One thing I promise the Nigerian child, and also the Nigerian father and mother is that if we cannot solve all the health problems in this country now, one thing this present administration is committed to is to eradicate polio by 2015”.
Fuel Subsidy report: Presidency vows to bring culprits to book [The Punch, April 26, 2012]...would punish all those found culpable in the N1.07tn fuel subsidy scam.

Jonathan Vows To Punish Oil Thieves [Nigerian Pilot, April 26, 2012]
President Goodluck Jonathan has vowed that his administration will not shield any corrupt person from investigation or prosecution by the anti-graft agencies in the country [NewsDiary, May 4 2012].
[/b]

Thanks Guys for your responses.

ekpriobong:

Though u would find the story of Amin with time but why did your cousin choose to work on Amin and flew into Nigeria instead of going to Uganda? He should have chosen somebody like Abacha and then come to Nigeria. Though I have it but my children won't let me give it out esp the one that wants to be a militant in future.

Sincerely I can't stop laughing at the bolded. Your child wants to be a militant? Hmmm nothing wey we no go see read for nairaland!

nku5:

Its very easy to find but it depends on where u are. Its available on dvd. in lagos there are loads of places you can get it. I am pretty sure u can get it at cms\obalende area where there are lots of guys peddling them or selling in shops. the movie tells a very accurate story, I must say. It doesn't go too heavy on details but you get the central message of who amin was

I don't reside in Lagos and am finding it pretty difficult getting it here!

I am helping a younger cousin (who just flew in from UK) who is doing a project/research on African Dictators, And have chosen the great idi Amin of Uganda. He approached me for materials and I went to my archives first to get the video cassette recorder movie of Rise and fall of Idi-amin which enjoyed massive viewing in the early 80's into the late 90's.

Unfortunately, the cassette has gone bad as time/age had taken it's toll on it.

I later went to the internet seraching for a site where I can download this movie but to no avail. Most sites appear not to have it. The farthest i got was pictures of important parts of the movie.

Dear nairalanders, does anyone know a site where I can readily download this movie? Or does any one have this movie in VCD or DVD?

Thanks in advance for your contributions as you help a brother in need.

I am close friend of ofuks. I can offer to complete the tale on his behalf. However, it won't be for free oooh!

If u re interested in knowing how it ended, holla at your boy on , be right back!

Tinyemeka:

Sorry it's not related to the topic but I need to get something right here. You claim in your post to be male, but your profile indicates that you are female. Which are you?

@Tinyemeka, Am actually a full blown guy. The F status from my wife whose profile I inherited since I can't remember when, Hope that satisfies your curiosity!

Hmmm. Nice topic. This nasty experience stands out in my memory:

Long time ago when I was about 17 some 13 years ago, I had my first job as a primary school teacher. A colleague was to get married and she selected the aso ebi of which Inwas given my share. This is over a full month to the wedding!

Gave my material to this elderly dude in my neighborhood and deposited half of the required amount with assurances from the him that it will be ready within two weeks.

To cut a long story short, on the morning of the wedding, I was at the tailor's shop to collect my already sewn cloth only to find him just sewing the it.

I almost collapsed but left his shop in rage. Ended up wearing another cloth to the wedding. A day after, I was passing his shop when he beckoned on me to come and collect the cloth, I respectfully told him that that was no longer necessary as my aim for purchasing the cloth in the first place has been defeated.

As a 17 yr old boy, he thought I was joking but realized I was serious as i kept ignoring him whenever he brought up the issue.

He reported the case to my Dad ( after he had of course threatened to do so) whom he asked to prevail on me to collect the clothes but my Dad simply told him I was matured enough to take certain decisions on my own, more over, he wasn't the one that bought the cloth material for me.

Today, this tailor is still in that shop, and to make things worst, I have my current tailor in a much younger guy who is just beside him and he sees me when ever i come to pick up already sewn clothes. He also knows I introduced some of my colleagues and most of my church members who admire my way of dressing, to that guy.

Can't imagine what goes on in his mind anytime I park my ride in front of his shop only to enter his neighbor's shop, Jeez!

Late Umaru Yar'adua.

Unfortunately, the cold hands of death snatched him before he could do anything meaningful. He had good intentions for the country but his ill health which his wife and members of his kitchen cabal took advantage of, stopped him from achieving much.

He was the BEST president Nigerians never enjoyed. Please see below:

1. Declared his assets upon assuming office (A feat no politician ever achieved, not even his vice then (GEJ) did it)
2. Handled the Niger delta issue without much ado/impasse
3. Reversed anti people policies like fuel hike and shoddy sale of Nigeria's refineries and other assets by Obasanjo
4. Had a mind of his own and made it clear to Obasanjo that he wanted to maintain that
5. Was HONEST enough to admit that the elections that brought him to power was flawed
6. Not desperate for power. Promised not to run for re-election should the supreme court nullifies the election that brought him to power.
7. Abhors profligacy. Left over $50 billion in our external reserves at the time of his death ( which his succesor squandered within 15 months of being in power)

This is my position. and I resolutely stand by it.
Criticisms to the points above are welcomed!

President Goodluck Jonathan; tales of woe from day one!

When I first voiced my opposition to the candidacy of Goodluck Jonathan for last year's presidential election, one of the reasons I put forward was that Jonathan did not demonstrate sincerity or honesty in his handling of the Zoning Formula of his party. His manipulation of party leadership and denial of the existence of an agreement to which he was a signatory just to further his ambition clearly portrayed him as a man who could not be trusted. I argued that it was a dangerous gamble to place the destiny of 150million Nigerians in the hands of an opportunist who could not be taken by his words.

Then I monitored campaign speeches as he moved from one part of the country to the other and I came away with the picture of a clueless and poorly prepared fellow who could not articulate a sound economic and social development vision for Nigeria. I could not place a finger on a single promise that was made with clearly outlined strategy and measurable success factors or performance indicators. It was the same old stories rich on rhetoric but empty on substance. I lamented that Jonathan was not making any commitments that we could hold him accountable for.

Amazingly quite a number of Nigerians fell cheaply to the chants of 'goodluck Nigeria' as if all that was essential to rule Nigeria was luck. They were carried away with his shallow claims of being born without shoes as if there were some Nigerians who came out with shoes from their mothers' wombs.

Then came the highly questionable landslide victory in the April 2011 elections which his propaganda machinery in collusion with the masters in the West succeeded in deceiving the world that his election was the freest and fairest to be conducted in Nigeria since independence.

The combined effect of these deceptive approval ratings is that Jonathan has been misled into believing that Nigerians are all daft and irredeemably gullible and would swallow every baseless promise or policy with joy as long as is premised on luck and lies. He has thus overrated his popularity and in the process squandered the craftily acquired goodwill so soon in the lifespan of his administration, perhaps in line with the adage, easy come, and easy go. Barely one year in the saddle has Jonathan triggered more negative reviews from those who queued behind him last April than we his non-supporters. Perhaps the only persons urging him on are the horde of cronies around him whose eyes are on the pecks rather than the people.

In the face of his inability to tackle the escalating security challenges in the country, rising unemployment, decaying infrastructure and epileptic power supply as well as unmitigated corruption, Jonathan keeps demonstrating gross insensitivity to the plight the people he claims they voted him to power.

While he is zealous to please the West that helped to shore up his profile and sold him to the world as a leader, by killing the PIB which was perceived as injurious to their exploitative interest in Nigeria, he is ready to inflict maximum pain on his countrymen. The increase in the pump price of PMS on New Year day is perhaps the most poignant testimony to this.

We are called upon to sacrifice yet those making this call are not eager to make any sacrifices. We are being told that government has been borrowing to fund (imaginary) infrastructure yet we can't see the infrastructure. If the money they borrowed was squandered, what guarantee do we have that the one they will forcefully extort from us through this petrol tax would be managed judiciously and transparently?

The shoddiest reasoning I have read on this subsidy controversy is that money paid for subsidy is enjoyed by a select few elites. The question is why then would these elites which the Nigerian Senate even published their names not be stopped if not apprehended and prosecuted? If by their demission a handful of government officials share 25% of the national budget as overhead and another 25% goes to 150million Nigerians (as subsidy), while corruption by the same cabal that have already taken the first 25%) takes another 25%, who should morally speaking be requested to give up his 25%; the cabal or the masses? What sense does it make to punish 150million people in order to protect the interest of a few corrupt government officials? Last time I checked, Democracy was still defined as a government , for the (welfare of the majority) people.

But we have cultivated such a warped idea of democracy that the government believes that the people exist for their welfare when the reverse is supposed to be the case.

The exasperating aspect is that this government is using the people as test species the way a zoologist (that Jonathan is) would do in experimentation. This is indicated by the fact that despite the so called `safety nets' that the Petroleum Minister spoke about (confusedly though) last year, which did not include purchase of diesel driven vehicles by government to be given to select transporters at subsidized rates, this is one of the palliative measures announced by government yesterday! What this means is that contrary to their claims, they had no blueprint in place at the beginning. They are merely `monkeying around' with no clear strategy.

Is Nigeria's problem now the shortage of diesel powered buses? And why should a government that is drumming privatisation and deregulation now be contemplating being involved in importation of buses? Shouldn't that be left in the hands of private entrepreneurs? This type of hackneyed reasoning reveals to the public how the mind of these people work. It reveals how shallow and empty their insight is and how short their foresight extends. It reminds us that we have placed our destiny in the wrong hands.

The most laughable statement from Jonathan is that January salaries will be paid early to cushion the effect of hiked petrol prices! To start with, is every Nigerian a government worker? And what is really the benefit of giving a worker his salary early when that salary would not be enough to cater for even his transport fare to work in a month in the post subsidy regime? That this government thinks that early payment of salaries is a favour done to workers sums up their peripheral understanding of government responsibilities to the people. It explains why they think that spending (if indeed they were) a mere N1.3 trillion on 150 million people (which translates to N24 per head per day) is a waste, but the Senate President takes home N1million everyday as `quarterly allowance'!

A leader who desires trust from the people must earn it through his words, actions as well as body language. Stability in ideology and consistency of character and empathy for the weak in the society is what builds confidence in the people about those who aspire to rule over them, but this government expects trust from us without reciprocal transparency!

But the way I see it, Jonathan is like a prostitute who the husband (Nigeria) insisted to marry despite warnings from concerned friends. Why should the husband now expect fidelity from her? How for example should Nigerians expect a man who refused to declare his assets publicly to be transparent or fight corruption? Why would Nigerians expect a fair deal from a man who cannot keep to agreements? Why put confidence in a man who says one thing and does another?

Culled from:
http://www.elendureports.comW/

It happened about 1 hour ago. I was there to see things for my self. The bomb affected several buildings around Oriakpata area of Kaduna. Eye witness accounts show that the suspects who were on a motor cycle threw the bombs but before they could leave, the explosion caught up with them.

About 12 dis-membered bodies were seen by me while the bomb affected residential buildings which had occupants in them.

Victims are majorly igbos who sell spare parts around that side.

My office is close to the place. The sound was deafening and the effect of the vibration was some thing else.

May God help us in this country!

Hmmmmm @ Joey/Ambassadorial, The poster was talking about sales men and marketing execs sharing their experience but am surprised about people posting adverts!
Hmmm na wa oooh!

olsmade:

I need a laptop (available in the Nigerian market) whose battery can last a considerable length of time not just when new (I'm looking at 6 - 8 hrs) as power supply is getting in d way of my studies. Can be mini (netbook) or regular (notebook). Pls give suggestions.

@op, you also need to tell us your budget so that we can know how to advise you.

Feel me?

[b][s]Ben Ali of Tunisia – 23 years – 1988 – 2011[/s]
[s]Hosni Mubarak of Egypt – 30 years – since 1981
[/s] [s]Moummar Gaddafi of Libya – 42 years – since 1969[/s]
Mbasago of Equatorial Guinea – 32 years – since 1979
Jose Santos of Angola – 32 years – since 1979
Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe – 31 years – since 1980
Paul Biya of Cameroon – 29 years – since 1982
Yoweri Museveni of Uganda – 25 years – since 1986
Blaise Campore of Burkina Fasso – 24 years since 1987
Mswati III of Swaziland – 24 years – since April 1986
Omar Bashir of Sudan – 21 years – since 1989
Idrissu Deby of Chad – 21 years – since 1990
Isaias Afewerki of Eritrea – 18 years – since 1993
Yahya Jammeh of Gambia – 17 years – since 1994
Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia – 16 years – since 1995
Pakalitha Mosisili (Lesotho) – 13 years – since 1998;
Ismail Omar Guelleh of Djibouti – 12 years – since 1999
Mohammed VI of Morocco – 12 years – since 1999
[s] Laurent Gbagbo of Ivory Coast – 11 years+ – since 2000[/s]
Abdoulaye Wade (Senegal) – 11 years – since 2000
Paul Kagame (Rwanda) – 11 years – since 2000

Goodluck Jonathan?- 2011-2022??

[/b]

What's the fuss about Gaddafi when the continent is full of leaders that are no better than he is?

Fellow Nairalanders, who is next from the list above?


Your inputs are welcome!

[b][s]Ben Ali of Tunisia – 23 years – 1988 – 2011[/s]
[s]Hosni Mubarak of Egypt – 30 years – since 1981
[/s] [s]Moummar Gaddafi of Libya – 42 years – since 1969[/s]
Mbasago of Equatorial Guinea – 32 years – since 1979
Jose Santos of Angola – 32 years – since 1979
Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe – 31 years – since 1980
Paul Biya of Cameroon – 29 years – since 1982
Yoweri Museveni of Uganda – 25 years – since 1986
Blaise Campore of Burkina Fasso – 24 years since 1987
Mswati III of Swaziland – 24 years – since April 1986
Omar Bashir of Sudan – 21 years – since 1989
Idrissu Deby of Chad – 21 years – since 1990
Isaias Afewerki of Eritrea – 18 years – since 1993
Yahya Jammeh of Gambia – 17 years – since 1994
Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia – 16 years – since 1995
Pakalitha Mosisili (Lesotho) – 13 years – since 1998;
Ismail Omar Guelleh of Djibouti – 12 years – since 1999
Mohammed VI of Morocco – 12 years – since 1999
[s] Laurent Gbagbo of Ivory Coast – 11 years+ – since 2000[/s]
Abdoulaye Wade (Senegal) – 11 years – since 2000
Paul Kagame (Rwanda) – 11 years – since 2000

Goodluck Jonathan?- 2011-2022??

[/b]

What's the fuss about Gaddafi when the continent is full of leaders that are no better than he is?

Fellow Nairalanders, who is next from the list above?


Your inputs are welcome!

Just confirmed it. He is stone dead for real. He died from head and leg injuries.

May his violent soul rest in peace.

Amen. But a martyr he was and he still is, even in death!

Assalamualekum,

This is to alert all the muslim faithfuls working in the mtn jos call centre to as a matter of seriousness and urgency stay away from the call centre because that place is one of the number one target for bombing insha Allah. this was suppose to be done on the eve of sallah that is jajibirin sallah but it was stopped because an urgent message was sent that there are so many believers in the call centre.

reasons given to us by the brethren planning this jihad includes that the mtn jos call centre activities are all organised in line with infidels ways of life, the muslims are not even recognised examples given to us are convincing;

1 the muslim ummah have celebrated about 3 sallah since the inception of the call centre and there was nothing like sallah bonus but christmas and easter bonus were given.

2 the call centre nhis clinic is a christian hospital owned by ecwa and no muslim faithfull will be comfortable going there even though he is entitle.

3 the call centre is organising a choir just like church that they are planning something big for december.


they have no concern for islam in that case they are unbelievers, infidels, kafiri so jihad is legal on the call centre.


We therefore urge all muslim umma to stay away from the call centre as justice will be done just like the one done on the UN office in Abuja.and please also pass the message secretlly to other muslim umma in the call centre who might not get the message. Allahuakbar a global jihad is on the way soon.

Assalamualekum.



My cousin brother works with the mtn call centre, jos. The above mail was sent to someone in their office but it managed to circulate amongst the staff.
Remember UN officials received similar threats before the attack was finally carried out.
I have passionately advised and appealed to him to resign but he refused reminding me how long he took him to get the job after graduating from university.  He also said since the mail was circulated, Security has been beefed up all around the their office surrounding!

Since I can't offer him another job, I feel I will initiate a family meeting on his head.

Also, use this medium to warn those living around the call centre to beware.

Nairalanders opinion and advise are welcome.

eeeya, I feel for the chick,

But wait a minute, what do you expect in an insecured society where poverty is rife and pangs of hunger are felt like a second skin?
Where a privileged few flaunt their wealth (whether ill-gotten or clean-gotten) at the faces of desperate people?

My advise, in order to forestall such incidences, our actresses/actors including musicians should stop showing off their wealth and live low like average human beings that they are!

Yesterday somewhere in Zaria, a lecturer's husband was shot dead by dare devil armed robbers and they made away with his 2009 model range rover jeep.

Dear sister, I thank God that you wrer not hurt in the process but careful next time oooh!

jabbok:

^
The prof don dey position himself for ministerial appointment. Investigation still dey go on and he don dey talk; is he a member of the police, sss, interpol or maybe MEND?

I am the president of my own little place. Take Nigeria serious at your own peril!

Nice one. How bad that this respected Prof is sacrificing all he has labored to build reputation-wise to crumble.
Also recall that he is a staunch supporter of GEJ so I ain't really surprised at his position even in the face of objectivity.

The poor man is fast turning into a scheming sychophant.

Beaf:

Your first sentence really captured a lot of what is missing in Nigerian political discuss. You find that quite a few people hang unto rather empty personal descriptions of totally harmless personal attributes, because they would rather deflect from the more salient points like a candidates [s]sincerity, morality, vision and sense of purpose. Indeed, quite a few people seem to mistake loudness for vision, which is rather unfortunate.
It is focusing on attributes that creates the opening for candidates whose only "qualities" are tribal (zoning) and the billions of public funds they have stolen.

Jonathan remains the best candidate by a long short, followed by Ribadu.

As for political parties, they are all bad. What we need to do is ensure that political debates are not about emptiness, rumour, falsehood and tribalism; this is the only way we can get the good guys (like GEJ and Ribadu) to come through and gradually purge the criminals from our politics.
People like Saraki should not even be in politics.

I agree with you. It is not about eloquence or charisma but you know a leader when you see one. I'm afraid these leadership qualities and more
are simply lacking in our president.

@namdo, Nice comment! You are not particular about great speeches fine! But can you at least point at one solid achievement your darling GEJ has done since he assumed office which should qualify/justify his running for this position?

Further more, what exactly do you mean by his mass-oriented disposition?

Look, the fact remains that GEJ has no record on which to lean, in his desire to become president in 2011. His entire public service record reveals an incurable mediocrity: a nondescript deputy director at NDDC; a cowardly deputy governor in Bayelsa; a governor whose wife ended up stealing millions of dollars (according to Nuhu Ribadu’s EFCC); a scheming vice president and now a divisive and below-average president!

No ill feelings pls, It's just my opinion.

Help!!! My yahoo mail account has been hijacked by unknown persons.
They use it to constantly send mails to all contacts in my address book telling them to visit one site or the other for flimsy reasons.

Worst of all, is a mail they sent to my line manager in the office with the subject: silly Man!

Abandoning the account is a difficult thing for me because I’ve been using it for the past 11 years now and I’m widely known with it by friends and associates.

Fellow Nairalanders, I need your contribution as to what do.