I like it--your summary, Kilode?! And no, I don't find it sexist. Thanks, I wanted it to sound like that.
Thanks for the stimulating dialogue, fstranger1.

You sound highly bitter. Can you deliver an argument besides being caustic? That I don't deserve the luxury I may have, why thank you. And that I would not have cut it in Nigeria's rigorous academic terrain, again thanks for your assumptions. They have been quite amusing.

The key thing here is that these are PDP delegates and the party does not want illiterate delegates voting. The party should have made clear its requirements before welcoming members. If they want to vote in a general election, by all means do. But as a member of a political party, you adhere to the party rules.

fstranger1:

And you believe that more than what I learnt in by GNS class in uni in  Nigeria?


Do you even know who FRA Williams is?

Look young girl, the constitution recognizes Ibo, Hausa and Yoruba as official languages.!

See, you learned that in Uni, I moved when I was in JS3. I am not faulting you for anything. Rather, I fault Nigeria's education system. Students in the States know their rights by secondary school. We were never taught that in secondary school. And apparently, they don't go into that until SS or UNI.

And no, I do by believe anything without crosschecking. So I did lazy research, google alone, but I do have my facts. Also please know that the United States is not populated by the white man alone. And please do not question my love for Nigeria. Studying abroad has been the best thing for me, and I highly recommend learning in a different environment. The US is ideal in that you get to learn about so many cultures and civilizations and apply that to the betterment of Nigeria. So, no, I do not plan to follow in the steps of our past politicians. I would not sell Nigeria, sorry.

And what I learned about Nigeria was not taught to me. My African-American history classes only mentions the kingdoms--Benin and co., and the slave trade. I read books and had go resort to Nigerian forums and news to gain a better understanding of Nigeria. So please do not be so quick to judge.

I do not illiterates as representatives. This is the 21st century. It is a shame that these people cannot read and write in the, fine, government language. These are the people we trust to ensure to create laws for a safe and healthy nation. If we can set the bar so low that an illiterate can gain the position of delegate, then what's the point of an education. I fault PDP for welcoming delegates with no credentials. Illiterates are free to vote in the general election, but there must be a standard in order to become a delegate--a reresentative, of a political party.

aloy/emeka:

Nigeria has 4 official languages: English, Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo.

Hause, Yoruba and Igbo are not official languages. They are the majority languages--the most spoken ones. They are recognized as such and recognized as ethnic languages. I had to learn this abroad. It's sad when our education does not ren teach us about our own country.

fstranger1:

Ode!

English is not our official language

It is the language most convenient for our law makers.

But as par the constitution, we do not have an official language. The constitution recognizes English language as well as the other local languages. Stop talking form your stinking puccy.

When you start including insults in your argument, I lose respect for you.
And English is Nigeria's official language. Google "official language of Nigeria" and this matter of Nigeria's official language has been discussed on Nairaland:
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-15631.0.html

joesleem:

i just do not undastnd y some families does destroy some relationshps dat was mearnt to last till eternity, wat image are they talking about, are they the one to sleep with her so she cud bore children or the man in question, if he was an average young man i dont tink any one wud av told her to stop actin and she agrees, but to say the truth such marriage with dakore and that young man akande with the family,i tell u its only God that will make it work, all the same i wish them the best of luck,

Took the words right out of my mouth

You'd rather have illiterates--people who cannot read and write English, decide who the leaders of Nigeria would be, decide which laws (written in English) under which Nigerian would be governed than a literate person?

If you're not literate, you should not be in a political party in the first place. Go vote in the general elections. It's embarrassing to have a representative who cannot speak or write in the official language.

sulad82i:

In regards to the signed amended constitution, a judge in Lagos said it's null and void.

http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/news/16015-nassembly-to-appeal-courts-decision-on-constitution-amendment

Oh my goodness, please read next time.
", declared that the amendment of the 1999 Constitution without the assent of President Goodluck Jonathan is nullity."
", described the action of the National Assembly as illegal, null and void."

This article only says that the action of the National Assebly was illegal in trying to amend the constitution without the signature of the president.

Again:

First of all, this is about delegates, PDP delegates to be exact. It is not every Tom, manliness and Harry in Ondo. Only PDP delegates. Delegate-a representative, as in a political convention. The question should be "Does PDP have any educational requirement to become a member of the party?" If they had such a requirement in place, there would be no need to weed out the illiterates. This, in fact, is an embarrassment to PDP; that a  political party has members that are not literate. It seems that they are rebranding the party.

Also, English is the official language of Nigeria. That means that literacy is determined, in Nigeria, as being able to read and write in the English language.

Does anyone know the link to this updated constitution?

First of all, this is about delegates, PDP delegates to be exact. It is not every Tom, Dick and Harry in Ondo. Only PDP delegates. Delegate-a representative, as in a political convention. The question should be "Does PDP have any educational requirement to become a member of the party?" If they had such a requirement in place, there would be no need to weed out the illiterates. This, in fact, is an embarrassment to PDP; that a political party has members that are not literate. It seems that they are rebranding the party.

To whomever suggested a pool of Sarah Palins in Nigeria, it shows just ignorant you are of politics in the United States. You cannot get anywhere in politics without a college education. Even Sarah Palin went to college, whether she finished is another matter entirely. Every single political party(Tea Party not included) and politician has attended college. It is political suicide not to, especially if you are as absurd as Palin. Unless, of course, you do miraculous work. Even then, you would have to get a higher institution certification in some area. And Sarah Palin is a joke in the US and abroad, any intelligent and impartial person will tel you that. She is not as embarrassing as Nigeria politicians in what she says.

lagcity:

ladies and gentlemen, this is what happens when you insist on being a papa's or mama's boy and don't make your own money.
i'm a man and i see so many things wrong with this arrangement.

1. some nigerians really need to get out of the cave. why do some ppl still see acting, singing or modeling as demeaning professions?
2. ppl think the solar system revolves around them becos they gat money. wtf
3. the father in law has no right to stop this lady from her passion. if anybody should have problem with her career, it shld be her husband. but i guess little papa's boy doesn't even have a say in the matter.
4. it's shocking that some ppl here are saying wives give up there careers all the time. that's true. a wife can make the hard choice between career and marriage but that's her choice. she shldn't be forced to make this choice by some a- hole father in law. what family name do d akandes have to protect anyway?

Thank you!!!!
I'm a woman and the article bothered me. It has been bothering me since she made her engagement public and stated that she might give up acting. That alone felt like an insult. So, women are not fulfilled until they are married. And, if they are married, they should stop working? What is the point of an education, a degree and a high-caliber career if that is all it amounts to. Things like these just annoy me. And just who are the Akande? I don't care about them, I care about Dakore Egbuson who has the ability to become a great actress(given more acting classes). She's good but with more training and experience (more movies) she will be great.

Next thing you know, they will tell her to cut off her locks.

Abeg, you people no fit read. We son say the thing na lie and you see people wet set carry on as if say they no get eyes.

Nigeria has better actresses than Genevieve. Bimbo akintola for one is a better actress than she is. And when Genevieve plays a role, it's always the bad-ass person. I love her in those roles because Nigerians need to see women in non-submissive roles. However, she does not challenge herself. Ije is the closest she has come to challenging herself. Not because it involves foreigners but because she plays a person who is not in control and has to care for someone else. I like Genny but nigeria has other actresses that are often ignored.

I'll believe it when I see it.

I don't know if she was the one the director should have chosen. Genevieve is a good actress but she does not have range. I can't wait to see the trailer or synopsis for this. I wish her luck.

It is a hoax. No major news site has presented such a claim. Here's Huffington Post refuting it:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/08/facebook-shutting-down_n_806315.html

I assume the schools will be used as voting centres which is actually very good. But, INEC should have informed the public of which schools to go to. In the US, the voting committee uses public buildings such as public schools and the library to hold elections. That could be the same thing here. They also send out pamphlets and they have a website where you could find where you will be voting.

If INEC had split up the locations and allotted public schools to certain zipcodes, the extension would not be so bad. I just do not like that the process is taking weeks away from students. It should be a maximum of one week. But, since Nigeria is still learning, hopefully, they will get it right next time.

Since public school kids will be out, and teachers will be expected to vote, it makes sense to close all schools for the duration of the voting period. The same thing happens here. Parents are encouraged to take their kids with them for the experience value, but I am not quite sure if that will happen in Naija.

LMAO This is hilarious!!! I love the lightness of it all, it's satire. Now if only you could do a political version,

I'm happy for her, but does marrying a man mean you have to be completely dependent on him?

woah
I think I will stay over here in Yankee for a little bit more.

she is pretty good, when she has a good script and good actors to work with. I saw Total love, part 2--with Olu Jacobs, Jackie Appiah and Van Vicker, and it was like seeing a different woman.

The punishment is just unnecessary. They did not have to beat them or strip them naked. That is just horrible. This jungle justice is madness!!!! and no pg warning on the photos or coverings.

I love this guy!!! His raps are so amazing and inspiring. How many people can successfully incorporate Machiavelli into rhyme?
Best wishes to him!!!!

ifyalways:

who cares If they went or not?how do u know the reason for their absence?
MAMA has gone and gone with or without their presence.

Thank you ooo, something could have came up na

She has gotten better. I recently saw Total Love, on YouTube, and she was impressive there.
All she needs is a good PR manager and better press. I really hope all this negativity is not getting to her.

goggs:

contractually speaking, the DCC machines are yet to be delivered to INEC so they are the property of the contractor and if has to replace them or ask his insurance company to do the same. However, the statements of inec is so confusing. I wish they just keep quiet and refer inquiries to the police. And the headlines are even more confusing. The journalist is making it sound as though there are other DDC machines other than inec's out there.

Thank you. Did no one catch this INEC needs someone to handle its public relations affairs. And hopefully recommend that person to president jonathan. It's not everything that you respond to.

I read the cable on sahara reporters and the Kano government and this Aondoakaa guy wanted Pfizer to pay a lump sum of 7
$75 million. The company wanted to pay in supplements and create a hospital, or some sort of health-facility, for the kids, but the Kano government--governor and Aondoakaa, refused. Pfizer told them that it was against some US mandate to give money, settlement money as it applies in this case, in one lump sum.

I condemn Pfizer for illegally testing Nigerian children--they did not get parental consent. But they were trying to do the right thing for the kids, but those corrupt people wanted the entire money for themselves. Pfizer knew who they were dealing with and they were not going to just hand $75 million to them.

All this press defending is unnecessary. The people already like him. Him defending himself over and over only tells us that he does not have a lot of work to do.

The US has no case because he is not a US citizen. He was not even on US soil when he began Wikileaks. All the US can do is bully other countries into delivering him to them. The US right now cannot touch Assange. And hopefully Sweden will act in accord with their human rights legacy and not give him to the US.

Also read:
http://www.alternet.org/story/149100/the_9_weirdest_things_about_the_wikileaks_story?page=1

Kobojunkie:


umm . . . . There NO FREEDOM OF INFORMATION in NIGERIA, NONE whatsoever! So, I don't know how you can make the statement in bold.

Also, WikiLeak has so far not, I repeat has not  revealed any new truths, and I don't know about you but I consider it a thing of shame when the only source of vital/tangible information one claims to have of goings-on in one's own country is a source offering up leaked information from another country.

This is where Nigeria fails it's youth. The 1999 constitution, which is used to govern the nation currently provides the following in chapter IV, part 39:
[b]
39. (1) Every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference.[\b]

Here is the link:
http://www.nigeria-law.org/ConstitutionOfTheFederalRepublicOfNigeria.htm

Kobojunkie:



See, you are trying to compare the Nigerian situation there with the American Situation. There is actually freedom of information here in the US, and much of what was released is sort of common knowledge here in the states. You only need to visit the library of congress to get access to much data on many of the same. You go to the government website and there are tons of information already public on there for people to review.

No new truths were revealed—some of those cables seemed more like office gossip stuff than harmful information and all that. But the point remains that the information was confidential and Assange was warned on so many occasions but still went ahead to publish the documents and so the US has plans to get him to face the music. What is the big deal?

Well, there is freedom of information in Nigeria as well: the same freedoms granted to Americans in their First Amendment is in Nigeria's Constitution. If only Nigerians knew their rights, they would find (to the shock of many) that they share similar rights as do Americans. They also get the Bill of Rights, albeit differently worded.

Now, there are new truths in the WikiLeaks. Particularly the one leaked today:

SUBJECT: (C) SHELL MD DISCUSSES THE STATUS OF THE PROPOSED PETROLEUM INDUSTRY BILL


1. Summary A representative in Africa for the Anglo-Dutch energy firm Shell mentions, in a passing reference, that the company has employees seconded to 'all the relevant' ministries of the Nigerian government. The key passage, in section 10, is highlighted in yellow.


SUMMARY


1. (C) Shell EVP for Shell Companies in Africa met with the Ambassador on October 13 to discuss the status of the proposed Petroleum Industry Bill. She said the GON wanted the National Assembly to pass the bill by November 17 and that the international oil companies would have to move quickly if the House passed the bill in the coming weeks. She said there was "total alignment" among the IOCs and with the Nigerian oil companies. She said it would be helpful if the Embassy would continue to deliver low-level messages of concern and call on the Speaker of the House to see where he stood on the bill. She expected the situation in the Niger Delta to be "quiet" until the end of the year but would get "out-of-hand" when the election cycle starts up at the end of the year. Shell's views of the PIB track closely with ExxonMobil's views as reported in reftel. END SUMMARY.


CURRENT STATUS OF THE PIB

2. (C) Shell EVP for Shell Companies in Africa Ann Pickard met with the Ambassador at the Embassy on October 13. The DCM and Economic Counselor joined the Ambassador, and XXXXXXXXXXXX accompanied Pickard. The Ambassador asked Pickard for her views about the status of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB). Pickard said the GON wanted the National Assembly to pass the bill by November 17 in order for the GON to be able to announce it at the upcoming CWC Gulf of Guinea Conference in London November 17-19. She said that if the House passes the PIB in the coming weeks, "we need to move quickly" to obtain any necessary changes before it becomes law. Fortunately, she added, "We are working with the House and the House appears to want to work with us." She continued that if the Senate passes the PIB, "We aren't worried." Unfortunately, she explained, "We think the Senate will pass a bad bill" but it won't really matter. She added that she would be at the Nigerian House and Senate later that day and would let the Embassy know if there were any unexpected developments.

3. (C) The Ambassador asked if Shell had had engagements with the GON outside the National Assembly, such as with the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria. Pickard said, "We are meeting with them at all levels." She noted that an IMF team headed by Charles McPherson was in Abuja to look at the PIB and that Shell would be meeting with them as well. In contrast, she said, "We are worried about the World Bank's political agenda and it is not clear what their agenda is." She said the World Bank was working on how to make the IJVs "bankable" so that they would be able to go to international and domestic banks for financing.


GAS FLARING AND CLIMATE CHANGE

4. (C) Pickard said the PIB requires an end to gas flaring by 2010. She said the industry won't be able to do that due to the lack of QShe said the industry won't be able to do that due to the lack of investment and security. Shell is ahead of the other IOCs and could be ready by 2011. Shell would have to spend $4 billion to do this, but the GON would also have to fund its part and that is a risk. Shell would shut in oil production in fields where it is uneconomic to end gas flaring, and it would let others have the gas for free where it is economic to do so.

5. (C) Pickard continued that NNPC General Managing Director Dr. Mohammed Barkindo was interested in doing something on climate change in preparation for the climate change summit in Copenhagen December 6-18. Barkindo was spread pretty thin so Shell will ask him how they can help him prepare for the summit. She added that Shell had recently told the oil producing countries that coal will squeeze out oil as a result of the CO2 footprint issue if the oil producing countries and IOCs do not do more to address the issue.

POTENTIAL BENEFITS

6. (C) Pickard summarized the PIB's potential benefits. The creation of fully integrated and independently functioning international joint ventures (IJVs) would solve the oil and gas industry's longstanding funding problems if the proposed IJVs are done right. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) was previously forced to reduce its ownership of some existing joint ventures to 49 percent to make them profitable enough to obtain financing. The proposed division of responsibilities between the NNPC and the Directorate of Petroleum Resources also would be good. The IOCs currently do not know if the NNPC is their partner or regulator.

COHESION WITHIN THE INDUSTRY


7. (C) The Ambassador asked if the industry was united in its approach to the PIB. Pickard replied that there was "total alignment with the international oil companies at every level." She acknowledged that Shell had more exposure to the loss of acreage than any other company. "We could lose 80 percent of our acreage," she said. The problem comes from the fact that the PIB will redefine how a company can hold on to its exploration and production blocks, limiting what can be kept to two kilometers around each well. "Everyone offshore loses a lot," she continued. "We will have to bring satellites on fast or we will lose the blocks." However, the problem with that is that the companies have to be able to pass things through to the blocks quickly and it takes years to get a rig in due to delays in the Nigerian approval process. (NOTE: Pickard told Econoff in Lagos that Shell "sent away" three platforms in late September. END NOTE.)


ALIGNMENT WITH NIGERIAN OIL COMPANIES

8. (C) The Ambassador asked about the IOCs' alignment with the Nigerian oil companies. Pickard replied that "the Nigerian companies are with us" because they will be taxed at the same rate in the current version of the PIB. The IOCs are starting to see what the Nigerian companies want to do.

THE USG'S ROLE

9. (C) The Ambassador asked what the Embassy could do to help with the Joint House Committee on Petroleum Upstream and Downstream and Justice that is working on the PIB. Pickard said she hoped the current level of dialogue between the GON and the IOCs continues. Unfortunately, "We have not been able to meet with President Yar'Adua for nine months," she said. "They have him protected." She said it would be helpful if the Embassy would continue to deliver low-level messages of concern. In particular, she thought it would be helpful for the Embassy to call on Speaker of the House Dimeji Bankoke to see where he stood on the bill. Beyond that, she would like to keep the Embassy in reserve and use it as a "silver bullet" if the PIB passes the House. The Ambassador noted that the U.S., U.K., Dutch and Qthe House. The Ambassador noted that the U.S., U.K., Dutch and French Embassies had already made a joint call on NNPC General Managing Director Dr. Mohammed Barkindo.

CHINA'S INTEREST IN NIGERIA'S OIL BLOCKS

10. (C) Pickard mentioned China's recently reported interest in Nigeria's oil blocks. She said Shell had received a copy of the letter that Special Advisor to the President on Petroleum Matters Dr. Emmanuel Egbogah had sent to the Chinese which said that their offer for oil exploration blocks was not good enough. Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Odein Ajumogobia had denied that the letter had been sent, but later conceded that the GON was only "benchmarking" to see what the IOCs should pay for shallow-water licenses. Pickard said Shell had good sources to show that their data had been sent to both China and Russia. She said the GON had forgotten that Shell had seconded people to all the relevant ministries and that Shell consequently had access to everything that was being done in those ministries.

CHANGING RESPONSIBILITIES WITHIN THE GON'S TEAM

11. (C) Pickard observed that there might be changes with how the GON management of the petroleum sector is organized. Minister of Petroleum Resources Rilwanu Lukman may be given the responsibility for implementing the PIB, while Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Ajumogobia may get the Directorate of Petroleum Resources and ongoing business. The problem with these changes is that the GON could still get "unempowered people" who are not able to address the issues. The question is whether Ajumogobia would be able to step up. (NOTE: Press reports on October 17 reported that Lukman will be given overall responsibility for the formulation of policy, and oversee the implementation of the PIB, the Integrated Joint Venture negotiation and rollout, the fiscal terms transition and implementation, the new organization implementation, and stakeholder management. We will also supervise the NNPC and its subsidiaries, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, the African Petroleum Producers Association, and the University of Petroleum. Ajumogobia will be in charge of the Gas Master Plan Transition Implementation, the Gas Exporting Countries Forum, the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas, the alternative fuels, and the Petroleum Equalization Fund. He will also oversee the Directorate of Petroleum Resources, the Petroleum Training Institute and the Pricing Regulatory Agency. END NOTE.)

SHELL'S CURRENT PRODUCTION
12. (C) The Ambassador asked about the level of Shell's current operations. Pickard said Shell was producing 663,000 barrels per day as of October 13, including the Bonga field. Approximately 80,000 barrels per day had been brought back from the Forcados field on the previous day. Some 900,000 barrels per day of capacity was still shut in. Of that, Shell could bring back 600,000 barrels per day, while the remaining 300,000 barrels per day is "too unreachable."

AMNESTY IN THE NIGER DELTA

13. (C) The Ambassador asked Pickard what she thought about the future of the GON's amnesty offer to militants in the Niger Delta. She responded that Shell expected the situation in the Niger Delta to be "quiet" until the end of the year. It will then get "out-of-hand" when the election cycle starts up in December, January and February. She expressed particular concern about Bayelsa State, home to Shell's 500,000 barrel-per-day capacity Bonny field. Pickard also noted that Q500,000 barrel-per-day capacity Bonny field. Pickard also noted that Shell saw Israeli security experts in Bayelsa, but not in the Delta, and that there had been "a big drop in kidnapping" as a result.



Looking Ahead


14. (C) XXXXXXXXXXXX

COMMENT

15. (C) Shell's views of the PIB and the alignment among the IOCs and with the Nigerian oil companies track closely with the views of ExxonMobil, as reported in reftel. The main difference is that Shell tends to minimize the different tax concerns and financial vulnerabilities of the individual IOCs. Shell is much more vulnerable than the other IOCs because its operations are concentrated in less favorable JV concessions that are located in the violence-prone Niger Delta. ExxonMobil and Chevron's operations are concentrated in more favorable production sharing contracts (PSC) in the relatively violence-free offshore areas. In the event that the PIB retains negative terms or violence returns to the Delta, Shell can be expected to hurt the most and cry the loudest.

16. (U) Embassy Abuja coordinated this telegram with ConGen Lagos.

SANDERS

Now this one actually has some new things; particularly about Shell's knowledge of everything that goes on in the Ministry. Things are coming to light. It is people who do not want those truths illuminated that claim there is nothing to WikiLeaks. And if there is nothing to WikiLeaks, why oh why is Assange being arranged on such ridiculous claims and why oh why is he on Interpol for an alleged rape. And let's please be careful of how we throw the word rape around.