₦airaland Forum

The argument for centralised power system I still don't understand.

We have 36 states in Nigeria, and 780 or so local government. why not build power generting station in each of the state or local government and make it self funding business projects like the Telecoms., excess by any state or local government can then be sold on to the national grid.

I believe every state can find some matrials to generate electricity in their own state. There is sun everywhere, so solar power, in the south gas turbines etc.

Go for renewable energy which is the future of energy.

Let no one deceive us that breaking the power company is impossible because that is what we have now, everybody having their own power generating system as in generators. the state or local govt will simply be one big power generating unit.

Amazingly, when things degenerate to the point of cartoon and satire, it is indeed a big joke.  it is true that Yar A'clueless is still the President of Nigeria ruling from Saudi Arabia his 37th State for well over 80 days. He has not even spent 30 days in any of the other 36 states while here in Nigeria. He neither built  or contributed to the building of the hospital he now enjoy their facilities. Did I hear some say that Nigeria is the GIANT of Africa. Then I must laugh

Because of some silly people and the greed of the Yar a'dua family Nigeria and Nigerians have wasted almost 90 days on diversion and non productivity simply because we have an unorgnised sytstem of government. When a leader is sick or ill, another takes over until the original leader is well enough, and that way, governance continues.

ON THAT LIST WHERE IS

Mikeansy

and off course

me,

Vigasimple

Even any new comer to politics can get one over those clowns called FEC

mikeansy:
You just got to love Jonathan's level headed approach to things

Let Sayaad Abba Ruma go to Saudi Arabia and come back.
He will now choose to respect our National Interest by telling the truth about Yar'adua's health against the will of his maddam or he can choose to lie to 150 million Nigerians.

The ball is now in Abba Ruma's court. He should play it the way he likes.

This team in collusion with Ambassador Aminchi should be very careful, because after this they will be commiting treason if they joke with this task.

Meanwhile the letter to King Abdollah makes a lot of sense, they must make sure they secure his permission before they leave. This is now a diplomatic mission. Saudi Arabia now has a choice to grant us access to our President or tell us why they are holding our President custody.

Turai is now effectively out of this equation.

Who says we are not making impact here on Nairaland. Is this not what we have been calling for in the last one week?

@ mikeansy

Someone has recommend your commentary here to FEC and Goodluck in particular, and they continue to read what you have to say, and doing exactly what the doctor order.

It is clear that 'mission failed' before embarkation. Goodluck is simply trying to please the Kitchen cabinet and at the same time exposed the charade., even his private secretary cannot see him to 'read and sign a 109 pages supplementary appopriation bill'. neither did all the PDP bigwigs including 3 'foolish' governors whcih include his own son in -law.

Even, if 150million Nigeria invades Saudi Arabia nothing will come out of it. They are just playing extended long game which will blow in their face as the NASS joint proclamation has caught them by surprise.

Waste of scarces resources, if you ask me.

There are serious issues here,

1. Patrotism fo things Nigeria

2. Beleive in our own and services

3. Loyality

Anybody who is holding public offices or intend to hold office must be made to take oath, that he or his immediate family would not use foreign hospital or educational institution

and two, will renounce or not acquire foreign citizenship.

and all the politicians in Nigeria does the above especially PDP criminals.

VOTE PDP OUT IN THE 2011 ELECTION AND VOTE ANY PARTY OF YOUR CHOICE. SEND MESSAGE TO POLITICIANS THAT POWER BELONG TO THE PEOPLE.

houvest:
Threaten tro kill? How? Please sahara should CEASE FROM SENSATIONALISM OR GIVE US HARD FACTS AND PROOFS. THE NATION IS NOT IN A STATE FOR SUCH CONJECTURING.

Even if the whole story is a conjecture, imagination and pure fabrication, where is the true story from Yar A'clueless to counter Sharareporters 'lies'.

What Sharareportes have reported on this matter so far are at least more than 80% accurate.  It is more than 80days and the Yar A'liar diehard are still in denial of serious and incapacitated President.

If, only for the security of this country, they (kitchen cabinet) should have accept the will of God and give up. For a long time we do not have a C-I-C and we are just lucky that there are no war, what would have happen.

In any sane country, nothwithstanding your loyality, once a President is incomunicado for 24 hours, the deputy should start acting.

You may not like to hear it like the kitchen cabinet, the story is true or whatelse would those mentioned be doing in a meeting at this sensitive period in the nations history?

PLOTTING TO KILL, i dare suggest and agree with sharareportes.

AfroCynic:
I'm all for an Igbo president this time, with Fashola as VP.

Any competent person from SE OR SS and to balance the ticket, it can't be FASHOLA who will be SW, So all SOUTH, it will only be fair to get a NW this time, as we have had NE ( in Atiku) as VP before and Yar A'dua NC

eina:
How could a country of 140 million people be ruled by foreigners? They foreigners have Nigerian birth certificates but they are no longer Nigerian citizens. What they only do in office is take your money and stash away in their home countries. They don't care about the masses because they are no longer Nigerians.
A foreigner is someone who isn't part of the daily way of life of an ordinary Nigerian. Therefore I must say your leaders are foreigners because:

-They don't travell the same bad roads with you.
-They don't use the erratic public power supply with you.
-Their kids do not attend the same substandard schools with you.
-They don't seek medical treatment in the same grave yard hospitals with you.
-They don't drink garri with you.

Common guys, how do you expect these folks to do something when they are not part of ugly way of life of the average Nigerian. How long should these foreigners continue to rule you? And you are here complaining in vain daily.

GBAM!

You got all of it right except that OBJ drinks garri publicly on youtube

Nice try, but those 2 belongs to different parties, and also have a different outlook, and by the way, why MUST it be a northerner on top of the ticket whilst the southerner, even moreso in this case Fashola a southner who is a SAN has to be the VP candidate?

I will vote for a secondary school certificate holder from the south before a 'graduate servant president' from the North with a few exceptions like Muazu Aliyu Babangida of Niger State, the rest have no clue like President Yar A'clueless.

Maybe FASHOLA/RIBADU OR SOMEONE FROM SOUTH EAST/SOUTH and RIBADU.

You guys up North should forget this PDP rotational Presidency nonsense.

ACTING PRESIDENT is better than INACTION called YAR A'DO NOTHING even when he is here. To be honest there is no much diffrence that anyone can see whilst YAR A'CLUELESS was in Nigeria long may he 'sit/sleep' in Saudi Arabia.

In 2009/2010, it is a disgrace that a whole President of Nigeria can be sick and then went to a foreign country for over 80 days for treatment instead of building hospital in Nigeria to treat his type of illness.

More troubling is that Yar A'failure and his family never believes in Nigeria, that is why he kept jumping from Germany to Saudi Arabia for medicals and his daughter goes to maternity in America for US citizenship for their own children. SHAME is the only word that fit them.

money2ride:
If this is true

"Sources close to the lawmakers said the first lady, Hajia Turai Yar’Adua, denied the lawmakers access to the President, claiming it is beyond her powers to grant them access to her husband.
According to one of the lawmakers, “Turai said it is only the Saudi monarch that can grant us permission to see the President. She said the section of the hospital where the President is being held requires express permission from the monarch.”

The wing of the hospital may be the one used by Saudi monachy, and as a sign of honour and goodwill they allow Yar A'dua family to use it, a foreign Preisdent. What about itelligent reports and discussion? Is it not possible that the room is bugged by any country intelligence to know the security state of Nigeria, and our military preparedness, and can be sold to any of our neighbours to wage war against us.

Another source however added: “Former President Olusegun Obasanjo also had a harrowing time trying to see Yar’Adua. He had to call former USA president, Bill Clinton who called President Barrack Obama who then called the Saudi king before he could be granted access to see Yar’Adua.” first lady, Hajia Turai, Yar’Adua"
(Source:http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/newsonthehour/2010/feb/14/newsbreak-14-02-2010-001.htm)

So Nigerians can not even see thier president until the Saudi King gives a nod? When did Nigeria turn a State in the Saudi Empire. The effect of the bastardization of the Nigerian state by our leaders, both past and present is what we are seing. If I were to say my mind President Umaru Yar'adua is probably dead if not why would no Nigerian know his precise state of health. Why would at least one of us Nigerians, not set our eyes on him. I pity Nigeria. If not for Akunyuli's Memo all those hungry Ministers and others in the FEC would still be fooling us without taking a step. If this "come and chop" PDP Nigerians continue this way I am sure very soon we would hear the Fellow Nigerian thing again.

IbrahimB:
OBJ calls Clinton (who's recuperating from a heart condition himself), who calls Obama, who calls the Saudi King to locate the Nigerian President. Beautiful. We're expected to believe that this merry-go-round actually happened.

OBJ went to Saudi Arabia towards the tail end of last year or at the begining of this year ( Dec 2009 or January 2010) Bill Clinto only got heart problem just last week. So, it is propably true, and that I think informed OBJ pronouncement on why Yar A'do nothing should ' do the moral and honourable thing' which led to Akinyuli memo and NASS quick action before FEC will vote incapacity that may bring Yar A'dua to complete removal.


The whole game is being played by Turai and the kitchen cabinet and nothing to do with the Saudi Monarch. Turai and the 4 kastina boys did this some years back in Kastina state where Yar A'dua went to hospital for 6 months at a stretch, and in 9 days it will be 3 months at a stretch, and there is likelihood that 6 month or more is on the cards, if the guy is not already dead.

Kilode?!:
Why all these pleadings for forgiveness? or are we talking about another Aondoakaa? when are we going to learn to hold people accountable and embrace the idea of responsibility? hen?
This same man just a few days ago was bold enough to make claims he can't defend, he rubbished the character of a fellow Nigerian and lied to the public he swore to serve.

Now, we can't even demand a simple, proper apology from him? there is something wrong with this our collective National/societal mentality, we forgave Gowon, we "Thruth and reconciliated" IBB(even when he told us to go to hell), forgave Abacha and his family. forgave Abubakar, forgave Obasanjo. I bet we will forgive the next fool to loot, maim and kill Nigerians enmasse. there is something wrong with the Nigerian worldview, we are our own worst enemies. Nonsense!

GBAM!.

 I want everyone to read and re read the above.

Why is it so difficult for former AGF idonkia to simply say that he had made a verbal error and sincerely apologise and ask for forgiveness, no wonder Wole Soyinka said on CNN the other day that the man idonkia is talking from 4 compasses of his mouth and that he is a liar.

The letter sent by idonkia with 'my dear sister' is NOT and I repeat, NOT an apology but attempt to maintain status quo.

If Idonkia is sincere, he should just do what Dora Akunyili is asking for and that will be the end of the matter, otherwise matter will proceed to court and it will costs Idonkia more and he will still end up doing what Dora ask for.

Sorry is the simplest thing for an humble person when you are clearly wrong. Unrepentant person is the first cousin of an arrogant person. He who live by the sword should die of the sword. Never make unfounded allegation even in Nigeria. That will be the lesson for any would be Idonkia for the future.

Beaf:
Good one! Lovely news!
. . .Now, how I wish we will be able to travel for free between MMA, Abuja and Gatwick!!

I know you are kidding but don't sell this idea to Nigerians

We are not talking about governement business but private enterprises, no nigerian 'family travel please', that is how Nigerian Airways went under.

SEFAGO:
he didn't buy it himself though and this is stale news

You remarks is negative and you should always appreciate whatever your country person can do that will lift the name and image of our dear country which will ultimately flow to everybody as Muttalab actions has flown to everyone in a negative way

We thank God that we can have good news involving Nigerians. Now, let the Rebranding start.

I read something yesterday on this forum it says 'The devil does not give a long lease'

PDP is an evil party, according to Wole Soyinka on CNN few days ago, and I agree with him. The amount of pompous and contempt for the people simply because they see power as belonging to them and not the people is beyond my comprehension.

A very clear example is the Yar A'failure sickness and Saudi Arabia saga. PDP and all of them concerned are still in denial that there is no vaccum for someone will don't have medical prognosis after 70days plus.

I have said it number without times, VOTE OUT THE PDP AND VOTE ANY OTHER CANDIDATE OF YOUR CHOICE, SO THE NEW PEOPLE WILL KNOW WHO OWNS POWER. YES THE NEW PEOPLE MIGHT MESS UP BUT THEY KNOW THAT THEY MIGHT BE RECALLED OR IN 4 YEARS TIME VOTED OUT. POLITICIANS NEED TO KNOW THAT IT IS THE PEOPLE WHO OWNS POWER AND NOT THEM.

At the start it is not going to be pretty but once the message is sent and received, and the old knows that the new can probed them and charged them to court for acts against the state everyone will start to behave. The only reason why anyone is elected is to go and serve the people by providing infrastructures and enabling enviroment to thrive for the citizens but they only go to office to serve themselves.

Unfortunately, the PDP are poverty development party. Look at AC in Lagos for example, we might even ask a performing governor like Fashola to study other candidates and endorsed them to show them a model of governance. In a development process you will need to try both the old, the new, the tested and untested.

We will get it right if we refuse to accept mediocrity and fear of the unknown, life itself is a risk and you may never know what good awaits you if you don't  take risk. Yes, you might stumble, fall, fail but you will surely learn from it. Life is like riding a bicycle, number without times you will fall over and learn act of balancing the next time.

VOTE OUT PDP, YOU WILL BE GLAD YOU DID. ANY OTHER CANDIDATE WILL LEARN TO BE WORTHY BECAUSE HE/SHE WILL GET THE MESSAGE

VERY RARELY DOES ANYTHING GOOD COMES FROM AN ARROGANT PERSON. HE WILL ALWAYS FAIL BECAUSE OF TOO SABI, ASK FORMER agf idonkia

They FG and Yar A'dua kitchen cabinet forgot to bring him back from African cup of nations in Angola where they sent him to avoid having to make press statement or releases since his oga gone AWOL.

He, Segun Adeniyi has not spoken to Yar A'dua since 23rd November 2009 like most Ministers and indeed almost anybody that matters.

IT is a shame that his job may have to come to an end prematurely, but I bet he will have been well looked after by those Yar A'nothing buffons.

Come to think of it, Adeniyi, president spokesperson does not know situation about his boss and instead went watching football in Angola! Nigeria we hail thee.

Imeobong:
The disagreement between Dora Akunyili, the Minister for Information and Communications and Michael Aondoakaa, the former Attorney General of the Federation, is going to court next week.That is unless Mr. Aondoakaa issues a clear apology to Mrs Akunyili and publishes it in the media, including The Nation, the newspaper in which Mr. Aondoakaa issued his offensive statement earlier this week. In a letter to Mr. Aondoakaa on behalf of Mrs. Akunyili, Kop Odidika of SOWER & MESSUARIUS SOLICITORS, said the former AGF’s letter to Mrs. Akunyili was unacceptable, as Aondoakaa had “most disingenuously tried to put a spin on an otherwise clear and unambiguous statement that has only one interpretation, to wit: that our client committed some untoward acts while at the helm of affairs in NAFDAC.”

He described Mrs. Akunyili’s integrity as unimpeachable. “Her tenure at NAFDAC can accurately be described as the golden years of that establishment as no other head whether prior to, or subsequent to, her appointment has achieved so much as to even merit comparison with her.”

The new Minister for Special Duties, who fell from the dizzying heights of the office of the AGF only two days ago, now has seven days to meet Mrs. Akunyili’s terms or find himself looking for a lawyer.

Below is the full text of the letter from Mrs. Akunyili’s lawyers:

February 11, 2010



Chief Micheal Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN

Minister for Special Duties

Federal Secretariat

Abuja.



Dear Chief Aondoakaa,


Libelous publication against Prof. Dora N. Akunyili



We are the solicitors to Prof Dora N. Akunyili on whose behalf and instruction we write to you in connection with the above subject matter.

It is our instruction that you issued a statement which was published on Monday the 8th of February 2010 in a widely circulating national newspaper, The Nation, wherein you said, inter alia “Bringing the memo to Federal Executive Council is just to make herself an angel. She wants to be seen as populist. Whatever she wants from it is still personal. None of the FEC members has disrespect to the Vice-President. As far as we are concerned, the VP is our leader and he is leading us. What she is trying to do is self-seeking: let her go and confront herself with what happened in NAFDAC”.

Our client has been inundated with telephone calls and personal enquiries from numerous people about your said statement concerning the implication that she did something wrong while she was the Director General of NAFDAC. She duly informed you of these enquiries and demanded by her letter to you dated February 8, 2010 that you confirm the authenticity of the authorship of the statement and if confirmed to supply full particulars of your allegations of her misdeeds in NAFDAC to which you alluded.

By your letter of February 9, 2010 addressed to our client, you admitted making the statement but most disingenuously tried to put a spin on an otherwise clear and unambiguous statement that has only one interpretation, to wit: that our client committed some untoward acts while at the helm of affairs in NAFDAC.

There is no doubt that as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, you are presumed to be conversant with not only legal matters but with English Language as well. Whilst one can concede your privilege to use any language, no matter how crude and unbecoming of a lawyer and public servant, in your private home and office, same should be tempered and civilized when describing and referring to another person.
More regrettable is the fact that your libellous publication was against our client whose integrity has been unimpeachable. Her tenure at NAFDAC can accurately be described as the golden years of that establishment as no other head whether prior to, or subsequent to, her appointment has achieved so much as to even merit comparison with her.

Our client therefore finds it totally unacceptable that her peers and generality of Nigerians have begun to question her integrity and now consider her a disreputable person because of the statement you made. Your said letter of February 9, 2010 therefore begs the issue.

We hereby demand that you issue a clear apology to our client and cause the said apology to be published prominently in the media including The Nation newspaper. Please TAKE NOTICE that unless this demand is met within 7 days from the date hereof we shall commence legal proceedings, against you to compel obedience and seek financial compensation for the injury done to our client’s reputation.



Please treat as very urgent.



Yours faithfully,

SOWER & MESSUARIUS SOLICITORS

LEAD Technologies Inc. V1.01



KOP ODIDIKA

Principal Partner


Source: http://saharareporters.com/real-news/sr-headlines/5144-the-crisis-between-dora-akunyili-and-mr-aondokaa-deepens-as-she-rejects-qapology-letterq.html

I said this few days ago that this 'apology' should not be accepted because it is not a proper, geninue and unequivocal apology.

Complete retraction is wha is required, and everybody moves along and forget the past, otherwise action be commenced in court. The shameless former AGF idonkia is not a man know to show regrets and humility.

That is another proof that Nigeria ain't working.

The President is ruling from Saudi Arabia, the Governors stop governing their states and jet in and out of their state and country chasing shadows.

Where is the value they are adding to average Nigerians life?

God help us in this country.

Imeobong:
Indications emerged in Abuja on Thursday that the minor cabinet reshuffle carried out by Acting President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday came to the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party as a shock.

In the shake-up, the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Michael Aondoakaa (SAN), was moved to the Ministry of Special Duties while the former Minister of Labour and Productivity, Mr. Adetokunbo Kayode (SAN), took over as AGF.

Our correspondent learnt that the party’s leadership, including its National Chairman, Chief Vincent Ogbulafor, was not consulted before the changes were effected.

A source close to the party’s leadership told our correspondent that Jonathan did not raise the matter with the members of the National Working Committee of the party when they visited him in his office on Tuesday night.

The visit took place a few hours after members of the National Assembly passed their resolutions empowering Jonathan to assume the office of President in an acting capacity.

Ogbulafor and members of the NWC had visited the Acting. President at the Vice-President’s Lodge, where they pledged their loyalty to him.

The PDP source said, “We were there for about two hours in the night and throughout our discussion, he (Jonathan) did not raise the matter with us.

“That was why some of us were making calls to journalists on Wednesday to confirm the information that some ministers had been dropped.

“As I told you, we were with the Actingg. President, but the members of the NWC were not told. It came to us as a surprise. This can be verified from some of the calls which some of us made to you members of the media, trying to ascertain whether what we heard was true.”

“It is not that the party is against what the Acting President has done; but in the past, the party was always in the know.

“He is the Acting President and Commander-in-Chief, the buck stops with him.

“We certainly will not control him on how he does his things; he is in charge, but it is fair to let us know, at least for an input.”

Asked if the party was informed about the three governors that left the country on Wednesday for Saudi Arabia to brief President Umaru Yar’Adua on the development, the source said the PDP was not aware of the visit.

The governors are Isa Yuguda (Bauchi); Gabriel Suswam (Benue); and Ibrahim Shema (Katsina).

The source said the visit was not arranged by the PDP but could have been the initiative of members of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum.

Meanwhile, our correspondent gathered that the entire Federal Executive Council may be dissolved next week.

A highly-placed Presidency source disclosed on Thursday that the Ag. President Jonathan may have decided to constitute a new cabinet after an extensive consultation with various stakeholders. The move, it was learnt, would aim at removing cabinet members suspected of divided loyalty, and to inject new blood into government machinery.

If that happens, it may be a sign of good thing to come and confirm that our man Yar A'failure ain't come back as we all know that the man is long 'dead' even while he was here.

That said, PDP is an EVIL PARTY, and I will like them to be voted out at the next election at all leves, be it local, state and federal. Politicians need to be sent a message that Power belongs to the people and not to them.

FEC were only protecting their jobs when they voted that Yar A'clueless is fit to govern when they have not seen him, heard from him or have medical report  of someone who has been away in hospital for over 2months at the time. He could have been dead or mental or even kidnapped.

Nigeria will hail thee.

Dora Akunyili has rebranded herself on her speaking out the truth. May God continue to be with her and protect her and her family. She is a true patriot.

udennaa:
we are practicing democraZy

Fela Anikulapo Kuti - them say he dey talk nonsense, he is smoking weed, ganja but he said it well over 20 years ago, he even sang different songs about our political leaders.

ITT - International thief thief

DEMOCRACY- Demonstration of craziness

AUTHORITY STEALING - chop, clean mouth as if nothing happen

That is one man who knows our situation long ago, and did the politicians listen, NO, they said he is just yarning his mouth, but everything he said is the truth.

Guys, sorry that is not an apology.

I am a lawyer, and the statements in the letter is as evasive as you will get with a cunning and dishonest former AGF.

The fact remains that he try to tarnish the image of Mrs. Akunyili and was surprised at the fight back of the woman. I believe it is one of the reason why he was demoted.

If I was Mrs. Akinyuli, I wll ask for a proper apology and retraction of those stataments paragraph by paragreapgh, and ask the yeye man not to call me his ' dear sister,.

The man is a shameless half educated stupid advocate of Nigeria. He makes SAN really look cheap, I wonder whether there is a provision in the Bar Consituition to recall or demote him from being a SAN

We are practising  STUPIDIOCRACY

Those that are leading us know the right thing but they simply refused to do it for the own selfish reasons as their position is due mainly to godfathers/rigging and not vote of the electorate.

The answer to the problem

VOTE OUT PDP IN THE 2011 ELECTION AND VOTE ANY PARTY OF YOUR CHOICE, THE POLITICIANS WILL TAKE US SERIOUS AS THE OWNER OF THE POWER THEY EXCERCISE ON OUR BEHALF. IF YOU DON'T DO THIS, PLEASE STOP COMPLAINING BECAUSE THEY WILL RIDE YOU LIKE A DONKEY.

The business of CHAOS PLC is an interesting one, they create more confusion than the problem they meant to solve. They usually know what they are doing, it is deliberate, that is their business model. Perpetual confusion is their watchword.

That is what NASS  have suceeded in doing with proclaming Goodluck Jonathan the Acting President when the current President fate is unknown.

They should have start impeachment proceedings which will have forced Yar a'do nothing to either show up or be a goner. Holding Nigerias/people to ransom is one of their modus operandi.

Lawless and lawbreakers who are Useless people calling themselves lawmakers. They have no idea on how to make any law.

VOTE PDP OUT IN 2011 ELECTION AND VOTE ANY PARTY OF YOUR CHOICE TO SEND MESSAGE THAT POWER BELONG TO THE PEOPLE

AMANPOUR: Isn't it strange, Mr. Attorney General, that the president of a country can disappear for months and that nobody has seen him and -- and these decisions are being taken? Isn't that just strange?

AONDOAKAA: No, no, no, no. The issue of it being strange is not right. The issue of whether people have seen him is not a main issue here. Of course, people have seen him. The (inaudible) president was delegated to go there when the issue of budget occurred, and he went there. The president signed the budget. He saw him, and he reported back to us. But that is not the main issue. The main issue is that, there must be ways of resolving our problems constitutionally, and that is I feel that the system is working fine, because nobody has taken up arms. The most important point is that the three arms of government are working out a way to have a situation that will come out in the best interests of Nigerians.



SOYINKA: That's very a very good question. Yes, whose interest is it? Now, let me begin by saying that it's not a regional interest, because I noticed you kept referring to the Muslim north and the Christian south. No, no, no, no, that is not the issue. The issue is that certain elements within the ruling party love this hiatus. They love the headlessness of government because they can proceed to loot and create their own little empires while the president is away.

AMANPOUR: So, can you tell me, Why what I mean, when you think about it, what do you think is going on? Why is the president away for so long? And why hasn't anybody seen him?

SOYINKA: I have my theory. My theory is that the president is in no position to sign anything at the moment. I have a feeling that he's so ill and those who are around him know very well that he's very ill. There's a huge contention, for instance, about the signing of the appropriation bill, that, in fact, it was forged. I mean, this one has not yet been thoroughly examined by an independent commission, so all kinds of lies, all kind of manipulations are going on around somebody whom I suspect doesn't even know what is going on

AMANPOUR: Where do you see the next few weeks, I don't know few days, now that the legislature has voted, that they've put Mr. Goodluck Jonathan as acting president? Do you think this will calm things down?

SOYINKA: I don't believe so, because those who are behind this game, this very sinister, bizarre game, are not about to give up very quickly. They're going to find other forms of delaying tactics, and I'm talking about certain criminal elements within the ruling party, the PDP. They are the ones really responsible for this.

AMANPOUR: And what -- what is the solution that you've been calling for?

SOYINKA: Well, we went there, for instance, and asked them, you know, had a rally, and there have been other rallies, and we demanded that the constitution be followed. Now, the constitution demands very clearly that when the president is going to be away, it's a very smooth, temporary transition. The president writes to the assembly saying, "I'm going away on sick leave," "I'm going away on annual leave, and my deputy takes over." When he returns, he writes a letter. Now, I've met Yar'Adua. He's not a silly man. He's an intelligent man. And he knows what he ought to have done. But, unfortunately, I think by the time he realised -- that's my theory -- by the time he realised that he was very ill, it was really too late for him to do anything. He's become incapacitated. And that's why I don't believe, for instance, that he signed the appropriation bill.



AMANPOUR: So in general in general, where do you see your country going now? I mean, you've got this huge oil-producing nation, you've got this huge population, you've got a bit of a power vacuum, to put it mildly, and you've got a reignited insurgency. All of those combined, where does it where does it go in the next, let's say, week, now that Mr. Goodluck has been named officially the acting president?

SOYINKA: Well, let's hope it doesn't go where the ruling party is going to take it. We have the PDP, an illegitimate, unelected, corrupt, and murderous party, as I've said at home over and over again. Now, it's the civil society now which has to rise and put a stop to the machinations of the PDP. Anything short of that don't forget that part of the plans of the PDP is, of course, to perpetuate itself by making sure that there is electoral reform, which, incidentally, Yar'Adua has also put in motion to ensure that next year's elections are credible. Now, if the country goes to election next year under the present law, the present system, with a corrupt electoral commission, headed by a totally discredited individual in Professor Iwu, I cannot predict where the nation will end.
AMANPOUR: Now, you spoke about some of you spoke about leading, you know, demonstrations and things. Are you calling for civil disobedience now?

SOYINKA: Well, we begun with rallies, as you know, and we have warned that the next stage will be civil disobedience. There will be civil disobedience if the various measures to put this country back on a democratic path this includes, as I said, the electoral reform, a panel was set up. Its recommendations have been accepted by the majority of the nations, from the media commentary, and all that needs to be done is to implement it. Then there has to be a constitutional review. We've seen, for instance, through the absence of the president, how very weak and imprecise the constitution is in many aspects. There's got to be a review. Failing all this, the citizenry will embark on a civil disobedience campaign. I see no other course for the nation.

AMANPOUR: And what exactly what form will that take? What does that mean, a civil disobedience campaign?

SOYINKA: It'll mean a de-recognition of the government, to start with, flouting the laws wherever possible. It will begin on a on a small scale, and then it will escalate until these so-called legislators are made to rise up to their responsibilities.

AMANPOUR: Are you not concerned that that will escalate into violence, rather than into political reform?

SOYINKA: No, I think we're getting practice in the strategies, the tactics of civil disobedience. I do not think and we've demonstrated in the last few rallies that the rallies need not be violent as long as civil rights are not trampled upon. I think exactly the same kind of discipline will be maintained. We'd just withdraw recognition in various ways from the government.

AMANPOUR: And in the meantime, the whole premise of Nigeria's vast oil wealth that is not being, you know, shared or at least enjoyed by many of the people in the delta, how do you have do you have plans to to deal with that? What do you think should be done about that?
AMANPOUR: Now, the U.S. has obviously got a big role to play. It's very interested in Nigeria's oil and and pursuing democracy there. Hillary Clinton, secretary of state, was recently there, and the assistant secretary for Africa has just met today with Goodluck Jonathan and talked about the importance of the democratic process and the political process.What influence do you think the U.S. can exert right now? Will it be effective?

SOYINKA: Putting pressure on the ruling party or members of the ruling party, including the vice president, whatever title is given, the legislators, assisting us in getting rid of irresponsible ministers like Aondoakaa, compelling, for instance, a change in the composition of the electoral commission, insisting on the adoption of the Uwais panel (ph) report on electoral reform, and insisting on the prosecution of corrupt, exposed, patently corrupt officials. Now, if we receive that kind of moral pressure we're not talking about intervention now; we're talking about moral pressure being exerted on these various arms of leadership then it is possible that this make-or- break period because this is what it is; this is a make-or-break period for Nigeria it is possible that we may just come through it still intact.


Very well said Wole Soyinka, at least the international community knows that we have inteligent , respectable and responsible people in nIgeria.



PDP IS A CRIMINAL ORGANAZATION, AND WE NIGERIANS SHOULD VOTE THEM OUT AT THE 2011 ELECTION AND VOTE ANY OTHER PARTY OF OUR CHOICE

I am really angry at NASS because they do not have the interest of this nation at heart.


I have a theory why NASS make that stupid and illegal move to ask Goodluck to become Acting President

IT IS TO STOP FEC DECLARING YAR A'DUA UNFIT, THEREFORE YAR A'DUA PRESIDENCY OVER FOR GOOD.

They (NASS) want to play God, they can only impeach but not appoint. They want to claim credit for Jonathan position.

I say that Yar A'liar is dead long ago at least before 25th December 2009, what is my evidence, he did not come to the public after mutallab's case nor has since spoken to any foreign leader including obama, nor spoken to his own Foreign minister to give him any instructions on how to deal with Nigerians being placed on the terror list.

A liar came on the BBC Radio Hausa service to claim he is Yar A'dua and wish Super Eagles goodluck in African cup of nations when there a whole lot of serious political issue facing the nation at the time, the interview was the day before public demonstration.

YAR A'DUA IS DEAD UNLESS HE CAN COME OUT IN THE NEXT 7 DAYS AND TELL US OTHERWISE.

IMPEACHMENT IS THE ONLY THING THAT WILL MAKE ALL ILLEGAL LEGAL.

THAT IS MY ANGER, DISHONEST PEOPLE STOPPING HONEST PEOPLE.

I think I have another theory why NASS make that stupid and illegal move.

IT IS TO STOP FEC DECLARING YAR A'DUA UNFIT, THEREFORE HIS PRESIDENCY OVER FOR GOOD.

They (NASS) want to play God, they can ony impeach but not appoint. They want to claim credit for Jonathan position.

I say that Yar A'liar is dead long ago at least before 25th December 2009, what is my evidence, he did not come to the public after mutallab's case nor has since spoken to any foreign leader including obama, nor spoken to his own Foreign minister and give him instructions on how to deal with Nigerians being placed on the terror list.

A liar came on the BBC Radio Hausa service to claim he is Yar A'dua and wish Super Eagles goodluck in African cup of nations when there a whole lot of serious political issue facing the nation at the time, the interview was the day before public demonstration.

YAR A'DUA IS DEAD UNLESS HE CAN COME OUT IN THE NEXT 7 DAYS AND TELL US OTHERWISE.

Onlytruth:
I had eagerly waited for this great news, but the news came without an eye, ear, legs and heart! What type of a national assembly is this?

My joy was cut shot by the method which the national assembly chose to bring about this great event.
Can't anything be done right in Nigeria? How difficult could it be for the FEC to prepare a medical report saying that the president is sick which would then trigger the move by the national assembly?

If this national assembly could easily pass a resolution empowering Jonathan to act as president, why couldn't they simply impeach yar adua? Is Nigeria this crooked?

Suddenly Jonathan is sitting on a legally challengeable position and we hope for the best to come out of it?
I smell a whole lot of trouble for ordinary Nigerians. I have a feeling that the VP is being set up in such a way that he will be kept on a "politico-legal" leach.

Our biggest worry now is the vested interest holding that leach; it could be anybody! And our new president will have little room to make moves necessary for true changes in leadership at the top. This is a Greek gift!
We want the national assembly to impeach Yar adua for his violation of the Nigerian constitution. If they don't do that, rest be assured that we are in a lame duck presidency. How sad!

Very well said, in order to stop the nonsense I say

VOTE OUT PDP IN THE 2011 ELECTION AND VOTE FOR ANY OTHER PARTY OF YOUR CHOICE, SEND POLITICIANS THE MESSAGE THAT POWER BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE.
Anything short of that they will continue to ride us like a donkey.

Arewamotor:
I need someone to enlighten me if I am wrong. I think the Senators actually took us for a ride and carefully set a time bomb to help their ulterior motives (Don't trust Nigerian politicians).
1. If Yaradua had stayed away for such long period without officially writing for that effect, I think constitutionally, they are suppose to begin a process of impeachment; or was it not the same hurdle Alamasegha tried to skip by all means for him to come back into Nigeria in a wrapper?
2. The constitution stated that the president must write a letter to the lawmakers if he is on vacation, I may not interpret constitution rightly, but I don't think the whole country should be blinded enough to replace a written document with a few seconds' controversial radio interview or has something changed about the Nigerian law that can make us to replace a sworn affidavit with an interview?
3. Since it is FEC that has the constitutional right to declare the governor incapacitated to hold his office, don't you think someone will come up very soon and go to court for all of Jonathan's actions to be nullified? Remember Shonekan's case?
3. Are they not carefully putting a rope in Jonathan's hand to commit a constitutional suicide and then turn back to lower him into the grave?
I'm not a lawyer but can someone just tell me that my thoughts are unconstitutional, then I will have to pay my lawyer for a day's lecture tomorrow

You are spot on. There are just doing Abradacabra. What NASS have just done is a political solution but NOT a legal one. Did anyone remember when OBAMA was sworn in, and there was a mistake in the oath, it was re do by the Chief Justice of the Supreme court to avoid court litigation.

The law has not been followed properly, the supreme court of nigeria should have been petitioned to rule on this, and since FEC did not do a good job of following the right thing, and they actually shot down Akunyili's memo when that was her true opinion.

In a rare situation like this, we should have camera in the FEC chambers for every member to make a speech on how he/she came to the conclusion whether or not Yar A'dua is fit/unfit to be President, and what evidence is he/she relying on, then the truth will come out.

The solution we have is a PDP solution and not nigerians solution according to the constitution.

VOTE OUT PDP AND VOTE ANY OTHER PARTY OF YOUR CHOICE IN 2011, SEND THEM A MESSAGE THAT WE THE PEOPLE OWNS THE POWER.

The term doctrine of necessity, if my memory is right is a doctrine from maritime law, in which the captain jettisoned some cargos for the safety of the ship.

it may have been applied to certain situations as you have descibed but in Nigeria case it is not appopriate.

It is simple stupidity and political sheningans that is confusing David Mark and NASS members.

Logically, and by operation of the law Yar A'dua has abandon his post for nearly 80 days, it his duty to inform not only NASS but Nigerians where he has been and when he is likely to be back in his duty. Even, if he can't do this for medical reasons, what about his handlers.

Nigeria with what has just happens have confirmed how backward we are as a nation who cannot apply and follow logic including due process and rule of law.

When Yar A'liar yarn due process and rule of law, I knew the guy has no clue and he is just repeating his script like Sarah Palin, the former governor of Alaska, the GOP VP candidate in the last election.

Yar A'liar is no where to be found, has abandon ship, and abdicate his office, therefore he has the burden of proof why he must not be impeached.

PDP is doing everything as if the law of this country is a PDP law and regulations.

VOTE OUT PDP IN 2011 AND ELECT ANY PARTY YOU WANT IN THEIR POSITION.

The statement credit to maitama sule was being used to justify why the North 'seized' on the political power especially the Presidency of NIgeria.

It got bad that the Northerners especailly from the Sokoto caliphate started to sing ' BORN TO RULE'

In my own opinion they have a political skill of sticking together and get their enemies to agree with them, but after the North has occuppy more than 35 years of Nigeria 50 years as an independent nation in the office of the Presidency, CLUELESS IS WHAT COMES TO MY MIND AND NOT LEADESHIP

If they have leadership skills or endowed with it, then a school boy from the south has a better leadership skill. yeye people aided and abetted by some yeye southerner

I think either deliberately or by act of stupidity, we Nigerians tend to do our own things like masqurade or village headmaster.

President Yar A'dua by law suppossed to inform or transmit a letter to NASS whenever he is going on vacation including medical or unable to act his duties, and when he is finshed vacation to write to resume.

This is how employee and employer relationship works. NASS ( representatives of Nigerians) are his employers.

The man did not do any as required, part of the claim was that it was an emergency, however he manage to give 'interview' to BBC Radio Hausa service the day before rally calling for him to go. how convenient! but he cannot called or write NASS after more than 60days to say he is on medical leave.

Frankly speaking he has commited gross misconduct and should have been impeached but NASS and PDP loking for a political solutions conveniently used the BBC radio Hausa service interview to say that he has informed them of his medical vacation. When the speaker may not even be Yar A'dua.

How difficult is for him to write a one paragraph letter when he can conviniently signed supplementary appopriation bill. The whole thing is fulll of deception and cover up.

NASS has used the Radio interview as transmission of information of medical vacation ( which is purely political) and will fail if challenged in court because the man has actually not inform NASS that he is on Medical vacation. He has simply disappeared, abadon his job for 80 days.

pres-elect:
rotation is good for our politics in nigeria. it helps to keep the peace. i think jonathan should rule till next election and he should not contest. there should be another northerner with a southern president to fill up their own rotation. otherwise, without this rotation thing, things would go really badly in our polity

The idea of rotation is a Northern idea sold to the south as a condition before they allow a southerner to become a President of Nigeria after the death of MKO Abiola and seen that the South West may decide to seceed, the North played a smart politics and offer a PDP candidate from the south in person of OBJ rotational President so that power will come back to the North.

Let me tell you something that the arrangement in my own opinion is one off, and come 2015, the North will change the rules, if that fails, they will bring back the military.

Yar a'dua health saga is a test run of their intention.

Does it matter what part of the country the President of nigeria comes from ? answer - NO

What matters is performance, has the North got what it takes ? answer - NO

As a result, they will continue to scheme to get rid of Goodluck.

Rotational Presidency is not part of the Nigerian constitution neither is a written agreement of the PDP, its members or the electorate.

Northern Nigeria are just trying to keep hold of the only thing they used to control the country- PRESIDENCY.

mikeansy:
excuse me dance jare!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was surprised not to have seen your substantive contribution as t what was going on?

My own take is that former AGF Idonkia was insurbodinate and refuse to accept that NASS has made Goodluck the acting President. Even though idonkia is right in law on this one, he nonetheless cannot use the law which he and Yar a'dua never obey as a weapon.

The FEC should simply rule on Yar a'dua and the whole body moves on.

There is no reason after nearly 80 days not to have come to conclusion that Yar A'dua in the absence of his medical report and letter of vacation to be preume alive not alone fit for any office.

One major question, if Yar adua is fit, how many times has he addressed and direct the FEC in the last 8 weeks or so? nada not once as far as we all know.

I rest my case for decalration of unfitness/incapacitated for office.

Idonkia should have been sacked by the new commander in chief.