₦airaland Forum

Lovely.

Actions and choices will always have consequences. Even for Nigerians - a people with a pervasive belief that they are exempt from the laws and principles that govern human behaviour elsewhere.

Nigeria's leaders have refused to build refineries here in Nigeria. For over one and a half decades since the return to civil rule, our so-called leaders have been engaged in a cat and mouse game and shameless buck passing on who should build refineries and when.

For decades we have lived with this incredibly aberrant situation in which Nigeria - a mid ranking OPEC member - routinely imports refined petroleum products for domestic consumption. This is the fallout of a criminal refusal to invest in new local refining capacity.

Today, there is an oil glut. Pump prices have fallen across the board in several countries. Nigeria has cut pump prices too, but this is clearly turning out to be unsustainable because oil marketers are having difficulty with rising import costs (arising from a devalued Naira). It is bad enough that oil revenues are falling because of falling oil prices but Nigerians will soon have to pay more for refined petroleum products because Nigeria imports a sizable quantity of these products for local consumption.

So we are damned either way. Heads we lose, tails we lose again.

Nigerians have no one to blame but themselves. They have not asked hard questions of their leaders as to why the cards in the deck are always stacked against ordinary Nigerians. Nigerians spend more time and care in choosing a pair of new shoes than they do in choosing their leaders. Nigerians do not wish or care to hold their leaders accountable. And for this indifference to matters that have life and death implications, they will continue to pay a heavy price.

The noose is getting tighter.

AHOY147:
The big man is on point, actually nothing will happen if opposition loses. Another point he spoke about that interest me most is the version of change that APC are chanting, it's double suspicious and coated with sugar but lack basic ingredients and substance. No sane and historic students of this nation will support the kind of change the opposition preaches base on the fact that their antecedents falls below pass mark, filled with deception and as such should be rejected and oppose by any well meaning citizens of this nation.

Like I had always said before, opposition is good any progressive minded nation but then looking at the crop of opposition we have in our polity the reverse is case. They are selfish and unpatriotic in their dealings, for instance the issue of national security is a collective responsibility not the sole responsibility of the government but when they criticize they will flog it out of proportion and it's not healthy for our economy and especially in our international repute. Besides, issues of these nature are best handled diplomatically because it scared investors.

However, I will still like to give kudos to the opposition for keeping the government at its toes, today this administration achieved what we have on grounds today especially on our transportation sector, agriculture, power etc was as a result of opposition.

As a concerned Nigerian, I support continuity and stability considering the fact that this administration has performed considerable well and still having some projects ongoing which by grace of God could be completed before next four years. lets give them that benefits of doubt and after we will give opposition chance.

GEJ till 2019.

^^^^
You are entitled to your opinion. Your also reserve the right to vote for the candidate of your choice. Just like every other Nigerian.

However, it is noteworthy that you refer to the APC as if it is the only opposition party. There are at least 4 other parties with candidates in next month's elections. The PDP and the APC are not the only two horses in this race. Nigeria's choices are not limited to these two.

Your comments about security are strangely silent about the role of the government (whom you elected to actually do something about such problems). and are largely about the opposition. But the opposition is not in charge. The Goodluck administration is.

You talk about achievements in the power sector. You need to explain what you mean.

deletrue:
dust

^^^^
Some of these questions are valid. 'Very' valid.

You can't just dismiss them as 'dust'.

Change2015:
Your source for this info appreciated. I know lagos had sent a bill to the house but I did not hear it was passed. On delta state, seeing is believing.

#change
#GMB
#APC

^^^

http://dailyindependentnig.com/2014/11/lagos-federal-high-court-ruling-foi-act/

barcanista:
Idealy, the resolution by the Confab should have gone through a referandum and not further subject to a parliamentary process. Because the confab is the "voice" of the People, its resolutions naturally should supercede parliamentary brohaha. But again the President should have got the endorsement of the Parliament in form of a bill to make the Confab binding and to undergo referandum so as to be endorsed by at least 2/3 Nigeria population of voting age.

Well, the NASS, and virtually every section of our political class were part of the Confab Process. Jonathan sending the report to NASS is like doing what he should have done in the first instance. But the good news is that the NASS will look at the report and passing it ideally should be a mere academic exercise.
The Confab is like "our" resolution

^^^

I wonder where your optimism is coming from.

By your own admission up here, the resolutions of the Conference are NOT binding. So what do we have to hold on to? GEJ's word?

Your post up here talks about what should have been done but wasn't. Hence your liberal use of qualifiers such as 'ideally', 'should have', 'naturally', etc.

That Report is nothing more than a bargaining tool in the hands of the powers that be. When it has served its purpose it will be discarded.

Change2015:
With regards to your comments on the FOI law, I would appreciate it if you could let us know which states in the federation including the fct have domesticated the law. As far as I have researched, it appears only Ekiti state under Fayemi has done so. I stand to be corrected.

#change
#GMB
#APC

^^^
Delta, Lagos and Ekiti.

barcanista:
So why are you trying to blame the President for the failure of NASS with respect to PIB? Is he a legislator? You can only blame him when he refused to sign it into law.

As for the Confab Report, that isn't a problem because NASS was part of the Confab. A formal passage of it by the NASS or a Referrendum by the people of Nigeria is enough to get the Report implemented. This is no rocket science

barcanista:
The role of the President is to sign bills into law. He doesn't participate in bills reading neither does he have powers to vote for or against a bill. The PIB is an executive bill, tell your people to pass it and see whether or not Mr President will sign it like he did FOI.

As for the Confab, the NASS won't go through their loooong process, because there will be no need for that since everyone was involved. The President only need to get their formal endorsement and implement it...

Or there be a referandum... He can exploit any option!

barcanista:
The NASS sent delegates to the Confab and had lots of imput. Maybe you need to look at the composition of Confab members. You think they were there to sell kulikuli? It seems you assume that the Confab is like the regular parliamentary bill.

barcanista:
The NASS sent delegates for the Confab, they were not there for a tea party. The President only need their endorsement or resolution. It is not a regular bill that will require formal readings upon readings(except they have any plans to modify it).

^^^^
I think you need to clarify a few things about your understanding of what the Conference Report is all about.


Are its 'resolutions' binding on Nigerian lawmakers? Does the Report have any weight or force in law?

Is the Report equivalent to a parliamentary bill or superior/inferior to it? Or there is no relationship whatsoever?

Is there any relationship between legislators attendance/participation at the Conference and the prospects of implementation of the Report created?


The OP and one other poster clearly have their misgivings about GEJ's ability to make good on his 'promise' about the conference Report. Answering my questions above may clear things up for all of us.

barcanista:
A President that signed FOI into law is not praised by you. A Governor that vowed not to release documents and invoices to residents and taxpayers(Fashola) you praise him. You don't know that it will be almost impossible to perpetrate wanton stealing at the Federal level without being nabbed? Thanks to the FOI. You and I can petition the President or any officer to demand certain explanation, thanks to the foi. The money allocated to the President's Office can be knwn even without the President telling us, thanks to the FOI. You can know what consultants earn and contractors agreement with the FG, thanks to the FOI.

What do we have at Lagos State level? We only get to hear what we are told and are forced to "live with it". Abeg no go there.

^^^^
Some good points here. Even though the FOI in practice is far from perfect it shows some progress has been made at the federal level. Not nearly enough but some. Which is far more than I can say for the LASG. I wonder if the cognitive dissonance being exhibited by Mr. Fashola allows him to sleep at night.

How can any APC hatchet man explain how an APC federal legislator can push a bill like the FOI for 8+ years, (in the face of strong opposition from a deceitful, venal and crooked OBJ administration ) only for the same party to ignore the same bill at the state level. Do these people think we are all blind?

It will be a big shame if the APC wins the next gubernatorial election in Lagos state. That would simply prove that voters in Lagos are still simple minded and have still not learnt their lesson.

barcanista:
The PIB issue is a matter of the National Assembly. Some Northern legislators are vehemently opposed to some provisions of PIB and that is the basis for the stalmate. Though I believe that the President could do a little more in influencing his party men, it again bothers on the NASS members to pass the Bill and send it to GEJ for ascent. The President has said he will sign the PIB when it gets to his table, so far it hasn't got to his table.

As for the Confab report, I believe he will implement it when he get re-elected.

Recall that He said in 2011 that he will sign the FOI when it gets to his table, it got to his table and he signed it within 24hrs. The same FOI that Governors Fashola, Ajimobi, Amaechi etc are fighting tooth and nail to subdue.

^^^^
The bolded part of your post got my attention.

Perhaps you should have used the word 'lot' instead of the word 'little'. I marvel at how GEJ could whip the party faithful into line when it came to endorsing his candidacy and ensuring he ran unopposed at last year's party primaries. Yet GEJ cannot muster support for a life changing bill like the PIB despite a party majority in both Houses. Private interests trumping national interests?


Perhaps you can educate me on any far reaching executive sponsored bill that has been passed into law in the past 4 to 6 years? And please do not mention the FOI bill. Although I give GEJ some credit for signing that bill (compare his speedy assent to the pig headed obstinacy of OBJ - a man who clearly wanted total freedom to run his corrupt and fraudulent government without any external scrutiny ), it should not be forgotten that the FOI bill was sponsored by an opposition lawmaker. (I must digress at this point and state my complete revulsion and disgust at APC governors who have refused to sponsor or assent to FOI bills at the state level. Is this not the meaning of hypocrisy and confusion? ).

As things stand, I am not aware of any 'signature' legislation (as Mr. Soludo would put it) that the GEJ administration can boast of. Without any groundbreaking legislation passed then what platform will the so-called 'institution building' (which we have heard so much about) rest on?

If GEJ isn't re-elected next month then what exactly will we say his legacy is?

tswitch:
I stopped reading at the first paragraph. ...immediately it became a political issue and not national interest.

Good bye!

^^^^
That you stopped reading doesn't make what I wrote untrue.

Good bye. I wish you well.

emiye:
Great write up.

What these supporters of failure fail to state or may be realise is that Nigerias power generation has continued to go on a merry go round of 2,000mw - 4,000mw in the last 10 years. .

^^^^
The figures you have quoted above do not lie. Nigerians love to quote our population statistics with pride (without fully understanding the implications). A country with 160 million plus souls cannot generate up to 10,000MW. Do people stop to think of what that means in per capita figures? Are people aware that with such low figures for generation, power in Nigeria is a zero sum game?

And yet Nigerians constantly 'go to war' with South Africans in debates over which country is the continental champion. Isn't that debate settled? One country is an industrial power while the other only has people in large numbers. The truth is that today's large population without an industrial base is tomorrow's captive consumer for other people's exports.

Our road is long.

tswitch:
The second line was "that is an ongoing development.." ie the solution is ongoing already and if you can be objective you would realise I actually showed some of the ways apart from discussing the new technological monitoring in which the vandalism is being/ will be mitigated or eliminated (even including my own ludicrous shoot at sight solution).

So you see tiring is when seemingly well meaning educated people present their own preconceived notions as conclusions without objectively analysing present challenges or facts available.

Over 50 years rot cannot be removed in a decade as even positive change is a process, so what will it take for Nigeria to succeed if it is not the collective efforts of Nigerians to move the wheels of progress instead of clogging it.

^^^^
The one thing I agree with you on is that it is highly unlike that half a century's rot can be reversed in a half decade. Where I disagree with you is the commitment and focus showed by this administration (and the 2 preceding ones) in reversing that rot.

Too little has been done and it was left too late. Nigeria has had 16 years under the PDP to fix her power problems. Over one and a half decades with at least one resource boom and high government revenues. That is more than enough time and with adequate resources.

I repeat: Nigerians are tired of excuses. We are constantly reminded by Nigerian governments of the mismanagement and corruption of their predecessors. But these same governments will not prosecute their errant predecessors. And at the same time they have proved unable or incapable of solving our very serious problems which they claim, predate their term in office. What are Nigerians supposed to do - just grin and bear the pain while accepting whatever new excuse is put forward for repeated failure?

You speak about preconceived notions. Sir/madam, I have none. What I do know is that there are other countries apart from Nigeria in the oil cartel. Nigeria is the only member of the cartel with the dubious distinction of routinely importing refined petroleum products - a situation which prompted a Venezuelan diplomat to break protocol some years ago in expressing his surprise at this strange behaviour. This aberrant behaviour is extended across the board - is pipeline vandalism (and state failure in containing it) a problem in other members of the cartel? If it is, how do other countries handle it? If it isn't then why are we once again the odd man out?

Electricity has been around for a long time. It isn't witchcraft or sorcery. It is science at work and its results are evident in countries that have gotten their act together. Countries where people hold their leaders accountable. Nigerian leaders in the 21st century should not be giving 1001 reasons why their country cannot generate electricity.

Nigeria has run out of excuses.

tswitch:
It is not a fight.

It is not even a debate.

It is a conversation.

It is a conversation where both parties may learn.

I told him the current situation /challenges and even the worries of the Minister who had to engage NANS in a bid to stop the senseless saboteurs because we all know this kind of vandalism is probably done by people with an idea of basic or physical sciences.

I told him what is obtainable all over the world as regards pipeline routing.

I also told him his last statement gave him away. .......

Me leaving means I totally don't see the need to further engage him in any converstion and the onus falls on him to disprove (with facts of course), accept or unaccept my information but not continue in ignorance.

The problem now is a forum with such threads is meant to clarify not jump to conclusions on subject matters one knows nothing about.......do you understand the statement of "giving away now".

Ciao!

^^^^
No sir/madam. I beg to strongly disagree.

Someone expressed his frustration about the failure of the federal government to provide power to Nigerians after several promises. You put the blame on vandals and saboteurs and asked a rhetorical question about 'enemies of Nigeria'.

That angry poster (and they are legion!) then asked why the government cannot secure pipelines (a very fair question to ask). You countered by placing responsibility for pipelines with the communities the said pipelines run through. (According to you, this is the global standard) Not a word from you about the agencies of government with the statutory responsibility for defence and maintaining law and order.

The angry Nigerian then asked why he and other Nigerians have to become States within a State despite paying taxes. (again, a very legitimate question). You then 'labeled' him and quit the conversation.

You will need to provide proof of this global standard on responsibility for pipelines. I am hearing about it for the first time. As for your other comments about the minister's explanations for not delivering power to Nigerians, I can tell you that we are tired. There is always an excuse. Pipeline vandalism. Low water levels in Nigerian dams. Transmission losses. Aging equipment. Congestion at the ports and delays in clearing power equipment. The list goes on and on.

Nigerians are tired of failure and endless excuses for it. What is left unknown is whether they have the strength of character to punish these failures.

We shall see. Next month, DV.

tswitch:
Your last sentence gave you away.

Have a nice day!

^^^^
Don't run.

Stay and debate like you mean it. So far, this thread has been civil. No name calling or insults yet, so its surprising that you are throwing in the towel so early.

The poster you quoted is expressing his frustration with power supply - a deep frustration shared by millions of Nigerians. You can't type a few lines in defence of the government and then cut and run when challenged.

Stay and fight like an honest man. But keep it civil.

Amya:
I'm not an economist but I think that soludo is talking from both side of the mouth.

When facts were presented that Nigeria can't simply lose what they never had, he started talking about mismanagement and theft. We can only calculate loss through income, not would be income or should have been income.

someone desperately grasping at straws.

^^^
Interesting viewpoint.

Perhaps you could let me know which facts were presented that Nigeria can't lose what she never had. I want to be sure.

I am no fan of NOI but I strongly doubt if she wrote this.

WENGERNOMICS:
At least it is dreams she is having. In my case, 2 Owls were living in the celin of the flat i just paid for. And they made terrible noises by our windows every single night. I almost ran mad. I knew i could not go anywhere. I had to fight the battle. I am sure even those that planted those things there respect me now. Total Silence!

^^^
My family had owls living in the ceiling of our home which had been unoccupied for a while. They also made terrible noises at night.

We almost ran mad too, but for reasons very different from yours - owls have a habit of leaving their droppings all over the place. It was a battle to keep the floors clean for more than just a few hours.

I saw one of the owls a couple of times - and all I can say is that white owls are strikingly beautiful creatures once you get over the superstition and fear associated with them. They are only birds after all.

We got rid of the owls too but I'm not sure that was such a good idea. They have been known to keep rats and field mice under control.

kaboninc:
I have just answered this question to you by providing a link of what the Minister said and YET you seem not to be satisfied?

Did you read anywhere in her statement in which she did state that routine investigation, prosecution and conviction of offenders is currently not ongoing? Let me quote again:

^^^^
Indeed.

You principals have persisted in governing by speeches when cold, hard action is required. Nigerians do not want to hear what the minister said. They want to see lawbreakers pay for their actions, full stop. If your principals cannot make this happen then they should make way for those who can. You can argue this point until the cows come home. That is your choice. Enough said.

kaboninc:
If these statements do not answer your questions on government's effort in investigating, prosecuting and convicting of offenders, then indeed I may be talking to a child here. More so, since you claim to know, you should be aware of the challenges facing our judiciary. Remember the Pension Thief? How he paid the fine and walked away? The law actually provides for it. Now one begins to ask who makes such laws and why such laws will have such a provision even when the funds stolen is quite huge.

^^^^
You have answered nothing, my friend. The same old circular, convoluted logic. I'll give you an 'A' for persistence though - few people have the kind of dogged determination you have in calling black white. But I will call you out one time, every time.

You brought in the case of Mr. John Yakubu and Justice Talba's ruling in another brazen attempt at equivocation. Nice try. In yet one more example of your chicanery you conveniently forgot to add that the EFCC withdrew the initial 10 count charge against Yakubu (charges with a 14 year maximum sentence plus fine) and filed a three count charge (charges with a 2 year maximum sentence with or without the option of a fine). This is the result of plea bargaining (a concept which you extol in the rest of your post) between the EFCC and defence counsel - plea bargaining which eventually led to that miscarriage of justice in the Yakubu case. Read the EFCC statement after the ruling: “The commission is of the view that the option of fine runs contrary to the understanding between the prosecution and the defence wherein the convict consented to a custodial sentence with the forfeiture of all assets and money that are proceeds of the crime.”.

Even though the NJC eventually suspended Justice Talba for abuse of judicial discretion, is the EFCC saying it was unaware of the prescribed sentence for the 3 count charge eventually filed against Mr. Yakubu? The EFCC knew Yakubu would walk. So what are we talking about here?

kaboninc:
In the US you've mentioned at one time, they have working systems, structures and processes in place to actually track and monitor activities of both government and private institutions. Sadly we do not. But this government is working towards it. In order to move forward, we learn from our past. During the sack and subsequent prosecution of bank chiefs by the EFCC and also the various ongoing trials by EFCC on former governors, one would have observed why plea bargain is usually preferred by both parties. It is not because the case cannot get to a conclusive stage, but the amount of resources especially time affects these cases.

There would always be thieves and criminals. But blocking loopholes will reduce and prevent these corrupt cases. This is the point I have been trying to sink into you. This is the focus of this administration.

^^^^
What exactly is your point? Plea bargains are part of the GEJ administration's strategy of 'blocking loopholes and preventing corruption'?

kaboninc:
Like I've told you, should you need these reports, simply write to the relevant agency and request for a copy since you cannot rely on news articles. That should quell your quest for government activities.

On the PwC report, this link will help you with some unanswered questions.
https://www.oaugf.ng/78-highlights-of-investigative-forensic-audit-done-by-pwc


On government policies, am sure you know nothing about the National Automotive Industry Development Plan, the Roadmap for Power Sector Reform, National Industrial Revolution Plan, the Nigerian Sugar Master Plan, The National Housing Policy.

How about the Medium Term Expenditure Frameworks? All these are government policy documents that have been made public.


You see why I keep insisting you are being biased and subjective? You already have a perception and its appalling you continue to hold on to it for whatever reason that tickles you. I am debating you to let you know how misinformed you have been so you can do more research with an objective mindset.

^^^^
Pure, undiluted nonsense. Not worthy of a response from me.

The bottomline is that you have one vote and I have one too. We shall meet at the polls.

It has been a pleasure debating with you.

kaboninc:
I do not want to even dig his Buhari. I just want him to explicitly mention his support for him. Then we would know who is indeed gullible or who really have Nigeria at heart.

They say GEJ is not fighting corruption. Yet he says he is eliminating Ghost workers. Still they even rubbish his effort. What more do they want? That he forcefully and unlawfully jails someone who the court will eventually set free?

I tire.

^^^^
You want to compel me to declare my support for Mr. Buhari even though I have not at any point on this thread endorsed him.

Interestingly, you didn't brand me an Albert, Galadinma, Salau, Okoye, Sonaiya, Okorie, Onovo, Ahmad or Anifowoshe-Kelani supporter.

This constant reference to Mr. Buhari is becoming tiresome. I have focused squarely on the reasons why I am angry and dissatisfied with the Jonathan administration and your response here is to tell me why Mr. Buhari is an unsuitable candidate?

kaboninc:
When I put it to VolvoS60 on the sham going on in Rivers State, he claims not to know. Obviously, he's not interested.

^^^^
Nonsense. I am not even going to dignify this with a response.

anonimi:
The earlier WE hold our 36 state governors and 774 LGA chairmen accountable to us rather than wait for the federal government to make them accountable, the better for us all.

^^^^
I have never disagreed with this position. Never.

It is my civic duty (and yours and everybody else's) to vote in responsible leadership (at all levels) and keep it on its toes throughout its tenure in office. But there is a point at which my (and your) powers end and the power of the State begins. The federal government retains the monopoly of legitimate force (in theory at least) in this country. The EFCC, ICPC, NPF, DSS, Customs etc are all federal agencies. They are the authorities empowered by law to investigate and prosecute offenders. As we speak, the federal government has at its disposal dossiers on state governors, LG chairmen etc. (you name it) who broke the law and are no longer in office. Inexplicably, it has chosen to do nothing.

You see where the problem lies?

df2006:
This is what I mean by keenly and objectively Observing!

Note the non confronting ways of tackling corruption, using technology and systems?

Note the response to the orosanye report?

Note the PWC report on the wide spread false missing billions of dollars?

These are all facts, better authority than beer parlour gist.

yet we choose to believe the beer parlour gist because it enhances our benefits on the patronage that we get.

This is the plain truth that some of us chose to be blind to see.

@ Volvo S60 I respect your choice, but as far as I can see it won't move us any way forward.

Like I said, being confrontational will get you no where in the nigerian system.

Heck your choice only lasted 20 months and we were brought back worse than where he started from, and you chose to follow the same path?! Hmmmmm

Who are the new forms of patronage? Asari Dokubo? Tompolo? My brother you very well know, this are local champions, and wat is wrong with one getting some value of the resources in his back yard?

As long as he dos nt disturb Tunji in his cocoa farm or Sa'ad in his Gold mine!

Equity fairness and justice is all that all Nigerians I repeat All nigerians including minorities require

Not all this intellectual story we use in bambo-ozling most Nigerians.

I now come back to your abh-orrence of Gen Obj, I note all his despicable acts you have stated above,

How is it now possible for me to align with his choice for Nigeria's next leadership? Impossible!

^^^^
No Sir. I acknowledge your position but I must respectfully disagree.

I will take your points one by one.

The Reports you reference in your post should be made publicly available for Nigerians to read and assess. Why is this so hard for the Federal Government to do? What does it take to put these Reports in pdf on a website and draw voter attention to it? We can all read and write here. And though not all of us understand financial jargon or civil service terminology, some of us do. These Reports should be published in the public interest. Anyone who does not agree with this clearly doesn't support transparency and openness in government. The only way for the beer parlour gist (as you put it) to stop is for the authorities to do business in an open and transparent manner. That's all.

According to you, "being confrontational will get you nowhere in the Nigerian system". I can assure you that this is a sure recipe for failure. I have posted at length in this and other threads on GEJ's pussyfooting around this burning issue of corruption - an issue that will more than any other set the tenor for judging his administration. There is no need for me to rehash those points once more. Time will tell.

I also note the sly reference to Mr. Buhari as 'my choice' who lasted only 20 months. Sir, at no point have I endorsed Mr. Buhari on this thread. My focus has always been on Dr. Jonathan. He is the one in charge, not Mr. Buhari. He is the one who has been Commander in Chief for 4 years, not Mr. Buhari. I have always maintained that this election is a referendum on the performance of Dr. Jonathan. Nobody else.

Your tacit endorsement of the new patronage systems in place represents the final piercing of the veil to reveal what lies underneath. You are fine with the replacement of crooked patronage systems in the old order with crooked patronage systems in the new one. How sustainable is this? Is this the answer to years of justified agitation against a lopsided federation that disenfranchised ethnic minorities in the Delta and elsewhere? Is this the answer - paying militants a stipend not to destroy pipelines? Channeling state resources to the creation of private armies? I repeat - is this true fiscal federalism in action? Is this what Adaka Boro wanted?

There were actionable resolutions in favour of true federalism at the last conference weren't there? What do we have in terms of concrete action except for a 'promise' by the Jonathan administration to implement these resolutions - a promise anchored by the way, on support for his re-election? Where are the cast-iron guarantees?

You are right about one thing: fairness justice and equity are required by all Nigerians. On the whole, the GEJ administration is not providing these things to Nigerians, particularly where decisive action against graft is required. And for this reason, he should go.

kaboninc:
At the first bold part, here's something you would need to digest:


Source: https://www.nairaland.com/2153758/lack-capacity-prevent-corruption-nigeria

This quote was from the Minister and I believe to a large extent it has answered your questions on CORRUPTION.

However, I need to point out something here. When dealing with a problem that is cancerous in nature like corruption, you fight it with the intention of preventing future occurrence. This brings us back to the issue of getting to the root cause of a problem and fighting it from that level. That has been the focus of this administration. Note that your 'strategy' is a generic one as every Tom, Dick and Harry will say the same thing: you investigate, prosecute and convict.

Leaving out the question of 'how do you prevent future occurrence'!

I schooled in a university where the HOD of a particular department at one time said he knows the actual number of staff in that department and still tell you the number of staff receiving salaries and that number is more than the actual number of staff employed in that department. Obviously there are ghost workers. So question is how do you solve such a problem? For me if a system can be developed to capture the actual number of employee, that will be my first action. Secondly is to identify and prosecute those who aid this fraud by investigation.

But then, you would need to do a thorough investigation so you will have strong, quality and credible facts to back you. That should be your focus. That is the focus of this Government.

Note that you have never accepted the stride this government has made in battling the syndrome of GHOST WORKERS!

^^^^
No sir. I have read the quote from Her Excellency, the Honourable Minister of Finance, Mrs. Okonjo Iweala. Her comments have NOT answered my questions to the GEJ administration about corruption. Those questions are clear enough and they still stand unanswered.

It is deeply cynical of you to present capacity/institution building and law enforcement as mutually exclusive options. IPPIS, the E-wallet system, flushing out ghost workers and the GIFMS are sensible, long overdue initiatives. But to pretend that these initiatives cannot proceed alongside routine investigation, prosecution and conviction of offenders is nothing short of high level deceit. I ask you again: where is the deterrent? Countries with far more sophisticated institutional frameworks than Nigeria do have strict, severe penalties for malfeasance - penalties they do not hesitate to enforce when necessary. Is it that the governments in these countries are stuppid? Do you think you are talking to children here?

kaboninc:
This is what I have to say about that:

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/lead-story/197840-anxiety-as-govt-implements-oronsonye-panel-s-report

Read and digest.

^^^^
I had already seen the news on the link provided yesterday. The newsreport says that implementation of the federal government white paper 'has commenced'. However, the extent of implementation is still unclear to me. As far back as last year I began searching online for copies of the oronsaye report and the FG white paper to educate myself. So far my search has been unsuccessful. If you have access to the Report and the White Paper, let me know. It is very hard for Nigerians to adequately assess government policy when the only source of information is highly abridged newspaper articles. That is why the PwC Report and others should be made public!!

The Oronsaye Report is only one of the Reports I mentioned. What do you have to say of the others?

kaboninc:
Its one thing to say this government is not doing enough but its another thing to support a change that appears to be worse off. No matter how you try to paint your stand against the Lagos State Government, you indirectly support them. Read your own comments. Since you cannot comment on Rivers State, why don't you find out since your vote is most likely going to them.

Lastly, you indeed are not informed of government's progress. If you say you can get 'reports' from faraway US with the click of a button and you can't find any about our government, then you do yourself a great disservice. These reports actually exist. The day you begin to be truly unbiased, that day your opinions will become objective.

Yes, we'll meet at the polls.

^^^
Don't be ridiculous. I never said I couldn't find any reports about our government. Don't misrepresent me. According to you, the reports exist. Fine. All I am saying is that I want easy access to copies of these reports for voter education. Am I asking too much?

On your other comments about the RVSG and the LASG - it is sad that your seige mentality is beginning to cloud this debate. You persistently drag in the Lagos and Rivers state governments and impute that I am a partisan supporter of these two. On what grounds? Sir, don't devalue this debate. If you want this thread to degenerate into a mudfight then let me know so that I can gracefully take my leave.

God willing, we shall all meet at the polls.

tbaba1234:
The lekki toll gate is located in an area where most of the rich live. And is cheaper than your Airport tollgate located on the mainland where average folks live. Is favouring the rich done by taxing them? I wonder why less criticism is targeted at those actually taxing average Nigerians

The road is in excellent shape and a joy to drive on. Those unwilling to pay have alternative routes.

A

^^^^
The toll fee on the lekki-epe expressway is effectively a flat tax. For a party which claims to be 'progressive', isn't a flat tax a contradiction? There may be many rich people living on that axis but what proportion of the population are they?

It is rather strange to compare the lekki tollgate with the airport tollgate. The lekki tollgate is on a major traffic corridor through which traffic flows from the lekki-epe axis to victoria island. The airport tollgate (as the name implies) on the other hand is on an artery through which traffic coming to and from the airport connects to ikeja and other parts of the mainland.

People who have no business at the airport or the surrounding area generally have no reason to use the artery on which the airport tollgate is sited. On the other hand, the lekki-epe to victoria island road is the key traffic corridor to and from these two areas.

Which brings me to your point about alternative routes. The traffic management on the alternative route is very poor. There is a market on the (new market road) alternative route which constricts traffic and poses a serious traffic problem, day and night. It has been this way for years. Yet the LASG has not thought it fit to relocate the market for traffic to flow freely, despite several appeals from the public. There is also a spot (at the bend) on this same road which habitually suffers material failure of the paving stones used in construction. This defective portion of the road is routinely allowed to fail and remedial action is not carried out until months after the road has suffered serious deterioration. The objective of course, is to frustrate road users into abandoning the alternative route and effectively compel them to use the tolled road. To generate more income for the APC political machine.

In summary, the difference (in road maintenance and traffic management) between the alternative route and the tolled route is like the difference between night and day. This is one (just one) of the reasons why I will be voting against the APC candidate in next month's gubernatorial elections.

nku5:
I respect your opinion but I disagree with your submission.

My last paragraph should not weaken any critic of GEJ, I believe its necessary to draw a line. I am highlighting the failure that is Obj and asking for a crystal clear exposition of any scandal or case of theft in this administration an how they measure up to the cankerworm and beastly glory of Obj. Is that too much to ask? Regarding the PWC report I am sure an opposition that has no problem obtaining top secret letters between the CBN governor and the C in C should have no wahala using the FOI bill to get a copy if it will be of political value to them.

GEJ bashing is a national sport but let's extricate emotion from our analysis.

^^^^
Sir,
I have said the same thing over and over again on this thread. I have listed example after example of fraud, scandal, corruption and larceny perpetrated at the highest level of government without (so far) any consequences for those involved. These things are well known to Nigerians. We are aware of the Pension saga. The GAVI alliance saga. The fuel subsidy saga. The immigration recruitment saga. Where are the prosecutions and convictions?

You have once again referred to OBJ. I have made my views on his administration very clear on this thread. Those views remain unchanged.

You have betrayed your partisan political leaning with your comments about opposition parties sourcing the PwC report via the FOI to serve narrow political ends . For me, this matter has nothing to do with partisan politics. This matter has to with my demanding accountability from any government that claims it exists to serve the interests of Nigerian voters. Instead of supporting transparency in government at all levels, you have framed this audit as the fallout of base politicking between the government and opposition parties. . If you have this mindset, there isn't much I can say at this point.

Your last comment struck a chord. GEJ bashing isn't a sport - at least not for me. It has been repeated countless times that GEJ had a groundswell of popular support in 2011 because of the circumstances surrounding (and events preceding) his rise to power. This isn't just hyperbole. It is true and this makes GEJ's very serious failings all the more frustrating to watch. I have said on this board before: GEJ was a rank outsider in Nigeria's power calculus. He does not belong to Nigeria's traditional power blocs. He is not a member of Nigeria's traditional business or political elite. He does not belong to the cult of ex-army generals. He is from a minority ethnic group in a deprived and long overlooked region where paradoxically, over 95% of Nigeria's foreign exchange is earned. In theory, GEJ's tenure should have been the perfect opportunity to strike a blow for the unheard and unseen of the Nigerian project. Instead, it has been one story after another of drift, inaction, graft, indecision and overall, an extremely frustrating narrative of opportunities lost.

The predators, hawks and opportunists were keenly watching from the sidelines and sadly, the evidence supports them when they point to the GEJ administration and declare it unsuitable and unfit for high office. That is the real tragedy here.

kaboninc:
From your posts, its obvious your mind is made up. That's your choice bro.

However I REPEAT, you haven't answered my question. Rather you've been beating about the bush. I do not want to take you up on your 'reports' because indeed you're not current. If you are, you wouldn't be mentioning the Orosanye's Report.

You talked about the PwC report 'indicting' this government. And still said the report has not been made public. Are you not contradicting yourself? Then how come you know the report 'indicted' the government when the same report has not been published?

You are not for GEJ so don't pretend to have an unbiased stand. You know where you stand and we know too. In the mean time, ask yourself why the Lekki Epe expressway which is not even up to Epe, a road that's less than 12km has 2 toll gates; for a road that's WITHIN a Local Government. Maybe you should also ask yourself on how in today's Lagos, 21st century, TOUTS have become TAX COLLECTORS?

Or you can travel to Rivers State and asked how come a road, Chief G. U. Ake road has been constructed 3 times by two different administrations and commissioned thrice by the same person, Obasanjo.

^^^
You are damn right I have made my mind up. I take my politics very seriously. My vote is very important to me.

I have fully answered your questions. I don't have time to beat about the bush.

You asked how corruption should be handled and tackled. I answered you. For the avoidance of doubt I will repeat it - you investigate, prosecute and convict. Institution and framework building is equally important but any anti-corruption drive that does not punish offenders is a waste of time. Where is the deterrent?

You asked what GEJ is doing about corruption and my answer was quite simple: nothing. The examples abound. The fuel subsidy saga. The Pension saga. The GAVI vaccine alliance saga. The Immigration recruitment saga. (to this day, those applicants have not been given back their money. And Abba Moro is still a federal minister). I could go on and on. I repeat, how many successful prosecutions and convictions? The answer is blowing in the wind.

You said I should tell you with 'strong reasoning' why I 'feel' GEJ has not done much about corruption. Sir, my feelings have absolutely nothing to do with it. I have made several posts on this thread (and others) and listed several examples of how the GEJ administration has failed to live up to its responsibilities to protect and preserve Nigeria's commonwealth. What more is there to add?

You claim i am not current about the reports I listed because I mentioned the Oronsaye Report. I ask you Sir, what is the status of implementation for such a critical report that was submitted such a long time ago? Nigeria's federal recurrent expenditure routinely crowds out capital expenditure year after year. The recommendations of that Report aim to correct this anomaly. Nigerians deserve to know the extent of its implementation. What do you have to say about that?

You claim I said the PwC Report indicted the government. I said no such thing. Go back and read my comments again. They are clear and unambiguous. And I stand by them.

You concluded your post by going off on a rant about the Lagos and Rivers state governments and OBJ. On this very thread, I have stated my views about the Lagos state government and OBJ and so there is no need to repeat them. (I can't say much about Rivers State because I am not familiar with it). It is unfortunate that you have started exhibiting the very behaviour you condemned in your very first post here. . According to you I am biased because I do not support GEJ?

Sir, I just want this country to work properly. I do not have time to make excuses for failure. I have answered all your questions and will answer any more you wish to throw at me.

We will meet at the polling booth next month, God willing.

df2006:
@ Volvo S60


The last thing I would do is to try to absolve Dr Jonathan from all you have stated above.


But looking at the issues keenly and Objectively, I would say Nigerians have seen worse.


I am not a good writer so pls bear with me.


I would remind you that a C in C came out publicly to shout at a bereaved people that he wasn't suppose to be there consoling them, this was after a totally under maintained ammo dump went up in loud bangs maiming a large no of people and sending countless others into a swampy watery grave.


The current Ex C in C campaigning for office now, came out to not only tell us that we were indis-cipline, but said we were use-less, the same man wearing some funny attire, now smiling, begging for my vote.

This people did not, and never had any need for us until one man Jonathan came and made the electoral process more transparent and credible.

This alone is enough to ink my thumb for him.


Like the main article stated, Nigeria is a country of patronage, right from the elite to the dirt poor, and I am afraid it will remain so

Hence the do or die fight for elective posts,

Things that should normally happen in civilised society like sending corrupt people to jail, seldom happen here, this patronage system creates untouchables.

it is thru patronage that Nigeria still remains as one

And like the writer rightly said this means of patronage are slowly being dismantled, and privatised, which is causing the very much div-isive atmosphere now.

Our Combustible nation has made some of our leaders not be able to do the clearly right thing,
Because of our peculiar creation as a Nation.

When people say this is how it is done in the west, why can't we do same, I laugh, because we were not created like the west.

Rather than being confronting, Goodluck has been using institutions, technology, and systems to tackle patronage.

He has single handedly cause the most change howbeit, lackadaisically giving our peculiar nature without the country going up in smoke yet.

(Bh is also the result of the dearth of patronage.)

And for this reason almost every person who has benefited from that patronage is clearly on the other divide and against him, today shouting Change.

Cheers.

^^^
I am at a loss as to why people often compare OBJ and GEJ and then proclaim GEJ the better of the two. As far as I am concerned, both the OBJ and GEJ administrations are offshoots of the same PDP tree and their fruit doesn't fall far.

I would be the last person on earth to hold the Obasanjo administration up as some shining beacon of light. I was alive and well when that administration authorized the illegal sale of public property (official residences, no less!!) to high ranking members of the executive and the legislature. I was alive and well when OBJ himself illegally interfered with the BPE in its attempts to conduct a transparent privatization of the Ajaokuta Steel Complex. I was alive and well when OBJ refused to appoint a substantive minister of petroleum for years and assumed direct responsibility for the affairs of that ministry. I was alive and well when OBJ was indicted by Yaradua himself on account of billion dollar expenditures on power generation with absolutely nothing to show for it.

It is interesting that you hinge your support for GEJ on account of what you term a credible and transparent election process in 2011. I reserve my comments until after next month's elections. If there is one thing I agree with you on wholeheartedly, it is your incisive comments on patronage and its role in retarding this country's progress. Where we part ways however, is your characterization of GEJ as some long awaited champion reformer, tackling patronage in his own measured, yet determined way. I put it to you sir, that this characterization is incorrect. GEJ is simply replacing the old patronage systems with new ones. Same difference, as they say. And in the end, this insidious plan to serve old wine in new skins will fail. The contradictions in the Nigerian system which you have highlighted in your post will make it nigh impossible for GEJ to sidestep the old patronage networks and erect his own without a major shock to the system.

Time will tell.

kaboninc:
Maybe you can enlighten me and in extension, us here on how you think corruption should be handled and tackled. Then also tell us what GEJ is currently doing about his since you said his performance is well below par.

Lastly using yours and his, tell us with strong reasoning why you feel not much has been done. I think its time we engage in robust debates.

^^^^
Nigerian laws have explicit prescriptions on how to deal with official corruption. Or stealing. Or whatever it is you want to call it. These laws have been in place for a long time. We shouldn't even be having this debate at all.

The Jonathan administration knows exactly what to do about corruption. But for its own reasons it has refused to do it. And it must, as a result, bear the consequences of its sin.

It is extremely cynical and wicked for GEJ supporters to lecture Nigerians about how the administration is 'erecting frameworks' and 'building institutions' to eliminate corruption, while the administration does absolutely nothing to prosecute and punish those guilty of it. We might as well abolish the penal code and replace it with 'institution building' and 'framework creation'. It is hypocrisy of this kind that corrupts the moral fibre of a people and corrodes our value system from within.

In my other post I mentioned all the scandals associated with the GEJ administration - each one more egregious than the preceding one. The latest example of this is the PwC Report which the administration has so far refused to make public. Remember the KPMG Report? The Oronsaye Report? The Ribadu Report? Where are the successful prosecutions and convictions?

The sad truth is that the GEJ administration is just a newer version of its predecessors - the Obasanjo and Yaradua administrations. The same old story of drift, graft, larceny and crony capitalism. The PDP should be thoroughly ashamed that after 16 years and billions of dollars purportedly spent on equipment, Nigerians still do not have electricity. All we have are excuses, by the bucketload. The PDP administration should be ashamed that last year, the GAVI vaccine alliance issued a damning indictment of our public health officials responsible for the administration of vaccines to vulnerable Nigerians. I could go on and on.

I am tired of listening to excuses for failure. We shall meet at the polling booth in March, God willing.

df2006:
As much as it is certain that I will be pressing my thumb for Mr Jonathan, I must commend your most matured way you have presented your points, and I do very much respect them.

This is far from the bulld-olzing insu-lting and cr-ass and vi-le ways some folks here have tried to talk us into not voting the PDP, which I must say have further driven some of us to come rain or sun stay under the umbrella.

If only they could have just a tiny touch of your maturity, may be just may be some of us would see reason to look the other way, but hey wat can a needle in a haystack do?

As Anonimi, has rightly said, it is the better of the two, that we should focus on, Nigeria is still a long way from a first world country, but Mr Jonathan's complete gentleman's attitude and clear democratic nature is a step towards that direction.

The above way of debate has taken me back to the NL of 2006, 2007.

Remain blessed.

^^^^
The goodwill is reciprocated. I can see you joined the house in 2008, even earlier than I did. Those days were indeed better. We must try to bring them back.

I try (not very easy to do in practice) to keep any debate as civil as possible. It is perhaps the only way to avoid alienating people who one would wish to have on one's side.

The possible reasons for the deep anger that some anti-PDP/anti-GEJ posters exhibit may be personal. I can imagine that some people who lost relatives and friends in the 2013?/2014? immigration recruitment disaster would not be in the mood for any kind of civil debate. I can imagine that those who have lost family and friends in the North east will also not be very receptive to the idea of a debate with an emphasis on courtesy. It is human nature. We really don't know what people's stories are.

I personally think it is a pity that you have decided to go with GEJ and the PDP. I have spent way too much time today typing away in anger on way too many issues. Electricity supply? The PwC report? The fuel subsidy matter? Public asset declaration by public officers? The immigration issues mentioned above? The awful intelligence failures with Boko Haram - failures that had absolutely no consequences for the service chiefs? The shockingly inept attempt to prosecute the alleged Nyanya bomber - an attempt sabotaged by wrangling between the NPF and the DSS? What next?

These are very serious failures that I cannot in good conscience overlook. I have only one vote and I know a lot of Nigeria's problems pre-date GEJ and the PDP but it is clear that these problems cannot and will not be fixed by the man and his party.

If Nigerians vote out GEJ, are there any guarantees that the new man (or woman) will be a better option? No. But it is a chance I am willing to take.

I wish you well.

ozoigbondu:
Pls i don't make inflammatory statements but it might be in your camp

^^^
Camp? What camp?

The only camp I belong to is the camp of ordinary people who want this country to work properly.

Which 'camp' do you belong to?

ozoigbondu:
I hate hearing sad news pls can we just stop this politics of bitterness

^^^
But you have made several inflammatory statements in your most recent posts. In your own way you have played a part in moving us closer to the edge.

kaboninc:
I do not agree with you on your last paragraph. The Federal Government indeed led by example and still leading by example. This they do by ensuring strict independence and non interference in the activities of autonomous agencies. Also so, they ensured that at all times, the spirit of true federalism, is respected and State Governments have their freedom.

If you can recall, the opposite was the hallmark of President Obasanjo's administration where State Governors were compelled to do what ordinarily they wouldn't do simply because the Federal Government shares the cake.

^^^
My reference to the federal government leading by example had to do with how it tackles official corruption at the federal level. That is the burning issue for me as a voter. By all accounts the GEJ administration has performed well below par in this regard.