₦airaland Forum

Gboliwe:
You still asking questions?

APC is a party for heartless touts.
Very wicked set of politicians

You are irresponsible, a PDP apologist. Ode/Mumu who should you blame? Is it not your clueless, anything goes president, Mr. Jona, who is not only playing politics of divisiveness but encouraging it to prevail in our polity. Hew watched and kept mum whilst his hatchet men pummeled and insulted opposition candidates. He could not even control his wife.

Kola4uniadgog:
Nigeria has a date with destiny as
March 28 and April 11 draw near.
These are two significant dates that,
on one hand, present Nigerians
with an opportunity to strengthen
democracy through the ballot.

These dates, on the other hand, are
also beaming scaring danger
signals. No thanks to politicians
who are beating drums of war,
stumping across the country,
making campaign statements full of
fury, with little about issues of
concern to most Nigerians. As is
typical of Nigerian elections, the
tension is thick in the air, so much
so that the putrid smell of
Armageddon has enveloped the
country. Fears are palpable,
generating serious concerns among
Nigerians and within the
international community.

Nigeria has traveled this route
before, not once. There are
however reasons for genuine and
heightened concern this time. The
last few years have seen widening
cracks along the Nigeria’s well-
known fault lines of religion and
ethnicity. The security situation,
especially in the northeast, has
been a huge sore on the reputation
of the Africa’s most populous
country. The abduction of more
than 200 girls from the Borno State
community of Chibok nearly one
year ago, and the perceived lack of
enough effort from the government
of President Goodluck Jonathan to
ensure they are rescued, are
making the prospect of a peaceful
poll a tall dream.

President Jonathan has had to take
the blame for virtually everything
going wrong in Nigeria. Admittedly,
there are issues that currently feed
this perception. They include the
security situation, corruption and
poor living standards of most
Nigerians. Ordinarily, the buck
stops at the desk of the president.

The opposition seems to have
succeeded in creating the
impression that Mr. Jonathan
merely wakes up on daily basis and
does nothing. But things don’t
always seem as they look in Nigeria.

That the president has been doing
nothing would not pass the muster
of nonpartisan scrutiny. What
would be correct is that the
president has actually done little to
publicize the many things he has
been doing. In the last six years, the
government has been confronting
more fundamental issues of growth
and development with the type of
vigor and single-mindedness
uncommon in Nigeria.

The Jonathan administration would
trump any previous administration
in the effort made to tackle the
near-complete collapse of
infrastructure such as roads,
transportation and power supply.

The same can be said of
employment generation and
capacity development. Nigeria’s
economy has not only survived
major shake-ups affecting most
advanced economies, it has actually
also been growing in leaps and
bounds, emerging as Africa’s
largest.

He has perhaps taken an ingenious
route to fighting corruption. He
understands the difference
between the symptoms of
corruption and the underlying
causes. While many had expected a
frontal attack at the symptoms
through demonstrative — even if
unlawful — actions by deploying
anti-corruption forces in a frenzy of
mass arrests, media trials and
public sentencing of suspects, Mr.
Jonathan has chosen to allow the
justice system the space to work.
He hasn’t stopped at that. He is,
with the skill of a surgeon,
identifying the underlying causes of
corruption and taking them out one
after the other. This is what he did
with a fertilizer distribution scam,
which had hampered food
production and diversification
effort for decades. Perhaps, he did
not make enough noise on this, but
the result of his approach is loud
enough for the thousands of
Nigerian farmers who now have
easy access to fertilizer, completely
eliminating the meddlesome
middlemen. The action is equally
loud enough for the vested
interests to fight back and join the
now-profitable president-bashing
choir.

The security challenge is a bit more
complicated. Mr. Jonathan’s
emergence represented a paradigm
shift in the Nigerian political
arrangement. He was the first
person with no strong political
background or affiliation, and from
a minority tribe to become a
democratic president in Nigeria. He
had not benefited from any of the
important pillars of power such as
the support of a major ethnic
group. The template for success in
the Nigerian environment requires
much more than the timing of
response to a security situation,
such as the Chibok abduction saga.
It requires the willingness of the
players within the affected area to
put the safety of lives and
protection of properties of the
people ahead of their own
immediate political advantage. It is
not going to be easy trimming the
hair of someone who continues to
run. It could take time to either
catch up with him or get him to
willingly agree to the need to solve
a problem. The ability to keep calm
rather than adopt a knee-jerk and
high-handed approach in the face
of treachery and impunity is a great
asset the president is endowed
with. This, as the opposition is wont
to do, can also be mistaken for
weakness or incompetence.

Mr. Jonathan’s civilized approach to
tackling issues is built around the
need to ensure social justice, equity
and the rule of law. This should,
ordinarily, be worthy of global
acknowledgment and
commendation. But the concerted
noise from the opposition camp
and the penchant of some
international observers to rush to
judgment without taking full
account of peculiarities of an
environment are a bit deafening
and blinding to the reality on
ground.

As elections are getting closer, the
president is faced with the facts
that Nigerians are in a hurry.
They’ve waited for too long. This is a
situation that is being exploited by
opposition leaders, who have been
calling for mob actions as against
the rule of law. Mr. Jonathan has
equally shown that he understands
that Nigerians are expecting a
leader with a magic wand, who
could with a snap somewhere, turn
age-long and deeply rooted social
decay into an instant state of bliss.
But the magic wand could actually
be a possibility if current efforts are
allowed another four years to take
root, grow and bear fruits.

• William Reed is president of the
Black Press Foundation.

Source:http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/mar/5/william-reed-goodluck-jonathan-steering-nigeria-wi/#ixzz3TkQJUpRm

Sponsored article written by a crook called William Reed

omaiyale:
hahaha...

For me this is really disturbing and embarrassing. Jonathan is desecrating the office of the President. The scene looks occultist. A President is not only a political position but a spiritual one. That is the highest position in the land. It is higher than an Oba and even a clergy, if the occupant is a believer. He should be blessing people not him seeking for blessing all over the place.

Airforce1:
my Biafran brother repping us well

God bless republic of biafra

Biafra is dead and gone. Stop leaving in a fools paradise

xreal:
Clueless human.

You forgot to add Rogue Dopkesi. Burnt the bridges with his friends because of personal economy.

ishiamu:
Gej is working Apc is sabotagging

#gej till 2019

Can you now see you are very gullible. How can you be jumping on top of the roof because your jobless President is flagging off a road construction. The question that keeps coming to my mind is the way folks from SE have been supporting this crook called Jonathan. Will SS people do the same for a SE President. I am sure they won't if the lessons from the civil war is anything to go by

shininglite:
obj d man dat wanted to control Nigeria from his Ota farm..

You are heartless. Even if you hate him so much which it shows you do at least wish him well. Funny enough this man you hate, Like it or not his place and role in the history of this country is secured and greater than any Nigerian living or death for now.

Demdem:
[b]They are fed up with the propaganda against General Buhari, it is now the turn of a man who is not
contesting for any elective position anywhere in the country. No right thinking government will have
"Arsenal" of evidences of corruption on ONE man and would not have or will not prosecute such a man in
a competent court.

The best our "Serious" government led by Retardeen Egebre Jonah-daft could do is
to sponsor a one hour political propaganda against Bola Tinubu. Where in a sane country is that done?
If you have all these evidences, why is Bola Tinubu still walking free?. This is
the ultimate question? Why can't the PDP send these evidences to EFCC, ICPC and other agencies for
prosecution? Am sure if there is any credence in any of these evidences, Tewonde George especially
wont hesistate to pursue it to conclusion considering his hatred for Tinubu. And they say this
government led by the drunkard is serious about governance when the least thing to do becomes
politics.....

For the record, Bola Tinubu I know from records i know of has been discharged and acquitted of all
corrupt charges leveled against him. The CCB cleared him. No security agency till date has any pending
issue with him anywhere in the world. However, we have people like Bode George, Alaimeseigha, Femi-
Fani Kayode, Buruju Kashumu etc who were either convicted or still in court for corruption charges
working for the President in one capacity or the other...Just like the propaganda against the General
made him more popular, i have no doubt that Tinubu will come out unscathed from this also. Above all,
this will not in anyway stop the emergence of the General as the president of our dear Nation.

The booting out of the curse currently governing is a clarion call all sane Nigerians will respect.
To hell with[/b] Jonah-daft.

You have said it well. it is unfortunate we have people who don't think at all on this platform. If you have such evidences then prosecute the man

makzeze:
The current working visit of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) retired General Muhammadu Buhari is one visit that ignited serious political fireworks for more than a week.

Buhari’s working visit to the United Kingdom, which the opposition party said is part of its campaign engagements outside the shores of the country, has generated unprecedented interest and attacks from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its members.
No sooner had the APC presidential campaign organisation announced, about 10 days ago, that its candidate was travelling to the United Kingdom for engagements than the political fireworks started.
On the Thursday Buhari left, the social media platforms of the PDP were replete with stories that Buhari was “sick and flown to London on air ambulance.”
Explanations by the APC campaign office that Buhari had travelled to the United Kingdom for engagements with British policy makers in Chatham House London didn’t seem to convince the ruling party’s foot soldiers enough to back out.
A statement by the media and publicity director of Buhari Campaign Organization Malam Garba Shehu that fateful Thursday said Buhari had left Abuja on a short working visit to the UK.
He said: “In the course of this visit, Buhari is expected to hold meetings with key members of the British political establishment and interact with some global institutions with stakeholder interest in the affairs of Nigeria.”
“General Buhari would hopefully give a talk at the prestigious foreign policy hub, the Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House in London,” Shehu said.
But instead of debunking the rumour, the explanation of Buhari’s itinerary further emboldened other PDP chieftains to launch further attacks.
Ekiti State governor Ayodele Fayose dived into the fray and said that Buhari was indeed sick and receiving treatment at Cavendish Hospital, London.
Fayose, it would be recalled, had sponsored front-page death-wish advertorials in some newspapers, indicating that Buhari would die in office like Generals Sani Abacha and Umaru Musa Yar’adua did.
The advertisement generated serious controversy, compelling his party, the PDP to “distance” itself from the inglorious adverts. But Fayose remained unperturbed.
To dispel the illness rumour, the Buhari handlers released his photographs walking after his arrival at the Heathrow Airport.
The next day Friday, Buhari began his engagements by granting an interview to a local medium, the All Eyes on Africa TV Show hosted by Kemi Fajodutimi.
He also had a morning meeting with former Prime Minister of Britain Mr Tony Blair and an interactive session with Nigerian professionals in Diaspora on Saturday.
Buhari also visited the London residence of the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, at about 1.30 pm UK time and returned to his rented flat in the city same Saturday.
Instead of dousing the fireworks, the General’s engagement further triggered the likes of Fayose who, in a press conference last Monday, insisted that Buhari was bedridden in Cavendish Square, saying that all the photographs from the airport, the interview, the Blair’s visit, were stage-managed.
The Ekiti governor, who addressed journalist in Abuja, said “the picture which was widely published by the media was taken in Suite 881 at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja.”
“Buhari is on the sick bed at Cavendish Square London. They should come out and say so. The APC has been trying to cover it up by not allowing him travel out, but the man knows he is sick and so he decided to go for medical check,” Fayose said.
Taking journalists round Suite 881 at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Fayose said the purported interview with Fadojutimi in London actually took place in the suite.
He took his time drawing comparison of the sofa, paintings, table lamp, the flower vase, the lighting points and DSTV magazine in the suite with what was published on the papers.
An online newspaper inquired from the office of Tony Blair in London to confirm whether he met with Buhari, and the office confirmed that meeting actually took place in Blair’s office, not Buhari’s “hospital bed.” But the matter refused to die.
Alarmed by Fayose’s death wishes of its candidate, the Buhari campaign office appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to call the Ekiti State governor to order.
In a statement, its spokesperson Shehu said the APC campaign had learnt on good authority that Governor Fayose has hired people in London who have been trailing the movements of the APC presidential candidate while on his working visit in London.
“Let it be on record that knowing Governor Fayose’s antecedents, we are not leaving anything to chances. The governor who has published death-wish advertorials on Buhari will stop at nothing. If anything should happen to General Muhammadu Buhari while in London or anywhere else, the authorities over there in the UK and at home should know who to hold responsible,” he said.
The recriminations continued as APC chieftains who included governors visited Buhari in London, taking photographs with him.
But even a confirmation from Chatham House that Buhari would speak in one of its engagements last Thursday didn’t convince Fayose and his likes to mellow down.
Last Monday, the Royal Institute of International Affairs (RIIA) posted on its website that Buhari would be speaking on the topic “Prospects for Democratic Consolidation in Africa: Nigeria’s Transition.”
The programme to be chaired by Sir Richard Gozney, former British High Commissioner to Nigeria, will commence at 10am London time and last for an hour,” it said.
“The postponement of Nigeria’s fifth election since its return to civilian rule in 1999, together with fierce political competition, a security crisis and severe economic challenges linked to the drop in oil price, has thrown into sharp relief the challenges of conducting this essential process in such a complex environment.
“While there is widespread speculation as to the reasons for the delay, there is also widespread acknowledgment of the necessity that national elections do now take place as scheduled on 28 March,” Chatham House said.
There was a sigh of relief from many Nigerians when Chatham House announced also that there would be a live streaming of the event commencing at 10am GMT and all those wishing to pose a question to General Buhari were advised to do so via Twitter using the hash tag #CHAfrica.
The controversy changed after Chatham House confirmation of Buhari’s engagement with it. The ruling party’s media handlers went to town with another story that Buhari was actually in London to meet some Arabs billionaires who would fund his campaign. Some newspapers even carried the story on front pages.
On the eve of the Chatham House event, another story broke that PDP had hired some African-Americans to “disrupt” Buhari’s lecture. It turned out that some protesters went to the venue last Thursday only that they were outnumbered by the APC supporters.
Finally, Buhari appeared in Chatham House where he had a meeting with another Britain former Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
The APC flag bearer addressed the gathering for one hour which was live-streamed and took some questions.
Responding to a question about his health, Buhari said he was certified fit by his doctors to run for the office of the president.
“I am fit. My doctors have declared me fit. I am going back home for the final phase of the campaign to win the elections,” he said.
Buhari said he often laughed whenever he heard stories that he was either bedridden or dead. “I just laugh when I hear some people wishing me dead or saying I was dead,” he said.
Buhari’s public appearance in Chatham House didn’t go down well with his opponents in the ruling party.
In an instant reaction to the London event, the PDP presidential campaign office media director Chief Femi Fani-Kayode described Buhari’s appearance “as a stage show of shame.”
“It is amazing that a man that refuses to participate in a debate in his own country is so ready to go to a foreign country to sell his message in a desperate attempt to curry favour with the people of that country,” Fani-Kayode said.
Fani-Kayode added that “for now, all we can say is that it is truly pitiful that a former Head of State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria believes that it is more important to win the hearts and minds of the British than it is to win the hearts and minds of the Nigerian people.”
In the same vein, PDP in a statement by its spokesperson Olisa Metuh described the London event as “a script well written, a script well acted, all a truthful lie. The messenger belies the message.”
“We wish to urge General Buhari to quickly channel his message and energies home, meet Nigerians who are choking up with questions on his capacity to lead. He may realize ultimately too, that politics in this instance is local and shall be decided locally,” PDP said.
It is not clear yet if the Chatham House event would finally put to rest Buhari’s illness theory, just as his certificate controversy seems to have been finally laid to rest.

Source:http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/daily/politics/48224-politics-of-buhari-s-london-visit

This article is hog wash. Just stating the what we already know. I was expecting some depth analysis or insights about the visit. Nigerian journalist are damn lazy

chibecanglobal:
Results of the newly intensified outreach by the C in C himself in the region begin to surface

These are spent forces with no base. We know them in the SW.

EUROBOMBER:
The Igbo will surely take their rightful place in Nigeria. God has destined an Igbo man that will lead Nigeria to greatness soon. Everybody should wait and see how God will orchestrate circumstances to bring this prophecy to pass.

Thank God this vision was given to a Yoruba man by God.

Jonathan's presidency was designed by God for a purpose and this will become clearer with time. I had thought that from Jonathan power will move to the North but obviously God has other better plans. Power just might move to the SE within Jonathan's second term.


God bless Nigeria!

Be dreaming!!!

Faibuhari:
#NeverAgain shall GMB and BH terrorise this country again.

Never again will Jonathan and his Ijaw kinsmen be allowed to rule this country and waste the life of our dear soldiers

EUROBOMBER:
I have said it several times that there will be no block votes from the SW either to GEJ or GMB but Jonathan will secure more than enough votes from the SW to win.

You must be kidding! APC will win in the SW convincingly. It is only logical. Do you think they will wish away the position of a VP for nothing. Remember the blood is ticker than water statement. You need to read about cross carpeting that happened in the Western region then. Yoruba's are block voters and progressive by nature but will tilt towards another candidate once ethnicity is involved. It took a hurried late night visit by Jonathan to Tinubu for him to win in Lagos and other parts of SW.

tolu4you:
yesterday they were leaders of tomorrow, they are still the leader till they die. we the youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow after these leaders don go.... i pity our generation. na 72+ years old grandpa we want as our president.

Why won't we resort to 72 year old man when your 57 year old President has roundly disappointed people, when the young people Ibori, Orji Uzo Kalu, Gbenga Daniels, Achike Udenwa, Igbinedion, Fayose are not only corrupt but embarrassment to their generation. It is not about age but competence

miraclewonder:
GEJ is working. Haters can go & die.
GEJ till 2019

If fixing a road is what you call big achievement then I wonder. The question I will like to ask you is are you better off than 6 years ago. Can you afford a mortgage? Can you pay for a paid vacation? By what percentage has you income increase year on year under this government? What is the life expectancy rate? What is poverty rate? How much does the dollar exchange for today?

J12:
This man is a disgrace.

The cars are even second-handed from cotonou. kai, ochendo why?

Not only that it has his picture on the car ad signage on top of the car roof

tayolove12:
The one you and OBJ start together abi lie don finish yu

Yes it was OBJ's project together with Papalanto, Omotosho, Alaoja and Mambilla Plateau. Get your facts right next time

mulante:
GEJ is causing so much embarrassment to the past leaders of this country. Keep finishing what they could not do sir.

We are solidly behind you

You obviously don't know what you are saying. Point to any project he started. This project was started by OBJ and phase 1 was commissioned. This is just extension of same project so why all the fuss. It is just too late in the day for him to change people's mind

Omexonomy:
An adult crying just because of the wicked hand work of the APC and their BH footsoldier

Grow up. What has APC got to do with this. You are being insensitive. You don't even know what the people of the NE are facing and yet you are playing politics you don't even know

We know this Oba hates OBJ with venom. He should let bygone be bygone. Anytime he speaks in the public, it is about condemning OBJ. Wetin sef

You call it gallant. I call it stupid. He doesn't have a bullet proof vest. He is just stupid

What does it profit a man if he gains the world and loses his soul

This is a disgrace and a slap on our intelligence. You don't even find such trains in SA.