₦airaland Forum

Gbawe: Which mature adult, able to reason functionally, will not admit that high recurrent expenditure is the bane of Nigeria's development? What has GEJ done in regards to this problem? I will jog memories here. He said and I quote "leaner government not possible" immediately after being sworn in as President in 2011. In fact GEJ even went further to solidify his position as an enemy of what is best for Nigeria by vengefully disbanding the Presidential advisory committee that had advised him to urgently cut recurrent expenditure, harming Nigeria's progress, by reducing hideous profligacy (ten Airplane Presidential fleet) superfluous and duplicated government offices and general largesse. Yet emotional and clannish folks will never have the maturity to recognise this monumental failings against the Nigerian people. A "Performing" President will never be one, with ten airplanes and N1 billion food budget et al , who worsens our biggest problem. As simple and as straightforward as that. Whether clannish and immature folks wish to admit it or not, Emeka Anyaoku raise point below about the fundamentally profligate set-up of Nigeria any mature adult will admit GEJ is deliberately propping up.

Everything does not begin and end with pointing out what OBJ and Yar Adua did not do, as a cheap attempt by clannish elements, to hide the fact that GEJ is nothing but a failure like those two. Let us start rising above the petty elements here and begin working with fact-based arguments.

http://premiumtimesng.com/news/105324-govts-unwieldy-size-wasteful-expenditure-killing-nigeria-says-emeka-anyaoku.html

Mr Gbawe, you and a host of others who lay claim to sanity and objective reasoning on NL are sometimes far from it. Take for example your posture on recurrent expenditure, how on earth should that be stuck on GEJ? Did he write the constitution that made it impossible to achieve a reasonable cut in recurrent expenditure? What have our legislators who have been marauding around with songs of constitutional amendments (including your ilks in ACN) been doing about amending that part of the constitution? The last time I checked, your ACN and by extension the APC does not even have a semblance of a good approach to tackle this same problem. Anyaoku rightly agreed that this is a constitutional problem. It transcends Jonathan. This is a democracy, Jonathan cannot wake up one morning and rewrite the constitution.

It is very annoying to see people like you muddle things together this way just to discredit the President!

maclatunji: He merely stated the obvious. How does that affect you? The PDP can even evict him, that does not remove him as Governor nor does it change the fact that he has been re-elected as chairman of NGF. I say welldone to him. He still has many victories ahead of him. He is emerging as the man that might cost GEJ dear. The PDP is running out of options.

Common man, don't be naive! Amechi cannot hurt Jonathan's ambition. He is in a precarious situation. Amechi does not even have the home support/leverage to fight GEJ because there are willing collaborators (some powerful power brokers in Rivers State who Amechi has offended since he became Governor) who are more than ready to see his back. Did you notice the speed at which they hijacked the party structure from him in the state? Amechi's only chance for reckoning was the NGF Chairmanship which he fought with his life to retain. If he had lost, it would have been instant political death for him and believe me, it is just a matter of time.

pro01: It's funny how often people fail to learn from history. In Nigeria's political history, NOBODY has ever succeeded in becoming president or vice president on the strength of his naked ambition. From Awolowo to MKO, all the way to Atiku and desperados such as Peter Odili. A dark horse ALWAYS emerges from the shadows. We all know how the likes of Tafawa Balewa, Shehu Shagari, Ernest Shonekan, Obasanjo, Yar' Adua, and Jonathan emerged.

Even if Jonathan decides not to contest, it is almost a mathematical certainty that the likes of Amaechi would not 'smell' Aso Rock - in spite of their unbridled ambition, or infact because of their unbridled ambition. Amaechi seems quite foolish to be honest.

God bless you brother. I was just discussing this thread with my wife and we both recanted that part of history which teaches us that in Nigeria, the game is always won by a dark horse.

Unfortunately many people don't seem to get it. No one can scheme his way to the Nigerian Presidency. Once people see you coming, you will be undone by other political interests. A dark horse always, always, always end up being the beneficiary.

egift: Reason is that those in PDP have no conscience to even know that one of their own is being persecuted unjustly. Well the rest of the country still have the heart to know when injustice is being mated out.

Ask yourself, "what is the excuse the party stated?" - Then you will understand they are hiding behind flimsy excuses to humiliate a man for not bending backward to be feasted upon. Shameful you are advocating such - yet you claim to be a democrat.

Amaechi unjustly persecuted in a political power game? Are you for real? This is politics for God's sake!

I don't blame you, I blame the press who continue to sell that foolish impression to the people. The last time I checked, Amaechi is not fighting the people's cause. He's battling for political survival.

thelastpope10: Though this story is false, I would have actually loved it to be true.

Then APC will have all the bad eggs and PDP will be fully reborn while still being the party in power. That will be revolution without throwing a single punch....licking ma lips...

Fani Kayode is gone...Thats one man down!

Fani-Kayode should never be seen as one man down for PDP. His leaving is a blessing to PDP and a burden for APC to cope with.

He was formerly in the opposition prior to 2003 when OBJ invited him to come and "wack". He waited after 2007 to see if Yar'Adua will play ball but instead got EFCC unleashed on him by the late President. Then he tried to curry GEJ's favour but the President saw no value in his service. He has been a nonentity for a while and desperately trying to find relevance by joining the seeming rave of the moment - the assembly of disgruntled and re-branded rogues - APC!

phantom: was beginning to like jonathan especially with his performance in some sectors BUT i said it before and ill say it again.....AMAECHI WILL BE JONATHANS UNDOING.you want to go to war with a divided army.how do you hope to win?
JONATHAN IS A FOOL **sorry seun for using this word but i cant think of anything better**
someone should please recommend 'game of thrones' and maybe a good book like sun tzu's 'art of war'
you win wars with your head and not your sword!!!!

I disagree with you. Amaechi cannot be Jonathan's undoing except maybe he is a fool like you called him.

All these Governors that are threatening here and there are just testing the waters and making bargains. They all have skeletons in their cupboards and EFCC is still a potent tool to keep them in check and do the President's bidding (at least in the open).

They can't do no shit except Jonathan is a fool!

OP's question is so unintelligent!

You are in the league of people deceiving Amaechi that he can hurt Jonathan's ambition. If Jonathan wants to remove Amaechi, it won't take a week. People will only shout as much as they want and he won't give a damn whether his removal was right or wrong.

A Nigerian President is a "Lord"!

klas: In 1962, when the first republic civilian federal government of Azikiwe/Balewa declared state of emergency in the then Western region, was the regional government left in place? No. the entire elected officials both in executive and legislature were sent packing and a sole administrator in person of Majekodunmi (who was then the federal Minister of Health) was appointed for six months that the emergency lasted.

Not everything that OBJ did is bad. Whether to leave the Governor in place or not depend on the reason for declaring the emergency. State of emergency can be declared for natural disaster like the flooding that occurred last year. In that case, it will be improper to suspend the governor, but if the elected official is part/cause of the problem like that of the western region, he should step aside.

You are still getting some things wrong. In the 1962 and in OBJ era, the Premier and the Governors were parties involved in the breakdown of law and order. Akintola's supporters were everywhere fighting with the supporters of the AG after Sir Adesoji Aderemi ordered the Western House to pass a vote of no confidence on him, preparatory to an impeachment. In Plateau, Dariye's supporters were intimating the house of assembly to stop his impeachment due to the UK money laundering arrest and there was chaos. In Ekiti, Fayose's thugs were everywhere battling with the house of assembly to prevent his impeachment and there was chaos.

In all of these instances, there were ample evidences that the political office holders were the genesis of the chaos hence their removal. The constitution in section 305 does not say that sacking political office holders must happen in a state of emergency proclamation but it gave the President the power to do "ALL THAT IS NECESSARY" to restore law and order. This power can be far reaching if the situation is such that political office holders continuing in office would jeopardize any move to restore law and order. The President has to justify the fact that their continuing in office would be inimical to the restoration of peace.

In the Boko Haram case, sacking the Governors and political office holders would suggest that they were party to the crisis (even if this is widely believed, their direct link to Boko Haram has not be proven). So Jonathan did really well in judging the situation and leaving the Governors untouched.

It is very obvious here that these people from that erosion prone part of the world like to compete and crave recognition even where it is questionable/fraudulent. Its in their blood so there is no point arguing with them. I remember how that fraudster/liar called father of internet was found out and demystified.

It still beats me how writing a popular story book for high school students makes one a father of modern African literature ahead of others who chose a more advance set of readers? Does the lack of popularity of one's book diminish the quality or depth of literary brilliance? I guess the Nobel Prize givers and by extension, those who really matters in world literature knows best.

babyosisi: He made African literature popular and respected
Fiction or no fiction
African literature became a staple in USA schools due to Achebe and his things fall apart
That is the point
Your attempt to belittle fiction is laughable
I hope you know most classics that have stood the test of time by authors like Shakespeare,Mark Twain and George Orwell are fiction and the most widely sold book by an African ( things fall apart) also happens to be fiction so Chinua is in excellent company.
I smell ignorance all through your post.



Secondly I am tired of educating some of you ,it is annoying to read folks parrot what they hear others say without checking out the facts for themselves
Chinua's most popular book was fiction
But he has to his credit several non fictional books
He is your countryman celebrated the world over,others shouldn't know more about him and his works more than you do
If only the cloak of tribalism will let you.

So popularity is quality, right? See who is not ignorant!!!

Even the foreigner you quoted admitted that Soyinka may not be as popular as Achebe in his side of the world because he didn't write stories for elementary and high schools. There are many other authors who didn't target that segment of readers as well. The trade-off in that is that they may not be really popular but the quality of their work is another thing entirely.

Go get some education please!

babyosisi: Wole Soyinka should be careful not to destroy the legacy he has built by involving himself in unsavory affairs.
The first time the Prof disappointed me was when he spoke in support of Patience Jonathan's perm sec appointment,now this.


Chinua Achebe was called the father and grandfather of African literature by others
He did not label himself that
People recognized his immeasurable contribution to African literature and bestowed on him that honor in his lifetime so it is quite petty for WS whom I respect a great to utter such words.
It makes him sound jealous and he should be above such pettiness.
Michael Jackson was called the King of Pop
Elvis was the King of Rock and Roll
Donna Summer was the Queen of Disco While Aretha Franklin is and remains the Queen of soul
That label on Chinua is deserving.


Secondly why speak about Chinua's Book in his death what you couldn't say while he was alive?
I love Soyinka but his words here are beneath a man of his calibre
Maybe old age is setting in
Still respect you sir but you disappoint me here once again

You didn't quite comprehend WS sayings. All those examples you gave (in bold) are genres of music. I'm glad you didn't say any of those guys is the father of music. Saying Achebe is the Father of African literature is myopic because Achebe only writes fiction which is just one branch of literature. There are playwriters and others who do completely different things. If people like you are desperate to make Achebe a King, the best you can do is make him a father of fiction or "storytelling" but after reviewing his work against those other African storytellers that WS mentioned. Don't just sit down with your limited understanding of literature and make pronunciations that give you away as lacking in education.

patrick89: This is a very intelligent response! But then I don't see anything wrong in making achebe the father of African literature he deserves it, owing to the fact that he popularized African literature through his work, I have few questions here to ask who is the Queen of nollywood? Who is the father of nollywood? what criteria were used in given them the title? Now let me chip in one thing more, those so called *first to do that and do this in Nigeria how did they get to be the first? He(soyinka) clearly stated that in the field like this, even in the music industry there must be this kind of tussle, so Achebe is the father of literature and so what? He is a "storyteller" he (soyinka)used there to me is absurd! I rest my case here

You simply can't comprehend WS clarification, right? Let me explain to you in layman's language. Achebe writes fiction and there are other aspects of literature that makes it difficult to generalize that a master of one is master of all.

Beyond Achebe's work, what do you know about the works and popularity of these writers WS mentioned - "the likes of Hemingway. Or Maryse Conde. Or Salman Rushdie. Think Edouard Glissant. Think Ngugi wa Thiong’o. Think Earl Lovelace. Think Jose Saramago. Think Bessie Head. Think Syl Cheney-Coker, Yambo Ouologuem, Nadine Gordimer. Think Patrick Chamoiseau. Think Toni Morrison. Think Hamidou Kane. Think Shahrnush Parsipur. Think Tahar Ben Jelloun. Think Naguib Mahfouz – and so on and on along those orbits in the galaxy of fiction writers"?

Wole Soyinka was simply speaking to shallow and myopic minds like yours!

talk2macs: No arrest please, gun them down. That was the order from Oga at the top

I believe they are being executed. The arrest story is for international media.

BAMILASSA: THE GOVERNMENT TACTICS AND STRATEGIES ARE ALREADY KNOWN;

1. CONVERTING THE CURRENT SECTARIAN UPROAR TO A FULL BLOWN CIVIL WAR, WITH THE WAR FRONT AT THE NORTH DOORS, KILLING BOTH OUR YOUTH AND COMMUNITY LEADERS E.G EMIRS, TOP POLITICIANS AND UNIFORM MEN OF NORTHERN ORIGIN, IN A BID TO TOTALLY WEAKEN THE REGION SO AS TO EITHER CONTINUE THEIR DEVILISH RULE AGENDA OR SIMPLY DIVIDE THE COUNTRY.

THIS IS A VERY GOOD STRATEGY INDEED,(courtesy Devil MENTOR) IT WORKS IN MANY INSTANCES E.G SYRIA. BUT ALAS, IT WOULD NEVER WORK IN NIGERIA.
B/COS;
THE BRAVE NORTHERN YOUTH IN THE MILITARY WOULD NEVER TOLERATE OR ALLOW THIS.
THE NORTH HAS GOOD FRIENDS( ALIAS) THAT WOULD STAND BY NORTH FOR SURE.
AS USUAL THE YORUBAS WOULD ISOLATE THEMSELVES, LEAVING, ND/IGBOS/MIDDLE BELTANS TO FACE NORTH IF THE PLAN BACKFIRES !

THE STRATEGY FURTHER ENTAILS WIDER S.O.E TO INFLICT MORE DAMAGES, MORE CASUALTIES , BLACKMAIL, ASSASSINATION AND MORE....

ALTHOUGH, THE TACTICS WAS ON FINAL STAGES, NIGERIA IS GODS OWN AS SAID BY MANY WOULD ONCE AGAIN SURVIVE THIS PLOT, THIS AGENDA IS BOUND TO FAIL, B/COS OF ILL EXECUTION OF THE DETAILS ENSHRINED.

LONG LIVE NORTH, LONG LIVE NIGERIA, LONG LIVE FREE AFRICA!

This is the problem with Nigeria. Any attempt at making progress in whatever form is always seen as anti-North because the north is always a clog in the wheel of progress.

- Stop killing fellow Nigerians in the name of religion and politics, Northerners say it is anti-north

- Take Polio vaccines to reduce the statistics of children with Polio, Northerners said it is anti-north

- If we attempt to thrash mediocrity by scrapping federal character and zoning and enthroning merit, northerners would not be able to compete for positions on merit and they will say it is anti-north

- Let there be resource control, Northerners say it is anti-north

- Let there be constitutional conference, Northerners say it is anti-north

- Let us restructure the country, Northerners say it is anti-north

What in the name of progress would not be anti-north?

BAMILASSA: THE GOVERNMENT TACTICS AND STRATEGIES ARE ALREADY KNOWN;

1. CONVERTING THE CURRENT SECTARIAN UPROAR TO A FULL BLOWN CIVIL WAR, WITH THE WAR FRONT AT THE NORTH DOORS, KILLING BOTH OUR YOUTH AND COMMUNITY LEADERS E.G EMIRS, TOP POLITICIANS AND UNIFORM MEN OF NORTHERN ORIGIN, IN A BID TO TOTALLY WEAKEN THE REGION SO AS TO EITHER CONTINUE THEIR DEVILISH RULE AGENDA OR SIMPLY DIVIDE THE COUNTRY.

THIS IS A VERY GOOD STRATEGY INDEED,(courtesy Devil MENTOR) IT WORKS IN MANY INSTANCES E.G SYRIA. BUT ALAS, IT WOULD NEVER WORK IN NIGERIA.
B/COS;
THE BRAVE NORTHERN YOUTH IN THE MILITARY WOULD NEVER TOLERATE OR ALLOW THIS.
THE NORTH HAS GOOD FRIENDS( ALIAS) THAT WOULD STAND BY NORTH FOR SURE.
AS USUAL THE YORUBAS WOULD ISOLATE THEMSELVES, LEAVING, ND/IGBOS/MIDDLE BELTANS TO FACE NORTH IF THE PLAN BACKFIRES !

THE STRATEGY FURTHER ENTAILS WIDER S.O.E TO INFLICT MORE DAMAGES, MORE CASUALTIES , BLACKMAIL, ASSASSINATION AND MORE....

ALTHOUGH, THE TACTICS WAS ON FINAL STAGES, NIGERIA IS GODS OWN AS SAID BY MANY WOULD ONCE AGAIN SURVIVE THIS PLOT, THIS AGENDA IS BOUND TO FAIL, B/COS OF ILL EXECUTION OF THE DETAILS ENSHRINED.

LONG LIVE NORTH, LONG LIVE NIGERIA, LONG LIVE FREE AFRICA!

This is the problem with Nigeria. Any attempt at making progress in whatever form is always seen as anti-North because the north is always a clog in the wheel of progress.

- Stop killing fellow Nigerians in the name of religion and politics, Northerners say it is anti-north

- Take Polio vaccines to reduce the statistics of children with Polio, Northerners said it is anti-north

- If we attempt to thrash mediocrity by scrapping federal character and zoning and enthroning merit, northerners would not be able to compete for positions on merit and they will say it is anti-north

- Let there be resource control, Northerners say it is anti-north

- Let there be constitutional conference, Northerners say it is ant-north

- Let us restructure the country, Northerners say it is anti-north

What in the name of progress would not be anti-north?

DerideGull: @OP

These political grand standings by Sanusi Lamido Sanusi are mere hogwash. There is no template for Nigeria to occasion the development the Sanusi tends to preach. Nigeria was created to fail and it shows.

Exactly my point! A mistake was made in 1914 and should be re-visited.

I quite agree that we all need to come together/unite to fix Nigeria. Everywhere in the world where the status quo has been challenged successfully, the people stand in unison, pay a price and remain resolute until they get what they want no matter how long it takes. But that may not be possible in this present Nigeria because of our diverse ideological orientation premised on ethnicity and religion. People in the south are much more motivated to seek change but folks in the north prefer the current structure in Nigeria, they will never support any revolution and they are supposedly more than 50% of the country. The north is a clog in the wheel of progress in this country. Our best bet is to correct Lord Luggard's mistake of 1914!

thelastPope: Okupe predicted they wont survive past 2014 and they were insulting him. lol. Someone called them a marriage of convenience and strange bed fellows. How can you have a merger party predicated on removing PDP from power by all means. What kind of vision is that? Then, as a plan to remove PDP from power, they are trying to work with PDP members like Tambuwal and Amaechi. They must think Nigerians are fools. They have been found out and they will just fizzle out into oblivion if they dont sit up and repent!

I also predicted that they won't survive because they are not ideologically aligned. CPC is about the Hausa/Fulani or Buhari agenda, ACN is about Tinubu's expansionist agenda, APGA about the Igbo Presidency agenda and ANPP just don't have any known agenda.

I'm not surprised about the discordant tunes they are singing. Most of the folks who make up that fraud called APC are re-branded rogues!

I hope those folks from the South-Eastern part of the country, who are constantly and desperately in search of a hero, would understand this and save us all the embarrassment and the noise they make.

First, they tried to make a cowardly Ojukwu a hero, then Chinua Achebe. Maybe their heroes are still in the womb and for God's sake, no one would scold them if they don't have one.

successcertain: Why should he be taken serious? Rallying and wearing funny dress with tag on your hand is nothing serious in tackling corruption and greed that has destroyed and ruined our cultural value of honesty, humility and openness. Aint you tired of been a race of robot forever depending on the imperialist master know for greed, corrupt, selfishness and hates base on superiority? Serious reconstruction is needed folk the colonial master love corrupt leader and imposed them on us, is not your vote that count.

You are one of the hopeless people I'm talking about! Why shouldn't we turn to the West? You said they love corrupt leaders but Ibori is in prison today thanks to the UK government. What is wrong in Dina reaching out to the US for help if he finds no hope in our corruption laden law enforcement agencies and the judiciary?

Dino is doing it the way he knows best and at least, he is doing something. What have you done other than coming on the internet to spew rubbish about what someone else is doing?

Vado: The U.S should please stfu and let the military its job. The borno chapter CAN secretary was killed immediately after the declaration of SOE, they didn't come out saying crap about human-right then. These yanks foolish as hell.

Exactly my thought! When Boko Haram kill innocent people, nobody talks of civilian casualties but when they get a dose of JTF's reaction, human rights comes in.

The US should keep shut and let us deal with our problem.

EMMA BC: I have keenly followed ACN and her programs, aspirations and press releases. It has always been all about sweeping PDP out of Aso rock without convincing issues- based and people- oriented manifestos or programs to concretely back their aspiration. They have always talked about GEJ and PDP all day and nothing else. Their allies CPC and ANPP have also joined in this frenzy. Just recently, ACN through its leadership condemned d declaration of state of emergency in some states without proffering any alternative solutions to the crisis. It rather was concerned about how d declaration will jeopardize its political aspiration. One then begins to doubt if ACN and her allies are the cure to Nigerian headache. Definitely No for me. ACN is nothing but a small party with a small mentality. U can prove me wrong on this. Ur comments are welcome.

Great points!

To me they are a bigger devil than PDP. Many people think otherwise for the following reasons:

1. Our appraisal of governance in Nigeria has been militiarized such that we focus our attention on the Presidency and the government at the center just as we did on the Head of State who has the power of life and death in a military regime. Just take a look at who the people blame for the poor state of things in the country - the Presidency! Whereas we have other tiers of government who are allowed to free-ride and are under-reported principally because the press who shape people's opinion lazily skewed their reports. So since PDP is the party at the center they carry the larger blame.

2. ACN has control of the press so they get their issues under-reported. For example, the ACN was at the center of massive rigging in the recently conducted LG polls in Edo State. Only a section of the media reported it and those who did, didn't make a big deal of it. Another example is the ACN's loss of LG Chairmanship position to PDP in Obalende area of Lagos. Tinubu allegedly asked that the ACN candidate be announced as the winner. PDP got judgment at the tribunal which took almost 6 months after the election to set up but ACN failed to implement the judgment of the tribunal because it filed an appeal. It was glaring to everyone that ACN lost the election but since the LCDA houses Tinubu's ward in Burdillon, he is doing everything possible to subvert justice. Again, only a section of the media reported it. There has been many allegations against ACN on land deals in Lagos but no newspaper is covering it.

3. Another reason is that ACN is so small as you mentioned and their ills, in terms of numbers, are not as much as that of PDP which covers as much as 25 states.

4. ACN is yet to manage multi-ethnic interests like PDP

spongeback: Dino melaye always leading anti- corruption crusades hope you aint got skeletons in your cupboard.

Till date, I am not aware that anyone has leveled corruption against him. He has not been a guest of EFCC yet so give him a benefit of doubt and support his fight against corruption.

This is the problem with many of us who mouth change and lament corruption in Nigeria. When we see people trying their best to expose corrupt practices, we begin to doubt their motives and run them down.

Does it matter if he is doing it for popularity or whatever as long as he is actually making valid allegations? Does it matter where he is coming from (whether he used to be one of them or not) as long as he is helping us to see where to channel our aggression? Does it matter if he hasn't picked on everyone else yet as long as those he has picked on are not innocent?

We are just a bunch of hypocrites in this country!

Tolexander: Had Dino Melaye tried something like this when he was in the house, i would give kudos to him and respect his courage against corruption!

He was actually the one that exposed Bankole in the House. Go and check the records!

payless: It all comes down to corruption. Judiciary corruption is one of the problems facing the fight against graft. Peter Odili is a free man today because his wife (former Justice) knows how to play the game. If Buhari is allowed a four year term, our judiciary will be re-organized to perform well. Our judiciary system is currently in the hands of corrupt governemnet officials. Buhari will be able to checkmate these people. Also, the EFCC and ICPC officials are toothless corruption fighting agencies. All we need is a President to look them straight in the eyes and tell them there will be no more business as usual. Currently, corruption is being fought in our newspapers and not in our courts.

The bolded is laughable. How will Buhari, an executive re-organize the Judiciary? Is there no separation of powers anymore? As for ICPC and EFCC, would Buhari import angels to carry out investigations that would give a good chance of getting a conviction? So if EFCC investigates Tinubu or any of those guys I listed earlier, would Buhari allow them face justice?

You are beginning to see what has been my standpoint on fighting corruption. Everyone has to be involved. Every Nigerian must be resolute and join the fight for it to succeed. That is why I won't buy the bullshit that Buhari would solve corruption problem in Nigeria. Anyone who says that does not have a thorough appreciation of the process and depth of corruption we are grappling with in Nigeria.

After smoking a bag of Indian hemp, what do expect from ojuyobo?

I quite agree that Buhari/Idiagbon scored a high in their fight against corruption despite their flaws which included the freedom IBB enjoyed to smuggle drugs while he was Chief of Army Staff.

However, a lot of you folks who still believe Buhari can replicate that in this age and times should go and have a rethink. First, the anti-corruption process has changed a lot. Under Buhari/Idiagbon's dictatorship, you only have to accuse somebody of corruption and get the government to believe you. They had a military junta which did not give fair hearing and did not require much evidence to pass judgment. No convicted person could get an appeal and cases were decided within months. In this age, EFCC or the police has to do a thorough investigation, collect incontrovertible evidences, charge the suspects to court, endure our long process of legal administration and then get a conviction. The suspect would have access to SANs (as many as possible), they could thwart evidences, prolong the court process with all sort of gimmicks and whip public sentiments as well. In some cases, they can even get some laughable perpetual injunctions from the courts. If there is a conviction, the convicted fellow can even appeal up to the Supreme Court.

Secondly, this is not a military era where you can rule by fiat and make proclamations that could become instant laws. Fighting corruption is much more complicated in a democratic setting. Even in the US, it could take as much as two years to investigate and get a conviction in some cases. Some even take longer.

Lastly, there are a number of known rogues like Tinubu et al who are teaming up with Buhari. There are also those who left PDP like Achike Udenwa, Adamu Aliero, Abubakar Audu, Ngige and El-Rufai who are all known rogues. Some of them could end up as his running mates. I am yet to see how Buhari would fight corruption with all those guys at the helms of affairs with him. Is he going to make angels ministers and head of government departments and parastatals?

So please, ability to fight corruption being brandished around as a credential for Buhari depicts shallow thinking!

skyfall: ACN has commented on a very sensitive topic considering the present mood of most Nigerians. But sadly, they'll most likely be vindicated in a few months, if we consider the trends we've all seen so far.

The BH war is not going to be won by might (alone). Govt needs to cut their supply of funds, weapons & logistics. By now I expect FG to have begged US for assistance with drone aircrafts to shoot these terrorists from up above. Our borders are EXTREMELY porous and I don't hear the govt saying/doing anything extraordinary about that. I expect troops to have been massively deployed to every border crossing. As we speak, BH is ferrying weapons and logistics across the border.

Most Nigerians are applauding the SoE because they're fed up with the BH issue and would welcome any action from the govt, but only critical thinkers can see beyond these emotions and realize that the SoE will most likely not solve the problem. Rather than ACN, it's Jonathan govt that I accuse of playing politics because they're the ones in power and responsible for our security. Rather than facing BH squarely, he's busy fighting Amaechi & other phantom enemies.

However, I wish the govt good luck. I believe we all want the same results at the end of the day as far as BH is concerned.

On the bolded, I think you got it wrong. The President didn't say he believes the SOE would solve the problem and he mentioned in his speech that all other options are still open. Why would Tinubu and ACN rush to assume the SOE is the only solution being put forward?

Right now, whether dialogue would continue or not, whether amnesty would be given or not, what is sacrosanct is the restoration of law and order in the tensed communities. The government cannot sit down, fold its arms and watch BH have a field day just because it believes SOE won't work. Whether it will put an end to BH or not is not the issue now. Curtailing BH while other options are being explored is the most important thing and that is what the government has done.

ACN and their blind supporters have vindicated people like us who have never believed in that association of rebranded rogues. They are a bunch of opportunists and I'm happy that people are beginning to see them for who they are.

Am I missing something? Isn't this piece is talking about the population of poverty stricken people in the north and not the entire population of the north?

A few weeks ago, the UN put Nigeria's poverty population at 70 million and the UK is now saying 42 million of that population are in the north.

Sincere 9gerian: I still dont understand why some people want the governors removed. I wouldn't support any measure or state of emergency that'll dismantle democratic institutions. Yes, OBJ did it but it was WRONG. It is WRONG to use state of emergency to settle political scores. That was exactly what OBJ did with his state of emergency.

By the way, of what good purpose will removal of state governors serve? Maybe as punishment for the governors and other political actors in the state. Some have also argued that it may stop the flow of funds from politicians to Boko haram (if indeed there is anything like that)

But what about the demerits of removing state governors? First is that placing the responsibility of governing a state on the military may stimulate their appetite for broader political power. It is also an unnecessary DISTRACTION because the military that ought to be wholly engaged in strategising on how to curb Boko haram may be busy dispensing political patronage.

I think the president did the RIGHT thing by allowing elected political office holders to continue to discharge their constitutional responsibilities while the military take full charge of security in the state.

However, whether the state of emergency will successfully curb boko haram remains to be seen. But I love the fact that the president's message was firm and must have sent very strong signal to Boko haram and their collaborators. With the state of emergency, the flood gates have been opened for more and more troops to be deployed to those troubled states.

OBJ has given people a wrong impression of the use of emergency proclamation. Except those elected officials were part of the breakdown of law and order in the area under emergency proclamation, there is no ground for their removal or sack.

Here below is what the constitution says:

[b]305. (1) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the President may by instrument published in the Official -Gazette} of the Government of the Federation issue a Proclamation of a state of emergency in the Federation or any part thereof.
(2) The President shall immediately after the publication, transmit copies of the Official -Gazette of the Government of the Federation containing the proclamation including the details of the emergency to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, each of whom shall forthwith convene or arrange for a meeting of the House of which he is President or Speaker, as the case may be, to consider the situation and decide whether or not to pass a resolution approving the Proclamation.
(3) The President shall have power to issue a Proclamation of a state of emergency only when -
(a) the Federation is at war;
(b) the Federation is in imminent danger of invasion or involvement in a state of war;
(c) there is actual breakdown of public order and public safety in the Federation or any part thereof to such extent as to require extraordinary measures to restore peace and security;
(d) there is a clear and present danger of an actual breakdown of public order and public safety in the Federation or any part thereof requiring extraordinary measures to avert such danger;
(e) there is an occurrence or imminent danger, or the occurrence of any disaster or natural calamity, affecting the community or a section of the community in the Federation;
(f) there is any other public danger which clearly constitutes a threat to the existence of the Federation; or
(g) the President receives a request to do so in accordance with the provisions of subsection (4) of this section.
(4) The Governor of a State may, with the sanction of a resolution supported by two-thirds majority of the House of Assembly, request the President to issue a Proclamation of a state of emergency in the State when there is in existence within the State any of the situations specified in subsection (3) (c), (d) and (e) of this section and such situation does not extend beyond the boundaries of the State.
(5) The President shall not issue a Proclamation of a state of emergency in any case to which the provisions of subsection (4) of this section apply unless the Governor of the State fails within a reasonable time to make a request to the President to issue such Proclamation.
(6) A Proclamation issued by the President under this section shall cease to have effect -
(a) if it is revoked by the President by instrument published in the Official Gazette of the Government of the Federation;
(b) if it affects the Federation or any part thereof and within two days when the National Assembly is in session, or within ten days when the National Assembly is not in session, after its publication, there is no resolution supported by two-thirds majority of all the members of each House of the National Assembly approving the Proclamation;
(c) after a period of six months has elapsed since it has been in force:
Provided that the National Assembly may, before the expiration of the period of six months aforesaid, extend the period for the Proclamation of the state of emergency to remain in force from time to time for a further period of six months by resolution passed in like manner; or
(d) at any time after the approval referred to in paragraph (b) or the extension referred to in paragraph (c) of this subsection, when each House of the National Assembly revokes the Proclamation by a simple majority of all the members of each House.[/b]