₦airaland Forum

Why on Earth would it be Kano, a sprawling and dusty city?

The Nigeria Tourism Dev. Corp (NTDC, long name but zero achievments) epitomises Obasanjo's failure to appoint competent and envisioned people to head agencies critical to development.

The website has been and continues to be extremely useless, not adding value to online info on Nigerian sites of interest, etc.  The Hotels and cities sections are bad links since 2004.

Runsewe (NTDC's head) has been talking about classifying Nigerian hotels since 2005, but this has not seen the light of the day nor will it ever do while a fat corrupt man like him is in charge.

The final joke summing up  the OBJ's regime treatment of the strategic tourism sector is the appointment of BORISHADE as culture and tourism minister.

Nigeria will learn one day to capitalize on its endless natural and cultural resources, but not before Obasanjo and his chronies are replaced.

Kudos go Cross River, Bauchi, and Plateau states for taking a proactive approach and setting up their own initiatives that work.    This is because running a tourism industry depends first and foremost on real committment and belief that your community is unique and marketable.

is Olumo rock illuminated at night?

Can you imagine if Aso rock was all illuminated at night, how glorious + money spinning for tourism that would be?

Just look at how Paris, London and New York illuminate their monuments. Can you imagine the Duomo in Florence NOT lit up at night? I can't imagine!

Anyways folks, light = magnificence = recognition and hightlighting of a monument.

Let us hope that it is true.  The timid, visionless, and ill Yar'adua is not fit to rule a complex and stressful Nigeria.

Let us hope Donald Duke is annointed by PDP last minute.

Don't forget that EFCC will nmot allow Goodluck to become president, since he is corrupt to the bone.

[size=14pt]Saddam Has The Last Laugh[/size]

https://www.911hoax.com/Saddam/saddam_seated_smiling.jpg

At 6:10 AM on December 30th, a defiant Saddam Hussein faced impending death with his head high and the usual confident grace. His Shia captors, wearing ski masks, recited Muslim prayers in the Shia tradition, a clear sectarian provocation. To add fuel to fire, Saddam was executed on the Sunni Eid-ul-Adha (the Shia Eid comes a day later), the holiest day of the year when no blood shall be spilled, except for the sacrifice of animals of course…but Saddam was no lamb.

Ideally, a fair trial should have been accorded the ex-President of Iraq. Instead, he was tried by what appears to be a makeshift court in an occupied country. The occupiers even delegated observers inside the courtroom. The so-called trial and subsequent verdict gradually unfolded consistently as an American-orchestrated charade, a mockery of international due process. A female Lebanese defense lawyer was forcibly ejected from the courtroom for daring to speak. The dictatorial proceedings compared with Saddam’s own Baathist “legal” system. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and endless other organizations have all condemned the trial as lacking all ingredients of a fair one.

16 years ago, as an 11 year-old child, I recall witnessing my mother crying over the phone and begging for my dad to flee Eastern Saudi Arabia and return to Canada. We had immigrated to take refuge from perpetual crisis and instability in the Middle East. "God curse Saddam!" she wailed, as she watched him on CNN meeting with the Western hostages.

Having went into history as a brutal dictator who ruled with an iron fist, it seems Saddam, even in death, had the last laugh. "Go to hell!" said the death squad, seconds to his hanging. "Hell is in Iraq" he replied. His demise was partially brought about by his own ambition to dominate the entire Arab and Islamic world. Perhaps he dreamed about reviving the Abbasid empire which was once the most powerful entity in the world, with Baghdad as its seat. Successive American administrations were more than happy to supply the tormentor of Baghdad with ammunition and bank notes. His adversaries included the the anti-America, revolutionary Mullahs in Iran, after all. Saddam, a Sunni Muslim, was someone who ruthlessly maintained relative peace and unity in Iraq, a dysfunctional remnant of British colonialism. While doing so, he developed the hobbies of dissident-gassing, liquidation of political opponents, and swift shooting of defectors (including his son-in-law who defected to Jordan and deceivingly convinced to return).

A number of details surrounding the execution (read extra-judicial murder) by the Shiite-dominated, American-approved puppet regime, include some surprising intrigues as well as expected manifestations. First, the timing of the execution was both un-Islamic and uncivilized. In any land, law-sanctioned executions are subject to certain rules and common-sense.
For instance, could Timothy McVeigh have been executed on Christmas day? Wouldn’t Americans or any other civilized people be insulted by such a hideous choice of a day? On January 2nd, an official of the Iraqi Government told a prominent TV station that the new regime was fearsome of a Saddam escape. Such statement is hard to believe. The Americans have handled Saddam in captivity for well over 3 years. Deferring his execution by 2 days would have been a gesture obviously intended to avert further sectarian bloodshed.

Among his last words were "Iraq is nothing without me", followed by "Palestine is Arab", a calculated statement aiming to win Arab hearts and satisfactory space in history books. As a Palestinian, I am naturally responsive.

Make no mistake, Saddam was an avid egomaniac. He punished his murderous son Uday by sending him off to Switzerland for a week of contemplation on adulthood. On the other hand, America would have us believe it has Middle East democracy and human rights at heart and that the era of theocracy was over. However, it will be interesting to see the longevity of these double-standard policies since Mr. Bush pursues this noble idea selectively and with a bag-load of unprecedented hypocrisy. Bush skips certain allies when preaching. Dictators in certain Gulf states (where women are still denied the right to drive, workers rights totally lacking, and where 70% of school curricula consists of Islamic topics) continue to rule by the sword. That is even literally illustrated on a certain flag. Opposition in that specific country is as futile as it is suicidal. Historically, America stood behind certain Arab theocracies because of common interests including the continuation of the status-quo for both American corporations and Arab sheiks.

Saddam's quick execution was a surprise to me, as I expected President Maliki to commute the sentence at the last minute on national security grounds. I wished he could be imprisoned for eternity, humiliated, and made to feel irrelevant, a by-product of failed 20th century Arab socialism. Rather, he was given the opportunity to become a martyr, a towering symbol of anti-imperialism. Despite great differences in methods and fate, some Arab scholars are already comparing Saddam to the likes of Saladin who fought and defeated the Crusaders in 1187. Coincidentally, Saladin was also born in Tikrit, present-day Iraq!

As the gallows below Saddam’s feet dropped open ferociously, Mr. Bush was on his Texas ranch, sleeping, having asked not to be bothered for any reason hours earlier. His unusually long stay at the ranch this Christmas season, surrounded by advisers, is a sign of desperation. He is due to announce his strategy in Iraq next week. Will it be an Iraq exit agenda for the Americans? Unlikely. In the meantime, innocent Iraqi citizens will continue to pay the ultimate price for the reckless policies of the world’s only super power. Is anyone listening?

http://www.cybercaravan..com

Anyone with an update?

My bet is on Mr. Donald Duke for behaving and best governor performance, in addition to his South/South representation,

What do you guys think?

Odili is out.

Duke is still in.

The report published today in The News was a baseless fabrication.

Thisday confirmed that only Odili is out anyway,

There's great hope that by hook or crook, PDP will make the RIGHT decision in endorsing Donald Duke as president, FGN come April 2007.
I read today that Odili was screened out by Amadu Ali's panel, that is a positive development o!!

Mr. Ahmadinejad is being unfairly villified in the West.  What he called for is to wipe out the "Zionist entity" from the map, which is very different from "massacring all Jews in Israel".  What he means is that Israel is an unsustainable state having been founded through terror organizations (Irgun, Hagana, etc.) and the systematic destruction of Arab villages prior in the final days leading to 1948 procalamation of independence.  The population of Palestine was roughly 80% Arab and 20% Jewish of mostly European lineage. Israel realized that it could only start a false "Jewish character" of the land by opressing the Palestinians and making their lives a living hell (hoping they would all immigrate - which they haven't).
It's time that the world opens its eyes and realize that peace in the middle east (and the whole world) will only be possible through justice in the holy land - and this includes freeing the Palestinians from their daily misery of occupation, check points, home demolitions, and targetted assassinations,

PS. Just look how Desmond Tutu's investigation mission to Beit Hanoun (Gaza) was blocked by Israel. Why does Israel consistently frustrate all UN efforts at investigating the massacre of civilians (refer to Qana in Lebanon where more than 70 women and children were murdered in cold blood)? What have they got to hide? The world sees state terrorism in this,

Not that the BBC is unquestionable or most authoritative but certainly whatever it says must be taken seriously:

"Mr Obasanjo has been accused of backing Katsina State Governor Umar Yar'Adua, although this has been denied. "

There is still hope then. PDP should give the ticket to Donald Duke, this is of course if it's interested in redeeming its "Ghana-must-go" reputation and lack of vision.

Shear propaganda. Duke will take the PDP presidential ticket, history is around the corner dudes.

Should PDP Nigeria nominate a criminal phoney with fake degrees like UBA to be VP, Nigeria is doomed.

Big B1 you never cease to amuse me. I'm laughing hysterically!
I suggest you stop living in the past and accept it plain and simple: Babangida is an expired dictator who should retire from politics and ANSWER to the EFCC for the stolen billions.

Musa Yar'Adua is a sick man with kidney problems - he has to visit a dialysis centre regularly.
This is besides his diabetes and other problems.

It's going to be very difficult to imagine how such an ailment-ridden man can become president!

Due to the above I hope Duke will be given the presidential ticket.

Odili, Attah, Banangida, Atiku have been disqualified folks.

This is according to Mallam Nasir El-Rufai press conference in Washington DC, expressing FGN's latest position (Read Duke thread for details).

Bye bye corrupt villains.

Interesting developments my fellow "Dukeists":

FCT Minister Mallam Nasir El-Rufai told journalists at the "Heart of Africa" conference in Washington DC:

1- Babangida will not be endorsed by the FG at the PDP convention.
2- The ticket will go to a Governor whose age falls between 44 and 65, someone from the "young generation" (This automatically disqualifies Odili, Attah, and Baba).
3- Involvement of the reforms stars (Iweala, Dora, Ribadu, etc.) in politics will probably occur starting in 2011 "when the political infrastructure is ready".


The above simply means El-Rufai and FG have picked Duke as the PDP flag-bearer!

Congratulations Don/Dukists!

kaecy5:
see all of una
i could hear some one shout about tinapa project- it has taken 8 years any other project happening in calabar, any new roads?

-Total rehabilitation of Obudu Ranch Resort, now Nigeria's #1 destination.
-90% Rural electrification
-IPP soon to open in Calabar
-Urban renewal schemes in Calabar and other towns
-Cocoa/pinneapple production boost thanks to grass-roots empowerment initiatives.
CRS is now #2 in Nigeria in cocoa production.
-Only public servant health insurance policy in Nigeria!
-Improved education drastically by implementing new guidelines and hiring thousands of new teachers.
- Improved hospitals,


Odili on the other hand purchases executive jets for his use while Rivers people are dying due to shortage of hospital beds. His other legacy is a flyover in Port Harcourt and a few garbage trucks.

Odili will never be president.

Donald Duke is the only man,

There's a very high chance Duke will be sidelined at the PDP convention, due to his position OUTSIDE the circle of crooks and thugs within the PDP.

Itsn't ironic, for Peter Odili to talk garbage about "the need for PDP to nominate credible candidates"?

Peter Odili is a gangster, a corrupt failure who has brought absolutely nothing to Rivers. His involvement in the presidency would bring catastrophe to Nigerians, since it's almost certain he appoint fellow criminals to key ministerial positions,

I say Duke should either dump PDP or run as an independent. At least there is honour in there.

PDP officially narrowed down their candidates to state governors.

We're down to 10 aspirants, from the original 22.

9 to eliminate/disqualify! Go Duke!

Haven't you heard guys?

The "bomb" turned out to be a bunch of fire crackers - nothing more than fireworks delivered to an events company in Abuja.

Illegal cargo, nontheless.

But here you go, the new aviation minister is just another idiot on a chest-beating mission to impress the masses.

It was nothing but FALSE ALARM.

My friend you have gotten it all wrong.

Duke would NEVER work with Babangida. Latter has a credibility problem, and a criminal record.

Duke is not tainted, and will never agree to such marriage.

IBB PSYCOPHANTS / PUPPETS

GET A LIFE ![size=8pt][/size]

Cross River State has the highest HIV-positive population in Nigeria.

While CRS is a beauty, it's worth seeing the "other" side of the picture. The State Govt. has started to take action, at last.

Just give it up, IBB was disqualified by both PDP and EFCC. The statements are coming out soon.

IBB belongs in Kirikiri, he will be the next Alamiyeseigha in shackles

Just read a list of Babangida's entourage when he went to Abuja to pick up the forms.

The list includes, The dreaded, dumb + failed minister, Isa Yuguda. The list also contains some other rotten omelettes.

Ive said it once and will say it again: Babangida is a recipe for disaster. He only belongs in history books, under the corruption chapter.

IBB supporters should get themselves an education.

Folks, following some readings online and my own reasoning, it would seem that IBB has a hidden agenda behind his 2007 ambitions.

I think that the real reason he is running is to maintain the status quo in Nigerian polity, ensure that the corruption of the big fish in the country is not brought to justice and mostly (and of course) to enrich himself and his entourage of rotten sycophants.

Those are his biggest objectives.  Perhaps he could achieve that by rigging the votes on election day, intimidating/threatening other credible candidates, and eventually toppling EFCC by eliminating Ribadu.

NO CHANCE IBB! Go back to Minna and enjoy it til EFCC comes to shackle you up!

WOW, some people only resort to repetitive propaganda.

Still evading the question? What are IBB's credentials and qualifications, besides his criminal past?

Why don't YOU just accept reality and give up on Maradona? PDP will never nominate him.
OBJ himself will block him.

Duke will not rest his case until he reaches Aso Rock.

Just accept that better-qualified, performing people with RISING profiles make it in politics. IBB is a rotten omelette.

IBB is the Devil.

His PDP ticket is one-way to hell.

Big B1,

Your beloved Babangida has 8 years solid experience in milking state treasury, murdering journalists, encouraging corruption, introducing a failed SAP program, running institutions aground, and annuling Nigeria's fairest elections and plunging the country into the chaos for the next 6 years.  You should be ashamed of your comments and loyalty to a dictator who thinks the masses have forgotten.  

I also sense moral and ethical bankrupcy in your nonsense noise directed at Donald Duke.

For starters, Cross River State is the largest state in the southern Nigeria (Maybe you skipped those geography lessons). Besides, Singapore boasts a global, dazzling economy, despite covering  less then 1% of Nigeria's area.  So the argument that Duke is not qualified because CRS is a "small state" presumably invalidating his nomination is both immature and pathetic. Mr. Duke will have 8 years solid experience in running state government next year, with commendable performance.   

In a nutshell, I had rather trust someone who did remarkably well running his own backyard, instead of supporting a criminal who openly admitted he was "after the gold", impoverishing a whole nation in the process.

You keep avoiding the question.   What are Babangida's QUALIFICATIONS?  And PLEASE spare me your usual "understands Nigeria" crap and be scientific.  Only accountable people deserve political office.

The Tinapa Business Resort construction site (August 2006)  Folks this is only phase 1 of 3.  Phase 1 has shopping emporia, arts and craft villages (to employ the poor), hotels, water parks, cinemas, restaurants,  spa, riverfront terraces, and a Film Recording Studio, among many other things,  The World Bank is said to be so impressed it offered to finance a monorail which would connect Tinapa zone with Calabar Airport!   
An economic transformation in the Calabar and CRS area is expected to come out of this development which aspires to attract tourists/traders from throughout West and Central Africa.  As a result Calabar will become a hub of economic activities resembling such cities as Dubai, Macao, etc. in the near future.

[img]http://www.tinapa.com/scripts/piclibrary/ShowPicture.asp?imType=low&pl_id=300[/img]

[img]http://www.tinapa.com/scripts/piclibrary/ShowPicture.asp?imType=low&pl_id=296[/img]

Celemel, looking forward to seeing your photos of Calabar. To be fair and honest, I think Calabar city itself (today) lacks world-class hotels as there is only the Mirage and Metropolitan to choose from. I find this bizarre considering what a man of Duke's calibre can do to attract 4 or 5-star hotel franchises to the city, Do you have any comments about this? A real tourism industry can only thrive in the presence of excellent accomodation facilities.

I found it peculiar that nobody touched upon the simple fact that Cross River State has recorded the FASTEST economic growth rate for any Nigerian state since 1999.  Here is the simple score card:

CRS has:

1- Achieved total rural electrification in less than 5 years.
2- Rehabilitated existing roads and paved new ones, CCECC (reliable Chinese company) was involved.
2- Attracted hundreds of million of dollars in foreign direct investment.
3- Implemented the ONLY civil servant total health insurance planin Nigeria, managed by a German specialized company.
4- Kick-started the tourism industry with Tinapa, Obudu Ranch Resort, Water Park, Canopy Walk (first of its kind in Nigeria) and the infamous Obudu Cable Car.  The yearly Obudu Mountain Race Challenge now attracts athletes from all over the world, and the prize is the highest of its kind (50,000 USD).
5- Lobbied FGN to dredge Calabar port to sustain and support future economic activities (dredging started).
6- Arik Air, Fresh Airlines, and soon Virgin Nigeria will be flying daily to Calabar.  Testimony to a dynamic, growing economy.


The man accorded above achievments is largely Mr. Donald Duke.   If the above is not an impressive score card for any politician in Nigeria today, I frankly don't know what is.

Donald Dule is the natural next president of Nigeria and all cynics here should stand up and answer the call for responsible government. Your vote counts.  Your attitude counts.  Being hopeful and realizing Nigeria deserves the best.   IBB, Odili, Attah, and all the rest are substandard politicians who failed miserably in their mandates and should never be given a second chance.

Go Donald Duke