₦airaland Forum

my Love for God

na GENERAL una dey call MR Olukolade?

Nigeria Travel Warning
LAST UPDATED: AUGUST 8, 2014
The Department of State warns U.S.
citizens of the risks of travel to Nigeria and
recommends that U.S. citizens avoid all
travel to Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states
because of the May 14, 2013 state of
emergency proclamation for those three
states by the Government of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria. The security situation in
the country remains fluid and unpredictable.
The U.S. Department of State strongly urges
U.S. citizens in Nigeria to keep personal safety
and health in the forefront of their planning.
This Travel Warning replaces the Travel
Warning for Nigeria dated January 8, 2014.
The ability of the Mission to provide assistance
to U.S. citizens remains severely limited. The
Department continues to recommend against
all but essential travel to the following states
due to the risk of kidnappings, robberies, and
other armed attacks: Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno,
Gombe, Kano, and Yobe States. The Department
also advises travelers to exercise additional
caution while traveling in Abia, Akwa Ibom,
Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna,
Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto,
and Zamfara States. Based on safety and
security risk assessments, the Embassy
maintains restrictions for travel by U.S.
officials to those states listed above; officials
must receive advance clearance by the U.S.
Mission for any travel deemed as mission-
essential. U.S. citizens should be aware that
extremist groups could expand their operations
beyond northern Nigeria to other areas of the
country.
The U.S. Mission advises all U.S. citizens to be
particularly vigilant around government
security facilities; churches, mosques, and
other places of worship; locations where large
crowds may gather, such as hotels, clubs, beer
parlors, restaurants, markets, shopping malls;
and other areas frequented by expatriates and
foreign travelers. Security measures in Nigeria
remain heightened due to threats posed by
extremist groups, and U.S. citizens may
encounter police and military checkpoints,
additional security, and possible road blocks
throughout the country.
Boko Haram, an extremist group based in
northeast Nigeria and designated as a Foreign
Terrorist Organization by the Department of
State, has claimed responsibility for many
attacks, mainly in northern Nigeria. This
includes two recent vehicle-borne improvised
explosive devices detonated in Nyanya, a
suburb of the capital of Abuja, that resulted in
approximately 100 combined deaths in April
and May of 2014. The first months of 2014
have seen a continued increase in Boko Haram
attacks and clashes with Nigerian government
security forces in northern Nigeria. Boko
Haram has also targeted women and children
for kidnapping, reportedly kidnapping women
in northern states for marriage as “slave
brides,” and kidnapping more than 200 school
girls from a private school in Borno state.
Boko Haram is known to descend on whole
towns, robbing banks and businesses, attacking
police and military installations, and setting
fire to private homes. In 2013, extremists also
targeted both Nigerians and foreign nationals
involved in polio eradication efforts in
northern Nigeria, leaving several U.S.
government partner agencies working on
public health development activities in
northern Nigeria to curtail their vaccination
efforts. Furthermore, U.S. citizen missionaries
in northern Nigeria have received specific
written threats to their safety and well-being.
Various curfews are intermittently in effect in
several states in the North. All U.S. citizens
should remain aware of current situations
including curfews, travel restrictions, and
states of emergency in the areas you are in or
plan to visit. This information is commonly
announced via the news media, but at times it
can change with very little notice. Please take
the time to find out this information for your
area.
Kidnappings remain a security concern
throughout the country. Since the beginning of
2013, there have been multiple reports of
kidnappings involving U.S. citizens.
Kidnappings of foreign nationals and attacks
against Nigerian police forces in Lagos State
and the Niger Delta region continue to affect
personal security for those traveling in these
areas. Criminals or militants have abducted
foreign nationals, including U.S. citizens, from
off-shore and land-based oil facilities and
maritime vessels, residential compounds, and
public roadways. Ansaru, an offshoot of Boko
Haram, has specifically targeted foreigners in
the north for kidnap in the past few years with
lethal outcomes.
Violent crimes occur throughout the country.
U.S. citizen visitors and residents have
experienced armed muggings, assaults,
burglaries, armed robberies, car-jackings,
rapes, kidnappings, and extortion. Home
invasions also remain a serious threat, with
armed robbers accessing even guarded
compounds by scaling perimeter walls,
accessing waterfront compounds by boat,
following residents or visitors, or subduing
guards to gain entry to homes or apartments.
Law enforcement authorities usually respond
slowly or not at all and provide little or no
investigative support to victims. U.S. citizens,
other foreign nationals, and Nigerians have
experienced harassment and shakedowns at
checkpoints and during encounters with
Nigerian law enforcement officials. The
Department advises against traveling outside of
major cities after dark because of crime and
road safety concerns.
Cell phone service has, at times, been
disrupted in Nigeria, particularly in areas
where a State of Emergency has been declared.
Extremists have also been known to attack
cellular telephone towers, leading to further
disruptions. U.S. citizens should attempt to
arrange for multiple means of communication
in case of need during emergencies.
The Embassy is not able to offer medical
treatment to travelers; however, it can provide
a list of medical facilities that may be able to
treat U.S. citizens with medical emergencies.
In July 2014, the U.S. Embassy in Abuja
reported confirmed cases of Ebola Virus
Disease (EVD) in Nigeria. Since that time, new
reports of deaths and confirmed and suspected
cases of persons with EVD or Ebola-like
symptoms have been reported. For further
information on the Ebola virus, U.S. citizens
should consult the Centers for Disease Control
(CDC) and Prevention website
and also visit the U.S. Embassy website to
review Security Messages addressing the Ebola
virus in Nigeria. On August 5, the CDC issued a
Travel Notice advising enhanced health and
hygiene precautions for travelers to Nigeria
due to the Ebola virus. On July 31, the CDC
issued Travel Notices warning against
nonessential travel to Guinea, Liberia, and
Sierra Leone due to the Ebola virus.
The Department strongly advises U.S. citizens
who travel to or reside in Nigeria to enroll in
the State Department's Smart Traveler
Enrollment Program (STEP) . U.S. citizens
without internet access may enroll directly
with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
The U.S. Embassy in Abuja is located at:
Plot 1075 Diplomatic Drive, Central District
Area, and can be reached by telephone,
including after-hours for emergencies, at
234(9)461-4000. The Embassy is open Monday
- Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Friday
7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The U.S. Consulate
General in Lagos is located at: 2 Walter
Carrington Crescent, Victoria Island, and can
be reached by telephone, including after-hours
for emergencies, at 234(1)460-3600 or 234 (1)
460-3400. The Consulate is open Monday -
Thursday from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and
Friday 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. U.S. citizens
should contact the U.S. Embassy in Abuja or
the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos for up-to-
date information on any restrictions.

Potential Implications for Travel Because of
Ebola in Parts of West Africa
LAST UPDATED: AUGUST 28, 2014
The Department of State alerts U.S. citizens
to screening procedures, travel restrictions,
and reduced aviation transportation options
in response to the outbreak of Ebola Virus
Disease in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and
Sierra Leone.
This Travel Alert will expire on
February 27, 2015.

Due to an outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)
in the West African nations of Liberia, Guinea,
and Sierra Leone, the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) issued Level 3
Travel Warnings for those three countries
advising against non-essential travel and
provided guidance to reduce the potential for
spread of EVD. The CDC also issued a Level 2
Travel Alert for Nigeria to notify travelers of
the Ebola outbreak in that country. The Bureau
of Consular Affairs’ website prominently
features an Ebola Fact Sheet and links to the
CDC Health Travel Warnings, Travel Alert, and
general guidance about Ebola.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and CDC
have also published and provided interim
guidance to public health authorities, airlines,
and other partners in West Africa for
evaluating risk of exposure of persons coming
from countries affected by EVD. Measures can
include screening, medical evaluation,
movement restrictions up to 21 days, and
infection control precautions. Travelers who
exhibit symptoms indicative of possible Ebola
infection may be prevented from boarding and
restricted from traveling for the 21-day
period. Please note neither the Department of
State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs nor the U.S.
Embassy have authority over quarantine issues
and cannot prevent a U.S. citizen from being
quarantined should local health authorities
require it. For questions about quarantine,
please visit the CDC website that addresses
quarantine and isolation issues.

The cost for a medical evacuation is very
expensive. We encourage U.S. citizens
travelling to Ebola-affected countries to
purchase travel insurance that includes
medical evacuation for Ebola Virus Disease
(EVD). Policy holders should confirm the
availability of medical care and evacuation
services at their travel destinations prior to
travel.
Some local, regional, and international air
carriers have curtailed or temporarily
suspended service to or from Ebola-affected
countries. U.S. citizens planning travel to or
from these countries, in accordance with the
CDC Health Travel Warnings and Health Travel
Alert, should contact their airline to verify seat
availability, confirm departure schedules,
inquire about screening procedures, and be
aware of other airline options.
The Department is aware that some countries
have put in place procedures relating to the
travel of individuals from the affected
countries, including complete travel bans.
Changes to existing procedures may occur with
little or no notice. Please consult your airline
or the embassy of your destination country for
additional information.

Heard on radio 90.9 FM this evening that he donated N1Million to support "the ministry".

2prexios: I did my broda.

He always believe that with what he has, he should just break even, but I used to think success is more than good expectations: success is diligence, it is curiosity, it is flight or fight, but most of all it is building yourself up as the climax and not building your climax around something else.

It is perseverance too.

true one bro

Boland: @ Op, I believe that even if some1 had been a sinner all his life and he repented in his last minute of life, he can be saved.

u might not have the chance to even say JESUS! Procastination is the thief of time.

gsalvatore: Are you sure? Cos that amount is like standard amongst lawyer trying to do it for some one.

So You mean with 10k will be able to register my company name under LTD.?

How long does it take if yes?

A lawyer will definetly charge for his services. But its something dat anyone even you can do. 10K is what the registration costs besides sale of form, business name availability, court stampings plus ur transport to and fro. Thats why some people prefer to pay xtra and get it delivered to them.

gsalvatore: Wait a min!
"2
Registration of private company with share
capital of N1million or less
N10,000.00"

Is this not the Lowest form of LtD?
With 3 directors or so, if you get what i mean..

If so Na wahala ooo...person say make i bring 80k for am

Reply me abeg..

Correct and confirmed bro

OprMgt: @Op. Gd job.

I'm beginning to wonder why some sensible topics are nt featured on NL fp! Dis is a kind of topic dat can really impact an average Nigerian & get them well-informed.

Of what benefit is Tonto Dike @ 50, etc to an average Nigerian. It only gives edge to d critics of dis great platform to continue propagating "Seun is a fat boy while Linda Ikeja is a slim girl"......

D mods, pls do d needful. We need info like dis on fp.

lol. seun is a fat boy!

sirrinky: I am an entrepreneur and as such i dabble into alot of business,and part of doing my civic duties i try to get all my business duly registered and have a tax system worked out. But one very annoying thing so far has been the attitude and efficiency of the CAC staff in Benin City. I have been trying now to run two availabulity search now for over two months and they have been coming back with the same excuse."Our Server Is Down ".I have tried to be very patient but its becoming really annoying,how can a government agency just go dark for close to 2 months and no one is being dealth with for it? at the end of the day they still collect salaries. Its just annoying. I dont know if anyone has had the experience of late but its really frustrating

Its a national issue.

DaWorshiper: Thank God.
.
.
.
Chaiii, na me be this??
Today is my birthday, and here i am on the front page and first to coment. It's a sign of good things to come... I won't say much but THANK U JESUS!

after u don book space in case e reach FP ba?

[quote author=tonjeola][/quote]Go the nearest CAC office to and ask for name avaliability form. Its N500. It might take 3-10 working days to get confirmation.

fizcoo20: hello. am planning to hav my own company sooon by God Grace. i want to start from somewhere, at d longrun i will flourish. how much will it cost me to hav my company to be register. kindly send ur remarks. tanks. d forum is very interesting.

Depends on what you want to start with. Business name, NGO, Public or Private LLC?.

adehsenior: Thanks for the information,please where can i lay my complain about this because i wanted to actually register a business name and i was told that name reservation is 5,000 naira so i decided to delay till i am ready for that.Because i believe the staff here are just exploiting people.

If it is possible for you to go back to their office and let them know that their official website contains relevant info abt the registration and that reservation is N500 while registration is N10000.
Let them know that you know. If they still insist, then send a complaint mail to their official email on the website. The email should include the state office address.
Its possible someone there just want to make sharp runs.

chelseabmw: Instead of creating this topic, why not go to Chelsea group thread to ask this same question?

I decided to create A NEW TOPIC as we all do. thanks

The foundation's CEO has hinted that they will be donating 50 million dollars to help fight Ebola menance in West Africa.

http://www.gatesfoundation.org/

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1475069179434231&id=1410720899202393&refsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gatesfoundation.org%2F&_rdr

Finepaparazy: WHICH OF THESE BEST SELLERS BOOKS...
WOULD YOU BUY

1. How to Look handsome by
Obasanjo

2. Secret of Successful Marriage
by Pastor Chris O

3. Foods that wil make you
Grow Tall by Osita Iheme

4. MyLove for Nigeria by
Abubakar Sheakeau

5. Tips to get Married by
Genevieve Nnaji

6.The Joy of Poverty by Aliko
Dangote

7.Tips for Passing ur English
Language by Patience Jonathan.

8. Good Governance by Gov T A Orji.

9. The Poeple are my Friends
by Ebola

Drop your favourite book..

Successful Presidential Spokesman by Abati

2prexios: this is great information resource.

A stitch in time saves nine. How I wish I did register my business name at 2009, then it used to be N4000, but I have to spend extra N6000 on it to get the business incorporated, though its just a business name and not limited liability.

Sometimes, if you are not gunning for bigger contracts, you can start small with business names that ends with concept, holdings, enterprises and so on with corporate affairs commission. Read more here...http://nigeria-wealth..com/

But try be creative when penning your "importer and exporter" stuff, remember to put "General contractor". So you can still use the business name to submit quotes or vie for contract some day, when your friend becomes the governor.

Wow. nice one bro

Petr Cech has hardly featured in the special one's side. The same for Mikel("though hin dey get small small minutes play"). One would have thought they would have been featured in yesterday's Champions League match, but Alas! Bench Warmers they were! And Morinho is NOT SAYING ANYTHING!

adehsenior: As i can see from the above i believe my eyes are not deceiving me, name reservation is 500 naira, but Coporate Affairs Commission in Jalingo,Taraba State capital is charging 5,000 for name reservation pls a need help how do you explain that.
Please your response will go a long way in helping small businesses register their business name.
Thanks

Reservation simply means "booking" your business name so that no one uses it. It costs N500
Registration is now registering your "booked" business name which is N10000.
Any charges apart from the sales of forms is fraud.

This is for those who intend to visot their office in the nearest future.
Note:
Individual/Proprietors, Directors, Trustees can register business
names , public or private limited or unlimited liability companies without the services of the legal
practitioner,chartered Accountant or
Chartered Secretary.

TRANSACTIONS
Company
S/N
SUBJECT
FEES in Naira (₦)
1
Reservation of Name
N500.00
2
Registration of private company with share
capital of N1million or less
N10,000.00
3
Registration of private company/Increase in
Share Capital above N1million and upto
N500million
N5,000.00 for every N1million share capital
or part thereof
4
Registration of private company/Increase in
share capital above N500million
N7,500.00 for every N1million share capital
or part thereof
5
Registration of Public company/Increase in
share capital
N20,000.00 for the first N1million share
capital or part thereof
6
Registration of Public Company/Increase in
share capitalabove N1million and upto
N500million
N10,000.00 for every N1million share capital
or part thereof
7
Registration of Public Company/increase in
share capital above N500million
N15,000.00 for every N1million share capital
or part thereof
8
Registration of Company not having a share
capital
N20,000.00
9
Filing of notice of exemption of foreign
Companies from Registration
N30,000.00
10
Re-instatement/Relisting of company name
N25,000.00
11
Registration of charges for private company
N10,000.00 for every N1million or part
thereof
12
Registration of charges for public company
N20,000.00 for every 1Million or part thereof
13
Filing of annual return for a small Company
N2,000.00
14
Filing of annual return for Private company
other than a small company
N3,000.00
15
Filing of annual return for public company
N5,000.00
16
Filing of annual return for company Limited by
Guarantee
N5,000.00
17
Filing of annual report by foreign companies
N5,000.00
18
Filing of statement in form of schedule 14
under section 553
N10,000.00
19
Filing of notice of merger/acquisition
N50,000.00
20
Filing of special resolution for merger
N20,000.00
21
Filing of other documents relating to merger
N10,000.00
22
Filing of statutory declaration of solvency
N5,000.00
23
Registration of appointment of liquidator
N10,000.00
24
Registration of resolution for winding up
N10,000.00
25
Filing of return of final meeting and account of
liquidation
N5,000.00
26
Filing of notice of change of company name
N10,000.00
27
Filing of notice of alteration of memorandum
and articles of association
N5,000.00
28
Filing of notice of changes in particulars of
directors
N2,000.00
29
Filing of return of allotment and or notice of
change in shareholding
N2,000.00
30
Filing of notice of change in registered address
N2,000.00
31
Filing of notice of appointment of receiver
N10,000.00
32
Filing of notice of discharge of receiver
N5,000.00
33
Filing of notice of change of signature
N2,000.00
34
Filing of notice of reduction in share capital by
public company
N20,000.00
35
Filing of notice of reduction in share capital by
private company
N10,000.00
36
Filing of deed of release by public company
N10,000.00
37
Fiiling of deed of release by private company
N5,000.00
38
Application for extension of time for holding
of annual general meeting by public company
N10,000.00
39
Application for extension of time for holding
of annual general meeting by private company
N5,000.00
40
Express company registration service
N50,000.00 (excluding filing fee)
41
Letter of Good Standing
N10,000.00
42
Other filings (miscellaneous)
N2,000.00
43
Certified true copy of certificate of registration
N10,000.00
44
Certified true copies of memorandum and
articles of association
N3,000.00
45
Electronic Search
N1,000.00per company
46
Manual Search by customers
N2,000.00 per company file
47
Manual Search Report prepared by officers of
the Commission
N5,000.00
48
Certified true copies of other documents
N2,000.00 per document
49
Consent for Restricted Names
N5,000.00
Business Name
S/N
SUBJECT
FEES in Naira (₦)
50
Reservation of Name
500
51
Registration of business name
10,000.00
52
Filing of notice of change of business name
5,000.00
53
Filing of notice of change in business address
1,000.00
54
Filing of notice of change in proprietorship
1,000.00
55
Filing of annual return
1,000.00
56
Filing of notice of cessation of business
1,000.00
57
Filing of other documents (miscellaneous)
1,000.00
58
Search on business name file
1,000.00 per business name file
59
Certified true copy of business name
certificate of registration
5,000.00
60
Certified true copies of other documents
2,000.00 per document
Incorporated Trustee
S/N
SUBJECT
FEES in Naira (₦)
61
Reservation of Name
500
62
Incorporation of trustees
30,000.00
63
Filing of notice of change of name
10,000.00
64
Filing of notice of change in trustees
10,000.00
65
Filing of notice of amendment of constitution
6,000.00
66
Filing of annual return
5,000.00
67
Filing of notice of court order for dissolution
of incorporated trustees
5,000.00
68
Filing of other documents (miscellaneous)
1,000.00
69
Search on incorporated trustees file
2,000.00
70
Certified true copy of certificate of
incorporation
10,000.00
71
Certifed true copy of constitution
5,000.00
72
Certified true copy of incorporation form
2,000.00
73
Certified true copies of other documents
2,000.00 per document
PENALTIES
Company
S/N
SUBJECT
FEES in Naira (₦)
1
Late filing of increase in share capital of public
company
10,000
2
Late filing of increase in share capital of
private company
5,000.00
3
Late filing of annual return for small company
3,000.00 per year
4
Late filing of annual return for a private
company other than a small company
5,000.00 per year
5
Late filing of annual return for public company
10,000 per year
6
Late filing of annual return for Company
Limited by Guarantee
5,000.00 per year
7
Late filing of statement in form of schedule 14
under section 553
100.00 per day for each director, company
secretary and company
8
Late filing of notice of appointment of
liquidator
5,000.00
9
Late filing of resolution for winding up
500.00 for each director and the company
secretary
10
Late filing of notice of change of company
name
5,000.00
11
Late filing of notice in alteration of
memorandum and articles of association
5,000.00
12
Late filing of notice/deed of release
5,000
13
Late filing of notice of changes in particulars
of directors
5,000.00
14
Late filing of return of allotment by public
company
10,000.00
15
Late filing of return of allotment by private
company
5,000.00
16
Late filing of notice of change in shareholding
5,000.00
17
Late filing of notice of change in registered
address
50.00 per day for every director, company
secretary and company
18
Late filing of charges by public company
10,000.00
19
Late filing of charges by private company
5,000.00
20
Late filing of other documents (miscellaneous)
5,000.00
Business Name
S/N
SUBJECT
FEES in Naira (₦)
21
Late filing of change of business name
50.00 per proprietor
22
Late filing of notice of change in business
address
50.00 per proprietor
23
Late filing of notice of change in
proprietorship
50.00 per proprietor
24
Late filing of annual return
2,500.00
25
Late filing of notice of cessation of business
1,000
Incorporated Trustees
S/N
SUBJECT
FEES in Naira (₦)
26
Late filing of annual return
5,000.00
FORMS
Company
S/N
SUBJECT
FEES in Naira (₦)
1
Set of incorporation forms
500.00
2
Others
100.00 per form
Business Name
S/N
SUBJECT
FEES in Naira (₦)
1
Registration form
250.00
2
Others
100.00 per form
Incorporated Trustees
S/N
SUBJECT
FEES in Naira (₦)
1
Set of incorporation forms
1,000.00
2
Others
100.00 per form
Accreditation
5,000.00

new.cac.gov.ng/home/summary-of-fees-and-forms/

Mikel will score hat trick 2morow!

Ukutsgp: we love Jonathan. we need Jonathan. Jonathan till 2040.

2040? i GEJ diehard!

Mention: Make I comment first

Comment ke!

It all started when Nigerians woke up one
recent fictional morning to find the
newspapers full of adverts by a group that
called itself the Sensible Nigeria Coalition. The
adverts called for a citizen-led National
Conference at which Nigerians would debate
and determine the most important qualities
needed in the “Ideal Candidate” for the
Presidency of their country.
According to the advert, “As the election
season approaches, we are convinced that
there are few things more critical at this time
than subjecting the bumpy road to the
Nigerian Presidency to a painstaking stress
test. Surely, there must be a better way of
travelling that road than what we have been
subjected to by the government-endorsed
antics of the powerful group of shameless
jokers known as ‘Transformation Ambassadors’
– who should more accurately be labelled
‘Sycophants Earnestly Ask for Goodluck.” (It of
course wasn’t lost on many that SEAG,
pronounced as a word, becomes “siege.” )
It continued: “It also hasn’t helped that the so-
called ‘Opposition’ is itself being neither
sensible nor strategic in the way it carries on
with its business of presenting an alternative
road to the presidential villa. An opposition
party that knee-jerks a response to every
national conundrum hardly inspires much
confidence.”
The advert ended by highlighting the fact that
the Sensible Nigeria Coalition is a resolutely
non-partisan group, and banned mentions of
names of political parties in its proposed
conference.
When the conference finally kicked off, the
first idea for deliberation revolved around
presidential ambition. How important is it for
Nigeria to have a President who really wants to
be President, and understands, before getting
into office, what it may mean to be President;
as opposed to an “accidental” President?
One delegate took the time to repeat the
popular narrative about how no elected
President of Nigeria started out really wanting
to be President – apart from M.K.O. Abiola.
Shehu Shagari had his eyes on the Senate;
Olusegun Obasanjo just wanted to enjoy his
status as an ex-prisoner; Umaru Yar’Adua
looked forward to enjoying political retirement
and attending to his health, and all Goodluck
Jonathan really wanted to be when he was
drafted to be Vice-President, was Governor.
Even with the military leaders, apart from a
few exceptions, most had no ambitions to be
Head of State, and benefited from coup d’états
conceived and carried out by other persons.
(But of course when all these persons got into
office, quitting honourably always became a
problem.)
Hardly had that delegate finished his thesis
than dissenting voices commenced a shouting
down. “Ambition is overrated!” they argued.
“Babangida and Abacha spent much of their
careers wanting to rule Nigeria. See what they
did to us!”
The conference deliberated on that point for a
while, and failed to reach an agreement on the
how the section relating to presidential
ambition should be worded. What they all
wasted no time agreeing upon was the
proposal that anybody who claims to be
waiting on God for a decision as to whether to
run for public office should automatically be
disqualified and shown the way to a seminary
or “madrasah” with alacrity. “God certainly
needs such a person more than Nigeria does,”
someone quipped.
After that, it was time to move on to the
specific personality and character traits,
beyond ambition, that would be needed in the
Ideal Nigerian President. The conversation
went as follows:
Someone with Muhammadu Buhari’s much-
touted incorruptibility. It was agreed that
while there are no saints in Nigeria, Buhari
stood out for the way he had managed to earn
a reputation for honesty and integrity in a
country where elite banditry is a way of life.
“Buhari does seem like a man who would have
no qualms taking unpopular decisions in the
fight against corruption,” someone said. “And
under him Big Man Bandits will not get the
kind of overt presidential protection they’re
currently getting, and which they also got
under Obasanjo and Yar’Adua.”
Someone with Obasanjo’s energy and
decisiveness. As the proponent of this idea
explained, during the Obasanjo Presidency,
there was hardly ever any doubt that Obasanjo
was in power; the man on whose table the
buck stopped. Of course, Obasanjo often took
that decisiveness too far, so that he often
believed it was his duty to have the final say in
matters that were none of his business – like
the choices of Senate President and Speaker.
“But in the years since Baba left office,
Nigerians have come to realise just how
important that quality is. They need a
President who is seated on the boat, bellowing
directions, not one flailing incompetently in
the water, waiting for the storm to subside by
itself.”
To balance the potential excesses of that
Obasanjo “gra-gra”, delegates agreed that
Nigeria also needs someone with the gentleness
of Goodluck. As one woman put it: “To the
man who is a General, everything is war,
including elections. Under President Jonathan,
the quality of elections in the country has
improved remarkably, because he has
refrained from the iron grip of Obasanjo. That
quality of a lamb has its place in a country
where power is almost always wielded as a tool
of oppression.”
Another person countered the gentleness
argument: “That gentleness is not good o.
Nigeria doesn’t need a lamb President. You and
I know we are animals in this country, and
deserve to be treated like that. In this jungle,
we need the King of the Jungle,” someone said,
to protests from around the hall. Before the
speaker was shouted down, he managed to
mention that it was the so-called “easygoing-
ness” of the current President that “saddled us
with a Petroleum Minister who delights in
pumping controversy and disdain the way
Nigeria’s oil wells pump crude.”
Someone with Yakubu Gowon’s sense of
nationhood and national reconciliation. Gowon
was the man upon whom it fell to prosecute a
bloody civil war that bitterly divided Nigeria.
Following the war, he launched an ambitious
reconciliation drive summed up in, “No Victor
No Vanquished” and “Go On With One Nigeria”
campaigns.
The proponent of this Gowon requirement said:
“Nigeria requires a man or woman who is
President of the entire country, and does not
involve himself in acts that divide the country
along religious or ethnic lines. President
Jonathan has done nothing to demonstrate that
he is anything other than an Ijaw President
who likes taking pictures in churches. This is a
big and diverse country, and anyone aspiring
to rule it must understand that.”
Someone with Tafawa Balewa’s eloquence. This
was a rather controversial element, judging by
the reactions that followed. Conference
participants were asked by the proponents of
this idea to listen to clips of Prime Minister
Tafawa Balewa speaking during a 1961 official
trip to the United States.
“No, we don’t want that,” someone quickly
protested. “Why should a Nigerian be speaking
as if he was born by the Queen of England. We
should be proud of our tongue.” “No, that’s
not the point,” another person said. “It’s not
how he talks, but what he says. Can you hear
the confidence and assuredness with which he
addressed a joint session of the United States
Senate and Congress? That’s what we’re talking
about!”
Before long, the Conference came to agree that
the leading politicians of the First Republic
were mostly talented public speakers, who
often said (and wrote) memorable things.
“Ahmadu Bello, Tafawa Balewa, Obafemi
Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Ladoke Akintola –
for all their flaws, these were knowledgeable,
worldly men, who understood the world and
their place in it,” someone said.
“We have come a long way downhill,” rued
another person. “Imagine Tafawa Balewa, who
wowed America with his eloquence more than
50 years ago, coming on national TV to chant
“America will know! America will know!”
The conference concluded that while Nigeria
doesn’t need in its President the “golden voice”
of Balewa, and is not likely to get an Obama,
the country certainly needs someone whose
knowledgeable and wise and confident and
empathetic words can rally the country to
aspire to greater things.
Just before the conference ended – this was no
three-month jamboree at state expense, by the
way – someone tried to chip in something
about the kind of First Lady Nigeria needs.
But the poor fellow was quickly silenced by a
livid group of women who said: “Sit down, Mr.
Man! Why are you assuming, in 2014, that the
‘man’ Nigeria needs cannot be a woman?”

http://www.punchng.com/opinion/the-ideal-nigerian-president/

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Let the screenshots speak for themselves