Tuesday 28 April 2009

Group prays S’Court to uphold Andy Uba’s appeal:In Nigeria Due Process and Rule of Law probably stand for corruption


A human rights organization, Campaigners for Democracy, Due Process and Rule of Law (CDDRL) had faulted the position of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), on the fresh suit filed by former Governor Andy Uba of Anambra State before the Supreme Court.

Dr Uba had gone back to the apex court, seeking among others, a judicial pronouncement to set aside the court’s earlier decision that brought his administration to an abrupt end.
The group, in a joint statement, signed by Barristers Oladele Agoyun and Victor Anyanwu, chairman and general secretary respectively, advised the APGA chieftain, Chief Victor Umeh, not to bring politics into judicial matters, saying the Supreme Court, had on several occasions been reversing its judgment.

The learned justices of the Supreme Court are men of integrity. Before this particular case, they had on several occasions reversed their judgments. Moreover, in Uba’s case, the Supreme Court did not declare the votes cast for Ubah as unlawful and unconstitutional.

It, therefore, appealed to the apex court, to let justice prevail and reverse its decision to enable Ubah enjoy the mandate given to him by the people of Anambra State.
Speaking in an interview with Daily Sun on the issue on whether or not the Supreme Court can reverse its judgment, a Lagos-based constitutional lawyer, Chief Fred Agbaje, said: “Yes, only God is final but constitutionally, our Supreme Court decision is final, adding that the apex court can reverse its decision......”
Read more under the news update column.
Yap! yap! yap! Another masquerade in town. Campaigenrs for gini...?

The slogan of this present administration has been due process and rule of law but instead of due process and rule of law, all we have got is undue process and unlawful rule. It was under the cloak of due process and rule of law that the first attack at Ribadu was launched by Chief Andoakaa before the full scale assault as planned by Ibori was unveiled.

The AFC saga and investigation of Soludo which was a fault finding mission meant to give the a dog a name and hang him was blamed on due process. We are yet to see the report of the investigation. The project which was reported to have started yielding some dividends in the form interest was killed and the money invested was recovered probably for sharing among the dupes otherwise what is their grouse. let us share everything and leave nothing behind. Strong foreign reserve for Nigeria is meaningless to them since they are yet to have strong enough foreign reserves in all the countries including our famous Switzerland. How pathetic?

Under the umbrella of due process and rule of law, the freedom of information bill which would have enable the fight corruption has been swept under the carpet. The honourable or dishonourable reps kept citing one process or rule that has been breached to avoid debating or voting on the bill.

Yet again under the umbrella of due process and his cousin rule of law Andoakaa has refused to sanction the trial of one of the greatest fraud in the past and present administration chief Ibori in London.

Under the same Umbrella, Igbinedion another fraud of the past administration was let of with a slap on the wrist fine.

Under the umbrella of due process and rule of law, the report of the power probe which would have roped in some of the untouchables was allowed to rot. Uncle Musa claims he does not want to interfere with the affairs of the house citing rule of law. I wish it has always been like that.

Under the umbrella of rule of law and due process ... ... How far will this administration go to blackmail due process and rule of law before they are satisfied?

Poor things, rule of law and due process would be grieving where ever they are.

Now a human right organisation has called itself Campaigners for Democracy, Due Process and Rule of Law (CDDRL). The can as well call themselves cinderalla for all I care but it is not difficult for any one to know who is behind the masquerade? Who will not know the kind of human rights they will campaign for? Just like they have started campaigning for a terrorist in Anambra state, they will stop at nothing to destroy the rights of all humans in Nigeria. That is if we have rights in the first place. Otherwise the lawful votes of millions of Nigerians would have been allowed to count in all election processes.
Did they say democracy? A group that call themselves a campaign for democracy, due process and rule of law is supporting a man know for rigging election?

Where were they whe he was rigging election? Even though the election has been declared null and void.

Where were they when Andy was sponsoring mayhem against his own people or is that what they mean by democracy or demo-crazy?? Kidnapping a sitting governor and destruction of public property? Is that what we call democracy? Kidding me right?
We know who the human rights organisation is. We know the campaigners. We know them that will not let peace reign. Andy Uba, how much will be enough for you?
http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2009/apr/28/national-28-04-2009-04.htm

Monday 27 April 2009

Malaria: W’Bank Gives Additional $300m to Nigeria,What next?


The World Bank has unveiled plans to provide an additional US$300 million in International Development Association (IDA) funding to expand Nigeria's efforts to control malaria.
Combined with Nigeria's initial ‘Malaria Plus’ package of US$180 million (approved in 2006), the bank’s support to Nigeria is expected to approach US$500 million, which would make it the largest single-country malaria control investment in the bank's history.
According to a news release made available to PANA, the global financial group’s Managing Director, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, made the announcement Saturday at the One World against Malaria Summit in Washington DC.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa'adu Abubakar; Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, capital city, John Onaiyekan; Minister of Health, Babatunde Osotimehin; and National Malaria Control Programme Coordinator, T.O. Sofola, also participated in the launch......


This is a very good development. May be we should start jumping up and shouting alleluia. Not very fast guys wait a minute! I say make you wait jare make I yarn!I wish to applaud the world bank for its initiative and its good natured programme that aims to make live better for the less priviledged. The article said that this $300m will bring up to $500m the amount they have released for this programme in Nigeria.That is quite impressive and commendable. However, it will be interesting to know that it is not only the World bank that have been donating towards the eradication and control of malaria in Nigeria. Companies like AstraZeneca have done their bit in areas of drug donations.Co-artem was donated by them and I think they still do. The chinese government had also in the past donated some drugs like Cotecxin.
Kudos to all of them. I just mentioned these other people to tell my jubilating friends that it is not yet uhuru. More than that has been spent in the past and it does not appear like there is any in road. The burden is still much and many die every minute. The surface is yet be scratched. The reason why we are wearing the expensive clothing and are still naked is that just as the announcement of the donation is made, the thieves in high places have done their mind calculation as to how much they would steal from the whole fund. Which means at the end of the day, the % of the fund that will get to the end users may be less that 20.
Let me give you an insight of what I mean. In a particular hospital, a large quantity of cotecxin was delivered to the hospital for free dispensing. First of all the amount of drugs which was supposed to be delivered was reduced and there was no explanations for that. Then when hospital had dispensed the half of the avalaible drugs, the remaining half disappeared to where they are sold at a price at which the poor people it is meant for cannot afford to buy. The hospital instituted a probe panel which did a nice job but the person indicted was given a slap on the wrist punishment and was let off.
This is exactly the way it happens from top to bottom. Those who are supposed to be the custodian of goodwill have turned to be the harbingers of evil just because of greed and avarice. When will these end? Some of them are hoarded by the men who are supposed to disbute them until they are expired if they are immediately convertible into money. Is this not wickedness?

The problem is that this thieves in high places are mentally poor and no matter how big the account balance is, they are always willing to steal more. There is no mercy in their hearts. People will be dying and their hard hearts will never condemn them. To them money is everything.
Why should we jubilate?

These monies stolen are used to fund campaigns and buy up arms and amunition with which to steal votes and kill those who resist. The issue of ecological fund which found its way from Plateau Sate to OBJ/Atiku campaign fund account easily comes to mind. We only heard about it because the wife refused her husband sex at night.

I am ashamed that a country as rich as Nigeria is still relying on western aid to tackle most of its internal problems and the leaders are not ashamed of that.

I am ashamed that it seems that even the so called intellectuals are caught up in the evil cycle of corruption violance. Does it mean that no one is willing to stand up for the masses? must everybody be selfish?
I am sure that there is not wrong with black race but I am still waiting for the present leaders to prove Lord Lugard wrong.

In 1926 he said of Nigerian or African '....He lacks the power of organisation, and is conspicuously deficient in the management and control alike of men or business. He loves the display of power, but fails to realize its responsibility ...'
Even though his views may be seen as supremacist then and now, I am yet to see why what he said is wrong as it applies to Nigeria. He has been proved wrong in Ghana at least in part if not as a whole but not yet in Nigeria.
Successive governmets in Nigeria have failed to organise and manage but they like the exercise power. As a result they can do anything to gain power or remain in power. They can deep their hands into monies meant for the welfare of the less privilegded and will not be ashamed to stand up and say they are fighting malaria. The accumulate the money in other to be worshiped yet they are still men and they grow poorer mentally.

Just look at the recent election in ekiti state. To think that Ekiti has a large number of the most educated people in south west makes one wonder what hope the entity Nigeria holds. A little rerun of election is not possible with up 10 thousand security men as claimed by INEC. Ghana is there conducting free and fair election and allowing opposition to win. In Nigeria, one can only dream of such.

No wonder the Nigerian goverment has refused to condem Mugabe. I feel sick that even the $300m will not cure me. The only thing that could cure me is if justice allowed to walk freely around among this elite thieves, the shameless pen robbers and hypcrites. It is only when justice is punishement is served them the way they deserve that my heart will be at rest. I know you reading could be an instrument. wake up and be counted.
Nigeria will be better if only you say noooooooooo! If only you can ask questions!
The cries of the babies and people who die of preventable sicknesses will never let them including you reading if you are involved enjoy the money meant for their prevention.

Hey! bro do you still wanna jump up? Go ahead and i beat the drum for you.

Friday 24 April 2009

S’Court to Constitute Full Panel on Uba’s Case:Andy Uba's Supreme Court?


The Supreme Court yesterday ruled that it would constitute a full panel to hear and determine the appeal brought by Chief Andy Uba asking the apex court to set aside its earlier judgment that ousted him as governor of Anambra State.
The incumbent governor of the state, Mr. Peter Obi, however said the issue in the appeal has been foreclosed, adding that any attempt to relitigate on the appeal is a mere abuse and a ploy to embarrass the court and the nation.
The decision of the court to constitute a full panel was based on the request by all the parties to the case who agreed that the best way to deal with the issue in the appeal was to have a full house of the court sitting.
Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu who presided over yesterday's sitting said there was no point wasting time on hearing the appeal piecemeal and that since parties already indicated readiness to have a full court, their request was granted.
On the panel that heard the constitutional....
The rest on the News update column

I am probably the least qualified to comment on the goings-on of our dear supreme court. However, the recent macabre dance which the Andy Uba has subjected the honourable justices of the supreme is bearing so much on my sanity. I have to say my mind as a layman not as a 'learned' man.
I was made to understand that the decision of a supreme court is final in any case. I have also observed that this has always been the case even outside Nigeria. I have not heard of a situation where the supreme court was forced to reverse itself. When that is done, it means that the supremacy of the 'supreme' is now questionable. it implies that no should expect a case to end just because the s'court has ruled. That is an invitation to unending litigation.

The council to the defendant in this appeal to me rightly pointed out that appealing to a supreme court is an abuse of court process and an embarrassment to the dignified institution. But who am I to say that the presiding justice was wrong by saying that no process has been abused.

It seems to me that someone is trying to talk from both sides of the mouth. I could remember that when this case of an appeal to set aside the the supreme court ruling was brought up about a year ago, the sitting justices promptly dismissed it as an affront to the presiding jury for alluding that their decision was flawed.(http://www.newswatchngr.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=442&Itemid=47) They insisted that Andy's council should have objected initially not after the ruling. I am wondering what has changed? I want to believe that so much water has not passed under the bridge because I still hold the S'court judges to high esteem. However, it appears to me that the reverse rule of law tantrum which the Federal government has adopted recently with the help of the rogue who parades himself as the chief justice of the federation is closing in on this particular case.

I am thinking that PDP have assumed they will not be able to wrestle Anambra from AC or APGA and have resorted to rule by all means by an alternative and illegal means which will bring this nation to ridicule? Not as if we have not been ridiculed before by their spurious actions.

This present action also suggests that Yar'Adua may have regreted allowing the removal of Uba from Anambra.

The people of Anambra state do not want Andy Uba, why impose him on them? Why the desperation to rule those who do not appreciate you? Andy Uba has subjected and is still subjecting Anambara state people to avoidable hardship due his carefully ochestrated incidences of terror which has he unleashed on the indigenes. He does not care about them he cares about himself.

Andy let Anambra people be. You have stolen enough.

Nairaland!


I was searching the web for a Nigerian forum sometime about 2 years ago when I came across the nairaland stuff. It was actually a topic 'Nigerians in the UK are so stingy' that I stumbled on.
http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-62827.160.html. I registered and started posting. Before then, I had seen other Nigerian websites but they were not as exciting as nairaland. Besides, those ones appeared more like regional forums meant for people in the US. It was easy to be ignored on coming on. My romance with those never lasted. I also think that Seun's base in Nigeria has helped him alot in fashioning what we need. It goes a long way to show that more effort is required from those at home than abroad to move Nigeria forward.

I changed my username after I gave it out to a friend who refused to make hers available. She was probably older than I was in the forum and was sending topics to me which i enjoyed reading. It was a great way to reconnect with naija which I was missing. That could have been a probably one of the reasons why nairaland is as successful as it is today. It serves as a meeting point for all Nigerians home and abroad. Seun welldone.
I have learnt so much about many things and about the character of Nigerians because of my membership of nairaland community.
The positive among them is the willingness with which people volunteer information and services that would cost dearly if one is to source for it from the professionals. The services are given by the professionals and they demand no payment. A glaring example is the thread, Doctor in the house:free medical advice http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-3465.0.html
Another one is the katikethi thread which has been awesome
http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-104493.0.html

In the computer section, IT experts are there solving everyday problems for members and non members alike who eavesdrop through the window.Many people sell and buy in nairaland market place

Then in the romance section there are many naughty guys who ply their trade in the sexuality subsection. Guys like tumufulu a.k.a i_laugh have a field day in irritating all the sisters. The ultimate brash seems to have changed his ways. As at press time I was still evaluating the born again claim by chamotex who I baptised chamosex. The likes of sistawoman, rubbie and and tope 'including plus' amebo.no1 the hypermutant keep the romance section very lively. We have incurable flirts in the likes of daphoenx, tope and toyinrayo who would latch on every good looking bloke that passes by nairaland.
It is good to know that some real life pairing has actually taken off from all these virtual flirtation.
Then in the fashion section spikecylinderwoman stamps her authority. Her style is something to behold. The thief of hearts also holds sway in the fashion section though she is versatile. In the past, she was always found where there was trouble. It seems that the withdrawal of her catalyst (militia)another supermutant in her time from nairaland has reduced the temperature in her chambers.

In the tribalism section, some peeps hold sway! 'not gonna mention any name. However such thread has shown us the depth and the gravity of fragmentations that is pulling our dear country apart because nairaland is a microcosym of Nigeria.

In the religious section we have the athiests like huxley and mazaje probing into what they think they know. The testimony of the likes of pilgrim is also remarkable and revealing but that has only fanned the embers of hatred between the christians and the moslems just like we have in the real world.

The criticism of the decadence called Nigerian leadership in the politics section is something interesting and thought provoking. Some good ideas have spun off from the constructive and destructive argument that fly from pillar to post. The Nigerian developement movement which is a budding NGO was conceived in nairaland.com

The almighty auto section where the likes of Viperman,Inspired.m, Carshopper, babeisme etc hold sway is a full bloon automarket which has enabled many guys to own a car of their choices with a reasonable level of transparency. With the mandatory Vin number disclosure introduced by Seun, peeps can at least have an idea of the car they wanted to buy. Siena with his immense knowledge of automobiles like many others has blessed many with his contributions. Busy_body is a woman among men in the auto section I will not forget her(her gender is still a subject of controversy).

Then comes the sports section where the suppoters of the big 4 in the English premiership are locked up in the fight for supremacy with their keyboards. While the real job takes place in the respective stadia 2 times a week, the sports war in nairaland goes on indefinitely. If Sauron is not tauting the gunners, debosky will be seeking the scalps of bluediva. Cristalz (miss Manu) on the other hand is always on everybody's neck as long as they are not OT worshippers.You can never beat the euphoria these generate. Talk about the armchair analyst that flood the section.
This is a spectacle!

The joke section with Sam milla, romade the earthworm, iteun and many others is a site to behold. You cannot go there and come back with a frowned face even if you have not had sex for 2 years!
When these activities, all of which i cannot narrate here are put together, it gives birth to the positive nairaland, a beehive of activity and fun, a fun joint made in the internet by Seun.

However, there is the other side of it which is not totally bad. The constant bickering, fighting and name calling which at times degenerates to cursing ones parents is undesirable. But who says everything has to be desirable in a society.If that happens, I guess the world will be boring.

Seun was very authocatic. He hates criticism but I guess that he has softened a bit with age. Two years can make a lot of difference. He has also learnt alot. But i must admire his fighting spirit and his business sense. He is an achiever and goes for what he wants not minding whose ox is gored. He has banned me twice but who cares? agaba123 is still agabaI23. can you spot the difference?

Thursday 23 April 2009

Thumbs down for Yar'Adua! Telling us what we know!


The British All Party Parliamentary Group on Nigeria has expressed fear over the country’s capability to be among the top twenty world economies by 2020.
This was contained in a damning report made available to Daily Sun on Wednesday.

The report is based on the principal findings of an investigation by the group’s lawmakers who toured the country recently.
The report blamed the leadership of the country for the poverty pervading the country. Curiously, it also blamed some Nigeria’s international partners even as it stopped short of mentioning names.

It stressed the need to shift government accountability from oil revenue to the people just as it called for the implementation of electoral reforms and the commencement of voter registration without further delay.

It expressed fear over the success of 2011 general elections due to “corruption” and “mismanagement” – considered as twin factors corroding the fabrics of the nation’s socio-economic structure. Also, it called for “faster reform of the Nigeria Police Force with great training and better equipment.”
For the rest of the news, check out the news update column

The British All Party Parliamentarian Group on Nigeria (BAPPGN) are telling us what we all know which we probably have failed to admit. If we have admitted that, then it may mean we have decided not to do anything about it. But come o, do we have to wait for an outsider to tell us that our house is on fire? Are we not feeling the heat?
Look at their list ills
1.Lack of accountability and tranparency -Abi we no know?
2.Human rights violation- full berekete
3.Non steady power supply- who no know?
4.Political manipulation- you may be one of the machinaries
5.Dependence on oil revenue.- old story

The verdict: All these anormaly were blamed on bad leadership. Abi we no know?
We all know about these. But tell me bros, who is transparent in Nigeria? In as much as the 'gbese' lies squarely on the doorstep of the federal, state and local government, I think the society that produced the occupant of such position will have some questions to answer.
There a saying that a mango tree cannot produce an apple. A rotten society cannot throw up righteous leaders over night.

A church leader for instance is shouting alleluia with his mind set on the size of the offertory collection.
A leader of a village student group is only interested in how he would embezzle the money he will generate during his tenure. In the universities where the cream of youths are trained for leadership, the student leaders are out to ammass wealth at the expense of the student organisation. A guy who served as the president of my faculty student body embezzled so much money and was not smart enough to conseal all his path. The student body moved for impeachment, but after a big wig of the faculty who is also may have compromised came and spoke to the students, everybody except one person backed down. The report of the probe panel which I was member of was shelved. Everyone walked like there was no problem because noone wanted the wahala of the faculty godfather. I refused to backdown but one man's vote cannot do anything. The university is a microcsym of the society and I am not surprised that the same episode plays out in the general polity. Anyone can do anything and get free as long as he or knows those that matter. How do we move forward when we have people who are above the law? Where are the brave men of our time who can stand up for justice and fair play? Have they all intimidated all of us?

This guys (BAPPGN) are crying about the already rigged 2011 election. Many of us are not away that the rigging has started. But they cannot rigg these election without our consent. We sell our mandate for a bag of salt of may be a token and pay for it all our lives. Which one is better? Some have actually adopted the 'I do not care' attitude but can it help? They say that it takes only the silence of the goodman for evil to flourish. Many of us complain when the corruption does not favour us only to look the other when they are given an appointment. That is why I said that the society is already sick. The orientation is about money. There is selfishness, greed and avarice that is why everyone is devising his own method to outwit the other. Those who cannot take up arm and rub the innocent in broad daylight.

Look at the civil servant who comes to work at 8am, leaves office at 9am for his personal business only to come back at 3:30pm and stay in office till 6pm to claim over time. Files that are passed to his office that requires a his attention will be there for over 2 months waiting for the owner of the file to come and bribe him to do his work. Is it not unfair? How will the system work? At the end of the month he is paid. Is he not a rubber ripping where he has not sowed?

The NEPA people give constant power when they about to share bill only to relapse after 3 days. They will then engage in indicriminate disconection of people's lines. In other to collect reconnection fees. In a certain South eastern state, i learnt that the regional manager would tell them that he needs like N4m from each state. This N4m is not the revenue going into company accoun., No it is the one that they will share. Sometimes they raise the amount. How do they do that? They give estimation bills to those who even have functional meters.
80% of the money so generated goes into private account of the GM while the remaining is sharwed for the boys. How can we have steady power supply when the operators only care about themselves. The NEPA staff most often do not live on their salaries. They live on bribe money. Unfortunately the public applaud them and people scramble to get employed in NEPA so that they will do the same. At a particular point in time, I wanted to object to the status quo but the ordinary Nigerian who would always take it as God's will and pray did not see any reason for that. I had no support and I backed out. So much money is generated by NEPA but non is used to maintain services. Is that how to live? Nigerians are existing not living.

No body can change Nigeria for us. Not even the international bodies can. We can only do that if want.

It is we that can demand accountability from our leaders.
It is we that can ensure credidle election
It we that will refuse to be bullied
It is we that will refuse to bribe or be bribed
It is we that will look for alternative source of income instead of waiting for God and govt. We have a brain that can do wonders but have refused to use it.
No other person can do this but we- You and I

Monday 20 April 2009

Commercialisation of research Findings!


As the oil industry continues to crash, the global economic meltdown persist and Nigeria still depends heavily on importation of almost everything it needed to run its economy, its vision to become one the most vibrant global economies by 2020 can best be described as ‘moonlight tales’ except it begins to take the issue of industrialization seriously.

The first step would be to look inwards and pick up products of research by local scientist and commercialize them. Not commercializing means that we are importing everything we need: clothing, furniture, electronics etc but the one that is even taking more money is that the few industries doing some form of production imports all machines they require and this is valued at hundreds of millions in foreign exchange every year. Just think of generators as an example.

All the generators that are used in this country are all imported, all the grinding mills, think of any equipment. Some of these are simple equipments that our researchers can work on and produce locally. If they are produced locally it means you can buy them locally and the producer can employ more people so attacking unemployment problem and creating wealth because they can make more money and invest in other areas and most importantly .....
Please read the rest in the news update cloumn

Probably their is someone who has some free mind to spare in Uncle Musa's govt. This one probably has decided not to use all his brain to plot how to loot the nation. I am assuming he is sincere in what he has said. The saying Joseph Schumpeter that innvation is the motor of devlopment regarding the role of technical progress in the economic growth of a nation cannot be ignored if Nigeria is to move forward. During the world economic forum in Davos 2008, the Intel chief said, ' Everywhere I go, I have always seen the same thing: a corelation between innovation, new ideas and success of the economy'
This is the koko of the ministers interview abi na article is this: 'Cann’t Nigeria put something on the global table? Must we remain a nation that just consumes what others have produced? Now that the oil industry is crashing do we still have the money to sustain the huge importation? But Nigeria will gain a lot if it commercializes some of the products of local research and innovation'.

That question in italics should be answered by the educational institutions. Assuming this guy is serious, I am sure he will be disappointed if he wants to look inside for some commercialisable research findings. Not that he may not find any but he may be dismayed that majority of what is called research are cooked up results. Sorry to say this but I learnt authoritatively of a lecturer who copied the work of another researcher and published word for word in a journal. When the orinal author complained to the head of department, he was told to let it be. I cannot laugh!

When will the lecturers engage in research when most of them are busy chasing after their female students and victimising those who refused their advances? When they are not doing that they are busy copying other peoples work without referencing and go ahead to publish them as their book which ofcourse are sellable only in their faculties? They sell these to students at cut throat prices. It is all about money forgeting that genuine research spins money as well. How can they can have time for research?

Where will the research work to commercialise come from? I went for an update lecture in my field and which was mandatory in order to renew my professional registration in 2006. One of the courses which was tagged 'recent advances in ....' was quoting methods which were in use in the 70s. The course teacher was refering to methods which are about being faced out in europe as still being developed for future use. As at 2006, the most recent reference in the paper she wrote was a paper written in 1989.

How will such a lectuer who cannot even update herself update the attendants. such are the people the honourable minister will be looking up to for some some commercialisbale research findings! oops!

And to even think that most of the present students in our secondary and higher institution of learning glorify 'expo' makes one wondetr who will do the researches in the first place. Research findings I am sure do not come from lazy students who are aided by their parents to obtain exam papers in advance and cheat. They come from curious students who want to find out something new. It is all about interest. At the moment the interst is in money, stealing and making it big! No body is against making it big but make it the right way. Nigeria needs a pride of place in the world. Like the minister, I say, can't we put anything on the global table?

I was looking at a thread in nairaland where participants of most recent JAMB exams were boasting of how they saw the exam questions days before the exam day. And even at that one will wonder why only one person could score up to 310.
It is very crazy. God save Nigeria. There is need for a re-orientation

It will be unfair if I group all the academics as money and women mongers. There are some few exceptions who are trying to make a difference. Talk about Prof Okey Esimone whose research prowress has endeared him to the western world. He is presently undertaking a research project which is meant to be commercilaised in the US. he developed the research in Nigeria. He is based in Nigeria. The likes of Prof. M. U. Adikwu is one of a kind. His ability to make things out of nothing has given him many international awards. He is presently working under this honourable minister. 'Just mentioned the few I know. You might want to mention some in the comment column lets take a stock and see what we have in Nigeria not outside.

It is high time research in our unuversities is given its due place. Let the lecturers and the VCs stop embezlling funds meant for research. Those funds are meant for masters and PhD scholarships. I was talking with a friend from Ghana and she was surprised that unlike in Ghana Phd students mostly sponsor themsevles in Nigeria. I do not know for sure but she made me believe that in ghana there is sponsorship for PhD. I do not know of anything like that in Nigeria that is functional. How do one expect a student to perform at his best when he is struggling to pay his school fee, buy his laboratory chemicals and what have you and possibly take care of his family. Even the best cannot perform optimaly in such an arrangment. And the worst of it all is that when they present seminars they are expected to entertain the audience from their pockets. They are also expected to give some money to the examinars both internal and external. What an aberation. I can go on. Some have been made to buy fuel for their superbvisors just for them to come and see their work which at the end of the day it is the lecteurers that publish using their names as the main authors.

Mr minister, there is a long way to go but we will get there if you are sincere!

Sunday 19 April 2009

Yar'Adua and fruitless probes!

In a renewed onslaught against graft, President Umaru Yar’Adua may have approved the investigation of the Minister of State for Power, Mr. Nuhu Somo Wyo, and officials of the Ministry of Power, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), National Universities Com-mission (NUC), and Nati-onal Office of Technology Acquisition (NOTAP) for violation of the Public Procurement Act 2007.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Power, Alhaji Abdullahi Aliyu, was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in connection with the alleged breach of due process. Sources, however, said he has been released and ordered to continue to report to the commission
Read more under the update column

This sounds familiar. Doesn't it? It has always been from one probe to another since June 2007. How many convictions? The power project has been probed, no indictments yet. Infact the final report ran into some troubled water. Ribadu was probed, Soludo probed, ElRufai probed.

Apart from the present kangaro probe, one thing is common with all those probed. They were all from the past administration. The projects that were probed were also from past administration.
Probably some of those in the present list would have been appointed during OBJ's regime. I guess one thing is for sure, this govt knows it is not performing. At least the past govt is far better than the present. The cabals in Aso Rock know that for sure. In stead of them trying to perform to at least the same standard, they have decided to rubbish the little achievements of the past administration by attacking the focal points of it accomplishments and also destroying the reputations of the shining stars of that regime. How pathetic?

I am even suspecting that the Northern Oligarchy who feels short changed are embarking on this present 30-man probe to sack people and thereby create chances that will be filled up by their cronies.
Do not get me wrong, if there is anybody found guilty of corruption, let him be prosecuted. I am only skeptical because it is only the falsified reports meant to tarnish the images of performers that are made public. A regime that abhors achievers! This probe party has been going on for 2 years with no clear indictments. Do you blame me for being skeptical?
Come to think of it, the fact that the likes of Ibori are still holding reigns in this present government still calls into question the moral behind the so called probes.
Yar'Adua Upgrade!

Saturday 18 April 2009

NCC and Chinese pirating firm!

A week after the Nigerian Copyright Commission carried out a night raid on three optic disc plants in Lagos, its Zonal Manager, Lagos Operational Office, Mr. Emeka Ogbonna, has given details of the experience the team had at Akina Music International Limited, caught in the process of illegal mass production of suspected pirated products.
Three people, including the Managing Director, Mr. Sook Allen, a Chinese national from Hong Kong were arrested at the company formerly called Benrit Outlook Ltd, Ogbonna said.

According to the NCC official, the team had a tough time before it could gain entry into Akina’s premises in the course of the raid carried out with mobile policemen between 11 pm and 5am.

“We were refused entry for over one hour,” Ogbonna said. “But because we knew work was going on in the factory, we stood our ground in front of the gate.Please read the full story on the news update column

They move into Nigeria in droves. They come with their kits and kings. It is easy for them to get Visa into Nigeria because they are 'expats'. They were expats working in farms and at the worst conditions possible to humans. Some were factory workers. But when they come into Nigeria they are celebrated. Their government on the other hand is raping the national for a mere pat on the back. They decide what the government gives them and they also decide what they give back.

What a sorry state? I am not against international relation but these guys are screwing the corruption hole in the high places to rip off the country while we have nothing to show for it.
Recently we were told that the satellite which they launched for Nigeria went missing. Then we were made to understand that they would replace it at no cost due to insurance cover. Few weeks later we read that the Nigerian govt has agreed to co-fund the replacement to a tune of several billions.
What happened to the insurance? Do we not deserve to be told what has gone wrong? May be the chinese government which is known to be autocratic has intimidated Yar'Adua to accepting or sharing responsibility. They would have put up one funny explanation to the politicians who know nothing about the project since uncle Musa has preferred to use politicians in place of technocrats.

I will not be surprised if this so called Akina guy is let off without any charge.
Even if he was charged, he would surely know some palms to grease who will let him go without being punished.
Sometime ago it was reported that the $8bn railway project contracted to a chinese firm was discovered to be fraud. The government's suspension of the project did not go down well with the Chinese authority not minding the corruption tag on the contract. Who cares as long as they get some money out of it. You may want to see these as neo-colonialism. It is clear that some Nigerians are benefiting from this scam just like it was during the slave trade. But why should the rest fold their arms and watch the house burn to ashes?
An Indian business man representing one pharmaceutical company one time told us that he likes doing business in Nigeria because it only takes a little money changing hands and on will be allowed to do what one wants.

I wait to see when this will end. I hope it will in my lifetime!

Yar'Adua, do not sell Nigeria to the chinese and chinese government. We are a sovereign country for crying out loud.

Friday 17 April 2009

How football Came to Africa and Nigeria- History you may want to know!



FOR the third year running three English sides have reached the semi-finals of the Champions League.
English football dominance at club level is so great that world ruling body Fifa wants to rewrite EU employment laws to limit how many foreigners can be on a team.
When Man U, Chelsea and Arsenal kick off in the semis it would be hard to pick 11 English players from ALL the starting line-ups. We've tried it.

But it was English sailors, soldiers, railway engineers and academics of Victorian England who took football around the world.

That’s why there are clubs called RIVER PLATE and Boca JUNIORS in Argentina and GRASSHOPPERS and YOUNG BOYS in Switzerland.
After the FA issued its first laws of the game in 1863, English railway workmen took a set to Argentina. They formed Buenos Aires FC in 1865.
River Plate was formed in 1901 after a founder saw English players having a kickabout using crates marked The River Plate as goalposts. Boca Juniors set up in 1905. In 1882 Uruguay got its first club, set up in capital Montevideo by an English lecturer.

Top teams were River Plate, Albion FC, Montevideo Wanderers and Liverpool FC. The last two still play.

English sailors played in St Petersburg, Russia, in 1887. The local Petrograd team lost to English residents team Ostrov. The footballing empire also stretched from Brazil to Ghana, Iran, India, China and Japan.
In 1872 the first French club started in Le Havre after locals saw our sailors playing. German universities took it in 1875 via students from Oxford. Grasshopper-Club Zurich was formed in Switzerland in 1886 by English student Tom Griffith.

In Spain, Huelva was formed in 1889 by British miners and Real Madrid was started in 1897 by graduates from Cambridge and Oxford.

FC Barcelona was set up in 1899 with English founders. In Turin, Italy, Juventus began in 1897 and changed strip to match Notts County’s six years later.

And Inter Milan — formed in 1908 — have even worn the cross of St George on their strip.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/article2381423.ece
SOURCE:

Wednesday 15 April 2009

3 Nigerian Banks Named among World’s Biggest

Three Nigerian banks – First Bank of Nigeria Plc, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc and Intercontinental Bank Plc – have made the Forbes list of top 2000 world biggest companies.
The trio, according to Forbes Magazine, are joining 248 other companies around the world to displace same number of companies that featured on the list in the 2008 ranking.
For Nigeria, the listing of these banks on the current Global 2000 is a cause for cheers. First Bank Plc is ranked at 1,375, while the UBA comes on the list at number 1,560. Intercontinental Bank Plc completes Nigeria’s showing at 1,798.
Explaining the methodology adopted in arriving at the final compilation of the 2000 biggest companies, Forbes said that companies must have a publicity traded stock in order to qualify for the Global 2000.
.... please read the rest in the news update column

This is positive. We hope more will make it next year. This is probably one of the benefits of the consolidation at least for UBA and IBPLC. I am not sure if FB merged with any bank. They have always been solid. But they all benefited from the out come of consolidation as the new generation banks gave them a run for their money which made them change their old business attitude. More products were available for sale and so on and more marketers rolled out. I once asked a first bank staff why I was no longer seeing him in the office and he told me that this new generation bank have made it impossible for them to just sit down there. They had to market their bank. I was like wow!

I want to believe that they were able to break into the list because of the effect of credit crunch on some international companies. Which means that the level of exposure of probably was less in Nigeria than it is elsewhere if the oil price did not go downhill.

What about intercontinental bank and the rumour of it going under? It appears it was all about de-marketing which is very unfortunate.

Kudos to IBPLC. I could remember it was the only bank that its shares kept rising when others were already biting the dust until it could not hold on any longer. Although they have got their on share of the panic in the market, it held its own for a long time that I ones wondered why its candlestick pattern remained green when there were blood every where around it.
Nigeria will do well. Tell Yar'Adua to face the business now! he should stop the damage he is doing to our economy.
Where are the patriots?

Tuesday 14 April 2009

Why foreign varsities are in love with Nigerians – Mr Cullen's marketing Gimics

The International Director, University of Essex, United Kingdom, Mr. Paul Cullen, has said that the international perspective Nigerians bring to research and the uncommon brilliance they display are some of the reasons foreign universities desire to have them in their institutions.

Cullen, who said this while addressing the press during his education tour to Nigeria, said Nigerian students in the university and the Whittle College, UK, had proved to be a force to reckon with.

He, however, called on the Nigerian government to diversity the nation‘s economy by giving priority to agricultural development. Read the rest please on the date line column


I think this is another round of deception from mr Cullen. They will go to Asia and tell them the same. Your students introduce international dimension bla bla. Other international students probably introduce local dimension I guess.
Mr Cullen, we do not need you to tell us we are brilliant.
We need you to reduce the heavy decrapancy between the home fee and the foreign fees.

As if to say the extra £7000 paid is not enough, foreign students are now required to pay immigration tax. It is unfair!
I once applied for a PhD position in a certain university. The contact person sent a mail which he also copied me to the HOD.
In the mail he was trying to convince him to accept me for the project as the money I would pay will contribute to a certain fund. He did not think it matter if I knew.
Ok UK has a scholarship programme for China, Japan, India and some other Asian countries. Why not one with Nigeria? The so called commonwealth Scholarship will soon be faced if it has not been faced out yet. If we are that important to them, why will they not have a package for nigeria students?
Very soon if it sells through the home fees will increased and so will be the foreign fees. I heard that the little £1K bursary may also be faced out. Not sure how true these are but nothing is impossible. Schools are credible businesses and they should not deceive us with all these praise. Anyway the eggheads that steal our money will always fall for them and ship our money to them instead of building a formidable school system.

Nigeria shall rise again. We have the brains, we have the materials. We only need a leader!

Monday 13 April 2009

Sexual harrassment of Randy Reps?


What is sexual harassment? Who is a culprit and which of the sexes harasses the other?
Before now, in Nigeria as in many other Third World countries, there was the common assumption that only men, particularly those in positions of authority, were confirmed suspects of sexual harassment of women. But with the economic situation biting harder, what used to be the norm is fast giving way.

However, Sunday Sun investigation revealed that one of the institutions witnessing high profile sexual harassment in today’s Nigeria is the National Assembly. It is now a common practice for many male legislators in both the upper and lowers chambers of the federal legislature to seek protection from sexual harassment from all kinds of ladies that throng their offices and at “inconvenient” times.

Although the National Assembly is not like the executive arm of government where ministries and agencies dole out contracts that would attract business-minded people, the way ladies of no fixed addresses troop there has become alarming.
The situation was initially not helped by the lack of official residential accommodation for Senators and members of the House of Representatives due to the government’s monetization policy. A lot of the legislators had to seek temporary abodes in hotels without their families, thereby exposing some of them to women of little or no virtue.
read more at News update column

I am just wondering if these so called women would be there if the senators do not look for them? No one plies his trade where there is no business? I agree that there are some men of integrity who would want nothing to do with them but I do not think it is cheaper to stay in a hotel than rent a house. Initial lack of accomodation is no excuse!

Paying to get phone numbers? Desparate moves! Why did the senator bother to invite her to his office? he wanted to find out how she got his number. Tell that to . . .
And he parted with some money . . .hehe story for another day.
I guess is P-square that is playing out here! Do me I do you, man no go vex.
Let them stop complaining. They are the ones that led the way in the first placeeeee.

Saturday 11 April 2009

EFCC: Executive Friends of Condemned Criminals


The word EFCC used to send shivers down the spines of all and sundry except those with no skeletons in there cupboards. The Internet fraudsters dreaded the name like death. The civil servants thought they were monsters while politicians except those in Uncle sege's inner circle avoided them like the plague. Such was the veracity and the passion with which the Economic and financial crime commission EFCC went after criminals both in low and high place. ( I remember they also witch hunted some enemies of Uncle Sege )
EFCC was such a terror to the fraudsters and government thieves that even when Ribadu was no longer the Chairman, his presence at a certain government office in the North disorganised the day's work. The staff of that establishment ran helter skelter such that it took the intervention of the masquerade himself who assured them he was there for only an academic exercise and not to arrest anyone to calm the frayed nerves of the employees.

In one occasion I had to pass the night in a cybercafe to do night browsing. Before I was admitted, the operators hesitated because I was not a regular face. They sized me up before accepting my payment. It was later in the night that I realised why they were sceptical about me because the cybercafe was filled up with 419ners.

EFCC then at least elicited fear in the mind of the fraudsters.
But not anymore, the present EFCC which I think stands for Executive friends of Condemned criminals, does not have such swagger. The common criminal understands that presently, the operatives are as docile as the lamband as bendable as hot iron. Such aura which drove most 419 operators out of business or to Togo, Ghana and Ivory coast has disappeared. I feel that most of them when the sense that the coast is clear will come back. Which way Nigeria?

Politicians are having a free day because the once ferocious lion has been tamed.
Uncle rule of law how could you allow this transformation?

Ibori the untouchable! The Unfolding drama


Corruption: EFCC removes Ibori from list of ex-governors on trial
There are strong indications that the Federal Government and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission might have tactically discontinued the corruption trial of a former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori.

Presidency sources said that Ibori‘s name did not appear on the list of former governors still being tried by the EFCC for corruption while in office.

But the names of former governors Ayo Fayose (Ekiti), Orji Kalu (Abia) Chimaroke Nnamani (Enugu), Sani Ahmed (Zamfara), Saminu Turaki (Jigawa), Rashidi Ladoja (Oyo), Joshua Dariye (Plateau) and Jolly Nyame of Taraba State were still on the list.

Also, it was gathered that the EFCC had appealed the ruling of the Federal High Court Enugu, on a former governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Igbinedion.

The court had slammed a fine of N3, 579,524.16 on Igbinedion for his failure to declare the said amount found in his Guaranty Trust Bank account.
read more on news update column.

Few days ago I talked about the many sins of uncle Musa. In that commentary, I alluded to some corrupt governors who were supposed to be under docks but are now wining and dining with Aso because they bankrolled Uncle Musa's election. Chief amongst them is Chief Ibori the mafia lord!
It is no longer news that was the major hand behind the ordeals of Ribadu who dared to bring him to book for all the money he stole from Delta state.
Now the story is, his name is no longer in the list of governors under trial. Reports had it that over a year ago outlined the following strategies for the ultimate humiliation of Ribadu for hounding and arresting him.
1.Remove him from EFCC
2. Demote him
3. Sack him from the police
4. Jail him
Out of the 4, only the last one has not been actualised. This report came out immediately after he was forced to Jos.
Ibori's hatchet men are everywhere in the country such that one report has it that the effectiveness and spread of his security network is better than that of the SS and the NIA put together.
Which way Nigeria?
A country where rogues are knighted. Just like a scene in the movie casino that starred De Niro and Sharon stone.
De Niro was given an award for his evil and heartless casino business in Vegas and he quipped, 'here I am receiving awards for a job which I would be in jail for doing back home'

This unfolding drama is sure an ill wind that blows no one any good. Aso Rock stop this madness!
Uncle Rule of law what a shame!

Friday 10 April 2009

Vindictive Politics

Atiku’s security escorts withdrawn
The face-off between ex-vice president Atiku Abubakar and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has snowballed into the presidency’s withdrawal of security escorts attached to the former number two citizen.

A press statement issued by the Media Assistant to Atiku, Garba Shehu drew a link between the security details’ recall and the former vice president’s recent criticism of government’s handling of the electoral reform and the perceived near absence of governance in the country.
See News update for full gist!

Commentary!
I was thinking that the vindictive politics played by OBJ left Aso rock with him. The present action attributed to Uncle Musa reminded me that the witch hunt politics which ran the likes of Ribadu ragged was not a flash in the pan. I was so wrong to think Uncle Musa is not power hungry. How wrong can we all be to have believed he was reluctant to run as president?
Now I know that it was not only OBJ who is averse to dissenting voices but the whole the PDP Mafia is. These are people who can even kill their mothers to remain in power.
What a shame to Nigeria? I am not sure if it is not legal for a former vice-president to have a security detail. If it is not legal, why did they give him a security cover in the first place? If it is not illegal, why is Uncle rule of law breaking the law he swore to protect?
It is unfair. Atiku may be a criminal but he is innocent until he is convicted. Give him the respect due to him as a former vice president of our great nation. Restore his details!

Thursday 9 April 2009

Saraki: PDP Govs Back Yar’Adua for Second Term (on what basis?)

A big boost has come for President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s second term as it has emerged that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors have thrown their weight behind the alleged bid.
Chairman of the Governors Forum and Kwara State Governor Bukola Saraki confirmed the PDP governors’ support for the President’s second term in an interview with THISDAY on Tuesday night in Abuja.
Saraki also denied that he was nursing a plan to contest the 2011 presidential election.
To read more, check the link on news update

The question here is on what basis are they supporting him for a second tenure?
What has Yar'Adua achieved to earn a unianimous endorsement from the governors if that is true? I was not happy with OBJ because of his vindictivenes but at least he was able to get some things done. He had some visible passion to move the nation forward even if his own greed and avarice was pulling him back. He got some things done. That I cannot say of of uncle Musa. Although I will blame Obj for imposing Musa on us, I will blame Musa for deciding to be a figure head and a subject to his subjects. Yar'Adua has allowed the corrupt officers he surrounded himself with to run the affairs of the country at the detriment of the masses. For instance,
Yar'adua stopped the integrated power project despite the amount of money that has been plunged into it without a replacemnet.
Yar'adua has reveresed almost all the economic gains made under OBJ. Although someone may blame the global economic downturn on the present woes of Nigerians, it would have been the same in the abscence of it. Even OBJ in his characteristic way alluded to the fact that Yar'adua has not performed in a BBC program hadtalk technically refusing to accept the blame for his imposition of Yar'Adua on Nigerians. According him, it takes more than being good to govern well.
Under Yar'Adua, the hunter has become the hunted because those who were hunted due to their criminal offences now dine and wine with the president. Some of them helped in bankrolling his election into power. Therefore they are now untouchables.
The shining stars who illuminated OBJ's cabinet are those who have been marked for slaughter. What do they intend to achieve? Only one thing comes to mind and that is to maintain the status quo where corruption reigns supreme and one's ability to loot attracts honours.
He promised a credible election, but turned down the recommendations that will lead to one. Who says we have democracy yet?
The next presidential election is about 2 years away but the governors have decided on who to nominate? Where does that leave other presidential hopefuls in the same party.A bill for internal democracy was proposed and PDP killed it.
By the way why won't the governors endorse him since his enorsement will also mean their endorsement and the looting continues.
Which way Nigeria? It baffles me that this selected thieves who pride themselves as our leaders are so much at home with the state of the nation that all they care about is how much they can steal. They care not what happnens to the entity Nigeria.
Which way Nigeria?
Nigerians rise up! This is your country! You either make it work or the cabals will ruin it for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sunday 5 April 2009








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