Emeka's general view about the world.

1 BILLION NAIRA CHOP MONEY.

2011-12-21T15:43:00.000+01:00

vegetable foods.

Nigeria is owned by all her citizens and not by some group of people.I see no reason why the people should be suffering from abject poverty and diseases;WHY?Despite all her resources all over the country,Nigeria is ranked a third world country and a failed state because of the series of bad leadership and governance that has come and gone,a situation that still prevails today.

I see no reason why the poor masses should be feeding the presidency and his cohorts,yet they want to remove fuel subsidy to free up money for infrastructural development as they claim;WHO KNOWS?The One billion naira feeding money(approximately $7m) is absolutely inconceivable,preposterous,absurd,unbelievable,unimaginable,gross and totally out of this world.In this present day of economic recession!The Presidency wants to remove subsidy on fuel which they allegedly say stands at 1.3trillion naira and affects infrastructural growth,yet they want to squander 1billoin naira on food and other luxury comfort of life.This subsidy issue has to do with over 150 million innocent Nigerians,citizens that have to sweat out their skins daily to meet up with the challenges of living.The president in the 2012 appropriation bill budgeted over 1.5billion naira on renovation of the presidential villa & various quarters and also in buying luxury bullet proof cars.I cant believe a government in this time of global financial crisis would be living the flamboyant life when they are supposed to create economic policies that will see them not go into the situation of Greece and other Euro zone members.This spending spree and jamboree that the Nigerian government has embarked on would do the nation no good but send the economy on a perilous adventure.

The cumulative salary of US president Barack Obama stands at five hundred and sixty nine thousand dollars( $569,000) annually.The analytical break down are as follows;

BASIC SALARY -$400,000

ANNUAL EXPENSE ACCOUNT-$50,000

NOTABLE TRAVEL ACCOUNT-$100,000

ENTERTAINMENT _ $19,000

NOTE THAT THE US PRESIDENT FEEDS HIMSELF AND HIS HOUSE HOLD.

In summary,if the Nigerian presidency is entitled to 1billion naira food allowance,then the Nigerian masses should be entitled to subsidy on all government commodities including taxation.Everything should be subsidised so that we can enjoy the Nation's wealth because we too are Nigerians and have the-same rights as every one of our leaders.

SAME SEX (A TABOO?)

2011-12-21T14:35:00.000+01:00

boy and girl animation

Nigeria is a very religious country,she hardly does anything without consulting the supernatural being.Divided by various ethnic differences,yet religious beliefs is always on the fore front in the mind of Nigerians.The Christian faith in which I found myself since birth has been my adopted way of worship.The story of Sodom and Gomorrah shouldn't sound new to Christians and even well read Muslims,the story is one of the most infamous verses of the bible.God forsaked ,punished and destroyed the people of Sodom and Gomorrah due to their sinful life which was marred with atrocities like homosexuality,fornication,excessive alcoholism ,jungle justice decisions that results to killings of innocent people and the most painful and annoying part;IDOL WORSHIP.God's destruction of the beautiful and magnificent city was what made the wife of Lot look back,she looked backed at all the life and beautiful things she would be leaving behind,that decision she took cut her life short and she became history.This piece that I have just shared with you entails that only God has the final say on judgement when it comes to immorality and the defiance of the human body.

Nobel laureate Prof Wole Soyinka was quoted in some Nigerian dailes telling the Nigerian legislators to go back to school,Education goes far beyond acquiring several degrees without having the wisdom to understand, interpret and applying what you have read to the benefit of the society.Technology development and the way of life today is moving at a jet speed,most L.G.B.T(lesbians,gay,bi-sexual and transgender) people meet themselves online and do their thing in discreet.I believe that the choice of sex life shouldn't be judged by any man but GOD.A pastor engaging himself in same sex practice should be left for judgement by God and the critics and antagonism of his co-pastors and clergys' because his activities falls outside the Christian doctrine more-so,his title of "PASTOR' should be revoked but the question is; WHO IS MAN TO MAKE AND PASS JUDGEMENT TO ISSUES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH LIFE BEFORE ETERNITY.Homosexuality has been in existence before Christ(BC) and the Nigerian Government shouldn't be hypercritical about it.The anti gay bill is one of the fastest bill that has been passed by the Nigerian legislators in recent times,Some legislators even proposed prostitution legalisation bill which still drives at immorality whether looking at it from the Muslim or Christian perspective.

I want to second the statement of one of my mentors, Prof Wole Soyinka"WHAT PEOPLE DO IN THEIR BEDROOMS SHOULDN'T BE THE BUSINESS OF ANYONE"

The Nigerian legislators should look for policies that would benefit the masses and pass it into law,rather than embarking on a Voyage of Hypocrisy.

NEMESIS OF THE BLACK GOLD IN NIGERIA..

2011-12-20T15:27:00.001+01:00

picture from google

The Nigerian economy was stable and robust after the post colonial era,exporting large quantities of agricultural produce and exploring other mineral resources which she was blessed with.Then came the oil boom in the sixties,the Nations revenue & foreign reserve increased to an unimaginable level,International communities strengthened its ties with Nigeria to boost economic growth of both countries,foreign companies came trooping in for investment because they saw Nigeria as a viable market for world trade.Little did the masses know that all those protocols was a mirage.The Nigerian communities in the sixties never envisaged this present day scenario,they never knew that their source of joy of the country would eventually turn to sorrow and misery after 40years.

Indeed the black gold became a bone of contention in the Nigerian polity,Most of the past Nigerian leaders wanted to tap at the Nation's source of wealth at all cost which some of them achieved.The Nigerian leaders abandoned the magnificent multi million dollar Ajaokuta steel companies,The coal mines in Enugu and other coal reserve lands in Imo, Kogi, Delta, Plateau,Anambra, Abia, Benue, Edo, Bauchi, Adamawa, Gombe, Cross River and Ebonyi states,They refused to take advantage of the vast fertile land in almost all the Nothern part of country to boost agriculture,only to be deriving joy in importing agricultural produce into the country.

They all focused their attention and ambition on the new found wealth of the Nation.The past four decades saw leaders looting the Nation's treasury as if they were in their farm lands harvesting crops they planted,some embezzled money that could last 3 generations for their families even if their descendants decide not to work,leaving 80% of Nigerians to suffer and die in penury.

Malaysia got her first palm seed they planted form Nigeria and today,they rank among the top 10 exporting countries of agricultural produce.It pains me to see what our leaders in the past four decades have done to the country.Nigeria is so blessed with natural resources of any sort,but the leaders turned blind eye because they lack the technical know how to harness what they have and create jobs for their people.They all focus and hope on the monthly allocation coming from the almighty federal government after they must have completed sales form the precious natural resource(BLACK GOLD).

Nigeria from my own opinion would have done better economically without black gold,the black gold discovery form my perspective is a punishment on Nigeria and Nigerians alike.It is an appalling situation that Nigeria cannot buy ideas from countries like China,Japan and even Brasil that have boosted their economies form different sectors.

During the temptations of Jesus Christ,He was quoted in replying a popular phrase to the devil"MAN MUST NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE"INDEED! & ABSOLUTELY TRUE.

Living by bread alone in this present day of balanced diets will definitely lead to malnutrition.Nigeria is living by bread alone on her sole dependence on Black gold which will surely lead to malnutrition.

This is just a piece of advice,let those who have ears hear before it is too late.

THE STATE OF THE NIGERIAN ROADS.

2011-12-18T23:05:00.000+01:00

An accident which occurred on the Lokoja-Ajaokuta Road.

As a Nigerian child and citizen,I was(still am) opportuned to travel around the country on a road trip,I also had the experience of nite journeys.Any traveler/motorist plying the Nigerian road must consult His/Her god(s) for protection because you never can pre-empt what the journey might look like.

Once upon a time,I embarked on a road trip from Lagos to Owerri,on getting ore(Ondo state) by 1.00pm in the afternoon,we got stuck in a heavy traffic jam that saw us spend 6hours from Ore to Okada(Edo state),"the apparent flight hour duration form Lagos to London".Eventually,I got to my destination by past midnight the following day;HOW OUTRAGEOUS!Yes, but it was the situation I found myself on that faithfully day.Lagos to Owerri shouldn't exceed more than 7hours on a good dual carriage road.

On another road trip,I embarked on a journey from lagos to Abuja,I held my breathe in anxiety till I got past Gwagwalada area of the FCT.The dual carriage road from Ibadan to Ife,well I would say was 40% fair,which is not good enough and risk free,then from Ife to Illesa,down towards Owo and Akure is entirely another horrible story.We got to a town named Magongo(Edo State) heading towards Okene(kogi state),that was when my Nightmare dawned on me as a daylight reality.The road was a sham,I don't know if I should use the word 'Dilapidated' because I feel it is not the best word to describe the true situation .The pot holes were like 3feet deep,single lanes with sharp bends that can make you vehicle tumble,you look at both Sides of the road and all you see is abandoned accident vehicles of different types.

Our vehicle,on that same day ran into an accident scene some 15km away after okene,A commuter bus carrying 18 passengers had just summasulted,Killing, children,adults and of course,there were survivors including a six months old baby.During our rescue Mission,We called the F.R.S.C and informed them about the incident,it took them half an hour to arrive at the accident scene,by then victims that were supposed to survive if adequate first aid had been administered to them gave up the ghost.

Amanda Knox,the American student who allegedly murdered her roomate in Italy was in prison awaiting trial for four years,the US government fought very hard an used all diplomatic measures to get her young citizen free;why?They did it cos they value they value the lives of their citizens more than anything in this world,

The Nigerian government have no regard for lives of their masses.The F.R.S.C. preaches about driving rules and Regulations,this one! This that! but turn blind eye to the state of Nigerian Roads.

The legislators representing their various constituencies and zones needs to up their game,the people back home in the village and township all depend on them and await the dividends of democracy @ their door steps.

IT IS BETTER TO COME UP WITH A ONE POINT AGENDA ON THE REHABILITATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF ALL NIGERIAN ROADS AND ACCOMPLISH IT,RATHER THAN TO HAVE A 15 POINT AGENDA AND FINISH THE TENURE EMPTY HANDED WITHOUT A SINGLE CREDIT.

SAVE THE LIVES OF YOUR CITIZENS BY DECLARING A STATE OF EMERGENCY ON ALL NIGERIAN ROADS.

THE FUEL SUBSIDY CONTROVERSY PT 2

2011-12-18T07:50:00.000+01:00

Lets just hope Hon Bimbo Daramola and his colleagues stand their ground on the 'NO' answer to the removal of fuel subsidy in Nigeria.

Please read the interview granted by Hon Bimbo Daramola to Mr Paul Odeniyi of the Vanguard Newspapers.

President Goodluck Jonathan was unable to convince members of the National Assembly on the imperative to remove the subsidy on petrol at a recent meeting, according to Hon. Bimbo Daramola, a member of the House of Representatives, present at the parley. Daramola exclusively spoke to Sunday Vanguard. Read on…

Let us begin with the meeting between the president and members of the National Assembly at the State House. How did it go?

First and foremost, a few of our members felt that we should assert ourselves as an arm of government after assessing the implication of having to go to see Mr. President in his own turf. But reason prevailed and members felt this is not about Goodluck Jonathan, it is about the Presidency of this country, that, most likely, the president will be talking to us about Nigeria. This is the superior argument that made us to go and listen to Mr. President.

The National Assembly, particularly the House of Representatives that I have the privilege of being a member of, we know too well that we will not be parliamentarians if we are not Nigerians in the first place. And then we felt that whatever the president will be talking about will be anchored on our country which is very dear to every one of us.

As we prepare for 2012, a number of issues are on the ground and we felt that Mr. President will have the opportunity to broker an amity, close ranks with us and make our relationship seamless. Then we will be able to see his side of the story. Like I said, a few members said, no, he should come to us because that is the way it should be. We prevailed on them and so Mr. President had the opportunity to speak to the 469 members.

That would be the first time the president was addressing the joint session of the National Assembly even if it happened in his on turf.

Well, everyone of us who made it to that meeting must be representing a vital constituency in this country. So, you may say that he was talking to Nigerians but, because we did not have the media in attendance, it could be compared to what we call executive session in parliament.

He presided and there were some of his ministers and the anchor person was the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim. So we wanted to extend the courtesy to the president to show we are not in adversarial relationship but we must have a relationship that recognizes that we have a nation to administer.

As the executive and the legislature, one thing that binds us together is that we must collectively address the nation’s problems. On the strength of this, we went to meet Mr. President.

What we heard earlier was that it was the Senate that really wanted to see the president as a result of the issues raised at a sitting of the Upper House. How did the invitation extend to you at the House of Reps?

This is not the first meeting between us and the president. As the vice chairman of one of the committees, I was privileged to, alongside a few chairmen, meet the president about two months ago. It was Dr Okonjo-Iweala (finance minister and coordinating minister of the economy), who spoke to us then about the intentions of the president vis a vis the 2012 budget. So, when this invitation came, it was impromptu and some members, smarting from the past experience of chairmen going to meet Mr. President, felt we needed to be very careful about this one.

The invitation was all-embracing. Whether this invitation was at the instance of the senators or not, I may not be able to clarify. For some reasons, it was extended to us. I think that if it was at the instance of the senators which grew from their executive session over security concerns in the country, then it should be seen as an attempt to kill two birds with one stone.

If it was at the instance of the senators, the president may have decided, ‘let us all meet’, because, indeed, the issue of security has also been discussed at the House. The first motion of the seventh House of Representatives was moved by me and was entitled, “Emerging Threat to Internal Security and the Need for Establishment of the Department of Homeland Security in Nigeria.”

It was modeled after the United States. The same challenge, the point at which America got in 2002, when President George Bush Jnr needed to frontally take on the issue of internal security as a result of the upsurge in global terrorism, we have also reached that point.

And members also felt that these are some of the issues that we need to see and resolve. That bill is in the pipeline in the House of Representatives and maybe the president must have said whatever we discuss on how to increase our security infrastructure, the House of Representatives must be carried along.

At the end of that meeting, what impression did you come out with on the state of the country?

Without wanting to divulge what happened, when the meeting started, Mr. President spoke to us about deregulation and then the thrust of his 2012 budget. The issue of subsidy removal, as it has turned out, is one of the planks of the 2012 budget. He wanted to have a soft landing for that because the National Assembly is the hurdle he must cross in his pursuit of this policy. There were mixed reactions.

The way it was received would not be satisfying to the president. I am sure he would not have been satisfied with the reactions he got. Don’t forget that the National Assembly is the last gate keeping post for Nigeria and, if anything slides at this point, then we may be imperiled. We may begin to say that the horse is out of the stable and so we are in trouble. We made that very,very clear, especially members of the House of Representatives.

We made it clear to the president that we must be very careful on that issue and that it was something that we would take more time to discuss, not one to be exhausted within one hour that the meeting lasted. But beyond that, Mr. President used the opportunity to address what the Senate President raised about the security of the nation. He wanted the president to address the issue at that meeting.

He tried to acquaint the parliamentarians with what he is trying to do. He went to into the historical trajectory of violent crimes in Nigeria. He spoke about the Niger Delta and the pogrom there, he dovetailed into the Boko Haram issue. I think he is reasonably convinced that his government is trying to deal with it. To me, he can still do a little bit more.

Encountering the president at this level, and given the reasons he gave for his planned removal of fuel subsidy, how convincing were they?

Mr. President did not sufficiently convince me or my other colleagues in the House of Representatives. I don’t want to be graphic on what happened there but I am telling you that it was a faux pax. I don’t think he achieved any purpose. I don’t think he moved the story forward. I would say that his reasons did not appeal to members of the House of Representatives.

He tried to say and, indeed, make it clear to us that if he does not take out the subsidy, Nigeria will go down. In his own words, Nigeria will crash. I don’t think that was the right thing to say but I believe very strongly that the nobility of the intentions of Mr. President may not be questionable. Like he said, it is not about Goodluck Jonathan, it is about Nigeria. We are on the same page on that score.

The truth of the matter, however, is that there are so many ways that lead to the market. His strongest argument was that it was becoming difficult to sustain the high subsidy regime on fuel products. He said if we go on this way, Nigeria will be in deep trouble. His words: ‘Nigeria will crash’. The truth of the matter is that we need more money, but there are many ancilliary issues that will need to be sorted out. Removal of subsidy is not an isolated event.

This is an economy that is mono-product and driven by the same product, we would expect that anything that happens to this product will resonate across the length and breadth of the country. What the president did was all rationalization. He said the guys who move the product to the market don’t actually use PMS, that they use diesel. This is simplistic rationalization.

He also tried to say that the subsidy we are talking about does not profit Nigerians but a pocket of cartel in the industry. And people immediately rose up to say, ‘Mr. President, why are you saying this? If it is a cartel, you crack it’. Abdul Ningi, I remember, said it clearly that he was the most powerful president in the black world, and that is the truth.

And if we are confronted by a cabal or cartel, then it is about time we deal with the issue decisively. And, today, we are trying to give this reason for taking such a decision that will affect the masses of our people. He also tried to talk about the issue of bunkering, that it was also being resolved and all of that.

People also said, ‘ okay, if you take out the subsidy, what becomes of the amount of money you may eventually raise?’. He tried to tell us that there was a committee headed by the vice president and that they were working on what will be committed from the revenue from the removal of subsidy and that they had gone eighty percent and all that.

To me, that is not sufficient to begin to push this idea of removal of subsidy. The strongest of the arguments is pure simplistic and rationalization. Issues like the removal of subsidy must have cogent, articulate, verifiable, clear cut arguments for and against.

You must be able to say, ‘ Yes, if you do this, we gain this and that’. Abdul Ningi tried to raise the political and security consequences of the push particularly at a time when you have the Arab spring and all that. Removal of subsidy should not be left in the realms of conjecture and simplistic rationalization.

Let us leave the president and his work and look at your own work. How has it been?

Initially, it was very exciting but when I tried to aspire to come to parliament, I think my assumption was that we will be able to fasttrack things. The truth of the matter is that, in this country, we don’t have the indulgence of time. We must be able to fasttrack the process of getting back to normalcy.

I don’t want to paint a doomsday picture but things are not easy. Things are not right. It is like a woman who has cancer of the womb, you take it out. The way we are going in this country, we make it appear as if everything is going to wait until we get ourselves sorted out.

I am thinking and believe that the true face of democracy is not the executive arm of government. The face of democracy and the system of government we run is actually the parliament. There is a number of things I believe strongly that we must have to change. And I think the immediate thing for us is for the parliament to bite as well as bark.

As a result of the picture you are painting, do you have bills, motions that will help in the direction of remedying these issues?

There are a number of things we have tried to work out. I raised the motion on the N30 billion for the conclave of bishops, I mean the Federal Executive Council (FEC) . I call them the conclave of bishops because they have this feeling that they are all knowing and they own this country. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila is working on something which I will support fully to the effect that the resolutions of the two chambres of the National Assembly should be binding on the Executive.

This is because 85% of our work beyond over sighting is about motions. So, if we look at issues and committees look at issues and they end up as motions and resolutions and they do not have binding effect, we would have succeeded in wasting legislative time, and our time.

If that is the situation, you will not be excited about this job anymore. So whatever you care, this is a job that is most serious. We are not here on picnic. Nigerians have invested so much in us. This is an institution that must service Nigerians and Nigerians must get tangible and intangible benefits from it.

As a member of the House Services Committee, what reforms are you are putting in place to ensure that the uneviable name of that committee in previous sessions does not rub off on you badly?

I believe that the new chairman of the House Service Committee, my leader and friend, Hon Yakubu Dogara, is a man of high ethical standards. I overheard him telling somebody that things have changed. If that was the way they used to do things in the past, that it will not continue. He said that things must follow due process.

In that committee, we have met severally since we were inaugurated, not one person in that committee has gotten one favour in terms of patronage, contract or anything. We even bring our resolutions in the committee to executive sessions. Unfortunately, we have an albatross, an overhang derived from what happened in the past. I think Nigerians should begin to see this set of members of the House of Representatives as newbreed.

What do I mean? Among the list of things we have on our list that members may need include options of desktop, laptop or Ipad. Do you know that members in one voice said nobody should buy Ipad, laptops? Any representative that does not have a laptop does not deserve to be in the House. Then we got to the issues of desks and all that.

Before, what they used to do is to buy in block, 400 pieces of anything that we agree to buy. But this time, the Speaker and members of the leadership said, no, buy as needed. So, you find out that offices where you already have television sets will not have to get new TVs anymore.

Offices where you had desks, you will not get new desks. This is part of the reforms the 7th House of Representatives has adopted. Don’t forget that our so-called running cost has been taken down by as much as 63%. And our people are still going on and doing the job.

This is inspite of the fact that an average legislator in Nigeria is under heavy burden by his constituents. You have all sorts of requests coming from your constituents by the second: Money for school fees, money for hospital bills, money for feeding, money for everything.

There is nothing that our constituents don’t ask for from us. My salary is N490,000. So, where are we supposed to get this money from? But people are still talking. I think this House has tightened our belt to the point that it is hurting.

What do we expect in the first quarter of 2012?

Nigerians should be ready for austerity, very challenging times within the next couple of months. Whatever Mr. President decides to do with fuel subsidy, either taking it off or retaining it, will have far reaching implications. Don’t forget, if they have more money, they may be able to do so much of good work. But the truth is that people don’t trust them any longer.

If you have demonstrated some level of insincerity in the past, it will be difficult to get people to trust you again. If you have blown up your chances in the past, nobody is going to give another chance. The gap between the leadership and the followership is so wide.

The only thing that can close that gap is trust and trust is not take and drink, trust is earned. I believe that in the months to come, it will be tough. This year (2011), practically, no projects were executed. You have seen the state of our roads, extremely horrible; educational standards are low. So in the months to come, I want to tell Nigerians to brace up for some austerity.

culled from vangaurdngr.com.

THE FUEL SUBSIDY CONTROVERSY.

2011-12-18T07:36:00.000+01:00

Despite the cries and yearnings of the Nigerian people over the proposed removal of fuel subsidy,The federal and state government are already in a tussle over the sharing formula on proceeds.

This is very bad omen for the Nigerian fo the Nigerian polity.

Read full article below culled from vangard nespapers.

There were strong indications over the weekend that the Federal Government and state governments may be heading for a collision over the sharing formula of the yet to be withdrawn subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, otherwise known as petrol.

Information available to Sunday Vanguard suggests that this is sequel to last week’s move by the Federal Government on the expected allocation of the funds that would be realized from the subsidy once they are withdrawn.

But the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, is already kicking.

The NLC is insisting that there “would be nothing new or markedly different from what had happened in the past when the Federal Government increased the prices of petroleum products in the name of removing subsidy”.

Meanwhile, the Initiatives, a body comprising some of the best minds in the House of Representatives, working with some leaders in the country and cutting across ethno-religious and political leanings, rose from its 10th National Roundtable, warning that should the subsidy removal issue be mis-handled, Nigeria risked the Arab-Spring-type of revolution.

FG, states on war path
Sunday Vanguard reliably gathered from one of the governors in the southern part of the country that the “Federal Government has sent a document to us”, on how the proceeds from the petrol subsidy removal would be shared..

“The document contains the allocation that would likely come to my state in the form of subsidy allocation”, the governor added.

However, the parameters employed by the Federal Government in determining the sharing of the funds remained foggy.

For instance, whereas the 2010 budget reportedly had a built-in subsidy funds amounting to N500billion (but which was overshot), the 2011 budget reportedly had an in-built funds for subsidy to the tune of N240billion.
Yet, information available and for which the Federal Government continues to insist that it cannot continue the subsidy funding is that a whopping N1.45trillion has already been spent outside of the N240b.

According to another state governor during a discussion, on Friday, “the N1.45trillion has been spent by the Federal Government without recourse to the National Assembly or even the state or local governments.

“The money, the N1.45trillion, is our commonwealth and the Federal Government spent it without recourse to any of the two other tiers of government; neither was there any appropriation from the legislative arm. We cannot continue like that”, the governor said.

“What that meant”, the palpably angry governor continued, “was that the National Assembly did not know about it neither did the state governments buy into the deal”

Sunday Vanguard discovered that the frenzy now, which verges on tension, is that state governments are seeking clarification on the issue of authentication of the figures

Questions being asked include but are not limited to the following, according to Sunday Vanguard sources, “Why should the state governments agree to the figures being thrown around by the Federal Government?

“How did the Federal Government do the computation to arrive at the figures it has sent to the states?

“What is the corresponding quantity of petrol that was moved the preceding year and the amount that would be consumed in the coming year that gave vent to a situation that would equate, in monetary terms, the cost of subsidy that has been sent to the states?
“There is also the seeming disequilibrium between the real fuel consumption in some states as against the assumed consumption pattern leading to the subsidy cost shared out to the states”.

It’s business as usual, NLC
Meanwhile, the Secretary General of the NLC, Owei Lakemfa, in a chat with Sunday Vanguard, sought further clarifications on the matter.

Lakemfa’s words: “What we see is that this Jonathan administration is not about to transform anything; it is just business as usual.

“The story the Federal Government is selling is that it would save about N1.2trillion naira by removing subsidy, but when you look at the 2012 budget and the allocation to sectors, there is nowhere that the N1.2trillion has been captured in such a way as to suggest that the masses would benefit.

“If you look at the area of public works, how much was allocated such that you can then begin to imagine the employment that would be likely generated?

“Even Mr. President that had declared that a body of prominent Nigerians would be instituted to help manage the resources, from the way the budget has been packaged, we do not see where those eminent Nigerians would come in.

“Now that you are talking about the share of the funds, once the funds have been shared, what roles would those eminent Nigerians then play and where would they be able to play the roles?

“You remember that the state governments had made it clear that one of the conditions for the payment of the minimum wage would be the removal of subsidy on petrol. So, the question to ask is: When did the state governors change their stand on that?
“In 2011, government said it set aside N50billion for job creation, apart from sloganeering, where were the jobs created? On paper?

“Government is now talking about increasing tariff on rice and the question we ask is, is there any plan afoot for increase in local rice production that is a national staple?
“That is why we say that it is business as usual and nothing is about to change”.

Initiatives’ warning
Rising from its 10th National Roundtable, the Initiatives warned of the possible consequences of a mishandling of the subsidy removal issue.
Part of its communiqué at the end of its Roundtable on “Deregulation in an emerging economy”, reads:

1. That the issue of subsidy is a very sensitive one, which has deep and overriding implication for the welfare of the majority of Nigerians, and so must be looked at dispassionately and its merits and demerits properly considered, rather than the on-going play to the gallery;

2 That the government should embark on massive sensitization programme in order to gain the confidence of the citizens and avoid any backlash that would be similar to or replicate the ‘Arab Spring’ experience;

3. That the government should encourage and put in place mechanisms for continuous public discourse on the deregulation processes with a view to ensuring adequate public information and enlightenment as a way of eliciting public confidence and trust.

culled from vangaurdngr.com.

THE NIGERIAN LEGISLATORS.

2011-12-17T20:37:00.000+01:00

The legislative arm of government is the arm of government that creates and passes a law into existence.The Nigerian legislative arm from my research in that last 10 years has just been a shadow of itself.Hundred thousands of Nigerian students gradaute every year to add to the already saturated labour market,only to find themselves in between cross-roads.

The Nigerian Red and Green cap politicians are only fast in passing bills that has to do with Election funding bill,budgetary bill,anti gay bill,social event bill and other irrelevant bills.

The Greek parliament had to summon its prime minister George papandreou,to face a NO-CONFIDENCE VOTE as regards to the financial crisis and proposed austerity measures.The American Legislators increased the tax rate of the upper and middle class citizens so as to generate more revenue for job creation.Prime minister David Cameron faces an every day criticism over his policies from oppositions MP's, which he has defended on several occasions in THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Why can't the Nigerian Legislators emulate their international counter parts and come up with policies that will better the lives of their people.

The Nigerian legislators should enact and implement policies that will put smiles on the faces of their people rather than sponsoring UN-WARRANTED BILLS that will make no meaning in the lives of the people.

THE SUBSIDY CONTROVERSY.

2011-12-17T20:02:00.000+01:00

Come January 1st 2012,the federal Government of Nigeria will embark on an anti human policy on the removal of fuel subsidy.Ngeria will make history as the only member of OPEC that does not implement subsidy to better the lives of her masses.

The administration of President Goodluck Jonathan has once again shut its ears over the cries and voices of its people.Dspite the current pump price of (sixty five naira)N65,75% of Nigerians still live on less than $2.00/day according to the UN report.

Apparently,the price of petrol may hike above (One Hundred Naira)N100,thereby making life more difficult and hard for the common man on the street.During the campaigns of President Jonathan,he never mentioned the word 'subsidy',as he promised Nigerians 'A BREATHE OF FRESH AIR'.Is this the type of fresh air he was talking about?An air filled with suffering,poverty and untold hardship?

Nigerians have been praying for the resucitation of the country for over the past 4 decades,how long would we continue to pray?

The choice is for Nigerians to decide their fate or keep suffering in penury.

The Controversy Behind Free and Fair Elections.

2010-12-08T09:14:00.001+01:00

Nigerian always perceived this belief that politics is the short cut to riches and wealth which is true going by the Nigerian factor.The ever ready greedy and self centred politician are the reason for the Nation's state of the Economy.I write on this article to express my view that the Independent National Electoral Comission have to implement the 2 party system formula as practiced by the United States and Great Britain.This system would allow elections to be free,fair and very interesting as the party would present their best candidates and would strengthen the foundation of democracy in Nigeria.The multi party system leaves us seeing up to 30 candidates contesting for the presidential and guber elections paving way for fraud,assasination and other electoral violence.I solidly support the coalition of some political party coming together to form a force,the issue of the David and Goliath Scenario in Nigerian elections should be something of the past and the masses would be overjoyed to see a Goliath vs Goliath scenario as we all know that going by free and fair elections,The 2 party candidate aspiring for an elective office would be keenly contested.The INEC should be innovative in rebranding the comission and not demanding for billions of dollars in conducting an acclaimed projected free and fair elections.God must surely see Nigeria through,and forgive us for our sins in Jesus Name,AMEN!

Zoning or no Zoning?The way forward.

2010-12-08T08:51:00.001+01:00

Power Rotation or "Zoning" has been a national or would I say popular word in the Nigerian polity.Since the demise of president Yar'adua,zoning became a very contentious issue.Zoning as it stands in the Nigerian polity is an agreement reached upon by the founding founders of the ruling party,the PDP in 1999 allowing power Rotation among the protectorates(North & South) and not geo political zones of the country.The gentleman's agreement reached upon saw the emergence of Olusegun Obasanjo (from the south)as president followed by the late Umaru Yar'adua.Since after the demise of one of the best,effecient,loyal and dedicated President Nigeria have ever produced,The late Umaru Musa Yar'adua,The Nigerian polity have known no peace by the PDP stalwalts,shouting on the ears of the masses and making Zoning a constituitional thing and making life miserable and unbearable for the Nigerian Populace and the so called stalwats have failed to address the issue which is as a result of mistrust and bridging of a written agreement as acclaimed by the PDP.From my own political view,Zoning plays a part in National Integration and harmony of the polity,it gives the protectorates or geo political zone a sigh of relief to show that they are not being marginalised,it makes the people from different ethnic culture and belief to have a hope that one day,they would have their son representing them at the highest level to have a fair share of the National cake and history of the country.Nigeria is so big that it cannot be ruled by a certain zone of people leaving the minority to be spectators,fans,supporters and voters if the need arises.My own view is that the National Assembly under the leadership of Senator David Mark are in a deep slumber and needs to be woken to know that zoning must be a constituitional thing and the bill for zoning should be passed by the National Assembly and implemented immediately.

Africa and her Problem of leadership.

2010-12-07T11:59:00.001+01:00

Africa is indeed a third world Continent ranging from the view of the high level of poverty amongst the middle class down to the low class people.The problem of Africa is always based on bad leadership and selfish interest of the leaders.The so called African leaders indulge themselves in embezzling public funds and enchriching themselves with the resources of their countries and leaving their citizens to suffer from abject poverty.The solution to the problem of Africa is when the so called leaders start telling themselves the truth,without that,The problem of Africa would continue to be a natural phenomenon.

Nigeria and do or die politics.

2010-12-07T09:33:00.001+01:00

Democracy is supposed to be a government of the people,for the people and by the people but in Nigeria, the case seems to be the reverse.It has been studied that every Nigerian head of state or president that assumed office have always have this mentality of getting himself intoxicated with power or claim self aggrandizement,This phenomenon also applies to African leaders and third world sovereign nations.The sudden emergence of Goodluck jonathan as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was no suprise to many given the fact that the then president,Late Umaru Yar'adua was critically down due to health complications.But the Nigerian Polity after the death of yar'adua and under the new leadership of president Goodluck Jonathan have provided a fair improvement in governance than his predecessor.For the fact that President Jonathan made petrol/fuel available at a Uniform price of N65/litre in all the federation is a plus and a sign of Good leadership because since 2002 when I came to the South east,I have never bought fuel in a private station at the market price,it is always being sold with a difference of over N15 to N30 higher above the market price.Now the election is here,and different candidates are begining to emerge for the office of the presidency and counting down to the finale,We the masses should block our ears so as not to hear the empty and gigantic promises of the desperate politicians and go out to vote the candidate you like."Nigerians have come of age of listening to conmen who call themselves politicians and leaders and will vote whoever pleases them,it is our right to vote and we will vote"Chukwura Chukwuemeka.

My view on Ohaneze Ndigbo and the Igbo Political Leaders Forum.

2010-12-07T07:14:00.001+01:00

The Ohaneze Ndigbo Organisation is supposed to be a tool that the people of the igbo populace should use to air their views to the outside world but the Organisation have been going through different controversies and having factional group long before now.With the controversies sourrounding the endorsement of President Goodluck jonathan as the presidential candidate for the Ndigbos by the Ohaneze,The Igbo Political leaders Forum under the leadership of former Vice President Chief Alex Ekwueme and former Senate President Chief Ken Nnamani and a host of others saying that the PDP must abide by zoning and the Igbo president for 2015 is non negotiable following the newly agreement signed with the Northern Leaders Forum stating that the North would do one term and hand over to an Igbo person in 2015,what is your view about this agreement that would affect the Polity? Dont forget that the leader of the Ohaneze group was allegedly accused of collecting a sum of N200,000,000 from the President Goodluck campaign team in order to endorse him and guarantee the full support of the south east in the forth coming elections.If all these are true,then I think the controversies of bribe and mistrust sourrounding the igbo man would continue to linger in the south east forever.

The politics of Nigeria.

2010-12-06T18:37:00.001+01:00

With the emergence of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as the cosensus candidate for the north,tensions are rising high in the camp of President Goodluck jonathan with the new anticipation or should I say rumour of projecting Vice president Namadi Sambo as the Choice for the North should incase President Goodluck Jonathan deceids to Abide by zoning following the provisions of Article 7.2 of the PDP constituition,Only God knows what the outcoume might be.