Discussions by Nigerians

Listen to "The only place where you can come and be freely corrupt", Nigerians debating on WHYS by BBC World Service Radio #np on #SoundCloud http://soundcloud.com/bbc-world-service/the-only-place-where-you-can-come-and-be-freely-corrupt-nigerians-debating-on-whys

Many Reasons To Hate Buhari! But Many More To Crucify Jonathan! | Sahara Reporters

Many Reasons To Hate Buhari! But Many More To Crucify Jonathan! | Sahara Reporters

Buhari advocates for abolition of the Office of First Lady

In the US, where the office of the first spouse is prominent, there is no constitutional provision for that office. We have in Nigeria chosen to emulate both constitutional and conventional practices of the US. GMB objection to that office is not out of concerns for the convention but of his religious disposition. His wives are in purdah and while he was HOS, his wives were largely absent in accordance with his religious belief that women were not to seen nor heard. I expect him to come out and say this rationale for his objection and I will accept it but not use veneer of constitutionality to vent his religious beliefs. For disclosure, I dislike the way and manner the current and previous first ladies have abused this conventional practice. They have take the US convention and expended it into being a major government department. It ought not have budgetary and fiscal import. It should not run a shadow government. Abolishing the office is throwing the baby and bathwater away. I suggest reforming the office. It holds symbolic value and ought to promote causes the government is unable to do. It ought to be a charitable hulb to promote selfless service and value to our national growth of women. It's an idea that is yet to see light of day but it ought to. Implementing policies only or mainly through religious lens is equally unhelpful, women in the 21st century cannot be in purdah we need all hands on dock to steer our national ship. Nigeria is a modern country and the pathway is not fundamental Christianity nor Islam. GMB needs to get this or otherwise he will set sail for the 17th century as other political Islamic countries have done. We aspire not to Afghanistan but to Malaysia, not to Pakistan but to France. Nigeria, in constitutional terms is secular. GEJ is equally playing into the religious trap with his overboard religiosity.

Most unfortunate

Legitimate questions and concerns. This is the role of the press and I accept.

Jonathan’s N21bn donation: Impunity taken too far http://www.punchng.com/editorial/jonathans-n21bn-donation-impunity-taken-too-far/

Boko Haram are not insurgents but penny dozen terrorists.

Boko Haram releases chilling video http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/world/2014/12/22/elbagir-boko-haram-video-released.cnn.html

Seasonal greetings

Merry Christmas and happy New year to you and yours. Thanks for checking on our views and hope to hear yours on this platform. Enjoy and be reflective during your holidays.

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Civil War veteran, Alabi Isama, replies Obasanjo; says ex-president an 'incredible opportunist' - Premium Times Nigeria

These are the people who rule over us and yet we wonder how we got into the ditch.



Civil War veteran, Alabi Isama, replies Obasanjo; says ex-president an 'incredible opportunist' - Premium Times Nigeria

Analysis of governorship race x2015

Nice to our attempt at political analysis. Though troubled with the ethnic considerations flavour of the analysis. 

http://leadership.ng/news/395076/2015-strength-weaknesses-governorship-candidates

Who to lead

I support Jonathan Goodluck, his knowledge, temperament, competence, track record and skills set for governor of Bayelsa State. The Nigerian state is beyond his knowledge, temperament, competence, track record and skills set. He is a good man promoted beyond his skills set, he is the Forrest Grump of Nigerian politics. He had no business being our head of state. His emergence and sustenance as our Leader is evidene of all that is wrong with our current political dispensation. Obasanjo has admitted that he engineered GEJ emergence into our national consciousness as vice president and fate took over. There is a Chinese saying, mind what you wish for or you might just get it. OBJ wanted Nigeria to regret not allowing him a third term and we will then come begging if it all fails. Woe will betide OBJ and his buyer's remorse. 

The tribal and sectionalist who see GEJ as an antidote to Northern hegemony are mistaken and using a bad actor for a good play. GEJ is not the question to our very good answer that Nigeria belongs to all and no section must have a god given right to misrule us. If Awolowo was our question than the answer will be right. Neither is a failed triballord coup plotter from the North a solution to GEJ. Buhari like GEJ is not our temporary solution. He lacks the right political acumen to lead a complex country like Nigeria. As HOS he failed to balance his ruling ticket. He failed to learn from that mistake, he did it again as a contestant. He balances his ticket either with people from his political geography or religion for a country as diverse as Nigeria. An unrepentant man in his 70s will never learn. He is merely competent and that's not good enough. He has history which offends my democratic notions. He is happy to be political with a matter which threatens our national existence, even if instep with an incompetent HOS. 

In 2015 we will again be forsaken by providence with our choices which are no choices really. Either will continue to lead us to stagnation and regression. 

The fellowership equally leaves much to be desired. We are like sheep being led by their noses. We are betrayed by our missing courage and conviction that it can get better. Our collective abrogation of our duties to our gods is not evidence of faith but of a forsaken people. 

In the name of their god

They will ultimately fail in their goal. Theirs is political with a veneer of religiosity. They offer no solution to their problems. Political Islam has not met a solution it's not missed, they want to walk back in time as their best days are behind them.

http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/world-30080914?ocid=socialflow_facebook

Nigeria Union Of Teachers Protest In Abuja against local authority autonomy

The details of this protest is currently unavailable therefore my comments are based on conjecture on what their grievances are. Most people in Nigeria prefer to remain as close as possible to centres of power. Local authorities are regarded as being distant from real power hence the rush to the door by teachers who do not wish to be saddled with a powerless body. However, the position of this writer understands but argue that power ought to be closer to the people and Primary education should be managed by that ring of government. Local authorities know their local communities and their needs and be able to  tailor and meet the needs of their communities. Power should not be without responsibility and control over primary education is such responsibility.



We wait to hear of the teachers objection to local authorities control of Pre and Primary education.



Nigeria Union Of Teachers Protest In Abuja | Sahara Reporters

LGA autonomy, recipe for Nigeria’s growth, development

I agree that match to national development must and should commence at the local government level. This is due to the proximity of local authorities to the population. The bread and butter or corn and groundnuts, if you will, of the importance of government to the people. Pre and primary education, markets, secondary roads, rubbish collection etc core duties of local authorities  has immediate impact on the citizens than mosts. The demand for effective local authorities is not meant to placate failed politicians to state and national levels to cool their heels. This must be a husbandry of talents and laboratory of democracy for the nation. They should have stability and not a plaything for governors. Neither must they turn into mini states able to just go alone without reference to the goals of the states.

feedproxy.google.com/~r/punchng/NEWS/~3/SwgdBasF-r4/

Bribe airport officials, risk five-year jail term -ICPC

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/punchng/NEWS/~3/CeVDl8NdK_w/

Assignments for air and sea ports ought not be a lucrative postings for staff of the various agencies.  Removing the incentives of bribes will downgrade such postings and allow for sanity to prevail in these places.

Rote more frequently and carry out snap inspections at the ports.

Posters claiming or announcing sanctions against fraud and bribes do not enhance our image. A welcoming attitude from staff and transparency of transactions will go a long way.

World worried at treatment of minorities in the US

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-30350702

Letter from Africa: Why do we rely on 'miracle cures'?

http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-29505493

That is source of restricted development and being led by our noses.

Letter from Africa: Finger-pointing over Boko Haram

http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-30280891

A continent of lions ruled by donkeys

Making birth registration compulsory

http://www.punchng.com/editorial/making-birth-registration-compulsory/

This is towards the end of 2014 and birth and death registration ought to be a current topic. But in Nigeria with rudderless leadership and complacent fellowship, it is a vital piece of the societal development not in place. As the punch editorial makes clear this is not a matter to be left to the imagination but to dealt with urgency. These matters are vital for the economy and political progress. Local authorities should be co-opted to take the lead in these matters. At first instance age declarations should not accepted where there is real and reasonable reason why one's  birth was not registered. Death benefits should also rest on provision of same documents. Forged documents should have increased prison punishments. Finally, education, education and education of the people on the benefit of a sustained system of state registration of death, birth.