Dialogue With Boko Haram

In the article "The Faceless Boko". The question was asked, "who will be sitting at the dialogue table with the Federal Government? The illiterate Boko Haram or the Political Hooligans?" There are several more questions to be asked. For example, "What will the Government discuss?", "what compromise will be made?"

As we know, in every dialogue there is a compromise. See my side and i see yours. Do this and i will do this or stop doing this. So in the case of the real but illiterate Boko Haram what will the compromise be? Stop dropping bombs and shooting people and we will all think about being islamists? Not likely. Dialogue won't work.

The supporters of dialogue are citing the Niger-Delta issue but this writer wonders how mentally blind some people can be. The boys of the Niger-Delta were fighting for a just cause. "Stop destroying my land while you take my oil." Compromises could be made. We will stop desecrating your land and waters and impoverishing you, we will also grant you amnesty and in return you will drop your weapons.

There is no way that either of the Boko Harams' terms can be met, not even marginally, so we need to drop the charade. Dialogue cannot work!

The Faceless Boko

There have been several calls for a dialogue with Boko Haram. This call one must admit is hilariously ridiculous as there is no one entity called Boko Haram! Several criminals banded together in some parts of the country to form the terror-based group. Their mission? Islamize Nigeria.

Perhaps this was the true Boko Haram, it comprised nonentities as well as not-so-smart people. For how can you explain the intelligence of a particular group of people who think they can FORCE another LARGER group of people to leave the religion they were born into or spiritually converted into?

Religion is not a mathematical and straight-forward process that can be relegated to the background by means of force. It is a way of life that is influenced and controlled by FAITH. FAITH in its very essense subverts conversion. Faith in the context of the christian religion does not require proof or demand reason, we must accept it because it simply is. There is a God; Have you personally seen him? No. Personally heard from him? No. Then how do you know there is a God? I HAVE FAITH. How do you contend with that? The first, and perhaps the only, Boko Haram was fighting a losing battle.

Then came the next batch; the political criminals (or which other more heinous adjective you can use to describe them). Their mission? Create as much disharmony as you can. Why? A SOUTHERNER WON THE ELECTION! We must not forget that! We must not let them have peace! How can those horrible Southerners take away our birth-right? And so the bloody scourge began.

As most things chaotic are wont to be the political "Boko Haram" escalated past their instigators. The leaders have been over-shadowed and the followers have run amok, pursuing their own different agenda.
So who will be sitting at the dialogue table with the Federal Government? The illiterate Boko Haram or the Political Hooligans?

Before I mercifully allow my pen to stop bleeding allow me feed you with some thoughts; If Boko Haram does not believe in Western Technology, as they proclaim, what will you call the guns, the vehicles, the cameras and the phones they use? I will be glad to get a response to this question because my brain has given up all hope of recovering the answer.

Corruption Has Come To Stay In Nigeria

Nigeria, it seems, is so bedevilled by corruption that it does not even know how to tackle the menace. In a case of glaring proportions it was discovered that oil marketers have been receiving payments for "invisible petrol". Some of the big names involved are Total, Oando and MRS.

In such a scenario the normal and lawful thing to do is prosecute the perpetrators. However, the Federal Government in her regular show of disillusionment has stated that instead of prosecution the amount found to have been collected unlawfully will be deducted from the amount owed the marketers.

Obviously there are two principles at war here; The principle of Diplomacy and The principle of Justice. The Government has, as expected, chosen diplomacy giving credence to the fact that there are "holy cows" or people who we can't afford to offend.

The question any sane -and uncorrupt- Government official will be asking right now is this: Why choose Justice over Diplomacy? Well the answer is quite simple. To change the clime of corruption that is systematically erroding our not so beloved country! By prosecuting the perpetrators the Government will be sending a clear message not only to the oil marketers but also to all people who are engaging in illegal acts that the Federal Government is not willing to tolerate such chiaroscuro acts anymore.

Mayhap I am asking too much of the Government.

University of Lagos Students Protest Institution's Name Change

In his Democracy day speech, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan changed the name of the University of Lagos to Moshood Abiola University. The President said it was in order to honour the late politician who most Nigerians believe won the 1993 elections.

Students of the prestigious University have however condemned the renaming of their institution. In a protest in the school premises the students out-rightly stated that the change of name was absolutely unacceptable to them.

NPB interviewed some of the students. The students interviewed said the name UNILAG was a brand and changing the name will be tantamount to the university losing its prestige.

President Goodluck's Achievements After One Year In Office

Below is a list of the acccomplishments of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. This list was curbed from his speech and has absolutely nothing to do with the writer of this article. It does not reflect the writers view and opinions on the present administration. This article is in no way comprehensive. Please take note.

-Free and fair elections in 2011

-Foreign relations: Signing of Bi-national trade agreements between Nigeria and other countries.

-Encouraging foreign investment.

-7.45% growth in the Economy as at 2011.

-Creating Employment Opportunities directly and indirectly. Through YouWin(Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria) and other initiatives.

-Ports: Clearing of goods in Nigerian Ports in less than 48 hours as well as Ports being available for business 24 hours a day. Creation of Onitsha Port.

-Encouraging the Private sector and Privatisation in the fields of Agriculture and Crude.

-Improving power supply.

-Repairing refineries and increasing their production capacity.

-Agricltural Sector: Facilitating the importation of rice mills to increase milling of rice in Nigeria. Greatly improving the cassava sub-sector by encouraging bakers to use cassava flour and also encouraging the use of cassava chips in poultry. Free provision of cocoa pods and cotton seeds to farmers.

-Mining: Transparent provision of mining titles.

-Education: Scholarships for Doctorate students to aid qualitative teaching. Scholarships for first class graduates especially in the fields of Science and Engineering.

-Transportation: Road repairs, rail construction and inland water transport.

-Women Powerment: Women empowerment in Politics and the Armed Forces.

-Blowing the whistle on corruption in the Ports and Agriculture.

For more details and in-depth information of these achievements read the President's Democracy Day Speech.

Only Nigerians can truly verify or debunk these claims. Are they true or false? If truly these claims are not false then the President's PR people have not been doing a very good job. What are your thoughts Nigerians?

The Nigerian Judiciary Is An International Embarrasment

Once again Nigeria's Judiciary is under the spotlight and again not for a good reason. Previously, the controversy was stirred as a result of a UK court finding the former Governor of Delta State, Ibori, guilty of money laundering. A charge which the Nigerian Courts had absolved him of.

Presently, the Judiciary is again being drawn into ill-regard and this time by the US Department of State. The US-DOS has described the Nigerian Judiciary as corrupt, saying that it is easily influenced. It cited the fact that only 4 out of the 26 prominent public officials arraigned by the EFCC had been convicted. The other 22 were granted bail. Talk about impunity!

The US-DOS also stated some well known facts like the wonderful states of our prisons which have no facilities whatsoever, the amazingly wonderful ability of our prisons to hold more than its capacity of prisoners and the unlawful arrest and detention of Nigerians. Allow me to clarify the last few words for the US-DOS: the unlawful arrest and detenion of innocent and POOR Nigerians.

As always there will be talk and more talk and then the issue will be swept under the bulging mat and collective amnesia will grip those who are in a position to do anything about this issue.

God help Nigeria!

If You Were President What Would You Do Differently?

Most people are of the opinion that if they were in Government they would do things differently. They would ABOLISH CORRUPTION, create employment, build good roads, make electricity constant and the list continues. So we are giving you a chance to campaign for votes.

If you were elected President what would you do differently and how would you do it?

Have fun.

(Start your statement with, "If I was President...")

Subsidy Removal Again

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan

The Federal Government pays N50 billion in subsidy for electricity but the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has said that in 2014 the subsidy will be removed.

The issue is this. Did you know there was subsidy on electricity? Do you think the subsidy money has been used judiciously? I am asking because the bills I get every month has been steadily increasing like a bar chart and yet power given to us has been decreasing atrociously! Where is the money goiong to?

Ghana's Revenge: Nigeria Must Go

There has been a bit of a stir in Ghana as the Ghanian authorities are set to deport "illegal immigrants". According to Ghana, these immigrants are engaging in business which is reserved only for Ghanians, that is, retail in any form! Those mostly affected are the Chinese as well as Nigerians, bringing to mind the question: Is this Ghana's Revenge on Nigeria?

Most of the affected people are saying that this is xenophobia (fear or dislike for people from other countries). We can't deny that a lot of Ghanian laws are targeted at making life difficult for foreigners, like the laws concerning movies.

Any thoughts?

Jigawa Youths Stone Jega, Hail Buhari

It has been gathered that the INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega escaped near-death yesterday at the hands of some youths in Jigawa. The youths blamed him for not putting Buhari in power and consequently started stoning him and his convoy. More surprising is the fact that the violence was incited by a young girl! It was learnt that the young girl hurled sand at the INEC boss' car at which other youths began hurling stones.

After Jega escaped with his life, Buhari came into the scene and was hailed by the youths. They refered to him as the solution to Nigeria's problems.

Source: Vanguard News

Britain Bullys Nigeria

A diplomatic quarrel is brewing between Nigeria and Britain. In a recent development, Nigeria gave foreign airlines a deadline to streamline fares, failure to do this and the airline will be banned. Fares in Nigeria and fares in other neighbouring countries are so different its ridiculous.

Reacting to this deadline, Britain has said that any moves to ban their airlines will be met with retaliations. According to Britain, the result of any such ban on her airlines will result in "a heavy handed action that would be catastrophic." (Sounds like a threat)

Also brewing is Britains inability (or refusal) to grant Nigerian Airline, Arik, landing slots in her airports. They are willing to refuse our airlines landing slots but are unwilling to reduce their fares? Sounds unfair.

The Police Force Should Be Returned To Nigerian Universities - GCC

A socio-cultural group in Calabar, the Greater Calabar Community has called on the Federal Government to return the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) to Nigerian Universities. This call though well-meaning comes with its advantages as well as disadvantages.

The disadvantage of this call lies in the current state of corruption in the NPF. Would sending these men to the universities not be tantamount to begging them to go and practice their corrupt practices there?

The advantage, however, is clear. The state of insecurity in some schools is alarming. Cultists run haywire, playing with the lives of their fellow human beings. So in hindsight, it is probably for the best that the NPF return their services to the Nigerian campuses, however, with restrictions!

Full news details

GEJ: Nigeria's Problem Started In 1914 Not In My Regime

The President, yesterday declared that Nigeria's problem did not begin in his regime but started in 1914 when the Northern and Southern Protectorates were amalgamated.

Speaking at the funeral ceremony of the mother of the Enugu state Governor, Sullivan Chime, the President stated that Nigerians should re-access themselves and the areas they have not done too well so as to effect a change.

The President's statement seems to support the call for SNC, even though that is probably not what he intended.

PDP: We Will Take Over Lagos

The PDP has recently been boasting that it will take-over Lagos and the other South-West states come 2015.

The ACN, as can be suspected, is not too happy with this boast. It has described it as the "usual boasts of serial failures." The Publicity Secretary of the ACN in Lagos state went on to bombard the PDP saying that its 13 years of rule has been one of "unmitigated plunder."

Read the full article

Free Electricity Metres For Everybody

Although this sounds like a political promise made by one of our dear brothers when they are seeking political office it is not coming from one of them.

The Commissioner in charge of Government and Consumer Affairs of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission made the disclosure yesterday in Kwara state. He said that Nigerians will no longer be expected to pay for Electric metres once the new tarriff comes into effect on June 1.

Is this really true or is it another disguise for us to accept the new tarriffs that will kick off on June 1?

Update: It has been learnt that the so-called "free metre" is not free afterall. The NERC has disclosed that the cost of the metres will be included in the electricity bills.

Related Post: Subsidy Removal Again

Banks Are Robbing Government Blind

Yesterday, the Co-ordinating Minister For The Economy Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala disclosed to members of the House of Representatives Committee on Finance that the Federal Government was considering creating a "Treasury Single Account."

This is set to happen because, according to members of the legislature, the banks are robbing Government blind with excess bank charges.

Maybe the banks believe in this philosophy: Think not what you can do for your country but what your country can do for you.

Revenue Allocation Under Way

The distribution of Revenue for the month of April to the three tiers of government is under-way. The amount shared will be announced today. The delay in the sharing it seems arises from crude oil theft in the South-South region.

70 to 90 percent of the amount shared is usually derived from Crude oil sales. The amount to be shared is said to be 796 billion Naira. This is an unconfirmed amount, the real amount will be disclosed today.

Due to the short-fall in crude oil sales caused by oil theft the Excess Crude Account would be tapped. The Excess crude account stands at $4.3 billion.

Northern Governors Plan Take-Over

During their meeting yesterday the Northern Governors resolved to brush aside their differences and unite in the fight for the presidency come 2015. The Northern Governors Forum is made up of the 19 states of the North.

Also discussed yesterday by the Northern Governors were issues relating to the economy as well as security in the Northern region. Let us hope that their discussions will yield fruit this time.

Arewa Youths, S. East PDP and Northern Governors Caution Buhari

The Arewa Youth Forum yesterday condemned the CPC's former presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari for his outbursts. The forum described his words as "treasonous, misguided and uncalled for."

It will be recalled that some days back the Former General said that there will be blood-letting in 2015 if the elections were rigged. Buhari also described the Federal Government as Boko Haram.

Members of the South-East PDP also added their voices to the growing condemnation against Buhari. They described his words as “incendiary and bereft of patriotic intent.”

Not to be left out, the Northern Governors yesterday issued a communique stating, “we want to caution eminent Nigerians against inflammatory statements capable of affecting our fragile unity and security.  We must be concerned about the unity and development of the country in all ramifications”

Related Posts:
 Jigawa Youths Stone Jega, Hail Buhari
Buhari To Jonathan: Arrest Me If You Can
Buhari Is A Serial Election Loser

Foreign Scene: Romney May Lose Votes Because Of Religion

It seems that the Republican Mitt Romney may lose some valuable votes due to his religion. A good percent of voters who prefered Romney to Obama said they wouldn't vote Romney because he's Mormon.

Mormonism is a form of Christian primitivism. Most of those who said they wouldn't vote for Romney because he's Mormon are Christians.

Romney has not been doing enough to propagate himself as human. Recently there were accusations that he took part in bullying a fellow class-mate while he was still in school. Romney's response was that "he couldn't remember". Most analysts believe, however, that this could be the turning point for Romney and that he could use his days as a Mormon evangelist to his advantage.