Quite often on Nigeria Village Square (NVS), articles throw up fierce debates about the achievements or lack of achievements of the eight-year long government of Olusegun Obasanjo (OBJ). I am positing here that the man achieved a lot during his tenure. The man really tried for Nigeria .One of his biggest achievements, unmatched by any leader in the history of Africa, and indeed the history of any third world country, was in the power sector. OBJ’s government ensured the massive commissioning of eleven (11) power stations spread across all of Nigeria . It was indeed a great miracle that this feat could be achieved by the father and founder of modern Nigeria . Eleven power generating plants commissioned within 5 months!

 OBJ was very passionate about the problems of power generation in Nigeria , having watched as power generation dipped to a dismal low in the in the beginning of his second tenure (2003-2007). Our hardworking former President committed a total of $7.3billion to the construction of these power plants across the country, under the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP). Even though the River State government of Peter Odili spent US$250 million on its Omaku independent power project, OBJ, because of his desire to improve Nigeria ’s electricity situation, decided to spend double to build a power station with the same generating capacity as Odili’s Omaku power station. I’m sure the one on which OBJ spent double will last longer than the cheap one built by Odili.  

 This is the biggest power project ever initiated in the world. 11 power stations constructed concurrently and completed within a space of two years, and commissioned within a space of 5 months! As they were commissioned, the plants are generating 10,000 mega watts of electricity that will be distributed to the manufacturing sector and millions of Nigerian homes very soon. Very soon, when these power generation plants are fully operational, frequent power cuts will become history; manufacturers, who are currently using generators to meet over 70 percent of their power needs - and at an average cost of about 5 times the cost of normal electricity supply will discard their generators. Nigeria will become competitive in the international export market as our input costs will crash by about 5 times from the previous levels, before the visionary former President commissioned the 11 power stations between January and May 2007.

 These power stations were commissioned with fan and fanfare to the admiration of Nigerian citizens. Each grand commissioning was well reported, the records are there! But I wonder why majority of villagers on NVS fail to recognize the giant stride of commissioning 11 power stations in a space of 5 months. Haba! If villagers, many of whom live in diaspora, choose to be blind to OBJ’s achievement in the power sector, I would not be surprised, but it seems that even some of OBJ’s benefactors are trying to “discredit” Baba’s commitment which translated to the commissioning of eleven thermal power generation stations within the space of 5 months. The chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), one Dr. Ransome Owan, who was appointed by OBJ is the saboteur that is teaming up with villagers by attempting to “put a lie to history”. On Wednesday, October 17, 2007, Owan was reported to have said that the grand commissioning of the 11 power stations by OBJ was “political commissioning”. In a daily independent report, the said ingrate, Owan claimed that OBJ’s commissioning of 11 power projects at the twilight of his administration was “for political reasons”. Owan added that the commissioning of the 11 power stations was done to “score cheap political goals” because “the stations were not ready to start work”. I wonder why the ingrate, Owan waited until now, after May 29, to come up with his “political goals” theory. Anyway, this is not the point of this piece.

 Whether there is constant power failure in Nigeria or not; whether the 11 power stations are working or not, or will start working in 2008, 2009, 2010 or 2020; whether the power stations will ever work or not (after all, there are so many billion naira and/or billion dollar projects that never work and will never work in Nigeria), the truth remains that never in the history of the world did one president “commission” 11 capital intensive power generating projects in 5 months. This record is a grand achievement by the founder and father of modern Nigeria . I stand to be corrected. OBJ is a “system thinker”, we need to look deeply and “shine our eyes” to see the link between OBJ’s “commissioning” of 11 power stations and the vision 20-2020. In Nigeria , commissioning is commissioning, be it political or real, it is an achievement to “commission” projects. The march to Nigeria ’s “greatness” has begun! Let’s all pray that OBJ will be alive by the year 2020, when Nigeria shall be one of the top 20 economies in the world, we will invite the founder and father of modern Nigeria to a grand ceremony to “commission” Nigeria into the “top 20” economies of the world. Let us help OBJ to add to his record of “commissionings”. And all these “wicked” villagers on NVS will live to be shamed during the “commissioning” ceremony in 2020. Amen!

Robot  Villager

# 1 ...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 18.10.2007 22:30

What?  Villager

# 2 http://www.tribune.com.ng/18102007/news/news11.html Omoku Turbine Station is world class - Hyundai This is the view of the President/CEO of Hyundai Engineering Company Ltd., Mr. J K Kim. His observation followed an inspection on Tuesday of the Omoku Gas Turbine station handled by a Nigerian firm, Rockson Engineering Company Ltd., based in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. “I must confess that I was quite impressed with the quality of job done at Omoku. It is world class by any standard. We are also involved in power projects in other African countries like Libya and Madagascar and work with local partners. If this quote is true you might be partially right. All we have to do now is hire foreign "world Class" consultants and have the Federal Government seize the plant and Nigerians will be happy:razz: Whatever Arumeni-Johnson might be, his track record is impressive before and after Omoku. Pity we will soon have to sacrifice him to the angry mob. Perhaps we can take one of the "get out of jail" cards reserved for the Governors and give it to him instead:lol:. Posted by What?| 18.10.2007 23:29

peterclaver2006  Villager

# 3 This is yet another of the jobs the poor, haggard and rickety jinxed washermen of the evil Obasanjo era do, thinking that somehow, they will force all of us to think that the eight years of untrammeled corruption, unending evil, sadistic visitation of pain and suffering, crass adult pranks, dubiety, naked and brazen fraud, uncensored illegality, horrendous electoral fraud, monumental sowing of evil under the buffoon and brainless scalawag called Olusegun Igbochukwu Obasanjo never happened. Like all his phony achievements in all spheres of administration, is it excusable that his gargantuan efforts in the power sector has buried the country in endless blackouts as his phantom power plants generate trillions of megawatts of darkness. So much for a proven fraud, a serial looter and an adult delinquent and his lickspittle washermen that are engaged in the futile task of reversing the direction of the wind. Posted by peterclaver2006| 20.10.2007 07:09

gwobezentashi  Villager

# 4 Kai Mallam Ikita, this kind wicked satire na wa o. The magician wey come after the master dribbler(IBB) bring am come dey count megawatt for us and still we no see the power!! Allah sarki! First dem say na six months kpere e go take but after 8 golden years and billion billion dollar, na total darkness we dey now. These power stations were commissioned with fan and fanfare to the admiration of Nigerian citizens. Each grand commissioning was well reported, the records are there! But I wonder why majority of villagers on NVS fail to recognize the giant stride of commissioning 11 power stations in a space of 5 months. Haba! If villagers, many of whom live in diaspora, choose to be blind to OBJ’s achievement in the power sector, I would not be surprised, but it seems that even some of OBJ’s benefactors are trying to “discredit” Baba’s commitment which translated to the commissioning of eleven thermal power generation stations within the space of 5 months. The chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), one Dr. Ransome Owan, who was appointed by OBJ is the saboteur that is teaming up with villagers by attempting to “put a lie to history”. On Wednesday, October 17, 2007, Owan was reported to have said that the grand commissioning of the 11 power stations by OBJ was “political commissioning”. In a daily independent report, the said ingrate, Owan claimed that OBJ’s commissioning of 11 power projects at the twilight of his administration was “for political reasons”. Owan added that the commissioning of the 11 power stations was done to “score cheap political goals” because “the stations were not ready to start work”. I wonder why the ingrate, Owan waited until now, after May 29, to come up with his “political goals” theory. Anyway, this is not the point of this piece. Sofry sofry well well Mallam Ikita. As you know say for Abuja, na with one eye we dey sleep because Andy and the other tom tom macoute still dey waka waka without hindrance. So make you tell your friend, Mallam Dr Ransome Owan say if he know wetin good for am, make he stop that talk about political commissioning. He no see how after the commissioning everywhere get light until saboteurs go quench the light? Haba! Baba brought light and the enemies of progress go sabotage am. Kai. I want laff but belle dey pain me. So I go laff small. Hee hee hee hee hee... All hail the king of darkness. Baba Transcorp! If to say he get third term, dem for dash NEPA to Transcorp too so the darkness for complete like NITEL. Aluta! Gwobezentashi Posted by gwobezentashi| 20.10.2007 07:48

Fjord  Villager

# 5 Quite often on Nigeria Village Square (NVS), articles throw up fierce debates about the achievements or lack of achievements of the eight-year long government of Olusegun Obasanjo (OBJ). I am positing here that the man achieved a lot during his tenure. The man really tried for Nigeria .One of his biggest achievements, unmatched by any leader in the history of Africa, and indeed the history of any third world country, was in the power sector. OBJ’s government ensured the massive commissioning of eleven (11) power stations spread across all of Nigeria . It was indeed a great miracle that this feat could be achieved by the father and founder of modern Nigeria . Eleven power generating plants commissioned within 5 months! How is this an exceeding achievement? Did he provide the funds for the project from his pockets? Was crude oil not selling at record high prices? Seldom are leaders wholly good or wholly bad (see, the kleptomaniac brute, Abacha, cleaned up the banking sector quite pretty good), the total of their achievements must be viewed in the light of available resources. Obasanjo brought some good: mobile telephony, debt repayment, and some pretty good clean up in the military; but he also presided over genocidal killings in Odi and Zaki-Biam; he clearly enriched himself by illegal means, gave protection to thugs and criminals, and somewhat still holds the nation hostage. You don't go around singing the praises of such a man. The nation gave him so much; he had so much to give back; but he gave back so little. . Posted by Fjord| 20.10.2007 08:14

Frisky Larr  Villager

# 6 "This is yet another of the jobs the poor, haggard and rickety jinxed washermen of the evil Obasanjo era do, thinking that somehow, they will force all of us to think that the eight years of untrammeled corruption, unending evil, sadistic visitation of pain and suffering, crass adult pranks, dubiety, naked and brazen fraud, uncensored illegality, horrendous electoral fraud, monumental sowing of evil under the buffoon and brainless scalawag called Olusegun Igbochukwu Obasanjo never happened." - PeterClaver2006 Compatriot Peter Claver, Much as the essay above hardly qualifies for anything in the semblance of an article (I regard it as a wishy-washy and unbalanced praise-singing), your vituperations in responce is only characteristic of a sworn opponent, who is simply not focussed on substance. The earlier you dissociated yourself from this attitude, the better it is for you Sir. We reach a level of our intellectual development, in which we should avoid scoring cheap points at least for the sake of our years of education. Insult OBJ till he dies, his achievements and failures will remain facts of history. A responsible intellect would hardly use such words las "...buffon and brainless scallawag..." to qualify his fellow man. God knows what you personally think you are Sir. I pray God guides you to the day, in which you will emerge as a leader so you'd see how human and errant you too are and probably less better you are than the man you characterize as brainless and a buffon. Intellectuals stand out for factual and rational arguments, not abuses! Don't take matters too far Sir! God bless. Posted by Frisky Larr| 20.10.2007 16:52

Bunch17  Villager

# 7 Is this writer being sarcastic or what? Posted by Bunch17| 20.10.2007 18:25

Fjord  Villager

# 8 Bunch17: a good catch! But good sarcasm is always clearly so. This one isn't. In that case, the ambiguity - at least - deserves a knock. . Posted by Fjord| 21.10.2007 00:27

peterclaver2006  Villager

# 9 Compatriot Peter Claver, Much as the essay above hardly qualifies for anything in the semblance of an article (I regard it as a wishy-washy and unbalanced praise-singing), your vituperations in responce is only characteristic of a sworn opponent, who is simply not focussed on substance. The earlier you dissociated yourself from this attitude, the better it is for you Sir. We reach a level of our intellectual development, in which we should avoid scoring cheap points at least for the sake of our years of education. Insult OBJ till he dies, his achievements and failures will remain facts of history. A responsible intellect would hardly use such words las "...buffon and brainless scallawag..." to qualify his fellow man. God knows what you personally think you are Sir. I pray God guides you to the day, in which you will emerge as a leader so you'd see how human and errant you too are and probably less better you are than the man you characterize as brainless and a buffon. Intellectuals stand out for factual and rational arguments, not abuses! Don't take matters too far Sir! God bless. Good day, Sir Frisky, Thank you so much for your unsolicited advice. I can understand why you are fusing because you belong to the class of people who see substance in the fact that a man took our eight precious years spinning vacuous and unidentified achievements. Which is why you need to do something about your moral capital that has been devalued to lie to give comfort to failed leaders that have dehumanized and impoverished Nigerians. Know what, you are struggling in vain because success in government is measured through hard, verifiable improvement in the lives of the governed and not through spurious tales meant to buy reprieve for failed despots like Obasanjo, the very worst being that ever ruled this country. I sense your discomfiture at every attempt to give Obasanjo his rightful dues and I wonder why you didn’t avail him of the real lessons of history as he was running riots here for eight years. At least, he would have made much from your intellectual imbuement than cripple this country and have people like you put up funny defenses for him here. I must inform you though that it has never started and if you think we can wish away Obasanjo’s disastrous eight years and warm up to the drivels you guys spin here, you better embrace another calling. We shall not rest until Obasanjo is brought to justice. So fret as much as you can but don’t think you can fool us with these jejune trashes of Obasanjo reinvention project. As it never worked with IBB, it will never work for Obasanjo who is a greater evil than IBB. If ever I become Nigeria’s leader and put up the type of performance, with equal resources, as Obasanjo, I will take rat poison and die. This is as bad as the man you slave here; under the guise of some assumed intellectual wetin call sank. Posted by peterclaver2006| 21.10.2007 09:01

Frisky Larr  Villager

# 10 Dear Peter Claver, Thanks a lot sir for your submissions. We are both not soliciting advices but obviously seem to find it necessary to exchange one word or the other to see us through in the assessment of OBJ. We obviously have no personal scores to settle with each other on this matter. But please be fair enough to recognize that I am quite keen on putting issues in perspective as I do not seek to deny justice for the country no matter who the guilty party may turn out to be whenever justice takes hold Sir. I am passionately pleading for the victory of rationality over bitterness no matter the underlying cause. Abuses and derogations are definitely not the best way to go about these issues. Cheers Sir! Posted by Frisky Larr| 21.10.2007 14:16

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