e-GUARDIAN

Readers’ reactions to stories trending on The Guardian website, www.guardian.ng and the social media as compiled by Head of Online Desk, AKINLOLU OLUWAMUYIWA

Edo governor increases workers’ minimum wage to N25, 000

AMADOR says: “That is the real hurricane Oshiomhole of the Nigeria Labour Congress days back from leave.’’
Vic: “well done governor Oshiomhole, show the way forward to the nation through your good labour qualities. Please stretch the minimum wage to N40, 000 so that the Federal Government and other state governors will follow your lead. If you can do it, others can do it.’’
Amukoko: “We will be watching.”
Joseph: “The governor is a product of the Labour movement. I salute his action. Hope other governors will copy his example.’’

NLC flays governors over profligacy

AMADOR says: “Some of these theatrical political tin gods have ostentatious lifestyles synonymous almost with profligate self-indulgence while at the same time owing workers five months salaries.’’
Aremo25: “I pity the masses in Nigeria. It is unimaginable the way and manner they waste the small resources they get in terms of allocations. Every governor has an average of 20 commissioners and special advisers, 20or more PAs and political jobbers surrounding them. It is about time the masses stand up for their right and take the country back from all these political thugs.’’
Vic: “NLC, the big bulldog without teeth looking for some loot from the government as bribes for the usual Dubai holidays.’’

Where are the original fighters for democracy?

KWOY says: “The last election exposed civil society activism as essentially a sectional instrument for fighting sectional interest. You probably lived under the illusion that June 12 was a cause for democracy? But the roof was also brought down in the run up to the last election with an equal amount of noise when there were no political prisoners, no secret assassinations, and no hounding of journalists and invasion of media houses.’’

EDB: “I could remember when Dr. Nelson Mandela was released from prison in the year 1990, a lot of our home-grown artistes suddenly ran out of theme and completely disappeared from the scene. Could it be that history is repeating itself in the case of our social crusaders?’’
Martins: “This piece should serve as a clarion call towards setting ablaze the faculties of our civil groups. It is a wake up call towards fearless constructive criticism of the current state of the nation in our march toward the Promised land.’’
Eyobaba: “The so called opposition has migrated to APC, so no need for dissent any longer. To put it mildly they have gone to where their hearts is.’’

Uchamma: “Everybody seems to be hiding from the whip of the new sheriff in town. But we were warned that the sheriff would never change, so we ought to have braced up to the challenge. Until we regain our voices and admit that they never envisaged the drift and demand a change very early in the day, we will all walk into the smouldering cauldron.’’

Cattle herdsmen as the new Boko Haram?

BOBOSCA says: “It is also the reason why the government and the elites are not addressing it. Poverty provides ready army for their nefarious bids at will. It is also the reason civil servants will expect gratification to do what they are already being paid to do.’’
Peaceman: “When we complained about the secrete agenda of the north through the use of Boko Haram and now Fulani herdsmen, we were called prophet of doom. Today it has come to pass. As a child growing up in those days, the story I heard then from the north was, riots, killings, rape and under age marriage. Today, at 66, the story has grown from bad to worse.’’
Chris: “In what part of the east were Hausa and Fulani people slaughtered in 1966? Please cross check history before writing.’’

Benin monarch ‘re-unites’ with ancestors

GOGOLAGOS says: “Why do people like to fake themselves? Call a spade a spade. The Oba is dead like any other human being and that is the end.’’

Richard: “He was a great king, no doubt. Adieu.’’
Mazi: “He was a visionary royalty. He knew what he wanted his kinggdom to look like and never wavered from its peace. Like the ancient ancestors of his, he lived above the politics of his kingdom. Rest in the Lord, the great one.’’
Vic: “How old was the Oba of Benin? May his soul be blessed.’’
Austin_77478: “According to Wikipedia, he lived between (June 22, 1923–April 29, 2016).’’
Certainly Naija: “Oba Oghedo.The pride of Edo People. May your soul rest in perfect peace my great king.’’

Ngozi’s double-speak

WORDCHAMP says: “The writer of this article is simply an attention seeker. Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala made a statement that was twisted to say what she did not say. She issued a statement to reaffirm what she said. How do you call that doublespeak?’’
Ikechukwu: “This article should be disregarded completely because it has confused Nigerians.’’

Chuks: “If indeed Nigeria did not save money when President Goodluck Jonathan held sway, why should Dr. Okonjo-Iweala be blamed for this? The thieving governors should be held responsibly and kudos should be given to madam Okonjo-Iweala for a job well done. She did everything within her powers to ensure that the nation’s economy remains sound and standing.’’
Afeez: “Madam Okonjo-Iweala’s contributions and discipline saved this nation from a whole lot of economic disgrace.’’
Michael: “The Buhari government really needs to see beyond the former president’s profligacy. We have often heard that anyone who holds on to the past can never progress nor prosper.’’

Seye: “This act of blaming Dr Okonjo Iweala should stop. How many Nigeria leaders after leaving office bother to comment not to talk of give advice on how the country would become better? Okonjo-Iweala said the truth as she knows it, she deserves to be appreciated not insulted or doubted.’’

Diamond: “Which law permits Jonathan to unilaterally deplete the Excess Crude Account co-owned by the states and LGAs? I wonder what kind of democrat a person would be when all he succeeded in doing is taking all that belong to the people.’’
Salome: “Yes the states must be blamed and the governors in particular are the main culprits. It was their greed that has made it next to impossible for two-thirds of the states to be able to pay salaries now.’’

Getting paid for blunders

MAIGARI says: “Yes troubling indeed but really do the shareholders have any option as such? In Nigeria we have seen and accepted albeit reluctantly the states’ executive governors have awarded themselves incredible retirement benefits after essentially running the states finances aground. This can be seen from the assertion that majority of the states of the federation are unable or is it unwilling to pay simple staff salaries, yet the former CEOs are basking in unbridled luxury at the expense of the people.’’
Tayomi: “This is one of the reasons why we keep recycling bad leaders. Followers have been too docile or actually determined to join the rat race. Nigeria should change the attitude of celebrating bad leaders for crumbs of bread in order to rise beyond the current level of national development.’’

Leave when your time is up, Annan tells African leaders

FUZIO says: “The example of Nigeria is no longer inspiring. You see the way Buhari is harassing Jonathan for quitting when the people said so. No president will ever loose election again in Nigeria.’’

Rommel: “Jonathan did not run the country well. Should we now trade dictators for thieves?’’
Fuzio: “Arrest him and try him in an open court. That is the legitimate and democratic thing to do instead of harassing him.’’

Rommel: “If that happens, will you not scream witch hunting? Ordinary attempts at investigating certain things is already being seen as that but don’t worry, his own people will soon rope him in and he will come confessing.’’
Gogolagos: “African leaders rule like in a monarchy state. They will rule till they die and their descendant will take over and continue the bad work left by their father.’’

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