Saturday 6 September 2008

President Yar'adua and Queen Elizabeth II










This is another political blog from me. I went astray before but I’ve come back to my original calling now.

I may go astray again very soon.

I’m sure you guys will be wondering, wetin konsain Megida and Iya Charlie?

Well, it happens that Megida and Iya Charlie get one thing in common.

"What is it?"

"Oya, guess now."

“They are both Heads of States of English speaking countries?”

“Yes, but that is not exactly the only thing they have in common.”

“Erm… they are both leaders of Commonwealth nations.”

“Yes, they both are but that was not what I had in mind.”

“I give up.”

“Oh, so soon? ”

“Yes, Naijaleta. Please tell us what the Queen of England and the King of Aso Rock have in common.

“They both celebrate two birthdays in a single year!”

Otio! I know the Queen was born on the 21st April, which is her real birthday, and her official birthday is also celebrated around the first or second Saturday in June of every year but that’s because she’s the Monarch. Every English Monarch has that priviledge.”

“Well, it appears that the privilege has been accorded to Nigerian Presidents too.”

Recently, state governors in Nigeria blew over NGN35million, that’s around £140,000:00 (One hundred and forty thousand Pounds) to congratulate The President, Alhaji Yar’adua on the occasion of his 57th birthday on 9th July 2008.

The states involved include, Niger, Bayelsa, Imo, Sokoto, Rivers, Plateau, Kwara and Ekiti states. Other states include, Enugu, Katsina, Benue and Edo states.

Even the Senate President, David Mark joined the states to congratulate the President on his birthday.

Some state governors even placed advertisements in their personal capacity as state governors after the ones they placed on behalf of their states.

These are governors of, Kaduna, Bauchi, Kebbi, Ebonyi, Zamfara, Adamawa, Borno, Oyo, Taraba, Akwa-Ibom and Abia states.


Out of the over one hundred full page advertisements placed for the President’s birthday only fifteen were placed by private individuals. The rest were placed at public expense.

I understand that this campaign went on for about a week before a Presidential spokesman came forward to say that the President was actually born on August 16 and not July 9.

Surely, all the state governors who have placed those adverts with public money for July 9th must know something the rest of us do not know. Maybe the Nigerian constitution has now given Nigerian Heads of States the privilege of having two birthdays in a single year.

25 comments:

Rita said...

I thought what was common was age...

Hmmm, we have money in this country.

Am I first?

aloted said...

NAWA o!

Orisirisi

Femi B said...

such waste of my parents taxes..... why not just though a big bash or parade to celebrate his b'day.on the correct day. why waste paper and kill more trees.

I wish i was a queen too so i can have 2 bdays....maybe i can be the queen of naija blogville or Iyalode of blogville

isha said...

O ma se o.
See scholarship money going to insignificant birthday celebrations.

Anonymous said...

SHITTTTTT!!!!!!!!!

I swear its becuz its not their money now! its becuz its not...ahnahn!

do u know how much it costs to do a full page ad is???

geezzus!

Thunder faya them and their children!

Vera Ezimora said...

Dang!

That's crazy men. People r dying of hunger in Naija and they r busy celebrating president's birthday on the wrong day for that matter sef.

In fact, Naijaleta, I don vex oh. I need you to come and calm me down now, now, now! The vex wey I dey vex right now ehn, hmmm... I need --- anyway, I'll let you decide what you think I need.

Naija Idol said...

Government Money!!!!! Chai. I don vex. I need wetin vera need too.

Anonymous said...

I want warever u give Vera too naijaleta, cuz this kind madness dey vex me. Seriously this is completely awful. I think everyone agrees with me when I say we need better leaders in Nigeria. However, things are getting better in some states. Perhaps you might consider writing about the head of the states doing a better job managing local resources...or maybe I should. Ummmm

Flourishing Florida said...

nigerian news = bad news

badderchic said...

tunda faya dem.

Geebee said...

Hmmm Imagine blowing that kind of money on adverts that turn out to be wrong. Crazy. I never thought Yaradua was that young. Megida looks 80 or thereabout. How u doin, naijaleta?

Afrobabe said...

Maybe I can have two birthdays as well, then I can get presents twice...capish???

wellsbaba said...

broda u said i was more up2date about chelsea...well on dis one u r more up2date oo,even on my own ground u beat me?!..lol....I neva knew such existed oo but all dis monarchs sef,which one b 2bydays?wen u no b runs girl wey dey get 4bydays in a year!

Mz. Dee said...

na wow o... me thinkz dat money cud be used 4 sumn a lot more valuable!!

Stuck in my throat said...

I pay tax..and they used it for a silly party?
NDI OSHI!!!

Chris Ogunlowo said...

Wonders shall never end.

The Activist said...

hmmmmmmmmmmmmm

SOLOMONSYDELLE said...

hahahaha, I am just happy Fasola of Lagos is not on that list cos if not nneoma/pyoo wata blog for don curse am well, well.

Well, you know that I am always a fan of the political posts, but you can do politics, and non politics so well, I'm happy to read whatever you write.

Oh, I want to claim first on your next post. Oya, shebi you will give me the heads up? =P


NIGERIAN CURIOSITY
IT WAS SO MUCH EASIER WHEN I ONLY HAD ONE...

ibiluv said...

dem no ask to confirm before them blow money?

Naapali said...

sometimes I want to cry but the tears stopped flowing a long time ago.

Buttercup said...

lmao @ rita!

mehn nawa o..i dont even know what to say..my darling country keeps wowing me!

Jay said...

These people...seriously what else can they do to shock us...how can they waste so much public money on on BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!

FineBoy Agbero said...

Government money? Our money? WHo get d money sef?
Well, na like dis i see am o: dem pay govt/public/your money to newspaper. Who get newspaper? Individuals and private companies ehn?
Good! Dat means d money is being recycled abi?
EHn, simple now: these yeye ppl must spend d money abi? Me, i go kuku start business wey dem go dey spend d money on top!

@Chari
guy, stop "thunder-faya-ing" their children o! How u take know say i no be governor pikin?

Rayo said...

na wa oh, wetin we no go c 4 naija, abeg leave them jo, if d queen can have 2 birthdays y our own presido no fit. senseless people

bumight said...

Eyeservice at the expense of tax payers' money!