ChemodanLave
One remarkable thing about President Barack Obama is how nimble he is on his feet. This was fully in evidence as he made his way to the podium to respond all the issues that had been raised during the lengthy session at Havard. This was in spite of the fact that earlier in the day, the First Family had hosted a July 4th bash for members of the military and their families as Americans around the world celebrated the anniversary of their nation’s independence.
According to the “Daily Mail” newspaper, “Obama’s party came complete with a barbecue and view of the evening’s fireworks from the south Lawn of the White House and doubled as a birthday party for the President’s daughter Malia, who turned 12. In his address to the nation from the White House, the President said: “Today we celebrate the 234th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the beginning of a great experiment, American democracy.
In every corner of our country, we recall the valour and vision of patriots from Thirteen Colonies who declared independence from a powerful empire and gave birth to a new Nation. We gather in town centers and wave flags in parades not only to recall this history we share, but also to honour the vibrant and enduring spirit of America established on this day. For those gallant first Americans, such a nation as ours may have seemed like an unattainable dream. Their concept, was revolutionary: a government of, by, and for the people. Yet, our founders’ tenacity, resolve, and courage in the face of seemingly impossible odds became the bedrock of our country.
That essence has permeated our land and inspired generations of Americans to explore, discover, and redefine the outer reaches of our infinite potential. It has become the foundation of the American dream.” President Obama repeated that he was looking forward to the town hall meeting he would be hosting from 3rd to 5th August for young African leaders in East Room of the White House. It would be an interactive session – in an effort to substitute hope for despair in Africa.
Read Also: Kellyanne Conway to leave White House before election
However, Obama was severely jolted when he was presented with the following report: “Nigerian Compass” newspaper (July 28, 2010) Front page headline: “SAGAY: LEGISLATORS BLEED NIGERIA, EARN MORE THAN OBAMA” “Although Nigeria ranks as one of the poorest countries in the world, with a per capita income of $2,249 per annum as against $46,350 in the United States (U.S.), Nigerian Senators have emerged as the highest paid in the world, each earning more than President Barack Obama of the U.S.
Legal luminary, Itse Sagay, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), made the allegation yesterday, while delivering a lecture on “Legislating for Common Good: Comtemporary Issues & Perspective”, as part of activities to mark the 47th birthday of the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Opeyemi Bamidele, in Lagos. According to the lawyer, Obama, who is reputed to be the President of the richest country in the world, earns $400,000 per annum. “The British Prime Minister earns 190,000 Pounds” he said. The Senate President in Nigeria, he alleged, earns N250 million quarterly or N83 million per month whilst his deputy earns N50 million monthly. The Senate President, he assumed, has allocated N1.024 billion as quarterly allowance to his 10 principal officers known collectively as Senate Leadership. “Each of the other principal officers earn N78 million every three months or N26 million per month,” Sagay said.
He also pointed out that Nigerian Legislators have awarded themselves the highest salaries and allowances in the world. “In other words, Nigerian lawmakers in Abuja are the highest paid in the world. In 2009, a Senator earned N240 million in salaries and allowances, whilst his House of Representatives counterpart earned N203,760,000 million. In other words, a senator earned about $1.7 million and a member of the House of Representatives earned $1.45 million per annum,” the lawyer said. He suggested that by contrast, an American Senator in that year, earned $174,000, while his counterpart in Britain earned $64,000 per annum. “This tragic state of affairs is clearly unsustainable. Those engaged in this feeding frenzy are endangering our democracy,” he said.
Sagay is raising this alarm just few years after former Minister of Information, Mr. Tony Momoh, wrote in an article, entitled “The Salary Time Bomb”, about the bloated salaries of political office holders, arguing that unless something is done about it, Nigeria will gradually grind to a halt. Obama was visibly disturbed by the following report by the ‘Nigerian Compass’: Headline: “POLICE REJECT N2 MILLION BRIBE, HOLD MAN WITH SIX HEADS.”
“Police in Ogun State have started quizzing a man who was arrested yesterday for allegedly being in possession of six fresh human heads, still dripping blood. While four among the heads were those of women, others were men. The heads were said to have been well concealed and packaged in two Ghana-must-go bags. The man was also said to possess fresh women breasts and pubic hair.
It was further learnt that the man was nabbed after a commercial bus driver, who carried him and other passengers all the way from Idiroko, arrived at Atan and drove straight into a nearby motor park, saying he was feeling uncomfortable because of some offensive odour in his bus.
