[size=18pt]
What is Jonathan's Tower of Babel.
[/size]
The Tower of Babel is one of the most mysterious stories in the Bible. It extols in us that infinite strenght that man posses in dealing with issues no matter how un-palatable the issue might be. In most cases it stems from a strong conviction from a leader to his subjects,  at times it can be disillusional but the mantra and believe is irrevocable. Those zeals concieved in the early hours of dawn with a very strong and overwhealming conviction which the individuals involved pursue to its logical conclusion must be commendable. A few example comes to mind in Africa about men who pursue such lofty goals and ambition irrespective of the financial implications or constraints. To me I see the conviction and passion attached to such projects and undertakings a lot of times not the most laudable project as a sign of men or a leader given to society and posterity what he has taken from society this more than anything is a worthy Tower of Babel that would trail the individuals to the end of time.  These kind of individuals always almost live an indelible mark in the terraine where they lord over.

Kwame Nkurumah built the first motorway in West Africa bearly 31/2 years into his reign. The road built at the time connected the City of Accra to the port City of Tema where incidently he also built an ultra mordern port. This projet cost a huge uproar at the time considering Ghana's meagre income which was based only on Cocoa,  but the fact is like they say  "the end justifies the means". The man not only threw his weight on this project but made sure it was commisioned in record time. The road was built by using re-enforce concrete the type used to build roads in Southern US and today 47 years after it still remains the only inter City dual carriage way in Ghana. To that I say what a foresight.

Picture of part of the Accra to Tema Expressway.

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/34633726


Félix Houphouët-Boigny : - The Ivorian absolute President and the man that built the largest Church in the world. Although this man has died for a number of years now, his Basilaca of Our Lady of peace is a structure that would blow your minds away, structure that put the dead capital city of Yamasoukkro on the map.

lists it as the largest church in the world, having surpassed the previous recordholder, St. Peter's Basilica, upon completion. It has an area of 30,000 sq metres (322,917 sq ft) and is 158m (518ft) high.[6]  However, it also includes a rectory and a villa (counted in the overall area), which are not strictly part of the church, and it can accommodate 18,000 worshippers, compared to 60,000 for St. Peter's[7].

The Basilica is administered by Polish Pallottines


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_of_Our_Lady_of_Peace_of_Yamoussoukro


IBB- The man most Nigerians would like to take a pound of flesh from for the way he ran the economy between the mid 1980's and early 1990's. Amongst a few things he did, he actually built a remarkable structure in the city of Lagos, nIgeria. The 3rd Mainland Bridge still remains and maintains that lofty and prestigious position as the  longest Bridge over water in Africa. A marvel to behold, an engineering feat which should be counted and seen as some of the 7 wonders of Africa. His distractors who have being at the helms of affairs in Lagos for 10 years now and still counting have not being bold enough to commence work on the much touted 4th Mainland Bridge.

This Bridge that is the 3rd Mainland Bridge actually took blood, sweath and tears to complete but the fact he saw to to its completion is worthy of giving him a token  of respect as one of the many illustrious and controversial figures of Africa. We must not forget Abuja commenced its new status as the Capital of the Nation during IBB's reign also.


http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=952032


Paul Kagame (born October 23, 1957) is the current President of the Republic of Rwanda. He rose to prominence as the leader of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), whose victory over the incumbent government in July 1994 effectively ended the Rwandan genocide. Under his leadership, Rwanda has been called Africa’s “biggest success story”[2] and Kagame has become a public advocate of new models for foreign aid designed to help recipients become self-reliant.[3]  "There was a desire to correct what we thought was wrong," Kagame said on The Jazz Joy and Roy syndicated radio show in 2009, via a press feed supplied for a remote broadcast from Saddleback Church in California that featured Saddleback officials and parishioners.

However, involvement in the Congo Civil War and the recent and mysterious death of opposition deputy Andre Kagwa Rwisereka[4] has seen doubts raised over his Government's policies and motives, particularly regarding political freedom.[5] In August of 2010 it was reported that all major opposition to Kagame had been disqualified from participation in the upcoming elections.[6]

The Jury is out on Kagema, although in the economy front Rwanda has the fastest growing economy in Africa, his goverment has in the recent past be accused of haunting down opposition even opposition figures who are no longer living in the country. He was said to be involved in the death and murder of an opposition  leader living in South Africa. One legacy he would have though is turning a Franco-phone Rwanda into an Anglohone Country, English is now the official Language in Rwanda.

Yaradua - presided over the largest number of arms amenesty since the second world war. This fantatastic acheivment can be lost in its importance and significance if arms are taking up by dissendents OR better still by disgruntled surrendered militant, time would tell if this laudable project is worthy of mentioning in the next millenium. I believe it would be lost amongst other things in the harrowing and convoluted history that has beseiged Africa.

OBJ: Made sure the Country was not owing a dime, but his predecessor's Yaradua and Jonathan has opened the credit book once again and the debt is creeping up at a accelerated rate at present it is in the region of $9 Billion Dollars. OBJ's sham expenditure of 16 Billion dollars on electricity has put paid to any encomiums that might have being showered  towards him for clearing the Nations debt

Jonathan: like many other past head of states up to now has not left any indelible mark. I hope the earlier he identifies his niche the better it would be for him, he should not hesistate but pursue it with a reknewed  vigour. Time they say wait for no one. He has not started well either,  the $500 million electoral register and the $125 million on a fleet of Presidential Jets does not help nor add to the decaying infrastruture that abounds the nation,  but rather one can be tempted to believe that it would facilitate lackeys and Yes men of his in that dire art of  siphoneing scarce resources out of the country courtesy of his Majesty's Presidential Jet a prospect many people would not want to fathom or think about.   

[size=14pt]The first 3 leaders have planted their own Tower Babel's on the landscape of Africa, nothing we can do about that other than to improve upon it, the question to be asked is What is Uncle Joe Planning to make his own Tower of Babel. [/size]  

Give the man a break already.

He's being in office for 3 months and has just over a year to repair the damage of the previous 3 years, conduct credible elections, pacify the anger over Abdul Mutallab, etc. Did Yar'adua even finish the amnesty program you attribute to him? In addition, wasn't it the same government, so how is the amnestry Yar'adua's legacy and not Jonathan's. What kind of legacy are amnesty program and paying down debt anyway?

All those leaders you mentioned ruled for at least 8 years, except Yar'adua, and it is not clear that some of these "legacies" are good - e.g. the world's largest cathedral when your citizens are living in poverty.

what a stupid piece of journalism. . .The author is in effect advocating for a white elephant project to make us all feel good. . .

what about this. . . .Now thas a solid series of achievements in only 4months

[size=14pt]For the first time, Nigerians have an electoral umpire who a majority has confidence that he will deliver a credible election.
A tested technocrat like Professor Barth Nnaji is busy with the power sector reforms, Ndutimi Alaibe now has a full grip on the amnesty and Henry Odein Ajumogobia is articulating a responsive diplomacy that could make Nigeria stand tall among the comity of nations.

Our international friends have once again started opening up their alliances with us and we can now get invited to G2O meetings. The petroleum industry bill (PIB) is making progress at the national assembly and the financial sector reforms seem to be on course. Granted momentum is needed in the war against corruption generally seen to be ineffective and selective and the recent rising government expenditure profile amidst palpable poverty among citizenry leaves a lot to worry about. Yet President Goodluck Jonathan even before he officially declares stands tall among the lot![/size]

http://thewillnigeria.com/opinion/5561-NIGERIAS-2011-ELECTIONS-THE-PROSPECTS-GOODLUCK-JONATHAN-PRESIDENCY.html

what a silly piece of journalism. . .The author is in effect advocating for a white elephant project to make us all feel good. . .

[size=14pt]I would not call the 3rd mainland Bridge a White elephant project, without that Bridge Lagos as we know it  today would have being the most grid-locked City in the world. You have to remember prior to this Bridge they had the odd and even number system for cars entering Lagos Island. Guess what happened every household end up having 2 cars odd and even number grid-lock continues un-abated, why was Muritala Killed like a lame duck because he was stuck in one of those mad Lagos traffic jams between Obalende and Ikoyi.

I tell you what a white OR green elephant project looks like the VI – Epe Express way which probably 5% of Lagosians use that is one godd*am white elephant project. We must learn to give credit where credit is due, I know a lot of Nigerians hate IBB with a passion, that does not remove the fact that he chose to execute a life saving project in Lagos at the time he was at the helms of affairs, that is one project too many, and worthy of commendation.

Gowon and OBJ had more petrol-dollars than him but yet decline in their responsibilities, the 3rd Mainland Bridge was first rendered and muted in 1971, Nigeria was practically the most liquid nation on Earth in 1974 during the Idoji Awards,  yet this project was not executed.[/size]

Perhaps if Jonathan partners Fashola in making the 4th Mainland Bridge a reality, Jonathan would have surpassed his rival IBB in putting down a structure that would stand the test of time, so far his dalliance with power seems to be hitting a brick wall.

Nigerians are still perpetually in the dark.

KnowAll:

Perhaps if Jonathan partners Fashola in making the 4th Mainland Bridge a reality, Jonathan would have surpassed his rival IBB in putting down a structure that would stand the test of time, so far his dalliance with power seems to be hitting a brick wall.

Nigerians are still perpetually in the dark.

I see what you are saying, but GEJ will only be in power for 1yr compared to IBB and the rest that had over 8years. The little time GEJ has been in power, i think he has attempted huge goals that he should be commended for.

Time is relative in most cases . . . . . . . . . .