I'm fairly ignorant on Africa and Nigeria. What do you guys think the biggest problem in Nigeria is today?

Corruption?
Tribal Rivalry?
Poverty?


Do you think the election of President Obasanjo was fair or was the election rigged?

[img]http://pub.tv2.no/multimedia/na/archive/00262/nigeria-t_262805c.jpg[/img]

@ Web
You are fairly ignorant you say? Start first by reading up on the history of Nigeria so as to have a template to build on.Our problems in Nigeria are a myriad

I have read up on it a little bit. I know that Nigeria is divided between a Muslim north and a Christian South and that the Muslims are trying to institute sharia law on themselves and the Christians. I've heard that the Christians are just as fanatic.

Furthermore the country is divided into several large tribes and they reside in a couple different regions. They combine into alliances to control the government.

I know that Nigeria had military governments for about 30 years and that Abacha was a crook, and that Obasanjo was the first civilian president in 30 years and then when he was elected (in 2004 I think) that he became the first elected civilian President in many years.

I've heard that there's a lot of corruption and that there is a big fight between Obasanjo and his Vice President over corruption and the 2007 election. Lastly, I've heard that Nigeria has a lot of oil, but in the areas that have the oil, the people somehow don't get the proceeds from the oil revenue.


So, having said all that, maybe I could focus the question a bit more:

How bad is tribalism in Nigeria today?

@Web
bros ,you spew inaccucaries with much relish by the way do you have Nigerian blood?Please your earlier post on Nigerian history is at best laughable .You need to go read more

You spew childish taunts with much relish. If I am wrong, then correct what I've said. Or are you merely an ignorant braggart?

@ lewa it is the responsibility of nigerians like you to educate people with wrong/uninformed views

@ WEB

you raised many issues - yes nigerians are poor (despite the much vaunted oil, much of it is stolen anyways), obj was elected in 1999 and reelected 2003

when it comes to 'tribalism' i wd prefer you define what you mean clearly. the problem(s) of nigeria stem from the colonial times when dissimilar people were forcefully banded together and ordered to have a 'nation'. divide and rule policies of the british (playing one tribe against another, destroying some tribes cultures, lording one tribe over the other) have all led to a deep mistrust between the groups, fostered in no small part by the poverty affliciting the general population, and the tendency of the 'leaders' (read people in power with access to resources) to play one against the other (just like the british) to achieve theur selfish ends, as well as a lot of ignorance and lack of true integration among the units in Nigeria.

@ Web

My parents say[b] "don't give any information to a stranger"[/b]

Who are you?
Where are you from?
Why are you so interested to have this info?

Introduce yourself and state your objectives, may be folks will consider your request.

your parents are IBBS

Here we go again with this Junky.

Odeku, what the H do you want from?

Big B1:

this Junky.

Odeku, what the H do you want from?

DUDE spell JUNKY ? your point are biase and you need to open your eyes and start thinking don't let your parents money go to waste, ops sorry Nigeria oil money

[QUOTE]
when it comes to 'tribalism' i wd prefer you define what you mean clearly. the problem(s) of nigeria stem from the colonial times when dissimilar people were forcefully banded together and ordered to have a 'nation'. divide and rule policies of the british (playing one tribe against another, destroying some tribes cultures, lording one tribe over the other) have all led to a deep mistrust between the groups, fostered in no small part by the poverty affliciting the general population, and the tendency of the 'leaders' (read people in power with access to resources) to play one against the other (just like the british) to achieve theur selfish ends, as well as a lot of ignorance and lack of true integration among the units in Nigeria.[/QUOTE]

I think you've given the definition of tribalism. I think tribalism is what you've said. Where instead of loyalty to an ideology or to the nation, the loyalties of the Nigerian people are to their tribes. So it seems that they are only interested in advancing the interests of each tribe so each tribe tries to get someone in power who will divert the resources of the state to their tribe. People like that don't care that their leaders are corrupt, as long as the corrupt leader is helping out their tribe.

Biggest proplem: corruption

I think the problem with Nigerian isn't really much about tribalism, nobody actually gives a damn about tribalism. It's all about individualism nowadays, every man for themselves. An Igbo man will get with an Hausa man as long as it guarantees him some sort of monetary benefits, days of tribalism are long gone. I mean people still favour people from their own tribes but they won't do it at their own expense. It's a 'me first" attitude in Nigeria!

Donzman:

I think the problem with Nigerian isn't really much about tribalism, nobody actually gives a damn about tribalism. It's all about individualism nowadays, every man for themselves. An Igbo man will get with an Hausa man as long as it guarantees him some sort of monetary benefits, days of tribalism are long gone. I mean people still favour people from their own tribes but they won't do it at their own expense. It's a 'me first" attitude in Nigeria!

my broda well done, !!!! u hit d nail on d head

Donzman:

I think the problem with Nigerian isn't really much about tribalism, nobody actually gives a damn about tribalism. It's all about individualism nowadays, every man for themselves. An Igbo man will get with an Hausa man as long as it guarantees him some sort of monetary benefits, days of tribalism are long gone. I mean people still favour people from their own tribes but they won't do it at their own expense. It's a 'me first" attitude in Nigeria!

What do you think might help to solve corruption? Do you think that more decentralization and more local elections might help? That could make politicians more accountable.

According to Transparency International, Nigeria has the 6th most corrupt government in the world.

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0781359.html


So corruption is the greatest problem for Nigeria? Do you think "tribalism" makes it worse?

No, tribalism has nothing to do with the corruption and doesn't make it worse in my opinion.

@Web,
Good question, but it would have helped if you've given some vague introduction of yourself and why you are interested in this topical issue in Nigeria since you said you are not familiar with Nigeria. Probably, some of the earlier skimishes could have been avoided. But you are indeed a quick learner with your insightful questions. Anyway, all well and good.

@All,
Saying tribalism has nothing to do with corruption is a gross misconception or misunderstanding of issues in Nigeria. The two of them act synergistically in retarding the growth of our nation. For example, while tribalism is the root of the call for "rotational presidency" in Nigeria, the aim is to corruptly enrich ones' own kith and kin with the nations resources; thereby creating power-brokers or Godfathers in ones tribe with financial muscle which, in Nigeria, translates to political power. Corruption is not only in monetary terms, there is corruption in employment into the Federal Civil Service in Nigeria, stupidly sugar-coated as "Quota System", whereby merit is sacrified on the alter of tribalism because various sections want "administrative/political" power which eventually leads to corruptly enriching your tribes members. You can go on and on and you will see, that tribalism and corruption are intrinsically woven or an integral part of each other in our dear nation Nigeria.

These problems can only be addressed if we revert to true federalism; which could be simplistically explained by the term 'decentralisation' used by Web (really brilliant guy). By this, I mean we need to reduce the power at the centre and disolute power to the various geo-political regions that exist, with semi autonomous adminstrative powers and full regional resource mobilisation and control.
Open to critique.!!

[quote author=Havila link=topic=27351.msg675407#msg675407 date=1161906579]
@Web,
Good question, but it would have helped if you've given some vague introduction of yourself and why you are interested in this topical issue in Nigeria since you said you are not familiar with Nigeria. [/QUOTE]

Well alright. I don't think I really need an explanation as to why I am interested in Nigeria.

I'm from the United States. I'm not Nigerian. I'm half black and half Chinese. You could say that I am a very interested foreigner. I am very much interested in world history. In college I specialized in studying world history and international relations. I am trying to build up my knowledge base on ALL parts of the world. I've read history books on Latin America, Europe, China, Japan, the Middle East, and Africa.

Nigeria is the most populous and powerful country in Africa. That is one reason I am very interested in it. It also does seem to have a lot of problems, and that makes it important as well as very interesting to look at those problems.

I study politics too much really. I run an international politics forum. You can see this displayed by clicking on my username and clicking on the link next to "homepage." I really like to discuss politics with intelligent people with something to say. Havila, if you have any spare time to come by and share some of your comments with us, you would be very welcome to do so.

[QUOTE author=Havila]
Probably, some of the earlier skimishes could have been avoided. But you are indeed a quick learner with your insightful questions. Anyway, all well and good. [/QUOTE]

I'm trying, but I still don't know much about the various tribal divisions of Nigeria. However, I will try to find out a bit more on the internet.

[QUOTE author=Havila]
@All,
Saying tribalism has nothing to do with corruption is a gross misconception or misunderstanding of issues in Nigeria. The two of them act synergistically in retarding the growth of our nation. For example, while tribalism is the root of the call for "rotational presidency" in Nigeria, the aim is to corruptly enrich ones' own kith and kin with the nations resources; thereby creating power-brokers or Godfathers in ones tribe with financial muscle which, in Nigeria, translates to political power. Corruption is not only in monetary terms, there is corruption in employment into the Federal Civil Service in Nigeria, stupidly sugar-coated as "Quota System", whereby merit is sacrified on the alter of tribalism because various sections want "administrative/political" power which eventually leads to corruptly enriching your tribes members. You can go on and on and you will see, that tribalism and corruption are intrinsically woven or an integral part of each other in our dear nation Nigeria.

These problems can only be addressed if we revert to true federalism; which could be simplistically explained by the term 'decentralisation' used by Web (really brilliant guy). By this, I mean we need to reduce the power at the centre and disolute power to the various geo-political regions that exist, with semi autonomous adminstrative powers and full regional resource mobilisation and control.
Open to critique.!!
[/QUOTE]

It would be interesting to see if people agree that tribalism is a problem, or believe the problem to be more like individual greed and a "culture of corruption." If so, how can that be solved?

P.S. Thanks for the kind words.

WEB

Other countries have problems too. Different types, and even the ones that are similar sometimes have other factors that still make the problem unique.

I still think corruption is the biggest problem, Even though the many tribes we have in Nigeria are the cause of some problems. We have to understand that its not very easy having so many tribes (which have their own culture) in one country.
But i know things will get better, because there have been good times.

[quote author=nilla link=topic=27351.msg677260#msg677260 date=1162053455]
WEB

Other countries have problems too. Different types, and even the ones that are similar sometimes have other factors that still make the problem unique.[/QUOTE]

Of course they do. Almost all countries (except perhaps for the onses in Scandanavia) have problems. They do have different kinds of problems though.

nilla:
I still think corruption is the biggest problem, Even though the many tribes we have in Nigeria are the cause of some problems. We have to understand that its not very easy having so many tribes (which have their own culture) in one country.
But i know things will get better, because there have been good times.

What do you think causes the corruption?

I would like to say corruption causes corruption

Greed, power and poverty are three things amongst others that cause corruption. And then when you have a system (like in Nigeria) where most people in power are already corrupt, what do you expect. Other people become corrupt so as to do basic things in life like going to school, get a job or even putting food on the table.
In other words what I'm trying to say is its very hard not being corrupt in a corrupt country.

I think we just really need a dew good rulers and we would be fine.

our problem is materialism

otokx how is that our problem?

materialism - the act of acquiring luxurious goods which is beyond our means of living. A student whose father and mother's combined salary is less than N30000 per month buys a camera phone worth N40000 or an arsenal jersey for N15000. This is the root cause of corruption.

not really. they were already corrupt b4 they took on materialism

What Are The Biggest Problems Of Nigeria Today?

Too many Plane Crashes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TayoD your right. lets hope this trend does not continue.

Abeg people Nigeria problem is not plan crash. let me start, corruption, illiteracy and greed is the root and the cause of most problem in Nigeria today. The crashes we are seeing now is the adverse effect of previous administration mismanagement of funds. dilapidated equipments still flying and driving around on the streets. We new a vibrant leader with vision, exposure and compasion, and we can move Nigeria forward. I strongly blv Nigeria go survive, Nigeria go better

but plane crash is a problem today sha?

you know why plan crash na problem?, people are taking corner, instead of servicing the plan, they are trying to operate like cars, no service till i come back from the trip mentality, Government need to impose strict regulations and penalties for all adherence violations.