Thursday, January 13, 2011
[size=14pt]Weather disrupts life in Kano[/size]

Agency Reporter


Chilly weather, accompanied by strong winds, is disrupting normal life in Kano metropolis.





http://odili.net/news/source/2011/jan/13/808.html


Investigation by the News Agency of Nigeria correspondent on Wednesday revealed that most residents of the commercial town had changed their life patterns to cope with the cold weather, which set in about a week ago.

It was gathered that many of the inhabitants, especially children, the sick and the old, now remain indoors for most part of the day because of the harsh weather.

It was also discovered that many residents had not taken their bath for several days for fear of the effect of the intense cold weather.

One of them, Sa'adu Mohammed, admitted that he had not had his bath since Friday, when he cleaned up and went to the Mosque for prayers.

"Since the coming of the cold, I took birth only two times, including last Friday, because I cannot stand the chilly wind after the bath," he said.

Another resident, Malam Isiyaku Gambo, a civil servant, told NAN that the cold weather had compelled him to be reporting late for work.

He said, "I go to work at between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. every day since this cold started."

It was also discovered that many residents had not taken their bath for several days for fear of the effect of the intense cold weather.

One of them, Sa'adu Mohammed, admitted that he had not had his bath since Friday, when he cleaned up and went to the Mosque for prayers.

"Since the coming of the cold, I took birth only two times, including last Friday, because I cannot stand the chilly wind after the bath," he said.

Lord Hammercy. . .what happend 2 boiling hot water 2 have ur bath and put on sweater or thick jackets? If it is 2 bring out knife 2 stab and kill,they'll be quick,but common sense 2 do d basic thing,is them no get. . .typical hausa mentality

philip0906:

Lord Hammercy. . .what happend 2 boiling hot water 2 have your bath and put on sweater or thick jackets?  If it is 2 bring out knife 2 stab and kill,they'll be quick,but common sense 2 do d basic thing,is them no get. . .typical hausa mentality

Stop using every opportunity to bash northerners. Many oyibos who have hot water connected to their homes rarely take a shower during winter. You don't even know whether they have the kerosene to boil the water. Stop tribalism in 2011 unless you want me to lump you together with Ileke Idi.

Hausa mentality abi?. Last time they went on strike, hunger nearly finished una. Wait till this winter destroy their crops and let me see whether you Southerners will drink your crude oil whenever you get hungry. Nonsense and ewa goyin.

aloy/emeka:

Stop using every opportunity to bash northerners. Many oyibos who have hot water connected to their homes rarely take a shower during winter. You don't even know whether they have the kerosene to boil the water. Stop tribalism in 2011 unless you want me to lump you together with Ileke Idi.

Hausa mentality abi?. Last time they went on strike, hunger nearly finished una. Wait till this winter destroy their crops and let me see whether you Southerners will drink your crude oil whenever you get hungry. Nonsense and ewa goyin.

Thank you!!!

aloy/emeka:

Stop using every opportunity to bash northerners. Many oyibos who have hot water connected to their homes rarely take a shower during winter. You don't even know whether they have the kerosene to boil the water. Stop tribalism in 2011 unless you want me to lump you together with Ileke Idi.

Hausa mentality abi?. Last time they went on strike, hunger nearly finished una. Wait till this winter destroy their crops and let me see whether you Southerners will drink your crude oil whenever you get hungry. Nonsense and ewa goyin.

my friend stop calling d oyinbos,cos they have a diferent climate which their body is acustomed 2. . .someone could brave d cold weather 2 "cleanse" himself 4 prayer,but has not had his bath 4 days?r u kidding me?
please stop acting like some "mediator". . .Its crazy and mind u,I'm not being tribalistic.As 4 d hunger finishing anyone?whatever u meant by dat,only u and your tiny brain can decipher dat,cos it has nothing 2 do with d issue at hand.All I'm just saying is common sense

Hrm. I guess would be difficult to deal with if you aren't used to the cold, cannot afford wood/coal/etc for heating.

eku_bear:

Hrm. I guess would be difficult to deal with if you aren't used to the cold, cannot afford wood/coal/etc for heating.

but u'r ready 2 sacrifice ur life by "cleaning" ur body with dat same chilled water 2 pray?or maybe hassle around 4 money 2 get wood 2 boil water 4 prayer?

One of them, Sa'adu Mohammed, admitted that he had not had his bath since Friday, when he cleaned up and went to the Mosque for prayers.

philip0906:

my friend stop calling d oyinbos,cos they have a diferent climate which their body is acustomed 2. . .someone could brave d cold weather 2 "cleanse" himself 4 prayer,but has not had his bath 4 days?r u kidding me?
please stop acting like some "mediator". . .Its crazy and mind u,I'm not being tribalistic.As 4 d hunger finishing anyone?whatever u meant by dat,only u and your tiny brain can decipher dat,cos it has nothing 2 do with d issue at hand.All I'm just saying is common sense

No need to be vitriolic. Otutu is otutu whether in Naija or obodo oyibo and Oyibos who rarely bath during winter are better prepared for it because winter is an annual occurrence in their land compared to Kano where over 50% have no affordable water close to them. You wonder why their youths recreate through gutter sniffing.

On the hunger issue, the Northerners feed you in Nigeria whether you want to accept it or not. Last time they went on strike because of illegal taxation in Ogun state, famine and mega hunger hit the South West. Try that nonsense again and see them starve the whole of SS, SW and SE to death. Arabs may be working hard on bio terrorism but the Northerners can finish Southern Nigerians with starving-terrorism.

aloy/emeka:

No need to be vitriolic. Otutu is otutu whether in Naija or obodo oyibo and Oyibos who rarely bath during winter are better prepared for it because winter is an annual occurrence in their land compared to Kano where over 50% have no affordable water close to them. You wonder why their youths recreate through gutter sniffing.

On the hunger issue, the Northerners feed you in Nigeria whether you want to accept it or not. Last time they went on strike because of illegal taxation in Ogun state, famine and mega hunger hit the South West. Try that nonsense again and see them starve the whole of SS, SW and SE to death. Arabs may be working hard on bio terrorism but the Northerners can finish Southern Nigerians with starving-terrorism.

stop giving excuses 4 d inability 2 apply common sense.How have they been feeding?how have they been having their bath b4 d cold?d report did not make mention of inavailability of water as a result of them not having their bath,but simply 'cos its cold. . .mayb u did not c dat and dat y I pointed out dat,whats d dificult thing in boiling hot water?
as 4 d south west starving 2 death,only God knows where u heard such news. . .mind u,we don't rely on d north 4 food,but rather importation.Its only their cattle and beef dats all.so don't venture in2 what u know nothing about

So are they now growing Amala or lafu in the north, ?

Os garri from the north?

or is plam oil from the north.?
there would be no food shortage in Yorubaland.

Becomrichn:

So are they now growing Amala or lafu in the north, ?

Os garri from the north?

or is plam oil from the north.?
there would be no food shortage in Yorubaland.

Why the hunger rampage in the SW last time they went on strike since you have enough lafu and amala to sustain the whole Yorubaland or even southern Nigeria?.

[size=14pt]Beef scarcity looms as cattle dealers commence strike on Monday[/size]
By Adelani Adepegba, Published: Sunday, 7 Mar 2010


Cattle dealers in Northern Nigeria have warned that they would commence a one-week strike from tomorrow to protest alleged extortion, multi-taxation, and other injustices being meted out to them in the southern part of the country.

The strike is expected to affect the supply of cattle, tomato, beans, rice, vegetables, onions, beans, chickens, maize, carrots, goats, yam and other food items, supplied to the south from the Northern part of the country.

The cattle dealers operating under the Amalgamated Cattle Dealers of Nigeria, Kuri Development Association, Miyate Allah Cattle Dealers of Nigeria, Cattle Dealers Association of Nigeria and Fruits and Vegetable Merchants Association said they had resolved to embark on the strike from Monday, March 8, 2010, to express their grievances.

Speaking at a briefing in Enugu, the Enugu State capital on Friday, spokesperson of the aggrieved unions, Abdulahi Shutalim, said their members bought goods from the North where they paid all official levies and yet they were subjected to extortion and multiple taxations when transporting the goods to southern part of the country.



Shutalim who is the National Secretary of Amalgamated Cattle Dealers Association, announced that all the Northern cattle and food unions would participate in the exercise to draw government attention to the plight of the traders.

Shutalim said, ”If we are transporting cattle and other foodstuffs to the South, some states are blocking us and collecting money from us. If you buy something in Maiduguri and you are bringing it to the South, nobody disturbs you in Yobe, Bauchi, Plateau and Nassarawa. But as soon as you come to Makurdi, you start facing extortion and it extends to Enugu, Anambra, Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Akwa-Ibom and Cross River.

”We have been paying it. We have decided not to be paying any longer. That is why we are complaining to the Federal Government to stop them. If the Federal Government didn‘t intervene, we will stop the supply of all types of food from the North to every part of Nigeria. We are going to stop until the officers concerned intervene. We are not going to be paying double taxation in federal highway.”

He said it was worrisome that members of the unions are forced to pay N16,000 tolls to bring their goods into Lagos, but even at that, they were still subjected to various levies before such products are offloaded for sale in the city.

He said that there was no reason why the cattle and food dealers who are Nigerians should be subjected to such taxation and extortion, adding that those demanding levies from them along the highways were taking laws into their hands.

He disclosed that the unions had set up a committee to monitor the strike and ensure that none of their members moved any product from the North to the South until the Federal Government intervenes in the matter.


http://punchng.com/Articl.aspx?thear, 01003073142315

[size=14pt]Food shortage hits Ibadan, Lagos, spreads to other states[/size]

Written by Seye Adeniyi
Tuesday, 16 March 2010


For the past one week, there have been reported cases of arbitrary increase in the prices of food commodities, especially pepper, tomatoes, onion and meat. The prices of these ingredients are far beyond the reach of the common people to the extent that residents of Ibadan, Lagos, Abeokuta, Akure and other major cities in the South-West have not been able to prepare delicacies of their choice. Seye Adeniyi, in this report, takes a look at the factors responsible for the exorbitant prices of these food commodities.


Price of cow meat is also affected

MANY housewives in the city of Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, Lagos State and some other cities in the South-West region of Nigeria, are now mounting serious pressure on their husbands to increase their allowance, especially cooking allowance — no thanks to the top-roof prices of pepper, tomatoes and other vegetables, which has refused to subside in the last two weeks.

Likewise, sellers of food commodities like beans, rice, maize, wheat, millet, soybean and others, in some major markets in the South-West Nigeria have also increased the prices of these commodities, thereby, forcing the operators of food canteens, restaurants, eateries and other food processing centres to also jerk-up the prices of processed foods.

Cow meat sellers are also showing displeasure at the top-roof price of live cattle, stressing that if the current situation is not quickly addressed, Oyo, Lagos and many other states in the south may soon experience food shortage or crisis of greater dimension.

However, investigation conducted by the Tribune Agriculture, to ascertain the true or actual cause of this food scarcity and the arbitrary increase in the prices of pepper, meat and tomatoes revealed that the problem was triggered by some factors. A major factor responsible for this problem according to some marketers interviewed by the Tribune Agriculture was the arbitrary fees being extorted by the policemen attached to most of the highways leading to Oyo and Lagos states from the commercial truck-drivers who bring these food commodities as well as pepper, tomatoes, onions, other fruits and vegetables from the northern parts of the country to the South-Western states.

According to a 46-year-old hausa commercial truck driver, who simply identified himself as Abdulahi, “I‘ve been driving trailer (truck) for the past 23 years and I specialise in bringing pepper, carrot, onion, tomatoes and leafy vegetables like lettuce, carbages, etc from Sokoto to Oyo and Lagos states. But we discovered that the policemen on highways in these states are different from those in other parts of the country. The reason is that they are so mean that they often “tax” us anyhow.”

What do you mean by this statement? Tribune Agriculture asked Abdulahi, responding, he said, “the money they collect from us on the road is just too much. You would meet them at every short distance and they tax us as if we work in oil companies.

“However, at the end of your business trip to these cities when you calculate how much you’ve spent on road taxes being collected by some members of the Nigeria Police attached to these highways, you would discover that these food items from the north to the south, is not profitable. Therefore, that was why we decided not to bring these food commodities to Oyo and Lagos states at least for now to show our displeasure for multiple taxes being collected from us by these government officials,”he lamented.

Lukman Sherif, an indigene of Bauchi State, who specialises in bringing tomatoes and onion from the north to the south, told Tribune Agriculture that some people who often parade themselves as Omo-Onile (the sons of the soil) are giving them headache in major markets in Ibadan as well as in other parts of the state.

Lukman affirmed that in every market in Ibadan like Oje, Ojoo, Shasha, Oja-Oba, Moniya and other big markets, these “sons of the soil” whom some people also referred to as “market owners” often collect a money called Lahda from them and failure to pay this “tax” means you won’t be allowed to off-load your commodities or do any business transaction.

“We dey appeal to Oyo State government to help us talk to these people collecting illegal Lahda from us. We no be Yorubas, and not that we no wan pay, but the money is just too much, so we beg dem make dem reduce the money. We are only helping Yorubas to give them our tomatoes, onions and pepper which are better than the type which dem dey plant here at cheap prices. Na we dey feed them, na from us dem dey get many of the foods dem dey eat in Yorubaland. Therefore, we beg dem make dem no frustrate or discourage us.”

Asked to comment on the factors responsible for the sudden increase in the prices of pepper, tomatoes and other food items in Oyo State, a prominent distributor of these products in Ojoo and Shasha markets, Alhaji Shehu Magarawa, confirmed and corroborated the fact that the policemen on the roads are contributing to the scarcity and the arbitrary increase in their prices, but he also accused some Yorubas in major markets in Ibadanland and other parts of Oyo State as contributing to this problem — courtesy their various market policies and unexplainable, outrageous taxes which he also described as unreasonable Isakole being collected by the market leaders and chiefs.

Another major factor identified by the Tribune Agriculture as responsible for the top-roof prices of pepper and tomatoes in major markets in Oyo State at present is the on-going communal crisis in Jos, the Plateau State capital. This has really contributed to the unaffordable prices of these food commodities.

In most of the markets like the Aleshinloye, Ooojo, Shasha, Oje, etc visited by the Tribune Agriculture, the prices of pepper and tomatoes are so unbearable and unaffordable to many buyers. For example, four pieces of tomatoes now sell for between N300 and N500, while a milk-tin of ungrinded dry pepper now sell for N150. A kongo of dried tatase or baawa peper now sells for between N700 and N800 compared to the old price of N200.

If you dont want to be insulted, or incur the wrath of any trader in the markets, don’t just price these food commodities ridiculously, otherwise, you might be embarrassed. Everybody is now complaining and men, who are not fond of going to market to buy these food commodities have started visiting markets by themselves since they cannot afford to be spending between N2,000.00 and N3,000.00 to prepare a pot of soup!

Moreover, some agricultural experts who spoke with Tribune Agriculture on the matter said what is currently happening in Oyo State and some states in the south-west have been predicted earlier and it also confirmed the saying that farmers in the northern parts of the country that are feeding us in the south.

Some experts even said what we are experiencing now in Oyo State is a case study of an impending or looming food crisis, adding that if people could be lamenting and groaning just because some people refused to bring in food to the state from one part of the country, it then means that agriculture is taking upper hands in the northern parts of the country with the government in this part of the country giving neccesary and needed support to their farmers, whereas, agriculture is “taking the backseat” in the south, with their leaders spending money meant for agricultural development to acquire pepper grinding machine and Okada, distributing them to able-bodied youths who are supposed to be encouraged to go into farming.

According to Professor Joshua Oluokun, Mr. Gabriel Adejare, a plant quarantine and crop protection expert, Engineer Tony Egba, an agricultural engineer and a host of others, agriculture is being relegated to the background in the south, unlike in the north and the government in the southern parts of Nigeria is only paying lip service to agricultural development. Even many local government chairmen in the south who are close to the rural farmers are turning their backs against the age-long profession.

The big question then is: Why should we exprience food crisis in the south with all the abundant resources? Should we lament or groan just because we could not get regular supply of certain food commodities from a pariticular part of the country for just short period? What is our government doing to support agricultural development?

http://www.tribune.com.ng/index.php/agriculture/2633-food-shortage-hits-ibadan-lagos-spreads-to-other-states

This is not good. I told people that the Northern region is very important to Nigeria, because it provides a lot of food to Southern Nigeria.

Most people do not recognize that fact. People need to eat and Northern Nigeria is blessed with the land to feed many nations if it was used better.

Now people need to stop bashing this region and see how integral it is to Nigeria as a whole.

@aloy-emeka: Seems overblown. SW people have moved out of the farm, but can return to it if necessary. Anyway, doesn't look like anybody is starving in those articles, just (A) complaining of higher prices (B) taxes for selling goods in the south.

Much ado about nothing.

Regarding beef btw. . . it would probably be better if we just hire our own Fulani to herd cattle anyway, rather than importing cattle from the North. In the long term we should cut out the middle man (Hausa dealers) anyway. It isn't as if they are the ones doing the work.

Akhenaten:

This is not good. I told people that the Northern region is very important to Nigeria, because it provides a lot of food to Southern Nigeria.

Most people do not recognize that fact. People need to eat and Northern Nigeria is blessed with the land to feed many nations if it was used better.

Now people need to stop bashing this region and see how integral it is to Nigeria as a whole.

Thank you.

eku_bear:

@aloy-emeka: Seems overblown. SW people have moved out of the farm, but can return to it if necessary. Anyway, doesn't look like anybody is starving in those articles, just (A) complaining of higher prices (B) taxes for selling goods in the south.

Much ado about nothing.

Regarding beef btw. . . it would probably be better if we just hire our own Fulani to herd cattle anyway, rather than importing cattle from the North. In the long term we should cut out the middle man (Hausa dealers) anyway. It isn't as if they are the ones doing the work.

of course she just has 2 prove her point dat people in d  Sw died of starvation cos there was scarcity of tomatoes,pepper and cattle

eku_bear:

@aloy-emeka: Seems overblown. SW people have moved out of the farm, but can return to it if necessary.

It is necessary now because we still need more farmers in Nigeria. So, if you have a way of sending people to the farm in SW, please do so asap.

Yorubas do not have food problem.

they do not produce Amala in the north?
They do not produce Alafu in the north?
They do not produce Garri in the north?
They do not produce plam oil in the North?
Yorubas are eating import rice, not rice with stone.
Floor is imported to Nigeria for bread, where is the shortage?

That is proproganda by the tribune.  I cant  imagine the tribune would be use for cheap propaganda just because of circulation.  So should the Yoruba people risk thier families because of circulation.   Or should the Yoruba race wait till 2048 before another Yorubaman become president. I am asking tribune.?  Do we risk the life of millions of yorubas for government contract , I am asking the tribune newspapers? 

Yoruba people have to think about ourself first and Our family before anyone . either he is collecting govt contract or not. we dont care. we think about the safety of our families first.

is the life of the people not more important than the greedy  money you are going to make.

Do money bring back people dead people to life. or because of  government contract, I am asking the tribune newspaper?


Where is the principle Awolowo stand for? Your personal greed over people life. we are talking about millions of yoruba people getting killed.



If Awolowo would not commit suicide in Jail, why would the tribune newspaper want millions of yoruba people to die in thier million. Is circulation your problem.

Mike adenuga has glo in Ghana, nobody have not told your people to start in other country, the Young man from tribune, who just posted this. If I had the power to sack you . Today, you would not have a job again.



And here is awolowo letter to HID.      

It is probable that I might be transferred from Lagos to a Prison in
the East or the North. If they tried to transfer me, I would protest
as strongly as I ever can. Because my transfer from Lagos especially
to the North would suggest that my enemies want to engage in some foul
play against my life. Under no circumstances will I commit suicide;
because it is cowardly in the extreme to do it, apart from the fact
that it is a sin against God, and wickedness of the worst order.

If Awolowo was not ready to kill himself, why would the tribute newspaper want yorubas to get killed because of newspaper circulation?? I need to know.



My Beloved Mamma Segun,

I learnt that you had been ill. I was upset. But I am happy to hear
that you have improved considerably. Your health and your life mean
almost everything to me. I must say categorically that life would mean
nothing to me without you and our children and grandchildren, and
without an opportunity to serve the people of Nigeria in particular
and mankind in general. I pray most earnestly and always, therefore,
that you my Darling as well as our children and grandchildren may be
blessed by Almighty God with robust health, long life and prosperity
— Amen.

As you will remember, three weeks or so ago I decided not to write
again until we meet in flesh. Then I had no doubt for reasons which I
had given in some of my previous letters, that my appeal would be
allowed and that judgment would be given within four weeks at the
most after the conclusion of arguments. I want to assure you, Darling,
that I still trust in God that the verdict will be in my favour. But
I am writing this in case the worst happened, which God forbid. In
that event, it would not be easy for me to communicate with you as I
had done when my appeal was pending.

During the past week, rumours have been circulating that my appeal
would be dismissed and that, at the very best, my sentence might be
reduced. I do not believe these rumours myself. Unfortunately, my
suspicions have been excited by the undue delay in delivering
judgment. It took five clear weeks to argue the appeal. And last
Friday it was exactly six weeks since the Appeal Court reserved
judgment. We are now in the seventh week! It is as if the history of
this case as it was enacted last year is repeating itself!! I hope
not.

But should the worst happen, I want you to take it like a brave
woman that you are. That would not be the end for me. The best is yet
to be, as long as my life is spared.

I hope that, in that event, the Prison Officers would continue to take
care of me as they had done hitherto, and to protect my life against
the plan of evil-doers. I will do my very best to look after myself.

My faith in my destiny remains unshaken. If the A.G./N.C.N.c.
Alliance wins the next Federal elections, 1 will be out of here
whether my enemies like it or not. That is what we must work for.

You remember the first letter I wrote you from this Prison, last
year. If the worst should happen, I would like you to refer to it.
There are only FOUR points I wish to add to the instructions I gave
in that letter.

It is probable that I might be transferred from Lagos to a Prison in
the East or the North. If they tried to transfer me, I would protest
as strongly as I ever can. Because my transfer from Lagos especially
to the North would suggest that my enemies want to engage in some foul
play against my life. Under no circumstances will I commit suicide;
because it is cowardly in the extreme to do it, apart from the fact
that it is a sin against God, and wickedness of the worst order
against your Dear Self, our children, grandchildren, and other
members of our family. If I was transferred, you would be duly
informed of my destination. This much I want you to bear in mind; if
you heard that I died you could be sure that my enemies had killed
me. I say this, because after committing this heinous cnme, these
evil people might issue a release that I committed suicide, or that I
died or was killed when I was trying to escape from lawful custody.
In the latter connection, I want to emphasise that under no
circumstances would I attempt to escape. I have great hopes for the
future, and I am determined to live.

So if the news reached you that I died, you should get all our lawyer
and doctor friends to kick as much row as they can kick. The rank and
file of the Party should also kick a row. This portion of the letter
should be photostated and published. I am a warrior by nature. I am
not afraid of death. But I don't want my memory to be blackened, or
your good name to be tarnished by enemies who, after murdering me,
would like to exonerate themselves by accusing me of killing myself.
It is essential — absolutely essential — to fight this issue if it
ever arose, firstly in order to clear my good name and that of our
family, and secondly in order that you might be able to claim the
sums (which must be about £6,ooo by now) which I assured with
Prudential Life Assurance, and Gresham Life Assurance. If it was
established that I committed suicide, not a penny of this money would
be paid. In the interest of my children, and particularly of Motunde,
these assured sums must be collected.

If after my death, my enemies did not stigmatise my name and memory,
and they merely announced my death, it would still be necessary for
you to organise for the cause of my death to be probed and
ascertained.

Once more, I want to assure you that I would do my best to take care
that the evil-doers don't reach me with their poison. If I suspected
any fishy business, I might go on hunger strike or subsist only on
fruits and tinned foods (if the latter are available).

I do not want you to be sad about the contents of this letter at all.
I know you will be upset by what I have said, so much so that you
might shed tears. As you will have seen, I do not lose hope at all. I
am confident about the future; and I have no doubt that, by the Grace
of God, before this year is ended, I shall hold you once again in my
arms in affectionate embrace. We all believe that God answers
prayers; but we must realise that He answers them in His own good
time and when He knows such answers will be most beneficial to us. So
let us wait on the Lord, and renew our strength. Whilst I am still
hoping that my appeal will be allowed, it occurs to me, in view of
the machinations of my enemies, that I should write in this way when
I have the opportunity. To be forewarned is to be forearmed. It may
be that the opportunity for writing you would still be open; in which
case I would write occasionally, not weekly as before. It all depends
on how often Falade is allowed to see me.

If the worst happened, which God forbid, you should direct your
prayers to the success of the A.G./N.C.N.C. Alliance at the next
Federal Elections. These will take place, latest in December this
year, that is less than six months from now. In this connection I am
writing to some A.G. leaders to urge them to remain firm until
victory is ours.

As regards our children and grandchildren. Tola does not present any
problem. She can fend for herself. I only pray that it may please God
to bless the union between her and Kayode with undying love and with
children, and to bless the two of them and their children with
health, happiness and prosperity — Amen.

Wole is a problem; I leave it entirely to you to tackle the problem,
since there is not much I can do from behind the bars. I do pray
fervently that it may please God to direct him aright and help him to
make a success of his life — Amen.

Ayo's and Tokunbo's problems are simple. It should be possible for
you to arrange admission for Ayo to Lagos University this year, and
for Tokunbo to Ibadan University next year.

Motunde does not present much problem yet. Kayode and Tola are
capable of looking after Feyi. May God grant to all these children and
grandchildren and others who will come after them long life,
prosperity and happiness — Amen.

Abah presents a problem. I think she should be assisted to go abroad,
and then we should finish with her once and for all.

In your own case, I strongly appeal to you to have courage, and to
keep good health. In addition I want you to concentrate on your
business and Church duties. You should also be as active as you can in
Party work. Because, if this appeal failed, my next Court of Appeal is
the Electorate. In order to bring about my early release, you should
try and help in the organisation of the Women's Wing of the A.G. in
Yorubaland including Lagos. If you organise a Conference of A. G.
Women at any time, it will be largely attended. You will not
necessarily be the Leader of the Conference or even its Convener. But
you should be the moving spirit of such a Conference. All you need do
is to invite a few women to discuss arrangements for the Conference,
and then get the A.G. Secretariat to issue the invitations.

Falade and Co. will continue in our employ as usual. Just now, there
is enough money to pay him and others up to the end of October this
year. Maybe, before then God will provide further means of
maintaining the skeleton staff which we now have. I have not discussed
the contents of this letter with him, except that I have asked him to
help to organise the Women's Conference, and to keep a schedule of
rents on our properties, so that he may remind you whenever they are
due.

If all goes well with us at the Federal Elections, then the problem
of keeping Falade and others on the Party's staff will be solved.

Finally, this week will go down in History as `The Week of Decision'.
It will be a week of decision not only for us but also for the entire
people of Yorubaland in particular and of Nigeria in general.
Whichever way the decision goes, only God knows what will be the
consequences.

It is our ardent wish that the appeal should be in my favour; so be
it. If not then God's will be done; and as true Christians we have no
right to murmur, complain, or show resentment against God's will.

Let us, therefore, wait patiently and calmly for the Will of God to be
done.

I take this opportunity to renew to you, my only Darling Wife, my
vow of undying love. In God's good time we will meet again in a most
happy reunion, and that before very long.

Give my most affectionate regards to Tola, Kayode, Wole, Ayo,
Tokunbo, Motunde and Feyi; and my good wishes to my sisters, their
children and grandchildren, our Mothers, and all our relatives and
friends.

With divine love,
I remain,
Your Ever Devoted and Affectionate Husband,
Femi

@aloy-emeka:

It isn't so much that we need more farmers in the SW, but we need more capital (for fertilizer, equipment, technology) and larger-scale farms to drive up efficiency. People are too content in the SW (and indeed Nigeria) farming small farms.

Overall though, from talking to my uncle (who knows the farming business pretty well), best place to start a farm is in the middle belt, due to how easy it is to buy huge tracts of land without hassle.

Musiwa,:

Yorubas do not have food problem.
If Awolowo would not commit suicide in Jail, why would the tribune newspaper want millions of yoruba people to die in thier million. Is circulation your problem.

Mike adenuga has glo in Ghana, nobody have not told your people to start in other country, the Young man from tribune, who just posted this. If I had the power to sack you . Today, you would not have a job again.


I take this opportunity to renew to you, my only Darling Wife, my
vow of undying love. In God's good time we will meet again in a most
happy reunion, and that before very long.

Give my most affectionate regards to Tola, Kayode, Wole, Ayo,
Tokunbo, Motunde and Feyi; and my good wishes to my sisters, their
children and grandchildren, our Mothers, and all our relatives and
friends.

With divine love,
I remain,
Your Ever Devoted and Affectionate Husband,
Femi

I am loving BecomeRich every minute. What has this got to do with winter in Kano?

eku_bear:

@aloy-emeka:

It isn't so much that we need more farmers in the SW, but we need more capital (for fertilizer, equipment, technology) and larger-scale farms to drive up efficiency. People are too content in the SW (and indeed Nigeria) farming small farms.

Overall though, from talking to my uncle (who knows the farming business pretty well), best place to start a farm is in the middle belt, due to how easy it is to buy huge tracts of land without hassle.

Same goes for every Nigerian sector but the Northerners still manage to produce more food with so little given to them. Applaud them for doing that instead of disparaging their efforts.

Compare the land available in the north vs that in the south. Not to mention population densities, as well as difficulty acquiring land in the SW. I'm not sure what is worth applauding. . . it is what it is. Also, who was disparaging? Just pointing out realities

awon alataki ti fi awora ibe fu mi, mo mu ibi ti wa. ki le be ru fu. awon oke oya lo pa iru fu yi, ki e ma le kuro ni orelede.
e ma beru. ebo si benin republic.

in the picture, it show the nigeria government have been telling lies for many years, that why they block accept to into from benin republic. More than half of the land space in benin republic is own by yoruba people.

even when I did the translation to english of some of the thing they do in benin republic. they eat amala, alafu, and other yoruba food.

eku_bear:

Compare the land available in the north vs that in the south. Not to mention population densities, as well as difficulty acquiring land in the SW. I'm not sure what is worth applauding. . . it is what it is. Also, who was disparaging? Just pointing out realities

You do know the Northern region is more fertile than the south. The Sahel (grassland) region in Africa has fertile soil, while tropical areas are not best suited for growing crops, because the soil lacks a lot of nutrients.

If the North uses its soil well, it could possible feed all of West Africa.

Why do you think grasslands are the most productive in the world? Just look at the United States and the Great Plains region. The most fertile region in the world is a grassland. From Idoha to Iowa, they produce most of the nation's food.

@ dapo

The SW needs the north and vis-versa. We all need each other.Btw, the middle belt has the most fertile soil in the country.

eku_bear:

Compare the land available in the north vs that in the south. Not to mention population densities, as well as difficulty acquiring land in the SW. I'm not sure what is worth applauding. . . it is what it is. Also, who was disparaging? Just pointing out realities

There are thousands of acres of arable lands in Kwara, Ekiti and Osun and what have you done with them?.

The north is not more fertile than the south.

look at this map. Most part of west africa, we are bigger than them. no of them buy food from Nigeria.  Yorubas go to Benin republic to buy food.  That where most rice they eat comes from.

The Yorubas does not need the north for anything. name that thing that the Yorubas need the north for.

Is it yam, go to kwara state, you go eat and die. I lived in kwara. We wasted it. or is it beans.

You make me laugh.

Yorubas do not need the north for anything.

Musiwa,:

The north is not more fertile than the south.

look at this map. Most part of west africa, we are bigger than them. no of them buy food from Nigeria.  Yorubas go to Benin republic to buy food.  That where most rice they eat comes from.

Fertility cannot be determined from map, you Mungo park of Yorubaland.

jason123:

@ dapo

The SW needs the north and vis-versa. We all need each other.Btw, the middle belt has the most fertile soil in the country.

You are wrong. All of Northern Nigeria has fertile soil. The Sahel region, which is a large grassland has the most fertile soil in Africa.

I will post a map of the entire Sahel region. Grasslands are the most productive regions in the world in terms of agriculture, when the soil is used properly.

Tropical rainforest are never good to grow food extensively, because they lack many nutrients required for a successful harvest.

that picture is not correct, all of our portion his fertile. Even in the north, up to kaduna is very fertile.  , most part of bauchi state is, same thing for adamawa, plateau,  that picture is wrong.


With the New republic of Benin , the area cover is 322 ,000 sq km. The north is is about 500 ,000 sq km. While some part are not fertile. but the new republic of Benin 95% are fertile. So you are talking of 300,000 fertile land compare to less than 300k in the north.

Akhenaten:

You are wrong. All of Northern Nigeria has fertile soil. The Sahel region, which is a large grassland has the most fertile soil in Africa.

I will post a map of the entire Sahel region. Grasslands are the most productive regions in the world in terms of agriculture, when the soil is used properly.

Tropical rainforest are never good to grow food extensively, because they lack many nutrients required for a successful harvest.

You are actually posting map for Becomerich. Goodluck because he will spam this thread now.