Hi All,

I though I might enlighten you that not all Northerners are uneducated or non advocates of education and progression.
For example, I am female, 30 years old Project Manager in Research. Another Northerner female studied aeronautical engineering, another is the youngest doctor training to be a Consultant Paediatrician in the UK. As for the men, I know CEO of IT companies, bankers, Chemical Engineers, Wireless Network Specialists, Defence Engineers, I mean the list goes on.

The issue of almagirai is a long story which goes into culture, bad leadership, high fertility and poverty. Its a similar situation in Brazil.

Hope that clears up things up.

A very proud Nigerian.

thank God, now can you guys pls secede from Nigeria and take your Abachas and form your own country? We are growing tired of your never ending appetite for our oil and resources while you all laze away in the morning sun.

I Love you Sis. I'm sure there are many other cool Northerners like you, but I'll be thrilled to see more people like you become more prominent in Nigeria. This will promote more understanding and help dispel prevailing perception.

Thanks you BlackM for the support. We should stand together and be proud of each other. I have to come clean and admit that all the people I mantioned are not living in Nigeria. We all grew up mostly in the UK and US and plan on returning home within 3-5 years.

Everything takes time and as far as the previous comment goes, everyone in Nigeira is the same when put in a position of power. It is not a Northern thing to 'chop' money or make oil deals etc. It is an unimaginative and uneducated mind that believes that money can only be made through oil in Nigeria. I hope we will be alive and well in the next 5 years because you will see millionaires made, amongst your peers both in the South and North when the true entrepreneurial culture becomes more established on a wider scale and our stock markets continue to prosper.

Its really that simple, please do not hate. althought I am pure hausa/fulani I have in my family a mixture with first cousins from Ogbomosho. We need to get over ourselves and the tribal issues held by our parents generations. What is the purpose of being an adult if you are still living in your parents shadows?

A very proud Nigerian.

Sookie, that was a very good passage you wrote. Its not just Northerners, its actually all Nigerians who need to lay aside petty stereotypes of eachother, at the end of the day we are Nigerians and we need to develop a sense of nationality to move forward as we should. Our tribal differences should be celebrated, not used as a reason to segregate or think ourselves above other tribes.We need to redress greivances and move on as a nation.

Even here on this site, which includes so called "enlightened" people, many who are exposed to multicultural societies, I'm astounded at the level of inter-tribal antagonisms which arise almost every week.

I'm even considering staying away. Its bad enough having people look down on you for being Black, let alone your tribe.

I went to uni with a few Hausa people and their siblings were also university educated. Even those who chose not to pursue that path should not be looked down upon for it, we all have different paths to lead in life.

Sookie:

Thanks you BlackM for the support. We should stand together and be proud of each other. I have to come clean and admit that all the people I mantioned are not living in Nigeria. We all grew up mostly in the UK and US and plan on returning home within 3-5 years.

It is no wonder you have such a rosy idea of Nigeria. Perhaps if you grew up during the locust era of Babangida, Shagari and witnessed the systematic ethnic cleansing of the Abacha era you'd have a more realistic oppinion of Nigeria's problems. They go way beyond just coming down to Nigeria to invest some dollars and pounds.

Sookie:

Everything takes time and as far as the previous comment goes, everyone in Nigeira is the same when put in a position of power.

It has taken 47 yrs, can we honestly claim to have progressed? We once were on par with Malaysia in the 1960s, where are we now?

Sookie:

It is not a Northern thing to 'chop' money or make oil deals etc.

But it is a northern thing to vehemently oppose any attempt to institute some form of fiscal federalism no? Do we need to ask why?

Sookie:

It is an unimaginative and uneducated mind that believes that money can only be made through oil in Nigeria.

I agree, we have long be forced to live with unimaginative and uneducated northern leaders whose only idea of foreign exchange is oil and more oil.

Sookie:

I hope we will be alive and well in the next 5 years because you will see millionaires made,

It is naive to think that all Nigeria needs is yet more millionaires. Of what use is it to have millions if they all end up in Swiss bank accounts? Only a small minority of Americans are millionaires yet they have a high standard of living even for those considered poor.
What Nigeria needs is a robust economy that is centered on production and not merely oil exports and importation of toothpicks.

How do you propose these millionaires are going to be made? By the tired old route of government contracts, kickbacks and political appointment of round pegs in square holes?

Sookie:

amongst your peers both in the South and North when the true entrepreneurial culture becomes more established on a wider scale and our stock markets continue to prosper.

Where are the northern entreprenueurs? The stock market is mainly a southern effort, what is the north contributing to the national cake beyond squabbles over who becomes first lady?

Sookie:

Its really that simple, please do not hate.

It is not hate, it is being realistic. I lived in the north before.

Sookie:

althought I am pure hausa/fulani I have in my family a mixture with first cousins from Ogbomosho. We need to get over ourselves and the tribal issues held by our parents generations. What is the purpose of being an adult if you are still living in your parents shadows?

To pretend that tribalism is a thing of the past (i.e belongs in the generation of our parents) is to decieve yourself. In a country where political employments, national honors, JAMB e.t.c are still based on zoning, quota system, federal character?

Sookie:

A very proud Nigerian.

A very proud but realistic Nigerian.

Thanks for the comments and open dialogue this exchange has enccouraged.

Some more food for thought is that yes I grew up in Nigeria during the introduction of SAP and can compare the better days and present time. Although I have been away for a while, I still keep in touch and can see, thankfully, from an objective point of view the issues faced by the country.
Being an educated professional with an MSc in Public Health in developing countries, the statement that millionares will be made in Nigeria is not an isolated or selfish capitalist desire. It is an industry that can be created by the people for the people. Think about it. I am sure you agree with me that we cannot rely on the governemnt alone to build the economy but through private investments. This is beyong just financial through the stock markets (please understand that every Nigerian participates in the Nigerian stock market, although more prominent in the South) but also by using our business expertise and professional knowledge. When we are able to come together and unite, for the sake of progression, a better life and to generate an income things will change. I am financially driven but like every normal human being have personal commitments I am responsible for which means I do not work for charity.

I will give you an example of such enterprise. What is to stop able Nigerian experts from forming a team that can execute a project in the private sector using venture capitalists? Let us stand up and be counted! You do not need oil to do that, or be in the government. Ideas we will bring to the country or develop from the country should be practical, self suffucient and revenue generating. That is how countries in the far east have prospered. Admittedly they have been more priviledged to have government incentives for the exportable commodities they produce. Why can't we look inwards and use the resources we have which in this case is the absolute desire for change and the knoweledge and experience that is in abundance.

There are opportunities to drive change from within and as a people we have displayed this with the movies and music industry. Why not for other industries?

Please do not dissect every sentence I write because I am not claiming to be an expert in economics or politics. Therefore, I am not here to make excuses for our leaders. People like myself that are thinking about returning home soon are aware that Nigeria is the only country where we can make a real difference in our careers and also reap true rewards for our efforts. It is sad that more of us do not think this way or are aware of opportunities in the country. The vision we all have should be the same and will be realized. In this way an economic revolution will come.

@ Sookie, i will resist the temptation to disect every sentence of yours since even i myself am ignorant of certain issues. 

Sookie:

There are opportunities to drive change from within and as a people we have displayed this with the movies and music industry. Why not for other industries?

I have outlined what i think is the key word in your last post. But for how long will Nigeria remain a land of "opportunities"? Another 47yrs of wandering in the political and economic wilderness?

What we have in music and movies cannot even be described as a proper "industry", rather we have a group of opporunists cashing in on the voyeuristic nature of the average Nigerian to make a few quick bucks. Are there any codes that regulate this so called "industries"?

That we need our economy to be driven largely by the private sector is no longer news, it is the same even in developed countries. America is the world's super power not because it has the best government in the world but because of private individuals like you and me who have taken advantage of the numerous government incentives to create wealth.
In Nigeria we have no roads, no electricity, no security, no stable government policy outside oil and gas, no tax incentives!!! Absolutely nothing and we expect the private entrepreneur to perform miracles?

There is a reason why the unregulated success (if we must be magnanimous) in the movie industry cannot be replicated in other industries
- Energy sector - Unlike the movie industry there is nothing like instant profit. you need a disciplined private investor who is ready to spend millions in providing a stable source of energy, ready to invest in distribution and all. You dont expect Alaba boys to do this do you?

- solid minerals - already the den of thieves and illegal miners. No one is bothered, not even government. It is not oil that can be mined and sold readily on the market.

- Security - No private investor can help you build your police.

- Roads - This is a government responsibility. That is why we pay taxes.

e.t.c.

Sookie:

Thanks you BlackM for the support. We should stand together and be proud of each other. I have to come clean and admit that all the people I mantioned are not living in Nigeria. We all grew up mostly in the UK and US and plan on returning home within 3-5 years.

Everything takes time and as far as the previous comment goes, everyone in Nigeira is the same when put in a position of power. It is not a Northern thing to 'chop' money or make oil deals etc. It is an unimaginative and uneducated mind that believes that money can only be made through oil in Nigeria. I hope we will be alive and well in the next 5 years because you will see millionaires made, amongst your peers both in the South and North when the true entrepreneurial culture becomes more established on a wider scale and our stock markets continue to prosper.


Its really that simple, please do not hate. althought I am pure hausa/fulani I have in my family a mixture with first cousins from Ogbomosho. We need to get over ourselves and the tribal issues held by our parents generations. What is the purpose of being an adult if you are still living in your parents shadows?

A very proud Nigerian.

Sookie sookie now
Nigeria,here I come!

Thanks David. Rome was not built in one day. Its not going to be easy workign with little infrastructure. But it is possible to make something of it. I agree about the music and movies industry. Censorship and standards will come. Just an example of revenue generating industries.

I have many ideas that will come to fruition even when starting on a small scale. There are also friends of mine doing the same. We will continue and hopefully the 5 year plan to return permanently will result.

Wishing you all a good week,
Sookie

Sookie

More grease to your elbow. It is quite unfortunate that at this time and age, as Nigerians, we are still squabbling over ethnic bias and prejudices with regards to almost every aspect of our national identity, politics, religion, socio-cultural and economic issues. Agreed, there have been mismanagement and bad leadership, but it is unfounded to think that this should be blamed wholly on the north and northerners. Agreed, the leaders have been northerners, but who ran and managed the civil service for all those 47years - just to state one example? I'm not here to play the blame game, as I am an educated and progressive BLACK man of hausa/fulani origin with several friends, colleagues and business partners from every corner of Nigeria and when we sit and discuss, we all discuss ideas, because I believe great minds discuss ideas. And I believe with the level of exposure and networking amongsts Nigerians both back in Nigeria and in the diaspora, Nigeria is slowly, but surely beginning to transcend the boundaries of ethnic divide and bigotry. At a period of time when world communities are coming together to unite (e.g. EU, ASEAN[Association of South East Asian Nations],) and even to a lesser extent ECOWAS (trying to have one currency, passport and legislation), mankind has realised that great progress can only be achieved through a unified effort and approach. Things are changing very fast in Nigeria and we must embrace our diversity in culture, religion and tradition to our ultimate advantage. The United States of America is a society of multicultural citizenry, and even in the conservative UK, multi-culturalism has been embraced over the last ten years especially, which has really brought London back as the number one economic and financial centre in the world, ahead of New York. Nigeria united we stand, divided we fall, and tell me, who wins when we are divided? Nobody, not the south with all its oil, or the north with all its associated problems.

Then, Tell they Northern and Western Nigerians to stop using their military to terrorise Ijaw people and stop occupying Niger Delta land by Force.

Open response to WillyWilly:

I believe you are a Nigerian, and you say, tell them northern and western Nigerians to stop terrorising the Ijaws with their military? That is a very contradictory statement, as the NIGERIAN MILITARY comprises of officers and soldiers from the Niger-Delta inclusive. Irrespective of what you may think, the Niger-Delta problem is not solely as a result of northern or western military aggression, rather, why don't you probe and question the multinational oil companies who have desecrated the area both economically and financially in association with your own elders to the detriment of the ordinary people. I feel strongly for the Niger-Delta region and I believe they deserve better, but blaming the nigerian military from the northern and western composition will NOT sort the problem my dear brother. There are ways in which your people can make their voices heard strongly, especially with technological advancements in media and telecommunications and the evolvement of a global human rights movement that makes countries, leaders and organisations accountable for their actions. This is a much wiser route to take than to simply look for the easy way out of looking for someone to blame. That will not solve anything? Start by making your leaders and elders, governors accountable first. The Niger-Delta governors and most of the other state governors of the past eight years have probably been the most outrageous looters of their own people. Perhaps the only exception was governor Donald Duke of Cross Rivers State, other than that, tell me what the Niger-Delta governors have done for their people in the past eight years with all the oil revenue percentage they clamoured for - and was given to them by former president Obasanjo, apart from systematic looting, abuse and enriching themselves and their cohorts. That region has never benefitted from the oil revenue moreso than in the past 8yrs. Without military intervention - which is not always recommended, the niger-delta will become a lawless place, giving rise to militias, bandits and criminals posing in the guise of 'STRUGGLING' for the people.

Dear People

Lets not also forget, that before the advent of the discovery of oil in Nigeria, the whole Nigerian economy, institutions and infrastructure was built on agricultural exports from the north. Do your research. However, that is not to say that the north is inexpendable. The fact is that Nigeria is an inter-dependent nation and has always been. Ethniticism has always been used by past and present politicians for their own political gains, and not in the interest of the Ijaws, Yorubas, Hausas, Fulanis, Igbos, Kanuris, Tivs, Itsekiris or any other ethnic block in Nigeria. We have to transcend this ethnic bigotry if we ever intend to progress, and I believe we will, because the next generation of Nigerians are result driven. People are no longer interested in which part of the country you come from, but rather, what can you deliver and what have you got to offer. Those who continue to dwell along ethnic divide will never progress in the NEW NIGERIA, believe that.

hipernetix:

There are ways in which your people can make their voices heard strongly, especially with technological advancements in media and telecommunications and the evolvement of a global human rights movement that makes countries, leaders and organisations accountable for their actions. This is a much wiser route to take than to simply look for the easy way out of looking for someone to blame.

So easy to proffer unworkable solutions eh. Was this not the "easy" route that landed Saro Wiwa and his colleagues on the hangman's noose?
For how long have the Niger Delta been crying about resource control? For how long will we continue to cry over this burdensome unitary system of government foistered on us by the north that can only survive on oil?

What happened when the Niger Delta cried out for at least 50% derivation at the last hogwash called the constitutional reform conference? Why has the north continued to use its lopsided numerical advantage to deny others the right to control their resources and pay taxes to the federal government AS IS DONE IN WESTERN DEMOCRACIES?

hipernetix:

That will not solve anything? Start by making your leaders and elders, governors accountable first.

Hiding under "making your leaders accountable first" is to play the ostrich with the REAL issues on ground. Let each man control his resources, it is not your place to ask them to go put their house in order first before demanding what RIGHTFULLY belongs to them.

Your own northern leaders have proven to be the least accountable, are you denying them access to the national treasury yet?

hipernetix:

The Niger-Delta governors and most of the other state governors of the past eight years have probably been the most outrageous looters of their own people.

The real looters is the federal government! It is looting to pay Zamfara state billions in "federally generated revenue" when it barely manages to contribute a few millions to the "federal purse".

When the people are in charge of their own resources, they are now free to loot it as they like. They will have no one to blame then. Until then it is outright insultive to ask their leaders to be accountable to you.

hipernetix:

Perhaps the only exception was governor Donald Duke of Cross Rivers State, other than that, tell me what the Niger-Delta governors have done for their people in the past eight years with all the oil revenue percentage they clamoured for - and was given to them by former president Obasanjo, apart from systematic looting, abuse and enriching themselves and their cohorts.

What a shame! In developed nations, the Niger Delta should NOT be "clamoring for" what rightfully belongs to them! Why should Obasanjo be giving oil revenue to those who own the oil? Does that make sense? Did you have to clamour and beg for proceeds of your groundnut pyramids from Nnamdi Azikiwe in 1962?

hipernetix:

That region has never benefitted from the oil revenue moreso than in the past 8yrs.

Whether they benefit from oil revenue or not is no business of the north. Give them control of their property. That they decide to bury it in the sand and remain in poverty should not be your problem.

hipernetix:

Without military intervention - which is not always recommended, the niger-delta will become a lawless place, giving rise to militias, bandits and criminals posing in the guise of 'STRUGGLING' for the people.

The Niger Delta is "lawless" because of decades of injustice and systematic looting of the goose that lays the golden eggs. I would be very tempted to join a millitia if i saw Kano being developed with resources coming from my backyard! If Kano can only generate N2m per month then it should not expect to recieve N2bn from the farce that we refer to as the "federal purse".

you live abroad, do your foreign governments talk of a "federal purse"?

hipernetix:

Dear People

Lets not also forget, that before the advent of the discovery of oil in Nigeria, the whole Nigerian economy, institutions and infrastructure was built on agricultural exports from the north.

Yet more hogwash! Why was the north and south amalgamated in the first place? Do your research, it was because the British needed resources from the south to govern the north! As at the time of the amalgamation, the south alone generated 75% of the entire national revenue. Today the figure has risen to over 95%

The south was the world's largest producer of oil palm in the 1960's, the eastern region was the world's fastest growing economy in the 60's, dont come here telling us your groundnut developed our regions because that is an emphatic lie!

It is this same farce that the north propagates in order to legitimise their illegal claim to oil resources.

hipernetix:

Do your research. However, that is not to say that the north is inexpendable. The fact is that Nigeria is an inter-dependent nation and has always been.

Nigeria was NEVER and has NEVER been an inter-dependent nation. Until 1966, the western, northern and eastern regions were FULLY AUTONOMOUS entities that were amalgamated for British convenience!

hipernetix:

Ethniticism has always been used by past and present politicians for their own political gains, and not in the interest of the Ijaws, Yorubas, Hausas, Fulanis, Igbos, Kanuris, Tivs, Itsekiris or any other ethnic block in Nigeria. We have to transcend this ethnic bigotry if we ever intend to progress, and I believe we will, because the next generation of Nigerians are result driven. People are no longer interested in which part of the country you come from, but rather, what can you deliver and what have you got to offer. Those who continue to dwell along ethnic divide will never progress in the NEW NIGERIA, believe that.

Based on this can we now beg you guys to scrap JAMB, make quota system illegal, refuse to demand zoning, gentleman's agreement ala the Peoples Disoriented Party, expunge federal character from the constitution?

Dear Sir,

It is quite interesting to read your comments. Where you are WRONG is that oil does not belong to you, it belongs to NIGERIA. Ken Saro-Wiwa was convicted by a court on charges of murder, which he instigated and orchestrated, whilst hiding behind the struggle for the Ogoni people. if you didn't know now you know. And the fact is that, ofcourse for him to be executed during a military regime will not go down well with the western media, because they are against military rule, so the media will feed people like you all sorts of nonsense.

On the issue of kano or the north getting N2bn from the federal coffers, yes I live in the west and I will tell you that the social security system here is no different. People work and pay taxes - known as national insurance here in the UK, and this tax is, simply put, a way that everybody contributes to the national coffers. Whether you are a born and bred british national or a foreigner on a work permit, everybody chips into the coffers, so that those who are umemployed receive benefits from this treasury known as unemployment benefits, others receive housing benefits etc, and it also funds the NHS (national health service) so that everyone has access to health care. It is common knowledge that the southern part of the UK is more affluent than the northern part of the country, but regardless, everybody chips in so that the society functions. Also, take note, the British government owns the oil fields off the coast of Scotland known as the North Sea Oil Fields, why isn't Scotland shouting and clamouring that this is our oil, it is off our coast? Because the fact is that, it is the oil of the United kingdom, within the soverign boundary and territorial waters of the Kingdom, and NOT that of Scotland. This is the difference between the BLACK man and the WHITE man. We all have individual differences but the white man can see beyond ethnic divides in order to advance his society.

Are you going to continue to blame the north for all your woes? Obasanjo, from the south, came in and served 8yrs, and it is a FACT, that Nigeria has never seen such poverty, insecurity, corruption and mass migration from the country like in this last 8yrs. But, oh, let me guess, it is the north who orchestrated OBJ policies right? Come on! Move on, we are in the 21st century, and if you have nothing to offer for Nigeria, other than meagre unfounded rhetorics, then sorry to say Nigeria does not need people like you (with all due respect and no insult intended here). What Nigeria needs is reconciliation and a system that is put in place to assure accountability, responsibility and transparency in all aspects of national affairs. I commend president Yar Adua for instigating electoral reforms in the country (which OBJ made a mock of and abused) and reversing the illegal sale of our refineries and national assets (sold off by OBJ, a southerner), and also, I commend Ribadu for his effort in trying to bring back some form of sanity in the Nigerian system. But I guess people like you will never see anything good in the north, on the contrary I am proud that not all southerners are like minded, for I can gladly say I am associated with some extremely brilliant southerners who see beyond my ethnic origin as a Hausa/Fulani. There is no country in the world, where as a black man, you have the opportunity to achieve in life like Nigeria. The US and UK that so many Nigerians die to flee to, will never offer you the opportunity Nigeria will, despite all our shortcomings as a nation. So why don't we put all hands on deck and salvage it together.

LONG LIVE THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA!

hipernetix, i will break your reply into paragraphs to make it easier if you dont mind.

hipernetix:

Dear Sir,

It is quite interesting to read your comments. Where you are WRONG is that oil does not belong to you, it belongs to NIGERIA.

Here are reasons why you sir are WRONG.

- did the oil belong to Nigeria prior to 1966?
- In Alaska, the oil belongs to Alaskan citizens and NOT to America. Alaskan citizens and NOT all Americans are paid a certain percentage of proceeds from oil drilled in their state, i dont hear Texans crying out for their own share. Sir, this type of twisted logic only exists in backward nations like Nigeria. Is it any reason that corruption is so endemic? Rather than seeking avenues to generate wealth everyone is struggling to get a slice of the oil cake!
- How does this oil belong to Nigeria? Simply by virtue of the fact that we accidentally fall within the same farce called a geographical boudary?
- Why didnt you also insist that your groundnut pyramids belonged to Nigeria?

hipernetix:

Ken Saro-Wiwa was convicted by a court on charges of murder, which he instigated and orchestrated, whilst hiding behind the struggle for the Ogoni people. if you didn't know now you know.

lol this is so ridiculous. Where is your evidence that Saro Wiwa instigated and orchestrated the murder of the Ogoni chiefs? What kangaroo court was he tried and convicted in? Can you clearly tell us that he was given a fair trial?

hipernetix:

And the fact is that, ofcourse for him to be executed during a military regime will not go down well with the western media, because they are against military rule, so the media will feed people like you all sorts of nonsense.

I cant believe there are still people who took Abacha seriously. What do you expect from his fellow hausa-fulani goons who have succeeded in drawing us back to the dark ages?
We didnt need the foreign media to tell us Saro Wiwa's trial and conviction was nothing but a farce, we all know!!

hipernetix:

On the issue of kano or the north getting N2bn from the federal coffers, yes I live in the west and I will tell you that the social security system here is no different. People work and pay taxes - known as national insurance here in the UK, and this tax is, simply put, a way that everybody contributes to the national coffers. Whether you are a born and bred british national or a foreigner on a work permit, everybody chips into the coffers, so that those who are umemployed receive benefits from this treasury known as unemployment benefits, others receive housing benefits etc, and it also funds the NHS (national health service) so that everyone has access to health care. It is common knowledge that the southern part of the UK is more affluent than the northern part of the country, but regardless, everybody chips in so that the society functions.

Unbelievable! You compare the charade called federal allocation to citizenship tax?

When we operated a proper federal system of government (not this glorified unitary system), every region paid taxes to the government. We pay taxes so that government can take care of national issues such as the millitary and foreign affairs.

My dear sir, this your analogy is too ridiculous to analyse.

hipernetix:

Also, take note, the British government owns the oil fields off the coast of Scotland known as the North Sea Oil Fields, why isn't Scotland shouting and clamouring that this is our oil, it is off our coast? Because the fact is that, it is the oil of the United kingdom, within the soverign boundary and territorial waters of the Kingdom, and NOT that of Scotland. This is the difference between the BLACK man and the WHITE man. We all have individual differences but the white man can see beyond ethnic divides in order to advance his society.

I doubt if you have any idea of who truly excercises jurisdiction over those oil fields. You have clearly demonstrated bias and ignorance in your above responses. I will not bother to go through the rest of your myopic hogwash.

Next you'd be telling us the north also owns the sea in Lagos! I only wonder why it took you so long to lay claim to it! Hypocrites!

You are entitled to your opinion and YOUR analyses of my statements is your own perspective on how you assimilate and digest what I have pointed out in contrast to your facts and findings, I will not rubish your understanding of things. The sorry FACT remains the issue of your failure to come to terms with the real situation on the ground from a broad and wider perspective of the present day setup.

The blame game and claim to national oil will remain just that, GAME. Accept it, Nigeria is Nigeria and ALL (not just oil or groundnuts), ALL of Nigeria's resources belong to Nigeria and NOT just a section of the country where it came from. Anything to the contrary is simply playing to the twist and shouts of economic politics. To compare the Alaskan scenario with how oil revenue and owner ship should be classified in Nigeria is pitiful and ridiculous. You find out who truly controls the North Sea Oil fields and I will prove my point.

For you to even come up with the statement about dates and geographic boundaries that brought the Nigerian entity together, which a view to justifying your claim to the oil resources in your area is a sad state that will require my time and effort to educate you on it adequately, and practically I do not have that time unfortunately. All I can say now is, GOD SAVE NIGERIA!!!!!!

Hipernetix, you can sit in London and cry about your farcical love for Nigeria all you want, it still doesnt change the fact that prominent Nigerians are among those whose eyes are open to the fact that Nigeria is nothing but a geographical expression cobbled together for colonial interests and perpetuated by those who woould be no better than Niger Republic without the "national" oil.

National oil indeed!

It is laughable that northerners hold so tenaciously to the idea of oil ownership being a national issue. It wont be farfetched to extrapolate that this is the bane of our inability to move beyond everyone loounging for the latest news on the market price of a barrel of oil.

There are a multitude of resources that have been left untapped, Uranium, Coal, Tin, gold e.t.c. rather we are all squabbling over who owns the oil.

Was it not one of your "erudite" professors who told us the oil deposits in the south must have flowed from the north and thus giving the lazy cattle rearers a claim to what does not belong to them?

It is ridiculous that you say that we cannot compare the ownership structure for oil in Nigeria to that in Alaska. It merely buttresses the bold faced fact that though we pretend to be a federal system like the USA, what we actually practice is a unitary system of government. In a federal state, there are clear divisions on who owns what. We can keep going round in circles even though the truth stares you in the face.

I am not surprised that it is the northerner who feels most strongly about oil ownership, without it he'd have to depend on UN food aid!

Gentleman

I can sit here and cry about my love for Nigeria, quite sure, I guess it is a start. YOU sir, can sit there in the States and continue to cry and feel sorry for yourself, and continue to blame blame blame the north for your WOES. I guess that is easiest for you. I am beginning to understand your reasoning, coupled with the fact that you are in the States, please stay there. Nigeria does not need retrogressive minds. That, my dear friend is what will keep you in the dark ages and compound your woes.

And speak for yourself, NOT everyone is out there clamouring and claiming oil wealth other than people like yourselves. In this age, do you think the North cannot survive without oil? Who do you think is really exploiting the area? You have no idea what you are talking about, rather you pride YOUR "intellectual reasoning" on looking for scapegoats. COWARDICE. But, its good, continue to underestimate the north, and you will continue to wonder why you're still there shouting about "ITS MY OIL". Oil is a forgone issue my friend. The richest man in the world is not an oil sheikh, its a college dropout computer scientist. Thank God your leaders know why THEY need the north in Nigeria. I guess if we are that stupid or useless, you guys would have flushed us out long ago. Hmmm!

Nigeria certainly does not need "retrogressive minds", she certainly has more than enough parading as elderstatesmen (insert Shagari, Babangida), dishonorables (fighing house of asseembly members), party chairmen, Presidents, governors (insert those who cant seem to agree who out of thier 4 wives should occupy the illegal position of first lady) e.t.c.

Nigeria is already in the dark ages! A country that is so rich and yet cannot generate a quater of what South Africa generates in terms of power supply is already a victim of compound woes.

If the north could survive without oil why is she the most vociferous about "one Nigeria"?

Our leaders are nothing but a bunch of hungry cowards, flushing you out is not as easy as you think. considering your lopsided numerical strength, we are already at a disadvantage.

Carry on my dear sheikh! Enjoy the oil while it lasts. The rest of us "cowards" will sit here and watch you drive Nigeria into the wilderness of economic ruin.

You my dear friend have just proved to me you are not worth my time. I don't have time for someone who is so shallow minded, so ethinically biased as to ridicule someone's faiths' marital legislations. That is just naive, childish and a sign of desperation. I will not even bother to respond to that. Let us rub minds intellectually and factually rather than engage in deplorable cynism.

Nigeria, my dear 'OIL TYCOON', is vehemtly kept together by the north, in YOUR interest also. If you don't know, the security and stability of Nigeria is vital in the West African sub-regiont, but I don't expect your mind to see beyond your scope of 'ITS MY OIL, ITS THE NORTH'S FAULT'. So please do remain there, WE the next generation of Nigerians (Yorubas, Hausas, Igbos et al) will salvage it together God willing! And at that time, don't come and lay claim to the New Nigeria Identity, for we will not accept you. LOL!

I am done with you sir.

hipernetix:

You my dear friend have just proved to me you are not worth my time. I don't have time for someone who is so shallow minded, so ethinically biased as to ridicule someone's faiths' marital legislations. That is just naive, childish and a sign of desperation. I will not even bother to respond to that. Let us rub minds intellectually and factually rather than engage in deplorable cynism.

lol lol the usual response from those who cannot respond to facts, figures and truths but prefer to hide behind the one finger of sentiments and unecessary emotionalism. What in God's name is the meaning of "faiths' marital legislations".

A sign of desperation? No dear, you missed the boat by miles. The only thing that would make me desperate is how fast we can kick the north back to Niger Republic where they belong with their non-existent groundnut pyramids.

Deplorable cynicism? That rogues like Babangida can sit in his villa afer stealing over $12bn and yet still want to be relevant in our political system, that biased people still think that Saro Wiwa was guilty of murder instead of a politically orchestrated plan to castrate the south, that people still think that the way for Nigeria to progress is to go and "create more millionaires" by the usual northern process of inflated contracts to uneducated Alhajis calls for much more than cynicism.

hipernetix:

Nigeria, my dear 'OIL TYCOON', is vehemtly kept together by the north, in YOUR interest also.

lol what a ridiculous statement. So the north is only interested in keeping Nigeria one because of the south? Tell that to the marines!

hipernetix:

If you don't know, the security and stability of Nigeria is vital in the West African sub-regiont,

Which security are you talking about? What economic stability? In a nation where more than 70% live below the poverty line? Maybe only you can see this special "security and stability". Please show the rest of us where you have hidden it.

hipernetix:

but I don't expect your mind to see beyond your scope of 'ITS MY OIL, ITS THE NORTH'S FAULT'.

To keep the status quo is a task that must be done is the typical northern mantra. Mallam abeg carry go.

hipernetix:

So please do remain there, WE the next generation of Nigerians (Yorubas, Hausas, Igbos et al) will salvage it together God willing!

I wish you all the best in your farcical "salvaging". Dont forget to select the next generation of "Nigerian patriots" on quota system or federal character. Better to fill positions with inept individuals than the qualified as long as all the states of the "federation" are represented.

hipernetix:

And at that time, don't come and lay claim to the New Nigeria Identity, for we will not accept you. LOL!

For where? You cant withdraw my passport alhaji! I cant wait for you to help us!

hipernetix:

I am done with you sir.

Thank you sir!

Haba, haba.
In 1967, Ojukwu explain and lectured my Father on the doom that will befell on him, but my Papa refused to listen.
But today my PaPa dey call Ojukwu, Prophet Ojukwu.

@Posters, what do you think is the best way for Nigeria to move forward as a country? How do you think the grievances of various ethnic groups should be addressed, or should they be addressed at all?

At the end of the day, Nigeria is the only country we have.

Open response to Londoner:

I admire your approach to the Nigerian issue. You are absolutely right, it is all we have, we need to find ways to reconcile and move forward progressively as a strong united nation that caters for the needs of all its citizenry. This will take time, but we must start somewhere,

Hipernetix, thanks for the response, how do you suggest we begin to bring communities in  together under a new national identity?
How do we begin to replace the percieved notion of  tribal marginalisation/neglect that many people feel in Nigeria?

@Davidylan,

Why do you HATE Northerners so much??! I have read a lot of your posts on this forum, and while you have a lot of valid points most of the time, those points often tend to get warped in the cycle of Northern-hatred that colours your vision. Let it go. We are all humans under this same skin, with faults, flaws, vices and virtues in varying degrees.


Hipernetix & Sookie,

You guys have made some very interesting points. I do hope it would be possible to transform those ideas into reality. Wishing you guys all the best.

Ehm. . .on a last note, please don't take Willywilly serious. He is one of the resident chief haters on nairaland who believe that nothing good exists in other ethnic groups, except his own. His view is so distorted that it would take millions of years to straighten it out. Its a sheer waste of time responding to him.

Peace!

londoner:

@Posters, what do you think is the best way for Nigeria to move forward as a country? How do you think the grievances of various ethnic groups should be addressed, or should they be addressed at all?

At the end of the day, Nigeria is the only country we have.

The people of USSR must have said something similar prior to 1989.

hipernetix:

Open response to Londoner:

I admire your approach to the Nigerian issue. You are absolutely right, it is all we have, we need to find ways to reconcile and move forward progressively as a strong united nation that caters for the needs of all its citizenry. This will take time, but we must start somewhere,

What "approach"? One of despair, defeat and a willingness to accept just about any form of injustice on the simplistic basis that "Nigeria is all we have"?

laudate:

@Davidylan,

Why do you HATE Northerners so much??! I have read a lot of your posts on this forum, and while you have a lot of valid points most of the time, those points often tend to get warped in the cycle of Northern-hatred that colours your vision. Let it go. We are all humans under this same skin, with faults, flaws, vices and virtues in varying degrees.

Hate is a strong word and i should point out that i do not "hate" the northerners. It is not so much what the northerner represents as an individual that rankles but what they represent as a group that has consistently remained a stumbling block to Nigeria's progress.

@ davidylan, my point was not to accept the things which are real issues for some, my point is , because we only have one Nigeria, we should be looking for ways to address issues that are fragmenting us as a nation.

I dont come from the frame of mind that if you ignore something it goes away. I have yet to hear many people here, including yourself propose a solution to the discontent of some Nigerian tribes who feel marginalised. Instead you are simply stating that you feel marginalised. Simply identifying does not bring a solution, what do youj suggest should be DONE to rectify?

That was the basis of my question, what do you feel can and should be done to rectify the current state in Nigeria, regards to communities who feel (rightly or wrongly) that their country is treating them less than it should.