Ghadaffi was a dictatator no doubt, but no one could question the services he rendered to his people in terms of amenities and prosperity. He is a million times different to Egypt or Tunisia and light years better than our so called elected presidents in Nigeria.

1. There is no electricity bill in Libya; electricity is free for all its citizens.
2. There is no interest on loans, banks in Libya are state-owned and loans given to all its citizens at 0% interest by law.
3. Home considered a human right in Libya –4. All newlyweds in Libya receive $60,000 Dinar (US$50,000) by the government to buy their first apartment so to help start up the family.
Is this what you call a dictator
Traditional wedding in Tripoli, Libya
5. Education and medical treatments are free in Libya. Before Gaddafi only 25% of Libyans are literate. Today the figure is 83%.
6. Should Libyans want to take up farming career, they would receive farming land, a farming house, equipments, seeds and livestock to kick-start their farms – all for free.
7. If Libyans cannot find the education or medical facilities they need in Libya, the government funds them to go abroad for it – not only free but they get US$2,300/mth accommodation and car allowance.
8. In Libyan, if a Libyan buys a car, the government subsidized 50% of the price.
9. The price of petrol in Libya is $0.14 per liter.
10. Libya has no external debt and its reserves amount to $150 billion – now frozen globally.


11. If a Libyan is unable to get employment after graduation the state would pay the average salary of the profession as if he or she is employed until employment is found.
12. A portion of Libyan oil sale is, credited directly to the bank accounts of all Libyan citizens.
13. A mother who gave birth to a child receive US$5,000
14. 40 loaves of bread in Libya costs $ 0.15
15. 25% of Libyans have a university degree
16. Gaddafi carried out the world’s largest irrigation project, known as the Great Man-Made River project, to make water readily available throughout the desert country.
Which other dictator has done much good to his people besides

@Lagosboy, don't waste your strength. Everybody knows the truth but we just chose to turn a blind eye to it. Those points you listed were the very reasons why Ghaddafi is being attacked not because he is a dictator. Don't you wonder why the west is not complaining about the Saudi royal family? This is a family that named the whole country after themselves.

Just before Mubarak was ousted, America's stance on Egypt was that they prefer stability than democracy in Egypt. Now they are the destabilizing the once stable Libya.

Personally, I don't give a damn what the world thinks. Whether we practice democracy, monarchy or any other system, government should function to serve the people. Democracy should be a means to an end and not an end in itself. You will know whether a system will work in the first few years of it's use but we are 12 years into democracy with very little to show for it.

By the way, these are just my views. Nobody is compelled to agree with them.

@Lagosboy:

Libya is approximately 7 million in population, just about half the population of Lagosians, and produces approximately 1.8million barrels of oil per day (about half of Nigeria's production).

From the statistics above, you can say Libya earns half of what Nigeria earns from crude oil exports in a year. Imagine Nigeria only having to share its oil money between 12million population, what will our country look like even with the corruption menace we are faced with.

The point I'm making is that Libya has a low population and high oil earnings to carter well for it. Nigeria is about the opposite with 150million people fighting for just times two of Libya's wealth. I am not justifying the failure of leadership in Nigeria nor am I wishing away our supposed strength and strategic advantages as regards our population size, I am just saying that what Gaddafi did in Libya as listed above is about the least he could do with their enormous resources. He looted the country for 42years in the midst of all these "achievements". We are not sure that any other person in Libya would not do more. The same also goes for Saudi Arabians who practically do nothing but enjoy good lives while their leaders and royal family ranks among the richest in the world.

These achievements are not spectacular same way Fashola's government in Lagos is not fantastic. Fashola is trying but what he is doing is not spectacular as any idiot at the helms in Alausa will tar roads and build schools (albeit concentrated in elite areas like Lagos Island, Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Lekki) because that has practically become Nigeria's benchmark for good governance.

^^^But i agree with you too (@ IG and Lagosboy). I don't know if there's some immutable law in nature that says every country must practise western democracy, otherwise the natural order of life itself would be disrupted forever ??

Libyans have been sold a dummy by the west, and by the time they wake up and smell the coffee, it'll be too late. They want democracy abi? I bet most Nigerians would exchange our 'DEMOCRACY' with their dictatorship (and all its benefits) in a heartbeat.

I'm not saying Ghaddafi is a saint, but a different kind of pressure could have been put on him to effect the required change, and not the teleguided rebel uprising we've seen happen. I'm sure some secret/covert western influence was responsible for instigating the whole thing.

What they had was working for them, and just needed a bit of tweaking at the 'top' to make things better.

Sad day for Libya!!!

I wonder why the west is still considering an attack on Iran while Iran is practicing democracy. Was it not America that removed a democratically elected Iranian president in the person of Mosadegh and installed a monarchy? I think the rules are simple. You either let them control your resources or they attack you.

I am not angry about the attacks, because throughout history you find stronger nations bullying weaker ones. The annoying part is the fact that they claim to be carrying out some moral duty like spreading democracy or protecting human rights. What is more annoying is that many people around the buy that.

PROUD-IGBO:

^^^But i agree with you too (@ IG and Lagosboy). I don't know if there's some immutable law in nature that says every country must practise western democracy, if not the natural order of life itself would be disrupted forever ??

Libyans have been sold a dummy by the west, and by the time they wake up and smell the coffee, it'll be too late. They want democracy abi? I bet most Nigerians would exchange our 'DEMOCRACY' with their dictatorship (and all its benefits) in a heartbeat.

I'm not saying Ghaddafi is a saint, but a different kind of pressure could have been put on him to effect the required change, and not the teleguided rebel uprising we've seen happen. I'm sure some secret/covert western influence was responsible for instigating the whole thing.

What they had was working for them, and just needed a bit of tweaking at the 'top' to make things better.

Sad day for Libya!!!

Bros, Gaddafi also got to that position by force. He lord himself over Libya for 42years. Were Libyans suffering before Gaddafi overthrew their King and maximum ruler

Please, this sympathy is misplaced joor!

X-factoria:

@Lagosboy:

Libya is approximately 7 million in population, just about half the population of Lagosians, and produces approximately 1.8million barrels of oil per day (about half of Nigeria's production).

From the statistics above, you can say Libya earns half of what Nigeria earns from crude oil exports in a year. Imagine Nigeria only having to share its oil money between 12million population, what will our country look like even with the corruption menace we are faced with.

The point I'm making is that Libya has a low population and high oil earnings to carter well for it. Nigeria is about the opposite with 150million people fighting for just times two of Libya's wealth. I am not justifying the failure of leadership in Nigeria nor am I wishing away our supposed strength and strategic advantages as regards our population size, I am just saying that what Gaddafi did in Libya as listed above is about the least he could do with their enormous resources. He looted the country for 42years in the midst of all these "achievements". We are not sure that any other person in Libya would not do more. The same also goes for Saudi Arabians who practically do nothing but enjoy good lives while their leaders and royal family ranks among the richest in the world.

These achievements are not spectacular same way Fashola's government in Lagos is not fantastic. Fashola is trying but what he is doing is not spectacular as any at the helms in Alausa will tar roads and build schools (albeit concentrated in elite areas like Lagos Island, Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Lekki) because that has practically become Nigeria's benchmark for good governance.

I knew this population analysis was coming , very true the poulation is little but at least Ghaddafi had the political will to do it. If we go down the population analysis Let us take Bayelsa state as a starting point, between 1999 and 2007 Bayelsa recieved an average of between 8-11 billion naira monthly for seven years of which GEJ was governor for 2 of those years. Bayelsa is a state with a population of less than 2 million people as far as i know. The commuinity where oil was first discovered is still the same old 11th century village .

My point is our leaders dont have the sincerity and political will to develop the quality of life of Nigerians.

IG:

@Lagosboy, don't waste your strength. Everybody knows the truth but we just chose to turn a blind eye to it. Those points you listed were the very reasons why Ghaddafi is being attacked not because he is a dictator. Don't you wonder why the west is not complaining about the Saudi royal family? This is a family that named the whole country after themselves.

Just before Mubarak was ousted, America's stance on Egypt was that they prefer stability than democracy in Egypt. Now they are the destabilizing the once stable Libya.

Personally, I don't give a damn what the world thinks. Whether we practice democracy, monarchy or any other system, government should function to serve the people. Democracy should be a means to an end and not an end in itself. You will know whether a system will work in the first few years of it's use but we are 12 years into democracy with very little to show for it.

By the way, these are just my views. Nobody is compelled to agree with them.

The shameful thing was in Febrary Saif Ghaddaffi was dining with the creme de la creme of British society and holding business meetings with them. Tony Blair was his Buddy, i wonder what changed between Feb and march. Ghaddaffi travelled to Italy in Jan on a state visit as well.

I would go for a dictator, monarch or whatever that gives me the basic neccessities of life and improves my quality of life and gurantees me justice. I would not accept a democracy where judges are Fraudulent , legislators are looters and the execuitives are nothing short of pen robbers.

Every nation has what is suited to them the most and i am yet to be convinced this current style of democracy is best for Nigeria. 12 years and we are worse of than in 1999 IMO.

Well let's wait for like 2years and see what becomes of Libya after Ghaddafi. If it get worse, Libyans only have themselves to blame, and who knows, things might just get better.

Without bothering to read through this thread, how on earth can one compare an oil-and-gas-rich country with low population like Libya to a high-population country like Nigeria?

How many countries on earth are likely to be able to provide the basket of goods that Libya did?

Do you think this has anything to do with democracy or not, rather than just high per capita wealth?

Ok, now having read this thread, X-Factoria has already said the same thing.

The comparisons make no sense.

A son born into a poor household may as well be asking why his father hasn't bought him a BMW, and using the rich kid across the street's Lexus as justification.

Whether his father is generous or stingy, he likely won't be able to afford that BMW.

one thing we have to give to gaddafi - he was tough and shrewd enough to hold libya together during the cold war.

the west staged who knows how many coups and regime changes to install puppets who would follow the 'agenda of freedom'

the unending bloodbath in congo is the fallout of the withdrawl of support to mobuto

the revolutionary council may find the cost of US support too high. . .

On the lighter side, just wondering, assuming we swap places with the Libyans, ie, our head for theirs, would they be in shit as they are today, would we be celebrating Gadaffi?

Odunnu:

On the lighter side, just wondering, assuming we swap places with the Libyans, ie, our head for theirs, would they be in poo as they are today, would we be celebrating Gadaffi?

^^^ We may not be 'celebrating' him in the true sense of the word. Unless you mean it like we did for Abacha, that made him to erroneously believe he was popular and liked.

Given the tough situation of things in Nigeria, i think a benevolent dictator that truly loved his country (like a rawlings or Ghaddafi) would be just what we need to get rid of the filth, so we can start on a clean slate. When things stabilize we can easily dispatch him to the great beyond with a couple of viagra pills and some irresistable Indian prozzies.

I think if the Libyans swapped places with us today, they'd still face the same problems we're facing as nothing can be achieved nationaly if there isn't a unity of purpose; absence of nationalistic fervour; a presence of competing ethnic interests topped with a healthy dose of mutual suspicion and bad belle.

PROUD-IGBO:

^^^ We may not be 'celebrating' him in the true sense of the word. Unless you mean it like we did for Abacha, that made him to erroneously believe he was popular and liked.

Given the tough situation of things in Nigeria, i think a benevolent dictator that truly loved his country (like a rawlings or Ghaddafi) would be just what we need to get rid of the filth, so we can start on a clean slate. When things stabilize we can easily dispatch him to the great beyond with a couple of viagra pills and some irresistable Indian prozzies.

I think if the Libyans swapped places with us today, they'd still face the same problems we're facing as nothing can be achieved nationaly if there isn't a unity of purpose; absence of nationalistic fervour; a presence of competing ethnic interests topped with a healthy dose of mutual suspicion and bad belle.

We are even forgetting one thing that Libyans were already used to being under totalitarianism under a maximum ruler (a monarch) before Gaddafi came to the scene in 1969 and overthrew that ruler in a coup. So, it was easy for Gaddafi to want to perpetually subject them to servitude with his entire household at the helms. Libyans didn't chose Gaddafi, he forced himself on them for 42years.

I laugh when I see people listing infrastructural developments as achievement for Gaddafi. Any other person would have done the same if not more for Libya considering their enormous oil wealth for their small population. At least, Saudi Arabians are under a Monarchy and they are better than Libya in terms of GDP. So Gaddafi's supposed achievement should not put wool over the eyes of you observers.

Let Libyans try something new and see if they won't get a better deal in a new inclusive system of government. A lot of brilliant and intelligent Libyans schooled in the west and are yearning to have an opportunity to bring change and freedom to their people.

Lastly, freedom is priceless. A lot of Libyans who have criticized the government openly have vanished without trace. People should have a say in how they want to be governed. Libyans deserve to be free from servitude.

Whatever greatness that is in Gadaffi is swallowed up by the fact that he shut his way to power. What turns around, turns around. He has been shut out of power in the same manner.

Except if somebody is telling me that the whole Libyans are dummies, I can't understand how and why one man and his family will hold millions to ransom for whatsoever reason.

Let us keep blaming the West for every of our problems, yet i know that as much as the white man came to Africa to take away slaves, our fore fathers collected kai kai and snuff in exchange for their younger generation.

Even the West paid of Libyans to take up arms against Gadaffi, such Libyans reserved the right to say no. It is hilarious how many people are even blaming the West for Hoko Haram, yet the suicide bombers are not whitey but Africans and even maybe Nigerians.

Let us accept our blame and leave the west alone. My people have a saying,

"he who brings in ant infested firewoods has invited lizard to work for him"

@Lagosboy,
If this info is true, all i can say is WOW! They pissed away a good thing.

@OP

Economic prosperity and infrastructural development is not the only yardstick for measuring development, protection of human equality and rights are also as important if not more. As a good number of people have pointed out as well, there is no proof that a more inclusive government could not have done better with the same resources.

I consider it a bit intellectually lazy comparing Libya to Nigeria and other african countries when most of them have also been victims of the same dictatorial evil that has bedeviled Africa as Nigeria has only had a democratic experince about a 3rd of the time Ghadaffi has spent ruling Libya. Trying to compare the quality of life in Libya to some of the less populated Scandinavian countries with no oil resources but with a more inclusive democratic oriented government would make a lot more sense.

We shouldn't be using population as an excuse here but the truth is that nigeria leaders are bunch of bastards and thieves. What have they done with all our oil money? Everyone can see what gadaffi has done for his people. Have you ever been paid 1$ from oil revenue. I am sure if libya has the same population as we do Gadaffi will do the same. Even if liyba population is less than 50,000 and if he is destined not to care for them then he will never talkless of millions of pple.

Population of Libya is not up to 8 million, worst Nigerian leaders of present and past would have done much more better. Running Libya, should be like running your family; provide clothing, food, housing etc for everybody.

even wit all the infrastructure without freedom they re still not beta off than slaves in their own father land. I dont really know how people see things, ignorant only can make prince n princesses beggers. They re born prince and princesses considering their per capital income, compromising will make them slaves for ever.

And please don't foget that he left Libya with 0% debt, i wonder how many world leaders including our useless and cluless odechukwu can boast of that.

We all know why the west attacked Libya, Libya has 2% of the worlds crude oil and the finnest oil and some people on this forum think 2% is not enough for the west to scramble, i ask them in their myopic stupidity if they know the value of 2% of the world's oil in dollars?

Ghadafi did well, even in America ordinary citizens dont enjoy same amenities like libyans do, but the good thing about libya's situation is the govt officials who embezzeled the contries funds still use the funds in libya, its not syphoned to other countries like Nigerian leaders, who cannot wait to buy very expensive homes and cars in foreign land with the nations funds, its a shame that @ 21st century we have fool calling themselves leaders stealing money like they planted it in thier backyard, and nobody can do anything,my God help Nigeria

LagosBoy don't waste your time.Most Nigerians and most nairalanders are dumb sheep.They are too mentally lazy do some research and find out the truth about what is really happening in the world.It is one of the reasons why i have stopped commenting on nairaland.It has become boring and full of brainwashed folks who claim to be educated and intelligent but lack the initiative to question the "official story".

The Arabs despise western Governments ,Asians despise western governments but only Africans (the black race) seems to kiss their azz and look to them for hand outs.You will even see Nigerians on NL making comments like : Go marines , go navy seals e.t.c as if the activities of the marines ,CIA ,NSA ,Navy seals is beneficial to Africans.

Until Africans wake the fxck up and stop swallowing every propaganda fed to them by their slaves masters ,we will never progress as a continent and as a people.

Sad day for Libya ----- Sarkosy and Cameroun just landed and are all striking oil deals ---- Freeedom my foot. All of their problems just started.

kai, dis man is so honest compared 2 all naija leaders, phuck democracy it does'nt change a thing

Gaddafi's only sin- he stayed too long and he was getting senile

The whole "arab spring" was a ruse to get at Libyan oil wells. Libya has 39% ( and still counting) of proven oil reserves in the whole world. The largest in the world, Bigger than Saudi Arabia. Libyas oil is the best in the market (sweet crude) better than Saudis and most European refineries are biult for this type of crude. The quantity of the deposits was not known for a long time deu to the sanctions. Lifting the sanctions led to western companies coming in to see things for themsleves and the schemings started. Libya has the highest HDI in Africa and Gadaffi is by far the most benovelont leader on the continent.  People tend to forget that Obama praised Omar Bongo after he died as one of the best presidents from the continent. Gabon is an oil producing state with a population fewer than that of Libya. Go to Gabon and compare her development with Libyas then ask una bruda Obama why he was praising a corrupt Bongo. The only good thing Bongo did was to surrender Gabons oil to france. American sponsored Mobutus coup, France made Bokassa. Britain created Idi Amin. None of this peoples name can be put in the same line with Gadaffis unless you get your info from western propoganda machines.

I shake my head whenever I read some Africans start a comment about Gadaffi with that line; "I know Gadaffi is a bad man but, ", it is sick, you are just parroting what you read elsewhere. What makes him a bad man? Becauses he sacked a very corrupt and inept monarchy and developed his country? Because he came down hard on islamic militants that killed policemen and soldiers and sacked the whole government in one part of the country? Because of the Pan-am plane crash? Have you checked how many Libyan planes and ships that were blown off the air or downed by the USA and Isreal before 1989? Do you know that the living standard in Libya is better than that of Poland one of the countries fighting in Libya to "free Libya"? Do you know that women in Libya have more rights than in any Arab country that is involved with the bombings in Libya. This is barefaced robbery . Cameron went to Libya today and openly encouraged the rebels to tell the merceneries to go home inspite of the fact that many blacks are being killed in Tripoli as a result of this fake propoganda. Obama has kept quiet since the elimination of blacks in Libya started and hundreds of Nigerians are involved. Make una dey there dey talk about freedom of speach while oyibo dey busy dey eliminate una while piping the crude.

Our leaders are too corrupt to think of these.

Aren't the mods supposed to be neutral?