₦airaland Forum

why all our leaders have foreign accounts, foreign houses, foreign this and that. how many of our leaders children are in nigerian schools, how many of our leaders go to our own hospitals , even for a headache?

these leaders are our worst enemies.

I wholeheartedly agree. Who will out these leaders though? Certainly not some foreign power. Let us wake up and smell the champaigne. If we as Nigerians do not stand up for ourselves, nobody will!

The military will not give us a good leader

Politicians will not give us a good leader

Foreigners will not give us a good leader

Only we can give ourselves a good leader. Without collective mobilization by Nigerians, I am sorry to say, we will remain in the sad state that we are in for centuries to come.  When the world is tired of the stench of our disgrace, someone will simply come and colonize us again. This time, independence may never come!

and what do we do with the "rubbish" they throw on us? we pick it up and throw on ourselves aint it? the west definitely played a role in africa's woes but my greatest annoyance comes from what we are doing to ourselves.

One of the things we are good at doing to ourselves is the propagation of extreme negativity without offering any positive practical solutions. It is not that criticism is not useful, even needed, but then after that what next? Positive solutions require more than talk, they require action. Everything must change including the way we think about ourselves individually as well as collectively as a nation. However, a progressive collective ideology will not descend on on us like manna from heaven, it must begin with individuals who will in turn infect those around them with the same until a raging revolution begins. No matter how much we analyze and criticize, nothing will happen in Nigeria if all we do is talk and not act!

u may say what did i do to change the country. before u can do anything u need to be given the opportunity.

I disagree. Opportunities are seldom given, they are often seized! Sometimes I wonder if all Nigerians did not have the option of going abroad to escape the difficulties at home, would it force us to think/work our way out of the mess we are in?

@ Moladun, dont you worry about your Englshes. Insfacts, the thickers your accents, the sexiers peeps will find yous.

I don't know if they will be a lot of fighting over who assumes the role of a figure-head President. In fact, many serious politicians will rather aim for a Legislative sit in one of the 3 nations that forms the confederation.

Are you talking about Nigeria? Permit me to play devils advocate for a second and paint a very plausible Nigerian scenario. Someone is going to get VERY ambitious, and will come up with the bright idea that if he can somehow subvert the system and undermine the sovereignty of the three sub-regions, he can become, instead of the head of one small sub-region, head of the entire country! This person will probably be someone who doesn't come from any of the oil regions but wants to enjoy oil wealth. Trust me, someone will yearn for the good old days of corrupt wealth and decadent living and do something about it!

I think the question really is, what ethnic group shall he hail from? Even with the position of a powerles figure head, our people will squable over who gets the post, you'll be surprised. Either way, we need to rise above our trivial prejudices, I think.

Confederation style government will work. With each confederation having its own army and Prime minister. Abuja can be kept as the confederation capital or whatever they want to call it. Migration between the 3 provinces (west, east and north) can continue to be free. As far as I am concerned, if you leave in a region long enough, you become more like the people that live there than your "native" region.

Similar to the ones the British had in Nigeria before the moronic military destroyed it.

Afeni, finally you are talking!

Yes o! Long Live Abami! Perhaps it would be a good thing if some of his ideology lived long amongst us

I bet they are,

hmm, I'll see if I can,

Dont blame u man! Wherever you go it would be better than being living with the risk of volcanos, tsunamis, and what have you,

I hear you. Its all about the wind! If I had to pick a place in South America it would prolly be Brazil or Trinidad. North America is conspicuously absent from your list, any particular reason why?

cool, where do u have plans to go to?

Really really interesting, sounds like ure having fun!

@iice

Thats so awesome that you speak the language! Now I know that no Philipino can sell me because I have a Naija-Philipino sista . So is there an association of Nigerians there? How do Nigerians there socialize? Is it nice there? What do u eat?

An article came out in today's gaurdian, discussing the same topic on this tread. It's quite intersting and should stimulate further discussion on this thread: http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/editorial_opinion/article02

here's a quote from the article which I think Afeni and some other nairaland members might find interesting:

Some people said they know Nigeria for its oil and the arts. Fine, but the general impression is that this is a country of demons where nothing works, a country of contradictions and unfulfilled potentials. Nothing was ever more frustrating than the comments of Nigerians about their own country. So much pessimism and anger particularly from Nigerians in diaspora: One fellow called Sola, who confessed that he had changed his nationality, was very bitter. "Nigeria is like a bad marriage", he declaimed. "It will collapse", he added. He is obviously very happy with his new country. But I felt like asking him: does that change who he is? Does the mere change of colour in one's international passport change a man's true identity, background and heritage?

It is perhaps pointless to debate the various perceptions of Nigeria; there is a sense in which the BBC and CNN have offered useful service by letting Nigerians know what others think about them, and what Nigerians think about themselves. There are lessons to be learnt from the continuous negative representation of Nigeria in the international media. Patriotism overflowing with emotions may be an appropriate response from those of us who live in Nigeria and are actually putting up with so much and still managing to be happy in the midst of it all, what Jenny the BBC presenter called our "resilience", but a more useful response would be to deconstruct the content of local and international responses and seek to use that to re-examine Nigeria as a brand and a country. In the past few years, the Federal Government has been working on an image project through which it seeks to improve the country's international standing and turn it into an attractive destination for tourism, goodwill and investment. The import of the programmes on BBC and CNN is in part that this has not really worked. Nigeria as a brand is a failed brand. It is rejected by Nigerians themselves and treated with great suspicion by outsiders. If we have any strengths, we have not managed to market them as advantages.

The root of the problem is in part the crisis of citizenship. Nigeria works fantastically well as they say, at the individual level. Don't mind the Malawians, South Africans. Camerounians and Kenyans, this country has the greatest and the richest human resource in Africa. Nigerians have a natural gift for distinction. As private individuals, they want to excel; they want the best for themselves. They are expressive, eternally optimistic and fiercely independent. But unfortunately, we have not been able to pull all that energy together to create a country that works. We are in a real sense not yet a nation. We are all trapped in the private sphere, in individual and ethnic compartments. For us, Nigeria is an abstraction; it is a distant idea imposed through colonialism; and so we are faced with that original dilemma: can a nation be built without citizens, without that sense of commitment to the motherland?

The same Sola who dismissed Nigeria as a bad marriage would never have said the same thing about his Yoruba ethnic group. He may have changed his nationality, he may have given up on Nigeria, but he is not likely to ever give up on his identity as a Yoruba man. Similarly, the fellow who declared on CNN that he is corrupt because every other Nigerian is corrupt would never say the same thing, specifically about his ethnic origin. The task ahead remains how to turn Nigeria into a nation with citizens. The pessimism of the average Nigerian derives from frustrations with the leadership and governance process in the country, rather than the Nigerian character. International media often makes the mistake of assuming that it is the Nigerian character that is the problem. Professor Kole Omotoso contributing to the discussion from South Africa had tried to make this distinction when he noted that he may have given up on Nigeria as a brand, but that he will never give up on Nigerians as a people.

Fela Anikulapo Kuti was one of the most acerbic critics of the Nigerian government. His songs contain deep "in-your-face" lyrics which not only challenge Africans to go back to their roots, but also preaches Pan-Africanism, as well as challenges the connivance of the West in the underdevelopment of Africa. He was a man of the people, well read and intelligent, and came from a line of pioneer nationalists who played seminal roles in the struggle for Nigeria's independence.

In the 80's Fela believed that he could be the president of Nigeria and formed a party "Movement of the People" in order to achieve this goal. The military government refused to register his party.

1) Do you think Fela could make a good president?

2) If Fela was alive today, what do you think his comments would be on Nigeria's current political situation?

Yes O, I know him, even have his CD. He is waaaaay cool. I like the guy, gorgeous voice, very talented, very very talented! Listen to his song: African Child: Excellent!

I agree with those that advocate pidgin English as an official language in Naija. I must however say this is not a total solution in itself, but part of the larger solution.

Pidgin English would be great, but it has to be modified, refined, you know, systematized and standardized so that it can be taught in schools. Indonesia is also a country of multiple languages and cultures (actually far more than Nigeria I think) but they invented their own national language: Indonesian, out of a pidgin language. I think many people have talked about forming a Nigerian language but no one has really worked hard at it. I think it can work though if we put our minds to it. It will not solve all our problems as ajia says, but will definitely go a long way in fostering national unity: language IS the embodiment of culture.

While we are working on that, I think that indigenous languages should be made compulsory in elementary and secondary schools. Each Nigerian should speak, in addition to their indigenous language, two other languages foreign to him/her. It should not be an option but a requirement!

Otoks,

Tell Oga Wole that his Uncle has used up his grandchildren's quota so it should not cross his mind.

who is his uncle? Are u refering to Fela's father

alarinjo, believe what you want. I hope you know that the posts on BBC are screened so only those that show the potential of the British creation are allowed to be viewed by the public.

Interesting that you say that. Of course the BBC screens their entires although stating that they do it to show the potential of the British creation may be going a little too far down the path of conspiracy, I think. In any case, you dont sound much different. Obviously you filter the information you draw on in your arguments (everyone does) to fit your personal vision for Nigeria. Not a very positive vision, I must add

Plus what does all of this have to do with what right of BBC has to host such a forum anyway? If Nigeria even wants to divide, have we hired them to help us facilitate that division? What is their point?

alarinjo, is the average Nigerian standing on the street in support of keeping Nigerian one? No, they are not.

When last were u in Nigeria, and for how long? How can u know?

Thankfully, unlike I had expected, most of the posts on the BBC forum show more support for a Nigeria that rises up to its potentials than a failed polity. Indications of what the "average" Nigerian wants?

Over the decades, Nigeria has proven to be a very resilient nation. The things which that country has been through would have broken up any other country years and years ago. Having come this far, it is not likely that we are going to breakup. You underestimate the desire of many Nigerians to stay together, as well as the fact that we are in such bad shape right now that things couldnt possible get worse, only better. You watch and see.

When do u think it will happen? Estimate, how many years from now?

Forget secession. It wont happen.

Eeeehn, Afeni, everyone is already aware of Nigeria's woes. What I am wondering is what good will the bashing do? Certainly nothing positive if u ask me.

@iice, Philippines, wow! So do you speak their language? What is the language they speak anyway?

Wole Soyinka ke I love the man, in fact I flew all the way to Washington state to watch a production of "Death and the King's horseman" and to meet and interview him personally, but to be honest, I dont think he will succeed as president. Why? Because the myriad detractors around will not let him. Wole Soyinka is an excellent intellectual, however, I dont think he will make a very good politician.

Mariory, don't you think that those who dont really care much for Nigeria will also use the opportunity for more of their Naija bashing?

During the last three or so days, BBC moderated a forum which asks people from all over the world to say what they think about Nigeria. While I am not opposed to public discussions of opinion or perception I cannot but wonder what is the whole purpose behind the forum.

With one in every four Africans coming from Nigeria, what do you think of Africa's most populous country and its people?
The BBC World Service is marking Nigeria day this Wednesday, dedicating a series of programmes to trying to understand what makes Nigeria tick.

Nigeria is in many ways a bundle of contradictions. The country's 128 million people belong to over 250 different ethnic groups. It is Africa's largest oil producer.

Its history is littered with political coups and upheaval. It is named as one of the most corrupt countries in the world.


And yet Nigerians are also said to be some of the most religious and happiest people in the world. And Nigeria has played a key role in the continent's peacekeeping, notably in Liberia and Sierra Leone.

What do you think of Nigeria and Nigerians? Has Nigeria lived up to its potential? If not, why not? How can we get the best out of Nigeria?

We all know that Nigeria already has a bad image abroad and that the current government has made considerable efforts to try to revamp that image. These efforts have, to varying degrees, been backed up by reforms at home.

I feel that to ask people to discuss so publicly what they feel about Nigeria could only generate more negative than positive responses, and readers who do not know anything about the positive things going on in Nigeria will just indiscriminately accept those negative perceptions. This will, in turn, detract from, rather than support the ongoing reforms in the country, perpetuating the portrayal of Nigeria in a very negative light. What then is the point, or shall we say agenda behind such a forum?"

Is it justifiable for a foreign media firm to host such a forum as on Nigeria or any country for that matter?

Is this another example of tactless journalism that doesnt contribute much to progress?

Or, is it perfectly rational to go ahead and ask the world "what do you think of Nigeria?"

Here is the url: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/5072244.stm