₦airaland Forum

All these expressions of tribalistic sentiments, when will we say NO to hatred? It has been said over and over again that humans do not learn from history. Let me remind you that from these sentiments grew the Nazi ideology, genocide in Sudan, genocide in Rwanda, and many more.

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I recently used some iru as seasoning for a pot of beans that I cooked for my family. Shyting became few and far between, and it wasn't constipation but more like the abdominal muscles that were supposed to contract and lead to expulsion went on strike or "work-to-rule".

Also, my dad once used omi iru to tackle high blood pressure which was over 220mmHg (systolic) and it was normalized within 24hrs. But the stench is something else.

@base 1
There was no need for any stereotype and tribalism and you could have resisted the temptation since you have the gift of free will.

@poster,

Is this question of yours not an error? What I'm trying to ask is that are those you are referring as Nigerian leaders not Nigerians too? Are they perhaps immigrants, aliens, or impostors?

By the way, are you not a Nigerian yourself? Why don't you instead ask "Are we really better than our leaders"?

What do you think?

Kobojunkie:
I won't disagree with you. It almost seems ,now more than before, that we are going in the wrong direction. The whole world is plagued with differences, so I don't see why ours should always be used as reason for non progress.

Neither did you say that you agreed. That reminded me of George Bush Jr and the brouhaha some years back over whether or not a US fighter jet entered Chinese airspace.

Many/Some of us Nigerians have since been dancing with the dragon instead of fighting it having sold their birthrights for pots of porridge. And they refuse to take responsibility but blame the devil.
We shall overcome someday.

Kobojunkie, so the laughing bug has got to you! Me too I dey laugh small o.

On a serious note, at times it seems there is so much chaos in different directions going on within this country that I often wonder whether a anarchy is just a question of when.

Kobojunkie:
You asked if there was evidence that it is possible to get Democracy right, I gave you more than 2 examples where it has been done.

Essentially, you excuse that rome was not built in one day and that Nigeria is still young in the game is OUT THE WINDOW at this point.

Transparency international does not have to rank India/Indonesia/South Africa at the top of the list for to establish that these democracies are so many years ahead of us.
In fact, the examples go to show that we do not have to get it PERFECT to at least get it right. What is STOPPING US, that remains the question.

Would it be "safe" to recognize some sort of conflict between our cultural traditions and how they evolved over time on one hand, and democracy on the other? I ask this because of the attitude of respect for elders, non-questioning of elders, and placing pride/reputation before ethics and character.

ROSSIKE:
amor4ce

People like you always use anything you see to bash ''the black race''. Everything that happens must be ''evidence'' that something is wrong with ''the black race''. Do you never get tired of that stuff?

Do you really think multinationals only infiltrate black governments?

The US is the most infiltrated government in history.

The British, French etc are not too far behind.

The likes of South Korea, Iraq, Germany, Malaysia and co are not just infiltrated, but actually have US forces based on their soil and calling the shots almost directly.

Their politicians are mere fronts for the corporations.

That they enjoy high living standards serves the purpose of the infiltrators, or it wouldn't have happened.

And NO, Nigerians are not ''disregarded all over the world''. That has NOT been my experience or that of the thousands of responsible, law abiding Nigerians who populate the globe.

Nigerians abroad will tell you they are treated BETTER and with MORE RESPECT than other Africans/blacks  in their personal interraction with foreigners. I've experienced this myself.

So think of something better to do than imputing racist connotations on what is in fact a corrupt global network.

@ROSSIKE
Please do not make assumptions. I never bashed "the black race" as I am very proud my myself and have been studying and promoting us as far back as I can remember; even being well politically conscious before the age of 10 years. I have even directly had to endure racial insults from others because I was aware that that was their own point of view and not mine. Take care to also note that even though I narrated an incident from Cuba I never for once implied that such was directed only at us. It is very obvious that even since and perhaps before the Great Flood, such has been happening worldwide. If you took care to try and read between the lines I was calling for more ethical and dignified behavior. We all have eyes to perceive and brains to interpret that which we perceive. Hence, my point of view cannot be yours but agreement would be easier if we all tried to appreciate this. Also, I very much doubt that you know me at all, hence you don't know my life-shaping experiences and cannot be 100% aware of my motives and intents.

To conclude that I bashed "the black race" is to me nothing short of libelous. Now I ask, have you not made a false accusation against me, accused me of being ungrateful to my Creator, and attempted to soil my reputation by declaring that I am not proud of who I am?

Please stop making assumptions and misleading others to do same. Let us instead strive to add healthy comments/observations to this thread and remember that it is not a must to do so.

I forgive you.

I know someone who used to be a diplomat and at a time served in Cuba. He told me there was a time some Cuban government officials showed him a bit of their monitoring of Nigerian activities. These Wikileaks releases remind us once again of how easy it is for other governments to monitor us including our politicians. I wonder if you know how easy it would be for Cubans to infiltrate and perhaps even start a riot. I suspect that even South Africans, maybe even Ghana as well, monitor us.

Thus we can appreciate further why Nigerians are very much disregarded all over the world. Our leaders, politicians, armed forces, business men and women, civil servants, schools, contractors, those who travel out for holidays and launder our funds, even all of us who have been corrupt have so much brazenly dragged our name in the mud. Yet it seems they've been too dull to realize they are being watched.

So, why won't some people of other races continue to see the black man and indeed Nigerians as stupid?

Sagamite:
Furthermore, it is not only about ability and aptitude of African Professionals to change Africa, it is also about being given the environment and platform to exeecute the ability.

Would the Alamala, half-baked and illiterate misleaders that are in posssession of power like Alao Akala and Yerima allow these professionals to effect a change? Especially when it would mean the end of their corrupt meal and they do not possess the skill or intellect to get that level of meals in other avenues apart from the government purse?

ability and aptitude of African Professionals to change Africa

We have seen many of them who were selfish and were interested in their share of the National cake. They also tried to introduce ideas that were not suited to the peculiarity of our environment.

it is also about being given the environment and platform to exeecute the ability

Are you not suggesting that they be spoon-fed like babies? We do not have to wait for the government and politicians as that is an untenable excuse. Perhaps you should go read about William Kamkwamba who did much more than a "professional".

Would the Alamala, half-baked and illiterate misleaders that are in posssession of power like Alao Akala and Yerima allow these professionals to effect a change?

At least you acknowledged that not all "misleaders" are half-baked - it is terrible thing for man to use his intelligence to do and scheme evil. To accuse these "misleaders" of not allowing for change is giving them power and putting us below them. A tree does not make a forest and they are men with flesh and blood, just like you and I.

Especially when it would mean the end of their corrupt meal and they do not possess the skill or intellect to get that level of meals in other avenues apart from the government purse?

Just as I mentioned earlier, it is a terrible thing for man to use his intelligence to do and scheme to do evil.

Hem! I would prefer change first in the indoctrinated "professionals" before they try to feed the continent with any idea. No also to delusions of grandeur; humility first.

If Yoruba men are wanted so, then I guess it is woe to that man who instead of focussing on spiritual development and aligning his ori with the divine decides instead to use his gifts to soil his spirit. It would be better for Yoruba men to have clean and strong ori, and use the opportunities presented to interact with others to share knowledge accordingly and guide others.

I think that a look at how the Yoruba people valued women prior to the intra-tribal wars would help shed some light on the topic. Perhaps the men have forgotten and their mothers disregarded their place.

Nice job, I very much admire your ambassadorial work!
I wonder if you have substantial information - or useful links - about the being referred to as "Ela" mentioned in our oral traditions.

kabukabu50:
Well said, every couple of days we get some loser who puts up these threads condemning Nigerians living abroad,you can start by sending all our western union money back,   .If you don't appreciate it.

I don't think anybody here has condemned those living outside the shores of Nigeria and that would be unfairly generalizing. The vitriol (if you see it as such) is being directed at those who abandon their fatherland.

@bidemi12, WYSIWYG - what you see is what you get.

kcjazz:
True talk!
I think Nigeria is 2nd only to Mexico in remittances back home. The truth is there are people who leave for different reasons some to pursue an education while others are the future of their family. Whether people regret or not it shouldn't matter, because at the end of the day whatever makes you happy, please do and don't feel guilty about it.

Any stats on remittance of skills?

Would it not be right to assume that the remitted funds are invested mostly in bringing up other sets of wanna-be been-tos, people who want to show off and keep up with the Joneses?
I would prefer a remittance of skills - which has worked in India and China.

dayokanu:
Is it not both ways?

Dont we have many people who leave the villages, come to Lagos and hardly go back to visit or support theirm folks in the village?

On the other hand we have millions of Nigerians abroad who have assumed sole responsibility for their family back home.

I saw some stats that money sent from Nigerians abroad to Naija was in billions of Dollars, Guess whom these money were sent to?

@cap28, only a matter of time.

Horayce:
But seriously what's wrong with taking dutch courage if you are well prepared and u know your material like the back of your palms, just that u have a few nerves. Some of us take energy drinks and caffeine to maintain peak peromance before going into a test or some task. Is there anything wrong with taking a little alcohol just to calm your nerves and give u a little artificial confidence boost? I don't think there's anything wrong with that.

If you think that you need "Dutch courage" while there are other people with souls and flesh and blood like you who do so well and overcome the tension without such, then, in my opinion, something must be fundamentally wrong somewhere. One day the truth will eventually catch up and it could be with very embarrassing consequences.

_{Don't take this personal, just trying to be dispassionate.}

[quote author=invisible! link=topic=549292.msg7132510#msg7132510 date=1289603066]Sometimes I think about this, some people just think about themselves only. Some stay 19 years without seeing their mums and family, 'enjoying' the London cold instead of helping their mums who saw them through infancy and school.[/quote]And typical of shallow people, some show off and "oppress" the have-nots. Then our prosperity pastors contribute to the decay and the have-nots feel inferior and try to keep up with the Joneses, and the stupid/sick cycle grows and continues.

@kabukabu50, do you know of this quote:"If you love your life you will lose it"? But perhaps you forget or do not believe that when the flesh stops breathing life still continues. Better to do something, make a positive impact on another's life, rather than enjoy vanity and have one's name and efforts confined to the dustbin of history.

Are we not confusing worldly wisdom/sharpness with cowardice and laziness?

There is a Yoruba proverb that was mentioned by Pa Abraham Adesanya not too long before he joined his ancestors and it goes something like this:
A man will not leave his father's house because the roof leaks whenever it rains. Rather he will do his best to mend the roof.


I have a question for all Nigerians who have emigrated from and seek to emigrate from Nigeria and at the same time condemn the country as hopeless and/or terrible. Why should I not call you a ba.s,.tard and a coward?

This also goes to those who were born abroad and have done nothing but criticize and look down on their brothers and sisters.

It is as if these people in self-denial and who live with delusions of grandeur do not realize that they are in a position to do something for their Nigerian neighbors. They cowardly wait for govt (implying others) to do something (spoon-feed) them. Some even criticize govt leaders as if a tree makes a forest. For instance, If I condemn IBB it means that IBB is greater than me and can do and undo at will in my life. I would rather meditate on my contributions and what more I can contribute.

By the way, if you think there's any beef/jealousy on my part, I was born in the Far East and have lived along the US West Coast and in Lagos.

@Bamsyle, SSA apologized for his association with Abacha. Not all who performed that day said they were sorry. One in particular, a woman, even sounded arrogant (if my memory serves me right).

If I have some extra change, would it not be more joyful for me to use that in improving the standard of living of the poverty-stricken and homeless?

This story was published in The Guardian on Friday (today), November 12, 2010.

Benue CNPP faults govt’s silence over emission from Abelakpam hills

FRIDAY, 12 NOVEMBER 2010 00:00 FROM SIMEON NWAKAUDU, MAKURDI NEWS - NATIONAL

CITING insensitivity, the Benue State Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) has condemned the lackadaisical approach of the state government to the volcanic eruptions at the Abelakpam Mountains in Mkomon District of Kwande Council.

It said the action of the government showed that it placed little value on human lives.

Also, the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), Benue State chapter, has described the slow reaction of the state government to the eruption, which killed two, as an indication that the focus of the state government was not people-centred.

Addressing a press conference in Makurdi, Chairman of the Benue CNPP, Mr. Baba Agan, regretted that the Benue Ministry of Environment had once again failed the state by engaging in rhetorics rather than responding to an environmental disaster.

He said the CNPP was especially disappointed with the state Environment Commissioner, Mr. John Ngbede, who rather than visit the disaster site, continued to give excuses.

According to him: “It was appalling and extremely unimaginable that the Benue State Environment Commissioner, John Ngbede, told journalists that he would attend a political thanksgiving for Governor Gabriel Suswam on Sunday, rather than assess the damage caused by the eruptions at the mountain. This smacks of negligence of duty and lack of respect for the lives of the less privileged in Benue State”.

He called for the re-organisation of the Environment Ministry in the state to make it more responsive, pointing out that the Benue people can no longer condone the loss of valuable lives occasioned by the negligence.
In another press interview, the state ANPP Secretary, Iorkenge Jev, said the party was disappointed that the governor went ahead with a political thanksgiving, rather than kick-start a process to assist the victims of the Kwande eruptions and bring succour to them.

He said the action of the state government epitomises the failure of the PDP-led administration of the state to invest in the people and protect their lives and means of livelihood.

Jev added that the ANPP commiserates with all those who suffered losses during the eruption, calling on the Federal Government to intervene.
The ANPP scribe called for the immediate sanctioning of Ngbede for neglecting his responsibility to the people.

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=28965:benue-cnpp-faults-govts-silence-over-emission-from-abelakpam-hills&catid=1:national&Itemid=559

This story was published on page 12 of The Guardian on Wednesday, November 10, 2010. Pictures (in black and white) were included in the newsprint article.

Rage of the mountain…in Benue

WEDNESDAY, 10 NOVEMBER 2010 00:00 FROM SIMEON NWAKAUDU, MAKURDI NEWS - METRO

TO the people of the remote Mkomon District of about 10 villages in the Kwande Local Council of Benue State, the mountain range on the Nigeria-Camoroun border is an integral part of their everyday life.

Ominously dark, with huge boulders and lush green vegetation on its gently rising sides, the people had had cause to look at the mountain range with suspicion and even awe.
In 1995 and again in 2005, there had been rumblings and some gaseous emissions from the mountains.
Then came Wednesday, October 13, when again, the mountains rumbled, the earth shook and gaseous and molten matter spewed out from the mountainsides.This time, two people lost their lives.

It took The Guardian five tortuous hours from Makurdi, the state capital to Tse-Igba, one of the affected villages and another hour on foot before reaching Abelakpan Mountain, one of the two mountains that erupted. The other is Ba-Mbatyough, both part of the mountain range.

Some of the villagers told The Guardian they knew persons healed after drinking water from the spring that formed after the last eruptions. They called the spring Bo-Tam.This time, there has been nothing beneficial from the last eruption.
They said they were awoken at about 5.00 a.m. by massive vibrations that shook the entire area.
“There were booming sounds as if bombs were being dropped in the area. Nobody had ever experienced such an ugly situation in the past,” Jeremiah Yashi, a civil servant who lives in the community, told The Guardian.

“Most of us thought that we were spending our last days on earth.”Two people died while vast farmlands and houses were destroyed by emissions from the mountains.When The Guardian visited the villages affected by the volcanic eruption, the people were still in shock.They lamented that no official delegation from the government had visited them though they had been notified.

About 10 bridges in the area, including Kikpan Bridge were swept away by the rushing lava as a result of which the area has been cut off from the rest of Kwande Local Council.
Heat from the emissions scorched farmlands while the smell of cooking gas filled the environment in the villages near the foot of the Abelakpen Mountain.

The Kindred Head of Ityuluv Kindred of Mkomon District, Chief Gabriel Hangeior Aja told The Guardian the eruption destroyed farmlands and sources of water.

“ Since the eruption, we have stopped drinking from the stream because the colour of the water has changed beyond recognition and those who attempted drinking from it fell ill”.

He said Shaaka Aja, his 30-year-old nephew and a 10-year-old boy died as they could not withstand the shock of the vibrations.
He said a dignitary in the state who did not want his name mentioned had asked them to take stock of the homes, farms and property damaged by the eruption, so he would take up the issue with the state government and National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA.

“What I have come to do this morning in the church is to announce to community members that they should take stock of their losses and inform me accordingly.
“This will help us submit the needed information to the government official who said it should be submitted by November 15,” he said.

A former Kwande Local Council chairman, Mr. Akombor Ande Akombor, regretted that the affected communities have been left to their fate, without attention from the government.
He said the emissions from the mountains and the gaseous stench, since the day of the eruption indicate that there was more to the problem than the damages already suffered by the people.

He said: “For us, we need the Federal Government to send scientists to come and research around the mountains. We do not know the smelly gases that we inhale since the eruption and the damage it is doing to our systems. We also do not know what lies ahead of us with the manner the dangers associated with these eruptions are increasing by the day. Beyond relief materials, we need to know our fate as it relates to the eruptions of the mountains around our district”.

The Security Adviser to Governor Gabriel Suswam, Col. Benjamin Abohol who hails from the area told The Guardian he would call the village to find out the true situation before commenting.
On his part, the Benue State Commissioner for Water Resources and Environment, Mr. John Ngbede said the state government would soon swing into action.

The commissioner, however, claimed that there was no volcanic eruption, and that said what happened was a landslide.
Ngbede said the state government was waiting to get the statistics on the quantum of destruction caused by the natural disaster.
One clear evidence of government neglected of the people of Mkomon District is the police station in Anwase.
It was under lock and key, with no policeman near the area.

A commercial motorcyclist told The Guardian it has been so for years.A teacher at the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Mr. Abagyegh Ingyorokogh described the eruptions and emissions as a wake-up call on government agencies to act in order to avert a more devastating eruption that could more lives in the area.

Addressing journalists in Makurdi on Monday, Ingyorokogh, a geologist said that such eruption was a function of geological forces within the earth’s crust, from where magma is forced to the earth’s surface through a crack.
He said that the distance that the magma would travel and cause destruction, depends on the space of the crack on the mountain occasioned by tensional forces under the earth.

Ingyorokogh suggested that detailed scientific research be conducted around the Mountain at the Mkomon District to determine the level of the volcanic threat to the lives in the area.

He said that since the emissions were from the side of the mountain, it was certain that the weakness where the emissions emanated from were not at the top of the mountain as was the case with other volcanic eruptions.
Ingyorokogh called on the government to build protective demarcation lines around the mountain and evacuate the people living in the area to protect lives of the residents.

In a telephone interview, Mr. Hyacinth Vaatyough, a geographer with the National Space Research Institute, the area where the eruption took place, was in the volcanic belt running from Adamawa through the Benue Mountains.He also said that researchers from the Institute have begun efforts to ascertain the nature of the eruptions.

Commenting, the Head, Planning, Research and Statistics of Benue State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, Mr. Raph Nduul said that the agency was already taking stock of the damages caused, and promised that the state government would reach out to those affected by the disaster.

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/images/resized/images/stories/2010/november2010/abelakpam-mountain_metro_10-11-10_200_160.jpg

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=28681:rage-of-the-mountainin-benue&catid=3:metro&Itemid=558

This story was published on page 6 of The Guardian on Tuesday, November 9, 2010.

VARSITY TEACHER WANTS GOVT TO TACKLE MOUNTAIN EMISSION

A LECTURER at the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Mr. Abagyegh Ingyorokogh, has described the emissions at the Abalekpam Mountain in Mkomon District of Benue State as a wake up sign for government agencies to act in order to avert a more devastating incident that could claim more lives in the area.The eruptions at the mountain claimed two lives and destroyed farmlands and property worth millions of naira.
Addressing journalists in Makurdi, yesterday, Ingyorokogh, a geologist said that such an eruption was a function of geological forces within the earth crust, where magma substances boil, which are forced to the earth surface through a crack.
He said that the distance that the magma would travel and cause destruction, depends on the space of the crack on the mountain occasioned by tensional forces under the earth.
Ingyorokogh suggested that detailed scientific research be conducted around the Mountain at the Mkomon District to determine the level of the volcanic threat to lives in the area.
He said that since the emissions were from the side of the mountain, it was certain that the weakness where the emissions emanated from were not at the top of the mountain as was the case with other volcanic eruptions.
Ingyorokogh called on government to build protective demarcation lines around the mountain and evacuate the people living in the area to protect lives and property of the residents.
Also, in an interview, Mr. Hyacinth Vaatyough, a geographer with the National Space Research Institute, told The Guardian that the area where the eruption took place was in the volcanic belt running from Adamawa through the Benue Mountains.
He described the eruptions as volcanic slide, noting that the zone is prone to such eruptions. Vaatyough suggested that the state government should relocate residents from the area and erect warning signs to stop people from residing in the area.
He informed that researchers from the Institute have moved over to the site to take samples from the mountain to work on them to ascertain the nature of the eruptions.
Contacted, Benue State Commissioner for Environment, John Ngbede, claimed that there were no volcanic eruptions at the Mountain. He said what happened was a landslide. Ngbede said though he was yet to visit the area because of his involvement in the preparation for a thanksgiving service for Governor Gabriel Suswam, he believed the report of his director of environment.
Ngbede said the state government was waiting to get the statistics on the quantum of destruction caused by the natural disaster.

http://www.nigerianbestforum.com/generaltopics/?p=74007

@manmustwac, I very much disagree. Such would lead to chaos as many people who have not mastered their own souls, do not judge themselves, and refrain from anything that is true would arrogate to themselves the ability to divine Nigeria's true interests. There would be bloodshed, homicides and genocides, and total anarchy from the clash of opinions and voices that want to be heard by force (do or die).

Not too long ago we learnt that corrupt leaders were using Swiss banks to stash looted funds. Now Dubai is where corrupt leaders, Nigerians in particular, spend stolen wealth. Therefore is Dubai not a cesspit and world capital of money laundering (including blood money); noted for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) of corruption and ill-gotten wealth?

Wow, those of you who stuttered only, how fortunate. What about those of us who not only stuttered and made grammatical blunders but also forgot what we were doing. At such moments its as if access to memory and cognition were denied perhaps because of corrupted files. For those who faint, system failure/crash. Glossophobia ain't funny.

No matter the amount of preparation and practice, if one is overwhelmed with doubts,

I went to a grad school for a professional degree and had lots of presentations to deliver. Coupled with increasing confidence, however small, the phobia gradually faded away.

Violence is not the way, no matter what.

Actually, we Nigerians should examine ourselves and repent from all the bad things we do to ourselves. We deserve what we get and thus should not refrain from taking responsibilities for our actions. Blaming OBJ and others is a was of trying to externalize our shortcomings and give personalities to these faults. Whether we like it or not, OBJ is still a product of our putrid society. There is no way I know of in this universe that each one of us can avoid taking responsibility for our actions and the earlier we start the better.

Will it be far-fetched if I say that every Nairalander knows somebody who is selfish, corrupt, and without love for his neighbor? Let us instead check ourselves and having mastered ourselves seek to help others, and eventually apply ostracism if that does not work. Yes, ostracism to our fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, children, uncles, aunties, nieces, in-laws, cousins, associates, colleagues, friends, and the likes, for the sake of Nigeria and Nigerians.


He who is free of sin should cast the first stone!

Why don't we just ostracize all these people whose feet are quick to do evil.