₦airaland Forum

@Omo Alata

It will be interesting to hear how both Accra and Lagos fare as tourist destinations. Would you be kind enough to give us an update after the trip?

Thanks! How will I know when it has been cleared?

WOW! This would have been an interesting thread. I love History and it is a shame that a lot of African history today still remains unwritten. I would love to read the history and real life personal stories of Lagos pre-colonial times and other cities in Nigeria but there appears to be very little literature dedicated to that genre.

Thanks for 'unbanning' me Seun and thanks for the advice Dominique!!

[quote author=dtw_sola link=topic=458698.msg6252396#msg6252396 date=1277077110]I honestly don't care about these incessant UK vs US debates. It's funny how these threads always consist of the same jobless folks. Personally, I live in upstate New York and travel frequently to NYC and about the U.S and Canada. I like it here and have no desire to live in the UK though I've visited a number of times. My career is far more suited to the States, and I like the life I live here. As far as Angie's claims that the universities in London are superior to MIT, that is just downright silly. I know you are just quoting the TIMES of London rankings, which is unsurprisingly biased towards UK universities. The whole concept of ranking universities across the board is disingenuous at best. MIT is an engineering/scientific school, and at that is it's bread and butter. It  is among the best in the world in that category. As many US universities are.  I'm sure UCL/Imperial have their strong points, but just saying that one university is better across the board makes absolutely no sense. I looked at some UK universities before deciding to come to the U.S., but in the technical/science aspect of things they are far behind. Take a look at more objective rankings (by subject), and you will see for yourself. Almost all of Britain's technological accomplishments you've mentioned came heydays ago. A great majority happened when the US was still a British colony, and many even before that. We aren't living in the 1700s or even the 1900s anymore. The glory days of Newton, Faraday and Darwin are long gone.[/quote]Sour grapes? You don't care but you take time to add a response. Spare me please, lol
I looked at unis across the board and in that respect MIT is below Imperial. Here is the Top university list from a US publication compiled in 2010. You may personally think that British universities are behind but remember that is your personal view only and not the gospel.

http://www.usnews.com/articles/education/worlds-best-universities/2010/02/25/worlds-best-universities-top-400

America stopped being a colony centuries ago in 1776. Key inventions like the Jet engine, atm machines, subway system, DNA, IVF and Viagra etc took place in the last 100 or so years and had a profound effect on the way we live today.

You may prefer the US to UK but don't you feel rather silly downing the achievements of a small Island to a country which is a hundred times bigger?

@oyewolejos

Is this your best shot?

Are u suffering from menstration disorder or u are only thinking from your holes?

I just briefly went through your rant but in regards to your list of 'American' inventions

Below is the list of inventions made in the US
Revolver - The Chinese invented the first gun
Airplane - wouldn't be much of an great invention if Sir Frank Whittle not invented the Jet Engine
Fast food restaurant - how great? , I don't do fast food so this 'invention' doesn't make much of a difference to my life
Traffic light - The first traffic light appeared outside the houses of Parliament in 1868
Supermarket - not really an invention but a development
Drive through - same as above
Internet - The internet as we know it was invented by Sir Tim Berners Lee, a Briton
and the just invented Composite Aircraft - The Americans have just invented this? wow!! lol Anyway the first composite aircraft flew from the UK in 1916

Those men from the Ivory Coast are HOT!!!

Because I'm not British? lol

So one has to be a Brit to have a name?   

[quote author=_________ link=topic=458698.msg6247744#msg6247744 date=1277006511]By the way what are you doing in the US if Britain is such a wonderful place with tremendous opportunities?lol
Bonus,  For the Uni thing. Oxford and Cambridge are top notch and are recognized worldwide for their "bukuru" but when it comes to leader in practical tech and real world application, they look to MIT, Princeton, UCLA etc
Don't even let's start talking about the cruel immigration system. Eg, If you one is born after 1983 I think the person inherits the status of their parent. US at least uptil today, even if the child's parent is an illegal immigrant, Jus Soli makes the child a citizen at birth. The child could aspire to become the US president if they so desire. Britain is relying on Old glory. The relics of the castle, queen, colonial empire.etc. No more black people to subjugate again money begin dry. lol
I hope you naw say I know they carry this for my head like a fanatic, just having fun. I prefer Naija better to both.[/quote]I am actually between Britain and the US at the moment as I am employed by a British multinational doing work in the US and no, it is not BP . I have not emigrated to the US and neither am I trying to get a US passport. At the end of 2010 I hope to be based back home in Britain permanently.

London's Imperial College and UCL are ranked higher than MIT, Princeton and UCLA with UCLA waaaaaaaay down in the ratings at 30. Look it up! Even the University of Manchester, Kings College and the University of Edinburgh is ranked higher than UCLA. lol!

There is nothing cruel about Britain's immigration policy. I have already stated that the only thing the US has over the UK is numbers and size. Anyone with an ounce of sense would be able to figure out that while America with her 51 states, each of which are bigger that our small Island, the UK, can afford to give every baby born to illegal immigrants on its shores citizenship, common sense dictates that it would be virtually impossible for the UK to do the same. The rest of your paragraph didn't make any sense so I won't try to respond.

Let me pick some holes in your argument. How many British troops are in Iraq compare to the size of US troops? That was just for Bush to make the useless argument about international coalition. Besides, regaring military might, UK na small boy o, at least where the US is concerned. Of course they do have a special relationship. That of a small boy looking up to his elder brother. lol

What holes? lol So if US could go it alone why do they need the Brits? Bush is out now and the British public is all for sending our troops home but Obama has been essentially begging Cameron to let them stay. If you knew anything about history then you would know that if it weren't for Britain, America wouldn't even exist as it is today. For that fact alone it is America who is the oversized younger child of Britain. They speak our English language remember. . . .Do you know that even the American national anthem is written to the tune of an old British pub song? lol


[flash=300,245]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRwAoneiDMc&hl[/flash]

In regards to the military. Of course they have more in numbers but that in no way means that their systems are more sophisticated. You Nigerians automatically think 'more' and 'big' = better.
The American airforce and navy force does not compare in terms of quality to the Royal navy or the British airforce but they have more in numbers. Quantity vs quality.

If they are crap, I think more than 500m people would prove you wrong as per Facebook. I can't even put together the gazillion stats that'd be behind Youtube and Google. By the way, I can bet you top dollar that the operating system you are using is from the US. Who made Mac, Ipad, Iphone etc? Where're the founders of  Microsoft, Oracle, SunMicrosystems, Adobe, etc all the power houses where are they from or based? Oh and the framework the backbone of the internet started with DARPA. ARPANET US defense project.

Yes I personally  find facebook crap and that is not debatable. That 500 million people use it does not in anyway make a difference to my personal perspective. I am also one of the few people who consider Ipods to be bad technology. . .again not up for debate.

Asking me if the PC I am using is American is however irrelevant as the fact remains the the first computer was invented in Britain. The Internet as we know it, the world wide web ('www' which every web page address uses), hyper links, internet pages that can consist of images and videos etc was also invented by British Computer Engineer Tim Berners Lee who is a Brit. If  wasn't for him we would not be discussing on this forum today.

None of those companies you mentioned would not exist or have come into play had Britain not invented the wheel the first.

80% of the greatest inventions in the world and things you and everyone else uses in your every day life was invented or started in our very small Island, Britain or by a Brit. From the basic flush toilet, the telephone, electricity, light bulbs, traffic lights, atm machines, photography, steam engine, underground subway system, railway system, tennis, Penicillin, DNA, football to the jet engine which allows passenger jets  to zip across the globe in record time.

I reckon that if Britain were the same size as America in terms of land mass and people we would be better. As it is we are just a small Island with less that 65 million people compared to America's 300 million but despite that we are still a country to be reckoned with. Please give credit where it is due.

[quote author=_________ link=topic=458698.msg6247748#msg6247748 date=1277006729]Ask them how much taxes the government take out every paycheck to sustain the socialized government. It's horrendous. Compare that with FL with no state income tax.[/quote]Ok where do you live? Only a person who lives in a country where things do not work would laugh at the point of paying taxes. We pay them for our hospitals, roads, street lights, rubbish collection, schools, our police force, our ambulance system etc. There is nothing wrong with paying taxes. That you think they are too high is subjective.

I do agree that America is best for immigrants because they have the land mass and more people but don't tear down Britain to prove your point.

oyewolejos:
Another myopic imperial overlord poster who will want their parochial opinion to be forced the throats of the sane majority.Relax, lest u burst a blood vessel Madam i told u is only my opinion and u shouldn't be expecting me and u to have the same opinion about UK.it is audible to the deaf and visible to the blind that UK and US can't be compared but since we are in a world where the insane can also have their own opinion then why argue with u.
In as much that i acknowledege the fact that i haven't been to the UK but information from Family,Friends and even Class mates who are british as attested to the fact that UK suck.
U can't be more Catholic than the Pope neither can u be more British than the briton.All the British i know here always regret ever being a Briton whenever they see the magnanimity of the American system.
They marvel and appreciate the freedom they have in America.

Well if you haven't been to Britain before don't you think you ought to shut up about something you know nothing about?

You just made yourself look like first class Pillock by stating the lies about the UK as fact like you had experienced them yourself. You can't have an opinion about something you have not experienced and second hand information from family and friends does not count and so in future zip it!

Obodo999:
Same old and tired argument. All these "french" players were called by their motherlands but they refused. Viera and Zidane spring to mind.  Did you not realise that Drogba, Eboue. Toures brothers,  Kalou, Assoue-Ekotto of Cameroon and others have all French Citizenship but did not play for france. O[b]ur own Etuhu and Shittu were born in England. They never live in Nigeria but still play for Super Eagles. But some fools like Mrs AngieFan still called them English[/b].

Talking BS again I see.

Dickson Paul Etuhu (born 8 June 1982 in Kano, Nigeria) is a Nigerian professional footballer who currently plays for Fulham as a defensive midfielder.

Daniel Olusola "Danny" Shittu (born 2 September 1980 in Lagos) is a Nigerian professional footballer, currently playing for Premier League side Bolton Wanderers

So which part of the two players above were born in England? Whose the big 'Fool' now?

You need to expand your way of thinking a bit more with all the 'motherland' nonsense. First of all just because you see a black player playing for a traditionally 'white' country you shouldn't automatically assume that they are foreign to that country. Secondly perhaps those French players with dual nationality find it more financially conducive to play for France than their home African nation.

Take Oguchi Onyewu for instance, who is eligible to play for Nigeria under FIFA 'ancestry' rules but chose to play for his birth country the US. Do you think he should give up the chance to earn multi million dollar endorsements very likely in America as well as first class coaching and healthcare benefits to play for Nigeria that probably doesn't offer as much? Get real!

Obodo999:
Can you give me an opportunity so that you can call me an "" to my face. The last woman that tried that, her Womanliness took the punishment. She was unable to walk properly for a week.

Please!  Don't worry I will find a woman for you to fulfil your fantasy in the meantime find a blow up doll to take out your frustrations on.   .   .lol! 

tpiah:
HMV remove Anyone But England gear from stores

Entertainment retailer HMV will no longer stock anti-English World Cup merchandise in its Scottish stores amid fears it could incite racial hatred.

The chain reportedly made the decision following complaints to police from the Campaign for an English Parliament (CEP) and members of the public.

A banner featuring the slogan ABE - Anyone But England - was removed from HMV in Kirkcaldy after a police visit.

A spokesman said it would no longer be "actively promoting" the ABE brand.

In a statement printed on its website, the CEP called the merchandise "insensitive and provocative" and said retailer Debenhams had made similar concessions following a complaint about ABE T-shirts being sold in Welsh stores.


In our view, the shirts are not against England or the English, but simply about some Scottish fans expressing a view that they want any team other than England to win this year's World Cup
Spokesman

HMV

It said: "During the last world cup, a number of racist attacks were committed in Scotland against English people and anti-English racism remains a problem whether it's a world cup year or not."

The organisation's spokesman Stuart Parr added: "The Campaign for an English Parliament will challenge any company that incites racial hatred towards the English.

"Racism is unacceptable no matter who it is directed against, including English people."

Slanj, the company behind the ABE brand, denied its goods were racist and insisted they should be taken as "tongue-in-cheek football banter".


'Race issue'

Manager Ross Lyle said: "They're our local rivals. It's the same as Celtic-Rangers, Liverpool-Everton. It's just football banter and football rivalry.

"On a personal football level, I'm just jealous because Scotland aren't there, so I don't want England to be there either."

An HMV spokesman said: "If we thought the shirts were in any way racist, then we certainly wouldn't have stocked them.

"In our view, the shirts are not against England or the English, but simply about some Scottish fans expressing a view that they want any team other than England to win this year's World Cup.

"It's not a sentiment we agree with, but surely a football fan has a right to express such a view if they choose to.

"This is about the World Cup and should not be turned into a race issue."



http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/scotland/10357018.stm

And the relevance of this article is?

There have always been a long standing rivalry between Scotland and England since the beginning of time. Do you know that first international football game was played in 1872 between England and Scotland? Even though Scotland, England and Wales all come under the British umbrella with Northern Ireland added on to make up the United Kingdom they are all essentially different countries and have their own football teams. I doubt the Welsh or Northern Irish want England to win either.

Since England are not living to expectations it is all about Ghana for me now. [size=20pt]Go Ghana!![/size]

[quote author=_________ link=topic=458698.msg6238614#msg6238614 date=1276867460]@OP I suggest you visit the US and compare. As some wrote, the opportunities that are in the US are tremendous. Where else in the world would a story like that of Barack Obama and so many entrepreneurs like the brains behind Google, Youtube, Facebook, Microsoft etc be possible and quickly achievable? If you are ready to work hard and smart and have the right documents, you could consider the US. Besides, the UK along with their EU cronies could tax one’s wages to death. The fact that it’s the number one country in the world where every nationality on earth wants to immigrate to says a lot about the place. In addition, the US is almost like several countries fused into one. Each state is very unique and you’d be pleasantly surprised how different some are and have to offer climate wise, nature wise, employment wise when compared to others. By the way, in so many areas the world looks up to the US including the UK whether it is in entertainment: movies, music, IT, web, sports (except soccer), militarily put it this way, the US sneezes and the world catches a cold. UK is alright but the image in my head of the place is that of a tight wad. Some areas are good for vacationing though.

Now to the jokes:
Some said UK is Lagos Phase II
Poor man's US
UK is just the developed part of Lagos[/quote]First of all, how comes you don't have a proper name?

Of course the opportunities are more in the US. It is a bigger country, has more people and so therefore bleating on about more opportunities is really stating the bleeding obvious.

America and Britain have a 'special relationship'. I wouldn't necessarily call it 'looking up' to them. Britain is America's strongest and closest ally and if their military was so strong they wouldn't require the British army to back them up in the middle east would they?

Oh and by the way Youtube, Facebook (which I happen to think is crap) and Google wouldn't exist had the computer and the internet not been invented in Britain.

That being said, the only thing America has over Britain is numbers. That be in entertainment, movies, music etc. It is however a great nation with great people whom I adore. I personally think the climate there is more suited to Nigerians looking to leave Nigeria. [size=4pt]Britain is full jare!![/size]

@Oyewolejos
I'm getting sick and tired Nigerian ignoramuses like you having verbal diarrhoea when it comes to Britain. What is it with Nigerians and their constant need to denigrate in order to elevate?? How old are you? 10? Everything you said is complete and utter bull and you obviously have some deep rooted issues that need sorting out.

oyewolejos:
Dont just think about it.Folks that i know who made that decision still live to regret it. UK is just the developed part of Lagos.U will prefer to go to Naija than to stay in UK. My reasons are as follows
Do u want to leave the Harvard, the Princeton,the UCLA of US to a small Univeristy less than the size of a community college in USA? Many American citizens have attended prestigious universities like Oxford and Cambridge including ex-president Bill Clinton and his daughter Chelsea.

1 Do u want to hinder your freedom by going to a police state where 2 blacks can gather without Police Pulling them over? Proof? or are you talking out of you a$$??

2 Do u want to go to a Country where the few successful blacks are termed criminals? Which successful blacks are termed as criminals? Alex Amosu, Trevor Mcdonald, Idris Elba, David Wabosu, The Director of Engineering at London Underground? http://targetjobs.co.uk/career-sectors/engineering/learning-from-leaders/david-waboso-freng-director-of-engineering-london-u

3 Do u want to go to a country where u will be asked to provide your immigration status just because u got a driving ticket? Did this happen to you, lol. You must have looked like a JJC.Poor Sod!

4 Do u want to leave a country where u can be whatever u want to a country where they set limits to your greatness. So have you achieved the level of greatest you seek in your own country?

Come to think of it how many Americans do u see in UK embassy here compared to the crowd at the US embassy in UK? Even the Britons are moving enmass outta that country. There are plenty of plenty of Americans living in the UK. Here they are discussing life in there UK on their very own forum here, http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php and here http://www.americanexpats.co.uk/forum/index.php

Please i beg u dont go from Grace to Grass

Poster.
Of course there are more opportunities in America because it is a bigger country with a bigger population than Britain. Comparing the number of  opportunities in the UK to the US is like asking how many rice krispies are there in a standard cereal bowl compared to how many are in bucket!!! This is because UK  is essentially an Island smaller than the state of Texas. On that note I think you would be better off in the US because Nigerians generally tend to like everything big. Big cars, Big Roads, Big Houses etc while we the British are quite conservative in our tastes. It is a cultural thing I suggest.

Obodo999:
I can confirm these playes are English because at least they have an English blood with them.  As for me, I have no drop of English in me.javascript:void(0);javascript:void(0);javascript:void(0);javascript:void(0);javascript:void(0);


Now you have corrected yourself because you made a general commet in your previous post:  So all the black players in the English squad are English because they were born in England.

I have tried to be patient with you but I have to say this: You are an !diot!

I was referring to the Black English Players who are all born in England who are English because of their birthplace and are considered such by FIFA, an official organisation. As you are not a Black player in the English team why on earth did you think I was referring to you 

afam4eva:
You guys are just confusing yourselves. The term English is used to describe someone of english ancestry(Ethnicity) and someone who is from a country called England. Here's a case scenario. [b]If today Eastern Nigerians have a country and names theie country "Igbo" maybe because the largest ethnic group is IGBO. Efiks, Ibibios, Ijaws will all be classified as Igbos [/b]becaue that's the name of the country but that does not change their gene in any way. Meaning that does not make them part of the Igbo ethnic group.

In a nutshell! However English is hardly an ethnic group nowadays as everyone in England today has blood from elsewhere. The Royal family is a prime example of this and David Cameron who comes from a prominent Scottish clan.

I think the ball has something to do with it.

Obodo999:
This woman, you are still confused. Forget FIFA rules because it is artificial.  If FIFA rule says you can play football with men, it does not make you a man. o.k. As I said earlier, Nationality is different from ethnic origin.  I am a proud Nigerian man (yorubaman, to be precise) because both my parent hail from Nigeria. The fact that I was born in England does not change that fact.  You are insulting me by saying I am english and that is why I am annoyed with you.
In the UK, you are encouraged to disclose your ethnic origin when making application for jobs, education benefits etc but you choose to ignore that fact though you said you live in UK.

I brought up the FIFA rules because we were discussing football.

I never referred to you as English and so your annoyance is unjustified.

In the UK you are encouraged to state your race on application forms but the last time I checked 'English' was not a race

With those things out of the way, I understand your view but please understand that others don't see things from your perspective. You were born in England but your upbringing (which I assume was in Nigeria) and outlook is very much Nigerian and so you consider yourself one. However that is a vastly different view from a another individual who was also born in England to Nigerian parents and who also spent all their life in England, surrounded by English culture, food, people, educated wholly in England etc.

You have a right to identify yourself how you want but neither you or anyone one else has the has the right to lambaste a Black person who refers to themselves as English because that is all they know and feel comfortable with.

bboiabb:
bros shut up. you joke is dry and stale like a pieces of bread

LOL!

skfa1:
Well, my definition of been English is when you are a real white man that has a deep root from the ancestors.

As for me an English man can not be Scottish even tho if he is born in England.
Like I dont see every American citizens as American, the real American are the Red Indies.
Of course the black British players are British but trust me on this, their root is from Africa, that's just the fact.
I believe black people originated from African, but things changed now, people are spread all over the world.Hope you understand what I mean.

Yes I understand your perspective but with all due respect those are not the views of everyone. The current football England 2010 squad is a testament of that. The FIFA rules are very clear. One must be a citizen of country in order to represent it at an international level. However. . .

The national teams of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are, however, a special case because these four �home countries� are part of one national state, the United Kingdom. There is no such thing as English, Scottish, Welsh or Northern Irish citizenship.

The associations of these four countries entered an agreement regarding international eligibility in 1993 which provides[b] that a player holding a British passport is eligible to play for the country of his birth,[/b] the country of the birth of either of his natural parents or the country of birth of any of his natural grandparents.

So all the black players in the English squad are English because they were born in England.

http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamBack/Eligibiliy.html

Nigerians please accept this apology, move on a learn from Kaita's mistake as he surely will. Some of the abuse I have seen levelled at this guy is alarming.

You all need to leave Kaita alone. I think his behaviour is typical of many Nigerians who often lash put on the defensive when they mistakenly feel under attack. Nothing new here.
People need to work on themselves and let God deal with Kaita. I am sure he feels bad enough already. Hopefully he will work on himself and his case will serve as a lesson for him and to others especially Nigerians.

Obodo999:
Welldone Mrs British. Do you want a medal for living in the UK all your life?   Listen, I do NOT care about Britain or British.  My post is about French players if you can read english before you hijack it. Also if you can find any link of praises for Heskey here, you can post it here.  I was born in England but that does not make me english because I know my origin and heritage. You are talking about English as a nationality and that is where you got it confused with heritage.

lol, what is your problem? Someone brought up the English team and I just responded. Why didn't you have a go at them? Why go on the defensive by telling me where you were born?? Did I ask you that? I just told you that it wasn't my experience as someone who had been here all my life. Or are you related to Kaita? ?  (Kaita = Person who lashes out in anger and gets defensive when there is no need for it)

In regards to the French team. It doesn't matter if the players are black, yellow or green the fact remains that they are French citizens either by birth or nationalization and so are qualified to play for France. Fifa wouldn't allow it if that were not the case. There is no 'brain drain' claim here.

skfa1:
There are two things here, been British and Been English

You can be British via birth or nationalisation but you cant be English cause English people are the real people that originated from that land (England) even before the slave trade. This applies to other continents.  Lets us face the fact.

One only qualifies to play for England if they are English by birth or ancestry and so your theory is completely wrong on many levels. For a starters how does that explain the Black English players? How does that explain the English Queen Elizabeth who is really a German? or  St George the whose flag that is being paraded around at all the English games and who was actually a Roman?

Obodo999:
Seun, It is called a brain drain, stealing another person resources. It is a BAD thing.



It is not only BNP that are racist. "normal" english people are proud of their origin. Listen carefully to their derogatory comments about Heskey compared to Rooney, who was absolutely useless against USA. I could go as back as Barnes/Lineker, Shearer/Les ferdinand. English don't praise Black sportspeople only their own. If you are not "english", you are nothing no matter how you tried.

As I said it has not been my experience and I have lived in England all my life. I have personally seen plenty of praise for Hesky, Ferdinand and Barnes on English football boards.

Besides if these players were not 'English' then they wouldn't qualify to play for England and be English players would they? Please note that there is no British team. What we have are Welsh, English, Scottish and Northern Irish teams and to qualify to play in each of those teams one must be English, Scottish or Welsh etc by either ancestry or birthplace to play. British naturalized citizens can't qualify to play because as I said there is no British football team. A prime example of this would be Ryan Giggs who is mixed race and born in Britain but who doesn't qualify to play for England because he was born in Wales, is therefore Welsh and so plays for the Welsh team.



How is it a 'brain drain'? Were the players born, raised and trained to a professional level in an African country

lizzybabe1:
Really? You need to know how English people preserve that word 'English' for white people only. If you are black, you can be British but not English. Hence my initial emphasis on "English".

That hasn't been my experience. The white people who think that way are normally racist BNP types and I don't pay them any attention.

If these players can play football and are born and bred in France or England or are naturalized citizens of those countries then there is nothing wrong with them playing for their country.

You need to understand that these countries don't operate like Nigeria where a certain quota of the right ethnic group has to be met before a team can be formed.

Furthermore one doesn't have to be white to be French or English.

I think the goal should have been discounted too but that header by Heinze and the way Samuel was holding Obasi was funny as heck! LOL!

Also Maradona was a complete comedian in is suit which was a couple of sizes to big. One of favourite matches so far.
Nigeria need to perform better next time. No more eating of pounded yam and amala at least 5 hours before the game,