₦airaland Forum

I have always advocated for state of birth or logetivity.

Guy u want to start tribal war here.There is no comparision btw the 2 guys as they sing with different lingo.Only someone that understands both igbo and yoruba can answer this question.

How I Became A Stateless Nigerian    http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/articles/adeola-aderounmu/how-i-became-a-stateless-nigerian.html 
Written by Adeola Aderounmu   
Sunday, 22 March 2009
Around 1989/1990 I applied for the Lagos State Scholarship Board Award /Grant. The intended study would have allowed me to pursue a medical career at foreign University. When I was invited to the interview there were strong indications that I was a top candidate because I had scored 6 distinctions in all the subjects that I took in the GCE exams. Backed by strong recommendations from two of my secondary school teachers added to 6 more distinctions and 2 credits in my WASC I was confident of my upcoming sponsored academic trip abroad.
As the interview progressed it seemed that all was well until one woman on the panel of interviewers asked me what became the critical question. I know one Aderounmu at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and you are actually a carbon copy of him, do you know him, she asked?

I answered in the affirmative because she was referring to my dad’s cousin Bukola Aderounmu whom I’d hardly met. I cannot even describe the man in 4 sentences yet I was being told at this interview that we look alike. By asking that question, the woman was actually trying to let everyone know that my family is from Ogun State. The interview ended and I never heard a word again from the LSSB.

To give a clearer picture: I was born in Lagos and when I started primary school my father always made it clear to me that my state of origin is Lagos but I discovered later that my parents are actually from Abeoukta in Ogun State. It became a tedious routine to always make those trips from Festac Town to Agege Local Government at the beginning of each school year.

I had to collect proof of origin every term and of course tax clearance certificates of parents. Was my dad avoiding this trip to Abeokuta to obtain evidence of origin? How convenient it was to say that we were from Amuwo Odofin Local Government when the local governments became proliferated just like that!

I remembered that at a certain point when we could make our own decisions, the children all reverted to Ogun State. But what do I know about Ogun State? Before I left Nigeria in 2002, I can count on my fingers how many times I have been to Abeokuta.

In 1986 age 14 I went to Abeoukta to attend a chieftaincy title ceremony of some family members. I was held spellbound to discover that we even had a McGregor in our extended family! I cannot remember any other time that I went to Ogun State before then. Around 1988 or thereabout I went to Igbogila to visit my grandfather who had left Abeokuta and relocated to this quiet town perhaps even before I was born. Up to this day, I don’t even know if Igbogila is in Oyo, Osun or Ogun State.

My third memory of Ogun State was when I went as a tourist taking along with me the members of NAZS, UNILAG chapter. It was during this excursion in 1994 that I re-discovered places like Lantoro and Olumo rock. We went to a famous abattoir but I don’t remember where.

Interestingly in December 2001, I went to Abeokuta with some colleagues from MEDILAG. We attended the wedding ceremony of a friend and co-researcher. While the wedding ceremony was in progress, I quickly dashed out of the church and waved down a taxi. I told the driver that I was going to the house of the Produce Buyer. Apparently, my mother’s father Fidimaiye Majekodunmi was a famous merchant in his days. He died in 1972 just before I was born but in 2001 the taxidriver could still take me to his house unhindered.

I had no address with me and my mother just told me to mention produce buyer to any taxi driver. It worked like magic! I arrived safely in front of the house and my grandmother was shocked but overwhelmed with joy that her grandson came. My grandmother died a few months later and I was already in Europe at that time.

I am still happy that I saw her that fateful day sometime in Dec 2001 and it was very shocking to see that my mother’s family house is just next door to Olumo rock. From my grandmother’s room, I could almost touch Olumo rock that I had climbed as a tourist in 1994. I was moved to tears. I mean, I came as a tourist to my parents’ homeland.

But I remain worried about my present Nigerian status. Lagos is still the only place that I know. In fact, I can get lost once I go outside Festac Town. My conscious and unconscious trips to Ogun State are definitely less than 10 occasions-of which I remember 4. I almost did my youth service in Lagos but I was contented with knowing Ibadan for those 10-12 months.

During my service year I was always back to Festac at least once a month. While I studied at UNILAG, I went back home every weekend. I could fall sick if I missed any of those Saturday or Sunday football games on our stony field. It was almost criminal to even miss the church service before the Sunday games.

I am afraid that I actually don’t have any (political) constituency in Nigeria. Lagosians will be quick to tell me that my name is Ogunish and tell me that I look like one Aderounmu or Majekodunmi, that my family houses are in Abeokuta and Igbogila-and where is Igbogila for goodness sake? Ogun State will not forget to tell me that I don’t know my way around the state. I don’t even know the size and economic strength of the State. But I can read those in the books. I’m good at that. In both situations, the segregation and discrimination in our society will be exposed and exploited.

Nigeria is a society that is seriously segregated and divided. We go abroad and complain of racism but we are more racist to one another in Nigeria than the Americans or Europeans are towards us. My father must have had one Nigerian in mind when he decided to tell us that we (his children) are Lagosians. We were all born in Lagos. We went to school in Lagos and had very little contact or connections with Abeokuta.

Even my grandfather made Igbogila his home, owning houses and farmlands. My father did not even bother to inherit any of those materials. He wasn’t bothered with parental possessions/inheritance. So who inherited my grandfather’s landed property? My father’s mother was based in Agege for all the years that I knew her. There were no Ileya Festivals without a traditional visit to Iya Eleja. She would have sponsored the Aso Ebi well in advance. Oh my God, how we dressed in uniforms-children, grandchildren and great grandchildren!

My mother’s mother was called Mama Onifade because she settled and lived on Onifade Street after she returned from her several years of business sojourn to Ghana. She went back to Abeokuta towards the end of her life. As a Medilag student/employee, I was excited to rediscover Onifade Street near the second gate exit of LUTH. It was nostalgic when my mother told me that was where we went visiting Mama Onifade.

Here I am paying huge taxes in Stockholm and contributing to the development of Sweden and not even certain of where exactly I belong in Nigeria. I know my way around Europe but I can easily be declared missing if I take a trip within Nigeria. Where is my constituency in the federal character system? Have I become a stateless Nigerian? I think so. But I would rather serve on merit than on federal character-a subtle licence that has destroyed the foundations and efficiency of the nation. I would love to be taken for what I am and the principles that I radiate rather than where I come from. I long for home but please give me a state or even a constituency first!

Thy Glory O’ Nigeria…!

More and more nigerians are finding themselves in this situation.

Can anyone remember Osaro obabaifo of the then flash flamingoes?

Also the ranchers bees team of late 80s that had Daniel Amokachi.Dahiru Sadi,Tajudeen oyekami,Tajudeen Olaiya,Ayo Ogulana?

Also Paul Uzokwe(power house),Uwakwe Eke,Sylvester Oparanozie(ala owerri),Lawrence Ukaegbu,Mike Obi,Sunny ikwuagwu,Godwin and Augustine Eke,Ben Nwosu,Justice Ewendu,Chike Arisa(penalty specialist) of the Iwuanyanwu Nationale of the great era of mid and late eigthies?

@presido1

Munachi-Me and God

Imoni-

chimamanda-My God will not fail me

kosi-Short form of Kosisochukwu which means How one followed God

kemdilim-My own remains with me _{I might be wrong though}Ameze-

ifesinachi-The thing is from God

ikomi-ASk Ikomi

Mobi-short form of Amaobi which means Obi's compound or Do you know my heart depending on pronouncation

Obasi-God

Rotanna-Can also be Lotanna ,Chetanna which means Remeber God

Rihanna-

Queenisha-Ask Osisi

@Afrocynic

Goodluck!

Because I am a Lagosian and prior to moving to England at 11, I had a number of Igbo friends who taught me little things about the culture and my b/f is Igbo and I have told I have a penchant for Igbo guys. In short, outside of my own culture, it is the culture that interests me the most.

If you want to learn about igbo culture in general my advice is that not to be antagonistic in the way you go about with the way you jump into most igbo threads and criticizing them.No culture is entirely good or bad.If you respect yourself you will get more than information that you need.

@Arocynic

I do not think you know Glo well.Since you said you left nigeria at the age of 11 i can forgive you.I have been to Glo offices and i can confidently tell you that up to 65% of Glo top executives are Yoruba.The owner of Glo is Mike Adenuga.

Again i ask are Yorubas becoming tribalistic against themselves?

@Afrocynic

If i may ask why are you so much interested in anything igbo?

@lucabrasi

The advert and enligntened advert executives in GLO are the not mostly yoruba?

Globacom’s largesse tears Nollywood apart http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/showtime/2009/mar/20/showtime-20-03-2009-004.htm
With Azuh Amatus [azuhamtus@yahoo.com] Tel: 08023380008
Friday, March 20, 2009


Otunba Mike Adenuga
Photo: Sun News Publishing
More Showtime Stories

The recent plan of telecommunications giant, Globacom to endorse and make some top Nollywood stars its brand ambassadors is currently causing ripples in Nollywood. And according to our reliable insider, if not properly managed, might tear Nollywood apart and probably pitch the Otunba Mike Adenuga led organization against some leading practitioners in the nation’s motion picture industry.

We further gathered that some of the complaints put forward by most of the aggrieved practitioners, who are also popular names, was that Glo’s selection process was heavily biased, smacks of tribal sentiments, devoid of due process and totally against global best practices. “It is a known fact that some top officials at Glo, only hand picked their actors and actresses friends in Nollywood, while others made the list based on tribal sentiments and favouritisms.

If you look at the controversial list thoroughly, you will agree with me that some of those chosen, as ambassadors do not have any business being on the list, let alone representing Nollywood for Globacom, especially now that we are re-branding Nigeria.
We are not saying that Glo must use all Nollyywood stars as their ambassadors, all we are asking for is that the selection process should be very transparent and devoid of ethnic colourations or favouritisms. Even some qualified stars earlier chosen were later dropped without concrete reasons, and we suspect foul play.

We are using this opportunity to call on Glo to immediately rectify this anomaly and save Nollywood from further disintegration,” disclosed this popular practitioner in Nollywood, who wants to remain anonymous. Trust us to keep you darling readers posted, for more fireworks, while also waiting for an official response from Glo.

I wonder who is being tribalistic to the other.It is a well known fact that most top officials in GLO are yoruba so are they being tribalistic to themselves

Morelike Night of Brainwashing.

Obasanjo has already admitted that nigeria is a failed state so i do not think criticizing him is going to solve nigeria's problems.

@TayoD

Guy you have sharp ears.I watched the clip again. Obasanjo called nigeria a FAILED STATE in 17.05 mins.It was more like freuidan slip.

Mechionu means shut up.

And she is also ever present on OBJ's bed as well as milking the pigs at OTTA farm!

 

@Tpia

Not entirely correct.I have cousins that were brn and brought up in lagos that cannot speak yoruba but can understand it when spoken.I went to a unity secondary school and i met some people like that.

There is a character in nairaland called ghettochyk that was born and brought up in lagos that cannot speak yoruba.maybe you can ask her how possible was that.

@Olutoye

I am not confused and l know what i wrote.I was replying Tpia.When i said primordal sentiments did i state anywhere restricting the phenomenom to lagos?I never stated that it NOT IMPORTANT to learn how to speak yoruba.What i said is that it can happen.

Men see grilling.

I have only seen one hausa person that claimed to be from a state that is not hausa.That state is actually abia.I think he became a councilor in one of the local goverments there.Also there are lots of hausa in onitsha that can even speak better igbo than me.This is how the country is supposed to be but our primordal sentiments will never allow for such.

Tpia,
u simply represent a millenium fool.
what has respect got to do with the death of two communities under obj. can u count the numbers of unresolved\political killings under obj. why will u respect a fool who directed the april polls movies via iwu.
what can obj teach others. maybe in the same manner in which iwu ask americans to learn from nigeria's electorial system.
may the problems of all the families who lost their family members under obj be yours.
for supporting the evils of such man and overlooking the sufferings of nigerians who believed much in him, you deserve more than what i have said above.

@Olutoye

Are you sure you are understanding my point?I said lagos is traditionally yorubaland.However the no of non yorubas living there is very large if compare with people who are actually yorubas.There are LOTS of places you will go to lagos and you as a yoruba will become a minority and such places are not as much in other nigerian cities.I repeat nobody is claiming that lagos is not yorubaland.

@Tpia

i said speaking not understanding.

And what is all these thing with cause words

If i call u anuohia or onye ara won't u understand what i said?

@olutoye

You can live anambra,imo,enugu,abia and even ebonyi without really knowing how to speak igbo although i wish the reverse was the case.Ask anyone who served there.Some people might not be able to speak english but if you speak it or pigdeon believe me they will understand what you are saying.

Speaking and understanding are two different things.Where did i state NOT UNDERSTANDING?

My dear nobody is transferring lagos to east or north.Mind you london is not a good example as the lingua franca in london is english.Lingua franca in lagos is english Because i do not need to learn how to speak yoruba to survive in lagos unlike maybe ibadan.

Fire guts Kenny Ogungbe’s residence http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art200903204291664
By Agency Reporter
Published: Friday, 20 Mar 2009
One of Nigeria’s top showbiz presenters, Mr. Kenny Ogungbe of Primetime Entertainment, the parent body of Kennis Music and Primetime Africa, last night had his house gutted by fire for the second time in less then two years. The bungalow located on Joy Street in Ajao Estate had its Boys Quarters affected by the fire.

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File
Kenny Ogungbe

As at 9pm last night, details were sketchy as to the cause of the fire. Partners and friends of the Ogungbes were seen around the premises.

Sometimes in 2007, he suffered a similar fate when a portion of his house was engulfed in fire.

All efforts to reach Ogungbe on phone proved abortive but it was gathered that no life was lost in the incident.

You dey sure say some alaba boyz never organize do this thing.Remember say im talk say make them close alaba market sometime ago.