Niger Delta Avengers are bombing their own lives and that of next generations out of existence. If it was a foreign power, oil companies or Nigerian Army that is destroying this environment, we would be labeling the mute response from international communities racist. Even in Iraq and Syria; Falluja and Aleppo do get world attention. Juxtaposing the pitiful picture of Maroko in Lagos with that of beautiful Port Harcourt and Calabar will not raise empathy for Niger Delta.
Most people remembered how Boko Haram started as an offshoot of past radical religions that have devastated peaceful co-existence. Yet, we had men in power like Ciroma and Co. boasting they were going to make the country ungovernable if Jonathan won. They actually did. Little did these men of timber and caliber realized or had perceptive brains that the devil they unleashed was coming back to haunt them, not limited to churches, Southerners and Igbo in particular.
Now, you would think that these Avengers and their predecessors would learn from Boko Haram. No, they think destroying themselves as Boko Haram did in the North was worth the price. After all, victims are the poor and innocent that cannot defend themselves. Agitators will collect the billions as a result of blackmail, spilled blood, and polluted environment. What do they do with the money more than parade themselves as globe trotters and invest outside.
The oil companies gave a vigorous defense when they were sued for oil spills in the Niger Delta that there were overwhelming contributory negligence and actual deliberated indifference by the Niger Delta militias polluting and destroying their own environment. The cost of doing business in Niger Delta has driven good businesses and jobs to neighboring cities and countries to the detriment of hard working men and women that depended of their land for a living.
International communities have enough to deal with in terms of terrorists or refugees invading their borders. It is not their obligation to tell us to stop destroying one another unless they have strategic interest. We are so mean not only to one another but in our own homes. We are willing to do anything in the interest of a few no matter how many people suffered. If it is really about separation campaign for solutions to elect you as separatists from your neck of the hood.
This is blackmail. Every part of the country had an opportunity to either elect a civilian or forced on us a military leader. In each of those cases, those leaders have not gone ahead and bring into reality their regional and separation agenda. What we�ve had are Unitary Government, Any Government In Power, You Chop And I Chop Government and Its Our Money We Can Steal It Anyhow. As soon as they are out of favors or out of power, blackmailers and agitations rise up.
Right now, we are all fed-up and the country can break into pieces if it can. Each time terrorists raises their ugly heads, we see hypocrisy within the same areas, within the same ethnic group and families. Reasonable people within started wondering: why my brothers and sisters are killing my brothers and sisters. In laws that have lived peacefully for ages become enemies and local government areas started turning against one another. Others are blackmailed to join.
Niger Delta Avengers said they do not need Biafra for their cause, just as Edo, Urhobo and Itsekiri are not even Ijaw. The Ijaw were compensated with Presidency though they are minority compared to Edo, have turned into anything but appeased. They are more agitated today than they were before. As Africans, like to sit tight as President for Life! If each of us got what we wanted by raising hell, better be sure more hells would break out because it worked.
The irony is that we fight over ideologies that were bequeathed to us for our own destruction by colonial masters. We fight over democracy, capitalism, socialism, Christian as a preferred religion, Sharia as ideal legal system; though none of them are authentic African. It is easier to adapt to strangers� behaviors as salvation, than to ours. Eh, it is a global world! No matter how good we are at their game, we can never perfect it, nor would we be accepted as such.
Stop using Lagos, Calabar or Port Harcourt to prop up senseless destruction of culture and means of livelihood. Lagos is the only State that had withstood the arrogance of Abuja without dent to its economy. Even Looters have more effect. The economy of Lagos was built before it became part of Nigeria and will not crash after. In spite of the glamor of Lagos, original people of Lagos lament the deterioration of their city. They wish the old Lagos could come back.
Though there is validity that Abuja was built mostly on oil money, the original natives of Abuja are not happy with the urbanization that has swept their villages out to suburbs and turned them into long distance visitors to their villages. Successive Nigerian Government have made lofty promises which they found unacceptable. Indeed, the native of Abuja may have the last laugh if they eventually win in court or if Nigeria separates. Nobody can run with infrastructure.
Unlike Niger Delta, the people of Lagos and Abuja can absorb it and fight another day to claim their land. They are not bombing themselves. Niger Delta is being destroyed by militants for the next generations. We have militants all over, but those that destroy their land like the so called Avengers and massacre their people like Boko Haram are not many. We have to go far into Arabian land to witness such senseless destruction of land, properties and massacre of people.
These are the consequences of encouraging thugs, illiterate and vagabonds to lead those that played by the rules, went to colleges and respected their parents. While highly educated and knowledgeable sons and daughters of Niger Delta with brains are left broke and homeless; the militias only think on impulse with their feet. Many Deltans cannot even live close to their place of birth. They are like refugees all over the world.
Their leaders are worse. They stole foreign oil income as if they are buying another country in Europe and America. We blame Nigeria leaders for stealing Nigeria blind and decided to make way for Nigeria Delta leaders at the helms of Nigeria�s affairs. They were worse. They claimed it was their money and could waste it anyway they want, without accountability. If Nigerians stole oil income blind, Niger Delta leaders stole it dead, without fear or consequences!
Here we go again. You are really deprived and depraved.
InyinyaAgbaOku: Herbert Ogunde is not nollywood pioneer. Some group of disgruntled Nigerians should get it in their heads. It was in 2014 that nollywood did nollywood @20. All the films made before 1994 were cinema and not homebased and there was no industry. Even Things fall apart and co, didn't fit into the concept of nollywood. Nollywood started in 1994 by Kenneth Nnebue
Why do you need subsidy when price is low? The reason for subsidy is lack of affordability.
MossadAgent: The best time to remove subsidy was when crude was trading over hundred dollars since imported refined crude would have cost much more then than now that it is trading at just $50 per barrel.
But you fools bought every lie that bastard Tinubu told you.
Strike Cannot But Low Oil Price Has Changed Basis For Subsidy
Going on strike because of jumbo politicians’ remunerations without basis make sense; not for increase in the price of petrol right now. Those waiting on the queue to buy petrol for days and nights at local petrol stations paid much more than the price increase. They would rather spend that time judiciously and buy at the present price. The problem is, they do not know how long the present price increase would last or if the palliative measures promised would be adequate.
The first question we must ask is where does the money to subsidize premium motor spirit PMS comes from? Owo ti kosi, jedijedi ko le gba. If we do not make enough money from crude oil, you cannot subsidize as you used to. It may sound easy, but we all know it is more complicated. Those that see the country as an oil producer want some benefits from it. This by itself is not unreasonable and people are tired of excuses given from one government to another.
It is hard to justify removal of subsidy while politicians still make outrageous salary as if the oil income has not changed, order new cars as if too much money still flows around and sit tight while indicted for corruption and abuse of process since the legal system can be compromised.
The people do have a right to question why low oil income has not affected administrators and politicians’ entitlements and what they contract to themselves. Me-myself-and-I spends more time thinking about how they can ruin their own country than how they can make it work for the people they serve. They know we are heading into chaos and they do not care whether oil income has decreased, their families must be taken care of where they hide their loot outside.
Most of the people that look at the cost of petroleum at the gas station know we have crude oil and we have refineries. The problem that has not been solved, in spite of promises, is that we do not refine enough to meet consumption inside the Country. We knew this as a fact for many years but the refineries remained under-utilized, lack maintenance and are becoming obsolete.
We have missed the opportunity to gain from free market advocated by many. The reasons are the mismanagement of subsidy by the rich in high places that want it to continue without adequate measures to make the country self-sufficient. Cronies turned temporary relief into permanent money making schemes. This could have resulted in very low price as world oil prices fell. They abused good intention of subsidy filling gaps till refineries were up to capacity.
When we look at world oil prices falling so low, people have a right to wonder why local petrol prices are going up. There was a time when world oil prices were high, politicians justified lower than world prices with subsidy. Now that world prices have fallen, local prices are still going up regardless. The little people are not stupid, contrary to what some experts think, they should question the mentality and suitability of our politician’s management of income and planning.
Each time every government promises that provisions will be made for them, they see nothing. Those that benefit most are buying at lower subsidized prices and sending petrol across the border to sell at higher profitable prices. The lower the price, the greater the incentive to ship across the border creating scarcity at home. So lower prices can never cure shortage at home, it only encourages scarcity. Better to avoid scarcity by export, than to scrabble for solutions.
It is nothing short of deliberate indifference for which saboteurs could be jailed for a long time, shot or watch their sacrifice dripping from the guillotine so that their families could learn. Indeed profiting from the misery of others has become a culture of the rich, the connected and famous without any guilt. Some of the antithetical cultures are even justified with a bold face as rightful share of their national cake. They justify anything politically and ethnically.
We want politicians with foresight that can plan for the Country future needs. Otherwise we should not be talking about more refineries to be built and money needed to maintain the ones we have running at full capacity. Any reasonable country would have made provisions before it becomes unnecessarily difficulty. We have folks sabotaging a country to making sure nothing works so that alternative like generators and refined petrol can be imported.
Asking blindly for minimum wage increase is also short-sighted. States and local governments already have problem paying minimum wage right now. Indeed, the number of people gainfully employed by the Federal and other states with enough resources to pay salary as of and when due are limited to less than 25% if we count their families and their cumulative spending in the market. It creates inflation and poverty for more than 50% under-employed and jobless sectors.
Standard of living is not the same in every localities, apart from Federal workers, minimum wage must reflect the income each states can generate and not the resources in three or four other states. States cannot employ more workers than they need or can pay. It is better to have regular income than irregular unpaid income. Some states are only paying half of their salaries. Otherwise, we will continue to suffer each time the price of oil, cocoa or bauxite fluctuates.
Labor Union must come together and try to increase competition by establishing their own petrol stations where they can sell their local or imported oil at a discount. There is no reason the states cannot build their own refineries. The money Governors diverted from their local governments can build refineries and create mini power stations or better still alternate energy.
Nobody can trust anyone with a bulk of money anymore. The consequences for stealing is a few months or none in jail. So, only a fool would get into the government and not steal because the temptation is too great to resist when shoved in your face. As a result of indiscriminate sense between right and wrong, needs and wants, stealing and corruption. Instead of looking for ways to reduce or eliminate temptations, we fight to keep it in place in case it comes to our turn.
Proportionally, more premium motor spirit are consumed by some few rich people for personal luxury vehicles than consumed by the greater amount of people that need it for daily activities without personal cars. They range from small businesses, local traders to market folks. As use of diesel, kerosene, lubrications, heavy oil etc. affect them, many join the rich asking for lower petrol prices. Even when they benefit least. They go on petrol strike supporting the rich!
This is sad. Do not cry foul when you get caught in criminal activity. Many bizmen are crooks. Some of them get away. Don't shout tribalism like Saraki when caught. The biggest con man will soon become the President of USA.
Philanderers Like Trump Soiling Reputable Wives Unfairly
It is so outrageous for anyone to project the sins of philanderers on their reputable wives. While Nollywood and Hollywood actors or actresses may share sexual indiscretions, scandals and jumbo salaries with politicians, we expect leaders to be thoroughly vetted before they are voted in. Actors and actresses depend on how well they fit into their roles or look seductively. So reality gossips and sexual indiscretions from estranged husbands and wives are not unusual.
Politicians on the other hand must be held to the highest standard because of their leadership roles and the enormous responsibilities that fall on their shoulders. African women shy away from politics to avoid catcalls but we have witnessed Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf that has been in the political arena for a long time. The wife of Rawlings in Ghana and that of Mugabe in Zimbabwe have been held as candidates for President in their respective countries.
However, United States, for the first time may have the 1st lady President. Hilary Clinton missed it eight years ago, after losing in the Democrat Primary to the first African American President of United States. She has a formidable opponent, Donald Trump if she wins her Party Primary against another vibrant candidate, Bernie Sanders. Sanders and Trump have drawn unusual crowds that are fed up with the status quo politics rigged for insiders by the insiders.
However, Hilary Clinton negatives have been driven up so high among Americans, one would think she had committed some infamy. No other candidates, man or woman, in the American politics has had so many investigations against her during her private and professional life. It is so unfortunate that her prospect for the Presidency may dim based on the characterization of her husband’s past indiscretion while in office as President.
What has changed in modern times is the way Presidents are covered. Other Presidents before Clinton have done worse than having scandalous affair with an intern voluntarily. While many women may understand Hilary’s helplessness in their inability to control the sexual urges of their husbands, any man should be the last person to condemn a woman in such situation.
Donald Trump had indicated all along that he was going to bring Monica Lewinsky affair with Bill Clinton up if Hilary Clinton becomes the Democrats’ Presidential Candidate. He has been doing exactly that anticipating that Hilary Clinton will defeat Bernie Sanders in the Primary. All of a sudden, as soon as Trump brought up the Clinton Affair, the polls changed against Hilary Clinton. Blaming the sins of Bill Clinton on Hilary Clinton is despicable.
Trump claimed Hilary Clinton was an enabler of her Husband philandering because Hilary threatened each of the women Bill Clinton had an affair with. Chei, wow, chai, chai, chai! Most women are never the best friends of the strange women their husbands have affairs with. We actually know some women that are ready to go to war with such women in order to keep their men and homes. Most are respectable and discrete women protecting their interest.
While it is true that some of the wives go crazy or too far, Hilary has not gone as far as slashing car tires, breaking car windshield, going to the women’s houses to create a scene or stripping off their wrappers at parties and in public. African women hardly use guns to fight but some women do. Two women fighting over a man can be fun. But not when some women throw acid on one another and calling their husbands’ girl-friends prostitutes, hoes, harlot and much worse!
There is also the law of marital alienation or disaffection that has been used in courts to claim damages. We need not talk about the worse behavior of men fighting other men over their mere girl friends not to mention their wives. Boy, some men are so ignorant, they are ready to tear-cloth anywhere. Women used to laugh at a friend that fought whenever he saw his wife’s “customers” at parties. He was advised to let her go, that was not a wife. We call them “jaskili”.
Poor Hilary Clinton, she has not done any of these. Yet voters are not mad at Donald for using her husband’s indiscretion against her. Donald Trump has gotten away with labeling opponents anyway he wants. There is a level some people are not willing to stoop to, even as a politician. Mr. Trump has crossed all lines of decency and it is working in his favor. We thought the worst in modern day politics was when Papa Bush used Willie Hutton, a prisoner, against Dukakis.
Actually, when it comes to sexual indiscretion, Mr. Trump, a serial monogamist and a noted philanderer himself, should be the last person to insult an innocent woman that had to endure the full glaze of the public as her husband was humiliated with salacious details evoked from Monica Lewinsky by Prosecutor Ken Starr. Are the American public waiting for an encore just because Mrs. Clinton and not Mr. Clinton is running for office?
While Mr. Trump has been throwing all the jabs at her, Hilary has ignored him dealing with issues that Americans should be concerned about. She must be getting all kinds of advice but not one of those would tell her to reply Mr. Trump personally.
However, Hilary Clinton surrogates or Bill Clinton must stand up to that bully because his past treatment of women he hated and those he wanted have not been commendable. If the facts checkers really want to dig, they will find enough materials to damage his choice of women to pick on, for pleasure or hatred. After all, people living in the glass houses should be the last to throw stones. But Mr. Trump thinks he can shoot anyone in Manhattan without consequences.
He has been a spoilt brat all his life and can never be tamed, not even the Presidency can. More folks voted for Mr. Trump than admitted it in public. He has outdone the Republicans at their own game and may become the next President of U.S.A!
You are totally misinformed. Look very well with your korokoro eyes again and come up with Fulani or Arabs wearing AGBADA. Don't you know the difference between Agbada, Bubu and Babariga?
Agbada is exclusively Yoruba invention before being adopted everywhere else. Olodo!
As soon as Bobo landed at the airport with his family, he kissed the ground and exclaimed: Welcome back home where men are men and women are women. He could have allowed those that came to the airport to say that but he could not wait. He quickly introduced his wife and children to his relatives. When they got home, everyone was waiting including his in-laws.
The wife was graceful throughout in her greetings to both sides of the relatives. People were asking what they wanted to eat and drink. She quickly found her way to the kitchen to get her husband a cold drink. Hubby was bewildered by the sudden change in manners. He whispered astonishment to his close friend that she would not have run to the kitchen to get him a drink abroad. Everybody had joyous welcome home party. Her single gesture resolved to a bliss night.
When this same lady had come from Africa to meet her husband, at the 1st party they attended to impress his friends, some wives got up to get food for their husbands. He had expected his new African wife to follow. She told her husband it was serve-yourself. Get up and get yours, jo!
Go back to the welcome party: at the end, in-laws asked to speak to their daughter alone. They expressed their happiness at her demeanor towards all families and relatives. They told their daughter to please keep up the positive attitude and be kind to her in-laws. She must dutifully comply with requests. Respect her husband, their beautiful home and watch out for friends. All the advice they could not give when their daughter was abroad flowed. Better late than never.
Just as white men privileges prevail in the western world and for men in Asia, men privileges are still strong in African countries for the simple reason that both sides of the families enforce them after marriage. The cultural and family traditions are so strong that they work against women some of the time. Recently, as more women become independent in their individual rights through education, profession and contracts, they have also exercise some leverages.
Many wives refuse to go back to Africa after the sojourn of their husbands abroad. Apart from unrealistic expectations from their own families and that of the husbands such as second wives, extended families demand, responsibilities for others children. While they may resent their husband being pulled, they have no problem extending same responsibilities to their siblings.
The respect and fear of white men in their communities are important factors apart from other socio-economic ones for the higher stability of marriages in white compared to black families abroad. Adherences to Asian and Spanish culture by the families also explain family stability in their communities since they hardly involve authorities outside their cultures abroad in their marital disputes. Unlike blacks, they settle their differences according to these cultures.
So men’s privilege over women is alive and well in most communities around the globe. Never mind the loudest Women Liberation Movement in the United States about equality. They are so far behind other industrial countries. Canada, right at their border, gives substantial and more economic rights to women. Canadian women get paid for maternity leave, baby bonus, provide more access to daycares to help women at work and healthcare than to U.S child tax credits.
Conservatives think government welfare breaks families, ignoring the fact that it also helps men and the kids. Even if the same high socio-economic status of whites and blacks is considered, black men still get less respect from the women. Black men have to be careful since authorities would make a postal boy out of them if they demand the same respect women give to white men abroad. Authorities use black men to prove they do not tolerate any abuse from all men.
Despite the success of women, they still expect men to provide at least some of their wants, not necessarily needs. Most of the men that could not step up: however little or to a token, get treated shabbily. Rich women seize control and possession of the children from poor men. But it is hard for rich men to take children from poor women. The law still expects equal sharing of the properties. Except in cases where a man already built his wealth before she came in.
Let a man that stayed at home and contributed less dare ask for a fair share of the properties. Heavens and earth would fall! The woman’s family would raise hell about the lazy philanderer trying to milk their daughter where he contributed nothing. The standard favors rich women against the poor man in a divorce. If you want to see women’s fury, ask them for your share. Her family will run you out of town, shameless man!
We cannot lose sight of injustice divorce men go through when about half of their life savings and properties go to their first wives while they have to struggle and live far below the standard they are used to with their second wives. The first wives are supposed to hold on to previous standard of living while the man and his second wife can starve if they want. This injustice is what African culture try to balance at home. Often, it is to the disadvantages of women.
When our grandmothers claim they stayed with an abusive man because of the children, it has a ring of truth. When it comes to divorce, in most cases the woman has to make a choice between her and the children. There is no better home than one with both parents. However, a woman or a man has to make the choice without knowing how the children are going to turn out, some are more resilient than others. There is no point patching up a dead marriage though.
African culture can adapt and support modern marriages as long as we do not throw out the baby with the bath water. Respect your husband the way men are respected in other cultures and respect your wife also. No culture is perfect but each culture is different. No point wishing for one when you are grounded in another. Fortunately, the family in this story decided to stay together because of the support and the encouragement of relatives from both sides.
There is this Yoruba proverb about the same bulala used to entice the first wife is waiting for the second wife. It is unbelievable that we can easily forget the hard lessons of Structural Adjustment Program in the Africa in general and Nigeria in particular. Again, we finds ourselves in the position where Buhari was overthrown in 1984. Number One Vagabond that melted the Country down has resurrected the ugly politics of Devaluation disguised as sound economics.
Structural Adjustment Program was debated during Shagari to Buhari’s first regime in Office. The consensus then was that Nigeria would not take World Bank or International Monetary Fund loans. It was an open debate on both sides. When that Son of Ba-Shiwere IBB overthrew Buhari, he promised not to take odious loans but would implement some reforms necessary to reach the same goal of fiscal responsibility. We believed him. He took us to the cleaners!
Maradona dribbled and fooled us. Most of the people that had worked hard and saved it all, lived the lives of middleclass, could afford simple pleasures without being a millionaire when naira worth naira, lost everything after SAP. This type of armed robber was different. He did not break into houses, snatched our belongings and forced everybody unto the ground. What IBB did by stealth-moves turned our money into sand-sand. Who say money no be sand-sand?
People could not build or complete their houses again. The last cars we bought, got so old, we could not afford repairs. We used to go to Central Bank to pay foreign business loans, school loans and fee with adequate proof. Some of us that had gotten 6,000.00 naira car loans. It good money. By the time this writer got out, he had about $9,000.00. It could have been better spent.
After paying some student loan, some outstanding credit card loan, bought presents and on the way back at Amsterdam got a brand new tiny Suzuki Alto for less than $3,000.00. The only car in town! Salary was about four hundred naira a month. By the time they took out car loan and housing, still had some respectable money in the pocket for the family.
Boy! Nigerians were mad when Umaru Dikko told people to stop complaining. After all, he saw people in America eating from the dustbins on the street, something that could never happen in Nigeria. We just had enough of them and decided NPN was going to be voted out. Got to go. We could not take it anymore. During the election, we were out on the line early waiting to throw out the bunch of son-of-ba gone that danced while we saw the Country smothering.
NPN won anyway, in some areas our votes were not even counted, in others on site numbers were ignored and fake numbers declared at the center. Therefore whoever thought Nigerians preferred military government because Buhari regime was welcomed on the street need some psychiatric evaluation at Yaba left. We were overwhelmed, a devil could have had his way at that point and time. The military took advantage of the situation and of our desperation.
imf-sap-africa
Before the military, we heard respectable folks warning Shagari that Nigeria was going into a free fall. By the time IBB introduced SAP, big honest business men with foreign loans liquidated their businesses and those that built estates lost them to creditors. How were the mighty fallen. Naira became useless. Nobody in his right mind could predict Ibori, Tinubu or Saraki of today.
Devaluation is no more about economics, it is political. When you see insects disappearing and grasses dying, we must wonder why. It does not have to be human, you do not have to be an environmental activist. When poor folks suffer, think far, you may be the next on the line. Like most Africans, suffering Nigerians sometimes mix politics with ethnic sentiments. We know that at the end of the day, politicians only care about themselves and their families not us.
We thought President Jonathan was our Godsend messiah. The man is well educated and cool headed until we saw his other side. Most of the Country could not be wrong and we voted for him North and South, East and West. When President Yar’Adua became incapacitated, activists and fair-minded people rose up and asked for the crowning of Ebele. It was not surprising that that despite threat and prediction of doom day, he defeated Buhari like OBJ, even in the North.
Our Country have been fair by making sure that no matter where you come from, either North or South, you can become the President of this Country. For a long time Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba dominated the political landscape at the expense of minorities. Jonathan dissolved that notion. Ijaw do not have more numbers than other minorities like Edo but Nigerians in fairness and in compensation for the exploit of their resources saw it fit to elevate one of them to presidency.
It has never been a blank check for anyone. If Ebele did not create a vacuum, a hundred Tinubu or Buhari would never have stood a chance. People forget that even in Lagos as other places throughout the Country, the election was close, not a landslide that elected Ebele as President. The stars lined up for Buhari this time, not because we love him more than Ebele; but because Ebele took us for granted the same way Shagari, Akinloye, Diko, Ekwueme and Akinjide did.
When you drive Nigerians up the wall, we may not melt into the wall as usual. We would vote for a devil as long as we believed he would fight corruption. When people Buhari jailed under his authoritarian regime and Operation War Against Indiscipline came out to say they did not care. Saving Nigeria from the hands of kleptomaniacs was more important than their individual suffering under Buhari/Idiagbon, you knew they were desperate for a savior; even a devil.
Devaluation is no more an economic argument or discussion, it has gone political. Anyone that went through Structural Adjustment Program for which World Bank and IMF apologized, cannot be taken seriously if they say they are for constant devaluation of naira. What do we gain since Babangida started the slippery slope downwards?
[quote author=ebamma post=44620705]Great article, But one thing i detest about many our Journalists is that, Today the will be ranting against corruption, Tommorrow you will see them working for a corrupt Governor as special Assistant [/quote
Fearless writers offends most of the people that can compromise them. This guy has been around for a while calling a spade a spade. Not even Buhari likes him.
Nigerians have been bugged down by so many wahala, they do not have time again and again.
Pharaohs Outrageous Pay Reincarnated In Panama
If Nkrumah woke up to hear Ribadu claim that trillions of dollars have been looted out of Africa and Thabo Mbeki plea on Africans to take action against African Panama looters of billions of dollars in avoided African taxes, he would be shocked beyond death. Whatever Nkrumah had spent on Independent Freedom Fighters could not have brought the celebration of Vagabonds In Power! Here are traitors that are being treated as royals in each African country.
[b]The fight for independence used to be the reason to go into politics in Africa but sudden foreign income from gold, diamond and oil that place politicians in charge of fiscal management of the country directly changed our motives and exacerbated African problems into civil wars of ethnic independence. One would think that poverty and lack of basic infrastructure would raise level of agitation and protect us against obscene salaries and allowances. Not even a scratch.
Despite the fall in foreign income from exported oil and unreceptive justification for status quo, remuneration went on as usual without drastic cut in Nigeria. If old soldiers that never die, billionaires looters reincarnated in Panama Pharaoh Tombstone. It is too painful to leave money in Africa after setting up their children and grandchildren outside. Surprisingly, there are more money left, must not be wasted, so they had to prepare their Pharaoh Tombstones in Panama.
Africans have been blinded, numbed and inoculated by too many communal disasters. Indeed, the masses have moved on as other incessant problems befall us like Ebola in West Africa, the perennial petrol shortage, Aguta massacre and Boko Haram in Nigeria. Surprisingly, our cries about payment to politicians died down without political casualties. Instead we are reminded by Panama Papers that the gluttonous and voracious appetite of our politicians are still alive.[/b]
In a country, where corruption is not stealing because corruption involves politicians protected by Army and Police (flown inside a jet contracted for $3m monthly); compared to hungry petty thief lynched in the market (for stealing milk for his newborn). The outrageous pay of former governors also confused us further by more bombastic pension. Only juggle justice can save us.
You see, Africans have no business in Nigeria’s money. Nigerians are not like Nkrumah that see Ghana as Africa, and used its meagre earning on Africans. There were days when Nigerians were ready to invest its money in or outside Nigeria to benefit Africans at home or outside. Nigeria has given birth to vultures that have repulsive use for our money. When governors started padding their salaries and pension, it was like play like play!
Amoda Yekini Ogulere alias Tinubu started it and the rest of the governor followed because he got away with it. It will be hypocritical to claim at this point that we did not know looting would get worse and other governors would build on it. Many justified APC reincarnation of Yekini at the Federal level because: when you see fire, you fight fire with fire. We are just starting the celebration of impunity, if not arrested one way or the other our great grandchildren would pay!
After all, what is Saraki celebrating that has not been predicted by the actions of those before him? Obasanjo and his best friends Danjuma and Atiku fell apart over oil blocks, privatization of parastatals and foreign investors. Andy Uba loaded plane with American dollars. We only know about when he got caught, we did not know if they made many trip to Panama. Even Jonathan as President could not be outdone with Dazuki, by sending a planeload of dollars to S. Africa.
Igbo saying taught that when you put sugar in the mouth of a kid, don’t expect him to spit it out.
Why other Africans do not “understand” Nigerians: it is our money and our sons and daughters! We can never save Nigeria or invest in Africa as long as we have Panama looters on board a ship that must deliver dividends to the next generation. A system that allowed Saraki back in power, exonerate Gov. Ibori, Bank Manager Akingbola or Abacha family cannot catch a mouse O!
Africa is not United States of America or Europe where due process, rule of law and democracy in the midst of plenty can adequately fight corruption and fraud of the highest order; compared to looters in our ocean of poverty. Any threat to America or Europe very existence, calls for zero tolerance, no place to hide in the rule of law or democracy. By deadly force on any space, even kidnapping from other countries or eliminating, despite collateral damages. They don’t play!
With all respect to Africa’s legal minds, Senior Advocates and Queens Counsels; if any of them still think the rule of law and due process can deter African saboteurs, they need to apply their unique abilities to free terrorists in Europe and Americas as they do for our parasites in Africa. These looters make sure they steal enough to droop foreign cash in excess of life salaries and pensions in front of police, lawyers and judges. Ready to discharge or stall until next election.
In lieu of juggle justice, well-meaning Nigerians want special tribunals to avoid delay tactics of lawyers hired by crooks in agbada that grabbed wealth and encourage others to do the same by hook, crook or tulasi exploding and corrupting our culture. When we face a threat as severe as the western countries, we must use every power within our means to save Africa. Wanted a government specifically to sanitize corruption. Trials must be less than 6 months no magomago.
The amount of money leaking out of African is greater than what exports can earn, odious loan, trade or the so-called foreign aids and technical assistance. If these continue, our existence as a country or as a Continent is at stake. We face more threats from our politicians’ legal and illegal wages than from the world’s most deadly Boko Haram terrorists; today. We must give credit to the Executive Branch hard spine in confronting and winding down of Boko Haram fanatics.
It may take jungle justice on oppressors instead of petty thieves in the market stealing food
hungryboy: There was a country, It died when politicians started 1000 times the minimum wage, When our pastors started cruising in private jets, When greed had overtaken our sense of compassion and integrity, All we have left is a jungle, with the majority of it inhabitants preying on each other
Rich Parents Procure Dollars Sent By Children Of The Poor[size=12pt][/size]
Rich Parents Procure Dollars Sent By Children Of The Poor One of the several lessons of the civil war was the lack of funds, scholarships and grants sent to children abroad. They got used to living in luxury compared to poor students that had to work, send money home and go to school.Somehow we have squandered foreign income made after the war from Niger Delta, left in shattered environmental degradation. Right now, we are back to square one where many students with rich parents have to learn to work as their poor peers.
The rich parents have not relented in finding ways to pay for their children studying abroad. We understand their cries about the horrible ways their children abroad have to make ends meet. Some of the students have to drop out of schools while others have to relocate home to local universities. Others have become resourceful learning from their friends in the same schools studying hard and working in order to send money home to their parents and siblings.
The rich parents and their siblings go to banks and Bureau De Change to exchange huge local currencies for dollars, euro, or pounds. By conservative estimates, working foreign students and others send billions of dollars home through formal and informal exchange channels. The cash may the sole income many families spend to boast the local economies of African countries.
We cannot but note that while the children of the poor labor hard day and night to send money home, the rich parents are buying the dollar and pounds to send back to their children abroad. Connected parents, manufacturers of essential product and politicians can include the school and boarding fees in their transactions at subsidized rate from the Central Bank. So, even within the rich, there are classes. Those rich parents crying for their kids belong to unconnected class.
When the President of Nigeria was asked about school fees for those that cannot source foreign currencies for their children abroad, he gave them a straight answer. Only those who can afford it should send their children abroad. Certainly, it may not be the diplomatic or politically correct answer we want to hear but it is a fact. Others claim that the reason people sent their children abroad in the first place has to do with under-funded and unequipped colleges at home.
It is also true about primary and secondary schools at home. More good schools are the private ones and they are very expensive. Until recently, some of them demand school fees in dollars and pounds. After all, they have to pay their unqualified oyinbo staff only for their fluency in Queen’s English and American accents. In fairness to these schools, some of them do have very well qualified African staff they pay poorly; in naira compared to dollars for unqualified oyinbo.
So, rich parentshardly escape paying their children school fees in foreign currency.Whether at home or abroad we must source foreign currencies to pay school fees. The amount of money spent on fees abroad without talking about what is spent locally, if rightly directed, could be used to bring our local schools up to standard. Standard is another debate because there has never been a time we do not complain about standard and derided our local schools.
Corona started beforeAwolowo schools. Oh, our parents hatedAwo schools. We were proud ofour 8 years in primary schools; mockedAwo’s6 years. By the time we got into secondary school with those children that spent six years, we were “smarter” in class. But waitO. It was only for the first or 2nd year. Surely, by the third year those six-year primary school studentsgot hot in class and the advantage of extra two years was gone! Now the whole world uses Awo’smodel.
Well, what about Jakande schools? It was another storm in a teacup. Apart from the fact that school were built everywhere for children that never had opportunities to go to school locally, not to mention abroad, it turned out to be one the greatest achievements of Jakande that has yet to be equaled. People complained of schools built on swamps, bush andwherever kids lived.
Fortunately, those that heededJakande’s calls to invest and participate in schools around their neighborhoods vindicated his goal.In certain locations in Lagos,including FESTAC and Surulere in those days, parent contributed money and spent time in schools as volunteers raising the standard of those schools. They put the teachers on their toes and parents were able to act as substitutes (educated babysitters) when teachers were absent.
By the time these schools were known by the word of mouth, many parents outside of their neighborhood wanted their children in those Jakande schools that were equal or better than private schools. Of course, after Jakande and those parents whose kids had overgrown those schools left, they went back to their old standard. It is the problem we have. As we take one step forward, those coming behind us take two steps backwards.
If Africans stop looking outside their communities for what others built and maintainedabroad, we may invest dollars sent out in our local students.By building schools at home that will justify children’s future, not only in Africa but proud to showcase our unique education to the world. Most of our curriculum from primary schools to colleges are modelled after countries outside Africa with the rational that we want world standard. Our world standard is their local standard!
How would the Russians or Chinese that teach and learn in their local languages able to achieve super power and economic independence as African countries whose civilization existed well before theirs regressed to copy-copy as our preferred standard. There are fewcontributions,unique these days that foreigners would want to learn in Africa except our languages. Yet, it is the same language we despise so much. African kidslanguage teachers will soon be foreigners!
Imagine how much our rich parents will be saving individual African countries if theyinvest in our schools to reflect Africa uniqueness, pride, independence and progress as our old Empires. Source: Farouk Martins Aresa Published: Wednesday, March 30, 2016
How many Nigerian or well bred unselfishness African economists agree with you?
When Mobil and other companies were exporting finished petroleum products out to neighboring countries, how much foreign income did they declare in Nigeria?
At the same time using our foreign reserves to import oil. Should a company like Mobil even be given foreign deserve allocation after all these years?
The figure head of Mobil controlled by America is justifying why Mobil cannot build refineries but Dagote can because he is ready to risk his money. What a shame, coming from another Nigerian admitting that he is a stooge.
Any reasonable African can see through him.
I am Yoruba, leave Kachiku alone. The rut created by exploiters like Mobil and other oil companies that continue to waste gas flaring and pollute our environment wickedly despite many postponed deadlines and laws just to bring the country down like all African countries.
You all want Kachikwu to use his magic wand to correct it in a year.
Yeah right. It's our money, we can spend or loot it anyway we want, Delta remained environmental disaster under your son for good 6 to 8 years!
He was careful because he supported Buahari mission on corruption but thinks money recovered should be poured back into the economy.
It is too early for that since no one knows how much will be recovered making planning how to spend it unclear, if they want to be prudent.
Olisa does not have to be an economist to make sense, he has enough education and experience to indicate where we are failing and where we can improve in his opinion.
Where I disagree with him is his textbook solution according to western countries. No African country has been a success with that. Even countries like S. Korea, Indonesia or China have clout, originality and goodwill they will not extend to any African country.
After the war they invested heavily to rebuild Europe. So was Japan as long as Japan remain castrated militarily. China is a nuclear power with mix economy but highly controlled and manipulated by communists without apology.
Compare those with Ujama in Tanzanian that was sabotaged. Only dreamers think textbook economic ppl will save any African country. Look at who S.Africa economy works for.
Nigeria can devaluate until kingdom comes, you will only become Zimbabwe. Africans have enough brains for homemade solutions. Stop depending on readymade economy, goods and services. Trade more across West, East Africa and less on western tastes.
I am surprised most people do not get it. This a a vulture like the dad using market women to pressure and get position at the Federal level. Like father like daughter. Mumu shine your eyes open nah.
ratiken: Learn to smell propaganda from a distance
Tinubu is only trying to position his daughter as the leader of a pressure group....... That's all. Every other thing is part of the scheme.
Think..... Who made her leader of market women of Nigeria?... . That is the crux of the propaganda
Dangote FPI & Banks Must Substantiate Lion Share Of Forex
Content: Most of the governments that found themselves with dwindling foreign reserves as Nigeria would look at the major users to see if they appropriately accomplish the reasons for their allocations. Dangote, Foreign Portfolio Investors, FirstBank, Zenith Bank Plc and Stanbic IBTC Limited must substantiate their lion share and domination of our foreign reserves. So are the increasing numbers of parents sending fees to their children for courses easily available at home.
Under normal circumstances, one would not question international businessmen like Dangote, Otedola or even owner of beloved Innoson, Innocent Ifediaso Chukwuma; just to name a few. But Nigeria has never been an ideal country where anyone is above suspicion in view of past abuses. Each of these three should be our foreign cash cows into Nigeria. They should not be scrambling with other Nigerians asking Central Bank or individual banks for foreign allocation.
Abdulsamad Isyaku Rabiu and Ifeanyi Ubah cannot be faulted for raising alarm on Dangote. Any company that got 38 per cent of all allocations from a single bank as Dangote’s Cement Plc for power plant equipment, Congo Cement and spare parts for cement plant machinery; must raise a flag for scrutiny. Anonymous importer claimed bank branches were hoarding and asking for 2 payments, debit and check for the same transaction: legal and illegal . Are Head Offices aware ?
Innoson has pledged more local contents. Moreover, it is relatively new compared to our mega billionaires like Dagote and Otedola that are not bringing in hard currencies. We are also aware that some of the allocations to many of our billionaires are not for Nigeria but to build plants and create manufacturing jobs outside the country. There is nothing wrong with Nigerians’ foreign investments. Indeed, we should encourage it. But bring hard currencies profits home.
In fairness to Dangote, he has published reduction in cement prices a few times, only to find it difficult to implement because retailers always claim they are still selling those they bought at a higher price. Yet we hear that Dangote cement sells at lower prices in other countries where his manufacturing factories were established with our foreign reserve. Even if Nigerians invest with loan from those countries, there would be some capital allocation from Nigeria.
Dangote has complained that he has to provide his own infrastructure in Nigeria where none or very little exist. This is why cement and other goods are expensive in Nigeria. However, when competing with the Chinese or in partnership with them in East Africa, they also have to start from scratch in the middle of nowhere. Yet the prices in those African countries are not as high as they are in Nigeria. In short, Nigerians are forced to bear higher prices than other Africans.
There are certain courses where it may be more appropriate to stay home and save us some hard currencies. It used to be that if courses were available at University of Ibadan, Lagos, Ife, Nsukka or Ahmadu Bello, you are grounded. Well student population has exploded but so are private universities. As outrageously expensive as those private universities are, they are still relatively cheaper than sending money abroad. Foreign currency fees here, is another kokoma.
Our worst parasites are the Foreign Portfolio Investors. Every country wants foreign investors, especially developing country like Nigeria. There are dire needs for infrastructure development with the help of foreign capital and expertize. So we would expect to gain a great deal from the investors willing to work with African countries with the hope that the dividends could be share in the long term. What we have are these FPI looking for short-term gain and pulling out cash.
Divestment by foreign portfolio investors from equities and bond market has devastated the value of our financial institutions. Any country looking for foreign investment would not want to restrict free movement of cash in and out of the country. The motive of the foreign investors is to speculate for quick cash. They are looking for emerging markets they can jack up, make quick profit and retreat with foreseeable sign of trouble. Colonialists in sheep clothing are back: big!
Over the years, we found out that most of the concessions to foreign investors as incentive: tax free zone, free allocation of land, generous low interest loans or grants drain local resources that could have been better invested in development. Government good intention to stimulate growth and encourage infrastructure has often resulted in encouraging foreign companies to compete with local entrepreneurs; they do not reinvest locally, they only repatriate their profit.
We must understand that the amount of money looted out of Africa and Nigeria in particular is more than enough to develop our countries. It is a double whammy, where Africans take loot and profit out just like Foreign Portfolio Investors. This sucks the blood out of our countries. We then wonder why we are regressing instead of making headways after all these years. If we can only see the silver lining in this dwindling foreign reserve, and reexamine our priorities. Great!
Some of us still remember the heavyweights involved during OBJ/Atiku Show, the Bank debtors scandal when our billionaires had to repay money they owed to save their name and then, the Oil Subsidy players. It is hard to vouch for our Billionaires, when top civil servants steal annuity. As if those were not enough, we were bombarded with Danzukigate. Of course all the naira and dollars floating around affect the price of garri. This is why prices of everything always go up.
When you ask the okada rider why he has to raise his fare for poor man, he blames the dollar. He claims that like everyone else, he has to buy in the same market. The prices of chicken, garri, oporoko, amola, etc. do not remain the same. One gets linked to the other somehow. Even landlords are now raising rents blaming it on the dollar. The other day at Bar Beach, pure water from local well went up because of the dollar. He asked: want water to be boiled with water!
When we heard that a big bag of tomato was selling for N300.00 in Katsina instead of normal prices of N5,000.00. We decided to travel all the way from Lagos to Katsina! Oh yes O!
Please don’t laugh. When was the last time you heard the price of any commodity decreased so low? The only problem was we could not decide whether to take bolekaja, gbekilodo, molue, the train or fly by plane. We decided to sleep over it. On waking up the following day, each of us had decided on our mode of transportation. Unfortunately, we got word over the television that all the tomatoes had rotten for lack of storage. Source: Farouk Martins Aresa Published: Friday, February 26, 2016
Loan Sharks 20% Interest Kills Local Businesses & Jobs
How can small businesses make profit or create jobs in countries with loan interest rate around twenty percent? When it is about high-risk business and individuals, bank may justify such outrageous lending rate to cover their high probability loss. But any rate above twenty percent to businesses; are given by Mafia, check cashing or Bureau de Change and exploitation of the poor without bank accounts in very depressed neighborhoods. Outrageous Loan rate
Africans always deal with triple whammy of high interest rate, inflation and devalued currency. Zimbabwe is a special case. There is no way anyone can justify perpetual high interest rate in African countries. Generally, inflation has always been the enemy of the common man; more so in Nigeria than in Ghana. Everything goes up and defies all western economic models of M0, M1 and M2. The exchange rates only get worse, not better from one administration to another
A country must have tangible exports as income before devaluing its local currency, otherwise it might as well put itself out for sale. Apart from fighting corruption to the barest minimum, the two immediate steps Nigeria must take right now while waiting for diversification of economy and increased exports are: 1. fixing the refineries 2. patronize locally made products and food. The saving from these two areas will save the foreign reserve and firm up its currency.
Saving money on refined oil products that are locally produce can buy time, should have bought time. It is the best way to firm up naira purchasing power. Nigerians continue to blame Central Bank for indulging them to import foods that are available but neglected at home. Even more important; imported finished petroleum products when there were enough disabled refineries. They imported Brazilian hair, nylon bags and even got into importation of toxic waste!!!
Imagine. Just imagine if Tafa Balogun were Igbo. There could have been a world war III because of the way he was dragged into the moving police vehicle. That was the Inspector General of Police! Look at what happened to Falaye at his own Church. They booed him!
Some decent girls also thank their partner. I used to think only white girls do until the first time an African girl said - thanks! Never underestimate appreciation for a good kuck.
Seriously, Nigerians when pressed are very creative or adaptive I should say. But we have to learn to start from scratch like Innoson motors which should have started a long time ago with Prof. Awojobi idea, actually prototype. The problem is that instead of looking for private investors among out looters, we want Government to sponsor everything.
There was a boy from the North that built helicopter from junk yard. If he had built more, selling it as a toy in a very small way, he may have attracted one or more of our looters. Nope. Each and everyone of these creative people want their first million immediately calling on government to sponsor them. The next thing is they want foreign exchange to buy parts to import their creative or adaptive toys. Once you need to import anything to get off the ground, you have defeated the whole idea.
Look at what our mechanics do with cars. Some of you are driving Nigerian made without realizing it. They build anything on any chassis. This is not only done in Nigeria. General Motors V8 engine was used to power many Jaguar and other cars in the US. Nobody would even know until they hear the engine.
Nigerian made is Nigerian made regardless of where it comes from. It is not a superiority contest.
China Fires a Warning Shot at Yuan Speculators With Bank Bans
At least two banks banned from cross-border currency dealing Offshore yuan erases 0.5% drop on intervention speculation
China has a message for currency speculators: the free lunch is over.
The People’s Bank of China has suspended at least two foreign banks from conducting some cross-border yuan business until late March, according to people with direct knowledge of the matter. The clampdown comes as the growing offshore-onshore spread makes it profitable for those who skirt capital controls to buy the currency at a discount in Hong Kong and sell it in Shanghai.
By closing loopholes in its regulations, China is trying to stabilize the yuan after a surprising revamp of its currency-valuation system in August led to capital outflows and prompted policy makers to tap $213 billion of foreign reserves to support the yuan. The risk is that discouraging arbitrage will cause the exchange rates to diverge further, undermining the goal of unifying the two markets.
“The market should see this as a warning shot across the bow,” said Douglas Borthwick, the New York-based head of currencies at Chapdelaine & Co., a unit of the British inter-dealer brokerage Tullet Prebon Plc. Chinese regulators don’t want onshore trades to be speculative in nature and “in the short term this will likely lead to further widening of the spread,” he said.
Parallel & Black Markets Compete With Central Bank
The father of a household told his family that his income has been cut in half and every member of the family must cut down on expenses by half: forgo frivolous spending, delay their wants for what is vital and needed for survival of the family. Few of the children grumbled but the mother complained about money the father spent on girlfriends. This is the dilemma facing the Gov. of Central Bank on dwindling foreign reserve. Should they borrow to maintain the same lifestyle?
Many of us still do not understand that no matter how rich we are, how highly endowed our country or our continent is; it is the buyers’ market that is dictating our prices. There are many predatory and opportunistic investors willing to buy all our resources for almost cowries’ worth. One to a million Zimbabwe buck. It does not matter how much oil Nigeria or Equatorial Guinea has; how much gold there is in Ghana, Bauxite in Zimbabwe, diamond in Sierra Leone or Congo.
If you do not print dollars or pounds, no Central Bank can satisfy the needs, wants and desires for foreign currency to buy materials and commodities your country do not manufacture or produce. Any country that does not get its priority straight, must fail in its pursuit of currency it has no control over. What we have control over is our desire for that currency. But our avarice, sugar tooth and selfishness have taken over our cranium. They sell products high, buy ours low.
Those making a case for free dollars or pounds are ignorant at best, saboteurs at worst. This is reflected in what they use foreign currencies for. When the Governor of Central Bank decided to prioritize limited foreign reserve for vital industries and needed oil to grease the machinery of the economy, some manufacturing sectors that should have been self-sufficient ages ago, lined up to be counted in. Coca-Cola is now competing with Pure Water for foreign reserve!
Do we really think industries that depend on cocoa as raw material like Nestle and others since Independence should continue to count themselves as vital industry in dire need of allocation? After all these years, they still cannot produce machineries where the cocoa is located but still have to order parts, sugar and milk from Europe and America to sell us chocolate and candy at home. In return they buy our oil, diamond and gold; refine these and sell them back to us high!
Bread has become the food of the common man around the world. Wheat became the world standard taste for bread. Bakers hold countries that do not grow wheat to ransom that unless they import wheat, the common man will starve. Therefore, the common man has rejected “adulterated” wheat mixed with anything other than refined wheat itself. We preferred white bread to any other. One of us even discovered that amola and kenki made from wheat is great!
However, those who grow wheat and refined it to white bread changed their taste for health reasons. White bread is pure carbohydrate that turns into sugar aggravating type II diabetes along with other refined and artificial products. Indeed, the more refined our food is, the more it turns into sugar. For health reason, the closer our food is to the ground the better: called organic and pure. So bread is better when it is whole wheat.
Fortunately, bread can also be made from barley, oats, rye as well as multi-grain. If that is the case, why do we reject our cassava bread, corn bread, guinea corn bread and breadfruit we can make palatable as healthy bread that is closer to the ground and more “organic”?
Look at how much money we can save from the importation of refined wheat, pure sugar water or Coke, mineral water and champagne that have become a drain on our foreign reserve. But bakers, Coca-Cola, Nestle and Irish Guinness have to find a way to get allocation for dollars!
We cannot count out the Beer Brewing Industries for seeking foreign allocation for imported materials. Before the coming of the Explorers and Missionaries, we always brewed our own beer and gin. It got to a point, Tai Sholarin reported himself to the police station to be arrested for drinking illegal gin. Whatever the undesirable health effect, after almost a century we would have thought that our legally constituted brewers would be competitive with minimum royalty.
When it comes to our health, foreign medical excursion has become a drain on foreign reserve rather than a necessity. No one wants to die without a care he can afford. But it is also a curse to want to die abroad, so that the name of Queen’s Hospital could be put on your obituary at home. They never patronize top teaching hospitals around the Country with special wards that rival worlds’ five star hotels or hospitals with world specialist of their choice flown in.
Realizing our preference for anything foreign, Indian hospitals, British and European schools are brought in as partners by Nigerians, the so-called foreign investors, hiding their identity behind shell companies and predator foreign opportunists that can only flourish in our local parallel and black markets. These are blood sucking Nigerians Africans call foreign investors!
We also have students abroad whose fees have not been paid and need their credit cards to cater for themselves and friends. Foreign reserve accumulated from sweat of poor workers in the mines digging diamond, gold and whose environment has been devastated by disaster created in the oil fields by International Corporations; must pay for spoilt foreign students. Yet, there are schools at home their parents did not invest in and left to degenerate.
Still there are African students in the same schools sending money home to parents, siblings, creating jobs by building houses. Many have to work full time and go to school full time while they watch their mates on scholarships drive the latest cars and live in luxurious apartments. Some of these spoilt brats have parents with multimillion pound houses. These parents shuttle between parallel and black markets round tripping and making millions for Europe and America
They scoop most of the foreign remittance sent from overseas in parallel and black markets. We must remember that Obasanjo military government made an example out of Harold Shodipo. He was humiliated, dragged as a criminal and jailed for his own hard earned money because of the same black market now legalized as parallel market. We called them enemies of the Countries that were unpatriotic and willing to sell their father’s land for pottage. What of those that have legally wasted our foreign reserve now?
Like Play Like Fire Too Many Dead Bodies Have we been so desensitized on human suffering from too many dead bodies that collateral damages make no difference? We use Koran, Bible, Prophets; highly qualified professionals like doctors and lawyers to cover-up the evil of Jihad, Crusade, Police shootings and Army collateral damages. Eye witnesses can be discredited by “scientific” evidence before jury and on national televisions. It is becoming difficult to distinguish the men of God from militias around the world.
Africans witness this on a daily basis at home and in Diaspora but the rest of the world cares little about us. Who can you blame, if we butcher ourselves for peanuts? Sometimes we care more for others. Yet the world was touched by a little kid that got drowned and was washed ashore after trying to cross to Europe. When massacre made the world wrap the flag of France, it caught the attention of Africans too and made Archbishop of Canterbury questioned God.
The reason the rest of the world ignore us has more to do with the respect we give to our causalities of civil wars. We are so brutal and wicked to one another, one wonder if humanity exist in Africa. We destroy lives so easily, many cry that blacks or Africans must not be left to themselves otherwise our population would dwindle to a few in the museums. We should regard this as the insult of the highest order, but fear that it could be true prevents us. Finally, there is something that touched most Nigerians recently than the death of a lovely 21 year old student that got caught between Indigenous People of Biafra and the Nigerian Police. While we argue about who shot or stabbed her, we all agree that she should not have died. The rest of the world did not notice our sorrow but then, Boko Haram kill more Nigerians constantly than ISIS killed throughout the world. Nobody wrapped Nigeria’s flag around the shoulder.
Everyone has a grouse like a group of people have a cause. If every group decides to politicize their cause and champion confrontation with bellicose promises, money and power; the world is ready for End Time. We have to be careful so that we do not fall for the predictions of those prophets of doom. End Time has been predicted before they were born and the world survived their grandfathers. Indeed global warning many of them do not believe in has taken more lives.
Yet the death of this young girl in Onitsha struck most of us regardless of our ethnic group with remorse, retrospection and grief. Some of us have to ask if the agitation is worth the death of this one lady, not to mention many to come or millions that have died for such causes around the world. This young girl could have been our daughter, sister, wife or even mother of another little baby. But before she had a chance, life was snuffed out of her.
It must be made clear that Africans are not barbarians. Indeed, more human sufferings are perpetrated by those that specialized in sophisticated weaponries they pride themselves on. They master the art of killing with neutron bombs that can destroy humans but leave their precious properties untouched. They brag about how many times they can destroy the world and one another. The only reason United States and Russia do not confront each other is because of their power of mutual destruction.
But make no mistake about it, Africans are catching up and seeking the same weapons to destroy one another. The cost of getting these fatal enablers is draining Africans of their resources. We sell ourselves and our resources in exchange for man-made materials. While natural resources are dwindling, manmade material can be easily reproduced, refurbished, recycled and sold again and again until we exhaust ourselves and our natural resources.
Do we take the suffering of so many poor people into consideration when elephants fight and the grass suffer? It used to be that we were willing to die fighting for freedom than to die as slaves. Of course, leaders of these militias will vouch that they are fighting for freedom and the right to determine our own destiny. They see themselves as Kwame Nkrumah, Martin Luther King, Albert Luthuli, Steve Biko, Menachem Begin of Israel and Yasser Arafat of Palestine.
Unfortunately, the cry for freedom of many of these militias is a cry for control of their piece of the pie. Stick the whole pie into their faces; they will deprive others of their fair share. We have seen many African countries engage in these fights only to become the oppressors when they conquer. There is hardly any African country big enough with the same ethnic group not to biker over resources or land. The same heritage did not unite the Somali.
What is it about Africans that we want to turn every clan, every tribe and every ethnic group into a country so that every family can become the president of his house? We all agree that if we cannot live together, we should separate rather than kill one another. The only problem is what constitutes amicable division into a country. Anyone that disagrees with the separatists is a sucker of others’ resources.
The irony is that most separatists may not have enough resources of their own but rely or fat on those of others they wish they could convince to separate with them. From East Africa to West Africa, the common problem is where the gold, diamond and oil are largely located: either the diamond does not respect ethnic boundaries or the oil is located offshore. The technology needed to exploit each of these resources is usually outside the country or the Continent.
Some Africans hate their neighbors so much, they are willing to let outsiders come and exploit them than allow commonwealth of shared resources. Of course outsiders are willing to supply the weapons needed to subdue one ethnic group for the other, as long as agreements are signed on who is going to be invited back to develop and export African resources. It is now a completion between Chinese, Europeans and the Americans.
Once all the modalities and intricacies of boundaries are solved, this writer wants a separate state and would contest for the President of Aresa
Politics › Niger Delta Is Not In Syria Or Iraq by banku(op): 12:50pm On Jun 07, 2016
