₦airaland Forum

honeric01:
Where did i agree with you abeg?

we all know that we have slums in Lagos, but 11million people? that's a pure lie, BTW, do u live in Lagos? pls note, i didn;t ask if you lived in Lagos, i said, do u live in Lagos?  

The only agreement i have with the thread is Lagos having a slum, but to claim 11million out of 18million live in slums is a FATAL lie.

What did BBC say about Lagos (the true ones) that you didn't know before?

Agree? My bad, in a keyboard punching flurry.

Yeah, I live in Lagos; but am one of the lucky few not to be sorrounded by sewers (it doesn't in any way set me above the average Lagosian).
I see what goes on around me and am real about it. Yesterday I posted about my visit to Ijora Badia; it was an emotionally scarring experience that I wouldn't wish to repeat, we must learn to do things better.

These things are there for each and every one of us to see, lets not pretend we don't see them.

honeric01:
i am just sick of the guy too, every last Saturday in Lagos, there's a compulsory environmental sanitation from 6am-10am, if you are caught outside, you pay heavy sum of money or be made to sleep in the cell after going through the court process. every Thursday in all markets in Lagos, there's environmental sanitation from 6am-10am and it must be obeyed.

Beaf, if you don't know now, you should know.

our dirtiness in Lagos is a citizen problem and not the governments fault, lagosian are just too carefree and i blame it on their IDC attitude.

You are just being sentimental. The fact is living conditions in Nigeria are poor.
I am sorry, but if you think it is the citizens business to set up cleanliness standards (known as health and safety), you couldn't be farther away from the truth. It is the governments duty to set standards, but in Nigeria, its all about chopping.
We have zero standards and as long as able bodied men argue for mediocrity, we will continue heading backwards. In case you don't know, Makoko has actually been growing, rather than shrinking. It is a shame.

honeric01:
Based on that same pix you posted, does that area look like a slum to you?

Yes it is a slum by the dictionary definition.

honeric01:
Drainage in some parts of Lagos are covered and no one jumps across them before entering their houses, i mean the front house are always covered except parts where people don't have anything to do with.

if anyone is to talk about proper housing, it's not that UK, i am yet to see any nice house in the UK (for average people), except those 10x by 10x rooms they call houses, if you want to see standard houses, go to the states.

Ok, lets assume you have never hopped across an open sewer in Lagos. The fact is still that they are everywhere and it is an unhygenic practice that is only found in slums.
We are better off sorting out our problems than berating those who point them out.

Your second paragraph agree's 100% with everything I have said, both with my earlier mention of Jamaica (although a bit guilty with open sewers in ghettos too) and with our lack of standards.

tkb417:
jeezz

hmmmmmm, how do i start?
1) i cannot see any entrance in front or behind the gutter

2) the gutters are cleaned in Lagos every last saturday of the month and that means they are usually clean except in an area where sanitation is relagated to the background

fyi, Lagos is the only state where this is a common practice

what on earth are u on about?

Suddenly, its all semantics!
Can you deny the photo? Ode!

tkb417:
in the posse of the dim witted, you shd be a heavy weight champion

answer my question

do the cars jump the open sewers too?

What do you call this? Eh, "intelligent" boy?

https://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/business_nigeria0s_challenges/img/7.jpg

@honerico
That photo is from the BBC and being British and the owners of English, I would say they know what they mean when they describe what is in that pic as an open sewer. So lets not meander here and there (it won't change matters), we all know what an open sewer is.

tkb417:
in front of the houses in Ilupeju

so Ilupeju residents jump these open sewers b4 entering their houses

wow
so how do they drive in then? or the cars jump the sewers too?
LOL

Please wear your common sense cap.

honeric01:
do you jump anything before getting into your house? i mean your house must be the worst house in the whole of Lagos.

I actually don't (doesn't make me any different), but 90% of Lagosians have something to hop across on their way home. In the UK, where the BBC is based, that is a health and safety crime that will be visited with heavy fines and even jail time, if corrective steps aren't taken.

Aside from berating the BBC here (which we all seem to agree, has a negative agenda), what corrective steps have any of our govts taken to right the bestial life standard of 90% of our populace? I am listening.

honeric01:
still not right, open sewers is wrong, it's either gutter or drainage, gutter is almost as large and wide as canals but drainage is what we have in every streets, so go back and make your research because few houses would be found around gutters and sewers in Lagos.

You're aren't joking, are you? Your definitions are way off, but we both know what I'm talking about. Even in a semi-high brow area like Ilupeju, there are open sewers everywhere. We have no standards. We urgently need to start developing standards; that is the only way we can develop, otherwise we might as well move into zoo's.

tkb417:
im slow myself
cant seem to pick what the guy is sayin

if ure jumping a drainage in front of your house, u live in a slum
excellent!!!

gutters, do u have gutters in front of houses?
LOL
excellent again  .   .   .  .lol

Stop being funny and check the definition of "slum" (with particular emphasis on amenities and services). Come back when you've done that.
Jumping anything to get home, puts you right bang in slum conditions.
What will we do next? Climb?

honeric01:
gutter? or drainage? which one are u talking about?

I would actually say "open sewers", but I've got to stick with Nigerianisms.

ziga:
I'm yet to find your open gutter definition of a slum.

Can you help me please.

Simple deduction. Its in the poor sanitation part of any slum definition you find.

Just one example. . . If you or your maigaurd (or anybody else) has to hop across open gutter's; you live in a slum.

ziga:
And by who's definition is this.

If that is the case over half of the whole world live in slums.

Open any dictionary, check the meaning of "slum".

sojjy:
I hate listening to bbc news nor watching it especially when it has to do with Africa as a continent.The journalist have never reported any positive thing about Africa.I am not amazed about their report on Lagos,they are just too bias as if there are no slum in bleeping countries.

You are right, the BBC has an almost racist attitude toward Africa. But the fact remains, the areas they have filmed exist in Nigeria; thats the reality. Lets take care of our development and then we can rise in righteous anger when we are slighted. Right now, we should just be quiet and ashamed about it.

jay bee:
@beaf
What a comparison What's the total population in Jamaica?

What a funny question! Whats the total population of the US?

[size=14pt]What is wrong with Nigerians? In other countries, they would ask serious questions about vast areas could be so primitive.[/size]

Many people don't even realise that any area that has open gutters is a slum; fit only for animals.

Yes, BBC have an agenda, but they arent inventing stuff to use against us. Its right there for each and every one of us to see, but we bleeping don't care about each other! How can places like Makoko even exist? How? In a modern country? How? Nigeria as it currently is organised, is a cruel country. Some are thinking about how the Nigerian govt will retaliate. . . Una no get shame? No be only "retaliate"! Make una go United Nations! Rubbish!

If you go to any [/b]market in a small country like Jamaica, you will find that every peace of meat for sale bears a govt stamp. If you sell meat that isn't stamped, you go to jail (because, for goodness sake, you could be selling poison). Every piece of meat is sold by weight. The food inspectors are very neatly dressed and take pride in their work. Guess what?. . . [b]Jamaica makes far less money than some Nigerian states.
Has any of you seen the way cattle are slaughtered and meat sold in Nigeria?

Damn all of you who are feeling slighted that the BBC has filmed things that are evident to each and every one of us. We see these things and do nothing, is that BBC's fault to?
If you regularly droppings in a field and someone decides to film you; do you have the right to complain? "Oh, imagine! They actually didn't even check to see how nice my house is, the only thing that bothers them is that I droppings in the field!" . . .Anyway, I'll leave you with this photo of Jamaican police (now imagine 9ja police hanging from pickups without headlamps and demanding "roger" at road blocks).

Dis Guy:
how is it still alleged?

na wa o, so under nigeria constitution paedophilia is legal?!?!

Yes it is.
The United Nations has been up in arms against it for donkey years now, but the sharia states have put their foot down about what they claim to be their culture. The average marriage age in Kebbi state is 15. Female children as young as 9 or 10 are routinely forced into marriage with grown men in these areas.
Because of health complications to do with their se'xual imaturity, a great percentage of these children go on to develop Vesicovaginal Fistula (VVF) or Rectovaginal Fistula (RVF).

Vesicovaginal Fistula (VVF)
VVF occurs when the blood supply to the tissues of the vagina and the bladder is restricted during prolonged obstructed labour, the tissues die between these organs, forming holes through which urine can pass uncontrollably. VVF is also sometimes referred to in the literature as Vesico-vaginal Fistula and Vesico Vaginal Fistula.

Rectovaginal Fistula (RVF)
RVF occurs in a similar way to VVF however, holes form between the tissues of the vagina and rectum, leading to uncontrollable leakage of faeces. RVF is also sometimes referred to as Recto-vaginal Fistula and Recto Vaginal Fistula.

http://www.forwarduk.org.uk/key-issues/fistula/definitions

This is a terrible fate for the affected children. Even worse is the fact that they are dumped by their ra'pists and left to rot away after they develop VVF or RVF.

[size=14pt]Yeriman should be tied between between trucks and have his limbs yanked off. Rap!st bastar'd![/size]

Lets hope the wicked mosquito's in the creeks will spare some of Ibori's flesh for SSS to arrest.
Bushmeat go soon catch de hunter!!

[size=14pt]SSS joins EFCC, police in manhunt for Ibori[/size]
By Sola Adebayo, Warri, Published: Friday, 23 Apr 2010

The Presidency has directed the State Security Service to join forces with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Nigeria Police Force to arrest the embattled former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori.

Findings by our correspondent on Thursday showed that a special team from the SSS headquarters in Abuja and police detectives have already been deployed in Delta State in compliance with the order.

A combined team of policemen and the EFCC operatives had on Tuesday stormed Oghara, Delta State to arrest Ibori, but were resisted by armed youths most of whom were believed to be militants.

Ibori consequently went underground with the police and the anti-graft agency vowing that he would be arrested.

It was learnt on Thursday that the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ogbonna Onovo, and the EFCC Chairman, Mrs. Farida Waziri, briefed Acting President Goodluck Jonathan on the failed operation on Tuesday.

Reliable sources in the EFCC told our correspondent that the decision to draft the SSS into the manhunt for the ex-governor was taken after the meeting on Wednesday.

It was gathered that the SSS was specifically directed to comb the nooks and crannies of Delta State with a view to determining Ibori’s whereabouts.

Our source said the SSS was to report back to the Police and the EFCC on its findings. He, however, did not say when the SSS will make its findings known to the two bodies.

The source said, “The SSS has been directed by the Presidency to join in the efforts by the EFCC and police to arrest a former Governor of Delta State, James Ibori.

“The mandate of the SSS is to just locate and identify his (Ibori) specific hidden place with a view to determining the level of force to be deployed by the police and the EFCC to arrest him.

“This decision is a fallout of the meeting the Acting President held with our chairman (Waziri) and the IG (Onovo) on Wednesday night in Abuja. Already, the SSS has swung into action as its men were reported to have arrived in Delta State for the operation.”

Our correspondent also learnt on Thursday that Onovo had deployed a special team of detectives from the Louis Edet Police Headquarters, Abuja, in Delta State, to fish out the embattled former governor.

Police sources in Delta State Police Command said on Thursday that the IG directed the leader of the team, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, to treat the assignment with dispatch and seriousness.

Specifically, the team was asked to focus on the upland and riverside axis of the state in the manhunt for the former governor.

Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, a Deputy Commissioner of Police, who said Onovo had put fresh strategies in place to arrest the former governor, declined to volunteer the details when our correspondent contacted him on Thursday.

Ojukwu said it would be counter-productive to make details of the operations public.

He said, “We (police) are still on his (Ibori) trail in many directions to make him (Ibori) answer to the law. But we are not prepared to make our strategies and operations available to the public.

“But I can tell you that we (police) are making efforts to get him (Ibori).”

The EFCC spokesman, Mr. Femi Babafemi, also told our correspondent on Thursday that all security agencies were collaborating to arrest Ibori.

Asked to comment specifically on the report that Jonathan had ordered the SSS to join the search for Ibori, Babafemi replied, “All the security agencies are working in synergy and the search for him (Ibori) continues.”

Ibori’s latest travails stemmed from a petition to the EFCC by a group, Delta State Leaders, Elders and Stakeholders Forum, led by a former Minister of Information, Chief Edwin Clark.

The DSLESF alleged that Ibori sold millions of shares belonging to the Delta State Government and used the proceed to purchase an American oil servicing firm, Wilbros, during his tenure as governor between 1999 and 2007.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201004233572615

[size=14pt]PDP Moves against Masari, Odili, Nnamani[/size]
From Chuks Okocha in Abuja, 04.21.2010

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday moved to wield the big stick against the arrowheads of the plot to oust its National Chairman, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, accusing them of engaging in anti-party activities.

PDP also accused prominent Ijaw leader and Second Republic Information Minister, Chief Edwin Clark, of plots to destabilize the party due to alleged pecuniary interest.

Apparently toeing the line of governors elected on its platform, which on Monday upbraided those moving against Ogbulafor, the party asked those concerned to appear before its National Working Committee (NWC) tomorrow in Abuja at 12 noon.

Those summoned to appear before the NWC include former House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Bello Masari, former Senate Presidents Adolphus Wabara and Ken Nnamani, ex-Rivers State Governor Peter Odili and former presidential aspirant, Owelle Rochas Okorocha.

Others included former Imo State Governor Achike Udenwa, former Abia State governorship candidate of the party, Chief Onyenma Ugochukwu, former Transport Minister Abiye Sekibo, former House Chief Whip Bawa Buhari, ex-House member Awwal Tukur, Chief Sonny Iroche, Chief Tony Ukasanya, Senator Agboti, Senator Sylvanus Ngele, Senator Ifeanyi Ararume, Chief Chris Ekpeyoung, Prof. ABC Nwosu and former Edo State Commissioner for Works Kelechi Igwe.

A statement issued last night by PDP National Publicity Secretary Prof. Ahmed Alkali said: "The said members and others, meeting under the umbrella of PDP Reform Group, are reported to be engaging or to have engaged in conduct likely to cause disaffection among members of the party or likely to disrupt the peaceful, lawful and efficient conduct of the business of the party or otherwise engage in anti-party activities or precipitate faction and belong to a group under the guise of the party by whatever name called, not being one provided for in the constitution of the party.

"In consonance with our commitment to the principles of justice and fair hearing, the National Working Committee of the PDP at its emergency meeting of 20th April, 2010 acting under and by virtue of powers conferred on it in Article 21.4 of our party constitution resolved to invite the following PDP members to appear before it on Thursday 22nd April, 2010 at 12 noon to clear themselves of allegations linking them to these plots."

Apart from summoning them, the party also strongly condemned what it called "the distractive activities of Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari and his cohorts operating under the aegis of an amorphous group, which goes by the name "PDP Reform Forum".

According to the statement, "The subversive activities of this group, which are well documented, amount to gross indiscipline and will soon be met with appropriate disciplinary measures to deter others who will wish to toe this ignoble route."

There have been fears in PDP hierarchy over the planned re-opening of a case file against Ogbulafor by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Offences Commission (ICPC).

The case, which borders on campaign donations, had already been investigated and closed in 2004 when he served as the Minister for Economic Matters under President Olusegun Obasanjo and was running for the office of National Secretary of the PDP.

The move to reopen the case is believed to be part of the calculations for the 2011 election in order to change the PDP leadership and install those who are more likely to work with Acting President Goodluck Jonathan.

Ogbulafor is said to be very loyal to the PDP governors who installed him two years ago at the expense of Dr. Sam Egwu, Obasanjo’s preferred candidate. Obasanjo is a known backer of Jonathan.

A former aide to Obasanjo is allegedly co-ordinating the move to remove Ogbulafor. He is said to be well funded and has already identified Chief Bernard Eze as Ogbulafor’s replacement.

However, close aides to the Acting President told THISDAY that he is not be aware of the moves against Ogbulafor.
PDP Governors had on Monday after a late night meeting condemned any move to remove the party’s chairman or members of the NWC other than as laid down in the party’s constitution.

The governors also asked members of the party to ignore moves made being made by an “illegal group” to hold a meeting.

Yesterday, PDP commended Acting President Goodluck Jonathan, Senate President David Mark, House Speaker Dimeji Bankole and all members of the National Assembly and all state governors elected on the platform of the party for the heroic roles they have been playing to ensure the growth and stability of the party and the nation in general.

But it accused elder statesman Clark of plotting to destabilize the party because “PDP refused to hand over its structures to him in Delta State”.
Lashing out at the former minister, the party said: "Our disappointment is particularly borne out of the reasons given by the 82 year-old frontline nationalist for his open war against the Ogbulafor-led NWC.

"We view this attempt to extend personal grievances to the political arena as selfish and unbecoming of a leader whose accomplishments and advancement in age should ordinarily be an inspiration to us all."
PDP reminded Clark that the era where organs of the party were unilaterally subverted and handed over to demi-gods is over.

Meanwhile, the PDP Reform Forum has replied governors of the party, insisting that the affairs of PDP must be run by men of integrity and people with proven track records of performance.

In statement signed by Masari entitled "Who we Are, What they want", the group said
"Our desire is that persons of proven capability and high integrity should be elected always to run the party affairs, especially as members of the National working Committee”.

As a reform group, Masari said, “our mission is to return to the founding ideal of PDP, re-engineer the party and make it more people oriented, more creative in the generation of party fund, streamline extant parallel structures in PDP states and ensure internal democracy.”

The group denied that they are rebels, saying, "members of the forum are bona-fide, authentic members of the PDP who genuinely and sincerely are concerned that the party has progressively and incrementally drifted away from its founding ideals and has completely lost focus under the watch of the current NWC.”

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=171514

Babangida
Rilwan Lukman
Yusuf Tilde
Abba Ruma
Aondoakaa
Abdullahi Adamu
Ahmed Sani Yeriman (f*cks babies )
Tanko Yakasai
Mohammad Barkindo
James Ibori

snowdrops:
@ Beaf

But Ibori and Odili are no longer the small fries they started as. They have become not only unbelieveably rich but hold so much influence. They surely pose a significant threat to peaceful existence in the ND. If there are comparable or greater dangers from above is another matter.

To that extent, yes. But the fact is that they have always been wagged from Abuja; in fact, now that Ibori has lost his Abuja backing, he is having to battle mosquito's for space in the creeks. Thats one dead lion.

The likes of Ibori, Odili and now Timepre Silva have always provided a conduit for illicit trade by the powers that be. There is strong speculation that they organise the protection rackets (thugs) that keep the Abuja bunkerers happy; to that end, all of these men hold powerful keys to the corrupt center.

The 5 states mentioned, have since become Nigeria's sharia torch bearers. . . Just coincedence?

One day, years ago, I returned home looking shell shocked and almost in tears. My girlfriend wondered what the problem was. . . I had just been to Ijora Badia and seen shockingly depressing levels of sub-human existance in the midst of plenty in Lagos.

We need to clean up our act, if you have ever been to Ijora Badia, you will know it is like visiting hell, yet fellow Nigerians exist there. You have to watch where you step, because there is faecal matter everywhere; avoid anything blowing on you in the wind; keep your balance, so you don't fall through the precarious plank walkways into the dark, fetid water below; hold your breath against the pervading stench. . .

Nigeria is commiting a crime against a vast proportion of its masses. I will never forget that experience.

snowdrops:
Ibori and Odili are the greatest single threat to the ND.

IBB and OBJ the greatest threats to Nigeria.

Ibori is a smoke screen for other powerful interests in Nigeria. We aren't deceived, he started out as a front man for Abacha and his colleagues; the word "cabal" should resonate.
The real threats to the ND lie outside of the ND. Ibori, Odili and co might have sold their souls, but I repeat, the real threat to the ND is outside of the ND and is the same as the threat to Nigeria (simple math ND = Nigeria).

[quote author=~Bluetooth link=topic=424925.msg5839753#msg5839753 date=1270551484]beaf and his militant brothers are in trouble.no more amnesty, fire for fire[/quote]You people bearing this position are so ignorant, blind and silly. 
Otawa has always been a rumour monger and conspiracy theorist, so no biggie there. Africom my arse!
Like I told ndu_Chucks on another thread. MEND were among the first to visit Uncle Joe; listen to the wise words of Nigeria's only Nobel Laureate (no be beans to earn dat kain tin o! );

He accused Mrs Yar'Adua of using her husband's "phantom existence" for her own interests, along with a corrupt cabal of unelected leaders that he called a "bunch of absolute brigands". "It has gone beyond theatre of the absurd into something ghoulish going on macabre," the writer said.

Mr Soyinka said Nigeria had a failing "neocolonial constitution", a wave of "political assassinations" and was a place where power failures were "the norm" and its leaders were "robber barons" looting the country. "There is this myth of Nigerian resilience, that we will always pull back from the brink, but there is a critical mass at which some things implode," he said.

[size=14pt]He defended the "real militants" in the Niger Delta[/size], whom he said had a right to take on the government over decades of neglect, rights abuses, environmental crimes and theft of resources. He called Mend "a small, well-organised and resourceful militant group" that could choke the government's lifeline of oil. Yesterday, Mend launched its biggest attack since last year

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/nigeria-is-falling-apart-says-nobel-prizewinning-author-1921835.html

Jealousy go kill una!!!

@trueword
Thanks for that! Not even 3 months as expected!
My only hope is that, with such speed, it will be a thorough document. But Jonathan is not a stranger to Nigeria's electricity issue's; having been involved in various commitees prior to now; he knows where the weaknesses are.

So Yar Adua suddenly wakes when EFCC is chasing Ibori? Story, story!

[quote author=ndu_chucks link=topic=434744.msg5932934#msg5932934 date=1271901144]Beaf, you can't eat your cake and have it at the same time, buddy! These are the same MEND operatives that have now been hired by Ibori.  Your organization is made up of thugs and criminals. You people need to learn how to take your struggle to the political arena. Your days of thuggish criminal acts are over.[/quote]What a pity! Didn't you hear that MEND were one of the first to have a one on one with the presido at Aso Rock? How could you have missed Wole Soyinka's visit to Jonathan?

He accused Mrs Yar'Adua of using her husband's "phantom existence" for her own interests, along with a corrupt cabal of unelected leaders that he called a "bunch of absolute brigands". "It has gone beyond theatre of the absurd into something ghoulish going on macabre," the writer said.

Mr Soyinka said Nigeria had a failing "neocolonial constitution", a wave of "political assassinations" and was a place where power failures were "the norm" and its leaders were "robber barons" looting the country. "There is this myth of Nigerian resilience, that we will always pull back from the brink, but there is a critical mass at which some things implode," he said.

[size=14pt]He defended the "real militants" in the Niger Delta[/size], whom he said had a right to take on the government over decades of neglect, rights abuses, environmental crimes and theft of resources. He called Mend "a small, well-organised and resourceful militant group" that could choke the government's lifeline of oil. Yesterday, Mend launched its biggest attack since last year

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/nigeria-is-falling-apart-says-nobel-prizewinning-author-1921835.html

Die!!!

violent:
lovely article

We will soon witness an age where men protest náked. . . now that's some scary shít you'd say!

God forbid!

^
Shaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrraaaap dia!
The only true militants are MEND.

Ibori's goons aren't militants! Don't dignify those baboons and their master with a decent name. They are criminals and robbers that Ibori has armed up with sophisticated weapons (birds of a feather flock together). Uncle Joe should feel free to send NNS Aradu and NNS Olokun to fry the arses of those modafokaz if need be. We don't need Ibori and his kind hanging out in the ND.

If we had true federalism, there would be no Ibori. Abuja politics is what makes the Ibori's of Nigeria possible.

Run along now and fetch us Tinubu.

[size=14pt]“Rent a protester,” better package for nudists[/size]
By JULIET BUMAH and ABIMBOLA ADELAKUN, Published: Thursday, 22 Apr 2010
Super Thursday, April 22, 2010

In 1929, women from Owerri, Calabar and environ, after months of preparation, rose in protest against a harsh taxation policy of the colonial masters. They also protested the activities of the African Warrant Officers who aided them. They had to go topless to register their displeasure at the actions of the colonialists which were causing economic hardship for the entire community. In 1949, Fela Anikulapo Kuti‘s mother, the women‘s rights campaigner, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, led a protest against harsh anti-female taxation regime.

When the women of Escravos in the Niger Delta area could no longer bear the hardship, they had to embark on a 10-day peaceful protest to demand that their husbands and sons be given jobs by the oil companies – ChevronTexaco and Shell. That was in 2002. When they started taking off their clothes to expose their unclothedness, the executives of the oil companies had to negotiate with them.

After the re-run election in Ekiti State in 2009, hundreds of women from the state, many of them topless, protested the malpractices that marked that election. The placard-carrying women rained curses on the perpetrators of the electoral fraud.

The belief is that whoever makes a woman, especially a mother, go naked in anger is cursed. So, reasonable people really would not dream of causing women sufficient grief to expose that which should be hidden to the public.

Just two days ago, a new dimension was added to the drama of getting former governor of Delta State, Mr. James Ibori, to answer for his actions while in government. Ibori is currently facing charges of misappropriation of funds while in office as the governor of Delta State. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has recently declared him wanted. The women of Oghara, Ibori‘s hometown, went naked to protest the ”harassment of their illustrious” son by the EFCC.

It seems as if ”nude protest” has become a tool employed by politicians to divert attention from grave matters. What has the EFCC officials done to merit such action? It would seem that some women would go naked in public for that man or woman who could foot the bill. Unfortunately, these ”rent a protester” are soiling the names of activists with just causes who use protest as a tool to get the ”rulers” to listen to the led.

In fact, ”protest industry” seems to be thriving in Nigeria, especially in this political dispensation. It doesn‘t matter whether one has a cogent reason or not, if one has enough cash to throw around, one can gather some people to go to Abuja or wherever, to protest any cause.

Thankfully, it is civilian era where such protests are tolerated by all who should. Who would dare that if it were a military regime?

The recent wave of protests started with the Save Nigeria Group protesting against ailing President Yar‘Adua holding the nation to ransom. Of course, the rally generated publicity and it must have increased the outrage against Yar‘Adua and his minders because by the time the second leg of the rally was staged in Lagos, clouds had begun to gather over the celebrated ‘cabal‘ who were keeping Yar‘Adua from the country. The end of the story is known to all.

We have had celebrities march to the National Assembly Complex to protest and they were denied entrance. From the reasons adduced by various camps, it seems that those within the legislative quarters are yet to understand that protests – pointless and otherwise – are integral parts of democracy. For instance, in the United States, prior to the war in Iraq, various groups – pro and anti war – marched to show their support. A third group also staged a protest. Members of this group said they were neither for nor against the war, but since others were protesting, they felt they should let America and the rest of the world know that there was a group of people who had no opinions about the war and that they should not be marginalised.

After the various legs of the SNG rally, we have had several pro-Yar‘Adua rallies led by some young men who felt that as long as Yar‘Adua could still draw breath, he should remain in office.

This pro-Yar‘Adua rally is reminiscent of the General Sani Abacha days when a million people were said to have ”marched” to support the despot. Of course, anybody who is a Nigerian or who knows how things work here will know that such rallies are hardly ever borne out of conviction or fighting for a cause. It is paid for by the sycophantic aides of megalomaniac who want to convince him at all costs that he is a man of the people.

In the case of the pro-Yar‘Adua rally, the rented crowd fought over their pay after they had sweated it out in the sun. The convener was said to have refused to pay the specified amount to these people who were fighting for a mess of pottage.

After the pro-Yar‘Adua march came the pro-Iwu march. For those who still don‘t know, Prof. Maurice Iwu is the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, an organisation whose ineptitude at organising proper elections is legendary. Nigerians and even foreigners who are not stakeholders have demanded his removal for reasons ranging from morality to logicality. Iwu has pretended not to hear all the noise and outrage. He is sitting tight in office despite several rallies organised against him.

A pro-Iwu rally was organised and it was led by the man who is known for many rebellious acts - Charly Boy, aka Area Fada. For Area Fada who is being sustained by the rebellious biker image, his reputation as a musician having long faded, it is an ineffectual way of selling a patently unsellable product. Nobody is amused or impressed and the Area Fada must have found out that there is a limit to what his bling bling and attitude can endorse.

The latest of ”this protest for protest sake” being carried out by the people of Oghara on behalf of their son, Ibori, is laughable. One would have thought that these Nigerians would have distanced themselves from him until he has been proclaimed not guilty.

Instead, they carried placards and launched a protest. It is obvious from the look on their faces that the protesters are impoverished and must have been hired for the exercise.

Ask each of them what Ibori has personally contributed to their lives and they will most likely draw a blank stare. However, they are ”protesting” because, most likely, at the end of the exercise, they will be handed a mess of pottage. It is that bad.

Viewed in this context, it is understandable why the first thing our leaders do is to keep the led poor. If they can ensure that people are poor, they can manipulate them at will. Suppose these protesters are people with decent jobs and can afford to feed their families and make a decent living, will they be protesting on behalf of a man who might not even know they exist?

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201004220254982