₦airaland Forum

Kobojunkie:
Please stop, I repeat, stop making things up. Over and over again, folks on here have provided you with solid reasons for why they criticize this governor for his gloryland idea. Why deny that?
There has yet to be any conjecture offered to this point except from your end. We all saw the video and watched. We all know that Bayelsa is one of the ND states where poverty is considered a huge problem despite the resources the land produces. What else do you want the people to tell you to effectively put A and B together at this point in all this?
Stop trying to make it into another ND/MEND vs the rest of Nigeria debate, which it is not. Focus on the topic and maybe, just maybe, you will see and actually understand why folks have to this point urged you to rethink your stance.

Speak for yourself. Let those who have mentioned wider ND issue's defend themselves.

debosky:
Again distracting from the issue at hand - let's even agree that pollution is the main problem.

Are you saying the 20b would not be able to clean up a substantial part of the pollution or create alternate livelihood for thousands of Bayelsans?

I am not denying the OTHER issues of the ND, but a MAJOR part of the problem lies in the state governors of the ND - they receive close to 30% of all oil revenue in Nigeria yet they are not making the people feel the impact. 30% is enough to cause a dramatic change but it has not happened. In many cases, the so called militants are simply political thugs who were armed primarily by ND politicians but left to their fate after winning elections! This is all public knowledge yet you are trying to absolve the ND governors of blame?

No one is saying this is the fault of the people, but without holding their local leaders to account, they are inevitably contributing to the terrible situation on the ground.

Ignorance is a problem. Primarily it is a problem for anyone who thinks spending 20b on a grandiose project in an abjectly poor state involving a palace with a golf course will work when the majority cannot afford to buy football boots!

There are countless other white elephants all over the place not attracting anyone - this will join them and will serve as a drainpipe on government resources simple.

You aren't making sense.

Is the state stipend Sylva gets for turning off gas flares, or clearing oil poluted farmlands, or forming armies to battle those who are wiping out our communities, or maintaining FG oil facilities that are causing health problems etc?

By all means, critisise Sylva's policies, but don't play mins games and sneak in wider Niger Delta issues, keep to issue's with Sylva. Like I said earlier, I really am at a loss as to if it is being done as a result of stupidity, ignorance or sheer wickedness.

^I have no arguments with the points you've made above. My annoyance is with sneaking the wider ND issue's in, whereas they are very firmly FG issues.

Deal with Sylva if there are issue's with Sylva and keep to those issue's, just remember he didn't kill Saro Wiwa, wipe out Odi and he has no say in oil exploration/drilling.

^I share a similar view.

jacobs123:
What have we done with previous letter of credits but import all sorts of junk, toothpick, petrol, toilet roll, generators, juice, rice, sardine etc. All the things that we have no business importing if our bankers and those in government had any brains.
The letters of credit has made us lazy and even encouraged desperate business men to kill Nigerian companies so they can continue importing and continue depleting our foreign reserves.

If we think well, we will be creating jobs here not asking for letters of credit. If you ask me, I see this as a welcome development for a nation that has chosen the easy route.

By the way, for the companies refusing the letters of credit, it's not like there is a crying demand for their products? who needs their tooth picks, diesel, juice, generators apart from the STUPID people known as Nigerians.

Yes, I wonder who needs diesel, generators etc. When all we have to do is use photosynthesis each time PHCN fails (which is everytime)

Damn!

namun:
i wonder why gusy are sooooooooo particular about sex. na food?

Yes

When some of us came out heavily against the agbero actions of Sanusi, we called all sorts of saddening names. People rushed out, masturbating over his "writings" as if those were going to somehow save the banks. Finding problems is one thing (if there were really any), the wisdom to resolve them properly is another.

Obama hit the nail on the head when he said Africa's problems were due to a lack of instituitions. But here was a man handed the most successful of our nascent instituitions, only to wreck what took many long years to build in two short months.

Should we laugh or weep? We love mediocrity and "action" in Nigeria.
Welcome to sharia style banking, chop off a few limbs here and there, stone the others; Hellooo. . . year is 2009!

All na show to cover face. Because they know the man taunted them, but they dare not touch him.

All na shakara!

[quote author=Aloy~Emeka link=topic=322965.msg4534427#msg4534427 date=1252832725]Its like you knew his whereabouts. I think Nigerian intelligence should start looking for this man by arresting you. How did you know he already left Nigeria because all our agents at the airport and boarders did not see him leave. Common, we caught Ayo Fayose when he tried to sneak into Republic of Benin disguised as a marauder, why can't we catch Ribadu?[/quote][quote author=Aloy~Emeka link=topic=322965.msg4534437#msg4534437 date=1252832878]When did he leave?[/quote]See dis very yeye and useless man looking for Ribadu in NL

debosky:
. . .
@ Beaf

you must be a clown if you think state governments are not involved - he said the state earned $30m a month - don't you realise that even that 'small' amount can cause a dramatic change in the lives of the state dwellers if used properly[b]??

. . .

With 'supporters' like you, Sylva and co will continue to waste the meagre resources of the Delta while the people continue to suffer. [b]As I've always said, the biggest problem of the ND is the management of their state government resources. If they could get that right, there would be so much more support for resource control. . .

That is painfully narrow minded.
The castle might or might not turn out to be a good investment. Time will tell.

The greatest problem of the Niger Delta is not the heap of concrete under discussion. It is polution of the land, air and water, health problems, destruction of livelihoods, the wanton killing of our people by the govt and oil companies (including the execution of peaceful leaders e.g. Saro Wiwa and the Ogoni 9), the repeated wiping out of whole communities, oil spills lasting for years, flares burning night and day, foul odours from rotten animals and fish killed by polution, noxious fumes, foul drinking water etc. It is shocking that the World over, the Niger Delta problem is viewed as a Human Rights catasrophe; but in Nigeria "oh its the fault of ND folk that they are suffering"; I really am at a loss as to if this is stupidity, ignorance or sheer wickedness.

"One of the greatest threats facing the people of the Niger River Delta has actually been their own government. The Nigerian government has total control over property rights and they have the authority to seize any property for use by the oil companies. A majority of every dollar that comes out of the ground in the delta goes to the government of Nigeria. As a result of the enormous amounts of sweet light crude that comes out of the delta every day Nigeria has the second largest GDP in Sub-Saharan Africa [17] Despite the wealth flowing into the nation from oil revenues many of Nigeria’s socio-economic factors are worse now than they were 30 years ago [18] According to the World Bank, most of Nigeria’s oil wealth gets siphoned off by 1% of the population [19]. Corruption in the government is rampant, in fact since 1960 it is estimated that 300 to 400 billion dollars has been stolen by corrupt government officials [20]. The corruption is found at the highest levels as well. For example a former inspector general of the national police was accused of stealing 52 million dollars. He was sentenced to six years in prison for a lesser charge [21].

The situation is very bad and the people have engaged in protests. The problem is many of these protest have been met with unmitigated violence. One example of this occurred in February 2005. There was a protest at Chevrons Escravos oil terminal in which soldiers opened fire on the protestors. One man was killed and 30 others were injured. The soldiers claim that the protestors were armed, a claim the protestors deny [22]. Another, more extreme example happened in 1994. The Nigerian military moved into a region called Ogoniland in force. They razed 30 villages, arrested hundreds of protestors, and killed an estimated 2,000 people [23].

One of the protestors they arrested was a man named Ken Saro-Wiwa. Ken Saro-Wiwa was a Nigerian TV producer, writer and social activist. In 1990 he founded the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP). Ken wrote and spoke out about the rampant corruption in the Nigerian government and he condemned Shell and British Petroleum. He was arrested by the Nigerian Government and imprisoned for 17 months. Then in a show trial Ken and eight others were condemned to death. He and the others were hung in 1995 and he was buried in an unmarked common grave [24]."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petroleum_in_Nigeria

^
Mind your own section.
Is there anything wrong with suggesting solutions. You have no suggestion to make. . .maybe you are chopping? Because only choppers are enjoying the current arrangement.

sjeezy8:
they didn't discriminate between tribes when it CAME TO THEIR OWN INTEREST. Meaning when it came down to Nigeria being a colony they had no favorite. It was who ever benefited them the most at that particular time.

What dont you get i mean c mon have you been to ABJ,VI and met igbos Elites that live in and love the north?
You are talking igbo this and that but have NO IDEA what Nigeria is REALLY LIKE.

Their favourite was always the Sultan of Sokoto and the caliphate, they destroyed the Edo empire which they saw as a threat. Read these things up.

Tsiya:
Forget about your books

Anything that is historical is subject to different interpretation. Igbos are not short-change during the independence. They have the upper hand, it is just when the lost out after the Kaduna coup, they started crying foul as victim of repression.

Your current circumtances of not having an Igbo President is your only grievance against the nation called Nigeria.
Soon there will be an Igbo man as a President, and if he is going to be among the present crop of politicians and the ppl the Igbo you guys consider as your elserstatement, then there will be nothing that will be different from what we have. Corruption is corruption. It knows no DNA

. . .Therefore, we need a government structure that will make coups meaningless. Above all, we need a system where no ethnic group can be repressed.

We don't have such a structure.

Tsiya:
ah. . . now I get you . . . your own is about the oil thing right?

resource control ppl

The real battle lies with changing the countries structure and you will be astounded at how quickly the country will develop. But that is just a dream.
Right now, all sections are lazy because, all a state needs to do is do a monthly begging trip to Abuja.
We are much better than that, each state has a wealth of resources and untapped minerals. The country can be rich, but only if it is restructured. The only alternative to restructing is cataclysm.

Tsiya:
I sniffed gutter

I was trying to ask you

You know, after discussing with many Nigerians from the south that reside in the north, I realised, despite the ethnic crisis in the north, these guys will want this country to remain as it is

I'm from the ND, at the very sharp end of things. Most of us from that area won't mind leaving if we are pushed to the wall, there is no gain when the blood is being sucked out of you, but you've got to keep putting on a smile.

Tsiya:
Do you live in Nigeria?

No I don't. But I visit often.

Tsiya:
Well, the Nigeria would have sat down years ago . . . before independence and decide to go into seperate countries like India and Pakistan.

The problem of Nigeria now, is the integration that have taken place over the years. Any attempt to restructure the country either peacefully for forcefully will throw us into a confussion and uncertainty for decades. It will set us back

Really? Can we go any further backward than where we are now? It is never too late, a stitch in time saves nine. . .

^Don't be naive. Britain only established colonies after powerful anti-slavery movements began rocking the boat.

They cam up with a clever plan. Instead exporting slaves and risking political mutiny at home, move slavery to Africa instead. It was not done for your benefit; nobody loves strangers that much (especially strangers of a different colour). They came to plonder, rape and extort, nothing less.

FREE YOUR MIND.

THE AMAKA:
i know there are countries in War but there are also many countries that are living peacefully and happy with each other.
most of Nigeria's problems is not ethnicity but its the corrupt politicians not sharing the oil wealth and its driving people crazy!!
a lot of people use tribe as an excuse or for something to blame.

but religion is a major problem as well.
but thats another thing. lol

There are so many experts that have wondered at who was mad enough to create a country like Nigeria. Our problem is not corruption, rather corruption and tribalism are symptoms of a meaningless political structure that can only breed confusion.

The sooner Nigerians sit down to talk the better, because we are heading for bloodshed by just applying patch over patch.

THE AMAKA:
but what about ALL the other countries in Africa that are just like Nigeria with many different ethnic groups and still live happy and peacefully amongst each other?
why is it so difficult for Nigerians?

So why do you think there is so much war in Africa? It is so by design.

Tsiya:
After staying in Scotland for some years now, I realise we are not the only ones crying foul about our ethinic problems. Most of the Scots hate the english, especially the Joes and Jennys.

I also observe the make up of Europe, before the World War II and Balkanisation of Yugoslavia, Europe is prone to tribal/ethnic wars for superiority and resource control. Now, every ethnic nationality, apart from Roma ppl, have carve out an enclave the called their country, with their flag and language as a national identity. They enjoyed a relative peace and decide to come together, to meet the challenges for the future on equal terms under the banner of EU.

In my own opinion, there is need for Nigeria and Nigerians to recognise we cannot continue to exist peacefully and happily and develop to our potentials if there inter and intra tribal rivalries are not addressed, especially on the southern part of the country. My case for the south is that, the vast majority of the North are inter connected, either by Islamic religion or by Hausa language, which is a unifying identity.

My headache begins when I looked at the tiny map of Nigeria, the population, and the large number of ethnic nationalities. How do satisfy everybody? How can we give every nationality its own piece of Land? How can we settle boarder disputes? Who will adjudge on our inter and intra ethnic disputes. The south - south, mid-western and middle belt regions, may look like war zones.

Yep. Nato even helped the former Yugoslavia split into several countries in a bloody war. They wanted peace and progress in Europe, at the time Yugoslavia was a country that was very much in Nigeria's current situation.

I'm sure those from the Middle belt and south south can take care of themselves. At least, the south south can.

9ja and noise making. Someone came, went on tour of the nation then left.
Suddenly, the guys who couldn't read his name when he came in and when he left are now searching. . . I will die of laughter for 9ja sha!

Maybe they are looking for his spirit.

michelin89: See person wey suppose to be xtian!!

. . .As far as fine fine babes dey de church, I will be a very good xtian!

[quote author=TOPE2000!]how?
is it devil that create them?[/quote]If I say yes, you fit vex; so I leave you with the desicion. If you were ever to lay your tender eyes on a kid like the one below, would you conclude it was of god or would you conclude it was of belzeebub? When a child like this grows, it shouldn't form.

sjeezy8:
Fashola is a good example who put his state infront of being Lagos indigne

what he does for the state is enjoyed by all ethnicities

There are Lagosians in other states, so that doesn't count.

sjeezy8:
To me i see it as if Obama over everyone with no favoritism toward black, africans or Hawiians or where ever he was raised.

It can be done and within himself and he still listen to jazz and eat fried chicken like black people do, without imposing himself/his beliefs on others.

Thats what i call country before ethnicity

If you get what im tryin to say.

When I mentioned Obama, it was to stress that our problem is not ethnicity, but govt structure. It will be ridiculous for a governor in the US to go on a state trip to see Obama. In Nigeria, it is normal - I don't know of any developed country that is as top heavy as Nigeria.

FL Gators:
^{Thank you.}

I understand. But people would identify themselves as Nigerians, but you know its their ethnicity that matters to do. With friction and tension within Nigeria, each person is holding on to their ethnicity. Holding on to your language, holding on to your culture and tradition, emphasizes the point that people actually really care about their eth. than being a Nigerian.

People would come on NL to form to dey say Nigeria comes first to them, when they know, that that aint true.

Too true!
But people hold unto ethnicity, religion, family etc because they can find love and community in those things. When you think of Nigeria, its almost like an oppressive vampire out to suck your blood.