₦airaland Forum

Ahmadu bello

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It wasn't exaggerated..It was real and stated as it was

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THE RARE LOVE IN AFRICA
I know of an Igbo man called VAL (Not his real name). This man lived in one room apartment. But he hisn’t living alone, his younger sister, a matured lady in early early 20’s also lived with him. Both of them are very friendly to be with.
While living in this room, VAL’s girl friend, whom he intend to marry also parked in. Now, they became (3) three living together in one room as family. They were happy together.
Then one day, one of VAL’s childhood friend living in the same city probably had problem and when all hope seems lost, this friend of his, along with the friend’s wife and 3 children joined him. VAL accommodated them all in his one room, pending when they would overcome their problem and get their own apartment.
Now, they became 8 living in just one room with 2 separate families. 2 matured men, 3 matured women and 3 kids.
They lived together happily without any problem for months.
Then again, after few months, another friend of his living in Lagos was affected by Fashola’s demolition. This friend also have a wife, no kids yet. The Lagos guy was thinking of relocating to his friends city, but there is no funds yet, so he had to bring his wife to stay for some time.
Throughout the friends stay in that city, he and his wife also lived in that one room along with the 8 other people. VAL’s Lagos friend stayed for some weeks, then traveled to hustle, leaving the wife behind. He often comes back to check her.
Now, 3 different families all living in one single room. 3 matured men, 4 matured women and 3 kids.
This gentle man with a kind heart man called VAL make this room comfortable for all the families. This is what the Youba’s try to describe in a proverb which states that, ‘’Yara roboto gba ogun eyan ta ba fe ra de inu’’, meaning that,’’a single room could accommodate 20 people if we truly love each other’’.
What am driving at is the fact that,VAL, along with 9 other people whom he accommodated in time of needs lived together happily in one single room for months. Though, at a point, they might have had issues, but it didn’t degenerate to ugly scene requiring external intervention.
This is what I call the ‘’African love’’. It could hardly happen anywhere else in the world.
VAL didn’t consider the inconveniences all these people would cause him as a person, all that mattered to him is helping friends who are in need. VAL accommodated them with open mind and he showed them what it means to have a friend. THIS IS THE AFRICAN DEFINITION OF LOVE.
This is the African Spirit which enjoys us to make sacrifices so as to help our brothers in time of need. To Mama Africa, Love is not giving from your excess, Love is giving from what you need. This means that, you must compromise your own need to accommodate the need of others.
LOVE is not what you do in your convenience, LOVE is the scarifies you make at the detriment of your own comfort.
LOVE is sacrificing your comfort to assist someone.

To all my friends reading this, can you sincerely show this kind of Love?
To say the truth, most people do not make scarifies to show love, yet they claim to love sincerely. What sort of love can that be?
LOVE is not just in the relationship between husband and wife, we can show love to everyone. We can show love to our friends, families,country and even to our enemies.
THIS KIND OF LOVE IS WHAT WE CALL THE RARE LOVE IN AFRICA, WE MUST LEARN TO SHOW THE REAL LOVE AT OUR OWN DISCOMFORT. Mr.Rights

So, why were you trying to blame other parts of Nigeria for the problem between east and south south?

XENOPHOBIA: WHO WILL RESCUE AFRICA FROM ITSELF?
Abdulrazaq O Hamzat

A friend narrated what he saw in a one of the videos of xenophobic
attacks currently going on in South Africa.

Here him, ‘’I saw a crowd charging at a white vehicle. In the crowd
were youths,men and women and some with babies on their back. They
were out running each other to kill and murder a defenseless innocent
African brother. It was like a horror movie where the deranged are
thirsty of blood’’.

According to the news, what we were told was that, South Africans
accuse foreigners of taking their jobs and women, but we saw in the
videos uploaded online didn’t justify that claim. In the attacks,those
that are being attacked are shop owners who set up their own
businesses. Mobs attack shop owners and loot their properties. How
does that justify the claim that foreigners were taking their jobs?

When I first heard the news that some hoodlums in South African are
attacking foreigners in south Africa, i couldn’t understand why
responsible citizens of any nation would be attacking their foreign
guests, but it became more confusing when I heard that those being
attacked are fellow Africans brothers and sisters. The ignorant mobs
accused them of being foreigners taking their jobs and women. How so?
How can South Africa regard other African brothers as foreigners?
These were the same brothers who stood with them when they needed
them.

The motives behind this killing spree was hanged on the call by a
traditional ruler of Zulu, King Goodwill Zwelithini who allegedly said
foreigners should pack their bags and leave the country. They are
unwanted the king said,re-emphasizing the call even after many
foreigners were being killed in South Africa.

It was observed that, since the King allegedly made this hateful
remark last month, no one strongly rebuked him, no civil society
seriously condemned him, no government institution cautioned him and
no authority ask the public to disregard his remark. Despite making
the said statement in public before both police minister Nathi Nhleko
and prvincial MEC Willies Mchunu, government never reacted until the
attacks begun.

With the ongoing situation in South Africa, the march towards progress
has been terribly and abysmally truncated in modern African society.
Who will rescue Africa from itself?

Any inquiry into African crisis would sooner observe that, government
approach to crisis management is basically reactive: a crisis erupts
into violence and security forces are required to be deployed to
restore law and order. This may be followed by an inquiry (judicial or
otherwise) or such other options available to the government. All
these are seen as reacting to the rupture in the system. They never
take proactive measure to prevent crisis from starting, rather, they
wait for it to start and then react. This is a bad leadership trait.

Had the South African government, media, civil society organizations
and the entire country reacted strongly against the hateful remark of
the king, it is possible that we avert the current crisis.

The early warning signal about this incident had long been visible,
but the government didn’t give it much attention. Over and over again,
selective attacks of immigrants, particularly Nigerians have been
taking place in South Africa without adequate measure to prevent
recurrence. In 2008, similar incident took place, but there was no
measure to prevent its re-occurrence. It is my candidate opinion that,
South Africa government must take responsibility for this ugly scene
and ensure adequate protection for our brothers in South Africa. The
government must come forward to tell us what is really happening in
that country, what are south African media feeding their citizens with
in term of information?what is responsible for this Afro/xenophobia
and what measure would be put in place to prevent future
re-occurrence.

It should be noted that, few days to Nigeria’s governorship election,
the traditional ruler (King) of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akinolu made
comments perceived to be encouraging discrimination against certain
residents in Lagos, but before leaving the spot where the remark was
made, the entire Nigerian public had bombarded the Oba and rebuked him
for such remark. Even those the Oba was trying to support rebuked him.
This is how to respond to early warning signals of conflict, failure
of which some people might be fooled into believing such negative
call.

However, it was regrettable that despite the gravity of the ongoing
killing in South Africa,king Goodwill was still full of arrogance and
pride, feeling no remorse for his inciting remark. He said he has
nothing to be sorry about. The king, according to his spokesman,
Prince Zulu Thulan said that he stand by each and every of his words.
He maintained that, foreigners must pack their bags and get out of
South Africa, they are not wanted he said.

In view of the fore-going, It is safe to conclude that, some sections,
if not majority of South Africans directly or indirectly share the
position of the King.

Although, many countries have been condemning the incidence. South
African nationals both home and abroad have also expressed their
sadness over the incidence, urging their government to end the ugly
situation, but the murderers are determined to continue the killing
spree,yet government have not been doing enough to stop them. Some
pictures surfaced on the internet, where Suth African police simply
looked the other way while our African brother are being attacked and
looted.

Let true be told, the foundation of African brotherhood is shaking. A
continent which had always stood for freedom and shown solidarity with
its own is now being threatened. Those who watched Nigeria and other
African nations fight for South Africa’s freedom would be amazed at
the ongoing show of shame. Who are the attackers? They are Africans.
Who are being attacked? They are also Africans. So, how can Africans
be regarded as foreigners in Africa? This is a strange time.

It was recalled that, primary and secondary school children in Nigeria
often starved themselves to contribute money to be sent to South
Africa during the apartheid regime. Nigerian government was recorded
to have spent over $60 billion in the struggle to free South Africa.
Also, President Samora Micheal of Mozambique was killed mainly because
of his support for South Africa’s freedom. How can the same South
Africa accuse other brothers of taking their jobs and women? How can
they brand them foreigners in the same country where other western
immigrants could live without any problem? It is so disheartening.

As clearly captured by an unknown author in his narrative, South
Africa is a country, whose people would still have been struggling to
eke out meager existence in the back waters of their country, had
Nigeria not embolden herself and flex her muscles to rescue brother
and sister Africans, who were deepen in oppression and humiliation in
the southern part of the mother continent. How sad that Nigerian
citizens and other African brothers are now being repaid with ghastly
murder,looting,intimidation,brigandage and untold humiliation in a
territory that should be regarded as a brother African homeland. How
time flies.

There is no doubt that the majority of South Africans are good people
that are strongly against this foolishness. Many of them abhor the
conduct of the few misguided people among them, but we must continue
to raise our voice against the evil few amongst us.

Honourable Gbenga Olawepo, the former renowned student union leader in
Nigeria told me how he organize weekly protest and fund raising in
Lagos to support south Africa during the Apartheid regime. Many
universities, Civil Society Organizations and others across the
continent did what they can to extend helping hand to our brothers in
South African.

It was on record that Nigeria broke diplomatic tie with many western
nations during that period just to send strong signal to them that
their support for the apartheid regime would not be tolerated. Nigeria
boycotted the common wealth games in New zealand because of South
Africa, and 32 other countries joined us against the British
government. as a result of this strong action, the whole world took
notice and the struggle for the liberation of South Africa was
immediately hyper-accelerated.

Also, Nigeria took very drastic measure against foreign collaborators
of the apartheid regime, nationalizing their assets. President
Obasanjo’s regime particularly send strong signal to western nations
that Nigeria will not tolerate nor flirt with any country doing
business with the apartheid regime and as a result, Nigeria
nationalized Barclay's bank in Nigeria after the bank ignored the
strong warning not to buy the South African bond, which would be in
violation of the economic/trade embargo on the racist apartheid
regime. Nigeria also nationalize the British Petroleum (BP) for
supplying oil to the apartheid regime. These were decisions that
carried heavy implication for Nigeria, but for the love of our
brothers in South Africa, the country risked all to help south Africa
regain freedom.

Additionally, Nigeria provided secrete military training in Kaduna and
other materials,financial and diplomatic support to African National
Congress (ANC) forces.

That is not all, Nigeria also provided full scholarship to South
Africans to study in Nigeria which include accommodation, feeding and
others. How can all these be forgotten so soon that the same Nigerian
and other African brothers are being killed in South Africa simply
because they reside in that country? This is such a dark time in
African history.

It is such a twisted faith that today, while those who imposed the
apartheid regime were being accorded respect in South Africa, those
brothers who sacrificed their life,time,comfort, resources and energy
are now being killed as foreigners in South Africa. What a shame.

Governor Fashola of Lagos once stated that, African countries like
Nigeria once expended much money and commitment to the fight against
apartheid, but he wondered why upon all the country’s effort at
restoring democracy in south Africa, Nigerians and other African
nationals are the one’s being driven out of South Africa.

While British which is the strongest backer of apartheid regime can
enter South Africa without a visa, Nigerians have to take a visa,
stressing that such issues pose very deep question. It is such a
surprise that, rather than improve its relationship with other African
nations, the current targeted killings opened another negative
chapter.

Who would have imagined that, the land of Nelson Mandela, Govan Mbeki
and others great freedom fighters, who gave their all for freedom
would suddenly be reduced to an anti-African gulag. Those ignorant
murderers who descend on fellow African have betrayed the great
African warriors and heroes who lay down their life fighting for
freedom in this beautiful continent named ‘’Mama Africa’’.

Let me remind King Goodwill and his goons that, when South Africa was
under apartheid regime, the king didn’t ask those he now referred to
as foreigners not to send their money to South Africa, he didn’t ask
Nigeria not to give scholarship to South Africans, he didn’t ask ANC
to reject all diplomatic, materials and financial support the entire
Africa was providing. The Over $60billion spent by Nigeria was never
rejected. Therefore, the King has no moral right to brand any one as
foreigners or tell them to leave South Africa.

Let me conclude that, while it is true that what is happening in South
Africa must be stopped at all cost, we must advice other African
nations not to resort to acting wrongly to our South African brothers
as a result of this incident. I have read that in Zambia, all South
African musics have been barred from their radio stations. Many are
also advocating for the closure of South African businesses like MTN,
DSTV and many others, but in my opinion, that is not the right thing
to do. South African musics are done by ordinary south Africans
struggling to make ends meat, we shouldn’t hold them responsible for
the bad actions of the few South Africans. Those who owned businesses
like Shoprite, MTN etc were also not responsible for the xenophobic
attacks and it wouldn’t be right to hold them accountable. Let us
focus on holding the South African government who have the primary
responsibility of protecting our brothers and sisters in South Africa.
We shouldn’t abhor the good South Africans because of the conduct of
the few bad one’s, let us jointly correct the bad one’s and restore
the almost broken relationship.
We must remembers that, Africa sold the ideals of the thesis of the
brotherhood of man which resonated in the diction of being your
brother’s keeper, to the global space. This African philosophy was
originated by the autochthones and had flourished throughout the ages.
It transformed into collectivism with a garb of solidarity,
cooperation and compromise. This has been clothed in a parable,
contextualizing the harmonious relationship between the tree and the
leaves as: This collectivist orientation of African values is shown
where marriage is perceived as a contract between families, land is
vested in communities and work is seen as a social obligation towards
the group, where sharing with other members of the group is an
obligation of those who have more than they need for survival (economy
of affection). The much used parable to symbolize this relationship
between the group and its constituent individuals is that of the tree
and its leaf (sic). The leaf is doomed if separated from the tree,
while the tree can grow more leafs (sic) and is not affected by the
loss of few leaves, but dies when loosing many or all leaves (Munker,
1998:80). The ideal of collectivism, therefore, buttresses the point
of cooperation and cooperative societies recognized the world over.

Few days ago, I saw a topic created by one of the admins of this forum (Barcanista) titled: A political thread for old eastern region (south east/south south)
According to the originator of the said thread, he said it was created to unite SS/SE so as to form a common front, adopting the old name of the eastern region‘’EASTERNERS’’ to project their own interest within the Nigerian state.
However, I do not think this common front SE/SS want to form involves trying to malign other parts of the country by lying against them and tagging them the source of the division between SS/SE before the civil war.
While I do not intend to question what ever reason he has for creating such kind of topic to unite certain sections of the country instead of trying to unite the whole country, I find it quite offensive to misrepresent certain historical facts just for the purpose of trying to recruit people to follow his line of reasoning.
Please note, I am not against whatever you are doing provided it within the law and for the interest of either the whole country or certain sections of the country, but I am offended because you are intentionally or unintentionally trying to mislead some people with false assertion in the history of Niger Delta as it relates with Isaac Boro, the man who first declared a republic.

What are the facts?
Republic of Niger Delta was declared by Isaac Boro on 23rd February, 1966. Exactly 40days after the first military coup which truncated the first republic was carried out by those called the 5 majors mostly of igbo origin.
And as we all know, Nigeria’s prime minister, Alhaji Tafawa Balewa, Western Region Premier, Sir Samuel Akintola and Premier of Northern region, Alhaji Aminu Kano among others were killed.
In the declaration speech to his 159 fighters Ijaw fighter, Isaac Boro states:
‘’Today is a great day, not only in your lives,but also in the history of Niger Delta. Perhaps, it will be the greatest day for a very long time. This is not because we are going to bring the heavens down, but because we are going to demonstrate to the world what and how we feel about oppression….’’'
This declaration according to history marked the beginning of what was later known as the 12-DAY revolution, during which Boro, an ex-police inspector called the attention of the world to the fact that the inhabitants of the Niger Delta were feeling very uncomfortable with their faith in Nigeria.
However, according to observers of that time, that was an understateent. In actuality, it was the culmination of the injustice, political fraustration and suffocation that the Ijaw in particular and Niger Delta in general were suffering in the then eastern region dominated by igbo’s.
Due to the domination of the igbo over other tribes in the then eastern region, Boro and his comrades feared that with the death of Tafawa Balewa whom he describes as the only protector of Ijaw, his tribe, Ijaw is heading to extinction.
When Isaac Boro heard of the coup and the death of the Prime Minister Tafawala Balewa, he states: ‘’ The only protector of Ijaw and Niger Delta have been killed’’
Excluded and alienated from power in Nigeria, most especially within its own igbo dominated eastern region, the ijaw withered in bitterness and regret.
What are the complains of Boro and his group?
Some of the Niger Delta complains includes that, there was no one single industry in Niger Delta. The only fishery industry which ought to be situated in a properly riverine area in Niger Delta was situated about 80 miles inland at Aba, the igbo area. The boat yard at Opobo had its headquaters at Enugu instead of any Niger Delta area. Again, personnel in these industries are are predominantly igbos, Boro lamented.
This is apart from the fact that their environment is being poluted by oil and they are getting less attention.
To capture the essence of their political struggle, In 1959, Harald Dappa Biriye, after whom the recently created Niger Delta Development Commission(NDDC) headquaters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State was named after, began the journey to give Niger Delta a voice in politics by forming a political party, Niger Delta Congress (NDC)with fish as its symbol. The hope was that, as the fourth largest ethnic group in Nigeria, the party would bring the Ijaw in particular and Niger delta in general some political relevance in the eastern Nigeria on one hand, and in Nigeria on the other hand. But in 1959 elections, NDC disappointingly won only one seat in federal house through Melford Okilo from Brass division, Yenagoa. NDC leaders had promised during the campaign that a state would be created for Niger Delta and appointments would be given to the people of the Niger Delta, but these promise couldn’t be fulfilled for obvious reason. The party was hoping to extend its fold in the coming election, but In 1962 eastern region elections and 1964 federal elections, NDC lost all grounds to the igbo-dominated NCNC to the fraustration of Ijaw nationals. History have it that, the political scenario that confronted the ijaw was very gloomy. The NCNC which ruled the east was not interested in the creation of Niger Delta State which the Ijaws and Niger Delta so much desire. The frasutartion of the Ijaws grows, as out of the 9 representatives of the east at the federal, 8 were igbo. And in the eastern region house of assembly, the Niger Delta had only 4 out of 110. Even in the midwest house of assembly, Niger Delta had only 2 out of 58.
Given these political situation which Ijaw and Niger Delta believe is the quest of igbo to dominate them without any realistic way out. Boro lamented, ‘’an Ijaw nationalist finds that a state for his people is more of a necessity than a mere desire….
But to have a state of its own, an agitating area had to get the approval of the regional government or government within which it falls,one other regional government and also the federal government. But the igbo dominatede eastern region in which Niger delta falls did not approve the state creation for Niger delta.
The north and the federal government could not override the eastern government because it was afraid of igbo led NCNC which controlled the east and midwest.
So, the Niger Delta according to historian found themselves hedged in, like the shakespearn stage tied at the stake and bayed about by enemies.
This incident confirm the worries of the pre-independence fears which made Biriye led Niger Delta delegation to london to make a case for the minorities. The fruit of their effort was the willinks commission which later recommended a Niger Delta Special Area status for the Niger Delta. Consequently, the Tafawa Balewa led federal government set up the Niger Delta Development Board, NDDB. However, the eastern region government refused to make any contribution to the board. It down on the Niger delta that Ijaw and Niger Delta politicians would never achieve results for the area, hence, the need to adopt armed insurgency which was championed by Boro after Balewa was murdered in the coup by mostly igbo officers, the same igbo’s whom Ijaw see as their core enemy at that time.
After Boro recruited about trained 159 fighters, they struck and 12 days later, the so called revolution was foiled by the first military head of state, Ironsi. Boro and all his lietenants were arrested, tried in court and condemned to death. But fefore the sentencing, Boro made a plea.
Hear him:
We had long sought a separate STATE, not because we love power, but because the Niger delta conditions were peculiar and the authorities did not understand the problems.
He declared, ‘’there is nothing wrong with Nigeria as whole. What is wrong with us is the total lack of mercy in our activities.
Here, it was clear that what Boro and his Ijaw people seek was a separate state within Nigeria, outside igbo control, but the east, dominated by igbo had prevented this with no any way out. Hence, the need to sort for other ways.
Please note, Boro and his gang begin their so called revolution after it was clear that igbo’s had seize the federal government when Ironsi took over as head of state, they already believed that with the Igbo as head of state, it was almost impossible to achieve their aim of having a separate state through any legal means, hence their decision to struck.
However, when Gowon took over after Ironsi’s death, their death sentence was changed to life imprisonement. This was before the civil war.
Again, before the Declaration of Biafra, Boro and his men were freed and their long awaited desire to have their own state was achieved when Gowon created Rivers state. This is one of the major agitation they had which led them to becoming militants. To crown it all, Lietenant Commander Diete Spiff, an Ijaw, was made governor of Rivers. For Boro, his men and the entite niger delta people at that time, it was a dream come true,as what they couldn’t achieve as a result of igbo dominance and oppression of minority was achieved in that period. In Boro’s word, the revolution has failed and yet succeeded.
He states afteward in 1967: ‘’My men and I, with the creation of our state, are now free to help not only our people, but also Nigeria, to peace, unity, stability and progress.’’
When the Civil war broke out, Boro gladly became a major in the Nigerian army. He was killed on April 20, 1968, near Portharcourt.
But Nigeria deteriorated under the unitary military rgime and worsened the plight of the Niger delta.
My point here is that, it was wrong for the creator of the said thread to claim that other parts of the country was the reason for the rift between SS/SE, that was clearly a mischievous and false assertion statement.
Don’t create hatred and animosity between SS/SE against other parts of the country in the name of trying to unite a certain section. That is a wrong approach to unity of purpose, it can’t last.
Always be guided by truth.
Mr.Rights

Kindly read the post again

I dont get your message?

indeed

CHANGE:THE UNFOLDING PHENOMENON
By: Abdulrazaq O Hamzat
The 2015 presidential election has come and gone, but Nigerians are yet to know the final result of their votes which was casted on Saturday (28th March,2015) and in some places, (29th March,2015).
However, what seems to be glaring is the fact, from the result announced so far in 19 states of the federation including the federal capital Abuja, the candidate of the leading opposition party, General Muhammed Buhari of the All Progressive Congress is leading by over 3 million votes. This is an unfolding phenomenon.
General Buhari, whose campaign message is circled around the theme of change seems to have been successful in changing the view of the Nigerians about him, as result released so far indicate that, from being a candidate who could hardly get 1% of the total vote cast in some states in 2011, Buhari have been able to improve tremendously in many of those states and even winning them in most cases.
From all indications, Change is the unfolding phenomenon which is set to befall Nigeria.
Before the conclusion of INEC’s announcement, let me show you how far Buhari has gone in this election compared to what he did in 2011.
EKITI: In 2011 presidential election, General Muhammadu Buhari lost and had just 2,689 in Ekiti State, when President Goodluck Jonathan had 135,009 (almost 100%), but now in 2015 according to result announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Buhari has 120,331 (41%) and President Jonathan narrowly win with 176,466 (59%).
OGUN: In 2011, Ogun is a state where general Muhammadu Buhari lost woefully, winning just 17,654 votes, when Jonathan had 309,177. But in 2015, the All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential candidate won Ogun with 308,290, while Jonathan had 207,950.
ENUGU: In 2011, Buhari had just 3,753 in Enugu state while President Jonathan had 802,144, but the result of the 2015 election indicate that, while Buhari improved his votes against that of 2011, moving from 3,753 to 14,157 votes, President Jonathan votes decline from 802,144 in 2011 to 553,003 in 2015, lossing about 250,000 votes.
KOGI: In 2011, Jonathan won Kogi State with 399,816 votes against Buhari’s 132,201, but the table turned in 2015, as Buhari defeated Jonathan with 264,851 votes, to Jonathan's 149,987.
OSUN: While none of Jonathan and Buhari won this state in 2011 election, Jonathan still had significant votes from the state, polling 188,409 votes when Buhari merely had 6,997. But in 2015 election, Buhari won the state with 363,603 votes, while Jonathan had 249,929. Although, Jonathan improved from his performance in 2011.
ONDO: This is another state in which Buhari was mercilessly defeated in 2011 by President Goodluck Jonathan. In 2011, Jonathan scored 387,376 while Buhari only had 11,890. But this time around, General Buhari defeated the president, polling 299,889 against Jonathan’s 251,368.
OYO: In 2011, Jonathan had 484,758 votes in Oyo state against Buhari’s 92,396, but now, general Buhari won this state polling 528,620 votes to defeat Jonathan with 303,376.
NASARAWA: President Jonathan also won this state in 2011 polling 408,997 over General Buhari’s 278,390. This time around, both Buhari and Jonathan lost votes in this state compared to what they got in 2011. Jonathan who got 408,997 votes in 2011 only got 273,460 votes this time and Buhari who also got 278,390 votes in 2011 equally dropped to 236,838 votes.
FCT ABUJA: Here, Jonathan won with 253,444 votes in 2011 against Buhari’s 131,576, but the president votes dropped in 2015. Though, he slightly won the Fct with 157,195 against Buhari’s 146,399, but he lost about 100,000 votes compared to what he got in 2011.
KANO: General Muhammadu Buhari got 1,903,999 in Kano to defeat Goodluck Jonathan who had just 215,779. In 2011, Buhari won this state with 1,624,543 votes against Jonathan’s 440,666. While Buhari’s vote in this state increased by about 300,000, Jonathan’s dropped with above 200,000 votes.
KATSINA: The All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential candidate, General Muhammad Buhari polled 1,345,441 votes to sweep the presidential polls in Katsina state against President Jonathan who got 98,937 votes. In 2011, Jonathan had 428,392 against Buhari’s 1,163,919. Here, Jonathan lost almost 350,000 votes compared to what he got in 2011, while Buhari gained over 200,000 votes in addition to his 2011 figure.
KWARA: In Kwara, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari defeated President Goodluck Jonathan, in Saturday’s presidential election where he, Buhari polled 302,146 votes to defeat Jonathan who garnered 132,602 votes. In 2011, Jonathan won in this state with 268,243 against Buhari’s 83,603 votes.
JIGAWA: Despite being a core northern state where Buhari was expected to win with wide margin in 2011, the ex-military general was only able to garner 663,994 to defeat Jonathan who had 419,252. However, General Muhammadu Buhari beat President Goodluck Jonathan with wide margin this time around by scoring 885, 988 votes while President Goodluck Jonathan only had 143, 904 votes. While Buhari’s vote increased by above 200,000 compared to what he got in 2011, President Jonathan lost about 300,000 when compared with what he had in 2011.
SOKOTO: All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari won in Sokoto with a wide margin of 671,926 votes ahead of President Goodluck Jonathan who scored 152,199 votes. However, President Jonathan lost about 150,000 votes compared to his tally in 2011 309,057 while Buhari gained almost the same number of votes.
KADUNA: President Goodluck Jonathan had over a million votes in Kaduna in 2011. While General Muhammadu Buhari had 1,334,244, Jonathan had 1,190,179. However, the APC candidate had convincingly defeated the incumbent President in Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo’s home state Kaduna with 1.127,760 to 484,085 votes this time around. With this result, Goodluck Jonathan lost over 700,000 votes in Kaduna compared to what he had in 2011. Although, Buhari also lost votes compared his tally of 1,334,244 in 2011 to 1.127,760 in 2015.

If we continue to compare the results of 2011 to 2015 between both candidates, certainly, we would all realized that,something has changed for good. All coast seems clear for the emergence of general Buhari as the president of the federal republic of Nigeria.

While we await the official announcement of General Buhari as the new President elect, let me congratulate all those who contributed in one way or the other to the success of this unfolding phenomenon of change.

It is almost certain, change is here.

Results so far:

APC - 7,897,632
PDP - 4,426,086

really?

In my view, one of the reasons why African culture is fast lossing its ground is the lack of written documentation. Also, African history were lost to the same reason. For anything Africa to be valued, it must be written for anyone to read and understand.

there is need for those involved in those area to come together to produce a book

hum

Agenda For Peace With Hamzat: 2015 Election - Is Your Candidate The Best For Nigeria?
By Abdulrazaq O Hamzat
The 2015 general election shall be taking place in few days time and Nigerians are sharply divided along party, religious and regional level all over the country.

Based on numerous considerations, some Nigerians are rooting for change, through the opposition Party All Progressive Congress (APC), while others are enjoying the continuity of the incumbent administration of People Democratic Party (PDP). This divide is creating much tension and conflict of interest and in some places, the divide is causing actual conflicts which had been leading to personality attacks and counter attacks.

In this case, the definition of this kind of conflict is a situation in which two or more human beings desire goals which they perceive as being obtainable by one or the other but not both. Each party is mobilizing energy to obtain a goal desired,object or situation and each party perceives the other as a barrier or threat to that goal. Such personality Conflict often arises from the desire of one party to impose its will on the other, but such should not be encouraged in a democratic society. (Agbu,2006)

This definition suggests that, conflict is inherent in human society. As much as other scholars in their conceptualization accepts this definition, Simmel (2006) sees conflict not simply as a pathological phenomenon to be prevented or adjust, but rather as an essential ingredient in the balance and vitality of group life, which emphasizes that conflict is positive and will always be a part of human nature.

Study shows that, there are basically two types of conflicts, the functional conflict and the dysfunctional conflict.

Functional or constructive conflict is when the conflict improves the quality of decisions, stimulates creativity and innovation through which problems can be aired and tensions released. This form of conflict fosters an environment of self-evaluation and change.

While the dysfunctional or destructive conflict is when it leads to retarded communication; it leads to reduction in group cohesiveness and a subordination of goals to primacy of in-fighting among member. This type of conflict could bring a system to a halt and threaten its survival.

At this point of the electioneering, it is important to ask ourselves, has the conflicts generated as a result of our divide in the choice of who should lead our nation help us make better decisions for the good of our country and the well being of our country men and women? Has the cohesiveness between us as fellow country people increased or reduced? Has our conflicts been functional or dysfunctional? Has it improved the quality of our decisions and stimulates creative innovations within us? And finally, has it served a purpose leading to self-evaluation for better decisions?

If it has increased our cohesiveness and enhance issue based communication, this is good for us all, but if not, it is bad. This is the right time for Nigerians to re-evaluate our position before we make that crucial and final decision that may hunt us for the next 4years.

We must not be ashamed of our short comings,but rather work to improve and get better over them. We must also not allow our tribal,religious or regional consideration be bane of our quest for a progressive nation, rather, we should make quality decisions using our human instincts and Godly guidance. Before we cast out vote in the next few days, we must ask ourselves again, am I doing the right thing for the good of our country? Is my candidate the right candidate for this job? Is my choice the best for this country?

Let me state here that, it is not a crime to retrace your steps and go back to the right way, the decisions you make now will make or mar your future, it will shape your future and that of million others. Don’t make a the wrong decision based on mere sentiments, don’t make a decision you will regret for the next 4years, don’t make a decision based on sentiments and irrelevant consideration. Decide based on issues of governance and interest of all, not for your tribal, religious or regional consideration.

Should we decide to go ahead with our choice, we must take responsibility for whatever happens after the election. If who we chose act right, we may share in the fulfillment of his righteousness and if he acts wrongly,we must accept responsibility for his decisions and failure. This is what democracy is all about.

If we observe the political conflict presently being witnessed in the country, we would see the level of its progression. Conflict is not always stationary but dynamic, and, therefore, grows or reduces and changes in form and shape. When this happens, conflicts progress in the following stages:

Stage One: Emergence of a Problem: What is the problem here? The election of either Buhari or Jonathan as president of Nigeria. Here, the electorates in the country hear the news and are interested in it.

Stage Two: Taking Sides: Nigerians begin to move towards one side or the other. Some are for Jonathan while others are for Buhari. Here, more people form opinions and feel the need to get together with others with the same views. The conflict expands and each side gets more supporters.

Stage Three: Positions Harden: People talk more with others who hold similar views with them and less with people with different opinions. Here, positions on who should be the president is formed. Nothing good can be said of the opponent's supporters.

Stage Four: Communication Breakdown: At this stage, information is exchanged haphazardly between the parties. Communication takes on an increasingly adversarial tone and eventually information no longer flows between the parties. We all remember the death wish advert of for General Buhari, placed by Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose and many others. Here, the parties feel there is nothing new to talk about and, therefore, no need to talk to the other party about the issue. Example of such situation can be seen when All Progressive Congress (APC) avoided a presidential debate held yesterday.

Stage Five: Committing Resource to the Course of the Issue: At this level, moderates will be given less attention, while militants will become more rigid and individuals now have a sense of personal power in being part of the group and, therefore, are committing their resources to support the issue. Here, each group will use money to ensure that their candidates win the election. President Goodluck Jonathan was recently reported to be dishing out dollars to groups, pastors and traditional rulers to gain their support. Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) reportedly got N7billion naira to campaign for the ruling party, while each traditional ruler in southwest were also reported to have gotten about $250,000 each for similar job.

Stage Six: Conflict Goes Outside: Each group will now begin to look outside their party or even country for support and power. Each group will appeal to none party groups such as the traditional rulers, religious bodies, etc and even foreign partners for help. Here, the frontiers of the conflict will expand and become more complicated. While General Buhari had gone to United Kingdom in pursuit of such support, King of Morocco reportedly decline to talk to president Jonathan few weeks ago,accusing the Nigerian president of using his country for electoral purposes. The country had to recall its Nigerian Ambassador for questioning.

Stage Seven: Perception of the Conflict Becomes Distorted: At this stage, the cause(s) of conflict becomes distorted. So are the positions and interest of the parties. People with neutral views are seen as part of the enemy. This makes the conflict complex. Example of such situation can be seen dominantly on the social media, where some Nigerians feel that both presidential candidate are unworthy of leadership and therefore decided to sit on the fence. For sitting on the fence, both camp accuse them of unpatriotism and being part of the enemy.

Stage Eight: Sense of Crisis Emerges: The country is now divided into factions. The pro-Buhari and ant-Buhari faction and the pro Jonathan and anti-Jonathan faction.

Stage Nine: Outcomes Vary: Here, the outcome of stage eight may vary ranging from either (i) litigation between the parties, (ii) intervention by neutral body (iii) violence.

(i) Litigation: As a result of this conflict of interest in build up to the election, countless of court cases are presently being heard in the various courts across the country. From cases involving Buhari’s eligibility, to cases of false distortion and character assassination.

(ii) Intervention by neutral body: Example of such situation can be seen when the African Union delegation led by former South African president, Thabo Mbeki came to Nigeria to get assurances from both leading candidate about their commitment to accepting the outcome of the election and working to ensure peace. Another example is the peace accord signed by all candidates as their commitment to peace.

(iii) Violence: This has been so visible. Party offices have been bombed, campaign vehicles set ablaze,people have been shot dead and many others attacked.

In addressing such conflict, the right to life must be fundamental protected by all, it is beyond all economic, social, civil and political rights. We must all ensure that no life is wasted on meaningless pursuit for wealth and power.

This must be well communicated to all politicians and their supporters before the actual date of the election and should anyone found in violation of such a fundamental rights, they must be made to pay irrespective of their status in the society.

In a place where violent conflict continues, upholding the right to life and ensuring security for all people would be compromised. This must not be allowed to continue.

Finally, conflicts is said to occur in all societies, because every society is a collection of competing interest and forces. In most cases, conflict does not necessarily lead to violence, which is a negative expression of disagreement. Most conflicts are managed and resolved peacefully and in most cases, such conflicts lead to positive changes in the societies, systems and institutions.

However, it is the violent destructive conflicts that draw attention and for this reason most people adopt a negative attitude to conflict. The ability of individuals to manage conflict is affected by our attitude and in democracy, conflicts or disagreements should be regarded as positive indicators of areas that require attention for the betterment of the society.

You can follow the writer on twitter @Abdool101

http://www.skytrendnews.com/index.php/feature/feature-columns/7507-agenda-for-peace-with-hamzat-2015-election-is-your-candidate-the-best-for-nigeria

hum

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I am sure it would backfire

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APC door2door campaign for Buhari in Ilorin

Islam has a religious book (Quran) containing its rules and code of engagement and practice.
Christianity also has similar book (Bible).

Why is there no such book for African traditional religion?

I have read some very interesting things about some aspect of the African traditional religion...Origin of some of the practices and its importance. I think a single book containing all that mattered about the African practice would make it more understood.

Also, i think we must separate traditional religion from traditional medicine. Many traditional medicine are mistaken for traditional religious practice.

What is your view?

Why are soldiers every where on the street of ilorin? They are causing so much tension in town, causing hold ups an so on.

got what?

Nigeria Secret Meeting: Security Chiefs Put Gun To Jega’s Head
NewsRescue

Nigeria’s Security Chiefs put loaded guns to Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC chairman, Attahiru Jega’s head during the secret meeting Tuesday, we have been reliably informed.
Attahiru Jega

Attahiru Jega

We cannot say if Jega is now compromised; however we have reliably confirmed that in the presence of Nigeria’s president, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the army chiefs trained loaded guns on Jega, putting the cold nozzle to his skin and telling him that “he was the only obstacle in their path and they will not hesitate to ‘waste’ him and his family if he thought he could send them to jail or the gallows” in the event of an opposition, Buhari/Osinbajo win.

Jega was released to decide whether he will “play ball” with the PDP including abandoning the PV card readers and possibly postponing the elections to cause chaos and preempt options like an Army take-over. It was discussed that the PDP has purchased millions of card numbers from unsuspecting Nigerians and these cannot be used to rig unless the PV card reader is abandoned.

Jega was also promised over a billion dollars if he cooperated. He was also promised a commensurate sum if he simply resigned.

Kenneth Minimah told Jega in departing that “you do not have to carry a problem that is not yours on your head… play ball or simply resign and no one will hold it against you. Nigerians will never even appreciate this your suicide battle for them.”

Nigeria’s presidential elections are slated for the 28th of this Month, in 9 days.

NewsRescue had yesterday reported that there was suspicious beefed-up security at Aso Rock yesterday during the meeting.

Read more: http://newsrescue.com/nigeria-secret-meeting-army-chiefs-put-gun-to-jegas-head/#ixzz3UsLmtb4n

Read more: http://newsrescue.com/nigeria-secret-meeting-army-chiefs-put-gun-to-jegas-head/#ixzz3UsLg8Q78

Read more: http://newsrescue.com/nigeria-secret-meeting-army-chiefs-put-gun-to-jegas-head/#ixzz3UsLc0KMA


Read more: http://newsrescue.com/nigeria-secret-meeting-army-chiefs-put-gun-to-jegas-head/#ixzz3UsL45p6G