₦airaland Forum

You are what you know and not what you have so, education is very important. You have already demonstrated entrepreneurship so, continue to learn the act of doing business. Be truthful in your dealings with others; it will not bring you instant gratification but it will serve you well in life.
So, if I were you, I will combine the business with education even if it takes you longer time to complete your studies. On the business, use it as a stepping stone and, keep your eyes on the ground for opportunities. If you work hard and you are honest, it will come.
Assuming you are able to migrate with residential papers that afford you a full immigrant privileges, perhaps you may have a contending alternative. Any other 'traveling abroad' option is likely to waste your talents and focus and, may lead to unmitigated suffering.
I am willing g to speak with you if you wish.

The whole notion that there are places on earth that are holier than our own land demonstrate the debt of inferiority complex of our people; starting from the head. I hope a day will come when we will be able to summon enough courage to view ourselves and our heritage, inperfect as they are, as nonetheless not inferior to non scientific imported culture and heritage.

@ Tymax's and others - This is the most intelligent tread I have read in this forum. Trying to understand the reasons for our present under-development. Often times, our default approach is to elevate superficial to the nucleus and create a shrine around it. Ultimately, African will develop when the fundamental reasons for her backwardness unearthed and, addressed.

My suspicion has always been whether impacting knowledge in a foreign language {English in the case of Nigeria}, really transfer the knowledge at a depth that is applicable to address challenges of our time. Sciences for instance contradicts superstition and seek to explain all physical phenomena yet most Nigerians that I know that claim to be scientist are just as much superstitious. At a practical level, the way sciences are thought from my experience suggest some of the teachers have little confidence in the veracity of what they teach.

Specifically and applicable to Nigeria is the challenge of what language to choose among the 200 plus languages. I think the first step is to decide if the indigenous language is central to solving our problems. Assuming the answer is in the affirmative, then, perhaps we will be able to walk our way to select language(s) that will be solid in communicating existing world knowledge to our children.

Someone stated that hatred pervades Africa and, that indeed is one of the main reasons for our underdevelopment. While it is true that inter-tribal conflicts and strive are characteristics of all African countries, their is nothing peculiar about that. That indeed, is the history of humanities whereever you found them. What solve intertribal conflicts and strives are rule of law, equality before the law, and elimination of privilege class.

Again, I really find this topic fascinating and, I thank all the contributors.

I thought the question should be; Why do Hausa, Kanuri, Ibo, Ibibio, Efik, Yoruba and all other Nigerian ethnicities after swallowing foreign religion line hook and sinker in addition consider it a necessity that they must also bear foreign names. I understand the inferiority complex associated with jettison of one's religion and taking up of another one but must we abandon all that was ours? Also, I will think with the benefit of hindsight, it should be apparent to the intellectual elites that we must be proactive to preserve our cultures but alas, they are often the one at the vanguard of destroying it. Something is fundamentally wrong with our ethos

While I always refrain from making comments when it come this idiotic tit for tar tribal warfare, the import of this position as it affects the safety of life beg for comment. Since I have no personal knowledge of none of the character in this saga, I will be allegorical.

Let suppose one of us is diagnosed with brain cancer deemed operable; three surgeons are available to do the operation in the country and their track record in times of survival after the surgery are 100%, 75% and 50%. Let us also assume that the surgeon with the 50% track record belong to your so call tribe and, the surgeon with 100% track belongs to the tribe you claimed to detest the most, which of these three surgeons will you rather have open your skull to remove the tumor?

Talking about tribe this, tribe that showed self-advertisement for backwardness. As I stated, I do not have the facts to comment on the action itself but some of the comments here are sickening and, I hope most of the people making the comments are children and adolescents.

I just thought I will take a look at the proposed budget and what I got from the budget office is posted below. This is the link to the data: http://www.budgetoffice.gov.ng/2012_budget_pro_details/1.%20Summary_Presidency1.pdf

While the waste and stealing that goes on in all facets of Nigerian government is appauling, I think it is important to know that we can only act from the point of truth. From that point, even the number in this table is outrageo8us by my standad. These numbers are for the office of the president but the vice president numbers are also on the same table. Note that the numer for refreshment and meals is : 293 695 515


=======================


FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA
2012 BUDGET
CODE
LINE ITEM
(=N=)
2012 BUDGET PROPOSAL
22020803
PLANT / GENERATOR FUEL COST
54 329 368
220210
MISCELLANEOUS
957 097 452
22021001
REFRESHMENT & MEALS
293 695 515
22021002
HONORARIUM & SITTING ALLOWANCE
173 752 467
22021003
PUBLICITY & ADVERTISEMENTS
77 564 345
22021004
MEDICAL EXPENSES
84 311 634
22021006
POSTAGES & COURIER SERVICES
14 060 239
22021007
WELFARE PACKAGES
285 137 061
22021008
SUBSCRIPTION TO PROFESSIONAL BODIES
7 091 491
22021009
SPORTING ACTIVITIES
21 484 700
23
CAPITAL EXPENDITURE
7 110 800 000
2301
FIXED ASSETS PURCHASED
1 214 477 920
230101
PURCHASE OF FIXED ASSETS - GENERAL
1 214 477 920
23010108
PURCHASE OF BUSES
161 270 120
23010112
PURCHASE OF OFFICE FURNITURE AND FITTINGS
135 053 350
23010113
PURCHASE OF COMPUTERS
265 111 472
23010115
PURCHASE OF PHOTOCOPYING MACHINES
23 566 100
23010118
PURCHASE OF SCANNERS
150 783 304
23010120
PURCHASE OF CANTEEN / KITCHEN EQUIPMENT
45 427 848
23010121
PURCHASE OF RESIDENTIAL FURNITURE
295 322 579
23010122
PURCHASE OF HEALTH / MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
93 776 918
23010125
PURCHASE OF LIBRARY BOOKS & EQUIPMENT

The coup and counter coup events of 1966 was a watershed moment in the annals of Nigerian evolution and that is well supported by many emotional comments that I have read on this tread. I am also impressed by the analytical approaches that many of our compatriots has taken in trying to understand the logic behind decisions that were made literarily in the heat of the moment. I do not know the age of some of the contributors to this topic but I will say one thing, we all get wiser as we get older.

As it affect the January 1966 coup, you have to be naïve to expect an ordinary person from the North or even from the West to view it as anything but Igbo officers orchestrated coup. That is not the same thing as saying that the coupists intention was sectional but; if they were not politically attuned to the interpretation their pouch will take politically, then, they would have been a total failure even if they succeed. To illustrate my point, look at the reasons adduced by subsequent coupists in their maiden broadcast. Even the pivotal reasons adduced – corruption, nepotism, avarice, etc- suggest their limited knowledge of human frailties. Human beings are animals like any other animals; the only way to make him behave is to have sticks and carrots as options. Our erroneous imagination that there are some “angels” with or without guns that will descend into the political scene one day and will solve our problems are precisely the reasons Nigeria is where it is. When each of us take it upon ourselves to safeguard our commonwealth, then, we will start making progress.

Although some of the tribal comments warrant no reply, I will say this much; If each of us examines our lives, can anyone claim that all the benefits that he has gotten in life come from a person from his ethnicity? I have live outside of Nigerian shores for more than twenty years and my conclusion is that we are complex specie. Yes, trust start from person that is closest to us and fan out –Family, neighbors, tribes, and ethnicity- and so on. But to say that the leader of a country can only trust a person from his tribe suggest profound lack of understanding of how things work. You have to build confidence if you want to lead and you cannot do that if you only trust people that you consider to be your tribe. In fact, the events subsequent to 1966 disprove some of the errors that were said to have been committed by Aguiyi-Ironsi. Gowon was removed by officer from the North and Murtala was killed by Dimka. Obasanjo has Yar-Adua as his second in command. Even when he came back as civilian president, some of the key security positions were occupied by the people from the North.

General Ironsi was serves a poison dinner and was giving a poision drink to wash it down. I do not know there was anything he could have done to safe his skin short of abdication. He was just unfortunate. The July 66 coupists have to give some reasons other than vengeance hence the unification decree. If he made any mistake at all, it will be not prosecuting the coup plotters with urgency that it deserves. Had he done that, it would have, at least in part, doused the water on the burning flame of tribalism that engulfs the first coup.

The life of a country parallels the experience of a child. You cannot grow without knowledge and it takes a lot of time to acquire quality knowledge. A lot of attempts are made at standing before a child finally stands. I am not making excuses, but the problems of Nigerian are evident in individual Nigerians. It is less of the problems of the leader and more of the problem of the leads.

If you are in IT and you think it is difficult, it is probably not for you. Likewise, if you are a doctor and you think medicine is difficult, it is probably not for you. Essentially, making comparison is worthless when dealing with two fundamentally different professions. In learning, two factors are important; nature (cognitive potential) and nurture (pure hard work). If you have the intellectual attributes to be a doctor, it is not difficult. Likewise, if you have the intellectual attributes to be a programmer, then it should not be difficult. Hence, not everyone who is good at IT can be good at being a doctor and vice versa. There is a segment of people that can be good at both.

Having said all these, medical training is lengthy, rigorous and requires absolute dedication. So, there may be more obstacles to cross and any person no matter how intellectually gifted can fail at any of the obstacles that is required before you become a good doctor. Remember, the first degree [MB;BS) in Nigeria is just the beginning of learning how to be a good physician.

Financial reword is irrelevant in this topic.

Disclosure: I am a doctor.

I thought I will shed some light into this issue giving a lot of comments on the US legal systems. The legal system, especially as it affects civil case move at snail's speed. So, we are talking in terms of years possibly for this case. I am sure both parties to the suits has legal representations and should be aware of what is expected if the judgement goes to the other side.

Another important thing is that when judgement is entered for a person to vacate, you will typically be giving time to tidy your affairs and move out. When you elect not to move out of the said property, you are taking a stand not against the litigant (Her spouse in this case) but against the state. The state has the interest to enforce its riling and that is what is called the "rule of law". Again, I am not making a moral judgement but she definitely has enough time to get her affairs in order to avoid the pain and the embarrassment.

As it affects how this will play going forward, none of us can say since we do not have all the facts of their relationship. If the marriage is valid according to Maryland law and Prince Audu was the breadwinner, then, he will pay though his nose in form of alimony and supports for his children. If the marriage is not recognized by the state law, then, he is only responsible for the supports of the children which assuming he is a sensible person, should not be a factor; After all, you suppose to take of your children.

Very strange! So, what is supposed to be the purpose for which this people were empanelled? I’ll be pleasantly surprised if anything substantive comes out of the Ag. Presidency of Dr. Jonathan. Yes, most of the panels are recycle politicians who has bestrode our politics for generation but that is not the reason for my skepticism because experience itself has its value.

What is disappointing are the tasks assigned to the panel. If the panel is only political, that will be okay with me as politics requires no technical knowledge. But, among others, to assist the Ag. President in tackling power problems? Wao!

With due respect to the office of the Ag. President, if he wants to tackle power problems, he should empanel technical people that will include people who can assess the reasons for the current inefficiency, repeated failures of past efforts and, proffer solutions. In fact, I think we have reached a point where we need experts, the very best; wherever they may exist in the world. It is by far cheaper to pay now for services that will ultimately have multiplying effects on our economy than to continue this embarrassing game of yearly missed targets for a technology that has been perfected for more than one hundred years.

Just getting this old people together is a jamboree that suggests playing to the gallery than actually taking the bull by the horn and, getting us somewhere positive. I hope that the Ag. President purpose is indeed political and, that this is a decoy to assuage those he must pander to if he want to keep his post. If that is the reason, as diabolical as it sounds, I understand it.

The nations debt was paid (yes, with some forgiveness by the lender) and, we had 50+ billion USD in reserves. That was during the 8 year period of President Obasanjo. In life, most people prefer to have their ego boasted without regards to results. No wonder, spectacular success is an exception. I have my qualms with OBJ, for instance, he was not committed to ethical elections and, that is a serious derelictions’ of his duties because the end never justifies the means. I am sure there are many others. But, if you must condemn the man please, provide reasons that can withstand intellectual rigor instead of just repeating what other says in thoughtless acts that are full of tented characters. I think we all recall the National Assembly panel on power two years ago whose member turn out to be more corrupt that the persons been criticized .

Interesting comments, Now, I do not intend to hold brief for Octogenarian like Lukman but I recalled when he was the Energy Minister during Babangida's regime. That was the only period in my adult like while living in Nigeria when power supply was close to been steady.  
I think sometimes we are too critical of our leaders without been deferential to the person's capability. For him to continue to serve at his age and, for all succeeding presidents to keep calling on him, he must know something. Again, I am just as frustrated as anyone else about the snail pace of Nigeria progress but sometimes, we are too aggressive in the way we speak of each other.

With what I have read in this interesting tread, Nigerians has the intellectual capacity to overcome the myriads of problems it faces if only we could harness these intellects and, put them to work.

The topic itself is not new as it has been a subject of debates for centuries; Galileo etc were alluded to earlier. The point I will like to make is that all religion are creation of man. That is not to say they are not useful or, even desirable. Like any human construct, it is the duties of the parties involved to make sure that they are not cheated in the process. What make religion rather difficult in the contest of human interactions is the dogma that you are not allow or, not expected to criticize the deity {God, Allah, Orisa, Ifa etc) because if you do and, he/she gets angry, there will be a price to pay. The contradiction though is that the same deity that gives you intellectually capacity forbids you to deploy the recourses when the issue concerns dealing with him.

So, giving the antithesis, while has religion survive? I should say that picking one religion over the other serves no purpose. While methodology might be different, the goal is the same. I recall when a particular deity was considered to be the cause of small pox [At least in Yoruba area where I grew up, the deity is Sanpona and, small pox is called ‘igbona” Fever]. It is amazing that the deity still exist and, he is still worshiped till today yet, small pox has been eradicated. A Western Nigerian expatriate doctor conducted a research to see if indeed, this god causes small pox in the 50’s. His finding buttresses my belief that the higher echelon of any religion only uses it to manipulate their followers. I realize the danger in generalization. What he discovered was that the practitioners of the religion who are contracted to bury all corpses of persons that died of the disease often extract body fluid from the dead person and, save it for future use. If a person then contradict their theory or offends them, they will come in at night and spray this concoction around the person’s house. It is a matter of time before children who are not immune to the virus start getting sick and, some of them will die. For those who might not know, small pox is cause by a virus and, very lethal for children who are not vaccinated with the virus. In essence, these people are practicing crude biological weapons only at a small scale.

I often ask myself, if someone has the power to heal sick people, while won’t that person go to a cancer ward at a children hospital and, heal all the sick children. I pick children ward to exclude the often required condition, ‘you must have faith otherwise prayers will not work’. So, back to my question, while has religion succeeded?

I think inherent within most human being is the need to be under an umbrella that provides some security. If God or, gods are in charge, then, you don’t have to take all the decisions. Pay close attention to ‘all the decisions’. Most, if not all of the religious leaders know this and, most have little faith in what they preach. It is an avenue to control others and, consequently get the rewards that come with that control.

In the case of proliferation of churches and Nigeria underdevelopment, I think it is a reflection of our level of development. It will pass with time. Most Nigerians, even the educated ones often defer concrete solutions that affect them and, their environment to someone that they consider superior to them. That is while everybody ‘cries’ government when you asked them while everything is dysfunctional. What is lost to most of us (especially the educated), is that we are the government. The people in power cannot do anything without the consent of the governs but once the governs capitulate, the leader arrogate to themselves the power that they do not have and exercise it without decorum or regards to fiduciary. I know I have digressed but most of these issues are linked together.

Again, I glad I read some of the posting on this tread.

Very interesting discussion, One of the best I have ever read in Nairaland and, I thank the poster for posting it. It is indeed a good mental exercise.

While I personally do not know the answer to the question, I query the concept of "easy" and "difficult". In the real practical sense of the word, there are few things worth pursuing that can be regarded as "easy"

Some remarks here point to the heart of the problems that plague Nigeria and, Nigerians. Every decision must have an ethnic connotation. What does a “Northern Script” got to do with bank managers that stole and, mismanage their client’s deposits? At what point are we going to grow up as a people and, support people that actually do the job for which they have been assigned creditably.
Yes, he can say the shareholders of the insolvent banks shave lost their investment in those banks because that is the truth. Banks, unlike other business does not necessarily file for bankruptcy; they get taking over by the regulatory bodies all over the world. The depositors are the ones that are protected and, not the shareholders. If the banks are able to meet their financial obligations, there is nothing the Central Bank can do even if the central bank governor has a regional agenda.
One thing that should be said clearly is that it is very difficult to do what Sanusi is doing. It is much easier to follow the path of indolence and, pretend all is well as is customary with Nigerian system. The fact though is, if the house is burning and, you ignore it, the inferno will sooner than later engulf you. No, he is not perfect and, neither is any of us. But ascribing ethnic agenda to him without credible evidence is myopic and, counterproductive.
To those who keep referring to the court of law, yes indeed, these officers will have their days in court and, nothing will happen to them unless they are found guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction. That is the guarantee afforded all of us by the constitution. But, you are confusing legal process for malfeasance with public chastisement by a person in the position of Sanusi. Talking against people that wreck this king of havoc against the heart of our economic system is part of his job.
It is getting clearer by that day that the problem with Nigeria is not that entirely that of leader but to a significant degree that of the led as well.

Kola

TRIBALISM OR COMPETENCY

The president is hired (assuming he was voted for) to do a job and, we should judge him on him on how well he has been able to fulfill his mandate by relieving Nigerians of their suffering. As Nigerians, I think we are often too critical of our leaders without asking ourselves the hard question, what did we bring to the table in solving the Nation's problems? Yar'adua cannot possibly be the reasons for all of Nigerian problems.
I think a little reflection is called for if we are to develop as a Nation. I do not blog but I read posting in this forum frequently and often, we display our frustration without acknowledging that, problems can only be solved by understanding, planning and, execution, each phase carried out with absolute discipline. If when I visit Nigeria in December this year, we have electricity 24/7 (occasional interruptions won’t count), I will consider Yar'adua a successful president.
I guess on the debate as to whether or, not he is tribalistic is not really as important as it appear. Those of us that reside out of the country do not have any special influence on the people that run the affairs of the communities where we live but, once the rules are set and they are fairly enforced, we compete and, do well. What we need is to hold our leaders to the highest ethical standard and, hold their feet to the fire when they do not perform. For instance, he made certain promises; he should be judge on whether or not he has fulfilled those promises.
Another dimension to the act of governance and/or management is that trust is very important.  Very competent people can ruin your business or administration if they are so inclined and, by the time you know it, it is too late. So, if he is desirous to succeed, he has to appoint people not only because they are competent but also because he has enough trust in them that they will not sabotage his program.
Now let me make this clear, I am not holding brief for Mr. Yar'adua. I am just trying to point out the reality of human management as it affects any effective administration or, business.
Ultimately, we will get there as a people where these irrelevant issues will give way to what the person have to offer.

PROBBING OBJ

The onus is on those who are convinced that former president Obasanjo and/his cronies corruptly enrich themselves to forward their complaints with supporting evidence to the appropriate agency—EFCC, ICPC or Code of Conduct Bureau. It is errant nonsense to make allegation just because you do not like the man. Until we change our nature of always blaming the leader for all that is wrong with our country, we will not progress. No, I am not defending Obasanjo or, anyone for that matter, but the hallmark of citizenship advocacy is not empty talk. You’ve got to back it up with action in form of evidence.

So fellow citizens with verifiable evidence of misdeed, could you rise up to your responsibility and forward it to any of this corruption fighting bodies. If after that, they do not act, then, it can be published in the newspaper for Nigerians to Judge. There are even the options of the citizen taken legal actions if he/she has the evidence. The same thing applies to the hues and cries about IBB. Yes, I despise IBB for what he did but, you do not make claims of self-enrichment on pages of Newspaper.

It is laziness at an appalling level that lead to direct stealing of state fund by chief executive officer of a state. The position affords the occupant such a level of privilege information that, -if moneymaking is one of his desires- he should not have any problem making it honestly. And mind you, I am not even referring to abuse of office, which is rampant in our system

For those who think the EFCC is compromised, of all the current 8 governors facing trial, how many of them are from PDP? Again, it is the nature of Nigerians to criticize without any deep analysis. When was the last time an Inspector General of Police was dragged to court and convicted? Yes, I agree that the sentences these crooks are getting are too light but we’ve got to start somewhere. Things that happened under Ribadu/OBJ has never happened in the history of our country and we need to acknowledge that.

.

Finally, I think each of us has to hold ourselves responsible at some level. If President Musa Yar-Dua was fraudulently elected, who perpetrated the fraud? Was it the president or, millions of Nigeria who compromise themselves? Nigeria will not grow until we commit at an individual to self-development in all facets of human indices.