₦airaland Forum

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Taking a tour in Calabar City today. I was shocked to discover that most parts of my once a Beautiful Green City is fast becoming a city of indiscriminate waste disposal. With terrible and offensive odour.

To my amiable and workable Governor of Cross River State. Professor Ben Ayade. Please kindly do something about this waste that has taken over the City of Calabar. This city is known for its cleanliness and neatness with green vegetation.

Those responsible for waste management of the state should kindly take their job serious; leaving the the All Important City of Calabar in this state is really worrisome. If they have been paid, please let them do their job.

*ATTENTION*

In case you don't know the root cause of our problems today, please take time out and read below:

As of 23/04/2022, the exchange rates were:

£1 = ₦783
$1 = ₦560
€1 = ₦670

Currently $1 = #665

42 years ago, precisely on 23/04/1980 the exchange rate was:
$1 = 0.78k

Are you surprised?

Well, we were far more productive in 1980 than we are today.

In 1980 the key reasons for economic growth were as follows:

1. We were a net exporter of refined petroleum products. Today we import all our refined petroleum products.

2. We rode in locally assembled cars, buses and trucks. Peugeot cars in Kaduna and Volkswagen cars in Lagos.

3. Leyland produced trucks/buses in Ibadan and ANAMCO in Enugu also produced buses and trucks.

4. Steyr in Bauchi produced our Agricultural tractors. And it was not just Assembly, we were producing many of the components:

5. Vono products in Lagos produced the vehicle seats.

6. Exide in Ibadan produced the batteries, not just for Nigeria but for the entire West Africa.

7. IsoGlass and TSG in Ibadan produced the windshields.

8. Ferrodo in Ibadan produced the brake pads and discs

9. Dunlop produced Tyres in Lagos and Mitchelin Tyres were produced in Port Harcourt. And I mean tyres produced from rubber plantations located in Ogun, Bendel and Rivers State.

10. We were listening to Radio and watching television sets assembled in Ibadan by Sanyo.

11. We were using refrigerators, freezers and Airconditioners produced by Thermocool and Debo.

12. We were putting on clothes produced from the UNTL Textile Mills in Kaduna and Chellarams in Lagos. They were Not from imported cotton but from cotton grown in Nigeria.

13. Our water was running through pipes produced by Kwalipipe in Kano and Duraplast in Lagos .

14. Our toilets were fitted with WC produced in Kano and Abeokuta.

15 We were cooking with LPG gas stored inside gas cylinders produced at the NGC factory in Ibadan.

16. Our electricity was flowing through cables produced by the Nigerian Wire and Cable, Ibadan; NOCACO in Kaduna and Kablemetal in Lagos and Port Harcourt.

17. We had Bata and Lennards Stores producing the shoes we were putting on. The shoes were not from imported leather but from locally tanned leather in Kaduna.

18. We were mainly flying our Airways, (the Nigeria Airways), to most places in the world. The Nigeria Airways was about the biggest in Africa at the time.

19. Most of the foods we ate were grown or produced in Nigeria.

We were producing all of the above and many more in 1980

Today, we import almost everything. Isn't that alarming?

There lies the source of the terrible exchange rate we are experiencing today and everyone reading this has a critical role to play in reversing this very UGLY trend.

We have been talking about these problems and more for ages.

It is not enough for us to complain about the exchange rate or point out what others are not doing or are failing to do. The key questions are:

1. What are we producing now?
2. What role are our so- called Leaders/ Politicians of today playing?

We are forever shying away from responsibility whereas it is a stack reality and if we don't deal with it, it won't go away. In fact it will get worse.

To our dear Politicians, if you don't have the capacity to RESET Nigeria to what it was at least back in 1980 then please stay in your house and don't waste our time.

*ENOUGH IS ENOUGH !!!*

Please share widely on all platforms for Nigerians especially youths to know the critical role to play with the fixing of Nigeria.

The question is who started and encouraged importation...

Who cares Professor. It is nomination form to continue looting is what they are after now.

Na wetin him do? Nobody to tell us wetin him do.

Can this be for real? The man by this singular act of wickedness is worst than the devil. I'm just wondering if the late singer was under a spell that she could not take a decision to do the needful. Chai! This world no balance.

Don't forget to ensure the Hotel you booked for your wedding night is intact. Ensure to leave to the hotel with your wife immediately after the wedding. Else all the money you make for the wedding will be used to settle transport of your siblings

pls can someone who was in the meeting tell us wetin them talk.

Yes I can hear the odour. this super eagle na the true reflection of '94 team

What on earth is wrong in Nollywood? From one dead to another. May God have mercy.

OP you just come up with this topic just to show how uninformed some of us can be.

Somebody borrow with laid down payment plan of eighteen months. And all can see the development plan of Wike. FG borrow no one knows how it went. Na for paper we dey see am.

Night life can be very beautiful in Uyo capital city.

Akwa Ibom the most peaceful the serene city in Nigeria. Hospitable and respectful people.

Now going to the coastal region.

More on cultural display and masquerade

More on cultural display and Masquerade

More on cultural attires and display.

Akwa Ibom very rich in Excellent Cultural Attires

More on Ibom Air

Airport and Sophisticated modern Air ways (IBOM AIR)

More pics

Uyo one of the most beautiful cities in Nigeria with modern architectural designed structures. Tropicana, Stadium and State Worship Center.

More Pictures of Modern Akwa Ibom State, Uyo City

About Akwa Ibom
AKWA IBOM STATE HISTORY

HISTORY

Akwa Ibom State was created on the 23rd of September 1987 by the then Military Administration of General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida. The creation of the State brought to fruition years of prolonged struggle by the people that occupied the mainland part of the former Cross River State.



For many, the creation of the State was a mark of justice, having been left out in earlier state creation exercises despite leading in the struggle for state creation in Nigeria, through the Ibibio Union, – a foremost Socio-Cultural organization that served as a unifying platform for the people of this part of Nigeria. In 1948, Ibibio Union, formed in 1928, transformed from a mere cultural association to a goal driven institution which promoted and championed the cause of state creation in Nigeria.



However, when in 1967 the 12 state structure was established following the creation of states by the General Yakubu Gowon administration, the Mainland part of Calabar Province in the then Eastern Nigeria was merely part of the then South Eastern State. In 1976, South Eastern State was renamed Cross River State. This change in name did not satisfy the people. Rather, it encouraged them to carry on with the struggle for a state of their own.

After the collapse of the 2nd Republic in 1983, a memorandum demanding the creation of Akwa Ibom State was submitted to the General Buhari Administration by the Paramount Rulers from the 10 Local Government areas that made up the mainland part of the then Cross River State, even thoughit did not yield the desired result.

Undaunted, the people waited for another opportunity. The opportunity came when, in 1986, the Administration of General Ibrahim Babangida set up a political Bureau to define the future political direction of the country. The memorandum was re-submitted.

On September 23, 1987, the collective dream of the people was actualized as Akwa Ibom State, the “Land of Promise” was finally created, after about four decades of sustained agitation.



Location:

Lying between Latitudes 4o 32” and 5o 33” North and Longitudes 7o 35” and 8o 25” East, the State is bounded on the East by Rivers State, on the West by Cross River State, on the North by Abia State and on the South by the Gulf of Guinea.

Area:

Akwa Ibom State currently covers a total land area of 7,249 square kilometers. The area does not take into consideration disputed territories. It is the 10th largest state in Nigeria in terms of landmass. About 13.4 percent of the 960km of Nigeria’s Atlantic Ocean coastline runs through the State.

Political Setting:

Akwa Ibom is one of the 36 States in the Nigerian Federation. The State is divided into 31 local government areas with Uyo as the State capital. Other major towns include; Eket, Ikot Ekpene, Ikot Abasi, Oron, Abak, Itu, Etinan, Ibeno, etc.

People

The people of Akwa Ibom State are culturally homogenous with a common identity and are reputed to be the first settlers in the present day South Eastern Nigeria. The three major dialectal groups are Ibibio,

Annang and Oron. Other sub groups include Eket, Ibeno, Itu Mbonuso and the Andonis. English is the language of government and business.

Population

With the annual growth rate of the population projected at 3.4%, the 2016 projected population is estimated at 5,451,277 people as follows;

Female 2,680,687

Male 2,770,590

Total 5,450,758

Vegetation:

Akwa Ibom falls within the tropical zone with a dominant vegetation of green foliage of trees and shrubs. It constitutes a major chunk of the nation’s oil-palm belt. The Atlantic coastline stretches 129km from Oron in the East to Ikot Abasi in the West.

The State also has three distinct vegetation zones: the saline water swamp forest, the fresh water swamp forest and the rain forest.

Climate:

Akwa Ibom State has a tropical climate marked by two distinct seasons:

The dry season (November – March, ) and

The Wet season April – October).

The wet season is usually interrupted by a short dry period in August. Average temperature of the State ranges from 23 to 31 degrees centigrade.

Main Economic Activities

The main economic activities of the people are fishing (for riverine and coastal dwellers), farming (mostly for upland dwellers), trading, artisanship and white-collar services. A robust public sector employs significant proportion of the State labour force.

Growth Rate:

Akwa Ibom State Average Growth Rate is estimated at 3.2%

CULTURE

Akwa Ibom is often described as a uni-cultural State where norms, taboos, customs and traditions are the same.

The folkways may vary from one ethnic grouping to another, but the operational cultural norms are basically the same all over the State. The cultural similarities bind the people together especially in such areas as cuisines, dressing, dances, songs, rituals, folklores, beliefs and myths. Almost all aspects of its culture have potentials to provide fascinating experiences for tourists and for investment opportunities.

Special Dances

Asian Ubo Ikpa

Asian Uboikpa means the proud and flamboyant maiden. This dance is performed by maidens between the age of 18 years and 25 years who have successfully gone through the ‘Mbopo’ institution. Mbopo being the period a girl is confined, fattened and drilled on all aspects of home management in preparation for marriage. It is common in almost all the hinterland of the State. Performed by maidens at their prime, Asian Uboikpa therefore is in its visual appeal and celebrates and affirm the youthful innocence and purity in their beauty, while showcasing the popular admonition among the Akwa Ibom people that chastity once lost is lost forever.

Oko

Oko is the male dance which is likened to the war dance because of its ferocious displays. The climax of this dance starts when the dancers’ start slashing at one another with razor sharp machetes and firing at themselves with live bullets from Dane guns. But mysteriously, not a drop of blood is shed as the machetes cannot penetrate the skin of the dancers, or the bullets hurt any of the members of what is obviously a secret society.

Nkerebe

Nkerebe (looking for husband) is another women dance, performed once a year when young girls at the age of puberty prepare to perform the Mboppo nceremony.

Asian Mbre Iban

Asian Mbre Iban are dances performed by maidens who wish to inform unmarried men of the community how beautiful and eligible they are. Other women dances include Akan, Asamba and Uwok which is performed in the villages occasionally.

Ndok Ufok Ebe

The Ndok Ufok Ebe (shame of a bad marriage) is another women dance to express their grievances over maltreatment of women by their husbands. The dance is performed once a year. It is accompanied by songs telling the community about their plight, often, it involves going topless to the market place.

Ebre

There is also the Ebre society women dance performed yearly during harvesting of new yam. During this occasion, women dance to the market place and neighbouring villages. The dance is not only meant to entertain but as well as deliberate protest against what is regarded as male chauvinism, which is reflected in the vulgarity of some of the song texts.

Key Focus

Port Harcourt based Pastor, Stephen Akinola dies hours after TB JoshuaPublished on June 6, 2021By Wale Odunsi


General Superintendent of Redemption Ministries Worldwide, Rev. Stephen Akinola has passed away.


His death occurred the same day Prophet T.B. Joshua, founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) died

Joshua died in the wee hours of Sunday morning hours after delivering a sermon.

Akinola reportedly underwent a kidney transplant but this is yet to be verified.

His congregation and residents have besieged the church, headquartered in Port Harcourt, to pay their last respects.

Former Chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Apostle Eugene Ogu has confirmed Akinola’s death.

https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/world-57376301.amp

NEWSPort Harcourt based Pastor, Stephen Akinola dies hours after TB JoshuaPublished on June 6, 2021By Wale Odunsi


General Superintendent of Redemption Ministries Worldwide, Rev. Stephen Akinola has passed away.


His death occurred the same day Prophet T.B. Joshua, founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) died

Joshua died in the wee hours of Sunday morning hours after delivering a sermon.

Akinola reportedly underwent a kidney transplant but this is yet to be verified.

His congregation and residents have besieged the church, headquartered in Port Harcourt, to pay their last respects.

Former Chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Apostle Eugene Ogu has confirmed Akinola’s death.

THIS IS WHAT NIGERIAN WANT AND WE DON GET AM. CASE CLOSE

A welcome development.

*TAKE TIME ON HOW YOU DEY WAYO A LADY. IF NOT ONE DAY NA ONE DAY IM GO BRING YOU DOWN LIKE SMALL PICKIN*

READ THE STORY�

If you're currently going out or in a relationship with someone you have no intentions of getting married to, I suggest you read this article very carefully.

This is coming from a legal perspective and so I suggest you take it seriously.

Back in 2013, I once had a neighbour who lived two buildings after mine.

He was a man in his mid forties and worked at an oil company.

The man was comfortable within his rights and appeared very much ready to settle down.

Later on, we started seeing a very light skinned, timid lady around his apartment.

When our transformer blew to smithereens and invitations were sent to every building to discuss about a new transformer, it was the lady we met and served her the letter.

She practically lived there.

Since the man who I will call Oga Jude ( not real name) was from a conservative religious group, I always saw the lady attend church services alone on Sundays.

One evening, while at the fuelling station trying to purchase fuel for my generator, Oga Jude strolled in.

He asked me to wait up for him, and to my surprise, he paid for my fuel.

Then he started: "the law, I'm worried. Wahala dey o."

"What happened?", I asked him.

"When you go get chance make I discuss with you as my lawyer? I need advice."

I told him to come to my office and I gave him the address.

Truly, on the appointed day, he came.

He tossed a court process on my table.

I looked through the process and I discovered Oga Jude had been sued and was to pay 12 million naira in damages for breach of promise to marry.

I was shocked!

"Oga Jude, who did you promise marriage naa?"

He said "my brother, na that my girl naa...that yellow girl wey you dey see for my house steady."

"What happened naaa? Marry her naaa. That girl is clean and homely."

"Marry who?

"How many times I wan marry? I don marry born 3 children."

Jesu!!

My jaw literally dropped on the table.

He continued: "The issue is that my wife and kids are coming back from the UK to stay with me for the next six months and it's likely they may not go back."

So what do you want me to do? I asked

"What did you do to this girl that has made her rush to the court to seek redress? Did you actually promise to marry her? What steps did you take?"

He came out clean with me.

When the girl refused to part with her innocence, he indeed went to the girl's parents to declare his intention to marry her in the presence of kit and kin.

Convinced of his intentions, like a sheep to slaughter, he led her to his bedroom and ravished her countless times to his fill.

When he was weary of her body as expected, he wanted to discard her.

I listened to his ramblings and I was bitter in my spirit.

Looking at his file, I observed that the lawyer who prepared the brief was a friend, so I called him on the phone and booked an appointment.

When we met, he told me that the brief was sponsored by some members of the church the lady attends.

He had been paid fully. The said girl and her family were not spending a dime and they were hell bent on getting their pound of flesh from my oga Jude.

I dug deeper and I heard the gut wrenching and sordid details of the affair.

After several abortions, 3 years of "dating" and false promises, Oga Jude just woke up one morning and told the girl he was married and had kids and so they had no future.

She pleaded and begged, but her pleas fell on deaf ears.

She kept coming but he kept embarrassing her back to back.

He even beat her up mercilessly one time, tore her clothes and threw her out on the streets.

She sent emissaries, but they were embarrassed and given their marching orders.

Oga Jude had gotten the juice he craved and had no need for the "container"

Then the phone calls stopped.

The visits ceased and Oga Jude basked in his new found freedom.

The young lady out of heartbreak attempted suicide twice and was extremely depressed.

She later swallowed her shame and confided in her pastor who took her in and referred her to a counsellor and psychologist.

It was the pastor who also doubles as a lawyer that opened her eyes to her options in law and the need to sue Oga Jude if she wanted.

Of course she took up the option with both hands.

Now it was her turn to pay back Oga Jude with his own dirty coin.

The lawyer friend told me:

"Baba, as that girl dey so, she no get 1 naira shame again. She don scrape hair dey wait prison. No extent wey that girl no go reach to get that money. And the fact she's not spending a dime makes her even more dangerous. Advise your client make him pay. We even hear say him be elder for where him dey worship sef. I intend writing them by this weekend make them knack am back seat first."

I called Oga Jude after the meeting and he called her bluff.

"She no go fit do am. No be that small girl wey I know? She no fit. Who dey give am mind? If I see am sef I go beat am. Who she be? She be amateur golddiger. I don tey for this game."

I begged him to call the lady and reach an amicable settlement as the case looked bad but he was adamant.

The case came up in court.

The judge was female. A mother.

Wahala don tie wrapper!!

When the initial mention stages as well as pre trial conferences passed, we delved into full hearing.

The lady was called to the witness box. The court was filled to the brim.

She stood there. Ice cold. Spotting a bald head and a bold earring, she swore on the Bible and adopted her evidence.

Judge: "Ubani, cross examine the witness"

Me: "my lord, the bar is full.
I will just take a bite. Maybe one or two questions then we take a short date"

Judge: "very well then"

Me: "Young Lady, how are you?"

Witness: "I'm fine"

Me: "So how long did you have this affair with the defendant?"

Witness: "three years, Four months and eighteen days"

Me: "and in all these years, you never knew he was married?"

Witness: "Barrister, are you asking me? You lived in the same area with him. Did you ever know he was married?"

Me: "I'm asking you a question my friend.
I ask, you answer. That's how it works here. So Answer me and quit being petty"

Judge: "young lady, Answer him"

Witness: "I never knew he was married"

Me: "My lord may I at this point take a short adjournment so I can refuel and come back better prepared"

Judge: "Take a date. Call the next case"

As soon as we stepped out of the court, the lady accosted me.

"You are now calling me young lady shebi? like say you never see me before. Can you say you don't know me? If it was your sister that they messed up would you be happy? I had 4 abortions for this man. He gathered my entire family and told them he would marry me. Didn't he tell you he did "knocking of door"? This idiot standing there has collected list from my family. I rejected 3 marriage proposals from serious men because of this he-goat. Now he wants to leave me."

Turning to Oga Jude, she said "I will ruin you even if that's the last thing I'll do in this life. You never see this side of me. Now you will see it. You will know that there are some fruits you don't eat in secret. We shall see. If this court doesn't give me justice I will try something else. I will make you miserable. I will wreck your home. Your wife will know me. Just wait."

The adage "Hell hath no fury than a woman scorned" quickly played through my mind.

She stormed out with the rest of her family members.

Oga Jude just stood transfixed. He didn't utter a word.

On our way to the car, Oga Jude said to me
"the law, I've never ever seen that girl like that before ever. That girl can kill me like this without blinking. You see as her eye dey shine fiam fiam!! She don go even barb mallam join. Kaiii I don cast! 1Please the law, call that your lawyer friend and set up a meeting. I have too much to lose. My church, my wife, my job, my reputation, my kids, my peace of mind."

I did set up the meeting and the lady reluctantly agreed to accept 10million naira, a written and oral apology to her immediate and extended family and a Jeep for her parents.

Oga Jude paid. Painstakingly.

And that was how that case died albeit unnaturally.

Don't you dare take anyone for granted o!

If you push some people to the wall, their claws and fangs will appear.

Are you currently going out with someone you have no intentions of getting married to?

Advise yourself accordingly.

#copied

This is really shocking.

Wike has at least shown himself to be very mindful of the plight of the people. He may be rough atimes. It all with one reason or the other. Most times for the interest of the people.