₦airaland Forum

@ funloving this question has always been in a lot of us. The answer can't be a simple one because the problem is complicated. At this point it is pertinent to note that this is neither an acknowledgement that the Black man is less than anybody in individual terms, but that collectively considering other races his achivements has been mininal. My thoughts and my opinions:

Lets start from our diversity which could act as a strenght but unfortunately it hasnt . Horus gave a hint without recognising it, there are so many splinter groups, ie. tribes, languages, cultures etc, we are so different people and hereis the problem we see ourselves like that DIFFERENT. Take a case of a state in Nigeria say Delta, the Ijaws, itsekiris and urhobos can't live together in peace, then think when u add the isokos and the rest.

Then looking at the micro unit, some of our parents would prefer we marry from our own tribe, why i ask them and they are like its better, you will be able to settle differences easily bla bla, ,like we don't know of same tribe divorces, then i tell them for no sensible reason i should marry ONLY from  my tribe, (absolute nonsense), point being that we don't see ourselves as the same. I think this differentiation has really worked against blacks especially in Africa, but again this arguement does not hold looking at Blacks outside Africa eg Jamaicans etc that have long left Africa because they don't have this bitter division, but still we observe the seemingly backwardness (rate of growth). The summary is that this differentiation has affected us negatively.

Then colonisation (the white man) what some call a lazy arguements i.e. blamming another man for your problems. However, empirically it has been shown that the colonial masters established institutions with very weak foundations in areas where they couldnt migrate (settle eventually) due to diseases, it has been shown that in coutries where they relocated to such as new Zealand, Australia the institutions are better proper systems were put in place. But again the arguement is what of before the white man what was the Black man doing ? then after the white man why has he chosen to kill himself and not move ahead. In my opinion we have to single the the arguement looking at after the white man (post colonial) for several reasons, easy comparison (figures are availlable) then also because the black man changed his civilisation (i refuse to think he was babaric or uncivilised before the intrusion of the white man) because the natural way of life of the early African was actually a civilisation (Egypt, Ife, Benin,Kano), his culture (ways of life) and government might have been different in organisation, covered smaller regions but still there was an administration, taxes etc.

This is were some have said that "wickedness and greed is natural to blacks" he sold his own to slavery and converted what was not his own (the mirror and gun stories) but hey can we show if it was the white man he wont do the same?

Lets think on this for now, please note correcting the mistakes of the past is possible and not the arguement, the arguement is why are we like this TODAY, so please don't bring the it will be better tomorrow arguement.

I have several other points to even the current day issues of the black man, but for ease of reading lets take it step by step.

My brother the thief runnet when no one pursuet.

Well said debosky, well said. Funny that those that are always against the EFCC are the ones that shout "rule of law" what an irony.

They refuse to acknowledge the fact its not the EFCC's respnsibility to do everything, while the other agencies do nothing. The question they should be asking is before the EFCC what was the position of the country, what success rate did the anti corruption agencies then record?

@ david you need to realise that its now a joke. The impression in the minds of people catholic and otherwise is that i feel mine is right why should i change. Its difficult to see things when the mind is clouded.

Just read this "Holy Mary Spouse of God the Holy Spirit" why should any one bother talking to someone like that. Please catholics keep offering inferior worship and ask the saints departed to pray for you, its all good.

For me I will go boldly to the throne of grace, and offer worship to the one alone that deserves my praise and worship thats for me oh.

NB: I have attended a mass where Rev. Fr Adegbite officiated, he was a good man. May his soul rest in peace.

Case closed abi. Though not that i expect much to change, but let the power block shift a bit. On the face of it the speaker was not the annointed candidate.

Now the arguement on NYSC should be put in proper perspective. Its situations like this that should cause thinking people to re-accessed the status quo, NYSC has lost its relevance. If the programme cannot be all emcompassing and properly structured it should be scrapped. Why should it be only graduates that serve?

@ mrpataki its the same buluti my brother, have been very busy, though in and out atimes not much time to post. Its good to be back though and why am i not surprised at the logic am reading over the forum?

babasin:
NYSC law is very clear!

We can't have a law breaker now making law!

great things must be done with great attention to law and consistency

so we can't even trust his CV: 'Going by his CV, Bankole was 26 years old when he started working in 1995 at Freight Agencies, Lagos.'

So he did NYSC 3years after he started working??

No you need to put the issues in proper perspective.

I agree on the arguement of consistency but is it that he served 3 years later or he didnt serve at all?? What is the issue?

@ Carlosein you just helped Pilgrim's 1 case with the quote 185 of yours. Trying to play around the english definitions wont help your case. The question is as a christain what constitutes worship to you ?? reminds me of the fornication thread where someone was trying to justify pre-marital sex.

What is wrong is wrong, there is nothing like inferior worship, (in issues of life, faith what i will refer to in this case as religion), its either black or white there are no grey areas. If we were having a secular discussion i could concur and reason along your line, but in issues of life its not just possible.

You either worship God and him alone trying to say you give God superior worship and other gods (saints, mother mary or whatever) inferior worship is just a lie of the enemy and one of the most dangerous i have ever come across, it is so demonic, geez can't you see this. ?

This is your life we are talking about, take it seriously and forget religion or tradition.

At last Nigeria1 has decided to shut up.

Why cant my country begin to think and act like serious people. This is clearly the sign of the bring him down by all means, lets look for something wrong like someone in this forum once said, it will be hard to find a totally spot less Nigerian. I really dont know what to say. Its very sad, the guys CV is impressive and based on that it would be nice to have an educated person in that position, so we can begin to compare.

The fact that he has worked in Nigeria is the issue, he has indeed broken the law (thats if the allegation is true), if that is enough to impeach him, ? Thats the question for the accusers.

Its time the whole NYSC thing is re-accessed vis a vis the intentions at the time it was created. The scheme has since lost its usefulness, truth be told its a total WASTE OF TIME . During my NYSC i asked one of the officials why only graduates serve and she came up with if you dont go to school you cant teach, i asked her if teaching was the motive for NYSC and that i wasnt teaching or serving in a government parastatal so whats she talking about.

I explained that in my opinion the civil service was made up of mainly primary school leavers so why cant the scheme be all inclusive. She just kept blabbing. I told her that in some other nations if you get to a certain age say 18 or 21 you are enlisted in the military for 1 year where you get full military training the aim is that in terms of war, you can easily enlist your citizens, that ours has lost its purpose, with the whole private partnership because in actual terms you are not serving the nation, you are just cheap labour to one private firm.

Ok so this is where the information was obtained. In a bid not to sound biased i took a look at the so called website, can you please go to the link about us of this so called site.

http://www.pointblanknews.com/about.html

The site publishes stories from individuals the content of which cannot be verified independently because they didnt state how they do that. We have dailes in Nigeria such as Thisday, Guardian etc that will report issues without fear or favour. Who is a Fiscal Commission source a faceless individual and thats the source of the story.

This is pure junk journalism, the issue of the controversial import waiver of the previous regime is well known, such waivers have been used by successive Nigerian governments and such was frowned at because it makes no economic sense, it was costing the govt a huge source of revenue.

Trying to identify Pastor Adeboye with such nonsense at best is a huge joke, if the so called import waivers were granted by the OBJ government, the new government should ensure everyone found to have gained including RCCG if proven to be involved should pay back, but to slander someones name like this just shows the level of thinking of people.

The same people that call for rule of law, that say u are innocent until proven guilty are the ones passing judgements.

FSU:
This Nigeria1 is a thief, like his pastor Adeboye

Igbos can now see what people like this will do to them if given the opportunity.

FSU i really fail to see the need for the comment above, what has Pastor Adeboye got to do with the discussion at hand, is he the reason for Nigeria1's low thinking faculty. If you don't have evidence to show Pastor Adeboye is a thief would you please SHUT UP.

@ Nigeria1, you just don't give up, you are a such a tribal and ethnic thinking person. Please tell, how has state creation led to better standards of living or better management of resources, you live the substance and chase shadows.

You advertise your extremely crapy website, discuss without any trace of intelligence and are so guided by selfish motives. I am so sure you stand to gain personally if ever any of these states are created. Nigeria does not need people like you at this time, its people like you that got us to where we are.

Revealed: Why Supreme Court Installed Amaechi
• Apex court erred, says Gani as NLC, Atiku hail judgment
By Ademola Adeyemo in Lagos and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja, 10.29.2007

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Even as fresh questions are being raised over last week’s judgment by the Supreme Court which led to the removal of Sir Celestine Omehia as the Governor of Rivers State and the swearing-in of Hon. Rotimi Amaechi as his replacement, indications emerged at the weekend on what might have informed the apex court’s decision.
Highly-placed sources told THISDAY last night that the Supreme Court justices refrained from ordering fresh elections in the state because they feared that the PDP might bar Amaechi from contesting. He had been expelled by the party for resorting to legal action after his controversial substitution by the PDP on February 2, 2007.
The party did not state reasons for his disqualification then, although it was annou-nced at the Court of Appeal last month that Amaechi’s disqualification was based on an indictment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
But the EFCC indictment came on February 20, two weeks after Amaechi’s substitution.
“The Supreme Court justices were wary of a situation similar to the Ifeanyi Araraume case in Imo State when the PDP disobeyed its ruling that he was the authentic candidate of the party for the governorship election,” the source said.
The PDP had substituted Araraume with Engr. Charles Ugwuh as its candidate, but the Supreme Court ruled that the substitution did not fulfill the requirements of the 2006 Electoral Act, which stated that “cogent and verifiable reasons” must be given for the substitution of candidates.
The party subsequently expelled Araraume and withdrew from the governorship race in the state by failing to field any candidate.
“The Supreme Court believed that the PDP wilfully disobeyed its judgment by failing to field Araraume under a guise, and it clearly did not want a situation where its ruling would be wilfully disobeyed through some other manipulations. That is why it stated unequivocally that Amaechi was the candidate and should be sworn in,” the source explained.
Lagos-based lawyer, Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN), however disagrees with the Supreme Court over its ruling. Fawehinmi, in a press statement made available to THISDAY yesterday, said the order “installing Amaechi who never contested the governorship election as governor of River State” was wrong.
According to the radical lawyer, the assumption of office by Amaechi is a “judicial imposition” on the Rivers State people who he said did not vote for Amaechi on April 14, 2007.
Fawehinmi said: “I have no quarrel with the decision of the Supreme Court in so far as it nullified the election of Celestine Omehia on the ground that he was not the appropriate candidate of that party.
“My disagreement with the judgment is the order made by the court that Rotimi Amaechi who never contested the governorship election should be sworn in as governor of River State.”
Gani further submitted: “I consider the assumption of office by Rotimi Amaechi as a judicial imposition on the electorate of Rivers State who when they were voting on April 14th April, 2007 did not have in view or consideration Rotimi Amaechi who was not a candidate in the eyes, in minds and in the hearts of the electorate of Rivers State.”
According to the legal practitioner, the essence of democratic elections is that the electorate should decide who should be their leaders.
“On April 14 2007, the electorate of Rivers State decided through their votes that Celestine Omehia should be their governor, he campaigned as the candidate of PDP for that election. Now that his candidacy has been adjudged by the Supreme Court as illegal, he could not be the governor of that state. Simply put the Rivers State electorate cast their votes for an illegal candidate, consequently their votes for Celestine Omehia counted for nothing. I have no quarrel with that.”
Fawehinmi further stated: “The electorate of Rivers State did not have the opportunity to vote for Rotimi Amaechi as he was not a candidate for the 14 April, 2007 election of Rivers State. Simply put no vote in law could be attributed to Rotimi Amaechi when the election was held.”
He further cited Section 177 of the 1999 Constitution to buttress his argument saying that, the section provides that no governorship candidate could be validly returned as an elected governor where there are more than two contestants unless he has the highest votes cast in that election according to section179(2) of the constitution.
“Rotimi Amaechi could not have satisfied the constitutional provisions in section179 (2) as he did not contest the governorship election of Rivers state on April 14th, 2007.”
By the judgment of the Supreme Court, Gani expressed regrets that the electorate of Rivers State were denied the opportunity of electing their governor and that Rotimi Amaechi was imposed on them by judicial fiat and not through the ballot.
Gani said that in his own opinion, the appropriate order was for the court to have ordered a fresh governorship election in Rivers state with Amaechi as the PDP candidate as it “is only by this that the electorate of Rivers state would not have been denied their constitutional right to choose their governor.”
However, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), in a statement by its acting President, Mrs, Ladi Iliya, said it was particularly grateful to the Supreme Court which in this landmark judgment which decided to dwell on 'substantial justice without regard to technicalities'.
The NLC commended the people of Rivers State “who have been forced to live under an illegal government, insecurity and an endless curfew. We commend Mr. Amaechi for his tenacity, single mindedness and courage, and hope that he would bring these qualities as well as transparency to bear on his administration."
"The people of Rivers State have suffered much and the new governor needs to heal wounds and move the people towards a better life,” the statement said.
NLC also called on all workers and Nigerians to support the Supreme Court judgment and assist the new administration in Rivers State to take off smoothly.
"This judgment is one more nail driven into the coffin of arbitrariness and impunity, which has seized our body polity. In this wise, we call on all those aggrieved or short changed in the fatally flawed 2007 elections to remain steadfast in their pursuit of justice," it said.
According to the NLC, the Supreme Court judgment and the inelegant role of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the elections once again raises the issue of how long the Prof. Maurice Iwu leadership of INEC will be allowed to remain in office. “Clearly, free and fair elections will be impossible in the states where elections may be re-conducted if the Iwu-led INEC is the body charged with their conduct,” it said.
Former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, commended the judgment on his return to the country yesterday after spending three months abroad, reportedly to undergo treatment for his leg injury which he sustained in a domestic accident last April.
Speaking with journalists at the airport, Atiku hailed the Nigerian judiciary for bold verdicts it had given recently on the disputed April elections at various levels.
He said the decisions by the Supreme Court, the election tribunals and courts so far have shown that “politicians no longer needed the military to sort out politics when they mess things up. We have gone past that stage.”
He praised the judiciary as the last hope of the common man, adding that he felt justified in his consistent and unbending trust in the country’s judiciary.
Among notable associates on hand to receive him at the airport were former governor of old Kaduna State, Alhaji Lawal Kaita, the Director General of Atiku Presidential Campaign Organisation, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, former national chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Audu Ogbeh, former Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Tom Ikimi and the National Publicity Secretary of the Action Congress (AC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

McKren:
I think the supreme court is becoming inconsistent with some of its verdicts and should be careful to avoid sensationalism.

The truth of the matter is in Nigeria like Britain we vote  Political parties not individuals. So if the Supreme court is working on the assunmption that if the PDP won the last election in River State then whoever is PDP party leader becomes the Governor, then the judgement is in order. That is why Gordon Brown replaced Tony Blair as Prime Minister by default after replacing Blair as party Leader without election.
So on that argument replacing Amaechi as Governor without being voted in is right because what the people voted for is PDP and not Amaechi or Omehia!!!!!!!
[/b].

Just a bit of clarification, the UK operates the parliamentary system and has a prime minister not a president, so that is why Gordon Brown can replace Tony Blair because the party elected Gordon Brown as party leader.

On your point of sensationalism, my friend i totally agree with you. The supreme court should be very careful, as i stated in my first post they face the risk of becoming like the executive previously, who must have their way whether its right or wrong. Reading the dalies this morning the arguement is that the supreme court wanted to ensure that its judgement was obeyed, it is not in his place to ensure that, it should give a right and legal verdict and not the Nonsense irrational declaration they just did.

Please see the link below, Gani has suggested that the ruling was wrong and gave his reason, it tells us of the lawyers we have in Nigeria, where all the sycophant lawyers, Keyamo & Co were applauding an illegal judgement, because they want to look politically correct.

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=93651

@ Orikinla, you have stated my fears with that verdict in very clear tems, unconstitutionality cannot cancel another unconstitutional act. It is such a Joke.

I was most worried when i heard the verdict. I hope in a bid to ascertain its independence the juduciary (supreme court) is not falling into the trap of the executive (previously).

Yes there was an illegality in PDP which should be corrected, but how can you declare someone a governor that didnt contest an election. This is such a dangerous precedence cos it suggest that people voted for the political party and not the individual.

I hope some independent lawyer takes up this arguement.

We need to wake up in Nigeria and be very objective, the judgement is a tragedy to democracy.

@chidichris, i dont see how i can have that answer since i didnt send the invitation nor am i involved in the "funfare".

@nigeria1 Afam asked you a good question and all you can come up with is such an unintelligent response. The fact that you are part of the said conference is quite scary.

@ donnie, it would have been better if you didnt attempt to explain or give your "opinions" on Tunde Bakare, in all honesty it amounts to "hypocricy".

@ nadico the time had come since but unfortunately we know little or nothing about accountability and integrity in governance. You are likely to get little or no response on such a topic for obvious reasons. Am sure a lot of people don't even know their representatives in both the upper and lower house, so how can they demand for any accountability.

Am sure if you raise a thread on tribalism, ethnicism or an individual corrupt politician you would get better responses but when it centres on issues and ideas that need people to act or make a call, you are likely to get no response.

In contribution, people make a major difference by identifying the names of their reps from the House of Assembly web sight   http://www.nassnig.org/House/  you can choose your state and send emails to your reps on what affects your individual constituencies, also you can send emails to the speaker and members of the current probe panel stating that their actions are keenly been watched and is important to their integrity and that of the nation, even if there are no responses they would know that Nigerians are getting more informed.

http://www.nassnig.org/House/

This is just one way we can make a difference through the simple use of the internet. Discuss issues and make suggestions, it shouldnt be an avenue to solicit for any favours, we need to start thinking of the greater good for all, thats the only way a society can make progress.

@ ono, how do you know he pleaded guilty under duress, did he tell you that, with the kind of lawyers he had how could that have happened. The man made a plea bargain you are calling it "duress".

@ benit good you do vist Bayelsa and the people like Alams admin more than the VP's admin. But my question is simple were funds utilised properly during the tenure of any of them, this mentality of "small vis-a-vis big thief" is so dangerous to our well being, that people make such comparisons is so very annoying. What you should do is educate them that they should demand accountability, any one that doesnt utilise funds appropriately should be an outcast irrespective of who he currently is. They should ask questions how much does the state govt get monthly what has it been used for? if possible the accounts should be available to the public afterall its public funds.

@ beetintin so because we have been like that, we should continue to remain like that, such wisdom.

@ chidichris so OBJ is now a court of adequate and competent jurisdiction where confessions and admission of crimes are made.

Thanx debosky for the piece, this mindset of "everyone is corrupt" is affecting a lot of folks.

Akolawole:
Ono, maybe thats how you people are in that part of Naija

@ Akolawale though its on a light note, but thats really unnecessary. He expressed a personal opinion and in no way did he say he was expressing the views of any particular section of the country.

No need truning this into a tribal debate, it should be on issues, on how to treat the crooks of leadership that are exposed.

otokx:
A lot of you talking have lost touch with the Nigerian situation. Selective Justice amounts to an aberration; the ordinary man on the street cannot understand the grammer you people are saying. In the University of Port Harcourt, there is a plaque showing the contribution of ALAMS to the infrastructural development of the place besides other monies he gave to do other things, same with Odili and Ebitimi Banigo plus Dan Etete. This people will always be giving red carpet treatment whenever they come here even if a COURT in HELL finds them guilty. What infrastructural development have you guys running mouth done in we country?

It is very dishearthening when certain comments are made. Let me try and be simple, it is in a malfunctional environment that such happens.

@ ono the man has pleaded guilty and you are saying you believe he is innocent, maybe you know better than him. You and otokx are about the loudest voices in here on Niger Delta issues and it is always shocking when you guys make statements. One time it was Ibori was the best performing governor and in your opinions should be considered for president.

What is it with having and respecting integrity that is difficult to understand, with such behaviours how do you deter Omeiha and the others from following the trends of Ibori and Odili, if the "educated" ones dont condem in strong terms such acts what do you expect the so called "common man" on the streets to do.

These crooks should be exposed and treated as outkast, they are as bad if not worse than the armed robbers that kill.

Nigeria is such a joke.

When things are done properly or at least with the intention to do it right the western media reports it as opposed to what some "Nigerians" think. Please read about the brief coverage of sierra leone elections and why has the BBC not "domonised" the elections.

In the case of Nigeria things were done wrongly and with the intention to be done wrong and instead of the citizens to be alive to their responsibilities and constructively criticise, we make such lazy remarks as the BBC is against us, and some more stupid remarks.

The EU presented their report on the Nigerian elections and instead of the INEC chairman to keep quiet, he was talking up side down of Nigeria being a soverign nation and not needing monitors, such rubbish. What has sovereinity got to do with proper conduct of elections. Simple question did your commission organise and hold a proper free and fair election according to the ECOWAS treaty the country is a signatory to, he comes up with some sociological nonsense.

Please what is your take on the EU recommendations to Nigeria.

Also whats your take on the panel set up by the president do you think the government has the political will to get the next election right.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/6961449.stm

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=87083

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=87191

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=87187

@ his_grace, well i am not surprised. You have said it all.

Let me help you. I have said

1. The report accurately portrays the true picture of Nigeria.

2. At the pace we are going we will always lack behind and achieve little or nothing in real terms.

3. The fact that we can say it is bad and see that it is all motion without movements has little or nothing to do with patriotism.

4. We can make our own individual contributions by commenting and sensitising ourselves on the ills and not sweeping them under the carpet as if they don't exist.

5. In sensitising others we aim to try and build the attitude of accountability where merit will strive above other considerations such as quota, ethnic or tribalism.

I hope it is simple enough. This attitude that those that critic issues are "bastards" (not literally) or not patriotic is an insult to common sense and pure nonsense.

@ his_grace, so please after the glorification of the reformed "f" word you used,  Is the standard of Living of the average Nigerian different from what the report states?

We seem to always mis the point, the UN is attempting to sensitise that a lot more needs to be achieved quickly to meet the poverty reduction goal. You stated some good and laudable initiatives recently implemented, no one is saying there is no attempt to move the country forward and we are happy and pray it continues.

Putting the issue in proper perspective on a global scale we fall way behind in terms of the living conditions of our citizens and its a concern to the UN, maybe not as important to the elitist Nigerian, but the unilateral agencies are interested in the standard of living of the low income and poor.

Let me digress a bit since it looks like some of us don't love Nigeria, in your sincere accessment of the current situation look at the current ministers, please lets remove our CBN governor, and maybe just a handful of other technocrats what can you expect. I almost wept when i saw Ojo Maduekwe and is it his wife (not sureof his wife) as ministers, i remember when he was Minister of transport with his bicycle initiative someone that couldnt articulate a comprehensive National transport Policy 8 years ago is being recycled now in foreign affairs. Again i was closed to tears when someone like Bode Agusto was dropped for a flimsy excuse as "arrogance" from the house, does that tell me of a political class interested in moving forward. NO i don't think so.

I look at the political economy and i remember OBJ in his first term, its all about trying to appease and settle, then nothing really gets done, till the second term. So in actual terms we have 4 years of slow or minimal initiatives and theres a multiplicative effect to that sluggishness, the economy looses the momentum, so when the next 4 years comes it is difficult to move at that pace.

How long can we continue like this? If the educated won't attempt to educate others in forums like this building awareness and sensitising ourselves of the dangers inherent in all this quota, ethnic and tribal arrangements we have in place, that we will always be left behind in the world.

The kind of patroticism or love for father land that one cannot voice objectively clear signs of retrogression baffles me, we can't say things are alright when they are not.

The standards are there and would not be lowered for Nigeria, the world is watching us, we need to get our acts together thats the point. I am not so interested in saying Nigeria is bad or lacks behind when it is clear , but i would say it never the less, i am more interested interested in ensuring we don't always go around in circles, making the same mistakes all over again.

Please present your facts.

My introduction of lekki/VI etc was in response to "what i see for myself", and i ask myself is that is a true picture. Just a clarification.

Anyway it was nice, we are clearly looking at issues from different perspectives. i rest.

Why am i not surprised? Waste of productive time, ironic.

You just keep stating a biased subjective opinion that "The write up is not a true picture of Nigeria" present your facts. In the absence of that i would advice you see properly, beyond your immediate environment.

No ones talking of CNN, thats how we as Nigerians mix up and complicate issues, restrict the discussion to the facts at hand you are bringing in CNN.

The "truest" picture is the picture i see for myself, is it the nice estates in Lekki/VI, or Asokoro in Abuja where mansions house a nuclear family of a father, mother and 2 or 3 kids, or the villages or ghettos were 10 people sleep in a small room and have no access to the most basic amenities.

Please wake up.

@ Kobe I am in the sporty mood so i would oblige you.

Please present a write up or report and call it "the fake picture of Nigeria" then i would have a basis to determine if the report is a true or fake picture.

In the absence of that you are asking me to get into a blind and subjective arguement. It would all be i think and you think.

The originator presented a basis to ascertain "the true picture of Nigeria" please provide yours for a fake picture.

@ orikinla, we dont understand what income inequality means becos we dont have ideological perspective. Its all so myopic of our surrounding environment and elitist conservative attitude.

@ originator please take it easy.

@ kobe i don't know if i should bother based on your comment. I asked you a simple question, what is the true picture of Nigeria.

We can live in denial for all the world cares, figures and statistics don't lie, the standard of living via the HDI provides an accurate picture of the true Nigeria and it is appauling.

Fortunately the civilised world is interested in every citiizens ability to reach their full potentials and not a few.

They would not reduce the standard so that Nigeria can look good.