₦airaland Forum

yeyerolling:
name one village oga. The fulani thru dan fodio don archeive dem mission in the past. Dem no fit try nonsense in this present dispensation. I once worked in wasse LGA near jos. Na lie u dey lie

So you didn't read the article? What do you mean by repeatedly saying "Name one renamed village"?

You're one of the major problems in Nigeria.

You didn't read the article? Chaii. I weep for Nigeria

Now, with all these killings happening and the government doing nothing to protect these people. We all know that nothing will ever be done to stop these killings.

If the Middle-Belt had what it takes to be a country and declared their independence, having lost faith in Nigeria to protect their lives, then the whole Nigeria goes to war against them and kills about 1million of them to bring them back to Nigeria, what would you say??

Do you still maintain that Ojukwu was wrong by declaring his people independent when over 50,000 50,000. I mean 50,000 people were killed, the killings continued and the government did nothing and even still went further to renege on an agreement to establish peace?

Do you still agree that the whole Nigeria going to war to further kill 3million of same people that lost over 50,000 in a pogrom the government failed to stop which made them decide to go, was right?? You know what losing 50,000 lives means? It means killing same 200 persons in Plateau state everyday for at least 250 days.( God Forbid)

In as much as what is happening in the Middle-Belt is inhuman and condemnable, the warriors of the Middle-Belt used by these same Fulanis to wreck havoc on another people during the 1966 pogrom and the war that followed should be watching this.

Hypocrisy will continue to lord over Nigeria till the needful is done.

AbiaOnline:
by Onyebuchi Ememanka Esq.

The Late Chief Samuel Onunaka Mbakwe, Phd, the urbane lawyer who was elected Governor of the old Imo State under the banner of the defunct Nigeria Peoples Party (NPP) remains a reference point for positive development.

Till date, Mbakwe is regarded as the best Governor ever to come out from these parts as he embarked on heavy infrastructural development across the major cities that made up the then Imo State.

Mbakwe understood clearly then that economic development is driven by infrastructure and he pursued its development with an unapologetic mindset. He set up Industries across the entire state and founded the then Imo State University with a multi campus structure at Etiti and Aba, using the premises of Madonna High School Etiti and Ngwa High School as take off campuses.

But...

Two other things defined Mbakwe's administration which are mostly not discussed.

First, Mbakwe's administration borrowed heavily.
Most of the heavy investments in roads, industries and educational facilities were funded with external loans.
Known then as the weeping Governor, Mbakwe always went to the then President Shehu Shagari in Lagos, the then Federal Capital to seek for additional funds since what the state got then was barely enough to run a smooth government and provide amenities for the people of the state. Mbakwe reportedly broke down in tears whenever he made a case for more money for the state.

When these funds were not forthcoming from Lagos, he decided to borrow externally and heavily. The funds from these loans were channeled majorly into road construction across the state. Mbakwe brought in construction firms like MCC into the state for roads construction and he committed himself to ensuring that quality roads were built.

By the time Mbakwe left office in December 1983, Imo State was neck deep in debt. This is true. But the people were satisfied somehow because he left a sterling record of achievements in physical development.

When Imo State was split into the old Abia and Imo States, these new states, naturally inherited these debts. Their monthly statutory allocations were charged with deductions to service these loans.
These trend continued even when a part of the old Imo State was carved and formed a part of Ebonyi State. Till date, these three states are still repaying the loans the Mbakwe borrowed.

In September 2002, then Imo State Governor, Achike Udenwa told journalists in Lagos that a major challenge facing the economy of his state then was the heavy deductions from the state's allocation for the servicing of the loans taken by Mbakwe's government. He also made it clear that no one would blame Mbakwe then because that was the only option he had to fund economic development and growth.

Dr. S Okechukwu Mezu, a staunch Mbakwe supporter and Chairman of Golden Guinea Breweries Umuahia in 1979, in an article written in 2013, agreed that Mbakwe resorted to extensive external borrowings to fund the development of infrastructure across the state.

The truth is that most people who today applaud the giant strides of the Mbakwe administration are innocently ignorant of this fact. Indeed, many believe that Mbakwe performed magic in Imo State. Maybe he did, because he ensured that these borrowed funds were strictly applied for the use for which they were taken.
Ironically, even those who know this fact today want present governments to do some economic abracadabra to fund development.

Secondly, the government of Mbakwe was notorious for owing teachers. This is a historical fact.
Primary and secondary school teachers were owed several months of salary arrears during Mbakwe's administration. Feel free to confirm this fact from anyone who was either a teacher then or whose parents or relations were teachers. My parents were teachers then. While my late mum was in the primary school system, my late dad was a secondary school teacher and things were rough then as they complained to the high heavens then how Mbakwe didn't care about their welfare. I don't know if this situation affected other civil servants then but as for teachers, they didn't find it funny throughout the years Mbakwe governed the old Imo State. I challenge anyone to controvert this fact.

The truth is that Mbakwe was obsessed with roads construction and industrial development.
What I don't understand is why teachers are always chosen to bear this burden by successive governments. I will do further research on this.

Then, Mbakwe was severely criticized for hating teachers and the opposition National Party of Nigeria and their 1983 Governorship candidate, Late Chief Collins Obi, the Ochiagha Dikenafai, feasted on it and made it one of their major campaign issues in the 1983 elections. Those who were around during the campaigns of 1983 will remember the popular song by the NPN then...COLLINS OBI, OZOIGBONDU, COLLINS OBI, ILAFERELA!
But Mbakwe was sincere and passionate about the development of the state. For him, every other thing was secondary, including payment of salaries.
Mbakwe didn't find the 1983 elections funny at all. It was a tough battle. He was severely opposed. Then he used to tell his traducers...MA MBAKWE ACHIGI, OWU NNE GI GA ACHI?
In the elections, despite all the noise and and huge federal support, Mbakwe roundly defeated Collins Obi.

Today, no one remembers that salaries were owed during the time of Mbakwe. Of course those salary arrears were later paid but the roads he built helped jumpstart our economy then.
Is this an attempt at justifying owing workers? Of course not. A worker fully deserves his pay. His survival depends on it but in the business of statecraft, some hard decisions are inevitable. That's the sad reality.

Today, no one remembers that Mbakwe ran a government built on loans because the loans were necessary demands then. The government had no other choice then, and of course the funds were properly applied.
Today, those loans are still being repaid by the governments of Imo, Abia and Ebonyi States.

In the quest for genuine development, something must give. You cannot have it all, especially when resources aren't available to go round.
In today's Nigeria, it is almost impossible for any government to effectively operate, build roads, hospitals, fund education and other social services, then pay salaries as at when due without some resort to borrowing. The money is simply not there because over the years, most states including the federal government have survived mainly on free oil money. No one cared about looking inwards to develop local productive capacity. We abandoned everything and lived a fake life of spending free money.
Even a state like Lagos which is clearly the most stable economically today survives mainly on taxes which flow from their huge population and their preeminent position as the epicenter of economic activities in Nigeria.
Don't be deceived. Anyone who tells you that he has any magic wand to mint money to fund development here is just playing politics and nothing more. Until we rejig our local economy, boost local economic development, invest heavily on infrastructure, boost internal revenue and properly manage what is available, "nothing de happen". Even at that, turning around an economy that has survived over five decades on free oil money into a productive one takes time. It cannot happen overnight. Anyone who tells you that it can be done by speaking long grammar is an economic comedian. Trust me.

Borrowing essentially is not a bad idea. In financing of major projects, two sources of funding have always existed -equity contribution and debt financing.
What is important is how the funds are channeled when they are eventually secured.

So, I just laugh when some politicians and their followers applaud the achievements of Mbakwe and yet, they vehemently oppose the moves of the present administration in the state to source loans to fund infrastructural development. It is more so when one of them built his last gubernatorial campaign on the sourcing of loans to build Aba, yet today, he is building his 2019 campaign on castigating the plans of government to secure a loan to fix major infrastructure in the state.

Politics in intriguing.

May the soul of Dee Sam continue to Rest In Peace.

Una happy Sunday, this Saturday o.

With huge allocation from the federal government today, together with internally generated revenue, what is your justification for owing workers, not building roads and infrastructure, yet borrowing?

alezzy13:
Not totally true. Abacha and Abiola were actually very good friends with their relationship spanning several years right from the Shagari era. It was after the post Shonekan era when Abacha assumed power and Aboila declared himself C-in-C that they fell apart.

Those calling for the cancellation were disgruntled poluticans who had lost out after IBB disqualified them from participating in the process. They were loosely organized through the so called association for better Nigeria, led by the notorious Nzeribe.

However I do agree that Nwosu is over hyped. Yes he certainly played his part, but to ascribe the success of June 12 solely to him is rather stretching it.

IBB and Abiola had the friendship you described herein and ascribed to Abacha.

Abiola could have been friends with Abacha too. He was an unapologetic friend of the military. He wined and dined with them, sponsored coups and what not. The curse Pa Awo laid on Abiola was just what came to fulfilment.

dealslip:
I sounded logical to you until I touched a sore point right. We must tell the truth regardless of who will be affected. You are the one that saw tribalism, I am speaking from another point of view.

Ok

dealslip:
This June 12 thing is actually an image laundering thing for Buhari. He has been accused of undemocratic behaviour and this would only go on to make him look like a supporter of democracy which we know he is not. Buhari hated Abiola's gut. Please let us separate facts from sentiments:

First I read somewhere that it was meant to spite OBJ. No it was meant to spite IBB, it was IBB that annulled the election not OBJ so how does become the subject of spite. Buhari and IBB are still not friends. Buhari refused to shake IBB when they met at ASO rock immediately Abacha died. Abacha, David Mark and other high ranking soldiers threatened IBB not to handover to Abiola, Abiola and IBB were great friends and I see no reason why he wouldn't hand over to him. Abacha kept Abiola in captivity for almost five years, he hounded his family members and killed his wife. Abiola was denied good healthcare and was tortured till he was very ill and almost blind. Do you think IBB would have treated his bossom friend like this. Abacha even had him filmed while making love to his wife in incarceration. OBJ on the other hand didnt chose May 29 as democracy day, it was Abdulsalami that handed over to OBJ on May 29 and it has been the norm afterwards. OBJ had no say over the date.

The election was free and fair not because Prof. Nwosu was clinical but because Abiola was popular in the entire country hence there was no need for any friction. There was no violence nor fighting nor ballot snatching, it was a seamless exercise. It was only in the East that he didnt get enough votes (which is expected because he was Yoruba and automatically an outcast), even at that he still had a close margin to his opponent in that region. It had nothing to do with Nwosu's courage or wisdom. It was visible to the blind and audible to the deaf that Abiola was the winner.

You sounded so rational and logical. But you couldn't still hide the tribalism deep rooted in you as a black man.

efighter:
If was/he is brave, he would have gone ahead and announce the result of the election. Despite threats by Goatluck's errand boy Orubebe, Attairu Jega still went ahead and completed the announcement of the election result and added that any party aggrieved should go to Court. If Humprey Nwosu was a honourable man, he would have announced the result of the election. But he was/is a coward, so he chickened out. For this reason, he deserved to be whipped at the market square.

So who announced the results and declared Abiola the winner?

Pesuzok:
All of a sudden he forgot the interest on the 1.5bn he borrowed. the 560 million could be the interest accrued by his debt to the bank.

If you have borrowed money from a bank, once it is time to payback an interest, it automatically debits you whether you have money or not.

How would GTB pay him from customs account without a directive from the customs

There is what is called "Garnishee proceeding" in law.

In the simplest of terms, If I get a Court judgment against you to pay me say 2million naira and I discover that you have an account with Access Bank holding 5million naira, the law empowers me to inform the Court by way of a Garnishee proceeding and the Court will order Access Bank to pay me my 2million from the account you operate with them holding 5million naira.

That is what Innoson did in respect of the Custom case. Custom's account with GTB was garnished and the Court ordered GTB to pay Innoson over 2billion naira from Custom's account holding over 10billion. GTB doesn't need Custom's approval here. But instead of GTB to pay, they refused and appealed the decision and have lost at the Court of Appeal Ibadan. They are at the Supreme Court now and GTB already lost a part of the Supreme Court's ruling on some of the issues raised.

Mind you, this is different from the case in which over 14billion was ordered by the Supreme Court that GTB pays into the Chief Registra of the Court of Appeal's account until their appeal is determined(this is illegal deductions' case)

GTB is in a serious mess. Their legal team needs to be sacked.

bakynes:
Femi Adesina trying to buy sympathy of the igbos. He failed to mention what the igbo soldiers did before the masscre of igbos in 1966 in Northern Nigeria. Let us ask ourselves these question why kill leaders in Northern, Western and Mid western Nigeria and refuse to touch even one strand of hair on Eastern leaders. That alone is why they term it an igbo coup.

Lol. You're very sick. Because this country is filled with people like you who can't reason, is why we're where we're today.

So the fact that the 1966 coup was purportedly carried out by Igbo officers, and that an Igbo leader suggested Aburi Accord was enough and justifiable reason for Gowon to renege on an agreement the Federal Government signed which would have cured Nigeria of the mess it is in today?

You're a very big bigot and this is what holds Nigeria. You don't even find any reason in the almighty agreement just because Ojukwu an Igbo man was a big player in it. You can sacrifice your generations on the alter of tribalism honestly.