₦airaland Forum

shymexx: Interesting.

Apparently, US and Kiev are also planning to send humanitarian aid there.

all4naija: You are perhaps correct but there are equally good number of those who don't find him interesting looking at the incessant bombing, resistant behavior toward his policies and protests in the past. If the Russian people are given the time to express themselves we might just see there could more people who are opposed to his views than those who accepted them. However, Putin has been suppressing those voices going against his government. How can one know if his people really like him in the right sense of his oppressive nature?

Being a nationalist on the extreme right wing is becoming more of a problem to that region. I think he should quit politic and let the younger generation of Russians decide their future.

all4naija: Oh, I see! You have systematically played down on my post with 'Comedian' and explain it to your best understanding while expressing your poor opinion. Whatever you have regurgitated in this very post is not related to what I said in my previous comment, whatsoever! You are a grandeur in misleading people as famous Russian KGB leader in his mischievousness and bullying tactics. The one who is bent on causing trouble where it is not necessarily required of him. That I am not going to accept in your formulation to misinterpret my words. Jeez!

Why would anybody take your post serious? When you are using a term like Lucifer to explain your view of a free world or what freedom is all about. No people in their right senses would want to be subjected to dictatorial government. That is very clear in my statement.

shymexx: Honestly, it's not like I'm a big fan of Russia like that. I think I'm even more sympathetic to the American cause, because like everyone else in the generation, American culture influenced all of us subconsciously. And apart from the UK, I know more about America(and its history) than any other country in the world. However, I was opportune to read about the Soviet Union, Russia, and Putin a few years ago(the book was authored by a Prof. Emeritus from Oxford University but I can't remember the name now) and that changed my perception. Coupled with [b]America's excessiveness and pseudo-humanitarian interventionism everywher[/b]e in the last two decades that has caused more problems, than actually solve anything. The Libya debacle was the tipping point....and the whole Ukraine thing is just senseless being that the country is a basket-case with absolutely nothing to offer anyone - and it's next to Russia. Even if Russia were North Korea, it's still an unacceptable behaviour since America will never allow that to happen next to its borders

In as much as the EPA thing needs to be applauded, there's still a lot to be done. Take for example the "Terrorism in Africa Summit" in Paris and the just concluded "US-Africa Summit" that yield a meagre $14billion investment. That just shows how clueless these folks are and we're still being treated like the colonial days. Once you go around begging for hand-outs, you have no leverage in anything. We need more and our leaders need to act fast as the global power landscape is shifting. Brazil and India are already putting their respective countries in advantageous positions. Ditto Turkey which is also part of NATO, but doing more productive businesses with the far east and Brazil. Even Germany has been taking full advantage of everything by expanding its market everywhere.

shymexx: I think Africa's foreign policy in the scheme of things should be about: no enemies and no friends. We've tried the west for so long and we've not benefitted anything from it. And sucking up to Russia or China would also give them leverage over us. So, to get the best bargain out of it and the bipolar world that looks inevitable, we've to play our cards right - go for the safer option.

There's no friend in international politics and every country out there is trying to protect its national interests, and maximise every opportunity available. Right now, the west is broke, and they have nothing to offer anyone. Evidently, it'll be wiser for us to align a bit more with emerging economies(countries that are somewhat like us, but still far better than us) in a lot of things.

Personally, I think America's game right now, since its fall from empire status looks more likely than ever(but I can't predict the timeframe), is to bring Europe down with it. Hence Africa needs to stay away from that, so as not to end up as a collective victim of circumstance.

Ikengawo: Why is the north opposed to state police and new states? The answers are more sinister than you'd think. New states is 50% about getting less allocation and 50% about freeing northern minorities. Most northern states are mixed, and the new states will give the oppressed minorities in the north, not just the middle belt, total independence from Fulani overlords that send their mercenaries to kill them at will. They use these minorities to inflate the population of the hausa fulani knowing very well that those people have completely different ethnic identities languages and culture and many aren't even muslim.

the fraud that the hausa fulani have been using to hold the country back is over. If they can't develop through honesty they should know what they're not bond to develop period.

StarFlux: A) Obtaining permanent residency is pretty straight forward. Study/work and apply thereafter as the easiest way. There's a 3 year residency rule, but they're open to exeptions if you make a strong case. You can see the full list here: http://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/permanent-residence/permanent-residence-permit/?c=nga#Adult-2

B) All/most jobs pay okay. I work in a grocery store to pay for my expenses and earn 3900N per standard work hour + additional pay for weekends/evenings/closing. That's more than enough to live a comfortable life. You wouldn't live very comfortably in the US with such work. Anyway, then you have the work which usually requires education/experience which pays even more, after that you have what you could classify as high paying work - with dedication you have good chances of getting such a job. The reason I used grocery stores as an example is because you start low and advance pretty quickly, eventually you'll have a shot at becoming a store manager, which is a high paying job and requires no education. So even the unfortunate ones have a chance in this country. It all depends on you.

C) I personally have not experienced any racism or hostility. Pretty much all my contacts are Norwegian and there's no tension. That's here in Oslo anyway, where there's plenty of immigrants, could vary from place to place. America is a country built by immigrants, so obviously it's not really comparable, but there's nothing to be worried about as a Nigerian in Norway.

D) The requirement for a visa application is 2,5M Naira the first year. It's not a fee - but it's required to guarantee your welfare.

E) Personal opinion. Couple of keynotes you can google: healthcare, social security, support organ, pension, human rights, free education, stability etc.

Take care!

zerray: tnks bro i cnt thank you enough bt ill love highlight something here

1) im nt among the people that so keen on running from nigeria o lol,but i just want a place with limitless opportunities.limitless opportunities in the sense that when im through with my msc i can decided to get a good job in canada or nigeria.if i shld get a job in nigeria,ill definate return home.

2) ill love to ask if uk course work include internship?

3) my uk options are still very open.ill let you knw where i belong soon.

zerray: pls canada or uk where is a better place to have a masters interms of
-affordable accommodation
-where student can work while also studying atleast for allowance
-well recognised degree in nigeria labour market
thats all for now.

StarFlux: Hey Oyintiloye

Well, naturally they'll consider any research you may have done, letters of recommendation, work experience etc, but nothing out of the ordinary as far as I know.

Yes, studying and working is entirely possible, but for the first year at least, you should have some money. After you know the basics of the language, you'll be able to apply for jobs more easily. Though, you can never be too sure, and I recommend always having some back-up money.

If you want to settle down, Norway is the place. Norway has the highest standard of living in the world, and you have much better opportunities here than any other place. I really don't understand why so many insist on going to UK or USA when Norway is ahead of both of these two countries by a fair margin. It's a country full of social goods, high acceptance towards foreigners, and is generally the place you want to be considering the economic situation in the rest of the west.
Norway's definitely the place you'd want to raise a family. Free education for all, low unemployment rates, peaceful, but most important of all: stable.

PapaBrowne: Wonderful.

I see all these pictures of transformation and I keep asking myself this question: What were all our other leaders doing for the last 30 years since 1983?

How come its Jonathan revamping the dead railways and building brand new tracks?

How come its Jonathan rebuilding our horrific airports and building 5 brand new ones?

How come it's this same Jonathan fixing the death traps we previously called roads?

How come its Jonathan who privatized the power sector and is overseeing its massive redevelopment?

How come every other leader forgot to properly base our economy and suddenly Jonathan comes in and we are now by far the biggest in Africa?

How come Agriculture has finally come back and why is it happening in Jonathan's era?

And to think that all this is happening in the midst of the greatest security challenge Nigeria has ever faced?

What on planet earth did our leaders do in the last 30years where we had extraordinary peace? In 3 years Jonathan is doing what they didn't do in 30 years? This for me is a massive mystery!

PapaBrowne: Wonderful.
Your post on on GEJ's govt is clearly the best fair analytical opinion I've read on nairaland, I know that if up to 50% of the Nigerian youths think the way you do our country undoubtedly will be on its pathway to greatness.


I see all these pictures of transformation and I keep asking myself this question: What were all our other leaders doing for the last 30 years since 1983?

How come its Jonathan revamping the dead railways and building brand new tracks?

How come its Jonathan rebuilding our horrific airports and building 5 brand new ones?

How come it's this same Jonathan fixing the death traps we previously called roads?

How come its Jonathan who privatized the power sector and is overseeing its massive redevelopment?

How come every other leader forgot to properly base our economy and suddenly Jonathan comes in and we are now by far the biggest in Africa?

How come Agriculture has finally come back and why is it happening in Jonathan's era?

And to think that all this is happening in the midst of the greatest security challenge Nigeria has ever faced?

What on planet earth did our leaders do in the last 30years where we had extraordinary peace? In 3 years Jonathan is doing what they didn't do in 30 years? This for me is a massive mystery!