₦airaland Forum

eku bear

Wtf. Plenty of rich old dudes all over the world sleep with young women. That is the way of life for old rich dudes across the world. That is part of the point of being rich anywhere.

Has absolutely nothing to do with corruption in Nigeria.

@eku bear

Perhaps you do not understand the socio-dynamics /intrinsic nature of corruption on the 'micro' level in Nigeria as it affects the ordinary Nigerian, as to realise that sex with young women [/b]in the Nigerian context is not the same as 'the way of life for old rich dudes across the world' nor 'part of the point of being rich anywhere'.  In Nigeria the 'dude' does not have to be rich but must be [b]perceived as being in a position of authority/power like any uniformed man/woman- Customs, Police, Immigration,soldier etc. It's about Power relations. Crude intimidation/abuse of office. Choice on the part of the 'victim' is almost absent.

(b) I agree with Mr Onno Ruhl on the 'macro' level that corruption is not the problem but the Nigerian 'lack of 'will/vision' and absence of the desire to Act purposefully for measurable desirable development goals like the Koreans and the Malaysians have demonstrated.

@omanzo02

Your analysis there was spot on, most Nigerians abroad really have this overbearing area boy/girl syndrome, They tend to display high value is a very obscure and undecorous manner, I see them alot in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Antwerp, east london, Texas and  Hamburg to mention a few. Its a pity the uneducated ones succeeds  in finding their way there, and instead of developing themselves with the enormous opportunities around them, they stuck to the same backward situations that held them down. It's actually a pity.
The notion that anything BLACK/Nigerians is a targeted specie by police is not actually true, as long u live by the rule and stay away from crime, nobody give a damn about who, where and what u are.

@omanzo02

Yes, his correct observation/ description of some Nigerians engaging in unwholesome activities in some parts of SA cities, is not analogous to your own misguided/uninformed view point that 'Most Nigerians abroad really have this overbearing area boy/girl syndrome'. Are they ?

@playmode

If you are a decent citizen ,you will not stand up for criminals regardless of if they are friends or relatives. 

Your comment has exposed you for the kind of person you are: Someone who supports criminals

@owobokiri

If Nigerians must be killed in foreign lands, let it be after a court judgments [/b]and not by a racist sadistic police force with a reputation for unparalleled disdain for black life.

@playmode
Pls read the above quote from [b]owobokiri again and perhaps review yourself about him/her supporting criminals let alone standing up for criminals. No decent human being will approve of criminality. I strongly do not believe you actually understand the drift of his analysis/opinion. He/she is definitely not in support of criminality- I did not get that impression from his write-up hence the quote from him is included for you to read/review etc. There's no need to engage in pseudo-intellectual sophistry and high mindedness, because some less fortunate, uneducated, miseducated, uncouth and criminally inclined nationals(Nigerians) have fallen foul of the law, or clearly engaging in activities most decent persons find unwholesome, -Do we jettison the 'rule of law' to affirm/assuage our sensibility? Where is our humanity?

@babapupa

Ode, you fools are too defensive for your own good. Are we talking about Yoruba city abi na me dey cry about about the federal government? Olodo,

@babapupa

Pls baba do you ever get tired of fighting/negativity? The Igbo on this forum have politely asked some of their 'detractors' to chill or focus on the Op Pls relax and stop the nitpicking. Be the 'big' person and make a positive contribution if you can It's no big deal after all

@Onlytruth

That is standard practice in all the[b] advance[/b]d countries of the world. Nigeria has simply chosen to remain backward by ignoring this town irrespective of the prospects of these industries.

@Onlytruth

Pls we are talking about a place(Nigeria) where the 'natural' aspiration of the so called leader(s) is to loot/invest abroad . I think that you're rather too optimistic in associating Nigeria with the bolded words in a sentence. You are very correct in pointing out that the backwardness of Nigeria has everything to do with 'national Choice'. I still believe that the Igbo/State government should be the Primary drivers of the development and if the Federal finds it interesting enough for overall National development so be it or goodluck to Nigeria(pun unintended) but don't be hopeful, because it's not in the Nigerian character to do the right thing if history is our guide I hope the Governor and his advisers can think big/creatively. It's all about 'Vision'/ the 'big picture'.
Think global act Local that's the key I am 100% for the Local by all of us or else how do we get anything off the starting block etc? I'm in full support for the 'local' in everything

@Abagworo

I would want to believe that you are not calling Lagos Yorubaland.

@Abagworo
Is Enugu Igboland? Actually Lagos(Eko) is Bini land , Pedantic and foolish!

@Nwa Nnewi

Even now, it is not too late to squeeze in some planning with[b] infusion of federal money to motivte and compensate property owners to yield to adjustments that may be needed.

[/b]



@Nwa Nnewi

Pls what's the role of the Local and State governments in all of this if the Federal is expected to 'infuse' some money to motivate and compensate etc? Are you not expecting too much from a 'faraway' federal government?  Think small/ local solutions for local problems. It's obvious that infrastructural development/planning for the town will have a far reaching impact locally/nationally and internationally so the local government should be the prime mover of the vision/ sell the idea adequately to the State government before 'outsiders' or 'faraway' federal will become interested for obvious political gain just like the 'Airports' in various parts of the country. Politicians do not have long range plans especially in Nigeria where words like 'Planning' and 'Masterplan' etc are 'turanci' Only local people and perhaps [b]serious [/b]State governments can effect tangible solutions for local/state matters- hence in my earlier post I asked - what happened to the Igbo? renowned for self help/ community spirit? Did the war also destroy/rip their creativity apart? I sincerely do not believe that. Serious thinking is needed and not 'dependency' syndrome- on a 'faraway' inept federal government.

@Kalu Akanu

Our governors do not represent the people. Remember that many of our so called "leaders" were foisted on us from people from other regions. T.A. Orji does not represent anyone in Abia State. Ohakim does not represent anyone in Imo State. And I do not know much about Martin Elechi to comment on him.

@Kalu Akanu

Are you not embarrassed or ashamed of the bolded?- that the clever, self determined, republican/democratic Igbo, are victims in their own 'home', >, WHY? What happened to the power of the people? or so called community spirit? Is it dead?

@Sagamite

I am one of those that think we should be sensible and make sense at all times.

@Sagamite;
Well, being sensible let alone making sense at all times, within the Nigerian/Igbo context is being foolhardy and foolish hence the saga- some folks actually think 'Culture' like a bad 'law', is static, inflexible [/b]and [b]immutable.
It's said that a people/society that is not flexible/adaptable does not Think and may be a candidate for death. You may be hitting your head against the wall indeed.

@Op
Pls be fair. Have you ever seen/witnessed the behaviour of the Nigerian Immigration & the Nigerian Customs & Excise personnel at work 'dealing with' with fellow Ecowas citizens? I have met two different women 'Malian' and 'Congolese' who told me very sad stories of sexual demands/assaults/ their money seized/taken from them. Those two women do not know each other whatsoever and have never met each other either. That's just a sample of some of their experience of Naija' Nigerian officials are far more brazen/costly too. Try the journey from Seme to Mile Two/Lagos to see the so called Nigerian officials engaging in all manner of illegality.The foreigners learnt/acquired some of those bad habits from Nigerians- greed and uncouth behaviour.

@texazzpete

If that Angolan unit had come up against the South African Defense Force, they'd have been massacred.

Actually they did with the aid of the Cubans and the South Africans soon realised that the game have changed. I remember that Fidel Castro and Mugabe supporting direct action/advance but many weak hearted African countries notably Nigeria objected. Psychologically the presence of the Cubans with better Russian materials and training suddenly swayed the apartheid South Africans to think again and nudged them towards the negotiation table; besides, it was no longer economically sustainable/attractive. You cannot win a war in faraway lands if you have a large hostile disagreeable internal population potentially more dangerous than the external enemy(Angolans/Cuban technical advisers) baying for a fight. The over hyped prowess of the South Africans(Whites) was just that vis a vis their Captive and defenceless Black population.

@Onlytruth

What do you mean by buffer zone. The war fronts were not static, they were shifting steadily.

Sorry for my presumption- I assumed that you understood what I mean by 'buffer' zone. Well, I mean those areas surrounding or at the borders of the core Igbo hinterland in relation to the shifting war fronts / advancing or retreating army e'g' Asaba, Onitsha, all the coastal Niger delta zone and 'northern' part Igboland like Nsukka etc were all buffer zones- depending on how quickly or not a place is lost or won. You rightly pointed out no war front is Static but Shifting steadily hence so called 'buffer' zones or places may change. Nevertheless in the light of the above clarification I hope you understand my statement that 'buffer' areas suffer more in wars than the hinterland. It's simply common sense.  It was never meant to undermine, diminish or denigrate the Igbo sense of Valour whatsoever. I made that clear in my write-ups.
Onitsha was just across the Niger from Asaba so technically were almost in the same boat but for the River/ bridge which was partially destroyed; which also added to the massing of federal soldiers on the western bank of the Niger(Asaba). This in itself was not the reason for the pogrom. The pogroms were premeditated, organised and executed by blood thirsty inept federal/Nigerian soldiers. Pls let's end this sorry debate which is off topic @Op 'Applause' My 'ethnicity' is unimportant to the 'pseudo' intellectual discourse. It does not add to National development but detracts/dissipates valuable energies hence Nigeria is backward and I hope that's not what you'll wish for our dear country notwithstanding our over blown so called differences?  Anyway, what do you think?  Have a nice day and Peace .

@Onlytruth

I also detest your attempt to classify Nsukka or any part of Igboland as "minority" or peripheral. We don't have anything like that in Igboland. Those are products of our dubious enemies.
Igbos were massacred in Anioma as well as eastern Igboland.
Quit being a d1ck.

Well, that's what enemies do! Study and understand the internal/intra-ethnic dichotomy(weakness)or otherwise of the perceived 'enemy'. Have you not heard of the term 'enemy within'? hence I said Knowledge, Sensitivity, Awareness and Diplomacy not foolish presumption of automatic Loyalty from a diverse people like the Igbo and other ethnic groups in the same zone.

Did I not mention Asaba(Delta)? Pls revisit your map again and find out where Asaba/Anioma is. Again lack of "awareness" hence your haughty presumption.  I'll strongly suggest that you eschew arrogance and insensitivity if you sincerely want to learn/understand the subtleties of subjects as important as War and Peace. War is not just about 'fancy' weapons but most importantly 'Hearts and Minds'/Peace.

@Onlytruth-

Look, without needing to sound condescending, what did the Ijaws need to be told before they believed that Eastern region/Biafra needed being fought for?

What could the Igbo have told them then, for them to understand that unity of purpose is strength in the fight for Biafra?
Igbo leaders did EVERYTHING to woo them, yet they chose to believe their REAL oppressors. Go and check your history.

I thought they were the first before Biafra to revolt against Nigeria hence their sense of patrimony must be taken very seriously/into account, if the so called Igbo leaders were that good at Diplomacy which is a very important aspect of the 'art of War'- ;again like I pointed out earlier, Knowledge and serious thought/Preparation cannot be taken for granted. Assumptions that support for your war effort from 'within' the Eastern region/Biafra is a foregone conclusion, is perhaps one of the greatest indication of the ineptitude of the 'Igbo Leaders'/''Diplomats' in my humble opinion-till this day . They lacked vision awareness and sensitivity

@

Beyond being one of the major actors in the Nigerian Civil War, Colonel Joe Achuzia (rtd.) is a very popular figure. In this revealing interview with EMMANUEL AGOZINO, Achuzia, popularly known as the Biafran Hannibal,

Again you've made my point that the so called minority people/buffer [/b]zones were exceedingly committed to the cause as such suffered unnecessarily in every sense of the word in the War. Where is Achuzia and Effiong from? Who were Ojukwu's  most reliable, trusted and  committed personnel during the war? You can even read/hear it from Achuzia himself, despite his generosity of spirit and like a true committed soldier, refuses to publicly undermine/say things that may give his protagonists(Nigeria) any advantage whatsoever psychological or otherwise. It's all part of warfare! I don't know how many fellow Nigerians you know/ interviewed from a diverse place like the Niger delta zone, it might give you an insight of why the so called Igbo leadership were inadequate/Inept. They were [b]Lazy and Presumptious.@Op Applause? I am not hating nor denigrating anybody whatsoever. It's purely an intellectual discourse and should be understood as such for a better tomorrow for every Nigerian/African. I sincerely care for our (Nigeria) collective humanity hence my love and honest enquiry . Peace.

@Onlytruth

Just last year, Joe Achuzia stated that Biafran soldiers did not lose the war. They simply accepted "amnesty" of no victor no vanquished. He challenged anyone alive to prove him wrong. None did.

No Comment

I thought he( Achuzia) was the last or amongst the last people to be released from long detention many years after the 'so called 'no victor no vanquished' war ended, I was told? Pls correct/ educate me.

@Op 'Applause'

@Onlytruth

I[b]f minority like Ijaw had given Biafra half of the commitment they are giving to MEND today, Biafra would have won.
So stop yarning dust.[/b]

'IF' - hence I said that 'WAR' is not for 'simple minds/people ' without Knowledge, capacity, preparation and reflection before embarking on such wasteful/destructive venture.

If you valued the support of the so called minority like the Ijaw, then, you have to 'sell the idea' to them adequately hence 'the above bolded prerequisites' for a successful campaign. 'War' is about hearts and minds far more so than the 'physical' war that enthral most people.

@Onlytruth-
Below is a submission by Ohanaeze Ndigbo during the Oputa panel hearings.

"The creation of the 12-States structure by Col. Gowon on May 27, 1967g was an act of
expediency aimed primarily at completing their siege of Ndi Igbo and frustratintheir survival
and struggle for self-determination. It dismembered the Igbos as they were splitinto fragments
and put into different non-Igbo States. [/b]Thus, there were Ndi Igbo of Port Harcourt, Ahoada,
Ikwerre/Etche divisions placed into Rivers State, Ndi Igbo of Asaba, Aboh and Ika placed in the
Mid-West, some other Ndi Igbo from Azumini and Opobo put in Cross River State. The rest of
Ndi Igbo were isolated and land-locked into East Central State. This act was calculated to
paralyse Ndi Igbo and incite our neighbours against us. "

http://www.scribd.com/doc/41446047/Ohaneze-Submission-to-the-Oputa-Panel-A-Petition-to-the-Human-Rights-Violation-Investigation-Committee-by-Oha-Na-Eze-Ndi-Igbo



That's why I said earlier in my post that 'war(s) is not for 'simple minds/People'. It entails 'SERIOUS' [b]Study, Knowledge, preparation and reflection

If you understand the concept of WAR, perhaps you should not be bemoaning the break-up/ split of so called Igbo land. It's not a tea party. There is always a vanquished/victor. Never mind the endearing slogan 'no victor no vanquished' The winner had the power/authority to play or redraw the map of Nigeria. It was a military regime brimming with self confidence and the assurance of winning a fratricidal war .

@Onlytruth


Your map actually makes my point clearly but you have refused to appreciate that all the so called minorities were actually on the periphery/ acted as [b]buffer [/b]zones shielding the hinterland/ core Igboland hence the bad blood that persists till this day amongst the so called minority people.
War is not a pretty thing or tea party hence your insistence on trying to convince me that the last place to fall during the war was because of Igbo resistance and valour. Can you not see on your map that the Igbo had the advantage/opportunity to 'run inland' because of the buffer zones. In practically all wars the buffer zones [/b]suffer more than necessary. I guess you know nothing about war let alone the intricate nature of it. I repeat again I am not negating your sense of valour. Pls study your map again or ask questions properly perhaps some persons within this forum/subject may be able to explain/clarify certain things to you pertaining to the 'politics of war'. Where else, will fall before the hinterland of Igboland if not the borders or buffer zones? My friend, pls look at your map again with an open mind and remember that the physical war is over . Pls how did we get away from the OP- '[b]Applause'

@Onlytruth

Are you saying that minorities suffered more than Igbos in the war?
If that is your claim, then you need to have your head examined. So, you've never heard of the Onitsha massacre and Nsukka massacre, and many other mass murders in Igboland during the war?

Pls read the highlighted again and what do you actually understand by the word minority in the intra-ethnic Nigerian sense? Was Nsukka not nearly regarded as peripheral/not 'pure' Igbo enough to the rest core Igbo? Same too with the Onitsha? Am I wrong? Nevertheless from the information I have, there were no organised massacre/pogrom in Onitsha as happened in the places I have mentioned. That does not negate your view point. Perhaps you have some credible info which I may not have come across during my enquiry/travels.

@Onlytruth

Why do you think the war lasted nearly three years, and why was Igbo areas the last to fall, and in fact the areas which forced the Gowon government to declare a no-victor no-vanquished end to the war?
Till the last minute, Igbo elements were still prepared to continue an indefinite guerilla war.

Don't come here to spew trash again. Nonsense.

Pls relax
Do you seriously believe the highlighted? A little humility and open minded intellectual rigour/enquiry will do you some good and perhaps banish the delusion preventing you from appreciating the 'import' of the 'no victor no vanquished' slogan by the Gowan led regime/Nigeria. I repeat, I am not in any way trying to undermine nor denigrate your sense of valour. Pls may I ask if you actually experienced the war? I'll like to learn a thing or two from your insight . Peace

@asha 80

well thinking deeply i understand what you mean especially the igbo west of the naija t[/b]heory.it is just [b]funny to me when you tell most of them that that is the reason they deny igbo they begin to argue otherwise.


by the way if the minorities you are talking about here are western igbos or efiks are the case may be then i wonder what you are talking about because a lot of guys from the mainland igbo also fought .

I don't think that it's peculiar to the so called Western Igbo. Such feelings/so called denial predate the civil war. It has nothing to do with the war as far as the information/interviews I was given. Perhaps the civil war/defeat and its attendant consequence, exacerbated the 'problem' or 'denial'.
No doubt that the mainland Igbo fought but that's not the point I am making - is it? According to my 'research' the so called minorities saw their contribution towards the war effort especially in commitment and human terms exceedingly enormous. I think, in the light of what I discovered, the Igbo should be more mindful/ a little more sensitive in their claims about their 'victimhood'/war time experience. I am aware that there was actual massacres of civilians by the Nigerian soldiers in places like Asaba(Delta)etc and other coastal places and none of such experience befell the core mainland Igbo. Pls I repeat, I am not trying to denigrate nor undermine the effect of the war on the Igbo 'Psyche'

@asha80





It means exactly what it is. It's clearly written in English language. The 'Actors' in the actual fighting war know and understand what I am alluding to and need no further explanation. I am not trying to hate nor condemn I've interviewed so many people from diverse backgrounds and ethnicity including the Igbos hence my own opinions are as valid as any 'historian' or 'story teller'. Think laterally

@MzD@rkSkin

@ PROUD-IGBO, i love your username! but excellent point. Do not pay the Igbo-bashers any mind, they are child like [/b]and deserve no attention!

How do you draw the conclusion that the 'Igbo-bashers' are [b]child like? Pls when did you become so knowledgeable of Nigerian/'Igbo' topics/issues? I am not assuming that a Jamrican cannot know much about the 'Nigerian' condition

@PROUD IGBO

Any unbiased observer will notice when positions are sought based on merit and sheer hardwork,without recourse to quota-system; federal character and unfair assistance/support from the federal government (whose composition and control is skewed in favour of certain sections of the country to the detriment of others),you will find the great Igbos either on top or there abouts.If in doubt,check where the Igbos were in the scheme of things nationally pre the civil war.What has let us down (and continues to) are the so called Igbo leaders that are supposed to put the interests of Alaigbo first,b/4 this contraption called Nigeria.Nigeria has held us back as a people.

'Romantic Nostalgia' is not a good thing in a conversation about- 'Applause' or Not. Is it?
The so called Igbo leaders are products of your so called 'democratic-republican' society so why complain
I don't think that Nigeria is holding anybody/(Igbo) back as a people. I thought there are 36 states in Nigeria and some of the states 5 are Igbo majority controlled/led? What happened? Why are they not performing or seen to be 'doing the right thing', if they're so clever/smart?

PhysicsMHD

I always find this bitter Yoruba/Igbo rivalry tragically amusing. For every great Igbo man or woman in some area I can almost always think of an equivalent Yoruba and vice versa, yet the arguments and denigration never seem to stop. . .

Do you think it's rivalry? I sincerely think it's a reflection of their collective neuroses and inherent laziness. Any wonder we were so easily conquered and colonised? The other 'problem with Nigeria' is with the so called disjointed tripod- Fulani, Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba . lacking imagination and creativity despite their size etc.

Op is about 'applause', as usual ethnic jingoism and bigotry is enervating for some Nigerians especially the above mentioned group.

@Akhenaten

Do not talk about things you know nothing about. The pictures of starving children is proof enough, that the Biafran populace suffered the most from the war. Planes that had aid were fired upon by Nigerian artillery, which was supplied by Great Britain by the way. Sorry, but when people fight for freedom, they will continue to fight to the last man. That is why Biafra will always be remembered fondly by many in the East. The nostalgia feeling of Biafra I must say, continues to linger.

Who else could've suffered the savagery of war if not the hapless civilians ? That's perhaps one of the reasons 'war(s) can never be undertaken by 'simple' minds/people. It deserves serious thought, study and reflection.

It's remembered fondly by those who had the opportunity to move away from the war zones and perhaps those doing 'brisk' business, while the so called minorities who actually did much of the serious fighting and dying will never forget the vagaries of war in a hurry let alone wish to participate in any future enterprise of that nature again.
Have you ever wondered why so many of the so called minorities including some Igbo West of the Niger may never wish to associate/identify with their so called kith & kin East of the Niger. Perhaps that explains/ manifests itself in the alienation/'language' denial of many of your kinsmen.
Conquest/defeat, however couched in 'endearing' language 'no victor no vanquished', will always distort the Igbo worldview in relation to the rest of Nigeria. It's understandable I believe, war like I pointed out earlier is not an enterprise for 'simple minds'- the victor and the vanquished usually suffer hence the loss of our collective humanity. There cannot be applause for the Igbos. There are so much 'unfinished business' in Igboland  and more so in Nigeria as a whole. Are they not part of the 'collective Mess'/ Nigeria?
Applause for mediocrity or what?

PhysicsHD

Did Campbell actually say he was perceived as being more democratic? Or just that he was perceived as not being corrupt? Buhari is actually perceived as being authoritarian. Or is curtailing freedom of speech democratic behavior? I think the spin, whether by Campbell or by whoever wrote this write-up, is unnecessary to sell the point.

@PhysicsHD- Are military regimes supposed to be anything else but 'inherently 'Authoritarian' and 'Undemocratic'? Curtailing so called 'freedom of speech' under a military regime isn't expected? The question Nigerians should be asking: Was Buhari/Idiagbon's rule or perceived 'authoritarian' rulership anything else but very 'Popular' with the 'majority'- ordinary Nigerian, than with the so called 'chattering Media class/ corrupt civilian elite?
Perversely, the regime was populist and 'acting' for the majority of Nigerians  Buhari was never perfect but none ever since, including the current leadership have been able to address the singular issue that is the bane of development in Nigeria- INDISCIPLINE! 'Freedom of speech' does not exist in an atmosphere of general poverty and Indiscipline. Poverty, 'lack of freedom of speech' and Indiscipline, are inherently synonymous. We can't blame Buhari for trying to change the general orientation and malaise pervasive in Nigeria ever since. Soldiers by their training/orientation, are not 'diplomatic' hence the gross perception that he's 'authoritarian' or 'undemocratic'. Nigerians love 'sugar coated' talkers, corrupt and lazy/inept people as leaders. Is it any wonder everyone is afraid of a personality like him for Leadership. I sincerely don't think it's about Buhari but about the 'Nigerian'. Nigerians do not want 'Change' hence the same 'old' people are still around and 'relevant' whatever internet Nigerians may think. Serious people/countries do not hope, wish, and depend on prayers and goodluck (pun unintended). What a shame.