₦airaland Forum

davidylan:
Trust me, no one is bothered if you choose to preserve your culture. I think you need to step back and read the MEANING of our discomfort rather than going on the defensive as long as it is north! The grouse is NOT about whether Shekarau wants to dress his wives nd daughters in sackloth and ashes in an attempt to preserve his culture, it is about making it a COMPULSION that those who do not subscribe to his culture are forced to either acquiesce or leave the state.
If Shekarau wants his daughters in hijab, no problem so long as he does not force my daughter to do the same.

. . . as long as you don't impose your way of life on others you are free to continue living your life of backwardness. No one is bothered. Has anyone wondered whether women wear the hijab in Chad or Niger before?

Please can u specifically show me anywhere or any evidence where Shekarau is forcing someone to wear a hijab? Do u even know the difference between a hijab and a veil? Does christianity not tell us that women should dress properly with covered hair especially when coming into God's house?
I will not debate my religion with anyone here. I know what i practice as a faith. Thousands of people I've met think the entire North is Muslim. Im sure some of those countering me here fall under such category. They know nothing of the North but chose to slander it without hesistation.

Davidylan and all the rambling hullabaloo in this forum, Respect my tradition and way of living before you match words with me. This is not about discrimination against women or anything. It is a culture we Northerners have imbibed and practised for years. What is wrong if we insist to preserve our culture? For God's sack, it is only a veil, Not Hijab. Take an analogy, will u term the Eyo festival which disallows women from seeing the masquerade a discriminatory act? No, Neither will u complain when Ibos do same. A true show of double-standards is always in play here. Just like Christ said " Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
Every self-righteous imp here can rant all they want, we'll live our ways they way we want to!

mazaje:
Hi to all
Please lets not all be misinformed here, there was no were it was said that all students including the non muslims should wear the hijab. it only stated that both government and private schools female students ought to wear the veil . the statement did'nt state categorical if the wearing of the hijab includes the non muslims. The moslems have the right to live according to the tenets of islam and we have no right to dictate and tell them how to live their lives.

Some body made mention of schools forcing their girls to cut their hairs with out them wanting to do so, why arent we complaing and talking about that because that to me is worse than wearing the hijab why should a girl be made to cut her hair compulsarily? am a northern non muslim and the way some members of this forum get hyped up over trivial issues relating to religion is very ludacrioius to me. lets learn to be tolerant and let people live their lives as the want to. Until when the government comes out and say that all the girls should wear the hijab including the non muslims we have nothing to say against them. i feel we are taking this a little to far and to me its wrong.

True talk. I myself is a non-muslim northerner and i see nothing abhorrent if every girl wears a veil to cover her hair. For God's sake, veil in the entire north whether xtian or Muslim signifies decency. People who don't know anything about it should shut up. Kano state is not forcing everyone to wear a hijab, the are telling only schoolgirls to show decency and wear a veil. It is a way of instilling decency in our kids. If Kano state is ready to do such, i don't see why hell must be let loose. The west has so much blocked your views about alot of things in that simple practice of good culture is now considered abhorrent. Is it not pure double standards that Britain and France are trying at all cost to ban hijabs? where is the sense of fairness and the right to practice what one believes freely! I haven't heard any uproar from a western leader saying this is wrong. However the moment Ibrahim Shekaru proposes veil wearing, a normal practice in the north among school girls, everyone is shouting!

Like i said, some schools all over Nigeria , north to south make their students have a haircut, wear veils to class or something. My school in Jos forced everyone to go to Church mass every morning ( whether Christian or Muslim). Every state has the right to subject its school populations to certain norms. If the rules and regulations says wear a veil, then do it. No one is against decency. If it says, EVERYONE MUST WEAR A HI JAB, XTIAN or MUSLIM, Believe me, I'll be the first person here to protest!

Nairalanders, if a set of people decide to opt to practise a norm or partake in something they want to do, WHO ARE YOU TO STOP THEM. Thousands of muslims and non-muslims out there wear headgears, scarfs and veils because they want to, not because they are forced to.

I am a xtian northerner and my folks wear HEADTIES when they choose to. No one persecutes them for not doing that. Just like how some schools force every girl to have a hearcut in Nigerian schools, so does KANO state government have the right to make them wear veils( NOT HIJAB!) over their hair. My aunty, a xtian has stayed in Kano for 20 years and has not been harrased for once for not wearing a veil. Allow people to practise their beliefs or traditions, it is not for you to judge and say no or say yes.
If you dont like it, you can go hang!

So please, Davidylan and Pain, stop spreading Hate, misinformation and falsehoods to people because it seems that there is absolutely nothing else you do here than that!

You say Bode George is corrupt, yet Aliyu Modibo is offerred and you say both are Northerners. Cmon He's just a chief of staff. He is not even in Nigeria's top 10 people.
I think Yaradua retaining Soludo, El-Rufai, Ribadu, Dora, Nenadi among others will be a step forward. Im surev they are thousands of accomplished Nigeria both home and in Diaspora that need to be brought back. Le all the political cronies and nonsense people get the ambassadorship et al, Ministers and Heads of Federal parastatals must please be people who have accomplished something.

Lastly, please NO Babalola Borishade. Everywhere that guy goes emits trouble. From Power/steel to Education to Aviation, he has achived zero!

The advent of democracy in Nigeria in May 1999 brought a lot of hope to the people. Obasanjo, new elected president had just emerged from prison a reformed man or so it seemed after Sani Abacha's persecution. Nigerians regarded him as the Nelson Mandela who will take us out from the chaos, corruption and ineptitude the military left. However Obasanjo has for 8 years revealed to us that he is just another true caricature of a sycopathic african dictator, a ruthless one that even Kim Jong Ill will envy.
This man promised Nigeria all sorts of beautifull things, things he failed to deliver. In 2003, in the interest of giving him another 4 year chance, we voted immensely for him hoping that things will take a change. We have however reached the end of his tenure and all we are beseiged with is corruption of abominable magnitude( despite EFCC), intense poverty, maladministration among others. ASSU has had record numbers of strikes, NEPA has changed names and still cannot make a bulb shine for 12 hours,there is no water, school are in decay, Niger- Delta is restive, roads are debilitating( despite sinking $3 Billion), hospitals are dire--The whole infrastructure and heart of the Nigerian system is crumbling thanks to this man. Even the Super Eagles are messing up due to funds mismanagement among others.
Not done, PDP, INEC and the Nigerian Police decided to hand us to devils last week. From Ekiti to Edo, Osun to Anambra, Rivers to Adamawa, Delta, Bayelsa to Oyo are all tales of immense manipulation of the people's will. The same thing that happened in 2003 is back in full force and more throttle.

Obasanjo can do two things at the moment- Pressure INEC to cancel results in places where elections were rigged, did not take place, voter intimidation rife or immense anomalies were accounted. INEC returned a voter turn-out of 90% for Rivers state-80% which went to PDP. This is indeed the most worst abracadabra ever pulled. Elections must be allowed to happen one more time in those regions and must be free and fair.
Failure to do that before May 29th, 2007 will only confirm to Nigerians and the entire world that he is not only a devil's incarnate, but the worst political leader hellbent in sending his people to the gates of hell.

Shame of you OBJ if you do not act now and fast!

bioye:
Confirmed results from INEC

1. Abia - PPA - Theodore Orji - 265,289 votes
2. Ogun - PDP - Gbenga Daniel - 426,132 votes
3. Ekiti - PDP - Segun Oni
4. Osun - PDP
5. Borno - ANPP
6. Delta - PDP

This entry will be updated frequently as I clarify more results.

How can PDP win delta state where there was nothing to be won at the first place. Every media house i've read has said elections did not take place in warri, parts of asaba among others. PDP and INEC must please not ridicule Nigeria. The first result i think simply confirm our worst fears- 2003 is happenning again!

Robbers hijack election materials – Iwu
By Olusola Fabiyi and Tobi Soniyi, Abuja
Published: Thursday, 12 Apr 2007
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Maurice Iwu, on Wednesday, raised the alarm that three truck-load of election materials had been hijacked by armed robbers.



Iwu, who spoke at a meeting with the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Sunday Ehindero, on how the police could provide security during the governorship election did not give details.

He, however, assured the nation that the theft would not affect the conduct of the election.

Iwu said it was the responsibility of the police to make sure that the elections were free and fair.

He added that without adequate security, all the preparations the commission had put in place would amount to nothing.

He said INEC needed the assistance of the police to enable it to move its equipment, materials and also provide security for its staff.

He said that election materials had already been moved to locations for the governorship and state House of Assembly election holding on Saturday.

He warned that the commission would not hesitate to cancel elections in states where violence occurred.

Iwu said, “Anywhere there is electoral violence, we will not blink in canceling that election. We believe that election did not hold in such places at all.”

Asked about the position of the commission on the dismissal of Senator Ifeanyi Araraume from the Peoples Democratic Party, Iwu said he would not dabble in what he called “intra-party squabbles.”

He added, “Our mandate is to conduct elections and we have concluded election process.”

Ehindero said that he had also received security reports that some politicians were already in possession of fake police uniforms.

He said the politicians gave the fake uniforms to their supporters in order to intimidate the opposition to keep them from the polling booths.

The IG, however, said he had detected means of identifying original policemen from fake.

He refused to state how he would detect fake uniforms for “security reasons.”

He said, “There is information that some groups are sewing fake police uniforms in order to confuse the public. I have called my men‘s attention to that. Well, I wish to tell those in that category to desist from doing that because the full weight of the law will be unleashed on them.

“Anyway, the force will design means to make it possible for us to identify fake policemen from the original. I can tell you authoritatively that we have measures in place to identify our own policemen.”

He also hinted that there could be fake vehicle number plates, bearing police identity.

The police boss assured the nation that the police were ready to provide security in all the polling booths during and after the election.

The IG said the police were battle-ready for the elections and would arrest trouble-makers.

Ehindero said, ”We are prepared to arrest thugs in all the states of the federation if that will guarantee free and fair elections. The police will not be partisan but we are ready to arrest any person who wants to disrupt the election.

“We will provide security in all the polling stations. We will prevent activities that will affect the elections negatively and we have mandated our officers to liaise with the INEC commissioners to provide security for election materials.”

The police boss warned religious fanatics to keep away from polling booths.

He said, “Police officers must be at the polling stations at 8am when presiding officers shall declare the polling stations open and at 3pm when voting closes officially. Any person that comes to the polling stations after 3pm shall not be allowed to vote.”

He debunked the insinuations in some quarters that the recent reshuffling of commissioners by the force was aimed at rigging the elections.

The IG said the postings were aimed at ensuring that elections were free and fair and devoid of violence.

He charged his officers to be proactive in handling elections and report any untoward activities in their areas of posting promptly.

For the elections, Ehindero said the police would make use of five helicopters, 1,800 motorcycles and 800 four wheel drive vehicles.

Rigging has started already! May God allow Nigerians to vote who the want!

To suddenly public holidays when nothing desperate calls for it is one of the most disgusting political stunt this administration can pull. To pull the plugs on the opposition at the eve of a major election in the midst of cries and counter-cries from parties, observers, the international community and the Nigerian public is a disaster the OBJ government fosters. How desperate can OBJ be to stop Atiku? How important is Atiku on the ballot paper? Not important at all. I keep saying Atiku does not stand a chance of winnning elections due in a week so all efforts to stop him are simply futile. The man will not win even in Adamawa state. I know that because of the disenchantment he has down there.
Therefore to suddenly declare holidays when people are suffering and trying to eke out a living from the failed system we have is the most disgraceful thing a dejected and defilied government OBJ runs can do.

OBJ can do whatever he wants with the powers granted him by the constitution. he should know that HE IS NOT GOD, CANNOT PLAY GOD AND THAT GOD IS WATCHING EVERY STUNT HE PULLS.. I pray that all those who make Nigerians suffer because of the fraudulent and selfish acts will one day find justice that will be painfull and last long!

Why is it so difficult to put Atiku in the ballot? Do common Nigerians truly care if he runs or not. Please a court delivered a specific judgment to the subject Atiku and said INEC had no right based on the indictment reports to remove his name from the ballot so whats all the fuzz in obeying the judgment.
ATIKU WILL NOT WIN A FREE AND FAIR ELECTION IN NIGERIA CONDUCTED YESTERDAY,TODAY OR FOREVER, NOT EVEN IN ADAMAWA STATE where he hails from. I will rather thumprint a billion times for a bigot like Buhari than a thief like Atiku and so will millions of other Nigerians.

OBJ being stupid as always however will still want to fight a tired man. He is simply heating the polity. A heated polity will not be good, violence will erupt and innocent people will be caught in the middle. I say it is time for Nigerians to make sure that this government acts FOR the people's interest and conduct a free and fair polls. Any result put forward by INEC which contradicts the people's will MUST BE REJECTED. 2003 must not repeat itself. The country is ours, we must protect it and not make the same mistakes one more time!

toshmann:
I want Atiku to contest (if he wins the court cases)
I want the judiciary to remain independent and fair
I want INEC to obey all court orders
I want free and fair elections
I want Atiku to be heavily defeated at the polls

are these possible?
then nobody will pretend to be a victim. my concern is law and order and not OBJ/ATIKU. let them go.

Exactly. This is exactly what some of us have been saying on this forum. Obasanjo' persecution of Atiku is simply stupid. Even in the North of today, Atiku doesn't have the clouds to win nor the goons to sell him. Buhari and Yaradua will always beat him hands down no matter how many times the elections are done. So OBJ doing all his best to stop the man was simply foolish and is heating the polity.
It is simple. INEC should obey the court judgment, put the guys name on the ballot, conduct a free elections and let's see who wins. Simple!

Crude Oil:
nigeria would be the giant of africa,

LOL ---- Supported!

Finally the dark side of Obasanjo is beginning to emerge in full glare. Let's see what the OBJ boys on this forum say now!. The so-called "messiah" of Nigeria is no better than those kidnappers in the Niger-Delta.

Please what basis do those accusing the Sultan of being stupid have. what is your argument here? Is INEC ready? Is Atiku's case not still with the courts? Does the Sultan not have the Right to Speak like every Nigerian? Can he not oppose the removal of arabic on the note by position of being head of all muslims in the nation? Hell, i don't think we need arabic incriptions on the naira, all i care is how i am go about spending it. But if someone really bothers about what smiles on the naira, then he has every right to voice his opinion. Criticism are allowed to be made, but not when the begin to evolve into abuse, bigotry and contempt for a respected individual.
Someone said Bush is regularly called names and no one says anything. Well Nigeria is not the United States of America. Here traditional rulers are respected. They can be criticized when the err, but not insulted. It is called civility- behaving properly with your fellow human being and environment.
I wonder exactly what has the sultan done wrong by voicing his opinions. Probably, i would not have being here if the it was the Ooni of Ife that had voiced the same concerns!

It is unfortunate that some Nigerians side with contempt and nonconstitutional moves. A court of appeal ruled that INEC had to power to barr Atiku from contesting in the April Elections. Yet she decided to read her own constitution (the one from Aso Rock) and threw him out. Atiku will not make a single difference if he is in the race or not. AD nor the man is not winning the elections, so whats with all the wahala to barr him. Now he will take INEC to court, waste time and scheduled elections will be delayed. Obasanjo will stay in Aso rock for more time and destroy the country more in the name of good governance!

I believe the Sultan has every constitutional right to voice his concerns regarding the forthcoming elections. It is not for anyone in this forum to open his mouth and call him stupid. If you want to crtitcize, i'll advise that to be done in the mature way.
Besides what is false about what he said. INEC barred people from contesting when the Court of Appeal said they had no right to do so. I wonder which is bigger, Olusegun Obasanjo or Court of Appeal. Atiku in the election for Presidency will not stop Nigerians from chosing who they want as president. He neither has the machinery to rigg or win that election, i wonder why the President is bent at all cost to stop the man. Now Atiku is going to go to court, challenge INEC's actions and elections will be postponed!

Let's face it- INEC has messed up and is not ready to conduct credible elections!

The situation in the Niger-Delta, long overdue has started biting us deep into the fabric. Jeff Koinage, irresponsible as ever used the opportunity to blast everything Nigerian, the government, the Armed forces, the communities etc. Imagine nonsense of militants dancing stupidly in front of the poor filipino hostages, what signal will that send?Nigeria is a place inhabitable for any foreigner!
The foreign companies, the government, militants, community chieves are all to blame in this imbroglio.
The National Geographic talked of a dutch guy who earns $80000 working in the Delta as a pipeline construction surpervisor. Well I know that there is absoultely noting hard in making a Niger-Deltan with an Engineering degree do that same work. Rather black guy suffers and dutch man enjoys the oil money. And believe me, that is exactly what is going on all over every foreign oil company in Nigeria. The hire themselves for the "technical jobs'. knowing fully well that ourt graduates can do it. The Nigerian government has to  stand up on this issue. Shell has a case right now for oil spillage, how about CNN expsoing Shell, Chevron and all other manipulations against the villages there. Pollution is unchecked, gas flaring is excessive, environmental degradation is allowed, water is intoxicated and yet I dont see that in the news. Rather hostage taking makes issues. It is pure double standards, the sooner the larger world knows what Oil companies themselves do in degrading the environment and do nothing about it, the better for us.
The Nigerian government, from LGC level down to the Federal sector have failed Niger-Delta. The other day, Peter Odili's admiinistration was indicted for having nothing to show for the billions he gets. Alams caught in London, once said that 100mill pounds was nothing to him. The people continually suffer and their governments just sit back and keep looting. Odili spent millions on Obasanjo's son wedding, yet EFCC was not gone out to check where that money came from. It smacks us as a people, to continually accept stupidity of this magnitude.
I know of many military officers who are making money siphoning oil in the delta right now. The collude with thugs and steal. These are people put there to protect such installations and protect lives, yet the engage in exactly what they were sent to curtail!
Asari Dokubo was shouting the last time, If Ken Saro-wiwa was alive, Dokubo will not have that voice! This is a thug who has given millions and yet shared it with his cronies. The same can be said for all the other oil thugs in the delta, the kidnap hostages, get ransom and still have nothing to show in their communities. That show u that everyone out there is fighthing for their pockets. It is shamefull.
Community leaders have to rise, responsible youths much start talking. Violence begets violence and it leads to no where.
Nigeria better solve the Oil problem, or else all foreigners will leave, the investors we are trying to get in to other sectors of the economy will shun us. The jobs we are all crying for, the development we yearn will become elusive.

Actions have got to be done, Now!

This is a very interesting thread. Its's normal to always have bigots, calling Northerners cows. Census have always shown that the North is more populated, yet some people would not believe. Claims that a Northern president imposed results have now being debunked with a southern president in power! I wonder what type of northerner you will accept. you have classified all of us as fools, even the humble Umar Yar'adua is called a cow! I only pray for the youth of Nigeria, that the nepotism and bigotry which our fathers indulged in would not continue within us, that we will find among us leaders united in justice for all and prosperity for Nigeria!!!!

Cheers

davidylan:
Please lend your vote! Let us move power back to the north! A cow for president!!!

Shouldn't you be ashamed of yourself that a cow becomes your next president in 6 months!

Nigeria 1, u keep posting figures and details not relating to my issues with you. Simple, Mr Makama is not Hausa/fulani. Take it from me and move on! Peace

see that is what you do not know. Mr Makama is a christian from Mangu local government in Plateau state. there are no Hausa fulani there. Because he has a Hausa souding name doesnt mean he is one. I have an arabic name and not hausa. Dont go making conclusions.

Nigeria 1, Know ur facts before u utter words or write anything. U falsely claim Mr Makama is a Hausa/Fulani which he is not. He is from Plateau state. this is excatly how people go about giving facts based on lies. People are watching, not everyone is stupid!

It is Mr Makama people, not makawa and He is not Hausa/Fulani so i see no reason why he should be altering figures!

davidylan:
Only a while ago, DRANOEL used this same CIA factbook you are now discrediting to buttress his claim that there were more people in the north than the south! Are you now indicating that the UNFPA projections are all wrong? It belies all forms of logic that Lagos the commerciall nerve center of the nation with seaports will be smaller in population compared to Kano, a desert and landlocked state without any viable industries!

Classic defeatist attitude! The major reason corrupt leaders are still in power.

Hmm, Kano is now a desert aigh!

dayokanu:
Have you forgotten that these foreign organisations rate Lagos as one of the most populous cities in the world.

How come Kano that is more according to the census was not mentioned

Did u see me anywhere on my post say that Kano is more populated anyday than Kano! I said migration during the census might have greately altered the figures of Lagos! Go to the CIA website and check the population of the Hausa/ Fulani, Kanuri and Tivs, then add to other minorities ( Katafs,Idoma, Fulfude,Birom etc). Read, analyse and understand before making comments people!

nigeria1:
My people Igbo man don suffer for Nigeria, Notice that if they do not cancel this census. In 2016 with the same growth rate , the fulani/hausa where mr Makawa comes from, would be about 50% of the population of Nigeria, How is it possible that the fulani/hausa had about 16 million children in the last 15 years, which is the population of the south east, and the igbo only had 4.9 children in 15 years, and the yoruba only had 5 million children.

16 million children is too high for the fulani/hausa while the rest of Nigeria only had 35 million, so for every 3 children born in Nigeria in the last 15 years, 1 out of 3 is a fulani/hausa child, that can not be possible, see our nigeriaone for more detail. as I analysis the figure.

I see nothing wrong with the Hausa/Fulani having 1 out of every 3 children born in Nigeria for the past 15 years. Go to the north and see what the birth rate is inspite of poverty and unemployment. People have said that the predominant religion in the North allows for up to 4 wives which translates to tons of kids. My driver has about 3 wives and more than 15 kids. He is about 50 now. He is still making more!

I am not here to say that census figures are right or wrong. I don't work for NPC nor did i count people. some figures like Zamfara are surely not true. However the Lagos-Kano controversy can be resolved simple. A large number of Lagos residents moved home for the census count. Alot of northerners moved north so did alot of south-easterns and people from south-south. That could explain why Lagos became a few thousands less than Kano. It is as simple as that. Migration may have altered Lagos true figures!
But to completely say that the North is just a desert, obscure and without population is just foolish. I bet you that most of the people from the south here shouting left,right and center have never stepped foot in the North or have only been to a few places and have presented their miscalculated conclusions. The CIA says Northern Nigeria has more population than the south. CIA is not some crack-head organization to argue facts with, go check it out yourself( CIA factbook). People just feel they are right without checking their facts. People from elsewhere must know their words when talking about Northern Nigeria, don't go about saying nonsense and thinking people are not watching.

I think people are entilted to their opinions and viewpoints. It makes no sense saying "shame on you" if someone opts out for Atiku. This is a democracy and everyone has a right to vote and be voted for. When u start saying 'shame on someone" for his choices, then u become dictatorial just like those who ruined Naija.
Allow people to express their will please. I will not vote for Atiku neither am i his fan but i believe that people should have their say!

shango:
Ishamel we are not ignorant mallams. We do not buy your high fertility rate and geographical size of Kano dictating Kano has the largest population. Please. We are not mumus.

Ishmael, for you to try to say Kano is more populated than Lagos by saying Hausa wives have 10 children. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

And who says the South has higher death rates. Where do you pull your figures from? Look at Satellite Imagery of Lagos vs Kano. Lagos's building and high rise density surpasses Kano's by several factors. And those villages surrounding so called "major cities" like Kano do not have millions in them. Please. I am not Hausa but I was born and raised in the North (Kaduna).

Ishmael should be a Nigerian government official. He would fit right in with the rest of the thugs, criminals and frausters that make up the Nigerian government.

Being born in Kaduna metropolis doesnt mean you know the entire northern nigeria. I have stayed in Ibadan for years and i do not claim toknow the entire southwest. Stop being stupid please. There is more to the north than staying somewhere in Kaduna!

Guys, I am a northener and to tell u the truth, I am quietly looking at NorthWest Nigeria at the moment.Zamfara, Jigawa, Bauchi are all fraud. The populations of other Northern sections North Central and North west are true, but Zamfara at 3million is a hoax, an unbelievable joke!
Kaduna and Kano are largely populated. One thing you southerners must understand is that Northerners do not populate their major cities, go to the villages and hinterlands and u'll be amazed. Anyone however who tells u that Zaria, Kano or Kaduna metropolis are deserted has lost his senses.