My suggestion. Do not take my word for it.

I do not live in Nigeria.

But from what I am aware of; Calabar, Owerri, Enugu, Uyo, Should be quite Safe.

All the points that have been directed towards me are actually correct, and yours is as well.

However the point I make, is not that we cannot be critical or even hate the country. Nigeria has one of the highest poverty rates in the world, so yeah there will be a lot of Angry Nigerians.

However what I am saying is that if by being unpatriotic Nigeria's risk being unproductive in society then that is a major hindrance in an change that can occur.

What I define as unpatriotic, are corrupt individuals, yahoo yahoo boys, militants, cults, thieves etc etc.

People that are unproductive in society and are one of many economic liabilities.

Being Patriotic, is simply being a citizen that can shape the country positively. Being otherwise is a crime.

@ Udode, I think they are just looking at the East and the South South through the same scope.

The Niger Delta at present is the most dangerous place in Nigeria at the moment, and is geographically at the doorstep of the East. Infact the East accounts for some of the Niger Delta.

So the information is partially correct.

However generally the East is not really dangerous even for a foreigner.

sherry lo:

Dblock pray you never witness robbers in action OO, if you witness them you go forget forgiveness o!

What are u inferring.

Are you justifying mob action, or citing that robbers in action are even worse?

Obasanjo if you like due process

Yar'Adua if you like Rule of Law

Obasanjo if you like "Induced Chaos"

Yar'Adua if you like "Chaos created by his dimwittedness "

I think Yar'Adua is slightyly ahead

How can Fashola and co. claim to have passed a law that have been in existence in Nigeria since when God knows.
Anybody ever heard of mob action in the street of Lagos and other cities in Nigeria?
The good thing is that it's now written in the constitution; a good reason to burn our enemies with tyers. Grin
Damn it!!

roflmao.

But on a serious note, Mob action is disgusting.

How can you burn someone for theft or anything else even in the fundamentalist Muslim countries, they don't do that, they have other punishments but they don't kill people like that.

Disgusting

Damn it's an onslaught, I'll get back to yall. lol

I'll reply to your post later.

Oga Debo . . . this article is way too simplistic. When a man has malaria, giving him a hot bath, some tea and tucking him gently into bed is not the solution. Get antimalarials and tackle the problem from the roots.

The root of Nigeria's problems are in its foundation, but for the basis of society to change, we have to have people that are willing to change after all aren't they the root of the problem?

It is the people that later go on to Govern.

To argue that Nigeria has no innate problems is to decieve ourselves. We basically have a flawed system, no matter how nice our leaders are as long as the system remains in place they are essentially working with one hand tied behind their backs.

The article does not say that the system is not flawed, but the system being flawed is exactly what is holding a nation that has nothing else wrong with it back. We all no that in such a system, one man cannot really go out and alter the whole system, however the article also states that the good in society seem to be overwhelmed, and seem to have no effect whatsoever. Yes we all know that the President for example has limits, but even within those limits he can make changes that will impact on society.

Over the years federal character, quota system . . . has completely destroyed the significance of merit and hardwork. We have raised a generation who nothing more than the price of oil on the world market. Our farmlands are lying fallow, our mineral resources are firmly in the hands of illegal miners, our ports are the very capital of institutionalised corruption . . .

The system has indeed created an unhealthy structure, both at the federal level and in society. An incapable Government, stems from a society that is troubled, perhaps one with people that are not creating any positive effect, and an incapable Government inevitably results in a weakened economy.

A wise man does more than plaster the cracks on the walls of his house, he goes to dig to see if ants are destroying the foundation. Until we devise a new people-based constitution there is no way out of our present dilemma. While you are busy crying about "social re-engineering", the average hausa man is only concerned about Federal Allocation. There is no spirit of entrepreneurship, the spirit of invention is now channeled more to how to loot the treasury than how to advance the economy.

I concur

We have taught our children that politics is the most lucrative business, we have shown them that the way to fame and honor is only through corporate stealing.

I concur

The article asks a question - Why is it then that all these patriots make so little impact on the life of our nation?

My response - What else can these "patriots" do? Dele Giwa, MKO, Saro Wiwa . . . what greater sacrifice could they have given for our nation than the sacrifice of their lives? How does one man defeat an entrenched system of corruption, ineptitude and injustice? Rather than solving the Niger Delta crisis, our leaders are busy drafting in the army . . . do you expect those suppressed nationalities to grow up with patriotic intentions to a people who have systematically trodden them under foot?

Applying rob to a rabbies bite might sound humane, at the end of the day it may be more wicked than leaving the victim to die unattended.

People are no doubt suppressed, but the people can obviously "grow up with patriotic intentions"

Take the Niger Delta Militants. Do you think they can't succeed.

They have shut in a 1/5 of the Nation's output. They have attacked the offshore platform at Bonga, and have proven that they are capable of crippling the entire industry. Now regardless of how corrupt the Government is, if this Militants were actually legitimate. A shut in of the Nation's biggest earner would mean that the countries economy would collapse. A scenario not ideal of the people or the Government. A make reference to this to highlight, that if the people actually wake up, they can make a difference. The Niger Delta Crisis takes 2.5% out of Nigeria's GDP growth if that is not an impact what is?, the Niger Delta Militants are capable of affecting the livelihood of every Nigeria, if that is not an impact I don't know what is. At the end of the day no matter how suppressed you may be by an Government. The people enable the Government.

What has population of patriotic Nigerians to do with the article above and the real issues??

The Population of patriotic Nigerians has everything to do with the state of Nigeria and the above article.

Picture Nigeria as a project that is doing badly. Nigerians are the only people that can do anything about the project, if people do not believe in the country no matter how bad things may be things will never change.

That is why I am patriotic. I am not a blind patriot, I don't think there is one Nigerian that is not aware of the problems that Nigeria has, but even if Nigeria was worse than hell, at the end of the day we must always believe in the country because looking at the country we are all aware that the country is more than capable of being prosperous, what lacks is an healthy society and an healthy society comprises of patriotic citizens.

Case Study

Angola.

Angola had been in a Civil War, one longer than the one that took place in Nigeria. A civil war that never looked like it would end. Angola was a country that made Nigeria look good. It was ravaged with various diseases, it's infrastructure was completely decayed. Yet unforeseen the Civil war ended three years ago. And in that three years Angola developed it's Oil Industry to a stage that surpassed what Nigeria had developed in decades Today Angola's economy is growing at unprecedented rates, and it's industry is one of the fastest growing in the world. The capital Luanda is now becoming more beautiful than its peaceful neighbours. And Angola which was more dangerous than Nigeria three years ago is now safer. All this happened in three years.

That Miracle is in fact one greater than if Nigeria was to become prosperous in the coming years. The fact is the world expects Nigeria to be successful, they didn't expect Angola to be. I make reference to Angola to highlight that there is essentially no such thing as a failed state. The only failed state is a country where people no longer believe.

It is quite possible to be a critic and a contributor at the same time. Since when did doing both become impossible?? Are you here suggesting that the critics join the ranks of the “blind patriots” and somehow that will work out in the end for Nigeria? Look to Zimbabwe to understand what effect blind patriots really have on a nation please.

I know critics, and I myself am a critic, however in being critical Nigerians fail to realise that the problem with Nigeria has become so interwoven in society that if they are completely taken aback by what they see and what they experience they cannot be physically there to make any positive change. And yes we must be critical, I never said we shouldn't be.

Mugabe is a good example of a Blind Patriot, but where exactly does the term "Blind Patriot" stem from, when we are discussing the overall prosperity of Nigeria. When someone says "Believe in the country" they are automatically deemed a Blind Patriot. What makes me a Blind Patriot when I am fully aware of the problems that occur in Nigeria.

One Poster on Nairaland said, History can forgive you if you make the wrong decision, but history won't forgive you if you make no decision at all.

Yes we can look at Zimbabwe to see the effect of Blind Patriotism, but Blind patriotsm itself poses a better possibilty for success than not doing anything at all.

So, you propose patriotism to be the cure for Nigeria's ailment knowing full well (I am assuming you would know this by now) that not all patriotism is GOOD patriotism??

Yes indeed, what else??. One who does not believe in something cannot expect something to prosper. Afterall the problem with Nigeria is afterall the society.

Governing is a product of the society that is in place. Afterall there are bad people in every country, so therefore shouldn't there be bad presidents and governors springing up everywhere. Obviously this is not the case, because in certain societies, such developments cannot occur due to the society.

Hence why I made the statement about Hitler. Hitler could not go to War until he had manipulated the people. A country is in essence driven by the people, so if the people are not patriotic nothing will change.

You going to swim to Equatorial Guinea or What?

Benin is right next door, or maybe you like Cameroon?

or no, Chad is good, or maybe Niger is your fancy

or maybe you're willing to make the distance to Ghana.

You're a liabilty, We don't need you 1/140 000 000

I'll reply to your post tomorrow Goodnight

Nigeria: Nothing is Innately Wrong With Nigeria

On the morning after Muritala Mohammed seized power in July 1975, public servants in Lagos were found "on seat" at 7.30 in the morning; even the "go-slow" on Lagos roads that had defied every solution prior to the regime, vanished overnight! Why? The new ruler's reputation for ruthlessness, discipline and hard work was sufficient to transform in the course of only one night the style and habit of Nigeria's unruly capital. That the character of one man could establish that quantum change in a people's social behaviour was nothing less than miraculous. But it shows that social miracles can happen.

A leader's no-nonsense reputation can induce a favourable climate, but in order to effect lasting change, it must be followed up with a remedial programme of social and economic re-orgnisation or at least a well conceived and consistent agenda or reform which Nigeria stood, and still stands in dire need of.

There is nothing basically wrong with Nigeria's character. There is nothing wrong with Nigerian's land or climate or water or air or anything else. Nigeria's problem is the unwillingness or the inability of its leaders to rise to the responsibility, to the challenge of personal example, which are hallmarks of true leadership.

Nigeria has many men and women of conscience, a large number of talented people. Why is it then that all these patriots make so little impact on the life of our nation? Why is it that our corruption, gross inequities, our noisy vulgarity, our selfishness, our ineptitude seem so much stronger than the good influences at work in our society? Why do the good among us seem so helpless while the bad are full of vile energy? Nigeria needs patriotism this time around. What is your own contribution? Are you a caterpillar or a builder? Let your conscience judge you. Patriotism is an emotion of love directed by critical intelligence.

A true patriot will always demand the highest standards of his country and accept nothing but the best for and from his people. He will be outspoken in the condemnation of the leaders shortcomings without giving way to their superiority, despair or cynicism; that is my idea of patriotism.

Nigeria cannot fail, if the vast majority of people are decent.


Nigeria probably has 2 percent of it's population patriotic


How can you contribute anything of value, when ur busy, saying, useless country, naija.kole change, etc, etc

If you have no faith in the country, you should buy a passport and visa, or learn to swim or run,,,and migrate to a neighboring country

I fear the unpatriotic Nigerians more than the corrupt Government. It is the people that enable the Government. Hitler had to manipulate the people before he could do anything. This is a Fact.


This article is a must read

Big B1:

When it comes to analysing the true state of mind of most Nigerians, this is the most profound statement so far on this forum.

That's Quite true, my dad once told me how Nigerians unlike other Africans are hesitant to elevate qualified Nigerians to positions like other Africans do.

The problem of corruption which has become somewhat inherent in our society is as a direct result of people not actually having a problem with the state of the country but with their individual standard of living.

However how do we change this general mind frame, one way is by isolating issues that plague our society from religion, and using religion to our advantage rather than to our demise as it as become in recent times.

Yeah but then how are things going to change, Landis

Humans don't change too easily

We know the solution.


It's up to the leaders to implement it.


Pray for Yar'Adua and the rest of the Government to get a brain, and You will get your power

Actually if you look at what Landis is talking about

"Maximising benefits"

You will see that it was this same trait, that led the Europeans to control the world and take lead.

It was this same trait that led Europeans to Colonize Africa.

They did not need to colonize Africa, but maximizing benefits is essentially exploring, to progress economically and discover new ways to boost all sorts of advancements.

"Maximising benefits"

Is not an Intellectual thing

Being the biggest economy is not an intellectual thing

People have actually started to discover that certain economic advancements are endangering the environment and are hence endangering our wellbeing.

America today, is not an happy country, neither are a lot of Western Countries.

However what "Maximising Benefits" does is create authority.

Which is why there has never been a period in which the Black Race has been ahead of the White Race.

It is not an intellectual issue, it is not about being smarter but being in control.

We can progress to be the best of our intellectual abilities, but this may not enable us to seize any authority. The intellectual decision is the best decision; Environmentally, Socially, Sustainable and Economically in one. However "maximizing benefits" gives you the edge over your neighbours. And on this planet Authority is everything.

America is allowed to emit all those greenhouse gases, and so is China, even after we have become aware of the environmental impacts.

Not polluting the atmosphere and slowing down Economic Growth would be the intellectual decision, but doing so anyway gives you authority.

However I will stop short of concurring with Landis by declaring that Africa has indeed done like the West in maximizing benefits.

The root of Maximising benefits is in Exploring, conquering etc. That African Kingdoms did do. Africans were heading in the same direction as their adventurous neighbours the Europeans. However what hindered their ability to compete with the Europeans and the integration of African Kingdoms and tribes etc as was the case in Europe, was the speed of this development in Europe that enabled them to come to Africa, conquer Africa in it's infancy and essentially prevent any integration. This is one of the reasons why Africa is where it is today.

Prior to the Colonization of Africa, there were more tribes and Kingdoms in Africa, that were not bounded by an hierarchy or some sort of Order. In Europe this was the case, but Europe had integrate quicker into obvious "Kingdoms etc". The next step after Integration was Exploration or (The Beginning of Maximising Benefits). Africa had not completed the first stage

Fantastic

But it won't be done, because our president is a diseased retard.

Yar"Adua

"What? What? where am I, Rule of Law, umm, processes, I feel sick, what do I do."

Yar'Adua couldn't make a proper decision if his life depended on it, maybe his life does depend on it, because the life in him seems to be faltering. That's why he goes on 8 day trips to Germany health care facilities. They had to constantly remind him where he was, because of his "go slow" brain.

dragnet:

they're just bluffing. . . . . . In other words, its just a propaganda by them to psychologically manipulate Mr. President . . .'because the kn0wledgeable & experiencd ones among them!
They better n0t try their luck 'because they w0nt survive! I pity the innocent inhabitants 'because the army w0nt hesitate to wipe out the WHOLE Niger-Delta if need be, the only thing slowing d process is "International Image" else OBJ wuld have done it long before . . . . .bt I tell u this, if they dare kill as much as 20 soldiers, even without Mr. President's Orders the army would wipe them out & wont clame responsibility. . . All you wuld hear is "unknown soldiers" ! Take that to the bank ! *my Dad was a 'WO II' in 3rd Marine Commando** during d biafra war

Exactly, If this Peace talks don't work out, let's see how long these militants last

Meh, its Music

not a guideline for life, Niggaz bitches and hoes

It is not 43 years for obvious reasons.

1) Nigeria has not developed most of its Oil blocks
2) Production is at it its lowest in decades
3) Exploration in the Gulf of Guinea is not as efficient as it could be with Stability

All these talk of technicalities are reasonable.

but you cannot forget that the Niger Delta Crisis is not a War as of yet.

You don't have the Nigerian Military fighting with its entire might.

You have the Militants provoking hostilities, and you have the JTF, SSS etc simply gathering intel and reacting whenever.

Regardless of how much the Militants know the Creek, the Nigeria Military are more than capable of winning against the Niger Delta Militants.

bilymuse:

The army keep saying it not a war, but they are moving into the region with heavy military equipment, armoured tankers, war ship , missile launcher, parsonnels.

In addition, Aziza has personally take control of the Niger delta oparation and relocated to Port-Harcourt , we shall see how the Zombie are going to fair.

These are only being deployed now, and it is gradually becoming a war. I mean they have attacked Bonga, which has proven that they are capable of shutting down the industry.

We will see in the coming months though.


I place my bets on the Military though.

Babaearly hate the Government but don't make this an ethnic issue

I speak neutrally being a Yoruban-Deltan

There is no Part of Nigeria that cannot sustain itself with the right amount of investments

Even the Niger Delta doesn't need any Oil. You have various Agriculture in the area, you have a potential to produce massive amounts of rice in Bayelsa, you have a potential to develop the fishing industry, you have beaches in the Delta that are better than the ones in Lagos, so there is a huge potential for tourism.

We are all Nigerians here and as long as Nigeria is a country that consists of 36 states, regardless of where the revenue is derived from as long as it is allocated in a way that gives every Nigeria an equal opportunity as every other Nigeria, then that is just perfect.

Believe me if the Government abandoned the Oil industry they would gather more money. Sectors such as Tourism creates more money than Oil, and it is sustainable.

The whole problem here is the management, the structure of the Nigerian economy and the corruption.

This should have nothing to do with whether Oil is in Kano or Port Harcourt,

How can they construct roads, when it's not safe for contractors to be in the Niger Delta.

The first and foremost thing that needs to guaranteed is peace.

This is an Outrage.

My chief from my clan, should be the President of this country not some Hausaman . he is not from my clan.

I can't be represented by people that don't come from my village.

The only Nigerians I recognised are the 50 or so people from my clan.

It's done in most developing countries.

engineerd:

no comment

Good Job modifying your post, it may be the wisest decision you've made in this thread.

Yeah people tend to speak out of their asses, and they are all the same.

When somebody says something without crosschecking the facts, then they are nothing short of an idiot.


How many people on this thread, said, Yeah Nigerians always claiming people.

The dude was not born in Nigeria, so Yeah he isn't reppin Nigeria or anything, but he knows where he hails from, and he even said he will eventually go to Africa.

lol its funny at some point this thread was about Abuja, lmao

engineerd:

another pathetic excuse, oh the street trader is chased what happens to them?? they become armed robbers blah blah blah, they become armed robbers and guess what? the security in lagos is getting better, so they will be caught and go to jail for a long time with HARD labor!

yeah and soon we will have half the population in prison.

, idiots,

I don't support this development.

We all know the problems that street traders cause, but they are part of the informal economy.

If these people are not allowed to trade, it will only create an increase in Poverty.

Certain decisions cannot be made until alternatives are made.

Nobody in their right mind would be a street trader if they had a better job offer.

Do you even know the meaning of fluent.

Half of the actors would be fluent speakers.

I think people, might be convincing "sexy" with "fluent"

He is from Nigeria


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucMKF8eXyHc&feature=related

He said it himself


So Yeah how many idiots, do we have in this thread.

100?

lol