₦airaland Forum

Ana2022:
Hello everyone,

I recently took a short trip to Nigeria, and I feel deeply saddened by what I experienced. I want to speak honestly to young people, middle-aged individuals, married couples—everyone. Please, don’t let anyone deceive you into thinking that “there is nothing abroad.” That statement is simply not true.

It’s difficult for me to even talk about this because of how heavy it feels. In Nigeria, there is a strong belief that money is everything. But I’ve come to realize that true quality of life goes far beyond wealth. Things like security, basic amenities, good healthcare, and decent roads—these are fundamental human needs, and they matter more than just having money.

Millions of people in Nigeria are struggling every day, and it’s heartbreaking. What makes it even more painful is that many of the leaders travel abroad, see better systems and living conditions, yet allow their own citizens to endure such hardship.

My brothers and sisters, think about your future. Think about your old age and the generations that will come after you. Try to find opportunities in places where you can build a better life. Nigeria, as it stands, is not working the way it should, and we must not ignore that reality.

Let me share my experience with you…

Shallow.
Pls never come back.

GloriousGbola:
chart is below

you can google any subsidy chart and you will see that gej had the highest figures

i am sure you are aware that during the buhari years, NNPC was importing PMS. so you have a case of a government organization reporting whatever they say they imported - effectively regulating themselves as they are all part of the govt. the subsidy was an obvious failure , but we should have continued running it




who is the corrupt powerful here ? BAT has exited the top management of NNPC who oversaw , which is another reason for northern cries of marginalization. ending the subsidy was the only option.



i regularly used to listen to different analysts while driving to work in the morning - and they had all said the same thing for years- subsidy has to go, multiple dollar rates have to go. we cant keep kicking the can down the road. buhari tried that and made nigeria into an economic basket case. all those running for election said they would kill subsidy when on the campaign trail. subsidy had become stage 3 cancer and if you want to belive thee is a painless way to excise it....



every administration has its hated and dodgy individuals who serve a purpose for them. for GEj it was diezani - for tinubu it is Chagouri.
if peter obi enters today - he will have his own black bag guy. i am sure you dont buy into his sainthood claims

as an aside you know that it was GEJ that elevated Wike who was a local govt chairman before this.





but GEJ did use the military, did he not? so what is the difference ?

Anyway, I have said my bit, but at least you can tell us why BAT vociferously opposed subsidy removal only to do a total one? Political guile right? Anyway I give him politics.

And no, Chagoury is unacceptable. You cannot mention scandals of GEJ only to soft pedal for BAT by saying well, they all have their bad guys. You have to be consistent. And what's it with Atiku Bagudu. How can anyone openly appoint him ? ? ?

No, GEJ did not noticeably use the military against the people as APC has.

Also how come BAT is out borrowing previous governments despite removing subsidies?

About NNPC, we all know how horribly corrupt Ojulari is already. Don't you?

.

GloriousGbola:
imho GEJ was lucky he lost as a lot of the issues we are facing today were already coming

life and business is in cycles and the downward cycle was starting as GEJ exited



GEJ was not a mild mannered democrat - that is rosy eyed revisionism - he used the military to run the ekiti election,
the military were also stationed outside bourdillon
we saw how orubebe tried to scatter the vote count
we saw how the NSA into an election cash cow disbursing money to anyone and everyone
we saw how they delayed the election to kill APC's momentum they correctly surmised that APC would run out of money. lets just say i witnessed some fundraising for the last two weeks
then we had people like hamza al mustpha who should have remained in the dustbin of history released for reasons best know to gej



with respect to subsidy -
there is a graph that shows that subsidy ballooned under gej's watch - i think 200 to 300%
i was in the industry and there were hard rules for subsidy eligibility - you must have a depot ,you must have 500 stations nationwide. what happened was that under gej's admin subsidy became a free for all with every tom dick and harry with no assets being awarded contracts and bring paid for nothing

this led to the subsidy growing out of control. unfortunately we don't have detailed online record because ta the time, the president of MOMAN wrote an open letter on newspapers complaining about the proliferation fol briefcase companies with no actual footprint being awarded subsidy grants and being paid for supplying nothing.

when it all blew up rather than prosecute the beneficiaries of the false subsidy payments - gej opted to punish Nigerians by removing subsidy on january one with no prior announcement.
i was on nl when it happened as it was announced on an FP thread. i immediately went out and filled my containers before the news spread. GEJ scored an own goal by cancelling subsidy without telling anyone before hand in the middle of a national holiday ;leaving travelling Nigerians stranded. he destroyed his goodwill and gave the opposition an opening.

and in the aftermath no one was punished during his tenure for inflated subsidy claims . we had a so called national assembly investigation that was nothing more than a shakedown with farouk lawan collecting dollars from otedola. and farouk did not see jail for 10 years after this.



of course Nigerians will rate GEJ over PMB or BAT. GEJ started borrowing to pay salaries at the end of his term. if he had won the election, the chickens would all have come home to roost. the man never made any hard decisions during his presidency - in his own words he came to create wealth - which he did be squandering the ECA. the average nigerian has a short memory and the average nigerian/citizen is interested in the immediate economy, not the future economy.

we had multiple scandals in gejs admin from stella odua to diezani to the job test stampede - and no one was ever punished

i see Chagouri as a fixer who will provide dirty work services to every government. maybe if gej had engaged him to buy weapons we would not have had that national embarrassment of 15 million usd on a plane in south africa.



i also think that gej and his handlers cynically allowed boko haram to grow because it served them politically

source of unchallenged funding requests
avenue to delay election
tool to use to whip the opposition claiming they were bh supporters. then everyone who had issues with gej was branded as a boko haram supporter on social media

Just simple questions - Why then did BAT oppose subsidy removal, and why have neither BAT nor PMB prosecuted any subsidy scammers in 11 years now?

I trust you are aware that -

1. Subsidy which was a total of about N300 Billion under Goodluck ballooned to about 7 Trillion under PMB.

2. Goodluck did not do a total but a partial removal of subsidy unlike BAT did

3. BAT's total removal of subsidy was a first of its kind in the world and no where else had petrol prices jumped by 200 per cent in a single day prior to that. That is irresponsible of ANY government and when you add the floating of the naira barely three weeks later, that was sheer madness and of course the economy tanked.

BAT is called courageous for doing that and I dont buy it. Courage is not pressing your jackboot on the necks of the poor, courage is tackling the corrupt powerful.

And I am surprised at your take on CHAGOURI. That man's history with misappropriation of finances at an international scale is well documented. Aside from the fact that BAT awarded him a N15 Trillion contract without any competitive tender and without any NASS appropriation. No single transaction in Nigeria's history comes close corruption-wise. And while at that can you tell us the logic behind appointing Abacha's bag man, Atiku Bagudu who refunded billions of stolen funds as Minister for Budget and Planning?

I am also surprised you mention GEJ using the military. Brother, do you want to compare it to the fiascos of EndSARS and EndBADGovernance protests? GEJ never turned the military against the people the way APC has. Let us not even start with brazen abuses of the constitution such as the illegal state of emergency in Rivers State.

And oh - despite removing the subsidies, how come BAT's government is setting a record with borrwing?

cc: WizardofNG.

GloriousGbola:
Is gej actually serious?

Does he want detailed reminders of his one month one scandal presidency?

I dont think he will contest. But to be sincere, the disastrous leadership provided since 2015 puts the man in good standing as a tremendously better leader (not better politician though) than anything offered since then - on every count - including the security issues for which he was most condemned.

Recall his attempt to remove fuel subsidy was robustly resisted - by the current president as well - only for same current president to yank it off on his first day without any iota of planning or human feeling whatsoever and crack down on protests in a draconian fashion. As you agree with the fuel subsidy removal, I dont think you should have anything to say on that score other than that GEJ should have stuck to his guns the way Bola has.

As far as corruption is concerned, we all condemn fiascos such as the Diezani and Kola Aluko related scandals. However do you want to start a blow by blow comparison with this current government and its Chagouri department? I think not.

The biggest condemnation anyone can have of GEJ was that he was "weak" and should have been firmer. However he was clearly a mild mannered democrat who graciously bowed out without so much as going to court when he lost. This is in stark contrast to the attitude we are seeing from BAT who is intent on stifling the democratic space.

I can see you are a BAT supporter but lets be fair to each person. In comparison with what we have had since 2015, far more Nigerians will rate GEJ above both PMB and BAT and that is a fact. Try a poll anywhere.

Overall, I truly dont think its apt for any BATist to throw stones concerning scandals at other administrations. This administration has sufficient scandals to point at. And its corruption record will probably be the worst once reviewed by a succeeding government.

Gabrielshow26:
Admiring the works of your hands😁. Isn't it wonderful?

Not my hands, the fat better overall quality of posters at that time.

BreakingNews21:
Nice research and homework on the migration and economic stats Oga Bas. Seems DJT didn't as yet make his home state/city great again. His business HQ is still to this day located and incorporated in NY, NY. I didn't realize that Mr. Man switched political parties so much in his lifetime.

Look at his mum's name, no wonder he thinks he is Jesus!

I found this link with powerful photos from the Civil Rights Movement with a small explanatory note for each photo.
Really useful for those who dont understand the level of the meaning of that movement for Black Americans, and the level of apartheid that existed hitherto.

https://artsandculture.google.com/story/VgURPkiyouv-Lw

basilico:
You don't sound like you are too far left ,
I have detected you have an inbuilt hatred for western culture.
The opium wars were a British tactic to drug the Chinese into complacency.
I'm guessing you pointed that out to justify Chinese trafficking fentanyl which will cripple the American and western society.

Note you have justified the Iranian regime killing of Americans for 47 years because the CIA overthrew their PM in 1953 or thereabouts.

Hatred for western culture? When I am not a mullah. I am a freak for freedom.

As France says, "Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité!"

tctrills:
You mean YouTube is not mainstream. And you mean only the mainstream media is allowed to operate and everyone else is illegal
Again, you leftists attacked a Christian for not baking a cake for a gay couple and now you attack another Christian for having clients that run an erotic YouTube channel.
Which lane are you on?

I am with my kids, a responsible father unlike 75% of black America.

On the left's scale of preference, being an irresponsible dad is cool but taking up clients that own an erotic channel, that's the line they can't cross. In fact, according to leftist, it's illegal. But killing a human being is the mother's choice.

Do you see your hypocrisy?

Since you mention kids, I trust if you have a daughter you would not mind such an approach as you advertised being made to her, nor would it send off alarm beels ringing in your head. I am done with you.

basilico:
This piece from Facebook Clayton Wood is quite long.
How the west helped China .

https://www.facebook.com/share/17V2DB9XGS/

Have you ever heard anything about Britain and Opium in China via what is called "Gun Boat Diplomacy?"

tctrills:
Lol
Now the left has the ability to see through me.
You mean employing erotic voiceover actors is criminal?
Is this North Korea?
Also you also mean that as a Christian, I commited a sin by employing people to my clients company?

No mainstream or legitimate advertisement asks for people with a sexually provocative voice openly. None.
And certainly no so called ardent Christian will be putting out such adverts.
And you had the nerve to talk about absentee fathers in America and abortions. Kai.

Others here were spot on that it looks very much like a springboard for romance scams or even potentially human trafficking of some sort!
Its just unimaginable. After all your talking down at the "culture" of black Americans.

tctrills:
This is so funny.
Leftist are the same all over the world.
Iga, you want to bring this your weak mind games and cancel culture to a Nigerian?
I should apologise for give over 12 people Jobs as voiceover actors for one of the biggest YouTube channels in that space?
I should apologise for being very good at what I do and responsible for the growth of many YouTube and social media account.
In fact, I should apologise for success.

The biggest mistake anyone can make is to apologise to the left.
The left should be apologising everyday for messing up the world.

It hurts you that your stupid attacks don't work on me right.
Lol

Not working. We can see through you. What you were soliciting for was illicit. Aside from morally degenerate for a so called Christian.
And most likely also criminal in nature.

tctrills:
Lol
They are celebrating.
Funny kids

Wisdom is profitable to direct. Ecclesiastes 10:10.
Have some shame.

The most sensible thing for you to do, is to say you have moved on from that shameful enterprise / vocation.
That you cannot even see just how horrible it is for you to defend a president who is entangled in a scandal of sexual perversion, while yourself being caught stalking girls for questionable purposes, is just beyond the pale.

I am sorry to say, but in light of that, I would be demeaning myself by proceeding or continuing in any proper debates with you. The only exception being a situation where you renounce your past activity as mentioned.

Image123:
In other words, you think that we have a listening president. Thank you.

This one is power play, but I agree that the rule was very ridiculously undemocratic so its good its been reversed.

cococandy:
So now that the eggs are scrambled, how do you unscramble and put them back in the shells?

In other words, “now what?”

Cause everyone with a lick of sense already knew that🙄

Well, well, well!
Dear cococandy, What sane person could not see the vile rubbish DOGE was doing?
And as an aside let me say that DOGE was so diabolically named that it reminded me of Idi Amin's equally diabolically named "State Research Bureau." With a name like that, one would think this was some kind of academic body, one would not expect a criminal gestapo organization.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_Research_Bureau_(organisation)

There was something sinister about that name, Department of Government Efficiency.

Obrigardo:
Trust me, it's like Eureka because in hindsight i exposed this pious appearing righteous tctrills who thinks the tyrant predator trump is the best thing after God.
Tctrills got riled up, and i bet deepsight was suspecting the dude but no evidence yet. If you followed how i tackled him, you would shout Amadioha for the finding by Ijebos.

I swear the way you went on at him and the resultant discovery by Ijebos was just so unbelievable and dramatic!

bemeruca:
How is eye shadow and not responding to a white supremacist Democrat = to he is worse than Trump 😂😂

You are deepslow.

Do you also have eye shadow

Kukutente23:
Very shameful
Imagine breaking their own rules to accommodate a man they're supposed to have oversight over
How can anyone call this democracy

But it was quite a Draconian rule to put in place.

IjeBos:
Yeah, those were people who used their brains.
Or did you think Biden was responsible for Russia invading Ukraine or Trump's disastrous response to Covid?

But Trump started the illegal tariffs with pushed up inflation.
And he also decided to attack Itan without a plan to secure the straight and without international input that is currently driving up oil prices.

The very weird arguments MAGAs make always make me wonder if their brains work.

I know a MAGA cultist who says to me that Biden caused the Ukraine war.

raumdeuter:
You can see how Kamala will win or Tim Walz or AOC any of the weirdos that the left is bringing this time

Do you also wear eye shadow?

IjeBos:
Don't see how Vance wins a national election.

I cant see it either.

GloriousGbola:
removing subsidy is not about wickedness or cruelty but facing reality. nigeria cannot afford it.

My view is that the cost of the subsidies pales in comparison to the massive corruption in government and that any govt actually sincere about tackling that corruption, would do so, and saving even say a tenth of what is lost by that corruption would cover the costs of the subsidies.

I am also of the firm view that what is allegedly saved by the removal of subsidies is always and will always be vigorously and unrepentantly stolen.

Speaking from an economic intelligence point of view, the ripple effect on inflation will also be catastrophic and lead to a further weakening of the naira and which will again plunge the GDP. Just as the policies from 2023 more than halved our GDP, wrecked the naira nd created a cost of living crisis.

The cumulative result will be that BAT will leave power after eight years after much grammar about how subsidy removals were in our best interest but the facts when he is done will simply show that he devastated the economy beyond recognition.

The cries against subsidies as the enemy of an efficient economy are shallow. It is nothing new. It has been the prescription of Bretton Woods institutions since the 80s. There has been SAP 1.0 and this is just SAP 2.0. If you can point me to one single third world economy where these prescriptions have led to prosperity, I will agree with you. But there isnt one. Not one.

bemeruca:
Obama with TDS is gonna end his marriage. His wife his tired of his obsession with Trump.

Joy Reid is already saying JD Vance is scarier than Trump. They are already shaping the minds of people like Deepsight, IjeBos and bayelsaowei. Expect them in 2028 to shout about how Vance is a vile king wannabe and a pdf.

It's crazy how easy it is to brainwash people.

Everyone knows Vance is a creep with his eye shadow and "couch" addiction.
A man married to an Indian, a daughter of immigrants, who cannot defend her honor and who stands with white supremacy. A very clear American version of Daniel Bwala and Reno Omokri who called Trump Hitler but switched just to climb the ladder.

Its very unlikely he will ever win an election for president.

GloriousGbola:
chief - dangote is not going to build a 20mw plant and then wait for a govt already owing trillions to pay him subsidy

it is what it is

But we are not talking about Dangote are we? We are talking about Govt policy. Unless you are simply saying Dangote will influence that. A few questions -

1. Do you think petrol subsidy is still being secretly paid and that full subsidy removal is still in the future

2. What time frame do you think it will take for the Dangote Power Plant to come on board

3. Do you think electricity subsidies will be yanked even before Dangote's power plant comes on board?

Obviously you and I disagree on something. I think the govt has pushed sufficient economic hardship on the people in the last three years and at too fast a pace. Rushing in further hardship is no good in my view and as is customary with Nigeria, I KNOW that any savings from such measures will not bring any particular "industrialization" as you seem to think, but will be vigorously stolen.

This reversal is from the Villa no doubt.

Richtaiwo:
God bless SW SS NC NE and NW.

Why would you do this? Why make it so obvious that you want to show hatred for a particular tribe? Not cool, not enlightened.

GloriousGbola:
Nigerias problem is not capacity but price of energy. My thinking is that if tinubu wins this election, may 29 we will hear subsidy is gone episode 2. This will be very very very fking hard on all of us, but will start us on the road to actual growth of energy infrastructure and industrialisation.

Oh no. Not you too. he damage done by Subsidy Removal Part 1 is not enough, you want Part 2?

IjeBos:
But it's odd I haven't met one conservative who doesn't peddle in memes, lies, cognitive dissonance and illogical propaganda.

I have noticed this too. Not a single conservative seems well schooled or presents well.

Kukutente23:
Being against Israel won't suffice
But definitely his language can cause him problems
Like I said, if his views are construed as antisemitism he might face a problem in the West

Oh believe me, the language is enough to bar him for Western countries.

Kukutente23:
No
Why should I
I don't usually care for his BS

Oh I see. If you had you would agree that no Western country would have him based on his stance on that matter. To say that he has been blistering and vigorous in his stance against Israel, with alot of fiery language will be an understatement.