bobbyjabo:

You are missing some points here! let me explain it to you..relocating from Village to City, you are still in the same country where you have equal RIGHT with the rest of the people in the city you relocate to. You can never have the same right with these white people coz its not your country and if you eventually become a citizen of that country theres still gonna be some kind of discrimination against you because of your skin colour and you will always be second citizen FACT!

And the point of this topic is ''What Motivates Diasporans To Relocate Back To Nigeria'' and part of the answer in my own opinion is EXPOSURE coz you are more expose to alot of things your mates back home are not expose to (thats if you have brain anywayz) no offense tho,just saying. let me give you a couple of Examples...

(1) James Ibori(Ex Governor of Delta State)...he took that bold step and relocate back to NIgeria coz he feels his brainy and expose enough to maneuver his way to riches in Nigeria which he couldnt do while he was living in UK and guess what eventually he did but overdo it(greediness) which landed him where he is today

(2) Michael Sata(President of Zambia)...He was a railway sweeper in london,he took that bold step and relocate back to his country and becomes the president of his fatherland

Bottomline is if you got brain and exposed,theres a better chance of you making it big in your fatherland than washing pots and sweeping the street in oversea SIMPLE.

I surrender to your superior argument, now that you have clarified that EXPOSURE is only part (but not all) of the answer. I only wish you did not mention Ibori sha. The Michael Sata example (from street sweeper to president) is powerful enough . Lets not rule out the fact that people like Michael Sata may have also come back with some money they saved which helped to kick start their business and political careers. Fair enough, and thanks for clarifying yourself.

chreld_b: ok drzed.
what the phuck is your point? a what positive message are you trying to pass across? that we sould all remain in diaspora or relocate to the village? what the phuck r u saying. respond and i'll reply. its weekend i have time

Firstly, there is no need to use foul language. We dey fight? We are here to share experiences or our opinion.

My point is, let us not simplify being abroad vs. returning to Nigeria in terms of frustration, deportation or economics. People have choices. Some people live in The Gambia not because it is better than Nigeria in all respects, but because that is where they have opportunities. The same way that (inspite of armed robbery, kidnapping, planes-falling-from-the-sky, boko haram, lack of electricity, corruption, etc) we have many expatriates in Nigeria today working in our flour mills, bakeries, supermarkets, oil sector, schools and telecoms industries. It all depends on individual choices - and the circumstances that influence those choices.

This is why I always use the City vs. Village analogy. If my old man had remained in the Village, maybe I would have become the champion yam-farmer among my generation. He moved to a city and the rest is history. BUT, not all of my father's mates in the village are worse off today. Some did quite well. Including their children.

This was why (in my previous post) I agreed wholeheartedly with your earlier statement that 'diaspora no be heaven and Nigeria no be hell'.

Thats my point.

bobbyjabo:

Yea you right..I guess you have a pretty good job you doing wherever in oversea you are...speak for yourself brof,but you know there alot of people in oversea that wake up at 6.00am in that cold weather to go and wash toilet or resume in kitchen or carer house.Would you say there lifes is better of if they were in Nigeria?

You have a good argument. However, it is also true that a lot of people wake up at 4.00am in Lagos just to be a molue conductor or sell Gala on Falomo bridge. Would you say their lives are better than every village dweller? Maybe, maybe not. It depends on which villager you are comparing them with, and it depends on what options would be available to them if they returned to the village.

Some people want to be in Lagos just for the heck of it. A fairly decent choice that we must all respect. Many others are in Lagos because they are actively supporting younger ones and aged parents in the village by waking up at 4.00am either to sell Gala - or work in a Bank. Hence, the same way people get up by 6.00am just to get to work in New York, London or Toronto....and they still support people back home in Nigeria, regardless of their skill level or salary. There is no option that is better or best. It all depends on the individual and his unique circumstance.

Where you live, work or call your home is a matter of choice or circumstances. Its not where you are from, but where you are -that really matters in the long run. Otherwise, most of us should vacate the towns and cities where we live/work today and relocate to our ancestral villages or hamlets. Are some diasporans better of in Nigeria? Most definitely. Are some Nigerian city hustlers better of in their villages? Most definitely.

Every choice in life has its consequences.

bobbyjabo:

This comment makes alot of sense.the only Achievement majority of Nigerians in diaspora can boast of is EXPOSURE...in my opinion,only the wise ones makes that bold step to relocate back home.

Let me help you re-phrase your statement so you can get a different perspective of your own argument/logic:

"the only Achievement majority of Nigerians in cities can boast of is EXPOSURE ...in my opinion, only the wise ones makes that bold step to relocate back to the villages.

How does that sound to you? Oya, we are waiting for you to relocate back to your village. Dont forget to take your 'exposure' along with you. And make sure you dont loose it (exposure) along the way o! cos that's the only thing you have over your village counterparts.

chreld_b: Personally I think almost everyone that has commented on this thread so far has some good points and are relatively correct (different strokes for different folks). In my own opinion, if you are a Nigerian (raised in Nigeria), it is better to settle in Nigeria in the long run but foreign exposure is absolutely necessary. it is a big mistake to assume that relocating from Nigeria to a more developed country equates to a happier life and access to greener pastures. If that is where an individual lays their hope on then they are almost hopeless. if you choose to go abroad (a better developed country) for the purpose of exposure, furthering your education, getting abreast with modern trends e.t.c in whatever career or occupation you choose to be involved in with the aim of adding value to and developing yourself then your on track. But if you relocate as a result of frustration with the happenings in the country (which i cant blame anyone for doing @ this point in time) then you are simply gambling and may most likely return in the same frustration that made you run away in the first place. Bottomline diaspora no be heaven o and Nigeria no be hell [/b]to. if you know what your doing, you will know what to do

chreld_b: please can someone give their opinion relating to my last post on this thread i would like to develop my hypothesis. thanks

My answer to your post (which you call a hypothesis) is simple and is based on YOUR own analogy: [b]Nigerian cities no be heaven, just as Nigerian villages no be hell.

Where you elect to pursue your ambitions is a matter of personal choice and circumstances. Refer to my own post above.

Unfortunately, some of the people responding on this thread are too lost in their pre-conceived and ill-conceived prejudices to view the subject impassionately or objectively. Very soon, tribe, religion, Otedola and PDP will enter the equation. Trust Nairalanders.

In my opinion, many of the responses here are missing the point.

Many of us in Nigeria grew up and live in cities today because our parents (father/mother) took the bold step to seek greener pastures away from the villages and towns where they were born in the 30s 40s and 50s. Why didnt they stay in the village and 'make it' there? And why would'nt YOU return to your village today? Its all about opportunities. The same reason why people leave Nigeria and relocate abroad: OPPORTUNITIES.

Now, a lot of our parents tend to relocate back to the villages and towns in their older years, not because they were pursued from the city but because it was 'time' to go back home . Some simply retired due to old age. Others went into some farming or related businesses suited to the quiet life of villages.

As for those of us still young, if our villages of today were to suddenly provide better infrastructure (power, water, communications) as well as improved security and business climate, many of us city dwellers would not mind going back. Not because we were pursued from P/Harcourt, Lagos or Abuja.

So, it is not always a matter of being tired of dish washing or taking cr-ap from oyibo people. Most Nigerians I know abroad are well-educated and holding decent jobs. A survey some months ago showed that Nigerians are the most educated ethnic immigrant group in the whole of the US, with the highest ratio of Masters/PhD degrees. Although we are only a distinct sub-group of Africans, we are actually more educated on the average than the white people in America. Fact. Read more: http://www.bet.com/news/national/2012/03/20/survey-nigerians-most-educated-in-the-u-s.html. Majority of these Nigerians are certainly NOT washing dishes or driving taxis. They are in highly skilled jobs, with above average salaries. Some own businesses and employ OTHER nationalities, not only in America, but also in Europe.

Regardless of where it is, people will move to find opportunities. That is why inspite of our insecurity, lack of power and corruption, a lot of expatriates STILL come to Nigeria. When they decide to leave (as some will inevitably do), it will NOT be because we deported them - or because they were tired of 'washing our toilets'. It will be because they have decided to move.

It is all about opportunities. If you can find such 'opporchos' in your fatherland, all the better.

zeo: For me i have decided to stand my ground to prove a point.I hv a PgD and Msc and i just enrolled for PhD.One day i will become a Prof and if the disparity is still there,then it will be time to fight.I think it will help if all polytechnics are converted to universities.

Bros, dont worry. Once you have already obtained your MSc (and later PhD), there is nothing to worry about because there cannot be disparity at PhD level. Although at Masters level, I have seen some instances where some 'foolish' employers still try to pinpoint a candidate's HND, even though he had a Masters degree which supersedes BSc. Nigeria is a funny place. Its like paying attention to Primary School Cert, when someone has GCE or WAEC certificate.

I agree however, that polytechnics should be converted to universities. The reason polys were established has long been discredited due to the lack of support, unnecessary hurdles or the discrimination that ND and HND graduates face. Besides, polytechnics are becoming outdated, actually. In the UK, polys have been extinct (converted to universities) since almost two decades ago (around 1992 onwards).

Read more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polytechnic_(United_Kingdom).

What stops our government from doing the same is anyone's guess. But lack of vision, incompetence, selfishness, greed and sheer st00pidity are potential reasons.

uceee: I hope am not derailing here. Can one still go on to get an M.sc and Ph.d after Hnd. Without getting a B.sc first?

No, I dont think this is a derailment. In fact, it is an interesting angle.

As per your question actual question, yes, it is possible to do an MSc (and later, PhD) with HND, but in Nigeria, it is not easy or possible without certification and post graduate courses. Needless to say, the route is VERY long, frustrating and complicated in Naija. And there is no guarantee that if you meet their criteria, you will be accepted. We all know how things work in Nigeria.

You are better off trying long-distance accredited schools abroad. I am not talking of those University of Phoenix kind of wowo-online degrees. I am speaking of for example, UNISA in South Africa (www.unisa.ac.za/). This school is actually one of the oldest long-distance schools in the world. There are also regular universities in Malaysia, Holland, and UK that have long-distance,web-based or part-time Masters degree courses.

Now, whether these schools will accept your HND is something I cannot judge or advice upon. What I do know is that unlike in Nigeria, where muppets are in charge of admissions, in many foreign countries, when you apply, you would make a personal statement, where you justify your suitability based on your past qualifications (i.e. HND); work experience and professional certifications. They take such personal statements and professional development VERY seriously.

And if age is NOT on your side (i.e. you are in your mid-late 30s and above), they will most likely be favourably disposed to classify you as a mature student. Which is good. This will allow them to ease their criteria for admission in your case. But they will likely ask you to take a handful (e.g. 2 to 3) final year undergraduate courses, as pre-requisites, just to brush you up; e.g. research methods - as part of your first year MSc programme.

This sort of arrangement (for mature students) is also considered for full-time housewives, disabled people, etc. In many foreign schools, they understand that people's circumstances cannot all be the same, but EVERYONE is entitled to pursue further education. They respect zeal and desire.

In other words, there are many routes to an MSc/PhD. Dont restrict yourself to the shambolic and stone-age process of MSc admission obtained in Nigeria. Information is POWER. Search South Africa and Malaysia specifically. Also consider Australia and the UK (if you can afford it, cos these oyibos sabi charge person money).

Furthermore, dont make the mistake of just applying to these foreign schools once you see a programme that you like. No. To avoid disappointment, time-wasting and to optimise your efforts, you should first of all, write to the admissions officer or HOD of the programme you are interested in. State your case and ask for advice. Building a relationship matters. Let me tell you why. When it is time to offer admissions, the admissions committee would sit and evaluate applicants and it is likely that an admissions officer or HOD will stand-up for you IF they are familiar with your case. Otherwise, you will just be another candidate, and dem no too send you. This is why those who apply for PhD are better advised to write to a Professor (potential supervisor) firstly, so that he will agree to work with them and support their admission and scholarship/funding, if applicable.

I am speaking from experience by the way, as in, I have participated in the admission process abroad.

I hope this was helpful.

kennytidistar: Bsc ma foot how many Bsc holder secure job in Nigeria of today, the issue is not Bsc nor HND the issue is a national problem (unemployment) and again whon you know mentality god fatherism, guys stop wasting your time over Bsc HND issue all na trash, get better connection and see if you wont get job even with HND pass. emo nkankan omode nseyin

Well, there are MANY Nigerian HND holders who do not have connection, long-leg or godfather and who are already in their 30s (like the OP). Also, most of them already have jobs (in which they wish to rise/progress) and they have family to cater for.

Such people do not have the luxury of saying 'BSc my foot'. They have to solve this sort of problem the hard (and long) way. But that is because it is the only way for them. Na who no like short cut?

In my opinion, the choice of pursuing BSc after HND is dependent on one's ambition or career route.

If you are the type who works for (and will likely continue to work for) government either in a local govt; state, or federal parastatal/ministry/agency, then you are best adviced to pursue the BSc at the earliest. Although age is no barrier as to when you can start. As I write this, today (14 June 2012) an octogenarian (80 year old man) is being celebrated for obtaining a 2nd class degree in LAW from LASU.

If however, you are the enterpreneuring type or your career is more geared towards working for private sector whether as consultant or as an employee of a e.g. a bank, a multi-national (for example), then certification and experience may serve you better. However, because many of those banks and multinationals are headed by Nigerians with BSc/HND dichotomy mentality, you may not rise as fast as you should.

In other words, to minimise risk and frustration in your old age, I would advise you pursue a BSc even if it is part-time. I remember that my dad had an HND-holding colleague in those days, who used to attend my university for a BTech degree. Today, he is a Deputy Director in FCDA. If he had not clenched his teeth and attended lectures with us, he would today still be a site engineer (i.e. those wey get rank for arm e.g. sergent) and not a boss (i.e. those wey get rank for shoulder, e.g. Lieutenant).

This is Nigeria. So if you are in civil service, you MUST be realistic. Where do you want your rank to be displayed when you hit the the age of 50? On your shoulders or on your arm?

Hope this helps.

Nuclear weapon na beans?

lutha: @op, why most parents wil prefer a lesson teacher for their children is because they hardly create time to really supervise thier children@home. The economy situation has made the parents to view the teachers as professional nanny. If a child attends a good private sch & he's given homework each day that's enough if parents on their own part can monitor their children (time for food, nap, play, homework & bed time). As a sch administrator, the only time i recommend extra couching is when the child's ability is below his present class or the parents are too busy to create time for the child or the child is in high sch.

God bless you for this honest insight. I think administrators (like your good self) can do more to make parents get involved. You should also advice/warn teachers not to exploit parents. If you have to adjust school fees to make teachers more comfortable, this would better for all.

I once told the administrator of my kids school that since most parents were into the 'lessons' (which was more or less officially sanctioned by the school), it means either his teachers were not doing a good job in the normal school hours, or they were poorly paid. And I suggested that the money we parents pay for the lessons should be converted into school fees - which should go into salaries. because clearly, there is a link between lessons, salaries and quality of teaching. If the money spent on lessons can be channelled towards teacher welfare, the teachers would have improved salaries (better motivation, less economic pressure), the quality of teaching during school hours will increase (better performance from students overall) and the kids would have more time to play (enhanced quality of childhood). A win-win situation for all three stakeholders (teachers, kids, parents).

With a good teacher in school, a kid who does his/her homework (with the help/involvement of parents) does not need anything more than Sesame Street (oops, wrong generation) - or Barney - abi wetin dem dey call dat purple thing that sings and dance these days?

Would love to hear your take on this, Lutha.

Jurity: Its not necessary joo! The children are already tired after the normal school activities and continuing almost immediately with the so called lesson is just killing. They get home fagged out! I guess its all part of "hustling" by the teachers as in most cases they're the same that give these lessons.

I agree with you 200%. Many teachers are using lessons to fleece parents, many of whom are too busy to notice any difference or progress in their kids performance anyway. Lessons are needed only in exceptional circumstances. Alas, it has become the norm, not the exception.

For a brief period in 2010, my kids used to attend lessons, which extended (could you imagine?) from closing time (01:00pm) until around 3:00pm. This meant they took lunch at school. I was not in Nigeria then and was unaware of this arrangement at that time.

The teachers in the school used to 'strong arm' parents to make them register kids for such 'lessons' partly due to economic circumstances. And the parents that agreed to these extended lessons mostly did so out of ignorance, nonchalance towards their kid's performance/homework; or just plain show-off.

One day, my daughter spilled lunch in school, meaning she stayed hungry until when her mum picked her up by 03:00pm. She was tired and very weak. I called home that evening and asked to speak to her and the mum told me she was tired and weak. I asked why and when I was told about the spilling of the food during the so-called extra lessons, I flipped. No, let me rephrase that: I sparked BIG TIME!

I asked my wife to NEVER make them spend that kind of time in school EVER again. The wife did it because she 'thought' they needed it (I suspect it was because other parents were doing it). Anyway I disagreed with her and asked for evidence of them needing extra help. It turned out (as my wife confessed later) that my daughter actually HATED the lessons to the core. And she was extremely happy (and thanked me profusely) when she was told that I was against it. Later on, my wife still wanted to hire a home lesson teacher. Again, I said no.

In my opinion, the proliferation of lessons are a sign of failure of parenting (e.g. assisting with homework) and the decay in our teaching and learning systems at schools. Lessons are required only when a child has special needs (e.g. slow learner, poor writing skills, etc) or a child has to revise for common entrance. Kids need to play as part of their growing up and learning process. And like markovnikoff001 stated, their attention span (primary school age) is small. I never had the number (or quality) of textbooks that my daughters have today, yet I excelled.

My daughters results are today respectable even though it is widely rumoured that those who come first, second, third usually bribe teachers for positions. Most importantly, I am extremely pleased that their oral, reading, numeracy and aptitude skills are FAR above average. This is what counts at their age.

.

Billyonaire: Biochem is a great course. You belong to petrochemicals, find your way in. You wont regret

I agree. Biochem is quite interesting especially in this era of bio-fuels.

GboyegaD: Mine is very funny but today I have no regret doing what I am doing....

Towards the end of my program in Ife, I started thinking of pursuing further studies in Economics and my dream then was to become a professor which was also a lost dream of my dad. However, immediately I left school, I got offers from 3banks and I opted for banking although in one of my interviews, I stated my intention of going to graduate school by 2011 and today, I am in graduate school planning to finish my Masters and then putting in for Doctorate....
I have always longed to attend Yale for my doctorate and I intend applying in the Fall although, I am not so sure my present profile matches up with those they admit but I intend putting it in my statement of purpose that I have longed to attend the school because my dad who was admitted for Doctorate studies in the Economics Department in 1974 couldn't make it because he did not get funding from the government then (I hope this blackmail would work for me because I believe they would still have it in their records) and I have since seen it as a dream to fulfill.

Today, I feel happy and fulfilled doing what I am doing because I am not only living my dream but also that of my dad although I am beginning to cross out lecturing from my future dreams although I wouldn't mind being a Research Professor.

Interesting story. I wish you success in your endeavour. It is not easy to satisfy our parents' wishes and our own personal ambitions at the same time as many stories here have attested so far.

Dont worry about lecturing. A PhD degree gives you indepth knowledge and skills as well as specialisation in your field. You are trained to solve problems using original solutions (i.e. you can design a new methodology for solving a problem, without relying on old methods, old systems or old solutions). With a PhD, you can look at a problem and not be afraid to tackle it headlong with new ideas - as long as its in your domain of expertise. It is only in places like Nigeria that PhD holders worry about lecturing. While lecturing itself is not bad at all, it is just one of many career options for a PhD-degree holder. Having said that, some so-called PhD holders in Nigeria (names withheld) have not lived up to expectations, either in the classroom or in other endeavours.

You dont even have to be a research professor. You can be very successful as an independent researcher/consultant working for all kinds of organisations when you have a PhD. And in your field (economics) there wont be shortage of clients (banking, finance, insurance, marketing, govts., multinationals, etc) wanting someone to help them out with an economics-related researchable problem. PhD can be used for high level consulting, where you can even quote your salary in dollars (ask Ngozi Okwonjo-Iweala for more tips on that LOL). Take a look at some of the advertised consulting jobs regularly offered by DFID, USAID, The UN, The EU, etc in Nigerian dailies and you'll see what I mean.

And if your degree is from a recognised school, then it is as good as a passport to anywhere. I advise you to look at the profiles of famous research economists that you admire to see their PhD specialisation and match that with their career trajectory. Then plan your own accordingly. Dont jump into PhD without considering what you will do with it.

Every problem is researchable. Unfortunately, in Nigeria, we prefer to throw money at problems without understanding the forces at work. Thats why you will hardly find any PhD thesis on corruption in our society. Thats why successive governments pump/waste billions into power sector without researching the downstream issues (demand side) or how to tackle the key stakeholders (read: generator and diesel distributing cartels).

Welcome to the knowledge and information era. I wish you success.

emorse: you get choose?!!! for this naija, na wetin dem give you you go take o. Except say you get enough dough to burn!
I had always loved electronics (since childhood) but I ended up studyung physics edu. after JAMB and UNILAG collabo head-butt me several times.

lol @after JAMB and UNILAG collabo head-butt me several times.

jaw jaw:

You are a born joker for saying this. You think everyone thinks like you and is only concerned about 'today'?
What about tomorrow, the future for the unborn Nigerian child?

If I become president, the first thing I will do is bring all my family together for a meeting. With all the love in my heart, I will warn them to stay clear of anything illegal because if they are caught I will never intervene.
Next I will warn everyone that works with me, be them friends, special advisers, political associates, ministers, whoever and inform them too that I have warned my family. So that they know that if I am ready to turn a blind eye to any member of my family who goes foul of the law they would surely be in trouble if they steal.

For God's sake the future of Nigeria and its citizens are way bigger than any one person even if na my papa. Till we begin to think like this there is no future for Nigeria.

There is hope indeed. Thank you for this post.
May God strengthen you and help you with this vision. And may those of us who believe in this sort of ideology also be blessed with your kind of vision and courage because you cannot do it alone. Good leadership works and thrives when their is good comradeship and good followership. We all have to re-orient ourselves.

Billyonaire: If my father steal, I will put him on house arrest, in a lofty mansion with beautiful chics

Normally, I would laugh at this joke, because it is quite funny.
Unless of course you actually mean it.

acidtalk: The problem of Nigeria is caused by you and i. or how else will you explain when people will rather close their eyes to the truth because the person involved in the crime is their towns man or fellow religious brother.

Odunnu:
This mindset is what is killing us. You cant change Nigeria if you are not changed. If my father steals, I will jail him if that is the punishment for his actions.

God bless both of you (x 10^9).

It is comments like this that give me HOPE that all is not lost for Nigeria and its people.

In my estimation, most/many Nigerians have no right to ask for (or expect) good leadership or good governance because a lot of us will sacrifice the truth on the alter of tribe or religion or just out of sheer greed. In other words, many of us (specifically fellow youths) are not primed for leadership, thats why when we get there (e.g. Bankole) we mess up big time.

Changing Nigeria starts from you and I. If you have lost someone close to you, you will realise that when we die, all that matters is our name and the memories we left for others to ponder upon. In that regards, I thank God that no one will take his wealth anywhere. We shall ALL die and be held accountable. Take it or leave it.

ow11: Why didn't he say El-Rufai insulted him or his governance. How does a critique of his mal-administration equate to all Igbos? I am guessing because he believes the average bigot would queue behind him and forget that he is actually a poor administrator that has been unable to make Onitsha, Nnewi or Awka a choice destination to Nigerians.

Exactly. Why drag the entire Igbo race into an argument about a state's budget? Unless he wants to distract attention, of course.
Most of our leaders think we are simpletons, and many of us are obliging them with our attitude.

Truth does not have tribal marks or accent! I am not saying what E-Rufai has said is the absolute truth. But we need counter arguments (facts and figures) before we can judge.

bayooooooo:

How this is an insult to Igbo is beyond my understanding.

Mr. Bayooooo, many Nigerians dont understand (or appreciate) constructive criticism and hence resort to cries of tribalism every time some one points to an issue that affects them. It is funny too that Peter Obi is now dragging the entire Igbo into the fray (hmmm, I wonder why) when it is his state (Anambra) he should be defending, if at all the state was wronged by El-Rufai's analysis. Its like Fashola calling a criticism of his state's budget an insult on Yorubas. Haba! Why do our leaders ALWAYS use tribe to divide us and divert issues?

The man (El-Rufai) quoted figures and stated facts, many of which are actually in Anambra's favour (for those of you havent read his analysis). It is actually pathetic that both Peter Obi (and his supporters) have found nothing but tribalism in El-Rufai's assessement. I am waiting to see if any of those condemning El-Rufai can help us dissect his facts/figures and prove them to be untrue. How hard can that be?

No sentiment, just disprove his analysis and we shall join you in hammering him. Simple.

Someone, presumably an Anambra indigene has appraised El-Rufai's analysis: (El Rufai On Anambra Budget: A Follow Up by Benjamin Obiajulu Aduba). Benjamin Obiajulu's re-joinder is a recommended reading for anyone who is too lazy to read El-Rufai's original analysis.

bayooooooo:
Let's assume El-Rufai was dead wrong. What do you consider an appropriate response? A brilliant chap would have deconstructed El-Rufai article facts for facts, logic for logic not resorting to tribal sentiments.

Well done Bayoooooooooooooo. Lets all be objective for crying out loud.
Meanwhile, how many o's dey for your name sef? Anyway, I dashed you a few extra o's sha on account of your brilliant comment

PointB: Analysing any State and passing judgement based on a budget is, IMHO, simplistic. It is important for one to actually visit the state and access the situation on the ground.

For instance how does Sanusi know the extent of erosion problem in Anambra? Has he visited some of the sites? How does he know that the budgeting allocation for it's control is inadequate? Or is it simply a case of the more money allocated to a problem the better?

The same applies to his critique of allocation for health and agriculture. Health is quite important as he rightly noted, but beyond that, how could he critique allocation to this sector without stating what has been in the past, and what needs to be done now? What are the primary health challenge of Anambra citizens? What is the best way to address them? Or should the governor simply keep allocating huge figures to a sector because it is an important sector or should he build upon what he has done over the years? These are the basic questions Sanusi should seek answers to!

On agricultural sector. What does Sanusi think that Anambra agricultural sector requires? What are the previous practice; what has been spent on this sector in the past? Is Anambra state indeed rural state in every sense of the word? Considering the fact that Anambra state boast of a commercial city - Onitsha, an industrial city - Nnewi, and an administrative capital - Awka. What basis did Sanusi classify Anambra as rural? Does it somehow imply that apart from Lagos, PH, and Abuja every other Nigeria state is rural?

I strongly believe that Sanusi's exercise of criticising states budgets based merely on paper is a deeply flawed exercise, and a waste of his time. Unless of course, he is seeking personal and political relevance among millions of gullible Nigerians who will ascribe this lazy exercise to some form of intellectual ability.

Sanusi We are talking about El-Rufai here!
Na wah o! (in GEJ's accent)

I have been using McReal (www.mcreal.net) for a decade now. They used to be quite professional (tickets, email and phone support). Their servers are supposedly in the US.

Lately sha, dem fall my hand and messed up one of Joomla site. I complained and complained, so tey e tire me.
I just backed up the site jeje and moved it to Hostgator.

Its a free world after all. If you have a serious website that you dont want to risk any down time, down server or down whatever, I advise you to host it abroad. There MAY sometimes be issues with making payments for hosting services using credit card from Naija sha. For obvious reasons.

ndu_chucks: I don't believe the youths of this country have a good understanding of the level of corruption and decay in all aspects of government, including those in the executive branch. If they did, they'll be protesting on a daily basis until the government is brought down. Shame on our youths!!! Some of the ones from the North are reacting and a few from the south, but when are we going to have our own Nigerian hamattan, like the Arab spring?

Our youths are as useless as their fathers, sorry to say! Gowon and Ojukwu did what they could, in their 30s. PDP has to go!!!

My brother, our youths are busy trading insults on Nairaland (that is when they are not arguing over identity of members).

naijaking1:

I agree, cheap personal attacks derail meaningful threads, and should be discouraged if you ask me.

Spot on, Naijaking1. It is shame that Nairaland either does not have House Rules, or does not implement them.

Again, I re-iterate that those who use insults and abuses to make their point on NairaLand are either like that in real life (which would make them terrible and pathetic people); or they are just using cover of internet to show their true colours (which would make them hypocrites and cowards). Mature and civilised people dont behave like that.

Either way, I am not looking forward to meeting some Nairalanders in real life!

The amount of insults and abuses (of the personal, ethnic and religious kind) that is found on many NairaLand threads is astounding.

You moderators need to be proactive about this matter and not rely on people making reports.

Why is there no thread explaining the House Rules? Does NairaLand even have House Rules? If not, why not? I suggest you create some rules of discourse and expected decorum/etiquette - and make everyone bound by them. It is not enough for people to be reporting offensive posts. There are some threads in which almost every post contains an insult to a person, a religion or a tribe.

These insults and abuses can create/foster existing hatred and enmity among our people, apart from encouraging negative stereotypes.

Please do something about this.

Thank you.

This is the type of NairaLand thread that I do not like.

There is an important issue at stake to be discussed (bribery allegation on a sensitive committee member). As Nigerians, this issue affects us and we need to enlighten each other with the truth of the matter.

But the whole thing has turned into a shouting match, spiced with insults and verbal abuses. I think some people dont read other people's post. They just watch for some sworn enemies of theirs to post something and GBAM! It is an opportunity to insult.

Those who use insults and abuses to make their point on NairaLand are either like that in real life (which would make them terrible and pathetic people); or they are just using cover of internet to show their true colours (which would make them hypocrites and cowards).

Either way, I am not looking forward to meeting some people in real life!

Na wah o!