₦airaland Forum

There is a saying: Empty vessels make the loudest noise. It's not difficult to identify them on a forum like this.

Not everyone is as matured as u & I are. Whenever I get those insults, I wave them off as "immature" responses. Sometimes it is difficult to sieve the real stuff from the chaff.

All the years of looting have now been heaped on one man. Let's see how he will wiggle us all out of this mess in 4 years. He signed up for it but he needs our support.

OP, you are right. That's one major challenge we have on this forum. Rather than make a point, some people prefer to haul insults around. Sanusi commented on the same thing recently. Those who have nothing meaningful to say are best at it.

If only they had invested the loot in Nigeria, we would have been miles ahead of where we are now. Nobody would have been talking about subsidy or power failure.

I wonder how many times you see govt officials line up in bank or go to the market to buy garri. Most of them have Mikano silent generators which run on diesel (Diesel which is supplied directly to their homes). Some of them have fuel stations and others have friends who have fuel stations.

Here's where it hurts: Shut down oil production and Obama, Cameron et al will come knocking at our doors. How labor can achieve that is a subject for another discussion. Focus is key.

Abacha never stole but his sons have access to loot stashed away in foreign accounts by some ghost!

@cogitoErgo, No.

I mean not all northerners support Boko haram. There are still a few who don't share the same ideology. Though I can't place a bet on it. I may be terribly wrong.

The support boko haram gets in the north is still hazy to me.

Very shameful, I tell ya! This is what decades of bad governance has caused us. Hope we can gather the will to change for better.

Ok tpia@, what I mean is if these killings continue unchecked, people will be forced to migrate until they form into conglomerates of people with the same ideologies. By the time this happens, we will clearly see who the boko harams are, those in the north against boko haram, and whatever fragments there are in the south etc. This will be shown by the frontlines of attack between the different groups etc.

As the killings continue, the migration pattern will eventually define the fault lines.

Whoever remains alive among the southerners should start heading south now. The police / army has failed to protect you so why take the risk?

Most Nairalanders are for subsidy removal but they argue:

1. Refineries must be built first to reduce / stop importation
2. Subsidy removal should be phased.
3. Cost of governance must be reduced.
4. Other infrastructure like rails, good road network and power must be in place.

I think that's the most common position here. But for me, I want it removed NOW! A poll was conducted on this sometime ago. You may search 4 the thread.

Even Santa claus will not build a refinery in 9ja with subsidy in place.

The planned protest can be described as visionless activism.

If you put your protest hopes on NLC / TUC, you are on a long thing! I bet you even the labor leaders have better knowledge and they covertly support the move. They just have to make some noise in order to save face and keep public confidence.

Labor should be fighting for better wages, improved working conditions and a fair reward system that bridges the gap between the political class and the common man.

It's normal. A prophet has no honor in his own home.

NLC doesn't care about the masses. They only care about their pockets. If u want to target the FG, leave out markets, banks, PHCN, etc and shut down oil facilities plus maybe airports and seaports.

The whole world knows a good policy when they see one. . . Except of course the Nigerians for whom the policy is made!

A sensible country will not subsidize a commodity that can easily be exported out of their region. We are foolish to subsidize for the entire West Africa and it's not easy to deal with that because there is a natural flow created by price gradient. Putting more restrictions to the flow will only increase customs "bribe fees" or perhaps the business will be left in the hands of customs officials. Best thing is to remove the gradient and then make everyone work for their money. Do you know that commodity prices in are fairly the same in EU member countries? Why is that? Will Spain subsidize a commodity that can easily be taken to France where the same commodity is not subsidized? Think. Regional economics matters alot especially where cross-border trade agreements apply. Every one is pushing for regional integration and we must not remain in a silo.

I have always had a different idealogy to the control of corruption. Man is inherently corrupt. There is corruption in USA, Spain, Nigeria and everywhere. The difference is the control measures in place in these different places. Until we begin to make corruption unprofitable, we cannot suceed in the fight against it. The moment you create an avenue for it to thrive, IT WILL THRIVE. Subsidy is an open invitation for corruption to thrive in the downstream petroleum sector.

They will lose not gain because refineries WILL finally thrive in Nigeria. You know what that means.

Summary: My economic brain = Sanusi's economic brain

Perfect explanation of all I've been preaching. Sigh.


Errr. . . OP, pls where's d source

@nuclearboy, I am one person who can look at things from many different perspectives and respect intelligent contributions even when at variance with my stance. As he said, the key issue is not about subsidy removal. Those educated enough know it is a huge waste. Those on the street don't know that. The main point he has brought to the fore is the great divide between the political class and the masses. We should think of ways to solve that problem.

My view is that subsidy and expensive governance are 2 totally different problems. Subsidy removal is not "a silver bullet" to solve ALL our problems as Sanusi said but it is definitely an easier path for the FG to take. I don't see why we should keep postponing it for later. On the other hand, our expensive government needs to be checked and I think that's where we should direct the protests to.

@MarcAnthon, that was a brilliant post.

Can I join the party?

Bayelsa is a Hausa / Fulani state. Geographically it's in the SS but politically it is North North.

Mu che che che che (Copyright Lasinoh).

Lastpage has said it all. NLC / TUC are not sincere. They are fighting for their bellies. The masses will get killed, sweat and starve while they will receive presidential treatment.

SNG ---> Bakare ---> CPC. Nuff said.

Any strike without PENGASSAN and NUPENG is a strike against the masses and not against the government.

Simple solution: Leave the north for them and relocate down south. Let's begin to plan a peaceful separation.

I wish they could read this and take an action like this. It would be an easy way to wiggle out of the current situation unscathed.