₦airaland Forum

@OAM4J: Happy birthday brother

Gbawe:
No. you are too sensitive. Most contributors on Nairaland are diasporans. That in itself is not a bad thing . What I resent is the advocation of measures that will bring untold misery to ordinary Nigerians that most who are vocal here will be totally insulated from and would automatically escape. We can gain our Country back ,if we really want it, without armed conflict. We are simply not united enough to handle the fallout from sectarian violence. Even if we hate each other beyond redemption then we are still better off acting together to secure what we all want than butchering ourselves when the balkanised nations that arises may still be led by the despots who created the Nigeria we all wanted to get away from. If we split violently, there is a good chance that the 'fittest' (IBB, OBJ et al) would survive and be in charge. We would all then be back to square one. If there is to be any revolution at all, then let it be , 100%, a people's revolution that would see every region led by the best they have available otherwise anything else is a waste of lives, resources and time.

All of this addresses why you think a violent split is undesirable. But that doesn't mean it is impossible. Who knows what the chance of it might be? I certainly don't. But I think that it makes sense to prepare for both (well, all) outcomes. Your idea of a "people's revolution" is certainly nice, but imo less plausible than a violent split. That is just not the nature of Nigerians, to all come together as one.

All I am saying is let's be prepared, regardless of what happens.

You even strengthen your hand for a peaceful dissolution (plan A) if everyone knows you have a plan B.

Gbawe, I assume that that comment is directed at me. My question is, how are you so sure that in the event that Nigeria dissolves, everything can be settled without any violence?

Even if one only believes that there is a 10% chance of the unsavory outcome, does it not make sense to prepare? If not, then why?

Lagos is less indebted than Italy, at least. Isn't Italy at 150% of GDP, or something insane like that? 



[size=1pt](in case you cannot tell, I'm being sarcastic, and poking fun at those who make a big deal about Lagos's debt)[/size]

BootyOnMe is frikking hilarious

Weird as hell, but quite a character.

Damn!

That is a monster.

Why must every governor of Kogi be Igala?

CyberG:
ΣW (Work Done) = 0! Maybe no, ΣW = -Q (Q is an infinite number)

This made me laugh, for some reason

You are a nerd, like me

@paragonpro: Think of Shenzhen or Jebel. Isn't just buying and selling

paragonpro:
I am not in support of any free trade zone. Trade zones happens naturally as a result of being naturally situated between oriental producers and European consumers, that is why the middle east had been the center of trade for centuries.

We should be talking of free industrial zone or free agricultural zone. All what these free trade zones will do is increase importation, thereby worsening our unemployment situation and weakening our naira further.

Omo read the details regarding the FTZ

India is not much better than Nigeria, if it at all (at least in a wealth sense.)

China is, but India is not.

[quote author=Jenifa_ link=topic=797360.msg9496144#msg9496144 date=1320634022]To me, the parents are just bitter. The son was going to die anyway. Why do they have to kill another woman's job to avenge for that?[/quote]For real?

What would you do if that was your child dying and the help you hired was just shouting for Jesus?

We shall see if the deadline is met.

on NOVEMBER 7, 2011 · in NEWS

By Monsur Olowoopejo

LAGOS – THE Federal Government, weekend, assured Nigerians that plans had been concluded to ensure that the Lekki Free Trade Zone, LFTZ commences full operation before 2013.

Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga gave the assurance, during an inspection tour of ongoing construction at the LFTZ in Lagos.

He said: “Federal Government is more interested in the technology that would be brought into the country through the zone, jobs that would be made available when the zone commences operation and investments that will come with the free trade zone.

“We want to increase our yearly earning and augment our foreign reserve. Free trade zone is one major channel to achieve these easily.”

The minister noted that the Federal Government was ready to work with Lagos State Government, the Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Company, CCECC and Lekki Free Trade Zone Development Company, LFTZDC, to ensure that it becomes operational before the end of 2012.

Aganga said the Federal Government was aware of some of the challenges, adding: “We have since commenced activities to ensure that these challenges are quickly addressed before the completion of the construction works at the zone.”

The minister said he would visit Republic of China to further discuss the interest of the free trade zone with the Chinese Minister of Commerce, adding that of the 19 trade zones being handled by China, the Lagos Free Trade zone was the biggest with over 10,000 hectares of land.

Speaking earlier, Deputy Managing Director of LFTZDC, Mr. Adeyemo Thompson, said some of the challenges facing the zone were off-shore banking, power supply, unavailability of nexus of roads from the zone to other parts of the state among others.

On the numbers of companies, which had shown interest in the zone, Thompson said nine new companies had also signified their interest in the zone.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/11/lekki-free-trade-zone-ready-next-year-fg/

So to summarize. . . buy a gun for yourself or a family member this Christmas (or Eid, or whatever other religious holiday is appropriate.)

Spend some time learning how to use it.

Someone here brought up ECOWAS or something. That is about as useful for self-defense (and possibly other purposes) as a toothpick.

Only thing that is respected in Africa is violence. So very important to be able to produce this.

In a perfect world, yes. But the world is not a perfect place.

You need to have plan A and plan B.

Anyway, I have said what I had to say. Buy a gun, and learn how to use it. Nothing more nothing less.

A word is enough for the wise. By my estimate you have roughly 3 or 4 years to prepare.

That is plenty of time if you start now.

There is nothing more that needs to be said.

Hope for the best, but be prepared for the worst.

^-- cosign

Imo, buy yourself a gun, and learn how to use it.

I know that my pops and uncles have one. I don't have one myself, but if I move to Nigeria permanently I'll definitely invest in one.

An armed citizenry is a safe and protected citizenry.

If I had my way, every Yoruba man above the age of 18 would have 6+ months of mandatory military training.

^-- Agreed. The problem is actually larger than doctors and medical school education. The entire education system probably needs to be revamped. . . isn't as if I'm trying to pick on doctors alone.

Getting a job at BigLaw is pretty hard, though. It isn't something your typical law school graduate gets.

So that isn't a valid comparison, if you are trying to compare against typical doctor salaries.

Of what relevance is that? What is your point? If you have no point, then keep it moving.

All in all, you need to calm down.

Who are you arguing with? As the post you quoted but evidently didn't read states, I'm not opposed to doctors (or anyone else, for that matter) leaving. Assuming they've paid back money one way or another.

*shrug*

Like I said, I view it as a business. It isn't by force for the government to hire every doctor who wants a government job.

And if private practice doesn't pay you enough, then unfortunate, but it is what it is.

Nobody owes anyone else a living in Nigeria, not to talk of doctors specifically.

Blackteeth:
I thought man is king of all a creatures on earth.

Heh

Think again. If you are unfortunate enough to meet a bear in the forest, a cougar or a lion, they will rudely disabuse you of that notion.

Only thing that makes us "king" is weapons and technology.

@OP: Interesting article.

Guns are pretty cheap.

And probably an excellent investment going forward in Nigeria.

^-- Good move by Joburg.

My position is fairly simple.

A) I don't want to sink massive amounts of money in subsidizing someone to be a doc only for them to leave. And this isn't really about doctors either specifically, it applies to almost any field. I'm anti massive university subsidies, period (with a few exceptions.)
B) However, if they've "paid back" (either explicitly or implicitly) the money used, then they are free to do whatever they like. Private practice in Nigeria (where I guess they'll be able to make a lot more money), go to Saudi, Yankee, etc.
C) I believe that if doctors feel that they are underpaid in Nigeria, they should be free to raise their rates if in private practice, or leave public service for private practice assuming condition B is met.
D) I don't believe in essential public workers striking (i.e., doctors working for the government.)

Basically, both sides should view it as a business. Nobody should be really doing favors for anyone else (except for D).

I'm not anti-doctor, anti-people-making-as-money-as-they-can-earn (I'm essentially a free market guy).

I don't view doctors as slaves or people who must serve the greater good (again, subject to condition D).

And FWIW, my little sister plans on being a doctor, and my cousin is a dentist in Lagos right now.

lagcity:
^^^^^

ok i understand u r being honest with yourself. good. to answer your question: No, i won't trust my incompetent cousin to run my business. But since we're being honest and blunt here, the westerners and easterners haven't exactly been shining stars, either. they haven't really impressed with the way they are running their regions. do you disagree? everything is just mediocre upon failure, really. there are only few exceptions.

let's say lack of education, religious and feudal tendencies hold the North down, then what is the excuse of the Southerner? what's holding us down? . . . and pls don't say the Northerners

I am not saying that southern Nigerian governors have been amazing. They are probably C or Ds on average. But the northern governors have been Fs.

If I have only C, D and F students to chose from to hire for a job, I'll pick the C students.

It is disingenuous to pretend that just because C and F are both unimpressive, they are equally bad.

Segun Oni as bad as he was, Alao Akala, Gbenga Daniel would all be amongst the best governors in the North. After all, did Daniel at least not perform during his first 4 years?

Which of these Northern governors can be said to have performed since 1999? Sule Lamido, and who else?

Lagcity, I don't have time to be politically correct, nice and all these things. Maybe if I were a politician myself I'd have to. But since I'm just an ordinary guy, I can afford to talk honestly and bluntly.

Let me ask you two questions. What sense would it make for anyone to want someone from the worst-run part of the country to run the whole thing?

Do you invite your cousin who cannot run his household to manage your property or business?

Bliss4lyfe, Islamization is not the only threat. Incompetence and greed is another. David Mark is the type of guy who will block electricity in Nigeria unless he gets to be the one controlling it. He is a dude only there to get rich and make himself happy, not to make Nigeria a better place.

You need guys who don't view politics just as way to make themselves rich. Guys who have vision. Guys who can build roads, build institutions, build society. The only thing David Mark can do is to feed his stomach.