₦airaland Forum

Referring to Yoruba as a "tribe" sounds dumb. Probably 40 million of us in Nigeria. If we are a tribe, then so are the Irish, Scots, French, Germans, Italians etc.

Ethnic group is the correct term, I think.

#1 and #2 are pretty annoying.

#1 has only happened to me once. I was surprised and ended up buying for her and her friends. But if it happens again, I'll just keep it moving. . . too many beautiful women in the world to get involved with one showing ugly traits like that.

I'm interested in socializing, not in spending money on some chick I don't even know.

With that said, I have no problems buying the occasional drink for people I do know.

#10 is also a blower. Wth are you doing texting in the club? Lol do that sh1t when you get home.

#6 has really screwed me a few times. You meet two girls at a club together, things are going well with one, but then the friend she came with breaks it up. SOOOOO annoying! This is why it is critical to go clubbing with a wingman.

^-- Very informative post. Thanks!

Astonishing to me that anyone can celebrate a man who nearly destroyed the country. Did this guy actually live in the 90s? It was a lost decade for Nigeria. . .

on JUNE 17, 2011 · in VIEWPOINT

ON June 8,1997, one of Nigeria’s erstwhile Heads of State and military chief, General Sani Abacha, passed away in Abuja, the nation’s capital. General Abacha passed on whilst still in office as Head of State. The place of Gen. Abacha in Nigeria’s military and democratic history can scarcely be over-emphasized. He was one Nigeria’s finest military officers.

He was immensely popular and highly respected among his peers in the military and among the civilian populace.

General Abacha came into national prominence in the heady days of the second democratic republicanism in Nigeria which spanned from October 1, 1979 to December 30, 1983. It was General Abacha, then a Brigadier-General, who announced the military take-over of the reins of power from the civilians. It was this coup which brought the regime of Major-Generals Muhammadu Buhari and Tunde Idiagbor to being.

This military putsch was most celebrated and welcomed across the country. The civilian-to-civilian elections had just taken place. The elections were marred by a lot of irregularities. The elections were massively rigged. There were cases of ballot box snatching, illegal thump-printing of ballot boxes, and declaration of false results and outright manipulation of electoral results.

Victors in the elections were turned into losers in broad daylight. Verdict ’83 became magic ’83. Hell was let loose. There was arson, murder, looting, rampage and brigandage, especially in the Western part of the country. The country was literally at the edge of the precipice. Then the military struck. Abacha was the harbinger of this news. The politicians were all sent packing.

The military, with Buhari and Idiagbon as the helmsmen, held sway. When Buhari and Idiagbon derailed from the charted course, it was again General Abacha who announced their removal and the constitution of the Armed Force Ruling Council with General Ibrahim Badamasi Babahgida, IBB, as the military president.

General Abacha played a key role in saving Nigeria from ruin. He came to the rescue of Nigerians together with other military officers to truncate the prevailing political, economic and social rot and decay on the side of the people and to halt the descent of the Buhari-Idiagbon regime to autarchy.

Whilst the Babahigda government mooted the idea of return to civilian rule, General Abacha stood by that resolve and respected the wishes of generality of Nigerians for a quick return to democratic republicanism. General Abacha played a key role as the Chief of Army Staff and later Chairman Joint Chief of Staff. He helped immensely to stabilize the Babangida administration, especially at its inception.

As Chief of Army Staff, General Abacha introduced a lot of reform in the army. The military were carried along in the government. During his tenure as Chief of Army Staff and later as Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, a lot of reforms were introduced in the military as an institution. Many barracks, office blocks and senior staff quarters were established across the military formations in the country. The welfare of the military men and their families were enhanced.

The military began to have a sense of belonging and well-being. General Abacha contributed greatly to the restoration of the lost glory of the military in Nigeria.

Even when the Babangida regime was being roundly castigated, General Abacha kept faith with the government and the Nigerian people. After the June 12 debacle and its attendant hullaballoo and political log jam, General Abacha did not lose faith in the Nigerian people.

When General Babangida stepped aside, General Abacha agreed to stay on to help to bring stability, credibility and a sense of purpose to the Ernest Shonekan-led Interim National Government,ING.

There is no gainsaying the fact that General Abacha played a major role in giving the ING a distinctive feature of credibility and acceptance among the wide spectrum of the Nigeria political class and the international community.

It was due mainly to General Abacha’s sagacity, acumen and professionalism that Nigeria was able to weather the storm of the June 12 political commotion. Abacha acted as a mediator between the civilian populace and the political class on the one hand and the military on the other hand.

Perhaps, at no better time than when the storm of the cancellation of the 1993 presidential election was raging did General Abacha show the great stuff he was made of and his statesman-like leadership and dexterity. In a sense, Nigeria remained an indestructible, corporate entity after June 12, thanks to General Abacha’s mature leadership, great skills and prodigious sense of judgment.

As the Shonekan-led ING was subjected to a barrage of criticisms, nationally and internationally, for its lethargy and lack of direction, General Abacha was the Moses who led Nigerians out of the bridge and an uncertain and bleak future. He took the driver’s seat from Shonekan, infused a sense of direction and business to governance and halted the palpable drift to hopelessness.

As Head of State, General Abacha assembled a wonderful cabinet of experienced men and women from the political class. He also enlisted the services of technocrats. His cabinet was a rich blend of the old and young, the politician and the statesmen, the captains of industry and the bureaucrats. General Abacha tried to assuage the feeling of the political class and the section of the country who felt short-changed by the annulment of the June 12, 1993 election.

His government reached out to all shades of opinion in the country in order to move the country forward.
General Abacha believed so much in deliberation and discussion with the political class on the way forward for the country. He set up a Constitution Review Committee. He also constituted the Constituent Assembly. This Assembly attracted a wide array of both old-breed and new-breed politicians.

The Constituent Assembly brain-stormed and deliberated extensively on democracy in Nigeria. It was in the course of the deliberations at the Constituent Assembly that the idea of the six geo-political zone structure which later represented the basis for zoning and geographical spread in the post-1999 political parties and the Federal Government.

During the Abacha regime, many political parties and associations flourished without let or hindrance. Like-minded politicians held meetings freely and formed a plethora of associations. After the Constituent Assembly, Abacha’s government democratised the local government by conducting peaceful and credible elections of councilors and chairmen. Abacha’s government also conducted House of Assembly and National Assembly elections in the country.

Abacha was so popular that politicians who were eyeing the presidency dropped their ambition and openly called on him to continue his good works. All the political parties adopted him as their presidential candidate. Rallies and conferences were held to persuade Abacha to run for the presidential election.

General Sani Abacha’s legacies are there for all to see. His legacies cannot be obliterated. This great son of Nigeria, nay Africa, deserves the nation’s respect and honour. As a worthy leader and compatriot, Abacha’s place in the Nigeria political pantheon should be assured. This great leader’s place in Nigeria’s history cannot be denied.

As we mark the 13th anniversary of General Abacha’s departure from planet earth, it behoves all men of goodwill and history to immortalize this distinguished Nigerian, selfless leader, fine officer, great reconciliator and consummated administrator.

Sleep on, fearless General, for the labours of our past heroes shall indeed not be in vain. And their memories shall be evergreen. Surely General Abacha’s good works keep his memory well alive.

Mr. OLIVER OKPALA, a political analyst, wrote from Abuja.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/06/sani-abacha-legacy-of-a-great-leader/

I don't really understand the significance of this project, but $250 million in investment is very much welcome.

NIGERIAN may have moved closer to the realization of the ideals of the Local Content policy with the commencement of partnership between an indigenous Oil and Gas logistics provider, LADOL and Korean-based Samsung company, in the establishment of an integration facility in the country.

The $250 million dollars Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) platform, is expected to blaze the trail as first of its kind Africa in Greenfield project development in the region’s Oil and Gas industry.

The Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics base (LADOL)where the project is to be sited, is said to be the only indigenous logistics services provider in the country, strategically located off the Apapa seaports in Lagos.

The partnership was set in motion during the week with the two organizations did a joint presentation of what the project involves, to the admiration of top officials of the Nigerian Content Development and monitoring Board (NCDMB), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), as well as representatives of the International Oil Companies (IOCs).

NPA’s General Manager, Ports Planning, Mr. Sunny Nwobi represented the managing Director, Omar Suleiman; and accompanied by the GM Western Zone, Mr.Mohammed D. Bulangu; the General Manager, Corporate Affairs Chief Michael Ajayi; and the Port manager of Apapa Ports Complex, Mr. Joshua Asanga.

The Local Content board was similarly led by Engineer Taiwo Elegba who represented the Executive secretary, Eng, Ernest Nwakpa. In attendance also were Engnrs, Ikpomnwonsa Oviasu, and Okorie Chijoke.

Chairman of LADOL, Mr. Ladi Jadesimi, who conducted the guests round the facilities prior to the presentations, said the partnership had become necessary in order to set the pace for future building of FPSO facilities to serve the country and beyond.

According to him, no country in Africa for now, has the facility to integrate the project, adding that if Nigeria embarks on it now, “what it means is that all the jobs, all the foreign exchange, trainings for the FPSO, will now flow to Nigeria, rather than the trend continuing with the capital flight that goes with it”.

Jadesimi noted that up till now, such structures were still being built and floated abroad, adding that with the commencement of the project, only the shelf will now be transported to Nigeria where all the facilities will be fabricated and installed locally.

He pointed out that by so doing, more than half of the entire cost will now be expended in Nigeria with all the ancillary benefits of jobs creation, technology transfer and trainings.

Jadesimi also pointed out that in terms of benefits to Nigeria as a Free Zone, “when they bring in the shelf and build –in all the fabrications in Nigeria, if the facility is to leave for the offshore located within the country, customs duties will be paid and this runs into billion of naira. On the other hand, no duty is paid if the facility is taken to an offshore base outside of the country”.

Also speaking on the project, leader of the Samsung Korea team, Mr. Harris Lee, said the project was targeted at making Nigeria the central hub for Oil and Gas engineering and fabrication in the West-African sub region.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/06/nigerian-korean-firms-to-build-250million-fpso-platform/

[quote author=alj_harem link=topic=692105.msg8534228#msg8534228 date=1308277923]i perfer oranges as well

we kanuris have alot in common with the igbos[/quote]

bashr4:
infact the yorubas have already claimed the igalas imagine so we igbos need to move fast and at least claim the idoma people before the  south west strikes again

I don't think we are claiming Igala. But there are (recent) historical connections. Even our languages (Yoruba and Igala) are grouped in the same family (Yoruboid).

Watch this Igala music video for example:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVmTaWi_O1M&feature=related

Jbenue:
My main point is Minority tribes should be respected in their own right and on their own merits not as extensions of H.I.Y. last time i checked there were over 250 tribes in the country, but due to inflation of the BIG 3 and their selfish interest the country has been left to rot. The time we respect all nationalities regardless of percieved size is the time naija can move forward otherwise forget about it.

I agree with most of the sentiment of this post.

bashr4:
thats not true , your point is that your called northerners and we are trying to point out to you that you made yourselves northerners so stop blaming the big three, its up to your elders to choose where you want to belong and so far it seems they have unconditional love for the north

They've tried repeatedly to carve out their own identity throughout Nigerian history. North Central zone, Gideon Orkar coup in 1990s, etc, etc.

Long live the middle belt

Respect the constitution and let an indigene of Lagos State be chosen to represent it.

Aganga can represent Edo State.

If the US were to launch a strike, it'd be against some boko haram types in the north. I don't really think any of the other groups in Nigeria are anti-American. So no real reason for beef.

But yeah, they'd conquer the entire country in under 3 hours if they wanted to

Jbenue:
In my life I have never come across an idoma man with an igbo name, this is what i hate about the 3 headed monster always tryin to possess everything, ohhhhh we are igbo slaves, no we are hausas wannabees, my gracious you guys are the cancer of africa. Everything that is wrong with nigeria at the moment is due to the 3 headed monster igbo man, hausa man and yoruba man. Pathetic bunch.

hehe

[quote author=Kilode?! link=topic=690827.msg8533442#msg8533442 date=1308262982]@ekt_bear, whats your opinion about this report? I listened to it on NPR yesterday and I was kinda ambivalent.

On one hand I want us to encourage investors including chinese ones, while on the other, I do not want us to encourage this importation of cheap finished consumer goods, especially when they are not high tech or anything.

We sure can produce cheap backpacks and good textiles, heck, we were producing good textiles at Ado Ekiti, Kano, Lagos and other textile hubs before the Military totally messed our development up.


This guys comment on the NPR site cracked me up though;[/quote]I genuinely believe that with electricity, Nigeria can compete with anywhere in the world when it comes to certain types of light manufacturing. That to me seems the main structural disadvantage we have.

I'm skeptical of the report. It is to their advantage to make it look as if they are struggling when the truth might be the opposite. I doubt anyone doing well would want to be interviewed.

Mexico and the Philippines are better off, I think. Pakistan, not so sure.

Being debt-free isn't necessarily always good.

^-- nope, ekiti

hehe

https://www.nigerianbestforum.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/David-Mark-2.jpg

What is wrong with destroying your enemy by simply destroying your enemy?

Tribune and the out of power bad belle folk have no power to remove Tinubu

Overall, sounds like a recipe for disaster, your suggested strategies

^-- So you think that this $50,000 need-based scholarship is the same as the merit-based one he is doing in Nigeria?

Possible that the newspaper botched it.

But I don't think that $50k is enough to pay a year's worth of tuition for 4 foreign engineering students (not sure what average tuition is, but I'd guess north of $20k/year for foreign students.)

EDIT: Though rereading the newspaper writeup, it says "shortlisted" rather than "awarded." So maybe only one will get it at the end of the day, and this $50k figure you propose is the true #? I don't know.

Terminology is important. And I don't much care whether anyone questions my "motives" or not. I don't post to please anyone but myself.

Is it not possible to have both be a senator and "sit" on the goldmine?

Senate salary isn't small, either

From a few years ago, but I found this kind of interesting:

[b]HAVANA | Mon Jan 21, 2008 3:29pm EST
(Reuters) - Yoruba gods protect ailing Fidel Castro from witchcraft and want to see him continue leading Cuba, the first priest of the Santeria religion to be elected to parliament said on Monday.

"Olodumare says he is the one that should be there and so he is untouchable," said Antonio Castaneda, a babalawo (priest) in the religion slaves brought to colonial Cuba from Nigeria.

Hurricanes may batter Cuba this year, but Castro's health will not break, according to the orishas (deities), he said.

The 614-seat National Assembly elected on Sunday must approve Cuba's top leadership at its first session on February 24, when Cubans will learn whether Castro will retire as head of state.

Castro, 81, has not appeared in public since stomach surgery for an undisclosed illness forced him to hand over power temporarily to his brother almost 18 month ago.

Santeria followers have believed their gods were on Fidel Castro's side ever since a white dove landed on his shoulder during a victory speech in Havana after his 1959 revolution.

Castaneda, who played the sax at Havana's famed Tropicana cabaret for 30 years, never joined Cuba's Communist Party, but considers himself a "revolutionary." He praised Cuba's social safety net despite widespread economic hardships Cubans face.

He said 60 percent of Cubans believe in Santeria and he can give them a voice in the National Assembly. Castaneda won a seat as president of the Yoruba Cultural Association of Cuba, which is close to the government.

The orishas augur a good year for Cuba, the babalawo said. "If Cuba marches ahead, so too does the Comandante," he said.[/b]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2008/01/21/us-cuba-castro-priest-idUSN2141852320080121

I think I need to pay a visit to this Cuba place

^-- Elaborate on your reasoning?

Funny, article in Slate came out recently arguing in favor of renting over home ownership:

http://www.slate.com/id/2295851/

In the past I had the idea that owning a home is always better.

manny4life:
This is not about the lion share manufactured locally, but the thought process and quality standards from where it's manufactured. Like some said about the laptop example, that is a good example, for instance Dell buys chips from Intel, OS from Microsoft but does not mean the screen are locally manufactured, as well as other hardware components as well. Most them are imported but Dell Laptops will say manufactured in the U.S.A.  Another example, go to Boeing Website, their commercial airplane abt 200,000+ parts come from about 130+ countries. Does that mean that the airplane wasn't built in the U.S.? Yes it was even though it's engines are provided by GE, but other c components are sourced from other manufacturers around the world and still makes it a U.S. company built plane.

Assembled in location X is different from manufactured in location X, is all I am saying. There is a distinction between the two. I think we can all agree on that.

Other stuff his company is doing in the local community:

http://www.chester-engineers.com/social-responsibility

Sounds like a swell guy. I'm glad he hasn't forgotten Nigeria despite having been abroad for so long.

Chief Executive of Chester Engineering, United States Mr. Bob Agbede has offered $50 million scholarship to best graduating engineering students in Nigeria.
The scholarship will be spread over the next 10 years and recipients would be free to pursue Master’s degrees in engineering in any US university.
The scholarship will be administered by the Institute of Directors (IOD), Nigeria.
Agbede said the gesture was his way of thanking God for his life and giving back to the society.
Four students from the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and University of Lagos (UNILAG), who had grade point averages of 4.12 and above, have been shortlisted for consideration for the scholarship.

http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/news/9522-man-gives-50m-scholarship-to-graduates.html

Nice gesture!

An excellent idea.

Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, has has expressed his support for the idea of former Central Bank governor, Chukwuma Soludo, on the adoption of schools by wealthy individuals in the communities.

Meeting formally for the first time since both men slugged it out in the bitterly contested 2010 Anambra governorship election won by him, Mr Obi agreed with Mr Soludo's idea and expressed his readiness to encourage wealthy Anambra people to adopt schools in their communities as a way of giving back to society what they have gained.

The occasion was the launch of the biography of Ben Nwazojie (SAN), held to commemorate the 10th year of the death of the jurist and the launch of the Ben Nwazojie Foundation at the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The guest speaker, Charles Soludo, said wealthy people in the society should adopt schools in their localities instead of lavishing their wealth on inanities.

But Mr Obi, whose friendship with Mr Soludo had been strained by the latter's energetic campaign to win the 2010 elections, commended the idea as a good one.

"The Anambra State government would quickly devise a legal and conceptual framework on how the adoption would take place and send letters to wealthy people from Anambra to adopt schools," Mr Obi said.

In the absence of any defined framework yet, the governor said that the adoption would entail the adopter taking care of the schools, making sure they are in good shape, and providing other services that might be necessary.

"It is infinitely better for humanity and more satisfying to people when they deploy their wealth to things that will add value to the state, including education, rather than deploy them for epicurean indulgence," Mr Obi said.


http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5716503-146/story.csp