₦airaland Forum

In Atiku's defense, you can probably say that he started a University in Yola, ABTI because he understands the value of a good education. Otherwise, we are bound to ask him what he did when he was the VP of Nigeria for a whole 8 years.

HOWEVER, knowing the kind of person OBJ is, even if Atiku had good intentions for our educational sector, do you think OBJ would have listened to his advice? If OBJ had other plans, will he not have thrown Atiku's suggestions away? Furthermore, we all know that the VP position is only a 'figurehead' position - that of a spare tyre. Atiku could not have done ANYTHING, even if he wished to do something.

I am not an Atiku apologist, neither am i canvassing for him. As far as i am concerned, i think he and all other politicians are crooks and opportunists. However, forget the man but agree with his statement. He is basically confessing what we all know, pray and hope for.

Even though the devil is the devil, he still knows and confesses that God is God. Even though Atiku did nothing for education, he still knows its value!

Silly Man

FRA:
I be lawyer ooo, but I find the discussions very educative. Its not easy working with technical people in the telecoms industry. You guys come up with all these acronyms and abbreviations that I think are merely meant to confuse those of us who work in the support services

Hahahahaha. Bros, we are not out to confuse anyone. I think its just a way of shortening things and having a universal accronym that all can understand. If an Ericsson guy is talking to a Huawei guy or an Alcatel lady, GPRS is GPRS, SDH is SDH, GSM is GSM. It also transcends some languages. Whether you speak spanish or french or german, once you mention VAS or WiMAX or HSDPA, they mostly know what you are talking about!

Eventually, whether you are technical or not, with time you begin to understand these abbreviations. Funny enough some people actually begin to understand what you are talking about without knowing the full meaning of the abbreviation. Would you believe that some in Nigeria, everyone mentions GSM - but i am sure millions do not know its full meaning.

naijasaba:
You mean that Abacha's son is up for
presidency?wonder will never end.
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
make una fasten una beltoooooooooo

Nope, not for presidency. Maybe a governorship, senetorial or house of reps. Who go give am chance for presidency?

freezy:
Personally, I think he was kinda preaching all the peeps to be wary of. I've been reading Dr Abati's articles for over fifteen years, but frankly, I think he's a lil' outta line on this one. He's getting outta touch with time. He refusing to accept changes that are bound to happen. How could he cheapen "Lagimo" that bad? I'm sure he never bothered to listen to the verses. I think he has a mind set bout our artistes and this generation. . .

In other words, Abati is getting old and should stick to his older generation music.

MY GOD. Banky W's article is FLAWLESS. The guy can spit grammar. I am an avid reader of Dr Abati's articles, but this guy has just thrown the gauntlet down. If Dr Abati does not reply, wahala dey o!

asha 80:
When nigerians become serious on what to do with nigeria.

Good point. This however, may take a very very long time.

I just read in the papers that Ibori is being made an elder in PDP (One day, he will return to a position of power). Abachas son is set to contest in 2011. How can things change when we will still have the same people ruling over us? What new things do they have to offer us? When they were in power, did they give the education sector any recognition? These are the kind of questions we need to ask ourselves to give an indication of when we will be out of the wilderness.

What is even more annoying is the fact that Yar' Adua was/is an academic himself. How he cannot recognize his former colleagues by giving them what they ask for is bad, very bad. Even if he cant give them what they want, give them something close to it. It just shows us that maybe when he was a lecturer himself, he did not believe in what he was doing, i.e. he did not believe in the importance of education.

I agree with all the posts alluding to the adoption of Huawei nodes, due to the price war with Ericsson. It was even said sometimes in MTN that the equipment Huawei provided was so similar to that of Ericsson, that you could just take off the Ericsson label and put Huawei on it - yet, Ericsson prices were so steep.

However, it is my understanding that NSN is presently employing people to work in their Nigeria office (Adeola Odeku) due to their 'growing' market in Nigeria/West-Africa. Is it true that they are in agreement with Etisalat to provide them with equipment and services? In fact, WHO PROVIDES ETISALAT WITH THEIR EQUIPMENT? SAME WITH JIM OVIA'S VISAFONE? (i hear that they are doing very well)

Apart from that, although not relevant to this thread, i hear that NSN is planning to buy Nortel - to expand their reach into the America's, where Nortel used to operate.

Dude, i have been changing dollars, pounds and euro's in Federal Palace and Eko Meridien for years and i can say that the mallams there are quite honest - although i have build up some rapport with them. VI, being the area in Lagos concentrated with expats and foreigners, is an ideal place to change money with very little hassles

I would suggest that you go there - try one of the hotels there, collect the mallams number and move to another hotel. Compare the rates and go with the one you feel is better for you. Once you have their phone numbers, you can also start building your own rapport. Eventually, you will find out that you can even call them from Ikeja, when you need to change money urgently, and they will come over to meet you - instead of you going to meet them.

Sorry, forgot to add the link. Read the info on page 8 (Reporting Duties) point 20. However, i would suggest you read the WHOLE document very well.

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/applicationforms/pbs/Tier4migrantguidance.pdf

She was refused the visa at first and then she appealed and got the visa. This already means that her name is flagged off as someone that was INITIALLY REFUSED the visa. That means that even if she gets to the immigration desk at any point of entry, she is liable to be questioned as to why she was initially refused the visa, even if it was due to no fault of hers. This has happened to me.

Her trying to defer this visa now (which is impossible) will only make things worse for her. Even asking at the embassy if its possible can get her into more problems. Best thing for her is to travel when she is supposed to travel. Whether she just got married or not is unimportant. I know couples that have gotten married and a few weeks after, one of them has had to leave to return to school. Otherwise, if she feels that she cannot leave her husband so soon etc etc, she should be prepared to forfeit that visa.

These Brits have a new rule now, which states that if a student does not appear in the first few weeks of study, the school should notify the home office and that students visa will be cancelled or something. Its one of these new Tier 1 or 2 requirements, where you need so be 'sponsored' by a school before you can get a visa. If you are then not going to use this particular visa due to your wanting to defer your admission, you would have to go through the same process again when you want to reapply - and in reapplying, you are never sure of whether you will secure that visa again.

My advice? Just use the visa you have on your passport NOW.

AjanleKoko:
You may have noticed I didn't mention Ericsson, because they are working directly for the carriers, and I'm not sure they recruit freshers per se. You might find the other guys a bit easier to access.

@AjanleKoko - man, you know your stuff. Thumbs up. Meanwhile, you forgot to mention Huawei and NokiaSiemens. These guys are slowly gaining ground in the struggle for part of the operators networks. Although Ericsson is still number 1 in terms of market share, they are struggling to keep it that way

@texazzpete: You are spot on with your analysis. I completely agree with it. The lecturers are not only fighting for themselves, but for the students and the future of the educational sector in Nigeria. I dont know whether it bothers people that Nigerian Universities are not even among the top schools in Africa. The mere fact that Nigerians (esp those in power) are even sending their kids to GHANA should inform us that there is a problem.
Gone are the days when Ghanaians used to run to Nigeria for jobs and education - they have their act together and are now setting the pace for us. Now, we are the ones running into Ghana for those things. I am sure they are laughing at us now.

I also feel that this is the reason why Multinational companies in Nigeria will continue recruiting and giving priority positions to people with foreign degrees. This is something i have experienced, where someone coming in with a higher degree (MSc, MBA, PhD) is giving priority over those with local degrees. Sometimes, these people do not have any work experience but are put in positions above those with local equivalent degrees and years of experience.

It all comes down to the quality of our education.

It is a pity that this is still happening, but maybe you should 'live' with it.

I left University 10 years ago and this is how it went - in my first year 1993, there was an indefinate that went on for 6 months. In my second year, 1994/95, there was another 6 month strike. In my 4th year, there was an 8month strike. In my final year, there was a students riot that caused us to vacate the school for about 4 months.

There were other minor strikes in-between all these, e.g. there was a solidarity 3 month strike somewhere in 'solidarity' for those Ilorin lecturers that were sacked. There were the June 12 strikes too and so on and so forth.

I am sorry that this is happening, i really am. But most of us who are out of the Nigerian universities passed through it. Unfortunately, ASUU strikes are slowly becoming as predictable as the 'no-power' situation of NEPA and 'no-fuel' situation of NNPC. We only hope that things turn out alright for all.

davidif:
whizkid,
Newsflash: what does being an ambassador have to do with the banking industry? An ambassador might come from any background, they could be teachers, or doctors. There job is just to represent there nation. They don't need to be bankers or financial experts. Heck, anyone can be an ambassador.

Bros, i disagree. Not everyone can be an ambassador. An ambassador needs to be suave and very very eloquent. Secondly, he does not need to be a banker or an economist, but he should be someone that has the basics of these things at his fingertips. Imagine if as an ambassador to the US or UK, he is invited for a function in their government house (White House or Number 10 Downing) and someone asks him THAT SAME QUESTION ABOUT THE REFORMS GOING ON IN THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT, and he fumbles and rumbles and it comes out that he does not even know the difference btw deposits and equity!

That will be a national disaster esp if there are potential investors in that audience

Seun should take the money, shut down nairaland and open another site called nairaland1

According to the LeadershipNigeria newspaper (Tuesday 26 May 2009), former Governor of Delta State, the sticky-fingered walrus of Oghara himself, James Ibori is currently scheming to replace Goodluck Jonathan as Nigeria’s Vice President come 2011. I know; there is an easy temptation to dismiss this piece of news with a wave of the hand but, sadly, we must acknowledge that this is a different Nigeria now. What is thought an aberration and the unthinkable in other climes has become the norm here. The fact that this idea was even allowed to seep into anyone’s head shows the depth to which Nigeria has sunk.

Even though, the powers that be made it clear to Jonathan from the get go that his was a ceremonious ceremonial appointment, the gentleman nonetheless never even tried to assert his authority and he allowed himself be pushed around by Kingibe when the later was the Secretary to the Federal Government. Also, in some quarters, Jonathan’s wife is being perceived as a liability and even thought to have come dangerously close to upstaging the Empress, Turai on at least a couple of occasions. However, Jonathan’s biggest ‘sin’ so far was that sometimes around March last year he had some funny meeting with Babangida and Abdulsalami prior to interjecting himself into the Election Tribunal process of the governorship tussle of his home State, Bayelsa and took a position that was diametrically opposite that of Yar’Adua when he squared up against Governor Timipre Sylva. I understand these are the lullabies to which Ibori put Yar’Adua to bed everyday.

Currently, Ibori wields a heart-breaking large influence within Yar’Adua’s kitchen cabinet. Besides being the biggest financier of Yar’Adua’s campaign run, in August 2008, Ibori caused David Edevbie to be appointed Yar’Adua’s Principal Secretary. Edevbie, a Harvard-trained economist, was Ibori’s Commissioner of Finance (2003 -2005) and Economic Adviser (2006-2006). He must know how Ibori managed to clean out the treasury in Delta state. Though his title reads Principal Secretary, Edevbie is in fact the de facto Chief of Staff at Aso Rock.

Not even quite ten days in office, Aondoakaa, the Attorney General was already writing letters exculpating Ibori and putting official road blocks in the path of UK’s Metropolitan Police who were then investigating Ibori. It was also reported that Ibori traveled with the official Nigerian delegation to the last Olympics in Beijing. It is similarly reported that Ibori has a permanent suite in Aso Rock. Even his wives know to call for him there whenever they can’t find him in his other haunts.

But more than all of that, Ibori as the Vice President of Nigeria is very thinkable; a real possibility in Yar’Adua’s world. Why?

Back in August 2006 during the heady days of Ribadu’s EFCC, Buba Marwa, the former Military Governor of Lagos State wrote a handwritten statement admitting that he indeed launder millions of Dollars for the late Sani Abacha and himself - some audaciously through the accounts used by the Nigerian Consulate and Embassy in New York and Washington respectively. Marwa was then the Military Attaché and Defence Adviser in both places. Then as Governor of Lagos, Marwa was creaming off a healthy percentage in bribe money from a private consulting firm that was collecting tax and other internally generated revenue on behalf of the Lagos State government. After Abacha bought the farm, Marwa used his share of the laundered monies, some of Abacha’s “lost” loot and the Lagos top-up to start an airline – Albarka Airlines. When asked where he got the capital to start an airline business soon after leaving the army, Marwa ludicrously claimed that they were proceeds from the two books he wrote. But hey, this is Nigeria where it has become fashionable for people to just talk anyhow. Lately however, he’s been belatedly talking about additional loans from some banks.

Marwa should have stopped there but he didn’t. He then fancied himself in Aso Rock as President. Before you can say “ole,” he had rolled out the drums and started campaigning for President. His campaign was dubbed: “Marwa Mission 2007 Movement.” That didn’t go down well with a certain Olusegun Obasanjo. Obasanjo had a quiet word in Ribadu’s ear and Marwa was picked up. He hasn’t been a guest in one of the EFCC cells long at all before Marwa wrote his statement. To be doubly sure, Marwa also wrote a separate letter to Obasanjo dated 18 August 2006 which he captioned “Letter of Profound Apology And Remorse.” Satisfied, Obasanjo ordered his release and told him to go back home and sin no more.

So where is Marwa today? He is Yar’Adua’s Nigeria’s Ambassador to South Africa.

You see, initially in November 2007, when Yar’Adua forwarded Marwa’s name to the Senate for confirmation, the Senate’s Committee on Foreign Affairs excluded him from the list of Ambassadorial nominees for alleged adverse security reports by the State Security Services (SSS). But by September 2008, Yar’Adua went ahead anyway and posted Marwa to South Africa as Nigeria’s Ambassador after a paroxysmal Ahmadu Ali resigned from that post.

Moreover, Marwa was not the only person that had unfavourable SSS report and was rejected by the Senate’s Committee on Foreign Affairs but who nevertheless met Yar’Adua’s own peculiar criteria: Another nominee that was rejected was the former Minister of Aviation, Dr Kema Chikwe. She had since assumed duty as Nigeria's Ambassador to Ireland. Also originally excluded was Polycarp Nwite, but he too is currently His Excellency, Nigeria's High Commissioner to Botswana.

So why won’t Ibori be a serious contender for the VP slot? Yar’Adua has said severally that his thieving ex colleagues remain his friends and he is not going to deny them. Under this wonderful immunity, these men have continued to loom large in the polity and are the ones setting the national tone and standards. Lady Waziri at the EFCC continues to do the needful. The EFCC does not even allow a whisper about Ibori. I understand that his file had since disappeared into ether. So why shouldn’t Ibori seek to push his investment returns? Yes Nigeria; James Ibori for Vice President!

Is that so? I never saw this coming - Can this be one of the reasons he was relieved of his position? So that he can begin to concentrate on the 'task' ahead towards government house in Anambra?

Why should he come out of retirement? Do you want him to die on the pitch?
With a population of 150million people, out of which we will have at least 20million who are within the correct age-range to play football, cant we find and train someone else?

blacksta:
Get a grip - Obama can not and will not solve Africa's or Nigeria's problem -- it is up to u and i period

I dont think he is trying to try to solve Africa's or Nigeria's problem. I think he is trying to 'block' all their getaway routes to make things a bit 'hot' for them. If he does this successfully and America's allies follow suit, politicians will have nowhere to hide and stash their ill gotten wealth - except places like China!

Why does he think he is so indespensible to Obama? Must Obama talk to him? Based on his fiery outbursts of 'God damn America' etc etc, Obama its Obama's choice to decide on whether he wants the tie btw him and his former pastor to remain severed.
Secondly, why is he bringing the Jews into this again? Must everything be attributed to the Jews?

I say it very often, "if i had the means, i will FUND these guys o". I think it is only violence that the people in power understand.

NLC has gone on strike, ASUU don strike, Doctors don strike, eminent Nigerians and scholars have written essays in the papers, Journalists have their columns that are filled with plea's daily, the foreign media has embarassed us sufficiently, people have died meaninglessly and so on and so forth - yet our leaders have not done anything. All that remains now is for soldiers to down their weapons, when ordered to go and guard/kill the MEND members. Maybe govt go wake up

Abegi, MEND and others should continue blowing up all those facilities jare! Maybe this is what will make our leaders open their eyes and hearts. I sometimes hope that one day, Shell and others will wake up in anger and just abandon Naija. Maybe govt officials go wake up when they realise that their means of livelihood is gone.

Dis Guy:

maybe because 'rich' people usually have a more stressful life, work plenty hours, think about education for themselves and their kids constantly, looking for latest avenue to make more money, they also tend to eat more processed food-fast food, canned food, etc

I think some people have the feeling that- 1 out of atleast 10 of their kids will make it, that way they will take care of them in their old age, it's like social/economic security and in some cases when the man says 'lets play' to his wife/wives, she cant say no-i just had one 9months ago!!!!

theres also the , waiting for a boy or girl child- some couple keep humping waiting for the golden boy or girl
after 5 boys/girls they just want to try one more time

another theory is why mess with nature, you'll hear children are a blessing not knowing its not a blessing when you can take care of them

Correct yarns. I have heard of SO MANY couples who have been do doctors, only to hear that there is NOTHING wrong with them. Why then, cant they have kids? Stress, Past/present medical issues etc!

On a lighter note, i think we should go the way of China -  enforce the One-child-per-couple, regardless of whether you are rich or poor. Nigeria needs to get a grip on their exploding population

Aloy.Emeka:
Abeg bring better passport for the betting.

You are right tho, but they need to water the ground after all dem no fight this war alone. I think all of them live in the US and ogonis may have to get a visa before demanding for their share.

SO NIGERIAN PASSPORT NO BE BETTER PASSPORT?

Aloy.Emeka:
The money was granted to Wiwa's family and not Ijaw as a whole.

Very true, but this is when you will begin to see EXTENDED family members and relations claiming to have supported Wiwa's cause in one way or the other. Although the money will be given to the family, the Ogoni people will demand a share. I can bet my Nigerian passport on this.

JustGood:
Why are these idiots recycling themselves in power in Nigeria after having destroyed the fabric of the nation?

They need to continually cover up their past. If these things are ever brought to light by another high and mighty person, their lives as well as their families will forever be haunted.

The article was a good one. It was both movie and bestseller material and could probably, have some truth to it. Further to the evidence, that the article is NOT REAL, there could still be SOME TRUTH IN IT. I say so because the Prof, journalist or reporters (in their usual fashion) may or may not have been blown out of proportion to make it 'sweeter' to the readers. The name of the school may not even be known as 'School of Assasins'. It may just be another American Militrary Academy or millitary/policy institute (like NIPSS) that is nicknamed 'school or assasins'

The article however points out that our country was in trouble, is in trouble and will be in trouble in the near future. The atrocities committed by our past leaders in the name of fun, friendship, greed and manipulation cannot go without repercussions. Tie this story in with what El-Rufai has been revealing about the emergence of Yar'Adua as president and how it happened just shows that in our country, ANYTHING GOES and EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE. A lot of nonsense happens behind the stage that has shocked and will continue to shock us.

I have also seen so much arguements concerning the realness of the school of assassins and whatnot. Let us not forget that the Americans are a 'crazy' bunch. They can do and undo. They have been fingered in all kinds of things, from assasinations to the starting of civil wars. They have dis-stabilized countries for their selfish gains as well as put their puppets in power to manage those countries. Yes, Colin Powell himself, said that Abacha warned him that he was taking over governement. Questions like, "Where did he meet Abacha to gain his (Abacha's) confidence for Abacha to confide in him (Powell)"? "Why would Abacha confide in Powell without feeling that Powell would support him" or "Was Abacha counting on the support of America because of a pre-planned or ordained script?" Questions, questions, questions!

A lot has happened that we may not really believe. Let us however, enjoy the articles that people chose to write.

I feel this question should also be asked the other way round:

Ladies, would you marry or like your husband to be tatooed? Reason i am asking is that i know a lot of guys who have tatoos (myself included - although i am married. Put my wife's name on my upper arm across a big heart - and she loved it)

The headline says QUERIED. He has not been convicted yet. It is left to him to explain why and how the contract was awarded and if it was done in all transparency. I also feel that whatever Fashola does(just like any of us), he cannot please everybody. There will always be some who will ask why he did what he did the way he did it because they will always feel that there are other ways of doing those things. People will always claim that there are easier ways to get these things done.

Let us also understand that Fashola is only a man, who is prone to the same kind of temptations and emotions that we are prone to. He may decide to favour friends and former colleagues in the awarding of contracts and business opportunities. As far as i am concerned, this is a very grey area that i have no answers to. My opinion is that as far as these friends or colleagues DO THE JOB TO THE HIGHEST STANDARD, there should not be any problems. If i one day become a governor and i have a friend who i know does his jobs impeccably and to the highest standards, why will i not 'employ' him to do some work for my government?