₦airaland Forum

[quote author=ekt_bear link=topic=710168.msg8691900#msg8691900 date=1310350322]Not everyone "from the region" will I take what they say as gospel truth. Using "from the region" as the criterion for who you listen to rather than something more stringent is a bit silly.[/quote]It is not only about being from the region. Articles clearly pointed it out to you, even after we had provided facts to back up our statements. And it could be clearly seen that she said it for political reasons, just like Jonathan said his grandfather is from Arochuku.

[quote author=ekt_bear link=topic=710168.msg8691883#msg8691883 date=1310349911]@EzeUche: I have no problem listening, I just prefer listening to people who I am pretty sure know what they are talking about.[/quote]Only a fool would argue with those who are from the region. Do you see us arguing with you all over the intricacies of the South-West?

[quote author=ekt_bear link=topic=710168.msg8691861#msg8691861 date=1310348985]Alright, Okrika from a source I believe knows what he is talking about:

https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-505540.0.html#msg6665145[/quote]The truth was staring you in the face, but you chose not to listen. Learn to listen, especially from those who are from the region.

In hindsight, maybe I was wrong for Igbo support of Jonathan.

ZnO:
I lived  at some point, not too far from Okrika (in Eleme). Many have nothing but love for Igbos due to their maternal affinity

She and her husband used that to win Igbo votes. It worked for them, but Igbos are also abundantly rewarded.

Let us stay on topic. I am concerned by some well known Ijaws frustrating Amaechi's progress.

I have one solution to this matter and it is. . . [size=20pt]ODI[/size]

Okrika Cannot Play Opposition Politics -Patience Jonathan

The First Lady of Nigeria, Patience Jonathan says the people of Okrika Kingdom, her home town, cannot afford to play opposition politics in view of the many opportunities awaiting them in the ruling party.

http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2011/04/06/okrika-cannot-play-opposition-politics-patience-jonathan/

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This is another article, that discusses that Patience Jonathan's hometown is Okrika. I think she stated that her hometown was Umuahia in the other article, was due to political reasons. Just like Goodluck Jonathan said his Great-Grandfather hails from my hometown of Arochukwu.

[quote author=ekt_bear link=topic=710168.msg8691808#msg8691808 date=1310347932]I'm not sure which source is correct then.

Can someone who knows definitively say which one she is from?[/quote]This is one example of how hard it can be to define the "South-South" in terms of who is Igbo and who are of the minority groups. That is why I dislike discussing the "South-South" even though I grew up in the "South-South."

[quote author=ekt_bear link=topic=710168.msg8691791#msg8691791 date=1310347553]Really?
http://nigeriavillagesquare.com/forum/main-square/56867-how-patience-won-s-east-jonathan.html

Generally one doesn't say "Person X is from location Y" in Nigeria unless their paternal family is from there.[/quote]First Lady scolds governor in public
By Bisi Olaniyi from Port Harcourt
Wednesday, August 25, 2010 | The Nation

THE First Lady’s two-day visit to Rivers State ended in a fiasco Tuesday.

All was well, until Dame Patience Jonathan and her chief host, Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi got to Okrika – the First Lady’s home town.

People fail to remember that this violence has always been present in the North for most of Nigeria's history and during colonialism. It simply has entered new dimensions. Goodluck Jonathan needs to deal with these radical groups, but it is very difficult to defeat a faceless enemy. Simply look at how the US War on Terror, and how they are still fighting Al-Qaeda after all these years.

The blame should be placed on Northern leaders who have blocked western education for the masses and only focused on Islamic education.

[quote author=ekt_bear link=topic=710168.msg8691749#msg8691749 date=1310346842]Patience is Igbo, I thought? Or you think she now sees herself as Ijaw due to GEJ. . . ?[/quote]Patience Jonathan is only Igbo through her maternal side, who is from Umuahia. She is from Okrika, that is why she became upset with Amaechi who was demolishing the slums in that area. Okrika are an interesting people, because they are mixed with Igbo, but they see themselves as Ijaw.

Governor Amaechi is doing a great job in Rivers state. Asari Dokubo is simply a detractor. I am start to notice that many Ijaws are becoming more openly hostile towards Amaechi now. We are starting to see the fault lines in Rivers state. First it was Patience Jonathan who became upset with Amaechi for demolishing some of the slums within Okrika, now Asari Dokubo is angry at Amaechi. Are my brothers noticing a trend?

[quote author=aloy/emeka link=topic=710473.msg8691632#msg8691632 date=1310343912]WE don't have the resources they have besides this is natural disaster and it happened in the US a month or two ago.[/quote]This is not a natural disaster and it could have been prevented. Nigeria does have the resources to prevent flooding. If the Dutch could do this in the Medieval Ages, why can't Nigeria do this in a modernized world? I do not want to hear excuses.

If you want to understand how the Dutch mastered flooding, just read this article. Most of The Netherland lies below sea level.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4847805

If The Netherlands can prevent flooding within its territories for centuries, why cannot Nigeria do this?

My brother could not pick up my sister from the airport today, because his car was surrounded by water.

There is a saying that goes well with this situation, "if a part of your body is diseased, then you cut it off." This is the situation that Nigeria finds itself in.

pleep:
Ezeuche my friend! Retire from politics join the romance section, it's all fun and games there! 
I did, you won't regret.

the Politics sections is draining and depressing.

The Politics section is very draining. I am tired of the constant bickering.

Sometimes I wonder how I can talk to my friends from other groups, after I made generalized statements about them on Nairaland.

It is painful.

[quote author=Mr--Why link=topic=708660.msg8685884#msg8685884 date=1310250702]@ Eze Uche

Name one school of thought that you know of at present, that is dedicated to a particular philosophy in Nigeria or Africa.[/quote]I believe the Ifá tradition amongst the Yoruba is not only a religion but a philosophy found in Nigeria.

This is something I admire about the Yoruba. Their culture and religion remain strong in the face of both Islam and Christianity. This should emulated amongst other groups.

We don’t want Islamic Banking – CAN


By Sam Eyoboka -
THE umbrella body of Christians in the country, the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN has been very vehement in its opposition to the proposed Islamic banking in Nigeria. They see the move being promoted by the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as an attempt to Islamise the country.

In this interview, the National President of CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor gave reasons why the Christians are not comfortable with the current moves. Excerpts….

What is your problem with Islamic banking

First, I want to begin by saying, I like Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. In my own opinion, he’s one of the people you can look at in this country and say, this is a man that has what it takes to articulate what he believes; whether it’s right or wrong, good or bad. So, for that, I admire him. We are not against Muslims.

Muslims are our brothers and Sisters. Nigeria is a nation that has both Muslims and Christians. It doesn’t matter what we say, Muslims will always be here. It doesn’t matter what Muslims think, Christians will always be here. We might as well accept each other and be happy, because that’s the reality. So, we appreciate them and wish them well.

The problem is this; what the original CBN Act or whatever it was it says, was non-interest banking. The original thing was just non-interest banking. Islamic banking is just one kind among many other kinds of non-interest banking. So, why would CBN, an organization, an institution that represents the Federal Government, that is an institution that represents all Nigeria zero in on only one kind of non-interest banking. This is the problem with Sanusi and his idea.

In education, there’s only one set of guideline for those who want to establish schools. The Ministry of Education or any other institution charged with the responsibility in Nigeria will not come out with Islamic guideline, Christian guideline, or native doctor guideline. It’s only one basic, level playing field guideline for education. You want to start a school, you take the guideline to go and start. We have Islamic universities in Nigeria. We have Christian universities. Do they have different guidelines? They all have the same guidelines. This is what we are saying.

Now, the guidelines for non-interest banking has been changed two or three times. Why is Sanusi changing it? It’s because he is discovering his mistakes. But he doesn’t want to own up to it. What he’s doing is that he twists it a little bit here, twists it a little bit there. Now, the latest guideline came out on the June 21. If you study it, it says, Islamic banking, number one. Then number two-other non-interest banking. That to us is discriminating—discriminating against non-Muslims.Why would you put Islamic banking on one side, all other non-interest banking on one side?

What makes Islamic banking special or more special? What makes it different from other non-interest banking? So, these are the issues. Also, if you keep looking closer, you discover that even the Islamic banking itself is not quite very clear. Now before I come to that, they have a conference going on now in Abuja (the conference opened on Monday). Why have an Islamic banking conference? Why not have a non-interest banking conference? This is what we are saying.

[img]http://vml1.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/ayo-Oritsejafor.jpg
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Tears of joy as South Sudan gets independence

JUBA (AFP) – South Sudan’s parliament speaker on Saturday proclaimed his state’s independence on Saturday, sparking joy at the birth of the world’s newest nation and splitting Africa’s largest country in two.

“We, the democratically elected representatives of the people, based on the will of the people of South Sudan, and as confirmed by the outcome of the referendum of self-determination, hereby declare South Sudan to be an independent and sovereign nation,” James Wani Igga announced.

https://vml1.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/South-Sudan.jpg

The independence declaration was read out in front of dozens of heads of state, including Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, and foreign dignitaries as well as tens of thousands of cheering southerners.

South Sudan’s national flag was then raised, to wild applause, tears and song.

“We shall never, never surrender,” the crowd chanted, as people whistled and wiped tears from their eyes.

“I should cry for the recognition of this flag among the flags of the world,” shouted one tearful man.

“We have been denied our rights. Today, no more shall that happen,” he added.

The declaration affirmed the new state’s democratic and multi-ethnic and multi-confessional character, and its commitment to friendly relations with all countries “including the Republic of Sudan”, Igga said.

The parliament speaker said that as a “strategic priority,” South Sudan would seek admission to the United Nations, the African Union, the east African bloc IGAD and other international bodies.

Southern leader Salva Kiir then signed the transitional constitution and took the oath of office as the new state’s first president, swearing to “foster the development and welfare of the people of South Sudan.”

Kenya’s President Mwai Kibaki, the first foreign dignitary to speak, declared that his country “fully recognises” South Sudan.

Egypt, another key regional power, also officially recognised the Republic of South Sudan, Foreign Minister Mohammed al-Oraby said on his arrival in Juba for the celebrations, the official MENA news agency reported.

President Barack Obama announced that the United States formally recognised the new state.

“I am proud to declare that the United States formally recognises the Republic of South Sudan as a sovereign and independent state upon this day, July 9, 2011,” Obama said in a statement.

The head of the visiting US delegation, Susan Rice, told the people of South Sudan: “Independence is not a gift you were given, but is a prize you won.”

“We salute those who did not live to see this moment — from leaders such as Dr. John Garang, to the ordinary citizens who rest in unmarked graves. We cannot bring them back. But we can honor their memory,” she said.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon, also speaking at the ceremony in Juba, said it was an important day for the United Nations, which has been in engaged promoting peace in Sudan for many years.

“Today we open a new chapter when the people of South Sudan claim their freedom and dignity that is their birthright,” he said.

Ban commended Kiir and Bashir for the “difficult decisions and compromises” but noted key unresolved provisions of the 2005 peace agreement that ended Sudan’s devastating north-south civil war.

He called on South Sudan to build its nation, saying sovereignty was “both a right and a great responsibility.”

Ethiopia’s President Meles Zenawi said his country recognised South Sudan’s sovereignty and looked forward “to welcoming you as a full member of IGAD.”

China’s special envoy extended President Hu Jintao’s “warmest congratulations” to the “young Republic” of South Sudan, while noting the ongoing negotiations between north and south.

He said Beijing, Sudan’s main trading partner and the largest investor in its key oil industry, hoped the two sides could be “good neighbours, partners and brothers forever.”

British Prime Minister David Cameron announced that London also recognised the new state.

The World Bank Group President Robert B. Zoellick also congratulated South Sudan, pledging to be “a strong partner as we help transform a day of independence into a decade of development.”

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/07/tears-of-joy-as-south-sudan-gets-independence/