₦airaland Forum

The U.S congress and their comic relief. They probably think that the word "world" refers to USA and that is why they are the self appointed world police. They will eventually lead us to a 3rd world war if they continue acting like this, but guess what. The tide will turn against them so fast they will swim in circles.

This is a country that happily sits in a group of 5 nations calling the shots for world security and also wields a veto power.

OPEC should suspend the selling of oil to the U.S for 6 months as punishment. The trade embargo they so happily slap on other countries should be slapped on them in terms of oil for a change. They have large reserves and untapped sources, let them use them.

I can’t wait long enough for China to fully emerge as an opposing power to the US. Ihe ga eme ya mee. (Damn the consequences)

Sorry Arnold, but you have also posted some spiteful things about the Igbos in the past. Unless you have since repented from the hatred and immaturity you displayed then, I am not going to take any anti bigotry stand by you seriously.

Quote from Babyosisi

I don't know where you live,truth is that most tattoos can be covered by clothing,most are small and are not the first thing you see when you see the individual.

Quote from n_guage

My mom has one that is barely visible, she got it herself when she was sixteen.

Quote from Babyosisi

If they are barely visible, why did she get them? @ n-guage
for what purpose?
It's like getting a barely visible tattoo, why bother when it can barely be seen?

You know when someone argues for argument’s sake by the way the person contradicts his/her self in order to make cheap points.

How is it possible for you to turn around and disagree with your own line of argument just so that you can disagree with someone else with opposing views? Is it inconsistency or just argumentative nature on display? It is almost like arguing with ones self. Some may call that flip flopping.

Someone with an inherent bias would refuse to listen to logic in order to propagate that bias but hey, Face is not about to embark on a mission to reform the incorrigible.

I knew ogogoro as Kai-kai back in the days. I don't know if it was widely known as such by other Igbos or not.

If its fuel consumption you are concerned about, driving the the AC at speeds above 55mph(88km/h) is more efficient than leaving the windows down at such speeds. The reduced aerodynamic drag compensates the increased stress on the engine. Its when AC is used in stop and go traffic that the consumption increases dramatically.

I do agree with your points, but fuel consumption increases in stop and go traffic regardless of whether the a/c is on or not. The greatest consumption time is at take off, as you can see the consumption increase according to your take off speed.

When I turn my car a/c on at stand still, although I do notice a slight change in the car, if the fuel consumption has peaked at traffic conditions , the on board computer still shows the same fuel consumption. If the car is in motion, no change is noticed and if the fuel consumption is on the decline before turning on the a/c it continues to fall until it gets to the optimum level. That is contrary to my expectations, but may be it is because I only turn the a/c on slightly if it is not on auto climate control.

When I switch off the a/c on the motor way, the fuel consumption does not improve. According to the on board computer in the car, a/c does not affect fuel consumption, at least not at low level a/c as I am used to.

Fuel consumption also depends on how warm your engine is. It improves from cold start and peaks after a while.

To achieve the best fuel economy, do not speed excessively. I have noticed that my most economic driving condition is achieved at low speed and high gears. Cruising at between 50 & 60 MPH, I have achieved 43MPG on the 6th gear with a/c on, but have only managed 39MPG between 70 & 110MPH.

I personally, am not seeking Al Mustapha's release but his speedy trial.

In a civilised country like Nigeria, we can't just keep people in jail without conviction. He should be tried in a military court (he still is a military man).

If the court grants him freedom, he can go free. If it jails him, he should go to jail. If if it hands down capital punishment, then he should die. But just leaving him there does not make sense.

The legal system is not there to effect revenge but to correct those that can be corrected and cull out those that are incorrigible.

Well said Denex and I can't add much more to that. The main reason why it is right for all to receive fair and speedy trial is to ensure fairness to all, innocent until proven guilty, quick dispensation of justice and to avoid unnecessary incarceration of people who may be innocent in the end.

Justice served should be devoid of sentiments and personal vendetta. Like Denex said; "The legal system is not there to effect revenge but to correct those that can be corrected and cull out those that are incorrigible".

I don't know where you live,truth is that most tattoos can be covered by clothing,most are small and are not the first thing you see when you see the individual.
Many athletes,actors and many professionals here have tattoos but in work clothes,they disappear.
Those chameleons you talk about are bikers, tattoo artists and freaks.

You agreed to the main issue earlier and then did a 180.
It is illegal to give a tattoo to a minor, here in the states.
Most people with these unsightly facial scarifications in Naija get them when they are still latched on their momma's bossom.
That is a huge difference, they didn't ask for such a barbaric identity feature.
It ought to be banned.

Babyosisi.

I did not make any u-turn on my stand on the topic, and I will appreciate if you can point out where I was in support of the topic.

For the sake of clarity, I only conceded that the tattoo analogy was not a suitable one regarding facial marks, but I still stand on my view that the topic will only breed more and more animosity here.

Modifying the heading of the topic would remove any ambiguity as to the real motive of the poster as the Yorubas are not the only group practicing facial scarification in Nigeria.

The manner in which facial scarification is inflicted on infants without their consent is no different from the circumcision of babies “when they are still latched on their momma’s bosom”. Both practices are either cultural or religious and there are people who practice neither.

Those who view circumcision as wicked and barbaric may view your approval of circumcision as primitive. When you point fingers at someone else, you have at the least, three of your own fingers pointing back at you.

Since you agree so much with the topic, can you tell me what will be the useful outcome of discussing the sudden realisation that “ Yorubas still give tribal marks to themselves”?

Regarding those that have tattoos in very prominent areas of their bodies; you are not in a position to classify them as freaks. You have to avoid stereotyping other people without getting to know them on personal levels.

Although most tattoos could be concealed, anybody you can identify as tattoo bearing would have had the tattoo on display at that time for all to see. You can only identify something that needs visual identification by seeing it. To confirm that someone has a tattoo, you have to see it.

Back to the message I tried to covey with my initial response. We all have our prides and also have our flaws. We also have our individual and cultural differences. There is no point in deliberately rubbing the perceived flaws of other people in their faces just because you are aware of them. Issues can be discussed constructively without resorting to any form of prejudice designed to humiliate and hurt other people’s prides.

“Though young men throw stones at frogs in sports, the frogs do not die in sports but in earnest”.

@ Chigo and Babyo, you guys made some good points about tattoos and tribal marks. Tattoos are self inflicted while tribal marks are inflicted on innocent children who have no say in the matter. That was not the correct analogy.

Chiogo, male circumcision has been a part of Igbo culture for as long as Igbos can remember. They practiced it before the influence of Christianity. It may also be part of other people's cultures, but the point I was making was that the people who do not practice circumcision may view it as wicked and barbaric. Circumcision was in practice long before all the medical researches started saying that it may be good after all. May be similar researches on tribal marks may also come up with the merits of tribal marks. (Yeah right! I heard you say).

Babyo, since most people hide their tattoos, how then are you able to tell who has got a tattoo? Do they display badges instead recognising them as tattoo bearing people? The fact is that most tattoos are on full display for all to see. I have seen mask-like tattoos on people’s faces. I have seen people that look like chameleons with all the tattoos on their bodies.

The facial scarification culture may be out of tune with modern times, but that does not mean that it should be classified as "stupid and no culture" I believe that the culture of tribal marks is fast fading as more and more people get less cultural.

I still believe that there was no point in posting this topic as it would only serve to exacerbate the ethnic animosity that already exists here.

When westerners do it, you say "some nice tattoos you got there "

If Africans do it, you go " You look scary ! Oh my God you must be a barbarian"

Has it ever crossed your mind that some people may consider circumcision, which is a part of your Igbo culture ( I am also Igbo) as Barbaric genital mutilation ?

I wander what you hope to achieve by posting this "your latest discovery" here. Are you guys not tired of all the
racial incitement and derogatory comments you have been making here ? Na waa for unu.

Laudate, Inward examination is required here on your part. That you have lived here and there is of no consequence if you continue showing disdain for any particular group. It shows that you took nothing positive away from the different areas you lived. Like my people would say, "Wilberforce claims to have been in the army, but where are his boots".

Sorry laudate, I am not confusing you with anyone. Go back to your own posts and examine them again. I still maintain that I'd rather be face to face with someone that does not hide his intention to do me harm than turn my back to someone who would readily plunge a knife into it after pretending to have no problems with me.

If the purpose of placing issues on the front burner is for everyone to learn, there should be no bias in the chain of thoughts and expression.

I am not here to argue about your freedom of speech and rights to self expression. To borrow your own words, Facts are sacred but comments are free.

I have made my point and I am not going to be drawn into long debates on this issue, so you can consider this post as my last one on this issue.

I would always want to remind you that I have not seen any impartiality or equality of thoughts in your posts whenever Igbo issues are mentioned.

Laudate, I would agree with adconline on this point. I have observed the tribal wrangling on this site for a while now and I am shocked that the supposedly younger/new generation of Nigerians are not doing anything to correct the views of their parents. If you must be viewed as impartial, you must also act impartial and you are not.

In my opinion, those that come out with open hatred are a lot better than those that would pretend to love you but are willing to hit you when your back is turned to them.

I like to stay away from tribal issues as I have friends that cut across Nigeria. I had my Secondary education in Kaduna, lived in Lagos and can speak Igbo, hausa and Yoruba and I wonder what my hausa and yoruba friends would think if they hear me talking ill behind their backs after buying 'isi ewu' for me.

Yar'adua is picking people he believes he can work with and for the simple fact that he will either be blamed or praised for his failures or achievements respectively I believe that he should be given free hand to choose whoever he wants to choose for any post whatsoever.

I'm of the same opinion here. I believe we should give the man the usual 100 days in office before we start moaning.  it is a bit difficult for me to assess the capabilities of the man. His presidency has started on a different note to Obasanjo's presidency. at least he has not climbed Zuma rock to beat his chest and boast of what he is going to achieve within two weeks in office unlike some people we know. Regardless, he will still have a date with my yard stick in September.

Everyone looking towards the east, west, north and south may be looking towards the same direction but not the same geographical location.

If the objective  is to face Ka'aba, then everyone's east cannot be towards Ka'aba. For some it may be south east, North West etc.

Everyone on the same latitude as Ka'aba would be facing Ka'aba technically if they face east or west. Time would decrease as you head west from Ka'aba and fall again on the same line as you approach the eastern flank of Ka'aba.

For those on higher or lower longitude as Ka'aba, they can look east or west all they like and would not be facing (looking towards) Ka'aba.


Religion entails some discipline. Some actions are usually inexplicable but then, the members are quite happy to go along with the dictates of their religion. Muslims use Tesbiu (spelling ?) for their prayers and the Catholics use Rosaries.

I am not in a position to criticise other peoples religion, however I believe that religion should be a tool of love. Love for God and His creation. It should not breed hate or destruction.

@McKren and Chidichris,

I am 80% behind your responses. The other 20% ? My escape route/dissension.

Folks, Eze Ndi Igbo in Calabar simply means the leader of Igbo people in Calabar. Personally, I do not see the reason why there should be both the President of Igbo peoples association and Eze ndi Igbo at the same time.

Eze ndi Igbo can not in any way usurp the authority of Obong of Calabar. The Igbo leaders function is simply advisory/ceremonial to Igbo people and Igbo functions in a foreign land.

There are Muslim/Jewish leaders in Europe and USA and the people in those places are not taking offence that there are Muslim/Jewish leaders in “Christian” countries.

We have Eze ndi Igbo in most part of the country with large Igbo inhabitants. Like wise, there are Sarikin Hausawa in major Igbo cities and probably other large cities in Nigeria. Sarikin Hausawa and Eze ndi Igbo are supposed to command respect in their respective communities and are thus consulted in times of ethnic tension. They are certainly not monarchies within monarchies.

I don’t know if Yorubas and other groups have similar setting, if they don’t, it may be because you are more likely to find the Igbos and Hausas in large numbers outside their ethnic States that any other group in Nigeria.

The question that we should be asking is whether there is a quarrel between the President of Igbo peoples association and Eze ndi Igbo in Calabar, which is likely to spiral out of control and cause disturbance to the peace and harmony of Calabar residents.

@4Play
I have heard that corruption is more prevalent amongst Arsenal fans .Witness how many penalties they have been awarded this season.

Gooners are responsible for most of the world's ills-Bin Laden is a Gunner- and everyone can see how they try to fix matches

I no blame you sha. Na when lion leg don break na the time wey antelope dey come ask for him debt.

I go like see that your mouth next season.

@ The One, do you then concede that the oil companies have responsibilities to protect the environment and to carry out remediation where necessary to safe guard the health and safety and means of livelihood of the inhabitants of their operational areas?

If the oil companies have the duty of care in those areas, it follows that they should be held responsible for any destruction of property, environment and means of livelihood resulting from their operations and as such should provide alternative facilities and also pay compensations where necessary.

I also find the statement below a bit ambiguous and my response to it is based of my understanding of the statement:

Who told you "they have destroyed all the communities in the region"? Have you ever been to the Niger Delta? Do you know how big it is? Do you know what percentage of the entire Niger Delta land mass has oil company presence?

The delta is a chain of estuaries of diverging branches of the mouth of a river, and what affects one part can easily affect the other parts of the delta, therefore the size of the delta is irrelevant as per the effects of pollution. If for example our territorial waters are barricaded by some world power, do you think that those in Sokoto would not feel the effect because they live so far away from the sea in a vast country? I don’t think so.

No my brother, Shell share holders panic each time they lose functional oil wells. If they lose as little as 10% of their business, the value of their business falls alongside the market value of their shares, how much more if the lose 40% ? We should not feel that they are doing us favours as they are not there for charity. We should be able to enforce/strengthen our environmental laws and they will have to adjust to operating within the scope of our laws.

BP had to shut some of its Alaska operations in 2006 because of oil spills. Why should it be any different in Nigeria?

McDonalds do not provide electricity in their areas of operations, but they do face heavy fines if they cause untidiness in those areas. They have the duty of care to maintain the environment in which they operate.

I do agree with you that the various arms of government have failed the people and should have most of the blame, because it is the government’s responsibility to provide infrastructure to the people. I also agree that greed and the nefarious activities of some people within the areas are major set backs for any meaningful development.

@texazzpete
There are effective reporting systems in many organisations, but that does not prevent people from trying. Even in the U.S senate and British parliament, people have been nailed for bribery from time to time. How about the Halliburton bribe scandal?

Regarding EIA, if the recommendations of a true EIA are followed, there would be no oil waters. The primary function of EIA is to provide assessment to enable preventive measures and not to provide a platform for compensation negotiations. A method statement or operational procedure is adopted following such assessments and if accidents happen during operations, the facility owners are duty bound to remediate land or water and to indemnify those affected. EIA is a worthless exercise if recommendations are not followed.

@ ONO

And who are these people in government: The majority ethnic stock: Hausa/Fulani; Yoruba and Igbo. Of course, they must protect their interest and seek way to better the lot of their own people.

It is well known by everyone that the Igbos have never been in charge of oil and its development in Nigeria, so direct your blame to the appropriate quarters. It is high time everyone stopped making Igbos the scapegoats. Someone draws cartoons in Denmark and Igbos have to pay the price.

@The One

From you tone I can see that attitude of someone who thinks he knows something whereas his knowledge is limited at best.

That was unnecessary; Afam’s response was devoid of personal attacks.

Back to the topic at hand:

While I do agree that oil companies have no obligation towards the development of their operation areas, I would also state that they have every obligation to prevent the pollution or the degradation of the environment in their operational areas. This obligation is in accordance with Nigerian laws, international laws and their home country laws.

If as a result of their operations, they have destroyed the means of livelihood of their host, then they are under obligations to provide alternative developments and compensations as necessary.

I beg to differ with those that believe that oil companies should not take responsibility in cases of “sabotage”. How can you establish those responsible for sabotage? Sabotage is not an exclusive preserve of any particular community and it would be wrong to fail to make right the harm to anyone’s land/property as a result of such spills which may have been caused by Adam for all I care.

Even in their home countries, they have Health and Safety Laws that require them to take reasonable steps to secure their facilities to prevent loss and damage to property and lives and that is why they have Professional and Operational Liability insurance in place to help them pay compensations in such cases.

The ultimate responsibility of developing Niger Delta and Indeed the whole of Nigeria rests with the various arms of government while companies have the duty to prevent the degradation of the environment (and remediation) as a result of their operations.

@ChidiChris

where will someone ever rig election and come back to make open confession and nothing was done.

Tell me Chidi, was the man not rewarded with oil blocks for his repentance ? What else do you want us to give to the man ?

why will a right thinking nigerian call orji a thief while Adedibu has Inec machines in his house? in which country of the world have u ever heard this?

I am shocked you do not appreciate good deeds. The man only had the machine at home for safe keeping. We Nigerians just dont appreciate when someone goes out of his way to help.

Fair should be fair. Ribadu owes it to Nigerians to dispel any doubts we may have about his integrity. It should not be too difficult to declare his assets for all to see. He who comes to equity must come with clean hands.

It is very important that he does so now, so that he does not appear in four years time to tell us he has N500 Million like some people I know.

His is in a position of trust and we want to be sure that all the money voted to his department are not syphoned like Tafa Balogun did.

What a shame. Someone may ask why do people allow themselves to be bullied by soldiers and police. The answer is simple. They soldiers and police have guns and do not hesitate to use them. Some of them are not different from armed robbers. I know Nigerians who have lost their lives because they argued with soldiers and police men.

I now chide myself in retrospect for all the times I stood toe to toe with them, but it is not easy to waive your fundermental human rights just because you are dealing with an armed law enforcer.

I can understand not being able to argue with an armed robber as his position is very clear, "your property or your life". An armed robber is his own law, but you should be to tell the police or soldier that you are not parting with your money and not expect any brutality as a result of your position.

Dude, you were lucky to have completed your filming successfully. Last December, someone on holiday in Nigeria from the States was shot dead by the police for attempting to video them over an "egunje" arguement.

No, I don't think so. It is our culture to ask political thieves to "go home with their loot and loot no more" when their era is over.

The same old thieves would re-emerge again as long as they can walk and talk regardless of their age and either insist on ruling or become manupulative godfathers. I am not saying that all politicians are corrupt but it's close to the mark.

I sincerely hope that things would change for the best. I am hoping that the fight against corruption and EFCC are not regime/person dependent.

Was Atiku's disqualification/unqualification not based on the indictment ? If that is the case, then the constitution is clear on that regard. He is not qualified.

Was the indictment set aside/nullified for any reason by any court of competent jurisdiction ? If that is the case, he cannot be disqualified on a non existent ground. He is qualified on that regard subject to meeting the criteria set in other sections.


Can anyone tell me please,

If someone is not qualified to run for the presidency, how can INEC effect that unqualification ? Should he be served with a prohibitive notice or should INEC simply omit his name from the list of qualified persons?

If someone is not qualified and is parading himself as a candidate, how can the person be stopped from disrupting the polity ? Should INEC get a court order restricting the person from parading himself as such ? If so, why is INEC not doing that in Atiku's case ?

The intricacies of Atiku / INEC "wahala" are best resolved now and fairly regardless of whose ox is gored. We want an INEC that can stand the test of time and a judiciary that the down and trodden can get succour and justice from.

@WhiteRose

what kind of visa did you win i guess it's visiting visa, in that case you are not allowed to work. the bodies that gave you visa should be responsible for your living. my dear winning a visa is a suffering warrant, you better make sure people are waiting for you in the states before you travel

Visa lottery is an Immigrant Visa. In other words, it's a visa that entitles you to have a green card and to settle in the U.S. You are allowed to work if you have won a visa lottery. There is no need to be always negative in life and you made it look like the poor guy is about to enter into slavery.

Wale1, take Vickybabe's advice. Regardless of where you travel to, everyone going to a place for the first time (Including Citizens returning to the country having grown in another country) has one type of apprehension or the other about the new place he/she has chosen to reside.

Keep your head up high. If there were no mountains, there would be nothing like mountain climbing.

I have since found Gani's positions to be heavily influenced by his emotions rather than the book.

"isi a gbaa la Face bracket here" (this one confuse Face no be small).

Like I said before, I am only basing my opinion on the information before me. If the qoute below is correct :

Vice President Atiku Abubakar appeared the major winner in a Lagos State High Court ruling dismissing the report of the Administrative Panel of Enquiry into the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), which had also indicted former presidential confidante and friend, Otunba Oyewole Fasawe. If the ruling stands, the vice president could legally contest next year's presidential election which President Olusegun Obasanjo from whom he is estranged had strenuously sought to stop him.-----

Justice Akande in the ruling dug into the statute books, emphasizing the roles, duties and laws governing EFCC which she said the body had grossly violated.----

"The chairman of the EFCC has no statutory power under the EFCC Act 2004 to submit a report to the president of Nigeria. This makes the act of his a null act. The president has no statutory power under the EFCC Act to receive the report from EFCC".

Then INEC cannot disqualify Atiku based on an indictement which was declared  null and void and non existent by a court of law.

I strongly believe in following rules and the rule of law. Barring the court ruling and no other section of the constitution counteracting sec 137, I would be behind INEC but not on this occasion with the new information at hand.

Another question that bugs my mind is;

If someone is barred by the constitution from contesting election, how should INEC go about  effecting the relevant part of the constitution ? Does the electoral Act provide an answer to that ? Should the INEC obtain a court order to that effect or should they simply omit the persons name from the list of qualified persons ?

McKen supplied us with the quote below:

137. (1) A person shall not be qualified for election to the office of
President if -
(a) subject to the provisions of section 28 of this Constitution, he
has voluntarily acquired the citizenship of a country other than
Nigeria or, except in such cases as may be prescribed by the National
Assembly, he has made a declaration of allegiance to such other
country; or
(b) he has been elected to such office at any two previous elections;
or
(c) under the law in any part of Nigeria, he is adjudged to be a
lunatic or otherwise declared to be of unsound mind;
or
(d) he is under a sentence of death imposed by any competent court of
law or tribunal in Nigeria or a sentence of imprisonment or fine for
any offence involving dishonesty or fraud (by whatever name called) or
for any other offence, imposed on him by any court or tribunal or
substituted by a competent authority for any other sentence imposed on
him by such a court or tribunal; or
(e) within a period of less than ten years before the date of the
election to the office of President he has been convicted and
sentenced for an offence involving dishonesty or he has been found
guilty of the contravention of the Code of Conduct; or
(f) he is an undischarged bankrupt, having been adjudged or otherwise
declared bankrupt under any law in force in Nigeria or any other
country; or
(g) being a person employed in the civil or public service of the
Federation or of any State, he has not resigned, withdrawn or retired
from the employment at least thirty days before the date of the
election; or
(h) he is a member of any secret society; or
(i) he has been indicted for embezzlement or fraud by a Judicial
Commission of Inquiry or an Administrative Panel of Inquiry or a
Tribunal set up under the Tribunals of Inquiry Act, a Tribunals of
Inquiry Law or any other law by the Federal or State Government which
indictment has been accepted by the Federal or State Government,
respectively; or
(j) he has presented a forged certificate to the Independent National
Electoral Commission.

I would like to believe the information to be correct, so I would base my opinion on that.

He stands disqualified in accordance with Sub Section (i).

I am aware that Atiku challenged the legality of the administrative panel in court but I do not know the outcome but going by the quote above, I do not see where it spelt out how the panels should be constituted and unless it was stated somewhere else in the constitution and the relevant Section was violated in setting up the administrative panel then Atiku would be fighting a losing battle and judging by the past judiciary rullings, I am confident they will rule accordingly and with regards to the constitution.

I believe that the Law should be bigger than any individual. It is high time our law makers started making laws that pack a punch. Hopefully, by-gones would not be bygones after the election. We have that attitude of "Go home with your loot and sin no more" in Nigeria.

I agree with you that disqualification of corrupt persons is very much in order and that the process leading to disqualification must be fair to all and transparent. Educating the electorate would also make them reject corruption at the polls, because a good education will make them realise that the N1000 they enjoy today may cost them N10,000 in the future.

It is always good to have a short term plan while the long term solution is in the offing. But the short term solution should not be a hatchet job. In other words, you should not break your nose just to spite your face.

@ McKren

What electorate do you even want to educate, an electorate that have been so impoverished that they no longer know what they want, give them N1000 they throw all you have taught them to wind because they need to eat for that day. Some of those who will make up this so called electorate you talk about include those who placed priority over inscription of religious signs on naira over its purchasing power.

Therefore it is not necessary to educate and improve our electoral system ? With drooped shoulders we should accept the status quo ? The thing pass us no be small. How we go do now ?

Education can be defined as:

"The act or process of imparting or acquiring general knowledge, developing the powers of reasoning and judgment, and generally of preparing oneself or others intellectually for mature life."

Judge for your self if the above definition would do any thing to remedy the defeatist views you hold about our electorate.

Face is not a huge fan of the US and does not believe that we should swallow everything that the US says, hook, line and sinker. However, I believe that we should view all advice and criticism objectively regardless of whom it is coming from and then sieve the chaff from the grains.

I know it is annoying to receive advice from someone who has his own faults, but we should not discard the advice totally.

If for instance, you are about to swim in a river and a known armed robber or killer tells you that there is a huge killer crocodile in the river, will you dismiss the warning with a wave of hand or will you think twice before you swim?

Don’t shoot the messenger. I have looked at Big B1's comments and line of argument and cannot fault what he is saying. Read his comments again:

I support this new development.

Instead of Federal government spending heavily on trying to stop presidential candidates from contesting, I think they should focus more on educating the voters (citizens of Nigeria) and empowering the voting process in order to boost an accurate election result.

The Issue of trying to stop candidates from contesting reminds me of a man in the MIRROR saga (RatRace) and lack of confidence in the voters and in the voting process.

To me, it is totally a sign of setback; instead of wasting time and energy on short cut resolution process, why not invest more on a long term resolution process (educating voters and improving voting process) that will benefit all?

I truly do not believe that stopping few folks from contesting will solve any of our probelms; it might even create more trouble for us.

Who would dispute that it is necessary to educate voters and improve the voting process in Nigeria?

It is also his view that trying to stop candidates from contesting reeks of lack of confidence in the voters and in the voting process and I dont think he is far from the truth.

I also believe that there should be a level playing field for all and that all disqualifications should be lawful.

But U.S sef, who ask dem for advice ?

EFCC is an institution that is worth having and keeping in Nigeria. If the ACT establishing EFCC is well grounded, then there would be continuity of the institution regardless of the president at the time. EFCC should be answerable to the country and not to an individual or to a particular office. By the way, who is advocating for Atiku to be president or for EFCC to be watered down ? We should not be blinded by our emotions as to what is right or wrong.

The case before the judge was whether due process was followed in impeaching Dariye and not whether he was corrupt and the judge pronounced on the case before him. In other words he is not allowed to act outside the scope of the case before him and that should not be too difficult to understand. What ought to be is different from what is. People should stop wishing that the judiciary should act as both the prosecutor and adjudicator at the same time.

We have all seen how office holders easily hide under some immunity to loot public funds. An organisation like EFCC is powerless with regards to prosecuting them while in office, but that should not make lawmakers resort to gangstarism. We should be advocating for the removal of such immunity from them to enable accountability and smooth sailing of the rule of law.

It is only in the military that few are able to hold many to ransom. This is a democratic setting and we should all support the rule of law as no knows who might be the ultimate beneficiary of a strong and just judiciary in the future.

The function of the judiciary is interprete the law as it is and pass judgements on the case before it without prejudice.

If a judge is trying a man for traffic offences for example, he can not turn around and sentence the man for murder (even though the man may be guilty of murder ) because the case before him is for traffic offences and not murder.

We need to start getting things right and in the right order. I believe that Dariye is as guilty as sin judging by his escapades in the UK. However, he is protected by some shoddy immunity which comes to an end in a few weeks time and then he could be prosecuted accordingly. Our problem in Nigeria is that we tend to let all by-gones be by-gones and I suspect that would be the case when Dariye steps down.

@ Toshman,

Variety is what makes our language great. Read and listen carefully and you would understand. Its like listening to the different English tonations out there. From the east to the west coast of America, From the Aussie to the Geordie, Northen and Southern UK tonations. Believe me, you have to tune your brain into different frequencies to understand all these people speaking the same language and yet they are all very proud of their different accents. Sometimes the Americans do not understand the English(UK) and vice versa ,but there is that television accent that is very well understood across all boundaries. Central Igbo is the equivalent of that T.V English.

Good speakers are not always good writers so you have to be very care while reading and you would understand what the writer is saying.

Just a little tip though. These letters " a, e, o, i, m " are also pronouns and need to stand alone for easy reading. eg

"Agaram" is a bit difficult to discern while "A gara m" is a lot easier and more correct.

@ Wormedup. I like your variety " ulu l'ekwu l'imi" (unu na ekwu n'imi)

@Dime.
Ba wo ni ? . Aa le se racism ibi bayi. E kaa bo. Ba wa soro ni oyibo Ti O ba fe ba wa soro.

sorry guys, first and last communication in another language on this thread.