The person who started this post is useful, disillusioned and needs to further broaden his/her political & historical knowledge. Africans in the 21st century still killing each other over tribe & religion, when parts of the world are coming together and embracing their similarities & differences for the long-term future good and benefit of their people, this man is still advocating 18th century political idealogy. USELESS!!!

@posters

Can anyone kindly provide any information on how to get in touch with this guy, we have got a group here in the UK who are interested in the boy for further educational sponsorships and training.

Thank you.

babasin:

absolute rubbish project.

Why can't we appreciate the few good things about Nigeria, rather than always rubbush her. Please justify this your response. Abuja is something nigeria should at least be proud of, and also look at objectively with the view that indeed, if it can be done in Abuja, it can be done in every other state in Nigeria. Are you saying the proposed towers are absolute rubish or celebrating Abuja as a world class city and symbol of hope 4 nigeria is rubbish? I don't understand.

naijaking1:

Comparing OBJ to IBB and 'other scoundrels' before him is simply lowering the bar of expectation on him.

As to whether OBJ was a pretty good leader
'A pretty good leader'? Let history be the judge.

The expectation from OBJ was high, because there are very few instances in the World where previous leaders are given a second chance; to correct, straighten, and lay a better foundation for the development of their nation as OBJ has been given.

So, you can compare him to anybody you want, but the truth is that despite a second 'knack' at the presidency, he still needs a lot of public relationship to convince people of his achievements.

I agree

I have noticed a majority of the posters here are based in the US. I didn't know there was so much illegal nigerian immigrants in the US for real. Its the same problem we see here constantly in the UK. Nigerians are caught doing fraud, or driving without insurance, and worse still they probably don't have a valid immigration status to be in the Uk in the first place.

How can this be rightly justified? It is wrong, apart from it being a drain on hard working tax payers money in these countries, it is also a shame on every Nigerian. So in reality, we cannot start shouting and blaming these countries for tightening up their borders and immigration rules. Nigerians are always breaking the law here in the UK, defrauding the benefits system, housing scams, identity fraud, and the list go on, and most of these unscrupulous nigerians are illegals. Nigerians that are legally in the UK on work permits, or permanent residency, mostly seem to be doing very well.

If you go into a country illegally in the first place, ofcourse you're going to indulge in other illegal activities because you have come into a society were there is order, laws and penalties. How will you go for treatment to a hospital if you are ill (in the UK you have to provide your passport to register with the National Health Service)? How do you open a bank account (when 90% of transactions in the country are electronic)? Therefore there is no excuse or sympathy for illegal immigration. It exploits people and is akin to slavery!

@ davidylan

Who was talking to you? I don't deal with shallow minded people, I thought I made that clear to you? Express your jargon opinions to yourself and your other like-minded posters.

Its unfortunate how some people have no respect 4 other peoples' religion. Its just a forum, not a religious war!

naija_diva:

but nigerians in america are so loud and rude and they let you know that they are struggling.

Gosh, this is so funny, Nairaland never ceases to make me laugh  

I think it depends on how you as an individual view the man. If you have read about Nelson Mandela or someone like Kofi Annan, followed their history and achievement closely, your views will be different from someone who just knows these figures as international icons and from the media.

Considering the atrocities of the apartheid south africa in which Mandela is iconic, I think we can look at the unveiling of his statue in parliament square as an achievement and recognition of his role for what south africa is today, regardless from who that recognition is coming from. How many people in history have spent 27years in prison fighting for a cause, a right to their homeland, and then living to not only see that day, but become the first post-apartheid president of south africa, its an incredible achievement.

@liftedone

liftedone:

@hypernix, I made my point. I think it's clear enough. I am here to learn as much as I am here to share my point of view. I don't have a monopoly of knowledge. Thank you.

Pls don't take it personal, the question was not meant to be provocative, I was honestly asking, does that make all Nigerians abusive and insultive even if they are not faced with all those hardships you mentioned?

And its hipernetix not hypernix!  

naija_diva:

nigeria is not the only country in africa/world going through rough times but yet to me, in my opinion they are the meanest people. i rather hang out with non- nigerians than to hang with my very own people.

You are definitely hanging out with the wrong Nigerians    Nevertheless I don't think that makes Nigerians the meanest, you obviously haven't been involved in the meaner side associated with other cultures, coz believe me there are some messed up people in the world, far worse than Nigerians

@poster

It depends on the kind of Nigerian you meet, and under what circumstances you meet them. If you catch a Nigerian at the right time, under the right circumstances, I think you will find they are some of the nicest people to be around.

@londoner

Sorry for assuming you were a male member. Pls accept my apologies and thanks 4 letting me know.

tectona:

we are all Nigerians and Africans and share one thing in common the African unity. I know I would receive some insulting comments from people who want to show their brilliant ignorance. But I don't give a damn. Whoever has a problem with my comment should go and jump into a lake; it would be a huge favour.

I beg tectona don't make some people go commit suicide. We don't want to hear davidylan was found hanging from his room b'coz of your words, which I have highlighted, LOL!

@laudate

Sometimes I wonder why you bother with people like davidylan. The guy is so blinded by his own antagonism and prejudices that any point he makes has the same ol theme again and again. Practically the guy is bored, frustrated and has lots of time on his hands.

@posters

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londoner:

WALL OF SHAME, this thread is to expose posters who insist on consistly displaying and inciting tribalist antagonism.

I'm all for free speech, but I just personally feel like these people should be called out.

I'm used to solidarity among Nigerians, I feel disgusted at some of the things posted with the purpose of keeping Nigerians in a fragmented state, I'm for a united Nigeria, together the the celebration of our various tribal cultures.

Since people feel free to spew negativity (and its their right ), I feel free to call them out publicly (thats my right)

Feel free to add on.


PILAS
CHICHI81

@londoner
I salute you my dear brother for this bold move. It is good to see that at least there are those Nigerians who are willing to come together irrespective of ethnic or religious divide for the sake of peace, unity, and progress for Nigeria.

Your wall of shame will not be complete without this addition:

DAVIDYLAN

@londoner

londoner:

Hipernetix, thanks for the response, how do you suggest we begin to bring communities in  together under a new national identity?
How do we begin to replace the percieved notion of  tribal marginalisation/neglect that many people feel in Nigeria?

You see like so many fellow Nigerians who feel some form of antagonism towards the Nigerian project or a section of the country, I have my own issues with the Nigerian project which, like you said, I can only make suggestions on how to deal with those issues.  Obviously not everyone may agree with my approach but that is the whole idea of forums like this, for us to brainstorm together and share ideas on how to MOVE the country forward.  Rome was not built in a day and a journey of a thousand miles begin with the first steps.

My own approach towards conflict resolution and reconciliation is based on 3 principles.

1. RECONCILIATION: Now reconciliation can range from  simple domestic family squabbles to wide scale ethnic conflicts and there is not a single systematic definition that is applicable to states or communities, but let us take it at its simplest, that reconciliation means restoring trust, friendship, harmony or communion.  Reconciliation does not posit harmony between two states or peoples; it does, however, create a more felicitous environment within which conflicts can be addressed. The need for reconciliation presupposes a traumatic experience locking two or more peoples/communities in an ongoing cycle of mistrust, fear, and/or hatred.  The challenge varies based on the gravity and duration of the conflict. Charles Maier examined divergent examples of reconciliation from which he identified three patterns: Christian reconciliation, political reconciliation, and structural reconciliation. The first incorporates confession and forgiveness; the second tends to eschew a settlement of accounts, focusing instead on new political arrangements intended to overcome past injustices. In a structural approach, reconciliation is an unintended by-product. U.S.-German relations after World War II are the best example of that pattern, according to Maier.

2. EDUCATION:  We need to educate our people (from across the Nigerian geographic boundary) - because believe me we have educated miscreants, that are bent on promulgating the wrong solutions or approach, or should I say who prefer to take a hostile approach.  Basic education from the grass roots right to the top is key.  We need to educate our people on the basic principles of power.  People need to understand that power is vested in them and not in those corrupt leaders or elders, we need to educate the people that their vote is worth more than the meagre N1000 or whatever it is these politicians pay people for their votes.  When the people understand this, and understand that WE the people put YOU the politicians in public officies, it makes them ACCOUNTABLE to us.  How are they accountable?  By setting out key performance indicators and the establishment of a result driven and analytical structure that can weigh and adjudicate on the deliverables of these public office holders.  Part of this educational process should instill educating Nigerians on their own multiculturalism.  We have a great deal of Igbo communities in the north who live and reside in the north, their children were born in the north and they have assimilated into the northern culture, likewise there are northerners in the south in the same shoes.  This is the beauty of diversity, and it is only through educating each other on our cultural and religious differences that we will begin to understand the need to co-exist peaceful.  Not every northerner is a lazy ignorant cattle herder clingin onto oil wealth and I know not every southerner is an ethnic bigot.  Infact I believe through education, we can accept each other on the basis of what we have to offer and what we can bring to the table, rather than from which part of the country we hail from.  I as a northerner, am probably one of the most vehement advocates of bringing people like Babangida, Abdussalam, and whoever it may be to account for their ill-gotten wealth.  Because at the end of the day, it is not just the south that is suffering from their bad leadership, they have offered nothing to the north either.  Being from the north, I believe one of my responsibilities is to educate my people on the fact that these men are not patriots and are not people you should idolise, rather  we should abase them at every opportunity.  Through this educative process, a truly federal system will emerge that will promote a progressive, fair and cohesive co-existence between communities.

3. POVERTY ERADICATION:  Whatever form of reform we put in place will be to no avail as long as we do not tackle the issue of abject poverty.  We can start by forming our own initiatives individually, organisations or as groups.  There are people I know here in the UK, who have sent money home and established small to medium sized businesses and this is providing employment and a means of livelihood for others.  We can no longer wait for the government to initiate these changes.  Nigeria is blessed with a wealth of natural and human resources.  If we are so good in 419 and fraudulent activities (anywhere in the world, it is common knowledge), then we definitely are not stupid people, and when you provide a legitimate means for people to earn a decent livelihood, even if it is one, two or three people, it is one, two or three more people off the 'abject poverty ladder.'  Ofcourse these changes will not automatically and drastically transform the standard of living of the ordinary citizen, but like I said, the journey of a thousand miles begin with the first steps.

Others might have better and more workable solutions than what I propose here, but this is my own approach and I'm not suggesting it is flawless, infact far from that, but I'm a believer that changes can and will happen, and Nigeria will prosper as a united, indivisible and progressive nation.  Change takes time, and we may not live to see this change in our lifetime, but at least we owe it to our children and their children.

Open response to Londoner:

I admire your approach to the Nigerian issue. You are absolutely right, it is all we have, we need to find ways to reconcile and move forward progressively as a strong united nation that caters for the needs of all its citizenry. This will take time, but we must start somewhere,

You my dear friend have just proved to me you are not worth my time. I don't have time for someone who is so shallow minded, so ethinically biased as to ridicule someone's faiths' marital legislations. That is just naive, childish and a sign of desperation. I will not even bother to respond to that. Let us rub minds intellectually and factually rather than engage in deplorable cynism.

Nigeria, my dear 'OIL TYCOON', is vehemtly kept together by the north, in YOUR interest also. If you don't know, the security and stability of Nigeria is vital in the West African sub-regiont, but I don't expect your mind to see beyond your scope of 'ITS MY OIL, ITS THE NORTH'S FAULT'. So please do remain there, WE the next generation of Nigerians (Yorubas, Hausas, Igbos et al) will salvage it together God willing! And at that time, don't come and lay claim to the New Nigeria Identity, for we will not accept you. LOL!

I am done with you sir.

Gentleman

I can sit here and cry about my love for Nigeria, quite sure, I guess it is a start. YOU sir, can sit there in the States and continue to cry and feel sorry for yourself, and continue to blame blame blame the north for your WOES. I guess that is easiest for you. I am beginning to understand your reasoning, coupled with the fact that you are in the States, please stay there. Nigeria does not need retrogressive minds. That, my dear friend is what will keep you in the dark ages and compound your woes.

And speak for yourself, NOT everyone is out there clamouring and claiming oil wealth other than people like yourselves. In this age, do you think the North cannot survive without oil? Who do you think is really exploiting the area? You have no idea what you are talking about, rather you pride YOUR "intellectual reasoning" on looking for scapegoats. COWARDICE. But, its good, continue to underestimate the north, and you will continue to wonder why you're still there shouting about "ITS MY OIL". Oil is a forgone issue my friend. The richest man in the world is not an oil sheikh, its a college dropout computer scientist. Thank God your leaders know why THEY need the north in Nigeria. I guess if we are that stupid or useless, you guys would have flushed us out long ago. Hmmm!

You are entitled to your opinion and YOUR analyses of my statements is your own perspective on how you assimilate and digest what I have pointed out in contrast to your facts and findings, I will not rubish your understanding of things. The sorry FACT remains the issue of your failure to come to terms with the real situation on the ground from a broad and wider perspective of the present day setup.

The blame game and claim to national oil will remain just that, GAME. Accept it, Nigeria is Nigeria and ALL (not just oil or groundnuts), ALL of Nigeria's resources belong to Nigeria and NOT just a section of the country where it came from. Anything to the contrary is simply playing to the twist and shouts of economic politics. To compare the Alaskan scenario with how oil revenue and owner ship should be classified in Nigeria is pitiful and ridiculous. You find out who truly controls the North Sea Oil fields and I will prove my point.

For you to even come up with the statement about dates and geographic boundaries that brought the Nigerian entity together, which a view to justifying your claim to the oil resources in your area is a sad state that will require my time and effort to educate you on it adequately, and practically I do not have that time unfortunately. All I can say now is, GOD SAVE NIGERIA!!!!!!

Dear Sir,

It is quite interesting to read your comments. Where you are WRONG is that oil does not belong to you, it belongs to NIGERIA. Ken Saro-Wiwa was convicted by a court on charges of murder, which he instigated and orchestrated, whilst hiding behind the struggle for the Ogoni people. if you didn't know now you know. And the fact is that, ofcourse for him to be executed during a military regime will not go down well with the western media, because they are against military rule, so the media will feed people like you all sorts of nonsense.

On the issue of kano or the north getting N2bn from the federal coffers, yes I live in the west and I will tell you that the social security system here is no different. People work and pay taxes - known as national insurance here in the UK, and this tax is, simply put, a way that everybody contributes to the national coffers. Whether you are a born and bred british national or a foreigner on a work permit, everybody chips into the coffers, so that those who are umemployed receive benefits from this treasury known as unemployment benefits, others receive housing benefits etc, and it also funds the NHS (national health service) so that everyone has access to health care. It is common knowledge that the southern part of the UK is more affluent than the northern part of the country, but regardless, everybody chips in so that the society functions. Also, take note, the British government owns the oil fields off the coast of Scotland known as the North Sea Oil Fields, why isn't Scotland shouting and clamouring that this is our oil, it is off our coast? Because the fact is that, it is the oil of the United kingdom, within the soverign boundary and territorial waters of the Kingdom, and NOT that of Scotland. This is the difference between the BLACK man and the WHITE man. We all have individual differences but the white man can see beyond ethnic divides in order to advance his society.

Are you going to continue to blame the north for all your woes? Obasanjo, from the south, came in and served 8yrs, and it is a FACT, that Nigeria has never seen such poverty, insecurity, corruption and mass migration from the country like in this last 8yrs. But, oh, let me guess, it is the north who orchestrated OBJ policies right? Come on! Move on, we are in the 21st century, and if you have nothing to offer for Nigeria, other than meagre unfounded rhetorics, then sorry to say Nigeria does not need people like you (with all due respect and no insult intended here). What Nigeria needs is reconciliation and a system that is put in place to assure accountability, responsibility and transparency in all aspects of national affairs. I commend president Yar Adua for instigating electoral reforms in the country (which OBJ made a mock of and abused) and reversing the illegal sale of our refineries and national assets (sold off by OBJ, a southerner), and also, I commend Ribadu for his effort in trying to bring back some form of sanity in the Nigerian system. But I guess people like you will never see anything good in the north, on the contrary I am proud that not all southerners are like minded, for I can gladly say I am associated with some extremely brilliant southerners who see beyond my ethnic origin as a Hausa/Fulani. There is no country in the world, where as a black man, you have the opportunity to achieve in life like Nigeria. The US and UK that so many Nigerians die to flee to, will never offer you the opportunity Nigeria will, despite all our shortcomings as a nation. So why don't we put all hands on deck and salvage it together.

LONG LIVE THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA!

Dear People

Lets not also forget, that before the advent of the discovery of oil in Nigeria, the whole Nigerian economy, institutions and infrastructure was built on agricultural exports from the north. Do your research. However, that is not to say that the north is inexpendable. The fact is that Nigeria is an inter-dependent nation and has always been. Ethniticism has always been used by past and present politicians for their own political gains, and not in the interest of the Ijaws, Yorubas, Hausas, Fulanis, Igbos, Kanuris, Tivs, Itsekiris or any other ethnic block in Nigeria. We have to transcend this ethnic bigotry if we ever intend to progress, and I believe we will, because the next generation of Nigerians are result driven. People are no longer interested in which part of the country you come from, but rather, what can you deliver and what have you got to offer. Those who continue to dwell along ethnic divide will never progress in the NEW NIGERIA, believe that.

Open response to WillyWilly:

I believe you are a Nigerian, and you say, tell them northern and western Nigerians to stop terrorising the Ijaws with their military? That is a very contradictory statement, as the NIGERIAN MILITARY comprises of officers and soldiers from the Niger-Delta inclusive. Irrespective of what you may think, the Niger-Delta problem is not solely as a result of northern or western military aggression, rather, why don't you probe and question the multinational oil companies who have desecrated the area both economically and financially in association with your own elders to the detriment of the ordinary people. I feel strongly for the Niger-Delta region and I believe they deserve better, but blaming the nigerian military from the northern and western composition will NOT sort the problem my dear brother. There are ways in which your people can make their voices heard strongly, especially with technological advancements in media and telecommunications and the evolvement of a global human rights movement that makes countries, leaders and organisations accountable for their actions. This is a much wiser route to take than to simply look for the easy way out of looking for someone to blame. That will not solve anything? Start by making your leaders and elders, governors accountable first. The Niger-Delta governors and most of the other state governors of the past eight years have probably been the most outrageous looters of their own people. Perhaps the only exception was governor Donald Duke of Cross Rivers State, other than that, tell me what the Niger-Delta governors have done for their people in the past eight years with all the oil revenue percentage they clamoured for - and was given to them by former president Obasanjo, apart from systematic looting, abuse and enriching themselves and their cohorts. That region has never benefitted from the oil revenue moreso than in the past 8yrs. Without military intervention - which is not always recommended, the niger-delta will become a lawless place, giving rise to militias, bandits and criminals posing in the guise of 'STRUGGLING' for the people.

Sookie

More grease to your elbow. It is quite unfortunate that at this time and age, as Nigerians, we are still squabbling over ethnic bias and prejudices with regards to almost every aspect of our national identity, politics, religion, socio-cultural and economic issues. Agreed, there have been mismanagement and bad leadership, but it is unfounded to think that this should be blamed wholly on the north and northerners. Agreed, the leaders have been northerners, but who ran and managed the civil service for all those 47years - just to state one example? I'm not here to play the blame game, as I am an educated and progressive BLACK man of hausa/fulani origin with several friends, colleagues and business partners from every corner of Nigeria and when we sit and discuss, we all discuss ideas, because I believe great minds discuss ideas. And I believe with the level of exposure and networking amongsts Nigerians both back in Nigeria and in the diaspora, Nigeria is slowly, but surely beginning to transcend the boundaries of ethnic divide and bigotry. At a period of time when world communities are coming together to unite (e.g. EU, ASEAN[Association of South East Asian Nations],) and even to a lesser extent ECOWAS (trying to have one currency, passport and legislation), mankind has realised that great progress can only be achieved through a unified effort and approach. Things are changing very fast in Nigeria and we must embrace our diversity in culture, religion and tradition to our ultimate advantage. The United States of America is a society of multicultural citizenry, and even in the conservative UK, multi-culturalism has been embraced over the last ten years especially, which has really brought London back as the number one economic and financial centre in the world, ahead of New York. Nigeria united we stand, divided we fall, and tell me, who wins when we are divided? Nobody, not the south with all its oil, or the north with all its associated problems.