₦airaland Forum

Looks great and uncrowded. The old gets boring.

Another way of making the best out of reality of Naija life

It is very interesting that people do not realize that poundo yam is not yam but potato mixed with flour and other stuff.

Minimum Wage: We’ve Started Paying - FG •No, It’s A Lie - Labour

TRIBUNE

Written by Soji-Eze Fagbemi Saturday, 25 February 2012


A major controversy is raging over the payment of the N18,000 national minimum wage

by the Federal Government as labour leaders, on Friday accused the Federal Government of not implementing the new Minimum Wage Act.

But, the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, said the government had indeed commenced the payment of the wage.

The labour leaders publicly confronted the minister on the issue at the commissioning of the Lagos corporate office of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) to signal the commencement of the Employees Compensation Scheme.

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Abdu-wahed Omar and the President-General of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Peter Esele, frowned at what they termed as the refusal of the government to pay the wage.

While acknowledging the efforts of President Goodluck Jonathan in ensuring the implementation of the Employee Compensation Scheme based on the Employee Compensation Act, Omar charged him to ensure that he extend a similar gesture to the implementation of the minimum wage.

He said it was surprising that the government had not paid the wage after the president had signed the enabling law.

“Those of us in the labour circle commend this scheme (ECS) because it is clear, purposeful and transparent.

“The Federal Government must also ensure that it is transparent in fulfilling all the promises it made to workers, especially in the payment of the national minimum wage,” Omar said.

Also, Esele, who had expressed serious concern over the non-implementation of the wage, said it was disheartening that it had not been paid to workers by now.

He, however, blamed this on the bureaucracy in the civil service, adding that Jonathan was amazed when labour complained about the non-imple-mentation of the new wage during one of their meetings over the fuel subsidy removal crisis.

Esele also stated that the president was surprised to hear that federal workers had not started receiving the wage when labour told him at one of the mee-tings.

“We want to hear today something tangible and significant on the payment of the new mini-mum wage from the minister,” Esele told Chief Wogu.

In a swift reaction, the minister said Jona-than had given a directive that the wage should be implemented fully.

He said the president had said that the implementation should begin in earnest and in fact stressed that the payment had begun at the federal level.

The minister added that from information available to him, some states had started implementing it, citing Lagos State and his home state, Abia State as two of such states.

He said the president was worker-friendly and would do everything to protect the interest of the workers, noting that his interest in workers’ welfare had shown clearly in the numbers of things already done by the president for the workers.

According to the miniseers, the urgency at which Jonathan signed the National Minimum Wage Act into law and the present Employee Com-pensation Act was a pointer to this fact.
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Seriously, there must be something wrong with these fools.

The rich needs government's help to build their own houses? This is government miss road while the poor and the very few middle class suffer.

I can understand how people feel when some of these diseases become regionalized. Let us face it, some diseases are more edemic to one region than another. In the case of HIV, as a virus, some many strains have developed.

Before you blame the white man, because they brought it in the first place, check out your areas for what is edemic and not just HIV. There is no doubt that HIV was spread worldwide by gays from California. Anyone that watched Tony Brown Journals on PBS in the 70s and 80s would have noticed the prediction that HIV is going to become Blacks disease because of less or lack of medical care.

My advise is to take whatever you are told, research it before condemning it. Your health comes first before anything else. So yes, there are strains of HIV for every region including Europe and America. Even at the same infection rate, the ease of treatment and medical care reduce incidents comparatively.

Some have refused Africans blood donations because of Hepatitis B as well.

Prices of yam, perishables fall

Written by Olayemi R. Ibrahim Thursday, 02 February 2012 05:00

Prices of food stuff  like yam and other perishable crops across some market in Abuja have dropped.
Some of the markets visited by our correspondent yesterday witnessed high patronage as buyers were seen buying food items at cheap prices.

At the regular Karmo Tuesday market, a heap of yam which used be sold for between N25,000 and N30,000 now goes for N12,000 to N15,000 depending on the size while a basket of tomatoes now cost N2,500 for the big size while the medium size now sell for N1,800.

Mallam Saidu who sells yam said they are able to sell at cheap price because this is the harvest season.

“Around November and December, I used to sell five tubers of yams for N2, 200 but it is now N1, 200 while the medium size now goes for N600 and N800. We even have the size we can sell at N200 depending on what you want,” he said.

Despite the fall in price, Saidu said he is still making his profit, “the fall in price is not affecting my sale in anyway because we even have lots of patronage. You can see how customers are patronizing us. In the past when it was expensive, we used to come to the market without selling all our stock but hardly do we return home these days without selling all,” he said.

Mrs. Abiodun Mary who said she came all the way from Garki II to buy yam said she was in the market when she heard that prices are falling. “I normally buy yam during this season to make ‘elubo’ (yam flour) because it is very expensive when new yam is out.  I bought 40 tubers for N6,500 and by the time I dry it, it will last my family for a long time,” Abiodun said.

In the same vein, perishables like tomatoes and peppers are also experiencing cut in prices. A big basket of tomatoes which was initially sold for N5,000 and N6,000 is now N3,500 while small basket which was initially sold for N600  and N650 is now N350 or N450.

A big basket of onions is now N5,500 as against the initial price of N7,000 while a small basket goes for N400 as against the initial price of N500.

http://dailytrust.com.ng/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=153782:prices-of-yam-perishables-fall-&catid=3:business&Itemid=3

ZOMBIE IF I QUENCH YOU QUENCH


Those who fight and run, live to fight another day, we have not seen the last protest. Whoever sends you to take human lives, tell them to start with themselves if you are not a zombie. The consequences must not be by your wish for 42 virgins or jungle justice. Nigeria is all you have. Tired of being shot by police and soldiers, bombed by Boko Haram, hunger crossing the desert, or resisting deportation; it is better to fight corruption and insecurity at home. Nigerians are mindful of exploitation of our causes by ethnic and religious indoctrination but are not cowards.

Some Northern governors are paying Boko Haram what Southern governors are paying militia to keep peace. The proportional basis of our corruption, religious and militia violence is equal to the amount of political thugs in your state. The thugs Leaders recruited graduated into religious and ethnic zombies. Adedibu in the West started as a thug before he became the grandfather of violence asking governors for their security votes if they want peace. Governor Obi rejected the call of MASSOB and transport workers to leave local taxes to them or face mayhem.

Many leaders claim they fought for and are ready to die for Nigeria, religion and ethnicity, are nothing but liars. They fought for their selfish ends taking risk stealing resources just like armed robber, that know they can be shot to death for invading private homes. If they are not in business to make a decent profit but do convert 75% of peoples’ recurrent budget into their own pockets, they are nothing but daylight robbers. No matter how trained you are from wherever, if you cannot use that training locally as an antidote to our problem, it is a waste.

We know the solutions to our problems. Instead of training ethnic and religious militants at home and abroad, we could have used our money wisely training students playing by the rule on how to seize control of our primary industry in agriculture and oil from exploration to the finest products. Even our crude oil production is limited by OPEC quota but the products of our refineries that could be used for our own benefit at home and exported to other countries in return for foreign exchange is unlimited. After Civil War we are yet to corner that technology.

We have politicians and planted World Bank and IMF self-aggrandizing Africans that negotiated 47 to 53 percent of our crude oil away but no scholars and technicians that can take control of natural resources or steal technology from Europe and America like China, Russia, Venezuela, Malaysia and India. Yet highly educated Nigerians are at home under the yoke of SAP, all over Europe and America whose hard earned foreign money has been diluted by highly inflated prices of materials and housing corrupted at home by those that have never earned foreign money but spend it freely. Even if technocrats want to pass on their expertize for free, they cannot not afford primary living in their homeland. But foreign “experts partners” can.

If we want success, that we must call Ijaw to be in forefront to confront Ebele because is Ijaw, is revolting to many. But it is not sickening to them to call on Muslims in the North to confront Boko Haram. Rightly they claim: after all he is the President of all Nigerians. The reason Ebele got to where he is right now is for no other reason than being Ijaw. He was planted to appease Niger Delta, pure and simple. But Boko Haramites must not undermine him just to appease them. A good place to learn is how Ebele turned the recent strike into his ethnic solidarity or how Boko Haram turned against their paymasters including Christians in the North.

Ebele Azikiwe played the ethnic card to his advantage during the strike and we cannot blame him because many in his position would do the same. There is a difference between a military coup and a civilian coup. Military use ballots under the gun. Civilians use ballot by persuasion either by false and deceptive high-tech public relation or by competent facts to counter and gain majority votes. Only military, not civilian can enforce a coup or overthrow a government by encouraging Igbo officers to overthrow Yoruba and Hausa officers to overthrow Igbo as could Berom or Ibibio.

It does not work under civilian setting. If Hausa is in power, send Hausa after him and if Ijaw is in power, send Ijaw after him. By the same token, if Boko Haram kicks because they lost power, let Northern Muslims put fatwa on them. The arduous duty is that it will take much more to persuade most Ijaw to go after Ijaw and most Yoruba to go after Yoruba. In order to get most in the ethnic group to go after their own or against religious masqueraders, the massagers must have been as virulent as Boko Haram. It gets to a point when your own people say enough is enough. Obasanjo got that message while seeking Third Term.

What we see in Ebele is a President that is not comfortable because of so many sharks around him. He was forced to dole out benefits, bribe or privilege to king makers so that the military or Boko Haram masqueraders would not force him out of office. The fact that he says his doubters have invaded every level of government buttress this fact. Unfortunately, while he can dole out all the Federal income from oil, he cannot punish them like Babangida, Abacha or Obasanjo.

Babangida would dole out bribes or punish anyone out of grace. Abacha from Kano, disciplined Maitatsine and dethroned Sardauna of Sokoto with muted challenge. Indeed, Obasanjo retired all the militricians and renegaded on his agreement with the Northern power brokers. Buhari, hate corruption but because his weakness for special privilege for royalty and religion, cost him the election last time around. What they all have in common is their military background.

However, military background is irrelevant in today’s Nigeria. Anyone can buy weapons at the international market, so any full scale confrontation that unites the ethnic militias will be protracted and counterproductive compared to one week strike betrayed by ethnic loyalty. Indeed, his ethnic militia turned it into an attempt to overthrow Ebele. Mind you, there are opportunists that would not blink an eye to do so, especially the Ciroma group.

Since Ebele got in, he has reshuffled the shakers of petroleum industry with his own people. He has to do more than that. Once Nigerians realize that a corrupt Nigerian is a corrupt Nigerian no matter where he comes from, we would expect people in Niger Delta as other Nigerians to demand answers from their people in charge. Indeed, all the savings that were accumulated under the previous regime is gone and the infatuation with their leaders may turn sourer.

Ebele may be one of the best antidotes for Nigeria’s problems. Niger Delta will tear itself into pieces at the rate they are spending oil money, unless Ebele stops it. If we leave the North to themselves Boko Haram will tear them into pieces. If we leave the South to themselves, they will tear one another into pieces along different tongues. Our different ethnicity is our greatest strength in moderating one another. The best peacekeeping force is within Nigeria, not from the United Nations. They cannot wait to split us into pieces. But each of the ethnic or religious leaders must lead to cure its own cancer.

So far only a couple of ethnic groups have disowned the notorious Judas in their midst. Not too many Nigerians have lynched their local council man, chairman, representative or senator. They may wage war and curses on Obasanjo, Shonekan, Tafa Balogun etc. to the glee and approval of other Nigerians. As soon as the table turned, most of the people in other ethnic groups become defensive but those willing to call corruption within their ethnic groups, are labeled traitors. It is our history and we must accept it as our weakness. We all have excuses for defending our own. In the same way solution for Boko Haram must come from Northern religious leaders and sponsors.

The goal here was not to replace Ebele with Boko Haram but to call all sides to order before they tear Nigeria apart since each sponsors their constituencies. We have to force them to see reason that there are too many politicians and advisers in Nigeria and we cannot generate enough income to pay or bribe them all for loyalties, more than the owners of presidential or parliamentary system. We want to cut waste and return most of the income from our resources to the states. If we cannot convince the Ijaw to demand that much from Ebele or from Boko Haram paymasters; we have failed to rescue our Country from corruption and insecurity.

Farouk Martins Aresa
http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/farouk-martins/zombie-if-i-quench-you-quench.html

Do not forget Ester Smart, the peace keeper soldier sentenced for protesting denial of their earned money.

https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-286487.0.html

They came from Bin Laden post  in Pakistan and thought they were in Lagos where Joe is still looking for Boko Haramites.

143 people killed in co-ordinated sect attacks in Nigeria: reports

January 21, 2012

Jon Gambrell The Star
http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1119192--143-people-killed-in-co-ordinated-sect-attacks-in-nigeria-reports?bn=1

People watch as smoke rises from the police headquarters after it was hit by a blast in Nigeria's northern city of Kano January 20, 2012.
STRINGER/REUTERS

LAGOS, NIGERIA—An official at a hospital in northern Nigeria says at least 143 people have been killed in co-ordinated attacks in the nation’s second largest city claimed by a radical Islamist sect.

The official said Saturday that the figure represented those in a mortuary at Kano’s largest hospital, as well as those whose bodies have already been claimed by families for burial.

The official spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to journalists.

The sect known as Boko Haram claimed the attacks Friday in the city of more than 9 million people.

Any Nigerian that wants to know what is going on about our economy in general must read or study this oil information very well and make a sensible deduction out of all the submissions floating around.

My submission is this. Crude oil like any other raw material is only valuable to Nigeria is when we develop the technology and related education towards our natural resources. Since we do not but are more interested in higher education that are marginally relevant to our needs, we will always be taken for a ride.

Even the about of crude we can export is limited by agreement. But the amount we can use and refine at home and abroad is not. We need to think hard.

Before Malaysia, Brazil, and Venezuela took control of their resources, their priorities were students sent all over the world on their primary sectors. China sent students to US and Russia to study and steal technologies. We sent militants abroad and neglected students in the same areas that play by the rules.

Our agriculture and mineral resources is being taken over by land deals with foreigners and politicians that should be crying but are laughing to foreign banks. We do not know how to asses oil going out, they tell us what to grow as raw material and take control.

Thanks all for your contribution. We need to learn from one another and grow.

I am just worried that he may tell MEND to invade Niger for their new refinery before they invade Nigeria for more crude oil, apart from theirs.


[quote author=Sisi_Kill link=topic=850185.msg10003946#msg10003946 date=1327014590]We're Fighting them over in Iraq is so we don't have to fight them here at home". George Bush on Reasons for the Iraq War -June 9, 2005.

We're are Fighting them over in Lagos where they are not, so that we don't have to fight them in the North where they are" Jonathan Goodluck on Deploying Soldiers to Lagos where there is no record of Boko Haram attack. - Jan 19, 2012

Three guesses on how this is going end. . .the first 2 don't count. [/quote]

Unfortunately, every internet site has been invaded by paid informants. There are too many of them trying to change public opinion on what is obvious to most sensible people. This is how they shift focus and bend causes that most Nigerians agree on.

Why is the obvious questions hard to Answer?

Your rep, Gov. and local chairmen are equally responsible. Why don't we hold their throats but conveniently go for the only one at a distance?

Let us face it Nigerians prefer to point fingers away from ourselves, our relatives and those that give us a bag of rice just before elections.

Beaf:
I would love to know if you have asked similar questions about your LG chairman, your governor, rep member and senator. Or have you conveniently forgotten that they exist? I find that to be a very common problem.

Sending MEND to Joe to purge corruption or face calabash will be more powerful than Boko Haram fanatics messengers of Ciroma and will be resisted MASSOB and OPC.

Nigeria strike unites classes in populist By JON GAMBRELL


The Associated Press

LAGOS, Nigeria — The protest first drew Nigerians who live hand-to-trash, scavenging through mountains of garbage to make a living. Now, long lines of cars and expensive motorcycles are parking near demonstration that is drawing more than 10,000 people angry about life in Africa's most populous nation.

Angry youths protest on the third day of nationwide strike following the removal of a fuel subsidy by the government in Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012.Nigeria's government is warning that a paralyzing national strike risks "anarchy" in the oil-rich nation, as demonstrations over spiraling fuel prices and government corruption entered their third day Wednesday.(AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

Angry youths protest at Lekki road on the third day of nation wide strike following the removal of a fuel subsidy by the government in Lagos, Nigeria, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012. Nigeria's government is warning that a paralyzing national strike risks "anarchy" in the oil-rich nation, as demonstrations over spiraling fuel prices and government corruption entered their third day Wednesday.(AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

Angry youth protest at Lekki road on the third day of nation wide strike following the removal of a fuel subsidy by the government in Lagos, Nigeria, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012. Nigeria's government is warning that a paralyzing national strike risks "anarchy" in the oil-rich nation, as demonstrations over spiraling fuel prices and government corruption entered their third day Wednesday.(AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

.The nationwide strike first began over gasoline prices more than doubling, but now it encompasses criticism of all Nigeria's failings. People shout to anyone that will listen about the country's cratered roads, dilapidated schools and the government corruption that leaves politicians wealthy and the people largely poor in the oil-rich nation.

And protesters say they want a permanent change in Nigeria, a move away from leaders who send their families abroad for schooling and medical checkups while the rest subsist on less than $2 a day.

"They want to cut us off," said Anthony Abang, a 32-year-old unemployed man who helped close down a Lagos highway. "They want to kill our future."

President Goodluck Jonathan removed subsidies on Jan. 1 that had kept gasoline prices low for more than two decades. Overnight, prices at the pump more than doubled, from $1.70 per gallon (45 cents per liter) to at least $3.50 per gallon (94 cents per liter). The costs of food and transportation also doubled.

Jonathan insists the move was necessary to save the country an estimated $8 billion a year, which he promises will go toward badly needed road and public projects. But to the Nigerians marching through the streets in all parts of the country, government promises only enrich politicians who routinely swindle budget money from promised public works as electricity and clean drinking water remain out of reach for many.

That anger has seen some protesters confront police, set burning roadblocks and attack government offices, violence that has left at least 10 people dead so far. On Wednesday in Minna, the capital of the central Niger state, youths attacked the governor's house, forcing him to flee by helicopter. A mob killed one police officer.

Attorney General Mohammed Bello Adoke has warned the government "will not hesitate to bring to bear the full weight of the law" against violent protesters. He also described the strike by major labor unions as illegally violating a court injuction.

"Continuing disregard of that order is (dangerous) to the public interest as it constitutes an open invitation to anarchy," Adoke said in a statement issued late Tuesday.

Adoke also warned public workers that the government would implement a "no work, no pay" policy for those who join the strike. However, public workers sometimes go weeks without pay in Nigeria, where corruption and mismanagement has plagued government for decades.

In Lagos, Nigeria's commercial capital of 15 million, several hundred protesters on Wednesday took over a major highway leading to the islands where the wealthy live. One protester carried a signed that read: "We are ready for the civil war."

Fears about violence were heightened as the leader of a radical Islamist sect challenged the authority of Nigeria's president in an online video. The video by Imam Abubakar Shekau, the leader of the sect known as Boko Haram, will only aggravate existing religious and ethnic tensions in Nigeria, a nation of more than 160 million.

Unrest could affect oil production in Nigeria, which pumps about 2.4 million barrels of oil a day and is a top crude supplier to the U.S. However, most fields remain unmanned and offshore oil fields provide a share of its capacity.

Babatunde Ogun, president of one major union representing oil workers, said Wednesday his group planned to escalate their strike.

"It means in the short term, there will be no export of (natural) gas, there will be no power," Ogun said. "Everything will be at a standstill."

___

Associated Press writers Ibrahim Garba in Kano, Nigeria; Yinka Ibukun in Lagos, Nigeria and Bashir Adigun in Abuja, Nigeria contributed to this report.



http://www.ajc.com/business/nigeria-strike-unites-classes-1299168.html#fadetoblack

Why are we missing the point? A former oil mister Tam David West said only one or two oil company was refining crude oil, sending it back to Nigeria and selling the surplus by putting more money in Nigeria pocket, without loss.

Many cabals have taken the position as middle men each jacking up the price to make obscene profit. Simply tell them to back off and go back to one or two companies that actually have refineries. Not middle men without refineries that have to go to those with refineries. How simpler can that be?

This is really shameful, how low can we get?

An innocent man woke up at the hospital in the midst of peaceful protest and people are jubilating. This man could have died just caught in peaceful protest.
Press show students and people that were pepper sprayed in the countries these bastard carry their loot, and people were mad. It caught the attention of the whole country. But in Nigeria, that a man almost died is nothing.

Yes, only Nigerians can save Nigeria. God is not coming down for your insensitivity.

HEAR THE POOR & VOICELESS CAUGHT IN LEKKI SHAKEDOWN

You have heard the voices of the educated demonstrating, the purchasing power of the rich that cannot be bordered but not the powerless voices of those poorer than the minimum wage earners whose take home pay cannot pay the toll. We were living here before Maroko became Lekki and some of us were brought here by Jakande as home owners for the first time in our life. Who do we call or beg for relief since we are lumped and stuck at home without toll tax.

Since the time of Jakande, we have not witnessed government presence in our life. The school was built by Jakande. Like our rich and educated new neighbors, we provide our own electricity and security. But unlike our educated and rich neighbors, we cannot afford their private schools and shopping centers. In order to get to the market, schools, health centers and work, we depend on private transportation that will pay toll and increase our fare.

Many of us miss Maroko where life was simpler but that is history now. Those of us from fishing villages, houseboys and girls, drivers, cooks and cleaners are on the verge of losing our jobs because Oga will not pay minimum wage, not to think of paying for our transportation that will certainly be increased by the toll tax. Since Jakande turned us into home owners, some of us have been able to buy old jalopies our neighbors discard. Who will pay our toll?

Those of us living past Ajah into Ijebu where glad when a road was finally built linking us to our kin and neighbors. The same road is now used to strangle and curtail our activities and freedom of movement from and to our homes. When we were told they were going to build upon it, we thought it was because of the power of the rich. They could have constructed a brand new road that would be faster and more attractive to those that want to save time and pay toll.

There are some of us that have lost the income we used to have, the jobs we used to have, the houses we are left with are occupied by our children that graduated from university without jobs and we are too old and gray to support them. We are not dare-devil and cannot steal, we are not connected nor can we get into politics. We have no access to President, Governor and Chairmen of local councils. Some of us may be house rich but have no new income.

Another group of us are very educated, used to be wealthy but struggle these days with the little we have left. It is not that we did not prepare for our old age, but after structural adjustment we lost our purchasing power since our naira became useless. We sold some our belongings, properties but we are down to our last houses and our last cars. If we had sold those and outlive the returns, we would be on the streets today.

The only cars we have left are old and battered visiting mechanics whenever we card afford it. We are now stuck at home because we cannot tell or cry to everybody that we cannot afford toll to visit children, relatives and friends. We cannot even wait at the toll for too long. As for our pensions, we are not immune to the delayed and erratic long lines of all levels of the governments. Indeed, some of us have died on the lines waiting.

Our children told us there is no place in the world where toll road is built in a residential area. Well, there is always a first in Nigeria. We do not know why they will plant flowers on existing road since the time of Jakande and start shaking us down like the police, omo-onile, areas boys and mafia asking for ransom before we leave and enter our homes.

Why have you forsaken us because we have no voice, no education or no money? There must be somebody somewhere that will hear our cries. Poor people in Nigeria have learned not to depend on governments. Government only takes care of the needs of the rich. They share whatever there is amongst themselves and tell us to close our eyes and pray for better days while they disappear with our money.

We have pleaded with Federal Government to come to our aids with a bridge to link us to the Mainland ready to pay toll. All we get are promises and ceremonies upon commissions that have not produced anything. Anyway, there are more urgent needs than ours. Federal roads, projects and Festac Town are still on hold. Before they attend to us, those will probably take precedence to our little needs in Lekki.

The Lagos State Government shows us all the projects they have accomplished and dare us to show any other state that has done as much. Yes, we know the Governor of Lagos State, his father and grandfather. It was our first stop for relief. However, this Lekki toll is beyond the Governor. Anyone that thinks he has free hand and complete control of his State is a dreamer. He never had before now or until now. Some of you must have heard about his power struggle.

Who then do we go to? If anyone knows where we can reach the almighty power of Lagos State, please point us to the way. We have no connection, no access and no control. We have been told he is the Asiwaju of Lagos. The one and only powerful that has Fashola at his grips. We beg you in the name of whoever you worship to suspend these tolls until alternate road or bridge is built that will attract paying customer.

Tinubu, we beg you in the name of Iragbiji, Omo-Amoda, Omo-Yekini, Omo-Ogunlere to release your choke on Lagos State. Please let us breathe. By the time you make all your money, our children and grandchildren will still be in debt. By the time you live long, dead and gone, our children will be in perpetual debts trying to pay off all the debt you have incurred in your lifetime. Yet no State in the whole of Nigeria makes as much money as Lagos State.

Tinubu, na God we take beg you O. Ebe la nbe osika ko ma balu je.




Farouk Martins Aresa

Source: Story from The Nigerian Voice News:

Published: Saturday, December 24, 2011

FASHOLA TRUE FACE: PRICING NIGERIANS OUT OF MARKET

Farouk Martins Aresa

On the minimum wage of 18K, there is nothing left by the time we pay tolls at Lekki or fees at Lagos State University. Ouch, gas deregulation nko! Some of us just cannot understand why these have to be during the reign of a bona fide Lagosian. There are some fears in Lagos circles that a plague has been place on Fashola intentionally to undo and eclipse his goodwill or whatever he has done in Lagos. You can bet your last 100 naira that his backers today will come out in future disowning him, saying we warned him.

Nigerians are very sensitive when it comes to one of their own and the Fashola family is well known in Lagos. There is not much more in taxes Lagosians can pay without sacrificing everything they have worked for in their young or old age. Lagos is now made up of all walks of life, even non-Africans but when it comes to planning for the future of the State, how many average Nigerians are taken into consideration?

http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/guest-articles/fashola-true-face-pricing-nigerians-out-of-market.html

Those of us that have not seen other places beyond our nose, at least know that toll roads are constructed to attract motorists looking for faster and more efficient ways of getting to their destinations. In spite of the fact that people have to pay to use it, they are attracted by the amount of time they can save traveling on it, not forced by some government bureaucrats and lack of primary roads to use it. It is not built on existing road paid for by taxpayer and decorated with flowers. Side roads for convenience of residents have turned into alternate new tolling centers.

We all dream of a megacities and star wars but only if it can benefit Nigerians. Lagos, like the rest of the Country is now being priced out of the pockets of the average Nigerians. We are not ruled by colonialists or the new lenders from Far East of West but the policies by our own governments can hardly be for the benefit of Africans. When we can no longer afford local universities because we are asked to name any world university that charge the same rate or travel from our homes without paying more than minimum wage, we are in trouble.

It is increasingly difficult to separate Fashola from Tinubu and we are reminded: we told you so! How much money is enough for one man, one family or one tiny class of people? No state in the Country generates as much tax as Lagos but none of them generate as much debt as Lagos. Even if this is taken as an investment, in order to pay back, we have to import high income earners from abroad since the ordinary Nigerians lack the means to pay for the projects governments embark on. Not even Diaspora Nigerians can afford homes built by some governments!

Lagos has already priced itself out of local market. Indeed, Nigerian mega cities are pricing themselves out of local markets. When products and services are so expensive that majority of people that live in that city cannot pay for them, we are digging a hole for ourselves. Reacting to higher prices, unions rightly call for living wage to meet this demand. Unfortunately, it is like chasing a ghost because prices rise faster than wages.

We need not fool ourselves, the only conscientious investors in Nigerian markets are Nigerians at home and abroad. If the local people cannot afford Lagos and other mega cities as Diaspora abroad purchasing capacity has been eroded by ever increasing prices, we must look for others to pay. If they pay, they want returns on their money, on their investments and their technical skill. Unlike Nigerians that money will be taken out. Whatever remains, they use their discretionary power to manipulate Nigerians that must succumb. Africans selling out Africans in Africa.

Which government anywhere in the whole world prices their average citizens out of the market? These are fundamentals our planners need to take into consideration before demanding and taxing the average man to death in Nigeria. This is the same reason conservatives fight to limit the role of government. The government is used in Nigeria as money making enterprise to suck as much money as they can out of ordinary folks into the pocket of vultures.

The role of government is to do what individuals cannot do but can collectively be achieved. It is the reason we expect government to provide good roads to facilitate travel, communication and commerce. We expect government to provide police and fire fighters to avoid damage to the liberty of individuals and properties. Even a highly skilled work force, need adequate training and education provided by governments. Nigeria has abundant energy but greed does not allow us to provide power and infrastructure for commercial and domestic use.

As soon as it comes to how to exploit the masses, our governments jump in for the money they can make into individual pockets. It is even worse in Nigeria because our local and Federal governments are mostly interested in projects that can generate foreign currencies, not the one that will strengthen the value of naira at home making manufactured products for export. But then, the Central Bank makes foreign currencies available for every Sule and Tunde that wants it.

There is no government in Lagos State that has not made money because it is the center of Nigeria commerce where products and people exchange commercial transactions. Out of all these governments in Lagos, Jakande still stands out as the most productive. Contracts and commercial businesses were transacted during his time as any other reign. The difference is that each contractor knew the amount of profit he could make before going in.

What we have these days in Nigeria are dare-devils that are willing to screw a hot shaft through their mothers’ asses in order to make obscene profit. If it is profit alone they are willing to make, fine. They make a killing. You will not find many Lagosians that think Fashola belongs to any of these unscrupulous elements. He was never brought up as a desperado and his family compound show no resemblance to the old bootleggers.

However, you can never trust a finger dipped in oil not messing up the rest. It is sad that people can now hardly differentiate Fashola from Tinubu. Most politicians do not realize that their reigns are limited to certain number of years, even as a dictator. What good is power when it is gone and what good is money you cannot spend when you die. It is our legacy in life that transcends our grandchildren. What we do with each when we are still hale and hearty matters.

Politicians cannot hide behind politics to inflict pain on people. When we cry, we cry out of pain and misery, not out of spite. The poorer we get the more all levels of government and every reign want from us, telling us to bear the pain a little longer, while they party in Dubai. It is not their fault; it is the fault of the other guy. But only a dying man knows the pinch of death.

Where in the whole wide world does a government install toll in a residential area that you have to pay toll to come out and get into your own house?

Only in Nigeria.

Where else are people forced to pay toll either in front of their houses or at the side roads?

Only in Nigeria.

Please where is Boko Haram when needed to Occupy Bourdillon Road in front of Asiwaju Ole

Another loss, another dream not fulfilled.

He did his best and left the rest.

Both the medicine man and OPC leader are foolish.

All the medicine man had to do is buy oyibo bullet proof vest and cap, decorate them with charms and sell them at triple price. That my friends is what we call real ekurube. Do not deal with all these yeye medicine man. If you need my service let me know.

Which is the best rehabilitation for him after the case is over?

1. Send him to jail

2. Come out a worse criminal

3. Let him complete his final exam

4. Satisfy their stereotipical wish - a criminal always a criminal

5. Give him another chance

Odumchi,

You have very valid points.

The problem is we always look at those that are lucky in the U.S, like you have to play loto to win. It is a difficult country and many times inhuman to its own people too.

On the other hand, we also look at the worst in Nigeria. If you can stay middleclass, there is no place like Nigeria. But if you are dirt poor, any place but Nigeria. So it depends on how you look at it.

People will never believe you until they try and some of those that try also lie. One should know in advance what is waiting for them in the USA. No place like home.

odumchi:
Have you always dreamt about going to America? Many Nigerians envision America as a land of gold and honey. A land where the government showers you daily with piles of cash, and a land where everything is free. Well, they are wrong. There is nothing of that sort in America, and recent studies and accounts have shown that it is actually better for you to stay in Nigeria than it is to go to America. Here are five reasons why.

1. Debt: The mirage that anything and everything is possible in America is a lie. Worst of all, to new immigrants, the amount of credit offered in America is so attractive that by the time you know it, you will be chin deep in Debt. Debt that will most likely take you the rest of your natural life, and half of your children's to pay off.

2. Stress: America is the capital of stress. With 12 hour shifts and continuos work, the labour takes a heavy toll on its people, unlike in Nigeria. In Nigeria, you are the boss. You decide when to work and for how long. There is not a widespread practice of 24hour shifts and round the clock work, making it much better for your health and etc. The Stress in America might cause diseases previousl unexperienced by the average Nigerian. Diseases such as High-blood pressure, Hyper tension, and Arthiritis.

3. Professional Devalue: America can be a welcoming place for highly educated and well-off immigrants but also a nightmare for others. It is often known as the "graveyard of occupations" meaning that one's previous education and occupation can easily be rendered worthless in America. There was a woman who was very well off in Nigeria. She was the head chef of a 5-star hotel back in Nigeria and upon her arrival in the US, her degree and occupation was declared worthelss. She was turned down by many other hotels and had to assume a job as a frycook at McDonalds. There is also another account of a Local Governor from Nigeria who held many outstanding degrees from Universities in Nigeria, but was denied a reasonable job in America. In short, their lives were restarted.

4. Prices: Things have become very expensive for Americans. Things ranging from household items to entire homes, and combined with the constant devalue of the Naira, the US can be a financial nightmare for Nigerians. An ordinary 4-bedroom, single family house in the US will cost atleast $500,000 which is N83,000,000, More than enough to errect a 10 bedroom mansion with a boys-quarters and a gate in Nigeria. A brand new jeep in the US can easily cost $40,000 which is N6.6 million, more than enough to buy TWO jeeps in Nigeria.

5. Cultural Diffusion: The thing that every Nigerian regards with utmost importnace is his/her cultural background. America is a slaughter house for African cultures. People emmigrate form Nigeria and give birth to their children in the US. As their children grow up, the parents avoid teaching them their native language, and from then on the children are at a loss. Then, their parents avoid teaching them about their culture and tradition. Lastly, with all this not given to them, their children effectively turn into AAsand are estranged form the culture sand tradition of their homeland, ultimately deciding their destiny in life.

With this in mind, Ill be glad to recieve your feedback and thoughts on this

[quote author=alj_harem link=topic=705689.msg8670507#msg8670507 date=1310048391]jara, ok I am a real lagosian and i hope u would not mind me asking which lagosian are you

are you awori,ijebu, egba etc thanks but if u do not feel like replying just ignore it thanks once again [/quote]My dear brother Alj-harem,

I was going to stop responding to that Edo transplant before I saw your post.

Lagosians are very few and in many cases related to one another. All you have to do is mention your name and they will trace you to your father and mother.

Ijebu and Egba are not Lagosians and they will be the first to tell you because they also have a history that trace them back to their father or compound. Nevertheless all Yoruba relate to Ife and Oyo. So some Lagosians from Ijebu, Egba and other Yoruba land that returned as free slaves also settled in Lagos close to people with the same culture and language.

As for me personally, a mixture but with well recognized name in Lagos.

There are Omo-Eko and Ara-Eko. You may qualify as Ara-Eko my brother.

[quote author=Negro_Ntns link=topic=705689.msg8666768#msg8666768 date=1310006850]My friend if you have to read a book on lagos to know your roots in Eko, then you are not a son of the soil Jara.

We appreciate your sharing but don't confuse our history with inaccurate written records.[/quote]Which one is "our history"? Could that be the one you claimed are two Omo-onile, one from Lagos and another from Benin?

Nobody, not even the revisionist historians from Benin has ever said that. Lagos belongs to Omo-onile that are the children of Ogunfuminire and nobody has ever argue that fact until I saw your version on internet. Are you sure you are a Lagosian or part of Benin from Ife that bear Yoruba name and speak Yoruba in Oba palace?

More reference: Professor Ekeh an Urhobo man on Ogiso years and their relationship to Benin. You may also want to read Prof. Ade Ajayi on the same.

A real Lagosian knows his history with or without books, a real Yoruba knows his history with or without archeology. I know Lagosian, you are not one of them.

Negro-Ntns,

Be careful now about Omo-onile. Lagosian historians will be sue you for saying there are two sets of onile. Oni- Ido is one of the sons of Ogunfuminire and I have already given you their names.

Please do not mix Yoruba and Hebrew or Egyptian origin. Yoruba say the world started from Ife, Bible said it started somewhere else and Hindu said something else. I prefer my own myth. By scientific facts, the world started in Africa, not the other way around. Iwo Eleru was dated 10,000 before Christ.

As for reference, I gave you late Kunle Akinsemoyin's book at CMS book store.

Negro_Ntns,

Look, it is the time of the day that has changed where everyone claims to be the father or superior of others. There should be no disagreement between Bini and Ife because their history cannot easily be revised.

Ogunfuminire himself settled in Isheri before his children spread to proper Lagos. Aromire was the one in Lagos. Before Bini came, there were white cap chiefs known as omo-onile ie the Onisiwo, Aromire Oni-Ido, Ojora, Olumegbon, Onitana, Suenu and may be a couple more I can not remember.

Those of you near CMS book store may want to see if you can get Akinsemoyin's book on who say Lagos is no mans land or so tittle.

Up to today, Oba of Benin "rents" his palace from the regent each time he is crown because he still has not been accepted as Ogiso. That is why he had to revise history as ogiso himself. No, he is not Ogiso and no matter what, Ogiso will not completely accept him as one. Folk tales in Benin still make jest of Ogiso that messed up and had to relegate himself to Oba.

Disagreement amongst Yoruba is not new. Even this Awujale said he is not Yoruba, or the son of Oduduwa.

Ask an Ijaw man who is Adimu or Adumu. Surprise, surprise ie Oduduwa! He is their father.

As for Iduganran, that is Aromire territory. Please do not be surprised by similarities between Yoruba and Bini names. Ask an Ondo man or futher down Akoko, they have more similarities with Bini names because they are closer. The are all ruled by Ado of "soso and so".

Shango mother is Nupe and they are closer to Yoruba than each wants to accept. So Oshodi in Lagos is not that strange if you know there are other Oshodi in Yoruba land. Do not forget that the Fulani drove the Yoruba southwards until they were driven back at Oshogbo or so. There are still Yoruba futher North of Kogi.

Who are the Yoruba? More work needs to be done about the archeological findings at Iwo Eleru that dated their work back to 10,000 BC.

So Lagos, Oshodi where "aye gba Tapa won kole Igunu".

I do not want to derail this tread, but between me and you, do you know that the Yoruba dialect dying in Onitsha area is still spoken in Brazil, Cuba and Trinidad?

Well, these stories are bending out of shape.

The Bini were Yoruba themselves known and tolerated by Oyo Empire the mega power in the region. Bini came as traders and were given land near Ido under the son of Ogunfulere or -nire. One night, they invaded the mainland, left Ido under the another son of Ogunfumilere.

Asipa is a traditional Yoruba name and even a title in Yorubaland. During the battle for the mainland Lagos with Bini, their leader was killed and Asipa offered during a truce to take him back to Bini. Oba of Bini was so impressed, they settle on Asipa as the first king of Lagos.

It should not be strange that Bini has their form of Asipa since the lingua fraca in Bini palace was Yoruba and they bear Yoruba names. Most Yoruba cities has ADO of the city and so did Bini. Before the Eweka meaning owomika, Ogiso were the rulers there until one of the king committed an abomination by killing a pregnant woman. That is how the new king Oranmiyan that married a local women gave birth to the new line of kings.

So their relationship to Lagos is not strange.

Until late, the head of Bini Oba was buried in Ife. In the same way, Bini demanded that the head of Eko king be buried in Bini until the son of Ogunfuminire that had Ido under him resisted. He was taken to Bini in exile for a while until he was released to prevent calamity.

Make no mistake about it Ife - Oyo - Bini - Dahomey and Ewe in Ghana are all related but did fight one another as in the case of Bini and Lagos, Egba and Ibadan. Ibadan was even more cosmopolitan that Lagos where everyone was accepted if you play according to and respect the rules.

Reseach on Ogunfuminire from Isheri to Lagos and his children that head Ido, Ijora, Surulere, mainland Lagos. Find out about Suenu, Olumegbo, Ojora and other children of Ogunfumunire.

Gadaffi Seeks Nigeria’s Intervention Over NATO’s Air Raids .

Saturday Guardian, 25 June 2011 00:00 From Madu Onuorah, Abuja News - National .

LIBYAN Foreign Minister, Abdulahi Obaidi, yesterday met with President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa Abuja with a message from Libyan Leader, Muamar Gadaffi appealing for Nigeria’s intervention in the current bombardment of areas and forces controlled by Gadaffi by North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) warplanes.

Obaidi, who is also Gadaffi’s Special Envoy, spoke to journalists after his meeting with President Jonathan saying, “NATO has to stop further defiling of Libyan sovereignty as a nation.”

He added: “Since the crises in Libya are internal, there are no basis for external interference.”

On President Jonathan’s response to Gadafi’s appeal, Obaidi said “the President promised to table the issue at the next African Union (AU) Heads of Government summit scheduled for Malabo, Equatorial Guinea on the 29th of this month.”

And just as the Libyan Special Envoy left, President Jonathan met with the British Secretary of State, International Development, Andrew Mitchel.

Mitchel had met earlier with Vice President Namadi Sambo.

There were no indications yet of the issues discussed with the British cabinet Minister.