₦airaland Forum

Becomrich0:
Here is my point, if you use PDP zoning. It is the turn of the south to present a president. PDP did not say South south or south east or yorubas, PDP said south. so anyone from the south can be president. Really The north does not stand a chance by PDP zone. What about if Yar adua lost the second term. ? You can look at it from both ways.
That why the solution may be to create two countries. we better do it before the election. It would be war, look IBB is a coup plotter. Him and his boys would have problem him lossing. He does not care, He killed his best friend. So understand the mind set of IBB. While the south would go to war , if they do not retain the president.

Either you remove 1. yorubas,edo,delta and bayelsa and get rid of Jonathan into the new country. Or 2. remove the whole of the south from the river niger and benue which some northerner may prefer option 1 than 2 since they would complain they have no oil.

First correct sentence I read from Becomrich.

Jum'ah mubarak

toba:
Abuzola
tudor
edoyad
ogaga4luv

All these are well-known, and celebrated.

Egbon Olabs appears to ahve left Nl for good.
Made efforts to reach Abu too, but to no avail.

[quote author=mama-gee link=topic=472180.msg6316655#msg6316655 date=1278013223][color=deeppink]Debosky

Obongyi.

MrCrackles. [/color][/quote]Vintage mamagee. Do you know the meaning of unsung?

This thread si in order. Nothing wrong in sharing travelling experiences. Traveling is fun.

Lalaboi does quality job, but he is too popular to be classified as 'unsung'.
Guys like Ajanlekoko also do quality job but they cannot be classified as unsung because they are somehow well known, recognized and credit given to them in open forum discussions. My Unsung Heroes here are those that are not so popular or tucked in one less-known section.

mukina2:
FOD
Naijacutee
kathyekiti
Balogun
Mohawkchic
chaircover
~sissy~
mrbrownjay -
lalaboi
topup


will add as i remember.

Justifications? And to think I was prompted to create this thread because of what I saw Balogon doing in Health section.

1, BALOGUN: Ever knew NL had an e-hospital, or more reasonably put, an online medical consultancy centre? Ever even heard of member Balogun? Yes, Balogun is almost as old on NL as NL itself and his thread on medical advice is more than 4 years old! Yet, not many people know him or his thread. His now 60-page thread, 'DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE: FREE MEDICAL ADVICE AVAILABLE', is one of the most educative and enlightening threads to ever grace NL. He offers free medical advice for people not only on the thread, but also off-NL, for people that may not be able to say out their health worries. Welcome good-looking, Scotland-based Dr Balogun into our list of 10 UNSUNG HEROES OF NAIRALAND.


2, KATHYEKITI: Another very quality contributor in the Health Section, offering valuable advices to people on O&G branch of medicine. This she's being doing with religious vigour since 2007. In fact, as she mentioned in her second post, she joined Nairaland to offer this service, FOC. Introduced to NL by her sister, Kathyekiti, has e-saved so many lives through her vital advices in thsi aspect of medicine. And so unknown that not even this profiler has even heard of her until research pulled her and her activities out.

3, DRAGNET: Dragnet dwells in the phone section, where he has anything meaningful to say about virtually everything. He has been rightly described as the NL's resident phone e-engineer. He has solved many phone issues for many people. He is not known outside this section, but he has made NL a destination for many phone users. For silently putting smiles on many people's faces, he is a NL hero, even if uncelebrated.

4, CHAIRCOVER I was initially hesitant to pick anybody that has won 'Poster of the Year' award in a section as an unsung hero. That award, I reasoned, is enough celebration. That means the person is well followed and his/her efforts already recognized. But that is obviously flawed. A goldfish has no hiding place; a quality contributor is bound to be recognized at least in his/her frequent section, hence would have gotten nomination, at least in his/her section. Chaircover's quality contribution to family section has been acknowledged by many. Yet she is not so known outside the section. Welcome CV to NL's 10 Unsung Heroes list.

5, FOD: He has been on NL since 2005, very active, comes to NL almost everyday,yet has less than 500 posts, can u beat that? But wait, the less than 500 posts are more valuable than 5000+ posts of some people. He is a very diligent Mod that does his work with passion. Not the overzealous, attention-crazy type. He also frequents Sports section, but to the less popular areas of Sports like Australia open etc. He is a silent hero of NL.

6, KATSUMOTO: Politics section is one very interesting section, where insightful and witty analyses meet naive and sometimes mediocre remarks, all combining to give an entertaining section. Katsumoto is one of the bringer of the former quality. Yet, put up a thread and ask for the Top 20 posters in the section and I assure you that the name katsumoto will not come up in many people's choice. That is how underrated this guy is. Probably because he's still young on NL(joined November 2009) and may not have established himself among the well-known guys. But wait, Beaf, who is also barely one-year old on NL, can also be said to be said to be young but has enough popularity. A look through Katsumoto's contributions to issues in Politics and other sections reveals that this guy is one quality contributor with good grasp of events. He is also a good communicator. Katsumoto should be up there with the celebrated intelligent folks in the Politics section. He is an unsung hero.

7, NAIJACUTEE: Naijacutee, on NL since 2006, like FOD, is one silent moderator that has been actively doing a great job on NL.  She is most active in the 'less travelled roads' of money and business. She does her modding job with diligence, doesn't crave for unnecessary attention, and widely admired the people of her sections. Despite all these, less is known about her forum-wide. She is an uncelebrated, underrated NL hero.

8, INSPIRE_M: While Becomrich and co are entertaining us in the politics section and Sauron and Dayokanu are busy locking horns in the sports section over EPL/Bundesliga, some guys are in the market, negotiating, buying and selling. And I'm not talking about about Aba market. They are on NL like us but their business is to buy and sell car. I myself had thought NL life does not go beyond Politics, Religion and sports until I jammed Auto section one day, and that was almost 2 years after my active life on NL. I saw these people e-shouting 'come and buy my car, 500k', 'I have ToyotaCamry 2007 model for sale @ 2.5m' etc. That is their business on NL. This ection will give all the so-called hot sections a run for their money in terms of activities. And they have a king: welcome inspire_m. Inspire_m is a tested NL car dealer, that according to reports, has sold cars almost running into 3-digit on NL. Since auto-section is underrated, it is no surprise that their king, inspire_m is also unsung. Inspire_m is a NL hero in every sense of the word.

9, SIENA: When I did my '50 Nairaland Legends' thread earlier this year, people almost wrung my head for excluding Siena, who according to them, is one of the most valuable nairalanders. I agree with them. But the reason I forgot him is the reason he is unsung. He is not one nairalander that is so active outside Auto section, but in there, he does great job. He is an expert on any auto issue. He occupies a statesman stature among the auto-guys, but when you see him in politics, you will be forgiven for saying 'who is this one?'


10, MOHAWKCHIC: Fashion, fashion, fashion. That's her turf. Did I hear you say where is that? Yes, fashion is another section on NL like other sections. Here is where mohawkchic dwells, offering valuable advice, making fashionistas out of otherwise village girls. She also initiates lively discussion on fashion and celebrities. Despite all these, virtually nothing is known about her elsewhere in the land.

Did I hear you say Jarus don come again with Top 10 Nairaland this, Top 50 Nairaland that? Yeah, you're right, I have come again.

After my '50 Men and Women That Moved Nairaland 2005-2010' thread, I have come again with a chronicle of 10 men and women that have been doing quality job, silently, on Nairaland and they are not that recognized or known. They operate mainly on low traffic sections and have been great assets to Nairaland.

It may take days, or even weeks, before we have our final list. Your contributions and nominations are welcome.

I did mine a couple of weeks ago. It showed 95, which the Dr said was ok. I learnt teh normal range is 75-115, so I'm within normal range. Your own too appears under normal range(110), although e don dey move near boundary o(115).

In any case, you should have asked the Dr to interprete your result for you before leaving teh hospital/lab.

Nearly fell into their hands on my way to Apapa yesterday. Got quick info, and had to take another route. Still saw crowds from far.

Aloy, bad 'boy'
Na so u start dat mapomeji cartoon too

Seun and Mukina understandably appear to be the most popular Nairalander.
Mrcrackles used to be easily the most popular Nairalander until he disappeared few months ago. He was always present in every section, in every thread.
Davidylan also used to be very popular in those days, but due to waning activity these days, many new generation Nlders(I hope the NL cultism theorists will not pick on me for this) may not know.

The most popular Nlder today appears to be Mamagee, forget about the reason she is.

VI: In front of GTB Head Office, canopied space
With 200, you will eat good, natural food. Whether Amala or eba or combo of rice, beans etc
Same for one compound at the back of Zenith Bank Head Office.

Ajah: Hot black amala plus meats or fish=N200

Don't aks me how I know all these joints o Na one of my friends ja mi si

I like and watch more frequently Channels and NTA. I can't remember spending 5 minutes to watch Silverbird.

Becomrich. . .the only man on NL Politics section that thinks outside the box _{box that contains maps}

I was about posting 'where is zombie?' before I saw his post. You are a not-so-active NLder but it doesn't take 2 hrs after any thread on MA is opened before you buzz in. Just wondering.
Wel, I know you are more than capable of defending Mike(who I also personally admire).

Where is Nuzo?

Morning: Amala + ewedu + ponmo + meat
Afternoon: Rice + Plantain + Fish
Evening: Don't know yet

supereagle:
He acted on a script with Northern Agenda that is why he sacked the CEOs op the affected bank. Yar dua that could protect is no more.

You're still on Northern agenda theory

One one hand, one may reason that Sanusi should have sacked only the CEO's and leave the ED's for the following reasons:
-For some of the banks, the CEOs were domineering to the extent that the EDs were almost figurehead, especially where the CEO's have teh largest shareholding and the EDs have insignificant stake, like Intercontinental and Oceanic. Here the CEOs word is law and EDs have practically no significant input in decision making. The EDs here can be spared.
-If there is no traceable complicity or express violation of the rules by the EDs, they may be spared. For example, during the kerfuffle about the scam called Transcorp some years ago, story is told that when Obasanjo talk-forced banks into 'investing' N100m for the project, Sanusi, as teh ED (Risk management) of FBN bluntly refused to sign the papers when it got to his desk with teh argument that, after analysing the risks involved, it will not be worthwhile for FBN to take part in it. Now his prediction has coem to past, Transcorp, with all teh noise, has not yet to take-off. He did not sign. Who dare dare Obj then?

But the question that arise is: Why didn't they(the EDs)

On the other hand, one may contend that Sanusi's sacking of the EDs is in order for these reasons:
-Most of the non-performing loan  and other bad corporate governance decisions will have their signatures appended in the authorization hierachy, even if unwillingly done. So why didn't they resign when they knew that the decision was out of order and only to the benefit of the CEOs  and their fronts. To save their jobs?
-This is a governance failure, and the whole executives, who take day to day decisions, should go. No sparing anybody.
-Since new interim CEO is to be appointed, will these EDs be loyal to him? Won't there arise boardroom squabble? Were these EDs not part of the people that ran teh bank aground in teh first place. Wont we have a case of mouth/hand of ED Mr X but mind of ex-CEO Ibru?


If I were in Sanusi's shoes, I personally would not have sacked the EDs summarily. I will flush out the CEOs summarily as he did because there are overwhelming evidence, and sack any ED found culpable in the process of further investigations, unless teh FIRST AUDIT HAS PROVED AN ED CULPABLE TOO. I wont clear the EDs flat.


For teh guy that said SLS did not touch PDP banks he is only joking. Ibru's Oceanic is a PDP bank. Ibru contributed to PDP financing in 2007 elections. BankPHB is also a PDP bank and indeed has presidential(YRD) interest. What more!

One one hand, one may reason that Sanusi should have sacked only the CEO's and leave the ED's for the following reasons:
-For some of the banks, the CEOs were domineering to the extent that the EDs were almost figurehead, especially where the CEO's have teh largest shareholding and the EDs have insignificant stake, like Intercontinental and Oceanic. Here the CEOs word is law and EDs have practically no significant input in decision making. The EDs here can be spared.
-If there is no traceable complicity or express violation of the rules by the EDs, they may be spared. For example, during the kerfuffle about the scam called Transcorp some years ago, story is told that when Obasanjo talk-forced banks into 'investing' N100m for the project, Sanusi, as teh ED (Risk management) of FBN bluntly refused to sign the papers when it got to his desk with teh argument that, after analysing the risks involved, it will not be worthwhile for FBN to take part in it. Now his prediction has coem to past, Transcorp, with all teh noise, has not yet to take-off. He did not sign. Who dare dare Obj then?



On the other hand, one may contend that Sanusi's sacking of the EDs is in order for these reasons:
-Most of the non-performing loan  and other bad corporate governance decisions will have their signatures appended in the authorization hierachy, even if unwillingly done. So why didn't they resign when they knew that the decision was out of order and only to the benefit of the CEOs  and their fronts. To save their jobs?
-This is a governance failure, and the whole executives, who take day to day decisions, should go. No sparing anybody.
-Since new interim CEO is to be appointed, will these EDs be loyal to him? Won't there arise boardroom squabble? Were these EDs not part of the people that ran teh bank aground in teh first place. Wont we have a case of mouth/hand of ED Mr X but mind of ex-CEO Ibru?


If I were in Sanusi's shoes, I personally would not have sacked the EDs summarily. I will flush out the CEOs summarily as he did because there are overwhelming evidence, and sack any ED found culpable in the process of further investigations, unless teh FIRST AUDIT HAS PROVED AN ED CULPABLE TOO. I wont clear the EDs flat.


For teh guy that said SLS did not touch PDP banks he is only joking. Ibru's Oceanic is a PDP bank. Ibru contributed to PDP financing in 2007 elections. BankPHB is also a PDP bank and indeed has presidential(YRD) interest. What more!

topup:
[b]I wouldn't call it a cult, more like a clique, and not because of anything malicious other than, they are familiar with each other and like each other.

I think this is human nature.[/b]I agree with the stuff about newbies, but I know that EVERY forum picks on newbies, because they are the butt of every joke. Newbies don't take too much time to observe the forum rules, and sometimes just get things wrong, or in their enthusiasm to post - they agitate the typical flow of the forum. However, I welcome this, silly posts are funny, this post is funny, it is a breath of fresh air.

I do agree that there is a bias, so some senseless posts by some higher-ranked members of Nairaland, get away with much more and are veen congratulated simply because they like the person. I myself don't know the amount of crap I've posted here, but seeing such a large post count next to a person's name, is enough to make anyone think twice about challenging them.

Also, newbies don't give themselves a good name, most come on without really thinking about what they are going to say, if Nairaland is a reflection of Nigerian society, then why drop your guards just because you're online. It's a shame that we don't encourage free speech, but virgin talk is now a taboo, people who bring up certain topics are "time-wasters" etc. When you dig up an old post that you find relevant - you are teased for bumping up an extinct post, when you start a new one, you are told off for repeating something that already has been answered.

But this is the way it is.

Are you sure poster, that once you gain over a thousand posts, and your name is known, and people start to suck up to you, that you too won't forget about the newbie, and you too won't become proud??

I think this issue in particular has a lot to do with the private messaging that all advanced forums have as a means of private conversation between members who want that option. I still don't understand why 'til this day Nairaland does not have this!!

The bolded, and indeed the whole post, say it all. I agree there are cliques and classes, but they are natural in human interactions. But I don't believe they have ill-feelings against newbies. It is not unusual for JJCs to act funny in a new set-up/environmet, and it is also natural for oldies to find the actions funny and naive. That isb what happens when newbies(not newbies) join.

[quote author=TONI-AMERO link=topic=468400.msg6298795#msg6298795 date=1277744360]My broda, forget about being man employee,but an employer. Self-employment is the best in our Naija.Stop searching cos you have it, just discover it and you will neva regret. Abeg wen you hammer, no forget me. Paka!!!!!!!!!! [/quote]We know, but you think it's that easy?

Much as I must admit there are not many jobs now as there were between 2005-2008, I believe there are still jobs out there.

The period 2005-2008 witnessed mass absorption of graduates by banks in particular and many other companies through mass expansion drive at the period.
The economic meltdown coupled with the not necessarily unnecessary Sanusi tsunami shrank the labour market. With banks, the highest absorber of formal labour, being the worst hit, it told heavily on the labour market.

However, other than companies in the financial services sector, which unfortunately absorb more, many other companies were not affected by the employment cut. My company, for example, in fact, employ more in recent time than before. Ditto for many other non-bank companies. But the challenge is the scale is not as high as in banks that recruit in hundreds.

Having pushed for a number of guys to no avail in recent time, I cannot but agree that jobs are no longer as available as there used to be a couple of years back. In fact, for the first time in over 4 years of connecting people(very qualified people pls) with a very high level contact in a multinational consulting firm few days ago, I got a rare response that 'We have slowed down on recruitment a bit.' If this company used to recruit almost on daily basis says it's slowing down, then that means the situation is serious.

Other questions that may be relevant are: how qualified is your cousin? what class of degree/course does he have/do? How good is he? With right qualifications and proven ability, some people still get jobs in teh face of this situation.

Johnpaul88:
Obafemi Awolowo uni.is the king of all universities. Looking at my ID cards, sends me on top of the world b/c i see a dazzling future as a student of this Qunitessential institution. Is it high academic standard? Is it the ever Beautiful , aethesitical and sophiscated structures and envoirnment? Is it the vibrancy of the student union? Aluta continua,

That is the part I like most. Don't ask me how many years I spent in Ife to study a 4-yr course.

http:
I notice all of una wey talk say "it was a sweet, amazing or bleeping experience, i know wetin all of you pple did, done, and still have the bleeping gurt to open mouth, sorry open hand dey type am, 2 bleeping gbosa 4 you all.

Anyway, i Thank God, I serve in Zamfara, Bungudu LGA. It was a bleeping experience too; in my own way.

Most of the places una dey serve, i've served there too. especially in Karim Lamido after Lau LGA.

The following places i have served there according to state.

Abia close to Ohafia

Enugu in Udi, Nsukka, obolo, Nkpologu

Ebonyi Ezzangbo, Nkalagu, Effium, Ugbala, Ngba along that only road like look like a u-turn.

Benue that one plenty: Otukpo, Otukpa, Gboko, Katsina-ala, Zakibiam, Aliade, Igbor, Shangev-tiev, Abakpa, Tor-Donga, Ochobo etc

Akwa-Ibom: Etinan, Eket, Ikot-Abasi, Abak, Ikot-Ubo, Azumini, Ikot-ekpene, Itu, and Uyo main town.

Nassarawa: Keffi to loko, yelwa, mada, Gitata, Panda and that Yoruba Military Barrack; chei i don forget where dem beat me, anyway along Jos road.

Taraba: Jalingo, Tafida, Ibi (no road town where R-Benue pass, Karim-lamido, Lau, Junleri, Lankoviri, Bambuka etc.

Plateau: Ikputu, Shendam, Zamko, Amper, Langtang, Pankshin, Panyam, Bembem, Jimiya, Fuskam mata, Bukuru, Mangu, Kassa etc

Adamawa: Ganye, Jimeta, Jiberu, Mubi, Uba, Michika, Mayo bani, Bazza, Shelleng, Numan etc.

Gombe: Duku, Jamari, Nafada along Potiskhum rd, Bajoga, Tula, Filiya; the road to Karim-Lamido, Garko etc.

Bauchi: Ho! my favourite state, Dass, Darazo, Gabarin, Kari, Misau, Azare, Udubo, Katagum, Bara, Alkalere, Wikki etc

Borno: Askira, Balala, Biu, Miringa, yelwa, Burma, Shani, Badir, Damboa, Bama, Gwoza, Madagali, Kunduga, Magumeri, Gubio, Zari, Damasak up to
Dusi where the border is to Niger republic, If u want pics i'll give u all.

Yobe: Potiskhum, Damaturu, Ngelzama, Zoro, Nangere, Dapchi, Gashua, Nguru, Machina-the border town to Niger-Republic.

Jigawa: Hadeija my cool town, Mallammaduri, Gumel, Ringim, Kazaure-the road to Daura in Katsina etc.

Anambra: Igbo kwenu! Okija shrine, Onitsha, Nnewi, ihiala, uli, electronic market.

Imo: my main town, Owerri, Umuduru, Etiti, Orlu, Ihuo, Obaku, and my favorite hotel

Delta: Warri, Ughelli, Oleh, Ozoro, Ashaka, Burutu, Forcados, Evremi, Abbi, kwale, Onicha, Ekuku-Agbor, Isele-uku, Asaba, Umunede, Ete-uromi,
Bojiboji Ogwashuku, Ibusa etc.

Edo: Oluku, Odigbi, Uyere, Igbogor, Orah, Siluko, sapoba, Obiaruku, Idokpa, ewohinmi, Ebelle, Ekpon, Igueden, Ehor, Irrua, Sabongida-ora, Ozalla
where young girls unclothed for festival, Ekpoma---yeee! gun, Agenebode etc.

Ekiti: Effon-alaye, ikole, ikere, ilawe, igede, ishan, Ise, Emure, Aiyede, Oye--election rigger, Omuo etc

Ondo: Idanre, Igbatoro, igbokoda, aiyetoro, Omisore, Ifetedo, Owena, Ofos, Ore,Okitipupa, Ajilete, Mahin, Ile-oluji, Owo, Idoani, Akungba, Ikare, Ifon

Oyo: Kute, Ibadan, Fiditi, Lanlate, Iseyin, Igangan, Ofiki, Ago-are, Ikoyo, Ogbomoso, Tafon, Sapeteri, Shaki, Wasinmi, Ilero, Ado-awaye, Ogbontosa.

Ogun: Oni, Omu, Odeda, Owode, olorunda, Ajebo, Iperu, Ijebus, Odogbolu, Shagamu, Alakuko, Waterside, Otta, Ifo, Oja-Odan, Imeko, Oke-odan etc.

Osun: Ede, Inisa, Ibokun, Ilesha, Ife, Ifewara, Ejigbo,Iwo, Odeomu, Ifetedo, Ipetuijesha, Oke-Imesi, Ila, Ikirun, Ilobu, Okuku, Osi etc.

Kwara: Ilorin, Offa, Ajasse, Omuaran, Petegi, Lafiaji, Shonga, Jebba, Bode-shadu etc.

Niger: Mokwa, Bida, Lemu, Wushishi, Minna,Gwada, Zungeru, Gunni, New-bussa, Pizhi, faje, Kabchi, Kontagora, Bari, Tegina, Zente, Rijau, Sarkipawa.

Kebbi: Bin-yauri, yelwa, Bagudo, Tunga-Ilela, Zaga, Jega, Birnikebbi, Masama, Argungu, Tambawel, Allero, Kamba, Zuru, Kandu, Marafa, Ribah etc.

Kano: Kano city, Wudil, Tudunwada, kibiya, Garko, Gaya, Kachako, Ajingi, Danbatta, Kabo, Gwarzo, Albasu or sometging like it etc.

Kaduna: Birni-gwarri, Ganga, Buruku, Rigacikun, Kachia, Kafanchan, Gimi, Iya-tawa, Pambeguwa,Dutsan-wai, Zaria, Lere, Doka,Ribako etc.

Katsina: Shinkafi, Yashi, Daura, Hunkuyi, Palgore, Funtua, Karfi, Faskari etc.

Zamfara: my primary assignment state before i started deploying myself round naija: Gusau, Bungudu, Maru, Talata-mafara, Bakura, Birni-magaji,
Kaura-namoda, Zurmi, Gunmi, Tsafe-Orientation camp, Maradun, Anka, Moriki, Shinkafi, Mada, Langalanga etc.

Sokoto: Sokoto, Illela, Goronyo, Kurawa, Wamako, Jabo, Rabah, Ganji, Malamawa, Yerimawa, Rafin-kudu, Sanyinan-daja etc.

Kogi: Lokoja, Ajaokuta, Ososo, Okene, Kabba, Mopa, Isanlu-esa, Koton-Karfi, Ikebe, Idah, Idibo, Eganyi etc.

Cross-River: Calabar, Uwet, Ugep, Nko, Obubra, Ikom, Nkomfap, Ogoja, Okuku, Akpakpa, Obudu, Otuk etc.

Bayelsa: Yenagoa, Amasoma, Furupa, Peniton-Island(Ezetu), Mbiama, Ayebabiri too much water i run comot.

Rivers: I have been to all the Rumus; Rumoula, Rumuokoro, Rumuigbo, Bori, Tabangh, Gokona, Ogoni, Degema, Ahoada, Obido, Abua, Opobo, Elele.

Please, dont say its a lie, cos i will tell u how to get there, either by water or road.

Are you related to Becomrich?

Where are our intellectuals and our heroes?

Intellectuals and intellectual pursuits are at the heart of most civilizations. In recent times, intellectuals have helped to shape national destinies, illuminate challenges, give pieces of advice to leaders and influence collective thinking. It is generally understood that any society without a bourgeoning class of intellectuals cannot truly flourish. Such a society, it is believed, may stagnate, regress or disintegrate.

The western world is never short of intellectuals; and neither was Nigeria between the 1950s and 1980s. The west had the likes of Lillian Hellman, Henrik Ibsen, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Bertolt Brecht, Norman Mailer, James Baldwin, Jean-Paul Sartre, Noam Chomsky and Edmund Wilson. And Nigeria had the likes of Kelsey Harrison, Bala Mohammed Bauchi, Kalu Ezera, Chinua Achebe, Attahiru Jega, Wole Soyinka, Chike Obi, Alele Williams, Tam-David-West, Dipo Fashina, Eskor Toyo, Claude Ake, Kole Omotosho, Ade Ajayi, Tai Solarin, J.P Clark and many others.

Not only were the Nigerian titans gifted; they were rigorous, honest and resolute in their thinking and in their pursuits. They helped shape the nature and direction of the country and our institutions. Their writings and pronouncements influenced the output of policy makers. As brutal and unpredictable as the military establishments were, these titans, to a great extent, helped to keep them in order.

Today, Nigeria is different. It is almost unfathomable how the nation went from great heights to low ebbs. Dr. Olayiwola Abegunrin, formerly of Obafemi Awolowo University, now a professor at Howard University, posited that the Nigerian military bear some of the responsibilities for ”destroying our institutions…by some of the policies they promulgated and pursued, beginning from the General Yakubu Gowon era.” Some of the policies they pursued, along with the coups and countercoups, helped weaken, and, in some cases, destroy our sense of nation-building and sense of self.

Many of our national treasures were prosecuted, persecuted, harassed, jailed, or sent into exile; and in some cases, the military simply made life and living miserable and unbearable for them. Civilian administrations also contributed to the malaise. In the end, some of our best and brightest left in search of stability and greener pastures. Gradually, the distasteful and impermissible became permissible and sacred. It became okay to steal. It became acceptable to be a professional sycophant. It became fashionable to be an illiterate in a literate and globalizing world.

According to Mr. Sonala Olumhense, himself a member of the great-generation, ”the flip side of the coin - the ”absence of intellectualism” - is the ”presence of materialism” and the pursuit of the inconsequential. Such pursuits diminish the glory and prosperity of the country. In addition, we honour men and women lacking foresight and brilliance of mind and good character. We look up to, prostrate for and genuflect before men and women with inferior sensibility and dubious character. Great nations or nations of consequence have men and women at the front line of intellectualism and nation building.

In more recent times, especially since the 1990s, the pool of home-grown intellectuals has greatly diminished; and so also has the pool of genuine heroes. Heroes can be found in all walks of life: men and women with unique achievements in sports, medicine and music; and in various fields, including our classrooms and battlefields. We had men and women who inspired us as children and as teenagers, to strive for the stars. These are people without whom our lives and joy would have been limited, our dreams stunted and our imagination blurred. Without these everyday heroes our lives may have turned out unfulfilled.

Heroes can be ordinary men and women, but with great courage and great strength and with life-altering contribution to mankind and our immediate society. In this instance, I speak of men and women of extraordinary political achievements. I speak of men and women who risked their freedom and their lives in the service of their country. I speak of men and women who answered the call of their people; and, in so doing, sacrificed their lives and desires and comfort so their people might proper and be free from the chains of humiliation, servitude and oppression. Every nation has such men and women.

Jamaica, for instance, speaks of Alexander Bustamante and Norman Manley. The British speak of Winston Churchill; the French remembers Charles de Gaulle; and the Americans remember Lincoln, Washington, Kennedy and others. The Senegalese, the Kenyans and the Ghanaians remember Senghor, Kenyatta and Nkrumah respectively. Africans in general will never forget men like Julius Nyerere and Nelson Mandela. Every country remembers and celebrates their hero - every country but Nigeria!

Does Nigeria have heroes‘ day, national monuments or burial grounds for our heroes? Nigeria, it seems to me, is the only country that does not revere her extraordinary men and women. In contemporary times at least, we behave as though no man or woman ever sacrificed his or her freedom so future generations could have a better life. This repulsive attitude can be seen in the manner some Nigerians speak of their nationalists. And on the Internet, some Nigerian have developed the penchant for displaying their ingratitude and contempt for the country‘s heroes

Denigrating our heroes has become the pastime for some of these charlatans. But for our nationalists, Nigeria would have suffered the same fate as Mozambique, Angola, Guinea Bissau, Algeria and other countries that underwent untold hardship at the hands of their colonial oppressors. To mention the name Aminu Kano or Obafemi Awolowo is to draw a barrage of invectives and unpalatable adjectives. To mention Nnamdi Azikiwe is to invite scorn and ridicule. To speak of Tafawa Balewa is to open oneself to a barrage of tirade and ethnic slurs.

Our heroes are humans. As humans, they made their fair share of mistakes. Come to think of it: they lived in a different time – a time of unspeakable brutality; a time when the colonial powers were interested mainly in exploiting the human and natural resources of Nigeria. It was a time when the colonialists engaged in vile survival strategies, a time of divide and rule. With sheer wisdom, intellect, good sense and common sense, our nationalists were able to free our land and our people. They saw to it that we got our lives and our dignity back. Therefore, whatever we are today we owe to a majestic group of men and women who, in spite of all their shortcomings and frailties, helped realize a free Nigeria.

Because Nigeria is what it is – we have no regards for our heroes. And then we wonder why no one wants to lay their life for a country that does not appreciate her heroes. Why we spend so much time abusing our national heroes is beyond me. Why we spend so much time questioning the motives of such men and women is beyond my wits. It is disgraceful, disrespectful and a dishonour to all the men and women who endured years and years and years of indignity at the hands of the British and their local collaborators.

Considering all that our heroes did for us, is this how we repay them? Is this how we honour their memories and all the sacrifices they and their families made on our behalf? We don‘t hear the Americans, the South Africans, the Canadians, the Australians, Germans and the French and others pilling insults on their national heroes, do we? Why should it be any different for Nigerians?

Sabella Abidde lives in

Montgomery,

Alabama.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art2010062125315


Reading this article I have a feeling that this writer had come across some NL threads, especially the recent ones on Awolowo and Zik.

Sokoto Batch A 07/08. Detailed experiences recounted elsewhere on NL. Adventurous and one of the most memorable phase of my life.

Another Great Ife signing in here. No disrespect to BCR's Unilorin though. At least na d school produce Becomrich for us to enjoy on NL