₦airaland Forum

I read this article on the Guardian today and I decided to post it as it underscores the point I was trying to make

Senate clarifies position on U.S. listing of Nigeria. Denies issuing ultimatum.



From Azimazi Momoh Jimoh, (Abuja) and Ifedayo Sayo, (Ado-Ekiti)
THE Senate has clarified its stand on the classification of Nigeria among high risk countries by the United States (U.S.) over the alleged attempt by Farouk Umar Abdulmutallab to blow up a Detroit, Michigan-bound Delta Airline plane on the Christmas Day.




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In a statement signed by the Senate's spokesman, Ayogu Eze, yesterday, the Upper Legislative Chamber denied media reports (not in The Guardian) that it had given U.S. a seven-day ultimatum to reverse the classification.

The statement entitled: "The Senate did not issue a seven-day ultimatum," read: "We have followed with interest the misrepresentations in the media regarding our comments in rejecting the classification of Nigeria as a nation to be kept under watch in America's fight against terrorism.

"At no point did the Senate give a seven-day ultimatum. What I said at the press briefing, and this is verifiable from the bodies of the stories with the misleading headlines, was that we rejected the classification and demanded that our name be taken off that list.

"I followed up by stating that when the Senate resumes next, it will engage all its diplomatic and legislative gears to bring about this reversal.

"It was therefore surprising that well-meaning Nigerians for whom the Senate has so much respect would be misled by these screaming headlines to make comments on the matter without first of all acquainting themselves with the facts of the case.

"The comment by Prof. Wole Soyinka referring to the Senate position as being absurd is most unfortunate because I had expected that being one of the captains of the literary ship in Nigeria, he should have read the entire comment from the Senate before casting aspersion on the institution for something that did not happen at all.

"It is wrong for those the Senate holds in high esteem to attack its reputation and seek to rubbish its actions without justification. I am constrained to observe that Prof. Soyinka is gradually falling into this group of Nigerians who offer opinions hastily without first obtaining all the sides to an issue.

"I wish to restate that the Senate rejects this obnoxious classification which was done without due consultation with relevant authorities in Nigeria. On resumption, we are going to weigh in on the matter, with a view to finding a solution to it.

"We also want to use this opportunity to restate our opposition to terrorism in any form from any quarters. We condemn what Umar Abdulmutallab did, and ask that innocent Nigerians be spared the agony to which they are exposed because of this one-off incident.

"His action, heinous and condemnable as it is, is not enough ground to criminalise innocent and law-abiding Nigerians over a matter they know nothing about.

"This is the official position of the Senate for now, and any views to the contrary belong to those who hold such views."

Meanwhile, Lagos lawyer and human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana has blamed the listing of Nigeria on terrorist watch list by the U.S. on the failure of leadership in the country.

He told journalists at a scholarship award ceremony held for indigenes of Ilawe-Ekiti, his hometown in Ekiti State, at the weekend, that if Nigerian leaders had displayed high level of responsibility in their response to the unsuccessful bombing attempt, the situation could have been different.

He said while President Barack Obama abandoned his vacation to attend to the urgent important national problem occasioned by the incident, the Nigerian President, Umaru Musa Yar'Adua's whereabouts was unknown.

Added to this, he said, was the fact that the nation's response to the misdemeanour of the Nigerian was not coordinated, saying the president who was to provide effective leadership was in a foreign land without handing over to his deputy as required by the constitution.

Falana maintained that while he was against the listing of Nigeria among terrorist nations by the U.S., he was more concerned that the country lacked effective leadership to address the problem created by the suspected bomber.

He stressed that if there had been effective leadership, U.S. would have been put on the defensive having been provided with the necessary information on the religious radicalism of Abdulmutallab by his father but failed to work on the information that would have prevented the suspected bomber from entering America.

He noted that the whole issue of Abdulmutallab's action was occasioned by lapses on the part of American security system, adding that the latest action by the U.S. was another way of telling Nigeria to be serious with issues of governance.

He said it is unacceptable for America to criminalise 150 million Nigerians over an offence committed by one of them.

The Lagos lawyer noted that the listing of Nigeria among terrorist nations was an accumulation of mis-governance and America's disenchantment with the manner by which the leaders were conducting the internal affairs of the country.

He also faulted the Nigerian government's reaction to the whole issue when it ordered for body screening machines for use at the airports, saying the body screening machines would offend the rights of Nigerians to privacy.

According to him, the photographs taken with the machines could be used by fraudsters to blackmail and demand for ransome from wealthy Nigerians who go through the airports. Rather, Falana said the government should come up with strategies to combat criminality at the airport rather than invading the privacy of Nigerians and other travellers.

He also criticised the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Chief Michael Aondoakaa over his comment that the President can govern the nation from outside the shores of Nigeria, saying the statement was unfortunate.

He said ordinarily, the public service rules did not permit any top government official from level 16 upward who goes on medical treatment abroad to stay beyond 42 days, adding that if this happens, a medical board would be constituted to determine the physical fitness of such official to continue in office.

He said the president has spent more than 42 days, stressing that the next thing to do is for the government to set up this medical board now to enable the nation move forward.

Earlier, Falana had distributed cheques to 52 indigent indigenes of the community in higher institutions of learning across the nation to assist them in their academic pursuit.

Assisted by his wife, Funmi, Falana said the gesture was part of his contribution to the development of the community and admonished youths in the area not to get involved in illegal drug cultivation, consumption and trading in their own interest.

Meanwhile, Britain is set to ban a Moslem group that recently caused outrage by proposing a demonstration in the town that receives the bodies of British war-dead, killed abroad, the Home Office said yesterday.

The ban would prevent Al-Muhajiroun, also known as Islam4UK, from having meetings or raising money. Attending a meeting or being a member of Al-Muhajiroun or Islam4UK would be a criminal offence, a Home Office spokesman said. The spokesman declined to be named, in line with government policy.

"Proscription is a tough but necessary power to tackle terrorism," said the Home Office, which is responsible for domestic security in the United Kingdom (UK).

Two offshoots of Al-Muhajiroun, Al-Ghurabaa and Saviour Sect Group, were banned in July 2006.

The ban should come into force in a matter of "days, not weeks," the spokesman said. It would require approval from both houses of Parliament.

The group's leader, controversial British Moslem cleric, Anjem Choudary, has been threatening to stage a march against the war in Afghanistan.

Choudary-informed of the government's plans by Cable News Network (CNN) said the Home Office could not shut him down.

"We're not going to stop because the government bans an organisation," he told CNN by phone. "If that means setting up another platform under another label, then so be it."

A ban "will just make the use of those names,  illegal, but Moslems everywhere are obliged to work collectively to establish the Islamic State and Sharia law in the UK or wherever they are those things can't change," he added.

Asked if he was surprised or disappointed by the decision, Choudary said: "No, not at all, we expect this and much more than that."

His Web site appeared to have been shut down as at yesterday, apparently by Islam4UK itself.

In place of a full Web site, Islam4UK.com now contains only a new, relatively conciliatory letter posted Saturday and labelled: "An appeal to families of British soldiers to have an honest dialogue," and a note saying: "Islam4UK back soon."

It was not clear when the Web site was scaled back.

Choudary drew headlines last week by proposing a march through the English town of Wootton Bassett.

The bodies of British war-dead are traditionally brought to the town, near a Royal Air Force base, when they are returned to the country.

Relatives and friends line the streets of the town along with local residents as hearses carry the flag-draped British remains, in scenes of public mourning widely reported by British media.

Choudary's proposal to march empty coffins through the streets drew fury and outrage.

The march would be illegal if the group is banned, the Home Office said.

Choudary himself "would have to renounce membership to avoid breaking the law," the spokesman said. "His group should cease to exist."

The decision to ban the group was not caused only by the plan to march in Wootton Bassett, the Home Office said.

Choudary has never announced a date for his planned march and local police said he had not contacted them about it, as people planning marches are required to do before staging a demonstration.

But he published an open letter: "To the families of British soldiers who have died or who are currently in Afghanistan," on the Web site of Islam4UK on January 4. The group had announced its intention to stage the protest earlier in a short statement on its Web site.

In the letter, Choudary accuses soldiers of "murderous crimes," and says the United States and UK are seeking to "establish their own military, economic, strategic and ideological interests in the region."

British and American troops are suffering "depression" as they realise "there is no real moral or ethic (sic) reason for them to murder innocent men, women and children to fulfil their politicians (sic) agenda," the preacher says.


http://odili.net/news/source/2010/jan/11/13.html

I guess the subject is very alarming and I may be exhausting your patience already, so lets get to it. I got an email from an old friend and I laughed my head off while reading it. It has to do with the Nigerian terrorist wannabe 'Abdul Farouk Mutallab'. I hope it sets you in the mood for a great day. Enjoy.


"a new word has been added to the Oxford Dictionary. Mutallab <mu-ta-llab>;n :
A rich kid who attempts to throw his life away for silly reasons.
Synonyms - 'slowpoke, ode, olodo etc'
Usage examples: 'Are you a Mutallab?','stop this Mutallabness.', 'Get out of the road you Muta-Muta.'
Local dialect use> ' Wo ma Mutallab orie' , 'Commot for ,,,,,,,,,,diaaaaa! Mutallab oshi' , ' Aga ma Mutallab isi gi kita kita'
Accepted abbreviation>Mu-Mu


lol lol   

Canada is a country, London is a town!!!!!

I do agree with you but the number of people gaining from the mal-union are the kind of influence they wield will make breaking up a far cry. Face it, no one likes Nigeria, even the citizens, Most people pretend to love Nigeria as they are stuck with it and have no other option.

I was in church some weeks ago and a Nigerian was giving a testimony of how he has now acquired the citizenship of a European country and everyone was cheering and some even looking green with envy.

If you think I am wrong, if you have the options of 2 passports, American and Nigerian, which one will you go for? That will tell you how much you love this failed state called Nigeria.

Won't it be a shame?

Read the link below,

http://odili.net/news/source/2010/jan/6/312.html

It is really sad. I feel bad about this list thing but how important and relevant are we to the US anyway? How hard have we tried to rid ourselves of the things that continue to soil our image. Why do we continue to have this feeling of self importance? Read my post below to see a lecture delivered in honour of Chinua Achebe in the US where a US envoy said somethings that got me thinking,

Click the link below,

https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-377165.0.html#msg5263956

It seems like you don't see my point. The point of the post is that we have to look inwards and develop ourselves and stop feeling self important. I don't care about the US or any other country but if we think we are a force to reckon with, then we have to prove it just as South Korea and now Ghana are doing,

I read the speech given by a former ambassador of the US about Nigeria and it got me thinking. What do we really have that makes us so proud that we threaten the US as Ojo Maduekwe and others in the senate are doing? I weep for Nigeria,

Please read the speech via this link

http://odili.net/news/source/2010/jan/6/312.html



It is such a privilege to be here in a conference in honour of Professor Chinua Achebe, an inspiration and teacher to all of us.



I have a long connection to Nigeria. Not only was I, an Ambassador there, I have travelled to and from Nigeria for a number of years and have a deep and abiding vital emotional attachment to the Nigerian people, their magnificence, their courage, artistic brilliance, their irony, sense of humour in the face of challenges, etc.

And, I hope that we keep that in mind when I say some things that I think are counter to what we normally say about Nigeria. And, I say that with all due respect to Eric Silla, who is doing a magnificent work at State Department and to our good friends from the legislature; because I have a feeling that we both Nigerians and Americans may be doing Nigeria and Nigerians no favour by stressing Nigeria’s strategic importance.

I know all the arguments: It is a major oil-producer, it is the most populous country in Africa, it has made major contributions to Africa in peace-keeping, and, of course, negatively if Nigeria were to fall apart, the ripple effects would be tremendous, etc. But, I wonder if all this emphasis on Nigeria’s importance creates a tendency to inflate Nigeria’s opinion of its own invulnerability.

Among much of the elite today, I have the feeling that there is a belief that Nigeria is too big to fail, too important to be ignored, and that Nigerians can go on ignoring some of the most fundamental challenges they have,many of which we have talked about: disgraceful lack of infrastructure, the growing problems of unemployment, the failure to deal with the underlying problems in the Niger-Delta, the failure to consolidate democracy; and somehow feel will remain important to everybody because of all those reasons that are strategically impor-tant.

And I am not sure that that is helpful.

Let me sort of deconstruct those elements of Nigeria’s importance, and ask whether they are as relevant as they have been.

One in five Africans is a Nigerian, so…

We often hear that one in five Africans is a Nigerian. What does it mean? Do we ever say one in five Asians is a Chinese? Chinese power comes not just for the fact that it has a lot of people but it has harnessed the entrepreneurial talent and economic capacity and all the other talents of China to make her a major economic force and political force.

What does it mean that one in five Africans is Nigeria? It does not mean anything to a Namibian or a South African. It is a kind of conceit. What makes it important is what is happening to the people of Nigeria. Are their talents being tapped? Are they becoming an economic force? Is all that potential being used?

And the answer is “Not really”.

And oil. Yes, Nigeria is a major oil producer, but Brazil is now launching a 10-year programme that is going to make it one of the major oil producers in the world.

And every other country in Africa is now beginning to produce oil.

And Angola is rivaling Nigeria in oil production, and the United States has just discovered a huge gas reserve which is going to replace some of our dependence on imported energy.

So if you look ahead ten years, is Nigeria really going to be that relevant as a major oil producer, or just another of the many oil producers while the world moves on to alternative sources of energy and other sources of supply?

How influencial is Nigeria?

And what about its influence and contributions to the continent? As our representative from the parliament talked about, there is a great history of those contributions. But that is history.

Is Nigeria really playing a major role today in the crisis in Niger on its border, or in Guinea, or in Darfur, or, after making many promises, any contributions to Somalia?

The answer is no. Today Nigeria is not making a major impact on its region, or on the African Union or on the big problems of Africa.

What about its economic influence?

Well, as we have talked about earlier, there is a de-industrialisation going on in Nigeria— lack of infrastruc-ture and power means that with imported goods under globalisation, Nigerian factories are closing and more people are becoming unemployed. Nigeria is becoming a kind of society that imports and exports and lives off the oil, which does not make it a significant economic entity.

Now, of course, on the negative side, the collapse of Nigeria would be enormous, but is that a point to make Nigeria strategically impor-tant?

Years ago, I worked for an Assistant Secretary of State who had the longest tenure in that job in the 1980s; and I remember in one meeting a Minister from a country not very friendly to the United States, came in and was berating the Assistant Secretary on all the evils of the United States and all its dire plots and in-things in Africa.

He was going on and on and finally the Assistant Secretary cut him off and said, “You know, the biggest danger for your relationship with the United States is not our opposition but that we will find you irrelevant.”

Nigeria-America relationship

The point is that Nigeria can become much less relevant to the United States. We have already seen evidence of it when President Obama went to Ghana and not to Nigeria. He was sending a message that Ghana symbolised more of the significant trends, issues and importance that one wants to put on Africa than Nigeria.

And when I was asked by journalists why President Obama did not go to Nigeria, I said, “what would he gain from going? Would Nigeria be a good model for democracy? Would it be a model for good governance? Would he obtain new commitments on Darfur or Somalia or strengthen the African Union or in Niger or elsewhere?”

No he would not, so he did not go.

And when Secretary Clinton did go, indeed, she also went to Angola. Who would have thought years ago that Angola would be the most stable country in the Gulf of Guinea and establish a binominal commission in Angola?

So the handwriting may already be on the wall, and that is a sad commentary.

What it means is that Nigeria’s most important strategic importance in the end could be that it has failed.

That is a sad, sad conclusion. It does not have to happen, but I think that we ought to stop talking about what a great country it is, and how terribly important it is to us and talk about what it would take for Nigeria to be that important and great.

It takes an enormous amount of commitment. You do not need saints, you do not need leaders like Nelson Mandela in every state, because you are not going to get them.

South Korean example

I served in South Korea in the middle of the 1960s and it was at the time when South Korea was poor and considered hopeless. But she was turning around, later to become, to every person’s amazement, then the eleventh largest economy in the world. I remember the economist in my mission saying, it did not bother him that the leading elite in the government of South Korea were taking 15 to 20 per cent off the top of every project, as long as every project was a good one.

That was the difference. The leadership at the time was determined to solve the fundamental economic issues of South Korean and turn her economy around.

It has not happened in Nigeria today. You don’t need saints. It needs leaders who say, “You know we could be becoming irrelevant, and we got to do something about it.”

Princeton Lyman is a former U.S. Ambassador to South Africa and Nigeria and former Assistant Secretary of State for International Organisation Affairs.

This is just a guide as your wife's cycle appear irregular but approximates to 30 days. So based on this, my own guess will be:

6/01/2010
5/02/2010
6/03/2010

+/- 2days.

This is based on the fact that the last phase of every woman's menstrual cycle which is called the luteal phase is constant and it starts approximately at ovulation and ends at the beginning of the next period. So subtract 14days from the expected next period and that will be the ovulation. You have to study her period for up to a year to be able to estimate her cycle length.

Good luck and happy new year,

http://odili.net/news/source/2009/dec/14/614.html

A confused nation without a head!!!

No one seems to have a clue where Gbenga is still. We don't seem to have the steam to sustain such moves. Why has no one said anything definite so far?

why will the moderator tolerate thug languages on this site?

Igwe-1, I think you should calm down. Although I do see your point, but only few people will see it with me. Let it go and I think the moderator should move the Abuja and Lagos pics to the travel section and apologise to Igwe-1. No one is above mistakes and no one should be too proud to apologise. People respect you more if you apologise when you realise that you have made a mistake,

Although I don't know how true the statement made by the poster is but it is important to know that everyone is innately tribalistic or racist. That's why you unconsciously associate with people of your kind or heritage. I won't be surprised if the statement is true as tribalism, racism, ethnicity and statism are one of our biggest problems in Nigeria.

Jaybee2412,

Thanks for the link. It was very educative. I am sure you will like the previous one I posted too. It shows how far we still have to go. Should Obama threaten to shut down Fox news or fight to sack Rush Limbaugh because of their stance on everything he says or does? I thought the presidency had better things to do. The voice of the opposition and a free media are the only things that keep a democratic government in check.

I hope the moderator does not lock or delete this thread as it seems to be the case with any important political issue.

1luvkipsus, any issue can be discussed here. It is not that he is important. It is what he stands for that is important. It is the kind of things that he dares to discuss when we all are cowardly keeping quiet that is important.

I don't completely agree with all he says but I admired his boldness. If he can easily be silenced weather it be sacking or transfer, that should be a cause of concern to any sensible Nigerians.

I went to google and I got this link:

http://www.saharareporters.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4104:-ait-owner-raymond-dokpesi-yanks-popular-presenter-of-qfocus-nigeriaq-off-air-to-appease-the-yaradua-regime&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=18

It says a lot about Gbenga, AIT and The NTA fiasco in the Under 17 world cup.

If and international journalist goes missing say in CNN and BBC, it will be the main item of news in different news media. It is really a shame that other news media have not stood up to talk about this issue.

Meanwhile, thanks Beaf for the links. I will go through them,

FL Gators,

thats really funny,

It is such fora as Nairaland that some of the ills in Nigeria can be discussed freely as we are not able to tackle some of the corrupt institutions holding Nigeria down. This is really a serious matter,

How can a journalist be silenced like that and no one is making a fuss about it? It really pains me that people just want to mind there business not knowing that these kind of events will eventually affect them,

My question still stands,

Where is Gbenga Aruleba?

Hi Beaf,

Are you serious? is there a place where I can go online to read more about what happened to him?

Oh sorry, Gbenga is the very vocal presenter of the Focus Nigeria programme of AIT that airs every week day morning where political hot topics are discussed. He has been arrested previously during the Obasanjo era but has been missing in action for sometime now hence my post.

Please respond to the post if you have more insights as to his whereabouts,

I was watching AIT today and I heard a caller ask about Gbenga Aruleba and the presenter answered him rather dismissively saying that he was sent on a course abroad, This is exactly what was said about the former EFCC chairman when he was wisked away. So please my question is ,

Where is Gbenga Aruleba??!!!!!

Guys, I am still waiting for your comments,

I feel bad about Nigeria and the fact that we blame each other for the various problems we have. We are very racist and tribalistic thinking that the other person is to blame, An Ogun man cannot get a job in Ondo State because it is not his state and the yorubas think that it is the Igbos or Hausas that is the problem. An Imo man cannot get a job in Abia state, a kano man cannot get a job in sokoto state.

Everyone crucifies merit and tries to squeeze his kit and kins into positions that he knows full well that they are not qualified to be in.

We think that it is when the country breaks up that the solution will come but let me ask you, in your local government area, are there not people clamoring for either autonomous communities or a division of the already existing local government or for the street in their town to be renamed after their father because they can boast of some coins.

Please read this excerpt from Governor Lamido Sanusi's statements at Launch of a book oddly titled “Nigeria, Africa’s failed asset?”




“Let me start by saying that I am Fulani (laughter). My grandfather was an Emir and therefore I represent all that has been talked about this afternoon. Sir Ajayi has written a book. And like all Nigerians of his generation, he has written in the language of his generation.

“My grandfather was a Northerner, I am a Nigerian. The problem with this country is that in 2009, we speak in the language of 1953. Sir Olaniwun can be forgiven for the way he spoke, but I can not forgive people of my generation speaking in that language.

“Let us go into this issue because there are so many myths that are being bandied around.

Before colonialism, there was nothing like Northern Nigeria. Before the Sokoto Jihad, there was nothing like the Sokoto caliphate. The man from Kano regard himself as Abakani. The man from Zaria was Abazasage. The man from Katsina was Abakani. The kingdoms were at war with each other. They were Hausas, they were Muslims, they were killing each other.

“The Yoruba were Ijebu, Owo, Ijesha, Akoko, Egba. When did they become one? When did the North become one? You have the Sokoto Caliphate that brought every person from Adamawa to Sokoto and said it is one kingdom. They now said it was a Muslim North.

“The Colonialists came, put that together and said it is now called the Northern Nigeria. Do you know what happened? Our grand fathers were able to transform to being Northerners. We have not been able to transform to being Nigerians. The fault is ours.

Tell me, how many governors has South West produced after Awolowo that are role models of leadership? How many governors has the East produced like Nnamdi Azikiwe that can be role models of leadership? How Many governors in the Niger Delta are role models of leadership? Tell me. There is no evidence statistically that any past of this country has produced good leaders.

You talk about Babangida and the economy. Who were the people in charge of the economy during Babangida era? Olu Falae, Kalu Idika Kalu. What state are they from in the North?

“We started the banking reform; the first thing I heard was that in Urobo land, that there will be a course of the ancestors. I said they (ancestors) would not answer. They said why? I said how many factories did Ibru build in Urobo land? So, why will the ancestors of the Urobo people support her?

“We talk ethnicity when it pleases us. It is hypocrisy. You said elections were rigged in 1959, Obasanjo and Maurice Iwu rigged election in 2007. Was it a Southern thing? It was not.

“The problem is: everywhere in this country, there is one Hausa, Ibo, Yoruba and Itshekiri man whose concern is how to get his hands on the pile and how much he can steal.

Whether it is in the military or in the civilian government, they seat down, they eat together. In fact, the constitution says there must be a minister from every state.

“So, anybody that is still preaching that the problem of Nigeria is Yoruba or Hausa or Fulani, he does not love Nigeria. The problem with Nigeria is that a group of people from each and every ethnic tribe is very selfish. The poverty that is found in Maiduguri is even worse than any poverty that you find in any part of the South. The British came for 60 years and Sir Ajayi talked about few numbers of graduates in the North (two at independence). What he did not say was that there was a documented policy of the British when they came that the Northerner should not be educated. It was documented. It was British colonial policy. I have the document. I have published articles on it. That if you educate the Northerner you will produce progressive Muslim intellectuals of the type we have in Egypt and India. So, do not educate them. It was documented. And you say they love us (North).

“I have spent the better part of my life to fight and Dr. (Reuben) Abati knows me. Yes, my grandfather was an Emir. Why was I in the pro-democracy movement fighting for June 12? Is (Moshood) Abiola from Kano? Why am I a founding director of the Kudirat Initiative for Nigerian Development (KIND)?

“There are good Yoruba people, good Igbo people, good Fulani people, good Nigerians and there are bad people everywhere. That is the truth.

“Stop talking about dividing Nigeria because we are not the most populous country in the world. We have all the resources that make it easy to make one united great Nigeria. It is better if we are united than to divide it.

“Every time you talk about division, when you restructure, do you know what will happen? In Delta, Area, the people in Warri will say Agbor, you don’t have oil. When was the Niger Delta constructed as a political enlity? Ten years ago, the Itshekiris were fighting the Urobos. Isn’t that what was happening? Now they have become Niger Delta because they have found oil. After, it will be, if you do not have oil in your village then you can not share our resources.

“There is no country in the world where resources are found in everybody’s hamlet. But people have leaders and they said if you have this geography and if we are one state, then we have a responsibility for making sure that the people who belong to this country have a good nature.

“So, why don’t you talk about; we don’t have infrastructure, we don’t have education, we don’t have health. We are still talking about Fulani. Is it the Fulani cattle rearer or is anybody saying there is no poverty among the Fulani?”, he said.

From:
http://odili.net/news/source/2009/nov/20/510.html


I'd like to know what you think and if you truly feel that their is a chance that we can get our acts together in this country in the near future,

Very interesting,

Hi,sorry I took some time.get ur husband to change his address in d school's intranet n dn let him request for a status letter afterwards from d school.Ds will serve as a proof of address for him.
2ndly,let him go to d bank n request for a change of address.for some banks, u can do ds online.wn it is confirmed, let him re-order d statement.it's free for some banks.Ds again is a good proof of address.
Frankly,drs nothing wrong wt using a shared flat as long as it is not a sch hostel.I know more dn 3 ppl dt did it n got d Kpali!
Finally,I did mine in 2 months so U have time.D main tn is to trust God as u apply.Dy usually give dependents easily compared to d student as my missus's own n others I know, came out wtin 1 wk.
Gods grace

Yeah, I am pleased to hear that my testimony is helping someone see the light at the end of the tunnel. I got all the info that I used for the application from Nairaland but I modified it to suit my own perculiar nature. My missus submitted the following:

letter from my school addressed to the BHC Lagos stating that I was fully enrolled as a full time student and that I am attending regularly.

A letter addressed to me stating the same info above (as my proof of address)

My international acceptance letter.

My British Telecom Bill (as my proof of address)

My mobile contract bill (as my proff of address although it is not as good as a utility eg BT, Gas, Water)

My 1 month bank statement (I only stayed for a month before I applied and so did not have up to 3 months that people say that they ask for. The amout in the account was over 1,000. It shows my ability to support her and also serves as proof of address.)

My own letter of support stating that I need her around to help make things easy!!

Photocopy of ID page of passport and the student Visa showing the stamp of arrival in the UK.

Tenancy aggreement for my flat. ( It is a shared flat and I was a bit scared that they may say something but it was enough for them, Please don't use school accommodation unless it is meant for a couple. it is cheaper to leave off camp!!).

Our marriage certificate and pix of the wedding and trad.

My missus work documents and her bank statement (Not very important as dy will still give her if she were unemployed if you meet the main requirements)

Apart from the above, I also submitted my sponsors documents as I did when I was applying for myself and d sponsor also said that he is willing to support the both of us. It is really important that you both use thesame sponsor. I just did not want them to start asking me about my work details here as it may add sand to my garri!!

Well, I guess all this will help you. I am open to more querries.

Goodluck

i agree with you my brother!!

No be 9ja U dey? lets us this forum for good my ppl!!