₦airaland Forum

the profound peeve that I have about the vexing syndrome that is fast becoming systemic and moved me to write these reflections publicly about my own country for the first time since I relocated from home a few years ago. The syndrome of shameful stratospheric rate at which our society now rewards leaders for their previous failures, their mind-boggling underperformance and their ignoble behavior is destroying our future.

After all, which example of a nation does History teach us ever advanced economically, socially or politically by giving all the incentives for higher offices to those leaders at the different levels of governance whose records of past failures or aberrant behavior were already well documented? I know of none. How come in Nigeria, the political class and appointees in the public service leadership have appropriated to themselves the entitlement to lead no matter how grievous their past track record of failure? Why have we allowed ourselves the opprobrium of being a nation that gives completely unearned promotion to higher responsibilities as a reward for failing? We have a bizarre case of moral hazard leading to even more reckless, opportunistic behavior.

There are so many more bull's-eye points in that speech. Oby kept hitting the home run. . .

It's not too long at all, unfortunately, majority of those who really need to read and think about what she's saying before they vote or leave the polling booth in April won't/can't read it.

[quote author=isale_gan2 link=topic=590933.msg7852582#msg7852582 date=1299357233]So, Oga Kilode, how about we get more diverse participation on the topic so fellow NL non-Yorubas that may have something to contribute about the subject of traditional religions can get in on it.  I bet it broadens it somewhat if not limited to Ifa.  I keep telling the visitors it is not a restricted thread but posters like PhysicsADHD simply come in to trade barbs. lol.  I'll leave it in your hands since this is your subject o.  I'm done with the invites and just wanna sit back and   

BTW, I look forward to the new topic.[/quote]Hmm, Religion might not be a wise topic to discuss within the friendly atmosphere on this thread, It might make people take sides and get too passionate. I can't e-fight.

But I'm willing to discuss and learn from those who know about Ifa.  I believe there are enough answers to the problems we face in Nigeria within our own cultural philosophies; Ifa in the case of Yoruba.

I'm really not an expert at all, I'm just curious. Pastor AIO and the other guys on that thread are the real deal. I'm very interested in it though.

I'll also like to know what people think about a formal introduction of Ifa teaching into our school systems as a parallel philosophy.

I'll leave it in your hands since this is your subject o. I'm done with the invites and just wanna sit back and   

Sit down ke? people are here because of Sisi Ekos like you and naijababe o.

fstranger3:
^^^  What harm lie therein in the indiscriminate use of an unsheathed rubber sword?

Good Question!

Answer: It looks harmless and appears ineffective, but after some period of dedicated thrusting and pointed precise attack, it will eventually do irreparable damage. Mind you, it can also be surreptitiously smuggled past the tightest defenses.

I pity undiscerning victims  

^^I approve that message, an unsheathed indiscriminate "rubber sword" is very dangerous.

^^ yeah I think they call it that too. Dissociative identities. You be Dokita to moye!

fstranger3:
OMG

I cant even place you.

I have MPD, that's probably why

Katsumoto:
Condom ke; I am not DK. I was referring to a literal sword. Don't you know that Aworis like to carry umbrellas? 

I know, I thought the umbrellas were made out of cloth ni  

So that  Adimu Orisa umbrella is made out of "rubber"?   Eko O le Baje lailai Walahi

Katsumoto:


Igba ti won ba ni ko ma ja ni iwo ma yo ibon


Just so you know, I own a Daikoku MASAMUNE sword. Your[b] Awori umbrella [/b]wont be able to save you.  

LOL @ Awori umbrella, Is that a new short name for Condom?

dayokanu:
Ki lon wa nita ni woyi? Se ko ti ye ki o lo sun ni?

Abi iwo ti gbagbe wipe won ni "Ijakumo ki rinde osan, Eni a bii re ki rin loru"?

Egbon DK,  eri iyen so! sugbon;

like our elders will say: Bi ale ba le adete a rin a tun yan ~ even the leper walks with a swagger under the cover  of darkness~ night is perfect.

Amo sha, Omoluabi ti n fi oru se ise ire lawa o ~I'm the well behaved person who does good even at night~  

[quote author=isale_gan2 link=topic=590933.msg7851212#msg7851212 date=1299341116]lol.  The thread goes wherever it goes. 

Hey!  Just for you, I'll take requests on future discourse.  Name the burning issue or topic and I'll do a little opener and open the floor for discussion.  You too, Katz.  And you too, [insert name].  lol.[/quote]I was going to discuss Ifa, then I saw that most people on here are Babalawos and secret aborisas anyway, so it will be a redundant groupthink thing.

I will think of something else. while I leave you with this video as instructed by the irunmoles. teach them, they will learn

[flash=640,390]http://www.youtube.com//v/hLNWvGwKlWI[/flash]

it's was discussed here on NL in 2008, see this link, also, scroll down a bit to see Tpia's comment https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-207887.0.html#msg3227802

Tpia is hilarious   one of my favourite NL's for sure.

[quote author=Ileke-IdI link=topic=617073.msg7848643#msg7848643 date=1299297968]Exactly who in Nigerian's politics is not low?

I think we should be more worried about OBJ's stoopidy statement; "I am proud of Akala"[/quote]The more reason why we should point out how low they are. Anyway, my initial post was about PDP Arse lickers not necessarily the stakeholders like GEJ, those ones are expected to praise themselves for the air people breathe in their states. I remain unimpressed. 

^^Hmm, so GEJ assumed his goons were anything but low, right? Anyway, we should be used to his rather "unique" sense of judgement by now. . .

Is this not the same Akpabio some PDP Arse-lickers were praising as a performing governor? A good example?

So this is the man they want as the leader of Akwa Ibom people?

This one? SMH

O ga gan ni o!

Plenty mukulu mukeke dey happen for this thread this weekend o!

Bk, I noticed you have a question mark for minimus. I think I know who that pig is ;

Minimus = Nigerian intellectuals, technocrats(public/private) artists and other professionals.

They supposedly have the education, the brains and the expertise but are always ready to serve the needs of the oppressors, they write the laws, offer their expertise, training and knowledge to any government in power as long as they get the recognition and pay.

They value their professional pursuit more than the progress and well being of their people.

9ijaMan:
You'll wait for a very very long time o!

I know bro, I'm about to buy a tent and some food so I can camp and wait

^^ glad you made a thread out of it, good stuff.

^^I'll wait for IBB to leave PDP before I believe that story. We don hear plenty before.

Paragraph 1 = correct

Stability is a very old word in naija politics, im sure you know that. They always avoid doing the hard stuff for the sake of stability. GEJ has squandered a lot of political capital since he got into office, I know he has to worry about re-election and all that stuff, but he rode to power on the back of popular support during Yar'adua's illlness and after his death. He has done nothing to justify that, all i hear are promises.

No one is asking him to pass laws by himself or pull federalism from his arse, but when you sorround yourself with people like Aba Aji and you are silent when that Idio.t in the house of assembly (Bankole) amended the electoral act to reward cheats and election riggers, I worry about your ability to make tough decisions.

GEJ sadly has not done anything to show me he can handle the cabal.

Also, I'll wait for him to fire Aba Aji before I rejoice. IMO, A president that fails to rein in his principal officers cannot control people like OBJ, IBB and co.

All that aside, I recognize the campaign talking points and I can't stop you from believing in GEJ, but from a national psyche perspective, getting a break from a non-performing incumbent government is good for our people. Rewarding PDP with another victory will change nothing at all. As a matter of fact it will strengthen these people and make change harder for a reformer president. (if I believe GEJ is one)

I admire your tenacity though and I'm glad you are not one of those who think GEJ is the right person just because he comes from the Niger Delta. Those who oppress us don't care about ethnicity, they care about power. We need to let them know we can take their drug away and help our people realize they have the power to do so.

^ I agree with all you wrote, I'm glad you also realize that Hausa-Fulani Hegemony is just a buzz word for elitist greed and callous oppression and does not mean Hausa/Fulanis are our problem.

My guy na you need to shine your eye o, I sabi Naija pass all dis ones we dey yarn. If I run the stats correctly, I've lived 95% of my life so far in Naija, that is beside the point though.

These people do not care about our people, You are right, their agents are everywhere. In government offices, in schools, in the military, in the Police service, in the private sector, they are inside PDP or even in ACN and CPC, they write laws and implement them. That is the reality and we recognize that. The defeat of the PDP is a first and neccessary step to dislodging the old order.

Beaf:
For the strictest avoidance of doubt, I see this election as an opportunity to dismantle the old guard / cabal. A concrete description of who I identify as the cabal are members of and operatives in the Hausa-Fulani hegemony (the Yakasai's, Ciroma's etc and their lackeys, the Ibori's etc). Tinubu, for some funny reason seems desperate to inject himself in that gang of uglies, even though he hasn't a drop of oil to boast of (he likely wants to offer VAT only).

Tinubu's funny politics aside, I agree that Ciroma, Yakassai and co represents the old guard, same for IBB, OBJ, Dokpesi, Danjuma, Chris Uba, Nzeribe.

Last time I checked, these folks are all in the same PDP, they've held us by the jugular for eons, and like an incurable virus disease, they keep killing the hopes and visions of our people, all of our peoples.

GEJ now has their support.

It's near impossible to suspend disbelief and accept that GEJ will run his government and implement policies that will reduce their influence, hurt their interests and shame their legacy.

I tell you, OBJ will oppose a federal structure of the type you constantly speak of, IBB will. Danjuma will not like his oil block taken away, I doubt Chris Uba cares about human rights and egalitarian principles.

ACN and CPC ain't perfect either, but I'm inclined to believe that they carry less of the political deadweight keeping us down.

Beaf, you really must see how a GEJ/PDP victory will not change the fate of the ND people; I see that clearly, the last 12 years is a testament to that and the usual suspects are sorrounding him.

@Beaf

Do you really see this election as a Niger Delta vs The Old guard battle?

Old guard = North, maybe SW?, Ruling Cabal, Old generation politicians, etc, take your pick.

I'm really curious, Is that how you really view this election, Beaf?

I asked because of my past conversations with you on NL and also because I noticed your response to Volasunkan's post, reposted below.

[quote author= volasukan]heaven will not fall if Jonathan loses,and his loss does not mean the niger-delta loss,[/quote]

Beaf:
Seriously? lol

[quote author=bk.babe97y link=topic=616099.msg7841295#msg7841295 date=1299188660]Pigs (THE NIGERIAN ELITE/PDP)

Old Major: (MR. AWOLOWO)

An aged prize Middle White boar is the inspiration that fuels the Rebellion in the book. He is an allegory of Karl Marx and Lenin, the founders of Communism, in that he draws up the principles of the revolution. His skull being put on revered public display also resembles Lenin, whose embalmed body was put on display.[6][7]

NapoleonGEJ)

"A large, rather fierce-looking Berkshire boar, the only Berkshire on the farm, not much of a talker, but with a reputation for getting his own way",[8] An allegory of Joseph Stalin,[6] Napoleon is the main villain of Animal Farm. He begins to gradually build up his power, using the dogs Jessie and Bluebell, whom he he took from their parents as puppies and raised to be vicious dogs, as his secret police. After driving Snowball off the farm, Napoleon usurps full power, using false propaganda from Squealer and threats and intimidation from the dogs to keep the other animals in line. Among other things, he gradually changes the Commandments for his benefit. By the end of the book, Napoleon and his fellow pigs have learned to walk upright and started to behave similarly to the humans against whom they originally revolted.

In the first French version of Animal Farm, Napoleon is called César, the French form of Caesar,[3] although another translation has him as Napoléon.[9]

Snowball: (Gen.BUHARI)

Napoleon's rival and original head of the farm after Jones' overthrow. He is mainly based on Trotsky,[6] but also combines elements from Lenin.[7] He wins over most animals and gains their trust by leading a very successful first harvest, but is driven out of the farm by Napoleon. Snowball genuinely works for the good of the farm and the animals and devises plans to help the animals achieve their vision of an egalitarian utopia, but Napoleon and his dogs chase him from the farm, and Napoleon spreads rumours to make him seem evil and corrupt [/b]and that he had secretly sabotaged the animals' efforts to improve the farm.


[b]Squealer: (BEAF)

A small white fat porker who serves as Napoleon's right hand pig and minister of propaganda, holding a position similar to that of Molotov.[6] Squealer manipulates the language to excuse, justify, and extol all of Napoleon's actions. Squealer limits debate by complicating it and he confuses and disorients, making claims that the pigs need the extra luxury they are taking in order to function properly, for example. However, when questions persist, he usually uses the threat of the return of Mr Jones, the former owner of the farm, to justify the pigs' privileges. Squealer uses statistics to convince the animals that life is getting better and better. Most of the animals have only dim memories of life before the revolution; therefore, they are convinced. In the end, he is the first pig to walk on his hind legs.


Minimus (   ?  )

A poetic pig who writes the second and third national anthems of Animal Farm after the singing of "Beasts of England" is banned.


The Piglets (THE YOUTHS OF NIGERIA)

Hinted to be the children of Napoleon (albeit not truly noted in the novel) and are the first generation of animals actually subjugated to his idea of animal inequality.


The young pigs ("REBELS" AMONGST THE NIGERIAN YOUTH: the enlightened/conscientious ones)


Four pigs who complain about Napoleon's takeover of the farm but are quickly silenced and later executed.


Pinkeye

A minor pig who is mentioned only once; he is the pig that tastes Napoleon's food to make sure it is not poisoned, in response to rumours about an assassination attempt on Napoleon.

Humans:


Mr. Jones: (THE NIGERIAN MILITARY)


The former owner of the farm, Jones is a very heavy drinker and the animals revolt against him after he drinks so much that he does not feed or take care of them. The attempt by Jones and his farmhands to recapture the farm is foiled in the Battle of the Cowshed.


FrederickGEN.IBB)

The tough owner of Pinchfield, a well-kept neighbouring farm. He buys wood from the animals for forged money and later attacks them, destroying the windmill but being finally beaten in the resulting Battle of the Windmill. There are stories of him mistreating his own animals, such as throwing dogs into a furnace. Pinchfield is noted as being smaller than Pilkington's Foxwood farm but more efficiently run, and Frederick briefly enters into an "alliance" with Napoleon by offering to buy wood from him but then betrays the deal and mounts a bloody invasion of Animal Farm.


Mr. PilkingtonMr.ATIKU).


The easy-going but crafty owner of Foxwood, a neighbouring farm overgrown with weeds, as described in the book. At the end of the game, both Napoleon and Pilkington draw the Ace of Spades and then begin fighting loudly. Foxwood is described as being much larger than Pinchfield, but not as efficiently run.


Mr. Whymper


A man hired by Napoleon for the public relations of Animal Farm to human society. Whymper is used as a go-between to trade with human society for things the animals can't produce on their own: at first this is a legitimate need because the animals can't manufacture their own windmill components, but eventually Whymper is used to procure luxuries like alcohol for the pigs.

Equines

Boxer

Boxer is a loyal, kind, dedicated, and respectable horse. He is physically the strongest animal on the farm, but impressionable (a major theme in the book), which leaves him stating "I will work harder" and "Napoleon is always right" despite the corruption.


Clover

Clover, a mare, is Boxer's companion, constantly caring for him; she also acts as a matriarch of sorts for the other horses and the other animals in general (such as the ducklings she shelters with her forelegs and hooves during Old Major's speech).


Mollie

Mollie is a self-centred, self-indulgent and vain young white mare whose sole enjoyments are wearing ribbons in her mane, eating sugar cubes, and being pampered and groomed by humans. She quickly leaves for another farm and is only once mentioned again.


Benjamin EZIACHI AND OTHER BITTER, OLD, AND WORN BIAFRAN VETS OVER THE AGE OF 72YRS )

Benjamin, a donkey, is one of the longest-lived animals. He has the worst temper, but is also one of the wisest animals on the farm, and is one of the few who can actually read. He is able to "read as well as any pig."[10] Benjamin is a very dedicated friend to Boxer, and does nothing to warn the other animals of the pigs' corruption, which he secretly realizes is steadily unfolding. When asked if he was happier after the revolution than before it, Benjamin remarks, "Donkeys live a long time. None of you has ever seen a dead donkey." He is skeptical and pessimistic, his most-often-made statement being "Life will go on as it has always gone on — that is, badly."[10]
Other animals


Muriel

A wise old goat who is friends with all of the animals on the farm. She, like Benjamin and Snowball, is one of the few animals on the farm who can read (with some difficulty as she has to spell the words out first) and helps Clover discover that the Seven Commandments have been continually changed.


The PuppiesMEND AND CO)

Offspring of Jessie and Bluebell, taken away from them by Napoleon at birth and reared by Napoleon to be his security force. These dogs are trained to be vicious, going so far as to rip many of the animals to shreds including the four young pigs, a sheep and various hens. They attempt to do the same to Boxer, who halts one of the puppies under his hoof. The puppy begs for mercy and through Napoleon's orders, Boxer sets the puppy free.


Moses the Raven (NIGERIANS IN DIASPORA)

An old crow who occasionally visits the farm, regaling its denizens with tales of a wondrous place beyond the clouds called Sugarcandy Mountain, where he avers that all animals go when they die—but only if they work hard. He is interpreted as symbolising the Russian Orthodox Church, with Sugarcandy Mountain an allusion to Heaven for the animals.[11] He spends his time turning the animals' minds to thoughts of Sugarcandy Mountain (rather than their work) and yet does no work himself. He feels unequal in comparison to the other animals, so he leaves after the rebellion, for all animals were supposed to be equal. However, much later in the novel he returns to the farm and continues to proclaim the existence of Sugarcandy Mountain. The other animals are confused by the pigs' attitude towards Moses; they denounce his claims as nonsense, but allow him to remain on the farm. The pigs do this to keep any doubting animals in line with the hope of a happy afterlife, keeping their minds on Sugarcandy Mountain and not on possible uprisings. In the end, Moses is one of the few animals to remember The Rebellion, along with Clover, Benjamin, and the pigs.


The Sheep (NIGERIAN POPULACE/MAJORITY OF GEJ SUPPORTERS)

They show limited understanding of the situations but nonetheless blindly support Napoleon's ideals. They are regularly shown repeating the phrase "four legs good, two legs bad". At the end of the novel, one of the Seven Commandments is changed after the pigs learn to walk on two legs and their shout changes to "four legs good, two legs better". They can be relied on by the pigs to shout down any dissent from the others.



The HensTHE IBOS)

The hens are among the first to rebel against Napoleon: in response to their being forced to give more eggs, they destroy their eggs instead of handing them to the higher powers (the pigs), who want to sell them to humans. Napoleon then uses fear and starves them until the pigs get what they want.


The Cows: (THE NIGER DELTA)
Their milk is stolen by the pigs, who learn to milk them, and is stirred into the pigs' mash every day while the other animals are not given any such luxuries.


The Cat (THE HAUSA?)

Never seen to carry out any work, the cat is absent for long periods, and is forgiven because her excuses are so convincing and she "purred so affectionately that is was impossible not to believe in her good intentions".[12] She has no interest in the politics of the farm, and the only time she is recorded as having participated in an election she was found to have actually "voted on both sides".[12][/quote]Well done BK, The symbolism is apt.

Didn't we go down this bomb blast accusation route in Oct 2010 with the IBB Campaign?  

CPC people should not worry at all, next month, GEJ/PDP will call Buhari their mentor and Grandfather. Trust me

I'm now convinced bomb blast accusation is part of the PDP mating process  

It's a 3 step process: Tease, "Blow" and F***

Congratulations! wish you great success in the next round.

Kobojunkie:
It is unfortunate that we do not give much focus to the election of our senators and representatives. These goons are a big part of the Nigerian problem and by gosh, for Nigeria to change, the Senate and house needs to be cleansed come april.

Well Said!

Like Abu Ibrahim said earlier in the week;

“We are also thinking of parliamentary alliance. The presidency is important, but there are other areas of interest that we cannot foreclose. We have been meeting on how to work hard to ensure that the three parties secure majority in the National Assembly and check the tyranny of the PDP.”

We ignore those HOA elections at our own peril. . .

Olawale Malcolm X, one of my favourite, dead or alive.

IMO, Every society/cause needs determined warriors and agressive diplomats. I consider Malcolm X a necessary warrior, probably killed when he was about to turn into a diplomat. Respect!

[quote author=kilode?! ]they were also suspected of inciting dislike for Jonathan[/quote]

Arosa:
is vandalism not a crime?

you dey vex?

As you can clearly read from my earlier quote above, I was speaking specifically about the "inciting dislike" statement. I even placed it in bold.

I reserve the right to "incite dislike" for a politician I dislike,  it is not a crime for me to speak against a politician or encourage people to dislike him.

I hope you as my fellow Naija will not get that right taken away from you. I hope I can count on you to stand with me against those who wish to take our right to political dissent away.

Arosa, My family will not vote GEJ, I incited their dislike for him.

Most of my friends and acquintances will never vote PDP, I'm partly responsible for inciting their dislike.

I incite dislike for PDP everywhere I go. The same way PDP supporters incite dislike for their opponents.

Show me a law that says you and I can't exercise that right Sir, and I will show you an oppressive law.


Now to your vandalism question; I'm not sure what the city code is in Sokoto. Most serious societies have laws against Vandalism, Graffitti and co.

Serious societies also have laws against placing campaign Ad posters on public properties and monuments. I believe a public roundabout is a public property.

Violating a "Post No Bill" code and spray painting an Ad poster are both Vandalism.

So, if you wanna go legal, GEJ campaign handlers are probably violating a law that the police chose to ignore.

they were also suspected of inciting dislike for Jonathan

And that is a crime? Really?

In a democracy?

And this "new PDP" = Fresh air?

ROFL

^^GEJ is above the law, he has presidential m.u.m.u.n.i.t.y 

EDIT

Did Tinubu threaten GEJ?

I don't even understand why we need the SSS. SSS is another creation of IBB's 8 year misrule that the civilian idi.ots ruling since 1999 lack the balls to scrap. Must we photocopy and abuse everything they do in America? That oppressive security gang should be scrapped IMO.

So it's now a "security risk" for a politician to mock the president of his country? In a democracy? Are we sane at all?

And somebody said this guy is fresh and humble?  

fstranger3:
The Oriental just dey exploit Nigerians like mad

Chinese food for 2500 naira, egbele oooooo

They better serve it with Horiental Hos to go

Gbawe: Is it not amazing how insincerity, lack of integrity,  absence of sound judgement and dearth of enduring logical analysis runs through the DNA of Jonathan fans? Do you guys have no shame ? You now mention Tinubu everyday . Why ? Is it because all the "enemies of GEJ and Nigeria" you villified as evil and needing to be put to the sword now happen to be pals of you unprincipled idol who stands for nothing and has no enduring integrity, backbone or uprightness?

Yesterday it was IBB = Indepependent bomb blast. Dokpesi was one of the "enemies of Nigeria who will spend the rest of his life in jail". Atiku was an "evil radical mullah". Saraki a "fraudster" . Yuguda was a "cabal plotter" during the times he opposed GEJ and Ciroma the "devil's incarnate" and an example of "the retrogressive force of the past that will be banished by fresh air". Sadly your unprincipled "fresh air" has dissapointed you all with how quickly he is happy to jump into bed with all the above before one can even say condom !!! You guys now shamelessly want to transfer every negativity against Tinubu by making him the number one bad guy because , as per Jonathan's political cheapness, you are running out of enemies to fight . Face it . You are all clowns . Discredited ones at that too. If Tinubu pledges support for GEJ tomorrow you sorry folks will probably be left with no choice but to begin attacking Wole Soyinka or Ojukwu from his sick bed abroad !!!!!

You are not lying bro.

I'm certain Tinubu will become the long lost cousin of Oga GEJ, if he can declare his support tomorrow.

Political theater of the absurd!