₦airaland Forum

@poster - REFRENCE TO THE Shugaba Case of 1981, the aformentioned area is highlighted for your attention.

Nigeria’s Democracy: The journey so far


By Chioma Anyagafu
Saturday, May 31, 2003


IN 1976, at the twilight of the attempt to return the country to civil rule in a post civil-war transition, the then military Head of State, General Olusegun Obasanjo set up a Constitution Drafting Committee headed by Chief Rotimi Williams which duty it was to produce the draft constitution for the future use of civilian governments. By September of the same year, this constitution was ready.

Contents of the Draft favoured the federation and the fact that Nigeria must retain its federal form of government. It provided for elected parliaments and governors for each state, making a major change for a popularly elected executive president.

Hitherto, the British model whereby power was concentrated in the hands of a Prime Minister was the system under practice. It was the system that produced Alhaji Tafawa Balewa of the First Republic as the Prime Minister of the country and Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe as ceremonial president. But at the time the Draft was made, this system has become generally unacceptable to majority of ethnic groups in Nigeria.

A debate was initiated between the press and the public and the Draft was submitted to the Constituent Assembly. It took a lot of time to debate on the Draft Constitution.

By 1978, registration of voters had taken place as an advance towards the civilian rule and all the then military governors were relieved of their duties July 1978. The Draft Constitution provided a four-year tenure for elected President and Vice-President, federal Senate and House of Representatives, state governors and state Houses of Assembly.

When eventually, the military administration of General Olusegun Obasanjo lifted the ban on political activities September 21, 1978, twenty political parties were formed out of which five got registered. These were the National Party of Nigeria, NPN, which national chairman was Chief Michael Adisa Akinloye. It also paraded prominent politicians like Alhaji Makaman Bida, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, Chief J.S. Tarka and Chief Richard Akinjide. There was also the Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN, headed by the Yoruba sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo which advocated free education, free health services and other welfare state measures. The Nigeria Peoples Party, NPP, was led by Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe who joined the political contest at the age of 74. There were also the Great Nigeria Peoples Party, GNPP, headed by Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim who advocated national reconstruction through politics without bitterness. Finally, there was the Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, headed by Alhaji Aminu Kano.

Elections proper were held between July and August 1979 in the following order: Senate July 7; House of Representatives, July 14; States House of Assembly, July 1; and state governors, July 28. Presidential elections were held on August 11, 1979.

When the results were ready, NPN emerged overall winner and Alhaji Shehu Shagari, the presidential candidate of the NPN was declared winner after he scored 25% or more in twelve states and 20% of votes in Kano. His victory was contested by UPN but the courts upheld it.

On October 1, 1979, the military regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo handed over to the democratically-elected regime of Alhaji Shehu Shagari.

But soon after democracy got established, things began to happen. Democracy got characterised by high political tension both within and between the parties. In Kaduna State, more than one year after civilian take-over, the PRP governor was yet to form a cabinet.

[b][/b]In Borno State, crises got to a head that the GNPP majority leader, Alhaji Abdulrahman Shugaba was deported by Federal Immigration authorities to Chad in January on the ground that he was a Chadian.

@poster

the problem with you is u dont konw the dynamics of Nigerian politics, unlike in the west u are British, American, German, the whole country is your consituency. As a British u are can contest for the House of commons from Glasgow or Wales they are all part of the UK. Same with America u can contest from Miami or from seatle for Congress. Same also in Germany, but Nija is a diffrent kettle of fish. Even myself a Yoruba man cannot see my self contesting successfully for my home town - Ondo Town becos I do not understand the local lingo, I only understand general Yoruba, how much more me contesting in Zamfara state. First Nigerians are either Yoruba, Hausa, Edo, Igbo, Efik b4 they are Nigerians. And if you are Yoruba u are either Egba, Ijebu, Oyo, Ijesha, Ekiti, Ondo. In your own case u will be regarded by poiltical opponents as neither been Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, or any of the other 400 tribes in Nigeria. You might have a yoruba or Igbo name that does not make u a full Nigerian u will be referred to as a foreigner. A case that came to mind was the Shugaba case in the early 80's he was a man from Borno state but born in Chad, he wanted to contest for a particular post in Borno state, it then came to light that he was not born in Nigeria, I think he was eventually deported to Chad a man who grew up in Nigeria. Dont forget your political enemies will
use every dirty trick in the book to fustrate you.

The problem with people like Yaradua is

1. Trouble sleep yanga go wake am. - When obaanjo decided to hand presidency to a man that never dreamt of been president, how do you expect him to perform. The bible says a nation without vision will perish, a people without vision will perish. The question is what is yaradua's vision.

2. I am not against the north for been the president considering the yorubas have had their own shot for 8 years albeit obasanjo's failure. What I am against is are there no other progressive northerners that could have a made progress. People like the calibre of Audu bako in kano I am sure there are new Audu Bakos in the North, men with integrity and vision.

3. I spent some of my formative years in Kano and I am fully aware of this progressive governor's contribution to the progress and mordernisation of Kano state.

4. The question is Yarardua the best the north has to offer or what. I know you yoruba bashers will say obasanjo was ther for eight years but did not do anything, one thing I know he was succeded in was building the foundations of demoracy in Nigeria . Going by natural laws of nature one will assume that the 1st demoratic goverment after 25 years of militiary regime will be in its embryonic stage and will only grow as the years went by.

5. I will natuarlly expect more from yaraardua than from obasanjo and I will expect more from whoever takes over in 2016 assuming Yaradua has a 2nd term to be even more progresive than Yaradua.

@Uche2005

You come from a culture that has no centralised authority, you cannot comapre your culture with that of Yoruba, go and read your history books the old oyo empire extended from lagos all the way to Niger state, hence you have names like Badamosi babangida if you check that man's history his fore-fathers were citezens of old oyo empire. Yoruba should re-claim all those lost lands from ilorin to abuja rather than waist our time with rep of benin.

@BecomeRich

There is no need going to look for some lost item in sokoto when the item that is lost is inside your sokoto- "Trousers in Yoruba"

Going by the old oyo empire boudary Abuja falls within its boudary you better direct your energy to re-claim those lost land in Abuja albeit economically rather than advocating merger with the rep of Benin

Languages In Rep Of Benin


Over half the people speak Fon. Yoruba, Mina, Bariba and Dendi are the other important languages. French is the official language. Beside the French language, English is necessarily one of the two foreign languages taught in secondary schools.

Greetings in Fon - Good morning: AH-FON Ghan-Jee-Ah - In Yoruba - e ka ro - I dont think these 2 are the same.

- Good evening: Kou Do Bah Dah -  In Yoruba - E ku irole- this is also not the same

- How are you: Ah-Doh Ghan-Jee-Ah - in Yoruba - Bawo ni, or She ara le


- Thank you: Ah-Wah-Nou - In Yoruba ese, ese pupo


- Good bye: OH-Dah-Boh - This is were Fon and Yoruba are similar - o da boh in Yoruba.

The same can be said with Hausa and Yoruba when saying -  how is your well being there are similarities

In Hausa - Lafia gi and in Yoruba she alafia ni does that make the 2 languages the same.

@BecomeRich

You are not getting it a Yoruba sub group is not Yoruba, just as Edo and Igbirra can be classified as a Yoruba sub-group it does not necessirily make them Yorubas and they will tell u categorically that they are not Yorubas.

@poster : As a nation that has betrayed the wishes of her founding fathers,

Nigeria never had founding fathers, the Hausa empire - Baanza Bokwoi, Old Oyo empire, Kanan borno empire and the Bini Kingdom where lump together by the British to form Nigeria, that is the reason its never worked.

Benin Demographics

Google - Benin Republic demograhics

The largest ethnic group are the Fon, with 1.7 million speakers of the Fon language (2001), followed by the various Yoruba groups (1.2 million), the Aja (600,000), the Bariba (460,000), the Ayizo (330,000), the Fulbe (also known as Fulani, Peul and Fula) (310,000), and the Gun (240,000). Near the ports in the south can be found many people who are descended from returned Brazilian slaves. There are also small numbers of Europeans, principally French, and people from the western Asia, mainly Lebanese, and East Asia, chiefly Indians.
Reasons Why we cannot join Benin Republic

1. The Origin of the Yorubas is not in Benin Rep but in Ile-Ife, so it makes sense if any yoruba tribe anywhere want to unite with their ancestral homeland they join up with where you have the majority of Yorubas and that is Nigeria. We cannot join a smaller or fringe groups it just does not make any sense.
The European jews after the war in 1945 went back to their ancestral home in the palestine.


2. If you look at the extract taken from the Demographic break-down of Benin you well appreciate the usage of the language there are various Yoruba groups e.g Aja, the Bariba, the ayizo, . This groups are not necessary yoruba in the true sense they are like you saying Edos are Yoruba, Edos originate from Yorubaland through Oronmiyan but are not Yorubas, same thing Igbiras in Kogi state and Nupes in Niger state could be describe as a Yoruba sub-group but are not Yorubas in the real sense. The Old Oyo empire extended all the way to Kontagora in Niger state and covered places like present day Lokoja.

3. So using the statics available as a breakdown the ajas are probably the most Yorubas and they are 600,000 out of a population of 7,041,490 IN
2003 pop census projected growth 2008 based on 2.68% is 8,294, 941.

So the Ajas are = 600,000/7,041,490 X 100/1 = 8.52%

Going by this analysis I think I was generous given the Yorubas a figure of 20% of the pop in my earlier post.

[color=Black]I am a Yoruba nationalist, but I do not beleive in joining rep of Benin, becos what u are running away from in Nigeria u will meet in rep of benin,  [/color]

1. The tribal set-up of Benin rep is just like that of Nigeria - 1 - In the far North of the country are the Hausa and Fulfude, in the cental region are the Bariba are almost similar to Nupe tribe. in the south are the fons who are 50% of the population and have been dominant in Benioise politics since independendence.

2. The Yorubas constitiute just 20% of the population of country and their main town is the capital Port Novo.

3. If Nigerian Yorubas join this country then the yorubas will be majority this will cause resentment with the fon who has enjoyed politacal patronage since 1960.

4. The bone of contention is that what the Yorubas are runninng away from in Nigeria will now re-emerge again in rep of benin in form tribalism, favouritism and nepotism e.t.c

5. Common sense tells me we are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea, I will rather dance with the devil as per the Hausas in Nigeria that speaks english than with Hausas in Benin that speaks french. And since we have live with each other for 48 years I see no problem with that.

Conclusion the Yorubas in Benin should join Nigeria rather than the other way round therby giving the yourbas in Nigeria more political clout.  A bigger community cannot go and join a smaller community, it is the smaller community that should join thier brothers in Nigeria. The yorubas in Benin rep recognises Ile-Ife has their ancestral home so the more reason why they have to join

@Chidi Chris " do u know that majority of traveller before the invent of this new passport, has upto 5 passports per person with different names and information?"

"Dont you know its the same 5% that is collecting 5 passport or even 10 passport self, market women for Iyana Ipaja in lagos or Bere in down town Ibadan does not know what passport is" If you ask them mama shey you get passport they will tell you " Kinin je be" - meaning wetin be passport abi na ya name be dat

@Charlesmud

"more than 60% of Nigerians live below 1dollar a day and you "


You are been generous to Nigeria the % is more like 85%

[b]The Economics of hard currency[/b]

Most people do not know the real economics and political reason behind hard currency.

These are the economic principle behind hard currency

1. The more hard currency a counttry has the wealthier they are. For example if a chaps sends £100.00 every month to his mum in Nigeria, and the mum converts that money to say N25,000.00. The son is happy, the mum is happy, the country Nigeria is happy because that money will eventually find its way to the central bank therby increasing the foreign reserve of the country.

2. Assuming the Naira now appreciates against the pound, that same chap in England will now have to send £120.00 to his mum for her to have the same N25,000.00. The son will not bee too please and might now say too himself this thing is costing me too much and might not be able to increase his contribution from £100 to £120 because of his UK expense that also have to be met. So he sends same amount or even reduces the amount or stop sending all together, mum will not be happy, the county's will not benefit from the reduced or no amount sent thereby leading to reduction in foreign reserve.

3. I read in one of the post that remittances from Nigerians in the US have actaully halved from about what it was this time last year, this downturn will impact on the economy. But to the lay man on the street they will be wondring why is our currency devalued. Japan are always devalueing the yen anytime it appreciates against the dollar. The Chinese currency the yuan is a strong currency, but the chinese govt intentionally kept it down against all major currency, the reason been that if the chinese currency was allowed to exchange at its true market value chinese goods will be too costly so the goverment kept it down.

Nigeria on the other hand do not really produce anything but we need foreign investment, the only way foreign investment will come to Nigeria is when the cost of operation is low and that includes currency. For example you want to set up a factory in Nija, if it is cheaper to do it somewhere else why come to Nija with its strong currency.

The points listed above are the political and economical reason behind currency valuation. Currency valuation is a game it has its pros and cons more pros than cons though.

@game rod

You wan make money for Europe before you come back? you make me laugh, since you dey there, how much money you don save? make money for europe, as if na so the thing easy. you make me laugh, even my dik self they laugh you.


You will be surprised if I tell you I have lived 6 years in Hackney - London, E5 and have gone back to Nigeria, then you will shut up and beg for to be my gate man in Nigeria.


This man is just contracdicting himself,

1. You cannot save in Europe, I wander how you bought a plane ticket to travel to Nigeria since you cannot save in Europe, abi na deport dem deport you I can see why u get back belle.

2. I lived in Hackney E5 for 6 years, that part of town is full of low lifers and illegal immigrant you are better of in nija, at least all those duck and diving from authorities will stop, you are now a free man in nija so enjoy you stay.

3. Mortgages are a way of life in europe, even Gordon Brown the prime minister has a mortgage, Tony blair has mortgage, so if you dont know anything about mortgages keep quiet.

4. I said in one of my post earlier on, all those going back are either illegal immigrants like yourself, fraudster who take off before the long arm of the law catches up with them or students from wealthy homes with political God fathers who will sort them out in Nija otherwise nothing for commoner for nija.

@game-rod

Big mouths like you I bet if I come to Nija I see you, I will realise there is nothing, na just big mouth you get, instead make u juba for boys wey go hussle u dey blow your yeye mouth for Nija, tell me how many houses u as a person have built, you know I am always in Nija I come always verify it. Dont just come here and talk nonsense here. Me shonu !!!, Waka, da banza !!!

"you guys have totally derailed from the topic. the question is "should they be welcomed home"? this I believe should be the basis for our discussion rather than how much a gate man in a hotel receives in Nigeria."

Theres is no evidence anybody is returning to Nija except of course usaul Christmas rush, and since there is no evidence there is no basis for any Hypothetical discussion this thread must be close down.

"you guys have totally derailed from the topic. the question is "should they be welcomed home"? this I believe should be the basis for our discussion rather than how much a gate man in a hotel receives in Nigeria."

Theres is no evidence anybody is returning to Nija except of course usaul Christmas rush, and since there is no evidence there is no basis for any Hypothetical discussion this thread must be close down.