₦airaland Forum

Empredboy:
Writing from Ilorin, Naij.com’s guest
author Emmanuel A. Akinkunmi carries
out a thorough historical analysis and
comes to the conclusion that
Muhammadu Buhari might just be the
right person to bring Nigeria forward.
I am not a politician but I take silent
interest in what happens around me. I am
one of the “silent majority” (if I may
borrow these words from President
Richard Nixon), whose voices are never
heard, but who silently bear the brunt of
bad governance and for whose well being
all politicians pretend to work.
I am one of the concerned older
generation of Nigerians who were living
witnesses to the 1984/85 regime of Gen.
Mohammed Buhari (GMB). I am writing in
the hope that it might assist our younger
ones to place in proper perspective his
actions and inactions during his 20
months as head of state, and what he
might do if he is voted into office.
Here’s a bit of history.
In 1975, Gen. Murtala Mohammed and
company overthrew Gen. Yakubu Gowon,
mainly because Gen. Gowon had become
so immersed in power that he did not see
the need to return power to civilians five
years after the war ended. His excuse
was, in his words, “our politicians have
learnt nothing.”
The military government of Gen. Murtala/
Obasanjo drew up a four-year program of
action that was to end, and indeed so
ended, in handing over to a government
democratically elected in 1979. That
Murtala/Obasanjo government made
Nigerians proud, stood up to America and
United Kingdom in foreign affairs,
especially African affairs. Those were the
days when one could raise one’s head
anywhere in the world and say with pride
“I am a Nigerian”. Nigeria’s influence in
African affairs was rising.
Gen. Buhari was part of that regime as
Petroleum Minister, Chairman of NNPC,
member of the Supreme Military Council,
etc. Under his watch, our refineries
and oil depots were built all over the
country, and pipelines were laid to pump
crude oil to the refineries and refined
products to those depots directly from the
refineries. Fuel prices became uniform
throughout the country. No long queues
for fuel, and fuel was cheaper than Coca-
Cola.
The state of the nation handed over to the
civilian government of Shehu Shagari in
1979 was healthy. Steel mills had been
built all over the country. Trains moved.
Nigerian airways flew. In short, Nigeria
worked. You could sleep outside with
your two eyes closed. There was security.
There was peace of mind.
Within four years of that civilian
government, things had changed. The
civilian government of Shagari
squandered economic resources and
goodwill of Nigerians by myopic
economic management, placing most
essential commodities (essenco, as we
called it then), like rice, soap, etc., under
import license. Such licences were issued
only on party or narrow parochial
cleavages. Long-established and
respected businesses were denied
licences. Those who couldn’t buy licenses
at exorbitant prices from middle men or
compromise their ethical business
standards closed down or relocated to
other countries.
Essenco like rice, flour, detergent, milk,
soap, toiletries, etc., disappeared from the
open market. Local production dropped
for lack of raw materials. Businessmen
resorted to hoarding. Prices skyrocketed.
Smuggling thrived. Rationing of essenco
became the order of the day. You worked
hard for your money but you spent much
more time queuing for one essenco or
the other. The queue was often longer
than the type you see nowadays at filling
stations in times of fuel scarcity. In the far
North, where I lived then, hunger loomed
as drought further compounded the
situation.
I experienced the hardship of those days.
Virtually everything, including rice,
became political instruments. Prosperity
circulated within a small circle while :the
silent majority” – the masses – were
helplessly suffocating. It was “a tale of
two nations”. You need to experience it to
understand the pains, the frustrations, the
despair of that time.
Yet, we waited patiently for the 1983
elections to effect a change… but that was
not to be. The ruling party at the federal
level “conjured” landslide “victories” even
in the traditional strongholds of the
opposition. The members of the National
Party of Nigeria, exemplified by Alhaji
Umaru Dikko, carried themselves about
with the arrogance of the “victor” in an
overbearing manner. The spontaneous
reaction was violence, arsons, murders,
general disillusionment. The nation was
surely vexed and longed for intervention.
Therefore, when the military struck again
on 31st December, 1983, there was
jubilation all over the country, even before
Buhari was named as the Head of State. It
was the fourth and most popular coup. It
was more popular than the overthrow of
Abacha. The only people who did not like
it were corrupt politicians.
It was a necessary coup to salvage
Nigeria. It was well-received. It was a
coup for the masses. Those who make
peaceful change impossible beckon to
forced, even bloody, change. Besides,
military coups were common and
acceptable internationally in those days,
unlike now.
I recently heard Buhari saying, “People
have asked me why I am seeking office
again, and I ask them, ‘What has changed
since then?’“ Indeed, nothing has
changed, only the gladiators. We have
turned full circle. 1983 has returned.
Frustration is back. Despair has returned.
Corruption is high. Security has taken
flight. As it was then so it is now. We
earnestly yearn for change in our
circumstances and once again we put our
hope in the elections.
But who will bring this change, GEJ or
GMB? Is it by some uncommon
coincidence or some divine arrangement
that Buhari is again the man being
positioned to rescue Nigeria from the
brink? Or is there some business divinely
earmarked for Buhari which was
truncated by his ouster by IBB in 1985,
but which he is now being returned
democratically to complete?
Talking about age, Nigeria has not derived
any special benefit from our young
leaders. It was our young inexperienced
leaders that led us to civil war.
Ronald Reagan was the oldest American
president but one of the most effective
and strong ones. He defeated Jimmy
Carter who was younger. Ironically, when
Carter first sought election, he was
relatively unknown, like our own GEJ. He
was young, new on the scene – his gentle
Christian mien appealed to many. He was
“not one of the pack”. He was one of the
masses, a farmer. So they voted for him.
But in four short years, all the goodwill
had evaporated and he was defeated by
older Reagan. His failure to rescue
American hostages (like our Chibok girls)
held in Iran took a heavy toll on his
presidency. Reagan was strong and
decisive. Old age did not deter him from
connecting very well with the American
spirit. The dismantling of the USSR and,
consequently, ending the Cold War started
in his time. American pride and influence
returned.
Nigerians, just as Americans, like them a
strong and decisive leader who is able to
provide security and pride anywhere,
anytime. Is the Reagan/Carter scenario
about to play out in our country? If it is,
will it make Nigeria better? Can it make
future governments more responsive? I
believe so.

Nigeria's problem is not leadership, but structural and systemic. Buhari may not be as corrupt as others, but the disfunctional structure will force his hand. Buhari government from all indication can only, only reinforce this disfunctional structure that has hold Nigeria in still berth. He must not be allowed to win, since that outcome will complete the cover of the satanic dark cloud over the population groups covering the land mass called Nigeria. Yes, it will, cos, corruption, fulani herdsmen slaughtering nature, culture of impunity, religious extremism and intorence, tribalism, yoruba & Igbo e war, sharia vs secular constitution, underdevelopment, extreme poverty, boko haram, imperialistic conspiracy(which is the most potent) and etc are all as a result of disfunctional structure which by the way favor the North. Buhari government can only reinforce this disfunctional structure cos as a Northerner can never go against his own interest even if it will doom Nigeria. Some yoruba calculations are to Co join with this Northern interests riding on this disfunctional structure, since it will still benefit them though prom appointments and other zones and minorities will just sit down with their hands fold and swallow it. I don't think so. GEJ till 2019!!!!!!.

PAGAN9JA:
Mehn We Hausa Maguzawa wont give our daughters to other Hausa forget giving them to Yoruba.

GODS Forbid.

Konji dey badt oo...

Tribe and duty above all.

But, why are yorubas, it seems the only tribe trying so hard to marry outside their tribe. Is it biological or genetic?. I know they want to have beautiful future generations, of which Igbo women ( Imo women especially) have come to their rescue. The only way they pay the Igbos back is continue to spill out envy, jealous and hatred on Igbos. They go into collaboration with the hausa/fulani in order to marginalize Igbos and continue to have access to their beautiful women. Some times, I feel ashamed for their sake, when some of them confess that they don't want to see biafra cos that will deny them access to Igbo women. Igbos will continue to develop lagos, expose them to global nollywood and continue to nourish their souls with beautiful Igbo women, while they will continue to hate and saiing Buhari as Hausa/Fulani will continue to restrict them access to their beautiful daughters and see how all these are going to end.

diluminati:
AIT and NTA needs to embrace the heavy sanctions.
They even need to be taken off air because their actions is
a path to civil disturbance, unrest and eventual civil war.

why? It all started like this in Rwanda. While the hate broadcast was ongoing,
the military was behind the scenes strategizing the ethnic cleansing.

What NTA and AIT have done is no different.
They must face heavy and damaging sanctions.
No one is above the law.

Just tell me, who is going to fight who.

MayorofLagos:
Ode! They are called "African TV", not Nigerian TV.
When you hear African.....that is a broader terrain beyond just Nigeria.

Would you like a map to expain better the difference between Africa and Nigeria Mumu!!

mumu, the focus here is on Nigeria market.

MayorofLagos:
I believe Yoruba and Hausa were there because of their spread amongst speakers beyond Nigerian borders. Ibo is not spoken across the borders.

Envious & hateful reasoning. Mayor of whatever, Igbos are naturally gifted with finer attributes than indi ofe and they know it.

django1:
They said hausa attacks yoruba, but ibos are the ones crying. Smh.

Igbos are crying, cos Igbos and Yorubas are very similar or the same depending. And anything that happens to yorubas will effect Igbos sooner or later, either through lagos or through our bondage. We've been bondaged socially but not politically.

CaptainOjemba:
Nigeria would have been a better place if there is mutual respect among the ethnic groups. On a serious note the only thing that can guarantee mutual respect among nigerians is restructuring of the country into zones.

That's the only way to stop boko haram and isis from spreading.

Billyonaire:
The Punch Reporter should be fired. Why not just state that there was violence between certain people. Must you tribalize every reporting ? This country is heading towards tribal war. When it happens, I will far gone. Tribalists should get their visas.

There will never, never going to be any tribal conflict between Igbos and yo robbers given the level of bondage through marriages, but yorubas continue to play ostrich about Hausa/fulani atrocities will doom Nigeria.

Eddyken:
If this is true, i suspect foul pay. Someone inciting violence & ethnic division aim at destroying d acceptance GMB enjoy in d south-west

My friend, are you now implying that this is not a normal occurrences all over the country?. Yorubas playing ostrich about Hausa/fulani atrocities will doom Nigeria and Africa. It's just a matter of time. On the other hand, GEJ till 2019!!!!!.

ochejoseph:
Many things

‎


He destroyed the transport system in Lagos the capital of the south west by revoking a Laudable Project! The Lagos Metro project a rail network that would have solve Lagos traffic woes

More so it was cheaper to complete the project than cancel it, Buhari went for the later and SW and indeed Nigeria Lost 450 million USD a colossal sum at that time 



2. He locked up prominent Sons And daughters for No just cost! 

For example Fela was locked up for been in possession of his own money USD 3000 


3. He was anti Education 

The southwest from time has been the center of educational dev, Buhari ensured that he crippled the University system 

He Banned NANS, Nigerian Medical association, and ASUU 
It was also Buuhari That scrapped ‎subsidised feeding in Nigerian Univ 
‎‎

4. The south westerners are known for RESPECT 
Buhari showed a lot of disr‎espect to the Yoruba Nation especially their high respected traditional rulers whose passports he siezed just because they visited Israel! 

The list is endless ‎
‎
Buhari's engagement with the west has been a bitter experience!

Vote Wisely 

Vote Goodluck Ebele Jonathan 
‎
God Bless Nigeria ‎
‎

And Echo Atlantic City is becoming a reality under Jonathan's administration. LAGOS as APC state in this contex is secondly. Is happening under GEJ administration period. GEJ till 2019!!!!!!.

Sunofgod:
Photoshop .. . . .Photoshopped,

Disgraceful!!

Now I know, that this APC people are fools GEJ till 2019!!!!!.

kastonkastrol:
blatant lies from the pit of hell... There is nobody with the name William reed in the "black press foundation"... I just did a thorough search on the guy and I was getting negative feedbacks from the server... William reed is not the president of any foundation...

The founder of the black press foundation according to their site is one Mr Marc .w. Polite... His picture below and his little biography

[img]http://i0.wp.com/www.politeonsociety.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/Marc-Polite-2012.jpg?zoom=1.5&resize=150%2C150[/img]

Marc W. Polite is an award winning writer from New York City. He writes on issues concerning history, labor, and technology.  He holds a Bachelor’s in Political Science and a Master’s in History from The City College of New York...



PDP and lies are like sesame twins


Btw.... Even the marc polite is kinda not the founder of the foundation.. After I did a second research, the server was directing me to one ZOOMINFO.COM.... Well only pdp knew how they came about with this William reed lie.

Research or no research, the organic truth is that Nigeria urgently needs political structural adjustment through the implementation of the confab resolutions, which APC is not willing to be part of. PDP body language to APC now is that, if the resolutions cannot be implemented, then go ahead and fight for the control of the country on the battlefield period. GEJ till 2019 !!!!!!

AlfaSeltzer:
That thinness is unnatural. The man is sick.

You don't have to be a rocket scientist to see at first glance that Buhari is terminally sick. I feel for him as a human being, but when it comes to on how Nigeria can move forward, we should not play politics and cheapen a candidate life vis his health . In his own world, Buhari could be a strict islamist and an upright man, but put it in a different context, as fulani man, what comes to mind is " born to rule mentality", "culture of impunity", "fulani herdsmen killing and burning Christian towns and villages". GEJ is clueless no doubt, but under GEJ, some things changed. Look at Lagos ( don't tell me it's an APC state cos is still under this government). Different sectors of the economy are all showing signs. GEJ till 2019!!!!!!!.

richybanky:
Sai Buhari
I don't knw y I have too much confident in dis man called Buhari
Baba Buhari Oyoyo

Sentimental & Emotional. ..nothing else. GEJ till 2019!!!!!.

danot1030:
What is massob or who are the massob? Massob my anus. The igbo nation think they have any relevance in Nigeria politics. When they endorsed Jonathan as their presidential candidate, they were acting as though they can make him win the election all on their own, they in particular did not give regard to the importance of the Yorubas, now Jonathan has realised that the allies of the eastern states and the south south cannot win him an election, he's begin to run around the Yoruba elders to lobby them with dollars. One thing the Yoruba has proving is that they are relevant in Nigeria politics and this fact they have proving for years, the igbos has always be following other tribes to remain relevant, so massob should disappear to their land and begin to play local champion there.

Yorubas relevance is by attachment

iiiyyyk:
My brother thank you for this. In 50 yrs time, most of us on this tread now will still be living, millions of children in igboland today that don't know come will still be leaving. So how will the language go extinct.
The entire igbo land speaks igbo on daily bases, Every state in south east speak igbo as language of daily communication In markets, schools, streets, every were.
More than 80% of igbos live in igbo land within ss and se nigeria and speaks igbo on daily bases.
Igbo will never go extinct.





You people can believe what ever the white man tells them thats bussiness,

Don't mind these confused people. Igbos who left the shores of Nigeria at 14 yrs, but are now over 50yrs are still speaking complete Igbo. The mixing of English before he left and 35yr spent out side hasn't altered a thing.

Creamz:
Only a foolish man can make the mistake that Jonathan is about to make going by what I just read above. Removing Jega will be the worst mistake of his administration, because Nigerians want free and fair elections and are earnestly looking forward to seeing it. Changing Jega at this last minute will make us fully understand that President Jonathan wants to hold on to power at all cost.

My friend, Nigerians want structural transformational change which they have been yearning for ages. Election cycles cannot bring that kind of change they have been yearning for. And to prove that to you....., If Jega gets booted out or the election is postpone again, 50% of the population will not react negativly to it ,and it will still be business as usual. The other 50% will react verbally, but with caution hence the oil supply from the other side of 50% will not be caught off. So you see, the best and only option is the structural transformation within the polity and the country's intractable problems will have been dealt with. And this will bring with it, a new dawn of co existing between Yorubas, Igbos, Hausas and others.The economy will also double in a short period. GEJ till 2019!!!!.

Wulfruna:
This 50 years prediction is funny sha. UNESCO underestimates the use of Igbo language in backwater villages. The language is endangered, granted, but it is not dying out that soon.

Igbo language will be here, in the next 200 yrs and beyond. "No shaking". Young Igbos speak English as part of their swag and etc, but once most of them reach the age of reason ( around 40 yrs of age ), the same people will resort in always wearing their red caps & taking ozo titles left right and center. Engage him in any conversation in Igbo language, and you will find out how mastery of Igbo proverbs and the language itself he posses. A language of laughter, love and deep cultural attributes that have translated itself into other languages through literature and movies can never become extinct.

Toluifetutu:
With the nasty English she speaks and writes she's in good company in PDP with Dame as her tutor

No, I think the truth of Nigerian past has been revealed to her. The rest of the youths in the south West will sooner catch the truth also. GEJ TILL 2019!!!

ManMountain:
the problem with Iboes is that they judge everyone according to their standard.
they put themselves in your shoes and assume you will react the way they will react.
SMH

Lie, lie.

IbnSultaan:
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has
raised the alarm over the relentless
scheming by the Jonathan Administration
and the PDP to push for another
postponement of the 2015 general
elections, unless they can perfect a rigging
plan, and called for the imposition of
global sanctions on whoever scuttles the
polls.
In a statement issued in Dubai on Sunday
by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji
Lai Mohammed, the party said the multi-
pronged efforts to prevent the elections
from holding as rescheduled include the
use of some 23 portfolio political parties to
seek a further shift in the election dates and
the destabilization of INEC's election plan
through the orchestrated removal of its
Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega.
It said the same 23 satellite parties of the
PDP that were used to push for the six-week
postponement of the elections have again
started testing the waters by pushing for a
further shift in the elections in the six-states
of the North-east, ostensibly to allow the
conclusion of the counter-insurgency battle
and also to allow those displaced to return
home.
''The plan is to use the same bogey of
insecurity in the North-east to push for
another postponement in the elections. The
signs are ominous indeed. The body
language of the President and his party
does not support the holding of elections.
They are mortally afraid of losing because
the use of PVCs and Card Readers have
thwarted their rigging plans,'' APC said.
The party said while the 23 parties are
pushing for the elections to be further
postponed, the Jonathan Administration
and the PDP are simultaneously forging
ahead with their plan to remove Prof. Jega
and replace him with a malleable acting
Chairman whom, they believe, will do their
bidding.
''Once they remove Jega, his replacement
will either seek more time to organize the
polls or simply jettison the plan to use
Card Readers, thereby opening the door for
those who have been buying up PVCs to
use them.
''Is it not interesting that the same
Administration that has been flaunting free
and fair elections as a key achievement has
now gone for the jugular of the same man
who organized those polls? Is the man they
don't want not the same person who
organized the 2011 polls which the
Administration has described as free, fair
and credible? What has now gone wrong
between them and their poster boy for
successful elections? it queried.
APC warned that the consequences of
another postponement of the elections will
be dire indeed, especially because it will
create a constitutional crisis that is capable
of endangering the country's democracy
and destabilizing the country in its
entirety.
The party called on Nigerians, especially
the civil society, to be very vigilant in the
days ahead, as the cloud of uncertainty
becomes thicker and the vultures begin to
circle.
It also called on the international
community to consider imposing stiff
sanctions on key members of the Jonathan
Administration if they force another
postponement or scuttle the polls.
''We believe that Nigerians themselves bear
the utmost responsibility for the success of
their nation's democracy and the survival of
their country, and we commend those who
have stood up to be counted in the ongoing
battle to have free and fair elections.
''However, we also believe that the
international community has a role to play
in helping to check the desperadoes who
are using the Laurent Gbagbo rule book as
if it was made for them, and who will not
hesitate to bring the whole system crashing
down on all if that is what it will take for
them to perpetuate themselves in power.
''Nigeria is too important to be toyed with
or allowed to go under. For example,
Nigerians make up more than 56% of the
estimated ECOWAS population of 300
million. A destabilized Nigeria, therefore, is
a destabilized West Africa and, indeed, a
hobbled Africa!
''That is why we believe a travel ban and
tough economic sanctions from the
international community against these
agents of destabilization will be in order.
This is a patriotic call,'' APC said.
#APC #Nigeria

THEN RESTRUCTURE AND EVERY GROUP WILL SHARE IN OUR NIGERIANESS. THAT'S THE ONLY WAY GEJ TILL 2019!!!!!!.

MayorofLagos:
Ibos sulk (and sucs!) at every opportunity.

Face your reality and stop all these fifth column abstracts.

Buhari is not Ibo.
Ibo is not on the national landscape.
Jonathan is not Ibo.
Yoruba does not owe you apology on its acceptance of Obasanjo over Buhari,.
Yoruba had the civic right to demand accountability from a cabinet minister known for wasting resources and lives in the airspace.
Constitutionally, Buhari is qualified, WASC or no WASC.

Above all, tell Ohanaeze to stop subordinating Ibo to other ethnic hroups. They told Ibos to step down for Obj, they repeated same bs this time and made your politicians step down for Jonathan, This should be your crusade, not Buhari's WASC.

Yorubas like you enjoy "the filth" of Nigerian politics like maggots in human excrement. The Nigerian dialectic (matrix in dystopia ) has seen Yorubas believing that, they have advantages over Igbos in this collective matrix of doom, where your kind becomes mayor. Nature have bequeathed Igbos endowments that will endure. Mayor of. ....., watch out for events leading up to the 28th of march. GEJ TILL 2019!!!

nigerdeltaa:
I TRADED WITH BIAFRAN POUND JUST
"YESTERDAY". Biafran pound still being spent ... at
Togo, Benin Republic border towns •. Naira sells for
between N270 - N800 to Biafran £1
***Gbenga Osinaike, just back from Togo and
Ghana
The currency spent in the defunct Republic of
Biafra during the Nigerian civil war (1967-70),
Biafran Pound, has surreptitiously crept into the
currency market, serving as the legal tender in
some communities along the West African coast.
Investigations carried out by Sunday Punch
showed that the money is being spent in the border
town between Togo and Republic of Benin, while
some currency hawkers also exchange it for the
naira and other currencies in the border town
between Ghana and Togo.
One Biafran pound still bears the signature of Dr.
Syvelster Ugo, the then Governor of the Central
Bank of the defunct Biafran Republic and the
picture of a palm tree. Its back has the coat of
arms of the republic with the inscription: “peace,
unity and freedom.”
What is, however, baffling about the currency is
that it has more value than the Nigerian naira and
it is openly accepted as a legal tender in the
affected communities.
When Sunday Punch visited the Ghana and Togo
border town, known as Aflo, some of the money
vendors were eager to sell the currency. They,
however, insisted on selling one Biafran pound at
N800. The scenario at the Togo/Benin Republic
border, known as Helakondi, was different as the
vendors willingly sold one pound for between N200
and N270 to our correspondent. Some food
vendors in Togo were telling passersby that they
were willing to accept Biafran pounds.
In Ghana, the vendors were discreet about the
trade. One of them, who identified himself simply
as Tony, told our correspondent that the money
was not accepted as a legal tender in Ghana, but
that Ghana was a transit route for the currency.
He said: "We get the money from s! ome Igbo
people in Nigeria. They bring it here for us and we
cherish it so much.
“That is why the value is higher than the Nigerian
naira. This is the money that is being spent by
some Igbo communities in Ivory Coast. Many of
them are travellers. On their way to other parts of
West Africa, they stop by and exchange the
currency for the naira with them. They are the only
people who buy the money from us."
Tony, who said he had lived in Ghana for about 15
years, told us that some of the notes were just
printed. "I think the Igbo are trying to make a
statement with the money. It may surprise you
that some of the people, who have the money, are
not willing to sell it because they are looking
forward to a time when the Biafran Republic will
come to stay."
While displaying some ignorance about the defunct
Biafran Republic, he said: "I know they are about
to create a Biafran Republic. I know it will not be
long from now. We are all waiting to see the
Republic."
Another vendor, A Ghanaian, who identified himself
as Albert Leigh, said the Biafran pound was
brought by one Igbo man called Emeka. He said:
"It is one Igbo man that brings the money here.
Whenever he is travelling, he stops by and hands
over the money to money changers. I was
fortunate to be around the last time he came and
also got my share. What surprises me is that many
of the Igbo travellers come to ask of it. I had about
500 pounds with me. I have exchanged everything
for naira. I'm now left with one pound. That is the
extent the trade has gone."
While disclosing that the Igbo trader brings the
money from Lagos, he expressed regrets that he
did not have enough to sell to this reporter.
Leigh, however, refused to disclose the cost of
procuring the Biafran pound.
On Thursday morning when our reporter visited the
Togo/Benin border, the trade in the Biafran
currency was still going on.The vendors of the
money were, however, agitated when o! ur
correspondent made effort to inquire how they got
the money.
One of the vendors, who identified himself simply
as Isa, a Malian, told Sunday Punch that he got
the money from some Nigerians, who pass through
the border.
The following coversation took place between him
and our reporter:
How are you, sir?
I’m fine. I get cefas, naira and pounds, which
money you want?
I want Biafran pounds. Do you have it?
Yes, I get Biafran pound. It is 270 naira for one
pound.
You get plenty of the biafran pounds? I wan buy
plenty.
Sorry. I no get plenty. The man wen dey bring am
never come for a long time now.
Where you dey get the money?
Why you dey ask? You wan to buy now?
If I no wan buy, I no go come here?
As I dey look you, you know be like person who
wan buy.
I wan buym true, true. I just wan to know the
source of the money.
I no know. No bi Nigerian mo! ney. I no understand
you self. Why all these questions?
At that point, the man became agitated and
aggressive. He said: "Oya comot here! I go call
police. Comot!"
He pushed the reporter away and wanted to create
a scene before the reporter quietly left the spot for
fear of being molested.
A Nigerian resident at the border warned this
reporter not to disclose his identity, noting that
they could take him for a spy. "Since the political
crisis in the country, they have been sceptical
about Nigerians. So, don't ever try telling them you
are a journalist. Don't ever identify yourself to any
of them, they could lynch you. Those of us here
have been able to get along with them because we
can speak the Togolese language.
“The Malians have also been able to get along
with them because they are the ones that you see
in this currency business. There are some Igbo too,
but they are very few compared to the Malians," he
said.
Efforts to ascertain the ! level of the acceptability
of the currency yielded little fruits. This reporter
was able to buy a CD cassette from one of the
hawkers around the border with one biafran pound,
which he had exchanged for naira. He was also
able to exchange another 500 pounds for N250 per
pound from another hawker of the money.
There are indications that those who trade in the
money don't know the implication of doing so.
One of them told Sunday Punch that the money is
a Nigerian money. "It is a Nigerian money. That is
why I believe in the money. Nigerians brought the
money here," he said.
Investigations carried out by our correspondent
revealed that the money found its way to the West
Coast during the political crisis in Togo. A resident,
who pleaded anonymity, told Sunday Punch that
he was not aware of the money, but noted that the
money was probably introduced during the Igbo
Day last year in Togo.
"During the Igbo Day, the Igbo came out with a
publication known as Biafran Newspaper. Many of
the Igbo resident in Togo bought the newspaper. =
=== Culled from Sunday Punch of June 05,
2005........

Still, Lagos is no man's land. Agbaje, GEJ till 2019!!!!!

IanDiamonds:
THE NIGERIAN DOOMSDAY CHRONICLE TO BE ORCHESTRATED BY THE PDP.........
Goodluck sacks Jega.
Elections loose credibility.
GEJ wins. Nigeria becomes pariah, again........
Crude price remains in the toilet.
Our economy dies.......
Prices breach heaven.
People become extremely poor.
Everyman for himself.
Prayers are forgotten & War comes.
Nigeria Army disintegrates.
The rich flee abroad.
The poor make excellent cannon fodder.
Biafra, becomes a dream re- born.....
Death becomes a gift.
The Fatherland shatters.
We become Warlords.
May God save this nation from the evil claws of the PDP

Lies, lies, lies. Jonathan wins, Nigeria gets transformed, confab resolutions get implemented, Nigerians live and respect each other in peace. The economy expand even more through the the transformation policies already on the ground. Africa rising continues. GEJ till 2019!!!!!!

kastonkastrol:
sack jega and watch APC boycott the elections. We will go ahead and form our parallel government. As simple as ABC

That sounds to me like regional government, confab resolutions indirect, true federalism all rapped in one. GEJ till 2019!!!!!!. Election postponement and Jega leaving as critical decision for our collective survival must be defended by the defenders.

Ngwakwe:
The same way Aguiyi Ironsi's regime that lasted only six months destroyed the regional competitive spirit and true federalism we had.

Buhari has a negative agenda hence shouldn't be allowed near corridors of power again.

Only GOD can open the mindset of these younger generation saiing Buhari every where to understand while Nigeria is in this dystopian state. Born to rule mentality is the mother and # ill from which other afflictions on Nigeria emanate from, and Buhari is the symbol and a poster child of that mentality. A defeat of Buhari not minding the clueless Jonathan means Nigeria, have turned the corner and a new dawn. GEJ till 2019!!!!

ginawest:
stupid son...u call urslf a man yet u can't make a decision for ur family?u let ur father-in-law mke decisions for u n u r now putting d blame on an innocent man wu was only trying to protect u...now uv killed ur Fada,lemme c if u wl go to yobe from behind bars...mtchewwwwww

My brother, I fear all these Igbos born and raised in the North. Watch them real good. They seem to harbor some degree of hatred, toward the south and some are more extreme more than Hausa/fulanis. And they look much like Northners too.

BobNeli:
Judging from the timber and calibre of the APC party. It becomes obvious, the real reason for the get together of these individuals who wish to join forces for their common intrest. Immidiately after the call for a national confrence by president Goodluck Jonathan. Agitations arose against the opinion. And the opposition laboured tooth and nail to scuttle it, but in the long run, the mandate of the people prevailed against the avarice of the few. However, unable to admit defeat on their selfish pursuit, these individuals opposed to the goodwill of the people, and afore-hand, belonging to diferent political parties, agreed to joing forces in other to wrestle power by all means and put an end to the real transformation that awaits the implementation of the recomendations of confrence committee. And in a bid to deceive the people, they decided to put up a smoke screen of CHANGE, which is indeed, the opposite of their belief, to throw suspecting minds off the scent and hope to establish their actual manifesto after grabbing power. All we clamouring for APC and her pregnant change mantra. Have we asked ourselves, what is their position on the confab resolutions which is the real change or transformation we crave. We all know that the 1999 constitution, as a result of the disposition of our leadership mind as at the time it was drafted, offered a lot of loop-holes for our greedy politicians to siphone our economy. These loop-holes which made it impregnable for the powers that be to fight corruption in this country is one of the things that constrained our rational president to call for this get together opinion, so as to put the facts straight. But a group of these avarice individuals who are not ready to give up on their greed, are here fighting to make sure that the conferences' resolutions are never implemented. So that they will continue to hold Nigeria hostage with their deceit of change that they actually oppose.

That confab resolutions are more important than our kind of democracy, path way for Nigeria industrialization , modernization, will prevent re colonization, will change perceptions whereby Igbos and Yorubas will appreciate each others as African brothers, will accelerate the transformation of the country and still remain one, will destroy all forms of Agitations, militancy or extremisms, like mossob, niger delta militancy or boko haram and ultimately will straighten our Democracy. The benefits far more outweighed the disadvantages. If you vote APC, you are against the above period. GEJ till 2019!!!!!!.

1toRtoiSe1:
The confab doesn't hold yoruba agenda at all- femi falana (a delegate at the confab)

Does Buhari's winning hold's Yoruba agenda GEJ till 2019!!!!!