₦airaland Forum

@Sugarbelly

,  Sure a lot of stupid women treat marriage as if it's a do or die competition but it isn't. Men are not God's gift to earth and bad or cheap men certainly aren't.

Ignoramus of the highest order!

Ab initio, let me apologize to women folk in general for my comments that would follow.
I appreciate womanhood, more so the "married category", its something you can be proud of, being an institution ordained by God.
Even more so, l doff my hat for those married women who are "fit for purpose", in the "marriage institution"!

Having said those, let me itemize a few things to "Sugarbelly".

1.) God created MAN, in HIS own image (Gen 1:27) => MEN are actually gods, so to speak!

2.) God saw that all HE had made was "BEAUTIFUL", including "MAN"! (Gen 1: 31) => MAN is beautiful, even by God's standard! , and on the 7th day, HE rested (Gen 2:2)

3.) And God said "l will make a HELPER suitable for him". (Gen 2:18) => WOMAN is a "helper" to man, and some "helpers", as seen in "Sugarbelly", are actually "not fit for purpose"!

4.) Then God made a WOMAN from his RIB,  taken out of the MAN!, and brought her to him. (Gen 2:22)
          .
          .
          .
5.) And God said to the Man, "Because you listened to your wife (as against HIM) and ate, cursed is the ground because of you! (Gen 3:17)

6.) An God said to the woman, "I will greatly increase your pain in child-birth, Your husband will rule over you!(Gen 3:16)

Heavy words, but true to the letter!
Thats God's position on the issue, not mine.
So, to say "MEN are not God's gift to the world", is definitely a clear verdict on your "level of intelligence"!
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Marriage is a privilege women agree to bestow on men so get off your high horse.

Arrant nonsense, stop spewing ignorance openly! Who is marrying who?
Marriage is not even a privilege, whether from a man or a woman, its an "agreement to a commitment" from both parties!
I doubt if you have "secured" such commitment?

And materialism is not a bad thing. Materialism ensures your children can go to school. Materialism ensures you have food to eat.

Go take a 'Dico' and look up "Materialism"!
Its "the tendency to give undue attention to material interest, against, over and above spiritual concerns".
Abi, spiritual people no dey chop?
, and if you took your time to "understand" what l wrote earlier, instead of looking for 'error',  you will note the "adjective" l used to qualify the word "Materialism", a verb.: Highly too materialistic,

P.S.
There is no such thing as "women folks". Folk is already plural.

Yeye small pikin like you wants to "tackle" grammar with me?!
Abeg, you never reach
It is not "FOLKS" that is already plural as you claimed!, it is the word "WOMEN"![/color]
Typographical error that you cant even comprehend, yet you want to correct others!
It should read "women folk"

Go to school and come back in about Ten years time or when you bag a PhD, that is if you have the "mental capability"!

BTW:I dont have time and l dont want to "engage" with you.

According to "Winston Churchill,” When the eagles are silent, the parrots begin to jabber”

Go "jabber" elsewhere P-L-E-A-S-E!

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Thank you jare.
Be like say that spambot go soon carry "Hammer"!

@Manny4life

Why is everyone attacking this A-town of a person, geeeezz, y'all need to relax. His only expressing his own opinion which his entitled to on NL, however, neither would I justifying nor condemn anyone's comments either. This forum is free for all, and it will be fair to say that its quite unjust the way almost everyone has taken out their anger on him, that is just my take on that.

I guess everyone is also "expressing their own opinion" too!, and they are also entitled to it!!

On a serious note sha, "some entitlements" dey turn belle!

A-town is our brother and the so called "attacks" are just "verbal disagreements" with his position,
and dont go beyond the internet.

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@Sugarbelly

I'd rather the man use the wedding ring money and build me a damn 900 square foot walk-in closet.

Nonsense.

Na only "Closet"? What of Prison??

If the Ring is "Stupid" and "Ugly", You should not have even accepted it AT ALL, in the first place!
Ofcourse, you wan marry now, abi?
Back-stabbers!

No wonder Nigerian women are "Rated as highly too-Materialistic", by other women folks!

Shioo, shiooo

but it cannot read picshures

Heh, heh, heee

""Wize Tok"?
What about "Short & meaningless" Post?

Spambot is a "partial illiterate"!

lol

@Ibime
I have learnt never to celebrate "justice" in Nigeria. . . . for there is no sincerity of purpose behind it, just a tit-for-tat application of the law in a game of cat and mouse where both parties are equally damnable.

To me, the above qualifies as "Wisdom of the day"! GBAM, GABM-GBAM!!, GBAM-GBAM-GBAM!!!

A lot of people have asked: Why bring this out now, why not before NOW?

Answer: When you dine with the Devil, you need a looooooooong Spoon!

Okiro as I.G., is a very powerful man, against some NDIC civil servant wey no even get GUN!

Ina few days time, he will be properly "down-graded" and that "self-acquired immunity" will be zilch!

This is a reference from SaharaReporters on OKIRO'S MANSION in ABUJA!
http://www.saharareporters.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=634:ig-mike-okiro-and-sons-police-liability-company-plc&catid=76:hot-topic&Itemid=205


I say we seize it? END of Story!1

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By the way, Ribadu was seen rolling on the floor, after reading the piece.
He wants Okiro to come and "enrol" in college, and guess who will be the "senior" now!

dhtml!

Wadaya-mean? calling our dear spambot "Okrika"! mind ya sef o

Curiously, there was this thread where nudity to the extreme was posted!, and dear spambot just "smiled" and wave them on!
I mean real explicit "naked photograph" of the male and female Instruments, and it is still there as l write now!

Hmmm, Seun must abandon dis his "ibo-made" spambot and buy a correct "Yhorobah-made", from Oshodi

Cheers.

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@tensor777

@ lastpage

You seem to blow a lot of hot air here but  what  I can discern  from you are mostly idealizations as if the government has an infinite pot of gold to spend from.

Hot air ke? How do you mean? like Hot air Balloon?
Anyway, l do not blow "hot air" and l do not speak "just idealizations", l state "processes & procedures", meaningful steps towards an objective.
Thats why most of the time, l even endeavor to number my points! If you need clarifications, just say so.
If there is "an infinite Pot" to steal and loot from, why not on something as noble as "Education"?

"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic". – (Arthur C. Clarke)

What is wickedness and evil about the society demanding that its work-shy lecturers start providing value for money and that students are actually in a position, because they are fee-paying customers, to hold lecturers and university administrators, accountable for their services?

Your logic is funny! So, its only when student pay astronomical fees, that they are serious in their studies?
If we go by YOUR LOGIC, then everyone that attends those expensive schools (American University, Babcock, e.t.c, SHOULD GRADUATE "FIRST CLASS WITH DISTINCTION!
But we both know Nothing like that exists!

Certainly as A -town has said those gifted but indigent students should be given some  kind of grant/soft loans.  But then again the courses chosen  by them should actually pass the cost-benefit test. All others should pay for their tuition.

I want to assure you that NO COURSE IS USELESS!, in a well structured society.
The fact that "everyone in Nigeria wants to work in either a bank, a Telecoms or an oil company, is a direct result of a dysfunctional society where "NAIRA IS GLORIFIED". Even a Doctor want to work in a bank, since thats where the money is, in Nigeria!

In advanced climes like Europe and the Americas, "Artisans", who are the poorest in Nigeria, are among the best paid. Go and find out.
And please, when you get your own "educational loan from a Nigerian bank" let us know so you can put us through  

Certainly the money saved should be used to bring the public secondary and primary schools up to international standard. When this is done numerous school leavers would be of more benefit to themselves and their community.

Waoh! Now you contradict yourself!!
The same logic you're applying here, is what we were saying all along, about University education.
Govt should "subsidize the Bill" so that "numerous University Graduates would be of more benefit to themselves and their community"!
**Take note of the "blue lines in your statement and my statement! Same-same, right?**

You can not prescribe "Govt funding for Secondary schools" (and rightly so) while withdrawing the same treatment for University education, which is even more expensive! (as in your first paragraph)

In all, l still stand that "It is Evil and Wicked" for those who enjoyed "Government scholarships and free education", even to further overseas, in their own days, (Govt Ministers and Mr. President himself) to now seek to "remove the same ladder" by which they climbed up, to their current status, for those coming behind.

BTW: Increased funding for University education will actually raise the standard of learning in the following ways:
1. Improved Academic infrastructure: Well equipped Laboratories will mean Graduates are really familiar and schooled in what they went to study unlike "Automobile Engineers" that have never 'dissected' a car in the Laboratory"!
2.) Motivation: The Lecturers will be more encouraged to put-in their best since the "tools of their trade" are readily available and learning will stop being "all theory".
3.) Efficiency: Proper Remuneration of Lecturers and students, at the right time, will imply less time spent on industrial actions and protests. This will translate into more time spent in the classroom, as in the private schools where the tutors hardly go on strike.
4.) Standardization: After a while, "academic standards" in general, will rise and the "bad apples" will be successively weeded from amongst the tutors and student population as those conditions which "necessitate and encourage" criminal behavior (bribery, exam cheating, cultism, indiscipline, e.t.c) will  become unfashionable an gradually fade out.
5.) Professionalism: At the end of the day, only well qualified people would be employed to teach since it is well remunerated (like being a Chartered Accountant) and the "bar" will be raised to employ only professionals.

If Govt now so wish at this stage, to make University tuition fee 1Million naira, it will not only be worth the money, but the system would have "matured enough" by not only providing alternatives for those who can not attain University education (Technical Institutes/Colleges) but in addition, "Infrastructure" would have being laid to absorb such people into the currently "non-existent" Manufacturing sector.

If all these still sound like "Hot Air", l will suggest you articulate YOUR alternative theories right here for us to read

"We should never forget that God granted us the power to reason so that we would do His work here on Earth - so that we would use science to cure disease, and heal the sick, save and make living meaningful". - Barack H. Obama

Lastpage.

I think we've got enough of this "shagolo" back and forth.
Its derailing the thread, if you know what l mean,

Lets get back to where we left on the Tenancy Bill.

Thank you.

Lastpage.

BTW: You guys are free to start a thread about "Auto Employee Vs. Shagolo Business", and pls accept my apologies for pointing this out, l guess you may take offense.

Why are all the ladies here jumping to the defence of their womenfolks. Accept your faults period. I'm not trying to sound sexist, but the MAN calls the shots. He married you, and put the ring on your fuc.k.ing finger to prove that. Did i just hear someone say wedding rings are ugly? And someone else said if its not diamond its coming off? Chai

Chineke-lee! Accept ke?
I guess we cant generalize over here?.
I do know that most "single Nigerian women" would do "Thanks-giving" the day some guy decides to put a band on their fourth finger, and its always a show-off to their friends who are less fortunate 
But what happens a few years down the road when they are very "settled and comfortable", is another story!

Thats when you start hearing all those excuses about "washing", getting "fat" and its not even "diamond" ring!

What ?   Did you not see it wasn't Diamond and should you have accepted it in the first place?
By and large, Nigerian women, in Nigeria wear and take pride in their Wedding Ring a lot more.

Afro-American/Afro-European women are a different kettle of fish!.
Dont forget that the Nigerian woman expects "financial security" from her Nigerian husband but in Europe and America where "State Benefits" is an incentive plus encouragement to "chuck the man off" (she gets more money from the state, as a "single parent" than when one yeye man is around parading himself as husband! ), wearing a wedding ring or staying-putt in a rocky marriage is so undesirable. 

One of the reasons l think "African Marriages" in diaspora, are failing by the minute.
"Imam" got burnt, you're inquiring about his Beard! Wedding Ring just got pawned!!

Deep down, "the Ring" is just a symbol", the Marriage itself, lies in the Heart and in our day-to-day living, as a family.

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Okay, as a final curtain on this "touchy"   thread, let me suggest that we all (association of former Hawkers that God liberated!  ) put down, all and any lessons we learned, from our 'experience"!
How did your "Hawking experience" change your perspective/outlook of life, and living?

My thinking is that "what we learnt is of much more importance than what we went through", ?
In addition, putting it down might one way or the other, encourage "someone" who is going through hard times right now, that God has not forgotten him/her!

My lessons

1.) Education is the best legacy a parent can give a child: If not for that education that my Mum "gave her all-in-all" for me and other siblings, l cant ever "smell" where and what l am today. If she gave me a car (or other material things), by now l would have wrecked it or killed myself in it anyway. I hail that woman sha!

2.) Hard-work pays!: Though it was difficult back then (l remember the day rain "beat" hell out of me during a hawking trip, l nearly deny Jesus!) but on reflection now, l find that l can apply my mind to anything, no matter how difficult, and its always sweet, when the "rewards" follow   God is impartial and HE ALWAYS reward dedication, to HIMSELF and to the other mundane things of life.

3.) Mind-discipline: l have learnt how to apply mind discipline, to all aspects of life, especially financial matters. Every "kobo" counts and l have come to realize, through "hawking for pennies" that, if you take good care of the 'kobo-kobos', the Million Nairas would actually take care of themselves! No frivolity   I never "appropriate" the receipts of what l sold for myself, it was all about "the home', and till today, l find it difficult to "take" that which does not belong to me, came in very handy, as a banker. Its all about having a good name, the family name!

4.) The street is tough and only the strong can survive: Hawking taught me most of my "street skills" and they come-in handy today! I am very comfortable, even in extremely hostile environments, No shaking, as we say!

5.) Give Thanks!: I have learnt to Thank God for "unseen mercies". Like someone opined, l could have ended-up being used for Rituals! (that gives me the shudders, to think some actually went that way ), if not for God!!

6.) Never give up: Hawking taught me never to give up on life. I cant ever commit suicide, not for any reason! I realize that live could be better tomorrow, than it is today. If you have never been poor, l bet you can never know what it means to be "comfortable in life", you just cant appreciate the difference! For "guys" still struggling today, maybe you're in school and funds are very scarce, maybe you're job hunting and it seems to go on forever, close your eyes and imagine you could buy whatever your heart pleases (within limits of reason sha) then "believe" that the day would come when that dream would really just be a "normal thing"! Is that day not worth waiting for? Is that day not worth "working and sweating" for? My day came, so l am sure your day will also come, therefore NEVER, EVER GIVE UP. It might be closer than you even think!

6.) Fingers are not equal: most importantly, l have come to realize that others are born poor, just poor, through no fault of theirs! If l can help just five kids in this world, to "overcome poverty" by assisting them in off-setting their academic, financial burdens and day-to-day feeding cost, l would have "changed the world" of somebody, like my Mum changed my world!

These are things l could not appreciate, from reading all the textbooks of this world.

Mucha Gracias
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Between "Lai" and "Lomax".

I would hate to believe Lai was unto something evil concerning lomax?

But l was wondering: What is wrong in "verifying" what you do by a third party?
Its like when a reputable firm gives you an AAA-rating and some banks will use it to brag!

I am thinking if "Lai" is able to confirm just one of lomax Tint-Documents as genuine, then lomax is even in a better position to "brag" further and this can even increase his "customer base"?

On the other hand, if it turns out that Lai is right (and he is not the only one that would decide that, others on NL will also run their checks too), then it will have saved a lot of people what l will call "sudden embarrassment".

The fact that Police have not stopped you or no complaints "to-date", is not enough reasons to assume all is well.

We all remember when people were carrying some fake vehicle registration issued by LASTMA and L.G.A officials and it went on for years until the Police decided enough was enough! Yaawa-come-gaaz!

Right now, l have no reason to believe "lomax's" business is not legit,,,,,until proved otherwise BUT "lomax" should take up the challenge and put one copy here for all to see, and let Lai verify it.

On the other hand, one of you guys that have got one from lomax, l will suggest you "copy and paste" one here (minus your own & car identification details) and let Lai use it to verify.
He might just be saving you a lot of trouble, who knows, "Forgery" carries a few years imprisonment, if pursued!

, but again, he just might be giving you rest of mind (and you can call the bluff of any "officer" on the road)
, no to mention that business will suddenly "boom" for lomax, in this hard times!

Thumbs up to two of you.

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@Nezan

In summary, the hike is not justifiable, instead of this long grammer

My dear Nezan,
I have observed that most of your responses, even on very serious, debatable issues are[b] "just one or two words" (mostly insults) or a couple of "Smileys" at best![/b]

While l concur that not everyone is gifted in writing or putting their "thoughts on paper", it behooves you to at least let alone, those that put their brain-faculty to good use, instead of trying to ridicule what you can only achieve in your dreams?


Even in your criticism, you could not spell the word "grammar" correctly! 
Now l can understand why some erroneously think its okay to pay 180K for University tuition! ,
Just maybe some will allow "the University" to pass through them, instead of just passing through the University!

I still disagree though, and l have marshaled my reasons, as best l as l could, in my last post,
Dont kill the "messenger", focus your attention on the "message" pls.

Even if we pay 1Million naira tuition fee, those who will not learn "shishi' would still come out of the University "empty and hollow"

"Education is the only lasting legacy worth bequeathing to a Child". Funding should never be a barrier to that.

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Well, lets move forward then, ?
If its the men that feel the pinch in buying the Rings and the "beneficiary" would as much as yank it off in a jiffy afterwards,

Common sense dictates that men should stop troubling trouble to acquire those expensive Rings!

We dont Buy,
They dont Throwaway!!
We dont get annoyed.

, We both live together, happily thereafter!!!


Lastpage.


BTW: Who says its only the Wifey that cooks, wash plates, do Laundry or take care of the kids?
I do all those because l enjoy doing them for my family, and l also do every work that requires "Muscles" within the household,
, like changing Tyre when a flat occurs, bringing heavy boxes down from storage and a host of other "back-breaking" household chores!
and l still have my Ring-on!
Just hope l am not "over-used" and run-down completely, before l am sixty, under the pretext of "weaker sex"
Men are actually the "weaker sex" but we got fooled too often!

As an addendum,
l read that it is one "Auto-bot" that issues these bans, as many people have fallen victim!
Me thinks "Man should rule machine, and not the other way round"!!

It is quite demotivating to be randomly banned by some improperly tuned software, and to blame it on the software

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Sometimes, l am forced to think Nairaland is made-up of mostly "Juveniles", 'mental Juveniles' (as opposed to age), judging by the caliber of comments you get on serious matters like these!

Forgive me if that comes across as "arrogant of sort" but you will agree with me that some of these comments show a complete lack of "grasp and historical perspective" to what the actual problems are.

For example, now that we are into "hiking of tuition fees", some are taking the elitist position that education is not supposed to be free!, criminal tuition-hike is a necessary means to force some people not to achieve University education!!
Some even suggested that by charging less, Nigeria is turning to a father Christmas!!!

Well, l dont want to descend low to the level of using foul language otherwise, l will directly engage some people here.

Having said that, let us look at the matter from various angles and ask pertinent questions:

1.) What are some of the social responsibilities of a state? Does it include provision of education to its citizens?
2.) Even in Capitalist societies like the U.S, do they have schools (colleges) that are tuition-free, for its citizens? What is the situation in other western climes like Europe (Spain, Ireland, France, U.K, e.t.c), Scandinavian countries like Sweden, e.t.c.

3. Based on our natural resources endowment, compared to countries like say Ireland that does not have a single endowment, or say Sweden, do these countries still offer free tuition to their citizens and if so, "Why do they do so? Why should this be impossible in a much more endowed Nigeria ?

4. What is the "cost-ratio" of a completely tuition-free education, for all qualified Nigerian students vis-a-vis our GDP, bearing in mind that on the average, a Nigerian Politician (Senator) takes home about #50Million naira annually, as constituency allowance (for doing what?) and the country did not go broke! Even wives of Counselors (Ward Counselors, Ward first lady!) are entitled to and cashing no less than a million naira in "Egunje loan" and money is routinely shared at all levels of Government (We can all attest to these, going by the way people run into sudden wealth, once they take official portfolio). Is it better to save the money so that it can be embezzled or to use it to train our Human Capital?

5. If a country like Sweden can offer Nigerian students, FREE TUITION, not knowing them from Adam, but seeing it as a "Social responsibility" (the real father X-mas!), what is the problem with Nigerians that they can not even bother to take care of their own?, much less be socially responsible to others!

6) If most of our current leaders went through University education, tuition free, even when Nigeria was yet to discover or start harnessing oil wealth, how come they want to "remove the ladder" by which they climbed-up, so that others may not follow through?

7. While attending "Choice Schools" is costly and not mandatory for everyone except your parents are very rich, is it not criminal that we consign those whose parents are average in wealth (the primary school teachers, the Artisans, the office Typists, the Bus Drivers, the Cleaners and all those whose YEARLY WAGE is just about #200,000) to illiteracy or half education (very dangerous), not because the country can not afford the cost but because we want to create an "elitist society" of "have excess" and "have nothings"?

8. In a country that "Leaders" loot Billions of naira (enough to pay for everyone's University tuition! ) like it was going out of fashion, what the heck are the constraints against free education? If the Government think its an acceptable solution, to pay a "militant" about #65,000 monthly (#20,000 plus #1,500 chop-money daily ), are they encouraging all of us to become "Millitants" or what, since it seems "banditry" is the only language this government understands? What percentage of #180,000 is #65,000? Would it not have been better if such money has been invested in the life of the "Militant" a few years back so that today, he would be productive instead of carrying weapons? What kind of "culture and mentality" are we encouraging?

So many more questions, I weep for this country, seriously!

I know that when trauma lasts too long, there is a tendency to think it is "a normal way of life"!
Nigerians have been sooo abused that they seem to have just dissolved into their shells, very fearful and intimidated!

Okay, lets take it from another angle:
Obasanjo and Atiku ruled this country for Eight years and both went out of office to build Universities! Ask yourselves: Why Universities? Ask yourself, where are the children of your Ministers? How come, since they can afford the 180K proposed tuition, why are they all schooling abroad? Or did Obasanjo' son not graduate from an American University while he was Nigeria's President? Why not from Uni-Ife or Unilag? Is something fishy here?

How about the current Ministers? The Minister for Information whose daughter got married last weekend did not tertiary-school in Nigeria, Why? with all the re-branding of Nigeria!
And l can assure you today, if a poll is taken, nothing less than 98% of the children of Nigeria's rulers are schooling abroad! WHY?

Loans or not, for a country with serious manpower issues like Nigeria, education is a right (Awolowo was the one who towed this line in the 50's and 60's and that was one of the reasons the Westerners were generally the more educated, among older generations of people in their 50's today!with its consequent advantages, that "Quota System" tried to redress ).

What has this country done for its citizens? No good roads, No electricity, No portable water, Hospitals are death centres, Food is now "0-1-0", Security of life and property is a joke even when they build 1km high fences around their mansions! House rent has hit the roof since Govt can not stabilize it?
What is governance and what is it purpose?
Hardworking and ingenious as Nigerian youths are, this country's leaders have changed their destiny (at least for most of them) into Yahoozy-youths?

I hate it when l read the way "people lambast our head of state" but then l quickly come back to reality and ask myself "What have l done for this country", that it should treat me this way?

Why cant Americans or British treat their children (their Youths, their future) the way we oppress ours?
Does anyone still wonder if in about twenty years time, Nigerians become so wicked to themselves that you would wonder whether they are still human?

What is the problem with our rulers? Are they plain Evil?, MAD?, just devilishly wicked? Please, somebody help me with an answer, Please, Please. It cant just be lack of ideas?

My own Mother graduated from Unilag when, not just tuition was free but FOOD (the greatest problem of most poor Nigerians) was FREE! With 90 pieces of Monthly "food-tickets" @25Kobo each, you're assured of a well-balanced 3-square meals, with Ice-Cream, Coffee or Cocoa to choose from , and Saturday afternoon was wicked, "solid Jollof Rice with Chicken"! You can bet l was purposely eating at the Cafeteria long before l became a student there

If you're an Undergraduate, imagine what it means if you dont have to cook or bother parents or even worry about your next meal? Would you not have more time for your studies, good health and focus, to assimilate what you read and most likely come out of the University a better student than the current ones that are "desperate for money", for everything from tuition, to food, to "hand-outs", to Accommodation fees, e.t.c, C'mmon, this wickedness MUST STOP.

You can not steal the nations wealth, use it to send your own children abroad for "quality education" and then turn around to ruin the future of those ones whose parents are hardworking and paying their taxes.
If MAN can not hold you responsible, there is a higher being, an infinite power that would lay in-wait for you, at your old age, and those offsprings that you think you are propping-up, !
Ask Obasanjo, when his son alleges that he is a bloody incest! Just one of those things!!

While "our oppressors" are wicked and seek to perpetuate a "class division" amongst the citizen, it is even more heart-wrenching that some people from humble backgrounds, simply because they think they are above the poverty-line (like leaving abroad, having a good job or just with a few wads of money in the bank) open their foul mouth to say its right to raise fees astronomically, justifying "Orange with Apples"; (they pay in the U.S!), maybe out of ignorance or just mere mischief, since we all know that the same U.S is the land of Milk and Honey (Go and see the Queue at the Embassy, no arguments there!) and it (U.S) takes absolute care of its own children (Obama is even trying to revolutionize Education and Health care with Billions of Dollars while "our own rulers" are doing same for their various foreign bank accounts!).

I can go on till tomorrow but l wont. Enough is Enough!

If America predicted that Nigeria will "implode" in a few years time, my patriotic sense would not allow me to take them seriously but if care is not taken, the way things are going, it will be a tragedy that despite that "embarrassing warning", WE DID NOTHING TO CHANGE COURSE!

Lastage.

BTW: Even if University tuition became One Million Naira today, some will be able to afford it and to God be the glory, l can, for my own children BUT it will still not stop me from saying it is Sheer Wickedness and Evil with respect to those who cant afford it, after-all, fingers are not equal!

I hear from the "grapevine" that Uncle Sam Egwus's "KITE" no ey fly again o!

What bothers me most is that those that try most hard to price education out of the reach of the average man are those who never paid a dime, for their own education.

They went to good schools (when schools were good) and then proceeded abroad, all on GOVERNMENT SCHOLARSHIP!

So, would God forgive them that they try to take away from others, what they enjoyed in their own days? NOoooooo.

SHEER WICKEDNESS UNDER THE GUISE OF "QUALITY IMPROVEMENT"! wey de quality sef?

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Just came back from Jail! 4days BAN!
When l saw this thread just now now, l nearly laughed my teeth off!
I never knew that "the BAN" was very common till now.
, and l never knew that those "pesky auto-bots" could be responsible for it!

Technology is supposed to "assist and not try to take over" the world

Anyway, l am feeling a little better now, it has to be the fault of some mindless "software"

Hmmmm,
I dey come sha.

Lastpage

Hi folks,
I joined Nairaland not too long ago. My wife actually brought me down here
My associations hitherto with Nigeria-focused sites, had been with the likes of  SaharaReporters, VillageSquare and Nigeria.com (before they went-off-air, just about a week to the 2007 elections! only to return now.)

I thought l was doing my civil-best and so it was a rude shock for me to just discover that l was banned, aftertaking a time and effort to do a reply, to two very interesting topics, that evening.
The Topics in question were the Landlord/Tenant palaver of "Advance rent, viz-a-viz the pending legislation.

The other topic was the aftermath of the warning given to MEND, not to stage their attacks in Lagos, by the Chief Security Officer of the state, Guv. Fashola (we all knew that thread brought out all "the good, the bad and the ugly, in everyone concerned, not to talk of the "tribal posturings" 

So, l was enjoying reading others while making my own contribution, only to be slapped a ban!

No explanation was given for the ban,  and there was even this "insulting hint" that whoever issued the ban was not very sure of what he or she was doing (We're sorry if the ban was a mistake! Thought you should know before issuing a ban) , Or was it "a machine" that was trifling with me? 

I've gone through the "RULES" carefully and l could still not find what my offense was and since the civilized line of action is to let an accuse know his/her offense before sentencing and punishment", this kind of "Justice" smells more like an "abuse of power" to me. I stand to be corrected on that.

I do understand that Nairaland is a "private entity" but for Christ sake, what would Nairaland be, without contributors like us?, Just another private blog begging for attention!

I am very disappointed, to put it mildly!
I could have registered under another 'handle' but l felt that would be like trying to "dodge a punishment" (if l truly deserve it!) so l decided to "serve-out my punishment" but having "gone to jail"  and come back, l am "seeking redress" by asking for answers to the following questions, from "Seun":

1. Wrong accusation: What exactly did l do wrong and why was it not explicitly stated?
2. Why was there no "warning and grace period", assuming l did something wrong; maybe by "P.M" since "Site admin" has access to our private E-mails?
3. Why was there no "avenue for me to challenge that ban, if l feel it is unfair"?
4. Is this a proper and fair way to treat fellow Nigerians who contribute to the "success of this site"?

I have read my posts on this site and by and large, responses to them have been better, positive and on the upper scale, for a public forum where "anonymous lynching" is two-for-ten  cents! No where did l intentionally or otherwise, post SPAM, and to think it took four days for the "posting privilege" to be returned, even without a word as to "why" the ban was imposed?

Have you been banned before? How did you feel afterwards? Lets hear your views too.

The bottom line is that l hope my thread sheds more light on the need to be "accountable and transparent" while administering "public justice".
I also hope this will highlight the need for proper mechanisms to be put in place to address "forum violations, rather than being at the whims and caprices of "absolute power".

I am someone that enjoys 'writing for recreation' and do have over five hundred published articles in local Newsprint and online media, including those mentioned above and some foreign ones like the BBC and not for once have l been subjected to such harsh treatment, so, you can "feel me"? I wish l have another avenue to take this up with "Seun" but l cant find any "P.M" button around here!

I rest my case.

Thank you,

Lastpage.

Manny4life & Pete,
Thanks alot.
Like they say, "those who learn to ask, will not get lost", not asking from "Mugun" sha 

I will take "Pete's" advise and make it a thread so that it does not derail this one but you know what?
I had just finished a "response" to Pete, on our discussion here (and another one on "Fashola warns MEND) when l clicked "post" and guess what l saw?

BANNED! BANNED!! BANNED!!!

And that was how l became an "onlooker" since Thursday evening , till this evening!
If you noticed, no post from me, all of a sudden!!

Okay, make l no finish all my "bile" here,
Got to my thread "How does it feel to be BANNED"?!

Dey kuku-ma wield the hammer once again?

Cheers guys

Genltemen/women of da house, l need your help before l can go further.

Can someone please "educate me" on how to "attach an image/picture" to my post?

I need to do these, as part of learning and to ask a question of the moderators!

I WAS BANNED SINCE LAST WEEK and my posting "privilege" just got restored!

Dont know why, JUST BANNED!!

You might think its nothing but having been on so many forums for over 7years, this is my first experience at been banned!

I would not go further now but once l know "how", l will paste the "BAN INFO" here and ask relevant questions off "Seun"!

I suspect some people are already suspecting l am furious? rightly or wrongly,   

Thanks,
I dey come

Lastpage.

Beerlegend,
You can swear all you want and call "Yorobos" any kind of name you want, it only shows how ignorant a rant you are.
I am yet to see any nationality that can achieve anything, on a national scale without at least one other nation! So, if the "mallans" are idiots and the "Yorobos" are chameleons, go figure out the rest, if you have the cranial ability!

Lastpage

Meen, this thread is entertaining and an eye opener on what a complicated and dysfunctional amalgam, Nigeria is!

A few opinion of mine though:
MEND by itself, can not overcome the F.G. They need the sympathy and active collaboration of other regions and people, Just like any one Ethnic nationality can not on its own, secede and hope to succeed. History and the last Civil war is a case study on that so, No arguments.

The question that would arise out of that, naturally, is that does MEND (if truly they represent the aspirations of the N.G) need the support of the Westerners?
If the answer is YES (assuming), then we might ask: How does bombing any part of Lagos achieve such?
The argument about "federal facilities"does not wash, those that dies are not federal facility and its not Abuja that Atlas Cove supplies "imported PMS", its the western region!
If NO, then the struggle has failed before it even started, remember the Civil war?

Secondly, No one seems to have answered a very important question that has been posted over and over on this thread:
What is MEND doing or has done to its very own N.Deltans like IBORI, ALAMS, Dipriye e.t.c., that have stolen and looted even the very few coins that have come the N.D's way?
At least in Lagos, we see what Fashola is doing with the little he gets (remember it was another Yoruba President, that scum-full Obasanjo, that deprived them of federal allocations for close to 2years!) from the center and around Lagos, in Lagos!
Everyone wants to troop to Lagos because its getting better but what happened to other states in the N.D? Why is MEND acting like the IBORIS and ALAMS are "spirits"?

Thirdly, some have asked, in a very inciting but poorly disguised "pound-of-flesh" manner: Where do the Yorubas stand?

I will tell you where "we" stand: on the side of justice and fairness, "Aluta with Sense"!
Intimidation, threat and coy trickery have been known to fail woefully, when employed with Yorubas.

Anyone that is observant will remember that the "average" Hausa or Igbo used to call Yorubas, "Cowards" simply because we are known not to rush into any confrontation blindly.
We dont start a fight we know we cant finish or win! That is our mentality. Ofcourse, that has its own downsides too.

So, comparatively, there came a time when the ruling Northern elite (am not saying this from a tribalistic notion, just a recap on history) and some other collaborators pushed the Yorubas to the limit around 1997-99, taking our gentility for cowardice. Well, the rest as they say, is history. Everyone knows better now.
Now, no one can, none has ever been able to "force the hands of the Yorubas" into battle. We choose our fights and fight it as we know how to do best, and that was how that riff-raff called Obasanjo came to be the beneficiary of our struggles in 1999!
The North chose him and he was a complete disaster, to the Yorubas, The N.D and Nigeria as a whole.
Now, he chose "another one" like himself!

For the records, most Yorubas (South Westerners) sympathize with the awkward situation in N.D.
I for one, have written so many times and asked how a "location" that produces not less than 80% of the national wealth is like a "big Pond"?
I have traveled the N.D area very well and l tell you, its worse than the worst place in Lagos.
Where did Abuja and most of the Northern states like Niger, get the money to develop to their extent?, while N.D is the way it is?
Is it because most of our Presidents are northerners but then, OBJ was Yoruba and he did nothing for the N.D.!
IBORI and ALAMS are even from N.D and they rather looted the place to extinction!?
So, the problems seems not to be  a question of "TRIBE" or "PEOPLE" but of the "Ruling Crass(class)", individuals!!.
What has MEND done about these individuals? (I dont need a silly ill-thought out reply from one educated illiterate, pls)

Having said all these, the N.Deltans should know they can count on the South West for support but it may not translate into carrying guns and indiscriminate bombs like MEND is doing. Thats only fair.
If it comes to a vote or plebiscite, we would go with autonomous and resource control, like the N.D wants it.

Now, how come some part of this country even think they cannot survive without crude oil and its therefore a "do-or-die" over it?
Did the country not survive before its discovery?
Agreed that the "nation" has invested big-time into it but then, the best we can all do is to first deal with the thieves in the N.D (their local leaders who loot their money) so that development gets to every corner of the place and lets see what MEND would say afterwards.

MEND should not get carried away by its successful bombing of Atlas Cove and think Lagos is fair-game!
Every nationality owes itself a duty to defend itself against any attack from another or a microcosm of such.

The true test of a "Target" should be:
1.)Does it hurt the intended Target (F.G.)
2.)Does it ruffle those in a position to make the intended "change" with regards to the development of the N.D and "equitable and local" resource management?
3.) Does it avoid innocent loss of lives and hardship to those who sympathize with "our course" or share our positions?
4.) Does it achieve the desired objectives.

If a target does not meet these tests, then its not worth a target and to attack it is criminal. End of story.

Those who are taunting and trying to provoke the South West into action should forget it.
If Fashola had decided to embezzle funds accruing to Lagos, where would all those "shiny new roads, street lights, Long Buses, e.t.c" be coming from, and wont we also be in arms with our govt today?
We feel we should start with those who steal your resources from amongst your tribe and people, to bring them to justice, first.

Yorubas are known to be very critical of themselves, among the nationalities in Nigeria so, for them to give a thumbs-up for their Governor, is an indication that he is trying[b] but Guv Fashola, how long is it going to take YOU to give us stable power supply in Lagos? We know it can be done, we know u can do it[/b] (unlike those thieving Governors in the N.D  or that one in Oyo and Oshun state or that "Okijar" one in Ogun state!)

In all, l doubt the sincerity of the F.G on this their amnesty (l think they are just buying time) otherwise, what does it take to build bridges and roads, provide pipe-borne water, build hospitals, set-up industry and provide jobs for people in the N.D.? Just a few weeks production of crude oil will do it and the N.D people will simply forget all the bombs and kidnappings , except that the likes of Ibori and Alams, and all the thieving elites at Asokoro and Aso-ko-Rock think they need to steal everything, to the last barrel!

The bigger question (basis of our Unity as a country), needs to be -re-examined at a Sovereign National conference of all Nationalities (not the OBJ and Babangiga types o!)

Lastpage

@MAURI

For all I care, the Lagos state government can pass a law compelling property owners to charge rents weekly. On the other hand, there has to be some sort of balance to defend the interests of both property owners and tenants. I.e. they might want to include in the law, that in the event that a tenant defaults on a month’s rental, his/her tenancy will be automatically forfeited and will have another 2 weeks to vacate the property. And no prolongation of issues by the courts exposing the property owner to more revenue loses that will not be not be compensated for by any institution.

Or better still, since its the government that is not playing its part & is rather hasty is this promulgation, they should accept responsibility to pay the House-owner, as done in obodo Oyinbo!

Lastpage

BAC, you really funny!
I beg, l wan rich like you, can you put me through?

I am humble in all ways and l am a good learner too!
Lastpage

@Pete:

Lastpage,
You have to keep in mind that, if such laws are left to the debate of the public, it would become law in a heart beat. There are more tenants out there than landlords., also, I think its a failed course from jump street.
  Like one of the law markers said, the govt. is not collecting his own dues monthly, but yearly, so where is the morality for asking that landlord do?.
I'm in the process of buying a 4 plot land in Lagos and the fees are crazy, the lawyers is asking, relatives of the owners,surveyors and the biggest of all were that paid to Lagos state. So, its sad. Now, to think that if I put the planned commercial property there, I'll only be able to collect by the month, I'll never realize my capital back, but in 20 or more yrs.
  I bought a 12 family apartment complex in California a while ago and it cost about 812K, I paid less than 20 cash. That way, I could do a month by month and still make 5 to 8 hundred dollars every month. In Nigeria, you have to cough out the 30M naira that would build a similar project. No story! I'm sure we all know the deal how it works in Nigeria.

    I'm not saying that the status quot should remain, even the status quot ante wasn't good enough. We need a new Nigeria,one that must start with the govt. not the landlords. You may say, well it should start with us all, yes, but start as in start proper, build govt housing all over Lagos start, one that landlords could not match, I'm sure if our commercial properties are empty, we'll give them out even at weekly rate. treat the problem(s) from the root not from the flowers.

@Naijatoday

I am totally against government building homes.

History has shown Govt. are not good managers, even in the west they are tearing down government housing and handing it over the private sector.

To the people saying the state government should build houses, how many houses do you want them to build? with the state population growing everyday (people moving from other states) the truth is in Lagos state, demand will always outstrip supply (until other states start developing). If the govt. is spending all the money they have building houses how about the roads, were will the money come from.

If Lagos is collecting land use charge on a yearly bases, if the law changes then land use charge must be on a monthly bases.

The bill is not to control how much a landlord charges but how much advance fee payment he can collect. Right now some landlords are asking for 2-3 yrs.

The bill must also protect the landlords.

@Tbk417

i wonder why this is hard to understand
people are saying Govt shld start building houses?
Govt shld build houses for 100 million people   
c'mon cant we think?

In this kind of system, the private will defintely be the last resort even if Govt will build.
Do you people know how many housin schemes Govt both state and Fed have built?
Millions of people are still living in Jakande estates in this country and you say Govt hasnt done shit.
wait till Govt start paying for your rent so gbo?

why would anybody charge 2 year rent?
did they pay you in advance for 2 years where you work?
so where are you supposed to get 1.5million rent from when you take home 200k?
borrow or what?

apply wisdom abeg!

Let them collect quarterly to make life easy. nobody is saying the real value shld be reduced but the ease of payment is what we are talking about
shikena!!!

These three quotes capture the spirit of this discussion and l seek permission to reproduce them.


Friends,
Its no use trying to play the ostrich on matters that affects us all, if you are Tenant today, God-willing, you will be a landlord tomorrow and the same yardstick you profess hear would apply to you so, no need “acting from your own little corner”!

This issue has been “well and thoroughly thrashed” in another thread and l think for the sake of “brevity and continuity” we should link both.
I have provided links to such thread, especially where “l put my money” on such issue. Please click, if you wish.

https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-281589.64.html
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-281589.32.html
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-281589.99999.html#bot

By way of addition, let me say that life is a matter of “simple laws economics”.
Two postulations will help us "grab reality" on this matter.

1.)You cant regulate what you don’t control (mind you, l did not say “own”, l said “control”!
2.) Laws of Demand and Supply will ensure that in a free market, once DD outstrips SS, price would rise untill a state of equilibrium is achieved.

Using these laws we can see that even with the use of force, with time, “Physics law of Entropy and Enthalpy” will lead us to an eventual state of equilibrium, depending on the contending forces of demand and supply!

These are universal laws and Nigeria can not be an exception.
As undesirable as “advance rent” and high rent fees are, we need to tackle the root causes, as some have said, rather than get “sentimental and emotional” about it!

How we feel can not pay for a bag of cement (@#2000/bag) neither can it pay for Govt statutory charges (which are very high and paid upfront, even if you will still be on the land for the next 50yrs!)

The role of governance is to REGULATE “but not regulation-by-fiat”!
Let us remember that “as humans”, we need a roof over our head, either provided by ourselves, a Landlord or the Government.
Either way, money used to build such house (resources) have “competing uses” and if as some have said, Government should not take the lead in ensuring that “Housing Supply” is greater than “Housing Demand” , with the attendant fall in Price, Advance charges and Commission-demanded, the ONLY Option is for Private Landlords to provide such Houses.

Now, Economics, Human Psychology and Corporate Finance details how “humans make Investment decisions”, based on perceived “Return On Investment” (ROI).

The danger with Government regulation by FIAT (and they have the power to enforce it for a short time) without a commensurate massive investment in Housing Projects is that “Private Investors” will realize a “below par ROI” on their resources, compared with investing same resources in other business, like owning a factory, going into farming, Transport services, e.t.c.
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The  Net Result is that “Private Resources” are diverted from building private rental houses, into these other areas and once again, as you’d expected, those laws of DD and SS, coupled with principle of need to achieve Equilibrium in an Entropy/Enthalpy setting, will play-out. Rapid and uncontrollable Price hikes………… as we have today.

I do not reason on sentiment, facts are facts, no matter how we feel.
When Govt tackles the challenges by flooding the landscape with affordable housing (as obtainable in all these western countries we try to copy) it will serve as a wench in the wheel of economic, investment and entropy laws.
After that, Govt should then hand-over such properties, by way of “auction sale” to private investors while keeping an eye on how such investors discharge their responsibility. It is called GUIDED DEREGULATION!.

Cheers, Lastpage

@beewhyfocs.
I thank the FATHER on your behalf.

"Its not where we come from that matters, but where we are, and it even matters more, where we are going"!

Lastpage.

Its funny that the government is trying to promulgate a law that would apply to and be binding on the citizens, on "property" that the government does not own, yet the owners of such property and the citizenry in general are not aware of the contents of such a Bill, not to mention that they would and should have a public reading/debate/contribution to such Bill!

Is this fair and is this how democracy truly operates?

If the government allows those concerned to make inputs, the Legislators will have no option than to abide by the wishes of their constituency or be recalled, thus forestalling all the rancor and arm-twisting going on in the house!

Governor Fashola, Lets see the Bill in public please.

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HAVE THE PEOPLE GONE ON SUMMER HOLIDAYS?

I will be forced o re-post this question, help seems far off?

"Can anyone please assist with my question, (no guesswork pls)

Can one "delay" or "extend" one's VISA, for genuine and legitimate reasons?

Let me clarify:
If l won a VISA-Appeal process with AIT (after one year processing!) and l am told to go to the local embassy to get my passport stamped, for say a six months VISA. Right now, l am hospitalized due to a recent 'Okada accident' and in no way to travel in the next six months (broken leg!).

Can l tell the embassy that
(a) l want the VISA to be effective from say January 2010 (instead of next week) to June 2010, when l feel l will be in good health and able to travel?
(b)Would Hospital Bills and the visible POP marks on my leg be enough "proof' for them?

What are my options in this scenario, from the embassy's point of view?

Thanks.