₦airaland Forum

If China and Russia succeeded in persuading the rest of the international community to drop dollar as the international currency then America will be reduced to just ordinary country.
who would have thought that China will take over from America as world power in few years time? At least economically

I typed out a long epistle on this but unfortunately it got lost in my attemopt to post. Short version is this:
The dollar remains the global currency of note not just by fiat or by choice, but by a reputation built over the years and prevailing curcustance. First, the largest market for most global traders is the U.S. and therefore the big players like China have to hold large amounts of USD. Second, US treasuries are considered the safest investment vehicle in the world. In fact, their rates are called the risk free rate. No other country can match this reputation at present. Third, most countries hold their reserves in USD because the value of the dollar is supported by the relative strength of the US economy as opposed to a country like China that manipulates its currency values. No sensible country will tie its currency to a manipulated currency. One third of the worlds GDP is from countries that peg their currency to the USD. Another 89 countries keep their currency in a tight trading range relative to the dollar. In the forex market, 90 percent of transactions invlove the dollar. This is all happening because the U.S. has built up a reputation over many many years. In Russia itself, a significant amount of transactios are conducted in USD. For Russia and China to change this, they will need to create a viable alternative which means they will need to demonstrate the following: transparency, egalitarianism, open mindedness, equity, impartiality and the list goes on. We all know this is not happening.

As for China being an economic power, its all tied to the U.S. A recession in the U.S. will almost always result in one in China and not vice versa. China is beholden to the America.

justwise:
Of course you are joking.


American influence around the world is slipping away rapidly and it will soon be replaced by China.

Iran can bring down your drone and America can’t even put out a sensible statement.

The only weapon you have now is miserably tariff that hardly work.

Your senate can’t even checkmate out of control president, subpoena disregarded, republicans are scared to even speak against the lying president etc

In terms of geopolitical alliances and influence, this cannot be further from the truth. On a global context, America is a country unto itself. There is no other country in the world that has to think about global implications whenever it acts. For example, Trumps trade wars are looking like the begining of a global recession. No other countries actions, not even China can produce a global recession. America's actions towards Iran are measured, not because Iran can do it any direct harm, but because of the potential difficulty it represents to the rest of the world. A third of the worlds oil demand passes through the straits of Hormuz. America can easily bomb Iran back to the stone age but guess who will suffer. India, China, Saudi Arabia, Europe etc. Russia and Iran are allies. If Russia cuts off gas supplies to Western Europe (Including the UK), people will freeze to death. And Russia is a NATO adversary. In fact, NATO exists becasue of Russia which is no direct threat to the U.S., but to the rest of Europe. However, no America, no NATO.

In terms of which continent is better to live, it all depends on perspective. I have lived on both and think there are pros and cons for one and the other. Anecdotal evidence suggests that if you first live on one, your preferences will lie there. They are quite different from a cultural perspective and if you get immersed in one culture, it becomes more difficult to adjust to the other.

GoodFaith:
"IT requires continuous learning which gets more difficult as you age . It is really a "younger persons" game."
IT does require continuous learn there are people in 62 to 68 still working in the IT
Leading project
Using year of experience to help the new kids with the new skills

At 68, I'd rather not still be in the trenches! But then if our country was good, we wouldn't be economic immigrants in the diasora

Lots of responses have suggested nursing and IT. They are both decent choices but in my experience, some of the top candidates for ageism. Nursing ranks very high as one of the professions where you get burnt out quickly. The best way out is to go back to school and become either a PA or nurse practitioner. IT requires continuous learning which gets more difficult as you age . It is really a "younger persons" game.
It is very easy to work in the U.S. and make good money, but don't forget to plan for your retirement. All those illegal folks earning $4k per month are not paying into soc sec and will have no benefits...financial or healthcare. They had better be saving like crazy or else have a backup plan to move back to Nigeria when they can't work for a living anymore.

prolog3111:
you've got to be kidding me, look, I get that you are a Yoruba. But how logical is it for you to be asking a yoruba guy questions about Benin bronze while you could actually ask the museum or an actual Edo ? What is it with you people's constant quest for a Yoruba spin on Benin history?

Sir, this is a public forum and all are welcome to respond to any and every post. I state once again that I am here only to seek answers to observations that seemed out of place to me on a figure in the British museum. If you have answers to any of my questions, please feel free to post them. I will be most grateful for any knowledge you can impart and so would other readers of the discourse. My first question was seeking information on the origins of the cat whiskers like scarifications on the face of the sculpture and what they had to do with either Benin or Ife culture. Second, I am curious to know the significance of the bird atop the head of the horseman which is also found on the rooftop of a bronze sculpture of the Oba of Benins palace.
As a side note, I have no idea why you are so fixated on my ethnicity and why you make bold assertions about it, knowing absolutely nothing about me. I refuse to engage on that level as sufficient unto the day are the evils thereof!

TAO11:
I am glad that you are wiser to know that evidence supercedes word-of-mouth.

Let whoever think that the foregoing bronze casting represents other than messengers from Ife bringing the knowledge of metal casting to Benin kingdom produce their evidence and not just word of mouth or distractions to other issues.

Cc:
prolog3111

I noticed in the documentary you provided, the mention of a huge bronze bird on the roof of the Oba of Benins palace in a bronze sculpture. This is strikingly similar to the bird on the head of the horseman. Would you happen to know the significance of this bird?

I have no horse in this race. I am only trying to answer a question that has been at the back of my mind for a while after seeing the tribal marks on the horseman. I went back and examined the pictures I took (literally hundreds of them) and found one with the museums description of the horeman. If you enlarge the picture, you will see the museums description at the bottom. I quote "This figure has been interpreted in several ways: as a smith bringing the skill of brasscasting from Ife, as a chief from the north and as Oba Oranmiyan, a founder of the present dynasty"

Seeing the elaborate headdress, I thought it was more likely to be a King or some high chief and wondered what was the connection with the "whiskers" like scarifications to either Benin or Ife? The anwers provided have satisfied my intellectual curiosity.

TAO11:
That bronze sculpture is not of a king.

There is more than one of such bronze/brass sculpture (they are termed: "the horse and the horse rider" ), and they are unanimously interpreted by experts as representing Igala/Yagba messengers from Ife bringing the knowledge of bronze/brass casting to Benin kingdom on the request of Oba Oguola to his overlord, the Ooni of Ife.

Refer to the following British Museum/BBC documentary on Benin castings. Refer specifically to time stamp 48:00 to 48:22 :


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQY_Jd--pwI&t=2070s


See also:

Suzanne Preston Blier, "Art in Ancient Ife, Birthplace of the Yoruba", African Arts, Winter 2012, Vol. 45 (4), p. 77

https://scholar.harvard.edu/files/blier/files/blier.pdf

It reads:

"Several Florescence Era Ife terracotta heads (roughly 5 percent of the whole) display three elliptical “cat whisker” facial marks at the corners of the mouth (Fig. 25) similar to those associated with more
recent northeastern Yagba Yoruba, a group who later came under Nupe rule In one such sculpture, the marks extend into the cheeks in a manner consistent with later Yoruba abaja facial markings, indicating an historic connection between the two. According to Andrew Apter (p.c.), a group of Yagba Yoruba occupy an Ife ward where the Iyagba dialect is still sometimes spoken. Most historic Yagba communities are found in the Ekiti Yoruba region where early iron working sites have been found (Obayemi 1992:73, 74).19 It is possible that Ife’s Yagba population was involved in complementary iron-working and smelting activities at this center. This tradition also offers interesting insight into Benin figures holding blacksmith tools with three similar facial marks, works
said to depict messengers from Ife."


Cheers!

Thanks for enlightening me. This question has been at the back of my mind for a while after visiting the British Museum as an adult after a long hiatus from my visits as a child. I conducted a cursory investigation immediately after and found the Yagba connection to the tribal marks linking to the Ebira people but left it at that. I never knew there were indigenous populations in Ife and Ekiti. Most interesting and engaging stuff. I plan to go back to the museum for a less rushed visit ......my companions on the last visit were more intersted in making it to the cafe on time for high tea

Don't mean to derail the thread but thought this would be a good place to ask a question I've had at the back of my mind since I visited the British Museum. The figure of a king riding a horse (wearing beads?) has disinct tribal marks. Has anyone figured out which part of Nigeria is associated with this type of facial scarification? I did a quick search somtime ago but thought I should put the question to the experts on this thread. Thanks in anticipation of your responses.

Beautyaddy:
Really??...Please post the link to this official government website.

I cannot share more recent/accurate reports that I have access to but these tell the same story

https://www.ons.gov.uk/aboutus/transparencyandgovernance/freedomofinformationfoi/numberofnigerianslivingintheuk

https://cis.org/Report/US-Immigrant-Population-Hit-Record-437-Million-2016

In case you missed it..... My point is that appearances can be deceptive. The numbers will set you straight.

Beautyaddy:
Hmmmm…I think geng might be right though.

We all know that the relationship and travels between the UK and Nigeria has been going on even before Nigeria's Independence and so it was easy and more affordable for most Nigerians to migrate and establish permanent presence in the UK.

I want to assume that most Nigerians high presence in the US became more popular when the US started the DV lottery and the US started becoming more laxed with their visiting visas approvals.

If you ask most Nigerians if they had to choose for permanent presence between the UK and US if both countries were easily opened to it most Nigerians will choose the UK because of its shorter flight distance or cheaper cost of flights

I used to be of the same opinion as you until I saw the facts. I have access to more recent accurate data than easily accessible due to my job, but these are not secret numbers. Some of the data I have quoted is readily available on the internet through official government websites. I even strongly believe that the U.S. numbers are understated because of the relative ease of sneaking in through a land border. On the other hand, the U.K. numbers are much more accurate. This country is an island. If you are there, you are more likely to have presented yourself at an immigration point of entry. Even if you add another 50k people assuming they sneaked in through Calais on a goods truck or swam across the channel, the U.S. understated officials numbers are still higher.
Here's another statistic that surprised me. Lagos state is said to be very densely populated with people falling over each other in the streets. Do you know that there are more registered vehicles in the state of California than there are people in Lagos state?

Timmypromise:
I think you are right
But the reason why most Nigerians migrate to UK cuz British are lazy to do some work
.
.
.
My friend in Liverpool explain that to me

One of the main reasons Nigerians started to migrate to Britain is because of education and trade. Historically, the easiest place Nigerians could get a higher education was in the U.K. in addition, there were a lot of foreign companies that traded with Nigeria and we had lots of Nigerian businessmen going back and forth to buy and sell. A lot of Nigerians stayed back when it wasn't a big deal and we have always seen London as our own vacation playground before tourism opened up in other countries.

genq:
My broda don't say what you don't know.
Have you attended FoL in London? If you see crowd, your body go shock! Have you attended a match in the UK where Nigeria is playing? Have you seen the number of rccg churches in the UK? Have you wondered how everyone in Nigeria seems to have one or two friends /family members in the UK? That country is currently holding the largest chunk of all our citizens abroad.

Your assertions are anecdotal. I am talking hard statistical facts.
"That country is currently holding the largest chunk of all our citizens abroad."
It only appears to be so because there are large concentrations of Nigerians in particular places in the U.K. For example, London and its environs. It may interest you to know that Nigeria is not even in the top 10 countries with foreign citizens in the U.K. despite the fact that we have been going there in seemingly large numbers since the 1950's. Like I said before, we are not even up to 20 percent of the Indians or even Pakistanis in that country.
And BTW, there are now more Nigerians in the U.S. than in the U.K. We are more spread out across various cities unlike being concentrated in a small area like London.

Contrary to popular opinion, there are not that many Nigerians resident in the UK relative to other nationalities. Not sure why you think there was ever an incidence of mass migration. I don't think that has ever been the case. It only seems that way becasue there are concentrations of Nigerians in certain areas of the country. The Nigerian population in the UK is estimated at between 180k and 230k give or take. Poland, India and Pakistan have the largest populations of foreign born citizens in the U.K. with the Indian population estimated at about 1.4 million.

Beautyaddy:
lol!...please what does that mean

May sound corny and I may be crazy to say this out loud, but our fore fathers were workmen worthy of their wages. Take it for what it's worth, there are strong divine principles regarding recompense and it shall surely come to pass. I always thought folks that championed reparations were wishful thinkers but have come to realize that there is definitely something there. Germany is quietly paying reparations to the Jews; they know something most don't know having dabbled strongly in the spiritual during the time of Hitler. Reparations are the easy way out for America. If something isn't done, the offspring of the servant shall become the Master. Those in the know understand.

AngelicBeing:
You are Spot on but only if Owelle Chukwuemeka olusegun yakubu Donald Trump finishes his term in office and maybe Democrats are back to power if not, koboko wielding Trump is not ready to back down on migrants issues, he is ready to continue with what this pictures depicts below on immigrants

GrandMaster Trump will leave one day, either in 2020 or 2024. He can't turn back the current demographic trend of ethnic minorities growing quickly into the majority. And I say this once in a while and people laugh at me, but ......Nigeria has a diviine lien on the U.S., we just need to be patient A workman is worthy of his or her pay. That payday is coming soon!

AngelicBeing:
l have a mutual friend in almost similar scenario you painted in your post, but no kidnapping involved in his case but robbers attacked him and his family in lagos, he is also full of regrets because he asked for advice from me around 2010 and I told him to leave Nigeria without looking back but he was not willing, he is among the "NO PLACE LIKE HOME CREW GANG & l AM NOT READY TO LIVE IN ANOTHER COUNTRY AND NIGERIA GO BETTER " but as at one month ago, he moved to Mauritius and he said he will figure out what next to do, he doesn't qualify for both the Canadian and Australian skilled workers program because of his age, the insecurity alone in Nigeria is terrible

The scariest part about the insecurity in Nigeria is that you can't trust anybody, even your own family members. A situation where relatives provide information to terrorists so that they can share in the takings. And If you pay the ransome, they will target you again in the future knowing that you have the money to pay. My buddy is worried sick about his children. He no longer has a driver or house help and the neighborhood he lives in contributes money and they have a police van permanently stationed on their street in addition to OPC guards. I personally love Nigeria, but this is a bit much to bear.

Spanishmilf:
and us Visa is tough right now

Yes, it is tough right now, but only for a season. Trust me on this, it will be relatively easier sometime in the future. Nigerians just need to be patient and wait out this "storm in a teacup". That is the beauty of the American political system; it takes a very long time to effect permanent change. Things will swing back in the other direction soon enough.

OP, here's my advice to you. Make your decision and don't look back. Whatever your decision may be, don't look back! Stick with it and work hard at it. I know a gentleman who is a finance director for a blue chip company in Nigeria. He is doing very well in Nigeria and earns significant renumeration like you. He sought my advice about emigrating to the U.S. about 8 years ago and I let him know that he will not get the same position in the U.S. as he has in Nigeria, but lots of job opportunities abound and he will probably earn six figure USD salaries after a few years. I said if he is willing to live with that, he should make the move. He decided not to. Last month, he told me on the phone that he regrets not making the move back then. He said back then emigration was all about the allure and dazzle of foreign countries pulling Nigerians to leave. Now, it is the situation in Nigeria pushing people to leave. He is emotionally invested in Nigeria and thus is really depressed that his country is pushing him out. In the last 2 years, he said there have been 3 kidnap attempts on his immediate family and that he has had to pay ransome for 2 extended family members. He is moving his immediate family first to his house in Ghana then he will figure out what to do next. He was lamenting that he really cant live life the way he likes because it attracts negative attention with ill effects.

I am not advocating for you to leave or one way or the other. All I'm saying is make a decision and move on. My friend is clinically depressed because he keeps looking back and regretting his decision. He neglects to see how much God has blessed him in Nigeria since he decided to stay and that he still has options. Anyway, good luck in whatever path you take.

Some responses on this thread are the personification of typecasting. I can't think of better examples to exemplify the parable of the blind men and the elephant. One post describes a visit to 2 or 3 cities in the U.S. and forms broad conclusions based on the experience. Another describes Nigerians based on interactions with some of us and yet another describes African Americans based on interactions with some of us.
Some hurtful things have been said here. I really wish we would refrain from discourteous language and insinuations as we try to make our points. Like it or.not, black is black in the eyes of the world. One drop of black blood makes you black!

Our Mumu never do? Have they not being doing this since forever?

26 million certiied mumus in Nigeria still voting with our eyes closed

Flier:
Smart guys don’t buy house abroad until they can afford it in cash

This is a common misconception. You can borrow money at current rates between 3-4% vs. stock market returns at approximately 7% over the last 30 years (S&P 500). Do the math, thats at least a 3-4% investment spread. It is financially smart to finance a purchase and invest your cash to yield higher returns. There are no prepayment penalties so you can pay off your mortgage anytime, doesnt have to be 30 years.

In Nigeria, when someone buys a 70 million Naira house, he/she is hailed and praised! We forget to ask where the money came from and if they have paid their fair share of taxes. Most of these folks are spending our common wealth. Wake up and smell the coffee, they are eatimg your dinner for lunch!

@wajt, as a U.S. taxpayer, I am offended by your actions. Why? Your kids are in school at me and other taxpayers expense! He who seeks equity must come with clean hands. I could say much more, but will leave it at that. Res Ipsa Loquitur!

I agree, it's theoretically impossible to renew a visiting visa remotely. Like many have mentioned, you will be automatically triggered as an overstay once your approved length of stay is exceeded. Passengaer information is transmitted to several government agencies including CBP, FBI etc and cross checked against several datase ... recall no fly list. In fact, if one is out of status, it is risky to fly. They have started picking folks up at the airport based on these facts.

[quote author=ifyalways post=78692019]Never knew Frogs can eat snakes.
Speckled frogs,Yum yum. [/quote

Hunger can fall person hand O, na condition bend cray fish back. Anything an animal sees when hungry na food, even the one when big pass am

ifyalways:
Omo one was killed right beside me some hours ago @ Chevron camp. I shudder

Chai! See what OP has caused now ehn? Everybody is on edge because you have not closed out this story. This snake in your roof must be a mythical creature to survive the collective wisdom of not less than 100 people on this thread! I'm begining to believe, like someone
mentioned and was chastised for it, that this your snake na spiritual snake.

But maa'm, this snake is small now, not even bigger than what a frog eats for snack

OmoBendel24:
From research, the above seems to be a major reason for such annotations. People mostly affected are those who go in and out of the US often, especially those stylishly making US their residence on a B1/B2 visa.

I however know it affects first timers too. I used to think it is much more geared at bringing frustration to you early and ensuring you fall out of status quick just in case you plan to overstay, but it’s much more than that. It is not commonplace too, but has been on a long while.

Several Nigerians entered the US today without this annotation on their passport, will suggest we don’t make mountain out of a molehill on it, at least for now, but there’s a deliberate clampdown ongoing no doubt, they are ready for us!

And we are ready for them too o! Have they forgotten so soon? We are coming to enjoy the fruits of the handiwork of our forefathers
Read Exodus 12:35 and see that a workman is worthy of his hire. No matter how long it takes, we shall reap the just fruits of our ancestors labor. But on a serious note, if anyone deserves a special visa category like ESTA, it is Igbos and Yorubas. We have serious family ties in the U.S. and they owe us big time

tzetzefly:
Nice to know that the thread is manned by very capable hands as it were. Seyewest, Juswise, Madam LadyG, Omobendel24 among others. I will state here that you guys have been doing a very good job on this forum even despite your tight schedules I presume.

HOWEVER AN ADVISE TO PROSPECTIVE APPLICANTS:

I must state that if an applicant does not have a genuine reason(s) to travel to the States, please do not waste your precious funds on visa fees not to mention the resultant negative psychological devastation.

The reform in immigration process is very real not just at the Embassy/ Consulate, but at the Point of Entry.

A word of caution please!

Attached is an entry stamp of a traveller to Atlanta.

Have a nice day!

Interesting example of usurping authority. As far as I know, there are specific criteria under the law that determine eligibilty for AOS and this cannot be revoked by a simple entry on a stamp. Even denial of entry at the airport is not a final decision if you know what to do. Most people don't know that if you have a visa and are being denied entry, you have the right to an exclusion hearing before a judge to determine your admissibility, an administrative appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals and a judicial review or appeal of any, or all, of the aforementioned decisions. Navigating these waters is much easier with legal representation.

xavuv:
Yes, baba(olode) got here around 9am. We went into the ceiling together, at the exact spot we usually hear the snake movement. Searched, Snake was nowhere to be found. We guess it went to hide in deep block holes.

We got out of the ceiling. We got 1 liter of Sniper + 400gram of a chemical called DOMINATOR. Mixed it and fumigate whole ceiling area. Fumigated all rooms too.

We also got 3 small cooked eggs and neatly inserted pin in each one, placed it somewhere inside the ceiling. I hope all these will get rid of it.

We will not be sleeping in the house today. We r preparing to leave home now and return tomorrow evening.

Thanks all.

The plot thickens. Its like watching a movie. We all are waiting with bated breathe in anticipation of the climax. You should set up a camera in your attic with a live you tube feed and charge a few naira for admission