₦airaland Forum

There's an adage in Yoruba which literally means "the fact that we aren't in good terms doesn't mean that I wish you death".

Only wonders and shudders at those that wish the president dead.

shukuokukobambi:
This is a temporary solution and like you said, the next problem might not be too far away. A more permanent solution must be found but in the mean time, we the citizens need to reduce our rapid generation of plastic waste by recycling even the ones we use in our homes. It'll save us money and an epidemic.

The problem, in the first place, was created by the citizens who dumped waste into drainages irresponsibly.

cumbak60:
Exactly the reason Nigeria will continue to remain a cess-pit.. when they keep maintaining a double-standard towards Indi'Igbo, how will they progress for goodness sake. Oji'madi l'ali, jio'onweya.
Lol, an Ondo aropo is Ijaw, but an Igbo from Delta is not Igbo but Deltan.

I think you guys mixed things up too much in your write up; how can all these claims and counter claims of who is Igbo and who is not Igbo be the fault of Nigeria? At best, I thought this should have been sorted out at the early stage of the Biafran struggle, because issues like these may make or mar your aspirations. It may even continue to be your albatross, leaving you worst than before, when you eventually gets to the promise land- Biafra.

[quote author=nwakibie3 post=58685096][/quote]Well, we have heard it in the public that the CBN has declined to do as the Senate recommended, I hope the CBN won't do otherwise in private.

Hajj is for those who can afford it- govt has no business with that.

guy2two:
So a 12-year old child easily went back to sleep despite the chaos in the house, despite finding his pregnant mum under the bed, even despite seeing his dad pour oil into mum's mouth?... Just thinking aloud.

At the bold part, even my two years old son will be shouting "leave her alone" and will be beating me whenever his mum (my wife) and I engage in our usual rough play, not to talk of a 12years old.

Where is Uncle Dele Momodu of Ovation? I thought he was sometimes ago running his mouth like ruptured water pipe that Dieziani is only being persecuted. Let him come and tell Nigerians that again if we will not eat him raw. "Oshisco"

I woke to a post by one Humphrey Achor in which my young Igbo friend Chibuzor Dunamis Obele tagged me. He must have known that there was no way I would be able to resist contributing, where numerical figures are being discussed, although these days, I am reluctant discussing the untouchable Igbo. Coming to think of it, how do you teach a group that is only marginally next to God in intelligence, at least in their reckoning. What baffles me is how a group can live a life of perpetual complaints. If they are not talking about Genocide, it is Marginalisation. If it is not about "Biafra", then in recent times, it is Restructuring.

Achor Humphrey, in his post, made strenuous efforts to show how the Igbos are marginalised. Often, he tried to bundle together South-South and South East in a union that I fail to understand. At other times, the grouping was South versus the North. This does not interest me a bit. It was an irritating post to me.

Basically, Achor's comparative study was of the geopolitical zones. He needs to know that the Federating Units in Nigeria are the States. The State Government is the middle tier in governance between the Federal Government at the Top and the Local Government at the Bottom. The Geopolitical Areas represent nothing in the governance of Nigeria. It has no Leader, It has no Capital City, It has no Financial allocations and as of fact not part of the Nigerian Constitution.

Achor should also know that there are six independent Geopolitical Areas in Nigeria. I, therefore, do not understand why Igbo writers often group South East and South South together. South-South is in no way more related to South East than it is, to North West or South West. If the grouping is meant to take us back to the original Regional System, then why not group NE, NC and NW together? Even at that, Edo and Delta States in South South were part of the Western region and not Eastern region. At times I get a feeling that such writers still have their "Biafra" scheme in mind with an intention to colonised South-South the way Ojukwu did in 1967 just for their wealth and arable soil. If not, then they should stop grouping the two zones together. Now, to the Issue.

Politics and Governance are about people. If any meaningful comparison is to be made about representation in the legislature, we shall be taking about how many people are represented by each representative.
The population spread in Nigeria between North and South since 1952 are;
1952 Census, 54.55% North to 45.45% South
1962 Census, 56.77% North to 43.23% South
1963 Census, 53.51% North to 46.49% South
1973 Census, 64.99% North to 35.01% South
1991 Census, 51.85% North to 48.15% South
2006 Census, 53.59% North to 46.41% South

There is a striking similarity between 1963 and 2006 figures. Also fine is that the 1963 figure was conducted when Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe was President of Nigeria and Nwanfor Orizu, another Igbo, President of the Senate. They could not have cheated themselves so, it's safe to adopt the 2006 figures conducted when a Southerner was president. The 2006 Figures have this distribution:
NW with a population of 35.8m=25.6%
SW with a population of 27.6m=19.7%
SS with a population of 21.0m =15.0%
NC with a population of 20.3m=14.5%
NE with a population of 19.0m =13.6%
SE with a population of 16.4m=11.7%

TOTAL 140.1m
North 53.6%
South 46.4%

COMPLAINT 1
The first complaint Achor Humphrey is that in our House of Representatives of 360 Members of the House of Rep, South has 169 members. This represents 46.9% South and 53.1% North. Are these not the same spread as our population distribution? What then is his problem?

COMPLAINT 2
His next complaint is about the spread across the Geopolitical zones where:
NW has 92 Reps which are 25.6%. Compared 25.6%
SW has 71Reps which is 19.7%. Compared with 19.7%
SS has 55 Reps which are 15.3%. Compared with15. 0%
NC has 49 Reps which is 13. 6%. Compared with 14.5%
NE has 48 Reps which are 13.3%. Compared with 13.6%
SE has 43 Reps which are 11.9%. Compared with 11.7%
Abuja has 2 Reps which are 0.6%

TOTAL 360 Reps

Note that if the 0.6% of Abuja is added to 13.6% above, we get 14.2%; Achor, what do you have against this?

At this point, he wondered "The question is, how dare you upstage these people in a vote even if Southeast, South-south and Southwest joined together cannot upstage the North. This made me laugh. When in 1959, Chief Obafemi Awolowo approached Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe for a coalition government with Zik as the Prime Minister, why did he not remember that there was Southern Nigeria? Has there been any political dispensation in this country minus the current one in which the Igbos did not go into a "Government of National Unity" with the North? My friend, we have long gone past that politics. We have also gone past North, East and West Nigeria. Ours is a New Nigeria, where the States are the Federating Units. The earlier you key into this the better.

COMPLAINT 3
The next port of call of Achor Humphrey was what he called "Injustice in the allocation of Oil in Nigeria". He presented a falsity that:
North Central receives 20% contributes nothing
North East receives 16% Contributes Nothing
North West receives 21% Contributes Nothing
South West receives 16% Contributes 3.97%.
South East receives 11.00% Contributes 25.07%
The south South receives 15.00% Contributes 70.64%

The Truth, which you may google right now, is:

OIL REVENUE
1st. Akwa Ibom – 504,000 barrels per day
2nd. Delta – 346,000 bpd
3rd. Rivers – 344,000 bpd
4th. Bayelsa – 290,000 bpd
5th. Ondo – 60,000 bpd
6th. Lagos – 40,000 bpd
7th. Edo – 33,000 bpd
8th. Imo – 17, 000 bpd
9th. Abia – 11,000 bpd

From the list above, West Produces 100,000 bpd

I challenge Achor to present his source of the figures. I, however, make bold to say that there are two oil producing States in South east. Abia currently produces 11,000bpd and Imo State produces 17,000bpd making a total of 28,000bpd where Akwa Ibom alone produces 504,000bpd in a total of 1,580,000bpd. The Igbo contribution is paltry 1.75% Even Edo state produces more than the combined SE. May I ask: Do you go out to deliberately deceive your readers or are these genuine errors? Information is so cheap these days. Afford yourself of it.

You may want to ask yourself who produces the Electricity Power in Kainji, Jebba, Egbin etc. that you consume. You think it is from Oji Coal Power Station? What about the Yams, Beans, rice meat? Maybe you should be made to import them. Yet you say, "Contribute Nothing"

INTERNAL REVENUE GENERATION
We all know that the Igbos are very enterprising and must generate much revenue internally from Taxes etc. Maybe that is the area they contribute much. Let us see what the figures from the National Bureau of Statistics has for us for the year June 2015 to May 2016.

SW generated N392.4b
SS generated N185.2b
NW generated N 72.3b
SE generated N 57.2b
NC generated N 50.7b
NE generated N 27.0b

REVENUE ALLOCATIONS; Using 2016 First Quarter Allocation to States
SS got N113.9b
NW got N67.64b
SW got N49.86b
NE got N47.02b
NC got N45.45b
SE got N40.46b

These translate to:
SS: N5, 423/capital
NE: N2, 475/capital
SE: N2, 467/capital
NC: N2, 238/ capital
NW: N1, 889/ capital
SW: N1, 806/capital

You can see that while SE is the third lowest in revenue generation it is the third highest in revenue consumption. Note that in spite of these, by their itinerant nature, they consume not less than 10% of revenues allocated to other states.

POLITICAL APPOINTEES
We all have the statistics of political appointees of the current Buhari administration.
NW has 51political appointees from 7 states
NC has 47 political appointees from 6 states
NE has 45 political appointees from 6 states
SW has 45 political appointees from 6 states
SS has 45 political appointees from 6 States
SE has 41 political appointees from 5 states

These translate to
1st. SE: 2.50 appointees in a million.
2nd. NE: 2.37 appointees in a million.
3rd. NC: 2.34 appointees in a million.
4th. SS: 2.14 appointees in a million.
5th. SW:1.63 appointees in a million.
6th. NW:1.42 appointees in a million.

SE is highest, The president's zone is lowest and the Vice Presidents zone is second lowest

IGBO STOP MISINFORMING YOUR HIGHLY GULLIBLE MASSES SO THAT PEACE MAY RETURN TO OUR LAND

#Copied, from https://www.facebook.com/igeadeyeye.abdulhammed/posts/10214007357283439

lalasticlala

9jakohai:
NERC actually regulates tariffs in the power sector....they act as the organization that keeps things from getting out of hand. But there is a limit to how they can dictate to DISCOS .....and by law(set up as part of the law allowing for the privatization of power....which was passed long before Fashola thought about being a minister in 2014)...DISCOS can raise tariffs/bills.

Power ministry these days does not have much to do....except run transmission (which was not privatized due to national security reasons ).....and the transmission system is in need of replacement...and the DISCOS are the ones who raise money via the bills we pay for that.

I have always had the same thought about this power issue as do many commentators on this forum before yesterday. But now I know better. Without mincing words, I think this administration has done well in this sector. And just like the Minister said, there's still a long way to go; it's not yet an Eldorado.

CROWNWEALTH019:
I thought they said fashola got sense....

I wish you were at the lecture yesterday, and you can also do away with your biased and politicised mind, you wouldn't have posted this. So, I won't blame you that much.

c733d:
9jamobile would have been cool.

In fact, you took that out of my mouth. As a matter of fact, I actually read it as 9jaMobile.

Who is their adviser self? Little wonder they can't repay their debt!

emmanuel596:
“They are always quick to tell Nigerians that there is an Acting President in the person of Prof Yemi Osinbajo and as such, no vacuum government. However, we all know the limitations of the Acting President. We know that there are so many things Prof Osinbajo cannot do and Nigerians are the ones bearing the consequences of a bedridden President.”

I disagree with you on this, at the bold part.

nwaanambra1:
buhari is a curse!
messed up everything just within a period of 2 years including his own life!
what a pathetic being!

Stop talking like a full and use your sense, at least, for once. What has Buahri got to do with this? Why are the other telcos not folding up? Your hatred for the man Buhari will not allow you see beyond your nose and make a reasonable comment like the educated person you claim to be.

Meanwhile, as times by, we will come to hear the real reason why the parent company, Etisalat Abu Dabi, pulled out of this deal. There's more than meet the eye to this saga.

Yes, they have to change the brand name, Etisalat because the parent company from Abu Dabi actually owns that brand, and since they have pulled out of the deal, and the company has actually been taken over by the Nigerian central bank, then the needful needs to be done.

I will go for Benz because, as the saying goes, Benz never tumbles.

cyber5:
WHAT NOT TO DO

When you have a smartphone drop
in water, do not do the following as
you could permanently damage
your device.

1. Do not turn on the device
immediately after removing
it from water.

2. Do not, for any reason, plug the device to a power source.

3. Do not push any keys or button. You risk pushing
water further into your
device

4. Do not shake or blow air into
the device. This also could
push water into your device.

5. Do not apply any heat to the phone as excessive heat can
do further damage to the phone.

All the what not to do are all the things I did when my one-year-old son, as he was then, threw my blackberry into water. The phone is still lying dead in my drawer since then.

potent5:
Nobody is writing anything down and nobody will "watch it". You already sound like a primary school teacher giving out assignments.

It's good to know that you are prepared for the inevitable eventuality of Buhari not remaining in power beyond 2019 after all his devisive gragra thinking he is God. But God has shown him that he is a mere mortal incapable of deciding his own fate much less that of an entire race.

Look, take it or leave it, I don't see this strategy taking you guys anywhere. Hate speech and calling people names, seeing anybody that antagonised your opinion as an enemy isn't the way. But unfortunately, it isn't your war, neither do you have access to your warlord. Otherwise, I would have asked you to take the message to him.

You see my friend, Kanu, as far as I'm concerned, and for the umpteenth time, will eventually be the sole beneficiary of this struggle. I ain't gonna elaborate on that anymore since you don't want to hear.

However, Kanu would've had the support of the youths of this country if he hadn't follow this silly strategy and mentality of attacking other tribes in this contrapment called a country. You folks are fighting for Biafra, saying the North are domineering, yet you attack an imaginary "afonja" that catches your fancy.

Well, for all I care, you can go on deceiving yourself.

laudate:
Is there a clause on referendum within the Nigerian constitution? If you believe there is, then kindly cite it here, quoting the relevant sections. Prof. Oyebode has just told you guys, the position of the Nigerian law as it is, with respect to the UN clause on self-determination, not the position of the law as it ought to be. And you are still here comparing Scotland, Brexit, Catalonia etc., with the Nigerian situation. Scotland has provisions for referendum in its laws, Nigeria does not! Your focus should be how to get your own international law experts and constitutional lawyers to give you advice on how to insert a clause on referendum into the current constitution!

At the bold part, they don't need the advice of "international law experts...", what is the work of their Senators and House Members? This is to tell you that they are mere bunch of joker's.

Believe me, all these Biafra, IPOB and restructuring noise and brouhaha will fade away the moment Buhari and his APC loses power at the centre. Go and write it down. Then Nnamdi Kanu will now become a political big wig in the South East, who will be determining who gets what from the political booties of this present battle; he's only preparing the ground. Watch it.

Ishilove:
Thanks. Can you remember the specific year?

The first time we performed the song was on May 29th 1989, at the National Theatre, Iganmu, on Children's day, with the then Head of State's daughter, Halima Babangida. Then we did the video sometimes in 1990. One of the shot was taken at Prince Jide Adeniyi's house at Anthony Village. Prince Jide was a music promoter, he owns POATSON.

Ishilove:
And this is the end of the mystery.

Like I said up there, let's not loose hope yet. I will get in touch with Aunty in London and revert back to you.

We did the songs I referred to up there when I was in primary five, now I'm a masters degree holder, with two kids; that tells you how long it's been.

warrenweste:
yea the university where professor eugba worked replied my mail telling me hes retired but will contact him and get back to me,plus i also met someone online who was part of the kings college team and was in the nigeria my beloved country's video and he said he also lived at 1005 flat and know a little about funmi,am also still waiting to hear from him...as soon as its complied will update the thread

I was part of the videos, "Nigeria my beloved country" and "all we need is love".

I think there was a similar thread I gave vivid description of possible ways of searching for Aunty Funmi Adams, specifically at the National Council for Arts and Culture, Iganmu, that is if they are still there.

There's someone that just came to mind now, who I'm going to get in touch with.

ezeagu:
Okoro means man or male in both Igbo and Itsekiri, meaning there's similarity not just in the sound of the word, but also meaning. Okorodudu is a counterpart to Okoroji, dark Okoro. What does Okorotie mean?

At the bold part, especially "Okorodudu", in Yoruba, it is going to "okurin dudu". Which means there are or there may be some assumed similarity between these languages.

Efewestern:
@bolded is itsekiri a dialect or a language.

the only benin influence I can see in itsekiri is the culture, apart from that I don't think itsekiri share anything with Benin again, was having a convoc with a guy about this and he said itsekiri migrated from Benin, but I was told itsekiri only adopted a beni prince.

You can as well list names of animals.

OAUTemitayo and other pro itsekiri on this forum I think this thread will be interesting to you.

cheers!!!

cc: seun, lalasticlala, please move this to fp when the op finishes with his writing.

I have this feeling that you are trying to distance or refute the fact that the Itsekiri language has very strong and obvious similarity with the Yoruba language. Take for instance the meaning of "igbajo", which means "gathering of ... ( it could be "... people), and this also means the same thing in both dialect. This I was told by a very senior Itsekiri citizen.

I think there is an historical perspective between both tribes. I'm going to Google it to find out more. I'm enjoying the lesson. Please fire on!

Igboesika:
Hmmm, Yoruba Christian has spoken, what of afonja Muslimmss ?.
Do you think they can afford to loose their masters up north ? I doubt! because they are ready to dismantle anything that will stop them from sniffing the @ss of their Masters.

This is a total war between Yoruba Christians and afonja Muslimmss.
Let's see how things unfolds. I wish Yoruba Christians well what.

The bold part is only a figment of your wild imagination; there's nothing of such in Yoruba land. Besides, all these rants are only rife on social media, among social media miscreants like you, who are still being fed and lives in their parents one room apartment. Awon olori buruku omo ale!

CROWNWEALTH019:
God bless FFK


If only we had youths who are as fearless as fayose and FFK , naija would have been a better place.


Come 2019, we going to send APC parking and things would go back to normal as it was during the good old days(Jonathan era)

I hope you are aware of how FFK used his bad mouth to spoil GEJ's matter in the name of campaigning for him?

lx3as:
Exactly! He taught me Discourse Analysis about ten - year ago; though a bit strict, we all enjoyed his class.

Did you read the responses of some people on this matter? It tells you that there are lots of miscreants on social media.

It's a shame

Boyooosa:
WITHOUT MINCING HIS WORDS WITH SENTIMENT, I THINK WHAT HE MEANT WAS THAT THEY HAVE A GREATER PROBLEM (BOKO HARAM - SAY AND DO) TO CONTEND WITH, SO WHY SHOULD THEY BE BOTHERED WITH TOOTHLESS BULLDOGS?

The bold part is exactly my thought the moment I read the OP's post.

However, going through the majority of response on this issue has given credence to my stand that this forum is full of miscreants- I call them "SocialMedia" miscreants.

It's a shame.

For me, the Prof was just playing pranks with the students, that's the way I see it.

Lilimax:
Do you think the Northern oligarchy with their born-to-rule mentality will fold hands and allow power to slip from them ? Never! They wouldnt allow the Yardua saga to play itself again. I so much believe this Sahara Reporters news

But if the news were to be about your lord and saviour, mazi, Messiah Nnamdi Kanu, you'll not believe it o! Go on, #I_See_You

jargo89:
What do Igbos really want?

I have always pride myself as a non-tribalistic and flexible guy, but the hatred I am seeing here is really getting to me.

You said Hausas are planning to usurp the VP to prevent Yorubas from ruling the nation, and that gladdens your heart. Of what benefit is that to your region? How does that ensure the development of Igbo land? But no, most of the comments here suggest Yorubas are meeting their waterloo. Whats with you people? When did hating become the air you breath? Just to spite Yorubas or what?

If Osinbajo is usurped and sparks a tribal issue, will it make you Easterners joyful? If Osinbajo steps down, you say he is a coward. If he lobbies for the presidency, you say Yorubas are greedy.

Hatred is damaging. I read alot of comments here and I feel sad for people and even for myself because subconciously we act based on what we read.

Igbos, we Yorubas dont hate you. We've accomodated you in our lands. Some of us even pray you get your break away nation. But the fact we disagree in political stance shouldnt breed this hatred. At the end of the day, we are all humans.

Sorry the ranting became too much. Cheers.

For me really, I don't think it's about the Igbos, I think it's about the miscreants we have on social media.

omenka:
It is amazing how the minds of some people work. I get a migraine trying to wrap my head around the nature of their character honestly.

Isn't this the same news media they vow NEVER to take seriously, and whose stories they claim are ALL lies? How does one profess these things and then shamelessly publicise stories from the same source?

In the fullness of time, these hazy cloud hovering above my country will disperse, that I'm sure of. No single individual or a bunch of inconsolable nutjobs and sore losers is bigger than the state, and sooner than later, that truism will be confirmed by events as they succeed one another.

We've been down this path before, but I don't suppose kids who were born just a couple of days ago would know that.

Your thinking cap is on! Yes, I screamed that.

You see, it depends on what catches their fancy: if the news is for them, then #SR is it, otherwise, they call for #Sowore's head. That's their life.

sean1000x:
As if Igbos are your mate? This is the kind of insult Igbos receive in this country. Do you think Igbos are ordinarily black people? Igbos that bounced back from the civil war with nothing, and will now suffer in their own country with all their financial war chest? SMH

I want you to go and read this thread: https://www.nairaland.com/3847650/does-secession-country-make-individual, then you will see what majority of people have failed to see.

Mujtahida:
First it is wrong to say ownership of land is placed SOLELY in the hands of the State Governments. Here's the preamble to the Land Use Act 1978 cap L5 LFN 2004 which reads in part thus: An Act to Vest all Land compromised in the territory of each State (EXCEPT LAND VESTED in the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT or its AGENCIES ) solely in the Governor of the State , who would hold such Land in trust for the people....
In order words land is vested in both the Federal and State Government. Granted the preamble used the words solely but that is in respect of state land(what is state land is defined in the provisions of the State lands acquisition laws of the various States) see Osho v Foreign Finance Corporation (1991)4NWLR pt 184 or LSPDC v Foreign Finance Corp (1986)1NWLR pt 50.We know there are federal government lands throughout the federation.


Second, as per your first paragraph I'd opine that it's not so straightforward nor is it cast in black and white as far as our EXTANT citizenship laws are concerned because once a person declares allegiance to Biafra it does not AUTOMATICALLY translate to such a person ceasing to be a Nigerian EXCEPT
1) such a person renounces his citizenship by way of declaration
2)our laws are changed to reflect your position.
I am of this view because a citizen of Nigeria includes any person born in Nigeria after independence either of WHOSE PARENTS or GRANDPARENTS belongs or BELONGED to a community indigenous to Nigeria. And that practically covers all potential Biafrans who can stake a claim to Nigerian citizenship through their parents or grandparents (particularly those either of whose parents and grandparents are deceased) and this is even more so since our laws recognise dual citizenship. These are issues, questions and arguments that could be tested in court and judicial pronouncements made to determine their status.

Third, foreigners can and do acquire property in Nigeria without resort to proxies. Acquisition of real estate in Nigeria is regulated by the provisions of the Acquisition of Lands by Aliens Act for FCT Abuja(corresponding laws exists in all the States) and under that law aliens can acquire property in Nigeria subject to certain conditions like Governor's consent etc. However in the immediate context of a situation where Biafra is declared these laws will not apply to determine the status of property ACQUIRED when they (Biafrans) were still Nigerians and before they ceased to be Nigerians. It can only apply if after the declaration of Biafra, a Biafran seeks to acquire property in Nigeria.

So in sum I'd say there are legal angles to this issue which have to be sorted out by amendments of our laws and judicial pronouncements but based on our existing laws I do not think anything in relation to this matter is automatic. Perhaps there are international treaties and conventions which Nigeria is signatory to which regulates such situations I do not know. Cheers

I don't know if this perspective will help you understand that you don't have a point. Happy reading

Restructuring Nigeria

I have often told those who care to listen to even define what they mean by restructuring and I can't seem to get answers. Or where we get, the answers are discordant and often tending toward federalism resource control and such.

What I understand it to mean is that we operate a truly federal system of government where every component part controls their resources, have their domestic laws, have their own police, the legal system, their own tax systems etc.

The states should be federating units donating some of their powers to the FG to hold and use in trust for them on matters of common interest such as defence, foreign affairs, citizenship, immigration, currency and economy etc
Let us adopt the USA model. USA practices federalism.

Restructuring or federalism are totally different from the call for cannibalisation of the country. Restructuring or federalism howsoever called is not the same as secession.

Suffice to say that when Lagos State Government took the federal government to the Supreme Court several times to insist on the practice of federalism from control of physical planning, local government administration that led to the withholding of Laos State revenue allocation, to issue of land abutting the waterways, control of inland waters, VAT, and many other issues , those states and zones where the call for restructuring are the loudest today sadly all opposed the position of LASG at the Supreme Court on the altar of politics. We may go back and read those judgements for confirmation.

LASG won 12 of such cases and against the FG at the Supreme Court. That was the beginning of some elements of federalism and restructuring without calls to war or secession.

I recall that I had to lead speak on behalf of LASG in the company of Dr Akeem Olajide Bello , then an adviser to the governor on Legal matters at the Senate hearing on the National Inland Waterways Authority Act and made a robust presentation for state control of Inland Waterways and total repeal of the Act on behalf of Lagos State .

A then top ranking and very outspoken and visible Senator from Enugu State was the most vociferous opponent of our position. He even said publicly at the hearing that Lagos State was being too cantankerous and asked insultingly if Lagos was the only coastal state or with waterways in the country that it was so cantankerous on the issue. This is a man whose state has rivers that could be of economic benefits to his state and people. I educated him before his colleagues and the public in a fine and polite language that he was not fit to be a Senator. I also recall telling him that if he and his state don't know the rights of his people and state, we in Lagos did and would assert same using the law. I asked him if he was proud that by the National Inland Waterways Authority Law his people in Enugu state will need to travel to Lokoja to obtain licences to own and operate fishing canoes on the rivers and streams in the state. I felt he was very disappointing and was betraying his people.

The senator, who sought to be Governor, is today one of the major voices and sponsors of secession and restructuring mixed up.

Lagos State House of Assembly subsequently repealed the National Inland Waterways Authority Act and promulgated the Lagos State Inland Waterways Authority Act and took control of the Lagos Lagoon and its intrastate waters. There were objections and protests from such bodies as Nigerian Ports Authority and NIWA. Lagos called their bluff and challenged them to go to court. Lagos used the instrumentality of the law, legislature and intellect to take its destiny in its hands and assert it's rights. It was the series of litigation by LASG that has now effectively handed physically planning and land ownership back to the states.

Before then, the FG was giving planning permits for buildings in places like Banana Island and Osborne Foreshore and in many states of the country on lands that they called federal land contrary to the provisions of the Land Use Act. Before then the FG was issuing Certificates of Occupancy on land in the states. Before then the FG made a decree which vested and made it to own all lands that were within 100 metres from the shore of lagoons, rivers and ocean including the palace of the Oba of Lagos and all lands on Marina, around Bar Beach, River Niger and Benue , Oji River, River Imo, Oguta Lake , Kaduna River to mention a few. Before then, FG had absolute control over even water streams and rivers in the villages and states. Before then FG had land registries in the states. Before then, the FG acquired land in states without resort to the state governments.

I even recall that the FG was planning to develop the 2nd phase of Banana Island. It was going to sand fill some waters of the lagoon. Lagos insisted that it must get a permit and environmental impact assessment approval from it. The FG insisted that it can reclaim the water because it had control over the outer waters in Lagos State. Lagos then told the FG that once the water is reclaimed and becomes land, it will be vested in the Governor of Lagos State by virtue of the Land Use Act. The FG simply disappeared with its tail between its legs. That is using the law and the brains.
Today, if the FG acquires land in Lagos, it must obtain the governor's consent;
Today, if the FG wants to build in Lagos, it must obtain LASG approval;
Today, the FG cannot regulate adverts on federal highways or roads in Lagos, it is the LASG;
Today, the Lagos waterways are busy with boats, yachts and hovercraft registered and licensed by Lagos Inland Waterways Authority;
Lagos has had a consumption tax in place without allowing VAT stand in its way. It used the law and brains;
Lagos collects Wharf Landing fees from all sea and land ports in Lagos State;
Lagos collects advertisement income from all federal highways and roads in Lagos along with the local governments;
Lagos used the law and good thinking to acquire all lands and open spaces under bridges from the FG. They are all today beauties to behold from the days when FG allowed all sorts to happen under them when they were let out as garages and car parks.

But for the good thinking and law, Lagos may not have been able to recover Oshodi. And all these also bring in substantial revenue to the state and yet we still wonder why Lagos State has a monthly Internally Generated Revenue Income of well over 30 billion Naira. Over 6 times more than what it gets from the federal allocation that some others are crying over as their sole source of revenue. And we still wonder why it is the 2nd largest economy in West Africa, only after Nigeria and self-sustaining?

Let all states put on their thinking caps and use the law, legislature, judiciary, intellectual power to achieve the control of their destinies and resources and not by beating drums of war and secession. It shouldn't be by force or might. Let's use our brains and intellectual resources to achieve federalism.


Restructuring Nigeria

I have often told those who care to listen to even define what they mean by restructuring and I can't seem to get answers. Or where we get, the answers are discordant and often tending toward federalism resource control and such.

What I understand it to mean is that we operate a truly federal system of government where every component part controls their resources, have their domestic laws, have their own police, the legal system, their own tax systems etc.

The states should be federating units donating some of their powers to the FG to hold and use in trust for them on matters of common interest such as defence, foreign affairs, citizenship, immigration, currency and economy etc
Let us adopt the USA model. USA practices federalism.

Restructuring or federalism are totally different from the call for cannibalisation of the country. Restructuring or federalism howsoever called is not the same as secession.

Suffice to say that when Lagos State Government took the federal government to the Supreme Court several times to insist on the practice of federalism from control of physical planning, local government administration that led to the withholding of Laos State revenue allocation, to issue of land abutting the waterways, control of inland waters, VAT, and many other issues , those states and zones where the call for restructuring are the loudest today sadly all opposed the position of LASG at the Supreme Court on the altar of politics. We may go back and read those judgements for confirmation.

LASG won 12 of such cases and against the FG at the Supreme Court. That was the beginning of some elements of federalism and restructuring without calls to war or secession.

I recall that I had to lead speak on behalf of LASG in the company of Dr Akeem Olajide Bello , then an adviser to the governor on Legal matters at the Senate hearing on the National Inland Waterways Authority Act and made a robust presentation for state control of Inland Waterways and total repeal of the Act on behalf of Lagos State .

A then top ranking and very outspoken and visible Senator from Enugu State was the most vociferous opponent of our position. He even said publicly at the hearing that Lagos State was being too cantankerous and asked insultingly if Lagos was the only coastal state or with waterways in the country that it was so cantankerous on the issue. This is a man whose state has rivers that could be of economic benefits to his state and people. I educated him before his colleagues and the public in a fine and polite language that he was not fit to be a Senator. I also recall telling him that if he and his state don't know the rights of his people and state, we in Lagos did and would assert same using the law. I asked him if he was proud that by the National Inland Waterways Authority Law his people in Enugu state will need to travel to Lokoja to obtain licences to own and operate fishing canoes on the rivers and streams in the state. I felt he was very disappointing and was betraying his people.

The senator, who sought to be Governor, is today one of the major voices and sponsors of secession and restructuring mixed up.

Lagos State House of Assembly subsequently repealed the National Inland Waterways Authority Act and promulgated the Lagos State Inland Waterways Authority Act and took control of the Lagos Lagoon and its intrastate waters. There were objections and protests from such bodies as Nigerian Ports Authority and NIWA. Lagos called their bluff and challenged them to go to court. Lagos used the instrumentality of the law, legislature and intellect to take its destiny in its hands and assert it's rights. It was the series of litigation by LASG that has now effectively handed physically planning and land ownership back to the states.

Before then, the FG was giving planning permits for buildings in places like Banana Island and Osborne Foreshore and in many states of the country on lands that they called federal land contrary to the provisions of the Land Use Act. Before then the FG was issuing Certificates of Occupancy on land in the states. Before then the FG made a decree which vested and made it to own all lands that were within 100 metres from the shore of lagoons, rivers and ocean including the palace of the Oba of Lagos and all lands on Marina, around Bar Beach, River Niger and Benue , Oji River, River Imo, Oguta Lake , Kaduna River to mention a few. Before then, FG had absolute control over even water streams and rivers in the villages and states. Before then FG had land registries in the states. Before then, the FG acquired land in states without resort to the state governments.

I even recall that the FG was planning to develop the 2nd phase of Banana Island. It was going to sand fill some waters of the lagoon. Lagos insisted that it must get a permit and environmental impact assessment approval from it. The FG insisted that it can reclaim the water because it had control over the outer waters in Lagos State. Lagos then told the FG that once the water is reclaimed and becomes land, it will be vested in the Governor of Lagos State by virtue of the Land Use Act. The FG simply disappeared with its tail between its legs. That is using the law and the brains.
Today, if the FG acquires land in Lagos, it must obtain the governor's consent;
Today, if the FG wants to build in Lagos, it must obtain LASG approval;
Today, the FG cannot regulate adverts on federal highways or roads in Lagos, it is the LASG;
Today, the Lagos waterways are busy with boats, yachts and hovercraft registered and licensed by Lagos Inland Waterways Authority;
Lagos has had a consumption tax in place without allowing VAT stand in its way. It used the law and brains;
Lagos collects Wharf Landing fees from all sea and land ports in Lagos State;
Lagos collects advertisement income from all federal highways and roads in Lagos along with the local governments;
Lagos used the law and good thinking to acquire all lands and open spaces under bridges from the FG. They are all today beauties to behold from the days when FG allowed all sorts to happen under them when they were let out as garages and car parks.

But for the good thinking and law, Lagos may not have been able to recover Oshodi. And all these also bring in substantial revenue to the state and yet we still wonder why Lagos State has a monthly Internally Generated Revenue Income of well over 30 billion Naira. Over 6 times more than what it gets from the federal allocation that some others are crying over as their sole source of revenue. And we still wonder why it is the 2nd largest economy in West Africa, only after Nigeria and self-sustaining?

Let all states put on their thinking caps and use the law, legislature, judiciary, intellectual power to achieve the control of their destinies and resources and not by beating drums of war and secession. It shouldn't be by force or might. Let's use our brains and intellectual resources to achieve federalism.

Babatunde Ogala Esq
Babatunde Ogala Esq

alBHAGDADI:
You mean students didn't get flogged for not doing an assignment in the school you attended?

Your stance make no sense. If students could get flogged for not doing home work, coming to school on time etc how much more will be for a student who boycotts a subject?

If a student refuse to take a subject, he is bound to fail that subject thereby jeopardizing his chances of promotion. Such student will be kicked out. That's likely going to be the fate of Christians who boycott Arabic studies

Now, if you say Arabic is useless, don't you think you ought to speak against the introduction of a useless subject?

Note that CAN and PFN said they have text messages from parents whose children were flogged amidst other proofs. Now, who are you to say they are lying?

You see, I've to actually restraint my self from flying off the handle because of the sensitive nature of issues like this in the country. You know, there are quite a lot of miscreants on social media who may take what I'm about to say out of context.

You see my friend, particularly at the bold part, I think you are being sentimental and turning facts around to suit your purpose. Come to think of it, has Arabic been made compulsory so much so that any Christian student who fails to take it will be penalised? That's not the case here as far as I know. This singular argument of yours, I'm afraid, portrays you like someone with a biased intention. And as a social commentator, which I suppose you are, you ought to balance your analyse.

By the way, my take on this whole issue is why would government, in the first place, "fix it, when it's not broken"? Why the change, for what purpose?

In my days at MBHs, my friends and I do attend Christian fellowship together, and after collecting their biscuits and sweets, we'll run down to observe jumah service. That was before Nigeria was polarised along every lines you can imagine. But I still maintain, to some extent though, this polarisation, as it where, is mostly on social media, and not in real life.

Good day.