₦airaland Forum

@playmode

I believe I am the best person to answer your question as a Nigerian living there. I am not sure what you mean by butchering but I am here 10 years strong and I do not know of any one who has been butchered. Most of the violent crimes takes place in the townships ,you don’t have any business there so you are safe.

My wife is zulu and my best friend (Lungile) is zulu. I have never met kinder people. At first when you meet “some” of them they might just “shakara” you but just act cool and be respectful and you will blend in within a few minutes. The alleged Zulu aggression is also a stereotype!

The taxis (aka danfos) are just as Nigeria’s if you know what I mean. The taxi drivers can be rough sometimes but if you ever taken public transport in Nigeria , you should be fine. Whenever you are approaching your bus top ,just shout to the driver : “ Short left” . That means you want to stop at the next bus stop.

Don’t even talk about the home affairs. They are a useless bunch of idiots.

Thank you for your selfless input. You know, after the xenophobic attack on African immigrants in South Africa. Unfortunately, South Africa has come to be known as hostile to their African brothers, that is why the rumor of butchering spread like wildness. Sometimes the predicament one faces depends on the kind of life he/she conducts which is testament to those engaged in different activities there.

It is good to know that you are integrated well and have good relationships with the locals. Contrary to what some people think or say based on stereotypes, there are kind people and not so kind people everywhere, it all boils down to how respectfully one is and present himself. I absolutely understand your point. I went through that Sowetan websites you pasted and many of the comments there by the locals are grossly ignorant and very generic. It is a dangerous trend. You are doing a great job by countering their unbalanced reasoning and making them understand to judge one based on the content of their character and not on few bad apples from the country of origin.

Actually, I would have preferred a closer accommodation to the training center but the price on outskirt of Newcastle which is close to a township is tempting. The course will last for 4months, although there is an close to the training center,it is kinda expensive. What do you suggest?

Well, the home affairs and the Saps need to put on the radar and asked critical questions. The menace can't just continue.

Not every aspect of our traditional religion is that evil. Some ppl just take it to the extreme.

Like Christianity, there is good and evil. Like Islam, there is a good and an evil side.

Afrian traditional religion teaches but side, and teaches against evil. But you still have greedy ppl who misuse their knowledge

Tell them.

How does the word investment translate to "borrow?"

Investment? Where is it gonna come from? They are very much likely to go the borrowing route with huge interest rates.

As Blacksta pointed out. Why is it that they don't want to wholly privatize it? That is when we will be talking about investors coming to invest and make their investments worthwhile.

@paniki

Thanks for taking the time to expatiate more . Individuals are different, people interpret things differently. Nevertheless, I couldn't understand the rumor about the butchering and so on. But I am aware that once you are deemed foreign, that you are easily stereotyped.

But all in all, South Africa seem like a beautiful place to do your thing and go. How far those Zulus in that natal area, I heard those guys can be something else, how is that true. I will be taking public transport everyday 20km to the campus, how safe is that? Anyways, don't mind my rambling, I am just trying to take precautionary measures as anyone would do when travel to a place he/she barely knows about.

As per your home affairs, they need to know who is worthwhile and who is not. You don't just give everyone visas without interviewing and scrutinizing their application well to know what they are going to do. That is one of the reasons some rugged guys troop to your country. This has also resulted to overtly generalization been exercised on Nigerians as a whole and other Africans.

Hey guys, thank you for your concrete advice. I appreciate immensely.

@morpheus24

What do you mean when you say "in Location" and how do those dodgy areas look like? Anyways, I will be staying in an estate at the outskirt of Newcastle, Kwazulu-natal. I am coming strictly for studies and nothing more, nothing less.

As per the playing thing, I want live longyyy oo , so i understand where you are coming from. Thanks once again

The Nigeria government has a history of mismanaging funds and not executing projects as first planned.

The 1million naira question is, are they using this as a pretext to borrow money from international sources to push Nigeria into huge debt?

That [b]Eko Ile [/b]of a guy . He is too reactionary

I think Politics Section should revolve around intellectual debate based on logic.

Hey guys, I could be coming to South Africa for a short course. I read and heard that being from other African country, you could be an easy targeted or butchered. Is this true?. I first opted for Capetown but due to time constraint I won't meet up. Now i am thinking of Newcastle, Kwazulu-natal where the course will be held next. How is it like over there, any tangible tips and cautionary tale would be highly appreciated.

Has anyone decipher that yet?

Because they are suffering from colonial mentality. They do not know their history. They seem to believe everything their colonial masters told them about their indigenous religion is evil. They lack an independent mind and creativity. As Bob Marley said 'Emancipate yourself from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our mind, have no fear for atomic energy for none of them can stop the time'.

These bunch refuse to research that movie production involves in depth knowledge of sociology, psychology, philosophy, anthropology and so on. They wake up and produce rubbish, that is why their movie is so dull and you can't be intellectually challenged watching them. They can only capture the African audience because of the low level of reasoning that is so ingrained in the average African psyche.

Typical America knee jerk reaction. Didn't they claim New York was safe before 9/11?  Are Americans frequent visitors to Nigeria? Bunch of hypocrites. They only come to get something out of the ground when necessary.

They should stick to solving their problem in their home turf. The middle class there is fast eroding. Marxism has never been true than what is happening in America today. America could explode anytime, lots of very angry people there.

Nigeria got her ills, so do other nations including America. But some people who were born and bred in Nigeria, instead of thinking ways to better their motherland would prefer to sideline her in favor of some "adopted homeland" because they are getting scraps from the table.

@Walala

You Igbes are very crazy to think anyone is scared of you.  First of all Hausa and Yorubas have Islam in common so they will always be aligned.  We Yorubas are the ones that keep Nigeria together because we can deal with both sides.  I am yet to see an Igbe man and Hausa man be close friends.  But you will see Igbe guy speaking Yoruba trying to hang out around Yoruba guys and also Hausa and Yoruba guys hanging with each other as well.

If war starts, all we have to tell our Hausa brothers is that any attack on us is an attack on Mohammed and they will unleash Jihad on these silly igbe fools.  

Biafra set you fools backs 100 years because the rest of Nigeria hates you and have seen that your best ain't nothing order than starvation of your people and CANNIBALISM (bloody animals).  All you will do is starve your kids and eat each other when we trap you in your zone.

You are a complete fool. It is only a fool who lean on his own misunderstanding. I lived in the North and I know how the Hausa's take you Yoruba people. They call you people Fake Muslims, Barebe.  Do you remember Shagamu? When they slaughtered you guys in Kano(mostly in Kuruna) and you retaliated by killing the Hausa's and sending them in truck back. That initiated a very bloody riot.  I happened to be in Kano then.  If they saw that you were Igbo, they leave you but if you appear Yoruba , they slaughter you one hand. Continue dreaming and calling yourself allies in religion.

Who are the inherent saboteurs? Let us not pray for war. But if it eventually happen, we will see who is the boss this now. 21century is not 20 century. Things have dramatically changed.

And here I am preaching Spirit of "Ubuntu", Africans, when are we gonna come to our senses?


Philosophy--- the study of general and fundamental problems.

The Chinese got Confucianism and to some extent Maoist Communism
Japanese -- Shintoism
Indians -- Hinduism
Most East Asians--- Buddhism

Arabs----Arab-ism----oh we have all seen how it played out in their revolution.

Persian philosophy(Modern day Iran)--- Zoroastrianism. They have been heavily influenced by Islamic Philosophy, but they still maintain their identity.

Jews---- Judaism, Zionism.

Westerners(Indigenous Europeans)wow they have got lots-------Socialism,Darwinism,Capitalism,Colon-ism, Neo-Colonialism, Conservatism,Existentialism,Imperialism, Individualism and other forms of ism's.

North America---- Pragmatism, Utter Capitalism, Libertarianism.

Africa---- Pan-African-ism, Black Nationalism--oh and it has since been fading away.

Ubuntunism or should we remove the foreign concept "ism" and simply call it the "Spirit of Ubuntu". See link below on Ubuntu. Sounds like a good idea to unite under one umbrella.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubuntu_%28philosophy%29 . We can expand on it and make it part and parcel of us.

Philosophers in the house. What do you think?

Politicising the issue is exactly what I will accuse you of. It is the only reason (aside from pride) that would make you not accept the perfectly obvious fact that the almajiri issue is 100% a core-Northern problem; and not just an ordinary problem, but one driven by cultural beliefs and practices. To put it in stack terms, almajirinci derives from Hausa culture (that is a fact acknowledged by Islamic scholars of renown like Sheik Gumi).

The greatest support you can give GEJ will be for the leaders to drive for cultural rebirth of the sort that will abolish the almajiri institution, child marriages, begging etc that are endemic in the core-North. These things are a terrible disgrace, Nigeria is specially marked out by the UN for child marriages of girls as young as 10 in places like Kebbi and Zamfara.

Hausa culture is different from Islamic teachings of those scholars you highlighted. Though the latter has influenced and submerged the former immensely.

Mr Beaf has a point about core-North and middle belt. You can easily differentiate them.  I spent tangible time in Kano. So I understand where he is coming from. Education needs to be adopted as a culture in the North. They are increasingly being blinded by distorted version of imported religion written in a foreign language. Despite that and under normal circumstances, Hausa-Fulani's are one of the best people you can ever do something with. I lived with them, did business with them and understand their culture and language which is very humanistic in nature like every other African culture. Urgent humanitarian intervention is needed or else,

Socialism Vs Extreme Capitalism Vs State Capitalism, The world is becoming a theater

This is fun and the Chinese are beating US of A at their game.

@RSA

@Nolong Ting are you related to this criminals? Huh

Is that where your fuzzy logic ends? I have been following you guy's post, you seem to always highlight the crude behavior of a few to paint a whole bad. what about other Nigerians doing lots of positive things and contributing to your economy? You guys are simply carried away and shooting yourself in the foot. If the attitude of black south Africans towards their fellow African brothers continue .You may come to regret it bitterly in the future.

@debosky

Well, that is your point of view. If you think NTC is a lesser evil, let us just wait and see.

Despite the fact that some independent honest journalist have bravery reported these atrocities. If it were westerners or say other people that are more concerned for their own people that are being killed this way. All hell would have broken loose.

There are a lot of phillipinos, Eastern Europeans , Egyptians and others in Libya. But only black Africans are being stopped and slaughtered with impunity. Because those NTC knows that they can get away with it, after all no one really cares about Africans to come out and strongly condemn it.

@odomanis

I wonder why some people are surprised at this story. These are things that happen during war situations. There is nothing strange about them. Nigerian soldiers did worse things to Igbos during and even after the Nigerian Civil war

My friend don't come and display your ignorance here. Have you ever heard of war crimes under the Geneva Convention?

Dedicated Nwafo

@cap28

Don't mind those lunatics who can't think for themselves. This is why blacks will continue to be treated like animals everywhere. Most of our people have refused to learn from history. They are blinded and living in fleeting illusion with the little comfort they have got wherever they are.

Those cocky Blacks who are refusing to face reality that in this world, they are on their own will learn the hard way. They are a disgrace to Mama Africa and I also pray they fall victim to what innocent black Lbyans/Africans are going through at the hands of these "rebels".

[b]By Herve Bar | AFP – Mon, Oct 10, 2011
In the heart of the Mediterranean city of Sirte, the Ouagadougou conference centre lies in ruins, the showpiece of Moamer Kadhafi's pan-African dream smashed by Libya's new regime forces.

"Who cares about Africans? We have enough to do dealing with Arabs," shouted one of a group of National Transitional Council (NTC) fighters inside the fortress-like centre, built by Kadhafi to host African summits.

NTC forces on Sunday seized control of the conference centre, a key target since they launched a September 15 offensive on the fallen strongman's hometown.

Four weeks of shelling has largely destroyed the sprawling complex, which groups 10 rectangular buildings covering several acres (hectares) ringed by high iron gates.

"No resident of Sirte was allowed to enter here. It was only for foreigners and members of the regime," said an NTC fighter.

The facade of the main building is pierced by shelling and windows are smashed, littering the white marble entrance of the main hall, where part of the metal ceiling has collapsed.

The interior of the landmark centre is in ruins. Benches are shredded by shrapnel, walls pockmarked, furniture is destroyed and the floors flooded with broken glass.

Desks and cabinets block the emergency exits, which served as sniper posts for pro-Kadhafi diehards.

On the upper floor, NTC fighters busily searched the drawers in the administration offices as well as the completely empty fridges in the kitchens.

In the cafeteria next door, imitation Louis XVI dining chairs were still perfectly aligned with tables covered by the dust of the bombing.

The glass railing of an escalator has been left miraculously intact. Huge yellow sofas are lined up against the walls of the first floor, the apparent rest area for heads of states.

Displayed on every wall, slogans highlight the fight against "colonialism" and the glories of "Arab-African unity."

Down the hall, the conference room where Kadhafi, the self-proclaimed "King of Kings of Africa," brought together his counterparts in the continent is almost burned down.

The circular room is plunged in darkness, amid the smell of burning plastic.

"It's all money stolen from the Libyans," said an NTC fighter. "And for what? To satisfy the whims of a madman who forced us to live more than 40 years as slaves."

A meeting room with no windows has escaped almost intact, except for a thick layer of dust on its desks made of expensive wood and a flat-screen television, which caught the attention of fighters.

Outside the entrance, armed men waved the new flags of Libya and Iraq.

After seizing the centre, fighters spread throughout the complex, tearing down portraits of the fugitive Kadhafi and the green flags of his fallen 42-year regime.

A day after taking a four-lane avenue into the centre, the NTC forces also seized Sirte's university and its new campus, a huge site where Kadhafi's snipers had been picking them off from unfinished buildings.

Bullets and shells later on Sunday hit the Ouagadougou centre again, but this time from Kadhafi loyalists to the north.
[/b]

http://news.yahoo.com/kadhafi-pan-africa-dream-tatters-sirte-222925941.html

Obamaaaaaaaaaaaaa , Obombooooooooo. See what you have caused?? Your so called "rebel friends" are committing heinous crimes and you and your cronies have said nothing. Your actions will come back and bite you hard!

What are the Northern Elites doing to educate their populace ?

Lol! If it happens, Ihejirika na awa blood and Petinrin na awa guy. There are Jet fighters in Enugu and JTF is 100% under Niger Delta control. Lets roll.

Leave them, those mallams think say its all about dagger and knife. Let them not bite more than they can chew.

It is people like Eko Ile that brings out my passion for Biafra more. Anyways, the inevitable will eventually happen.

Nigeria is a fleeting illusion with weak security apparatus.

Is that why Boko Haram is wrecking havoc? They should hire eastern guys to take care of this and see if they won't stop the madness.

We waged battles on many fronts despite the fact that we were sanctioned by world powers back then. The then Nigerian government inherited huge arms arsenal from their colonial masters. The British fearful of their interest in the New republic called Nigeria, had to do everything in their power to make sure Biafra was defeated. Egyptian mercenaries were used by the Nigerian Governments then to bomb Biafra positions. Our people held a whole Nigeria for 3 good years.  That shows the resourcefulness and tenacity of the Biafran people.  If Biafra is formed today, we will thrive and survive. Our people are getting more education especially in the engineering and science field. Democracy is rooted in our culture even before the colonialists came.

Kingdom of Nri---- pre-colonial times. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Nri
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nri-Igbo

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biafra
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigerian_Civil_War

If it erupts again, victory will be on our side this time. The facts are clear. Present day Naija is weak then ever. The institutions are ever corrupt. The military is weak. I can outline how the Nigerian Military now is fundamentally weak. But I don't want to write a book here by indulging in that.

I am ever an advocate of One Nigeria. But if this menace continue in this country , there will be a rethink.

@Bluetooth

Is lagos state part of biafra ? Y'all can't keep flooding lagos like virus and expect biafra to come to pass.Better start moving to your shiithole in the east.

Don't worry brother. It is just a matter of time. Sea ports and major airports are under major overhaul down South East. Even in your so- called Lagos, we live more comfortably than you guys. You are more into the agbero business. In fact, have you ever been to the East? Go and see what guys are doing, erecting structures for the future.

If this experiment called Nigeria continues. Hehe, this time, the emancipation of Biafra will be a cake walk because we are stronger and solid than before. We got the doough, domestically and in diaspora. Our dear friends in the west have learned their lessons from supporting this continuing failed experiment. Our dearest brothers, the Israelis and the Jews are ever more willing to support us more this time now that they have established themselves like they did before. I won't relent to contribute my technical to BIAFRAAAA know how in building the Next generation Ogbunigwe. If the inevitable separation happens to occur the way things are going in this country, we will make sure we level Lagos because we built it and see if you guys will ever recover.

Aha, I have noticed that anytime I try to say Bia, even before Fra. Some fellow Naijans from other you know regions tend to have heart-attack.

Anyway sha, not that I am an ardent Biafran Nationalist. But if this experiment called Nigeria continue to deterioriate. Hehe, lets just continue to watch and see sha.

@EPOMA

For instance, Nigeria spent N98 trillion ($628 billion) between 2007 and 2010 on importation of food into the country. This translates to N24 trillion yearly.

Quite observant of you. Is that misleading figure a mistake by the journalist or ministry of agriculture? Nevertheless, A country like Nigeria where about 40% of land is arable with varieties of crops should be a net exporter of food.

@ogugua88

His 999 plan cuts taxes on the wealthy and increases taxes on the poor and some middle class. Americans will not tolerate that. He considers himself a man with life experience and not political/not having political ties like other candidates. I hope you caught this in that wikipedia link:

"In 2005 and 2006, Cain worked for the Koch family funded Americans for Prosperity(AFP) alongside Mark Block. Block would later become campaign manager for Cain's 2012 Presidential run and would be joined in Cain's campaign by several other AFP employees."

AFP is ran by two billionaire brothers. They push for right-leaning causes through that group. That's called lobbying. He frequently mentions his career with Godfather's Pizza, but he and/or his campaign folks won't answer any questions when AFP is mentioned, and I bet you his work at AFP is more interesting than him saving a pizza chain, especially considering that he still works with them. I'd like to hear his reason for leaving that part out in his biography on his website: http://www.hermancain.com/about. If it wasn't for AFP, Cain wouldn't be able to make the kind of noise he's making now. He's not a Republican candidate, but an AFP candidate; simply their representative, pushing their agenda at debates.

You may have legitimate concerns and raised important questions about Mr Cain's track record. However, there is no one contending for a public office that is a saint. They are all prone to some sort of leanings or the other. But he seems to know himself and where he comes from. He is confident and genuine. In fact, he has been engaged in administrative works than Obama when he was vying for the democratic nomination and could be pragmatic in his approach to the economy/Tax issues rather than rely on market forces like Obama is doing.

Obama may appear more modern but he is two faced. He lacks an independent mind. Maybe he is being controlled behind the seen,who knows. His short-sightedness is beyond reason. On the foreign policy front, he goes into a region he practically knows nothing about. He backs a war to prop up oil stocks for his cronies and refuse to come out and strongly condemn the brutal killing been perpetrated on black Libyans and other Africans in Libya by his so called "rebel friends". He threw Mubarak under the bus. Now Egypt is ever more unsafe and volatile than before. Has he come out to passionately empathize with drought stricken women and children in the horn of Africa?

what has he positively done? Except killing Osama and that Yemeni-American fugitive.The ongoing war in Afghanistan he can't win. Even the legendary Alexander the great admittedly called Afghanistan " The grave yard of empires". The unemployment rate in the US remain stagnant; national debt has gone up folds; African Americans have one of the most highest unemployment rates, yet he is busy signing trade deals that will result in more jobs being shipped out. He has shown to be completely out of touch and carried way. Well, his policies are not affecting me domestically , but he ought to stick his feet where they fit and keep away from destabilizing Africa further. Hopefully Americans especially African Americans will be able to think for themselves and do more research this time than to be swayed by emotions and empty rhetoric. Their economic foundations is at stake here.

As Malcolm said "I have more respect for a man who let me know where he stands even if he's wrong, than a man who comes up like an Angel and he is nothing but a , Fill in the gap sista