₦airaland Forum

@post,

There is a whisper in your soul. No one else can hear it but you. What does it say?

Anyway,I've known him for 4 years. He walked up to me at a bar and we hit it off immediately, there was and still is a very strong chemistry between us, since then we have been 'friends'.He lives in Nig and I in London but he comes to london at least 1ce every 2 months.

Last yr, we got intimate (we were both intoxicated - please note that having been friends for over 3 years, we had shared the same bed many times but nothing happened, not even small 'tapping current'!). It was FANTASTIC

Are you sure the chemistry was strong, or was that just thrown in there for effects? It could not have been a strong chemistry and you slept in same bed many times and never explored each other. That's the first clue that the attraction was one sided or wasn't there at all, assuming that the second part of your narrative was correct.

BecomeRich,

Let's see, you want to create a Yoruba Nation. . .

Go back and study history of the Yoruba Nations before colonialism. Ife was both the political seat of power and the spiritual home. Out of Ife came seven dynastic powers. It is a fact that out of all the tribal groups in Nigeria the Yorubas were the most civilized and strongest in military, political and economic might.

You hear and read in history that Usman Dan Fodio reformed Hausaland into seven political states and called them Hausa Bakwai (Seven Hausa States). Well, if they are Hausa States why then are they ruled by Fulanis? Each state was ruled by a Fulani Emir but why then is Sokoto not an Emirate, why is it a Sultanate?

Here is what you never hear; Usman dan Fodio used the Yoruba government structure as a model to create the Hausa bakwai and their Emirates and like Ile-Ife the seat of Yoruba sovereignty, he made Sokoto the seat of sovereign power. A Sultan has direct power, an Emir has delegated power. Much as he would have loved to, he could not make Sokoto a spiritual center because then he would be in violation of Islamic injunction that all Muslims face East to Meccah as the spiritual center.

Centuries before Dan Fodio's reformation of the Hausaland, Ile-Ife had been the sovereign power and spiritual home for all of Yorubaland and out of Ife came seven confederacy governments - Ibini, Illa, Ketu, Owu, Oyo, Popo and Sabe. Ibini (Benin) and Oyo expanded and became individual empires themselves. The two became so powerful that Oyo in time became a direct challenge to Ile Ife. Even though Benin occupies Edoland, the monarchy ruling that empire is an Ile Ife lineage and its spiritual root is in Ife.

It is believed that Oduduwa's father, Lamurudu , came from an Eastern culture. To know more on the ancenstry go here https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-157544.0.html There is an obelisk in Ile - Ife. That obelisk is the spiritual connection that ties all the seven Yoruba states and their dominions together. Let me take time to explain a significant aspect of spiritualism here. In Yoruba monarchy, the name ADE was a reserve of royal lineage. In Bini monarchy, Aken was similarly a reserve of royal lineage. In fact, Lagos monarchy was the descendant through Oba Esigie of Bini, through Esikpa his son who became the first Eleko of Eko because calling him an Oba will be a challenge to his living father in Bini and after him came Addo who then was enthroned as the first Oba of Lagos. His son was Akinsemoyin. Now, Aken has been changed to Akin. Then you have Akintoye and now the ruling King is from the Akiolu house. Where do they get the name Ade, Aken or Akin from and what is the significance of the Obelisk?

Go and look into Egyptian/Kushites/Axum history and it will all tie together. But I went into all these deliberately to show why it would be wrong for Yorubas of Nigeria to merge with Yorubas of Benin, Togo and Ghana. You must know your past, the present before you can advance successfully. Learn your history and know who thou art. First, we hold the spiritual center for the Yoruba deities, the seat of Yoruba political government and the military commands of war - Three Empires of the Yoruba Kingdom all located here in Nigeria. All Yorubas elsewhere need to join us here and not the other way around. Second, Yoruba tradition and religion is practiced all over the globe now and the practitioners unanimously acknowledge Ile-ife as a spiritual center. You can see Ile-Ife as a center of spiritual pilgrimage. So where are you going? Where do you want to move to?

Bottom line, if you think moving out of Nigeria to form another nation will resolve your problems, you are mistaken. In life, obstacles must be seen as a stepping stone to improved understanding, increased awareness, growth and success. It is not wrong to fail. It is only wrong to fail and not know how to prevent a repeat of the failure. If we can't learn and resolve the obstacles that face us Yorubas in Nigeria, then if we encounter those same obstacles after becoming an entity state we still would not know how to solve it and who do we blame then? Instead of removing obstacles, we are fond of seeking alternative as a quick get away. So our children come along behind us and since we left the obstacle unresolved, they in turn encounter the same problem and look to us for solution but we didn't learn the lessons that tackling the obstacle should have taught us, so we are clueless and not to appear stupid, we offer them our alternative solution. Their own children comes along to the same path and same obstacle. . . and they in turn do what their parents did, and so we continue in this doomed circle of repititions, no knowledge gained. A man marries one wife and could not handle her so he seeks solution by marrying a second one; as if the problem would then dissapear. All he has done is multiplied the problems!

Well, more grease to your elbow.

Yemmyse,

What do you think

Does bringing Benin into the equation resolve the current grievance you have or does it multiply it?

If I were delegating responsibilities I would prohibit BecomeRich from representing the Yorubas in any political discussion. I will limit you to military tactics - you will be a good field commander but I don't want you amongst my war planners or anywhere near the strategies.

Impulsive thoughts acted upon with throbbing energy can ruin an otherwise favorable disposition for success. KnowAll is a much more steady head and would be a good political strategist.

We've passed the accommodation stage because it's clearly not working.

What has not worked? On the scale of destroyed lives and properties that are reported with these recurring riots, "form" has lost relevance, we need "substance".

In any society people are expected to rise up along the seam of their social distinctions and agitate for separation or cohesion as the case may be. Government has the responsibility to either prevent the division or to wedge an effective wall between as the situation may call for. There is a solution method called MEDIATION. It is a proactive method of de-escalating problem. Instead of facilitating a dialogue, everytime there is talk of riots or uprising or trouble, Nigerian government respond by mobilizing its para military and military force to react to the situation. The people are predictable in their agitation and it should be expected, the govt has failed to lead and has no clue, beside responding with heavy force, how to manage the conflict.

kuma don dai kawai yaga wani yazo da tutan Biafra, shikenan kawai wai shima yaje yayi tutan arewa.

Hajiya, karshen labari! Da kyar za ki jin wani yare a baki na n'ba turanci ba. Dalilin ke na da ya sa na juye harshe, domin kada kunne da yawa ya ji. Akwai wadansu tunani da ya kan haku a cikin kwakalwa, amma bai kyauta ba ya fito a baki mutum. Na tabata Auwal ba zai kara haka ba.

A gaishe ki. . .

@Post,

It depends on what is commonly agreed as the acceptable definition or measure for "development". To some people, high literacy per x number of population is development. To some, high rise buildings, malls, parks, beaches, resorts are symbols of development. Yet to some others, cultural values and strong sense of community based support is development.

We cannot use the southern index of development as the standard for the whole country, unless it is the official measure adopted by the Federal Govt, then you would expect all regions to meet the requirement. For those that do not, you would expect a developmental plan with a step action for how the measure would be attained. Mr Ifedi's question is based on this assumption that development, as he clarified it, is a nationally mandated goal.

Well, is it?

This combinations are fully in-scribed as follows; Green means Peace, White means Islam, Yellow means Unity.

Auwal kai Mugun Jaki ne. Wawa kawai, dolo. Na jima ban ga jaki irin ka ba. Menene na biyewa wadannan mahaukatan.

. . . kada ka zama makaho a baya n'su. A garin nema n' gira, a ka rasa ido!

Auwal,

Ka taka da hankali. . . Na gaya ma ka kwaneki'n baya, ka daga kai! Ba kowa a Arewa ne muslumi ba, ka dena magana da fuci. Mutane n'da kana hira dasu, a cikin su akwai tsinanu, akwai makafi, da bebe, da mara hankali. Kayi tunani kafin ka haka zance. Kana neman lafiya ne ko fitina ka ke so? Ka bar' mutanen na da wahala n'su kayi zance da harka da mutane masu hankali.

Pastor,

Thank for the information on those combinations. Is it possible for an Odu to stand alone without a combination? What are the posiible effects when taken individually, first as a stand alone and, then as a combination?

I don't want to pre-empt your response but intuitively, I will say the combination has to do with the duality of life force - the conduit path from Aye (physical) to Orun (meta physical) and back. In astrology this energy was represented by Gemini and ruled by planet mercury. Mercury was denoted the messenger of the gods or the path between the mortal and the immortal and in Gemini we see the symbolism of the duality of nature.

DeepZone, I have been looking for you. All these claims of access you boast of its time to make use of it. Can you get me a contact in any Nigerian newspaper with national circulation? Do something good for a change.

Very true and Great way of looking at it too. In esoteric study duality or number two is a conduit for cosmic energy.

During the 80s in Kano, followers of maitatsine, a religious cult, were credited with certain powers. Those powers include the ability to suspend time, action and space; to accelerate kinetic motion; the leader, maitatsine himself was reputed to have power to disintegrate and re-integrate his body.

In like manner, Igunnu masquerade, in Lagos have similar ability to suspend time, action and space. This has been witnessed many times by people in audience.

In sci-fi movies, Westerners show that it is possible through physics to disintegrate and reintegrate a body. In fact it is commonly done in Nickoledeon with little children but I admit thats done with camera staging to make it appear like a "beaming" of the material body out of a location and its reappearance at a different and distant location within a snap of seconds. You know anything Oyinbo plays with it on his tv screen, he is already advanced in its study and has perfected its application.

Im outside of Nigeria, in US.

Of course the only way to eradicate polygamy is to make it expensive by taxing any man that has more than one wife and then hire women to enforce the tax rule. But then do not be surprised when you find that majority of the women enforcers are falling in love with married men with one or more wives. lol. "The forbidden fruit is forever appealing to mankind" Tpia, what do you say dear?

On the number mysteries, I believe it should be an academic research backed by a grant. An Ifa priest might understand the mystery but may not understand the formation of numbers well enough to make the connection of the binary base. The mathematician may not have understanding of the inner secrets in the number code even though the Ifa priest is willing to sketch their arrangement in the series. But I got your point. . . it is deeper than it appears on surface!

@Post,

Depends on what perspective you view his action as legendary.  

To me, he is not legendary but he is brave and definitely deserves praise for standing up to Bush - to his people and many more that are hurt by Bush policies around the globe, he is a hero.  There are two parts to it - The Presidency and the President.  The seat and the occupant!  This public disgrace tarnishes both.  I will excuse it for Bush but not for the Presidency.  

Where is Karmamod. . .  come up here chic     It is said that what goes around, comes around.  Bush enjoyed public humiliation of Saddam.  In 2003 after Baghdad was overrun by the American forces, one of the images beamed to the world was that of Saddam's statute being torn down as his people slap him symbolically with the soles of their shoes.  Well, as Bush is wrapping up in Iraq, he is given the same treatment that he gallantly commented on years ago as a symbol of heroism in the Iraqi people.

The husband of young maidens

Tpia, you are very observant. I am sure our forefathers understood the danger of marrying multiple women but they did it for pragmatic reasons, as opposed to emotional sense of security. The need to build a team for tilling the land, the need to control virtue by balancing the net availability of spinsters to the population of eligible grooms, the need to prevent destitution and fall in standard of living by marrying widows of war veterans, etc. . .

Pastor and Idinrete, thank you for your dpeth and knowledge of the Odus. There is a question I have asked many times and never found a satisfying answer for. I will like to know your opinion. The 16 Odus of Ifa. The combination of each odu is in discrete form of "ones" and "twos". Since each odu also contain many distinct verses, then an odu could be said to carry an array of discrete numbers "ones" and "twos". Mathematically, this can be represented as a number system in base 2. Number 16 itself is 2 ⁴. If any, what connection does this have with the binary numbers? I strongly believe that in addition to the mysteries in the Odu text, there are countless mysteries in the numer arrays as well.

Truth is painful. There are times to use tact and speak with soft words and I use good discretion to do that. When it's issue of character and value, I do not mince words, I lay it out raw.

Are you not disturbed at what you see, the way our people live? In advanced societies, men lead the social structure and women sustain the culture. One must occur before the other can take root. In societies where men fail to stand up for leadership their society collapse. It collapses on the women and the children. When a society collapses then the culture becomes unsustainable and every member of that social group is then vulnerable to security threat. Security is fundamental to living. Food, shelter, clothing, reserve, territorial control, etc. . .

These are issues that continue to plague the black society wherever you find us and it's valid to ask that after hundreds of years rubbing nose and shoulder with other races and exposed to global knowledge, what are we doing to secure our future for self-sufficiency? Years after they uprooted millions of our people from their ancestral home for enslavement in a foreign land, then they descended on the rest of the millions of people left in Africa and enslaved them on their own land and now it's beginning to look like the foreigners are agitating to become the landowners and force us into tenancy arrangements enacting dues for our presence on the land.

Listen to these children recite the Ifa scripture. Isn't it time we return to our roots? This is our inspiration.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLNWvGwKlWI&feature=related


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuM3c5g-CVo

Be aware! This is not a new tactic but a repackaged one with the same objective in mind. Practice your faith but ask questions, don't follow anyone blindly.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IT0XpC75Gvw&feature=related

Auwal,

You are precisely a testimony to the charge that Sharia is a cause of under-development in North. Defend Sharia and the North and stop flashing monuments of steel, bricks and cement as evidence of development. Development of symbolic monuments and structures is not the same as the development of the human spirit. Sharia does not talk about building malls and skyscrapers, but it does address the welfare, education, discipline, relationships and many other apsects of the human moral, ethics, and spirit. How has the practice of Sharia, under the context I just described helped the North, or anywhere else, develop its people - not buildings?

"In character and temperament

,

This is the KEYWORD! Everything else in the article must be interpreted from this perspective. Character is an outward display of inner emtions of conflict and harmony. Temperament is the intensity of the ebb and tide of that outward display. To use a wave analogy, character is the energy thrusted forth and temperament is the amplitudinal movement up and down of the wave.

the typical African of this race-type is a happy, thriftless, excitable person. Lacking in self control, discipline, and foresight. Naturally courageous, and naturally courteous and polite, full of personal vanity, with little sense of veracity, fond of music and loving weapons as an oriental loves jewellery. His thoughts are concentrated on the events and feelings of the moment, and he suffers little from the apprehension for the future, or grief for the past.

Yes, this is true. In adversity and in prosperity the typical African is mindless of the future and could not be bothered to reflect upon it.

His mind is far nearer to the animal world than that of the European or Asiatic, and exhibits something of the animals’ placidity and want of desire to rise beyond the State he has reached. Through the ages the African appears to have evolved no organized religious creed, and though some tribes appear to believe in a deity, the religious sense seldom rises above pantheistic animalism and seems more often to take the form of a vague dread of the supernatural"

Partly True, partly False.

The true part - Human conscience is half-asleep and must be awakened to itself, to the God and Truth residing within. The awakening compels the mind to strive to higher plateaus of human existence - evolution! The African, the European and the Asian all have same minds from a creation standpoint. If the mind is not awakened then it remains in its state of inertia - unable to evolve itself because it has failed to acknowledge the Truth of God within. Unlike the typical European and the typical Asian that continue to seek the inner Light - enlightenement - the typical African mind remains un-awakened, un-enlightened and un-evolved. It's imprisoned to a continuous spherical motion around an orb in which is the capsule of cosmic Truth; like the monkey in a cage, everytime a thoughtful one amongst us reaches out to grab that capsule and set our continent free, thousands of us descend and pull him/her down.

The false part - All people of creation hear the drumbeat of the earth. There is a mystery in the geographic location of the continent of Africa itself. It is the only continent in whose territory the equator and the 0 meridian criss-cross one another. Also, when the atlas is flattened out, Africa is in the dead middle of all other land locations on the planet. Planetary orbits and the spin of earth on its own axis create a relational dimension that also produces a resultant electromagnetic force on our planet. This emf distributes a flux of invisible energy that inadvertently produces certain moods and reactions in our daily lives. If you are born with physical characteristics of an African, then your response to this flux is distinct from say another person born with physical characteristics of an European or an Asian. Of all these people, the African, regardless of whether s/he is born in Iceland or in South Pole and anywhere else in between, has the best ear to perceive the rhythm of the earth's beat. God is worshipped through rhythm.

The Christians sing their hymns and light the incense for worship - rhythm!
The Jews chant the Thalmud, light the incense and rock the body in harmony to the pitch of the audible chant - rhythm!
The Muslims chant the Quran in a melodious voice, light the incense and count the rosaries and rock the body to the pitch of the chanted supplications - rhythm!
The Buddhist beat their tambourines, tap their feet, light the incense and move vigorously to the tune of their music - rhythm!
The African plays the drum, call unto the spirits and ancestors, burn a fire, dance and gyrate the body until the physical is separated from the spiritual and and s/he goes into a state of trance to communicate with the seventh dimension- rhythm!

Lord Lugard was not a mystic and so it was difficult for him to understand, outside of obvious exhibits of character and temperament, that within the typical African is a self-sufficient desire and penchant to partake in the rhythm of life - the ocean of organized religious creed.

“He lacks the power of organization, and is conspicuously deficient in the management and control alike of men or business. He loves the display of power, but fails to realize its responsibility , he will work hard with a less incentive than most races. He has the courage of the fighting animal, an instinct rather than a moral virtue, In brief, the virtues and defects of this race-type are those of attractive children, whose confidence when it is won is given ungrudgingly as to an older and wiser superior and without envy, Perhaps the two traits which have impressed me as those most characteristic of the African native are his lack of apprehension and his lack of ability to visualize the future."

Goes to back to my response on the reluctance of the typical African to unlock the Truth and become enlightened within itself. We are content in our state of stagnancy and ineptitude to discriminate between that which is favorably forward advancement and that which is cyclically redundant. We mistake stationary foot action for milestone ground coverage.

I speak the HUMAN language.

Luca,

Great talk We have inter-tribal and intra-tribal problems in Nigeria. We must use mix & match tactics to deploy organizing styles in applicable areas.



@Post,

First, who made us into a country? Then, who gave us the name "NIGERIA" and why? Share what you know about the history of the name and the reason behind it. . .

Should we continue to focus inward at our flaws or should we direct the energy outward to block exploiters from coming to our soil to steal our resources?

Do you see anything wrong in Awolowo but glorify the presence of third world Asian citizens in your country while you serve them subversively as drivers, cooks, nannies, clerks, guards and they impose executive authority over you and your brethren and sisters? Wake up folks!!

@Post,

Give us your plan for the division.  Which states will form the new frontier?  For those families with lifetime resources rooted in the opposite sides, give us the plan for how they should dispose or transplant their resources into their home territories.  Should the Igbo sell off his/her resources in the North or West and relocate to East or stay there with it?  Should the Hausa sell off his/her house and wealth in the East and West and relocate to North or stay put?  What is the Yoruba man/woman to do with wealth built and maintained in Northern and Eastern territories, sell them off or stay behind with them?  Please enlighten us.  

For those states that will end up as the frontier borders, are their people comfortable becoming the collateral land for the opposite sides, are they okay if their states become the new "Kashmir" or the new Korean "DMZ" and their people are decimated as casualties of war?  Are they fine with hosting refugees when diplomacy break down and terror and killing take over?   This poster and all else that support the division should give us a concrete plan for their humble vision.

The starting point is the local MEDIA. We need a media outlet (preferably print) that has nationwide circulation.

It's a strategic option and here is why it is best generated in print. What we want to do is create awareness. We need to get a focal point where we can merge the multitudes and use that point as the arrowhead to thrust forward and change mindset from preconceived ideas and dogmas. If we try to accelerate change we will fail in our objective; it should be slow and deliberate. Of all the media outlets print is the slowest, online circulation is the fastest - it's real time! In between the two, tv and radio programming are ideal and conducive but unlike print and online, archiving at the user's end is cumbersome.

We want information that is deliberately slow and the user can later reference for clarity, reflection and reinforcement. To do that s/he must be able to save it for record keeping as well as for group discussions when necessary. It must be sufficiently clear and simple with no big grammar and show-offiness of eloquence - the information is directed at the grassroot and not a university lecture room - so it must pass the test of "effective communication". The frequency of circulation must be such that it allows the reader to follow the development and arouse his/her desire for consumption of the information. In the beginning the supply will be rapid but once it catches, then it must be gradually held back and flipped so it can be chased by demand in the field.

Now, what aspect of our country can we use to merge energy in a way that trumps traditional sentiments of religion, tribe, political affiliations and such stuffs? I am leaning towards asking that we question why the country is called Nigeria first of all and whether or not we Nigerians should choose a name that we want for ourselves. There are other aspects that can become the point of National focus. Whatever it is must be an arrow pointed outwardly to others and not inwardly to ourselves. Example - my choice is an arrow that unquestionably will be pointed towards England and not inwardly to any of the tribes within. This is the way we need to think; finding a common enemy outside of ourselves that we can attack instead of looking for inadequacies within one another to attack.

I NEED HELP!!! IS THERE ANYONE READING THIS THAT HAS CONTACT WITH THE EDITORIAL OF ANY WIDELY CIRCULATED NEWSPAPER IN NIGERIA? Please respond if you do.

In closing, I want to share the following with you for thought. I mentioned that we need to change preconceived ideas and dogmas. In numerous threads here in NL and on many occassions I have pushed the idea that enlightenement is far nobler than knowledge and that you can influence your enemy and change his/her mindset towards you if you understand the fundamentals of human interaction. Studies into human evolution is usually conducted through observation of lower primates like monkeys and apes. Here is a sample.


Start with a cage containing five monkeys. Inside the cage, hang a banana on a string and place a set of stairs underneath it. Before long, a monkey will go to the stairs and start to climb towards the banana. As soon as he touches the stairs, spray all of the other monkeys with cold water.

After awhile, another monkey makes the attempt with the same result - all the other monkeys are sprayed with cold water. Pretty soon, when another monkey tries to climb the stairs, the other monkeys will prevent it.

Now, put away the cold water. Remove one monkey from the cage and replace that monkey with a new one. The new monkey sees the banana and wants to climb the stairs. To his surprise and horror, all the other monkeys attack him. After another attempt and another attack, he knows that if he tries to climb the stairs, he will be assaulted.

Next, remove another one of the original monkeys and replace it with a new one. The newcomer goes to the stairs and is attacked. the previous newcomer takes part in the punishment with enthusiasm! Likewise, replace a third original monkey with a new one, then a fourth, then the fifth.

Everytime the newest monkey takes to the stairs, he is attacked. Most of the monkeys that are beating him have no idea why they are not permitted to climb the stairs or why they are participating in the beating of the newest monkey. After replacing all of the original monkeys, none of the remaining monkeys have ever been sprayed with cold water. Nevertheless, no monkey ever again approaches the stairs to try for the banana.

Why not?

Because as far as they know, that’s the way it’s always been done around here.

This is a fast moving thread. My. . .my . . . my! Let's see. . .

So if we go back to the beginning of Lagos, it was founded on Islam right?

Yes and No.

Before it became a protectorate it was Islam and native religion. The Christians were expatriate minorities - potogi (Portugese). Lagos was ceded to the British around 1852. Beyond that and with gradual missionary works (CMS - Christian Missionary Service) Christianity grew, especially with their schools. The missionaries did not allow muslim children in school unless they would first convert to Christian faith or change name and adopt a christian name.

Is Sharia evil?

NO, but as humans we generally are fearful and suspicious of the unknown. If people would take time to read Sharia law instead of going by newsfeed they will appreciate it and come to the realization that Sharia was often referenced and quoted by many of the freethinkers of the early Western culture and was at a time when they were undergoing political struggles and tyranny and needed to break free of the limitations imposed by their tyrannical Monarchs. If you study the United States Constitution and if you are very intimate with the Sharia laws you will notice the close similarity in the injunctions. The laws are older than the constitution, so it couldn't have been modeled after the latter but inversely, the latter was a model for the constitution writers.

The problem is not Sharia, the laws are adequate. The humans that interprete and practice them with an agenda to manipulate and control people and divide society are weird and forsaken.

Going by the name calling and attacks and counter-attacks and venom that are let loose on this thread, I will say their agenda is working effectively.

The ideas and focal points each you have contributed is solid.  This problem, whether we look at it as inbred in the society and the aspects of daily life as suggested by Texas or as a bad example and lack of accountability from the top as Charles said, the facts remain that its time to do something concrete. . . smal by small, we begin to add ideas and thoughts and feed expressions to the need for this change that we desire.  Bawomolo believe the change should be internally driven and consistently pursued untill accomplished. Lucabrasi, I agree with the example with Abiola case.  People can only go to the well so many times before it runs dry.  The well of hope for a change in Nigeria has dried!  But even in deserts oasis exist and it serves as a refreshing spot for new hopes and energy to complete the journey.  Let's make this the oasis.  

We have shared the historical and the current state of events.  Let's look forward now and start to map the strategy.  All our contributions so far are parallel. The good news is we all faced the same direction.  Let's merge the outlooks.  Here is the next challenge for us to ponder.

1.  There are people that have ruled us in the past that were not qualified by training, by philosophical vision, by competence and or skills, whether they were military, civilian, Northerner, Southerner, Middle Belter, Male, Female, educated or not.  These people were not skilled administrators and at the end of their administration they were worse off in their abilities than they had capabilities for the job in the beginning.  The President we have today is in same category.  The Presidents we will have in future will be in same category.  We need to intervene and act.  We must influence the choice.  I am not expecting that it will be done immediately, remember, we are attempting to install a gradual improvement and change, . baby steps, one at a time.

Give us your input on how we should go about making sure that past mistakes in the choice of elected leaders is not repeated.
What pre-requisites and minimum criterias should be expected?  Should we demand that political candidates go through a vetting process that qualifies them based on outstanding records of performance and administrative skills?  Share. . .

2.  In the various regional governments of the 50s and 60s, Nigeria had Public Works Departments.  This department was largely responsible for building city infrastructures.  The commissioning of road, dam, sewer, parks was done through the department and it recruited massive manpower to complete the projects.  The work has many developmental aspects to it, particularly to the youths.  If you look at the "Day in the Life of" say, a 20yr old Nigerian, what would it look like?  It will be filled with large gaps of idleness or non-productive work.  Idleness lead to trouble.  Part of our call for change must be an active interest in the Nigerian youth and our participation in his/her productiveness.  When the mind is gainfully engaged and it's rewarded then we can shift interest from yahooze and begin to develop future leaders in the aspect of society and development.  

Public Works is just an example of many ways in which we can increase productivity and development.  What other ways can you think of?  Share. . .


Remember. . . the aim is a total overhaul but the road to it must be taken in little incremental steps.  Leadership and manpower productivity are integral parts of our transformation and it forms baby steps in the right direction forward.

Yemmyse,

When some one is planning on restricting my right and is proposing a system that would grossly encroach on my freedom. How then can it be a win win.

How come the Yrubas in Lagos/Edos are not imposing their idolatory practices on others?

How much power and influence does that someone have to actually impose himself/herself on your liberties?  Your liberty is limited to the extent that you seek to limit other people in their own liberties.  Liberty and freedom is not absolute, it is co-dependent.  Instead of clamouring for rights, evolved societies negotiate rights.  When you negotiate you arrive at win-win outcomes.  There is nothing in the law that say you must be polite, but we practice it everyday anyway.  Why?  It's a negotiating tool.  You get more through politeness than behaving unruly. The same principle applies here when we dialogue.

@Post,

You want people that failed to manage money and loans in the West to come and manage resources in Africa?

You want people that failed to manage wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Czhekoslovakia to come and manage tribal feuds in Africa?

STOP YOUR CAMPAIGN!

@Pictures,

UN Headquarters is in New York, 7 hours behind the GMT. I don't know which African country these delegates are from but from their facial bone structure I can deduce that they are either from a country in the central or south African region. In any case, they are close to the equator and the 0 degrees Meridian, putting them at extensive distance away and several hours ahead of local time in New York. Under ordinary order of event, their physiology is conditioned to a daily schedule of the daylight hours. Here in NY, that schedule is reversed 7 or more hours. Adding to that the exhaustion of jet lag over the far distance of travel, it is natural for the body to succumb to the tide of its internal functions.

Their own governmental protocol should have required 48hrs or more advance landing ahead of the meeting. It is possible also judging from the peripheral area in the pix that the UN session was in short recess.

@Post,

As I often say, we don't ask questions and clarify issues before we jump on each other's throat.  Here are the questions that I will ask:

1. Which legal system is the official jurisprudence of the Lagos State Government?

2. Which school of thought or philosophical theory is that jurisprudence based upon?  

3. Is this jurisprudence the sole legal system adopted by the Lagos State Government in both public and private aspects of life?

4. Why is anyone advocating Sharia Law for Lagos State, does this person not find the existing legal system adequate to their needs?

5. What needs, personal or communal?

6. What are the alternatives under the existing system to correct that inadequacy?

7. What steps have the grievant taken to address the issue and why would they feel that Sharia would resolve what the existing law failed to address?


Let's change the way we dialogue.  Less attacks, more support.  You win opponents through support, you alienate by attacking.  Ask questions, get clarity, propose alternatives, approach with a win-win outlook.