₦airaland Forum

Mammie, why are Africans so poor? The mother looked at the program on television the child was watching and answered: Just look at Nigeria. She put on one of Fela’s vinyl records on an old gramophone made “centuries” ago and the voice sang: Buy Africa! Africa’s problem is much more but Nigeria captures it. Unfortunately, Nigerians do not see themselves as poor. If you showed poverty on Nigeria’s TV, it was defamation.

The rich live in an island of false sense of security, paved streets inside their estates, regular supply of water and electricity and their own work, play and shopping centers like anywhere else in the world. So who in his right sense would label that as poverty? After all, a friend mused, there are classes of people everywhere in the world, so are Nigerians. It is true, there is no types of houses or cars you cannot find in Nigeria.

One of our most noble deeds is to fight and care for the poor. The rich can fight and do fight for themselves. They make, write and enforce the laws to favor themselves. The liberals amongst them fight for the basic human rights from which the poor benefit. But make no mistake about it, many poor people remain poor out of bad habits that impede our progress. The rich invest their money, the poor waste the little they have.

Once you have a full time job and spending more money than you are taking in, it does not require a financial planner to say that is the way to the poor house. This is where our tastes and way of life come in. There was this friend that claimed he would never live or date people outside of certain posh areas. The other friend decided to build in a modest area rather than pay another two or three years rent in an area. That is a choice.

When the new generation banks started paying high salaries to graduates, we told our kids that left steady poor paying jobs to save and invest it in real estate and for their pension. They thought they would never get old. It was the same advice to their cousins in Diaspora that did not realize that their duration in high paying jobs would not be as long as their colleagues. Those who failed to heed the advice lived to regret it.

There is this song about money – ti m’ba lowo lomode mi ma ni la’gba. The best time to make the money you will live on for the rest of your life is when you are young. Waiting to get older to make it is an act of malpractice. Some people never had their first house until they were fifty. Those were late bloomers. We are not all that lucky. Some never had, not because they were lazy, but because of circumstances beyond their reach.

So why are we surprised that Boko Haram, MEND, MASSOB and OPC strive very well and are even represented at the highest levels in the Federal and states governments. You cannot flaunt riches to the poor and expect them to be satisfied with window shopping. If anything it’s surprising that the situation is not worse. The poor are so condescending; they tolerate abuse to the highest order in Nigeria. The poor are not blameless.

The poor direct their anger to their closest neighborhoods making them dangerous, to their own families and relatives making who to trust doubtful, and kidnapped the most vulnerable or defenseless demanding ransoms because those are the ones they could reach. But pour out all their venoms against politicians because they are graduates that cannot find jobs. Apart from militias, who else has the attention of the politicians?

If the poor people fail trying to make it and hostile environment make it improbable, no one can blame them. That is the reason we want equal playing field so that everyone would stand a chance based on their own effort. Nobody should be condemned to a life of poverty because of the neighborhoods, homes, schools or area/zip code they come from. Those fighting for the rich are selfish because they only care for their pockets.

Those familiar with this writer must have read that: if one million people are given a million in any currency or naira each; by the end one year, some would be poor again while others would be richer. Of course unforeseen disaster, swindlers and excessive obligation must contribute. It does not excuse safe investment, good judgment and cutting our coat according to our sizes. The poor would rather copy bad taste of the rich.

Some fell on bad times, others into bad relationships or unfortunate marriages. As for those that claim they never made enough money to make ends meet, how did their friends and colleagues making about the same amount of money able to build a house and send their children to modest school? They would rather party and spend lavishly for the moment with those richer than them.

Greed has a little place in all of us as long as it does not blind. Gambling in one form or the other is a good example of greed. When we are told that we stand a better chance of being struck by thunder than winning a million, our friends said you got to play to win. Poor people spend so much money gambling, it becomes a regressive tax. The rich can gamble all they want, it’s proportionally smaller part of their income.

Moreover if the rich lose all their income gambling, they stand a better chance of making it back than the poor. Their contacts, class and favors may still be useful. The same is not true of the poor that is struggling to make it rich. There is nothing special about the rich, more than glamor: glories of our births are shadows not substantiality.

The best way rich people make money is to pool money from as many people as they can. The smaller the amount pulled, the larger the crowd. Indeed most companies make more money selling to more households at a lower price than at a high price. As getting more people to buy coca cola than buying cognac. The more purchasing power the poor have, the better for the businesses. This is not working because we refuse to Buy Africa.

So if you are so smart, how come you are not rich? Answer: if you are so rich, how come you are not smart?

http://nigeriavillagesquare.com/articles/the-poor-are-not-blameless.html

warlei: good post,our leaders nid mental assesment.

donedy: I'm not saying that I believe the Alafin, but I think you're the one suffering from delusion in this scenario. Had it been he spoke with white Jesus (god), you would have believed him and not call it inanimate. Just look at the inferiority complex of a black man like you.

9jacrip: The morphing thing to my own knowledge is about attaining mastery of what you're devoted to - and yes it still exists, I've cited example of Chief-priests and even Ooni himself - and not that you lose the human form and evolve into something weird though I've heard stories of human morphing into inhuman objects and are still being worshipped till today. I'm not so knowledgeable about this and I might have to find time to make calls to seek better understanding.

Disclaimer: The paper is not about Irunmole/Eledumare/Orisa etc, it is about Moremi's achievement and her place in history etc

What we need to do in Africa is clean up our acts. The days Abraham tried to sacrifice his son or Jesus sacrificed are gone. People look for excuse like Okonkwo in Things Fall Apart, to drink wine in Church these days than drink blood and eat flesh of human like Jesus. So, all the sacrileges in Africa religion must stop. Some Oba have even refused to perform rituals for the same reason. Moremi Shrine serves a cleaner ritual than Church.

Ethnic Baiting Crippled Anticorruption Momentum

Buhari, Idiagbon and Obasanjo will be fairly remembered as the greatest dent on our fight against corruption in Nigeria, no matter what our differences were with these men. Certainly Buhari and Idiagbon were too harsh and under a military disposition alien to democratic principles and our cultural disposition for due process. But if we want to be sincere with ourselves, it was better than jungle justice meted out to poor hungry men.

Obasanjo, under a civilian democracy, no matter how we felt about it, EEFC was a bridge between Buhari/Idiagbo War Against Indiscipline and jungle justice. Both WAI and EEFC anticorruption were sabotaged by the most unscrupulous counter-attacks championed by those who knew their days were numbered. It is doubtful if any unbiased mind would dispute the achievement of either war, even in their short period of time.

Dora Akunyili also played her role fearlessly. Public education and humiliation by Ribadu and Akunyili exposed them to constant threat: evidence of their effectiveness against mischievous elements. They were great in those roles until displaced; and promoted out of competence. They became political laughingstock. They were then used and dumped by political parties. Everyone is created to contribute; politics is not the only way.

Ethnic shields and baiting allow corruption to invade our very minds and souls. Nigeria’s population and influence in Africa, affect the rest of Africa economically. We may have given up that leadership role by default by not performing according to the number of talents in our population, diverted by crooks. Indeed, other countries have gained from that talent because of enabling environments offered to the brightest in many fields.

Each time somebody rises up and dares to tackle our endemic problem of corruption, she is stricken down by distractions, comparison to deadwoods, recrimination, faults and finger-pointing. If these were mild and not self-defeating as in many countries, fine. But in Nigeria men of evil spirit would inflame the shortcomings and ride it like a wave to overthrow goodwill movements without replacing it with equal or better one.

There is this fear that anyone daring all odds to contribute her share to the progress of the Country may get shafted in the process. So we leave the running of the Country to vagabonds, ethnic militia, religious terrorists and schemers. As long as they use some of their embezzlement to dazzle and create conspicuous projects, we sing their praises.

If we had to do it again, most people would not welcome the motive of Babangida that changed the war against indiscipline to family support encouraging and sanctioning the worst form of corruption engulfing every facet of life in the Country. Since the coming of Obasanjo when his anticorruption Czar, Ribadu claimed he and OBJ used one another to fight corruption, that organization has not found its balance again.

Not only was Ribadu able to get Obasanjo closest friends, Obasanjo invited international accounting firm to audit, a very rare occurrence in Nigeria. There was this sense of fear almost similar to the days of Buhari/Idiagbon when the Chief of Police Tafa Balogun was dragged into vehicle and tried. Ibori predicted the end of Ribadu. The men of timber and caliber had their poor supporters too. Oh, where are those blackmailing Ribadu today?

We cannot doubt the fact that Buhari played double standard with his royal class by allowing them to get away. Neither can we doubt that Obasanjo, after his first coming as head of state later declared bankruptcy. But he came back to steal what he forgot. None of these faults justify the state of dog-eat-dog we find ourselves right now. We may not love Nigeria anymore, but we cannot throw the baby away with the bathwater.

One of the biggest corruption loopholes is still defense hardware contracts and security gadgets whether in working condition or not, that are dumped into Nigeria. Contractors and middlemen are well placed Nigerians beyond reproach by any of the anticorruption agencies. Many times, Nigeria has been sold dumb materials that cannot work at home, in space and in battle fields. Even when given free, politicians prefer to buy them.

People that have never lived anywhere else until they got their first Federal or state contract compare their loot to the rich people of the world, even when they have never contributed to that world standard. Food, houses, cars and school fees are compared to world standard that care less if Africa existed. Unfortunately, it is the working class that bears the brunt of these comparisons since they can never make enough to compete.

But for corruption, it shouldn’t cost more to build one kilometer of road than anywhere else in the world because they are following world standard. Not better or suitable local standard. So every contract must include foreign imports, otherwise it is not worth even giving out. It is not worth the benefit of the givers or the takers. Governments are the biggest contract givers, enticing most Nigerians to be politicians to get their own loot by force or blackmail. A country with feeble corruption laws has no corruption sins.

Only little people deal in or trade in the naira. In a country where local currency is ridiculed, hard currency is the rule of transaction. Indeed, the Governor of Central Bank recently claimed high domination of the local money would not raise inflation as most businesses are conducted in British pounds or American dollars. Local traders would give you the options of paying in foreign currency or refuse naira subtlety.

When any country loses the power to punish saboteurs of honest principles, integrity falls by the wayside. We wonder why schools, hospitals and products are purchased outside the Country when the evidence is right before us. The only goods and services that can compete with foreign traders are the one that are imported and sometimes faked like foreign goods and services. One of the best is faked cognac!

http://gamji.com/

FALLEN DREAMS OF THE MIGHTY

Watch how many more heavy weights will sink their boat. The man with the biggest ego right now is Bola Tinubu unaware of his imminent fallen grace. He feels he has captured the Yoruba votes. Not so fast my man. Nah! Nah man! Just watch. The West voted against Obasanjo not against Ebele, not for Tinubu but as individuals for the grace of Fashola influence in Lagos. They also wish for a governor like Mimiko in Ondo State. All you have to analyze is the votes spread between ACN and PDP. ACN won mostly by default from PDP implosion but could have won a couple of seats in Ogun State anyway.

Tinubu must learn from the strongman of Kwara politics, where Saraki’s ACPN lost his clout. Fashola albatross is Tinubu and without the open wallet of Lagos State facilitated by Fashola, there is no ACN. He who pays the piper calls the tune. Fashola pays and is about time he learnt how to call the tune by paying Tinubu the same coin Tinubu paid his AD godfathers.

If the West is going to be the battle ground, with or without ACN and CPC alliance, Ebele wins the West. People now realize that Ribadu does not have what it takes to be a president, which is why he could not carry Adamawa his home State for ACN. ACN lost Ribadu senatorial seat and two others to PDP. ACN got 2 out of 8 Federal House seats, CPC with one and PDP had 5 in Adamawa. As much as they love Ribadu in the West, as a wasted vote, he caved in for Buhari. Sophisticated voters know that, Tinubu knows it and the West will not throw their votes away.

So back to square one between Tinubu and Buhari’s agreement that still fell apart because Tinubu insisted on the Vice-President slot. Bakare will not bow out, even for Tinubu’s nominees. So if Tinubu have to go along with Buhari original plan that he had rejected, he would look like a fool. Oh please, Tinubu is no fool. All he wants from Ebele is that he will not be prosecuted. No matter how attractive ACN and CPC may look mathematically even if there is a run off as ACN wishes, it does not add up because there are more important factors missing in this equation.

Buhari is an honest man but with a weakness for royalties and very vindictive. The explanation he gave for derailing the subway system in Lagos preferring loss of Lagos State millions deposit rather than put up less to accomplish the rail system never made sense then or in tears now. The money suitcases, that went “unnoticed” by his administration through the Lagos Airport still hangs on him. Not even a pastor as a running mate can improve his image or dictatorial stand. If he is made anti-corruption Czar, many looters will pack out of Nigeria. How great!

Fortunately, there are other men of timber and caliber that will perform well in that role better than Buhari and better than Ribadu. Jega is more determined to give us a credible election after the false start. If we can get acceptable election from Jega backed by Ebele, we can also get anti-corruption Czar backed by Ebele. There are too many decent Nigerians to think that a few of us can soil the rest. The problem with ACN and PDP is that their founders are so desperate, they will drive a hot shaft through their mothers to win an election. This is why we have old men crying do or die politics that are discussed in their board meetings. Rigging election by fiat is a well planned plot like a coup that involve more than the spokesperson. It is a culture of the same corruption we decry. What matters is getting there not how they get there.

Another brilliant candidate for president is Shekarau. The exposure made possible by the debates point to the fact that we still have brilliant men and women in Nigeria that can lift the Country up if they are sincere. Those that know him praised his performance in past positions. In spite of this, he failed to deliver Kano to his party, ANPP because of the rift between him and Buhari. So they split Kano and PDP won 11, ANPP 8 out of 21 House seats. In the senatorial seats PDP won 2 from Kano central and north while ANPP retained one. They may kiss up later.

The equivalent of a run off wished for by ACN is the same as if all Northern presidential candidates present a unity candidate. Since Buhari won where Shekarau voted, Kano may switch to Buhari anyway for presidential, Kwankwaso for gubernatorial leaving Shekarau empty. Ribadu is in a worse situation, he hardly has a say of where Tinubu’s ACN swings. The ANPP Ali Sheriff suffered the same fate in Borno in his run for the Senate because of the explosions, security and some claimed money extortion problem in Maiduguri. PDP Alhaji Zannah won with about 70,000 votes to the celebration of youths and akada operators. Wahala dey O!

So far PDP is doing fine in the North-western state of Jigawa, Kano, Kebbi and Zafara and Buhari CPC is trailing far behind PDP in North-central. This may change if there is a runoff. It may be a mistake for Ebele to be seen in the North to be in bed with Tinubu because PDP lost most of its heavyweight like former governors Agagu, Oyinloa and senators Adeleke, Omishore that won from prison in the last election by fiat and Iyabo has Obasanjo as her father. South-south looks good but attention must be paid to the creative way of voting in Akwa Ibom where bitter nuts and palm kernels were used to thumb-print. South-east may even revolt if too much attention is paid to Tinubu ACN in the West instead of the real voters that split PDP by implosion.

While Ebele cannot take the West for granted, he must also be seen as reaching out to even where PDP lost like in Katsina, Buhari home state where the daughter of Yar’Adua lost with most of the seats going to CPC. In Zamfara where Yarima’s ANPP beat Shinkafi’s PDP, they may return to Buhari in parties merger or run-off. Watch out for Kaduna that embarrassed PDP in the riding of Sambo, Ebele’s Vice-President; Nasarawa and Niger. They cannot rely on North-west alone. In order to maintain its national spread Ebele must fight for every vote in the North, not only later day converts. A reason he still dances with characters like Ciroma and Babangida.

Unfortunately for Buhari, with Tinubu’s ACN he cannot capture the whole North either. Nigerians are voting for individual candidates more in this election than for party leaders in the past elections. Left to individuals, they will be looking for the best candidates between CPC, ACN and PDP. If people had their choice they would replace those individuals they consider too corrupt or dictatorial as the party leader. Tinubu is both while Buhari has the benefit of just being a dictator.

April 14, 2011

http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/articles/farouk-martins/fallen-dreams-of-the-mighty.html

bashr8: na lie

Kobojunkie: WHAT?? WHAT ? WHAT Again . . . .


Not you, but this is why I avoid the foreign politics section like a plague. The kind analysis you get there fit give person brain paralysis, and you only need to look right here to understand why. And this problem is not limited to Nairaland . . . I can't stand to listen to fellow Nigerians here in the US try to talk politics. I can't do it . . it is too much punishment for anyone.

antitpiah: Look at all these negros talking about American politics? Stupiddd crazy people.