₦airaland Forum

In the other thread asking to summarize Nigeria's problem in one word, I said our problem is stupidity and I still stand on that. Here we are trying to approach our problem head-on, but some folks here can't stomach a simple fact that Nigeria may never have a great president owing to tribe. Yes! Learn to accept the bold truth. It is not fantasy. It has already happened for 40 years and counting. Some would rather that we never acknowledge that the problem exists.

I repeat, Nigeria's best human resources are in the Southern part of Nigeria. Even toddlers know this. There may be a time in the near future when Northerners may throw up equal numbers of such highly skilled and trained human resources. Now ain't it.

So Gen Buhari's son, learn to accept the uncomfortable truth!

@ndu_chucks,
So, can a Northern led coup for instance install an Igbo as president, like the Jan '66 coup plotters wanted to install Awolowo?
We know that the best Nigerian human resources are in the South.

lol.
@ndu_chucks, one of my good friends who boasted to know Nigeria inside out told me sometime ago that Nigeria will only get better when Northern officers in the army leads a truly national revolution. I disagreed with him then. I don't know if I still disagree. Maybe you may have some points. But my fear is that in the history of Nigeria, Northern army officers never led any truly national uprising. They only rose up to restore the evil status quo ante -Northern hegemony- at each turn. So, I wonder what you have to say about that. 

This is the point I exit the thread again. I'll be back!
Signing off
Yours truly,

Onlytruth.

@jason123

I think your idea is tantamount to building a pyramid upside down. A state has to demonstrate self sustainability first before it can be allowed to borrow more.
Permit me to remain skeptical. My people say that " a person once stung by a bee, always flees at the sight of a mere housefly!". Nigeria was once HEAVILY INDEBTED, until God saved us through auntie Ngozi. We should flee at any suggestion of another debt burden.   I don talk me own o!

Posted by: jason123

In that case, the FG should come in. My point is, there is no Nigeria without some certain states. We need these states to keep growing so as to average out the overall economic growth of Nigeria, after all, people from other states migrate to these states.
These states should be given a free hand (considerably) regardless of the price of crude. Doing this will force other "smaller" states to find way to meet up, thus, open a door way for a new economic "feed". As they say, necessity is the mother of invention.

So, what would you say if my state Anambra borrows $10 billion to develop Anambra state, and all other states does the same, we would end up with $360 billion national debt. Who would pay it? We couldn't even pay back $36 billion.  
Do you think any state would agree that it is "small"? How do you measure this your "big" states?

Posted by: jason123

For your hypothetical question, I'll suggest the FG should pay. States like Rivers should be given a free hand, yes, even at the detriment of the smaller states and the country at large. After all, what is "Nigeria" without the top 10 states, in terms of PP?? Nothing!
If borrowing is addictive then these states better get addicted because they ARE Nigeria, IMO.

Obviously, you are entitled to your opinion but I wonder what makes one state "big". If I wake up and decide to dream big and hope that the rest of the country would bail me out (through the FG as you suggest here), then, you would have 36 "big states"! lol. You are not making any sense my friend.

Supposing oil prices crashes to $30 per barrel, how will Rivers pay back almost $2billion or more?

^^ Meanwhile the state should be lending money to other really poorer states like Ekiti. lol

Posted by: jason123

You have a valid point too but which is state is embarking on the monorail project and isn't rich??
Remember, Enugu and one other state (I think Anambra or Imo) are in it together as a joint project.
So, apart from Lagos, Rivers, Abuja and the above, which other states can't afford it?


Most of the so called "big" projects are done in cities of the "big" states. Therefore; I think these states can build and afford it especially with the private investors participating in it.

I think you missed the point completely. We are not talking about "big" or "small" states. We are talking about broke or economically prudent states. lol.
Nigerians are easily thrown off balance by megalomania.
If Rivers is not broke we won't be having this conversation.
If Rivers has to borrow N250 billion, how will the state pay for it? And borrowing is always addictive.
Who will pay these HUGE debts?

Posted by: macjive01

Nnewi lost out to Lagos in motor parts business simply becos nnewi didn't invest in its infrastructure, even upto the market generating revenue, business got bigger, marketer go more frustrated, and what next? They left en mass. Nnewi lost out.

Let's keep this thread honest, please. Nnewi was never going to become a Lagos style urban center. NEVER.
So, lets keep focus on the issues. Nnewi never wanted to become that big in spare parts marketing or business because there is not enough space for that. So, the spare parts market was always going to be located elsewhere. Even at that, Nnewi still dominates certain aspect of the auto industry; eg manufacturing or parts. Anyone involved in the business would tell you that some parts are only sourced in Nnewi. So, you are comparing apples and oranges. If you are talking about Onitsha or Aba or any bigger Eastern commercial town, you may have a point. Nnewi never lost anything.

hahaha! I can see that some Nigerians are really struggling with the simple sense behind the points we are making.
Nobody said that government should not embark on "big projects". What we are saying is that they should be planned to be sustainable. In fact it should be planned like a business. If you cannot clearly envision where the funds will come from apart from FG, then you may want to rethink it because Nigeria's oil will finish one day. In the US here, high speed rail has not been implemented at the same scale desired simply because most high speed rails are not self sustaining. They are subsidized. So, it is waiting for now, lol. I wonder why a poor Nigerian state is busy borrowing left right and center to implement monorail. I can confidently say that it won't pay for itself! No be naija? 

Posted by: Kobojunkie

Nothing, absolutely NOTHING stops Governors from doing both at the same time. [/b]Matter of fact, it should be one of the first projects any governor ensure if being worked on, from first day in office. [b]You don't focus on how to spend available funds without ensuring that you are also generating funds . . bringing in more. [/b]I mean think parable of the 10 talents.

Once in a while [b]kobojunkie talks sense. The one above is simply apt.

Now over to you Mr Rhino.

As I said before, Rivers state should have no business begging or borrowing money. In fact Rivers should be lending money to other poorer states and making some money from the interests! Whatever money that comes from the FG should  be surplus that should be used for longer range economic planning. Every project embarked on should be able to sustain itself, or at least not depend on future FG handouts. Rivers should be a shinning example of how oil money can be used to design a self sustaining economy independent of oil ,  because oil will finish one day, and the day is not even far off. I don't see any signs yet that Rivers is laying the foundation of financial prudence in getting ready for that future.

Posted by: Rhino.5dm

^ what are you saying? That guy is waaay better. I hope you know his position as chairman of governors forum?

He is blaming the revenue sharing formula as if it is a holy grail that everybody must drink from to survive.
What happened to sound economic management of available funds? Rivers gets more money than a lot of states and has no business being bankrupt.

With all due respect governor Amaechi, there is what is called "financial prudence". All this "going-to- Abuja- plate- in -hand" won't make Rivers a self sustaining state.
What we need in Nigeria are states that source funds locally, or at the very least can account for the funds disbursed to them. This is why your many of your white elephant projects may need to be scrapped because they are not geared towards making money. They are all social projects. One day Nigeria's oil will finish! Gerrit!  

I used to think that this Amaechi is intelligent.

‘States Are Not Bankrupt, But We Have No Money!’

STATES may not be bankrupt, but they are financially in dire straits, Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) Chairman Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, affirmed yesterday.

And based on this, the Rivers State governor reiterated the clamour for a review of the revenue sharing formula to enable them discharge their responsibility to the citizenry.

Amaechi told journalists in Port Harcourt yesterday that the states, including Rivers, were not bankrupt, but they lack sufficient funds to enable them provide infrastructure and discharge other financial obligation.

His words: “We are not bankrupt. Do we have money? No! It is challenging, because you can’t be doing all you are doing and you don’t have the funds you need to do them.

“We are not bankrupt, but we don’t have money. We need the revenue formula to change to favour the states, so that we can do more. Even the President comes from Bayelsa and he needs Bayelsa to develop, so that when he retires as President he can come to a conducive environment,” he said.

On the contentious Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF), which he has described as unconstitutional, Amaechi said the states have not dragged the Federal Government to court to challenge its constitutionality.

Reacting to a report credited to the Edo State government that it does not support other states’ stance on the Fund, Amaechi explained that the governors have agreed with the federal government on a lot of issues and one is that they would not going to court with them on the issue of SWF.

“If the Edo State governor is not in support of what we are doing, in terms of the Fund, if he does not go to court, another governor can go to court to challenge its constitutionality. You don’t need 36 governors to go to court.

“The issue is that it is not true that the governors are in court on the issue of the Fund; we have not taken the federal government to court,” the governor insisted.

He explained that Rivers has repaid N6billion out of the N40 billion it recently accessed from a commercial bank, adding that the government would still push ahead with its plan to raise the sum of N250 billion through bond, as borrowing from banks is no longer attractive due to Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) increment of interest rate.

On the issue of waterfronts slums in Port Harcourt, Amaechi described those residing in the area as illegal occupants.

He disclosed that government would soon commence the demolition of the Abonnema Wharf as soon as the state raises money to acquire all the properties there.

Reacting to Amnesty International’s criticism of the states urban renewal policy, Amaechi described as absurd situation whereby the group’s official stay in cosy environment in London and see nothing inhumane about Africans livings in crime-ridden slums.

He said: “I will demolish the waterfronts; all of them living there are illegal occupants. They what is called temporary occupation licence, which means that when a government wakes up and says it wants its my land back, they are supposed to vacant after seven days. So, first and foremost, the law is not on their side; it is on my side.”

He continued: “But as a human being and as a governor, we are supposed to have a lot of human face to a lot of these problems. We have said we will pay for all the properties we meet in the course of this demolition at a commercial rate.”

The governor stressed that he does not derive pleasure in anyone suffering, but insisted that since 80 per cent of the criminals in Port Harcourt live in the waterfronts, the government is bound to rid the city of these security nuisance.

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=65831:states-are-not-bankrupt-but-we-have-no-money&catid=1:national&Itemid=559

Posted by: nawfia

My state has the highest contributor of successful human beings in the history of the black nation, name them, statesmen,politicians(includes 3 senate presidents)  ,businessmen,writers,doctors,legal luminaries,actors,musicians,engineers, criminals, (four out of the fifty forbes most influential celebrities in africa come from my state)in everything, we rule,

Home to River niger ,Agulu lake,Ogbunike cave,famous river niger bridge,the imposing all saints anglican church, etc,

Home to the largest market in west africa,

Home to crude oil (discovered but sealed in achalla town)

My state is ANAMBRA, The light of the Nation.

My state, Anambra, THE EYE of the nation. Pluck Anambra from Nigeria, the nation goes blind. Shikena! 

I think states should be merged, or some states broken up and shared among viable states.
Ebonyi can be broken up and shared between Abia and Enugu states; while some parts of Enugu and Imo should be ceded to Anambra state. Rivers should be broken up and shared between Bayelsa and Imo. Akwa Ibom should reabsorb Cross river state. Similar restructuring should happen in other geopolitical zones and regions.States should take on more responsibilities such as police.

Of course these ain't gonna happen. No be naija we dey?
The nonviable states can also be allowed to go bankrupt first, and then forcefully broken up and shared by the FG.

Stupidity

@Bros Beaf,

Nigerians make me laugh walahi. They just can't stand for something, yet they complain all the time. Quite pathetic.

@alj_harem, NO I don't know Ibeto personally (though our families share something which I won't talk about here). He is from my town. He knows I exist, and I know he exists, but we have never met, even once. I don't know Dangote or any of these other top rich people. I only know some of Nigeria's top human resources, hence I understand the true potentials of that country if things are done right.

My beliefs are not those of the boogieman. They are quite simple

ONLYTRUTH's core beliefs:

(1) Fire all incompetent people hired on the basis of quota system and hire the most talented Nigerians irrespective of where they come from. I don't mind if government is 99% Hausa/Fulani provided they make things work.

or

(2) Break the country into manageable bits and pieces.

Simple.

Posted by: ndu_chucks

This boy is always attempting to make himself seem important, you know Reno, ko? Next time tell us that you were also Ojukwu's boi boi so that we may believe that you were close to the great one. olodo

My friend ndu_chucks, you'd be shocked who I know personally in the Nigerian govt and how high they sit. I just decided to let this one out because this senseless act of hounding Beaf here is getting out of hand.
Whatever happened to personal beliefs. Make me Nigerian president tomorrow and I still won't drop my beliefs. 
Must all of us drop our personal beliefs just because our friend is in government? All my friends (including those in government) know my views about Nigeria, and those views won't change because someone has to stand for something. All Nigerians are suffering because no one wants to stand for something, yet they expect positive change. I'm laughing.

BTW I've decided to cut down (or eliminate) cursing from my comments on nairaland. It just seems like the right thing to do as a Christian. 

Beaf is NOT Reno.

Reno is my real life friend while Beaf is my online friend. I believe I know both well enough.
All I can share here is that Reno is Itshekiri while Beaf (according to his own self volunteered info here) is Isoko.

Reno is a lawyer by profession, while Beaf is into IT (maybe software development).
But above all, they have different personality and mannerisms. Suffice it to say that [b]Beaf [/b]is more bold, direct and "militant" in his approach to issues.

Reno on the other hand is always soft (though always persistent in his arguments), very nuanced and diplomatic always.
Unless Reno is in "hiding" of course. lol I doubt that though.

The funny thing also is that the war was actually won by Northern Nigeria men.
The only division of the Nigerian army (3MCO) during the war under a Yoruba, was seriously dealt with and would have been routed completely if not for the other two divisions commanded by Northerners.
However, I don't see much of Northerners bragging here. It is always Yoruba. lol

However, my main concern is that I don't know whether current Easterners possess our fathers' fighting spirit and doggedness. I don't know, and I worry because Nigeria remains unresolved.

@my Igbo and Eastern brothers, let us abandon this thread like we did others.
Our fathers were lions and I hope that we are lion cubs.  

@ak47mann

I suspect that Okija_juju's father must have been executed by Ojukwu for sabotage or maybe ra-ping women during the struggle. So, he has resorted to shadow boxing in futile attempts to tarnish the legacy of a legend.
So, just ignore him henceforth.

Ojukwu is bigger than some peoples' brains can wrap around.
I have read and research the war SERIOUSLY, and I am a fierce seeker of truth, at least to help me mold a better future.
The only reason Biafra lost the war was due to lack of heavy weapons or counter measures for heavy weapons. Nigeria never presented enough time for anyone to plan well, even right from independence. That is why there is always massacres, riots, coups. These are all products of spontaneity. Ojukwu had two choices after the July 1966 counter-coup and the continued killing of Igbos: flee Nigeria and allow the North to kill off the rest of Eastern army officers and valuable civilians; or stand and fight.
He chose to stand and fight, though unprepared and unplanned. For that alone, he is a GIANT of un-Nigerian proportions, because there is no other man like that in the entire Nigerian history.

Back to the war, this was proven completely by accounts of what happened when France started late in the war to supply Biafra with FEW of field artillery and mortars. Now imagine if they did that earlier before Biafra lost most of the best fighters. I can only accuse Ojukwu of not being GOD (cos he did EVERYTHING humanly possible to save Biafra). I was amazed by the ingenuity of the Biafran fighting force,eg how they outmaneuvered the Nigerians almost on regular basis, and how the Nigerians couldn't capture small areas of land without first leveling it with heavy artillery fire, tank fire and massive aerial bombardment.  History tells us that Biafran fighters were FAR MORE motivated and braver in war. The loss masks all these.
So, those who choose to insult men like Ojukwu had fathers who could not get close to Ojukwu enough to wipe his  @55.  

When we say we are Jews and they are Arabs, they'll start crying again. But isn't it obvious? lol.

For anyone to compare Ojukwu and Gaddaffi, one has to compare Igbos/Eastern Nigerians (the most intelligent and toughest group of Negroes and Africans ) to Arabs (the dumbest and most volatile human beings on earth).

One group (Biafrans) is smart, intelligent, resilient, inventive, tranformative, tough and indomitable; while the other group- Arabs is stoopid behind belief, violent, dumb beyond belief, inbreed a hell of a lot, uncircumcised and generally uninventive and did I say dumb already? lol.

I mean how did Gaddaffi rule Libya for 42 years? Gaddem! Where was everybody else. Ojukwu made it clear he was a servant leader. He said his name is Emeka. Simple.

Comparing Ojukwu and Gaddaffi is like comparing the Lion King -Ojukwu(leading a pride of lions and lioness- Biafrans, withstood the whole world for 3 years) to a Hyena pack leader (Gaddaffi and Arabs), which can be killed and scavenged by members of its own pack only after 8 months of mere civil riot by a ragtag mob.

Some Nigerians are seriously dumb and must have strong Arab blood in them.

I've always believed that Eastern Nigeria comprises the richest in terms of African music.


Meanwhile, enjoy this humorous but serious song by "Uwaezuoke".

[flash=480,360]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqVXrfsG_RU?version=3&hl=en_US"[/flash]

Posted by: texazzpete

Since it's clear that you have never seen a doctor before, let me be the first to inform you that doctors are human beings too. They have two eyes, two ears and a mouth. Strangely, just like you and me these doctors marry, have families and even have to provide for their families! Can you believe that?
Moreso, these doctors also are rather like you in that they want to buy vehicles, plots of land and even build houses for their families!! Just like you and me!
So these doctors need to get paid commensurately with the work they do. And they do a whole lot of work. Doctors take care of people when they are sick, and just like you and me, they work better when they are happy!
Can you understand that?

My friend what you are talking is pure nonsense. It is you that need your head examined.
I never said that doctors should not be paid. I say they MUST not unionize. They must not always seek upward review of pay. Infact they should be signed on to specific term contracts which they must complete or be sued/dragged to jail.

Doctors should not even be in unions. It should be illegal. Human health is not buildings or engineering (my field). I can go on strike and nobody will die. People die from doctors' strikes. Gerrit?

I don't support mass importation of foreign doctors, but if Nigerian doctors will still unionize, I would go for ONE foreign doctor against 10 Nigerian ones. At least patients in the hospitals would be attended to even if not on time.
Nigerian government should look into doctors' unions in Nigeria and ban them. Shikena.

I support Obi on this one. 

Quote from: ekt_bear on Today at 08:35:36 PM

If we pass a law saying that all women in Nigeria are now the "property" (so to speak ) of ekt_bear (a very extreme form of polygamy in which one man has ~75 million wives), then assuming those women don't make any changes about how many kids they want to have, the population growth of Nigeria would be exactly the same.

 

Ol' boy are you sure? LOL.
What if the rule bars technology and mandates that you must impregnate each woman NATURALLY as is the case in real life, no be run u go take commot for naija? 

^
Dalu ezigbo nwa afọ.