₦airaland Forum

Beaf:
By the time they see the sort of "armaments" Omo N'Oba N'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo can muster, they will know that mere scud missiles are in a minor category compared to nuclear tipped ballistic missiles.

lol!

And don't even try to come up with the fact that oil is the domain of the federal government. If there is no Niger delta, there would be no oil for the federal government to own.

That is why Jonathan truly has his work cut out for him to address these types of evil skews in Nigeria.

paddy_lo:

Is chevron not a private oil company?. . what has state of origin got to do with it. .
The company can hire and fire whomever they want. . .

your friend should go apply to NNPC,where they do quota

Unless you want to be deliberately dishonest, you were supposed to understand the context in which I used "sat on the application". For other readers not familiar with Nigerian tribalism, I meant to maliciously manipulate the outcome of the application by hiding some documents and claiming the guy's application was incomplete. That is illegal whether in a private or a government owned company.

The most painful aspect of it is that the woman doing this is from a non-oil producing state.

The nearest similarity is whereby someone from Anambra state or Cross river state is invidiously denying a guy from Ogun state his fair chance of getting a job at O'dua group of companies, or any company founded by Nigeria's Cocoa industry whose headquarters is somehow incongruously located in Port Harcourt.

So, yes Warri is physically not in the Eastern part of Nigeria, but it shares all things with the East as far as oil politics is concerned.

I observed the heated exchange between Beaf and oyb with keen interest because both were caught up (though deliberately by oyb) by the contradictions of the Nigerian geopolitical set up.

Beaf is right to state that Warri is not in East, but oyb is also right to insist that it is!
Now, before anyone calls for my head, hear me out first.

Beaf's main point was that the ND is not the East. To dispute that I posted a map. From the map,  even Anambra state is in the ND, and will soon be added to ND officially (per Nigeria's oil based definition of ND) when the more than 1 billion barrels of oil in the Anambra river basin come on stream. So at least three out of five of the current south eastern states are in the ND.

But the more important point is the one raised by oyb, which is that the entire region stretching from Calabar to Edo can actually be called the "East" because they share the negative impact of oil exploration and agitations. They represent the bulk of oil producing states in Nigeria, which is the point of the thread - the oil producing region is not enjoying the benefit that could accrue from companies basing in the region.

The negative impact of oil politics, an example of which is that fuel tank farms in the ND where not allowed to operate, only the Lagos tank farms where allowed to operate until Jonathan's ascendancy.
Kidnapping and other militancy which resulted from the same oil politics is plaguing the entire region from Edo to Calabar. Higher fuel prices in the south east was a direct result of the inoperative status of the fuel tank farms in delta and rivers states for instance. So how can any fair mind really separate things here? This is what oyinbo people call "splitting of hairs".

When a friend from Imo state sat for a Cheron employment exams last year and came out tops, he almost lost the chance of employment because (again) a Yoruba woman from Ogun state sat on his documents. He was saved bythe grace of God when the woman's shenanigan almost backfired on her. So, how can someone from Ogun state -a non-oil producing state- decide the fate of a man from an oil producing state?

THIS IS THE QUESTION.

For where! The Deji no go commit suicide lai lai!  

He is too narcissistic to do that. Gone are the days when true Obas ascended the throne. All we have today are hustlers.

He'll quietly go into exile and wait until we forget, then he would sneak back into town like a coward he is. Nonsense.  

I've said it that if readjustments and restructurings for justice is the achievement of a Goodluck Jonathan term in office, that is all we need. Nigeria can never develop without justice.

This fuel depot thing is a big eye popper for me!  

No wonder why some Lagos based local oil companies suddenly boomed during the OBJ era.

Until these economic sabotages fueled by conqueror mentality is addressed, Nigeria will remain an economic midget.

No matter what happens in this tournament, I say Lagerback should not be fired. He should stay on till the next world cup. The coach is not the problem. We don't have good players anymore.

Any serious attempt at solving the Super Eagles problems must start with TALENT SEARCH.
There are certain positions in which Nigeria has never produced a legend before.

The only position we produced a legend for is the number 10 and that is Jay Jay Okocha.
We need legends in 9, 11, 5, 7 and of course 10.
We can manage with any average player for other positions.

We need to produce a George Weah, Roger Milla, or Samuel Eto in position 9.
We also need Okocha's replacement at 10.

For us to talk about mounting a serious challenge for the next world cup, we must get those players immediately after this world cup.
With the exception of Vincent Enyeama, none of the current players would make my team.
Until we get those players, the Super Eagles will remain mediocre. If Lagerback must be fired, it should be because he failed to get those new players as he promised during his interview.

I guess this is part of why it is hard to completely diss Naija. In spite of all the HELL we've been through, somehow we always come ahead in Africa. Other countries in Africa which experienced a little of our troubles, the value of their currencies have all gone haywire.

In 1994, Zimbabwe dollars was about 2 Zim$ to 1 US$; today, it is over 1 million Zim dollars to 1 USD.
In just under under 20 years, Zimbabwe went to the dogs. Meanwhile, their dictator is not even worse than ours.

I'm shocked by these findings!

I thought Ghana was doing well.

The other way to get to the truth is for Jonathan to conduct a genuine census for the first time in Nigeria. After the census, then try to readjust things. When the north sees more states in the south than the north, it would likely resist further state creations.

Andre Uweh:
The region demanding for a state must have minimum of 10 LGA's.
Must have a population of at least one million.
But, FG do not necessarily follow this guidelines.

Of course the FG does not! They consider other things which I won't go into here.

Suffice it to say that if you can avoid it, please do. The bible says that there are ways that might seem right to men, but the ends thereof is death.
I would say this again, if the north strikes oil in huge quantities tomorrow, it would most likely abrogate the current state system. It is designed to exploit and subjugate.

@ChinenyeN

I happen to believe that we can achieve far more (like in the 50s and 60s) when we rely on our own source of revenue, than to rely on the federal government. We built big projects then, but even current Rivers state is struggling to achieve the same thing today. It shows that "Igwe bu Ike" there is power in group effort.

Federal government plays a big part in the poor development state of the Nigerian nation.

ChinenyeN:
Now, Onlytruth, please do shed light on the foundation of this your "division" argument. I would like to thoroughly understand where you're coming from.

I know you are bored and just need to chat
It is well though.

We've had this conversation before.
I would indulge you nevertheless.

Anyway @ topic, as long as Nigeria continues the current state system, state creation will continue INDEFINITELY until every clan and family becomes a state.
Something tells me that won't happen because if Jonathan makes a courageous change to the revenue sharing formula to say 50% to oil producing states and 25% to federal government and 25% to local governments (something like that), all these non-viable states will die a natural death.

ChinenyeN:
I repeat, ugh. Although, I'm curious as to the foundation of that "division" argument. Care to shed light on that subject?

You are saying "ugh" because you have not tried to see past Ngwaland. Try to see the bigger picture because the world does not begin and end in Ngwaland.

If there is no oil in the Niger delta, or if the North hits oil in huge quantities, I can almost assure you that they would abrogate current state system and return Nigeria to the pre- 1966 constitution.  

Andre Uweh:
So would you be happy when states are created in Nigeria and none for Ndigbo while the north and west and others get according to their wishes?.

Believe me, if we can create one solid self sufficient state in the East, we don't need the federal government. Of course I predict that the federal government will continue to create states because they use it to garner power. By having weak states, no one challenges excesses by the feds and keep Nigeria a permanent banana republic.

ChinenyeN:
Ugh. This "division" argument, again.

Yep! This "division argument again".  

Apart from Lagos and Rivers, show me other viable states in Nigeria. If not that the Northerners use states to cheat the rest of Nigeria, do you think they would ever accept state creation? They cherish their unity so much because they use it to rule Nigeria. Talk of sword of Damocles.  

Give me ONE SOLID state in the East that can sustain itself or stop these divisions.

Abagworo:
Thank God i have got a supporter on this issue.The location of these offices was done by force and not by choice.Could you imagine that all tank farms located in the niger delta were barred from distributing fuel from 1999 till Jonathan took over?People can now buy fuel 65 Naira in the east as a result of GJ's lucky ascension.It should be made mandatory for all the staff of oil companies to spend their money in the Niger delta or resign.

Chei!
Obasanjo's evil machinations! Na wa o!
In fact, having seen how these people screw the Niger delta, I really think that Jonathan should either make HUGE changes to all these policies within these few months left for him in office, or try to contest and win next years elections. There is a lot of house cleaning and readjustments he needs to do to bring justice to Nigeria.

Talk of monkey dey work in gbaramatu gorilla dey chop in Ota. 

ChinenyeN:
That of Aba is documented during the British Colonial government; pre-Nigerian history.
How exactly would the difference between south S.E and north S.E. affect this topic of state creation?

This splitting of hairs is what I hate most about this state creation debate.

DIVISION IS EVIL. I would always say this. That is why it was used effectively as a military tactic against Biafra.

Notice that even the British that ruled Nigeria never created states. They even AMALGAMATED regions to form Nigeria.

That I even support Biafra and partition of Nigeria is because Nigeria has not gelled together as one and no one is even trying hard enough to build a united Nigeria.

Division is always a last resort (even desperate ) to address an issue which may not be desperate. That is why the only state creation I would ever support is that of Anioma because the Anioma folks want it. They seemingly need it, so we must support them.

I am yet to meet anyone from current Anambra state who wants to join any other state for any reasons whatsoever.

What we should be talking about is how to rebuild our unity, not how to divide further. Give me one solid state in the East that can fund high speed rail, police force, world class hospitals and schools, and world class road networks.

Everything else is shadow chasing.

pro01:
Wonder how some men manage to enjoy paedophilia (never mind the incest part). I can't even get a hard on with a 25 year old 'meatless' chick that is 'cursed' with Kate Moss type 'flat' headlights and boot(y), let alone a 12year old child! Let alone one's own child! I'd blame demonic spirits for this kind of disgraceful conduct.

lol! 
I thought I was the only one not swayed in any way by that type of body.  

My concern is that every evil culture somehow always find its way to Nigeria. You name it.
I remember how my people dealt with such unnatural crimes. It was called Aru (taboo) and the perpetrator made to serve a particular severe punishment  enforced by men of the town. Let's just say that the punishment is brutal and leave it at that;  but, it solved the problem.  
Today, the legal system will simply reprimand the guy with light penalty, meanwhile other criminals will copy him and the evil will continue to spread.

Where is African solutions when you badly need it!

I think I found an article which captures your feelings.

[size=14pt]Nigeria, a dark horse paradise[/size]

By Ochereome Nnanna

ANOTHER “dark horse”, Governor Namadi Sambo, comes riding in as Vice President of Nigeria. Nigeria is a paradise for dark horses.

We are not like other climes where the white charger is prized and reserved only for the royalty. Before we go into exploring our reason for preferring political dark horses, let us take an inventory of the catalogue of dark horses that have ruled this country since the end of the civil war. And before that, let us even find out what a dark horse is.

The Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary (I don’t know if it falls into Chinua Achebe’s “bad dictionaries” that confuse rather than enlighten the researcher) defines a dark horse thus: “(1)a usually little known contestant (as a racehorse) that makes an unexpected good showing; (2) a political candidate unexpectedly nominated, usually as a compromise between factions”.

Let me add, with the benefit of our own experience in Nigeria, that a political dark horse includes those people who never wanted high political offices but were “forced” to take them. They were those who, when sugar was forced into their mouths, rather than spit it out they licked, swallowed and proceeded to want more such that people died in the wake of their struggles for more sugar! And Nigeria being a paradise for dark horses, most people now want to be seen in that light, and thus the penchant for politically-ambitious people to announce with glee that they are “under pressure” to contest for offices.

Some would say that our romance with dark horse started in July 1966 after the coup that toppled Nigeria’s first military Head of State, General Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi. Lt Col Yakubu Gowon was not the most senior military officer to succeed Ironsi. In fact, the question has not been answered till date as to who appointed Gowon our Head of State, since he only participated in the counter-coup without being its leader. Some say it was the British government.

Whoever did, the emergence of Gowon was a surprise to many, and that was probably why the Military Governor of the Eastern Region, Lt Col. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, standing on the principle of seniority, discipline and orderly succession in the military, opposed his appointment.

Ten years later when General Murtala Mohammed was assassinated, another “dark horse” emerged to lead Nigeria. General Olusegun Obasanjo was Murtala’s deputy; a GOC during the war and a former Federal Commissioner (Minister).

He was not an unknown quantity. Succeeding his boss was the natural thing to do, but that was a time when the North was still Nigeria’s monster master and could have rudely shoved him aside for a Northern officer just like in 1966.

In fact, Obasanjo himself was aware of this and protected his hide by pleading “unwillingness” to take up the number one job. Fellow officers of Northern extraction who knew his pro-North antecedents calmed his fluttering nerves and assured him he would be safe in that office provided he carried Murtala’s agenda to logical conclusion and handed over back to the North.

Obasanjo did the job to the applause of the North and the heckling boos of his tribesmen.
And who was the Northerner chosen as the first elected executive president of Nigeria? You got the answer correct:

Alhaji Shehu Shagari; a mild-mannered gentleman whose ambition was to be a senator. He was chosen by the Northern political establishment (whom Dr Mvendaga Jibo dubbed: the Kaduna Mafia) over other flashier, more ambitious and more articulate candidates, such as Alhaji Shettima Ali Monguno, Mallam Adamu Ciroma and Alhaji Maitama Sule.

Even Shagari’s running mate, Dr Alex Ekwueme, was another dovish gentleman often given to elaborate academicism. He was a professional who looked lost on the political terrain. He was chosen (by the North!) as Shagari’s running mate – over and above the flamboyant and politically savvier Dr Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe and J. O. J Okezie.

In fact, the North was so determined to pair Shagari with as harmless an Igbo running mate as possible that they toyed with the idea of picking a woman from Anambra State, but for the protests of a few senior military officers of Igbo extraction such as Ebitu Ukiwe, who felt that the “joke” was being taken a bit too far. Those were the days when women were still “women”.

It was probably because Chief Moshood Abiola was not a dark horse that his election was annulled by the government of General Ibrahim Babangida. The political elite of the North, both in the military and outside, obviously felt they might not be able to “control” Abiola and decided to stop him before he climbed into the throne.

It was their fear that Yoruba would pull out of Nigeria that forced them to reluctantly concede power to the West in 1998, but they gave it back to their “trusted” dark horse, Obasanjo to dance to their tune for just four years and hand it back.

Obasanjo burst out of his dark horse costume once in power, stayed for eight years and wanted to go on for life if not for the collective refusal of all Nigerians.

Funny enough, Obasanjo decided to mimic the North by playing the puppeteer. He gave them a dose of their own medicine. He went deep into the North and chose an ailing governor who had completed his eight years and wanted to spend the rest of his life as an honorary university teacher.

Even though Umaru Yar’ Adua collapsed during the presidential campaigns and had to be rushed abroad for treatment, Obasanjo (who had also paired him with another wimp governor whose countenance spelled mumulity in capital letter, Dr Goodluck Jonathan) went ahead to crown Yar’ Adua President of Nigeria. The rest is history.
Let’s continue this on Monday.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/05/20/nigeria-a-dark-horse-paradise/

OAM4J:
Time will tell!

Yes, I guess.

@ the topic though, I believe that this is Jonathan's fight to lose. He is old enough to know what is best for his ambitions.

OAM4J:
I agree there are some. I just dont know if such will come out or if the factional powers in the SE will let them see the sun.

Sweetheart, I have told you to go to bed. Dont forget doctors warning, if not for me at least do it for our baby in your womb.

Now go to bed. OK?

That factional powers is often overstated.
There are factions in every region and south east is not even the most virulent. Politicians in south west for instance resort to murder as they fight for turf.
If it is our turn, we will find that candidate that others would have to step aside for. It happened before when Ike Nwachukwu, Jim Nwobodo and others left PDP for Ekwueme's challenge of Obasanjo in 2003. It could happen again. No biggie.

OAM4J:
lol . But he suppose get muscles now

On a serious note, there are such people in the south east. But what a candidate needs more is the endorsement of certain figures in Igboland and the north. There are many such people in Igboland. I won't mention names.

OAM4J:
by real candidate I actually mean a serious presidential candidate.

Now SW political thinking is different, Not many SW respect Tinubu, for Fasola, Yes! But SW will need to be sure he is only a VP to a credible Northerner, not the likes of IBB and Buhari

But if Jonathan plays his card very well and pick a progressive Northerner as running mate like Ribadu or his likes, Trust me majority of SW will go with him.

Now, one problem currently with SE is that they have no leader who can command the respect of at least 2 states of their own, not to talk of other states out of their region. If you disagree, give me one name.

So that you can neutralize him before he makes his move.

^^
Most of the kidnapping in the south east (and other parts of Nigeria) are aided by policemen.

That is why I'm asking for local policing as the permanent cure for kidnapping and armed robbery.

[size=14pt]Kidnapping: Onovo orders arrest of two police officers[/size]

By Kingsley Omonobi

ABUJA—The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ogbonna Onovo has ordered the interrogation of two Police officers, a Mobile Police personnel and a Regular officer (names with-held), who are said to be conspirators and are involved in all the kidnappings in Anambra State.

Vanguard gathered that the officers who are posted to the Nnewi Division of the Police in Anambra State, have also assisted kidnappers and kidnapping gangs with useful information on plans of the Police any time, they carried out kidnappings of innocent citizens for ransom and the police were closing in on them.

Sources told Vanguard that the officers who were arrested last week at Nnewi, were allegedly entitled to certain percentages on any successfully kidnapping in which they played active roles, adding that they have been moved to Abuja on the orders of the IGP and are being interrogated by the Force Criminal Investigations Department, FCID, Abuja.

It would be recalled that a fortnight ago, Mr. Onovo summoned the AIG’s of Zone 9, Hafiz Ringim and AIG Zone 6, Felix Ogbaudu to the force headquarters’ and expressed his discomfort over incidents of kidnapping and armed robbery, particularly in the South East and charged both senior officers to tackle the incidents promptly

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/06/11/kidnapping-onovo-orders-arrest-of-two-police-officer/

One 1:
Their are no friends in politics thats something that the SW knew for years and is why they are the best at the game. As terrible of a leader OBJ may be or haave been he's good at the game. The so called rotation thing started with OBJ and it was planned that after 4 years it goes back to the north.dont be fool. the only reason it stay with the south for 8 years because OBJ perfected his power so much that the north new they had no chance of convincing him to give up going for the full eight. It was not planned for the south to have it for a full eight years! Northern politicians are greedy but they got out smarted. When it comes to playing politics the SW has it HANDS DOWN, END OF STORY, Nothing like friends if it suits me then to bad for u  . that's politics

In a weird way I agree that the SW comes ahead in terms of self preservation. They know how to protect Yoruba interests alright. Nothing more.
I'm still trying to teach my Igbo folks, but they are yet to learn.

@OnlyTruth


what Igbos need is to learn from their mistakes from the pass,plan according to situation, and stop being unsystematic. The MASSOB dudes are tryin to bring out their currency again but look at the chaos thats going on in the SE. You want an independent state and u cant even check your own people and crime?!!! when the JTF comes after there asses they are going to keep complaining, get killed, and take no type of action like a bunch of cowards. Dont worry about independence right now, fix your people up first, play it smart, then we'll see what happens,

I believe the Igbo are doing that now, which is why you have not seen 100 candidates talking about running for presidency next year.
As for MASSOB, I don't know, but being an Igbo myself, I understand that sometimes the "bird dancing on the roadside has a drummer somewhere in the bush nearby".

OAM4J:
SW 'voted' for Yaradua in 2007

Let's assume you are right, you still got it wrong by not finding out who the SW would most likely support  among other regions when their is no real candidate from SW.

Exactly, the more reason why you got the equation wrong. With the SW not in contention, the North know who is the most formidable contender, where to seek support and who to give support.

Take it or leave it, in 2011 SW is the Kingmaker and SS know this.  

What do you mean by "real candidate"? If a northerner picks a Tinubu or Fashola for vice presidency, do you think the Yoruba won't vote for him instead?

Don't take OBJ's abracadabra for anything. There was no elections in 2007. OBJ could do it because power was returning to the north. No problems. Try it next year and see trouble.

One 1:
Sometimes I wonder why Igbos speak and act out in public without thinking of how they look, make their people look, or knowing anything about the power game. This guy is making igbo politicians look like scrap takers and desperate. If this Nwosu guy wasnt aware the northerner politicians were making comments suggesting that t[b]hey wanted to get rid of zones and the zoning arrangement by 2015[/b]!!! [b]Meaning that they dont intend to let the SE get presidency AT ALL!!!! [/b]Use your brains and play the game how it goes  

Don't be fooled the north has NEVER won an election based on numbers or population. Their presidents emerge from the results of coups. Yaradua obviously was a rig in so I dont even have to dwell on that. There arent close to enough people in the north as it is in the south so the does not need the north to will the election period if all vote for jonathan but if the igbos want to screw them selves again go vote for IBB or any other northerner and see what happens,

And as far as the SW not needing the SE or the Igbos you must have lost your minds there are MILLIONS of Igbos in yorubaland and also Igboland is the most densely populated land in nigeria, and possibly Africa look it up and learn. there are millions of Igbos in each northern state mark it. There are more igbos in nigeria than yorubas. Notice how i said "In Nigeria" not "In the world" so dont let the lame census of nigeria fool you!

And as far as SE worrying about the SW. Igbos stop worrying about the Yorubas! Dont blame them blame yourselves. Its not the yorubas fault that yall dont know how to play politics! Dont blame the SW for OBJ neither because yall voted for him and screwed yourselves, the Yorubas didnt vote for him. So thats food for thought  

You make a lot of sense in your post, but I hope you don't think Igbo trust the north that much either.
It is easier to reach an agreement with the north though. They are more reliable.
I would guess that Nigeria's UNITY is the most important thing to the north and they would sacrifice almost anything to achieve that. One of the biggest missing pieces in Nigeria's unity is the feeling of alienation in the Igbo states.
Our fathers may have understood after losing the war; I doubt that younger Igbos understand that. The north knows who is really capable of shaking Nigeria to its foundations. Like I said before, there is no need going into details.

They have no choice than to share power at the top. The question is how.