₦airaland Forum

@Lari03
If the pictures you've posted are proof of work going on in Ekiti state after almost two years in power, then I sympathize with the people of Ekiti state.
Rocks at the middle of a dirt road as proof of on going works Even a LG chairman in some states would be ashamed to present such pictures!

[quote author=Kilode?!]Ado-Ekiti has a very pretty view from the hills surrounding it. Those small Ekiti towns will make great resorts.


@Topic, he should just do his job, when he's done, we will say, well done.[/quote]Totally agree! They would make very cool rural resorts. Can be supported with spas and wellness centers as well as some form of Agrotourism!
But would that be sufficient to provide a viable economy for the state. Not really. AgriBusiness is the way forward for a state like Ekiti.

About "just doing his job", I think it is important to inform the populace on whatever it is that's being done. Do so with every tool at your disposal including well presented pictures and videos. That way, the opposition doesn't get to define you. Fashola is doing a great job at that. So is Oshiomole.

In this digital age of high resolution cameras on every smartphone, if there are no pictures to prove it, then its a big fat lie!
I didn't read it, I wont read it and I don't expect anybody to read it as simple pictures without a single word would have made more than a thousand times more impact!!
Let the pictures roll!!

https://ijeroekiti.org/P1040219.JPG

Expose? Nonsense!!
If you aren't arresting them and providing adequate evidence, the general public would just hiss and you would give Boko Haram more fervour!!
Freaking pick these guys or if there isn't enough evidence to prosecute them, simply take them out one by one!! You can even do it in the name of Boko Haram!

This picture exemplifies the power of the internet and its effective use as a tool in SPIN & SPELL especially when you have a readily available population of gullible, malleable and metaphorically indolent crop who are willing to swallow hook,line and sinker whatever would seek to whet their fantasies!
I like it. It gives the knowledgeable so much power!

Without looking too hard, its pretty easy to see that it's a badly photo-shopped piece!

PhysicsQED: Proof?

Or is this just another one of those "feel good" stories that you tend to tell?

Naah! Its not one of them feel good stories. Ghana is actually doing a great job and applying osmosis to reap where Nigeria is failing.
I'll use two examples. The first being education. There are 71,000 Nigerians studying in Ghana today contributing about 1 Billion Dollars to the Ghanaian economy yearly, more than what the FG spends on all universities in Nigeria.
https://www.nairaland.com/795245/nigerian-students-ghana-pay-n155

Another area where the Ghanaians are positioning properly is in Aviation. Not only are they giving healthy concessions to foreign airlines, they have recently just attracted a heavy investment($500 Million) from Easyjet to operate the first low cost airline on this part of the shores. In all this, the target is Nigerians with our oil money and massive population.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-22/stelios-to-invest-500-million-in-low-cost-west-africa-airline.html

afam4eva: Asaba is really taking advantage of it's close proximity to Onitsha(a commercial hub) as we're seeing a rise in reasl estate in Asaba which has afforded some Onitsha business men a good home close to their business. The Asaba international airport was also setup with Onitsha in mind because Onitsha business people will not have to use the Enugu airport any longer as Asaba is closer.

Exactly. Smaller areas should look to leverage on their proximity to larger areas. Asaba is doing marvellously at that.
Osmosis should apply! Less saturated areas should look to suck energies from heavily saturated areas.
New Jersey does it pretty good with New York.
Guangzhou in China Leveraged on HongKong to become what it is today.
Ghana is try hard to leverage on Nigeria.
There is no reason why Lagos should swallow the South West, rather the likes of Ibadan, Abeokuta etc should bursting with back end activities that would serve the behemoth called Lagos.

afam4eva: It's only the borders of Ogun state that seems to be benfiting from it's close proximity to Lagos and this is not because of of the genius of the Ogun state government rather it's as a result of the bursting population of Lagos, so, naturally development should spread to it's bother towns. I think Yorubas from other states in the SW should start looking home for development rather than trying to claim Lagos because this will come back to bite them in the future.

I totally agree! The fixation on Lagos would leave the remaining 5 states in the backwater. When you remember that Lagos is largely dominated by people from every region with those from non south west regions determining business activities in the state

PhysicsQED: I was answering your question about how they "survive without airports". Nigeria's main airport is right there.

Oh ok!! I think as Afam4eva said, Lagos actually stunts the growth of the South Western states. While an airport might not be the best measure for development, it is a good way to assess the quantum of middle class in a society.
I feel the south western states should develop even more by virtue of their proximity to Lagos, but rather the opposite is the case!!

PhysicsQED: ^^^^
Lagos

I don't exactly classify Lagos as a SouthWest state in any analysis the same way I can't classify Abuja as a North Central "state"!
Lagos remains the business capital of Nigeria and serves as a melting pot where every other state cooks in!!
Interestingly, 80% of the flights terminate in Lagos!

But really, I don't understand how the whole of the south west survives without any functional airports. Ibadan and Akure Airports are as good as dead.

The South East at least has Enugu and Owerri and they function at very healthy capacities.

The south south on the otherhand has 6 very functional airports all of which are booming. Asaba, Benin, Calabar, Port Harcourt, Uyo and Warri. And don't tell me its oil money because Benin and Calabar don't have oil!
To put things in perspectives Benin Airport alone flies more passengers than all the airports in the southwest put together!!

How do south westerners survive without airports?? Isn't there no middle class in the region??

Airport Statistics
b]Airport No of Flights(2009)[/b]
Lagos 85,558
Abuja 41,524
Enugu 6,286
Owerri 4,362
P.Harcourt 22,188
Warri 12,989
Calabar 7,657
Benin 7,330
Kano 6,206
Kaduna 3,453
Sokoto 1,286
Maiduguri 1,896
Katsina 726
Jos 1,124
Yola 1,952
Minna 574
Makurdi 680
Ilorin 3,004
Ibadan 1,258
Akure 974

He should hurry up and build the airport. The South West needs it badly!

chino11: And who told you that its not lagos that is sponsoring the project? The last I checked 70-75% of funds including allocation of the land came from Lagos state, so don't be deceived. No investor be that foreign or local will sink his funds in lagos that is far below the sea level knowing the adverse and dangerous effect and consequences of such adventure.

Where did you check?? You checked in the wrong places. This is a Chaugouri Project. And in case you don't know, the first phase has almost been completely sold out. Find out from the right sources!

ow11: I didn't know farmlands were still handed out for free and EVERY seed grows to a tree and must produce EQUAL number of fruits. You sound like the prosperity preacher the OP is worried about.

Most people you see in urban centres like Lagos have access to massive tracts of farmlands in their villages.
A cousin of mine who lives in the village came to town to seek my assistance. He said he wants to move to the city to look for a job. He is educated to secondary school level. I asked how much salary he is expecting to earn. He said he would be so happy if he saw a job that would pay him 12,000 monthly.
Then it hit me, this guy is the eldest in his family which has been and still is caretaker of over 500 Acres of land that my grandfather left behind. And he would be glad to have a 12,000 naira a month job in the city!! What a waste!!

A driver that works for me once told me that if I need land, he can take me to his village.For 50,000 Naira, the chiefs would give me a spear and however far I throw it, they would give it to me for farming. And he is from Benue state- Most fertile in the country!

And by the way, my calculations were a mathemathical illustration so I didn't by any means equate that in a realistic situation it would turnout perfect like I illustrated.

Choices my brother determine to a large extent where we are and where we would be tommorow!! Someoneelse's choice may have determined where we are today, but where we would be tommorow is totally dependent on the choices we make today!

Jean Macqou: it cant be that easy

Ask those that aren't poor, they will tell you that nothing comes easy. The reason many many are poor is because they want the easy road!!

My point is majority of poor people are where they are today because they've made wrong choices. Those wrong choices are mainly influenced by their state of mind. Your state of mind is usually influenced by the amount of knowledge and understanding at your disposal.
The best antidote to poverty is education. Any society without adequate education would suffer poverty.
By the way education doesn't neccesarily mean going to school. The education I refer to is one which empowers you tgo acquire knowledge and utilize that knowledge to any given scenario.

I think more than a choice, Poverty is a state of mind influenced by the choices we have made over time.
Let me use what I will describe as the PawPaw Theory to explain why I think poverty has to do with the choices we make.

Let me start with an illustration in the form of a story.

Two fellows, poor and hungry bricklayers, living in Lagos were given a large Pawpaw fruit each.
One of them(Lets call him John) looked at the fruit and said, HA thank God, this PawPaw go quench my hunger. So he ate the fruit and threw the seeds away.
The other(Lets call him Jerry) looked at it and saw something different. He saw a plantation. A massive plantation. So he ate the fruit and kept the seeds.


A few statistics about PawPaw before I proceed with my story.

*A pawpaw fruit has about 500 seeds on average.
*It starts producing fruit after the 1st year and does so for 3 more years
*Each tree produces on average 20 harvestable fruits a year.
*Average price of pawpaw in Nigeria is 150-250 Naira.

[img]http://3.bp..com/-9qazff1IhJI/T09vv-LY1NI/AAAAAAAAAB4/mEdvaR8oVLQ/s1600/papaya+seeds.jpg[/img]


Next day, John and Jerry go to work. They are paid 1000 naira each for that day's Job.
John buys himself enough beans and Garri to last him for one week.
Jerry on the other hand, buys a Hoe and uses the rest to pay transport back to his village- PawPaw seeds in hand!

500 pawpaw seeds planted grew to 500 pawpaw trees.
In one year, the trees produced 500 x 20= 10,000 pawpaw Fruits.
He harvested all, but kept fresh seeds from 200 fruits for planting in the next year.
200 x 500 = 100,000 seeds.
[img]http://x333xxx.files./2010/01/paw-paw.jpg[/img]

He sold 9000 fruits at wholesale for 70 Naira each.
He made a cool 630,000 Naira in the first year.

He took more land and planted his 100,000 seeds.
These new trees produces 100,000 x 20 = 2 million pawpaw fruits.

He harvested all 2 million fruits and sold wholesale for 20 Naira each.
He made a whooping 40 Million Naira in the second year!!

John on the other hand was still bricklaying in Lagos and buying Beans and Garri for the week anytime he is paid 1000 Naira.
John is waiting for Government to improve his life.
Jerry on the other hand has improved his life and he would employ hundreds of villagers to harvest his pawpaw. His Pawpaw is in high demand and foreing companies are beginning to make inquires. So he plants more and more and gets more and more money!!

All Jerry did was to make a better choice than John.

.

[img]http://www.google.com.ng/imgres?imgurl=http://3.bp..com/-9qazff1IhJI/T09vv-LY1NI/AAAAAAAAAB4/mEdvaR8oVLQ/s1600/papaya%2Bseeds.jpg&imgrefurl=http://nyakasimbimaarifa..com/2012/02/new-solar-power.html&usg=__aDDN9cmoVpeOWhwYEhqsmCMpx_o=&h=591&w=1023&sz=150&hl=en&start=4&zoom=1&tbnid=5Tqa2GWR2f3CjM:&tbnh=87&tbnw=150&ei=FwWfT4WbNYm29QSthomgDw&prev=/search%3Fq%3DPAWPAW%2BSEEDS%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1360%26bih%3D643%26gbv%3D2%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1[/img]

Only fools would assume that in 2012 Jonathan would be meeting Tinubu and Fashola over 2015 elections. This is a ridiculous report.

This meeting if anything is about the present security state of the nation. Some major shake-ups are about to happen. Top shots9Boko Haram sponsors) are about to be taken care of and before you make such a move, you consult key allies(Yes, Tinubu is a key ally) to avoid a politicized backlash!
For those that can't read the signs. . . . you think Azazi's statement was for nothing?? Or you think Jonathan was not in on that statement??

The country is about to experience some major shake up!! I expect Boko Haram would intensify their campaigns knowing that their days are numbered.

Imo Delta Anambra and Edo state are by far the most educationally inclined states in the country.

The statistics from JAMB speaks a lot!

I always had this wrong impression that south west states were leading the pack, but after seeing statistics upon statistics, I had to change my perceptions

I know most people wont read this but trust me it is a fine piece. I read it on thisday today and I must admit it is one of the best piece I've seen in a while!!

Regionalism is the way forward. Thats the only solution to the quagmire we have found ourselves.

PapaBrowne: in Naija 4real? Where? Maybe McRolands or Mcdonells!

But truly, we need either Mcdonalds or a BurgerKing in Naija or at worse [size=14pt]KFC[/size]. Really!

There are now over 20 KFCs in Nigeria

Just thinking! What if the husband is a nairaland member and sees this thread?? It is not every question you throw out on the ignorant public! They would give you all sorts of useless advices that would probably complicate your existence!

First, how do you know the drugs were Anti Retroviral?? Don't know how the drugs look like, but I'm thinking, they surely wouldn't write AntiRetroViral on them rather they would write a brand name. Its like writing Anti Cancer on a cancer drug. Methinks they have a brand name. So did u cross check to find out it was Anti Retro Viral.Like take the brand name and do a search on google or something.
You could end up making a storm out of a teacup with this one and it could put an end to the trust you guys share!First be certain before you conclude.

Secondly,if you are certain, you would have to ask him and do so wisely. Don't go asking why he is taking Anti Retro Virals. Ask what drugs these are and why he is taking them. From there you can probe further. But remember also that if he is HIV+ve, it is not the end of the world. Do a test yourself. Afterwards the way you handle the situation would determine to a large extent the quality of your existence.

Finally, get wisdom!! It would do you a lot of good!

[quote author= Aladdin]When would nigeria be a better & peaceful place for us all?[/quote]There would be jobs when people start creating jobs for themselves.Nigeria would be a better and peaceful place when we start making our little spheres of influence better and peaceful!!

Big question. Why did the people who saw him around not do anything to him or at worse raise an alarm?? How come the citizens of these states would do nothing to the boko haram leader who you claim is driving around the streets of Kano, Borno and Yobe and yet would happily lynch any kafir caught desecrating any islamic tenet?
If as you claim the Boko Harm leader is driving around these states freely, is that not only made possible by the fact that the citizens of the area support his actions??

nuclearboy: Thank you Rhino!

You have explained how a reasoning human looks at issues!

My only addendum to your words is this - was there an agreement that GEJ signed to, that said there would be a rotation of power?

And which has killed more? Boko Haram or the stealing of our resources to execute an election by stealing votes and bribing everyone? Those resources would have made our hospitals worthy of the name, stopped our roads from being death traps, created jobs for these animals who have to choice but to sell their future for a pittance praising indolence and supporting treachery and betrayal!

So both boko haram AND the poor society are sourced from the same cup - that which one man insisted he must drink, having neither right nor capability to do so

A sad commentary on why Boko Harm would keep existing!! So for the simple fact that rotation which is completely absent in our constitution was defied, Boko Hram is a justifiable response!! Your thinking like that of many core northerners would only do you guys in!! Power no go smell core north in ages!!
Funny truth is that Jonathan would remain in power till 2019 even in a free and fair election!!

Sometimes you read some comments and you marvel at the kind of fellas that reside in this country!! We should stop deceiving ourselves!!
There is only one reason boko haram is bombimg Nigeria. If you want the bombimgs to stop in a second, make your mai guard the president of Nigeria and for the simple fact that his name is Islamic, the bombs will stop in a second!! This is the fact!!

Terrorism is here because people like El Rufai and a host of core northerners express sympathy with Boko Haram. Why would any sane human being have the capacity to accuse the FG for the bombs and at the same time not have the morality to accuse Boko Haram for their wickedly and cowardly act of shedding the blood of innocent civilians?

It doesn't matter if you like or dislike Jonathan. What matters is the fact that Boko Harm is trying to change the way we have known to live. Everybody must speak vehemently and point to the fact that Boko haram and those behind them are the enemy. They are the ones trying to instill a culture of fear and change our mutual coexistence for good!! Only foolish people would believe the crap that El Rufai is saying!! To think that I once respected that dude!!

The truth of the matter is that the effect of these bombings on the north would last for decades. If you look at any global economic indices, you would notice that Southern Nigeria is beginning to look more like Brazil, India, Mexico, Turkey and the rest of the vibrant emerging Markets, while Northern Nigeria is beginning to look like Afghanistan, Somalia, Yemen, Pakistan and the likes. The international community has taken note and know to keep pouring investments in southern Nigeria....The economy is growing, but only down south!!! A sad and pathetic division that could take dimensions only the grace of God can avert!!

I think we have to be realistic here! Terrorism is not something even the most advanced military can fight in a second especially when a good percentage of the populace is sympathetic to the cause of the terrorists. America spent almost 1 trillion dollars trying to maintain security in Iraq and still bombs go up in Baghdad everyday. The security of Iraq was in the hands of the world's most sophisticated military system with over 100,00 soldiers stationed at any given time and yet that system lost over 5,000 soldiers to IEDs in a few years.
Lets face it and be realistic, continuous acts of terrorism is possible only in places where the populace have sympathy with the terrorists.
The only country that has successfully stopped terrorism is Israel. That hasppened and that happened because they fenced out those sympathetic with the terrorists

El Rufai twitted a very sad tweet yesterday. He used snide remarks on Thisday Newspapers for being sympathetic to Government and spoke like they deserved the bombing. That's someone I once respected. He has never once criticized Boko Haram. Rather he talks about dialogue. He says Government should withdraw troops. How on earth do you dialogue with a group of faceless cowards who derive joy in seeing the blood of innocent civilians and have no reasonable demands to bring to the table This is the stand of many northerners and I don't get it. Even Buhari never with all his influence would say a word. Its pathetic because it is the north that is being destroyed.

You say Jonathan should stop the bombing. My question, how is supposed to do that when you say he should pull out soldiers!! Seriously if you have a good idea on how to stop Boko Haram let me hear it.
We talk about using intelligence. What is intelligence and who are those supposed to execute any clandestine moves. Sadly, the only people you can use to execute any intelligence on Boko Haram is people that speak the same language and observe the same culture with Boko Haram. In which case Hausa, Fulani and Kanuri. Sadly many from these tribes have shown more sympathy, as exhibited by El Rufai towards Boko Haram than they show towards the Nigerian State. There is this attitude of Boko Haram is Jonathan's problem so he should fix it. No, it is a Nigerian problem and everybody has a responsibility towards bringing the menace to an end.

Until Northerners begin to see the damage Boko Haram is doing to their region and rise up and stand against Boko Haram, there would be no remedy.
The key reason for all the bombing is to ensure that Jonathan's government fails to have any reasonable impact before 2015, so many northerners who feel like 2015 is theirs by right are glad to see the bombings. That explains El Rufai stand. Sad reality though is the fact that Boko Haram has destroyed the Core North's chances of tasting power in Nigeria for ages to come. No other region would be comfortable with a northern president in the saddle.

In all, the saddest reality is the fact that Southern Nigeria is beginning to look more like Brazil,India, Turkey and the rest of the big time emerging economies while Northern Nigeria is beginning to look like Somalia or Pakistan or even Afghanistan. Its the sad reality and there isn't much Jonathan can do to change that.
It is the leaders of the north- those with a voice like Buhari, the Sultan and many of those other folk that have the ear of the almajiri that have a responsibility to speak to the Imams and the village heads and to the community leaders to stop the message of hatred and promote the quest for knowledge!!

Mai suya, we need to start asking ourselves true questions. Is Jonathan the problem or is Boko Haram the problem?? Is Jonathan responsible for the rise in the spate of bombings in Pakistan, Afghanistan and all the other countries where Islamic extremism have taken root? Is Jonathan responsible for the poverty in the north and the decades of neglect in developing education for the young and vulnerable. We should stop deceiving ourselves. Lets fix the root causes and we would avert the imminent danger lurking in the mountains!!!

NB
Sad that your brother lost a limb. Hope he is better now. My sincere sympathies.

You want to make a puppet out of the president yeah??
I still don't get why it is easier for many northerners to criticize Jonathan than to criticize the evil called Boko Haram.
Mai Suya, if you can show me one link to a post where you have condemned the bombing as much as you condemn the President....

very unfair and useless article!

Hope he loves my new clothes
Scene 1
Lady: Hi Honey, how do I look in my new clothes??

Guy1: Honestly, you have gotten way too fat. Gosh, you need to loose some weight oh!!(TRUE)
Whispers to self.... [i]I need to get her a gym membership!![/i]

Lady: Takes off clothes, refuses to go out and starts hating on him!!

Scene 2
Lady: Hi Honey, how do I look in my new clothes??

Guy2: Oh honey, you look so beautiful!! Just love the way it sits on your handles!! Woah marry me already!!(FALSE)
Whispers to self.... Omo, this girl don dey fat anyhow oh. Need to start plotting my exit!

Lady: Kisses him, wears her shoes goes out and tells all her friends that she will soon be married!!



My point is, ladies always tend to prefer the lies guys tell them!! Still a mystery to me. Many guys lie because ladies love to hear the lies.
So yes, guys lie more than girls but mainly because girls encourage it.

Johndoe100: This is a project concieved with good intentions. However it is not in the UK or USA. It is here in Nigeria and will suffer the fate of everything else here in Nigeria.
At the end of the day just another upscale island address. There is nothing Nigerians do that does not have our characteristic attitude to things.

There are a couple of things in Nigeria that are doing pretty good. Its Government things that always fail. Many Private sector led things do pretty well!

This looks like one project that would stand the test of time!