₦airaland Forum

Hall of Fame: Bath Nnaji for proving that we can have Electricity 24/7 in Nigeria if the govt is serious. His impact was felt by all Nigerians in the little time he spend in govt both rich and poor, his achievement is the major record the govt of GEJ has till date and resigned when the ovation was loudest; that is the hallmark of a hero.

Hall of Shame: Farouk Lawan for betrayal of trust of 160 Million Nigerian for few thousands of Dollars. He broke the heart of everyone who knew him and still refused to resign and save whatever honour he has left. Infact he made a mess of the entire National Assembly, who else does the Crown fit better?

Well over four years after the asset bubble created by margin lending and insider abuse burst, the Federal Government yesterday in Abuja unfolded a raft of incentives and measures aimed at resuscitating and checking abuses in the Nigerian capital market.

Announcing the new measures to restore the equities market, the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said a forbearance of about N22.6 billion on the margin loans of 84 stockbrokers would be granted, in accordance with Section 6(5) of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) Act.

Also, stamp duties and value added tax (VAT) on stock market transaction fees are henceforth eliminated.

The minister, who also backed the statement by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, on the need to reduce personnel in the public sector in order to cut back on recurrent spending, said there could be no reduction in the cost of governance without a cut in size of the current public workforce.

Besides the incentives, strong sanctions await capital market operators, who indulge in bad behaviour that characterised the past as well as reckless borrowing, which led to the growth in margin loans.

Okonjo-Iweala, who briefed journalists alongside the Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ms. Arunma Oteh, recalled that the capital market has been performing far below its potential in recent years.

A major reason for this, the minister pointed out, was the debt overhang made up of margin loans, which many stockbrokers have been grappling with.

“Many of you are aware that activities on the Nigerian capital market, particularly the stock exchange, have been very slow in the aftermath of the global financial meltdown and the Nigerian banking crisis.

“We saw the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All Share Index (ASI) plummet from a peak of about 66,000 points in March 2008 to less than 22,000 points by January 2009, wiping out over N8 trillion (or around 70 per cent) of the total capitalisation of the stock exchange within this period.

“Since then, activity on the stock market has remained sluggish even though there are some signs of recovery, with the index now at about 26,494 points thanks to the efforts of the NSE and the SEC.

“A vibrant capital market is, of course, essential to the government’s Economic Transformation Agenda, especially in terms of raising much-needed long-term financing for critical infrastructure and the housing sector.

“Research (by the IMF and World Bank) has shown that solid economic growth in any country is closely linked to the joint development of the banking sector and the capital markets. While the banking sector has already been cleaned-up, the capital market needed some intervention,” she said.

In line with this objective, the minister said she set up a committee chaired by the Deputy Governor, Financial System Stability with the CBN, Dr. Kingsley Moghalu, to make recommendations on measures to resuscitate the capital market.

“As part of the recommendations of the Moghalu committee, I am happy to announce today, two measures aimed at giving life to our capital markets,” the minister said.

AMCON, she said, had purchased the margin loans for about N42 billion, adding that the value of the underlying assets or collateral was about N19.96 billion in current value.

To ensure that both individual and corporate bodies enjoyed the benefits of a revitalised market, the minister disclosed that the Federal Government had decided to grant forbearance to credible stockbrokers.

The forbearance, she said, would remove the heavy burden and allow the brokers to fully re-enter and re-invest in the market, and make the market more vibrant.

“In furtherance of AMCON’s clean up of the banking sector, it is necessary to wipe off the debt overhang in the capital market, as this is dampening market activity.

“But let me state clearly that this forbearance will be accompanied with sanctions to discourage excessive borrowing behaviour by capital market operators in the future,” she cautioned.

The sanctions, she said, included prohibition from services to AMCON, adding that brokers benefiting from the forbearance would not be allowed to provide any professional services to the corporation for a period not less than three years.

There will also be greater disclosure, as firms will be required to reveal to SEC, any dealings in any security valued at a minimum of N25 million executed in a single deal or multiple deals on the same day on behalf of their clients.

A limit on debt financing is also in the offing. As part of their net capital requirement, no broker that has received forbearance would be permitted an aggregate indebtedness exceeding 100 per cent of net capital, the minister explained.

“Details of the firms will be also be forwarded to the Credit Bureau Agencies just as a strict requirement that imposes separation of assets and control for brokerage services and/or future margin facilities through the use of custodians will be a necessary part of the new process to enthrone credibility and strict adherence to market rules.

“Brokers will also be prohibited from taking proprietary positions or trade on their own account for one year,” she said.
The minister also unveiled other incentives to boost the market, which included the elimination of stamp duties and VAT on stock market transaction fees.

She stated that taxes on stock exchange transactions fees are as high as 12 per cent (5 per cent for VAT and up to 7 per cent in stamp duties), which are much higher than in other jurisdictions.

These, she noted, constituted a major disincentive to investment in the Nigerian capital market, adding that henceforth, the Federal Government would waive the 0.075 per cent stamp duties payable on stock exchange transaction fees; and exempt from VAT, commissions earned on traded values of shares, payable to SEC, and payable to the NSE as well as the Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS).
These commissions are now to be included in the list of VAT-exempt goods and services.

The minister disclosed that as part of the process of engendering a regime of credibility and strict adherence to the rules, capital market operators with proven record of high ethical and professional standards in their business dealings would be recognised and celebrated to serve as beacons to others.

“Let me also note that there were some other stockbrokers who did not partake in any market infractions, including over-exposure to margin loans, and who managed their stock broking businesses well.
“The Ministry of Finance and the central bank plan to celebrate the good standing of these stockbrokers in due course,” she said.

The minister, who also gave an update on the subsidy scheme, said the Aig-Imoukhuede Committee had concluded its work, and presented its report to President Goodluck Jonathan, expressing optimism that action would be taken on the report and communicated to Nigerians.

She disclosed that the committee investigated a total of N1 trillion worth of payments made to independent marketers in 2011.

Of this amount, N880.6 billion was verified as legitimate payments, while N232.2 billion claimed by 50 marketers could not be verified and had been referred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) for further investigations.

The minister listed some of the benefits of the petroleum subsidy reforms as tighter processes, which ensured that the abuses of 2011 payments were halted in 2012, as well as the recovery of N29 billion from marketers.

Okonjo-Iweala confirmed that the number of marketers importing fuel has been slashed significantly to ensure better supervision and control of the process.

“Our resolve to pay only verified marketers remains strong. No one should get away with stealing Nigeria’s money through fraudulent processes. But we will continue to pay marketers who are doing the right things.

“The next batch of payments will help ensure that fuel flows during the festive season and after.

“We can safely say that as a result of the work done under the leadership of the president, we have saved the nation billions of naira and put in place improved processes that will help prevent the kind of abuse witnessed in the past,” she stated.

On the 2012 Budget, the minister affirmed that contrary to the notion being bandied about that the N300 billion capital release for the fourth quarter had not been made available to ministries departments and agencies (MDAs), N170 billion had actually been cash backed.

According to her, the Ministry of Works recieved N44.7 billion of the amount to ensure that key federal highways are put in a motorable condition for the festive season and for more permanent work thereafter.

“Considering the fact that the 2012 budget has been implemented for just eight months, this is, overall, a good performance which we can build on,” Okonjo-Iweala said.
Also, while speaking during the presidential dialogue at the opening of the 18th Nigerian Economic Summit (NES) in Abuja yesterday, the minister said there could be no reduction in the cost of governance without a cut in the size of the current public workforce.

The minister further disclosed that the Excess Crude Account had risen to $9 billion, or more than doubled what it was a year ago.
This is just as President Jonathan also yesterday, maintained that deregulation was central to his administration's economic policy.

Represented by Vice-President Namadi Sambo, the president said the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) was not stuck in National Assembly as was being speculated in some quarters.

The president also hinted that the Federal Government was considering the privatisation or outright transfer of the nation's refineries to the private sector.

On her part, Okonjo-Iweala cautioned critics who have been clamouring for a cut in government spending while at the same time, opposing a reduction of personnel in the public sector.

Okonjo-Iweala said it was impossible to talk of the cost of governance without the staff, stressing that the Federal Civil Service was over-bloated, while some were being paid for jobs they did not do.

Okonjo-Iweala, who was one of the panellists alongside the vice-president, said government was working to reduce recurrent spending which currently represented about 32 per cent of the budget.

She said the government was working to improve the road network in the nation's seaports as well as providing the rail system to decongest the roads.
She also described the current power privatisation programme as the most robust in world, adding that it was being used as a case study by other countries.

The minister, however, acknowledged that the country still had a long way to go in the fight against corruption.

She said oil theft needed to be dealt with by seeking international assistance, adding that foreign partners must be urged to stop buying illicit oil from the country.

Meanwhile, President Jonathan, while declaring the summit open, promised to adopt some of the recommendations for policy making and admitted that suggestions from the summit had helped the government in fashioning out its economic programmes.


http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/stockbrokers-get-n22-6bn-write-off-on-margin-loans/132471/

[quote author=geez*]When they were planning, no one heard a word
When they did the ground breaking, no cameras flashed
When they were 'nearing 80% completion' it wasn't all over Nairaland
It's complete now ... And no one is commenting

The SW is quietly racing ahead, creating platforms for industries and businesses to thrive. Unemployment rate in Osun is 3% and the state has about the lowest poverty rate in the country. Silently but swiftly, we are getting there [/quote]Am typing this response few meters away from the road that leads to the factory, this is a great FDI and project no doubt but I must register my disappointment with Ogun State govt here. This factory is within the Agbara Industrial Estate Axis which is no doubt the largest Industrial Estate in Ogun State but the road that leads to this Estate is an eye sore. With the number of industries located in this place I find it difficult to understand why the govt of the State can not give them a good access road; this to me is a great disaapointment. If such a road can not be taken care of upon the level of employment and Taxes generated from there what else does the govt have to show to the people that it's alive to it's responsibilities.

Ever since I started following OBJ's power plant project, one question that has remained unanswered to me has been why about 60% or more of the projects were located in SW. What comparative advantage does SW have over SS or even SE in production of Gas which is the major raw material for the project? When I eventually had the opportunity to pass through one of the projects in Ogun State I couldn't help but wept for my country because I saw abondoned pipelines all over the road. But am still not surprised because OBJ has proved the popular saying in Economics right which is that "political expediency overrives economic rationality", that is why a country like Nigeria will continue to waste all her resources without meaningful outcome. And if I may ask, where were the much celebrated Due Process Office and the Federal Character war-Lords when these projects were being cited?

texazzpete: Nigerians and sentiments.

No indication if the cars have passed rigorous crash safety tests, if the cars have all the safety features as seen in contemporary vehicles from Toyota et al. No word on reliability.

Yet you want the Government to commit taxpayers funds to buy these vehicles!

There have been posts on Innoson motors and his wonderful achievements since 2010, but NOT ONE SINGLE PERSON HERE HAS BOUGHT ONE WITH HIS OWN MONEY.

Anybody who says anything other than unabashed adoration for this man is labelled a 'hater'. Biko, where are the defenders here who have bought their vehicles from him?

I don't know much about the safety checks it has passed and the ones he's yet to pass but the Standard Organisation of Nigeria Uses Innoson vehicles as its official staff bus. If there is any one that should be concerned about safety checks in Nigeria it should be SON but since SON uses it then I will believe it must have passed those checks you are concerned about.

aodavid: @phinpex
what's your venue? is it phc
is anyone taking test in phc tommorrow? what"s the time?

I am writing in Ikeja by 10am tomorrow.

dwhyno: ℓ̊ just finished d test now.............ℓ̊ can't say its hard buh u have to maximise ur tinking and time to avoid regret!!!!!its in 4 sections,verbal,abstract,quantitative and current affairs.........d quantitative is where u have to max ur time cos it won't b enough (15 ques /20mins) den d current affairs is 10 ques for 5mins........very simple ques! Wish u all d best

Thanks so much for the information. Please can you give us further details, especially with the current affairs.I will be writing tommorow.

The easiest way to be loved by Nigerian masses is to pretend to fight the govt of the day, once you do that your sins are forgiven. I can bet that if El rufai is made a minister tomorrow he will call GEJ the best President Nigeria ever had; grand hypocrite!

I see Bath Nnaji becoming a very great economic asset to Nigeria in the nearest future. I wish we could have more wealthy Nigerians like him who are willing to invest in strategic sectors of the economy because that will make us depend less on our inefficient govt institutions. Unfortunately many of them will rather run to other countries or at best focus only the oil sector for quick profit.

Geometric Power Limited (GPL), promoters of the independent power project in Osisioma, Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State, says it would extend its facility to Onitsha and Nnewi, all in Anambra State.



Barth Nnaji, chairman/CEO, GPL, who revealed this, while taking Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State and Peter Obi of Anambra, round the Osisioma, power plant at the weekend, affirmed that the Aba power plant, would be commissioned in February 2013.

Governor Orji, who was impressed with the progress of work at the project site, thanked the management of Geometric Power Limited for the viable power project, which he noted, would bring to an end the epileptic power supply in Aba and its environs.

Orji explained that his administration assisted the company to realise the project, noting that he would mobilise a construction company to complete rehabilitation work on the road leading to the power plant before the end of the first quarter of 2013.

Orji expressed happiness that the project would be extended to Onitsha and Nnewi, stressing that the concern of his administration is to make the environment conducive for investment.

Similarly, Governor Peter Obi expressed gratitude to Geometrics for extending the power project to the Southeast. Responding, Nnaji said the project would be commissioned by February, 2013 and promised to extend power to industrial towns of Onitsha and Nnewi, all in Anambra State.

Nnaji explained that the four sub-stations at Umuode, Owerrinta, Factory road and Ogbor Hill, are almost completed, while laying of gas pipeline from Owaza to the power plant at Osisioma is ongoing.

“The pipeline project is ongoing and everything being equal, Aba would begin to enjoy steady power supply by February 2013. We would start with 140 megawatts of power and increase it to 187 megawatts in 2013,” he said.



http://businessdayonline.com/NG/index.php/power/47545-geometric-to-extend-power-project-to-onitsha-nnewi

fortyfeet: You have not listened to the airoplane promo very well, it gave an option of 62,000000 if you sure don't need the crash. So, its worth about that and not the billions you are thinking. BTW , when was it you recharged your phone last? A typical Nigerian. Next time don't just watch, listen too. Such is television.

In you attempt to justify this scam you have failed to realise that this is thesame strategy that 419ners use to get their victims; Recharge with #200 and win an Aeroplane what a wonder . How come even the Nigeria Consumer Protection Council queried that promo if not to show you that most people see it as a scam. It's few days to the supposed end of the promo and NCC has become so gracious to them by banning it meaning there may never be a winner hence the scam will continue in the future every where you!

So a typical Nigerian does not recharge his phone? that must be a new gospel according to fortyfeet because I wonder who does.

This is a beautiful news, these Telecom firms want to enslave Nigerians in the name of promo. How can MTN promise to give an Aeroplane, what of if it's won by a farmer what will such a person do with an aeroplane? Even if they have an Aeroplane to give an indiividual which I know will cost Billions of Naira, will it not sound better to promise 2 million Nigerians 1 Million naira each and add more value to the society? The other day airtel gave a friend of mine 20k worth of free airtime by 9pm and expects her to use it to call Airtel lines alone before 12 Midnight, what sort of a promo is that?

owobokiri: How many kids will strive to graduate from college if they know that they will end up as truck drivers in a company owned by a man whose academic credentials is in tatters? How does this help education in the end? Methinks this illiterate fake billionaire is busy demoralizing our kids with this thing. If he wants to help the unemployed, why not set out 100 billion naira in a bank and ask graduates to come up with solid inventive ideas on how to start up businesses, then the best ideas will be rewarded with interest free grants from there?

So you can only work in a company owned by someone who is more educated than you? Do you know how many Engineers that work in Dangote group? I believe that one of the reasons why we still have a high rate of unemployment in the country is pride among our graduates that is why some graduates look down on others who take up entreprenuership after graduation. If a Nigerian graduate can be a taxi driver in New York why can't a graduate be employed as a driver in Dangote group?

omosexy1: Farouk is not a senator - FYI

Correction noted.

[quote author=Nuzo']Back in the days when Nairaland was what it was, comments from the first page would have carried very weighty and logical debate devoid of sentiments.
Now, out of every 20 comments, 17 commentators write for the sake of hoping to be the first to comment while the remaining who we used to look forward to reading their reasonable comments in those days write for the sake of remaining relevant even when their contributions makes no sense anymore due to sentiments.

NOI's crime as some Nigerians see it was her push to remove subsidy from fuel. Nigerians understandably tried resisting such policy even when most of them didn't know why.

She made her reasons clear:

1. If the government keeps paying the subsidy as it was then, the economy will collapse. Any true economist/policy maker would know that the economy was on a free fall.

2. That the Nigerian masses does not benefit as they should from such policy, hence the proposal for subsidy devpt account.

3. That the fuel subsidy programme has been marred by scam by a few government officials and individual/marketers (cabal).

Hell broke loose when the Farouk investigation showed that billions have been amassed by these marketers/cabal and their allies. Propaganda, misconception, mudslinging and blackmail started springing up. Mostly sponsored by the indicted oil marketers. Note that these marketers has amassed so much wealth that they can bribe almost anybody in their way.

I might be wrong, but to the best of my knowledge; she has never signed or payed any subsidy to any oil marketer. In fact, she has been up about how the CBN signs and approves these subsidies without their (MoF) verifying and clearing such approvals.

She may not have been doing her job as perfectly as most Nigerians would want her to, but so far; she has been carrying out her primary assignments as stipulated by the constitution.

Now, if the president and the designated agencies mandated to prosecute these indicted marketers are not forthcoming for reasons best known to them, then the burden of this whole mess shouldn't be on Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.[/quote]What better analysis do you expect from some Nairalanders who will be so quick to complain that a news article is too long yet will rejoice for being the first to comment on same article? Most people who blame NOI have deliberately forgotten that she came into the govt after most of the subsidy fraud have been carried out moreso, I don't think her job discriptions involve policing oil importers in place of the Custom and other FG agancies. If the accusation is on increasing fuel then it's even managable but for someone to accuse her of benefitting from subsidy fraud is the height of ignorance or deliberate falsehood.

In my own country a Legislator was caught on video collecting bribe and several months after he is still trying to convince me that it was a set-up, needless to mention that he is still a sitting Legislator "making and amending laws". I almost forgot that our Police and the Judiciary are still searching for evidence to prosecute him and maybe our corruption fighting President has set-up a committee to help the Police search for evidence. My country's judicial syatem is a joke!

Hatred is terrible, it can make one see black and call it white. This is a report by Nation Newspaper owned by the opposition party in Nigeria yet some "wise ones" among us still see it as a propaganda and I keep wondering when the opposition party has become so useless as to help the ruling party broadcast their propaganda. Bola Ige was killed as a minister of justice and till date nobody has heard any meaningful news about the killers, Dora Akunyili was shot when she was NAFDAC DG yet her alleged shooters escaped justice, am yet to know who killed Funsho Williams and others like him. With the level of heat that subsidy report has generated which is almost as high as election issues in the country I don't think any reasonable Nigerian should take the threat to NOI as a propaganda. If truly there has been an increase in Security surveillance around her then the story has a greater possibility of being true afterall she has refused to pay the alleged criminals.

Nigerians are a unique set of people who constantly wish for a Saviour but cry for the crucifixion of a potential Saviour at any slightest provocation.

Good to know that these mega churches have started contructing roads in Nigeria.

Iyaqueen: Must you.....Attension sicker silly

Many people have made derogatory remarks on this thread which I find easy to overlook but I take special interest in your statement above (I hope you mean to call me an attention seeker). NL is an avenue to share news which one finds responsible enough for public consumption so it will be of more interest to me if you can state in clear terms what makes you think this post is silly enough to be for mere attention seeking?

For those complaining about the pictures, I am not a Photo-journalist so you don't expect me to stand in front of angry soldiers to take a picture that will be clear enough to meet your expectations besides, I assumed that everyone can see a man in the first picture who is wearing a military uniform. I took the picture while standing behind a mob which explains the interference of someone's hand and face in the second picture but I still chose to publish it because of over-sabi Nairalanders who will be so quick to ask for picture evidence as if all the news they read on papers are backed with pictures.

The ultimate thing is that a fake Soldier was caught and we should be more security conscious.

A man who was putting on full military uniform was arrested this afternoon by members of the Nigeria Military Force at the spare parts market close to Iyana Itire bus stop, Lagos. As a passerby, the full detail of what transpired is not known to me but it's a pointer that there are many fake officers around us. The man in question was instantly striped of the uniform before he was arrested.
Let's be security conscious because such persons may commit a crime which will be easily attributed to members of the military.
[img][/img]


[img][/img]

Nigeria has the potential to attain such a height by way of GDP growth, it does not mean we'll be better developed than then but we'll have a larger quantifiable economy.

Confirming the abduction of the workers on telephone, spokesperson of Lactop Marine Force, Samuel Okoye, said: “We arrested the workers because their company reneged on earlier agreement that we should still provide security even as they have relocated to Uruan in Akwa Ibom State.

“There are several companies operating on the sea and we have never arrested any of them except those who violate our terms.”

It's not a kidnap but an arrest

Lagos has been nominated for the Most Innovative City of the Year award. The city has been nominated with 24 other global cities.

South Africa's Cape Town is the only other African city on the list.

Other nominated cities are London, Bratislava, Hong Kong, New York, Hamburg, Toronto, Copenhagen, Singapore, Sao Paulo, Shenzhen, Vienna, Medellin, Atlanta, Tel Aviv, Chicago, Vancouver, Berlin, San Francisco, Seattle, Raleigh-Durham, Melbourne and Boston.

According to the organizers, the competition tests the ability of the nominated cities to re-imagine themselves. The 25 cities have succeeded in exhibiting a sustained and growing commitment to development.

The competition is sponsored by Citigroup in partnership with the Urban Land Institute. It recognises places where people, passion and ingenuity are shaping efforts to build sustainable and liveable cities.

“The Urban Land Institute used selected criteria to identify the initial 200 most innovative cities. The list was then narrowed down to 25 cities after an online vote by the general public and readers of the Wall Street Journal,” De Lille said.

The competition is now in its second phase, in which all 25 cities compete for a place on the shortlist of three finalists. The three cities with the highest number of votes will be announced at the Wall Street Journal Magazine Innovator of the Year Awards on October 18.

Thereafter, voting will resume until December 31, 2012 to determine the winning city, which will be announced in the Wall Street Journal Magazine early next year.

People can cast their votes online at www.wsj.com/ad/cityoftheyear


http://businessdayonline.com/NG/index.php/news/284-breaking-news/45642-lagos-nominated-for-most-innovative-city-of-the-year-award

Let's hear some good news once in a while.

shymexx: I had to create this thread to ask questions and defuse the arguments, counter-arguments, and boring back and forth between Yoruba and Igbo posters on NL... This madness is getting boring now, and something has to be done before the 'fire' consumes everyone... Personally, I don't need Chinua Achebe's memoir to know what actually happened before, during, and after the war... I've a father and a late uncle who fought on the Nigerian side during the war(they joined the army as teenagers after Ore was invaded and Lagos was bombed several times by Biafran white mercenaries)... So, I have been privy to first-hand FACTS about the Biafran war since I was a kid... And I remember vividly that my father told me he joined the Nigerian army after Ojukwu boasted on Radio Biafra that he would be eating breakfast in Ibadan(can't remember the exact place in Yorubaland) by the next morning - and Awolowo subsquently pleaded with every Yoruba parent with more than two sons to allow one of them join the Nigerian army - to save Yorubaland from invasion...

The counter coup and pogroms against Igbos were done by both Northerners and Mid-Belters - and they were also the bulk of the Nigerian soldiers who fought during the war - why are my Igbo brothers and sisters not holding them responsible for the war How come they only talk about the role(s) Yoruba people played during the war?? Yoruba people are also not more culpable in the 'genocide' than the other minority tribes in Southern Nigeria who joined the war after the Biafran invasion of their homelands... Yoruba had Awolowo, Adekunle, Obasanjo etc... Old Bendel had Ogbemudia, Ejoor etc... Rivers/Ijaw had Adaka Boro, Ken Saro Wiwa, Lt. Col. Abogo Largema etc... Calabar had Colonel EA Etuk etc.. Yoruba people played arguably the same role(s) as the other Southern tribes to end the war - however, why do Igbo people continue to blame only the Yorubas for their woes and the supposed 'genocide'?? Why not the Northerners who executed the counter-coup, pogroms, and subsequently invaded Igboland at the beginning of the war??

I'm tired of this never ending back and forth, it's getting boring now... If the two loud tribes are tired of Nigeria, get the hell out of the country, and let those who want to remain in the Nigeria live in peace... Nigeria has 250 tribes/ethnic groups - not just Igbo and Yoruba!!!!!!!

Over 200,000 comments on the internet in the last three days alone - you guys are sick in the head!!

So funny to know that you so much believe your father's unpublished memoir but blame the Igbos for believing Achebe's published memoir, what else is double standard? Your father's story is a first HAND fact but Achebe's own is a fairy tale abi

I laugh at one Nigeria, watchout because if the public cry out against this deed they will turn around to donate 5 trucks to all the other states in Nigeria and will gladly tell you that the Governors of those States travelled when they wanted to donate earlier...it is called Sanusi's Strategy of Public Relations.

ignis: Its obviously from rainfall.

No, it's flood from the combination of River Niger and Anambra River.

[img][/img]

[img][/img] These are picture from Anam in Anambra West.

What sort of respect are we expecting from Saudi Arabia? Is it not the same country where Yaradua was hidden from his own country men? The same Saudi King that must give an order before Nigerian VP, Ambassador or even Senate Leaders could see their own President? Nigeria like Esau sold her birthright to Saudi Arabia during the Yaradua hide and seek saga but is now searching for that respect with tears and every other Nigerian will now have to pay a heavy price to get it back...what goes around comes around.

Can someone tell me why this man waited till now to write and launch his book, what is special about age 77 that is different from age 70? My mind tells me that he wants to capitalise on his current position in PDP to corner more of our collected national wealth.

IF JESUS CAME TO YOUR HOUSE (BY BILL LEE)

If Jesus came to your house, to spend a day or two;
If He came unexpectedly, I wonder what you’ll do;
Oh, I know you’ll give your nicest room to such an honoured guest;
And all the food you’ll serve to Him will be the very best;
And you’ll keep showing Him that you are glad to have Him there;
That serving Him in your own home is joy beyond compare;

But when you saw Him coming, would you meet Him at the door?
With arms outstretched in welcome to your heavenly visitor?
Or would you have to change your cloths before you let Him in?
Or hid some magazines and put the Bible where they’d been?
Would you turn out the radio and hope He hadn’t heard?
And wish you hadn’t uttered that last loud hasty word?
Would you hid some worldly music and put some hymn books out?

Could you let Jesus walk right in?
Or would you rush Him about?
And I wonder if the Saviour spends a day or two with you;
Would you go right on doing the things you always do?
Would you go right on saying the things you always say?
Would life for you continue as dusk from day to day?

Would your family conversation keep up at the usual pace?
Would you find a heart at each meal to say the table grace?
Would you sing the songs you always sing and read the books you read?
And let him know the things in which your mind and spirit feed?
Would you take Jesus with you every where you plan to go?
Or would you maybe change your plan for just a day or so?
Would you be glad to have Him meet your very closest friends?
Or will you hope they’d stay away until His visiting ends?
Would you be glad to have Him stay forever on and on?
Or would you sigh with great relieve when He at last was gone?

It will be interesting to know what you’ll do if Jesus Christ in person came to spend some time with you (and how I wish you knew He’s right beside you now yearning for your attention)

Monkey don work, Baboon wan chop,time will tell.