₦airaland Forum

jason12345:
in a country of over 250 ethnic groups? imagine having more than 6 ethnic groups in a state. what happens if 3 of the ethnic groups in the the state are "minorities" and they feel marginalised?

we really need to be careful if we are going to practice federalism. we need a sought of "new" type of federalism that works, that is flexible and that fits each state's or region's specific problems.

if we are not, then genocide would be an understatement with what would happen.

There is a way of preventing the marginalization of a minority ethnic group.  Also, the ethnic groups in a state, even though different, are more likely to work together. Currently, if we have a president from one ethnic group, that president can pretty much favor members of his own ethnic group, even if that ethnic group is the minority. Bottom line, there is no perfect system, but I think the advantages of federalism outweighs the our current system; hey, our current system has not worked for fifty years, and it is about time governors and local government chairmen are given more responsibilities so they can be held accountable by their local constituents.

I also agree with you that we need to design a system of federalism that will fit our local customs, but it requires critical thinking to come up with a workable solution.

jason12345:
no, i am not. what i am saying is, each group would not trust the other, thus, they would import weapons "illegally" in the disguise of self -defence against external aggression since they have more freedom.

I don't think so. States would only be given power to the extent necessary to maintain law and order within its territory. I also think that the interests in preventing a form of dictatorial leadership where one person has excessive power to the detriment of the entire country outweighs any fear that one state will have import weapons illegally in guise of self defense. Hey, the touchstone of the system is balance, for the entire country cannot be subordinated to any arbitrary and capricious decision of a leader in Abuja. It will also encourage competition between states, and it will increase the need for accountability. Currently, it is inconvenient for locals, for example, to drive to Abuja to complain about the ineptitude of the Nigerian Police Force in combating crime in their respective communities. Currently, one president's decision practically cripples the entire country, and it has been going on for 50 years. You can't keep doing the same thing and expect a different result.

jason12345:
@ bolded

that will not work since the country still looks at each other with suspicion. groups would start to import weapons as a form of self defence against external aggression i.e other ethnic groups.

it would be a very dangerous game.

What is dangerous about it? I said states are not permitted to form an army, so how would that be a dangerous game? So are you advocating for a system in which states are allowed to form their own army?

Jason

I get what you mean. But that is where balance of power comes in, as in there will be certain areas over which the feds have exclusive jurisdiction, there will be areas with concurrent jurisdiction, and there will be areas reserved strictly for the states.  Under true federalism, states are not permitted, for example, to form an army, for the power to form an army belongs exclusively to the feds. Under that system, states will not be allowed to import weapons, either, because the ports would be controlled by the feds. But the power to form the police should belong to the state, since rooting crime usually concerns locals, so it will make more sense for locals to hold responsible their state and local governments when crime is not eradicated. Taxing power should be an area of concurrent jurisdiction, and control of everything else should be given to the states. But there should be some areas reserved exclusively to the feds.

indie22:
My dear, owning a blackberry is nigeria is not such a big deal and its proves nothing, you're no different from any chudi, sola or haruna,

Indie, sup? I like your pic! In which city do you stay?

jason12345:
fayemi was asking the right questions but i still don't support true federalism instead i would [b]prefer a form of semi-federalism with flexibilit[/b]y. i definitely support the change in relationship between the government and its citizens because the status quote has not changed mus since 1999.

could you explain further?

Beaf:
What d'you mean by dat? You tink we is dim?

I do think NLs are dim. Any topic that requires more thinking, just like this one, usually does not generate much interest. This topic has been on front page for over a day.

Princek12:
This topic is too complicated for some NLs to understand, or it demands a lot of thinking, which some NLs hate to do. Those people therefore cannot contribute meaningfully to this thread. Those people know themselves. I predict  this thread will probably not make it past page 1, maybe page 2 at best.

The above quote was my earlier prediction. Thus far, NLs are yet to prove me wrong.  Imagine this topic was about, for instance, how my girlfriend gave my gonorrhea, boy, it would have been on page 99 by now. It is a reflection of the mental laziness that afflicts many citizens of our country.

Kobokunje,

I guess we could draw the inference that at least America has something to show for her debts. What has Naija has to show for hers? Nada.

How can Nigeria be in debt when practically everything is not functioning?

Donmeca:
And how have u contributed to d topic with your well-thought out assertion? U shud av asked sum1 to explain some of the new words for your sake than coming out to make careless statements. That was what we did in primary school. . . we learnt new words daily. Try it. . .it won't make u a dullard.

There you go. You have erroneously assumed that "words" mean complexity, and that I suggested that the topic was complex because of some "new words." By the way, what new words are you talking about? Or because the words  are new to you does not mean that they are new words. If they are new to you, then maybe you should feed your brain some quality.

As per the topic, Nigeria's structural problems are profound. There is no principle of federalism, as in limited federal power and autonomy of the states. The Constitution of 1999 does not grant the states enough power and independence from the feds. There is excessive federal power; for example, forming a police force, power generation, the practice of law, road safety, among others, are all controlled by the feds. That causes a problem of accountability--the local constituents cannot hold their local elected leaders responsible for actions perpetrated by the feds. So the accountability problem can be solved by giving more power to state and local governments, for example, like giving each states the power to form its own police force.

There is also a problem with the domain of federal power. The Nigerian Constitution does not clearly delineate the boundaries of federal power, so the feds think they can essentially invade into the roles that are traditionally reserved for states in modern societies. Many states are also confused about the extent of their power. For example, whether the feds and states can both tax citizens, and how these taxes will be disbursed between the feds and states. I can go on and on, but this is the inappropriate forum for that.

This topic is too complicated for some NLs to understand, or it demands a lot of thinking, which some NLs hate to do. Those people therefore cannot contribute meaningfully to this thread. Those people know themselves. I predict this thread will probably not make it past page 1, maybe page 2 at best.

So many haters! She is a pretty, distinguished lady. Ki awon haters lo p'okun so.

jason12345:
the so called people in government that are trying to bring him down are not even yoruba (dora,jonathan).during a so called yoruba's era (obj), did you hear anything about emeagwali??
pls don't add tribal sentiment because of your preconception about yorubas.please

the man maybe igbo as akin-egba is yoruba. you may never know! people just want to know the truth. although, i[b]nvestigating him would not be good for our nation[/b]. i have always seen emeagwali as my hero and i am sure many young nigerians see him as such.
but you need to look past tribal sentiment. it hinders the progress of our nation!


ONE LOVE WAZOBIA AND ALL THE OTHER GROUPS

how so? and does the same standard apply to 419ers and thieving politicians?

Aigbofa:
Why are you throwing your verbal darts my way? And thank you very much for your detailed explanation of oxymoron, as if that has anything to do with what we are discussing here.
Maybe we should remove the oxy and just call you a slowpoke.

So if you knew that oxymoron has nothing to do with the discussion at hand, why did you feel compelled to point out earlier that saying educated illiterate is an oxymoron. Practice what you preach.

Aigbofa:
Listen fool, educated illiterate is an oxymoron! You cannot be educated and illiterate at the same time. My problem with fools like you is that you always try to throw words around for whatever reason.
Is Emeagwali a fraud or not? That is the question here.

And by pointing it out you are now a very smart person, or you are even a genius! Get a life. You sound more like someone who attempts to appear smart, but who at the same breath exposes his/her disregard for, or lack of, common sense.

Most of us who are reasonable know that "educated illiterate" is colloquially used to refer to those people who, even though they have attended school, still act like illiterates. Or those people who theoretically went to school both know nothing about the course they studied. This may be due to the fact that slept with professors in exchange for grades, they cheated, or just plainly bought their degrees. I don't think it would be an oxymoron to call those people "educated illiterates," at least in Nigerian society. I hope that instills in you the common sense you obviously lack.

Some Nigerians, sha! When someone commits a fraud on the public, that is, proclaiming he is something that he is not, he has breached the public trust, and we as Nigerians should come to a national consensus, regardless of tribe, and condemn such fraudulent actions.

That will send a message that we Nigerians do not accept any kind of fraud, and that is true re-branding--by actions and not by words. We already know Nigerians have a tarnished reputation in the world, so at this juncture we should condemn any fraudulent behavior so that our kids will grow up to be ethical creatures. The way it seems now is that we have accepted fraudulent behavior as the norm.

poster,

you should at least be grateful for getting a feel when she sat on your thighs. What if she refused to sit on yout thigh, nko? what if Mallam Audu arrested you for breaking Sharia law-- fornicating? walahi talahi, you better go and find you an ashawo that will do more than sit on your thigh. you dig?

Sagamite:
You might a point. It is definitely an alternative approach but the piracy is one of the few employment areas for the tons of unemployed youths in Nigeria.

Blocking them from making a living might lead to other problems if no alternative is available. Re: Idle fingers.

Your argument is now going circular. According to you, blocking piracy might lead to other problems because the infringers are umemployed youths who will have no alternative. But the essence of blocking the piracy is to make sure that the industry is growing so as to create legitimate jobs, whose benefits will outweigh any interest in allowing pirates to continue to operate with impunity.

Without law and order and respect for the intellectual property rights, the growth of the industry will be stifled, which will not help to create jobs. I disagree with you on that point.

Sagamite,

I still think the $200m should have been, first, used to create the intellectual property infrastructure, and second, see what else he can do to help the industry if it is not growing fast enough. But he should be focusing his energy on doing what government is supposed to do, which is to create an environment in which the industry can thrive, not funding the industry.

Also the UK Film Council you mentioned appears to be funded through the lottery, I think.

I can see the point from which the poster is coming. I think the average woman has that consumer mentality, as in trying to spend to look good without considering the impact of the spending. This does not apply to those women who can truly afford it on their own or whose husbands can by it for them without coercion and undue stress on the husbands' finances.

That is why many, if not most, women need a man to tame them, guide them, and manage their spending, for if a man does not take control, such women will spend the entire family savings on unnecessary materialistic things.

Sagamite:
Even the British film industry gets public funds injected through the National Lottery.

That is one of the ways under-developed markets can compete with Hollywood.

And that explains why the British are not the world leaders in movies. Underdeveloped markets will NEVER be able to compete with Hollywood if those markets don't get their copyright laws in order. An industry cannot truly grow if the producers do not fully reap the benefit of their labor, as in when the pirated copies of their work are sold in plain sight and can be watched on youtube and other sites for free. You can even make an argument that there are more pirated copies than original copies in the Nigerian market.

And so you think just injecting government money into it will make them compete with Hollywood! Give me a break!

ocho cinco:
Lol. . . .I am laughing so hard. Did you just call GEJ ''OUR DYNAMIC LEADER''?

Well, we Nigerians always had a penchant for aping the worst of the worst.

If the communist North Korean state calls its President Our Dear Leader. . .we will outdo them in a classy
Nollywood way.


Now. . .Numbskull that you are. . .open your ear and listen.
Your defence of this preposterous idea is even more galling.
At least others defending it suggested the  money be channelled
into building distribution. Which  has its merits. Building cinemas
might actually do some good, though there might be conditions to
build in far flung places like Damaturu or Jalingo. Which will inevitably
lead to these places morphing into LovePeddler houses or burukutu joints
within a decade.

But you in your infinite stupidity have articulated handing over the funds
to the producers themselves. To produce Mercy Johnson's bosoms part 5?

Imagine. . . .Give money to producers of movies to make films for a market that is prone to piracy.
Its an insult to hares to call this a hare brained idea. Why not just use the money to wipe your backside
you scarified junkie. It would do a lot more good than this scheme.

And to top it off. Why is it only the entertainment industry that is deserving of a subsidy. Cause it is
a priority you schmuck. Right?

Many contractors are hard pressed to find funds to finish projects that actually
help the populace, ironically because the government manages to not pay them on time.
And they are faced with the same stringent capital environment as everyone else if they want
to get things done.

But oh no. . .those don't deserve help. They don't have bosoms the size of Kainji or employ
light skinned ghanians.

Like someone said, maybe Goodluck got tired of watching videos with poor sound quality on you tube, and he came up with his okrika idea of investing $200m so that they can make better movies.

I bet every pirate and infringer in Alaba and everywhere is celebrating this news, for, they are probably thinking that Nollywood is going to use the money to make more movies for them to pirate and sell.

Another problem is that many of the movie producers are former spare part sellers who don't know how to hire lobbyists and pressure the government into legislating in their favor, or who don't really understand the educated and intelligent way of handling business.

In my opinion, I don't think it is government's role to invest directly in the entertainment industry, but to create an environment amenable to its growth. In other words, Jonathan should have used the money to start a campaign aimed at pressuring Congress to revamp intellectual property laws, or to write new ones if they are lacking, and to find ways to enforce it by arresting pirates and infringers, the corollary of which is a sustainable growth of the entertainment industry.

Furthermore, severe criminal penalties should be handed to pirates and willful infringers, for piracy and copyright infringement is getting out of hand in Nigeria; and, if piracy is not combated effectively, it will limit any progress that would arise from the $200m investment in the industry. The elders would probably say that the $200m investment, without effective intellectual property infrastructure in place, is the functional equivalent of trying to store water by pouring water into a basket.

Bottom line, Goodluck should get our copyright house in order before "wasting" $200m. Assuming, for argument sake, Nollywood becomes substantially profitable, after the needed infrastructure has been put in place, banks would not hesitate to give Nollywood loans. But given Nigeria's practically non existent intellectual property laws and specialized courts to tackle intellectual property issues,  including no scheme of collecting royalty payments, investing $200m is putting the cart in front of the horse.

aikuda:
I have been reading comments from many people here, and I cant describe how amazed I am to hear the responses. It is not just about the criticism of the $200million fund. There is nothing wrong with that. everyone is entitled to their opinion. But it is about the way some of (young generation). If my grand father in the vilage is vehemently against this funding, I will understand.

But I can't understand how the young people with access to the internet (and possibly higher education and more travel) can possibly continue to argue that it is wrong for governent to support nollywood. 

Its ok not to know, but it is bad not to want to know or pretend not to know when you know.

Nollywood need help now. And I think this is good news. Same is done in other countries.

We are not condemning Jonathan's support for Nollywood, but the manner in which he is supporting it. Read my earlier post. Spending $200m directly into Nollywood does not serve Nollywood's long term interest, for money alone does not solve many problems, including this one. If that were the case, Nigeria will have no problems. If the intellectual property rights of Nollywood companies are protected, it will better position Nollywood companies to generate funds in excess of $200 mil, or even in the billions of dollars, given its global audience, both locally and internationally.

Again Jonathan has confirmed he is just an okrika without the intellectual heft to transition Nigeria to the place where she rightfully belongs. Why spend $200 million directly into the entertainment industry? That is a wrong approach to boost an industry whose lifeline is dependent on stringent intellectual property laws that protects the rights and royalties of artists and copyright owners.

I now see that Nigeria's problem lies in its people, for many of them welcome just about any holistic act by the government without thinking about the long term impact. Limited government intervention into the private sector is key to development, and this investment is nonsense. He should have used that money to develop an intellectual property body that will create courts devoted to intellectual property issues, and write new criminal and civil claws aimed at protecting copyright owners. He should also develop a sophisticated database for registering copyrights, and create enactments that will be help guide the creation of a medium through which royalty payments are made to copyright owners.

To throw $200m or N200m directly into the entertainment industry is too simplistic an approach, and it will not advance the interests of the entertainment industry long term; self sustainability is what is lacking in Nigeria, and I don't see how this will help the industry in reaching an era of self sustainability, just like it is in advanced countries.

furacao:
Well, there is plenty bush meat during NYSC, for those who like bushmeat!! 

Can you elaborate, Bushmaster? What is bushmeat?

President Jonathan posted the following comment on his facebook page:

"During my series of notes in the run up to Nigeria's fiftieth independence anniversary, I expressed a desire to grow Nigeria's entertainment industry into a world class one where we would see Nollywood movies being played in theatres and grossing hundreds of millions of Naira as well as have recording artists like Tuface Idibia, Dbanj, Banky W, P-Square, Timi Dakolo, Weird MC and co selling millions of records and generating wealth for themselves, their record companies, marketers and tour promoters and by so doing expanding the non oil sector of the economy. Now in furtherance of this, I have just attended the 30th anniversary celebrations of the Silverbird group where I announced a Federal investment of 200 million dollars (about 30 billion naira) as a direct intervention lifeline for the exclusive purpose of supporting artist and developing our entertainment industry. This may not be a lot of money, but it is a beginning. In seeking to diversify Nigeria's revenue base, we must think outside the box and I am expectant that this fund will make Nigeria the African entertainment capital in the not too distant future. It is my vision that every producer whether in the film or music industry, every actor or actress, fashion designers or artist must have opportunity to access cheap, long-term funding to grow their business: make movies, write hit songs, build malls, build cinemas, provide jobs and give hope to our people!GEJ"

Even though this comment has generated thousands of comments from other facebookers, I thought it would be interesting to see the response to Jonathan's plan, Nairaland style.

To all the people who, by comparing the whale to eating stock fish, see nothing wrong with eating the beached whale:

You guys forget that a whale is beached either because it is dead or because it is sick, and can therefore no longer swim. In this case, the whale was dead and was smelling, which indicates that the whale had been dead for sometime. Only God knows for how long. So if, for example, the whale died about 5000 km from land, it may have taken a couple of days for the ocean current to bring the whale on shore. So, it is the equivalent of eating a fish that has been killed for days and has not been preserved by freezing or refrigerating; but we can say that the salt in the ocean slowed down the decomposition process. Overall, those who ate that whale risked their health just to eat some stinky, smelly fish. My two cents.

the guy who said he got seven gallons of "foreign" "ororo" is hilarious

were the patas smelling? Tell her make she dey carry go

Chei, see meat. Lord have mercy

jealousy is a sign of insecurity and personal problems. Most men who abuse and kill their spouse are jealous, and some mugu women will confuse it with love. When that man now hurts you, if you are lucky to still be alive, you will now begin to say had I know. For the women who are in their grave because of a jealous boyfriend, they cannot come back.  Jealousy has nothing to do with love. You can be jealous of a woman, as she may be your mistress while your wife is at home, and you will be jealous of that mistress.