₦airaland Forum

All you Balotelli champions are just deceiving yourselves no european coach would bring Balotelli to the world cup. It's only here in Africa where we beg some of our players to play that Balotelli can get into a world cup team. The guy is talented no doubt but has serious attitude issues and the world cup is certainly not where you would teach a kid to behave.he should first cool off and behave like a proffesional. Only then can he seriously think about playing for La Nazionale. Every coach wants to be top boss in the locker room. No coach wants players like Balotelli who would challenge his authority at every turn. The guy even had problems with Mourinho. Thumbs up to davidif for pointing out the right players Marcello Lippi missed.

As for the minister, well he has a point though he didn't make it with sincerity. I've always said that the moment England has at least 75-80% of its team in it's first four clubs, it would become a force to reckon with again in football. Go back and check the English team that won England's only world cup. At least 80% of them played in the top four clubs in England at the time. The minister may have said that to score a political point but he made a valid point nonetheless. More local players should play in the top teams of the league. The immigrants can mass up in other teams except they can truly prove themselves good enough as to be irresistable.

Finally, I don't think the minister was trying to be racist in that comment. When he said immigrants, he didn't explicitly say or mean black immigrants, afterall how many black players play in Italy's top four clubs? He meant any non-italian ranging as close as near neigbours spain and as far as south america. Y'all are just reading meanings into his his statements. Srzly, we Nigerians have this huge "we against them" attitude.

Seems like you're championing a revolution of some sort. I'm not fear mongering, just stating what's currently obtainable. A revolution would not be a bad idea if Nigerians (like the french) are truly fed up with the way things are and throw their fear and caution to the winds and stand up to fight for their country against massive curroption and an autocratic democracy. But it seems like most Nigerians would prefer the way things are than risk their neck to save their country. The only other options are that another country comes to our rescue (as if they don't have problems of their own) or our leaders change overnight and start to lead the right way (not likely either, those guys are corrupt to the very nucleus of the cells that make them up). Whichever way it comes, it will still be a gradual process (give or take, five or six years in the minimum) to completely flush out bad leadership and install good leaders. With a good leader comes every other thing; electoral reform (true electoral reform, not the jamboree we've been seeing since OBJ), massive development and economic growth. Whichever way you look at it, it's not as easy as saying get the PDP out. If we get the PDP out and come up with another party very much like it, then we've not moved forward. We'd just have changed into another pair of shoes that don't fit. I'm not against Nigerians trying to change things. If Nigerians rise up en masse to change the way things are in this country, be assured i'll be one of the numbers. But it's simply not happening and typing it Nairaland or Wole Soyinka saying it won't make it happen. You've got to be on ground to make such changes happen. If you leave the comfort of wherever you are, come down here and lead the charge, be sure you'll have my support and i'm not talking about Nairaland-posting support.

I'll say it again; Most of those states have been out of PDP's reach since 1999. The PDP have somewhat conceded those states to the parties that currently rule. In Anambra state, a large number of the state legislators are PDP. I said it before, with our current electoral system, the only way to get rid of the PDP is to outrig them (cos those guys will always rig elections) but given that the president is from the pdp and he appoints the INEC chair who answers to him, I doubt if that would work. It's even a bad idea cos it would produce another mega rigging party who would want to remain in power at all costs. You probably live in the US (this is by no means an insult) and you see how the people assist the government to build a stronger democracy. Here in Nigeria, we, the people are ready to work with our leaders to build a strong democracy but are they ready to give us that? They know that with free and fair elections, at least 75% of our public office holders would not even be state secretaries for their parties. That's why, underhand, they are working against free and fair elections. The people cannot build a good democratic system without their leaders (except you're championing a revolution). Not all people from different countries like the current political systems in their countries but since their leaders don't share their views it doesn't happen. Nigeria is one country where it's leaders can watch the people burn to death without batting an eyelid provided it does not affect their income. Some of our lawmakers (of which a large majority are pdp) went to south africa to "support the super eagles". It was reported that, for the first time in the hotel's history, the hotel they lodged in completely ran out of wine. What were they celebrating, victory or defeat. I watched a footage today of our lawmakers fighting and tearing each other's clothes in the "hallowed chambers" on National TV. Are these the people that will give up power without a massive, violent battle? They will rig, do anything to keep themselves in power. As of now, PDP has the strongest rigging machinery. That's why it's very likely our next president will be from the pdp. That's also why we worry about their zoning formula. Getting the pdp out of power is more than an uphill task. It's a vertical climb. Plans were mooted for a mega party that will force the PDP out. Less than a year to elections and we're yet to see this mega party.

was it exactly free and fair elections that brought fashola and other non-pdp governors into power? i would like to think not. if you know much about nigeria's power of incumbence(y?), then you'd know pdp is not likely to get lagos any time soon even if, somehow, fashola defects to the pdp. Most of those states you mentioned have been out of the pdp's reach since 1999. The others (like edo and whichever state it is Mimiko's governor of) experienced a power shift because the pdp desgnates there fell out of favour in the party. After beign declared governor after the 2007 gubernatorial elections, Osarheimen Osunbor's name rang like a bell in Edo state. But since falling out with the pdp leaders in his state who left him to his fate at the electoral tribunals and more or less worked against him, he's been forgotten. If Dr Chris Ngige had not fallen out with Chris Uba, I don't think Mr Peter Obi would see the gates of government house, Awka. Almost same happened in the case of Dr Olusegun Mimiko. Yes, we will blame the lack of a proper, free and fair electoral system for this sorry pass. Everyone knew Ekiti people did not want Segun Oni as governor. But he was declared governor after the elections. As far as i'm concerned and statistics point, Anambrarians wanted Chris Ngige as governor but APGA used the resources of state, not only to campaign for themselves but to also make sure they won through other underhand means. They did not stuff ballot boxes, no. They used a more systematic approach. A neighbour, who had travelled to his village to exercise his right to vote told me that when he and his fellow villagers went to vote, only three out of about 200 people could find their names on the voters register. They saw strange names that certainly did not belong to people in their village. ( Consequently, they couldn't vote and this was a village that clearly supported Ngige). Meanwhile, in places where Peter Obi had massive support, people had no trouble finding their names on the voters register and voting. People say the election was ok because there was little violence and little ballot box snatching and stuffing. But that doesn't mean it wasn't rigged. It's all well and dandy for you to sit behind your system and ask Nigerians to build a truly democratic system but, newsflash, it's not that easy. Do you think people in Niger or Guinea enjoy being ruled by the millitary (though finall guinea is out of the mlitary's clutches).

@Kobojunkie and Dede, vote the PDP out of power? Y'all must be having a laugh. Seems like you guys are talking about some other country, not the Nigeria I know. Nigerians are concerned about the PDP's zoning formula cos;

1) Nigeria does not have a a free and fair electoral system. The PDP are the ruling party and have been since 1999. They have used resources of state to rig themselves back into power in 2003 and 2007 and it's likely to remain the same in 2011 except GJ keeps to his words (but we know how Nigerian politicians are with words). Most Nigerians believe that whoever the PDP picks as its presidential flagbearer for next year's elections will be Nigeria's preident. So you see, Nigerians have a reason to be concerned.

2) Nigerians believe (at least a large number) that if the our next president must be from the PDP, Goodluck Jonathan should be that person. The zoning formula puts that idea into jeopardy. Considering the fact that IBB wants the PDP ticket too makes it all the more alarming. And you have to remember my previous point of PDP having a strong rigging machinery. If IBB get's that ticket, there is a strong chance he will be Nigeria's next president inspite of the fact that most Nigerians don't want that.

3) most other political parties in Nigeria (if not all) do not have what it takes to heave the PDP away. They would have to outrig the PDP to get them out and I fear it will create another PDP with a different name. Nigerians want to get the best deal out of a bad situation. It's like being between the devil and the deep blue sea but with an option of a very warm room. Nigerians are gunning for the warm room. We'll sweat but we won't die.

I would have agreed with you both if we had a free and fair electoral system. But we don't and i'm not seeing it coming anytime soon GJ promised us free and fair elections next year. The INEC chair was only appointed a few days ago. How he'll undo nearly twelve years of bad electoral system to give us credible elections next year, i'm waiting to see. For now, Nigerians have to worry about PDP and its zoning formula.

@davidif, you're damn spot on. Love your breakdown on what football is truly about. Nigerians think football is all dribble-dribble, hit and run. That's why our eagles are always misfiring. Our local league is a joke. My friends call the Nigerian League, the weekend comedy on pitch. Watching it is hilarious. The results are even more outrageous. I can't remember when last a club in the local league won an away match. That's why i support an extension of lagerback's contract. Let's have some continuity, let him build a team. Nigerians seem not to known that these constant change of coaches is more or less what is affecting us now. Some Nigerians are clamouring for Siasia now. Should he get the job and fail in his first major competition, they'll be the first to call for his head. Nigerians are such curious people. Amodu was sacked, Nigerians were happy. Lagerback was appointed, Nigerians complained that he had too little time to make enough impact. Our world cup campaign went wrong and they say he did nothing. What were they expecting, that in the less than three months he would build a team that would face the likes of Brazil and win? Football is a gradual game outside game day. You have to learn a lot, do a lot, study (yes, study!) and do research to build a great team. As for those clamouring for a local coach, here's a fact for you, a large majority (up to 80%) of our local coaches are no better than Shuaibu Amodu and we all know Nigerians view of Amodu. Rome wasn't built in a day. Neither is a good team.

Forgive who; the commentators or the destructive duo (kaita and yakubu)? The commentators i can forgive, but kaita and yakubu? That will take prayers.

Still I don't want to hear Oyebanji say anything on "vital areas" any time in the near future.

first the commentary issue. i watched the match on silverbird and instead of the pleasant-to-the-ear, brilliant voice of the informative foreign commentator, i heard the drone of this oyebanji bloke and some other dude. gosh it was horrible! they were so humdrum, uninformative and boring! they got players names, numbers and positions wrong, and kept saying sorry! and the oyebanji dude was always referring to the goalkeepers box as the "vital area". one would think he was talking about the region of someone's privates! but for the fact that some other people were watching the match with me, i would have muted the tv and played dagrin's album as the sound background. srzly, we need trained commentators.


as for Yakubu and Kaita, i don't want to get started on them for making my poor dad near hysteric. they don't deserve to be even seen by Nigerians.

na jazz yakubu dey use play super eagles? He shouldn't even be seen in clothes with even a spot of green on them regardless of the purpose the clothes serve. what that fat slowpoke is still doing on the team, moreso in the starting line up is simply beyond me. and martins and nsofor are on the bench while that bag of rice is on the pitch fouling everyone. i don't even want to get started on obasi and ayila.

I know my Nigerians. The general spite against Kele is because he's gay, not because of his reservations about certain aspects of Nigerian culture. His first statement might have been a generalisation, but he went on to specify the particular areas he has problems with. Let's face the facts, can everyone on this thread truthfully tell me they wholeheartedly love all aspects of Nigerian culture and has never objected to any of them? So why all the hate, when the guy has made a valid point? All this talk about what is obtainable in other countries is trash, Kele has nothing to do with other countries. He is born to Nigerian parents so he can only really talk about either the British culture or Nigerian culture. I personally dont give a flying fu, c.k about his homosexuality or gay rights. He made some valid points and I recognise them. Nigerians, really. Nobody even bothered to highlight his love of Nigerian food, music and people. More or less everyone rushed to lambast him just cos his gay. If the devil were to tell you Jesus Christ is Lord, he may be the devil but he's by no means wrong. Na wa for una rough tackling o.

@slim101, if that's kobojunkie being myopic, you should check her other posts on government and politics. You'll have a whole lot to comment on. Abt trying hard, don't think so. She seems like the type that takes a skeptic stand on more or less everything. Just an observation of mine. Again, no insults thrown.

Alright, layman's terms, i get it. Apparently, we that are more favourably disposed to GJ's idea enjoy being pissed on by Government and being told it's raining, innit? I see no reason for pessimism if you expect a positive change from the government. Pessimism in this case is losing faith in the system and if you've lost faith in the system, it would be hypocritical to expect the same system to bring positive change. I advise a change in the way you view goverment's actions. I'm not asking you to follow goverment officials with cymbals and tambourines, singing their praises. Praise them when they deserve it and criticize as when appropriate. Your viewing Goverment's acts through critical and cynical lens doesn't really help. If you pay your children's school fees or buy them things, it's expected of you, it's your responsibility as a parent but how would you feel if they show no appreciation, instead criticize your paying their fees and make more demands without a word of thanks? It's the same thing you're doing. I didn't see anywhere that GJ said he would spend twelve hours a day on Facebook or because he would start facebooking, he would forget about the FOI bill. Neither did he say it was going to be his only means of connecting with the people. It's far easier and faster to setup a Facebook account than getting a bill passed or setting up a government information website so it's not as if it would take months to set it up. Be a bit more objective. You don't have to be with me on this but I'd like you to be more objective as regards Government and Politics.

ah, i'm not suprised Kobojunkie does not support GJ's move. No insults intended, but i'm yet to see any of her posts that support any move by anybody in Government in this country, not even Fashola. I really don't see anything wrong with his move, it's not as if he'll spend twelve hours everyday facebooking. He feels he can connect with the large number of Nigerians on Facebook, so what? Does not mean it's his only way of connecting with his people just a way of connecting with those on facebook, whiwh is quite a large number. Being on Facebook won't prevent him from from getting the FOI bill passed or taking care of his other responsibilities as president just like Facebooking does not prevent any of us from going to work or attending to other things that concern us. And we're certainly more addicted to Facebook than he is. Y'all should probly take large doses of chill pills.

@kobojunkie, some Nairalanders are pessimistic and should be addressed as such. Some posts on this thread reek of something worse than pessimism. Just an outright hatred of anything connected with the Nigerian Government.

@op, what do you mean by hate the truth? So the Nigerian government should cheer bbc and send them goodwill messages because of their documentary? They sorta have a point. The documentary did not give a true and complete view of life as it is in Lagos. I live in Lagos and i certainly don't live in a slum. Why should people outside the country think I live among towers of refuse? The documentary did not even try to highlight the efforts of the Governor in making Lagos a better place. It's not fair on him cos anyone who watches that documentary would think the governor is some fat slob who sits in some office everyday siphoning state money and doing nothing else. It's not fair at all. Maybe they should have done "welcome to Oyo". That would have been fitting for akala!

@Eastbay, don't try replying nateevs again. It's not worth it.

As for those clamouring for Drogba's exit, well, that's as good as it gets. Nigerians can hardly be satisfied. Not too long ago he was "Drogs the Babarian" now he's "Drogba, the black version of Berbatov". I hope he does get sold, then when the now beautiful bride, Anelka, misses sitters, y'all would say ", if only Drogba were here". If you guys have had enough of him, put him up for sale. Clubs would kill for his signature.

@eldee, opened our yansh? Is that Lagos as you know it or doy know Lagos at all? I would have had no problems with the documentary if it had a different name that fit it's content or showed lagos as is but so far it's neither. Don't be surprised next time you're flying into lagos, some foreigner is looking out for "that sea of refuse" called Lagos. But on a serious note, dem no try for Fashola.


@kobojunkie, quick question , no insults intended; what do you tell your foreign friends about Nigeria and it's leaders?

I've read through seven pages of comments and now i'm here to comment. I've not watched the documentary but from what you guys are discussing, i'm not sure i'll like to.

I have serious problems with the title. Hearing about a tv show or documentary by the name "welcome to Lagos" would evoke pictures of Lagos 360; the good, the bad and the ugly. If a refuse dump is what we're being welcomed to, then it's not Lagos. I live in Lagos and we all know the lengths the Governor has gone to make Lagos a better place to live in. These pictures have, in one fell swoop, thrown Fashola's efforts out the window. I heard it's in three parts. Let's wait for the other two. If it's not much different from this, then it's not worth it.

You guys talk about we that don't go with the idea of the documentary egoistic. Well, nobody likes his home to be called a gutter. I live in Lagos and it's largely nothing like those pictures. While these pictures expose the harsh realities some have to face in Lagos, it doesn't tell that there's something better than it. How do we expect any foreigner who watched that documentary and is told it's "welcome to Lagos" to wish to even pass over Lagos in a plane. There goes a potential tourist or international businessman and the money that comes with them that could aid our economy. As for no sensible person thinking Lagos could be largely a dumpsite, think again. What comes to mind when Somalia is mentioned? Or Iraq? Poverty and war and i'm not sure that's obtained in every part of those countries. Which of you, after watching CNN and BBC want to go to Iraq? If you think image is not important try doing something that will ruin your image. Another thread on the homepage was complaining about Goodluck Jonathan's accent when he was interviewed by Christine Amanpour. What other reason for the complaint if not to improve the counry's image? Perhaps it's the title and the eventual content that's pissing me off cos the content does not truly reflect the title. Am not advocating they just pan cameras on Lekki and Ikoyi cos that would be saying Lagosians live in luxury which is a lie. All i'm saying is a total 360 view of Lagos and all its component parts would have done the title some justice. If you haven't been asked by your foreign friends if Lagos is not one big refuse dump, well maybe their just too polite to ask but i'm sure some have been asked that question and it does Lagos no justice. none at all.

My 2 cents.

@N.I.Gboi, did I hear you say prosperity is essential in the propagation of the gospel in these times? How exactly? And whose prosperity, the prosperity of the Pastor, the Congregation or the Church? I hope you are not supporting the prosperity gospel alone being bandied about by some pastors. The gospel is a timeless message so I find the distinction between "those times" and "these times" irrelevant. What is of paramount importance is that the message of salvation and not prosperity alone is passed.

We as Christians should discuss issues like this because they can help us find our feet in the Christian faith. Through this discussion, some may have found that the reason they feel disconnected in Church is because there is a large congregation in which they can't ask questions bothering them and seek counsel directly from the source of the message. Iron sharpeneth iron, the Bible says. Discussions like this enlighten us on how to fellowship better and be more functional members of the body of Christ.

removing Iwu may not be the total solution to Nigeria's election problems but it's a step in the right direction. Rome wasn't built in a day and i was started with single blocks and not massive rocks. You can't say because removing Iwu won't bring a total change in the electioneering system, he should be left there to continue the way he has done over the last few years. Iwu, on average, has failed and as for a last chance, I don't think so. The Anambra elections was the last chance and while it was not a massive failure, it wasn't a success either. If the Inec chair is corrupt, it gives politicians confidence to perpetrate all kinds of electoral malpractices since they know he won't investigate them or try to stop them in any way.we want a change true, but we can't expect it to happen all at once cos that's being plain unrealistic.

Yes, we hate the Nigerian government but i think the OP has a partial point. while government does have the responsibility of creating an enabling environment for business to thrive, job creation is another issue entirely. the kind of economy we operate places it in the hands of private individuals, which was what the OP was probably trying to say. Nigerians are naturally industrious people. but alas not every nigerian is industrious and those we hear at newspaper stands and on Nairaland usually fall under this category. I guess i will get villified for saying this but Ikengawo does have some points worth considering. taking into consideration, the fact that some nigerians just love complaining should make things clearer. Since November, we've been hearing of a mysterious "cabal" whose members don't sleep at night and spend every moment planning how to keep yar'adua in power. virtually everything that has gone wrong in the country over the past six months is the fault of the cabal. I'm waiting for someone to say the cabal is responsible for unemployment. the same, the Federal government takes the blame for everything wrong in Nigeria, even those induced by the masses. Generator importers are private individuals who benefit from the absence of constant power supply and probably work against any plans to improve the power situation. that's an instance where private individuals contribute in inflating unemployment. We cannot keep waiting for government to do everything, including waking us up in the morning. Some of our problems are actually caused by ourselves. the thing is, Nigerians are great at identifying short term opportunities but poor at fishing long term opportunities. Even when we identify long term opportunities, we are scared off by the risks involved. it's one of the reasons why there are so many small businesses that employ little labor and few large businesses that employ lots of labor. blame the FG all you want but i guess its the largest employer of labor in the country.

my beloved phone

becomrich, I usually find you amusing but that picture on the first page is just sick. Please act reasonably. Sheesh! No wonder people complain about you a lot. Seun or the moderators, please deal with that pic.

y'all have got some funny stories. Anytime we beg Mumsi for money she goes, "i'm taking record of all this money i'm giving you. When you start working, i'll collect it with interest." or when we sit heavily on the sitting room chairs, she says; "I know you'll buy gold chairs for my in the future, but I don't want to sit on the floor with my husband till then". Popsi has this way of looking over his glasses when we come to ask him for something that makes one feel like he'll refuse. He usually doesn't but the few seconds before he agrees feel like years. Parents really,

@Beaf, LWKMD. You're bleeping hilarious. How dare you make me look like an idiot, laughing at my phone screen? As for insulting the irrepresible, indefatigable Becomrich, the Lord Controller of Maps and Yoruba-Benin Republic division and migration strategy, you deserve a ban.

In a season where coaches seem to
have run out of luck (poor Phil
Brown), Louis van Gaal seems to have
had plenty of it. Having faced a
Champions league exit twice this
season and a possible sack earlier in
the season, one must admit that he's
quite a lucky man. Bayern did not
exactly have a dream start to the
season and the final match day of
the Champions league group stage
saw them line up against Juventus
away in Italy, a match that would
spell the end of their European
ambitions if it ended in a draw or a
loss for the Bavarians. Suprise, suprise;
Bayern went on to win the match
4-1. Again Bayern found themselves
against Italian opposition in the
round of 16, this time ACF Fiorentina.
Having won the first leg 2-1, the
Germans decided to play for a draw
in Italy. Suprise again; they found
themselves 3-1 down and facing a
possible exit. Again luck stepped in to
save the Bavarians in form of Arjen
Robben to bring the scoreline to 3-2.
Bayern qualified on away goals rule.
Now its Manchester United. The red
devils have become a scary opponent
since their 7-3 aggregate drubbing of
AC Milan. They hit four past Bolton
without in form striker, Wayne
Rooney while Bayern lost 2-1 to
Stuttgart in the weekend fixtures.
While Bayern are no Bolton, Van Gaal
may need to call on his incredible
luck to get past Manchester united. I
may want to tip this in favour of Man
United but Van Gaal's luck doesn't
count for nothing. So the question is;
will Van Gaal be lucky against the
Red Devils?

from: www.fanslounge.cz.cc/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=64&catid=62&Itemid=103

@Jarus; Becomrich is probably the greatest addition to that  list. He may be map crazy but the comic relief he brings to Nairaland is unrivalled. He's a legend in his own right. I search for his posts everyday. That guy can keep you in stiches. I would not advise anyone at work to read Becomrich/Mapomeji's posts. You'll get questions for laughing on the job!

Btw, what about yawa-ti-de? She was very active on the webmasters board (i think she was a mod) and she helped a lot. I think Seun banned her or somefin. She deserves, at least, an honorable mention.

@Bidza, thanks a million. I will register a .com domain name shortly. That has been my plan all along. I'm just using the free domain for testing purposes. As soon as the site is done, i'll register a full domain name. Thanks again for helping me check the domain names availabilty. You really are a kind hearted guy!

It's the cc

Just did some work on this website. It's far from finished but I would appreciate constructive criticism at this point so i can proceed well. Please be constructive. Take your time to browse through the site. If possible, register and make use of some membership features (which are the highlights of the site) and make comments here.

Here's a link to the site:http://www.fanslounge.cz.cc . I'll use .com domain after the site is completed.

Thanks to all who contribute positively.

(p.s, don't view this site on internet explorer 6. Doesn't render well on that browser. Renders ok on other browsers)

Am not trying to be anti Sanusi but I think those who lost their jobs in his "sanitation excercise" do not have much love for him. There are very few jobs available and, IMO, Sanusi has just added to Nigeria's criminal population cos some of those laid off workers WILL turn to crime. How does that help our nearly nonexistent economy? Am not saying he should have let any form of rot in any of the banks continue, but surely there must be a better, less destructive (if I may use that term) way to get it done. IMO, he acted in too much haste to get people's approval (which he had initially) but support for his theories have dwindled since the negative effects of his reforms became apparent. He wasn't appointed to mud sling his predecessor. He should leave the prosecutions to the relevant outfits. If he finds anything illegal Soludo has done, he should charge him to court or let the efcc handle it. All these verbal gunshots have added NOTHING to our economy.

Dis should be interesting.

Not all Nigerians are happy about it tho. Some people have been training for this year's edition of GUS since they failed to qualify last year only to be told they can't cause they're not celebs! Some celebs go lose fans this year!

Sorry guys, next year.

(BTW, this is my first post this year. Happy nu year, Nairalanders! )

Stumbled across this article. I think it's a good read for Chelsea fans.:
http://www.fanslounge.cz.cc/top-competitions/epl/67-and-a-team-in-blue-wonbut-it-wasnt-chelsea