₦airaland Forum

Bahamas95:
Useless politicians!

It baffles me some people still come outta their houses to cheer these useless people during campaigns/election.

Because in black Africa we largely have a feudal mindset, that leadership is rulership. We still see leaders through a sort of divine, superiority lens, thinking that there is something hallowed about a man who ascends to govern over all. That he or she is greater, better or some even think divinely appointed. Not knowing that it is usually the biggest hustler that eventually emerges.

In most other climes, a politician can be loved, appreciated, but conduct poll after poll, east, west, north, southern countries, the vast majority of citizens of those countries just do not trust the average politician and very, very few revere them.

They just use them to get a better society and that is that. We should begin to see them as merely 'first amongst equals' because in different circumstances, you or I could be in their positions. It doesn't make us superior to anyone.

So in a nutshell. The people of Afikpo having exhausted all avenues in calling attention to their plight should just call themselves together, select from amongst themselves who can bring pressure on the relevant authorities and elect such a person into leadership, simple.

Forget the electoral bandwagon of the failed 'aligning with the centre' ideology, forget the moneybags who will soon start coming with 'rice' and 'underwear' palliatives because your needs are clear and THEY are not listening.

Put in place leadership YOU CONTROL and you will start solving your problems one after the other. That is true democracy. That is how democracy all over the progressive world works to better the lives of the people.

ChristianMuslim:
Justice for Afikpo.. Peter obi , Cubana , all the odogwu for East.. This is where they need your influence

Funny citizens.
Your advocacy is to those outside government that can only protest, advocate.
But those indirectly and directly responsible for service delivery should go about their business.

How about calling out the present serving governors and senators and representatives....and for good measure the 'performing' Minister of Works who incidentally was the past Governor of the State and an influential member of the ruling party today, to do their duty.

I just don't understand our type of democracy. When the leaders and party you support is in power, it is you the supporters that have the greatest influence over the leadership. It is you that should be satisfied first, it is you that should be able to talk to 'daddy', as a 'family member', not a stranger. The child of a king is a prince.

In those days if you want something from a 'big man' you find ways to get closer to the family members, the wife, the kids, the uncles, the cousins. But these days the 'family members' are even suffering more and begging the strangers to force the father to put food on the table. I cannot understand such modern day slavery.

Look at democracies in the west. Some of the most vocal critics of Trump are in the Republican party despite the fact he satisfies them first. In the UK, parliamentary system, once they sense a Prime Minister will cost them the next elections they themselves will purge him first, not even the public.

Party men and women. I say again. What is the value of your membership if you cannot influence your leaders towards good governance. Are you valuable to them or are you just fodder.

So the Rep or Senator superintending over that area cannot pencil off-grid power amongst his Constituency projects.

Get the town to donate land, just a tiny space of 6 hectares is sufficient for 3 megawatts solar for at least 8 to 10 hours a day while they find a way to hook up to PHCN as night backup.

I don't know what leaders and citizens of that community are thinking.

Dunno what to make of this.
But I can understand why it is not a thong....there won't be enough space for logo or imagery of the political pervert involved.
Another low.
Nigerians when will you have enough of this humiliation.

Doyou2019:
I just thank God say Gordon no dsy today

One in the running to replace either Martinelli or to bench Saka.

Ha. Kamikaze Pope. Orange card for the drama.

Spineless Odegaard. This is soccer, for men not toddlers.

Look at Rice....without stew....

Trouble for the Gunners. Wissa:s coming in.

NaijaReppin:
To see the stadium stand up when Saka come out to warm up. . .very nice welcome

Raya na keeper! How else to talk am. .

I think the team will gradually move up and away from Saka. There are quality wide men on the market they are looking at.

We are entering a time in football where every team buys and sells. Very few teams hold onto their players, their prized assets tenaciously like before. Everyone is looking for money to balance the books these days.

Just came in for the match.
Must say this is a very languid performance by a title prospector.
The fact here is that if Arsenal refuses to play, Newcastle will play, simple.
Champions in my little history of the Premiership blow teams away, play them off the park, not tepid and timid like what I am seeing.
Arteta. Be brave.

Hope they forge together to deliver a common front. A strong force to compel good governance out of the existing power structures. They should try and bring Makinde on board to prominence.

Very, very commendable of the officers involved in the case. Exemplary conduct. May their reward stand sure.

PS: These are the kind of people you want to see on the National Honours list in one capacity or the other and not the usual politicians and bureaucrats that do not sacrifice anything.

They sound like the modern day Gen Z Lagosian that appears to have found their long lost identities since the capital moved to Abuja.

That air of superiority over other Nigerians they see today as burdens, not the assets they were in the 50's, to late 80's when the unitary system forced every associate of the Federal government to work and live there.

Exactly the same talk....we don't want you here...go and fix your states....we are tired of carrying the burdens of Nigeria....we are responsible for 99.99 percent of the GDP, 101 percent of revenues accruable to Nigeria....bla, bla, bla....funny life.

Now the South Africans who think they are apex predators on the continent have met their match in the United States and they are moaning about discrimination, profiling and the forceful delamination of their society.

CodeTemplar:
The clown is trying recreate an illusionary city boy reputation. Using concrete for hard lands is like breaking rock then pouring cement again. Very daft set of people ruling us.

There are stages of development. You have the emerging stages, the growth and acceleration stage and the domineering stages. And this involves everything about your economy including infrastructure.

I said this about power and how we will struggle to develop if our emerging state relied on gas infrastructure for energy because gas is expansive to deploy and to use. No one needs to tell the Nigerian. When he starts going down the first thing is to abandon his cylinder and start cooking outside with coal.

China started this way and in the mid to late 80's they were building and commissioning one coal fired station every week to supply their emerging economy with cheap energy. Cheap energy that helped them undermine the West's manufacturing capacity. Now their banks are overflowing they can 'afford' to go green on a massive scale.

That is what you do. Get your infrastructure working in the most cost effective manner to provide the cheapest cost outlook for your economy and when you get to the acceleration stage you can afford more durable, high tech infrastructure like high speed trains, smart highways, signature airports, etc.

But in my opinion as well, we cannot get industrialization up and running without a nationwide network of rail transportation. If the colonial governments knew this and developed countries depend on this, I don't know what we are doing building these crazily expensive new highways that still depend on expensive gasoline and diesel to run our economy.

CodeTemplar:
Yekinically speaking. Is highway our most needed infrastructure?

In a depressed economy like ours what you do about highways is the minimum requirements to make them serviceable, usable and this involves maintenance grade works not the ultra expensive reconstructions using reinforced concrete we are seeing nationwide. It is an economic decision of where you deploy your scarce resource effectively.

Investments that yield immediate returns come first, the proceeds of which help to reduce reliance on credit. Get your roads to manageable levels then institute an effective maintenance regime to prolong their lifespan using a PPP model. Do everything to ensure your infrastructure is as cost efficient as possible.

The economic plan of this country appears more grandiose than effectual or practical.

You lose your job and desire to be a cabbie to make ends meet, what will be the vehicle you have in mind when you approach your bank for a loan, a tricycle or a limousine?

Lithiumite:
Juxtapose him with facts and not your vile rants just to sound obidient.....is nigeria not broke? Your sovereign wealth fund for 220 million people is just $2.4b in assets less than abdulsamad rabiu's net worth not to even mention dangote or adenuga.

Your annual budget is just $48.5b less than that of south Africa @ 163.2b usd or Egypt, 10 times lesser than california a single state in America and you expect magic.

So why are we not using the little we have to boost productivity, by creating industries, businesses and jobs. Why is the emphasis on contracting and huge resources going towards procurement.

The latest loan is for a highway. How many centuries will it take for that highway to ROI. But if it was spent on power for instance to increase access and lower costs for businesses and industries, this will have a direct instantaneous impact with a sure ROI.

How and on what you spend your money when you are broke determines how long you remain broke and whether you will ever come out if it.

The billionaires of the world have one thing in common. Their investments are on normal everyday, affordable, essential goods and services that have the widest patronage and clientele, not the most expensive goods or the most exclusive services.

That is how national leaderships should think. Invest first in things that offer the widest possible economic leverage to as many citizens and enterprises as possible. When these are settled your tax net naturally widens and returns increase.

AMINDA:
But the whole excuse given for removal of subsidy was to stop borrowing. How come Tinubu has outborrowed Buhari in just under 3 years while still not paying subsidies? Plus, Buhari had more infrastructure to show for all his borrowings. If contractors are unpaid and budgets of MDAs unfunded, it begs the question; where is the money?

Nigerians must start to ask serious questions of it's leaders and the resources given them to save them from themselves. Because it is Nigerians that will have to pay back these funds in due time and in the process of collecting the money from an already strangulated citizenry the government and democracy itself will be seriously threatened.

There is an extent of debt that impinge ls on national security. We are slowly getting there.

Oparoto2121:
My question is why are we still borrowing when fuel subsidy have been removed,I thought they said after the removal alot of money will be. Save no more borrowing

We are borrowing because the much touted foreign investments have not materialised. And they have not materialised because the counterpart investments the government should be making towards growing the economy are not being made.

When you sit out there and see where the country is headed. Poverty rising year on year and the effects on insecurity and social stability, you will hesitate.

I repeat again. Government should invest in reducing the cost of living and doing business. There is no other way out. The economy will not grow itself out of the chains of inflation. It has to be helped, stimulated, pushed by right investments, right spending.

I see a lot of arguments here and there about this subsidy thing and the cost of living crises.

The bottom line is that subsidy removal was essentially just a massive tax hike, a massive VAT hike of some 6, 700 percent (depending on what the price of fuel is today). Yesterday, bought for 1,300.

This is massive but like every tax hike the purpose is that government has more resources to develop the economy by taking from the many to target high worth investments that will put the citizen in a better position short, medium and long term, by increasing productivity, creating jobs and businesses and eventually wealth.

It is the the second part that has proved a total failure. What are the things the government is directly spending this money on that is increasing productivity, creating jobs, businesses and expanding the economy.

They say infrastructure. Good. But infrastructure is a tool of productivity not productivity in itself. Roads will not create jobs, airports will not create businesses. It is the people that will have to find even more resources (after the ones you have collected) to use these roads and fly these aircraft.

So there is a huge economic lacuna between where the people stand and what the government is doing. There should have been a deliberate plan to either invest in other modes of transport or technologies to match or come close to the cost profile of subsidised gasoline.

They started well with the LPG but have unfortunately abandoned it. They will have done well to invest massively in rail transport to deal with the huge cost of long distance haulage but unfortunately they are building even more expensive highways.

How do you bring down the cost of goods and services and leave spare change in the hands of citizens and businesses to invest if you the government are not investing in bringing energy costs down. We have a far less competitive economy than ever before and that is why 3 years after the reforms were launched we are yet to see the much touted massive influx of foreign investments.

amaridigital:
That Rufai Oseni is absolutely brainless. A liter of premium petrol spirit during Obasanjo's regime in 1979 was 15.3 kobo from 9 kobo during General Murtala regime.
To fill a 50 liter Corolla car in 1979 will cost #7.65. During Murtala's regime same 50 liters cost #4.50 kobo.
What the heck is he moaning about?

What he is moaning about is that in 1979 a quarter of Nigerians lived below the poverty line. Today it is two thirds. That is significant when you factor in the population growth between those two periods.

Today 140 million Nigerians are poor. And we wonder why insecurity has skyrocketed. Mister, the situation is beyond maths and figures. Everyone is affected from the farner who cannot produce to the politician who cannot go home. Let us not pretend.

Institutions are fracturing. Security men are compromising their oaths and dipping their hands into the black economy.

helinues:
Buy bicycle that won't consume fuel. Having a car is a luxury . How much was minimum wage when the price of fuel in those regime was low, how much is dollar to naira exchange rate?

I really don't know why the opposition and their supporters in Nigeria remain stagnant in their narrations.

Are the price of things across the globe reman the same for decades now. They should stop arguing slow jare

Oga. The issue is inflation and the damage it has done to the country as a whole, far beyond the economy. I supported the removal of gasoline subsidy long before this President started his campaign of opposition to it in 2012.

And on the very day he removed it I did warn that inflation will be a problem I hoped they had a solution towards. Apparently they did not have a plan. They just took the money and left. Today the productivity of the average Nigerian individual and business has fallen drastically. Today the resources folks should be using in paying salaries, growing jobs and expanding business and productivity is consumed entirely by energy.

And all because the government has failed to use the money they had taken from the subsidy budget to invest in alternatives. Alternative transport and alternative energy to keep costs in check. Instead it has been used to increase inflation by increasing money supply to politicians and politically motivated projects that are largely unproductive.

The government has woefully under estimated the effect of energy prices on the economy and on the well being of the average citizen and the result is that those who cannot be squeezed have resorted to crime. Today everyone is in danger.

DesireV:
It doesn't have to be insults. Adults should be able to converse respectfully.
Dollar and Pounds equivalent of N1000 is actually 0.7USD and 0.5GBP respectively.

While his argument is flawed, he should be understood correctly.

But that is exactly what the tourist is shocked at.
That the highest currency note in circulation is worth only that you stated above.

And this just goes to show how depressed the economy is. Because if you ask the average person on the street if it is necessary to print a higher denomination currency or re-dominate the naira (remove one, two or three zeros) he will absolutely reject that due to fears of additional artificial inflation.

Look. There is absolutely no alternative to a well run economy and until we can drag inflation down to the low single digits the standards of living of the average person will continue to slide with more and more people slipping into poverty everyday.

My solution. We need foreign management of our economy. We need apolitical, unbiased, qualitative leadership in our central bank and Ministry of Finance to guide government decision making particularly how we handle our finances. Because the people have reformed to a large degree. The problem remains the government and it's unending mismanagement, waste, corruption and visionlessness. We need foreigners in charge for a season to clean up. We need a mirror to tell us the truth.

Useless kings. Disease of poor leadership pervading the society from political to administrative to traditional. And the people steeped in feudalism sit down and accept that instead of one brave soul assuming the throne and doing the needful by mobilizing the community to form a defence force.
Haba, What is the key to the throne room of any monarchy if not strength.

I have recalled history time without number about the frontier states of the formative years of US, when settlers had to fight off indigenous armies and then form law enforcement to protect themselves from themselves before federal laws and law enforcement existed.

Almost the same lacuna exists in most rural places in Nigeria. The total absence of the law. But instead of standing to protect themselves they cede the spaces to lawlessness and foreign forces.

If the Federal government cannot protect you, you have the absolute right to protect yourself. And if you rather run then you cannot lay claim to that territory or wear a crown with it's insignia. We live in a world where MIGHT IS RIGHT. Take it or leave it.

Franking:
Ngugi Wa Thiongo who used to be known as James Ngugi was a Kenyan writer who authored Weep not, Child. I didn't need google to get that.....

I mean. No Nigerian that passed through a half decent grade school will not have come across his works.

I absolutely hated English Literature as a subject and absolutely abhor Contemporary literature but I had to pass.

Namaster:
Nigerians who HATE Nigerians will read this NONSENSE and use it to justify their HATE for their country.

Meanwhile, Nigerian Authors who write in English have set the BENCHMARK for literature in Africa and the World.

EVERYBODY knows China Achebe.
EVERYBODY knows Wole Soyinka.
EVERYBODY knows Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

NOBODY can name ONE author from Kenya without first searching GOOGLE.

There are NIGERIANS who speak with BRITISH ACCENTS without having step out of Nigeria.

While some people will lay ALL the blame at the feet of Nigerian Politicians, Ruto SHARES in the blame.

People in Leadership positions should know BETTER than to make STEWPID generalisations.

You can't name one single author from Kenya. Haba.
Even we that had both academic and non academic subjects in secondary school will never forget the great Ngugi Wa Thiongo. Didn't you do English Literature.... incidentally my weakest subject.

The delamination of society due to the failure of institutions due to the greed for power of one man that refuses to grow them. The effects are festering and will affect all.

Mr. Sanusi...only if we had functional institutions and independent arms of government. But the master strategist knew these things before hand and neutralized them all.

He knew a day of reckoning will come when the people will begin to ask serious questions because of the hardship they face.

So there is no one to ask, no one that can question this government. This is the big mistake of our time and I did warn about this many times when the cement had not hardened on this autocracy.

The only way out is to await the end of the tenure. But trust me, they have thought about that too.

Folks are so intolerant of criticism.
Sowore raised an important point at a critical juncture that hopefully gets to the person involved and triggers a response.

Folks should understand that those who quest for leadership in a democracy MUST be subject to intense pressure, intense scrutiny continually. The people should not allow their leaders an iota of reverence, any sense of security whatsoever. Because this is the where the seeds of feudal rule emerge.

The moment you protect them, you lose your ability to control them. And if they do not operate in an atmosphere of citizen advocacy and scrutiny they will NOT serve the people properly and they will not succeed.

He should answer if he claims he is accountable.

FBIBOT:
Lots of tricycle here in ibadan uses cng.... Have seen and board them well.. Most new dangote trucks too use cng... The main issue is nnpc unseriousness... By now I expect all nnpc major outlet should have the conversion unit throughout the federation

What is the impact on the cost of transportation. Are those CNG trucks, buses, cars and trikes demanding cheaper fares compared to their gasoline/diesel counterparts.

Bobodee09:
Is very possible you living in a cave or Bush cos if not you will know/see most trucks now use CNG.

And what is the effect on the cost of haulage if I may ask. Has it come down from the dizzying height of 2023. The devil is always in the detail.