₦airaland Forum

BetaThings:
Your body language is happy today. Congrats!!!
But remember that Saddam was accused of working with Al-Qaeda and everybody who knew the motivations of both will know they cannot work together
It was Yaradua government that killed the[b] leader of Boko Haram - did "prominent" muslims support Boko Haram[/b] to harass Yaradu government because they did not want a Northern Muslim in power?
During the time of Shagari, Buhari and co flushed out Maitatsine group and as GOC Buhari drove Chadian soldiers back to their country
I know what they say in your churches is that Muslims from the North love their muslim brothers from Chad, Niger etc more than the non-Muslim Nigerians
No matter the evidence, you guys will listen to the lies from your pastors
I like to repeat this prayer and challenge you to say Amen to it

May God expose and bring His wrath upon the Boko Haram murderers, their sponsors and those exploiting the crisis for political, financial or any other gains



And this division will solve the problem of itsekri and Ijaw? Jukun and Tiv?

Read the emboldened again and answer this question: why is it always the north? why is it precisely northern muslims? Are you guys the only citizens of this country? Must we always be dragged to mud because you people can't get your acts together?

In 2011 Nigeria was wobbling, everyone was managing, even the fools were trudging on like Fela's suffer head. Before we knew it we were told Nigeria would be ungovernable, we thought it was a joke until....Kaboom! Northern churches went up in smoke, body-bags kept coming from all directions - Madalla, ECWA, etc. Church buildings and church people piled up in ruins. Few Muslims and mosques were targeted, but that was until Jihadists ran out of 'easy' Christians and Churches in the north and then set their sights on the entire Northern landscape.

Today the game has changed, thanks to Chad's life-time oil revenue opportunity.

I ask myself, how do I help these people? How do I even fit in? My people and I are not Chadic, we don't practice Islam, we're not Arabian nor do we even want to have anything to do with whatever it is that hatefully and vengefully crawls out of Arab. We don't believe in multiple wives, we don't buy into Almajiri, we don't engage in nomadic life style, we don't enjoy the site of polio ravaging our landscape, we despise illiteracy, we don't carry 'dagger,' and we certainly don't make IEDs nor do we strap them on our chests for suicide mission. I mean, How do I fit in to help these folks?

Fellas I'm in a big quandary here. I tell them to have their own country they refuse, go to school they say lai lai, stop killing - who sai, nothing works! Ok I don't care if you live or die - oh they say na iyamiri be Boko Haram. And if I change to "I'm sorry, I care now," they say I must join them chase out GEJ and give them power. I can never win with them hence my current ambivalence to their plight. But I promise to write a best-seller when the smoke is no more and it shall read "How Core North's unbridled lust for power destroyed the north and her children."

Gideon Orka, what a visionary! I have a feeling you're laughing at our political impotence and foolery today. After sacrificing your life to show fools the easiest way to cross the Red Sea and have a peaceful One Nigeria they still went back to Egypt. I can tell you don't pity the fools who're always clowning and whining about the blaze up north but will never have the balls to stand firm and tell these blood thirsty Jihadists to go shove it.

What can some of us do when we still have many national fools who love fatalistic and suicidal extremists more than extremists love themselves. They want all of us to die to save people who will in turn behead and impale our heads like they did Akaluka, roast us alive like they did Oluwatosin, and set us ablaze after losing elections like they did Okpokiri and his NYSC comrades - the list goes on forever.

They say it's not religious. Yet, long before I was born, Afghanistan, Yemen, Somalia, Pakistan, Palestine, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Northern Nigeria, etc all have been burning with no real solution in sight. They say it's not religious, yet Sharia took thousands of live, miss universe took its own, Danish cartoon was not left out. They say they do not support terror yet many polls show that Northern Nigeria gave Osama Bin Ladin the highest support during 9/11.

Does anyone blame Middle Belters?

The quest for freedom is a universal human trait irrespective of its inclusion and designation in UN's charter as one of man's fundamental rights. Therefore, it's idiotic as well as monstrously subhuman for any power or group to deny another its right for freedom. We saw it happen in Sudan, the Caucuses, Indonesia vs Papua Guinea, Indonesia vs East Timor, Turkey vs Kurds, and Nigeria. Sadly, in all the places it happened or still happening, thousands and millions of body count has shown the ludicrousness of powers or govts bent on denying others their God-given freedom.

Of all the 3 major ethnic groups in Nigeria, the Hausa-Fulani core north is the only group still clubbing and harassing the minorities in her supposedly 'power enclave.' In life things change and one has to move on. Lord Lugard and Nigeria's independence era are long gone, hence the need to embrace a new day with new realities. If today Middle Belters are redefining themselves as Christians in the north then I suggest we let them be - if it works out for them, fine! If not, their problem.

Perhaps if Hausa-Fulani had treated them with less violence, who knows? Maybe they would still be in bed with One North ideology today. At any rate, its no use crying over the evaporation of one big north now.

Adwexky:
I don't even think these Islamic extremists are against Jonathan administration and If they are against his Administration, Jonathan should step down, not because he is a Coward but because of the life of the masses, especially in the Northern part of Nigeria.

But Babangida didn't step down for MKO neither did Abacha. They all stood their ground while Nigeria burned.

Gowon didn't step down for Ogundipe when 50,000 Igbos were butchered in the most gruesome fashion. Mind you the butchery occurred in a space of 3 to 5 months whereas Boko Haram, in the 5 - 6 years of its real violent existence, hasn't killed more than 20,000 - not that I'm trivializing the death of even a single person. Point being - No one steps down for anyone in this Lugardian nation irrespective of how much heads already decapitated.

Those who murder sleep shall sleep no more.

The way I see it, the core north is at liberty to lay waste their homeland. If they think southern Nigeria, USA, Arab world, or Abuja is going to stop this madness of theirs that started since 1945 then they're out of luck.

abbakacici:
we have 2 type of Middle belt,
1) religion : to this person middle belt is any place in north Nigerian with reason Christians population therefore to him core middle belt are Plateau and Benue follow by Kogi, Nassarawa, Taraba, Adamawa, southern kaduna, southern Borno and southern Gombe (most people who used this definition are from Benue and southern Kogi )
2)Political and Tribal Definition : this is used by the Government to dividend Political position, this is north central states

A7:
Exactly, the former are bigoted secessionist with heinous agenda born out out of greed, the later were bridge breaking hypocrites. In any case they are all cowards.

Whaaaat? So Middle Belters are now 'secessionists with heinous agenda born out out of greed,' wheww!

Perhaps I was asleep or away when Middle Belters sought to secede. Please does anyone have a link to this new info? This news is a sure a big bang.

nduchucks:
What happened to you, my good ol' friend? I don't play that multi moniker game. You owe me an apology for that accusation. If you actually believe what you wrote, then its quite a pity. I misjudged you.

Chew on this sir; Nigeria will remain one in 2015 and beyond, to the disappointment of folks like you, though I understand your plight.

I have no problem with Nigeria remaining together beyond 2015. The issue is that it may not remain together the way you like it. As long as you're fine with that then we're good to go.

nduchucks:
^^^^ Tales from the crypt


Eeeyah, things would have been different if the war had been won. pele sir.

If I were you I would go way back and check what Ikenna told nduchuks regarding the fate of 'mighty' north when things were much cooler and Boko Haram was still talking from Sambisa forest. Now where at thou? You need to listen and learn. My interest in Nigeria doesn't go past Asaba, and when it occasionally reaches Abuja it is to remind violent Jihadists that I have their balls on a 300 pound G-clamp ready to squeeze bejesus out of them fools. No need to talk more.

On a lighter note, why are you not using your 'Ispikdatroof' moniker today?

Impeaching GEJ is the easy part. The hard part is whether Nigeria will be able to pay her bills after GEJ is booted out.

Talk is cheap.

In my part of the country we have a saying that it's only the dead that doesn't know his weight.

Now, as for all the core northern lawmen who're excited about the prospect of GEJ leaving too early before 2015, the following below is what's in the offing for them should they get their wish.

1) Oil production and revenue will come to a screeching halt, thanks to GEJ's Ijaw kinsmen.

2) Asari, Tompolo, and their retinue of foot-soldiers will create a big eruption in ND as well as the entire stretch of Nigeria's coastline thereby drawing the overstretched military into a bitter war .

3) Limited military men and equipment will be deployed in the ND leaving Boko Haram infested North open to willing Jihadists from Chad, Niger, northern Cameroon, Mali, and Sudan - and this does not exclude already hardened and caliphate-hungry Shekau's indigenous Kanuri terrorists and armed Fulani 'cattle herders.' The entire North including Middle Belt will literally be a hot soup of molten lava.

4) State govt's monthly allocation all the over north will be hit the hardest given the end of oil revenue. With govts in the north in dire and impossible condition, northern economy will evaporate leaving an army of angry, illiterate, and religious purists in total control of a region the size of Germany and France combined.

5) SW will be too busy safeguarding their region. They'll understand your plight and perhaps pray for you in the mosque once in a while. This doesn't mean most folks over there won't remind you in national dailies how your unbridled lust for power undid you.

6) SE, the one single enemy you love to hate, will openly and undiplomatically tell whoever cared to listen that they knew you had it coming. They'll tell you to repent and apologize for all the blood you shed in Nigeria. And when they're not talking about your love for blood, they'll start lecturing you on how to marry fewer wives, make fewer babies, support your kids and send them to real schools, and most importantly stop your hateful Arabian imported wahabbi variant of Islam. However, when you do manage to beat the northern chaos and appear in Night-Mile Enugu, they'll still buy your red meat and pay you in cash jeje.



Anyways, let me just cut to the chase.
The mere notion of impeaching GEJ is laughable. It seems the proponents want to test the nationhood of this nation with an end of the year joke fit for April 1st.

Nigeria as is is unstable enough, bloody enough, and divided enough. An average Nigerian has paid enough already for the buffoonery and idiocy of political touts who have never in their lives sweated for a penny through genuine means.

Take a look at all the LGA chairmen, 'honorables,' governors, and presidents - what you see is a bunch of schemers who're always fighting for self-preservation and feeding fat off saint and sinners alike. It's either they served in the military or under the military, or they were commissioners, permanent secs under one govt or the other, which is why the notion of impeaching GEJ or even 2015 election, in my opinion, is laughable. I sincerely believe the whole NA and executive arm should be sacked and replaced with the Judiciary for the time being. I checked the take-home pay for the legislative and executive arm of major countries about a week ago and I concluded that the only moral and temporary solution for now is to have the judiciary oversee Nigeria for the time being. Nigeria is operating a govt of elected criminals and no where is this more self-evident than Abuja's Aso rock and NA.

For NA members and executive cabinet to gulp the amount they currently receive every month and still have the gumption to call themselves progressives and democrats is an unconscionable betrayal of the poor.

The design seems like a nice way to die for folks who think every piece of technology from the West is Godsend.

I guess one can say the design is good for school projects as well as enthusiasts. It's this kind of design that gets the attention Richard Branson. But other than attention and display of great engineering skill, no investor will put a significant green-back on such venture. In fact investors learnt bitter lessons during the 30s through 50s when auto and aeronautic engineers worked day and night to bring about flying cars.

Let's not get it twisted, cars can fly. In fact there isn't much difference between a car and an aircraft - if you want your car to fly or your private jet to drive on Ojuelegba 's asphalt, I bet some guy from LASU or FUTO might have solutions for you - You don't need to look for Elon Musk. The issue is what happens after the car or jet zooms off. Will the car stall in mid air? Is it aerodynamic enough? Can it muster enough thrust and lift? At what altitude will it operate, and does it have good avionics to enable it overcome dangers posed by 1 dollar laser beams that kids point to the sky every now and then? Or should we do a knock down on the avionics and perhaps rely on the visual acuity of the pilot to fly the machine just like folks did with early WW2 spitfires? And if that's the case how much hard-landings, crashes, and fatalities would be acceptable?

And we haven't even decided on God-knows-what gas guzzling engine to put on the da*mn thing - is it gonna be jet engine, internal combustion, or Stirling?

My guess is that perhaps only govts in Eastern Europe and developing countries would allow such piece of machinery fly over people's homes. No sane man would let a car fly over his head unless he's an ISIS militant. I suggest the designers put a label reading "Ride and Die Machine" on it should they decide to sell to the public.

Average core northerner sees nationals of Chad, Niger, Mali, and Sudan as brothers and 'country men.' Yet these same people the north calls 'brothers' have, in the last 4 years, been desecrating core northern landscape alongside Boko Haram. The funny thing is that they would rather believe a phantom Uche, Tamuno, or Akpan is the real Boko Haram than their Chadian 'brother' sponsors. I guess blaming it on Okeke or Ihejirika helps them sleep at night.

Anyways, until the core north realizes that the politics of lake Chad oil basin is the reason Boko Haram isn't going anywhere soon, then I suggest they look for a longer list because in the end all our names will make it to Arewa's 'book' of Boko Haram sponsors. They'll probably write our names multiple times without noticing. Won't be surprised if by tomorrow Junaid takes to his megaphone and attacks Sam_Ikenna for sponsoring BH. Ask him why, he will tell you it had to be Ikenna because he (Junaid) has an Igbo daughter.

Fulaman198:
I guess you have selective thinking and want to put 100% blame on Fulani people and Hausa people or those of us from the core North. FYI, killings don't happen for no reason (unless if you are an evil mastermind like Hitler). Fulani people only retaliate when they are attacked. That's just how it is.

I'm completely against violence but I can tell immediately you are trying to make Hausa and Fulani people seem like instigators of a much larger problem, which is wrong.

In regards to the dream I have, it can happen as long as we have a will to make it happen. Like abdulwaste said earlier, as dark-skinned people we want to show the world that we are highly advanced people, not uncivilized people who can't get our stuff together.

No I do not have 'selective thinking.' You see, unless you're being disingenuous, the aggression which you refer to as 'retaliation' is as a result of Fulani's persistent encroachment in indigenous peoples' lands - this is not a spin to make Fula people look bad, it's just the simple basic truth (but don't get worked yet, I believe this can be solved without separation).

In all the times I spent in Nigeria I never heard or saw any Nigerian group of non-Fulani stock encroach in Fulanis' ancestral land much less destroy their farms or whatnot. It was always Fulanis taking over village farms, destroying poor farmers' crops, killing the owners in some occasions, and molesting the women. Some Nigerian ethnic groups are now retaliating Fulanis' 50 year excesses with cattle rustling and reprisal killing.

Perhaps it's easy to think that I support violence against Fulanis - I don't. I would be pained to see someone hurt a seemingly descent Fulani like you. In fact, probably 2 weeks or so ago, I read an article in Daily Trust on the declining fate of Fura de Nunu. In the article the plight of Fulani cattle herders and their families were laid bare. If you read that article and still not feel pained and obligated to help ameliorate the pains Fulani herders and their families go through then I'm certain you don't belong in Earth. As a matter of fact, I sent a thank-you email to the writer for giving voice to the voiceless.

But more than that I feel lost, confused, and utterly bewildered on why Fulani leaders, even at this moment, never understood that the old-style cattle herding of their kinsmen is approaching a head-on collision with indigenous farmers. I only reach a conclusion which in some sense could be considered conspiratorial and it is that Fulani leaders never cared about herders' clash with indigenous farmers because they believed herders are more entitled to the land than indigenous owners - meaning: if a cattle clashes with a farmer we push the farmer. Unfortunately the farmer is now putting up resistance, fighting back, rustling cattle, and sometimes taking the live of the herder.

So Fula, I do not have 'selective thinking.' Quite frankly, I consider cattle herders war with farmers as a highly trivial and laughable reason for separation. In my opinion, Nigeria posses the resource and will to solve that war in a jiffy so why separate when the solution is simply a massive modern ranch that will keep rich and healthy beef and fresh milk flowing.

The reason I support separation from Core North is because since 1945 core north has been Nigeria's killing field. It just never stops. If it's not x, it's y or z. It seems they always find a reason to take life with no qualms. At some point people have to move on and I believe that time has come for other Nigerians to accept that the killing endlessly going on in the core north is part of their culture, hence the need to move on and apart from Hausa-Fulani and Kanuri.

Nigeria can solve herder vs farmer war, but can she solve core north's extreme religion and violent culture? Most people will tell you NO.

Fulaman198:
I'd very much like to do so. I would love to see Nigeria become a technological giant. I would love for everyone no matter what part of Nigeria they live in to have access to unlimited free broadband internet. Why? Because I love the Nigerian people regardless of ethnic groups.

I believe that if Africans wake up we would be the best, but we must first love ourselves and do away with leaders who are constantly deceiving their people and pilfering money that should go to the amelioration of this beautiful country. Of course I may be killed for my ideals, but what one life for millions if these ideas end up working.

What you wrote is beautiful but, but I can tell you that no non-Hausa/Fulani buys that anymore. When the nation goes down I hope the core north takes a hard look at herself in the mirror and accepts the burden of untold and avoidable bloodshed they perpetuated willy nilly on their fellow countrymen.

abdulwastecx:
it is not that simple my friend... a country dont developed because she can produce 2.1million barrel of crude oil for Indian, american and British market. A country developed by refining the crude into finish product like petro, jet fuel, cooking, gas, heavy diesel, kerosene, other peyro chemical product and gas which is then used to generate cheap electricity for industrial and domestic use.

The question is how can we transform this oil into product that will create job, wealth, standard of living and technology. instead of selling this crude at open market for $65 per barrel? You need brain, you need education, you need a government that is serious about science and technology not division.

in Niger state alone, we can generate about $10 billion from rice farming, milling and packaging. thousands of jobs can be created and so many people can be gainfully employed.
We you go to other northern states like kaduna, nasarawa, taraba, benue etc all we see are arable land that can lift so many people out of poverty, create raw materials for industrial use etc.

south western states like ondo ( my dad home state), oyo, ogun, ekiti, osun etc aso have so many things to offer. ..we can be great in diversity.

Back to your assertion, I think south eastern will suffer more if we disintegrate simply because the region is too overcrowded and lacks meaningful arable land for agricultural productivity.

you need the North as much as the North need the south for access to the sea

I'm not sure you people are aware that other Nigerians aren't dumb. After over 50 yrs of self rule almost all sections of Nigeria can tell that Hausa-Fulani's claim to'One Nigeria' or patriotism is a complete charade. My advice is that you make plans now for an inevitable Arewa republic peopled by only Hausa, Fulani, and Kanuri.

I'm not sure the emboldened deserves more rebuttal given the number of repudiation it already has received.

A grown man telling another grown man, his comrade in the supposedly hallowed chambers, that he would slap him.

And guess what? At the end of this month he will collect over 2 million Naira for doing nothing, or rather for issuing threats. Which brings me to this question: Why do Nigerians, both old and young, issue threats like they're some Halloween candy? The last time I checked Klitschko duly pummeled Samuel Peters, the Nigerian Nightmare. So, it's safe to say no Nigerian currently holds any heavy Weight title, yet threats of physical violence would not let up. Last time it was Tompolo threatening Keyamo with a beat-down and Asari threatening Lai Muhammed with 'self-help.' And if that's not enough, Fayose, Oshomole, Amechi and their foot-soldiers are threatening and counter threatening opposing sides. No civility whatsoever! Even though its equally regrettable, at least people in the US make bold their threats, implicit or explicit. Folks here get mad and, just like that, they go postal - no too much "I go beat you tomorrow when I see you." I'm wondering if that's not much better than this unending 'one day one threat' from every 'man-child' with monthly govt-issued check.

My guess is that that law maker must, at the very least, be in his early 40s or late 30s - probably a Viagra user, and yet he was fixing to engage in altercation with a colleague who looked fresher and stockier - reminds me of a youtube video of a Nigerian who got KOd in a barbershop for a mere $20.

It seems Nigeria is currently witnessing an upsurge in national 'rascality.'

Before fellas run their BPs high, the following are what they need to know:
1) Nigeria has no leadership, has never had the right leadership, and may never have good leadership for obvious reasons (go ask Queen Eliza why).

2) The show of shame being witnessed (National Assembly) has nothing to do with YOU. It's all about self-preservation and acquisition of power.

3) In almost all countries (both developed and developing) C-students rule A and B students. But in Nigeria's case, touts rule all - be you A, B, C, and D material, you're under some touts' control. In case you're in doubt, walk into the next Bus-Stop (motor park) and embark on a journey - from the 'bus conductor' to the driver to the police officer at a checkpoint - everyone is a tout. If you think that's not good enough, perhaps, you should watch political rallies or read political commentaries - every word that comes out of the supposedly potential governors, reps, senators, presidents, and their foot-soldiers are nothing but violence and BS. Everyone is threatening everyone - if its not Asari and Amechi today, it's Ango tomorrow, or Tompolo, Junaid, and Bugaje the day after.

4) GEJ will not 'lose' 2015. The state of the nation and its ever widening ethnic and religious fault-line will play into GEJ's hands. I'm willing to grant that a chunk of SW people who're against GEJ's second tenure are doing so because they, more or less, genuinely believe that GEJ is a failure. But same can't be said of North West and North East. Same scenario, albeit opposite, applies to people from South East and South South - majority of GEJ's supporters in SS and SE are doing so for the same reasons NE and NW can't get enough of Aso Rock. This does not make GEJ's supporters or opponents evil, rather it shows that when situations degenerate to life or death affair, brothers, races, birds of a feather, etc, coalesce for survival - for this same reason AD voted OBJ, core north voted Buhari in 2011, people of same stock tend to marry, people of same race tend to live close to one another, and adherents of a faith are more likely to kill or exclude non-members. This universal human weakness didn't start with GEJ and will not be solved before Feb 14.

nagoma:
Agreed Northern Nigeria needs education but not the GEJ type of PhD which is only on paper and may even be responsible for setting Nigeria back to 1967 and even worse since the coming of the clueless president.

Back to 67? Hmm! interesting.

While you're chasing GEJ, your homeland is burning.

At any rate, I do not think the core north understands there's no solution in Abuja. Abuja is not where problems in a multi-ethnic country are solved, it's where ever decreasing revenue is shared. The north must understand this reality and stop thinking their almajiri, terror, extreme Islam, illiteracy, and multiple wives problem is Nigeria's problem. Chasing the president like a kid who ate a stolen candy while the whole of core is collapsing is a waste of irrecoverable precious time. If the north had put in half the time they used in chasing power and GEJ since 2011 they, perhaps, would have reduced the alarming number of illiterate, almajiri, and terror inclined youths in that region.

Today our oil revenue is falling, tomorrow we might collapse into multiple unfriendly nations. What will be the fate of the core north when the inevitable happens? North's over dependence on Abuja for everything is going to be its greatest undoing when their former comrades they love to hate disappear from the radar. Look at what Ogun state is doing currently - that state is trying to stand on her two feet before the coming doom sets in. Yesterday I stated that Anambra and Abia should up their game and go even futher than Ogun state - that's how a people survive.

The north must know that every region is alone, hence must learn to walk and survive alone. If anyone is in doubt as to the degree of loneliness and lack of empathy that currently exists in Nigeria, the last national conference is a good start. In the conference we saw how other regions wanted to get in on the money meant to rehabilitate the terror ravaged north east - this should tell the north that the Nigeria that fed them belly-full for the last 45 years is gone. Even though the proponents of the 'terror allowance' had questionable motives, the outcome of that debate was a clear indication that in this country, in this supposedly 'one nation,' you are on your own.

I hope the north gets this message before it's too late.

kel4soft:
Are you a Nigerian or do you live here? .

Yes, I am.

No, I don't live 'here.' I used to live 'here' before 'here' became too hot and chaotic.

kel4soft:
You should balance the Geo Political zone or no show.

Lol! And you're right by the way. However, you and I know my proposal is pure fantasy at best - never going to happen!

atlwireles:
The price decline of the past 6 months was more of a market share war. The Saudis and OPEC played it just right. Everybody was waiting for them to cut production 3 months ago, but they wisely refused. The North Americans are the ones cancelling projects and now they want price stability. What happened to the free market.

Didn't know about the 6 month market share war. But it's not a shock because I'm certain US has no love for OPEC for obvious reasons.

Anyways, I'm hoping oil revenue dependent countries (ex: Nigeria) are aware that US has a very large energy resource.

BlackTechnology:
If this information is true, I throw my cap in respect to you for your fact finding missions.



Nigeria is living on a borrowed time of wealth.


We must diversify our export trade and encourage indigenous production of essential products especially electronic mechanical etc goods which is best achievable through resource control and fiscal federalism

Light manufacturing is where we should be for now.
Govt needs to invest in power generation urgently in Lagos, Aba, Nnewi, Ogun, and Kaduna (revive textile mills in that state) for a start. The 5 states/cities I mentioned above are cities that have some form of existing culture and infrastructure for exportable goods. A good govt can support them now and in turn decrease their monthly allocation down the road. This will leave more money for other states as well as gradually increase govt revenue.

atlwireles:
$45 is not likely, 90% of the new oil sources from the North america cost over $70 per barrel to produce. If oil slides to $70 most of fracking and heavy sand oil from North America will shut production down. Many projects for 2015 are already on hold, because of price uncertainty.

Price is likely going to level off around $70. The reason is because even though Canadian tar/oil-sand oil extraction is both capital intensive and messy which should keep oil price well above $70s, Alaskan oil and gas is still very much in play. If Alaskan oil comes in full (which will certainly come) alongside shale/fracking oils, countries like Nigeria, Angola, Gabon, etc that depend solely on oil revenue will be in financial trouble.

In the US today, there's a renewed resolve to go full blast on domestic energy sourcing. My hunch is that a new America that depends less on foreign energy is emerging. The oil wars and unending petro-dollar funded terror has taught US govt a bitter lesson. If Nigeria is going to survive this coming avalanche it needs to tighten its belt now because low oil price is here to stay.

And by the way, I commend Ogun state for targeting budget execution with 45% IGR. I expect Anambra and Abia to sit up and go even further because the 40yr free pounded yam with ofe nsala in Abuja is about to be slashed.

berem:
Okonjo Iweala-worst finance minister nigeria has ever had. Obasanjo did well by kicking her a$$ out but our clueless president retained her.

Explain how she's the worst finance minister. Its easy for people to attack Iwela, OBJ, Sanusi, Soludo, Emefiele, or whoever has occupied high positions in Abuja. Anyone can attack anyone, its the easy part. But substantiating the attacks with valid facts is where the tire meets the road - that's the hard part.

Is anyone in doubt as to the volatility of Naria? A currency backed by 'almost' oil and oil alone? I guess Iwela told the US to double oil production through fracking and improved deep-earth oil sourcing. For the love of God why don't your facts intact before throwing missiles.

The whole of Nigeria produces almost nothing. Tell us what UK, Sweden, France, US, South Africa, China, etc, source from Nigeria... What exactly is the world buying from Nigeria - nothing! So why are we shell-shocked when our currency falls alongside oil price. I guess when folks were jabbing Ghana for seeking bailout from IMF they thought Nigeria was in the clear. Well, Nigeria is not - at least you know now.

In Nigeria there're only 4 places that make exportable products, they're: Ogun state axis - Blue Chip coys, Ijebu people (Ijebu garri - yes! Ijebu garri earns Nigeria forex), Anambra (Nnewi specifically), and Abia State (Ariaria shoes and allied products). The rest of Nigeria is sitting on their meat waiting for ND oil.

You see, blaming XYZ is the easy part. But what the accuser or blamer produces to shore up the Naira is the hard part.

IdomaLikita:
.

Thank You Sir! But We've not been too lucky with Lands! The few We've acquired in the FCT haven't really appreciated as much as expected! Furniture? (No space to store them)! I prefer something I can easily dispose of when things stabilize and I need the Cash, that's why I considered Forex(since I could just walk into a BDC and change)! I'm talking about a Million Naira Plus Sir! So more suggestions would be welcome!

If you're serious about staying afloat should Naira flattens then buy gold or invest in real estate. Gold, for the most part, trumps physical currency.

nduchucks:
The problem will not go away until you people stop encroaching on their grazing land which has been used for more than a century.

When you people get serious you will map out government protected areas which will allow the Fulani people to enjoy their way of life unabated.

That map should allow cattle rearing from Sokoto to Enugu and even PH. It should span North East West and South.

This mindset (the emboldened) is why Fulani may not know peace in Nigeria.

The Fulani group, which you belong by the way, has no territorial claim to even a sqr inch of land in Nigeria. Perhaps in near future you'll realize that your statement above is an insult to indigenous Nigerians who have painfully bent backwards time and again to tolerate Fulani excesses. I guess it's better to let you guys up north sort yourselves out since my interest is limited to the East. But just so you know, next time you plan Fulani grazing route make sure you draw the line right before Anioma in Delta state.

Tbagwell1:
As for me I see no reason 4 these fight, but some politician have taken over d fight. It started when fulani herdsmen and d Tiv farmers were fighting, d Tiv got help from Eggon nd many of them wie killed which didn't go down well with the Ombste fighters. After Tiv nd fulani settle their fight, few weeks after d fight d Eggons attack d fulani residing in Nassarawa state and killed 5 of their members during d fasting period, d fulani waited till after d fasting b4 lunching their attack which wz brutal I must confess they showed no mess @all. They kept on attacking any village where d Eggons where found almost on a daily bases. The fulani have come out twice to finding a way of settling ds issue, on one of ds occasion, d Eggons wanted 2 killed d fulani Elders dat came but those guys came prepared as d all disappeared b4 d Eggons could attack. Mind you this is not a religious fight, because Eggons are Christians and Muslims so Religion shld nt be mentioned in these. For those saying d Governors is involve in these issue, pls find something else 2 say. That man has been d best thing that has ever happen to ds state.

Ok. Thanks for educating us a bit. Hopefully they'll find solutions to this endless bloodbath.

Delta state and Rivers seem to be the most volatile states in the ND.

Tbagwell1:
Most of you seat @ d comfort of your home and say what u don't know. Al- Makura is not a fulani settler, he is Gwandara nd if u don't know anything about these crisis, I suggest u keep quiet. It better that. NB. I witness all that happen today so I know what am saying.

Do you mind helping us understand what's going on over there...?
Thanks in advance.

Anasko:
ITSEKIRIS in Delta state have accused President
Goodluck Jonathan of encouraging Ijaw agenda
to exterminate them following the violent threats
from Ijaws of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South
West Area of Delta state which aborted the
Tuesday’s scheduled groundbreaking ceremony
for the $16bn Ogidigben EPZ project by the
President.
President Goodluck Jonathan
In a briefing yesterday in Warri by Itsekiri Leaders
of Thought, the ethnic group in Delta said they
were ready to approach the United Nations to
seek secession and opt for protection under the
United Kingdom or United States in line with
treaties signed with these foreign powers long
before Nigeria’s independence which they claim
have not been abrogated.
The decision read by Secretary to the ILT, Edward
Ekpoko noted, “Itsekiri and other well meaning
Nigerians are surprised at the failure of President
Goodluck Jonathan to commission the
groundbreaking for the EPZ at Ogidigben,
Ugborodo in Warri South West Local Government
area due to threats of Ijaw militants mostly of
Gbaramatu kingdom.
“The EPZ is completely cited in Ogidigben, an
Itsekiri town. The closest Ijaw enclave lying to
the South, Yokiri, is about 14km from Ogidigben.
The other town to the North is Kpokpo. This
Kpokpo has no geographical contiguity with
Ogidigben.’’.
Pa J. O.S Ayomike, Chairman of the ILT, in their
remarks said various court injunctions by courts
of competent jurisdiction held on the land
ownership tussle in the area support the fact that
the entire land space currently occupied by the
Ijaw of Gbaramatu is owned by Itsekiris of
Ugborodo.
“President Jonathan’s refusal to perform the
groundbreaking ceremony of the project as fixed
for Friday was a show of cowardice unexpected of
his office which should stand for the rule of law.
He has shown that he has joined the Ijaw
militants in building fences among the ethnic
nationalities in the Niger Delta and Nigeria.
“Jonathan should know that Itsekiri the world
over will go to the UN to request for secession if
Jonathan and Ijaw want to pursue the
extermination of the Itsekiri people. We will ask
for the protection of the Britain and USA and the
United Nations”, Ayomike, an octogenarian
screamed.
Ekpoko added that, “Jonathan is pursuing an Ijaw
agenda. We will resist it and will never be
intimidated by threats of war and genocide
against the Itsekiri.”
The Itsekiri leaders also took a swipe at Governor
Emmanuel Uduaghan, calling him to resign as
Governor following his failed boast that nobody
can stop Jonathan from coming for the EPZ
groundbreaking.
Ayomike said, “Jonathan has been stopped by the
Ijaw. They have belittled Uduaghan . Uduaghan
boasted that he was governor and that nobody
could stop the president from coming. Now that
his boasting did not yield any result, he should
resign like President Nixon did.
“Jonathan has been intimidated by the militants,
and the Ijaws have grown in fame and importance
so they can control everything, including the
president of Nigeria.’’.
Meanwhile, the Ijaws of Gbaramatu speaking
through Paul Bebenimibo have maintained their
position to see that the EPZ never materialises
until Gbaramatu stakes are as defineds.
Bebenimibo in a phone reaction yesterday said,
“Gbaramatu Ijaws are not at war with their
Itsekiri neighbors. Our leaders are simply saying
what is good for the goose is good for the
gander. We own a large proportion of the EPZ. We
do not deserve to be shut out. Equity is the
password to a successful EPZ. Equity begets
peace. You cannot talk peace in the atmosphere
of injustice and oppression.”
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/11/protest-delta-epz-groundbreaking-ceremony-itsekiri-accuse-jonathan-ethnic-bigotry/

Why threaten us with secession when the matter is still a mere shouting match between 2 brothers? Are Itshekiris up to 3 million? You know that's the price in human lives for any group that opts for secession. My advice is - USA and queen Eliza won't help u so save yourself the headache. But if you have enough weapon cache then perhaps the time to test if they're working has come.

barcanista:
And how does that affect the thread?

Dude, I'm saying - Used car sales men are making a serious killing in the US and I believe they're probably smiling to banks in Nigeria too. I see that you're good at selling Buhari - you catch my drift..

barcanista:
Very true... He's got an Igbo Son-inlaw

Nwanne, have you considered used-car sales? You might be good at it - just saying.

Vitta:
Team Tinubu, the camp of the national leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, was compelled by some former Nigerian leaders and Northern Islamic leaders to drop its support for the 2015 presidential aspiration of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.
tinubu-tambuwal-buhari
Reflective of the pressure which also came from some close associates of Asiwaju Tinubu, the political group has switched support towards the presidential aspiration of Speaker Aminu Tambuwal who with his entry this week, immediately turned into a major contender for the ticket.

He has Buhari and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the main challengers for the party’s presidential ticket with Governor Rabiu Kwankwanso of Kano State and newspaper publisher, Sam Nda-Isaiah also contending.
Several other factors were taken into consideration by the Tinubu camp in switching support, close associates of the political leader disclosed to Saturday Vanguard. Among the other factors was the alleged overbearing influence of some close associates of Gen. Buhari, who they claimed were likely to fence out other political stakeholders in a possible Buhari presidency.
Three former heads of state, two from the north and one from the south and a very influential retired army chief from the northeast who has also held political appointments in the present dispensation were among those cited by sources as having prevailed on the Tinubu camp to drop support for Buhari.

The decision of the Tinubu camp to drop support for Buhari, it was learnt, also followed reservations from some sections of the north notably, some Islamic leaders.
“It is not that we dumped Buhari, the Islamic clerics, the imams and the political leaders in the north particularly three former heads of state said that they don’t want the man,” the source said.
President Olusegun Obasanjo and a former military president Gen. Ibrahim Babangida met penultimate Tuesday following the latter’s return from a medical trip abroad. The two men met for 30 minutes behind closed doors.
However, Gen Baban-gida had in the past been publicly quoted as urging Speaker Tambuwal to aspire for a higher office. Speaking at the presentation of the Vanguard Personality of the Year award to Governor Chibuke Amaechi of Rivers State in Lagos on April 6, 2013, the former military president said:

“When leaders like Tambuwal delivered on their electoral promise, we advise them to try something higher. For Tambuwal, your guess is as good as mine. Well done.” Babangida’s remark was applauded. .
The influence of some present and past minders of Gen. Buhari was also another reason taken into consideration, a source disclosed.
“There is this perception about Buhari that he is surrounding himself with some people like Nasir El-Rufai, Buba Galadima, Sule Hamman” the source said, reawakening complaints about the overbearing attitude of Buhari’s now dissolved political machine, The Buhari Organisation, TBO which had in the past been accused of selectively fencing out people.

[b]The Tinubu associates also feared that the perceptions of religious extremism which the ruling party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP had sought to tag on Buhari could deny the party votes in the South were he to emerge as candidate.
Though many of the Tinubu associates do not regard him as an extremist, but the perception already created, it was learned, could be injurious to their political outing. There were also concerns that Buhari could be detached from responsibility and reference was made to his past roles as head of state and chairman of the Petroleum (Special) Task Force, PTF where his subordinates usurped authority in his name.
“When he was head of state most of the power was delegated to Idiagbon and when he was at PTF, it was another person, that took charge and that if APC says they are looking for change that Tambuwal represents that change,” an associate of Tinubu revealed.
Another factor that was taken into consideration which was projected by some associates of the APC national leader, Saturday Vanguard learned was the prospect of Buhari turning on Tinubu and others once he is invested with power.[/b]
“There are also fears in Asuwaju’s camp that the man may destroy Asiwaju and may come back to hurt him and some of Asiwaju’s loyalists warned him,” the source revealed.

The matter of General Buhari’s age also came into consideration in the final consideration to drop support for the former head of state as it was reasoned that 70 to 80% of voters fall between the age of 18 to 40+ and most of them don’t know Buhari.
Political associates were also disturbed that inputs made by party leaders into the general’s speech at his declaration at the Eagle Square last month were discarded raising apprehension that the general in office could reject advice. Some were also understood to have raised the fact that the former head of state also did not have enough money for the race ahead.
The factors inevitably helped to shift attention towards Tambuwal who was earlier aligning himself towards the Sokoto State governorship contest.

Support for Tambuwal’s aspiration is also being boosted by permutations that his sterling leadership of the House of Representatives where he has the committed support of more than half of the members had put him in pole position in more than half of the federal constituencies in the country.
The decision of the Tinubu camp to change attention from Buhari and Tambuwal’s entry into the contest was welcomed by associates of Atiku Abubakar who see it as an opportunity for them to move in to harvest support from the influential Southwest caucus that is firmly controlled by Tinubu.

The Buhari camp was yesterday adjusting itself not to be in panic mood as it welcomed Tambuwal into the race. Osita Okechukwu, a strong loyalist of Buhari in a statement made available to Saturday Vanguard said the development would not cut off the celestial bond between Buhari and the more than 12 million followers behind him around the country.
He said: “The entry of Rt.Hon. Aminu Tambuwal is a welcome development, the more the presidential aspirants or any aspirant to governor, Senate, national or state assemblies the merrier.”
“Our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) will be the greatest beneficiary, as the mobilization of the electorate will be wider, penetrating and robust.”

“Therefore, Hon Tambuwal is highly welcome into the presidential race. This is why the constitution of our party was amended penultimate week, to accommodate in less than one hour, any person who joins APC.”
“On his chances, one cannot hazard a guess, as Tambuwal unlike Buhari or Atiku had never contested nationwide election. He only contested in a federal constituency and had never tested his popularity in Kano, Akure or Enugu.”
All one knows is that his entry will neither diminish nor cut-off the celestial bond between GMB and the masses and the middle class of our dear country. The masses and middle class had renewed at every election GMB’s 12million Vote Bank, therefore the contest at the end of the day is between President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and GMB.”

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/11/tinubu-dumped-buhari-tambuwal/#sthash.YkBtBLJD.dpuf

'A luta Agbogho achupu Agadi adigi mma' is both a classic song by Oriental Brothers as well as a timeless saying in Igbo language.

Anyone with a link to that classic? Hit me please.

Folks please don't worry about a less mortally obese Nigeria. You'all know Obesity is bad, so GEJ is just belatedly trying to give us a much needed weight reduction.