₦airaland Forum

superior1: We dont need more states, infact i think we already have too many. Creation of more states will only increase cost of administration (as we will have more governors, Special advisers, commisioners etc to pay) and reduce the fund available for development.

There were not has many states during the era of ZIK and co but we do have serious infrastructural development. We need to return back to true federalism and allow all regions to manage their resources(and yes, South South should have their oil). We need to decenteralise the Federal Government and give more strength to Local Governments. This will force each region to look inward and perhaps groundut in the North, oil Palm in the east and Cocoa in the Southwest will once raise again.

If this country will not look ahead beyond the current feeding source (oil), then i am sorry to say, this country has got no future

I concur. In fact I am strongly in favour of reverting back to regions and won't mind a six region type arrangement.

When we speak of fairness in Nigeria, what exactly do we mean? I ask this question because sometimes when people speak of fairness they only speak in regards to their own aspirations and fairness as it benefits them. It is the same reason why people saw presidential rotation (a dumb idea to begin with) between six regions as fair even though we have over 50 ethnic groups.

Instead of fairness let us speak of equity. And with regards to fairness, unless you are prepared to have a state for each ethnic group I say park this fake "fairness" by the roadside. What is even fair in having more states that cannot support themselves and have to rely on handouts from resources obtained from other states?

I say a new prerequisite to forming state should be a signed agreement that such new states would receive NO federal allocation. Period. There are a good number of states that contribute very little to the Nigerian project and are burdens as things currently stand.

My main reservation to this is that I don't believe the major callers for impeachment are working for the interest of Nigerians. But am I going to make noise about it and actually physically do something in terms of starting group action or whatever else might come to mind? Well, we were told by the AGF (Mohammed Adoke) that prosecution proceedings on oil subsidy scammers were going to start 'next week'. That was two weeks ago. So what am I going to be fighting to protect in this administration?

It is more difficult to just impeach a good leader. Jonathan has been given till 30th of September to dance to the tune (probably a fradulent one) of some elements of the house and perhaps senate. Do they have the numbers to start such a process? Not sure. But he has till that time to show Nigerians why they should take his side in this battle by actually starting to deliver results and not just promises. If not? Good luck to him. He can fight his own battles.

TWO WEEKS LATER


. . . . . just saying . . . .


AGF Adoke . . . . . how far?

la furia: i quite understand and agree with d point from d southerners but i ask how do we address d frequent clashes btw farmers and cattle rearers. D southerners cant pretend not to want cattle meat thoug fish might do. D north dont hv enough grassland to cater for the cattles and goin to d southern part becomes a neccesity. Was thinkin d fulanis could be made 2 pay tax to d host community. If d bill gets thrown out, d fulanis wud continue wt d prblm becous no law says they cant graze anywhere. Unfortunately this nigeria, sentiment wont let pple see d merit and demerit of d bill.

And this is the solution as opposed to fixing the problem of feeding lands up north? What are the senators doing with regards for pushing the desert back?

And please enough of this "we want cattle meat" nonsense. The meat is not free. People pay money for it. You make it sound as if this cattle rearing is some kind of free, selfless service to the nation. It is business and nobody gets any sort of derivation from the proceeds.

The very notion is a tad offensive and reveals the foundational flaws in the country's structural set up.

Would the northern senators that backed this also be happy to set aside land in different parts of the north specifically for other groups to go and open businesses and earn a living peacefully? In fact that analogy does not do it justice because at least with business comes development so you actually contribute to the development of the local community.

Look at the map of Nigeria. There is meant to be a lot of land in the north. The attention of the federal government is better placed fighting desertification so that nomadic roaming can STAY in the north and nomads can roam in THEIR OWN land. But then, we seem to enjoy taking the long winding road to unecessary chaos.

This FCT minister needs to put a sock in it. Isn't this the guy that changed the name of a whole DISTRICT (Maitama - a culturally significant name) to Goodluck Jonathan district. That is the one that reaaly pained me. What happened to a road, or are they now out of fashion? I can't wait for the man to leave that post so his silly renamings can be reversed. Talk about synchopancy.

antitpiah: You think those soldiers enjoy flogging you people? You think it is fun flogging people? They do it not because it is fun, they do it because some of you guys, including you, need to be flogged real hard.

They do it because they have the gun. They are nothing but bullies. Stop trying to paint a picture of valiant gallantry that does not exist. When it comes to civillian interaction, the Nigerian military tends to be nothing more than common bullies. Yes, they are so gallant that they cut qeueus, extort money, and break traffic laws to get ahead. Very valiant. Sing it to the ignorant please.

klax: In a real sense I dont support the action of boy in the camouflage but the truth is this task orce of a things should take things easy a military colonel is a high ranking officer and no matter what ensue I guess the task force and the colonel should have a common ground to settle the score amicably but these tout called LASMA or TASKFORCE of a thing to my own experience they are just full time tout to be honest.

They have always try to be a semigod in their duty I have experience this severally claiming no one can do them anything because they are fashola guys pls and so what

He is a freaking CITIZEN of the country. If you want to allow colonels the right to flank rules and regulation, lobby to get it into legislation so it becomes law. We do not just allow people to pick and choose what laws they want to obey because they are in uniform. GOSH. I can only attribute this craziness to trauma from years of military misrule. Guess what? We are not in military rule anymore.

And let us never get this ever EVER mistaken. The military acts with impunity because they have the gun on their side. THAT IS ALL. Enough of this valiant crap. It is simply people with guns bullying people without guns. At the end of the statement you talk about LATSMA officials trying to be 'semigods'. What do we say about such behavior from our military?

[quote author=fresh_dude]I wonder how you cope with your own stupidity. Is it because of the 'sacrifices' they make that they are free to break laws or defend those that break these laws? Isn't siding with dissidents antithetical to their so called 'sacrifices'?[/quote]I am still trying to understand the logic. But make no mistake, it just goes to show how complicit Nigerians are in their own suffering. They like being trampled on. How many atrocities can we name have befallen this nation under the hands of the army? And someone is calling it an "altruistic profession" by default. Funny trite. People are flogged, beaten, etc, by these "altruistic" officers out to defend their country simply because they have a gun.

naijacloud: I just checked ur profile, it says there dat u're a complete A**hole. I'm not even sure u're nigerian. Wen u take an oath 2 serve ur nation and defend its territorial integrity and d people in it, u say its not altrustic?? Pls elighten me on wat d word actually means,professor xavier. Its people like u dat insult d police and call dem all sorts of useless names,but wen armed robbers visit u in d middle of d night,u'll start looking 4 d number of d dpo in ur locality

Why don't you just answer the questions in previous post to avoid a pointless back and forth where you believe you are actually making a point.

Sky Blue: The army is NOT and altruistic profession, do you even know the meaning of the word? The army is made of PEOPLE. People have different agendas, that is why we have freaking laws. Abacha, Buhari, Babangida, these were Army officers when they ruled Nigeria. And what I may add, was altruistic about Babangida's rule for example? What was altruistic about Abacha killing Saro Wiwa? What on earth are you talking about? Do you know what you are talking about? What rules do we "wave" for the army then, or do we just leave it for them to pick and choose at their will and assume when they "wave" laws it is a "waveable" law? And how is that order or discdipline which we as a society rely on? Stop this useless synchopancy, it is embarassing. Your argument is very weak.

naijacloud: incase u didn't know,d army is an altruistic profession,its not neccessarily about d money, but d passion. certain laws should b waved 4 military personnel as a form of encouragement 4 d choice they've made. Just put a sock in it and go 2 sleep!

The army is NOT an altruistic profession, do you even know the meaning of the word? The army is made of PEOPLE. People have different agendas, that is why we have freaking laws. Abacha, Buhari, Babangida, these were Army officers when they ruled Nigeria. And what I may add, was altruistic about Babangida's rule for example? What was altruistic about Abacha killing Saro Wiwa? What on earth are you talking about? Do you know what you are talking about? What rules do we "wave" for the army then, or do we just leave it for them to pick and choose at their will and assume when they "wave" laws it is a "waveable" law? And how is that order or discdipline which we as a society rely on? Stop this useless synchopancy, it is embarassing. Your argument is very weak.

naijacloud: and mr know all,how much do u pay a man 2 lay down his life so that others can live? Its ignorant fools like u dat don't realize d sacrifices d army make on behalf of dis entity called nigeria, both internally and externally.

And that makes them above the law? Are they forced to be soldiers? You making reasons for people joining the army seem so altruistic. IT IS A JOB, THEY ARE PAID FOR IT.

naijacloud: jjust shut up if u don't have anything meaningful 2 contribute. Wat makes d military man different from a civilian!! Do u ask urself this same question wen bombs go off in various parts of the country and these gallant men have 2 sacrifice their lives just 2 save moronic idiots like u!

They are paid to do that job, they are not volunteers so put a sock in it. They are not paid to break the law!

Biggysmalls919: Fashola should give a statewide broadcast to warn these soldiers and their big headed superiors

I agree with this wholeheartedly. It is time to get the public on his side and let the military know collectively as a people that we are not in a dictatorship and as citizens of the country that pays their salary, they are not above the law. What utter rubbish. Spoilt brats!
This is not something you back down on because you send the wrong message. Other state governors that have to deal with this rubbish in their states should also get on board. Everybody warn the military.

This calls for nothing short of dismissal or serious disciplinary actions of officers involved if required, and I advice Fashola to get the C in C involved if necessary. We are not in a freaking military regime and these boys need to get in line and know their place. What utter rubbish. The more we indulge this nonsense the bolder they become. Decades of military dictatorship is part of what has emboldened these characters.

Most backward state in the region and unfortunately, they are yet to taste anything even resembling leadership.

Or more people could just get pre paid meters. It isn't rocket science.

That is why I will continue to support calls for lax gun controls in the country UNTIL the government begins to take security seriously. These guys have liver but imagine if those touts had better aim and were not afraid to just spray bullets. This could have been a different story. It makes no sense that innocent people continue to have to make do with their "hands" while robbers, touts, and any other crazy person out there the security agencies seem reluctant to face even when you call them, can carry a gun. What is the sense in that? We are happy because citizens had to use their hands to defend against armed men? Where were the police?

Just thank God not many people got killed. Soon you will hear that the suspects have escaped.

As long as the law is applicable to everybody, there are visible road signs and information to inform drivers, and the judge is left to his/her discretion to impose up to the maximum fine per case basis, then I see nothing wrong with the law. Like in most things Nigeria, it is the implementation that is key, and therein lies the problem.

Beaf: Everything you have stated is the fault of the judiciary; eg the failure to try Ibori despite the EFCC boss of the time pulling all stops. The example of Odili obtaining an injunction against the EFCC is not Ribadu's fault either, the man was not the judge in the case.

We Nigerians have a bad habit of wrongly blaming the most visible person in authority, without attempting to understand where responsibilities lie. Thats just plain wrong.

Maybe what we actually need is upright an ex-police officer like Ribadu to go after the juditiary. He has enough scores to settle to make a good job of it. Lol!

By the way, the media screaming "corrupt governor" is a completely different kettle of fish from someone in govt saying those words.

So focusing on plea bargains as opposed to doing the required work necessesary to secure outright conviction and a return of all loot as a strategy was also the fault of the judiciary. Of course it is everybody but Ribadu's fault. Publishing results of findings on Odilli before securing an arraignment all to play politics of presidency certainly did not help the Odilli case. His mouth wrote too many cheques he couldn't cash. Again, no be for mouth. How many times did Ribadu who has no fear of talking blame corrupt judges as the main reason for failure to secure convictions (which did not even seem to be his aim)? And if he didn't why are you making that excuse for him.

Again. No be for mouth!

Beaf: It takes a man with real horns to proclaim that 35 of 36 governors are thieves, I doubt you know anyone that can do it.

You cannot blame Ribadu for the fact that not many went to jail. The man doesn't run the judiciary which does trials and convictions.
If any section of Nigeria is worse than the police (and the police are demons), its the judiciary.

Abeg sing another story. How many cases were thrown out due directly or indirectly to poorly organised litigation? That man's tenure was just media hyping. His cling to fame be say Ibori give am money ein no take. At least with the corrupt and complicit Waziri tenure we saw Bode George serve jail time. With Ribadu, apart from Alam's suspended jail sentence and bearing in mind all the noise, what did we see? That man might have done more damage than good. We still have Odilli and his restraining order on the EFCC even after all the dirt they collected on the crook of a man.

P.S. The media shouts "corrupt governors" all the time, so since when did that even become achievement. I can't even believe you said that. Shocking!!

1forall: Sharp guy dey submit CV and application

Like play like play. De tin be say all na noise, that CV no get achievement, if na me I no go hire am. How many people don enta jail after all the noise wey im make? Na noise we go chop? I just can't believe what was actually concretely achieved with regards to prosecuting of high profile politicians after all the noise we heard. The guy might be principled, have integrity, and whatever else you want to throw in there, but his hype does not match conrete achievement.

Mandelaguy: If every one of you is told to name corrupt Nigerians you have known,I bet RIbadu will not be on most of your lists and for some die hard critics,he will be on the back page......most of you making noise on this thread cannot stand beside him in the council of people with clean hands. The man has said what he believes he can do and Nigerians should not doubt him,he has a track record and non of your paymasters can hold a light to him.

O boy forget that hype abeg. What "track record"? Nigerians and collective amnesia. Go and do your research and come back and post names of five high profile people that spent time in jail as a result of EFCC during Ribadu's tenure. Don't forget that this is a guy that told us 35 of the 36 state governors were thieves. Go on, paste the names of his "victims". I dare you! Na for mouth?

We need more quiet achievers.

slowice: ribadu, ribadu ribadu...wen u were EFCC chairman wot did u achieve...if u re out of job jst beg for one openly abi u wan go collect d one farouk remain

GENUINE QUESTION. How many high profile Nigerians sent to jail again?

Creation of new state a solution? Guy lost me there.

Obiagu1: I absolutely disagree with you. If we have no oil, government will be serious with tax collection and that alone will supersede revenue from oil.
Nigeria is fvcked up because our government abandoned tax collection which is the main source of revenue in Western countries. Agriculture and Import/Export is ahead of oil and that's what it is.

If we dump oil today, Nigeria will become better.

The groundwork for that has to start today. This is not about what the ideal is. As things stand right now, if we wake up tomorrow without oil, what do you think will happen? That tax money will magically flow into the budget?

shymmex: Most of the federal roads in Nigeria (Southern Nigeria) were built way back before oil became the major source Nigeria's income..

Most of the oil money is in the swiss bank accounts of the greedy elites...

And these roads haven't had any work done on them since then? Is it only the federal government that builds roads? What about state governments that get oil derivation which majority of their financial budgets depend on, don't these states also build roads? What about Local governments that also get money from oil derivation given to states? Are roads the only infrastructure that can be built? Are you saying no new infrastructure has been built since the 70s?

Please stop this line of argument, it is just utterly absurd, it really is.

ABUJA alone that people can't shut up about, what do you think built that city please, do tell. Agriculture? And all these roads and ministyr buildings and parks in that city, they were built in the 60s? please, please, please, stop.

shymmex: I disagree with the bolded part.

Where are these roads, hospitals etc?

The roads are death traps; and there is no free medical health care in Nigeria...

Every Nigerian pays for his/her health care..

So there are no roads in Nigeria which people rely on? If there are who built them? You can argue abot corruption and all that but please drop this particular line of reason of yours, it is absurd. Whether poorly or grossly inefficiently, government provides some services which millions of people rely on.

shymmex: Check this out:



^^^^^Oil still remains a smart part of our economy - can an economist explain that to me, plz?

Because of what GDP actually means. Trade remains a largely informal sector which a significant part of Nigeria's urban dwellers earn a living from. I think one issue here is when people think of Nigeria they think too much of cities. Majority of Nigerians apparently live in rural areas. But not to get things twisted, oil drives things in that country (which is not something anybody is claiming we should be proud of by the way).

J12: If agriculture is the major contributor to our GDP and we are not reaping its benefits like we benefit from oil, then why and how is it a major contributor?

This is what OAMJ is trying to argue and where people see things differently. Nigeria earns more from oil, but more Nigerians earn a living through Agriculture. And this makes sense because most of Nigeria's population still lives in rural areas. It is all about the difference between Nigeria and Nigerians and the grey spectrum in between. Think of it this way, Nigeria does not use agric income to service and pay its national debts. Neither does Nigeria really use agric to build its infrastructure.

shymmex: where are the roads and infrastructures?

Where are the schools?

Where the medical centres?

Oil money, oil money - where is this oil money?

Come on. Is this really your argument now? Money is far from used efficiently but most governments that are actually working have used it. Infrastructure in pretty much ALL northern states and most southern states have been built by oil money.

Lagos also benefits hugely from oil. The Lagos government taxes companies and rightly so. And there are a good number of oil and gas companies in Lagos that pay taxes and hires people who pay taxes.

J12: The Statistics bureau is trying to play to the gallery with economic facts and data.
If agriculture is the major contributor to our GDP, how come the north (a predominantly agrarian zone) is wallowing in poverty when compared to the south?

Because agriculture does not significantly contribute to develpment in Nigeria. Few people beyond farmers actually benefit from agriculture. That you can manage to eat some number of times a day from stuff you get from your farm or the small money you get from selling your produce does not translate to wealth, just survival. The south has industry ranging from finance to, to oil and gas, to manufacturing (the reasons are even more than that). To make this whole thing fair I think the federal government should start taxing more industries and getting revenue from that too which should be shared among all states like currently for oil, since we don't seem to be heading towards this so called "federalism"