₦airaland Forum

Good precedence, now if same can be done to some police and army officers and such is publicised then that can set the proverbial ball really rolling.

@Richieboi, sometimes I feel we don't actually know in many instances who we fight or what we actually want to get achieved. The initiative of arresting the LASTMA official was taken by the Lagos state government. Are you waiting for the lagos state government to prosecute Peter Odilli or Obasanjo? Are we going to complain that the lagos state government seems to be doing its job? If these sentences are going to put the fear of collecting bribe in some officials then good job I say.

biina:
and now you have lost me completely, as I simply don't see the point you are making.

A few questions that might help me clarify your position

1. Do you feel Lagos is more suited to being the capital vs Abuja (or any other city)?
2. Do you feel Lagos wouldn't have developed if it wasn't the federal capital?
3. Do you feel there is another city more (or equally) developed than Lagos?
4. Do you prefer we concentrate development in a few already developed cities or spread it around?

I am just curious as to what you mean by the part in bold. We need to "spread development"? What does that really mean though? Sorry, it just sounds like some nightmarish quota system. People who want to develop should stand up, get involved and hold their government more accountable so that their government invests in ventures that would make the area more conducive for business and development. Whatever little development that is actually occuring in the country called Nigeria should be suported and not hindered or manipulated so the development "spreads". Are we to blame the underdevelopment of other parts of the country on the governor of lagos who is actually doing something?

The Structure of the Ministry of Transportation (From Ministry Website)

https://img200.imageshack.us/img200/2387/17528849.jpg

Minister of Transport - Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke
Minister of State (Air) - Felix Hassan Hyat
Minister of State (Water) - Prince John Okechukwu Emeka

Now for any of us planning to do anything about the situation, perhaps such information might be helpful

I know we like to shout down government and in most cases it is justified. However could we be a bit more objective? Sure it could easily be argued that the money could have been put to better use especially since Abuja isn't that populated. However considering that unlike other parts of the country Abuja has largely good infrastructure (Abuja city anyway), it could then easily be passed of as bad judgement (to put it mildly) considering the project was instigated under the administration of the F.C.T Minister and not by Yar Adua. Yar Adua doing ground breaking doesn't mean he instigated the project. If people want to hold grudge with the person responsible for the continued state of the Lagos - Benin roads and other death traps perhaps they should look at the Transport Minister. Sure there are things people could be angry about with regards to the project, however it might make more sense to know who to direct such things at. You cannot hold the minister of agriculture responsible for lack of power, neither can you hold the minister of information responsible for the lack of good roads.

The reason with bringing up this issue is that if people decide to actually do something about it and seriously question the issue in the public arena, then such would be done more efficiently instead of the usual noise that would result in no answers. We should be asking the Minister of Transport why the Lagos-Benin roads are still the way they are, why no projects have been insigated with regards to those roads, when such will be done, what she has been doing, etc. These questions should not be directed at the F.C.T Minister.

sadboi:
I have been on NL for about two months, followed some of the discussions but it amazes me how dictatorial and inimical most of us here are. It is shocking and absolutely inhuman that we can not even tolerate our mates on the interent, how much more if made a leader, say a Gov or President? It amazes me how most of us detest intellectual crticism which shows we are not yet ripe for a change. Except an average Nigerian learns to accept crticism, we can never move forward.

@poster
Everybody has the right to return to Nigeria whenever he/she wishes depending on the person's life ambition. I have purchased my flight ticket to return to Nigeria in August but that does not mean all is well with Nigeria. So many have tried and died without being recognised for their fight for freedom.

I registered a coy in the UK, with a Nigerian subsidiary, with a friend last year to retun to Nigeria in 2009 but my friend already has a change of mind because his uncle who invested N500million in the Oil and Gas sector, after working in USA for eighteen years running his coy, was assasinated along the third mainland bridge. My friend's refusal to return to Nigeria with me revolves around the uncle's experience, and so every disporan  here have their reasons and we must observe and respect their rights.

It has been interesting to note how the poster himself has been treated. The thing about criticism is it can go anyway and to be honest I think the poster's criticisms are valid. Some might see him as rude or even intolerable but I feel he has raised good points, so why doesn't his own criticisms pass off as being "intellectual"? What seemed the reasonable way to deal with the poster's posts was to raise reasonable issues to answer the criticisms he posted, and if people found him intolerable he could have simply been ignored. However this whole idea of labelling any poster who might be perhaps too upfront and rude as i_laugh is hilarious.

I guess people took different things from the post however what I saw was a confrontational post which to be honest should have brought about introspection. How many years have posters on nairaland been "debating" now? What has been the outcome of such? I think it is a question people should ask themselves because if people keep on complaining year after year about a situation and do nothing about it then what on earth is the point? Is it just a past time? Is it not time we work towards change (if we are not already doing so) in order to have the society we want rather than coming online to give more "commentary"? Would such things cause change? So what is so offensive about such posts? You don't have to be in Nigeria to effect change in the country although being in the country in some cases might make such pursuits more efficient. The first post by the poster seemed reasonable to me, I just don't get why he got all the backlash. It is not compulsory to respond to all posts or post on all threads.

If it gets built then it gets built. At least an outcome would be seen and something tangible would be put in place, I rather have something tangible being accomplished than thesame money being so easily lost to corruption or whatever else. The only irritating thing is Mr President thinking such a development has put the country on the path to achieiving the vision 20-20 goals, but I have come to expect nothing less than ineptitude from him so no surprises. Whatever is being built now let is get built abeg. Port in Onitsha? Road in the middle of the desert? Let it be spent on something other than being lost in people's account.

DRANOEL:
thats why i said its all propaganda,for those who are in kano or who have been to kano recently will tell you that what hisbah is doing is no more than what kai is doing although they are more strict

Since you seem familiar with Kano may I just ask a genuine question? Do you genuinely believe the Kano Government and the Hisbah are sticking to the agreement that the sharia law would only be applied to muslims in the states? Surely you are familiar with all the stories that leak out of Kano State which claim otherwise, are you disputing such stories?

KnowAll:
The Federal Govt. is fully aware of what is going on in kano but it's deliberately turning a blind eye because of fears that it might trigger crises. . . mostly religious. . .


Its high time most learned Nigerians wake up and smell the coffee, lets call a spade a spade, Can someone tell me what the IGP in Abuja does, he sits there with his fat arse and complain we have not got this or that yet the last 2 IGP embezzled willing neely. Kano state is only reminding Nigerians of its long forgotten principles of federalism. Fashola had to supply the police in Lagos with new Jeeps walkie talkie and ammunitions. Where was IGP then, when it comes to local elections in Ekiti state that is when you know there is someone called IGP.

@Knowall I am weary of even addressing you because you might take offence, but I would just like you to read through your posts again please and perhaps observe if we are actually addressing the issue at hand. Is the issue whether the constitution needs an overhaul? Is the issue whether Nigeria ought to practice "truer federalsim"? Whatever ideals we might all have for the country the simple issue is the Nigerian police force is a federal body and under the Nigerian constitution of present, states are not allowed to run their own police force, hence what Kano State is doing is ILLEGAL. Some could also see the issue as being the fact that Once Again, Yet Again, the federal government turns a blind eye to what happens in Kano and in the north in gerneral; however what is most shocking is that some will now seemingly seek to turn what some might see as logic on its head. We won't make it about the illegality, about the seeming favouritism which could fan the embers of dischord, no, we will instead let Kano of under the guise of "fighting for true federalsism? Sorry, I just find such a spin on the issue and what seems as letting Kano of Yet Again as quite appalling and distasteful.

I am all up for state police, I agree that its about time it happened for a host of reasons I won;t bother boring you with, but is that really the issue at hand? Will such be allowed in other parts of the country?

DRANOEL:
it seems some people just like bringing unnesseccary issue,kano has hisbah(or what ever they call themselves) and some of youstart saying they are behaving like a country in a country,what about lagos that has LASTMA,KIA etc and several other agencies duplicating federal agencies? was it kano that was in the news recently on the constitutional inland water ways violation or was it lagos? if at all there's any state that is duplicating agencies in the country today its lagos(and you cant blame them,they are all due to federal govt.failure). you guys should stop your misguided propaganda!

Did you read the article fully? Does LASTMA have such powers as those mentioned in the article?

proudly9ja:
sir,
your analogy is wrong. Il put it this way. a child's parents promise to buy him a toy for xmas but he does not believe them cos they have disapppointed in the past. Anyways, he gives them the benefit of doubt hoping they will ''disappoint'' him and buy him the toy. He waits till xmas and beyond and they don't buy him the toy. He isn't disappointed, he has just proven his point, that his parents should never be relied on. Simple.

Anyways, this thread is not for me. The countdown is not for my benefit alone. If there is anything you think should be done and you can do to make it better, please feel free. I don't have any copyright on it. Afterall, no be ''be the change that you want to see'' them dey talk?

LOL @"sir". Oga sir it was just a suggestion . I still disagree with your analogy though because if the exercise fails then who have you proven the point to? Nairaland "commentators"? I actually think it is a good exercise, I just think it would be much more significant if he "fails" in broad daylight and the point was proven in broad daylight to Nigerians hence the need for more publicity which might create pressure. Anyways, I am quite busy at the moment but I will try and reach some people and see how much publicity can be raised. We will talk later 'sir'

proudly9ja:
@ sky

When I started this countdown, I mentioned all you stated above including looking for suggestions on how to get Nigerian Newspapers put up a similar countdown on a small corner on their frontpage. However, I got no positive feedback but I don't mind and I am not doing this for the AG to see or to feel threatened, not at all. Like I said on earlier posts, I will like him to disappoint me and post the names of those involved within the time frame he gave. I will very much love him to disappoint me. I for one don't think he will but lets see.

So, its not to threaten him, its just to raise an awareness that the AG made a statement some weeks ago and if he doesn't lve up to it, then he has proved what we all know, he is nothing but a liar and nothing he says should be believed.

That is my point, do you think awareness is being raised? It is actually a good venture if well done and could actually put serious pressure on the government if properly employed. However at the moment it is equivalent to a child threatening self harm if he doesn't get a new toy, only that his parent aren't even aware of his request to begin with.

proudly9ja:
[size=15pt]Aondoakaa's clock

35 days left[/size]

You know it would be more effective if you could actually publicise this whole count down clock idea more, so that Aondakaa actually sees it himself because all you guys are doing right now is equivalent to threatening a guy who is not even aware of your existence. If you were serious we could join heads together and find ways of getting this in the public conciousness of Nigerians both home and abroad and get the government to actually see this. Strategies could be employed to actually make this more efficient than "warning" a guy via  'posts of death' who doesn't even know he is being mocked or threatened. Let us stop shouting in the desert but take the struggle to the relevant doorsteps and go beyond posts on nairaland. Back it up a bit is all I am saying.

Imagine front page headlines like "35 Days left for Aondakaa" to get people reading, then in the paper would be an article which focuses on the failure of leadership in Nigeria but more importantly on the complete loss of hope and faith the citizens have in the Nigerian government, make reference to Obama (people just eat that thing up), blah blah blah, say stuff like here is one man who actually has a chance to redeem himself, ask the question - can our politicians be true to their word? Print in bold the promise Aondoakaa made after of course drawing parallels of unkept promises with power sector emergency, rule of law, etc. Finally lead up to the countdown. Getting an article like that on the front page of a Nigerian daily and on credible forums and bigger sites, etc, is a start. Although it might be quite a task, it would be more effective than posting a 'warning' on nairaland.

sadboi:
I have read your arguements and wish to make few contributions, Nigeria can never get better if the intellectuals continue to run away from Nigeria. I am an Engr with specialisation in Project Mgt. (Civil). My returning  to Nigeria in August is to set up my consulting company. I have also been in talk with the Dean, Faculty of Law in the University of Abuja in the past two months over my interest to lecture their Engineering students on Best Project Management Practices without any fee ie absolutely free, maybe twice in a month. Furthermore, I have also developed a programme which I intend to lunch in Nigeria sometime next year when I settle down. The idea behind the programme is to organise scholarship exams, supervised by myself and some other yet-to-be-selected upright individuals, for the motherless babies, and the successful candidates will be listed and published at my website. The public will have the opportuinity of financing any of the scholars and the arrangement is such that each scholar/benefactor will have direct financial relationship with their financier. Financiers will have the right to opt out by giving ample notice so that we can make alternative arrangements for the scholar.

Presently, I have one scholar in my programme who lives at Enugu and I have not met her, as my sister conducted the test last year. That is all I can afford for now as UK tax system has not the best for savers. I am in my twenties and one of my greatest dream is to offer scholarship, upto University level, to at least fifty Nigerians before I die. The only reward I will ask of these scholars will be to replicate same to orphans. Imagine if thirty out of these fifty replicate the scholarship to at least five people.

There are much more we can do for this country, Nigeria.

I wish to go off topic a bit,
Yesterday was the worst day of my life. I got reported to my Company Manager yesterday by my Team Manager for visiting Nigerian website, nigeriamasterweb.com, during my break and I was cautioned and instructed never to visit any Nigerian website at work again even when I made it clear to them that it is a newspaper site. How worse can it get when people you work with are sent to spy your daily activities without you knowing it.

Interesting ideas and some of us might be able to help you with your project and you might be able to contribute in other ways too with regards to development in the country since you seem quite keen. I am part of a group with the aim of giving people the opportunity to contribute to development in Nigeria wherever they can. Members also have projects they have going on as well as group projects. If you are interested in knowing more just let me know and if you aren;t keep up the good work.

Hope you are not viewing Nairaland from work o, before you get into trouble again.

ElRazur:
Nice try. Here is the real issue - I am saying I WANT do come home and help with my kind of knowledge. However, I am unable to do so. ALSO I wont be feeling fulfilled with my role due to several reasons I mentioned. Strangely, you appear to have missed all of this, or left it out deliberately.

You them made some comment along the lines of how my skills can be transferred etc. Does it not occur to you that I may not want to transfer any skills across? Hence why I mentioned "Choice". Also, it is like asking a pilot to transfer his skills and work in say banking sector, Jeez that will be a waste. But hey, I dont expect you to agree or even see my point.

Apple and oranges. Not exactly the same thing.

Dude, if you have noticed my manner of posting around here. I am weary of getting into lengthy debates, but sometimes it is necessary to point out certain things to make necessary points. Your statement that you apologised for wasn't necessary in the first place. Period.

Sky Blue:
Here is the issue, you postulated that you couldn't contribute meaningfully to progress in Nigeria and I disagreed saying that whoever wants to contribute can in numerous ways. So please do tell, where does this "choice" I have to respect come into the equation? The situation can be likened to someone saying they are hungry and they want to eat but there is no food after which they are informed that there is food but its only garri and egusi, to which they reply that they only prefer spaghetti and it is their choice. ? ? ? What am I supposed to do with that please? Take a leaf out of your book and respect people's choices as you seem to postulate. Some people say they want to contribute where they can and that Nigeria is not dead, they say they want to be part of the solution, some say it is not yet ready for them, etc. Both choices with each having their own reasons.

I was weary of actually responding since you took offence at my last post addressed to you, so please, we don't need to have exchanges if it would keep on degenerating into this so please kindly feel absolutely free to ignore my posts completely. I am not into online squabbles.

So you not wanting to do anything except what you trained for means you can't contribute as opposed to you rather contribute on your own terms? Does that mean you can't contribute or does that mean you would rather contribute a certain way?

What makes you think the post which you derided and took offence at was completely directed specifically at you when I made note that is was more directed at ideas shared by groups of people, etc? So I should make note of things that ElRazur might or might not take personally before I post on any part of a public forum as not to be labeled "bitter" from someone who knows nothing about me? This exchange is proving to be an exercise in futility so just forget it please. Feel free to have a last say and if you took offence at the post then apologies but as I stated earlier I still stand by what I have posted, its a public forum.

ElRazur:
But when someone like me says my field is severely under-developed, and not prepare to go home as a result, You disagree right? And seem to want me to "transfer my skills across" without respecting the fact that I have a choice.

Yet here is a statement coming from someone whom I personally believe his post is legit - 40years plus of no tangible achievement will probably back his point up. And here you are disagreeing again, Kinda Ironic isn't?

Headfcuk.

Here is the issue, you postulated that you couldn't contribute meaningfully to progress in Nigeria and I disagreed saying that whoever wants to contribute can in numerous ways. So please do tell, where does this "choice" I have to respect come into the equation? The situation can be likened to someone saying they are hungry and they want to eat but there is no food after which they are informed that there is food but its only garri and egusi, to which they reply that they only prefer spaghetti and it is their choice. ? ? ? What am I supposed to do with that please? Take a leaf out of your book and respect people's choices as you seem to postulate. Some people say they want to contribute where they can and that Nigeria is not dead, they say they want to be part of the solution, some say it is not yet ready for them, etc. Both choices with each having their own reasons.

I was weary of actually responding since you took offence at my last post addressed to you, so please, we don't need to have exchanges if it would keep on degenerating into this so please kindly feel absolutely free to ignore my posts completely. I am not into online squabbles.

PurestBoy:
Which Hope for this country?? when the younger generation seems to be worse and every young Nigerian[/b]s _{including me} [b]already have the plan to embezzle at the slightest opportunity

Speak for yourself and those you know please.

nuzo:
You are so wrong cos all these doesnt equate to reasonable development; it even hinders development if objectively assessed as it will make the government too lazy and prone to corruption.

However, most of us are already involved in charities like this. You should also have in mind that people have different motives for doing this kind of work in nigeria.
I will still go ahead to encourage people to emulate the guys in the examples you stated.

What a baseless statement. . .
All graduates are not professionals like Elrazur. But if you insist that they are, then I tell my friend who will be graduating soon as an aeronautical engineer to come also sweep floor in your meeting?

Did not suggest all graduates are professionals simply pointed out that there are a lot of skills that are transferrable hence it does not have to be your niche in which you contribute in. If after explaining again you did not get the reason I referenced the story I did then sorry, I can't help you. There is A LOT of work to be done in so many areas which can benefit from people getting involved and there is a lot of work to be done which can have wide reaching implications. One has a wide selection of areas they can contribute in with implications ranging from education, to industry, economy, politics, social awakening, etc. The issue is backing up rhetoric with substance and action.

By the way, I disagree with your first comment that such things achieved through people getting involved as posted by the poster you quoted are not 'reasonable development'. Sure much more could be done and although such people should be encouraged for taking such a plunge in the first place, much more can be done with the approach of people getting involved. You could argue that such isn't really political development but it is development and the people who would benefit with such things as schools being equipped for them, software to enhance education being provided, being infomred about situations in Nigeria, etc, would argue with your postulation that such is not development. I am pretty sure people who might be affected by changes to moves by the government as a result of actions of pressure groups would disagree with you that such was not "reasonable development". Afterall wasn't it an NGO that brought the whole issue of people in diaspora being able to vote to the table of the federal government? There is a lot of work which goes beyond charity and is associated with improving the quality of government, making government more accountable, etc which people can get involved in. The issue is follow through. So many ideas come up and people don't follow through but expect such ideas to be developed and implemented by someone else.

nuzo:
Unfortunately, that seems to be the case, otherwise, what could 140 million nigerians living in nigeria waiting for for before they think of how to transform the nation.
On the second emboldened, will it make any sense to you if Elrazur; a professional suggested to come, sweep and mopp the floor after your meeting?
Were you happy that the guy you mentioned was contributing to nation building or happy as a typical nigerian who take pleasure in seeing people serve them. . . just curious bro.


What gentleman you are.

I am afraid you might have not understood what I was getting at with respect to the story. First of all, what makes you think the person mentioned in the story isn't a graduate? Isn't it quite arrogant to believe he isn't a graduate because he volunteered to do anything he could even if it meant sweeping floors. I mentioned that story because it highlights an attitude that would perhaps cause people to rethink what it means to contribute. Was not deriving pleasure from someone wanting to serve (which takes humility, which I find amicable), but deriving joy that some people were willing to do whatever they could to contribute to development in the country, it was just frame of mind I found likeable. Contributing as someone stated could be anything really, it could be helping Universities obtain software which they don't have, it could be engaging with youths in institutions, the spectrum is quite wide and almost limitless. Hence I don't buy into anybody not being able to contribute. There are a lot of transferrable skills.

With regards to your first question. It is so easy to say 'what are 140million Nigerians doing'. However, do you really believe such a mindset is exclusive to Nigerians in Nigeria? Permit me to be bold but again such seems to smack of the arrogance I was speaking off. People from all over the world come online to complain about Nigeria and to write essays about how to solve problems in Nigeria without lifting a finger to work towards changing things in a country they complain non stop about, and you think such a group is different to those in the country or more "progressive"? I beg to disagree.

ElRazur:
It is quite clear to see how a debate disintegrate easily around here. In most debates here, people tend to forms into blocks! You have those who actually contribute to the actual debate at hand, you have those who opposes and have a different view, you have those who do nothing but derail and then you have those who are just plain bitter at their own existence.

In the light of above explanation, I wont even dignify his thin-veiled insults with a reply.

My area involves loads of training, and constant CPD. There is no way I will be able to do this things if am in Nigeria, many ignorant people are quick to miss this.  But anyway, back to the original point that lead to making that post - Nigeria is truly not ready for some us that are here and may want to come home.

LOL. If you took offence at my post or took it as an insult then I apolgise that you did, however what I said I still stand by it and perhaps I might have said it a different way but ultimately the conclusion would have probably been thesame. If you however feel labelling me as "bitter" or whatever then that is up to you, really don't get riled up or bothered by such. Please feel free to continue ignoring my posts. Have a nice day and God Bless  .

nuzo:
Not married yet, though am seriously looking for my better half.
That being said, I will ask you the same question I asked Richy; how do I ferry almost an entire village across the "oke osimiri"? What will they be doing there? How are the elderly ones going to cope?

Knowing who nigerians are, what kind of events could possible trigger into a revolution? Havent we had such events countless times before?
For clarification sake, describe how this so-called exceptional event would look like so we can get ready.

Even if I were Elrazur, I still wont take any offense to your statement.
However, I agree with him on this as he will be a complete waste if he ventures into nigeria where his skills cannot be harnessed.
Secondly, he didnt mention that he is seeking to be received with a fanfare and be recognized with awards. He simply stated that he will be practically useless to the nigerian nation if he goes in now.

Everyone who wanted to take a part of what I said could take what they wanted, was not necessarily completely referring to any one person, but groups exist. Brought up the whole fanfare issue with regards to what people might expect. I mean lets be honest, you see people sometimes speak as if people in Nigeria cannot think for themselves and the country is waiting for them to come and transform it. Sorry, just seems a tad self indulgent, it is not necessarily about being the person who changes the whole country and gets recognised but can be about what you as a person or as a group with others can do to contribute to improve things or make things better.

I found something someone said on another thread quite moving. Me and a fellow member mentioned we are working in a group who aim to contribute what we can and the poster said something along the lines of 'please where are you located, even if it is to sweep after meetings i will do'. I just felt touched by that statement because it encapsulated a frame of mind which was quite amicable. I mention that story because it represents a particular frame of mind. Doing what you can.

chidichris:
nuzo,
if u are still contemplating, am afraid u still have a long way to go. i am here to help u out. if there is anything u need to do now, it is" give up"
u have been in china, better remain there. do u have a wife of children inside nigeria? if yes, then plan to bring them out.
if u go to all the churches here in nigeria, 90% of the testimonies are as follows; visa at last, after been in the school of waiting, God has finally answered my prayers with a five yrs visa to usa, two yrs students visa, 3 yrs visa to the uk.
everyone rejoices over an opportunity to go into slavary abroad rather than remain in the type of freedom we have at home.

it is important that as many a possible that can denounce nigeria and give up here will be prefered as that will give us chance to know who has been sitting on our progress. some of us are jonah and we know when jonah enters a boat, movement is always obstructed.

LOOOL. Your posts never cease to amuse.

@nuzo, not necessarily referring to you but I just wish if people wanted to give up on Nigeria they just did it and spared others the humour of some of the patronising reasons obtainable. You mean some people have NO transferrable skills? If we are to be honest anyone can make a difference, it depends on if we are actually willing to do so or make the sacrifice to commit selfless service that might not be received with fanfare or recognised with awards. If some are not willing to then fine, it is understandable, just spare everyone such award winning reasons like "I am too specialised to contribute", LOL.

nuzo:
The nigerian situation is becoming more pathetic by the day. It looks almost irredeemable from all angles.

Day in day out, we hear of how people embezzle the public funds without being questioned. Those appointed to probe the embezzlers end up doing the same thing.
Corruption in the public and private institutions of the country.
Assassinations and assassination attempts.
No attempts to revitalize the fast decaying infrastructures like roads, railways, airline, schools, hospital and most importantly power generating plants. Our refineries are not even in the picture anymore.
Nothing is being done to tackle the ever rising unemployment rate.
Nothing is being done to rehabilitate, reorient and reconstruct the police force.
In most cases, one has to become a heartless wicked crook who will be willing to kill or cheat before you can have a bit of good life in nigeria.
The worst part is that Nigerians have become so used to being intimidated and pushed around by their leaders to the extent that they believe it's a normal life; the "will of god as most will say".
Everybody seem to have lost their common sense of reasoning.

I have been planning on returning home by january 2010 to continue contributing my quota to the nation building, but it seems nobody is working towards this. Its everyone for himself and his family.
With all these ills, I am about coming to a conclusion that my past present and future contributions may not make any difference to nation building, thereby abandoning this project and try to concentrate on my family alone.
On the other hand, while I was living in nigeria, I've never been used to watching things decay without aggressively voicing my opinion, be it to the government, the common man on the street, my friends and any member of my family.

How will I keep my eyes and mouth shut to these decays now that am even more exposed?

Permit me to boldly speak. If everyone gives up on Nigeria then would it be any surprise when things remain thesame and the current crop of people remain doing what they do? To be honest the more I speak to people in Nigeria the more I realise the arrogance people speaking from out of the country tend to habour (take it or leave it, just an observation). An arrogance that I might have once haboured which moves people to make sweeping and patronising comments, something that once noticed becomes irritating to continue reading. You want to make a change and you are willing to work towards achieving such a change, right? You are not alone for there are many out there who are doing thesame thing. When you say make a difference it seems you want to go into Nigeria and fix everything perhaps not realising that people exist in the country who are trying to do thesame thing, hence when you say things like 'you are not sure if you will really make any difference' it depends on how you see it. Do you consider making a difference to say 12 people as making an impact or would you see your ventures as a failure if you don't impact the lives of at least 1 million people?

At least you seem to be willing to be wanting to work towards doing something, the annoying thing however is what seems to be the school who would shout that the shoe hurts, give long sweeping and deceptively 'insightful' commentary into why the shoe hurts without ever willing to work towards doing anything to work towards changing things the way they can in their own individual capacity. So why the shock horror when complaining doesn't magically grow feet and do what needs to be done considering the leaders present? Some people might not share such a view but to each his own, as for me I know There Is Always Hope. Apart from working towards changing things via the constitution (e.g. freedom of information bill, allowing states generate their own power, allowing states run their own police, etc), if the government is to be ignored as many people want to do due to negligence, no political will, etc, there is still a lot of change that can be made by investing. There is a market hungry for qulaity things enjoyed outside the country. Imagine building a quality university hostel fit with amenities, etc. Imagine being able to run a dependable public transport service? Such things are still providing for people and the market is there to make good returns which you can simply reinvest.

If I had the capital I have always said I will Invest in an airline just to have the pleasure of crashing the cost of air travel in Nigeria and leading a deflation of overpriced air travel in the country. I hope your question about making a change was rhetorical because thats the only way it seems to make sense. Anyone can make a change if they are willing to back up rhetoric with genuine action. Over the years I have grown bored of computer debates and analysis which come up with thesame conclusion every single time (the people have to get involved) and yet the people are not getting involved then expect different? Can't we just for once as a people FOLLOW THROUGH on something? Just for once? Nothing will change even if the country is split if such an attitude remains. As for me, I won't be giving up on my home country anytime soon.

Just an update, got through to the comissioner of police for ekiti state and the order was given about a day or so ago for Miss Bukola Ajayi's release so she should be out by now. Apparently he was aware of Miss Bukola's situation due to the press releases. The discussion that followed my enquiry was quite insightful with regards to things on the ground in the state especially during the elections. I posted this message just simply to update people and encourage people to become more proactive when it comes to matters of progress in Nigeria. It is so easy to debate and postulate and give commentary. We have enough commentary to fill volumes of books so if we know what to do why don't we just do it?

FBS:
This is what I found. . .dont know how actual it is. The Ekiti PO has no phone number. Isn't that strange?
S/NO NAME D                    EPT/UNIT/PARASTATAL DESIGNATION     GRADE LEVEL   LOCATION
30 ASP. VICTOR AKINSANYA ZONE 8-EKITI NODAL OFFICER   EKITI

Full list here.
http://www.servenigeria.com/misc/contacts/npf.xls

Wasn't able to get to doing something on this issue till this morning but the link you provided has out of date information. Just called a few of the numbers and one of the people had not been in the position since 2006. Was able to obtain the number for the commisioner of police for ekiti state though, rang but no response so will try later. If you are going to call please be diplomatic and polite so information can be obtained and reason can be reached, a wrestiling match of words and getting hung up on will be of no use.

[quote author=Tayo-D link=topic=270050.msg3839397#msg3839397 date=1241782480]@topic,

While I found the action of the Police excessive, I think the story may not have fully explained what transpired. How did she go about presenting her complaint to the Police? Did she assault anybody in the process? Could any of the charges against her be true? I don't think we have the full picture![/quote]So if anything won't action push to make the picture clearer ? ? ?If anything hasn't she been held long enough without charges being pressed? We should work according to our convictions anyway, so to each his own. I just don;t see how someone can say 'we don't have the full picture' and leave it at that, so how do we obtain the full picture? By waiting for it to be presented to us?

FBS:
This is what I found. . .dont know how actual it is. The Ekiti PO has no phone number. Isn't that strange?
S/NO NAME D EPT/UNIT/PARASTATAL DESIGNATION GRADE LEVEL LOCATION
30 ASP. VICTOR AKINSANYA ZONE 8-EKITI NODAL OFFICER EKITI

Full list here.
http://www.servenigeria.com/misc/contacts/npf.xls

The link you provided has contact numbers. Was planning on calling people other than the police but that would be good enough for a start. Will find time to get on this once I get home.

FBS:
The Nigerian Police brutality continues. . .
She came, she saw? and she was conquered and subsequently captured by men of the Nigeria Police Force for voicing her opposition to the positioning of a polling booth in front of her father?s house.
Three days after, Miss Bukola Ajayi is still in police detention, awaiting her next fate ? either to be charged to court or released to return to her father?s house in peace.
Under the rule of law, she is not to be detained beyond 48 hours before she is charged to court.
But in Ekiti, rule of law is a distant thought in the fiasco that has greeted the controversial rerun governorship election in the past two weeks.
Meanwhile, the 35 suspected thugs arrested at the residence of Senator Ayo Arise on the day of the rerun on April 25 were released 24 hours later.
The picture of Miss Ajayi being brutalised and bundled into the back of a police van last Tuesday at Oye-Ekiti is one of the enduring images of the Ekiti crisis.Ajayi, a hairdresser, was arrested shortly before the commencement of the rescheduled governorship election along side 10 others, mostly males, who were being picked up at various locations within Oye-Ekiti.
According to her, she took the action to protect her father, who is partially blind, from being attacked by some likely aggrieved politicians in the area, who might not be pleased with the outcome of the election results.
The lady managed to explain her ordeal while she was being assaulted publicly by not less than five armed riot policemen, who were even threatening to shoot her in the leg, if she refused to cooperate with them.
She said during the previous election held on April 25, which was later cancelled, her father?s house was riddled with bullets.
It was gathered that the lady was away in the morning, until somebody went to inform her what the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was planning to place a polling booth in front of her father's house.
It was when she came back that she showed her resistance to the plan.
Unfortunately, this seemingly unusual resistance pitted her with the security operatives, especially men of the riot policemen, who held her by her jeans trousers and threw her inside their waiting van, at the end of which she was taken to an undisclosed destination.
Ajayi, who was whisked away in the van with registration number NPF 982, is still being held in police custody.
Her old father, who has for a long time been restricted indoor because of his condition and her old mother were left alone at home, without the knowledge of where she is, her current position or when is she likely to gain her freedom.
Her old mother, popularly called ?Mama Osogbo?, who after some time managed to explain in their native dialect that when the incident occurred on Tuesday, some people in the compound went to the nearby police station, where she was first taken to, but the police told them that she had been moved to Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.
She said since then, there had been no news about her, other than some people telling them that by today, she would be released.
But contrary to the position of the Ajayi family, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Fatola Sikiru Olalekan, said the lady and her other co-accused were being arrested and detained for causing ?public disorder?.
He said the lady was arrested for her action which was ?notorious? and was ?uncalled for? in the presence of the law enforcement agents, especially during the conduct of the rerun election in the area.
The PPRO and the Provost Marshal told THISDAY that his investigation about her and other accused persons arrested for the same purpose, from the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID) was that the lady was a politician who belonged to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and was in support of a particular person in the area.
According to him, investigation was ongoing about her culpability in the allegation levied against her.
The PPRO, who said he could not say exactly when the lady would be let off the hook, pointed out that the outcome of the investigation would determine the level of her involvement in the offence she was being accused of.
http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=142894

Question: will this ever stop?

Wrong question. Question is, What are you going to do about it? We don't need to dissect and analyse the Nigerian situation for the millionth time.
I just briefly scanned through Ekiti Government Webpage looking for contact numbers for anybody in Government or Police or whatever and as expected couldn't find any. I don't really know anyone in Ekiti State and I might be a bit busy today however, I intend to get at least one contact number and I intend to call and see what I can do to remedy the situation, even if it means calling for everyone I know to spam these numbers and shout down reason or getting some people I think may be able to help in Nigeria to do something, that is a start. What are you going to do?

proudly9ja:
Mr Kenny Martins started an enviable project some years ago tagged the Police Equipment Fund which by now we all know should have been tagged Police Syphoning Funds as the man and all those concerned have shown their true colours. However, what I have learnt from the ''initiative'' is that people are willing to contribute to the growth of the Nigerian Police and when I say people, I mean private indivisuals and organisations. The PEF people raised 100s of millions of naira which if well implemented would have changed the face of the Nigerian police.

What we need is proper training. The Nigerian policeman like his colleague in every government parastatal is ill trained to handle situations he faces everyday and thats why he relies on his gun to solve every problem. A well trained policeman would know that his weapon is his last resort. He would know how to use his greatest weapon ie his mind to arrest situations and thus take charge.

Communication is also very important. How fast he can get back up when he is in trouble or call in to report situations will determine how confident he will be in the face of adversity. Walkie talkies, mobile phones, etc are minimum communication gadgets a policeman should have.

Insurance. When he dies or is incapacitated, an average policeman should be certain that his family will be taken care of. That they would not be kicked out of the police barracks nor would his wife have to wait on long queues for his entitlements to be paid.

A new image. If the above are done then the Nigerian policeman should be given a new image. In my opinion, the black coloured uniform should be done away with. The current blue ones being test run by the 'ogas' looks better. However, this should not be adopted until the above are done because I do not believe in painting the house when the insides are still as filthy as a sty. Also, he should learn with his new uniform to dress smartly. Nice shirts, nice trousers and proper black shoes not tattered clothes and bathroom slippers like some of them wear these days.

The part in bold is not completely true and a tad simplistic, there was more to it than "the police equipment fund was for siphoning money". The project started promising and seemed genuine till it was hijacked by Kenny Martins. Kenny Martins did not start the Police Equipment Fund initiative, he simply hijacked it when he was invited to join and the original instigators tried sueing him. Read a really interesting and insightful article a while ago that plotted the rise and fall of the police equipment fund. There was more to it.

@poster, was trying to avoid this topic because making a list seems like an easy thing to do, what seems lacking in the list like someone rightly alluded to was were all the money would come from. I don't get goosebumps when politicians promise heaven on earth, what inspires confidence is when such people who make promises (like politicians do with regards to development) can show a well thought out plan which includes where funding is going to come from, how things are going to be executed etc. Anyone can write, "ban corrupt elements", however, how would such be actualised? Raise allowances using what money? Sorry but a list like the one posted does not seem like a plan to begin with.

nuzo:
Did you put up this long story to exonerate the bulk of the Ekiti people who participated in the latest fraud in Ekiti?
Would I have said the same thing for Edo people? Why didnt osumbor and igbenedion hire those deadly thugs who are willing to do anything for money? If they did, how come the edo people stood up and said no in totality?

What am I missing here?

Wasn't trying to exonerate the thuggery that went on, I just disagree that it was a majority of the people in Ekiti who were used for electorlal thuggery and I am saying that the fact some people allowed themselves to be used for electoral thuggery is not the issue at all with regards to development and progress. The issue is what the majority who claim to want better are doing about the situation. How are we sure that there was no attempt at electoral fraud in Edo state? If there was and such plans were squashed would the issue then be that there was attempt at electoral fraud by some questionable elements or that such plans were defeated by those who didn't want such vices in their state? I just believe that talking has become way too overvalued, and it is such an easy thing to do when to be honest we have heard most of the rhetoric before. Someone is complaining everyday that his/her shoe hurts and the person countlessly formulates and comments on the best way to remedy the situation but they keep on wearing the shoe? The people I respect from the whole Ekiti electoral fiasco were those who were involved in the many reported incidences or rebellion against the vices, not those who just came to debate on the issue.

nuzo:
Why ask ekiti people to stand up and attack when they are the same people who starting these nonsense themselves?
The same people who are thugs to both PDP and AC.
They are the same people who threatened to assassinate the big fraud called adeboye.
Same people who are paid to assassinate each other.
The same people who raise down their own towns.
The same people support a rogues like fayose, tinubu, oni, arise and co.
The same people who use fake registration id to vote.

Even though AC may have been rigged out again; they are as much fraudulent as PDP.
So, the only way to get back on her feet is to play on the fact that PDP already has a bad name.

Sorry but I really don't see how the fact that some Nigerians were hired or allowed themselves to be hired as PDP or AC thugs becomes a valid arguement with regards to progress and development in the state. The election which gave Bush his second term was reported to be less than stellar, who were the people used for such? Were they french? I just don't get how it would surprise people that Nigerian politicians would hire Nigerians as electoral thugs, I mean did we expect the thugs to come from the moon? Does the fact that some Nigerians allowed themselves to be used in such a way mean such is the reason the country is failing? Is it logical to draw a conclusion from such an extrapolation? Are we expecting Nigerians to be saints and all refuse money they don't have in order to uphold the benefit of the greater good? If so are we not holding Nigeria to a higher degree of morality that I doubt is yet to be achieved from any other country in the world? Finally, is wether a few men did or did not allow themselves to be used as electoral thugs or as vices used by the politicians against the masses the issue or is the issue the action or lack of it of the masses (no one excluded) who claim to want different?

It is interesting and personally, a tad encouraging that some threads have popped up whereby people have begun to question this whole culture of shouting down a computer and leaving it there. Most of the analysis, speeches, commentary, etc, to be honest they have been uttered and typed before. Won't it be ironic if we turn out to be no different than the leaders we castigate who deal in rhetoric but not action of any sort to remedy the situation?

asha 80:
@blacksta

Who is going to do the revolution?We are known as 'my child dey house','my mama dey house' people.

What makes you think an ethnic jab will not derail the 'revolution' especially knowing nigeria?

LOOL. Funny. To be hoest I don't know how aware YarAdua actually is of his incompetence. It is so easy to get surrounded by 'yes men' especially in Nigeria with the whole culture of Big manism prevalent in the country. Anytime anyone posts an insightful and objective article on the Yar Adua administration I always hope he reads it and I don't know if he reads papers. I mean, does he? Or don't media in Nigeria print such articles one finds on the web? Or does Mr President only watch the glorified trite that comes out of NTA? I am just trying to grasp an excuse that best explains some facet of this man because I am fiding it difficult to believe that somebody could be so incompetent and still open his mouth to make promises devoid of any articulated plan of action. Once again I hope the article posted can be somehow taken to Yar Adua and he gets to read it. There has to be some way to get this to his attention. I just don't know anymore about the Federal Government of Nigeria.

A proper interview (minimum 2 hours) conducted by a competent, sharp and educated person in which Yar Adua is grilled on different aspects of Nigeria and his administration, etc, would be quite revealing and I find the prospect irresistable. Perhaps pressure should be mounted for something along the lines, let us get what we should have gotten pre-election in the first place so people can act better informed.

Kaestro:
Like most of the poster have suggested, a petition should be written and passed to the appropriate authorities. I wouldn't take the Fashola approach straight away perhaps the concerned area should take their grieviances to the local government first through their councillor/representative with the aim of pitching it with the governor if no positive solution or compromise is reached within a set period.
Bombarding the governor with numerous complaints and issues that can be dealt with by other government departments could destabilize the mandate and plans of Fashola. The people/office responsible for the supply of facility must first be held accountable and subsequently the campaign taken upwards.

@ Skyblue & Redman44

Can you enlighten me more about the existing groups that have emaneted from topics on this forum and what the criteria for joining are. What is the location of your group NDM? Even if it's to sweep after your meeting I'm interested.

@Kaestro, the link for the dedicated thread is https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-230880.0.html
There is a website available but some parts of it are still underconstruction. The main area however is the dedicated forum which has been available for a while now. The forum has chat facilities for meetings, threads for strategising on courses of actions and for finetunning plans, etc. Only members can acess or view the contents of the forum and the only criteria for membership is shared goals and vision. Just glance through the dedicated thread and see what you think. You can even get involved immediately with a project being worked on at the moment.

Get Involved

I don't think we are giving Yar Adua enough credit if I am to be honest. The whole arguement of "he is too weak, he is too stupid, he lacks any sense" etc is beginning to sound contradictory to me as the prospect that this man might be purposefully calculated and crafty begins to slowly dawn on me. Is he really stupid or does he act (or not) on purpose for some twisted agenda? Whatever the case I think letting this guy off under the banner of "he is too stupid" "he is too slow", "he does not know what he is doing" will serve no purpose and has no reason. I just refuse to believe that the president can be so clueless and perhaps he isn't and knows and is aware of what he is doing. If such is the case then perhaps Nigeria should be more worried at such a prospect.

redsun:
Yeah,this is our group now,let's do something worthwhile,we need volunteers.

It's a good initiative and it should be emulated by a wider range of people. I am currently working with a group that was born from some threads here (NDM) and my primary ties are with them. The scope of the group I am with goes beyond just one thing and it is basically there to serve as a place for Nigerians or anyone who want to back words with actions to meet, exchange ideas and plan how to bring such things to fruition (hence going beyond talking). Whatever can be done to help Nigeria I am in and I might just suggest this idea be integrated and implemented in the NDM activities not too far in future. If you really want to go ahead with this I encourage you to do so, words are so easily spewed and we have pretty much heard a lot of it before so when people want to back up such words with actions then I am all for it. However as I said, I am kind of tied up a the moment and working on some projects with the group I am working with. If I am able to I won't mind helping when I can. Hope you act on this because it is a good idea.