₦airaland Forum

2buff: Does the UK even produce anything? With all the world market minglings going on (US, China, India), the UK seems not all that involved in a lot of global economics. What do they even do? What are they known for economically (besides being a terribly expensive place to live and school).

T8ksy: And why should I spend my hard-earned money on that pile of junk you all termed “personal account”? From the excerpts I read, its not difficult to haphazard what will be in the hard cover. Same old ibo chest beatings we have all become accustomed to. Just because Achebe’s bigoted and senile write resonate with your warped mindset doesn’t mean the rest of us can’t discern where the old fool is coming from.


@ bolded...............Oh finally the penny dropped!!! I suppose when your ibo brothers were murdering other region’s leaders whilst “coincidentally” shedding theirs, you all believed we are ONE united country?

When achebe decided to penned fabricated stories about the late sage, we yorubas as Omoluabis, who will forever be greatful to the man for all he did for us during those tempestuous period in our history, have the automatic cultural right to DEFEND him with FACTS.


We are not INGRATS or BASTARDS. Consequently, we will not readily swallow stories about our “father” from his enemies. And when his enemies attempt to slander his good name, we omoluabis cannot be silenced.

Breeding dunces through quota system
The revelation of the cut-off marks for admission into Federal Government Colleges otherwise known as Unity Schools nationwide released recently by the Federal Ministry of Education is scandalous, extremely disturbing and should worry every patriotic Nigerian who has the well-being of this country at heart. I count myself as one despite my constant disillusionment with the shoddy way the Nigerian Project is being managed as in this particular case. But then as a senior friend and mentor once said encouragingly, “Don’t give up, we’ll keep plodding till we get it right someday”. But with an absurdity like this happening in the educational sector deemed to be a critical factor in national development, can we ever get it right?

I am aware this has been going on for years and successive administrations have consistently and tacitly encouraged the breeding of dunces in public schools in some sections of the country by virtue of the federal character principle and quota system. I believe the appointed time has come for well-meaning Nigerians to strongly condemn this retrogressive policy that confounds all known logical and educational reasoning. If not that this is a country where leaders celebrate shame and infamy, pray what will make the Governors of Yobe, Zamfara, Taraba, Kebbi and Sokoto states, where cut-off marks for admission are two, four, three, nine, and nine, respectively, over 200, laud a single development programme in their states? These cut-off marks are indications that this is non-existent. After 14 years of civil rule, it is only huge educational liability these states could offer the nation. I do not need to visit them to authenticate their governors’ infamous claims of building of classroom blocks and donating thousands of textbooks; the examination scores are damning evidence and they should bow their inglorious heads in the mud.

I empathise with states such as Anambra, Imo, Abia, Enugu, Delta, Lagos and Ogun whose cut-off marks are within the range of 130-139 over 200, and which had routinely received the short end of the stick as a result of this obnoxious policy. I, particularly, feel the pain and frustration of parents, guardians, teachers and leaders whose efforts in bequeathing their future leaders good quality education have been derided by this policy of the
Federal Government. I join them to question why these children should be punished for being studious and bright; why they have to sacrifice their educational goals this early in life to give their counterparts from the so-
called educationally disadvantaged states a chance, as if it is any of their making, as if they are not carrying enough burden for simply being born and bred in Nigeria. These innocent young boys and girls are being made to suffer for the misrule, negligence and corruption in these states that have deprived their younger citizens of quality education. Unfortunately for them, this is the beginning of several bumps in the road to succeeding in Nigeria. I sincerely hope their parents and guardians would be forthright and courageous enough to explain to them that our warped sense of patriotism calls for a lifetime of sacrifice that starts from secondary education (with the inequitable admission policy for Unity Schools) and continues into higher education (with JAMB’s discriminatory requirements for admission into universities and polytechnics) and right into working life, especially, if they plan a career in the public service (with the Federal Character principle that spurns meritocracy). They should let their charges know the retrogressive forces they need to fend off to make it in Nigeria — being constantly aware that the Nigerian state does not want you to aspire to be the best; to be competitive is repugnant to the Nigerian dream, to be creative is abhorrent to the Nigerian nature; and to have goals is an abomination in Nigeria’s very peculiar environment.

Richard Branson, CEO of Virgin Atlantic, who is a product of a system that encourages citizens to be the best they can be, captured it aptly when he declared that Nigerian leaders are dream-killers. How do we expect the children from Enugu, Anambra, Lagos, Delta, Abia, Imo, and Ogun states who have excelled in the entrance examination to happily swallow the bitter pill of the quota system/Federal Character principle that sneers at their efforts in this regard? Such children, whose only hope for laying a solid educational foundation probably rests on getting quality education from a Unity School, since their parents or guardians cannot afford the expensive private schools, are short-changed in this most horrible manner. These same children who have studied so hard and scored over 60 per cent have to relinquish their place to their counterparts from Taraba who scored less than six per cent.

A system that rewards failure or mediocrity under any guise will remain in perpetual retrogression. The fact that a state is educationally disadvantaged does not warrant this kind of abysmal performance in an entrance examination. The nagging question in any sane person’s mind is: What curriculum or syllabus is being used to teach pupils in Taraba, Zamfara, Kebbi states among others, to warrant this mass failure? Is it the same one approved by the Federal Ministry of Education and being used nationwide? What has been revealed by the cut-off marks from these states is that zero teaching is going on there – an indication of a gradual descent into
sub-national illiteracy. Obviously, the governors from these states have a lot of explanation to do. Is it any wonder some of these states record large number of enthusiastic recruits into the Boko Haram sect?

The irony in all of this is that by embarking on this unjust policy, the Federal Government is punishing states which have made a concerted effort in the basic education of their citizens, by raising the bar impossibly too high for them to gain admission into the Unity Schools. On the other hand it had rewarded states which have failed to educate their citizens by lowering the bar, and even removing it in some cases, to make it possible for them to secure admission into the same schools. Thus the failure of the child from Yobe is equivalent to success in the government’s calculation, while the success of his counterpart from Anambra or Delta is tantamount to failure. What a paradox! It is only in Nigeria that this can happen.

My only advice to children from states with educational prospects is never to give up their dreams. In making sense of this injustice, they should understand that the failure of their counterparts from the educationally backward states is not by reason of their genetic makeup. Sadly, the system they trust and that should encourage them to aspire to be the best has instead turned them into dunces, as a ploy to keep them in perpetual servitude. The onus is on their parents and guardians to break this yoke by ensuring they go the extra mile to acquire education for their children and wards. There lies the key to their liberation.

Nightshift: As often as it has been on Igbo matters on NL, we can have different opinions.
Take a look at Achebe's take on the issue of traditional rulers in Igboland in his famous book " The Trouble With Nigeria". The book was published in mid 80s , when the foundation for the current 'chiefs' syndrome in Igboland was laid.
The NPP of Governors Jim Nwobodo and Sam Mbakwe politicized the stools of traditional rulers in Igboland. Since then, the situation has worsened with more government and money-bag influences.

T9ksy: Gosh! Its amazing how you guys cogitate! Do you mean the issue, whatever it is, is dead and buried? Who says? You lot? So when achebe penned his pile of junk which you all ignorantly called a book and claim its based on his personal experience, what was his aim? To unite us? When achebe wrote things like “oh ibos are superior to all the other ethnic groups in Nigeria”, what was his aim? To make these other groups, love and respect the ibos?

Let it be known to achebe and his co-travellers in the bus of deceit and revisionism that we are not omo ales- we will always be standing tall and ready to punch holes in your infantile attempts to portray others (in the country),as evil with hard FACTS. Not dem say dem say or personal experience from a jaundiced and ethnically-bias prism.

To the op, I say kudos to you and keep it coming.

More grease to your elbow o'jare and let those who can’t stomach the truth, take a long walk off the shortest pier. Yeye peps!!!

achi4u: proudly Biafran!

The inventory capacity of the Biafran warfare during that war send a wrong signal to the outside world(who is benefiting from the ruins of the war) prompting them to aid nigeria at all cost to ensure that biafra is leveled,today Biafra would've been the Japan of Africa and would not hesitate in helping their African neighbors(nigeria included) .

Again Biafra is not about Nigerdelta oil or their land rather our only concern is our brothers across the niger but maybe they fail to see that picture during those days.

Biafra. cannever die.

Yeske!:
Wrong, what was posted was UME/JAMB admission and not registration. Carefully read it up again.
Other points you raised were noted anyway.

enigma_otr: And it's a proven fact that high scoring JAMBites don't progress past second year in universities. Or why do you think post-JAMB was introduced. Students within 200-270 score bracket graduate with higher grades than their higher-score counterparts.
However,i don't know of many people enrolling their children in those decaying unity schools these days- may be 5 in a thousand. Since many igbo children enrolled for the exams, it's normal for them to have more pupils that'll pass the exams compared to the few from the west.

enigma_otr: Of what use is quantitative education when a second class(upper division) graduate from imo state university can't fill forms as simple as those you fill in NYSC camps without asking what to fill in from others. Most of the states'owned higher schools of learning in the south east are sham. The grades of their graduates do not reflect in them. Most of the second-class degree students i know, who graduated in a state owned school in the east, could only be lucky to graduate with a third-class degree from any school in the west.

tobtap: break up into how many units?

excanny: And how do you intend doing that? Any foundation or NGO in the pipeline. The talented Igbo lads are sometimes not from wealthy families.

Akin-Egba:
So are you implying that they indeed drop out more than others? If so at what level does this occur? Primary, secondary or after admission into the university? We do not readily have graduation data from the NYSC, but from what I saw during my NYSC orientation camping and from Jakumo's submision here https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-541929.0.html it does appear that they graduate fairly well, although he ended up contradicting himself somewhat.

[b]I quite like this new Anthem. The previous Biafran anthem, though reflecting the mood of determination to struggle against all odds to survive hatred and killings from our enemies, was quite grim and I always wondered if little children were expected to sing it. The anthem would have had to be updated anyway. Little Biafran children of the time were quite accustomed to seeing death all around them so the old anthem would have been okay in that context, but if Biafra successfully seceded, the old anthem would have been too morbid for a new generation of Biafrans children in a prosperous country. I like this update to the old anthem, it is suitable to a future Biafran state that would emerge from the natural implosion of Nigeria rather than a war with Biafrans. It says we have finally triumphed over our foes, and the struggles of our heroes past we would hold dear and cherish forever. I would like to know if this anthem was also inspired by other European separatist songs like the last one was.[/b]

Raymondenyi: buh If I may ask , what is really informing ur decision on the fervent biafra quest, I could understand that during the 67 quest ,it originated 4rm the brutal massacre of almost 200 igbo military officers down to the pogrom where almost 30,000 easterners mainly igbos were slaughtered, dwn to the murtala muhammed led counter coup,where Ironsi was brutally slaughtered, the obvious divide n polarity neccessitated the decision for the united Biafra front, any sane eastern man then would have followed suit, considering the obvious divide; but contemporarily, U cant see such, there is no slaughter or obvious sourcing out n targetted killings of the igbos, It doesn't happen like that, an igbo is now the chief of army staff. so we re heading somewhere, there is really no obvious reason now to clamour for a sovereign Biafra.

One thing of note, is the bigger we re the stronger we become, in our diversity we find strength,in our different voices and desperation we reach a more purified decisions. Should U channel ur strength like me into a better Nigeria , we could see something to smile and laugh about. I like ur spirit my brother, I like ur fervency for nationalism, I like ur activism for change, U just need to channel it to the right axis n let us make a change

Pls follow me, n lets discuss more. thank you

revolt: I must fault u again.in politics There's no permanent frnd or foe but interrst, if were to em$erge as am African power block we need a heterogeneous society, a homogenous society can nvr be better than the latter. The Ss are minority and thus also hve their fears, which we must allay.we need population by implication a bigger market we can't throw all these away cos of sentiments.

omegag: Me_Aboki,

You appears to be an intellectual from your comments. I would like you to read this link below:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jan/27/boko-haram-nigeria-sharia-law

If this is what we are talking about out from listed possible reasons for amnesty, then something else has to be done. Amnesty is not the solution. My only optional solution would be for general referendum to determine the Nigeria people wish. The Republic of Northern Nigeria and Republic of Southern Nigeria. Note: I did not use the word "Biafra". Republic of Southern Nigeria (freedom of religion). Republic of Northern Nigeria (Islamic religion).

What do you think?

mandarin: You talked with so much certainly and you decided to close your eyes to the reality of prevailing challenges and all possible challenges. You failed to looked at your land such influx population from all over Nigeria will immediately create land problem and political challenges. Did you ever talked about that? and what about a situation of Niger Delta claiming the city of Porthacourt or the Ikwerre saying no to the Igbo country?
I do not support your view of Lagos becoming a ghost town if Igbos emigrate,vacuums created by Igbos will be filled up by other people, offices occupied by Igbos will be taken up by others.Besides i do not even believe many igbos share your sentiments just like me, believe me, millions of igbos will remain in the west for a long time some permanently.

revolt: but even if a lot of ma igbo folks stay back in the west which will no doubt hapn, the emergence of new ports will surely dwindle lagos resources n bring about an econommmic boom in the east. May I ask if uve been to PH? I don't fathom hw ikwerres will reject an eastern country or prefer to go with the ijaws! Truth be told is SS-SE alliance is inevitable! The highest they'll demand is to control the seat of govt which igbos as shown by the present dispensation can decide to cede to a minority. Tht alliance tho shaky right now, is waxing stronger, but the fear of 1 Nigeria is greater trust me, our country will b unmatched technologically educationally n comerciall. Plus wed also have surrogates in the west ie those of us tht will still remain to do biz dere but return every Xmas to celebrate wif us!!

Soldierant1: The University being the only industry? What will you call Wilmars $350M investment in the agricultural sector or UNICEMS ever increasing investment in the state? Dangote/Dansa or Real Farms mega investments in the state in the last 4 to 5yrs. Its not about monolithic white elephant projects going nowhere. Its about improving on the standard of living and quality of life for residents of the state, like us. Wilmars investment alone will creat 30k direct jobs! 68 direct manufacturing firms in the EPZ alone! And I know the New Calabar Convention Centre is tied in to boost things in and around Tinapa. I was a little worried when I had to leave Addax. But having researched and met with the investment guys in the Governor Office and spoke to a few people I took the plunge into private sector business in Calabar and I have no regrets. There's so much happening here for a poor state although they still have to get a few things right.

Soldierant1: The University being the only industry? What will you call Wilmars $350M investment in the agricultural sector or UNICEMS ever increasing investment in the state? Dangote/Dansa or Real Farms mega investments in the state in the last 4 to 5yrs. Its not about monolithic white elephant projects going nowhere. Its about improving on the standard of living and quality of life for residents of the state, like us. Wilmars investment alone will creat 30k direct jobs! 68 direct manufacturing firms in the EPZ alone! And I know the New Calabar Convention Centre is tied in to boost things in and around Tinapa. I was a little worried when I had to leave Addax. But having researched and met with the investment guys in the Governor Office and spoke to a few people I took the plunge into private sector business in Calabar and I have no regrets. There's so much happening here for a poor state although they still have to get a few things right.

Soldierant1: Haba only 2 functional companies? that's not true now! I moved to Calabar from North America to work with Addax 4yrs ago and I haven't been disappointed with life in general. Infact I've setup my own small companies doing shows and events promotions around the many festivals and tourism themed businesses in Calabar and a small logistic support company also. Yes taxes are high and I have complained from Calabar to Timbuktoo. But then when you consider the increases of their IGR from something closer to 500million which I hear is the real reason why they have to raise money creatively. Fair play. Am told they have moved IGR to maybe just over 1.3Billion in 6yrs so you can forgive the Government for high taxes. I am told their monthly Federal allocation is very low at about 2.9billion monthly compared to 18,19 and as high as 24billion for AKS, Rivers, Bayelsa and my own Delta state who collects maybe 11billion. Imoke try oh. Una dey talk 2 companies? the Indonesians wey invest over 2Billion dollars nko for Agric? Songhai Farms is running there also.......I mean broadly speaking when one reflects on Calabar one must thank God. They reformed education......nonono I prefer here to Anywhere! And Tinapa isn't dead. They're now more businesses located there added to the Water Park which has come to life and i hear the transaction figures for Tinapa is in the region of a billion dollars plus for last year. Also if you look around Tinapa they're still developing the area with a planned Golf estate, golf course, Convention Centre for seminars .....Events etc ...and UAC Nigeria and other partners are involved. I hear construction has also started on Oyedepos Convenant Uni and Mo Abudu has a tv station running from Tinapa added to the ICT park ......theyre about to launch in Tinapa called the Knowledge City! so for an outsider like me....the business environment which is the best regulated in the country has allowed me flourish in a safe and sane environment .....my wife is happy and kids are too in school in Hill Crest. This is first hand information from experience.

ba7man: You sound reasonable. My post was directed at an individual that posted that dumb notion that "Igbos own Lagos and what not" but i'm glad you agree its a collective effort. I do not see the North worth emmulating, I find their habit of being so quick to kill barbaric......but it goes out to your tribes men that say they're dominating and trash about the very region that welcomed them and hosts them. You don't do that.....not when you live and do business in their midst. The unguarded utterances of a few can put even the large number of innocent at risk.

touch4mony: we welkom it whole heartedly, its long overdue.let everybody go and develop them sef make we see who go cry pass its will b very intresting

obxddon: I live in CRS and I must say He is trying with rural roads and small access roads.But he has bad advisers who advises him about Tax issues.The tax is driving people mad and making business to close down.he should reduce the Tax by half and watch the number of investments that would come up.

ba7man: I thought the Igbos were responsible for making Lagos what it?? Oh, now its the colonials. You guys have a false impression of yourselves. Apart from Ladipo,Computer Village and Alaba market, your perceived dominance ends....Places Fashola is even planning to destroy and re-Construct. Just be thankful we're good hosts and move on with life, if Lagos was in the north and the Northerners read all you say on NL, just pack your bags and run cuz lives will definitely be lost.

London-X:
I’ll like to post objectively as a black man and based on my understanding of the unique problems of black folks vis-à-vis Nigeria, around the world. If we all look critically at all the black countries around the world, we’ll find out that there’s no thriving black country on the planet. And the sole reason isn’t farther from all the artificial countries/boundaries we all occupy. All our post-colonial boundaries have stunted our growth – and all the unions were forced. We’re all tribal people with our own unique consciousness, and our identity – albeit with the same struggle. The only way the renaissance is going to happen, is by going to the way we were before colonial rule. And what other country is better to lead that renaissance than the largest black country in the world?

I know some proponents of Nigeria would argue against this by citing the size of Nigeria’s population, and how Nigeria can influence politics on the world scene – in regards to Africa and black people. That’s a fallacy and a pipe dream, to be honest. Nigeria has been given the opportunity for 53 years, and for 53 years, it has failed woefully. Nigeria is inconsequential in international politics, and it will never be. Domestically, Nigeria has also failed its citizens for 53 years – producing caravan-less charvas, who have become burdens to other sovereign countries around the world. If it were a sane world – the UN would have declared Nigeria a war-zone, with big humanitarian crisis – judging by the number of people migrating out of that geographical location. So why do we all want to continue this vicious cycle of UTTER FAILURE? The country is NEVER going to work!! Also, Africa will never be able to defeat Europe and Asia, militarily – in the next 400 years – so why all the noise about needing a powerful black country?

As for my Pan-African family – the only way Pan-Africanism will thrive in Africa is by destroying the colonial boundaries – and letting all the tribal people create their nation-states, based on their in-born identity(culture) and consciousness. That’s how Pan-Europeanism has been able to thrive – and we need to take a cue from Europe – by using tribalism, to create a wider union. When people are allowed to operate freely and independently – then, they’ll be willing to be part of a larger umbrella body – albeit still having their own destiny in their own hands.

I have a dream that I’ll live long enough to see Yoruba, Igbo, SS, Hausa/Fulani, Tuaregs, Cabinda, Southern Cameroon, Somaliland, Puntland etc. in their own countries.

We all need to start today and work towards the disintegration of Nigeria.

na2day!:
Hey smart talk
Since you are comparing the Sikhs to the Igbo , are you aware of what happened to the Sikhs in 1984?

Some Sikhs body guards assassinated Indira Ghandi , the India prime minister and about 25,000 Sikhs (men, women and children) were raped and massacred.

Compared that to the Nzeogwu's coup and the subsequent murder of innocent Igbos.

Yet we never heard of the Sikhs running to secede, declaring a nation.
They are still part and parcel of India till date!

There is no country without its attendant problems, India has been having a worse kind of ethnic intolerance and progroms till the present time, but balkanisation was never an option for them
Please let's find a solution to our problems and stop this hatred, this madness!
Ok!

Lest I forget, India never allowed Pakistan to leave, it was partioned just before independence at the insistence of Jinnah by the British (the wahala those people have caused)!
And they have been at war ever since!

django1: Where do you live? If it is lagos or any SW state you can take the first step by moving back home, am not chasing you but my point is your ppl don't put their money where their mouth is.

OoduaDefence: [b]When I read some of the comments here it just made me realize how unintelligent many Nigerians are.I hear people saying Yorubas will suffer because we don't have much oil and all that. Ok let me educate you unintelligent people.

First off the most valuable resource in the world is Human Resource. If you have hard working citizens you can turn any nation into a paradise. Zimbabwe at one time was a very rich country ,what made them rich? Agriculture! They simply developed their Agriculture to a level where they were exporting tons and tons of food and making billions of dolars year annual. Fast forward to 2013,the same Zimabwe has now discovered diamonds but their people are suffering because they chased all their farmers away. Do you understand what I am getting at?

It is possible that if Nigeria splits, Hausas will focus more on Agriculture and within a decade they can become a self-sustainable country while Niger Deltans and Igbos will still be fighting and looting their oil money. Before you know it Igbos and NDs will be migrating to the north to be enjoy the new Hausa country because Biafra will be a war torn failed state.

You don’t need oil to do anything the greatest business any nation can promote is Agriculture and water production. South Africa does not have oil,yet their working citizens live like kings while the working citizens in Nigeria live like slaves.

Japan is another country with barren land yet they have the 3rd largest economy in the world. They realized that they had no mineral so they started manufacturing cars and electronics. A far as I am concerned this Oil we have in Nigeria is a curse because that is the only reason our greedy leaders do not want to split the country.
[/b]

django1: I wasn't responding to the content of her post! She said earlier that yorubas have started again (sth like dt), but she failed to see cjrane's post in the beginning and I've seen some of her post on other threads claiming victim.

In any case, nigeria will not divide and all this talk is just joking around!

django1: Nnenna do you realise you've wrongly yorubas on this thread and yet to apologise?

I know you like claiming the victim, "yorubas started it" is your chorus everytime, but did you check the first poster to start issues on here?

bloggernaija: Lagos before nigeria. Nobody should delude themselves that anything will change about Lagos. In fact that state needs serious emigration.