₦airaland Forum

kingoflag: Yup, all the Billions of Dollars---$280Billion+---- that mysteriously disappeared from Government coffers since Jonaboy stepped on the scene nko? Abi those dont count too?

Cassava Bread?! Why didnt yall feed it to Dame P while she recuperated in LUTH? Oh, yeah, thats right... LUTH is for the poor dumb Nigerians who havent had the opportunity to loot the treasury. Why did she have to go to Germany? Yall shoulda left her in a Naija hospital so she can experience what it feels like when the Electricity goes out while shes on the operating table.

So, GEJ telling all that he devours N1Billion Naira in food should make people glad? And wetin concern Fashola inside all of this?

Damn, you guys are sick and hungry folks like you that will gladly spread false info just because of the crumbs politicians feed you are obviously sicker.

Sagamite: Someone please make my day by sitting this person Okupe in front of me.

Let me slaughter, cut and dice him.

It is a shame virtually all Nigerian media people are intellectual fucktards.

Someone invite this mooron to come on NL and come and say such shyt in my presence.

He go know say sand no be garri.

arthurous: My cuosin is a student there I called his two lines and is been bieng diverted even when I try to ping him is not going may GOD have mercy on us in this country. I pray that he is not among.

Nwunuken: spliting is not a solution.boko haram in the north,kinapping and arms robering in the south east,militant in the south south.

texazzpete: You're kidding, right? You don't know that taking credit for other people's work is GEJ's forte?

GEJ uses every opportunity to take credit for Yar'Adua's Amnesty programme
GEJ took credit for railway rejuvenation kicked off by Yar'Adua
PIB was kicked off by Yar'Adua. Initial draft was sent to national Assembly by his government. Now it's being touted as a GEJ/Diezani thing.


Na so.

Gbawe: It is either you are too intellectually lazy to seach for knowledge or you are engaged in a ploy to deceive others you assume are too gullible to use google. Read below to see the views of the USA about GEJ's Government.


http://saharareporters.com/news-page/us-government-dismisses-nigeria%E2%80%99s-war-against-corruption-hot-air

So that am clear, esp as i HATE and distest Corruption in any form : t[b]here is still substantial corruption in 9ja, there should be no doubt about that. It cuts across all arms of govt( executive, legislature, and very unfortunately albeit in lesser form, Judiciary), all tiers of govt(FG, States and LG), civil service and MDGs, NGOs, schools, professional bodies, unfortunately religious bodies, general society including more than half of the pthe govt has to do more to tackle it; i believe that GEJ has to provide more leadership to fight more of the corruption we see teeps viewing dis thread presently( even many of d people who have been shouting their azzes out on this thread).[/b] And while i note d tiny improvements on d FG's side, there is not a single doubt in my mind that we are still in a bad situation and that oday and i think he could have done more.

But excessively(obsessively) blaming GEJ would not do any good in long run, it wud only give some frivolous ppl some 'feel good-i-caused-my-president ' momentary 'high' and then would wear off. But serious minded ppl ought to think deep: i have been shouting here that we should put some pressure on d CJN to name d Special Judges for Corruption and Terroism she has promised since she became CJN about 3months ago. That is the most critical thing that can presently be done to tackle corruptn in dis country, any other thing would just be cosmetic. The President, the NBA, Civil Society groups, political parties and any one who matters, have urged her(as they did her predecessors) to name d judges, still no show- what the hell is stopping her to name these judges 4 God's sake(caution: as we put pressure on her and d judiciary, lets respect d sensitive position and institution she heads and not do what we have come to do very well- curse away).... by d way, i believe that GEJ can do his PART to deal with this corruption issue, even though i also strongly believe that we ALL have to be constructively engaged, play our own part and of course continue to put both him and his govt on its toes as regards this fight, cos it is a Systemic thing that needs all hands on board esp as it usually fights back. GEJ however needs to provide Leadership( more leadership) in this fight. I believe in the possibility of that leadership considering what he has done with Elections in 9ja( something that many of us previously thought was hopeless)

https://www.nairaland.com/1062309/worshippers-mock-jonathan-church-service/5#12382988

Gbawe: The only person displaying tribalism is you. We should all accept the lies of an individual who is President to all Nigerians from every corner of the Nation? Yes, everyone should simply say nothing regarding blatant lies designed to deceive Nigerians into thinking a Government that is looting unconscionably is fighting corruption.

Perhaps the USA suffers from "tribalism" also when they announced that GEJ is not serious about fighting corruption[b][/b]. You are not even ashamed your president is caught lying so blatantly. Next, we will all be feigning righteous indignation when non-Nigerians say we are liars, fraudsters and a highly deceptive people.

While denying peace negotiation, the Boko Haram leader admitted that some of their members had been killed by security operatives.

“All I can confirm is that they are killing us rather than dialoguing with us,” he said.

dayokanu: Your royal moroncity sir,

Was it Sahara reporters that reorted the ill health? Or are you just displaying your acute retardation for the public as usual?

dayokanu: When Retardeen visits Yoruba land he wears Agbada, When he visits Ibo land he ties wrapper, when he visits the Military he wears Uniform

I wonder what he would wear if he visit a G-string or Bra manufacturing company.

What a clueless Retardd

Ozedy: He knows that the jtf is getting closer on daily bases, he is seeking for a brain washed sympathersas to feel that he is fighting for the cause of their hala (God). But i tell you, if the jtf continues like this, between now and December that good for nothing shakau will be gone down.

faithbukky: I can't agree less with Micklplus as he enunciates his points above. To buy fuel at the normal price is a problem. Reform by mouth. I have not seen electricity since I wake up. After 3 weeks of interrupted low current in Ilorin. A true Nigerian reformer must use the Rawlings experience. Jonathan wasted the goodwill that brought him to power by refusing to step on toes. Yar Adua voluntarily declared his assets but my uncle Jona does not give a damn. 1 year prayer without action is a waste of time. God has given us the WILL POWER to do the right thing. Poverty is prevalent even among the middle class while the rich are getting richer. Prayer ko, fasting ni.

manny U: 2013 budget is ready and if passed would signify the end of our problems.
We are not fools Mr. President. What hapened to 2012 budget which (by this time) is yet to achieve 20% implementation...

Young men of 20/30 years achievd independence for our great Country.
And Ɣ☺ΰ an old man of 57 years is desperately running it aground.

Ɣ☺ΰ are religiously figting Corruption.
What a̶̲̥̅̊ blatant lie.. With all the Farouks and the rest whose cases have been swept under the rug already, even OBASANJO was a̶̲̥̅̊ better anti-corruption crusader than yourself.

I so can't wait for 2015 (that is if U̶̲̥̅̊ go reach) when Ɣ☺ΰ shall be vigourously deported back τ̅☺ Otuoke.. U̶̲̥̅̊ are definately not the Messiah we seek. Not at this time.

StarBoard: More idioc.y from you as if you haven't goofed enough.
Where is Nigeria on TI's ranking? No 143 in a list of 178, and it's something to rejoice about?
The fuel subsidy probe, the pension fund scam with no discern able conclusion.These are just a few, and you think we're making progress?
Your degree needs to be re-examined, seriously.That is if you have one.

silica: U guys are pathetic. What do most of u use in thinking before responding to a post? Its obvious it not your brain. For years you all have been shouting for National conference now it is in d offing and your tune have changed again. Wow!!! I think you should mke up ur mind what u really want and stop this eternal hatred for anything initiated by this administration. The truth is your hatred wont erase the fact that GEJ is the president, the earlier you accept that and channel your energies to something positive including positive criticism where necessary, the better for the country and your blood pressure.

Prof Corruption: Jonathan might not be clueless after all. If he's really in support, it's a great move. Restructure or break the damned country.
There should be "no go areas", discuss everything including the very existence of Nigeria.

Hi Naija . Do not be worried about the so-called bad reputation the country has in the world at the moment .The developed world did worse to be where they are today . Nigeria had never been built by slave workers , no colonies , no stealing of other countries' gold and other resources etc . In summary , Nigeria is being poorly branded for being the only black country that is trying to stand up in the world . Besides , no modern superpower emerged without being jnsulted . Ask India and China how much they had to put up with to be where they are today . Nigeria should realise the road to superpowerdom is paved with thorns especially in our modern world . One comforting thought for Nigeria . China and India took off from indigenous movie production to turn into the economic and military superpowers they are today . The case of Nigeria will not be different . Congrats Nollywood . Finally , the black race is earning money from brain power and not only from natural (or God given) resources
T. Johnson, Johannesburg

Last summer, in the course of visiting three countries that are very popular with tourists, I discovered an eternal truth - a realization which on several levels made a very proud Nigerian. For the first time in my adult life (apologies to Michelle Obama) I walked taller, and shimmered brightly with warmth and affectation.

In place of being looked at with suspicion, being supremely scrutinized as if everything about me screamed filth and criminal intent, I was warmly received by my fellow tourists. I was amazed at the level of curiosity that they had developed about Nigeria, its culture and its people.

For years, Nigerians all over the world were seen and regarded as merchants of deceit, of fraud, as purveyors of quick get rich schemes. It didn't matter that the same Nigerian could be seen at the top of some of the most intellectually rigorous professions in the world. It didn't matter that the same Nigerian community accounts for a great percentage of the manpower that powers the American health care process.

It didn't matter that that the vast majority of Nigerians are hardworking, proud and law abiding citizens who hates any governmental social safety nets or welfare because such, is alien to our DNA of self-reliance and sufficiency. The problem why we were and to a some degree still so stigmatized or defined by certain blocs in the Western world is because of the activities of a tiny percentage of our nationals who have elected to seek the easy path to wealth and affluence by engaging in morally and ethically reprehensible means.

I recalled travelling to France in 2003 in the company of my American friend and the experience was a traumatic one. My American friend was warmly received at Charles De Gaulle Airport and processed expeditiously while I was treated with disdain and contempt. I was asked to wait by the counter while the immigration officials cross-checked my passport to certify it was duly issued. For 15 minutes, I stood there steaming but helpless. My American friend was shocked and equally angry at the treatment that was meted out to me. Twenty minutes later, I was given the green-light to enter Paris, after they had adjudged my document to be properly issued. My friend wanted to know why I was singled out for such treatment while nationals from other countries who were not Americans were given fair and decent treatment by the immigration. I told her, it was a case of wrong perception-that in the eye of certain Western law enforcement officials, the Nigerian is adjudged first to be a criminal and the onus is on the person so accused to prove that he or she is not.

Treatment such as the one I described above has been the lot of Nigerians who regularly travelled out to other countries-it doesn't matter whether you travelled out of New York or London or Los Angeles, as long as you thrust the green passport towards the immigration desk at the ports of entry, you would automatically be treated with disdain and contempt.

But this condition appears to have changed profoundly in the last couple of years. There appears to have been a new sense of perception of the Nigerian-one that is warm-almost effusive and I want to report here that this new wind is a strong one, one that our leaders should tap into and milk to the hilt. I was a witness to this new development and we have our emerging pop culture-our Nollywood, to thank for.

As I stated in the opening line of this piece, in the summer that just passed, I visited Cancun, Mexico, Ochio-Rios in Jamaica and Nassau, in The Bahamas. In all these countries that I visited, the majesty of the Nigerian pop culture was evident-from the man on the street of Run- Away Bay, Montego Bay to the woman in Cable Beach, Nassau, or the Mexican in Chit Itzen-Itza- in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, I was bombarded with questions about Nollywood and its star actors and actresses. I was held and treated like a rock star because I was a Nigerian and had told them the bulk of the Nollywood stars they were fixated and adored are my friends. I was amazed at the extent and reach of Nollywood and what it has done to rebrand and changed deeply held and internalized prior perceptions about the Nigerian man or woman, and I began to wonder what could happen if government were to tap into this groundswell of goodwill and use it to weave a national narrative as other countries such as America once did.

My vacation had started in Cancun, Mexico and the first indication that it is a new dawn for Nigeria happened at the check-in counter at Oasis Cancun Hotel where I had a reservation. The concierge had asked where I came from originally, and I told her Nigeria, and her eyes lit up. "Oh my God, I love Nollywood. I love the colorful attires your actresses wear and I am so addicted that sometimes, I stay up late watching those movies. I have over four hundred of those movies at home" the lady, who gave her name as Maria, had told me. I was pleasantly amazed and I felt proud. I was no longer seen as a potential criminal, but one whose country was now adding value to our common existence.

If what I had experienced at Oasis Cancun was a big surprise, what awaited me later that evening completely blew my mind. We had been scheduled for a dinner that was tagged 'Dinner on the Sea' by the agency that had organized it. There were close to 200 tourists drawn from all corners of the earth and as we filed into the ship that was the very replica of what the early explorers-the Conquistadors-those early Spanish explorers had used to conquer the Indian lands and 'civilize' the 'savages' for Spain, the ambience spoke of a great evening ahead and it didn't disappoint! About fifteen minutes after we had set off to the seas, the ship berthed and right there in the middle of Atlantic Ocean, the revelries started, with the band playing music from all the countries whose nationalities were on board the ship. As we introduced ourselves and where we came from, I was greeted with standing ovation when I mentioned I was a Nigerian. Almost 90 percent of the tourists on that ship had seen Nollywood movies, and again, I was the cynosure of all eyes and I became a walking encyclopedia on Nollywood. I was peppered with questions and I was stunned. Nollywood has become a global phenomenon and my country meanwhile is not appropriating this public relations windfall I wondered to myself.

The next day, as we explored the ruins of the ancient Mayan civilization at Chit-Itzen-Itza in the Yucatan Peninsula - a journey of about three hours from Cancun Mexico, I was again asked numerous questions by the people on the giant tour bus that had been arranged to take us to the place.

My next port of call was Jamaica and my destination was Ochio Riois- the birth place of the late reggae legend-Bob Marley. As we disembarked from the beautiful airport in Montage go-Bay and took the tour bus from there to Ochio-Rios, having already known that Nollywood is considered a religion by the Caribbean community in the U.S. I knew I would also be baombarded with questions and that's exactly what had happened. We had scheduled a tour of one of the most highly recommended places to visit as a tourist in Jamaica-the Dunns Rivers Falls and inside the bus, I found myself thoroughly excited about the interest that foreigners have shown towards Nigeria because of the power of our pop culture.

Most people I encountered at both the Dunns River Falls and other key tourists' spots-the Pottery Farm, were regaling me with stories about Nollywood and how it has helped change the way the previously looked at Nigeria and its people.

I saw people who told me they wish to visit Nigeria because what they had seen had reassured them of what possibilities that exist in the country. In Jamaica, I was told over 90 percent of the population is hooked on Nollywood and that it is almost a religion, and I can testify to that. My newspaper-The Diasporan Star which has a huge dose of Nollywood content has thousands of readers from the Island of Jamaica.

My last port of call was Nassau-the capital of the tourist haven-The Bahamas. As I went to the casino at the hotel I stayed in Cable Beach section of the city, most people I encountered, spoke glowingly about Nigeria and the power of its pop culture, especially Nollywood.

I was also shocked when the Deejay played several Nigerian songs such as Tuface' "African Queen," P-Square, D'Banj and the newest sensation-Iyanya. I was thrilled to my bones to see that my country's pop culture has taken off and is being embraced by the world's mainstream population and I promised right there and then that I am going to lead the campaign for our country to seize this moment and rebrand our country.

My happiness was further extended by the realization that the publisher of this newspaper- my good brother and senior colleague-Nduka Obiagbena is equally invested in promoting the emerging Nigerian pop culture.