Funny thread.

Page after page of fiery but misdirected rhetoric.

Oh the irony. Some Nigerians here who have traditionally reserved their worst treatment for one another have suddenly become ultra-nationalists and pan-Africanists. But their conversion isn't genuine - and therefore it will be short lived.

There are important questions which need answers. Not all this pointless flag waving.

Does the law allow an AfDB shareholder to (reject the findings of a board committee and) call for an independent investigation into allegations (anonymously) made against the chief executive? If the rules do allow this, what timeline will be assigned to the investigation? How will the independent investigator be chosen? Will the investigation timeline be brief enough such that Adesina he is exonerated, his bid for re-election will still be feasible? Who gets to decide what will be done with the findings of the investigation?

There are rules in this game.

BecomeALandLord:
That's not a cobra neither is it a black mamba.
That's a rat snake.
They are specialist in rat hunting and they aren't venomous.
They also move in water.


Contact us for genuine lands/houses within estates.

^^^
Hard to tell from the pictures but I'll wager that it is a cobra - a melanistic spitting cobra. Quite common in West Africa.

Dangerously unpredictable because of its tendency to spit without provocation.

Best avoided

.

MrBrownJay1:


bro, that snake is not a cobra...

^^^
The chances are that it is.

The mature West African forest cobra is easily identified by the yellow patches on the upper third of its body. This snake doesn't have those patches.

And that's why this snake should be approached with caution. It is probably a black spitting cobra (same head shape) - and they are particularly dangerous since they spit without warning. They are all over the West African sub-region.

Not to be messed with.

Jaqenhghar:

Nigerians never learn. If we had a learning culture we wont be facing tye same problems since 1960

^^^
Sadly true.

rusher14:

It is not early days.

Had there been a chance of an explosion in Covid-19 spread we would have been experiencing it already.

^^^
Time will tell if it isn't early days.

Time will tell. Even though for all our sakes I hope that you are right and I am wrong.

rusher14:

Testing is not the end to the virus. Heck , the only benefit you gain is that you know who to isolate from the general population.

^^^

And isn't that the whole point? Isn't that what your contact tracing is (or should be) predicated on?

rusher14:

If majority of Nigerian carriers are asymptomatic then there is little to worry about because only few would fall Ill.

^^^

Just for argument's sake, what if they aren't asymptomatic?

It is a bit odd for you to raise the question of symptomatology - after all, you challenged a fellow on this thread when he brought it up. The information from the epicentres of the outbreak does tell us that up to 25% of those infected are asymptomatic. Why did you challenge that fellow then?

rusher14:

There is no cure, there is no vaccine and the only strategy that works is isolation of carriers from the general population.

^^^

And how do you know who the carriers are? Isn't it by testing?
This argument is settled.

Ningen:
No, it doesn't end there. You keep trying again and again until you are crippled by the effects of kneeling down. Then you start prostrating.

^^^

rusher14:


What is the efficacy?

The taste of the pudding is in the eating.

As I said earlier, if we had an epidemic level of spread none of us would be waiting for daily news reports to understand its extent.

Till date, is very likely you haven't come across a carrier because the lockdown is effective.

Contact tracing is a universal strategy and it is effective.

^^^
Nonsense. Utter nonsense, Sir.

What is the utility of contract tracing when you have conducted just about 5000 tests to date? Your borders were closed about a month ago. There were flights (with thousands of passengers no doubt) from all the major outbreak centres (in Asia, North America and Europe) to Nigeria up until the closure of those borders. Those passengers were not tested and/or quarantined before disappearing into the general population. Do you know what that means?

The Trump led US administration exhibited the same arrogance you have on display here - the US president claimed the caseload of 15 (as at mid-February 2020) would disappear within days. I do not need to tell you what the situation is in that country today.

If Nigeria gets through this problem without an epidemic that ultimately collapses the public health infrastructure it will be for reasons other than adequate preparation or a coordinated, effective response. That is the truth.

It is still early days - far too early for you to brag about the efficacy of your so-called lockdown. Trump bragged even more and look where it got him.

And by the way, what did you mean by "till date it is very likely you haven't come across a carrier because the lockdown is effective"? Is Covid 19 status written on anyone's forehead? How can you confidently make an assertion like this?

rusher14:


You are being pedantic.

Contact tracing isn't random or even general testing of a large population but that of a specific group, known to have come into contact with a known carrier.

^^^
Pedantic?

I see.

What is the efficacy of a contact tracing regime when you had abysmally low testing levels to begin with?

I shouldn't be surprised. Your argument is similar to those who ignore Nigeria's low electrical power generation and focus near exclusively on distribution as the problem - an approach doomed to long term failure. You are repeating that error here.

rusher14:


The point is simple: our strategy for contact tracing whilst issuing a lockdown has been effective.

If we were experiencing an epidemic we wouldn't be waiting for news reports.

^^^
There is a contradiction here. The fellow you quoted decried the inadequacy in testing levels - and you then asked him if he knew anyone who has died of Covid 19. How can there be any meaningful contract tracing strategy if testing levels are so low?

rusher14:


Even with inadequate testing can you genuinely tell yourself you know anyone personally who's died from or even contracted the disease?

^^^
Not sure what your point is here, Sir. Care to explain further?

People need to educate themselves.

South Korea has had at least 2 major respiratory disease outbreaks over the last 2 decades - the SARS and MERS epidemics and a couple of others.

They made their mistakes then and learned from them.

There is a huge difference between the response of the SK government and that of the US government in handling Covid 19. They both got their first confirmed cases on the same day in January 2020. But while the Americans ended up with a botched government response, the South Koreans immediately began testing tens of thousands of people per week. So far, nearly 400,000 people have been tested so far in South Korea - with less than 200 fatalities. The country has thousands of units of testing kits and PPE kits. The public immediately took to using face masks, gloves and practicing social distancing. Throw in a reputation for discipline and public order and it shouldn't surprise anyone that their containment policy has worked.

And that's why they can afford to hold elections in these difficult times. Will Nigeria learn anything from these people - lessons for now and the future?

Your guess is as good as mine.

laykman:


Well, ask the system. I ain't no google.
All's me know is lesser power, lesser corruption. So, dilute the power, then let em baby fishes murder for a little food. Make them know who's boss or they gonn be their own bosses until you can boss em no more.

^^^


I asked you because I thought you could advance the discussion and provide some answers. I thought you could end the guesswork and conjecture on the thread - especially since you wrote quite a bit about Fowler in your initial post.

I guess I was wrong.

MetaPhysical:

Which structure did Namu come from, what shaped his political philosophy? Wherever it is should be examined, it will explain his deficiency in technocracy.

^^^


What does 'political philosophy' have to do with anything? He's a tax collector!

Justiceleague1:

They always say such rubbish only when a southerner is the victim.
They will never say such rubbish against a fellow northerner no matter how bad and corrupt he is. Till today, Abacha never stole a dime,is still a hero to them!

^^^
I guess you are referring to Buhari here.

The only problem you have is that he was popular enough across this country to win 2 terms - despite his unequivocal support of rogues and knaves. The question you should ask is why such a large number of people (across Northern and Southern Nigeria) supported him despite these shortcomings. Why?

Justiceleague1:

They gave the southern bankers like Cecilia Ibru and Akingbola a bad name through that lanky don,Sanusi,and virtually destroyed them,even got them imprisoned.

^^^
Those bankers, unfortunately broke the rules. They gave themselves a bad name - no one else did. What I will concede is that there wasn't fairness in that whole exercise - for example, there are big questions as to how Unity Bank escaped the axe - the rumour is that it was kept alive to satisfy 'certain' interests. But Oceanic Bank and Intercontinental Bank contravened CBN guidelines and their MDs broke the law. No two ways about it.

Justiceleague1:

Kemi Adeosun dealt with one of them for insurbordination and her gross error was dugnoit and she was subsequently dealt with and disgraced and replaced with a northerner

^^^
She presented a forged NYSC discharge certificate. She knew the people (and they cut across all regions of Nigeria, by the way) she was dealing with - they fight and they fight dirty. They outmaneuvered her and she lost out in the power struggle. She should never have tendered that forged certificate and she knows it.

laykman:
If all went according to how I read it, then Fowler is by far a better leader. He broadened the tax revenue platform by delving into several other sectors of tax collection, and he reduced corruption in the FIRS by appointing tax consultants instead of the regular staff in the organization. People will cry when they aren't able to steal from their usual spot.

^^^
I would like to be educated on how employing tax consultants reduced FIRS corruption. I genuinely would like to know the facts on this case.

itsme01:


No they are not Mr volvo

^^^
Nami claims he met a broken FIRS bureaucracy. That is an allegation that will need some time and a lot more information (from both Fowler and Nami) to prove or disprove.

Some of Fowlers critics on this thread claim that he superintended over a decline in FIRS revenues - among other 'crimes'. Now those are allegations that can be tackled here and now - the information (some of it at least) is in the public domain.

Instead of ridiculing Nami's ethnicity, the key issues of performance (or lack of it) could have been settled - right here on this thread. Lost opportunity.

itsme01:


Aboki people and their nonsense talks.. Fowler's records are there for all to see

if it is standard of education US trained Fowler beats Ahmadu Bello University quota system Nami to stupor

This Aboki guy would destroy FIRS's working policy like the dumb Buhari's Girlfriend and Minister of Humanitarian had destroyed everything Professor Osinbajo worked for with Social Intervention Program

.

^^^^


Leave his ethnicity out of it and address the allegations he made. Are they valid or not?

OruExpress:
The US has the highest quality when it comes to facilities and research but once it's time for people to have access to these things, you're in trouble. Nigeria on the other hand with limited resources typically does a good job informing citizens, and making solutions accessible. If you want HIV medicine, you can have it. If you want medicine for malaria or typhoid, it's available.

^^^
It would be good to know the metrics used in arriving at your conclusions about information and access to solutions in Nigeria. I disagree strongly with your conclusion but I'll wait till you explain further.

OruExpress:

I was then told that I was viewing Nigeria with rose colored glasses and that 'if corona reaches Nigeria, it will be the end'. Again, Corona has arrived in Nigeria, I live in the US, and I can confidently say that Nigerians have handled it better than Americans. The death toll should say enough. By if you ask Nigerians right now, they will say the same thing. That Nigeria can't handled it. I don't blame Nigerians in Nigeria because there's little to compare it with, but the ones in America have no excuse.

^^^
It is very clear that the response of the US federal government to Covid-19 has been a complete disaster. That we can agree on. However, the situation in Nigeria is still unfolding and I wouldn't go as far as saying Nigeria has handled the problem better. After all, the same reasons for the abysmal failure of the US federal government in handling the problem are very much present in Nigeria too. There has been very little testing done here in Nigeria - and testing is central to any effective containment policy. There is also a shortage of PPE at hospitals. There are less than a dozen isolation centres for a population of 200 million people. And so on. If we pull through with fewer casualties than expected then it will be for reasons other than adequate preparation on our part - that much is assured.

OruExpress:
Many with corona are opting to stay at home and suffer it out because the hospital cost in the US will be the end of their financial lives if they dared go.

^^^
This is the ugly side of the US that is carefully hidden from view - and pieces like yours are providing a public service by telling it exactly like it is. The good thing is that more Nigerians are slowly getting to know the truth about how that country really works - the so called greatest country in the world that passed universal healthcare legislation (or a caricature of it) only ten years ago. And that same piece of legislation is under relentless assault as we speak.

OruExpress:

Nigeria, of course isn't perfect, but I think Nigerians are very bright, obviously capable people. There are things we do well, and things we don't do as well. But bring any subject up with Nigerians that concerns Nigeria -especially with 'an intellectual- and you will have a hard time hearing anything good or remotely encouraging, even if that person knows the other side of the coin. In fact, openly saying the positive is a mark of naivety or ignorance in the eyes of many.

^^^
No sir/madam.

One thing I won't do is gloss over the very real problems we face - several of which you listed in your post. These problems do exist. If you live here and pretend they don't - it will cost you.

The one thing I agree with you on is that some so called first world countries (notably the US) also have the same laundry list of social and institutional problems that we have. They have simply done a far better job of hiding them - and this is where we have work to do. These problems (whether they be in the US or Nigeria) must be brought out into the open for all to see. Only then can informed choices be made - and only then can the first steps towards solving these problems (in Nigeria at least) be taken.

Even on this thread there are still plaintive demands for respect accompanied by veiled threats - as usual. And of course, the never ending excuses why the war remains unwon.

Just do the job you are being paid for. Nigerians are tired of excuses and endless debates about respect. Get the damn job done, soldier.

Everything else is a waste of our precious time.

Even on this thread people are still making excuses for failure. After how many years, the army still cannot rout Boko Haram?

Some people demand more from pre-teen children than they do from adults who are paid to fight for a living. It doesn't make any sense.

These excuses are a waste of time. People want results. No ifs. No buts.

Jaqenhghar:
BS. Florida which is warmer than most US cities has one of the highest rates of corona virus cases. Make una dey spread this kuli kuli wisdom. Make una no protect unaself.

^^^
Absolutely true. I don't know why it didn't occur to me earlier.

Possibly very dark days ahead.

sonnie10:
What is the possibility of the virus mutating to adapt to high temperature?

^^^
Good point.

CanadaOrBust:

But I wrote on this way back in mid March.
It is SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN that coronavirus is adversely affected by: a) heat b) humidity c) light.
In other words a TROPICAL climate.
Add to that our immune-boosting vitamin D from hot sun and immunity built up over the years fighting malaria and other diseases!

^^^^
Interesting viewpoint.

But I haven't seen any research that says immunity to malaria built over time confers immunity to Covid 19. If you have any references kindly include.

My limited knowledge also tells me that malaria is caused by a parasite and not a virus. As far as I am aware, immunity to malaria isn't much of a defence against lassa fever - a viral fever that kills scores (possibly hundreds) of Nigerians when there's an epidemic.

Difficult times ahead.

kowalsky:

Sars-Cov 2 will still thrive - as we're seeing now - in temperate climates. It will still spread because although temperature might be a 'slowing-down' factor, it's not a limiting factor.

^^^^
I assume you meant to say tropical/sub-tropical climate?

Good points you made, by the way.

Sanchez01:

It is not because our soldiers are lazy but BH seems to be getting support from some people within the army, thereby thwarting the little effort of the boys.

And there is the talk of underequipment of our soldiers. And another, wrong intels on BH.

Some high ranking soldiers, politicians that are close to the presidency seem to be doing wonders in the dark and sabotaging the peace of the North East for their own gain.

^^^^
These soldiers have done themselves no favours.

They are more in the news for one deadly confrontation after the other with civilians - confrontations that lead to needless civilian casualties. And all for what?

Nigerians are no longer interested in excuses for failure. They just want results. You say these soldiers are underequipped to fight BH. But somehow they always have enough arms and ammunition to shoot civilians in Nigerian towns and villages whenever there is a slight misunderstanding. Somehow there is always enough ordinance, fuel and explosives to level a town or village (and displace hundreds of thousands of innocents) whenever something happens to a soldier. And you say they are underequipped.

No more stories.

Successlane:


The cursed children of hate and perdition from the red mud region never disappoint.
Hate is their heritage.
Abeg carry go.
Na your papa born you.

^^^


This has nothing to do red, mauve, purple, onyx or turquoise coloured mud 'regions'.

Focus on the issues.

Looks like a puff adder and not a gaboon viper.

Dunsin2020:
You must be mad idiot

^^^


You need a sedative too.

Where is all this anger coming from?

Dunsin2020:
Op your wife as a phobia for sex, I never hear this one before o,but to help you reason the way to solve your problem your problem is both psychological and physical and I am not a doctor or therapist so I can't diagnose or prescribe or give you therapy, for it to have reach one year and that she is a virgin, people think being a virgin at 21 is an achievement it's not it's an illness, forget those religious books wey dey talk about virgin, u dey there when they write the book to know whether that girl wey there call virgin for the book no be one side one guy dey Bleep am back then, as we know all our Reverend sister's wey claim to be virgin na one side one guy dey Bleep them, so we all no all those things are lies , I am religious o don't get me wrong but I am not a fool with it, na coro we dey deal with now wey church don close down back to the topic, i don't know how much you have but by the average Nigerian I will tell you it is very expensive to consult a good doctor and therapist to solve your problem because the regular doctor in Nigeria will add to your problem rather than solve it, to get a good doctor you have to chose a expensive doctor and therapist from those private hospital in island Lagos that are of international standard, as you can't do that and I don't think you can afford to go overseas for treatment USA precisely, so guy this is what I would advise you you and your wife pray together and also talk well with her from your mind about it truthfully then be a man your wife or woman can't out muscle you hold are down on the bed and sex her I no say make you rape am or kill am o or go carry knife cut am o wetin I talk be say use your hard gbola after you don do enough romance and she don wet ,op you have to know how to romance the nipple of a woman and kissing is the key to woman romance then Bleep the thing open the kingdom of heaven sufferet violent and the violent take am by force any body wey tell you otherwise na gay, na muscle we men dey take Bleep woman and the women love it, after the sex she might be unable to walk well but you have to be patient just like you are patient before the sex everything will heal, this is how you have to approach it op the problem is not only with your wife but the problem is with you too except you don't love her if you love her you speak with one voice so solve your problem no and solve her problem by following this advice and counsel Bible says in a multitude of counsel problems are solved let me know when things don dey go as e suppose, bye

^^^


Is everything OK, Sir?

zabuur:


U don't even understand d situation. Czech republic way. Oyo state people would start borrowing masks now like borrowing salt from neighbour. U need to understand ur environment b4 making laws. Not copying from another environment with entirely different orientation and culture

^^^
Fair point.

tammie24:

Learn to cry when necessary

^^^^

Bluffly:

Do you know what it takes to become a General, Lt for that matter. There are times of war that deceit needs to be employed to keep life. Every party in war wants to come out alive.

^^^^


Indeed.