₦airaland Forum

OP,

You must be one of the old schoolers.

Do these names ring a bell? Not sure if some of them are still playing...

Raccah Rovers
Sharks of Port Harcourt
IICC Shooting Stars(now 3SC)
Abiola Babes
Stationery Stores?
Mighty Jets (of Jos)?
Leventis FC

ItsMeAboki:
First of all, I am a citizen of Kano State with first hand experience and knowledge of what is happening in the state - and categorically stand by what I earlier said as factual (i have no reason to lie); if on the other hand you have any evidence to the contrary, then pls forward them; more over all the references you asked for are easily accessible via google - simply click and all will be revealed.

^^^
OK. Noted.

Point of correction though - you are a citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and an indigene of Kano State, not a citizen of Kano State.

ItsMeAboki:
Secondly; I don't see anything to argue about if someone chooses to exercise his right over what has already been legitimise to him by law.
The Sharia laws are legitimate rights for Muslims and for the states who wish to implement them - your views are entirely your and do have have any relevance to their reality or validity; I repeat, nobody is being prevented from going to court to challenge them.

^^^
OK. As I said earlier, all this will be decided by the courts. What this means is that all I said earlier, referencing (in your posts and the other fellow's posts) concepts such as wisdom, merits and intent of legislation is irrelevant. It also means that all you said about Benue's anti grazing law being targeted against Fulani herdsmen is also irrelevant. These laws (both Sharia law and Benue's anti-grazing law) exist and that's all that matters. If and until they are repealed by higher courts. QED.

ItsMeAboki:
Thirdly, some laws both (Federal and states) may be difficult implement; sometimes the political will to do so is absent, as was the case with the FG/NPF when the Sharia criminal codes (in Kano State among others) were introduced under the OBJ regime; the said OBJ was to set the tone by publicly labelling them as 'political Sharia.'
The lack of political will (as opposed to legal grounds) of the Federal police led to need for the state to form its own 'sharia police' or Hisbah, through the legitimate means of the law.

^^^
I have no idea what you mean in the first sentence above. I also have no idea what you mean in the second sentence about the federal police's "lack of political will". Lack of political will to do what exactly?

ItsMeAboki:
I know that this is mentally hard for some you to comprehend, due to your blind hostility against Islam and therefore cannot reason logically; however, the Hisbah is not different from any other agency a state may wish to create in order to address its peculiar needs e.g. Livestock Guards in Benue to regulate/enforce anti open grazing; LAMATA in Lagos to regulate BRT etc - your only problem seem to be that Hisbah is Islamic - simple.

^^^
Ok sir, now you are getting personal. I do not know which individuals the "you" referred to in your post above are. With no justification whatsoever you have classed me as part of a mentally challenged, bigoted group incapable of logical thought . I have tried to keep this debate civil and on an even keel. I have tried to address issues and not you personally - I do not know who you are and have never met you before. If you are not bereft of honour Sir, you will do the right thing, tender an apology and retract those ill-thought out words you uttered up there, Sir.

On to the matter of enforcement agencies of government. I stand by my comments in my last post. There is a massive contradiction in establishing an Islamic police force to enforce a 'law' promulgated under powers granted by a 'secular' constitution. Hisbah means 'guarding against infringements' or 'accountability in accordance with the Shariah'. Can the sacred be used in the defence of the profane?

If you cannot see the contradiction there is nothing more for me to say.

ItsMeAboki:
If some Nigerians wrongly view the Sharia as a parallel constitution, does that make them right or legitimise their ignorance/misconception - how daft is that?

^^^^
The issue is whether you are correct in stating that they are wrong in viewing Sharia as a parallel constitution. In this same country a fatwa was placed on a Nigerian citizen some years ago for 'blasphemy' and Nigerian muslims (or at least a vocal group among them) were unequivocal in their support. They made it clear they considered it a religious duty (binding on all Nigerian muslims) to kill the woman. If that is not a parallel constitution I don't know what is.

ItsMeAboki:
I have already addressed the issue of rights states to their share of VAT tax from alcohol, especially as the said states also have responsibilities to their non-Muslim residents - there is therefore no point repeating it again.

^^^
Again you are wrong, sir. Your justification for Sharia states collecting VAT from alcohol sales is that said states "have responsibilities to their non-muslim residents"? Come on, sir. There are millions of non-muslim Nigerian teetotallers who will recoil and say "Not in my name"! You have made the common error of associating non-muslims with automatic alcohol consumption (or whatever 'vice' of the month is on display). At the risk of sounding like a broken record I will state for the last time that there is a major cognitive dissonance in the actions of sharia states in Nigeria on this matter of VAT from alcohol. That is the truth and it must be said, no matter how inconvenient it may be.

ItsMeAboki:
Hahaha, so the views of one person, in this case Justice Bello, is supposedly the Grande Norm at the total exclusion of others; including the actual realities on the ground.
Pls explain how has the Sharia code for Muslims affected non-Muslims, e.g. where has Islam imposed on them or they are prevented from pursuing their religion, or forced to use the Sharia courts etc - except for twisted misconstrued phantom allegations concocted from hostile quarters with a fixation of hate against Muslims/Islam.

^^^
The late Muhammed Bello's view isn't the grundnorm. Basic law was there long before him and it is still there, long after he passed on. Its just that he was spot on in his assessment of the impact of Sharia law on non-Muslims in Nigeria. The fact that he also happened to be the CJN was an added bonus.

Large segments of this entire discussion centre around how Sharia in Nigeria has negatively affected non-muslims in this country. My previous post refers to this matter. This very post also refers to it. News reports provide copious examples across Nigeria. What further explanation do you require?

ItsMeAboki:
Of course I am not ruling out isolated cases of individual abuse within the system just as much as you would expect to find in the generality of the Nigerian legal and law enforcement system - so pls do not bring up such examples, if any.

^^^
OK.

I still have one more request from you Sir - information about the list of intoxicants causing addiction in Kano State.

Raw tribalism in football is alive and well...Let me join in too...

How can anyone describe Zico as "this one" because of his (admittedly harsh) comments about Messi?

But Zico has a point. In an era where clubs are richer than some countries, the World Cup (despite FIFA's many failings) seems to be the only place where the big superstars can be brought down to earth. You might be the World's best player in the richest league but if you haven't won the world cup, then there's something missing...

ItsMeAboki:
Although you claim not to be holding brief for him, you seem not have been following my arguments closely enough and are unwittingly doing the same.

My first comment on this thread was to emphasise the legitimacy of the law and advise anyone who disagrees with it to challenge it in the court.

Unfortunately, the gentleman ignored my position and persisted on his ignorant views by referring to Sharia laws as inconsistent with the secular nature of the country and a parallel constitution.

Note: the ban on the sale and consumption of alcohol in Kano was not enacted (as many still wrongly assume) under Sharia law; but rather, under the general legislative powers entitled to the state as provided by the constitution.

The intention of the said law (even though consistent with Islamic prohibition of alcohol) was clearly directed at curbing the ongoing problem of addiction to intoxicants in the state (alcohol among them) but not targeted against any particular group. It is important to also note, that although Sharia as practised in all Nigerian Sharia states have not been imposed on non-Muslims; however, Christians have reacting to it with unreasonable intolerance and hostility.

On the other hand, the Benue anti grazing laws, even though legitimate as already mention, seemed to have been targeted against Fulani herders in particular; because of some of the conditions attached to it e.g. making it difficult for the herder to acquire land and retain it for that purpose; through impractical requirement for annual land grant renewal (which can be easily denied/cancelled at any time irrespective of the herder's already tied down investment) - that is why the MACBAN felt sufficiently aggrieved to challenge it in court; just like anyone who disagrees with any aspect of Sharia (or any law) is advised to do, instead of spreading unnecessary hatred and ignorance.

^^^
No Sir.

I have followed your arguments very closely. I agree with you that the courts will be the final arbiter. What I took exception to was your assertion that the right of states to legislate is the sole bone of contention – and that once that right is acknowledged then there is nothing left to argue about. I have been as clear as possible in differentiating between the rights of states to legislate and the merit, wisdom and intent (the terms used by you and the other fellow) of said legislation. There’s no point going back and forth on this so I’ll not say any more.

Are you absolutely sure that the alcohol ban in Kano was enacted under powers granted by the Nigerian Constitution and not Sharia law? I would appreciate any proof of this (links, dates, timelines, etc). Assuming what you say is accurate, the question of the agency of enforcement comes up. If the alcohol ban was enacted (as you say) under powers granted by the Nigerian constitution, why is enforcement being carried out by the Hisbah? If the alcohol ban was enacted under “general legislative powers” provided by the Nigerian constitution (your words) then why is enforcement being carried out by Islamic religious police and not the Nigeria Police? Do you see the contradiction Sir?

Again, I want to make clear that I am not holding brief for the fellow you were debating with. But he has a point about how some Nigerians view Sharia law as a parallel constitution – a view point borne out of hard experience. Nigeria has several companies that make alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. The activities of these companies are regulated under federal law. These legally registered companies pay taxes to the federal government and there is also VAT charged on their products. These tax revenues are shared among the federal, state and local governments. To the best of my knowledge, no Sharia state has opted out of these tax revenue receipts. And yet, Sharia states seize and destroy alcoholic drinks in transit or at points of sale. Isn’t that a contradiction?

I note with wry amusement your comment about how “Sharia as practised in all Nigerian Sharia states have (sic) not been imposed on non-Muslims”. You cannot claim to know more than the late CJN Mohammed Bello. Justice Bello (in an interview before his death) stated clearly that Sharia law in Nigeria, would in practice, affect non-Muslims. I will always respect the man for telling it like it is and indeed history has proved him right.

My last point to you Sir, is a request for information. According to you, the intention of Kano’s alcohol ban was clearly directed at curbing the ongoing problem of addiction to intoxicants in the state (alcohol among them) but not targeted against any particular group”. Can you tell me what these intoxicants are?

ItsMeAboki:
It is a legitimate law, even though targeted at an ethnic group in order to cleanse them out of the state; that is why MACBAN is challenging the law in court.

^^^
Ok. Fair enough. At least you acknowledge it is a law and you are not exhibiting any double standards here.

But take a close look at your comments up there. You clearly have an issue with what you believe to be the intent of Benue's anti grazing law - hence your comments about the law being "targeted at an ethnic group in order to cleanse them out of the state".

I am not holding brief for the fellow you were arguing with but you have unwittingly endorsed his position. The legitimacy of law is not the issue - it is the merit, wisdom and (to use your words) the intent of the laws that we are talking about here. In one of your previous posts, you said, and I quote: "Since you agree they (Sharia governments) have the right to pass such laws then there is nothing to argue about, matter is closed -shikenan". But the matter is NOT closed as your comments about the intent of Benue's anti-grazing law demonstrate - you clearly believe the legitimacy of a law is not the only issue worth considering.

I hope my point is clear.

ItsMeAboki:
There is no comparison between them; however, the issue you raised was not about importance but about the subject of paedophilia.
That was why you were referred to the age of at which Mary was betrothed to Joseph, who himself at that time was already an old man of about 70yrs, and by extension the age at which Mary subsequently gave birth to Jesus, after she must have been impregnated by the Christian god.
You were additionally referred to the age at which the Vatican up till now approves for sexual consent - which is 13 years.

^^^
What's your take on the anti-grazing law passed by Benue State lawmakers and signed into law by the Benue State Government?

Interesting thread

Interesting thread.

greyham:
I am upset about this accident, and I also specified the instance of mistake or carelessness. I agree adults make mistakes but some will really have you question the type of person involved.

I can classify crossing that particular express carelessly in the same category with using petrol as fuel for a kerosene stove (intentionally).

^^^

I understand.

I am very angry too at these needless deaths and our broken system that makes these deaths not just possible but commonplace.

I am a bit familiar with that axis. At the moment, there are four overhead pedestrian bridges in use at 1st roundabout, Jakande, Gbara, and Agungi. The overhead pedestrian bridge just after second roundabout is still under construction. Same thing for the overhead pedestrian bridge at Ikota Shopping Complex - it is still under construction and has been abandoned for about 24? months now. So we have only about four functional pedestrian bridges over a distance of roughly about 22 kilometres - from the Oriental hotel toll point to Ajah market junction. Only four overhead pedestrian bridges! - and there are several densely populated communities on both sides of the expressway with people who must cross to go to (and from) school, work and play.

I did not fully understand the risks involved until some fuel scarcity a few years ago when I had to cross the road on foot near (the then) 4th roundabout to buy fuel. After waiting for almost 20 minutes (I kid you not) without a break in very fast moving traffic, I and several other pedestrians were finally gifted with an opening and we were able to cross safely. That day, I finally understood.

Between three and five years ago, some schoolchildren crossing the road in front of the Lekki County Homes area (I forget the name of the school in the area) were killed by fast moving traffic - leading to violent demonstrations and destruction of property by the locals. The school is still there today but the government has still not thought it fit to build an overhead pedestrian bridge in that place - despite a well publicized promise to do so. And sadly, the locals have not made this matter a campaign issue to which their leaders should be held accountable.

More people will die if the government doesn't build more bridges. That is the unfortunate reality.

Nigerians - hold your governments accountable!

greyham:
If she died trying to cross the road, then I'll agree natural selection has taken place and I share no empathy with such.

How can a full grown adult not know how to cross a road carefully especially a busy one like Lekki-Ajah expressway?

If it was a vehicle that lost control and hit a person that cannot be the pedestrians fault, but you are well dressed, fully conscious and you still fail to be careful along busy roads?

And some of these pedestrian are so dumb, you will be in a car and see them casually strolling along the express. Many times I've had to call the attention of the driver to mind such people.

This process will continue to remove silly people from our gene pool

R.I.P

^^^
These are very strong words for someone who I believe did you no wrong.

I do not believe there is an overhead pedestrian bridge where this woman was killed - pedestrians all over Nigeria are heavily marginalized when road traffic infrastructure is designed and built. What options do they then have against fast moving traffic where there are no pedestrian bridges? The highway code requires pedestrians to look carefully before walking (not running) across the road. This is simply not possible within our environment - the traffic does not slow down enough for pedestrian traffic to walk across - people have to run across to make it in time (with all the risks this entails). Why then blame them when disaster strikes?

I don't know this woman's story. But note that fully grown adults make mistakes. They are human after all. People can be alert, careful, 'fully dressed and conscious' (your own words) and still make mistakes. All it takes is for a pedestrian to misjudge a vehicle's speed by a few seconds and the worst can (and does) happen.

I have tried to cross the road on that axis against fast moving traffic and it is not easy. Your Darwinist explanation or rationalization of this woman's sad fate is simply insensitive.

P.S. I am not in any way supporting the actions of pedestrians who decide to cross highways with fast moving traffic when the option of pedestrian overhead bridges exists.

Threads like this show in bold relief why things are unlikely to get better even after the 'wasted generation' currently in charge goes to the grave - shrouded with its abject failure to build a country that works.

We don't have all the sad details of how this woman died. Yet some people have blamed her outright for her death. Others find it amusing. And yet some others are pre-occupied with her gennitalia. And some others are talking some nonsense about how she was 'used' by dark forces.

No empathy. No resolve to change things and make deaths like this a rarity. Nothing.



P.S. This is the nonsense I am talking about. Every damn day people write rubbish on here and their nonsense is not censored, yet Nairaland censors the word 'gennitalia'. Who are we fooling?

Our road is long.

I finally got passport after a lengthy delay - without any reason given for the delay. My experience was a mixed bag - most of the service personnel I dealt with were courteous and pleasant - I'll give them that - but there is a lot of work that needs to be done. The posts above mine say this far better than I could.

A pity that the NIS twitter handle is not performing at full throttle. Several posters here obviously filed their complaints there but the official response has been patchy at best.


NIS personnel - if you are reading this - please rise to the occassion.

Interesting thread.

Perhaps the combatants could explain the difference between API and PQIA? And the difference between full synthetic and advanced full synthetic?

I want to learn...

seunmsg:
Premiumtimes sells based on sensational headlines and half truth stories. They sensationally dragged Buhari and his son in-law into the story just to sell it. The son in-law was not even the head of BDCA when the procurement shortlisting was done but they crafted the story to make it look like it was done by him.

If the son in-law upon resumption had cancelled the procurement process that was started by his predecessor and started afresh, they will still accuse him of canceling what was started because he intends to bring in his own contractors. The entire story is just an hatchet job done to embarrass the president as usual.

^^^
No sir.

The press is just doing its job. The president should do his.

As far as I am aware, the article states quite clearly that the illegality did not begin with Mr. Abdullahi. Where he erred was continuing the illegality.

Accusing Premium Times of sensationalism and half truths is begging the question. Did the press raise the issue of constituting the NCPP with the Buhari administration - in line with the provisions of the PPA? Why has the administration not complied? Is this assertion by Premium Times true or not?

These are the issues and they need to be addressed.

deomelo:
1. You want him to tell you why there is no power? Are you a foreigner and you've been living under the rock somewhere in Afghanistan so you have zero clue how for decades since independence past governments failed to do anything about electricity and how 16 years of PDP and stolen $16 billion gave us darkness till today?


2. By contract and constitutional provisions enacted by OBJ, Jonathan and the PDP, power generation and distribution is completely Private, it means it is not in the hands of the FG.

So, what part of privatization do you not understand.

3. When the PDP gave Nigeria's power assets to their corrupt cronies with no power generation and management experience and no money to build power plants and distribution network, did you people complain?

I remember what you people were shooting, you were shouting GEJ till 2019, you basically care less about power and the damage they did with privatization..

4. The DISCOs today as part of their obligation should be expanding their operations from building power plants, building distribution networks, investing in solar power generation and other alternatives.

.....but they can not do anything because they don't have money to invest and the banks won't lend them money because banks don't trust them.

5. The DISCOs right now are useless and the FG should terminate the whole privatization deal, but sadly they can not because they don't want to scare off investors or create any impression that the FG doesn't respect agreements. I still think they should terminate and let the chips fall wherever.


Sadly, the FG sometimes is not the problem, it is the average ignorant Nigerians with zero knowledge per how their country functions.

If you after not satisfied with the power situation, face your local Disco, hold them accountable.

You don't send your power bill payments to the FG or Fashola, you pay the DISCOs, meaning they are responsible for your power needs.


Nigerian youths want to rule Nigeria, but many of them are too clueless and ignorant, even the basics they don't know.

Fashola just helped and lectured you so take the education and say thanks.

^^^
Predictable response from an online pen/gun for hire.

Sir, your history lessons about the previous administration bore me to death. They add absolutely nothing to the conversation so from now on, don't bother to include them. Your epistle about the trials and tribulations of DISCOs also holds no interest for me. There is nothing new you have said.

Perhaps without meaning to, you shot yourself in the foot with your comments up there. By your own admission, the federal government is unsure of what to do - hence your unsolicited advice about terminating the so-called privatization and letting the chips fall where they may. Sir, if your principals don't know what to do, they should make way for those who do. Its really that simple.

In closing, you couldn't resist more ugly jibes at long suffering Nigerians - with your contemptuous remarks about their 'ignorance' and 'cluelessness'. Again, there is nothing new here - you are only acting true to type - as your online posting history shows. A state governor (with all the powers at his disposal) expressed his frustration with a DISCO (BEDC) on live TV four weeks ago and you have the nerve to talk about how ordinary Nigerians are not holding DISCOs accountable? What has the NERC (and by extension the government which appoints its officials) done about the countless complaints brought before it?

The previous administration also had online pens/guns for hire. Just like you, those hack writers arrogantly basked in the incompetence of their principals. Where are they today? The only question that is yet to be answered is whether next year, Nigerians will punish you and your principals - just like they punished the previous administration and its numerous hagiographers in 2015.

Time will tell.

This man is unravelling and it is a joy to watch.

An extremely cynical individual. This is the same man who as Lagos state governor said Freedom of Information legislation should be applicable to the federal government but not the states.

Instead of addressing the key reasons why there is no power - (reasons such as government's indebtedness to GENCOs and the ineffective, compromised NERC) the man now tells Nigerians they are to blame for their problems.

In a sense though, the man is right. Nigerians, through their unbelievably poor choices ARE to blame for their problems.

A country gets the leadership it deserves.

I went back to the NIS office for passport collection as scheduled.

Sadly, I must withdraw the limited praise I gave the Service in my previous post on this thread. Collection should have been a straightforward affair but it turned into a nightmare. I and several other applicants spent the whole day in a fruitless and pointless wait for passports that were either misplaced or not ready. Whether this delay is all part of a plan to 'soften' us up before requests for gratification is something we'll have to wait and see.

The Service needs to stop the photo ops and social media campaign and deal with the nitty gritty of how it actually serves the public. It seems they don't understand that having scores of anxious, angry, frustrated and depressed applicants waiting endlessly IS a service failure. Immigration personnel mill in and out of the different offices - fronting for applicants trying to beat the queue, processing the requests of senior staff, etc. - and creating unnecessary traffic while actually doing very little work - leaving frustrated applicants at the mercy of predatory servicemen/women who then offer to provide 'help', (MMM style) .

We can do better than this.

Strange how some posters assume the victim argued or resisted during the attack. Does any poster on here know for sure exactly what happened?

Some robbers kill their victims before they even have a chance to resist or argue. It happens all the time.

chygoz3:
Yes i did. I only visited the office twice: one on the date of interview and then when i went for collection.
What i advise you to do is to note the name of officer that may want to ask any money from you if you encounter such. While at the office, be prepared to tweet to their handle if you encounter any challenges. I have read about incidences with the Alausa office whereby people who paid online are asked to come back at a later date for capturing. If you are told something similar, make it known immediately to the twitter handle.

^^^
Went for my interview/data capture a few days ago. Things went fairly smoothly. The officers I met first began with that whole "I can help you" nonsense but I wasn't having any of it. I bought the file jackets myself and all the other odds and ends the officers required of me, followed my file from section to section and finally the whole thing was completed without my paying 1 kobo. The only thing I found unusual is the 3+ weeks I have to wait before collection. We'll see how it goes. There has been some improvement in service - at least this time I didn't see any inebriated immigration police threatening members of the public over nothing.

Useful thread.

Was surprised to see the exchange between Mancala & Autoelect - not expecting that at all. Those bits of info on living adjustments for the elderly were truly priceless. Copied and filed for future reference.

Maybe if Citroen were still making their suspensions the way they used to, there would be more options...

theoldpretender:
On to the article

We may laugh at the man, but consider these factors.

1.The man is 68 years old. When he was a young man, what would become today's PC was still in the experimental stage. A computer back in the 1970's was a big machine which covered a whole room.Only specialists used it.

2.For those of you Nigerians laughing at Buhari and the man, people their age spent all their working life not needing to use a PC. By the time they were in senior management posts in their fifites, there were lots of young people who were using PC's...whom they could delegate tasks to.

3.Japan is a country that looks modern, yet is still old fashioned in many ways. For example...how many people here have heard of a fax machine ? Last time I heard of someone using one was in 2001. Japan still uses them today. All because the old people who run things there are used to them, and don't want change.

4.We can laugh at our 'lifeless' leadership, but let's be honest....MOST nigerians have never ever used a PC or computer in their lifetimes. The number goes up when you consider Nigerians over 45 years of age. Yes they should modernize...but the fact is, they got along well without PC's ....and they can delegate tasks....so why should they change.

^^^
Fair points you made, but the man is going to struggle. He simply does not have a grasp of some of the most pressing challenges confronting his ministry. As I mentioned to another poster - when Mr Sakurada was asked last week about the data security risks of using USB drives in Japan's nuclear power plants - he couldn't respond because he didn't know what a USB drive was. This is just one of the several high profile errors that Mr. Sakurada has made in recent weeks - simply because he does not know nearly enough about the responsibilities he has been assigned.

Another example: the minister of education in the United States, Mrs Betsy De Vos. Mrs De Vos, like Japan's Sakurada is a very wealthy individual with some business acumen (even though her wealth is largely inherited but let's ignore that for now). When Mrs De Vos was being grilled by lawmakers about the matter of growth versus proficiency (a major, major debate in US education policy circles), Mrs De Vos did not know what to say.

Far too many people on this thread (not including you though) simply excused away the Japanese minister's errors because he has "administrative and financial skills" and the technical work will be done by his staff. Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way in practice.

helium2:
His ministry already has staff at its various echelons. The ministry most probable has a road map which is to be implemented. He's decision making skills are mostly going to come into play concerning budgetary and management issues. it is often said that people tat have the good technical skills lack administrative and management skills. There must be thousands of person who already possess technical skills at the ministry.

^^^^
I'm not sure about this. You can check out his disastrous performance during parliamentary sessions.

When asked by lawmakers about the data security risks of allowing USB drives in Japan's nuclear power plants, Mr. Sakurada did not have a clue what a USB drive was.

Mr Sakurada is also in charge of the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. When asked by journalists on Nov 6. what the governments contribution would be, he said 1,500 yen - well short of the real figure of 150 billion yen.

When he was asked about an IOC invitation allegedly extended to North Korean athletes for participation in the Olympics (a pertinent question since there is a Japanese travel ban on North Korean officials) Mr Sakurada said such issues were "beyond his jurisdiction" .

All too often, high flying business managers and executives overstate their abilities and competencies and the results are predictable. Mr Sakurada will be at the mercy of special interests with an agenda since he knows nothing about the portfolios he has been assigned. Well, Japan is a 1st world economy so Mr. Sakurada is a luxury that Japan can afford. The problem is when a cassava republic - instead of grilling its cabinet ministers simply asks them to 'take a bow" after reciting the pledge and the national anthem. Which serious country or people does that?

helium2:
Ignoramuses up there

Do not be deceived by his apparent naivety. That guy has administrative, management and policy formulation skills beyond your imagination.

You think the Minister is required to debug lines of firewall code?

^^^^
Interesting point you make.

Although I wonder...wouldn't his policy formulation be greatly enhanced from the experience that comes with actually using the machines? Given his unfamiliarity with computers the man could be held hostage or easily misled by poor suggestions from his advisers.

For related reasons I think any political leader in this day and age who doesn't have a firm grounding in economics has the odds stacked against him. Nigeria's experience confirms this.

Those who are saying Buhari was quoted out of context should provide the full clips.

What a government.

Sterope:
If you want know why, direct your question to the government. You made it sound like it has something to do with Islam against Christianity. You mentioned missionary schools not private and missionary schools. Missionary schools that collected from the public purse! If you want to bring semantics into this, you are on your own. If it is from the public purse, It is damn well my business.

You are the one comparing apples and oranges. The topic was for hijab in schools and you out rightly assumed that as a Muslim and a hijab advocate I am also in support of Sharia law. You didn't ask for my opinion. You should not take offence if don't want to entertain the matter.

I am not in support to Sharia in Nigeria. I am glad you also needed to be informed that introduction of Sharia was more than a poitical gimmick.

^^^^
Oh, now you want me to direct my questions to the government. Now you accuse me of 'bringing semantics into this' (whatever that means). This is what people say when they don't have an argument.

I did not, as you put it, assume that you are "a muslim and a hijab advocate". I do not know your faith and I cannot make those assumptions from behind a keyboard. What I DO know is that you voiced your disapproval at ISI's controversial decision not to allow Islamic headgear for female pupils - a disapproval based on the grounds that as a federally funded institution, ISI has no right to abridge the constitutional rights of its female muslim students, right?

I then squared your hijab advocacy (an advocacy based on the constitutionally guaranteed rights of muslim females) against the unconstitutionality of the hisbah's actions in routinely confiscating and destroying people's legitimately acquired goods - in the same country! Strangely, you have no views to air on this gigantic contradiction - all of a sudden, hijab advocacy and sharia law are unrelated concepts - "apples and oranges" as you so eloquently put it.

I have said all I need to say as clearly and simply as I can. The truth MUST be said, no matter how inconvenient and uncomfortable it may be.

Sterope:
I find it impressive that you think Government especially those down South give a crap about religion to take over missionary schools . You really do give them some credit. Is it not the same government that once took over Mayflower secondary school in Ikenna even though Mayflower was not a missionary school? Also, missionary schools had access to tax payers money by way of government grants. What do you have to say about that?


I didn't say I was in support of Sharia or sharia states accepting VAT from breweries. That is an entirely different topic. If you are looking for my opinion, you can ask for it.

^^^^

I am mystified by your first statement and further comments about Mayflower school. My statements were very clear - Nigerian governments in years past DID take over private/missionary schools from their previous owners. This is a historical fact which a little research on your part will confirm - (indeed your comments about Mayflower actually bear me out). Several decades later these schools (after they had been run into the ground) were 'returned' to their owners. Which of course leads to the very legitimate question of WHY the schools were taken over in the first place - was it just to destroy them because the governments of the time were uneasy - for reasons yet undisclosed?

You also speak about taxpayer funded grants by the government to missionary schools. I do not understand your point. Grants are not equity and they do not normally confer any ownership or shareholder rights. The furthest you can go as a donor is to state how and what you wish your grant to be spent on. Or should any grant by the government to an entity be (legitimately) viewed with suspicion - as nothing but a precursor to annexation?

I didn't say you were in support of sharia law or sharia states accepting VAT from breweries. No. And though you may disagree, it is a relevant topic and closely related to what we are discussing here. You said ISI is a federally funded school - implying that the agitation for Islamic headgear by some parents is justified on those grounds - after all, it is a federally funded school and school management has no right to prohibit Islamic headgear, right?. But in the same country, states operating sharia law routinely seize alcoholic drinks merchandise on the grounds that alcoholic drinks business is in conflict with said Islamic law. The problem though, is that the production, consumption and distribution of alcoholic drinks IS permitted under Nigerian federal law. These brewers are taxed under federal law and their corporate income tax goes into paying for your "federally funded institutions". Institutions like ISI.

Do you now see the contradiction, Madam? You can't pick and choose federalism when it suits you. You are either in or out.

Sterope:
In Nigeria, tights worn under mini is not conservative at all.

Rules or not, ISI is a federally funded school not a private school or a missionary school.

Rules or not, ISI mangement allow mini gowns. They did not start today. They have wearing mini since I started high school and more than 10 years later, they are still wearing them.

^^^
Ok then. We can agree to disagree.

As I said earlier, I am no expert on female dresswear. I have nothing more to contribute in that area.

It is instructive though, that you mention ISI's (debatable) status as a 'federally funded institution'. You also state very clearly that it is not a private school and neither is it a missionary school. Very interesting. No doubt you are aware that many years ago, the Nigerian federal government effectively seized several private/missionary schools from their owners and only recently returned the carcasses to the previous owners. There is strong speculation that the motives for that takeover by government were nothing short of sinister. Your comments lend credence to that view.

Again, back to the main issue.

My predictions for those on the receiving end? I can predict that those parents who wish for the hijab to become part of ISI's dresswear ARE going to win, the same way Asmau Firdaaus won her contest with the Nigerian Law School authorities. The fiery rhetoric on here is not going to stop that inevitable conclusion. And yet this takes place in the same country where so-called state religious police can routinely confiscate and destroy a businessman's legitimately acquired inventory of (federally taxed) alcoholic drinks without any legal repercussions so far. In the same country where not one Sharia state government has publicly volunteered to return any federal money from VAT collected on alcoholic drinks. But then, these things happen because the victims and those on the receiving end of this impunity allow them to happen.

Time will tell.

Sterope:
Actually millions of women do wear them...but for ISI students, it is a fashion statement!

Also, tights would be the last thing I would expect a Nigerian female secondary student to wear to school. It is so out of place in a country like Nigeria.

^^^


If anything, I would expect those with conservative values to approve of young women wearing tights (as undergarments of course, worn under appropriate outer wear ). After all, tights fully cover the nether parts of these young girls. Which is at the heart of this whole argument, isn't it?

Back to the main issue.

I am not aware of ISI rules explicitly approving or permitting micro minis, etc. for female pupils. Perhaps the school may not rigidly enforce the dress code (that may explain your comments about what you may have seen pupils of the school actually wearing) but unless things have changed considerably, the rules ARE there. Whether they are strictly enforced is another argument entirely and one I cannot speak authoritatively about.

That is the point I was trying to make to the fellow I quoted (when he claimed provocative dressing is viewed as a fundamental right by ISI management).

Sterope:
They wear micro mini...

They wear tights...

Make you talk something else

^^^
Madam,

I have not been to that place in years.

I do not know if the current school rules explicitly approve provocative dressing by female pupils. If you have the current position kindly update the rest of us.


P.S. I am no expert on female dresswear, but are tights regarded as provocative clothing? Don't millions of conservatively dressed women worldwide wear them as undergarments?

Tfkspecial:
What a hypocritical environment we found ourselves, when a female student wears a micro mini gown to school she is seen has exercising her right but the moment she puts on a hijab and dress modestly, she is termed a fanatic. ISI belongs to everyone and the right of female Muslim students should protected as enshrined in our constitution

^^^
This is not accurate. I am not aware of the school permitting "micro mini gowns" for female students.

Be truthful please.

Its got to get worse (much, much worse) before it gets to be even mildly better. The more things change, indeed the more they remain the same.

Pause to think that this road was 'concessioned' during the Obasanjo administration. Think of that for a while.

Big blind country.

chygoz3:
Yes i did. I only visited the office twice: one on the date of interview and then when i went for collection.
What i advise you to do is to note the name of officer that may want to ask any money from you if you encounter such. While at the office, be prepared to tweet to their handle if you encounter any challenges. I have read about incidences with the Alausa office whereby people who paid online are asked to come back at a later date for capturing. If you are told something similar, make it known immediately to the twitter handle.

^^^
Many thanks. I will update after my interview.