₦airaland Forum

Deepthoughts:
So if the leader of the igbos in Yoruba land is called "chairman"even though "chairman"is not an Igbo word,n such Igbo chairman decides to build an office n name it "office of the Igbo chairman " would you find that acceptable?

Your argument is very weak. Chairman and King are obviously not Igbo words, but they have their direct translations in Igbo. Chairman and King do not have the same meaning. The same way office and Palace have different meaning. King and Palace elicit different emotional appeal to chairman and office. If the so called Igbo leaders refer to themselves as chairman of igbos in Lagos or chairman of igbos in Ghana, I am sure no one will raise an eyebrow. But to refer yourself to King and purport to live in a Palace on someone else's land is seen as an insult to your host. There cannot be two Kings and palaces in a kingdom. Jesus was tried and executed by the Jewish political elites in conjuction with the Romans being referred to as "King of the Jews" or "Eze-Ndijews"

Deepthoughts:
Obviously you don't understand Hausa,sarkin means king in Hausa while "emir"you may be use to is actually Arabic,I know that amongst igbos,their leaders build their palaces as part of their own private homes except in some few cases,I don't really see that as an issue just like the igbos have town hall buildings in many places without issue even where the indigenes don't,to me there should only be issues if the Igbo leaders exercise any authority over non Igbos or on any matter outside the igbos,to me al these vehement opposition to the igbos is just out of unnecessary fear or outright hatred especially as 2027 approaches, it's laughable for you to assume that I must have an Igbo mother girlfriend or friend for me to form my opinion,if such can be done to a major tribe liki Igbo then same people could do worst to minority tribes n you would support it,is this how we are going to build a united peaceful and progressive country?

As the saying goes if everyone you meet is mad, then it's time to start questioning your own sanity. Lagos indigenes says an Eze on their land is unacceptable, you say Lagosians hate igbos. Ondo indigenes says they don't want eze indigbo on their territory, you say they are jealous of you guys. Even in far away Ghana, Ghanaians are incensed that someone is referring to himself as king of igbos on their land, they protested and call for expulsion of all Nigerians from their country. You are shouting ignorance. So everyone either hates igbos, jealous of igbos or are simply ignorant.
Igbos are not the only people that form strong socio cultural bonds amongst themselves in diaspora. The Israelis have a history spanning well over 4000 years in foreign lands, where they still maintained their strong cultural bonds. Never did they form king or build palaces complete with thrones in other people's lands the Lebanese, Indians, and Chinese have strong enclaves in foreign lands. Non tries to title themselves kings.
Nigeria boasts of over 250 different ethnic groups, each with their kinship and traditional institutions, but non attempts to export it to other peoples lands. But the igbos are so stubborn, that they insist on offending the sensibilities of their hosts in foreign lands. It is even so ridiculous that they are now comparing themselves with the Fulanis, an ethnic group they hate so much.

Deepthoughts:
I'm not Igbo, matter of fact I'm from the NC,but why is the so much emphasis against the igbos, we don't hear any noise against sarkin hausawa,ardo of Fulani or the heads of other tribes,is it wrong to have a leader of a tribe in states outside of their own states of origin in Nigeria?

Maybe your mother, wife or girlfriend is Igbo. Have you seen sarkin building a Palace in another man's land? Have you seen any Sarkin in Ghana, Canada, Saudi Arabia or Malaysia? Does the word Sarkin translate to King in Hausa?

DomPerignon:
That's why this ohaneze must be proscribed .

They are challenging the local traditional authority of their host communities in flagrant disregard to existing state chieftaincy bodies and laws.

The group needs to be banned everywhere outside their SE.

Very annoying. The know where to try this their nonsense. They should go and try building palaces in Kano, Saudi Arabia or even England, and call themselves king.

MICHEALADEX:
Oga stop talking nonsense all electronics used in China🇨🇳 are not made in China 🇨🇳 including microchips they also import as well

It's you talking nonsense comparing microchip to refinery. Are you insinuating refining petroleum is as technologically challenging as refining sand to produce microchips. How many countries in the world are able to make microchips?
People make ridiculous excuses to support nonsense.

TimeManager:
Those who have foresight would really appreciate the decision of the President to liberalize the oil and gas sector. Industry players now enjoy the incentives of operating on a level playing field. In addition to being the first ever indigenous export terminal, we also have the first ever indigenous refinery and more indigenous investors currently constructing their refineries.
Also, the Administration has made it seamless for local investors to acquire offshore assets of the International Oil Companies, making indigenous investors become big players in the sector.
This development would inspire more local investors to build more export terminals, sufficiently increase crude oil production, supply more crude to local refineries, earn more foreign exchange thereby strengthening the value of the naira. Already, the Government of Senegal has indicated interest in buying crude oil from Nigeria to feedstock its refinery. God bless Nigeria.

-Kiss the truth!

If the president has foresight as you believe, he would not be encouraging the building of more export terminals, he would be encouraging the building of more local refineries instead. Then would be building terminals or pipelines to supply these local refineries. What's the foresight in building export terminals to export Nigerian crude abroad, while local refineries like Dangote import crude from Brasil, USA, Venezuela, etc.

DomPerignon:
Its about time Ohaneze is banned from existing in any state outside their SE.

If they are not trying to host Ibo day in PHC in clear defiance to the Ikwere people opposing such rubbish, they are everywhere installing fake usurper kings in foriegn lands.

The self described Ibo king of Ghana claims authority from Ohaneze anointing him as king.

In this same Badagry , it is same Ohaneze that is spearheading this usurper throne.

Why can't these people keep their shit to their ye@st?

Why must you want to duplicate your fake kings in another man's land? Don't you know this is a total disregard to the solemn authority of the host community and a statement from your side that you do not recognize the existing cultural and tradional stools in your host community ?

Its not like anyone is forcing you to go bow to the existing host king ?

What manner of senseless provocation is this?

If you want to do your useless and equally worthless ibo kings, then take that nonsense to your ye@st.

Dem swear for una?

Ohaneze seems to be enjoying the influence and power. Afterall, all these are done in its name and authority. Ohaneze claims to be a socio-cultural group, but the meaning of Ohaneze Ndigbo means a gathering of Kings. How can you have a gathering of Kings without actual kings? So it seems So Ohaneze is attempting to usurp or challenge the powers and influence of traditional rulers back home. South East traditional council have actually banned the use of the title Eze Ndigbo (king of igbos) outside igboland, but Ohaneze Ndigbo just ignored them. They are at the same time attempting to build colonies outside igboland, but controlled by the parent body of Ohaneze Ndigbo.

DomPerignon:
There's no project that does not require going back to the drawing board.

So adding an artery link directly to Edo to connect to the coastal highway is now fraud?

I am an architect by training, and also a contractor. From experience, I know this is not how projects are executed. No project requires continuously “going back to the drawing board.” You cannot keep returning to the design stage every time you receive an epiphany or new inspiration.

Yes, it is normal to make variations to a project design—usually to address unforeseen challenges on site or to implement slight modifications to the original plan. But you don’t fundamentally change the design at every phase of the project. That is not how professional project execution works.

What makes this particular project even more troubling is its extreme secrecy. We are not even allowed to see the original design before these so-called variations are introduced. As my friend Deepsight put it, this is a project without any real foundation: no disclosed design, no budget, no Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), no community participation, no Request for Proposals (RFP), no tenders, no progress reports, no legislative oversight—nothing.

Everything is shrouded in secrecy. All we ever hear are official statements from the Minister of Works and other government representatives, but no transparent process, documentation, or accountability accompanies them.

The route was earlier announced, but unfortunately it did not include Edo State. Today, the difference in length from 700km to 750km is because a miracle happened here. The President directed that the highway must run from Lagos to Ogun, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and end in Cross River,” Umahi said.

Na trial and error project? No design, budget and contract terms?

budaatum:
I don't have any evidence to prove "that an international cabal exists whose focus is stacking up odds against a functioning dangote", but ignoring the possibility would be naive. One just need look at our government owned moribund steel mill and refineries, and the fact that when we found oil and made lots of money we were wrongly advised not to invest in our own industry and just buy foreign because it benefits them. Thankfully, Dangote overcame, and his refinery now functions.

I do have lots of evidence that proves Nigeria itself is stacking odds up against Dangote however, and thankfully, he is not giving up as you say, and that delights me.

Nigeria needs more fighters like him.

I have always supported Dangote against sabotage by the government, NNPC, pengassan, etc., but I don't support his high handedness in sacking his workers for joining a union. He should have called them and solicit their support against the saboteurs.

SarkinYarki:
I also don't have any evidence but from the letter you can see unit sabotage was specifically mentioned

Sabotage by who? Were the workers sacked implicated and found guilty of any sabotage. The workers need to band together, get a lawyer and file a class action suit against Dangote for wrongful termination. Even almighty Federal Government were ordered to re-emply unilorin wrongfully terminated for union activities, much less Dangote.

Zionmdde:
They don't need to mandate or force anyone
The UN ILO conventions are law in over 150 countries. So it becomes illegal to deal with dangote who is known for violating human rights

You think dangote doesn't know all these, why didn't he explicitly state he sacked them because of unionism

You think every country is like Nigeria that doesn't care about human rights violations, go and read the ESG policies of foreign companies and come back

So what reasons did Dangote give for sacking all his workers at the same time a day after joining a union?

Image123:
We both know that there are more people willing to sign this than there are not. It happens.

Even if they sign it, it's would not hold in a court of law. You cannot sign an illegal agreement and expect the court to honour it. You cannot sign away your fundamental human rights of freedom of movement, thought or association.

Image123:
Companies cannot be forced to join a union or have their employees join one; this decision rests with the employers and workers themselves. Dangote will simply recruit people who agree/sign not to join unions. Companies do this all around the world. You cannot hold the country to ransom because of unionism and selling imported goods.
BTW, Dangote has lost billions before, it didn't show. How many Nigerians can afford to lose 10,000 naira without pain? How many can afford a hike in fuel price and the scarcities that will likely follow in a faceoff? ILO or UN cannot force people to join union, please be enlightened.

That would be an unconstitutional agreement. You cannot sign away your rights of freedom of association as guaranteed by the constitution.

FOLYKAZE:
This is becoming messy.

Dangote should tread carefully. These guys are ready to fight dirty than stay out of business.

We just need to grow out of this Aluta, scatter everywhere mentally, if things doesn't work out way. Government should please disband NUPENG and their sister union PENGASSAN. You cannot just force private business hands to do what and whatever in their business. If you want to dictate, start up your own refinery, then you can control your staff remotely how you want. This madness has to just stop

I disagree. Even though I am a fan of Dangote for risking huge capital in an unstable economy like Nigeria, I do not support his sacking the entire staff of his refinery as a punishment for joining trade union. The Nigerian constitution guarantees freedom of association, and working for Dangote cannot impinge on that right. Trade unionism is practiced in all democracies in the world. Only dictatorships like North Korea, China and Russia forbids trade unionism. Workers must be given the rights to negotiate salaries and conditions of service.

God pass them. Upon the handball goal, Crystal Palace still won.

ZombieDredd:
how come salah handball allowed to stand?

this is ridiculous

Pure ojoro. It was a clear handball.

NigerianAngelo:
Eve looked like the Blessed Virgin Mary. Close enough.

How was she a virgin? Abi Virgin dey born children? Besides, all women are born Virginia.

sonofsteven:
I thought they said that human evolved from monkey or ape

No we did not evolve from ape. First human are Ape. There are four surviving Apes - Humans, Chimpanzees, Orangutans and Bonobos. We are said to have evolved from a common ancestor.

APOPTOSIS:
Every human came from Black.
That has been proven countless times.
You can have white from black but not black from white.

Exactly. Recent research has discovered that white skin is a recent human adaptation. The original humans (homo sapiens) were black until about 10,000 years ago. When man (homo sapiens) got to Europe, they were still dark skinned, they then displaced the original inhabitants (Homo Neanderthalensis) to take over the whole of Europe.
The first Eve - biblically or evolutionarily, could never have been white skinned.

DeepSight:
Further taxes, increments coupled with another massively rigged election may just ignite something, you never can tell.
Even if sponsored by local or foreign elements.

Lai lai. That will never happen. Yorubas will will come together and defend one of their own with their lives. That has always been the issue with Nigeria, each tribe or clan protect their own. The Fulanis (and the North as a whole) defended Buhari, the Yorubas are currently defending the corruption and visionless Tinubu administration.

Samogloby:
Seriously, i support your opinion. They can not continue killing us with taxes and someone will spending the money on their children. I foreseen protest n the coming days. You can not lose what you don't have, you can only lose what you have.

Protest ke? Not in a million years. Nigerians are too traumatised by poverty, insecurity and fear to carry out any protest. Nigerians would rather beg, collect crumbs from the floor of politicians to defend them, or at worst commit suicide by jumping into the Lagoon, than facing army or police bullets.
Nigerians have been completely conquered or rather colonised. The are not even allowed to complain or criticise against government or government officials much less protest.

olaric:
It is beyond me how some Nigerians still support and defend our politicians with the kind of terrible reputation they have.

I am sure some persons online will come to the defence of Wike after seeing all these.

It's because we have lost all sense of decency and shame in our quest for materialism. Every aspect of our lives have been reduced to primitive quest for material gains - from our religion, to our education to our sociology. No quest for higher ideals like love, happiness, or even development. Most Nigerians would sell their souls to the devil in order to get a glimpse of material gains.

LordBiden:
Sowore must be high on cheap crack.

Are you saying a two terms governor of an oil rich state like rivers cannot afford a mansion in USA without stealing state funds.

I still like wike,at least he is a performer and not like other politicians who steals and still don't perform in office.

The wife also earns huge income as a judge.

Where will a two terms governor of an oil rich state like Rivers get the money to afford mansions in Florida? What is the total salary and emoluments of a governor in Nigeria - oil rich state or not? Can a two term governor of Texas (a rich oil state in the US) afford million dollar mansions in the US solely bases on his emoluments as a governor?
We seem to have normalised and even encourage stealing of our commonwealth by those trusted with managing ot on our behalf. No wonder poverty is growing at geometric proportions in Nigeria.

Pootle:
school unionism is not same as managing a country someone should tell mr sowore to calm down

Is this how to manage a country? The way APC is managing the country is worse than a country at war. For over two weeks now most parts of the country is without power, bandits, insurgents and kidnappers have taken over many parts of the country, and corruption is rampant in every facet of governance, and the government is more worried about Sowore's utterances. Even Ukraine in the middle of a full scale war is being governed better.

benardtotti:
You guys still don't get it , it's a political game towards 2027 ,the outcome will be hard evidence for tinubu to use in 2027 when politicians like atiku want to use "tinubu is a criminal and drug dealer " as campaign point .

I honestly don't understand how clamping down on social media insults is a political strategy. Donald Trump was a convicted criminal, but still won the US elections overwhelmingly.

Jakumo:
Nigeria's comparatively young democratic institutions stand on the undulating rubble of past military dictatorships, meaning that while freedom of speech is assured in Nigeria, freedom after speech does not enjoy the same protections, and may even trigger invocation of the Golden Rule whereby he who has the gold, makes the rules.

While Nigeria's online pundits' freedom to offer constructive criticism to the current Nigerian federal or state government has been diligently preserved, that right to free speech has been repeatedly abused by perennial gadfly Mr. Sowore, who comes across as a particularly arrogant and belligerent character in several YouTube videos filmed and posted online by Sowore himself.

If Sowore's most recent publicity stunt eventually earns him some months of quality time in a cozy jail cell, perhaps the peace and quiet of that new accommodation will enable Town Crier Sowore to reflect on the utter futility of showing up for a gunfight wielding a rolled-up newspaper, which is what he is doing when he makes a career of concocting unfounded allegations against powerful individuals connected to successive governments in the same country.

I am genuinely saddened that someone of your exposure and intellect would hold such views. Nigeria and Nigerians have, throughout history, been known for their courage in confronting and standing up to power—no matter how oppressive or brutal.

During the colonial era, we had fearless nationalists who resisted and challenged the exploitative policies of the British colonial government. In the post-colonial period, many patriotic Nigerians also stood up against the excesses of the Tafawa Balewa administration.

Even at the height of military dictatorship, Nigerians refused to be silenced. Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, for instance, openly called Obasanjo and Yar’Adua thieves—while they were in power. Despite the boldness of his accusations, Fela was never dragged to court, let alone jailed for expressing his views.

Under the maradonic and brutal regime of General Ibrahim Babangida (IBB), courageous voices like Gani Fawehinmi, Adams Oshiomhole, Wole Soyinka, Tai Solarin, and many others relentlessly held the regime accountable. They did not allow IBB to govern in peace or without insults

Then came what is widely regarded as the most repressive dictatorship in Nigeria’s history—that of General Sani Abacha. Yet, even he could not silence the Nigerian spirit. Brave individuals such as Frank Kokori, Wole Soyinka, and even the current president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, stood their ground and resisted. Abacha, in his paranoia, resorted to setting up death squads to eliminate critics, but Nigerians still refused to be cowed.

Since 1979, no Nigerian president or head of state has escaped public insults. None has been spared from being labeled corrupt or thieves. The most vilified, arguably, was President Goodluck Jonathan. He and his wife were subjected to daily insults and public ridicule, including outright curses. Yet, not a single person was jailed or prosecuted for such expressions.

It is for this reason that I find your justification of the current administration’s actions—on the grounds that we are a "young democracy"—both weak and deeply disappointing. Nigerian democracy, though imperfect, has a long and rich history of robust civic engagement and fearless dissent.

The Tinubu administration appears overly insecure. Rather than focusing on tackling the rampant insecurity that threatens the very existence of the country, it seems more preoccupied with silencing dissent and controlling narratives on social and traditional media. It is a tragic misplacement of priorities, and a betrayal of the democratic ideals many Nigerians have fought—and in some cases, died—for.

Jakumo:
Anyone who makes a career out of insulting politicians will sooner or later wind up in jail

Are we living in a dictatorship? Politicians are insulted all over the world, except in dictatorships like Russia, China, Afghanistan and North Korea. In some some European countries, the pelt the president or prime minister with rotten eggs or tomatoes.
Trump receives hundreds of insults on a daily basis, and no one has landed in jail.

Brilliancepower:
HMmmm.. The Bible say guard your speech. And this simply because the tongue as small as it is, it can put you in trouble.

But the Nigerian constitution grants all citizens freedom of speech, are you saying the Nigerian constitution is against the bible?

seunmsg:
Now that the matter has been charged to court, I hope the case is quickly decided and justice is served.

Hopefully, Peter Obi will also grow some balls and sue Deji Adeyanju who has also severally called him a bigot and fraudster.

First of all, it was not Tinubu, his personal lawyer or even his justice ministry that sued Sowore, it was the DSS. DSS stands for Directorate of State Security. I never knew the organisation act act as Tinubus lawyers. DSS should also tale up Peter Obi's case and sue Deji Adeyanju on his behalf, abi na only Tinubu dem dey serve?

Even under military regime, DSS did not involve itself in civil matters.

KOE1:
Corruption is everywhere in the world! People benefiting from corruption will see things differently and would not want the country to take decision that will afect them...

Yes, the President need not wait until 3 years before removing subsidy. Yes, bold step is a part of strategic planning and can be planned even before getting a position.

Let every Nigerian be true and support what is true and give suggestion for the way forward.

If you have l, vision...what have you done in your community?

So what was the strategic planing for subsidy removal? What was the vision and how Haa the vision played out?

nairalanda1:
Allow me to interrupt, but the problem with your supplentary budget idea is quite simply there was no money for it

Debt service was eating 95 % of our income by august 2022. We were financing subsidy then by debts. Which was causing inflation. We were all borrowed up

I am not lying or defending any politicans


See the article ' reflections on the fuel subsidy in Nigeria' which explains better . Guardian, august 14 2022

What of all the billions of dollars President Tinubu has borrowed from world Bank and China, since assuming office? Will the debts not be serviced?