I am not Igbo. I had to start like this before the very heavy tribalism in Nairaland creeps into this thread and attack me for what I am about to say.

I have been looking at the various events in Nigeria from the year of independence till today and it got me thinking. In the 60s when there was violence in the North with killings of southerners (mainly Igbos), the government of the day had the same attitude as GEJ's government today. In Nairaland and all across Nigeria, the echoes of break-up has been growing louder by the day.

My question hence is: Were the Igbos right in attempting to break up in the 60s? Are we all late risers by waiting more than 40years after the events in the 60s to realise that this unfortunate political experiment concorted by the British (and named by the girlfriend of a British Governor General over a cup of tea) called Nigeria, has been a farce ab initio?

So why is no one talking about his possible involvement in all this? Were this to be happening in a more civilized country, we would have been placed in a high security alert and Atiku would have been arrested for making a statement that borders on treason!!

I read the transcript of the speech Atiku gave at the PDP convention. It was a clear threat and up till now, he has not been made to answer for that statement. The country is virtually ungovernable now as the bombings have made the president to appear weak and out of touch thereby turning the populace against him.

My question hence is: Does Atiku know more about these bombings than he is letting out? Should he be made to explain what he meant by "making the country ungovernable?"

Should you drink water/fluid after eating? Should you breath air? , What a wise question!!!!!!

And what will the state of emergency achieve?

This??

Is this the right reaction to,

Some more

and another

And Another

Another

I saw this in the Sahara reporters website. I find it very disturbing that this child was killed like this. I weep for Nigeria!!!

These are picutres of St. Theresa's Catholic Church Christmas bombing as released by sahara reporters. Go to

http://saharareporters.com/gallery/photonews-bomb-attack-st-theresa-catholic-church-madalla

For more pix. I can't bear to look at them!!!

gabbytabby:

Its a known fact that there needs to be an equitable distribution of the resources than there currently is and one way of that is to improve infrastucture in the country across the board so that no one is left behind. A leader that can find solution to the problems with lights, water, road, transport, agriculture, health, education( free across the board to secondary level at least) will begin to address the problem of the nation. If you divided Nigeria today there will still be disunity cos they are that kind of people always seeking to find fault and not personally taking responsibility for their part in improving the country( its all over the world really most human beings at takers always about what my country can do for me so its not only a Nigerian problem people have gotten so self centred its sickening).

The other issue will be a re-orientation of the mindset of the people. A thief must not be allowed to stand in the presense of the people and speak he/she must be shamed and banished. Those that make fake stuff, maim and kill should similarly be banished, shamed and dealth with ruthlessly. Honesty and integrity should count for something then, the country will start to see the benefits of peaceful co-existence with their neighbour.

Gabbytabby,
This is the most sensible post I have ever seen on Nairaland. I truly wish others can discuss constructively like this!! Well said!!!!

Are we not still pointing fingers here?

oyb,
I take some points off your post which were well made but I also note that you were very critical of the Ibos and less so for the Yorubas making me guess right away that you might be Yoruba.

If the above is right, it further underscores the point I was trying to make about setting our differences aside and working together. Every tribe has a problem. No exception. If we continue to blame the other tribe for the problem with Nigeria, it might just mean that we lack any clear insight into our problems and hence the possibility of cure will continue to elude us.

Its really painful that we are just plodding on with no one seeking a cure for our problem but rather shifting the responsibility and hoping that we can close our eyes and wake up to see that all our problems have gone away!!! Every aspect of human endeavour in Nigeria is retrogressing and those ahead of us do not think about posterity in anything they do. Hence we find ourselves suffering where those ahead of us were enjoying.

I baffle at places like Ghana. Ghana was almost as bad as we are now if not worse. See how they have turned themselves around. Now we are gradually becoming irrelevant on the world stage and with this continued despicable acts of these Boko Haram in the north and kidnappers in the south, we will eventually be a burden like Afghanistan or Pakistan if we don't do something about it sooner rather than later.

I believe the first step is for us to blur out ethnic divides which if you look at most topics in nairaland, you will see that it is very prominent even amongst us, the youths. We can never work together unless we set these minor differences aside. If that is done, we can then come together and diagnose our root problems and proffer proper solutions to it without caring whose ox is gored.

If we are not able to do this, then I guess my question still stands: Should we disintegrate or should we continue to deceive ourselves that we are one united lovely country?

Given the latest events in Nigeria with respect to the bombings and the fact that no one is taking responsibility or resigning, should we still continue in this entity called Nigeria or should we meet to decide the way forward?

Papa Ejima and Freepeople have made the most sense in this thread of almost everyone else in this thread. I pasted a list of currently accredited schools as obtained from the MDCN website but most of the immature people typing away on this thread did not bother to read it at all. Most of all the schools are there as accredited but if you know the West (developed world) well enough, you will know that they are happier to broadcast the ills of Africa and the developing world than they are if there is any atom of success or development. All is part of neo-colonialism.

This will sound strange to people who have not had a western exposure. The GMC was very quick to blacklist the aforementioned schools almost within weeks of the MDCN's action. But months after the reversal, the GMC chose to ignore the updated list from the MDCN. If they had their way, they will blacklist all the schools in Africa.

Those that are jumping up and down about their schools really surprise me. I hope you know that the average European is very ignorant about the whole of Africa. I have meet a few supposedly educated Caucasians who think that Africa is a country!! They don't know the difference between schools in Nigeria. You can argue all you like about your school but this is my own personal experience and that of a lot of my friends. It really doesn't matter the school you went to in Nigeria. They classify you as having schooled in Africa full stop!!!

So my point is, lets be more mature and constructive in our discussion. Lets understand that the only person that can love us and help us out of the deepening mess we are falling into, is ourselves. Hence if we don't come together and help each other stand, the West will continue to use their neo-colonialist tool to keep us down while we continue to live in the illusion that they want the best for us.

Busy_body:


unlike the bullcrap that the OP posted about International students tuition fee propping up the Universities

Sup? how is it bull crap? I still find it amazing that people still attend fairs organised by UK schools trying to bring people to the UK. But the more amazing thing is that some people in this forum sound like they are not the average Nigerian by giving false hope to people.

There is good education in the UK. If that is all you are hoping to get, then it is a good idea to school there. If by chance you want to stay more than 1 second after your graduation and thereafter, to settle in the UK, then go through the whole of this thread and think carefully before you venture into the UK.

I would have loved all those that were saying that the scrapping of the post study PBS was just a proposal and that the government wont dear bring it to action. They have not commented in this thread since the law was passed to scrap it come April 2012. Nothing is going to make them change their mind. The average UK citizen is anti-immigrants and that is why the current government is enjoying some popularity despite very wicked measures aimed at making people poorer. The laws will not change unless the current govt leaves.

So guys and girls, don't be fooled!!!

I really hope people will see the dangers of studying in the UK especially if the intention is to settle. If there is a huge drop in student enrolment from Africa, it might prompt the UK Govt to think again.

Some of the comments on this thread are either sentimental or at best, ignorant. The schools had a problem with accreditation from the medical and dental council of Nigeria because of the population of the students vs lecturer ratio. This happened late last year. As an obligation, the MDCN informed the WHO who de-listed the affected schools.

This problem has been solved and the MDCN website has now been updated. See the MDCN website: http://www.mdcnigeria.org/


The following is a list of currently updated accredited medical schools as obtained from the MDCN website:
   FULLY ACCREDITED MEDICAL SCHOOLS IN NIGERIA

College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Abia State University, Uturu, Abia State
College of Health Sciences,Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki.
College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi Araba, Lagos.
College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State.
College of Health Sciences, University of Port-Harcourt.
College of Health Sciences, Usman Dan Fodiyo University, Sokoto, Sokoto State.
College of Health Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho.
College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Oyo State.
College of Medicine, University of Ilorin, Kwara State.
College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Cross River State.
College of Medicine,  Lagos State University, Ikeja, Lagos State.
College of Medicine, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma.
Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of  Jos.
Faculty of Medicine, Bayero University, Kano State.
Obafemi Awolowo College of Health Sciences, Sagamu, Olabisi Onabanjo (formerly Ogun State) University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State.
College of Medicine, Imo State University, Owerri
College of Health Science, Madonna University Okija
College of Medical Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City , Edo State.
 Oba Okunade College of Health Sciences Igbinedion University Okada, Benin -City, Edo State.
College of Medicine, University of Nigeria  Enugu Campus. Enugu.
College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi.
Faculty of Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria.
College of Medical Sciences, University of Maiduguri.
College of Health Sciences, Delta State University, Abraka
College of Medicine, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu
College Of Health Sciences, University of Uyo, Uyo


   PARTIALLY ACCREDITED MEDICAL SCHOOLS FOR MEDICAL ONLY

College of Health Sciences, Bigham University Karu, Nasarawa.
College of Health Sciences, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island
College of Health Sciences, Benue State University, Makurdi


The WHO website though (http://avicenna.ku.dk/database/medicine/) has not been updated as bad news often makes the headlines quickly but they are very difficult to retract.

A final note. It beats me why and how we are able to introduce tribal hatred into any thread no matter how serious the thread is. If we understand how unpopular Nigeria is outside the borders of Nigeria, we will strive to lift each other whenever any part of us is lacking or found wanting. Nigeria has a very bad image already and it is everyone's fault. Lets work together to dig ourselves out of the shameful hole we've found ourselves in.

So is it true that people are born gay? I seem to believe that its a choice people made for themselves and not an inevitable characteristics that they are born with

Seriously, I want to know what people think and how they feel when they see a man kissing another man, In the west, it is virtually normal but I wonder how you feel if you witness it face to face.

Jon.Bee,
I seem to agree with you but how many Nigerians are capable of non-tribalistic and result oriented thinking like this?

Nigeria seems to be too big for a few people to come together to bring a radical change. I really wish the youths can lay down the arms that our fathers gave us and sit down to dig ourselves out of this hole that our fathers left us in.

Thanks guys, but back to topic.

Hi guys,
This not meant to hit on any particular group. I wrote this stuff based on the tone of many of the threads in NL and I wanted to have a civil discussion about the way forward.

Even if this thread does not lead to an immediate physical change, I was hoping that it will make people to think more and see the concept of 9ja from a different ethnic perspective from their own and hence to gain some insight into the things that we bear in our hearts in our different tribes and are not bold enough to voice it out.

So, sorry again if anyone feels his own group wasn't well described.

MShittu:

A sovereign national conference in which each and every one of Nigeria's tribes is represented and one that leads to the formulation of a people's constitution and gives every tribe the right to their own government, thereby turning the Nigerian state into a simple container state that also serves as a military, diplomatic and economic umbrella and, possibly,brining an end to our ethnic conflicts.

Thats really thoughtful and sounds like a United States of Nigeria. I don't know if this will be agreeable to every faction in 9ja.

I have gone through a lot of threads and have realised that as Nigerians, we harbour a lot of bitterness both within our ethnic groups and across ethnic groups.

[b]Yorubas: [/b]We are supposed to be educated and we boast of the highest number of educated people in the country. Despite this, we are not able to translate this to wealth and power. We see the northerners as uneducated and it baffles us how they are able to keep hold of the power that has continued to elude us. We sometimes feel that we should pull out of the country from the north although we have not been able to think out how to go about this. The other tribes especially the Igbos are seen as opportunistic and grabbers who will do anything to get rich. We seem stuck in this entity called Nigeria and we don't know how to pull out of it.

Hausas: [/b]We feel privileged that we have been in the corridors of power but still baffled that our literacy level is still alarmingly low. We still have strife amongst ourselves although others don't know that but we stay together to be able to stand the challenges posed by the south. We hold on to our religion as it has evidently been out source of strength and has helped us to dominate in the country with assistance from our brothers all over the world.

[b]Igbos: We feel aggrieved that the issue of the civil war has been swept under the carpet. It seems as though no one but us wants to know about it. We feel discriminated against anywhere we live across the country especially in the North and in Niger Delta who hates our guts. The people who we feel were responsible for the genocide against us in 60s are hailed as national heroes much to our dismay. We will give anything to pull out of the country as we feel that the other tribes are pulling us down and we don't really care about the Niger Delta going with us as they are deluded to think by their fathers.



Niger Delta: We see ourselves as the source of wealth for the country. Despite this, we have been brushed aside by every tribe in the country especially the Igbos. They came into our territory before the civil war and dominated everything almost chasing us from our lands and resources. Injustices done to us have been swept under the carpet. Take the Saro Wiwa issue, the Odi issue amongst others. Even the people who are supposed to fight for our resources seem to be fighting for themselves. Our leaders tell us a lot about how other tribes have been trying to take advantage of us but when the little resources that trickles down gets to them, they keep it to themselves.


Minority tribes: We hate being called minority and the fact that we get attached to the nearest major ethnic group. We seem not to have a voice in the country. When the major tribes say something they appear to be better heard than us. Sometimes we get annexed to them especially when we live far from home like the Ibibio man being mistaken as Igbo if he lives in the north etc.


[b]My question now is: [/b]Since we all feel bad and insecure in one way or the other, how can we work together to diminish the difference between us and highlight or strengths so that we can move forward? What are your suggestions about how to placate those who feel aggrieved amongst us rather than diminishing how they feel? How can we work together to change the world perspective of us? The reason why I am asking this question is that I have noted the level of bitterness and prejudice in everyone posting something on this website but no one seems to think that this is really a big cog in our wheel of progress. Do we need a unity referendum like Southern Sudan?

For all I know, there is nothing like Tier 1 student and Tier 2 student. Their is Tier 1 post study work and Tier 2 is an employer sponsored work permit which is like the American H1B visa which restricts you to working for only one employer.

Like I said before, how many 9ja graduates have been sponsored for the Tier 2 visa? What percentage do they constitute of all the 9ja grads from British schools?

Just to correct a wrong impression, the Tier 2 visa is not for exceptional talents as Tensor has been saying here. The exceptional talents is a Tier 1 category and you really have to be exceptional to apply for it (see my link above). The Tier 2 visa depends on the resident labour market test which means that the home office will only grant the visa if no one else in the UK or the EU is suitably qualified for the job.

I still maintain my stand.