Kobojunkie:

Please stop focusing on the ridiculous and look at things as they are. A report just came in of another bomb blast in Kaduna. Are you going to tell me next that because the 12 people killed were probably not in the NYSC -- maybe they were there voluntarily, there is no need to sign any petitions to get others of their kind out of the way of harm? Stop being blindly by sentiments and see things as they are. This is not just about NYSC members that are in harms way . . . people in general up there are, and all due to government incompetence !

Learn to lay blame where it ought to lie. . . . NYSC has been in existence since before you were born and the program has been that way since even the time of your parents. That there is violent trend more frequent now than before is no reason why the program should be scrapped. The reason for the problem is government, and unfortunately, after thousands of deaths, we have only last saturday handed the same another go at the lives of our loved ones in the north. Call on it to act.

Kobojunkie:

^^^
Well, I am glad to know how you were raised, and how you address your folks, but what has that to do with the discussion?

THE AMAKA:

you are really dumb and it seems you just love to argue about everything, sheesh. WELL UNTIL THE GOVERNMENT CAN FIX THIS ISSUE OF VIOLENCE, stop sending southerners up north and/or possibly withdraw all the southerners that are there now. as i said, did i say the government shouldn't protect all of its people? just as you pointed out, its the government's fault, so why should innocent southerners have to suffer because they were posted there, while they know the risks?  

Ileke-IdI:

Dont mind him

KoboJ you're making solid points. You need to understand that ppl are too emotional right now to pay attention to those points.

THE AMAKA:

are we not talking NYSC or are you on another hype?

Kobojunkie:

Emotional about what kwanu? What we have here is a nation and people ruled almost entirely by emotions and not much else . . . they go to vote -- they vote emotions and not common sense. They step out to act -- emotions ahead of common sense . . . when crisis strikes -- even those far removed are lead by emotions and nothing else. Why aren't those in leadership emotional?? At least that would have helped save some lives this week . . .if the Governors responded quickly enough and the president acted more aggressively to secure the people, maybe we would not have had that many deaths.

jmaine:

Some people like to display their stvpidity at every given point . . .helpless innocent youths are killed at random while trying to serve in their own little capacity . . .and some useless fellow questions the rationale of scrapping a scheme which obviously has outlived it usefulness judging by recent events of untold violence . . . some people can be plain stvpid in their need to argue just to stay alive . . . can those fools questions themselves why was the NYSC established and also asked themselves if that objective is still being fulfilled . .

Ileke-IdI:

You're right. You know they're emotional, so what makes you think all the solid points you're throwing at them is hitting home?

How is withdrawing NYSC from the North going to to stop the riot or save the lives of innocent civilians in the Northern states? It's not. People are just getting emotional because of the dead boys (amongst others)?

People need to think big and plan big.

naijababe:

I disagree with you, location of youth service remains strictly out of most people's power and without a discharge certificate, you can't be employed in Nigeria. To a very large extent, it's like being sent to die involuntarily. Civilians being posted to the North will most probably be aware of the risks and might have taken that into account when making a decision. Same goes for choosing to have your wards educated in the North

Chrisbenogor:

Yes Nigerians are emotional very much so, thats why I still wonder why the CPC are bothering to fight these election results if the elections took place unit by unit they would still loose people are fanatical about Jonathan hard to swallow but thats the will of the majority.
To the issue at hand, Jews were not the only group that suffered at the hands of hitler, but after the world war the world knew something had to be done about them because they were a soft target. IMO same applies to corp members, they are promising and young Nigerians who should not in any way come to harms way because they want to serve Nigeria. If they had a choice most of them would not go to the North.
As a woman can you imagine the pain of hearing your child whom you have spent years and years of sweat training dies in such a gruesome manner while trying to serve Nigeria?

Ileke-IdI:

I understand your sorrow.
But whose job is it to protect the residents and NYSC corps in the Northern states?

Chrisbenogor:

The Government agreed, but the nature of the scheme would not even allow for that level of protection. People are posted to every nook and craning of this country without any specific criteria and in the present day and age especially in the intolerant north that is not going to work.
I am just 
After all the stress of school a person can get beaten profusely, and hacked anyhow before being set on fire. 

This scheme needs to be scrapped, or everyone go and serve in their respective villages.

Crude Oil:

Seems like you love arguments.

Northern pupils dont get killed and they were not posted to live and "serve" the country in the north unlike the corpers, it is mostly the southern corpers who are killed during the riots. These corpers would probably be alive if not for the NYSC program.

Ileke-IdI:

I understand your sorrow.
But whose job is it to protect the residents and NYSC corps in the Northern states?

Ileke-IdI:

Eyah pele. Mind if I ask if you've been personally affected by this riot?

The point of NYSC is to serve the nation while broadening our cultural horizon. The program is suppose to teach one of the difference in culture and to brig understanding between two unlike pupils. How's serving in their respective villages going to help NYSC corps achieve those goals? You can't just cut off the Northerners when it comes to NYSC, it causes more tension (during non-election periods) between the N and the S .


Trust me, I'm pissed too. I believe what KoboJ is saying (You can correct me if I'm wrong) is that we should set out a bigger plan and request (forcefully) that the Govt(or whoever is suppose to offer protection)  carry out their own end of the deal.

jmaine:

You might be quick to say it's the state government and you will be correct . .but security starts from being a good neighbor to one another  . .then a good security structure will build on that,better enhancing safety of life and property . .but we all know our security agencies still have a lot to do as regard effective policing of their region . .it might interest you to know that this corp members are often thrown into remote villages  they have never envisaged was in Nigeria considering the appalling status of those areas . .some of these villages are barely motorable due to neglect and atimes corpers who go there spend the first week crying about the plight they will face for the entire duration . .it's the comforting hospitality of the people in those villages and the excitement of learning the lifestyle and culture of other tribes that makes your time worthwhile and interesting . . also even in the midst of a total language barrier the comforting smiles and goodwill of the villagers is the currency that keeps your hope alive that all is well  .even to some extent you feel you shouldn't leave the people cos you felt safe around them . .You know why ? they were your first line of security and they will do anything to protect you cos corp members were regarded as special guests . .those were the good old days all over Nigeria . . .But when your neighbor begins to cast bloody aspersions on you to the extent of brutally murdering you for no sin of yours is scary . .before the security will arrive, you are dead and gone just like what painfully happened last week . . .Our security is not as sophisticated as what is obtainable in the developed nations such as employing simple things as CCTV,DNA matching e.t.c

The essence of the NYSC was to foster unity and togetherness after the civil war by exposing the younger generation to other people's culture and lifestyle , so that you can learn to live amicably among each other . . .but when incessant killing happens in the North and is now a common case . .then it's of no use educating your child and sending him to his death .  , no parent deserve to pass through that . .

Ileke-IdI:

Eyah pele. Mind if I ask if you've been personally affected by this riot?

The point of NYSC is to serve the nation while broadening our cultural horizon. The program is suppose to teach one of the difference in culture and to brig understanding between two unlike pupils. How's serving in their respective villages going to help NYSC corps achieve those goals? You can't just cut off the Northerners when it comes to NYSC, it causes more tension (during non-election periods) between the N and the S .


Trust me, I'm pissed too. I believe what KoboJ is saying (You can correct me if I'm wrong) is that we should set out a bigger plan and request (forcefully) that the Govt(or whoever is suppose to offer protection)  carry out their own end of the deal.

jmaine:

You might be quick to say it's the state government and you will be correct . .but security starts from being a good neighbor to one another  . .then a good security structure will build on that,better enhancing safety of life and property . .but we all know our security agencies still have a lot to do as regard effective policing of their region . .it might interest you to know that this corp members are often thrown into remote villages  they have never envisaged was in Nigeria considering the appalling status of those areas . .some of these villages are barely motorable due to neglect and atimes corpers who go there spend the first week crying about the plight they will face for the entire duration . .it's the comforting hospitality of the people in those villages and the excitement of learning the lifestyle and culture of other tribes that makes your time worthwhile and interesting . . also even in the midst of a total language barrier the comforting smiles and goodwill of the villagers is the currency that keeps your hope alive that all is well  .even to some extent you feel you shouldn't leave the people cos you felt safe around them . .You know why ? they were your first line of security and they will do anything to protect you cos corp members were regarded as special guests . .those were the good old days all over Nigeria . . .But when your neighbor begins to cast bloody aspersions on you to the extent of brutally murdering you for no sin of yours is scary . .before the security will arrive, you are dead and gone just like what painfully happened last week . . .Our security is not as sophisticated as what is obtainable in the developed nations such as employing simple things as CCTV,DNA matching e.t.c

Chrisbenogor:

The deal is this, some parts of this country are really very remote, coupled with the fact that there is a general security problem in the country so the security of these corp members rest largely with the host communities. Now when these communities are compromised and intolerant like most of the North the purpose of the service is defeated. I see no sense in learning a lions culture by throwing the person into the lions den. Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result is a huge problem here, the Nigerian government cannot attend to the security needs of this country in the foreseeable at least so these corp members should not pay for it with their lives. I have a cousin serving in maiduguri  and the tales of extremism are better heard than observed especially for female corp members coming from the north. We have to put an end to this madness, I am pretty sure no one would lynch any corp member in his own village at least his kinsmen would be there to protect him. The rest of Nigeria we can learn about on National Geographic.

Chrisbenogor:

My point exactly if the community you are serving are the ones organizing to have you lynched how is that education? Why teach a child about the lion by throwing the Child into the den?

ayomifull:

One does not have to be personally affected to feel the pain, just close your eyes and assume one of those guys was your brother and you will care less if the govt refuse to protect people who decided on their own to settle there (though they should as far as i am concerned there is no govt in Nigeria, everyone is OYO)  but by all means you wont want any of your remaining siblings posted there.

In a country that has govt in the first place those guys would be fully insured by the govt as it is a govt scheme but that is never going to happen in that country so again i support the petition, if it works it will sure save some lives.

Ileke-IdI:

Real thoughtful post.

@ The bolded part, did you expect NYSC to deport thair corp members into luxurious environments? That will not achieve the purpose of the NYSC mission.
These corps members are supposed to be exposed to the difficulties in Nigeria so they can envision strategical plans to build up Nigeria. Why send them to Victoria Island to enjoy, that's not the purpose.

Even though I support your analysis on security. The point of a Govt security is to provide protection incase one has the unfortunate circumstance of living amongst dangerous neighbors.

There's a bigger picture here. Why can't we force the Govt to protect us? Why must they play with out trust?


Are you suggesting a TEMPORARY ban on the program until national security is up to par?

Chrisbenogor:

But these brave youth have been posted to the very worst communities, all they ask is to come back with their lives intact. These communities have not been friendly and as such they should be punished by not having a corp member sent there. Nobody's time is worth the rubbish called NYSC now not to talk of their lives.
The security starts from the community, if they have failed you then you are a goner before the local policeman arrives.
We are saying the same thing here which is to force the government, but we want them to do the right thing we are tired of the promises of security just dont send anyone where he or she does not want to go for the sake of their lives.