Kobojunkie:

And Africans are by nature not oppositional and do not approach reality as an opposition of elements?

I see you are still pretending to be Nigerian (African). Your pattern of posts betrays an agenda of maintaining African subservience to Western world-views. You do not fool me.

Africans may have gotten into disputes, or have been relegated to post-colonial infighting, but pre-colonially African court systems, methods of resolving disputes, have been by nature consensus (involving chiefs, many sides of the story, community participants) and common-good oriented. Whereas Western court systems involve defendant vs plaintiff (oppositional), democracy withright vs left, conservative vs "liberal" (oppositional). It's their way of thinking that have been grafted into African culture. And for them to have done it, they had to break us down during colonial periods to a point of primitive behavior, so that we could adopt such culture, as it will be impractical for them to operate under our own rules. Problem is, the implementation of their culture on our soil was for practical purposes only, never meant to be perfect, as long as they maintained their colonial benefits. The after effects of which we are seeing today!

You mean a system sort of like the same Abiola used to gain points, even after stealing the future of Africa, for sending a handful of people to schools abroad; points enough to get him elected as president back in 1993( Lord Knows if he would not have been worse than Obasanjo)?

No Westerner, that was your democracy. The same rubbish philosophy of yours that elected Bush in office. You know, that stupid philosophy thingy that can be traced to Rome. Ugly philosophy where fools can rise to the top.

You mean the way Obasanjo was able to score points by working as a farmer in otta, and making himself visible in public pretending to care about the people, and was able to get elected as president back about 10 years ago? You mean a system that allowed people like Adedibu ability to win over his agbero gang who helped shut up those who opposed him?

No be your democracy where your fellow white brother Bill Clinton come applaud Obasanjo election as free an fair?

In essence you propose a popularity contest of some sort, knowing how those have turned out in recent history, as your solution to replace what we have now which is not close to what one would seriously tag a democracy?

*sigh* and you display time tested truth distortion. Na popularity contest I talk? Me I talk say, if you perform your duties, or job very well in your own little way, make people award you points for being an efficient individual. The more points you acquire the more responsibility you can take up if you so wish so. The less you perform, the lower you score. It is a motivation system whereby people are motivated to perform well, and best performers rise to the top.

Morality orbiting around material wealth? Do Explain!

You know exactly what I am saying. You are shocked to read it.

Consensus building, part of African societies? When? You mean when people took the word of their Kings and Elders as ultimate, mostly out of fear of being targetted or executed for having opposing views? You want us to REVERT to precolonial system of government? What people do you expect to do this? The Hausas who have adopted Sharia rule? The Yoruba’s in lagos who are almost rid of their Kabiyesis? Or the ibos who are more interested in their dream of a Biafra? Which particular group will welcome this precolonial idea when they all want to be in charge?


How does it allow for mischief?

HUH?

Go back and read about African pre-colonial history. All you have thrown out in that paragraph is post-colonial history revision.

bawomolo:

oga o, who be this? nairaland igodo megodo

I agree on decentralization but consensus decision making? how would that work.

We were able to attain consensus decision making in the past. Why cry out now? Abi dem done colonize your mind to work within the framework of majority rules, oppositional thinking? Na so so this majority rule, conquer mentality they make leaders predate dem followers, and one tribe predate the other. We lived for thousands of years before all this nonsense.

kabna:

ayanfe good

what u have suggested id the western style democracy.

WRONG. Western style democracy is majority rules. And more times than not is oppositional. A point of view is sacrificed if it does not win necessary votes. It is not consensus building. EVEN WHEN OBAMA TRIED TO BRING A CONSENSUS BUILDING MODE OF THINKING IT FAILED. WESTERNERS ARE INCAPABLE OF CONSENSUS REASONING. They are by nature, oppositional, and approach reality as an opposition of elements.

u are rewarded when people continue to validate u throuh the ballot papers either as a local MP or the President.

Wrong again. The system I speak of, have people awarding points to everyone, from doctor to cleaner, based on how much good those people graded have done for humans in their own little way. The more points you gain, the higher you move up and the more responsibility you can bear, if you are willing to take it up. That way, only the good ones rise to the top of greater responsibilities.

consensus bilding through diferent forms of dialogue. yes

but ayanfe

in africa corruption will not allow consensus building people will pay or buy their way through.

Bullsheet. You mean the African style corrupted by Western originated fiat currency and morality orbiting around material wealth.
Do you even know about pre-colonial society? When my greatgrandfathers could leave their farm produce by the road side and trust people to take all they needed and put down in exchange other goods they feel are worth the price of what they took? Nonsense. Consensus building have been a part of African societies. Look at the selection of Kings in Yoruba land and Elders in Igbo land pre-colonially.

so ther is no problem wiv the western style system it is the people at the center of affairs and the attitude of the masses.


simply put wee need to embede good values in democratic systems only then will they work.

The very fact that the Western style allows for mischief is an indication of it's flaws. Any implementation of a fool proof system must be easy, unless the fool proof system is not fool proof in the first place. In which case, you must discard the system as open to manipulation and seek ways suited to yourself.

kabna:

oga not all africa is democratic. democracy works best in places of heterogenous mix.

what alternative democracy do u propose?

People centered/performance rewarded meritocracy with consensus decision making and efficient decentralization.

You really believe the half baked stuff you try to peddle. None of the articles conclusively demonstrates any direct link between HIV and SIV in the form of a sequence of mutations. I will now move to floor your argument.

PS: I was away because I am actually DOING science while you are MISQUOTING science. Finding articles that happen to have HIV and SIV in the same text does not prove anything.

Lets begin with first article:

Generation of Infectious Molecular Clones of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus from Fecal Consensus Sequences of Wild Chimpanzees -- Takehisa et al
http://jvi.asm.org/cgi/reprint/81/14/7463.pdf

Wrong answer. From the article, there is no admission of a connection only statements of propensity. They have not obtained "medically significant SIV" from the standpoint of HIV. The article's own abstract clearly states the following:

"These results provide the first direct evidence that naturally occurring SIVcpz strains already have many
of the biological properties required for persistent infection of humans, including CD4 and CCR5 dependence
and neutralization resistance. Moreover, they outline a new strategy for obtaining medically important “SIV
isolates” that have thus far eluded investigation. Such isolates are needed to identify viral determinants that
contribute to cross-species transmission and host adaptation."

Next article:

This one starts by saying
ABSTRACT
HIV-1 group O originated through cross-species transmission of SIV from chimpanzees to humans and
has established a relatively low prevalence in Central Africa. Here, we infer the population genetics and
epidemic history of HIV-1 group O from viral gene sequence data and evaluate the effect of variable
evolutionary rates and recombination on our estimates.

My friend, that is not how science is carried out. We don't just engage in accepting truths simply because an article stated it without reference or without studies. They made that statement, but have they attributed a source to those statements? Can you provide a source for their statements?


Final article:

Adaptation of HIV-1 to Its Human Host
Louise V. Wain1, Elizabeth Bailes1, Frederic Bibollet-Ruche2, Julie M. Decker2, Brandon F. Keele2, Fran Van Heuverswyn3, Yingying Li2, Jun Takehisa2, Eitel Mpoudi Ngole4, George M. Shaw2, Martine Peeters3, Beatrice H. Hahn2 and Paul M. Sharp1

1 Institute of Genetics, University of Nottingham, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, United Kingdom
2 Departments of Medicine and Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham
3 Laboratoire Retrovirus, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement and Department of International Health, University of Montpellier, 34394 Montpellier cedex 9, France
4 Projet Prevention du Sida au Cameroun (PRESICA), Yaounde, Cameroun

Accepted for publication May 22, 2007.

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) originated from three independent cross-species transmissions of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIVcpzPtt) infecting chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes troglodytes) in west central Africa, giving rise to pandemic (group M) and non-pandemic (groups N and O) clades of HIV-1. To identify host-specific adaptations in HIV-1 we compared the inferred ancestral sequences of HIV-1 groups M, N and O to 12 full length genome sequences of SIVcpzPtt and four of the outlying but closely related SIVcpzPts (from P. t. schweinfurthii). This analysis revealed a single site that was completely conserved among SIVcpzPtt strains but different (due to the same change) in all three groups of HIV-1. This site, Gag-30, lies within p17, the gag-encoded matrix protein. It is Met in SIVcpzPtt, underwent a conservative replacement by Leu in one lineage of SIVcpzPts but changed radically to Arg on all three lineages leading to HIV-1. During subsequent diversification this site has been conserved as a basic residue (Arg or Lys) in most lineages of HIV-1. Retrospective analysis revealed that Gag-30 had reverted to Met in a previous experiment in which HIV-1 was passaged through chimpanzees. To examine whether this substitution conferred a species specific growth advantage, we used site-directed mutagenesis to generate variants of these chimpanzee-adapted HIV-1 strains with Lys at Gag-30, and tested their replication in both human and chimpanzee CD4+ T lymphocytes. Remarkably, viruses encoding Met replicated to higher titers than viruses encoding Lys in chimpanzee T cells, but the opposite was found in human T cells. Taken together, these observations provide compelling evidence for host-specific adaptation during the emergence of HIV-1 and identify the viral matrix protein as a modulator of viral fitness following transmission to the new human host

Good. But have they identified, not inferred the sequence of adaptation of the viral matrix protein from SIV to HIV-1? The statement of origin has until now been based on similarities. There is still a search for the missing links. Identifying possible points of the missing link is all good and dandy. But have they demonstrated the evolution of the protein that constitutes this missing link?

texazzpete:


i'll be waiting for you when you start insisting the earth isn't round.

Which University degrees do you have? You are making your argument against by arbitrarily making statements like this. What has belief in the origin of HIV have to do with whether or not the earth goes round? You are engaging in fallacious associations.

Can I please see a journal article that demonstrates the infection of a variant of SIV from chimpazees to Humans in central Africa? Specifically, at the very least, can I please see a journal article that was able to demonstrate that variants or mutations of SIV from Chimpazees were able to reproduce their genetic material and package themselves in human cells, enough to support the claim of the hunter theory? Thanks in advance for providing me with the proof you use to dispute the so called fools who posted to you.

If you cannot understand the above questions and/or provide resources demonstrating the above, this debate is over, you are owned and you are a small fry who doesn't know what you are talking about.

That is sad. A Congolese immigrant in South Africa jumped from a building a few years ago after the South African immigration service frustrated his efforts to get a green card and hence be eligible for a job. It made news on BBC.

Xiomarra:

Once a dunce, always a Yaradunce.

Imagine that this mugu of a president does not realize that asking the US for "ANYTHING" is equivalent to a "greek or indian gift"!

This your idiotic president does not realize that all he is asking of George Bush is a military base in other words.

How do you get all this help without setting up the so called "logistics" centers in Africa? Is the help obtainable from "google" or "Wikepidia"?

What a dunce! The US had established a "separate military command for Africa" indeed!

BTW, where is the link to this miserable write up? Only idiotic Nigerians will always fail to read between the lines since their brains are filled with 7-day leftover eba and okro soup.

I don't think you are familiar with the concept of an African Standby Force. You are an ignoramus trying to stretch the limits of your lack of knowledge to come to conclusions that are not factual.

Kobojunkie:

I knew I read this right. I mean, I remember this was the case late last year when Yar adua rejected the plan so what changed since then @Poster, thank you.

Nigeria was never one of the countries to host it as there was already a team in Uganda and then in guinea. I have been searching all nairaland for that thread.

Get out of here. You were the same person debating folks for not wanting to accept the base in Nigeria. Listen up foreigner. The base stays in Germany.

US Africa Command to remain in Stuttgart, newspaper says
Posted : Tue, 03 Jun 2008 18:52:02 GMT
Author : DPA

Stuttgart - Africom, the new US military command for operations in Africa, is to remain in the German city of Stuttgart after no African nation offered to host it, a German newspaper was set to report Wednesday. US President George W. Bush announced the formation of the command in February 2007, saying it would coordinate all US military activity in Africa and be based in Africa. It is set to become fully operational from October this year

Vince Crawley, Africom spokesman, was quoted by the Stuttgarter Zeitung as saying, "It'll stay in Stuttgart for the foreseeable future." Africom is being split off from the US European Command (Eucom), also hosted by Stuttgart.

Africa: Yar'Adua Explains Stand on Africom

allAfrica.com


allAfrica.com

3 June 2008
Posted to the web 3 June 2008

Cape Town

President Umaru Yar'Adua reiterated in South Africa Tuesday that he had asked the United States to give military assistance to groupings of African nations, but that he had "never, even discussed the possibility" of Nigeria hosting the new US. Africa Command (Africom).

Responding to a question at a news conference in Cape Town, Yar'Adua said Nigeria's position on Africom had been subject to "a lot of misinformation, [and] confusion" since he met President George W. Bush in Washington DC last December.

He said he had asked Bush to help the African Union establish its planned "Africa Standby Force" (ASF), to be used for peacekeeping, and to assist West African nations to set up a "Gulf of Guinea Guard Force" to secure their maritime security.

He had asked for training, equipment and logistics, he said. Now that the US. had established a separate military command for Africa, military aid would come through that command, but there was no question of Nigeria hosting it.

"People need to realise, the Africa Command is not to do with African nations agreeing to anything," Yar'Adua said. "It is a defense policy of the Defense Department of the United States."

PEOPLE ON THIS FORUM ARE VERY DENSE OR THEY CANNOT READ.

WHERE IN THE ARTICLE DID IT STATE AMERICA WANTS TO BUILD A BARRACK IN NIGERIA?

JUST JUMPING INTO SENSATIONALISM AND EMOTIONS LIKE YOU ALWAYS DO DEVOID OF LOGIC.

NIGERIA SIMPLY STATED IT ACCEPTED THE POLICIES OF AFRICOM IN SO MUCH AS IT HAS TO DO WITH WORKING WITH AFRICA'S HOME GROWN DEFENSE FORCE.

THE FACT REMAINS THAT NO US MILITARY BASE WILL BE IN AFRICA. PLEASE LEARN TO READ ENGLISH. OLODO GBOGBO

Spermdrops:

Any boycotts yet?

Lazy people! This is the second month after your "maltreatment" excercise. What are you guys waiting for? It has also been a year plus or so since your brother died in Spain for resisting deportation back to the hell hole called Nigeria. I say what are you guys waiting for?

Only to make noise. Lazy things!

Do you guys need a loan?

Give me a holla!

_{Useless cows!}

Pick one
(1) Either you are hoody trash/akata from the worst low down ghetto somewhere in Chicago and have enough free time on your hand because your mom's is on Welfare and partly subsidized by Tyrone the crack dealer

(2) You are a typical oyibo / red neck trashy bastard and your dad is also your uncle and your sister's brother and you hope to keep the spermdrops in your pathetic family by knocking up your sister when she turns 13.

(3) You are a pathetic failed immigrant who just discovered American roads are not paved in gold, your get rich quick schemes are landing your more jail hours than work hours and you are finding ways to express his failure.

Kobojunkie:

Where did I bring it up and in reference to what. That is the question, you may need to answer for me here. Grandstanding is not a crime especially after posting my opinion so clearly for all to read and enjoy. I am wondering why the sudden focus on if the man claimed racism in this one letter or not when most all new paper posts that have included the very same letter have alluded to this being an issue of racism. We have tons of posts already on the same subject, so many threads pointing to racism as being the issue at hand here. Anyone who has spents half as much time actually researching this issue,would understand that the cry, as pointed out over and over on this topic has been racism and not customer service. If you guys want to continue dragging this on unnecessarily, fine with me, I can play the game as well.

Do you think people who are speaking up against the issue have a racial view of the issue or a nationalistic view?

Kobojunkie, You are grandstanding. Why don't you point to where race was implied before you brought it up. You seem to be the one obsessed with the White overlord relationship which is a theme that curiously runs throughout your posts in this forum. Again, where exactly are you from and why is your nationality too hideous for you to reveal?

First, I am happy that some of my concerns were attended to regarding a certain few posters.

I strongly believe that as much as Nigeria has not lived up to it's position in Africa, the whole world sees Nigeria as central to Africa's way forward. As 1 in 4 Africans is Nigerian and 1 in 6 people of African descent is Nigerian, we are the default voice of the African world. Blessed with natural resources, we are well equipped with the potential to develop the muscle to be a voice of change in the African world, and to pull up our brothers, while advocating their cause against external exploitation, and internal conflict. This power of Nigeria is something that drives fear and excitement at the same time, depending on where you stand in terms of your interests in Africa. The question is not whether Nigeria will take the lead in moving Africa forward. The question is when Nigeria takes the lead, will our world view be strongly African centered, or strongly Western friendly and continuing colonial order in Africa.

Those who watch development in strategic third world regions like Africa, are not sitting back. Case in point we have had our forums infiltrated by elements who disguise as Nigerians, but seem to express views that go beyond the lines of critical Nigerians and venture into the realms of pro-Outsider and anti-Nigerian integrity.

The views expressed by these elements, are to shape a pro-Western view within Nigeria, that keeps our colonial mentality and our flirtation with the ways of the colonialists. We continue a benevolent view of Colonialists, while we promote a malevolent view of ourselves. Yet, to solve our problems, it has to be the opposite. We need to believe in our own benevolent nature and shun all views of our malevolent nature that we inherited from Colonialist propaganda. There is no reason why Nigeria cannot develop as fast as China and Japan. But note that also includes the fact that China and Japan still strongly maintain their culture. We are still consumed in the eternal debate on whether our own culture is a culture of cannibalists, barbarians and murderers talk less of incorporating it into any economic development we have.

What we need is an awakening to looking for solutions within ourselves. Or history of communalism, and appreciation for each other that we had back in the pre-colonial days, is what maintained African societies without the need of police back in those days. If only we thought of ourselves more highly, we will dig back for those solutions. We need to get back to appreciating the best of ourselves, and be watchful of those who continue to work to distract us from discovering our path to development on our own terms, because it runs counter to their interests.

Thank you.

stillwater:


Are you for real?

Well, explain communism for me. I was giving the a simplistic and obvious explanation on the effect of communism on the societal hierarchy vs what we have in Nigeria.

Kobojunkie:


aaarrgggh, do you know how frustrating it is to debate intellectually with you anti-west types?? So suddenly your definition of capitalism and your deeming it as the problem stems from your delusion that the oil companies in Nigeria are controlled by the US government and hence defacto we have capitalism in Nigeria.

If you really look at the definition, Communism already came to Nigeria and is still in the fabric. From when we had dictators who ran an almost communistic nation back in the days to a country with majority of infrastrutural development and economy still controlled by government. We are still far from capitalism or socialism regardless of what individual Nigerians believe.

Needlelady, can you see what I am talking about. This lady's language is not that of a Nigerian or even an African. A common theme runs through her posts, that is strange for someone who only arrived in America 10 years ago.

Also note that while studies have shown Nigerians to be very individualistic even more than capitalist nations since 1960s, Kobojunkie, could not resist to make an outlandish connection between Nigeria's woes and commmunism, once she saw capitalism (which is connected with her non-Nigerian heritage and exported to other nations) was questioned as a root cause of Nigeria's problems. Again, if this is not an foreign agent, I don't know what is.

The fact remains Nigeria is practising an exploitative form of capitalism with a rich few giving an undue edge in the Nigerian market. Communism will mean Obasanjo uses the same car as the street hawker, rather than Obasanjo flying with an helicopter to avoid lagos traffic.

Shame on you. This is very sad. Why can't anything positive be celebrated? I swear these are not Nigerians but agents of foreign nations, and if they are they are happily adopted citizenship of other countries.

China and Japan started out somewhere. There people encouraged there attempts, even though 1950s Chinese goods were teased all over the world.

This is a wonderful acheivement and big up to Nigeria. If we don't celebrate any step forward, why are we suprised we remain an archaic anything goes society with no structure. I notice certain ethnic groups are the most negative.

US suspends military base in Africa

30.01.2008

A year after President George W. Bush of the United States approved its creation, the new US military command for Africa is finding its feet but has quietly dropped talk of basing itself on the African continent.

There had been controversies over the planned siting of the military command in Nigeria in recent times.

Largely carved out of US European Command, based in Stuttgart, Germany, the new Africa Command (Africom) will stay there for now as its leaders try to switch the debate away from the controversial headquarters issue and on to the “added value” it aims to bring to Africa.

“In the near to mid-term, and for the foreseeable future, we’re going to be here and from here, we can do all the activities that we need to do with our African partners,” Africom’s deputy commander, Vice Admiral Robert Moeller, said in an interview on Monday in Stuttgart.

Where US officials once spoke confidently of plans to base the command in Africa, shared between several countries, they now stress the multiple conditions that would need to be fulfilled.

“If it’s in the desire and the interests of our African partners in that regard, then we’ll look for an opportunity to do that where it makes sense to do so, but only obviously where we’re invited,” Moeller said.

The caution stems from the unwelcoming reaction of several African nations, including regional powers such as South Africa and Nigeria, to the notion of Africom setting up on their patch.

http://www.tribune.com.ng/30012008/news/news7.html

Dubai investor unfolds urbanisation plans for Nigeria

By Rasheed Bisiriyu

The quest by the government to attract foreign investment into Nigeria will soon receive a boost as a Dubai-based firm, Rhino Properties, has unfolded plans to transform some Nigerian cities, including Lagos and Katsina into mega urban centres.

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The urbanisation project, which will run into billions of dollars, will be executed in conjunction with a local firm, Countryhome Real Estate Company, with international financiers providing the funds.

The firm has done over 100 major projects in the UAE cities, which are located in areas such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimal and Fajeirah.

In Nigeria, the firm would facilitate the construction of modern estates and develop infrastructure in blighted areas to make them more habitable and attractive.

The Chief Executive Officer of the firm, Mr. Frank Omene, who arrived Nigeria last week, to fine-tune the arrangement, said he had the backing of some international financial institutions for the funding of the projects.

He also led a team last Monday on a visit to the Lagos monarch, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, and solicited his support for the projects.

He said,“ Our plan is to get credible financiers to do the projects. We will identify each project, work out the details, including cost, and contact them for the funds.”

His dream, he said, was to replicate in Nigeria what was done in Dubai a few years ago. He recalled how the United Arab Emirate city was transformed from a desert where camels walked freely on many of its streets.

He said,“What we want to do is to build cities within the city. We will start with infrastructure because that is a major problem in this country and once that is tackled, the foundation for other projects would have been solidly erected.”

Although he could not give the estimated cost of the projects, saying the details were still being worked out, he said each of them would be worth at least $200m.

Omene said,“We want to start with the city of Lagos, transform it and make it the pride of Africa. We have done our homework and we are convinced about that the restoration projects would change the perception of the world about the city and other Nigerian cities to be covered.”

http://odili.net/news/source/2008/jan/28/402.html

nigeriaone:

http://NigeriaONE.com


You can't call the place Olokola and expect to bring investors. You want to make them feel comfortable with the name. The product it self would be carry the name NEW LONDON. It is a sell.

Olokola or NEW LONDON have to speak white, look white, eat white, be white� and is white ,� If you want your Nigeria city move over to Ilorin or Ogbomosho. We do not want you there. May una no hate me, na true , i dey talk.

http://NigeriaONE.com

Edumare go punish you.

nigeriaone:

I have not seen Dubia plan, but i have seen that of Toronto, the UN said one of the cities in the Greater toronto area, called Mississauga is the best plan street in the world. I have seen that too.



The New London would have 24 x 7 electricity, with omotosho power plant devoted to it.

The aim of Olokola or New london is to create another Dubia in Nigeria. look China and India where europe and America have focus on now are to far for them to do business. The new london is less than 2 weeks by sea.� china and india do not also speak good english when compare to Nigerian.

The street would be name after famour international people like Bill clinton Blvd, George bush blvd, Reagan blvd , Prince Charles blvd , Lady Di, Mao st, Lakshmi Mittal blvd, young street, Bill gate Blvd, Warren Buffet Blvd ,Lakshmi Mittal st,� Ghandi St, King Farr Av, Orpah St, Theo Albrecht st,� Kenneth Thomso av, Ted rogers,Tony Blair Av, Paul Allen St, Tim houston, Queen Elizabeth, Victoria, Chaira, Paul Allen Blvd, Prince Alwaleed street,Karl Albrecht Blvd, Paul Allen Cr, Roman Abramovich st, Li Ka-shing blvd,� J.K. Rowlin st, Lakshmi Mittal� st, Liliane Bettencourt st, Steven Ballmer st, Amancio Ortega� st, Bernard Arnault av, Michael Dell st, Sheldon Adelson av, Toudore, etc 90% international names.

Please tell me you are joking with your attempt to Europeanize Africa. You have failed and I pray the projects goes into the sewers like other white elephant projects.

You are a failed colonized mentality.

texazzpete:

@ayanfe
You're a truly amusing fellow. foolish, yes, but amusing nonetheless.

If you'd half a brain, you'd have learnt that most of the voter unrest in kenya had to do with the suspicious delay in releasing the results of the elections. The fact that the parliamentary elections were held simultaneously with the presidential election and that the opposition won far more seats than the ruling party should serve as an indicator that regular electoral irregularities were of a magnitude far lower than that seen in Nigeria.

And yes, bringing up voters' turnout is neccessary, if only to show us that we need to get out to vote when the situation calls for it.

keep up with the insults. it merely amuses me, yet simultaneously shows you up as a slowpoke.

Tell me, with the news of rigging from Kenya, so who is the idiot now? You came in here rushing like the idiot you are thinking you found another opportunity to bash Nigeria.

Again, Nigeria was castigated more than any other, yet our elections did not get as violent as the extremely fraudulent, but EU endorsed elections of Kenya.

texazzpete:

You poor deluded fellow.

Watch it. You better come in here informed or I'll feed you to the vultures

How many cases of widespread electoral irregularities did you hear coming from Kenya? How many are quoted in the article?

Because the widespread rigging have been reported by many concerned voters, based upon which the Kenya's president closed down most live media reporting of the post-elections. You heard that? There was no knowing what went on in the country. This article's subject area was not detail the rigging. Just like many articles on Nigeria's elections touched on the rigging without detailing them. Are you begining to feel stupid now?

There's no firm proof of widespread rigging (unlike Nigeria) hence the diplomatic statement by the EU monitor.

What proof are you looking for if not by what voters claimed they saw? Recall that rigging was taken as a word of mouth from Nigerian opposition candidates.

I find his statement apt, and if you were smart enough you'd see it completely encompasses all the relevant issues. The tallying process is where the Opposition candidate has the most grouse with, and that's what the monitor remarked on.

You have just descended into the realm of the deluded. Does unaccountable tallying not fall in line with the general idea of the harsh words directed at INEC? Recall, idiot, that INEC was DEMANDED to furnish records of fingerprints of Nigerians before the EU could even consider declaring it accountable.

What should make ALL nigerians hang their heads with SHAME is the reports emanating from Kenya that there was a record turnout of voters.

Straw man's argument. You are now bringing up voter turnout as an excuse for Nigerians to feel ashamed. mess YOU and you brood of vipers who are a curse to our National integrity.

COmpare this to Nigeria where shameless citizens refused to vote, yet feel they then have a right to complain about the Yar'Adua Government.

Irrelevant.

How is this election any worse than Nigeria's election?

Yet the harshest words the European Union monitor could say of the elections was ""the Electoral commission has not succeeded in establishing the credibility of the tallying process to the satisfaction of all parties and candidates."

DUH, Is that not a more accurate characterization of Nigeria's elections? Did they have to say "The worst election in the world"?

And we had unpatriotic thieves masquerading as "presidential candidates" agreeing with Western assessments attacking Nigeria's image and arousing violence even as we tried to make the first civilian to civilian transition. Here is the news on Kenya's election and tell me how Nigeria is holding Africa back as Europe claimed:

Kenya leader re-elected in disputed vote

NAIROBI, Kenya - President Mwai Kibaki was declared the winner Sunday of the closest presidential election in Kenya's history, a contest marked by allegations of rigging and two days of deadly violence.
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Elections chief Samuel Kivuitu read the results on live television after other media were expelled from the main vote headquarters. Kibaki beat Raila Odinga by 231,728 votes.

"This means Honorable Mwai Kibaki is the winner," Kivuitu said.

Black smoke billowed from Nairobi's sprawling Kibera slum, where thousands of people have been on the streets for the past two days shouting "Kibaki must go!" and claiming the vote was rigged. Violence around the country has killed at least 15 people since Saturday, authorities said.

"These are our guns," said 24-year-old Cliff Owino, holding up a handful of rocks in Mathare, a Nairobi slum where young men were setting up roadblocks and building bonfires. "But a voting card is our atomic weapon."

Others were shouting "Kibaki must go!" and waving machetes in the air as buses and shops burned.

Odinga had called on Kibaki to concede and asked for a recount, saying the electoral commission "cannot possibly address the multiple levels of fraud administered by this administration."

But Kibaki's camp urged patience for the official results, and accused Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement of being behind the violence. "ODM is responsible for all the incitement that is taking place right now," said Danson Mungatana, an official with Kibaki's Party of National Unity.

The disputed campaign comes in one of the most developed countries in Africa, with a booming tourism industry and one of the continent's highest growth rates. Many observers saw the campaign as perhaps the greatest test yet of this young, multiparty democracy and raised grave concerns as the process descended into violence.

Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, chief European Union election monitor, said the Electoral Commission of Kenya "has not succeeded in establishing the credibility of the tallying process to the satisfaction of all parties and candidates."

Kivuitu, the electoral commission chairman, acknowledged problems, including a constituency where voter turnout added up to 115 percent and another where a candidate ran away with ballot papers.

Supporters of 76-year-old Kibaki say he has turned Kenya's moribund economy into an East African powerhouse, with an average growth rate of 5 percent.

He won by a landslide in 2002, ending 24 years in power by the notoriously corrupt Daniel arap Moi, who was constitutionally barred from extending his term.

But Kibaki's anti-graft campaign has largely been seen as a failure, and the country still struggles with tribalism and poverty. After the opposition took most of the parliamentary seats, he may find it difficult to rule even if he wins.

Odinga, a fiery 62-year-old former political prisoner, promised change and help for the poor. His main constituency is Kibera, home to at least 700,000 people who live in extreme poverty and the scene of many of Saturday's riots.

In recent months he has made it a priority to reach out to the country's middle class and businessmen, many of whom belong to Kibaki's tribe, the Kikuyu. Odinga belongs to the Luo tribe.

___

Associated Press writers Elizabeth A. Kennedy, Katharine Houreld, Malkhadir M. Muhumed and Tom Odula contributed to this report.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071230/ap_on_re_af/kenya_elections

Afam:

Media? Forget them. They make more money when they sensationalize issues or heat up the polity with pure fabricated stories.

But why fabricate something as sensitive as this?

cmi:

I'm happy to read this article - however, a lot of media reports should be taken with a bowl of salt - them too formulate. I was sad when I read a report of Yaradua's visit to America where they said he agreed to them setting up AFRICOM, considering his opposition to the base after the FEC meeting in Nigeria. What a somersault or backflip I thought. I pray our government and other African govt's don't allow America to set up base in Africa.
One thing that the report also said that I felt didn't bode well was that they claimed Yaradua said "he will never forget this moment in his life" i.e. visiting America - Is America paradise? I asked myself, but as usual some journalists could be parrots.

I didn't like that part either. It seems we need to imbibe some consciousness in our leaders.

Now, I do not understand the need for people to confuse the reality of things. Perhaps these people running away and confusing the reality of Yar'adua's statement on African wants for him to accept it

For those who have problems comprehending statements in English.

I Didn't Approve AFRICOM In Nigeria, Says Yar'Adua

Sun, 16 Dec 2007 00:33:00


By Sukuji Bakoji, Bureau Chief, Kaduna


President Umaru Yar'Adua has denied media reports that he has approved for America to establish its military base, Africa High Command (AFRICOM), in the country, following his meeting with President George W. Bush in Washington at the weekend.

He told the Hausa Service of the Voice of America (VOA) that those who reported the story did not understand his discussion with Bush.

Yar'Adua said he only asked Bush to help Africa to establish its own version of AFRICOM, and manage it by itself, without allowing Americans to site their base in Nigeria.

According to him, the assistance to the Africa should be in form of weapons, gadgets, and training of the soldiers for the joint military command to be established in every sub-region on the continent.

His words: "I did not agree that (AFRICOM) should be based in Africa. What we discussed with … Bush is that if they have something to do for Africa that has to do with peace and security, they should contribute.

"They established AFRICOMwhich is presently based in Germany through which they should make their contribution.

"I told him that we African countries have our own plan to establish a joint military command in every sub-region (as we) have in economic groupings.

"(America) should assist us, the African countries, with military weapons and training of our solders; they should assist us to establish these sub-regional military commands in every sub-region where African countries have economic co-operation.

"That, instead of them coming by themselves to Africa, they should assist us … to form and manage our own military commands by ourselves. Since they already have the AFRICOM, it is only through it they should assist us in whatever way they can, especially in relation to peace.

"I asked him that they should help those of us African countries in the oil-rich Gulf of Guinea – seven countries – how we will unite, since we already have the plan to unite, to establish a joint military command to protect the territory. They should assist us to establish the military command and help us with weapons and gadgets to monitor the happenings in the area.

"Therefore, it is a kind of co-operation, not for them to come and establish the command. This was what I also said back in Nigeria. I hope it is understood.

"Those who reported the matter in the media or insinuating did not actually understand what we said. They did not even wait to understand the kernel of the discussion at the White House."

The contribution America made to end the war in Liberia "is the type of assistance I asked them for."

http://www.independentngonline.com/?c=162&a=7366

It's official

Lagos Assembly adopts Yoruba as official language
By Deji Elumoye, 12.12.2007

Lagos State House of Assembly yesterday approved the use of Yoruba as the official language on the floor of the Assembly This was sequel to a motion moved by the Assembly's majority leader, Hon. Kolawole Taiwo, in respect to a letter written to the Assembly by Mrs.

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Chinyere Anichebe, a professor of linguistics at the U niversityof Lagos (UNILAG). According to the letter discussed on the floor of the Assembly two weeks ago, Anichebe had argued that failure to use indigenous languages had been responsible for the grassroots not following and appreciating how they are governed.

The Assembly at yesterday's sitting therefore resolved that Yoruba, as well as English can be interchangeably used by any member to contribute to debate on the floor of the Assembly.

Addressing newsmen on the issue, Mrs Anichebe said the campaign for the use of Yoruba as the Assembly'sofficial language had become necessary because, according to her, children have lost their ability to speak their mother tongues because they were not exposed to them. She said a group of University lecturers have taken it upon themselves to impress on state Assemblies to use the indigenous languages as medium of transaction.

She explained that emphasis on state assemblies is because they represent the grassroots and should therefore carry them along in their deliberations sothat people would appreciate and understand how th eyare governed and decisions taken on their behalf. Meanwhile, the Assembly also yesterday lifted the suspension it placed on Mr. Muyiwa Adedeji, the executive secretary of Kosofe local government council last month. Adedeji was suspended on the allegation that he spent N32 million without due process and for not backing his expenditure with relevant receipts to the House when asked to do so.”

The suspension was lifted following a letter from the state auditor general that the said amount w as actually spent on intended projects but that his fault was his failure to get clearance before embarking on the expenditure.

I-man:

The premise of your posts is obviously wrong.Western development doesn't depend on African resources.Africa's share in global trade,and this includes the Arab North,is about 2%.Western trade with Africa is only a negligible part of the West's entire trade relations.

Deceptive statistics.

a) How much of those 2% is natural resources a.k.a African resources?

b) 98% is between who and who? Come on now. Besides "West to rest of developing world trade", the 98% also includes China to India, India to Malaysia, China to Middle East, China to Russia, South America to India, Russia to South America.

The key word here is "intends".This is mere sorcery.Nobody can say with any certainty what the Chinese actually intend to do.One point is however clear.The Chinese are driven by a realist and pragmatist approach.They do what is most economically feasible.

Actually China IS building industrial center in Nigeria.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-05/12/content_4539373.htm

From the article:

Lekki FTZ project, being the first of its kind the Chinese government has ever built abroad, will be carried out in three phases. The first-phase will covers an area of 15 sq. km with the Chinese side investing 200 million US. dollars and the Nigerian side 67 million dollars. Upon its completion in 2009, the phase-I project will see an industrial park highlighted by light industry,textiles, building materials, household electric appliances, communications, machine processing and building as well as real estate and gardening building.

The phase-II and Phase-III projects, will cover 150 sq. km with a total investment of 5 billion dollars, focusing on heavy industry manufacturing, chemicals, petroleum processing, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, logistics, import/export businesses,deep-water port, tourism, real estate, education, banking and finance, among others.

"Our goal is to turn the Lekki FTZ into a new, vigorous and multiple-functional international satellite town of Lagos," Chen said.

If industrial centres in Africa are economically viable,China will invest,if not,they won't.

What? Read the news. They have invested:


http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-05/12/content_4539373.htm

But so will the rest of the world.Multi-national corporations invest where they are confident they will get adequate returns on their investment,those corporations might be Chinese or Western,its irrelevant which national origins they have.

Western interests cannot seem to balance the drive for profit with a baggage of prejudice!

So China does not engage in acts of altruism.It will only invest where it can make a return.Africa lacks an industrial base because the economic environment is harsh for the manufacturing industry.This has nothing to with outsiders.No outsider will come and fix our problems for us unless the business climate changes.

No one is saying they are altruistic. Where did I say that? But if in their chase for self-interests, we gain technology transfer and capital then I welcome that kind of self-interest.

In the past,we had lots of partnerships with Western companies-Peugeout in Kaduna,Volkswagen,Steyr,Daimler,e.t.c.The first refinery in Nigeria was built by Shell.Most of these collapsed under a harsh operating environment. If this isn't addressed,don't expect China to build your imagined industrial centres.If it addressed,not only will China come in,but the whole world will come anyway rendering redundant,the suggestion that China offers some unique advantages in our quest for industralisation

How many of those "partnerships" served markets outside Nigeria?

Again your inability to read news does not make my Chinese industrial center imaginary. Here is a clue for you:

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-05/12/content_4539373.htm

From the article:

Lekki FTZ project, being the first of its kind the Chinese government has ever built abroad, will be carried out in three phases. The first-phase will covers an area of 15 sq. km with the Chinese side investing 200 million US. dollars and the Nigerian side 67 million dollars. Upon its completion in 2009, the phase-I project will see an industrial park highlighted by light industry,textiles, building materials, household electric appliances, communications, machine processing and building as well as real estate and gardening building.

The phase-II and Phase-III projects, will cover 150 sq. km with a total investment of 5 billion dollars, focusing on heavy industry manufacturing, chemicals, petroleum processing, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, logistics, import/export businesses,deep-water port, tourism, real estate, education, banking and finance, among others.

"Our goal is to turn the Lekki FTZ into a new, vigorous and multiple-functional international satellite town of Lagos," Chen said.

Deleted

See the post below.