Read through the excerpt below and let us know what we think about this gesture.



"In his sole effort to checkmate misrule and corruption in Africa, an Egyptian-born Sudanese businessman and entrepreneur, Mo Ibrahim, has instituted a $5 million prize to be awarded annually to the “most effective” African head of state. The winner of the prize named “The Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership,” which was recently launched in London, will receive $5 million over 10 years after leaving office and £107,000 a year for life.

Specifically, the award will be available to only African leaders who have democratically transferred power to their successors. Additionally, such leaders must have distinguished themselves and delivered on security, health, education and economic development to their constituents.

The project, which will be assessed by Harvard University, United States, is meant to rate governance in the 53 African countries every year to determine how well the President has served his people while in office."----Culled from Nigerian Daily Sun

Chidichris, you need to interact with these chaps (blacks) who lived under apartheid to understand how dehumanising an experience it is. God forbid! I stay here in Jhb and I interact with some of them. They have lost it man!

Shango or whatever your name is, I do not think that you understand the import of your statement. I want to convince myself that you just want to agitate our minds and see how we interrogate the issue. If however, you really meant what you said, then I will forgive you because some of us can easily be misguided. Do not for one second think that South Africa where the white man lorded it over the blacks have risen above the psychological trauma of apartheid. Can you imagine what it would do to your psyche to stand by as a child and see you parents flogged by the white man. Shame on whoeevr thought about this topic. Why do you think that whites are better than blacks? I think I detect inferiority complex lurking somehwere in your mind. Stand up Man! No white skin is superior to you except you allow yourself to be inferior. What we should be thinking about is how we can make our dear 9aija better by ourselves.

Seun, that;s more positive. I also want to include Abuja in the list of two cities you recommended.

Gaby, you have actually taken words out of my mouth as we say. Thanks for that response to Seun. 9aija is not as bad as it is presented. The only other advise I will give the intended resident of Nigeria is to do a proper feasibility on living in 9aija.

Adult Ebony, I am sure that you are not the only one who is hooked on the city. Incidentally, I studied in Calabar for 4 years and I make it a point that every year since I left Unical, I go to Calabar at least once. The food is good and its now a very neat city, especially since the arrival of Duke. I also agree with you about the babes. Wao! But then, there are beautiful and well endowed girls everywhere. I think what capticates one about Calabar is the relative peace in the city and its neatness compared to most other cities in 9aija. Go on, stay back, so long as you've got something doing.

Seun, I wonder why you allowed such a dumb topic to be put on the discussion list. Let the guy go ahead and cheat if he wants. I cannot advise such a person.

hey guys, easy on them words. It does not portray us as people who want the best for ourselves. I have been to Namibia and I want to agree that while it is indeed a small country, it is well organised and neat. Granted it has one major city, however, other cities are also neat, talk about German efficiency. Remember, they were originally colonised by the Germans, until the Germans lost the War and the country was given to South Africa on a Trusteeship arrangement. Botswana is also a nice neat country, but it reminds one of 9aija in the early '70s. My brother and sis, make we pray that Abuja will not go the way of lagos, well with El Rufai there, I do not think so.

Saintsalam, that is a sweeping statement. I would rather you have couched it better. The question one is forced to ask you is whether there is empirical evidence for the claim you made. Me ooo, I have met some romantic 9aija babes both home and abroad. Where you de "harvest" your own babes? In fact, a couple of babes claim that 9aija guys are not romantic? The question is, what does being romantic mean? Is is being sexy or is it about sending flowers and whispering sweet nothings. Please, educate us.

"Justice at last." I am sure that it will be better for the security of Iraq to hang him immediately. The longer they delay, the longer the violence about not hanging him and when he is eventually hanged, more violence will erupt. To avoid an elongation of the violence, he should be "hung by neck untill he dies and may God have mercy oh his soul," that is, if he has any.

Hey! I think you have actually researched on this subject very well and you do not need our advise. You should instead be advising us. Anyway, I think it would not be a bad idea for you to study there. Firstly, you might learn a foreign language and with the way China is catching on in the international arena, you will be at an advantage if you eventually get back to 9aija. Wish you the best.

Interesting!!! I think that when one leaves this world, one should not leave those behind with unnecessary expenditure. I would prefer to be buried where I die. However, remember that most times, you would not have a say in the matter, even if you were to write a will. Your family might overide such decision especially, if you are well to do and respected in the family.

I guess its not just a question of married men runing after young girls. Men generally run after women. You must remember that most of these guys who run after these young girls started it when they were young. It now becomes difficult for them to change overnight. I am not saying its good, but that is the reality. Secondly, most people(women included) no longer respect the institution of marriage. They are gradually losing the one thing we 9aija used to hang on to, which is family values. They are becoming "westernised". A shame.

Hi, I think your motivation is really a stromg one and I salute your corage for that. However, for you to be enrolled as a barrister and solicitor in Higeria, you must attend the Nigerian Law School. I think for those with a foreign degree, you need to do Bar part I and II. Of course, some companies might hire you right away, especially the international companies. However, your activities respecting the practice of law in Nigeria, be it commercial, corporate or otehrwise will be limited. On the other hand, you might be employed to do non strictly legal work for the company. Good luck and keep us posted when you succeed.

Guys, I think that the issue should not be about encouraging your daughter to stay with the boyfriend overnight. The issue here if any should be about understanding her need to stay overnight. I would actually want to discourage such if and when I get a daughter. Much as one would know that ones daughter might be having sex, one doesnt want it to become so obvious as to encourage it. However, I also know that "[b]what a girl does not do, she does not want to do it"

Hey! If the guy has changed and has shown signs of that change, I think you should just let him be. Remember the injuction, "he who is without sin should cast the first stone."

Owolabi, a quick correction, Bolaji Carew was not amongst the Original 7 as the founders of the PC are known. He was a later day initiate who got black spotted (Expelled) in 1972 and he went on and formed the Buccanners. It is however interesting to note that Pirates, (notice the spelling with an "i" as against the "y" that Pyrates is known) are also known as Buccanners.

For more information about the Pyrates Confraternity, which of cousre is not a secret cult, please visit www.nas-int.org

Ova.

Hey! A lot of people wish they had finsihed as early as you are finishing. If I were you, I would go on and strike for a Masters and Phd. Maybe, you can create a record of being one of the youngest to bag a Phd in 9aija if not in the entire globe. Go for it man! Wish you all the best.

To every man his fantasies or better still, to every woman her fantasies.

Guys, I am sure that you just heard the sad news about the crash of ADC plane in Abuja. May God (Allah) grant the souls of all that departed etrnal rest in his abode. The question this crash raises once again is how safe is our airlines? It is obvious that road transport is a sham in Nigeria. Now, it is becoming very obvious that air travel is a serious danger. What do we do? Does the state of Nigeria owe its citizens any duty of care? If so, has the state discharged this duty so far? Please, let us articulate our thoughts on this issue. Will you want to travel by road or by air in Nigeria, especially, those of you that live outside the shores of Nigeria?

My guy, I think that you must have hear the word of wisdom from chaps who are either outside the country or in Nigeria. The bottom line is, stay back in England and get your acts together. I am sure that one day, you will get something that will take you back to 9aija. As for the oyinbo girl wey e bi like say you wan marry, well, that na another matter.

Guys, I think that since we are living in a world of opposites (good-bad, fat-thin etc), and if we believe in the angels and the good spirits, then it is logical to also acknowledge the existence of evil in the form of witchcraft etc. Acknowledging its existence does not mean that you believe in it. Just as Christains and other relious organisations believe in the existence of God, they also acknowledge the existence of Satan , but they do not necessarily believe in "him/her". Recently, I had a direct experience which makes me know that witchcraft exists. I have had razor marks on my body which I know were made by a witch. However, ever since I started praying the holy rosary and the psalms, and sleeping with the bible opened on psalm 91, the attack stopped. I recommend Psalm 91 to you guys. You do not have to be a christain to pray it.

Well, I think there are two issues here: age difference and your age. To me the fact that you are still a minor means that you should not even be contemplating having a relationship with a guy. However, if you love this guy so much, you should have to wait until you become an adult (age of consent in most countries is 18). The age difference would not have mattered much if you were say about 25 and the guy is 30. Most guys are married to girls they are older than with more than 5years age difference. My sincere advise is that you should concentrate on your studies first. Man no de run!!!

While there is nothing bad in loving someone, married or single, the problem is the extent to which you manifest that love. The question that should be at the back of your mind in any relationship you enter is: what is the purpose of this relationship? If you intend having a romantic affair with no holds barred, you can go on, but put yourself in the position of the other woman. What if it were you? Secondly, sometimes, we start off a relationship for the fun of it and it ends up being serious. What if the relationship you have with this married chap becomes serious and one thing leads to another as always, then, 9 months later,