Politics / Re: Nigeria Likely To Be Another Pakistan By 2035 – Wikileaks ! by MShittu: 10:07pm On Dec 10, 2010 |
It is very unlikely that we will become another Pakistan as Pakistan's insurgency is, for the most part, fuelled by insurgency in its neighbor, Afghanistan. As Nigeria is surrounded by relatively peaceful states, it is very highly unlikely that insurgency will evolve substantially beyond Boko Haram's current antics. Our economy is, also, much stringer and more resilient than most and, as such, is also very unlikely to worsen if the private sector continues to grow as much and perform as well as it is doing at the moment. Nigerians also dont like to kill themselves. Well that is with the exception of one fool ![cheesy](https://www.nairaland.com/faces/cheesy.png) But we do need electricity! |
Politics / Re: New Wikileaks Revelations Implicates Aondoakaa, Julius Berger Etc. by MShittu: 10:02pm On Dec 10, 2010 |
Imagine the information they have on the ABJ bombings! Pharoh:
Rawlings option or this country will burst someday.
everybody want development but no one want die! |
Politics / Re: Okonjo-iweala, Maduekwe, Others Blast Abia Gov by MShittu: 11:21am On Dec 10, 2010 |
I pray that the people of Abia state vote the governor and his party all the way out in the next elections. |
Politics / Re: Nigerians To Get New Sophisticated Id Cards by MShittu: 9:51pm On Dec 07, 2010 |
We want to be giving away ID cards when we don't even know how many people live in Nigeria because our censuses suck that much! |
Politics / Re: Niger Delta Under Internal ‘Colonial Rule’ by MShittu: 9:49pm On Dec 07, 2010 |
Omenani:
Did you read his statement? The Niger Delta has been held hostage by the rest of Nigeria. 80% of the nation's GDP relies on Niger Deltan oil. That speaks volumes. The Niger Delta doesn't need Nigeria, but it would seem that Nigeria needs the Niger Delta a lot more. The people are suffering.
Point of correction, its more like 30%. Our oil exports are only about 75 billion PPP dollars in value while our GDP is over 300 billion. Not trying to belittle the ND's contribution though. |
Politics / Re: Niger Delta Under Internal ‘Colonial Rule’ by MShittu: 4:18pm On Dec 07, 2010 |
@Faeb The 'middle belt' actually has more people in the military than the 'north' does. Furthermore, a large part of the people in this 'middle belt' identify themselves as being 'northerners'. My reasoning? Most of the people that I live around are 'middle belters', Gwaris, Nupes, Tivs etc, who consider themselves 'dan arewa'. The sokoto caliphate also stretched all the way down below the Niger river ![](https://www.blackpast.org/files/blackpast_images/Sokoto_Sultanate.jpg) ![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/Sokoto_Barry_Kent.jpg/300px-Sokoto_Barry_Kent.jpg) |
Foreign Affairs / Re: Argentina, Uruguay And Brazil Recognize Palestine As State by MShittu: 9:41am On Dec 07, 2010 |
Israel is a very cruel state. |
Politics / Re: It Is Impossible For Jonathan To Win Primaries. Pdp Delegates Explained. by MShittu: 9:26pm On Dec 06, 2010 |
appletango:
i'm not talking about state wealth i'm talking about the wealth of individuals (ie business men and politicians).
misunderstood you then |
Politics / Re: It Is Impossible For Jonathan To Win Primaries. Pdp Delegates Explained. by MShittu: 9:20pm On Dec 06, 2010 |
appletango:
oh you do? well i would have a quick rethink if i were you
The GDPs of Northen states are very often much lower than those of southern ones. Economic activity is also much more concentrated in the south than it is up North. |
Politics / Re: It Is Impossible For Jonathan To Win Primaries. Pdp Delegates Explained. by MShittu: 9:08pm On Dec 06, 2010 |
appletango:
but atiku/ibb/adenuga/etc do, remember this is not just atiku, this is the whole north and i guarantee you that the north has more money than the south.
Highly doubt that, |
Politics / Re: It Is Impossible For Jonathan To Win Primaries. Pdp Delegates Explained. by MShittu: 7:53pm On Dec 06, 2010 |
DapoBear:
I highly doubt Atiku that has more cash available to him than GEJ does.
He might, seeing as he has houses all over the place. I'm yet to hear of any of GEJ's houses though. |
Politics / Re: Nigeria Far Behind G20 Countries – Okonjo-iweala by MShittu: 7:51pm On Dec 06, 2010 |
Just pointing out: India, with about 10 times our population only generates 4 times the amount of energy that we do! |
Politics / Re: It Is Impossible For Jonathan To Win Primaries. Pdp Delegates Explained. by MShittu: 7:49pm On Dec 06, 2010 |
DapoBear:
Ah, but he can just make the money conditional on him winning, no? It isn't, "I'll pay you X if you vote for me", but "I'll pay you X if i win."
So he can still bribe effectively, I think. Or am I wrong. . . ?
Atiku'll just one-up his offer! |
Politics / Re: Jonathan Takes Us Back To The Importation Regime by MShittu: 8:47pm On Dec 03, 2010 |
I kind of understand why taxing imports'll be better than banning imports and allowing criminals to smuggle goods across our borders, but I do have one grievance, why import cassava and toothpick! We're the world's largest producer of cassava and making toothpicks should be kinda easy! |
Politics / Re: Sea Level Rise Threatens Lagos by MShittu: 9:05pm On Dec 01, 2010 |
DapoBear:
I don't know how the North will fix their own situation. Lagos at least, we can spend money to build barriers. The property is worth enough money that cash can be raised to save the city.
But with the North, I don't know where they will find money to fight the desert. Who is going to raise the billions necessary to fight the desert in a land where property prices are low anyway? These northern governors need to start saving their people's money and start planning for the future.
DANGOOOOTEEEEEEE! ![tongue](https://www.nairaland.com/faces/tongue.png) |
Travel / Re: Eko Atlantic City. . Construction Update July 2010 by MShittu: 7:45pm On Dec 01, 2010 |
f_roms:
Wow! How come I'm just hearing about these projects? I think I need to move back to Nigeria. I heard Fashola is performing miracles (if I'm permitted to call it that). I even heard he plans to build light railway systems and ferry transport services. Please do you have updates or know where I can get information on all the projects done by Fashola cos he has taken me by surprise. This guy wants to turn Lagos to Dubai. It's gonna be d best. You don't know how excited I am. I have to relocated back from Jand men. This is AWESOME!!!!
The light rail aint a plan! Construction has started! |
Politics / Re: Sea Level Rise Threatens Lagos by MShittu: 7:15pm On Dec 01, 2010 |
Kobojunkie:
Significantly expensive to start but profitable in the long run. Other countries are already working on such ideas as solution to one problem or another, I don't see why we cannot use the same to both solve our problem, and make ourselves some real money. Imagine Lagos supplying the North, and many countries up north with well needed water supply. ![grin](https://www.nairaland.com/faces/grin.png)
By supplying the north with water, then the government can make some real inroads in the fight against desertification! |
Politics / Re: Sea Level Rise Threatens Lagos by MShittu: 6:30pm On Dec 01, 2010 |
Kobojunkie:
Or pump water inland, to the deserts? ![undecided](https://www.nairaland.com/faces/undecided.png)
Yeah, thats a much better idea ![cheesy](https://www.nairaland.com/faces/cheesy.png) |
Politics / Re: Sea Level Rise Threatens Lagos by MShittu: 6:26pm On Dec 01, 2010 |
Why dont they make more holes in the sides of streets to allow water to move into sewers and back into the ocean? I don't know if it'll work, but it might, right? |
Politics / Re: Bad Roads: Finally, Fashola Wakes Up! by MShittu: 7:50pm On Nov 30, 2010 |
I think that no matter how much Lagos' infrastructure is improved, the sheer number of people in Lagos will inevitably cause some infrastructural problems. Because of this, I think that during all those investment expositions and stuff that Lagos does, Lagos should also dedicate a small amount of time to advertising its neighbor, Ogun, as to create economic opportunities in Ogun and allow some Lagosians to leave Lagos and go to Ogun instead. |
Politics / Re: Cameroun To Supply Electricity To Nigeria by MShittu: 5:34pm On Nov 28, 2010 |
Kenyanstar:
Its really shamefull but hardly suprise that while kenya is busy trying to light its rural areas, nigeria is trying to light its urban centers. The kenyan parastal and state co-operation incharge of electricity is the most lauded in the country. Kenya can teach nigerian a lesson or two on good governance and policy making. Ten years ago kenya was importing electricity from uganda but now we are exporting to the same country. Recently the power company was distributing free energy saving bulbs to its customers in order to conserve energy and ease power on the national grid. Kenya is indeed the country to watch.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that Kenya's power is the result of the private sector's eagerness to participate in power generation. It is my belief that Kenya has had policies in place that allow for effective public-private partnerships, and I don't think Nigeria has had those kind of frameworks for very long. It seems that GEJ is doing something about it through his privatization plans, though. |
Politics / John Togo Surrenders by MShittu: 5:18pm On Nov 28, 2010 |
‘It should be concrete’ – Alaibe WARRI- AGGRIEVED ex-militants, under the aegis of the Niger-Delta Liberation Force, NDLF, led by “General” John Togo, who breached the 2009 amnesty agreement they signed with the Federal Government by returning to the creeks, mid-November, have now agreed to a cessation of hostilities. Counsel to John Togo and national chairman of the Human Rights Defense Organization of Nigeria, HURDON, Casely Omon-Irabor Esq. in an interview with Vanguard, weekend, said, “John Togo has agreed to a ceasefire and I have held preliminary discussions to that effect with the Joint Task Force, JTF, on the Niger-Delta and the Presidential Committee on Amnesty, headed by Mr. Timi Alaibe. Omon-Irabor said, however, said further discussions would be held with the JTF and Post-Amnesty Committee to iron out the grey areas. Special Adviser to the President on Niger-Delta and coordinator of the post-amnesty programme, Mr. Alaibe told Vanguard when contacted, yesterday, that Omon-Irabor had discussed with him the intention of John Togo to ceasefire and surrender. He said the Federal Government was willing to explore every option for peace to reign in the region, saying, “What I told Omon-Irabor is to ensure that what John Togo is saying is concrete, not to say that he is surrendering and going back again”. Alaibe said he had spoken to him in the past and advised him that armed violence was not the solution to the Niger-Delta struggle, but he remained recalcitrant. He said John Togo gave four conditions for his total surrender to wit: Immediate convening of a post-amnesty conference of all aggrieved ex-militants by the Federal Government to address the vexing issues with the United Nations and the international community as observers; and recovery of the oil blocs given to some ex-militant leaders by the Federal Government, knowing fully that the Niger-Delta struggle was not for personal gains. “Other conditions are grant of total amnesty to all ex-militants and all those arrested or facing trial in relation to militant activities, including Henry Okah and rehabilitation of all ex-militants by the Federal Government”, Omon-Irabor added. He said John Togo was prepared to surrender his arms as long as long as the government was ready to address the grievances of the ex-militants that returned to the creeks. Omon-Irabor said the signal he received from both the JTF and the Presidential Committee on Amnesty was that they were disposed to anybody renouncing violence and surrendering arms. Vanguard could not get the comments of the spokesman of the JTF, Lt. Col. Anthony Antigha, yesterday, as his phone rang out, but it was learned the task force was not happy over its men that allegedly killed by the NDLF in a clash on November 17. Officially, the task force had not acknowledged the death of any soldier, but independent investigations at the Central Hospital, Warri showed that up to nine soldiers were killed. Lt. Col Antigha only admitted to Vanguard that few soldiers were injured. Many people were stupefied, mid-November, when John Togo announced the formation of NDLF and set up a fresh militant camp, near Ayakuromoh, his country home in Delta state shortly after the Ministry of Defense, Abuja ordered the JTF to wipe out all new militant camps in the region following resumption of hostilities in parts of Akwa-Ibom and Bayelsa states by the Movement for Emancipation of the Niger-Delta, MEND. The country home of Mr. Alaibe in Opukamah, Bayelsa state was also bombed by irate ex-militants. Across the region, other ex-militant leaders, including “Commander” Frank Akiefa, alias Ebi Kokos and “Commander” Ebi, based in Bayelsa state lambasted John Togo for breaching the amnesty agreement with the Federal Government. On November 17, men of the JTF drafted to overrun John Togo’s camp met a very stiff resistance, as a number of them were injured and their gunboats damaged by the NDLF fighters, who apparently laid an ambush. The real casualty figure is not known till date. The JTF reinforced and cordoned off waterways in Delta state for a fresh offensive on John Togo, but the militant leader used explosives to blow up his camp and fled to an unknown hideout in the creeks, christened, Israel Barracks. From Israel Barracks, near the southern coast of the Atlantic Ocean, he monitored the operations of the JTF and issued a two-week ultimatum to the government to address the complaints of the ex-militants or they would cripple the economy of the country by blowing up oil pipelines and facilities. A militant group, “The gods”, headed by Godday Smith rose in solidarity with the NDLF and bombed the crude oil pipeline to the Kaduna Refinery, but clashed with MEND when it claimed that its local fighters carried out the bombing. Last week, NDLF spokesman, “Captain” Mark Anthony warned that the militant group would down any military, commercial and oil companies’ aircraft that comes three miles near its location, just as he confirmed report by some community leaders that the group’s fighters were sighted planting explosives on some pipelines in the night with a view to detonating them at the expiration of its two-week ultimatum. While the manhunt for John Togo and his men lasted, residents of oil communities in the affected areas, particularly, Ogodobri, Ayakuromoh, etc in Burutu and Bomadi local government areas of the state had their hearts in their mouths, as soldiers laid siege on the waterways, shooting indiscriminately in the night. The councilor, representing Ogodobri in Bomadi council legislature, Hon. Geofrey Dibofa had led his community chairman, Terry Youdowei and others to the Kiagbodo country-home of the former Federal Minister of Information, Chief Edwin Clark to urge him to use his influence to prevail on the Federal Government and the JTF not to attack villages under the guise of searching for John Togo. As at the time John Togo indicated his wish to surrender, Saturday, the JTF was still in search of him in the creeks with reports that most residents had fled from neighbouring oil communities to Ayakuromo despite assurance by the task force that soldiers would not attack communities.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/11/john-togo-surrenders-agrees-to-ceasefire/ |
Politics / Re: Definition Of Middle Belt by MShittu: 7:52pm On Nov 27, 2010 |
Onlytruth:
I have always maintained that there is nothing like "Middlebelt" in terms of real Nigerian politics. There is a christian north though, and they are concentrated more to these "middlebelt" areas. However, they share a bond with other Northerners through HAUSA language. You cannot find anything like that in southern Nigeria. ![sad](https://www.nairaland.com/faces/sad.png)
To me, the most convenient lie has been to blame a so called "core north" for all the crimes Northern Nigeria has committed against the rest of Nigeria. Having jointly enjoyed the political power over the years (in fact these middlebelters have ruled Nigeria more than the Hausa sef! ), they must therefore take a proportional blame for Nigeria's failures through the years.
Middlebelt is a convenient lie to escape blame and mask history.
I don't think that there's ever been a 'hausa' president of Nigeria as such. I mean all of those Northern presidents were either Fulani, Gowon was a middle-belter and Babangida was Gwari! |
Politics / Re: Possible Impact Of Ww3 On Nigeria? by MShittu: 1:47pm On Nov 26, 2010 |
ElRazur:
You mean, people will not buy our oil? Yeah I agree on that. Remember that there are nations who hold bigger reserves that us, and lets not forget that Submarines, War ships are mostly nuclear powered (Can go three decades on average without needing fuel)
Apart from not buying our oil - Something which I covered in my original post (made reference to slow economic activities) I cannot think of any other significance right now.
I think I need to clarify what I meant by 'we export oil to all the world's superpowers'. Because Nigeria has so many natural resources, the warring superpower'l probably try to secure those resources. I know that they have nuclear powered weapons, but they'd want to secure our resources to make sure nobody else gets to them. |
Politics / Re: Possible Impact Of Ww3 On Nigeria? by MShittu: 1:26pm On Nov 26, 2010 |
I think that if WW3 breaks out, Naija is BOUND toi be affected, seeing as we export oil to all of the world's superpowers. |
Politics / Re: Breaking News: Aregbesola Declared Governor Of Osun State by MShittu: 1:19pm On Nov 26, 2010 |
I don't think people'll be very surprised to see a total ACN takeover of the south-west in 2011. |
Politics / Re: Cameroun To Supply Electricity To Nigeria by MShittu: 11:08am On Nov 26, 2010 |
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Politics / Re: I Shall Make Ogun State Economy Bigger Than Ghana's Says Gov Aspirant by MShittu: 6:50pm On Nov 24, 2010 |
I think Ogun state should vote ACN. The party seems to be working for other south-western states. |
Politics / Re: President Jonathan Has Asked Nigerians A Question by MShittu: 5:00pm On Nov 24, 2010 |
POWER POWER POWER POWER If we have electricity, the poverty rate'll decrease, the GDP'll rise, MANY more businesses'll sprout up and corruption won't matter no more! |
Politics / Re: Abia Gov's Task Napps On Standard Of Education by MShittu: 8:23pm On Nov 23, 2010 |
What is the governor doing about anything? The man let kidnappers overrun his state for goodness sake! |
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Politics / Lag Doctors Suspend Strike! by MShittu: 9:08pm On Nov 21, 2010 |
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