ishmaels ratings were hilarious but accurate, however i will like to add a few

(1) yahoo, yahoo: excellent (internet scams to rob the Rich and feed the Poor)
(2) aristo: excellent (catching the ladies [and men] VERY young, like R. Kelly- probably not as bad)
(3) 419: excellent (Nigerian enterprising invention to exploit the greedy and uninitiated mind)

but apart from these sarcastic attributes, there are some intangible ratings that, for me, serve as a beacon of hope.

(1) 'o wan be' a.k.a. parties and social life: excellent
(2) contentment, unflinching hope, and peace of mind: excellent (Fela called it suffering and smiling)
(3) family structure and culture: excellent

If it is true that the family and personal values together make up the quintessential unit of any society, then with our excellent family structure and wonderful and rich cultural heritage, i am persuaded to believe that all will be well with Nigeria in the long run.

The only thing Nigeria loses more than oil, is our precious human beings. The only thing more valuable to Nigeria than oil is our human resources. At such a time like this, i remember a tiny country like Israel really small in size and population but is the envy of all of the arab world even those with tonnes of oil. Chastised for decades in Europe, blacklisted by several nations in the Middle East, in a land with little mineral resources they still have the third best millitary and one of the strongest economies in the world. The key to their success is the people, their brotherly love and their work ethics. Nigeria should take a cue from that.

Oil isnt everything, but at least it will be nice if the oil wealth can be managed effectively. Those that can manage it are perhaps lounging in beaches in America or Europe or working with industries, hospitals, universities and banks abroad. i don't blame them though. Many of them were frustrated and had to leave Nigeria.

Dont get me wrong, the brain drain is not yet overwhelming and Nigeria still has millions of able bodies within Nigeria that can save her from the plight of underdevelopment. However it is not for the faint of heart as it is a daunting hill to climb, it is a long rope to pull, it is truly an herculean task. And so many have resolved to settle for the status quo. The solution lies in YOU and I to step to the plate and start being responsible leaders or followers in our own little way. @ DaHitler's footer is a profound quote that those who stand for nothing will fall for anything.

Spoken word from the emperor.

Nigeria used to be the Giant of Africa. Right now, there is no Giant in the whole of Africa. South Africa as we know it today has a lot to offer because it was less than 2 decades ago that the colonialist officially left. However let the truth be told the colonialist still control 95% of South Africa's economy and wealth. Until an African country is thriving well and is handled by Africans themselves, i am not yet impressed. When South African is truly independent, it will be the Giant of Africa.

Notwithstanding S Africa's great strides, no African nation compares to Nigeria in terms of human resources. No african nation compares to Nigeria in terms of natural resources. Yet nigeria is still the most corrupt nation in the world with over 60% unemployment still suffering in the midst of plentiful black gold - Certainly the poorest oil producing nation in terms of GDP of its resident citizens. Nigeria is more of a dissappointment than anything else if you will ask me. There is helplessness in face of all Nigerian citizens who are not born into an elite family. If you don't agree with this fact, you must be from a middle class or rich family, go find out from the millions of common men in street who have no clue of were to get food let alone dream of watching TV.

Despite close to half a century of independence Nigerians havent learned to co-exist with one another, neither have they learnt to improve the living standards of their brethren. It is this self centeredness that have made our leaders ineffective. And more importantly it is the complacency of the followers that have let the leaders/dictators go scott-free, with no checks and balances, as they expoit our fertile land to barreness.

Over four decades of coexstence but Nigerians still have inter-tribal and inter-religious conflicts, sometimes fighting over the most trivial things. No Giant can stand for long, when it's members are not united. That's why the Giant of the 60's is 60 years behind most the developed world - just a baby with poor judgement in the eyes of the developed. Until there is a change of heart by ALL Nigerians to live up to the ethics and social responsibilities of a decent society, Nigeria will continue claiming the vain title of 'Giant', with mightly little to show for it.

Well, as regards emphasis on people ascending and becoming Gods, this may be discouraged, so as to emphasize the separation of church from state. imposing religion on others will be discouraged, as well as religious conflict. if your religion is friendly and great, others will be attracted to it by the deeds of the followers of the religion.

as regards more people spending time within Nigeria, i believe we all naturally will like to be in our country, but the country must have something meaningful to offer. nobody will leave a good paying job abroad to be jobless at home. jobs are not too hard to create, but it is easier to steal and care for self, than to have a global outlook and cater for the masses. the common man still suffers in Nigeria, and till that changes, there will be massive exodus from the country for all those who get VISA's

Charismatic leaders are usually able to engender change of heart among a multitude of people. As we all know that change is only lasting when it comes from the bottom - up, as a Nigerian Leader, i will organize grassroot movements that focus on ethics and social responsibility. Only a universal change by ALL nigerians is the panacea to corruption that is eating deep into all fabrics of Nigeria's existence.

The emperor has spoken.

I am one of the few that can rule Nigeria successfully. I will be a dictator, hibrid of Abacha, Mandela, Margaret Tasha (can't spell) and Bill Clinton. I will impose my laws. I will not allow democracy because it doesnt work in nations as diverse as Nigeria. I will make everybody speak English, by force. I will eliminate all the Past Rulers by leaving them to be stoned at a market square. I will make Police and military have pay equivalent to teachers that way they don't take bribe. I will not make education free because it lowers the standards. The only thing that will be free will be water and air. You will still have to pay to park your vehicles and pay tax for sales or purchases, in short everything will be taxed. Every one must have a national identification number for social security purposes. If you are not educated you will be drafted to the farm, or manual labor (brick laying etc) whether you like it or not. I will split the country into 3 regions North, West and East, with each having a prime minister, any community feeling marginalized will be silenced by my military. I'm sorry we cannot be split into 400 tribes, if u are not happy with 3 regions, i will have to imprison you. I will pull out of OPEC, and increase the price of each barrel of Oil, fortunately Nigeria has the best Oil in the world, the US will still buy it. I will make the oil companies develop all the roads in Nigeria, else they get the f**k out of the country. And those rioters in the delta will all be in jail. I will fire all the NEPA managers, and contract out the managing of Nigerias engergy sector to SIEMENS (a german energy company), i don't care about Nationalism here, Nigerians couldn't manage it in the past 40yrs, let Germany try. Well i have a 100 other things i plan to do, but i am not interested yet, cos i am afraid i will be assasinated. However, i do believe nobody can save that country except a benevolent dictator. There are only a few of them left in this world, are you one of them?

Yes, i am young, and i am the only one that can rule Nigeria successfully. I will be a dictator, hibrid of Abacha, Mandela, Margaret Tasha (can't spell) and Bill Clinton. I will impose my laws. I will not allow democracy because it doesnt work in nations as diverse as Nigeria. I will make everybody speak English, by force. I will eliminate all the Past Rulers by leaving them to be stoned at a market square. I will make Police and military have pay equivalent to teachers that way they don't take bribe. I will not make education free because it lowers the standards. The only thing that will be free will be water and air. You will still have to pay to park your vehicles and pay tax for sales or purchases, in short everything will be taxed. Every one must have a national identification number for social security purposes. If you are not educated you will be drafted to the farm, or manual labor (brick laying etc) whether you like it or not. I will split the country into 3 regions North, West and East, with each having a prime minister, any community feeling marginalized will be silenced by my military. I'm sorry we cannot be split into 400 tribes, if u are not happy with 3 regions, i will have to imprison you. I will pull out of OPEC, and increase the price of each barrel of Oil, fortunately Nigeria has the best Oil in the world, the US will still buy it. I will make the oil companies develop all the roads in Nigeria, else they get the f**k out of the country. And those rioters in the delta will all be in jail. I will fire all the NEPA managers, and contract out the managing of Nigerias engergy sector to SIEMENS (a german energy company), i don't care about Nationalism here, Nigerians couldn't manage it in the past 40yrs, let Germany try. Well i have a 100 other things i plan to do, but i am not interested yet. After 30 years, if the next generation is not as crooked as this generation, i may reconsider. By then i will be Old, so we can safely say Nigeria cannot have a young president. Nobody can save that country except a benevolent dictator. There are only a few of them left in this world, and i happen to be one.

You do not need past rulers, i am the only one that can rule Nigeria successfully. I will be a dictator, hibrid of Abacha, Mandela, Margaret Tasha (can't spell) and Bill Clinton. I will impose my laws. I will not allow democracy because it doesnt work in nations as diverse as Nigeria. I will make everybody speak English, by force. I will eliminate all the Past Rulers by leaving them to be stoned at a market square. I will make Police and military have pay equivalent to teachers that way they dont take bribe. I will not make education free because it lowers the standards. The only thing that will be free will be water and air. You will still have to pay to park ur vehicles and pay tax for sales or purchases, in short everything will be taxed. Every one must have a national identification number for social security purposes. If you are not educated you will be drafted to the farm, or manual labor (brick laying etc) whether you like it or not. I will split the country into 3 regions North, West and East, with each having a prime minister, any community feeling marginalized will be silenced by my military. I'm sorry we cannot be split into 400 tribes, if u are not happy with 3 regions, i will have to imprison you. I will pull out of OPEC, and increase the price of each barrel of Oil, fortunately Nigeria has the best Oil in the world, the US will still buy it. I will make the oil companies develop all the roads in Nigeria, else they get the f**k out of the country. And those rioters in the delta will all be in jail. I will fire all the NEPA managers, and contract out the managing of Nigerias engergy sector to SIEMENS (a german energy company), i dont care about Nationalism here, Nigerians couldn't manage it in the past 40yrs, let Germany try. Well i have a 100 other things i plan to do, but i am not interested yet. After 30 years, if the next generation is not as crooked as this generation, i may reconsider. Nobody can save that country except a benevolent dictator. There are only a few of them left in this world, and i happen to be one.