It is sad to know that his mother is still alive to witness the death of yet another son. What a burden.

Farewell Mr. President. Don't forget to torment those who turned you into a freak show.

swezenberg:

Why would someone join a forum and all he attracts to himself everyday is curses upon curses. Mekussx. You may think you can hide behind one system but I tell you. All these curses reigning on you from one forum to another might affect you in real life oh. You need to change and have a re-think because when you start feeling the heat no one will be able to help you. There is power in some curses. Be warned. Contribute meaningfully and stop heaping fire on your head. Save yourself the ache

Funny!

Onlytruth:

I think the part of him that died was his belief in Nigerian citizens of other tribes' ability to pursue integrity and honor (especially Yoruba and Hausa). It takes honor and courage to stand with the truth even when others conspire and manipulate the truth to gain the upper hand.
Otherwise, he is still the same lion heart and a man of great wisdom.

I guess it was not honor and integrity for those Yoruba soldiers who chose to fight on the side of Biafra or Col. Adekunle Fajuyi who had  chosen to lay down his own life for his friend and Commander in Chief, who was an Igbo. No amount of revisionism will change the fact that some Yoruba have defended the Igbo with their own blood.

Onlytruth:

As I was saying. IBB will win if he is really interested. I don't know any other Nigerian with his type of power and influence in Nigeria. The man is simply too powerful. So he will "win".
If Ojukwu can extract some concessions from him, so be it. Ndigbo are NOT interested in VP or even presidency. We need things which actually impact our lives, example, state police (for security), removing quota system, federal roads in the east need fixing, and many such real things.

If we can get those, it is enough for us.

This is a defeatist attitude at it's worst. Thank God many Nigerians does not see IBB other than what he truly is, a cunning old weasel.

Babangida is running to save Babangida, not Igbo, Hausa or anyone else. A leopard does not change it's spots.

EzeUche:


^^^^^
Sharrap

Simply stating that it could be beneficial for my people. It is of no concern for you what the Igbo do so hush your filthy stinking mouth.

Your parents must have wasted their money educating a dim wit like you. You need to grow up, and fast.

EzeUche:

Just because the Yoruba hate IBB so much, maybe I will vote for IBB. Now I would only do that just to spite those untrustworthy Yoruba.

My Igbo brothers and sisters, as I said before, this can be a blessing in disguise. Let the money flow into the East for a change. Who care who we are partners with, just put these Yoruba back in their place.

What exactly is your problem? I find your infantile rantings quite annoying. If you really want a fight with a Yoruba to prove your bravery I doubt if the internet is the right place to do so.

The subjects being discussed here are things that  affects you whether you are Yoruba or Igbo or whatever.
All you seem to do is rant on and on about Yoruba. I hope you know what they say about empty barrels.

Onlytruth:

So, IBB may be the boogieman to the Yoruba, but he may be the savior to the Igbo. I don't expect pedestrians to understand.

I am a pedestrian and I don't understand how something bad for the Yoruba can be good for the Igbo or vice versa. Can you please enlighten me?

IBB should be rooting for an Igbo man to become the next president, not asking their support to realise his self serving and greedy ambition.

A vote for IBB is a vote for ignorance, the rest of the world will ask if we are really dumb!

His candidacy is already dividing Nigerians and this boffoon was trying to lecture us on unity.

The professor and those who left in anger should be praised for their uprightness. it gives you hope that unlike Mr. chameleon Oshiolmole, there are still few Nigerians that are steadfast and consistent in their conviction.

Some say prof. Soyinka should have stayed and confront IBB, what exactly was Soyinka invited for? A shouting match with IBB?

If you were invited to a church prayer meeting and shortly before the event, you found out it was actually some voodoo event, would you stay and confront them because you disagree with their practise.

The point is, Oshiomole decieved Soyinka and other invitees by not telling them who were on the guests list. IBB is not some obscure Nigerian, we all know his antics.

The whole thing smells of 419 and confirms my believe that Oshiomole is just an omo-ole like his master, IBB.

OAM4J:

1st virtually everyone knows that what our dishonourable Senator did is shameful to say the least.

But many of you guys are not addressing the issues/questions ayettymama is raising. She clearly stated she is not in support of Yerima act.

Her questions are: has Yerima broken any law marrying the girl? NO

Is this the first time this is happening? NO

Why the noise now especially when there are more important issues to address?


@Ayettymama

Many of us know that our law book is porous to say the least, and even if it is not, Nigeria as it stands today will find it difficult getting conviction for the likes of 'above the law' as Yerima.

We are also aware that these have been going on for years unchecked, though unchecked/unchallenged does not make it right or acceptable. also I know there are more serious issues needing attention now.

But the only way the likes of Yerima can be stopped or prosecuted is thorough public outcry and shame.

Also if someone like Yerima, supposedly a leader in Nigeria, an ex Governor and a senator is allowed to do this unchallenged, it will amount to public acceptance of the act and encourages others in the future to follows suit.

With this public outcry, the senate is now being forced to look at the issue and our law books concerning the matter

and am sure others who are thinking of doing same will think twice b4 doing so, especially those who are our leaders, who are suppose to be examples.

You cannot say because these things happen, then let's move on and forget about it. The whole point of speaking out against this is to put a stop to it, since most of us agree it is bad.

Even if our laws are not enforced, the true test of character is doing the right thing even when no one is looking. Something a senator should understand.

Ayettymama

It appears to me you are trying to rationalize this sick marriage between a 13 year old and 49 year old man. No matter how you look at it, there is something quite disturbing about these type of relationships, apart from the obvious medical risks to this child.

Your comments, coming from a woman left me speechless.  The question I would like to ask this pedo is, how young is too young 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7. How low is he willing to go.

He is a truly sick man.

If he actually married a 13 year old, I think his koko should be cut off. That will make him a sick pervert and a pedo**phile.

A Nigerian senator for that matter!

platinumnk:

WE ALL KNOW THAT NIGERIAN HOSPITALS ARE DRIVE THROUGH MORGUES


There.

Drive through morgues

Why do we need hospitals if you only go there to die!

tayo_ast:

there's no need blaming d system for DaGrin's death(even though its hard 2 take).
When it comes 2 death, NOTHING can change it.
Stella Obasanjo died how/where?

Is it not the system that made it possible for people to park their trucks indiscriminately on poorly lit roads, not minding the hazard they pose to other road users?

I don't know if the guy was drunk or not, but you don't have to be drunk to run into a trailer parked on a single lane road in the middle of the night!

As usual nothing will done about this until it happens to a governor or some other high ranking politician!

TewMuch:

I dont know whether to believe this story, because a planes tires are not that big. Also, the watch tower and the ground controllers will have seen something was wrong. Also, the planes tires retreat into a compartment in the plane after takeoff and i dont know if that is big enough to fit a human being. This story seems fabricated to me. . It just doesnt seem possible. imo

Of course they are not big, if you are looking at it up in the sky!

The moment he entered the tyre compartment of that aircraft, he was as good as dead. To all would be stowaways, let this be a reminder!! You can never make it out of Nigeria, not to mention the USA. Pls Don't do it.

IBB is a relic of Nigeria's sordid past, he left Nigeria with a legacy of 419 and deception. He like his fellow thieves are better forgotten.

To think that these guys ochestrated the infamous 70s Bar beach shows where armed robbers were executed, is unsettling.
These "gentlemen" are some of the biggest bandits in the history of Africa.

paddy_lo:

32 out of a list of 227 countries is lagging behind?

are u kidding me or do u know what u are saying?. . .

check the link and see the countries ahead of us, they are 31 in number. . .
u will find that we only de-regulated our economy in 2001 whereas these countries have deregulated theirs mostly from the 1980s to 1990s. . .

I absolutely know what I'm saying, Nigerians did not take control of Nigeria in 2001. Something went seriously wrong and my fear is, nothing is being addressed. We just trudge along and hope things will get better while less endowed nations are using Nigeria as a dumping ground for their products.

I don't need to tell you that most of the countries on that first 30 list cannot compare with Nigeria in terms of resources, both human and natural.

It's not pessimism, it's called realism. Countries do not develop by hope alone. You need concrete planning and action and I'm sorry, I'm not seeing much of that still.

paddy_lo:

Nigeria right now is about the 33 largest economy in the world. . . .
so even u are suffering from an unnecessarilly negative bias. . .
pls see link. . .

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2001rank.html

I am not suffering from any bias, Knowing what I know about at least the 20 leading economies in the world, I still can't understand why Nigeria is lagging so far behind.
I find no comfort in comparing Nigeria with some sick countries like Somalia as some wont to do.

"Nigeria can learn from it how to handle our economy once our oil starts to dwindle"


I hope our leaders are as enthusiastic about Nigeria as you are. I once read a book written shortly after Nigeria's independence. The author cited various studies that suggests Nigeria will become one of ten largest economies in the world within thirty years.
It's 50 years on, Nigeria in not on the list of first 50 and nobody seems to care except say we are at least better than Ghana and stuff like that.

@Paddy_lo


You said what we should be discussing is how to make Nigerians pay more taxes, really? In a country with so many people out of work and without any safety net?

First, let me remind you that people paid their taxes in the old western region, when people could clearly see what the government was doing with their money. Most people paid willingly, though some had to be forced.

The point I'm trying to make is, in those days the goverment invested heavily in agriculture, being the main source of revenue and employment, they provided better seedlings, pesticides and so on. The roads were regularly maintained, there was free education, basic health care delivery. The government was doing it's part and the people responded by paying their taxes because they could actually afford to pay.

Now let's fast forward to 2010, agriculture is comatose, the goverment is unable or unwilling to do much. Manufacturing sector is practically dead beacuse those responsible could not figure it out all these years that constant power and energy is crucial to any dream of developing Nigeria.

Transportation is also neglected, the only reason we need a government is because we them to do for us what we cannot do ourselves. A situation where you have so set up your own little power plant before you can manufacture anything is ridiculous.
The only thing Nigerians have done wrong is not dragging out corrupt politicians and beating them to death.
How many power plants can you build with 4 billion dollars? that is how much Abacha stole all by himself and there are probably 100 more " Abachas" parading themselves as eminent people in Nigeria today.

Annulling a free and fair election is not in my opinion a good way preserving Nigerian unity. Not all Nigerians are intermarried by the way and Intermarriage did not stop the collapse of the Soviet union or Yugoslavia, did it?  

As far as I'm concerned, Babangida lacks any credibility in lecturing even primary school kid on Unity.

I aslo heard he wants to campaign on true federalism ( A con man to the core )  It makes you wonder what he was thinking for the nine years he was "president"

Babangida should please spare Nigerians futher agony by trying to thrust himself upon them once again. He should just go away!

If I was lawyer, I would take up these type of cases for free. This is a Mafia style shakedown, not law enforcement at all. It has been going on for far too long in Nigeria and it is very annoying. The custom officers at MMA are not different as well.

jara:

In the first place keep the F word out of this or go back to where your type belong in the getto. In Nigeria that may be hipp anyway.

Glad to be seen as poor. The rest of you who can not see beyond your noses are pitiful. When a few of you and your relatives corner the milk and honey of a relatively poor country that should be flowing with milk and honey; selfishly seized it and bask in euphoria like your forefathers that sold slaves and gold in return for mirror on the wall so that you can see your derek brain on fire.

How much of all the money you make are spent in Nigeria?

Children who can afford to play with white dolls they claim they look like because their father can afford it. Fathers who can not work for dollars and pounds but spend it faster than the citizens that generate them. Buying the latest sports and luxury cars they can never make or produce. Master consumers and producers of nothing.

Take a good look at yourselves in the mirror and shining toys you buy and see your convoluted brain on fire. If every rogue that front for looters of the North and South can spend money of those suffering in squalor anyway they feel, while skill managers, technical genius and traders can not get a loan because your fathers stole everything and buy houses every where, how can the country progress?

A fool and his money will soon part. It will be spent on foreign suzies, foreign cars, foreign mansions and taxes and if you mess up or disobey your masters your visas will be denied. That is why your sponsors and fathers can not remember your foreign bank accounts.

When Adenuga was driving cabs in New York, ask him how he spent his money. Now he does not have to work for dollars, he get funded, make returns and bask in bloody profit. Ordinary taxes in Nigeria, he refused to pay. When challenged, he ran to Ghana. Fire Fire and blood of the suffering masses will catch up with each of you. Ailala!

Keep coming. Omo atiro to fe gboro, bea.

LAMENTATIONS!, Why begrudge Mike Adenuga, go out there and make your own fortune. There are endless opportunities in Nigeria, believe me.

I think Oga Mikee is trying to please his daughter and if he can afford it, who are we to say he shouldn't.
All the best to them, while I'm working towards my own moola.

wales:

News from BCC as it that Yar'adua was spotted at the Saudi Arabia central Mosque with other family members to give thanks to Allah.

Yeah, according to CCN, he was also spotted climbing Zuma rock.

Another urban legend! Soon Yar' Adua will be popping up everywhere except in front of a T.V camera.

Sky Blue:

Here is the thing though, you say we have practised all types of system except communism, and I disagree with you. We are yet to even practise this federal structure of democracy for a start, so what are you talking about? The question is not about what systems we have feigned "practising", but what systems we have actually implemented. The irony in your statement is that in a very twisted way and in terms of economics, Nigeria has been more communist in the past than you might want to admit. Until recently, Nigeria has had a very closed and still has a very closed market and economic system. Government owned NEPA, owned NITEL, owns NNPC, what was government's hand not in? And this is a sytem that was on paper meant to be capitalist and free market? Government was blowing money on subsidies for petroleum and is only now thinking of deregulating the sector. I don't want to write an essay on the issue, but let leave government and look at the citizenry. In a democracy the citizens also have a part to play, an idea that Nigerians always want to shy away from. Democracy starts with free and fair elections but Nigeria cannot even do that, so what do you mean by we have tried all systems if we have not even been able to implement the ones we claim to have adopted?

Why don't we start with free, open and fair elections first and see if the sky will fall?

I agree with you completey, but our problem is not wether government is involved in NEPA or NITEL, that is another topic entirely.
The problem at hand is why peaceful transition of power in Nigeria seems impossible.

Fhemmmy:

That might be what we just need . . .

O.k comrade Fhemmmy, see you in Cuba

Sky Blue:

In a country where even local government elections are rife with ethnic politics, I was trying to highlight how aspiring towards a system which sacrifices ability as a compromise to ethnocentric politiking in itself is absurd if peace is what is actually being sought. How many ethnic groups are in the south south? Do you know how many ethnic groups are in River State alone? I hope you know there are much more than just Ikwerres and Ijaws. And what about the Mid Belt, how many ethnic groups are there? You really think asking such groups to "sort themeselves out and produce a candidate" would douse the tensions in such regions? If peace is what is being sought then rotation between six geopolitcal zones is absurd and I dare say even more absurd than my proposal. However, if peace is not the issue, and what s being sought is a simple compromise that would satisfy short term greed and satisfaction, then fine, you can propose your rotation solution. But please, for crying out loud don't try and hide it under the banner of "for peace, progress and development", because it is not. What would bring genuine development and possible peace and progress along with it, is crafting a system that en,courages the best man to rise to the top (no matter where they are from). What would bring about a feeling of equity and peace in a rotational system is proper rotation and not more WAZOBIA like politics. So why go half way between those and compromise any possible good? You say my ideas are lofty, no offence but I will reply that Nigerians are lazy. No need to keep building short term foundations that would cause more problems in the future just so we can sleep well tonight.

What would bring genuine development and possible peace and progress along with it, is crafting a system that en,courages the best man to rise to the top (no matter where they are from).


Can you please elaborate on what this system might look like, because as far as I know we have practised almost every system except communism.

Sky Blue:

At the bolded part. . . . . . . . . . . . . .? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

Its either you just don't seem to be able to grasp the issues or you are just being mischevious. Your arguements are all over the place. You said you agree with rotational presidency between "six political zones". I said why six poitcal zones when there are in fact 250+ ethnic groups? How does that solve the problem of equity? In the proposed rotation among 250+ ethnic groups (which would be the proper and just way if we are to rotate properly),why would it cause a problem? Why would justice and equity make little sense to you? Why would anybody else be running for presidency in that kind of rotation when it is not their turn? Do you now see how silly the bolded part of your arguement is? Why this nervousness of rotating properly? What is the fear? You want to rotate but you don't want to rotate properly, you want to run ethnic politics but you don't want to recognise all ethnic groups, you want (I hope) a good candidate but you want him to come from 'the right place at the right time'. Is this not confusion? If rotation between 250+ ethnic groups makes little sense, then so does rotation between six geo political zones, so please enough. I keep saying, at least be courageous enough to express the arrogance of your proposition more openly, so trhat we know once and for all that in Nigeria all are not equal. Your earlier comment still comes to mind. "it would be left for each region to conduct its own internal arrangement"; what on earth does that mean? And what would such arrangements be? Ugh

My question to you is, why box yourself into a corner by having to choose between two extremes, both of which you know in your heart of hearts will never work in Nigeria, now or in the nearest future.
In one extreme, you want a system where we disregard the ethnic and regional cleavages in Nigeria and just vote for the best candidates. I must say, this is very lofty and would have been the best case for Nigeria. But the problem is, this very system led to the death of the first and second republic, leading Nigeria to a state of perpetual instability from which it is yet to recover.
On the other extreme, you want a "proper" rotation between 250 ethnic groups in Nigeria, which in my opinion is completely absurd and unworkable.
The main problem with Nigeria since independence is our inability to transfer power peacefully between one leader and the next, not because there were shortages of capable leaders.

It should also be noted that the only civilian to civilian transfer of power ever in Nigeria was made possible by the principle of rotation of power. If this system is working for Nigeria, what then is the problem. Why can't it be refined and perfected to at least wean Nigeria away from a culture of crisis and acrimony everytime there is a change of power.