Officialgarri:
They can board the next flight and go back to their country.

We are in 2021 and will not tolerate Neo-colonialism especially under the governance of a man who has balls.
Don't come and dictate to us how to run our country. We do not need your help except when it comes to bilateral relations.

China isn't using google, WhatsApp, facebook, twitter in their country, yet there's no fuss about it. Nobody is accusing them of freedom of expression or whatever
Even Russia won't allow you use VPN to access all the banned sites, yet they are still existing and getting stronger.

But these westerners see us as a little child and wants to flex their power on us, yet some efulefus and flat headed idiots are being used to sustain their agenda.

They should worry less, we will treat them in the language they understand

A borrower is servant to the lender oga. Calm down and listen to those who have a country 100 years before ours started . Our human rights can’t be subjugated .

Teejay13:
It actually calls for cancellation as a sign of respect to the late officers who die in active duty.

Once again may their soul RIP!

They don’t have to cancel a monumental national military event because of the sudden demise of COAS and aides. They ought to use the event to honour them. That’s how to do things gloriously .

seunmsg:
Like I have said severally, LCC is also a victim in all of these. They were doing their business until the Endsars protesters forcefully hijacked their premises for the purpose of the protest.

Despite the fact that LCC committed no crime, their business premises were burnt down by the protesters. LCC also deserve justice.

Oga LCC turned off the lights. LCC was an accomplice to the murdernid Nigerian youths on the 20th Oct, 2020. I was at the scene the following morning. Cleaning company was already there, cleaning the whole place . They swept and washed off the evidences as far as I am concern. Do not be an LCC apologist here please.

SilverNorGold:
Lol... Big brother... I don't take seriously people that talk too much... Let's just hope for peace... My joy is that the Fulanis are handling this issue maturely and diplomatically - they've proven to be more mature and patriotic than the other tribe, as far as this issue is concerned.. But it's gonna be fine... I trust God...

Nigeria go better.

Look Chief, Fulani take the matter maturedly or not, who cares ? That Sarkin is guilty and now he’s his seeking forgiveness from Igangan people.
Killing, maiming, raping locals by his people and they go report to him, he would push it under . His cup was full.
So nothing any Fulani body or group can do about it. He’s guilty and he knows . I only wish the law take its full course, but o well... our leaders choose to ignore.

Oozz2:
They have no choice. Seriki fulani is a Nigerian and he is free to live and do business anywhere in Nigeria.

Rather than denying that man his right, the people of Igangan should rather leave the town for him and relocate to neighbouring towns; that way, peace will reign.

Yorubas are accommodating and it won't be a problem they leaving the town for the peaceful fulani seriki

Oni Kure! Oro werey loso yen man

thebosstrevor1:
How.

He doesn't have followers among the yorubas only a part of oyo state support that pdp political thug called Sunday Igboho.

Social media can turn a cat into a tiger...

Anybody who incite violence and ethnic cleansing is an enemy of the state and need to be arrested.

After his arrest, his noises willl be gone forever

If you know Igboho you won’t call him a cat. He’s a tiger in south west. He isn’t a political thug either nor arrogant fellow. Do your research .

Kriss216:
The Yorubas should include the Fulanis in their agenda if they want the Fulanis to give them Presidential ticket come 2023.

Any move to exclude the Fulanis will be met with severe punishment.

Rubbish talk. Apparently you truly think a certain tribe own this country.

EdoDefence:


You should thank them for this, how do you feel having a Fulani village in your land?
In the next 100 yrs they will say they are indigenous to Oyo

Just like they did Kwara State.

Blossomfirst:
more... All those asking for who is bankrolling me, May you learn to save to travel..

Okay, I am bankrolling myself. Are you now satisfied

Wahala for who no learn skills and entrepreneurship

I want to bankroll you . Do you mind ? �

AsampeteNwaanyi:
yes oooo
Lagos is working
Igbos tax is working
no mans land is working

eko ni baje oooooo

I guess it’s your fore fathers that the Portuguese met in Lagos when they arrived and not the current tribe that claimed Lagos as theirs . Adeke!

Hi everyone, compliments of the season.
My friend has got an entrance test to write soon with one of Nigeria's Helicopter Services company. He is to be trained as a pilot. And being a pilot has being his dream and right here is the opportunity for him now.

He was informed their entrance exam is going to be an aptitude test. He enquired further if it was the regular aptitude test, but they wouldn't give any answer to his questions.

He is preparing hard, he doesn't want to loose out, because this is a dream come true for him. However, we would like to know if by any chance a Nairalander(s) has written any of these exams before.

Please drop your info for us. Thank you in advance.

Once again, Senator Yerima is in the news, claiming Islam as the basis for his argument that a girl automatically transforms into an adult of ‘full age’ once she is married, with the attendant responsibilities that relate to the renunciation of citizenship, irrespective of her age or mental capacity. Because the Senator from Zamfara State has gone public with his personal comprehension of the Shari’a, it has become necessary to respond publicly to his utterances.

It should be pointed out, however, that several media reports on the constitutional review debate at the Senate give the impression that underage marriage has been endorsed by the Senate Chambers. Facts are that S.29 of the 1979 Constitution permits a Nigerian citizen of ‘full age’ to renounce his or her citizenship by declaration in a prescribed manner, for which purpose ‘full age’ was stated to be 18 years and above. The subsection also provides that, ‘any woman who is married shall be deemed to be of full age’. In its current efforts to review the Constitution, the Senate Committee had determined that the particular subsection should be deleted, basically because citizenship has no bearing on gender, as for example, voting, the right to drive a car, possess a weapon or such similar social interactions that are evolving or are germane to a democratic Nation. Senator Yerima, however, vehemently argued (and lobbied) against the removal of the clause, on the grounds that deleting that clause was against (his understanding of) Islam. In his understanding, a girl, once married, automatically assumes the full mental capacity and responsibility to consciously make the prescribed declaration of renouncing her citizenship.

This position needs to scrutinized carefully, against the backdrop of similar positions that obtain under the Shari’a and in our context, as a Nation. Does it then follow that the married girl who is below 18, at election time, would be permitted to vote, or is her not being issued a voters card un-Islamic? Is the Senate now going to make an exception to that law, permitting her to vote, or even drive, in accordance with (Senator Yerima’s understanding of) Islam?

Contrary to the position conveyed by the Senator from Zamfara, there is certainly no unanimity of positions on such contemporary matters of social interaction, within Islamic jurists or the various Schools of Thought. Surely where there is ‘silence in thetexts’ (i.e primary sources) or lack of unanimity as regards a particular practice, that opening allows for a society to determine for itself what is in its best interest (maslaha), in its own context. What about married Muslim girls who inherit property? Is it not the position that in some cases, where not considered sufficiently mature (‘sufaha’, based on Qur’an 4:6), such property remains in the custody of her guardian, until she grows to be intellectually mature? This would, of course, depend on her age, mental capacity and the size and nature of the property. Why does such property not devolve upon her automatically upon marriage, to deal with it as she wishes,irrespective of her mental capacity? There definitely appears to be no basis, under the Shari’a, that would compel a girl to deal with matters of such gravity as therenunciation of citizenship, merely because she is married. Islam is certainly not so presumptuous or harsh as to burden her with what she is mentally and physically incapable of bearing. Her guardian is permitted to determine the age or stage at which such a child can be entrusted with such grave responsibilities, the assessment of her mental capacity being the main determinant.

As a Muslim woman (without pretensions of scholarship) forever striving for knowledge, research into these matters has revealed that in matters of social interaction (mu’amalat), there is a lot of latitude in what is permitted, unless it is expressly prohibited by a clear text. The rules are certainly not so definitive. What is also evident is that the ‘best interests of the child’ is a paramount consideration within Islam, along with the principle of public good (maslaha or istislah). The operational rules are not defined (probably deliberately, in my humble view) and the determination of such issues is best left to the experience, custom and context of the particular society. The Qur’an provides that the predominant consideration in matters relating to children would depend on the point at which they can be said to not be ‘sufaha’ (mentally immature) anymore, in the context of that particular community.

It is interesting that Senator Yerima would rather link the weighty and dispassionate subject of citizenship with his understanding of gender vis a vis his perception of the age of marriage, rather than with other matters of social interaction, such as those relating to inheritance rights, driving or even voting. Indeed, citizenship is a contemporary phenomenon within the Sharia, as in the early days the concept of citizenship had not been defined and people traveled across boundaries, without restriction. In a Muslim community, when matters evolve, it is for scholars or experts in Islamic legal philosophy-‘Usul-al-Fiqh’- and juristic reasoning (and not even those solely learned in the Qur’an-‘Mussafirun’, the Fiqh-‘Fuqaha’ or the Hadith-‘Muhaddithun’), to analyze the issues with a view to arriving at an appropriate position for the context of that relevant community. In this particular instance, it is certainly perplexing for the Senator to insist so categorically that even a married ‘intellectually immature’ girl must be permitted to renounce her citizenship, irrespective of her mental capacity. The foundation for such a general and sweeping statement within the Shari’a is difficult to locate.

The public good remains the overriding consideration in the process of analytical reasoning by those qualified for the purpose, so long as the deductions are not in direct conflict with the primary sources of the Shari’a. Therefore, in following arguments repeatedly canvassed by the Senator, it may be necessary to examine the context in which we live, to determine what is good, for the purpose of encouragement and support, and what remains harmful to our society, to be confronted, discouraged or prohibited by Muslim jurists.

Today the North of Nigeria continues to throw up Nigeria’s poorest indices on matters relating to healthcare, nutrition, education, empowerment and productivity. Consequently, unemployment, insecurity, violence and poverty remain rife in that region. Statistics have it that 2/3 of the 102 million poor people in Nigeria live in the North. Extreme poverty in the North translates into extreme vulnerability to the effects of climate change, food security and so much more. Incidentally, over half of the women in the North are married off by the age of 16 and commence childbirth within the first year of marriage. Also, of the 16 million births by girls below the age of 18, 9 out of 10 of them are married.

Facts are that nearly half of all the children under 5 years of age are malnourished in the North East zone, with women and children in the nutrition ‘high-burden’ States of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Yobe andZamfara suffering the most from malnutrition, wasting and stunting. This singular factor remains the underlying cause for 53% of under-5 deaths. If the child is stunted in its first 1000 days, that condition is irreversible, so the future of these children, and the larger population, is permanently shortchanged. The health and nutritional needs of mothers, new-borns and children are closely linked, with young mothers accounting for a majority of severely malnourished children.

Multiple health risks arising from child marriage include the sexual exploitation (including forced sexual relations) that she is subjected to, as well as limited access to reproductive health services, despite the real and present danger of contracting diseases such as HIV/AIDS, STIs (sexually transmitted diseases) and the debilitating ailment of VVF/RVF (VVF-a tear in the flesh between the vagina and the urinary passage, usually due to prolonged labour, resulting in uncontrolled urine or feces in the case of recto-vaginal fistulae-RVF), including the abandonment that comes with such ailments. Nigeria, with 2% of the world’s population, has 10% of VVF patients. Three-quarters of those with VVF/RVF are young girls who are not yet physically mature but have suffered trauma in their first pregnancy.

Statistics show that stillbirths and deaths are 50% more likely in babies born to mothers younger than 18, as against babies born to mothers above that age. Each day, 144 women die in childbirth in Nigeria, with the North East alone having 5 times the global rate of maternal mortality. The lack of information and access to support ultimately results in psycho-social and emotional consequences, domestic violence, abandoned (street) children, with the attendant deprivations of their rights and freedoms, whose wellbeing is severely compromised. The prevalence of the abuse of the right to the exercise of divorce by Muslim men has only compounded the situation, leading to so many negative social deviations such as substance abuse (that has become so rampant), commercial sex work and the complete loss of values in the entire family set up.

Many of these adolescents are married off to men much older than they, and because of the associated power differentials, this singular factor impedes communication between them, with the girl having no negotiation skills in crucial decision-making that may affect her life. Having lost out on these critical life opportunities, these married adolescents can never aspire to living as meaningful and productive members of society. Not being able to participate actively in the community translates to their losing out completely on benefitting from economic activity and earning a decentincome. Many of these girls remain excluded from community life, having been separated from peers and family members by marriage. Depression sets in. A life of diminished opportunities. The community loses out completely; the economy cannot improve where half its population is stuck in this rut.

Child marriage, from available statistics, ultimately hampers the efforts of these young adolescents from acquiring an education, as sooner than later, they find it difficult to combine the onerous responsibilities of being a wife and mother, with schooling. They drop out, if they have not been removed for the purpose of marriage, in the first place. Consequently, 70.8% of young women aged 20-29 in the North West zone are unable to read or write. Due to the fact that these girls are deprived so early of an education (including the access to information and knowledge) they remain bereft of the purchasing power necessary for an adequate diet, healthcare,skills, or even recourse to support in emergencies, all of which would enable them rise above the circumstances of abject poverty. It is paradoxical that Muslims like Senator Yerima would rather their wives and daughters be treated by female medical personnel if they fall ill, and yet they are, by continuously advocating for child marriage, deliberately closing the avenues for girls to aspire to such professions.

Deprivations of formal and non-formal education translate, at such an early age, into restrictions on mobility, domestic burdens, the denial of sundry freedoms in respect of survival, development and participation, as well as the loss of adolescent years. Indeed, children of young, uneducated mothers are also less likely to attain high levels of education, perpetuating cycles of low literacy and limited livelihood opportunities. Child marriage, therefore, ultimately deprives societies of the intellectual and financial/livelihood contributions of girls, and of their offspring. It is no wonder then that the North continues to portray such poor ratings in almost all aspects of human endeavour.

As a consequence, MDGs 1 (relating to eradicating extreme poverty and hunger), 2 (on education), 4 (on reducing child mortality), 5 (on maternal health), 6 (on combating diseases) remain unattainable goals (at least in Northern Nigeria), if we cannot confront the consequences and implications of child marriage. Evidently, the geography of poverty requires a coherent and urgent Northern strategy and a solution to the instability that has bedeviled the region in recent years. Against this background of grim data, we can ill afford to play politics with the obvious deficiencies in our human capital. The North, as an intrinsic part of Nigeria needs to improve on all fronts, to impact positively on Nigeria’s progress and support its growth. Since child marriage has all these devastating and diminishing implications, surely checking the increase in the practice can only trigger and catalyze positive growth, in so many dimensions.

It is certainly not mandatory in Islam that girls must be married off as minors, so to keep insisting that this practice must remain sacrosanct, given the background of needs in Northern Nigeria, is incongruous, even under the Shari’a. Where a practice is determined to be merely permissible and not mandatory, it is considered practicable and entirely feasible within Islamic jurisprudence, to discourage or prohibit it, where it is found to be so harmful to individuals and to the community. Countries such as Yemen, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Somalia and Bangladesh, with majority or high Muslim populations have set a minimum age for marriage as 18, in the acknowledgment that there are serious social, physical and mental health risks associated with child marriages. This progressive step became necessary, in that these indisputable facts placed a heavy burden on the accountable and God-fearing leadership in majority Muslim countries, to protect the vulnerable in their midst.

It is, therefore, not unreasonable to expect that educated elite and public figures such as Senator Yerima, being conscious of their grave responsibilities to prohibit harm and to enjoin good in our own context, should actually discourage this devaluing and belittling practice of early marriage, in the public good, for the protection of the vulnerable and the realization of social benefits. To enable our girls attain their fullest possible potential is definitely a target that Senator Yerima should also be working passionately towards, along with the rest of Nigerians who yearn for a better future.

Indeed, the overriding objectives of the Sharia include the promotion of human dignity, justice, compassion, the removal of hardship, the prevention of harm, the realization of the lawful benefits of the people, and the education of the individual by inculcating in him a sense of self discipline and restraint, which aims are by no means exclusive. All else may be adapted to achieve these ends, which measures may encompass matters of concern not only to law but also to economic development, administration and politics. For those that reflect, the hardship that these little girls experience, where married off and divorced soon after, so wantonly, is certainly unacceptable within the faith.

Although the fundamentals of faith and the practical pillars on which they stand remain immutable in principle, they may be interpreted and justified at the level of implementation in the exercise of public good. This process must of need be carried out solely by persons learned and eminently qualified to speak on the subject matter in question. We must always bear in mind that the ‘appropriation’ of divine authority in religious interpretation is best left to Scholars learned in Islamic legal philosophy and analytical reasoning. Having acquired the requisite knowledge and expertise (including the capacity to weigh the various views in the particular sphere of learning in the context of our times), these Jurists would also need to have imbibed, at the barest minimum, the attributes of humility, compassion, reflection, wisdom, self-restraint, diligence, objectivity, along with piety. Our learned Scholars must stand up and be heard, rather than remain silent on matters that so adversely affect us as individuals, as a region, a Nation and as members of a global community, which challenges paradoxically controvert the deeper meaning and purpose of the Shari’a.

Back to the issue in contention, it is important to commend the thinking behind the decision to delete the constitutional clause that seeks to lumber even an ‘intellectually immature’ girl, where married, with the grave responsibility of the power to renounce her citizenship, thereby elevating the subject of citizenship to the level whereby both men and women have similar responsibilities, without discrimination. It is hoped that ultimately, members of the Senate would reflect deeply on the implications of their recent action and revisit their decision to retain the contentious clause, if only to ensure that every Nigerian citizen of full age, without distinction, is subjected to similar standards and responsibilities under the provisions of our Constitution.

Maryam Uwais MFR
Chairperson, Isa Wali Empowerment Initiative, Kano
20th July 2013

Rover has found an unambiguous message from God written on tablets in a Martian cave.
According to an official press release two giant stone slabs the size of small elephants were located deep inside a cavern abutting Aeolis Mons, a large mountain.
Upon one tablet is a copy of the Ten Commandments and the text of John 3:16 written in 12 languages - including English, Spanish, Chinese, Basque and Hebrew. On the other tablet is a simple message in English reading "I am real."
According to top scientists who have studied the discovery extensively, these findings may have definitively established Christianity as the one true religion.
"This is amazing," says Syms Covington, an Australian researcher working for NASA's Mars Exploration Program. "We went into the cave looking for water, and we found proof of God's existence instead.
"I mean how else did those tablets get there? I can tell you one thing: there's not a single atheist inside NASA's control room now. What we saw was jaw-dropping."
Genesis 1:1
NASA's Curiosity rover arrived on Mars in August of last year with a mission to explore the Martian climate and geology for signs for habitability.
Thus far the mission has been a success, with the discovery of an ancient seabed and chemicals needed for life suggesting that Mars was once suitable for life.
However the tablets, both of which are signed "Peace and Love - Yahweh," represent the rover's most significant find to date, and is perhaps the most important scientific event in history.
"When people find out about this, they will demand change in our society," explains a political scientist at Georgetown University. "Democracy will have to give way to theocracy. We're gonna have to build more churches and reintroduce prayer into schools. Abortion is defiantly going to be illegal within a few months."
Despite its potential significance, Covington fears that the Earth-shattering discovery may not make the impact it should.
Unfortunately, the mainstream media is so anti-Christian, they might not even pick up this story," he explains. "But God is real. We have proof. And everyone deserves to hear the truth."

Source: http://dailycurrant.com/2013/07/01/nasa-finds-message-from-god-on-mars/

obowunmi: Now idiots like omojuwa can let us hear word.

I don't think its right for you to insult Omojuwa. His stuff was stolen on Arik Air plane. Does he not have the right to ask them? Balderdash!

Sexkillz pls push this to the front, because i totally disagree with Durex on this, let people voice their opinion on this research finding about Nigeira. There Research company didnt do a good job perhaps.

According to the survey, Thailand men are the most unfaithful in the world, with 54 percent of them admitting to cheating on their spouses. South Korea came in second with 34 percent, while Malaysia ranked number three with 33 percent.

The survey revealed that the top two countries with cheating women are Nigeria, with 62 percent, and Thailand, 59 percent.

39 percent of Malaysian women also confessed to having betrayed their partners. Russian women came fourth at 33 percent while Singaporeans are fifth at 19 percent.

An independent survey also conducted in Africa by AE affirms the fact that Nigeria with a polulation of over 160 million tops the chart for cheating women. Corruption and a general distrust amognst citizens is largely responsible for this.

Culled : http://www.channelstv.com/home/2012/07/16/nigerian-women-are-most-unfaithful-in-the-world-durex/
[/b][b][i][/i]

Delafruita:
mumu.do you know how many buddhist monks have been killed?besides there is absolutely no evidence that these disciples ever existed.its all a story you read in a book compiled by romans.its similar to peter pan,sleeping beauty,hanzel and gretel.
you say crucifixion is the most painful experience,werent 2 other people crucified along with yeshwa?

It is well with your troubled self.I presumed you are a moslem... Why don't you hold your peace and not manifest your real self on this thread.You are not representing Islam well by insulting that dude huh...? You will get the virgins as the Holy Quran preached and has Prophet Mohammed S.A.W advocated. You shall also get some drinks from the stream of wine too lest i forget and other freebies. So pls be calm and pray for the peace of Nigeria. Asalam

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Colossians 2:8

tintingz: is like the hundred virgin Jesus promise you is disturbin you

Oda ! Jesus didnt promise virgins. It's your mohammed that told y'all he doesn't even known where is going that promised virgins for y'all followers and streams of wine. All Jesus taught was live and lead a pure and decent life and He was always emphatic to say that is all God wants. But some other religion na force to believe in them, if not they cut off one's head.

fellis:
So you that came here to tell lies against Muslims are you practising what your Christianity preaches?

I will stop writing here because this statement proves that you are too mentally reta[i]r[/i]ded to understand any type of profound elucidation.

Guy! You are pretty annoying. I stayed in Jigawa state for a while, i know this religion called Islam. I can confidently say the 'Holy Quran' has antagonistic texts or verses about the jews and christians and those it called pagans, And here you are wanting to justify balderdash. Even if you don't read your Quran you would have heard it. So that you aren't elucidating your points only tells me you dont want to manifest your mega retardation. Oda!

bayooooooo: We should stop blaming colonialists as if it was only Nigeria that was colonized.
US was colonized too. India was too.

Is Britain stopping Nigeria from convening a conference to address all the ills and malaise affecting our society?
Is Britain responsible for the unitary system being practiced and fraudulently called federalism?
Is Britain responsible for rigged elections, falsified population figures and corruption in Nigeria?

Who wrote the dubious 1999 constitution? Britain or some opportunistic selfish Nigerians?

Let us continue to be deceiving ourselves.

I tire o. Only irresponsible people makes excuses for their failure. But the thoughts here is based on what history says about the Northern and southern people who never really wanted a country by merger. The foundation is a faulty one, and all hands must sincerely be on deck, if Nigeria is going to be "refixed".

Often, in a moment of despair, I would like to forget some salient factors in the history of Nigeria. Many times, the situation of the `Nigeria Question` would be so overwhelming in my mind that I would forget that I am a Nigerian and would want to leave the country for a while.

A times, I would not want to be reminded of what would happen in 2015 as prophesied by some political pundits in the USA or their oracle consultants in Nigeria. It is all well that the defeated presidential candidate in the last election, General Mohammadu Buhari has warned the country of the possibility of a political revolution if things remain (electoral processes) unchanged. The fervent hope is for the rain of a social revolution to fall and not the torrents of a bloody revolution.

As it is often remarked, Nigeria is a very lucky country among those politically contrived nations of the world in the 20th century, and perhaps, would still remain politically stable and economically prosperous during the celebration of one hundred years of the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Provinces.

In 1914, the British imperialist, Lord Lugard effected the union of both the Northern and the Southern parts of the country under the name of Nigeria, presumably coined by his fiancée.

Before the amalgamation, British troops had conquered in 1902, the Sokoto Caliphate founded by a religious Jihadist, Shehu Usman Dan Fodio (1754 – 1814) and had between 1902 and 1906 brought Oyo and Ijebu territories under British Sovereignty.

It is assumed by progressive historians that the amalgamation was to provide good administration and encourage internal trade throughout the country of diverse nations and a large market. The post amalgamation period witnessed movements of people throughout the country with heavier traffic towards the North. There was also expanded trade culminating in the movement of goods from south to north and north to south.

Politically and economically, things appeared normal until the introduction of the Legislative Council which brought together representatives from the north and the southern parts of the country. Except for Lagos and Calabar which had elected representatives, selection by British officials was the vogue in other areas.

It is a pity that it was in Northern Nigeria that the question of the amalgamation of the 1914 was raised in the 1950s. The late Prime Minister of Nigeria, Sir Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was reported in 1952 in a speech in the Northern House of Assembly, Kaduna, that `the Southern people who are swarming into this region daily in large numbers are really intruders.

We don`t want them and they are not welcome here in the North. Since the amalgamation in 1914, the British Government has been trying to make Nigeria into one country, but the Nigerian people are different in every way including religion, custom, language and aspiration. The fact that we`re all Africans might have misguided the British Government. We here in the North, take it that `Nigerian unity` is not for us`.

The McPherson Constitution which brought the different parts of Nigeria into political discourse also portrayed the fragile nature of the political entity of the country. After the alleged maltreatments of Northern legislators in 1953 on Independence motion by the late Chief Anthony Enahoro of the West, the Sardauna of Sokoto and the leader of the Northern People`s Congress (NPC) was quoted as saying, `the mistake of 1914 has come to light`.

He elaborated further that, `Lord Lugard and the amalgamation were far from popular among us at that time. There were agitations in favour of seccessions; we should set up on our own. We should cease to have any more to do with the Southern people. We should take our own way`. Many analysts believe, and justifiably too, that the seed of political instability was planted out of the mindset of the two most important political leaders of the North at that time.

It should be realized that since the 1950s and even after Independence in 1960, the North (taken as one entity) had benefitted immensely from the Amalgamation of 1914 in terms of political power and the share of the national cake. According to a British writer John Pender in his book, `AHMADU BELLO – Sadauna of Sokoto, `the problems facing the NPC government of Tafawa Balewa were many.

In 1961, only 400 out of the 41,000 Federal Civil servants were Northerners (with about 30 in senior posts); only two of the Northerners were in the Department of Customs and Excise; in the Army, there was a large number in the lower ranks but about ten (10) were commissioned officers”.

However, through political sagacity and administrative efficiency, the face of the North is more than visible in every facet of the Nigerian national life today.

From those halcyon days of British political ingenuity of 1914 to the present turbulent period of Boko Haram insurgency in the North, kidnapping and armed robberies in the South and deepening poverty all over the country, events have changed dramatically leaving vestiges of political bitterness, ethnic terrorism and religious intolerance.

It is amazing how the incompetence of the present leaders could be blamed on events which happened about one hundred years ago. It is to the present political leadership of the country (under the age of sixty years) to show more interest in the history of economic and political development of the country in order to understand the present predicament of the nation.

In sympathy with those patriotic Nigerians who are clamoring for a change from the present position for a more radical stance, it is necessary to present an over view or a panoramatic scenery of today`s Nigeria.

It is a country of a population of about 160 million people with about 70% of the populace living on less than 1US$ i.e. (N250) per day; it is one of the 20 poorest countries of the world with large scale unemployment and the rate of poverty generally spread throughout the country but highly marked in the North.

Compared with other developing countries, its rate of inflation is over ten percent and its bank lending rate is over twenty percent to the real economy. Also, it is a country with political instability and economic uncertainty, but with potentials of a great country based on abundant natural and human resources.

Of all premonitions and dark clouds in 2015, I found General T. Y. Danjuma`s warning of `Somalisation` of Nigeria as the most serious. Somalia operated a unitary government under a military dictatorship. When the leader was overthrown (Siad Barre), the country descended into anarchy and has never recovered till today.

Could Nigeria avoid similar experience by evolving a sensible politics and common sense economics? Why not negotiate for a genuinely National Government to bring out the most capable Nigerians of all political shades and ideas?

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/05/amalgamation-of-1914-was-it-a-mistake/

lacasa: Pastor Noisemaker!!

i dnt support any act of violence from any stupid group but,

Wen MEND were crippling d nigerian economy & kidnapping foreiggn Nationals, Ɣ Oritsejafor no come dey shout 4 congress say na terrorists dem be

Make this bling bling pastor go preach peace jare instead of seeking attention all over the place

PASTOR AYO HAS DONE A GREAT JOB CONFRONTING THE U.S CONGRESS WITH SUCH BOLDNESS. AND FOR THE MUMUS THAT SAID MEND CRIPPLED NIGERIA'S ECONOMY, GO AND DO YOUR RESEARCH WELL. THEY DIDN'T GO AROUND BOMBING PLACES THOUGH THEY BOMBED THEIR DELTA AND THEY DIDN'T GO MAIM AND KILL NIGERIANS.AND MIND YOU, YOU CANT BUMP INTO THE CONGRESS, HE WAS INVITED!

abbey621:

Shut your mouth! Poverty, bad governance and high level of illiteracy are the main cause of Boko Haram, if your government was half as strong as the American government, Boko Haram would have been wiped out long ago, instead of hoping for foreigners to save us, let's focus on our government and why they refuse to act?

Mr Carson isn't anyway wrong. And Nigeria is even careful to request for help from the U.S govt that has predicted the disintegration of Nigeria in 2015. Perhaps, the U.S wants their prediction for the most populous black nation to come true and that's why they ddnt proffer any possible solution.

Eltonluigi: When are they goin' to stop makin' this country look like an Attention Seeking LovePeddler to the whole world??

You should ask what you don't know. He was invited, haha, nawa !

Godkan: pastor oritsejafor, i don't even know how to describe u. So after all the noise about u and ur fellow deluded christains worshiping a powerful god. How come u now run to mortal men in the usa to help protect u from the onslaught of ur rivals. Has ur powerful god and his son jesus gone to sleep?

Ode ni e! You smoked igbo before logging on here. So God will come down and fight for you, ryt? And haven't the Christians up north been patient in enough? You only perpetuate your level of foolishness and how violent your religion is fool!