True CHANGE does not start wit a multitude of crowd,it normally starts with just one(1)passionately effective & Focussed person.For Nigeria 2 ve a definate CHANGE,der is certainly gonna be a severe MELTDOWN dt would capture d lenght and breadth of d country which would ultimately force every tribes,regions or geopolitical factions 2 embrace a SOVEREIGN NATIONAL CONFERENCE dt would REDEFINE d CONCEPT called NIGERIA.Rite nw,Naija is a jungle where all kinds of Animals resides!!! Though I appreciate U guys efforts,,but guys,Nigerians ve been so badly twisted and mangled in d way dey THINK,,
"It takes only a man to make the CHANGE, and when the deed is done, they will say, WE DID IT". I wish to be part of this crusade. I am a strong believer in the fact that Nigeria must be redeemed in my time. Go to facebook & all other such avenues & make willing desciples for the change. I believe it will work
Thank you so much for your comments and suggestioin. We have created a group "New Nigerian Alliance" on face book. Please visit us and invite as many people as you can.
Please, can somebody explain to me where most of the companies in nigeria are bringing in expertrate to nigeria while we have qaulified nigerians especially aviation sector. Please, can we do something about it.
I will like to share just two out of my painful experience that I passed through before I left Nigeria just to let you know that Nigeria must borrow few Chinese policies before there can be any meaningful changes in Nigeria. Virtually everybody has been infected with the deadly virus called CORRUPTION in Nigeria, from the leaders to the academician down to the people withing the ministries. My father of blessed memory retired as a Secondary school principal in the year 1996. He never received anything like pension nor his gratuity. In 1998 or 1999, he started to receive his pension after spending a lot of money on so called processing fee, even not excluding office messanger who will bend on taking monetary reward before he will dispatch file to another office. Because of all these long suffering from travelling between Ibadan and Oshogbo affected his health seriously. I went to Oshogbo in company of my brother to appeal to the then permernent secretary Mrs Obembe. I was there in her office crying like a baby begging them to help us so that at least we can able to pay for my father`s hospital bills. Eventually, 18 000 naira was released to us from almost 200 000 naira. My dad could not recover from that sickness and finally, he gave up the ghost in the year 2001. Average Nigerian working on the street has a tendency to be selfish, greedy and wicked. I will quickly brief you about my second experience. It happened to my youngest brother. He sat for his JAMB in 2002 and was on the first ten of those who were admitted on merit to study Electrical and Electronics engineering in Federal polytechnic Ede. While the registration was still going on, we went there to do his registration only to be shocked with the news from admission officer that he thought that with his brilliant o level result and one of the highest JAMB score, he may not want to pursue technical education. He told us that department was full already only if HOD of that department will guaranttee him of a space. We were in HOD office, He was very surprised and accepted that he will allow him to attend the course. We came back to admission officer and gave him letter from HOD only to throw his HOD letter away. We finally end up in registrer office where we were begged and gave an option of Building technology instead. He relunctantlly accepted the new offer but to prove to them that he never got his score through the back door, he graduated with distinction grade and now in his final year in the University of Ibadan studying Civil engineering and now almost in his first class level. We must try as much as possible to educate and orientate people why it is necessary to put the right people in a right position. Look at China today, they convert their population to their advantage. They encourage productivity and checked their galloping population effectively.
I want to see in my life time a Nigeria where human value is based on dignity and great core values not on money. A Nigeria where excellence thrive above mediocrity and challatans not promoted at expense of integrity.
Will I be alife to see a Nigeria where decisions are taken based on merit not ethnicity, religion and tribe. When will basic infrastructure begin to work in Nigeria, when will numerous slumbs begin to transform, when will real leaders and not rogues emerge in positions of responsibility? The future is very blink/dark, It tend towards hopelessness. The darkness is so thick that for light rays to penetrate appears impossible. Just tell me when one can win election based on ideas he/she profess without imposition from god fathers. When will stealing and broad day robbery in our ministries stop? when? when & when?
Amos Mathias - Malaysia on November 13, 2008 8:06 AM
Fellow Nigerians,
A true change takes a patriotic commitment. It takes courage, determination and hardwork. The change that happened in America was because, Obama was dedicated, courageous and self determined. He made Americans know why change must emerged. Public awareness is the key to possible change. If you see what happened recently in Edo State (I read on paper), where people turn-up enmass to celebrate Oshiomole's victory at the Appeal Court. You will know that our people are tired with the long poverty stage, they need change. They were enlightened during Oshiomole's campaign that they need a Government that will see into their problems and get them out of the meltdown. We must be up-and-doing, commit all our resources and energe towards public enlightenment for us to actualise this dream. You will never know our people are in total disarray unless you visit other nations. We really need change and we need it more now before our population hits 200 million. It is not over, until it is over.
Thank you.
Amos Mathias University of Nottingham, Malaysia Campus.
Sodipe Olusoji David on November 14, 2008 10:50 AM
God bless the initiator of this project and to all Nigerians who believe in this cause. Together we can make the change happen, afterall, it took the Israelites 'the blowing of trumphet and walking round the walls of Jericho to bring the walls down'. A single stick of broom can never sweep clean any floor, but the collection of sticks of broom. Together, we can do it! CAN WE DO IT?!!! YES WE CAN!!!! God bless the Federal Republic of NIGERIA.
I would once again, draw our attention to the misconception of seeing only the government as the problem, if you access your actions overtime many of us would agree with me that several times we have either exhibited or encouraged the very decadency we are trying to uproot. How many times have you encouraged exam malpractice, how many times have you joined to sing the praise of that corrupt politician from your village because he is your kinsman. Roosevelt said that everyman wants to change the world but would not change himself. Think about this, the change begins from you...
I sure do agree with Kelechi's submission. Afterall, we were taught in school that "democracy is the government of the people, for the people, by the people" since we are the people of this GREAT country we should start by examining/cautioning ourselves to do the right thing all the time: obey simple traffic rules, challenging bad behaviours, protecting government property because it's our own etc... these will go a-long-way in putting us back on the right track and eventually paving the way for the change we so much crave for.
I think this is the strategy of this association: That change must start from every one of us. Read the welcome page very well. Only changed Nigerians can change Nigeria. You cannot offer what you do not have. We must begin this change by becoming very responsible citizens of our dear country. When you break the law, you give someone an opportunity to demand bribe from you. We must all be very law abiding citizens, this is the only thing that gives us the right to demand and fight for change.
I would like to disagree with the letter of commendation to Mr. Obama posted on this site. We should not be into praise singing of any kind and at the present remain focus to the burning issue in the heart of every member of this forum which is how to bring about a new nigeria. the time spent to draft the recommendation letter such be used to draft strategies and proposals to pass to the members on how to go on with our mission. We should not begin from the onset to start aligning ourselves with politicians whether good or bad. We need strategies and action points not recommendation letters. This is my humble opinion.
I sure do agree with Kelechi's submission. Afterall, we were taught in school that "democracy is the government of the people, for the people, by the people" since we are the people of this GREAT country we should start by examining/cautioning ourselves to do the right thing all the time: obey simple traffic rules, challenging bad behaviours, protecting government property because it's our own etc... these will go a-long-way in putting us back on the right track and eventually paving the way for the change we so much crave for.
in one of the battles during the american war of indepedence, washington told his men that once they march no one should look behind. the same applies to us in our quest for a new nation. another reality we must face is the entrenched aparthy that is prevalent in the people of this nation. nobody cares about how the society is run as long as he finds a good job, gets married and takes care of the family. we are not just up against corrupt leadership but a societal mindset that is seeped in fatalism and hopeless, a perception that we can do nothing so lets all hide in our houses. to me this mentality is the real brick wall we are up against.
Guys, The change we deserve needs to come FAST. Less talk, more action.
The newnigerianalliance site managers need to do a lot to get the hit rate up- leverage facebook, hi5. Post the link on commentary on stories in online dailies.
Make the site more fun and interactive- Cull interesting stories from newspapers and ask readers their opinions and suggestions
Have a "Good deed of the day" email/ post sent to members. Suggest one thing that members could do to make nigeria a better place- it could be as simple as stopping in traffic for another motorist.
I totally agree with you. We must use the power of the internet to draw more attention to the ideals we stand for in this group. Your ideas and suggestions are in line with things that could bring more traffic to the site and hence make others aware of our ideals and what we stand for. Another suggestion I have is that the domain name for this website should have been a .org instead of a .com, a .com often denotes a commercial entity while a .org is the known tld for organisations. I checked and the .org variation of this domain name is still vacant, so if it is possible I can grab it and donate it to the group for the domain to be changed to a .org. This aside, I also think that despite the fact that we should encourage more people to be aware of our group, I am of the opinion that we should be wary of wolves in sheep's clothing who may come to disorganise us and throw some spanners into our works in order to make us disoriented and lose focus. The existing leadership in the country and their cohorts have the wherewithal to effect such strategies against us, hence we must be wary. Thank you all and GOD bless.
Hello everyone we must be ready to do something and i have started one, lets start with petitions to the senate and see the result I started on to ask for the Justice minister and IG of police to resign. http://www.PetitionOnline.com/order08/petition.html
Lets see ,if the senate would act like one of them too, then would know the list of people that doesn't like our beloved country Nigeria.
Thank you for the contribution of setting this website. My grace to you. I was sadden about the situation of things in Nigeria regarding the treatment of Ribadu. I am also planning to set-up a website of considering Ribadu as presidential candidate and prof. Soludo as the Vice. We have to join together against this president whom I think that he seems to be the worst person to rule nigeria. I used to think that this man will do better because he went to a university in nigeria; atleast with some intelligent cells in him but I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT THIS MAN HAS GOT NOTHING IN HIS BRAIN CELLS. Shame on you YaraDUA.
To the web master of this site. Please don't ignore this message if you wish to keep this noble idea going. Since you have decided to use the Internet/Web as a media, you must ensure you use it well. People MAY not have the time to come back to this site every time they want to read comments or see updates. You could set-up this site in such a way that any new update/comment is automatically sent to site members. Make email registeration mandatory. Everyone that leaves a comment, registered or not, should recieve automatic updates in his email. Make the email field mandatory. In that way people will be eager to make more contirbutions
I'd like to start by saying that a NEW NIGERIA begins with you and me.
Having gone through most comments, I picked sth important - we can all start by obeying simple rules and regulations. It is a difficult thing to achieve in Nigeria, it'll take time but it can happen. Traffic signals, waste disposal, dropping rubbish on our roads, not concenting to bribery, etc. little things as such do make a difference.
A simple case study: The FCT Government has almost completely transformed ABUJA which most of us are aware of. Shopping malls look almost like what we have here abroad, they've installed new, effective and well-maintained infrastructures. Believe it or not, there are certain things (common in other cities in Nigeria) that you or myself dare not do in the 'heart' of ABUJA.
So, why on earth do we think that these 'people in high places' cannot achieve these successes in other cities?? It is very possible ONLY if THE SAME STRATEGIES AND THE SAME PEOPLE can be utilised other cities..POLICES AND the rest can be put in place for these to happen unfortunately they are not allowing 'Young , Upcoming and Law abiding Nigerian citizens to take up these positions that can bring about change.
Point 1: ELECTRICITY What on earth is happening to Nigeria in terms of electricity? I heard a N40b project which launched our statellite to space failed for some reasons. This is ridiculous.
BELEIVE IT OR NOT, NEPA IS THE NUMBER ONE PROBLEM NIGERIA HAS UP UNTIL TODAY.
If our president decides to forget about evertyother duty and focus on electricity for his whole term, you and I will be in a better ploace tomorrow.
Electricity / energy is the number one driver of any country's economy. If this is problem remains, Nigeria will remain stagnant, unfortunately.
Point 2: National security is a FUNDAMENTAL issue in Nigeria. These policemen are not paid well enough, they are not paid ON TIME, not provided with simple / basic needs that will enable them perform effectively on their duties! nevertheles, they are not TRAINED appropriately. Where does that lead us to: bribery, corruption - they will work directly with corrupt governors instead of working AGAINST them thereby violating their posts but who cares! their leaders don't care as long as they are protected. These people have now become enemies to Nigerian citizens whom they should protect, they kill without orders, they rob without any considerations. You and I can end up dead if they commence their ruthless shootings.
Point 3 POVERTY: the gap between the rich and the poor in Nigeria is something that I cannot talk about HERE owing to the time it'll take to unleash even some recent revelations I actually saw on a british television. This issue alone, can be a focus for a ' whole 4-year term in government'
Point 4 JOBS: to my fellow Nigerian Graduates, I weep for una almost everytime I hear stories about where people are working simply because they have to make ends meet.
If only your stae government can actually use their allocated budjets to commence public projects in their states, everyone will have jobs! period.
As long as similar faces remain on the high places in our Nation, I really don't think that our voices will be heard..even if it gets heard, It wouldn't be given any attention. Democracy has failed.
Hello my fellow citizens, I came to this site and saw with elation that there are still some Nigerians who are not part of the crowd. I hereby pledge my entire strength, and all I have (no matter how little) towards the struggle to bring about change in the polity by sensitization, leadership by example and any other decent and law abiding means that can be used to achieve the aims of this struggle. Thank you all and GOD bless.
Posting a comment on here will not take us beyond this website. In fact this website is stagnant without Advertisement or enlightenment to other Nigerians that have access to the web. We all have to reach out to other Nigerians to sensitise them about NNA. Those that belong to other forums where you have a hand-full of Nigerians, link this site to your Signatures, send it out via Yahoo,Msn,Skype messenger.
Reach out or else we will all be like people shouting in the kitchen without the people outside hearing us.
We want Change in Nigeria and Change comes with the People not the few on gere
Issues with Us The problem with us is so clear,we can overcome if we have the right attitude and patience to fight on for victory. We Nigerians back home lives in high level of segregation among us.I believe that this fight for change should start from bridging the gap among various ethincities is Nigeria.Lets make our people have an understanding that we can still be together and live as one. The struggle begins from here building the spirit of oneness ,a country where the Hausas ,Igbos& Yorubas will see eachother as one not a nation where some group believe so much that they are the only one that have the capability to to lead this wonderful nation. God Bless
the wind of change wd soon be a reality in nigeria.do not despise the days of little beginning.our future is great! martin lurther predicted obama,s coming.today we hv obama.lets be strong,focused,n determined.we wd get there.
What Nigerians need is direction. We need a change, with a strong will to re-direct and re-focus the psyche of the people and we shall follow. I believe good governance will happen in my time and I am willing to be part of it.
Politics, though a game of numbers, requires strategies and it is imperative we begin to strategise at this moment. Some of these are not achievable on the net. Most political groups start off as social organisations until you build a stronghold before you venture into full politics. Presenting the NNA, in your interview, as a political organisation, at this tender age is a poor strategy. This is because oppositions will seriously work to frustrate us. Strong political strategies are drawn on the boards/tables & not on the net. We need some more cohesion for the sake of this cause.
To be frank, this movement is inspirational; it can guarantee real hope and change in action if properly blended devoid of any atom of selective and biassed publications. You know what? Nigeria is a country blessed with fabulous orators, and most at times, with hidden intentions. I have already bought the idea that this movement can bring change if it is not changed by its initiator/s. I hope I made myself clear?
We all know that nothing good comes easy. We should be undaunted in our crusade to secure a better future for our country Nigeria, better in every aspect. I believe that if your ideology is sound people will listen, and from listening people will imbibe that ideology. I strongly suggest mass sensitization programmes in the print and electronic media. We all know that most of us here are among the priviledged few who have access to the internet, unfettered access. That is why we had the time to find this site; I found it while reading The Punch online. We need to take this crusade to the masses who do not have the power of the internet at their disposal. That is where the print and other forms of electronic media comes in. Posters in major cities, adverts in dailies, jingles on the radio and tv, interviews, seminars, and what have you. It will not be easy but I also believe that we have the wherewithal to do this. Personally, I will contribute my widow's mite when called upon, in order to carry the message across. I hereby pledge =N=1,000 every week until this dream is accomplished. I am not rich but what I have I shall give. If it is needed, just give me an account to pay it in. If others follow suit, what can we not achieve? I trust the progenitors of this organisation with the belief that we are all fighting for the same thing. I rest my case so far...
the nigeria of my dreams is a nigeria whereby someone can wake up and i mean even the destitute on the street and bhe sure of threee meals. how do we get to this level is a diff story,,but one thing for sure is that to get there,,wwe need a radical change in our orientation,,it might be too late in our time,,but for the unborn and our children,,it is our duty to mould them in a way that says u must put ur society first before urself...ask what u can do for ur society,,,we c an start that and maybe in our childrns or grandchildrens lifetime,,they would see the nigeria we all dream about
Fellow nigerians, we should all face reality, as we all know that one of the key elements drawing down the american economy is the wrong war in iraq, Same could also be said on the blind amalgamation of nigeria by the british forces in 1914. One should ask , why should a christian country like Britain leave Nigeria in the hands of Northern entity? Secondly , One also wonders why the same britian failed to correct thier mistake during the civil war, instead opted for arms backup to Gowon then? We are all paying the price of this mistake today. Today a larger number of yoruba comunities can be seen in London same goes for the igbos in the U.S. If other tribes had fought along with the Easterners, atleast by today , we would know who to blame for NEPA. I know some would argue with me saying that afterall there is Revenue being allocated, but those people should also understand that Lagos state one time tried to embark on an independent power supply which hasnt been a reality. Abuja supressed the project for fears of loosing huge energy contracts to politicians. The british led us all to this mess
In the Membership Form is a space for "State of Birth", please make every effort to draw a CLEAR LINE between this and "State of Origin" which does not align positively with the stated ideology of this New Nigeria Alliance?
Change begins when a group of individuals who are focused and determined decide to make a radical difference in an existing situation.Nigeria is a great country yet the poverty is high,people are not safe because of high level of armed robbery,bad roads etc.We must rise to the challenge of making Nigeria a better place for the present and future generation.Thank you for this opportunity to express some of my concerns and also i would get others involved because this is our responsibilty
Nigeria need change, there are alot of things is happening Nigeria that is unacceptable. people rush to polictics because of looting the govement money, and then, Nigerian police is number one corruption police in world. They are alot of things need to be change in Nigeria.
I call on all Nigerians, especially the young ones who believe we can make a positive change to join this movement. We can if we start living such a positive life that respects others, places values above materials, and entrenches ideology over emptiness that pervades our political leadership in Nigeria today. Three innocent corp members, amongst hundreds of Nigeria just loss their lives to senseless killings triggered by some "leaders" for entirely selfish and worthless cause. It's amazing what we have tolerated for so long. If we do not stand up today to say No, for whatever reason, we would have helped to perpetrate this rape on our psyche, democracy, and on this generation and generation unborn. Lets use this postive weapon to make a positive change. We must eschew violence!
Thank God for this group dat desires a change in Nigeria,but pls I BEG DO SOMETHING TO SCRAP NYSC,PLS FAST,they are just embezzling money,its got no real meaning again,maybe if their wasnt NYSC,those corp members dat died in Jos wuld still be alive,pls do something fast,plssssssssssssssss,its the 1st thing to abort pls,its really important,thanks.
Pls again,about the NYSC issue,it needs to go,it doesnt have the real meaning that General Gowon intended in the 1st place,now its all about NYSC officials trying to steal money all over the place,its got nothing to add to someones life,its just a wasted effort of one whole year,its got to go,4real,dats it,pls do something fast.
It is a wonderful idea for Nigerians in diaspora to vote on line. My worry is how the votes will be secured. We are now unable to secure votes cast insitu from massive rigging and manipulation, and we are proposing to compound our sorry problems. I would proposed we employ this energy to enact enforceable laws that can guarentee us a peaceful,rigfree and fair election. Establish structures that will make online voting feasible in future. From this position we can move to higher ideals. Our electoral failures are not due to non inclusion of Nigerians outside our shores
I come back to this site to read the comments and i am glad we are stirring from our slumber as a nation. Every generation has a call which they must answer, the generation in the time of the second world war rose up to that call and delivered the world from tyranny, the nigerian youths in the indepence era answered that call and demanded a free nation. we as a generation face the call of our collective destiny, we face the call to once again take back our nation not from colonial powers this time around but from bad leadership. its a call we must answer because there is no room to be on the fence. Posterity will not forgive us if we choose not to answer the calll for our generation. it will not be an easy task but i am certain we will overcome.......but we have one question who will lead us into this battle for a better nation?
I am very glad to be amongst the few nigerian's that have been able to hook up with this site,kudos to your elbows and know that change is coming soon in Nigeria,if the old school politicians like it or not. I will be passing on the info to other sites that we Nigerians gather to share our views,let each and every one of us pass on the news because that is the only way we can bring back Nigeria alive
I wish to congratulate the initiators of this web forum for actualising a worthy course. My comment is purely on the appearance of your site. The site is boring. Please get more professional advice on how to make this noble site more attractive and user friendly. The domain name is too long for normal people to navigate to. Please get some technical advice from professional web designers in order to keep this worthy course going.
For years I have sat and wonderd why my country has faced a great deal of poverty in the midst of its prosperity potentials and i came to understand its due to the fact that we keep recycling a bunch of irresponsible, selfish, unfocused, unintelligent leaders despite their education; resulting in a large wastage of funds on misplaced priorities, giving the outside world a smiling face at the expense of its suffering population.
Nigeria's flag stands out amongst nations as the only one depicting its agricultural strength, however this has become a story of old as we have been completely dwarfed by our baby sister countries who now thrive in agric exports with international communities while we've abandoned this area and focused on the easiest way of selfishly gotten and mismanaged source of wealth oil. maybe weshould now change to black, white, black,(where d black reps. oil)
How I wish a God gives us a man who will focus on the true needs of the people and give us a reason to be proud to return and work for the greatness of the nation. A man who will focus on people related projects like low income govt. subsidised SOCIAL HOUSING rather than building hotels, golf courses, stadia or high income apartments specially for the rich who hav had an opportunity to steal!. only this way can we tackle the menece of growing slums and shanty towns slowly taking over various cities and areas of the beautiful nation.
great comments from you all. Chidi well done for kicking this off. you got my support. one important thing though. let us all know that we are in this together. North, south east or west. i would really hate to see the tribal hatred that has kept the black race down for thousands of years rear it's head among us in this generation. it is a tool in the hands of the devil. think about this. we have an estimated 50 million Nigerians in diaspora. those are potential votes they can't manipulate easily. they can't send area boys here to beat us or steal the ballot boxes. this petition is just the start. when we get the numbers we want. we will deliver to the embassies and then start the real battle to vote. we must level the playing field to allow good people run for office. our destiny is in our hands. God bless you all. i also think rather than we all creating so many websites with different ideas, we can bring our ideas together and improve on this one. again well done to Chidi and the rest of the crew. this is the green revolution.
I don't know if there's anybody else who feels the way i do about this, but i think in light of the judgement of the Supreme Court on the Presidential Election and in particular, the dissenting judgement, we need a petition to demand Iwu's immediate removal / resgnation. I think it wlll be another step towards sending a message that you cannot conduct a highly discredited election and still go scot-free
It is important for us to know that the more loan we collect from any international monetary system, the more impoverish we will end up becoming. Because of this, I hereby call on every Nigerian to stop the move of Yaradua or any government official that tries to secure any form of loan from abroad irrespective of what the loan might meant for. PLEASE STOP NIGERIA GOVERNMENT FROM TAKEN ANY LOAN FROM ABROAD
It should not be removed from rotecting the current President, VP Governor and Depute Governor because they need to do their job.
The constitution has a provision that if they commit crime and violates the law, the legislative arm of the government could address the issue and ask to be removed in accordance to the law and the constitution.
Unfortunately these are the set back of Demoractics system of government
As the new year has just began,may we pray that it will be better than the one that had just ended.Looking at some of the state governors you will find out that some have taken it upon there self for the betterment and well being of there people.
Huhn! Each time I think about this entity called Nigeria, I feel very dejected about the preponderance of anomalies that have plagued our society. An analysis of the very many abnormalities reveals a cankerworm that has eaten very deep into the fabrics of our dear nation. More recently, the frustration cum humiliation meted out to the embattled ex-chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu. There is no denial of the fact that, the former EFCC helmsman might have been selective in his duties during the era of president 'do-or-die', besides, that he was used to witch-hunt the presumed political opponents of Obj,the fact still remain that some level of sanity was put into the polity. After all, his(Ribadu) antecedents in the Nigerian Police Force showed he had a very clean record coupled with diligence and dedication to duty. Now that the powers that be are done with Nuhu Ribadu, their next target is the one-time Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Mallam Nasru El-Rufai who was recently figured. Fine, so many people were displaced with his 'Restoration of Abuja Master-Plan' slogan, if not for him, Abuja by now would have been another 'Lagos' or 'Port-Harcourt'. Just imagine the relent efforts of Gov. Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos aimed at sanitising Lagos and its environs. One now begins to wonder if at all it is worth it the decision of any youth in Nigeria wants to be patriotic. Instead of that, you are victimized and made a toothless bulldog. Or how can you describe the immediate past Director-General of National Food, Drug, Administration and Control, NAFDAC, prof. Dora Akunyili who was made the Minister of Information and Communication? Just like somebody said in one of the dailies that the similitude is like making a defender an attacker. Was she sent their to comb the activities of these GSM operators who are in the country to exploit Nigerians, esp the MTN Nigeria or to go there and amass wealth just her predecessors like, John Odeh, Frank Nweke Jnr. Sincerely speaking, resolute minds had better rise up and form a formidable front spread across the country to take our destiny into our hands
Hello Fellow Nigeria, Its a pity that the 140 million population is not having power access not even Internet access to share their opinion and utter their view but every they we try to emulate OBAMA's idea , we fail woefully.
You can form the group, why are you waiting for somebody to do it, Start and stop waiting for someone else, or are you also looking for political appointment in Nigeria
The reason we allow comments on the website is to receive not only encouragements but ideas and suggestions, as well as constructive criticisms. You posted an unsubstantiated comment here. For the record, while we are encouraged by Obama’s audacity and example, this association and its ideology existed before he began his campaign of change. It is how inferior we value ourselves as Africans that makes us think, every effort is copied from the western world. If we had the same platform, you probably would have heard about this movement before knowing Obama.
Secondly, it is apparent from your comments that you hold the solution to the Nigerian problem; we encourage you to start the move. Your sitting down behind a PC and tearing down other people’s efforts will not get us anywhere. Please we encourage you to constructively spend your time to build and not to tear down. Start the movement, initiate the cause and if it will lead to change in Nigeria, we will stand solidly behind you – this is our commitment.
why did you not show the comment I posted yesterday, may be your intention was exposed. Again, hope you guys are not looking for political appointment in Nigeria. Come out and say what your true intention is and who you are
While we leave this forum open for people to post comments, we would remove any comment we consider offensive to us, and to the public. The problem we have as a people is to think that everybody who stands to seek a way out is looking for a personal gain. This association is founded on the philosophy that a good Nigeria must not translate into personal gain for a few people. All we are seeking for is a Nigeria that works for every one. The reason we are not publishing names on this website is because this association is not centered on promoting any individual. Instead of spending time posting comments accusing us on evil intentions, why not test out our intentions, why not tell us what you think we can do to make it better.
Hello All Readers/Viewers, I am very happy and a bit sad to some response about comments posted by me and others, but this would not deter me in expressing my views of issues on this website, because i believe that freedom of expression is a right,which all individual should at least have. Whether comments are deleted on not someday, we as (comrades) would all have our say be it now or later but very soon.
For us to be able to have ideals that would work for our beloved country (Nigeria) we must be able to express our views and opinion about matter and without insulting or pointing accusing fingers to someone or a particular group because that would only slow our project down and cause chaos. (offensive comments are not allowed anywhere in order to maintain discipline.)
As part of the response to my last comment here, i was suggested to by the organizers to make a move in starting a group to discuss issues,which i believe could solve some problems in Nigeria and i must say, i would accept it with all due respect and start this moment with some keys issues, which i see as the beginning of most problems in Nigeria. I would repeat before i start, i am not politically motivated by any group now but as an individual, a critic, who sees thing in the view of my age group and masses.
Education : As at 1994 when i started my secondary school, many parents where bribing for their wards to get a better result, so they could attend most government boarding school, which is believed to be the best in the country. We sometimes ignore the fact of small this which could create danger to us as a person and our community in general, because bribing for a 12/13year old ward to pass an examination would only make that child lazy and irresponsible ,which would then use this means in getting to high places in the society, which would then lead to massive corruption and embezzlement. Do we ever wonder, why many politicians shiver,when it comes to verifying their certificates and result? many knows that their educational background is shaky as a result of malpractices done in the past,which hunts then now.
Also, one of the dangers of examination malpractice, is that it create discrimination between the well-to-do in the society and the average or poor ones. I'll give an example
When this parents bribe for their children to be able to get into better government secondary school ignoring the average ones without money to get theirs into those school,this create a separation between them ,which would eventually affect both sides in the nearest future. This also affect our educational system as a way of solving problems in our society,whereby the good brains are not encouraged by the system to be able to show their abilities.
Do we ever ask ourselves,why many brilliant nigerian students don't come and work in Nigeria, wherever they are overseas? just simple they are gifted and can't bribe to show thier talents, so they prefer to stay where they are accepted because of their intelligence.
I could go one with about 100 reasons,why this minor issue affects us and is a result of the state of the country,we are in today. Whatever we do as citizen of Nigeria, we should always respect others and play by the rule of the game and if we all good, we win and if not we just take it.
I believe we need to do more on improving our educational standards as this would enlightening the masses to be informed and independent.
One of the issues i thought about, when writing this piece is, How many people in Nigeria and oversea am i reaching to and what are their opinion to this matter? surly a few hundred as millions are deprived the basic amenities of life,which a responsible system of government should assure its citizens.
As a conclusion to this topic,which affects us, i would like us to be an example to our kids ,and generations to come in shunning such practices (which are called Help) and other would take it as an example.
Lastly, i figured out on how we could reach many Nigerians and this i would explain in my next blog and i hope devoted individuals, would donate resources to help project our course.
Please feel free to comment on this topic and share your view. Thanks and Long live Nigeria. Edward
Hello Once again, In view to my last blog on, how we could reach many Nigerian as possible in order for them to express their opinions and make contributions, i found out about a system of relaying information from websites to mobile phones and vice versa on a course, which i am currently attending. This involves people contributing using Sms and reciving updated Sms too.
This information system is called Microblogging and this could serve many Nigerians contributing to this website, because of the minimal internet access in Nigeria and thou For us to be able to use this service of Microblogging, i would find a consultant, who can explain to us on, how we could build a Microblogging site and how people in Nigeria can contribute for free, inorder to increase their chances of contribution.
Thanks and hope to hear from anyone intrested in this little project. Edward J.
the problems of Nigeria are many and if we say we can tackle them all at once we only deceive ourselves. We must have a strategic plan for success and we cannot react to situations and hope to win or lead our people out of bondage. the fundamental issue with Nigeria centers around leadership. we have identified that we need to find a way to put governments that represents the people in place and somehow give the power to the people so the politicians know it is not in their hands to decide who rules us. If we succeed we would have forced them to come to us with programs and answer to our many problems otherwise they will never get to office. this is why we are focused on 2011. the Diaspora vote petition is just one aspect of our fight for the greatest Nigerian election we will have in 2011. let's take one step at a time. we will not fix Nigeria overnight and we must be focused in our struggle but we welcome all ideas because there is wisdom is multitude of counsel. Thanks brother and keep your fire burning
You should please make a reasonable posting and stop rambling, your point in this posting is very difficult to understand, the issue of exam malpractice is just part of the bigger problem called corruption. Please come up with a more intelligent project and try to articulate your point better, though you sound like one of those who worships our rogue leaders for a selfish interest
you seem to have a lot of fire. That's good but do remember we all don't think alike and there are many who want the problems facing then in Nigeria right now to be taken care of. we must tkae time to listen to them and also let them understand that we must have a focused and united front if we ever hope to win and remove the evil that has kept us bound as a nation
Hi Umana, Thanks for your response, even if you didn't understand my contribution well and bashed me like a truck from Nomansland.
As i have mentioned earlier that my contribution because on me as an ordinary individual, who see things they way they are and share my views about a major problem in Nigeria.
We can only achieve our aim in fighting corruption to the highest level in discussing such small issues and how they develop to big ones. If we ignore all these small issues such as examination malpractice , which destroy our society, we would never achieve any goal in the fight against corruption. Why i used examination malpractice as an example, because i believe a sound educational background could help in a nation's development. As i told you before, i am not politically motivated and as you stated my link to Nigeria is reports from my trusted relatives in Nigeria and trusted new agencies, i don't mean punchontheweb.com and others alike.
Please, do make a meaningful contribution rather than sit there and tear down my own thoughts and ideals,maybe you could suggest in your opinion,how we could tackle corruption in Nigeria without discussing such issues ?
I await your opinion on tackling corruption in Nigeria.
i sent a response to your initial blog. like i said before we have to take one step at a time. there is so much to fix and we must have a plan to win. God bless you sir
There is no gainsaying the fact that our people at home and in the Diaspora earnestly seek for TRUE CHANGE in our motherland, A Change that will reflect positively on the well being of all her citizens…… an urgent Change from the old political fables repeatedly told by our two-faced Politicians who say one thing during the campaign and do another thing once in office. A drastic Change that will eliminate the canker of corruption that has eaten deep into all levels of our Government, communities, families and individual lives, and has turned us to a laughing stock and a nation of no tomorrow.
The time has come for us to have a moment of deep and honest sober reflection, to say unrepentant NO to our individual and collective ills that stunted our growth as a nation over the years and turned the once giant of Africa into a limping elephant. The time has come for us, East, West, North, and South to discontinue our contending against one another, from being willing tools and victims to manipulative and self-seeking political class, and other anti-democratic forces...., but must be joined together, must be restored to a unified mind, propelled by unselfish thoughts and actions, strive for mutual goodwill in the midst of our ethnic and religious differences.
Now is the time for us to rise to majestic height of patriotism and dynamic leadership through a civilised electoral system. The campaign for that honest and undying spirit of brotherhood in one United Nigeria is now or never. It is never too late to try.
Tell your neighbours today, voice it loud to every Nigerian you know, trumpet it from the roof tops, person to person, friend to friend, community to community, state to state, tell all about this ultimate Change that will enthrone an action loaded Government OF the People of Nigeria BY the people of Nigeria and FOR the people of Nigeria. The Hope of a re-born Nigeria we all longed for is now alive and kicking.
The Wind of Change is blowing ferociously in Nigeria and you must to be part of it. This massive movement is propelled by patriotic NIGERIANS for ALL NIGERIANS, and you cannot afford to sit on the fence. We all must remain doggedly determined in the campaign and struggle for a New Nigeria. The noble drive to re-born our motherland must be a collective responsibility.
From little acorn, grow mighty oaks. I am convinced more than ever that this patriotic call for Change is real and unstopable, hence, the need for massive and persistent, but non-violent actions to liberate Nigeria from the deadly claws of corruption, abject poverty and shameful degradation caused by decades of mis-rule and unpatriotic leadership. The goal is reachable, the possibilities are limitless, and together we will make it happen.
Don`t forget, Nigeria na our country and we must do better for am
God bless us all.
God bless Nigeria. ********************************************************** A man who stands for nothing will fall for anything
<span style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Ladies & Gentlemen;</span><br />Thanks so much for being a patriotic citizen of our great Continent of Africa. God is surely using Change Agents like you to change our situation; please keep it up.<br />Also, it has been discovered that we the Change Agents should all come together as one team in order to expedite the change process; we want to change from the old way of operating as small chumps with little or no effect and results, to working together collaboratively for <span style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; font-style: italic;">COMMON GOAL</span>. Many activists in the past may not have made much impact due to individualistic tendencies and even tribal restrictions they themselves instituted in their modus operandi.<br />So, by God's Grace, we're calling all Change Agents and Organizations to attend a<span style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;"> Change Summit in the Summer of 2009</span> (actual date would announced after we all agree). Please pass it on.<br /><br />Thanks & God Bless.<br /><br />Sam Araoye,<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">IPCN - “INITIATIVE FOR POSITIVE CHANGE IN NIGERIA”</span><br /><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" onmousedown="UntrustedLink.bootstrap($(this), "2c61ccb3a2c72d5c366a9f14728db206", event)" href="http://www.facebook.com/inbox/?ref=mb#/group.php?gid=43866752329"><span>http://www.facebook.com/in</span><wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span><span>box/?ref=mb#/group.php?gid</span><wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span>=43866752329</a>
May God continue to bless your patriotic heart. it is a bit difficult to make out most of what you wrote becuase of the hyperlinks. please can you repost it or send us a mail with details of the summit. we support any good and patriotic initiative to improve our country. mail to
The prayer of every dreamer is to live and see his/her dreams come through; but the greatest dream is the dream that endures even when the dreamer is no more. Again, let me remind us that no dream is realized without sacrifice... the sacrifice can be supreme. Are we really ready to pay the sacrifice? Then, let us have sober reflection on the 'negative' outcome of Martin Luther King's dream - people died in thousands, yet, they died almost voluntarily for the freedom of their children. They were not eager to heal their immediate wound, but to ensure that the wound does not damage their entire body (posterity). Thus, the result is indeed positive. 4th November 2008 and 20th January 2009 are days to be remembered. To be continued....
“…Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men…There is no worse ‘heresy’ than that the office sanctifies the holders of it”. The above statement, though often misquoted as ‘…Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely’, were the popular words of that of Lord Acton (1834-1902), a British Historian, on April 3, 1887 in his ‘Letter to Bishop Mandell Creighton’. That corruption has wrecked a lot of havoc in almost all our spheres of life is an understatement. Taking the Nigeria as a case study as in the case of most countries of the world, the hydra-headed syndrome has battered very seriously our national psyche. There is virtually no part of our sectors that is not corruption ridden! A cankerworm that has eaten very deeply into the fabrics of our social, economic, political, security, educational even religious life to mention but a few. The effects of which now manifest itself in various dimensions in all our polities. So has it threatened the very essence of the world existence. GLOBAL VIEW Corruption is no doubt not only a Nigerian phenomenon, it is global and as a matter of fact, it dated back to time immemorial. William Blake (1757-1827), British Poet, in one his poems “Auguries of Innocence” wrote: ‘…Corruption, the strongest poison ever known, came from Caesar’s Laurel Crown…’ Even though it can be said to be as old as man himself, the malice from ages seems inextinguishable! Countries world wide had either been faced with the wide spread of one form of corruption or the other. Reminiscing on the history of the United States in the past through the recent times assert that fact. The Watergate scandal involving president Richard Nixon (1967-1974) where there was a burglary on June 17, 1972 on the offices of the Democratic National Committee apartment, Washington DC-a visible political opponent. This act was seen as espionage against political opponent. Or the most recent involving former US president, Bill William Jefferson Clinton and the White House intern, Monica Lewinsky in December 1998, what came out of the saga except the cover up by the Senate after the House of Representative had found him culpable!
The other time there were some agitations from some quarters that why would the erstwhile Nigerian president, Chief Aremu Olusegun Obasanjo build a presidential library in his Ota farm. I do not know why people make so much ado about nothing, after all the man in question had a role model in the person of one time US president, Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-1945) who did same by building a presidential library in his home, Hyde Park, a town in Eastern New York on the Hudson River. The former president had so many qualities and attitudes to emulate from him, little wonder why he was so desperate in his third term ambition. Of course, his role model’s constant amendment of the constitution to return himself as the US president for the fourth time (which suffered set back) was enough instigation for him to rigorously pursue his ambition. Nigerians saw the aftermath of the ambition’s still birth when he, not only amended his party’s sacrosanct constitution to return himself as the ‘life chairman’ of the board of trustees, thereby dethroning his bosom ally, Chief Tony Anenih, but also planted his stooges to contest elections which were going to be a ‘do-or-die’ affair.
But wait; is it true that ‘Demo’ is really crazy? Harrison W. Fox, Jr., US author in his book “Doing Business in Washington”, which he co-written with Martin Schnitzer said ‘…As long as we have a democratic system of government, there will be people seeking favors’. Thus, making sharp practices in government quarters inevitable. Greed is one of the factors responsible for the widespread of corruption, the example of which was seen recently in two of the African countries; Kenya and Zimbabwe. Many souls were lost to the uproar that greeted the general elections held in Kenya late December 2007 following the refusal of the government of the day to relinquish power to the opposition party after losing gallantly to same. The spirit of sportsmanship exhibited by the leader of the opposition, Raila Odinga saved the entire country from total ruin. Or is it that of Zimbabwean president, Robert J. Mugabe, who was the country’s first Prime Minister from 1980-1987, before becoming the president from same 1987 till date? One can not but wonder why would somebody who has ruled a country for more than twenty-seven (27) years want to perpetuate himself in power.
May be the continued existence of corruption in our midst is a confirmation of the words of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo when he said on August 14, 1975 that; ‘It will, I believe, be generally agreed that ERADICATION OF CORRUPTION from any society is not just a difficult task, it is without dispute, an impossible objective.’ Seems as if political corruption were the most dread as evidenced in the words of a one time United States politician, George Washington Plunkit (1842-1924). His words: ‘The politician who steals is worse than a thief. He is a fool. With the grand opportunities all around for a man with political pull, there’s no excuse for stealin’ a cent.’ Now that the world at large seems inextricable from this virus, whither do we go from here? Do we take it that it (corruption) is a divine curse which can only be cured by same divine intervention? Or how do we place the words of US president Richard Nixon in a television interview that ‘…when the president does it, that means it is not illegal.’?
Kuan Yew Leed, Singaporean statesman has said it all when he said: ‘Once a political system has been corrupted right from the top leaders to the lowest rungs of the bureaucracy, the problem is very complicated. The cleansing has to start from top and go downwards in a thorough and systematic way’. When the head is corrupt, what happens to the subordinate? The Nigeria story is a pathetic one! Can the menace therefore be curbed when in actual fact there are no concerted efforts aimed at eradicating the problem except in the opinions submitted at seminars, workshops, and/or symposia? The government of the day is only but paying lip service to its acclaimed fight against corruption. Many examples abound in all the facets of our socio-economic life. The endemic is so worrisome that nobody seems to be free! Even the religious sphere might not likely be left out of the mess. After all, the Bible affirmed the presence of it when it says in 1 Timothy verse 6-10: ‘For the love of money is the root of all evils; which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.’ (King James Version).Thus the house of worship is not an exception. Once Jesus Christ was quoted as saying, while trying to drive the money changers out of the temple, ‘Is this house, which is called by name, become a den of robbers in your eyes! Behold, even I have seen it, saith the Lord-Jeremiah 7:11. Albeit, it has become a new world order.
THE NIGERIAN CASE The Nigerian state is not in anyway an exception. An appraisal of the entire system reveals a cankerworm devouring the whole sectors. There is virtually no aspect of the economy which is not affected. The ravaging effect of this syndrome is manifested in the various revelations over the years since the emergence of the so-called nascent democracy in the year 1999. First was the #75 million peculation by the erstwhile Senate President, Late Senator Chuba Okadigbo in the name of ‘Sallah’ gift, then the #50 million bribery scandal against his successor, Chief Adolphus Wabara which ultimately led to his impeachment. Or is it the #628m contract scandal surrounding the ‘Etteh-Gate’ saga? There are myriads of serious financial impropriety that has bedeviled our dear nation through the handiwork of die-hard politicians and their accomplices. A continuous analysis of corruption in the Nigerian context reveals a cankerworm of all sorts. The recent power probe to the sum of N16b and the statement credited to the House Committee Chairman on power probe, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu. The health sector involving daughter of the erstwhile president, Senator Iyabo-Obasanjo Bello, that of former South-West PDP Chairman, Chief ‘Bode George in Nigerian Ports Authority. The list is exhaustive.
The peculiarity of the Nigerian case is the fact that the syndrome has affected all our spheres of life; religious, political, social, economic and whatever can be thought of. The sincerity on part of the government of the day in fighting corruption is another test to be taken to the laboratory for experiment.
There are many truths in what you have written. The problems of Nigeria are obvious to us all. i bet you a 10 yr old kid can points to so many rots in our society. Where i have a problem is seeing people complain forever and do nothing about it. The challenges facing us as a generation are not insurmountable. Now is the time to act to ensure we have the best election in 2011 and that the choice of the people becomes the leader. Our destiny is in our hands. A few days ago we rejoiced with another nation as they swore in a black president after years and years of discrimination. What challenges do we face today that the blacks in America did not face? Yet they stood up and took their destiny in their hands. what challenges do we face now that the generations of Nkurumah, Awolowo and Zik did not face? Yet they stood up and got us a free Africa. What will history remember our generation for? A generation of whiners and complainers or those who stood up to make the difference for Africa. Comon people it is time to do something and there is more than enough space within the laws to take our country back. A Nigerian generation did it in 1960 we can complete it now
I beliv in change also but how are we gonna get this message to those that cant even read talkless of havining internet in their houses? how can we get to the masses? The poors.We reall need to put this into consideration too.God bless the founder of this site and to all of us that are ready to fight the good fight.YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS WE CAN!!!
thanks for your comments. We are going to get to the grass roots but the message will be different and something they can relate too. our focus is on the entire 2011 electoral process. we must give power to the people of Nigeria and anyone who wants to rule us must come and seek our votes with progams and answers to our questions. By the middle of the year we will by His grace start rolling out local programs in Nigeria. God is on our side and Nigeria will be great in our time. i agree with you brother Yes we can by His grace.
Frankly speaking,I was not a little excited last Tuesday. Obamas' election to the Office Of President has shown what most of us thought would never be possible. A man of colour elected to the top office in a country where once that would have meant he could be bought and sold. However, What I find exciting is not what I think the man, Obama can do, but what the man can inspire we, as a people, to do.
In calling his fellow American citizens to action, President Obama said, “We have duties to ourselves,our nation and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.”
Obama`s action call is not just for Americans, it’s for the whole world, and more importantly, we Nigerians. The state of Nigeria today is very sad and pathetic,and it will require not God, or an angel from heaven, but our collective efforts and persistent massive action by Nigerians to remake Nigeria. We can never change the past but we do have control over the future and it holds endles possibilities
All well meaning Nigerians must hold this statement firmly and join the struggle and campaign for CHANGE in Nigerian being championed by the New Nigerian Alliance,NNA. We cannot afford to be indifferent at this point in time considering the frightening damage corruption and bad leadership has done to our beloved Country.
Nigerian history has been simply a monument of the ability of our People to endure suffering, and suffering without purpose or hope, and yet, very afraid to confront the cankers of corruption that has eaten deep into our fabrics, even in our individual lives.
If we're waiting for somebody else to do something, it never gets done. We're going to have to take responsibility, all of us, and the CHANGE we are talking about begins first in our individual lives.
We call on all Nigerians in the Diaspora and at home to join the current Wind of Change blowing in Nigeria, "For the world has changed, and we must change with it." Though the task is not by any means light, but I am hopeful and very confident that if we stand together in the struggle and campaign to bring Change to Nigeria, the possibilities are limitless,...... "Yes We Can,", and we all can testify today, that "Anything is possible".
Political debates in Nigeria are an every day and every where occurrence even on a queue to use a public toilet. Like forest fires they can be very consuming and easily sparked off.
In 2005, I witnessed my first political debate sparked off by a publican’s attempt to get electricity in his house lest I add ‘illegally’. Topics swayed from how the current administration was inept and full of corruption to how local communities felt marginalised by the process. Some argued that we were recycling leaders. After been absent from the whole political process I was amazed by the remarks. Were those in power not elected by popular votes?
Roll on 2007, I sat in a bus from Obalende to Yaba. Once again, another heated political debate. It was around EFCC’s success in the fight against corruption. One party said it was politically motivated by the ‘oligarchs’ the other party argued it was a righteous brigade.
Every cacophony I have witnessed has been around the same theme. Vagabonds in Power.
Barack Obama has just been elected President of the United States of America. His election asserts the fact that America is a free nation. Barack wasn’t elected because he was ‘black’ but because of his ability and capability. America voted a minority to be leader.
I ask when will Nigeria be free? When shall we do away with the Oligarchs and Vagabonds. Shall will wait till death master comes calling for them all. Abacha went, Adedibu has gone but more need to follow.
Arise o compatriots, and obey the rallying call to set Nigeria free. Let us come together and serve our father land. Let us not stand and watch the labour of our heroes past be in vain.
This is my rallying call. Like Obama’s campaign slogan, Change is now, yes we can and yes we will.
I stand with you all in unity, holding strongly to my faith of a better tomorrow, where there is peace and progress in my fatherland.
God bless you brother. our time has come and our time is now. We will change our nation. keep the fire burning. Together we will remove the darkness that enveloped our land for over 48 years.
Comment: The remark credited to the INEC Boss is a welcome development on our current initiative, and a cheering news to all of us in the struggle....but it is not yet hurrah. We need to step up our campaign, and spur other Nigerians into more action to have the legislation passed at the National Assembly. One thing is sure, our efforts so far have not gone unnoticed, so we can only get better and better by putting in our best, as well as lionise other Nigerians to join the struggle for a better Nigeria.
With God on our side,(He is indeed), the hope of a Changed Nigeria where hope reigns for us all is possible in the no distant future.
Infact I know is our ambition to change Nigeria and we all know is very possible but we need truth and honest to help our future and the betterment of our children many dose not like to invest in Nigeria due to no electricity and water. Tell me how could our leaders who always travel abroad doing this to us many cant invest in Nigerian due to no grantee of security. A big country like Nigeria dose not has insurance. Now how can this be possible? Ok Nigeria is supplying electricity to other countries in West Africa and they all have steady light. This water and electricity is the tow thing that makes our children leave Nigerian to abroad. OK now Mr Isa Ibo has appealed to the Chinese government to ensure that the Nigerian railway project being handled by a Chinese construction company was speedily and properly executed. Very good idea but how can this stand in Nigeria while there is no stand by electricity. Let us trust and believe our self’s. Please I want to know can we come back to Nigeria our beloved county to invest without insurance, water and electricity. Please let’s do one thing at a time. Light is the most important thing in a county in the begging it was darkness that covered the earth and God saw that light is good and instructed let there be light and there was light. My beloved country people we want to change Nigeria sure but let’s speak the truth and let’s believe in it. Before we can think about change let’s think about what makes change.
God bless us all and God bless FederalRepublic of Nigeria.
Martin Luther King's dream triumphed because his thought for freedom was mixed with burning desire. He did not merely wish for freedom but he desired freedom; he did not think about death, knowing very well that death is imminent...yet he was not detered.
I am not telling us to copy Martin Luther's strategy, niether do I wish us Martin Luther's fate. Far from that - we are not in the 60s and we are not racially discriminated in Nigerian. However, it sounds like the same 'dream', yes, the dream of change! I'm trying to say that before you emerge as a victor, you must first of all subdue, knock down or push your adversary out of your way. Think about when an adult takes something that belongs to a little child, if the adult is not disturbed by the child, he will hang on the thing or feel less concerned. But he will be restless when the child takes the right steps to recover his thing.
I must be honest with you, the country is that bad it will take every Nigerian home and abroad to change. The corruption is such a part of our people, it's like the skin-the largest organ.
I just returned from Nigeria after 3 years of staying away due to frustrations I suffered in the hand of custom officers. It was the same thing at the airport where openly our copatriots voluntarilly bribe the officers in order to take the food,gifts,etc. out of the country. It was so automatic for people openly dashing them money that people like me who was relunctant to bribe was so ridicle and delayed.
The custom,immigration,NDLA & SS officers queried me for buying few arts and crafts for gifts and demanded bribe in order to leave the country, it did not matter that I threatened that I was recording their actions as one of them said "record all you like I am your oga, nothing would stop me from asking for money bcos this is Nigeria and this is what we do,unless it changes from top, we shall not stop" I tried in vain to explain that such acts keep our country down they were unwilling to repent. They demanded for thousands of naira . I asked to speak to their boss who was relunctant to speak to me when I persisted and requested to file a fromal complaint he then gestured to his accomplice to let the "trouble maker go" but alas not until they had damaged my goods which I did not realise until I reached my destination. Only in Nigeria custom officers discourage you from buying gifts from Nigeria for your family and friend overseas, every progressive nations encourage such as it helps the economy and despite my attempt to educate them why buying things made in Nigeria keep Nigerians working,it fell to their unrepented greedy ears. What a nation and greedy people? I wonder why there is no CCTV at Nigerian airports?
I don't know about you things like these discourage me from going to Nigeria, 3 years ago when I challenged the same occurrence in Abuja I was slapped by a fat custom officer,made to miss my flight and stayed 3 days later which meant I lost 3 working days in UK. Every illegal check points in Nigeria police officers demanded bribes and insulted those who are unwilling. Every local council is headed by a thiefing chairman and corrupt councillors. The most disappointing thing about it all are, people hail and encourage corruption, we then wonder why our leaders at all levels feel free to dig their hands into our national purse.
Thank you very much for sharing your experience here. I must commend your attitude; and let you know that it is better to suffer in dignity than to descend very low with them. If we successfully re-orient few more Nigerians to tow the same line like you did, then the change we seek has come. It will take persistent endurance, courage, and keeping our head above the waters to sustain this move. My advice to everyone is not to suffer in silence, but make efforts to capture such experience as evidence. (record/tape it, when and if possible). When you do, please send it to us, be encouraged in the fact that there are Nigerians willing to invest their time and effort to assist.
Guys, I think we should avoid sermonizing or mere complaints or recounts of personal experiences, good as they may, they will not take us anyway. We Nigerians are good at analysing our problems but less equipped for resolving them. And so I suggest that we simply make concrete suggestions taking each sector at a time and then working to deal with issue. For instace, on the problem of Power supply, which is key problem in Nigeria and has ruined both private and public businesses, we could mount up a campaign urging Nigerians to refuse paying Nepa bills. A sustained public disobedience could bring to the foreground certain problems. And here is where the suggestion of Edward J, on microblogging becomes absolutely important. Let's think more, act more and talk less.
NIGERIAN DEVELOPMENT MOVEMENT – Get Involved (A call to social reawakening)
Nigeria. A Country since inception that has been plagued with civil war, coups (which instigated dictatorial regimes), infrastructural decay and underdevelopment, corruption, bad governance and social degradation. The country has challenges of which many read like a list of common problems in Africa: a non functioning democracy, freedom of speech or a lack of it, politics driven by ethnic chauvinism and biases along similar lines, lack of basic infrastructure, no accountability in government, defunct industries, a dilapidating educational sector and many more problems which serve as a hindrance towards genuine progress.
Such has been the fate of a country abundantly blessed with raw materials and people resources capable of lifting countries the world over out of poverty if properly utilised and yet the opposite has been the case with each new iteration of government, seemingly sliding Nigeria further into the trenches of underdevelopment and retrogression.
A country that while rich in its diversity, in seeming unism lauds its social morality exemplified in principles like respect for elders, community living, social life and service, and strong family bonds of which the people are proud of. A country rich in individuals of various professions who while under appreciated by the current Nigeria have been able to blossom and receive greater respect in the global sphere. We have writers, doctors, lawyers, engineers, business men and entrepreneurs that contribute their services the world over and yet still can’t boast of a home country that is worthy of respect attained through progress, development and national principles expressed in the quality and leadership of government.
Wherever Africans are present abroad a Nigerian is very likely to be close by. Whenever Nigerians meet it is very likely that the issue of Nigeria is brought up at some point, an issue which seems to inspire passion, heartbreak at the situation and a desire to see change and development as attains in more developed countries especially when these changes are mostly simple in true implementation while only requiring the genuine will to implement and actualise them. Whenever Nigerians meet such are the characters of their discourse and such are the questions asked by people who traverse the length and breadth of the nation. The simple truth is that we have all been collectively let down by the nation called Nigeria and over the various avenues which allow discussion and debates like internet forums, news papers, television broadcasting, radio and the likes, one would find people debating on the issues of the nation time and time again while the nation continues on its path of degradation regardless of the quality of such discourses.
While the country is diverse in its union ranging from ethnic groups to religious affiliation, what seems unifying through all groups is the desire for development, the desire for change, the desire for a country to be proud of, a country to raise children in, a country with prospects, a country that can be a beacon of hope to Africa in terms of leadership, governance and development. Rather than letting a focus on what divides continue to stifle progress and development the belief is in allowing the desire for a better Nigeria unite as all. We have an opportunity each day to move beyond rhetoric, arguments and debates irrespective of how articulate, well debated or eloquent such are. We have the opportunity to instigate change and we can change the nation, we can work and act to bring about change in whatever capacity we are able to regardless of what field or profession we ply and regardless of our earning power, for change does not solely rely on such factors but on the genuine willingness to change and follow such desires with actions geared towards bringing about such positive change.
This is not a political party of any sort but a social movement. A social movement that seeks to bring about change in all strata of Nigeria which people are willing to contribute in. We invite and encourage all who want to contribute in whichever sector they are willing to contribute in. We welcome all who want to make an impact and we ask that all feel free for this is not about any one person but about the change we desire for Nigeria, this is not about any one person but about a people’s movement. This is a platform for working towards actualisations of set goals in whatever sphere anyone is interested in contributing in and in whatever capacity people are willing to contribute in to positively impact on Nigeria, we have the opportunity to act. This is not about being financially aggrandised but actions towards the greater good, not about power or egos but selfless service towards development. Democracy has being described as “government by the people, of the people, for the people”. What is sought is a reawakening of “the people”, you and I. Get involved and spread the word. Would you stand to be counted?
you might not yet be in the government house or occupy a top political office inorder to cause a change in this great nation, wherever you might be- in school, at your shop, in your working place, just wherever, just try to MAKE A DIFFERENCE. I've made that my motto, please join me lets join hands to wake a sleeping giant. NAIJA IS GREAT.
Thank you sir for this comment. That is exactly what it takes to change a nation. We all must be the change we want to see in Nigeria. We cannot complain about bribery and corruption in government when we bribe to admit our children into school. Taking a stand against corruption in a place like Nigeria is not the most traveled route, yes we know, but it is a road we all must travel if we desire a better country.
The dreams of yesterday is the hope of today and reality of tomorrow,so,i just keep to my vision,my dreams,and passion for the needy...join my foundation for the needy and my group too...
Nigeria has all that it takes to be a great nation. However, we are not yet a great nation. We could be, if we work hard at it. We as a people have for long suffered from the excesses of our leaders – military and/or civilian, and as a nation, we have placed a premium on mediocrity at the expense of meritocracy. Our potentially great leaders (in hibernation) have not shown enough courage – a vital characteristic of leadership. They come up with all sorts of excuses such as murky waters of politics, violence, thuggery, godfatherism etc. All these negative vices only found their way into our politics, because good people have stayed away for too long, and as we know, nature abhors a vacuum which got easily filled by those who ought not to be there. In other advanced societies, politicians and leaders are usually some of the brightest and best, who have moved their countries to the first world, while we still grapple with mediocres who have plundered our treasury and stashed our money in foreign banks, who use those resources to develop their economies, and turn around to send us pittance as aids and donations. To move this great country forward, we need to do some or all of the following: First, we must reclaim Nigeria for Nigerians and change our mind set as a people – This calls for sacrifice. I know quite a lot of our people have long given up on government and leadership and even the country itself. The misery index has been high for quite some time. Let us for once remember the words of late President J. F. Kennedy; “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” Second, we have to impact positively on Nigeria’s present and future political landscape, structure and leadership of the country, by registering to vote, making sure we vote and guarding our votes jealously at the polling booths. We have to educate and enlighten the masses on the importance of good leadership and exercising their civic duty. For too long, we have been passive as a people, we succumb to all manner of blackmail and inducement. Furthermore, our main target should be the youths (ages 18 – 40) – a lot of whom are unemployed and form about 60% of the nation’s population. The will of the people and peoples power can and will prevail. We must sensitize Nigerians to wake up from their slumber and join the movement to enthrone good governance. Elections are coming in 2011; there are all sorts of scheming, alignment and realignment going on without consideration for the people. These politicians are relying on old tactics. But now is the time for our voices to be heard, for our votes to be counted and make the difference. When they come to seek our mandate in future elections, they must come to our homes, villages, wards, and constituencies to account for their past, tell us about the future and all our dashed hopes and unkept promises of the past. They must tell us why we do not have power, and our refineries are non functional. They will also have to explain to us why our roads have become death traps. They will have to tell us why our hospitals are death bays and why our education sector has deteriorated so badly. They have to tell us why factories and manufacturing companies have closed down, and we have lost our jobs. They will explain to us why our police are ill equipped, demoralized and poorly paid and why armed robbers and violent criminals hold sway in our country and terrorize our homes and banks. They will have to tell us why we do not have pipe borne water and why pure water sachets pose an environmental hazard. Above all, let them tell us how their stewardship has improved the lot of the people of Nigeria.I believe Nigeria can indeed change for the better.
In Nigeria, we are been governed by (probably) people who don't have a manifesto during campaign. For most of them, their speeches was written for them and they were completely oblivious of the content even if it's a seven point agenda. It's only in this country that someone can be a governor for 21 months without winning an election (and many thanks to INEC for many states and LGAs), a stolen mandate. What do you expect from the legislature who find his way into office by the help of INEC corrupt boss, do you want such executive, or legislature to speak / remove such good friend? I don’t really expect much from the house (both lower & Upper). My fellow Nigerian, we have a constitutional defect, we don't have a law. The people that instituted our law have created loop holes as their own survivor mechanism. I was so disturbed when I had that larger percentage of Tax payer’s money (almost half) is being used to pay the legislatures and to sustain their glutton salary, subsidy from petroleum has to be remove. That's why they did not speak for us. we elected them to represent us, but they forgot that, they didn't even raise a finger. We are doom to perish except and except God have mercy on us. When the legislative collects over a trillion naira, we are in deep mess. In Lagos state alone, the salary of ten (10) state political appointees can pay the whole Lagos state teacher's salary, then you wonder are we in democracy or just deceives the whole world?
Land use act charge is about N60,000 per house/year in Lagos state. About 4 years ago I contributed N10,000 to purchase a transformer for my street since the state said my area is not in their allocation budget. Unfortunately for me, thanks to PHCN who destroyed the transformer and now we have to purchase another transformer at the tune of N20,000 per house or wait till 2011 election when Fashola will promise us a new one if we vote him to power. We pay VAT every seconds on call, water, PHCN bill, transportation, feeding even for the air we breathe. We are double taxed at all sides. The irony of the matter is that we have a government who doesn't care about the welfare of his people.!!!! Our president is sleeping. His advisers brings him concepts on his sick bed and he approved them.
It remain me of event that transpired in France when the rioting citizen of Paris took their destiny in their hand (movie “Man in the Iron Mask”). The president is saving enough money for the day of trouble (I guess), people are starving, you don’t even need a binoculars to know that the people you preside on are starving to death. Houses that have legitimate C of O are being destroyed by government we elected. Nigerians wake up!!!!!. This is economic sabotage. After all Mallam El-rufai was given award by international community for destroying our houses in Abuja and the senate found him guilty of grievous offence. Where we they then? Many of them were in position when the man was committing such atrocities.
Everything that has a government hands in it doesn't work in this country. Some even "willed" national assets to their generation like in case of NITEL/Transcorp. It's a country where anything goes. The last hope of a common man might be the judiciary, who is also compromised because they are still under the government. Have you not heard that a Governor removed a CJ just the night before 7 man panel was inaugurated. We don’t have a Law. We a need a Law that can withstand both good and bad time. The latest and highest corrupt position in Lagos is Police and Lastma. I think in develop country, you will be booked and allow to continue your journey for traffic offence. Thanks to FRSC. But our Government has empower Lastma and Police to be uncivilized. Government trained them to be corrupt. We aren’t dumb, everybody even the police should be encourage to bill traffic offenders. The truth is we don’t even have database. Government has bad advisor who take political appointment to fill their belly. Through out the world, Tax are being cut, but here in Nigeria tax is been raised. Government are creating incentives, but here they are removing subsidy. People are losing jobs, salary are been cut by employer of Labour. People are in debt. and finally, we have a government that has no concern, a government that is only concerned about how to meet his target at the expense of the welfare of the people. Most of them has not read history of Nigeria, how the founding fathers of this great nation invested in other areas of economy and made great gain. I remember that I wasn’t paying school fees and was using free stationeries when I was in primary school in Ogun state courtesy of Chief Obafemi Awolowo. This country had great investment in Cocoa, Rubber plantation, and other stuffs, but they are all gone. vanished into the thin air. The Government know the solution concerning police, lastma, thief and others. But they will never implements a good concept because they benefits from it. Recently, a convoy of an highly respected political appointee ran into a car from behind on oshodi’s bridge, from all indications, they were guilty of traffic offence and nobody can arrest them. They bundled the driver into their van and left with his vehicle. Everybody was surprised at the height of this inhumane attitude.
The truth is that we have a Law that empower the Government to loot treasury, labour of hardworking Nigerians, who has no voice. They implements double taxation and speed across the street, terrorizing innocent civilians who elected them into power.
I doubt it if any of the Political Appointees has the interest of the people in heart. If there is any one of them, let him challenge me. I don’t want anyone to write speeches for them, I want a face to face discussion. They are all coward. It's only in my country that I discovered that we don't have Law that governs the daily living of the citizen.
I have a lot to say, and I’ve written this in haste, will definitely put my option on the pages of a major newspaper very soon. We can't all be silent and I hope the press is not compromised.
only and when the likes of obasanjo are either sent back to jail or properly tried and hanged that we can be talking of a proper rule of law. He and some others(IBB etc) are still behind all this)
You really want to know what I think? I think those boys in khaki should make an appearance ... I guess i concur with the 'brigandage' Wole S. has been talking about. I would sell my nationality on E- bay if anyone would touch it with a 6 foot pole!
Please lets be certain here that not anyone related to the people's democratic party is behind this. I must state here that i am not a politician neither am i backing another party yet, but i must say the evil ways of the PDP is putting our democracy at great risk. It will be very good to allow Nigerians in diaspora to vote and lets also hope the PDP will not dole out public funds to influence them also as that is very possible with the way the government is being run by the PDP led government. For instance we all are aware of what the 'almighty' Ndi-okereke did in the name of supporting Obama, apparently that was the PDP mentality she was displaying. We have too many sick people in the body polity in our great country Nigeria. We llok forward to God's intervention in the very imemdiate future.
God will not and will never intervene until we step out in faith. The silence of the people and our inability to activate our will into action has fueled the situation in Nigeria. It will not change either now or in the future unless the people refuse to take it any more. There is no need to rehearse the situation in Nigeria here because we all are aware of it, the focus should be; since we know the situation, what do we do? Must we sit and complain like we have for the past 40 something years?
I support WIND OF CHANGE to go ahead with the petition. Every Nigerians any where in the world, should be allowed to VOTE and support Good Governance and Developmetal Policies which will align Nigeria with Western World. Nigeria needs urgent Change especially in ELECTORAL REFORM, POVERTY, EDUCATION, CORRUPTION......especially at both Execuitve Level and the entirety of the Nigerian people as a Nation. I will join my fellow Nigerians, especially those of you who have chosen to make this issue their personal Affairs, by devoting their Time, Money, and other valuable resources to FAST /PRAY .......FERVENTLY......and above all, live by example.......Together we can Achieve it!!!! Mathew Nwokwu, Ohaukwu LGA, Ebonyi State Nigeria. +2347039034002, mat4twins@yahoo.com.
There is a saying "The Camera Never Lies" so is this pictures.
IMAGINE THIS!
African Leaders At The UN summit. NO WONDER THE INFLATION RATE IN ZIMBABWE IS 2.5 MILLION % When they were deliberating on energy and power, they were sleeping.
When they were deliberating on economic development, they were sleeping.
When they deliberated on food security, they were asleep.
When they fixed interest rate on debtor's (African) loans, they were asleep.
When they deliberated on conflict resolution through dialogue they were already snoring.
They only woke up, to support motion for adjournment and signed the communiqué. Of course!, they need rest, they worked tirelessly back home clamping down their opponents and critics. They Spent the night strategizing on the next move to subdue their opponents. Back home airports were closed 2hrs before their arrival, motor-ways were blocked 1hr ahead, Armed Policemen stood guard 8hrs before arrival. Rented crowd clamoured under sun to cheer them up, WHAT HAVE THEY BROUGHT HOME?
I don't really know wat is really happening to Nigerians who says they are in the Diaspora carrying a petition about saying they want to start voting. When people stay too much in the cold..does it affect the brain or human's thinking? In Nigeria, where even the Nigerians at home are manipulated of their votes and being denied fighting for it. Is that where you who does not even know what the ballot box looks like that would vote that you would not be manipulated or use that means to inflate the choice of INEC, INCUBENT, or a GOD FATHER and not the choice of you who voted?
I have always said that one major problem with Nigerians our way of thinking. There is no country in the world who began with a perfect electoral process.
There were periods, when votes were bought and sold openly in some of the world powers of today. It is true that it was not only the vote of the blacks that got Obama elected, but he couldn't have won without their support. However, the rights for the blacks to vote was earned many years ago.
It is a backward thinking that everyone should wait for Nigeria to emerge with a clean cut electoral process before we contend for our right to vote. If those at home do not know how to fight for their votes, may-be those in the Diaspora will lead the way. Besides, the Diaspora voting centers will be the only centers where no one will emerge with guns and start shooting in the air.
thanks Chidi for your response. i coudl not have put it better. we seem to think a perfect nation will just emerge from the sky. people make up the nation and until we all play our role Nigeria will not emerge a great nation. you can't have 30million of your children in diaspora unable to participate in the process of selecting a leader in thier country. we'll get there and i know God is on our side.
in any case our fight is much more than Diaspora vote. it is for the entire 2011 elections. why don't you join and make your contributions instead of seeing only the negatives in what others do.
Allowing Nigerians in the Diaspora to vote has the potential to provide a mass of votes that will not be subject to some of the problems experienced with voting at home, but we must also be talking of reforming the electoral processes and institutions themselves. One, we must have a system whereby figures can be announced at each polling centre rather than only beingannounced at some central location. two, electoral violence and other malpractices need to be criminalized.
i believe its time we start organizing ourselves into a formidable movement. lets all come out and do that which the time demands of us. Let every man, woman, boy and girl aware of this movement rise and take back this nation. My fellow citizens its time to rise and act.
I think it is time to drop the jaw-jaw and pick up on the do-do. The upcoming conference, which I got notice of, is a step in the right direction. However, I think it is always right and wise to strike while the iron is hot; we should extend this conference to include a rally in all the major cities of Nigeria, f we can coordinate it well. let the masses, the grassroots know that there are still ordinary people who care what Nigeria is and what we want it to become. We do not need a Soyinka in our midst to make this happen, all we need is a collective will and the commitment. Let us rally together and take back our country from those who do not want good for our beloved country. The time is right...
Hey Gentlemen! As youths of this great country, we need to take a revolutionary change. We can do this through creating new ideas for a change. Such ideas and creativity that will indicate the "can-do" in us. Let us raise issues at all conferences, proffer solutions and create implementation plans. I like the idea of a magazine and police challenges. We must use the tools to educate people on our belief in a New Nigeria otherwise we'd appear like the old clanging gong with much talk and no action. See you in Unilag next month.
I wish to commend the Leadership and Cordinators of the New Nigerian Alliance,(NNA), for their strong commitments & high sense of patriotism. Congratulations Sirs, for the successful organisation and hosting of the National Youth Development Conference which took place yesterday at the University of Lagos Conference Center. As 2011 beckons , we implore all Nigerian Youths to say NO to selfish & self-centered politicians, irrespective of their tribe,tongue or religion. God bless our Motherland.
I really got informed through the seminar about how our so called leaders use our ignorance about elections and voting to put in thier candidate.I as a person would like to be the speaker of the house of representative,but how can i pursue this dream when people and the nation dont crave for change.
WHAT AN EYE-SORE AT IDUMOTA-BRIDGE-MOUTH!
With all gov. fasola special task forces on traffick control on Lagos island motorists spend 2-3hrs from LAGOS CENTRAL MOSQUE on Nnamdi Azikwe st to otto due to non-chalant attitude of the DANFO BUSES(YELLOW COMMERCIAL BUSES) AND OKADA RIDERS AT THE MOUTH OF IDUMOTA BRIDGE.The worrisome thing is that at this point you will see policemen,CBD officers,KAI officers,LASTMA officers and the zero-tolerant task force men all having a field day with NURTW boys causing motorists to waist valuable man hour on this spot everyday,FASHOLA PLEASE SAFE LAGOS!
Though I appreciate U guys efforts,,but guys,Nigerians ve been so badly twisted and mangled in d way dey THINK,,
Virtually everybody has been infected with the deadly virus called CORRUPTION in Nigeria, from the leaders to the academician down to the people withing the ministries.
My father of blessed memory retired as a Secondary school principal in the year 1996. He never received anything like pension nor his gratuity. In 1998 or 1999, he started to receive his pension after spending a lot of money on so called processing fee, even not excluding office messanger who will bend on taking monetary reward before he will dispatch file to another office. Because of all these long suffering from travelling between Ibadan and Oshogbo affected his health seriously. I went to Oshogbo in company of my brother to appeal to the then permernent secretary Mrs Obembe.
I was there in her office crying like a baby begging them to help us so that at least we can able to pay for my father`s hospital bills. Eventually, 18 000 naira was released to us from almost 200 000 naira. My dad could not recover from that sickness and finally, he gave up the ghost in the year 2001.
Average Nigerian working on the street has a tendency to be selfish, greedy and wicked.
I will quickly brief you about my second experience. It happened to my youngest brother. He sat for his JAMB in 2002 and was on the first ten of those who were admitted on merit to study Electrical and Electronics engineering in Federal polytechnic Ede. While the registration was still going on, we went there to do his registration only to be shocked with the news from admission officer that he thought that with his brilliant o level result and one of the highest JAMB score, he may not want to pursue technical education. He told us that department was full already only if HOD of that department will guaranttee him of a space. We were in HOD office, He was very surprised and accepted that he will allow him to attend the course. We came back to admission officer and gave him letter from HOD only to throw his HOD letter away. We finally end up in registrer office where we were begged and gave an option of Building technology instead. He relunctantlly accepted the new offer but to prove to them that he never got his score through the back door, he graduated with distinction grade and now in his final year in the University of Ibadan studying Civil engineering and now almost in his first class level.
We must try as much as possible to educate and orientate people why it is necessary to put the right people in a right position. Look at China today, they convert their population to their advantage. They encourage productivity and checked their galloping population effectively.
Will I be alife to see a Nigeria where decisions are taken based on merit not ethnicity, religion and tribe. When will basic infrastructure begin to work in Nigeria, when will numerous slumbs begin to transform, when will real leaders and not rogues emerge in positions of responsibility? The future is very blink/dark, It tend towards hopelessness. The darkness is so thick that for light rays to penetrate appears impossible.
Just tell me when one can win election based on ideas he/she profess without imposition from god fathers. When will stealing and broad day robbery in our ministries stop? when? when & when?
A true change takes a patriotic commitment. It takes courage, determination and hardwork. The change that happened in America was because, Obama was dedicated, courageous and self determined. He made Americans know why change must emerged. Public awareness is the key to possible change. If you see what happened recently in Edo State (I read on paper), where people turn-up enmass to celebrate Oshiomole's victory at the Appeal Court. You will know that our people are tired with the long poverty stage, they need change. They were enlightened during Oshiomole's campaign that they need a Government that will see into their problems and get them out of the meltdown. We must be up-and-doing, commit all our resources and energe towards public enlightenment for us to actualise this dream. You will never know our people are in total disarray unless you visit other nations. We really need change and we need it more now before our population hits 200 million. It is not over, until it is over.
Thank you.
Amos Mathias
University of Nottingham, Malaysia Campus.
Together we can make the change happen, afterall, it took the Israelites 'the blowing of trumphet and walking round the walls of Jericho to bring the walls down'.
A single stick of broom can never sweep clean any floor, but the collection of sticks of broom. Together, we can do it!
CAN WE DO IT?!!! YES WE CAN!!!!
God bless the Federal Republic of NIGERIA.
Roosevelt said that everyman wants to change the world but would not change himself.
Think about this, the change begins from you...
yours in the project for a better Nigeria
I think this is the strategy of this association: That change must start from every one of us. Read the welcome page very well. Only changed Nigerians can change Nigeria. You cannot offer what you do not have. We must begin this change by becoming very responsible citizens of our dear country. When you break the law, you give someone an opportunity to demand bribe from you. We must all be very law abiding citizens, this is the only thing that gives us the right to demand and fight for change.
I'm with you!!
If Adam OShiomole can reclaim his mandate there is hope we can do it.
The change we deserve needs to come FAST. Less talk, more action.
The newnigerianalliance site managers need to do a lot to get the hit rate up- leverage facebook, hi5. Post the link on commentary on stories in online dailies.
Make the site more fun and interactive- Cull interesting stories from newspapers and ask readers their opinions and suggestions
Have a "Good deed of the day" email/ post sent to members. Suggest one thing that members could do to make nigeria a better place- it could be as simple as stopping in traffic for another motorist.
LETS GET STARTED NOW!!!
Another suggestion I have is that the domain name for this website should have been a .org instead of a .com, a .com often denotes a commercial entity while a .org is the known tld for organisations. I checked and the .org variation of this domain name is still vacant, so if it is possible I can grab it and donate it to the group for the domain to be changed to a .org. This aside, I also think that despite the fact that we should encourage more people to be aware of our group, I am of the opinion that we should be wary of wolves in sheep's clothing who may come to disorganise us and throw some spanners into our works in order to make us disoriented and lose focus. The existing leadership in the country and their cohorts have the wherewithal to effect such strategies against us, hence we must be wary.
Thank you all and GOD bless.
we must be ready to do something and i have started one, lets start with petitions to the senate and see the result
I started on to ask for the Justice minister and IG of police to resign.
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/order08/petition.html
Lets see ,if the senate would act like one of them too, then would know the list of people that doesn't like our beloved country Nigeria.
Thanks
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/order08/petition.html
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/order08/petition.html
Having gone through most comments, I picked sth important - we can all start by obeying simple rules and regulations. It is a difficult thing to achieve in Nigeria, it'll take time but it can happen. Traffic signals, waste disposal, dropping rubbish on our roads, not concenting to bribery, etc. little things as such do make a difference.
A simple case study: The FCT Government has almost completely transformed ABUJA which most of us are aware of. Shopping malls look almost like what we have here abroad, they've installed new, effective and well-maintained infrastructures. Believe it or not, there are certain things (common in other cities in Nigeria) that you or myself dare not do in the 'heart' of ABUJA.
So, why on earth do we think that these 'people in high places' cannot achieve these successes in other cities??
It is very possible ONLY if THE SAME STRATEGIES AND THE SAME PEOPLE can be utilised other cities..POLICES AND the rest can be put in place for these to happen unfortunately they are not allowing 'Young , Upcoming and Law abiding Nigerian citizens to take up these positions that can bring about change.
Point 1: ELECTRICITY
What on earth is happening to Nigeria in terms of electricity? I heard a N40b project which launched our statellite to space failed for some reasons. This is ridiculous.
BELEIVE IT OR NOT, NEPA IS THE NUMBER ONE PROBLEM NIGERIA HAS UP UNTIL TODAY.
If our president decides to forget about evertyother duty and focus on electricity for his whole term, you and I will be in a better ploace tomorrow.
Electricity / energy is the number one driver of any country's economy. If this is problem remains, Nigeria will remain stagnant, unfortunately.
Point 2: National security is a FUNDAMENTAL issue in Nigeria.
These policemen are not paid well enough, they are not paid ON TIME, not provided with simple / basic needs that will enable them perform effectively on their duties! nevertheles, they are not TRAINED appropriately. Where does that lead us to: bribery, corruption - they will work directly with corrupt governors instead of working AGAINST them thereby violating their posts but who cares! their leaders don't care as long as they are protected.
These people have now become enemies to Nigerian citizens whom they should protect, they kill without orders, they rob without any considerations. You and I can end up dead if they commence their ruthless shootings.
Point 3 POVERTY: the gap between the rich and the poor in Nigeria is something that I cannot talk about HERE owing to the time it'll take to unleash even some recent revelations I actually saw on a british television. This issue alone, can be a focus for a ' whole 4-year term in government'
Point 4 JOBS: to my fellow Nigerian Graduates, I weep for una almost everytime I hear stories about where people are working simply because they have to make ends meet.
If only your stae government can actually use their allocated budjets to commence public projects in their states, everyone will have jobs! period.
As long as similar faces remain on the high places in our Nation, I really don't think that our voices will be heard..even if it gets heard, It wouldn't be given any attention. Democracy has failed.
I came to this site and saw with elation that there are still some Nigerians who are not part of the crowd. I hereby pledge my entire strength, and all I have (no matter how little) towards the struggle to bring about change in the polity by sensitization, leadership by example and any other decent and law abiding means that can be used to achieve the aims of this struggle.
Thank you all and GOD bless.
The problem with us is so clear,we can overcome if we have the right attitude and patience to fight on for victory.
We Nigerians back home lives in high level of segregation among us.I believe that this fight for change should start from bridging the gap among various ethincities is Nigeria.Lets make our people have an understanding that we can still be together and live as one.
The struggle begins from here building the spirit of oneness ,a country where the Hausas ,Igbos& Yorubas will see eachother as one not a nation where some group believe so much that they are the only one that have the capability to to lead this wonderful nation.
God Bless
Politics, though a game of numbers, requires strategies and it is imperative we begin to strategise at this moment. Some of these are not achievable on the net. Most political groups start off as social organisations until you build a stronghold before you venture into full politics. Presenting the NNA, in your interview, as a political organisation, at this tender age is a poor strategy. This is because oppositions will seriously work to frustrate us. Strong political strategies are drawn on the boards/tables & not on the net. We need some more cohesion for the sake of this cause.
You know what? Nigeria is a country blessed with fabulous orators, and most at times, with hidden intentions.
I have already bought the idea that this movement can bring change if it is not changed by its initiator/s.
I hope I made myself clear?
the nigeria of my dreams is a nigeria whereby someone can wake up and i mean even the destitute on the street and bhe sure of threee meals. how do we get to this level is a diff story,,but one thing for sure is that to get there,,wwe need a radical change in our orientation,,it might be too late in our time,,but for the unborn and our children,,it is our duty to mould them in a way that says u must put ur society first before urself...ask what u can do for ur society,,,we c an start that and maybe in our childrns or grandchildrens lifetime,,they would see the nigeria we all dream about
Thank God for this group dat desires a change in Nigeria,but pls I BEG DO SOMETHING TO SCRAP NYSC,PLS FAST,they are just embezzling money,its got no real meaning again,maybe if their wasnt NYSC,those corp members dat died in Jos wuld still be alive,pls do something fast,plssssssssssssssss,its the 1st thing to abort pls,its really important,thanks.
My worry is how the votes will be secured. We are now unable to secure votes cast insitu from massive rigging and manipulation, and we are proposing to compound our sorry problems.
I would proposed we employ this energy to enact enforceable laws that can guarentee us a peaceful,rigfree and fair election. Establish structures that will make online voting feasible in future.
From this position we can move to higher ideals.
Our electoral failures are not due to non inclusion of Nigerians outside our shores
I will be passing on the info to other sites that we Nigerians gather to share our views,let each and every one of us pass on the news because that is the only way we can bring back Nigeria alive
My comment is purely on the appearance of your site. The site is boring. Please get more professional advice on how to make this noble site more attractive and user friendly. The domain name is too long for normal people to navigate to.
Please get some technical advice from professional web designers in order to keep this worthy course going.
Nigeria's flag stands out amongst nations as the only one depicting its agricultural strength, however this has become a story of old as we have been completely dwarfed by our baby sister countries who now thrive in agric exports with international communities while we've abandoned this area and focused on the easiest way of selfishly gotten and mismanaged source of wealth oil.
maybe weshould now change to black, white, black,(where d black reps. oil)
How I wish a God gives us a man who will focus on the true needs of the people and give us a reason to be proud to return and work for the greatness of the nation. A man who will focus on people related projects like low income govt. subsidised SOCIAL HOUSING rather than building hotels, golf courses, stadia or high income apartments specially for the rich who hav had an opportunity to steal!. only this way can we tackle the menece of growing slums and shanty towns slowly taking over various cities and areas of the beautiful nation.
I think it wlll be another step towards sending a message that you cannot conduct a highly discredited election and still go scot-free
Immunity Clause
It should not be removed from rotecting the current President, VP Governor and Depute Governor because they need to do their job.
The constitution has a provision that if they commit crime and violates the law, the legislative arm of the government could address the issue and ask to be removed in accordance to the law and the constitution.
Unfortunately these are the set back of Demoractics system of government
And they could be impleach.
More recently, the frustration cum humiliation meted out to the embattled ex-chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu. There is no denial of the fact that, the former EFCC helmsman might have been selective in his duties during the era of president 'do-or-die', besides, that he was used to witch-hunt the presumed political opponents of Obj,the fact still remain that some level of sanity was put into the polity. After all, his(Ribadu) antecedents in the Nigerian Police Force showed he had a very clean record coupled with diligence and dedication to duty.
Now that the powers that be are done with Nuhu Ribadu, their next target is the one-time Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Mallam Nasru El-Rufai who was recently figured. Fine, so many people were displaced with his 'Restoration of Abuja Master-Plan' slogan, if not for him, Abuja by now would have been another 'Lagos' or 'Port-Harcourt'. Just imagine the relent efforts of Gov. Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos aimed at sanitising Lagos and its environs.
One now begins to wonder if at all it is worth it the decision of any youth in Nigeria wants to be patriotic. Instead of that, you are victimized and made a toothless bulldog. Or how can you describe the immediate past Director-General of National Food, Drug, Administration and Control, NAFDAC, prof. Dora Akunyili who was made the Minister of Information and Communication? Just like somebody said in one of the dailies that the similitude is like making a defender an attacker. Was she sent their to comb the activities of these GSM operators who are in the country to exploit Nigerians, esp the MTN Nigeria or to go there and amass wealth just her predecessors like, John Odeh, Frank Nweke Jnr.
Sincerely speaking, resolute minds had better rise up and form a formidable front spread across the country to take our destiny into our hands
Its a pity that the 140 million population is not having power access not even Internet access to share their opinion and utter their view but every they we try to emulate OBAMA's idea , we fail woefully.
The reason we allow comments on the website is to receive not only encouragements but ideas and suggestions, as well as constructive criticisms. You posted an unsubstantiated comment here. For the record, while we are encouraged by Obama’s audacity and example, this association and its ideology existed before he began his campaign of change. It is how inferior we value ourselves as Africans that makes us think, every effort is copied from the western world. If we had the same platform, you probably would have heard about this movement before knowing Obama.
Secondly, it is apparent from your comments that you hold the solution to the Nigerian problem; we encourage you to start the move. Your sitting down behind a PC and tearing down other people’s efforts will not get us anywhere. Please we encourage you to constructively spend your time to build and not to tear down. Start the movement, initiate the cause and if it will lead to change inNigeria
While we leave this forum open for people to post comments, we would remove any comment we consider offensive to us, and to the public. The problem we have as a people is to think that everybody who stands to seek a way out is looking for a personal gain. This association is founded on the philosophy that a good Nigeria must not translate into personal gain for a few people. All we are seeking for is a Nigeria that works for every one. The reason we are not publishing names on this website is because this association is not centered on promoting any individual. Instead of spending time posting comments accusing us on evil intentions, why not test out our intentions, why not tell us what you think we can do to make it better.
I am very happy and a bit sad to some response about comments posted by me and others, but this would not deter me in expressing my views of issues on this website, because i believe that freedom of expression is a right,which all individual should at least have.
Whether comments are deleted on not someday, we as (comrades) would all have our say be it now or later but very soon.
For us to be able to have ideals that would work for our beloved country (Nigeria) we must be able to express our views and opinion about matter and without insulting or pointing accusing fingers to someone or a particular group because that would only slow our project down and cause chaos. (offensive comments are not allowed anywhere in order to maintain discipline.)
As part of the response to my last comment here, i was suggested to by the organizers to make a move in starting a group to discuss issues,which i believe could solve some problems in Nigeria and i must say, i would accept it with all due respect and start this moment with some keys issues, which i see as the beginning of most problems in Nigeria.
I would repeat before i start, i am not politically motivated by any group now but as an individual, a critic, who sees thing in the view of my age group and masses.
Education : As at 1994 when i started my secondary school, many parents where bribing for their wards to get a better result, so they could attend most government boarding school, which is believed to be the best in the country.
We sometimes ignore the fact of small this which could create danger to us as a person and our community in general, because bribing for a 12/13year old ward to pass an examination would only make that child lazy and irresponsible ,which would then use this means in getting to high places in the society, which would then lead to massive corruption and embezzlement.
Do we ever wonder, why many politicians shiver,when it comes to verifying their certificates and result? many knows that their educational background is shaky as a result of malpractices done in the past,which hunts then now.
Also, one of the dangers of examination malpractice, is that it create discrimination between the well-to-do in the society and the average or poor ones. I'll give an example
When this parents bribe for their children to be able to get into better government secondary school ignoring the average ones without money to get theirs into those school,this create a separation between them ,which would eventually affect both sides in the nearest future.
This also affect our educational system as a way of solving problems in our society,whereby the good brains are not encouraged by the system to be able to show their abilities.
Do we ever ask ourselves,why many brilliant nigerian students don't come and work in Nigeria, wherever they are overseas? just simple they are gifted and can't bribe to show thier talents, so they prefer to stay where they are accepted because of their intelligence.
I could go one with about 100 reasons,why this minor issue affects us and is a result of the state of the country,we are in today.
Whatever we do as citizen of Nigeria, we should always respect others and play by the rule of the game and if we all good, we win and if not we just take it.
I believe we need to do more on improving our educational standards as this would enlightening the masses to be informed and independent.
One of the issues i thought about, when writing this piece is,
How many people in Nigeria and oversea am i reaching to and what are their opinion to this matter? surly a few hundred as millions are deprived the basic amenities of life,which a responsible system of government should assure its citizens.
As a conclusion to this topic,which affects us, i would like us to be an example to our kids ,and generations to come in shunning such practices (which are called Help) and other would take it as an example.
Lastly, i figured out on how we could reach many Nigerians and this i would explain in my next blog and i hope devoted individuals, would donate resources to help project our course.
Please feel free to comment on this topic and share your view.
Thanks and Long live Nigeria.
Edward
In view to my last blog on, how we could reach many Nigerian as possible in order for them to express their opinions and make contributions, i found out about a system of relaying information from websites to mobile phones and vice versa on a course, which i am currently attending.
This involves people contributing using Sms and reciving updated Sms too.
This information system is called Microblogging and this could serve many Nigerians contributing to this website, because of the minimal internet access in Nigeria and thou
For us to be able to use this service of Microblogging, i would find a consultant, who can explain to us on, how we could build a Microblogging site and how people in Nigeria can contribute for free, inorder to increase their chances of contribution.
Thanks and hope to hear from anyone intrested in this little project.
Edward J.
Edward,
the problems of Nigeria are many and if we say we can tackle them all at once we only deceive ourselves. We must have a strategic plan for success and we cannot react to situations and hope to win or lead our people out of bondage. the fundamental issue with Nigeria centers around leadership. we have identified that we need to find a way to put governments that represents the people in place and somehow give the power to the people so the politicians know it is not in their hands to decide who rules us. If we succeed we would have forced them to come to us with programs and answer to our many problems otherwise they will never get to office. this is why we are focused on 2011. the Diaspora vote petition is just one aspect of our fight for the greatest Nigerian election we will have in 2011. let's take one step at a time. we will not fix Nigeria overnight and we must be focused in our struggle but we welcome all ideas because there is wisdom is multitude of counsel. Thanks brother and keep your fire burning
Ime
you seem to have a lot of fire. That's good but do remember we all don't think alike and there are many who want the problems facing then in Nigeria right now to be taken care of. we must tkae time to listen to them and also let them understand that we must have a focused and united front if we ever hope to win and remove the evil that has kept us bound as a nation
Thanks for your response, even if you didn't understand my contribution well and bashed me like a truck from Nomansland.
As i have mentioned earlier that my contribution because on me as an ordinary individual, who see things they way they are and share my views about a major problem in Nigeria.
We can only achieve our aim in fighting corruption to the highest level in discussing such small issues and how they develop to big ones.
If we ignore all these small issues such as examination malpractice , which destroy our society, we would never achieve any goal in the fight against corruption.
Why i used examination malpractice as an example, because i believe a sound educational background could help in a nation's development.
As i told you before, i am not politically motivated and as you stated my link to Nigeria is reports from my trusted relatives in Nigeria and trusted new agencies, i don't mean punchontheweb.com and others alike.
Please, do make a meaningful contribution rather than sit there and tear down my own thoughts and ideals,maybe you could suggest in your opinion,how we could tackle corruption in Nigeria without discussing such issues ?
I await your opinion on tackling corruption in Nigeria.
Thanks and hope to hear form you soon
Edward J.
i sent a response to your initial blog. like i said before we have to take one step at a time. there is so much to fix and we must have a plan to win. God bless you sir
Debola
Fellow Nigerians,
There is no gainsaying the fact that our people at home and in the Diaspora earnestly seek for TRUE CHANGE in our motherland, A Change that will reflect positively on the well being of all her citizens…… an urgent Change from the old political fables repeatedly told by our two-faced Politicians who say one thing during the campaign and do another thing once in office. A drastic Change that will eliminate the canker of corruption that has eaten deep into all levels of our Government, communities, families and individual lives, and has turned us to a laughing stock and a nation of no tomorrow.
The time has come for us to have a moment of deep and honest sober reflection, to say unrepentant NO to our individual and collective ills that stunted our growth as a nation over the years and turned the once giant of Africa into a limping elephant. The time has come for us, East, West, North, and South to discontinue our contending against one another, from being willing tools and victims to manipulative and self-seeking political class, and other anti-democratic forces...., but must be joined together, must be restored to a unified mind, propelled by unselfish thoughts and actions, strive for mutual goodwill in the midst of our ethnic and religious differences.
Now is the time for us to rise to majestic height of patriotism and dynamic leadership through a civilised electoral system. The campaign for that honest and undying spirit of brotherhood in one United Nigeria is now or never. It is never too late to try.
Tell your neighbours today, voice it loud to every Nigerian you know, trumpet it from the roof tops, person to person, friend to friend, community to community, state to state, tell all about this ultimate Change that will enthrone an action loaded Government OF the People of Nigeria BY the people of Nigeria and FOR the people of Nigeria. The Hope of a re-born Nigeria we all longed for is now alive and kicking.
The Wind of Change is blowing ferociously in Nigeria and you must to be part of it. This massive movement is propelled by patriotic NIGERIANS for ALL NIGERIANS, and you cannot afford to sit on the fence. We all must remain doggedly determined in the campaign and struggle for a New Nigeria. The noble drive to re-born our motherland must be a collective responsibility.
From little acorn, grow mighty oaks. I am convinced more than ever that this patriotic call for Change is real and unstopable, hence, the need for massive and persistent, but non-violent actions to liberate Nigeria from the deadly claws of corruption, abject poverty and shameful degradation caused by decades of mis-rule and unpatriotic leadership. The goal is reachable, the possibilities are limitless, and together we will make it happen.
Don`t forget, Nigeria na our country and we must do better for am
God bless us all.
God bless Nigeria.
**********************************************************
A man who stands for nothing will fall for anything
May God continue to bless your patriotic heart. it is a bit difficult to make out most of what you wrote becuase of the hyperlinks. please can you repost it or send us a mail with details of the summit. we support any good and patriotic initiative to improve our country. mail to
aajagunna@newnigerianalliance.com or
info@newnigerianalliance.com
To be continued....
CORRUPTION: A GLOBAL PHENOMENON
AN INSIGHT
“…Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men…There is no worse ‘heresy’ than that the office sanctifies the holders of it”. The above statement, though often misquoted as ‘…Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely’, were the popular words of that of Lord Acton (1834-1902), a British Historian, on April 3, 1887 in his ‘Letter to Bishop Mandell Creighton’. That corruption has wrecked a lot of havoc in almost all our spheres of life is an understatement. Taking the Nigeria as a case study as in the case of most countries of the world, the hydra-headed syndrome has battered very seriously our national psyche. There is virtually no part of our sectors that is not corruption ridden! A cankerworm that has eaten very deeply into the fabrics of our social, economic, political, security, educational even religious life to mention but a few. The effects of which now manifest itself in various dimensions in all our polities. So has it threatened the very essence of the world existence.
GLOBAL VIEW
Corruption is no doubt not only a Nigerian phenomenon, it is global and as a matter of fact, it dated back to time immemorial. William Blake (1757-1827), British Poet, in one his poems “Auguries of Innocence” wrote: ‘…Corruption, the strongest poison ever known, came from Caesar’s Laurel Crown…’ Even though it can be said to be as old as man himself, the malice from ages seems inextinguishable! Countries world wide had either been faced with the wide spread of one form of corruption or the other. Reminiscing on the history of the United States in the past through the recent times assert that fact. The Watergate scandal involving president Richard Nixon (1967-1974) where there was a burglary on June 17, 1972 on the offices of the Democratic National Committee apartment, Washington DC-a visible political opponent. This act was seen as espionage against political opponent. Or the most recent involving former US president, Bill William Jefferson Clinton and the White House intern, Monica Lewinsky in December 1998, what came out of the saga except the cover up by the Senate after the House of Representative had found him culpable!
The other time there were some agitations from some quarters that why would the erstwhile Nigerian president, Chief Aremu Olusegun Obasanjo build a presidential library in his Ota farm. I do not know why people make so much ado about nothing, after all the man in question had a role model in the person of one time US president, Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-1945) who did same by building a presidential library in his home, Hyde Park, a town in Eastern New York on the Hudson River. The former president had so many qualities and attitudes to emulate from him, little wonder why he was so desperate in his third term ambition. Of course, his role model’s constant amendment of the constitution to return himself as the US president for the fourth time (which suffered set back) was enough instigation for him to rigorously pursue his ambition. Nigerians saw the aftermath of the ambition’s still birth when he, not only amended his party’s sacrosanct constitution to return himself as the ‘life chairman’ of the board of trustees, thereby dethroning his bosom ally, Chief Tony Anenih, but also planted his stooges to contest elections which were going to be a ‘do-or-die’ affair.
But wait; is it true that ‘Demo’ is really crazy? Harrison W. Fox, Jr., US author in his book “Doing Business in Washington”, which he co-written with Martin Schnitzer said ‘…As long as we have a democratic system of government, there will be people seeking favors’. Thus, making sharp practices in government quarters inevitable. Greed is one of the factors responsible for the widespread of corruption, the example of which was seen recently in two of the African countries; Kenya and Zimbabwe. Many souls were lost to the uproar that greeted the general elections held in Kenya late December 2007 following the refusal of the government of the day to relinquish power to the opposition party after losing gallantly to same. The spirit of sportsmanship exhibited by the leader of the opposition, Raila Odinga saved the entire country from total ruin. Or is it that of Zimbabwean president, Robert J. Mugabe, who was the country’s first Prime Minister from 1980-1987, before becoming the president from same 1987 till date? One can not but wonder why would somebody who has ruled a country for more than twenty-seven (27) years want to perpetuate himself in power.
May be the continued existence of corruption in our midst is a confirmation of the words of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo when he said on August 14, 1975 that; ‘It will, I believe, be generally agreed that ERADICATION OF CORRUPTION from any society is not just a difficult task, it is without dispute, an impossible objective.’ Seems as if political corruption were the most dread as evidenced in the words of a one time United States politician, George Washington Plunkit (1842-1924). His words: ‘The politician who steals is worse than a thief. He is a fool. With the grand opportunities all around for a man with political pull, there’s no excuse for stealin’ a cent.’ Now that the world at large seems inextricable from this virus, whither do we go from here? Do we take it that it (corruption) is a divine curse which can only be cured by same divine intervention? Or how do we place the words of US president Richard Nixon in a television interview that ‘…when the president does it, that means it is not illegal.’?
Kuan Yew Leed, Singaporean statesman has said it all when he said: ‘Once a political system has been corrupted right from the top leaders to the lowest rungs of the bureaucracy, the problem is very complicated. The cleansing has to start from top and go downwards in a thorough and systematic way’. When the head is corrupt, what happens to the subordinate? The Nigeria story is a pathetic one! Can the menace therefore be curbed when in actual fact there are no concerted efforts aimed at eradicating the problem except in the opinions submitted at seminars, workshops, and/or symposia? The government of the day is only but paying lip service to its acclaimed fight against corruption. Many examples abound in all the facets of our socio-economic life. The endemic is so worrisome that nobody seems to be free! Even the religious sphere might not likely be left out of the mess. After all, the Bible affirmed the presence of it when it says in 1 Timothy verse 6-10: ‘For the love of money is the root of all evils; which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.’ (King James Version).Thus the house of worship is not an exception. Once Jesus Christ was quoted as saying, while trying to drive the money changers out of the temple, ‘Is this house, which is called by name, become a den of robbers in your eyes! Behold, even I have seen it, saith the Lord-Jeremiah 7:11. Albeit, it has become a new world order.
THE NIGERIAN CASE
The Nigerian state is not in anyway an exception. An appraisal of the entire system reveals a cankerworm devouring the whole sectors. There is virtually no aspect of the economy which is not affected. The ravaging effect of this syndrome is manifested in the various revelations over the years since the emergence of the so-called nascent democracy in the year 1999. First was the #75 million peculation by the erstwhile Senate President, Late Senator Chuba Okadigbo in the name of ‘Sallah’ gift, then the #50 million bribery scandal against his successor, Chief Adolphus Wabara which ultimately led to his impeachment. Or is it the #628m contract scandal surrounding the ‘Etteh-Gate’ saga? There are myriads of serious financial impropriety that has bedeviled our dear nation through the handiwork of die-hard politicians and their accomplices. A continuous analysis of corruption in the Nigerian context reveals a cankerworm of all sorts. The recent power probe to the sum of N16b and the statement credited to the House Committee Chairman on power probe, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu. The health sector involving daughter of the erstwhile president, Senator Iyabo-Obasanjo Bello, that of former South-West PDP Chairman, Chief ‘Bode George in Nigerian Ports Authority. The list is exhaustive.
The peculiarity of the Nigerian case is the fact that the syndrome has affected all our spheres of life; religious, political, social, economic and whatever can be thought of. The sincerity on part of the government of the day in fighting corruption is another test to be taken to the laboratory for experiment.
There are many truths in what you have written. The problems of Nigeria are obvious to us all. i bet you a 10 yr old kid can points to so many rots in our society. Where i have a problem is seeing people complain forever and do nothing about it. The challenges facing us as a generation are not insurmountable. Now is the time to act to ensure we have the best election in 2011 and that the choice of the people becomes the leader. Our destiny is in our hands. A few days ago we rejoiced with another nation as they swore in a black president after years and years of discrimination. What challenges do we face today that the blacks in America did not face? Yet they stood up and took their destiny in their hands. what challenges do we face now that the generations of Nkurumah, Awolowo and Zik did not face? Yet they stood up and got us a free Africa. What will history remember our generation for? A generation of whiners and complainers or those who stood up to make the difference for Africa. Comon people it is time to do something and there is more than enough space within the laws to take our country back. A Nigerian generation did it in 1960 we can complete it now
thanks for your comments. We are going to get to the grass roots but the message will be different and something they can relate too. our focus is on the entire 2011 electoral process. we must give power to the people of Nigeria and anyone who wants to rule us must come and seek our votes with progams and answers to our questions. By the middle of the year we will by His grace start rolling out local programs in Nigeria. God is on our side and Nigeria will be great in our time. i agree with you brother Yes we can by His grace.
Frankly speaking,I was not a little excited last Tuesday. Obamas' election to the Office Of President has shown what most of us thought would never be possible. A man of colour elected to the top office in a country where once that would have meant he could be bought and sold. However, What I find exciting is not what I think the man, Obama can do, but what the man can inspire we, as a people, to do.
In calling his fellow American citizens to action, President Obama said, “We have duties to ourselves,our nation and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.”
Obama`s action call is not just for Americans, it’s for the whole world, and more importantly, we Nigerians. The state of Nigeria today is very sad and pathetic,and it will require not God, or an angel from heaven, but our collective efforts and persistent massive action by Nigerians to remake Nigeria. We can never change the past but we do have control over the future and it holds endles possibilities
All well meaning Nigerians must hold this statement firmly and join the struggle and campaign for CHANGE in Nigerian being championed by the New Nigerian Alliance,NNA. We cannot afford to be indifferent at this point in time considering the frightening damage corruption and bad leadership has done to our beloved Country.
Nigerian history has been simply a monument of the ability of our People to endure suffering, and suffering without purpose or hope, and yet, very afraid to confront the cankers of corruption that has eaten deep into our fabrics, even in our individual lives.
If we're waiting for somebody else to do something, it never gets done. We're going to have to take responsibility, all of us, and the CHANGE we are talking about begins first in our individual lives.
We call on all Nigerians in the Diaspora and at home to join the current Wind of Change blowing in Nigeria, "For the world has changed, and we must change with it." Though the task is not by any means light, but I am hopeful and very confident that if we stand together in the struggle and campaign to bring Change to Nigeria, the possibilities are limitless,...... "Yes We Can,", and we all can testify today, that "Anything is possible".
God bless us all.
God bless Nigeria.
very well said. i am honored to work with a patroit like you. God is leading us and we will change Nigeria in our time
Debola
Political debates in Nigeria are an every day and every where occurrence even on a queue to use a public toilet. Like forest fires they can be very consuming and easily sparked off.
In 2005, I witnessed my first political debate sparked off by a publican’s attempt to get electricity in his house lest I add ‘illegally’. Topics swayed from how the current administration was inept and full of corruption to how local communities felt marginalised by the process. Some argued that we were recycling leaders. After been absent from the whole political process I was amazed by the remarks. Were those in power not elected by popular votes?
Roll on 2007, I sat in a bus from Obalende to Yaba. Once again, another heated political debate. It was around EFCC’s success in the fight against corruption. One party said it was politically motivated by the ‘oligarchs’ the other party argued it was a righteous brigade.
Every cacophony I have witnessed has been around the same theme. Vagabonds in Power.
Barack Obama has just been elected President of the United States of America. His election asserts the fact that America is a free nation. Barack wasn’t elected because he was ‘black’ but because of his ability and capability. America voted a minority to be leader.
I ask when will Nigeria be free? When shall we do away with the Oligarchs and Vagabonds. Shall will wait till death master comes calling for them all. Abacha went, Adedibu has gone but more need to follow.
Arise o compatriots, and obey the rallying call to set Nigeria free. Let us come together and serve our father land. Let us not stand and watch the labour of our heroes past be in vain.
This is my rallying call. Like Obama’s campaign slogan, Change is now, yes we can and yes we will.
I stand with you all in unity, holding strongly to my faith of a better tomorrow, where there is peace and progress in my fatherland.
Debola
INEC Chairman, Prof Maurice Iwu Backs Voting Right For Nigerians In Diaspora
Follow the link below to read the online version published on Daily Independent Newspaper of Monday,26 Jan
http://www.triumphnewspapers.com/iw2712009.html
Comment: The remark credited to the INEC Boss is a welcome development on our current initiative, and a cheering news to all of us in the struggle....but it is not yet hurrah. We need to step up our campaign, and spur other Nigerians into more action to have the legislation passed at the National Assembly. One thing is sure, our efforts so far have not gone unnoticed, so we can only get better and better by putting in our best, as well as lionise other Nigerians to join the struggle for a better Nigeria.
With God on our side,(He is indeed), the hope of a Changed Nigeria where hope reigns for us all is possible in the no distant future.
God bless us all.
Obi.
Infact I know is our ambition to change Nigeria and we all know is very possible but we need truth and honest to help our future and the betterment of our children many dose not like to invest in Nigeria due to no electricity and water. Tell me how could our leaders who always travel abroad doing this to us many cant invest in Nigerian due to no grantee of security. A big country likeNigeria Nigeria is supplying electricity to other countries in West Africa and they all have steady light. This water and electricity is the tow thing that makes our children leave Nigerian to abroad. OK now Mr Isa Ibo has appealed to the Chinese government to ensure that the Nigerian railway project being handled by a Chinese construction company was speedily and properly executed. Very good idea but how can this stand in Nigeria Nigeria Nigeria
God bless us all and God blessFederal Republic of Nigeria
Martin Luther King's dream triumphed because his thought for freedom was mixed with burning desire. He did not merely wish for freedom but he desired freedom; he did not think about death, knowing very well that death is imminent...yet he was not detered.
I am not telling us to copy Martin Luther's strategy, niether do I wish us Martin Luther's fate. Far from that - we are not in the 60s and we are not racially discriminated in Nigerian. However, it sounds like the same 'dream', yes, the dream of change!
I'm trying to say that before you emerge as a victor, you must first of all subdue, knock down or push your adversary out of your way.
Think about when an adult takes something that belongs to a little child, if the adult is not disturbed by the child, he will hang on the thing or feel less concerned. But he will be restless when the child takes the right steps to recover his thing.
This is just the beginning....
I must be honest with you, the country is that bad it will take every Nigerian home and abroad to change. The corruption is such a part of our people, it's like the skin-the largest organ.
I just returned from Nigeria after 3 years of staying away due to frustrations I suffered in the hand of custom officers. It was the same thing at the airport where openly our copatriots voluntarilly bribe the officers in order to take the food,gifts,etc. out of the country. It was so automatic for people openly dashing them money that people like me who was relunctant to bribe was so ridicle and delayed.
The custom,immigration,NDLA & SS officers queried me for buying few arts and crafts for gifts and demanded bribe in order to leave the country, it did not matter that I threatened that I was recording their actions as one of them said "record all you like I am your oga, nothing would stop me from asking for money bcos this is Nigeria and this is what we do,unless it changes from top, we shall not stop" I tried in vain to explain that such acts keep our country down they were unwilling to repent. They demanded for thousands of naira . I asked to speak to their boss who was relunctant to speak to me when I persisted and requested to file a fromal complaint he then gestured to his accomplice to let the "trouble maker go" but alas not until they had damaged my goods which I did not realise until I reached my destination. Only in Nigeria custom officers discourage you from buying gifts from Nigeria for your family and friend overseas, every progressive nations encourage such as it helps the economy and despite my attempt to educate them why buying things made in Nigeria keep Nigerians working,it fell to their unrepented greedy ears. What a nation and greedy people? I wonder why there is no CCTV at Nigerian airports?
I don't know about you things like these discourage me from going to Nigeria, 3 years ago when I challenged the same occurrence in Abuja I was slapped by a fat custom officer,made to miss my flight and stayed 3 days later which meant I lost 3 working days in UK. Every illegal check points in Nigeria police officers demanded bribes and insulted those who are unwilling. Every local council is headed by a thiefing chairman and corrupt councillors. The most disappointing thing about it all are, people hail and encourage corruption, we then wonder why our leaders at all levels feel free to dig their hands into our national purse.
Thank you very much for sharing your experience here. I must commend your attitude; and let you know that it is better to suffer in dignity than to descend very low with them. If we successfully re-orient few more Nigerians to tow the same line like you did, then the change we seek has come. It will take persistent endurance, courage, and keeping our head above the waters to sustain this move. My advice to everyone is not to suffer in silence, but make efforts to capture such experience as evidence. (record/tape it, when and if possible). When you do, please send it to us, be encouraged in the fact that there are Nigerians willing to invest their time and effort to assist.
View people who are hungry for change and are willing to keep this wind blowing by visiting this site www.Nairaland .com on political movement.
http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-230880.0.html
(A call to social reawakening)
Nigeria. A Country since inception that has been plagued with civil war, coups (which instigated dictatorial regimes), infrastructural decay and underdevelopment, corruption, bad governance and social degradation. The country has challenges of which many read like a list of common problems in Africa: a non functioning democracy, freedom of speech or a lack of it, politics driven by ethnic chauvinism and biases along similar lines, lack of basic infrastructure, no accountability in government, defunct industries, a dilapidating educational sector and many more problems which serve as a hindrance towards genuine progress.
Such has been the fate of a country abundantly blessed with raw materials and people resources capable of lifting countries the world over out of poverty if properly utilised and yet the opposite has been the case with each new iteration of government, seemingly sliding Nigeria further into the trenches of underdevelopment and retrogression.
A country that while rich in its diversity, in seeming unism lauds its social morality exemplified in principles like respect for elders, community living, social life and service, and strong family bonds of which the people are proud of.
A country rich in individuals of various professions who while under appreciated by the current Nigeria have been able to blossom and receive greater respect in the global sphere. We have writers, doctors, lawyers, engineers, business men and entrepreneurs that contribute their services the world over and yet still can’t boast of a home country that is worthy of respect attained through progress, development and national principles expressed in the quality and leadership of government.
Wherever Africans are present abroad a Nigerian is very likely to be close by. Whenever Nigerians meet it is very likely that the issue of Nigeria is brought up at some point, an issue which seems to inspire passion, heartbreak at the situation and a desire to see change and development as attains in more developed countries especially when these changes are mostly simple in true implementation while only requiring the genuine will to implement and actualise them. Whenever Nigerians meet such are the characters of their discourse and such are the questions asked by people who traverse the length and breadth of the nation. The simple truth is that we have all been collectively let down by the nation called Nigeria and over the various avenues which allow discussion and debates like internet forums, news papers, television broadcasting, radio and the likes, one would find people debating on the issues of the nation time and time again while the nation continues on its path of degradation regardless of the quality of such discourses.
While the country is diverse in its union ranging from ethnic groups to religious affiliation, what seems unifying through all groups is the desire for development, the desire for change, the desire for a country to be proud of, a country to raise children in, a country with prospects, a country that can be a beacon of hope to Africa in terms of leadership, governance and development. Rather than letting a focus on what divides continue to stifle progress and development the belief is in allowing the desire for a better Nigeria unite as all. We have an opportunity each day to move beyond rhetoric, arguments and debates irrespective of how articulate, well debated or eloquent such are. We have the opportunity to instigate change and we can change the nation, we can work and act to bring about change in whatever capacity we are able to regardless of what field or profession we ply and regardless of our earning power, for change does not solely rely on such factors but on the genuine willingness to change and follow such desires with actions geared towards bringing about such positive change.
This is not a political party of any sort but a social movement. A social movement that seeks to bring about change in all strata of Nigeria which people are willing to contribute in. We invite and encourage all who want to contribute in whichever sector they are willing to contribute in. We welcome all who want to make an impact and we ask that all feel free for this is not about any one person but about the change we desire for Nigeria, this is not about any one person but about a people’s movement. This is a platform for working towards actualisations of set goals in whatever sphere anyone is interested in contributing in and in whatever capacity people are willing to contribute in to positively impact on Nigeria, we have the opportunity to act. This is not about being financially aggrandised but actions towards the greater good, not about power or egos but selfless service towards development. Democracy has being described as “government by the people, of the people, for the people”. What is sought is a reawakening of “the people”, you and I. Get involved and spread the word. Would you stand to be counted?
http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-230880.0.html
I've made that my motto, please join me lets join hands to wake a sleeping giant. NAIJA IS GREAT.
GOD BLESS
Nigeria has all that it takes to be a great nation. However, we are not yet a great nation. We could be, if we work hard at it.
We as a people have for long suffered from the excesses of our leaders – military and/or civilian, and as a nation, we have placed a premium on mediocrity at the expense of meritocracy. Our potentially great leaders (in hibernation) have not shown enough courage – a vital characteristic of leadership. They come up with all sorts of excuses such as murky waters of politics, violence, thuggery, godfatherism etc. All these negative vices only found their way into our politics, because good people have stayed away for too long, and as we know, nature abhors a vacuum which got easily filled by those who ought not to be there. In other advanced societies, politicians and leaders are usually some of the brightest and best, who have moved their countries to the first world, while we still grapple with mediocres who have plundered our treasury and stashed our money in foreign banks, who use those resources to develop their economies, and turn around to send us pittance as aids and donations.
To move this great country forward, we need to do some or all of the following: First, we must reclaim Nigeria for Nigerians and change our mind set as a people – This calls for sacrifice. I know quite a lot of our people have long given up on government and leadership and even the country itself. The misery index has been high for quite some time. Let us for once remember the words of late President J. F. Kennedy; “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”
Second, we have to impact positively on Nigeria’s present and future political landscape, structure and leadership of the country, by registering to vote, making sure we vote and guarding our votes jealously at the polling booths. We have to educate and enlighten the masses on the importance of good leadership and exercising their civic duty. For too long, we have been passive as a people, we succumb to all manner of blackmail and inducement.
Furthermore, our main target should be the youths (ages 18 – 40) – a lot of whom are unemployed and form about 60% of the nation’s population. The will of the people and peoples power can and will prevail. We must sensitize Nigerians to wake up from their slumber and join the movement to enthrone good governance. Elections are coming in 2011; there are all sorts of scheming, alignment and realignment going on without consideration for the people. These politicians are relying on old tactics. But now is the time for our voices to be heard, for our votes to be counted and make the difference.
When they come to seek our mandate in future elections, they must come to our homes, villages, wards, and constituencies to account for their past, tell us about the future and all our dashed hopes and unkept promises of the past. They must tell us why we do not have power, and our refineries are non functional. They will also have to explain to us why our roads have become death traps. They will have to tell us why our hospitals are death bays and why our education sector has deteriorated so badly. They have to tell us why factories and manufacturing companies have closed down, and we have lost our jobs. They will explain to us why our police are ill equipped, demoralized and poorly paid and why armed robbers and violent criminals hold sway in our country and terrorize our homes and banks. They will have to tell us why we do not have pipe borne water and why pure water sachets pose an environmental hazard. Above all, let them tell us how their stewardship has improved the lot of the people of Nigeria.I believe Nigeria can indeed change for the better.
THE EMPEROR OF LAGOS STORY
“ASIWAJU”??? BOLA AHMED TINUBU
THE FULL STORY ON
www.naija234.com
EPISODE ONE
When the election of 1993, which was adjudged the fairest and freest in the history of
Nigeria, was annulled by the then Military President, Gen Ibrahim Babangida, a lot of
manipulations took place by both the military and civilians alike.
Two of the principal actors in that terrible period are the immediate past Governor of Lagos
State, Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu and a present Commissioner in the state, Senator
Afikuyomi. The two of them were working directly with the Late MKO Abiola. Incidentally,
Tinubu was a major participant in the plan that removed the Interim Head of State, Chief
Earnest Shonekan from office, although, he is now a self-confessed democrat. It is however
on record that the same Tinubu wanted the regime of Abacha to last for the period of at least
2years because he was penciled down to be a Federal Minister.
Abacha/Diya regime came to forte on the 17 Nov 1993 and by 18 Nov; the Late MKO Abiola
visited Gen Diya at his McDonald Road Chief of Defence Staff official residence in company
of Bola Tinubu and Afikuyomi. Apparently, MKO Abiola was there to hand over the list of
his nominees as Minister and the list included that of Bola Tinubu and Afikuyomi. However,
problem started when Abacha refused to grant the request of Tinubu to have the Finance
Ministry and Afikuyomi to have Communications Ministry. Abacha was ready to give them
any other Ministries but not Finance and Communications. As a result, the battle line was
drawn between the duo and Abacha regime.
It was apparent that it was Tinubu and Afikuyomi that instigated Abiola to begin to foment
trouble and to begin to demand for his mandate. Perhaps,if the duo had been granted their
request of becoming Finance and Communication Ministers, Abiola would have been alive.
When a conditional bail was considered for Abiola
Tinubu that persuaded Late Kudirat to reject the bail on behalf of Abiola. Really, Abiola and
the family thought Tinubu was a sincere fellow. Little did they know that Tinubu was only
using the situation to feather his own nest.
EPISODE TWO
Tinubu is supposed to be a role model to people that were deprived in life or victims of
circumstances, but the contrary is the case with Tinubu. Bola Tinubu was a product of
women abuse & molestation. He grew up with a foster mother, who he claimed to be his
biological mother. His biological father died in Iragbiji in 2004, but he could not attend the
burial because of his position then. He knows that he is from Osun State and not Lagos State.
Not only this, because of his lowly beginning, he could not attend a foundational school, a
primary school. He later enrolled for GCE exam before he stowed away abroad. That story
would also be featured here later, how the drugs started, how he became a “Drug Baron”,
how he was CAUGHT, ARRESTED AND TRIED. “The so called degrees he is brandishing
about are all purchased and obtained from neither Chicago nor Canada”.
ʼs released in 1996, it was the sameProof of all his properties, and all the Petrol Stations he owns in Lagos alone.....
The story Begins............................................
EPISODE THREE
Tinubu right now lives in a palatial home on Bourdillion Road which he acquired when he
was the Governor in Lagos State. The palatial mansion is worth billion of Naira which was
confisticated from another innocent Nigerian. Nigerians should ask from Mr Clean Democrat
how he got the palatial home while in office. The house is located at 26 Boudillion Road,
Ikoyi.
A Country without Law
In Nigeria, we are been governed by (probably) people who don't have a manifesto during campaign. For most of them, their speeches was written for them and they were completely oblivious of the content even if it's a seven point agenda. It's only in this country that someone can be a governor for 21 months without winning an election (and many thanks to INEC for many states and LGAs), a stolen mandate. What do you expect from the legislature who find his way into office by the help of INEC corrupt boss, do you want such executive, or legislature to speak / remove such good friend? I don’t really expect much from the house (both lower & Upper). My fellow Nigerian, we have a constitutional defect, we don't have a law. The people that instituted our law have created loop holes as their own survivor mechanism. I was so disturbed when I had that larger percentage of Tax payer’s money (almost half) is being used to pay the legislatures and to sustain their glutton salary, subsidy from petroleum has to be remove. That's why they did not speak for us. we elected them to represent us, but they forgot that, they didn't even raise a finger. We are doom to perish except and except God have mercy on us. When the legislative collects over a trillion naira, we are in deep mess. In Lagos state alone, the salary of ten (10) state political appointees can pay the whole Lagos state teacher's salary, then you wonder are we in democracy or just deceives the whole world?
Land use act charge is about N60,000 per house/year in Lagos state. About 4 years ago I contributed N10,000 to purchase a transformer for my street since the state said my area is not in their allocation budget. Unfortunately for me, thanks to PHCN who destroyed the transformer and now we have to purchase another transformer at the tune of N20,000 per house or wait till 2011 election when Fashola will promise us a new one if we vote him to power. We pay VAT every seconds on call, water, PHCN bill, transportation, feeding even for the air we breathe. We are double taxed at all sides. The irony of the matter is that we have a government who doesn't care about the welfare of his people.!!!! Our president is sleeping. His advisers brings him concepts on his sick bed and he approved them.
It remain me of event that transpired in France when the rioting citizen of Paris took their destiny in their hand (movie “Man in the Iron Mask”). The president is saving enough money for the day of trouble (I guess), people are starving, you don’t even need a binoculars to know that the people you preside on are starving to death. Houses that have legitimate C of O are being destroyed by government we elected. Nigerians wake up!!!!!. This is economic sabotage. After all Mallam El-rufai was given award by international community for destroying our houses in Abuja and the senate found him guilty of grievous offence. Where we they then? Many of them were in position when the man was committing such atrocities.
Everything that has a government hands in it doesn't work in this country. Some even "willed" national assets to their generation like in case of NITEL/Transcorp. It's a country where anything goes. The last hope of a common man might be the judiciary, who is also compromised because they are still under the government. Have you not heard that a Governor removed a CJ just the night before 7 man panel was inaugurated. We don’t have a Law. We a need a Law that can withstand both good and bad time.
The latest and highest corrupt position in Lagos is Police and Lastma. I think in develop country, you will be booked and allow to continue your journey for traffic offence. Thanks to FRSC. But our Government has empower Lastma and Police to be uncivilized. Government trained them to be corrupt. We aren’t dumb, everybody even the police should be encourage to bill traffic offenders. The truth is we don’t even have database. Government has bad advisor who take political appointment to fill their belly.
Through out the world, Tax are being cut, but here in Nigeria tax is been raised. Government are creating incentives, but here they are removing subsidy. People are losing jobs, salary are been cut by employer of Labour. People are in debt. and finally, we have a government that has no concern, a government that is only concerned about how to meet his target at the expense of the welfare of the people.
Most of them has not read history of Nigeria, how the founding fathers of this great nation invested in other areas of economy and made great gain. I remember that I wasn’t paying school fees and was using free stationeries when I was in primary school in Ogun state courtesy of Chief Obafemi Awolowo. This country had great investment in Cocoa, Rubber plantation, and other stuffs, but they are all gone. vanished into the thin air. The Government know the solution concerning police, lastma, thief and others. But they will never implements a good concept because they benefits from it. Recently, a convoy of an highly respected political appointee ran into a car from behind on oshodi’s bridge, from all indications, they were guilty of traffic offence and nobody can arrest them. They bundled the driver into their van and left with his vehicle. Everybody was surprised at the height of this inhumane attitude.
The truth is that we have a Law that empower the Government to loot treasury, labour of hardworking Nigerians, who has no voice. They implements double taxation and speed across the street, terrorizing innocent civilians who elected them into power.
I doubt it if any of the Political Appointees has the interest of the people in heart. If there is any one of them, let him challenge me. I don’t want anyone to write speeches for them, I want a face to face discussion. They are all coward.
It's only in my country that I discovered that we don't have Law that governs the daily living of the citizen.
I have a lot to say, and I’ve written this in haste, will definitely put my option on the pages of a major newspaper very soon. We can't all be silent and I hope the press is not compromised.
I would sell my nationality on E- bay if anyone would touch it with a 6 foot pole!
I support WIND OF CHANGE to go ahead with the petition. Every Nigerians any where in the world, should be allowed to VOTE and support Good Governance and Developmetal Policies which will align Nigeria with Western World. Nigeria needs urgent Change especially in ELECTORAL REFORM, POVERTY, EDUCATION, CORRUPTION......especially at both Execuitve Level and the entirety of the Nigerian people as a Nation.
I will join my fellow Nigerians, especially those of you who have chosen to make this issue their personal Affairs, by devoting their Time, Money, and other valuable resources to FAST /PRAY .......FERVENTLY......and above all, live by example.......Together we can Achieve it!!!!
Mathew Nwokwu, Ohaukwu LGA, Ebonyi State Nigeria. +2347039034002, mat4twins@yahoo.com.
There is a saying "The Camera Never Lies" so is this pictures.
IMAGINE THIS!
African Leaders At The UN summit.
NO WONDER THE INFLATION RATE IN ZIMBABWE IS 2.5 MILLION %
When they were deliberating on energy and power, they were sleeping.
- When they were deliberating on economic development, they were sleeping.
- When they deliberated on food security, they were asleep.
- When they fixed interest rate on debtor's (African) loans, they were asleep.
- When they deliberated on conflict resolution through dialogue they were already snoring.
They only woke up, to support motion for adjournment and signed the communiqué.Of course!, they need rest, they worked tirelessly back home clamping down their opponents and critics.
They Spent the night strategizing on the next move to subdue their opponents.
Back home airports were closed 2hrs before their arrival, motor-ways were blocked 1hr ahead, Armed Policemen stood guard 8hrs before arrival. Rented crowd clamoured under sun to cheer them up, WHAT HAVE THEY BROUGHT HOME?
In Nigeria, where even the Nigerians at home are manipulated of their votes and being denied fighting for it. Is that where you who does not even know what the ballot box looks like that would vote that you would not be manipulated or use that means to inflate the choice of INEC, INCUBENT, or a GOD FATHER and not the choice of you who voted?
Nigerians pls.... THINK! THINK!!
There were periods, when votes were bought and sold openly in some of the world powers of today. It is true that it was not only the vote of the blacks that got Obama elected, but he couldn't have won without their support. However, the rights for the blacks to vote was earned many years ago.
It is a backward thinking that everyone should wait for Nigeria to emerge with a clean cut electoral process before we contend for our right to vote. If those at home do not know how to fight for their votes, may-be those in the Diaspora will lead the way. Besides, the Diaspora voting centers will be the only centers where no one will emerge with guns and start shooting in the air.
in any case our fight is much more than Diaspora vote. it is for the entire 2011 elections. why don't you join and make your contributions instead of seeing only the negatives in what others do.
Debola
I really got informed through the seminar about how our so called leaders use our ignorance about elections and voting to put in thier candidate.I as a person would like to be the speaker of the house of representative,but how can i pursue this dream when people and the nation dont crave for change.
WHAT AN EYE-SORE AT IDUMOTA-BRIDGE-MOUTH!
With all gov. fasola special task forces on traffick control on Lagos island motorists spend 2-3hrs from LAGOS CENTRAL MOSQUE on Nnamdi Azikwe st to otto due to non-chalant attitude of the DANFO BUSES(YELLOW COMMERCIAL BUSES) AND OKADA RIDERS AT THE MOUTH OF IDUMOTA BRIDGE.The worrisome thing is that at this point you will see policemen,CBD officers,KAI officers,LASTMA officers and the zero-tolerant task force men all having a field day with NURTW boys causing motorists to waist valuable man hour on this spot everyday,FASHOLA PLEASE SAFE LAGOS!