http://odili.net/news/source/2007/nov/6/606.html
You can imagine my shock at reading the above article regarding claims that Mr President would quit if the election tribunal declares his election void.
This president not only has my heart he has another thing going for him - common sense.
It is my desire that the tribunal not only take into question that the election was fraught with rigging by all sides. it is my view and that of alot of Nigerians that this President is not only good for Nigeria but has gone back to the basics of Nation building. His governments new direction in solving Nigerias problems systematically through proper planning and investments by major stackholders is well known and lauded. He has set the ball in motion to try corrupt individuals who are responsible for the decay in Nigeria.
What is shocking is the two characters filing this petition have had their chance in power and the question is what tangible difference did they made during their time?
It is my view that this whole election tribunal should not consider the election on its own but must decide which is a lesser of two evils; annul elections that seem to have put the right man in power or annul the elections and throw the whole country into disarray.
Wednesday, 7 November 2007
Wednesday, 31 October 2007
Etteh goes... Good riddance to bad rubbish
http://odili.net/news/source/2007/oct/31/306.html
Let the drama of the last 3 months be a lesson to any thieving Nigerian politician, the masses shall no longer stand for corrupt and incompetent leadership. Gone are the days of Obasanjos cowboy regime and his crooked riders who ran Nigeria like it was there personal business.
It is important to commend the Integrity Group who fought tirelessly to ensure that this criminal of a person vacated the position of speaker. It is beyond belief that the number three in the country who you had expect to understand the plight of her people connived with a few criminals to rob her country.
This unpatriotic and wicked act should now see her tried for corruption and fraud. Ribadu should not wait for permission to charge and prosecute this criminal. Her selfish action has brought the House of Reps into disrepute and as such she must now face the full wrath of the law.
Let the drama of the last 3 months be a lesson to any thieving Nigerian politician, the masses shall no longer stand for corrupt and incompetent leadership. Gone are the days of Obasanjos cowboy regime and his crooked riders who ran Nigeria like it was there personal business.
It is important to commend the Integrity Group who fought tirelessly to ensure that this criminal of a person vacated the position of speaker. It is beyond belief that the number three in the country who you had expect to understand the plight of her people connived with a few criminals to rob her country.
This unpatriotic and wicked act should now see her tried for corruption and fraud. Ribadu should not wait for permission to charge and prosecute this criminal. Her selfish action has brought the House of Reps into disrepute and as such she must now face the full wrath of the law.
Thursday, 25 October 2007
Nigeria eyes review of oil deals
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7059351.stm
After oil was first discovered in Nigeria in the early 20th century, I think it was around 1937 in Oloibiri. Nigeria has generated hundred of billions if not trillions of dollars from this scarce and very limited resource.
Companies like Shell and Mobil have enjoyed the spoils of producing Nigerias light sweet crude (so called because of the low sulphur content) which cost less than a dollar to produce a barrel. This has led to large multinational oil companies posting large profits and making money for shareholders in rich western nations while the indigenes of the Niger Delta wallow in abject poverty.
Having lived in Warri while working with one of these foreign oil companies, I saw first hand how the local people are treated with utter contempt. These poor villagers who have been let down by their government (local, state and federal) have over the years seen their source of livelihood polluted and destroyed by Oil Companies operating in these areas.
While I do not support or cordone violence its easy to see why groups like MEND and other factions have taken up arms to fight the system that lets the wanton exploitation of Niger Delta go unchecked. A system that has raped, pillaged and wrecked the lives of over 7 million people that live in the area while making billions and billions for themselves.
These oil companies usually hide behind the excuse that they pay the government taxes and also do what they can to help the community. Well anyone that has followed issues related to corporate pollution in some pig farms in America will know that these Multinationals are not doing enough.
I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that the Niger Delta is inhabited by dark skinned Africans? Please note that I am not playing the race card but I know for a fact that the current situation in the Niger Delta does not exist anywhere else where these oil companies produce.
It is important to remind these Multinationals that they owe a duty of care to these communities and must ensure that they preserve the environment and pay restituition for destroying the way of life of these once proud people.
As for the Nigerian government, over the years the criminals among them have looted and stolen (especially NNPC and the Presidents that changed the ministry of Petroleum into the Presidency) billions while tens of thousands of innocent people have died in the Niger Delta as a result of a lack of basic social infrastruture and environmental pollution.
If I where MEND, MOSSOP and the rest , I would file a class action against these multinationals in US and UK courts demanding compensation for the environmental damage done.
I hope this government understands that the issue of the Niger Delta is important to the stability of Nigeria. Until, the people in the Niger Delta begin to see proper benefits of their resources, people would continue to die and be killed.
After oil was first discovered in Nigeria in the early 20th century, I think it was around 1937 in Oloibiri. Nigeria has generated hundred of billions if not trillions of dollars from this scarce and very limited resource.
Companies like Shell and Mobil have enjoyed the spoils of producing Nigerias light sweet crude (so called because of the low sulphur content) which cost less than a dollar to produce a barrel. This has led to large multinational oil companies posting large profits and making money for shareholders in rich western nations while the indigenes of the Niger Delta wallow in abject poverty.
Having lived in Warri while working with one of these foreign oil companies, I saw first hand how the local people are treated with utter contempt. These poor villagers who have been let down by their government (local, state and federal) have over the years seen their source of livelihood polluted and destroyed by Oil Companies operating in these areas.
While I do not support or cordone violence its easy to see why groups like MEND and other factions have taken up arms to fight the system that lets the wanton exploitation of Niger Delta go unchecked. A system that has raped, pillaged and wrecked the lives of over 7 million people that live in the area while making billions and billions for themselves.
These oil companies usually hide behind the excuse that they pay the government taxes and also do what they can to help the community. Well anyone that has followed issues related to corporate pollution in some pig farms in America will know that these Multinationals are not doing enough.
I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that the Niger Delta is inhabited by dark skinned Africans? Please note that I am not playing the race card but I know for a fact that the current situation in the Niger Delta does not exist anywhere else where these oil companies produce.
It is important to remind these Multinationals that they owe a duty of care to these communities and must ensure that they preserve the environment and pay restituition for destroying the way of life of these once proud people.
As for the Nigerian government, over the years the criminals among them have looted and stolen (especially NNPC and the Presidents that changed the ministry of Petroleum into the Presidency) billions while tens of thousands of innocent people have died in the Niger Delta as a result of a lack of basic social infrastruture and environmental pollution.
If I where MEND, MOSSOP and the rest , I would file a class action against these multinationals in US and UK courts demanding compensation for the environmental damage done.
I hope this government understands that the issue of the Niger Delta is important to the stability of Nigeria. Until, the people in the Niger Delta begin to see proper benefits of their resources, people would continue to die and be killed.
Monday, 22 October 2007
James Watson on Africa
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Opinion/Editorial/Watsons_Error/articleshow/2479257.cms
Many of you must have read this recent article published in the Times credited to Nobel Laureate James Watson.
I quote "I am inherently gloomy about the prospect of Africa" because "all our social policies are based on the fact that their intelligence is the same as ours - whereas all the testing says not really".
This idiotic fellow thinks that because we have had leaders whose intellect have been suspect that all Africans in general are idiots?
On the flip side though, it saddens me to say that black people in general have continued to buttress this point through their actions. We are the beggars of the world; a few of us dwell in luxury while a majority die from hunger.
As Martin Luther King jr once said "Discrimination is a hellhound that gnaws at Negroes in every waking moment of their lives to remind them that the lie of their inferiority is accepted as truth in the society dominating them".
If we as black people don't stand up as one to break down the stereotypes affecting our race in the media, in society, in politics we will continue to be made to feel inferior.
We need to excel at whatever we do especially in academia and go back and help in what ever way we can to save our beautiful Africa... known to some bigots as the dark continent.
Many of you must have read this recent article published in the Times credited to Nobel Laureate James Watson.
I quote "I am inherently gloomy about the prospect of Africa" because "all our social policies are based on the fact that their intelligence is the same as ours - whereas all the testing says not really".
This idiotic fellow thinks that because we have had leaders whose intellect have been suspect that all Africans in general are idiots?
On the flip side though, it saddens me to say that black people in general have continued to buttress this point through their actions. We are the beggars of the world; a few of us dwell in luxury while a majority die from hunger.
As Martin Luther King jr once said "Discrimination is a hellhound that gnaws at Negroes in every waking moment of their lives to remind them that the lie of their inferiority is accepted as truth in the society dominating them".
If we as black people don't stand up as one to break down the stereotypes affecting our race in the media, in society, in politics we will continue to be made to feel inferior.
We need to excel at whatever we do especially in academia and go back and help in what ever way we can to save our beautiful Africa... known to some bigots as the dark continent.
Monday, 15 October 2007
Violence, “Godfathers” and Corruption in Nigeria
http://hrw.org/reports/2007/nigeria1007/nigeria1007web.pdf
Again the world seems to be telling us what we Nigerians already know. A systemic failure of government and the greed, criminality of the so called ruling elite.
After reading this report by Human Rights Watch http://hrw.org/english/docs/2007/10/05/nigeri17028.htm I am hearthened that at least so one is beginning to expose this horrible sore that is eating and bleeding Nigeria from within.
Until these gangsters and cowboys are driven off, well Nigeria will remain stunted in economic terms and loads more would die as a result.
Again the world seems to be telling us what we Nigerians already know. A systemic failure of government and the greed, criminality of the so called ruling elite.
After reading this report by Human Rights Watch http://hrw.org/english/docs/2007/10/05/nigeri17028.htm I am hearthened that at least so one is beginning to expose this horrible sore that is eating and bleeding Nigeria from within.
Until these gangsters and cowboys are driven off, well Nigeria will remain stunted in economic terms and loads more would die as a result.
Wednesday, 3 October 2007
Dehumanization of Africans
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7025386.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7025372.stm
Every time I open a newspaper or browse the news via the web or on that tube called the TV, I am constantly bombarded with terrible stories about Africa, pictures of kids emaciated and dying of hunger or disease.
No doubt Africa has a serious problem caused by years of exploitation and interference by the west and in the future China and India.
The problem though seems to be the biased way in which issues affecting Africans or Black people in general is portrayed in the media. If you watch either BBC, FOX or ITV you never see any stories about the remarkable strides alot of African people are making, how communities are empowering themselves.
No doubt this constant barrage of negative press has one purpose - the continued marginalisation and dehumanisation of Africans. Unfortunately rich Africans who have the wherewithall to finance media companies that can challenge these negative stereotypes do not see things this way. Aljazeera for one is a good example
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7025372.stm
Every time I open a newspaper or browse the news via the web or on that tube called the TV, I am constantly bombarded with terrible stories about Africa, pictures of kids emaciated and dying of hunger or disease.
No doubt Africa has a serious problem caused by years of exploitation and interference by the west and in the future China and India.
The problem though seems to be the biased way in which issues affecting Africans or Black people in general is portrayed in the media. If you watch either BBC, FOX or ITV you never see any stories about the remarkable strides alot of African people are making, how communities are empowering themselves.
No doubt this constant barrage of negative press has one purpose - the continued marginalisation and dehumanisation of Africans. Unfortunately rich Africans who have the wherewithall to finance media companies that can challenge these negative stereotypes do not see things this way. Aljazeera for one is a good example
Monday, 1 October 2007
UK targets Nigeria's stolen loot
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7015765.stm
About time too. I am mighty pleased to read this. These imbecile that illegally enrich themselves at the expense of their fellow Nigerians are not only despicable, they are the scum of the earth.
These thick and crass individuals don't actually understand that we all have alot to gain by building up Nigeria. You can never ever enjoy ill gotten wealth no matter how you get it.
Since our own agencies can't do the job either through incompetency or as a result of powers that be, the UK government are more than welcomed to do the job for us.
About time too. I am mighty pleased to read this. These imbecile that illegally enrich themselves at the expense of their fellow Nigerians are not only despicable, they are the scum of the earth.
These thick and crass individuals don't actually understand that we all have alot to gain by building up Nigeria. You can never ever enjoy ill gotten wealth no matter how you get it.
Since our own agencies can't do the job either through incompetency or as a result of powers that be, the UK government are more than welcomed to do the job for us.
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