Should the stated groups fund their own representatives?
Now OBJ is dangling carrots to the would be participants in his fake dialogue. Soon they will stop debating serious issues to debate about furniture alloweee and traveling estacode...What did i just say debate serious issues; Issues Obj has called no go area.
Read the story below:
National conference members to get N671m allowances • Obasanjo votes N932m for talks
Sam Akpe, Gbade Ogunwale, Funsho Aina and Ofonime Umanah
Delegates to the National Political Reform Conference being convened by the Federal Government will earn N21.68million as sitting allowance.
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It is likely also that the delegates will have to make do without official accommodation, as the President has proposed a budget of N650. 25million as allowances in lieu of accommodation.
The votes are part of a budget of N932million proposed by President Olusegun Obasanjo for the conference, scheduled to begin mid-February 2005.
Although the delegates have not been named, it is not unlikely that a few will come from the Diaspora.
A total of N1.7million has been earmarked for return flight tickets from London, Washington, Beijing and Johannesburg.
Details of the proposed expenditure profile exclusively sourced by The PUNCH on Tuesday also showed that the delegates will get N14,400 for airport taxi and local transportation within Abuja; and a total of N28,800 for return flights to Abuja for the inaugural session and subsequent conference meetings.
There is, however, provision for at least two CVU long wheel cars, which will be hired and fuelled at a total cost of N2.9million.
President Obasanjo said in a letter to the Senate, dated January 18, 2005, that the conference would last for three months.
He explained that it had become necessary to make budgetary provision for the proposed talks, since it was not included in the 2005 appropriation bill.
Sources said on Tuesday that the details of the proposed expenditure would be made available to the legislative chamber only on Wednesday (today).
The President highlighted the eight-point objective of the conference to include constitutional reforms, political party reforms, electoral reforms, and judicial/legal reforms.
Other objectives are civil society reforms, consultation and consensus building, police/prison reforms, and reforms of the structure of governance.
He urged the lawmakers to include the budget in the 2005 appropriation bill under the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
His letter to the Senate reads, “On December 7, 2004, I inaugurated the Presidential Committee on the background paper for political reforms, which was mandated to identify the requisite steps for enriching Nigeria’s political process so as to widen, deepen and entrench democratic principles and practice.
“The overall objective is to facilitate good governance, meaningful development; and ensuring social justice for the people of Nigeria. The eight-member committee had Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, the Governor of Kaduna State, as the chairman.
“The committee had since completed its assignment, and following the meeting of the Council of State on Wednesday, January 12, 2005, which considered its report, the Federal Government has constituted a National Political Reform Conference to address the following central elements of the reform agenda.”
As part of consultations on the planned conference, President Obasanjo on Tuesday at the State House, met with representatives of five ethnic nationalities.
The groups that attended the meeting included the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere; the Yoruba Council of Elders, and the Arewa Consultative Forum.
Others were the pan-Igbo cultural association, Ohanaeze N’digbo, and the Ijaw National Congress.
While the groups had two representatives each, Maj. Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo (rtd); Dr. Tunji Otegbeye; Prof. Joe Irukwu; and Gen. I.B.M Haruna (rtd), were some of the opinion leaders in attendance.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mrs. Remi Oyo, said after the meeting, that the President used the parley to assure the ethnic groups that he had no plan to use the conference to actualise his rumoured third term in office.
The groups, on the other hand, reportedly gave suggestions on the composition of the proposed conference, while reaffirming their commitment and support for the unity of Nigeria.
Oyo said, “For the second time in three days, the President has held very serious consultations as regards the National Political Reform Conference that is being planned.
“The idea of the consultations is for the conference to be all-inclusive and all embracing so that everyone will have the opportunity to contribute.”
Former Governor of Cross River State, Mr Clement Ebri, criticised the provision for President Obasanjo to nominate 50 delegates to the conference.
But he also disagreed with plans for a parallel conference by some activists, including elder statesman, Pa Anthony Enahoro and Nobel laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka.
In an exclusive interview with our correspondent in Calabar on Tuesday, Ebri said the President should be willing to listen to the voice of the people.
According to him, it would be unfair for the President to dictate to Nigerians the kind of people that should be assembled to discuss the country’s future.
He added, “There is a problem of credibility with the crop of people set up to plan the conference. You cannot expect people whose credibility is very doubtful because they all came out of the 2003 elections, to dictate the political path of this country.
“You are asking these people to appoint members of the conference and at the end of the day, somebody will sit down and appoint his cronies to go to the conference and some will not accept a situation of that nature.”
The Punch, Wednesday, January 26, 2005
Posts: 380 | From: US | Registered: Dec 2004
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While I applaud Wole Soyinka's contibution in seeking to convene the SNC, I think it would be a gross mistake of massive proportions to put on the table any other issue except for a substantive agreement to dissolve the "union".
*How many times are we going to let ourselves twirl in the whirlwind of fantasy and disillusionment.
*How many generations must suffer this agonizing nightmare of existence?
How many times must we contemplate this 'fork' in the road. Let us begin this process by admitting that what we have in our hands is a failed nation that was never one to begin with. Then and only then, can we discuss the sharing of resources, with a caveat that will equally bind any future discovery of natural resources in other areas.
We have come to the point on the road- carpe diem.
[ January 27, 2005, 05:21 PM: Message edited by: Teddy ]
Posts: 119 | From: USA | Registered: Aug 2001
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I feel U. Thank you for your patience with me. My seeming cynisism in the last post was based upon the particular statements of yours which I referenced. Dont get me wrong, I believe I'm understanding better where you're coming from. Ndi okenye si na obu "akoruo egeruo" meaning; When it is well explained, it will be well heard and understood. And so it is. On my own part, what I would appreciate from you my brother is that if you dont understand something I've stated, ask me first so I can clarify. I try to do the same with others (but if I ask too much then please disregard). For instance you stated the following:
1ST HALF
quote:i was responding to ur bulleted reasons why it is impossible to invest in igbo land
Nowhere in my posting did I suggest or remotely imply that “it is impossible” to invest in Igboland. There is a clear difference between obstacles, or non-enabling, or even prohibitive environment for investment existing in Igboland, which is what I stated (and within the context of my overall consistent thrust on this thread) and it being "impossible to invest" in Igboland (which you wrongly interpreted from my bulletted analysis)
It is very important to make that distinction because I was referring to the absence of real POLITICAL POWER for Igbos in particular and South-Southerners (Former Biafrans in general), the issue around which this thread revolves, and the basic underlying theme upon which many of our postings have been based.
ECONOMIC POWER EXISTS AT THE MERCY OF STATE POWER (REAL POLITICAL POWER)
If you were faced by an armed robber and you had a million dollars, that money might not even save your life even if you handed it all over.
Think of all the Indian traders, manufacturers, and economic class in Uganda who were summarily deported minus their wealth by Idi-Amin.
Think of all the Jewish merchant, manufacturers, and economic class in Germany who were deported not to Palestine mind you but to death camps (an arbitrary creation) minus their wealth by Hitler.
Think of all the Igbos whose financial effects were siezed save for 20 pounds, by the proposals put forward by Awolowo and acted upon by Gowon after the civil war.
Think of the decision by Vladimir Putin to arbitrarily arrest and imprison Mikhail Khotukorvsky and assess him a trumped up fine above and beyond what the oil giant Yukos is worth in order for the state to turn Yukos into a state owned firm.
Think of the arbitrary banning of SLOK airlines by Obasanjo via his aviation minister and the impact it would have had if Kalu had not ammassed untold wealth from “abracadabra” sources prior to.
TO SETUP INVESTMENTS IN THE EAST WITHOUT IGBOS ADDRESSING THE DELIBERATE POLITICAL INEQUALITIES IN “NIGERIA” IS TO PRETEND THAT THEY DO NOT EXIST AND TO SUBJECT ONESELF TO A STATUS OF PERPETUAL POTENTIAL VICTIM
There is a clear difference between remaining a perpertual potential victim to the vagaries of the arbitrary display of raw and unmitigated power which create a hostile and unpredictable environment for long term survival of a business investment, and choosing to remain oblivious to the causative factors of potential victimhood in the belief one is maintaining a "can-do" positive attitude. This is where my response to you and the bulleted analysis I made, ties in with the train of thought about SNC which this thread established and has been about all along.
....To be continued on anothe post.
NEXT.
Finally Nwa-Afor you stated:
quote:SO if we are fighting for a separate Biafra, what happens to all the investments we have in Yoruba, Hausa land? We dont all have to be in Igbo land to develop our place, but when u castigate the yorubas, hausas and yet invest more in there lands than in ur own, is ur castigation justified?
It might interest you to know that Ralph Uwazurike maintains good ties with Gani Adams and possibly Frederick Fasheun, and that Uwazurike has investment property built before he started MASSOB, in the West. You use the term “Fighting for Biafra”! How do you define that? Did anyone tell you that there is an exchange of gunfire going on somewhere or that one is scheduled to go on just because those who are indicating a disaffection with “Nigeria” have finally decided to speak out about the legitimate cause of their disaffection? Furthermore, what do you mean “when you castigate the Yorubas and Hausas....”, where have you seen a castigation of Yoruba’s and Hausa’s greater than that which the Yorubas expressed against the Hausa-Fulani and some against Igbos (on the basis of Arthur Nzeribe’s actions alone) during IBB and Abacha tenure and during the entire first term of Obasanjo or a castigation of Fulani-Hausa greater than that with which the Fulani-Hausa regularly rouse up sentiments to massacre Igbos living in Northern states for the flimsiest reason?
My brother, I begin to wonder about this aspect of your pre-sumptiveness by comments such as that. It is one thing for “charity to begin at home”, when you preach that at BNW you are preaching to the choir since BNW has proven to be the most intolerant place for Igbo Efulefu moreso than any other and just as intolerant with unsensitized Igbos acting as if everything were alright. Perhaps that is why some of your statements and false presumptions stir greater impatience because as an Igbo, you should know better, and be more aware that acting holier/fairer/more decent than the Pope (in this case, more pro-Yoruba/ Fulani-Hausa, than Yoruba/ Fulani-Hausa, in the belief that “Charity begins at home”) is misplaced especially around people who already exhibit that pre-disposition more among “Nigerians” than any other. My brother thank you, I hope u feel me too.
MeBiafran, Teddy, Umunwannem nile, ndeewonu
Ill be back!
___________________ YA CAIN'T KEEP A GOOD MAN DOWN :) Posts: 1182 | From: TEXAS | Registered: Oct 2001
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Brother, pardon me for not responding to your message to me when I made my last post. I meant to but I had to think a lot about your position on certain issues before I could fashion an appropriate response. In the meanwhile Ukaobasi and others have clearly echoed my sentiments in their posts to you. I understand you believe in the Lord; and so do I, as well as many others on this board. I know you genuinely care for humanity, and so do I. I too lament the shortcomings of mankind in the area of godliness and compassion.
As Christians we could forgive Hitler, but he won't fail to reap what he sowed. Likewise, we must also make a distinction between those who err because of human frailty, and those who purposely seek to undermine and destroy. Even our Lord cautioned us to beware when He said,
I send you forth as sheep among wolves. Be ye therefore gentle as doves, but wise as serpents.
I don't think anyone will contest your being gentle as a dove, but dear brother, you neglect the wisdom of the serpent.
You ought to be ready to bite when you know that someone is trying to chop off your head.
___________________ The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves... Posts: 666 | Registered: Nov 2004
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posted
TRANSPARENCY AND REAL POLITICAL POWER: WILL SNC ADRESS WHO THE BEHIND-THE-SCENES CUSTODIANS/STEWARDS OF OCCUPATION DOCTRINE ARE?
Nobody would like to make it a duty to go butting their heads against the wall as an ambition. The point which I'm trying to elicit to make the connection between the reason for the slower pace of investment by Igbos in Igboland (as the gains of SNC should impact it) and greater Igbo emancipation from injustice, is that when a hidden doctrine for the occupation of Igboland and the South-South exists (former Biafra) unaddressed, and seats in the stewardship of a non transparent power-bloc whose duty it is to enforce and transfer that responsibility to subsequent regimes, then military or no military, civilian or no civilian, democracy or no democracy, the mere secrecy of that power-bloc and its stewardship responsibilities of that occupation doctrine, guarantees that there would always be a dual system for the governance of the nation, and that one group is always going to be patronized with the perception of real citizenship and access to real power(while being treated by a secret cabal as an occupation zone to be contained), while the other is going to be the actual ones holding real citizenship and power. Will SNC as canvassed by Enahoro and others address this anomaly? HINT: this inequity of sense of belonging lies at the root of the differences between southerners w.r.t their approach to SNC.
OCCUPATION DOCTRINE. ARBITRARY BUT TARGETED DISPLAY OF STATE POWER MILITARY OR CIVILIAN: IS TRUTH STRANGER THAN FICTION?
Since Nwa-Afor brought up the issue of slow investment by Igbos in Igboland as an excuse for why Igbos are responsible for suffering what has befallen them, I was merely pointing out the fact that an enabling environment for faster investment cannot exist just by ignoring the facts of circumstances such as the following:
A police commissioner, police AIG, IGP, (ABC, DEF), customs officer, or even SSS boss, arbitrarily decides to deploy underlings to get his cut from the percieved largess of any businessman percieved to be “buoyant”, because occupation troops have been deployed in a particular region in their excess in a manner inordinately unequal and far exceeding deployments in other comparable regions for reasons unknown.
A comissioner for (something something) anything, decides that instead of locating that manufacturing plant in the East as sought by an Eastern businessman, that it would function better if you located it elsewhere (hint hint; definitely not the East).
A truckload of Army, Navy, Air force, customs, MOPOL, and Police officers repeatedly drop by to visit (when you insist upon ignoring the commissioners hints), to make sure your "papers" are all intact and current. After your facility is complete, they discover your "papers" arent intact afterall. The penalty is the destruction of that "illegal" facility, or the payment of fines worth ten times your company and personal worth combined.
A military or “loyal” civilian (in the mold of the people Obasanjo, Ubah and PDP install) state governor decides to heist the entire budget for the state into his pocket since he was simply put there to subdue the people and keep them under check in the first place ( except for his wife’s people if she happens to be from the state, or his girlfriends relatives)
The president and all his ministers determine somehow that Enugu or Owerri weather is not good for international airports to be built there no matter how “loyal” the civilian governor may be and how much volume of traffic there maybe compared to less travelled areas. Eastern travellers are routed thru an ultra-modern international airport in a village close to lake chad with population of 5000, and 10,000 miles radius distance away from the next main road. Surprisingly the “loyal” Eastern governors, aviation Minister of Eastern origin, and the transportation minister of eastern origin gleefully come out the most strident defender that indeed Eastern weather is the worst for international flights (or whatever the reasons are)
OCCUPATION DOCTRINE. ARBITRARY BUT TARGETED DISPLAY OF STATE POWER MILITARY OR CIVILIAN: IS TRUTH STRANGER THAN FICTION?.....CONT’D
The Minister for public works determines that roads (read death traps) cannot be maintained, or new ones constructed in the East in general because public works engineers of Eastern origin are lazy or something.
The Minister for public works determines that roads (read death traps) cannot be maintained, or new ones constructed in the East in general because there are no qualified contractors alive and known to him to do the job to the standards of his ministry.
A Minister of eastern origin is appointed to enforce the abolition of illegal and fake drugs or such type malaise. Easterners participating in importation and manufacture of drugs or whichever the industry are tagged labelled and arrested at will, and dispossessed of any position of legitimate competitive leverage in the market, enforcement in non-Eastern areas is next to nil, but the ministries efforts are lauded to high heavens, while the overall problem persists with new zonal kingpins laying low. Same pattern is followed by other ministries who appear to concentrate their greatest enforcement efforts in the east in total obliviousness to other equally busy areas, and usually at the expense of legitimate Eastern businesses targeted more for their competitive hold on the market than for any illegitimacy which could be remedied by a simple awareness campaign.
NEPA. repeatedly remains unavailable for more sustained periods of time than in non-Eastern areas the president/minister of energy goes on to ban the importation of generators and use of generators to which determined Easterners resort to keep things working, claiming that the generator traders union is responsible for vandalizing NEPA installations.
The Commisioner for customs wakes up one day and decides that those machinery you have been purchasing from China and Taiwan to maintain the facility you just built or to stock your production facility with require import duties more expensive than the price you paid to purchase them. While you're still trying to figure out what to do, a storage charge almost as expensive as what you purchased the item for is accumulating for each day payment is late, upon further delay, you later learn that your equipment was confiscated and also learn that a Fulani-hausa or a Yoruba entrpreneur purchased it on “auction” to recoup their costs of storage.
OCCUPATION DOCTRINE. ARBITRARY BUT TARGETED DISPLAY OF STATE POWER MILITARY OR CIVILIAN: IS TRUTH STRANGER THAN FICTION?.....CONT’D
Christian Ubah suddenly emmerges on the scene to "sponsor" every single one of your state officials from State governor, Fed minister, Fed senator, Fed reps, State senators, State reps, state commissioner, LGA chairpersons and officials all the way down to police dogs, all of whom are ready to bite you when you appear on the scene to “invest” without acknowledging their existence at one critical point or another.
"Unruly hoodlums and armed robbers" suddenly appear, overpower the police who is standing by willingly like a happy prostitute, plant bombs, and with the guidance of a State senator or two, A police commisioner, a MOPOL Chief, burn down every State infrastructure, some of which you may rely upon in the course of your business, killing up to 27 individuals in plain view.
The president wakes up one monday morning and declares Opkporoko illegal.
The president wakes up one monday morning and declares Ugba illegal.
The president wakes up one monday morning and declares isi-ewu peppersoup illegal.
The president wakes up one monday morning and declares spare-parts, generators, electronics, foodstuffs and any general supplies already under order must be destroyed upon arrival without compensation to the owner, and that anyone making future orders must do two thousand sommersults through a special hoop to be established by Dupe Adelaja and only through the Lagos port.
Ugly Dupe Adelaja decides that in addition to the hoops, any Eastern trader who makes it, must pay tithes to the Obasanjo foundation and if wishing to clear their goods must sleep with her with eyes fully open and no pillows at hand.
OCCUPATION DOCTRINE. ARBITRARY BUT TARGETED DISPLAY OF STATE POWER MILITARY OR CIVILIAN: IS TRUTH STRANGER THAN FICTION?.....SUMMARY
Do these things happen? you bet!, but I could open a thread called “Experiences an Igbo or South-southern Businessman are likely to encounter setting up and running a business, in the East/South-south”, and am sure you would hear or read an ear or eyeful of experiences ranging from the blatantly illegal to the bizzarre. Despite some of the comedy thrown in to soften the edges here and there, we have come to see that truth is indeed stranger than fiction in that the bizarreness of the inequities which exist go beyond dismissal as mere “bribery and corruption”, “nepotism”, “tribalism”, “figment of UKAOBASI’s imagination”, and belie a deeper trend made possible by an atmosphere which seems to condone gross illegality with minimal outrage when committed in the Eastern region, and against easterners. Have we gotten so used to it, and oblivious to our responsibility to point it out that we now accuse Igbos of not doing enough to enhance their emancipation by not setting up more investment in the east as a panacea? What has the setting up of investments in Nnewi, Aba, Onitsha, done to enhance the Political power of Anambrarians or Abians if I may ask? Did it prevent PDP from rigging the elections and reinstalling Kalu and mounting up the abomination called Wabara? Did it prevent the Anambra debacle?
VALUE OF INVESTMENT; BUT NOT AS A PANACEA TO EMANCIPATION
As brother Teddy has enhanced, there is no gainsaying that every gain exists for Igbos to make by investing more in our areas of origin, the difference between what Teddy is saying is that he is not pointing to it as that critical panacea which Igbos have again failed at and which they must perform in order for others to take us seriously. To me the clutching onto that lame point by Nwa-Afor, merely provides ammunition for non-Igbos such as Aluko who would like to help Igbos find every imaginable fault with which to excuse “Nigeria” and her favored partakers from blatant transgressions against which the New generation of Igbos have chosen to speak out in the belief that “Truth is life” and “The truth shall set you free” the basic mantras which informed the starting of the BNW website by members who at an erstwhile site were being expected to sugarcoat the truth by avoiding harsh and damming words such as Biafra
........To be continued on another posting
___________________ YA CAIN'T KEEP A GOOD MAN DOWN :) Posts: 1182 | From: TEXAS | Registered: Oct 2001
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NNEWI: … Waiting for IBB’s N50m, 12 years after By IKENNA EMEWU Saturday, December 4, 2004
••Outer view of Chikason Industries, Nnewi Photo: Sun News Publishing Enterprise Index
In Nnewi, the industries there are still waiting for the fulfillment of the endless promises made by successive governments, even as they grapple with the injustices perpetrated by law enforcement agencies. One of the many government deceits the people there cannot forget in a hurry is IBB’s N50 million. During the days of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (IBB) as military president, he was reported to have visited Nnewi, and after touring the factories and being impressed by the marvelous work, he made a promise to assist their growth. According to the Administrative Manager of one of the factories, IBB had promised to send a N50m lifeline to the industries. But it’s about 12 years since he left office, the promise is yet to see the light of the day. This is just one of the numerous kite-flying that goes on in Nnewi whenever Nigerian rulers visit there.
Bizarre police Moreover, the police did the bizarre recently by finding a company guilty of an offence so weird. They closed down a factory with over 500 persons in its employment, not because it turned out fake products, or was found to be carrying out illegal business. But because it ‘committed the offence’ of defending itself against robbery attack. That is the fate of one of the biggest factories/manufacturing outfits that make the Nnewi Light Engineering Industrial Cluster powerful. The company/victim in question is situated at Uruagu area of Nnewi. The said ‘offence’ was committed after several attacks in which robbers carted away an inestimable amount of property from the factory. Hence, the company, apparently tired of police failure to protect it against the robbers, recruited its own security personnel.
Fire for fire When the dare-devil men visited the factory for the third time this year, they never knew they were up against a brickwall. Because of past losses, the giant manufacturing outfit, according to the story narrated by the management had hired retired soldiers. So on the hoodlums’ return, fire met fire, and the lesser one “quenched”. The robbers, having been overpowered took to their heels and allegedly reported to the police to come against the industry.
Thou shall not defend thyself The report to the police, allegedly by the robbers or their godfathers, was that the industry employs and equips security men with military assault rifles – AK-47. According to the allegation, it was with the aid of such sophisticated weapons that the company’s security overpowered the robbers. Unknown to them, the security men had only double-barrel guns, but excelled through their experience . Policemen from Zone 9, Umuahia came down on the company with fury, allegedly in search of the said illegal arms and ammunitions. The company was reportedly under siege from the Zone 9 men for almost a whole day. Every activity was disrupted and everyone in the premises held hostage, yet after a thorough search of the premises and no AK-47 found, the police still refused to let go until the company parted with N300,000 as ‘compensation’ to the police for ‘wasting their time’.
Posts: 136 | From: Massachusssets | Registered: Dec 2002
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Ukaobasi, Let me assume once again that ur posting means we have the economic prower and power, what we now need is the political power. In that case it behoves me and u to empower and enlighten our people about the true nature of those that represent us(Ndigbo) as politicians. Since we all here ascribe to peaceful resolution of the inbalance in power(I know it is very unbalanced and tilted to our disfavor)We must use the best tool we have, which is knowledge, to educate our people back home. E.g, In 2003 i was home during the presidential election, I told my friends and relation to vote for Gani. They all laughed at me and told me that OBj is the man that can guarantee peaceful coexistence in Nija. Some told me they would vote for Ojukwu b/c he is an Igbo man. I asked them why vote for people whose ideals and beleifs will not move us forward as a nation. My sister( bornagain) said she was going to vote for Chris Okotie. I took pains in telling them that we must vote for someone that has the interest of the whole rather than the interest of a few. I told them that Obasanjo has not delivered on his past promise of steady power. I told them that Obasanjo pretends he loves the igbos, he awards contracts for construction of igbo roads in order to wing igbo votes, and that he will never follow through. I told them that we must vote for some one that has not had any elected position in the past. We must vote for some one that has been consistent in his fight for the poor and common man. We must vote for some one that has promised to investigate and probe past leaders. None of those contesting promised that but Gani. In the end, they voted for whom they pleased, but a seed was sown by my argument. Maybe the seed will germinate tomorrow. To me that is how i can contribute my quota by enlightening and making my people think! Maybe we will not win today, tomorrow, but infuture we will win.
As for investing in Igbo land, i have been propositioned several times to buy a land in Abuja and Lagos. I declined. They pressured that i can sell and reap my money before hell breaks loose. i still refused. rather i found owerri and umuahia more attractive even though the gains might be little or non existence. As for those that have invested in Lagos and Yoruba, they went in with both eyes open and in business u either gain or loose. When i say charity begins at home, i mean we must start from ourself. I delved into aspects because for further clarification.
Mazi Greg:
I agree with u about xtians reaping what they sowed. If a single girl gets pregnat and later becomes bornagain, she will bear the pregnacy through and will still have a baby out of wedlock. Her sins are forgiven but she will still have the child to show what she did.
My take on been a xtians and forgiveness is that salvation matters more than anything else. That is why when OBj comes out and say he is bornagain and ends up exhibiting fruits of the devil, he will definelty reap what he has sowed, But when he repents God will forgive him and gaurantee his salvation, but so long as he is on earth, the scars of his actions will follow him.
Ogbunigwe; ogbunabani, ogbu mgbe uwa na ato uto: I now have the sense u have imparted on me. lol.
I agree that certain govt policies handicap and frustrate genuine business and investor in Igbo land. Remember the Forex, time when industries have to beg and bid to recieve foreign exchange, how the practise made millionaire of non industrialist. I agree with u bros. That is why i advocate for fairness for all. Have u wondered why it is only mallams that sell black market foriegn exchange? When u go home to nija where do u sell ur dollars? In my own little way i sell to my cousins wife. He is in Dubai and the wife buys dollars from me or i sell to other friends whose relative and into importation. That is how i contribute in my little way. I know it is not enough to sustain indusrties in the east, but it is the least i can do. Have u wondered why an easterner is used to carry out policies detrimental to eastern traders and industrialist? That is why we must in our individual capacities try to influence our people positively in any way we can. It will take time, but atleast, we will know we are doing what we can.
It is easier to come here and campaign for all the right ideals, unless in our own little way do what we think is right and just, the bigger pisture will never be clear.
I love u all. lets keep talking
Posts: 380 | From: US | Registered: Dec 2004
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I really don't see how some (one maybe two) of our brothers defend these yoroba/awusa atrocious behaviors just to be seen as a "detribalized" Igbo whatever, the hell that means. Greg stated it better by explaining the difficulty entails for one to let his enemy "chop" off his head in order to be seen as gentle or junior Jesus. Again, whatever gentle to them means. The way I define gentility is by not starting a mess but if one is directed my way, not gonna buckle. You better believe. Maybe the time to avoid BNW is now due to my state of melancholy from reading things that are simply meant to offend the sensibilities of those who maintain the spotlight on the injustices perpetuated against our people. Nothing short of our total freedom from the wicked system will satisfy this writer.
These passages aroused trickle of tears on me.
"Fire for fire When the dare-devil men visited the factory for the third time this year, they never knew they were up against a brickwall. Because of past losses, the giant manufacturing outfit, according to the story narrated by the management had hired retired soldiers. So on the hoodlums’ return, fire met fire, and the lesser one “quenched”. The robbers, having been overpowered took to their heels and allegedly reported to the police to come against the industry.
Thou shall not defend thyself The report to the police, allegedly by the robbers or their godfathers, was that the industry employs and equips security men with military assault rifles – AK-47. According to the allegation, it was with the aid of such sophisticated weapons that the company’s security overpowered the robbers. Unknown to them, the security men had only double-barrel guns, but excelled through their experience . Policemen from Zone 9, Umuahia came down on the company with fury, allegedly in search of the said illegal arms and ammunitions. The company was reportedly under siege from the Zone 9 men for almost a whole day. Every activity was disrupted and everyone in the premises held hostage, yet after a thorough search of the premises and no AK-47 found, the police still refused to let go until the company parted with N300,000 as ‘compensation’ to the police for ‘wasting their time’."
UKA,
Brother me, I'm running out of words to describe your writings and the wisdom it portends. When folks allude to what they gonna miss by the separation from nigeria, which is inevitable one can’t help but wonder if whatever we loose would be greater than what the ethnicities/individuals you bulleted above combined. Continuing, no one should look forward to this happening in nigeria because what would follow is endless wars caused by hard feelings. Check your PM, please.
___________________ BIAFRA: The land of my ancestors now, yesterday and always. So it will be! Posts: 2483 | From: Ala Igbo | Registered: Apr 2004
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___________________ BIAFRA: The land of my ancestors now, yesterday and always. So it will be! Posts: 2483 | From: Ala Igbo | Registered: Apr 2004
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"Since Nwa-Afor brought up the issue of slow investment by Igbos in Igboland as an excuse for why Igbos are responsible for suffering what has befallen them,"
I asked a rhetoical question. and said may be we should start investing more in Igbo land. And if u know me i fight injustice against anyone.
Posts: 380 | From: US | Registered: Dec 2004
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I agree with you, one of the things that turns my stomach is this nonsense called detriablized Nigeria. Look where it has gotten most of them. Okadigbo for long paraded himself as a detribalized Nigerian, still it didn't stop Obasanjo from putting 6 feet under.
Brother 80% percent of the armed robbery perpetrated on innocent citizen in that fraud called Nigeria, are done by police or with Police knowledge. That was the main reason Obasanjo disbanded Bakkassi boys, now they are closing a successful factory because the owner refused to play ball Nigeria sytle.
You couldn't have exposed the nigerian governments duplicitous ways any better. Especially when it comes to the suppression and dehumanization of Igbos. It's rather unfortunate that some of us do not see this as a calculated and systematic attempt to destroy Igbos. And to think that our so called leaders and politicians have sold out and become a part of the clique, makes the situation ominous.
I'm aware of cases where our daughters are shamelessly paraded as third, fourth and fifth trophy wives, by those who still see them as spoils of war.
Posts: 119 | From: USA | Registered: Aug 2001
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posted
Biafra: There are detribalized Nigerians. i have met them, I have them as friends. Okadigbo is not one of them. Like other politicians he did what he did for material gains. Orji Kalu is not one of them. He like most other politicians both in PDP, APGA, AD etc etc are in it for material gains.
I agree with u that 80%, if not 99% of all robbery are perpetrated by men in Uniform,Police and Army; and may be some jobless cult members from universities. It is shame that a legit business man will be forced to close shop b/c of the robbers in uniform. We all most protest against this injustice. May be it is a systematic way to frustrate igbo business men. How can we show our disatisfaction with this?
Posts: 380 | From: US | Registered: Dec 2004
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Please pardon my digression to extend a congratulatory welcome on your elevation as a SENIOR ADVOCATE.
I hear all you brothers; you guys hit it right by qualifying what's been happening to us as SYSTEMATIC what else if I may ask the nigerian advocates? If it is up to me, we might well forget the peaceful protests and go underground if you can see my drive.
___________________ BIAFRA: The land of my ancestors now, yesterday and always. So it will be! Posts: 2483 | From: Ala Igbo | Registered: Apr 2004
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Wetin I do you now? Na why you sef come carry my name come tanda for this debate. Sebi your hero Ojukwu don talk am say him go follow Uncle Sege go for this wayo National conference. You no see say Ojukwu and Obj na best friends now stee Ojukwu come throway him party chairman? Abeg, make you leave me alone O jare! I just siddon for corner the look look. Hahaha!
Posts: 213 | Registered: May 2001
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Thanks for your kind remarks. To steal a page from our erstwhile Bro Ukaobasi, I beg that we withhold further congratulatory messages. The issue at hand is quite overwhelming, and as you see, there's quite a lot of work to do. You have my utmost admiration, and your relentlessness serves as an inspiration for many of us.
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
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