posted
What is going on? Obasanjo government is turing out to be the worst government for several reason.
(1)The many political killings associated with it (2)The corruption scandal in both houses; El ruffai/ 57mil/2senators and now Dr. Yerima/MTN/Minsters bribe (3) 1st time in History I-G of Police corruption Scandal (4) 1st time in nija history civilian coup against a state governor (5) Sell off public corporations to government officals and their cronies (6) Two bomb explosions in military barracks (7) banning of commodities which most igbo traders deal on (8)1st time that election rigging is proved against a sitting president (9) Known thugs eat and dine with president (10) Known thugs (presidents friends and party members)destroy State buidlings and create chaos and violence (11) Local govt. funds is withheld by federal govt. to spite state governor
etc and etc..
The worst of all is now the price of cement. In december a bag of cement was 950naira, today it is 1,600naira. What is really happening? Today the blame Dangote or the ships stuck in high seas tomorrow they blame world economy. This is not even the end of it cos, whatever goes up in Nigeria does not ever come down.
Obasanjos administration is turning out to be the worst in the history of Nigeria. Who will save us from this draconial and strangulating administration?
Posts: 380 | From: US | Registered: Dec 2004
| IP: Logged
That is what happens, when Obasanjo banned importation of Cement, and gave exclusive right to Alhaji Dangote. The Sad thing is that the same cement is $1,200 in the North. They drove it up because most constructions going on in the East is from those of us outside that heil hole called Nigeria.
posted
So are you guys going to do anything about Obanjo or just stand their and point stuff out without actual answers??
Posts: 48 | From: East Tennessee | Registered: Feb 2005
| IP: Logged
Not really, but I do have a broad knowledge of single family home construction, and a good number of the skills necessary to build them from the foundation(be it monolithic slab or pier-joist system) up to the the roof-line. Also I can finish the exterior in brick or flagstone, etc., but I don't call myself a bricklayer. I just happen to know how to do it well enough for me. If you have questions about things like that I might be able to help.
___________________ The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves... Posts: 665 | Registered: Nov 2004
| IP: Logged
Out here people use their brains to fulfill their lives in many ways. It is better to acquire brick laying skills than to spend your life time looking for lazy money like most of you folks do in BiafraNigeria. I have saved and earned myself good money by learning to paint, do dry wall, some capentry and landscaping. It may not be ones day job, but it sure helps to have skills like Greg does.
Posts: 1532 | From: USA | Registered: Mar 2001
| IP: Logged
posted
Chiboy Thanks for Educating Kokori, and unlike in Nigeria here in America we do our own minor plumbing works. I have even learned how to do minor electrical work, added a bathroom for my mother-inlaw during visit to us. I have learned how to tune up my car change oil and do other minor mechaniical work, still I would not call myself a mechanic.
posted
Folks, This Obasanjo's adminstration is the worst thing that happened to nigerians.I have said it over and over again that this guy (OBJ) does not have what it takes to run a country. Nigeria is a country where tribe and ethnicity is the yardstick for running the country, instead of ability and competence. Countries elect their leaders by engaging them in debates, town meetings, question and answer time between aspiring opponents. Citizens then make their choice of who they want to lead them, but in nigeria it is the opposite, and as long as merit is thrown over board by the so-called nigerian politicians and nigerians in general, this vicious circle of hopelessness of this doomed country nigeria will continue. This interesting topic came close to be derailed by some (OBJ'S) apologist who asked one of our brillant brother in this forum if he is a bricklayer. This is their style of covering their shameless incompetent tribes men in power. For us Igbos we join them and abuse our great son and leader, instead of protecting what is ours.
What stake does Obasanjo have in any and all the industries which prices has shot to the roof?
Is this his idea of privatization?
Is Obasanjos way of encouraging foriegn investors? or, is this the outcome of his numerous trips abroad?
While many are clamouring to be part of his fake conference, no one is talking about the biting cost of living and doing business in Nigeria.
Many traders in Onitsha are facing very very hard time, some have committed suicide as they can no longer afford to pay for their shops. What is Ohaneze doing about this? What can we do about this.
Reminds me of a play i took part; where the protagonist yelled " What shall we do? What have we done that the gods have decided to let loose their anger on us"
Obasanjos government is God's anger on us for going our own way and for been too materialistic.
Let us first confess the sin of our nation. During the Festac'77 we invited other nations gods and now they have made Nigeria their home. In our hearts we have desired to be what we are not. Let us join hands with million other xtians in praying for our nation. So that Obasanjos evil regime will be the last to come our way. Amen! May we never see the like of this regime again.
Posts: 380 | From: US | Registered: Dec 2004
| IP: Logged
"Price of Cement" never bothered you in the past until you embarked on building a house, eh? Laughs.
___________________ BIAFRA: The land of my ancestors now, yesterday and always. So it will be! Posts: 2483 | From: Ala Igbo | Registered: Apr 2004
| IP: Logged
I wish i had learned to be an auto mechanic in Nigeria. today it cost me so much to fix my cars. I would not mind knowing how to build a house too or even to repair the basic in my house. We have the wrong priorities in Nigeria. Anywonder then that we are the way we are. I watched Amazing race yesterday and saw the hinter land of peru. the roads were well paved and they had bicycle carring passengers on such roads. In Nigeria we have very bad roads that have the latest automobile driving on.
Go to Houston, Many Nigeria have made buying expensive cars and expensive homes like a competition. We have brought our fake lives here in the US and many families are paying dearly for it. Thank God for some families that have excerised restrain and gotten their priorities right.
Let us always start from our self to make that positive change we want in Nigeria
Posts: 380 | From: US | Registered: Dec 2004
| IP: Logged
A long time ago I realized that in America there is no real "job security." At any moment a person could become unemployed. What happens to that expensive lifestyle of some when the money stops coming in every week. I realized that I had to learn how to hire myself, to create my own jobs. I took a hands-on course with the Memphis Home Builders Association and helped build two custom homes from the ground up. That was in 1992. I was a real estate broker then and it only seemed natural to learn as much as I could about single-family home construction. What I have found is that most people pay a builder anywhere from 30- 50 percent of the cost of their new home in profit. Here in Phoenix, the material and labor for a 200,000 dollar home probably cost about 80,000 dollars. After deducting for the cost of the land and city service fees(about60,000 dollars) the rest is profit. It's really outrageous, but people have to pay for what they don't know or can't do themselves. In my case, i don't need a builder, just the land. The rest is easy.
___________________ The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves... Posts: 665 | Registered: Nov 2004
| IP: Logged
posted
Greg: I admire the skills you got. Seems like too late for me, what with age and back problem all i can do now is pay for those things i would have done for myself. Nevertheless, i try to learn as many new things as i can manage. You never know when such will be useful when i finally retire to Nigeria.
Posts: 380 | From: US | Registered: Dec 2004
| IP: Logged
Stop deceiving yourself with this crap of "when I finally retire to Nigeria." You have spent all your adult life in United States doing all kinds of crooked stuff and now that you've ended up with severe back problems waiting for Uncle Sam to start sending your retirement benefits, if at all you have any based on your poor work history, I'm afraid you may end up at one of the run of the mill senior citizens home.
And besides, if you couldn't do it here in the U.S., forget it because the reason you left Nigeria was coming short of surviving the hostile environments of a banana republic. I have no idea how old you are now, but the earlier you start your retirement plans here in the States, the better for you. America is the place and you better believe it.
Whatever you do in Houston, hold on to it. Do not do what I would never do if you know what I mean.
My name is Mota Ogallala Tekumseh, the proud native American.
___________________ The greatest thing about America is the right to disagree with the power structure without fear of torture or death at the hands of the government Posts: 217 | From: Ogallala, Nebraska, USA | Registered: May 2003
| IP: Logged
posted
lol, bro. Mota, believe it or not i plan to retire in Nija. I do not have severe back problem, but my back is not as strong as it used to be. Age, hardwork as a former cabby, and now a young wife made me realize that this body is getting weaker.lol.
You are right, i will make sure i receive my benefit from Uncle Sam after all i paid in to it. That is if GW will not gamble with it on the NYSE.
On the whole i plan to some day use some of my experience in helping my people back home.
posted
This is a right thinking Nigeria who refused to be hogwashed with all the noise about the going on in Nija. He highlighted our main problem as corruption and greed of those in power.
Let the scale drop of our eyes, they are selling off all our national pride and heritage to their friends and cronies. Nigeria airways and all its properties are sold. Our refinaries are sold. expensive houses and choice properties are sold.
Reminds me of "Osuofia" in the Master, a Nollywood home movie, telling a 'mugu' 419 victim, that he owns Murtala Mohamed airport.
This piece by Dr. Akinyede hits the nail on the head *************************************************
Is the government broke? By Tayo Akinyede THE proposal by the government to monetise some fringe benefits for political office holders and civil servants is a laudable policy but what is baffling is the way and manner the government has decided to sell our heritage that is, the government houses located in strategic locations like Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Maitama, Wuse etc. This government does not believe in owing assets at all from the way and manner it started its privatisation programme What this government believes in, is money to award contracts and implement "budget" and leave the stage after finishing its tenure. Our colonial masters that is, the British and founding fathers believed in baking the cake for Nigerians to eat but the way this government is behaving it does not believe in baking at all. It believes in devouring our resources and selling our heritage so that the coming generation would become slaves in their own country. To give examples, our colonial masters founded ECN (NEPA) P&T (NITEL), the ports and built all the strategic houses located in Ikoyi to mention a few. What might have prompted this government to embark on privatisation and sell our heritage is corruption. There is corruption everywhere right from the local government, to the legislature, states, the judiciary and even the Presidency. It is because of corruption that our economy is going down. Our refineries are not working because of corruption, greed and selfishness. Instead of the government to award Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) contract of our refineries to those who built the refineries or reputable companies that are renowned for the maintenance of refineries, the government would award such contracts to politicians or political godfathers or companies that only engage in importing and exporting goods. Kuwait and Saudi Arabia are oil producers like Nigeria. They have refineries in their countries but they did not stop at that, they have refineries in Europe and America. Kuwait has petrol stations dotting the cities in Europe and America. What are they earning? Foreign exchange to boost their external reserve. No wonder the Romanian Ambassador to Nigeria Dr Gheorgh Dumitru who granted an interview about two and half years ago in Nigeria, told us point blank that we should not be exporting our crude but that we should be refining and selling it. This will add value to Nigeria and Nigerians to use his words. The refineries owned by the governments of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia in Europe and America are manned by experts. The idea not to allow civil servants and political office holders to stay in government houses is good because a lot of money is spent on those houses yearly for renovation and maintenance. Apart from this, some top government officials have two or more houses in Lagos and Abuja as official residences. What the government should do with the properties in strategic locations is to rent them out on a commercial basis. The people who sold the idea of selling the properties are short-sighted, selfish and unpatriotic. What will happen to the government properties in Apo village, Police Barracks, Army Barracks, University houses occupied by government workers? Who will buy these properties? It is the same government officials and political office holders who have stolen money from the public till that will buy them through fronts. A four-bedroom house in old Ikoyi will fetch N3 million per annum and a three-bedroom flat will fetch at least N1.5 million. The government will be able to get a lot of money from properties in strategic locations running into billions of Naira as rents. This money could be used for the masses in terms of education, roads, hospitals, agriculture etc. If any Nigerian is appointed into a position of authority, the first thing that will be on his or her mind is to steal from the treasury to buy houses in Nigeria and overseas. But our so-called experts or thinkers for the government would not sell their own family properties or personal properties. Nigerians only sell their properties when they are broke or when they are in debt. There is no way any civil servant or political office holder can afford to buy a four-bedroom house property in old Ikoyi for N3 million now as this is the going rate. The president of the Nigeria Labour Congress said recently that any civil servant or political office holder who buys government houses should be probed for corruption. When government bought properties from landlords in Abuja about four years ago, the properties were over-valued but now that government wants to sell, its properties will be under-valued. Finally this government should note that our colonial masters who built the houses in old Ikoyi and other areas did not sell or buy them when they were leaving. So also Balewa, Azikiwe, Awolowo, Aminu Kano, Ironsi, Murtala Muhammed, Gowon, Shagari, Buhari, Idiagbon etc did not buy them. The reckless sale of government properties started during the regimes of Ibrahim Babangida and Abacha. We must put a stop to this now. If this government insists on selling them probably because the federal government is broke as the external reserve is now about 20 billion dollars then it will lead to a scandal that will rock the government to its foundations. And one may ask: what is the government going to do with the money after the sales? And how has this government spent the monies recovered from Abacha loot, the fees collected from GSM licences, all the proceeds of privatisation since inception and the excess money from the increase in the pump price of petroleum products? The President once declared that he is holding the assets in trust for Nigerians. If this is the case, then he should not sell what he is holding in trust for Nigerians. Since this is a democratic government, government should carry the people along hence the need to debate whether the houses should be sold or not.
Dr. Akinyede is a medical practitioner in Lagos
Posts: 380 | From: US | Registered: Dec 2004
| IP: Logged
It's really a simple matter. The so-called leaders of Nigeria bear no allegiance to the same. They know that the loyalty normally rendered by the people to the state is non-existent. Allegiance in Nigeria falls along ethnic and religious lines. Those in government, like wild beasts, are gourging themselves on a gargantuan Nigerian carcase, each taking as much as his greed can carry away, knowing that the beast is dead, and that other critters will devour whatever is left of it. When Nigeria collapses, all the national properties sold off will be basically unrecoverable and those who pocketed the money may likely be nationals of another nation-state. I think in such a case, warrants for the arrest of the perpetrators of these deeds should be issued in the affected new state, and every effort taken to bring them to justice. For Biafra, I think the laws governing the return of Jewish properties stolen by the Nazis could serve as a model as to how to secure the return of a nation's resources(moveable resources of course, as in hard cash or precious metals). Also persons or entities purchasing Nigerian national properties should be made aware in writing of the real possibility of those assets being taken back or nationalised by succeeding nations and their governments.
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
Printer-friendly view of this topic
![[Smoking]](graemlins/smokin.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
