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One thing that really bothers me about the so-called Nigerian presidency is how the politicians and bureaucrats approach the man occupying that post as though he was a king, and how the man himself behaves as such, wielding for the most part, dictatorial power in Nigeria. Since I have always thought of a 'president' as an elected official and a public servant subject to the checks and balances of the legislature and the judiciary, it seriously offends and disgusts me that the dictators of Nigeria are styled 'presidents.' I think it must be the cultural influence of the North and the West regions that seem to be quite comfortable with the absolute rule of one 'strong man,' more like a king than a president. This is what obtains in Nigeria today as I see it...and it is this tendency to give kingly reverence to the presidency that stunts any real growth in Nigeria toward true democratic principles and an egalitarian society. Nigeria tends to be more of a monarchy and a sultanate than a true democracy...and these institutional tendencies that pre-date democracy must be wiped from the public consciousness before real democracy will ever have a chance. Until then there will only be monarchical and oligarchical rule in Nigeria, fostering merely the status quo. Groveling ministers, politicians, and prominent citizens beseeching the 'almighty' president for some course of action or act of beneficence, whether constitutional or not, as though he were a god, is completely destructive to the principles of representative government, the idea of checks and balances, and the rule of law. Nigeria cannot survive as a democracy because it has never truly been one. It should be called what it really is...a dictatorship barely hidden under the trappings of democracy.
___________________ The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves... Posts: 796 | From: Valle del Sol, AZ | Registered: Nov 2004
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I left that goddamned country about 29 years ego and before that the steel industry in Ajaokuta was about two or three years old. It started with 50 million naira, a paper published, that was money back then. Today, the project is not a force in the Nigerian market despite billions of dollars pumped in the project. What can you expect a country whose army assembles wooden furniture instead of bullets and machines? Is this Yoruba management, Hausa or combination of the two...I say both. READ BELOW
FG invites Russians to audit Ajaokuta Steel industry. By Obinna Ezeobi, Abuja
Following the resolutions of the last steel summit, the Federal Government said on Thursday that it had invited the original builders of Ajaokuta Steel Complex, TPE of Russia to audit the company. Answering questions at a press briefing in Abuja, the Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Alhaji Ahmed Gusau, said representatives of company were expected in Nigeria within the new two weeks. Government had earlier in the year cancelled the concession agreement it entered with Global Infrastructures Holdings Limited on the steel plant after the company failed to meet the terms of the agreement and got mired in several nefarious activities. Earlier in his speech, the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Chief Sarafa Isola, said the crisis brewing in Ogun State between mining communities and the companies was because the firms got leases when there was no proper legal and administrative guiding the process. He said, �They took the leases without a community development agreement, without environment impact assessment, without other provisions of the law. So how do you enforce it? �That is why we shut down the Mining Cadastre and we put in place mining regulations to implement the law. At the revalidation stage, they will now be made to do those things they did not do ab initio. The issues we have are challenges of enforcement. �Before the leases were given, certain obligations were not provided. That is the kind of thing we have all over the place.� Isola, however, said his administration had put in place the enabling environment for private investors to operate in the sector. He noted that government, in addition to its regulatory role, had provided the appropriate institutional framework to ensure global best practices in the sector. The minister recalled that the leadership of the ministry had prioritised the development of seven strategic minerals � coal, bitumen, limestone, iron-ore, barites, gold and lead/zinc. Isola further disclosed that Chevron, Ivanhoe Energy, Statoil and China�s Sinopec had interest to develop the country�s bitumen resources, adding that a committee on bitumen blocks bidding had already been constituted to ensure compliance with the 2007 Mineral Act. The minister also disclosed that business mogul, Alhalji Aliko Dangote and other prominent businessmen had indicated interest in the development of the nation�s limestone resources. According to him, the current production figure of cement stood at seven million tonnes per annum as against a demand of 15million tonnes per annum, which was projected to peak at 18million tonnes per annum by 2010. Isola also disclosed that there was a target to become a major regional producer of aluminum and steel product with a production target of 500,000 tonnes per annum of primary aluminum and 12million tonnes per year of steel by 2020.
Hail Biafra Posts: 1832 | From: Minnesota USA | Registered: Mar 2001
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I've been back at BNW now for about a month and I've not seen hide nor hair of your buddy Idi Amin Daud. Don't they have parole in Nigeria?
___________________ The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves... Posts: 796 | From: Valle del Sol, AZ | Registered: Nov 2004
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QUESTIONS: Does the Governor of Central Bank of Islamic Republic of Northern Nigeria or any Bank of a country has the right to print money without senate approval?
QUESTION: The Federal Republic of Northern Nigeria had asked Dantata and others to pay back money borrowed from their government, does this include interest and penalty or a dollar borrowed and a dollar returned?
Hail Biafra Posts: 1832 | From: Minnesota USA | Registered: Mar 2001
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The President of Islamic Republic of Northern Nigeria for the second time did not attend the UN meeting, instead, he flew to Saudi Arabia as a guest at the opening of a University of Science and Technology. Guess what?, he was not received by the King of Arabia, rather by a Governor. And I ask, why would a President of a country choose to ignore his influence in the center of the world to attend a meeting in a dusty Island?. Even thou Gaddafi and the satanic terror of Iran attended. Nigeria, what a country?
Hail Biafra Posts: 1832 | From: Minnesota USA | Registered: Mar 2001
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WASHINGTON � A Northwest Airline passenger bound to Detriot boarded KLM airline from Nigeria to Amsterdam , who said he was acting on al-Qaida's instructions, tried to blow up the plane Friday as it was landing in Detroit, law enforcement and national security officials said. Passengers subdued the man and may have prevented him from detonating the explosives, the officials said. "We believe this was an attempted act of terrorism," a White House official said.Federal officials imposed stricter screening measures after the incident.
His name is UMAR FAROUK ABDULMUTALLAB FROM NORTHERN NIGERIA . King said the flight began via KLM in Nigeria and went through Amsterdam en route to Detroit. There were 278 passengers aboard the Airbus 330. Yep that name sound very familiar, he is from Islmaic Republic of Northern Nigeria that is, the furure habitat and sleeper cell for moslem terrorists.
Hail Biafra
[ December 26, 2009, 03:38 PM: Message edited by: Waypoint1Biafra ]
Posts: 1832 | From: Minnesota USA | Registered: Mar 2001
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Washington got to listen to Biafrans at this moment, Nigeria is not a country in any sense, those in most part of hausaland are not different from the hardcore terrorist you find in Yemen or Eyypt. The North of Nigeria will soon superside the rest of the world as terrorist producers. We are forced to carry Nigerian passport, we have no part in terrorism, we are Christians, we are pro Judio, we are free people, we are Igbo, we are Biafrans.
Posts: 35 | From: Canada | Registered: Dec 2005
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It would seem that the Jihadists of the North have given a bad name(as if it wasn't bad enough already) to all who live in what is called Nigeria.
Something must be done to show the world that Igbo people are not muslim jihadists, and are not cold-blooded murderers of innocent men, women and children like these people from the north. The sad part is that the world is ignorant of these differences.
O what irony! that the Brits hand-delivered the oil wealth to the very people that would terrorize their population in time to come...and that the Americans would have to suffer and clean up the bloody mess these pompous idiots caused the whole world.
___________________ The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves... Posts: 796 | From: Valle del Sol, AZ | Registered: Nov 2004
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many of you laughed at me 8 years ago when I start this Thread. You know in life karma has a way of playing games on all of us. Here is what I said in 2001 when I opened this thread.
quote:
This thread is specifically to my fellow southerners who are still fervantly holding on to one Nigeria. Brothers like Clement, Ikpatt, Colo (samuel Johnson). Rodulf and the rest of you. My question you all is this, Are guys prepared to live in the Islamic Republic of Nigeria. Personally I am not. Laugh this off if you like but is coming unless you join with the Biafran train right now. I was sick to my stomach reading that some people are celebrating this American tragedy. Shouting Ala akbar. Yet to an outsider what will be reported is that Nigerians were celebrating the tragedy. If any of are confused about the Hausa/fulani agenda please read this address to Southern Governors meeting.
quote:
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Where are people like Clement ikpatt Rudolf okonkwo and the rest? today when Nigerian ass have been opposed for the whole world to take a peak. As long as we Biafrans continue to share a country with these muslim hooligans we will continue to share in the shame of Nigeria. Public education is distroyed in Nigeria for one reason only, so that the money bags can continue to send their spoiled bratt overseas for education. First of all how come is only last month that Alhaji mutallab retired. In 1980 while I was still working for first bank, Mr Mutallab was the Managing Director CEO of United bank for Africa UBA. So for 29 years while other southerners are being retired Mr Mutallab continued continue to live in the laps of luxury moving from one elite bank to the other. so that In the process his spoiled bratt son can live in a 4 million dollar apartment in London while the average Nigeria live of $50 a month. Well for all of you one Nigeria enthusiats be prepared to go through the toughest search at the airports around the world. The earlier Nigeria is broken up so the christian Biafran can move on the better.
___________________ On Aburi We Stand. Posts: 3003 | From: Inland Empire California | Registered: Mar 2001
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I do not give praise to the father who called to report his son is a burgeoning terrorist, well to some extent, but I hold him responsible; he raised the terror and enabled him to become a terrorist. He is equally responsible. In addition, every Nigerian Christian should be outraged by this terror to the world, guess what? the name Nigeria is now in the data base for potential terrorist, Christians or not, whether you speak Ibo or Ngbanti, or your name is Smith from minority Igbos, be ready for rude awakening-profiling, especially, when Nigerians have the tendency to be conspicuous with their luggage, excessively loud, disruptive and first to shout racism on long distance flights. An Hausa man has single handedly destroyed Nigeria without a religious riot. Talk about restoring the image of Nigeria, good luck.
Ditto: Advise to Nigerian Christians, ditch that style of distinguished fashion robe and wear your regular Southern attire or wear a T shirt that reads I am a Nigerian Christian, gotta have a sense of humor. Hail Biafra Posts: 1832 | From: Minnesota USA | Registered: Mar 2001
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"The earlier Nigeria is broken up so the christian Biafran can move on the better."
Biafra Sir,
I humbly ask you remind us which one of these instruments of power advocates of the Independent State of Biafra can currently wield?
Diplomatic Information Military Economic
I suspect you would say none. None now, none for the foreseeable future�..none forever if Igbos get their house in order.
I am sure you are aware of our politicians disparaging their own making comments such as Igbos are NOT together therefore cannot win the Nigerian Presidency. Do even phantom a Yoruba or Hausa man saying such a thing! Some are saying we cannot even rule ourselves not to talk of governing others.
So please tell me how we can �skin that cat� with no meaningful power, a house divided amongst itself, and a prevalent culture of greed and mistrust!
___________________ The best years are yet to come Posts: 15 | Registered: Mar 2006
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The news media are beginning to wake up from slumber; I was quite surprised to watch a CNN reporter declare the City of Kaduna as epic-centre of Islamic terrorism in Sub-Saharan Africa. Such revealing report (which was quite accurate by the way), may help convince the world that terrorism and Islamic fundamentalism has strong hold in Northern Nigeria, that they do strike quite often against Christians, mostly Igbo but not limited. That they have killed thousands of people and caused great pains to families of innocent people; that they have looted and plundered properties of Biafrans and other Nigeria without any consequence. Islamic terrorism against Nigerian Christians if ever mentioned in the international media, are reported as tribal skirmishes, or even communal riots. Now that the overfeed children of these perpetuators are connecting the dots and growing wings, we will hope the world does not listen to those who sow the seed of terrorism, who secretly command terrorism from comfortable air-conditioned rooms while the almajeris and their clerics are set to the street to terrorize Christians (mostly Igbo) in the name of Islam. The father of the young terrorist may have reported his son to the authorities to save his ass but the fact remains that they are the patrons of terror, the same terror they breed and unleash on innocent Igbo and other Nigerians in others to hold on to power has been copied by their children in another dimension, as a consequence we most watch out for up coming one as this is no isolated case.
Kaduna, the birth place of terrorist Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab is not the only city that breeds terror in Nigeria but the rest of the North, this also extend to even cities in the middle belt like Jos which is fundamentally Christian and has less significant Moslem population remains under constant attack by the jihadist.
There is something wrong to watch Dora Akumyili shamelessly declare to the world that Nigeria is alien to terrorism, the truth is that a member of her community or even her kindred most have been killed by Northern Nigerian Islamic terrorists. Yes, my cousin was hacked down at the prime of his teenage age by one mallam, nothing happened. Whenever the northern oligarchy finds themselves boxed to the corner, it's never hard to find Igbo fools who would volunteer their own life defend their masters to an extend they may not defend their own mothers. Akumyili should shut up and allow the terror architects to defend themselves.
For those of NdiIgbo and people of other nations stranded in Niger-area, make distinction of yourself. I am Biafran.
Posts: 35 | From: Canada | Registered: Dec 2005
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It seems to me that this Islamic terrorist from Hausaland wanted to kill Americans and other Westerners but wasn't too keen on killing himself. From the news reports describing the potency of the explosive he was carrying, he could probably have detonated while he was in the bathroom and still there would have been serious loss of innocent life. I'm thankful that this jihadist was not only dumb but even more cowardly than those before him. I just wonder when America will finally recognize its long-term strategic interests in supporting dissident Christian and non-muslim elements in the South rather than supporting the Muslim jihadist North by making heavy purchases of ill-gotten oil from them. Maybe now organizations like MEND don't look so bad to American strategic planners.
___________________ The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves... Posts: 796 | From: Valle del Sol, AZ | Registered: Nov 2004
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Nigeria, along with countries like Cuba, Yemen, Somalia, Pakistan and other Muslim countries entering the US have been listed as countries with extreme terrorist activities for special treatment en-route to US. And I ask, are Nigerians, particularly the Christian Nigerians cowards or just lay back stupidest? If there is any time for Christian Nigerians and Southern Democratic movement in Nigeria to protest against the behavior of Umar and the Islamic Republic of Northern Nigeria, this is the time for them to take to the streets and draw attention to the world that they are Christians and against terror activities in Nigeria, even if it is to protest against clustering them together with terrorist North. I hope they do, otherwise the profile sticks; the world, particularly Western Europe will continue to profile all Nigerians as potential terrorist. And if they just stand and do nothing about it, then they are seen as comfortable with the profiling. Nigerians cannot continue to hope for change, hoping for another self centered, agenda-oriented Hausa man or persons to make the change when they have the power and the opportunity to change Nigeria, now is the time, now or never. It is called people's power...Iranians are doing it. If Nigerians don�t like the special treatment en-route to US, there has to be politically correct or rather, creative way to do something about it, otherwise, to hell with them, somethings gotta give. Hail Biafra
[ January 05, 2010, 01:57 AM: Message edited by: Waypoint1Biafra ]
Posts: 1832 | From: Minnesota USA | Registered: Mar 2001
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I have approached some Britsh lawyers of Biafran origin to try and see how we could get the British government and her Majesty the queen as the head of the commonwealth nations to see the effect of what the Wilson's government action during the 1967-70 war has caused. We also want to see on how to get the British gvernment backing and support for a UN backed Referendum on all the old Eastern Region to see who wants out, as we know the MEND and the Midwest would go. But still we have to consider the ethnic minority group within Biafra. We also looked on how t reconcile the differencies that might come in the form of what part of Ibo one comes from, but come to a conclusion that an Iboman is an Iboman even if he's a Jerusalem Ibo. But till we hear from those we sent to speak to the BG and the people in the commonwealth office, we have to bear to what this cruel almagamation has done to us and the cruel hand of faith that forced us back when we left. Now brothers and sisters we would go through the road of diplomacy, which may sound like "dogo turenchi" to the Hausa and their yoruba clingons. But if the Hebrews did get out of Egypt, the Ibos would get out of the evil union called Nigeria peacfully.
Posts: 112 | From: United Kingdom | Registered: Jun 2007
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Reading the views of the ruling class of BiafraNigeria, on the US action of including Nigeria in the list of terrorist states, shows we are yet to understand that the US is a country, which takes the security of the lives and investments of its citizens seriously. How can anyone fail to see that all the unprovoked and persistent killing of innocent Christians in the North particularly since the North commenced its agenda of islamizing Nigeria through the introduction and forceful implementaion of Sharia, did not influence the terrorist, Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab? The boy was right there, in the North till he was 13 years, his impressionable years. He saw those who worshiped with him in the same mosque routinely murder thousands of Christians, burn their churches and rape their women because their Imams openly dub them (Christians) infidels and promise them heavingly rewards of 12 virgins if they die while killing Christians. He saw fellow Muslims in the North celebrate Osama bin-Laden when WTC was bombed on 9/11, 2001.They even made and wore t-shirts with Osama bin-Laden's picture. It became a fashion statement for them in the North and no one challenged them. He knew they went on a killing spree of Christians because of a cartoon in far away European country. Besides, he heard Osama bin-Laden's admonition to Nigerian Muslims to overthrow the infidel government of Olusegun Obasanjo some years back. Yet we fail to acknowledge these facts. As far as I am concerned, Northern Nigeria is a hotbed for growing real and potential terrorists. Therefore, Nigeria is a terrorist State. It is clear now because the Muslims have gone beyond the borders of Nigeria. They have through the failed plot of one of their own hit those who care about the lives of their citizens. They have touched the Americans. They have not planned against or butchered Southern Nigerian infidels as they do so often. Now, innocent Southern Nigerians must pay the prize of being subjected to dehumanizing screening along with these culprits at the US Airports. What a fate for Christians! Those who compare Farouk's act with that of the shoe bomber like Mr. Ojo Madukwe did in the BN papers today miss the point. They should be reminded that UK Muslims do not kill, rape and burn churches as the Nigerian Muslims do. And the government of Nigeria, which they control has never brought any of these killers to book. The United States must never de-list Nigeria from its list of countries that sponsor and export terrorism. The Muslim North sanctions terrorism and I can bet there are many Farouks waiting in the wings to attack the US, its allies and interests in Nigeria and across the world. It is about time the known terrorist part of BiafraNigeria is targeted in this policy.
___________________ "Udo, Njiko na Nwere onwe anyi" Posts: 63 | From: PH, BIAFRA | Registered: Dec 2003
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They tried to Islamize Nigeria, they introduced sharia in the North and threatened to spread the satanic discipline throughout Nigeria, they gained world wide recognition by cutting off the arms and legs of common thieves, threatened to publicly whoop a woman; they rioted against Christians when Mohammed was caricatured by a Danish artist, 6,000 miles away from Nigeria, and again another riot against Christians when a reporter made a creative but stoogious remark about Mohammed and the Beauty contestants; they paraded around in public with the bloody head of a Christian; they resisted the change of Arabic inscription in their money, they single handedly selected a President and manipulated the vote to make him President of a nation. They modeled a way for terrorists, and one of them was encouraged, cheered and witnessed the countless prosecution of Christians to rebrand Nigeria himself. On 12-25-2009, they were denied recognition as a Moslem nation but recognized that Nigerians do bear Moslem name and with special treatment. What a way to rebrand a country? There will be another Umar because no one major official is in charge in Nigeria or publicly condemned his acts. Their President has not spoken to his citizens about his illness, not even prior to New Year to assure his citizens that he will be home soon. Where is the leadership??????????
Hail Biafra Posts: 1832 | From: Minnesota USA | Registered: Mar 2001
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Nigeria is a terror sponsor state and should be branded a such, calling Nigeria a place of interest at this moment despite the fact the Nigerian oligarchy has not and will never condemn terrorism is absurd, an action the western authorities will defiantly regret on the long run. These people live and thrive in terror, killing Christians for them is like watching a baseball match in America. The Obama administration has the duty to inform the American public of the truth about Nigeria. He most encourage Gordon Brown to loosen the conspiracy of the British government and the Nigeria northern oligarchy to hold on to power by means of terrorism and in turn, allow Britain unlimited access to oil in the Christian South. It's now down to oil money or American lives. DIVIDE NIGERIA AND MICRO MANAGE THE TERRORIST NORTH.
Posts: 35 | From: Canada | Registered: Dec 2005
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People with what has been going on and the so called Nigerian president's silence should tell the world that being a Katsina man like the father of the failed bomber, what do we expect. They've attended same mosque and both him and his late brother helped the bomber's father into high position first as a federal commissioner and later as the first bank's chairman. But will the world know what te northern oligarchy have been doing to the rest of that maladate federation call Nigeria, how they've been so many Osamas among the northern oligarchy that uses the likes of the failed bomber to cause carnage in the name of religion. When christians were slaughtered in Jos and other part of the country, had the western world given an ultimatum to the mafia oligarchy regime that controls what we call the federal government, the christmas horror would have been sniped in the bud. But for the fact that the northern devilish oligarchs controls the power in Nigeria and guarantee's the Western countries oil pumped out of the blood of the suffering people of the south especially the Niger Delta, they closed their eyes. I hope Barrak would see things as they have been since we lost that war and know the difference between the Southern Nigeria from those from the predominal muslims north. To know that Umoru Mutallab is from the same town as the president and his silence has give me a great food for thought and hope the American government would take a look at it from that point of view.
Posts: 112 | From: United Kingdom | Registered: Jun 2007
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Why would anyone cry foul of the US for singling out Nigeria for special treatment by comparing the same act with Richard Reeds, the British shoe Bomber and Umar the diaper bomber. I beg to differ. Why Obama imposed the restrictions.
Britain has a stable government, Nigeria does not Britain has able bodied and functioning President, and he is a resident of his country, Nigeria does not have. There have been countless religious riots in Nigeria, none in Britain except freedom for the Muslims to exercise their right to speak guaranteed under the constitution. There have been extreme terrorist activities sanctioned by certain state government of Nigeria but none in Britain, except those moslims who would like to blow up innocent civilians, quite typical of Moslims fanatics.
I guess the imposition of special treatment for Nigeria is not a bit awkward and they deserve it. Obama is telling Nigerians, leadership comes from within, right now there is none. Get over it.
Hil Biafra Posts: 1832 | From: Minnesota USA | Registered: Mar 2001
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Here is another twist to this whole thing. How many of these almajiris have you guys seen on flights bound for EU or the Americas? Aha�very few if any! I hope these restrictions apply to ALL flight leaving from any part of Nigerian with destination to any country.
If not, well they retain hassle free movement to visit their cousins in the Middle East while traveling for everyone else becomes painful! They can go and come with little restrictions as they plan another attack while you and I suffer the results of their plot.
One of the tactics smartly employed by the enemy in Iraq and AFGH is the denial of freedom of movement. Bringing down the aircraft may not be their end-state! I think the Islami-Fascist has succeeded in taking away our freedom of travel knowing quiet well theirs will not be affected.
Think about it, why couldn�t that idiot light himself up in the bathroom where no one would be watching and he has a better of not being caught? The point is every time one of these incidents happens the civilized free world looses while the real perpetrators are left to live as nothing happened!
Hassle free flight to US and EU may now require going through an Islami-facist country! Tuffiakwa, I will take the hassle instead.
___________________ The best years are yet to come Posts: 15 | Registered: Mar 2006
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What a Country. The President of Islamic Republic of Northern Nigeria issued a statement in Hausa and English not to the people of Nigeria but to British Press that he is alive and well, recovering and will soon be home. He did not set a date to be home, and he did not address the Nigerian people about isues that affects them, instead he issued a statement to foreign country. Yep, Born to rule, Nigerians are beginging to see the worst of it. What a country?
Hail Biafra
READ THIS FROM AOL.COM
NIGERIA ON THE EDGE AS AILING PRESIDENT STAYS ABROAD
LONDON (Jan. 12) � Nigeria has been in leaderless limbo since its president headed to what turned out to be Saudi Arabia for emergency medical treatment seven weeks ago. That long absence � during which President Umaru Yar'Adua was neither seen nor heard � led some Nigerians to suspect their head of state was dead or in a coma, and many to fear that their country could be thrown into chaos by the vacuum at the heart of government.
In an attempt to quash these rumors, Yar'Adua gave a phone interview to the BBC on Tuesday and claimed he was quickly recovering from a heart condition. "At the moment I am undergoing treatment, and I'm getting better from the treatment," Yar'Adua said from his hospital bed in Jeddah, his voice sounding weak. "I hope that very soon there will be tremendous progress, which will allow me to get back home."
However, that brief interview did little to calm the Nigerian population. Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets of the capital, Abuja, on Tuesday and demanded evidence that the president was still alive. They waved placards reading "President Yar'Adua: Talk to us," and chanted, "The government is lying [when it says] he spoke to the BBC." One protester told the United Kingdom's Daily Telegraph: "We cannot believe that he is OK until we see him with our own eyes."
Nigeria's president might have accomplished relatively little during his two and a half years in office, but his absence is being sorely felt in Africa's most populous country. Yar'Adua's high-profile anti-graft campaign � Nigeria is one of the world's most corrupt nations, says Transparency International � has faltered in recent weeks
And without Yar'Adua's guiding hand, a popular deal that brought relative peace to the long-troubled, oil-rich Niger Delta has started to collapse. Last year, the president initiated an amnesty that saw thousands of rebels � who want a share of the southern region's oil wealth � surrender their weapons in return for clemency, a monthly payment, and educational and job opportunities. Attacks on oil pipelines dropped, and the production of gas � most of which is exported to the United States � picked up.
But "the amnesty process lost momentum" once Yar'Adua quit the country, says Richard Moncrieff, West African project director for the International Crisis Group. Attacks are now increasing in the Delta � three Britons and a Colombian working for oil company Shell were taken hostage Tuesday, the first violent kidnapping in months � and former rebel commanders are reported to be rethinking their involvement in the rehabilitation scheme.
Some Nigerians fear that Yar'Adua's poor health could even threaten the existence of their young democracy, which was ruled by a military junta until 1999. The president, who hails from the country's Muslim north, might cling to power despite his illness, as handing control to Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, from the mostly Christian south, could upset an agreement that sees the presidency rotate between the two regions. As the country's last president, southerner Olusegun Obasanjo, ruled from 1999 to 2007, northerners might resent their rivals' quick return to office.
Nigeria's generals, though, won't tolerate an absent president for much longer. John Campbell, a former British ambassador to the country, told the Agence France-Presse, "If the current crisis spins out of control, the Nigerian army is likely to intervene, possibly with a nominal civilian leader." It could justify a coup, he added, "[by] saying it would prepare for elections and deal with 'extremism' in the Niger Delta and ... in the [Muslim] north."
In an attempt to reassert control and regain the public's trust, Nigeria's parliament voted Tuesday to send a delegation to Saudi Arabia to "convey a message of goodwill" to the president and discuss matters of national importance. But with a sick, ineffective leader in charge, it's unlikely that the country's health will improve anytime soon. Filed under: World, Only On Sphere Follow Sphere on Facebook and Twitter
[ January 13, 2010, 03:57 AM: Message edited by: Waypoint1Biafra ]
Posts: 1832 | From: Minnesota USA | Registered: Mar 2001
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Jan. 12) -- New York City is suing the Nigerian government for millions in unpaid real estate taxes, the mayor's office announced today. The suit, filed in federal court today, accuses the Nigerian government of not paying taxes on a building it owns on Manhattan's East Side. The city says the taxes go back at least until 2002 and possibly as far back as 1993. The lawsuit claims the government owes between $4.1 million and $16 million.
"Nigeria was given many opportunities to settle this debt to the city, but it declined to do so," Protocol Commissioner Marjorie B. Tiven said in a statement. "The city seeks to be a good neighbor to foreign governments that own property in the city, but we also expect these governments to do their part and pay their taxes."
New York City gives foreign governments a tax break on their United Nations mission and consulate, and on housing for the permanent representative and the consul general. The building in question, called Nigeria House, includes offices for the Nigerian Consulate and Nigerian Mission to the U.N.
But, the lawsuit claims, the government has also used the building for taxable commercial purposes, including office space for Nigeria Airways, other businesses, and space rented out to the U.N. The city also claims the building's top floor is used as a residence for someone other than the permanent representative to the U.N. mission or the head of the consulate.
"The courts have ruled, and the State Department agrees, that foreign governments do not qualify for a tax exemption on property used for commercial purposes," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said in a statement. "For nondiplomatic uses, we expect foreign governments to pay their fair share of property taxes, just like all New Yorkers do."
The Nigerian government has been under a lot of heat lately. The country's ailing president, Umaru Yar'Adua, went to Saudi Arabia on Nov. 23 to undergo medical treatment. After weeks of silence, several Nigerians began to suspect the president had died.
Those rumors were quashed today when the BBC broadcast a phone interview with the president from his hospital bed. Still, thousands of protesters marched in the streets of the capital city of Abuja today, accusing the president of corruption.
Last week, the country was placed on the United States' newly revamped terrorism watch list, stemming from Nigerian national Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab's failed Christmas Day attack on a Northwest Airlines flight. Filed under: Nation, Only On Sphere Follow Sphere on Facebook and Twitter.
Hail Biafra Posts: 1832 | From: Minnesota USA | Registered: Mar 2001
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CONTRARY to the denials by the military authorities that stories of lopsided postings were unfounded, further investigations have confirmed uneven postings among officers from different parts of the country. Investigations show that the North-West is far more favored while the North-East equally benefits more than other geopolitical zones in the allocation of command positions in the army. For instance, the 9th Brigade is headed by Brigadier General S. N. Muazu from Katsina State The 65th Battalion is commanded by Lt. Col. Biu, who is from Borno State. The command of the 81st Brigade also came under scrutiny during our investigations. It was discovered that Colonel O.A Taiwo, who hails from one of the South-West states, commanded the Brigade for less than three months before he was replaced by Colonel Aliyu, who had just returned from a training programme in India. The 65th battalion is in control of operations at Owode, Ojoo and Ikeja axis of Lagos. A source said that it could not be by accident that top command positions in the military had been going to officers from a particular zone. "It is not a question of causing hatred or creating tension among the ethnic groups of the country but a constitutional matter that has to do with fairness and justice," a source said. The source further posed the question: "Is it an accident or coincidence that the National Security Adviser (NSA), the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), the Chief of Defense Intelligence and the Commander Brigade of Guards are all from Kano/Katsina axis?" Earlier report published in the Nigerian Tribune had indicated that officers of the North-West and a few from the North-East were favored in Command positions. The report indicated that some of the recent postings included Brigadier-General Ram Mustapha(Guards Brigade), from Kano State, Lt. Col. M Musa Gar, Commander, Guards Brigade, Abuja, from Kano State; Lt. Col. U. T Musa, Commander, 4th Guards Brigade, Abuja, from Borno State. There is also Brig. Gen. Muazu, Commander, 9th Brigade, from Katsina State, while Brig. Gen. Minimah, regarded as a professional officer was moved to Defense Headquarters, as staff officer, the Commander of Artillery Corps, who is described as another professional soldier, was recently retired. But the Director of Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. A.C Olukolade, said that the reports were false and an undue generalization of the situation in two departments of the army. He said: "Indeed, the Army considers it most unfortunate that whereas the report ostensibly covered the entire Nigerian Army, it only focused on Guards Brigade and the Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta. "The Nigerian Army seizes this opportunity to reassure the Nigerian public that it has clearly discernible guidelines for postings, which it follows in carrying out such exercise. It has to be noted that professionalism and merit, among other considerations, are normally taken into account."
Hail Biafra Posts: 1832 | From: Minnesota USA | Registered: Mar 2001
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DIVIDE NIGERIA LIKE PAKISTAN AND INDIA-GHADAFFI They have them talking about dissecting Nigeria to two, the South and the North, an experiment gone bad by the British. Here are the calls from even the once most known terrorist head of state of Libya-----GGaddafi wants Nigeria divided into two-South and the North,just like Pakistan and India.
DECENTRALIZE NIGERIA NOW, MUSLIM GROUP TELLS FG
The President General of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat of Nigeria, Dr. Moshood Adenrele Fashola, has said if the division of Nigeria is what will solve the restiveness and increasing spate of killings in the country, the Federal Government should decentralize the count. The head of the strong Islamic group, who addressed a press briefing in Lagos on Wednesday to herald the group�s 6th anniversary, said the delay in convening a sovereign national conference to negotiate a true federalism for the country was responsible for the woes and calamity happening in the country. According to him, �If decentralization is an option to save Nigeria from the present disintegration it is good for everybody. What makes this so authetic is that GGaddafi has weighed in and the some muslims. Is about time
Hail Biafra Posts: 1832 | From: Minnesota USA | Registered: Mar 2001
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quote: �Those who sowed the seeds of genocide in Nigeria decades ago are now in their 70s and 80s but their fruits are now part of our national culture today, simply because they got away with genocide in the 1950s and 1960s.�
Evang. Elliot Uko, President, Igbo Youths Movement (IYM)
Posts: 35 | From: Canada | Registered: Dec 2005
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This is a video about the violent muslim sect Boko Haram and how Nigeria may be affected by its murderous elan. It has only had about 1500 views so I thought I would post it here.
Who Is Boko Haram?
___________________ The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves... Posts: 796 | From: Valle del Sol, AZ | Registered: Nov 2004
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I swear, the commentators knows very little about Nigeria. Just imagine the idea that moslems and christians are 50 and 40 percents respectively, in Nigeria. The true demography of Nigeria population is: East = 99 percent Christians Midwest = 90 percent Christians West = 65 percent Christians/ 30 percent Moslems Middle Belt = 70 percent Christians / 25 percent Moslems North = 80 percent Moslems / 15 percent Christians.
The South of Nigeria and the Middle are all more densely populated than the desert far north. So find the average and judge for yourself.
Posts: 35 | From: Canada | Registered: Dec 2005
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In a supposed democracy representatives are chosen based upon a census count of the population. The commentators accept the figures fed to them by Nigeria's rulers which, as you and others have pointed out, are borne out of deception and census rigging. BTW when is the next Nigerian census?
___________________ The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves... Posts: 796 | From: Valle del Sol, AZ | Registered: Nov 2004
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