Debt {Return} Skewed Argument

US Lawmakers Call Nigerian Debt "Odious"

"We feel that the U.S. should not accept the payment of debt from Nigeria given that it is one of the world's most impoverished countries," said the letter. It added that a write-off would cost the United States, the world's largest economy, "a relatively small amount in terms of the U.S. budget, but large in terms of the potential impact in Nigeria".

The lawmakers, led by Rep. Donald Payne, a New Jersey Democrat, and Rep. Maxine Waters, a Democrat of California, noted that 20 percent of Nigerian children do not live to the age of five. In the impoverished West African nation, 2,500 children die every day from preventable diseases, while more than 300,000 Nigerians die each year from HIV/AIDS.

A fool's argument

Read him here

The Coming Census

There has never been a conducted Nigerian census without controversy and contradictions which make this year's planned head count all the more interesting. The volatility of the planned census is underlined by the fact that religion and ethnicity data will not feature on the census questionaire. This means that Nigerians are not mature enough to accept whatever results those excluded data might bring. This is telling indeed. According to the chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Chief Samu'ila Danko Makama, "the stakeholders brainstormed over two days and agreed on every variable except two, religion and ethnicity. There were two schools of thought. One held that the two variables should be included, the other felt it should be excluded, because they have a potential to generate a lot of controversy, and in the end, we will not have acceptable census.

"So the stakeholders decided that the National Population Commission should submit a paper to the Federal Government outlining the merits and demerits of inclusion or otherwise of the two variables from the 2006 census," (This Day, December 18, 2005 ). This is indeed immmature. The cut the limb to heal the wound classical approach to solving problem in Nigeria. Lets recall that the planned census was to have taken placed in 2003 but was postponed to 2005 due to the general elections of 2003 and then again postponed till this year. Meaning government could have avoided conducting it if it could. Statistics like religion and ethnicity are not necessarily have to be included on census form but the evading approach by the government point toward inability to face the problem head on. One day we would still want to know how many muslims, christians and others we have in Nigeria and how many Ijaw, Nupe, Efik, Igalas and others we are. Lets hope we will be mature enough in the future and confident enough to include those data without them having to generate controversy.

So after this cutting and chopping, it is expected that NPC will not have excuse to a)try to postpone it again and b) to let the exercise fail or embroil in controversy when finally conducted. The EU is supporting the exercise with about 20 billion naira, which cover more than half of the estimated total cost of the exercise so the best enumeration tools and officers are expected. The importance of well conducted census cannot be overemphasised. Indeed 2006 will show how far we have gone in this post military journey called democracy.




Nigeria, News

Marwa's Ordeal

It was as a surprise, the end of year news about Marwa's ordeal with EFCC. Marwa was among the more popular gov. of erstwhile Abacha's administration and a probable presidential hopeful. The guardian newspaper had considered him a rising star for 2007. Of course I don't buy into the nonsense of his travail having to do with his presidential ambition and Obasanjo's third term but he must have really pissed someone off high on up to get in trouble like that. His site is currently down and no word from his supporter's site as yet who considered him "the Nigerian Option"; but his unrequested name analysis from kabalarian philosophy produced this:

Though the name Marwa creates the urge to understand and help others, we emphasize that it causes procrastination, lack of confidence, and the inability to realize your goals and ambitions. This name, when combined with the last name, can frustrate happiness, contentment, and success, as well as cause health weaknesses in the fluid systems.

Nonsense of course but it does underline the present bad luck plaquing him.Anyway corruption free loving society can't be bother on what underlying reason a thief is caught but that he is caught.

More:
From AgainstBabangida site
Marwa finally opens up
The Marwa Movement

In The News

First woman police commissioner appointed in Ekiti state.

419 is still biting....incredulously

Child labour in cocoa
farms????

More evidence of lack of self organization as NFA can't properly elect its president.

Also Chidi Anselm Odinkalu discussed why the disgraced Balogun should be disbarred and CBN Gives New Conditions for Foreign Reserve Management

Happy New Year 2006

This is wishing every one out there happy new year and best of lucks in all your endeavour. We hope for good news in 2006.

On Tyrants

With reasonable men, I will reason; with humane men I will plead; but to tyrants I will give no quarter, nor waste arguments where they will certainly be lost.
-William Lloyd Garrison

Tyrants have always some slight shade of virtue; they support the laws before destroying them.
-Voltaire

More loans????

If the government is trying hard to pay outstanding debts why the hell are they getting new loans and why the hell is the world bank giving it?

World Bank has provided $110 million for financial and technical assistance to Nigeria for the development of the urban sector. The States which will benefit from the fund are Akwa Ibom, Edo, Ogun, Bauchi, Jigawa, Nasarawa, Ebonyi and Ondo states.

The Minister of Housing and Urban Development Dr. Olusegun Mimiko stated this yesterday during the ministry's 2005 ministerial press briefing held in Abuja.

Hooligans in Ibadan

The brutal and violent nature of Ibadan politics is again rearing its head this days. Law makers are locked in God knows what but it seem serious enough for them to be stabbing each other for it. Hooligan politicians are the lots of that otherwise quiet city. My city. Which unfortunately still remain the puke of a (tuberculosis? polio?) patient as saro wiwa once characterised it. shame.

Site of the week

Site of the week is Aworan.net for its innovative and refreshing angle. Check it out. The site is maintain by Akin Falope and according to him:

"what really fascinates me about photography is taking pictures of people being themselves and in their element. I see a story being told in every visual instance. That's a good enough reason why I'm enticed by Photojournalism and Street Photography. Don McCullen, Larry Burrows, Rene Burri, Henri Cartier-Bresson are just a few of the many photographers that inspire me."

Good job and keep it on.


Nigeria photo

Al-Mustafa and Stg. Rogers bonafied army men

So says the country's chief of army staff Lt-Gen. Martins Agwai. The army which this man lead obviously do not see any reason to do away with those 2 hoodlums. Martin Agwai's army still believe that Al mustafa and rogers are innocent and so he still keep them on the payroll. With leaders like Agwai no wonder Nigeria is that backward and still sinking.
“They will be paid their full salaries if they are found guiltless but if found guilty, they will be dismissed. They are still in the army.”

The $100 Laptop: computer or toy

The $100 laptop for the poor that Negroponte's MIT labs dreamed up for the poor is nothing but a gadget according to Intel Corp. Chairman Craig Barrett. I will agree with this assesment. Apart from that it also betrayed possible lack of knowledge about the poor countries MIT is aiming to help. Instead of making and selling hand cranking toy why not lend hands with legions of indigenous computer manufacturers in these poor countries to produce affordable regular computers?

"It turns out what people are looking for is something that has the full functionality of a PC," he said. "Reprogrammable to run all the applications of a grown-up PC ... not dependent on servers in the sky to deliver content and capability to them, not dependent for hand cranks for power."

Exactly.




NigeriaLaptopAfricaintel

George of the Jungle

Bloggers are beginning to worry that George Weah might not be honourable enough to conceed the elections he narrowly lost and give peace a chance. That is interesting knowing that Liberia is still recovering from over ten years of destructive war that brought that small west african country to her kneels throughout the 90s. Weah is claiming that the elections were rigged. If indeed it were so then he would do well to make his appeal to the proper mediating channels to voice his grievances or better to the appropriate court of law. Vowing not to allow Sirleaf to be inaugurated amount to subversion of democracy and promotion of instability in that still recovering country. Weah is hero to many African lovers of football and so should behave appropriately.

nigeria

Transcorp in Trance dreamland

Have you all hear about this supposedly mega company that is to transform Nigeria from industrial backwater to another Japan in no time.

Speaking at sensitization forum of the company held in Kano, Okeye, who is also a technical adviser of the nation' stock exchange pointed out that Nigeria has always remained behind because of the absence of mega indigenous company with necessary expertise and skill to compete globally.

By the way that was a quote from This Day by one Nik Okoye one of the director of the mega company. So I ask what is this mega company producing exactly?

Sosoliso aircraft was more than 32 yrs old

According to news report the sosoliso's crashed aircraft was more than 32 yrs old having being with the Serbian Airline before Sosoliso purchased it in 2000 because it no longer meet with European standard. Apparently the Nigerian company cared little about standard so the got the mediocre plane and here we are with the result.

I believe there is a clear case of negligence and irresponsibility on the part of the management of the company and should be charge to court without delay. They are criminals playing russian roulette with Nigerian lives.

Effect of Incompetency

Years and years of neglect and incompetency of the rogues in power in Nigeria is finally showing beyond the mere poverty raging the land. Slums and decay are not just our lots. No not anymore.We also have to contend with death and loss of limbs at any moment in any circumstances now. Road, sea and air travel are now a risk. Before people could simply turn a blind eye to their leaders as they cannibalise the land away taking consolation in the mere fact that they can manage the hopelessness. Its not safe anymore.

Plane crash in Port Harcourt

LAGOS, Nigeria - A Nigerian passenger jet crashed Saturday in the southern city of Port Harcourt, and a radio station said at least 56 people were killed.
The Sosoliso Airlines flight from Abuja was carrying 110 people when it "crash landed and burst into flames," radio station Rhythm FM reported. Fifty-six bodies have been recovered, and seven people were taken to the hospital, the report said.

Sam Adurogboye, spokesman for the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, confirmed that a plane had crashed but said he had no further details.

more....

Onitsha Market Literature

The University of Kansas has archived 21 pamphlets from the famed Onitsha Market Literature of yesteryear to digital library. I stumbled on the site the other day and its being an adventure in reading I must say. From self help little books to mini novellas. Among the titles archived are "How to write and reply letters for marriage, engagement letters, love letters, and how to know a girl to marry" by one J.C Abiakam. Also you can learn that "Woman’s pride is her husband" from Mrs. Chinwe Akaosa. Also on the list archived is the inaugural address of late Nnamdi Azikwe, Respect for human dignity given sometime around 1960.

The Onitsha market literature proliferated from around early 1960 to sometimes around 1970s and was badly affected by the civil war.

Atiku going going going...........

The vice President seem to be heading into hot water. It is being rumoured that the reason Obasanjo is bent on have him begone is because there is possibility of his indictment by the U.S govt investigating his possible involvement in bribery. In fact according to Elendureports.com Atiku might not survive beyond Dec. 31st 2005 as the VP. So we can guess the what Obasanjo's new year resolution will be!

Alam on his way to losing weight

The fat baboon with the mouthful name is finally done in. Before you could say Alameise.... security agents swooped on the thief and carried him away minutes after he was impeached and the immunity garb stripped off him. He should take heart and see it as opportunity to lose weight, a free tummy tuck.