In 2002, Google’s co-founder opined that Russia is Nigeria with Snow because of the problem of corruption. Perhaps he could have said Russia is Nigeria with nuclear weapons. But for the crisis in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria, Russia and Nigeria both led the African Continent and Europe in oil and Gas production. The Russians are the most experienced in outer space and Nigeria and south Africa lead Africa in the applications of space science.
The Population of Russia and Nigeria are not too far apart. Russia has a population of 144 million and Nigeria 180 million.
There are some other interesting developments between Russia and Nigeria in respect of late Chief Gani Fawehinmi and Vladimir Lenin. Vladimir Lenin and Gani Fawehinmi were both born on April 22, 1870 and 1938 respectively.
Both of them were politicians, lawyers and publishers. Lenin is described as a revolutionary and Gani an activist.
Both lived in London. Lenin was involved in the October Revolution and Gani Fawehinmi launched his political party in October. Earlier on, he had said he was prepared to lead a revolution in Nigeria.
Lenin was first President of the Soviet Union and Gani a presidential candidate of the National Conscience party (NCP).
According to the Wikipedia, Lenin’s family was originally known as Ulyanov. Being educated folk, the Ulyanovs imparted to their children hostility against the ills of their time — violations of human rights, servile psychology, and readiness to struggle for higher ideals, a free society and equal rights. Gani in his life time was known as a human rights activist.
Lenin attended the first International Socialist Conference on September 5-8 1915 at Zimmerworld. Gani died on September 5, 2009, surrounded by those who could have been of the socialist leaning. Gani’s death triggered “a conference” of the left. Depending on how you look at it, Gani was a peculiar socialist or a peculiar capitalist.
