Just Wondering…

by Sabella Ogbobode Abidde

Why do so many respondents “hate” Mr. Paul Adujie? Whatever he says, however he says it, he always elicit hate-mail from readers. Why? Is it that Paul doesn’t have a right to his opinion? Whether one agrees with him or not is not the point; the point is that we should stop insulting him, respect his space and his right to interpret his worldview the way he sees it.

Why do respondents on some websites use aliases? If one is going to be attacking or pouring invectives on others, one should be bold enough to use real names. Why hide behind an alias – unless of course one is lily-livered. However, I do understand the need for some people to use an alias…security…and all that. But for most, it is just a front to attack and attack and attack.

What did President Obasanjo gain by delivering Charles Taylor to President Bush? Was he so desperate to impress and to visit the White House that he had to compromise his principle? No one in his right mind would take Obasanjo for his words again. That the president of a nation cannot give his words and mean it? His ability to negotiate has been severely compromised. Sad, isn’t it?

Why do we have so few women essayist on Nigerian-related websites? What are they afraid of? Could it be that they have no cogent opinion, or are simply afraid that readers and male respondents will tear them apart? Please join the chorus. Please. Your silence diminishes our humanity…your participation will make the discourse richer.

A friend told me that Dr. Reuben Abati could also be heard on the radio and on public television in Nigeria. In addition, he attends book launchings and also honors several invitations to grace social and official jamborees. Gee, to think that he also writes once or twice a week? Blessed Moses, where does Reuben find the time to do all these? Instead of working for the Guardian Newspaper, has he thought of owning his own media outfit?

Whenever I think of Reuben Abati, I also think of Dr. Okey Ndibe. Fine writers both gentlemen. But hey, why haven’t they established a media house? They could partner with the folks at the New York Times, CNN, the Washington Post or even the Boston Globe. Or, they could talk to that stinking-rich fellow, Chief Adenuga, to back them. Better still, they could buy out those fellas at Newswatch and revamp the magazine.

Damn, what is it about Nigerian women: in their twenties they complain about Nigerian men. They’ll tell you that Nigerian men are this and that and that and this mostly in negative terms; and they want men who are liberal and open-minded and willing to undertake fifty-percent of the household shores. But when they get to be in their thirties, and still unmarried, they forget all their “idealism and feminism” and settle for any man with cucumber between his legs. Why? Why? Why?

Why do some Nigerian students at Howard University spend tons of dollars throwing parties? Some don’t even have a job; yet, they throw parties as though they are richer than the J.P Morgans, the Rockefellers, the Trumps and the Gates. Some of them spend and spend and spend as if there is no tomorrow. Could it be that most of them are helping to spend our oil money?

Why is it that in most big cities in the United States (among the minority groups) more than thirty-percent of the cab drivers are Nigerians; and more than ten-percent of the nurses are Nigerians? The numbers may be higher in places like Houston, Dallas and the Maryland/Virginia/DC area? What is it about nursing and cab driving that attracts Nigerians? Most of these cab drivers will tell you they have American graduate degrees. A job is a job is a job…I am just wondering, not judging.

Can somebody please tell me why the Ndiigbos seems NOT to be interested in the presidency? One gets the feeling that they’ve developed a sense of fatalism – a “what will be will be” syndrome. The way I see it, whether OBJ gets a Third-term or not, the next president will be from the North in which case my children would have graduated from Harvard University before we have an Igbo president.

The contribution of California, New York and Texas to the United States is higher than the contribution of, say, Vermont, Idaho, Arkansas, and Maine. So, naturally the “big” states are richer. In the case of Nigeria, the Oil Producing States keep Nigeria alive and afloat. So, what ball does Zamfarra, Oyo, Kano, Sokoto and other states have when they oppose fifty-percent or one hundred percent resource control?

Not too long ago, Governor Rimi’s wife was assassinated. Why is it taking this long to find her killers? Or is this going to be like previous cases in the manner of Dele Giwa, Bola Ige, Marshall Harry, Captain Agbeyegbe, and Pa Alfred Rewane? If the Nigerian police can’t track down and arrest the killers of these prominent people, one wonders if they can ever arrest the killers of ordinary Nigerians. Life must be cheap in Nigeria.

There is a well-known Nigerian essayist, Dr. Tonye David-West. As popular as he is, no one that I know has ever seen his pictures or knows the state he lives in. And by the way: the Nigeriaworld website used to have some fine writers like Rudolf Okonkwo. I have not seen him on that site for upward of one year as he now. Why did he and others leave the Nigeriaworld? And what is it about that site that pisses people off — at least the people I know?

Since the beginning of the year, I have heard of at least ten Nigerian men who went home to marry and bring their wives to the US and or Canada. Questions: do Nigerian women do the same…do they go home to tie the knot and bring their husbands here? I wonder how it feels like for such women…and their men.

Why do fellow Africans consider Nigerians 419ers. The Mozambicans, the South Africans, the Kenyans and Tanzanians and a host of others are always complaining about the Nigerians who live in their countries. Even here (in my part of the world), people smile suspiciously once you introduce yourself as a Nigerian. How did we “acquire” such unsavory reputation? It’s tough being a Nigerian.

I told a friend living in London that I have interest in and was “talking” to a fellow Nigerian from Edo State. There was a long pause from the other end. A long and uncomfortable pause. Then the qu

estions came: “why Edo…do you know what you are getting yourself into…I won’t advise it…Edo, Warri, Port Harcourt girls…” My friend has yet to tell me the reason behind his trepidation. My people please tell me: what is wrong with going after girls from those cities?

And finally, what is wrong with dividing Nigeria into four nation-states: (1) Western Nigeria; (2) Northern Nigeria (3) Eastern Nigeria; and (4) the Niger Delta. Revenue won’t be a problem. After all, there are all sorts of minerals in all the federating states. Additionally, the North can hold on to their groundnut pyramids, the West can hold on to their cocoa, and the East to their timber and manufacturing industry in Onitsha and Aba.

Hahahahahahaha, the Niger Delta then keeps her oil and gas. What’s wrong with this calculation? Just wondering…my people…just wondering!

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6 comments

Anonymous April 16, 2006 - 8:30 pm

Interesting article I must confess. But i'd like to comment on just one of your points — Paul Adujie.

You would agree with me that the articles published on the this and other similar site(s) have a measure of impact in influencing public opinions regardless of the right of the writers to their personal opinions.

When we write, be it for personal or collective gains, we owe it to our readers to project our opinions with the least bias we can afford. And when we fail to do that, we face a risk of being critisized because just as we the writers have the right to our opinions, our readers also have the right to respond to our writings.

If articles for public viewing (by writers perceived by the public to be credible writers) discuss issues of importance of which the reading audience feels srongly about, then the latter is justified in stating its opposing views in just the same manner that a feedback may be justified if it were intended to commend the

writer(s).

The right to one's opinion, while always being called in defence of writers such as Adujie, is a two-edged sword which in my opinion no one party, be it the writer or the reader, has any more right to wield than the other. THE READER ALSO HAS A RIGHT TO HIS OPINION. HOWEVER DISTASTEFUL THAT MAY SEEM TO THE WRITER.

However, I must confess that while readers are entitled to criticize the opinions of certain writers, they have to do that in a civilized manner devoid of invectives.

I don't think that Mr. Adujie deserves to be criticized all of the time because he has written some pretty good artilces. But what do I know? That's just my opinion, and I'm just one of his many readers.

To you and Mr Adujie, I would say keep writing, but know you that your articles would be judged by the quality of research and of content.

Please learn to welcome criticism — it is good for this business, believe me.

Murna Tam Gilbert.

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Anonymous April 15, 2006 - 8:13 pm

Hello Sir, just a question,Although I do not support looting of the Nigerian treasury, but

are the kids in Howard University to blamed that they have access to the money their parents have acquired.If you were in their shoes what would you have done? You will refuse to flaunt your parents wealth. Or we children need to start asking our parents how they got their wealth.

Adeolu Adebari.

Howard University

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Anonymous April 15, 2006 - 3:18 pm

ypu my hero, i have always wonderd myself and yet Nigeria is the giant of them all. okoro

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prince kennedy Iyoha April 15, 2006 - 2:46 pm

Mr Sabella Ogbobode Abidde.

You are not new to the barbaric attitude of some African leaders, such as Charles Taylor and other that just enjoy seeing people. People they clamed to represent suffer and plunder in misery. For their personal gains.

If you a current with Africa news, you most have had the assorts of rebels in the capital of Chad. I promise you that these rebels dont have any political program to benefit the chadians, but are raining fire and stone upon their beloved capital to over throne the present leader, then they will be worst. If you can remember, the Nigerian troops intervene in same like situations in the early 70s and 80s during the leadership of Hassan habre. And a host of other that have plunge that neighbour into misery and poverty.

Charles Taylor though promises from our president should not be allowed to escape the law, and most not go unpunished for the thousands of innocent blood spread on the street of Liberia, he should be an example to many like him that think the only way to resolve problems, is by taking up arms against the very people that breed them up.

Brother Sabella, I think we have a responsibility to our people to help inform, that the acts of war, do not bring any good to the people, but destruction, misery and pains to our people, we also most tell whoever want to bring this woes upon our people, that the society, the Ecowas community, the Africa union, and the international community, have the instruments to bring them to justice.

I am strongly in support that Charles Taylor be tried. Not just for the crime he committed against the innocent people of Liberia, but to represent an example for others.

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Anonymous April 15, 2006 - 10:35 am

What can a man do with a free one hour on a Saturday morning but comment on NA articles

Why do so many respondents hate Mr. Paul Adujie?

They may have something to say but do not know how to articulate it. They chose easy way of name calling.

Why do respondents on some websites use aliases?

Security my a.., they do not want to show their ignorance of the topic.

What did President Obasanjo gain by delivering Charles Taylor to President Bush?

He thinks he gained the sense of belonging.

Why do we have so few women essayist on Nigerian-related websites?

Because, they are smarter. Living on the internet like me talking BS is not the way of leadership participation. At least that is what they say.

Dr. Reuben Abati Instead of working for the Guardian Newspaper, has he thought of owning his own media outfit?

We all cannot be enterpreneurs, he may be comforting where he is.

Damn, what is it about Nigerian women:

It is not only Nigerian women. I personally believe that young ones in thier twenties, male and female should be free to enjoy their freedom from years of hard work in schools before committing to a married lifestyle if that is what they chose to do.

Why do some Nigerian students at Howard University spend tons of dollars throwing parties?

That is the only thing they learnt from their parents — how to squander.

Why is it that in most big cities in the United States (among the minority groups) more than thirty-percent of the cab drivers are Nigerians; and more than ten-percent of the nurses are Nigerians?

That is the part they chose. Nothing wrong being a nurse, it is a profession. For cab drivers, the question is do you see yourself doing that at 60 plus years old?

Can somebody please tell me why the Ndiigbos seems NOT to be interested in the presidency?

Ndiigbo is not about presidency but for a truly purely democratic society for the benefit of every Nigeria. In the minds of most Igbos is the true democracy.

The contribution of California, New York and Texas to the United States is higher than the contribution of, say, Vermont, Idaho, Arkansas, and Maine. So, naturally the big states are richer. In the case of Nigeria, the Oil Producing States keep Nigeria alive and afloat. So, what ball does Zamfarra, Oyo, Kano, Sokoto and other states have when they oppose fifty-percent or one hundred percent resource control?

We will get there — state control, but not yet. Remember most Nigerians are still learning what it is to be democratic. Elections are just the first step.

If the Nigerian police cant track down and arrest the killers of these prominent people, one wonders if they can ever arrest the killers of ordinary Nigerians. Life must be cheap in Nigeria.

Well, welcome home. You just realised that life is cheap in Nigeria. If not why would the leadership feed the people.

Why did he and others leave the Nigeriaworld? And what is it about that site that pisses people off — at least the people I know?

News that people had read in other news media. No body wants to waste time rereading articles.

Questions: do Nigerian women do the samedo they go home to tie the knot and bring their husbands here?

Once again the women are smarter in some of these issues.

Why do fellow Africans consider Nigerians 419ers. How did we acquire such unsavory reputation? Its tough being a Nigerian.

It is Psychological competition in play, and lack of aggressiveness and layback attitude of these other countries.

A long and uncomfortable pause. Then the questions came: why Edodo you know what you are getting yourself intoI wont advise itEdo, Warri, Port Harcourt girls

Your friend has the mindset of those citizens from other African countries that call Nigerians 419ers. He is layback and timid.

And finally, what is wrong with dividing Nigeria into four nation-states: (1) Western Nigeria; (2) Northern Nigeria (3) Eastern Nigeria; and (4) the Niger Delta.

Come on now, you have forgotten you four cardinal points. Where is Niger Delta in East, West, North and South. And you are complaining about the situation in Niger Delta, you have conciouslly taken yourself out and you are blaming the leadership. Just kidding, get back your people to the four cardinal points. The Southern Nigeria, okay!!

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prince kennedy Iyoha April 15, 2006 - 7:57 am

Mr Sabella Ogbobode Abidde.How are you today?.

In the first place, your proposition about the four nation arrangment, is like going back to the begining. You are awear that the original structure of the Nigeria state was like, what you are proposing.

The result was absolute madness that led to a civil war, unless there is a strong central government to regulate the powers of regional administration, the whole iniciative will run to a crash.

About your friend in London, many Nigerians, particulaly those from the priviladge states, see people from states with less asses to the nations wealth, as originators of crime, Edo state has gained a very bad reputation, when you talk about crime in Nigeria, though many people from this state are hard working and dedicated to what ever responsibility put before them. I have listen to people telling, that an Edo state man, can sell his Father for money. In the mist of all this acusations, you can still find sincer people from that state.

In my contribution to adujie article, i believe the federal government should come out with a new policy of how revenues should be shared, giving priorities to the producing states, in the materials they produce.

The interview granted by ex- presidant shehu shagari, i read in a link from Mr Uche Nworah article, was interesting. It appears that the ex- presidant is taking a role to resulve the tension in the Niger-delta region. This to me is an interesting development.

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