Saturday, June 9, 2012
TIPS FOR HAVING A HAPPY FAMILY
I stumbled upon this piece and I decided to share. Please read, it is important for every one who hopes to have a family someday or have got a family already;
For the man;
1. You must provide for your wife. Don't allow your wife to provide for you.
2. Marriage is for two advanced forgivers. Don't allow grudges to build up, they create walls.
3. Prevent evil from happening to your wife. Prevent people from taking your wife for a ride.
4. Permit your wife to shine. Give her some place and space. Make her feel important.
5. When last did you open the door for your wife? It is not about culture, it is about honour.
6. Be kind to your wife. Grow as a man. Provide for her. You can not react to every thing as a man.
7. Your greatest thing as a man is in your home.
8. Don't starve your wife of sex.
And for the Woman:
1. Don't marry a man because of what he drives but what drives him.
2. Seduce your husband. Don't always allow your husband to ask for sex. As a woman your under wear should match.
3. You must be a different woman to your husband every time. Be creative. Don't be predictable. Give him what he wants.
4. Everyone woman has an influence. If you lose influence over your husband you have lost womanhood.
5. You must learn to synchronise with your husband. Be part of his plans.
6. Don't have too many children. Sex is not all about making children. Dress to please your husband.
7. Don't fix time to have sex with your husband. When a man is sexually satisfied he is emotionally stable.
8. As a woman you should invest in yourself so you can adequately support him. Build your self as a woman.
Brain Exercise
I'm sure you must have seen or read this somewhere. I just felt you ought to see it, that's if, you've not already. Enjoy it.
Exercise of the brain is as important as exercise of the muscles. As we grow older, it's important that we keep mentally alert. The saying: "If you don't use it, you will lose it" also applies to the brain.
Below is a very private way to gauge your loss or non-loss of intelligence. So take the following test presented here and determine if you are losing it or are still a MENSA candidate. OK, relax, clear your mind and . . . begin.
1. What do you put in a toaster?
The answer is bread. If you said "toast", then give up now and go do something else. Try not to hurt yourself. If you said, "bread", go to question 2.
2. Say "silk" five times. Now spell "silk". What do cows drink?
Answer: Cows drink water. If you said "milk", please donot attempt the next question. Your brain is obviously over-stressed and may even overheat. It may be that you need to content yourself with reading something more appropriate such as "Children's World". If you said, "water" then proceed to question three.
3. If a red house is made from red bricks and a blue house is made from blue bricks and a pink house is made from pink bricks and a black house is made from black bricks, what is a greenhouse made from?
Answer: Greenhouses are made from glass. If you said"green bricks", what the heck are you still doing here reading these questions? If you said "glass", then go on to
question four.
4. Twenty years ago, a plane is flying at 20,000 feet over Germany. If you will recall, Germany at the time was politically divided into West Germany and East Germany. Anyway, during the flight, TWO of the engines failed. The pilot, realizing that the last remaining engine is also failing, decides on a crash landing procedure. Unfortunately the engine fails before he has time and the plane crashes smack in the middle of "no man's land" between East
Germany and West Germany. Where would you bury the survivors - East Germany or West Germany or in"no man's land"?
Answer: You don't, of course, bury survivors. If you said ANYTHING else, you are a real dunce and you must NEVER try to rescue anyone from a plane crash. Your efforts would not be appreciated. If you said, "Don't bury the survivors" then proceed to the next question.
5. If the hour hand on a clock moves 1/60th of a degree every minute then how many degrees will the hour hand move in one hour?
Answer: One degree. If you said "360 degrees" or anything other than "one degree", you are to be congratulated on getting this far, but you are obviously out of your league. Turn your pencil in and exit the room. Everyone else proceed to the final question.
6. Without using a calculator - You are driving a bus from London to Milford Haven in Wales. In London, 17 people get on the bus. In Reading, six people get off the bus and nine people get on. In Swindon, two people get off and four get on. In Cardiff, 11 people get off and 16 people get on. In Swansea, three people get off and five people get on. In Carmathen, six people get off and three get on. You then arrive at Milford Haven. What was the name of the bus driver?
Answer: Oh, for goodness sake! It was YOU, Read the first line!!!
Thursday, May 10, 2012
How to Date by Zodiacs
I grew up reading about the horoscopes in the national dailies as a young boy. I use to believe in the forecast written. I read wide even more while growing. I learned I'd actually make good use of the zodiacs without believing in the forecast.
Hence, I decided to write this piece. Bet you didn't know I'd be a love-doctor :D. Enjoy and do kindly drop your comment(s). Thanks.
Aries are the bubbly, happy-go-lucky type. They're the life of the party! How do you get your Aries interested in you? They're like puppies. They get bored fast so make sure you give them a lot of attention! Give them a back rub, send a text, get creative! Don't get too needy tho, they will get tired of it!
#Aries Key Characteristics: Outgoing, active, pioneering, aggressive, self-centered, headstrong, impulsive, independent, and enthusiastic.
Taurus's like to be in control, they like to have the last word. How do you get a Taurus interested in you? Although they feel comfortable when they're in full control, gently nudge them out of their comfort zone. Let them be feisty at first but be careful. If you push too far, this could backfire, but if you do it just right, you're good!
#Taurus Key Characteristics: Stable, practical, sensuous, persistent, stubborn, thorough, wealthy, nature-loving, and reliable.
There are 2 sides to a gemini: playful and serious. Take advantage of their playfulness and get them interested in you with some playful flirting! If they're serious, make them feel important. Offer them in on one of your secrets! Game plan: flirt and flatter!
#Gemini Key Characteristics: Quick-witted, inquisitive, flexible, talkative, many-sided, variety-seeking, superficial, and nervous.
Cancers are shy and need some comfort in trust. How do you crack their shell? Take the lead and plan something. Maybe a dinner, a movie, or a day in the park? They'll feel better and open up if you take the wheel and make the first move! Once you spend some time together, you'll develop that trust.
#Cancer Key Characteristics: Nurturing, intuitive, comfort-loving, tenacious, irrational, living in the past, acquisitive, and clinging.
Leos do not like to feel like they are a lion trapped in a cage! Keep this in mind when you're trying to get close to one. Gently get to know them and stay away from getting your head bitten off! Once you've gotten through their layer, they will be hooked!
#Leo Key Characteristics: Dramatic, generous, honorable, fun-loving, attention-seeking, dominant, self-glorifying, and warm.
Virgos are dreamers and they want their dreams to be a reality. How do you work with this? Try discovering everything there is to know about them early: the good and the bad. This way, when they discover your flaws, they may realize that neither of you are perfect!
#Virgo Key Characteristics Detail-oriented, helpful, unassuming, accurate, orderly, sensible, duty-bound, shy, and criticizing.
Although they appear balanced and composed, Libras are not so calm underneath. How do you win the heart of a Libra? Approach them carefully and sincerely, no head games! They will appreciate this... they love the sweet nothings!
#Libra Key Characteristics: Relationship-oriented, co-operative, charming, refined, sociable, approval-seeking, indecisive, and fawning.
Scorpios are impulsive, sexual, spiritual, and mysterious. How do you get one interested in you? Think outside the box. No dinner and a movie dates. Try a walk through a tea garden, something different! Be careful though, Scorpios can be control freaks. Give them the last word!
#Scorpio Key Characteristics: Intense, secretive, sexual, regenerative, determined, compulsive, vindictive, sarcastic, and destructive.
A Sagittarius loves a life full of variety! How do you win the heart of a Sagittarius? Don't do the same date twice. What worked the first time, won't necessarily work the second time. Spice it up, get creative! Keep them guessing what you will come up with next and they will be hooked!
#Sagittarius Key Characteristics: Enthusiastic, optimistic, ethical, travel-loving, straightforward, eager, risk-taking, and restless.
Capricorns set goals and achieve them. They take everything serious, even dating. How do you work with this? Your first impression is all that matters so do your homework and prepare! If you want to impress them, you've really got to impress them! Plan everything to a tee and you will be fine!
#Capricorn Key Characteristics: Serious,hard-working, realistic, authoritative, trustworthy, down-to-Earth, rigid, conservative, and disciplined.
An aquarius loves learning things just for the sake of expanding their knowledge. Win them over by taking them to a museum for a date or to see a documentary. Give them something to ponder over and they will be happy!
#Aquarius Key Characteristics: Friendly, scientific, humanitarian, group-oriented, non-conforming, detached, rebellious, and innovative.
A Pisces is comparable to a 4-year-old who keeps asking 'why?' How do you get a Pisces interested in you? Don't feel obligated to always give a right answer, but make sure you keep the conversation going! Make them feel comfortable and go with the flow and they will love your company!
#Pisces Key Characteristics: Imaginative,sympathetic, artistic,inspired, sentimental, self-sacrificing, dreamy, self-deceiving.
Hence, I decided to write this piece. Bet you didn't know I'd be a love-doctor :D. Enjoy and do kindly drop your comment(s). Thanks.
Aries are the bubbly, happy-go-lucky type. They're the life of the party! How do you get your Aries interested in you? They're like puppies. They get bored fast so make sure you give them a lot of attention! Give them a back rub, send a text, get creative! Don't get too needy tho, they will get tired of it!
#Aries Key Characteristics: Outgoing, active, pioneering, aggressive, self-centered, headstrong, impulsive, independent, and enthusiastic.
Taurus's like to be in control, they like to have the last word. How do you get a Taurus interested in you? Although they feel comfortable when they're in full control, gently nudge them out of their comfort zone. Let them be feisty at first but be careful. If you push too far, this could backfire, but if you do it just right, you're good!
#Taurus Key Characteristics: Stable, practical, sensuous, persistent, stubborn, thorough, wealthy, nature-loving, and reliable.
There are 2 sides to a gemini: playful and serious. Take advantage of their playfulness and get them interested in you with some playful flirting! If they're serious, make them feel important. Offer them in on one of your secrets! Game plan: flirt and flatter!
#Gemini Key Characteristics: Quick-witted, inquisitive, flexible, talkative, many-sided, variety-seeking, superficial, and nervous.
Cancers are shy and need some comfort in trust. How do you crack their shell? Take the lead and plan something. Maybe a dinner, a movie, or a day in the park? They'll feel better and open up if you take the wheel and make the first move! Once you spend some time together, you'll develop that trust.
#Cancer Key Characteristics: Nurturing, intuitive, comfort-loving, tenacious, irrational, living in the past, acquisitive, and clinging.
Leos do not like to feel like they are a lion trapped in a cage! Keep this in mind when you're trying to get close to one. Gently get to know them and stay away from getting your head bitten off! Once you've gotten through their layer, they will be hooked!
#Leo Key Characteristics: Dramatic, generous, honorable, fun-loving, attention-seeking, dominant, self-glorifying, and warm.
Virgos are dreamers and they want their dreams to be a reality. How do you work with this? Try discovering everything there is to know about them early: the good and the bad. This way, when they discover your flaws, they may realize that neither of you are perfect!
#Virgo Key Characteristics Detail-oriented, helpful, unassuming, accurate, orderly, sensible, duty-bound, shy, and criticizing.
Although they appear balanced and composed, Libras are not so calm underneath. How do you win the heart of a Libra? Approach them carefully and sincerely, no head games! They will appreciate this... they love the sweet nothings!
#Libra Key Characteristics: Relationship-oriented, co-operative, charming, refined, sociable, approval-seeking, indecisive, and fawning.
Scorpios are impulsive, sexual, spiritual, and mysterious. How do you get one interested in you? Think outside the box. No dinner and a movie dates. Try a walk through a tea garden, something different! Be careful though, Scorpios can be control freaks. Give them the last word!
#Scorpio Key Characteristics: Intense, secretive, sexual, regenerative, determined, compulsive, vindictive, sarcastic, and destructive.
A Sagittarius loves a life full of variety! How do you win the heart of a Sagittarius? Don't do the same date twice. What worked the first time, won't necessarily work the second time. Spice it up, get creative! Keep them guessing what you will come up with next and they will be hooked!
#Sagittarius Key Characteristics: Enthusiastic, optimistic, ethical, travel-loving, straightforward, eager, risk-taking, and restless.
Capricorns set goals and achieve them. They take everything serious, even dating. How do you work with this? Your first impression is all that matters so do your homework and prepare! If you want to impress them, you've really got to impress them! Plan everything to a tee and you will be fine!
#Capricorn Key Characteristics: Serious,hard-working, realistic, authoritative, trustworthy, down-to-Earth, rigid, conservative, and disciplined.
An aquarius loves learning things just for the sake of expanding their knowledge. Win them over by taking them to a museum for a date or to see a documentary. Give them something to ponder over and they will be happy!
#Aquarius Key Characteristics: Friendly, scientific, humanitarian, group-oriented, non-conforming, detached, rebellious, and innovative.
A Pisces is comparable to a 4-year-old who keeps asking 'why?' How do you get a Pisces interested in you? Don't feel obligated to always give a right answer, but make sure you keep the conversation going! Make them feel comfortable and go with the flow and they will love your company!
#Pisces Key Characteristics: Imaginative,sympathetic, artistic,inspired, sentimental, self-sacrificing, dreamy, self-deceiving.
Friday, April 20, 2012
WORDS FROM COLIN POWELL
The less you associate with some people, the more your life will improve. Any time you tolerate mediocrity in others, it increases your mediocrity. An important attribute in successful people is their impatience with negative thinking and negative acting people. As you grow, your associates will change. Some of your friends will not want you to go on. They will want you to stay where they are. Friends that don't help you climb will want you to crawl. Your friends will stretch your vision or choke your dream. Those that don't increase you will eventually decrease you.
Consider this: Never receive counsel from unproductive people. Never discuss your problems with someone incapable of contributing to the solution, because those who never succeed themselves are always first to tell you how. Not everyone has a right to speak into your life. You are certain to get the worst of the bargain when you exchange ideas with the wrong person. Don't follow anyone who's not going anywhere.
With some people you spend an evening: with others you invest it. Be careful where you stop to inquire for directions along the road of life. Wise is the person who fortifies his life with the right friendships. If you run with wolves, you will learn how to howl. But, if you associate with eagles, you will learn how to soar to great heights. "A mirror reflects a man's face, but what he is really like is shown by the kind of friends he chooses.
"The simple but true fact of life is that you become like those with whom you closely associate - for the good and the bad. "In Prosperity Our Friends Know Us. In Adversity We Know Our Friends."
Consider this: Never receive counsel from unproductive people. Never discuss your problems with someone incapable of contributing to the solution, because those who never succeed themselves are always first to tell you how. Not everyone has a right to speak into your life. You are certain to get the worst of the bargain when you exchange ideas with the wrong person. Don't follow anyone who's not going anywhere.
With some people you spend an evening: with others you invest it. Be careful where you stop to inquire for directions along the road of life. Wise is the person who fortifies his life with the right friendships. If you run with wolves, you will learn how to howl. But, if you associate with eagles, you will learn how to soar to great heights. "A mirror reflects a man's face, but what he is really like is shown by the kind of friends he chooses.
"The simple but true fact of life is that you become like those with whom you closely associate - for the good and the bad. "In Prosperity Our Friends Know Us. In Adversity We Know Our Friends."
Saturday, February 18, 2012
RE-UNION PARTY
I geared up just like every other ex-student of the two great colleges. It was time for the St. Gregory's College & Holy Child College Reunion Party. Venue was King's Plaza, 80 Adeniran Ogunsanya street, Surulere Lagos. Date was 26th of Dec., a Boxing Day to reunite with old friends or foes as the case may be.
The colorful event kicked-off with the green carpet. Photographs and interviews were done on some notable personalities from both schools.
Now, let's fast-forward to the main 'thing', the 'pakurumo' aspect. Lots of booze and chops were available for those that fancy getting tipsy. Ladies and gents really digging it big.
Vector tha Viper showed up being an ex-Gregorian. As expected guys and ladies crowded the simple looking rapper.
The MC pleaded for space to allow the rapper drop some lines. But, the love was just overwhelming.
The DJ had to drop one of the hit singles Vector did with 9ice-Angeli and the mood was instantly changed to dancing mood.
Vector decided to hook up with his old buddy from childhood. Both of them didn't even enjoy much talk before they were mobbed. Some wanting autographs while others just wanted to take shots with the rapper. The love was just amazing.
Vector was just calm and even wanted to pose for some shots with the fans. Some were lucky, others weren't lucky enough.
Then arguments started between a drunk guy and another guy. Bottles were smashed and the rapper was quickly protected as he took his leave.
Ladies and gents, please pay attention to your alcohol limit.
The colorful event kicked-off with the green carpet. Photographs and interviews were done on some notable personalities from both schools.
Now, let's fast-forward to the main 'thing', the 'pakurumo' aspect. Lots of booze and chops were available for those that fancy getting tipsy. Ladies and gents really digging it big.
Vector tha Viper showed up being an ex-Gregorian. As expected guys and ladies crowded the simple looking rapper.
The MC pleaded for space to allow the rapper drop some lines. But, the love was just overwhelming.
The DJ had to drop one of the hit singles Vector did with 9ice-Angeli and the mood was instantly changed to dancing mood.
Vector decided to hook up with his old buddy from childhood. Both of them didn't even enjoy much talk before they were mobbed. Some wanting autographs while others just wanted to take shots with the rapper. The love was just amazing.
Vector was just calm and even wanted to pose for some shots with the fans. Some were lucky, others weren't lucky enough.
Then arguments started between a drunk guy and another guy. Bottles were smashed and the rapper was quickly protected as he took his leave.
Ladies and gents, please pay attention to your alcohol limit.
PLANS
Some things are beyond planning.
And life doesn’t always turn out as planned.
You don’t plan for a broken heart.
You don’t plan for an autistic child.
You don’t plan for spinsterhood.
You don’t plan for a lump in your breast.
You plan to be young forever.
You plan to climb the corporate ladder.
You plan to be rich and powerful.
You plan to be acclaimed and successful.
You plan to conquer the universe.
You plan to fall in love - and be loved forever.
You don’t plan to be sad.
You don’t plan to be hurt.
You don’t plan to be broke.
You don’t plan to be betrayed.
You don’t plan to be alone in this world.
You plan to be happy.
You don’t plan to be shattered .
Sometimes if you work hard enough, you can get what you want. But MOST times, what you want and what you get are two different things.
We, mortals, plan. But so does Allah (subhan wa ta'aala) in the heavens. Sometimes, it is difficult to understand Allah’s plans especially when His plans are not in consonance with ours .
Often, when He sends us crisis, we turn to Him in anger. True, we cannot choose what Allah wishes us to carry, but we can carry it with courage knowing that He will never abandon us nor send something we cannot cope with .
Sometimes, Allah breaks our spirit to save our soul.
Sometimes, He breaks our heart to make us whole.
Sometimes, He allows pain so we can be stronger.
Sometimes, Allah sends us failure so we can be humble.
Sometimes, He allows illness so we can take better care of ourselves.
And sometimes, Allah takes everything away from us so we can learn the value of everything He gave us
Make plans, but understand that we live by Allah’s grace.
Although they plan, Allah also plans. And Allah is the Best of Planners.
[Holy Qur'an 8:30]
And life doesn’t always turn out as planned.
You don’t plan for a broken heart.
You don’t plan for an autistic child.
You don’t plan for spinsterhood.
You don’t plan for a lump in your breast.
You plan to be young forever.
You plan to climb the corporate ladder.
You plan to be rich and powerful.
You plan to be acclaimed and successful.
You plan to conquer the universe.
You plan to fall in love - and be loved forever.
You don’t plan to be sad.
You don’t plan to be hurt.
You don’t plan to be broke.
You don’t plan to be betrayed.
You don’t plan to be alone in this world.
You plan to be happy.
You don’t plan to be shattered .
Sometimes if you work hard enough, you can get what you want. But MOST times, what you want and what you get are two different things.
We, mortals, plan. But so does Allah (subhan wa ta'aala) in the heavens. Sometimes, it is difficult to understand Allah’s plans especially when His plans are not in consonance with ours .
Often, when He sends us crisis, we turn to Him in anger. True, we cannot choose what Allah wishes us to carry, but we can carry it with courage knowing that He will never abandon us nor send something we cannot cope with .
Sometimes, Allah breaks our spirit to save our soul.
Sometimes, He breaks our heart to make us whole.
Sometimes, He allows pain so we can be stronger.
Sometimes, Allah sends us failure so we can be humble.
Sometimes, He allows illness so we can take better care of ourselves.
And sometimes, Allah takes everything away from us so we can learn the value of everything He gave us
Make plans, but understand that we live by Allah’s grace.
Although they plan, Allah also plans. And Allah is the Best of Planners.
[Holy Qur'an 8:30]
Sunday, February 12, 2012
COINCIDENCE???
WHEN ARON RAMSEY OF ARSENAL SCORE SOMEONE DIES!!
He scored on May 1st, 2011 & Bin Laden was felled by d American bullet ! He scored on Oct 19 2011 & Muhmmar Gaddafi of Libya was killed by his own people. He scored yesterday in a 2 1 away win over Sunderland & WHITNEY HOUSTON dies.
Nigerian politicians are swiftly sending huge amounts of money to defenders of English Premiership League(EPL) to stop Ramsey from scoring more goals. Nobody wants to die. RIP Ms. Whitney Houston. Your great voice would be missed.
He scored on May 1st, 2011 & Bin Laden was felled by d American bullet ! He scored on Oct 19 2011 & Muhmmar Gaddafi of Libya was killed by his own people. He scored yesterday in a 2 1 away win over Sunderland & WHITNEY HOUSTON dies.
Nigerian politicians are swiftly sending huge amounts of money to defenders of English Premiership League(EPL) to stop Ramsey from scoring more goals. Nobody wants to die. RIP Ms. Whitney Houston. Your great voice would be missed.
Friday, February 3, 2012
BERRYKISS INSPIRES: Husband Pays Neighbour to Get Wife Pregnant, 72 At...
BERRYKISS INSPIRES: Husband Pays Neighbour to Get Wife Pregnant, 72 At...: I'm grinning here so badly.. In Stuttgart, Germany, a court judge must decide on a case of honorable intentions in a situation where a m...
BERRYKISS INSPIRES: Optical Illusion: Negative Woman
BERRYKISS INSPIRES: Optical Illusion: Negative Woman: Want to give this a try? You'll be amazed! Stare at the red dot on this woman's nose for thirty seconds. Then, look over at a blank whi...
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
BEFORE YOU GET THE NEXT GADGET- important things to note.
I decided to share my views and also to enlighten people. 'The new Blackberry Porsche is set to be sold at a sum equivalent of $2300 or N380,000'. Yadda! Yadda! Yadda! I've seen some couple of BCs flying all around. I decided to share them and then enlighten people on gadgets getting. Here're the messages:
(1). Does it download food?
(2). Does it fly?
(3). Does it transfer you via bluetooth to another country?
(4). Does the Battery get better per use?
(5). Does it come with unlimited BIS?
(6). Does it appreciate in value like gold?
(7). Does it have Obama's pin?
(8). Can it download money?
(9). Can it download Visa to the US?
If it does not perform any of the above functions, please don't kill yourself. Rather get a landed property. Agreed upon.
Before I continue I must make it lucidly clear that I'm not marketing no product for no one.
The problem most people have with gadgets getting is just craze for acquiring expensive gadgets. My take: if you get a gadget simply because its expensive, then you're really short-changing yourself. Simple as it is.
Here are what you'd consider before getting a gadget:
1. Thinking deeply. Do I really need to get this gadget?
2. Will it serve my needs?
3. Does the cost justify its functions?
Professionally speaking, these are what you'd take into consideration:
1. The processor. The CPU is measured is GHz or MGz as the case may be. Its the clock speed. It determines how fast your gadgets functions or process and execute your various commands.
2. The RAM. Random Access Memory. Simply put as the memory or the storage device. This could be aided with external accessory. That is, the smart card.
3. Resolution. The display of images et al matters. Especially for those with bad sight. You might wanna take cognizance of this feature.
4. Camera. The higher the mega-pixel doesn't necessarily determines the display quality. Even the photographers would agree with me on this. But, an higher mega-pixel is preferred. You might say "why is the camera important?". I'd say; ask the Oriental man same question.
5. Ergonomical functionability. This is simply the way it carries out all your functions.
6. Cost. This is also very important. When you get a gadget, a smart gadget I mean, you should be able to use it optimally. An example: if sending text messages, call and receiving are all you do on the gadget. Please stick to gadgets specified for these only.
7. Beauty. Its negligible really. Why get a cute gadget with less functions when you can have a better one that's...not so fine :)
8. Maintenance. Handle your device with care. It saves cost.
There you have them. I hope you'd consider all these before you get the next gadget. Stop the show-off :)
Monday, January 23, 2012
YOU LAZY (INTELLECTUAL) AFRICAN SCUM! A MUST READ FOR ALL!
So I got this in my email this morning…
They call the Third World the lazy man’s purview; the sluggishly slothful and languorous prefecture. In this realm people are sleepy, dreamy, torpid, lethargic, and therefore indigent—totally penniless, needy, destitute, poverty-stricken, disfavored, and impoverished. In this demesne, as they call it, there are hardly any discoveries, inventions, and innovations. Africa is the trailblazer. Some still call it “the dark continent” for the light that flickers under the tunnel is not that of hope, but an approaching train. And because countless keep waiting in the way of the train, millions die and many more remain decapitated by the day.
“It’s amazing how you all sit there and watch yourselves die,” the man next to me said. “Get up and do something about it.”
Brawny, fully bald-headed, with intense, steely eyes, he was as cold as they come. When I first discovered I was going to spend my New Year’s Eve next to him on a non-stop JetBlue flight from Los Angeles to Boston I was angst-ridden. I associate marble-shaven Caucasians with iconoclastic skin-heads, most of who are racist.
“My name is Walter,” he extended his hand as soon as I settled in my seat.
I told him mine with a precautious smile.
“Where are you from?” he asked.
“Zambia.”
“Zambia!” he exclaimed, “Kaunda’s country.”
“Yes,” I said, “Now Sata’s.”
“But of course,” he responded. “You just elected King Cobra as your president.”
My face lit up at the mention of Sata’s moniker. Walter smiled, and in those cold eyes I saw an amenable fellow, one of those American highbrows who shuttle between Africa and the U.S.
“I spent three years in Zambia in the 1980s,” he continued. “I wined and dined with Luke Mwananshiku, Willa Mungomba, Dr. Siteke Mwale, and many other highly intelligent Zambians.” He lowered his voice. “I was part of the IMF group that came to rip you guys off.” He smirked. “Your government put me in a million dollar mansion overlooking a shanty called Kalingalinga. From my patio I saw it all—the rich and the poor, the ailing, the dead, and the healthy.”
“Are you still with the IMF?” I asked.
“I have since moved to yet another group with similar intentions. In the next few months my colleagues and I will be in Lusaka to hypnotize the cobra. I work for the broker that has acquired a chunk of your debt. Your government owes not the World Bank, but us millions of dollars. We’ll be in Lusaka to offer your president a couple of millions and fly back with a check twenty times greater.”
“No, you won’t,” I said. “King Cobra is incorruptible. He is …”
He was laughing. “Says who? Give me an African president, just one, who has not fallen for the carrot and stick.”
Quett Masire’s name popped up.
“Oh, him, well, we never got to him because he turned down the IMF and the World Bank. It was perhaps the smartest thing for him to do.”
At midnight we were airborne. The captain wished us a happy 2012 and urged us to watch the fireworks across Los Angeles.
“Isn’t that beautiful,” Walter said looking down.
From my middle seat, I took a glance and nodded admirably.
“That’s white man’s country,” he said. “We came here on Mayflower and turned Indian land into a paradise and now the most powerful nation on earth. We discovered the bulb, and built this aircraft to fly us to pleasure resorts like Lake Zambia.”
I grinned. “There is no Lake Zambia.”
He curled his lips into a smug smile. “That’s what we call your country. You guys are as stagnant as the water in the lake. We come in with our large boats and fish your minerals and your wildlife and leave morsels—crumbs. That’s your staple food, crumbs. That corn-meal you eat, that’s crumbs, the small Tilapia fish you call Kapenta is crumbs. We the Bwanas (whites) take the cat fish. I am the Bwana and you are the Muntu. I get what I want and you get what you deserve, crumbs. That’s what lazy people get—Zambians, Africans, the entire Third World.”
The smile vanished from my face.
“I see you are getting pissed off,” Walter said and lowered his voice. “You are thinking this Bwana is a racist. That’s how most Zambians respond when I tell them the truth. They go ballistic. Okay. Let’s for a moment put our skin pigmentations, this black and white crap, aside. Tell me, my friend, what is the difference between you and me?”
“There’s no difference.”
“Absolutely none,” he exclaimed. “Scientists in the Human Genome Project have proved that. It took them thirteen years to determine the complete sequence of the three billion DNA subunits. After they
were all done it was clear that 99.9% nucleotide bases were exactly the same in you and me. We are the same people. All white, Asian, Latino, and black people on this aircraft are the same.”
I gladly nodded.
“And yet I feel superior,” he smiled fatalistically. “Every white person on this plane feels superior to a black person. The white guy who picks up garbage, the homeless white trash on drugs, feels superior to you no matter his status or education. I can pick up a nincompoop from the New York streets, clean him up, and take him to Lusaka and you all be crowding around him chanting muzungu, muzungu and yet he’s a riffraff. Tell me why my angry friend.”
For a moment I was wordless.
“Please don’t blame it on slavery like the African Americans do, or colonialism, or some psychological impact or some kind of stigmatization. And don’t give me the brainwash poppycock. Give me a better answer.”
I was thinking.
He continued. “Excuse what I am about to say. Please do not take offense.”
I felt a slap of blood rush to my head and prepared for the worst.
“You my friend flying with me and all your kind are lazy,” he said. “When you rest your head on the pillow you don’t dream big. You and other so-called African intellectuals are damn lazy, each one of you. It is you, and not those poor starving people, who is the reason Africa is in such a deplorable state.”
“That’s not a nice thing to say,” I protested.
He was implacable. “Oh yes it is and I will say it again, you are lazy. Poor and uneducated Africans are the most hardworking people on earth. I saw them in the Lusaka markets and on the street selling merchandise. I saw them in villages toiling away. I saw women on Kafue Road crushing stones for sell and I wept. I said to myself where are the Zambian intellectuals? Are the Zambian engineers so imperceptive they cannot invent a simple stone crusher, or a simple water filter to purify well water for those poor villagers? Are you telling me that after thirty-seven years of independence your university school of engineering has not produced a scientist or an engineer who can make simple small machines for mass use? What is the school there for?”
I held my breath.
“Do you know where I found your intellectuals? They were in bars quaffing. They were at the Lusaka Golf Club, Lusaka Central Club, Lusaka Playhouse, and Lusaka Flying Club. I saw with my own eyes a bunch of alcoholic graduates. Zambian intellectuals work from eight to five and spend the evening drinking. We don’t. We reserve the evening for brainstorming.”
He looked me in the eye.
“And you flying to Boston and all of you Zambians in the Diaspora are just as lazy and apathetic to your country. You don’t care about your country and yet your very own parents, brothers and sisters are in Mtendere, Chawama, and in villages, all of them living in squalor. Many have died or are dying of neglect by you. They are dying of AIDS because you cannot come up with your own cure. You are here calling yourselves graduates, researchers and scientists and are fast at articulating your credentials once asked—oh, I have a PhD in this and that—PhD my foot!”
I was deflated.
“Wake up you all!” he exclaimed, attracting the attention of nearby passengers. “You should be busy lifting ideas, formulae, recipes, and diagrams from American manufacturing factories and sending them to your own factories. All those research findings and dissertation papers you compile should be your country’s treasure. Why do you think the Asians are a force to reckon with? They stole our ideas and turned them into their own. Look at Japan, China, India, just look at them.”
He paused. “The Bwana has spoken,” he said and grinned. “As long as you are dependent on my plane, I shall feel superior and you my friend shall remain inferior, how about that? The Chinese, Japanese, Indians, even Latinos are a notch better. You Africans are at the bottom of the totem pole.”
He tempered his voice. “Get over this white skin syndrome and begin to feel confident. Become innovative and make your own stuff for god’s sake.”
At 8 a.m. the plane touched down at Boston’s Logan International Airport. Walter reached for my hand.
“I know I was too strong, but I don’t give it a damn. I have been to Zambia and have seen too much poverty.” He pulled out a piece of paper and scribbled something. “Here, read this. It was written by a friend.”
He had written only the title: “Lords of Poverty.”
Thunderstruck, I had a sinking feeling. I watched Walter walk through the airport doors to a waiting car. He had left a huge dust devil twirling in my mind, stirring up sad memories of home. I could see Zambia’s literati—the cognoscente, intelligentsia, academics, highbrows, and scholars in the places he had mentioned guzzling and talking irrelevancies. I remembered some who have since passed—how they got the highest grades in mathematics and the sciences and attained the highest education on the planet. They had been to Harvard, Oxford, Yale, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), only to leave us with not a single invention or discovery. I knew some by name and drunk with them at the Lusaka Playhouse and Central Sports.
Walter is right. It is true that since independence we have failed to nurture creativity and collective orientations. We as a nation lack a workhorse mentality and behave like 13 million civil servants dependent on a government pay cheque. We believe that development is generated 8-to-5 behind a desk wearing a tie with our degrees hanging on the wall. Such a working environment does not offer the opportunity for fellowship, the excitement of competition, and the spectacle of innovative rituals.
But the intelligentsia is not solely, or even mainly, to blame. The larger failure is due to political circumstances over which they have had little control. The past governments failed to create an environment of possibility that fosters camaraderie, rewards innovative ideas and encourages resilience. KK, Chiluba, Mwanawasa, and Banda embraced orthodox ideas and therefore failed to offer many opportunities for drawing outside the line.
I believe King Cobra’s reset has been cast in the same faculties as those of his predecessors. If today I told him that we can build our own car, he would throw me out.
“Naupena? Fuma apa.” (Are you mad? Get out of here)
Knowing well that King Cobra will not embody innovation at Walter’s level let’s begin to look for a technologically active-positive leader who can succeed him after a term or two. That way we can make our own stone crushers, water filters, water pumps, razor blades, and harvesters. Let’s dream big and make tractors, cars, and planes, or, like Walter said, forever remain inferior.
A fundamental transformation of our country from what is essentially non-innovative to a strategic superior African country requires a bold risk-taking educated leader with a triumphalist attitude and we have one in YOU. Don’t be highly strung and feel insulted by Walter. Take a moment and think about our country. Our journey from 1964 has been marked by tears. It has been an emotionally overwhelming experience. Each one of us has lost a loved one to poverty, hunger, and disease. The number of graves is catching up with the population. It’s time to change our political culture. It’s time for Zambian intellectuals to cultivate an active-positive progressive movement that will change our lives forever. Don’t be afraid or dispirited, rise to the challenge and salvage the remaining few of your beloved ones.
Field Ruwe is a US-based Zambian media practitioner and author. He is a PhD candidate with a B.A. in Mass Communication and Journalism, and an M.A. in History
Via Mindofmalaka.wordpress.com
Taken from www.omojuwa.com
They call the Third World the lazy man’s purview; the sluggishly slothful and languorous prefecture. In this realm people are sleepy, dreamy, torpid, lethargic, and therefore indigent—totally penniless, needy, destitute, poverty-stricken, disfavored, and impoverished. In this demesne, as they call it, there are hardly any discoveries, inventions, and innovations. Africa is the trailblazer. Some still call it “the dark continent” for the light that flickers under the tunnel is not that of hope, but an approaching train. And because countless keep waiting in the way of the train, millions die and many more remain decapitated by the day.
“It’s amazing how you all sit there and watch yourselves die,” the man next to me said. “Get up and do something about it.”
Brawny, fully bald-headed, with intense, steely eyes, he was as cold as they come. When I first discovered I was going to spend my New Year’s Eve next to him on a non-stop JetBlue flight from Los Angeles to Boston I was angst-ridden. I associate marble-shaven Caucasians with iconoclastic skin-heads, most of who are racist.
“My name is Walter,” he extended his hand as soon as I settled in my seat.
I told him mine with a precautious smile.
“Where are you from?” he asked.
“Zambia.”
“Zambia!” he exclaimed, “Kaunda’s country.”
“Yes,” I said, “Now Sata’s.”
“But of course,” he responded. “You just elected King Cobra as your president.”
My face lit up at the mention of Sata’s moniker. Walter smiled, and in those cold eyes I saw an amenable fellow, one of those American highbrows who shuttle between Africa and the U.S.
“I spent three years in Zambia in the 1980s,” he continued. “I wined and dined with Luke Mwananshiku, Willa Mungomba, Dr. Siteke Mwale, and many other highly intelligent Zambians.” He lowered his voice. “I was part of the IMF group that came to rip you guys off.” He smirked. “Your government put me in a million dollar mansion overlooking a shanty called Kalingalinga. From my patio I saw it all—the rich and the poor, the ailing, the dead, and the healthy.”
“Are you still with the IMF?” I asked.
“I have since moved to yet another group with similar intentions. In the next few months my colleagues and I will be in Lusaka to hypnotize the cobra. I work for the broker that has acquired a chunk of your debt. Your government owes not the World Bank, but us millions of dollars. We’ll be in Lusaka to offer your president a couple of millions and fly back with a check twenty times greater.”
“No, you won’t,” I said. “King Cobra is incorruptible. He is …”
He was laughing. “Says who? Give me an African president, just one, who has not fallen for the carrot and stick.”
Quett Masire’s name popped up.
“Oh, him, well, we never got to him because he turned down the IMF and the World Bank. It was perhaps the smartest thing for him to do.”
At midnight we were airborne. The captain wished us a happy 2012 and urged us to watch the fireworks across Los Angeles.
“Isn’t that beautiful,” Walter said looking down.
From my middle seat, I took a glance and nodded admirably.
“That’s white man’s country,” he said. “We came here on Mayflower and turned Indian land into a paradise and now the most powerful nation on earth. We discovered the bulb, and built this aircraft to fly us to pleasure resorts like Lake Zambia.”
I grinned. “There is no Lake Zambia.”
He curled his lips into a smug smile. “That’s what we call your country. You guys are as stagnant as the water in the lake. We come in with our large boats and fish your minerals and your wildlife and leave morsels—crumbs. That’s your staple food, crumbs. That corn-meal you eat, that’s crumbs, the small Tilapia fish you call Kapenta is crumbs. We the Bwanas (whites) take the cat fish. I am the Bwana and you are the Muntu. I get what I want and you get what you deserve, crumbs. That’s what lazy people get—Zambians, Africans, the entire Third World.”
The smile vanished from my face.
“I see you are getting pissed off,” Walter said and lowered his voice. “You are thinking this Bwana is a racist. That’s how most Zambians respond when I tell them the truth. They go ballistic. Okay. Let’s for a moment put our skin pigmentations, this black and white crap, aside. Tell me, my friend, what is the difference between you and me?”
“There’s no difference.”
“Absolutely none,” he exclaimed. “Scientists in the Human Genome Project have proved that. It took them thirteen years to determine the complete sequence of the three billion DNA subunits. After they
were all done it was clear that 99.9% nucleotide bases were exactly the same in you and me. We are the same people. All white, Asian, Latino, and black people on this aircraft are the same.”
I gladly nodded.
“And yet I feel superior,” he smiled fatalistically. “Every white person on this plane feels superior to a black person. The white guy who picks up garbage, the homeless white trash on drugs, feels superior to you no matter his status or education. I can pick up a nincompoop from the New York streets, clean him up, and take him to Lusaka and you all be crowding around him chanting muzungu, muzungu and yet he’s a riffraff. Tell me why my angry friend.”
For a moment I was wordless.
“Please don’t blame it on slavery like the African Americans do, or colonialism, or some psychological impact or some kind of stigmatization. And don’t give me the brainwash poppycock. Give me a better answer.”
I was thinking.
He continued. “Excuse what I am about to say. Please do not take offense.”
I felt a slap of blood rush to my head and prepared for the worst.
“You my friend flying with me and all your kind are lazy,” he said. “When you rest your head on the pillow you don’t dream big. You and other so-called African intellectuals are damn lazy, each one of you. It is you, and not those poor starving people, who is the reason Africa is in such a deplorable state.”
“That’s not a nice thing to say,” I protested.
He was implacable. “Oh yes it is and I will say it again, you are lazy. Poor and uneducated Africans are the most hardworking people on earth. I saw them in the Lusaka markets and on the street selling merchandise. I saw them in villages toiling away. I saw women on Kafue Road crushing stones for sell and I wept. I said to myself where are the Zambian intellectuals? Are the Zambian engineers so imperceptive they cannot invent a simple stone crusher, or a simple water filter to purify well water for those poor villagers? Are you telling me that after thirty-seven years of independence your university school of engineering has not produced a scientist or an engineer who can make simple small machines for mass use? What is the school there for?”
I held my breath.
“Do you know where I found your intellectuals? They were in bars quaffing. They were at the Lusaka Golf Club, Lusaka Central Club, Lusaka Playhouse, and Lusaka Flying Club. I saw with my own eyes a bunch of alcoholic graduates. Zambian intellectuals work from eight to five and spend the evening drinking. We don’t. We reserve the evening for brainstorming.”
He looked me in the eye.
“And you flying to Boston and all of you Zambians in the Diaspora are just as lazy and apathetic to your country. You don’t care about your country and yet your very own parents, brothers and sisters are in Mtendere, Chawama, and in villages, all of them living in squalor. Many have died or are dying of neglect by you. They are dying of AIDS because you cannot come up with your own cure. You are here calling yourselves graduates, researchers and scientists and are fast at articulating your credentials once asked—oh, I have a PhD in this and that—PhD my foot!”
I was deflated.
“Wake up you all!” he exclaimed, attracting the attention of nearby passengers. “You should be busy lifting ideas, formulae, recipes, and diagrams from American manufacturing factories and sending them to your own factories. All those research findings and dissertation papers you compile should be your country’s treasure. Why do you think the Asians are a force to reckon with? They stole our ideas and turned them into their own. Look at Japan, China, India, just look at them.”
He paused. “The Bwana has spoken,” he said and grinned. “As long as you are dependent on my plane, I shall feel superior and you my friend shall remain inferior, how about that? The Chinese, Japanese, Indians, even Latinos are a notch better. You Africans are at the bottom of the totem pole.”
He tempered his voice. “Get over this white skin syndrome and begin to feel confident. Become innovative and make your own stuff for god’s sake.”
At 8 a.m. the plane touched down at Boston’s Logan International Airport. Walter reached for my hand.
“I know I was too strong, but I don’t give it a damn. I have been to Zambia and have seen too much poverty.” He pulled out a piece of paper and scribbled something. “Here, read this. It was written by a friend.”
He had written only the title: “Lords of Poverty.”
Thunderstruck, I had a sinking feeling. I watched Walter walk through the airport doors to a waiting car. He had left a huge dust devil twirling in my mind, stirring up sad memories of home. I could see Zambia’s literati—the cognoscente, intelligentsia, academics, highbrows, and scholars in the places he had mentioned guzzling and talking irrelevancies. I remembered some who have since passed—how they got the highest grades in mathematics and the sciences and attained the highest education on the planet. They had been to Harvard, Oxford, Yale, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), only to leave us with not a single invention or discovery. I knew some by name and drunk with them at the Lusaka Playhouse and Central Sports.
Walter is right. It is true that since independence we have failed to nurture creativity and collective orientations. We as a nation lack a workhorse mentality and behave like 13 million civil servants dependent on a government pay cheque. We believe that development is generated 8-to-5 behind a desk wearing a tie with our degrees hanging on the wall. Such a working environment does not offer the opportunity for fellowship, the excitement of competition, and the spectacle of innovative rituals.
But the intelligentsia is not solely, or even mainly, to blame. The larger failure is due to political circumstances over which they have had little control. The past governments failed to create an environment of possibility that fosters camaraderie, rewards innovative ideas and encourages resilience. KK, Chiluba, Mwanawasa, and Banda embraced orthodox ideas and therefore failed to offer many opportunities for drawing outside the line.
I believe King Cobra’s reset has been cast in the same faculties as those of his predecessors. If today I told him that we can build our own car, he would throw me out.
“Naupena? Fuma apa.” (Are you mad? Get out of here)
Knowing well that King Cobra will not embody innovation at Walter’s level let’s begin to look for a technologically active-positive leader who can succeed him after a term or two. That way we can make our own stone crushers, water filters, water pumps, razor blades, and harvesters. Let’s dream big and make tractors, cars, and planes, or, like Walter said, forever remain inferior.
A fundamental transformation of our country from what is essentially non-innovative to a strategic superior African country requires a bold risk-taking educated leader with a triumphalist attitude and we have one in YOU. Don’t be highly strung and feel insulted by Walter. Take a moment and think about our country. Our journey from 1964 has been marked by tears. It has been an emotionally overwhelming experience. Each one of us has lost a loved one to poverty, hunger, and disease. The number of graves is catching up with the population. It’s time to change our political culture. It’s time for Zambian intellectuals to cultivate an active-positive progressive movement that will change our lives forever. Don’t be afraid or dispirited, rise to the challenge and salvage the remaining few of your beloved ones.
Field Ruwe is a US-based Zambian media practitioner and author. He is a PhD candidate with a B.A. in Mass Communication and Journalism, and an M.A. in History
Via Mindofmalaka.wordpress.com
Taken from www.omojuwa.com
Sunday, January 15, 2012
SUBSIDY MADE SIMPLE- PASTOR 'TUNDE BAKARE, SUNDAY, JANUARY 15, 2012
Being Text of Speech delivered live at the Latterrain Assembly, Lagos, Nigeria – Sunday, January 15th, 2012.
1. Definiton
To subsidise is to sell a product below the cost of production. Since the federal government has been secretive about the state of our refineries and their production capacity, we will focus on importation rather than production. So, in essence, within the Nigerian Fuel Subsidy context, to subsidise is to sell petrol below the cost of importation.
2. The Unsubstantiated Claims of the Federal Government
The Nigerian government claims that Nigerians consume 34 million litres of petrol per day. The government has also said publicly that N141 per litre is the unsubsidised pump price of petrol imported into Nigeria. (N131.70 kobo being the landing price and N9.30 kobo being
profit.)
3. Annual Cost of Importation
* Daily Fuel Consumption: 34 million litres
* Cost at Pump: N141.00
* No. of days in a regular year: 365 days
Total cost of all petrol imported yearly into Nigeria:
Litres Naira Days
34m x 141 x 365 = N1.75 trillion
4. Cost borne by the Consumer Nigerians have been paying N65 per litre for fuel, haven’t we? Therefore, cost borne by the consumers =
Litres Naira Days
34m x 65 x 365 = N807 billion
5. Cost of Subsidy borne by the Consumer
In 2011 alone, government claimed to have spent N1.3 trillion by October – the bill for the full year, assuming a constant rate of consumption is N1.56 trillion.
Consequently, the true cost of subsidy borne by the government is:
Total cost of importation minus total borne by consumers, i.e. N1.75 trillion minus N807 billion = N943 billion.
Unexplainable difference: N617 billion
The federal government of Nigeria cannot explain the difference between the amount actually disbursed for subsidy and the cost borne by Nigerians (N1.56 trillion minus N943 billion = N617 billion).
6. Bogus Claim by the Government
A government official has claimed that the shortfall of N617 billion is what goes to subsidising our neighbours through smuggling. This is pathetic. But let us assume (assumption being the lowest level of knowledge) that the government is unable to protect our borders and checkmate the brisk smuggling going on. Even then, the figures still don’t add up. This is because even if 50% of the petrol consumed in each of our neighbouring countries is illegally exported from Nigeria, the figures are still inaccurate. Why?
World Bank’s Figures : Populations of West African Countries
* Nigeria 158.4 million
* Benin 8.8 million
* Togo 6 million
* Cameroun 19.2 million
* Niger 15.5 million
* Chad 11.2 million
* Ghana 24.4 million
The total population of all our six (6) neighbours is 85.5 million.
Let’s do some more arithmetic:
* a.Rate of Petrol Consumption in Nigeria: Total consumed divided by total population:
34 million litres divided by 158.8 million people = 0.21 litres per person per day.
* b. Rate of Petrol Consumption in all our 6 neighbouring countries, assumed to be the same as Nigeria: 0.2 litres x 85.5 million people = 18.35 million litres per day.
Now, if we assume that 50% of the petrol consumed in all the six neighbouring countries comes from Nigeria, this value come to 9.18 million litres per day.
7. Pathetic Absurdity
There are two illogicalities flowing from this smuggling saga.
* a. If 9.18 million litres of petrol is truly smuggled out of our borders per day, then ours is the most porous nation in the word. This is why: The biggest fuel tankers in Nigeria have a capacity of about 36,000 litres. To smuggle 9.18 million litres of fuel, you need 254 trucks. What our government is telling us is that 254 huge tankers pass through our borders every day and they cannot do anything about it. This is not just acute incompetence, but also a serious security challenge.
For if the government cannot stop 254 tanker trailers from crossing the
border daily, how can they stop importation of weapons or even invasion by a foreign country?
* b. Even if we believe the government and assume that about 9.18 million litres is actually taken to our neighbours by way of smuggling every day, and all this is subsidised by the Nigerian government, the figures being touted as subsidy still don’t add up. This is why: Difference between pump price before and after subsidy removal =
N141.00 – N65.00 = N76.00
Total spent on subsidizing petrol to our neighbours annually = N76.00 x 9.18 million litres x 365 days = N255 billion.
If you take the N255 billion away from the N617 billion shortfall that the government cannot explain, there is still a shortfall of N362 billion. The government still needs to tell us what/who is eating up this N362 billion ($2.26 billion USD).
* List item goes here
8. Illogical Assumptions
* i. We have assumed that there are no working refineries in Nigeria and so no local petrol production whatsoever – yet, there is, even if the refineries are working below capacity.
* ii. Nigeria actually consumes 34 million litres of petrol per day.
Most experts disagree and give a figure between 20 and 25 million litres per day. Yet there is still an unexplainable shortfall even if we use the exaggerated figure of the government.
* iii. Ghana, Togo, Benin, Cameroun, Niger, and Chad all consume the same rate as Nigeria and get 50% of their petrol illegally from Nigeria through smuggling. These figures simply show the incompetence and insincerity of our government officials. This is pure banditry.
9. Fact 9
The simplest part of the fuel subsidy arithmetic will reveal one startling fact: That the government does not need to subsidise our petrol at all if we reject corruption and sleaze as a way of life. Check this out:
* a. NNPC crude oil allocation for local consumption = 400,000 barrels per day (from a total of 2.450 million barrels per day).
* b. If our refineries work at just 30%, 280,000 barrels can be sold on the international market, leaving the rest for local production.
* c. Money accruing to the federal government through NNPC on the sale, using $80/bbl – a conservative figure as against the current price of $100/bbl – would be $22.4m per day. Annually this translates to $8.176bn or N1.3 trillion.
* d. The government does not need to subsidise our petrol imports – at least not from the Federation Account. The same crude that should have been refined by NNPC is simply sold on the international market (since our refineries barely work) and the money is used to buy petrol. The 400,000 barrels per day given to NNPC for local consumption can either be refined by NNPC or sold to pay for imports. This absurdity called subsidy should be funded with this money, not the regular FGN budget.
If the FGN uses it regular budget for subsidising petrol, then what happens to the crude oil given to NNPC for local refining that gets sold on the international market?
10. Tactical Blunder
The federal government is making the deregulation issue a revenue problem. Nigerians are not against deregulation. We have seen deregulation in the telecom sector and Nigerians are better for it, as even the poor have access to telephones now right before the eyes of those who think it is not for them. What is happening presently is not deregulation but an all-time high fuel pump increase, unprecedented in the history of our nation by a government that has gone broke due to excessive and reckless spending largely on themselves. If the excesses of all the three tiers of government are seriously curbed, that would free enough money for infrastructural development without unduly punishing the poor citizens of this country.
Let me just cite, in closing, the example of National Assembly excesses and misplaced spending as contained in the 2012 budget
proposal:
* 1. Number of Senators: 109
* 2. Number of Members of the House of Representatives: 360
* 3. Total number of Legislators 469
* 4. 2012 Budget Proposal for the National Assembly N150 billion
* 5. Average Cost of Maintaining Each Member N320 million
* 6. Average Cost of Maintaining Each Member in USD $2.1 million/year
Time has come for the citizens of this country to hold the governmen accountable and demand the prosecution of those bleeding our nation to death. Until this government downsizes, cuts down its profligacy and leads by example in modesty and moderation, the poor people of this country will not and must not subsidise the excesses of the oil sector fat cats and the immorality cum fiscal scandal of the self-centred and indulgent lifestyles of those in government.
Here is a hidden treasure of wisdom for those in power while there is still time to make amends:
PROVERBS 21:6&7
* “Getting treasures by a lying tongue is the fleeting fantasy of those who seek death. The violence of the wicked will destroy them because they refuse to do just”
A word of counsel for those who voted for such soulishly indulgent leadership:
* “trust a man who once had no shoes, or you may end up losing your legs”
This is the conclusion of the matter on subsidy removal:
* i. “If a ruler pays attention to lies, all his servants become wicked.” (Proverbs 29:12)
* ii “The Righteous God wisely considers the house of the wicked, overthrowing the wicked for their wickedness. Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor will also cry himself and will not be heard.” (Proverbs 21:12&13)Thanks for your attention. God bless you all.
Pastor ‘Tunde Bakare
Sunday, January 15, 2012
1. Definiton
To subsidise is to sell a product below the cost of production. Since the federal government has been secretive about the state of our refineries and their production capacity, we will focus on importation rather than production. So, in essence, within the Nigerian Fuel Subsidy context, to subsidise is to sell petrol below the cost of importation.
2. The Unsubstantiated Claims of the Federal Government
The Nigerian government claims that Nigerians consume 34 million litres of petrol per day. The government has also said publicly that N141 per litre is the unsubsidised pump price of petrol imported into Nigeria. (N131.70 kobo being the landing price and N9.30 kobo being
profit.)
3. Annual Cost of Importation
* Daily Fuel Consumption: 34 million litres
* Cost at Pump: N141.00
* No. of days in a regular year: 365 days
Total cost of all petrol imported yearly into Nigeria:
Litres Naira Days
34m x 141 x 365 = N1.75 trillion
4. Cost borne by the Consumer Nigerians have been paying N65 per litre for fuel, haven’t we? Therefore, cost borne by the consumers =
Litres Naira Days
34m x 65 x 365 = N807 billion
5. Cost of Subsidy borne by the Consumer
In 2011 alone, government claimed to have spent N1.3 trillion by October – the bill for the full year, assuming a constant rate of consumption is N1.56 trillion.
Consequently, the true cost of subsidy borne by the government is:
Total cost of importation minus total borne by consumers, i.e. N1.75 trillion minus N807 billion = N943 billion.
Unexplainable difference: N617 billion
The federal government of Nigeria cannot explain the difference between the amount actually disbursed for subsidy and the cost borne by Nigerians (N1.56 trillion minus N943 billion = N617 billion).
6. Bogus Claim by the Government
A government official has claimed that the shortfall of N617 billion is what goes to subsidising our neighbours through smuggling. This is pathetic. But let us assume (assumption being the lowest level of knowledge) that the government is unable to protect our borders and checkmate the brisk smuggling going on. Even then, the figures still don’t add up. This is because even if 50% of the petrol consumed in each of our neighbouring countries is illegally exported from Nigeria, the figures are still inaccurate. Why?
World Bank’s Figures : Populations of West African Countries
* Nigeria 158.4 million
* Benin 8.8 million
* Togo 6 million
* Cameroun 19.2 million
* Niger 15.5 million
* Chad 11.2 million
* Ghana 24.4 million
The total population of all our six (6) neighbours is 85.5 million.
Let’s do some more arithmetic:
* a.Rate of Petrol Consumption in Nigeria: Total consumed divided by total population:
34 million litres divided by 158.8 million people = 0.21 litres per person per day.
* b. Rate of Petrol Consumption in all our 6 neighbouring countries, assumed to be the same as Nigeria: 0.2 litres x 85.5 million people = 18.35 million litres per day.
Now, if we assume that 50% of the petrol consumed in all the six neighbouring countries comes from Nigeria, this value come to 9.18 million litres per day.
7. Pathetic Absurdity
There are two illogicalities flowing from this smuggling saga.
* a. If 9.18 million litres of petrol is truly smuggled out of our borders per day, then ours is the most porous nation in the word. This is why: The biggest fuel tankers in Nigeria have a capacity of about 36,000 litres. To smuggle 9.18 million litres of fuel, you need 254 trucks. What our government is telling us is that 254 huge tankers pass through our borders every day and they cannot do anything about it. This is not just acute incompetence, but also a serious security challenge.
For if the government cannot stop 254 tanker trailers from crossing the
border daily, how can they stop importation of weapons or even invasion by a foreign country?
* b. Even if we believe the government and assume that about 9.18 million litres is actually taken to our neighbours by way of smuggling every day, and all this is subsidised by the Nigerian government, the figures being touted as subsidy still don’t add up. This is why: Difference between pump price before and after subsidy removal =
N141.00 – N65.00 = N76.00
Total spent on subsidizing petrol to our neighbours annually = N76.00 x 9.18 million litres x 365 days = N255 billion.
If you take the N255 billion away from the N617 billion shortfall that the government cannot explain, there is still a shortfall of N362 billion. The government still needs to tell us what/who is eating up this N362 billion ($2.26 billion USD).
* List item goes here
8. Illogical Assumptions
* i. We have assumed that there are no working refineries in Nigeria and so no local petrol production whatsoever – yet, there is, even if the refineries are working below capacity.
* ii. Nigeria actually consumes 34 million litres of petrol per day.
Most experts disagree and give a figure between 20 and 25 million litres per day. Yet there is still an unexplainable shortfall even if we use the exaggerated figure of the government.
* iii. Ghana, Togo, Benin, Cameroun, Niger, and Chad all consume the same rate as Nigeria and get 50% of their petrol illegally from Nigeria through smuggling. These figures simply show the incompetence and insincerity of our government officials. This is pure banditry.
9. Fact 9
The simplest part of the fuel subsidy arithmetic will reveal one startling fact: That the government does not need to subsidise our petrol at all if we reject corruption and sleaze as a way of life. Check this out:
* a. NNPC crude oil allocation for local consumption = 400,000 barrels per day (from a total of 2.450 million barrels per day).
* b. If our refineries work at just 30%, 280,000 barrels can be sold on the international market, leaving the rest for local production.
* c. Money accruing to the federal government through NNPC on the sale, using $80/bbl – a conservative figure as against the current price of $100/bbl – would be $22.4m per day. Annually this translates to $8.176bn or N1.3 trillion.
* d. The government does not need to subsidise our petrol imports – at least not from the Federation Account. The same crude that should have been refined by NNPC is simply sold on the international market (since our refineries barely work) and the money is used to buy petrol. The 400,000 barrels per day given to NNPC for local consumption can either be refined by NNPC or sold to pay for imports. This absurdity called subsidy should be funded with this money, not the regular FGN budget.
If the FGN uses it regular budget for subsidising petrol, then what happens to the crude oil given to NNPC for local refining that gets sold on the international market?
10. Tactical Blunder
The federal government is making the deregulation issue a revenue problem. Nigerians are not against deregulation. We have seen deregulation in the telecom sector and Nigerians are better for it, as even the poor have access to telephones now right before the eyes of those who think it is not for them. What is happening presently is not deregulation but an all-time high fuel pump increase, unprecedented in the history of our nation by a government that has gone broke due to excessive and reckless spending largely on themselves. If the excesses of all the three tiers of government are seriously curbed, that would free enough money for infrastructural development without unduly punishing the poor citizens of this country.
Let me just cite, in closing, the example of National Assembly excesses and misplaced spending as contained in the 2012 budget
proposal:
* 1. Number of Senators: 109
* 2. Number of Members of the House of Representatives: 360
* 3. Total number of Legislators 469
* 4. 2012 Budget Proposal for the National Assembly N150 billion
* 5. Average Cost of Maintaining Each Member N320 million
* 6. Average Cost of Maintaining Each Member in USD $2.1 million/year
Time has come for the citizens of this country to hold the governmen accountable and demand the prosecution of those bleeding our nation to death. Until this government downsizes, cuts down its profligacy and leads by example in modesty and moderation, the poor people of this country will not and must not subsidise the excesses of the oil sector fat cats and the immorality cum fiscal scandal of the self-centred and indulgent lifestyles of those in government.
Here is a hidden treasure of wisdom for those in power while there is still time to make amends:
PROVERBS 21:6&7
* “Getting treasures by a lying tongue is the fleeting fantasy of those who seek death. The violence of the wicked will destroy them because they refuse to do just”
A word of counsel for those who voted for such soulishly indulgent leadership:
* “trust a man who once had no shoes, or you may end up losing your legs”
This is the conclusion of the matter on subsidy removal:
* i. “If a ruler pays attention to lies, all his servants become wicked.” (Proverbs 29:12)
* ii “The Righteous God wisely considers the house of the wicked, overthrowing the wicked for their wickedness. Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor will also cry himself and will not be heard.” (Proverbs 21:12&13)Thanks for your attention. God bless you all.
Pastor ‘Tunde Bakare
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Saturday, January 7, 2012
President Jonathan’s Address to The Nation on Occupy Nigeria and NLC's reply.
Dear Compatriots: 1. A week ago, I had cause to address Nigerians on the security challenges we are facing in parts of the country, which necessitated the declaration of a state of emergency in 15 Local Government Areas in four states of the Federation. That course of action attracted widespread support and a demonstration of understanding. With that declaration, government had again signaled its intention to combat terrorism with renewed vigour and to assure every Nigerian of safety.
2. The support that we have received in the fight against terrorism from concerned Nigerians at home and abroad has been remarkable. We believe that it is with such continued support that progress can be made on national issues. Let me express my heartfelt appreciation to everyone who has expressed a commitment to support us as we strive to improve on the country’s security situation, and build a stronger foundation for the future. The recent mindless acts of violence in Gombe, Potiskum, Jimeta-Yola and Mubi are unfortunate. I urge all Nigerians to eschew bitterness and acrimony and live together in harmony and peace. Wherever there is any threat to public peace, our security agencies will enforce the law, without fear or favour.
3. This evening, I address you, again, with much concern over an issue that borders on the national economy, the oil industry and national progress. As part of our efforts to transform the economy and guarantee prosperity for all Nigerians, Government, a few days ago, announced further deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector. The immediate effect of this has been the removal of the subsidy on petrol.
4. Since the announcement, there have been mixed reactions to the policy. Let me seize this opportunity to assure all Nigerians that I feel the pain that you all feel. I personally feel pained to see the sharp increase in transport fares and the prices of goods and services. I share the anguish of all persons who had travelled out of their stations, who had to pay more on the return leg of their journeys.
5. If I were not here to lead the process of national renewal, if I were in your shoes at this moment, I probably would have reacted in the same manner as some of our compatriots, or hold the same critical views about government. But I need to use this opportunity as your President to address Nigerians on the realities on the ground, and why we chose to act as we did. I know that these are not easy times. But tough choices have to be made to safeguard the economy and our collective survival as a nation.
6. My fellow Nigerians, the truth is that we are all faced with two basic choices with regard to the management of the downstream petroleum sector: either we deregulate and survive economically, or we continue with a subsidy regime that will continue to undermine our economy and potential for growth, and face serious consequences.
O
7. As you all know, the subject of deregulation is not new, we have been grappling with it for more than two decades. Previous administrations tinkered with the pump price of petroleum products, and were unable to effect complete deregulation of the downstream sector. This approach has not worked. If it did, we would not be here talking about deregulation today. I understand fully well that deregulation is not a magic formula that will address every economic challenge, but it provides a good entry point for transforming the economy, and for ensuring transparency and competitiveness in the oil industry, which is the mainstay of our economy.
8. As a President, elected and supported by ordinary Nigerians, and the vast majority of our people, I have a duty to bring up policies and programmes that will grow the economy and bring about greater benefits for the people. Let me assure you that as your President, I have no intention to inflict pain on Nigerians.
9. The deregulation of the petroleum sector is a necessary step that we had to take. Should we continue to do things the same way, and face more serious economic challenges? Or deregulate, endure the initial discomfort and reap better benefits later? I want to assure every Nigerian that whatever pain you may feel at the moment, will be temporary.
10. The interest of the ordinary people of this country will always remain topmost in my priorities as a leader. I remain passionately committed to achieving significant and enduring improvements in our economy that will lead to sustained improvement in the lives of our people.
11. I am determined to leave behind a better Nigeria, which we all can be proud of. To do so, I must make sure that we have the resources and the means to grow our economy to be resilient, and to sustain improved livelihood for our people. We must act in the public interest, no matter how tough, for the pains of today cannot be compared to the benefits of tomorrow. On assumption of office as President, I swore to an oath to always act in the best interest of the people. I remain faithful to that undertaking.
12. To save Nigeria, we must all be prepared to make sacrifices. On the part of Government, we are taking several measures aimed at cutting the size and cost of governance, including on-going and continuous effort to reduce the size of our recurrent expenditure and increase capital spending. In this regard, I have directed that overseas travels by all political office holders, including the President, should be reduced to the barest minimum. The size of delegations on foreign trips will also be drastically reduced; only trips that are absolutely necessary will be approved.
13. For the year 2012, the basic salaries ofo all political office holders in the Executive arm of government will be reduced by 25%. Government is also currently reviewing the number of committees, commissions and parastatals with overlapping responsibilities. The Report on this will be submitted shortly and the recommendations will be promptly implemented. In the meantime, all Ministries, Departments and Agencies must reduce their overhead expenses.
14. We are all greatly concerned about the issue of corruption. The deregulation policy is the strongest measure to tackle this challenge in the downstream sector. In addition, government is taking other steps to further sanitize the oil industry.
15. To ensure that the funds from petroleum subsidy removal are spent prudently on projects that will build a greater Nigeria, I have established a committee to oversee the implementation of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme. I sincerely believe that the reinvestment of the petroleum subsidy funds, to ensure improvement in national infrastructure, power supply, transportation, irrigation and agriculture, education, healthcare, and other social services, is in the best interest of our people.
16. Fellow Nigerians, I know that the removal of the petroleum subsidy imposes an initial burden on our people, especially the rising cost of transportation. Government will be vigilant and act decisively to curb the excesses of those that want to exploit the current situation for selfish gains. I plead for the understanding of all Nigerians. I appeal to our youth not to allow mischief-makers to exploit present circumstances to mislead or incite them to disturb public peace.
17. To address the immediate challenges that have been identified, I have directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government to embark immediately on all projects, which have been designed to cushion the impact of the subsidy removal in the short, medium and long-term, as outlined in the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme Document.
18. Tomorrow, 8th January, I will formally launch a robust mass transit intervention programme to bring down the cost of transportation across the country. The programme will be implemented in partnership with state and local governments, labour unions, transport owners, and banking institutions, and supported with the provision of funding at zero interest rate as well as import duty waiver on all needed parts for locally-made mass transit vehicles, which will create additional jobs in the economy.
19. We will keep these incentives in place for as long as it takes. I want to assure you that Government will not rest until we bring down the cost of transportation for our people. Let me thank the transporters’ associations that have agreed to reduce transport fares. I have directed the Minister of Labour and Productivity to work with these associations to come up with a sustainable plan to guarantee this within the shortest possible time.
20. In addition, I have ordered the mobilization of contractors for the full rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt –Maiduguri Railway Line and the completion of the Lagos-Kano Railway Line. I have also directed the immediate commencement of a Public Works programme that will engage the services of about 10, 000 youths in every state of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory. This will create an additional 370, 000 jobs.
21. Government has taken these decisions in the best interest of our economy, so that we not only have benefits today, but to ensure that we bequeath even greater benefits to our children and grandchildren.
22. Let me assure Nigerians that every possible effort will be made to ensure that we march forward, with a collective resolve to build a Nigeria that can generate greater economic growth, create and sustain new jobs, and secure the future of our children.
23. This Administration will aggressively implement its programme to reposition and strengthen our economy, while paying adequate attention to the immediate needs of our citizens.
24. I assure you all that we will work towards achieving full domestic refining of petroleum products with the attendant benefits.
25. As I ask for the full understanding of all Nigerians, I also promise that I will keep my word.
26. Thank you. May God bless you; and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR
President
Federal Republic of Nigeria
January 7, 2012
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) listened to President Goodluck Jonathan’s broadcast to the nation tonight.
The speech is undoubtedly due to the resistance of Nigerians to the unreasonable increase in PMS (petrol) prices and the planned national strikes scheduled to begin on Monday January 9, 2012. So the Presiden having to address Nigerians, is the first gain of the planned protests.
But the President’s address follows the pattern of other documents( like the SURE Programme) by his administration; long in rhetorics and short on basic issues. For instance, the major anchor of the broadcast is that salaries of political office holders are to be cut by 25 per cent. But he failed to tell us how much this will amount to. Is this a mere symbolic gesture or a fundamental contribution to economic recovery?
He also talked about his administration holding meetings with transporters to reduce fares.
We see this as a populist statement that has no foundation in reality. If a transporter who used to buy petrol at N65 per litre now buys it between N141 and N220, what appeal can be made to him not to increase his fares by a high percentage?
How do you “deregulate” the economy and hope to regulate transport fares by private operators?
In any case, transport fare is just one of the items that shot up. Prices of basic commodities like food have also increased, and there is a fuel price hike-engineered hyper inflation in the country.
The President should have reversed the price of PMS to N65 which would have automatically reduced rising tension in the country.
The President also promised the completion of rail lines and infusion of buses in to the transport system. It is like putting the chart before the horse; these measures should have been put in place before the astronomical increase in petrol price.
We reiterate that Nigerians cannot afford the high fuel prices and will not accept the hyper inflation this misguided policy has created.
President Jonathan lost a great opportunity in his broadcast by sticking to his guns; that the unreasonable increase in fuel prices will remain.
The Labour Movement and its allies on behalf of the Nigerian populace reiterate that the broadcast has changed nothing and that the indefinite strikes, rallies and mass protests scheduled to commence nationwide on Monday 9th January, 2012 will go on.
The will of the Nigerian people must prevail over that of any government in power.
Owei Lakemfa
John Kolawole
NLC Acting General Secretary. TUC Secretary
General
Sunday, January 1, 2012
The Holy Prophet Mohammad 's Letter to the Monks of St. Catherine in Mt. Sinai.
"This is a message from Mohammad ibn Abdullah, as a covenant to those who adopt Christianity, near and far, we are with them. Verily I, the servants, the helpers, and my followers defend them, because Christians are my citizens; and by Allah! I hold out against anything that displeases them. No compulsion is to be on them. Neither are their judges to be removed from their jobs nor their monks from their monasteries.
"No one is to destroy a house of their religion, to damage it, or to carry anything from it to the Muslims' houses. Should anyone take any of these, he would spoil God's covenant and disobey His Prophet. Verily, they are my allies and have my secure charter against all that they hate.
"No one is to force them to travel or to oblige them to fight. The Muslims are to fight for them. If a female Christian is married to a Muslim, it is not to take place without her approval. She is not to be prevented from visiting her church to pray.
"Their churches are to be respected. They are neither to be prevented from repairing them nor the sacredness of their covenants. No one of the nation (Muslims) is to disobey the covenant till the Last Day (end of the world). Therefore, whoever did such he is not a true believer."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)