Date Published: 01/28/10

RE: AMERICA`S BLACKLISTING OF NIGERIA: THE NORTHERN ELITES ARE TO BE BLAMED, FOR THEIR ACQUIESCENCE TO RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE By Temple Chima Ubochi

The world is not run by thought, nor by imagination, but by opinion. (Elizabeth Drew)

 When men exercise their reason coolly and freely on a variety of distinct questions, they inevitably fall into different opinions on some of them. When they are governed by a common passion, their opinions, if they are to be called, will be the same.(Alexander Hamilton)

The moment we begin to fear the opinions of others and hesitate to tell the truth that is in us, and from motives of policy are silent when we should speak, the divine floods of light and life no longer flow into our souls.(Elizabeth Cady Stanton)

The article received these few feedbacks. The writer thanks all the respondents and values all opinions, whether for or against. Luckily, only the first respondent dwelt on the negative realm. This writer respects all opinions, because the respondents are entitled to them. This writer would like other readers to share in the thoughts of these respected respondents. No one person is a custodian of knowledge, sharing makes knowledge to go round.

 BASIL WROTE:

Now that you and many other Easterners or southerners expressly glory over the blacklisting of Nigeria as a terrorist nation by the USA while the Northerners are speaking against it, if the tension dies down tomorrow, will you expect the Fulani-Hausa oligarchy to not to further marginalize the Ibos or Southerners in the national scheme of things? Southerners are the cause of Hausa-Fulani monopoly of Nigeria. They lack the unity, courage, resources, international support, and wisdom to get rid of this monopoly through any forceful means, and they lack the solidarity to be part of Nigeria. Are they not the cause of South marginalization then?

The Northerners are as united as the rock politically; they will continue to rule the nation and cart its resources away to the North since by all our actions and utterances, the Southerners teach them to be careful, that we are not part of the country, and that we want the country to die or be destroyed. Two days after Yar'Adua's medical admission in Saudi Arabia, Southerners started calling for his resignation or hand over of power to Jonathan as though they had an ulterior motive in Jonathan becoming the Acting President. If I were Yar'Adua and Hausa-Fulani 'Oligarchy', I would smell the rat; I would see such quick calls as redflags for mutiny, and I would resist the calls if at all I had intended to hand over or resign initially.

Southerners are mere noise-makers, especially the Yorubas; they can only bark without biting. They always count on foreign sympathy of the capricious West for help without knowing that it is easier for the Arab world to enlist the support of Russia and China for the Hausa-Fulanis in the event of any revolt in Nigeria. Ken Saro Wiwa and Abiola made this same mistake; they thought they would get western support during their trying periods of rebellion, eventually what happened to them? Did the west come to their rescue? If you believe that the USA would destroy the Hausa-Fulanis for you, you are making a great mistake because the Hausa-Fulanis and their Arab brothers know how to play international politics better than the Southerners who can never be united for any common purpose. It is only through good friendship and tactical diplomacy that Ibos, Ijaws, Ibibios, or Yorubas can wrest political power from the so-called Hausa-Fulani Oligarchy. It will never be by intimidation, blackmailing, name-calling or mutiny. Ken Saro Wiwa and Abiola should be lessons.

 People like you who always write against them in your articles are also contributing to the bad treatment meted out against Ndigbo in the North during any slightest religious or ethnic revolt in the North. By all your writings, you indirectly tell the Hausa-Fulanis that Ibos hate them. Tell me how they will not destroy the lives and properties of the persons they know that hate them or are their arch enemies during any smallest uprising? Tell me how they will not continue to marginalize them socially, economically and politically in Nigeria since they have more political and numerical strength than the Ibos or even the Southerners joined together. Please, stop causing more troubles for your Ibo brothers and Southerners as a whole through your racially charged articles. It is not by barking we can set things right in Nigeria. Basil

ANTHONY WROTE:

Dear Mr. Ubochi,

Each time I read your articles I feel so good. I said to myself that I’ve found one courageous Igbo man that can look those stupid Hausas and say it to their face even if it’s in writing it doesn’t matter. Thank you my brother for saying it always as it really is. Until we separate ourselves from those thieves, murderers, looters from the north, Igbos can never move forward. I don’t believe in this crazy one Nigerian thing cos for me it doesn’t exist. we're just deceiving ourselves, even common to handover to the vice president, the so called president(I didn’t vote for him & will never) cannot trust his vice and we say we're keeping one nation?

That’s madness, just look at the decays both in human & in infrastructure all due to horrible people of the northern Nigeria (including their crazy religious belief) and to some extent the other pretenders and backbiters from other tribes.

Take care Mr. Temple and keep writing, for we're following you and one day God will answer our prayers.

I'm a chemical engineer, working in the Middle East and I’m from Anambra.

Cheers Tony

UCHE WROTE: 

Hi Nwanne,

I just want to say thank you for that well written article concerning the state of our nation Nigeria especially the evils the north has done all these years. Thanks for speaking out the real truth.

Uche.

OLADEJO WROTE 

Hello Mr. Temple,

                      TOTAL REORGANISATION OF NIGERIA 

 This is Oladejo again saying hello to you. How are you, your work and your family? We are still talking about Abdulmutallab Farouk, see what happened in Jos again. Are these people not real terrorists. Let us call a spade a spade and damn the consequence. Christians have been suffering in the hands of these Muslims for a long time internally. Jos was known to be a peaceful city in the northern region because the inhabitants were predominantly Christians. But now that the intruders are joining them in the city, it has become another thing entirely. 

If these people don't want to separate, then let them return to the 1960s system of governing. Unless we go back to the regional government, don't expect any tangible change. 

Yoruba, lgbo, Hausa are three different nations that agree to stay together as one. Their staying together does not mean they are one. Therefore, let them separate by having regional constitution by making the regions stronger to avoid loopholes and cheating, and then be together by having federal constitution by making federal weaker and unattractive.  Let the land belong to the government to eradicate the problem of land tenure system. The government should pay the land owners off so that there will be enough land for infrastructures. 

Let us emulate the good spirit of America. The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof. The wealth of the nation belongs to all. We do not bring anything into this world and it is very certain, we can't take anything out of it. So why not emulate good things by providing a conducive environment for people to prosper and flourish. If the oil that is in the East were to be in the North, will the northerners allow it to be tunnelled and be refined in the East? YORUBA ronu ooooooooo. IGBO think twice. It is time to go back to 1960s rather than wasting time on unprofitable effort deceiving ourselves. If you want to tackle problem, tackle it from the grassroots. Let us arise and put an end to deceit. The three nations are not one, but they agree to live together, hence, there should be respect for the differences. Each region should have her own constitution, while there will also be a general one binding everyone together in love and unity and truth, and must be open to all. 

I am suggesting that land must be owned by government either state or at the federal level. I talked about tackling problems from the grassroots. Yes, from experience, I’ve discovered that many people have lost their lives because of the problem of land in Nigeria. Who brought land into existence? Family members kill themselves using juju (voodoo) on land or afflict others with all sorts of diseases and sicknesses, all because they want to inherit what God Himself brought to existence. So when they die, the land will be there useless and becomes a no go area because of the atrocities performed on it. 

This is the time to start valuing life in Nigeria. We are tired of these killings here and there, every now and then. This is time for the faithful people with the fear of God to govern.  

 If the government owns land: 

1) There will be enough land for construction and expansion of roads, bridges, drainage. No family will come to say that he owns land that it cannot be done. It will make life easy for people because they can now buy directly from the government, and the government can build good houses for people at affordable prices. It will not be that anybody can just build anything anyhow at any place, thereby disturbing the freedom and peace of other people. There will be proper documentation and reduction in the people's stress, because these so called landowners do sell a single land to more than one person causing commotion and disaster, loss of lives and property. There should be total eradication of the problem of OMO ONILE. These landowners are another set of terrorists in Nigeria. They cause a lot of havoc, intimidation, embarrassment, stress, disturbance to people. We are now in the civilised world, we are in the computer age. All these barbaric acts have to be done away with. They don't move the country forward in any way. 

2) There will be eradication of rituals, kidnapping and all sorts of evil. All these atrocities are committed in the forest (bushes, hiding places) this is the time to expose the devil. Do not give the devil a place. It is time to resist him. Once the government takes over land, the devil shall be exposed in diverse forms in Nigeria, because bulldozers shall clear the bushes for road constructions and their illegal houses shall be bulldozed. These peoples sacrifice human beings. It is time to protect everyone. Their works militate against the progress of the country. It is time to value lives, Americans value lives. 

3) There will be proper layout of buildings (residential, industrial, schools, hospitals, stores, shops, shopping- centres, etc),   streets, pipe borne water, electricity, etc that makes the environment beautiful. Everywhere will be tarred. All those dirty open markets will be eradicated. It will make life meaningful in as much it is done without selfishness or greed. Big and proper toll gates will be erected at the appropriate places to generate income for the maintenance of the roads and construction of new ones. Technicians and every other person will have jobs to do at any given time. There should be no loopholes to make few rich at the expense of the majority. Everybody, everywhere needs electricity to survive well, and not generator, which could only be used by technicians and contractors during construction. This is computer age era and not Neolithic age. It is time to move with time and stop singing the same old and useless unfulfilled promises. 

EVERY GOOD NIGERIAN, ARISE AND ASK FOR REGIONAL CONSTITUTION SEPARATE AND FEDERAL CONSTITUTION WHICH MUST BE OPENED TO EVERYONE. NOBODY IS INFERIOR TO THE OTHER. WE ARE PUTTING TOTAL END TO QUOTA SYSTEM.  All that we need is a well organised society which promote peace, unity and progress, and NOT a disorganised society where anybody can do whatever he/she pleases, and go away with it. CAPITAL NO.  

Fellow Nigerians, when will this rubbish be thrown into the garbage and burnt totally? For someone to be employed and never get paid until after three or five months, isn’t that ridiculous? In America, the day you are employed, after two weeks, you get your pay check. What Nigeria needs is a total reorganisation. There must be an end to things that do not move people forward. 

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. Remain blessed.       

  EBERE WROTE:

Dear Temple Ubochi, 

 Thank you for letting the world know the truth.  We have graduated from internal i.e.-within Nigeria to international terrorists. Please is there any way you can be sending copies of all your articles to CIA and FBI they will find them of great use in dealing with matter concerning Nigeria. Northern Nigerian Moslems have been terrorising the country since 1980's may this be an opportunity for America to cut them to size.

Can you believe that some legislators in Nigeria are suggesting giving a national honor to the father of the bomber (Farouk- what a disgrace). And I am asking why. He gave the information to Americans just because he wants to protect his corrupt wealth stored in US and UK. I wish they will know this and confiscate all his ill gotten wealth in the western world. This is a man who has never spoken against terrorism in Nigeria before.

Temple may God give you more wisdom, knowledge, health, wealth and long life. May God bless American / British /European leaders for their effort to protect the life of their citizens?

Thanks

Ebere Emerue

CHIMA WROTE:

You said it all, brother. Ride on.

After my articles last year, “Gradual disintegration of Nigeria, The Rotimi effect” and “Another cancer worm called greed”, I received a lot of responses; some in favor and some against. You correctly put it that the “Chicken is now coming home to roost”.  This also goes to the Western world.  During the war (Nigeria/Biafra) most of the Western countries especially Britain, and Arab countries backed Nigeria with all the armaments in their disposal to eliminate Biafra. The dummies in Nigeria then failed to realize that the support they received was not because of the love those countries (including Russia) have for them but to stop Biafra from becoming a power to reckon with. This was the time Biafra was manufacturing their own weapons including the deadly “Ogbunigwe”.  The aim was to stop a black nation from becoming a power to reckon with in the world.

Now the army of illiterates in Northern Nigeria (including the elites who use these almajiris) are now paying the west back. The chicken has really come home to roost.

Richard Chima. New Jersey, USA.

CHARLES WROTE: 

Hi

Mr Temple, please keep up the good work, I really enjoy reading your articles on Nigeria World.

Reference to your article: “Those politicians, who hitherto used to pad their body with foreign currencies or stuff their pants with currencies and pass through American airports because they are VIP from Nigeria (without body search), will have to strip, just like every other Nigerian, as from now on”. 

The above statement in your article really really made my day.

Stay blessed

Charles Towobola

CHIKE WROTE:

HI SIR,

ONE COULD NOT BUT CONCLUDE THAT YOUR PIECE IS A MUST READ FOR EVERY NIGERIAN.I THINK THAT THERE IS NO NIGERIA AFTER READING YOUR PIECE CAN OPEN HIS OR HER MOUTH TO CONDEMN AMERICA FOR BLACKLISTING NIGERIA AS A TERRROR BREEDING GROUND.

YOUR CHRONICLE OF THESE RELIGIOUS DISTURBANCES IN THE NORTH WHICH CLAIMED THE LIVES OF MAINLY THE IGBOS IS A REMINDER TO THOSE WHO ARE SHOUTING BLUE MURDER ON THE ACTION OF AMERICA THAT WHAT THE YOUNG MUTALLAB DID IS A SEED SOWN OVER THE YEARS BYE THE NORTHERN CLERICS IN THE GUISE OF ISLAMIC EDUCATION WHICH TENDS TO SOW THE SEED OF EXTREMISM AND FUNDAMENTALISM ON THE MIND OF THE VULNERABLES.

I THINK YOUR PIECE ALSO SAID IT ALL THAT THE YOUNG MUTALLAB IS A PRODUCT OFF AN ILL GOTTEN WEALTH WHICH I STRONGLY THAT THEY THAT SOW THE WIND SHALL SURELY REAP VANITY

FINALLY, I BELIEVE THAT THE AMERICAN ACTION IN A LONG RUN WILL ENSURE THAT THE RELIGIOUS BIGOTRY ASIS BEEN EXPERIENCED IN THE NORTH WILL BE MINIMISED IF NOT TOTALLY ERADICATED

THANKS SO MUCH

LOVE U

CHIKE, DUBAI

ADONIS WROTE:

You have said it all in the article.

http://nigeriaworld.com/ feature/publication/ubochi/ 010910.html

MATTHEWS WROTE:

Dear Temple,

Happy New Year. You have said it all. But don’t you think that the British and American security intelligence network aided the monster Abdul for his attempted attack? The British authorities accommodated him in their soil, the government was aware of his itinerary to Yemen and some Islamic countries, in the same vein, the American embassy in London issued him a multiple visa, knowing fully well that the monster Abdul was a security threat and his name was on the list of CIA and FBI for monitoring.??

On discovering this faults, the British and Americans still allow him access in the civilized world, failing on their duties to parcel him home, or declare him persona non grata, by circulating his pictures to all the entry points to the western world, OR better still disable the multiple American visa issued to him rather he was given a VIP treatment because of his opulent cradle.

Ledum Mitte, statement is faulty because Abdul came from a privileged background he never lack anything in life. The present society of Nigerians consists mainly of pauperized and indigent citizens whose means of economic survival cannot be ascertained. Having three square meals daily remains a mirage. Not terrorism.

I believe that Americans are right in their decision for blacklisting Nigeria as a terrorist nation, based on the high level of so many killings of the IGBOS by the northern Islamic fundamentalists, which i see according to you as an act of GOD, a blessing in disguise. The IGBOS in America supposes to use this opportunity to fine-tune our demands for a sovereign state...

Finally, the Americans should also blame themselves for their failure, incompetence and sabotage. Their security networks and intelligence took things for granted too much and too long, and lacked proper co-ordination over the issue.

Have a nice weekend.

Bye, Egemasi..... 

THE THANXS IS ALL YOURS!!!

Temple Chima Ubochi writes from Bonn, Germany through ubochit@yahoo.com