Comments on NIGERIAN CURIOSITY: TURNING AWAY FROM 'DEMOCRACY'

Thank u for your share. Life is like a tea table, ...

2010-01-08T22:58:11.877-05:00

Thank u for your share.
Life is like a tea table, with bitter cups placed all over it.

Beautiful written piece! Now get ready for your ar...

2009-10-22T10:03:49.986-04:00

Beautiful written piece! Now get ready for your arrest when you come home

Signed Yar'adua

@ Joicee: Good to see you here. Thanks for ...

2008-11-03T10:42:00.000-05:00

@ Joicee: Good to see you here. Thanks for coming. The truth is I don't know what is going on, but I believe in democratic principles as a means to gurantee the freedom, development and success of Nigerians. I understand that Nigerian democracy will be different from democracy anywhere else, but I just don't want us to turn away from a beneficial path.

Thanks!

@ N.I.M.M.O.: Ah, where do i start? lol! I agree, Nigeria has had 'brushe' with democracy in the past, but as this is the first time in Nigeria's history where one democratically elected President has been followed by another democratically elected President (yes, I know of the issues from the election), I can't help but think of Nigeria as a young democracy. Besides, if you talk to any political scientist, they would likely agree despite your obviously correct assertion. They would agree with my assessment because Nigeria despite previous brushes with democracy is still struggling to establish clear democratic principles and systems. Nevertheless, I acknowledge and somewhat agree with your point.

As to Nigerians being arrested upon arrival, how do you know that many have not been arrested? Just because we don't hear about it in the news does not mean that people aren't being detained. COnsidering the lack of information on Elendu and Asiwe's arrest, I could posit that we simply do not know if that is the case. What we do know, is that 2 bloggers who focus on the issues you and I like to pay attention to were arrested. That, is enough for me to see it as part of a larger pattern of events I have been watching. It could be nothing, and if that is the case, like everyone else, I will be glad. But if this is a part of something larger, we all need to tread carefully.

"If you call your own mother a witch, why should blame anyone for not eating in your house."

lol!!! ut unfortunately, you are 100% correct. Rebranding, in my opinion, must happen at home. This is part of my argument about PPP, hopefully someone will see your comment and think about stepping up the internal message for Nigerians.

As to who is a journalist, that is an issue that has plagued journalists all over the world. The advent of blogging and its influence has complicated things. However, with regard to Elendu, even the International PEN has taken up the cause for freedom of speech for bloggers. So, at the end of the day, it doesn't matter if a person is a blogger, journalist or simple uneducated market woman. Every Nigerians has the right of free speech and expression. Journalists should be the first to defend that right, I think. But, to each his own.

I must also thank you for pointing out that I did not link to the Punch newspaper article that reported Asiwe's arrest. I apologize for that mistake. I was extremely tired when I wrote this post, though that is no excuse. Thanks again, my broda.

@ Naija Ecash: "What does it cost to set up a Nigerian blogger to counter whatever "rubbish" that is published against the POWERS THAT BE. "

I have always wondered why the government hAS NOT TAKEN THAT APPROACH, AS FAR AS i KNOW. Maybe they have and we just don't know. Maybe they are working on it, but it would just be better to uphold the consitution and continue to improve the country for everyone at this point.

Thanks for swing ing by!

Association of Nigerian bloggers Ke!!! Count me ou...

2008-11-03T07:50:00.000-05:00

Association of Nigerian bloggers Ke!!! Count me out. 'Na dat one dem go take finis us patapata.

Irrespective of what anybody has to say, I still insist that nobody, should be allowed to operate above the RULE OF LAW! If those bloggers have a case to answer, why not prosecute them in a court of law. That way, everyone will have facts and figures to contend with.

But a situation where the prosecutor and the judge is one and the same, that cannot be seen as democracy except if we are now having our own HOME-MADE brand of democracy which others have to learn from :-(

The government have better issue to spend time and energy on than running after bloggers. What does it cost to set up a Nigerian blogger to counter whatever "rubbish" that is published against the POWERS THAT BE.

Too many jobless graduates will gladly take up the task and do a wonderful job of it at less than $1000 per month. You bet it will become the most popular blog in Nigeria because, NTA and all the Radio stations will give it free publicity.

SSD, I am looking for some confirmation on this As...

2008-11-03T06:42:00.000-05:00

SSD, I am looking for some confirmation on this Asiwe Asiwe story. I have not seen it in any newspaper here and even the huhuonline.com website is not opening the story. Can you help?

OK. I'm out.

I won't make any comments again.

At least until tomorrow. LOL.

Its N.I.M.M.O Again! LOL!

(I hope I've not ...

2008-11-03T06:30:00.000-05:00

Its N.I.M.M.O Again! LOL!

(I hope I've not caught the Verastic bug).

How do you define someone as an 'online journalist'?

Over the weekend, I was with friend who is a staff of a newspaper in Nigeria and is also a member of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ). I took him to task on the issue of Jon Elendu, about how the press was rather silent on it and all that. Of course, I didn't let on that I was a blogger too.

His questions actually stumped me:
'Is he a journalist?'.
'Well, he is an online journalist' I answered. 'So, who is an online journalist? Is he a member of the NUJ? Or any union or association of journalists in the US? Is he registered or affiliated with any mainstream newspaper house or media house in Nigeria or elsewhere?'

I could not answer any of those questions. He said a lot more but the long and short was that he refused to be responsible for the welfare of people with whom he has no affiliation - professionally or otherwise.

I cannot go into too much details but I will just say that Politics, especially the Nigerian brand is a dirty game, you cannot play with politicians without getting stains on your raiment. It is a contact sport.

Maybe we should start thinking of forming an association of bloggers or 'online journalists' (when we define who is one).

SSD, I am trying to get into the habit of commenti...

2008-11-03T06:09:00.000-05:00

SSD, I am trying to get into the habit of commenting on your posts, you find me reading and commenting immediately. Also, my internet access is effing up so I cannot postpone. At this rate I may be commenting on every line of text.

You said:
'This new trend of arresting Nigerian residents who live abroad upon arrival in the country ...'

I do not think this is true. many planes come into Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt airports everyday bearing hundreds of Nigerians living abroad but I don't think anybody is arrested just like that.

We may refer to the SSS as 'mad dogs' but we will agree that there is a method to their madness. 'Na who chop gbi, go die gbi' as Yoruba people talk am. I cannot say more than that.

Every Nigerian blogger has an opinion on the way government of Nigeria runs the country and we express our frustrations on our blogs every time. It is a right nobody can take away.

However, I personally have a problem with people trying to present opinions as facts. Opinions are five kobo a dozen. Facts are sacred.

I also agree with you that the arrests may sort of confirm, for those who are naive, the many negative ideas that are out there about Nigeria.

However, I find it interesting that some Nigerians are usually quick to say negative things about Nigeria. If you call your own mother a witch, why should blame anyone for not eating in your house.

With some Nigerians as citizens, who needs detractors?

Powerful post as usual, Solomonsydelle. In fact, n...

2008-11-03T05:43:00.000-05:00

Powerful post as usual, Solomonsydelle. In fact, now you are beginning to sound like a Naija politician. I hope its a sign of things to come.

Personally, I have a problem with writers
describing Nigeria as a 'young (nascent) democracy'. It is wrong. There has been some form of guided democracy in Nigeria since way back in the 1940s under Gov Macpherson or someone else. Can't remember who now.

As at October 1, 1960, Nigeria became an independent democracy. It is true that we have had some unfortunate hiatuses (hiati?) in the form of military coups and all that, but those unfortunate incidents should not define us.

Nigeria IS a democracy that has had too many military interventions in its history. For 28 out of 48 years, one may say it has been too military but remember we always had a Constitution that was not abrogated - but just suspended while the military ruled and looted.

It's like armed robbers entering a home and holding a family hostage at gun point for hours or even days. I don't think the press or anybody will refer to the house as becoming that of the armed robbers at any point during the siege. Eventually, they will leave and the house still belongs to the owners. Such is it with Nigeria.

It is when politicians try to rewrite history that they make statements with words like 'nascent democracy' therein as if they are the first to practice democracy in Nigeria. Some may even declare their girlfriends' birthdays as 'Democracy Day'. I cannot say more than that. LOL!.

South Africa had an oppressive apartheid regime for over 60 years but South Africans today do not refer to that unfortunate period of their history as defining their national character.

Rather they celebrate their ability to overcome the evil of apartheid together and move forward therefrom. Remember too that even all through that dark period, South Africa was referred to as a 'democracy'.

Nobody can move forward if he continues to look backwards. He will fall yakata. We must learn to define ourselves by our hopes of the future and not by our failings of the past.

20-20/20 is still some ways away. We will make it.

Believe.

This is a well written piece. I cannot for the lif...

2008-11-03T05:31:00.000-05:00

This is a well written piece. I cannot for the life of me fathom the reason why the bloggers were arrested. It seems to me that this present govt is worse than the previous. The current president comes across as very mild, docile even, but so far there has been a lot of arrests made of journalists who simply had an opinion about him and this leaves me seriously scratching my head. He is a baba-go-slow when it comes to fixing the infrastructure and basic amenities for the nigerian people, but suddenly becomes baba-sharp-sharp when trying to protect his "image".