Comments by Nefertiiti42

I totally feel this same criticism could be made about the Nigerian president. He prefers to pander to the west while neglecting the people who voted for him.

Femi there is nothing intrinsically dehumanising about domestic work but rather the perception of domestic work. There are many jobs I wouldn't do and not because I find them demeaning. Any job that earns you a living wage can never be demeaning. After all in some developing countries the rights of white collar workers are so badly protected that they find themselves continuously exploited. I am all in favour of the dignity of labour, as long as the person is in the position to freely choose and not coerced, then by all means they can be a domestic worker.

I love this story and completely relate to it, especially the point on British euphemism. I come from an English speaking country, not Britain, but have had to practically relearn the language whilst in the UK. Early on I would usually come away from a conversation with a Brit wondering what exactly it was we just finished talking about. Now though I find it funny and very entertaining, just like this article.

I don't think the current population boom in many African countries is enough indication to predict Africa's fate as a whole. Many people have wrong impressions about what Africa is all about and use simple stories like this one to justify those impressions. Yes Nigeria is highly populated, but this has been highlighted ever since the late 80s. I remember as a child, various government campaigns to encourage family planning and having fewer children. At present, although children are highly prized, the emphasis is on having children that you can take care of considering the fact that you can expect no state support.
Finally, to those who are calling for mass sterilisation, remember that you cannot insist African countries embrace democracy on the one hand then ask them to implement policies that are non-democratic at the same time; all because of a potential population explosion.
I am all for change and smaller families, but I believe that it should be gradual and an option for each individual/couple to consider.

@ Fabio: not so sure about labour mobility in Europe. When asked why they was rioting & looting, one of the rioters involved in England's most recent spectacle said "the f#* Polish are taking our jobs". I am not too sure but I don't think a New Yorker would say, complain that a South Dakotan is taking their job. Hence there is no real integration in the EU, multiple national borders, multiple national labour laws etc. It baffles my that the Euro has lasted this long.

@Radulph Zimbabweans do not oppose this, or else it wouldn't be happening. In other parts of Africa you dare not pass such a law because the people will go mental. It was attempted in 1970's in Nigeria and since then it was reversed. There is protecting the countries interest and then there is outright theft. I think the Zimbabweans are too lazy to develop their own companies and rather wait to steal others. I have yet to meet a Zimbabwean who opposes Mugabe in ideology and action, even those who live outside the country. This is horibble. StanChat, Nestle and BAT are virtually African institutions (BAT much less so though). I can't believe this is happening in this day and age.

Nigerian politicians have for decades followed the path of corruption and mis-governance despite the glaring evidence that it will only bring destruction. It is sad that only armed resistance garners any attention from the authorities, first the militants in the niger-delta now the boko haram in the north. I hope this will further impress on Nigerians' minds that PDP is no good for the country and power should not be given to people who are unable to use it effectively. Unfortunately Goodluck Jonathan is the latest in the line of corrupt, ineffective leaders Nigeria has been suffering under. He has refused to take decisive action by addressing questionable ministers and alliances with dodgy characters among Nigeria's social elite. He will go down the way of his predecessors and sadly so might Nigeria.

I welcome this report and what it means, not only for the Ogoni people, but for Shell in Nigeria as well. The day Shell packs up and leaves Nigeria, after cleaning up its mess, will be a great day indeed. And all those Nigerians who have mortgaged their souls by being complicit with shell in destroying their own environment e.g; Shell Management, Government, Compromised community leaders,will be left holding the pieces of nothing.
This UN report is a victory for Ken Saro-wiwa, the Ogoni people and the entire Niger-Delta. We should build on this momentum.

jingBrit:
I couldn't agree with you more, and all I can say is 'only in America'. It seems the greatness of America was thrust upon it and not earned, therefore now that a small real test has come their way, they fail.
So should the Tea Party be willing to lose everything just to prove that a black democrat president isn't good enough? Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face.
I had friends who behaved the way the republicans have been doing, but at the time we were in primary school!!! We have certainly grown up since then.
I lie awake at night wondering at the sort of morons who are running the most powerful country in the world.

I am really happy about this article, particularly since it highlighted Nigeria as a failed state. I do believe that with the right strategies we can exit these lists in no time, but I want the masses to see that we should demand governance from our leaders and stop allowing them to divide us around ethnic and religious sentiments. It is lists like this that will ensure we improve.

'Land injustice and Colonial imbalances' are not key issues for all African leaders and as such do not 'resonate' among them, it seems only to be an obsession of the southern african leaders maybe due to their peculiar circumstances. In most other parts of Africa, say Nigeria, corruption, bad governance, strengthening democracy and impproving service delivery are the central issues. I appreciate Roy Bennet's (and MDC's) travails but Zimbabwe is not representative of Africa and because SADC treats him with kids gloves doesn't mean other African leaders approve, they just are unable, or don't care enough, to do anything about it.

@ Alex Weir.... It doesn't matter what the western press thinks, this election was for Nigerians and has been accepted by Nigerians, that is all that matters. After all in 2007 the same Nigerians rejected the polls. The youth rioting now do not necessarily dispute the results but are unhappy that their man did not win and as such fear exclusion. This is sad but ironic because it was the years of northern led military rule which created the northern elite that worked to keep the larger northern population poor and uneducated. Thats is not to say that it is paradise in the south, but a system that deliberately discourages education and skills acquisition in favour of servitude and feudalism is, as can now be seen, unsustainable and a recipe for disaster. I hope they realise that Nigeria is for all Nigerians and demand development from the current president rather than riot about the loss of their preferred candidate. The difference between the north and the south is primarily that of opportunity and poverty. The south west which is arguably the most progressive region in the country is about hafl-muslim and Fashola the most admired governor is a muslim. This is why Nigerians insist that the issue is not religious, or even ethnic, it is mostly about economics and the politics of neglect.

The results are 75% complete and on INEC's website on: http://n2nmonitor.com/dashboard/results_live.php

I personally forsee a run-off and as christian from the south (whatever that means) I would cast my vote for Buhari before I even listen to Jonathan. One thing I respect Buhari for is his persistence and constancy, even in the midst of the ever-changing opposition (e.g Atiku). I would also hope that PDP loses and loses good, Ribadu worked under Obasanjo so as far as I am concerned he is not my idea of a good leader.
I know at the end of it all we decided our fate and not the politicians but if Jonathan goes so will evil men such as Anenih, and Buhari is strong and stubborn enough to withstand pressure from corrupting influences. While it is evident that Jonathan isn't.

@Bailout nation... you're the scary one. Anyone with a gun is dangerous, but I guess you would know this is if you knew anything at all!!!

Spectacularj1 you have hit the nail on the head. Rural dwellers envision city life as some kind of eldorado but end up living in basements or creating slums. As far as I am concerned, permits are a thing of the future not of the past. The Apartheid system of passbooks was revolutionary, only problem was it wasnt comprehensive enough. Other developing countries want to start implementing similar system of entry permits and I think if done right, will serve to both regulate development in urban and rural areas as well as raise quality of life.

@ Legen, they wouldn't leave to rivals in the India and China if visa restrictions didn't make it impossible for them to stay. I school in the Uk and on in my dept there are over 600 students, the only britons that attend are being sponsored by their employer. Everyone else is non-british, over 50% are non-EU. With these new restrictions I doubt my Uni would get the same numbers of postgrads next year, what do you think will happen to those who are currently studying research or taught courses? They will have no choice but to take their knowledge back to their home countries or anywhere else that would have them. I am not advocating that students should use education as an excuse to migrate to the UK, but as Jeff111 states: If you are going to have migrants, wouldn't you rather they be students that had the benefit of british standard education that wasn't funded by the british taxpayer? It seems like a win-win scenario to me.

I am from the south, a minority, and had always dreamed that a minority would rule Nigeria. Now that dream is becoming a nightmare. I can see clearly that the tribe, religion or creed does not determine a good leader. NOt being a member of the PDP does. On the one hand I am thrilled that Atiku did not win but on the other I wonder why Jonathan wants to be president. He knows most assuredly that he cannot do the job and he is not even going to be able to wing it like Obasanjo. His win is just a reflection of the mediocrity of PDP's politics. They are the new military dictatorship that have to be overthrown.

@ JollyRogerII : you are spot on. Julian Assange was held for days without any formal charges filed against him and on wierd claims of sexual assaualt, even being denied bail. Why? Because he released info the US governmen deemed to be sensitive. So the ability of government to pick and choose what info should be made public or not is not the only practiced in Africa. I am all for press freedom, 100%. And that doesn't exist in many places. I then don't see who has the right to go around classifying whose country has free press and whose doesn't.

I dont enjoy most Nollywood movies but what I do know without a doubt is this is one area Nigerians show leadership, albeit unknowingly. It is because of Nollywood that Africans adopt pride in African speak and dressing, which is a huge deal in a continent where western standards of lifestyle are entrenched and thus cause feelings of inferiority. The African elite? Spare me, they are the ones who refuse to fight for the good of the large unpriviledged masses, preferring to travel in the London underground during vacation and believe anything western is the best. The African elite have very little to offer Africa, but promotion of our African sense of self-awareness expressed trough entertainment may help get out of our under-developed rut. That other countries have now started making their own movies is testament to how much Nollywood has positively impacted on the continent. Talking of penetrating the European Market, who cares? We have 1 billion people in Africa, have we penetrated that market. What about Asia? Why must Europe be the benchmark. Europe doesnt even have a decent movie industry, it scrounges off Hollywood.
Yes Nollywood should definitely improve and raise standards, just like the Nigerian music industry has been doing. I am proud that Nigerians have an influence on Africa, see how south Africa has succeeded in getting DSTV around the continent. I am proud of South Africa to. It has long been said that only Africans can change Africa, people can't you see that is whats happening?