Islamic Development Bank agrees to help develop Northern Nigeria

January 31, 2016Sani Tukur

From Right to Left: Governors Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano, Tanko ‎Almakura of Nassarawa, leader of the delegation and Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, President of the multi-billion dollar Islamic Development Bank (IDB), Dr Ahmad Mohamed Ali, Governors Nasiru El-Rufai of Kaduna, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa, Vice President, (operations) of the IDB, Dr Mansur Mukhtar, Nigeria’s Consular General in Jedda, Ambassador Ahmed Umar and an Executive Director at the IDB, Gambo Shuaibu after a developmental cooperation meeting between a delegation of the19-member Northern States Governors' Forum and President of the IDB at the Bank’s headquarters in Jedda, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

The Islamic Development Bank, IDB, will work with Nigerian officials to develop a comprehensive plan for the reconstruction of Northern Nigeria, the Bank’s President, Ahmad Ali, has said.

Mr. Ali stated this in Jeddah, the headquarters of IDB, on Sunday, when he received a high level delegation of 5 governors from the Northern Nigerian States Governors Forum, NSGF.

The delegation, led by the Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, included Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, Nasir El-Rufa’i of Kaduna State, Umar Al-Makura of Nassarawa State and Muhammad Abubakar of Jigawa State.

“We will work together to come up with a comprehensive and constructive plan to support northern Nigeria”, Mr. Ali said. “We will start with education, particularly bilingual education, and other areas such as job creation.”

“before you leave Jeddah, I would like to have a list of your priority areas, from education, power to agriculture and so on.”

In his remarks, the leader of the delegation, Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno, stated that in Nigeria, “poverty wears a northern face”, therefore the purpose of their visit to IDB is to explore credible avenues to enhance developmental activities.

Mr. Shettima told the president of IDB that the region is suffering from joblessness, low access to education and healthcare facilities, despite the abundant resources in the region.

“It is a giant with a feet of clay” he added.

The Governor of Kaduna State, Mr. El-Rufa’i told the IDB president that the Northeastern region requires urgent intervention in education, electricity supply and poverty reduction, as according to him, a major cause for the insurgency is poverty.

IDB’s Vice President (operations), Mansur Muhtar, told the delegation that IDB will do its best to look into various areas of intervention, particularly in the development of infrastructure which is a key priority in the bank’s 10 year development strategy. He then thanked the delegation for visiting IDB, and said he hopes that the visit will help in forging a stronger partnership that will help in mobilizing resources for the development of the region.

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Maria

Another islamisation agenda…when will these people learn that islam has brought nothing good to the north but death and poverty?
- Kñîghtš Tëmpłær
  
  We are having the same outlook my sister…The agreement will only give encouragement to fanatical forces in the north, when I read the part of the article that says, “We will start with education, particularly bilingual education”, they use the word “bilingual” to make it sound good and take our attention off, well you and I know It needs no special intellectual abilities to realise they want to promote madrasa education in the north…the floodgates will open and many learners of madrasa education may get the opportunity for entering the country’s civil services with their comparatively inadequate knowledge and typical mind-sets..
  - Alidi
    
    When the Islamic Development Bank was literally forced two years ago to invest in the construction of second Niger Bridge and the loan that Anambra Government obtained from it there was no case of islamising Nigeria only now that the Northern Staes having common problem approached the Bank for assistance it has become a case of Islamization
    - Kñîghtš Tëmpłær
      
      It was a rumour to tempt the Igbos to support Islamic banking….I remember very well Anambra government denied it
  - Jakadiya
    
    So it’s ok for the Christian missionaries to bring education and religion to the forest people but not ok for the Arabs to bring education and religion to the Northerners?
    - Kñîghtš Tëmpłær
      
      The christian missionaries don’t teach their students to label people of different faith infidels…
      - Jakadiya
        
        Who do they refer to as unbeliever? Infidel or unbeliever is just a matter of semantics, both Christians and Moslems use the term on one another. Also,
        ‘Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?’ 2 Corinthians 6:14-15
- Olu from South Africa
  
  In your own opinion.
- Mamu
  
  @disqus_jP0WOa3O7f:disqus Islam has nothing to do with this, each geopolitical zone in Nigeria have every right to send its delegation. Jst because it is called islamic bank doesn’t mean anything but non or little intrst bnk. In fact Anambra state is the first state to borrow from IDB. Why making this issue a religious one. We shouldnt allow ethnicity and religious differences to come between ur muslim or christuan brothers. We r all Nigerians!
  - Igwe
    
    A lot of people do not know that Islam and Christianity are the same religion in different languages.
    They have the same prophets, characters, and stories.
    - Chukwuka Okoroafor
      
      Christianity does not have Muhammad as a prophet nor do we believe King David was a prophet. The Muslims on the other hand do believe in those. Also, the Muslims believe that Jesus was just a prophet whereas we believe him to be the Messiah and the Son of God. So we have our differences.
    - Mamu
      
      You are very correct my brother. I hope one day all Nigerians will start to think and make comments rationally on issues without bringing ethnic and religious differences.
- Jakadiya
  
  Maria, you may not know it but go to Abuja and visit Federal Secretariat, National Assembly, etc. All you see are pamphlets and posters of different churches advertising there faith. Muslims are not complaining despite the fact that these are government buildings. How would you have reacted if these posters and pamphlets were depicting Islam?
  - Maria
    
    But moslems create praying grounds in offices, what can we do about it? Moslem make noise block major roads every Friday praying, did we complain? Got to Mashalashi agege… moslems block that major lay mats on it and divert traffics… I remember when I was working…in Nigeria the moslem converted one of the offices to mosque without ant authorization and no one complained. By the way, we havent seen Christians going to Rome or Jerusalem asking them to come and develop Nigeria with a promise of forcing Nigerians to learn Hebrew or Italia…
    - Jakadiya
      
      Maria, blocking roads during Friday prayers or at any time of prayer is not Islamic but the actions of some overzealous Moslems. On the use of offices or government premises to pray, you need to understand that Moslems are expected to pray five times daily and the early and late afternoon prayers happen to fall during office hours. How would you react when employees have to leave their offices to trek far in order to pray? Don’t forget too that Sundays are Christian holidays. But it has become a national holiday. Don’t feign ignorance on the role of Christian missionaries in using schools, empowerment, etc in propagating Christianity. What I want us to understand is that most of us are intolerant of other people’s religion, it’s like a seed of enmity has been infused in our blood because of religious differences. Most of the Pastors and Imams can only become relevant and strive when they see Moslems and Christians at cross road.
      - Maria
        
        I am not an anti moslems…In fact I care less about your religion…but recent crime committed against humanity in the name of islam is giving the religion bad label which I think all peace loving moslems must condemn.
      - Jakadiya
        
        How many times again? Before we knew what BH was, so many Islamic scholars that were against them were murdered in cold blood. People never believed the BH could be so dangerous, especially for people outside Borno state.
      - Maria
        
        The epileptic government we had is largely to be blamed.
      - Jakadiya
        
        Thank you. We’ve been having leaders who couldn’t lead and the lead that have been traumatized and used like toilet paper. We allowed ourselves to be polarized on religious and tribal sentiments.
    - Igwe
      
      who is stopping you from creating your own praying grounds in your office?
      You are more intelligent than this comment portrays. We advice you to edit it or delete it altogether.
      - Maria
        
        Who are you? I thought you are a jew, are you now a moslem? Mumu.
Tapheeda

Wow. What a good news. May lord with his infinite mercy help the Bank to execute their project successfully nd may he reward them abundantly.

Northern Nigeria Will Rise Again Insha Allah.
- Olu from South Africa
  
  Better put it, Nigeria will rise again.
  - Osondu
    
    @olu from South Africa,the average southerner like doesn’t just get it. Tapheeda just nailed it-“northern Nigeria will rise again”. And you are busy forcing him to accept ‘1 Nigeria’. To an average northerner,it’s Islam first,the north second and the north second and again,the north second.
- Maria
  
  So, in your mind only northern Nigeria will rise? You people post myopic comments and will claim when it suits you that Nigeria is one! Many of us here face abuse, attacks, being called all sorts of names because we support Nigerians with integrity especially Mr Buhari only to see unintelligent comments such as this… it is sad.
Omotolaaraujo

Why didn’t they think about that before? The lack of development is part of the reason the Northern part of the country is in this mess.
Aremu Mathew Okikiolu

Nonsense. These leaders ought to be ashamed of themselves. They are the cause of the litany of woes affecting the people.
- Olu from South Africa
  
  Prove it!
- Igwe
  
  nonsense!
Omoregie

I hope the Yorubas are seeing their monumental mistake in voting Buhari to power (not that I like Jonathan). When it comes to sharing oil revenue we are one Nigeria. But when it comes to development planning the northerners have their own plan. This was arranged by Buhari in his recent trip to the middle east, and he came home and sent the governors. This is what the $2.1 billion loan will be used for. In the end the south will look run-down, while the north will be developed.
- Olu from South Africa
  
  You can’t inveilgle anyone into hatred. Let all leaders from each region follow suit for betterment of Nigerians. If North turns little Dubai why not? Say something else.
  - Al
    
    Nice one bros
  - walter enang
    
    Impossible for North to even turn little Calabar..talk less of Dubai. The leaders of the Nothern zones are pure devils who dont give a damn about their citizens. The children are begging everywhere and hanging around bukas and restaurants to scavenge for left over meals. This kind of thing would embarrass and sadden any well meaning leader but not aboki. It is a total waste of time to continue to be tied to this bunch of beggarly people. Buhari should implement the recommendations of the National Conference so that whoever wants to remin in the dust can do so and whoever can fly should.
    - bootypoppin
      
      Na wow…All you have to say is Awooosa…begging…buka..aboki..bla bla bla..Sounds like a biafran jingle. Sure the leaders of the South East have transformed their states like London and New York right?
      - walter enang
        
        That is all they are good at brother. If you can mention something else that bears positively on the country,please educate me. I stand to be corrected.
- Alaba
  
  If they involve everybody you will claim they wanted to Islamic Nigeria. Can’t you be reason for once.
- Maria
  
  Jonathan approved the islamic bank not Buhari, idi0t.
  - igboham
    
    Maria, there is no plan yet – Now did Jonathan approve a non existent plan and its funding? Just curious.
    - Igwe
      
      do yoour research.
  - Du Covenant
    
    I think it was a fantastic idea to have Islamic banking in Nigeria as an alternative to the mess we have. How many times have banks failed in Nigeria?, how many of the banks CEOs paid any price?. It was only Sanusi that had the balls to make an example once in the history of Nigerian banking. The Nigerian depositors have always been left in the cold naked!. With Islam banking such greed does not exist and besides, most civilized countries have Islamic banking e.g. US, UK etc….Nigerians should be encourage to put their savings where it will be safe since the Government cannot guarantee that as in other climes.
- Du Covenant
  
  After the civil war, the FG rebuilt the South and particularly the SE, what did Nigerians gain from it?. More insults, more sabotage and more sense of entitlement over the entire country!. If the IDB is able to trust these Governors and they are able to get some help to bring life back into this neglected part of the country so be it. The more unequal a society is, the more dangerous it is to live in such a society, this is what our politicians have failed to grasp!.
  - walter enang
    
    You are lying here brother. The federal government only sent stockfish and one rubbish food called formula TWO to all secondary and primary schools. There was no development in the SS or SS from the government. We developed ourselves. Thank you.
    - Jakadiya
      
      The fed govt should have defoliated the jungle and serve you with otapiapia. You wouldn’t have been alive posting rubbish today. Better be grateful.
- Igwe
  
  President Jonathan is Nigeria’s first and currently only president to attend a session of the Organization of Islamic cooperation.
  Nigerians voted Buhari into office, not Yorubas or Hausas.
Fuzio

Here comes money for dipping the Koran in the Atlantic ocean.
- bootypoppin
  
  really? So Turkey, UAE, Qatar, azerjan, Brunei, Saudi, Iran, Bahrain, Kazakhstan are all the poorest countries in the world? Really? What of Zimbabwe, Eritea, Malawi, Mozabique? Did you mean to say African or Islamic?
  - Fuzio
    
    Man, I like your screen name.
    But seriously, I mean Somalia, Niger, Chad, Guinea, Bangladesh, Pakistan (despite the nukes), Yemen, Afghanistan, and so on and so on.
    - Igwe
      
      You are wrong! Stop trying to cover up.
      
      The richest countries in the world are Islamic countries! One of them is currently dictating the worlds economy.
      
      The price of oil is low because the King of Saudi Arabia decided to make it so, Why? The UN recently lifted sanctions against Saudi Arabia’s greatest enemy, Iran. Iran has oil and the Saudi’s have decided to make oil useless to Iran by flooding the market with their own reserves to drive down the price of oil.
  - Igwe
    
    he is an imbecile!
- Jakadiya
  
  The Vatican should create an Iron Wall.
igboham

Well – the oil is finished – every one is now remembering his/her own father. All the same it is good news if only they can now leave us alone.
- Mal. Musa
  
  Mumu!
- Mal. Musa
  
  Do you have oil in Igbo land. See you fighting for something that didn’t belong to you.
Mal. Musa

I wonder why southeast hate the Muslim and the northerners. Remember we belong to one Nigeria weither you like it or not. After all the oil you are eyeing does not belong to you but the southsouth who are genuinely fighting for their environmental pollution. Igbo’s are everywhere in the north and west during their business profitably. Kindly forget Biafra let’s build a greater Nigeria our pride our fatherland.
- walter enang
  
  Educate your children first Mallam Musa. That should be your first priority. It is very embarrassing and sad to see the way young Northerners hang around restaurants and bukas waiting to eat remnants of customer food. I, as a Southerner can never accept this kind of insult. Please mobilize your people and drum into them the benefits of WESTERN EDUCATION and NOT ARABIC one. It is ONLY WESTERN EDUCATION that can lift you guys out of poverty and slavery that your very wicked leaders have drown you in. Thank you.
  - bootypoppin
    
    Kai…its funny..while you are right that northerners really need to get their £$it together..it sounds a bit funny the way you put it. An outsider reading all this comment would think the southern part of the country has actually gotten their act together. WRONG! WRONG!! and WROOOONG!! They are better than their northern counter part but trust me you guys still have a long way to go…stop deceiving yourselves Nigeria as whole needs help not only northern Nigeria. Abeggy.
    - walter enang
      
      We are not yet there but neither is the USA or any other country but it would have been better if the country was uniformly developed and our children in schools etc. A situation where a section regards itself as the superior race and ruling class lording it over the resources from other zones is absolutely NOT acceptable whether we are developed or not. I am very happy the oil is fast losing its value.Maybe some people will now leave us alone to pursue our lofty dreams to their logical conclusion.
      - bootypoppin
        
        nice one. ur comments (i mean this particular one!!) makes sense
      - Igwe
        
        Your comment presumes that oil has nothing to do with why you want your own country.
        If oil disappears, no one will call for Biafra because because Biafrans would starve to death.
      - walter enang
        
        That is is what you think. The only true wealth of any country is the human beings who reside there and their drive for progress. I am sure you are a typical aboki who cannot imagine any live without oil. There are many many countries in the world doing very well without oil but export (Germany)…Tourism etc
  - Igwe
    
    Only Western education? We suppose you count from 1 to 10 in your own fathers numerals.
    - walter enang
      
      I REPEAT,ONLY WESTERN EDUCATION. I am yet to see a mobile phone or television set made in Iran. However,I am open to correction if there is any other language of technology and aviation except English. Our own abokis have been getting Arabic education for decades now and what have they got to show us for it? Stealing other peoples resources and making sure that the country doesn’t not progress by falsifying the population figures and standing against the implementation of the findings of the last National Conference to make Nigeria a true federation.
  - Mal. Musa
    
    I am educated in UNN. I know south east very well. What you are saying is not a reason for hating us. Bros, religion is personal BTW u and your God. Nigeria didnt go to war to get independence from britain. So I advice you follow legitimate ways may yield a fruitful result.
    - walter enang
      
      You are not reading me well, I DO NOT HATE YOUR PEOPLE. I AM ONLY FRUSTRATED WITH THE WAY MANY OF YOU REASON. THE PROBLEMS AND THE CAUSE OF ALL YOUR PROBLEMS ARE RIGHT THERE WITH YOU BUT MANY OF YOU WHO SHOULD BE THE AGENTS OF CHANGE ARE PRETENDING THAT THE PROBLEM IS FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE. Your leaders are the cause of your problem and it is about time you guys mobilize and rearrange things. A lot of abokis are very hard working and honest people BUT they worship other human beings. In that East that you claim to know very well,as well as in the South South, South West, NOBODY WORSHIP ANOTHER MORTAL. A KING OR CHIEF MUST CONDUCT HIMSELF PROPERLY OTHERWISE HE WILL BE DISGRACED. I remeMber one incident during the MKO abiola era when the late OOni of Ife was stoned and nearly lynched by angry subjects for not taking sides with the winner of the election. Something like this can never happen to any Northern leader because ALL Northern youths and elders lack the guts to fight for their rights. This lack of liver has translated to a situation where your young ones, boys and girls end up as beggars. I personally can NEVER accept this kind of thing if my South South people are begging all over Nigeria and I would do anything and everything to reverse the trend. Clearly and HONESTLY, Buhari is not capable of handling the economic and security siTuation in Nigeria. Things are going from bad to worse BUT your people will support a dog as president so long as he comes from your zone. PROGRESS IS NOT BY SENTIMENTS BUT BY HARD WORK. YOUR PEOPLE ARE A BURDEN TO ALL OF US IN NIGERIA BECAUSE OF THIS ATTITUDE AND THIS IS ALSO NOT ACCEPTABLE. You guys need to wake up and turn things around.
- igboham
  
  and you kill people who disagree with your one Nigeria. Talk about oil – is south south Hausa/Fulani land?
  - bootypoppin
    
    Oh really? Does that even make sense? you should get up and go out more often son. I dont see how you are making sense when The same muslims are the highest casualty of terrorism and wars. Dont you watch tv?
    - igboham
      
      Maybe I would understand your argument if they were not killing my people who are not part of their world. I know that initially the killings targeted Christians and/or Igbos. Some ran away reducing the available target before they started on their own. people. I care about my people being killed as they remain free to kill their own.
      - Mal. Musa
        
        I would not join issues with immature ppl who don’t know anything except sentiment and lack exposure. Many Igbo are peacefully working and doing business in the north. Myopic once remain in the village n hates northerners most. There are criminals such as militant, arm robber, kidnappers etc everywhere even in the south east. Lets think of ways to eliminate them and stay in peace. Pls stop this hatred.For Biafra follow legal ways, that may yield a fruitful result.
    - Cleartruth
      
      But they were praising bokoharam when they were killing Christians. Hope you still remember.
  - Mal. Musa
    
    South-south is not Hausa.Fulani and is not Igbo land. After Biafra you will start fighting south.south just like the way you hate Delta igbos saying that they are not true Igbo’s. Where was Biafra when gej was the president. Is now you remember you need Biafra when pmb is elected as nigerian president.
- walter enang
  
  That’s the mistake you keep making. IT IS ABOKI who hate Southerners. Be hones for a change bro.
  The SE people are busy pursuing their dreams while your leaders are busy trying to make them not to.
  - Igwe
    
    Aboki’s could not give a flying crap about southerners. They are busy tending their crops, minding their livestock and praying five times a day. They don’t have time for “nyamiri” nonsense.
    Go and ask your father and he will educate you. The SE has still not gotten-over the fact that Nigeria cleared their doubts during the civil war…and since Nigerian troops were mainly from the North, Northerners are the targets of “Nyamiri hatred!.
    
    The South East actually raise their children to hate not just Northerners, but even folks in other villages in the South East.
    If you travel outside the country and meet people from the SE, tell them you are from the North and see what they say to you and how they immediately begin to treat you.
    
    You think Northerners hate people from the south east? What hell did they raise when someone from the South East became President?
    Compare that to what the SOuth East is doing because a Northerner won the election. First they almost unanimously all voted against Buhari (mind our words. We said voted AGAINST Buhari)
    Secondly, after Buhari became inaugurated, the SE suddenly want their own country,
    
    You are indeed a very sad person.
    - walter enang
      
      Insulting me or my late father will never ever improve your situation in life. Believe me,I do not feel very proud whenever aboki kids,who should be in school, crowd around me whenever I am having a meal, to rush the remnants of the food i leave behind,even the coke left in the bottle…not caring or knowing anything about my health or whatever. You guys have a massive amount of work to do and I suggest you embark on it IMMEDIATELY… but i doubt it because your brain capacity is geared towards cursing HONEST people like me who tell you the truth. Your people are going through hell brother. Any of you can start a revolution to improve their lot. See so many young and underage aboki girls roaming the streets of Lagos. Thank God are Southern people are not as perverted as your aboki men otherwise those girls,some as young as 5 or 6 would have been defiled. If you need pictures, I can send them or simply go to ANY city in infidel land and see the allah people begging everywhere//amputees,lepers etc all from the North.Sad.
      - Mal. Musa
        
        So that is your own reason for hating northerners.
Chukwuka Okoroafor

As far as I can see, this is just another example of the Sharia agenda advancing into Nigeria. This is being pushed of course by Saudi Arabia and they are another participant of the scramble for Africa. These Northern governors and elites are the ultimate prostitutes to this agenda, no sense of African identity remains in them. The Arab world will now have greater influence in these states with the ambition to capture the rest of Nigeria and then Africa by extension.
- bootypoppin
  
  Your making some sense…But i doubt you would say the same if China or US or even UK offers to give us financial assistance would you. You guys have been yelling sharia this sharia that..abeggy jor its not going to happen in Nigeria. and even if it does, its not the end of the world. Theres sharia in kano and there are still millions of non muslims living their lives jor. theres sharia law in dubai yet our people flock their like flies and still not complaining..abeggy jor
  - walter enang
    
    If the USA or China offers togive us financial assistance, IT WONT BE FOR SOUTHERN GOVERNORS ALONE BUT FOR NIGERIA. THATS THE DIFFERENCE. THESE GUYS ARE ALWAYS NORTH THIS OR NORTH THAT BUT THE OIL THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ENJOYING FOREVER IS FOR EVERYONE.We must talk about these things and other things that borders on our security,unity etc otherwise we will be fools or seen as such.
    - Jakadiya
      
      Open your brain, the Southerners living in the North will also benefit. Don’t forget that the assistance is mostly going to the North East that is ravaged by the activities of BH.
      - walter enang
        
        The Southerners living in the North are EARNING their keep,not on social welfare. You are still refusing to face facts. Everything the Northern governors do is FOR THE NORTH and not Nigeria. Mind you, I didnt write the article. Northern governors but never have we heard of Southern Governors going to USA or China to borrow money to DEVELOP THEIR REGION. YOU GUYS HAVE DIVIDED THE COUNTRY ALREADY.
      - Jakadiya
        
        You should have suggested the scrapping of Governors’ Forums. We have them both in the South and North. If the Northern Governors Forum go to Middle East for intervention, the Southern Governors should equally go to anywhere to seek for intervention for their people.
      - walter enang
        
        Really? In such a case,we have no business thinking that we are ONE country with ONE destiny. I agree with you wholeheartedly but your people don’t like the idea of our doing things SEPARATELY or sallying on towards our set lofty goals and destiny, for obvious reason….FEAR OF POVERTY. We all know that the country called Nigeria is more sustained by efforts and resources from MY side of the coin than from YOUR side, therefore the other side of the coin will never let us go unless it is absolutely impossible to hold. Nobody would give a damn if you have your own country and decide to go to the moon for assistance. I am saying all this ONLY because we call ourselves ONE NATION. You will never hear me say same about Ghana or Burkina Faso.
        I wont mind sharing whatever I have with my fellow human beings so long as they do not constitute a backward drag on my enthusiasm and drive for a better life. The North has refused to accept or follow the ONLY EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM THAT BRINGS PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT FOR whatever reason. The world turns and the wheel of civilization grinds surely but slowly. As of today, Western education is the smart thing to do. Maybe in the near or far future other systems will dominate…who knows. I urge you to mobilize your people to embrace what is beneficial and is SEEN TO BE WORKING…and not to be trapped by useless sentiments concocted by those who use it to dominate/enslave/exploit and exploit their own brothers and sisters like your leaders are doing. Have a wonderful day, brother.
      - Jakadiya
        
        Enang, enough of this ‘YOUR PEOPLE’ or ‘MY PEOPLE’ of a thing. Don’t allow the action or inaction of a few make you generalize on others. No tribe is inferior to the other. It’s all about exposure and there are different levels and depth of exposure, academically, socially, etc.
  - Chukwuka Okoroafor
    
    If Sharia is federalized, we will have another Sudan, that I can tell you. Go ahead and read “Failed State 2030: Nigeria – A Case Study” which is a PDF that you can find on google. Read the report “Paths to Failure.” It is a scenario leading up to 2030 where Sharia could be introduced. A lot of the things that are in there have taken place already, it is amazing. Note that this was written in 2009. Also, think back to the evolution of this Sharia agenda. In 1979, Sharia had been partly federalized (but only for Muslims concerning property and marriage). Between 1984-1986, Nigeria was unilaterally brought into full membership of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (which is where this loan is coming from through the bank). 1989, the Abuja Declaration was signed in where it was agreed that the interests of Muslims would be advanced throughout Africa. This was vague language at the time. There are assertions that in 1990, the Declaration was updated to include the spread of Sharia throughout Africa with Nigeria as the staging ground. Some members of the Northern establishment ended up showing that part of the Islamic interest is to spread Sharia beginning in November 1999. People like Sani Yerima have listed this as a goal. He did say that this was supposed to be for all Muslims of Nigeria which gets to your last sentence. They will say that non-Muslims are exempt, but this has led to erosion of their rights. The Islamic police in Kano have shut down bars in Sabon Gari where Igbos are the dominate group. This has instilled the superiority of Islam over all other religions even though Sharia is not officially enforced on Christians. Also, how long do you think dual systems will last? The Islamists will slowly attempt to stamp out Christianity and other religions through policies and laws. It will get to a point that it will be very difficult to live in Nigeria unless you convert to Islam. You better believe that this is what these Islamists have in mind for Nigeria. I am all for one Nigeria as a restructured entity as you will see in my other comments, but there would be an exception if the Islamists are allowed to federalize Sharia and the current system is allowing them to advance (albeit slowly) their agenda.
  - Igwe
    
    China, US, and UK have INDEED offered aid to Nigeria and are currently partners in the war against terrorism. Yo don’t hear the Simian complain do you?
- Jakadiya
  
  Has the Vatican or the super rich duper pastors come to offer any alternative?
  - Chukwuka Okoroafor
    
    I don’t want religion mixed with governance and this is yet another example of this. I would complain if it was the Vatican because Nigeria is a multi-religious nation. Money is now being used to get people to buy in to the Sharia agenda. The interest-free loans and the more humane sounding loan programs have a catch.
    - Jakadiya
      
      If you don’t religion mixed up with government, you better tell them to stop using Qur’an or Bible to take oath. Again, if there is a catch in Islamic banking, you wouldn’t find Islamic banking in USA,UK, Australia, Japan, etc.
      - Chukwuka Okoroafor
        
        Maybe I would not have a problem with Islamic banking if the other events from 1979 till now did not happen.
      - Jakadiya
        
        Expatiate, please.
      - Chukwuka Okoroafor
        
        This was my response to bootypoppin and it should answer your question:
        
        “If Sharia is federalized, we will have another Sudan, that I can tell you. Go ahead and read “Failed State 2030: Nigeria – A Case Study” which is a PDF that you can find on google. Read the report “Paths to Failure.” It is a scenario leading up to 2030 where Sharia could be introduced. A lot of the things that are in there have taken place already, it is amazing. Note that this was written in 2009. Also, think back to the evolution of this Sharia agenda. In 1979, Sharia had been partly federalized (but only for Muslims concerning property and marriage). Between 1984-1986, Nigeria was unilaterally brought into full membership of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (which is where this loan is coming from through the bank). 1989, the Abuja Declaration was signed in where it was agreed that the interests of Muslims would be advanced throughout Africa. This was vague language at the time. There are assertions that in 1990, the Declaration was updated to include the spread of Sharia throughout Africa with Nigeria as the staging ground. Some members of the Northern establishment ended up showing that part of the Islamic interest is to spread Sharia beginning in November 1999. People like Sani Yerima have listed this as a goal. He did say that this was supposed to be for all Muslims of Nigeria which gets to your last sentence. They will say that non-Muslims are exempt, but this has led to erosion of their rights. The Islamic police in Kano have shut down bars in Sabon Gari where Igbos are the dominate group. This has instilled the superiority of Islam over all other religions even though Sharia is not officially enforced on Christians. Also, how long do you think dual systems will last? The Islamists will slowly attempt to stamp out Christianity and other religions through policies and laws. It will get to a point that it will be very difficult to live in Nigeria unless you convert to Islam. You better believe that this is what these Islamists have in mind for Nigeria. I am all for one Nigeria as a restructured entity as you will see in my other comments, but there would be an exception if the Islamists are allowed to federalize Sharia and the current system is allowing them to advance (albeit slowly) their agenda.”
- Igwe
  
  education is your problem.
  - Chukwuka Okoroafor
    
    Explain to me in what way?
walter enang

Just look at the begging fools who think that it is foreign people that will develop their region. All the Almajiri schools Jonathan built in the North are now empty while the aboki children are roaming the streets begging for food.
- bootypoppin
  
  haha…living expert of Northern Nigeria. Yep you are right! Northerners tend to be lazier than the southerners…Although i dont see how your slurs and name calling solves the problem tho. Theres poverty in the land called Nigeria…some are lazy (northerners!) so they just beg…and dont go to school. Some are too sharp (You know who) so they hussle and if that doesnt work they scam, they rob, they go spiritual or even be a drug mule!. Oh well when you look at it from a ethical, moral or economic point of view it serves as an interesting debate topic!!
  - walter enang
    
    Maybe I got a bit carried away back there but it does not remove from the fact that some people have been a source of frustration and backsliding to us when it is NOT SUPPOSED TO BE SO IF we are practicing true fiscal federalism (the only workable solution in a multi cultural/ethnic country like ours). When you look back and see too many missed opportunities some deliberate and some accidental, you can only regret being born in a setting like this. I love everyone including abokis BUT I DO WANT MY FUTURE AND DESTINY TO BE TIED TO THEIRS OR ANYONE ELSE’S. Some of us want to conquer the world and I do not feel it is right for anybody who has a different dream to be a stumbling block to mine. Fiscal Federalism will,perhaps ,wake up the abokis from the OIL DREAM and make them to face reality. It is actually very easy for one to pursue a dream so I cannot understand how or why someone should not want anyone else to aspire to whatever heights he wants just because he doesn’t share the same aspiration. I call this witchcraft and pure satanic wickedness.
    - Jakadiya
      
      You sound a little bit educated, however, you may not know that people that inspire to greater heights achieve their dreams through entrepreneurship and not dependent on government funds allocation. Mention a single ‘successful’ man/woman in the world that achieved his/her dream through your ‘hypothesis’ of fiscal federalism. Since you’re able to identify the challenges of the abokis, why can’t you go up North and break the ground in order to achieve your dream. Or, are there some constraints that you cannot surmount?
      - Chukwuka Okoroafor
        
        We are not saying that fiscal/political federalism will be the silver bullet. But this will bring governance closer to the people, increase accountability, increase personal responsibility, and in turn will reflect in the entire society. That is the whole point behind it. So even though it will not be the bullet that will make people’s entrepreneurial dreams come true, it will certainly help significantly.
      - Jakadiya
        
        Cite two or three obstacles to the present fiscal/political federalism.
      - Chukwuka Okoroafor
        
        I think you should have heard of the term ‘feeding bottle federalism’ haven’t you? Never minding that states get money rather from their own sources, they get their money from four states of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers.
      - Jakadiya
        
        Why do we have a bread winner in a family?
      - Chukwuka Okoroafor
        
        But then no one wants to produce anything, especially when the potential to do so is there. We now fight over the oil. Is that sustainable to you, especially with a population of about 160 million?
      - Jakadiya
        
        Who’s fighting over oil? The beneficiaries of the oil know themselves from both North and South. The downtrodden are the losers and the most vocal on social media.
      - Chukwuka Okoroafor
        
        So the militancy of the Niger-Delta or the neo-Biafran agitations don’t count? They at least think that they are fighting for their share of the oil.
      - Jakadiya
        
        It’s all about empowerment. They have their reasons to agitate. The question is why are the prominent Ibos and Niger Deltans not coming out openly to back them up? Either of two things; either they have compromised or genuinely don’t believe in their Causes.
      - Chukwuka Okoroafor
        
        But it is down to oil and the control of the revenues. This advances my point about our dependency and the battle for control over oil by these groups or the elites. This is a fight for resources, pure and simple.
      - Jakadiya
        
        Agreed. What I’m saying is that it’s either their leaders have compromised because they are part of the problem or they don’t care, whichever way, it’s not healthy.
    - Igwe
      
      You are an ingrate!…….wrong on so many levels that we have chosen to leave you to your vices.