Can the north survive without the Niger-Delta oil?

Recently,the Governor of the 19 States in Northern Nigeria issued a statement via the Niger State Governor Dr. Babangida Alihu,saying they dont need Niger Delta OIL to survive.How true is this statement?Put more succinctly,can the North(as it is now)live without the Petro-dollar from the Niger Delta oil?Let's hget ur objective views on this?

Posted: at 9-08-2008 06:28 PM (15 years ago) | Upcoming

THE NORTH DO NOT NEED THE OIL TO SURVIVE. INFACT THEY ARE PROVIDING VIRTUALLY EVERY VEGETABLE AND FOOD ITEM CONSUMED BY EVERY FAMILY IN THE SOUTH. THEY DON'T NEED THE OIL. INFACT THE SOUTH NEED THE NORTH MORE THAN THEY REALIZE. WHAT THE OIL DOES IS TO PROVIDE THEIR GOVERNMENTS WITH THEIR SHARE OF THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT AS MEMBERS OF THIS NATION. 

Posted: at 27-08-2008 07:59 PM (15 years ago) | Newbie

   The north definitely cannot survive without Najadelta so they tred carefully and watch the words they utter.

Posted: at 28-08-2008 01:34 PM (15 years ago) | Newbie

both of them need each other to survive is all about i give you, you give  me
the oil spilage has distroy the soil in the naija delta crops cannot grow properly
there and the north need the to survive like nation.

Posted: at 28-08-2008 08:51 PM (15 years ago) | Newbie

SANUNKU!
You all ve said ur bits.Now let's leave the realm of ethnic based sentimentalism and face the existential realities of the contemporary Nigerian Political-Economy.
Shamsuddeen above made some very pertinent points that I cannot ignore.

Firstly,he said "oil is a curse".It seem true if taken on its face value.However,that statement is untrue after further enlightened scrutiny.OIL IS NOT A CURSE.IT IS OUR MISMANAGEMENT OF IT THAT A CURSE.The United Arab Emerate & Bahrain,that are managing their Oil revenues well & diversifying their economies are doing well. Unfortunately,the North ve presided over this mismanagement of every facet of the Nigerian social formation longer than any other region.

Secondly,he was right when he said "most of the Developed States of the world are not oil producing".However,I'll want him to know that that is not entirely true.The US and Russia are Oil Producing States(O.P.S)Russia supplies many European states oil & gas.U can find out more on this.
Thirdly,in as much as I totally agree with him on the need for us to pay more attention to the development of quality HUMAN CAPITAL,I beg 2 humbly disagree with his thesis on Niger Delta oil being a Coincidence.Anybody that know anything about oil exploration & exploitation,& its negative externalities to the host community will not dare say that.It's like telling the people of Jos or Enugu that the destruction of their environment caused by Tin & Coal exploitations were mere coincidence.This is the crux of the matter.It is this belief that Oil is a coincidence,that ve fueled the Northern arrogance that's at the heart of this crisis.You cannot call the degradation of a people's environment,the loss of their culture & tradition occupations & means of livelihood a mere coincidence.Is like going to Rano,Doguwa,Shanono or Beebeji in Kano to destroy their farms & say its a coincidence.

Fourthly,he talked about the looting by Niger Delta rulers.I'll want him to show me 1 Northern ruler from Pre-Independence to date that ve not stole from the Common Wealth.

Also,he said"AS FOR WE THE NORTHERNERS, OUR GRAND FATHERS LIVED BETTER AND IN A MORE PEACEFUL NORTH WITHOUT OIL THAN WE ARE LIVING NOW WITH OIL".Yes they did.They did because they enjoyed 100% of the revenue that come from their produce from 1946-1957 before the Raisman Commission was set up.They enjoyed 50% Derivation % another 30% from the Distributive Pool based on Population & Land Mass.Yes ur Grand Father built ABU & BUK with such moneys.But when Nigeria was an Agrarian economy.So now that we ve an Oil Economy why cant the Niger Delta Children who were suffering when ur Grand parents were enjoying ve their turn?

Furthermore,Shamsuddeen,was right when he said Oil is not everything.Yet it contributes more than 85% of our GNP and over 90% of our Foreign Exchange earnings.
In concuding my Shamsuddeen section,I'd say,We cannot & should not waste our time in attempting to deny the pivotal place of the Niger Delta in the Nigerian Political Economy.

CHEDEE
I dont know what part of the world u re.But definitely not Nigeria of 2008. 90% of the money used to pay the 44 LGA Chairmen(including my favorite Buharin Dala.lolz) in Kano come from the Niger Delta. I think you are joking when you mentioned vegetable etc.Do u think the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,UAE& Quatar  produce food?The Petrodollar that comes from their resource take care of that. Can you show me one state in the North that can survive for 4 months without Federal Allocations?Dan Allah,yaakuri daya!just one.
What share of constitutional right are u talking about?Which constitution?Is it the Constitution that was drafted by the Hausa-Fulani elite to serve their interest?Why is the North so much against true Federalism if they can survive with just Vegetable and other food items?The answer is the North will collapse withing 1 year without oil money.

SIGNALPUTTE
Who cares if the Oil multinationals are relocating to other countries?To the people of the Niger Delta,that's good news.It means that the will witness less Acid Rain,Polution & dislocation of their local economies.
You said other African countries are discovering Oil.How is that the business of the Niger Delta people?Why not tell me that the North has started exporting Oil? 
Please be informed,Tinubu is not and ll never be a Niger Deltan.So his name ve no business in this discuss.As 4 the gravity,only time ll tell.

Khadijah Yarinya DadiIlolz.
I know some Northers are hustlers.But the majority are not.I am waiting for U 2 show me how the millions of Almagiries I see everyday are hustlers.I am waiting for U 2 show me how the Civil servants that come go Audu Bako Secretariate by 2pm for work after Masalashi are hustlers.lolz 

Posted: at 31-08-2008 12:14 AM (15 years ago) | Upcoming

The Northerners,despite their long stay in power & stealing are the poorest bunch.Who ever told u they are the richest lied.Let's face the facts.out of the over 20 banks in the country today,how many is headed or found by a Northerner?All the telecom companies in the country,which one is owned by a Northerner?None!Can U point out one viable oil company that is owned by a Northerner?(pls dont call Dantata organization.U'll make me cry)lol.Let's talk about the Insurance sector.Pls name 3 insurance companies that is controlled by a Northerner.Which other sector of the Nigerian economy are we to talk about?I know u're itching 2 tell me about Alhaji Aliko Dangote & his wealth.How many other Northerners can U point out?
I've lived in the North.So I know that their are more poor people there than any part of Nigeria.All the Billions of Oil moneys stolen by the elite there is for their personal use & not 4 the society.They intentionally disempower  the Northern youths so they ll be easy tools 4 their political plots.They can give some Almagiries 5000 Naira to cause a huge crisis 2 destabilize their states.
U ve fear more Northerners as beggars on the streets of Nigerian city.So,I still cant reconcile U claim that the Northerners are richer with the reality on the ground.The North is only powerful when it's in power.Period! 

Posted: at 31-08-2008 05:14 PM (15 years ago) | Upcoming

As you rightly pointed out, it is the elites that should be held accountable not the poor masses in the north Godsson. According to you, you have lived in the north and you saw the condition of the masses in the north. When discussing issues as this mentioned the names of the leaders that stole from the NigerDelta. The way you claim that you have stayed in the north that is how some of us have stayed in the South South not staying there but were given birth there.

Your leaders in the South South are busy enriching themselves with money made for the development of the region and at the same time diverting the youths attention from what they have been doing to the youths in that region and everyone wants to put the blame on the north. All we need is solution not unnecessarily blaming one another. I have watch events unfolding with real interest. Some may say "Is it now that the Northerns want a solution" Believe me that if it affect  all of us one way or the other. Putting blame on the northerns that find it really difficult to feed is not the solution. I remember growing up as a kid in Port Harcourt River States, the place was so peaceful and I have alot of friends there that I wish I can visit but I'm too afraid to do so because I don't know what may befall me. And the funny thing is that I don't know anything about this fuel that is causing so much problem. Our youths were over night changed to terrorists because of a few selfish individuals in the society that we elect to represent our interest. If I did offend some of you gentlemen and women with my comment I'm sorry but I own no elite in the society any apologise because they are the cause of our present problems. 

I so much love the South South people because they are hospitable and friendly. They welcome all people from all parts of the country without any reservation. I can go on and on. Please let us all continue to pray for a peaceful solution to this problem.

Posted: at 1-09-2008 08:53 AM (15 years ago) | Newbie

well, diff people with diff opinions....
 From what we have in Nigeria now, the north cant leave without the niger delta oil. tell me what else gives the nations its largest revenue than oil and gas. if the north tells me that they can go back to their farms and make a great deal out there, then i have to ask what powers the machinery that does the work .........
 politically we see the north coming into then oil and gas sector than Niger delta people because they know that the oil and gas business GIves them the money they take to their farms.
how much can a farmer in Nigeria (north) have compare to that of oil and gas.
                              The best is not to compare because the Niger delta holds this nation.cheers

Posted: at 1-09-2008 11:05 AM (15 years ago) | Newbie

IT CANT GET BETTER THAN THIS!

Posted: at 3-09-2008 12:28 AM (15 years ago) | Newbie

It's always hilarious to me when people talk about reverting Nigeria to an agrarian economy.It strikes me as mastery of ignorance.Although,for the sake of internal food security,I am not against people engaging in agricultural activities.But I see any talk of making agriculture the mainstay of our economy as backward,retrogressive,naive,myopic & out of sync with contemporary existential realities of International political economy.Anybody who knows the price of primary goods or products in the international market will not say this.When other states are talking about shifting their focus from 'mere' manufacturing (a stage we ve not yet gotten to)to service provision,someone is here talking about a primary economy.
Agriculture in Development Studies or Development Economics,falls under what we call traditional economy.This is the lowest stage of economic development.This was the stage Europe & America was before the Industrial Revolution.This was the stage that caused slave-trade.We are talking about a time before the 18th century.Pls,U should take classes on Economic History.

Now,let's talk about the North and agriculture,assuming that I accept ur argument.What are the implements U hope to use?Pls dont tell me U want to continue the practice of using OIL MONEYS to buy fertilizers that some emirs & Local officials will steal & sell,cus it wont work.The recent Fertilizer scandal is still fresh in every in every informed mind.Or do U intend to buy tractors and other equipment on credit?

Let's also assume all of these huddles ve been successfully crossed,how many months will u take to reap ur harvest?And while waiting for harvest,what ll u be leaving on?I just dont know why people come up with things like this.

Now,in fairness to the North,there are many solid minerals in the North.All the 19 States in Northern Nigeria are blessed with one Solid Mineral or the other.They ve Gold,Copper,Bitumen,Iron ore,Zinc,Limestone,Granite,Tin etc.However,they ve wickedly left all these & more to concentrate on Niger Delta Oil.They want to suck the Niger Delta people dry before they ll start exploring and exploiting their own Natural resources.They want to make sure there is nothing left for the Niger Delta people.They want to make sure future generations of Niger Deltans become their slaves.As harsh as my analysis is,U all know it's the gospel truth.Let me not detain U any further,I'll rest my case now.

In conclusion,until the North start to tap its own many untouched resources,it cant not live without Niger Delta Oil.Until WE NORTHERNERS decide to stop our parasitic mannerism & look inwardly to provide our needs,OUR leaders should SHUT UP!Their salaries & all the moneys they steal everyday come from the Niger Delta.
 

Posted: at 3-09-2008 09:57 PM (15 years ago) | Upcoming