Nigerian History 101

Nigeria won independence from Britain in 1960.

After the December 1959 elections, Tafawa Balewa became the Prime Minister of Nigeria and the overall head of government.  

Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, d. 1966 at 53

Nnamdi Azikiwe was the governor general and in 1963 became the first President of Nigeria.  He served as (ceremonial) head of state.    

Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, d. 1996 at 91

Obafemi Awolowo continued as leader of the opposition.

Chief Obafemi Awolowo, d. 1987 at 78

Click photos and links for more insights into the early history of Nigeria as a country.
NEWSBUKA for all the burning topics in Nigerian politics and society.

Mandela Tribute, by Obasanjo

South Africa's Nelson Mandela is a role model to the whole world.  He passed away in December 2013 at the age of 95.
NEWSBUKA for all the burning topics in Nigerian politics and society.

Know Your Constitution

A campaign on twitter - Just follow @KYCInitiative

#KnowYourRightsNigeria is on going courtesy @KYCInitiative.The guest, Lawyer @princeoreshade is not sparing anyone.Join them CC: @eggheader
— Adeola|GenVoices.org (@AdeolaOyinlade) November 25, 2013

For the brilliant contribution of @princeoreshade today, get everything via #KnowYourRightsNigeria hash tag
— Know Ur Constitution (@KYCInitiative) November 25, 2013

#KnowYourRightsNigeria is 2day (Mon.) Time:4-5PM. Topic: Fundamental Rights Enforcement in Nigeria. Guest: Mr.... http://t.co/R9ADvbj3ZZ
— Shaykha Sahfeeyah (@Sapheeya) October 21, 2013

RT @KYCInitiative: #KnowYourRightsNigeria is 2day(Mon.) Time:4-5PM |Topic: The peoples Constitution with Barr. @DSamsonitodo| Don't miss it.
— EiE Nigeria (@EiENigeria) October 14, 2013

NEWSBUKA for all the burning topics in Nigerian politics and society.

This is Jigawa, population 4 million, 361 thousand, and 2 people in 2006

I previously commented that Lagos swallows up Kano three times.  I subsequently downloaded google earth to confirm this with real images, not just maps.  
Interestingly, I also found interactive satellite images of Jigawa State, the slider bar lets you zoom in until you can almost count the trees. This is Dutse, the administrative capital of Jigawa State.

The heart of Dutse

Some other key population centers in Jigawa are Hadejia at about 2 x 2 kilometers, Gumel slightly smaller, Zoma centered on a lake, and Birnin Kudu whose 4 km perimeter you might encircle in 30 minutes, jogging.  There are impressive agricultural lands covering most of the state: see vast areas around Albasu and Aljara for example.

A view from the skies, click to zoom in

  NEWSBUKA for all the burning topics in Nigerian politics and society.

Top Ten Most Watched Videos Of All Time On CHANNELS TELEVISION's You Tube Channel

The most popular videos are not completely of a barbaric nature with dishonourable fights over nothing more than a share of money,

you can also find dishonourable meetings over nothing more than a measly share of money,

some (gravitational) tragedy as would be expected in a society where dishonour is normal,

but thanks to enigmatic mismo pismos such as Patrick Obahiagbon, we find a little humour as well.

WATCH ALL HERE

 God bless Naija. 

NEWSBUKA for all the burning topics in Nigerian politics and society.

Not enough Dignity, nor enough Respect

We have again reached an independence anniversary and a chance to reflect on who we are. 

So President Goodluck Jonathan said, "[31] But again, I can reassure you that Nigeria’s place on the world stage today is strong and safe, and it is certainly a place of dignity and respect. We must continue to build on this by remaining a nation and a people committed to ideals, the noblest humanitarian values, and the rule of law."  Read full speech here.

Sometimes a sportsperson or team shines, a film grips, a songster shares, a brainiac leads, a soldier cares, the world can't close its eyes to the great stuff we're made of, and our dream of dignity and respect becomes a reality.  I crave more of such times. 

NEWSBUKA for all the burning topics in Nigerian politics and society.

Speaking of women in govt

Aminata Touré is the new Prime Minister of Senegal. 
Find out why this is a good thing. 

NEWSBUKA for all the burning topics in Nigerian politics and society.

From bedroom supporters and kitchen overseers to full participants in society

Although there are over a dozen women in the top rungs of political leadership in the Federal Government of Nigeria, not even one state governor is female, nor has ever a president or leading presidential candidate been female.  Women and men of Nigeria, are we ready to show the world how gender equality is done?

Disappointingly, even in university student union elections, can you believe that many believe the president should be a guy, with the deputy/vice/assistant post going to a girl?  If only I was a girl in such a school :)

 NEWSBUKA for all the burning topics in Nigerian politics and society.

The gay issue

I don't actually know the gay community in Nigeria.

 What I do believe is that all this anti-gay sentiment I see around is terribly painful. 
Those who hate homosexuality, what are you afraid of?  Is it not enough to use your religion to govern your own life and allow the other person to live in peace? 

NEWSBUKA for all the burning topics in Nigerian politics and society.

Remix - I love my country

Who did the original song? NEWSBUKA for all the burning topics in Nigerian politics and society.

The Midterm Report

Here is a link to the "Midterm Report of the Transformation Agenda."  It's 200+ pages, no pictures, but that shouldn't deter you from downloading and commenting on it.  That's one way to love your country. 

NEWSBUKA for all the burning topics in Nigerian politics and society.

OAU-AU Celebrates 50 Years of Existence.

In May 1963, Sekou Touré, Leopold Senghor, Gamal Abdel Nasser, Kwame Nkrumah, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Modibo Keita, Julius Nyerere, and other (male only) African leaders articulated the founding of the Organization of African Unity (OAU).

The African Union marks landmark anniversary

 As the host Haile Selassie said at that historic gathering, "We approach the days ahead with the prayer that we who have assembled here may be granted the wisdom, the judgement and the inspiration which will enable us to maintain our faith with the peoples and the nations which entrusted their fate to our hands."

Nelson Mandela and Muammar Gadaffi

That faith may have been broken time and again, and the reality of Africans may be far from the African Union's ambitious goals, but maybe today it's time to believe again in Pan-Africanism and African Renaissance.

African youth in 2013 (source: al jazeera)

NEWSBUKA for all the burning topics in Nigerian politics and society.

What Pa Chinua did

Achebe is dead.  A great tree has fallen - oak for ajebutters, we ajepakis say iroko.

The famous writer predicted Nigeria’s tragic comedies, observed and told the world about us; indeed he told us about ourselves.

For all those who have never read Things Fall Apart or a word of Achebe, here's a shortcut: The Voter is a prescient story of elections and superstition, of cultural upheaval and adaptation, and it takes only a few minutes to read.  You're welcome.

NEWSBUKA for all the burning topics in Nigerian politics and society.

Donate to Wikileaks

WikiLeaks is an international, online, non-profit organization.
Its release of US diplomatic cables in late 2010 gave Nigerians access to documentation of high-level intrigues and related gossip in our government.  See Sahara Reporters, The Guardian, and all the latest on Wikileaks + Nigeria

The leaking continues and you can help by making a small donation.

 NEWSBUKA for all the burning topics in Nigerian politics and society.

Who do you say I am?

Nigerians are the most intelligent, enterprising, beautiful...
the world's happiest people...in a post-colonial, underdeveloped, third-world mess.

Unknown artist, Source http://au.int

Together, we are the giant of Africa...in a gigantic slumber.
We deserve credit for being Africa's peacekeeper.  

The best place to invest...but a long list of worries. 
Nigerians are good people with some bad habits.

NEWSBUKA for all the burning topics in Nigerian politics and society.

And we won!

Nigeria's Super Eagles are the African champions.

Journey to the AFCON 2013 cup

 May Nigeria continue to be blessed.
NEWSBUKA for all the burning topics in Nigerian politics and society.

Break Up? Never!

 A cartoon of Nigeria, where it seems to some that there is a trade-off between staying together / avoiding civil war, and growing / developing at a fast pace.
What do you think?
Should we break down up to speed up?
Or are peace and progress too closely linked?   

See more drawings of award-winning cartoonist EB Asuquo of BusinessDay.



NEWSBUKA for all the burning topics in Nigerian politics and society.