This is why Nigeria cannot progress.
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This is why Nigeria cannot progress.
Watch video below:
Categories: Video News
Ben Murray-Bruce 
Ben Bruce, you did a video and titled it ;” THIS IS WHY NIGERIA CAN NOT PROGRESS”? A govt you’re part off you bluntly write off by themat title. That title alone is a turn off for any sensible Nigeria and in a sane world, you’re no longer fit to retain your position as Senate.
Bruce, you must be ashamed of yourself for that title ;” this is why Nigeria can not progress”. Yet, you are owing the Nigeria over 10billion. How can Nigeria progress when only you is sitting on such huge amount of money from Nigeria?
I always know you lack common sense, but I didn’t know it was this bad. It is your business that will not progress not Nigeria. I seriously feel exasperated about you right now and I know a lot of people like me will not watch that video just for that title.
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Why don’t you concentrate on the message and not the messenger even when your comments are baseless..
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Your words shows that you are one of the greatest enemies of this country. Who decided not to say nor fight for the right thing because of what they will eat. Common sense truly is not common.
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@ Osquare Okpanachi
Your words shows that you are one of the greatest enemies of this country. Who decided not to say nor fight for the right thing because of what they will eat. Common sense truly is not common.
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Listen to his massage you fool. You are the reason nigeria cant progress, you follow your deaf&dump president to london lets hear word
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You have to listen with patience and without bias!!For sure, so long as we keep doing the same thing over and over again, we will keep sinking deeper and deeper into the pit of underdevelopment. Ever heard of the saying, you don’t judge a book by its cover?
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Ben Bruce, you did a video and titled it ;” THIS IS WHY NIGERIA CAN NOT PROGRESS”? A govt you’re part of, you bluntly write off by that title. That title alone is a turn off for any sensible Nigerian and in a sane world, you’re no longer fit to retain your position as Senator.
Bruce, you must be ashamed of yourself for that title ;” this is why Nigeria can not progress”. Yet, you are owing the Nigeria over N10billion. How can Nigeria progress when only you is sitting on such huge amount of money from Nigeria?
I always know you lack common sense, but I didn’t know it is this bad. It is your business that will not progress not Nigeria. I seriously feel exasperated about you right now and I know a lot of people like me will not watch that video just for that title.
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Please do you hear English clearly or are you having an ear infection like your president ??
He made common sense in his video.
Maybe he used grammars and you did not understand him actually am sorry, you gat to make use of your dictionary and stop saying things you don’t know about.
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Mr,Okpanachi,whatever your opinion,I think Mr,Bruce is making a common sense,stop condemning the people who stays behind the truth.
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What is the truth? That Nigeria cannot progress? Who says?
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From ur coment, ur a fool and clueless like ur president, apc and lia Muhammad
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Osquare Okpanachi, please listen and watch Ben Bruce less than 2 minutes heart warming comments. Then ponder
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Yes senator, I agree with you whole and entire. But u’re one of the most powerful, as a serving senator, to bring any changes in d system . I have never read any bills proposed by u on the senate floor aimed at rectifying any of these anomalies which, I agree with u are basic for the progress of Nigeria. If I were u I would rather spend more time providing articulated solutions to the senate floor so that we all can fall in behind u and support you! Do that senator because I know u can do it.
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Senator, great observation. As a matter of fact that’s what is entirely wrong with Nigeria and how the country got into this mess – Nepotism disguised as quota system. As a distinguished senator of the Federal Republic, it would be great to see you sponsor a bill to end this system.
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Sir what i am upset is the title of this article, we are part of it, and more over u are a still a serving senator, please sir let call this country a good name. Am sulaimon sadu just what to make common sense
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What is wrong with the title? He gave reasons why Nigeria will not progress. What he says, therefore, is that Nigeria has to ‘change’ and stop doing the same thing over and over, if it wants to progress. He did not say that Nigeria will NEVER progress. Common Sense ought to be truly COMMON.
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My take on this idea from Sen. Bruce is that this is a core issue and and we can not move on an inch if we do not tackle the issue. and I feel this problem of ethnicity has eaten deep into every aspect of our lives. Federal, State and Local Government level, and it will not change soon. What can we do to change this?
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Memories of Midnight
March 26, 2017
Simon Kolawole
THISDAY
It was midnight, not so long ago, when I woke up, used the toilet and returned to my bed to continue from where I stopped. For almost an hour, I closed my eyes in vain. I could neither induce nor seduce sleep. I was rolling from one end of the bed to the other, like a footballer faking injury. I decided to go into my study, to prove to sleep that I could use the time for something else. My study is a junkyard. I tip-toed through the wreckage of books, old newspapers and all sort, and aimed for a particular Ghana-must-go housing old magazines. I randomly picked three editions of Newswatch magazine and went back to bed.
The first was the March 12, 1990 edition, “Cult of Deaths”, on the growing horror of secret cults in Nigerian universities. I flipped through within one minute. I took the second. It was the February 20, 1989 edition. The cover story was “IBB’s Surprise Move: The Sacking of AFRC”. The all-powerful Armed Forces Ruling Council was the three arms of government rolled into one: executive, legislature and judiciary (it could overrule the Supreme Court). Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, the military president, had shocked the whole world by dissolving the body. I flashed back to the controversy that followed, particularly fears that IBB was about to become a full-blown dictator.
I leafed through the magazine again and shook my head on seeing the pictures of some of Nigeria’s most powerful military men at the time. David Mark, Nura Imam, Ndubuisi Kanu, John Shagaya, Gado Nasko, Larry Koinyan, Paul Omu, Yohanna Kure, Oladipo Diya, etc. Newswatch speculated that most of them would be dropped from the reconstituted AFRC. I looked at their 40-something-year-old faces and shook my head again. “Nothing lasts forever,” I muttered to myself. Kingdoms rise and kingdoms fall. Fact of life. So whenever I see the “men of power” today chasing us off the road with their siren, I imagine where their convoy would be heading in 2027 or 2037.
On page 19 of the same edition, I saw a story on the arrest of Chief Chris Okolie, publisher of Newbreed. His magazine had written a story, “A Harvest of Generals”, following a spate of promotions in the army. The military authorities did not like the story. Punishment? He was detained without a word. That was the fate of journalists under military rule. A little story considered to be an irritation was met with excessive deployment of state power. Today’s publishers of fake news would not have survived under a military regime. You didn’t need to publish fake news to be jailed. Just publish anything considered nauseating or “radical” and SSS or DMI would snatch you.
Flipping to page 31, I saw a short story in which Chief Ernest Shonekan, then chairman of UAC, warned that “there is little prospect for a return to the petroleum price which we enjoyed five years ago”. He was referring to the 1984 price of $28, comparing it to the $18 in 1989. He was wrong. Oil would later sell for $147 in 2008. Nigerians did not “enjoy” it, though. So maybe he was right. He also said the 20-fold increase in oil revenue in the 1970s killed productivity and only encouraged local assembly and packaging industries which “rather than become locally self-sufficient, depended on imported raw materials”. He was very right. And we are still saying the same thing in 2017.
I threw the magazine aside. I then made the mistake of my life: I picked the May 30, 1988 edition. I wish I hadn’t. I still believe it was the work of the devil. The cover design was completely black, but for the two big eyeballs in darkness as well as a slender white outline and a thick red border. It screamed: “NEPA — A Nation in Darkness.” It was a special focus on Nigeria’s power problems. This edition could have been reproduced 29 years after — I mean this year — with just little changes: the principal characters and the anecdotes. At the risk of exaggeration, I would say things were even better in those days than today, especially comparing the expenditure with the results.
Ray Ekpu, the editor-in-chief, started his weekly note thus: “Sometime in 1981, the then president of Nigeria, Shehu Shagari, was poised to make a budget speech to the National Assembly… Everyone was seated and as the president began to make a speech, the brightly lit hall turned into pitch darkness. For 15 minutes the hall was enveloped in darkness and it remained so.” He also wrote about the embarrassment Babangida faced in Kano on April 16, 1988 when he was entertaining Flt. Lt. JJ Rawlings, Ghana’s head of state, to a state dinner. There were three power cuts during the event. Everybody was embarrassed, but Rawlings managed to make a joke of it.
Ghana also had power problems at the time. Today, Accra, its political and economic capital, enjoys uninterrupted electricity. Nigeria? Now don’t get me started. According to Newswatch, NEPA’s installed generation capacity as at 1988 was 4,000 megawatts. It wrote: “This is expected to increase to between 10,000 and 12,000 megawatts by the year 2000.” I’m not joking. A few days ago, some 29 years after, the ministry of power happily informed Nigerians that power generation has now hit 3,000-4,000mw again. I’m not joking. Between 1988 and 2017, we have spent at least $30 billion on the power sector to generate uninterrupted darkness.
Let me amuse you a bit. In 2001, my landlord had promised to buy a generator big enough to power his flat and mine. Someone was relocating to the US and wanted to “fling” his generator. Suddenly, my landlord changed his mind. “If you noticed,” he lectured me, “power has improved in recent times. President Obasanjo has finally fixed the problem. There is no need to waste money on generator.” I nodded stupidly. According to official statistics, power generation had hit 3,000mw by 2001. It was time to roll out the drums. And so, 16 years after, we are still rolling out the drums to celebrate 3,000mw. Can you believe that?
When Obasanjo came up with Vision 20-2020, we were promised power generation would hit 10,000 megawatts by 2007 and 35,000mw by 2020, when Nigeria was expected to be among the 20 biggest economies in the world. The projections were brought in dead. When Obasanjo was leaving office in 2007, we were still celebrating 3,000mw of power supply. The plan, reviewed and re-presented by his successor, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, projected that installed capacity would grow from 6,000mw in 2009 to 20,000mw by 2015. Ladies and gentlemen, this is 2017 and we are still so glad to announce that we have hit 3,000mw again. A round of applause.
The excuses, or let me say the reasons, for epileptic power supply in 1988 are virtually the same excuses, I mean reasons, in 2017. Mr. David Oyeleye, then NEPA’s general manager, told Newswatch that “we cannot run many of the machines at Egbin because gas is not there yet… the amount of high pour fuel oil, HPFO, which is needed is not even produced in the country in sufficient quantity”. There was also the regular excuse, I mean reason: “Low level of water at Kainji and Jebba dams.” There were less than 80 million Nigerians in 1988; we are now well over 170 million. And we’re still celebrating 3,000mw. Another round of applause please.
After allowing the devil to torment me for 30 minutes, I said “No Más”, like Roberto Duran, and moved to the next story: “Why Food Prices Are Up”. An Agege housewife said she used to feed her family of six with a weekly budget of N20. “A mudu of garri now sells for N16 [so] where does that leave my N20?” she asked. At that stage, I told myself I had had enough. Get thee behind me Satan! I flung the magazine far away like Christmas banger, switched off my bedside lamp and cuddled my pillow, muttering: “But where do I get this reckless confidence from — that Nigeria will change someday?” God so good, I lapsed into unconsciousness, snoring away my midnight sorrows. Zzzzzz.
## QUOTE ##
“According to official statistics, power generation had hit 3,000mw by 2001. It was time to roll out the drums. And so, 16 years after, we are still rolling out the drums to celebrate 3,000mw. Something is terribly wrong with us in this country”
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Dear sir, I am a Nigerian, just like you and it was with pain in my heart I watched the shameful exhibition of the senate just recently concerning the allegations made against the senate President and senator dino melaye. I am at a loss for words.
Is it possible for this to take place in ANY nation besides ours? In a time of recession a vehicle worth almost 400 million naira is brought in for the national assembly? I also watched the reaction of senator melaye who I believe is one of the biggest failures of our society. He was singing and dancing in celebration after his acquittal from those charges. I was so ashamed. Tears came to my eyes. Is this even possible? That such a person has the opportunity to be a leader in our country. I know not what else to say. The role and importance of the office of the senate is lost on our senators. I write to you cause you always want to make sense. I see nothing sensible about the senate. Most times the issues raised by some of the senate members are a show of shame. While the average Nigerian battles with the economical issues and the ills of our society, we are further humiliated by having to watch those who should help make public mockery of our land. I am ashamed. Pls make sense of this for me sir. Thank you.
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As a follow up I recently learnt of the launching of a new book by the so-called senator melaye, antidote to corruption. Is this true? Present at the launching was Patience Jonathan and bukola saraki. I have a question for you sir and I don’t mean this rudely. What are you doing about this???!!!! And don’t say what can I do?…. You can change things. You are a senator. We need courageous men and women who can stand up and say enough is enough. When will this happen? I’m done hearing political propaganda quotes about making common sense… It’s time to actually show us why we should look up to you. You set a standard for the entertainment industry against all odds. Why not do the same here? You can. Trust me sir, so many would look up to you and follow you. We just need someone strong. Do something sir. Put asides your restraints and say something. Do something. This would be your TRUE legacy
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Absolutely nothing wrong with Senator’s statement. He summarized the problems of Nigeria in one sentence. We lack common sense, Lack accountability etc. True say.
Woke up Nigerians we are far behind the rest of the world, this is 21st century. See sense and reason, change your ways and approach (leadership) nothing is working in Nigeria. What happened to Nigeria Airways and others? as Senator mentioned. Nobody wants to be accountable for mistakes, errors, omission’s why? Everyone in position of power abuses that position why?. All you officials that took advantage of your respective positions and abused it you know yourselves, but i can assure you sooner or later you would be brought to justice, its just a matter of time. What a shame and disgrace to Human race you are.
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I love the video clip and I dont have problem with the title or the personality of Senator Bruce. I m concern about what Senator Bruce has been doing toward solving this defined problem. If you ask all Nigerians about Nigeria problems, every individual will identify basic problems but we mostly fail in finding solution and being active in solving the problem.
My conclusion, Sent. Show us the way to fight our problem, lead us and you will get our backing.
Nigeria is blessed with great men like you.
We want a change
Lead and you will see thousand of Nigerians at your back.
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Does the 8th senate look the direction of your common sense campaign and put up a substantial laws that will drive us to that height. Talk is cheap let start acting now…..
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Hi Toba,
I share your views and opinions. Lead by examples. We all want a change and a way forward, solutions and actions less talking we have longed suffered, listened to promises and promises that has never produced results. Yes we are blessed with clever and smart minds in Nigeria, but to what good?
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I am very disappointed with Nigeria and its education… The decision they take at times shocks me. Jamb please give me one reason why you had to mark matriculated candidates as ineligible??? In what ways have they stopped the fresher’s from gaining admission??? You decision on this is very weaking, its wickedness, selfishness and heartless. This matriculated candidates sitting for this year jamb exam has one or so many reasons for it. I wonder why you should punish us. And the worst of it is, this news came very late..! Jamb should have announced it even before the registration commenced. What now will happen to their future plans, money and time wasted? Jamb do not forget so fast that the majority of candidates who registered are matriculated students. Please try changing that policy because is not of the lord. We Nigeria students are very angry and disappointed, its our choice to write jamb 100times for our preffered choice of course…you can’t ban us for rewriting, its our money!we paying for it, its not free. please ooo you people should do something about this heartless decision. Thanks
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About the Power Sector, why dont you ask them to trade some shares on the NSE to get the Money they need? Its pretty obvious that Nigerian will buy off the shares and then if there are any issues with poor management, the same shareholders can take away the power from the poor managers and hand it to a better set of Managers.
With all due respect sir, most of the problems you guys try to address have been dealt with yesterday. Its really amazing how you avoid the obvious solutions for a roundabout one. I listen to your common sense talks and most times I say to myself, ‘that is not common sense or even sensible at all’, attimes it is even hilarious and although it is better than what we currently have, it will only make pple laugh, and they do, on the Senate floor etc.. Sometimes I wonder if you all are paid to avoid the obvious solutions, or too full of yourselves that you cant take in anymore reality.
Again Sir I do not mean to put you down, I just watched your attempt to explain the power issue and i couldnt help the fact that other senators were laughing. You are making a great effort, but its not a common sense effort, its too much of a roundabout. And thats why people arnt getting onboard. Common sense should be obvious, e g. Una no get money? Sell shares, it wnt cost the govt anything. We no get water, float waterboard for NSE, retain small rights and the public will force efficiency into the system. These solutions are soo simple and straightforward. if you dont believe me, state any problem in Nigeria and I will attempt within reason to give a straight solution.
Kind regards
Amazed Nigerian
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I have been following Senator Bruce for sometime, and I think he is full of good intentions for Nigeria . Nonetheless I think he needs to be on the public stage debating bills in support of his ideaology for a new Nigeria . Sponsor a bill brings your colleague who against the bill on national TV for debate; this will create awareness about his agenda and ultimately create momentum.
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