MOROCCO' S AUDACIOUS GAMBIT MUST BE COUNTERED..AND BLOCKED.

"Belligerent North African country"

A MOROCCO that is a belligerent country  on the continent can not be a desirable member of ECOWAS, a grouping of peace loving  countries in West Africa.

"Under reported Muslim Arab Slave Trade "
Arabs do not respect Africans as equals, maybe  as a result of the grossly under reported Arab slave trade which brutalized  Africans more than the Transatlantic Slave Trade. They will only be looking for a master servant relationship. Morocco can not be different. If they could feel so superior to Saharawi citizens as to colonize them brazenly right into the 21st century, it's clear others are held in contempt, especially sun Saharan Africans.

 Forget the smiles and the dollars being dangled. A monarchical Morocco that can boldly assert rights to colonize a neighboring country (Saharawi Republic) can not be a sincere member in a group that not only  disavow colonialism, but also all kinds of undemocratic government. Like the monarchy  practiced in Morocco.

ECOWAS is a geography bound organization.  Open to only countries in WESTERN AFRICA as the name clearly states, and as stated in the Treaty. What motivates Morocco to want to join? Doubtful if it is altruistic motives.

What possible reasons?

They may be looking for a market for their products.  Nigeria created, supported and funded this sub regional organization. It is the natural economic sphere of influence for Nigeria. Anyone coming in will be attempting to reap where they have not sown.

Then there is the small issue of EU wanting special economic status for their products in West Africa.  If granted, it will be the end for our own products. Nigeria has correctly refused to sign the so called EPA , the Economic Partnership Agreement with the EU.. If Morocco becomes ECOWAS member, EU countries can set up shop in Morocco and export to West Africa on concessionary terms. Therefore European goods will start entering our West African subregion through the back door, defeating our opposition to the  attempted unbalanced Trade Treaty.

By antecedents of Morocco, they can not be coming with altruistic motives.

Finally, can any Sub Saharan African country Contemplate,  much less be admitted to a grouping of Arab Nations??

For these reasons, Nigeria must leave nothing to chance: Morocco 's insolent attempt to usurp our position in Ecowas, which we created and has been funding, for the benefit of West African citizens, must be blocked, at all costs...

An event at Ecowas Commission in Abuja.

Monstrous 1-ton ocean sunfish caught in Russia's far east, thrown to the bears (PHOTO)

https://www.rt.com/news/403357-sakhalin-giant-ocean-sunfish/#.Wbs959myKsA.gmail

NOI Polls on LGBT Perception in Nigeria.

"A POLL, AND A CONTROVERSY"

Recently there was a write up on line about alleged poll that says Nigerian's view of LGBT people is becoming more permissive.

"HOW REPRESENTATIVE A SAMPLE"?
I have two issues with that. The number polled can not be truly representative of the population in a contentious and culturally linked matter like LGBT lifestyle which is totally alien to ALL our cultural and religious practice in Nigeria. I dare say it is even totally alien and abhorrent to the animals in Nigeria.

In my own interactions as a social scientist and a student of society, I have not found any proof that Nigerians' views have changed one tiny bit. In fact, it has hardened,  with people saying that the law as it is is not strict enough.

So I do not know where NOI Polls, usually fairly reliable, got their results from.

"MISPLACED PRIORITY, WASTED EFFORT"

My second grouse with this is that the subject of the polling is elitist,  pretentious and detached from our reality.

 Views on LGBT rights is the last of our problem as a nation right now.

The very basis of our continuance as a Nation is seriously under threat, terrorists continue to put a large part of our population under tension and panic, and the economy is not responding to treatment.

In the midst of all these, determined forces of division and conflict are rising anew to threaten our peaceful coexistence, and in the midst of this cauldron, what NOI polls choose to work on is our views on LGBT rights?  Why?

"HOMOSEXUAL PROPAGANDA"
This evil lie of claiming that  Nigerians are becoming more accepting of LGBT is a form.of Homosexual propaganda. Maybe Its time we take a cue  from Pesident Putin and extend our anti gay laws to include a ban on LGBT propaganda.

This is simply not true. How can NOI polls talk to 2000 people and use that to put out a report on the views of 180million people? How representative is the people polled?  Just 2000?

Beyond that, is this the most relevant poll for Nigeria now? Or there is another agenda?

"SUGGESTED URGENT POLLS"
If NOI polls are desirous of helping clarify views for development and progress, I can suggest some topics for their polling attention.

1. What about a poll on Nigerians'  view on Restructuring?  Or On Biafra? On wether we should have a unicameral rather than bicameral  legislature?

 2. What of wether legislative services  should be gratis?

3.  What Of wether we should allow independent candidacy  in our elections ?

4. What about finding our weather Nigerians want us to jettison this our present, military imposed, too-expensive-to -operate constitution and draw up another?

5. What about finding out whether Nigerians want the recommendation dating of the 2014 Conference implemented and how?

"CHALLENGE"

I hereby challenge NOI polls to work on the above topics,  and steer clear of elitist topics like LGBTQ rights for now. Or it may be seen as pursuing an agenda that is insensitive to our reality as a Nation.

I look forward to them taking up the challenge.

BayoEazzie