PRESIDENT YAR'ADUA OF NIGERIA IS DEAD!!!!!!

The president of Nigeria Yar'adua has been confirmed dead today May 5, 2010. According to sources, he died in the Nigerian presidental villa in Abuja, and it is expected that he would be buried tomorrow (May 6, 2010).

According to http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/5509218-147/its_over_for_yaradua__.csp

President Umaru Yar'Adua is seriously brain damaged, is not able to recognise anyone, including his wife Turai, and can no longer perform the functions of the office of the president, according to multiple sources who have spoken to NEXT on Sunday.
But this fact, which has left a nation of 150 million people rudderless and its government in disarray, is being concealed from the public through an elaborate scam orchestrated directly and energetically by the First Lady.
Turai Yar'Adua has barred all but two security and one civilian aide, and a legislator from having access to the president in a two-tier power loop of which she is the organising principal. The inner core consists of the president's chief security officer, Mohammed Tilde, and his military ADC, Mustapha Onoedieva; an infantry colonel from Edo State. Through Mrs. Yar'Adua, this small knot works with Shehu Inuwa Imam, a member of the House of Representatives from Katsina State who is the president's childhood friend; Tanimu Yakubu, the president's chief economic adviser; and Sayyadi Abba Ruma, the agriculture minister. She is also aided by Inuwa Baba, the senior private adviser to the president on protocol matters.
Mr. Baba is an old Yar'Adua family friend, so loyal that he once got into prison uniform to stay behind bars with Shehu Musa Yar'Adua, the elder brother of the current president. who died in Abacha's gulag in 1999.
The group has blocked all direct access to the rapidly ailing president, said sources in Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, the Gulf region and in Europe and the US.
Despite several trips to Saudi Arabia, no other Nigerian government official, including the president's principal private secretary, ministers, and governors, has succeeded in seeing the president, who vanished from our country 50 days ago and has not been heard from since.
Grand deception
The people working frantically to keep up this ruse, including Mr. Yakubu, have also gone to great lengths to deceive the public, by claiming they have spoken to a president who is unable to speak and has lost all powers of cognition.
In fact, we can confirm that senior government officials lied when they claimed that Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, who is next in line to succeed Mr. Yar'Adua, has spoken directly to the president.
Although Mr. Jonathan subsequently went along with the charade, he has confided in several people in recent days that he did not speak to the president at all, according to informed sources. "He is trying not to create any friction because he knows he is about to become the next president," one source told our reporters.
In a telephone conversation with NEXT on Sunday, the Attorney General of the Federation, Michael Aondoakaa, emphatically dismissed any notion that the president did not speak to any of the state officials. Mr. Aondoakaa said the vice president confirmed this claim himself that the dialogue took place,"No, that cannot be the case," Mr. Aondoakaa insisted on Friday.
Mrs. Yar'Adua now relies on an all-Saudi staff, including drivers, security personnel and others, in the hope that no Nigerian outside her Gang of Three on the ground in Jeddah can tell for certain what is going on. Such is the nearly impregnable ring of steel thrown around the fading leader that even his principal private secretary, David Edevbie, was unable to see him when he recently travelled to Saudi Arabia, ostensibly to get the "president" to sign the budget. We have learned that Mr. Edevbie was restricted to his hotel, where he received a visit from the president's chief security officer, who collected the documents and subsequently returned them "signed."
He may never come back
Even the president's closest and most powerful aides have accepted that Mr. Yar'Adua may never return as president. "It is over for this president," said one source at the centre of the nation's political firmament. "The question is when and how."
Virtually all those who spoke to NEXT did so on condition of anonymity, reflecting the sensitivity surrounding the president's rapidly deteriorating health and their own political calculations during an inevitable transition.
While the end is virtually certain, several sources said the First Lady is hoping to hold off any acknowledgment of Mr. Yar'Adua's incapacitation in the hope of lining up a friendly successor, including an effort to position Adamu Aliero, the minister of the federal capital territory and a close ally of the First Lady, as the new vice president once Mr. Jonathan steps up to the presidency as mandated by the constitution.
Other political forces, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, as well as a claque of powerful former military officers led by Ibrahim Babangida, the former military president, are also pushing various candidates to be Mr. Jonathan's deputy (see accompanying story.)
However, many see Mr. Jonathan, a colourless former governor of tiny Bayelsa state and an accidental vice president, as a mere transitional figure who will hold power only until the next elections are held.
By that calculation, the ruling People's Democratic Party will honor its internal rotational arrangements to keep a northerner in the presidency for an additional term of four years. This would put a new vice president in pole position to become the PDP presidential candidate and be a sure bet to be the next president. The calculation is that, in Nigeria, votes do not count and the incumbent party is practically guaranteed to use every means to maintain itself in power.
In orchestrating her increasingly frantic efforts, Turai Yar'Adua' has proved an enthusiastic user of email as well as sms messages to friend and foe alike. She, with the gang wound tight around the president, has been working hard to sell the candidacy of Ailero to be Jonathan's deputy.
A government in chaos
The cloak of secrecy thrown around the president's status, and Turai Yar'Adua's determined push for an ally to succeed her ailing husband, have thrown our government into chaos. "Nobody knows what's going on," confessed one senior government official.
The cabinet, or federal executive council, is paralysed because it is in the dark. On a recent interview with BBC, for example, Ojo Maduekwe, the foreign minister, said, incredibly, that he had had "no cause" to speak to the president for the past six weeks! Information minister Dora Akunyili has issued statement after statement even though she has not had any contact with the president.
Yet the cabinet, which should by law start the process of declaring the president medically incapacitated, is refusing to lift a finger.
The sense of confusion has also stopped senior officials from coordinating their official actions. For example, according to our sources, Ahmed Yayale, the secretary to the government, had no idea that Mr. Edevbie had travelled to Saudi Arabia to try to see the president-until after the fact.
Even the security services are not immune to the governmental disarray. The director general of the State Security Services (SSS), Afakriya Gadzama is said to be angry that Mr. Tilde, the president's chief security officer, is no longer taking his calls.
As an employee of the SSS seconded to be at the president's side, Mr. Tilde is supposed to keep his agency in the loop regarding the president's safety.
That even the SSS chief is kept out of the loop is particularly jarring. Mr. Gadzama is after all widely considered a trusted aide of President Yar'Adua. The two go back as far as their high school days at Barewa College, where Mr. Yar'Adua, then a house prefect, appointed Mr. Gadzama to succeed him in 1971.
"If Turai doesn't trust Gadzama," said one source who is also a Barewa old boy, "that is how paranoid they have become."
This royal mess has left Abuja in a state of paralysis. "The government has ground to a halt," a senior official said last week. "Something will have to give very soon."

DAGRIN IF I DIE (UNRELEASED)

TCrush GudLyfe- Tribute to DaGrin

It is very sad that we just lost a talent who just peaked into FAME.....I am glad I listened to his songs before his death.....I remember the day SMASH asked me to listen to his song "PON PON PON". Smash was so hyped about DaGrin's style of rap. How he used yoruba to flow and rhythm. I liked the song and since then, DaGrin earned the respect from me. R.I.P

**********I DEDICATE THIS POEM TO :( DAGRIN :( USING THE TITLES OF HIS SONGS AND THE ONES HE FEATURED IN......********

Death! ....an uninvited guest of LIFE
Comes to visit but always leave with a LIFE :(
Death visited.......and took AKOGUN away ~~DaGrin~~
DaGrin!!! You are on a journey to heaven
Nigeria is proud to have you
Your parents are proud to nuture you into the man you was before death came
DaGrin!!! The Yoruba rap guru
Your time ran clockwise
We wish it were anti-clockwise
*Mi o so fun yin entertainment*
O so fun wa pe kiya lo ma ję
DaGrin oba kondo
The ghetto paradise await you
Awon aję Awon oso Awon ti o ti pe ę ni olori ibu
They all see you now in a paradise
DaGrin!!! The Yoruba rap guru
Your fame spread around the world like SAPHYLOCOCCUS
Your name prompted attentions and media
We are touched... DaGrin!!! We are sad :(
We are happy your ghetto dreams are finally over
Now you can enjoy the GHETTO PARADISE
OLAITAN OLADAPO OLAONIPEKUN ~DaGrin~ you overcame death
For you are now a resident of heaven :)

DaGrin *AKOGUN* ogboro ka kiri igboro
Oro n ke ..... Ibon n ro ...... ayęta n yęta
(sigh) !!!!! iku de .....ilę lanu ... ko si ayęku lono
DaGrin!!! bi o se n tę si waju
Ki ara ma se ni ę ninu sare
PON PON PON ..... PON PON PON
Awa n sa ye ti wa lo ........ Akogun
Akogun!!!! ...da won lara ya nibode ki olubode le silękun orun
Gbogbo oun ti o se ni aye ati ayise dede rę
Eledumare a darijin ę o
Ki ni aya rę n ja si ..... won ti fi ę si lę .... tori pe
Gbogbo angęlica orun ......tire ni won se


DaGrin!!! you was a dullard
You thank God
Loni.... you are a champion
DaGrin!!!....O ti sa mo won lowo
DaGrin!!! Yoruba rap guru
In heaven ... You look from the back
You realise you made it!
STATEN ISLAND SOCIALS & SMASH ENTERTAINMENT will miss you
We already missing you!!!!
Until we meet in heaven
We will cherish your songs and style of rap... :( R . I . P :(


**Tunde**

TCrush GudLyfe (S.I.S)

R.I.P. DAGRIN (WE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER YOU!!!)

A fatal car crash have taken away the life of one of Nigeria's most talented rappers, well known as Dagrin around the world, but as Olaitan Oladapo by close family and friends. This nightmare began on Wednseday, April 14, 2010 around 3 AM when the Tripple Hip-Hop World Awards nominee, Dagrin got involved in a motor accident.

Dagrin's automobile according to sources was said to have ran into a stationed truck along the Mushin area of Lagos State close to Alakara Police station. He was immediately rushed to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) for medical treatment where it was announced that he was in a critical state and was recuperating.

"He is responding to treatment; he is out of the coma already"said Dagrin's manger Tunde on April 20, 2010.

This was music to everyone's ears for a while, until news of Dagrin's death contradicted the validity and reliability of Tunde's statement. The rapper passed away on April 22, 2010 around 6.30pm. This news broke the hearts of many, especially those closest to him. May his soul rest in perfect peace. WE WILL ALWAYS LOVE AND REMEMBER YOU DAGRIN.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Olaitan Oladapo a.k.a. Dagrin released his sophomore album, Chief Executive Omoita to critical acclaim in 2009 and earned three nominations at the 2010 Hip-Hop World Award, scheduled to hold later in the year. His 1st album was released in 2005 and his latest Album CEO which was released in 2009. Below is one of his videos Pon Pon Pon...

WHAT ABOUT MY DREAMS??? (FIND OUT HOW FAR A YOUNG MAN WAS WILLING TO GO TO MAKE HIS DREAMS A REALITY!!!!)

What happens to a dream deferred? Langston Hughes, a legendary poet, writer, and playwright of the Harlem Renaissance once asked, but never answered the question. Rather, Hughes listed a series of suggestions that could happen to a dream postponed. The reason that he could not give a direct answer to this question however isn’t because he wasn’t intelligent enough to come up with an answer; instead it is because the response is based on individual actions and experiences. Each person response to a dream deferred differently. While some may continuously fight to accomplish these dreams, many on the other hand resist their urge to fight and give up the instant something blocks the way to their dreams. So, what kind of individual are you? I know many of you would quickly say that nothing should stand in the way of you and your dreams, so you would continue fighting. But what happens when you think that you have tried every trick in the book, but yet nothing comes of it? To makes thinks clearer, let us take a look at Tunde’s intriguing and somewhat unique case.

Tunde’s Story

My name is Tunde A. and I am 35 years old and miserable. I have been in this country illegally since I was seven years old, and as a young intelligent boy, I had many hopes and dreams. I dreamed of becoming a doctor, not because my mother a Nigerian woman imposed it on me like many may think, but because I loved the idea of making people feel better and saving lives. I was always interested in the way the human body worked, so I used to read anatomy and physiology text books to better understand it. I would practice the medical terminologies and even went as far as to try to diagnose my family members when sick. But this was all just a dream, because none of it ever came to pass.

My problems all began when I graduated H.S. and could not afford to go to college. My immediate family consisted of just me and my mother since my father passed away three years after our arrival to the United States. As for my mother, may God bless her soul where it now lies because she worked real hard to make sure that I accomplish my dreams. When I graduated High School, although she did not have the money to send me to school right away, she did save up money within a year with her security job and made sure that I was enrolled in school the following year. This however did not last because she passed away my second semester in College. This was the most devastating experience of my life. After she died, I felt alone in this big world. Although some did try to assist me in the beginning, their help ultimately ceased. I knew that I had to find a way to make my dreams come true all by myself.

So, I analyzed my situation and came to the conclusion that the only way that I can accomplish my dreams here in the United States is if I first become legal. Once this is done, sky is the limit for me. I would be able to get funding of all sorts to make my dreams come true. I looked into this possibility and found out that marriage was my only path toward citizenship. Knowing this, the problem now was that I did not know where or how I was going to get someone to agree to marry me so that I can get my papers. So I related my problem to a friend of mine, and he told me that he knew someone who would happily do it, but the only problem was that I would have to balance her off. I had to pay her for her services. I thought about it and eventually agreed to it.

It wasn’t long before I met the young lady Rose. When we first met, she requested for five hundred dollars and since all I was doing then was working, I was able to give her the money. We soon got married and things were going well for some time. She called me once in a while and requested for money, and when I came up with it, I gave it to her. She visited me whenever necessary and even left some of her things at my apartment for immigration purposes. I did not have a sexual relationship with her, and I was content with that.

I was just counting down the days that I will get my papers when out of nowhere, Rose’s boyfriend emerged. He called my phone and boldly introduced himself to me. He threatened me and told me that if I did not give him and his girl everything that they requested, my chances of getting my documents will become an illusion. I was terrified. I told him that I will do anything that he requested of me and pleaded with him to take it easy. The first thing he asked me for was eight hundred dollars. I managed to get that money to him the first time, but when his requests became frequent, I was unable to pay them the money.

When the letter came in for an interview with immigration, I was both delighted and scared. I knew that Rose and her boyfriend were going to require that I give them a huge sum of money, and I thought I was ready for them. I was already saving a little money on the side from the three off the book jobs that I was working to make ends meet, but then they threw a bomb shell at me. They requested for five thousand dollars. Where in the world was I going to get that kind of money? I was pissed off. I explained my situation to them, but Rose’s boyfriend was not having it. I did not think this was going to happen to me. When they seen that I did not have all the money, they said that I should give them what I did have, so I gave them the thousand that I saved.

The unexpected happened after that. Rose asked me for a divorce, and did not go for the interview. She claimed that her boyfriend needed the remaining of the money for his business and since I didn’t come up with it, he wanted her to divorce me. I later found out that her boyfriend was an ex-con that couldn’t really get a job and lived off her. That was it for me, I had no other choice but to grant her the divorce and I was back at square one.

There was nothing that I can do after that. All other attempts towards citizenship failed, and going back home to Nigeria was not an option. I do not know anyone there so I do all I can to make ends meet. I work and work to pay bills. I am almost done with school now at 35 because I am constantly taking semesters off. I don’t know what else to do. I recently heard about the Dream Act law, but I know that by the time that law is passed, I will not be eligible for it because I will be 36 years old this July 2010. I don’t know what to do. Can somebody please help me? I am not a lazy man, I will do anything to make my dreams come true, but with each day that passes by, I am slowly and unconsciously losing hope.

TRUTHBETOLD- I am very sorry to hear this story, and I do applause you Tunde for your strength. You have been through a lot in your life, and you are still standing very strong. Many people would have cracked under such pressure a long time ago. It is quite unfortunate that you may not be eligible for the Dream Act, but you still have to have hope. I do believe that for those falling outside of the boundaries of the Dream Act; their hope is the CIR laws that will soon be debated. I am happy that you are not giving up because there is a reason for everything in this world. Also, I want to emphasize on the point that your dream has only been deferred and postponed, but not destroyed. I appreciate you sharing your story, and pray that God answers all your prayers. For everyone out there reading this, please do reply if you know any other ways that Tunde could go about his current dilemma. Please assist him in making his dreams a reality.

For those who do not know about the Dream Act, here is a little summary:

The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act (The "DREAM Act") is a long anticipated Immigration Bill which was just introduced in the US Congress (both Senate and House) on March 26, 2009. This bill will provide millions of immigrant children who graduate from U.S. High Schools the opportunity to receive U.S. Residency (a "Green Card") after so many years of being left in the shadows by State and Federal laws. The new legislation will provide immigration benefits to those who arrived in the United States as children, before the age of 16 and who have been residing in the U.S. continuously for at least five years prior to the Bill being enacted into Law.

Under the new DREAM Act, immigrants may qualify in part, by meeting the following requirements which have not been finalized by Congress:

- Must be between the ages of 12 and 35 at the time the Law is enacted

- Must have arrived in the United States before the age of 16

- Must have resided continuously in the United States for a least five (5) consecutive years since

the date of their arrival

- Must have graduated from a U.S. High School, or obtained a General Education Diploma

(GED)

- Must have "Good moral character"

IS HE COOL OR IS HE JUST COAL? (FIND OUT HOW WANDE COAL REALLY IS IN PERSON!!!

Wande Coal & I

Wande Coal (Oluwatobi Wande Ojosipe), one of the most popular and most talented young Nigerian artist to hit the music scene has graced NYC with his presence. Performing at CPAC (Brooklyn, NY) on March 13, 2010 alongside the all so famous D-bang and Don Jazzy, this event was one that brought nearly everyone out their homes to witness the outstanding extravaganza. But who is this man on stage entertaining everyone? Who is this person that had females as well as males booming with excitement at the sound of his unique voice and music? Is he nice? Does his true character/personality compliment his achievements? These are just a few of the questions that invaded my mind until I was able to get first hand answers to them.

On Saturday March 20, 2010, my sister (Adetoro Ajibose) and I were blessed to have an opportunity to meet with "the man of the hour" at a cozy restaurant (Footprints) in Brooklyn, NY. Initially, not knowing what to expect, we assumed that the worst that could happen is that he would be a stuck up person, but boy did he surprise us. Wande Coal was more than a nice gentle man; he was respectful and very fun to be around.

Upon arrival, he immediately made us feel extremely comfortable and free. He made jokes and shared delicate information about his upcoming projects. As we waited for the food, we chatted and made small talk about everything ranging from the "cold" weather to life in Nigeria as opposed to the US. Of course one should be able to guess which life he prefer...NIGERIA. As we chatted, one thing was always obvious, and that is Wande's undeniable love for music. He repeatedly danced and sang along with the various music rendered by the DJ. At a certain point, we even sang old songs, and created our own hilarious lyrics. One thing was certain; our table did not lack laughter.

So the answer to the above question is...Wande is not just Coal, he is also very cool. Truth be told, it was a pleasure hanging out with him, and for all of you who are his fans out there, all I could say is, "let us continue to support this wonderful and talented man". The show that he did in NY was just a tease, because this man has an entire entrée of delicious goods that will soon knock your taste buds out.

My Sister (Adetoro Ajibose) and Wande Coal

Wande Coal & I Again

Wande Coal & I

CLARIFICATION OF CONDESCENDING STEROTYPES ABOUT NIGERIANS!!!

As I took a glance around the crowded New York City Penn Station in Manhattan, I was immediately reminded of the reason why America is continuously referred to as the “melting pot”. Within the limited area, hundreds of distinct faces ranging from Haitians to Mexicans, Chinese to Jamaican, Caucasian to Asian and much more can be observed all attending to the unique yet specific reasons that brought them to this particular location. As I witnessed this cultural conglomeration, I realized that with each distinct individual culture, there was a story to be told. For instance, a look at the Chinese women who spoke her native tongue to her two well behaved sons made my mind drift to a culture whose foundation was laid on discipline. With another glimpse, I noticed a well dressed Caucasian male who was waiting on a long line unconsciously tap his foot on the ground while looking at his watch. Immediately I thought of a fast pace life of living in the city. Finding this rather intriguing, I realized that people must think of something when they looked at me. I wanted to know, so I embarked on a quest to find out what others felt about my culture and people. After some probing of about thirty individuals, I realized that aside from some good comments that stated that Nigerians are beautiful, smart and happy people, the comments went downhill from there on. The remaining comments included that…..
1.) Nigerian men are all cheaters , users and womanizers
2.) Nigerian women are stuck up
3.) Nigerians in general are thieves
4.) NIGERIA is the next IRAQ
5.) Nigerians are ethnocentric for no reason
Perplexing isn’t it. You can imagine how it felt conducting these interviews with a straight face while taking in some of the unappealing and rather condescending remarks that individuals had to say about Nigeria. Although each individual is entitled to their own opinion, I do believe that it is very essential to clarify these stereotypes because they are in one way or another affecting all Nigerians as a whole.
Are All Nigerian Men Really Cheaters, Users and Womanizers?
Of course the simple answer is NO. I mean seriously, how in the world can an entire group of people all be cheaters, users, and womanizers. Don’t get me wrong, of course there are some Nigerian men out there that do fall under the radar, but it is just inconceivable to label every single one of them such absurdity. What I realized was that most people who had nothing but negative things to about Nigerian men all had bad experiences or knows someone or a few people who did. This however is not enough justification for anyone to generalize on an entire group. I personally know some Nigerian men who are happily married and whose thought process revolves around the idea that cheating on their wives is equivalent to consuming poison.
All Nigerian Women are stuck up?
To begin with, I am a Nigerian women and I do believe that I am NOT stuck up. Come to think of it, I know many Nigerian women that are very humble and would not snob their noses at anyone. So what does this say? It means that it is true that “a few bad apples can spoil the bunch”. Let us keep in mind however that within every cultural group, you will find stuck up people, but that does not mean that everyone within that group are snobs. Again bad experiences come into play for these negative stereotypes.
Nigerians are NOT all Thieves or 4.1.9ners!!!
To believe that all Nigerians are thieves and 4.1.9ners is absurd. As we all know, to numerous people worldwide, the #’s 419 might as well be just another set of numbers like 221, 520, or 449, but in a Nigerian mind, these numbers are registered as scams and frauds. The 419 scam which is named after a section of the Nigerian penal code dealing with fraud is currently practiced by more than 400,000 people worldwide. With recent arrests of an abundant number of scammers in the United States, and with the degrading images publicized by the media stereotyping all Nigerians, it is safe to say that we are all affected. Oprah said “all Nigerians - regardless of their level of education - are corrupt." With this statement, Oprah a very influential women without any remorse condemned an entire nation because of the evil act of an insignificant number of people. By doing, she along with other sources of media brought light to this crime, but at the same time, they left other innocent Nigerians to suffer by ruining the image of the entire nation. This is wrong, and I think that it is time to shed light to this situation. There are a vast majority of Nigerians who are well educated individuals and whose success was built on their sweat and blood. What about them, where does the mighty Oprah place these individuals in her stereotypical remark?
NIGERIA IS THE NEXT IRAQ
With the recent terrorist attempt by a Hausa man Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, it is no surprise that someone would utter such an insolent remark. I mean seriously, Nigeria as a whole is not the next Afghanistan or Iraq and it can never be. There are many tribes and it is not wise to say that Nigerians are terrorists because one Hausa man committed an atrocity. Nigeria is the next Afghanistan. According to Jay who wrote a blog on this particular topic, “Nigeria has had absolutely no record of international terrorism. The first and last one so far has been the situation of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab. Please note that even this virgin case did not come without early warning to the US government from the much concerned father of the perpetrator to further paint the absurdity of this event to the average Nigerian family.” This is true. If all Nigerians were terrorists, Umar’s father would have NEVER contacted the US government, and the general population of Nigeria would not be as angry about the situation as they are. To my belief, Nigerians are angrier about this situation than the USA a hundred times over. This is behavior that we do NOT condone, and this is how things have always been and will most definitely remain.
Nigerians are Ethnocentric for No Reason
For once, of all the claims made about Nigerians, I actually partially agree with this one. Yes, many Nigerians are ethnocentric, but I do not believe that it is for no reason. Nigerian, even in all its political crises according to CNN has recently been named the happiest people in the world. Is this not enough to be excited? Nigeria is going to be 50 years old this year (2010). I think this is enough for us to be ethnocentric about. Despite all the negative stereotypes listed above and much more circulating about Nigeria as a whole, we still manage to remain optimistic and are still very strong minded people. We should embrace our culture. According to Webster Dictionary, Ethnocentrism is the tendency to believe that one's ethnic or cultural group is centrally important, and that all other groups are measured in relation to one's own. I see nothing wrong with Nigerians believing that we are centrally important, simply because we are. No matter the situations surrounding us, we will always raise above these condescending stereotypes.
TruthbeTold- So you have heard what the world has got to say about you. Now it is time to relate your response to the world. Above are my own personal opinions, but I strongly belief that yours count too. So please do respond to these stereotypes, and join me on this mission to if not completely eradicate, at least limit these stereotypes. My email again is twentwo2002@yahoo.com.

ONLY 20 AND NO LONGER ABLE TO BEAR CHILDREN!!! READ JOY'S STORY!!!

“He promised me the world and everything in it” she said. “He said that he was going to marry me, help me get my papers, and even put me through school because his love for me surpasses all odds, and I believed him” said Joy, a young lady of 20 years as she wiped away stubborn tears.
Joy met the man that she at the time thought was her knight in shining armor when she was only a 16 year old High School student and he a 22 years old college graduate. They met at a family friends’ wedding reception that she attended with her parents.
“I was walking down the stairs and he was standing around with a couple of his friends when he saw me and motioned towards me. He asked me my name and I told him my Nigerian name. He showered me with numerous compliments and made me feel so important and beautiful. Nobody ever made me feel so special, and it was also the first time that any guy bluntly came to me to express his feelings without the interference of friends. This made me realize that he was not like any regular guy that I have ever met. I knew he was mature, so when I too wanted to present myself in a mature manner. I informed him that I was eighteen years old, openly flirted with him throughout the night, and gave him my number upon his request” Joy said.
After several phone conversations, Joy went on a couple of dates with the guy and eventually developed feelings that even she couldn't control. She fell in love with the guy and according to joy; he was in love with her too. So in love that when she told him her actual age, he didn't bulge. Their mutual relationship turned sexual after a couple of more dates. Joy lost her virginity to him and was devastated when she found out that she was pregnant.
“I didn't know what to do” Joy said sobbing. “I was only sixteen and I knew I couldn't keep the baby, so I discussed it with him, and we both decided that an abortion was best. I told my parents that I was going to stay at my best friend’s house that weekend and I went in for the procedure. It was the worst thing that I ever did, also the most painful. It took a lot for me to do it, but I just couldn't let my parents know.”
“After this, I went on the pill and was back to normal until my first semester in college when I realized that I was pregnant again. Again, I confided in my boyfriend and he told me an abortion was the best way to go. I let him know that I couldn't go through another one. I informed him that since he had a stable job, and since I was now eighteen, together we are capable of taking care of a baby. My optimism however did not faze him. He was ready for to take care of a baby and told me neither was I.”
“He reminded me of my legal status which meant that I really couldn't get a decent job to take care of both myself and a baby. I knew he was right, and telling my parents wasn't an option. It took me two of months to come to grounds with myself, and then, I had no choice at the time but to go through yet another painful abortion. I wasn't so lucky this time around however, and some remains of the baby were left inside of me. I bleed uncontrollably and was rushed to the ER. I later found out that my womb was perforated, and I will not be able to carry another baby.”
“I cried myself to sleep every night after that. When I explained the situation to my boyfriend, he was perplexed and told me he needed some time to think the whole thing through. Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months and I still did not hear from him. When I called his cell phone, I found out that he had switched his number, and now I am left alone in this lonely world by myself. I tell this story not because I want to get advice, or pity, but rather because I felt the need to tell my story. I tell my story to inform everyone out there that this is real and it does happen. I also tell my story because I cannot dig up enough courage to tell my parents, but I know they will read the story here, this is why I decided to share this here. I am sorry mommy and daddy” Joy said sadly.
TruthbeTold- Joy is not the only one who has faced such painful ordeal; there are numerous Joys out there that are facing similar situations. It takes a lot for someone to come out and tell such traumatic experience, so I want to thank Joy for sharing her story. I hope many learn from her situation and think twice before making such drastic choices. Please feel free to comment and give Joy any advice that you feel is appropriate.

Below are statistics of abortions in the United States from (http://www.abortionno.org/Resources/fastfacts.html)
Number of abortions per year: 1.37 Million
Number of abortions per day: Approximately 3,700
Who's having abortions (age)?
52% of women obtaining abortions in the U.S. are younger than 25: Women aged 20-24 obtain 32% of all abortions; Teenagers obtain 20% and girls under 15 account for 1.2%.
Who's having abortions (race)?
While white women obtain 60% of all abortions, their abortion rate is well below that of minority women. Black women are more than 3 times as likely as white women to have an abortion, and Hispanic women are roughly 2 times as likely.
Who's having abortions (marital status)?
64.4% of all abortions are performed on never-married women; Married women account for 18.4% of all abortions and divorced women obtain 9.4%.
Who's having abortions (religion)?
Women identifying themselves as Protestants obtain 37.4% of all abortions in the U.S.; Catholic women account for 31.3%, Jewish women account for 1.3%, and women with no religious affiliation obtain 23.7% of all abortions. 18% of all abortions are performed on women who identify themselves as "Born-again/Evangelical".
Who's having abortions (income)?
Women with family incomes less than $15,000 obtain 28.7% of all abortions; Women with family incomes between $15,000 and $29,999 obtain 19.5%; Women with family incomes between $30,000 and $59,999 obtain 38.0%; Women with family incomes over $60,000 obtain 13.8%.
Why women have abortions
1% of all abortions occur because of rape or incest; 6% of abortions occur because of potential health problems regarding either the mother or child, and 93% of all abortions occur for social reasons (i.e. the child is unwanted or inconvenient).
At what gestational ages are abortions performed:
52% of all abortions occur before the 9th week of pregnancy, 25% happen between the 9th & 10th week, 12% happen between the 11th and 12th week, 6% happen between the 13th & 15th week, 4% happen between the 16th & 20th week, and 1% of all abortions (16,450/yr.) happen after the 20th week of pregnancy.
Likelihood of abortion:
An estimated 43% of all women will have at least 1 abortion by the time they are 45 years old. 47% of all abortions are performed on women who have had at least one previous abortion.
Abortion coverage:
48% of all abortion facilities provide services after the 12th week of pregnancy. 9 in 10 managed care plans routinely cover abortion or provide limited coverage. About 14% of all abortions in the United States are paid for with public funds, virtually all of which are state funds. 16 states (CA, CT, HI, ED, IL, MA , MD, MD, MN, MT, NJ, NM, NY, OR, VT, WA and WV) pay for abortions for some poor women.