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Abuja/Gombe
Joined May 2011
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I was reading about China’s agricultural reforms and I came across the commune and house hold systems. Apparently, under Mao, China operated a commune system in which farmers worked collectively and production was centrally controlled. The system, however, weakened individual incentives and, alongside disastrous state policies, contributed to agricultural failures.
But when Deng Xiaoping started his reform era in 1978, China introduced the Household Responsibility System that allowed families to manage allocated plots, meet production obligations and benefit more directly from additional output. Land remained collectively owned, but farmers gained greater autonomy and stronger incentives to produce.
As a result, they experienced a remarkable increase in agricultural productivity which was driven by improved incentives, better farming practices, technology and wider economic reforms. China subsequently strengthened food security through investment in irrigation, research, improved seeds, infrastructure and agricultural markets.
A friend ran for office in 2023, and on every market day, people would call him about a faulty transformer, school fees for students, a faulty amplifier in a mosque, rams for weddings, marriage expenses, and all sorts of other requests. He said the bills were overwhelming for a young politician with little money. In the end, after doing all that, he still lost.
We have normalised the unnecessary financial demands we place on politicians. That is why, when some of them eventually get into office, they begin to recoup their “investments”.
Many people are afraid of showing even slight signs of joining politics because of the deluge of demands that come with it. Those close to politicians suffer the most because the usual assumption is that they’re closer to the “cake”, thus they have enough to give.
Mr. El-Bonga retweeted
Sometimes last year, a cleaner in my office claimed that his mother had died. Out of sympathy, several people contributed money to support him, only for us to later discover that his mother was alive and healthy. What made it even more disappointing was that the mosque committee
After ‘Asr prayers today, a man, probably in his forties, stood up to ask for help. He said his brother had died in Lokoja and that he did not have the money to travel there to retrieve the body and make the necessary arrangements. He spoke in such a pitiful voice that everyone present contributed to help him. According to him, the fare to Lokoja was ₦6,500. One Alhaji even gave him the full amount in addition to the money already raised.
Just as he was about to leave, the Imam, an elderly man who had travelled widely, expressed his doubts about the story. He called someone and instructed him to take the man to the motor park, pay his fare and collect the driver’s phone number.
He further instructed that the driver’s number must be obtained and that, should the man change his mind about travelling and demand a refund, the driver should call to report the incident. Under no circumstances should the money to be handed directly to the man. The driver was also given firm instructions to ensure that he travelled to Lokoja.
The man proceeded as instructed, found a driver, and paid for a front seat, bringing the total to about ₦8,000. A few minutes later, the driver called to report that the man had refused to travel and was demanding that the money be returned to him. The driver refused. The man then claimed that he did not trust the tyres, but he was reminded that there was nothing wrong with them.
It became clear that his intention was to deceive people into raising money for him using a story built on lies. Eventually, the driver departed for Lokoja and informed the Imam that the man had left the park. The driver also promised to return the money upon his return so that it could be used for the mosque’s continuous activities.
I honestly wonder why people would fabricate stories involving death and bereavement just to extort money from others. The fact that he did it in a mosque was even more disturbing. Some people seem to have no fear of God at all. They act as though money is everything.
Remain in your current role. Get a Masters and a PhD. You can grow to be a Rector or switch to the university and become a Professor. As far as tertiary institutions are concerned, it’s better to be an academic staff.
Mr. El-Bonga retweeted
They called it bonus.
Some of them will tell that you don't need it.🤣
Electricians will overestimate the amount of wire you need, and when they’re done with the work, they’ll take the leftovers without shame.
Carpenters will overestimate the amount of plywood or MBF, or whatever you need, and when they’re done, they’ll take the rest.
I don’t even want to talk about mechanics. Those ones are first-class cheaters. Almost every artisan will always find a way to cheat you.
Is this really Nigerian thing or what?
Mr. El-Bonga retweeted
Almost all the craftsmen and artisan we have do the same thing.
Pathetic!
Electricians will overestimate the amount of wire you need, and when they’re done with the work, they’ll take the leftovers without shame.
Carpenters will overestimate the amount of plywood or MBF, or whatever you need, and when they’re done, they’ll take the rest.
I don’t even want to talk about mechanics. Those ones are first-class cheaters. Almost every artisan will always find a way to cheat you.
Is this really Nigerian thing or what?
Mr. El-Bonga retweeted
Just our people being who they are, greedy and selfish.
Electricians will overestimate the amount of wire you need, and when they’re done with the work, they’ll take the leftovers without shame.
Carpenters will overestimate the amount of plywood or MBF, or whatever you need, and when they’re done, they’ll take the rest.
I don’t even want to talk about mechanics. Those ones are first-class cheaters. Almost every artisan will always find a way to cheat you.
Is this really Nigerian thing or what?
Whenever I read statements like “No one can scam me,” I just shake my head. Some scams are so intelligently planned and executed that most victims do not even have the slightest idea they are being scammed.
These scammers take their time. They are as patient as hunting cats when it comes to planning and executing their nefarious schemes.
Just pray you never fall victim.
If someone speaks, I think your concern should be their grammatical correctness, not whether they have a British- or American-esque accent.
Buhari spoke good English with a thick Hausa accent. Yar’Adua spoke well with a thick Hausa accent. Obasanjo speaks well with a slight Yoruba accent. Tinubu speaks very well with a slightly modified Yoruba accent.
These leaders hardly make grammatical blunders. An accent does not determine one’s eloquence. Grammatical competence and the ability to communicate clearly matter a lot.
Mr. El-Bonga retweeted
Too many people are exploiting the "pity economy".
After ‘Asr prayers today, a man, probably in his forties, stood up to ask for help. He said his brother had died in Lokoja and that he did not have the money to travel there to retrieve the body and make the necessary arrangements. He spoke in such a pitiful voice that everyone present contributed to help him. According to him, the fare to Lokoja was ₦6,500. One Alhaji even gave him the full amount in addition to the money already raised.
Just as he was about to leave, the Imam, an elderly man who had travelled widely, expressed his doubts about the story. He called someone and instructed him to take the man to the motor park, pay his fare and collect the driver’s phone number.
He further instructed that the driver’s number must be obtained and that, should the man change his mind about travelling and demand a refund, the driver should call to report the incident. Under no circumstances should the money to be handed directly to the man. The driver was also given firm instructions to ensure that he travelled to Lokoja.
The man proceeded as instructed, found a driver, and paid for a front seat, bringing the total to about ₦8,000. A few minutes later, the driver called to report that the man had refused to travel and was demanding that the money be returned to him. The driver refused. The man then claimed that he did not trust the tyres, but he was reminded that there was nothing wrong with them.
It became clear that his intention was to deceive people into raising money for him using a story built on lies. Eventually, the driver departed for Lokoja and informed the Imam that the man had left the park. The driver also promised to return the money upon his return so that it could be used for the mosque’s continuous activities.
I honestly wonder why people would fabricate stories involving death and bereavement just to extort money from others. The fact that he did it in a mosque was even more disturbing. Some people seem to have no fear of God at all. They act as though money is everything.
Mr. El-Bonga retweeted
Wallahi wanna ba sabon abu bane. Akan idona wannan abin yafaru, wanni yayi karya da hatsarin da akayi, an tara masa kudin ya karba ya tafi akaje asibitin don tallafawa amma aka samu mutumin babu abinda ya hadasu wannan ya gudu da kudin kusan 20k
Mr. El-Bonga retweeted
A lot of these stories being told to "seek help" in our masājid are lies, and they aren't difficult to decipher, but the location with which these liars chose to do their begging is what makes people vulnerable to their deceits. Anyway, they (the extortionists) will surely get to know.
Mr. El-Bonga retweeted
Baba corporate beggars full Abuja o…scope kala kala zaka yi ta ji.
Akwai wanda yake zuwa Sahad ya dauki diapers ko Milk. Sai ya dan zo ta gefen ka yace don Allah ka siya wa babyn sa. Wai kudin sa bai cika ba. Idan ka tura masa sai ya ajiye abin ya canja floor.
In 2019, someone came to beg for help at a certain mosque in front of a friend’s house in Zone 4. Immediately he finished, someone exposed him that he was at AYA a day before. He wanted to deny it but someone corroborated the story as well. People are shameless. Helping people is becoming harder nowadays.
Mr. El-Bonga retweeted
With the exception of few, some people have made this their ways to make a living. From one masjid to the other, one joint to the next with the said strategy or it’s kind. Allah ya sawaka ya karamana wadatar zuci
Mr. El-Bonga retweeted
i’ve heard similar cases like this in the church, still don’t know why people do this though
After ‘Asr prayers today, a man, probably in his forties, stood up to ask for help. He said his brother had died in Lokoja and that he did not have the money to travel there to retrieve the body and make the necessary arrangements. He spoke in such a pitiful voice that everyone present contributed to help him. According to him, the fare to Lokoja was ₦6,500. One Alhaji even gave him the full amount in addition to the money already raised.
Just as he was about to leave, the Imam, an elderly man who had travelled widely, expressed his doubts about the story. He called someone and instructed him to take the man to the motor park, pay his fare and collect the driver’s phone number.
He further instructed that the driver’s number must be obtained and that, should the man change his mind about travelling and demand a refund, the driver should call to report the incident. Under no circumstances should the money to be handed directly to the man. The driver was also given firm instructions to ensure that he travelled to Lokoja.
The man proceeded as instructed, found a driver, and paid for a front seat, bringing the total to about ₦8,000. A few minutes later, the driver called to report that the man had refused to travel and was demanding that the money be returned to him. The driver refused. The man then claimed that he did not trust the tyres, but he was reminded that there was nothing wrong with them.
It became clear that his intention was to deceive people into raising money for him using a story built on lies. Eventually, the driver departed for Lokoja and informed the Imam that the man had left the park. The driver also promised to return the money upon his return so that it could be used for the mosque’s continuous activities.
I honestly wonder why people would fabricate stories involving death and bereavement just to extort money from others. The fact that he did it in a mosque was even more disturbing. Some people seem to have no fear of God at all. They act as though money is everything.
