The Dalai Lama in Lagos..
The Dalai Lama visits Lagos this week. He is speaking at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs in Lagos this Thursday, giving the tenth annual Anyiam-Osigwe lecture. It is a time for the Nigerian Buddhist community to rejoice.
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6 comments:
"It is a time for the Nigerian Buddhist community to rejoice."- Yeah right! Nigerian Buddhist community indeed. Lol!!!
Hi Jeremy,
Whilst in the UK, I was introduced to your blog. I found it fascinating. I have since returned to 9ja and I am writing a diary of my experiences via a blog -
http://babajidesalu.wordpress.com/
Let me know what you think. Keep up the good work, incidentally, I also reported on Dalai Lama's visit to Nigeria.
Take care and well done.
Nigeria should be careful, with this. China is notorious for not tolerating any external interference with it's domestic policies and takes a dim view of countries that receive the Dalai Lama for private visits.
Nigeria is heavily dependent on China for many projects.
@ CodLiverOil, Nigeria should be careful of its relationship with China, regardless! I still believe this "friendship" will come back to haunt us in the future.(see how we've been duped by the pangolo satellite)
KokoEwa - please provide the link about Nigeria being duped regarding the satellite. I would like to read more about it.
I think it is good that the Nigerian government broaden it's horizons rather than always running to Britain and America cap in hand for every "incey wincey" thing.
There are other capable nations in this world, like China, Japan, South Korea,the Scandinavian nations, Cuba, Canada, Brazil, India etc who all have many things to offer Nigeria. Nigerians for generations have been hooked on Britain and America, and few of them know that there is a world beyond these two countries.
So I think the Nigerian government venturing into uncharted diplomatic waters is not a bad thing. However, like you said the government should have it's eye's open so as not to be duped and further reduce the already tarnished name of Nigeria even further.
I've already mentioned that African governments are too weak, flimsy and poorly advised, to strike an effective partnership with more powerful countries (in a previous post of Jeremy's). Jeremy already mentioned the case of the DRC signing off a large amount of it's revenues from minerals for Chinese constructed "infrastructure" which, knowing Africa will fall into disrepair and abandonment in no time.
What has happened to the rail network that was to be rehabilitated? Basic infrastructure like this should be a priority. Yet look what is happening to this, no progress and it's being drawn out to no avail... People are tired of spin or lame excuses, it's time for results.
The other thing I'd like to mention, Nigeria is far more heterogeneous than what many people would imagine. I knew there are people who are Muslims and Christians and those that practice their indigenous beliefs. Then I discovered some Igbos claiming to be Jews, so if you can have that, why not Nigerian Bhuddhists? It should come as no surprise, that Bhuddhists do exist given the fluid nature of society (ie people coming and going).
*LOL*
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