Oprah Vs Nigeria..So we`re all fraudsters then

I for one have never had much respect for Oprah Winfrey, and her latest ill advised and ignorant ran...Read the full article.

[fuguez]

Calm down. Actions speak louder than words.

This is why our AG's actions speaks volumes to the entire world, and the fact that there have been more convictions of Nigerian politicians OUTSIDE Nigeria than within.

Until our actions demonstrably disprove their words, they will feel free and justified to continue their beliefs as there is no evidence to the contrary.

Even the Muslims went to free the teacher in the teddy-bear palava.
Our government wont even provide information

Whether we like it or not, our leaders represent us.

[Adeola Aderounmu]

She is quoted as saying that all Nigerians regardless of their level of education, are fraudsters.

Good essay. Oprah is VERY WRONG in her generalised comment.We all know that.

She would have been right to say less than 1% of Nigerians are fraudtsers BUT she didn't because this <1% weird so much weight in the world that the mention of the word Nigerian makes your audience attentive. 419, cheques, and so on quickly comes to mind.

More than 15 years ago, there was a reputable Nigerian opinion writer (forgotten his name and newspaper) who wrote a column then titled: Who's fooling who?

In one of his essay he called all Nigerian workers thieves. He was being sarcastic perhaps but he wrote that he can never understand how a typical Nigerian worker survives monthly on his/her meagre salary in the face of the high cost of living and the general hardship.

Last week, a Nigerian wrote in the Punch newspaper that ALL Nigerians (not a percentage) are corrupt. See: ALL NIGERIANS ARE CORRUPT .

Oprah is wrong, the columist is wrong and the guy who wrote to Punch is wrong but again, they are only trying to send a message. That was the best way they thought it could sink down.

I'll stop here now...I'll surely be interested in how this debate continues...

[chudi]

...but Oprah doesnt read nigeriavillagesquare, or does she?

[mulan]

Author and Adeola,

This issue was very well debated when the TV show aired sometime in August. Check these links,

http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/...rah-alone.html

http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/...nigerians.html

http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/...got-wrong.html

http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/...t-nigeria.html

http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/...h-winfrey.html

[omo naija]

a beg mak you leave Oprah alone you no whether yahoo boyz don play am 419, so she is lashing at every Naija in sight.
I pity all the insecure people that watch her anyway, and i completely agree with you, she needs therapy than all those that grace her show.
Nevertheless, is about time as one Bishop in Nigeria recently said, "that we should fight for our rights and hold our leaders accountable, instead of praying to God to do it for us" (i hope this is the correct quote). We don't need Oprah and her ilks to tell us what we already know, instead she should focus on the continuous racism in all walks of life in her country, and crime being committed by her government abroad. HERE I STAND.

GOD BLESS NIGERIA AND AFRICA.

[Adeola Aderounmu]

Originally Posted by mulan

Author and Adeola,

This issue was very well debated when the TV show aired sometime in August.

Thanks!

I know it has been FULLY discussed but with the vigour the author put into this essay, the issue is still FRESH esp in the face of our EVER CORRUPT COUNTRY AND POLITICIANS.

That's why I used the term.....continues....

[fxo]

Ok, you do not like Oprah Winfrey.
C' comprehendo'.... we understand.
So
Tell me why in my time in Burkina Faso, Armenia,Nepal, Ethiopia,Bolivia.
I didn't see the people of this countries in the mold Nigerians are being seen.
They are equally poor.
And they do not have the economy of US,UK,Sweden or France.

The Yorubas have a saying about Leprosy and Ringworm.

Oprah Winfrey is ringworm, Nigeria's problem is leprosy.

[Oh Boy!!]

You know what is so funny.

Nobody has proof of Oprah saying this. In this age of media, where everything is recorded and nobody has any proof. Nothing

Second, have you been around other Nigerians talk about Nigerians and Nigeria. We say worse than this about ourselves and our country. How can we expect anything else from the world when we hate ourselves and our country.

Third, for all those that are going after Oprah with so much vigor. May i suggest you actually go after things such as corruption that we have all the proof in the world for.

[Warrilady]

Na today una dey realize say Oprah get issues.

[ALORAINIDDEVIL]

I believe that woman’s problem is that she is still single at this age and that makes her talk so much nonsense. Has she ever talked about America stealing oil in Nigeria?, American’s collaborating with Nigerian politicians to steal our money or George Bush’s bizarre show in Iraq?

[surulere007]

For crying out loud…Oprah is in the entertainment industry and the topic(s) discussed reflects the audience and advertisers desires. She'll sway in the profit direction or emotions of her target audience.

Moreover, where is the incontrovertible evidence that she uttered those statements?

The only way to project our positive images is to showcase Nigerians in Diaspora contributing positively in different communities of North America...this way, it will erase the so called many Oprahs living out there.

[Palamedes]

(sigh) Temi Omojuwa, is all this vituperation upon Oprah really necessary? The likes of Michael Jackson, Elton John, Madonna and many more lesser celebrities often do their shopping outside normal hours. Could you imagine the hundreds of fans that would invade a shop if they knew that a very famous person were in the shop? Why pick out Oprah for such temerity?

It hurts more when criticism of one's country emanates from outsiders; it it a no no, but have you been reading comments by the noisy “fissiparous (contraption) brigade” with their damn lies and fabrications to try to destroy Nigeria? What do you say about these enemies within?

What worries me about this article is that we have already discussed this Oprah alleged comments at great length many months ago. And if it wasn't for the personal attack on a lady, I would have ignored the article altogether.

More worrying is your (very Nigerian) nonchalant attitude to details and important issues. Here you are accusing Oprah of saying bad things about Nigeria but you didn't even bother to QUOTE exactly what bad thing(s) she had said. It is not optional but mandatory to state clearly the vexing issue, instead, you dismiss such requirement as follows:

Even if this is just a rough paraphrase of what she said...

You forget that sometimes it is because people care that they criticize. Oprah cares about her root in Africa; and she cares about Africa: She set-up a college in South Africa; and what Oprah is today is her own hard work. Compare this with the thieving patriotic Africans who damage the image of Africa at home and abroad.

Like Mandela, Oprah is probably frustrated that Nigeria confirms and not contradict views held by racist in her part of the world. The truth of the matter is that large members of the African race (outside Africa) are disappointed with African countries but particularly, Nigeria. Here is one African country that should have been a superpower but turn out, instead, to be an abysmally failure, a disappointment to the African race.

And oh, by the way, when told she was 98% West African and possibly 2% Asian, she whimpered like a wistful puppy, 'are you sure?', there's no white blood in there anywhere?' Pathetic and atrocious if you ask me, even within a humorous context.

I saw the clip when it was revealed to her that her root is Liberia but I don't recollect hearing her say these words. Here is someone who has done (and continue to do )so much for African-Americans and you are insinuating that she is ashamed of her race?

I have never sighed so many times whilst reading an article as I did with yours. The personal abuse is quite unnecessary. I feel that you are a hothead, a mob who likes this sort of things. I must say that the article offends good taste and decency—and I am still sighing.

[jthelmsdeep]

Originally Posted by Palamedes

(sigh) Temi Omojuwa, is all this vituperation upon Oprah really necessary? The likes of Michael Jackson, Elton John, Madonna and many more lesser celebrities often do their shopping outside normal hours. Could you imagine the hundreds of fans that would invade a shop if they knew that a very famous person were in the shop? Why pick out Oprah for such temerity?

It hurts more when criticism of one's country emanates from outsiders; it it a no no, but have you been reading comments by the noisy “fissiparous (contraption) brigade” with their damn lies and fabrications to try to destroy Nigeria? What do you say about these enemies within?

What worries me about this article is that we have already discussed this Oprah alleged comments at great length many months ago. And if it wasn't for the personal attack on a lady, I would have ignored the article altogether.

More worrying is your (very Nigerian) nonchalant attitude to details and important issues. Here you are accusing Oprah of saying bad things about Nigeria but you didn't even bother to QUOTE exactly what bad thing(s) she had said. It is not optional but mandatory to state clearly the vexing issue, instead, you dismiss such requirement as follows:

You forget that sometimes it is because people care that they criticize. Oprah cares about her root in Africa; and she cares about Africa: She set-up a college in South Africa; and what Oprah is today is her own hard work. Compare this with the thieving patriotic Africans who damage the image of Africa at home and abroad.

Like Mandela, Oprah is probably frustrated that Nigeria confirms and not contradict views held by racist in her part of the world. The truth of the matter is that large members of the African race (outside Africa) are disappointed with African countries but particularly, Nigeria. Here is one African country that should have been a superpower but turn out, instead, to be an abysmally failure, a disappointment to the African race.

I saw the clip when it was revealed to her that her root is Liberia but I don't recollect hearing her say these words. Here is someone who has done (and continue to do )so much for African-Americans and you are insinuating that she is ashamed of her race?

I have never sighed so many times whilst reading an article as I did with yours. The personal abuse is quite unnecessary.

I feel that you are a hothead, a mob who likes this sort of things. I must say that the article offends good taste and decency—and I am still sighing.

Palamedes,

I concede that you provide a fairly well articulated counter perspective on the authors take of Oprah Winfrey's alleged castigation of all Nigerians. However, I have noticed that, as well reasoned as you are, you have a tendency to hurl invectives rather quickly at people that you don't agree with. This article, in spite of your perspective, was extremely well written and merely expressed the authors position on the subject. Not unlike your response has expressed yours. Why the need to resort to name calling. I often wonder if we met in person whether some of us would be as quick to hurl insults the way we seem to so casually do over the internet. Please, I urge you to consider that the written word has no voice inflection and so you should be a little more studied in your choice of words as you disagree with others. After all, no one, not even you can lay claim to a monopoly of wisdom. Just my friendly two cents.

[ALORAINIDDEVIL]

Both FOX news and Associated Press (AP) reported today 6th Dec 2007 about an American couple that engage in credit card scams, identity thefts and internet Spamming. The couple makes plenty of wealth through it. They were busted by police detective Terry Sweeney in Philadelphia. The couple have already pleaded guilty and are ready to enter into a plea bargain.

The big Question is, Are Nigerians the Only people that engage in internet Scam? The answer is Capital NO. Nigerians don’t even Spam 1/10th of what Romanians and Indians do talk more of Americans. One problem Nigerians have is that they have loud mouth and talk too much about what they do. That is why every Spam email is often described as Nigerian Scam.

Most American youths today are all into internet fraud but this foolish Oprah will never take her searchlight there.

It’s high time we pause and ask ourselves who the real Spammers are.

Cest fini O!!

[Frisky Larr]

Originally Posted by jthelmsdeep

[/B]

Palamedes,

I concede that you provide a fairly well articulated counter perspective on the authors take of Oprah Winfrey's alleged castigation of all Nigerians. However, I have noticed that, as well reasoned as you are, you have a tendency to hurl invectives rather quickly at people that you don't agree with. This article, in spite of your perspective, was extremely well written and merely expressed the authors position on the subject. Not unlike your response has expressed yours. Why the need to resort to name calling. I often wonder if we met in person whether some of us would be as quick to hurl insults the way we seem to so casually do over the internet. Please, I urge you to consider that the written word has no voice inflection and so you should be a little more studied in your choice of words as you disagree with others. After all, no one, not even you can lay claim to a monopoly of wisdom. Just my friendly two cents.

To the author of the above take, just kudos sir. I must at the same time, admit that I wholly share Palamedes view and approach to the issue that could have gone without a side-swipe! The highlighted part should indeed, be a slogan for the NVS to be flashed to every contributor while striking the keyboard to contribute opinions! Kudos once again sir!

[Palamedes]

@jthelmsdeep

What the author has done amount to lynching Oprah; and if this act cannot be described as mobbish, what is it? Yes he is a hothead and I ask you to “feel” the article as you read it—what do you feel? No doubt, a violent, passionate, hasty or impetuous person ranting on and on about Oprah. Now write and tell me again that I have not used the proper diction.

Sir, with great respect, I implore you to consult the dictionary next time before you jump in to claim INSULT on another person's behalf--as is typical of some Nigerians. Here in the UK, these words are NOT seem as INSULTs. It may sound like insult if you don't understand them in their proper context. Insults are "Gross abuse and deprecatory" as shown in this article.

Why are you not addressing the abundance of INSULT or gross abuse offered to Oprah by the author. What did Oprah do to deserve the author's wroth? By making three lines in my comment an issue and ignoring the article, aren't you barking at the wrong tree?



@ALORAINIDDEVIL

One problem Nigerians have is that they have loud mouth and talk too much about what they do...

Very accurate observation indeed, it is the one big difference.

[killerboy]

Bravo, brilliant piece. Would have been more potent if you had quoted Oprah's comments verbatim. I will email Oprah with her big yash a copy of your article. Oya, over to you Yaradua, president sidon do nothing.

[naijaninja]

Brilliant piece.but really ,you need not burst a vein over Ms Oprah's tantrums. personally, I dont care a friggin' hoot about what emanates from this ''aunty Jemima" or her ''uncle Tom" ilks like Gen Powell. who, once in a fit of delirium also opened his wide mouth and singled out Nigerians as scammers.Like i said i dont see any reason to belabour this Oprah issue.Like the vast majority of Americans, Oprah is ill educated, Ignorant and largely Unexposed to what happens beyond the walls of the United states.moreover her show like most of the various silly contraptions called "talkshows'' are not exactly where you could consider appropriate forums for proper intellectual and enlightened exchanges.
The tragedy is not oprah or any 2fcuks who decides to run his or her mouth about Nigeria and Nigerians. The Tragedy lies in those of us Nigerians whose favourite passtime lies in forever castigating and running down our country even in the international arena as if we are not all culpable in whatever state our country is, and as if our problems are peculiar and unsolvable.. With all the violence and insecurity in south Africa, i hardly see or hear them running down their country the way we do,The London Daily mail yesterday carried a report stating that Britain is the worst country in the world for armed robbery ahead of south africa,Nigeria,Kenya,U.S and colombia. but Nigerians in the same Britain will have us believe that the contrary is the situation....
IF WE DONT DECIDE WHO WE ARE, OTHER PEOPLE WILL DECIDE FOR US....

[Celticologist]

Personally, I would think Oprah's TV is for white women and comfortable housewives on maternity leave. Not what unemotional capitalist daddies like me would worry about.

But that apart, this article represents the kind of stuff you read on NVS by people who can compose in superb activist english, have some education but are totally ignorant of what constitutes a proper schorlarstic and objective work. The author somehow marketed more ignorance and fallacies and personal insults on Oprah Winfrey to "correct" a perceived error. You know, bruvers like these will likely complain about racism as the only reason why their educational backgrounds are often questioned and then rated very low whenever they are part of things that require very elementary analysis. What more?

What he called "latest" happened months ago. It is quite obvious from his belated anger that he did not watch that particular program he is commenting on, nor has he bothered to read some materials afterwards. He relied on hearsay for the entire article by hearing from those who also heard it from others. That's how rumor and crowd mentality works. It makes people respond as irrationally as possible.

She is quoted as saying that all Nigerians regardless of their level of education, are fraudsters. Then she reportedly ends the show with the following well though through caveat:

Where is the quote?. Should we assume this is true because someone we know also heard it from someone they trust?, or because others of the same mindset and mentality as the author are likely to accept these assumptions as gospel and start to condemn the target?. Was this author here on NVS when this news first broke?. Not a single source, date or time is even quoted on this wonderful article.

Since she is so unashamedly anti-Nigerian, (I hear her latest crusade is to put pressure on the US government to sever diplomatic relations with Nigeria, and other 'corrupt' nations), I am guessing that revelation may well have driven her to suicide!

Now that's a joke that takes the cake!. What influences this kind of thinking?. And what makes an author present ignorance to the world like a delicious point of view?. I know for a fact that Oprah Winfrey has no influence whatsoever in how the State Department conducts foreign policy.
Well, in some societies, all that has to happen is for father of the nation to announce on state radio the severing of diplomatic relations based on a dream, revelation from spiritual forces or just on the request of a concubine. In advanced democracies, such things don't happen. Plus...(gosh!), the author heard that one too among other rumors that his essay is based on. The rest of his rants are a waste of time, they constitutes nothing but mere personal issues with Oprah Winfrey.
Even among some educationed individuals, there is this innate tendency to place rumor above legitimate information. This (personal attack) article on Oprah is one more example of delibrate mis-information; a scam actually!.