US, South Africa in cold war with Nigeria •Nigeria buys attack helicopters from •S/Africa sends investigators to Synagogue, intensifies probe of $9.3m arms deal China


THE Nigerian government is querying the continued presence of American security forces in the country more than two months after they promised to assist in rescuing the Chibok girls and stem the tide of terrorism without results.

Indeed, top officials of the Goodluck Jonathan administration will be in the United States this weekend to straighten things out on Nigeria’s displeasure with what has been described as the “lack of cooperation” with Nigeria by the American agents who are in the country.

A top security official told Saturday Tribune on Friday that Nigeria was beginning to query the real mission of the American forces in the country.

“These people have been around for more than two months. They made so much noise before coming that they would assist in rescuing the Chibok girls and fight Boko Haram with technology but can you believe it that these people do not share intelligence with Nigeria? They do not relate at all with Nigerian officials. In fact, they have their office in the US Embassy where they process their intelligence.

“The procurement of military equipment is another area where they are frustrating Nigeria. By now, we are supposed to have taken delivery of some of the equipment but unfortunately, they are delaying this with unnecessary bottlenecks in the name of ‘compliance issues.’ Now, Nigeria is being forced to look for succour in the direction of countries in Eastern Europe. We just took delivery of some equipment, including attack helicopters from China which will soon be deployed for operations.

“The $9.3m arms deal that was bungled in South Africa was one of the desperate moves taken by the government to get out of the frustration,” the official told Saturday Tribune.

Nigeria, S’Africa head for diplomatic row
Meanwhile, the twin-issue of an alleged $9.3 million arms deal scandal and the handling of investigation into the tragedy trailing the collapse of building at the Synagogue Church for All Nations church, are reportedly generating tension between Nigeria and South Africa.

A diplomatic source revealed that the brewing disagreement could snowball into a major diplomatic row.

Nigeria and South-Africa have been in and out of frosty relations since the incumbent President, Jacob Zuma assumed office.

His administration’s antagonistic disposition is allegedly due to President Goodluck Jonathan’s emergence, which denied his very close friend in Nigeria, the presidency.

The Nigerian friend is still eyeing the top job and the latest moves by the South-African government are being reportedly perceived in security circle as deliberate acts to embarrass the Nigerian government and possibly weaken the presidency ahead of 2015 presidential election.

A diplomatic source disclosed that the Nigerian government was shocked by the decision of Pretoria to rush to the media over the arms business, without exploring the usual diplomatic channels with the Nigerian government.

The source further explained that in a normal circumstance, the South African government should have contacted its Nigerian counterpart once those caught with the controversial cash had disclosed that they were executing a contract for the Nigerian security agencies with the active backing of the Jonathan administration.

Saturday Tribune was equally informed that the move by South Africa to criminalise the issue and make the cash movement to appear like money-laundering, confirmed the alleged politics behind the rejection by the South Africa, of diplomatic moves by the Nigerian government, to amicably resolve the issue.

With the issue in public and South Africa allegedly drawing political capital out of it, Saturday Tribune was told that the Nigerian government would have no choice than to react appropriately.

Government officials in Nigeria, especially those in security circle, were also said to have been embarrassed by the undisguised move by Pretoria to allegedly blow the tragedy in Synagogue out of proportion by mentioning casualty figure that did not reflect the realities on ground.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) had created doubts around the figure of South African persons killed in the building that collapsed at the church, as announced by Zuma.

Zuma had said the 65 persons he mentioned as killed in the tragedy, was a result of his projection based on the hundreds of South Africans that visited the church at the time the building collapsed.

At the time he was making his claim, the official casualty figure from NEMA which conducted the search and rescue, was 60 for all the nationalitiesW involved.

South Africa also deployed its search and rescue team as well as DNA experts to identify its nationals involved in the tragedy.

The move is being interpreted by Nigerian officials on ground as a vote of no confidence in the Nigerians handling the Synagogue crisis and an alleged further denigration of Jonathan’s administration’s capacity to handle emergencies.

A foreign affairs source noted that the Zuma administration had become particularly hostile since it emerged that Nigeria’s economy might be doing better than South Africa’s, which had reportedly put his administration under pressure from local activists who have continually harassed him for alleged corrupt practices.

The latest move is being read in diplomatic circle as Zuma fighting his own battles against Nigeria, alongside with his friend’s.

Saturday Tribune learnt that Nigeria might in days ahead resort to the same tactic it employed during the yellow fever clearance card which saw the two countries in retaliatory passenger-deporting saga, until South Africa bowed and apologised to Nigeria, though it was first to deport Nigerians over the controversial card.

The then Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, called it “eye-for-eye” policy.

The latest brewing crisis could be of greater damage, as revealed by diplomatic sources, if Jonathan’s administration would be going the whole hog as major bilateral trade could be affected.

South African companies are major players in Nigeria’s telecommunications and cable TV sectors, while Nigerian firms have consistently complained of harsh operational climate in South Africa.

South Africa has given an indication that the $9.3m cash is likely to be forfeited to it.

Already North Gauteng High Court in South Africa, has ordered the freezing of the said cash.

Mum was the word at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as none of the officials contacted, consented to saying anything official on the matter.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali, was said to be out of the country.

An official who refused to be quoted said South Africa is likely to have an upper hand in the raging crisis even if its objectives are not altruistic, because it has the laws of the land to bank on, in confiscating the disputed cash, which was obviously from the coffers of the Nigerian government.

The official, however, did not rule out a harsher response from Nigeria if necessary.

The Bombardier Challenger 6000 jet that flew the cash into South Africa is originally owned by the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, a known ally of President Jonathan.

Meanwhile, President Jonathan, in the bid to expand consultation on the ways to end the current insurgency, has met with about 13 traditional rulers from the northern region.

The delegation was led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, while the meeting was also attended by Vice President Namadi Sambo and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim.

The meeting held behind closed doors but the president was said to have assured the monarchs that he was determined to end the insurgency in the north.

He also told them about plans to reverse the attendant economic backwardness in the zone.

Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, briefed State House correspondents at the end of the meeting and confirmed that the president assured the delegation that measures were already in place to end the insurgency in the zone.

He said the visit was a follow-up to the emergency meeting of the traditional rulers which also held this week in Kaduna and where they discussed the security situation in their domains.

Maku described the meeting with Jonathan as fruitful and one that underlined the country’s unity and imminent defeat of insurgency and terrorism in the country.

“The meeting went very well; it was a good consultation. The traditional rulers gave their own perspective of what is going on particularly in the north east,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of Sultan, the Estu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, pledged the council’s support to the Federal Government with regard to the war against insurgency.

He said, “We saw how the military actually performed especially in the operation in Konduga. We saw how they were able to repel the insurgents’ advances there. We feel that, yes, such encouragement should be given to the military to allow them to perform well in order to save the situation.

“On the encouragement aspect also, we see certain areas of the economy especially agriculture should be supported. And also we talked about victims, how the victims would also be relieved of their sufferings, and also the internally displaced persons.”

http://tribune.com.ng/news/top-stories/item/16504-us-south-africa-in-cold-war-with-nigeria-nigeria-buys-attack-helicopters-from-s-africa-sends-investigators-to-synagogue-intensifies-probe-of-9-3m-arms-deal-china

I say Phuck em.

America is on a permanent slide down that is the reason they are causing conflicts all over the place.

As for Obama, you can all thank him for funding ISIS, supporting Boko Haram and starting another round of cold war that may spiral into a nuclear holocaust.

As for South Africa; those AIDS zulu cun.ts are just jealous that them no go even see our back again.

Jonathan will eventually run out of whom to blame. The list keeps growing.

APC
South Africa
Britain
United States

We will keep counting.

By the way the above article should be titled " Nigeria in search of enemies"

Is this a news or a kind govenment textbook??well i don't knw if US military are stil in nigeria.as for those mixture of eba and eweda people,make them no make mockery of nigeria cause of synagogue palawa.beside when tb josh they heal them,they no complain

Another Tale By Moonlight.
Who come up with such tripe as this in the Presidency?.He should be given the boot asap,he's done more damage to the administration than any political opposition

Conspiracy theories everywhere, Many Nigerians will never accept full responsibilities for their failures, they will rather cook up all excuses in the world to justify their misdeeds. Too bad.

Aigbofa: Jonathan will eventually run out of whom to blame. The list keeps growing.

APC
South Africa
Britain
United States

We will keep counting.

By the way the above article should be titled " Nigeria in search of enemies"

Put your hatred for GEJ aside and read the article with a clear mind.

Its obvious Zuma is not happy with Nigeria since we emerged the largest economy in Africa.

Niwdog: Is this a news or a kind govenment textbook??well i don't knw if US military are stil in nigeria.as for those mixture of eba and eweda people,make them no make mockery of nigeria cause of synagogue palawa.beside when tb josh they heal them,they no complain

Tribune is a newspaper not a textbook.

SA has never liked Nigeria and they dont hide their feelings. right from late president Mandela era up till now.

mployer:
Put your hatred for GEJ aside and read the article with a clear mind.
Its obvious Zuma is not happy with Nigeria since we emerged the largest economy in Africa.

The money in a jet scandal is an impeachable offense in other countries where accountability is their watchword.
Why should I hate GEJ? If I own a company and the manager is running it aground, I reserve the right to fire him. That is all.

Nigeria is gradually slipping back into the Abacha Era, where everybody is an enemy. UK, US, Canada and South Africa has now become our enemy while we court nations such as Iran, Russia and maybe China as friends.

You break international money laundry and arms laws, not only your own counrty but also of a sister foreign nations and you are still playing the victim car?d.

I wonder how many enemies we would have made by the time Jonathan leaves in 2019 (assuming he wins the next election)

I now understand
SA should know that they have more to lose than Nigeria in any case of diplomatic clash, however, I don't think Jonathan will do anything drastic at least till after the elections.
Remember him saying that a new (style of) administration will be in Nigeria from next year.

Aigbofa: Jonathan will eventually run out of whom to blame. The list keeps growing.

APC
South Africa
Britain
United States

We will keep counting.

By the way the above article should be titled " Nigeria in search of enemies"

Why are you so blinded by hate? Don't let yourself be drowned in it.

- For the first time in a longtime Sedan/SUV/Buses/Lorries are been produced in the country even if the quantities are not substantial.

- Railway is back.

- People no longer see farming as a dirty occupation.

- Power privatisation became possible.

- Most people embraced entrepreneurship.

And the list is endless.

Come to think of it, what if all what the FG is lamenting about was true?

Whether you like it or yes! He's your president. All you can do right now is to pray for him..

RevDesmondJuju: I say Phuck em.

America is on a permanent slide down that is the reason they are causing conflicts all over the place.

As for Obama, you can all thank him for funding ISIS, supporting Boko Haram and starting another round of cold war that may spiral into a nuclear holocaust.

As for South Africa; those AIDS zulu cun.ts are just jealous that them no go even see our back again.

I continued laughing that I forgot what to comment..

If my neighbor complains about my laughter, then I will have to report you to my landlord.

[size=18pt]www.nairaland.com/attachments/460096_segun12_jpg4bfb4dc2f15478f82dd29518c3681c9d [/size]
[b][size=18pt]His Royal Highness

D Ade. Ade. Ade. Ade AdeMusiwa

House of Oduduwa
Emperor of Independent country of the Kingdom of Western Nigeria ( by International law)[/size]

[b][size=18pt]As someone who knows Nigeria.. it is not possible for a 6 storey building to collapse and only 60 people will die. that is not possible. You expect , more than 100 people to die in Nigeria. I will believe zuma south africa over the figures of Nigeria.

I do not believe only 60 people will die , knowing how they construct houses in Nigeria.

If a 6 storey building crashes over 100 people will die.. so zuma or south africa number looks very very Ok to me.
It can not be nigerian, who were in the guest houses of synagogues church.

from looking at the video online., that was a face you and face you housing , which if we say 16 rooms per floor, it is 96 rooms . And since it is a church program, many of the people, will sleep in the same room, because they will be family coming to Nigeria.

And some family will likely have rented just a room for such program. I dont think single people go to those program.. mostly family. at an average of 2 per room.. it gives 192 people at least involve in that accident if it was full to the brim.



[/size][/b]

Aigbofa: Jonathan will eventually run out of whom to blame. The list keeps growing.

APC
South Africa
Britain
United States

We will keep counting.

By the way the above article should be titled " Nigeria in search of enemies"

You are your own enemy. In fighting for your party, make sure you don't lose your country..

America has clearly shown that it has an agenda on Nigeria. Chibok girls they cannot find. Go home, they refused to go.

Simpleton like you is happy that the Nigerian government has lost $9.3m to South Africa.

Boko is being defeated by Nigerian Army. Goodluck Jonathan is working. Nigeria is getting better.

2019 is his exit date....

100Cents:

You are your own enemy. In fighting for your party, make sure you don't lose your country..

America has clearly shown that it has an agenda on Nigeria. Chibok girls they cannot find. Go home, they refused to go.

Simpleton like you is happy that the Nigerian government has lost $9.3m to South Africa.

Boko is being defeated by Nigerian Army. Goodluck Jonathan is working. Nigeria is getting better.

2019 is his exit date....

That idiot is like all his fellow APC touts who are like the biblical pr0stitute in the Story of Solomon s who will rather see the baby sliced into two.

Word of advice: They are paid to post here and like my mother use to tell me; it isn't proper to speak to the help

You are not a patriot. Don't count enemies. Count amongst the solution. We have bokoharams, illegal invasion of our airspace, bombing down of our international synagogue of God, America colluding with south Africa to prolong our sufferings etc etc and you, a Nigerian, talking negatively against your nation? Please be part of the solution and not another bokoharam.

This govt will completely run this country aground no doubt!! Too bad.

mployer:
Put your hatred for GEJ aside and read the article with a clear mind.

Its obvious Zuma is not happy with Nigeria since we emerged the largest economy in Africa.

Na wa oo!! What positive economic index is there this country has above SA?? Mention just one!! Is it inflation?? Is it per capita GDP?? Is it balance of trade?? Is it manufacturing?? Is it diversity of the economy?? Is it power generation?? Is it anti corruption?? Is it science and tech penetration?? Is it infrastructure?? Is it education?? Is it per capita income?? Is it healthcare?? Is it mortality rate?? Is it tourism?? Is it security?? Is it international diplomacy?? What is there I ask you

mployer:

Tribune is a newspaper not a textbook.

dd i told you,that i don't know the source of this writeup,i'm only complaining of it long content

Yep Blame it on South Africa huh!?

Its our fault that your guys tried to smuggle money into our country. $9 million is way above the legal limit, your guys knew exactly what they were doing, they knew it was illegal but they still did it, and Governments almost never buy Arms with Cash unless its for some dodgy Ish.

So yes Blame us for your guys basically disrespecting us, its our fault that your guys tried to illegally bring in a large sum of money into our country to buy arms from the company that is not even Licensed to sell Arms.

Our Governments don't get along but S.A would never try to pull a stunt like that on Nigeria.

Damn it! what typpa jelly-liver president do we have in this country now!
Imagine foreigners bullocking Us in our own lingo!

Centrifude: Yep Blame it on South Africa huh!?

Its our fault that your guys tried to smuggle money into our country. $9 million is way above the legal limit, your guys knew exactly what they were doing, they knew it was illegal but they still did it, and Governments almost never buy Arms with Cash unless its for some dodgy Ish.

So yes Blame us for your guys basically disrespecting us, its our fault that your guys tried to illegally bring in a large sum of money into our country to buy arms from the company that is not even Licensed to sell Arms.

Our Governments don't get along but S.A would never try to pull a stunt like that on Nigeria.

Please do not lump us all into the same basket. Most of us are appalled by the way the government is disgracing us internationally. The vocal few making all the noise (and blaming everybody else like APC, US, UK, South Africa, etc) are mostly paid government apologists, ie TAN ambassadors and some ethnic bigots. The Majority of Nigerian masses are even oblivious of the whole scandal.

Please do not use the selfish motives of a few Nigerians to label the rest of us.

wirinet:

Please do not lump us all into the same basket. Most of us are appalled by the way the government is disgracing us internationally. The vocal few making all the noise (and blaming everybody else like APC, US, UK, South Africa, etc) are mostly paid government apologists, ie TAN ambassadors and some ethnic bigots. The Majority of Nigerian masses are even oblivious of the whole scandal.

Please do not use the selfish motives of a few Nigerians to label the rest of us.

I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that, I apologise if I offended you.

What happens to wire transfer. Instead of this
[img]http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcScGRIQHxpGved4rHwKrXBfhzF53UcEOz6LF-CfjEPc70PJUMk-jphBntQ[/img]

mployer:
Put your hatred for GEJ aside and read the article with a clear mind.

Its obvious Zuma is not happy with Nigeria since we emerged the largest economy in Africa.

That is what they want you to believe and it's a pity you went with it.

[quote
author=omenka]Na wa oo!! What positive economic index is there this
country has above SA?? Mention just one!! Is it inflation?? Is it per
capita GDP?? Is it balance of trade?? Is it manufacturing?? Is it
diversity of the economy?? Is it power generation?? Is it anti
corruption?? Is it science and tech penetration?? Is it infrastructure??
Is it education?? Is it per capita income?? Is it healthcare?? Is it
mortality rate?? Is it tourism?? Is it security?? Is it international
diplomacy?? What is there I ask you [/quote] ask your self this. DID THE BRITISH STAY NIGERIA TILL THE1990's? U can't in any manner compare a child who grew up with his mother with a child who grew by its self.

acenazt: ask your self this. DID THE BRITISH STAY NIGERIA TILL THE1990's? U can't in any manner compare a child who grew up with his mother with a child who grew by its self.

Mscheeeew. Using the year of independence as excuse. Smh. Even thought you were intelligent. There are countless number of countries who gained independence before 1960 and are faring far better than Nigeria and those that had it in 1960 and are faring far better as well. Don't think I can argue with you.

Bye.

Aigbofa: Jonathan will eventually run out of whom to blame. The list keeps growing.

APC
South Africa
Britain
United States

We will keep counting.

By the way the above article should be titled " Nigeria in search of enemies"

The article is badly written. Too many conjectures. Zuma hating Jonathan because his friend lost the election. Rubbish.