“Nigeria is awaiting receipt from Swiss Govt. of $320 million, identified as illegally taken from Nigeria under Abacha” – Buhari @NGR President, 5:09 PM – 27 APR 2016 [b][/b]


WHEN Twitter-addicted Nigerians stumbled on this posting on President Muhammadu Buhari’s Twitter handle last week, the whole Internet went abuzz, with most people expressing their dismay at Buhari’s refusal to call a spade by its correct name. Before we go on, let us try to reason out the meaning of this statement, especially against the backdrop of its nexus to our history where Abacha and Buhari’s paths crossed.

It is obvious why the President or the operator of his Twitter handle chose to describe this amount (which is over N100 billion, a third of what the Federal, State Local governments shared in February 2016) as money “identified as illegally taken from Nigeria under Abacha”, rather than the usual “Abacha loot”. The answer is simple.

Buhari, long before he was elected president, stubbornly insisted that Abacha “never stole”, and that he was not corrupt. “Illegally taken from Nigeria” is a ploy to sidestep the word: “stolen”. “Under Abacha” portrays it as if other people, not Abacha himself, committed the “illegality” without Abacha’s knowledge.

Some unknown individuals were taking money from Nigeria and lodging it in Abacha’s Swiss bank accounts? For what purpose? Perhaps, they knew that our economy would be in trouble in the future and decided to “save” for this rainy day for us? If that is what President Buhari wants to say, let him say so openly, so that we all will join him in congratulating the Abacha family for the sacrifices their patriarch made for Nigeria.

In the past sixteen years, series of sums of money in foreign currency have been brought back from Western countries, especially Switzerland, where former military Head of State, the late General Sani Abacha stashed funds which he looted from the Nigerian treasury. These monies have always been called “Abacha loot”. Abacha is the only former ruler boldly ascribed, even in official circles, to have “stolen” or “looted” our public funds. He certainly was not the only one who did so. And most of us believe that he was probably not the biggest looter. Then, how come it is only his loots that are being “identified” and repatriated? Is it because he is dead?

If he were still alive like most of his fellow former rulers, would there be any such thing as “Abacha loot”? I doubt it, since his predecessors and successors who probably took more have never even been officially accused or made to return their own “loots”. In fact, one of them majestically struts over the landscape calling other people corrupt without justifying his own obvious affluence after his long stint in the Presidency. Are we a nation of cowards and dastards, mobbing Abacha and his estate simply because he is dead?

More questions: if Abacha had not arrested, tried and jailed General Olusegun Obasanjo for his part in the 1995 coup attempt to unseat him, would Obasanjo have launched the campaign to recover Abacha loot? If Abacha had not died and he played a role in the election of Obasanjo as President in 1999 as Generals Ibrahim Babangida, Abdulsalami Abubakar, Theophilus Danjuma and their civilian Northern cohorts had done, would Obasanjo have started the campaign to retrieve the Abacha loot?

Still more questions: if Buhari had been the one elected as the civilian president of Nigeria in 1999, would he even be talking about receiving money from Swiss Government “illegally taken away” under his regime since he maintains, against all concrete evidence, that Abacha never stole our money? So, is it only when a person deals with us and dies that he becomes corrupt, but when he treats us nicely (as Abacha did to Buhari) he becomes a “saint”? If Abacha had not rehabilitated Buhari after being jailed by Babangida; If Abacha had not appointed him as the Executive Chairman of the defunct Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), where he was given unlimited powers to spend billions of Naira between 1996 and 1998, would Buhari have stuck out his neck for him and say he was not corrupt?

Is this the mentality we take with us in fighting corruption, making sure that those who helped us are regarded as clean, while those who wronged us are pursued with a single-minded quest to retrieve their loot and sent to jail? Is this our national standard for integrity? How are we sure that retired Col. Ja’afaru Isa, a close Buhari acolyte who was reluctantly arrested, briefly detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,EFCC, and released after a couple of days for allegedly returning part of his share of Col. Sambo Dasuki’s bonanza, actually returned anything?

Everybody calls President Buhari a “man of integrity”, in spite of certain things we read and hear which do not add up to conclusively justify that branding. Buhari made his declared assets public. But he never disclosed their financial worth, nor did he let us know where they could be found as late President Umaru Yar’Adua voluntarily did. He never followed Yar’ Adua’s exemplary footsteps of including the assets of his wife. And from the look of things, ever-smiling Madam Aisha Buhari is very well-to-do, what with her reported donation of N135 million to displaced persons in Adamawa during the campaigns last year, which has not been denied.

I still cannot reconcile the fact that Buhari, as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had to borrow N25 million from banks to pay for his form in October, 2014 when his wife could so easily have given it to him from her own resources. There were even some reports that Buhari was once ejected from his “rented” mansion, No 11, Queen Elizabeth Drive, Asokoro, Abuja in 2012. That report was never debunked. Elaborate efforts have always been made to brand Buhari as a retired general who lived on his military pension before he became elected President. Yet, when he became President and the foreign exchange crunch set in, he told parents who have their children in foreign schools that they should look for forex wherever they could find it as the Federal Government could no longer afford to provide it. When reminded that he had his own children in foreign schools, he simply retorted:

“I can afford it”.

These conflicting signals about our President and his true mindset on corruption as well as his real standing financially, is being noticed, and nobody is a dummy. Even the younger generation of Nigerians are watching, reading and taking note of this confusion and wondering what “integrity” actually means here in Nigeria. It is not only the youth that are confused. I am certainly no longer a youth, but I am confused!

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/05/abacha-never-stole/

all the loot discovered in his account in foreign countries,who took them there? my grandfather or his own father? first
he was going about arresting and interrogating past leaders from opposition party. now tell me, 2 weeks to exit office, fashola and the Lagos States house of assembly signed a whopping sum #470 million to complete projects that he is about to abandon. up till now, nobody remembered that. Nyesome wike, lamented empty river State Treasury, because amechi scrape off the last kobo in the state account to sponsor a compaigne which he knows will benefit him potentially. he didn't see that too.same way,Fayose cried out that ekiti has being reduced to naught when he took over,but his predecessor bagged a ministerial appointment for causing ekiti State a damage that benefited the president. Ibikunle amosun is there,nothing is happening.
APC is now a place of refuge, no wonder there was a mass deflection from PDP to the said party,because they've always known him to be an hypocrite. The party leader jagaban,the lion of bourdillon is there fly to and fro the presidential Villa like who care,and some zombies will come out to rant their father is fighting corruption.
thunder fire all of una together.

We will raise him up and question him on this issue... EFCC over to you... Lets go spiritual

The man is a hypocrite and thief

He keeps pointing the finger at others refusing to acknowledge his crooked past.

Not once has he ever deemed it fit to honor public inquiries setup to investigate and review his handling of public funds.

He snubbed the 1980 Senate inquiry on missing NNPC funds totalling back then at a whopping $4bn and also refused to honour an invitation at the Justice Oputa led Truth and Reconciliation Committee setup to review cases of gross human rights abuse under his brief despotic reign and we should not forget that he also snubbed the Obasanjo commissioned probe panel to investigate PTF funds under his administration.

If he refuses to be held accountable how then does he expect others to follow suit?

He's double standard and hypocrisy on Abacha loot still stands today with that tweet he made on Abacha loot and is also glaring with the dubious characters like Amaech that he has annioted as saintly ministers.

This man is a sham and fraudster claiming saint.

If wailers dont wail, who will?... Bloody wailers everywhere

obailala:
If wailers dont wail, who will?... Bloody wailers everywhere

Behind that smiley emoticon hides a very frustrated zombie

obailala:
If wailers dont wail, who will?... Bloody wailers everywhere

even if a bag of rice sells for 60k you will still find this zombie chanting sai baba

Booharry has never LIED.

No wonder his minister of information is called LIAR..

chei see foolishity all over as people support pdp. e be like say una never suffer reach. don worry 2019 is coming, we will find out. keep wailing for angel to come down and lead una mumu[i][/i]

Editors in most of our tabloids are not doing anything. Buhari never said Abacha didn't steal, but that all that had been said about him (Abacha) stealing remained allegations until proven otherwise by a court of law. The statement of Buhari is legally right. I challenge the OP to give us the link of the exact quote and a video evidence which was taken during the praying commemorating Abacha's death, keep shut?

ayzTIGER:
even if a bag of rice sells for 60k you will still find this zombie chanting sai baba

They know what they are doing.

If you stop attacking them, they may decide to use their heads.

OrlandoOwoh:
Editors in most of our tabloids are not doing anything. Buhari never said Abacha didn't steal, but that all that had been said about him (Abacha) stealing remained allegations until proven otherwise by a court of law. The statement of Buhari is legally right. I challenge the OP to give us the link of the exact quote and a video evidence which was taken during the praying commemorating Abacha's death, keep shut?

Are u seriously?? Legally right?? Same Buhari calling D.Madueke and the rest corrupted and Treasury looters..when no court has proven so...why are u guys so hypocritical??

OrlandoOwoh:
Editors in most of our tabloids are not doing anything. Buhari never said Abacha didn't steal, but that all that had been said about him (Abacha) stealing remained allegations until proven otherwise by a court of law. The statement of Buhari is legally right. I challenge the OP to give us the link of the exact quote and a video evidence which was taken during the praying commemorating Abacha's death, keep shut?

Are u seriously?? Legally right?? Same Buhari calling D.Madueke and the rest corrupted and Treasury looters..when no court has proven so...well I party politics don spoil our senses of reasoning

Where are the e-cutlass welding zombies when you need them. Someone just called una Oga a 'confusionist'.

ayzTIGER:
even if a bag of rice sells for 60k you will still find this zombie chanting sai baba

I'm not an empty brained twerp like most of the people out there who are incapable of reason, at least I have the ability to discern the exact reason why the bag of rice or tomato for instance is more expensive today, and even though I am also affected, I know it's not a direct fault of PMB. So if you expect me to foolishly join the daft crowd to start accusing buhari of being responsible for tomato ebola, or you expect me to start blaming buhari for the low oil prices and the consequent forex scarcity, then you are on a very long thing.

Legitbaba:

Are u seriously?? Legally right?? Same Buhari calling D.Madueke and the rest corrupted and Treasury looters..when no court has proven so...well I party politics don spoil our senses of reasoning

PMB always states that people stole money massively, point out one example of where he named someone as being guilty without trial or forever hold your peace.

This is what happens when emotions block reasoning; you begin to assume things and then conclude your assumptions are real. Once again, since you think buhati is an idiot who judges before trial, give us one, just one example of where buhari explicitly named a person as guilty.

VulgarVulvas:


Behind that smiley emoticon hides a very frustrated zombie

Any frustration I have is purely about the daftness of my countrymen.

obailala:
I'm not an empty brained twerp like most of the people out there who are incapable of reason, at least I have the ability to discern the exact reason why the bag of rice or tomato for instance is more expensive today, and even though I am also affected, I know it's not a direct fault of PMB. So if you expect me to foolishly join the daft crowd to start accusing buhari of being responsible for tomato ebola, or you expect me to start blaming buhari for the low oil prices and the consequent forex scarcity, then you are on a very long thing.

you'd be more stinking zombie if you never realise that Buharis economic policies have been try a luck, random and shaky..... I guess thats GEJ fault too

OrlandoOwoh:
Editors in most of our tabloids are not doing anything. Buhari never said Abacha didn't steal, but that all that had been said about him (Abacha) stealing remained allegations until proven otherwise by a court of law. The statement of Buhari is legally right. I challenge the OP to give us the link of the exact quote and a video evidence which was taken during the praying commemorating Abacha's death, keep shut?

What is wrong with you guys With all the abacha loot been returned in every administration, and you can boldly type this...

So abacha never stole, yet they keep returning his monies, I don't do this but this morning will be an exception you need to go and format your brain, your hypocrisy has blinded you...

May God deliver you from this obvious blindness..

fitzmayowa:



What is wrong with you guys With all the abacha loot been returned in every administration, and you can boldly type this...

So abacha never stole, yet they keep returning his monies, I don't do this but this morning will be an exception you need to go and format your brain, your hypocrisy has blinded you...

May God deliver you from this obvious blindness..

May God deliver you from lack of comprehension.

OrlandoOwoh:

May God deliver you from lack of comprehension.

Gtfo from here you shameless govt paid shill defending nonsense and selling your conscience for a bowl of aisha rice

Have you read a book titled "the last 100 days of sani abacha"?

VulgarVulvas:


Gtfo from here you shameless govt paid shill defending nonsense and selling your conscience for a bowl of aisha rice

You're pained. I challenge once more, show me the link of the exact quote of PMB on Abacha's loot.

OrlandoOwoh:

You're pained. I challenge once more, show me the link of the exact quote of PMB on Abacha's loot.

Keep denying the obvious


Nah only yourself and fellow zombies you dey deceive

obailala:
PMB always states that people stole money massively, point out one example of where he named someone as being guilty without trial or forever hold your peace.

This is what happens when emotions block reasoning; you begin to assume things and then conclude your assumptions are real. Once again, since you think buhati is an idiot who judges before trial, give us one, just one example of where buhari explicitly named a person as guilty.

@ OrlandoOwoh you guys are Abusive just for it's sake. Helo friends Going by your logic buhari administration has no reason detaining dasuki neither do Fg have any right calling mmadueke a thief what so ever. Why do you guys always form intellect where you are nothing near it?

A section of Nigeria still seems pained that Buhari became President. Didn't Gej give Abacha posthumous National honors?

ayzTIGER:
you'd be more stinking zombie if you never realise that Buharis economic policies have been try a luck, random and shaky..... I guess thats GEJ fault too

The one whose economic policies were stellar, where did all his economic prowess land Nigeria before he bailed out?....

ISpiksDaTroof:
A section of Nigeria still seems pained that Buhari became President. Didn't Gej give Abacha posthumous National honors?

A section of Nigeria are born hypocrites following a daft hypocrite

Scholes007:
Abusive just for it's sake. Helo friend Going by you logic buhari administration has no reason detaining dasuki neither do Fg have any right calling mmadueke a thief what so ever. Why do you guys always form intellect where you are nothing near it?

No doubts, myself, yourself and many others call them thieves. Similarly, I'm sure buhari calls them thieves in his heart, but all I ask is for you to leave the long melancholic epistle and point out where Buhari has explicitly mentioned the name of Madam Madueke or anybody and called them a thief?... I am waiting for you to prove me wrong.

In summary, that you think someone has said something, it does not mean he has actually said it.

obailala:
No doubts, myself, yourself and many others call them thieves. Similarly, I'm sure buhari calls them thieves in his heart, but all I ask is for you to leave the long melancholic epistle and point out where Buhari has explicitly mentioned the name of Madam Madueke or anybody and called them a thief?... I am waiting for you to prove me wrong.

In summary, that you think someone has said something, it does not mean he has actually said it.

The thread is about how Buhari declared Abacha as not corrupt and how his administration is sugar coating the stolen funds as not Abacha's loot but illegally stashed federal savings