bibiking1:


Dude, History is written so that we can learn from them. We do not have to be around during an inicdent to be knowledgeable about event. Thats why there are news prints and journals!!

Bibiking1,

Someone rightly said , ''their' minds have been stolen''. There's no more danger than that which suppresses and controls  the mind of another to comprehend. It is the same problem we are facing with the christians/muslims today, faithfuls no longer can think for themselves anymore because someone they rever has ''said so'' so it must be. History is written for correction, to preserve what evidence that has gone before, if bad should be avoided, where good, thoughts should be formed to progress the betterment of humanity. The era of paddy-paddyism and looter-to-saint MUST be done away with so that we can press forward and hit our desired mark.

What loot?

Any evidence he looted anything?

Fela singing a song is evidence of corruption?

Please evidence of loot from those proposing this angle so far. My suspicion is he is a businessman that made his money from business, not local council chairman.

bibiking1:


Dude, History is written so that we can learn from them. We do not have to be around during an inicdent to be knowledgeable about event. Thats why there are news prints and journals!!

indeed. just like the english wrote the history of the falkland islands. how interesting!

Sagamite:

What loot?

Any evidence he looted anything?

Fela singing a song is evidence of corruption?

Please evidence of loot from those proposing this angle so far. My suspicion is he is a businessman that made his money from business, not local council chairman.

Five [5] Billion, Doe, Abiola, Babangida, Obasanjo, Equals: June 12, 1993, Part 1
Written by Carlisle U.O. Umunnah
Tuesday, 13 June 2006 23:17
The premises surrounding the annulment of June 12, presidential elections in 1993, has remained a mystery for quite sometime now to many Nigerians. It is therefore, this writer’s mission and intentions, to unmask this treachery committed against this people; iit is a mission that depends on information resource capital-availability, including time/depth capital-availability, as well. According to my sources [names withheld], The Babangida military regime lied and misinformed Nigerians about his role leading to this unforgettable crime—the annulment of June 12 elections, 1993.



Looking up close, this is an intriguing exercise because it is believed that, a staggering estimated fifteen to twenty [15 to 20] million of the nations' population went to the polls on this day to express their freedom to choose, as demonstrated by their democratic freedom to elect a president in the nation, through democratic means. The said elections were pronounced the freest and fairest by many Nigerians and foreign observers alike, in the nation’s checkered history. It was also declared the freest and fairest in the whole of Sub-Sahara Africa [SSA]. The electioneering mechanism or methodology deployed was known as option A4. Vote and your vote will be counted at the spot not, later.



As the writer dive into the hypothesis and analysis of this whole drama, it is important that we remember that in other situations, some eyebrows were raised; some observers remarked that, evil begets evil, as evil that men do lives after them. To this group of observers or thinkers, the trio of Abiola, Obasanjo and Babangida are common criminals; they are birds of the same feathers that flocked together for over 30 years. Any wonder, why Babangida walks Minna Streets unscattered, let alone walks Nigeria Streets and Cities with his looted wealth unabashed. It was reported that he [Babangida] is shamelessly planning to run for democratic elections in 2007, when statistical data in his folders show annulments. Annulment which, evidence now reveals he and his acolytes indeed, orchestrated this ill-act of annlment, with impunity, all, for his usual self-aggrandizements—five billion dollars.



It is important to refresh our minds, review, and perhaps make, a re-assessment of lessons learned, in- so-far. First: from, International Telephone and Tele-communications [ITT], to NPN, to military coups, this group, particularly the duo of Abiola and Babangida, participated, looted, squandered and destroyed the local, regional, and national geopolitical space of this entity, called Nigeria through their mischiefs. Their actions in the aforementioned time and space, was indeed, opportunistic, that over time, produced an unprogressive paradigm shifts in the land. Remember this, yes, for 30 years, Abiola, a military apologist, assisted under the military totalitarianism[s]—totalitarianists, led by Babangida and his cronies, besieged the land for their selfish grandiose and impetuses for too long a time. For many decades, they circumvented the law, the republic and raped her mercilessly. They raped her, through bogus contracts. Other circumventionary practices indeed occurred: for example there exists, a continuous bogus security vote that goes unaccounted for, by the present and past rulers, the rest is painfully history, they say. Recently this administration, withdrew, funds from the excess oil funds, without the authorization of the National Assembly, whose duty amongst others, is to debate and approve state finanical remittances. Back to ITT, it was gathered by my sources that ITT, an extension of U.S. Central intelligence Agency [CIA] the information bubble radar for Americans on Nigeria and other nations, that seeks security details or information about nations’ technical capacity, just in case, friend turns enemy, and perhaps, if enemy of my enemy becomes my friend. This intelligence agency is fussed together vis-à-vis ITT and other U.S. overseas operations including the U.S. Peace Corps et al. At ITT, Abiola served as its Vice-Chairman for Africa and the Middle-east.



ITT, whose contract was to seek, and provide, a workable effective telephone services for the country—Nigeria, for effective communication and well-being of its people; unabashedly, the aforementioned actors and their contractors, manipulated, twisted and duped the republic. Till date, one cannot point at any telephone installations, installed across the country and its villages. What ITT did in Nigeria with the Tele-communication project is mind boggling. Either that the ITT representatives and its collaborators pocketed the funds meant for building a reliable telecommunication gridlock for the benefit and well-being of this people, or that little or no telephone services were provided for Nigerians. The allocation’s long gone and forgotten. Other cases of similar elephant projects like Ajeokunta Steel Complex, were, billions of naira, were invested have joined the list of many abandoned projects across the country. Today, Nigerians have turned to wireless phone industry, all foreign made. Sadly, it cannot and do not have the capacity to manufacture locally, nuts, to maintain them, and will never muster this needed capacity, under the current arrangement.



According to this insider, information has it that Abiola stepped on so many toes. At the then, National Party of Nigeria, [NPN] body, it was gathered that its big wigs, never trusted Abiola. Records show that Abiola, nursed the idea of becoming NPN Chairman during the party convention in the 80s, hosted in Kano. Big power brokers in then NPN, became uncomfortable with his intentions and maneuvered him off of it, to Abiola's chagrin. As it were, flight meant to carry Abiola and his crew, to the convention was disabled for unknown reasons. At the middle of the night, Abiola having discovered this machination, chartered fleets of cars and drove his way to the Northern state of Kano. Before, he lighted to the convention, his kinsman, Akinloye has been returned unopposed as NPN Party Chairman. Abiola decamped from NPN, thusly, increasing some NPN stewards' suspicions surrounding him, and surrounding those that supports him including his enemies. Their concerns were amongst other things:—fear that it will be an impossibility to muster the political will and influence, to check Abiola’s exuberant political excesses. To this group, their concern includes, handling dexterity of party policies and those at the wider national policies in an ethno-geopolitical landscape, such as, Nigeria. In addition, it was gathered that Abiola was a CIA agent, its representative partly for strategy and logistics, covering Africa and the Middle-east. There existence yet, another suspicion and other cleavages from the Northern caliphate, surrounding Abiola—this time, it is religion. The Caliph and NPN of Northern extraction sees Abiola as an opportunistic Muslim, thusly, an untrustworthy Muslim and would have nothing to do with this fellow.



By application, in Nigeria political space, from the Northern perspectives or worldviews, there is no such thing as, separation of Church and State and/or separation of Muslimism and the State. To them, the two entities are intertwined. For example, in other to reforce this suspicion parallel of Abiola, are possible motivated orthodoxies: I] Let us draw or review estimable evidence at ITT establishment if you will. It was gathered that Abiola, staged, and acted criminally in the way he took over the chairmanship at ITT, from his American boss. My source succinctly remarked that Abiola and his cronies’ dramatized this by upstaging and dethroning the Chairman at ITT. This was effectively executed by theatrically painting, photographing, blackmailing the American ITT chairman—as an eternal and unrepentant drunkard, who could not retrieve or collect American funds from the Nigerian government, even, after ITT Nigerian-operational power-house has completed its works, as assigned her. Through this machination, Abiola was upgraded and appointed ITT chairman for Africa and the Middle-east. The larger pitfalls were not long exposed. Not sooner after he was appointed ITT chairman, Abiola, opted, and demanded to work for the ITT establishment on commission basis rather than on salary pay-capped arrangement.



Abiola, now in the zone of leadership, a contract of a staggering 75 million, was upped by Abiola. Abiola, zeroed in for a kill. He greedily adding zero [0] behind seventy-five [75], that turns 75 into 750 million. He was not alone. This disposition and operation was effectively executed through collaborations with insiders who knew the ropes, mainly, some of his discredited military officers-friends at the military establishments. He got away with a crime; making a whopping illegitimate millions for himself and his friends. Our information gathering radar shows that Babangida, Obasanjo, late Shehu Musa Yar’dua and others benefited from the ITT’s emissaries, commissions and, contracts. M.K.O. Abiola, became a multi-million over-night, engineered and fortified by strong military contacts. In the meantime, this is happening at a time, the entire nation watches its dying population waste away without basic amenities such as: steady electricity, water, road or housing; lack of adequate learning facilities from primary school up to tertiary institutions; as the system systemically manufactured yet, anew, fraudulent millionaires and billionaires, who cannot, in all honesty account for the source of their wealth.



Today as we reflect on June 12, and the actors involved, let us remember also, that our record shows that Abiola and others in his category were made rich by discredited military cabal, through fraudulent and sometimes ghost contract allocations. In the same token, it is good to recall, for records, that the same discredited military friends of his, albeit, they made him rich, the same military turned around poisoned and killed him, when things were no longer at ease—and, fallen apart.



Conversely, during this spiral period, the region faced many challenges and new challenges with its attended constraints, including military activities within its surroundings. This disturbances, ended up confronting its defenseless peoples and their neighbors. Markedly, during this time, at the body: Economic Community of West African States [ECOWAS] the centers could not hold either. Khaddaffi was funding Charles Taylor from Tripoli. Commotions and wars in Liberian brought her to the verge of collapse, if not totally collapse. A challenge that defied all solutions. Liberian National Liberation Front, [LPLF], led Taylor on one end, and Yommie Johnson at another end; then, you also have other ‘mini rebel’ groups, that have gone wild, widespread, killings and maiming their peoples. All these rebel outfits from all indications, were matching toward Monrovia demanding the head of Samuel Doe, almost simultaneously.



At this instance, Doe, was believed to have contacted Babangida for technical assistance. Babangida promised heaven and earth , that he will send in ECOMOG to restore order immediately and everything will be alright. In the meantime, may I state that there is no peace in the hearts/minds of thieves especially, when it comes to stolen public funds. Nigerian looters, believe it or not, will tell you that they live in fear every second of their lives and, will probably succumb [if they refuse to repent and return public funds to their proper places] to hyper-tension, high-blood-pressure, or worst, heart-attack.


Folks, five [5] billion dollars from Liberian treasury was at stake. Liberian tyrant, Samuel Doe, have looted the Liberian treasury worth more than five billion dollars. Some of this Fund was partly, donated by USIS, and other development agencies abroad hoping to assist build and improve, Liberia and make life much better for its peoples. But, reverse was the case, its pupported leadership had a hidden agenda in their hearts—mischievousness. In the meantime as Doe and Co were running out of time, it became evident, that, regional criminals with their regional partners were desperately looking for a regional safe heaven to keep their windfall. Doe, contacted his big brother, Nigerian Field-Marshal, Babangida, for assistance. Initially, it was gathered that Babangida, refused taking-in, the five billion dollars—stating his position as a military leader. He however, directed his wife, Miriam Babangida, to assist launder the funds into her multifaceted, financial networks.


Miriam Babangida, took the five [5] billion, and quickly contacted a long time family friend, Abiolas. Information has it that Simbiat Abiola who subsequently lodged the finances into her personal account in good faith, was Miriam’s contact. Unfortunately, Simbiat went through undisclosed illness, succumbed to this illness and passed-away. The financial activities and records show that the financial documentations in respect to these financial transmissions or transactions as discovered, indicates that it was willed, to Kola Wole Abiola.


Finally another opportunity came to the Babangidas. Miriam and Babangida, came on a condolence visit to the diseased family-friend, on the passing-away of Simbiat Abiola. With this window of opportunity, it was gathered that Babangida mentioned the five [5] billion to M.K.O. Abiola. Information has it that Abiola, was outraged that financial matters could be raised by Babangida, while he was bereaved, and going through the emotions and pains of his beloved wife, Simbiat who passed away. Babangida and Miriam, left for home, to allow, the dead rest in peace. Within the space of weeks or months that year, the elections results, specifically presidential elections results, began to trickle in.


Statistical and numerical indicators show, that the first barge of results from 14 states with its computations had Abiola, winning. Babangida, contacted yet again, Abiola,asked him to release the five billion [five [5] billions dollars. Now remember, that the said five billion was Liberians, and by no means, belonged to Abiola nor Babangida. However, the two thieves fought over it. In the ensued conversation, Babangida indicated to Abiola, that if, the money wasn’t released, he will annul the entire elections. Abiola wanted to be President and also, wanted to keep the billions too. Greed! In a delusional effort, Abiola, launched into intensive search for Kola. Repeated phone calls was placed on Kola, in whose account the funds, was believed to have been deposited. Surprisingly to Abiola, Kola disappeared with the thin air. Kola, it was gathered, became a changed man, and, intentionally refused to speak, pick-up calls or converse with his father.



Perhaps, someone could tell me more about envy, suspicions and hate in polygamous family. Each family unit trying, attempting to out-do the other unit member and what not. It is important to note, that the debacle surrounding June 12, elections, its fallouts, calculations and how far we have come today is for historians to document. For this and other unspoken reasons, the election was annulled, and the rest is history. Permit me, to remark that, this is in fact, a pure affront and treachery against a whole nation, that a nation’s elections were annulled based on, amongst other things, stolen funds; stolen money that didn't by any means, belong to either of these men [Abiola and Babangida]. This was personified obviously in the deeply imbedded corruption in the land; and, may be, this teaches us that selfish reasons, greed and power, can drag communities, nations, peoples and friends into war, including fights over looted five billion dollars from Liberian and elsewhere.


Five Billion dollars/June 12 to be continued ….







--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Carlisle U.O. Umunnah Is a New York Based Freelance Writer

Contact: cuu1_liberties@yahoo.com

^^^^

I must admit, I am struggling with finishing the write up as after reading one-third of the way (a long way it is), it is apparent it is the writer's personal conjectures being thrown freely and used as evidence.

If the writer could provide figures rather than stories, I would take it more seriously than just a mere conjecture.

E.g. That ITT was contracted to install comms in Nigeria, what was the figure? What was the approximate cost of installation that fell short of the figure (he should feel free using evidence like qouting other people or accusations rather than just sitting 30 years later and saying he can not see evidence of what was done).

Sagamite:

^^^^

I must admit, I am struggling with finishing the write up as after reading one-third of the way (a long way it is), it is apparent it is the writer's personal conjectures being thrown freely and used as evidence.

If the writer could provide figures rather than stories, I would take it more seriously than just a mere conjecture.

E.g. That ITT was contracted to install comms in Nigeria, what was the figure? What was the approximate cost of installation that fell short of the figure (he should feel free using evidence like qouting other people or accusations rather than just sitting 30 years later and saying he can not see evidence of what was done).

ummm! The writer will make a good science fictionist then, what say you about IBB, Is he a thief or do you believe he looted the state treasury? Anyway I left you the writer's mail add, feel free to contact.

Sagamite:

^^^^

I must admit, I am struggling with finishing the write up as after reading one-third of the way (a long way it is), it is apparent it is the writer's personal conjectures being thrown freely and used as evidence.

If the writer could provide figures rather than stories, I would take it more seriously than just a mere conjecture.

E.g. That ITT was contracted to install comms in Nigeria, what was the figure? What was the approximate cost of installation that fell short of the figure (he should feel free using evidence like qouting other people or accusations rather than just sitting 30 years later and saying he can not see evidence of what was done).

Have you read: This house has fallen, Midnight: Midnight in Nigeria. I suggest you do if you haven't.

Vavavoom:

Have you read: This house has fallen, Midnight: Midnight in Nigeria. I suggest you do if you haven't.

A man that has a career-life of being in the military, ruled the counrty and corruption was institutionalised, billions go missing, refused to record and account for expenditure during his rule, uses court injunctions to avoid reporting to any investigative panel, never had a visible business venture and yet is building & buying multi-million buildings (home and abroad) and having a private jet and living a £ bilionaires life is a criminal in my books.

exactly! a criminal by every other name! yet people are more comfortable pointing fingers to abiola!

Sagamite:

A man that has a career-life of being in the military, ruled the counrty and corruption was institutionalised, billions go missing, refused to record and account for expenditure during his rule, uses court injunctions to avoid reporting to any investigative panel, never had a visible business venture and yet is building & buying multi-million buildings (home and abroad) and having a private jet and living a £ bilionaires life is a criminal in my books.

By ''a man'' I presume you mean IBB? Getting interesting now, they say show me your friend and I'll tell you who you are: needing no eveidence, you and I at least can agree that Abiola in all his ''saintliness'' was friends with IBB before the cookie crumbled.
don't you reason it is astonishing to call IBB a criminal without ''evidentiary figures'' stated like you demanded from C. Ummannah? Abi na one rule for Abiola another for the rest?

What was Abiola doing when his paddy-paddy was instituionalising corruption and awarding bogus contracts, perhaps it willbe helpful to school us?

ha sorry abiola the itt fund is realy affecting ur generation,u died from the hands of those u called ur malam friends.
crime does not pay especialy when u contributed to the decayed state  nigeria.i  am very much sure that abiola is not resting in peace cos the nigerian ancestors are lashing him with weep stealing.ole

Vavavoom:

By ''a man'' I presume you mean IBB? Getting interesting now, they say show me your friend and I'll tell you who you are: needing no eveidence, you and I at least can agree that Abiola in all his ''saintliness'' was friends with IBB before the cookie crumbled.
don't you reason it is astonishing to call IBB a criminal without ''evidentiary figures'' stated like you demanded from C. Ummannah? Abi na one rule for Abiola another for the rest?

What was Abiola doing when his paddy-paddy was instituionalising corruption and awarding bogus contracts, perhaps it willbe helpful to school us?

Honestly, the bolded is just blatantly stupid.

That is the way you, or technique you use, to arrive at your conclusions?

Please never take that as evidence to any serious setting. And I don't debate at that level.

In regards to evidentary evidence, it is well documented locally and internationally that funds where being shipped to foreign accounts under a military rule where transparency was zero. The country was going broke by all economic indicators and yet oil money was constant. And then the ruler starts living a billionaire's lifestyle and refuses to even give the slightest account of his time except "It is the will of Allah".

George_D:

exactly! a criminal by every other name! yet people are more comfortable pointing fingers to abiola!

George D, if you can find worse words than criminal attribute to IBB and co it gives me no comfort but to act as if Abiola was that paragon of saintliness is what no discerning human should stand. We all love Gani till death beacuse at no point in time did he frolick with criminal elements in any ruling jaunta. If you want to publish criminal issues on IBB, Abacha, Obj, Kalu, and co it is fine by me, at the moment it is Abiola on trial.

@ bricks

Hmmm! bricks(layer) or whatever you call yourself, to think I have few posts because of lack of what to say simply gave u away as a fellow of little mind. It is only a function of the time I joined nairaland and my schedule. I know you have a lot of idle time.
What is there to trivialise? Is there evidence to back up your allegations against this man. Why would you continue to compare Abiola with others who had held public offices at one time or the other.

Get busy lol!

@sagamite   I must say i agree with vavavoom on this issue. Since our legal system does not work and the fact that the freedom of information act has never seen the light of day we are forced to come to our own conclussions on issues relating to our leaders and the source of their wealth based on their actions and the realities in Nigeria. If we should go by the Nigerian standard for evidence then we should not be suprised that no ex president/important public personality has ever be jailed for crimes against the nation.

Sagamite:

Honestly, the bolded is just blatantly stupid.

That is the way you arrive at your conclusions.

Please never take that as evidence to any serious setting. And I don't debate at that level.

In regards to evidentary evidence, it is well documented locally and internationally that funds where being shipped to foreign accounts under a military rule where transparency was zero. The country was going broke by all economic indicators and yet oil money was constant. And then the ruler starts living a billionaire's lifestyle and refuses to even give the slightest account of his time except "It is the will of Allah".

''honestly''? What is stupid about characterising a friend who walks with a thief for so many years?!!  And you talk about level of debate summarily cos you're trying to defend the indefensible, may be you should also get it that Abiola's sharp practices left trails that were internationally documented as well. See who dey talk about level of discourse when they can't put up any credible defense . IBB na thief, so too was Abiola.

Vavavoom:

''honestly''? What is stupid about characterising a friend who walks with a thief for so many years?!! And you talk about level of debate summarily cos you're trying to defend the indefensible, may be you should also get it that Abiola's sharp practices left trails that were internationally documented as well. See who dey talk about level of discourse when they can't put up any credible defense . IBB na thief, so too was Abiola.

That is village-mentality judicial process.

Sorry, I grew up and have lived in a city all my life. That would not carry a shred of weight or regards in a court of law.

I guess George Bush was also a criminal looting the US treasury as he was very good buddies for years with Ken Lay of Enron.

bidemi12:

@sagamite   I must say i agree with vavavoom on this issue. Since our legal system does not work and the fact that the freedom of information act has never seen the light of day we are forced to come to our own conclussions on issues relating to our leaders and the source of their wealth based on their actions and the realities in Nigeria. If we should go by the Nigerian standard for evidence then we should not be suprised that no ex president/important public personality has ever be jailed for crimes against the nation.

But the fact is Abiola was never in government. He had visible business enterprises that he made his wealth from, similar to what Dangote is doing now, not looting the treasury.

Whether businessmen like that have to pay bribery or use leg in some situations is not inconceivable but to say they looted? Give me a break.

@Sagamite What i have found is that the corruption has eaten so deep that you actually need these business moguls to propagate illegality in government. And i agree Abiola like dangote had his hand in every pie/aspect of our lives. But like you said no direct proof. we can only use the same measurements and standards we have used with other leaders to judge him.

bidemi12:

@Sagamite What i have found is that the corruption has eaten so deep that you actually need these business moguls to propagate illegality in government. And i agree Abiola like dangote had his hand in every pie/aspect of our lives. But like you said no direct proof. we can only use the same measurements and standards we have used with other leaders to judge him.

No, we can only use the same measurements we use for business moguls to measure him. Even foreign moguls are likely to bribe in Nigeria and even their own western country.

But when we are using the measurement we use for the likes of Abacha, IBB, Diya, Aikhomu, Marwa etc to measure Abiola or Dangote, that becomes lame.

That is why I have a problem with that word "loot", when someone was not in public office.

Astonishing info. I was under the impression that MKO's wealth was enough to fund the June 12 presidential campaign AND have much left over.

Sagamite:

That is village-mentality judicial process.

Sorry, I grew up and have lived in a city all my life. That would not carry a shred of weight or regards in a court of law.

I guess George Bush was also a criminal looting the US treasury as he was very good buddies for years with Ken Lay of Enron.

You sure are right Mr. Sagamite. Village-mentality judicial process indeed.

: Ken Lay--Guilty. George Bush--Guilty. posted by John Nichols on 05/25/2006 @ 2:07pm

Email Print Share Buzz up!Buzzflash

del.icio.us

Digg

Facebook

Mixx it!

Reddit

What is this?
Take Action Comments (139) Subscribe Now The man who paid many of the biggest bills for George Bush's political ascent, Enron founder Kenneth Lay, has been found guilty of conspiracy and fraud almost five years after his dirty dealings created the greatest corporate scandal in what will be remembered as an era of corporate crime.

On the sixth day of deliberations following the conclusion of a long-delayed federal trial, a Houston jury found Lay guilty on six counts of fraud and conspiracy. In a separate decision, US District Judge Sim Lake ruled that Lay was guilty of four counts of fraud and making false statements.

The same jury that convicted Lay found Enron's former chief executive, Jeffrey Skilling, guilty on 19 counts of fraud, conspiracy, making false statements and engaging in insider trading.

Lay, who President Bush affectionately referred to as "Kenny-boy" when the two forged an alliance in the 1990s to advance Bush's political ambitions and Lay's business prospects, contributed $122,500 to Bush's gubernatorial campaigns in Texas. Lay would later explain to a PBS "Frontline" interviewer that, though he had worked closely with former Texas Governor Ann Richards, the Democrat incumbent who Bush challenged in 1994, he backed the Republican because "I was very close to George W."

Needless to say, once Bush became governor, Lay got his phone calls returned. A report issued by Public Citizen in February, 2001, months before the Enron scandal broke, identified Lay as "a long-time Bush family friend and an architect of Bush's policies on electricity deregulation, taxes and tort reform while Bush was Texas governor."

No wonder Lay had Enron give $50,000 to pay for Bush's second inaugural party in Austin in 1999 -- a showcase event that was organized by Karl Rove and others to help the Texas governor step onto the national political stage.

After Bush gave Enron exactly what it wanted in 1999, by signing legislation that deregulated the state's electrical markets, Lay knew he had found his candidate for president.

When Bush opened his campaign, Lay opened the cash spigots.

As a "Bush Pioneer" in the run-up to the 2000 presidential election, Lay was a key member of the Bush campaign's fund-raising inner circle. Under Lay's leadership, Enron ultimately gave Bush $550,025, making the corporation the Texan's No. 1 career patron at the time the 2000 election campaign began, according to the Center for Public Integrity. Lay personally pumped almost $400,000 into Republican hard- and soft-money funds, while Enron slipped another $1.5 million into the GOP's soft-money cesspool.

But that was just the beginning. Lay sent a letter to Enron executives urging them to contribute to Bush's campaign. More than 100 of them -- including Skilling, a major Bush giver since 1993, when he cut his first $5,000 check to GW's gubernatorial campaign -- did just that. Dozens of spouses wrote, including "homemaker" and frequent $10,000 donor Linda Lay, gave as well, making the Enron "family" a prime source of the money that gave Bush his early advantage over Republican rivals such as Arizona Senator John McCain.

All told, it is estimated that, over the years prior the company's bankruptcy, Lay, his company and its employees contributed close to $2 million to fund George W. Bush's political rise.

Lay found other ways to help, as well. He put Enron's corporate jets at the disposal of the Bush campaign in 2000. He kicked in $5,000 to pay for the Florida recount fight, while a top Enron "consultant," former Secretary of State James A. Baker III, ran the Republican's recount effort. He even paid for his own bookkeeping, chipping in $1,000 to help the Bush-Cheney campaign comply with campaign-finance laws. And Lay and Enron gave $300,000 to underwrite the Bush-Cheney inauguration festivities in 2001.

Did all that giving pay off? You bet!

Lay cashed in even before Bush was sworn in as president, entering into the inner circles of the new administration and using the access he had paid for to craft its agenda on the issues that mattered most to Enron.

Bush took good care of his contributor-in-chief, appointing the Enron founder as one of five members of the elite "Energy Department Transition Team," which set the stage for the Vice President Dick Cheney's energy task force and administration policies designed to benefit corporations such as Enron. A report on "Bush Administration Contacts with Enron," compiled at the request of Congressman Henry Waxman, D-California, by the minority staff of the Special Investigations Division of the House Committee on Government Reform, U.S. House of Representatives, found evidence of at least 112 contacts between Enron and White House or other Administration officials during the month prior to the corporation's very-public collapse in late 2001. At least 40 of those contacts involved top White House officials, including Vice President Dick Cheney, presidential advisor Karl Rove, White House economic advisor Lawrence Lindsey, White House personnel director Clay Johnson III, and White House energy task force director Andrew D. Lundquist.

As Waxman explained in a 2001 interview, "The fact of the matter is that Enron and Ken Lay, who was the Chief Executive Officer of Enron, had an extraordinary amount of influence and access to the Bush Administration. Lay was called a close friend by both the President and the Vice President. When the Vice President chaired an Energy Task Force, Ken Lay had an opportunity to meet privately with the Vice President and to have a great deal of influence in their recommendations."

Bush and his aides have worked hard since the Enron scandal broke to suggest that Lay was just another generous Texan. But the attempts to deny linkages to the now-convicted corporate criminal never cut water with Lone Star-state watchdog Craig McDonald, the director of Texans for Public Justice.

"President Bush's explanation of his relationship with Enron is at best a half truth," McDonald said after Bush first tried to distance himself from Lay and other Enron executives. "He was in bed with Enron before he ever held a political office."

As governor and president, Bush maintained that intimate relationship.

Now that his strange bedmate have been convicted of fraud, isn't it time for the president to end the fraud of claiming that he was ever anything less than a political partner of Lay and the Enron team?

source: www.thenation.com

^^^^^

No 1, highlight the part that inspired you to post this in bold otherwise I don't have the time to read the lot.

No 2, your point for this post is?

sagamite,
do you know of any yoruba man that has in the past looted nigerian's funds? name him and give us evidence.
i put it to you that it is either you belong to these criminal gang that have been raping nigeria or you provide cover for them.

abiola wether you like it or not is just a commong criminal. he denied many nigerians their rights to vote and be voted for and june 12 was his reward for all his criminal activities.

if any man goes to bed a poor man and wake up an abiola, he is not but a criminal and so shall he remain until proven otherwise.

adedibu, abiola, obj, borrishade, bode george, fani kayode, iyabo bello obasanjo, mrs etteh, gerang etc are all yoruba criminals whose limited liability companies are the mineral resources of nigeria. i will wait for you to ask evidence.
before you ask me for evidence, revisit obj farms 1999 and his bank accounts then and make comparisms and tell nigerians that we do not have evidence.

chidichris:

sagamite,
do you know of any yoruba man that has in the past looted nigerian's funds? name him and give us evidence.
i put it to you that it is either you belong to these criminal gang that have been raping nigeria or you provide cover for them.

abiola wether you like it or not is just a commong criminal. he denied many nigerians their rights to vote and be voted for and june 12 was his reward for all his criminal activities.

if any man goes to bed a poor man and wake up an abiola, he is not but a criminal and so shall he remain until proven otherwise.

adedibu, abiola, obj, borrishade, bode george, fani kayode, iyabo bello obasanjo, mrs etteh, gerang etc are all yoruba criminals whose limited liability companies are the mineral resources of nigeria. i will wait for you to ask evidence.
before you ask me for evidence, revisit obj farms 1999 and his bank accounts then and make comparisms and tell nigerians that we do not have evidence.

You are a critical slowpoke!

You think I need to ask for evidence before I come to that conclusion?

Although by principle, i am a supporter of what june 12 stands for, I had never been a supporter of Abiola as a person. Abiola was a principal actor in institutionalizing corruption in Nigeria. Who is saying IBB is corrupt and Abiola is not even though they are blossom friends, it was corruption that brought them together. It was Abiola that financed the coup that ousted Buhari/Idiagbon government, Abiola benefited tremendously from the "friendship" of IBB during most part of his reign.  Abiola was never a successful business man, please name one business that Abiola set up that was a success. Was it Abiola Bookshop, Concord Newspaper, Abiola farms, etc. Please name one. What we were hearing as propaganda was that 95% of Abiola businesses were overseas, so where are they. Abiola successful business was Government business, if fact by the time of June 12 elections, the government was owing Abiola Billions of Naira for contracts allegedly executed but could not be sighted on ground.

I think a lot of posters on this forum are too young to know the ITT deal during the reign of Muritala, It was common knowledge of the day that Muritala was tricked into signing an over blown contract (addition of one zero) by Abiola, with help from Shehu Yaradua, OBJ  and some others. It was that singular contract that made Abiola and that was why Fela sang about it. It was not news then.

I admire Abiola for fighting and dieing for what he believed (he was elected president of Nigeria - free and square), but that does not make him a saint.

Sagamite:

^^^^^

No 1, highlight the part that inspired you to post this in bold otherwise I don't have the time to read the lot.

No 2, your point for this post is?

You are a very funny man, you want a yardstick for measuring what was posted about Abiola's shady dealings with IBB n co, asking for evidence when a write was made giving dates, figures, names involve in the criminal master-minds ever assembled in Nigeria in the persons of Abiola, Obj and IBB, and when it came to your turn all you needed to criminalise IBB was that his thieving was internationally documented! and so must be TRUTH.  Since you haven't got time to read your Ken Lay-George Bush corrupt practices, I'll suggest you copy and paste on your clipboard at a later time and read what happens to be a two-way street of corruption back when George Bush was running for governor and how he in turn used the office of the presidency to influence Enron's ability to wi contracts. Please while you and your felloe sojourners are at it make una try provide us with eveidence of how Abiola came to sudden wealth! We don tire to hear of he was a business man, how im take get his millions? EVIDENCE!!!!

Vavavoom:

You are a very funny man, you want a yardstick for measuring what was posted about Abiola's shady dealings with IBB n co, asking for evidence when a write was made giving dates, figures, names involve in the criminal master-minds ever assembled in Nigeria in the persons of Abiola, Obj and IBB, and when it came to your turn all you needed to criminalise IBB was that his thieving was internationally documented! and so must be TRUTH.  Since you haven't got time to read your Ken Lay-George Bush corrupt practices, I'll suggest you copy and paste on your clipboard at a later time and read what happens to be a two-way street of corruption back when George Bush was running for governor and how he in turn used the office of the presidency to influence Enron's ability to wi contracts. Please while you and your felloe sojourners are at it make una try provide us with eveidence of how Abiola came to sudden wealth! We don tire to hear of he was a business man, how im take get his millions? EVIDENCE!!!!

If you can not bolden the text that shows Lay and Bush blah blah blah, good luck, I can't be bothered to read.

Abiola made his money from several businesses and shares in others including:

Abiola Bookshop, Concord Newspaper, Abiola farms etc

wirinet:

Although by principle, i am a supporter of what june 12 stands for, I had never been a supporter of Abiola as a person. Abiola was a principal actor in institutionalizing corruption in Nigeria. Who is saying IBB is corrupt and Abiola is not even though they are blossom friends, it was corruption that brought them together. It was Abiola that financed the coup that ousted Buhari/Idiagbon government, Abiola benefited tremendously from the "friendship" of IBB during most part of his reign.  Abiola was never a successful business man, please name one business that Abiola set up that was a success. Was it Abiola Bookshop, Concord Newspaper, Abiola farms, etc. Please name one. What we were hearing as propaganda was that 95% of Abiola businesses were overseas, so where are they. Abiola successful business was Government business, if fact by the time of June 12 elections, the government was owing Abiola Billions of Naira for contracts allegedly executed but could not be sighted on ground.

I think a lot of posters on this forum are too young to know the ITT deal during the reign of Muritala, It was common knowledge of the day that Muritala was tricked into signing an over blown contract (addition of one zero) by Abiola, with help from Shehu Yaradua, OBJ  and some others. It was that singular contract that made Abiola and that was why Fela sang about it. It was not news then.

I admire Abiola for fighting and dieing for what he believed (he was elected president of Nigeria - free and square), but that does not make him a saint.

May be we should change the topic to read: ''Abiola Spent All His corruptly Acquired Wealth on June 12 Election'' to pacify Abiola's apologist. But even that way sef the man still be thief. At Wirinet, what age we are doesn't change history. He added a single zero to 75 Million! at that time and thereby stole a lot from the nations coffers, Poor Murtala .  A man who worked to deny Awo his victory is being held like a saint

Sagamite:

If you can not bolden the text that shows Lay and Bush blah blah blah, good luck, I can't be bothered to read.

Abiola made his money from several businesses and shares in others including:

Abiola Bookshop, Concord Newspaper, Abiola farms etc

How cheesy! . You've been making rebuttals for more than 30 minutes and you can't take 3 or so minutes to read a rejoinder. Perhaps you think yourself a repository of knowledge and expect every other person to flee at the mention of Enron, Ken Lay and bush connection. Not so fast bro, the world is at everybody's finger tip thesedays. There used to be a time when all we heard and believed were from tired-apologist who spouted everything and anything from people they revered. Not any more.

I thought I was going to see figures attached to those companies listed as evidence of their money-making sustainability?! As usual, nothing! You see rich people in the West, when they die their businesses stand after they are gone, where's the bookshop, Concord Newspaper and Farms? Are they not supposed to be making the perceived millions the deceased perceivedly made while alive? WHITE ELEPHANT businesses!

Only in Nigeria where people who are supposed to be in prison for collective crimes are being held in high regard. Abiola was just a repentant crook. I think IBB too is somewhat towing that line thesedays

This is really interesting. Can't really contribute until i get some facts and figures. but methinks Abiola was a good man. Would go digging up the arhcives.