[size=14pt]How N50bn intended bribe forced Jonathan to ignore the advice by PDP[/size]
FRESH facts emerged yesterday that the decision of President Goodluck Jonathan to remove fuel subsidy on January 1 was to forestall bribe plans by some petroleum products marketers and smugglers to bribe the National Assembly members to the tune of N50 billion naira ($312.5 million).

Posted at 11/01/2012 01:07 AM | Updated at 11/01/2012 01:07 AM
By Simon Imobo-Tswam, Henry Omunu, Emma Johnson, Abuja

FRESH facts emerged yesterday that the decision of President Goodluck Jonathan to remove fuel subsidy on January 1 was to forestall plans by some petroleum products marketers and smugglers to bribe the National Assembly members to the tune of N50 billion naira ($312.5 million).

An authoritative source told The Moment in an exclusive interview last night that the president broke his promise so as to pre-empt the National Assembly from forcing his hand to retain the subsidy in the 2012 budget after excluding it from the Appropriation Bill.

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and member of its Board of Trustees (BoT) disclosed that some selected PDP elders, comprising some members of the BoT and the National Working Committee (NWC) had met with the president at the Presidential Villa on November 20, and advised him to phase the subsidy removal in four installments of 25 per cent spanning his remaining tenure.

According to the PDP’s chieftain, who pleaded anonymity, the president, however, learnt, at the last minute, of a plan by petroleum marketers and smugglers to bribe federal lawmakers with N50 billion to include allocation for subsidy in the budget.

Said he: ‘At some point towards the close of 2011, the president got information about a gang up by petroleum importers and cross-border smugglers against his planned subsidy removal, which is the kernel of the deregulation project in the downstream sector.

‘He learnt that they had voted a whooping $312 million which is about N50 billion to lobby or bribe the National Assembly members, and thus, make them to insist on the retention of subsidy in the budget by making a provision for it.

‘Once this was done, the president would have been helpless as expunging the clause or provision would have triggered an executive-legislative fight. And mind you, even if he refused to assent to it, the House and the Senate would easily pass it with an overwhelming majority; thus, making themselves champions of the masses’.

He went on: ‘So to pre-empt the scenario, especially with his memory of how the National Assembly killed the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) after alleged inducement from the major oil companies, including sponsored foreign junkets, Jonathan had to act fast.

‘This is why he broke his promise to labour and seemingly rejected the advice of his party and representations from well-meaning statesmen like Chief Obasanjo, Gen. Babangida and Gen. Yakubu Gowon’.

The Moment recalls that at the heat of the tension generated by the president’s plan to remove fuel subsidy late last year, he had assured labour and Nigerians that the take-off date for deregulation will wait till April when the Federal Government would have held extensive consultations with the relevant stakeholders.

The Moment gathered that the PDP’s elders had recommended that the president remove 25 per cent subsidy in the first instance, and use the proceeds to execute one major road project in each of the six geo-political zones this year, and show-case them by year-end and build public support for subsequent phased removal.

By their reasoning, another 25 per cent would have, thus, been removed in the first quarter of 2013, with the proceeds used to improve power while proceeds from the third and fourth removals would have been committed to improving education and health-care respectively.

It was also gathered that the president’s unilateral action has angered the PDP’s hierarchy, with some vocal members, saying ‘by not carrying them along, the president has succeeded in casting the party in bad light, especially with governorship elections coming up in Adamawa, Bayelsa, Cross River and Sokoto states.

When contacted, the Chairman Senate Committee on Information and Media, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe, said there is no iota of truth in the bribery allegation.

Similarly, a member of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Saviour Udoh, representing Ikot-Ekpene/Essien Udim/Obot Akara Federal Constituency, said lawmakers had no pre-knowledge of the subsidy removal by the president, denying any allegation of financial inducement from either the presidency or oil marketers.

Another lawmaker, Emmanuel Ekpenyong, representing Uyo/Uruan/Nsit Attai/Ibesikpo Asutan Federal Constituency, said ‘l strongly condemn this vicious allegation against members of the House. It is not true.’

http://www.momentng.com/en/news/5936/how-n50bn-intended-bribe-forced-jonathan-to-ignore-the-advice-by.html

This is stuff of Squealer in Animal Farm - and boy you never disappoint - fallacious reasoning of the highest order.

I wonder what brains machine behind this rubbish are using - it is certainly not very smart.

You mean that rather than set a trap for people that were giving & receiving a bribes the PRESIDENT OF A 150 million strong nation took the option of an elementary kid fighting with the other for the last candy.

Wonders shall never end with this Aso Rock.

Keep discrediting GEJ. You are doing a hell of a job too.

Beaf:

[s][b][size=14pt]How N50bn intended bribe forced Jonathan to ignore the advice by PDP[/size]
FRESH facts emerged yesterday that the decision of President Goodluck Jonathan to remove fuel subsidy on January 1 was to forestall bribe plans by some petroleum products marketers and smugglers to bribe the National Assembly members to the tune of N50 billion naira ($312.5 million).

Posted at 11/01/2012 01:07 AM | Updated at 11/01/2012 01:07 AM
By Simon Imobo-Tswam, Henry Omunu, Emma Johnson, Abuja

FRESH facts emerged yesterday that the decision of President Goodluck Jonathan to remove fuel subsidy on January 1 was to forestall plans by some petroleum products marketers and smugglers to bribe the National Assembly members to the tune of N50 billion naira ($312.5 million).

An authoritative source told The Moment in an exclusive interview last night that the president broke his promise so as to pre-empt the National Assembly from forcing his hand to retain the subsidy in the 2012 budget after excluding it from the Appropriation Bill.

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and member of its Board of Trustees (BoT) disclosed that some selected PDP elders, comprising some members of the BoT and the National Working Committee (NWC) had met with the president at the Presidential Villa on November 20, and advised him to phase the subsidy removal in four installments of 25 per cent spanning his remaining tenure.

According to the PDP’s chieftain, who pleaded anonymity, the president, however, learnt, at the last minute, of a plan by petroleum marketers and smugglers to bribe federal lawmakers with N50 billion to include allocation for subsidy in the budget.

Said he: ‘At some point towards the close of 2011, the president got information about a gang up by petroleum importers and cross-border smugglers against his planned subsidy removal, which is the kernel of the deregulation project in the downstream sector.

‘He learnt that they had voted a whooping $312 million which is about N50 billion to lobby or bribe the National Assembly members, and thus, make them to insist on the retention of subsidy in the budget by making a provision for it.

‘Once this was done, the president would have been helpless as expunging the clause or provision would have triggered an executive-legislative fight. And mind you, even if he refused to assent to it, the House and the Senate would easily pass it with an overwhelming majority; thus, making themselves champions of the masses’.

He went on: ‘So to pre-empt the scenario, especially with his memory of how the National Assembly killed the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) after alleged inducement from the major oil companies, including sponsored foreign junkets, Jonathan had to act fast.

‘This is why he broke his promise to labour and seemingly rejected the advice of his party and representations from well-meaning statesmen like Chief Obasanjo, Gen. Babangida and Gen. Yakubu Gowon’.

The Moment recalls that at the heat of the tension generated by the president’s plan to remove fuel subsidy late last year, he had assured labour and Nigerians that the take-off date for deregulation will wait till April when the Federal Government would have held extensive consultations with the relevant stakeholders.

The Moment gathered that the PDP’s elders had recommended that the president remove 25 per cent subsidy in the first instance, and use the proceeds to execute one major road project in each of the six geo-political zones this year, and show-case them by year-end and build public support for subsequent phased removal.

By their reasoning, another 25 per cent would have, thus, been removed in the first quarter of 2013, with the proceeds used to improve power while proceeds from the third and fourth removals would have been committed to improving education and health-care respectively.

It was also gathered that the president’s unilateral action has angered the PDP’s hierarchy, with some vocal members, saying ‘by not carrying them along, the president has succeeded in casting the party in bad light, especially with governorship elections coming up in Adamawa, Bayelsa, Cross River and Sokoto states.

When contacted, the Chairman Senate Committee on Information and Media, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe, said there is no iota of truth in the bribery allegation.

Similarly, a member of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Saviour Udoh, representing Ikot-Ekpene/Essien Udim/Obot Akara Federal Constituency, said lawmakers had no pre-knowledge of the subsidy removal by the president, denying any allegation of financial inducement from either the presidency or oil marketers.

Another lawmaker, Emmanuel Ekpenyong, representing Uyo/Uruan/Nsit Attai/Ibesikpo Asutan Federal Constituency, said ‘l strongly condemn this vicious allegation against members of the House. It is not true.’

http://www.momentng.com/en/news/5936/how-n50bn-intended-bribe-forced-jonathan-to-ignore-the-advice-by.html[/b][/s]

Bullshit! Gbosa!

koruji:

This is stuff of Squealer in Animal Farm - and boy you never disappoint - fallacious reasoning of the highest order.

I wonder what brains machine behind this rubbish are using - it is certainly not very smart.

You mean that rather than set a trap for people that were giving & receiving a bribes the PRESIDENT OF A 150 million strong nation took the option of an elementary kid fighting with the other for the last candy.

Wonders shall never end with this Aso Rock.

Keep discrediting GEJ. You are doing a hell of a job too.

Phuck off back to the zoo you rushed out off.
Imagine talking about discrediting GEJ to you. Wonders!
Does any sane person think GEJ can be discredited to a hate filled madman like you?

Beaf:

[size=14pt]How N50bn intended bribe forced Jonathan to ignore the advice by PDP[/size]
FRESH facts emerged yesterday that the decision of President Goodluck Jonathan to remove fuel subsidy on January 1 was to forestall bribe plans by some petroleum products marketers and smugglers to bribe the National Assembly members to the tune of N50 billion naira ($312.5 million).

Posted at 11/01/2012 01:07 AM | Updated at 11/01/2012 01:07 AM
By Simon Imobo-Tswam, Henry Omunu, Emma Johnson, Abuja

FRESH facts emerged yesterday that the decision of President Goodluck Jonathan to remove fuel subsidy on January 1 was to forestall plans by some petroleum products marketers and smugglers to bribe the National Assembly members to the tune of N50 billion naira ($312.5 million).


According to the PDP’s chieftain, who pleaded anonymity, the president, however, learnt, at the last minute, of a plan by petroleum marketers and smugglers to bribe federal lawmakers with N50 billion to include allocation for subsidy in the budget.

Said he: ‘At some point towards the close of 2011, the president got information about a gang up by petroleum importers and cross-border smugglers against his planned subsidy removal, which is the kernel of the deregulation project in the downstream sector.

‘He learnt that they had voted a whooping $312 million which is about N50 billion to lobby or bribe the National Assembly members, and thus, make them to insist on the retention of subsidy in the budget by making a provision for it.

‘Once this was done, the president would have been helpless as expunging the clause or provision would have triggered an executive-legislative fight. And mind you, even if he refused to assent to it, the House and the Senate would easily pass it with an overwhelming majority; thus, making themselves champions of the masses’.

He went on: ‘So to pre-empt the scenario, especially with his memory of how the National Assembly killed the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) after alleged inducement from the major oil companies, including sponsored foreign junkets, Jonathan had to act fast.

‘This is why he broke his promise to labour and seemingly rejected the advice of his party and representations from well-meaning statesmen like Chief Obasanjo, Gen. Babangida and Gen. Yakubu Gowon’.


http://www.momentng.com/en/news/5936/how-n50bn-intended-bribe-forced-jonathan-to-ignore-the-advice-by.html

Arrest and try the so called "petroleum products marketers and smugglers" or are they above the powers of the president or is he to scared of them? or maybe he Doesnt want to step on any big PDP toes?

Oh sorry o. U cant discredit GEJ becos he already did it himself. My bad. BTW there is no name u can call me worse than the bloodsoaked sight of a young man alive & harmless one minute dead the next. For that I thank your master GEJ. I am immune to all your antics. So please amuse me.

Beaf:

Phuck off back to the zoo you rushed out off.
Imagine talking about discrediting GEJ to you. Wonders!
Does any sane person think GEJ can be discredited to a hate filled madman like you?

This "story" is simply that - a story! Sadly, its neither bright nor sensible. The only good thing about it is that we don't know the turds that originally wrote it.

But if such "damage control" is coming out, I guess GEJ is about to throw in the towel and needed a way to retain some of his credibility thus the "story"

Fact - this makes him look even worse

1. NOI said publicly that neither she nor GEJ said April - this directly contradicts that assertion
2. GEJ is made out as Koruji said - an unpresidential president using dirty tricks to win against "smugglers" and "cabal(s)"rather than weilding the legitimate power he has access to.
3. A terrible stinking story was the best all the paid mouths in government could find as defense - shows how the dregs of society have taken over this govt.

Luckily, Beaf states he is not Omokri - praise God! I would have been totally disappointed if he were!

Guys try for once and ignore this worthless fool.

diluminati:

Guys try for once and ignore this worthless fool.

I wonder why you always sound so bitter?
No husband or boyfriend? Why?

nuclearboy:

This "story" is simply that - a story! Sadly, its neither bright nor sensible. The only good thing about it is that we don't know the turds that originally wrote it.

But if such "damage control" is coming out, I guess GEJ is about to throw in the towel and needed a way to retain some of his credibility thus the "story"

Fact - this makes him look even worse

1. NOI said publicly that neither she nor GEJ said April - this directly contradicts that assertion
2. GEJ is made out as Koruji said - an unpresidential president using dirty tricks to win against "smugglers" and "cabal(s)"rather than weilding the legitimate power he has access to.
3. A terrible stinking story was the best all the paid mouths in government could find as defense - shows how the dregs of society have taken over this govt.

Luckily, Beaf states he is not Omokri - praise God! I would have been totally disappointed if he were!

There is no part of the story that sounds half as much as you've divined from it. Dude, digest the story and stop seeing meanings that no one else see's.
It is a story about a whopping N50billion bribe. The story might be true or it might be false, lots of things are getting said these days.
To me, it is very likely based on facts, especially when the behaviour of the Reps is considered; they quickly brushed aside a motion to track down and arrest the cabal in an unprecedented Sunday meeting. That sort of thing is very difficult to overlook.

@Beaf:

'lll tell you why this is asinine And NOT believable!

Why is it that every intelligence report GEJ gets is able to let him know what is being planned but not enough to have him arrest the situation except thru daft, surreptitious moves which end up with his foot down his gut? I would like to defend him atimes but the daftness of some policies andexcusess given make me shudder.

This fuel subsidy removal takes the cake! A laudable action has become villified and its proponent hated, despised and totally discredited. Who would you blame aside GEJ? In his defense, what we now hear is that same cabal again is the problem and true to type, rather than weild presidential power to fight THOSE people, he leaves them and again punishes Nigerians!

But he could use that presidential power to ignore the NASS! He could use it to force aside the PCA! He could use it to cancel an agreement he sigbed within the PDP!

So tell me why presidential power is used ONLY for selfish purposes but I am supposed to believe it becomes useless against this "cabal"? Plus one more thing - is that not Otedola we see following him always? Why does he keep the cabal at his right hand and NOI (world bank & IMF) at his left hand? Where is Nigeria in that SCHEME of reality when his enemies surround him and are the only ones he grants audience to?

When our senators and representatives slash their salaries by 50%, then we know they are serious, otherwise they should STFU

nuclearboy:

@Beaf:

'lll tell you why this is asinine And NOT believable!

Why is it that every intelligence report GEJ gets is able to let him know what is being planned but not enough to have him arrest the situation except thru daft, surreptitious moves which end up with his foot down his gut? I would like to defend him atimes but the daftness of some policies andexcusess given make me shudder.

This fuel subsidy removal takes the cake! A laudable action has become villified and its proponent hated, despised and totally discredited. Who would you blame aside GEJ? In his defense, what we now hear is that same cabal again is the problem and true to type, rather than weild presidential power to fight THOSE people, he leaves them and again punishes Nigerians!

But he could use that presidential power to ignore the NASS! He could use it to force aside the PCA! He could use it to cancel an agreement he sigbed within the PDP!

So tell me why presidential power is used ONLY for selfish purposes but I am supposed to believe it becomes useless against this "cabal"? Plus one more thing - is that not Otedola we see following him always? Why does he keep the cabal at his right hand and NOI (world bank & IMF) at his left hand? Where is Nigeria in that SCHEME of reality when his enemies surround him and are the only ones he grants audience to?

I am sure in the fulness of time, we will know the truth. But I can assure you that, being in govt and wanting to bring reforms against entrenched forces as a civilian is a high wire dance that will require many unusual steps.
Personally, I find the aspect of the story that says GEJ brought the removal date forward to be highly dubious. The reason is that 1,100 buses had already been imported for the takeoff of the road transit part of the palliative schemes. The N50billion bribery thing is very believable, though.

one of the best jokes ever

aways running away from the criminals

If Beaf is saying that the 'Cabal' wanted to bribe the National Assembly and the President's unilateral decision to remove fuel subsidy on January 1, 2012 is a direct consequence, one can infer that:

1. The President already knows whom this cabal are.

2. He is too weak to deal with them as President with all of Nigeria's instruments of coercion at his disposal!

3. He has decided that the Nigerian masses are an easier target to offend/confront than the cabal.

Logically, one can now conclude that the President is extremely incompetent and does not have what it takes to lead this country and this is just based on the analysis of one issue.

If we go into the statement of 'Boko Haram have infiltrated my government', we can conclude that the man is a pathetic joke that will run himself out of Aso Rock in no distant time!

I cant believe i read this shi.t, like seriously, Beaf u r better than this

@beaf:

you believe it but I do NOT! By the way, the reactions above prove what I said - such articles only make him look worse!

I always despised people who have the devil (others) responsible for all their problems! Its reprehensible that as a man, you refuse to assume responsibility. Remember it was an ordinary man who put a plaque saying "The Buck Stops Here" on his table. He accepted responsibility and was ready to be held responsible for things under his watch!

I don't wish to argue about the 1,100 buses but we've read these were ordered by another administration. If true, GEJ is a sad case. But let's leave that!

All GEJ needs is to distance himself from "yes men" and bring his enemies to put their actions where their mouths are! I would bring el-rufai on-board and give him a free hand. Same with Femi falana! I can think of a few more but just these in "heavy" roles would help him. Make el-rufai petroleum minister and falana Justice and I wager things will change. SLS can take "finance" then bring back Ribadu for efcc

But such suggestions make sense ONLY to people wanting to fight the corrupt system.

PS: I deliberately included the above because I wonder what your reaction would be to such. I wait!

^
The reactions are by fevered GEJ haters like dilluminati, maclatunji, honeric1 and yourself. There are more reasonable people who would have read the article.
El Rufai is a very corrupt person by the way and Falana is not known for high integrity.

Hardunnii:

I cant believe i read this shi.t, like seriously, Beaf u r better than this

Why? Did I write the article?
As far as I am concerned, the N50billion bit is entirely believable.

I thought Beaf doesn't believe any news outside the one published by major newspapers? 'The Moment'

The government of settlement is at work again. Beaf should tell his paymasters that Nigerians are wiser than Dr (PhD) fisherman and his cohorts. Rubbish.

different reasons for this intended hardship on the masses. they said it was because of a cabal, they said it was IMF direction, they said it is the only way to better our lives and now N50B bribe.
i will urge beaf and jonathan to go and think very well and come out with one reason for all these jokes.
why will u impose hardship and start calling for dialogue? the house of reps has made its stance clear - revert to the N65 pump price.
GEJ has said it openly that there is no going back thereby drawing the battle line. more than 20 ppl have been killed and the same situation in ivory coast that saw off gbagbo is on ground here and soon, we will see GEJ go to the Hague to explain his role in these killings.

is GEJ afraid to fight corruption because he is involved.

@Beaf:

I am NOT a GEJ hater! On the contrary! But I hate excuses and a lack of truth! Everyday, we hear why GEJ cannot rule - he has the cabals, the NASS, the ungrateful people of Nigeria etc! When the rain falls, it is to his disadvantage. When the sun is too hot, only him feels it! What manner of reasoning is that? The Bible says "a lazy man says there is a Lion in the streets" - na only him dey road? Or is it only his flesh that is sweet enough for lions? It also says "vultures gather where there is carrion" - go figure why both international and local vultures gather around GEJ.

Nigeria voted (?) him in yet he prefers the praise of the USA which stated he was the "worst" candidate in the last election. We insulted them at that time on his behal fbut now he insults us on their behalf.

I have nothing against him aside the innocent who have died under his watch because of his indecisiveness but even that can be forgotten if he wakes up and makes Nigerians his friends. IBB and co now know what GEJ is planning for his future - he should talk to them

Subsideen Goatbrain Jona-daft = CABAL Chairman!

Sorry it has gotten to you quoting an unknown newspaper to ensure badluck pays your salary

i thought gej was 'cleaning up the pdp?'

i thought gej had reinvigorated efcc?

and the article, amazingly, admits whta gej's team has denied, that he is  [size=18pt]A LIAR WHO BROKE HIS PROMISE[/size]. i swear there must be something in the water that these gej dunces drink. or maybe its the n50,000 champagne.

and as always in the GEJ train wreck, there are NEVER any names. just rumours and empty innuendo

the government of shadows, cabals, plots and incompetence

a brainless man whose greedy and cunning advisers will push him into the pit of hell, the latch onto whoever comes after him