₦airaland Forum

OBJ cannot escape probe; he has set the precedence and others are sure to follow his footsteps.

I say Amen, to the title of your post.

debosky:
even the man's so called 'fighting of corruption' was largely attributed to his second in command idiagbon, whose brief absence from the country on hajj led to the lame duck buhari being removed.

Your assessment of Buhari is borne out of hate and prejudice for him. Or probably it was borne out of ignorance for the way the military government of that time operated. Buhari was de-facto head of state, but Idiagbon by virtue of his position as the Chief of Staff, Supreme Military Council (SMC) was saddled with executing the decisions reached by the SMC. Hence Idiagbon was perceived to wield enormous political power over the Head of State, but in truth he was only carrying out his executive functions and in reality he was subordinate to Buhari as Head of State.
The matter of regime change was destined to happen that way, and that it occured without bloodletting is something that should be viewed positively.

debosky:
yar'adua has followed the democratic system for 8 years, he has not been corrupt, so he has positive antecedents. Buhari will simply lock up those he dislikes and free those he likes, just like he did in 84, we don't want that kind of leader.

I can't even take your words for its face value given your are bias against Buhari because you are simply being economical with the truth. Or how could you reach that conclusion that with the democratic gains of the past eight years, somebody can just throw caution to the winds and start locking people up based on the reasons adduced by you.

LoverBwoy:
[/color]

It's quite disturbing that they are just opening their eyes since 1999

most of them have no clue, they basically suport the highest bidder!

I think this is most unfortunate an uncomplimentary remark regarding the ongoing efforts by Senators particularly the Senate President toward ensuring a more purposeful and forthright clampdown on corruption. It is better late than never. The Senate deserves our commendation now that they are becoming more alive and sensitive to their legislative responsibilities. The senate must curb the excesses of OBJ and untie EFCC from the presidency's apron-string.


The allegation of double standard and political manipulation is, unfortunately, seemly supported by the conspicuous omission on the list of some persons who EFCC, and even the Code of Conduct Bureau had earlier charged to court and tribunal, respectively, for corrupt practices. Some of these persons have now been given flags as candidates for the April elections. The Senate is watching very closely this development in the electoral process.

“As federal legislators who enacted the law that established and empowers the EFCC to fight economic and financial crimes, we must take special interest in how the EFCC discharges its mandates. We must be worried when there is credible evidence that its independence is being eroded. True Talk Mr. Senate President. Bravo!!

The double standand employed by EFCC in the selective prosecution of corrupt politicians may soon be a thing of the past. Reminiscent of his epoch-making speak that spelt the dealt knell of the infamous third term, the Senate president has again risen to the ocassion by lending his voice and support to the complaint by concerned Nigerians about the dubious way the EFCC has been conducting its affairs of late. The Senate president was particularly disturbed that commission's independence is being eroded with its romance with the Federal Government, adding that the Act that created it did not meant its independence to be compromised.
Excerpt from his motion to the senate: "We must be worried when there is credible evidence that its independence is being eroded. By the principles of constitutional democracy such an agency that is created by an Act of the legislature to undertake specifically defined purposes becomes an independent agency, and not part of the Presidency. Because they are supposed to be independent from control by the Executive, these agencies are often referred to as the 'Fourth Branch' of government. The EFCC Act 2004 does not authorise the agency to submit list of indicted persons to the Presidency but only permits it to go to court and prosecute persons alleged to have engaged in economic and financial crimes."
For full details, go to: http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/news/article02

That has become a thing of the past. We need to chart a new future for our country.  Let move forward. Here is thinking that you will be one of the brave peoples who will rise up against OBJ and his cohorts if they attempt to steal the people's mandate this time around.   (Recall "people power" that drove dictator Fidelis Marcos from power in Philipines)

Why do you think he is the person we need. Is it because he is a newbreed politician? If so, then he is a political neophyte, only known in the academic and educated circles. Don't forget that the vast majority of the grassroot voters are largely uneducated, which means he is relatively unknown to those who hold the ace. This is beside the fact that he is unelectable. How does he intend to win over the voters in the North? Even his brethrens of the Igbo stock jettissioned him and opted for a more matured candidate (politically) in person of Orji Kalu. Where did he learn the ropes in politics? I think politicians learn the ropes of politics in the political arena not in the classroom.

osegwu:
You do not compare Military rule with a civilian rule. A currupt Civlian Administration is better than a Military Junta. I am not a party Loyalist but I know that Yar'Adua is better than Brutal or Buhai , what is he called? He should go and settle is account at PTF

Still me

Sure the military government is an aberation because soldiers rule through the barrels of gun and they do not have the mandate to rule over us. But civilian regimes like those of the dingy-haired, pot-bellied politicians of the second republic does not deserve to rule over us either especially the NPN controlled Federal government because they stole the mandate of the people.

Anyone that has been following the antics of OBJ will not fail to appreciate that there is a sinister motive by the presidency behind the release of this list of indictment of "so called corrupt politicians".  It has nothing to do with the honest prosecution of corrupt officials but it is only a strategy to perpetuate PDP in power, and by extension, ensure that OBJ's enemies does not get elected into office.  This is an insurance to forestalling any possible prosecution of him out of office. We all have a stake in the country and a corrupt free, democratic society will serve our interest better.  We do not deserve the crap that OBJ is dishing out to us in the name of war against corruption. 

Whoever thinks this list will usher in a regime of corrupt free politicians after the elections must be living in a fools paradise because it is not destined to be so.  Gist: Alao Akala who Ribadu reportedly told a UI audience as being corrupt and unworthy of holding a public office was missing from the list.  This same corrupt ex-police officer is the PDP governorship candidate of Oyo state.  In case people have forgotten, this is the man that gave the state's treasury to Lamidi Adedibu, the thug that has being causing confusion in Oyo state since 2003.

Also, why would Tejuosho's name be on the list when he has not, in his entire life, held government appointment?  Well, he is contesting against OBJ's daughter for the coveted senatorial seat of Ogun central district. This is a well liked personality in the district, who possesses all that it takes to defeat OBJ's daughter at the polls. Because OBJ is scheming for his daughter to become the next Senate President, then Tejuosho must be indicted to disqualify him from contesting the election. List of indicted politicians indeed.

I am not living in Nigeria but I keep abreast of developments by reading articles by well informed partiotic Nigerians.  I cannot for the life of me think of any reason why a sane person would advocate for the continuity of the PDP government after what they have done to Nigeria in the last eight years.  The consensus of most of the contributors to this forum is that PDP government has done a yeoman's job and should be returned unopposed in the polls.  This is appaling to say the least.
Eight years is enough for a government to make its mark and write its name in gold in the history of a nation.  For the past one year or so this government has not done anything meaningful at the federal level other than dissipating energy and fritting away scarce resources (which could have been channeled to developing the social infrastuctures of the nation) on the tenure elongation for OBJ and fighting Atiku.  
Nigeria deserves a better government than PDP and we have an opportunity in the coming elections to show our disaffection at the polls by voting the party of riggers out of power. Herein lies the beauty of democracy.

McKren:
@Abeem

That question was borne out of your justification of Buhari's coup which truncated democracy. His actions then cost this nation over 20years. He can not expect to benefit from a system he does not believe in. If we were living in a civilized society Buhari will be too ashamed to take part in our National debate let alone sick the people's vote.

I don't agree with you.  First, it was patriotism that drove him to sack the civilian government on account of their corruption, misgovernance et al.  Unfortunately, the evil genius did not let his administration finish the job they set out to do.  Ghana was in the same messy situation with Nigeria (if not worse) but thanks to Jerry Rawlings, Ghana has now become a model of democracy for all countries in West Africa. Rawlings set out to achieve a mission and succeeded in reforming the Ghanaian society, and the people owe a lot to him. If you have not been to Ghana, I am sure you have heard a lot about the country lately.

You talk about truncating democracy. What democracy? The type of democracy practised by Nigerian politicians is a lot different from the universally acclaimed democracy which is "the government of the people, by the people and for the people".  When politicians asks for people's votes, they undertake to serve the people, and by so doing, are accountable to us.  Can you tell me in all honesty that Nigerian politicians are truly subservient to the people?  Unless you want to be economical with the truth, the answer is a resounding NO. 

We need a leader who we can trust that will not line his pocket with the commonwealth funds.  A tested leader who is firm and is driven by the selfish desire to rescue the country from the parasitic members of the PDP.  I think that Buhari perfectly fit this bill.  OBJ saw these qualities in him when he asked him to cross-carpet to PDP but as a principled person that he is, he was honour bound to reject the greek gift.

McKren:
@Abeem

It will do my heart a great pleasure if you can provide a straight forward answer to my question.

Right most Nigerians feel the country is messed up and OBJ is very corrupt:
Question: "Will it be justified if a military officer truncates the present democracy on that ground"

The honest answer to the question posed by you is a capital NO.  But having said that, which military officer is bent on truncating our current democratic set up on account of corruption of the present crop of leaders?  Please educate me.

@moleeipaiko,

I agree with your submission. 

PDP as a party have had their opportunity and it is high time another party is trusted with the leadership and affairs of the country.  I am at a loss as to why anybody would advocate for the extension of  the tenure of PDP government (with the tacit support for the election of Yar'adua candidature) after the painful experience of the party's misgovernment the last eight years.

In the US, the Republican party had been in control of the Congress since 1994,  a feat they capped with the election of Bush as president in 2000, giving the party total control of the executive branch of the government and the legislature.  Soon the party became intoxicated with power and with time, they lost touch with the wishes and aspirations of the people.  This resulted in the defeat of the Republican party in the last congressional elections in November 2006, culminating in the shift and balance of power in favour of the Democratic party. 

In Nigeria, we are capable of showing our disdain and disaffection with the PDP style of governance, by showing them the way out of government in the forthcoming elections.  I believe we can and we should take a cue from the US electorate who had become fed up with the excesses of the former Republican party and did not hesitate to show the party the exit from power. 

If we must hold our leaders accountable for their acts and miscarriage in office, then OBJ must not have his way in rigging the next election in favour of Yar'adua.  The experience of 1979 is still fresh in our memory.

Yes, I agree that Buhari is better than Yar'adua. I am old enough to appreciate his contribution together with his compatriot, late Gen Tunde Idiagbon, in wrestling power from the bunch of unpatriotic, selfish and corrupt second republic politicians who had messed up the economy and plunged the entire country into a state of moral decadence. His probity, uprightness, discipline and tested leadership put him far ahead of Yar'adua who cannot stand on his own without the backing of OBJ.

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/columnists/onabule/2007/today-26-jan-2007.htm

Nutter:
Before rushing to clink wineglasses, I think we should focus concern on the outcome of this process – as in who is actually going to jail and for how long? The Tafa Balogun matter left a very bitter taste in my mouth and has done its bit to reinforce my cynicism. We are still very far from ‘Uhuru’!

That is what men of wisdom are wont to do - cross fingers, siddon look and watch actions as they unfold and don't just jump into conclusions. As for me, I think of the timing of the release of the information as a deft political calculation meant to buy Ribadu and his oga OBJ reprieve in the wake of the unsavoury comments elicited by the Atiku/OBJ media war and how the EFCC handled the investigation.

Dear Muslim Brothers and Sisters,

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deadline! In my personal experience with Al-Quran for Your iPod, I found
it to be extremely useful for both my Tajweed and memorization. I plan to
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"Visit TheOnlyWord.com and download your FREE copy of Al-Quran for Your
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Jazakallah Ahira

otokx:
This is all unsubstantiated trash.

OBJ is a cacophony of inexplicable duplicity – a man who found it difficult to own up to being interested in another four year term but found it convenient to bribe the legislators to realize his ambition.  On the one hand, he is busy fighting corruption, on the other hand, he is clandestinely supporting and involved in corrupt activities. We can't be fooled.

If he can dip his hands into the Treasury to bribe legislators’ fifty million each, what further evidence, substantiated or not, does anybody require to be convinced that this man has this princely sum of money stashed away in his private accounts?  TTA was defeated barely five months ago and it appears some people have forgotten what transpired during the history making event.   Is this a case of amnesia or what?

ibux:
@Abeem,
your advice is not for the 30s, so what do u advice the 30s if he wins the lottery?

At age 30 and above, I assumed that you must have completed your first degree and you are already gainfully employed, started a family, etc. In short, you will have already marshalled out a plan of how to succeed in life and drawn a road map to achieve your objectives.  If you win the lottery, and you chose to come to the U.S., you have to leave your career, family, and your social connections behind to forge a new beginning in the US.  That will derail your life plan, and you have to start life, career, social connections etc anew. 

Plus, if you really don't pass through the educational system here, it might be difficult to get your dream job and if you want to go college, then remember age is not on your side.  If you are under 30, you can easily dust your books and go back to college. A person in the 20's is  in a better shape because it is highly unlikely that the person must have started a family, which is something that could weigh heavily on what to do - I think someone in the 20's is just finding his/her bearing in life, hence the crux of my advice.

Also there are a lot of cultural shocks that awaits you, and you must be prepared to deal with discrimation, bias, prejudice and other form of negative stereotypes which to some people might be too overwhelming to deal with. 

I guess the bottomline of my advice is, do not expect things to be rosy and don't expect to come here to pick dollar on the road (chuckles).  If you are a serious, determined, focused, and a strongwilled person driven by the motivation to succeed, I don't see all these roadblocks as insurmontable and you can make it with luck and perseverance on your side.
Goodluck.

@ joshO

joshO:
This article came straight out of the ACD/AD propaganda machine,

I don't agree with you. I read about Atiku's pronouncement about the 30,000 naira seed money from this same source and he was literally torn to shreds for trying to play smart on our collective intelligence.

According to CNN, a coup d'etat has just taken place in Thailand by the country's military. They took advantage of the absence of the Prime Minister who is far away in New York attending the UN session. He has since went on National TV to declare a state of emergency.

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/09/19/thailand.coup.rumor/index.html

People of wisdom have said that if you live in a glass house, you must refrain from throwing stones. Why? The answer is obvious. Because if you throw stones and it is thrown back at you, it will shatter your glass house. This is a tell-tale story confirming that Oga in Aso Rock has laundered close to $1 billion dollars using his girlfriend and others as proxies.



Bombshell: Obasanjo’s $1billion Dollars In London Bank!
BY Sunny Ofili
DATE : Friday, 15 September 2006
As the messy fight between President Olusegun Obasanjo and his deputy, Abaubakar Atiku get messier, more revelations of financial impropriety are beginning to surface. The Times of Nigeria can reveal exclusively that President Olusegun Obasanjo has over the years wired close to $1billion dollars to foreign accounts through his girlfriend, Lamide Adegbenro and other associates.

The Times of Nigeria is currently in possession of a “Payment Credit Advice” document from a British bank, “NatWest Bank PLC” advising one Ms. Lamide Adegbenro of 15 Teresa close Nottinghill, London W2 4DA that the sum of $110,000 United States dollars has been wired into her account from Habib Bank Nigeria Limited on 474 Langtang Close, area 3, Garki Abuja.


The total amount of USD 109,987.47 was paid into Ms Lamide Adegbenro’s account number 140-00-08664641 after subtracting the commission fee from the original amount. The payment was authorized by Bodunde Adeyanju, the personal assistant to President Obasanjo who has been in the center of allegations and counter allegations between the President and his Vice over the operation of the MOFAS account.


The transfer, with reference number “031030CHBSES33CXXX164641” was dated October 31st 2004. A commission of $12.53 cents was paid for the transfer.


Our source, who is based in the United Kingdom, has promised to reveal documents detailing deposits of about $1B dollars deposited in United Kingdom by the President through his proxies.


“Over the next few days therefore, I will be releasing a number of documents for Nigerians to read and see the degree of decadence of Mr. President. It is the evidence that will demand a verdict.”


“Based on what is available, I have a rough calculation of about $1billion dollars that have been laundered? There is also Obasanjo’s purported resignation letter which was secured in London just in case the Third term issue goes haywire.”


“We will also talk about Alam, Nigeria and the British intelligence? Who is telling the truth?”


“What about Dariye? Did he not use his diplomatic passport to enter Nigeria?”


“I realise that in making these information available, I will be a marked man. That is the sacrifice that has to be paid anyway. Some people paid similar prices before us, and they have laid an example for us to follow in their footsteps. May God grant us the heart and strength as well as long life to see Nigeria become great again?”


“The question we have to ask ourselves, that is if we truly love Nigeria, is: Was Obasanjo using his PA and his girlfriend as well to launder money to London? The source concluded.

Source: http://www.thetimesofnigeria.com

Proverbs are kolanuts with which words are eaten, apology to Chinua Achebe. Kola Animashaun's penchant for using Yoruba proverbs to drive home his points and his peculiar way of writing have endeared him to me so much so that my Sunday is not complete without reading his "Voice of Reason" column in the Sunday Vanguard. Together with "Frankly Speaking" Dele Shobowale, they make an interesting and versatile journalistic combination at the Vanguard stable.

There is nothing more on the Atiku/OBJ debacle that have not been said or reported in the news media. Everything is available to the court of public opinion. It is natural that people will take sides in any contest. This one is not different. But as we pitch our support for either of the feuding sides, we need to analyze the issues involved critically and arrive at an objective and informed decision. Taking sides for partisan reasons will not help the country. The country is bigger than the two of them.

I think OBJ's chicken has finally come home to roost, and nemesis has caught up with him. Here is somebody that has been playing the script of a saint but he is no better than the devil. As the saying goes, you can fool some people some of the time, but you cannot fool the people all the time. That is why the present war between the President and his deputy is a God sent opportunity to expose their dark sides for all to see. It is hoped that the NASS will be courageous enough to finally use the impeachment weapon which they have been timid and reluctant to use in the past against the duo. They should both be thrown out of office. It will amount to good riddance to bad rubbish.

In addition to the provision of good railway system and network of roads, affordable health care, portable water, constant and uniterruptible supply of electricity, empowerment programs to give the youths and the unemployed a new lease of live, I will endeavor to:


1. Disband the Nigeria Police and ask each state to recruit its own police force.

2. Ensure that the National ID card scheme come to fruition. This will make it easy to create a database for all the citizens of the country. The card will also make it less cumbersome to identify and deal with the people. It will also facilitate the collection of revenues for the government among other uses.

3. Set up a Government Accountability Office (GAO) to be staffed by accountants and auditors (yours truly is an accountant) as a non- partisan agency in the legislative arm - the National Assembly to oversee and evaluate the operating efficiency and effectiveness of government programs. The GAO will only report to the NASS to ensure that their independence is not compromised. I will recommend similar establishment for the states.

4. Make education compulsory and binding up to SSS 3 level on all citizens and funded free from the consolidated accounts. Students Aids and Loans Board will be operated to give students from poor homes who are interested in pursuing higher education the resources and incentives to reach their educational goals.

5. Restructure EFCC and insist on the head being voted into office to ensure absolute independence and unalloyed loyalty to the Nigerian people. This is necessary to forestall the hijack and use of the institution by any president to haunt political enemies and vindictive purposes as the experience of OBJ with the present EFCC has revealed. The EFCC head will be answerable to the National Assembly and not the president.

6. Sign a bill for National Election Days to befixed every four years and conducted five months before the expiration of the term of the incumbent president/state governors. This is to ensure that appeals and other irregularities associated with the elections are dispensed with before the commencement of the incoming administration's regime.

7. Ensure Transparency in the conduct of elections by ensuring the head of Electoral Commission is voted by the people and not appointed by the president. The head will be made answerable to NASS and not the president.

Yours trully won the DV lottery visa.  I have been living in the US since December 1997.  If you have made up your mind to come to the US after winning the DV lottery, I wouldn't advice you not to come, but have it at the back of your mind that you want to return back to Naija.  Use the opportunity to get yourself a good education up to graduate level at least and proceed to the Doctorate level if possible.  It may not be too rosy, but your status as a permanent resident alien entitles you to some educational aids which I will advice you to take advantage of. At the end of your academic pursuits, go back to explore career opportunities in motherland, where with the right connections, you have the chance of climbing through the corporate ladder. 

Thats my 2 cents and the advice is for the younger folks out there not someone in the 30's.

The apparent half-heartedness, insincerity and double standard of this administration in the war against corruption has again come under attack.  The latest attack is from the CD, asking the chairman of EFCC to look into allegations against the president and some powerful members of its party and “produce his reports for Nigerians to accept that he is not just a tool of persecution as against an agent of prosecuting anti graft war."

The group, in a statement by its president, Dr. (Mrs.) Joe Oke-Odumakin called on the EFCC not to limit its investigations to the allegations against Atiku alone, but to also look into the following allegations:
[b]•Chief Gani Faweh-inmi’s petition against President Obasanjo for abusing his office to raise N6b from private and public institutions for his personal library;
•The allegation that the President has 200m shares in Transcorp;
•The corruption charge of a Tokunbo plane being purchased for the price of a new one on the Presidential fleet;
•The charge by the Revenue Allocation Committee that funds running into billions of dollars were withdrawn from the Excess Crude Accounts without the approval of the National Assembly;
•The probe into Bode George led NPA’s board where about N53b was reportedly mismanaged;
• The Works Ministry under Chief Tony Anenih where N360 billion was allocated without any motorable road to show for it; and the
•The disappearance of over N500 million from the Maritime Agency. The late Engr. Funso Williams queried this before his death. But the removed DG of the Agency was alleged to have disclosed that the funds were spent for the Southern Leaders Forum held in Enugu last December.[/b]


Interesting, but does the EFCC Chairman have the gut to accept this challenge?

Source:
http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=58170

September 23 or 24. Depending on when the moon is sighted in your country or the pronouncement made by the relevant Muslim Shura Council of your area.

Can anybody imagine what would have been the reaction of our brothers and sisters from the opposite side of the religious divide if this infidelity and large-scale embezzlement were associated with a Muslim cleric?

@ joshO, Iyke-D and all those OBJ apologists.  Please acquaint yourselves with what is going on at the presidency through this link.  Do not say you are not told of the sins of OBJ.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/articles/2002/editorial/ed11092006.html

Also on the topic of discussion if you want to read other people's opinion about the double-standard of the president and the improper way the EFCC is being used to wage the war on corruption, check this link:

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/news/article07

@iyke-D

I live in the US just like you. I am a Yoruba from the West.  Ordinarily I should be supporting OBJ because he is my kinsman.  No.  I can't do that.  it is against my conscience and that lies the root cause of our problem as a nation.  We must learn to speak up when there is injustice, because if we don't we may be consumed by the conflagration of the injustice.  I am a Muslim, Yes, but it does not translate to a fanatical support for Atiku.  No that will be against my religious ideology.
On the contrary, I believe that "What is good for the goose , should be good for the gander".  If you go to equity, you must go with clean hands.  I do not support Atiku as a person or his ambition as future president.  But nobody should take us for a ride, not even the president of the country.  This is 21st century.  If we are practicing democracy, the government should be open to criticisms and not having one person ram down our throat whatever he likes.  I am simply for justice.

If you are for the eradication of corruption, do it with free of rhetorics and no preferential treatment for anybody.   Let us appreciate that you are sincere and you mean well. There should be no kid-glove treatments for your praise-singers while deploying the instrument of state to bring down and destroy your adversaries by whatever means.  You don't cover up injustice because someone is your loyalists and turn a blind eye to their misdeed, while you crucify others, who you have labelled disloyals. That is injustice.  Loyalty and patrotism should be to the nation and not to an individual.   

[quote author=Iyke-D link=topic=22752.msg600613#msg600613 date=1157902899]To All Atiku Lovers/Supporters,

It appears that the most reason given for not wanting the removal of Atiku is that OBJ
is also corrupt.[/quote]I am not against the removal of Atiku, but there is wisdom in the popular adage that those who lives in glass house must not throw stones.  Because, if they do and they are retaliated against, their houses will be shatterred by stones. 

[quote author=Iyke-D link=topic=22752.msg600613#msg600613 date=1157902899]Lets try something different for a change. Since OBJ calls all the shots, it is impossible for
EFCC to really move against him at this point. Should we then fold our hands and not do
anything about anyone else? I think not, the EFCC report/recommendation should be
taken very seriously and if that means the end of Atiku so be it. When the next admin
comes in, it will be time to revisit OBJ - he should also be given the same royal treatment
if found guilty.
[/unquote]


No,  this is not a good recommendtion for ridding the country of corruption.  We cannot arrive at the democratic crossroad until we are able to stop those we have elected into office from committing actions that are against the commonwealth i.e. corrupt enrichment.  Are you aware that the President of Israel got busted recently by the police for sex offences? We should be able to make our elected representatives accountable while in office not when they have left.


[quote author=Iyke-D link=topic=22752.msg600613#msg600613 date=1157902899]We can't wait until ALL the crooks in government both past and present are all arrested,
tried at the same, and sent to jail for their offenses AT THE SAME time. ITS IMPOSSIBLE!!
We must start from somewhere. The real question should be whether people are being
framed or not, it shouldn't be because OBJ may have 200 million shares in Transcorp (not
proven, just an allegation anyway, ) or whether Adengua donated 1Billion to OBJ's Bell
Library.[/quote]I know you are a sceptic about the financial impropriety levied against OBJ.   How about checking this link to update your knowledge.
http://www.amanaonline.com/Articles/art_2167.htm
If you are still not convinced, let me know.


[quote author=Iyke-D link=topic=22752.msg600613#msg600613 date=1157902899]Guys think about it for a second, why on earth will OBJ go after a man that allegedly donated
1Billion naira to his school, how ridiculous can that be? And if that was to be true, shouldn't
we all be praising OBJ for refusing a bribe and going after rouges!

PEOPLE LETS CHANGE OUR THINKING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!![/quote]I can tell that you are not speaking from the vantage point of somebody who know nor have read much about the person or character of OBJ.  Otherwise, you will not write this.  Ask those he had used and dumped, and they will have a story to tell you.  Need an example, how about Okonjo-Iweala? Ask Governor Bola Tinubu, and those former governors of AD in the West. I can also tell that you do not appreciate that the intention is/was not to humilate Adenuga, or as you put it refusal to be bribed.  No, it is a kind of collateral damage, an inevitable course of action you take to achieve your objective.

The beauty of democracy is we can all hold different views about an issue.  We can disagree to agree but what is important is that our intention and motivation should be to improve the common good.  Thinking along the same line does not allow the individual mind to explore alternatives.[/quote]

@joshO,

joshO:
What I talk about is already public knowledge, known to the EFCC and the presidency. For reasons best known to the authorities, some allegations have been left out. Also, it's often difficult to prove a case of currupt enrichment, even if you're dead certain. I can be living in my fathers house, know full well he owns the house, but be unable to prove it, because ours is a nation of front men and front companies.

Good point.  But I just want to say humourously that if you want to be convinced that your dad actually owns the house you are living in, the proof of ownership is the title deed or the certificate of occupancy. 

joshO:
The battle between OBJ and Atiku is probarbly a case of dishonour amongst thieves, therefore Atiku does not get my sympathy. As I will not shed tears should a notorious gang leader decides to 'take out' his rival, I will not loose sleep over this issue as the ultimate benefit is to the masses. If Atiku goes down, it's one less thief to worry about. OBJ's day will come. Whatever process takes them out of the picture gets my support.

Sure, nobody would.  The point is OBJ is not a saint, his political grandstanding on corruption notwithstanding.  For more than seven years he has been president, why did he fail to appoint a substantive minister to head the Petroleum Ministry, if he doesn't have a skeleton to hide in his cupboard?

joshO:
We need a new dawn in Nigeria, driven by younger, dynamic people, not the master riggers (in ACD and PDP) distorting the political landscape as leaders. Isn't it an irony. Atiku is a billlionaire, do doubt. Even he suggests that in speeches he's made in the past. So can he tell the world where the money came from. That much he owes the country. I was infuriated by his recent story of N31,000 seed money!! At least, with OBJ, his companies are well documented even if there are questions to be answered.

That is incontrovertible.  We sure needs young and fertile minds, those driven by selfless motivation to serve.  But that is a herculean task, and I am sure you know this, besides the point that the old politicians are not ready and will not let go their hold on power, easily.  We must be prepared to wrestle power from them. 
In the interim some of the questions we are  interested in asking OBJ are:
1. How did he come about the money to acquire about 200 million shares in Transcorp Nigeria?
2. Why did he as an incumbent president accepted a one billion naira building donated by Adenuga to his Bell's university?
3. Why did he accept from Nigeria Ports Authority, a public enterprise, a $1 million donation to his OBJ presidential library?
And many many more. Is EFCC listening or eavesdropping on us?

joshO:
Atiku (Turaki Vanguard, ACD, PDP, AD - soon ANPP I'm told)!! Come on. Doesn't that in itself speak volumes about the man. Leadership requires principle, not the grab and dominate habit of this discondant and greedy number No2. He lacks character.

That is the character of Nigeria politicians.  They are political fair weather friends.  To them, cross-carpeting is not amoral.  The politicians are not driven by any ideology, they only pitch their tent with the political party where their interest is best served and one which offers them the opportunity to "chop".  Politics in Nigeria is not to serve the people but opportunity to amash wealth and line pockets with ill-gotten wealth.

joshO:
I just can't imagine Dick Cheney or John Prescot taking on the president in the US or prime minister in the UK, or joining / forming a rival party whilst still being VP. This will not even happen in Ghana or SA. Let him step down in a principled manner and take on the president with the evidence at his disposal. Why do leaders in this country find it so hard to resign out of principle!! We sure need men and women of character. Like Gani said, tAtiku's resignation will go a long way in fostering his credibility.

Well, you are comparing apples and oranges.  The electroral process in both the US and the UK are transparent.  Can you say the same for Nigeria which is characterized by high level rigging and selection rather than election.  Can you in all honesty say that OBJ truly contested the 1999 elections.  Was he not forced on Nigerians by the quartet of IBB, Gusau, Danjuma and AbdulSalam?  Did you know if there is an agreement between the agent (OBJ) and his principals (the retired generals who forced him on Nigerians)?  I don't know, but there may be some element of truth in it.

@joshO

Your points are well taken. 

With the extensive intelligence at the disposal of the federal government, the boasting to nail Atiku, and the campaign of calumny orchestrated by OBJ and EFCC, it is painfully dissapointing that all evidence they can come up with is at best a hoax. 

Since you appear to know more than the adversaries of Atiku on his supposedly corrupt enrichment accross the globe, it will serve the common good if you can let us in on how Atiku has come about his vast riches and please note to substantiate your claim.  Because that way, people will believe you.

Betterstill, you will be doing OBJ a lot of good and saving him from mental torture and agony if you can forward details to him or the EFCC by way of petition to make it easy for the hatchet man Ribadu to complete his assignment.

Afam and Nilla

I doff my hat for the perseverance of the two of you.  You are both a dogged fighter, a believer in a cause that is not shaped by religous bigotry.  You stood firm and resolute in what you believe in - justice, fairness and impartiality. 

Guys, these links are for your reading pleasure and others who share in your belief in equity and justice for all. 

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/09/07/khatami.visit/index.html?section=cnn_topstories

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/09/05/verjee.khatami/index.html