₦airaland Forum

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and the Missing Trillions (1) Chukwuma Charles Soludo

I read some of the responses to my article, “Buhari vs Jonathan: Beyond the Election”, and I want to thank everyone who has contributed to the debate. I am glad that the debate has finally taken off. I have decided, for the record, to re-enter the debate if only to set some records straight and hopefully elevate the debate further. Whom do I respond to? First, let me thank Gov Kayode Fayemi for his very mature and professional response on behalf of the APC. It forms a great basis for deepening the conversation. Pat Utomi, Oby Ezekwesili, Iyabo Obasanjo, and thousands of other patriotic Nigerians have raised the content of the debate. Femi Fani-Kayode made me laugh, as usual. The Gov. Jang faction of the Governors’ Forum played the usual politics, although I know what most of them think privately. Who else? Oh, Peter Obi. Well, since he can’t write and designated Valentine as usual to write for him (who never disputed the NBS statistics that Obi broke world record in the pauperization of Anambra people but instead focused on lies and abuses) I won’t dignify him with a response here. His third class performance in Anambra will be the subject of a comprehensive article later.

Here, I will focus on Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s response (as Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy—CME and hence on behalf of the Federal Government). Since I have known her, out of deep respect, I have never called her by her name: I call her Madam. I must state that I have great pains seeing myself on the opposite side of the table with Madam, in this way. I respect you, Madam, and will always do. If you read my article of September 2010 (before you became Minister), the tone and elucidation were as strong as the current one. It is my honest effort to ensure that our choice of leaders is based on rigorous scrutiny of what is on offer. Part of my frustration is that five years after, everything I warned about has come to happen and we are conducting our campaigns as if we are not in crisis. As a concerned Nigerian, I have a duty to speak out again. Regrettably, you have taken it very personal.

I am not bothered about the personal abuses: I actually expected worse. What name has the government not called President Obasanjo or any person who has dared to disagree with it of late? Anyone who disagrees with the government must either be ‘insane’ or have a ‘character’ deficiency or must be ‘looking for a job’ or ‘without honour’, or a ‘charlatan’. Yesterday, Sanusi alleged that $20 billion was missing and he was accused of gross financial mismanagement, recklessness and poor governance to the point of being the first governor of central bank to be suspended from office. Today, he is the good one; and for daring to award an “F” grade for our economic performance, Soludo has become the ‘worst’ and ‘without character’ or perhaps ‘looking for position’ (Lol!). Some days ago, a former president was called ‘a motor park tout’ and ‘un-statesmanly’ just for disagreeing. This “how dare you criticise us” mind-set of the government is dangerous for our democracy.

In this Part One of my planned three part series, I will restrict it to the main issues you raised. I will not bother about the malicious attacks on my person. For me, it is nothing personal. In early 2011, I had a similar heated exchange with then Finance Minister Segun Aganga. But when the Nigerian economy was at stake and he invited me to a stakeholders meeting in his office (as Minister of Trade and Investment) to discuss Nigeria’s response to the ruinous EU- Economic Partnership for Africa (EPA), I flew into Nigeria for that (at my expense)— the first and only time I have been to any government office to discuss policy since I left office. It is about Nigeria. I will, as expected, remind people like you of the salient aspects of my record of public service in response to your charge; challenge your claim to debt relief, and your reason for not saving; highlight your forgery of economic statistics and the lies in your response; but most importantly re-focus our attention to the historic mismanagement of our economy which you carefully avoided. I will show that while you are introducing austerity measures and soon to immiserate the citizens, our public finance is haemorrhaging to the point that estimated over N30 trillion is missing or stolen or unaccounted for, or simply mismanaged— under your watch! We can’t go on like this, and I am convinced that an alternative future is possible. Can we have a public debate on this alternative future? The issues at stake are too grave to be trivialized through name calling. As I write, the naira exchange rate to the dollar is at N215 (from N158 a few months ago) and unless oil price recovers, this is just the beginning. For the sake of Nigeria, I won’t keep quiet anymore!
Let me start with Madam’s rather comical, wild judgment on my tenure of office which I believe to be totally false and baseless. I apologise upfront that in the process of making a ‘personal defence’, it is difficult to avoid a rather uncomfortable emphasis on “I”. I did not want that but since Madam has dragged us this low, I have little choice but to do so in the next few paragraphs—just to keep the record straight!
In my view, there are three criteria for evaluating a public officer’s stewardship: the evaluation by his employer; the satisfaction of the public he served; and the hard facts of performance. As I will show on these three counts, I am convinced that I left a world record of public service, and a thousand Okonjo-Iwealas cannot re-write that history. I served Nigeria under two presidents (Obasanjo and Yar’Adua) and as my immediate bosses, below are their written testimonials of my record.

Said President Obasanjo (December 2004):
“Charles Soludo is a true Nigerian. He is the sort of Nigerian that we all know we can rely on. Among his numerous virtues is COURAGE. I have found in him a man who can take tough and realistic decisions, stand his ground, educate others on the salience of his decision, and work very hard to ensure that the decision is efficiently and effectively implemented. His dedication to duty is first rate. His leadership qualities are admirable and his willingness to listen and learn is simply infectious. Professor Soludo has within a short time emerged as one of the leading lights of our nation. Not because he has a godfather but by sheer hard work, loyalty, dedication to duty, commitment to the nation, creativity, and undiluted association with the reform agenda….”

President Yar’Adua (May 2009) had the following to say about the Central Bank of Nigeria under my leadership:
“… the CBN has performed creditably well in delivering on its core mandates. This is especially even more so in the last five years. Most people would agree that without the successful banking consolidation and effective management of our foreign reserves, the current global crisis would have shaken the financial system and our national economy to their foundations with calamitous consequences”.

In the President’s special letter of commendation after the completion of my tenure of office, President Yar’Adua (June 2009) had the following to say to me:
“As your tenure as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria comes to a glorious end, I write on behalf of the Government and people of Nigeria to place on record our debt of gratitude to you for your dedicated service and uncommon sense of duty over the past five years. I am confident that your worthy antecedents in the CBN and in prior appointments in the service of our nation remain sources of inspiration to an entire generation. As I wish you even more astounding successes in the years ahead, it is my fervent hope that you will readily avail us of your distinguished service when the need arises in the future”.

To the best of my knowledge, President Obasanjo has not changed those views even after ten years. The views of my two bosses, not the emotional outburst of an angry person desperate to get even, are what count.
How did Nigerians evaluate my public service? Unfortunately, we do not have scientific opinion polls on job approval ratings for individual public officers. But if the public opinions of individuals and organized groups (labour, employers, depositors, borrowers, stakeholders of the financial institutions, newspaper editorials, investors, etc) as expressed in thousands of newspaper/magazine clips during and after my tenure are anything to go by, then 82% of the public largely agree with the sentiments expressed by my two bosses. Your views belong to the other 18% which is okay, after all, no one is perfect. Five Nigerian newspapers and magazines simultaneously named us “man of the year” in one year— unprecedented in Nigeria’s history. I do not talk about hundreds of awards and recognitions by various segments of our society (during and even after service) for “excellent public service”. I was particularly touched by the historic award by the staff union of the Central Bank and the tears in the eyes of many as thousands of the staff gave me a standing ovation as I walked the aisle after my brief farewell speech.
Certainly, the international community (investors, bankers, scholars, donors, media, etc) took serious notice of the revolution in Nigeria’s monetary and financial system. I am recipient of five international awards as global and African central bank governor of the year, not to mention dozens of other recognitions (even after leaving office). The London Financial Times described us as “a great reformer”. Even as the global economic and financial crisis raged in 2008, the United Nations General Assembly appointed me to serve on the Commission of Experts to reform the international monetary and financial system. You don’t appoint someone who has ‘mismanaged’ his national financial system to reform the global system. For 8 years until 2012, I served on the chief economist advisory council (CEAC) of the World Bank, and together with two Nobel Prize winners in economics and other experts we met periodically and advised two presidents and two chief economists of the World Bank, and in 2011, I served on the External Advisory Group of the IMF. Again, these are not positions for ‘mis-managers’. Since I left office, I have been advising countries and central banks; and there is hardly any two months I don’t consult/advise on banking/financial and monetary policy. I have given these illustrations to make the point that for every one Okonjo-Iweala’s attempt to rewrite history, there are thousands who disagree.

Now, to some skeletal facts of our stewardship! I will be brief as I have a whole book to tell my story. As chief economic adviser, I had advised that our banking system could not support the private sector-led economy envisioned under NEEDS. When I assumed office at CBN, I inherited 89 rickety, mostly family banks (all of which put together were not up to the size of number four bank in South Africa). Many were insolvent, with depositors’ money trapped, and 20 more about to collapse. To get a credit of $300 million probably required all the banks to syndicate it. For me, there was a national emergency. I drafted a 13-point reform agenda, discussed and agreed all the specifics with the President, and his VP; as well as my management team at the CBN, and we swung into action. President Obasanjo promised 100% support and actually delivered 1000%— which was decisive. I apologize to you Madam because I did not brief or inform you about it. We just wanted to keep it confidential given the sensitivity of the announcement. It is on record that you never supported it.

It was both a revolution and a war and most people thought it was “impossible”, but thank God we succeeded. For the first time in Nigeria’s history a policy of that magnitude was announced and deadline kept with precision. We were courageous to revoke the licenses of 14 banks, including those of my friends, in one day. The FT-Banker concluded that the scale, precision, and cost of the transformation were unprecedented in the world. Before then, Malaysia had the least cost of banking consolidation at 5% of Malaysian GDP. It did not cost Nigerian taxpayers one penny. Twenty-five new, stronger banks emerged but the powerful idea behind consolidation ignited something even more powerful—‘the race to the top’. Banks raised more capital, and even banks like First Bank, Zenith, GTB, etc that did not merge with others went on capital raising several times. The consequence was higher levels of capitalization and within two years, 14 Nigerian banks were in the top 1000 banks in the world and two in the top 300 (no Nigerian bank was in the top 1000 before I came). Even after I left office, still 9 banks were in the top 1000. Our vision was to have a Nigerian bank in the top 100 banks within 10 years. As I see the new Access bank; Zenith, GTB, Fidelity, Diamond, UBA, FBN, FCMB, Skye, Stanbic IBTC, Union, Ecobank, etc, I cannot but feel that we have taken giant steps forward.

Deposits and credit soared (from barely N1.2 trillion to over N7 trillion); new technologies (ATM and e-banking) boomed, and banks had 57,000 new jobs; mega businesses emerged (ask any major operator in the Nigerian economy their experience with banking and credit before and after Soludo —the Dangotes, Arik, MM2, oil and gas operators; etc); capital market boomed and dominated by the banking sector. It was a new dawn for Nigerian private sector. I have heard Dangote twice say that he would not be near as big as he is today without the banking consolidation. Many other stakeholders still say it today. FDI and portfolio inflows flooded into Nigeria. The world celebrated, and one single transformative idea has changed the face of the private sector and economy forever. Banks became Nigeria’s first transnational corporations with about 37 branches outside of Nigeria.

Nigeria survived the global crisis because of this, and it is the banking sector that has largely been powering the economic growth you claim (compare banks trillions of naira credit for investments in the productive sector with your government’s miserable expenditure on critical infrastructure and investment; much of your borrowing – bonds – is from the banks). Your privatization of power sector, several PPP projects on infrastructure, etc, are now possible because of the mega banks. Today, Nigerian banks syndicate multi-billion dollar loans— unthinkable before. Madam, if the consolidation was ‘mismanaged’, there would not have been any bank to start with in the aftermath of the global crisis— as President Yar’adua correctly pointed out. Even you, during a recent presentation at the Banquet Hall in Abuja advertised consolidation as a historic achievement. How can you recognize a ‘mis-managed’ project as an outstanding achievement? As we say in Igbo, you can’t cover the moon with your palms.

Gani Adam is not in any position to speak for the Yoruba race. Lets wait and see what happens.

OP, don't waste your money and time, to deal with koloid or bump is very simple. Look for the aloe Vera plant, cut off a finger of the plant, apply the gel on the bump at least three times daily, you will be surprise with the result within few days.

Talking to you from the experience I had with it. In my own case, I told my wife to peel the surface of the bump with a blade, she helped to squeeze out the fluid and blood, and started applying the aloe Vera natural gel on it. Within few days, it dried off.

Fani Kayode's family have been a yoruba outcast family since the early 1960s. In Ile-Ife where his family came from his father Remi Fani Kayode was banished for the town by then Oni of Ife, Oba Aderemi. Thats' why despite his father political infamous legacy did not have a foot-hold in the town neither does his son Femi Fani Kayode has as well.

Whoever is surprise about the attitude of Femi Fani Kayode and his prostitute political life style is because he/she does not know the family inglorious and infamous family history.

Fani Kayode's family have been a yoruba outcast family since the early 1960s. In Ile-Ife where his family came from his father Remi Fani Kayode was banished for the town by then Oni of Ife, Oba Aderemi. Thats' why despite his father political infamous legacy did not have a foot-hold in the town neither does his son Femi Fani Kayode has as well.

Whoever is surprise about the attitude of Femi Fani Kayode and his prostitute political life style is because he/she does not know the family inglorious and infamous family history.

Fayose will make history in Nigeria come May 29, as the first elected governor to be elected twice and impeached twice.

Same failed campaign promise in 2011.

OP, you're not fit to be called a human being but an animal. As clueless and senseless as your pay master.

Mr. President tell us what you have done in the last 6 years and what you intend to do if re-elected. Please stop this pettiness.

How can INEC be using Mysql as their relational database for the storage and maintenance of the nation's voters register? Mysql database is only good and mainly used for websites and e-mail storage.

I now know the reason why INEC is under performing and unable to out the PVC to most Nigerian. Mysql is not a robost and scalable database. Whoever recommended the use of mysql database to INEC and the entire INEC IT staff should be sacked.

INEC should be using Oracle or at worst SQL Server as it's database.

SiriusBlack:
Happy New Year peeps..Thanks your your prayers..I've been out of the "zone" for some time now though I still stay in touch with those still serving there. Wishing all of you a violence-free election year.

God bless the N.A
God bless you.

Great to hear from you again. SiriusBlack, can we connect, pls drop me an email. Stay blessed.

morsadh:
I'd love to believe that such a tweet would've been retweeted by many handles/trended on the SN before Linda Ikeji posted it. Yes she was wrong. Putting up the picture as well puts such person at risk of a court martial. However... common sense is an important factor that human beings fail to apply on a daily basis. Linda would seek even the underground for news to post on her blog. The soldier in question lacked discretion to the last! So did Linda. Both parties were at fault. You do great injustice by being one-sided, instead of being objective!

Thanks,

Two wrong does not make a right. I do acknowledged that the soldier erred and now at risk of death. You see professional journalist and news blogger knows how to reveal or publish their news without revealing their source or sources. A news blogger should learn how to hid the identity of sensitive news source because of the type of country that we are in.

My friend, if you have witness military torture once or gone through it, you will prefer to be shot straight on the head. In military torture you see death before dying. It is a no mercy session.

I am sure the soldier's outburst was triggered by what he sees happening within and around him that he can't but speak out. Look there have been twitter messages by soldiers on the frontline that criticized the way the NE war was been managed and went undetected by the military social media snipper dogs, so the posibility that this twit might have eluded the snipper dog as highly posible as well. But no thanks to LIB, this one went viral.

Linda need to take up a lesson on how to conceal the identity of her news source.

It is unbelievable how some people would come out here and defend the irresponsible and unproffessional blogging act of Linda Ikeji. The fact that the soldier express his honest opinion on his Twitter handle does not warrant Linda to invade and publish it on her blog.

Linda, should have posted the soldier message without his full photograph. Linda, if name your broda, se you go post hin Twitter messages knowing fully that Nigeria military high command are not favourably disposed to honest criticism, every honest criticism is taken as a mutiny and the punishment is death by firing squad after going through severe torture in the hand of his handlers.

Linda has gotten it wrong again.

Hello General SiriusBlack,

Good to know that you're doing well and in good health. I sincerely miss you, your honest opinion and happenings on the front line.

General, I feel your pain especially the likely consequence that the gallant soldiers on the front line may face due to the irresponsible and unprofessional act of Linda Ikeji. She is nothing but a cheap fame seeker, a disgrace to all honest bloggers all over the world.

Linda Ikeji, don't take your cheap blog reporting to the evil or forbidden forest, take it off and away from our gallant soldiers who are sacrificing their lives and paying the supreme price for the peace and unity of this nation. Concentrate on all your low life celebrities and gossips, leave the soldiers alone, leave the soldiers alone.

I sincerely pray and hope that the military high command will not take any punitive action(s) on these gallant soldiers.

In the New Testament, the firstfruits offering is mentioned seven times, always symbolically. Paul calls Epaenetus and the household of Stephanas “the firstfruits of Achaia” (Romans 16:5; 1 Corinthians 16:15). His meaning is that, just as the firstfruits offering was the first portion of a larger harvest, these individuals were the first of many converts in that region. James calls believers “a kind of firstfruits of His creatures” (James 1:18). Just like the sheaf of grain was set apart for the Lord, so are believers set apart for God’s glory.

The firstfruits offering found its fulfillment in Jesus. “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20). Jesus’ resurrection has paved the way for our resurrection. Significantly, if Jesus was killed at Passover, then His resurrection on the third day would have fallen on Nissan 16—the Feast of Firstfruits.

The firstfruits offering is never directly applied to Christian giving in the New Testament. However, Paul taught the Corinthian believers to set aside a collection “on the first day of the week” (1 Corinthians 16:2). And, just as the offering of firstfruits was an occasion of thanksgiving, so the Christian is to give with gladness.

In summary, firstfruits symbolizes God’s harvest of souls, it illustrates giving to God from a grateful heart, and it sets a pattern of giving back to Him the first (and the best) of what He has given us. Not being under the Old Testament Law, the Christian is under no further obligation than to give cheerfully and liberally (2 Corinthians 9:6-7).

Nigerians and they dirty politics. Why can our lines of argument be issues based?

Can this ride fly for 3.6? Serious buyer

5 million yams to raise 5 billion Naira, making a tuber to cost NGN1,000. Abeg na which kan yam bi this? Haha people deceiving people, una no try at all.

Hello Sir, please what is the probably cost of clearing a Toyota Venza 2010/11

Six years of the GEJ rule has shown to Nigerians that the worst of GMB rule is better than the best of GEJ rule. The country has witness six yeas of misrule, legalization of corruption, six year of corruption is not stealing and stealing is not corruption, six years of human carnage in the NE without abating, six years of insecurity, educational decay, six years of GEJ divisiveness, six years of talking talking no action

This carry over is enough, Nigerians want a change.

Femi Aribisala is an author of confusion and this can be seen in all his write ups be it political, biblical and economics. God is not an author of confusion and His words are pure and sharper than two edged sword, piercing even to the marrow.

You can't take and read a verse in isolation and give it a literal meaning, the bible is more deeper full of understanding to the discerning mind. Why has Femi Aribisala omitted some key words or sentences from the verses he quoted? I believe is a delibrate to cause confusion, and we refuse to be confused.

INEC should have an external backup of all the temporary voters register. The essence of having an external backup is for fail/fall over purposes should there be a data loss due to storage corruption, theft or other unforeseen reasons.

If INEC is telling us that people have to re- register because of loss of data due to data corruption, then everybody working in INEC's IT department must sacked.

Osakah24:
The law is silent when it comes to the executive, but read with understanding next time because he actually said something about a thief that steals goat and claims innocence because someone else stole goat also. Two wrongs dont make a right, when obj fought atiku for defection the court ruled that the executives are not included in section 68g(I).Is tambuwal right because others have been wrong all this while?

Mr. Understanding, the problem that we have in the country is we like to turn our eyes away from other action and castigate another when they take the same action.

Where was Femi when 3 senators defected from PDP to SDP in Ogun state? Why did he tell them to resign? Was Femi Aribisala in Jupiter when 4 Taraba state house of representative defected from APC to PDP, why did he come out and tell them to resign.

We should not encourage this illegality in any ramification of our polity. Mr. understanding before you respond to issues, try and flash your brain back to similar happenstance and make objective analysis and criticism.

Oga Archbishop, agreed the so called honourables became dishonourables by scaling the gate on Thursday. It became necessary for them to the needful to avoid Wednesday's ungodly episode in Ekiti where 7 member sat and impeached the speaker and deputy speaker. Imagine they law makers quietly turned back and went home, the next thing we would have heard was 97 members (same ration that sat and impeached in Ekiti) has impeached the speaker of the house of representative, and the president and PDP would have congratulated the new speaker, the same way Fayose congratulated the new Ekiti speaker.

Oga Bishop, please criticize in a godly manner and always say the gospel truth in every circumstances. When the adulterous woman was taken or chased to Jesus, and Jesus was told that she committed adultery, and the accusers were waiting for Jesus to condemn her for her action, Jesus didn't, he rather told any of her accusers to cast his/her stone, if he/she has no or committed a sin.

Sir, before you castigate some people of taking an ungodly action(s), ask the other party whether they have not committed a similar sin or ungodly action.

Oga Femi, why didn't you tell Ondo State governor Olusegun Mimiko to resign as the state governor, and advise INEC to conduct another governorship election when he defected to PDP. Sir, you need to be objective in your analysis.

Reading from Siriusblack after a long absence gladden my heart, but felt very worried at the same time. Worried because the government of the day and its military high command are not willing to prosecute and end this crisis with the required military hardware. For how long will some of our finest soldiers continue to pay the supreme price because of the inefficienies and corrupt practices of those that should know better.

It was a good news to hear that BMP-2s hardware has been procured and activated for NE engagement.

The question we need to ask the military high command are
1. Why procure a 1982 military hardware to fight a 21st century war?
2. Is the current ammos flying around in the north east a 1982 ammos?
3. Why buy BMP -2 when BMP-3 produced in 1987 exist?

If we want to buy tokunboh hardware atleast we should buy something close to new. When countries like Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Greece, Indonesia, Kuwait, South Korea, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates and Venezuela can have BMP-3 IFV, what stops Nigeria in having BMP -3 or even better ones.

Let the government show some seriousness in fighting and ending this war within the shortest possible time by giving our soldiers first grade tokunboh hardware and not junk yard destined hardwares. We need attack helos, drones that can be fitted with hellfire missiles, our soldiers needs Tavor assault rifles and good armored protected vehicles. If America refused in selling us military hardwares, Russia will gladly sell to us, Iran will be willing, Israel will be glad and South Africa wilb be happy to doing business with us.



Find below info about BMP -2

The BMP-2 IFV first appeared in the late 1970s and many be regarded as a product improved BMP-1. Its development commenced in the early 1970s. First prototype was completed in 1974. Many of the drawbacks of the BMP-1 were eliminated. It was accepted to service with the Soviet Army in 1980. It was first publicly revealed in 1982. The BMP-2 has been produced in large numbers, the Russian Army alone is estimated to have received some 20 000 vehicles.

The BMP-2 was license-produced in Czechoslovakia (BVP-2) and India (Sarath). Essentially similar vehicles have been produced in Bulgaria (BMP-30) from where many were exported to Iraq. This IFV was one of the Eastern Block's most important combat vehicles numerically. It was also exported to the Soviet allies. Currently major operators of the BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicle are Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Belarus, Czech Republic, Finland, India, Iran, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Poland, Slovakia, Syria, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Yemen.

The BMP-2 carries over the same general lines as the BMP-1 and is thus a low, agile, reliable and serviceable vehicle with adequate engine power for most all-terrain missions, especially with late production vehicles which have several improvements over earlier models such as improved fire control extra armor in places and layout alterations.

The BMP-2 was fitted with a new two-man turret. The most obvious improvement being the replacement of the BMP-1's non-stabilized 73-mm low velocity gun by a more versatile and effective fully-stabilized dual-fed 30-mm cannon. The previous gun had a maximum range of only 1 300 m. Also it could not be used against air targets. The 30-mm cannon proved to be successful. Later it was used on a number of Soviet/Russian armored vehicles, as well as attack helicopters. This cannon fires HE-FRAG, HE and armor-piercing rounds. It can engage armored targets at a range of 1 500 m, ground targets at a range of 4 000 m and helicopters at a range of up to 2 500 m. There is also a coaxial 7.62-mm machine gun. Some BMP-2 IFVs are additionally fitted with a 40-mm automatic grenade launcher.

A Fagot (AT-4 Spigot) or Konkurs (AT-5 Spandrel) ATGW launcher may be mounted over the turret. These missiles have a range of up to 2 500 m and 4 000 m respectively. Also a portable anti-tank launcher is often carried inside the vehicle.

Welded steel armor of the BMP-2 provides all-round protection against 12.7-mm rounds. Front arc of this IFV offers partial protection against 20-mm ammunition. Vehicle is also fitted with NBC protection and automatic fire suppression systems.

A rather cramped interior remained but the number of troops carried was reduced to seven. Vehicle commander was relocated from a position behind the driver to the turret. Normally commander dismounts with the troops. Each soldier has its own firing port and associated vision block.

This infantry fighting vehicle is powered by a UTD-20S1 turbocharged diesel engine, developing 300 hp. It is an improved version of the BMP-1 engine. Transmission and running gear is almost identical to that of its predecessor. Engine and transmission can be easily removed and replaced in field conditions. Vehicle is fully amphibious. On water it is propelled by its tracks. Mine ploughs may be fitted to most vehicles.

There are a number of variants of the BMP-2. Czechoslovakia and India developed their own variants, including armored ambulance, armored engineering vehicle, bridging reconnaissance vehicle and many other.
Currently the BMP-3 is in service with Russia, Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Greece, Indonesia, Kuwait, South Korea, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates and Venezuela In 1987 production of the new BMP-3 began. It has little common with the BMP-2 and the previous BMP-1.

Variants
BMP-2K command vehicle

BMP-2D version with improved armor protection. Vehicle is fitted with add-on steel armor on the hull and turret. It entered service in 1982 and was widely used during a Soviet war in Afghanistan. The vehicle is no longer amphibious due to increased weight;

BRM-2 armored reconnaissance vehicle

BMO-1 a dedicated armored transport vehicle for specialized flamethrower squads.

@SiriusBlack,

Good to know you're doing fine. Please whatsoever you want to share do it discreetly, we have a lot of BH sympathizers, government minders, GEJ baby sitters and APC apologist on this forum.

Stay safe my brother.

Why do people like twisting information? Do some people takes it as a delight to mislead other news readers for political gains or just been mischievous?

The incident that led to the killing or death of the students was initiated by the Mexican mayor and his wife. The students went on protest, in the course of their protest, they disrupted an event or show that was organized by the mayor's wife. The mayor felt slighted, he called on his affiliated drug gang members similar to area boys in nigeria to arrest or kidnap some of the protesters about 42 or 45 of them. The boys were beated and burnt to death with their remains thrown into a river.

When the parents of the boys cried out and news all over the place, a team of investigators was dispatched by the federal government to investigate and locate the boys, it was in the course of their investigation that it was uncovered that the city mayor or local government chairman was the one that order for the adoptions of the boys, and immediately the Mexican president ordered the arrest of the mayor and his wife, and further investigation led to the arrest of some of the gang members that carried out killing.

Now back to your misleading and jaundice headline or topic, investigation revealed that mayor was the achitect of the boys adoption and subsequent killing, who should be held responsible, the mayor or the president? The answer is the mayor. No sane Mexican will ever accuse the president for such an incident. And for the fact that the president acted promptly, he is free from all blames.

Let's juxtaposed the Mexican incident to the Chibok incident -

1. Students were adopted by gang members - True

2. Was the adoption ordered by the state governor o local governement chairman? No

3. Was there a cry out by the parent - Yes

4. Was prompt action taken by the president of the country - No, it took three weeks before the government could react to the chibok girls adoption. Thanks to CNN and other international news media, social networks that coutinued to aired the adoption before the president could react.

5. Was an high powered investigation team raise by the government at the center to investigate the adoption and locate the adoptees? - No

6. Are there armed gangs in Mexico? Yes - drug lord and heavly armed than Boko Haram.

7. Was the Mexican government a listening government? Yes - The president acted immediately, he spoke before world press on the issue. Nothing of such happened in Nigeria. Infact, the government minders and spokesman initially denied the adoption ever happened. Asari Dokubo, still claims the adoption is a fluke.

8. Did the president order for that arrest of the mayor, his wife and other powerful people involved in the adoption immediately? Yes, he did. That never happened in Nigeria. Rather, our president was wining and dinning with some of the alleged sponsor of Boko Haram.

The reason(s) why Nigerians are accusing the president for the Chibok incident was because of his inaction when the incident was first reported and buck passing game. In Mexico, the president sees it has his responsibility to protect the lives of those boys, he didn't wait for the state governor to fly to the presidential palace to brief him of the incident. The president activated all the federal might by making the country's attorney general the head of the investigation team to ensuring that the mystery over the boys disappearance was unearthed.

[quote author=diluminati post=27924135]abeg for many of the saTANist who don't know how to read, please explain the blunder to them[quote author=diluminati post=27924135]Explanation - Can you punish a dead person. God go punish the bomber anyway, but man no fit punish the guy again.

Olisah Metuh can lie. I wonder what is teaching his children. Which president in the history of Nigeria has supretended over the much killings we are experiencing currently in this nation.

Political jobbers at work.

It is unfortunate that GEJ political minders and baby sitters are allergic to the truth. GEJ sworn to defend and uphold every words written in the constitution, amongst which is protect the lives and properties of Nigerians from both internal and external aggressors. Has he fulfilled the mandate? The answer is NO!

The parents some of the boys killed today voted for GEJ in 2011 with the hope that he would protect their lives and properties.

Please no matter our political affiliations, it is important to be objective and the criticize government constructively with a view to forcing them to the right thing. This shedding of innocent blood must stop.

GEJ, it is time act, act as the commander in chief, not chief mourner.

It is unfortunate that GEJ political minders and baby sitters are allergic to the truth. GEJ sworn to defend and uphold every words written in the constitution, amongst which is protect the lives and properties of Nigerians from both internal and external aggressors. Has he fulfilled the mandate? The answer is NO!

The parents some of the boys killed today voted for GEJ in 2011 with the hope that he would protect their lives and properties.

Please no matter our political affiliations, it is important to be objective and the criticize government constructively with a view to forcing them to the right thing. This shedding of innocent blood must stop.

GEJ, it is time act, act as the commander in chief, not chief mourner.