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Politics / Re: Clinton Wants To Cry Her Way Into The Whitehouse! by Bankole01(m): 4:16pm On Jan 09, 2008
It was not a ploy to win, but a genuine emotional confoundment of voter trend.
Campaigning for elections is a very tiring and tring event, not for the faint hearted.
If you know the real Hillaru Clinton and not the sound bite you hear on TV, you will know how much she cares for the people of America, especially the less fortunate citizens.
She began her work to better the lot of the common people, even before her husband Bill, became president.
She championed health care for all, but was shot down by Ragan Republicans and special interest lobby, who stand to gain from gouging the general public.
The special interest consists of Insuarance companies and pharmacitical companies.

She simply got overwhelmed from fatigue and real heartfelt care.
Politics / Re: Would MKO Abiola Have Made A Good President? by Bankole01(m): 11:43pm On Jan 06, 2008
omofineboy:

Bank Habib Bank which later merged with Platinum Bank was owned by MKO and Late Yaradua and still have Kola Abiola as the chairman of Board.

Majority of us here just talked. I advise that some of us should go and read his biography before we talk. It is very bad and ignoble to call a MKO a criminal, it will be good if we are a bit courteous and careful too.How many Nigerian billionaires living or dead made their money without the military boys? or better still without the oil money I doubt if we can find one. Why don't you let us concentrate on the living and leave the dead alone. To me the fact that we still write lots on MKO today speaks volume about him. As for me and many who knew MKO's contributions to education and sports will live to thank him. He alone donated to all Nigerian higher Institutions in 1991 sum of 1m each, I doubt if any billionaire had done such since then. NO Nigerian students as at that time would say he/she didnt benefit from that largesse. In some schools the money was used to equip library and Health Centers.

In academics I doubt if most of us castigating him could march his rare intelligence. Besides some of us who aleged that he stole money can u prove your allegations. Obasanjo is alive today he did nothing to alleviate the sufferings of the masses despite the fact that he stole billions some of us blaming MKO are stunt supporter come defender of OBJ, What a tragedy.

Anyway I advise that we leave the dead alone and if anyone of us has proof as to fraudulent activities of MKO please forward your petition to EFCC.

clap! clap! clap! good defense job.
Dead or alive a thieve is still guilty!!!!!!!!!!!!
Politics / Re: Would MKO Abiola Have Made A Good President? by Bankole01(m): 11:16pm On Jan 06, 2008
baba ana:

can anyone point one successful business mko had and still functioning today. it shows what sort of president he would had been.

That is the result of the man's lack of self control. He laid a time bomb for his offsprings, which has laid them to waste and which will continue to resonate for some time in the future!!!!!!!!!!!!
And this is the man some wanted to lead the nation?
Y'all better start thanking your lucky stars. Nigeria would have disintegrated under him or as his legacy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Politics / Re: Mallam Nuhu Ribadu's Study Leave: Good Or Bad? by Bankole01(m): 9:58pm On Jan 06, 2008
@Big B1

Don't forget that he is the only official who branded IBB as a thief, who should never again be allowed to rule Nigeria.
Politics / Re: Mallam Nuhu Ribadu's Study Leave: Good Or Bad? by Bankole01(m): 6:20pm On Jan 06, 2008
Yar'Dull/Dumb is called by his own handlers 'Baba go slow' and known as a do nothing president.
He only goes to the office from 8am to 4pm and closes all weekend long!!!!!!!!!!

If Ribadu stays true to himself and above board, this can only help to enhance him.
If he eventually becomes a leader of this nation, I believe he will do great things for the nation.
Politics / What Is Nipss/kuru by Bankole01(m): 6:15pm On Jan 06, 2008
‘Why NIPSS graduates are called Kuru mafia’

Culled from The Nation Newsonline sunday January 6,2008

What informed the establishment of NIPSS?

The Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) was established at the tail end of General Obasanjo’s tenure of office as Head of State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in September 1979. Our understanding at that time was that the man knew he was going to hand over to President Shehu Shagari. And government had a feeling that the ensuing government may not have the type of skilled manpower to run the administration as its greatest competitor, which the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo was already assembling. So, some people said one of the reasons the military government or Obasanjo at that time decided to establish the NIPSS was to get first rate public servants and other professionals in the public service of the country like the Army, the Navy, the Air force, the Police Force and a few slots were allocated to the organised private sector (OPS) like labour then three or four statutory corporations that were not purely civil service establishments like the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), NEPA, NNPC and the NPA. So we were told brilliant young men who might likely make it to the peak of their respective careers to be sent to or assembled at the coolest and quietest part of the country for a period of six to nine months to consider what were the challenges facing Nigeria, what were the problems confronting the country and what solutions could be proffered for them? These were the criteria for establishing the Nigerian Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, at Kuru, near Jos.

Composition of the first set at NIPSS

These people (first set) 40 of them went there and for the next six to nine months brainstormed and ruminated on pressing national issues. They got the Head of the Education Corps of the Army, at that time, Major-General Ogundeko, to be the Director-General and a very versatile intellectual, Professor Olusanya, as Director of Studies. They got them (seasoned instructors) and assembled us. 12 came from the Army, they were all colonels at that time and during the course they got promoted to the rank of Brigadiers among them was former Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida, David Jemibewon, Mamman Vatsa; then two from the Navy, including Admiral Olumide. I think he was captain or commodore at the time he came, we had two from the police force – Prince Eweka from Benin, the other police officer, Alhaji Dan Madami, was my predecessor as President of Kuru alumni association, he also became the Chairman of First Bank. On the whole, we had 18 participants from the Armed Forces; we had nine from the Federal Public Service; and four of us from the statutory corporations. I remember Amu represented the NNPC, I was sponsored by the CBN, and two other gentlemen represented the Nigerian Ports Authority and NEPA respectively. So, we had 40 of us and it was most interesting. And there were invited guest lecturers, like Gen. T.Y. Danjuma, who came to discuss with us about the Army beat: problems within the Army and we brainstormed on the way forward. There was Prof. Olikoye Ransome Kuti, who later became Minister of Health. He gave a most illuminating lecture on how the country could tackle the health hazards without going into huge expenses by getting trained doctors to be itinerant doctors going to villages and remote parts of the country on market days. And he identified three diseases that were ready dangerous for the country that could sap the energy of the country and yet could be solved with little tablets and a few injections namely, malaria, measles and water-borne diseases. These were the practical things we learnt. Then we were divided into four groups in a 10 per syndicate and we had our areas of coverage, talking of geographical coverage. Each of us went to different parts of the country, probably not particularly your own state of origin, the West African tour, the African tour and then the World tour. We visited two countries each. In my own group, I was in syndicate one throughout. And we visited Algeria and Morocco for the African tour and Brazil and Britain for the World tour. So the whole purpose was to find the problems facing the country and how to proffer solution. By every standard, it is a very laudable initiative and we have carried it on over the years.

Quality of standard in NIPSS today compared to the past

I suppose the NIPSS is still doing the same now but as you would agree with me, there has been decadence in all spheres of life in this country, comparing standards as of now with the past, even in the university. So, what befell the universities could have befallen NIPSS itself. And that’s inadequate funds or whatever you might find in a standard school are not there today as they were years before. The quality of people who went to Kuru at that time might not be the same quality as of now. There is no need pointing accusing fingers against any particular person; it is a general malady in the country that standards have fallen because up to the time I was president of the alumni association in 1988 and had only one term of two years between 1988-90, that time was the peak of activities of the alumni association in collaboration with the institute itself so much so that Gen. Haruna jocularly called our initials mni, the acronym for Member of the National Institute, to Mafia Nigeria Incorporated, because they thought we were very influential. In fact, one of our members and my own classmate, IBB, was the president of the country; Ibrahim Gambo was Inspector General of Police. In fact, mni fellows headed almost all the key positions at the time. So the alumni was very influential and powerful, that’s why we were nicknamed mafias but we were never a mafia as a matter of fact but we made useful contributions to government so much so that I remember one of the occasions I led the team to Gen. Babangida, he implored us to be coming more frequently than once a year. We used to do our own research on topical issues either on how to solve the problems of power generation, distribution, education, foreign policy, domestic policy, transportation, road network, and any topic whatsoever. The library at Kuru, though it got burnt at a certain time and has since been rebuilt is one of the resource centres of this country.

There is a lot of accumulated information in that place that can be used to put things right. It is not the lack of information or lack of knowledge but lack of the political will at setting our priorities right that is the problem of this country.

Collaboration with the alumni association

We do have invitations for meeting still but it depends on the leadership of the alumni association. For example, last year about May/June, I attended the opening ceremony of the secretariat of the alumni association at Abuja. We do have two meetings, almost statutory every year. First meeting is held first Saturday of every March, we have alumni association get-together and at the time of ushering in new sets of our entrance into the institution or the alumni association. And the graduation time is always second or third Saturday in November and is always performed by the Head of State or President of the country. So, those are two occasions that wed use to attend without fail. Then there are other adhoc meetings in-between. For example, if the President of the alumni association has an appointment to visit the president, he could invite us. But all that has been down played; it is no longer regular as when I was president. I remember when Prince Adelusi Adeluyi was president of the alumni; he had occasional discussion, presentation of policy papers to the Head of State. But in the past three, four years now, I have not heard much of that. These were things that we used to do that gave us limelight because we addressed issues of public concern and interest like those that I have mentioned namely education, power generation, transportation, foreign policy and so on in collaboration with the staff of the institute and the research library there.

Mni as a military stereotype

The foundation members in 1979-80 course one were 40; I belonged to senior executive, Course one. At that time, 12 became Brigadiers before we finished the course. Also two from the Navy, two from the Air force and two from the Police force. So 18 out of 40, how would people not say it is a sort of militarised organisation. That’s what gave that impression but it was never an arm of the Army or the Navy or the Air force. It was never a military establishment.

What’s your view on the raging controversy on whether Nuhu Ribadu should proceed on the NIPSS course?

To be candid, let me say this emphatically that I’m for the fight against corruption. I’m in support of the fight against corruption and whatever Ribadu is doing is most welcomed to me. But let Nigerians not have the impression that only Ribadu can fight corruption. In fact, it takes all of us to fight corruption. So, if he is asked to go for a course at Kuru, I think it’s good for him knowing what Kuru is. And I suppose eventually, it will be good for the country. But there might be motives in terms of the timing. Why at this time when the fight against corruption is at a crescendo, people are really hammering more on it?. Why is it now that you want him to go? That’s a different question. I’m not addressing that question at all as to timing. But I know as an alumnus of Kuru that it is most beneficial for anyone to have the opportunity to attend the training course at Kuru because it makes you know your country better. The whole country is x-rayed before you, you are able to see Nigeria in her nudity and you cannot but love Nigeria when you see the potentials that we have and then you see lamentably our problems and then we all brainstorm and we find that these are not insurmountable problems. It’s only the human elements that are our headache. Even Mike Okiro, now IG is an alumnus of Kuru, so he must know what is good for his men.

Criteria for graduation

To get the mni accolade, you must have gone through the prescribed programme of producing a paper on the public policy of the country. I took the number one subject on the list at the time we did our first course, which was on security and safety in the country, that’s what I wrote upon. Every person who graduates out of Kuru must produce a policy paper. The course that produced eminent Nigerians too apart from our own was the third and fourth courses, where we had the likes Generals Tunde Idiagbon, Sani Abacha, Zamani Lekwot, Ike Nwachukwu, Tunde Ogeha, Rear Admirals Augustus Aikhomu who later become chief of General staff under IBB, Mike Akhigbe and a host of others like Ambassador Segun Olusola, were among the prominent people who took the course at Kuru.

Fond memories at Kuru

I remember vividly that during our course at Kuru somebody like IBB proved to be a very fine gentleman, very pleasant, very friendly amiable person, soft-spoken and intellectually sound.

Strength of the foundation members

Some of them like Mamma Vatsa, Brig-Gen. Umar Muhammed, Show Sylva, a medical doctor, he too died. He was in our course. I think Modibbo who represented the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) at that time also died. I’m not sure we are still up to 36 still alive today. Not many of us used to turn up at meetings. But as a past president and by my own nature, I identify myself with whatever I believe in. I believe the course is one of the best things that can happen to any person in his career. That’s the way I take it. Going to know is one of the best things that happened to me because NIPSS is the highest institute of leadership training in this country, you can quote me on that. It is regarded as the highest institute of leadership training. In my CV, that’s the way I wrote it. I feel proud to be a foundation member and everywhere you see me, you will also see the broach on my chest. I don’t go out without wearing the insignia of the institute. I believe in it. Like we used to say those who pass through Kuru and Kuru passes through them have the best of the two worlds because it transforms you, it makes you more patriotic, you will see the great thing the Good Lord Has done for Nigeria.

It’s almost 30 years since Kuru came as an experiment. I also remember that in the early years of the course it was dominated by the male folk. For instance, in my set, which was the first intake, we were all men. But over the years, there have been a balance of gender. So many prominent women have also attended this course including, Mrs Francisca Emmanuel, Mrs Agbeke Taire, one-time permanent secretary in Lagos who later became a commissioner in the National Electoral Commission (NEC) and so many others. So, really, Kuru is an opportunity of a lifetime for anybody who is fortunate enough to attend the course.

Comment:
If our past leaders and alumni of NIPSS were so well trained, why then did they on ascending the throne throw knowledge to the winds and became wantom thieves and gluttons
Politics / Re: Nigeria Will Progress - Gazprom, Nigeria Discuss Gas Deal by Bankole01(m): 5:21pm On Jan 06, 2008
davidylan:

we are forever signing deals . . . God help us to let them see the light of day.

Our thieving non-leaders have a flair for delusions of grandeur. They go through the pomp and pagentry of dazzling the poor masses with promises of progress with 'white elephant' projects, which in long run, fizzles out into nothing.
Meanwhile no mention is ever made about the billions of dollars appropriated for the project. The money simply vanishes into thin air, and everyone seems to be afflicted with selective amnesia!

McKren:

I stand to be corrected. But if you have a commodity to sell is it in your best interest to have just one buyer or to have different buyers which gives you the opportunity to negotiate better?

Classic princple of business. You simply put your commodity up for sale and wait for buyers to come and negotiate on the open market, not tie yourself to one single buyer, tried or not, which simply gives you less room to maneuver.

If Russia is still flaring their gas, what makes us think they can better manage ours?
If our leaders will simply think, we have enough expertise among our educated people to mange our resources, and we have the market among our own people to consume our products. All we need do, is to first put our house in order. prosecute our mega and unpatriotic thieves, and improve out infrastructures.

Then, we will see the foreigners compete over investments in a country.
Politics / Re: Would MKO Abiola Have Made A Good President? by Bankole01(m): 2:37pm On Jan 06, 2008
Abacha when he locked up Abiola, knew the real person than most of us who only saw his flamboyance.
In Nigeria, we worship emptiness and people who make the loudest noise.
Abiola was very cozy with the military and virtually financed every coup in Nigeria, as long as the incumbents did not suit his looting purposes.

Abiola was the first person in Nigeria to loot the nation on a grand scale and this was the genesis of his fortune. As an accountant and representing ITT, he with connivance with Obasanjo and the hierachy of the military, inflated the ITT contract to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars.
The man was instrumental in educating the then ignorant military boys in subtle shinanigans and massive looting of the nation. he wtted their appetites and opened their eyes and their lust for power and its attendant great rewards.

The military boys knew they couldn't let him run Nigeria, knowing his history and lust for money. His womanising is legendary and this is why his family will never know any peace.
A greedy and uncontrolable man like that, when confered with the ultimate power, will just run amock.

@Jakumo

Can you please tell us how an accounting graduate, could have amassed such stupendous wealth in no time??
Even if he was a philantropist and hired the best brains to managed his stolen loot. Does this negate his crimes to Nigeria and his destabilising of the nation for his personal agrandisement??

No matter his 'latter day' sainthood, the man was a criminal, pure and simple. His Islamic zeal would have thrown Nigeria into a religious war which would have been written in the anals of infirmy and claimed millions of lives.
Death was very kind to the man. We have the ignoble Abacha to thank for that!!!!!!!!
Politics / Re: Would MKO Abiola Have Made A Good President? by Bankole01(m): 6:46pm On Jan 05, 2008
NO way! That trailblazers of all mega-thieves, would have been no better than Obasanjo.
Foreign Affairs / Re: Obama Crushes Clinton and Edwards in Iowa by Bankole01(m): 4:28pm On Jan 05, 2008
I-man:


In Nigeria,someone from Enugu LGA will find it virtually impossible to defeat someone from Udi in Udi.Wetin you go call that one? When Ife-Modakeke,Aguleri-Umuleri,e.t.c can't live together,you dey complain about America

Complain about America? Far from it my good man. I grew up in America and am one of the more priviledged in my State.
America has been very good to me personally.
This however is not about me, but about the mindset of people far and wide in the nation.
Neighborhoods here are more segregated than in most Western nations.
There predominantly white neighborhoods, where I would personally venture to live in, even if allowed and left to live in peace. There are latino neighborhoods, where anyone not fitting, would frowed upon.
There are Jewish neighborhoods, Italian, Polish, Irish, etc neighborhoods. There are ofcourse predominantly black affluent neighborhoods.

This is just the fact of America and its demographics. Not a complaint or put-down.

Real-Estate and Insurance professionals will stare you away from white neighhoods, while red-lining black neighborhoods. You pay higher utilities and for services like cable in black neighborhoods also.

There is racial profiling, where police will stop you more often if you are of the darker color and or in white neighborhoods. This is part of the institutionalised racism in America!
Foreign Affairs / Re: Obama Crushes Clinton and Edwards in Iowa by Bankole01(m): 3:59pm On Jan 05, 2008
Bankole01:


I-man:

Black America's biggest problem with Obama is that he is not "the descendant of slaves". Many don't see Africans as one of theirs.To a large extent,a lot of our racial solidarity with African-Americans is not reciprocated.

Yes,coming from a continent and nation where tribalism reigns supreme.Obama won in Iowa,what are the chances of someone from Enugu state defeating rivals from Anambra in an election held in Anambra? Can an Ogun state indigene win gubernatorial elections in Lagos?

Make una dey cool down with your hyperbole.If you want racism, go to Russia and other Eastern European nations.Would a black or half-black man have any hope in India,China or Lebanon if he was a citizen of those nations?

Black have not been as exposed in these nations as they are in America.
America is also more urban than Nigeria. Nigerians are also less mobile and cling to ancestral homes more than Americans,
Foreign Affairs / Re: Obama Crushes Clinton and Edwards in Iowa by Bankole01(m): 3:54pm On Jan 05, 2008
I-man:

Black America's biggest problem with Obama is that he is not "the descendant of slaves". Many don't see Africans as one of theirs.To a large extent,a lot of our racial solidarity with African-Americans is not reciprocated.

Yes,coming from a continent and nation where tribalism reigns supreme.Obama won in Iowa,what are the chances of someone from Enugu state defeating rivals from Anambra in an election held in Anambra? Can an Ogun state indigene win gubernatorial elections in Lagos?

Make una dey cool down with your hyperbole.If you want racism, go to Russia and other Eastern European nations.Would a black or half-black man have any hope in India,China or Lebanon if he was a citizen of those nations?
Foreign Affairs / Re: Obama Crushes Clinton and Edwards in Iowa by Bankole01(m): 3:22pm On Jan 05, 2008
McKren:

Black Americans are simply being naive

if they wake up from their slumber, they will understand that they can only begin to claim to be as american as everyone else when america produces a mixed President and a black first lady.

If Obama had no respects for his black roots, he will not get married to a black woman neither will he retain the name Barack Hussein Obama.

However if they are hoping that Obama should start dropping black right mantra as the basis of his campaign. It wont happen as Obama knows the dangers of doing that.

Black Americans know who they are and what rightly belongs to them. A least the educated ones know this very well.
On the other hand, they have to fight for everything the get from the whiteman.

It is a fact that America as advanced as it is, is one of the most racist nation in the world.
Obama is not the first blackman to run for presidential office. Rev. Jesse Jackson and his Rainbow/Puch coalition gained wide support among whites and latinos in the more liberal States, but none in the deep South.
This is the test Obama faces. Also, Latinos now enjoy a more robust population explosion and are widely distributed in all States. This is also playing more to Obama's advantage.
Politics / Re: Why Not Take Your Wife To Nigeria, Instead Of Polluting Our Country? by Bankole01(m): 3:01pm On Jan 05, 2008
inspired_m:

The colonial mentality is rampant everywhere in Africa-including our beloved naija! Just last summer, I was waiting for the porter at Transcorp to take my luggage outside, what did he do? sidetracked me and attended to a white man that came after me. And there were many instances where this happened- locals will give better treatment to foreigners than their own country-folk. The best cure for this colonization is to ship them abroad for 3months!!! When they see how the West really think about blacks, their colonized mindset will revert to normal

A lot of our people do not know how to tip workers. Hence a person making minimum wage, will service someone they know will appreciate their service.

This is the flip side of servitude and colonial mindset. people from the West know they should tip well to get good service.
A long time ago, while I was still in school and working as ataxi driver, I happened to pick up a Nigerian here for a seminar. When I got him to his hotel, he paid me for the cab fare to almost the exact amount, leaving a change of about 15cents. I got back in my taxi after unloading and helping this dude carry his luggage to the hotel doors.
I was about to drive off, when I noticed this Nigerian bushman run after me, yelling, "my shange, my shange". (as opposed to my change). I stopped bewildered, and gave this man the 15cents change. You should see his beeming smile after palming the migre change.
A white man or other Westerner would have paid generously for the service received.

On the other hand, I was at the airport (Murtala) on day, on one of my visits to Nigeria. There was this stone drunk whiteman, walking and stumbling around and also bad mouthing Nigeria. He was telling all who cared to listen, how much he hated the country and the people. He almost stumbled into me. (That was the biggest mistake he made in Nigeria) I told him to shot the ****up. Noone invited him to Nigeria and if he didn't like it, he should get the ****out of the country.
Before long, their was a crowd of people interested in my lambasting this slowpoke, and hooping it up with support for me.
A policeman happened along, and I instructed him to arrest the man for public indecency. The policeman looked at me in amzement, probably contemplating my audacity.
I told this whiteman, that in his own country, I could make him pay for disrespect and public nuisance. (being a law-enforcement officer, this is no empty threat.
The man looked at me uttered a few words like "you obviously live in America" I affirmed his observation and them told him that "I eat people like you for breakfat everyday" He quickly sobered up and walked away quitely, to the delight and jeers of the onlookers.

Our people act too meek when it comes to the whiteman or other foreigners in Nigeria. This people only come to Nigeria to exploit and further pollute and enable corruption. Give them no quarters!

As for other African countries, we gave them the impression that we are corrupt and decadent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Foreign Affairs / Re: Obama Crushes Clinton and Edwards in Iowa by Bankole01(m): 2:23pm On Jan 05, 2008
doyin13:

Hehehehehe. . . .I see u are marketing your neo liberal credentials here. grin

The truth is the richer you are, the less proportional tax you actually pay.
Let me explain. Being rich or more affluent, means you can have a lot more tax shelters and exploit the tax loopholes.
The people on the lower tax brackets cannot do this, and end up paying more taxes, proportional to their income.

Huckabee was talking about doing away with income tax, and in its place utilise use taxes.
In the long run, it means the poor will pay more taxes, as they will pay as much taxes as rich folks.
In poorer neighborhoods, people pay more for groceries ans other essentials than in more affluent neighborhoods.

Stores in richer neighborhoods tend to be bigger, buy in bulk and enjoy higher distributor and manufacturer discounts.
This translate to lower prices and less taxes for the more affluent.

The fact is the Democratic party policies are more people friendly that Republican policies, which placed more burdens on the middle class and poor. The social programs I admit can be a little too cuddly and invite abuses and laziness on the part of the poor.
Politics / Re: Atiku To Retun To Pdp, Eyeing Bot Position by Bankole01(m): 6:18pm On Jan 04, 2008
Arrant nonsense.
Foreign Affairs / Re: Obama Crushes Clinton and Edwards in Iowa by Bankole01(m): 3:33pm On Jan 04, 2008
The race is just begining, there are far more caucuses to contest and the winner has not by a long shot been decided.
I congratulate Obama for this win, but the real winner is the Democratic party.
It is good that Obama was able to bring out the vote of young Americans, who by history and statisrics are less likely to vote. This portends a great dividend for the Democratic party in the general elections, provided their attention and zeal can be kept.

The greatest and biggest group of voters are among the elderly and mostly women. This group tend to suport Hillary Clinton, who I believe in the long run will win the nomination. Obama will eventually be nominated secretary of State (a post reserved for blacks).

Iowa is a very small State which in the long run, is almost inconsequential. The numer of total delegates in this State is about 40 or 45. This compared to a State like California or New York which have at least 170 delegates each. So, Obama can win a number of Iowas and still be a long way off the mark to win the nomination. This is part of the dynamics of the Democratic process.

Please do not get me wrong, I am not selling Obama short, but American voters are a peculia bunch.  in the long run, a black man is not electable in America. They just have not reached that milestane yet. The old racists still outnumber the young progressives.
Politics / Re: Why Was Che Guevara Killed By The CIA? by Bankole01(m): 5:05pm On Jan 03, 2008
Che was killed in Boliviar by the Army and not by CIA. Even he was formenting trouble in Congo-Kinshasa and Boliviar. he was captured by the Bolivian army supported by the CIA.
Politics / Re: Obasanjo's 8 Years Tenure Will Not Be Probed - Presidential Aide by Bankole01(m): 4:31pm On Jan 03, 2008
Did any of you think or ever thought Yar'Adua (or dumb) has the backbone to do anything. The man don't even know how to be a real Nigerian politician by robbing his State and country blind. The man is a do nothing, ideas challenged cattle rearer in a fancy uniform.

The man is part of the problem in Nigeria and a whole-hearted conspirator in the in April (s)elections. He came out trying to deceive, spouting this " rule of law, order and probity" hogwash.
On the one hand, telling all the (s)elections were flawed, but doing everything to stay in office.

How can a president with no mandate, probe his benefactor?
Nigerians a very gullible and ignorant 'know it alls', who can't see beyond the bridge of their own noses.
In misguided patriotism fervor, we want peace and understanding of those who continously make rules against the people and continue to selv-serving. Yet, they find supporters among our people who should know better.

No one is indispensable and Ribadu had allowed himself to be used for political reasons in the past, he is however a lot better than any figure-head and puppet whop will be put in his place.
Politics / Re: Kenya's Violent Flawed Elections: Helping West Denigrate Nigeria by Bankole01(m): 2:33pm On Jan 03, 2008
Kibaki is just another African old desport, from the sit-tight school of Obasanjo klepto and megalomaniacs.
These old spent fuels think their nations cannot do better without them, hence they device all kinds of guises and rigging to stay in office for ever.

It will be a long time before we get another Julius Nyerere or Nelson Mandela in Africa!
Politics / Re: Ribadu Fired! by Bankole01(m): 6:06pm On Dec 28, 2007
presido1:

If one man can single handedly appoint Ribadu as EFCC chairman i don't think we need referandum or whatever to remove him.
I think he is part of the plot that removed him from EfCC office. As a corruption fighter, he did not outer a word when Yaradua was selected as our president by his former boss, now he want to complain that he was selectively removed. He then thought that the presidential selection will not effect him in any way. The fingers that he wrongly fed is bitting him now. I think this is the beggining. For every dark cloud lies the sun. Their must be a reason for removing him. Its about time we know good or the bad intention of sending him to Jos.
I strongly beleive that if he cannot Investigate the likes of IBB, ATIKU, OBJ, the last presidential selection and others he need not to be there.

Are you serious?? what powers did he or does he now have to say anything about the presidential selection of Yar'Adua (or "dull')?? As a policeman, the best bet to fight corruption is in office of EFCC, buding his time to get the mega thieves in his own time. Now, it seems the rapers of Nigeria have won the battle. Yar'Adua is an inconsequential puppet on a string. He has no curage to do his own dirty work, he needed a proxy, just as he is one for Obasanjo!!!!!!!!!!!
Politics / Re: Ribadu Fired! by Bankole01(m): 5:49pm On Dec 28, 2007
I said it before, and I now reiterate. Yar'Adua is a puppet and a continuation of Obasanjo double speak on official corruption. Go after perceived enemies, while playing eye service and slaping thieving friends in the back of the hand.

PDP, Yar'Adua and Aaondoaka are finally showing Nigerians their true colors and playing true to form. the war on corruption is only for enemies, not the real culprits.
By getting rid of Ribadu (the recalcitrant police officer) and repalcing him with a more maleable yes-man, Odili and company can start to enjoy their stolen loot. Nigeria and Nigerians again get the shaft up their overstretched butts!!!!!!!!
Politics / Re: Babangida, Part Of Nigeria’s Problems –ac Chieftain by Bankole01(m): 3:34pm On Dec 28, 2007
The man is not only part of the problem, he is the main progenitor of graft and institutionalised corruption in Nigeria, while his wife was the major drug trafficker.

The thief thinks he can now come on the scene, sounding like the pope and nigerians will take him serious. Maybe in his ego trip of a dream. uuurrrrrrgh!
Politics / Re: Dozens Die In Nigeria Pipeline Explosion (end Of Year Inferno) by Bankole01(m): 3:03pm On Dec 27, 2007
This and many more to come is the aftermath and end product of Obasanjo misrule and impoverisation of the people.
This more so, as he was the defacto oil minister who only enriched himself and cronies.

This is not to absolve our ignorant people of their stupidity and greed and destroying pipelines and disregarding the volatility of the petroleum products the were trying to steal.
It goes to further butress the fact our people only see thieves as heros. Hence, they seek to be likethem!
Politics / Re: Obasanjo Under Probe Over N59bn Telephone Loan by Bankole01(m): 2:48pm On Dec 27, 2007
Big B1:



My man, I've never defended IBB. Please, double check and it wouldn't take you too long to realize that you're wrong. I've stated many times that IBB is way too far from being a saint just like any other Nigerian, but at the same time he remains one of a kind and may be the most intelligent leader that ever ruled Nigeria.

Big B1, not to pick bones or raise contentions with you, this sounds to me like a defense.
Intelligent or cunning? maybe outright devious may be even more apt a description of IBB. I have never liked Obasanjo, but IBB is in the same boat and therefore deserves the same contempt.

[quote author=Big B1 link=topic=102039.msg1794473#msg1794473 date=119859976


I believe in forgiveness and giving folks second chance.
In fact, I may be wrong, but when I look at IBB's eyes, I see a lot of energy and the wiliness to ask for forgiveness. But we must also understand that fingers are not the same; people do and see things differently.


Why can't we allow the man to redeem himself by positively contributing to the growth and restructuring of our nation?
(he doesn't have to be the president)
[quote][/quote]

Forgiveness is only offered or given when an offender asks for it.
IBB, has never for one day asked Nigerians for forgiveness nor at any time, admitted to making any mistakes in his misrule of Nigeria and wrong appropriation of her monies.

So, what type of forgiveness are we to offer!. IBB in no way represent a fallen or weak soldier. The contrary is he is an unrepentant one deserving of summary execution, for his abuse of Nigeria and Nigerians.

For him to participate in the repair or restructuring of Nigeria, it takes a lot more than mere words and laterday pontification. He needs to show he means what he knows day after quarter-backing.

For instance, he needs to use the vast amount of money he stole, to build schools, hospitals, roads, offer numerous scholarships, etc, etc.
Then and only then will he be taken seriously and maybe given total forgiveness.
Using your words, "He does't he to be president"
We have many qualified and untried candidates, if only we give them the opportunity to serve and demand excellence!
Politics / Re: Obasanjo Scared: Begs Atiku For Forgiveness! by Bankole01(m): 9:18pm On Dec 22, 2007
DRANOEL:

fiction!

If the last news was fiction, what do you think of this latest one.
Just so naysayers can believe Obasanjo in on his knees, eating crow and ready to kiss major big black butts (namely Atiku's), PLs read the following:

Atiku: Andy Uba, Dangote head OBJ’s peace team
By TAIWO AMODU
Saturday, December 22, 2007

Wary of the likelihood of a snub and attendant humiliation in his efforts at brokering a rapproachment with his former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, immediate past President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo may have enlisted the services of his ex-Special Assisitant on Domestic Affairs, Dr. Andy Uba as the arrow-head of those to facilitate the reconciliation initiative. He is also believed to have approached businessman, Alhaji Aliko Dangote as member of the team.

Until both men served out their terms May 29 this year, Obasanjo and Atiku had waxed progressively on a no-love-lost relationship, a development that saw the former leaders appropriate public fora to lash out at each other.
A Saturday Sun source and a close associate of Atiku, while speaking on condition of anonymity, disclosed that with the former president gradually coming to terms with the dismantling of what used to be his legacies by his protégé, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, he is desperately mobilizing everyone that matters to reach out to his ex-vice-president. And Andy Uba, according to Obasanjo, the source further said fitted the bill for the crucial reconciliation bid.

Uncomfortable with the tsunami that President Yar’Adua is gradually turning into, Obasanjo has suddenly realized the need to mend fences with those he gravely hurt while in office, if anything, to save his fast vanishing relevance in the economy and the polity. And Atiku appears to be the biggest beneficiary of his hate.

Saturday Sun source further revealed that Obasanjo finally made up his mind to constitute the Andy Uba team, to cut down on the ranks of those he alienated from the corridors of power while in office, but who unfortunately for him now have unfettered access to the incumbent President, Umaru Yar’Adua.
Prodded further on why the former president should involve former aides on such innocuous mission, which he, ordinarily should take up himself, our source disclosed that Obasanjo being a crafty character would not be willing to be humiliated in case the trouble-shooting voyage hits an ice-berg.

“His fear is that he could be snubbed by those who have vowed, never to have anything to do again, with a vindictive person like him. You know that true to his character, he can always deny knowledge of the Andy Uba team whenever it runs into troubled waters, or in the event that it wants to constitute an embarrassment to him”, the source submitted.

Buttressing his point, Saturday Sun source who confirmed the cover story of our last Sunday edition, ‘OBJ begs Atiku’ revealed that the Andy Uba team actually met the immediate past governor of Adamawa State, Alhaji Boni Haruna to help facilitate a meeting between the former president and his estranged deputy, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

“Atiku had sent words that as a true Muslim he has forgiven Obasanjo, just as he is willing to put the past behind him, but that he is not disposed to a meeting with his former boss for now.’
Politics / Re: El-rufai For President, Rebadu For Vice by Bankole01(m): 9:27pm On Dec 21, 2007
El-Rufai is just as crooked as any mega thief in Nigeria. During the time that he held sway in disposing of Nigeria's possesions, he used many proxies (one of them is Jimo Ibrahim) to acquire choise properties. While he was The Capital territories' minister, he also used his position to enrich himself while also using proxies to loot for Obasanjo.

You don't have to believe me, but many testimonies abound to convict him.
Only, we need a sympathetic prosecutor in the presidency and in the form of attorney genenal.
Politics / Re: Obasanjo Scared: Begs Atiku For Forgiveness! by Bankole01(m): 7:46pm On Dec 16, 2007
babasin:

OBJ is an owu man. Omo Owu ki ja, Omo Owu ki ba enikan binu.

Nse ni nwon ma sa pamo sabe iro iyawo won!!!!!!!!!!!

Does this mean they just run and hide under their wives skirts

Thank God I am not from Owu, I would have had to bury my head out of shame!!!!!!!!!!!!
Politics / Re: Obasanjo Scared: Begs Atiku For Forgiveness! by Bankole01(m): 7:28pm On Dec 16, 2007
The neandertal (Obasanjo) with his penchant for self-preservation has no shame and no digity. Like the coward he had always been, he now stoops so low as to beg the man he did everything to destroy.
To make the second term, he was reported to have made the 'idobale' to Atiku, whom the governors prefered as a president.

I am not surprised though, judging by his history, the luckiest and most oppotunistic coward is only playing according to type!

1 Like

Politics / Obasanjo Scared: Begs Atiku For Forgiveness! by Bankole01(m): 7:23pm On Dec 16, 2007
Yar’Adua’s cold shoulders
OBJ begs Atiku
By Emeka Eyinnaya
Sunday, December 16, 2007 The SunOnline Newspaper


Just seven months out of power, former President Olusegun Obasanjo is already feeling vulnerable to the extent that he has started begging his former deputy turned implacable political foe, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, for forgiveness.

Sunday Sun can authoritatively reveal that Obasanjo has already sent emissaries to Atiku whom he hounded out of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and even made spirited attempts sack from the Presidency.

One of the emissaries, it was gathered, met with Atiku two weeks ago in Lagos before the latter travelled out to Dubai penultimate Sunday (December 2).
One of the emissaries is a billionaire businessman from the North while the other is a former aide to Obasanjo, who has remained very close to the former President.
But Atiku camp are not forthcoming on the details of the meeting. Contacted at the weekend, a spokesman of the Atiku Campaign Organisation, Dr. Deolu Akande, denied the meeting. Prodded further, he simply said: “No comment.”

But Sunday Sun gathered from insiders that the trusted aide of the former president invited the former vice president to Ota Farm on behalf of Obasanjo to “iron out their differences”.
Obasanjo’s emissary, it was further learnt, informed the former vice president that his boss was now remorseful, having realised, with the benefit of hindsight, that information he acted on to persecute Atiku in the build-up to the April 2007 polls was largely false.

“Baba is now of the view that you and him should meet to work out the modalities of your return to our party (PDP) and join other founding members and re-position it to face the challenges of the future,” the trusted aide of the former president was said to have told Atiku.
The scheduled meeting at Ota was to provide a saving grace for the former president as the impression would be created in the public that Atiku made the first move for reconciliation.

Though Atiku had spent one week in Lagos with his family before travelling to Dubai, he was said to have ruled out the possibility of going to Ota by road on the ground that his bad leg would not enable him sit in a car in the shuttle from Lagos to Ota.
Instead, what he gave the emissary to take back is that the president “could come over since he has access to either a jet or helicopter”.
Olive branch
However, Obasanjo’s olive branch, according to a reliable source, is not borne out of a genuine desire by the former President for peace.
Rather, the ex-President is seeking reconciliation with Atiku with a view to subsequently enlisting his support to fight his anointed successor, President Umaru Yar’Adua. Again, the former president is said to be uncomfortable with the on-going realignment of forces in the North such that Atiku and President Yar’Adua are beginning to hold nocturnal meetings.
The former President reportedly wants to team up with Atiku to ensure Yar’Adua’s defeat at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.
Obasanjo is crossed with Yar’Adua for a number of reasons, chief among which is the reversal of some of his policies.
Lately, the former president is said to be having sleepless nights over subtle but steady probe of NNPC with Yar’Adua standing aloof. One of the mind-boggling discoveries already made is the monumental fraud perpetrated under the regime of fuel subsidy whereby a powerful mafia pocketed tens of billions of naira earmarked to subsidize the importation of petroleum products. Obasanjo was the de facto Petroleum minister for eight years.
Again, another shocking discovery made is that the children of the former president are sitting on the boards of a number of consortiums to which sweetheart concessions were granted in the nation’s oil and gas sector.
Contrary to Obasanjo’s austerity posturing, it has also been discovered that the former president cornered a number of choice plots to himself. The one the investigators found most mind-boggling was that “Baba’s also snatching the only plot of land General Gowon has in Abuja”.
Unending spate of reversals
On the eve of his departure from office, Obasanjo had, for instance, sold the Port Harcourt and Kaduna refineries to Blue Star, a consortium promoted by a coterie of his friends including Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Femi Otedola of Zenon Oil.
These actions of Obasanjo have since been reversed by Yar’Adua to public acclaim.
The National Assembly would soon shock Nigerians by making public its investigation into the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) under the Obasanjo administration.
For the eight years he ruled, attempts by the appropriate committees of the two chambers of the National Assembly to probe the accounts of the NNPC were frustrated despite allegations of sleaze against the corportaion.
Also, the sale of African Petroleum to Otedola, a friend of the ex-President might be reversed. The House of Representatives has already questioned the circumstances the company was sold and even invited the Director General of the Buruea for Public Enterprises (BPE) for explanations.
The President has also reversed the sale of government houses which were bought mostly by the aides to the former President.
The most agonising and embarrassing of those reversals to Obasanjo was the recent decision by the Senate rejecting the ceding of Bakassi Peninsular on the grounds that it was done unilaterally by the former President.
He is, therefore, upset that Yar’Adua has not been shielding him contrary to his expectation when he literally moved mountains to make him president.
Obasanjo, Sunday Sun further gathered, had expected Yar’Adua not to reverse any of his policies just as he also expected him to use every public forum not just to defend the policies but also to eulogise him over them, thereby reinforcing his image as “father of the nation and founder of modern Nigeria”.

Meeting enemies
Another point of disappointment for Obasanjo is the fact that Yar’Adua has been fraternising with his (Obasanjo’s) political ‘enemies.’
Former Abia State governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu and Atiku are among these so-called enemies Yar’Adua has been fraternising with, to Obasanjo’s disapproval.
Since assuming the Presidency on May 29, Yar’Adua has twice played host to Kalu at the Presidential Villa.
Also, Yar’Adua, according to a reliable source, had since assuming office paid several private visits to Atiku because of the family ties between them.
The former Vice President, who has severally described Yar’Adua as his younger brother has also been returning the visits.
The president is a younger brother to the late General Musa Yar’Adua, Atiku’s political mentor, who died in the custory of General Sani Abacha in December 1997. The senior Yar’Adua was the founder of the influential Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), one of the political blocs that fused into PDP in 1998.
However, events surrounding Atiku’s last visit to the President appears to have put a wedge in their relationship, a situation Obasanjo is hoping to exploit to “teach Yar’Adua a lesson”.

Anger
After Atiku’s last visit, which was at the prompting of the Chief of Staff to the President, Major General Abdullahi Muhammad, stories surfaced in the newspapers claiming that Yar’Adua had used the visit to beg the presidential candidate of the Action Congress (AC) in the April 21 presidential election to withdraw his petition at the tribunal.
This reportedly angered Yar’Adua, who subsequently directed his Special Adviser on Communications, Olusegun Adeniyi to issue a statement on the visit and put things in their correct perspective.
While acknowledging Atiku’s visit to the President, Adeniyi denied that the President begged Atiku to withdraw his petition.
The Special Adviser to the President stated that for the period the visit lasted, there was no time the election or the pending petitions were discussed.
Apart from directing that the statement be issued, Yar’Adua, Sunday Sun further learnt, has decided to cut off the access Atiku had to him.
Sources told Sunday Sun that whenever Yar’Adua had visited Atiku and vice versa in the past, the former vice president was intrigued that the president never broached the matter of the pending case at the tribunal. Rather, Yar’Adua would focus on “family matters”.

Atiku’s supporters spoil for war
Meanwhile, as Obasanjo pushes for reconciliation with the Turakin Adamawa, supporters of the former vice president are reportedly opposed to any talk about reconciling with the Ota farmer.
Sunday Sun gathered that they have even threatened to ditch Atiku should he agree to reconcile with Obasanjo, insisting that the former President cannot be trusted.
They cited the 2003 situation where Atiku backed down at the last minute from the presidential race when they had Obasanjo in the palms only for the former President to come after them after securing a second term in office.
Indeed, the enviable fate that later befell three governors including Diepreye Alamieyesiagha of Bayelsa State, is easily traced to the 2003 incident by the supporters of the former vice president.
It was their belief that Alamieyesaigha was impeached and humiliated because of the support he gave to Atiku in the run–up to the presidential primaries in 2003, which Atiku ultimately pulled out because of pleas by Obasanjo.
Apart from Yar’Adua, the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Maurice Iwu, is also understood to have recently found his way into Obasanjo’s bad book.
Iwu’s sin is the recent statement he made describing the 2007 general elections as the best in the annals of the country’s history, even better than the June 12, 1993 elections, which have remained a benchmark, a reference point as the freest and fairest elections in the country.
The statement by the INEC boss, which has attracted criticism from several quarters, did not also go down well with Obasanjo but for a different reason.
The former President, according to a source, would have been happier had Iwu disparaged the election he superintended over as that would have helped his plot to unseat Yar’Adua through the tribunal.

Yar’Adua as Plan B
Obasanjo’s recent bitterness against Iwu is better appreciated against the backdrop of the fact that Presidency under Obasanjo actually worked assiduously to frustrate the conduct of the 2007 general elections.
Sunday Sun gathered that the choice of Yar’Adua was just a ‘Plan B’ by Obasanjo to remain in office after the collapse of the Third Term Agenda in 2006.
Given his suspected frail health, Obasanjo had expected the rigours of the electioneering campaigns to take a toll on Yar’Adua such that he would be in such a bad shape that would have warranted his pulling out of the race in the last minute.
That would have given room for the postponement of the election.
But contrary to their permutation, Yar’Adua survived the hectic period despite the rumours at a time that he had kicked the bucket.
Surprised at his staying power, the powers-that-be then decided to undermine the election proper, hence the shortage of electoral materials.
For instance, some of the electoral materials paid for were reportedly abondoned in South Africa.
Despite the plot against Yar’Adua, Sunday Sun gathered that the former President is in for more surprises from the former Katsina State governor that he helped to become president. His game-plan: by allowing his culture of due process to take root, thus imperilling Obasanjo who personifies the arbitrariness of 1999-2007.

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/powergame/2007/dec/16/powergame16-12-2007-001.htm
Politics / Re: One Passport,one Currency For All Africans by Bankole01(m): 6:53pm On Dec 16, 2007
It will never work. Even the Europeans did not entirely do away with local currencies or passports.
Africa is just not ready for this!!!!!!!!!!!
Politics / Re: Hillary Accuses Obama Of Bedwetting! by Bankole01(m): 6:05pm On Dec 16, 2007
I think Hilary and Barak are going too far in becoming nastier in this game of one-upmanship. They are allowing handlers and political aids to dictate the tune. At this point in the game, alliances are already formed and could be hardly shaken. Voters already made their choises, clinton and Obama will only turn people off with their increasing mud-slinging. They need to tone it down a little bit.

In my opinion, as much as I would like to see a black president in America, it is still a long way in coming. The conservatives and racists far outnumber the liberals and Obama will never be voted as president. Clinton therefore as a white woman stand a better chance of being voted president. She is a better and a more experienced candidate in my estimate.

As a pragmatic voter and politician (registered Democrat), I will be voting for Clinton.

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