₦airaland Forum

Ibori is not even at the level of Samuel Ogbemudia

Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) is an organisation that is meant to uphold the standard teachings of Jesus Christ. It is an organisation that should promote peaceful co-existence among all Nigerians, irrespective of religion, region and ethnicity. But unfortunately, it seems CAN was only interested in religious crises in Nigeria. The reasons are these:
As soon as the Southern Kaduna killings took place, the CAN took the mega phone to announce that more than 800 Christians have been killed by their supposedly MUSLIMS neighbors who are FULANIS and HAUSAS! It was indeed very difficult for someone far away to get the true story of what really happened.
Anyone with human feelings must be burning with anger against the Fulanis, and against the Muslims. Even the Media, which was supposed to do a diligent investigation simply echo the noise of the CAN. The foundation for worst religious and ethnic clashes was getting laid!
But the Channels TV, was able to dig deep into the matter during its "Daily Sunrise" on Friday, 6th January, 2017. The indepth interrogation between the duo of Channels journalists, and the Southern Kaduna indigenes was in sharp contrast to the position of CAN.
The first person to talk was Barr. Auta Maisamari, an official of Southern Kaduna Peoples Union.
He strongly absolved their neighbours from that barbaric act. The love and harmony that exists between them, as explained by Barr. Auta was envious to anyone listening to him!
The next person to speak was Dr. Isuwa Dogo, a former chairman of the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union in Lagos. He said, "Those who are killing us are not Fulani herdsmen who are our neighbors, they were only been used for cover... For a Fulani herdsmen to buy one AK47 he must sell 5 cows, no Fulani herdsmen in Southern Kaduna would do that! We have been living together for more than 50years"
Ibrahim Abdullah, a National Asst. Secretary of Myetti Allah, the herdsmen association was the last speaker. His position was not different. His own analysis of the crisis pointed to the disagreement between the herdsmen from Cameron, passing through international routes, and a local farmer.
The Christian Association of Nigeria should shed its hatred for Islam and the Muslims. It must know that only the promotion of religious tolerance and good neighbourliness is the tool by which it could remain popular,not the propaganda that some imaginary persons want to ISLAMISE Nigeria.
A lot of us have many Christians as our core family members, friends, business partners and there is just no way we can live in isolation of one another. CAN should not see Muslims as a group of people that must be subdued or frustrated.
It is granted that some Muslims are mischievous in their thoughts and actions, every good Muslims is also fighting against this. Our goal must be to live in a country where love and peace shall reign above hatred and hooliganism.
May God repose the souls of all those who died in that unfortunate INCIDENT and expose the criminals behind the killings.

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dacovajnr:
twas actually Good that the guy became deaf&dumb during the presentation..We probably would've heard something like"i dedicated this world cup to Mahrez on the behalfed of th President of United state of Globacom" Fvuckd up Niccur

That guy ehn

Nigeria we hail thee, our own dear nativeland, though tribe and tongue may differ in brotherhood we stand, nigerians all are proud to serve our sovereing mother's land....how many of our national/state legilators can recite the old national anthem ? They can't even recite the current one ...shame

dacovajnr:
Kanu is Definitely gonna Win African Footballer of the year ahead of Mess

Are u quoting Solomon Dalung ?

Its a new year (2017)...I don't think we need this

fiizznation:
something even there "son" didn't give them.

fiizznation:
A wise man always keep mute if he doesn't have any sensible thing to say

Words

The mysterious white man captured by Nigerian soldiers during last week’s storming of Boko Haram’s headquarters in the Sambisa Forest is a Frenchman and he specializes in repairing and unlocking armored personnel vehicles and other fighting equipment, Daily Trust learnt from authoritative military sources yesterday. The white man’s identity is being concealed by the Federal Government and military authorities for diplomatic reasons, the sources also said.


Defense Headquarters has been silent on the development since the news broke last Friday, shortly after President Muhammadu Buhari announced that   Boko Haram’s last stronghold in the Sambisa forest, Borno State had been overrun by troops. Soldiers who took part in the operation told our correspondent yesterday that a white man was actually arrested in the Sambisa forest and that he has been providing “credible information” to military authorities. A source said, “He was arrested along the Bama axis of the Sambisa forest and agreed to give vital information provided he would be spared. I learnt that he is from France but authorities do not want to make his real identity known for diplomatic reasons…They  don’t want to jeopardize the success recorded.” Although some sources only said the captured white man is “from Western Europe,” Daily Trust learnt that he is actually a Frenchman. All Nigeria’s neighbours in the North East, namely Cameroon, Niger Republic and Chad are French speaking. 

The French embassy in Nigeria did not respond to email and text message sent to it for comment yesterday.
 

How top officers led Sambisa offensive
The one month long military offensive that led to the capture of Sambisa Forest last Thursday was led by “the best hands” in the Nigerian Army and Air Force, sources close to the operation told Daily Trust yesterday. Before the renewed offensive to reclaim the dreaded forest where Boko Haram fighters held sway since 2013, officers between the ranks of Lieutenants, Captains and Majors normally led operations, sources said. This time around, more senior officers led the operation on all fronts during the final onslaught. It was gathered that the officers, besides various trainings they obtained at home, have been trained abroad and had participated in serious military operations.

The 60,000 square kilometres (23,000 sq mi) vast Sambisa Forest had been the nightmare of the Nigerian security forces, including their foreign allies, who provided various security reports over the years. It was gathered that some of the fighting troops were mobilized with light rocket propelled grenades [RPGs], weapons they did not use previously.  The light RPGs, according to one of our sources, could be carried on by soldiers on their shoulders for long distances because of their light weight and were used against far flung targets.

“With the exception of one major of the Nigerian Army, all the commanding officers that led the 4,200 troops into the Sambisa Forest are of the rank of Colonel and Lieutenant Colonel,” a soldier who participated in the operation said. He said “the Bama axis was led by a Colonel who viciously decimated many Boko Haram fighters. Together with his troops, he captured Alafa 1, 11 and 111 in the Sambisa Forest and freed over 1,000 people. He also captured nearly 500 suspects, mostly men who are being interrogated for having links with the Boko Haram.” 

According to him, “some of the suspects are claiming that they were forcefully conscripted into the violent group while others have admitted that they belong to the group.” Another source said the Konduga/Aulari axis of the Sambisa Forest was captured by a daring army Major. “This Major is one of the heroes in the Nigerian Army. He was very close to the late Lieutenant Colonel Abu Ali of blessed memory. He knows the Sambisa Forest very well and was therefore directed to approach the forest through the infamous Gate One,”the source said. He added, “The Ngurosoye axis of the Sambisa Forest was led by a Lieutenant Colonel who is also a fearless and versatile officer. His 151 Battalion is known as Blocking Force. His troops recovered many AK47 rifles of fleeing Boko Haram insurgents and they also freed many women and children.” 

The real operation
Sources said during the planning to re-take Sambisa Forest, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt. General Tukur Buratai frequented Maiduguri almost on daily basis. “Sometimes he passed the night there (in Maiduguri) and sometimes he went back to Abuja. He personally commanded the general operation,” an officer who craved for anonymity said. He said radar with monitors was mounted at the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army and everything, including troop movement; logistics, ground operation and aerial reconnaissance both day and night were closely monitored with precision. 

He said, “The close monitoring from Maiduguri helped a great deal in reducing mistakes. This gave the troops the confidence to relentlessly march on during operations. The fact that the mine detectors deployed to the Sambisa forest also demobilized all the bombs planted by the insurgents gave our troops added impetus. The mine detectors normally detonated most of the IEDs with ease and also cleared the terrain for armoured vehicles to move freely.” 

The source that added some Boko Haram commanders and foot soldiers who were arrested long ago and “de-radicalized” were also imbedded in the operation. “The repentant insurgents, some members of the civilian JTF and local vigilantes know the Sambisa Forest very well, far better than the maps we used in the operation and therefore, they assisted greatly in helping us to locate hideouts. Also, sophisticated fighter jets and drones that have capacity to monitor things as far as away as 600 meters were deployed to the Sambisa forest and worked day and night,” he said.

The fall of ‘Camp Zero’
A military officer told our correspondent that this was not the first time attempt made to capture “Camp Zero” in Sambisa Forest where the factional leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau used as his hide out on different occasions. “This is the second time Camp Zero is taken. The first was during the JTF (Joint Task Force) in June 2013 before it (JTF) was disbanded and the area was lost completely,” the officer said.
He said despite the success recorded, there is worry among the military high command because some of the things expected to be recovered at the building were not found. “It is likely they (Boko Haram) are somewhere because they moved away with their equipment and prized possessions, including the Chibok girls in possession of Shekau group,” he said.

He said there were other dreaded cells that have been deserted by the Boko Haram terrorists, such as the ones in Kareto and Gudumbali at the height of offensive last year and another one in Kukawa which was reclaimed this year. It was learnt that while some of the Chibok girls and other captives are with the Shekau camp, many of them are with the Mamman Nur faction, led by Abu Musab Al-Barnawi, son of the group’s late Mohammed Yusuf. They are suspected to be held in cells in northern Borno State.

“Camp Zero has for a long time been an objective for our troops but it is not the end of Sambisa in the true sense of the crisis. Boko Haram terrorists have been trained in the art of war, so it is likely they moved away for tactical reasons,” he said. The source said the COAS, the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole as well as the GOCs of the army’s 3, 7 and 8 Divisions and other key Army Headquarters officers held a marathon meeting on December 24 and continued meeting yesterday on the operations in the North East. “They had a break on the 25th because of Christmas and they went to open the roads from Maiduguri to Damasak and to Baga. Their main concern in the meeting is the disappearance of Boko Haram leaders with their equipment and lack of trace of the Chibok girls,” the officer said. Sources said beside the equipment found there, Boko Haram fighters had raided many workshops and laboratories in schools around the Sambisa Forest in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states and had fabricated fighting equipment and chemicals with the facilities they carted away. 

There is controversy as to how Camp Zero actually looked like. While some soldiers that participated in the operation said it has two underground buildings and tunnels as well as hardware and equipment for the training of the disbanded National Guards, some officers told our correspondent that the place was actually inherited from the Sambisa Game Reserve.

“The National Guard were to train there but were never there. A team went to inspect the place in the 80s but the movement and training did not hold. The solid structure there belonged to the forest management authority,” he said.

Ha !!!
Mogbe ! Moku !! Modaran !!!
Kitchen Utensils
Eberu olohun o

One of the leaders of  a notorious militant group operating in Ikorodu and Arepo areas of Lagos and Ogun states, Abiodun Amos, said yesterday, that his group planned to bomb the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos because the Federal Government failed to consider its members for amnesty. The group had planned to bomb the bridge end of last month before Amos’ arrest by the Inspector-General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team, led by Abba Kyari, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, frustrated its efforts. 


“We went into bank robberies and kidnapping because we wanted to get government’s attention and all we wanted was for them to grant us amnesty and also offer us pipeline protection contract. ‘’We have made several appeals but government is not listening to us. Abiodun Amos (left), arrested over plans to blow up Third Mainland Bridge, in Lagos. ‘’General” Ossy (leader of the gang) said if we don’t blow up the Third Mainland Bridge, government will not listen to us. We had concluded plans to carry out the attack by November ending. ‘’I am the group’s explosives expert and before I was arrested we were going into the creeks to conclude plans on how to carry out the attack.” 

The suspect, also popularly known as Senti, said his group was hitherto involved in pipeline vandalism, noting that it resorted to kidnapping when it became difficult for its members to continue with the illegal business due to the presence of the military and policemen. The suspect is a 43-year-old native of  Arogbo, in Ese-Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State. He was arrested by operatives of the Inspector General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team, IRT, at a river bank in Majidun area of Ikorodu, Lagos, on Monday. Two  AK-47 rifles hidden inside a bag were found with the 43-year-old suspect as Vanguard reliably gathered that additional two cartons of explosives, with the words Gelatine Dynamite inscribed on them, and detonators, were recovered from the group’s operational saloon car. 

Amos’ arrest, it was gathered, followed intelligence generated by office of the National Security Adviser to the President, NSA, on November 2, 2016, that the group had concluded plans to blow up the Third Mainland Bridge. 

Vanguard gathered that the information was passed on to the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, who subsequently directed his IRT to commence investigation into the matter. During investigation by the team, it was revealed that the militants had acquired a large quantity of dynamite and several other explosives with which to carry out the dastardly act. Recall that the group in October 2016  carried out secret illegal operations like pipeline vandalism, kidnapping and bank robberies and had demanded for amnesty, threatening to disrupt economic activities within Lagos and Ogun states if the Federal Government didn’t grant their request. 

Suspected leader of the militant group, General Ossy (real names not known), had in recent times, allegedly coordinated many bank robberies and several high-profile kidnappings, including the kidnap of  three school girls at  Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary School in Ikorodu; kidnap of four landlords at Isheri North Area of Lagos; abduction of  Oniba of Ibaland, Oba Goriola Oseni, among several others within Lagos and Ogun state s. ‘General’ Ossy had  boasted in an interview with Vanguard that his group has over 21 ‘generals’ commanding 7,800 battle-ready boys, adding that the group is rich enough to fight the Federal Government, having acquired thousands of arms and ammunition similar to that of the military. He said the arms would be deployed to disrupt economic activities within Lagos and Ogun states, should the Federal Government fail to dialogue with the group and grant its wish. 

Confirming the development, Force Public Relations Officer, Don Awunah, a deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP, said:  “Yes, an individual was arrested. On sighting the policemen, the second suspect jumped out of his car and escaped into the bush, abandoning the operational vehicle. ‘’On searching the vehicle, two cartons  of Gelatine dynamite explosives and hundreds of detonators were recovered in the boot of the car. Efforts to arrest the remaining gang members are  in progress.” 

It’s pure insanity — Afenifere Reacting to the development, Pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, described the move as insane. Its National Publicity Secretary, Yinka Odumakin, said: “It is insane for anybody to hatch such a satanic plot. To what end and in reaction to what? ‘’It is good they have been arrested .They should be properly investigated for us to know what their motive was and their likely backers.” Lagos PDP reacts In its reaction, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Lagos State, called on the state government to up its security to reduce crime rate. 

Its publicity Secretary, Mr Gani Taofik, said:  “Such a plan is evil and can’t be defended. It must be further verified to remove any doubt and if a proper fact check confirms it, those arrested must be made to face the full weight of the law. ‘’This is to now put the Lagos State government on alert to up its security. The APC government must address the economic and social injustice to reduce these angry reactions which ordinary citizens now suffer. Taking over Sambisa may now be a fluke as the Boko Haram may strategically leave there with no loss, into the cities.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/12/planned-bomb-3rd-mainland-bridge-suspect/

NFF....Ntoooor !!!

By Pius Adesanmi

Recently, I narrated the going-through-thick-and-thin phase of life together in Vancouver, Canada, with my brother from the heartland of Ijesha country, Bayo Emm. The focus of that treatise was how Western Union taught us to be more philosophical about our frequent remittances to Nigeria as diasporans.

We were in our prime as graduate students at the University of British Columbia. We graduated. I took my PhD in French Studies and headed south across the border to teach at Penn State University in the United States. Bayo took his Masters in Library and Archival Studies and headed to Europe, landing at The Hague where he was hired as Archivist and Librarian by the World Court.

At the end of his contract with the World Court, Bayo returned to Canada and joined the Federal civil service. In 2006, I left the United States and returned to Canada, to Ottawa. One year later, Bayo phoned me from Vancouver. He had just been transferred to Ottawa. Our joint Canadian Odyssey in one city was going to continue.

Just shy of two years into his work in a Federal Ministry in Ottawa, Bayo phoned to announce that there was a job opening in Canada’s Parliament and he was going to apply for it.

As it were, Parliament was looking for a senior librarian and archivist. Bayo was sure that having been a librarian at the World Court, he stood a good chance. He was right. The Canadian parliament jumped at his UN resume. That is how a Nigerian came to preside over the organization and acquisition of knowledge by members of parliament in Canada.

Oh boy, did we celebrate that job! Bayo was now in a position where Canada’s Senators and Reps would be consulting him daily for sources and references. For us, this was a biggie. A few months into the job, I started to notice the first signs of discomfort and restlessness in Bayo. As Nigeria always does to her sons and daughters in the diaspora, the inescapable burden of comparison had caught up with Bayo in his new station in life, leaving a terrible taste in his mouth and making it impossible for him to enjoy his new job.

Bayo’s first problem was the ordinariness of power all around him. He would phone me from work, moaning and groaning that nearly 90% of the Senators and Reps took public transport to parliament. In the summer, many rode bicycles or trekked. No airs. No convoys. No expensive SUV purchases every two years, no useless appurtenances of power. His mind would travel to Abuja and picture Nigeria’s Senators and Reps and that would be the end of his happiness for the day.

Then came his job description as librarian and archivist. Lawmakers and their aides trooped daily to the library. He had to organize a daily deluge of research sources and materials for the Lawmakers and their aides. Before every intervention, every speech on the floor of Parliament, a Lawmaker would read and read and read and dig and dig and dig and research and research and research.

Bayo would supply books and files and sources and references, all the while thinking dejectedly about our own indolent and irresponsible Senators and Reps in Nigeria. He would phone me and ruin my day. His agony was always contagious. He would be doing the weeping on Parliament Hill. I would be doing the gnashing of teeth at Carleton University. Two Nigerians united in ibanuje because of the work ethos of Canadian parliamentarians.

The pabambari of it all was when Bayo discovered that every trip to their riding (constituency in Nigeria) was also preceded by a lot of research. Whenever they went back to their ridings to meet and interact with the constituents who voted for them and sent them to Ottawa, they had to be prepared, they had to be armed with research and knowledge for the constituents would expect quality feedback from them. You don’t just jump in your car and go back home to meet with your constituents without being prepared to be grilled in a qualitative manner on your thought, your vision, and your legislative agenda. The people need to know that you are intellectually applied in the manner in which you are representing them.

What Bayo and I were witnessing was a supreme sign of respect for one’s electorate in a democracy. They sent me to Ottawa to work for them in the context of a global knowledge economy and whenever I return home to meet them, I must be prepared to show evidence of constant personal and intellectual development.

Bayo did not stay long on that job. It was too emotionally draining, too psychologically damaging for he could not escape the constant spectre of Nigeria. As I told him, the only way a Nigerian could enjoy such a job was to undergo some form of surgical memory erasure where Nigeria and her politicians and government officials would be forever banished from one’s consciousness. Bayo returned to the civil service and is now a Manager in one of the Ministries – that is what you call Director in Nigeria.

There is of course something they call a library at the National Assembly. It even surprisingly has books in it. However, it is a largely useless space because you do not need a qualitative mind constantly fed and replenished by knowledge to represent Nigerians in a political office. The only purpose of the Library in Nigeria’s National Assembly is that it is a vital source of recurrent expenditure in the annual budget. Since 1999, they have been claiming to be buying books and replenishing that Library. It is a source of stomach infrastructure for them.

Can you close your eyes and picture Dino Melaye in a library, reading, because he needs to be accountable in a cerebral way to his constituents? Can you picture Senator Godswill Akpabio reading a book? Exactly which one of them can you picture within a ten-kilometre radius of knowledge?

I can think only of my friend, Senator Sola Adeyeye but that is because he is a Professor and was a University lecturer in America for years before returning home to contest for office. Sometimes I pity the cerebral Professor Adeyeye because he has to share that space with the imbecilic Dino and his ilk in the majority.

Even the cosmopolitan commonsense Tweetnator from Bayelsa – can you picture him in an atmosphere of research and knowledge acquisition for the sake of his constituents? I can’t. Yet, he is one of the most urbane and sophisticated minds in NASS, despite his warts. Because he does not need to read and research anything for the sake of his constituents, that explains why he rants about issues on Twitter, only to get to the Senate and keep quiet whenever the floor opens for the same issues he rants about. I’ve hardly ever seen or heard him make a qualitative intervention.

Why are your Senators and Reps able to establish an ethos of cerebral emptiness – which has become the standard identity of NASS since 1999? I’m afraid they are only partly to blame. The bulk of the blame falls on you. You are their principal alibi for the way they do things. You are their principal alibi for doing the things they do. The Canadian Lawmaker spends hours preparing for every trip home to meet his constituents because he expects to be grilled in a certain way.

Today is Christmas Eve. Your Senators and Reps are already at home with you in the countryside. How and what did they have to prepare for this trip back home from Abuja? What did they have to prepare to meet you, their constituents? Sacks of rice. Salt. Ororo. Ajinomoto. Lacasera. And lots of envelopes, each containing about ten thousand naira.

The most painful part for me is that you hardly even get to see them on these trips home. You would have to be especially privileged to even make it to their proper living rooms. The way they construct their mansions, there is always that anteroom where they receive you in cohorts. Their domestic staff will serve you rice and drinks while you watch Arsenal versus Chelsea.

Then Madam will come from za oza room in the mansion and greet you all and deliver a little speech on behalf of Chief who is resting upstairs and cannot come and see you. Madam will ask if you need more food and drinks. She will then distribute the envelopes. You will hail and hail and hail and sing and sing and sing. And the next cohort will arrive.

This is the scene that will be enacted ad nauseam in every nook and cranny of Nigeria from today till January 2, 2017. When Madam gives you that envelope and tells you that Chief is sleeping upstairs, do you think it is possible for you as a group to insist on seeing him to ask pertinent questions about his manner of representing you in NASS?

If you see yourself being able to do this and you do it – even if you don’t get the desired answer – then Nigeria has some hope of a mental and paradigm shift in a very distant future.

If all you do is eat rice, take your envelope, hail and leave, then we are doomed for life.

BY SIMON KOLAWOLE

Predictably, many Nigerians are disgusted with the jubilation that greeted the release of former Delta governor, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, from UK prison on Wednesday. His friends and associates were over the moon. His community rolled out the drums. There were eulogies here and there. In my estimation, the celebration was sincere and affectionate. And that exactly was what irked many Nigerians: how could people genuinely celebrate the release of a convicted money launderer and fraudster? Shouldn’t they be appalled? Shouldn’t they stone him? Shouldn’t they ostracise him? What is this world turning into? These are the questions pervading the social media.

His supporters cannot understand the outcry over their in-your-face celebrations. Are they supposed to be crying that their hero had been freed from prison? They are asking: if prison is meant to punish, and he has served the punishment, does he not deserve a second chance? We should also note that even though he had been in prison since 2010, he was effectively still in control of Delta politics, installing governors, senators, reps, house of assembly members, commissioners and boards of agencies. It is even reported that he was determining the choice of contracts and contractors. Ibori was, clearly, loved by his people.

The UNIBEN-trained economist cannot even understand the “noise”. While he was governor, he often asked journalists why he was being cast as the most corrupt politician in Nigeria. He named a number of governors who were very corrupt — and asked why the press was protecting them and casting others as devils. He believed he was a victim of President Olusegun Obasanjo’s vendetta. Ibori and other PDP governors had famously tried to stop Obasanjo from getting the party’s ticket to go for a second term in 2003. The ultimate casualty was their ally, Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, whom Obasanjo stopped by all means from succeeding him in 2007.

Ibori’s supporters may well have a point, but their hero’s case is very, very complicated. He has a history. Unforgettable history. He had been convicted for credit card fraud and theft twice in the UK — in 1991 and 1992. Then in 1995, he was allegedly convicted for criminal breach of trust in Nigeria. Being an ex-convict, he was constitutionally not qualified to run for governorship in 1999, but he beat the system all the same. The 1995 conviction by an Abuja area court was a thriller. The name of the convict was James Onanefe Ibori. In 2004, he denied being the same person and court records would soon be blurred. It was certainly one of the mysteries of modern times.

The judge who passed the sentence identified him as the convict. But all the way to the Supreme Court, our judiciary ruled that it must be another James Onanefe Ibori. In yet another twist, a truck driver who called himself “James Onanefe Ochuko Ibori” materialised from the moon and claimed to be the convict in question. The drama had no equal. The then Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Tafa Balogun, finally gave Ibori a clean bill. That ended Season One, which I would call ‘The Appetiser’. That Balogun himself was later removed and convicted on corruption charges on a different matter might not be unrelated to Obasanjo’s anger at his handling of the Ibori affair.

Season Two started in 2006 — or 2007 if you will. Dr. Bukola Saraki, then governor of Kwara state, and Ibori, his pal, would play a key role in the election of Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua as the president of Nigeria. Ibori reportedly claimed to have spent N50 billion on the campaign. Yar’Adua’s campaign team was filled with Ibori’s men. Indeed, Mr. David Edevbie, who would later serve as Yar’Adua’s principal private secretary, was Ibori’s commissioner for finance in Delta state. All was set for the capture of Yar’Adua and the recording of Season Two, which I call ‘The Avengers’. Their first port of call was to destroy the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Why? EFCC, under Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, was a potent instrument in the hands of Obasanjo in the anti-graft crusade. The war was unquestionably selective and vindictive — but there were no trumped-up charges. The allegations were concrete. With a certain Mr. Ibrahim Magu leading key investigations into politically exposed persons, there was a mountain of evidence against leading political actors in Yar’Adua’s government. The only workable option was to weaken the EFCC. They did it by hook and crook. Mr. Michael Aondoakaa, Yar’Adua’s attorney-general, started out by seeking to take prosecutorial powers away from the EFCC. He did not succeed.

While we were at it, EFCC started proceedings against former governors who no longer enjoyed immunity. Ibori was arrested at the Kwara state governor’s lodge in Abuja — while enjoying the company of Saraki, his bosom friend who is today the Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. They had to move fast. Ribadu, who had been re-appointed EFCC chairman by Obasanjo shortly before his presidential tenure ended in 2007, was asked to go back to the senate for another confirmation screening — in the hope that he would not be confirmed (did you just fast-forward to Magu’s fate in 2016?), in the hope that his menace would end quickly.

Along the line, Yar’Adua remembered that Ribadu was promoted to the rank of AIG without having gone to the mandatory National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS). Ribadu was asked to go to Kuru immediately. He was eventually demoted from AIG to DCP, humiliated and dismissed — with Ibori publicly boasting “we are in charge”. Ibori, meanwhile, argued in court that if he stole Delta money, he should be tried in Delta. In 2009, a federal high court was quickly created and built in Asaba to try him, and he was cleared by Justice Idowu Awokulehin as the EFCC, now under Mrs. Farida Waziri (appointed to replace Ribadu, with the help of Aondoakaa), started a new era.

Season Three, I call it ‘The Journey’, started in 2010 when the government of President Goodluck Jonathan re-opened the case and Ibori, in an attempt to escape another trial, ran to Dubai — into the waiting hands of Interpol — from where he ended up in the UK and went on trial for money laundering. He quickly pleaded “guilty” to the same charges he pleaded “not guilty” to in Nigeria, perhaps knowing that the British judicial system was more difficult to fool around with. We now seem set for ‘The Return’, the Season Four of the Ibori franchise. With Magu, his investigator, still at EFCC, Ibori’s file may be dusted up. I will, thus, be shocked if senate eventually confirms Magu.

As for those who want Ibori ostracised after his release from jail, I ask: who has ever been ostracised in Nigeria for corruption? In 2002, when Mohammed Abacha was set free by the Supreme Court on fraud charges, he was received by a jubilant crowd in Kano and driven away in a convoy of luxury limousines and police vans. He later reneged on the deal to return $1.5bn Abacha loot — and almost became governor. In 2007, Bayelsa went berserk with joy when ex-governor Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha was freed after serving time for fraud. In 2011, a lavish church service was held to celebrate Chief Bode George’s release from Kirikiri.

Let me conclude. To Ibori’s supporters who think their hero is being unfairly treated, he has a history: he set himself up to be cast as a villain. His dare-devil scheming must rank among the most audacious in our history. He overplayed his hand. And as for those appalled at the welcome party, let us stop being hypocrites: we organise welcome parties for our own Iboris every day. They get front-row seats in churches. We defend them because we are of the same tribe and tongue, region and religion. Sentiments are always at play. Until we reach a national consensus on hating corruption with perfect hatred, the in-your-face welcome parties will keep rolling.

For readers who want to understand our contradictions when it comes to confronting corruption in Africa, I recommend the timeless essay, ‘Colonialism and Two Publics in Africa: A Theoretical Statement’, written by Prof. Peter Ekeh in 1975. It defines our problematic relationship with public resources in Africa. We have two sets of morals: one for the civic domain, which we see as a colonial creation, and another for the primordial domain, which is where we operated as Africans before colonialism. What we adjudge as immoral (such as stealing) in the primordial domain we see as perfectly normal in the civic domain. We think public money is nobody’s money after all!

Empty Economic Fighters Club...EFCC

Worst game I have seen from Arsenal in such a long time. Absolutely embarrassing. Couldn't even get into final third. A response today for the midweek defeat was key but we lost the game in the exact same manner. Went up early and sat back and allow the other team back in the game. Not one to call Wenger out as soon as we lose but clearly the last two games were played with terrible tactics. As a side note, Ozil can go, absolutely invisible.

LesbianBoy:
If arsenal should win today's match i will stop watching football

Bookmarked
I hope you'll keep your word

Whytelyon:


His name is John Magufuli, President of Tanzania. Go and google it and see for yourself

http://zikoko.com/list/8-reasons-tanzanias-john-magufuli-africas-beloved-president/

http://www.zambianobserver.com/tanzanias-john-magufuli-announced-as-worlds-best-president/

I am talking a 2016 fact, not a fable as you can see its September and october.
I laughed when you said it was Buhari. What has he done that gave him such honor?

Fine, shay na the money way em day collect from these em fellow Northerners way them steal? abi the Boko Haram way em lie say he 'Defeated'...C'mon stop believing in these lies they tell you in your mosques na.... una eye suppose don open by now.. The money he claimed he collected , wetin e take am do... lets start with that. haba na wa o

I asked a simple question and all u can do is throw tantrums? what a way to go. I have reasonable christians as friends so I will not even assume that u were taught in the church to accuse/ attack muslims even when the topic bn discussed is not about religion...

Whytelyon:

Which homage?

If na joke stop am I take God beg you. Its just like if Donald trump comes to Nigeria, your ignorance would say he's coming to pay homage to this liar who lies about everything. Abi no african leader has a right to visit another? King of Morocco way come here, shay na 'homage' he come here do too shay?

Go and read about why Sir leaf is respected in Africa, or try visiting Liberia and see things yourself. You come here day vouch for person way no know wetin em day do I laugh.

Who is the most respected african leader at the moment ? Its a simple question, just mention the name..... dazzol

Whytelyon:

You can lie for Africa . Even this same Jammeh insulted buhari, something we saw on AIT, you come here with propaganda. With the laugh them day give us, you say this mad president of ours who is only wise in the other room is respected. APC warrior, am not surprised.

http://www.africaranking.com/the-10-greatest-african-leaders/

You didn't even call okonjo iweala, or sirleaf of Liberia, na this misfortune of a president. Keep ranting, 2019 you and him go bounce comot.

Lubbish

My quote does not depict someone who is ranting, I was only stating the obvious and if you think that there are/is any african leader (presently) that is more respected in/out of africa than PMB say it now. Okonjo-iweala is not an african leader and johnson-sirleaf was in abuja some weeks back to pay homage. Whatever will happen to PMB in 2019 rest solely with God almighty...

Itulah:
You are joking right?

Not at all, do you have a contrary opinion ?
Please let's us know

sbashir10:
even ecowas trusted PMB

Yeah, he remains the most respected african leader right now

HBD TO ME
HBD TO PMB

Thanks nairaland for the birthday wishes, I got this ;
Happy Birthday faaz24
Nairaland - 10:30 pm
to faazdec17
Dear faaz24,
Happy Birthday faaz24!!!
We wish you many fruitful years ahead!
Best Regards,
Nairaland Forum Team

Nixiepie:
Why always with Akon

Akon is a muslim, may be he wants to make her his fourth wife.

Omo lomo yen o, mofe ... (Sorry she's getting married already)
Omo todun toshan to hot to popoju.

Sai Zahra
Sai Indimi
....After wedding things, NA POI ! -fela

Onijagidijagan:
They will soon come to call him okoroawusaa

Okoroawusa !

Okorohausa !

"You running and you running and you running away but you can't run away from yourself" -Bob Marley

As u run, death is running the race with you.

adeaks:
You guys are still playing Thursday football?


Sorry o

Chrismario:
And Japp stam too?

Don't forget Patrick Vieira

Fayose of Igboland

ozoigbondu:
That little midget can crawl under a chair and cry himself to sleep

Shehu Sani na short man too o
Na the hair make him tall pass Elrufai.

BLADE III
All because of an ex
Na wa o