₦airaland Forum

I sure hope their fears will turn out to be misplaced - otherwise, bye Nigeria


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/05/osama-service-chiefs-in-9hrs-secu
rity-meeting/

A mother who walks in on her six-year-old son and finds him sobbing.
"What's the matter"? she asks.
"I've just figured out how to tie my shoes."
"Well, honey, that's wonderful. You're growing up, but why are you crying"?
"Because," he says. "Now I'll have to do it every day for the rest of my life."

Some retired deputy sheriffs went to a retreat in the mountains. To save money, they decided to sleep two to a room. No one wanted to room with Daryl, because he snored so badly. They decided it wasn't fair to make one of them stay with him the whole time, so they voted to take turns.
The first deputy slept with Daryl and comes to breakfast the next morning with his hair a mess and his eyes all bloodshot. They said, "Man, what happened to you"?
He said, "Daryl snored so loudly, I just sat up and watched him all night."

The next night, it was a different deputy's turn. In the morning, the same thing happened. His hair was all standing up and his eyes were all bloodshot. They said, "Man, what happened to you? You look awful!"
He said, "Man, that Daryl shakes the roof. I watched him all night."

The third night was Frank's turn. Frank was a big burly ex-football player. A man's man. The next morning, he came to breakfast bright eyed and bushy tailed.
"Good morning!" he said.
They couldn't believe it! They said, "Man, what happened"?
He said, "Well, we got ready for bed. I went and tucked Daryl into bed and kissed him goodnight. He sat up and watched me all night long."

A new supermarket opened near my house and it has an automatic water mister that keeps the produce fresh. Just before it turns on, you hear the sound of distant thunder and the smell of fresh rain.
When you pass the milk cases, you hear cows mooing and you experience the scent of fresh hay.
In the meat department, there's an aroma of charcoal grilled steaks with onions.
When you approach the egg case, you hear hens cluck and cackle and the air is filled with the pleasing aroma of bacon and eggs frying.
The bread department features the tantalizing smell of fresh baked bread and cookies.
For the record, I don't buy toilet paper there anymore.

Chief, Dr, Professor Lakasegbe,
Architect Johnbull, mnim, fellow(inst. of Highrise Architects)
H.D lapalapa, D.Sc, P.hd (Honoris Causa), pfc, psc, JP (for Jerusalem Pilgrim)
Alhaji (Dr) Bature Shinkafa; Fmr Minister of Petroleum, out-going Executive Governor of Gambari State,
Igwe Ewu Beke, Ogbuefi 1 of Mgbadaland
Barrister (High Chief) Kokori Okoripoto, B.L, LL.M, SAN, QC; Defender of the People
Accountant Otolorin, GCE, A'levels, B.Sc, M.Sc, P.Hd, D.Sc, Fellow(Institute of Husslers)
His Gracious Eminence, Bishop (Dr) Papa God Dey; Founder, Owner and Presiding Bishop Of Church of Miracles

Do you know of others not mentioned?

I'm yet to learn of Barrister Barak Obama or Lawyer Hillary Clinton - except of course I'm missing something.

Sigh, The Guardian newspapers at it's launch decried this craze and tried to adhere to addressing everyone by simply 'Mr' or Ms/Mrs. They failed.

WHY ARE WE SO ADDICTED TO TITLES?

Your friend,

Feelgood
(Poster,NL,FB,Twitter)

Written by Folorunso Folowosele Friday, 29 April 2011

Nigerian Tribune

Muhammadu Buhari
General Muhammadu Buhari first came into national consciousness when he headed the Nigerian State through an illegal military usurpation of power. At another time, he was in charge of the many works throughout the country and had the resources when General Sani Abacha handed him, on a platter of gold, the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF). His successes or failures over both tasks for which Nigerians were not responsible are debatable.

Before the 2011 presidential election, many people had rated the retired soldier a gentleman, one the Yoruba would refer to as omoluabi. He was one of those considered experienced and that, if elected, could run this country firmly, justly and probably without overbearing emphasis on matters mundane or parochial. We have now been proved wrong; at least, the majority of his admirers outside his home base are wiser now than before the presidential election. One could surmise that Pastor Tunde Bakare, his running mate, must have been having nightmares since hell was let loose against his people in the North, as in the past.

Buhari’s demeanour, since the results of the presidential elections were released, has been a letdown. Whatever the imperfections in the conduct of the elections before, during and after the elections, noted by the Congress for Political Change (CPC) which the Army General was the presidential candidate, they cannot reduce the national exercise to a nullity. It has been the best, fairest, people-motivated election ever held in this land, surpassing the June 12, 1993 presidential election, rudely annulled by the first military president in this country.

One cannot but refer to a not-too-far presidential election in the United States of America. Al Gore, former vice-president on the Democratic Party platform and George W. Bush, representing the Republican Party, had to struggle for the outcome of the result of a single state which determined the winner. After some recounts of the votes in Florida State and disputes still surrounded the outcome, the American spirit overcame the obstacle when the country’s electoral body declared Bush the president-elect. Immediately, Al Gore sent a congratulatory message to George Bush on his election. Buhari should have done no less, if he truly is an elder statesman with the sole purpose of service to the nation.

Many had thought that General Buhari was going to set a new pace for African leaders, as the election results were at his beck and call and, therefore, known by him, to call on the winner to congratulate him, not waiting for Professor Atahiru Jega’s announcement. He did not rise to the occasion even after the Chief Electoral Officer had declared the winner. To date, General Buhari has not done the right thing. He even failed to listen to the candid advice of a future Nigerian president, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, presidential candidate of All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP). Buhari could not also take a cue from Dimeji Bankole, Honourable Speaker of the House of Representatives, who surely deserves the accolade of honourable. Bankole was quick to acknowledge the power of the people in his electoral defeat and the great show displayed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) throughout the rounds of elections.

Rather, Buhari, through his posture, preferred not to upgrade the country’s image, but to sacrifice some of the best minds, the nation’s kids (corps members) that made possible the over twelve million votes that he garnered across the country, as cannon fodder for the miscreants in their areas of compulsory national service. They were mercilessly, prematurely, sent to their graves for obeying their government. Buhari and his cohorts cannot mourn the dead, but simply ran to court to contest an election that the entire world observed as bringing the country to such a level that has made it possible to peep out of the abyss of shame and despair in which the military and the civilian ruling class had dumped the citizens for a long time.

It is not enough for the CPC, in press releases, to distance itself from the mayhem that had followed the 2011 presidential elections in some areas in the North, even in states where the CPC had majority of the votes. The fact remains, however, that directly or indirectly, Buhari, by acts of omission or commission, has fallen below the level expected of a person that has had or will ever have an opportunity to bear the mantle of leading this country as a president.

http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/politics/21146-buhari-and-2011-presidential-elections

While shopping for vacation clothes, my husband and I passed a display of bathing suits. It had been at least ten years and twenty pounds since I had even considered buying a bathing suit, so I sought my husband's advice.

'What do you think?' I asked. 'Should I get a bikini or an all-in-one?'

'Better get a bikini,' he replied. 'You'd never get it all in one.'

He's still in intensive care.

Truly, did Buhari and his supporters really believe that he was going to win? CPC just started yesterday while PDP had been on the ground for ages - even ACN had been on the ground before CPC was conceived. It was therefore foolhardy for them to think he would win the Presidency 'just like that'.
It is obvious that Buhari badly wanted the Presidency - that he had the interest of the people at heart is contestable.
Anyhow, Tinubu is merely stating the obvious and goes to show that the man is street smart, in politics.
CPC guys should please stop living a lie and put their acts together. 2015 is not far away.

The husband showed his wife an article about a study which concluded that men use about 10,000 words per day while women use 20,000 words per day.

"See?" He said. "Women talk twice as much as men."

"No. Women use twice as many words as men because we have to repeat everything we say."

"What?"

-----------------------------

While crossing the US-Mexican border on his bicycle, the man was stopped by a guard who pointed to two sacks the man had on his shoulders. "What's in the bags?", asked the guard.

"Sand," said the cyclist.

"Get them off - we'll take a look," said the guard.

The Cyclist did as he was told, emptied the bags, and proving they contained nothing but sand, reloaded the bags, put them on his shoulders and continued across the border.

Two weeks later, the same thing happened. Again the guard demanded to see the two bags, which again contained nothing but sand. This went on every week for six months, until one day the cyclist with the sand bags failed to appear.

A few days later, the guard happened to meet the cyclist downtown. "Say friend, you sure had us crazy", said the guard. "We knew you were smuggling something across the border. I won't say a word - but what is it you were smuggling?"

"Bicycles!"

Did I miss it? It does appear that the 'fiery' pastor has been sidelined. Perhaps he is seeking the face of God.
Methinks he is wondering why he got himself involved in this 'dirty' politics in the first place.
I understand an Assemblies of God church in Kaduna was beheaded in this pogrom. If Pastor Bakare had a Branch Church in Kaduna,
would his church be razed and the local pastor beheaded?
Questions, questions, questions
Pastor Bakare, where art thou? Or are you not your brother's keeper?

Did I miss it? It does appear that the 'fiery' pastor has been sidelined. Perhaps he is seeking the face of God.
Methinks he is wondering why he got himself involved in this 'dirty' politics in the first place.
I understand an Assemblies of God church in Kaduna was beheaded in this pogrom. If Pastor Bakare had a Branch Church in Kaduna,
would his church be razed and the local pastor beheaded?
Questions, questions, questions
Pastor Bakare, where art thou? Or are you not your brother's keeper?

Dear Walter:

I hope you can help me here. The other day, I set off for work in my Volvo 1800, leaving my husband in the house watching the TV as usual. I hadn't gone more than a mile down the road when my engine conked out and the car shuddered to a halt. I walked back home to get my husband's help. When I got home I couldn't believe my eyes. He was in our bedroom with the neighbor lady. I am 32, my husband is 34, and we have been married for twelve years.

When I confronted him, he broke down and admitted that they had been having an affair for the past six months. I told him to stop or I would leave him.

He was let go from his job six months ago and he says he has been feeling increasingly depressed and worthless. I love him very much, but ever since I gave him the ultimatum, he has become increasingly distant. He won't go to counseling, and I'm afraid I can't get through to him anymore.

Can you please help?

Sincerely, Sheila


Dear Sheila:

An 1800 stalling after being driven a short distance can be caused by a variety of faults with the engine. Start by checking that there is no debris in the fuel line. If it is clear, check the vacuum lines and hoses on the intake manifold and also check all grounding wires. If none of these approaches solves the problem, it could be that the fuel pump itself is faulty, causing low delivery pressure to the carburetor float chamber.

I hope this helps.

-Walter

An elderly couple was celebrating their sixtieth anniversary. The couple had married as childhood sweethearts and had moved back to their old neighborhood after they retired. Holding hands, they walked back to their old school. It was not locked, so they entered, and found the old desk they’d shared, where Andy had carved “I love you, Sally.”

On their way back home, a bag of money fell out of an armored car, practically landing at their feet. Sally quickly picked it up and, not sure what to do with it, they took it home. There, she counted the money -fifty thousand dollars!

Andy said, “We’ve got to give it back.”

Sally said, “Finders keepers.” She put the money back in the bag and hid it in their attic.

The next day, two police officers were canvassing the neighborhood looking for the money, and knocked on their door. “Pardon me, did either of you find a bag that fell out of an armored car yesterday?”

Sally said, “No”.

Andy said, “She’s lying. She hid it up in the attic.

Sally said, “Don’t believe him, he’s getting senile”

The agents turned to Andy and began to question him. One said: “Tell us the story from the beginning.”

Andy said, “Well, when Sally and I were walking home from school yesterday , ”

The first police officer turned to his partner and said, “We’re outta here!”

Wife: You always carry my photo in your handbag to the office. Why?
Darling : When there is a problem, no matter how impossible, I look at your picture and the problem disappears.

Wife: You see, how miraculous and powerful I am for you?
Darling : Yes, I see your picture and say to myself, “What other problem Can there be greater than thi, s one?

Customer: I can't get on the internet.
Tech Support: Are you absolutely sure you used the correct password?
Customer: Yes, I'm sure. I saw my co-worker do it.
Tech Support: Can you tell me what the password was?
Customer: Five dots.


Tech Support: How may I help you?
Customer: I'm writing my first email.
Tech Support: OK, and what seems to be the problem?
Customer: Well, I have the letter 'a' in the address, but how do I get the little circle around it?

Tech Support: What kind of computer do you have?
Customer: A white one.

Customer: Hi, this is Celine. I can't get my DVD out !!!
Tech Support: Have you tried pushing the button?
Customer: Yes, I'm sure it's really stuck.
Tech Support: That doesn't sound good; I'll make a note.
Customer: No, wait a minute, I hadn't inserted it yet. It's still on my desk . . . sorry. Thank you.

Customer: I have problems printing in red.
Tech Support: Do you have a color printer?
Customer: Aaaah . . . . . . . . . . thank you.

Tech Support: What's on your monitor now, ma'am?
Customer: A teddy bear that my boyfriend bought for me at the 7-11 store.

Customer: My keyboard is not working anymore.
Tech Support: Are you sure your keyboard is plugged into the computer?
Customer: No. I can't get behind the computer.
Tech Support: Pick up your keyboard and take ten steps backwards.
Customer: Okay.
Tech Support: Did the keyboard come with you?
Customer: Yes.
Tech Support: That means the keyboard is not plugged in.

1. If they want to loan you money, tell them you just filed for bankruptcy and you could sure use some money. Ask, "How long can I keep it? Do I have to ever pay it back, or is it like the other money I borrowed before my bankruptcy?"

2. If they start out with, "How are you today?" say, "Why do you want to know?" Or you can say, "I'm so glad you asked, because no one seems to care these days and I have all these problems, my sciatica is acting up, my eyelashes are sore, my dog just died . . ." When they try to get back to the sales process, just continue on with telling about your problems.

3. If the person says he's Joe Doe from the XYZ Company, ask him to spell his name, then ask him to spell the company name, then ask where it is located. Continue asking personal questions or questions about the company for as long as necessary.

4. This one works better if you are male: Telemarketer: "Hi, my name is Judy and I'm with Canter and Siegel services, You: "Hang on a second." (few seconds pause) "OK Judy, (in a really husky voice) what are you wearing?"

5. Crying out, in well-simulated tones of pleasure and surprise, "Judy!! Is this really you? I can't believe it! Judy, how have you BEEN?" Hopefully, this will give Judy a few brief moments of terror as she tries to figure out where the heck she could know you from.

6. Say, "No," over and over. Be sure to vary the sound of each no, and keep an even tempo even as they're trying to speak. This is the most fun if you can keep going until they hang up.

7. If MCI calls trying to get you to sign up with their Family and Friends plan, reply, in as sinister a voice as you can muster, "I don't have any friends . . . would you be my friend?"

8. If they clean rugs: "Can you get blood out, you can? Well, how about goat blood or HUMAN blood - chicken blood too?"

9. Let the person go through their spiel, providing minimal but necessary feedback in the form of an occasional "Uh-huh, really, or, "That's fascinating." Finally, when they ask you to buy, ask them to marry you. They get all flustered, but just tell them you couldn't give your credit card number to someone who's a complete stranger.

10. Tell them you work for the same company they work for.

Example: Telemarketer: "This is Bill from Watertronics."

You: "Watertronics!! Hey I work for them too. Where are you calling from?"

Telemarketer: "Uh, Dallas, Texas." You: "Great, they have a group there too? How's business/the weather? Too bad the company has a policy against selling to employees! Oh well, see ya."

11. Tell the Telemarketer you are busy and if they will give you their phone number you will call them back. If they say they are not allowed to give out their number, then ask them for their home number and tell them you will call them at home (this is usually the most effective method of getting rid of Telemarketers). If the person says, "Well, I don't really want to get a call at home," say, "Yeah! Now you know how I feel." (smiling, of course, )

The Michaels family owned a small farm in Canada, just yards away from the North Dakota border. Their land had been the subject of a minor dispute between the United States and Canada for generations. Mrs. Michaels, who had just celebrated her ninetieth birthday, lived on the farm with her son and three grandchildren.

One day, her son came into her room holding a letter. “I just got some news, Mom,” he said. “The government has come to an agreement with the people in Washington. They’ve decided that our land is really part of the United States. We have the right to approve or disapprove of the agreement. What do you think?”

“What do I think?” his mother said. “Jump at it! Call them right now and tell them we accept! I don’t think I could stand another one of those Canadian winters!”

@ Wuse - it is rumour. 20 mins ago, I went to the opticians at the area and there's normal vehicular movement.
@ Mararaba - my family called to inform me that people were burning tyres, but no conflagration as you claim. However, there is heightened tension.
@ Abuja generally, this is not true. I work in Maitama and people are going about their business.

Please, let's mind how we post; anyhow, all the scaremongers shall be put to shame again.

Jakumo:
Presumably you are referring to a pubic hair transplant performed in a failed effort to salvage a terminally bald head.

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=45039:ibb-quits-active-politics-canvasses-five-party-system&catid=199:latest-election-coverage&Itemid=721#comments

FORMER Head of State, Gen Ibrahim Babangida on Saturday announced his final withdrawal from active politics, saying that it is time for the young generation to take over the leadership of the country.

He, however, canvassed a five-party system as the best option for the country against the 63 registered political parties.

Answering questions after casting his vote at the Up Hill polling station, Sabon Gari, Minna, Babangida said he believes there will be a realignment of political parties in the future, adding that he tried two political parties but hopes the number could be brought to a manageable size of five.

Accompanied by his daughter, Halima and son, Mohammed, the former Head of State said that he is still a member of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and that as a founding father, would never leave PDP for another party.

On the chances of the PDP winning the presidential election, Babangida said, “Going by what I have been reading in the newspapers, everybody has a chance. Politics is like a game; if you lose, try again and that is the essence of politics.”

On the security situation in the country, reoccurring incidences of bomb blast and the call from some quarters for military intervention, Babangida said, “I have always said that the military is an aberration; we shouldn’t introduce them into our politics now, we have had it before and I don’t support that we introduce military to come and truncate our democratic process, not even to take part in our electoral process.

“However, we should be vigilant and sensitive to issues around us especially on security, I think State Police would solve our security problem.”

Babangida commended the large turn out of Nigerians for the exercise and praised Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for providing an enabling environment for a free and fair elections.

@Bashiru
Tufiaaa - onye ojo!

@Ezeuche - biko confirm that Ileke-idi (onye abakpa) was only trying to be mischievious when she mentioned ya name. Oo asi, nde?

@Moderator - oya, remove this thread permanently. It is causing me high bloodsickness - I mean, pressure.

My people, ngwanu, let's comot for dis thread

Ewooo - Ileke idi. Nwanyi ojooo. Abominant.

@ Ubiero,
Great job - however, while a number of your perception are different from what I intended, I did find them funny too.
Just goes to show that one's perception of a joke (or statement for that matter), determines their reaction too.
Cheers

Beaf:
With bombs going off and the innocent dying?
It is war.

I was hoping Beaf wouldn't come in. Trust him to be true to type - anyhow, I guess he's just a harmless guy wishing the best for Nigeria in his own way. It actually is not war!

ziccoit:
Unbreaking News- Taye Taiwo wants play football on NASS election.

Venue; Aso rock main bow.

Host; His excellency commander in chief of army force GCFR, Dr ~Bluetooth

Why will Taiye Taiwo want to spoil this thread?
@Bluetooth
Why are you silent on this?

Aaaaaahhhh - Soyinka don talk

http://thenationonlineng.net/web3/politics/33652.html

But he still is silent about the past election

WHY IS SOYINKA SILENT?

NAIRALANDERS, Why, oh, why?
IBB's silence is very worrisome.
Why is Cardinal Okojie SILENT?
WHY, WHY, WHY

I just saw this on the NTA 7.00 news a while ago. A delegation of politicians (including Tanko Yakassai and former Speaker Ghali Na'abba, among others) visited the President to congratulate him on the success of the Saturday polls.
Tanko observed that the outcome of the Legislative elections indicated that Nigerians voted for individuals and not on Religious grounds. He expressed hope that other elections will be equally successful. The former Speaker commended Jonathan for not interfering in the elections and for his style of leadership.
Obviously, people across the divide prefer a breath of fresh air. Nigeria is on the move again

Shuo - joke don turn to fight. Nairaland

Nothing wrong with that. He is eligible for the position.

If he doesn’t do that, he will forever be condemned as not only the son of a thief but also a disreputable young man without honour. The good people of Kano State certainly do not deserve such a governor. I hope they are taking note.

•Adeniyi, former spokesman of the late president Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, is currently a Fellow at the Weatherhead Centre for International Affairs, Harvard University.

Since General Abubakar left, nothing much has been achieved with regards to the money stolen by Abacha while the only people who have been benefitting from efforts to use legal means to recover the loot have been some fat cats in the Nigerian bar with access to the villa and their counterparts in Britain and Switzerland where some of the cases have been fought. I therefore felt back in 2002 that if Obasanjo could recover some of the loot after bargaining with Abacha family, it was in the nation’s interest.

There was, however, a problem about the deal that would surface afterwards: it was conditioned on the release of Mohamed Abacha, then facing trial for his alleged involvement in the murder of Kudirat Abiola. In what was generally considered part of the bargain, the Supreme Court, in a ruling of four to one, would order that Mohammed be discharged and acquitted for the murder charge.

Interestingly, the drama was not limited to the court as there was also politics involved. For instance, a delegation was sent to Aso Rock from Kano to plead with the president. It was led by then Governor Kwankwaso, his Deputy, Dr. Umar Ganduje and former Solid Mineral Minister, Kaloma Ali who had become the representative of the Abacha family. After the delegation had made their representation pleading with Obasanjo to order the release of Mohammed from detention, the president responded: "I want you to know that there was no malice whatsoever, no ill-feeling whatsoever on my part, only a desire to do what was right and what we can stand before God and man to defend.

"If you are talking of reconciliation, as a believer, I know that whatsoever we do, we must remember God. I am here today, we may not be here tomorrow. What matters is what happens to the people we leave behind. I believe very strongly that as I ask God for forgiveness, because I know that I am a sinner, I will readily forgive those who wrong me. I have no ill feeling whatsoever, no malice whatsoever, no bad idea whatsoever, against anybody and certainly not against Abacha family. But we must be guided by fairness and justice. When you introduced Mohammed Abacha as our son, what do you think he is to me? He is my son too."

On the issue of Kudirat Abiola’s murder over which Mohammed was standing trial, Obasanjo explained to his audience the gravity of the situation: “There are two issues. One, the issue of Sergeant Rogers’ allegation against Mohammed; there is also an issue of Sani Abacha family, including all members of the family, with Mohammed Abacha at the center of it all. And that is the stashing away of this country's money. Let me tell you what I have done, in case you don't know. My predecessor, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, and in fairness to him, he recovered $600million and 120 million British pounds.

"When we came in, we looked at things again, and we discovered that there are much more. I asked my Vice President to invite Mrs. Abacha as a wife of former Head of State. I asked him not to take her to the office, but to his home but to let her know that these things she is holding must be dislodged. Then Mrs. Abacha phoned me, for the first time, she said she did not know I could be generous and could treat her that way. She said she had always feared me. But I told her that we hear that they have two billion dollars. We went on and on and we discovered very close to $1.5billion.

"We hired lawyers and took them to five different places, Switzerland, Britain, Luxemburg, Spain and New Jersey (USA) for a long drawn legal battle. We got through their lawyers to say we will settle out of court. So, we have a legal document. So, our lawyers and their lawyers agreed. The document made me to forgo $100 million. I know they don't deserve it with another $400 million in bond on face value. The agreement was signed and sealed, but when it got to the time of exchange, they reneged. If only for the interest of the nation, nobody should perpetrate this kind of blatant corruption.

"Governor, (Kwankwaso) you are making a special request, and I am also making a request, because the money belongs to all of us and should be disgorged, we will not let up until every kobo is recovered. I hold no malice, ill-feeling, only for us to do what you can stand before God and man as just."

With his sermon done, the former president now handed over to Kaloma Ali a document containing the agreement prepared by both the lawyers to the Abacha family and those of the Federal Government, saying "If he (Mohammed) signs he will be released to you and you can take him with you."

But following Mohammed’s release, Mrs. Maryam Abacha decided to call Obasanjo’s bluff. In repudiating the agreement, she claimed that whatever was in the accounts of the Abachas belonged to the family: “Our lawyer came here with this piece of paper. It was not on any official letter head; there was no coat of arms or anything like that yet they want us to surrender money.” Adding that the money in their accounts included that of her late eldest son, Ibrahim, Mrs Abacha said “Mohammed too was doing business so his money is there too. Now, they (federal government) say they want all the money".

Mrs. Abacha vowed back then that they would not release a dime of whatever may be in their family till, money that has been established to belong to the government of Nigeria. And she has remained true to her words. That is where I have problem with the aspiration of Mohammed to be governor of Kano State or to hold any public office for that matter, until the issue of the money belonging to the people of Nigeria--which is being held illegally by his family--is resolved.

Now, I must make some points clear: I have no problem with whoever argues that Mohammed never stole Nigeria’s money since he was not in a position to do so as he held no public office. That indeed is a fact. But the fact also remains that his father did loot the treasury and unfortunately for the family, he was not as lucky as many other Nigerian public officials who have helped themselves to our common wealth: he was caught!

Mohammed is a young man who should consider his future. He may have so much money with which he now seeks political power, a legitimate aspiration. But he should, however, realize that honour and integrity also count for something. The question he should ask himself is whether he is happy with the public image of his family when he has a golden opportunity to put a closure on the sordid affair. All he has to do is to fulfill his part of the bargain by returning to the public treasury the amount agreed with the federal government.

12 Feb 2011

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Adeniyi



In 2003 and 2007, I covered for THISDAY the general elections in Kano, one of few states in Nigeria where the wish of the electorate always count because the people are ever ready to defend their votes, even with their lives. And by gauging the public mood, I could predict at every point who would win the governorship election. In 2003, for instance, after witnessing the National Assembly elections where then House of Representatives Speaker, Ghali Umar Na’Abba, was defeated by ANPP’s Mohammed el Yakub (son of former Lagos State Deputy Governor, Senator Kofoworola Akerele Bucknor), I made projection for the governorship race. I called it for Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, the little-known retired school principal with a rickety Peugeot 504 to his name and about N280,000 in his bank account who was running against then incumbent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. My summation was based on the simple fact that with the mood in Kano, Shekarau of the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) would ride on the back of General Muhammadu Buhari’s cult following in the state to the government house.

When I went back to Kano during the April 2007 elections, I saw that not much had changed and again predicted that Shekarau would emerge the first governor in the history of the state to secure a second term, also because of his association with Buhari even though their relationship was then a bit strained.

Now as we approach the 2011 General elections, my hunch is that having bagged the gubernatorial ticket of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the odds favour Mohammed Abacha in what is likely going to be a three-way contest between him and the candidates of PDP and ANPP. My bet is on Mohammed on the strength of the strong support Buhari still commands in the state and the “persecution complex” that Mrs. Maryam Abacha has cleverly weaved around the family to gain local support in Kano.

I have met Mohammed Abacha on a number of occasions and I consider him a likeable person. I also believe that whatever might have been his father’s transgressions as a leader, Mohammed should be judged on his own merit. I, however, feel that for anybody to seek public office, even in Nigeria where almost anybody can aspire to be anything, honour and integrity should still count for something and that is where I have problem with Mohammed’s aspiration.

When early in 2002, President Olusegun Obasanjo confirmed that his government had come to a compromise deal with Abacha's family whereby Nigeria would get about $1.2 billion while the family would retain $100 million in cash and per bonds worth $300 million, there was a public outcry. But in defending his action, Obasanjo cited several examples of countries where stolen wealth have remained abroad notwithstanding years of litigation. From Ferdinand Marcos in Philippines to the late Shah of Iran and Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire, the funds are still trapped, the President argued. And in one of those rare moments as a commentator on public affairs, I commended the former president in a piece I had written titled “A dirty but very good deal”.

I was viciously attacked for the position I took on the issue but my argument was that it must have been difficult for a man like Obasanjo, who is ever concerned about his international image, to settle for such crooked deal which I considered to be in our collective interest as a nation. “In a way he sacrificed his prestige to get a good deal for us under a patently dirty bargain akin to pleading with a notorious armed robber to send relief materials to his victims,” I wrote. What many may not have known at the time is that the Abacha loot case is one issue on which I have devoted considerable time as a reporter.

My interest began in February 2000 when I went to London to cover the Ajaokuta debt buy-back scam legal tussle involving Nessim Gaon of NOGA (founding partner in what is now known as Transcorp Hilton), the federal government and the Abacha family represented by Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, one of the prominent custodians of Abacha loot. From then, I have seen the complexity as well as the difficulty in attempts to retrieve stolen public money siphoned in Swiss banks. Bagudu, now a PDP Senator representing Kebbi Central, I must add, was the person who actually helped the General Abdulsalami Abubakar regime to recover about 800 million Dollars following Abacha’s death. But Senator Bagudu knows, as we all know, that there is much more of the loot out there.
(to be contd)
http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/before-mohammed-abacha-becomes-governor/86153/