Chidichris,
I know we all love Nigeria but probably view the fight against corrption through different lens. Farida Waziri may have arrested a few individuals, but how has she may prosecuted? Do you think arresting people and releasing them after a few days is in any way serving as a deterrent to other potential thieves? Ribadu may have been selective, but he was able to instill the fear of stealing in our politicians.

You may dislike Ribadu, but we would not be on this forum if he has not built EFCC into the institution it is today. Don't forget, there are other institutions who also have a responsibilty of fighting corruption (ICPC, Police etc). No one talks about them and infact, they have paled to insignificance and EFCC under Waziri is toeing that line.

Festus Keyamo is behaving like a typical Nigerian politician/thief. Rather than address the issues presented by Sowore, he is more interested in blackmail and casting aspersions, the same tactics Ibori's and Alams regularly employ.

What has Sowore's medical records got to do with the monumental corruption destroying Nigeria? He is trying to discredit Sowore by painting him as an agent of Ribadu rather than investigate the very serious allegations in front of him.
Keyamo is trying to make this about Ribadu, but, it isn't. He went on to list those Ribadu failed to prosecute, but, what has Waziri, AGF and Keyamo done about these individuals? Let us all remember that Ribadu was shoved aside over a year ago.

Those asking for the year Sowore graduated or his conduct while a student are unbelievable naive. This guy has been a pain in the ass,  of corrupt government office holders. He has contributed more in bringing to attention the misdeeds in our country than most newspapers in Nigeria. We all know the print press has been hijacked by the corrupt Oligarch's in a bid to control the flow of information and public opinion.

Have you wondered why Dr Reuben Abati rather than addressing the serious allegations levelled against him, is busy writing about yahoo boys internet scam. Which is more damaging to his integrity?

United Nations Worried Over Nigeria's Donation To Myanmar
From Laolu Akande New York

NIGERIA'S donation of a whopping $500,000 to the military junta in Myanmar few weeks ago is raising questions at the United Nations Secretariat in New York. An official of the Presidency arrived New York two days to Christmas to deliver the check at a hurriedly put together bilateral meeting between the Nigerian Ambassador, Prof. Joy Ugwu, and her Myanmar counterpart at the UN building.

But for the invitation to few members of the UN press, the event would have passed unnoticed and branded a secret deal. Even Nigeria's former Foreign Affairs Minister who is a UN's top official on Myanmar was not aware of the donation. A source at the Nigerian mission disclosed that even top Nigerian diplomats at the UN could could not explain the transaction any better than, that the whole affair was an "order from the headquarters (Abuja)."

Professor Ogwu only said that the money was Nigeria's own contribution to the "ongoing relief efforts in the country, following the devastation caused by cyclone Nargis in May 2008," in Myanmar.

But observers are however wondering why Nigeria's own contribution came some six months after the tragedy and why a presidency official had to be specifically detailed to deliver the cheque instead of any of the senior Nigerian diplomats in New York. The other question is why the Federal Government chose to make the money directly available to the Myanmar government when the UN had set up a special fund to warehouse international donations to help victims of the Myanmar cyclone.

Media reports quoted Ambassador Joy Ogwu as saying UN Special Envoy on Myanmar, Nigeria's Professor Ibrahim Gambari had no role to play in the donation. Gambari's office at the UN also confirmed this saying he "had no prior knowledge of this transaction or the motive, if any, on the part of the Nigerian Government," adding however that Professor Gambari does not object to the donation

A reporter with Inner City Press in New York, Lee reported that, "Nigeria gave its money directly, in US dollars, and apparently with no requirement to report back on how the funds are used. This is the type of hard currency for which Senior General Than Shwe is desperate." He wrote that Nigeria would be seen to be supporting a military dictator by making such a donation "with no strings attached."

On ther hand, some transparency and accountability on how the money would be spent would have been possible had the money been donated through the United Nations. When contacted for comments, a top Nigerian diplomat simply said the Foreign Affairs Ministry wanted the money to be handed over to Myanmar directly.

Why Nigeria would seek to please one of the few remaining military tyranny in the world is an issue that baffles many at the UN. A retired top Nigerian diplomat who had represented the country at the UN said it is simply shocking that Nigeria would do such a thing without passing through the normal diplomatic channels of the United Nations, since it was the UN that had called for international support to Myanmar.

The Abuja dole is coming at when the the UN and the global community are telling the Myanmar military dictator to move faster with democratic reforms. For instance, the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon has postponed plans to visit the place and there are no scheduled visits in the foreseeable future by the UN Special Envoy Gambari, who has been working round the clock to advance democratic reforms in Myanmar.

Ki-Moon said last month at the UN that he was "disappointed by the unwillingness of the government of Myanmar (Burma) to deliver on its promises for democratic dialogue and the release of political prisoners."

By donating half a million bucks to Myanmar and doing it without the knowledge of the UN, Nigeria may be indirectly courting the enmity of those in the international community who are insisting that an iron hand be applied on the Myanmar dictatorship. The timing of the donation according to a source is also an indication, of "bad planning" by the Foreign Affairs Ministry in view of mounting international against the military junta in Myanmar.

One report said that there are as many as 112 former heads of state and government from more than 50 countries urging the UN scribe to help to secure the release of all Burmese political prisoners by the end of the year 2008.

Led by Kjell Magne Bondevik, the former prime minister of Norway, the group told Ki-Moon that, "If the Burmese junta continues to defy the United Nations by refusing to make these releases by the end of the year (2008 ), we urge you to encourage the Security Council to take further concrete action to implement its call for the release of all political prisoners."

The Federal Government of Nigeria made its donation of half a million dollars to Myanmar less than two weeks after these world leaders called for Security Council action against the Myanmar dictatorship.

What is more, the White House, last month, issued a statement urging the international community and the United Nations not to remain silent to oppressive, anti-democratic measures of the Burmese junta. The statement by Press Secretary Dana Perino, said "Brave Burmese patriots such as Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi, and Htay Kywe were among those who have been sentenced to 65 years imprisonment for their peaceful participation in the August 2007 protests, in which Burmese citizens, including monks and activists, called on the regime to address the basic needs of the Burmese people."

At the donation on December 23, Prof Ugwu said Nigeria took the "opportunity to express our unflinching solidarity with the government and people of Myanmar for the concrete actions being taken to address the sitution"- referring to the cyclone tragedy. There are also those who see the gesture as part of Nigeria's support of the South to South Integration at the UN, which seek to encourage stronger ties among the less developed countries of the world.

Jerry Rawlings, Musharaf, Pinochet, Suharto, Franco were all coupists who transformed their nations. Some may have been autocractic, but they laid the foundation for the democractic path in their nations.

FROM FESTUS KEYAMO TO OMOYELE SOWORE,

Dear Mr. Omoyele Sowore,
> >
> > Thank you so much for your letter dated the 7th of January,
> > 2009, which you sent to me via e-mail. In fact, I was just
> > settling down the next day to digest some of the information
> > you supplied when I got calls from many quarters that the
> > letter was already on the internet inviting comments from
> > the public. I want to thank you for your wisdom in doing
> > this because for people like you and I who insist on
> > transparency in public life, we cannot be exchanging letters
> > that imply so much behind the scenes.
> >
> > So, even though you did not inform me of the open nature of
> > the letter to me except that I got to know from
> > well-wishers, I am informing you that this reply will be
> > on-line for the public to digest just as yours also was.
> > Fair enough, I guess?
> >
> > Let me briefly comment on the personal nature of the letter
> > you addressed to me. People may not know, but we have known
> > each other for nearly fifteen years now, especially from my
> > days in Gani Fawehinmi Chambers when some of us formed the
> > National Conscience (not a party then) to fight the
> > military. You were then a student at the University of
> > Lagos, but I cannot remember whether you joined the movement
> > then. I only remember a few years later when you had
> > problems with cult members whom you claimed you were
> > fighting and we all believed you. Your confrontation with
> > them led to your abduction by the cultists from whose hands
> > you were later rescued. When you graduated shortly after,
> > you visited my office then at Maryland a number of times to
> > intimate me of your intentions to travel abroad to treat
> > yourself. According to you, the poisonous substances that
> > were injected into your body by the cultists, needed to be
> > flushed out of your system.
> >
> > A few papers reported this at that time. Then, I remember
> > you had no job. You eventually travelled abroad on medical
> > grounds to "flush the poisonous substances from your
> > system". As a friend, let me apologise for not following
> > the treatment for more than ten years now, even when you
> > visited me when you were in Nigeria a few years ago. I hope
> > the treatment is going on well in the U.S? Even though it is
> > more than ten years, I know these treatments take some time.
> > Please, send some of the duly authenticated medical records
> > to me as a friend for me to know how far the treatment has
> > gone. You may also wish to make it public like the previous
> > letter to me. This may dispel any insinuation from bad
> > people that you falsified medical papers to travel abroad in
> > search of a better life which is the worst form of
> > corruption. Just as you said you admired my activist
> > credentials, I can also vouch for you that you are still
> > undergoing treatment till today. Please, send the records.
> >
> > Now, to the contents of your letter. As I do not intend to
> > leave anything out, I will take phrases and sentences
> > piecemeal and make my comments on them:
> >
> > "WE ARE DISTURBED THAT A VOCAL CRITIC AND ANTI-CORRUPTION
> > ACTIVIST OF YOUR STATURE HAS MAINTAINED STOIC SILENCE ABOUT
> > THE EXTENSIVE ACTS OF CORRUPTION AND COLLUSION WITH CORRUPT
> > SERVING OR FORMER PUBLIC OFFICIALS PETPETRATED BOTH BY MRS.
> > WAZIRI AND NIGERIA'S CHIEF LAW OFFICER, ATTORNEY GENERAL
> > MICHAEL AONDOAKAA"
> >
> > Since assumption of office by Michael Aondoakaa as the
> > Attorney-General of the Federation and Mrs. Farida Waziri as
> > the Chairperson of E.F.C.C, there has been insinuations and
> > rumours about the corrupt activities of the duo. I will be
> > the last to defend them (or any public officer for that
> > matter) over these allegations. I cannot stick out my neck
> > for anyone, including the Ribadu you have spent so much time
> > defending, giving the impression that your attack on Waziri
> > and Aoadoakaa is a Ribadu agenda (even though, as I know
> > you, it may not be true). I will also be the last to crucify
> > them over these allegations.
> >
> > The reason is that I did not have documents to authenticate
> > the facts. (You just sent some now by e-mail which I will
> > come to shortly). If I speak up every time I hear a rumour
> > on corruption without documentation, I will soon be seen as
> > a public nuisance rather than as an activist. All my
> > previous crusades have been with documents. Some examples
> > are:
> >
> > (a) When I took on Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi in 1999, I
> > presented certified copies of court records showing how he
> > was charged for 419 and jumped bail.
> >
> > (b) When I took on the Bola Ige case, I presented
> > certified affidavits, audio cassettes, visual cassettes, and
> > hand-written statements of Fryo to the public which led to
> > the impeachment of Iyiola Omisore and his eventual trial.
> > Even the recant by Fryo could not change the situation.
> >
> > (c) When I took on the operators of the Police
> > Equipment Fund, I presented a barrage of documents to
> > law-enforcement agents and the public which led to their
> > arrest and prosecution and the end of that scam.
> >
> > (d) When I recently took on the House of
> > Representatives, I presented documents to back up my facts
> > that even a weak denial of those documents could not prevent
> > the on-going investigation in that regard.
> >
> > There are many more, but that has been my modus operandi.
> > But in this case, apart from the non-existence of documents
> > regarding these rumours of corrupt practices, I have been
> > very careful in this case because it is the very people that
> > have, at one time or the other either transferred some
> > powers from Ribadu or replaced him in his previous office
> > that have been branded as "corrupt". I am sure if Jesus
> > has replaced Ribadu, Jesus would have also been termed
> > "corrupt". The simple reason, I suspect is that, there
> > may be a subtle campaign to make anyone coming after Ribadu
> > fail in that office. But the office does not belong to
> > Ribadu's family, and that is not patriotism. In fact, I
> > wonder what would have happened if Ribadu had stayed for
> > eight years in that office when he would not be eligible for
> > "re-appointment". Maybe, his friends would have
> > campaigned for amendment of the law for him to stay on for
> > life. It is the Nigerian mentality of
> > "only-me-must-succeed", even when the so-called
> > "success" is hyped beyond what it was by his friends in
> > the media.
> >
> > These are just my suspicions. I do not have documents to
> > back up my claim except for the refusal of Ribadu to come
> > forward to give a proper account (not the three-page
> > handover note to Lamorde) when invited to do so and the
> > refusal to name 31 governors he alleged that the E.F.C.C had
> > completed investigations against.
> >
> > But despite these suspicious, I am still on the alert.
> > Whenever, I see duly authenticated documents on corruption
> > against either Waziri or Aondoakaa, I will speak up. I will
> > not maintain a "stoic silence".
> >
> > "IT WOULD BE SAD IF YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE EFCC
> > BECOMES AN EXCUSE TO SHIRK YOUR RESPONSIBILITY AS A
> > SELF-AVOWED PUBLIC CONSCIENCE AND COMMENTATOR ON MATTER OF
> > CORRUPTION, ABUSE OF OFFICE AND HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS"
> >
> > The suggestion here is that because I am now a private
> > prosecutor to the E.F.C.C, I will be impeded in my various
> > crusades.
> >
> > I want to assure you that this cannot be farther from the
> > truth. I am just a private prosecutor for the E.F.C.C, not
> > an employee. My views cannot be impeded because of the
> > assistance I give to that body, and it is an assignment I
> > took up without first asking or negotiating for a kobo. It
> > was patriotism simpliciter. Do not forget that I am also
> > prosecuting the operators of the Police Equipment Fund for
> > the Police FREE OF CHARGE. Since I took up the challenge of
> > prosecuting suspected corrupt persons on behalf of E.F.C.C,
> > I have continued to constructively criticize the Federal
> > Government's many anti-people policies. I have variously
> > referred to the Yar'Adua's regime as "illegitimate"
> > because of the way the elections that heralded him was
> > conducted, and of course orchestrated by your good friend
> > and anti-corruption "czar", Ribadu.
> >
> > I have taken Aondoakaa to court and the Federal Government
> > and I am still in court with them over the appointment of
> > Service Chiefs without legislative approval. I have also
> > taken the Inspector-General of Police to court to compel him
> > to arrest and prosecute Obasanjo over the Odi and Tiv
> > massacre. I am still in court over that. Moreover, I
> > defended and I am still defending your fellow online
> > journalists arrested by this government FREE OF CHARGE.
> > These are Jonathan Elendu and Emmanuel Asivwe. I am also
> > defending one of the editor of the Leadership Newspapers
> > charged to court by this government FREE OF CHARGE. I
> > defended Channels Television and all its editors, including
> > the CEO John Momoh, FREE OF CHARGE when this government
> > clamped down on them. If you eventually run into problems
> > with some of this your stories, whether they are true or
> > not, I will be there to defend you FREE OF CHARGE if you
> > require my services.
> >
> > Therefore, I cannot hobnob with those in government and
> > shirk my social responsibility. I laughed so much when I
> > read a mischief maker say he saw me one day in the office of
> > Attorney-General. Ignorance, at times, can be so
> > embarrassing. I do not know of a busy lawyer with good
> > briefs that will not have one thing or the other to do every
> > week in the office of the Attorney-General of a State or the
> > Federation – either in the Directorate of Public
> > Prosecutions or Directorate of Civil Litigations, or just
> > following up letters or complaints, on behalf of clients, to
> > the office of the Attorney-General.
> >
> > My friend Sowore, I have worked hard and I am comfortable.
> > There is nothing I will gain from prosecuting for the
> > E.F.C.C other than the satisfaction of contributing to the
> > anti-corruption crusade. I do not have too much, but allow
> > me the immodesty to say that I have a few fully built landed
> > properties in choice areas of Lagos and Abuja. My
> > three-storey office complex which I built about three years
> > ago in FESTUS KEYAMO LANE, ANTHONY VILLAGE has about 18
> > lawyers and 12 support staff.
> >
> > My Abuja office building in Zone 6 which I bought about two
> > years ago has many lawyers and support staff. The houses
> > which I stay in both cities are my personal properties
> > acquired through the sweat of my brow without a single brief
> > from Government. I drive descent cars that even the rich
> > also drive. What more do I want? My needs are not much. I
> > live a restricted life. I do not like unnecessarily
> > expensive things that display wealth. I am not hungry.
> >
> > As a result, I will not toe the path of very prominent
> > radical lawyers who were heavily paid consultants to
> > Ribadu's E.F.C.C and kept a "stoic silence" when the
> > following corrupt practices happened under Ribadu:
> >
> > (a) When Ribadu accused lawmakers in Ekiti, Bayelsa and
> > Plateau States of gross corruption and arrested them at
> > different times. After signing impeachment notices against
> > their various governors at various times, that was the end
> > of the allegations of corruption and abuse of office against
> > them. In fact one of these lawyers who initially said he
> > would defend the EFCC free of charge, later collected Six
> > Million Naira from the EFCC under Ribadu. The case was lost
> > by the EFCC at the Supreme Court. I am not aware the
> > lawmakers were even charged to court. In Bayelsa State, one
> > of them became the Deputy Governor and in Ekiti State one of
> > them became the Acting Governor.
> >
> > (b) When Ribadu refused to arrest and prosecute the
> > likes of Bode George and Andy Uba, despite large outcry from
> > the press.
> >
> > (c) When, in the sale of Russel Center, a property
> > priced and assessed at N3.2 Billion suddenly dwindled to
> > N2.3 Billion under Ribadu's watch (I have the documents).
> > Ribadu was later to say it was his lawyers that handled the
> > sale, not himself! Haba!
> >
> > I cannot remember whether you wrote letters to these
> > prominent lawyers at that time asking why they kept "stoic
> > silence". It must have been an oversight by you. Even the
> > silence you kept too must have been an oversight by you. But
> > I remember I spoke up against all these acts of corruption
> > and abuse of office.
> >
> > THE DOCUMENTS YOU SUPPLIED
> >
> > (1) ON CASH WITHDRAWALS FROM E.F.C.C ACCOUNT
> >
> > I unreservedly condemn any withdrawal of funds from the
> > public till without a clear purpose. However, you had no
> > document to back this claim and how the money was
> > misappropriated. Please, let me have the documents when you
> > have them so we can fight this together. Please let me also
> > have a comparative table on amounts spent by Ribadu in
> > running the E.F.C.C monthly so we can make proper
> > deductions.
> >
> > (2) ON PROPERTY AT 10 PORT NOVO STREET, WUSE II, ABUJA
> >
> > I condemn any acquisition of public property by a public
> > office holder without a clear source of the money. However,
> > you had no document at all to back this claim. You said
> > Waziri paid a deposit of N5 million naira, and "it was not
> > clear how Mrs. Waziri paid the balance of N45 million
> > naira". As a result, anytime you become sure of your
> > facts, please do let me know.
> >
> >
> > PROPERTY AT PLOT 1460 OF 25 TRENT RIVER STREET, MAITAMA
> >
> > According to you, this property was allocated to her, like
> > many other prominent Nigerians whom you listed. It was later
> > revoked and taken away from her. Maybe, as a public servant
> > she could not pay for it. However, you claimed that one
> > Zainab Naomi Salawu, who is her daughter, later acquired the
> > land.
> >
> > I want to assume that it is true that Zainab is Farida's
> > daughter. But this case is exactly the case of Ribadu. In
> > 2005, Ribadu was offered a palatial home in Maitama by
> > El-Rufai, whom he saw nothing wrong against throughout his
> > tenure (we now know better!) for forty-five million naira.
> > Ordinarily, that house should have cost triple that amount.
> > Ribadu, like Farida, claimed he had no money to pay for it.
> > So he approached his father-in-law, Professor Ilya Abubakar,
> > who provided the money!
> >
> > I do not see the crime Ribadu committed by approaching his
> > father-in-law to provide the funds for him. I have never
> > raised issues about this. And for me to be consistent on
> > this, I do not also see the crime Farida Waziri committed by
> > renouncing the land and for her daughter who is married (and
> > can get money form her husband) to later buy it. Like in
> > Ribadu's case, I will not criticize her yet, unless I see
> > evidence that the funds used by her daughter was corruptly
> > acquired or taken E.F.C.C.
> >
> > MERCEDEZ BENZ GL GIFT FROM GOVERNOR GODSWILL AKPABIO
> >
> > This is the simplest thing to which I can respond. When the
> > operators of the Police Equipment Fund got desperate to
> > tarnish me, they alleged they gave me a Jeep and Ten Million
> > Naira. No single document backed their claim. No Bill of
> > lading by which the car was imported, no chassis no., e.t.c.
> > I told the public to disregard them.
> >
> > How then can I then turn around and accuse someone else of
> > the same thing without a single document? Haba! But your
> > story may be substantially true. It may also be
> > substantially false.
> >
> > Just provide evidence and we shall fight this together.
> > Like I said before, I fight with evidence.
> >
> > ON RIBADU'S ALLEGED HOUSES ABROAD
> >
> > Like in the case of Waziri, I will never accuse Ribadu of
> > acquiring properties abroad without proper documentation.
> > Check my public speeches. I have never done that. In fact
> > you spent a lot of time, energy and skill showing in graphic
> > form how people COULD HAVE lied that Ribadu owns properties
> > abroad. That is your prerogative and I will not criticize
> > you for that. I will only caution that you cannot stick your
> > neck out for a public officer, like I will never do, whether
> > it is for Waziri or Ribadu.
> >
> > Think about that. Your conclusion that all the allegations
> > against Ribadu have been "investigated" by you and found
> > to be untrue betrays a bias that is deep-seated on this
> > issue. Do not be caught in an embarrassing position. You are
> > not a detective or a law-enforcement agent. Keep your mind
> > open.
> >
> > What I have done and I continue to do is to say I disagree
> > with those who now seek to build our collective struggle to
> > enthrone a corrupt-free society around a policeman who was
> > picked by a corrupt dictator, bent on perpetuating himself
> > in office, to do his bidding. And when it came to the
> > crunch, this same policeman refused to lift a finger,
> > despite a mass of evidence against the following persons and
> > more:
> >
> > (1) Andy Uba who was caught smuggling dollars to the
> > U.S ( I have the documents and I went to court over this)
> > (2) Alao-Akala whom Ribadu called a thief publicly. (I
> > have the publications)
> > (3) Bode George who was indicted by an investigative
> > panel. (I have the report)
> > (4) Fani-Kayode, who was the Man Friday of Obasanjo,
> > and who was alleged to be involved in corrupt practices. (I
> > have the documents and I am prosecuting)
> > (5) Kenny Martins who is an in-law to Obasanjo and
> > looted public funds in the name of the Police (I have the
> > documents and I am in court over this)
> > (6) Professor Borishade who the Senate rejected many
> > times as a Minister and was re-nominated many times by
> > Obasanjo, and was later linked to corrupt practices (I have
> > the documents)
> > (7) Iyabo Obasanjo, the daughter to Obasanjo (who has
> > been charged to court for corruption)
> > ( El-Rufai, the known acolyte of Obasanjo (who has
> > been declared wanted for corruption)
> >
> > My brother, Sowore, I will never deify the person who
> > failed to act against these individuals, but rather brought
> > out a list of over 100 politicians indicted for corruption
> > when many of them never knew they were being investigated or
> > were they even invited for questioning. All was in a bid to
> > prevent them from running for offices to satisfy Obasanjo.
> >
> > I don't forget history easily, that is why my position on
> > Ribadu is what it is. I am not a politician, so I am not
> > looking for votes from the public. As a result, my positions
> > on matters are not dictated by popular sentiments,
> > especially built by the Press, even when my conscience and
> > thinking say otherwise. I take my positions based on my
> > deep-seated convictions and beliefs, even if the world is
> > going the other way. For instance, Chief Gani Fawehinmi,
> > whom we all respect so much, has been defending in court
> > those allegedly corrupt drug dealers, accused and charged to
> > court for attempting to murder another anti-corruption
> > amazon, Dora Akunyili, despite popular sentiment. The case
> > is still at the Supreme Court. But Gani still stands tall in
> > his beliefs.
> >
> > Fortunately, Sowore, we have agreed on so many things in
> > the past, but have disagreed on the singular issue of the
> > Ribadu saga. But I still respect your opinion, and I hope
> > you respect mine as well. In future we shall agree on other
> > issues.
> >
> > Since assuming office, Farida Waziri, have either charged
> > those listed above as "untouchables" to court and
> > declared some of them wanted. That is not to say she is a
> > saint. That is not to say I can vouch for her. But these are
> > the facts as I have them. And I prefer to work with facts.
> >
> > I rest my case.

Take a look at our cousins in Ghana, despite the minor hitches; they were able to conduct an enviable election. The ruling candidate was even present at the swearing in ceremony of the new president. Is this possible in Nigeria?

My criticism of Nigeria’s “so-called democracy” is that though it should be a learning experience, we don’t appear to be learnt from our experience thus far.

Analyse the validity of the elections of 1999, 2003 and 2007 in that order. The first election of ’99 which was conducted by the military was the fairest, followed by the 2003 election. 2007 was judged to be the worst conducted thus far. So my question to you is ‘what have we really learnt? So, we are not really learning from the democractic process as successive elections seem to be worse than the preceding ones.

Look closely at the local government elections conducted by the various state governors. We all witnessed how PDP was winning 99% of the electable posts, confining the opposition to irrelevance.
Any democratic dispensation should have the following:

a)      A vibrant and independent press to check the excesses of the Government.

b)      An independent judiciary that will be an impartial arbiter.

c)      A viable opposition that will always hold the ruling party account, as we know, absolute power is very corrupting.



Unfortunately, Nigeria’s democracy in its form lacks these viable ingredients. The major newspapers have been bought by the oligarch’s and their friends in government. They are doing everything in their power to change public opinion in their favour. Have you wondered why they were silent on the treatment meted to Ribadu and treatment of Yaradua’s incompetence with kid’s gloves?
Our judiciary is compromised and the recent Supreme Court verdict convinced even the most stubborn sceptics.
The opposition party have been pushed to the margins, appear helpless and are now scrambling for the crumbs falling from PDP tables.

Some dreamers who still think that as we conduct more “selections”, somehow, we will evolve into a credible democracy need to wake up. Take a look at countries like Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Angola, Zimbabwe, Gambia, Togo, Cameroun etc. They have all been conducting elections for decades, have they evolved? If you don’t have the necessary circumstance necessary for a functioning democracy, you can keep conducting elections that will keep producing the same candidates and party as winners. The PDP have vowed to rule for 60 years. Who will stop them?


Isn’t it shameful that the most credible elections have been conducted by the military. Please, bring back the khaki boys

Colonialism was good for Africa - Jan Lamprecht

>Colonialism was the best thing that ever happened to
>Africa. Colonialism brought peace to the 300 warring
>tribes of Africa. Colonialism for Africa meant more
>development than it had ever known - before or after
>colonialism.
>
>Colonialists brought far more into Africa than took
>out of it. It is for that reason that most world
>empires easily let go of the continent, with only
>white settlers opposing black rule. From London,
>Lisbon and Brussels, Africa is totally useless. Local
>white settlers understood the destruction the end of
>colonialism would bring into their lives, but for
>Europeans, colonialism was a waste of money and
>resources.
>
>The standard of living in Africa under colonialism has
>not been matched even despite billions of dollars of
>annual aid to the continent from white countries. Why
>is South Africa the powerhouse of Africa? Answer: More
>whites lived in South Africa than any place else, and
>white rule ended only 13 years ago.
>
>As whites (and Asians) were kicked out, the
>continent's collapse accelerated. When Robert Mugabe
>took away farms and other property from Zimbabwean
>whites, he pulled the rug from under his country's
>economy. This year, inflation is expected to reach
>4,000 per cent.
>
>Other excellent examples are: Mozambique and Angola.
>
>Africa's the richest continent on Earth when it comes
>to natural resources. Parts of Africa have staggering
>fertility. A friend of mine went to Rwanda. He told me
>the ground there is so fertile, the climate so wet and
>warm you can literally plant a stick anywhere and it
>will grow.
>
>The question that must, therefore, be asked is: why
>are blacks starving in the land of milk and honey? Why
>is Japan the 2nd richest nation on Earth and yet it
>has no natural resources, and is far from its
>suppliers and markets? Answer: The Japanese people.
>
>Intelligent people achieve great things. That is why
>East Asia is doing so well (except for hardcore
>communist states such as North Korea). Clever people,
>even in unfavorable conditions, are capable of doing
>well.
>
>Africa made two mistakes: (1) Expelling whites; and
>(2) adopting Socialist type models.
>
>(1) White people are ingenious and hard-working. Their
>main contribution is ability to organize and that is
>what brought prosperity to Africa. Whites contribute
>out of all proportion to their small numbers.
>
>(2) Blacks have been adopted by communists, Marxist,
>socialists, leftists and liberals - and most of these
>people believe in some form of government handouts and
>drive blacks towards socialism. Unfortunately
>communism doesn't work anywhere in the world - so why
>should it work in Africa?
>
>The most successful experiment in black capitalism
>I've ever seen occurred in the mid-1980S in South
>Africa under apartheid. President PW Both changed
>laws and allowed a black taxi industry to exist. In my
>view it is the single most successful experiment in
>black capitalism that ever occurred on the face of
>this planet. That model, if expanded, upon could be
>the future of Africa and could provide hope for black
>people everywhere.
>
>The problem is that blacks prefer the dreams of a
>socialist government giving them everything rather
>than working to improve their fate. And whites are not
>the first to come here anyway. All across southern
>Africa is evidence of (Southeast) Indians sailing here
>and mining gold, hundreds of years before whites came.
>Indians came, mined gold and took it away. The Great
>Zimbabwe ruins is nothing more than an Indian temple
>built in Africa (as propounded in a recent theory by
>an academic in South Africa and shown to be consist
>with similar temples in India). Evidence of an Indian
>presence here is myriad.
>
>Colonialism worked. Foreign aid has not. Handouts to
>Africa achieved little or nothing and will continue to
>achieve little or nothing. Colonialism did what foreign
>aid cannot - run Africa efficiently.
>
>Instead of pumping money into Africa, Europe pumped
>skilled people into Africa,who came and repeated in
>Africa what was done in Europe. By having them build
>and organise, as well as bring science and
>engineering, colonialists built Africa.
>
>Anti-colonialism is leftist bunk that has now become
>agreed upon as the "politically correct" version of
>history.
>
>*Culled from globalpolitician.com

BBC NEWS 14:27 GMT, Tuesday, 6 January 2009

Motorcyclists in Nigeria have been wearing dried pumpkin shells on their heads to dodge new laws forcing them to wear helmets, authorities have said.

Officials in the northern city of Kano said they had stopped several people with "improvised helmets", following this month's introduction of the law.

Road safety officials said calabash-wearers would be prosecuted.

Thousands of motorbikes have been impounded around the country and drivers have staged protests.

Calabashes are dried pumpkin shells more commonly used to carry liquid.

Kano Federal Road Safety Commission commander Yusuf Garba told the BBC they were taking a hard line with people found using the improvised helmets.

"We are impounding their bikes and want to take them to court so they can explain why they think wearing a calabash is good enough for their safety," he said.

Fifty motorbikes had been seized so far in Kano city alone, he added.

Menace

Motorcycle taxis, called "achaba" in the north of the country and "okada" in the south, are a cheap way for Nigerians to get around congested and chaotic city streets.

MOTORBIKE TAXIS
Achaba comes from a Hausa phrase for "give me some money"
Okada is from name of ex-state governor's now defunct airline
Okada bike taxis were banned from the capital Abuja in 2006
The motorbikes cost around $290 (£200)
Passengers pay about 70 naira ($0.50; £0.35) for a short trip

Many drivers of the motorcycle taxis are furious over the new law, which came into force on New Year's Day.

In the city of Kaduna, drivers waved palm fronds and rode in convoy to protest at the price of helmets, which can cost up to $29 (£20).

They say passengers often steal the helmets once they reach their destination.

Stories have also appeared in the local papers highlighting passengers' fears that the helmets could be used by motorcyclists to cast spells on their clients, making it easy for them to be robbed.

"Some people can put juju inside the helmets and when they are worn the victim can either lose consciousness or be struck dumb," passenger Kolawole Aremu told the Daily Trust newspaper.

Local government authorities often give motorbikes to jobless young men, saying it gives them a way to make a living.

But the BBC's Andrew Walker in Abuja says handing out the vehicles does not address the underlying cause of Nigeria's economic problems.

It is often an attempt to buy support for elections, our correspondent says.

The number of motorcycle taxis in big cities has exploded in recent years, causing concern about road safety.

Often untrained and illiterate, the drivers are considered a menace by many motorists.

Fatal accidents are common. Road safety authorities say almost every collision in Nigeria's cities involves an okada.

More than 4,000 people die on Nigeria's roads every year and 20,000 are injured, according to the Federal Road Safety Commission.

Lagosboy,
Your Rabbi friends were lucky to have criticised Zionism in a democracy like Israel. Can you imagine their fate if they had criticised Islam in Saudi or Taliban's Afghanistan.
You know they would have instantly been beheaded.

You talk of Gaza being a prison. Why are the palestines not asking Egypt to open their own borders? If Arabs/Muslims really loved the Palestines, they can supply food, water, power through their border with Egypt. What this obsession with Israel?

hello nairalanders,
Nigeria is now in the grips of the most corrupt cabal since our independence. The cabal and their very rich friends have taken control of the print media in Nigeria.
Take a look at the individual newspapers and try to trace their owners and you will see their close association with aso rock.

They are now going the extra mile by bribing fiery journalists and editors, thus dissuading them from writing incriminating articles about the government. The opposition parties have crumbled and they are all scrambling to pick the crumbs from the bosses table.

In a viable democracy, you need a free and independent media, a viable opposition and independent judiciary. We all know Nigeria is centuries away from
Have you wondered why the media is still treating Yaradua with kids gloves and making excuses for his failures.

The only avenue of getting the real news emanating from Nigeria is via internet news websites. Unfortunately, the cabal has destroyed PHCN thus confining Nigerians to perpetual darkness. The percentage of Nigerians with access to the internet is less than 0.1%, which virtually restricts our comrades to whatever they are fed on NTA network news.

Why don't we launch a print version of Sahara reporters. I know, it would be difficult distributing and selling this with the likes of Okiro as IGP but remember that "TEMPO" survived the Abacha dictatorship.

why are you guys/ladies doubting the validity of this article.
The cabal in Nigeria is very desperate. They are now in control of most of the free press in Nigeria except perhaps "Leadership newspaper" and "the news" magazine.
All the other newspapers are either owned by the looters, oligarch's and their cronies. They know the power of free press and public opinion and it's impact during the June 12 struggle.

You are all witness to how hard they are fighting to clampdown on the on line news sites.

Haven't you noticed Dr Reuben Abati's silence on Ribadu's travails? I was expecting Dr Abati to have written his usual satirical articles, but instead, he is concentrating on trivialities. The reason is now obvious and clear.

Last View on Sun 4th January, 2009

SaharaReporters, New York

When James Ibori, Bukola Saraki and a coalition of other incumbent and former governors facing graft charges recruited Mrs. Farida Waziri to head the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), SaharaReporters did a detailed expose on her recruitment and eventual "clearance" by the Nigerian senate, despite loud protestations from conscientious Nigerian citizens and civic groups Mrs. Waziri was forced on Nigerians as EFCC chairperson.

SaharaReporters has also documented Waziri’s incompetence and many corrupt deals since assuming leadership of the anti-graft agency. Our detailed reports on her stint at the special-fraud unit of the Nigeria Police Force showed that she was in cahoots with major perpetrators of advance fee fraud ("419"). Under her watch, 419 crimes skyrocketed. A source recently disclosed to us that, in her days on the special-fraud unit, she remained a regular face at the Federal Palace Ikoyi hotel suite maintained by Fred Ajudua, a notorious 419 kingpin.

Our more recent investigation into her tenure at the EFCC has revealed a lot more troubling facts of her involvement in direct stealing of EFCC funds. Specifically, she has used her "special assistant" to make cash withdrawals from the agency. These withdrawals have been made under the bogus heading of "information funds".

SaharaReporters investigations showed that between June 23 2008 and October 22nd 2008, Mrs. Waziri – with the aid of her blood brother, Yisa Terfa Moses, whom she hired as a special assistant – withdrew the sum of N75 million as “information fund” from the accounts of the EFCC.

In preparation for what started as a petty pilfering of EFCC funds, Mrs. Farida had earlier recruited a police officer of her ethnic stock, a Tiv policeman named James Vandefan Tersudh, to take charge of the accounts department at the EFCC. A breakdown of Mrs. Waziri's "information fund" withdrawals shows that on Monday June 23 2008 she took out N5 million. Three days later, on June 26 2008, she made cash withdrawals of N15 million. She followed up with withdrawals of N15 million on July 22nd 2008 and another N15 million on July 28 2008.

Waziri’s looting of EFCC funds resumed on August 2nd 2008 with a cash withdrawal of N2 million, followed by another withdrawal of N3 million on August 14th 2008. On September 20th and October 14th 2008 respectively, Mrs. Waziri also took out N20 million in two N10 million installments.

Saharareporters investigators could not determine any specific “information” projects that the withdrawn monies were used for. At any rate, there are no accounts of their usage provided in the account books of the EFCC. However, two sources within the agency told us that Mrs. Waziri used the funds to fete and 'take care' of journalists in an attempt to shore up her badly battered image.

However, the cash withdrawals have coincided with our discovery of Mrs. Waziri's curious purchase of federal government owned properties in the Wuse II area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja. As a retired former Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Mrs. Waziri owned only one plot of land in Maitama area of Abuja. According to our investigations, on May 26 1999, she was allocated Plot 601 at 23 Aso Garden Estate, Maitama Abuja. One Barrister Mike Idoko Ejeh submitted her application.

However since her assumption of office in 2008, Mrs. Waziri has acquired several properties in Abuja. SaharaReporters investigators found out that she purchased from the Federal Capita Development Authority (FCDA) a federal government house valued at N50.04 million at number 10 Port Novo Street, Wuse II, Abuja. The house was described in FCDA records seen by SaharaReporters as a five-bedroom detached house with boys’ quarters.

Mrs. Waziri paid N5 million for the property through a bank draft issued by Access Bank of Nigeria. The property is currently being renovated. A source told our correspondent that the Access Bank link was suspicious. On assuming office as EFCC chair she had moved almost all EFCC accounts to the bank where her daughter was employed. Shortly after her relocation of the agency's accounts, we confronted EFCC spokesperson Femi Babafemi who admitted that Access Bank had EFCC account, but he said only the salary accounts were moved there.

It was not clear how Mrs. Waziri paid the balance of N45 million on the property, but a source at FCT told SaharaReporters that the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Aliyu Umar Modibbo, grossly undervalued the property. “The minister was in trouble because of serious cases of corruption, and he offered the house to Mrs. Waziri at a give-away price in order to secure her support otherwise a property of that type in Wuse II cost at least N150 million,” said the source.

Mrs. Waziri's dealings with Moddibo started when “President” Umaru Yar'adua instructed Mrs. Waziri to investigate how another former minister of the FCT, Nasir El Rufai, managed proceeds of sales of Federal properties in Abuja under Obasanjo's tenure. El-Rufai was being sought for punishment as Yar'adua began clamping down on the vocal members of the former regime especially the so-called reformers.

Yar'adua was responding to allegations contained in petitions that accused El-Rufai of embezzling N32 billion. The Nigerian Senate was also simultaneously probing the alleged embezzlement. The funds at the center of the investigations were monies that El Rufai placed with an FCT-owned loans and savings bank, Aso Savings, from which federal civil servants were supposed to draw housing loans.

Unknown to Yar'adua, Modibbo had withdrawn the funds from Aso Savings and distributed it amongst various commercial banks leaving behind a meager N7 billion. In “gratitude,” the banks paid Modibbo the interests generated from the deposits, even a Presidency circular asking him to return the funds to the Central bank of Nigeria was ignored. EFCC agents found out about the extensive fraud as they interrogated Modibbo and took his statements – which were forwarded to the Presidency before Mrs. Waziri could see them. Unaware of her agents’ damning report, she commissioned another report on Modibbo, highly favorable, which was again dispatched to the Presidency.

Briefed on Modibbo's extensive corruption dossier with the Presidency, SaharaReporters reported in September 2008 that he was penciled in for removal from office. While awaiting his removal from office, Modibbo hurriedly allocated lands to 24 individuals on September 24 2008. The list of beneficiaries included EFCC chair, Farida Mzamber Waziri, who was allocated the second largest piece of land-about 1 ½ acress- on the list. Coincidentally, the list contained names of top journalists and editors such as Reuben Adeleye Abati (editorial page editor of the Guardian), Adebayo Onanuga of TheNEWS, Comfort Chinezerem Obi of the SOURCE magazine, Mr. Director Uhunmwernkpenma Osa of Insider Weekly and Bala Dan Abu of Newswatch.

An FCT official told Saharareporters that all ministerial approvals derive from land applications. Two of the editors we contacted stressed the same point. Still, an official at the EFCC familiar with details of Modibbo’s corrupt deals told Saharareporters that the former minister's decision to allocate lands to Mrs. Waziri alongside top newspaper editors was done to ensure that the transaction was not reported – and that Modibbo’s extensive scams at the FCT were covered up.

On receiving the list, we contacted Comfort Obi, publisher of the SOURCE and a member of the Police Service Commission (PSC), a body that recently dismissed former EFCC chairman Nuhu Ribadu from the police. Ms. Obi told our reporter that she got land alongside other editors by applying for it, noting that there was nothing unusual about it. She also said some editors got land allocations in Abuja two years before her crew got theirs. Also, Mr. Bayo Onanuga of TheNEWS told Saharareporters that he purchased the land in Abuja legitimately like every other Nigerian, and that he paid for it. He further told our reporter that the former minister did not give land to any editor for free, underlining that some of the editors had a difficult time putting the money together for their allocations.

Mrs. Waziri's Certificate of Occupancy was offered to her the next day. The C of O read that she was allocated Plot 1460 of 25 Trent River Street, Maitama, Abuja with file number 60219 in Cadastral zone B06 of MABUSHI. The land area size is 2336.26 square metres.

However, her plot soon became the subject of a hide-and-seek game. According to a source within the FCT who knew about the transactions, Mrs. Waziri and the former minister suspected that SaharaReporters was aware of the land allocation to her. Waziri arranged with the FCT to change the ownership of her land. On October 13 2008, the Federal Capital Territory Administration Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS) wrote her a "withdrawal letter" titled "Notice of Withdrawal of right of Occupancy." The short letter, addressed to Mrs. Farida Mzamber Waziri, stated that her Right of Occupancy to Plot 1460 within B06 MABUSHI was revoked by "DISCRETION BY AUTHORITY". The letter listed the director of development control, director legal, and director “URP” as the source of the letter.

Two days after the revocation, the same plot was allocated to Mrs. Waziri's daughter, Zainab Naomi Salawu. The same plot was now assigned a new file number GO 60167. In an attempt to hide the exact identity of the re-allocated land, FCT officials gave the address as 2 River Trent Crescent, Maitama Abuja.

In a move that betrayed her stake in the land, Mrs. Waziri sent Mohammed A. Bako, the EFCC protocol officer, to sign a letter accepting the land. Bako, who signed on behalf of Zainab Naomi Salawu, gave his EFCC office phone number 09-64441118, his e-mail address, abako@efccnigeria.org, as well as his home address in Karu area of Abuja. Zainab Salawu is believed to own a hair saloon in London known as "Naomi Davids".


The land grab by Mrs. Waziri is coming on the heels of our recent revelation of her receipt of a Mercedes Benz GL 450 gift from Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom.

Our efforts to reach Aliyu Moddibo – whose removal led him to weep openly at his handing over ceremony – did not yield any results. Two of his former aides claimed he was out of Nigeria but sources knowledgeable about his whereabouts said he is currently in Kano where he maintains a sprawling mansion he “commissioned” a few weeks ago.

Romeo, your assertion that “one is not a man” without building his own house is the type of reasoning that I have always protested against on this forum.  It is your kind, that use the local town meetings to ridicule those unable to afford to own a house rather than focusing on projects aimed at helping the underprivildged. I am sorry, but these kinds or reasoning puts our brothers under unfair pressure to succeed at any cost.

The South East is one of the most densely populated regions in the whole of Africa. The Wikipedia estimates the Igbo population to be well over 20 million. Are you encouraging us to build 20 million houses on our very limited supply of land? Common, we really need to be sensible here and adapt traditions/culture to reflect the changing realities of the times.

Even in the most advanced democracies, not everyone own their own houses. What is so “unmanly” about raising your family in a rented flat/house? I have cousins living in Lagos/overseas who built mansions in their villages. They spend approximately a week or two in a whole year on these properties. They really don’t have any use for these houses except to massage their egos and stop others from gossiping about them. Thank God Nigeria has no council taxes as yet!!

My position is this: those who can afford to own their homes would be encouraged but we should not make it a yardstick for measuring success or “manliness”. We should also desist from ridiculing and trying to humiliate those who choose not to build a house.

Romeo,
You don't need a house to be a man. What you need is a home consisting of a loving wife and well brought up children and to be admired and respected in your local community.

Outlaws, thanks for your very frank and blunt post. I agree with you 100%.

Some forumites seem to think it is only those who cannot afford the cost of marital rites that are complaining. But, that belief is completely erroneous.
I am opposing this tradition out of principle and it would have been selfish to keep mum just because, i can afford it. What of the very hardworking boys and girls who are earning meagre amounts back home. Who would speak for them?If i had been a poor guy, it would have been easy for them to paint me a moaner. I can afford the 2 million naira estimate for my wedding, but is that really the best way to spend money in these times?. No, i don't think so.

Some people believe that as an Igboman, somehow, i am betraying my people for washing our dirty linen on a public forum. There is nothing secretive about all we have raised so far. I think those that are living in denial (Dede, romeo) are the ones doing a disservice to our people by supporting our boys being held hostage to archaic traditions.

Outlaws, Just like you mentioned in your post, the Igbo tradition has a tendency of comparing pitching people in the same "age group". For example, if an age mate of yours builds a house, no one will question the source of his wealth. Instead, the elders will start comparing you to him sometimes in a cruel and denigrating manner. It will be mentioned at the local towns meeting all in a bid to humiliate you.

If an adult becomes deceased without having his own personal house, do you know they will lie his body in the open air. The elders will refuse his body to be taken into any other house in the compund, because, the poor guy could not build a house before his death. How humiliating and cruel can a tradition be? It is this type of subtle pressure that forces our brothers to indulge in risky behaviors and sometimes falling foul of the law.

It is the same reason the South East is unable to produce a concensus candidate for president. The other tribes know our weaknesses. All they need doing is bribe our so-called elders (Iwuanyanwu & co) and they switch sides immediately and become the campaign chairperson of the rival candidate from another tribe.

We really need to examine our value systems and be brave enough to challenge retrogressive customs otherwise, the viscous cycle continues.

What upsets me is the way the community ostracises those unable to meet these obligations. I know of a lady in my village who was very poor and her son in-law could not afford these rituals. Till date (over 5 years ago), she is like a second class citizen in the village. She is not allowed to make any comment in the local women's meeting and she is always excluded whenever anything is being shared. She was even banned from attending weddings in the village. What is her sin? Her daughter got married to a poor man who could not afford the traditional rites.

I have a cousin who is unemployed because of a mental health problem. He is the only child and unfortunately, he could not kill a goat for the villagers when his Dad died. Do you know that he was banned from attending other burial ceremonies in his community. No one considered his special circumstances.

I can remember growing up in the villages and witnessing how widows and other very poor women in the village including my poor late grandmother were selling their possessions including farm produce and even land in order to pay town and church dues, bury their loved ones, pay bride price etc. They lived in fear of outracisation, as it was a closely knit community.

In 2009, should we still be marginalising and discriminating against our fellow citizens on account of their financial state?

o9999,
Thanks for your comments and suggestions.
My fianceeée is from Nnewi South. Is N1000=00 naira really enough to enclose in envelopes considering the cost of things in Nigeria? I really don’t want to be embarrassed by my prospective inlaws.

I still have to buy 51 bottles of wine, 14 pieces of clothing. (cost yet to be determined)
I have not been given details of the bride price (dowry) as yet?

From my own conConservativetmate, i presume the traditional wedding alone will cost close to N1 million naira. By the time i add the registry and church wedding expenses, it may be appapproaching 2 (two) million naira.

This was the point i was trying to make to Romeo and Dede before they become abusive. Is this type of expenditure still warranted in the present day Nigeria. There are young boys and girls in my village in need of sponsorship for their education. I have relations who are widowed with no form of support.

I will feel uncomfortable supporting a tradition that puts our brothers undue pressure, some waiting till their late 30's and 40's before tying the knot.

It is not a case of whether i can afford it, i simply have a principled objection to these type of retrogressive traditions. Those of us who have been opportuned to be educated and travelled out are in a better position to fight these elders who use tradition to blackmail us.

I will vote for Mr Ribadu anyday and anytime. He was able to take on the corrupt Oligarchs that have enslaved us in Nigeria.
He did his job with passion and fearlessly despite working under very difficult circumstances. I don't know of anyone in todays Nigeria who could have been as fearless as Ribadu. He was able to instill fear in the minds of looters and made the war of corruption a high profile battle.
He recovered over $5.5 billion dollars, foreign investors had more faith in the country and made more investments in Nigeria.

The suffering and smiling masses don't deserve to be on the list because of their cowardice. Despite all Ribadu did, they would rather go to their churches and mosques to pray for a messiah rather than criticising or confronting this injustice.

Why mnetion candidates who have been indicted of corrpuption. Goodluck Jonathan, Donald Duke have been automatically eliminated.
NUHU RIBADU remains the incontrovertible candidate that will lead Nigeria out it's current mess.
other possible candidates are Fashola from the West, but he needs to be his own man and avoid negative infleunce from Tinubu. We cannot afford another weak leader.

Chris Ngige and Governor of Enugu (Chime) from the East.

Oshiomole- South South

Dede 1,
Are you calling a man working very hard and earning between N30 000=00 to N50 000=00 naira?
It is this culture of worshipping wealth above all other values in Igbo land that pressures young men to take risks that land them in trouble with the law.
Which ethnic group has the most numbers of 419 fraudsters, the most number of prison inmates or prisoners on death row. Igbo's are way ahead of the curve.
We need to examine our culture critically as it is beginning to result in negative social repercussions.

I am about to get married and have just visited my inlaws for the official introduction.

My fiancee is from one of the Igbo states and i was given three lists:

a) List A: various items and the estimated cost according to my inlaws is 330 000=00 Naira.
b) List B: A bottle of wine for 51-named individuals alongside enclosing money in envelopes for each of them.
A piece of clothing for 14 other people plus money in sealed envelopes.
Soft drinks for 12 other relatives plus money in sealed envelopes.

c) List C: the dowry ( They are yet to tell me how much the bride price would cost).

It makes a total of 80 relatives of the girl whom will have to get money in envelopes and the gifts listed earlier.
If i enclose N5000=00 naira into the envelopes, it will amount to N400000=00. Adding the initial N330 000=00 will make a total of N730000=00. If i add the gifts (wine + piece of clothes), it brings the total to over N1 million naira.

I have not added other expenses such as feeding and drinks etc.

We have not even mentioned the white and court wedding which may cost over N800 000=00.
So, i am being given a bill almost approaching N2 million naira for wedding.

Does this chime with the experience of others?
How does the average person earning about N50 000=00 monthly able to afford this expense?

Romeo,
You are not more an Igbo man than i am but you will do our people more good by stop being in denial.
Go across prisons in Asia, and the relative large number of Igbo boys in prison will depress you.

There was a recent news item about 18 Nigerians on death row in Indonesia, i was appalled that 16 of them are ndi Igbo.
We need to stem this tide by speaking up against greedy traditions that push our brothers to the edge.

Dede,
Mike Okiro jumped from CP to DIG and was never an AIG. I am sure, you agree that is double promotion.
Ribadu was able to raise the fight of corruption to a different level, he made a few individuals scapegoats which sent shivers down the spine of our thieving politicians intent on sending us back to the middle ages.
Ribadu took on the most difficult job in nigeria- which is confronting the cancer of corruption. He made some success of it and was able to recover over $5.5 billion dollars over 5 years. Translate this to lives that can be saved, hospitals and roads that could have been built with these funds. What does he get for his hard work? demotion, harassment and humiliation.

Okiro on the other hand is reigning over a very demoralised and corrupt police and our streets that have been taken over by armed robbers. Yaradua under instructions fro his Godfather James Ibori rewarded Okiro with post of IG.

Vanguard Newspaper, Tuesday, December 30, 2008

RECENT sour experiences in areas of prosecution and staff matters at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are being tackled by the Senate. The legislators are set to severe the commission from the superintendence of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and stem issues that cropped up from the forced posting of EFCC’s former boss, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to the Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in Kuru near Jos.

Specifically, the Senators are tinkering with the EFCC Act towards giving it independence from the superintendence of the Attorney-General of the Federation in the prosecution of suspects.

In one of such moves, the legislative initiative from the Senate proposes to guarantee the tenure of all officers seconded to the agency from other government agencies.

Besides, the initiative in the Senate aims to give the EFCC the sole responsibility of investigating and prosecuting political office holders, a power that is presently contested by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC).

The legislative initiative framed in the form of an amendment bill to the EFCC establishment bill is spearheaded by Senator Sola Akinyede, chairman of the Senate Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Anti-Corruption.

The prosecutorial powers of the EFCC was one of the serious issues of discord between the Ribadu-led EFCC and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Michael Aondoakaa (SAN).

Aondoakaa had asserted a right as the Attorney-General of the Federation to give approval before the prosecution of anyone indicted of corruption after investigations by the EFCC.

At the peak of the face-off, the Attorney-General had intervened in the prosecution of some former governors, insisting that the EFCC did not get his approval to prosecute the cases.

However, under the new administration at the EFCC, case files on all indicted persons are sent for approval to the Attorney-General through the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Under the proposed amendment to the EFCC Act, the EFCC would be conferred with full powers to prosecute cases with the insertion of the words “and prosecuting such” in Section 6 (h) which details the duties of the commission.

Section 6 (h) which reads: “The examination and investigation of all reported cases of economic and financial crimes with a view to identifying individuals, corporate bodies or groups involved” would now read: “(6)(h) the examination and investigation of all reported cases of economic and financial crimes with a view to identifying and prosecuting such individuals, corporate bodies or groups involved.”


The prosecution of indicted persons or corporate bodies is further strengthened with a new subsection 6 (r) which reads: “6 (r) it shall be the primary responsibility of the Commission to investigate and prosecute elected or appointed federal and state governments political office holders.”

The phrase would apparently give the EFCC the sole responsibility of investigating and prosecuting elected or appointed political office holders.

Former Governor Ahmed Markafi of Kaduna State recently lamented what he described as the double jeopardy suffered by individuals under the present regime whereby the EFCC and ICPC conduct investigations on similar cases.

Besides, the amendment bill also aims to plug the loophole over the tenure of officers seconded to the commission.

An amendment to Section 8 of the EFCC Act spelling out the appointment of officers of the Commission reads: “8 (4) Where any officer or person is appointed under subsection 3 of this section, such officer or person shall hold such appointment for a minimum of four years unless the Commission decides otherwise.

“8(5) Any person approving the deployment or secondment of such officer or person shall be deemed to have consented to the release of such officer or person for the period mentioned in subsection (4) above.”

The posting of Mallam Ribadu to the Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) before the completion of his tenure had generated mutterings over the capacity of the Inspector-General of Police to post officials already seconded to the Commission.

Besides Ribadu, several officers seconded to the anti-graft commission from other security agencies but perceived as loyal to him have been sent back to their original places of employment.

However, the proposal under the bill aims to guarantee the tenure of all those posted to the agency from outside the Commission.

My fiancee is very understanding but unfortunately, has no say in the whole decision-making process as the elders were firmly in command.
She even volunteered to share part of the bill but i am very uncomfortable with her suggestion but for me, that is beyond the point.
I have a principled opposition to traditions that set people back or attempt to divide the society into "haves and have nots". How can the average person earning about 80 thousand naira a month afford this huge expense.

I am not completely against bride price, but it should be reasonable and not cause the new couple undue distress.

The high cost of wedding in Ibo culture is a leading cause of many men waiting till their late 30's and even early 40's before tying the knot. These "old men" will retire around the age of 60 when their first child will be in their 20's, probably in University with it's attendant expenses.
A lot of the girls are also having to wait longer which doesn't fit in with their time limited biologic cycle.

I am about to get married to girl from Nnewi an was given 3 (three) lists for the traditional wedding:
1) List one would cost over 330 000=00 naira.
2) List two consists of the following:
(a) A bottle of wine and to enclose an unspecified amount of money in envelopes to 51 named individuals.
(b) A piece of cloth and money in envelope to 14 different individuals.
(c) Soft drinks and money in envelope to 12 different named individuals.
3) I am yet to get a list for her bride price and cost of feeding the expected guests.

This is just for the traditional wedding and i am yet to add the cost of the court and church wedding.

A conservative estimate will be over 1.5 million naira.

Is it wise living in penury for years after a marriage ceremony?
I am not against tradition, but it should not be rigid and should be modified in parallel with the prevailing economic climate.

Hello Nairalanders,
In as much as i support some of our traditional practices, we need not allow it rule our lives and it should be modified in accordance with the changing times.
For example, in the course of our collective history, we have had some practices that have been stopped e.g.
1) Polygamy used to be our tradition, but now in decline.
2) Osu caste system is still practiced in several Ibo cultures. Obviously, we all know this is the worst case of apartheid.
3) Throwing away twins was once widely practiced in some areas.

The high bride price and pressure to excel in Ibo culture is one of the reasons a lot of Ibo boys take high risks in order to succeed in life. Unfortunately, this has unintended consequences such as disproportionate representations of young Ibo boys in prison all over the world.

To buttress my point that Islam does not believe in compromise, just take a look at most of the troubled spots globally:
1) Former Yugoslavia
2) Southern Thailand
3) Philippines
4) Kashmir
5) Chechen
6) Most of the northern caucuses of Russia
7) Muslim dominated region of western China
Sudan
9) Somalia
These are just a few of the countries where Muslims are in the minority and have taken up arms against the state. They find it difficult co-existing with other civilizations except they are oppressing and dominating you.
Take a look at the welfare of non-Muslims in Muslim countries and contrast it with the way Muslims are prospering in predominantly Christan and Hindu nations.
Yet, the Muslims keep complaining of marginalization.

Sagamite, your arguments appear intelligent to those who don't understand the reasoning of the average Arab. You and i know that the Arabs are only using this issue of land as a convenient excuse.
I can bet my life that even if the Jews should vacate all the Arab lands and squeeze themselves into Haifa or Telaviv, the Arabs would still continue to attack them. They do not want the existence of a Jew sh infidel state as their neighbour.
If this conflict has been between the Jews and any other religion, they would have found a compromise.
Unfortunately, Islam does not believe in compromise but always aim to complete dominance of the minorities in their midst.

Are you suggesting that because you have been poorly treated by Arabs, the palestinians deserve the same? If maltreating Darfuris is wrong, then maltreating Palestinians must be wrong too.[/color]

[color=Black]
Birdman, I am not suggesting anything buy only questioning why we don't here this outcry from muslims and Arabs when black africans are being massacred and uprooted from their lands in Darfur, Mauritania etc.
More black Africans have died in Darfur and more land stolen by the arabs in Sudan.
Where were the protests against these injustices?
The hypocritical Arab league blocked all UN sanctions meant to ease the sufferings of the Africans but turn around to blame USA for supporting Israel.

The same way the Arabs enslaved us and profited from a very lucrative trans-Sahara slave trade. however, revisionists would like us to believe the Arabs treated their African slaves better by sleeping with their women and turning their men into eunuchs.
More black Africans have been killed, raped in darfur and Mauritania than in palestine.
Yet, the Arab league currently crying foul now have constantly blocked all attempts by the UN to pass any meaningful resolution aimed at solving this problem and alleviating the suffering of our African brothers.

Sagamite,
I am puzzled at the way some Africans support the Arabs blindly despite their numerous atrocities against us. I can remember vividly how some Muslims in the north were protesting, killing and burning churches in the aftermath of the Arab Israeli war.
But, these same northerners were silent when Arab-backed militias are killing, uprooting Africans from their ancestral lands.
Sagamite, can you compare the way Africans are treated in the west compared to the Arab lands.