₦airaland Forum

biafranqueen:
I'm not surprised other Poli thieves that used are money include to start farm business include OLUSEGUN OBASANJO (OBASANJO FARM) Adamu, Nyako and Abubabakar.

We have to stop thinking of what is in there for me, myself and I: to move Africa to its potential. If it is beneficial to Africa, it also elevates you and I. But no matter how you succeed at Africans’ expense, the picture of gloomy children of Africa will still reflects on you. Unfortunately, this is what it is when most people think of Africa. That you are not one of those poor and desperate, living in abject poverty trying desperately to flee to greener pasture does not exalt your image.

Beneficiaries of our corrupt system false sense of aggrandizement is the reason they fight tooth and nail to justify inept governments in power, even when they know it has failed majority of the people. Africans had too many false saviors taking over countries through rigged elections, coup d’état and looters; justified by Awards that defy critics, activists, called prophet of gloom.

Others pointed out that we all want change but nobody wants to die for change. The irony of that logic is that people are willing to die with their own children crossing the deserts, sinking in the oceans or falling from the sky or from the cargo area of planes. So sad when even graduates from colleges and universities with others prefer prostitution because they lack guts to steal or become armed robbers. And armed robbers would rather die fast by bullets than from hunger.

Nigeria bleeds the most. We talk about increasing middle class and falling poverty: out of 700m people, 627 came from China, not Africa. “More money flows illegally out of developing and emerging countries each year—facilitated by secrecy in the global financial system—than they receive in foreign direct investment and foreign aid combined. Beyond bleeding the world’s poorest economies, this propels crime, corruption and tax evasion globally.” Learn more about us

When we ask for change, the last change we want was from nationalistic Government of Congo headed by Lumumba to a military government of Mobutu installed by enemies of Africa. We were happy with Rawlings on his first coming in Ghana until he overstayed his welcome and got complacent. So Nigerians celebrated Ezeogwu’s cause till his colleagues’ ulterior ethnic motives betrayed him. Yet, they fought civil war without borrowing a kobo but later got broke, anyway.

Staying with Nigeria as a case in point: the whole Country regardless of ethnic loyalty elected a leader from deserved minority with high hope that our day of progress has come. Since most of Nigeria foreign income from oil is produced in their area, expected the leader would be mindful and more vigilant in the fight against corruption. However, the attitude was: it’s our money, can spend it anyway we want. After four years, environmental degradation and pollution got worse.

In fairness to former President Jonathan, many billionaires were created, many joined middle class that was dying anyway, railways and oil refineries improved. They were never enough and could not have been enough to raise even the minorities in a country of almost 200 millions out of poverty. As stated in the beginning, it is not individual or class greed that raises a nation; it is collective goodwill that gives a child an opportunity to rise above and beyond those before her.

There is no reason former President Jonathan should not have been re-elected for second term. Rarely did many leaders get the mandate and the goodwill he got in 2011. Yet, the reason he lot that goodwill has plagued African countries for so many years and left us in the ditch. African leaders believe too much in their handlers who fight for their own selfish interests before the interest of the masses by justifying any misdeed they created, shielding leaders from realities.

It is better to err underestimating oneself than to err overestimating personal prowess. When aides and handlers that surround you aggrandize and exaggerate your power as a leader, one needs to enter bare reserved room of his castle and remind himself of a humble and difficult climb to power. Many of us wrote on those that had pushed former President Jonathan astray and blamed them for corruption in high places. But they were only looking out selfish interest.

Consequently, we learned the hard way that even once military governments, no matter how benevolent, enmeshed in the same corruption they tried to clean up: do change! They provided short euphoria with grand and ambitious inauguration speeches only to fall by the wayside. As angels mix with politicians, certain primordia needs surface from their humble beginning. They see better stars in politics than in the military barracks and corrupt the system even more.

Most of the energy needed to grow individual countries, needed for inter-regional trade and cooperation in Arts, Science and Technology are wasted fighting one another. Sectional or party greed has never elevated a country, yet we waste so much of our intellect justifying fraudulent acts that hinder progress as a people and disappoint the world of goodwill cheering for Africa.

What we missed is individual responsibilities and legacy of the uneasy head that wears the crown. A leader must be strong enough, not only to discipline himself or assign that role to his wife, husband or a close associate; but must be able to discipline those around him. After he lost, it is not surprising President Ebele said most aides deserted him. He should have expected most of those that made him lose election would jump to greener pastures to spend their loot.

This same problem has hindered African head of states. They die miserably and lonely in exile, in jail or spend the rest of their lives running away from those hunting for their heads. Those that have made billions under Jonathan will never get the peace of mind to spend it well. They could have lived peacefully with much less money, can still live well by declaring their loot or spend their loot dodging from one hunter in a foreign country to another.

Buhari must learn from President Jonathan’s handlers. He must use his golden opportunity to bring back Nigeria by plugging sources of income loopholes, no country can afford as foreign aid.

Propagated States Ethnic Champions & Ministers Empty Treasury

We all know that the more ministers, commissioners, local chairmen and councilmen there are to justify our agitation for more states and 250 ethnicities, the more money leaks from treasury for political and ethnic champions. When there are more government employees than those of private employers, youth’s employers are displaced. There will be more money for politicians’ aggrandizement and corruption but less for infrastructure and universities budding businesses.

Encourage selected projects after youth corps with loan remissions to spur business creation at the universities in agriculture, storage facility and nontoxic portable refineries in the Niger Delta.

Instead people agitate for more ministers, commissioners and creation of states as if these will create jobs and solve problems. Ethnic activists are so optimistic; they think the more political creations we have, the fewer disenfranchised as most people will be happy when each state is represented or each village is celebrated at state capital. The result will be peace and harmony.

Unfortunately Yoruba, Benin, Igbo, Ikwere, Hausa states, Beroni etc. are more divided than ever within. Hoped that by the time we had equal representation; more states would have satisfied over 250 ethnic problems. Reality dictates that these political appointments are unsustainable. For each appointment, there are support staffs that must actually do the work. It starts from super secretary to the lowest staff apart from logistics for the functioning of each department.

It is ironic, when the new administration in Nigeria delayed the appointment of ministers since there were permanent secretary working on the job anyway, people became suspicious. They were not concerned about the amount of money saved in terms of salary and support of these political appointees or recovery from looters. There was even one lawsuit to force the President to immediately appoint ministers. Are these agents of contractors looking for goodies?

More states have started on the right foot of El Rufai, likely cut in inflation by pledging to cut political salary in half is what the Country needs. It will send the right message to the markets; that inflated salary of the politicians who could afford to buy everything has been cut. But if this is not followed with a cut in the salary of super civil servants, there may not be enough savings to pay workers’ salaries. More important, the polity may not take politicians’ pledge seriously.

The details of the cut itself have to be worked out transparently. Fifty percent cut at the top may make sense if it is progressively followed by 40, 30, 20 and ten percent cut at the bottom. Market men and women will probably get the message as a sacrifice everyone has to make to prevent Zimbabwe inflation. The reason for that is: politicians like to deceive electorate by raising salaries they cannot pay and if paid, know full well it will not buy much in the market.

Trying to solve some of the problem by cutting the salaries of political appointees into half and reducing their number to the barest minimum is a start. Though most people believe that their visible salary is just a token of what they actually loot since their allowances, peck of office and contracts are the hidden treasures. Most of the Senators and Representatives that have taken clothing allowance in the past pretended as if they have never heard about it when blown open.

Creation of more states by ethnic champions has actually led to calls for even more that have bred new and unanticipated problems that most African countries were not prepared for. In many African countries and Nigeria in particular, we found that the richest states like Lagos and Akwa Ibom have the greatest amount of debts. In the case of Lagos as the highest internal generated revenue, their debt has skyrocketed breading even higher level of corruption.

Dissatisfaction among other states has grown because of ethnic minorities that felt they were not well represented at the apex level either as governor or as chairman of local council. Their only way of redress is to create even more states and local governments to amend imbalance among the disgruntled localities. What we thought will pacify the electorate in term of equal representation and voices either at the center or at the states have led to feelings of alienation.

Lobby for the juiciest ministerial position is so intense, oil minister top the rest. People were aware for many years that politicians pay themselves humongous salaries first before they start paying the workers, the pensioners, leaving little for schools and hospitals to be properly equipped and furnished. Many of the universities have been reduced to glorified classrooms while private schools and colleges built from contracts loot, prosper by charging exorbitant fees.

In the meeting with governors, President Buhari was quoted that the old outrageous impunity, lack of accountability, and fiscal recklessness have to stop even when he had acknowledged in the past that he had little control over the states. If he is determined to stop them, there are many ways to skin a cat. One is not to guarantee World Bank loans by Federal Government that usually become odious. Governors are just after contracts, even for Toronto discarded trains.

Oby Ezekwesili blew their cover during the reign of OBJ, that governors used local government allocations to siphon money into private accounts. Their threats to sue fell off. Prosecution with teeth by Buhari can reassure us that many see walls of courtroom, never escape jail. A few that were stupid ran out of Nigeria when they could have pretty well bought justice at home. Oh one crossed his leg docketed; and Ribadu cleared him after he became his presidential candidate.

The toughest job is going back to six regions, three in the North and three in the South. The least numbers of local councils in each region to maximize efficiency and reduce the amount of political appointees drastically. Otherwise politicians will be throwing statistics around about tiny percentage of their salaries out of entire income of Nigeria that we do not even know!

Story from The Nigerian Voice News:
http://www.thenigerianvoice.com/news/183484/1/propagated-states-ethnic-champions-ministers-empty.html

Published: Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Lushcream:
Saraki has been playing Abuja politics since 1999 , he became master of the game between 2003-2007 under Yar'adua's regime and now He is the Senate President ..... Tinubu only started Abuja politics in 2015, he has spent many years in Lagos/Southwest and he has many things to learn about Abuja Politics .....

Maybe next time Tinubu will win but this time, he ga to calm down .... watch and learn from the boys who has been in the game

Tinubu & Saraki Palaver Deep-rooted In Polity

Where else would incorrigible crooks like Saraki and Tinubu command more political clout but in Nigeria? Buhari has work to do and nobody should envy him especially with these two types of people in control of the new political landscape. Like it or not, they have followers and each is highly respected in circles by their followers. Indeed, some young generation are looking up to them on how to accomplish success. They dismiss sins the two have committed as old story.

Now that each region has had the opportunity to loot the Country dry, finger pointing to a section as the worst is dead. We are all equal opportunity looters. Yet, devils have turned to angels and angels have turned to devils. In the history of Nigeria, one of the biggest looters during the War, gave up everything and changed his ways as Head of State. His comrades would not let him. He was gunned down in cold blood. How dare you desert us?

Any nonpartisan Lagosian that did not feel sorry for the loss of speakership by Gbajabiamila may be or probably economical with the truth. But those are personal and emotional sympathy that must give way to the common good of all. Most of the people that know Gbajabiamila like him and would want him to be their Speaker. But with the urging of Tinubu, not only this time, in 2011. Femi’s role against Mulikat Akande-Adeola for Speaker at Tinubu’s calling, was ugly.

Femi Gbajabiamila claimed, as one of our detribalized Nigerians, his support for Aminu Tambulwal then was based on merit. We knew better. It has come back to haunt him. You reap what you sow. It is unfortunate that party cohesiveness and unity is falling by the wayside. We saw this during Obasanjo and Atiku contest as Presidential candidates. Some people wondered if a President and his Vice could join or come from different parties as the Speaker and Vice.

There is no part of the Country that does not have a Tinubu and a Saraki of theirs. It is mere hypocritical that any section will dance and clap at the clash of the elephants when we all suffer the consequences just because they did not get who they voted for. It is not a reason to cut your nose to spite your face. Nigeria is not going anywhere, we are in this together.

When Yoruba ACN and Igbo PDP voted together to elect Hausa Tambuwal as Speaker of the House in 2011, Nigeria was working for them and they love Tinubu for that. But when the same game changed in 2015 and the same architects, Tinubu and Gbajabiamila lost out, they ridicule the same Tinubu now. The enemy of my enemy becomes my friend. What a Country!

Saraki is child’s play when it comes to the exploit of Tinubu in Lagos politics. The euphoria of his success in Lagos for so long is bound to exude confidence in anyone. However, Lagos State is not Nigeria. Tinubu enjoys the tolerance of Yoruba in Lagos for no other reason than the fact that he is one of them. There is no state where outsider can exert the same influence or control Tinubu does in Lagos. But if Tinubu had to, he would throw Yoruba under the bus, as Speaker.

Late Pa Ganiyu Dawodu also went through this macabre dance with Tinubu in their AD party. How Tinubu outfoxed, manipulated and kissed Dawodu’s feet to snatch Funso Williams’ victory is now history. Both of these men died with the unclean and invisible hands of Tinubu on their minds. After all, Tinubu spent eight years as Governor and appointed Fashola that spent four year at his behest; four more years at his displeasure but firmly still in control after a truce.

The Buhari we know is far from Dawudo and Funso Williams. Tinubu knows that more than anyone else but there is always that tendency to overplay his hands. If Buhari is serious about corruption, neither Tinubu nor Saraki should be that close to power around him. Those that remember his first coming, know that his indulgence of Northern royalties delayed his coming back despite his known character against corruption. He must tread carefully.

Buhari wants Fashola and Fayemi despite Tinubu’s reservation, for exerting some independence on their own. No matter what the rumor about Buhari’s role in Saraki and Dogara appointment as Senate President and Speaker respectively, Tinubu would have love to get the support of Buhari in the implementation of his wish which he defined as Party collective agreement. Yeah right. Whoever prevailed on Buhari not to intervene or show up at Representatives’ meeting Buhari had called, had his good ear. Tinubu must watch out for them just as Fashola and Fayemi!

The political landscape is getting complicated right now because the only loyalty Nigerians have to one another is written in the name of money. You can always predict the reactions of most Nigerians when it comes to sharing money. But when money is not involved, they retreat to their individual ethnic groups. Even then, they excite their ethnic groups only to gain position of power and share money. In other words, corruption is our common denominator.

No matter who is in power, power corrupts. Even the powerless and the down trodden, once they acquire power, they become incorrigible. Who in his right mind or sense would believe that a people denied income from their area, whose environmental degradation killed their fishing villages, could turn thugs into millionaires while those that played by the rules, studied hard and work hard would become their errand boys or jobless in the same environment?

If they were governors and President, you would think Nigeria would become just and fair in their time. The only unity amongst most of us poor or rich, low or high is corruption. It does not matter where many come from. The answer is the same: probe them first before you probe us!

Corruption is the Task That Must Be Done. It is corruption that fuel Operation Wet E, the War, Boko Haram and more if we do not stand together and fight it to dust, it will consume all of us.

Read more: http://newsrescue.com/tinubu-saraki-palaver-deep-rooted-in-polity/#ixzz3ctjguN5M

PassingShot:
This is one of the many ways in which Tinubu is different from so many other politicians.

Tinubu is qualified to be a seasoned economist with how he profers solutions to our cash crunch situation.

As with the Euro zone the past five years since the global financial crisis, austerity has not solved the dire economic weakness of the nations that employed this sickening remedy. All austerity has done is tighten the grip of the wealthy on the economy while weakening the position of the middle class and the poor.

This submission cannot be faulted by even the celebrated economists of this world.

The better methodology is to ascertain, then achieve, the level of naira expenditure needed to expand the economy and create jobs without causing inflation to rise to dangerous levels. This is how broadly-shared prosperity is generated in a sustainable manner.

When I got to this point, my fear was the high inflation such approach may result in thereby making the Naira worthless not until I read this:

Inflation is the major risk of running budget deficits to spur growth. We can contain inflation to acceptable levels by ensuring additional government expenditures are for items that can be supplied domestically, particularly labour. Naira paid to poor and working class people mostly circulates in the domestic economy, spurring additional local commerce and production.

Tinubu surely knows his onions.

Inflation is the major risk of running budget deficits to spur growth. We can contain inflation to acceptable levels by ensuring additional government expenditures are for items that can be supplied domestically, particularly labour. Naira paid to poor and working class people mostly circulates in the domestic economy, spurring additional local commerce and production.

MIGRANTS FLEE AFTER DEMOCRACY CREATED CHAOS IN THEIR COUNTRIES
Farouk Martins Aresa
What actions are African countries taking about the weekly sinking and dying of refuges apart from blaming others while stealing resources needed to alleviate poverty where both the rich and the poor flee from? More money is stolen and delivered by African leaders to the western world and international corporations than the total amount given in aid and odious loans.

The latest waves of refugees perishing in the sea between Libya and Europe should remind historians how the Moroccan Army contributed to the demise of last Empire of Songhai. Even worse, how the Christian and Muslim missionaries paved the way for slave trade, plunder Africa into Dark Continent for ages while royalties from Gold, Diamond, and Slave coasts were paid to British, French and American conquerors. It happens as fiction today but true as yesterday.

African leaders have made matter worse. They have raked the milk and honey flowing in their land for themselves and plunder them into Europe and America. Unfortunately, their grabbing avarice is worse than those of their colonial masters. They are not only stealing, they are ripping their continent apart subjecting the new and coming generations into abject poverty without any conscience. Indeed, they turn it into pride. Answer: like us, let them smell suya!

Those who seek political and economic advantages in foreign countries milking their systems with the help of missionaries by religious conversions and maximum profits with international big corporations must also open their doors to refugees. Fleeing to freedom, democracy and free trade of cheap labor negotiated according to western interest has consequences once it replaces indigenous autocratic and theocracy governments in exotic cultures as in Egypt.

Patrick Lumumba had been killed and humiliated the same way Gadhafi was. Lumumba offence against the capitalist countries was adhering to socialist principles like Scandinavian countries. Congo has never recovered from brutal devastation politically and economically after the death of Lumumba. The children of Lumumba’s Congo were turned into economic refugees in and out of Africa while Mobutu was installed to steal Congo blind and hid his loot in capitalist countries.

Mohammed Gadhafi was no doubt a devil in his own right. He paid dearly for his terrorist acts including hijacking planes resulting in loss of lives. While looking for ways to rehabilitate himself. He courted the western world, snitched on offer of nuclear technical assistance from Pakistan and compensated the families of passengers of Pan Am Flight 103. The devil deserved his day.

It was not enough, he was butchered like a dog by his people the way he desecrated enemies with the help of those he though would rehabilitate him. Today, his warning about Al Qaeda if he was toppled sounds as a ring of truth. Libya can never be united, controlled and peaceful as it was under Gadhafi. Even worse is the spillage of cancerous volcanoes spreading throughout Africa. Stable Libya that had employed Arabs and Africans was plunged into chaotic borders.

There is a free flow of migrants from Libya to Europe. The flow is beyond capacity for Italy and other European countries having enough migrant problems to deal with. They are looking up to America for help as if Americans do not have their own border crossing problems. If Europe did not learn from history because they gain so much from slaves’ free labor and Americans that also enjoyed the same benefits of slaves’ labor; immigration problems will not be wished away.

However, the aging population of Western Europe and United States need young population of immigrants for health care, to contribute to old age social security checks and their economy. The agricultural labor is a necessity, not only to feed the population at home but also crucial for export back to the world these same immigrants come from. Many of the science graduates and small business creators of jobs come from the children of these immigrants.

In spite of host hostility to immigrants, there are special visas for the very rich that can invest about half a million dollars in these countries. For African money bags, that is a very small price to pay to get their families into most of the western countries. Of course the money is coming from the treasury of poor countries whose children risk their lives to cross seas and deserts. In short, there is brain as well as economic drain from the very poor to the rich countries.

Of course these rich countries have problems of their own; they unite the poor that feel their jobs are taken away by recent immigrants and the conservatives that detest migration from countries and people that look different from them. Yet, there are jobs the hosts will not take, even when available in severe locations or lower wages. So they complain that immigrants will take any job at very low pay. They claim these recent immigrants encourage unlivable wages.

The reverse is that big manufacturing and agricultural corporations do strike agreements with politicians in the poor countries to lease their arable land so that they can introduce genetically modified seeds for production that is exported out at dictated prices to the highest bidders.

Africans must revolt against leaders not against themselves. Immigration is a touchy subject in every country as seen in South Africa. They are maiming their own brothers, sisters and children because immigrants always get blamed when there are no jobs for the natives or the economy is not that great. Both Nigeria and Ghana had kicked one another out so natives can dominate small businesses and play major role in driving the big commercial trade and market.

Instead of African leaders to look into mirrors when challenged, they blame history, immature level of democracy and spiritual forces the devils cast on them. As traitors of their communities, they fail to accept responsibilities, do aid, abet and conspire as accomplices to drain, loot and plunder the resources of their motherland with foreigners for the benefit of their families. Suya!

KevinDein:
mehn it sucks to be ibo for real. being ibo simply means your ancestral land is the useless erosion ridden south east. you have no choice than to hate it and try as hard as you can to claim another man's land
I don't wanna be ibo; now and in my next life

ABUJA IS A NO MAN'S LAND


When Abuja was being planned, it was indicated that they were looking for a neutral place, unlike Lagos or Calabar that already belonged to ethnic groups. Every Nigerian would be welcomed and there would be no domination of one group by the other. Some were wondering if a virgin place still existed in Nigeria that can be called a no man's land as we want. We did not know that they were going to displace some natives who would be glad to move from mud huts to Government reservations or slums.

Many Nigerians who have been paying attention to the allocation of land in Abuja heard about politicians making more than one allocation to one another in the Obasanjo era. We may have to wait and see what is being allocated in Yar'Adua's time. Babangida was the first head of State to move to Abuja , so some of the allocation started before that time.

Buried in the allocation of land to the high and the mighty is the slum surrounding Abuja . Slowly but surely, we are going to hear more of it when it erupts in the face of politicians.

We have heard about squatters that are trying to deface Abuja and the swift action of the planners who destroy the eyesore near their beautiful properties. We can't blame them, it will lower the value of their properties and brings hoodlums too close for comfort.

Has anyone heard about how much allocation were made to others, less prominent than late Senator Kuta son of mud hut settlers? If Nigeria has anything to learn from our past, it is that one day, the educated son and daughters will demand their share of the land owned by the forefathers. We all know that Abuja itself was created like Israel by cutting space out of existing states. But I am not sure that we are doing everything to make sure some of these prime land allocations are extended to many sons and daughters of its soil.

The early settlers were the Gbagyi, Bassa, Gade, Gwadara, Koro, Ganagana, Beriberi and others. Before the ambulance chasers or lawyers start running around taking briefs as in Lagos land cases in court, one would think that our Government would anticipate trouble down the road and pre-empt any claim of injustice. Our attitude has always been to cross the river when we get there. Land is very important, not only in Nigeria but every where.

Anyone familiar with Ikoyi and Victoria Island in Lagos of those days compare to what they are now may sympathize with them. In those days Ikoyi was designated as special Government Reservation Area for colonial civil servants and some crony Africans. But for the guts of Adelabu Adegoke who disturb their peace with gongon drummers waking him up in the morning, no crony reminded colonial masters that they do not belong. The people of Lagos are now trying to reclaim Ikoyi since it is no more an eminent domain.

Most Nigerians could have thought that politicians sliced Abuja cake amongst themselves until El Rufai then came out with a bombshell that Igbo got more allocation than others. Yeah, sure, fool us again my brother. May be they split the size of a football field into hundred pieces. The fact is the politicians from North and South took care of themselves as the probe has revealed. Believe me, there are more allocations going on right now.

We have to be careful so that these politicians do not knock our heads together as usual. When the Gbagyi owners who are the majority in Abuja come knocking for more share of their land, who are they going to go after? They should go for the throats of the politicians who are having field moments allocating to relatives. We can not rely on those potatoes allocations to different ethnic groups when the real juicy and meaty allocations go to who and who all over Nigeria . Why they were trying to divert attention away from themselves to different ethnic groups could possibly be to evade the wrath of the owners when their anger reaches a boiling point as Gbagyi were also displaced for Shiroro Dam.

In fairness to the Government, some of us working at the Federal Secretariat in the 80s were offered flat allocations as incentive to move to Abuja . Some did and some never left Lagos . Looking at what Abuja has now become, on 20/20 insight, it may have been a mistake. However, a few of us still have not regretted it. Moreover, as you get older, you just want to stay put in a familiar place.

Today, Abuja has become one of the most expensive cities in the world. Without rental income, it would be unaffordable for poor original settlers to even think about living there. If there is anything to learn from Jos Plateau area, Niger Delta area, Ife area and now Ajah in Lagos, families do not disappear into the thin air, whatever their past claim to the land .We do not have to wait until feud raises its ugly head to get a fire fighter.

Of course we already have fire all over the place and our hands are full. One will think that with a population of 140 million, we can busily engage our too many idle politicians and civil servants. Oh, they are doing their best destroying slums springing up around Abuja . We understand why we have slums around major cities around the world. These slums and Nyanya labor camp should also be called service centers, without which the major cities may not survive. That is where all the cheap laborers come from.

The cost of reaching the affluent areas if the laborers have to move far away to their jobs will eat all their pay. These are not wealthy suburban driving to the cities or taking luxury buses or go-trains. Even the wealthy ones are now groaning under the cost of traveling or the amount of petrol to fill their cars and generators.

There is something more dangerous about Abuja though; the slums surrounding it are occupied not only by other Nigerians but by Gbagyi, Bassa, Gade, Gwadara, Ganagana, Koro and Beriberi owners of the center. The amount of money sunk into Abuja , the billions of naira and dollars flowing in the City of milk and honey have not spread to these slums. That is what Nigerians call suffer-head in the midst of plenty.

Here we are asking the Government to divert more additional oil money to rebuild Niger Delta, this bobo is preaching for dormant slum militants around Abuja . Chinekeme!

A fool and his money will part if he can't walk and chew gum. How a man manages his family, business, and environment determines how money is used to manage a country. A man on government training all his life, who has stolen all his life, or sucked others dry, will not suddenly become a skilful manager. He will display deliberate indifference.

Where is Ambode from? You will not know until after the election. By then it may have become irrelevant. Tinubu has already won because the debate is no more about his greed and how he conquered success. It is now about Igbo PDP and Yoruba APC in Lagos. The silver lining may be that any Nigerian, like Tinubu, no matter what part of the Country you come from may be appointed and elected over the Lagosians as a civilian Governor. It can only happen in Lagos!

Ndi-Igbo may have to think twice before they vote against Ambose. If it turns out that Ambose, like Jonathan is more related to Igbo than Agbaje, they will have themselves to blame for voting against their own in Lagos. Politicians not astute Oba, would do anything to get votes. In Nigeria ethnicity is a sure bet and a convenience politicians resort to in order to defeat their opponents.

The incident between Igbo leaders and Oba of Lagos is unfortunate. No matter what the motive is, Oba has no business supporting political party or threatening an ethnic group. There are ways to play neutral and not antagonize. Oba Adetona of Ijebu-Ode is a good example of how to play cordial and remain uncommitted. Politicians go and come, Oba is a lifetime appointment. Even Ooni blessed Jonathan. There is no long term benefit for Oba, only short-term advantage.

When it looked like Fashola was going to revolt for his second term, it was the same Oba of Lagos that tried to settle the problem between Fashola and Tinubu. Lagosians were actually mad when it was reported that Tinubu said he installed him as Oba of Lagos and could uninstall him. There is no worse insult from Iragbiji than that. The Omo-onile has never been disputed.

Igbo bragado draws Yoruba reaction of fear. Rivalry among Igbo and Yoruba candidates will only work in favor of Tinubu to entrench his reign of corruption. Lagosians are more worried about domination now. So Lagosians with Yoruba see Tinubu as a savior, stuck in their throat.

A[b]mbose is neither from Ondo nor Lagos. If he is Yoruba, he must have Oriki. He has none unless one is quickly invented for him. If his name has a meaning in Yoruba, it must be from one of Yoruba cousins in the North, East or old Western Region. While we are trying to figure out what it is, Ambode will be already crowned like Tinubu, his mentor. By the time Tinubu became Governor, his high school in Aroloya and his real Iragbigi origin became irrelevant.[/b]

If you do not believe in ethnic sparring, you are a new comer to politics. Otherwise, it does not make sense to get distracted from Tinubu’s avarice and impunity in Lagos during election by a fight between Igbo and Yoruba candidates. The real fact is that many Nigerians are so diverse, they are like our minorities. It is difficult to say one is a pure Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba. Many of us are none of the above but may be willing to be used as a distraction for individual gluttony.

All Tinubu has going for him right now is that he is Yoruba and as long as he is, Yoruba do not care about whether he controls Lagos. Remember that Lagosians are minority in their own State. Even if most of them vote for Agbaje, their votes are not enough. The bottom line is that if Yoruba have to choose between Tinubu’s candidate Ambose, and Igbo preference Agbaje; it is not difficult to figure out who their choice is. What if Ambose turns out to be Igbo or Hausa?

However, after the election and Yoruba find out that Ambose is not even from the West, there will be a loud cry. The cry will be a joke because Tinubu does not care who he anoints as the Governor of Lagos State as long as he can control him to deliver all the resources and income to his pocket. He is always looking for a faithful servant. Some of you may remember that he had denied that Ambose was his candidate at one point when it looked like Lagosians would revolt.

All that is forgotten right now since he can brag with impunity that he crowns him the way he anointed Fashola. Many of you may know that he brought Fashola from nowhere when he knew that this same Agbaje, Obanikoro and other Lagosians were too independent to abide or take his orders. So he groomed Fashola from a law firm to become civil servant as his Chief of Staff. Whenever Fashola veers off course, he calls him to order. The rest is history.

Those of you that know Ambose very well and know where he comes from will be talking later but after the fact. Just like those that know Tinubu comes from Iragbiji never said a word until he became the Governor of Lagos State. By the time his friends and those he grew up with tried to expose him, they had become political foes and most people did not take them serious anymore. Oyinlola, the past Governor of Osun spoke out but after the fact.

Now that Tinubu’s greed is no more the pressing issue for Yoruba in Lagos State but the fear of Igbo candidate. They must remember Osun State. The salaries of civil servants have not been paid but some arears were paid just before their elections. Suddenly all the great initiatives of Governor Aregbesola are no more propagated or implemented by unpaid civil servants. The state is broke, even worse off now than before the election.

Where has all the money gone? Well, Tinubu got paid! Aregbesola has no more money to implement his programs. It must be said in fairness, that Aregbesola is very conscientious and passionate about his State. But no matter how good you are, if you follow bad company as a leader, it will hurt the people you care about. Tinubu does not give one heck of a damn, as long as he gets paid. Just wait until Ambose gets in, Lagos State will even pay more to Tinubu.

But note that when Yoruba create a Frankenstein like Tinubu, you never know when he is coming back to bite you. You may have left your duty for Buhari to tame. Therefore, it does not matter anymore where Ambose comes from. He is a Nigerian. Yoruba may be disappointed that any Nigerian can rule Lagos, not only any Yoruba. After all Lagos is a “No Man’s Land” they say.

The Wind Of Change Must Reach Lagos State

There are many African, European and Americana countries with same population but internal generated revenue less than Lagos State. While many of them are well managed, Nigerians tell us we should be grateful in the land of the blinds where other states in Nigeria are worse than Lagos. Starved African expectation is so low, we celebrate mediocracy and parte each time a road is tied or opened. Each over-inflated contract that produces even a clinic generates ariya.

Those celebrating the victory of APC in the Presidential Election may celebrate something else if the PDP gubernatorial candidate, Jimi Agbaje is elected the new Governor of Lagos State. Well, some people are so drunk in victory they refuse to pay close attention to the number of people that voted for PDP in the same Lagos State. The numbers are too close for your comfort.

The only reason ACN has been able to get away with so much looting in Lagos State is because of Yoruba complacency with Tinubu and his accomplice Fashola. After all they claimed, Tinubu is Yoruba and he has used the money to build a political machine that fought the PDP to standstill in terms of the number of seats won and changing the pinnacle of power. Many even went further, that Tinubu deserves to be praised for his political ingenuity, not vilified.

While this reason is good enough for many Yoruba, it is short sighted. We are saying the means is irrelevant. It is the end that justifies the means. Yoruba has its own bad boy and nobody has been able to defeat the adversaries but Tinubu. So Yoruba send fire to quench fire before fire destroys us all. Again Yoruba history has never vindicated a vagabond in power. Each time Yoruba relies on a vagabond, it come back to bite us.

Alimi is a case in point. Yoruba lost not only Ilorin but today’s Kongi and Kwara. During the War, we almost lost Ore but the images and history of Ilorin haunted us. Most young men around Ondo Province willingly volunteered into the Army and we were able to hold on to Ore until reinforcement came. People volunteered their bicycles (not Ejoor cigarette) motor bikes, buses and lorries to get to Ore. At the same time Igbo students, men and women were well hidden from Federal Troops.

What has this got to do with Tinubu in Lagos? Yoruba are willing to spill their blood to protect their interest in the face of adversity, but not willing to sacrifice it all for one selfish interest. The legacies of avarice or a rat that eats your toes while blowing wind to sooth you, never has a good ending. The amount of money wasted in Lagos can lift the whole Yoruba and neighbors out of bondage at home and abroad. More money is stolen abroad than we get in foreign aids.

We have to be careful here. Coalition with Buhari or even the North was overdue. Coalition with our Igbo close relatives has always been disappointing. So much so, many Igbo realized it and faulted their leaders for not working with Awolowo. Igbo and Yoruba will always get back, no matter what. We cannot do without one another. Indeed, Hausa Igbo, Yoruba and the so called minorities need one another for Nigeria to move forward. Forward we must, back never!

In support of Tinubu, we can even make another point. Chief S. L. Akintola wanted this alliance a long time ago but he went about it in a different way. He did not take enough Yoruba with him. Those Yoruba that turned against him then, are celebrating the alliance of Buhari with Tinubu today.

There is a big difference here though. Akintola had a philosophical difference with Awolowo. On the other hand Tinubu has a greedy and voracious appetite for fortune.

Tinubu will not stop until he installs all his kin in power. He does not know better, he thinks he can take it all to his grave. While most Yoruba leaders fight for their legacies, Tinubu fights for money and immunity.

He has committed Lagos into foreign contract almost for life in the Atlantic Ocean. The service and operation of that project will continue to come from foreign countries after he is gone unless the Election change going on in our Country reaches Lagos.

Fashola has been one big disappointment. His supporters, including this writer at one point, claimed he would reject Tinubu in the second term. Whatever it is, he is in money and he has decided that if he cannot beat them, he would join them. He has become minority shareholder in Tinubu’s projects. The way it is, they own most of Lagos and those that own the rest will continue to pay taxes to these two even to their children after they are gone.

This is where Buhari comes in. This writer thinks he has learned his lessons. The fanatic in him is gone because everyone except a fool now realizes that religion has been used as tool for power and oppression. The silver lining of Boko Haram, if there is any, is that those that supported them have been brutally killed, maimed and children recklessly deflowered. They have turned their staunchest supporters into enemies. This is why Buhari now wants a secular State.

Corruption is what we voted against. There is no way Tinubu’s avarice can be compatible with Buhari vision. Tinubu must sleep with one eye open or better still with both eyes open. Sooner than later, Buhari will go after him unless he surrenders as much as they can get from him. We have dire needs in Nigeria and even in Africa. Lagos can go back and continue to be a paradise in Africa where Igbo, Hausa and other Africans can come and make it instead of crossing desert.

The amount of opportunity cost lost in Africa by wastage, greed and mismanagement of a few in Lagos can never be realized until Election change comes to Lagos State. If progress is generated in Lagos, it will catch on in Nigeria and Africa. There was a reason for so much hope for Nigeria after Independence that we were going to become a regional power. How has the giant of Africa lost and replaced by the greed and corruption of a few?

Source: Farouk Martins Aresa
Story from The Nigerian Voice News:
http://www.thenigerianvoice.com/news/174634/1/the-wind-of-change-must-reach-lagos-state.html

Published: Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Evil Characters Use Religion And Politics As Terrorism

Africa remains the only Continent that officially recognizes foreign religions and sponsors holy lands outside Africa officially at the expense of its own. As if God and holy place never existed in Africa, foreign terrorists designated their tumultuous cities as such. No place suffers more from religious terrorists for centuries. Yet, inferiority complex will not let Africans shed the yoke.

Professor Obama provoked another debate about jihad and crusade recently making those of us wrapped in religion uncomfortable. Interestingly the discomfort was not limited to Christians and Muslims. Hindu and Buddhists also protested. The Professor was chastised for bringing up Crusade that happened hundreds of years ago, compared to the Jihad terrorists right now.

If Nigerian or Arab leader condemns a religion regardless of states or people, they would deny the state the most needed boots. Egypt seeks Nigeria’s cooperation against Muslim terrorists. They claimed Obama refused to condemn and declare war against Muslim religion as extreme religious terrorists or by any other name they want him to use. It is then and only then can the Christians defeat Muslim extremists. They want another Crusade v. Jihad war.

It never occurred to them that those needed in the fore front as boots on the ground are also Muslims. Ancient atrocities came in the name of religions and civilization. Empires that were earlier than those of Europe and Asia were looted and destroyed by Arabs and Europeans in the name of religions. African names were changed because they were devil’s name to English and Arabic names. When they were told that Chukwu means God, they said no, it was devil’s name. So they gave us Godson as a new name we must answer.

The missionaries were the first to come converting natives from evil worshippers to religions of mass destruction. Then came the traders and the merchants followed by the administrators of governments. The history of religion, especially Christians and Muslims in Africa have plunged the Continent into darkness from which it has not recovered. Slaves were blessed on their way out after they were sold by their own chiefs for pittance. Gold were exchanged for mirrors.

Nobody in his right mind would justify the acts of jihadists that use the name of religion to kill and maim their own people in order to impose sharia on them. These same sharia laws do not apply to their lascivious way of life. Indeed, some of their hostages never see them praying or with Koran. But we spotted an expensive Rolex watch on the wrist of their leader of ISIL. When some folks of faith pray, morning, noon and night, we wonder how much sin they committed.

The similarity between conservative Christians and Muslims is displayed by their intolerance for opposite view. They are the only ones that know the right way to God and how to get to heaven. Revolt against Catholic Church and persecution of the Protestants must not be duplicated by any religious sect in the name of jihad or crusade. Victims of today or yesterday are the ones that know how it feels.

Man is naturally born aware of good and evil. Whenever a wrongful act is displayed, even a child displays a sense of guilt if corrected. Evil deeds become a weapon when used to dominate others and make them subservient to the wishes and caprices of the oppressors. Religion and politics are convenient tools used to suppress and justify guilt. As nobody wants to be subjected to the same cruelty perpetrated on others, oppressors justify evil on oppressed as less than self.

Women seeking abortions are still in fear of those killing doctors in the name of religion. Late Dr. Morgentaler of Canada, Dachau concentration camp and Łódź Ghetto survival fought Christians in courts and on the streets for safe medical abortion. Christians sprayed Abortion clinics with blood and hunted doctors like animals. We forget that cross burning is used today to intimidate groups of people because of their skins color or were Protestants, Anarchists and Communists.

These evil acts are too uncomfortable to discuss by the same people claiming to be so righteous in the day only to dawn their Ku Klux Klan robes at night hanging humans on the cross. They do not want to be compared or put on the same level as the jihadists and crusaders. They should allow their victims to speak for themselves, in case they know the difference between the lives taken, abused or destroyed by people that have acquired killer instincts in the name of religion.

There is no place this Christian insensitivity was more displayed than during the police shooting of black men and boys in United States. Police want to tell their Mayor what to tell his son that happens to be black when he encounters police on the street. The same advise black fathers have been giving their sons, that had been repeated by the four stars General Colin Powell and the President of United States. No, it is the police that shoot that know better than the victims.

In some years and decades, there will be those telling us it was in the past. No need to bring it up again. But we cannot blame them. There were Christian talking heads on televisions telling and interpreting what we saw with our own eyes, as long as it corroborated with the statement of the shooter and the witness that claimed victim was charging at the police like a bull. After all, they were educated Christians talking forensic science and law used to confused biased jury.

Even some left wing liberals did not like the way the professorial President used crusade; falling for the same argument as the conservatives. The fact is conservatives will find faults no matter how President Obama puts it. The most charitable they can say is, they agree with what he said but it was the way he said it. There has never been a right way for them. All they needed was a sentence they could pick, blew it up and made it a scandal for the public.

Too often in the history of the world, the oppressed have been told their reward is in heaven, not in this evil world. It is in the same world where the evil is perpetrated by the most trusted, where rewards for the rich and oppressors are collected. Bob Jones University, Bible College in Greenville, South Carolina only recently allowed black and white students to date. A Reminder that looking at a white woman is forbidden but white men had liberty to black women.

No Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist or Ogun worshippers have monopoly on good people. We have them in all religions, just as we have a few but malignant people everywhere.


http://www.thenigerianvoice.com/news/171344/1/evil-characters-use-religion-and-politics-as-terro.html

Published: Thursday, February 26, 2015

It has not been too long ago when Motor Park touts and thugs were weeded out of the Nigerian Police Force by OBJ administration. Some of them were missed and one made it to the top.

Corruption increased and any semblance of sanity by campaign against looting decreased. We redefined stealing and corruption. They claim there was a difference between stealing and corruption. Whichever is which, many of us got confused as our looters were given breathing space. Every powerful member of congress entrenched justifications for official and legalized looting. Their salaries kept going up in spite of criticism and opposition from the masses

President Jonathan does not have anything to do with the salary of the Congress. Indeed, as an Ijaw man, he has the right to steal Nigeria blind as long as he is not stealing from cocoa, coal or groundnut funds; some Nigerians claimed. The problem with oil money is that if you dip a finger into it, other fingers are soiled. Other Nigerians kicked and cried that they are not getting their share even when they do not produce oil from their backyard.

What a difference six years makes? If these reports about the contributions are true, no Igbo man would send good money after bad omen. Ndi-Igbo investment is backed by sound policy. But it is not the Igbo money alone.