₦airaland Forum

Keep giving yourselves hope!
You interviewed a few people in just one location of Kano and formed your opinion on that! Continue, Saturday is around the corner!

mercenary:
And God will continue to punish them and their families will never get any leader better than Buhari

Amen!

MORNDEW:
No. I only wonder where you get your rumors from, of how he used ptdf funds to train his children. That's Alaba market rants.

Demystification of President Muhammadu Buhari (3)
ON April 15, 2018 12:04 AM / IN
Perspective From Both Side Of The Atlantic / Comments
By Douglas Anele
The question that arises now is: how did retired Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari manage the Petroleum (Special) Trust Fund (PTF)? A detailed analysis published in Newswatch magazine of March 24, 2000, reveals sordid information about how the fund was allegedly systematically mismanaged.
Aside from the fact that an estimated 75% of PTF projects were cited in the north, its achievements were overshadowed by massive waste and corruption.
Remember, the total income that accrued to the fund in its five years of existence was over N146 billion, meant for special intervention in basic infrastructure, supply of essential materials and rehabilitation of health and educational facilities, among others.
The first blunder Buhari committed as the executive chairman of PTF was his unilateral appointment of a private firm, Afri-Projects Consortium (APC), as the sole adviser and management consultant to the fund.
Buhari
The investigative Interim Management Committee (IMC-PTF) set up by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, headed by Haroun Adamu, discovered that not only did Buhari delegate most of his powers to the APC, it also confirmed that the consortium overcharged the fund for its services to the tune of N2 billion. One of the critical areas of intervention in the health sector handled by the company was PTF’s programme for the control and eradication of HIV/AIDS, where it allegedly imported sub-standard, poorly packaged, poorly stored, expired or soon to expire treatment kits and drugs.
Indeed, because of APC’s unprofessional handling of the programme, the federal government spent over N500 million to stock big silos of useless drugs and kits purchased at inflated prices. At the time, late governor Abubakar Audu of Kogi state, Dr. Rowland Ogbonna, secretary of the Nigerian Guild of Medical Directors, and Omololu Falabi, coordinator of Journalists Against Aids (JAAIDS), insisted that unless all PTF supplied drugs were withdrawn Nigerians are at a high risk of consuming expired and fake drugs.
Other cases of mismanagement of public funds include the purchase of large quantities of spectacle frames sold N800 each locally for N1,900, resulting in government paying N45 million extra, and ambulances that normally costs N3 million per unit were purchased at the grossly inflated price of N13 million, leading to a loss of N900 million. In all the areas that PTF was expected to carry out its interventionist mandate, Obasanjo’s interim committee concluded that there had been massive fraud or criminal mismanagement of funds belonging to the PTF.
Indeed, Haroun Adamu reportedly complained that before his committee began its assignment, N500 million belonging to the fund and lodged in a bank had been withdrawn by unidentified persons. Overall, of the N146 billion PTF received from government, the staggering sum of N25 billion was either stolen or improperly spent on dubious goods and services.
Of course, APC denied any wrongdoing: the company issued a statement in which it claimed that its members were people of impeccable character who had undertaken several national and international assignments during and after the PTF years. Similarly, Buhari, when confronted with allegations of mismanagement of PTF’s funds, affirmed that he was unaware of it and as such could not have benefited personally from what happened.
But does his denial hold water? Assuming that he did not benefit from the corruption, was he so insular or alienated from what was going on in PTF that he had no idea about corruption there? In any case, as we noted earlier, he approved the appointment of APC and delegated virtually all his executive powers to the consortium. Moreover, it is alleged that Buhari himself ratified all recommended payments from the fund.
Therefore, because the buck stopped at his table, Muhammadu Buhari cannot be completely exonerated from the mismanagement in PTF if the findings of the interim committee reflected the true situation.
Now, what happened to the final report of the committee? If the report contained details of gross mismanagement and corruption as reported in the media, why was Buhari not invited to give account of his stewardship? If Obasanjo was really sincere in setting up the investigative winding down committee, if he really wanted to know the truth about how PTF was managed and punish anyone found guilty of improper conduct, why was he eager to exonerate Buhari completely from blame?
The answer to the last question is: Muhammadu Buhari is one of the so-called sacred cows or untouchables alongside other former military heads of state who appear to be above the law. Besides, putting him in the hot seat might unearth facts that could tarnish his reputation for integrity and incorruptibility.
Those that voted for Buhari on the conviction that he would improve the economy were hoodwinked by the persistent narrative of integrity and incorruptibility from Buharimaniacs: they did not reckon with his track record both as a military head of state and executive chairman PTF to arrive at a more realistic and rational estimate of what he can achieve in that critical area of our national life. Moreover, Buhari seems averse to accepting responsibility especially when things go wrong under his watch.
According to President Buhari and his lieutenants the immediate past government left the economy in shambles, but now, owing to diligent management the economic outlook is “looking up.” They cite increase in foreign reserves from $24 billion in 2016 to $34 billion in 2017, rise in crude oil production to about 2 million barrels a day, World Bank’s “Ease of Doing Business Report” of 2017 which showed that Nigeria had progressed 24 places to 145th, improvement in rice production and modest gains of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) launched by the administration to ensure continuous improvement of the economy.
Now, juxtapose these claims with the situation before May 29, 2015: after being rebased by the Jonathan administration, Nigeria’s economy was adjudged the largest in Africa and 24th in the world. According to “CNN Money”, a flagship economic, financial and monetary analysis programme of the Cable News Network (CNN), Nigeria’s economy was the third fastest growing economy in the world, bettered only by China and Qatar, whereas the British government claimed it was the fourth.
A World Bank Investment Report prepared by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) projected Nigeria as the number one destination for foreign direct investment in Africa. Added to all this are about $30 billion in foreign reserves, $5.6 billion dividends from Nigeria Liquefied Gas Co. Ltd, and a budget of over N4 trillion inherited from the outgone Jonathan government by the incoming Buhari administration. It should also be pointed out that when APC took over power, the official pump price of fuel was N87 per litre, the exchange rate was N199 to one $1, while data from the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics put inflation rate at a single digit.
The foregoing seems to contradict claims by Buhari and his party stalwarts that Nigeria’s economy had virtually collapsed by the time he took over. In fact, in some areas the economy seems to be getting worse now. For example, the Nigerian sank into recession in 2016. That same year, according to information from Bloomberg L.P., a privately owned software, data and media company headquartered in Midtown Manhattan, New York, the naira was the fourth worst performing currency in the world, having lost more than one hundred percent of its value in 2014.
Current estimates of job losses since APC came to power range from 3 to 7 million, mostly due to retrenchment of workers and closure of thousands of manufacturing firms and other enterprises in the real sector. Perhaps President Muhammadu Buhari and his team are trying their best to improve the economy. However, there is no clear evidence that their policies are working.
The welfare of ordinary Nigerians has not improved significantly in the last three years, which leads me to the question: if the improvement Lai Mohammed and others are talking about is real, why are more and more experiencing increasing hardship than they did before June 2015? Certainly, the President and his lieutenants are not listening to the masses, the voiceless millions who are weighed down by double digit inflation, worsening insecurity and the psychological trauma of failed hope on the President as the messiah.
Objectively considered, the economic policies of this government are inappropriate for our current circumstances, a fact reiterated by an ardent supporter of the President, Dr. Dele Sobowale, and Bill Gates, one of the richest men in the world. Millions of ordinary Nigerians feel alienated economically from the government because they are becoming poorer, hungrier, more insecure, destitute and disillusioned about the future.
I, like others bearing the burdens of incompetent leadership, trying so hard to eke out a living with low income worsened by the depreciating value of the naira, do not need an expert to inform us that our economic fortunes in the last three years have nose-dived such that “changing the change” is increasingly becoming an attractive proposition.
NWAFOR POLYCARP
View All Posts By Nwafor Polycarp
→Demystification of President Muhammadu Buhari (3)
ON April 15, 2018 12:04 AM / IN
Perspective From Both Side Of The Atlantic / Comments
By Douglas Anele
The question that arises now is: how did retired Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari manage the Petroleum (Special) Trust Fund (PTF)? A detailed analysis published in Newswatch magazine of March 24, 2000, reveals sordid information about how the fund was allegedly systematically mismanaged.
Aside from the fact that an estimated 75% of PTF projects were cited in the north, its achievements were overshadowed by massive waste and corruption.
Remember, the total income that accrued to the fund in its five years of existence was over N146 billion, meant for special intervention in basic infrastructure, supply of essential materials and rehabilitation of health and educational facilities, among others.
The first blunder Buhari committed as the executive chairman of PTF was his unilateral appointment of a private firm, Afri-Projects Consortium (APC), as the sole adviser and management consultant to the fund.
Buhari
The investigative Interim Management Committee (IMC-PTF) set up by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, headed by Haroun Adamu, discovered that not only did Buhari delegate most of his powers to the APC, it also confirmed that the consortium overcharged the fund for its services to the tune of N2 billion. One of the critical areas of intervention in the health sector handled by the company was PTF’s programme for the control and eradication of HIV/AIDS, where it allegedly imported sub-standard, poorly packaged, poorly stored, expired or soon to expire treatment kits and drugs.
Indeed, because of APC’s unprofessional handling of the programme, the federal government spent over N500 million to stock big silos of useless drugs and kits purchased at inflated prices. At the time, late governor Abubakar Audu of Kogi state, Dr. Rowland Ogbonna, secretary of the Nigerian Guild of Medical Directors, and Omololu Falabi, coordinator of Journalists Against Aids (JAAIDS), insisted that unless all PTF supplied drugs were withdrawn Nigerians are at a high risk of consuming expired and fake drugs.
Other cases of mismanagement of public funds include the purchase of large quantities of spectacle frames sold N800 each locally for N1,900, resulting in government paying N45 million extra, and ambulances that normally costs N3 million per unit were purchased at the grossly inflated price of N13 million, leading to a loss of N900 million. In all the areas that PTF was expected to carry out its interventionist mandate, Obasanjo’s interim committee concluded that there had been massive fraud or criminal mismanagement of funds belonging to the PTF.
Indeed, Haroun Adamu reportedly complained that before his committee began its assignment, N500 million belonging to the fund and lodged in a bank had been withdrawn by unidentified persons. Overall, of the N146 billion PTF received from government, the staggering sum of N25 billion was either stolen or improperly spent on dubious goods and services.
Of course, APC denied any wrongdoing: the company issued a statement in which it claimed that its members were people of impeccable character who had undertaken several national and international assignments during and after the PTF years. Similarly, Buhari, when confronted with allegations of mismanagement of PTF’s funds, affirmed that he was unaware of it and as such could not have benefited personally from what happened.
But does his denial hold water? Assuming that he did not benefit from the corruption, was he so insular or alienated from what was going on in PTF that he had no idea about corruption there? In any case, as we noted earlier, he approved the appointment of APC and delegated virtually all his executive powers to the consortium. Moreover, it is alleged that Buhari himself ratified all recommended payments from the fund.
Therefore, because the buck stopped at his table, Muhammadu Buhari cannot be completely exonerated from the mismanagement in PTF if the findings of the interim committee reflected the true situation.
Now, what happened to the final report of the committee? If the report contained details of gross mismanagement and corruption as reported in the media, why was Buhari not invited to give account of his stewardship? If Obasanjo was really sincere in setting up the investigative winding down committee, if he really wanted to know the truth about how PTF was managed and punish anyone found guilty of improper conduct, why was he eager to exonerate Buhari completely from blame?
The answer to the last question is: Muhammadu Buhari is one of the so-called sacred cows or untouchables alongside other former military heads of state who appear to be above the law. Besides, putting him in the hot seat might unearth facts that could tarnish his reputation for integrity and incorruptibility.
Those that voted for Buhari on the conviction that he would improve the economy were hoodwinked by the persistent narrative of integrity and incorruptibility from Buharimaniacs: they did not reckon with his track record both as a military head of state and executive chairman PTF to arrive at a more realistic and rational estimate of what he can achieve in that critical area of our national life. Moreover, Buhari seems averse to accepting responsibility especially when things go wrong under his watch.
According to President Buhari and his lieutenants the immediate past government left the economy in shambles, but now, owing to diligent management the economic outlook is “looking up.” They cite increase in foreign reserves from $24 billion in 2016 to $34 billion in 2017, rise in crude oil production to about 2 million barrels a day, World Bank’s “Ease of Doing Business Report” of 2017 which showed that Nigeria had progressed 24 places to 145th, improvement in rice production and modest gains of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) launched by the administration to ensure continuous improvement of the economy.
Now, juxtapose these claims with the situation before May 29, 2015: after being rebased by the Jonathan administration, Nigeria’s economy was adjudged the largest in Africa and 24th in the world. According to “CNN Money”, a flagship economic, financial and monetary analysis programme of the Cable News Network (CNN), Nigeria’s economy was the third fastest growing economy in the world, bettered only by China and Qatar, whereas the British government claimed it was the fourth.
A World Bank Investment Report prepared by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) projected Nigeria as the number one destination for foreign direct investment in Africa. Added to all this are about $30 billion in foreign reserves, $5.6 billion dividends from Nigeria Liquefied Gas Co. Ltd, and a budget of over N4 trillion inherited from the outgone Jonathan government by the incoming Buhari administration. It should also be pointed out that when APC took over power, the official pump price of fuel was N87 per litre, the exchange rate was N199 to one $1, while data from the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics put inflation rate at a single digit.
The foregoing seems to contradict claims by Buhari and his party stalwarts that Nigeria’s economy had virtually collapsed by the time he took over. In fact, in some areas the economy seems to be getting worse now. For example, the Nigerian sank into recession in 2016. That same year, according to information from Bloomberg L.P., a privately owned software, data and media company headquartered in Midtown Manhattan, New York, the naira was the fourth worst performing currency in the world, having lost more than one hundred percent of its value in 2014.
Current estimates of job losses since APC came to power range from 3 to 7 million, mostly due to retrenchment of workers and closure of thousands of manufacturing firms and other enterprises in the real sector. Perhaps President Muhammadu Buhari and his team are trying their best to improve the economy. However, there is no clear evidence that their policies are working.
The welfare of ordinary Nigerians has not improved significantly in the last three years, which leads me to the question: if the improvement Lai Mohammed and others are talking about is real, why are more and more experiencing increasing hardship than they did before June 2015? Certainly, the President and his lieutenants are not listening to the masses, the voiceless millions who are weighed down by double digit inflation, worsening insecurity and the psychological trauma of failed hope on the President as the messiah.
Objectively considered, the economic policies of this government are inappropriate for our current circumstances, a fact reiterated by an ardent supporter of the President, Dr. Dele Sobowale, and Bill Gates, one of the richest men in the world. Millions of ordinary Nigerians feel alienated economically from the government because they are becoming poorer, hungrier, more insecure, destitute and disillusioned about the future.
I, like others bearing the burdens of incompetent leadership, trying so hard to eke out a living with low income worsened by the depreciating value of the naira, do not need an expert to inform us that our economic fortunes in the last three years have nose-dived such that “changing the change” is increasingly becoming an attractive proposition.

Source: vanguard

They are just after their selfish political gains, that is why they all turned blind eyes to the incompetencies of Buhari's government.

MORNDEW:
We are not talking about Tinubu here are we? Can you defend the statement that Buhari trained his children abroad with ptdf loot? I once warned you of throwing words around and Alaba market rants. This is one of them. That being said, One doesn't need to be corrupt or go about with corrupt tendencies so they can employ people. That mentality only thrive in Nigeria and even more honored in a particular section of the country. A man meant so well he bought national assets through proxy? Has confessed to enrich his friends from government proceeds and even give amnesty to looters once he becomes president. Is that the character of one who means well for a country? A man who has been there before and could point to nothing as achievement or advancement of this nation, is it who you want to get to the seat of power? To do what exactly that he never did?
Some of you should stop glorifying corruption and corrupt tendencies.

You believe I can't defend Buhari's PTDF looting but you can defend the allegations against Atiku

Clerverly:
[s][/s]

Buhari can't win the election in Biafran Republic, I agree!

I like the way you people are giving yourselves hope! It'll help make Buhari's inevitable loss more heartbreaking to you all.

So, I ask again, what changed

They didn't accuse him of theft that time. They made use of his funds and properties for campaign. He was not corrupt then!


But now that Nigerians want Atiku as president, they have ganged up against him! They have taken to various news media with propaganda to tarnish his image!

APC zombies! What changed Tell us!

puzzlegate:
something that happened in 2012. Some people dont check what the read before they comment. This was 2012 post used today by apc liars.

Can you imagine that!

And it is on front page!

Bye bye to him. Another "Atikulated" person should take over. No time!

smalls001:
"We are not kids that you can easily deceive!" My guy....You have already been deceived big time.

I'm not deceived, I know the truth and that is what I stand by!

You can't be calling someone a thief when the person has not been convicted by a court of law. The same person you lots refer to as thief today was your darling in 2015!

smalls001:
Actually, you just expressed yourself like a kid.

You are the kid here!

smalls001:
Are you asking for proof......It's staring right at you........smh

If you refer to Atiku as thief, what would you call Tinubu Barawo kwo??
Even Buhari looted this country more but you folks refuse to see it! He successfully deceived you into believing that he's a saint yet all his children were trained abroad with his PTF loots.
Atiku is even touching the lives of ordinary Nigerians more than Buhari but you people refuse to see all his efforts because you have been brainwashed to hate!
How many people are on the employ of Buhari in private capacity compared to Atiku How many people is Buhari sponsoring in school compared to Atiku
Stop spreading falsehood against a man that means so well for this country! We are not kids that you can easily deceive!

[quote author=smalls001 post=75898911]Are yo]If you refer to Atiku as thief, what would you call Tinubu Barawo kwo??

Even Buhari looted this country more but you folks refuse to see it! He successfully deceived you into believing that he's a saint yet all his children were trained abroad with his PTF loots.

Atiku is even touching the lives of ordinary Nigerians more than Buhari but you people refuse to see all his efforts because you have been brainwashed to hate!
How many people are on the employ of Buhari in private capacity compared to Atiku How many people is Buhari sponsoring in school compared to Atiku

Stop spreading falsehood against a man that means so well for this country! We are not kids that you can easily deceive!

MORNDEW:
If you are sincere about changing this government and not some propaganda hypocrisy, then you should be rooting for Sowore or Moghalu not an internationally acclaimed thief who was there and contributed to the problems we face today as a nation.

If you refer to Atiku as thief, what would you call Tinubu Barawo kwo??

Even Buhari looted this country more but you folks refuse to see it! He successfully deceived you into believing that he's a saint yet all his children were trained abroad with his PTF loots.

Atiku is even touching the lives of ordinary Nigerians more than Buhari but you people refuse to see all his efforts because you have been brainwashed to hate!
How many people are on the employ of Buhari in private capacity compared to Atiku How many people is Buhari sponsoring in school compared to Atiku

Stop spreading falsehood against a man that means so well for this country! We are not kids that you can deceive!

smalls001:
A confirmed thief....

Bring your proof or forever remain silent!

yemmight:
Country must have been divided by then.

Divided by who

That's our incoming president insha Allah

Play your cards well

Many of the people supporting Buhari are doing so not because they are unaware of his obvious failure in governance but because of the prospect of power rotation to their region should Buhari becomes incapacitated or dies(God forbid).

This election presents an opportunity for the north to sub Buhari now and let Atiku continue. The wisest thing for the north to do now is to replace Buhari with Atiku now that they have the chance.

I'm not wishing Anybody bad but I foresee a power shift out of the north very soon should Buhari be reelected!

A word is enough for the wise!!!!!!!

Use your heads!

Buhari's government is more corrupt than any other government of the present dispensation.

Ask Yusuf of NHIS, Maina and the others!

Tell them ooo

Vote wisely!
Atiku is a better choice for all of us!

Northerners! Beware!

Most of the people supporting Buhari are doing so because of the prospect of power rotation to their region should Buhari becomes incapacitated or dies (God forbid).
This election presents an opportunity for the north to sub Buhari NOW and let Atiku continue to avoid a repeat of Yar'adua/Jonathan incident.
Open your eyes and play your cards right NOW.

A word is enough for the wise!!!!

Anybody voting for Buhari again has no conscience!

Just because of the prospect of returning power to your region if Buhari dies or becomes incapacitated, you want to reinforce his failure with your vote

Una no go succeed!!!

Ifynoble100:
This is the forecast go and stake your life.

INEC cancelled the election few hours to start, so what are you saying Or don't you understand the write up?

May his soul rest in peace

Northerners! Open your eyes!

Lovemaester:
so in your childish, immature and illiterate mind buhari is more incompetent than gej

Stop comparing light and darkness!


GEJ has a functioning brain which Buhari lacks

dhuthraki:
She is not wrong. Prof. Okechukwu Ibeanu actually wrote a book on restoration of Biafra. For someone who doesn't believe in this country, should not hold a sensitive position.

Nothing concerns the so called Biafra with Nigerian elections!

People in public offices should desist from making such divisive comments for crying out loud! This is how they instigate hatred among Nigerians.