₦airaland Forum

"No Currupt person will ever rule Nigeria again" is fast becoming a cliche`, albeit a welcome one. OBJ failed in his 3rd term bid because this folks were all afraid he'll turn on them quickly if given a new mandate. They could already see the writing on the wall. But he still got more than 7 months to execute the same Agenda.

I'm happy this is happening. If OBJ succeeds with this, he would have dealt a decisive blow to the bastards (Atiku, OBJ and co) in our midst. It will be the catalyst required to ensure stability of our nation, through improved welfare of the masses,

Aluta Continua

This article came straight out of the ACD/AD propaganda machine,

Atiku should answer the allegations against him and stop sponsoring articles that don't add up. Soon as he is impeached and bared from contesting in 2007, let him bring out all the genuine allegations against OBJ. The sooner we got some credible people in goverment, the better - Ditto Soludo, Ribadu, Akinluyi, El Rufai etc,

Any action that ensures Atiku does not become President come 2007 gets my full support. If that means OBJ being impeached or resigning alongside Atiku anytime before the election, that may not be such a bad thing. Atiku is major bad news and seeks office only for the trappings associated with it. This much I'm 100% certain off.

OBJ will soon represent the Nigerian past, it's the future that's the issue, and Inshah Allah, Atiku, IBB and co-journeymen will have no part to play therein.

Atiku is looter per excellence, this fat neck plunderer from Adamawa state deserves nothing but the gallows, Big up to my brothers and sisters in the house who can see past his manipulation and grandstanding, may he soon run out of arrows in his quiver.

I hear TransCorp will be listed soon on the NSE in a matter of weeks, I'm considering buying some shares once listed before the IPO, Anyone know how much it'll be listed for?

OBJ does not want the elections to fail, he just doesn't want IBB, Atiku and the league of extraordinary plunderers to suceed him, what's wrong with that? And if he is now doing it because 3rd term failed, so what? The president has an obligation to protect our backward (yes backward) and highly gullible masses from hurricane Atiku, IBB and Audu Ogbeh. OBJ has been in consonance with these devils, so he is in the best position to thwart their wicked and dark ambitions.

Now Atiku is forming Aliances with every tom dick harry and the devil in his desperate bid to become President!! He will not full me. Rather than a men like this steal the mandate of the people, he should be 'taken out'. Pronto.

Atiku is a fraud and a thief. Interestingly, OBJ is seeing to it that himself, IBB, Atiku and the likes of them will have no part to play in future of Nigeria, besides cleaning the cells of Kirikiri. OBJ should be assured that this is the best legacy he can leave behind.

Interesting question, I have a counter question for you,

Why was the Nigerian police force so "Paranoid" that they had to eliminate a "law abiding" citizen "Lawrence Anini" many years ago, ?

Why is the force so paranoid that they are "returning fire-for-fire" against the armed robbers on the streets of Lagos.

The answer to this is the same reason why everyone should do their best to ensure Atiku and IBB rot in HELL!!!

Here we go again, !! Should every argument about important issues be reduced to a North / South issue? A thief is a thief irrespective of where he is from.

But you are correct in saying that OBJ is also guilty. Yes he is.  But Atiku is no saint either, and hopefully, neither of them will come back to rule Nigeria. That's all we ask for.

Wealthy politicians are the ones with the means to shout out, and shout out loud, therefore, haven failed to bribe their way out of trouble, it is no surprise that they resort to this cheap political blackmail. What is really, really, really sad though, is that people buy into this nonsence hook, line and sinker, Shame.

I dare say that in Nigeria, mindset is as backward as it gets in Africa, people are dead easy to manipulate, and join issues in subjects they know zit about, The first step in national re-orientation is to re-educate and re-allign peoples minds, so that it becomes harder for the likes of Atiku, ACD, PDP to manipulate the people. As long as our mindset remain the same, take it from me, Nigeria will NEVER, NEVER, NEVER change, because we'll always end up with the loudest, most dubious and most manipulative, rather than the best.

Had Tafa not been arested and prosecuted, he'd probarbly have had 200 chieftaincy titles to his name by now,

We need to start supporting change and stop ascribing political arguments to genuine efforts and yearning for change by a very small minority in our midst,

Inshah Allah, Atiku and IBB will rot in yell for their crimes against humanity, you don't have to commit genocide to be guilty of crimes against mankind, the results of their theft and manipulation is just as bad. But people like these fail to learn from history, may the long arm of natural law deal them both a severe and fatal blow,

They should send this fat neck glutton from Adamawa to Kirikiri. He owes me an explanation, as a Nigerian,  what he has to offer my counrty as President. What affront. , I'm willing to play an active role in any campaign against these fellons (IBB, Atiku and the other crooks in the ACD and PDP) that are bent on taking our country back to the dark ages, Maybe I'm a bit more biased about Atiku because I know a bit more about him and his thieving ways,

No doubt that should this greedy reptile become president, all the gains of this administration will dissapear. At least OBJ has a lot of enemies because he is trying to get somethings right, Atiku will try to please everyone like IBB did (does) and the result of attitude like this is well known,

Atiku is a bas***d. What a thieving, looting fat neck. Acting like the presidency is his birthright. Who does he think he is by the way?? How did he get the millions of £ to purchase properties in Finchley, London, Potomac, Maryland and Califonia? How did he acquire oil blocks in E Guinea??

He may be a clever looter, but he is the problem, rather than the solution. Insurbodinate, I may not think much of OBJ, but what gives this dim wit the right to go against the presidency, In a more civilized society, if there was any decency in hime, he'd resign out of principle. There can't be two Presidents. Oh, the office of the VP must be too sweet to let go, this again is a sign of things to come. Let these idiots learn from the principled Mandela.

Let Atiku let the world in on the source of his wealth, maybe that way, he'll gain 10% credibility. I can's stand this man (and IBB). Users, patronizers and big time settlers, Buhari even has more to offer than these loosers,

Inshah Allah, this slowpoke and his new found best friend (IBB) will never, never, never rule nor be relevant in Nigeria and will see the little power they wield dissapear come May 2007!!

Iyke_D,

It's the setup that makes the whole thing look quite impressive, I'll be paying Nigeria a brief visit soon on an unrelated business trip and may drop in @ TransCorp whilst I'm there, I hope I can get to meet Nicholas Okoye, but I hear he is in Abuja most of the time. I was up until recently getting a number of investors together to invest a significant sum and make it worthwhile, I here they'll be listing soon on the Stock Exchange, so may buy then on the floor of the NSE before the IPO (who knows, it may be listed at the same N6 per share as the Private Placement and with enough people willing to sell!!).

Any info you have for me will be much appreciated, where are you based?

@ Nutter, can you please confirm what international Standards you refer too? Are you familiar with rule and regulations concerning corporate / stockexhanges governance? Are you aware of the process involved before she assumed chairmanship of TransCorp, ?

It's obvious you're against TransCorp and anything open, , let's continue to encourage the shady and covert dealings of our looters past and present, , as we continue to demonstrate, a people truely, deserve the leaders they get.

IBB's a fu***** con. How some learned people are posturing for him beats me. His alliance with Atiku is a union of strange bed follows, aimed at their self interest and no more. The goon Atiku released this statement after his meeting with IBB"My good friend (IBB) and I are combining forces to ensure OBJ does not impose his choice of leader on us by disqualifying "CREDIBLE" candidates". He even used the word credible in the same statement as IBB and himself!!!

When will these bastards realise that you cannot full all of the people all of the time? Do they want to meet a violent end rather then take the path of reason? He whom the Gods chooses to destroy he first makes mad. That's what's happening to IBB at the moment. I can predict that this monster will meet a violent end come May 2007 if he doesn't retreat under the dirty rock he's been under.

As for Atiku, I hope OBJ crushes him with the full force of the state, he is an inbecile, second only to IBB in his propensity to 'settle'.

Those talking positively of IBB like he were a messiah are victims of his grand manipulation. Continue to enslave yourselves and remain in the entrapment that is your mindset. Of all the decent souls in our land, Soludu, Akinluyi, Iweala, IBB the master schemer still remains as your number one choice for president.!!

No win situation, he pulls his relatively 'meagre' investment out, it's an issue, he stays, it's an issue. I read this comment today by Ndi Okereke,

"According to her, Transcorp emerged the highest bidder in the four oil blocs it indicated interest, but that Bloc 109, the most proven of the blocs, was later awarded to an Indian investor on ground of Right of First Refusal, which was outside the terms of the bargain
Responding, the committee’s chairman promised to ensure the protection of the interest of Nigerians in transactions made in the country. "

I trust that had this Indian company being openly Nigerian owned, we'd not have heard the last of it. Off course, afterall, Oyinbo are superior to us!! Had TransCorp being sold in the same vein, I trust Nigerians would have been very quiet indeed.

I truely sympatise with TransCorp and all they've had to put up with. It has become a soft and willing target in the war of attrition, for all and sundry, political journeymen and ill -nformed alike.

Sad because the beneficiaries of corporations like this are the young, able and dynamic Nigerian professionals that are already being recruited within and outside the shores of our land, those that can add real value and contribute to growth of TransCorp, Nitel and by extension, Nigeria.

In a society where leaders like Atiku and IBB plunder the treasury through cleverly constituted anonymous fronts, this venture really set out to be as open as possible. OBJ said from day one that he would invest, it was no secret. No one complained then.

On second thought, it's attitude like this that encourages leaders to engage in graft and shady dealings. Dubious owners of these companies hide behind front companies whilst promoting themselves as saints and nationalists.

The likes of TransCorp are truely ahead of our time as they'll always be the subject of speculation and inuendo. Atiku / IBB, more grease to your elbow in your secret ownership of our national assets, ditto, GlobalCom etc,

I look forward to the day when those raising their heads high in Nigerian circles are the upright and hardworking, legitimately successfull and not the 419'ers and 'My father is , ' crowd.

This is slowly happening in Nigeria, and is in itself, a sign that things are changing and an indication of times to come,

I read an interview yesterday where the leader of the labour union - Telecoms and Utilities threw his full weight behind the Nitel deal. He also said something some of us have been saying all along, Had it been an 'oyinbo' company that bought Nitel for half what TransCorp paid, we would all have been mute. We have a true 'slave' mentality!! The current war is against popular opinion because the popular opinion is one steeped in slave mentality, subjugation and oppression. Atiku and the ACD progaganda machine are exploiting this to the fullest to score politically in their endless manipulation of the masses, the wool fell of my eyes a long time ago.

TransCorp was a very open transaction. It needn't have been. Had the players wanted to, they would have acquired even more assets through front companies like the likes of Atiku and IBB have done.

OBJ is an insider and beneficiary of the fraud that Nigeria is. I believe strongly that he is bent on changing the rules of the game, moving away from the status quo. His current activity should ensure that the likes of Atiku, IBB and himself will not rule Nigeria again. This is time for our generation to think out of the box and rise to the challenge and the occassion. OBJ is not the best leader Nigeria can have, neither is Atiku, IBB nor Buhari.

It takes a thief to catch a thief. Should Atiku become president, Nigeria will become an even bigger contract and any gains recorded at the macro - economic level will be wiped out by these desperately greedy misfits.

Donceman,

We all know that TransCorp have become a public whipping dog for the disgruntled and ill-informed, most desperate to score cheap political points. So I'm not surprised at some of the comments here,

Today, we hear the TransCorp head office was raided by the EFCC, I think that's a very good development. Maybe this will go a long way in establishing the true ownership of the corporation and help restore the much deserved credibility of this noble corporation.

TransCorp is not being financed by 'public funds'. It's ownership is a lot more transparent than the likes of GlobalCom which we all celebrate but comfortable with despite it's dubious ownership. OBJ could have easily stayed in the background, completely away from the public view yet be the majority shareholder in TransCorp. This is the way we've come to expect things to be done. Maybe then, there wouldn't have had all this noise!!

Besides, Le Meridien and other hotels / companies have been privatised, it's so interesting how TransCorp Hilton is the only one that draws the attention of our people,

In spite of the insinuations, I'm somewhat positive about this company and believe it will fly, though that may require a number of years during which operationally, the company would have firmed up. But even in the short term, I can't see how those who invested in the PP will loose, I now wish I had invested then.

As Nitel adds considerable value to the group, the IPO could easily be priced above N10, a big increase from the N6 during the Private Placement.

Anyhow, I have to say I'll consider myself a short - medium term investor, which means I'll expect a 20% appreciation in 3 months, otherwise I may have to consider other investment options,

I'm not an OBJ apologist. Neither am I sympathetic to Atiku. They are both birds of same feather, of which Atiku is probarbly worse. A thief is a thief and whatever means is applied in removing Atiku and the likes of him from the picture is welcome.

The issue with Nigeria is mindset, and that goes beyond Atiku, OBJ and IBB. It's only in Nigeria that a thief is rewarded with chieftaincy titles and revered like Atiku, IBB etc are. This is manipulation de'tre, posible because mainstream mindset is steeped in slave experience and a throwback to colonial era.  I challenge Nigerians to think out of the box.

The ongoing battle is a welcome development for which the masses should benefit. If Atiku and all the opportunistic felons in the ACD fail in their attempt to grab Nigeria by the neck, then that will be good.

Putting this in a simplistic form, no one complains whenever the police aprehend armed robbers or 'take them out', even when other prowl the streets, it's always a case of one less villain to worry about.

Victimization or not, let this war on curruption gain momemtun. OBJ himself will sooner or later, face up the crushing impact of the same crusade.

Let's stop making excuses for thieves please.

What I talk about is already public knowledge, known to the EFCC and the presidency. For reasons best known to the authorities, some allegations have been left out. Also, it's often difficult to prove a case of currupt enrichment, even if you're dead certain. I can be living in my fathers house, know full well he owns the house, but be unable to prove it, because ours is a nation of front men and front companies.

The battle between OBJ and Atiku is probarbly a case of dishonour amongst thieves, therefore Atiku does not get my sympathy. As I will not shed tears should a notorious gang leader decides to 'take out' his rival, I will not loose sleep over this issue as the ultimate benefit is to the masses. If Atiku goes down, it's one less thief to worry about. OBJ's day will come. Whatever process takes them out of the picture gets my support.

We need a new dawn in Nigeria, driven by younger, dynamic people, not the master riggers (in ACD and PDP) distorting the political landscape as leaders. Isn't it an irony. Atiku is a billlionaire, do doubt. Even he suggests that in speeches he's made in the past. So can he tell the world where the money came from. That much he owes the country. I was infuriated by his recent story of N31,000 seed money!! At least, with OBJ, his companies are well documented even if there are questions to be answered.

Atiku (Turaki Vanguard, ACD, PDP, AD - soon ANPP I'm told)!! Come on. Doesn't that in itself speak volumes about the man. Leadership requires principle, not the grab and dominate habit of this discondant and greedy number No2. He lacks character.

I just can't imagine Dick Cheney or John Prescot taking on the president in the US or prime minister in the UK, or joining / forming a rival party whilst still being VP. This will not even happen in Ghana or SA. Let him step down in a principled manner and take on the president with the evidence at his disposal. Why do leaders in this country find it so hard to resign out of principle!! We sure need men and women of character. Like Gani said, tAtiku's resignation will go a long way in fostering his credibility.

Right place for investing, I say why not. I'm not really that bothered concerned with the long term. I know the value will go up after the initial listing and I may sell at that point, we'll see.

I can't hold brief for OBJ as I'm not in a position to do so. However, he is a relatively crude and unsophisticated with some traits that leaves a lot to be desired.

But I can say a thing or two about Atiku, because I am aware , but that conversation for another day. Abubakar Atiku is potentially, the most corrupt man to walk our land. The only reason his wealth hasn't surpassed IBB's is because he hasn't been president, and his wings were clipped in his second terms as VP. He is incorageous, extremely greedy and power drunk. You guys talk of OBJ, thank God you don't have an Atiku to grapple with as President, and thank God OBJ is seeing to it he never gets there. One day we'll all discover that he has done us a great favour.

The number of house Atiku owns in choice areas in London is only a tip of the iceberg. He will explain to us one day how he acquired oil blocks in Equitorial Guinea and Nigeria that he has sold on and become dollar billionaire in the process,

Atiku commands more clout in the Nigeria press due to his influence borne out of the same curruption, avarice, patronage and greed that we talk about. Therefore, his image is sufficiently laundered so he appears like a 'victim', Victim my foot!!! The only think he'll be a victim off is his greed and ambition.

God forbid a man like this as President.

I'm keen to invest in TransCorp (I have like N3Million sitting around somewhere) when the IPO starts, any ideas, ? I know Nitel will fly, risk or no risk, and the share price could easily double. I want to be part of this.

Is the private placement still on? Has the shares been listed yet and for how much?

Atiku is curruption personafied. I don't care what y'll say. He is so greedy it's unreal. Forget the third term issue. Atiku's oppostion was simply driven by his own personal ambition for the highest office in the land and not out of love for Nigeria.

This man has stolen way too much to be acking like he is some God's gift to Nigeria. He should be impeached. In civilized societies, you don't stand up to your boss in the manner he has and remain his deputy. He is getting away with murder because it's Nigeria where all that matter are the number of people you've bought over, particularly in the senate. He he has done very well because most of them are like him.

I stopped supporting this barawo when he started open confrontation with the President, yet retaining his possition as VP. What nonsence. He has no principles and nothing will stop him in his drive to power and influence. He is the VP, he is a member of the PDP, he is a leading member of the major oposition, ACD, he is the head of Turaki vanguard, what insatiable nonsence. If he were a little more principled and deciplined, he may have had a bigger following and sypathy in Nigeria. He is no better than OBJ that he criticises (In fact I prefer OBJ by a mile despite his shortcommings)

Atiku will never be president, and I hope he ends up in jail together with the likes of IBB and the thieving many state governors in Nigeria today,

As for OBJ, he will eventually be held to account for time as president.

I don't know what 'Aremu TransCorp' stands for, but we have this habit of confusing and bluring arguments about serious issues like curruption. I don't know what transpired @ TransCorp, but I know Nitel is not the only organization to be privatized but has been the most controversial because people are now using it to score narrow and selfish political points. Many hotels, industries have been privatized, for much less than their value, yet TransCorp is an issue only because Atiku and his thieving band of thieves @ ACD have nothing else to hold on to.

I tell you, IBB deserves all the condemnation he is getting and this is only the begining. An example needs to be set of this high-profile beast to serve as a deterant to others. There are many animals in the beast, but IBB and Atiku are definitely amongst the dirtiest.

Getting rid of these self-sentered, money-laundering thieves is most befitting legacy and parting gift OBJ can bequit the nation.

Most his weath today he acquired in the first term of this administration, when OBJ left him in charge of the goverment and the BPE whilst he embarked on his controversial junts around the world. But even before his time as VP, he amassed incredible wealth whilst at the Nigerian customs.

The oil blocks was a deal made in his time as VP. Basically, Atiku had to get himself in a place where he could single-handedly finance his presidential ambitions without going bankrupt in the process. His war chest for his doomed presedential campaign is in excess of N7Billion. Whilst OBJ is no saint, he's a million times better than Atiku. Countless time's Atiku has talked of his wealth, but fails to explain to the world how it was acquired besides the daft story of N31,000 start-up capital. Another effort to launder his dubious image. You need to see to believe the number of political jobbers waiting in the wings for an Atiku victory to get massive goverment contract. This is his way.

Men like Atiku and IBB should be taken out of the equation by any means necessary.

IBB is crook personified. He is the face of dubiosness in Nigeria and must bear the brunt of the ills in our society today. The reason he still has a lot of followers despite his economic and political atrocities is because many (the sycophants) that sorround him today were beneficiaries of his largese , or those that missed the boat the last time and hope to benefit in his second coming. He is a symbol of everything that is wrong with our country.

I'm glad he is aspiring to rule Nigeria again. He who the devel seeks to destroy he first makes mad. In very short order, this evil and currupt dictator will meet his waterloo. Nothing will be more gratifying.

Atiku is a crook. He deserves all that he is getting now. Recently he continued his propaganda and image laundering by telling the world, through the dubious naija press (the Sun particularly) how he rejected 'Transcorp offer' of shares.  

So that now makes him better than whom or what, Who is he kidding. What is 100 million naira to him in the context of his incredible wealth These people should stop their endless manipulation and deception,

Let him explain to us what happened during his time as Customs boss, his tenure ranks as the most rotten of that agency in the history of Nigeria!!

Let him explain to us how he could afford the oil blocks he acquired in Equitorial Guinea and Nigeria (valued at billions of dollars) before he opens his basket mount in continuation of this manipulation de'tre,

All this one na long thing, I say we tie to a stake the highest profile looters in Nigeria, IBB, Abdulsalami, Danjuma, Atiku, Gwazo, Akhigbe, Dalhatu etc and line up the shooters, This may be the only language Nigerians will understand and may serve as a major deterant, curruption is so deeply entrenched that it will take more than words and superficial policies to eradicate.

A fundamental reconstruction of our collective mindset is required. I like the desperate measures being adopted by EFCC though as it's the next best thing, even the judiciary is so currupt it's unbelievable, all those SANS and judges (except the likes of course of Justice Binta, Olisa Agbakogba etc, ),


I tire.

I guess it will depend on the offer price, but if it's @ N10 as rumoured, then I think it's a very good deal. If the offer comes out in the next few weeks, then the value - asset wise - would have been determined by the the values of Nitel and TransCorp Hilton (together with other intangible assets, quantitiy of equities to be sold etc). With more acquisitions planned in the short term, the asset value of the company should grow quite quickly. So all, in all, I believe it is value for money.

Lets be clear on some points. The sale of Nitel was an OPEN BID. It wasn't done in the middle of the night in Aso rock. It couldn't have been more transparent.

TransCorp won because their bid was the best value-to-Nigerians proposition, the best quality and off course, the highest ($750.000.000). I got to find out a bit about the individuals and professional outfits involved in the bid and saw why TransCorp quickly earned the respect of the evaluators. It has been hailed as transparent by all  - workers union, house of reps and the entire organized private sector. No one else was willing to pay anything near for a corporation in steep decline and decay.  Would you have prefered it had Transcorp bought into SA or European corporation like the thieves we have as past leaders are all doing?

And Transcop (Nitel) is so different from Intels. It is not a one-man-show (Majority shareholdings notwithstanding). Let Atiku and his associates show how much they paid for all the corporations they own (including oil blocks)  and explain how many Nigerians are beneficiaries of these entities (besides their immediate families and cronies).

I do not know much about Jimoh Ibrahim and therefore cannot comment on his dealings. TransCorp on the other hand are making a major commitment
inspite of the prevailing risks in our polity. They should be commended.

I do not hold brief for OBJ, and would like to see him hand over to a young and dynamic leader from whatever part of the country. But it will be a travesty, should we end up with the likes of those I mentioned in my previous comments.