₦airaland Forum

Embarassment to Nigeria - you don't say! Can our leaders ever be embarrassed? - it doesn't look like it.

Haliburton, Siemens, Design of New Naria Notes, NFF & FIFA Championships, Ibori, Yar'adua saga, Okah saga,Sham elections, etc

The sports administrator said that he could not talk much on the matter until FIFA concludes its investigation after which the decision would be made clearer.
He however, said that it is very regrettable  for him as a Nigerian and an African because all the accused persons are Africans.
“As a Nigerian, I am terribly embarrassed that a Nigerian is being mentioned. By the way it is still an allegation but the video tape is damning as it were and I don’t see why somebody will subject himself to a conversation of 90 minutes video tape, I don’t know.

Big embarrassment? Crocodile tears if you ask me. It has been several days now since the news broke. Who is investigating Adamu already - nobody, that is who. I know EFCC said they have jurisdiction on the matter, but that is only the first step in a long drawn battle of the god-fathers and god-sons of Nigerian political life. Shouldn't the guy be recalled from any FIFA job by Nigeria already? He should be already facing a panel of investigation ahead of FIFA's findings so as to give some impression that our nation is not a subject of FIFA. That is how we show our sovereignty and that is how we show that we are not a corrupt nation.

Look at upcoming episodes:

“We have the potential and the resources are there and as long as we keep operating without accountability, non transparency, the more our people will be embarrassed with similar circumstance we are seeing now. Someone like Habu Gumel in the IOC, if care is not taken will be embarrassed, the last Minister of sports, Sani Ndanusa who has been elected as president of the Nigerian Olympic Committee, NOC, in very funny and orchestrated election should take care and so with any other Nigerian that is carrying our collective destiny in their hands. They must be above suspicion.
“So in totality, it is very sad.

Sports Oct 22, 2010 By Philips Adefioye

Former president of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN, Dan Ngerem Friday said that the cash for vote allegation levelled against CAF and FIFA executive committee member Dr Amos Adamu  is embarrassing not only to him as individual but also to the  country as a whole.

Ngerem in an exclusive interview with Sunday Vanguard sports in Lagos, said he was  surprised that somebody like Dr Adamu could subject himself to a 90 minutes  tape interview or conversation. He said he was yet to understand whether it was inducement or under some influence, adding that the video tape is damning as it were.
The sports administrator said that he could not talk much on the matter until FIFA concludes its investigation after which the decision would be made clearer.

He however, said that it is very regrettable  for him as a Nigerian and an African because all the accused persons are Africans.

“As a Nigerian, I am terribly embarrassed that a Nigerian is being mentioned. By the way it is still an allegation but the video tape is damning as it were and I don’t see why somebody will subject himself to a conversation of 90 minutes video tape, I don’t know.

It’s beyond me. I don’t know whether it’s inducement or whether he was under some kind of influence but again as FIFA said when they go through the whole gamut of the investigation, the thing would be made cleared.

“It is regrettable and very sad for me as a Nigerian and as a African for that matter  because if you look at it, all the people that are involved in this matter are Africans. Were they  targeted? Were they induced ? Is there a conspiracy theory because we just came out of a successful World Cup, in deed the best World Cup ever both in terms of organization, in terms of revenue generation for FIFA? Were we targeted to diminish our achievement ?

Again this investigation would bring things to full but people will have to take  personal responsibility for their indiscretion.

“You can remember South Africa missing the World Cup bid to Germany  by a vote from the Oceania president as it were and he was acting as if he was in a state of shock. It is a world wide phenomenon, people will do anything to win a bid process  because sports has become multi billion dollar business.

“It’s the responsibility of every individual to remain credible, to remain above board. Like I said once, if you happen to be in an international arena, particularly when you are not representing yourself, you are carrying  the collective destiny of your people, your country and your continent.”

Ngerem noted that the Nigerian system is corrupt hence when championships are hosted here, no account of how the money voted for it is given, stressing that was the reason people who have these sports at heart  have been shouting for the last ten  decades.

“We have hosted major championships in the last 20 years, have we any account? We hosted the FIFA World Youth Championship, Nigeria 99, there was the All Africa Games, there was the FIFA Under-17 FIFA World Cup, as well as the biding for the Commonwealth Games for  which we spent N2.4 billion, has there been any account to that effect?

“We forget that we are in the digital age now where things are done in real terms. When you are carrying the dysfunctional behaviour in our environment out of the shores of this country, you are exponentially exposing yourself. I am appealing to our government to use this opportunity  to clean up our sports  in totality.

“We have the potential and the resources are there and as long as we keep operating without accountability, non transparency, the more our people will be embarrassed with similar circumstance we are seeing now. Someone like Habu Gumel in the IOC, if care is not taken will be embarrassed, the last Minister of sports, Sani Ndanusa who has been elected as president of the Nigerian Olympic Committee, NOC, in very funny and orchestrated election should take care and so with any other Nigerian that is carrying our collective destiny in their hands. They must be above suspicion.
“So in totality, it is very sad.

I feel  very, very sad as a Nigerian for what is happening  because the fact that Africans are the majority that got suspended, it’s just a tragic for us,” Ngerem stressed.

Notice the suggestion that the money did not come from the government by saying it was raised by a relation of Mugabe. In a nation where people would have needed a truckload of cash to buy a loaf of bread in 2009, Mugabe and his handlers are telling us they raised $300K for this. This is how Mugabe is spending the proceeds of the diamonds he started selling a couple of months ago.

MrPrsdent:
these mugabe is insane
BBA is a fuc.king game show

supereagle:
Baba (OBJ) was busy imposing his own candidates on us. We thank God , the incorruptible judges are flushing them out.

But imagine the time lost while they satisfy their own ego. As Yorubas would say "Oju apa o jo oju ara" that is to say "The healed bruised skin is never like the original".

Ileke-IdI:
Why wont he?
How can a man live while knowing he put his own ppl to misery?!
May the spirit of Ekiti state never let him rest. MAY OUR ENEMIES COWER IN SHAME!!!!
I just wonder why the ugliest are so devious. OBJ, Ayoka etc.

Amen to that sister!

I really had no idea how much vested interests African countries have in Big Brother Africa. A show exploting the worst of human behavior, back-biting and a general race-to-the-bottomness. It is a show about nothing that, while admittedly entertaining, does not deserve more than a passing glance in the daily events of a nation, any nation. Leave it to Africa to sink its teeth into it, and make it the worst things its own.

When I first heard that Bankole, the speaker of the Nigerian house of Assembly, congragulated Uti (the winner) I chuckled about his joblessness despite being a leader of a nation of 150 million with problems the size of a universe (if there were more than one universe Nigeria's problem would expand to it too!). Then president GEJ, and even IBB, joined in the congratulations. I thought to myself that this nation has truly gone to the dogs.

But that was only the begining. Here comes Mr. Mugabe the epitome of African bad leadership, a man whose nation turned from a food basket to a basket case under his watch. He had to outdo the congratulations coming out of Nigeria. He had to appoint his own winner by given him a cheque that is 1.5 times that won by the Nigerian. This is a country that was in such bad straits it had to artificially remove 12 zeros from its currency (before then today's 1 Zim dollar was equal to 1 trillion Zim dollars) taking inflation from one extreme  of almost 90% to the extreme of deflation at -10%. Seems Mugabe is trying to kill 2 birds with one stone: reflate the Zimbabwe economy and annoy Nigeria at the same time.

Between a leader that cannot protect his people from kidnappers, bombers and religious extremists and one that cannot feed his own there is plenty of time for Africa to pay attention to a program of no consequence. It has become a symbol of "national (African) pride" in their jaundiced eyes. I fear war between nations of Africa over Big Brother Africa

"It was Nigeria versus Zimbabwe and Nigeria is a very big country, so you deferred to Nigeria. But both of you won and from our point of view, for us, you were the winner."

Ah Africa! Is this how your entire continent will burn up while your leaders fiddle (or rather watch Big Brother Africa)? What about the space and the arms race? What about education and food? What about **** people?

(AFP) – 11 hours ago

HARARE — Zimbabwe's representative in Africa's Big Brother reality TV show landed in second place, but took home a prize bigger than the official jackpot, a gift from President Robert Mugabe's family.

Munyaradzi Chidzonga just lost out to Nigeria's Uti Nwachukwu, who won the official 200,000-dollar prize from the show that locks contestants from around the continent in a house.

But on Wednesday, the 24-year-old received a 300,000-dollar cheque from President Robert Mugabe, state media said.

The money was collected through a campaign spearheaded by Harare businessman Phillip Chiyangwa, a relative and close ally of the veteran ruler, who reportedly thought the voting on the show was unfair.

It's not clear if 86-year-old Mugabe himself actually watched the show.

"I didn't think you would survive because you looked so young, perhaps the youngest of them all," Mugabe told Munyaradzi as he handed over the cheque.

"It was Nigeria versus Zimbabwe and Nigeria is a very big country, so you deferred to Nigeria. But both of you won and from our point of view, for us, you were the winner."

However, some people said the awarding of the money was a case of misplaced priorities in a country that struggles to pay teachers their meagre salaries of around 150 dollars a month.

"Once again, we are the masters of misplaced priorities," one Shamba Shambamuto wrote in a letter to the privately owned News Day.

"If we can give this contestant a whopping 300,000 dollars, then surely we can do for our suffering masses who live in perpetual hunger, sickness and economic marginalisation."

@mikeansy
In a way I agree with much of what u said here.

This is where a Jonathan or Ribadu presidency might benefit Nigerians in the long run than all those Generals/Custom Man. These two are commited to change, although they may not realize what change they are really talking about right now. They are looking to please Nigerians, rather than become Emperors of the Republic. Whatever direction Nigerians decide that change must take, it would likely be easier to get going with GEJ/Ribadu than any of the other candidates.

IBB, Gusau, Atiku and Buhari are not going to change much despite all the promises, simply because they are too set in their soldering/corrupt ways to know the meaning of democracy. With the first three, we are simply going to get 10 times worse forms of OBJ. With Buhari we might get a good fight against corruption, but that would be it - that and everything else would likely be handled like a soldier.

mikeansy:
I respect your passion and I feel it. But I think there is one fact you guys forget, there is only a lot the President of Nigeria can do in a democracy by Presidential fiat. Any structural changes to the composition of Nigeria will need National assembly approval. If you choose to attempt to do it through Sovereign National Conference it will still be done in the light of day and not in the middle of the night.

Hence if the basis of restructuring Nigeria is so that one group of people can fool another group of people, that will unfortunately fail except somebody is trying to risk a civil war. The international community will not even entertain that.

It is possible to devolve powers from the centre to regional or State Governments. It is possible to achieve any form of restructuring if approached correctly. But to achieve this requires a charismatic leadership able to sell this idea to all and highlight how this is actually in everybody's interest. This is where I question Jonathan's ability to lead because the man is already committing too many gaffes and boxing himself into a corner and will soon be painted a partisan President.

With a reputation like that even the best of intentions gets very difficult to accomplish.

@smanuel
You beat me to it. Didn't see the RENT sign, but the women's bag he is holding and the sign on the door that says do not touch suggest he was merely posing with the car. The RENT sign put the cake on top. And to think how he's being yabbing people with that picture here on NL for days now.

It is good to dream, but don't claim it until it is fulfilled.

Koruji shakes head in disgust

smanuel:
Did somebody see the RENT in the car? or is it just me. Who is the loser now, loser. Dont worry I will come visit in FDC or county if your lucky, when it happens. Mr. I am my own boss!

kabukabu50:
Oh hell no,I visit but I am not living in that wreck of a country,Nigeria? Oh no,where when you point out to people the right way to do things and they think you are snobbish,pls, I am comfortable here,as my own boss, I can vacation in Naija when I want.Those few going back cannot survive in the US,they will roast like hens when they hit Lagos .Losers.

Americans see green not color,many Africans live well here,even better than the native blacks,those who use their naija sense will not get caught up in the debt cycle.Nigeria cannot change from the ground up, it has to start from the leaders downward.They will all get swallowed up by the corrupt system.Good luck.

Dont hate because you can succeed in the land of opportunity,your mates are doing it,you are just sorry excuses.

Ileke-IdI:
lol hmm hmmmmmm

Alright, I'll get off your case, it must be the evil twin. 

Keep her in check though, the good twin is a joy

Ileke-IdI:
hmmmm

hmmmm? I am just trying to understand why you dismissed the woman's predicament here - was it the wig or her acting or just having fun

Yeah, the masses love IBB as in we 'll love to line-up and deliver 150 million individual slaps to his face, even if it takes 10 years!

ferari90:
By Segun Balogun

October 16, 2010 03:00AM
Print print Email email Share Share


Your main task is to convince the people of Lagos to vote IBB in as next president of Nigeria. What do you have to tell them now?

Even though it is always very difficult for people to seek the truth objectively, I will simply tell them to know the truth because the day we start the quest of pursuing the truth, we start to liberate ourselves and our nation.

IBB ruled this country for eight years during which he put up institutions on which successive administrations are building. We had Kaduna, Warri, and Port Harcourt refineries under him but now, we are importing fuel. Why didn't IBB import fuel? Is it possible to think of Lagos without the Third Mainland Bridge?

All these were done when crude oil sold for low prices; but what did Obasanjo do when crude oil prices skyrocketed? And you think we can just use one June 12 issue to blanket all these achievements?

The major dams giving us electricity, NAFCON, Eleme Pretochemicals, 1004 Estates, NDIC, NBC, there were so many things he did to ensure the system was working. He established Federal Environmental Protection Agency, National Housing Policy, Directorate for Food Road Rural Infrastructure, an organisation that constructed roads to villages and connected the villages to the national grid.

I am a product of Mass Mobilisation for Self Reliance and Economic Recovery (MAMSER) but today, we have graduates roaming the streets without jobs. MAMSER gave the youth hope, but which hope has any government given the Nigerian youth apart from propaganda against IBB?

The problem is that young Nigerians who do not know IBB while in power are fed with wrong information about a man who did so much for them. Primary healthcare, which many Nigerians benefitted from, was established under him. He created 11 states, 200 local government areas, and eight federal universities.

How many federal universities have been established since IBB left office? IBB spent eight years with lesser money than Obasanjo's eight years. Murtala spent six months in power and created an impact. What impact has President Goodluck created since he got there? IBB represents Nigeria's interest more than any of them.

Was the annulment of June 12 elections in the best interest of Nigeria?

Being a Yoruba man, I'm aware that the southwest did not support Abiola. Then it is believed that Abiola was also against Awolowo, who cursed him.

Are you saying June 12 annulment is a jinx?

If God has not installed anybody a leader, nobody can. Also, the annulment was done by the Supreme Military Council. It's not just Babangida alone. There were lots of people behind him with guns. Nobody prays to have a military government. But all that is history now; we must not throw away the baby with the bath water.

He was fond of incarcerating Gani Fawehinmi. In fact, many believe Gani contracted cancer due to the frequent incarcerations. Do you think lovers of Gani will accept IBB's candidacy?

Obasanjo also went to jail and he didn't get cancer. That aside, Babangida was a military ruler. Nobody vote them into power and that is why they are called Armed Forces. Again, it's a military decision then and he will not operate the same under democracy. Many of us don't understand how the military operate; they take issue of security and order very serious.

So, I won't want to dabble into what I don't understand. All I know is that it's a military decision, good or bad. You can't challenge a military ruler for taking bad decision because he didn't get your permission to be there. Let us leave military out of this, we are no more running a military government.

In Lagos, Babangida is not a popular candidate yet. If you add that to the fact that he is contesting on the platform of a party (PDP) considered non-progressive, what do you have?

It is not the public that do not like IBB, it is a few powerful people who have benefitted from government over the years. They have taken advantage of the media to drown his achievements. There is no local government area in Nigeria where IBB has not empowered somebody.

We should not get involved with those powerful people who have issues with Babangida and are luring the Nigerian masses to fight one man that has done no evil against them.

Nigeria's corruption rating went up during Babangida's period and we have been battling that till now. Can he deal with it if he gets elected?

Well, corruption has had its roots even before IBB came in, else Fela wouldn't have sang some of his lyrics when Shagari was in power. But he certainly will do something about corruption. Fela told us also that Obasanjo has corruption cases to answer, yet he established EFCC.

What did you say when Obasanjo sought your mandate, did you question him? You see, what is good for the goose is good for the gander. Apart from propaganda, I don't think IBB has done anything deserving corruption charges.

He allowed, for the first time in Nigeria's history, women and youth to express themselves. You don't want to give him credit for the good things he did, you only want to talk about the wrong. Babangida is not God; he is prone to errors.

Would you say because we are human, we allow errors that are costly to the nation?

What about the errors of other presidents? I have not seen others criticised as IBB, and the man takes them. There are presidents that if you criticise them, you will be in trouble. If truly Nigerians are not happy with Obasanjo, then they should have objected when he brought out Jonathan.

But was it not the late President Yar'Adua that chose Jonathan as his running mate?

No, it wasn't Yar'Adua. Let's be honest now. It was all Obasanjo's plan. Nigerians must know the truth. We shouldn't mislead people. IBB gets criticised, but people kept silent about other leaders whose records are not as good as IBB. Why?

But IBB has not answered the questions people are asking about why he chose not to appear before Oputa Panel and what he did with the Gulf War oil windfall.

Was Oputa panel set up to find out the truth or to witch-hunt? What came out of the report after it was submitted? The motive behind that panel was for a purpose; has that purpose been achieved? It was modelled after the truth and reconciliation panel (in South Africa), but what has been reconciled?

About the oil windfall, you have seen what IBB did with the money. I just showed you a list of all his achievements which no other president has matched.

What about the statement he made about Nigerian youth?

The only statement I've heard Babangida made is his belief in the Nigerian youth. His campaign organisation is predominantly run by the Nigerian youth.

All some people are after now is just to fight Babangida to a standstill, irrespective of whether people are dying of hunger. We should check the good and the bad things he has done. If the good is not acceptable, we stay away; but if yes, we draw him closer.

In the international community, do you think he has an acceptable personality that can push Nigeria's good, considering that young leaders are springing up?

Everybody knows IBB is respected globally. He is no pushover and can stand against any leader anywhere in the world. I'm proud to know somebody with such a wonderful personality.




http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5630780-146/story.csp

Your reaction is as valid as any.

America reviews the security conditions of its citizens around the world.  They don't expect affected countries to like it, and it is up to them to react the way they want - it would be fed into the next review. They also do this for other countries, including Western ones - it is not malicious, though it sometimes sound exaggerated when it concerns Nigeria.

Only last month the U.S. issued alerts about terror activities in Europe with the arrest of German Alqaeda trainees.

Nigeria needs to take this in stride and be honest with our security situation. This review is an indicator of a deteriorating situation that no one can deny.

gididi:
America should sit down with this yeye alert. Two of my friends were shot driving along Peachtree rd in Atlanta last month . One Yoruba and Edo guy for nothing. Just stop for traffic light and bang!bang! and wake up in Grady hospital.
There is no day in atlanta , new jersy,washington or new york you wont hear somebody's death from gang or drug business.

I know some people just dislike certain celebrities. Is that the case here?

Otherwise, I would have to say: What is wrong with you, madam Ileke?

Ileke-IdI:
ROTFLMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
HAHAHAHHA!!!!

I don't like the robot-like nature of this report. It is completely devoid of something I can't quite put my hands on.

Ileke-IdI:
I hope she's legal.
So you have a degree in finance?
Anywaz, thanks for drilling me hard today, not the usual nice koboj

And here comes koruji with an opportunistic ROFLMAO.

U both did well with that debate back there  

Nobody is going to come out of this smelling like roses. They will all be bruised from the head down.

Soon, Charles has to tell us who he has been dealing with if Okah's diary is to be believed. Who really called Okah if some did call him?

What is the role of the Niger Delta Minister, Godsway Orubebe - now that Okah has made bold to mention his name. The government surely can't keep quiet on this one.

This is not looking too good for all the parties involved, including President GEJ.

A complete inquiry is necessary to unravel what may be a dangerous national security breach here. However, we are yet to see the complete resolution of the Yar'adua security breach even though certain army officers have lost their positions - it should be much deeper than that.

@LeoMax
Bombing a joke gone bad? Yeah, why won't a serious nation ban one that jokes with bombs. Was AbdulMuttalb also a joke? Israel's existence depends on unimpeachable security, so don't blame them if they keep you outside their security perimeter, if you consider the lifes of 12 Nigerians dead and more maimed "a joke gone bad".

I hate it that anyone would impose a ban on us too, but it is a necessity for them.

Please state clearly the long-term steps Nigeria has taken to prevent another AbdulMutalab or another "joke of Abuja" beyond the knee-jerk reactions of being forced to install scanners and now causing untold traffic jams all over Abuja. Perhaps if we had done what was required in the case of AbdulMutalab, the "joke of Abuja" would not have gone bad.

LeoMax:
we all know that the bomb blast was a joke gone bad, fcuck israel . pilgrims take our cash there to spend. its better so we can save the funds. american pet

@Sam Milla
That is the spirit. Atiku should get the commendation for donating a whopping N10 million.

So, thank you sir for giving some of the money up, no matter how you came about it

Sir, sir, one more thing. This N10 million is a non-factor in the elections!

Sam Milla:
Thanks , but we believe there are more where that came from .

I think you do Nigerians a disservice by suggesting that Ribadu is not yet "ready" to lead Nigeria. He is more than ready. Diplomacy? - that is the Nigerian code word for CORRUPTION. Isn't that what OBJ was refering to when election monitors said votes were bought in 2003? He said they don't know how elections operate down here (Nigeria), refering to the fact that the vote of communities were already decided by "consultations" with the elders b/4 election day - you of course know the meaning of "consultation".

Ribadu could have settled down to a comfortable life under OBJ's governmetn, but instead he took on the mighty and powerful, and risked life and limb. He's probably the cleanest of all the contestants if you ask me. At some point I am sure OBJ himself got scared of the guy.

And why would you compare Yar'adua's almost complete failure of governance with OBJ? The few elections that were held under Yar'adua (Ekiti comes to mind) were marred by serious rigging. He did not show seriousness about electoral reform even before he got seriously sick.

We need a giant in Nigeria, but we when it comes to employing someone to do the real job that needs to be done, we complain the giant is way taller than us. Go figure!

Ribadu may not win this time, but he needs to keep pressing his agenda even after the elections to: 1) Goad the government of the day to do right by the people; 2) Position himself as the true alternative. But again, Nigerians may grow brains and elect someone that can really go after the job without all the encumberances of political mathematics.

marvix:
Yes Ribadu a new Nigeria is possible, but your time is not yet here.

You Ribadu was a big part of the merry go round you talked about, If Yaradua had been like your boss Obasanjo, nobody would be looking forward to the 2011 elections.

I appreciate all that you did for this nation but even you will admit that you failed, and I must emphasise you failed massively.

Your integrity is not in doubt, but your ability to lead a complex entity like Nigeria.

Leadership anywhere in the world is diplomatic, you Ribadu are a very undiplomatic fellow, politics is not always about who is right or wrong as the opposite of right is not always wrong in politics.

Ribadu you are a product of the Nigerian police Force, what was your contribution to the toll gate syndrome in the police force.

Ribadu you did a good job at the EFCC but how many of our past leaders were u able to bring to book, it is not enough to scare these people but be able to complete your homework and put them behind bars after forfeiting their assets, it seemed like you had no issues with the corruption charges against Iyabo Obasanjo because shes your boss' daughter.

Ribadu the youth must get their acts right, let us go down memory lane, It was youths and their youthful exuberance that has brought us to where we have found ourselves today, in 1966 some youths decided that they had had enough of the political class and went ahead with a coup that failed you my friend Ribadu is older than Major Nzeogwu when he executed the coup, another set of young men in July of 1966 decided on a counter coup and eliminated Ironsi gave us Gowon who was still single at the time he became president and another young man who defied his father's (Elders) advice led us into a civil war of 30months with nothing but blood to show for it, When Obasanjo became president in 1976 he sure was a youth but what were we able to achieve, Buhari was a young chap who was and is still passionate about his country but his lack of diplomacy cost him the presidency IBB was a youth one very corrupt and diplomatically corrupt ran this nation to a grind before exiting.

So Ribadu you will agree with me that we are no starngers to youthful leadership, but in my opinion the age or status of the leader has not been our problem but the requsite experience needed to take on the challenge.

Ribadu go to the senate, contest at your senatorial district let us knoe that u have a base and your people are behind you, go to the senate ribadu and tell the senators to their face that they are corrupt and live above corruption in the senate, play the NASS politics and survive then we would know that you are ready to lead us.

First, they are collecting too much information with the form on that site. All they really need is a valid e-mail and may be names. Nobody really wants to leave their phone number on a site with unknown particulars. Many of the links on that site do not work. For example, the World Bank report gives you "404" and you get a lot of gibberish if you click on some of the links on the site. It seems to me that the site has been abandoned since August.

Given that our government is the largest resource owner, and so holds the lifeline to employment creation the place to start is to start patronizing local industries e.g. they recently spent a couple of billions on dustbins to be imported from the U.K.

1. Stop spending money on foreign goods that can be produced in Nigeria. Get local manufacturers to produce such gooods under performance contracts.
2. Cut the spending on the National Assembly to one quarter its current level, and use it as direct loans to local builders, manufacturers and the like.

By Ruona Agbroko
October 18, 2010 06:42PM
234Next.com

Henry Okah has denied that he is the leader of MEND, the militant group which claimed responsibility for the October 1st dual bombings in which eight people were killed in Abuja.

Mr. Okah was speaking when being questioned by Prosecution lawyer, Shaun Abrahams, at his bail application hearing. When shown documents seized from his house on October 2, in which his wife and "a representative of the Okah family" wrote to Amnesty International calling him the leader of MEND, Mr Okah said "I am confused because I don't know where this is coming from. I don't accept that this letter is from my wife."

"The president has just made it clear that Tompolo is the leader of MEND," he said. "I assume the leader of MEND is Tompolo. There are lots of commanders."

When asked by the prosecution who the overall leader of MEND is, he replied, "I have no knowledge of that."

However, after he was shown an email sent by his wife to international media organisations inviting them to a rally, Mr. Okah did a backtrack. "There are 30 international email addresses in here," said Mr Abrahams. "Your wife says you are the leader of MEND. You are notifying the world that you are the leader of MEND, yet you are in court today saying you are not."

But Mr. Okah replied, "The media describes me as leader of MEND. For clarity, that's why I think she did it, that's the only way the media will know what she's talking about."

Okah's ‘purchase list'

As his cross examination continued, Mr. Okah read from a notebook in which some entries were made in his own writing. When some of the entries were read to him, however, Mr. Okah said he did not remember what they meant, as "it was a long time ago." An entry, dated September 19, two weeks before the bombings, read: "we will fight to the finish." Mr. Okah denied that it had anything to do with the Niger Delta or MEND.

Also written in the notebook were the following items: "Boats, Micro-Uzzi, Binoculars, Jungle Boots, 40mm cannon, Raincoats, Surface to Air Missiles, Grenade Launchers, Land Mines, Assault Machine Guns." The prosecution accused him of making the list because he "wanted to source them for the militants in the Niger Delta region."

However, Mr. Okah insisted that they were notes made when he was reading war books "for intellectual purposes". "I'm someday planning to write a book on military tactics," he said.

Judge Hein Louw described the proceedings as worrying, and said to Mr. Okah; "Why write down this list, it seems to me a purchase list, if you were in my position, would this not look incriminating to you?"

‘Girlfriends can supply weapons'

Another document seized from Mr Okah's home was said to be a letter from militant leader, Asari Dokubo, who claimed to have bought N6.8 million worth of arms and paid in advance. Mr. Okah however told prosecution that, "Asari Dokubo is one of the numerous thugs who is acting on behalf of the Nigerian government to destroy my image, I really don't understand why anyone should consider the rantings (sic) of an ant."

When prosecution pointed out that an invoice from a Chinese company seized from his home had some of the items listed in his diaries, Mr Okah maintained that the Niger Delta Minister, Godsway Orubebe, was instrumental to that quotation getting into his possession. "Nigeria is so corrupt that even minister's girlfriends can supply weapons," he said. "Everybody supplies weapons."

Throughout his time on the witness stand, Mr. Okah maintained that the Nigerian government was trying to set him up, had bribed journalists, and that "even the Attorney-General was a liar" for suggesting he had links with Hezbollah. When asked by Mr. Abrahams to be specific in his testimony, Mr Okah replied that; "I am trying desperately to stop embarrassing the Nigerian government."

To which Mr. Abrahams replied: "Mr. Okah, the only person you are embarrassing is yourself."

On statements by prosecution that his brother, Charles, who was arrested at the weekend, sent MEND's latest message of a bomb attack, Mr. Okah said; "if you are able to prove that he sent the email, then he should be held responsible for that."

He also denied knowing Chima Orlu or Ben Jesse, the men identified by the Nigerian government as perpetrators of the October 1 bombings. He told the court; "Can I advise you on the Nigerian government? In Nigeria it is so easy to fabricate evidence. There is not a shred of evidence to link me to those bombings."

Mr. Okah's bail application continues on Wednesday October 20.

Yusuf Alli and Sanni Ologun, Abuja 19/10/2010 00:40:00
The Nation

A BREAKTHROUGH has been recorded in the investigation into the Independence Day explosions in Abuja, with the arrest Monday of a suspect believed to have set off the bombs.

The State Security Service (SSS), it was gathered, picked up the suspect in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

The suspect was flown to Abuja amid tight security around 1.00pm Monday.

It was also gathered that the United States’ Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has joined Nigerian security agencies to track fleeing suspects, but it was not known whether the FBI played any part in the arrest of the suspect in Port Harcourt.

Before Monday, the SSS had arrested nine persons. The Police said they arrested one person and declared two others wanted.

Those declared wanted by the police are Chima Orlu and Ben Jessy. They are still at large.

A highly-placed security source described yesterday’s arrest in Port Harcourt as “a breakthrough”.

“With the arrest of one of the suspects who triggered the explosions, we are finally closing in on those behind the dastardly act,” he said.

Responding to a question, the source added: “As a matter of fact, some of the suspects in detention gave clues which led to the arrest.

“Those in custody identified him as one of the bombers. The quizzing of the suspect will provide further insight into how the bombing was hatched and executed.

“There is no doubt that we are making headway and those connected with the explosions will soon be brought to justice.”

But the identities of all the 11 suspects so far arrested remain unknown.

Another source said: “We are yet to unveil their identities for security reasons. We are suspecting that a syndicate might have carried out the explosions. We do not want those yet to be arrested to escape.

“You need to appreciate that in this kind of investigation, we have no choice but to adopt a covert approach.”

It was not immediately clear when the trial of the remaining seven of the 11 suspects in SSS custody will begin.

Four of the suspects were arraigned on October 8 before a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Zone 6 in Abuja.

They were ordered to be remanded in the custody of the SSS, pending the conclusion of investigations and commencement of their trial.

They are standing trial before Chief Magistrate Oyeyiola Oyewumi for alleged involvement and complicity in the bomb explosions on October 1.

In Johannesburg, South Africa, Henry Okah, one-time leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), is standing trial for alleged terrorism also in connection with the Abuja explosions.

A source dismissed the alleged rivalry between the SSS and the police over the investigation into the explosions.

The source said Nigeria had to rely on foreign expertise because of their superior equipment in such investigations.

“They have the equipment. Instead of drafting 500 men, two men can do a job with the right equipment. Policing is not about the number of men but about the equipment.”

Police spokesman Emmanuel Ojukwu said investigations were going on well.

“Nobody wants the issue to die. Those Nigerians who were killed in the process will get justice. We are doing a lot to get to the root of it,” Ojukwu said.

Very misleading title. Bombastic as is usual with Nigeria's "big" men, but all he did was describe events and did not hide how he feels about Dokpesi.

On the one hand, he revealed that Odili and Ibori converted shares of their states in AIT into personal shares. On the other hand, he was the one that called on the 2 governors to help Dokpesi out in the first place.

The web of Nigerian politics & corruption is so intricate I doubt it can ever be untied by normal means.

I said u reveal closet tribalism by your title of "One brave Yoruba man" then u reply with words that say brave Yoruba men are rare. Rare as compared to which non-Yoruba group? And by whose measure? If there was a rehab clinic for tribalism u should check it out since when u attempt to deny tribalism u only spew more of it.

As for answering your question - read my reply again. It contains a direct answer. Otherwise I can't help u.

Aloy+Emeka:
One brave Yoruba man/Nigerian doesn't mean there are no other brave ones even though they are rare. You refuse to answer my question on whether this man's past behavior invalidates his stance now.Really?. Mentioning Yoruba or igbo is now tribalistic?

Oh Yes, he spoke truth - only that truth is 40 years late, with 1000s of life needlessly wasted.

My grouse is the praise you assigned him in your title "One Brave Yoruba Man" - why not "One Brave Nigerian? He doesn't deserve any such praise and there are many many Yorubas brave and ready to confront whatever threatens us within this geographical expression, but not one of these pretenders. That is my point. It is hard to trust the motive of people like Olunloyo, Akinjide and the like.

I don't even know how, if you 've read my comments on the latest behavior of the northern oligarchy and even in my reply on this topic, you would not know that that my views are even more damning. I was begining to rub my hands together in anticipation when it seems they were ready to fight over the zoning issue. It is kind of disappointing that they are piping down now - the earlier we split or thoroughly rearrange this contraption put together by Lord Lugard the better. It has to be done somehow and it cannot be allowed to wait much longer.

BTW you are making yourself into a closet tribalist by the titles you keep assigning to your posts, and the sly, tribalistic, comments you sometimes pass for neutral politics on here. Just saying

Aloy+Emeka:
No matter what his past sins were even though they are arguable, you will still agree with me that what he said above is the truth, isn't it?

It is not bad belle - I lived through it. Results that were almost completely announced and in favor of UPN were switched half-way.

The evils they carried out before the election and the following almost repeat of operation-we-ti-e was something you never want to see again.

We have to separate the chaff from the real seed otherwise Nigeria continues in a merry-go-round of nothingness. People like Olunloyo and Akinjide are now getting the daylight after they selfishly helped destroyed the nation for over 40 years. They can keep their newfound sense of justice.

Aloy+Emeka:
Bad belle guys are coming one by one.

You are testing people's patience here.

Don't you understand that what you are advocating i.e. all oil wells belong to the government is what we have in place right now. What the connected private individuals have is a right given by the government to drill and extract, since civil servants know nothing about oil extraction - ownership resides with the Nigerian government. In the same vein, your complain that Nigeria's oil well is "owned" by a few connected individuals is also the consequence of nationalization - inefficiency, corruption, etc.

How can anyone advocate government as a manager of any business in Nigeria - we have NEPA, NITEL, NNPC, etc as conclusive examples that government does not do well with managing productive enterprises - they have no incentive to do it well.

Nations that seem to have a clean system do so partly because they keep government ownership of things to a minimum. Government ownership is the equivalent of nobody owning it - and in such cases connected individuals end up owning whatever it is. That is exactly what we are dealing with now.

krendo:
As we speak oil wells are controlled by a few connected guys. This should not be the case.
A serious Government will control the oil wells but allow private companies to run the refineries. That way the clamour for removal of subsidies from petroleum products will make sense.
But now what we have is oil wells in private hands and this group of connected guys who own it make money from selling Nigeri'a natural resource without doing any work except that they are connected. While the difficult job of running a refinery as an efficience business which should be the trouble of businessmen is left to the Government to run.
Forget about sentiments and geography. The fact remains that there will never be a time when if oil is discovered in a certain village it becomes the property of that village or the property of the nearest man to the oil well. Oil wells will continue to be a property of the federal government but our corrupt Government have simply used it to share to their friends who sell the contents on the black market in other to avoid transparency.
The answer is Nationalization of oil wells, but privatizations of refineries. Not the other way round.

He deserves no such praise.

Olunloyo and his likes were the ones that slaved for the northern oligarchy under the guise of promoting national unity. They visited untold suffering on the people of the SW with their thugs. Now that they are old and going the way of the fathers, and it is becomes clear that their friends up north were and are rabid tribalists and regionalists they are singing a different tune.

Olunloyo a definite brilliant man allowed himself to be used by the NPN to rig the 1983 elections in Oyo State, much like OBJ would do 20 years later almost throughout the SW. After all that the same northern clique cut-off his governorship with a military coup in a matter of months.

I hope the next set of SW leaders are learning these lessons - work to keep Nigeria one, but don't do it at the expense of your people or for selfish ends.

jason12345:
ah ah ah
thank GOD there are still people like this in nigeria
it's like he God is changing the country gradually

krendo:
oil is nobody's private property.
Oil wells belong to Nigeria.

Not that you are thief, but this is the idea that a thief could easily use to justify stealing. Most things really don't belong to anybody - and contrary to what you think, that is really the source of the problem. Only when property rights are clearly defined and enforced have humans been able to organize for proper development.

Of course, there is always a question of how you acquire the property rights you are enforcing in the first place, but that is besides the point.

It is a natural law of justice, applied to property rights, that what comes out of what you own also belongs to you. Definitely part of the oil also belongs to "Nigeria" as long as the oil region remains part of Nigeria, but it is first of all the property of those who own the land if their property rights to the land is well-established.

To apply your concept would also be to tell the farmer he doesn't own his crops because when he put a tiny seed in the ground he comes back to harvest 10 times or more from the plant.  You see the point? And don't come back to tell me that the farmer cultivates the soil, etc. The question is did he create the soil or photosynthesis technology. Also, it is not as if the Niger Deltans would put straw in the ground and suck out the oil if given their property rights to the resources - they also have to toil at it (i.e. oil producing companies have to come in to help and get paid).

What the Nigerian government has being effectively doing is collective stealing, and no wonder those closest to the proceeds have no qualms about stealing it - this lack of recognition of natural justice in all areas of our life is responsible first and foremost for our sorry state of affairs. When you steal from someone, expect to be stolen from, one way or the other.

Say, what? Obviously, u don't have clue about this particular issue.

Now people realize it is a cheap trick .

Although you could trust Saraki's words over IBB's it was not the same when IBB said it, which can only mean one thing - counting on IBB being too old to rule in 4 years. But, if that were so, it also makes him too old to rule now!

I don't know what people expect in any case. Nigerian politics is currently a race to the bottom - even when push comes to shove, Jonathan would promise the Southeast 2015.

Nobody is looking at real solutions. Instead, they are fighting like dogs over a piece of meat dropped by incompetent and selfish hands that set another trap for the Nigerian experiments with the issue of zoning!

udezue:
Only a fool will fall for this cheap trick.

You are confusing great leadership with the best of a lot. Great leadership seems to have universal definition or set of characteristics that show up in such individuals. Best of the lot on the other hand depends on what is in the lot. So, yes, OBJ could at the same time be Nigeria's best or even greatest leader, but NOT A GREAT LEADER. Sounds contradictory, but it is not.

All it tells you then is Nigeria's pitiful state and the challenge we face in finding truely great leaders. Remember the saying "in the land of the blind, the one-eyed is---"

Still it is all relative, as Nigeria has never had a great leader, but if we are talking between dumb and dumber, then Gen. OBJ is less dumb. The problem is that partly because of his lack of vision almost all that he worked so hard to put in place tend to crumble a few years hence. In the current dispensation we have seen Yar'adua's imposed government bite the dust, and one by one the thugs that were imposed on Southwest Nigeria are fallen by the wayside. It is Akala's turn in Oyo State, and hopefully Osun State PDP in 2011 elections. If GEJ doesnt show better vision (so far he is handling his job okay) he should lose the 2011 elections too.

revolt:
I challenge anyone ere to tell me who our best president is he's the greatest.

Look at people who take their dignity as a nation seriously. In Nigeria's case we have to go through the following steps:

1. Does EFCC or ICPC have the constitutional powers to probe Adamu, since his act was non-territorial to the Nigerian nation?
2. Will FIFA ban us again for interfering in Nigerian football if we probe Adamu?
3. Which godfathers & godmothers would this offend if Adamu is dragged before the courts?
4. Which disease is Adamu going to pretend so as not to go to prison if he is eventually convicted of a crime?
5. Is soliciting/requesting/accepting a bribe even a crime in Nigeria?

Each of these will take at least 1 year to resolve, by which time all is swept under the carpet and forgotten. End game: Adamu resurfaces as the governor of his state!

baslone:
FIFA are considering postponing the decision on the 2018 and 2022 World Cups as they investigate allegations that two senior members offered to sell their votes.
The Oceania Football Confederation today announced they were investigating the reports.
A statement said: "OFC is aware of the story that appeared in The Sunday Times in England today. As such, OFC is currently looking into the matter."
Adamu told the Sunday Times he had been talking about business in Nigeria after the World Cup and insisted his vote was not for sale.
A European nation will definitely host the 2018 World Cup after the USA announced on Friday they would focus on 2022 alone.
REALLY REALLY SAD!!!

@houvest
The below explains why OBJ is not a great leader. Let's not cheapen great leadership. BTW who were Nigeria's Mandelas, Lincolns and Ghadhis?

Experts may one day capture the reasons for his political Hara-Kiri since he came out of his military Carreer appearing un-ambitious. True, appearances could be deceitful but it remains to be understood what the leftovers in Aso Rock were that he was still interested in, a jibe he had once aimed at General Gowon. History may put them down to be due to a mesiah complex caused by sycophancy a la Abacha's one million man march or ambition or seductin by the lure of power, or ego trip and muscle flexing especialy since he was derided by some sections of being too scared to rule in in his first experience in the aftermath of the Murtala assasination. I hope history will look kindly on him and present his achievements strongly while dismissing his third term bid as a moment of weakness and madness and see him as a great leader. However he is certainly not Nigeria's greatest leader. We have got our Lincolns, Ghandis and Mandelas but are still waiting for our , Washingtons, Churchills, Castros, et al.