₦airaland Forum

Trust Nigerians, they will always come-up with "A Thousand EXCUSES" not to do what is right!

How l wish Fela Anikulapo Kuti was still alive today, He would have rendered to us, a different version of "Suffering and Smiling"!

*Agreed that our Judicial system is not perfect (Even the US's own is not otherwise they would not execute a man with "doubtful conviction"
*Agreed that Political opponents will use your "Achilles Heel" to hunt their political opponent (Obj did same to so many of his opponents)
*Agreed that PDP and its stalwarts like OBJ, Bode George, e.t.c are worse looters than Tinubu
*Agreed that Ribadu ignored "bigger thieves" while chasing "big thieves" who are not in the good books of OBJ, back then!

But please, as a "common man" should we not all be happy when and each time this "Association of Looters" are reduced by just one number?
By whoever or whatever means!

Infact, if all the looters of this country gather themselves in one Hall and one of them did a Boko-Haram on the building, THE BETTER FOR NIGERIA!

I have read a lot of ridiculous, infantile and utterly senseless reasoning here, on why we should just look the other way round and let Tinubu continue his "business as usual", that l am beginning to think that the Yoruba Nation needs to "R'onu" (think deeply)!

As far as l am concerned all l would "fight for on Tinubu's behalf" is that he gets "AN OPEN/PUBLIC AND FAIR TRIAL".
For all l know, Tinubu is INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY and l can therefore believe he will be home and dry after the trial. There is nothing more elating and exalting, than to "be tried and found innocent, discharged and acquitted"

Lastpage.

BTW: Less l forget,, did l hear someone say Tinubu is the "Leader of Yorubas"? Which Yoruba is that? 
Maybe Yoruba Thieves sha, certainly not my own kind!
Where l come from, we will ostracize "any thieving family member" less they bring disrepute to our rich treasured family name.
You can as well say Gbenga Daniel, OBJ, Bode George or even Fayose!
I just dey laugh!

@Mr. Ipaye, Lagos Attornet general and Comm. for Justice:

What the law does is to prohibit the demand of more than six months rents from monthly tenant and one year rent from a sitting yearly tenant. In respect of new tenancy, one-year rent is the maximum allowed to be demanded or received under the law,” he stated.

From my understanding, "a monthly Tenant" is one whose tenancy is determined on a month-by-month basis i.e he pays monthly!
So, if a tenant is a monthly Tenant, how can or how possible is it for a landlord to ask him to pay for six months in one go?
What is the commissioner saying/implying above?

Again,
a "sitting yearly Tenant" is one whose tenancy is determined on a "Yearly basis i.e he pays yearly or once a year!
So, if a tenant is a "Yearly Tenant", how can or how possible is it for a landlord to ask him to pay for "more than one year" in one go

What is the commissioner saying/implying above? Abi Oga don dey smoke weed on duty?

Instead of all these "noise", l was expecting that he would come out with step-by-step guidelines on:

1.) what a Tenant should do if Landlord demands more than the stipulated advance rent e.g. call this number, fill this affidavit form and govt will take such landlord up in court.
Legal fees are not for 'Mama Risikat the Tomato seller' naah?

2.) If a tenant refuses to pay his "legal rent" and therefore deprives the landlord of his property. e.g, we have this body in place with xyz phone numbers where we would have an "accelerated court hearing" and such tenant can be booted out ASAP so the landlord can have use of his property.

But what we get are all these rantings and political maneuverings!
Abegii joor!

Access bank has cut the number of outstanding shares by 52%, causing a corresponding increase in its share price.
The 3rd quarter profit after tax was 334% ahead of that of the full year result for the preceding year.

Earnings per share is expected to hit the highest levels ever recorded in the bank's history.

Na today?

Despite ALL THE ABOVE, WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME THIS "BEAUTIFUL FINANCIALS" PAY ANY DIVIDEND?

Apart from share-reconstruction, all they did (and many other 419 'Corporate Management' that issued IPO in 2008/2009 season) with our (Investors) money was to pay themselves jumbo pay, give more loan to themselves, increase their allowances and buy themselves bigger and more expensive cars


WE THE INVESTORS WERE LEFT TO ROAST! Yes, ACCESS BANK (and many others) duped Nigerians of their hard earned money.
Like Bernie Madoff, those Executives of Banks and all companies that issues IPO (aside a few like First bank Plc) should be in jail by now, but hey, this is NIGERIA!

Translation: If you have NOT LEARNED YOUR LESSON by now, you will never learn!
Or has Nigeria/Nigerian Corporate Management changed?
Dont think so.

If you cant make "profit" at least you should not let some "skimming Bast.ard" go on holidays" with your own sweat!

Like Jensimi said, here are other opinions that makes a lot of sense.

@Lastpage

Deregulation is not and will never be the answer:
Electricity Deregulation  => Costly, yet Epileptic Power, where you have it
Kerosine Deregulation => #300/Beer Bottle! Grin
Gas Deregulation => #650 per Cylinder
Cement Deregulation => #2,500 per bag
P[b]etrol Deregulation[/b] (Price hike over ten times in 10years!) => #195 per liter

Even a fool knows by now, that DEREGULATION IS JUST ABOUT MAKING MORE MONEY AVAILABLE FOR STEALING BY GOVT OFFICIALS!

It has NOTHING TO DO WIT AVAILABILITY OF THE PRODUCT/RESOURCE!


Yes, Fleece the Poor Citizens so we can have more money to steal! Wink Wink
Poor, docile citizens, l guess they deserve what they're getting; FOR BEING SO DOCILE!

The most shamefully-wicked part of the whole story is THE SAME LIE that our leaders RECYCLE to us EVERYTIME they need more money to STEAL: Increasing the Price would bring BETTER SERVICE!

I heard it under Obasanjo, as a Military Head of State!
I heard it under Ibrahim Babangida, for eight years!
I heard it under Obasanjo, "seven times in eight years" as a Civilian President!
I heard it again under Yar Ardua, though briefly in Power!
Now, l an hearing it again under "badluck" Goodluck Jonathan!

Yes, l have heard It ALL!
As the price of fuel was increased from 15K/Liter, => 23K/Liter => 78K/Liter => 1.25K/Liter => => =. #65/Liter!

In each case, its always the same excuse (are they not even smart enough to think of something different?): For Better service/availability!

But did they build more refineries to cater for AVAILABILITY? No!
Did they invest the increase in building Petro-Chemical Plants (Like Iran)? Again, No!
Did they build new Power stations over the years, Again, No!


Did they use the "increase" to enrich themselves and steal bigger sums of money? You bet, YES! Wink Huh

And did we (including myself) do anything? You bet, NO! Shocked Sad

Truly, as we lay our beds, so we are lying on it! Wink Lips sealed

Its always the same old story, COMPARING APPLES WITH ORANGES!
@KolaBaba

I dont know why people compare Nigeria with US and UK when it comes to the issue of petroleum deregulation. An average briton and american do not know when the fuel price goes up or down since their transportation system does not depend on petrol or deisel. Trains are there that is very cheap. Elecricity is stable, no headache of fuel for my "i better pass my neighbour". They use gas and elecricity for cooking. Manufacturing sector does not depend on fuel for power. But in Nigeria, all our economic life revolves round the fuel and any slight change in price of fuel in Nigeria will surely take a toll on every areas of the economy.
Pls leave theory you read inside book for your children at home, we all know the theory. Abi we sha go to school.
In UK and US, no matter the tuition fees, that one is not a problem, study loan is there for you but in Nigeria, even bursary award, government will not pay.
Government will give scholarship, the money will be given to the children of big men. When Obasanjo was giving out federal government scholarship, there was a guy that used to sell his blood to the hospital to pay the school fees, the guy applied, he was not given but his classmate who has a uncle in the federal ministry of education got the money and she used part of the money to buy rechearge card and the remaining for birthday.
So comparing Nigeria with US, UK and others, KO JO ARA WON RARA.king. Manufacturing sector does not depend on fuel for power. But in Nigeria, all our economic life revolves round the fuel and any slight change in price of fuel in Nigeria will surely take a toll on every areas of the economy.
Pls leave theory you read inside book for your children at home, we all know the theory. Abi we sha go to school.
In UK and US, no matter the tuition fees, that one is not a problem, study loan is there for you but in Nigeria, even bursary award, government will not pay.
Government will give scholarship, the money will be given to the children of big men. When Obasanjo was giving out federal government scholarship, there was a guy that used to sell his blood to the hospital to pay the school fees, the guy applied, he was not given but his classmate who has a uncle in the federal ministry of education got thjavascript:void(0);e money and she used part of the money to buy rechearge card and the remaining for birthday.
So comparing Nigeria with US, UK and others, KO JO ARA WON RARA.

Again, as we would see, there is no basis for comparison.

I think we should be honest when we do these comparisons and not compare "Apples and Oranges", lest we get lost in the middle confusion.

Let us take a basic yardstick: A Teacher in Nigeria and his counterpart in U.K.

I wish l could draw a "table" on NL so that l can draw immediate parallels between both but then we'll manage.

In Nigeria, he earns an average of #50,000:00  (or 208 GBP) (recent increase taken into consideration otherwise it was like 30K!). He pays tax at 21%, same average in the U.K (PAYE).
U.K counterpart earns on the average 500GBP ( #120,000:00).
This is the first indication of "Apples and Orange syndrome", when we compare the two!

His U.K counterpart, if married and the wife is not working, will be entitled to a whole bucket of "means-tested" benefits that could total over 500GBP in a month on the average (child benefit, early child care allowance, Back to school allowance, Job Seekers allowance, fuel allowance, e.t.c).
His Nigerian counterparts gets nada! Zilch!! that salary is what he has to share with his wife and children, no social safety net in anyway!

Now, if you total the "disposable income" of both families, you will get: Nigerian: #50,000 or 210 GBP.  British: about #250,000 or about 1,000 GBP

In Naira or Pounds, how can you compare both of them?

If both of them have 3children of both sexes, lets assume they live in a 3Bedroom house.
In Nigeria, that would cost you #500,000/year (or about 2,100 GBP).
In the U.K, it will cost about 600 x 12 = 7200GBP.

But the beauty of the U.K, when compared to Nigeria is that he can opt for a council house where he pays about 150GBP/month! Otherwise, he can file for "Housing Supplement" by which he contributes less that 10% or 60GBP to his house rent while the govt pays the rest!

The beauty of Nigeria, on the other hand is that the five of them in the family cannot even dare to dream of renting a 3-Bed house! Who dash monkey?
They would all be crowded in a Room and Parlor (doing fabulously for a teacher, by Naija standards! Grin ) which costs on average, #250,000 annually! He gets no housing subsidy or Council flat from anywhere!

Now, this same Nigerian teacher has to feed 3kids and wife from that same salary (#600,000 a year, minus house rent of 250K = #350,000!)
He has to pay school fees for 3kids while his counterparts children enjoy "Free Education", the quality of which would cost #500,000 for each child/year in Nigeria while his British counterparts children enjoy free education, the "quality" of which is comparable to those that costs #500,000 per year, per child, in Nigeria! (the likes of British American, Corona College, American Int'l School, Lekki)

The Nigerian Teacher has to buy a Generator (I better-pass my Landlord! Grin ), he has to keep fueling it almost 24/7 while his counterpart in the U.K enjoys uninterrupted power 24/7 and can therefore leverage on bulk-buying of foodstuffs in the home as it can be properly preserved!

Our Nigerian teacher must hop to the market every two days as he cannot preserve food in the house due to lack of stable electricity (cost of transport, lost man-hours spent on the road, rising cost of food, risk of commuting, e.t.c)

Anyone that has lived in U.K or Europe knows that food is the cheapest of all things you can buy (no wonder some of my Bros look like that "Obese Michelin Advert" after just 6months abroad! Huh ).
Our Nigerian counterpart will have to fork-out close to 50% of his income on buying food and foodstuffs for his family! Just go to Ketu and see the cost of Tomatoes, Rice, Gari, yam, e.t.c
My Dad once told me a story of how the "whites/ Brits" were surprised that Nigerians eat Bokotoo  and Ponmo (Cow-leg, expensive big-man's food), something they throw away in the U.K and Cow-skin that has no nutrition at all!! Such is life!!

I dont want to go on and on but l went this far just to show that comparing "costs/pricing" of commodities in Nigeria with U.K and therefore concluding we are better-off. is like comparing Apples with oranges, THERE IS NO BASIS TO DO SO!

Remember, Mainland U.K does not even produce Crude Oil while Nigeria does!
If cheaper pump-price of Petrol is the only thing we can show for been a Nigerian, then let it be!

I bet if Nigerian Political class (of Looters) were like U.K Politicians without any source of crude oil, Brits would be paying 20GBP per liter of fuel (so they can have spare money to loot), thats how wicked our leaders are!.

The problem is NOT UNDER-PRICING OF Petroleum Products!
The problem is unbridled corruption and looting of our national wealth by a few people in Govt.

Eradicate these and you will see that the govt can even afford to put every school-age child on "Back To Education" allowance!.
Ask the Europeans how they do it. Wink

Nuff said.

Lastpage

Okay, Ebute-Metta and Idimu, right? NOTED.
Its actually the same guy that was in-charge of the Shomolu "Switch", that also controls Ebute-Metta, Bariga, Apap Road, Yaba, Igbobi, Mushin, Surulere, Oju-Ooo-elegba and environs.

He will be redeployed and "the good old days" will be back pronto!

Let sumbori say "Up Nepa"!


BTW: Pls keep giving us "feedback" so we can know which areas their Switch has been forgotten in the "ON position" for tooo long!
if "your enemy's area" is getting more light than you, let us know as well, we will "Switch it Off" quick-quick!

Exposed: That "NEPA Staff" has not been doing his job! Switching "off" and "On".

Thank you for giving us "feedback", we will now assign someone else to "take care" of Shomolu Area.

Signed.
NEPA management.

(Goes to the "control room" and throws the switch to "off position" for the next 2weeks! )

First, you called him a "bullshiter"! Lord Jezzus!!
For that alone, YOU NEED TO DIVORCE HIM ASAP!
Why? He does not deserve YOU (I dont want to use words like 'wimp' to describe another human, God forbid!)

Having said that let me sit back a bit:
Since this is about Pastors/Ministry, every one has quoted the Bible!

My turn: "I am yet to see anyone serving the Lord, go hungry", says the Bible!

So, l can authoritatively tell you that your "bullshitter" will one day, be a millionaire, have Jets, even have "Presidents" kneel before him!
if you doubt me, go and ask "ALL" our full-time Pastors (aside Pastor Bakare) who use Private Jets and sit on Billions, today!

Back to my own church: "Mummy" Pastor is one half-illiterate, very arrogant, petty and sharp-tongued! (just like most Pastor's wife: oafs,like you too!).
But because her husband is "The church Pastor", even women old enough to be her mother will NEVER hand over keys to her without KNEELING!

She has just been "leveraged" from a NOBODY, to some V.I.P!
She gets gift even without liking it or showing appreciation (the best way to a man's heart is through his wife or else, she go spoil your own when Pastor wan attend to your own spiritual needs o! ).

So Madam Poster: These are the "goodies" you had in mind when your husband told you he is "called" to the Ministry!

Now that the "business" is not taking-off as quickly as you envisaged (its due to the global recession now, not just your husband's business), the "Man of Gowd" has suddenly become a "Bullshitter"?

Just look at your 'choice of word' to describe your husband?
Imagine someone like you becoming "Mummy G.O"? is that not a grave mistake?
You see why l say "He does not deserve your type"?

If he is truly called by God, his Ministry go big, no be small but you would be the first to remind us that: you are HIS LEGAL WIFE!
You will flash your "marriage Cert" like Lovelyn Vs. Mercy Johnson but right now, you are not acting your part in anyway!

Wives should "Honor their husbands" says the Bible: Are you honoring your husband here?
Are you "keeping your home" like a virtuous wife?

Lest just assume he was truly called:
Dont you feel God will be offended by your current words and disposition?
Dont you think God would see you as a hindrance to his Ministry?

if God has given YOU a job, so you can support your husband, you think it is too much for God to take that job away from you?
Why are you so arrogant and self-assuming?

Why do women in general, always feel so important and arrogant (to the point of ridiculing their husband publicly) once they take on some "manly responsibility" in the home? (no disrespect to the good women that do exist, albeit very small quantity!)

"For better, for worse" should mean exactly THAT!
It means if things get BETTER, you will love him till death!
if things get WORSE, you will still love him till death!
Why do women take this vow as a joke? Just tell the "official" you dont subscribe to that part, during the marriage and the man will know "where he stands".

Even Jesus went onto the mountain for 40days (No WORK, No Food, just FASTING AND PRAYER!)
In the spiritual realm, when you're actually trying to "elevate your spirit-being", common contact with humans can be a big distraction from achieving that height! (okay, may sound like a load of rubbish, l understand).

Best advice: Please pack your things and leave (thank God no kids are involved). Go and look for a UBA banker, (at least till he is retrenched at UBA, you will be enjoying the Upfront) marry him.
Dont let 'Pastor' have intimacy with you anymore (Children kooo, Pikin niii!) at least he should focus on his "spiritual odyssey"!
Divorce the sad-arse Pastor Pronto (l will hate that you can benefit from it, if he hits his 'spiritual jackpot' in future )

Dont come here and whine like you are not old enough to have a boyfriend (Dont shag his church member please! )

And you "Bros Pastor", in-case you dont know, Recession is making peeps wiser now, they ain't parting with their money that easily, anymore!
You need to be more "aggressive"; do some miracles (hmmm, l dint say you should go and join cult o!)
Gather "single women" wey no get husband and begin to pray for them, Prophesy husband for them!
Hopefully, you will gather enough stewpid folks to begin to earn some quid!

Remember, the key to a "seed church" is WOMEN! WOMEN!!, WOMEN!!!
Men are too stingy, too crafty and general too suspicious of PIMPS like YOU!

As for me, l wont show face, you ain't pimping ma wallet this time
If everything fails, go and do "Mai-Guard" as your "former wife" suggested!
Work, na Work!
You're really beginning to get FAT around your waist!

^^^^

We are not on the same level and we can never be as long as the Nigeria Politicians are working round the clock to loot the treasury dry and impoverish the masses while their UK counterparts are busy improving the standard of living of the average Brits even if it requires waging war on smaller countries to exploit and export their resources for their own people just to make their life better.

You nailed everything together, in a very coincise manner!
Reason why there will always be a "Libya, Ivory coast, Iraq, Vietnam, Venezuela, Iran, e.t.c", till the end of time!
'Wickedly smart' leaders in the West, "Corruptly Stewpid" leaders in Nigeria and Africa in general.

@Bluetooth

Where you around during the NPN VS UPN war sir ?

Around and grown-up enough to have played in the "Principal's Cup" football competition for my Secondary school at U.A.C Sports ground (now Teslim Balogun Stadium)

Let me bore you a bit.
Seriously, things l saw (or those that saw things with their eyes) in those days WOULD NEVER doubt the efficacy of Native Medicine ('Juju', using the derogatory term for it). Juju as we call it, is just a natural, "age-long developed practice" of natural survival.
God is a Spirit, He made man in His image => Man is a Spirit and asked us to worship him in "spirit".

The implication of these statements is that "Man is capable of operating not just at the 'physical realm but also at the spirit realm'
In the "Spirit Realm", a lot of things that are difficult or impossible in the "Physical Realm", becomes "Child's Play".

Now, are you aware that ALL the Caucasian Scientist that laid the foundation of "Modern Science" also practiced their own form of "juju"?
Be it as Rosicrucian (the real ones of the old ages o), Templars, Philosophers, Thinkers, Astral travelers, Diviners, e.t.c.

Truth is, every part of the world has these "Ancient Spiritual Knowledge" which allowed them to survive through the ages (if you're a Christian, ask yourself: Why was God's "real name", as used by people like Moses, Joshua, Abraham, Jesus, the Apostles, e.t.c, REMOVED from the Bible or why were ordinary folks prevented from having access to the "original Bible"? It was called heresy back then!
A few people knew the potency, of course!

It was with such knowledge that our Great Grand fathers of the "Ages" survived, when their was no electricity, no Doctors, no Drugs like Anti-Biotic, no "Motor" Vehicles or bridges (yet they have to travel over distances!), YET THEY SURVIVED, otherwise we wouldn't be here ourselves!

If you believe that Albert Einstein wasjust sitting under an Apple Tree and suffered a brin wave and discovered the "Three fundamental laws of Motion", then you too can go sit under an Apple Tree for a life time!
or if anyone believes that folks like Archimedes, Volta, Galileo, (called a Witch, imprisoned and banned to the wilderness for most of his life) just suffered some brain-power and came about all those "principles" and "universal laws of science", THINK AGAIN PLEASE
Its not a bad thing if used for good but we Africans ten to use ours to settle old scores !


It is unfortunate and a travesty that we Africans / Brown people did not use our own "God-given advantage" for our own good.
The Caucasians used theirs to gain military superiority overs us and then told us our own WAS EVIL and we should forget it (using Religion to befuddle us!)

I guess if Jesus was a black man, he would have been 'rubbished' (and called an agent of the devil/evil for using 'Juju' ) for turning water to wine, waking a dead man, walking on water, performing "matter multiplication" moves (three fishes and two loaves of bread), dieing and raising up again! But he is Caucasian and therefore a "great man". If that is not Jewish era "Juju", show me what it is then?


Now, thats just by the way, you are as old as you feel and right now, l am confident that l am feeling younger than you!
More like 15yrs

Cheers.
Lastpage

BTW: Dont take my postings serious!

Its not wrong to have "bullet proof", its like "saving for the rainy day"!
How about fighting "fire with fire"?
Just in-case "the boys" come visiting in the dead of the night.

Omode o'mogu, oun'pe l'effoo (A child who does not recognize Juju potion, called it "edible Vegetable", literally)

Until you see it, please dont believe it.
If you were around during the 1979 Governorship election in Ondo state (UPN Vs. NPN), you will get my drift!
Go ask those NPN peeps that tried to rig themselves in.

As for Baba Kazeem, he is just an empty "drunk" barrel making unnecessary noise, and he paid dearly for it.

Lesson: Empty Barrels should stop making noise!

Its no secret that 90% of children borne to Policemen turn out to be worse criminals than the ones their parents are employed to arrest!

if you doubt my assertion, just lurk around any Police/Army barracks: you will have noticed that criminality is highest around those areas. You will also notice that those arrested (and then released to re-offend again) are "officers children".

So, the problem IS NOT with their Wives.

The Problem has to do with the exceptionally-high dosage of CURSES THAT INNOCENT SOULS RAIN ON THEIR FAMILY!

They should change their ways or suffer the consequence.


Lastpage!

BTW: Would you marry or allow your daughter to marry a Policeman?
I know "egunje" can be enticing!!

^^^^ I was just wondering if the "Security Agents" would not be doing "Thanks-giving" in church on Sunday, after turning this into another "Roger Venture"!

We are such a peaceful Nation (and people) that we have taken 'security' for a joke.
Boko people should be tackled using "Stealth intelligence" gathering, not "Physical and raw show of presence".

What will happen if Boko peeps go on vacation and strike in 6months time, are our security peeps ready and willing to keep-up the "Vigil" endlessly? Me dont think so at all.

Another "imported analysis" to home grown problem.

Why dont u compare d availability of social amenities, quality of life, living standard, cost of living in both nations b4 u compare cost of fuel in both nations?

@Siena:
I think we should be honest when we do these comparisons and not compare "Apples and Oranges", lest we get lost in the middle confusion.

Let us take a basic yardstick: A Teacher in Nigeria and his counterpart in U.K.

I wish l could draw a "table" on NL so that l can draw immediate parallels between both but then we'll manage.

In Nigeria, he earns an average of #50,000:00 (or 208 GBP) (recent increase taken into consideration otherwise it was like 30K!). He pays tax at 21%, same average in the U.K (PAYE).
U.K counterpart earns on the average 500GBP ( #120,000:00).
This is the first indication of "Apples and Orange syndrome", when we compare the two!

His U.K counterpart, if married and the wife is not working, will be entitled to a whole bucket of "means-tested" benefits that could total over 500GBP in a month on the average (child benefit, early child care allowance, Back to school allowance, Job Seekers allowance, fuel allowance, e.t.c).
His Nigerian counterparts gets nada! Zilch!! that salary is what he has to share with his wife and children, no social safety net in anyway!

Now, if you total the "disposable income" of both families, you will get: Nigerian: #50,000 or 210 GBP. British: about #250,000 or about 1,000 GBP

In Naira or Pounds, how can you compare both of them?

If both of them have 3children of both sexes, lets assume they live in a 3Bedroom house.
In Nigeria, that would cost you #500,000/year (or about 2,100 GBP).
In the U.K, it will cost about 600 x 12 = 7200GBP.

But the beauty of the U.K, when compared to Nigeria is that he can opt for a council house where he pays about 150GBP/month! Otherwise, he can file for "Housing Supplement" by which he contributes less that 10% or 60GBP to his house rent while the govt pays the rest!

The beauty of Nigeria, on the other hand is that the five of them in the family cannot even dare to dream of renting a 3-Bed house! Who dash monkey?
They would all be crowded in a Room and Parlor (doing fabulously for a teacher, by Naija standards! ) which costs on average, #250,000 annually! He gets no housing subsidy or Council flat from anywhere!

Now, this same Nigerian teacher has to feed 3kids and wife from that same salary (#600,000 a year, minus house rent of 250K = #350,000!)
He has to pay school fees for 3kids while his counterparts children enjoy "Free Education", the quality of which would cost #500,000 for each child/year in Nigeria while his British counterparts children enjoy free education, the "quality" of which is comparable to those that costs #500,000 per year, per child, in Nigeria! (the likes of British American, Corona College, American Int'l School, Lekki)

The Nigerian Teacher has to buy a Generator (I better-pass my Landlord! ), he has to keep fueling it almost 24/7 while his counterpart in the U.K enjoys uninterrupted power 24/7 and can therefore leverage on bulk-buying of foodstuffs in the home as it can be properly preserved!

Our Nigerian teacher must hop to the market every two days as he cannot preserve food in the house due to lack of stable electricity (cost of transport, lost man-hours spent on the road, rising cost of food, risk of commuting, e.t.c)

Anyone that has lived in U.K or Europe knows that food is the cheapest of all things you can buy (no wonder some of my Bros look like that "Obese Michelin Advert" after just 6months abroad! ).
Our Nigerian counterpart will have to fork-out close to 50% of his income on buying food and foodstuffs for his family! Just go to Ketu and see the cost of Tomatoes, Rice, Gari, yam, e.t.c
My Dad once told me a story of how the "whites/ Brits" were surprised that Nigerians eat Bokotoo and Ponmo (Cow-leg, expensive big-man's food), something they throw away in the U.K and Cow-skin that has no nutrition at all!! Such is life!!

I dont want to go on and on but l went this far just to show that comparing "costs/pricing" of commodities in Nigeria with U.K and therefore concluding we are better-off. is like comparing Apples with oranges, THERE IS NO BASIS TO DO SO!

Remember, Mainland U.K does not even produce Crude Oil while Nigeria does!
If cheaper pump-price of Petrol is the only thing we can show for been a Nigerian, then let it be!

I bet if Nigerian Political class (of Looters) were like U.K Politicians without any source of crude oil, Brits would be paying 20GBP per liter of fuel (so they can have spare money to loot), thats how wicked our leaders are!.

The problem is NOT UNDER-PRICING OF Petroleum Products!
The problem is unbridled corruption and looting of our national wealth by a few people in Govt.

Eradicate these and you will see that the govt can even afford to put every school-age child on "Back To Education" allowance!.
Ask the Europeans how they do it.

Lastpage

Just saw who is after Tinubu!

He was all over Tinubu, following him everywhere, with a big Dagger in his hand!

He was very menacing and fear-inspiring!
He can outrun Tinubu and has the means to "undo" Tinubu, even in his Bedroom!

Now l see that BAT is so scared of him!

Hmmmmm.,.,.,he is TINUBU'S SHADOW!
,,,,,,with a Dagger in his hand that BAT uses in stabbing others

The most shamefully-wicked part of the whole story is THE SAME LIE that our leaders RECYCLE to us EVERYTIME they need more money to STEAL: Increasing the Price would bring BETTER SERVICE!

I heard it under Obasanjo, as a Military Head of State!
I heard it under Ibrahim Babangida, for eight years!
I heard it under Obasanjo, "seven times in eight years" as a Civilian President!
I heard it again under[b] Yar Ardua[/b], though briefly in Power!
Now, l an hearing it again under "badluck" Goodluck Jonathan!

Yes, l have heard It ALL!
As the price of fuel was increased from 15K/Liter, => 23K/Liter => 78K/Liter => 1.25K/Liter => => =. #65/Liter!

In each case, its always the same excuse (are they not even smart enough to think of something different?): For Better service/availability!

But did they build more refineries to cater for AVAILABILITY? No!
Did they invest the increase in building Petro-Chemical Plants (Like Iran)? Again, No!
Did they build new Power stations over the years, Again, No!


Did they use the "increase" to enrich themselves and steal bigger sums of money? You bet, YES!

And did we (including myself) do anything? You bet, NO!

Truly, as we lay our beds, so we are lying on it!

I would rather you guys ASK FOR A VISIT than criticize him directly if you're not sure 100%, of what you're saying.

Nigerians are known to "copy" everything hook, line and sinker! Just to impress their neighbor
So dont be surprised if you enter Mr. Big-man's house and you see "Heater" in all is rooms or double-glazed windows!

It does not make the Selle/installer a "liar", he simply does what the customer desires!


BTW: I dont know the guy or connected to him in anyway. Not even by phone call

Electricity Deregulation  => Costly, yet Epileptic Power, where you have it
Kerosine Deregulation => #300/Beer Bottle!
Gas Deregulation => #650 per Cylinder
Cement Deregulation => #2,500 per bag
Petrol Deregulation (Price hike over ten times in 10years!) => #195 per liter

Even a fool knows by now, that DEREGULATION IS JUST ABOUT MAKING MORE MONEY AVAILABLE FOR STEALING BY GOVT OFFICIALS!

It has NOTHING TO DO WIT AVAILABILITY OF THE PRODUCT/RESOURCE!


Yes, Fleece the Poor Citizens so we can have more money to steal!
Poor, docile citizens, l guess they deserve what they're getting; FOR BEING SO DOCILE! 

I think you guys/gals should save your energy and dispense it where it is NEEDED/REQUIRED: Catching he criminals!

Dont let us be adducing "reasons" why she was gang-violated, "The Act" itself is evil.
Lets "drive away the Fox before coming back to admonish the chicken"! (if the chicken in this case, was even errant at all!)

Having said that, there is nothing wrong in trying to "see beyond the surface" or "getting to the root of the matter".
Most times when "evil" happens in Nigeria, we tend to just "scratch it on the surface" and thus ensure that the same Evil pattern is repeated over an over again!
That is the danger of our "simplistic approach" to very sensitive issu[/b]es.
[b]
Now, l can understand those who feel "trying to unearth such motives or investigating it dispassionately", can be traumatic.
In an investigation, you keep ALL YOUR OPTIONS OPEN.
It is even standard procedure to "assume the victim is the criminal, in masquerade"!
That is how investigations are conducted: without any preconceived position/opinion on the issue at stake.


But if we must prevent a re-occurrence, we must be prepared to do a proper job of investigation and such job is usually devoid of sentiments.
For example, a Coroner/Pathologist will cut to pieces, a murder victim, just to establish the cause of death!
If sentiments were to take precedence, then we can argue that the "victim" (body) has suffered enough and should not be taken through another orgy of dissection!

Now, we also need to be careful not to "appear as insensitive", especially when emotions are still running very high but there is no point being overly sentimental about it also!

To those who have clamored that the Video should be kept under wraps:
1.)Why do you think this is a wise decision?

2.)Do you think anything on the internet, in this age of technology, is HIDDEN anymore?

3.) Do you not think that airing the video (l know it could cause more distress to the victim) does not have an overriding "Public Good" than keep it hidden?
4.) Do you not think it is more important at this point to ENSURE these guys are caught and severely punished for this heinous crime, than to keep the video and possibly prevent their identification by any member of the public? The more people that watch the video, the more the probability someone in the audience would come up with a brilliant opinion/idea that could identify just on of the guys!

5.) Do you realize that in this sort of case, public information is more reliable, desirable, effective and quicker than any "covert Police investigation"?

6.) Police all over the world always solicit for information from the public, How then can the public help them, if they are kept in the dark about the incidence and the personae involved?

On the balance of "Public Good", l personally think the video needs to be shown OPENLY (with viewer discretion advised).
I believe the end, will justify the means, if it helps us nail these freaks.

I just watched the Video now and the angle l got from the video is different from what l have been reading so far.


I could see that the "room" has no curtains => it was likely done in a house with a "walled compound", therefore outsiders and passersby could not see what was going on! The implication of this single, not so obvious "observation" is that WE CAN RULE OUT ALL HOUSE THAT ARE IN THE OPEN, AS PLACE OF INCIDENCE! Now that could narrow down our search considerably!

Did anyone also observe that the room was painted "Blue color"? And the Mattress was on the ground!
=> Thus, we can quickly eliminate any room whose color is "Not Blue", from any room-to-room search, if we act quickly. Again, we wont be wasting time on dead-ends.

These are just two of the most basic observations l have made, l have made many more.
I am sure some of you who understand "Igbo language" and have watched the Video, can also make a few observations l couldn't make.


Believe me, the more people that watch it, the more "useful observations" can be deduced and thats how a case is cracked!
How then can the public make such observations if they Video is kept hidden (so to speak)?

The sordid event has happened and there is nothing to change that (historical fact) but l will hate to think that any of those animals are free and roaming around town, like nothing happened!

Believe me, it wont be their last time if they get away with it.
Question is: which "woman" will be NEXT? Your daughter? Your sister? Mother? Aunt?

I rest my case!

Lastpage.

so because she works part-time, she has to mow the lawn and wash the cars?

And why can "she" mow the or wash cars?
Okay, l understand! WOMEN are not supposed to mow the lawn or do such stuffs!

Its a "man's job"!
At times, it sounds hypocritical to me, when we stand for "equality of the sexes" and shout when men try to act superior in certain things
BUT in other circumstance, we are very eager to surrender our EQUALITY MANTRA to men, when its suits our purpose!

Thing is, Life is not like that, it comes in "a package"; The Good, The Bad and the Ugly! All together!

If we concede that men (being physiologically designed for harder/physical jobs and therefore more muscular and barrel-chested) are suited for hard work, we MUST also concede that Women are more suited for bearing child!

The obvious conclusion therefore is that GOD CREATED US NOT TO BE EQUALS BUT TO COMPLEMENT OURSELVES AND ALL THOSE "EQUALITY FIGHTERS" are Nuts! End of story!

I hope women will realize that it is even more difficult than making a camel pass through the eye of a Needle, than to "FORCE" a man to do house-chores! You gotta "be smart" and let him lead himself to it, willingly!
Relax and let him lead the way while you lazy behind him, thats what men like! Ego-trippers!

BTW: Those asking whether l am male or Female, just read the context of the reply and you could tell if it was 'the man' or 'the woman' that was writing.
Me and my Hussy use this same handle and we read each other! So much fun.
My dude does all those things like Lawns, cooking at times, Washing cars, e.t.c!
Very

If there is anything l enjoy doing, its mowing the lawn!
Each time l watch Premiership finish, l actually get out with my lawnmower and replicate those "designs" l see on their turf, on my own backyard lawn.
Its fun, l criss-cross the mowing and l get the beautiful designs on my grass lawn!

Really, if you've ever used a "BLUNT CUTLASS" to cut "STUBBORN GRASS" as a youngster (like me), you will agree that cutting the grass with a "Lawnmower" is like forcing me to go to McDonalds every day!

I still wonder why women complain about "doing the laundry"?
Which laundry? Is stuffing the 6Kg, A-rated Washing machine with clothes and Pressing the "Start button" is also called "doing laundry"?

In the good old days, our Mothers wash a "Mountain of clothes" and still have the energy to cook a good meal!
The ones we have now just complain that the washing machine is too difficult to switch 'on'! Wetin?

I guess the world is really gone bunkers!

In my house, l cook when l feel like, l enjoy it.
I wash the cars on some weekends and my kids enjoy joining me and we all have fun.
When l do the lawn, we have to ballot on whose turn it is to use the Mower, we all want to have a go at it, its so much fun!

of course, my wife like most women,  will still complain about the Hoover!
Yea, thats the definition of a woman: Never satisfied; but as long as l enjoy doing it no probs!

Its only when l am in a bad mood (like when Man-U thrash Arsenal[b] 8 -2[/b]), that katakata fit burst!

BTW: Dont ever force your husband to do house chores, its a recipe for disaster!
Find a way to make him enjoy it and you have just bought your self a "willing-slave", so to speak!

Lastpage

My most reliable and most cherished car was a Mercedes Benz V-BOOT 230E, American Specs.
It served me faithfully from using it for my wedding till l relocated some 16years later!

Its the sweetest car you can ever drive!
For the first 7years or so, l hardly open the bonnet except when the wiper bottle runs out of water (aside the regular Garrage servicing) and needs a refill.
Its just "Kick-and-Go" and being automatic transmission, its just a glider on the highway!

And l still sold it off, for half a million naira!

I am still in this quest to know "How God talks to people in this modern times"!
I dont intend to sound sarcastic but l am interested in the following:

1.) What language did God use in speaking to this peeps?
2.) How did they know it was God's voice that was "speaking" (or they were hearing)?

By the way, there is this my room-mate at the University in those days, after smoking a bagful of Cannabis/Weed, he will start "prophesying" and some of his "predictions" do actually come true, a times!

3.) Can God speak falsehood, if it was really God that was speaking?
4.) Assuming God still speaks to men in the literal sense of "physically speaking in an understandable language", why cant our G.O's/Pastors/Reverends/e.t.c. ask God "critical questions" and receive "Correct and true answers" to such questions?

For example, why cant our Oyedepos, Oyakhilomes, Adeboyes and many other acclaimed men that hear directly from God, ask Him:

a) Who should be the right person to rule this country for our good?
b) Who are those behind these bombs that kill innocent soul
c) What can we do to permanently remove the scourge of corruption from this country (like Judas was expunged from the brethrens!)
d) How can the world cure all the bad diseases like HIV, Cancer, Stroke, Diabetes, Asthma and many more.

HOW COME THEY DONT HEAR GOD SPEAK ABOUT THESE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS THAT AFFECT OUR LIVES?
How come we are still wondering in the dark, between PDP, ACN and BUHARI?

As for this particular Pastor, for whatever reason, (abuse, infidelity, e.t.c) No One should be under the YOKE of another person, for 15years!
If you dont want him/her, You MUST FREE HIM/HER!

Marriage should be about bliss and happiness, not slavery.
Marriage should be an "AGREEMENT" to live together, Not an agreement to live apart, otherwise the 'concept of marriage' is destroyed!

And to think she was given the opportunity to "defend her 15yrs sabbatical leave", yet she chose to still be AWOL!
What about the kids that have "No Mother" fro 15yrs?
I can understand the children's position about their father marrying another woman: Once beaten, twice shy!
They would be thinking: Oh Nooo Dad, not another woman/wifey! The last one left us stranded for 15yrs!

Naaah, the marriage has dissolved itself a long time ago, the Pastor just wants to formalize it legally !

Lastpage

Nigerians are funny people!
We always have an excuse for every failure!

These argument reminds me of the "Petroleum Pricing Reform" that  happened Seven (7) Times in Eight years, under OBJ!

The same "lame excuses" that were being offered at every price increase, is the same excuse l am reading here again!

Whats the problem with Nigerians? Brain dead?
Why do we always believe that "the more expensive something is, the better it is"?

Check all the fake products in our midst, we will buy them once the "seller/faker" prices them higher/costlier!
Or have you never bought a fake drug or car spare parts before?

What irks me most is that all these so called technocrats know NOTHING!

Infact, their "definition" of reforms begins and ends with PRICE INCREASE!
Yea, just increase the price and everything will be fine, right?

Just like their mates in the industries/business, their ONLY definition of "Corporate Reform" Starts and ends with "Staff Retrenchment"!

Hmmm, this "suffer-head" will never stop, l pity Nigerians so much!
Peace-loving, docile and foolish at the same time!
Blessed with vultures and vipers as leaders/decision makers!

(shakes head in sadness but sheds no-tear for a foolish generation under siege from corrupt leaders!)

@ebonylove

NLanders i have seen polygamy at work o and trust me it is soo not fun. You think it is all about sex and money (maybe), but that is not all it is about jealously, rivality, deviousness, prayers for things that can be avoided, in worst cases juju, poison and all your children must leave in a church abroad o.

mother inlaws telling you how to deal with your husbands wife, children envy, different vissions from lots of pastors. Abeg if he cant calm his intimacy drive and you cant give it to him more abeg divorce o at least the bible allows it on infidelity grounds.

Thank you very much for this quote!
It is worth a "tiny observation" that in all the highlighted parts, they are all the handiwork of WOMEN!

Why are the "father-in-laws" not usually involved in these shady things?


BTW: I get tripped by the way WOMEN GO BALLISTIC once the word "second" and "wife" are put in the same sentence!

Makes a very interesting observation and object of study!
Just wondering why "men" dont react the same way?
Any reasonable/intelligent suggestions?

^^^Unfortunately, IT TAKES TWO PEOPLE TO TANGO!

If an ex-lover "approaches you amorously", as a decent married woman, you "embarrass him off"!
If he persists, you report him to your husband and let him handle the ex-lover from there.

The responsibility for "any type of contract" (offer and acceptance) rests mostly with the person that 'accepts" an offer!
Any clown can make an offer, whether it is accepted is KEY!

Lastpage!


BTW: Na woman dey get bellee O! Not the man!!

^^^^^Thank YOU very much!

Seems folks are also guilty of the same thing they accuse S.R. of - PhD syndrome!

As they say, "focus on the message, dont kill the messenger"!

Make somebori answer now?

We shouldn't just believe S.R just because they said so NIETHER should we believe some other "P.R. Manager" just because he is trying to save his job!

Show us the money details!

Nigeria sha, the more you look, the less you see!

Thank God for WikkiLeaks, at times one cannot believe the level of corruption, horse-trading and shenanigans that go on amongst our so-called leaders; People in whose hands we have entrusted the steering of the destiny-ship of this country and its 150million citizens!

Will this country ever rise again or will it go down into the books of history as a wasteland?

Will the "authentic Nigerians" who are ready to "sacrifice for this country", (not for their own immediate gain, but for the gain of generations yet to come), will they stand-up and be counted?

I watched yester-night, as Egyptians citizens, after waiting for their own government to "do something about the killing of six Egyptian citizens on their home soil", by Israel, took their destiny into their hands and practically used their "hands and claws" to tear down the Israeli Embassy walls and chase the Ambassador away!

The moral of that action is that "A country is only as great and proper, as much as the citizens are ready to sacrifice and put their own life on the line, for what they believe in".. Yes, one man died; He paid the supreme sacrifice for that achievement!
No pain, No gain! That is what life is!!

Do Nigerians have anything they believe in and can they sacrifice for that which they believe in?

Well, lets see how long we would wait and lets see when our people will wake up from their "selfishness-induce slumber"!

Full text of cable:

Reference ID     Created     Released     Classification     Origin
06ABUJA483     2006-02-28 12:03     2011-08-30 01:44     SECRET     Embassy Abuja

VZCZCXRO1467
PP RUEHMR RUEHPA
DE RUEHUJA #0483/01 0591203
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
P 281203Z FEB 06
FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4748
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNFB/FBI WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC PRIORITY

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 04 ABUJA 000483

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/01/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KCOR KDEM CVIS NI
SUBJECT: CORRUPTION: NIGERIA "IMPROVES" TO SIXTH-WORST IN
THE WORLD, WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT?

REF: 2004 ABUJA 1991

Classified By: Ambassador John Campbell for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

-------
Summary
-------

¶1.    (U) Transparency International recently released its
annual Corruption Perceptions Index for 2005, showing that
there are now five countries in the world perceived to be
more corrupt than Nigeria.  In 2004, only two countries had
been listed as more corrupt.  As expected, the GON both
claimed credit for the "improvement" in position, and denied
that there was still a corruption problem in Nigeria.

¶2.    (S/REL UK) Corruption remains widespread in Nigeria at
all levels of the private and public sector.  The arrests in
London of the Bayelsa and Plateau State governors barely
scratched the surface of the endemic corruption at the
federal, state, and local level.  The current campaign to
ferret out corrupt officials is widely perceived to be
nothing more than a political witch hunt by President
Obasanjo, a view supported by examining cases targeted at
high-level officials.  Section 308 of the 1999 constitution
gives immunity from civil or criminal prosecution to the
President, Vice President, Governors, and Deputy Governors,
and many holders of these offices have clearly taken
advantage of this privilege.  There is no such immunity from
U.S. visa revocation under Presidential Proclamation 7750,
however, and post plans to submit further requests for
revocation of visas of corrupt public officials. End Summary.

--------------------------------------------- --------
Transparency International: Nigeria's a Little Better
--------------------------------------------- --------

¶3.    (U) Transparency International (TI) recently released
its annual Corruption Perceptions Index for 2005, showing
that there are now five countries in the world perceived to
be more corrupt than Nigeria:  Chad, Bangladesh,
Turkmenistan, Myanmar, and Haiti.  In 2004, only Bangladesh
and Haiti had been listed as more corrupt.   Nigeria's
absolute rating increased slightly, from 1.6 (out of 10) to
1.9, though the range of the confidence interval could have
placed the country anywhere in the bottom nine.  As expected,
the GON claimed credit for the  "improvement" in position,
saying it was evidence of the Obasanjo administration's
reforms.  And as expected, the GON also faulted TI's
methodology and denied there was still a corruption problem
in Nigeria.

¶4.    (U) The World Economic Forum has released the results
of a survey finding improvement in Nigerian firms'
perceptions of corruption in the country.  For example, from
2002-2005, the percentage of Nigerian firms that believed
public funds in Nigeria were diverted due to corruption
decreased from 100% to about 75%.

¶5.    (U) The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) and its chairman, Nuhu Ribadu, continue to grab
headlines, as newspapers eagerly report the rumored targets
of EFCC investigations.  Independent Corrupt Practices
Commission (ICPC) chairman Mustapha Akanbi stepped down on
September 29 and was replaced by another former Supreme Court
justice, Emmanuel Olayinka Ayoola.  Meanwhile, the EFCC and
the ICPC have won only a single conviction of a high-level
public official:  on November 22, former Inspector-General of
Police Tafa Balogun, fired for corruption, pled guilty to
minor obstruction charges and received a sentence of just six
months, less time served.

--------------------------------------------- ------
Corruption Remains Pervasive, from the Top Down
--------------------------------------------- ------

¶6.    (U) Corruption remains widespread in Nigeria at all
levels of the private and public sector.  The arrests in
London of the Bayelsa and Plateau State governors have barely
scratched the surface of the endemic corruption at the
federal, state, and local level.  Section 308 of the 1999
constitution gives immunity from civil or criminal
prosecution to the President, Vice President, Governors, and
Deputy Governors, and many holders of these offices have
clearly taken advantage of this privilege.

¶7.    (U) For example, in a widely-circulated August 22
letter to President Obasanjo, Abia State Governor Orji Uzor
Kalu accused Obasanjo of corruption, listing a number of
dubious deals, including:

ABUJA 00000483  002 OF 004



--Cancellation of the contract for the construction of the
national stadium in Abuja, only to re-award the contract to a
different vendor at a higher price.

--Use of public funds for capital improvements at two private
schools secretly owned by Obasanjo.

Obasanjo's response was to agree to be "investigated by the
EFCC, which reports to the President.  When the EFCC invited
Kalu to provide evidence to support his accusations, Kalu
refused, pointing out that the EFCC was not an independent
investigative body and had no authority to prosecute the
President, and the investigation died out.

¶8.    (C) The President's chicken farm in Otta is one of the
largest in Nigeria.  A Presidential spokesman said in
November 2004, in order to explain Obasanjo's personal
wealth, that the farm generated about $250,000 per month in
income, though it was nearly bankrupt in the late 1990s (ref
A).  Regardless of whether the current income figure is
accurate, at least some Nigerians think it is unlikely that
Obasanjo's military pension and benefits were the sole source
of investment for establishing this huge enterprise, valued
by a construction engineer involved in the construction at
more than $250 million.

¶9.    (S/REL UK) It is also widely believed that the
President's inner circle also reaps hefty rewards with
impunity.  Some frequently cited examples are:

--Edmund Daukoro, recently named Minister of State for
Petroleum Resources, was charged in 1994 for embezzling some
$47 million as a managing director of the Nigerian National
Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).  The charges were abandoned,
and Daukoro's political career soared when Obasanjo took
office in 1999.

--Senator Florence Ita Giwa, indicted for misappropriation of
funds by the Idris Kuta Panel in 2000, was pardoned along
with other indicted senators, and she was named a special
advisor to Obasanjo when she left office.

--The head of the National Airport Management Authority
(NAMA), Rochas Okorocha, was caught and dismissed for
embezzling about $1 million through an inflated contract;
Obasanjo then appointed him as a senior aide, without
requiring Okorocha to repay the stolen funds.  Okorocha was
eventually fired on July 13 in a cabinet reshuffle, but went
on to start a political party for his renewed presidential
ambitions.

--The recent auction of oil blocks included some firms
bidding,, sometimes with no prior ties to the oil industry,
that were linked to Obasanjo associates, including Daukoro,
Rivers State governor Peter Odili, Ogun State  governor
Gbenga Daniel, presidential advisor Andy Uba,  presidential
chief of staff Abdullahi Mohammed, Minister of the Federal
Capital Territory Nasir al-Rufai and PDP Board of Trustees
Chairman Tony Anenih.

--Anenih was indicted by the National Assembly for the sum of
300 billion Naira (approximately $2.4 billion) missing from
Ministry of Works and Housing while he was the minister.  The
missing money is widely believed to have paid off 2003
elections  "expenses," including to Balogun, in addition to
lining his own pockets.

--Minister of Finance Ngozie Okonjo-Iweala is said to have
steered contracts to her brother (JonJon) with the help of
al-Rufai.  The contracts, said to amount to about $50
million, have been paid for consulting work for the Ministry.

--Al-Rufai is at the center of the corruption allegations.
Well-known to PolCouns eight year ago, when he was homeless
and seeking a loan to import a taxi from the UK, al-Rufai is
said to have recently purchased seven upscale properties in a
posh Abuja neighborhood.  His demolitions of commercial and
residential buildings in the capital have reportedly provided
an opportunity for himself and several of his friends.  After
demolishing residential properties in Kubwa, the land was
reallocated to several of his friends and to an investment
company he allegedly owns.  The community of Chika, where
about two square miles of development was demolished in
December, has allegedly been allocated to the same group of
people.

--Chief Olabode George, current PDP National Chairman
(Southwest) is a close friend of President Obasanjo and a
leading proponent of the Third Term Agenda.  He is one of the

ABUJA 00000483  003 OF 004


people accused of financial recklessness in the affairs of
the National Port Authority, where he was chairman when the
financial scandals were allegedly committed.  He was retired
from the Navy in the 1990s by the Babangida Administration
after serving as military governor of Ondo State from 1987 to
1990 in addition to other military postings.

--Chris Uba, recently appointed to the PDP Board of Trustees,
admitted rigging during the 2003 elections and attempted to
kidnap the governor of Anambra state to try to collect
payments for his efforts.  Linked closely to several
vigilante groups in the state, he is widely believed to be
responsible for the burning of many state government
buildings in Awka, crimes that have yet to be solved.

¶10.   (C/REL UK) Obasanjo himself is believed to be one of
the owners of Suntrust Petroleum.  And questions remain about
the Obasanjo Library project, which collected enormous sums
of money from government contractors, banks, industrialists,
and state governors, ostensibly for the construction of a
presidential library, the plans for which are vague.  It is
widely believed throughout the country that Obasanjo and his
son, Gbenga, are major shareholders in the newly reorganized
Zenith Bank and UBA Bank as well as in airlines and the
telecommunications sector.

¶11.   (C/REL UK) The Bureau of Private Enterprises oversaw
the privatization of many government-owned business,
including sugar, steel, rice and other sectors.  It is widely
believed that the privatization exercise benefited both the
President, through Aliko Dangote, and the Vice President,
through various agents.

¶12.   (C/REL UK) Meanwhile, at the state level, the personal
excesses of several governors indicate that they are finding
ways to supplement their government salaries:

--Edo State governor Lucky Igbenedion purchased a $6 million
mansion in London in 2000 through a series of shell
companies, a year after he was elected governor.  He has two
Ferraris on the premises.  He also owns reputedly the most
expensive residence in Abuja, estimated at $25 million.

--Delta State governor James Ibori owns two London estates.
The properties were purchased for $3 million and $4 million,
respectively, after Ibori was elected governor.  Through a
shell company registered to his London-based wife, he offered
for public auction an ongoing supply of 6 million barrels of
oil per month.  When reporters confronted his wife, the shell
companies abruptly changed their directors so that Ibori's
wife was no longer listed.

--Rivers State governor Peter Odili has built an impressive
portfolio from his corrupt dealings as governor of one of the
oil-rich states in Nigeria since his first election in 1999.
Beginning his political career as a medical doctor with a
small private clinic in Port Harcourt, he now hosts
extravagant events and boasts that it would not have been
possible "before he became governor."  Further, he is widely
suspected of being directly responsible for facilitating
massive irregularities in both the 1999 and 2003 elections.
His own state officials have claimed that Odili has employed
militia groups, many of which are responsible for the
continuing unrest in the delta region.

--Each of the 36 state governors donated 10 million naira
(about $75,000) to the Obasanjo library project.   Following
a public outcry, the library organizers stated the donations
were from the governors' personal funds, but several
governors backpedaled from their commitments, claiming they
had made no such pledges.  When a Lagos lawyer filed a code
of conduct complaint alleging conflict of interest in the
President's receiving these donations from recipients of
government funds, Obasanjo invoked the immunity clause of the
constitution, and the complaint died out.

---------------
What Can We Do?
---------------

¶13.   (S/REL UK) While we cannot prove all of these
accusations in a court of law, their significance is that
they are widely believed both among political figures and
among that part of the general public that is politically
aware.  It is in the USG's interest to support Nigeria's
efforts to root out corruption and, while our positive public
pronouncements contribute to the environment, the biggest
influence we can have is the judicious use of U.S. visa
revocation for corrupt practices, as provided by Presidential
Proclamation 7750.  Though we are unable to identify every

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corrupt official, the Mission is compiling a list of some
prominent and egregious corrupt officials from throughout the
country.  This list will take into consideration the
individuals, levels of corruption and the impact on Nigerian
stability of a 7750 decision.  The list could be expanded in
many directions, but the Mission feels that such an effort
would demonstrate the sincerity and seriousness of the USG's
commitment to good governance and, if these individuals are
found ineligible, that finding could contribute greatly to
entrenching the precepts of good governance and
accountability in Nigeria.
FUREY

In the abundance of water, the fool is thirsty!

Ramsey and Artetha needs to step-up their game, going forward.

3-points, one goal! We'll mange that for now!!

Finally, Arsene Wenger feels the same way too!

RVP is out, Chamak is in.

Is anyone feeling the same way l am, about RVP?

I hope my first comment about RVP wasn't too critical but even right now, he has kept faith with my long-held assessment of himself!

Five clear chances, one goal in the end = RVP