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Last Updated: Monday, 11 December 2006, 15:49 GMT


Blow to Babangida's Nigeria bid

Mr Babangida ruled Nigeria for eight years
Former Nigerian military ruler Ibrahim Babangida has withdrawn from the race to be the ruling party's presidential candidate in next year's elections.
Mr Babangida was seen as one of the frontrunners for the April polls but his campaign is likely to be weaker without the ruling party's support.

An aide said Mr Babangida had pulled out because President Olusegun Obasanjo said he would support a rival bid.

Political tension is high in Nigeria, with Mr Obasanjo standing down.

The announcement comes as the ruling People's Democratic Party starts choosing from a shortlist of about 30 people to become its candidate.

I'm sure he's going to pick up the ticket of another party. He owns three or four parties.

Pini Jason, political columnist

Mr Babangida, known in Nigeria as IBB, ruled for eight years until he was forced from power by popular protests in 1993 after he annulled elections that were described as the country's freest and fairest yet.

The BBC's Mannir Dan Ali in the capital, Abuja, says it is not clear whether Mr Babangida will become a candidate for another party, or back his close associate and former spy chief General Mohammed Aliyu Gusau for the PDP ticket.

"You never know what IBB is going to do next. That's why we call him Maradona," said Pini Jason, a leading political columnist for the Vanguard newspaper, referring to Argentine former football star Diego Maradona.

But he believes Mr Babangida is still likely to contest the polls.

"I'm sure he's going to pick up the ticket of another party. He owns three or four parties," he said.

Huge adverts with slogans like "IBB - experience Nigerians need" started appearing a year ago, reports the Reuters news agency.

Mr Babangida's aide, retired Colonel Habibu Shuaibu, told the BBC that Mr Obasanjo's backing for Katsina State Governor Umar Yaradua showed there was no level playing field in the PDP contest.

But PDP deputy national chairman Bode George insisted that the party did not have an anointed candidate.

Last week, Vice-President Atiku Abubakar withdrew from the PDP race.

He is expected to run on behalf of a rival party.

No.I could give the link though!

Big Bro!Well it hasn't been yanked yet!When are you gonna send it off to off-topic !I am doing a statistical survey!Or by the way i know you think it's cool if you don't respond abi?You are just typifying the Nigerian Factor see what i mean?.

I just did a quick check and FDI is around $9bn!Guess my figure was quite low!Anyways majority might be consumptive in nature

Yea so !But not all monies "remited" goes into pockets and for paying school fees!What of real estate, agrarian puropses, transportation business and the like!I don't think FDI would be more than $2.5 BN anyways

Well if so, would he be meeting with OBJ yesterday in Ota?Anyways let's watch!The menace of a man is gradually being demystified

How much FDI comes into Nigeria?The $1bn has a multiplier effect on the economy!This is how much Nigerians repatriate yearly though the issue of politics leaves us powerless be cause Nweke himself like me doen't belong to the select class of political script writers, producers and directors that determine what would happen in Umahia or Abeokuta or better still Lafia!

Watched the program last night and could only gasp intermittently!Naija people don do am again!However what of the "mugus"? Anyone greedy enough to reap where she/he don't sow deserves whatever comes their way!

YEA yea!

Sadly so!

Belloti as a great mind said this is www.I think that you really are insulated from the graft and avarice Yerima has inflicted upon Zamfara!I only hope that when the time comes for his arrest subsequent of his loss at the ANPP primaries, he doesn't flee to Tehran or Riyadh!WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFEE!Be sincere for once!Look around you and you see the propagation of sharia as a means to keep the poor in bondage!Is it food? What of potable water, adequate housing, education, female economic empowerment,motorable roads,power supply, adequate health care etc!Yerima has failed and incase you don't know religion is the opium of the masses and Sani has indeed done well in this regard!
God is not to be mocked and where is justice, where is truth, where's compassion ?Belloti discard your toga of elitism that you've put on and open your eyes and see!

IBB/Abacha

Yea so they say?However we remit $1bn yearly back home- think of that!

Is this for real? Geez!Odili has raped Rivers to death o!Where's Nuhu?What has he said?Why has he done nothin'?

Kool!So how's the snow?Enjoyin' it?

FG Goes Tough On Diplomats - Withdraws Immunity Privileges
Idowu Samuel, Abuja - 08.12.2006

HENCEFORTH, foreign ambassadors coming to Nigeria will no longer enjoy diplomatic immunity as the rare privilege has finally been withdrawn by the Federal Government. The new tough stance by the government of Nigeria against the incoming diplomats is aimed at enhancing the dignity of Nigeria in the comity of nations in which the country prefers to be respected with her laws.


By the new directive meant to be strictly implemented by the Ministry of Aviation, any foreign head of government and ambassador coming to Nigeria would be thoroughly searched with the aim of preventing him from breaking the laws of the land.


Saturday Tribune learnt that the Federal Government has just embraced a repository pressure in relating with other countries across the globe and was bent on carrying out the new measure to the letter.


It was learnt that the ignominious treatment usually meted to Nigeria’s top government functionaries, including President Olusegun Obasanjo at different airports outside Nigeria, informed the new measure.


A top presidency source who pleaded anonymity, told Saturday Tribune that since Nigerian officials have not been enjoying diplomatic immunity in specific countries across Europe, mainly none of such countries has the right to the privilege in Nigeria also.


Against this background, the Federal Government has also withdrawn the privilege of multiple destinations for foreign airlines, an indication that none of them would be allowed to ply any extra route aside the one officially approved for them.


In view of this development, the Federal Government has ordered the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) to immediately initiate moves aimed at recovering a total sum of $500 million owed Nigeria by foreign airlines.


It was learnt that only Virgin Atlantic and Air India are the airliners in Nigeria that had duly registered to formerly operate in the country. The aviation minister had penultimate Friday, walked out on the German Ambassador on account of the envoy’s rudeness in his approach to him during their meeting in Abuja.


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I don't know why it took a long time?You need to see the way diplomats and well travelled Nigerians are "disturbed"at airports when travelling!It's time we do something!

Somewhere in Hyde Park now. Used to stay on Lakeshore Drive. Are you a Chicagoan?

We all have to thread carefully on this forum!Big brother apparently likes things done in his own way!When you decide to censure and make decisions yourself it reminds one of arguments raised on democracy, free speech and the like.Seun i know this is your thingy!Commendable, nice,entertaining,and enterprising venture.Anyways to call a spade by the name you need to slow down!Unnecessary relocation of topics is unwarranted!The question of banning could be done with a modicum of fairness!
Anyways if this sees the light of day without been yanked, fair enough!If it doesn't it's cool with me!
I await with anticipation your reasons big brother or would that be too much to ask?