I may be missing something because when i google www.confabee.com, it does not seems to show me any where near a directory.  The directory my client looking for is something like www.omegalocal.com, www.omegalocal.co.uk or www.alphalocal.co.uk. While these three are business directory for London, am looking for one that is purely for nigeria business.

Any pointer will be appreciated

Is there a Business directory in Nigeria that may have at least a fair number of businesses operating in Nigeria?  I tried to search on google and could not see any?  am talking about a directory like www.southwarkinfo.info or londondirectory.  If one wants to put up one, how easy would would it be in NIgeria bearing in mnd all obstacles of lack of data.

Suggestions most welcome.

Its getting more interesting as Obasanjo writes Jonathan dening any involvement in the Halliburton sacm.


http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/

Anyone watching this?

Anyone Watching this?

You can watch All Nigeria and most World Cup matches on this web site - www.linkreporters.com.

mobuch:


my brother,
Obj makes  grammatical errors but he flows with the occasion, and his errors are excusable because of his  level of education,
yara adua has thick northern accents, but u and i know that northern accent is better than Southern Accent.


Man, Goodluck is  PHd holder, there are mistakes he should not make with his level of education and exposure.

Mr. Good English.  Even your posts betrays your level.  You are trying to correct the Ag. President.  Did you notice that you do not even know how to spell?  Loom at your quote above and pin point your own error yourself.

mobuch:


of course i failed JAMB once, so wats d big deal??

So you failed JAMB once?  How do we know its not 10 times.  Please learn to put off the rubbish in your own eyes before trying to take off that of others.  Make sense?

What i see is that you are just a nuisance. You have not listened to the whole interview which is currently been aired (8.17 pm) and yet you are too quick to make a judgement. Is English a Nigerian Language? Use your head my friend.

Saharareporters has come into possession of a document which shows that several former Nigerian Heads of State, and in some cases their wives, were beneficiaries of Halliburton bribe scandal.
The document, which was addressed to the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on February 20, 2008, lists former Nigerian leaders Ibrahim Bademasi Babangida, General Abdussalam Abubakar, General Sani Abacha and Chief Ernest Shonekan as being among 80 Nigerians who collected inducements in exchange for contract favours at the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas project.

Maryam Bababangida and Maryam Abacha are also on the list.

The stunning list, which almost reads like a Who’s Who in Nigeria, contains the names of top civilian and former military leaders, governors, ministers and civil servant. They were obtained from five notebooks found on 2 September, 2004 in the archives of the London Office of Kellogg Brown & Root (KBR) by investigating Halliburton Attorneys. KBR was the American subsidiary of TSKJ, the consortium which won scandal-tainted contract to build the liquefied natural gas plant in Bonny. The other companies in the consortium were Technip, from France; Snamprogetti SpA, from Italy; and Japan Gasoline Corp., from Japan.

In a list where every name stands out, some may be more a little more compelling than others. They include:

• Vice Admiral Mike Akhigbe (Chief of Naval Staff under Abacha, Nigeria’s #2 man under Abubakar)
• Dr. Rilwan Lukman
• Chief Philip Asiodu (Adviser to Abacha and later to Obasanjo)
• Gen. Oladipo Diya (Chief of Staff under Abacha)
• Mike Okigbo
• Alhaji Aminu Saleh (SGF during the Shonekan administration)
• Brigadier-General Ibrahim Aliyu
• Anthony Ani (former Finance Minister)
• Ismaila Gwarzo (Former National Security Adviser during Abacha Administration)
• Alhaji Gidado Idris (former Secretary to the Federal Government 1998)
• Tom Ikimi, Foreign Minister to Abacha
• Orji Kalu, former Governor
• Alhaji Babagana Kingibe
• Ambassador Patrick Dele Cole
• Lt. Gen. Aliyu Mohammed Gusau
• Gen. Jeremiah Useni (Rtd.)
• Jack Chagoury
• Gilbert Chagoury

As extensive as the list is, more names are likely to follow because, as the report points out, it does not cover the three-year period between 24th March 1995 and 31st March 1998, for which no record was available. That period is significant for many reasons, including the fact that it was on 24 March 1995 that Don Obon Etiebiet handed over to Chief Dan Etete as Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources.

“The period before, during and immediately after the signing of this contract is very significant, as it would give a very realistic picture of related incidents, which occurred within this period,” said the report, noting that Etete was a key player in the scam and had already admitted to collecting money as inducement from Jeffrey Tesler/TSKJ to the investigating Magistrate in Paris. Saharareporters has been informed that another report is available that may implicate several key officials from the Obasanjo period.

At a time that Acting President Goodluck Jonathan has been pledging to the world that he will combat corruption in the country, it will be important to see how he reacts to the Halliburton file and many of the other international corruption scandals in which important Nigerians that were named have not been touched.


S/No
Name
Title/Position Held
Present Location

1.
Gen. I.B. Babangida (Rtd.)
Former President/ Head of State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Minna, Niger State.

2.
Mrs. Maryam Babangida
Former First Lady Federal Republic of Nigeria
Minna, Niger State.

3.
Chief Enerst Shonekan
Former Head of the Interim National Government/Former Director of SPDC
Lagos.

4.
Gen. Abubakar Abdulsalami (Rtd.)
Former Head of State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Niger State, Currently on Assignment with The United Nations

5.
Alhaji M. D. Yusufu
Former Chairman NLNG
Lagos-frontline Politician

6.
Mr. T.W. Oerlemans
Former MD/DCE
Australian

7.
Pius Okigbo
Renowned Economist: Headed The Probe Commission on the Gulf Crude Oil Excess sales set up by the Central Bank of Nigeria 1994.
Deceased

8.
Alhaji Aminu Saleh
Secretary to the Federal Government during Shonekan Administration
Bauchi

9.
Chief Don Etiebet
Former Minister of Petroleum and presently National Chairman ANPP
Abuja

10.
Lt. Gen. Aliyu Mohammed Gusau
Presently National Security Adviser to the Obasanjo Administration
Abuja

11.
Edmund Daukoru
Curent Presidential Adviser on Petroleum Matters
Abuja.

12.
Mrs. Victoria Ihonde
Current Director, Ministry of Petroleum Resources
Abuja.

13.
Mrs. Toyin Olakunrin
Presently Chairman Board of the Education Tax Fund, Abuja
Abuja.

14.
Chief Gilbert Temisan Grant
Former top level NNPC Official; Former GED – NNPC
Lekki-Lagos.

15.
Dr. Gabriel Abolade Soyoye
Special Adviser to Philip Asiodu (Petroleum Minister) 1993


16.
Amb. Patrick Dele-Cole
Former Ambassador to Brazil , Politician
Currently Presidential Adviser on Political Matters

17.
Dr. E. Ihetu
Former Board Member 1995-1997


18.
Onya
NNPC Personnel


19.
Gen. Sani Abacha
Former Head of State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Deceased

20.
Gen. Joshua Dogonyaro (Rtd.)
Former Chief of Army Staff during the Babangida Administration


21.
Gen. John Shagaya (Rtd.)
Former Field Commandant Ecomog in Laberia


22.
Dr. U. J. Itsueli
Presently Chairman Dubri Oil (indigenous Oil Exploration & Production Company


23.
Chief Ombu Isokariari
Former MD NAFCON
Port Harcourt

24.
Maj. Gen. G.O. Ejiga (Rtd.)
Former Director NLNG CIRCA 1999


25.
Alhaji Babagana Kingibe
Former Ambassador & Minister of External Abacha Administration
Maiduguri

26.
Hakeem Bello-Osagie
Special Assistant to the Former Adviser on Petroleum Resources 1980-81 and former Chairman United of Africa (UBA)
Benin City/Lagos

27.
Enrg. Mrs. J.O. Maduka
Political Appointment as Member of the NNPC Board of Directors 1992-1993


28.
Chief Sena Anthony
Current Legal Adviser/General Counsel of NNPC
Abuja.

29.
Eng. Dalhatu A. Bayero
Former NNPC Board Member 1992-1993; Group Executive Director NAPIMS 1993-1995; Group Executive Director (Down Stream) 1993-1995; Group Managing Director 1995-1999
Benin City/Abuja.

30.
Mr. Ogenyi
NNPC Official and member of the Special Committee on Joint Venture Allocations


31.
Alhaji I. Dapchi
NNPC Director (Corporate Services) 1992-1999


32.
M.A. Olorunfemi
Top Member of NNPC MGT Group Executive (Finance & Admin)1993-1995


33.
Mr. Wilfred C. Eze
Top Member of NNPC MGT Group Executive (Finance & Admin)1993-1995


34.
Alhaji Umar Baba
Former Minister of Petroleum
Kaduna

35.
Dr. Orji Kalu
Presently Executive Governor of Abia State
Government House Umahia

36.
Gen. Geremiah Useni (Rtd.)
Former FCT Minister Abacha Administration; presently a politician Chairman Board of Trustees of the ANPP
Abuja/Jos

37.
Alhaji Abba Gana
Former Deputy Managing Director NLNG
Abuja/Lagos

38.
Ibrahim Abacha
Gen. Sani Abacha’s Son
Deceased

39.
Gen. Oladipodiya
Chief of General Staff during Abacha Administration


40.
Mr. Chamberlain O. Oyinbo
Top NNPC GED UPSTREAM & GAS 1992-1993; GMD NNPC 1993-1995


41.
Amb. Judith Attah
Former Ambassador to Italy 1994; Minister for Women Affair 1995-1997


42.
Alhaji Abdulkadir Ahmed
Governor Central Bank of Nigeria 1994
Deceased

43.
Chief Anthony Any
Former Finance Minister 1994-1998; Prominent Accountant Country Partner for KPMG


44.
Chief O.O. Okwara
NNPC Group Executive Director (Finance 1992-1993
Isolo-Lagos.

45.
Philip Asiodu
National Economic Adviser Abacha Administration; Special Adviser to Obasanjo on Petroleum 1999: Presently Chief Economic Adviser and Chairman, Ecobank


46.
Endo SAN
Marubeni Nigeria Ltd; Installed Chairman of Accurary Japan
Plot 1652, Olosa Street , Victoria Island, Lagos .

47.
Alhaji Hamman Tukur
Presently Chairman of the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission
Abuja

48.
Mr. S.J. Ollerearnshaw
Former MD NLNG/SHELL; Staff NLNG
Australian

49.
Chief Dan Etete
Former Minister of Petroleum Under Abacha Administration
France

50.
Engineer B. Soyode
Former Senior NNPC Official; Retired and now owns Consultancy Firm B. A. Soyode & Co.


51.
Dr. Akin Ogunleye
Retired NNPC Senior Official


52.
Chief Tom Ikim
Former Minister for External Affairs during the Abacha Administration


53.
Alhaji Gidado Idris
Secretary to the Federal Government 1998


54.
Engr. Sola Alabi
Currently NNPC
Abuja

55.
Alhaji Ismaila Gwarzo
Former National Security Adviser during Abacha Administration
Kano

56.
Mrs. Maryam Abacha
Late Gen. Abacha’s Wife; former First Lady Federal Republic of Nigeria
Kano

57.
Brigadier Gen. Halilu Akilu
Former Director of Military Intelligence during the I.B.Babangida Administration


58.
Gen. Abdullahi Mohammed
Presently Chief of Staff to the Obasanjo Administration; Former National Security Adviser to Gen. Abdullami Abubakar (1998-1999)
Abuja

59.
Major Hamza El-Mustapha
Chief Security Officer to Abacha
DMI-Lagos

60.
Brig. General Ibrahim Aliyu
Former Chairman of NICON 1998


61.
Dr. Edmund Ayoola
Top NNPC Management, Former MD NDPC (NNPC) Subsidiary. Presently Member NNPC Board and GED E & P
Abuja/Lagos.

62.
Gen. Anthony Ukpo (Rtd)
Former Rivers State Governor
Port Harcourt

63.
Group Captain Samuel Ewang
Former Rivers State Governor


64.
Ismaila Usman
Deputy Governor of the CBN, Minister of Finance 1998


65.
Dr. Tunde Soleye
Medical Director turned Businessman; Close Confidante of General Abdulsalami Abubakar (Former Head of State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.


66.
Christ Akerele
Chairman Chorus Energy UK Plc


67.
Alhaji Umaru Shinkafi
Former Head of Nigerian Security Organization (NSO) during the Gen. Buhari Administration


68.
Philip Chukwu
Dan Etete’s Personal Assistant


69.
Engr. Bunu Sherrif Musa
Former Minister of Industries, Power and Steel
Maiduguri

70.
Dr. Rilwan Lukman
Former Minister of Petroleum during the Babangida regime: also the Special Adviser on Petroleum to President Abdulsalami Abubakar 1998-1999


71.
Aret Adams
MD NNPC 1985-1990: served as Special Adviser on Petroleum to President Abdulsalami Abubakar 1998-1999
Deceased

72.
Vice Admiral Mike Akhigbe
Chief of Naval Staff under the Abacha regime. Also Chief of General Staff 9Second in Command) to Abdulsalami Abubakar Administration


73.
Faruk Iya
Former Company Secretary NNPC and was Board Member NLNG


74.
Ambassador Hassan Adamu
Former Minister of Industries during the Abdulsalami Abubakar Administration; Former Chairman of NAFCON and the Nigerian Ambassador to United States


75.
Prince Nzekwe



76.
Gen. Adeyosun



77.
Jasper Jumbo



78.
Jack Chagoury
C & C Nig. Ltd


79.
Gilbert Chagoury
C & C Nig. Ltd


80.
Mohammed Atiku


http://www.saharareporters.com/reports/exclusive/5800-how-halliburton-bribed-top-80-nigerians-report-shows-ibb-abacha-shonekan-abubakar-and-scores-of-eminent-nigerians-took-halliburton-bribes.html

texazzpete:

@Poster
Shame on you. If you really want to take on Nairaland, why go with such a pathetic effort?

Glad to see you have one member registered in your forum. Good progress, only 500,000 more to go to catch up with NL.

Rubbish!

I agree 100%. Foolish comparison.

That corruption is the source of all our problems, from insecurity, to poverty, to our underdevelopment and everything else is not news anymore either in Nigeria or to foreigners. However I wish more journalists would put extreme pressure on the looting and stealing political "elites" to save our dear country. There are certainly many patriotic and honest Nigerians who mean well for our dear country. There are some very good journalists who could use words to convey strong messages that could educate the public of the true enemies of Nigeria.

My sincere belief is that it is easy to govern Nigeria, if three essential ingredients of nation-building were honestly and determinedly addressed - Patriotism, Corruption and Enforcement of the Written Laws of the Land. Lack of any of these reinforces the other and addressing any of them addresses the others automatically. The bane of Nigeria's problems is the almost complete lack of patriotism, especially among the thieving "elites", which in turn, provides the fertile grounds for corruption. When I was in Lagos in 2007, one look at the traffic situation informed me that 98% of the traffic jams in Lagos is caused by human factor. Essentially, the lack of enforcement of the laws guiding road use, again due to corruption! This is just one example.

The aim of this write-up is to notify Babangida and his cronies that there are patriotic Nigerians all over the world, who have knowledge of his secret activities against the interests of Nigeria, for his own personal selfish benefits. His cousin had described him to me, as a ruthless, vindictive, unforgiving megalomaniac and extremely corrupt. Since he literally determines what happens in Nigeria, it might be very dangerous to pose a frontal attack against him. He's a very ruthless man and powerful. If he could order his childhood friend, Gen. Mamman Vatsa, to be killed without batting an eyelid, we'd be just small mosquitoes!

We all need to start shouting our lungs out through writings, so that these thieves would feel the pressure and get out of the way for a better Nigeria It's just a shame. When I was growing up in Cameroun, every remote village had pipe borne water and all the major towns and cities had 24hours /daily, of electricity! Nigeria is probably the only country in Africa where citizens defecate openly, all times of the day, in major cities, without consequences! I feel sad thinking about all these.

I'm currently based in the U.S and a full blooded and patriotic Nigerian, though born and raised outside Nigeria. The first impression any first time visitor would have of Nigeria would be of a country where nobody takes the law seriously because the laws are there but never enforced due to corruption; of a chaotic, free for all country with a complete lack of patriotism from top to bottom.

How did we get to this sorry and seemingly irreversible state? Our biggest problem is the continued recycling of the architects of corruption and their cronies, the so called military and political "elites", under various guises of minister this, minister that. Ghana was able to move forward because Rawlings realized that the only way to move Ghana on was to completely eliminate all the old thieves. This option may not be feasible in Nigeria's case, but if we all join hands together, especially our journalists, and say “enough is enough” to these thieves, instead of celebrating them, we can achieve something significant. But first, we have to identify the architects of corruption and relentlessly go after them through our write-ups or other civil actions.

The sole architect of the extreme corruption as seen today in Nigeria and the sorry state of affairs is no other than the former dictator, IBRAHIM BADAMOSI BABANGIDA. One of his relatives was my roommate in the US during my under graduate education. I was able to glimpse the true nature of the beast from him. Here is the Babangida most Nigerians know nothing about. Babangida is the most destabilizing force in Nigeria today and the more Nigerians know about it the better.

Babangida was sent here (U.S) in 1983, for a military course, during the Reagan administration. He admired Ronald Reagan's Machiavellian dribbles with the American public and became a disciple of Reagan's trickle-down economics, popularly derided as "voodoo" economics, where the resources and wealth of a nation are distributed to a few cronies, with the hope that their business activities would create wealth that would trickle down to the common man! This is how Babangida single-handedly wiped out the Nigerian middle class, creating a few stealing billionaires and a mass of poverty, with nothing in-between.

Anyway, while in the U.S. it became obvious that Babangida was recruited by the CIA. Mobutu's power and relevance to the U.S interests in Africa was waning and they needed another Mobutu in a strategic country. Babangida fitted Mobutu's personality traits; very ambitious, unpatriotic, bold, greedy and cunning.

So Babangida fitted the profile of a strong-man, like Mobutu, the U.S was looking for. It was also this time, in 1983, that Buhari and Idiagbon overthrew Shehu Shagari, who was drifting and didn't seem to get a handle on how to move Nigeria forward. Buhari/Idiagbon had always been true patriots, and came in to try to save Nigeria. Buhari's government was very serious about putting Nigeria on a straight path. There was a serious effort to combat indiscipline, drugs and corruption that bedevilled Shagari's government. Buhari refused to borrow any more money from the IMF and World Bank; refused to devalue the Naira, as demanded by the West. When the West tried to blackmail and sabotage the Nigerian economy at that time, he countered it with the counter-trade polices, which was actually a corruption fighting tool (it was used by Cuba to neutralize years of America's economic blockade of that island nation).The West knew that Buhari/Idiagbon were hell bent on serving only Nigeria's interests against any other interests and they weren't going to have it.

It should be remember that it was also during this period that Reagan was fighting several covert or proxy wars around the world. During the Reagan's administration, the CIA actually became the main instrument, albeit covertly, of America's foreign policy. When Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua became the leader of that country, it did not go down well with America because of his Marxist leanings. The CIA created and funded a rebel army, the Contras, to overthrow him, in what became known as the Contra War. The U.S Congress was kept in the dark about this covert war for a while, but when it came to their knowledge, they cut off all funding for the illegal war. The CIA was determined to bring down Ortega's government so they had to come up with other ways of funding the war and bypass the Congress. They turned to selling drugs, but they could not do this directly from the U.S soil, so they looked for a Third World country to use to import the hard drugs and later smuggle to the U.S. Nigeria became very attractive to them because of its corruption, large population and chaotic nature. They felt it was the only country they could pull off such with relative ease. But Buhari was the head of state and was sending drug dealers to the firing squad. They knew he would never let them use Nigeria as their base for drug operations to fund their covert war. Nigeria was still the most attractive to them for the venture. It became clear to them that Buhari/Idiagbon had to go.

So entered Babangida and the coup that overthrew Buhari, covertly planned, supported and carried out with the aid of the CIA.

As soon as Babangida overthrew Buhari, he proceeded to undo everything Buhari tried to achieve for a better Nigeria. He devalued the naira, accepted all the conditionalities of the IMF and World Bank. Nigeria became a free for all with zero accountability. If you remembered his speech after the coup, there were ramblings about democracy, free market, human rights, etc. In fact the wording of that speech could have been scripted by the American State Department. In 1986, the Time Magazine (either February or September edition) reported that at the height of America's covert wars during the Reagan administration, the U.S had the very elite commando unit of their armed forces, the SEAL, dispatched to several different countries for covert activities. Guess what; this unit was in Nigeria in August 1985, during the week that Babangida overthrew Buhari. These Special Forces are highly trained in all kinds of warfare. No Nigerian ever asked why they were in Nigeria at that particular time. The thinking of the CIA was that a coup against a Northern Muslim Fulani by a middle belt military personnel would be resisted and therefore bloody. So the SEAL was dispatched to make sure Babangida succeeded. If the coup had been resisted, Buhari and Idiagbon would have been killed, no question about it

After the coup, the CIA cut a deal with Babangida, where Nigeria was used as a major drug transit and money laundering center for the proceeds of the CIA drug trade. This is how the CIA was funding their Contra war. The phony or rogue bank, BCCI (Bank of Credit and Commerce International) was used to launder the proceeds of the drug business and take them out of the country. Babangida's loots left the country through this bank. Remember that branches of this bank were everywhere in Lagos and the North. Two investigative journalists in the US later broke the news that the CIA was involved in drug smuggling to fund the Contra War. They didn't mention the country that was used, but from all indications, it was Nigeria! However, Dele Giwa somehow stumbled on this information and was seriously investigating it and was about to break the news when he was killed. This is the main reason that Babangida had Dele Giwa killed.

Remember also that the former leader of Burkina Faso, Capt. Thomas Sankara, of blessed memory, was a close friend, albeit, revolutionary friend of Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua, who was hated so much by the .U.S. After Sankara was killed, obviously with help from the West, the rest of Africa condemned the cowardly act except Babangida. As a matter of fact, he gave the leader of the coup that killed Sankara, Major Compaore Blaise, a red carpet welcome to Lagos, barely a week after the murder. Again when in 1986, Reagan unjustifiably bombed Libya and killed Gadaffi`s daughter, everybody in Africa condemned the unprovoked attack, except Babangida, who was blaming Gaddafi for the attack.

Toward the end of 1986, or 1987, (can't remember the exact year), Babangida was given a "Strategic" award, by the Heritage Foundation, a US right wing front whose philosophy is total world domination, economically, politically and militarily. The few other people, who had received this award, include Henry Kissinger and the former NATO Commander, Alexander Haig, people who had gone out of their way and the risk of their lives to advance America's interests.

No Nigerian journalist or news organization asked or questioned the reason IBB was given that award. Nobody asked why there was an explosion of drug activities during IBB's regime. The only investigative journalist we had, Dele Giwa, was killed, so we were and still are in the dark of what is actually going on in Nigeria. And to make things worse, most of our papers are owned by the looters or friends of the looters.

Anyway, it was during IBB's regime that most of our wealth was looted out of the country (about 80%). It was the dream of America to make IBB, President for Life, just like Mobutu.

Enter Orji Kalu, now former Governor of Abia State. I am not very sure whether it was IBB who introduced Kalu to the CIA or the other way round, but it was the dream of the US to make Babangida the President and Kalu his Vice. Kalu is still a sleeper operative of the CIA. Three weeks before the last presidential election in 2007, Kalu was at the CIA headquarters at Langley, Virginia. The only way anybody could get into that building is if you have a top secret security clearance or an active asset of the CIA with high level security clearance. Remember that Kalu had always boasted about how close he was with the Bush family. The only link between the two is the CIA and the fact that Kalu was a valuable asset for them, having proved it by betraying Nigeria, one way or the other, for his own personal gain.

How did IBB move his loots to France and Switzerland? IBB is as devilishly clever as he is ruthless. Kalu became the go-between, between him and the CIA, to avoid being linked to the CIA. With the help of the CIA, Kalu created numerous phony front companies to launder IBB's loots and payouts from the CIA deal, and move them out of the country through the rogue bank, BCCI. This is why when Ribadu arrested Kalu for corruption, the Bush regime was up in arms against it, and the current Attorney General, Michael Aondoaaka took over the EFCC, in a mild drama. I'll come to this later.

Kalu has the same character traits as Babangida or even worse. The CIA found him very valuable to them because this guy could do literally anything for personal gains and aggrandizement. Remember, Kalu had always stated that he is who he is today because of IBB. In fact this is the only honest statement that ever came out of Kalu's mouth.

IBB created the very problems we are all suffering today. He never ever wanted to give up power for what he was getting out of it. He is an extremely crafty guy and dangerously cunning.

America's dream, or rather the CIA's dream, was to make Babangida a long time dictator like Mubarak of Egypt, and Orji Kalu his vice president, and for Kalu to continue after Babangida. The election that Babangida held in 1993 and which Abiola won was never meant to be. Babangida never wanted to give up power. America didn't want him to give up power either. So he wasted all our resources, just to pretend that he wanted to give up power. He annulled the election on the advice of the State Department of the US, who did not trust Abiola to cut deals with them whenever they needed one. When Abacha realized that Babangida had no intention of giving up power, he tricked Babangida and forced him to hand over to the Shonekan's so-called Interim National Government. The US never forgave Abacha for that. Abacha's demonization went full blast. The US had hopes that they could still find a way to bring Babangida to power. The easiest way would be to eliminate the two major contenders, Abacha and Abiola.This would leave us no other option but Babangida. Abacha and Abiola could have been killed with the assistance of the CIA. I studied chemistry, as an undergraduate, and I know that a very minute drop of concentrated potassium chloride could easily create a massive natural heart attack and death immediately. Potassium chloride (KCl) has a very narrow lethal dose, i.e. very narrow range of lethality. This is the weapon of choice for most intelligence covert operations, because it could never be traced by any toxicology tests. My strong suspicion leans toward the use of KCl to kill Abiola and Abacha, to make way for Babangida to return. Babangida has never told the truth about why he annulled that election. He could never tell the true reason. Nigeria was smart to let Abdulsalam to rule after Abacha's death, instead of Babangida. Abacha was never a saint, but most of the demonization against him was orchestrated by America, in a way, to divert attention away from Babangida. Even the so called Abacha loot in Swiss banks could have been Babangida's, just to use the insignificant amount to blackmail Abacha, and have Nigerians believe that all the looting was done by Abacha.You see, our biggest problem is believing everything the West tells us without questions, not minding that they have always employed the Machiavellian doctrines in their dealings with the rest of the world.

The US actually succeeded in having every Nigerian talking about Abacha's loot, while Babangida conveniently faded to the background, attending weddings, birthday parties, funerals, etc, everywhere! In 2007, all grounds were cleared for Babangida to sneak back, and with the advice of the Bush Administration, for him to appoint Kalu as his running mate, a position which Kalu declined.

Most Nigerians, and most of the rest of the world except Western Europe and Israel, are extremely naive about America. As much as being utilitarian, Americans are natural existentialists, driven in all their actions, bad or good, only by self interests. The only thing consistent about Americans as individuals is their unpredictability. For example, an American can ceremoniously and sanctimoniously give you a million dollars today, and tomorrow that same American kills you unceremoniously over five dollars! It saddens me whenever I read about our government officials trooping here to "learn" about the American system. The American government structure is very organized and extremely well structured and managed by very patriotic citizens. But honestly, America does not want the same fine structure for any part of the world outside Western Europe and Israel. America's prosperity and power are based partly on their ability to manipulate all the developing countries to remain dependent, so that they could easily be used.

America did not accomplish their goal to return IBB to power in 1993, but they encouraged him to contest in 2007. In fact, everything was on the ground for him to run again, but Kalu refused the Vice President-ship. I, personally, was very alarmed that Nigerians folded their arms and some misguided corrupt cronies were actually rooting for this evil man who killed the finest of young Nigerian army officers, and essentially the architect of the present rot we are in. I sent part of the information I'm giving you to Nuhu Ribadu, when he was Chairman of EFCC, and also to the Sun Newspaper (at the time, I did not know the paper was owned by Orji Kalu, Babangida's partner in crime). I'm very sure Ribadu read it, and probably briefed Obasanjo about it. Those at the Sun Newspaper could have informed Kalu about it, and Babangida could have gotten wind of it. About a month after I sent the article, I learnt that Babangida withdrew his ambition with the phony excuse that he would not run against his "younger brother, Yar'Adua". My honest belief then was that he realized that there were people with damaging information about him. And also, Obasanjo could also have discouraged him, having been briefed about this information by Ribadu.These are my speculations as to why Babangida suddenly withdrew from contesting. So Ribadu played a major part in Babangida not running in the 2007 election.

Babangida has a huge animosity against Ribadu, who was really responsible for derailing Babangida`s presidential ambition in 2007. He never forgave him. In one of his several wedding or funeral services talks, Babangida made it clear that even if he never ran for the Presidency again, he would be involved in determining whoever rules Nigeria. He was responsible for the selection of Yar'Adua as President, after twisting Obasanjo's hand, who owed him for getting him out of jail and making him President in 1999. Most of PDP's "BIG" men are all carry-overs from the Babangida's regime. Remember when he said he was satisfied with the selection of Yar'Adua as President, calling him his younger brother? He actually forced his old cronies and "boys" in the PDP to select Yar'Adua. He knew that Yar'Adua has a lot of humility, defers to him and lacks self confidence. He knew he could easily manipulate Yar'Adua. Essentially, Babangida is actually the one still calling the shots, behind the scenes, in Yar 'Adua's government.

All Ribadu's problems were orchestrated by Babangida. Most Nigerians thought it was Ibori, but though Ibori is one of his "boys", Babangida is the only one in Nigeria powerful enough to go against Obasanjo's friends. Babangida influenced the appointments of Okiro (IGP) and Aondoakaa (AGF) and Waziri (EFCC), all in an effort to kill the war on corruption, and stop all the noise about corruption. Have you noticed that in all his public utterances, Babangida had never said anything against corruption? He does not see corruption as corruption, because he believes in Reagan's trickle down or voodoo economics, i.e. give the wealth of the nation to a few of his cronies in government or business, and they would create wealth for others. It is this same Reagan's idea that is wreaking havoc in the American economy today!

Everyday, Yar 'Adua's government looks more and more like Babangida's regime, because he influenced Yar'Adua to recycle his old cronies into important positions. These are men who through the years, have perfected the art and science of stealing and looting.

Babangida remains the most destabilizing and powerful force in Nigeria today. It's almost as if he owns Nigeria. He remains untouchable because all the recycled kleptomaniacs called politicians, who are in leadership positions today, owe their wealth and power to Babangida Watch my words, all talk about Nigeria's progress, remains just talk, until Babangida's powers and influence are erased. Until we have bold, very patriotic, incorruptible, and independent individuals elected by the people, Nigeria would go nowhere!!!!.

The only leader that Nigerian people ever elected was Abiola. The others were either influenced by foreign powers in collusion with corrupt politicians and the military. Nigeria needs the likes of Nuhu Ribadus, Gani Fawhinmis, Tai Solarins, and yes, Mohammed Buharis and Babatunde Idiagbons.

I was born in Cameroun, and I am a true pan-Africanist. I am an extremely patriotic Nigerian with a lot of passion for Nigeria. Any foreigner who ever comes in contact with me ends up loving Nigeria and wanting to go there. It's my little way of rebranding Nigeria, whatever that really means. I sincerely believe that Nigeria could potentially be the greatest wholly black nation on earth if we could put our acts together and stop corruption at all cost and by all means necessary. The West is very much aware of Nigeria's potentials and they are doing everything to stop it, especially the US. This is why the American Press uses every opportunity to humiliate Nigeria, to make us lose our Natural self confidence and not compete with them toe-to-toe. There are more criminals in one American city, than all of Nigeria combined! The truth is that a powerful wholly black nation would shatter the methodical stereotype of the black race, as stupid, by their media over the years. A powerful black nation would also awaken their black population to aim higher, and regain their confidence after years of emasculation. This is something they'll do everything to avoid. I honestly believe that most of our problems, especially the Niger Delta, could be traced back to LONDON AND WASHINGTON, through their multinational corporations, who corrupt and impose corrupt and inept leaders on us

, Anyway, let see what we do to help our country.

The article should be reconstructed as poser questions for Babangida to answer to Nigerians. This brings out all the points of interests, but avoids accusing him directly

This would force him to react and be on the defensive, thereby, exposing himself for a second look by Nigerians.

http://www.saharareporters.com/articles/external-contrib/5790-ibb-what-we-may-not-know.html

Hunting the Hunter PDF Print E-mail
Written by Tobs Agbaegbu
Sunday, 28 March 2010

Politicians being prosecuted or investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission turn the heat on Farida Waziri, its chairman

Farida Waziri, chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is in the eye of a storm. Her problem is caused by the people she calls “Politically Exposed Persons,” PEP, whom she claims are bent on frustrating the operation of the EFCC and ensure that she is removed. Aside from that, she is facing the task of dealing with the new image of a corrupt, brutal and inefficient leader painted of her by an accuser and agent who recently sent a petition against her to the presidency, calling for her sack as the head of the agency. Waziri’s case is a classical tale of the hunter becoming the hunted.

The murder on March 19, of an EFCC operative in Imo State aptly captures the problem the EFCC chairman is worried about. In a guerilla-style operation on Friday, March 19, five operatives of the EFCC were attacked along Mbano/Okigwe Road, Imo State, while returning from the Federal High Court, Owerri, where the commission is prosecuting Hubert Chikwe over a N40 million fraud. Chikwe is the husband of Kema, former minister of aviation and Nigeria’s present ambassador to Ireland.

The gunmen killed Eze Edoga, an operative, leaving two others critically wounded. Waziri told journalists at a press briefing in Abuja, March 21, that the EFCC officers were trailed from the court premises by the assailants who later opened fire on them. She said the murder is “rooted in several ongoing investigations and or prosecution conducted by the commission, particularly those involving highly placed Politically Exposed Persons, PEP.”

In November last year, Abubakar Umar, staff of the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, and member of the EFCC board, was also brutally murdered in Abuja. The killers of Umar also set his corpse on fire after the gruesome act.

While alerting the nation about the ugly trend, the EFCC chairman said the situation represents the resolve of highly corrupt persons to scuttle the fight against corruption in the country. “A day should never come in this country when the looters of our treasury are the same people who dictate how our nation should be governed,” she said.

Waziri had said recently that the war against her agency had assumed a more worrisome dimension with politicians who are either facing investigation or are being prosecuted in court teaming up to fight her and the commission. She alleged in statement issued March 18, by Femi Babafemi, the media officer of the commission, that the group was mobilising funds with a target of N250 million to launch a reprisal attack on the commission and its leadership for daring to touch them. Babafemi repeated the allegation last week, in an interview with Newswatch in his office and emphasised that the goal of the group is to discredit EFCC, its leadership and get Waziri removed. He said the group believes that Waziri has become a pain in their neck and has refused to do business with them so that they can carry on as usual.

There was no direct reference to anybody as constituting members of the PEP. Rather than name names, the EFCC resorted to an indirect style of name - calling by pushing out for circulation, a list of Very Important Persons, VIPs, mostly former governors of states who are being investigated by the commission for financial crimes. Waziri still avoided naming the people even in her reponse to Newswatch enquiries via the internet. She said that EFCC knew members of the group and they also know themselves. These include James Ibori, former governor of Delta State; Michael Botmang, former governor, Plateau State; Boni Haruna of Adamawa State and Rashidi Ladoja, former governor of Oyo State. Attahiru Bafarawa, former governor of Sokoto State, and his counterpart, Abdullahi Adamu of Nasarawa State, are also on the EFCC list.

The list also includes Bode George, former chairman, Nigeria Ports Authority, NPA, the first VIP to be jailed after a successful prosecution in court by the EFCC under the leadership of Waziri. Two former ministers, Femi Fani-Kayode and Babalola Borisade, as well as Kenny Martins, former co-ordinator, Police Equipment Fund, PEF, and Ibrahim Dumuje a director of PEF are also on the list of high profile persons being tried in court.

People from the banking and other sectors are also on the list. These include Roland Iyayi, former managing director of FAAN; Cecilia Ibru, former MD, Oceanic Bank; and Erastus Akingbola, former MD, Intercontinental Bank PLC. Other bank MDs also named include Batholomew Ebong, Union Bank; Francis Atuche, Bank PHB; Sebastine Adigwe, Afribank PLC and four senior managers of Zenith Bank.

Rowland Owan, CEO and other executives of the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC; Bridget Sokan, a professor, and other executives of the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, featured on the list prepared by the EFCC. Nasir el-Rufai, former minister of the FCT, is also on the list of high profile cases being handled by the commission.

The EFCC chairman specifically fingered two persons as the arrowhead of the alleged war against the commission and its leadership. One of them, according to the statement, “is a national lawmaker who is equally being prosecuted in a court in Abuja by the EFCC,” while the second is Victor Osita Uwajeh, an indigene of Delta State whom the statement described as a fraudster. Babafemi said the EFCC’s allegations are a product of intelligence obtained through highly reliable sources.

The EFCC allegations did not name names and so even members of the National Assembly publicly known to be facing prosecution by the EFCC in court for a number of alleged financial offences have not reacted. Among them are Nicholas Ugbane, a senator from Kogi State, and Ndudi Elumelu, a member of the House of Representatives from Delta State. The two legislators, together with seven other Nigerians are currently standing trial at a High Court in Abuja, for conspiracy and breach of trust in the award of the N1.6 billion rural electrification project contract.

The only reaction was from Uwajeh, who said he was facing highly inhuman treatment in the hands of agents of the EFCC in the course of his ongoing prosecution in court. Through Amobi Nzelu, an Abuja-based lawyer, Uwajeh sent a petition to Goodluck Jonathan, acting president, on March 10, calling for the removal of Waziri from office.

Two days after, he moved to a High Court in Abuja to swear to a five-page affidavit in which he explained the relationship between him and Waziri on one hand, and between him and the commission.

Uwajeh said he had known Waziri even before she assumed office as EFCC chairman. He released photographs to prove his point. He added also that he had maintained a formal relationship with the EFCC since the 3rd of November, 2008, when he got a letter appointing him as consultant to conduct enquiries on behalf of the agency, “in respect of certain Politically Exposed Persons, PEPS, and agencies of the Federal Government of Nigeria.” Uwajeh had been so known to the commission that his company, Corporate Orient Company Limited, got a N3.93 million contract from the EFCC to supply Sheriff Badges to the staff.

Although he did not name the individuals he investigated, he said he visited Ghana, USA, United Kingdom and United Arab Emirate, as well as various parts of Nigeria in the course of the assignment with his own resources. He had also headed over 72 general investigations in the countries he visited. “The reports arising from all these investigations were turned in to the EFCC and same formed the basis of the ongoing prosecution of Politically Exposed Persons in this country,” he said.

Uwajeh revealed that he investigated many highly placed people in Nigeria, sent the reports to Waziri but that she sat on the report because of pecuniary gains. One of the people Uwajeh claimed to have investigated was Cecilia Ibru, former chief executive officer of Oceanic Bank, who was arraigned on August 31, 2009, before the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, on a 25-count charge of fraud.

Uwajeh claimed that the EFCC is persecuting him because he made a request for the payment of 18 million Pound Sterling as professional fees. He said his bill was small when compared to the bill of $150 million per annum which he said was being demanded by an Israeli company.

Rather than get approval for payment of the money, he said he was arrested and detained in an underground EFCC cell for 15 days in handcuff from January 13 to 28, 2010. He was arraigned in court on a four-count charge. “I am being incarcerated by Mrs Farida Waziri because she knew I know a lot,” Uwajeh said.

Waziri responded to the issues raised against her last week. (See Box) Babafemi also provided an insight into the Uwajeh controversy. He acknowledged that Uwajeh was known to EFCC as an informant as far back as 2008. But contrary to the claim that the EFCC gave him an appointment letter, Babafemi said he was only issued with a covering letter to enable him procure some documents for the commission outside the country. To buttress the point that Uwajeh was never an EFCC staff, he said: “It is worthy to note that this letter is not a secret document but a public one because the EFCC has since January 2010, when Uwajeh was arraigned before an FCT High Court, Gudu, Abuja, attached the letter as part of proof of evidence to the charge sheet. There is nowhere in the letter where Uwajeh was referred to as a staff of the EFCC. Again, going by the date on the letter, it seized to be a tenable document since April 2009.”

Describing him as a man of sudden wealth, Babafemi said Uwajeh was being prosecuted on a four-count charge of impersonation and extortion. “Based on results of investigation on Uwajeh’s activities, the commission has reasons to believe that his sudden wealth must be proceeds of crime and as such, EFCC filed for the forfeiture of the five assorted vehicles recovered from his house in addition to seizure of his other assets and bank accounts.” Also recovered from Uwajeh are business cards which portray him as a staff of the commission, EFCC letterhead papers and acknowledgement stamps. They were all recovered from his house after he was arrested.

The EFCC also challenged Uwajeh’s claim that he was being owed 18 million Pounds for investigating 72 cases including those of Olabode George, Nasir El-Rufai and Lucky Igbinendion. “All these are blatant lies and we urge him to list all these 72 cases, produce his investigation reports on them and take us to court for claims. The three cases cited above had all been investigated before Waziri came on board while Igbinendion’s case was already in court,” the EFCC said.

There are also allegations of inhuman treatment against Waziri by some detainees at the EFCC underground cells located at Idiagbon House, Wuse 11, in Abuja. One of such detainees who gave his name simply as “Pastor Israel” told journalists in Abuja that he had been in detention since November, last year for allegedly engaging in Advance Fee Fraud, aka 419, and was released after spending 112 days in the Abuja EFCC underground cell. He said he passed through untold hardship in the cell before he was arraigned in court.

[b]There are also the cases of Ahmed Kolo, Mohammed Hamza and Bala Mohammed. The trio, who are secondary school students, were reported to have been detained in the cells on November 11, 2009, and released on January 26. They were alleged to have engaged in internet fraud, popularly called “yahoo-yahoo.” These youngsters, whose ages could hardly pass 20, were reported to have been arrested at a cyber café in Wuse, Abuja, and subsequently detained for three weeks without trial. They were eventually released following pressure from their families. The allegations against them were also dropped.

The case of one Aliyu Bamaly, a police sergeant, seconded to the EFCC from the Interpol Unit of the Nigeria Police Force, NPF,appears more pathetic. His story is being circulated through anonymous SMS text messages to reporters in Abuja. The statement said: “Please, inform the public about the long time detention of our relation, Sergeant Aliyu Bamaly (service numbers withheld) by the EFCC since September 3, 2009. He was detained by HOP Lagos, Zubairu Muazu, to date. The condition is that he has to pay N2 million or remain in detention. Please, save him from the EFCC leadership. He is seriously sick and his family members are denied access to him since then, neither is he being given any medical attention. Let the world know that he has been in EFCC cells for five months without taking him to court or being granted bail. The injustice is too much. Please, help him to go back to the Police or let him be taken for orderly room trial if there is anything against him. He might just die if you fail to act now.”

When contacted on telephone on this matter, Babafemi said he had no knowledge of the detention of anybody called Bamaly. He promised to cross-check and contact Newswatch. He did not do so uptill press time last week. But Bamaly was actually in EFCC detention.[/b]

Those who accuse EFCC of unfairness and outright corruption in the handling of corruption cases readily point to the James Ibori’s case as an example. Ibori was governor of Delta State for eight years during which he allegedly stole billions of Naira belonging to the state. All efforts to bring him to justice since he left office have been frustrated.

The EFCC under Nuhu Ribadu made spirited efforts to arraign him for trial. Ribadu never made pretensions about his desire to ensure that Ibori was punished for allegedly looting the Delta State treasury. Not only did Ribadu fail to achieve that desire, he lost out in the power game in which Ibori was allegedly a key player on the side of those who wanted a change of leadership at the commission. Ribadu lost his job, his career and rank in the Nigeria police.

At the end, he had to escape from Nigeria for the safety of his life. He lives abroad till today. Waziri is also said to be a product of the group that terminated Ribadu’s leadership of EFCC. She was recommended for appointment by Michael Aondoakaa who himself was also nominated for appointment as attorney-general and minister of justice. The two people ran EFCC until recently when Aondoakaa was dropped from the cabinet. During the period, Ibori’s case enjoyed the sympathy of the duo. The loss of EFCC’s case against Ibori at an Asaba High Court late last year was alleged to be due to poor handling by the commission’s legal team.

Edwin Clark, a Niger Delta elder, is one of those who believe that the EFCC is shielding Ibori from justice. He said that despite a petition by some leaders from the region detailing how the former governor used the shares worth N440 billion belonging to the state government as collateral for a loan for a private company, the EFCC has not acted upon it. “It is unpatriotic and criminal on the part of the EFCC to cover up crimes by serving and former government functionaries,” he said of the duo.

Outside the country, the image of the EFCC is not good. Recently, for instance, Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, took a swipe at the work of the EFCC, saying that since the exit of Nuhu Ribadu, the former chairman, the anti-graft agency had become prostrate. “The EFCC reportedly singled out political opponents in its arrests and detentions of the state, local and federal government officials on corruption charges during the year. The EFCC’s anti-corruption efforts were largely ineffectual. Despite the arrest of several high-ranking officials by the EFCC, there were allegations that the agency’s investigations are targeted at individuals who were out of favour with the government of the day, whilst those that were in favour continued their activities with impunity,” Clinton had said.

Not withstanding its current travails and the challenges it has had to grapple with, the EFCC believes it has lived up to its responsibilities and even performed far better than the administration before it. Babafemi chronicled the achievements of the commission. These, he said, include improving Nigeria’s transparency rating and direct foreign investment inflows. Under Waziri’s leadership, he said, Nigeria’s Transparency International, IT, rating moved from 142 position in 2006 to 121 in 2008.

Another achievement is the setting up of the Transparency Clearing Platform, TCP, which is a help desk to assist prospective foreign investors conduct due diligence checks on business proposals and contract awards emanating from Nigeria. So far, more than 1,200 enquiries are said to have been treated in the past three months and several foreign investors saved from falling victims of scam proposals and false contract deals.

Waziri also set up the Monitoring and Intelligence Units. These units have ensured pro-active gathering of information to facilitate investigations even in the absence of petitions. Other achievements include a fresh Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, which brought together a coalition of parties involving Microsoft, The African Development Bank, Western Union,Yahoo!,Google, Coca-cola, etc, to support the fight against Internet Fraud.

Babafemi said EFCC under Waziri has recorded more than 80 convictions and recovered funds and assets in excess of $3 billion.

Waziri has always maintained that there would be no sacred cow in the fight against corruption. In accordance with this pledge, she has prosecuted many high profile cases even though the general public feeling is that she has not done enough. Late 2009, the commission released a list 56 prominent Nigerians who allegedly had between them defrauded the nation of N243 billions. Of the lot, only eight of the suspects allegedly stole in millions; 17 of them were alleged by the EFCC to have stolen in billions, while the amounts allegedly stolen by some others were not specified. All the listed cases are pending in law courts in different parts of the country. While 11 were instituted and handed over to Waziri by Nuhu Ribadu, the former EFCC chairman, Waziri, commenced 22 of the cases. Fifty-six persons alleged to have committed financial fraud were taken to court and 33 of the persons arraigned have been granted bail by the court under various circumstances, while 19 were remanded in prison custody. Two of the persons arraigned have been convicted; charges have been filed against one, but the suspect has refused to appear in court, while court judgement is currently under review in one of the cases.

Among the high-profile suspects granted bail are: Saminu Turaki, former governor of Jigawa State, for allegedly stealing N36 billion; Joshua Dariye of Plateau, amount not stated; Orji Uzor Kalu from Abia, N5 billion; Rasheed Ladoja, Oyo, N6 billion; Jolly Nyame of Taraba State, N180 million; Chimaroke Nnamani, Enugu, N5.3 billion; Boni Haruna of Adamawa, N93 million and Michael Botmang, N1. 5 billion.

Others are Bode George, N100 billion; Patrick Fernandez, an Indian businessman, N32 billion; Roland Iyayi, former managing director of Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, N5.6 billion; Babalola Borishade, former minister of Aviation, N5.6 billion; Elder George, an Austrian businessman, N5.6 billion, and Kenny Martins of Police Equipment Fund, PEF, N7.7 billion.

Also on the list are: Tom Isegholi, Mohammed Buba, and Mike Okoli for the Transcorp PLC N15 billion; Nicholas Ugbane, a senator and nine other members of the House of Representatives, N5.2 billion; Iyabo Obasanjo, N10 million; serving chief of staff to Rivers State governor, Nyeson Wike, N4.7 billion; Femi Fani-Kayode, former aviation minister, N250 million; Molkat Mutfwang and three others, N636 million; Ransome Owan and six others, N1.5 billion; Albert Ikomi, a retired permanent secretary, N43 million; and chairman, Yuguda Manu, Taraba State Civil Service Commission, N17.5 million.

EFCC released the names of 56 Nigerians who allegedly collectively stole over N243 billion from the nation’s treasury.

Waziri was appointed executive chairman of EFCC in May 2008. She succeeded Nuhu Ribadu in this post. She was born on July 7, 1946 and raised in Gboko, Benue State. She obtained her law degree from the University of Lagos and obtained a Master’s degree in Law from the Lagos State University. In 1996, she gained a Masters Degree in Strategic Studies from the University of Ibadan. She is the author of Advance Fee Fraud, National Security and the Law.

Waziri enlisted in the Nigeria Police Force in 1965 with her primary school certificate and rose to the position of assistant inspector general of Police. During her career, she held the positions of assistant commissioner of police (Operations), screening and selection; assistant/deputy commissioner of Police Force CID Alagbon, Lagos; commissioner of police, general investigation and commissioner of police in charge of X-Squad. In this last position, she was responsible for handling cases of bribery and corruption within the police force. She also served as commissioner of police (special fraud unit) in which role she recorded the first conviction for Advance Fee Fraud in Nigeria.

Waziri headed the police Anti-Fraud Unit between 1996 and 1999 during which period she trained Ribadu and the current Ibrahim Lamorde, then the director of operations.

She led the West African delegation on Advance Fee Fraud to Lyons, France, in 1996. She led the Nigeria delegation to Dallas, Texas, for a seminar organised by the United States Secret Service in 1998.

Waziri, from Benue, is married to Adamu Ajuji Waziri, a former top police officer from Gombe State, who was also the nation’s ambassador to Turkey until late 2009.



Reported by Modupe Ogunbayo
http://www.newswatchngr.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1936&Itemid=1

Some of us accuse Ribadu of many things, please read this and make up your own mind.

[size=18pt]NO
NO
NO
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chidichris:

@mikeansy,
with due respect, i must tell u, u do not belong here.
read through your lines and accept the fact that u are in an arguement where u are proposing and disposing at the same time. to avoid bringing urself so low, i will suggest that u choose your topics and not trying to get involved in every arguement.
at the first instance, keyamo is not a cheap lawyer neither is he a paid labourer. he has stood out on several vital federal issues and had made his landmark in the democratic fronts here in nigeria.
on this particular issue or arguement, what is your stand? are u saying that ribadu won the case because he declared his assets or that the case was withdrawn?
u and i know it that ribadu left the country because he does not want to face the law. u and i also know it that ribadu is nothing short of obj boy and if the yar adua administration that claimed to believe in the rule of law has been dismissed by the creator and indirectly gathering his loyalists once again to continue from where they stopped in the destruction of the country.
this same ribadu that fought corruption to its kneels could not find bode george guilty of anything. this your ribadu allowed the highest level of looting under his serious war on corruption.
who is fooling who? ribadu and el rufai staying away all these while were just for purposes. i think obasanjo has finally cleared the ground for a safe landing for both of them.

Sorry what is this thread about. I think its to do with justification or otherwise of why FG withdraws the case against Ribadu. Please tell us, if you may, if the Court admitted that Ribadu declared his assets as prescribed by Law, what is the point in continuing a case that was brought up because, Ribadu was alleged or accused of not declaring his asset. Was it OBJ that declared and signed the form for Ribadu. Think and be objective my friend. Find something else to say about Ribadu.


http://www.saharareporters.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4440:ribadu-declared-his-assets-in-2003-and-2008-code-of-conduct-tribunal-admits&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=18

Lets look at this way, you accused your son of not giving a note to this teacher, you later discussed by admission from your son's teacher that indeed the teacher got the note, please let us, would you still arrange a hearing/discipline for your son?

Despite its nomination of new ministers today, the government of Goodluck Jonathan faces a serious danger from the Chief Justice of the Federation, Aloysius Katsina-Alu. Since coming to office by way of resolutions of the National Assembly declaring him *Acting President, Goodluck Jonathan has not succeeded in meeting with the CJN, who has consistently cited a busy schedule as his excuse. Saharareporters has learnt that Katsina-Alu’s refusal to cooperate with Jonathan is due to his closeness to Umaru Yar’Adua, whom he helped install in office through the Supreme Court in its controversial elections petition judgment.

In a series of reports detailing the shady deals involving Katsina-Alu and former Attorney General of the Federation, Michael Aondokaa, Saharareporters revealed how Yar’Adua successfully bribed Nigeria’s Supreme Court to award the favorable ruling that enabled his government to remain in power despite clear evidence that it didn’t win the April 2007 presidential poll.

The CJN who came to power in unusual circumstances as Yar’Adua was not around to swear him into office due to illness, has reportedly joined hands with remnants of the cabal loyal to Yar’Adua to undo the resolutions of the National Assembly that put Jonathan in power.

Saharareporters sources indicated that Yar’Adua’s wife, Turai, who had requested 10 ministerial positions and insisted that she be allowed to choose the most lucrative ministries, has turned to Katsina–Alu in the last 48 hours to begin preparation, on behalf of Yar’Adua, to declare Jonathan’s government illegal. Those plans, we are told, have reached an advanced stage.

Even though Jonathan apparently has put up a bold face, he is deeply worried about the plot of the CJN to contradict the declaration of the national assembly and his subsequent official actions. The threat posed by Aondoakaa and Katsina–Alu, who are both cousins from Benue State, may have influence Jonathan’s selection of Mohammed Bello Adokie into his cabinet.

Bello Adokie is known to be a close ally of Katsina–Alu. Adokie was instrumental to collecting the bribes used in installing the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, as governor even though he did not stand in the 2007 gubernatorial elections. The deal running into several billions of naira enabled the Supreme Court to declare Amaechi governor in a bizarre legal decision that is regarded as the first of its kind by the Court.

Jonathan’s team is somewhat hopeful that Adokie would help break the ranks of Katsina-Alu and Aondoakaa and help frustrate them from carrying out a coup that could send his somewhat shaky government packing prematurely.

The plans, which have been brewing in the last week has led to unusual speculations in some media houses, especially The Nation, Daily Trust and now Compass that Yar’Adua has “recuperated” fully and would be “resuming” work soon.

Saharareporters sources confirmed that Yar’Adua is still unable to speak or walk, but that his spiritualists have assured the family that he will be fully fit in three weeks time. It is unclear if his speech and physical therapists recently flown in from the US and Saudi Arabia have given similar assurances, but a medical source knowledgeable about his condition insists that Yar’Adua would not be able to resume office next week as is being peddled by some newspapers in a syndicated propaganda paid for by members of his cabal.

However, our sources revealed that in the event of the judiciary successfully scuttling Jonathan’s status as **Acting President, Yar’Adua’s wife has already arranged a cameo appearance by the ailing leader and a pre-recorded broadcast that would be used to inform Nigerians that he has “fully recovered” and taken office.

According to the plan, the cabal will then begin a pre-programmed propaganda that Yar’Adua is still recuperating, but since the courts would have dissolved the cabinet put in place by Jonathan, Yar’Adua would then recall members of his old cabinet which would continue business as usual.

Our source also said that the military wing of the cabal remains active, and that the sudden resurgence of rumors that the service chiefs would be replaced by Jonathan could give them a chance to strike soon.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Yar’Adua has constituted her own cabinet on the side in preparation for the court action and subsequent declaration of an end to Jonathan’s presidency. The list, which contains names of five new ministers, currently retains most of the old ministers including Michael Aondoakaa, who would return to his own haunts and habits as Attorney General and Minister of Justice, the post from which Jonathan removed him in his first day on the job.

http://saharareporters.com/real-news/sr-headlines/5622-chief-justice-katsinaalu-aondokaa-plan-jonathans-exit.html

One thing about the political landscape of Nigeria that has never ceased to amaze me over the years is the absolute political naivety of the average southerner (pardon my choice of words). The southerner (their opinion leaders as well as the common folk) would time and again take a perfectly legitimate national struggle and convert into a regional or tribal one.

They have this thing (maybe it’s a psychological disorder, or perhaps an addiction of sorts) of always wanting to be a victim of the other…in this case, the Northerner. They would readily play the victimization card even though this has not gained them much political leverage in the past. Take the manner in which the current political brouhaha in the country is being misconstrued by many a southerner to be a grand northern conspiracy to hold on to power at all costs [visit online blogs like saharareporters. com and nigeriavillagesquare.com and read the comments that people make and you’ll know what I mean]. And this is why I classified their behavior as a “psychological disorder” or an “addiction”, because it is only these two that would make one to behave consistently in an irrational manner. Let’s look at the facts….

When Umaru Yar'adua left the country more than three months ago, Abubakar Atiku and Muhammadu Buhari were amongst the first set of prominent Nigerians to call on the National Assembly to take appropriate action over the continued absence of the President. Their call came before that of Prof. Soyinka and that of Olusegun Obasanjo. These two Nigerians, one a former Head of State and the other the immediate past VP, are not only Northerners, but they happen to come from the same ethnic group as Umaru Yaradua. In fact, Buhari comes from the same state as the President.

What about the retired Chief Justices that went to the National assembly to present a report in which they recommended that the VP be empowered to an Acting President status? ARE THEY NOT NORTHERNERS?

What about when past Nigerian leaders led by Gen. Yakubu Gowon and Shehu Shagari went to the national assembly to make the same call? ARE THEY NOT NORTHERNERS? Even the protests organized by Wole Soyinka and Co, if u look at the names of the leaders of the protest, you’ll find quite a number of prominent northerners including women.

Now let’s look on the flip side (at those wanting to maintain the Yar'adua presidency at all costs)…

Let me start with Turai Yar'adua. A lot has been said about her over the last couple of weeks. I really can’t say how much of it is true, but I have very strong doubts that she has what it takes to mastermind and execute all that has been attributed to her. But for the sake of argument, let us assume she did all of those things. On what basis would the actions of Turai (the wife of the President) be equated to a conspiracy by the entire north? Are they saying that if Yar'adua, like Gen Babangida or Atiku Abubakar, had married from the south, that their wives would not have stood staunchly behind their husbands and do what ever it would take to prevent their husbands loosing position? When Ibrahim Babangida was under pressure for annulling the June 12 presidential elections, did Maryam Babangida (from Delta State) join Anthony Enahoro’s   NADECO or did she stand by her embattled husband?

The point I’m trying to make is that, just because Turai is from the North, doesn’t make her actions a northern conspiracy. If she was form anywhere else in the country I believe she would still do the same because that’s what women do…. they stand by their husbands, they fight for their husbands if need be. It comes natural to them. [Just before you go thinking that I am a “Turai boy” or a member of the "Team Turai" I want to state clearly that I do not support any of the things that she’s alleged to do].

Turai aside, lets look at the other members of the “kitchen cabinet”, those that have fought tooth and nail to maintain a Yar'adua presidency and subvert a Goodluck "Acting presidency…."

I’ll just list out the names that have reached us most frequently from the media; Aaondoaka, Ojo Madueke, James Ibori, Abba Ruma, Tanimu Yakubu, and Abdullahi Sarki Mukhtar. Does this in anyway look like a team to conspire for the north? There are six names here, three from the north, and three from the south. It looks to me, like a group of Nigerians trying hard to hold on to their positions and privileges they enjoy from the Yar'adua presidency, period. In fact, if you look at the list closely, you’ll notice that the northerners in the list don’t even represent a wide area of northern Nigeria because they are all from the same state, Katsina. Also, there is one amongst them who clearly fought the fiercest for his boss Yar'adua. He did all he could legally and otherwise to stop Goodluck from becoming acting president. When he failed he left the country because he probably couldn’t stand working under Goodluck. Guess who it was? A northerner? NO! It was Aaondoaka. A man that was not only southern, but was as southern as any southerner can be. SO HOW DARE THEY CALL IT A NORTHERN CONSPIRACY?

But like I said in the beginning, the first reaction an average southerner has for anything is to jump and point accusing fingers to the people of northern Nigeria (even when the average northerner is not any the better than his southern counterpart). They seem to believe that the north is perpetually coming after them with a dagger even when all the facts suggest otherwise. And in that manner, they have succeeded in reducing many issues that have a national appeal into at best, a regional matter or even a tribal brawl. Remember the MKO Abiola presidential mandate? Here was a man who received more votes from the north than from the south. A man whom the people of Kano rejected one of their own (Bashir Tofa), and voted massively for. But when the struggle to actualize the mandate began in earnest, his kinsmen instinctively wrapped the entire issue with an Aso-oke material and thus transformed it from national to tribal. In their rhetoric they accused the north of not wanting to let go of power even though it was the military that didn’t want to let go of power. A northerner one would argue headed the military, but the same military truncated an earlier transition programme even though the two presidential candidates for the only two parties in existence then, were all northerners (Shehu Yaradua and Adamu Chiroma). Or are they saying that the north in that case was conspiring against itself? Isn’t it clear that it was the military that was trying to hold on to power and not the north? Wouldn’t the struggle for MKO been more effective if the north was not alienated? And when the military was finally forced to give up governance, was it the south that achieved it or a collective effort of the Nigerian people? Most of the southerners that were opposed to Abacha were not even in the country, it was the northerners that stayed back to face the wrath of Abacha. Shehu Yaradua was imprisoned until he died even though he had the opportunity choose the easier method of opposition by leaving the country. And at the same time, there were southerners like Ojo Madueke (yes, the same guy) who were shamelessly supporting Abacha’s tazarce.

I think I’ll rest my case at this point because I think I’ve spoken too much already. But before I do, I’ll like to call on all Nigerians form the south that happen to read this, that some issues are national in character and should thus not be trivialized and reduced to a regional or tribal one. All the northern leaders that called for Dr Goodluck to be made acting president didn’t do that because they preferred power to go to the south but rather because they felt a compelling need to call for what is right and best for Nigeria. And until all Nigerians stop viewing things from the very narrow lenses of regional and tribal affiliations, and start to base their judgments strictly on the standards of right and wrong, then the Nigeria that we all dream of will never come to be.

Thank u 4 reading and have a lovely weekend.

http://www.saharareporters.com/letters/your-letters/5305-clarifications-about-wrong-or-misguided-statement-on-north-and-south-regarding-yaradua-and-his-people.html

I will think this is the only government Minister that has been most bold to tell the truth in this saga sorrounding the "Missing President". Though he may have his own agenda, but at least he is admitting that he does not have a clue about where and how Yardua is doing. Can you imagine Hillary of USA saying he does not know the whereabout of Obama?

That is the situation where we are now. God help us.

The admission by foreign minister,Ojo Maduekwe, that ailing President Umaru Yar’Adua and he have not spoken in six weeks must be taken to mean either the president has very little regard for the portfolio and its holder or that the president’s illness is far worse than his minders want Nigerians to believe, analysts said last night.

Asked if the president has spoken to him since leaving the country, Maduekwe admitted they have not spoken, saying: “I have not asked to speak with him.”
Speaking in a BBC interview, Maduekwe who claimed that Yar’Adua “is conscious and recovering” stressed that the information about the president is sourced from third parties. “Those who are around him give us a very optimistic assessment…I would like to hear his voice, but I think more important than my hearing his voice, or his hearing my voice, is that he gets well soon.”

Many eminent Nigerians who spoke to BusinessDay yesterday described the foreign minister’s revelation as a shame, especially in the light of public expectation for the strengthening of the nation’s diplomatic machinery as a means of mitigating the damage done by the failed Christmas Day plane bombing incident involving a Nigerian.
Olisa Agbakoba, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) told BusinessDay that the development clearly showed that there is a gap in the nation’s leadership, “especially when we need to react to the blacklisting of the country by the United States” following the failed terror attempt.

Ojo Maduekwe
“I am shocked by that statement,” says a former ambassador and erstwhile cabinet minister who pleaded anonymity. “What the minister (Maduekwe) said underscores the claim within diplomatic circles that the rather hasty measure imposed on Nigeria by the United States was because there is no identifiable Nigerian figure that could speak to President Obama.”

Continuing he said: “This is going to make news around the world. It is shocking that the Nigeria’s foreign minister has not seen his President in six weeks despite the Christmas Day terror incident involving a Nigerian.
“He is just trying to let the people know that he is not part of those deceiving the country”, says an erstwhile militant leader from the Niger Delta area. “I think he now realises the implication of the gross violation of the constitution that is being played out now with the absence of the president.
Another top government official who is equally amused by the continued deception on the president’s whereabout called it a national and constitutional calamity. “We are clueless and waiting for the truth”, he told BusinessDay.

Meanwhile, opposition politicians yesterday claimed that allies of ailing president Yar’Adua forged his signature on the supplementary budget last month. The development follows the president’s alleged signing of the 2010 supplementary budget from his sick bed in Saudi Arabia.
The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) which is challenging the claim yesterday demanded that the police investigate the alleged forgery.
The group’s lawyer, Femi Falana, said in the letter that the CNPP had tried to verify claims by the government that the budget had been taken to Saudi Arabia for the president to sign on his sick bed.

“To its utter dismay, our client (CNPP) has confirmed that the signature of the president and the seal of the Federal Republic of Nigeria were forged by some persons in the presidency,” the letter read.
“Our client has instructed us to request you to use your good offices to set the engine in motion for the investigation and prosecution of those who carried out the nefarious act.”

The CNPP said it would take the issue to the federal court next week if the police failed to act.
Falana, who is also senior opposition activist, is behind one of the court cases being brought against the government. He wants judges to annul all decisions taken by the cabinet since the president’s absence

http://www.businessdayonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7404:i-have-not-spoken-with-yaradua-in-six-weeks--maduekwe-&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=18

vigasimple:

Col. Umar is on record as the only serving officer under IBB to publicly and openly challenged him on the annullment of 12 June 1993 election.

Publicly and openly challenging IBB does not Col. Umar better than Yardua. I have asked this question before and I will ask again. When Col. Umar was the Executive Military Governor of Kaduna State, how many:
Roads was built by him
How many Hospitals
How many students got free Education
How many Schools did his regime built
How much did he meet in the coffers of the State and how much did he left behind.

Answers to these questions we help us to make a simple and objective assertion of whether our Col. is simply writing for writing sake.

Not too long ago, I was approached, as were a number of other Nigerians, by a group of human rights activists to sign a statement calling on President Umaru Yar’adua to sign and hand over to the Vice President, Mr. Jonathan Goodluck on account of his worsening health condition. I interpreted their bold move to have been stirred by one or two issues. One, a reaction to the dangerous and unfounded rumour that a section of the country was opposed to the constitutional provision regarding Presidential succession which would transfer power prematurely to another section thereby depriving it of exercising Presidential power for 8 years. Alternatively, a genuine frustration with the negative impact that the President’s protracted illness is having on governance.

My response was that, in as much as I am one with them on the concern for the adherence to the constitution and the need to reinvigorate governance and set the nation on a more dynamic footing, I would rather wait for a more complete assessment of the situation. In the face of the very sketchy information available on the President’s medical condition, thanks to the deliberate suppression of information on the matter, one needs to avoid giving the impression of insensitivity towards the President’s predicament and playing into the hands of ethnic jingoists and sycophants.

It is now five weeks since the President once again took seriously ill and had to be rushed to King Faisal Specialist Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where he remains, according to some accounts, bedridden. Whatever the conditions in which the President may find himself, it is one more trip too many. Since May 2007 when he took office, the President’s ill health has become increasingly manifest -  frequent medical trips, absence from important national and international functions, ghostly looks and lack of vigour in his body language. Former Minister of Mines and Power in General Yakubu Gowon’s government and elder statesman, Alhaji Shettima Ali Monguno, was quoted as having said that “President Yar’adua is visibly working under stress.” He does not believe that “there is any human being watching him (the President) on the screen that would not feel sorry for him.” Like most Nigerians watching, I share Alhaji Shettima’s observation. The President is a tragic and pitiful sight to behold. The only conclusion anybody can reach is that the President is a very sick man and we don’t need Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah and his Leadership newspaper to persuade us of the fact. The President’s aides, cronies and beneficiaries of his condition may persist in denial but the truth is that his dismal failure in the past two and a half years could only be the result of his failing health. A charge of malingering would do injustice to the man famed for credible performance as the governor of Katsina state. Yar’adua’s predicament is not a family or PDP affair as his aides would have us believe. They need to acknowledge the terrible suffering Nigerians have to put up with on account of his very dismal performance and having to watch helplessly the pitiful sight of their President on television screens.

The important role played by a charismatic, dynamic and knowledgeable leader in giving direction to a nation in crisis cannot be overemphasised. This is more so in developing societies which are characterised by weak democratic institutions. The contribution of such leaders in crisis time was well documented. Britain’s Winston Churchill during World War II, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln, John Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton and now Barrack Obama, Nigeria’s General Yakubu Gowon, et al. More than at any time in its chequered history, Nigeria stands in dire need of a redeeming leader; a charismatic, energetic and diligent figure ,  that is what Yar’adua is not. He is introverted, reclusive and too frail to serve as the mobilising president for a nation under deep stress. The perpetuation of this overburdened and weak leadership is not in our national interest. The impact of Yar’adua’s poor health on the fortunes of this country is everywhere. I will mention a few major examples especially in the areas where he himself had chosen to make as the focus of his attention, under the well advertised 7 Point Agenda.

To be sure the Yar’adua administration inherited a lot of rot from previous administrations more so from the immediate past administration of President Obasanjo, his mentor. At his inauguration on the 27th May 2007, Yar’adua had the modesty to acknowledge that he was the beneficiary of a very fraudulent election. He could not therefore be said to have a legitimate mandate, that alone could make the task of mobilising the nation towards national resurgence quite arduous. But Nigerians had been traumatised; they were willing to place, for the moment at least, those concerns on ice. After all, they are not new comers to electoral scams in the past. Although honesty and integrity in public conduct were of great concern to them, they were willing to live with a flawed electoral process if it were to deliver a true messiah.

Eight years of President Obasanjo’s false messianic rule had left the economy prostrate. Physical infrastructure had all but collapsed. And despite the hype of the government’s war against corruption, the scourge grew and grew, making good governance all but impossible. Any little effort on the part of the new President would have assuaged the very low morale of the nation. But two and a half years later, the situation has grown worse in all sectors.

Power. This is the most pivotal infrastructure and the only sector in which the President chose to give himself both a target of delivering 6000MW and a deadline of December 31st 2009 to do so. Without adequate power nothing else could be achieved in the much desired national economic development. President Obasanjo‘s government inherited a power generation capacity of about 2600MW, it was able to achieve a tiny increase to about 2900MW after an expenditure of well over 10 billion U.S. dollars. A far cry from its mission objective of power outages being a thing of the past in six months. It came as no surprise when President Yar’adua declared his intention to proclaim an emergency in order to address the crisis in that sector. Two and a half years after, and a further investment of about $5 billion, there has been no visible improvement. This has forced over 70% of our manufacturing industries to shut down compared to about 65% under Obasanjo. The rest are producing below 25% installed capacity. We have watched as many industries are relocating to less endowed countries like South Africa and Ghana. It is easy to see how this has thrown more Nigerians into the jobless market and deepened poverty across the country.

Roads. The Obasanjo administration was accused of serious neglect of roads rehabilitation and construction. Instead, it used money voted for such purpose as slush fund. Over N500bn taken from the treasury over eight years produced little to show. The Yar’adua government was expected to hit the ground running in the rehabilitation and construction of roads. Hopes were raised with the early inspection tours of the Minister of Transport, Mrs. D. Maduekwe. She reportedly came close to tears on seeing the deplorable state of the Benin-Shagamu road. And yet, after two and a half years, not a single federal road project has been delivered nor has the President ever visited any of the sites to see progress of work if any. The public is still left wondering what is holding up work on the much used Benin-Shagamu, Apapa-Oshodi, Gombe-Yola, Ibadan- Ilorin, or any of the South Eastern Federal roads. Even more shocking is the choice and implementation of the projects. Ongoing road projects are suddenly abandoned in favour of less critical ones which anyway suffer similar fate before completion.
Education. There is a paradox to the government’s approach to this sector. Under a teacher President, education appears to be the worst hit. Our universities were closed down for about 4 months due to government’s failure to address genuine demands of academic staff unions for the improvement of working conditions in the universities. Budgetary allocation to the education sector remains below 10% of the total national budget as against the 26% recommended by UNESCO.

Health. It is a measure of the decay in our health services that our ailing President and senior government officials seek routine medical checks and minor treatment overseas. Other hapless Nigerians have largely resorted to self medication, use of traditional medicine and prayers.

Service delivery. Under President Yar’adua’s watch and ‘meticulous’ planning, budget implementation and project execution limps along at 25% according to data collected by the National Assembly. All sectors of the economy, not surprisingly, are showing signs of severe decline. The only industry that seems to be growing is poverty; now some 70% of the population have fallen below poverty line and still counting. Life expectancy has fallen below 45 years; 1 out of every 10,000 women die at childbirth as against 1 in 100,000 in developed countries or 1 in 20,000 in Ghana. The UN mandated programme of combating extreme poverty, child and maternal death, endemic diseases etc under the MDG programme, all seem tall and unrealisable dreams. Even the uncharacteristic success the President seems to be achieving in the resolution of the Niger Delta crisis appears to be unravelling.

Anti corruption. Corruption is established as the bane of our national development. It was therefore expected that the Yar’adua administration would take seriously the fight against this malice. CBN Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi’s commendable efforts in the sanitisation of the banking sector has done little to ameliorate the harm  being caused to the nation by the government’s failure to prosecute the war against corruption. The prosecution of the war against corruption has remained very selective and unserious almost exactly the same as under the Obasanjo administration. Stealing by public officers goes on with greater impunity due to and not in spite of the feebleness of the war on corruption. Palatial buildings being put up by public servants in Abuja and other capitals, their frequent junketing round world capitals for spurious conferences and holidays as well as the exotic vehicles they ride are their way of proclaiming that the war on corruption is on recess.

Nigeria’s waning influence on the international stage. Gone are the days when the World sought our opinion on all important issues concerning Africa. The frequent absence of the President has once again isolated Nigeria. Our inability to influence events in the ECOWAS region is evidence enough of our waning international influence. Nigeria was unable to dissuade the President of Niger Republic, Alhaji Tandja Mamadou, from illegally amending that country’s constitution in order to perpetuate himself in office. We looked helplessly on while a Captain seized power in a military coup d’etat in Guinea and went on to engage in serious abuses of human rights including the recent massacre of over 150 peaceful demonstrators who were protesting his plan to succeed himself through what would definitely be a sham election.

Succession. While the country is drifting on account of the President’s lack of capacity as evidenced by his frequent absence and lacklustre performance, our political leaders are compounding our problems by declaring that the nation would be thrown into crisis if the President fails to recover. This, to say the least, is irresponsible and can only succeed in once again pushing the nation to the precipice. It is difficult to see how the ill health and possible incapacitation of an individual, even if he is the President, may lead to the kind of crisis our leaders prophesy. After all our democracy is guided by a constitution and therefore governed by laws. We also have in existence democratic institutions which are superior to any individual. Provisions contained in sections 144-146 of our current constitution are clear on the issue of presidential succession. Luckily, this government has laid claim to being a stickler for observance of the rule of law. Undoubtedly, the nation will be thrown into crisis if we fail to allow the constitution to prevail in this matter for whatever reason. Our leaders must eschew any actions or utterances that can only result in over heating the polity. Contrary to what some sycophants believe, the country is greater than any individual. The President is not Nigeria and Nigeria is certainly not the President.

Since the President’s medical trip to Saudi Arabia, some of our leaders have turned into prayer warriors. They have engaged in desperate, mostly self serving calls for prayers. Such calls or command as they appear are also capable of sending the wrong signal to the public about a possible impending crisis on account of the President’s illness. Nigerians are renowned for the zealousness with which they pray; they would willingly resort to prayers at the slightest perception of adversity, they need not be prompted to pray for the sick. At any rate, how may we pray for the President whose health condition has been deliberately shielded from us? What prayers do we offer a President who is well enough to be watching soccer matches in Saudi Arabia? No, the President’s aides must respect our right to know his current state of his health and leave us alone to pray the right prayers as we deem fit. These people must also know the Good Lord cannot be intimidated. He knows our motives and intentions and will judge and answer our prayers accordingly. Our prayer for now is to deliver us from selfish people and sycophants who have continued to idolize every leader even when such leaders are not doing well.

Most irritating of all are such senseless and insulting submissions which seek to remind us that President Umaru Yar’adua had once stayed away on overseas medical treatment for six months while he was governor of Katsina state. He returned and successfully completed his first term and went on to secure a second which he also successfully completed. What this means is that we should expect to keep Nigeria in its current rudderless state as if the President’s office is hereditary. Others say that the President can continue to exercise his powers from anywhere in the world in whatever condition. It does not seem that anything is too absurd or  too shameless in this desperate struggle.

Way forward. The constitution is very clear as to what should happen in the event that the President is unable to discharge the duties of his office. It is however difficult to see how a cabinet appointed by the President and exists at his pleasure can summon the courage to declare him unfit to hold office. The contradictory messages coming out of the Federal Executive Council since the President’s hospitalisation attests to this. Nor can we hope to have the successful activation of Section 144(1)(a) of the constitution if statements coming from the Senate and to some extent the House of Representatives, are anything to go by. All of which go to show that a resolution of this matter through such constitutional provisions is wishful thinking.

There are no nice ways to tell President Umaru Yar’adua what has to be said: he has proven too ill to function effectively. His poor score card and the very pathetic state of the nation are proof of the evidence to which all can attest. While we wish and pray for the President’s quick recovery, we do not believe it is in the nation’s interest, nor even in his to hang on to power. He should do what is patriotic, sensible and right and voluntarily resign forthwith - for God and Country. Any thought of a temporary handover pending his recovery can only sustain the state of disorder in the country, quite apart from creating the conditions anarchists often seek to exploit.

Those who will choose to accuse me of working against the interest of one section of the country or the other; I need hardly stress my innocence. The guilty ones are those who decided to impose poor Umaru on the country knowing too well his poor state of health and Umaru himself for accepting to be used.

May God continue to guide us aright.           
       
http://www.saharareporters.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4650:mr-president-for-god-a-country-please-resign-&catid=81:external-contrib&Itemid=300

Did you agree with him that the President should resign now?

Onwan:

I'll appreciate you tell me that if we meet in real life.

Would you please be available during the Ibori's associates Trial in the Southwark Crown Court in the early part of 2010?  Surely we can cash up there.

@Onwan
@Depilot
You both makes me laugh.

Onwan:

I would add Ribadu AND remove Ibori.

This statement only reveals your level of intelligence.

In my head it will be Ribadu as President and Fashola as VP but in my heart its Jonathan bearing in mind the Constitution.

yemmight:

Anything is posible here.

Well that is true to so extent. But in this case, its never going to happen. Let him bribe everytihing in these world, It will not happen.

james_ibor:

Behold the day of Joy.

I said it loud and clear that I AM INNOCENT. NOW, I AM VINDICATED!

You are nothing but a fool. Watch Out, your end is just a matter of time. It may take some time, but surely it will come.

I reserve my comments

Depilot:

Ribadu's worshippers are fools and enemies of Nigeria.

Are you sure your head does not need an examination? If do not think so, your comment betrays your level of intelligence.

selingel:

When I blamed Ribadu, his worshippers nearly crucify me. I keep my mouth shut!.

I am sure Ribadu is also resposnsible for the absence of our sickly President. Dont you think so?

To hell with all of u -  Ibori, Yardua, AGF, Waziri and dishonourable Justice Momoh.

As the world celebrates the International Anti-Corruption Day, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, ex anti graft czar, has unanimously emerged the winner of the first ever Civil Society Anti-Corruption Defender Award. Mrs Zara Ribadu will receive the Award today on behalf of her husband at a ceremony in Lagos to be chaired by His Excellency, Dr. Arie van der WielNetherlands Ambassador to Nigeria.

Professor Wole Soyinka will give the keynote address, and present the award to Ribadu’s wife.

In a joint statement dated 9 December 2009, by the Wole Soyinka Center for Investigative Journalism; Socio-Economic Rights & Accountability Project (SERAP); Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC); Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA), and Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), which made up the award jury named Ribadu as “our own equivalent of Amnesty International’s Prisoner of Conscience and individual at risk.”

According to a statement to be read at the ceremony on behalf of the award jury by Tayo Oyetibo, (SAN), and member of the board of SERAP, “This is an exceptional gathering for an even more exceptional man. Today the world celebrates the International Anti-Corruption Day, and we consider it a special day to celebrate the courage and commitment of a man who despite obvious personal risks, decided to say ‘enough is enough’, and to give his all to the fight against corruption in Nigeria.”

The groups also called “on the Nigerian authorities in particular the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr. Michael Aondoakaa (SAN) to immediately withdraw all politically motivated charges against Mr Ribadu, and stop using his Constitutional authority and the machinery of the state to harass, intimidate and victimize him. The Nigerian authorities must publicly guarantee Mr Ribadu’s safety and security; and grant him full citizenship rights.”

According to the groups, “Mr Ribadu was chosen for the Civil Society Anti-Corruption Defender Award for leading a courageous anti-corruption drive in Nigeria as a former Head of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and because of the persecution, harassment and intimidation he has endured and suffered and continues to suffer in the hands of the Nigerian authorities solely on the ground of his anti-corruption work. It is fair to say that today no other individual has been so persecuted, harassed and intimidated.”

“Mr Ribadu embodies the highest ideals of public service but rather than honouring him for his commitment and courageous anti-corruption work and achievements, the Nigerian authorities have consistently used the machinery of the state to persecute and punish him solely on the ground of his anti-corruption work,” the groups added.

The groups also said that, “As Chair of EFCC, Mr Ribadu provided outstanding leadership in fighting corruption at all levels of Nigerian life. He tracked down high and low-level officials. Mr Ribadu recorded over 300 criminal convictions in 4 years, which included governors; ministers; members of parliament; bankers, and former Inspector General of Police. He has recovered over $5 billion stolen public funds.”

“Mr Ribadu has endured many sacrifices since he was forced out of the EFCC, including two assassination attempts on his life, and his unlawful sack from the police. Persecuted at home, separated from his family; and lonely abroad, Mr Ribadu is now paying the price for his commitment and his work as anti-corruption defender. But he remains a source of tremendous inspiration for all anti-corruption and human rights defenders in our country. Mr Ribadu is indeed our own equivalent of Amnesty International’s Prisoner of Conscience and individual at risk. As such, he deserves recognition and better protection,” the group further added.

The groups also said that “Every government has the duty to bring to justice those responsible for crimes. But when people are subjected to unjust punishment and unfair trials, justice cannot be served. The unjust punishment Mr Ribadu has received over the years demonstrates the Yar’Adua government’s lack of respect for the rule of law and shows that the government is not genuinely committed to the fight against corruption. It is no surprise that Nigeria has performed very poorly in the Transparency International 2009 Corruption Perception Index, ranking 130th of the 180 countries surveyed.”

“This award is intended as an inspirational tool to recognise the courage, tenacity and contributions of outstanding leaderships who have championed reforms for better governance against formidable odds and risks. The award aims at encouraging anti-corruption and human rights defenders who are at risk and therefore in need of immediate protection. This award will be annually granted to recognize the important contribution of individuals and NGOs, working at great risk to expose and eliminate grand corruption,” the groups added.

Born November 11,1960, Ribadu graduated from the Nigerian Law School and was called to the bar in 1984, before joining the Nigeria Police, where he rose to become head of the Legal and Prosecution department, Police Headquarters, Abuja. His 18-year service in the Nigeria Police culminated in his appointment as the pioneer Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by the former President Olusegun Obasanjo government, in 2003.

Ribadu has been recipient of several awards, as a police officer, prosecutor and Chairman, EFCC. He received triple Inspector General of Police Awards in 1997, 1998 and 2000 and the Special Commendation of the Accountant General of the Federation for successfully prosecuting some corrupt public servants, in 1999. Notable Nigerian newspapers including Thisday, The Sun, Leadership, Nigerian Tribune and NewAge, declared him Man of the Year in 2004 and 2005, in recognition of his outstanding achievements as a committed crusader against corruption and other related crimes. On April 15, 2008, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank) selected Ribadu for the Jit Memorial Award for Outstanding Public Service.

Signed
Adetokunbo Mumuni
SERAP Executive Director
9/12/09

http://www.saharareporters.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4488:nuhu-ribadu-wins-first-civil-society-anti-corruption-defender-award&catid=114:press-releases&Itemid=362


Over to the crooks like Ibori and the rest of them to match the excellence of this guy - Ribadu.

God Bless Nigeria. God Bless Ribadu.

At the slightest provocation – in fact, often at no provocation at all – Nigerians invoke God’s name. In today’s column, I imagine a letter God has written to Nigerians titled “You’re on your own.” Here goes. Beloved Nigerians (yes, I call you beloved even though many of you are among the world’s most unrepentant sinners), I’m going to be blunt.

I am getting impatient with what you call prayers. Many of you let out deafening screams and shrieks in the name of praying. It’s as if you think I’m deaf – that I won’t hear you unless you shout, punch the air like bad boxers, and contort your faces into strange expressions, like unseasoned Nollywood over-actors.

In fact, if I weren’t indestructible, I would since have lost my hearing for all the noise many of you make while praying. If I appeared before you in physical form, I’m afraid some of you would long have poked out my eye for all the jabbing you do when you pray. Please take note: my perceptual faculties are sound; they’re so flawless that even the word “perfect” is too imperfect to describe them. My hearing, for instance, is so good that I even hear the heart’s silent murmur. Please quit this rude habit of howling you mistake for prayer.

Irritating as I find your style of supplication, you have other habits that really, really gall me. One is how you bother me, day and night, to give you the things I’ve already granted you in prodigious quantities. Another is your ceaseless pleas that I do for you what you should be doing for yourselves.

What great gifts haven’t I bestowed on you Nigerians? I gave you a huge supply of rich arable land that should make you the envy of other nations. You can grow all kinds of food on this land – yam, cocoyam, groundnuts, rice, potatoes and more. Yet, a few among you bask in greed and wallow in conspicuous consumption while the majority goes hungry. Then I buried massive reserves of some of the most treasured natural resources in your land, among them tin, coal, and oil – the 20th century’s black gold.

Again, you have allowed a gluttonous few among you to steal the wealth that should belong to all. Look around you, how many of your African neighbors can boast even a fraction of the resources I have blessed you with? For that matter, how many countries in the world are as richly endowed as you?

What has all that wealth done for you? Nothing!

No roads. Each year, your politicians and rulers pocket hundreds of billions of naira that should be spent on roads. Instead of sending them off to jail, what do you do? You garland them with empty titles and include their names on your roll of national honor. Instead of calling them criminals, you celebrate them. Instead of covering your noses in their presence, many of you grovel before them. You flatter them with the names of “Leader,” “stakeholder,” “prominent Nigerian,” or “Mr. Fix-it.” You baptize them as chieftains when you ought to address them properly, as thieftains.

Each year, thousands of you perish in horrible accidents on the country’s ill-paved or neglected roads. In other countries, these avoidable deaths would trigger outrage at the rapacious politicians who did away with the budget for roads. Not in Nigeria. Instead, you raise your over-loud voices to heaven, as if I decreed that the roads be in ghastly condition. You call down “holy ghost fire” on the faceless witches and wizards you blame for these road casualties.

Such demons exist only in the deceptive imagination of your imams and pastors. The simple reality is that bad roads and deplorable driving habits cause accidents.

Yes, when you should hold your politicians accountable, you embrace the abracadabra of some so-called “men of God” who preach that accidents are caused by marine spirits. Such superstitious nonsense sometimes fills me with pity, other times with holy rage.

The culture of mediocrity extends to every sector of your national life. As I write, the man you call your president is lying in a Saudi hospital. Ask yourselves a few simple questions. Why do your leaders always fly to other countries for medical treatment? Are there no qualified Nigerian physicians to treat their ailments? Why are most of these experts living and working abroad? How do the leaders treat the Nigerian doctors who are home-based? Are they encouraged with funds to do their research? Does the government provide equipment to enable them to serve the rest of you when you fall sick?

Why do you put up with fake leaders who travel abroad at your expense, but who do nothing to ensure you have access to decent health care when you fall sick? Why can’t you insist that, unless they meet one condition, they can no longer use your funds to fly abroad? That condition is this: if they can’t, or won’t, fix the country’s health care delivery system, then they must first budget funds for each and every sick Nigerian to be flown abroad as well. You must refuse to underwrite their treatment in countries other men and women have organized well.

Today, hundreds of thousands of you die yearly from malaria and other easily manageable diseases. Far too many women die giving birth – a rarity in most other countries. Again, why don’t you rise and chase off the wreckers of your lives, the despoilers of your present and future, the looters of your treasury? Why, instead, do you turn to pastors and imams to intercede on your behalf for divine healing?

A few years ago, your former president flew in an American pastor to come and deliver miraculous healings. Did any of you wonder why the same president, when he’s sick, consults a foreign doctor instead of a foreign pastor?

Let me spell it out again: the pastors who tell you that some invisible dark forces and principalities are behind the senseless deaths of sick Nigerians are plain liars. Hear me well: they are unscrupulous scam artists who exploit you with superstitious tales. These deaths occur because of two related reasons: one, that most of your so-called leaders are simply unconscionable robbers, and, two, that many of you – out of moral cowardice, ignorance or some parochial principle – allow the contemptible usurpers to get away with carting off public funds.

Oh, how you Nigerians sometimes test my patience! You rig elections, and you say it’s God’s doing. You steal power, and you say – knowing it’s a lie – that only God gives power. You embezzle billions from the public treasury, and you say – again, knowing it’s a lie – that God has blessed you. Some of you then pay ten percent of your loot to a sham pastor – as if it’s possible to bribe God. Other ruthless thieves among you take up knighthoods in one denomination or another, or make a fetish of going to Mecca, or build a private chapel or mosque. Do you think that God is an accessory to fraud, or will ever be impressed by a robber’s gestures, however seemingly grand in the eyes of mere mortals?

It irks me to hear Nigerians say that only God can solve your problems – when the solution is well within your grasp? Did God manufacture your problems? Your leaders (who are actually rulers, for they can’t lead) buy up swanky real estate in South Africa, Dubai, England, Europe, the US, even in neighboring Ghana. Do you not know that true leaders, not I, built up these countries and their infrastructures?

Do you not remember how you once regarded Ghana as a basket case? How that country’s citizens flooded the streets of Nigeria in search of any menial job that was to be had? Today, Ghanaians leaders and followers, working together, are revamping their nation. Some of your former heads of state have fatter bank accounts than Ghana. Yet, Ghanaians have husbanded their resources and are achieving a nation they can be proud of, and others commend. Ghana’s cities and many rural areas now enjoy virtually uninterrupted power supply. How about Nigeria? It’s a narrative of failure. After squandering billions of dollars on fictional power projects, your leaders can’t guarantee 2,000 megawatts on a good day! No wonder your leaders, shameless as ever, now flock with their mistresses to Accra and other Ghanaian cities for weekend romps and revelries. But I wonder: Why do you accept this decrepit existence?

Here’s the bottom line: I’ve given Nigerians more than their fair share in natural and human endowments. It’s up to you to achieve the change you want – or else remain captive to woes. Begin today – not tomorrow – by committing to moral conversion. You’re world champions in praying. It’s time to start acting. Work for the change you desire. If you believe in God, then let it show. True believers don’t engage in corrupt acts. They don’t steal elections, nor do they rest until hijackers of elective office are swept out.

Know this, ye Nigerians. It’s not God’s job to build your roads and hospitals, to sweep your dirty streets, to do the work of your doctors, to drag your corrupt leaders before a magistrate, or to kill those you permit to destroy your collective lives. Listen to Fela: Don’t shuffer and shmile. And to Bob Marley: stand up for your rights!

okeyndibe@gmail.com
http://saharareporters.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4470:gods-letter-to-nigerians&catid=90:okeyndibe&Itemid=273

Over to our prayer warriors.