₦airaland Forum

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@ladyT

I rather find it interesting though strange

We complained when we were ruled by the whites yet look how we treat ourselves

excellent point, we have done worst things to ourselves than the colonial masters.

wole soyinka was an on looker just like every one else. A principal actor at the time Mustapha Jokolo told every one what he knew about the case. atiku or any of his direct aides did not react meaning they are attempting to cover his role in that case.

IBB overthrew Buhari to cover his own ass because his wife was in some dirty deal with Gloria Okon that Buhari intended investigating.

In this 53suitcase scandal Atiku was aiding those against Buhari to pull him down and also pursuing his own ambition because he was also trying to bring down his boss abubakar musa so he will take over. His vaulting ambition and abuse of office did not start today.

otherwise how would you explain him being at the helm of affairs at Murtala Muhamad Airport when the suitcases passed. Him or any of his boys did not sieze nothing, yet the same person led a media campaign against the scandal?

@LadyT

Dont you find politics boring
Loads of pretty girls like you wont give a damn about it!!

its 53 suitcase scandal of 1984

@Bulluti

I do agree with you, sucide bombing is totally unacceptable.
At some point I detested President Amadenajad of Iran but Bush's activities is only drawing my sympathy to him. But seriously and frankly he needs to be checked.

If I am sincere to some degree I will accept that the world's most dangerous weapons must not be in the hands of some people, they dont value lives like we do. But over the years I have come to realise that you earn people's respect more when you respect them and also make them realise that some of the things that devide us are worth nothing.

Some of this arab states are blind from the point of view they choose to look at issues but Bush is playing into their hands too much and destablizing the world.

9ja4eva:
He should be hung.What a greedy thief.But when them go pick Ibori sef?

long dream, Ibori wey dey sponsor Yaradua presidency

OBJ's energy policy has been a disaster, I don't know why nobody, Not even the national assembly saw the need to question OBJ's reluctance to build a refinery.

On the issue of impeachments, I think only those of Oyo and Anambra deserves my regret. Others were caught in the act and ousted by Ribadu. I totally support him because I do not see why someone who embezzled state funds (which in the first place is unconstitutional) will be hoping to hide behind the constitution he has abused to remain in power it just does not follow.

On INEC, politicians who are pursuing personal interest are exploiting loopholes in our constitution to make life difficult for INEC. We need to give INEC a chance.

On the whole its a learning process, if we are a serious people what we need to do is learn from our mistakes and amend the constitution to protect the people. The present constitution we have only serves the interest of the elite, and I think God has only brought confusion between them so that the injustice they bequeath to the people is blown to the open.

Yes Nigeria is failing and needs quick recovery, but we have a recognised government, a legitimate army recognised even by the militants, thus we are not yet a failed state.

That is the major downside of the man called OBJ.
I will not be suprised if this is true cos the man takes his vindictiveness to all levels, however that attitude is likely to help us break free from the old brigade and thus its helpful sometimes.

Looking at this topic and the various replies, I tried to type but could not. I had to pause and look at our today our past and our future.
I absolutely agree with every post depending where you are coming from. No matter our views we must realise that different decisions have been informed by different experiences and condition and all are right given the particular situation.

But the point is, are u the son of OBJ, or some Government official, or Some oil worker or Some road side mechanic. Do you live in washington? london? Brussels? Abuja or the slumps of Ajengunle. We have a common stigma haunting us all as Nigerians,our house is on fire and needs sorting out. Yes maybe we have a choice to denounce our Nationality but somehow and someday you might be reminded who you are and where you come from. The only way you can escape this is if you decide not to be the best of who you can be.
Your children might even grow up wanting to know more about their lineage.

At least if not for anything in the interest of the green passport and our children's future lets dream of a better Nigeria and work towards it.
Sometimes I look at out today and try to blame our fathers for our yesterday but feel so empty realising that I have done nothing to secure our tomorrow.

We are so blessed with natural and human resources, nigerians where ever they are, are very smart and brilliant people. The I billion Naira question is where are we going wrong?
research and experience have shown me that we lack collective ability and pursuit of National interest. That is the secret of American, British success. That is also the secret of Chinese success. If we are able to develop this culture every other thing will follow.

How can we achieve this? we need to start from ourselves to associate with others innocently no matter their tribe or religion (forget all the trash your parents told you about the other tribe because their generation have failed us, guess what every child from every tribe was told something about the other tribe. So who is right?). Think Nigeria and act Nigeria.
If you find yourself in service of the people try to make a difference and forget the usual ways of doing things.

Those who are able to go home, don't go there and let the system abuse you. Those who can't afford to try to change the orientation of your brothers. Those who are in Nigeria lets change a few things about our value system.

Nigerians wherever they are in the globe are a stakeholder to the future of that country.

hahahahahahahahahahahahaha

BigB1 we will soon be friends you know though will remain political rivals
check out what you typed in bold!!!! reminds me of those days in kindergaten

@BigB1

Can you shed more light on the source of this one. The info whether true or false according to our Newspaper is suggesting that their is a plot to bribe it has not taken place. But your topic here is suggesting otherwise.

Some senators have refused to do their job and prefer to turn the senate as a battle field between Atiku and OBJ.
During third term they only publicized people bribed to support third term but the latest gist is that some of those who sponsored third term also sponsored anti-third term. So where did the anti-third term money go?

BigB1 stop making threads, rather discuss those of others cos you clearly have no clue what topics deserve to be discussed.
This is a rumour and if we were in a law court they will simply throw it out cos there is no evidence.

I will continue to say things you dont want to hear provided they are the truth

I don't know where BigB1 is getting to with this talk Foreign monitors protecting lives of Nigerians.

I hope you understand that mostly foreign monitors are civilians, how the presence of foreign civilians will change the security state of Nigeria, only you will know? The so called foreigners you think Nigerians will worship are being kidnapped on daily basis in Niger-Delta in exchange for money so tell me how their presence will change anything.

I think I am beggining to understand the motivation behind your point, you think OBJ has some interest in the election and thats the truth.  (otherwise tell me the relationship between Oyo crisis and National elections)
Well I don't care who OBJ wants but am so happy he does not want a group of people in power. Thinking the presence of US will promote the opportunities of such people is a wishful thinking and may be you under-estimate how unelectable such people are.

there is no hope for IBB or Atiku period!!!!!!!!!!1

@BigB1

your last post justifies my previous post
still not bullied though

I think our Journalist are doing better these days, damning the consequences and reporting issues against the government and I repect them for that.

Our senate is useless, tell me what other senate of the world compiles impeachable offenses only when they need more money or when they have lost their local governement primaries. Bunch of unserious fools that will never review the flaws in our constitution only to use them to score cheap political points when issues arise as a result of their inactions.

Their only achievement was anti-third term which they spear headed not because they love Nigeria but because there is need to remove the Super glue-handed man in Aso Rock. Anyway we benefited from it but that does not make them heroes of democracy.

see am used to those words

lack of understanding, gullible, blind etc,

That is what you get each time you don't agree with an Atiku supporter

However my position remains the same, nobody should try to bully the FG into inviting US
At most FG should invite UN if they so wish

also include in your prayer for it to go round.
That a Yoruba or Hausa man becomes the governor of Enugu or Imo

I am Igbo like you though

4play has said it and its true

we are probably saying the same thing in different ways
An invited USA is welcomed, but US coming without Fedral Government invitation cos they want to protect Atiku's interest is meddling in our internal affairs. As a matter of fact they will not do that.
However nobody should use the media to bully the presidency into inviting anybody. FG should do it if they so wish.

@Buluti

Those of us who suggest that Bush is a terrorist are not advocating the activities of Osama, Saddam or the likes.
The point is that we want to look at world politics from a non-biased angle, america's foreign policy has always been for their own national interest and not for anyone else and the rest of the world need to understand that.
How can you explain a situation where the Chinese leader was invited by washington to explain why they recorded so much growth in GDP within a short while. Do you know that if Bush had excuse he would have branded china a terrorist state?

Bush's activities in the globe is becoming a threat to world peace and that is what we seek to point out. Clinton during his time also protected national interest but was not this confrontational.

Bush has just deployed 20,000 US soldiers in Iraq, the Democrats, the Legislature, the US army all think the idea is wrong except Bush. You will only begin to understand BUSH's interest in Iraq when you begin to look beyond the realms of democracy and terrorism. their interest is just a three letter word "OIL" it is as simple as that.

Is Saudi Arabia a democracy? why is Bush not exporting his ideology there? they are an ally of America. As long as oil is flowing democracy can go to blases.

Osama Bin Laden has never been reported to live in Iraq, Ayman Alzawahiri is not in Iraq, infact Al-Qaeda only migrated to Iraq to face US after the invasion, Abu Mussab Al-Zaqawi only recently pledged his loyalty to Bin Laden before his death.
So explain to me how a 9-11 attack that was clearly masterminded by Al-Qaeda should transcend to a war in Iraq, even when Saddam Hussein is not a member of Al-Qaeda? dont tell me its because Saddam praised the attack that is not enough excuse.

Most of the insurgence in Iraq and scattared all over the world are Jordanians, with Bin Laden inclusive. If America is launching a pre-emptive strike why not Jordan the home of most terrorist. Because King Abdullah is an ally of the west, and the oil is flowing.

Bush is still attempting to effect a regime change in Russia cos Vladimir Puttin will not dance to his tune, the Venezuelan leader is a dictator because he will not lick america's butt. so too is Iran, Syria, Brazil, China.

You see its high time the west begin to respect others as they will love others to respect them. If America continues to think they can arrogate to themselves superiority over others there will always be trouble. I am no Arab nor Muslim for that matter, dont see why I will support sucide bombing. But America needs to find a balance point between protecting National Interest and respect for other sovriegn Nations.

nope!
it only means we are responsible to ourself. Most of these so called experienced democracies go about protecting their own interest
inviting them to virtually everything we do leaves us in such a vulnerable situation and Nigeria must be weary of that
America is a friend of no one but themselves
However the Nigerian Governmemnt can invite the UN if they wish but a contestant thinking he can bully the Government into doing that is absolute rubbish, after all they were all here in 2003 when elections were rigged. The international community spoke out against the election and Abel Goubadia went on to anounce his fraudulent results. Did they do anything?

The problem with Atiku is a case of a head hunter not wanting someone else to put an arm across his neck, he was part of that fruadulent rigging now he is afraid it could happen against him. If he is so in love with free and fair elections why did he not speak out then?

it does not work like that. America does not invite no one to show they have nothing to hide.
2007 Nigeria should be able to conduct election without the help of US
We have to grow

We were invited by their Government, if Nigerian Government invites USA fine. But not Atiku or Yaradua or Buhari.
You can not invite another country when you are not the Government merely because you think you will loose.

If you are serious you should be talking to immigration and not folks on nairaland.

hahahahahahahahahahahaha, whether we like it or not??

that is the most wishful thinking I have heard for a while

@ gamine
your current pics is more like you

gamine your current pics looks more like you.

bigb1 if you think any person will buy this your idea of america presiding over our election, i will rather advice you go and sell snow to the eskimos.

Was not suggesting NYSC is a requirement.
I am only saying if he actually did NYSC in 1982/83 after graduating then he is a Nigerian at heart.

Meanwhile mind you, if you are actually a higher institution graduate and did not serve and yet was not exempted from service as a result of age or otherwise then you may not take part in elections.

GUYS HERE GOES ANOTHER VERSION OF THE 53 SUITCASE SCANDAL OF 1984 TOLD BY ONE OF THE ACTORS AT THE TIME MUSTAPHA JOKOLO, THE THEN ADC TO BUHARI AND SON OF EMIR OF GWANDU, IN AN INTERVIEW WITH THE SUN.

Here are the excerpts:

Let’s talk about the controversial 53 suit cases you claimed for your father, the then Emir of Gwandu, in 1984. What is your version of the story?
I have said several times in the last twenty something years that I was innocent of everything. Now, it has turned round that somebody like Prof. Wole Soyinka wrote a book saying that I was smarter than Vice President Atiku. It was wrong of Wole Soyinka to say it happened in Kano. Look, in 1984, my father traveled to London for medical check up. He had an entourage of about 13 people. After his operation, he moved to Saudi Arabia for Umrah, the lesser hajj. On his way back, he was on the same flight with Ambassador Dahiru Waziri who was the Ambassador to Saudi Arabia for six years.

He was appointed State Chief of Protocol and so, was moving back with his entire family. So, he decided to come with them on the same aircraft. Around that time, there was currency change because of the poor economy of the country and the naira was all over the place. We had no control over our economy. The government planned a secret operation to change the colour of the currency. All borders were closed and that was the time when this aircraft was landing. When it came in, I remember we were about to play squash with Buhari, Idiagbon and others.

Then Buhari asked me if my father was not coming back that day. I said ‘Yes sir, we have already sent people to bring him back’. He said ‘Are you not going to receive him?’ I said ‘No sir’ and he said I should go and receive him. He gave me orders to go and receive him.
So, I asked Captain Maitama who was the Commander of the Brigade of Guard to accompany me. So, two of us drove to the Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Lagos. While there, I saw some officers who were going on course to the United States. Colonel Walbe was the one who arranged that course.

While we were there, I was told that the aircraft had landed and was also told that they had some problems at the baggage area. When I went with Captain Maitama, I saw some Customs officers with some of our people and I asked what the problem was. They said that the Customs said that they were not allowed to check the luggage. I asked why, every luggage here should be checked. They said those ones on the ground had been checked, but that there were some that were taken away from the aircraft itself in a truck direct from the State House without coming through the customs area. I said whose luggage were they and they said it belong to State Protocol.
One ASP Saidu Gella who also was from Adamawa state like the Chief of Protocol was the Luggage officer in the State House. He was the one who went with Maigari to collect the luggage direct from the aircraft without coming through the Customs. I said ‘Is there anyway you can call them?’ Unfortunately, we do not have the mobile telephone at that time. I asked if they had walkie talkie and the said they had none.

So, I said I was not here for him and asked if they had cleared these ones and he said they had cleared them. ‘Can we go?’ and they said ‘You can go’. I swear to Almighty Allah, if there is anything other than this, may God strike me dead. May he not forgive me my sins. That was all that I knew about all that happened. The following day, we read in the newspapers that there were 35 suit cases that passed through Customs without clearance.

The Emir did not come with 35 suit cases. It was the Chief of Protocol, Dahiru Waziri, whose luggage were taken away from the aircraft straight to his house without going through customs. The Emir’s baggage were not more than 12. All of them had one piece each because they had landed them there. Whatever shopping they did before, they transported them from London in an aircraft and they received them. So, we had cleared their luggage before. At this time, they were in London when there was this ban. When they finished, before they left, there was this border closure.

They had nothing to do with the 35 suit cases. When we cleared their luggage, they had not closed the border and so, they came with single baggage of their dresses. We did not allow what was going on. Then, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the present Vice President was Area Administrator at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport. He was the one who came on air to say it was an Emir from the North who brought not 35, but 53 suit cases. Onalaope Soleye was the Finance Minister. To date that I am talking to you, nobody has asked me to answer anything.

I think there was power play at that time and there were many interest groups. There were people who were trying to bring Buhari down. Buhari’s half brother was on the Emir’s entourage who was father to Alhaji Mamman, same mother with Buhari. People knew about it. So, he was the target. Then, they started mentioning the Emir of Daura, but it was Buhari’s brother who was in the group. Now, Ambassador Dahiru Waziri was colleague to Ambassador Rafindadi who was the Director General of NSO. On their own part, they were trying to cover the Ambassador.

Another angle to it was that Atiku was aiming to be Director of Customs, while Abubakar Musa was Director of Customs. If he was painted in bad light, if Atiku presented himself as the champion of the discovery, Abubakar Musa being from Sokoto, would be painted black and possibly he would be removed and automatically, Atiku would be made Director of Customs. So, you see, there were three interest groups. One, people who are trying to paint Buhari black by referring to the Emir of Daura in the accusation. There was a mention of the Emir of Daura, but they knew it was Buhari’s brother, but they didn’t have the courage to mention Buhari’s brother, Alhaji Dauda. There are people like Atiku who were out to get the Director of Customs and there was Rafindadi, the Director General of NSO who was trying to protect his own friend, the State Chief of Protocol whom he brought to Buhari.

He never knew State Chief of Protocol and since I was there, my father was not the victim, but me. To get access to Buhari, they had to get me first. This is all part of power play and the whole thing was like that. It was being sponsored within the military itself. For example, when Chief Awolowo’s house was searched, Buhari never knew about it. He read it on the pages of newspapers. It was carried out by a group of military officers who arranged for Chief Awolowo’s house to be searched. They knew Buhari would not come out to say ‘I didn’t order it’. So, it was power play and I had no opportunity to defend myself because I was not allowed to speak.

@vizion

Why have you prefered Soyinka's speech or is it because he said what you want to hear.
Mustapha Jokolo was a principal actor at the time and has shed light on the true story why did Atiku or his aides not react.
Soyinka was a mere onlooker like every one else.