@Beaf

I knew which side you would be on this even before reading your reply - you are that obvious these days

However, I think you are right on this point - GJ is certainly not naive. These statements show that he is dealing with some powerful interests in his own party. These powerful interests have silently pressured him to no avail, and have now revealed their faces to the public. Some of these statements show that he is ready to call them out. As for those who "misbehaved" in the Yar'adua saga he probably has a joker in store for them.

The statements I am having problems with are those asking for the impossible, such as asking the super eagles to go win the world cup - they actually need to stop this practice of meeting the president B/4 going to play. That should be reserved for those who win something - but again GJ is testing the waters and may be shifting to campaign mode already. The other statement is one that appears like hiding behind one finger by asking that Nigeria to be made part of the G-20. Not after the Yar'adua fiasco that took us close to the abyss should anyone be selling snake oil to the world in front of which we made such fools of ourself. It is not his political naivety that worries me, but whether he actually knows what it takes to correct what bedevils this nation.

Beaf:

I find this topic to be extremely funny and unwise. In order to call someone naive, there must be a comparison. Who would the OP say that "politically seasoned" is? IBB, Tinubu or Atiku? Who?
We have a way of making up extraodinary scenario's in Nigeria.

For 36 of Nigeria's 49 year existence, we have been ruled by the brute dictat of military regimes, so where would political seasoning have come from. We are all learning, so lets stop slating people; it is even worse that the OP has not even seen fit to give reason why his list of Jonathans actions show him to be "politically naive".

How does this "demonstrate crass political inexperience?"

In what way does this "demonstrate crass political inexperience?"

How does telling what from the outside, seems 100% like the truth and a major stumbling block to Nigeria's development "demonstrate crass political inexperience?"

"Crass naivety" and he defeated a powerful cabal?
Why don't you first of all prove that it is reasonable to claim that there are politically seasoned people in Nigeria whom you can use as a baseline to judge "political naivety"?

jazzsoul:

This man is disappointed with Obasanjo for not waging a vigorous fight against corruption but he wanted the same Obasanjo to interfere with the EFCC investigation of Mike Adenuga because of his donation of a building to Obasanjo's university. In the Oba's world. offering a potential bribe is not considered corruption.

Glad someone caught the inconsistency - I mean nobody is completely clean, but this here is simply amazing! This, and the story of IBB authorizing private universities because someone who wanted one visited him in Aso Rock, show you the extent of corruption in our system. It is corruption when you don't get a cut, it is not when you are involved!

How can a group of people shamelessly call themselves "the elite" - doesn't he realize this is not meant in a good way! If they are not going to give way for true progress in Nigeria, true progress must run them over.

See how Atiku is shameless joining IBB once Jonathan put up a no vacancy sign in PDP. Atiku left AC in a hurry because he suddely saw the field as his, what with zoning in place (I don't even know what this man thinks he is doing anyway - his name is all over several high profile international corruption cases). He surely can't go back to AC, and IBB is not welcomed in AC either. Checkmate!

Now I am beginning to see a potential scenario for Nigeria to split by 2015 - the "northern elite" foolishly engage their military arm to foment a coup - that would be Nigeria's death knell!

This may create a way for the PDP to lose the presidency to someone like Buhari - who if he makes an honest effort to address a couple of issues (checking his religion at the door) and bundles himself with a good southern technocrat (to address his lack of global exposure and knowledge of the new world economic order) has a good chance of campaigning on both eradicating corruption and moving Nigeria in the right direction economically.

FL Gators:

Oh ok.  LOL Yoruba e, o le die sha

Yeah, mi o feran bi won she construct website won ye. Not very inviting. Se o n lo si eyi ti won ni ni odun yii?? Ni Baton Rouge, L.A

Ko si aye irin ajo fun mi lasiko tan fi si yen. Egbe omo yoruba da bi awon other Nigerian groups. One gathering a year then nothing.

As for the Yoruba - I was taking the opportunity to practice. Took me some time too. Realized how easy one can lose the language if not spoken everyday! Ma mu ra si.

FL Gators:

O seun jare. Se omo egbe yoruba nation ni e?

I'll check out the site.

Rara, ilu mi jina die. Mo lo apejopo kan ni Washington D.C. - o ti pe sa.

Mrs. Abiola-Costello is trying to be diplomatic: "She opined that IBB’s behaviour could suggest a fundamental psychological problem."

There is no need to be diplomatic with IBB. He is too far gone to be handled with kid gloves.

I don't really know how in a country of 140 million such a person can not only be walking around freely, but trying to become president.  Yet, there are people issuing threats to a footballer that was unjustly punished in a soccer match. Doesn't jive at all

By Mike Odiegwu   - Punch
Monday, 28 Jun 2010   

The Founder and President of Kudirat Initiative for Democracy, Mrs. Hafsat Abiola-Costello, has described Nigeria’s former military dictator, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, as a case study of policy and administrative inconsistencies.

Abiola-Costello, daughter of late business mogul and winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief M.K.O. Abiola, recalled that IBB’s eight years of administration between 1985-1993 was marred by betrayal of public interests.

She spoke in an interview with our correspondent in Calabar, Cross River State during an ongoing training programme organised by KIND to sensitise women in politics ahead of the 2011 elections.

She observed that IBB messed up an eight-year opportunity he had to make a difference in people’s lives and to contribute in promoting the quest for democracy in Nigeria.


According to her, IBB’s presidential ambition in 2011 should be considered against the backdrop of political treachery and unpatriotic moves that characterised his administration.



Abiola-Costello said, “IBB was blessed with eight years when he governed Nigeria. He had a big opportunity and when he had the opportunity it was remarkable to watch him. For example, he would launch the debate on Structural Adjustment Programme. Nigerians would debate and come out with conclusion, but IBB would take another course of action.



“Then he would launch Mass Mobilisation for Self-Reliance, Social Justice and Economic Recovery which was about preparing the public for a free and fair election. People would go to the villages to mobilise others. In fact, government agencies were all at work on this. From there, he constituted an electoral commission which conducted the freest and fairest election in Nigerian history. But, the electoral results were still being announced when he changed course.



“So, I don’t think that the issue is not whether or not he can run next year. As a citizen of Nigeria, all Nigerians obviously have the legal rights to run. What we should be looking at is, what was IBB’s problem at the time he was governing Nigeria for eight years, such that when he would be doing what seemed good for the country at the last minute he would change course.”



She opined that IBB’s behaviour could suggest a fundamental psychological problem, adding “I am sorry to be so blunt, but when I analysed the issue carefully, I don’t see any other possible conclusion.”



Abiola-Costello whose mother, Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, was assassinated on June 4, 1996, wondered what could have made IBB to drag Nigerians through seemingly laudable programmes only for him to abandon the course.



“Is it that he does not respect the Nigerian country and the Nigerian people? Or is it that there is a mental default that makes it difficult for him to follow through on his action?” she queried.



She added, “Whatever conclusion this analysis is, should then determine for him how he should continue in 2011. If the conclusion is that there is a mental defect, clearly, he should go for psychiatric help and if the conclusion is that he does not take the country seriously, then he should not even be considering running. Either way, I don’t see how he should consider running.”

If you buy into this crappy interpretation you are just as crazy as those who started this ungodly rumour.

While it takes someone to point out the eagle in the picture - its meaning is just what the eye of the eagle symbolizes - watching from very far. The WORLD'S EYES are focused on South Africa for one month FROM FAR AWAY.

Of course the background is white, Africa is painted in the colors of the South African flag, and the man is painted black - it just fits together.

@FLGators

http://yorubanation.info/Default.htm

A combination of senelity and megalomania is turning IBB into a delusional being - it seems the only thing he can hear is coming from his head, and they are telling him he is the greatest.

This is the same buffoon who locked up universities for up to 1 year, whose policies emptied our universities and hospitals of their skilled workforce. National examination results today are  a sad spectacle. If only this man understood how long it takes to develop a competent army of teachers, professors, nurses and doctors, and is not suffering from delusions of gradeur, he would realize that he is singularly responsible for the comatose state of our educational system.

National News Jun 27, 2010 Former military ruler, General Ibrahim Babangida said on Thursday at Okija, Anambra State, that his achievements during his tenure are there for all to see. He cited the law on private universities as one.

Speaking at a special convocation of Madona University, Okija, where he was conferred with an honourary doctorate degree, General Babangida who is now aspiring to rule as civilian president said:

“It was our administration that enacted the law for the establishment of private universities to exist side by side with those of the federal and state governments. This was how Madonna University came into being. Since then, there have been 41 private universities in the country,” he said.

Describing Madona University as a first class Catholic University in the country where such vices as examination malpractices, cultism and strikes have no place, with students graduating at record time, he urged authorities of the institution to continue to improve on the successes recorded so far.

He said that he was aware that the university had graduated about 12000 people who are doing well in their various fields, adding “no wonder the saying that Madonna University graduates do not look for job, but jobs look for them.”.

The former president advised the country’s youths who he described as the trustees of the nation to abide by the right norms in line with the country’s constitution.

The founder and chancellor of the university, Reverend Father Emmanuel Edeh, said: “This award has nothing to do with politics. Politicians are you here? No! I can’t see any of them, so I don’t want anybody to start shouting political slogans.”

Apart from the governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, there were representatives of Osun and Akwa Ibom states governors, as well as many governorship aspirants for the 2011 election.

Also, most of the politicians who served as coordinators during the last election for which it was thought that IBB would contest, were there in large numbers.

However, what the politicians could not do at the university was done at the country home of a former governorship aspirant in Anambra State, Chief Obinna Uzor at Ihiala where a reception was held for the former head of state. There, several musical bands performed and entertained the audience who came to have a glimpse of  IBB.

Fr. Edeh, while addressing the congregation, had explained that the reason for the award for Babangida was to appreciate his contribution towards the establishment of the university. According to Edeh, “ for seven years, we tried to get this university off the ground without success. At a stage, I had to visit Aso Rock in Abuja to discuss the matter and to my greatest surprise, I was well received by IBB. In fact, we sat on the same cushion and I was elated.

“After explaining why there is need to have private universities in the country, he put a call to the then attorney general of the federation who arrived immediately. The president explained to him my mission and asked if it was possible for a law to be made to accommodate the establishment of private universities and he said yes.

He then asked the attorney general to go to work and the rest is history. It was that directive that made it possible for us to have 41 private universities in the country today with Madonna as the first private university in the country. It is therefore to appreciate his contribution towards the setting up of this university that the governing council decided to honour him.”

Pray tell me what you need a coup for, and what is this thing more than a military coup that YOU need?

chidichris:

@poster,
if that is the case, i will like to be arrested along with him.
we need even more than a coup.
one of the points raised in the uwais electorial committee is the idea of conducting elections at least six months before handover to enable aggrieved parties to go to court before swearing in. this is june, nothing yet so when will all these arrangements come to pass.
i really do not know what pdp is doing with this country.

That would make you the only goat

Ikengawo:

Paddy lo is the only human being on this site.


so do you people think you have more sense then Jonathan because you're on the internet during your lunch break working for the canadian postal service while his busy being the president of your country?
no seriously.

Really, what did you expect from people whose main qualification for this position was how many people they knew? Progress will continue to elude Nigeria until we realize that the competition in every sphere of life is against a more skilled world.

Our officials seem to be completely clueless about the difference between street talk and official-speak, especially before international audiences. Why bring a German into your silly handling of death threats? We do everything as if we REALLY believe our own lies.

pigfarmer:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GpJO1B-w4Q&feature=fvsr

watch that statement and tell them again how ready you are for G7 !

Bunch of imbesiles,

@ROSSIKE

I appreciate your optimism, and I am an optimist too, but lets just say that my optimism is like an hour glass that is fast losing sand to the other side, especially after the Yar'adua fiasco. I use to believe that incrementalism might do the trick for Africa, but it seems that nothing less than major surgery to our way of doing things and psyche can jolt us out of our letargy.

It seems clear to me that Africa's so called good times can be described as peace of the grave. I am not willing to accept that Africa is moving ahead rapidly until I see major structural changes on the mother continent - it is just a lull until all hell breaks lose again. Yesterday, it was Ivory Coast that appeared so stable until the dictator died. Before that Liberia was a haven for visitors from inside and outside Africa - see where they are now. One day would be one day, the dictator of Cameroun will pass on, as well will that of Uganda - the peace of those graves will turn to the cry of mourners. The young Kabila has been in charge of Congo since 2001, how long is he going to stay? Is this the beginning of another 30 or 40 year dictatorship? Zimbabwe's Mugabe, in his wisdom, turned a once bread basket into a wasteland with currency denominated in the billions! What do you think will be the ultimate solution to this? Let our shame-ators and repsenta-thieves continue their wayward ways and see whether some soldier will not step in - if only as an excuse to loot. It happened very recently in Niger .

Don't misunderstand me. Botswana, South Africa and Ghana seem to be at least inching up, but the potential of Africa is so much more. Without serious CHANGE don't be surprised if it all comes crashing a few years hence.

I am nagged by a certain structural deformation in our way of doing things. For example, Botswana has maintained a democratic government since independence, has one of the highest growth rates in per capita income and is the least corrupt (according to TI) in Africa, but in 2006 HIV/AIDS prevalence was 24% and it was estimated that life expectancy at birth had dropped from 65 to 35 years (from Wikipedia). This just doesn't compute for me at all!

ROSSIKE:

Naijamini, I'm a bit more optimistic regarding our present and future,  Across Africa, believe it or not, and by all  indices and statistics, poverty is actually falling year on year, as are illiteracy, disease, conflicts etc.

Military rule is now anathema. The continent's economy has grown at something like 7.5% annually for the last ten years, the fastest growth rate since independence. The middle class has expanded greatly, with their higher purchasing power leading to unprecedented demand for consumer goods across the continent.

15 years ago not less than 20 conflicts raged across the continent. Today that number is down to the ones and twos, which shows growing continental capacity in conflict resolution, an essential requirement for the stability that leads to development,

So there is a steady climb to progress, make no mistake. It's just not happening as noticeably fast as most would like it to.

I project that Africa in the next 20 years would be a much improved place.

@paddy_lo

OBJ certainly could have blown the funds, pay no debt or simply steal it - for his prudence he deserves credit & for some other things as well (e.g. telecommunications). However, what Gen. OBJ built with his right hand, he destroyed with the left by not really understanding what it would take for his legacy to be sustained - both in the 1970s & 2000s. It is rare for a man to have two opportunities to rule and set a nation straight like OBJ did, especialy so far apart in time, and yet make the same mistake TWICE.

He was prudent this time no doubt - perhaps that was the only lesson he learnt from the 1970s. However, in terms of the amount of income Nigeria made from oil exports during his two times in office, he was luckier  than good because he took over precisely during oil booms and left before the ensuing bust.

As for Yara'dua spending all the savings - he really had no choice. He certainly made matters worse by his slowpoke, vengeful approach to governance trying to overturn anything OBJ did.

Black gold was both the source of OBJ's luck and Yar'adua's downfall ---> 1999:$17/bbl; rising steadily for 8 years 2007:$60/bbl; mid-2008:$147/bbl; within 2 years Early-2009:$40/bbl.

Imagine if OBJ had searched for and presented to Nigerians a visionary - we know he basically appointed Yar'adua, why not someone good for the country?
 

paddy_lo:

All the money u made from 1999 - 2007,went towards,salaries,Capital projects,Debt payments of about $15billion
13% derivation payed to oil states,48% payed to states and local Govt

PLus CBN Foriegn reserves of $58billion and another Excess crude account of $20billion left behind as at 2007

what else do u want?

OBJ is no fraud. .he is the most Prudent leader we have had since 1980

Its funny that the Yar adua u want to defend
met $20billion in excess crude,but spent it to $5billion by the time he died
While the CBN reserves fell From $58billion to $40billion

and for 3yrs there was nothing to show. .NNPC became more corrupt,leading to leakages in GOVT Revenue

He is not a simpleton by any means - if you meant it in the strict sense.

However, he doesn't seem to be THE one we are looking for. Unfortunately, as with Yar'adua our options are sadly limited. Which of those politicians out there are showing they can do better? If there are any, I am yet to see manifestos and plan of action!

Besides, it seems we are watching another president in the process of being overwhelmed by Nigeria's multifaceted diseases, and devoured by the eggheads that are supposed to be his "knowledgable" advisers. He is probably just reading what the speechwriters put on paper these days - he probably has little time to digest the contents. The problem is, as with his former boss, those words come back to hunt you with vegeance.

Nigeria needs at least 6 topnotch people tackling her problems together at once.

President Jonathan is making unbelievable statements. I am having serious doubts about him, or at least the constitution of his government, after he charged the Super Eagles to win the world cup. You don't win the world cup by wishful thinking just because you are celebrating your 50th anniversary this year. What is this idea of the president meeting the footballers anyway? - that should happen only if you win something! OK!

shotster50:

@ Paddy, You dont get it, Are vying to be a G20 member for bragging sake or because you want to fix it? We wont be ready for G20 unless we fix our most pressing problems.

Akanniade:

There goes our simpleton president.

I agree too.

The question is of what value is that if we can't re-write our own history and discard the absolute bunkum they wrote in their combination of ignorance & wickedness ages ago.

Where do we stand when our current fortunes as a continent mirror what they said we would be - ravaging hunger while residing on perhaps the most resourceful continent on the planet, for example! Tribalistic mumbo-jumbo that amount to baby-like babbling of baboons in the bush!

We can protest all we want, but until we take charge of both our history and our present we continue to reinforce the passed-down delusions of ages ago.

EzeUche:

I agree with you ROSSIKE.

Africa was thriving while the British were still painting their faces blue.

President Goodluck Jonathan is indeed a lucky man - that we are all well aware of. You might even say that his advancement in government is "destiny-like". I am not a believer in destiny, but do believe in coincidence and the possibility of repeating patterns, and sometimes luck - but I digress.

The point of this post is to seek your opinion: Have we have found the needle Nigeria needs on top of the sack, by fortuitous accident, or do we need to vigorously search the haystack of current pretenders before we find a true leader. Before GJ received official powers it was easy to excuse certain tendencies, but with full powers in his grip I am beginning to wonder if he is proving to be, not just a good leader, but THE leader Nigeria awaits.

This wonderment results from my vision of what THE LEADER would be. I see:

THE LEADER as a man/woman capable of transcending the divisions that bedevil this potentially great nation - whether tribal, religious, gender, class, age, education, etc. One who at once understands these dimensions of our pitiful state, why they exist, but also can see how to transcend them all.
THE leader would realize that within us resides our own greatness.
THE leader would be capable of bringing out the best in the larger proportion of Nigerians - not just in talk, but in action.
THE leader would operate out of the ideal of making each and every Nigerian happy to wake up each day a Nigerian.
THE leader would be so transcendental in his actions/words as to overwhelm the do-no-gooders through popular support. He would not have to ask for political power or engage in political pandering before popular support gives it to him.
Most importantly THE leader waits for one slim chance to set Nigeria right, and takes it without fear.

Do you believe Jonathan is THE leader?

Before you answer, please think and state a few things THE leader would be doing at this particular time in Nigeria's history to set Nigeria on the right path to long-term peace, prosperity and unity in diversity, given the same chance and time as GJ?

Nigeria cannot waste another decade of this century settling the basic questions of nationhood!

http://nigeria-anew..com/2010/06/is-goodluck-jonathan-one.html

otokx:

The other day a friend of mine in arguing against the zoning suggested that the military should come back and give the politicians the Jerry Rawlings style; i was quite dumbfounded. Today however I'm beginning to think in that direction, these people want to bankrupt this nation and yet there is nothing to show for it.

You and your friend need to keep the military out of our political mess. The only ones that can do anything about this political marauders are the people, not the military - we have gone over this pathway over and over again, the military only turns out worse, OK!

Abacha followed IBB's act by hiding billions of $ in Swiss accounts and that didn't include his spending money. IBB spent $12.4 billion like his pocket change.

Unless Nigerians are gluttons for punishment the word "military" should not be in the same sentence as anything concerning resolving our political problems. It is easier to deal with civilian thieves than with military thieves. The fact that Nigerians cannot do anything about our political marauders testify to our weakness.

Here comes another Haliburton - but what happened to the original Haliburton? Nothing!

tpia.:

he has the right to display it [since he's not in germany].

others also have the right to deface it.

Exactly, tpia. Remove it a couple of times, just be sure not to get shot - he will get the point!

Not the German version my foot - why doesn't he just go ahead and name his son Hitler, and tell us he is not German. Even Adolf Hitler's mustache is almost an abomination now, although he simply wore a style that was common during the period it became one of the symbols associated with him. The mustache is seen today mostly on Hitler-wannabes like Mugabe. The same goes for the German salute.

Nigerian Democratic Maxim: TO WIN/RIG/STEAL AN ELECTION IS TO BE MADE FOR LIFE.

Days are coming, says the people of Nigeria, they will call on their Naira mountains, fall on us that we may die, but the Naira mountains will refuse them. They will all be confined to the prisons and that's where the grinding of their teeth will be. They will carry human waste for work, but there would be no one paying them - for so smelly is their act of selfishness in the noses of the people.

Kanti Bello works on principles?

I know what principles he works on. That would be the principle of a 419 Kingpin caught in the headlights of ABC cameras. You know what those guys principles are, right?

You don't? Here it is - as long as they are robbing you blind there is no law, but as soon as you show them they are the ones actually being screwed every law in the books flood to their cranium. The most amusing one is how they immediately tell the reporter that he has no right to take their pictures or film them without permission. That cracks me up every time

Kanti Bellow and his elite marauders stood on OBJ's neck and made him agree to zoning. Once the illegality was agreed it became Kanti's Law & Morality Section 1 Article 0 in the elite marauder's constitution.

The Northern Youths, the Southern Youths and All Kinds of Other Youths of Our Nation need to Kick this people into oblivion. Like Yesterday!

vigasimple:

I have said it times without number that the North are political fraudster. Come 2015 anyway they will change whatever rules about zoning. It was just meant to be one off so that power can return back to 'born to rule'. Until the south unite politically or the country break , we will be going in circle of incompetent and clueless Northern politicians aided and abbetted by minority right sellers in the south.

It is not the north (as in the people per se) - afterall these people joined the east, west, south-south, etc to vote in the 1993 elections against a northerner.

As is the case with the entire nation the majority of elites in each major divisions of our society are selfish bastards who would do anything, and I mean anything, to keep power in their own circle - even if that involves holding 140 million people hostage to the undeniable fate of a virtually dead man (he was doing so well before his death they said afterwards).

I have warned those in the East whose inordinate desire for power, similar to their elite counterparts in the North/West, is setting them up for IBB's trap that they will be disappointed mightily when he is done with them.

The only hope for Nigeria is to work for a meritorious & equitable arrangement of governance. That, to anyone listening, begins with entrusting power in all corners of the nation to those who know their ABC and the direction in which the world is going over the the next century. Is it not yesterday that the year 2000 was declared as the begining of the African century? - it may yet be, but given what I have seen so far, it could turn out to be a century in the opposite direction to what we desire.

melesky:

[tr]This Kanti Bello is supposed to be a mai-ruwa(water seller). He lacks knowledge and maturity, and highly sectional[/tr].

Or better still Mai Taba

True the guy is a sectionist, but you guys are revealing similar characteristics by attacking him this way. What is wrong with being a water seller that it is should be a name for Kanti Bello  and his incomprehensible rant. Na wa for us!

Nenum:

The anti- Corruption crusade has started.

fine it is selcteive, but as long as one big thief is going down, i really do not care.

This has nothing to do with anticorruption. This is the silly, pathetic and outright crazy behavior of successive governments in Nigeria using state apparatus to settle political points. The zombies must do what they are told as Fela sang. We need a complete overhaul of our laws, but more importantly a movement to demand every single right that belongs to us as individuals - by force if it must be. We have zero checks and balances, power flows from one source and one source only.

kobojunkie on Yesterday at 03:00:37 AM » 

Alternatively, Tomorrow, OBJ quickly switches sides to get on the Ibori People team.  So Ibori’s people will have no reason to go after him since at that time he will be playing on their side and no more a threat to their side . . . come on.

You may have a point there, but Nigeria's politicians are so unforgiving of each other. Ultimately, true leaders have to overpower both groups.

Huh? Telling you that selective justice is not same as unselective justice is similar to wanting military takeover. Abegi!!
No one has so far made mention of return of military – would not even know why anyone would need to when this issue has nothing to do with Millitary or Government type.

There are two things going on in the above:
1) Military takeover - to which I say common now! You are not seriously interpreting my words as accusing you of calling on the military to take over. Not at all!
2) On what this thread was actually arguing. You claim it is saying "selective justice is not the same as unselective justice", but I don't think so. Don't blame me either just look at the title. The OP doesn't seem to know exactly what he wants to argue. Nobody disputes your more palatable statement above, but much of you and the OP argument has been more in support of what the title says. Call it imperfect justice, but selective justice is justice as long as the villain is guilty of the offenses he or she was accused of. I support the call to perfect the system, but I'll rather have 1 or 2 of these criminals impunity taking from them than none!

I do not think the argument is for return or the military or for change of government system. I definitely know that is not about. I think this is really to highlight the problem with what we have and have had for over 20 years, and why we need to work harder to get it where it ought to be instead. We need an UNSELECTIVE systemm – one not controlled or run by the “cabal” in charge.

I launched into that tirade against military rule only to show why it is not justified under any circumstances in the same way that no justice is always worse than selective justice. May be a little too much. But jokes aside, such "miscarriage" of justice has been found among military takeover EXCUSES in Nigeria - only for them to take it to the next level. I hope someone is not trying to cunningly prepare us for a military takeover

ziga:

Let us be realistic. the state we are in right now, we have more wolves than sheep. So, the natural way out will be for the wolves to fight themselves until we have less wolves in the system, before anything close to effective implementation of justice can work.

Exactly my point. If OBJ people get Ibori today, Ibori people get OBJ people tomorrow. Eventually people determined to perfect the system will take over.

For those arguing selective justice is no justice - that is the same argument for people who want the military to take over anytime the journey becomes difficult with our democracy just because fraudulent people are those that make it to power. A military government is not justified under any circumstance - if a democratic government becomes bad enough the people would overthrow in one massive protest, and the military can help hold the state together MOMENTARILY. So far Nigerians have not been allowed to reach the point of no return with bad governments. The military cuts the process short and then are the worst of the worst in everyway.

Whoever compares Ribadu's case to Ibori's must not be thinking for themselves clearly. Did you hear of any charges of corruption or non-declaration of assets even when it became clear that they were trying to get rid of him? No, when they realized that chasing him out was their worst mistake then they started grabbing at straws. IBB, the cunning snake, was the only one who whispered something about Ribadu benefiting from underserved promotion. Ibori's case is not only in Nigeria - he has a solid case against him in the UK. Rufai has returned to face the charges against him, he is charged already under the same Yar'adua EFCC henchwoman - so I don't know what you guys are talking about. Let Ibori return to Nigeria - it is the same henchwoman yesterday, today and tomorrow (may be). The fact remains that none, and I mean NONE, of those accused by Ribadu of corruption have been positively cleared, so lets get the facts straight for a minute.

A lot of what we call corruption in Nigeria is actually the fault of simple inability to COUNT, KEEP TRACK and KEEP VIABLE RECORDS. If any country in the world runs the Nigerian type of resource management they would be just as bad if not worse - this is what we really need to fix first!

wirinet:

The reason why kinsmen, friends and relatives of very corrupt people still support them is because of the skewed sense of justice as exhibited by some people here in Nairaland, who support Ribadu's sense of justice.

No it is not! They support them because they benefit from the loot or if they had the chance they would do the same. Campaign against selective justice if you want, but don't suggest that no justice should be done as a result. It is a false choice. All law enforcement is selective in some sense - you are never going to be able to arrest all thieves if even they can't stop you in any way. In our case, you will have to spend the entire fortune of the state to find, capture and investigate all corrupt people in Nigeria of today. Even as you are crying selective justice the EFCC is crying out that they are overwhelmed by corruption cases (Punch - Saturday, 22 May 2010, "We’re overwhelmed by corruption cases – Waziri": You can read it here - [url]http://www.nigeriaanew.org/forum/index.php/topic,1652.msg1739.html#msg1739[/url]

Law enforcement is not really about capturing every offender in many cases (except for capital offenses and sexual crimes), but to stop the most egregious within available resources and instill the REAL fear that you have a more than 50:50 chance of getting caught in the rest. RIBADU FOR THE FIRST TIME IN NIGERIA'S HISTORY BROUGHT THAT ABOUT WITHIN A LEGITIMATE SYSTEM OF JUSTICE. It wasn't perfect, but it was a GREAT start. This cry of selective justice is the excuse Yar'adua latched on to, along with his "tout" AG. See where that got us. When they replaced Ribadu at EFCC all the thieves breathed a sigh of relief - she scared no one from merrily going about their way of looting, and they called it DUE PROCESS.

The only justice that is not justice is injustice - if you were speeding with your frieds and the police could only get one of you. Guess what? - you are it.

[size=14pt]The sincere fight is to call for increased perfection of the system, not to suggest letting one cancer off because you couldn't get another. The latter is too two-faced to be sincere.[/size]

Ribadu, and now Waziri, operated under the bosses that appointed them - let's campaign for improving the system and avoid  giving succour to those who don't give a damn about the populace.

What selective justice breeds is sycophancy, and someone asks why all Nigerian politicians are sycophants and are tagged " any government in power". I condemn the persecution of Ibori, Ogbulafor (for an alleged crime he committed way back in 2003), the persecution of Ribadu, El-Rufai and even Bode George, while the likes of Odili, Sani Yerima, Alao Akala, Tony Anneni, are walking free enjoying their loot.

This argument is twisted. Syncophancy is an ADULT NIGERIAN, not born today, and is what leads to selective justice - not the other way round.

Nigerian political class is like a huge gang of armed robbers, it is only a member that is on the wrong side of the current powers that be that is labeled and persecuted. In that kind of arrangement corruption can only get worse not better.

Worse than if you let all of them go about merrily looting? Surely, you are kidding? Right?

The main aim of trying and punishing of a criminal is not to subject the criminal to suffering and humiliation but to reform him and make him see that his criminal activities is abhorred by the society. but mainly it is to serve as a detriment to others that are contemplating such corrupt activities. Once that detrimental factor is missing, corruption would continue to spread as it is doing today.

The way I see it is this. At the begining such selective justice is going to lead to tit-for-tat. Remember there is no honor among thieves. OBJ was seen as pursuing Yar'adua's friend, Ibori, so Yar'adua shielded him and did nothing to stop Bode George's trial. Now Ibori is running helter-skelter. Guess what we got them both! Soon they will realize that either they straighten up or eventually pay for their crimes. If your people get me today my people will get you tomorrow. Eventually, the people would demand and GET an impartial, effective and non-interruptible system, but not if they say let them all go until we have complete justice.

Fight against selective justice, it is the worse kind of corruption there is.

By all means, but that is not the same as giving pity to the likes of Tafa Balogu and Ibori

paddy_lo:

Correction. . .Agric is 42%,oil is 18%
see the break down of Nigerias GDP below. . .

Yeah. The 85% would be the share of oil in government revenues.

Ahh - even when we cry we can still see. Okay here it is  - nobody is worse than IBB, not even Abacha. If you want me to rank the three of them it is (Worst, Worse, Bad): IBB, Abacha, OBJ ok. Now go play in the sand since the job is done

~Sauron~:

OBJ is the most useless President Nigeria ever had.
All the military dictators including IBB, Abacha and Buhari are miles better than OBJ.
He is a disgrace to the Yoruba race and i hope he dies of Ebola in the coming months.