₦airaland Forum

Intersex people are humans too and have rights just like any other person. Many intersex people have served Nigeria creditably and you might not even know that they are intersex unless you see them naked. Of course the most famous case is that of the former Super Falcons player Iyabo Abade, who is now known as John Johnson.

Stop stigmatisation of intersex people.

This is so sad! There are many intersex people in Nigeria, it's not even a strange thing, why would they want to lynch him?

CFCfan: I see. I believe that such Tavors could equally be mass produced for the law enforcement agents and the military. The FG certainly has the funds to do such.

That depends on rights, agreements, technical know-how, etc

The government originally wanted to mass produce the M16 rifle in Nigeria, but the americans refused to grant Nigeria the rights. However, the russians had no problems granting us the rights to produce AK47. We still have M16 rifles in the army, but they are not that many because they are imported.

So the questions are, will the israelis give us the rights to mass produce Tavor rifles? Do the people at Dicon have the technical know-how to produce it?

https://sphotos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/46743_462276312789_6635778_n.jpg

President Carter inspects the troops.

https://sphotos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/46357_462283587789_3462642_n.jpg

https://sphotos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/44761_462267602789_4542464_n.jpg

U.S. President, Jimmy Carter & (Nigerian) Brigade of Guard Commander, Colonel Mohammed Magoro. (Lagos.April 1978)

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US President Jimmy Carter and Nigerian Head of State Lt Gen Obasanjo receive the national salute at Dodan Barracks from a detachment of officers and men of the Brigade of Guards.

http://www.facebook.com/video/embed?video_id=10200843820721533

The first visit of a US president to Sub-Saharan Africa.

The video opens with a panoramic view of the grounds of State House Ribadu Road (aka Dodan Barracks) and the massed ranks of officers and men of the Brigade of Guards. You can see the real Dodan (army) Barracks in the distance (brown and white buildings).

The video shows President Carter arriving Dodan Barracks for the welcoming ceremonies.
Riding in the limousine with President and Mrs. Carter is General Joseph Garba. At that time, Joseph Garba was Nigeria’s foreign minister. After retiring from the army, General Garba would go on to serve as Nigeria’s representative at the United Nations. He served as President of the UN General Assembly in 1990.

General Garba previously served as Commander of the Brigade of Guards when General Gowon was Head of State.

President Carter is received by Lt Gen Obasanjo and introduced to Nigerian officials.

The two heads of state receive the 21 gun salute and the national salute (Star Spangled Banner and Arise O’ Compatriots). A line of Nigerian officials is shown during the rendition of the anthems. The officials include Major General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua (Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters), Lt Gen T.Y Danjuma (Chief of Army Staff), Vice Admiral Michael Adelanwa (Chief of Naval Staff), Air Vice Marshall John Yisa Doko (Chief of Air Staff) and Alhaji Muhammed Dikko Yusuf (Inspector General of Police).

President Carter, accompanied by his (US) ADC and the parade commander, inspects the troops.

Short clips of speeches by President Carter and Lt Gen Obasanjo.

There is then a very brief shot of the Council Chamber at State House Ribadu Road.

The US President is then shown at the Cenotaph at Tafawa Balewa Square. The guards play the Last Post and the President lays a wreath at the tomb of The Unknown Soldier.

Finally, there is a shot of Marina. President Carter stayed at State House Marina during his visit. It’s an interesting shot because you can see Marina before the Outer Ring Road was built. This was back when Marina had a sandy beach, instead of the concrete structures that are there at the moment. This was even before NECOM House (Net Building) was built.

[size=14pt]Why we support road safety campaigns –Students[/size]

MOJEED ALABI 03/05/2012 07:15:00

Half of the world’s estimated seven billion population is said to be non-adults, and sociologists have categorised them as effective change agents. Hence, the Wellspring College’s decision to launch a Junior Road Safety Club for its pupils to step up campaigns for full compliance of road traffic rules. MOJEED ALABI reports.

In a novel way of demonstrating their basic understanding of road traffic regulations, the drama group of the Road Safety Club had presented dramatic plays before an audience that witnessed its official inauguration. The more captivating aspect was a one-on-one interview presentation where a teenage girl presenter asked her guest, series of traffic related questions.

In what the immediate past Lagos State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr. Jonas Agwu described as didactic and inspiring, the student reeled out usual causes of auto accidents, including over-speeding, non-use of seat belts, drinking of alcohol before driving, overloading, keeping below 12-year-old kids in front of cars and making phone calls, while driving, among several others.

They also interpreted about 10 road signs and signals, which explained situations like narrow bridge ahead, roundabout, children crossing, turning not permitted, and tutored the spectators on other areas like speed limit, air bag use, sitting arrangement for types of vehicles and other important information necessary for road users and particularly drivers.

“I am sure if as adults we are given two days to memorise what this kid has just effortlessly discussed here we would find it very difficult to do. I am not just surprised but dazzled by the quality of the presentation and the message ingrained,” Agwu commented.

Speaking further on the importance of co-opting teenagers in the campaign against traffic rules abuse, Agwu explained that innocent children usually fall victims of excesses of parents “and if these children can differentiate between rights and wrongs they can influence their parents.”

He narrated a ugly scene he witnessed earlier same day where a young family man with two kids of about three to seven year-olds drove against traffic along Ketu road. “The younger kid was seated between his laps while the other was sitting on the passenger’s seat beside him. When we stopped him, he said the baby had been crying ceaselessly. I only told him what my mother used to tell me that ‘tears don’t kill babies.’ Would it not be worse if he should lose the two innocent kids to an avoidable accident?” he said rhetorically.

Also speaking on the importance of securing a child was the Chief of Staff, 9th Mechanised Brigade, Ikeja Military Cantonment, Colonel Ginikanwa Nwosu, who emphasised the importance of educating children as a form of security measure.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) was represented by Mrs. Seriki Omowumi, who discussed how the agency has contributed immensely to the ongoing traffic control transformation in the state.

The school proprietor and the principal, Mr. Daniel Isimoya and Mrs. Oluwayemisi Oloriade, respectively, expressed their satisfaction at the success recorded during the programme. While appreciating the partnership enjoyed from the road traffic officials, including the Vehicle Inspection Office of the state’s Ministry of Transport and the Kick Against Indiscipline agency, they said the step was in line with the school’s vision of building total students, who would contribute to the rebuilding of the nation.

To ensure that the club lives up to expectation, the management promised it would ensure regular meetings, discussions and workshops for the members while it would also constantly hold public campaigns.

http://nationalmirroronline.net/education/38859.html

[size=14pt]Bad news for delinquent motorists
... As FRSC vows to enforce child car seat laws[/size]

By TESSY IGOMU
Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Are you in the habit of driving around with children in your car without having them strapped at the back in safety car seats? Well, you may want to reconsider the habit. Due to the increasing number of infant deaths in car crashes, the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Lagos State Command, says it will soon begin to clamp down on parents who indulge in such practices.

The decision isn’t without justification. Several deaths and injuries involving helpless kids are being recorded across Nigeria and the FRSC says it is determined to halt the trend.

Bimpe, her husband and their six-month-old baby were returning from a social function when their car had a head on collision with another vehicle somewhere in Ajah, Lagos.

The baby who was sleeping on Bimpe’s lap was immediately ejected through the windscreen. He died on the spot.
According to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Bimpe and her husband only suffered minor injuries because they were restrained by their seat belts, while the baby died because there was nothing to hold him back during the impact.

Across the country, children are regularly maimed or killed in road accidents. The fatalities happen because parents or guardians fail to adhere to road safety precautions for transporting children.

Many of these deaths and injuries could have been prevented if the children were restrained by baby seats that are suitable for their sizes and weight and are securely fitted.

Seat belts on their own are less effective for children because they are primarily designed for adults. In a crash, a child may slide under an adult belt because the lap strap is too high over their abdomen. It could also cause serious internal injuries.

Car accident, according to reports, is one of the leading causes of acquired disability like brain injury and paralysis in children. The National Centre for Statistics and Analysis (NCSA), USA, said approximately 20 per cent of children who die in car accidents annually are killed because they were not strapped in car seats. This means that on any given day nearly 700 children are harmed due to road accidents. Also, out of 250,000 kids injured each year, approximately 2,000 die from their injuries, while children make up about 5 per cent of total fatalities in car accidents.

Not only is an unrestrained child a potential distraction to a driver but also the failure to use a car seat dramatically increases the chance of a child suffering serious injury or death.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a properly installed and used child safety seat lowers a child’s risk of death by 71 per cent for infants and by 54 per cent for toddlers between the ages of 1 to 4.


FRSC Sector Commander in Lagos State, Mr. Jonas Agwu, says it is not appropriate to have children under 12 years sit in the front seat of a moving car. Even car manufacturers, he noted, have repeatedly warned against such acts because airbags, located in the front of vehicles cab automatically kill a child on impact.

“Infants are expected to be placed backing the adult seat in front. Parents are also expected to strap their children in approved child safety seats but compliance rate is almost zero,” he lamented.


Nigerians, he said, have out of attitude, not ignorance, killed their children, adding that parents would use seat belts and ignore the safety of their own children.

He noted that Nigerians tend to see seat belt and car seat as an alien culture but fail to realise that safety and even accident has no boundary.
His words: “Some people would say car seats are expensive but I usually ask them, what is the value of their baby? Why spend two million to buy a car and then think buying a car seat for N20, 000 is expensive? Lagosians are not ignorant but rather have an attitude problem. How would a couple strap themselves and leave their baby at the back unstrapped. If I deserve to be alive, my baby also deserves to live too. The seat belt and children car seat is for safety. This is the mindset the FRSC is out to change.

“The National Road Traffic Regulation of 2004, Section 53, 3 and 4 says that when a vehicle is in motion, everybody in the vehicle must be strapped. The section did not draw a line between an adult and a baby. Everybody should use the belt. I am not sure you will get nine out of ten people who would tell you the seat belt is meant to prevent an accident. I believe we would be able to break that attitude that prevents people from thinking safety and safety for their baby.”

The FRSC boss further noted that though there is no exact statistics on the number of children involved in road accident but the fact that it can happen should put fear in the heart of parents. “Must we wait until it happens to us before we take steps towards preventing it”, he asked.


Mr. Agwu explained that often times when an accident occurs involving adults and children, they might have been helped out of the wreckage before FRSC officials arrive. This, he said, necessitated the government to make a law compelling people involved in an accident to inform the appropriate authorities.
“Most times, it is a little difficult to get the exact data. I believe that when Nigerians comply with the new law about reporting accidents, we would be able to have a reliable data on the number of infants involved in crashes. Getting the exact number by simply analysing road accident data might be a little tricky.”

Apathy on the part of Nigerians, especially Lagosians towards child safety, is saddening, says Agwu. He added that the need to raise the awareness gave rise to the ‘Child Passenger Safety Campaign’ which involves Celebrity Special Marshals and NGOs in Lagos.


“We flagged off the campaign on February 11, 2010, invoking the provision of the National Road Traffic Regulation of 2004, Section 53, 3 and 4. The strategy adopted so far has been effective and we are gradually seeing changes. We now have more vehicles on the road with car seats and children strapped in them.

“Any child under 12 years should be put at the back seat, strapped in a car seat. Those above 12 should have booster cushion fitted for them to help position seat belt and improve view from the car. We have seen people commit blunders by strapping their baby in a car seat without the car seat itself being strapped by seat belt. The right thing to do is to first strap the car seat properly with the seat belt, and then use the seat belt in the car seat to strap the baby. In the event of a crash, the baby is restrained by the car seat belt and the baby’s car seat.”

The Federal Road Safety Commission warns that children below the age of 12 should not be allowed to sit in the front seat and minors who are seated at the back should be strapped in and seated on a child-car seat.

Failure to comply with this warning could lead to arrest and prosecution.

May she rest in peace.

AK47 are mass produced at DICON, Kaduna. It's cheaper and easier for government to issue them to the vast majority of troops. The Tavors are imported.

God bless and protect Colonel Musa and all members of the JTF.

Beautiful homily

The goal of terrorists is to win the media campaign and strike terror in the hearts of citizens.

Boko Haram are no match for the Nigerian military in a full scale, direct confrontation. Their method is to hit soft targets that would garner the most publicity.

When Colonel Musa signed up to be a soldier, he knew that it's an occupation that could lead to his death. This is a normal, everyday part of army life.

I pity people who are celebrating Boko Haram's threats. They wrongly believe that their aim is to set up an islamic state in northern Nigeria. They've not yet realised that Boko Haram and its terrorist allies intend to take over the whole of West Africa (including southern Nigeria).

Ngwakwe: @Afam4eva

Can't you use ignore button to keep away whingers?

If your explanation is not satisfactory to any forumite, let the person appeal to Seun by PM

Stop trying to please everybody and never make irrational decision because of undue pressure.

Separate your person from Afam4eva and refer forumites to rules broken.

Avoid all these unnecessary exchanges that challenge your competence.

+100

The current Chairman of the Nigeria Football and Other Sports Supporters Club is Yisa Basorun (they no longer use the title "President" ).

Michaeljones36: If it's a private organization (and one that seems like it has no economic purpose) they can spend all the money they want on private jets. As long as it's not a government run operation, I guess it doesn't matter.

In the developed world most people just fly commercial, even politicians and high powered CEOs (and even preachers ). In the government, usually only the Prez gets his own private jet.

It's easier to get direct flights in the developed world.

In the US there are many government jets. The Vice President also has an official plane (Air Force 2).

Back in the 1980s and '90s (military rule) the government made a donation to the supporters club anytime one of the national teams won a major tournament. Supporters club members were often transported to match venues in Nigerian Air Force C130 transport planes when the Eagles played away (the Eagles flew in the Presidential Jet). This made many people to assume that the club was a government organisation.

The government donations and free flights stopped when military rule came to an end.

I remember that there was a clash between the club and the NFA in the late 90s/early 2000s. The club got a sponsor that was a rival company to one of the NFA's sponsors. The NFA "ordered" the club to drop the sponsor. Dr Ladipo angrily insisted that the club was a private entity and as such it doesn't take orders from the NFA. He threatened to go to court if the FA took any steps to enforce the order. The sports ministry told the NFA to back down because the club is a private organisation and therefore it can pick any sponsor it wants.

osifred: Why the need to fly 300 persons as supporters when ever their is a match involving nigeria. Why not liase with the different nigerian commissions and embassies around the world to have a nigerian fan base in their host country? So as to reduce the cost of transportation. Can't these people think outside the box

The supporters' club is a private entity (it is not an MDA of government). It is funded by dues and donations by financial members. Would you be happy to pay dues and donate to the club and still not travel with them to international football matches?

However, the club does have branches/chapters in various countries around the world.

Oh and (4) Dr Rafiu Ladipo was President of the Nigerian Football and Other Sports Supporters' Club for a long time, from the 1980s to the 1990s. He was removed in the 90s (I can't exactly remember if he lost an election or if he reached the maximum term limit). Another guy became president (Gosh! I've forgotten his name).

However, in recognition of Dr Ladipo's services to the club and in order to placate some members of the club, Dr Ladipo was made President-General of the club (an honorary position). The patrons of the club are usually The President of Nigeria and their biggest benefactor (in the 1980s/90s it was Chief MKO Abiola. At the moment it's Dr Mike Adenuga).

1) Daniel Amokachi did not buy a private jet. He bought a light plane (he is a qualified pilot).

2) I can quite well believe that the supporters club makes 30 trips in a year (to support the Super Eagles, Dream Team, Flying Eagles, Golden Eaglets, Super Falcons, Falconets, Flamingos, Super Sand Eagles, National Futsal team and clubsides competing in continental competitions).

3) The Nigerian Football and Other Sports Supporters' Club is free to buy a private jet as long as the members vote in support of it. It is a private entity and funding comes from members' contribution and sponsorship (they have a sponsorship deal with Glo). However, I would have thought that buying into a private jet sharing scheme would have been a better option.

When gates first started his charity work, his focus was on education and providing free software/computers.

But guess what? You cannot educate a hungry child, because that child will not be able to concentrate in class. Imagine investing millions into education and yet the children still don't reap the benefits because they spend half the school year at home due to illnesses like malaria. Can you educate a dead child?

I've got a new one to add to my collection.

Why punish that corrupt official? Leave him alone! He's defending the black man against neo-colonialism. (Who cares about the innocent children that are dying because of his greed. What matters is that he takes a stand against the West).

naptu2: You know, i think my theory is correct. In Nigeria, you can do whatever you want, you'll still have supporters, in fact, you could probably get away with it (scot free). All you need to do is appeal to sentiments.

Alamieyeseigha was only witchhunted by Obasanjo (never mind that he was caught redhanded by police in the UK). Is he the only governor in Nigeria? They should leave him alone! (Never mind that people are dying in Bayelsa because of lack of adequate healthcare)

Bode George did not do anything wrong. It was simply a plot by Tinubu. After all, he was tried under "Lagos State law". Leave him alone.

So what if Obafaiye Shem did not know the website address? What does it matter? Everybody makes mistakes. Leave him alone, he's got a wife and kids. (nevermind that people who have been tricked by scammers with fake NSCDC websites also have wives and kids).

So what if that man stole money? Don't people from other "tribes" steal money? Leave him alone and focus on people from other "tribes".

Why talk about that incompetent public official? So what if Nigerians suffer because of his incompetence? Don't you have other things to talk about?

Then we wonder why Nigeria is the way it is.

Smh

Sad to see that some are trying to inject bigotry into this discussion.

Remember this (from February)?

[size=14pt]Obama, Cameron, G8 Leaders To Discuss Nigeria’s Controversial Oil Wealth Wastage[/size]

Saturday, 02 February 2013 00:00 From Laolu Akande, News York News - National

https://www.ngrguardiannews.com/images/resized/images/stories/2013/february2013/cameron-obama-3_200_160.jpg


NIGERIA’S controversial management of its stupendous oil wealth over the years would form one of the important themes of discussion for G-8 leaders in June, when they meet in Northern Ireland in the United Kingdom, according to diplomatic sources.

Already, the presidency of the summit for this year under United Kingdom is currently reaching out to other G-8 leaders and an international consensus is said to be quietly formed to demand transparency from leaders and governments of developing countries, whose huge resources and wealth are being frittered away.

International donors, including private foundations and agencies, are also concerned about the perception of increasing wealth but decreasing living standards of the people.

For instance, US Billionaire, Bill Gates, in an interview during the week, said, “Nigeria really needs to think that, relative to its level of wealth, it is really far behind...”

The G8 Summit, which holds annually, is a gathering of presidents and prime ministers of the top eight advanced economies of the world — the US, UK, Germany, France, Canada, Italy, Japan and Russia.

The Summit, which normally holds about the mid-year and focuses on global economy and socio-political issues, is presided over in turns by its eight-member-countries.

For 2013, UK holds the presidency and Prime Minister David Cameron is said to be forming the issues the summit should focus on this year.

Sources said before Prime Minister Cameron’s speech last week in Davos, where he made mention of Nigeria’s oil wealth and its management, he had intimated other G-8 leaders of the need for an agenda that brings such issues of financial accountability and transparency to the fore in a country like Nigeria.

A January 2 letter written by the British Prime Minister to all G-8 leaders, including US President Barack Obama, revealed that this year’s summit would stress trade advancement, tax compliance and transparency.

Nigeria’s example is said to be agitating the minds of the G8 leaders, just as there is controversy over the seeming squandering of past oil windfall.

After Cameroon wrote the other G8 leaders hinting on his intent to pursue the issue of transparency aggressively as president of the summit, he then proceeded early last week in Davos to publicly pin-point Nigeria as a case in point, where transparency issues have made some progress but corruption and mismanagement of huge oil wealth still continues to deny the nation’s people of their prosperity.

In a speech that has been so widely and globally received, Cameron said just last year alone “Nigeria oil exports were worth almost a hundred billion dollars. That is more than the total net aid to the whole of sub Saharan Africa. So put simply: unleashing the natural resources in these countries dwarfs anything aid can achieve, and transparency is absolutely critical to that end.”

He went on to say the G8, under his presidency, would be more aggressive on how governments of such countries like Nigeria spend the money from such huge returns, declaring that the western and Japan’s leaders are “going to push for more transparency on who owns companies; on who’s buying up land and for what purpose; on how governments spend their money; on how gas, oil and mining companies operate; and on who is hiding stolen assets and how we recover and return them.

“Like everything else in this G8, the ambitions are big and I make no apology for that.”

According to Cameron, who said he had no apology for his stance, “I want this G8 to lead a big push for transparency across the developing world, and to illustrate why. Let me give you one example. A few years back a transparency initiative exposed a huge hole in Nigeria’s finances, an $800 million discrepancy between what companies were paying and what the government was receiving for oil - a massive, massive gap.

The discovery of this is leading to new regulation of Nigeria’s oil sector so the richness of the earth can actually help to enrich the people of that country.

In fact, diplomats added that Cameron’s aggressive resolve, and his choice of Nigeria as an example, is making the rounds in western capitals and around the world, highlighting the Nigerian condition.

Sources added that Cameron’s speech was further highlighted by former Education Minister, Oby Ezekwesili, who, at a recent Convocation at the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), gave a hint on how over $67 billion of Nigeria’s huge returns from oil sales might have been wasted.

Ezekwesili, who was until mid last year, the Vice President of the World Bank for Africa, is said to have developed a commanding respect among global and African leaders, many of who are listening intently to her voice on the matter.

A source said: “The expected diplomatic buzz being generated in messages from western diplomats from Nigeria to their capitals now over both speeches centering on Nigeria’s perceived waste of its huge oil wealth over the years is not difficult to imagine.”

For instance, a former president in Africa was said to have described Ezekwesili’s statements on the wasting of Nigeria’s financial fortune as a “bomb.”

Even sources said at global agencies like the United Nations, and the World Bank, the perception of Nigeria wasting its oil wealth is not a new proposition, which explains, according to sources, why Cameron’s voice is attracting considerable welcome and acceptance by other western leaders.

Pointing to Cameron’s words about a huge discrepancy when the British Prime Minister said “a few years back a transparency initiative exposed a huge hole in Nigeria’s finances,” a source noted that such long lasting gaps continue to exist even in official data that governments dole out in Nigeria, making them unreliable.

For instance, sources said while Cameron and Ezekwesili stated some figures of revenues raised from oil sales, government spokespersons have only managed to counter with puerile figures, which are tainted by controversies in the past over the true state of the nation’s accounts, especially between the federal government and the NNPC.

In his letter to other G8 leaders, Cameron disclosed even before he specifically listed the Nigerian example, that “we must put a new and practical emphasis on transparency, accountability and open government.

“Too many developing countries are held back by corruption-and this can be reinforced or even encouraged by poor business practice and a lack of transparency from those that trade with them.”

The G8 meeting will be coming up on June 17 and 18 at Lough Erne, Northern Ireland. A statement from the UK Cabinet office said:  “the venue of Lough Erne 2013 was also chosen because it creates the right conditions to encourage open and frank discussions between the G-8 leaders.”

Later on, the G8 presidency would issue invitations to other world leaders, especially from developing countries and it is expected that Nigeria would be invited to this year’s G8 summit, according to sources.

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=112292:obama-cameron-g8-leaders-to-discuss-nigerias-controversial-oil-wealth-wastage&catid=1:national&Itemid=559

segend: Aids are usually not given to people, they are given to NGOs or an initiative, like the affordable antimalaria initiative (AMFm)

Polio eradication is impossible without the federal and state ministries of health. Who administer's the vaccines? Whose facilities are used? That's why he was meeting with the governor's forum. These projects are executed through funding given to ministries and agencies. Who runs these ministries and agencies?

Billyonaire: No Truly Charitable person Places a Wager between Saving Lives and Politics. The Charitable Act was Greek's Horse. Henceforth, we should refuse every aid. We do not damn need it, Government should release double that amount into the health sector and complete the Health Village at Abuja for all treatments. What we need is structural mental adjustments, take focus off Mrs America and the West. Lets work with the real world power, China.

How I wish this was true, but you know, it's the same politicians that will go and ask for aid and loans, because the money in the treasury is "not enough". They want more money to steal. We have no business receiving aid!

segend: I am totally against the pardon, but I think US reaction is misdirected. Stopping aids only affect those that benefit- the poor. It would have worked if the govt cared about the poor, but we all know dey don't give a rata*s about them. A more appropriate penalty will be to ban them from entry US, or any other penalty that will affect the government directly

If politicians and their friends are stealing the money and getting pardoned, then any aid the Gates Foundation or the US give will not go to the poor, but to thieving politicians and their friends.

This money is either US tax-payers' money, or money that Bill Gates and the foundation's donors have worked hard for. Why should they give it to thieving politicians and their cronies?

I had to write "joking" before my Abacha comment. . . .just check out how people have misunderstood Oyb's post!

Ok, seriously now. Bill Gates Foundation is donating money towards the eradication of polio, malaria, etc.

You go and pardon a guy who stole money that could have been used for hospitals, etc.

How can the foundation be sure that any money it gives towards eradicating malaria, polio, etc won't be stolen by another corrupt politician who will simply be granted pardon a few years down the line?