₦airaland Forum

Vanityupnvanity:
u mean the man that looted as if the world is ending? I'm still wondering what he wanted to do with those monies he looted.

they knelt down before him to get their own shares.

Yes ooo, same today in Buhari government..

https://www.nigeriapen.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Donald-Duke-on-the-Loose-Talk-podcast-19-.jpg

Former Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, shares the stories of how ministers knelt and trembled before Gen Sani Abacha.

Former Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, has shared stories of power and trepidation during the dark days of the military era.

General Sani Abacha was Nigeria’s military ruler from 1993 to 1998 and Duke was a member of Abacha’s National Economic Intelligence Committee (NEIC) which was chaired by renowned economist, Prof Sam Aluko.

Aluko died in 2012.

The NEIC was charged with monitoring capital projects of the federal government and proffering solutions to the nation’s economic problems.

In an exclusive interview with Pulse Nigeria, Duke described how ministers quaked in their boots before Abacha inside the presidential villa.

A rogue petroleum subsidy regime
According to Duke, the criminal subsidy Nigeria currently pays on petrol, began during Abacha’s reign.

“It was during this time that we really let our refineries go under and we just went into unbridled importation of petroleum products”.

Duke said his NEIC advised Abacha against privatizing the nation’s refineries. “We said don’t privatize the refineries, privatize the management. We said we will refurbish the refineries and give it to them to manage.

“Of course there was a lot of backlash because the NNPC (Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation) boys wanted to manage the refineries themselves. I think Abacha just said, you know what, let’s just import this thing.

“It was during Abacha’s time that the real subsidy started. Look, the subsidy is a racket. Right now, they are paying over a trillion Naira. It’s not…that thing can’t be more than 400, 500 billion Naira.

But you can’t subsidize what you are importing. Like I said, you can fix those refineries.

Get the manufacturers to refurbish them as new. But the critical thing is who is going to manage them? If you give it to the same people, they will run it down!

“Right now, NNPC really has no business managing those things”.

The day Abacha died
Duke recalls exactly where he was when Abacha died on June 8, 1998. “I was in a friend’s house and we were talking”, he says with a knowing smile. “His name is Imam and he is from Kano and he was very close to Abacha.

A phone call came in and I heard him shout: ‘Allahu Akbar!’ You know. And I said, what’s wrong? He was shaking. And he said ‘Head of State die.

E don yamutu. I said which Head of State? He said ‘Abacha’. I said how? It was about 11am that morning”.

An era of trembling and sycophancy
Duke recalls a meeting with Abacha inside the Council Chambers of the Villa and how a contract inflation plot went awry.

The former Cross River governor said Abacha abhorred people stealing around him.

“General Adisa was minister of works and he sent a memo to Abacha. He wanted to import bitumen for road construction.

Every memo that went to Abacha came to us for our opinion because he trusted Prof Aluko and the team.

Abacha didn’t trust anybody. Believe it or not, he abhorred corruption. Honestly!


“If you tell Abacha that this man is a thief and you can prove it…oh he will destroy the man! So he sends this memo to us. All the memos come to us and we write our opinions.

This memo comes and Aluko looks at me and says ‘Donald, two of you, go to Kaduna–Kaduna produces bitumen–and find out why we can’t get bitumen in Kaduna. Why do we have to import?

“So, I go to Kaduna and I find out that Kaduna has shut down because the bitumen tanks have not been evacuated.

Because bitumen is a by-product of Kaduna now. Kaduna doesn’t use Nigerian crude.

Kaduna uses Venezuelan crude—heavy crude. And one of the by-products of heavy crude is bitumen even though we have the second largest naturally occurring deposits of bitumen in the world after Canada!

“If you go to some parts of Ondo, bitumen is at the surface level. You can scoop it and throw it up like this. We should be refining that thing.

That’s another story. So, I go back to write my report to say the quality of bitumen we wanted to import was inferior to what we have in Kaduna.

And if you don’t evacuate the tanks in Kaduna, the refineries couldn’t work!

“So, we wrote our memo and it was a very strong memo. For about a week or two, no response.

So one day, we were summoned to the Villa and we were told it was over our bitumen report.

“I need to be graphic here”, Duke recalls with a chuckle. “There’s Abacha sitting in the middle, to his right was Oladipo Diya, Chief of General Staff.

To his left was Abdulsalam Abubakar who was Chief of Defense Staff. To Abdulsalam’s left was General Buhari who was Chairman, Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF). He’s a bitumen user.

“To his left was Dan Etete who was Minister of Petroleum. To Etete’s left was Alhaji Bayero who was GMD NNPC. To the right of Diya was General Adisa.

To the right of Adisa was a series of executives of NNPC (Managing Director of the Kaduna refinery and all of that). Across the room were those of us from the National Economic Committee”.

Major General Abdulkareem Adisa was Minister of Works and Housing under Abacha.

He was convicted for involvement in an attempted coup against Abacha in 1997 and was placed on death row.

Adisa was granted presidential pardon alongside other alleged coup plotters, after Abacha’s death.

Duke continues: “In the course of the meetings, Adisa was throwing tantrums that if he isn’t allowed to import bitumen, he won’t do anything.

Buhari didn’t say a word throughout that meeting. At a stage, you could see that there was a deal going on.

“Adisa would throw tantrums and say, ‘Oga, this people, na grammar dem dey talk o! If dem no allow me import this thing, I no go do any work o! And Abacha would say ‘Adisa, cool down’. So, you know, you could see that there was an understanding.

“There was a huge amount of bitumen they wanted to import. So, he takes a piece of paper and says Dan (Etete), you say the price of bitumen is XYZ but what I’m seeing here is different or am I wrong? Abdulsalam looks at him and says, ‘how can you be wrong? You can’t be wrong Sir! Even if you are wrong, you are right!’

“He looks at Diya and says ‘Dipo!’ That’s all he says. ‘Dipo!’ and Diya looks at him and says ‘you are right Sir!’ So he now looks at Etete and says, Dan, what are you telling me? Literally, Etete goes on his knees and says I’m sorry Sir!’”.

Diya who was Abacha’s second in command, famously knelt to beg Abacha after he was accused of involvement in a plot to overthrow the dark goggled Head of State.

Etete has been accused of fleecing Nigeria in cahoots with some members of the Goodluck Jonathan administration through the Malabu oil scam.

Abdulsalam Abubakar became Head of State after Abacha’s death. He oversaw Nigeria’s affairs for a year (June 9, 1998 to May 29, 1999) before handing over to a democratically elected Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

Duke says Abdulsalam was reminded of his sycophantic chant after that meeting with Abacha.

Praising Abacha to high heavens
“Now, when Abdulsalam becomes Head of State, the first meeting we had….because he needed a briefing, and we were the only organization that could give a comprehensive briefing.

The first question Aluko asked him was ‘General, even if you are wrong you are right, abi?’ And he said ‘No, no, no, it’s a different dispensation”, Duke said to general laughter. .

“Abdulsalam was very different. He was very liberal.

Very broad, very open minded. He was in a hurry to go”, Duke says. “He was in a hurry to hand over and just go.

But working with him was very delightful even though it was a very short period and I also left to go contest and all that. But he was very liberal.

He listened to you, you know. Abacha wears these sunglasses, you can’t see his eyes! And he was very impatient”.

Duke shared another instance of sycophancy during the Abacha era.

“I remember once at a council meeting, he turned to Gambo who was Minister of Agriculture and said ‘Agric, what’s the cost of fertilizer subsidy?’ Gambo didn’t know.

So, next thing was Anthony Ani who was minister of Finance.

So Tony Ani looked at him. Tony Ani was just being mischievous. And he said N20billion.

He just called a figure. So Gambo said N20billion. So Abacha said ‘enh?’

“Ani said ‘N8billion’.

“So Abacha said ‘what are you calling?’

“He said ‘N15million’.

“He was just being mischievous, playing with the guy.

“There was trepidation in dealing with Abacha.

He hardly held council meetings.

He can go three months, he won’t have any council meetings. And there was always this threat of reorganizing the cabinet. So when he says there’s a council meeting, some ministers think it’s the final one for them”.

With rumours swirling about an imminent shuffling of the federal cabinet during Abacha’s reign, Duke said one minister decided to take executive sycophancy to whole new heights.

“There was this time that rumour was really rife that he was going to change his cabinet.

So, we got in and they will come to our office to ask Prof Aluko if he’s heard anything.

Aluko would say nothing like that. The ministers were like kids.

“We get into council at that time and the Minister of Planning Ayo Ogunlade….You know in council, you put on your mic and you speak. So he now puts on his hand and got up to speak. Abacha said ‘sit down’.

“He said ‘No sir, I want to stand up and speak’.

“First of all, you don’t say ‘No’ to Abacha. So the guy insisted on standing up and Abacha says, ‘Ok, stand’.

“So, the man now turns around and says, ‘Secretariat, I want you to record everything I am saying here’.

Everyone was like ‘anh..anh. They do that normally. So why are you emphasizing it?

“This man went on to praise Abacha to high heavens.

He said ‘Nigerians don’t know what they have. He said, ‘God sent you at this time to save our country’. I mean it was so bad, Abacha told him, ‘sit down’.

“He said ‘no Sir, I won’t sit down’.

“Abacha said ‘sit down, you sycophant!’

“He said ‘No Sir I won’t sit down’.

“So, Abacha said ‘Ok, talk’.

“And he went on to praise Abacha to the high heavens. When he was done, he sat down. Abacha said ‘are you tired now?’

“So the meeting went on.

“After the meeting, Prof Aluko called him and said ‘Aburo (brother), what was all that about?’

“He said, ‘Ah…Oga, I hear they want to change cabinet o’.

“The interesting thing is, two weeks later, they changed cabinet and the man survived!

“But you see, when Abacha wanted something done, it was done. But again, he wasn’t prepared for leadership like most of our leaders and he was very myopic.

Ministers didn’t have access to him and all that”, Duke narrated.

Running for president
56-year-old Donald Duke has declared his intention to vie for the position of Nigeria’s president in the 2019 general elections.

He was Governor of Cross River State from 1999 to 2007.

Abacha seized power from the interim government of Ernest Shonekan after the unrest caused by the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election won by Chief MKO Abiola.

SOURCE: https://www.nigeriapen.com.ng/donald-duke-ministers-knelt-before-abacha-and-sang-praises-id8624535-html/

It's good.

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SOURCE: http://www.nigeriapen.com.ng/toolz-warns-men-to-stop-sending-her-pictures-of-there-manhood/

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Media personality, Toolz has sent out an sos to those men who send her unsolicitated pics of their manhood.

The married star made it clear she already has one.

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SOURCE: http://www.nigeriapen.com.ng/toolz-warns-men-to-stop-sending-her-pictures-of-there-manhood/


Lalasticlala

Shelloween:
not all husbands are fathers. we shouldn't compliment you for fulfilling your parental responsibilities...besides... you already made artistes are always on holiday. njo nwoke.

Sure

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SOURCE: http://www.nigeriapen.com.ng/a-lot-of-baby-daddies-are-better-fathers-than-a-lot-of-husbands-timaya/

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“A Lot Of Baby Daddies Are Better Fathers Than A Lot Of Husbands” timaya

In an interview with Punch’s Saturday Beats, singer Timaya opened up about being a “baby daddy” and the role he play in his children’s lives.

Timaya said: “People fail to understand that a lot of baby daddies are better fathers than a lot of husbands.

The kind of role I play in my children’s life, I don’t think some husbands do that.”

The singer continued:

I have time for my children, I love my children but some married men don’t even have time for their kids. They don’t show their kids love, they don’t know what it means to be a father.

It doesn’t have anything to do with money; it’s about love and attention.

Even my daughter sometimes wonders why I make babies if I was not ready to get married yet but I tell her that if I don’t make babies then she won’t be born.

My life is in stages, I don’t think I want to get married now. It is not something I would want to venture into for now.

Timaya also spoke about wearing bathrobes for events and other outings in recent times, saying young people should express themselves and not try to impress anyone.

The bathrobe is not a fashion statement. A lot of people know I dress well and even appreciate my style and fashion sense.

The bathrobe thing started one morning when I woke up. I told myself that I am not trying to impress anybody and that I needed to be me.

I am a happy man, I am fulfilled, I can wear my bathrobe to anywhere. I was on bathrobe during the Headies Awards and I also travelled from Nigeria to Turkey wearing it too.

As humans, we should attain certain heights in life before taking certain decisions. It’s not like Timaya does not have clothes and shoes to wear, it’s just a sign of fulfillment.

Modern slavery is not about the white people and what they do to us, it is you imprisoning yourself by trying to impress people and bothering about what they would say about you.

I don’t think any musician has the kind of clothes I have but I don’t have to prove anything to anybody. Young people try to impress others and that’s why their lives are filled with problems.

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SOURCE: http://www.nigeriapen.com.ng/a-lot-of-baby-daddies-are-better-fathers-than-a-lot-of-husbands-timaya/

Lalasticlala

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SOURCE: http://www.nigeriapen.com.ng/simi-twerks-with-just-her-pant-and-adekunle-gold-spotted-something-else/

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Nigerian Female Singer, Simi was recently videoed in a very light mood beside a pool flaunting her portable backside for her teeming fans on Instagram.

Simi who slayed an orange pant, caught the attention of of his rumored boyfriend, Adekunle gold as she display it at the beach and the following conversation ensued;

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SOURCE: http://www.nigeriapen.com.ng/simi-twerks-with-just-her-pant-and-adekunle-gold-spotted-something-else/

Lalasticlala

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SOURCE: http://www.nigeriapen.com.ng/photos-thunder-stike-kills-three-in-ogun-html/

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Three persons were killed by a thunder stike at the Otunba Dipo Dina international stadium, Ije-Ode in Ogun state.

This happened after a heavy downpour.

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SOURCE: http://www.nigeriapen.com.ng/photos-thunder-stike-kills-three-in-ogun-html/

Lalasticlala

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SOURCE: http://www.nigeriapen.com.ng/guess-the-celeb-in-this-nysc-throwback-photo-html/

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Hint: He’s a popular comedian and protege of AY

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SOURCE: http://www.nigeriapen.com.ng/guess-the-celeb-in-this-nysc-throwback-photo-html/

Lalasticlala

SOURCE: http://www.nigeriapen.com.ng/photos-from-the-birthday-dinner-of-famous-oyinbo-wives-of-lagos-owol-reality-tv-star-oluchi-html/

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Oluchi aka Oly is one of the stars in the much talked about Linda Ikeji TV reality show, Oyinbo Wives of Lagos, OWOL.

She recently turned a year older.

She had a birthday dinner with her hsuband last night.

Happy birthday to her!
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SOURCE: http://www.nigeriapen.com.ng/photos-from-the-birthday-dinner-of-famous-oyinbo-wives-of-lagos-owol-reality-tv-star-oluchi-html/

Lalasticlala

nepapole:
cant wait to see the movie.

Watch... Soon

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SOURCE: http://www.nigeriapen.com.ng/thailand-cave-rescue-to-be-made-into-a-hollywood-movie-id8607283-html/

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The rescue of 12 boys and their coach from a Thai cave is being turned into a Hollywood film.

It has been announced that the rescue of 12 boys and their coach from a Thai cave will become a Hollywood film.

According to several reports, the story will be produced by Pure Flix Entertainment, the Christian film studio popular for the “God’s Not Dead” film franchise.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Pure Flix CEO Michael Scott said he has spoken to some of the drivers who were part of the rescue team and some of their families.

He also have a producer set for the film, Adam Smith of Kaos Entertainment, and is currently looking for a screenwriter.

“I see this as a major Hollywood film with A-list stars,” Scott told the Australian Associated Press. “It’s got incredible heart, incredible acts of heroism, and bravery.”

According to Scott, the upcoming adaptation doesn’t have to be a Christian film, it could be “just an inspirational one.”

Even before the announcement was made, people had predicted an adaptation by Hollywood.

The Thailand Cave saga started on June 23 when the Wild Boars, a young football team, walked into the Tham Luang cave complex after football practice and were trapped when monsoon flooding blocked their exit.

After spending over two weeks in the cave, the last of the 12 member of the soccer team and their coach were saved on Tuesday, July 10.

See more photos below...

SOURCE: http://www.nigeriapen.com.ng/thailand-cave-rescue-to-be-made-into-a-hollywood-movie-id8607283-html/

Lalasticlala

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SOURCE : http://www.nigeriapen.com.ng/man-catches-fire-while-smoking-at-a-gas-station-photos-html/

By WWW.NIGERIAPEN.COM.NG


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Man catches fire while smoking at a gas station

A Highlander car belonging to a Chinese man and a Cambodian man, exploded and completely burned at a Tela gas station in Kampong Speu, Cambodia on Monday, July 9.

According to local media, the Chinese man drove his Highlander to get some gas at a Tela gas station.

While the car was being filled with petrol, the Chinese man was smoking a cigarette, causing the gas to explode and the car was completely burnt.

The 2 men were seriously injured.

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SOURCE : http://www.nigeriapen.com.ng/man-catches-fire-while-smoking-at-a-gas-station-photos-html/

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SOURCE: http://www.nigeriapen.com.ng/chika-stuns-in-white-for-the-launch-of-her-new-book-boss-up-html/

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Actress Chika Ike launched her new book Boss Up, on Saturday, July 7th 2018, at the Radisson Hotel, Lagos.

For the occassion, Chika wore a white and silva ensemble.

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SOURCE: http://www.nigeriapen.com.ng/chika-stuns-in-white-for-the-launch-of-her-new-book-boss-up-html/

Lalasticlala

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SOURCE: http://www.nigeriapen.com.ng/adaeze-yobo-and-her-kids-depict-a-perfect-family-in-this-playtime-shots/

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Former beauty queen and joseph Yobo’s wife,Adaeze Yobo shared lovely photos with her three kids.

The adorable family were pictured on the lawn of their Lagos mansion.

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SOURCE: http://www.nigeriapen.com.ng/adaeze-yobo-and-her-kids-depict-a-perfect-family-in-this-playtime-shots/

Lalasticlala

See full photos below. ....

SOURCE: http://www.nigeriapen.com.ng/daddyduties-ubi-franklin-shares-photos-of-himself-bottle-feeding-his-cute-son-jayden-html/

Source: http://www.nigeriapen.com.ng/daddyduties-ubi-franklin-shares-photos-of-himself-bottle-feeding-his-cute-son-jayden-html/


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Music executive and proud father of two,Ubi Franklin shared these photos of himself bottle-feeding his cute son Jayden at home.

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See full photos below. ....

SOURCE: http://www.nigeriapen.com.ng/daddyduties-ubi-franklin-shares-photos-of-himself-bottle-feeding-his-cute-son-jayden-html/

Lalasticlala

See more stunning photos below...

SOURCE: http://www.nigeriapen.com.ng/nigerian-man-surprises-wife-with-range-rover-says-she-held-on-tight-to-him-when-he-had-nothing-photos-html/

Source: http://www.nigeriapen.com.ng/nigerian-man-surprises-wife-with-range-rover-says-she-held-on-tight-to-him-when-he-had-nothing-photos-html/

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[quote]James Obie Osolu from Amichi, Nnewi South LGA, has surprised his wife, Okwuchi with a brand new Range Rover.

Sharing the photos on Facebook, he thanked her for believing and standing by him even when he had nothing to offer her. Read below…”She dated me & held on tight even when I didn’t have my own place to stay..

She took a Keke to & frm work most times when I couldn’t drop her off but never complained for once, till we could finally upgrade to Uber..

Now God has blessed us some more through Max & it’s my duty to bless & Honour herThanks for always believing in & standing by me Kuku.. This is for you & Daisy, my QueensThose smiles, I live for them..#Blessed #Startedfromadream #Higfavoured"[ /quote]

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SOURCE: http://www.nigeriapen.com.ng/nigerian-man-surprises-wife-with-range-rover-says-she-held-on-tight-to-him-when-he-had-nothing-photos-html/

Lalasticlala

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Source:https://www.nigeriapen.com/auto-crash-claims-5-people-on-zaria-kaduna-expressway-id8569993-html