₦airaland Forum

Jackal, sorry ooo! I didn't mean to offend you with my frank opinion. If I did offend you, be rest assured it wasn't deliberate. However, if saying the distinguished Malam himself is God-sent to our nation makes me mentally ill, then I can't argue with that. You're entitled to your opinion.

However, I think Ribadu should be giving the Nobel prize (maybe for peace or similar) and made global personality of the year for 2006 by Time International. What do you guys think?

@Jackal,

I have not the slightest idea what you do for a living, but it's obvious the continued activity of EFCC is a clear and present danger to your livelyhood. For that I sympatise with you. However, it's important that you look beyond your nose and see the whole nine yards. Any effort that removes even 10% of the band of thieves in our nation should get your support, whatever theories of selectivity and conspiracy that you may conjur.

To exit this roller-coaster that is Nigeria, the biggest contract in Africa, what Ribadu is doing, flawed as you may view it, is extremely essential.

We need a fresh start or at the very least continuety of the present economic programmes of sorts. Transparent and conscientious leadership is a necessity for the development of our nation, and Ribadu should get a lot of credit for putting his personal safety in jeopardy, when he could take the easy step I'm sure you would have taken and collected the billions of dollars in bribe money from these rogues.

Malam Ribadu is God sent to us. Let's grab this once in a lifetime opportunity.

Curruption exist everywhere in the world. But comparing corruption in the US to that in Nigeria is like comparing night and day. I live in the UK and I'm part of the system so I know exactly what obtains. There are roads, hospitals, transport, security, all that work because the money that acrues from tax is being applied efficiently and prudently. Whilst I will not expect this level of accountability in Nigeria, what obtains there is so bad that we constantly appear at the top of every curruption index in the world.

Let's not excuse this behaviour. We must tackle and reduce it, even by 20% will be a major accomplishment. These thieves in public places destroy our schools then send their kids to London for 'proper' education. They destroy our hospitals then fly to London when they get stomach upsets. They destroy the foundations of our society then fly to their mansions for every short vacation they get. How often does the US president or vice fly to Nigeria, England, South Africa, Switzerland for vacation? That's character of leadership which is so lacking in oour country. That's because they believe they have a genuine stake in their country and work to develop it. IBB and Atiku have no descernable business, yet they are billionaires in dollars and we talk of them being persecuted. Even if OBJ is a thief and he decides to bar these other thiefs from office, it's a most welcome development. There are many younger people in the country who can take the nation forward, Soludo and Okonji Iweala being some of them.

I refuse to accept that my country will remain backward and oppresed by it's leaders as it currently is. So excuse me if I don't share your argument that everyone in the country is corrupt, so we should allow that major league rogue IBB/Atiku to rule over us.

Atiku and IBB are not saints. In oposing the third term, these theives were only trying to protect their interest and not that of Nigeria. Not only will that have put paid to their presidential ambitions for ever, it would also have meant another four years at least of EFCC, which as we all know, would have been a big concern to them. I'm still eager to know their source of the billions of dollars they have to their name. At least with OBJ, we can all see his farms. But no. They will not invest in Nigeria, they have bought up oil blocks for themselves and sold on to multinational prospectors then move their billions to Geneva. And you mention them as saints. OBJ is far far better than these lot, and I hold no brief for the baba himself.

Brothers and sisters, lets elevate our thinking. Off all the credible leaders in the land, why do we still mention IBB and Atiku as if they had anything to offer? These men are nothing but criminals. Rogues that will only turn back the clock. This administration has made some gains, foreign reserves being one of them. The kleptomananic duo, should they return, will only continue to acquire bigger mansions abroad, pay the local press to sing their praises, 'settle' most voices of dissent and carry on with business as usual.

There is a general saying that a people deserve the leaders they get. This is proving more and more the case in Nigeria.

OBJ is doing his best to make sure Atiku and IBB do not rule Nigeria because he, like most of us, know they are thieves and crooks. With the huge foreign reserves, they'll come back and build more mansions in Maryland and Switzerland. (That shameless Atiku took his 'only' annual vacation in Maryland, when we have many destinations he could have visited. At least OBJ would retreat to his farm). In Nigeria we do not have leaders. Atiku lacks Character. He, IBB and the likes of them should be shot. And they will one day Ribadu is a remarkable and exceptional gentleman, perhaps the best thing in our recent history.

Ribadu has not arrested Adedibu or Chris Uba so that makes him one-sided? Those of you complaining, what's the difference between Adedibu and Taf Balogun, Chris Uba and Fayose?  Neither of them are public officials. None of them are responsible for concealing or diverting public funds. Besides, he cannot get everyone in one day. Afterall, Balogun was a good friend of OBJ until his travails.

Ribadu is Gods gift to Nigeria, no matter the contrary opinions of the 419'ers, gullible manipulated, political jobers and yahoo boys!!

Please read this interesting article on Ribadu, need I say more,
http://nigeriaworld.com/feature/publication/ajiboye/081606.html

All the problems you highlight - power supply , security, health etc point back to the same fundamental problem in Nigeria. Greed and Curruption. As long as this is not tackled head-on (Thank God for Ribadu), no matter how much you pump into these sectors, nothing will come out of it. We may be at a turning point in our history and this requires our collective effort and the support of all of us,

OBJ seems bent on bringing down the roof on the major league looters in Nigeria, OBJ, Atiku and Co. If he pulls this off by consigning these thieves to history, it'll be his greatest accomplishment. BTW, why is it that the most criticism of Ribadu seems to come from the 419'ers, looters, political jobbers and yahoo boys in Nigeria. I wonder why . It's almost as if "By their views, you can tell who they are and what they do for a living, "

Basket case!! And why not, when the number 2 man travels to his multi-million dollar mansion in Maryland for his vacation, then returns to Nigeria to continue his manipulation of the masses.

Basket case!! is how they view us, and until we take our destinies into our hands, refuse to be victims of the endless manipulation by the likes of Atiku and IBB and forge a new identity for ourselves.

Basket case!! Because we are seen as powerless in the face of grand theft and abuse by our leaders and powers that be.

I for one do not believe ours is basket case, but we have a lot to do to achieve anywhere near our true potentials as a continent.

Exposed the cruel, conscienceless and conniving nature of IBB. That many leading personalities in Nigeria, present and past, are running to his side in support of his presidential ambitions is an indication of the self-serving attitudes of our very own.

I hope AIT can put together a 'dispatches' type programme on the leading political aspirants. What we need in Nigeria is a major enlighteenment campaign by the press and goverment so that the masses can be more resistant to the manipulation that have become the tool of trade of the likes of Atiku, IBB and co.

I share your pain, It's trully a sad tale. Just  seeing the number of supporters of the likes of IBB and Atiku, leaves much to be contemplated. We are truely a manipulated people. The longer we allow these people to continue their dominance over us, the longer we remain in pernury.

That some of these crooks are so bold as to flaunt their wealth with inpunity and disregard in the midst of so much suffering very sad, and that many, actively or passively support this, is an indication of where we are as a people.  We have become prisoners, held hostage by these greedy, manipulative and consciencesless rogues.

Ribadu is an incredibly brave and remarkable man. Yes we have always known the major league crooks in our midst, but there may have been some reluctantance to go after men as powerful as IBB. The reason for this is clear. Had they confronted IBB say 3 years ago, OBJ would have been summarily impeached.

Now OBJ know's he's on his last throughs and has entered 'execution phase'. Na thief sabi thief. The benefits of Ribadu's work is 2-fold. One, I hope it ends the political ambitions of these rogues thereby sparing us many more years of their self gratification. Two, it'll be the catalyst required to clean our corrupt polity as the momemtum gathered will be hard to stop.

There is no doubt that there may be some political motivation to Ribadu's  prosecutions, but Tafa, Fasewe and the Ekiti state governor were clearly OBJ's good friends and supporteres. What's happening in Nigeria has happened in Singapore, Ghana and other contries that had to tackle corruption head-on. Altimately when these leaders go, they and their cronies too will be prosecuted.

Third term I did not support and it's dead in the water. The men you mention are no better than Obasanjo, Atiku particularly would rank amongst the biggest crooks in the land. He is a billionaire that has failed to show how he made all that money. He came up with some daft story recently of N31,000 seed money. He is so carried away by his manipulation of the Nigerian masses that he forgets that people can still figure things out for themselves). With stolen wealth to equal IBB stashed away in Switzerland they still have the affront to contest elections. That's what makes me so sad. They have nothing to offer but parade themselves as presidents in waiting. They should all leave our political scene (OBJ, Atiku, IBB, Marwa) etc and allow a new breed of leaders to take over. If the EFCC is effective in doing this then so be it.

OBJ too should be probed when he leaves office. He should tell the world the source of his wealth (which I'm sure is a fraction of Atiku's). I have no sympathy (persecution or not) for thieves who are worse than the armed robbers on our streets.

"If you give a fool authority, and you back up that authority with power of arrest and prosecution, he/she will do the same thing"

I find it hard to agree with this comment. There are many incredibly powerfull men in Nigeria, past and present, who have/had real authority and were in positions to make a difference, but alas, the only difference they made was/is the size of their bank accounts. Greed is the buzz word.

I will never change my view on Ribadu, because he is truelly putting his life on the line taking on extremely powerfull people. Most Nigerians will rather take the bribe and forget all the grief and insinuations (like we can gather from this forum) than go after people who can end their life anyday, support from OBJ or not.

What's Ribadu is doing should be welcome. If all Ribadu does in his lifetime is wrestle men like Tafa Balogun and IBB to their knees and return their loot to Nigerians it's a welcome development.

I can see why some of my collegues in the UK offered govt jobs in Nigeria decline. The only winners there are thieves and we as the people passively or actively support this behavior with our short sightedness.

IG of Police, Chief Justice, ICPC etc etc can do as much as Ribadu should they choose to, so it's got nothing to do with power. We are just used to Power being abused in Nigeria.

If Ribadu is selective in his prosecutions, so be it. Someone else will prosecute him later and the so called 'obj's cronies'. Guys lets raise our game and stop ascribing too much politics to every move. 20% Cleansing is a good start, and better than no cleansing at all!!

Even if it hasn't impacted me directly, I believe it will soon. The Nigerian state (was, is) in a state of decay requiring at least 20 - 30% growth before the impact will filter to the theming masses whilst still ensuring macroeconomic stability and sustenability. There is no point spending all our foreign reserves on the importation of rice and sawdust simply for impact purpose only. The capital projects you refer to is the way forward and some major projects have been initialted (power for example), whilst some such as railways should kick-off soon. These projects are extremely capital intensive and take time to turn yield fruit.

Let's not return to the quick paliatives measures of the Babangida and Abacha era.

Interesting viewpoint, but I still think Ribadu is doing an extremely good job. A clearout starts from somewhere, just like the journey of a thousand miles begins with a few steps, which one may decide to start from the east, west, north or south. Irrespective of whatever criteria is applied or where it starts from, once this crusade gains momemtum and I pray it does, it may become hard to control and the percieved 'baba's untoachables' which some of you refer to will also be consumed by the same process oneday. That's all that concerns me.

We really do need to be positive and loose some of our pessimism. If Ribadu succeeds in removing 30% of these thieves, sometime in the future another leader will emerge that will apply his own criteria and remove another 30%.

I had a conversation recently with a Nigerian, stressing how he'd run for Local Govermen t chairman, as it's so much more lucrative than the company manager position he was holding. In Nigeria our leaders don't come to serve but to plunder. It's a sad indictment of our learned masses, that rather than condemn this, they accept the status quo and concentrate their efforts on Ribadu's. There are surely those in our midst who are victims of manipulation of the Atiku's, IBB's etc in our midst. Ribadu should carry on and provide a strong deterant to thesee looters.

Malam Nuhu Ribadu remains with a five star* rating in my books.

Of all the leadership in Nigeria, Ribadu is the personality I respect the most. He continues to put himself in harms way by taking on some of the biggest names in Nigeria, especially with his recent promise to publish a list of currupt gov officials, past and present. He is fighting a war in which there will be huge resistance from the 'enemies', yet he continues undaunted, displaying exemplery courage. I don't believe his motives are entirely political, but there is an expected political outcome if the likes of IBB, Atiku etc give up their political ambitions thereby sparing us many more years on their abuse and manipulation.

But the biggest benefit to us as a nation should be a new era of conscientious leadership, transparency and economic growth.

He has my full support and I wish him God's speed.

I'll like to know what your view on this remarkable gentleman is,

Sad.

My support for his goverment was based on the active involvement of Okonji and the likes of her. A big minus for the country and an indictment of OBJ's judgement. Whatever the clash of personalities, her role and the confidence instilled in the nations economy was too significant to overlook. To have sent her a notice or redeployment whilst on a critical national assignment like this was petty and disrespectful.

My fear now is that with this action, he may loose the confidence of many other important players in his economic team. Oh well,

She has done a lot more, and has the capacity to do much more, than the dunces in the likes of Atiku and his co-travellers. Like someone earlier commented on this thread, I do hope OBJ, vindictive or not, bring the roof down on the entire band of thiefs and political journeymen,

Howeve, I don't think male dominated and chauvinistic powers that be in the land will support a female candidate, especially given her relative political inexperience.

But I do hope she remains in public life. She's a real asset to our nation.

I have a lot of respect for these two individuals, but a north-north ticket will never cut it in Nigeria.

Maybe El-Rufai + Duke (or Odili)

Ribadu seems a little far away from politics, and that too is commendable. He should be made chief law enforcement officer or remain where he is. He is doing a very find job as EFCC chairman.

I wasn't going to post this, but could not help but comment on the man Atiku. Atiku personifies the very worst of Nigeria. Greedy, tirelessly fraudulent, disloyal (despite that I have my own reservations about obj's tactics), reckless and extremely ostentatious. He is the worst of the pile, desperate to rule Nigeria at all cost. I sincerely pray that man is taken out and locked up before he turns Nigeria on it's head with his wild comments and dealings. I will take IBB or Buhari anyday over this fraud.

He says so much about his wealth, without a clear indication of how he made all his billions. At least IBB talks less because he understands we all know how he "made" his money. Atiku on the other hand seems to believe he's the best president nigeria must have, hence bent on fostering his sorry self on us!!

I see Atiku as the main antithesis of our nation. I hear there is a retinue of aids and hanger-on's already waiting for contracts when he becomes the 'big boss', because aparently OBJ severely limited his contract issuing powers thereby causing him "great" embarassment. How people will not see through a con like this baffles me.

Ironically I had a lot of support for him, until I learned more about him and heard many of his endless 'righteous' tirades. My loyalty to my nation goes beyond any sentiment.

I know it'ss a free world, but the sooner we stopped mentioning people like this in the same statement as President of Nigeria, the better we'll be.

So given the lack of credibity of 'any' electoral commision set up, is there any point trying? Is the alternative better. Maybe ING, military junta?

My view is that it's not perfect. But we're getting there. Even in civilized nations, it took many decades for the process to be completely autonomous and developed.

I just think Atiku is the last person in the world to complain simply because he's fast loosing influence over the process. Wait a minute. It was he and Audu Ogbeh who allegedly rigged the PDP into winning virtually every ballot. This borders on grandstanding at best and desperation of the very worst kind.

What do you think of Atiku's recent comment that INEC does not have the trust of Nigerians and therefore is not credible?

I find this comment quote ironic. But that aside,  I think it's a shame that many people in our 'civilized' society will not see through dubious comments like this. My view is that he may be coming to terms that his "president at all cost" project will fail, hence the posturing to discredit the whole electoral process even before it begins. I guess we should expect no more from most of our politicians, blinded by greed and selfishness, completely oblivious to the  chaos and anarchy that could ensue if the 2007 elections fail,

This is a personal opinion, so I'll like to know what y'll think, 

What do you think of Atiku's recent comment that INEC do not have the trust of Nigerians and therefore are not credible?

I'm incredibly sceptical of our politicians today, with Atiku being the most shrewed and dubious of them all. I think it's a shame that many people in our 'civilized' society will not see through his comment. My view is that he's begining to smell his 'president at all cost' project will fail, and now posturing to discredit the whole process with complete disregard to the chaos that may ensue,

So, what's your view on this?

The web is the future, however make sure you learn solid software programming skills, expecially OO paradigms. Transmuting this to the web is the easy bit as all you'll need to learn are the web concepts and scripting languages (which are often a subset of standard problems. For example, JSP is a java subset language, ASP for VB etc etc).

I for one started out as a developer and now a java architect. And all I did was apply the same java concepts with a 'web' construct and markup for web deployment.

Don't speculate. He and Ogunlewe may have been bitter rivals, but their may have been fifth columnist wary of him and acting to protect their own interest. Or even those acting for Ogunlewe without his knowledge given that politicians can have cult personalities amongst their supporters.

I hope they find out the killers SAP, otherwise this may enbolden the political jobbers and thugs in our midst before 2007.

It's a fair list, and may reflect the true yearnings of the people. Not pleased with IBB and Kalu's name there, but so relieved that Atiku isn't listed. If this is a true picture of voting trends, I have to say I'm glad people can see through all off Atiku's nonsense.

ACD is a fraud. They represent the very worst of the PDP. A bunch of disgruntled politicians bent on rigging the next election as they did the PDP. Audu Ogbeh, Atiku, Lar have zero credibility where I'm concerned and we should not allow ourselves to be hoodwinked again by these strange bed fellows.

Just because Obansanjo took away all their influence, they're bent on coming in through the back door, with their desperate arrowhead Atiku taking the nation for a ride.

They should forget leadership and let younger Nigerians have a go. I hope OBJ uses all the aparatus of state to crush these band of thieves.

Soludo is an over-achiever. Simple. I'm one sceptical Nigerian where most of our dubious leaders are concerned. But I'll like to give credit where it's due. Read on:

http://community.nigeria.com/nspace/global_central_banker_of_the_year_award_winner_professor_charles_soludo

Criticize for all you want, but this is one achievement of the OBJ administration that even his hardest critics acknowledge. If he were president tomorrow, I'll be the first to pack and return home, as he'll be sure to encourage the enabling environment me, and the likes to thrive.

Guys, let's open our eyes. This is typical rumour / propaganda, Nigeria style. Rumours of this kind are sponsored by desperate political jobbers worried they are being deliberately sidelined. They know us very well and know how to play with our minds. Lets not get fooled. You'll be shocked at the mentality of some of our 'big men'.

You'll find the main protagonists of these rumours in that strange party called the ACD, desperate to return Atiku and his band of thieves to power. They, together with some desperate grand daddies in the PDP should be totally excluded from leading Nigeria. Shikena. OBJ, continue the good work. You know the crooks amongst the political elites (like yourself), do all you can to exclude them from 2007 - by all means necessary. This is the best legacy you can bestow on our nation.

It's hard to see how TransCorp could have been oblivious to the pressures a 7 day-limit would put them under, especially given that loans are involved. I believe that the ranting generated by this sale could have caused some concern to their creditors.

Nitel is a potentially lucrative deal but would require a lot more effort and oversight, compared to what obtains with black gold (crude) where they'd be more willing to take risks of this kind, given the returns that can be expected.

If the reason is due to an overestimation of their ability to raise the funds at such short notice, then it's an indictment of the leadership of TransCorp, given their pedigree.

Should this deal fall through, it may become more difficult for TransCorp to buy another major corporation in Nigeria, their credibility well dented.

All in all, I commend TransCorp, I like the vision, but it's probarbly ahead of it's time in a morally backward and eternally pessimistic society like ours - no offence people.

Definitely none of the three. IBB is a master schema, good leader of men, but definitely not of a nation requiring much more than the game of politics at this time.

Buhari, any credibility he has as a past leader was bestowed on his regime by the late Idiagbon. He has no part to play in the Nigeria of tomorrow,

OBJ - No way. Credit to him for placing Nigeria (particularly the macro economy) on it's current charted course, but time to hand over to a youger leader to continue the battle.

Atiku - the worst of them all. Greedy, self-centered, overly ambitious, visionless and bereft of any interllectual capacity. I read with dismay some comments attributed to, and when his shady political and financial deals are factored in, I'd rather have Lawrence Anini in Aso Rock!!

Guys, surely we can do better than these candidates.

I read yesterday a comment by Gani that the sale of TransCorp was illegal and a ploy to acquire Nigerian Assets by a few!! Phew. Thank God I'd followed this story (due to boredom maybe ) and know better. Full respect and compliment to Gani and all his accomplishments, but one can't help but wonder if these folks just seek populist and sensationalist comments in order to preserve their relevance in the Nigerian social discourse.

Where were all their comments when the sale of TransCorp flaundered endlessly because nobody wanted nothing to do with it? What was their contribution when the BPE was busy searching locally and internationally for buyers and shouting on the rooftop for all bidders to join in? Where they fast asleep when Orascum almost took over Nitel after the last bidding process for $250M, but for the timely intervention of OBJ to avert this giveaway to a foreign corporation.

Now a Nigerian company run by Nigerian professionals have bought this for much much more, with a bigger promise to empower Nigerians both in ownershipand management, and then it becomes a problem. Maybe like someone observed earlier, we are eternally pessimistic (For this I hold IBB and co responsible for decades of deceit) or maybe we are just programmed to be our own worst enemies.

As for me, I will buy into this company, not because it's Nitel. It's unlikely to make me rich although I strongly believe that it will thrive, but because I support the dream and have confidence in the abilities of the collective leadership of TransCorp.