₦airaland Forum

“Men make history, but, not just as they please.” Karl Marx, 1818-1883. Vanguard Book Of Quotations p 93.

Robert Fowler, representing Lagos State, is out as the head of the Federal Internal Revenue Ser­vice, FIRS. He was replaced by Abubakar. The former boss of the Social Intervention Programme (SIP) – a fellow from Ogun State, was not only removed as the administrator of the legacy pro­gramme of the Buhari government, the job was taken north. In addition some thirty members of the former Oga were shoved out of the Aso Rock gate. The Chairman of the All Progressives Con­gress (APC), from Edo State now owes his survival in that position to one word from the President. If Buhari says “Go”, it is back to Edo State or personal exile out of Nigeria.

A former PDP Governor in the South East decamped to APC; he was elected Senator and was given the topmost post for an Igbo during this period. He felt safe. Today, the red carpet has literal­ly been removed from under his feet. Within a few hours on a sad day, he had changed from a bullet-proof and air-con­ditioned luxury car to the old jalopy of the Correction Service. His designer out­fit would have been replaced by those supplied by Okrika tailors. A Minister from the Niger Delta has established a Railway University, to be named Buhari University later, in Katsina State.


Carrying sycophancy to the most ri­diculous depths, our Southern brother told Nigerians, presumed to be idiots that the Chinese handling our railway contracts will pay to build the university. Don’t laugh. This is what happens when individuals who were once regarded as men become desperate and lose their balls. Just wait; the Chinese contractors will soon request for an upward varia­tion in the original contract sum more than the N18 billion they proposed as the cost of building the University for Nigeria free of charge!! Mugus in gov­ernment never seize to amaze me.

The truth is, the APC is now running as a Sole Proprietorship. There is only one owner. All the rest have become servants – even the co-founder from the South West who thought he was a ge­nius when he started the ball rolling to get Buhari elected as President so that he could be Vice President. He failed to make it as VP; now all the people he was allowed to plant in key positions are be­ing weeded out one by one. He might be next because the Bob Fowler saga is not yet over. From the stories reaching us, the former boss of FIRS might have to answer some questions about the activi­ties of the FIRS which were regarded as questionable during his tenure.

Those questions partly or mostly might explain why he was not re-appoint­ed. They may also implicate some other top people, especially from the South, who according to information available might have been involved in tax evasion. At any rate, Fowler is out and he will not be the last nominee from the South West to be shown the gate of Aso Rock any time soon. The obvious question is: what will be the fate of our Southern brothers who created the “Frankenstein” monster which is now set to devour them all.


Oh! What a tangled web we weave/ When first we practice to deceived.” Sir Walter Scott, 1771-1812. VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS p35.

In 1994 when inaugurating his own confab, General Abacha had assured the civilians who were both elected that he was starting a political programme “in which we [the military] shall not be participants.” The participants who I had earlier dubbed “the ship of fools” erupted into thunderous applause. I was horrified. Like Honore de Balzac, 1799- 1850, I was “beginning to wonder how many fools it takes to make the term “My Fellow Citizens.” Prominent Nigerians attended Abacha’s confab – Professors, Senior Advocates, thoughtful political leaders and a smattering of old soldiers. Yet, the stood up and clapped for more than fifteen minutes while Abacha ac­cepted the kudos. The dictator knew he had successfully deceived the delegates. He could go on and let his diabolic plans for self-succession unfold. I was furious.

The following Sunday, in Sunday Van­guard, I wrote an article titled If You Be­lieve That You Will Believe Anything. The contents of that article which I cannot now lay my hands on can be summarised as follows.

First, it is probably true of all man­kind that “The only prize much cared for by the powerful is power. The prize for the General is not bigger tent but com­mand.”(Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, 1841-1935, VBQ p 196). With power al­ready in his hands, after toppling Chief Ernest Shonekan, I was certain Abacha would not voluntarily relinquish it. I warned the delegates not to be deceived because the confab was just a distraction meant to keep politicians busy while the strategic General completed his plans to remain permanently in office. I told the participants that nothing they do at the confab will compel Abacha to leave vol­untarily. I finished the article by telling people like General Shehu Yar ‘Adua that anybody who nursed the ambition to be­come President of Nigeria must first of all assume that Abacha will be his major opponent — if there is an election at all. And that election will be rigged in favour of Abacha.

That article paved my way to my first detention under the Abacha regime. Lit­tle did I know that I had stumbled on the truth. My interrogators, four two days, were anxious to know “who leaked the secret?” Later, I got to know that late Ikoku had advised Abacha to serve the delegates and the entire country that de­ception about not participating in the elections that would follow. On the very day of inaugurating the confab, finish­ing touches were being put to the plan that would lead to Abacha‘s self-succes­sion.

History would record that the Aba­cha regime established five political parties – all of which were funded by the Federal Government. The leaders of each party were to be approved by the FG. Candidates were to be screened by the National Electoral Commission of Nigeria, NECON, which had absolute power to determine who could contest in the elections. Even the constitution of each of the political parties was dictated to them by the regime. To cut the sto­ry short, Abacha was the sole owner of the five entities which the late Bola Ige called “five fingers on a leprous hand.

Those old enough to be aware of what happened at the time would recall that June 9, 1998, was the day, Chief Arthur Nzeribe had convened a meeting of all the National Assembly Members elected on the platforms of the five parties. At the gathering Chief Ebenezer Babatope – an elected Senator – had been selected to move a motion that ALL the politi­cal parties had adopted Abacha as their candidate. By then the “ship of fools” had been disbanded and some of the delegates had joined the five Abacha parties. The constitution they proposed had been passed to a small group of legal draftsmen who had given the President absolute powers over everybody.

It was only providential intervention which saved Nigerians. Babatope nev­er got to read his address scheduled for June 9, 1998 – in which undoubtedly he would have told the entire world that the murderous kleptomaniac he was impos­ing on Nigerians was actually God’s gift. Till today Ebino Topsy (as we called him before he fell from grace to grass) cannot release to the public what he was going to read on June 9, 1998.

In 2006 what we thought was a joke was taking shape as reality. Nigerians were told that somebody was nursing a Third Term agenda. Since our constitu­tion allowed a President to serve only two terms, a constitutional amendment would be required to render the third term legal. Soon enough, the FG which had resisted all entreaties to have the 1999 Constitution amended was ready to fund it. As usual, another “ship of fools” was floated which after pretending to be making far reaching amendments to the constitution allowed for the President of Nigeria to serve three terms. Bribes were offered to members of the Nation­al Assembly; a bag full of money was on display in the House of Representa­tives; delegates for the final draft were reportedly offered $75,000. Everything was done to change the constitution and allow the incumbent President to con­tinue in office. The plot failed when the proponents of what would have been the beginning of Life Presidency could not get two thirds of the Senators to vote for it. We were again saved by Providence.

“Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” George San­tayana, 1863-1952. VBQ p 93.

We are again on a familiar road. Rumours of third term ambition are again being circulated. Just as Abacha pronounced that “we of the present ad­ministration will not be participants” and still went ahead to capture the tran­sition until 1998 and somebody swore not to have a third term ambition, yet established House No 7 in the Villa as command post, we are receiving denials about a third term ambition. Whether or not you believe the denials right now, my advice is to wait and watch. Don’t let your guards down. Two reasons account for this.

First, those old enough to remember should recollect the Youths Earnestly Asking for Abacha, YEAA, led by fraudu­lent young Igbo man from nowhere. This was followed by a phoney two million man march for Abacha – all in a bid to convince the gullible that most Nigeri­ans want Abacha to succeed himself. There is no shortage of youths ready to lend their support for such bogus ral­lies – especially if their palms are well-greased.

Second, in all fairness, the South East should produce the next President. But, plans are afoot to ensure that a conflict arises between the South East and the South West. Furthermore, potential candidates from the SW zone are being discredited. In the end, we might be con­fronted with only one choice – another Northern candidate. In that case only one candidate will serve the purpose….

A word is sufficient.

By Dele Sobowale

https://www.independent.ng/the-sad-fate-of-southerners-in-apc/

It is well

....

LabDNA:
You are an Igbo man, this shouldn't be your business.

The author, Dele Soboware is an igbo man?

okay

[s]

LabDNA:
You are an Igbo man, this shouldn't be your business.

[/s]

And so what?.. When the southerners were there, what changed?.. Nansense!

Has any Southern president been this worst than what Nigeria have today? Buhari is pathologically nepotic and clannish which is bad & hence should be condemned by all rational thinking humanity.Dont follow sheepishly.

Just two appointment ..them done begin talk

Racoon:
[s][/s]
Has any Southern president been this worst than what Nigeria have today? Buhari is pathologically nepotic and clannish which is bad & hence should be condemned by all rational thinking humanity.Dont follow sheepishly.

ALL POLITICIANS ARE THE SAME, BOTH NORTH AND SOUTH

mrvitalis:
Just two appointment ..them do begin talk

No sensible person would take Yoruba's serious again ......u guys supported marginalization of Igbo's now face your issue don't bring south to it

babyfaceafrica:
ALL POLITICIANS ARE THE SAME, BOTH NORTH AND SOUTH

If u don't know what the topic is about keep quiet ...

mrvitalis:
If u don't know what the topic is about keep quite ...

You mean quiet?

babyfaceafrica:
You mean quiet?

Yea quiet

Southern apshits are all traitors

Cry us an ocean

LabDNA:
You are an Igbo man, this shouldn't be your business.

I wonder,carry southwest matter for head like Gala. "E sunkun ara yin oh, ko sosi, ara yin losi wa "don't mind them, yet they wont hesitate to jump to available bus to southwest, iranuous dede

Second, in all fairness, the South East should produce the next President. But, plans are afoot to ensure that a conflict arises between the South East and the South West. Furthermore, potential candidates from the SW zone are being discredited. In the end, we might be con­fronted with only one choice – another Northern candidate. In that case only one candidate will serve the purpose….

It's very evident here...

celeiyke:
Second, in all fairness, the South East should produce the next President . But, plans are afoot to ensure that a conflict arises between the South East and the South West. Furthermore, potential candidates from the SW zone are being discredited. In the end, we might be con­fronted with only one choice – another Northern candidate. In that case only one candidate will serve the purpose….

A word is sufficient.

By Dele Sobowale

https://www.independent.ng/the-sad-fate-of-southerners-in-apc/

The bolded proved beyond all reasonable doubts that the writer is an unfortunate son of a dog.

jahsharon:
The bolded proved beyond all reasonable doubts that the writer is an unfortunate son of a dog.

You just might be the unfortunate son of a dog yourself...

I am telling imagine the bastard bearing a Yoruba name ?! Where was the fool where 2 Fulani from the NW both Yardua b Buhari became the president with the Hausa majority tribe not wailing why didn't the Igbo wail it is the turn of Jumkuns from the NE then ?

Imagine if Atiku had one it would have been 3 Fulani from the North with Igbo's not wailing but it can not be 2 Yoruba in the South, they'd rather wail to death over that.
k

jahsharon:
The bolded proved beyond all reasonable doubts that the writer is an unfortunate son of a dog.

mrvitalis:
Just two appointment ..them done begin talk

i wonder
epistle upon epistle as if Buhari just become president this week.

jahsharon:
The bolded proved beyond all reasonable doubts that the writer is an unfortunate son of a dog.

An article published in a national daily with a verifiable name yet you have to drag igbo and one idiot was accusing the igbos yesterday of being the trouble makers on this forumsmh

the south can be easily divided as there is no unity between d east and west.
the south is filled with greedy thieves with insatiable lust for power and wealth like oshiomhole and tinubu

mrvitalis:
No sensible person would take Yoruba's serious again ......u guys supported marginalization of Igbo's now face your issue don't bring south to it

I had earlier said it in another thread, is a Yoruba person always chasing you in your dreams every night?

jahsharon:
The bolded proved beyond all reasonable doubts that the writer is an unfortunate son of a dog.

ok

Magicians:
I am telling imagine the bastard bearing a Yoruba name ?! Where was the fool where 2 Fulani from the NW both Yardua b Buhari became the president with the Hausa majority tribe not wailing why didn't the Igbo wail it is the turn of Jumkuns from the NE then ?

Imagine if Atiku had one it would have been 3 Fulani from the North with Igbo's not wailing but it can not be 2 Yoruba in the South, they'd rather wail to death over that.
k

what do we call this?
go to independent and see that the author of this piece incuded his picture,name ,phone number and e-mail.
its unfortunate that one have to share a country with idiots

Magicians:
I am telling imagine the bastard bearing a Yoruba name ?! Where was the fool where 2 Fulani from the NW both Yardua b Buhari became the president with the Hausa majority tribe not wailing why didn't the Igbo wail it is the turn of Jumkuns from the NE then ?

Imagine if Atiku had one it would have been 3 Fulani from the North with Igbo's not wailing but it can not be 2 Yoruba in the South, they'd rather wail to death over that.
k

What would you do if another Yoruba emerges the next president aside coming online to rant and forming Superman.

More like I had to share anything in life with lunatics like you or your father. It is Amadioha that will destroy your entire household for me.

overall90:
what do we call this?
go to independent and see that the author of this piece incuded his picture,name ,phone number and e-mail.
its unfortunate that one have to share a country with idiots

Ok

Magicians:
More like I had to share anything in life with lunatics like you or your father. It is Amadioha that will destroy your entire household for me.

see this mongol.filled with so much bile.
the same way ogun and sango will wipe out your entire lineage before the end of this year.
i didn't know that you are even worst than an idiot.