₦airaland Forum

TheFreeOne:
[s][/s]

So in your tiny mind everyone with contrary opinion is IPOB/NDA apologists

If you care to know I am full-blooded Yoruba man from ondo state and what I opined above is not tribal but unfortunately you lack the ability to comprehend/read between the lines.

I am a firm believer in justice, fairness and freedom and will always support call for restructuring this fraudulent 'state of our union' which only benefits selfish political establishment at the detriment of the populace. And if that makes me an Ipob or militant then that means those guys are more sensible than your so-called "version of yorubas".

True yorubas ( omoluabis) love justice, freedom, fairness cos they ain't lovers of oppression and never afraid to speak truth to power.

You have finished the dude with a fatal blow to the head! Ondos are different.... God bless you awe.

asadike:
I see! I only came to check name and wish d young dad Rip

***snarl at her like a lion*** pls cuty don't join that club

See what nasty propaganda had caused this funny government of Buhari

asadike:
Lol, chineke mu e[sub][/sub]! Tomakint come o,is it true?

Ese kwu dear very very true sweety

Like play like play Tinubu is silently and subtly drumming support for his lackey, Osinbajo but come what may Osinbajo will disappoint him on the long run. If Buhari eventually becomes unable to continue the Northern Mafias will fight dirty to high heavens because Osinbajo being a Pastor will have a lot to grapple with especially from the Religion angle. If eventually Osinbajo is made President, I think he will need the Spiritual advice of Daddy Adeboye more than the political shrewdness of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. I have a strong conviction that God is about to do something. Hmnnnn

omenka:
Lol. Toma my frienemy, I wasn't docking oo. Just checked in now, you lied when you said I was peeping cos I wasn't.

Anyways, I take responsibility for that comment. I admit it was irresponsible and indeed I let my emotions get the best of me- wish I could take it back. I will be more civil next time.

Meanwhile, advice your sister(?) to stop trolling on me sha. Won't stop me from speaking my mind.

Wao.....omenka is remorseful here.....which of my sister again my frienemy?

keypad1:
Here in canada we dont know what igede means.

Igede in Yoruba means incantations

amaechi1:
Pathetic comment.

Apathetic "lamenter"!

ZombieNation:
How about now.


This is the official wake keeping thread for late president Buhari

You can say that again......... just dazed at the moment

Omenka don't pretend you can't hear me calling you......come out and defend your unguarded statements here.....***abeg somebody throw in omenka into the ring please, I can see him peeping as usual***

kenny987:
HA!!! This is too much o! I hope this is a verified story though, no need to rent the air with false news





Meanwhile, Omenka this was you in 2013. Now, despite the humongous billions allocated only to Aso Rock Clinic by Buhari, u did not deem it fit to curse abi? May it be unto you as you prayed and wished for the former President of Nigeria since your regard for the office of president is more about the person than the office itself. Your partiality will find you out!

Omenka, she got you there! What are you gonna do now?

But why...

If this is true I think I will be right to call Fayose a Prophet!

Deadlytruth:
The Eastern Command of Nigerian troops under Ojukwu's command as Eastern Region military governor attacked Boro and fought the 12 day war against him. If Ojukwu did not throw himself at "One Nigeria" then why could he not caution Ironsi against promulgating the infamous Unification Decree but he (Ojukwu) even gleefully announced over the radio that the advent of the Unification Decree that Eastern civil servants would start getting transferred to the Northern Region since the Civil service had been centralized by Ironsi. If that was not a snatch at "one Nigeria" then what was it? Isaac Boro too warned Ojukwu of the dangers ahead for Igbos on their one Nigeria fantasy but Ojukwu refused to heed, instead he led the squad that fought, arrested and jailed Boro. Ojukwu even twice sent back to the North some Easterners who escaped home. He claimed he did that to demonstrate his faith in one-Nigeria. It is on you-tube. Videos don't lie.
And for your mockery of SS people on what Ojukwu said would befall them; I want you to realize that "one-Nigeria" soldiers did not massacre SS people but massacred Ojukwu's brothers in millions. So who had more evil befall them from one Nigeria between Igbo and SS?
Only economic problems befell SE minorities and which was caused by Ironsi a brother to Ojukwu.

Adaka Boro of blessed memory saw a different angle to what Ojukwu was advocating for the people of Biafra but the vision Adaka had for his Niger Delta people is with whose support? Ojukwu had a well defined plan for Biafran and these Niger Deltans were "minorities" then, hence Ojukwu advised Adaka to join hands with him so as to safe guard the resources of the then Eastern region from the prying eyes of the Northern boys. Ironsi's promulgation of the unitary system over the then abolished pseudo-federalism was to unify the once federating units into a "broad family" in order to pacify the aggrieved North but what made it unpopular was Ironsi's bold approach to go for merit based systems in appointments into civil service and the military over the majority quota system that favoured the unlearned Northeners (where a graduate of the Southern extraction is promoted to level 8 while his mate from the Northern extraction is promoted to level 10 with a better salary despite not coming out with the same grade as his Southern counterpart).

As for your "mockery" of Ojukwu's sudden support for one Nigeria, I beg to differ, why? Biafra was fought for and lost. Ojukwu went on exile was pardoned by the Shagari's administration, tried to get into the government to champion the cause of his people but already while in exile his people had been disenchanted from the Biafran cause so what do you want him to champion.... Biafra? come on my friend.

Deadlytruth:
Igbos invented "One Nigeria" and worked to defend it at a time it was clear that Nigeria was not one and could never become one.
Ojukwu did not see anything. He was an enemy of the Niger Delta because it was he who crushed the very first attempt the Niger Delta made to pull out of "One-Nigeria". Ojukwu was still loving one Nigeria and was ready to crush anyone whose activities threatened the survival of "One-Nigeria". Ojukwu even so loved "One-Nigeria" that he twice sent back to the North his own fellow Igbos who managed to escape to Enugu from the 1966 pogroms in the North. Ojukwu himself confessed he did that because he was genuinely convinced initially that Gowon was on a reconciliatory mission. A person who was still hoping to reconcile with a system that had already killed thousands of his own people. And you call such a person a seer of the future? Why could Ojukwu and Ironsi not declare Biafra while they were still in power and calling the shots?
Isaac Boro and Niger Deltans had already woken up before Ojukwu and Biafrans later painfully realized it was daybreak.

I beg to differ Mr revisionist, Ojukwu knew Nigeria more than most Nigerians of his contemporaries and if there is one thing Ojukwu stood for way back then it was "injustices from the hands of the oppressors (up North in collaborations with their British Lords)" Isaac Adaka Boro's "12-day mini Civil War" was suppressed by the Nigerian troops. Ojukwu never threw himself at one Nigeria but his kinsman, Zik, did. Get your facts right Ojukwu warned the minorities in the then Old Eastern Region of what would later befall them now they never listened. For your info, Kenule Beeson Saro-Wiwa fought on the side of the Nigerian Troop during the Civil War. Good morning!

Nicepoker:
stop typing under ur boyfriend's bed.

.
Boyfriend? you are talking to a full grown man Yotubas called Okunrin lanti lanti free the hairy guy for once he is no female

biafranqueen:
Big 1 ooo

.
Hey whatz up the Queen, what a nice one you got up there by the way, how "big" was your ban? Wetin you do? Next time email Seun or Lalasticlala if you feel you are unjustly ban dear. Well done

Britboy:
'The FG can never negotiate with militants'.
'FG will crush the NDA'
'NA will obliterate the whole of Niger Delta'
Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah...



QuotaSystem and Co, where una dey?
una don shout finish?

#walkingdeads

We told them but they were too self-conceited to listen to voice of reasons. Well done Sir

A Seer indeed!

This is bad. There is no evidence that this dude any government installations or any of the oil giants installations were attacked by Tompolo and his boys so why all these. If the same militants under his control now decides to start bombing again you will hear another stories

kenkenn:
"Take care of my cows". That is what he is telling him.

I heard him clearly

Clown

ireneony:
He should search his mind ..
Who knows he might had taking an oath when he was young which is now affecting him.

Or he should ask his father or mother family if they have made some spiritual ties with an occult alters.

Wao this is a wise woman speaking here....you got EYES that SEE not EYES that LOOK. What happened to Jide Kosoko is not ordinary. Good thinking there Prophetess Irene

This is not ordinary .......no matter what he should seek for spiritual cleansing from a Bible-believing Church.....MFM comes to mind!

ckmayoca:
Beaauty without brain is ordinary ashawo.

Honestly our ladies need to step up their games when politics is involved. We only have few Amazons in this section.

Topleague:
who is listening to this slowpoke, your hatred for PMB will never let you see anything good in this government. shio

I can't believe a damsel like you can stoop this low..... education is worthless when presented but no willing minds you know

Trust me I felt so bad reading this from Jonathan. Gay marriage is done and dusted with as far as Nigeria is concerned. His infamous speech of "to be revisited" is disturbing

mrnigerdelta:
pmb lead government is full of nothing, but deceit & hypocrisy

Trust me as much as I appreciate the current fight against gross corruption across the land, I get miffed by the two words you just indicate up there "deceit and hypocrisy" how do you intend to fight corruption when the likes of Amaechi, Fashola, Dambazzau, Lai Mohammed, and some incompetent hands (like the sick Mama Taraba wasting away in a US hospital for weeks now) in your government. Buhari must be joking.

Most times when I watch videos like this, I feel like crying too much for this funny Country that draws near to God with our lips but our hearts are light years away from God. Just imagine our textile industries that used to be the second largest employer of labour gone down the drain because of mindless corruption from our past leaders especially from the Ab.oki Shagari's time

Aribisala

Part 2

In its one-year in office, the government has not established a single institution or passed any legislation necessary to fight corruption. The much-ballyhooed Whistle-blower Act is still blowing in the wind.

In Buhari’s first coming, he bamboozled Nigerians with a so-called War Against Indiscipline. This entailed treating Nigerians, young and old, like primary school children. We were forced to queue at bus-stops under the watchful eyes of soldiers wielding whips with orders to flog publicly those deemed unruly. Late-coming civil-servants were required to do frog-jumps. The pathetic thing about this was that the government actually believed such charade constituted cogent public policy. Once Buhari left, Nigerians stopped queuing. So much for the War Against Indiscipline.

The truth of the matter is that President Buhari is a retired military officer; he has little idea what constitutes effective public policy. As military strongman in the 1980s, he dealt with food shortages by sending soldiers to break into private warehouses and shops. He fought trade imbalances by taking Nigeria back to the stone age of trade by barter (counter-trade). He sought to extradite a Nigerian from Britain by drugging and crating him. These are the indices of a man bereft of modern and judicious policy ideas.

Fighting corruption with corruption

The same goes today for Buhari’s newfangled “war against corruption.” The whole thing is one big farce. The president clearly does not know what corruption means and how to fight it. As a result, he ends up with the contradiction of attempting to fight corruption with corruption; an exercise in futility.

As military head of state in the 1980s, Buhari failed to understand that imposing retroactive decrees and killing Nigerians under them was corruption. Putting the Igbo vice-president in Kirikiri prisons, while placing the Fulani president under palatial house arrest, was corruption. Detaining people like Michael Ajasin in jail, even after they were discharged and acquitted by kangaroo courts, was corruption. Jailing journalists for telling the truth was corruption. Shepherding 53 suitcases of contraband unchecked through customs during a currency change exercise was corruption.

Today, Buhari still does not understand that corruption is not limited to stealing money. The government claims to be fighting corruption, but at the same time it has been corrupting the political system. Disregarding the rule of law under a democratic system is corruption. Flouting judicial verdicts is corruption. Trying politicians on the pages of newspapers instead of in law courts is corruption. Unlawfully killing hundreds of Shiites in Kaduna is corruption. Detaining Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky and his wife for over four months without trial is corruption.



Corruption cannot not be fought with human rights abuses and violation of the rule of law. It is better for the guilty to go free than for the innocent to be wrongfully accused and convicted.

If President Buhari were truly interested in fighting corruption, he would be faithful to the pledge he made to Nigerians in his acceptance speech as president in April 2015. He said then: “I pledge myself and the government to the rule of law, in which none shall be so above the law that they are not subject to its dictates, and none shall be so below it that they are not availed of its protection.” If he was true to his word, he would not have gone on national television to declare Dasuki and Kanu guilty without the benefit of trial in courts of law.

Not surprisingly, the State Department of the United States came out recently to accuse the government of the following abuses: “Vigilante killings; prolonged pretrial detention, often in facilities with poor conditions; denial of fair public trial; executive influence on the judiciary; infringement on citizens’ privacy rights; and restrictions on freedoms of speech, press, assembly, and movement.” These are not the indices of a government engaged in a war, or even a fight, against corruption.

Promoting corruption

The government claims to be fighting corruption but continues to create and sustain institutions that promote corruption. In its one-year in office, the government has not established a single institution or passed any legislation necessary to fight corruption. The much-ballyhooed Whistle-blower Act is still blowing in the wind. Instead the government has gone a long way to undermine anti-corruption institutions established under previous administrations.

EFCC, ICPC, and DSS are all legacies of past administrations. Under Buhari, these organs of government have been converted into organs of the APC for the persecution of the political enemies of the president and his party. Under Obasanjo, the EFCC went after the members of the president’s party first and foremost. Under Buhari, the EFCC goes primarily after members of the opposition.

Under Jonathan, INEC was a champion of free and fair elections. Under Buhari, INEC has become a champion of inconclusive elections. Under Jonathan, the privacy rights of Nigerians were respected. Under Buhari, the privacy rights of Nigerians are disrespected. Even the sanctity of the government house in Uyo, Akwa Ibom was violated by the DSS.

Buhari’s anti-corruption double-standards are becoming legion. The president insists Abacha never stole any money, and then institutes the probe of the PDP for the mismanagement of the recovered non-existent Abacha loot. He accuses the PDP of using public funds to finance its 2015 election campaign, but fails to disclose where the APC obtained the money to finance its own very expensive election campaign. The APC commends INEC for running the ostensibly free and fair election that brought it to power in 2015; then it challenges in court every election conducted by the same INEC in the same election cycle that APC lost.

The government fails to recognise that sustaining a wide margin between the official naira/dollar exchange-rate and the parallel market rate (currently 198 to 320) has created a major avenue for corruption in banking circles. It is corruption to employ the children, relatives and friends of members of the Nigerian political establishment into juicy positions in the Central Bank of Nigeria without the scantiest regard for professionalism. It is corruption to pad the 2016 budget with literally billions of naira of hidden fraudulent allocations; so much so that the budgetary process has become stalemated: the victim of a battle royal between a grasping presidency and a self-serving legislature.

Corrupt APC politicians

Surely, President Buhari knows he cannot fight corruption successfully while he is surrounded and sponsored by corrupt APC politicians. Like charity, an APC war against corruption must begin at home; in the APC. The president makes a song and dance about fighting corruption, yet his APC party is steeped in corruption.



However, APC members are exempted from Buhari’s anti-corruption prosecution; except perhaps for Bukola Saraki who must be prosecuted for committing the same crime Bola Tinubu was absolved of. Saraki became Senate president by playing the same party-betrayal card Aminu Tambuwal played to the delight of the APC under Jonathan, which is now to the annoyance of the APC under Buhari.

If Buhari were serious about fighting corruption, he would have fought against the dubious protocol within APC that all presidential aspirants must fork out a nomination fee of N27.5 million to the party. Costly elections lead to corrupt governments, because the excessive money spent is inevitably recouped from government coffers. But instead of fighting against this dubious protocol, Buhari claimed he was constrained to borrow the money from his bank. A few months later, the president declared he has N30 million in his bank account.

The APC does not even pretend to be anti-corruption. Both the corrupt and the clean are welcome with open arms into the party. No politician with corruption allegations hanging over his head is ever denied membership of the APC. As a matter of fact, the party is a safe harbour for corrupt politicians seeking protection from APC persecution. A large chunk of APC membership is now made up of defunct PDP members; and the “navigator” of the APC is none other than Olusegun Obasanjo, PDP president for eight years.

Apparently, if you are a member of the PDP, you are deemed by Buhari’s APC to be corrupt. But once you cross over to the APC, you automatically become squeaky clean.

As military strongman, Buhari jailed Bisi Akande on corruption charges in the 1980s. But come 2014, the same Bisi Akande became the interim chairman of his anti-corruption APC. In 2015, Femi Gbajabiamila was the APC choice as Speaker of the House of Representatives. Today, he is the Majority Leader of the House. However, Gbajabiamila was convicted for professional misconduct by the Supreme Court of Georgia, U.S.A. in 2006 for defrauding a client of $25,000.

While the government is busy grandstanding about anti-corruption in the press, its APC legislators are busy fighting over “juicy” committee positions in the House and Senate. Surely, “juicy” legislative committees are anathema to anti-corruption. What makes a committee “juicy” is precisely its scope for providing avenues for corrupt enrichment to legislators.

Anti-corruption hypocrisy

APC’s anti-corruption crusade has become so lopsided, it is clearly no more than an instrument for check-mating and decimating the opposition. The standard retort is to insist the singling out of PDP members is inevitable because the party had been in power for 16 years. However, some of the legacy parties of the APC, such as the ACN, have also been in power for long in the states. The EFCC has gone after PDP governors, such as Sule Lamido and Godswill Akpabio, but has ignored APC governors, such as Rotimi Amaechi and Babatunde Fashola.



A judicial commission of enquiry set up by the Rivers State government maintained that, under former governor Rotimi Amaechi, a whopping N53 billion disappeared from the Rivers State Reserve Fund. However, the EFCC has not even invited Amaechi for questioning. Neither has he been excoriated in the government’s media war on corruption. On the contrary, Amaechi has been awarded the “juicy” new super-ministry of Transport, which now includes road, rail, maritime and aviation.

Similarly, Babatunde Fashola was accused of spending N78 million of government money upgrading his personal website. Among other allegations, he was said to have inflated the cost of the Lekki-Ikoyi link-bridge from N6 billion to N25 billion. However, the EFCC hears no evil and sees no evil in the Fashola case without even investigating it. Instead, Fashola was awarded the “juicy” new super-ministry of Power, Works and Housing.

Abubakar Audu was under prosecution by the EFCC for misappropriating N11 billion of state funds when he was governor of Kogi between 1999 and 2003. Nevertheless, he was nominated as APC governorship candidate for Kogi in 2015. In spite of the fact that the EFCC had filed charges of corruption against Timipre Sylva for defrauding Bayelsa State of N19 billion between 2009 and 2012, he nevertheless became the governorship candidate of the APC for Bayelsa in 2016.

How can the government expect Nigerians to believe it is sincere in fighting corruption under such hypocritical circumstances?

Anti-corruption public relations

Anti-corruption is good public relations, but it is no substitute for a viable programme for economic growth. In the final analysis, the government’s anti-corruption campaign is all sound and fury signifying nothing. Making a difference means fulfilling the government’s campaign promises. It means ending the petrol shortage. It means increasing electricity generation and distribution. It means providing jobs for unemployed youths. It means providing social security for the teeming poor. In these practical decibels of government, the APC is at sea. It simply has no idea what to do.

http://opinion.premiumtimesng.com/2016/04/19/dont-believe-lie-no-war-corruption-nigeria-2-femi-aribisala/