Dear Colleagues,
Behold the Federal Executive Council on Contracts award for 2010.
The contracts awarded have their own issues which Nigerians will need information about.
1. We are buying 4no. fairly used Helicopters at €65,143,000.00 ( N12,963,457,000.00) from France and it will take 20 months before it can be deliver. Is this not “Tokunbo” What do we need fairly used helicopters for? why this long? Are we sure it is still safe for flying?
2. The much talked Presidential Jet has no delivery date. It is just 2011( December 31st?)
3. Please let us also review how much is paid on consultancy and reimbursable expenses for the implementation of MDGs by OSSAP. It is outrageous and something needs to be done quickly otherwise we will be deceiving Nigerians that much is spent to achieve the MDGs.
4. Purchase of 63 no. Ambulances for states and rural areas ( Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development) from MDG fund. MDG office should give us a list of which states are benefiting and how many per state. On the rural areas which location bears this name???????
5. What is this variation about? Who is benefitting from it? Award of Award of Contract for the Augmentation of Project Cost of Additional Essential Work for the Completion of Power Supply Improvement Project at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport- Contractor Messrs. MANTRAC (Nigeria) Limited N7,719,751,577.07 (From N1,058,692,081.00 To N6,661,059,496.07) 629.17% increase.
6. It is worrisome to note that Power contract are put under the Minister of State Power as Implementing Agency and not Ministry of Power.
This is what Jonathan and is cohorts are doing at every FEC meeting leaving the question on what is happening to the implementation of the Public Procurement Act 2007. Social sector is the least patronised to say the least in these awards.
Please pass this to your partners let’s keep watch on them to see if these awards are delivered within the specifications.
Thanks for taking time to read.
David Adama
Governance Programme Advisor
ActionAid Nigeria
+234(9)4618778-9
David.adama@actionaid.org
alpharojajunior@yahoo.com
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
YCE Tells IBB Not To Campaign In Yorubaland
2011: IBB Boys' want him to withdraw
It's campaign of calumny -IBB
As YCE bans him from campaigning in Yoruba-speaking states
Taiwo Adisa, Yekini Jimoh and Emmanuel Adeniyi
THE widely acclaimed group of loyalists of former military ruler, General Ibrahim Babangida who were known in his days in office as Babangida Boys, have joined the push of the influential figures moving to see the former military leader out of the 2011 presidential race.
Sources in the political circles disclosed at the weekend that the former military top brass who displayed their unflinching support for General Babangida while in office had reached out to their former boss and declared the need for him to serve as a bridge builder in the 2011 presidential race rather than being a loser.
It was gathered that while the former military governor of Kaduna State, Colonel Abubakar Umar, had written to Babangida, asking him to withdraw from the race, others had chosen different means to inform the Minna General to quit the race.
Sources also confirmed that the President of the Senate, Mr David Mark, had asked to be counted out of IBB's political moves long ago. He is said to be of the belief that the time has come for IBB to play the role of a statesman, who could be consulted on issues rather than being an active participant that would hold an executive position.
It was further learnt that most of the acclaimed IBB Boys had distanced themselves from his repeated bid to return to Aso Rock because they believed that such a move would rake up old wounds.
A source close to a number of the generals who are known as IBB Boys said that with the manner in which Babangida left office in 1993, there would always be controversy whenever he attempted to regain the presidency.
"We cannot deceive ourselves, there was commotion leading to IBB's stepping aside in 1993. Those who felt aggrieved by his actions leading to the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election would wish themselves dead rather than see IBB return to office. It is a potential issue that could further polarise the country," a source who has been monitoring the exchanges between IBB and his former boys said.
The source said that former military officers who served under Babangida had not been enthusiastic about his possible return to office because of the larger effects such a development would have on the country.
Another source also said that rather than live the life of a statesman, Babangida had decided to throw himself into the race where younger figures like President Goodluck Jonathan and Mallam Nuhu Ribadu were already making waves.
"Many of us were also not happy that while a lot was expected from IBB during the crisis that engulfed the nation as a result of the prolonged illness of the late President Umaru Yar'Adua, he remained in the dark and only declared interest in the presidency after Yar'Adua's death.
"The period of Yar'Adua's illness would have provided the best opportunity for Babangida to bounce back into positive reckoning of Nigerians when they would easily have forgotten his past errors. But because he was not seen as having played a stabilising role at that time, his past has continued to make the headlines," the source said, adding that rather than being seen as one of those who stabilised the nation, IBB was mentioned as one of those who allegedly masterminded the secret return of President Yar'Adua to Nigeria on February 24, even when his health had not improved.
Sources said that while key former IBB Boys, including Senate President Mark, Senator Tunde Ogbeha and former military governor of Lagos State, Brigadier-General Raji Rasaki, had identified with President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2011 race, others who were not that visible politically had told Babangida to avoid being humiliated in the race.
"It would have been better for his political image if he was defeated by somebody like former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who was his senior in the force. But for him to be defeated by younger elements, that would diminish his political standing and rubbish his ego. The well-known IBB would be demystified and that is not good for him, that is why many of his close associates are advising him to withdraw from the race," a source close to many IBB Boys said.
It was gathered that many of his military loyalists were already advising IBB to utilise the opportunity of the consensus option by the North to disqualify himself from the race and then start playing the role of a statesman.
Another option said to have been suggested to IBB was that he could capitalise on the so-called ambiguity in the zoning formula of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to withdraw.
"When these guys were serving in the military, nobody talked of North or South. It remained a united Nigeria. But you can see that IBB is now reducing himself to fighting a sectional cause. It is painful to those you refer to as his boys," a source said on Sunday.
However, General Babangida, has described the report as a campaign of calumny aimed at discrediting his image before Nigerians in the build up to the election.
Reacting through Prince Kasim Afegbua, the Director of Communications, IBB Campaign Organisation, the former military president said that it was far from the truth that his loyalists in the Army were mounting pressure on him to withdraw from the presidential race.
"There is nothing like that. We took a decision and we will pursue it to a logical conclusion. Why are they afraid of IBB?," Afegbua said.
Meanwhile, 51 members of the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) in the country have warned General Babangida not to campaign in any of the Yoruba-speaking states, including part of Kwara and Kogi states, as he prepares for the 2011 presidential election.
Chairman, Kwara State chapter and National Executive member of the YCE, Senator Suleiman Salawu, disclosed this while speaking with newsmen in Ilorin, at the weekend.
According to him, General Babangida should forget the race, to Aso Rock for now because the people of Nigeria, particularly the Yoruba-speaking race would never forgive him for his role in the annulment of the June 12, 1993 election, the death of Dele Giwa, Chief MKO Abiola and other prominent people in the country during his rule as military president.
He said: "If Babangida wants to come to Yoruba-speaking states to campaign for his presidential ambition, then the only ticket that can enable him to come is to bring along Dele Giwa and Chief MKO Abiola alive."
Senator Salawu, who is the national chairman of the Action Alliance (AA), also alleged that it was the period of the Babangida regime that the naira depreciated drastically.
He said it was a pity that the man, who allegedly devalued the Naira and encouraged corruption, would want to come back and rule the country again.
"What does he want again, he was there for eight years and could not save the country; all he did was to devalue our currency, while our economy suffered seriously. Corruption was everywhere, he should forget his ambition, we don't want him," he said.
The senator said that his party, AA, was solidly behind President Good-luck Jonathan in the 2011 presidential race.
It's campaign of calumny -IBB
As YCE bans him from campaigning in Yoruba-speaking states
Taiwo Adisa, Yekini Jimoh and Emmanuel Adeniyi
THE widely acclaimed group of loyalists of former military ruler, General Ibrahim Babangida who were known in his days in office as Babangida Boys, have joined the push of the influential figures moving to see the former military leader out of the 2011 presidential race.
Sources in the political circles disclosed at the weekend that the former military top brass who displayed their unflinching support for General Babangida while in office had reached out to their former boss and declared the need for him to serve as a bridge builder in the 2011 presidential race rather than being a loser.
It was gathered that while the former military governor of Kaduna State, Colonel Abubakar Umar, had written to Babangida, asking him to withdraw from the race, others had chosen different means to inform the Minna General to quit the race.
Sources also confirmed that the President of the Senate, Mr David Mark, had asked to be counted out of IBB's political moves long ago. He is said to be of the belief that the time has come for IBB to play the role of a statesman, who could be consulted on issues rather than being an active participant that would hold an executive position.
It was further learnt that most of the acclaimed IBB Boys had distanced themselves from his repeated bid to return to Aso Rock because they believed that such a move would rake up old wounds.
A source close to a number of the generals who are known as IBB Boys said that with the manner in which Babangida left office in 1993, there would always be controversy whenever he attempted to regain the presidency.
"We cannot deceive ourselves, there was commotion leading to IBB's stepping aside in 1993. Those who felt aggrieved by his actions leading to the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election would wish themselves dead rather than see IBB return to office. It is a potential issue that could further polarise the country," a source who has been monitoring the exchanges between IBB and his former boys said.
The source said that former military officers who served under Babangida had not been enthusiastic about his possible return to office because of the larger effects such a development would have on the country.
Another source also said that rather than live the life of a statesman, Babangida had decided to throw himself into the race where younger figures like President Goodluck Jonathan and Mallam Nuhu Ribadu were already making waves.
"Many of us were also not happy that while a lot was expected from IBB during the crisis that engulfed the nation as a result of the prolonged illness of the late President Umaru Yar'Adua, he remained in the dark and only declared interest in the presidency after Yar'Adua's death.
"The period of Yar'Adua's illness would have provided the best opportunity for Babangida to bounce back into positive reckoning of Nigerians when they would easily have forgotten his past errors. But because he was not seen as having played a stabilising role at that time, his past has continued to make the headlines," the source said, adding that rather than being seen as one of those who stabilised the nation, IBB was mentioned as one of those who allegedly masterminded the secret return of President Yar'Adua to Nigeria on February 24, even when his health had not improved.
Sources said that while key former IBB Boys, including Senate President Mark, Senator Tunde Ogbeha and former military governor of Lagos State, Brigadier-General Raji Rasaki, had identified with President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2011 race, others who were not that visible politically had told Babangida to avoid being humiliated in the race.
"It would have been better for his political image if he was defeated by somebody like former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who was his senior in the force. But for him to be defeated by younger elements, that would diminish his political standing and rubbish his ego. The well-known IBB would be demystified and that is not good for him, that is why many of his close associates are advising him to withdraw from the race," a source close to many IBB Boys said.
It was gathered that many of his military loyalists were already advising IBB to utilise the opportunity of the consensus option by the North to disqualify himself from the race and then start playing the role of a statesman.
Another option said to have been suggested to IBB was that he could capitalise on the so-called ambiguity in the zoning formula of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to withdraw.
"When these guys were serving in the military, nobody talked of North or South. It remained a united Nigeria. But you can see that IBB is now reducing himself to fighting a sectional cause. It is painful to those you refer to as his boys," a source said on Sunday.
However, General Babangida, has described the report as a campaign of calumny aimed at discrediting his image before Nigerians in the build up to the election.
Reacting through Prince Kasim Afegbua, the Director of Communications, IBB Campaign Organisation, the former military president said that it was far from the truth that his loyalists in the Army were mounting pressure on him to withdraw from the presidential race.
"There is nothing like that. We took a decision and we will pursue it to a logical conclusion. Why are they afraid of IBB?," Afegbua said.
Meanwhile, 51 members of the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) in the country have warned General Babangida not to campaign in any of the Yoruba-speaking states, including part of Kwara and Kogi states, as he prepares for the 2011 presidential election.
Chairman, Kwara State chapter and National Executive member of the YCE, Senator Suleiman Salawu, disclosed this while speaking with newsmen in Ilorin, at the weekend.
According to him, General Babangida should forget the race, to Aso Rock for now because the people of Nigeria, particularly the Yoruba-speaking race would never forgive him for his role in the annulment of the June 12, 1993 election, the death of Dele Giwa, Chief MKO Abiola and other prominent people in the country during his rule as military president.
He said: "If Babangida wants to come to Yoruba-speaking states to campaign for his presidential ambition, then the only ticket that can enable him to come is to bring along Dele Giwa and Chief MKO Abiola alive."
Senator Salawu, who is the national chairman of the Action Alliance (AA), also alleged that it was the period of the Babangida regime that the naira depreciated drastically.
He said it was a pity that the man, who allegedly devalued the Naira and encouraged corruption, would want to come back and rule the country again.
"What does he want again, he was there for eight years and could not save the country; all he did was to devalue our currency, while our economy suffered seriously. Corruption was everywhere, he should forget his ambition, we don't want him," he said.
The senator said that his party, AA, was solidly behind President Good-luck Jonathan in the 2011 presidential race.
PETER OBI AND LEADERSHIP INTEGRITY
Esin Suji
On balance, nobody gave him a chance. To many people, he was a neophyte who would end up wasting his resources and be humiliated. Leave politics to the Politicians, they told him. Those who were familiar with him advised that he bided his time as the State was in the firm grips of powerful forces with strong affinity to Abuja.
But Almighty God was with Peter Obi in his resolve to take up the mantle and challenges of governance in his native Anambra State. He contested and won the 2003 elections into Government House, but was denied access to office. Over a period of three years, he was in court, variously to claim his mandate and reverse an unconstitutional impeachment – surviving all kinds of trip-wires and booby-traps laid in his path by entrenched predatory interests.
Peter Obi's travails and triumphs introduced staggered elections in the country, which was good in the sense that it brought the State under search-light. In April 2010, the young man came up for a second term, which he also won. This time around, sanity had prevailed and several of his co-contestants promptly congratulated him and pledged their loyalty to the progress of the State.
Compared to several other States in the Federation, Anambra easily boasts some of the pace-setters and achievers this part of the universe. Name them: Nnamdi Azikiwe, Nwafor Orizu, Louis Mbanefo, Odumegwu Ojukwu, Ben Enwonwu, Pius Okigbo, Emeka Ojukwu, Chinua Achebe, Cyprian Ekwensi, Emeka Anyaoku, among others. But is it not appalling that from the same State emerged a band of marauders who held the area in a stranglehold. In the aftermath, to whom do we ascribe the advent of Peter Obi who is steadily cleaning up the mess and restoring sanity to the society, economy and polity?
The attainments of his administration to date have been elaborately documented and discussed by those who should know. Rather than give excuses over the over-whelming rot he found when he assumed office, he plunged headlong to tackle the hydra-headed developmental challenges simultaneously. Admirers and critics alike agree that the novel Anambra Integrated Development Strategy [ANIDS] has made tremendous impact in a State which had been literarily brought to its knees by leeches on the public treasury. A young man who God has used to stamp integrity in governance must be commended and celebrated. Performance in office is one thing, and the exhibition of admirable character traits another. This combination speaks volumes about the man and his times.
In the Nigerian experience, it is a thin line between genuine admiration and sycophancy. Be that as it may, a reflection of some of the responses to the Peter Obi phenomenon is revealing. The bases are well-founded -- from the local, national and international perspectives:
In his home State, one of Peter Obi's predecessors noted that Eye-Marking [Seeing is Believing] has demonstrated the commitment of the Obi administration to the meaningful transformation of the area. He should know, with the benefit of a brief tenure in Government House and an inspection tour of projects around the State. Other elder statesmen who have commended Governor Obi include former Vice-President, Alex Ekwueme [a leader of an opposing political party] and the irrepressible Ikemba Odumegwu Ojukwu.
Representatives of the Federal Government -- also controlled by another political party -- have also at different fora routinely acknowledged that Peter Obi is focused on meaningful development. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Professor Sheikh Abdullahi observed that “The Governor has continued to demonstrate understanding of food security by his every moveâ€. This was the occasion when the Federal Government handed over the giant Rice Mill at Omor to the management of the Anambra State Government.
On his part, the Minister of Defence, Mr. Adetokunbo Kayode went beyond the call of duty to appeal to the people of Anambra State to be grateful to Governor Peter Obi for his commitment to the development of the State. He also commended the cordial relationship between the Governor and President Goodluck Jonathan -- a relationship based on mutual respect and which has steadily attracted Federal priority rating for the State.
The highly-respected Iyom Josephine Anenih, who is the Minister of Women Affairs, asserted that the State is the backbone of the country, while commending the Obi administration for transforming all segments of the State.
Information and Communications Minister, Professor Dora Akunyili, an indigene of the State has also lent her voice to the encomiums for the People's Governor. Describing him as a re-branding model, she extolled Peter Obi as the most outstanding State Executive in the country who has demystified public office with humility and integrity. She noted in for the first time -- in the February 2010 Governorship election -- people voted for a candidate of their choice irrespective of party affiliations. In her estimation, the Governor had won re-election on the basis of his phenomenal achievements for which God is using him to strengthen good governance and restore hope and smiles to the people.
Similar commendations have come from a number of other Federal public officers. Interestingly, in Peter Obi's first term in office, the Federal establishment and all its might were his sworn adversaries
The international community has not lagged in giving honour to whom it is due. The incumbent Country Director of The World Bank recently noted that the Breton Woods institution practically fled Anambra State in the dark days of predators in the corridors of power. Happily, he went on, the Obi administration has successfully restored the interest and confidence of the Bank in the State as a Development Partner. Such is the confidence level today that quite a number of other Development Partners, bi-lateral and international agencies regularly get involved in some form of development initiative or the other in the State.
Similarly, the Obi administration has attracted local and foreign investor- confidence as well as the development partnerships of several communities, Civil Society Organizations and Non-Governmental Organizations.
Peter Obi has demonstrated that governance and leadership are not about control and powers, but about service. He has indeed portrayed strength of character that has not been enamoured by the trappings of high office. A man whose main strength lies in his reverence of God, humility and empathy, he has consistently extended his schedules beyond the public sector. On several occasions, he has provided funds and other facilities to private schools, hospitals and other institutions which his administration regards as partners in development. More recently, he pledged to pay several months arrears of Federal Pensioners in the State. Sadly, the records showed that the monies were released to a past government in the State, but did not get to the intended beneficiaries.
This country needs, urgently, more patriots in governance and other leadership positions; men and women of proven integrity; the likes of Peter Obi. The Peter Obi phenomenon can be discerned as an insipient trend in the management of public affairs in our country. It is in our collective interests as a people and a nation to pray that the phenomenon should not be passing phase. Then the generality of Nigerians can look up to the future in the hope and expectation that all is not lost in our society that has been beset with venality. But the real challenge lies in our resolve to insist on integrity as a leadership trait in the 2011 Elections. That way, that critical transition and transformation would have been assured. So help us God.
On balance, nobody gave him a chance. To many people, he was a neophyte who would end up wasting his resources and be humiliated. Leave politics to the Politicians, they told him. Those who were familiar with him advised that he bided his time as the State was in the firm grips of powerful forces with strong affinity to Abuja.
But Almighty God was with Peter Obi in his resolve to take up the mantle and challenges of governance in his native Anambra State. He contested and won the 2003 elections into Government House, but was denied access to office. Over a period of three years, he was in court, variously to claim his mandate and reverse an unconstitutional impeachment – surviving all kinds of trip-wires and booby-traps laid in his path by entrenched predatory interests.
Peter Obi's travails and triumphs introduced staggered elections in the country, which was good in the sense that it brought the State under search-light. In April 2010, the young man came up for a second term, which he also won. This time around, sanity had prevailed and several of his co-contestants promptly congratulated him and pledged their loyalty to the progress of the State.
Compared to several other States in the Federation, Anambra easily boasts some of the pace-setters and achievers this part of the universe. Name them: Nnamdi Azikiwe, Nwafor Orizu, Louis Mbanefo, Odumegwu Ojukwu, Ben Enwonwu, Pius Okigbo, Emeka Ojukwu, Chinua Achebe, Cyprian Ekwensi, Emeka Anyaoku, among others. But is it not appalling that from the same State emerged a band of marauders who held the area in a stranglehold. In the aftermath, to whom do we ascribe the advent of Peter Obi who is steadily cleaning up the mess and restoring sanity to the society, economy and polity?
The attainments of his administration to date have been elaborately documented and discussed by those who should know. Rather than give excuses over the over-whelming rot he found when he assumed office, he plunged headlong to tackle the hydra-headed developmental challenges simultaneously. Admirers and critics alike agree that the novel Anambra Integrated Development Strategy [ANIDS] has made tremendous impact in a State which had been literarily brought to its knees by leeches on the public treasury. A young man who God has used to stamp integrity in governance must be commended and celebrated. Performance in office is one thing, and the exhibition of admirable character traits another. This combination speaks volumes about the man and his times.
In the Nigerian experience, it is a thin line between genuine admiration and sycophancy. Be that as it may, a reflection of some of the responses to the Peter Obi phenomenon is revealing. The bases are well-founded -- from the local, national and international perspectives:
In his home State, one of Peter Obi's predecessors noted that Eye-Marking [Seeing is Believing] has demonstrated the commitment of the Obi administration to the meaningful transformation of the area. He should know, with the benefit of a brief tenure in Government House and an inspection tour of projects around the State. Other elder statesmen who have commended Governor Obi include former Vice-President, Alex Ekwueme [a leader of an opposing political party] and the irrepressible Ikemba Odumegwu Ojukwu.
Representatives of the Federal Government -- also controlled by another political party -- have also at different fora routinely acknowledged that Peter Obi is focused on meaningful development. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Professor Sheikh Abdullahi observed that “The Governor has continued to demonstrate understanding of food security by his every moveâ€. This was the occasion when the Federal Government handed over the giant Rice Mill at Omor to the management of the Anambra State Government.
On his part, the Minister of Defence, Mr. Adetokunbo Kayode went beyond the call of duty to appeal to the people of Anambra State to be grateful to Governor Peter Obi for his commitment to the development of the State. He also commended the cordial relationship between the Governor and President Goodluck Jonathan -- a relationship based on mutual respect and which has steadily attracted Federal priority rating for the State.
The highly-respected Iyom Josephine Anenih, who is the Minister of Women Affairs, asserted that the State is the backbone of the country, while commending the Obi administration for transforming all segments of the State.
Information and Communications Minister, Professor Dora Akunyili, an indigene of the State has also lent her voice to the encomiums for the People's Governor. Describing him as a re-branding model, she extolled Peter Obi as the most outstanding State Executive in the country who has demystified public office with humility and integrity. She noted in for the first time -- in the February 2010 Governorship election -- people voted for a candidate of their choice irrespective of party affiliations. In her estimation, the Governor had won re-election on the basis of his phenomenal achievements for which God is using him to strengthen good governance and restore hope and smiles to the people.
Similar commendations have come from a number of other Federal public officers. Interestingly, in Peter Obi's first term in office, the Federal establishment and all its might were his sworn adversaries
The international community has not lagged in giving honour to whom it is due. The incumbent Country Director of The World Bank recently noted that the Breton Woods institution practically fled Anambra State in the dark days of predators in the corridors of power. Happily, he went on, the Obi administration has successfully restored the interest and confidence of the Bank in the State as a Development Partner. Such is the confidence level today that quite a number of other Development Partners, bi-lateral and international agencies regularly get involved in some form of development initiative or the other in the State.
Similarly, the Obi administration has attracted local and foreign investor- confidence as well as the development partnerships of several communities, Civil Society Organizations and Non-Governmental Organizations.
Peter Obi has demonstrated that governance and leadership are not about control and powers, but about service. He has indeed portrayed strength of character that has not been enamoured by the trappings of high office. A man whose main strength lies in his reverence of God, humility and empathy, he has consistently extended his schedules beyond the public sector. On several occasions, he has provided funds and other facilities to private schools, hospitals and other institutions which his administration regards as partners in development. More recently, he pledged to pay several months arrears of Federal Pensioners in the State. Sadly, the records showed that the monies were released to a past government in the State, but did not get to the intended beneficiaries.
This country needs, urgently, more patriots in governance and other leadership positions; men and women of proven integrity; the likes of Peter Obi. The Peter Obi phenomenon can be discerned as an insipient trend in the management of public affairs in our country. It is in our collective interests as a people and a nation to pray that the phenomenon should not be passing phase. Then the generality of Nigerians can look up to the future in the hope and expectation that all is not lost in our society that has been beset with venality. But the real challenge lies in our resolve to insist on integrity as a leadership trait in the 2011 Elections. That way, that critical transition and transformation would have been assured. So help us God.
Restoration of Igbo independence: The imperative of our times
Herbert Ekwe-Ekwe
The major preoccupation of an aggressor/conqueror state is to seek to effectuate a process of memory erasure over its overrun nation and land. This is the opportunity for the conqueror to begin to construct a bogus narrative of possession and control of the targeted society that arrogates it to the fictive role of primary agent of the course of history.
The enduring success of Chinua Achebe's Things fall Apart is that the classic not only anticipates this conqueror's predilection but it subverts the triumphalism of the latter's pyrrhic victory. Despite the District Commissioner's bombastically-titled anthropological treatise at the end of the novel, heralding the latest European possession and control of another region of Africa, this time Igboland, the future direction of history here neither lies with the administrator nor his evolving occupation regime nor indeed with his conquering capital back home in Europe!
To locate the source for change and transformation in Igboland, subsequently, we need to examine, carefully, the import and circumstance of historian Obierika's address to the administrator on the life and times of his friend and people's hero, Ogbuefi Okonkwo, who had recently committed suicide. We are reminded that as he speaks, two full sentences into a third, Obierika's voice trembled and choked his words, trailing off into gasps and silences of deep contemplation. It is precisely within the context of these kaleidoscopic frames of Obierika's recalls and introspection that we discern the sowing of the nation's regenerative seeds of resistance and quest for the restoration of lost sovereignty. It is therefore not surprising that Okonkwo's grandchildren would spearhead the freeing of Nigeria, to which Igboland had since been arbitrarily incorporated by the conquest, from the British occupation.
BiafraBiafraBiafraBiafraBiafra
For the aggressor state with a clear genocidal goal, memory erasure of the crime scene at the targeted nation is even more frantically pursued. On the morrow of the conclusion of its execution of the second phase of the Igbo genocide in January 1970, genocidist Nigeria wheeled out pretentious cartographers to embark on erasing the illustrious name, Biafra, from all maps and records that it could lay its hand on! During its meetings, the Gowon genocidist junta in power banned the words sun, sunlight, sunshine, sundown, sunflower, unrise or any other word-derivatives from the sun star that unmistakably reference the inveterate Land of the Rising Sun. This task and symbolism of sun-banning and sun-bashing were of course bizarre if not daft as the junta itself was to discover much sooner than later and from a most unlikely source indeed
At the time, a British military advisor to the junta, who was out dinning with a senior member of the council in Lagos, unwittingly compared Igbo national consciousness and tenacity with that of the Pole. The advisor, who had studied modern history at university and was a great admirer of the exceptional endurance of Polish people in history, stated that the Igbo had demonstrated similar courage in the latters defence of Biafra and that a rebirth of Biafra is a distinct possibility in my lifetime this was unlike the 123 years it took the Polish state to re-appear in history after its disappearance from the world map! The advisor was then in his early 30s and the obvious implications of his Igbo-Polish analysis were not lost on his host. The junta member co-diner was understandably most outraged by the advisor's crass insensitivity on the subject which he readily shared with his junta colleagues. Predictably, the immediate consequence of the hapless advisor’s impudence was an early recall home to Britain.
There were other bouts of farcical treats on display in Nigeria during the period aimed at erasing the memory of the Igbo genocide. Junta and other state publications and those of their sympathisers would print the name Biafra, a proper noun, with a lower case or box the name in quotes or even invert the to read, such was the intensity of the schizophrenia that wracked the minds of the members of the council over the all important subject of the historic imprint of Igbo resistance and survival. The Awolowoists and Awolowoids on the junta even toyed with the idea of abolishing money altogether in the economy of the resourceful and enterprising Igbo. They reasoned that this would deliver the final solution that had eluded them during the encirclement, siege, pounding, and withering away strategy of the previous 44 months They ended up with the compromise-pittance of £20.00 per the surviving male-head of the Igbo family a derisory sum, which, they reckoned, stood no chance of averting the catastrophe of social implosion they envisaged would occur in Igboland subsequently. We mustnt fail to note that the £20.00- handout excluded the hundreds of thousands of Igbo families whose male-heads had been murdered during the period Dreadfully, the accent placed by Nigeria on this third phase of the genocide, starting from 12 January 1970, was the economic strangulation of the 9 million Igbo survivors… 3.1 million Igbo had been murdered in the genocide between 29 May 1966 and 12 January 1970.
Igbo survival from the genocide is arguably the most extraordinary feature for celebration in an otherwise depressing and devastating age of pestilence in Africa of the past 50 years. Few people believed that the Igbo would survive their ordeal, especially from September 1968 when 8-10,000 Igbo, mostly children and older people, died each day as the overall brutish conditions imposed by the genocidist siege deteriorated catastrophically. The Igbo were probably the only people in the world who were convinced that they would survive. And when they did, the aftermath was electrifying. In spontaneous celebration, the Igbo prefaced their exchange of greetings with each other for quite a while with the exaltation, Happy Survival: Happy Survival! Nne, Happy Survival! Nna, Happy Survival! Nwannem, Happy Survival! Nwanna, Happy Survival! Nwunyem, Happy Survival! Oriaku, Happy Survival! Dim, Happy Survival! Kedu?, Happy Survival! Ndeewo, Happy Survival! Ke Kwanu?, Happy Survival! Odogwu, Happy Survival! Okee Mmadu, Happy Survival! Dianyi, Happy Survival! Umu Igbo, Happy Survival! Ndiigbo.
Igbo survival, at the end, does represent the stunning triumph of the human spirit over the savage forces that had tried determinably for four years to destroy it. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's description of Half of a Yellow Sun (this sun,anyanwu, yet again odi egwu!), her majestic tome on the subject, as love story couldnt therefore be more appropriate.
Forty years on, first and second generations removed from their parents and grandparents respectively who freed British-occupied Nigeria in 1960 and survived the follow-up genocide, Ogbuefi Okonkwo's progeny are once again tasked and poised to restore Igbo lost sovereignty. Everyone knows of their firm resolve and ability to achieve this goal. The Igbo can feel it; they feel it. Surely, the successful outcome of this endeavour is the most eagerly awaited news in Africa presently.
The major preoccupation of an aggressor/conqueror state is to seek to effectuate a process of memory erasure over its overrun nation and land. This is the opportunity for the conqueror to begin to construct a bogus narrative of possession and control of the targeted society that arrogates it to the fictive role of primary agent of the course of history.
The enduring success of Chinua Achebe's Things fall Apart is that the classic not only anticipates this conqueror's predilection but it subverts the triumphalism of the latter's pyrrhic victory. Despite the District Commissioner's bombastically-titled anthropological treatise at the end of the novel, heralding the latest European possession and control of another region of Africa, this time Igboland, the future direction of history here neither lies with the administrator nor his evolving occupation regime nor indeed with his conquering capital back home in Europe!
To locate the source for change and transformation in Igboland, subsequently, we need to examine, carefully, the import and circumstance of historian Obierika's address to the administrator on the life and times of his friend and people's hero, Ogbuefi Okonkwo, who had recently committed suicide. We are reminded that as he speaks, two full sentences into a third, Obierika's voice trembled and choked his words, trailing off into gasps and silences of deep contemplation. It is precisely within the context of these kaleidoscopic frames of Obierika's recalls and introspection that we discern the sowing of the nation's regenerative seeds of resistance and quest for the restoration of lost sovereignty. It is therefore not surprising that Okonkwo's grandchildren would spearhead the freeing of Nigeria, to which Igboland had since been arbitrarily incorporated by the conquest, from the British occupation.
BiafraBiafraBiafraBiafraBiafra
For the aggressor state with a clear genocidal goal, memory erasure of the crime scene at the targeted nation is even more frantically pursued. On the morrow of the conclusion of its execution of the second phase of the Igbo genocide in January 1970, genocidist Nigeria wheeled out pretentious cartographers to embark on erasing the illustrious name, Biafra, from all maps and records that it could lay its hand on! During its meetings, the Gowon genocidist junta in power banned the words sun, sunlight, sunshine, sundown, sunflower, unrise or any other word-derivatives from the sun star that unmistakably reference the inveterate Land of the Rising Sun. This task and symbolism of sun-banning and sun-bashing were of course bizarre if not daft as the junta itself was to discover much sooner than later and from a most unlikely source indeed
At the time, a British military advisor to the junta, who was out dinning with a senior member of the council in Lagos, unwittingly compared Igbo national consciousness and tenacity with that of the Pole. The advisor, who had studied modern history at university and was a great admirer of the exceptional endurance of Polish people in history, stated that the Igbo had demonstrated similar courage in the latters defence of Biafra and that a rebirth of Biafra is a distinct possibility in my lifetime this was unlike the 123 years it took the Polish state to re-appear in history after its disappearance from the world map! The advisor was then in his early 30s and the obvious implications of his Igbo-Polish analysis were not lost on his host. The junta member co-diner was understandably most outraged by the advisor's crass insensitivity on the subject which he readily shared with his junta colleagues. Predictably, the immediate consequence of the hapless advisor’s impudence was an early recall home to Britain.
There were other bouts of farcical treats on display in Nigeria during the period aimed at erasing the memory of the Igbo genocide. Junta and other state publications and those of their sympathisers would print the name Biafra, a proper noun, with a lower case or box the name in quotes or even invert the to read, such was the intensity of the schizophrenia that wracked the minds of the members of the council over the all important subject of the historic imprint of Igbo resistance and survival. The Awolowoists and Awolowoids on the junta even toyed with the idea of abolishing money altogether in the economy of the resourceful and enterprising Igbo. They reasoned that this would deliver the final solution that had eluded them during the encirclement, siege, pounding, and withering away strategy of the previous 44 months They ended up with the compromise-pittance of £20.00 per the surviving male-head of the Igbo family a derisory sum, which, they reckoned, stood no chance of averting the catastrophe of social implosion they envisaged would occur in Igboland subsequently. We mustnt fail to note that the £20.00- handout excluded the hundreds of thousands of Igbo families whose male-heads had been murdered during the period Dreadfully, the accent placed by Nigeria on this third phase of the genocide, starting from 12 January 1970, was the economic strangulation of the 9 million Igbo survivors… 3.1 million Igbo had been murdered in the genocide between 29 May 1966 and 12 January 1970.
Igbo survival from the genocide is arguably the most extraordinary feature for celebration in an otherwise depressing and devastating age of pestilence in Africa of the past 50 years. Few people believed that the Igbo would survive their ordeal, especially from September 1968 when 8-10,000 Igbo, mostly children and older people, died each day as the overall brutish conditions imposed by the genocidist siege deteriorated catastrophically. The Igbo were probably the only people in the world who were convinced that they would survive. And when they did, the aftermath was electrifying. In spontaneous celebration, the Igbo prefaced their exchange of greetings with each other for quite a while with the exaltation, Happy Survival: Happy Survival! Nne, Happy Survival! Nna, Happy Survival! Nwannem, Happy Survival! Nwanna, Happy Survival! Nwunyem, Happy Survival! Oriaku, Happy Survival! Dim, Happy Survival! Kedu?, Happy Survival! Ndeewo, Happy Survival! Ke Kwanu?, Happy Survival! Odogwu, Happy Survival! Okee Mmadu, Happy Survival! Dianyi, Happy Survival! Umu Igbo, Happy Survival! Ndiigbo.
Igbo survival, at the end, does represent the stunning triumph of the human spirit over the savage forces that had tried determinably for four years to destroy it. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's description of Half of a Yellow Sun (this sun,anyanwu, yet again odi egwu!), her majestic tome on the subject, as love story couldnt therefore be more appropriate.
Forty years on, first and second generations removed from their parents and grandparents respectively who freed British-occupied Nigeria in 1960 and survived the follow-up genocide, Ogbuefi Okonkwo's progeny are once again tasked and poised to restore Igbo lost sovereignty. Everyone knows of their firm resolve and ability to achieve this goal. The Igbo can feel it; they feel it. Surely, the successful outcome of this endeavour is the most eagerly awaited news in Africa presently.
50 Great Things about Nigerians You’ll Love- Celebrating Nigeria @ “50”
On the 1st of October 2010, Nigeria celebrates her 50 years of Independence. A lot of us still have a long way to go, talking about "Fifty". At times like this, it's easy to find newspaper publications with articles like, "Nigeria At 50- What have we to show for it". That is not what we should be talking here. Rather than talk about this years independence like every other; you know, like recounting our heroes past, counting our losses, criticizing our government, talking about the big budgets for the independence celebration etc, I thought it'll be a good idea to talk about the everyday Naija-Folks. What is it about the Nigerian people you've come to admire? For once, let's be a little less smart.
Without doubts, there are quite a number of negative things to say about Nigeria, enough to make another 50 list. But, there's already enough bad news written and said about Nigeria, and adding to it will be less significant. The problem here is that we spend too much time giving a Dog a Bad Name, just to hang it, without taking a little time to look and see what a good Dog Jack has been. Let's talk about some of the things that are worth admiring of Nigerians. You can take the list to 100 or more if you are not a pathetic cynic or racist.
1. Nigerians are Happy People. The first thing anyone who comes to Nigeria will tell you is that, in the mist of hardship and suffering, these people always take it upon themselves to be cheerful. Fela's Song, "Suffering and Smiling", best describes the Naija folks.
2. Nigerians are Godly People.Yes! Ask an Average Nigerian, how is today? His most likely answer will be, "We Thank God". For Nigerians, reverence for Almighty God is the way of life, even for the very criminal minded.
3. Talk about Our Creative Nigerian musicians.Nigerian Musicians are doing us proud locally and internationally. Talk about the blend of Afrobeat, it's out of this world
.4. Nollywood, our Movie Industry is not left out.Emeka Ike, Pete Edochie, Oge Okoye and Company, thumbs up to you guys. But Nigerian movie makers can get better.
5. Now people can make people Laugh to Make Money.Could you imagine that Laughter can be Incorporated? Nigerian Comedians are millionaires.
6. Ever tried a Nigerian Food? Nigerian women are good cooks, especially my Mum.
7. Leave a Nigerian in the desert and He will find a way home.
8. Some say Nigerians are known for Internet Scam.
9. Talk about extended families. My brother just had a wedding, and two great extended families came together. It's like nothing people in the Western world can imagine.
10. Ever met a Typical Nigerian Mother. Oh my Sweet Mama. Loving and caring in the African Style.
11. Nigerian people are friendly people.
12. You can always stop a passerby, ask for the time and still get a smile.
13. Old age is an Honor and is well respected.
14. You can visit a neighbour without first calling on the phone for invitation.
15. Even when things seem not to be working, a Nigerian will always get to work.
16. Nigerian parents don't spare the rod.
17. Have you eaten roasted Plantain with smoked Fresh Fish in Bayelsa?
18. Talk about the Nigerian Girls. Hmm! The Honies, they come in all shapes and sizes.
19. Try partake in the next Argungun fishing festival.
20. Even without steady power supply, The Nigerian will still find his way.
21. Nigerians are very hospitable. They'll always want to make you feel at home
.22. Moving around, it's very easy to find someone you are related to because Extended families are valued and appreciated. There is always a relative somewhere.
23. Once you've got some pay and pals, it's never a dull country. Social activity available 24/7
.24. Nigerians are FUN lovers.
25. I wouldn't forget to mention the beautiful and intelligent women that make a great company at 17:59.
26. How many languages do we have in Nigeria? Oh Boy! Did I say about 250? And we are still one country.
27. Nigerians have an impressively diverse culture that is rich, each in its unique way.
28. Nigerians are hard working people.
29. No such thing as natural disaster. We are a blessed nation.
30. Everyone respects his elder.
31. Despite the bad image portrayed by the outside world of Nigeria, the people are still very much willing to stand for what they believe.
32. Talk about the native attire. Nigerian women have got the killing style. Even the men are not having a dull moment.
33. Nigeria is where you give respect and get respect in return.
34. The natural reserves and tourist attraction centres will surely thrill you.
35. Should I call this ‘Good’? Most Nigerian culture makes it very easy to turn every occasion into party even burial ceremonies.
36. Nigerian are great farmers.
37. Nigeria is the most populated country in Africa.
38. The Pidgin English can be fun sometimes.
39. Ever travelled to the village in December, the sight-seeing is gorgeous and peaceful.
40. Christmas seasons are times for family reunion, celebrations and parties.
41. Do you like spicy food with assorted sauces? Then come to Nigeria and bless your stomach. You may want to try Ngwo-Ngwo, Nkwobi, point and kill fish, Roasted Bush Meat or Pepper soup with a chilled bottle of palmy. Hmmmm! Taste good.
42. You can find a good dose of Africa in Nigeria.
43. The parent is willing to take care of their child even after graduation from higher institution, as long as you don't yet have a reliable means of livelihood.
44. When the parents grow older, the grown up sons and daughters are willing to take care of them at all cost. It's their responsibility and they are not complaining.
45. Your mum can slap the hell out of you. And you will do nothing about it.
46. The average Nigerian Youth has a voice that can not be 'quietened'. Their enthusiasm can not be tamed.
47. The father is the head of the family no matter what. It's his heritage that is unquestionable even from a Head of State for a wife.
48. Nigerians love foreigners.
49. Their are still good people who are willing to make Nigeria Proud.
50. Nigeria is a nation in the making and our people are not giving up on our Motherland.
Although there may be negative perceptions of Nigeria from the outside, even in the inside. Although they say Nigerians are known for crimes, scam and internet frauds, I will never hide my Identity as a Nigerian, because I believe in Nigeria.
Good People, Great Nation
Without doubts, there are quite a number of negative things to say about Nigeria, enough to make another 50 list. But, there's already enough bad news written and said about Nigeria, and adding to it will be less significant. The problem here is that we spend too much time giving a Dog a Bad Name, just to hang it, without taking a little time to look and see what a good Dog Jack has been. Let's talk about some of the things that are worth admiring of Nigerians. You can take the list to 100 or more if you are not a pathetic cynic or racist.
1. Nigerians are Happy People. The first thing anyone who comes to Nigeria will tell you is that, in the mist of hardship and suffering, these people always take it upon themselves to be cheerful. Fela's Song, "Suffering and Smiling", best describes the Naija folks.
2. Nigerians are Godly People.Yes! Ask an Average Nigerian, how is today? His most likely answer will be, "We Thank God". For Nigerians, reverence for Almighty God is the way of life, even for the very criminal minded.
3. Talk about Our Creative Nigerian musicians.Nigerian Musicians are doing us proud locally and internationally. Talk about the blend of Afrobeat, it's out of this world
.4. Nollywood, our Movie Industry is not left out.Emeka Ike, Pete Edochie, Oge Okoye and Company, thumbs up to you guys. But Nigerian movie makers can get better.
5. Now people can make people Laugh to Make Money.Could you imagine that Laughter can be Incorporated? Nigerian Comedians are millionaires.
6. Ever tried a Nigerian Food? Nigerian women are good cooks, especially my Mum.
7. Leave a Nigerian in the desert and He will find a way home.
8. Some say Nigerians are known for Internet Scam.
9. Talk about extended families. My brother just had a wedding, and two great extended families came together. It's like nothing people in the Western world can imagine.
10. Ever met a Typical Nigerian Mother. Oh my Sweet Mama. Loving and caring in the African Style.
11. Nigerian people are friendly people.
12. You can always stop a passerby, ask for the time and still get a smile.
13. Old age is an Honor and is well respected.
14. You can visit a neighbour without first calling on the phone for invitation.
15. Even when things seem not to be working, a Nigerian will always get to work.
16. Nigerian parents don't spare the rod.
17. Have you eaten roasted Plantain with smoked Fresh Fish in Bayelsa?
18. Talk about the Nigerian Girls. Hmm! The Honies, they come in all shapes and sizes.
19. Try partake in the next Argungun fishing festival.
20. Even without steady power supply, The Nigerian will still find his way.
21. Nigerians are very hospitable. They'll always want to make you feel at home
.22. Moving around, it's very easy to find someone you are related to because Extended families are valued and appreciated. There is always a relative somewhere.
23. Once you've got some pay and pals, it's never a dull country. Social activity available 24/7
.24. Nigerians are FUN lovers.
25. I wouldn't forget to mention the beautiful and intelligent women that make a great company at 17:59.
26. How many languages do we have in Nigeria? Oh Boy! Did I say about 250? And we are still one country.
27. Nigerians have an impressively diverse culture that is rich, each in its unique way.
28. Nigerians are hard working people.
29. No such thing as natural disaster. We are a blessed nation.
30. Everyone respects his elder.
31. Despite the bad image portrayed by the outside world of Nigeria, the people are still very much willing to stand for what they believe.
32. Talk about the native attire. Nigerian women have got the killing style. Even the men are not having a dull moment.
33. Nigeria is where you give respect and get respect in return.
34. The natural reserves and tourist attraction centres will surely thrill you.
35. Should I call this ‘Good’? Most Nigerian culture makes it very easy to turn every occasion into party even burial ceremonies.
36. Nigerian are great farmers.
37. Nigeria is the most populated country in Africa.
38. The Pidgin English can be fun sometimes.
39. Ever travelled to the village in December, the sight-seeing is gorgeous and peaceful.
40. Christmas seasons are times for family reunion, celebrations and parties.
41. Do you like spicy food with assorted sauces? Then come to Nigeria and bless your stomach. You may want to try Ngwo-Ngwo, Nkwobi, point and kill fish, Roasted Bush Meat or Pepper soup with a chilled bottle of palmy. Hmmmm! Taste good.
42. You can find a good dose of Africa in Nigeria.
43. The parent is willing to take care of their child even after graduation from higher institution, as long as you don't yet have a reliable means of livelihood.
44. When the parents grow older, the grown up sons and daughters are willing to take care of them at all cost. It's their responsibility and they are not complaining.
45. Your mum can slap the hell out of you. And you will do nothing about it.
46. The average Nigerian Youth has a voice that can not be 'quietened'. Their enthusiasm can not be tamed.
47. The father is the head of the family no matter what. It's his heritage that is unquestionable even from a Head of State for a wife.
48. Nigerians love foreigners.
49. Their are still good people who are willing to make Nigeria Proud.
50. Nigeria is a nation in the making and our people are not giving up on our Motherland.
Although there may be negative perceptions of Nigeria from the outside, even in the inside. Although they say Nigerians are known for crimes, scam and internet frauds, I will never hide my Identity as a Nigerian, because I believe in Nigeria.
Good People, Great Nation
Bankole, Jega challenge workers on credible polls
Tony Akowe and Tamar Dambo
HOUSE Speaker Dimeji Bankole and Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof. Attahiru Jega said in Kaduna yesterday in Kaduna urged workers to contribute to free, fair polls.
Delivering a paper entitled: "Towards INEC-Labour partnership for free and fair elections in 2011" at the 22nd Annual Education Conference of the National Union of Textiles, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, Jega described workers as active drivers of positive national policies with the capacity to mobilise people for popular policies.
He said: "I have worked with labour closely in the past for the advancement of our country and we made positive achievements for the Nigerian people.
"What we are trying to do in INEC as a commission is to ensure that we do our best to lay the foundation of good governance and the foundation of good governance is good leadership. The foundation of good leadership is free, fair and credible elections. It is not just enough to say one man one vote.
"Our experience with our elections has been dubious, characterised with violence and disputes. These things have happened because some of our politicians have a mindset of getting to power by hook or by crook.
"Many Nigerians have come to the conclusion that it is useless to go and vote because their votes don’t count. We are determined to do whatever we can do to reverse that kind of thinking. We will do our best to restore the confidence of Nigerians in the electoral process.
"We must ensure the election of credible leaders who will be accountable and answerable to the people. What we have been trying to do as a new INEC is to create an enabling environment for Nigerians to come out and vote and not to just see elections as mere events.
"Some people think that we, in the new INEC are magicians that can solve even problems that were created for 50 years. We need the support of Nigerians to address these problems.
Bankole said: "Credible elections do not start at the polls in 2011. They start from the primaries of the political parties. So where you have situation where the so called godfathers singlehandedly decide who will run in which political party, you thereby disenfranchise most members of that party, that is where the election starts.
"In the House of Representatives, in 2007, only 18 per cent returned to their seat in all the parties. Of the 13,000 electable offices in our country, over 12, 000 are legislators and they have the constituted authority to ask questions on how our money is being spent, but they also have a 98 per cent non return rate.
"But the Executives have 97 per cent return rate while those who are to question them have 98 percent none return rate. So, tell me, if you don’t ask questions, absolute power corrupt, absolutely. That is the answer to our question. There is no miracle to it. If you cannot ask questions through the authority of the Constitution, leaders will misbehave.
"I am encouraged by some of the things I am hearing from Prof Jega’s team in recent weeks about looking at the possibility of ensuring that parties are run pleasantly. The observation of INEC which necessitated some level of internal democracy is a good beginning because it is the foundation upon which every other thing will be built upon and we have neglected
HOUSE Speaker Dimeji Bankole and Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof. Attahiru Jega said in Kaduna yesterday in Kaduna urged workers to contribute to free, fair polls.
Delivering a paper entitled: "Towards INEC-Labour partnership for free and fair elections in 2011" at the 22nd Annual Education Conference of the National Union of Textiles, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, Jega described workers as active drivers of positive national policies with the capacity to mobilise people for popular policies.
He said: "I have worked with labour closely in the past for the advancement of our country and we made positive achievements for the Nigerian people.
"What we are trying to do in INEC as a commission is to ensure that we do our best to lay the foundation of good governance and the foundation of good governance is good leadership. The foundation of good leadership is free, fair and credible elections. It is not just enough to say one man one vote.
"Our experience with our elections has been dubious, characterised with violence and disputes. These things have happened because some of our politicians have a mindset of getting to power by hook or by crook.
"Many Nigerians have come to the conclusion that it is useless to go and vote because their votes don’t count. We are determined to do whatever we can do to reverse that kind of thinking. We will do our best to restore the confidence of Nigerians in the electoral process.
"We must ensure the election of credible leaders who will be accountable and answerable to the people. What we have been trying to do as a new INEC is to create an enabling environment for Nigerians to come out and vote and not to just see elections as mere events.
"Some people think that we, in the new INEC are magicians that can solve even problems that were created for 50 years. We need the support of Nigerians to address these problems.
Bankole said: "Credible elections do not start at the polls in 2011. They start from the primaries of the political parties. So where you have situation where the so called godfathers singlehandedly decide who will run in which political party, you thereby disenfranchise most members of that party, that is where the election starts.
"In the House of Representatives, in 2007, only 18 per cent returned to their seat in all the parties. Of the 13,000 electable offices in our country, over 12, 000 are legislators and they have the constituted authority to ask questions on how our money is being spent, but they also have a 98 per cent non return rate.
"But the Executives have 97 per cent return rate while those who are to question them have 98 percent none return rate. So, tell me, if you don’t ask questions, absolute power corrupt, absolutely. That is the answer to our question. There is no miracle to it. If you cannot ask questions through the authority of the Constitution, leaders will misbehave.
"I am encouraged by some of the things I am hearing from Prof Jega’s team in recent weeks about looking at the possibility of ensuring that parties are run pleasantly. The observation of INEC which necessitated some level of internal democracy is a good beginning because it is the foundation upon which every other thing will be built upon and we have neglected
How Ibori bribed Obasanjo with N3.7 billion
…Spent N750 Million Halliburton Bribe on 2003 Election says Ex Presidents's Aide
Seyi Olu Awofeso
Fresh allegation came to fore of how the former president collected a whooping N3.7 billion bribe from fugitive James Ibori to kill the infamous ex-convict case. The cash, pointblanknews.com learnt, was meant to put an end to the “James Onanefe Ibori” ex-convict saga, which died on arrival at the Supreme Court.
Shortly before Ibori’s bid for second term, two chieftains of the PDP, Goodnews Agbi and Anthony Alabi contested his eligibility to contest the Governorship by virtue of his alleged conviction for negligence and criminal breach of trust by a Bwari Upper Area Court in 1995.
In another development, sources told Pointblanknews.com that the Personal Assistant to Obasanjo, Adeyanju Bodunde, confessed during interrogation that he got the N750 million Halliburton bribe on behalf of his boss, and that the sum was part of the 2003 elections war chest for the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP).
Very credible sources who led Pointblanknews.com into the confession of the former aide to the former President disclosed that all the briberies and inducement for ballots that rocked the 2003 presidential elections were all done with the Halliburton bribe money.
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All other suspects such as former Petroleum Minister, Chief Don Etiebet, former Group Managing Director of the Nigeria Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Gaius Obaseki have all confessed to the bribe allegations.
Others who were also interrogated are: Ibrahim Aliyu, AVM Abdullahi Dominic Bello; Mohammed Gidado Bakare; Urban Shelter Limited; Intercellular Nigeria Limited; Sherwood Petroleum Limited; Tri-Star Investment Limited; Maizube Holdings Limited; TSKJ Nigeria Limited-(a) Technip S.A.; (b) Snamprogetti Netherlands B.V. (c) Kellog Brown and Root Inc(d) Japan Gasoline Corporation of Japan, George Mark, Hans George Christ, Heinrich J. Stockhausen; Julius Berger Nigeria Plc and Bilfinger Berger GMBH.
Sources hinted Pointblanknews.com that Bodunde told investigators that when the N750 million bribe money was received, former President Obasanjo and some top PDP members directed that the money be “invested into the 2003 election project.”
Obaseki, it was learnt corroborated Bodunde’s claim but failed to identify or reveal the name of the political party that benefitted from the bribe money.
Between 1995 and 2004, the Nigeria Government awarded about $6b contract to a consortium of four companies - Technip of France, Snamprogetti, a subsidiary of ENU S.PA.of Italy, Kellogg of the United States of America, later known as KBR and Japan Gasoline Corp, for the construction of Trains 1-6 of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Project in Bonny, Rivers State. The consortium was registered as TSKJ.
The U.S. Department of Justice is conducted a criminal investigation into an alleged $180 million bribe paid by Halliburton and three other companies to the government of Nigeria. The alleged bribe was paid in exchange for awarding the contract to the companies to build a $6 billion natural gas plant in Nigeria's southern delta region. The bribes were paid during the time when Dick Cheney was CEO of Halliburton. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission opened its own formal investigation on June 11, 2004.
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A panel report on the scandal chaired by former Inspector-General of Police, Mike Okiro, in May 2009 said a French Petro giant, Elf‘s activities in France in 2003, Georges Ramer, former Director of Technip, made depositions to the effect that TSKJ had secured the relevant contracts through bribery of key government officials and politicians in Nigeria.
However, the N3.7 Billion bribe money was allegedly shared among the Supreme, and Appeal Courts justices and High Court Judges who sat on the matter at various times..
The duo of Agbi and Alabi had gone to an Abuja High Court where, the judge ruled that “there was no conviction. They proceeded to the Appeal Court, which held that one James Onanefe Ibori was convicted and that the lower court erred. The Supreme Court upheld this ruling. However both courts said the plaintiffs failed to establish that Governor James Onanefe Ibori was the same as ex convict James Onanefe Ibori.
But before the matter got to the appellate Court, Ibori ran to President Obasanjo for counseling considering the fact that his second term ambition could be in jeopardy because of the huge influence enjoyed by his rival, Great Ogboru, an Alliance for Democracy, AD Governorship candidate.
Sources hinted Pointblanknews.com that it was during the counseling that President Obasanjo requested that a N3.7 Billion be made available to “make the matter go away.”
After the Supreme Court ruled that while there was a conviction but evidence did not show he was the same person and an Abuja High Court ruled that “there was no convincing evidence by the plaintiff, Agbi and Alabi were suspended from the PDP for one month.
Chief Ibori had almost at the same time allegedly donated millions to the Obasanjo’s second term bid.
Ibori and his then girlfriend, Theresa Nakanda had been convicted in London for fraud.
Court details revealed that Ibori and his girlfriend carried on their defrauding of Wickes for a long period of time. Unknown to them, security cameras monitored their activities and, sometime in 1991, policemen were called in to arrest both Ibori and Nakanda. The Isleworth Crown Court convicted them both for stealing. They were let go after paying 300 and 450 pounds each as fines for stealing and dishonest acts.
Despite that conviction, Ibori continued his acts of fraud in the UK. In 1992 he was arrested for using an American Express Gold credit card stolen from another person. He was tried at the Clerkenwell Magistrate’s Court and convicted for stealing and credit card fraud. Again, the court imposed fines of £300 and £400 respectively as penalty.
Seyi Olu Awofeso
Fresh allegation came to fore of how the former president collected a whooping N3.7 billion bribe from fugitive James Ibori to kill the infamous ex-convict case. The cash, pointblanknews.com learnt, was meant to put an end to the “James Onanefe Ibori” ex-convict saga, which died on arrival at the Supreme Court.
Shortly before Ibori’s bid for second term, two chieftains of the PDP, Goodnews Agbi and Anthony Alabi contested his eligibility to contest the Governorship by virtue of his alleged conviction for negligence and criminal breach of trust by a Bwari Upper Area Court in 1995.
In another development, sources told Pointblanknews.com that the Personal Assistant to Obasanjo, Adeyanju Bodunde, confessed during interrogation that he got the N750 million Halliburton bribe on behalf of his boss, and that the sum was part of the 2003 elections war chest for the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP).
Very credible sources who led Pointblanknews.com into the confession of the former aide to the former President disclosed that all the briberies and inducement for ballots that rocked the 2003 presidential elections were all done with the Halliburton bribe money.
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All other suspects such as former Petroleum Minister, Chief Don Etiebet, former Group Managing Director of the Nigeria Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Gaius Obaseki have all confessed to the bribe allegations.
Others who were also interrogated are: Ibrahim Aliyu, AVM Abdullahi Dominic Bello; Mohammed Gidado Bakare; Urban Shelter Limited; Intercellular Nigeria Limited; Sherwood Petroleum Limited; Tri-Star Investment Limited; Maizube Holdings Limited; TSKJ Nigeria Limited-(a) Technip S.A.; (b) Snamprogetti Netherlands B.V. (c) Kellog Brown and Root Inc(d) Japan Gasoline Corporation of Japan, George Mark, Hans George Christ, Heinrich J. Stockhausen; Julius Berger Nigeria Plc and Bilfinger Berger GMBH.
Sources hinted Pointblanknews.com that Bodunde told investigators that when the N750 million bribe money was received, former President Obasanjo and some top PDP members directed that the money be “invested into the 2003 election project.”
Obaseki, it was learnt corroborated Bodunde’s claim but failed to identify or reveal the name of the political party that benefitted from the bribe money.
Between 1995 and 2004, the Nigeria Government awarded about $6b contract to a consortium of four companies - Technip of France, Snamprogetti, a subsidiary of ENU S.PA.of Italy, Kellogg of the United States of America, later known as KBR and Japan Gasoline Corp, for the construction of Trains 1-6 of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Project in Bonny, Rivers State. The consortium was registered as TSKJ.
The U.S. Department of Justice is conducted a criminal investigation into an alleged $180 million bribe paid by Halliburton and three other companies to the government of Nigeria. The alleged bribe was paid in exchange for awarding the contract to the companies to build a $6 billion natural gas plant in Nigeria's southern delta region. The bribes were paid during the time when Dick Cheney was CEO of Halliburton. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission opened its own formal investigation on June 11, 2004.
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A panel report on the scandal chaired by former Inspector-General of Police, Mike Okiro, in May 2009 said a French Petro giant, Elf‘s activities in France in 2003, Georges Ramer, former Director of Technip, made depositions to the effect that TSKJ had secured the relevant contracts through bribery of key government officials and politicians in Nigeria.
However, the N3.7 Billion bribe money was allegedly shared among the Supreme, and Appeal Courts justices and High Court Judges who sat on the matter at various times..
The duo of Agbi and Alabi had gone to an Abuja High Court where, the judge ruled that “there was no conviction. They proceeded to the Appeal Court, which held that one James Onanefe Ibori was convicted and that the lower court erred. The Supreme Court upheld this ruling. However both courts said the plaintiffs failed to establish that Governor James Onanefe Ibori was the same as ex convict James Onanefe Ibori.
But before the matter got to the appellate Court, Ibori ran to President Obasanjo for counseling considering the fact that his second term ambition could be in jeopardy because of the huge influence enjoyed by his rival, Great Ogboru, an Alliance for Democracy, AD Governorship candidate.
Sources hinted Pointblanknews.com that it was during the counseling that President Obasanjo requested that a N3.7 Billion be made available to “make the matter go away.”
After the Supreme Court ruled that while there was a conviction but evidence did not show he was the same person and an Abuja High Court ruled that “there was no convincing evidence by the plaintiff, Agbi and Alabi were suspended from the PDP for one month.
Chief Ibori had almost at the same time allegedly donated millions to the Obasanjo’s second term bid.
Ibori and his then girlfriend, Theresa Nakanda had been convicted in London for fraud.
Court details revealed that Ibori and his girlfriend carried on their defrauding of Wickes for a long period of time. Unknown to them, security cameras monitored their activities and, sometime in 1991, policemen were called in to arrest both Ibori and Nakanda. The Isleworth Crown Court convicted them both for stealing. They were let go after paying 300 and 450 pounds each as fines for stealing and dishonest acts.
Despite that conviction, Ibori continued his acts of fraud in the UK. In 1992 he was arrested for using an American Express Gold credit card stolen from another person. He was tried at the Clerkenwell Magistrate’s Court and convicted for stealing and credit card fraud. Again, the court imposed fines of £300 and £400 respectively as penalty.
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