| Parliament International Magazine

Peace and Security: Pillar of Sir Yakowa’s Roadmap to Sustaining Development

Posted on May 25, 2012 by parliamentintlmagazine

In this special report, our correspondent, Stephen Law, takes an incisive retrospective analysis of the 2012 appropriation of the Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa administration in Kaduna State. The budget which is tagged a “Budget of Peace, Unity and Growth for 2012,” is the template or Roadmap to sustaining development.

It’s always jocularly said that “if you show me the man who is able to govern Kaduna State even for one day, then I will equally tell you who that person is.”

This statement is true to type and it has not lost its potency as regard the man called Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, the fourth elected civilian governor of the often volatile Kaduna State in North Western Nigeria.

Of all the four men that have had the privilege to govern Kaduna, perhaps it is only Arc. Mohammed Namadi Sambo, the incumbent Vice President of Nigeria, could say his three years administration was crisis free. From the administration of the late Alhaji Dabo Lere in the short-lived third Republic, to the eight-year reign of Sen. Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi to the present tenure of Sir Yakowa, all have story to tell as relate to the breach of peace and security.

Therefore, it wasn’t out of place that Governor Yakowa tagged the 2012 appropriation as a “Budget of Peace Unity and Growth.”

Yakowa, a first Christian and Southern Kaduna a man to mount the exalted seat of Governor seated in Sir Kashim Ibrahim House in Kaduna, said the administration expect to see remarkable positive growth in the consolidated areas of focus which include: Peace and Security, Qualitative Education, Agricultural Development and Poverty Alleviation, Improved Healthcare Delivery, Infrastructural Development, Civil Service Reform, Enhanced, Internally Generated Revenue and Job Creation, for the youths and Women Employment and Empowerment.

Sir Yakowa, who is coming from a well grounded civil service background, knows and appreciates the importance of peace and security in the development of the society, hence the constitution and inauguration of a 67- man reconciliation committee, following the post election violence that erupted in 2011.

During the budget presentation to the State House of Assembly, he rightly observed that he tagged the 2011 appropriation as a “Budget of Transition, Consolidation and Hope.” Recalling, he said the early part of year 2011 was an election year, hence a year of transition.

“It is common knowledge to all of us now that in 2011, we had the elections into various offices in Kaduna State and in Nigeria. Kaduna State’s election came and went but left behind trails of woe as a result of the unfortunate, unnecessary and uncalled-for post presidential election violence of April, 2011. This violence and its aftermath had a negative bearing on the performance of our 2011 Budget of Transition, Consolidation and Hope,” he stated.

The governor further noted with anguish that the violence retarded government’s efforts at socio-economic and infrastructural development and redirected than towards reconciliation/rehabilitation of crisis victims and return to normalcy, peace and security in the state.

Indeed, as a team player, rather than being a sole player, the people’s governor was magnanimous in thanking all those who sympathize and lend support to his administration during and after the crisis, this much he said: “we however thank God for the untiring efforts and support of the peace-loving individuals and groups from within and outside the state, especially the security agencies, our royal fathers, religious leaders and the Honorable House for the roles they played and are still playing for the substance of peace and security in our state. It is our fervent prayer and hope that the unfortunate past is gone forever and we would now squarely face the issues of unity and development of our dear state.”

Meanwhile, the 67-man peace and Reconciliation Committee has very eminent Nigerians who have paid their dues in the service of our father land in their different fields of endeavor, and this cuts across ethnic, religion and other considerations. Alhaji Abbas Sambo and Air vice Marshal Ishaya Shekari (rtd) are Co-chairmen, while the membership comprised of renowned figures such as the erudite Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, Prof. Yusuf Turaki, Gen. Zamani Lekwot (rtd), Ambassador Sule Bajoga, Bishop Idowu Feron, Mrs Gushesu Yerima among others (See the full list in the box).

The committee was inaugurated on the 1^st February, 2012, by His Excellency, Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, to the satisfaction of everybody.

However, realizing the importance and need for planning, Sir Yakowa evolved a roadmap for development that will last for the period of three to four years, the administration constituted a high-powered committee under the chairmanship of the former Head of Service, Alh. Abubakar Mustapha to review the policy and structure of the state government.

Indeed, they had already submitted its report and Government has considered and produced White Paper for its implementation. The governor acknowledged that the report was thorough and it forms part of the Roadmap for the administration’s action in the next three to four years.

As an astute administrator, a man with self-belief, determination, courage and above all, firm believer in God based on his Catholic Christian faith, he acknowledges the fact, the issues as noted earlier confronting Kaduna State are enormous but they are however not insurmountable.

However, a transformation in those areas would require the collective effort and contribution of all and sundry. He said while making this effort and contribution, the government as well as the people would constantly be reminded of the following facts for proactive action:

One, that the place for peace and security can never be compromised for anything.

Two, that the poor performance in academic institutions, especially in the primary and post primary institutions, for whatever reason(s), is unacceptable and has to be reversed .

Three, that the level of unemployment in the state where it is abundantly blessed with opportunities for employment generation especially in agriculture for rain fall/ dry season farming, animal husbandry, poultry/fish farming, etc. should be addressed head on.

Four, that the need to open up rural areas with requisite infrastructure as well help beef up power requirements, health facilities etc. to support the productive base of the state should be squarely faced.

Yakowa further explained that the budget of growth is aimed at not only unearthing potentials but also trapping and releasing hitherto untapped internally generated revenue (IGR) sources.

His words: “As a matter of fact, there are high expectations by the people of the state on the government for the delivery of the dividends of democracy.

These expectations, he said, are being raised against unstable allocation from the federation account; hence the government has therefore decided that it has to rely more on its internally generated revenues as its major source of financing future development projects.

As a result of this, he said he set up a revenue generation enhancement committee to explore and tap all sources of revenue in the state and to underscore the importance the government attaches to this new focus, the committee is under his chairmanship.

“This is certainly the only way to take our destiny in our hands. I therefore, call on residents of this state to co-operate with government in its drive to enhance the internal revenue base of the state, I will like to seize this opportunity to assure all tax payers of the prudent and visible utilization of all revenue collected towards ensuring the attainment of the collective good of our dear people of this state,” explained Yakowa.

Again, as an shrewd administrator and team player, the Catholic knighted governor knows the importance and need for continuity, when he noted that the consideration of the 2012 recurrent and capital estimates is within the context of the multi-year 2009 as part of the public finance management reform in the state.” The executive council, he said, has painstakingly scrutinized the 2012 draft estimates to ensure that a realizable Budget is presented before the House for Consideration and approval as appropriate.

MEMBERSHIP OF KADUNA STATE PEACE AND RECONCILIATION COMMITTEE AS AT 1^ST FEBRUARY, 2012.

S/NO.	NAME	STATUS
1.	AlhajiAbbas Dabo Sambo	Co-Chairman
2.	AVM lshaya Shekari	Co-Chairman
3.	Alhaji Ja’afaru Makarfi	Member
4.	Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah	“
5.	Alhaji Ramalan Yero	“
6.	Professor Yusuf Turaki	“
7.	Alh. lbrahim Aminu Wazirin Zazzau	“
8.	Gen. Zamani Lekwot (rtd)	“
9.	Alh. Abdulkadir Jibril Wazirin B/Gwari	“
10.	Dr. Sam K. Kujiyet	“
11.	Dr. Alimi Bello	“
12.	His Excellency James B. Magaji	“
13.	Alh. Mohammed Munir Ja’afaru	“
14.	Shehu Tafarki	“
15.	Ambassador Nuhu Bajoga	“
16	Ambassador Sule Buba	“
17.	Dr. Ephraim Goje	“
18.	Alhaji Yahaya Sanga	“
19.	Dr. Christopher Abashiya	“
20.	Audu Barau	“
21.	Takai Shemang	“
22.	Ahmed Umar Chawai	“
23.	Senator Babale Maikarfi	“
24.	Alhaji Balarabe ldris Jigo	“
25.	Dauda Tsoho	“
26.	Hon. lsa Ashiru	“
27.	Engr. Usman Baba	“
28.	Audi Yaro Makama
29.	Edward Henry Sawok	“
30.	AlhajiYakubu Shehu	“
31.	Bishop ldowu Feron	“
32.	Dr. Basher Balarabe	“
33.	Yusuf Tanko	“
34.	Alhaji Mamman Tambuwal	“
35.	Mr. S. B. Kantoma	“
36.	AlhajiAhmed Tahir	“
37.	Engr. Bawa Magaji	“
38.	Samaila Danborno	“
39.	Mr. Stephen B. Manya	“
40.	Alhaji Mohammed Rabiu Bako	“
41.	Nuhu Dogo Makama	“
42.	Alhaji Sani Dauda (ASD)	“
43.	Auta Mamman Busa	“
44.	Professor S. U. Abdullahi	“
45.	Mr. Bitrus Gwadah	“
46.	AlhajiAbbas Likoro	“
47.	Dr. Mary Amfani Joel	“
48.	Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha	“
49.	Dr. Mrs. Angelina Jaja	“
50.	AlhajiJa’afaru Paki	“
51.	Engr. Yusuf Audu	“
52.	Hon. Mohammed Saleh Annur	“
53.	Mr. Asandu G. Garba	“
54.	Tafarki Dalhatu Abubakar	“
55.	Mr. Sani Mazawaje	“
56.	Dr. Aliyu Damau	“
57.	Danbaba Chiroman Chawai	“
58.	Alhaji Suleiman Zuntu	“
59.	Alhaji Aliyu Sale Raminkura	“
60.	Hon. Felix H. Hyat	“
61.	Comrade Danjuma Bello Sarki	“
62.	Kabiru Yusuf Soba	“
63.	Dr. Abdulmalik M. Durunguwa	“
64.	Alh. Ahmed Suleiman	“
65.	Alh. Falalu Bello	“
66.	Admiral Suleiman Sa’idu	“
67.	Dr. Mu’azu Maiwada	“

2012 BUDGET

PROJECTED REVENUE FOR 2012

Based on intensive discussion with Ministries, Departments and Agencies, the Government arrived at a Revenue Projection for 2012 budget as follows:-

(a) Opening Balance - N 31,500,000,000

(b) Internally Generated Revenue - N 35,739,639,169

Account - N 48,000,000,000

(d) Capital Receipts - N 38,874,813,594

Total Estimated Receipts = N154, 331,452,763

Internally Generated Revenue projection for the year 2012 is very ambitious. We believe that with the support of this Honourable House and the cooperation of development-oriented people and the restructuring of all Revenue generating MDAs, we shall realize it.

PROPOSED EXPENDITURE 2012

Recurrent Expenditure

Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members may wish to note that Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) were required to submit their budget proposals in line with our Call Circular on a Multi-Year basis (i.e. 2012 – 2014). Ceilings were provided to MDAs based on medium term fiscal forecast (2012 – 2014). The ceilings were based on generally anticipated revenue from various sources that will accrue to the State.

Based on this premise, the proposed recurrent expenditure for 2012 is as follows:-

(a) Consolidated Revenue Fund Charges N 4,790,000,000

(b) Personnel Cost N29, 531,213,018

(d) Public Debt Charges Repayments - N8, 002,400,000

(e) Payment of 10% to Local Government

Joint Councils - N950, 000,000

Sub-Total = N69, 374,840,844

Capital Expenditure

With the above proposed recurrent expenditure of N69, 374,840,844, the sum of N84, 956,611,919 is left for allocation to Capital Projects. A total sum of N84, 956,611,919 has been allocated for capital expenditure as follows:-

Economic Sector

I. Agriculture - N 8,625,283,445

ii. Livestock - N80, 000,000

iii. Forestry – N32, 500,000

iv. Fishery - N25, 000,000

v. Manufacturing - N10, 000,000

vi. Power - N605, 911,505

vii. Commerce & Finance, Cooperative & Supply – N264, 715,630

viii. Transport - N20, 568,282,439

Sub-Total = N30, 211,693,064

Social Sector

I. Education - N10, 937,597,070

ii. Health - N6, 751,893,730

iii. Information - N5, 630,583,755

iv. Social Development - N681, 099,035

Sub-Total = N24, 001,173,590

Regional Development Sector

I. Water Supply - N 8, 754,922,095

ii. Environment - N 1, 528,360,900

iii. Housing - N 500, 000,000

iv. Urban Development - N 3, 469,404,865

v. Community Development - N 1,765,325,490

Sub-Total = N 16, 018,013,350

Administration Sector

I. General Administration - N 14,725,731,915

Sub-Total = N 14, 725,731,915

Grand Total = N 84,956,611,919

Breakdown as follows:

Recurrent Expenditure - N 69,374,840,844

Capital Expenditure - N 84,956,611,919

Total Budget Size = N154, 331,452,763

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Capital Market Probe: Intrigues and incendiary interest may cost Oteh her seat

Posted on May 25, 2012 by parliamentintlmagazine

It is no longer news that the first attempt made by the House of Representatives to carry out investigation into the near collapse of the Nigerian Capital Market by the suspended Hon. Herman Hembe’s House Committee on Capital Market and other Institutions ended abruptly amidst corruption and money-for-probe allegations levelled against the committee by the embattled Director-General of Securities and Exchange Commission, Ms Arumah Oteh.

Oteh had alleged, among other things, that Hembe as chairman of the committee probing her and the commission had no credibility, having demanded about N44 million from the SEC to organise the investigative hearing. With Hembe’s counter allegation that it was the SEC boss that offered to donate N30 million to his committee and with allegations flying right, left and centre, the leadership of the House, after series of emergency meetings, decided that Hembe should vacate his exalted position, a bitter pill that reportedly took time for Hembe to swallow.

However, after Hembe’s sack alongside all members of his committee that had commenced inquiry into the activities of the nation’s capital market, the House leadership, after another stormy emergency meeting, anointed Hon. Ibrahim El-Sudi to lead an eight-man ad hoc panel to start a fresh probe into the near collapse of the capital market and proffer solutions for the survival of the once buoyant market.

Commencing the fresh probe, on an issues-based approach, the Speaker of the House, Aminu Tambuwal, while declaring open the event, said that the House had no intention of engaging anybody in a battle through the investigation. Tambuwal, who was represented by the House Minority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, said, “You are all aware of the history of this hearing. We have gone full circle. This is a new beginning of great expectations. It is a hearing that is looking for answers to the various problems in the capital market.

It is not an adversarial hearing but one that seeks to bring to the fore, the factors working against our capital market. Whatever has happened should be put behind us because Nigerians are expecting too much from us to dig seriously into what brought the capital market to where we are today”.

On his part, El-Sudi noted that, “it is common knowledge that Nigeria’s capital market went down from a high of N13 trillion to N4.6 trillion within 10 months in 2008 and the situation has not improved much. Many stock markets of the world from the USA to Britain, from China to Japan, Russia, France and others suffered similar crises and these markets had remarkably improved while that of Nigeria is moving at a snail’s pace.”

According to him, “it is important to emphasise the focus of this probe given recent happenings which have been widely publicised in the media. Our assignment is to identify the manifest causes of the markets near collapse and challenges that have held back its recovery with a view to finding lasting solutions for the investing public, the operators, the regulators and the companies that rely on the capital market for long term funds and the economy as a whole”.

If heaven knows no rage like a woman scorned, members of the House of Representatives’ ad-hoc Committee probing the near collapse of the Nigerian Capital Market saw first- hand recently, the rage that can be displayed by big ladies who chose to go after one another’s jugular. This was no ordinary rage.

As she did during the very first hearing of the probe panel where she failed to respond to questions regarding what some described as ostentatious living at the expense of government, but instead disclosed that committee members had demanded bribe from her, Madam Arunma Oteh, Director General, DG, Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, shocked members of the probe panel when she made startling revelations of how the immediate past leadership of the Nigeria Stock Exchange, NSE, which Director General was Prof. Ndi Okereke-Onyuike, mis-classified expenditure, lavished millions of naira on the purchase of a yacht, bought Rolex wrist watches for tens of millions of naira as gifts for awards of long service to NSE board members and staff, among others.

The revelations were mouth watering and those who had already taken keen interests in the probe wanted to know what Onyuike’s response would be. Mind you, the successor to Onyuike, Onyeama, was also on hand to make a presentation but never really dwelt on the tenure of his predecessor. Now, why Oteh made it her responsibility – even bounding duty – to go after Onyuike may yet be unknown.

But when Onyuike stormed the panel the following day with her massive frame to not only deny the allegations but level her own, members watched in amazement and amusement because she made her presentation like an anchor on one of the Comedy Central series.

But beyond Oteh’s raging, inner sources from the NSE confided in the PARLIAMENT INTERNATIONAL that what actually consume the DG NSE was the in the incendiary interest of some power brokers in the lower legislative chamber who wanted to see her out of the Commission in order to pave way for their own prefer candidate.

In fact, fingers are been directed towards the face of the deputy speaker Emeka Ihedioha whom the sources alleged wants his candidate who is one of the directors in the Exchange Commission to be appointed the DG-NSE.

The sources went further to alleged that immediately the Hon. Herman Hembe’s House Committee was suspended following the allegation of corruption leveled against its leadership, the speed with which the House constituted the Hon. Ibrahim El Sudi led ad hoc committee was suspicious, given the overwhelming support it garnered from the lawmakers.

But even as the probe is still ongoing, the embattled DG successfully contest for the for the second term the position of the Coordinator of Africa and the Middle East Stock Exchange Commission; meaning that she might probably escape any punitive actions that may be taken against her in the event that she is found wanting by the probe panel.

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Pension scam: Senate Committee Stinks

Posted on May 25, 2012 by parliamentintlmagazine

There’s the saying by the African sages that whosoever, will sit on the judgment pavement, must do so on his bare buttocks, lest an offender comes before him naked and he will not be able to rebuke him. STEPHEN LAW in this piece likens the Senate Probe Committee on Pension Scam that is rocking the nation to the above narration.

The issue of probing scam or whatever name is given to this kind of fraudulent attitude by public servants in Nigeria is never new to the eyes of the citizens but what is strange as well as disgusting, is the moral character of those saddled with the responsibility of unearthing what really transpire behind the scene or away from the public glaring.

Moreover, the simple rule of moral conduct says: ‘He, who must come to equity, must do so with clean hands’. And, this of course, leads us to the controversial probe of the Pension Fund Scam by the nation’s national legislative elite chamber otherwise known as the Senate.

Indeed, it’s no longer news that both the Senate Probe Committee and the Pension Task Force are entangled in the intricate webs of accusations and counter-accusations of bribe-given and bribe-taken in the cause of investigating the massive looting of pension funds that has been taken place nationwide.

And of course, the man at the centre of the bribe storm is no other person than the chairman of the Senate Probe Committee, Senator Aloysius Etok, a senator representing Akwa Ibom North West in the National Assembly on the platform of the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP (see detail profile below).

Following the revelation of the massive looting of pension funds by the various pension administrators in the country, a Pension Task Force Team led by Alhaji Abdulrasheed Maina, was charged with the mandate of restructuring the pension system, and has its membership drawn from the anti-graft bodies like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission and other related offences, ICPC, the State Security Service, SSS, other paramilitary agencies; Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Auditor General of the Federation, the Attorney General of the Federation.

Therefore, it means there are individual and institutional reputations which the Pension Task Force Team represents and which must be protected.

But hardly has the Task Force concluded its assignment than it was suspended by the Senate Committee on Pension Reform, which led to observers raising the following questions as to what happened with the work of the Pension Task Force Team that the Senate mandated its own Committee to conduct an investigation as regard the activity of the former; and why is it that the Task Force is not happy with the action of the Senate Committee and is demanding for justice and fairness?

Perhaps the questions raised above gave rise to the issue of bribe that is not only threatening the reputation of the senate committee members but also aiming at rubbishing the whole essence of the probe in the first instance.

Why was bribe demanded in the first place?

Although the chairman of the Committee Sen. Aloysius Etok had accused the chairman of the pension task force team, Alhaji Abdulrasheed Maina, of “outright stealing of pension fund and desperate attempt to bribe the probe panel.”

Nevertheless, one of the accused persons Dr. Sani Shuaibu Teidi in an exclusive interview with PARLIAMENT INTERNATIONAL Magazine alleged that the N3 billion bribes given to the committee was contributed by all the accused persons, each with the amount of N500million. In fact, this N3 billion is different from the initial N2 billion earlier demanded by the committee from Abdulrasheed Maina by the Etok committee, which was turned down by Maina.

Meanwhile, Teidi further revealed that the Committee made them (the accused) to believe that when they give the money being demanded, it will smooth as well as pave way for them to safe land, thereby escaping prosecution but to their utter dismay, and perhaps the committee only succeeded in ‘cutting their own share of the national cake’.

Indeed, not only did the Etok led Committee stop at that, Teidi also alleged that they (Committee) coerces him to give details of his assets/properties, all with the belief that it will soften the severity of his offence; not knowing that it was a grand ploy to also share in his personal fortunes as he was asked to give 50% of it to the Committee.

Dr. Teidi also alleged to PARLIAMENT that out of the N3billion, Sen. Aloysius Etok outsmarted his Committee members by declaring a paltry N500 million, a one-fifth of the total money, claiming that that was what was given to them by the accused persons.

He of course, still participated in the sharing of the N.5 billion largesse, but for his sheer greed, the deputy chairman of the Committee, Sen. Kabiru Gaya, former governor of the old Kano State in the botched Third Republic got wind of the true total sum given by the accused from one of them (presumably from the same region as the architect-turn-politician).

To be precise, the said informant is one Alhaji Kigo, whom is alleged used part of his own pension loot to buy substantial shares in one of the nation’s national dailies.

Meanwhile, upon hearing that Gaya did not hesitate to spilled the proverbial beans to other members of the committee who in turn confronted the chairman with their ‘findings’ and lo, there’s disagreement and distrust among the committee members that are supposed to honestly probe the accused.

In fact, the whole scenario is fast turning into Pandora’s Box, as Sani Teidi equally told the magazine that he also gave former chairman of EFCC Mrs. Farida Waziri a property located at Parakou Crescent Wuse II, Abuja.

Although Etok had urged the EFCC, the police and other anti-graft agencies to investigate the allegation against him and his committee, claiming that it was the chairman of the task force team that had been on the trail of the committee with bribe to influence the investigation, but the argument still remains that there’s no smoke without fire.

The lawmaker further stated that Maina also refused to cooperate with the Auditor-General of the Federation in the auditing of the accounts and financial transaction carried out by the task force team.

He said: “Let the evidence and fact speak for itself when the committee submits its report to the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and not sentiment of a desperate fellow whose fraud and corrupt act has been exposed. This committee will never and will never request for bribe.

In as much as Sen. Etok and his committee try to exonerate themselves from the bribery allegation, Dr. Sani Shuaibu Teidi becomes the more critical of the committee which he said has lost its credibility; hence its report should be rejected on the following grounds, which include: Unfairness even before hearing the Pension Task Force for the first time; unreasonable persecution and unfairness to the Task Force Team; Non-recognition of the Task Force’s achievements; Denial of receiving any document from the Pension Task Force, among others.

Analysts however, are of the same opinion and queried that was the Committee in the first instance, right to have suspended the Pension Task Force Team that was set up by the executive arm without referring it to her?

It would be recalled that at the first day of the public hearing which commenced Tuesday, March 6, 2012, the Senate Committee announced the suspension of the Pension Reform Task Force Team even before it was heard. Though, the House of Representatives swiftly reacted by declaring the illegality of the Senate Committee’s suspension order due to the fact that the Task Force is the creation of the Executive; hence it has to pass through both chambers. Therefore, there’s no fairness to the Pension Task Force, and it is as if the main intention of the Senate Probe Committee was to terminate the Pension Task Force.

It would be recalled that the House of Representatives through its Committee on Pensions had said as a matter of national interest, the Pension Reform Task Team should be retained as a ‘Standing Pension Reform Task Team’ which the President could deploy at any given moment to solve peculiar ‘knotty’ cases across the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs.)

This statement was contained in a letter presented by the chairman of the House Committee on Pensions, Hon. Ibrahim Bawa Kamba.

The House Committee chairman who commended the President’s Pension Reform directives through the Minister of Finance, described the Pension Reform Task Force Team as a credible vehicle for the pension reform agenda, and its milestone achievements so far in recovering misappropriated funds and enrolling over 46, 000 pensioners who had never received pension since retirement some as far back as 42 years.

Meanwhile, according to the Task Force, observed that what they expected from the Senate Committee was to have first and foremost, listen to them without prejudice, and verify the authenticity of every statement or exhibits tendered for or against them, respect and appreciate the achievements of the Pension Task Force and even asked them to do what the Senate feel appropriate in assisting the probe activities.

It also admitted that the Committee has the constitutional rights to investigate but not to convict them on their (senate) wishful feelings or volition on the pages of newspapers and television studios before conclusion.

It argued further that the Committee should have requested the Pension Task Force to tell them how, why, where and who of the N151 billion Task Force had recovered; and the Senate Committee equally ought to have investigated the N5.25 billion monthly looted before the Task Force was inaugurated.

Indeed, there seems to be no end to the puzzle as the investigators are gradually turning into the investigated, as the moral rule rightly puts it that the one coming to equity must surely do so with clean hands; and now that they have all mired themselves in the marshes of corruption, who will be the judge?

PROFILE OF ETOK

Aloysius Akpan Etok was born on 15 February 1958 in Usuk Obio Ediene in Akwa Ibom State. He has a B.Sc. (Hons) from the University of Calabar. Between 1976 and 2007 he worked in a variety of government and business posts, including a position as a board member of the Akwa-Ibom State Water Corp. In 1999 he was publisher of a news magazine, the Ntieyong Business Review. He assisted in the foundation of Fortune High School in 2002.

From 1992-1993, he was a member of the House of Representatives in Abuja, where he served as minority whip. From 1999-2003, he was a member of the Akwa-Ibom State House of Assembly, Uyo. He failed to be nominated to stand for the Ikono constituency for a second term. In November 2004, he was chairman of the transport and special projects committee of the Akwa Ibom State Assembly.

In October 2008 his wife was kidnapped in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital. The kidnappers demanded an N1 billion ransom. She was released several weeks later.

SENATE CAREER:

Akpan Etok was elected to the National Senate for the Akwa Ibom North West constituency in 2007 on the platform of the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP.

In October 2008, Etok and other Niger Delta senators appealed to the militants to cease hostilities, while asking for continued but restrained military presence. Akwa Ibom may be the largest producer of crude oil among the Delta states. In May 2009, Etok petitioned the president to allow Akwa-Ibom State to nominate the managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission. In 2009, he sponsored a bill to provide for the establishment of the Environmental Managers Registration Council of Nigeria.

As chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Etok faced criticism for the fact that in 2008 the Nigerian Senate only showed up to work for 90 days and passed only eight of the 120 bills submitted. Etok explained that lawmaking was slow because it is a thorough process that involves numerous steps. However, Etok noted that the senate passed 199 bills in the 10 years from 1999 to 2009, and told reporters that the upper chamber had done “very well in 10 years”.

He was appointed a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, chaired by Joel Danlami Ikenya, which in 2009 was trying to push through the Financial Reporting Council Bill. In July 2009, a motion sponsored by Senator Bassey Ewa-Henshaw and others to force the naming of directors of failed banks involved in insider loan abuses concerning N94.4bn of government agency funds was dropped. Senator Etok stated that he had been at an overseas conference at the time, and was not aware of what had happened.

Aloysius Etok was re-elected on the PDP platform as senator for Akwa Ibom North West in April 2011. He polled 383,607 votes to defeat the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate, Joe Ukpong, who scored 11,827 votes.

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COUP IMMINENT?…..as Olighachy plots Against Jonathan

Posted on January 21, 2012 by parliamentintlmagazine

Since President Goodluck Jonathan assumed office as Acting President following the failing health of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2010 till date, there have been some form of discontent from sections of the country, especially the North.

From the aftermath of the declaration of jonathan as winner of the April 2011 poll to the January protest against the removal of fuel subsidy by the administration, indications that some persons and groups desperately want Jonathan out of office either by voluntary resignation when the country becomes ungovernable or via impeachment through the National Assembly abound. But a most dangerous development in all these is a hidden wish for a military coup d’etat to sack Jonathan. No real reasons have been adduced for this wish.

In the last edition of The Parliament International magazine, the faces of alleged sponsors of Boko Haram were unveiled. Despite attempts by some of those named to rubbish the report via court actions, the worry of many Nigerians today is that they remain largely free Nigerians with most of them in government going about their work without any move by relevant security agencies to follow up the report.

In that report, the magazine stated inter alia, that, the sponsors and patrons of the Boko Haram Islamic group are among what can be described as fine crop of Nigerian leaders who many others look up to for exemplary conduct and lessons in peaceful, progressive co-existence.

The report named and gave details of what the magazine tagged; Spymasters in government. They include but not restricted to the Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Training Development Fund, PTDF, Rabe Darma, one Professor Sambo who was the Director-General, Energy Commission of Nigeria, ECN. He was also the vice chancellor of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, ATBU, Bauchi; and Sidi Sani, the current chief executive of National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA. He was a commissioner in Kaduna state.

Others named were the current minister of state for health, Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate, former National Security Adviser, retired military General Mohammed Aliyu Gusau, a partisan politician who has always sort to govern Kaduna state, Suleiman Hunkuyi and a drop-out from the University of Maiduguri, Aminu who was a fan of late Afro beat musician, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti as he could off-handedly sing most of Fela’s songs as he smokes Indian hemp up till four years ago when he got linked to Boko Haram. Currently, he is in Kaduna prison awaiting trial for yet-to-be-disclosed offence.The remaining persons named by the magazine were current governor of Bauchi state, Isa Yuguda who curiously advertised an apology to Boko Haram mid last year, former Borno state governor, Ali Modu Sheriff who made unsuccessful attempts to debunk his alleged links with Boko Haram sect, and the wealthy octogenarian owner of Chanchangi Airlines, Ahmadu Chanchangi, who hails from Taraba state but has since adopted Kaduna as his home has long been associated with Boko Haram that he is well known as a key sponsor of the group.

But beyond these, reports abound of alleged membership of Boko Haram by officers and members of the various security agencies in the country. Most affected are the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Air Force. Services like the State Security Service, National Intelligence Agency among the remaining are least affected from investigations by The Parliament International.

For instance, during the last set of crises in Plateau state, there was an Army Corporal who served as leg man in collecting cash from sponsors of Boko Haram and lodge them in a commercial bank in Jos, (names withheld.) The complicity of some officers and men of the Police Force in the Boko Haram saga, it was further gathered, may have been due to prevalent lack and want in the service.

It was learnt that so poor are policemen on special duty remunerated that they easily compromise or get compromised on the beat. And their poor allowance of N300 per day is seen as the product of fraud by senior Force officials who collect the federal government’s approved N5,000 per day allowance per policeman, and pay a paltry N300 to each of such officers. “In such a case, there will be loyalty problem. That is when some of us do what you alleged we do,” retorted a police officer in Borno state. Though the N1,000 per day per SSS official on similar duty is considered motivating, the general opinion across the different security services in that current allowances paid for special duties are inadequate compared to the risk they are exposed.

Oligarchy conspiracy

Views abound in the land that inspite of the obvious need to probe the report on the foregoing personalities, the rather conspiracy of silence among the oligarchy in the country, especially those of the north is as worrisome as it is telling. It was gathered that arising from the fate suffered by some northern personalities like Goje and Yuguda in the hands of Boko Haram including religious and traditional leaders, not a few members in the existing oligarchy wish to “be involved.” Another school of reasoning holds that some of such top Nigerians are “direct and in direct beneficiaries of the spoils of terrorism a head 2015 when Jonathan is expected to complete his tenure as president.

“They using the president, and using him for their own benefit. All they are doing is encourage the president that he is doing well and should not be shaken by the insecurity problems in the country as it will soon fizzle out like other crises before now,” retorted Uwem Jude, a Lagos-based current affairs analyst. Also, it was gathered that they exploit the weakness of security chiefs in the country to perpetrate their acts.

Security chiefs’ laxity

The Parliament International magazine recently stumbled on facts that underscore the gross compromise of the country’s security chiefs in the fight against insecurity. A top civil servant in the presidency was forced to wonder aloud last Boxing Day; “While we are all praying to God to divinely arrest the insecurity problem in Nigeria, security chiefs are growing fatter and richer. They feed fat on the huge budgets made available to them fight insecurity. They lack direction in the issue of intelligence gathering that can help in fighting the crime. Your magazine reported on the suspected sponsors of terrorism in the country; why have the security chiefs not seen any need to follow up on the matter?”

He said his position was drawn from the fact that even when Goje and Yuguda had cause to apologise to Boko Haram for unpublished wrong doings, security chiefs in the land chose to look the other way. And according to him, the spate of bombings would continue with such a trend continuing.

The civil servant added that in less than one year, between October 1, 2010 and August 26, 2011, the country recorded the following infamous list of bombings unrivaled in the history of insecurity in the country:

October 1, 2010: bomb blast during Nigeria’s 50^th Independence Day celebration at the Eagle square, Abuja.
January 1, 2011: bomb blast at the Abuja army barracks (mammy market).
April 8, 2011: at the INEC office is Suleja, Niger state.
April 26, 2011: Maiduguri, Borno state.
May 29, 2011: at an army barrack in Bauchi.
June 16, 2011: at the police headquarters, Abuja.
August 26, 2011: at the UN headquarters, Abuja.

The 2011 Christmas Day serial bombings he continued was a national embarrassment that should have given the chiefs every reason to resign from office. But according to him, “they will not unless they are sacked. They are feeding fat on the spoils and cannot see any reason to quit for failing to deliver on their mandates to ensure a secured country.” He added that they respectively have “tight connections” with personalities within the oligarchy in the land whom they “give handouts to so as to remain in office.”

Mutual suspicion

When on January 1, 2011 a bomb exploded at the mammy market in Sani Abacha army barracks in Abuja, approved the procurement and installation of Close Circuit Television cameras, among other sensitive security gadgets for metropolitan Abuja in the first instance.

The fund for the project seen as central to security monitoring across the nation’s cities, was released to the office of the Inspector-General of Police promptly; but its management sooner became a very big issue with heads of other security agencies practically crying blue murder over the released funds. “Of course, tongues started wagging and allegations and counter-accusations were being traded all over the place. In the process, security suffered; and the bombers began having a field day,” said the source.

Though it had been a case of “cat and rat” among the various security agencies, matters got to a head within the last one year when “intelligence sharing” among the security agencies began to suffer. “By intelligence sharing, it means making whatever security information Agency A, for instance, has available to Agency B, and indeed all relevant agencies for the common goal of securing the country,” one source revealed.

It was such yawning void created by the distrusts and mistrusts including rivalries among the security agencies that have since been held accountable for the spate of bombings in the country. For instance, last October1 Abuja Eagle square twin-bombings that claimed several lives were said to have been a result of the foregoing points.

Though the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND claimed responsibility for the act, the worries as to how it could have occurred a few metres away from where Jonathan was reviewing the 50^th Independence Day anniversary military parade remain.

A top source at the ministry of Defence also added that the apparent foot-dragging and logjam over the prosecution of suspects arrested over the Eagle square and related bomb blasts flows directly from the foregoing. In the security agencies, there appears to be a lot of laxity and unpatriotic disposition on the part of operatives. For instance, in the Nigeria Police Force, so prominent are cases of questionable decisions that security is easily compromised.

Example is easily made of a dismissed Compol Zakari Biu. Biu was so notorious and corrupt that he set free several Boko Haram suspects with a court order.

For instance, the suspect student who threatened to bomb the third mainland bridge in Lagos is now a free man. This magazine gathered that his mother flew in from Bankock three days after her son was arrested. After 45 minutes with Zakari Biu, the boy was let loose, but not without a settlement of 100,000 US Dollars.

In the same manner, one of the most wanted man in the person of Kabiru Sokoto was let loose by Biu after he was arrested. Biu then took another suspect to Abaji for further investigations.

Zakari Biu, The Parliament Int’l gathered was the first trainer of Boko Haram guerrilla fighters since 2004.

Though Sokoto was re-captured, the former Inspector General of Police,Hafiz Ringim is yet to release his mobile phone that contained the names of high profile Nigerians that are either sponsors or sympathisers.

The foregoing reveals the ignoble spectre of in-fighting and inefficiency in the Force under the current dispensation of the Force. But perhaps, nowhere has the unhealthy rivalry and opportunism among the security agencies been as manifest as to undermine the country’s image globally as the days before the August 26, 2011 UN House suicide bombing. And at its press briefing mid last week the State Security Service, SSS gave inkling in this direction.

The Service admitted that it received “precise intelligence report,” on Friday August 19, 2011, that certain Boko Haram adherents were on a mission to “attack unspecified targets in Abuja, in an ash-colour Toyota Camry vehicle with registration number AA539GBL.” The report named a certain Bakura as the Boko Haram man that would use Kano as base for launching series of terrorist attacks on Abuja.

Unbelievably, the report was allegedly written by the SSS, addressed to the National Security Adviser (NSA), and copied to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and the Chief of Army Staff (CAS). The initial delay in taking prompt action on the report appeared to be over when on Sunday August 21, 2011 “a joint operation by all security services led to the arrest of two notorious leaders of the Boko Haram extremist sect”: Babagana Ismail Kwalijima (a.k.a. Abu Summaya) and Babagana Mali (a.k.a. Bulama). After their arrests, “security was further beefed up in Abuja and its environs,” the SSS stated. But the unending strain of backstabbing, opportunism and blackmail was to rear its head hours after the SSS media event when in apparent suggestion of negligent culpability in the bombing, some security agencies have been feigning ignorance of the SSS report.

For instance, the National Security Adviser, NSA, General Andrew Owoye Azazi, reportedly denied ever receiving such report, saying, “people just want to cause confusion…. I did not receive a specific report… Ask the SSS…. There was nothing like that…” Marilyn Ogar, spokesperson of the SSS, ignored efforts of local media to ascertain the veracity of the report and confirm its submission to all agencies and officers listed as recipients. Azazi’s and Ogar’s denials have been complemented by the silence of other security agencies such as the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, a stance indicative of the forces’ tacit admission of guilt.

“What is happening is good for us. Let them carry on with their in-fighting for relevance and power and let us have the opportunity to propagate our Holy War,” retorted a Boko Haram soon after. The middle-ages man, who boasted that Boko Haram’s crusade will succeed, revealed that, “we are aware that their agents have infiltrated our ranks. But they know that we are not resting. We are watching and praying. That is why they are fighting themselves to pave way for us to prosecute our agenda.”

“But this thing had been on; especially with the Police. In 2009, then IGP Mike Okiro received 14 different intelligence reports, which he never acted on. Incidentally, one of those was a dossier of intelligence information on the bellicosity of a certain Mohammed Yusuf, who, much later, prophetically emerged the commandant of the sect. Okiro’s successor, Ogbonna Onovo, toed the same path, consequently implicitly fanning the rise to national (and international) prominence of a largely unknown Islamic sect that was once confined to Maiduguri, Yobe, Kano and Bauchi” remarked a public commentator recently. Earlier that same 2009, former chairman of First Bank Nig. Plc., Alhaji Umaru Mutallab, had voiced his suspicions on his son’s strange behaviours to security and intelligence agencies. By December 26, 2009, Nigeria had earned a notorious spot on the Terror Watch List of the United States of America, after 23-year-old Omar Farouk Abdulmutallab attempted to detonate plastic explosives carefully concealed in his underwear while aboard Northwest Airlines Flight 253, en route to Detroit, USA, from Amsterdam. Till date, there exists a plethora of cases where security lapses have resulted to loss of lives and property, but last Christmas Day’s bombing beats the imagination. Clearly, the consideration of all facts surrounding the last bombings as well as the UN-House blast is incomplete unless adequate attention is allotted to indiscretions of security agencies.

Dead woods

Arising from the foregoing, the question on every lip in the New Year is why Jonathan must continue to retain security chiefs who have obviously failed in their respective beats. Specifically, fingers are being pointed at the heads of the Nigeria Police Force that of the State Security Service and National Intelligence Agency as persons that have failed in ensuring a secured and safe Nigeria that must be shown the door. The NSA too who coordinates security matters for the president is also on the wish list of Nigerians of security chiefs that should go.

2015 Presidency

It was further revealing when this magazine gathered that the spate of bombings by Boko Haram is fallout of the bid of the north of the country for the 2015 presidency. Those who hold this view contend that ahead the 2011 presidential election which the north wanted Jonathan to stay away from, the north threatened fire and brimstone should Jonathan go ahead to contest and win. “They threatened mayhem that will make the country ungovernable publicly. And these were key political figures and leaders. Now that all these bombings are going on we do not need to look far to know those to ask questions; and ever since the mayhem they threatened started, these same people have been silent; maybe, savouring the whole condemnable act,” retorted the civil servant.

Another angle that was thrown up was suggestion that the north does not believe that Jonathan would quit office in 2015. Holders of this viewpoint argued that the president may seek re-election for a second term then. Thus, the earlier things are done to stop such an attempt the better for the sponsors of Boko Haram.

Veepee Sambo Agenda

Namadi Sambo, the current Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is already seeing himself as the president in waiting, It is not surprising therefore, when he launched his campaign in Dubai sometime in 2011.

The launching of “Victory Foundation 2015″ was attended by some of his close allies like Prof Sambo of Energy Commission, Rabe Darma of PTDF, Sani Sidi of NEMA, and Dr Ali MohammedPate, Minister of State in the Ministry of Health. The greatest threat to Jonathan’s administration is the ambition of his own running mate. Those who know the Vepee Sambo very well will tell you that his inordinate ambition will make him do anything for money and power. If this assertion is true, then President Jonathan is in for serious trouble, because the greatest enemy one can have is the enemy within. This magazine enjoy President Jonathan to engage Sen. Ahmed Makarfi as his consultant on Arch Mohammed Sambo.

Politicians/Oligachy

To further their agenda to stop Jonathan and whatever may be his plot for 2015, many political office holders have been holding several meetings strategising ahead of the president’s current four-year tenure.

Yuguda-Amaechi agenda

Both Isa Yuguda and Rotimi Amaechi are serving governors of Bauchi and Rivers states respectively. So far, they have managed to tag along with Jonathan presenting images of loyalists, especially in the public. But this magazine stumbled on facts that unveiled them otherwise recently.

Ahead 2015, both governors are perfecting plans to run on a joint ticket for the presidency. According available information weekend, while Yuguda seeks to succeed Jonathan, Amaechi would be his running mate.

Yuguda’s posturing derives from the fact that the north holds that Jonathan must quit in 2015 without an option to run for a second term to allow the president shift to the region. In doing so, the Bauchi state governor believes that with Amaechi running with, the south would be pacified and support the ticket.

Both believe that Amaechi;s current headship of the country’s Governors’ Forum is a big plus when the countdown to 2015 really begins.

Observers argued that not-too-cosy relationship between the president and Amaechi since the twilight of the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s administration till date may have pushed the governor to wish to join forces with the north to stop Jonathan or any of his favourite in 2015.

North’s rally against Jonathan

In the foregoing light too, former military president, Ibrahim Babangida are reportedly rallying sections of the country together for their respective goals; but with a common agenda to stop Jonathan in 2015.

IBB is said to be in regular touch with former National Security Adviser, NSA, Aliyu Mohammed Gusau among other northerners of various callings propping and sensitising them ahead 2015. For instance, on December 17, 2011, no fewer than 20 young military officers of the northern stalk were hosted in the former NSA’s guest house in Asokoro, Abuja. The young men were from the army, navy and State Security Service.

Though this magazine did not get details of the assembly, it was learnt that IBB and the ex-NSA counselled the young men to be “up and doing” in matters affecting their services and the country. He stated further that, they will get back to them on the way forward soonest. Source quoted both Gausu and IBB, as stated that, the journey for 2015 must start now. But now that it appear rocky, the young officers should be ready to do otherwise.

As for the former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, his undying determination to be president of Nigeria has never stopped propelling him to rally and canvass support for his ambition ahead of 2015.

The Sultan of Sokoto, Abubakar III is also reported to be rallying northern emirs in a bid to get the north to commence shopping for a suitable presidential candidate acceptable to Nigerians across the board for the 2015 race.

“The north is north happy that the south snapped it from us last year. So, the earlier we start, the better it will be for us. We must identify candidates that can match the credentials of Jonathan and his universal acceptance level,” said one source close to a north east emir.

As for vice president Namadi Sambo, his plot to succeed Jonathan in 2015 began last year when a support group launched a rally for a Sambo presidency. Though he took prompt steps to stop the rally, the development may have unveiled him as one man that the president knows nurses his ouster come 2015.

Thus, put together, there is a looming gang-up against Jonathan from the north, especially, the politicians and likely accomplice in the military. The Amaechi factor in it all is being seen as a balancing act of sorts to give the north’s bid for Jonathan’s head a national colouration.

What is more worrisome is the fact that, this intelligent report on coup like any other may be swept under the carpet and Nigeria will be worst for it because another coup will take her 50years backward.

For those calling for regime change in the country through whatever means they opt for, they may just be living in Alice’s Wonderland. Many reasons account for this.

The overwhelming mandate of the Jonathan administration at the 2011 presidential poll, even as certified by the Supreme Court recently makes him and his administration a very popular one whose mandate is not about to be lost for any reason.

On the recent fuel price saga that occasioned the week-long protest penultimate week, it is common knowledge that Nigerians are united on the fact that deregulation in that sector is the best thing that could happen in that area. Their only quarrel was the timing given the circumstances of the country’s economy and security issues.

Besides the patriotic alacrity with which the military including other security personnel guided the anti-fuel subsidy removal protests across the country leading to a record minimal casualty figures further underscores the administration’s approval rating.

Still in doubt, below is a record of coups in the country and their attendant draw-backs and casualties that have largely constituted an albatross in the country’s developmental struggles:

Coup d’êtres in Nigeria

January 15, 1966
On January 15, 1966, Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu led the first ever-military coup in Nigeria that led to the death of Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto and Premier of Northern Nigeria, Chief S.I. Akintola, the Premier of Western Region, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Prime Minister of Nigeria, Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh, Federal Minister of Finance and other military officers. The coup was poorly carried out in certain parts of the country and there was a strong accusation of tribalism. The Northern People accused Chukwuma as well as his fellow coup plotters of staging an Igbo coup. This is because most of the officers killed during the coup were those from other part of the country. The then general officer commanding the Nigerian army, Major-General Johnson Thomas Ununakwe Aguiyi Ironsi was sworn-in as the Military Head of State of Nigeria.

July 29, 1966
On 29 July, 1966, six months after the first coup plot, three young military officers of Northern background led by Lieutenant Colonel Murtala Muhammed staged a counter coup to even the score. This led to the death of Major-General J.T.U. Aguyi-Ironsi, Head of State, Col. Francis Adekunle Fajuyi Military Governor, Western region and other military officers. General Yakubu Gowon was then sworn-in as the Military Head of State.

Murtala Mohammed coup
In July 1975, a group of Colonel sacked the government of General Yakubu Gowon in a bloodless coup. General Murtala Muhammed also masterminded this coup. In this coup, no lives were lost. Muhammed assumed power in July 1975.

February 13, 1976
On 13 February 1976, six months later, Lieutenant-colonel Bukur Suka Dimka with his loyalist stage an abortive coup which claimed the lives of three officers; General Murtala Muhammed, Head of State, Col. Ibrahim Taiwo, Governor of Kwara State and Lt. Akintunde Akinsehinwa, ADC to Muhammed. This led to their arrest and subsequent execution of one civilian and 38 soldiers, including Major-General Illya Bisalla, five Colonel, four majors and other officers for their role in the failed coup.

Civilians involved in the coup include, Abdulkareem Zakari, a staff of Radio Nigeria, Lagos and Helen Gomwalk, sister-in-law of Joseph Gomwalk, were tried by military tribunal and punished. Zakari was executed for his involvement in the coup while Helen Gomwalk bagged a life sentence. She was later given amnesty by the Shehu Shagari administration.

The Muhammadu Buhari coup
On 31 December 1983, General Buhari Muhammadu staged a coup which sacked the Shagari’s administration. This coup led to the death of a loyal officer to the government, Brigadier Ibrahim Bako.

IBB’s coup
On 27 August 1985, Babangida led a palace coup which terminated the Buhari’s 20-month reign.

The Vatsa botched coup
In 1986, Major-General Mamman Vatsa led an abortive coup to overthrow the government of President Babangida. That same year, he and other 10 military officers were tried and were executed in March 1986.

Gideon Orka’s coup
On 22 April 1990, Gideon Orka staged an abortive coup to unseat the government of Ibrahim Babangida. The coup attempt has been describe as one of the bloodies coup and it was the largest execution of coup plotters in the nation’s history. This led to the death of nine loyal Soldiers. 69 soldiers of various ranks were accused of treason and they were killed by firing squad.

The second in command and Chief of general staff, Vice-admiral Augustus Aikhomu, revealed that at least three of the plotters of the April 22 coup were arrested, caution and released in 1987 over an alleged coup plot to overthrow the government.

They were G.T. Nyiam, a Lieutenant Colonel, S.D. Mukoro and Gideon Orkar, both majors. They were later released. Aikhomu also said that the officers regrouped once again in January to overthrow the government and had intended to kill not only the president, but also, the AFRC members and military governors, all civilian members of the council of ministers and senior military and police officers.

The suspects were later tried by the treason and other offences special military tribunal headed by Ike Nwachukwu, Major-General and then General Officer Commanding the 1 Mechanised Division of the Nigerian Army, Kaduna. After the trial, 42 persons were found guilty and condemned to death by firing squad. This was the largest execution of coup plotters in Nigeria’s history breaking the record of the 1976 coup led by Buka Suka Dimka in which 32 officers and men were executed.

Abacha’s Palace coup
On November 17, 1993, General Sani Abacha staged a palace coup to unseat the Interim National Government led by Chief Ernest Shonekan.

Alleged coup of 1995
In 1995, there was an alleged coup plot which involve General Obasanjo (retired), former head of state; Major General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua (retired) and other prominent Nigerians majority of whom were soldiers.

The civilians among them include Beko Ransome-Kuti, chairman of the Campaign for Democracy (CD), and his deputy, Shehu Uba Sani and four other Journalist. General Obasanjo and General Yar’Adua were jailed 15 and 25 years respectively. Yar’Adua died on Monday, December 8 1997 at Abakaliki prison, where he was serving his term while Obasanjo was released in 1998 by the then Head of State, General Abubakar.

Alleged coup of 1996
In December 1996, some top military officers were accused by General Abacha of an alleged coup plot. Then Chief of Defence Staff, General Abdulsalam Abubakar announced this on television. In his statement, he announced the arrest of 12 people who were planning to overthrow the federal government.

They are, Lieutenant-General Oladipo Diya, Chief of general staff and vice-chairman of the provisional Ruling Council ( PRC), Major-General Abdulkareem Adisa, former housing minister, Tajudeen Olanrewaju, former minister of communications, Colonels Daniel Akintonde, former military administrator in Ogun State, Edwin Jando, artillery brigade-commender, Abeokuta, Emmanuel Shoda, military assistant to Diya, Femi Peters, National War College, Abuja; Lieutenant-Colonel Olu Akiode, former military assistant to Olanrewaju; Major Biliaminu Mohammed, administrative officer in the presidency; Major Oluseun Fadipe, Chief security officer to Diya; K.A. Yusuf Ishiyaku, Artillery Department, Abuja; and Professor Femi Odekunle political adviser to Diya.

Summary of coups
Nigeria has had the following
· Five successful coups
· Two abortive coup
· One attempted coup
· Three alleged coup

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Exciting Tourist Destinations!

Posted on January 21, 2012 by parliamentintlmagazine

Nigeria offers a wide variety of tourist attractions such as extended and roomy river and ocean beaches ideal for swimming and other water sports, unique wildlife, vast tracts of unspoiled nature ranging from tropical forest, magnificent waterfalls, some new rapidly growing cities and climatic conditions in some parts particularly conducive to holidaying. Other attractions include traditional ways of life preserved in local customs; rich and varied handicrafts and other colourful products depicting or illustrative of native arts and lifestyle, and the authentic unsophisticated but friendly attitude of many in the Nigerian population. However, many of these attractions are still largely untapped and even at their raw states, they are still being enjoyed by few outsiders, either very rich visitors in quest of exoticism or adventurous people in search of new challenges and experiences.

The lack of required modern infrastructural facilities and in some parts of the country acute conditions of underdevelopment and poverty can be seen which many potential Nigeria bound tourist may not like to be confronted with. These are impediments to tourism, which the new administration has been tackling since assumption of office. Investors, both foreign and local are therefore called upon to come and invest in the abundant tourism potentials in the country. The richness and diversity of Nigeria’s tourism resources coupled with economic liberalisation policies will provide investment opportunities in various areas as follows:

Heritage/Cultural Tourism Resources Development of slave trade relics
Establishment of museums and preservation of monuments
Wildlife Tourism Resources
Development of hiking trails and Jeep tracks in the national parks
Development of picnic and camping sites at strategic locations within the trail circuit system in the national parks
Building of tourist lodges
Building of reception centres at Natural/Physical Attractions
Provision of cable bus system to take tourist through the very rugged but scenic terrain of the mountains especially in Kanyang, Obudu and Mambilla Plateau Construction of lodge cabins for expedition tourist and rangers.
Establishment of hotels and resorts near waterfalls, springs, caves and temperate climate areas such as Obudu, jos and Mambila Plateau.
Beach Tourism potentials Establishment of boating and sport fishing facilities
Development of water transportation Provision of educational facilities for water skiing and swimming
Establishment of holiday resorts along the coasts.
Development of Amusement parks, entertainment facilities and shopping services
Development of arts and crafts which constitute symbol of the people’s cultural values and love for nature.

SOME BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

Transportation

Nigeria has attained a high level of good transportation system especially Airline and Road Transportation, investment opportunities are still needed in water recreation transportation and rail services.

Hospitality

This sector of the tourism industry seems to be the most competitive area with the presence of starwood Hotel Groups, owners of Sheratons, Hilton, Le Meridien, Shangra Lai the Asian Hotel giant in restaurants and many

Beach

Meanwhile, most of Nigeria’s beautiful beaches locations are still largely without accommodation facilities, which are targets for investors in most tourism destinations across the globe.

Tour Operations

Like the Europeans and Americas tour companies invaded the North, South and East Africa by having tour offices in these regions which enable them to market destinations in their home countries is lacking in the case of Nigeria. Any Company willing to do so for Nigeria will be highly welcome. local hotel and restaurant groups battling for a better share of the market.

Investment Climate

Apart from the enormous potentials and investment opportunities in the Nigerian tourism sector, the country’s investment climate at present is one of the most favourable in Africa for a number of reasons:

Political Stability- The enthronement of a viable democratic system, which guarantees political stability, improves international relation and respect for human rights would in various ways enhance investment opportunities in the country.

Tourism Incentives

The provision of incentives in the 1990 National Tourism Policy were also to enhance private sector participation. These are in the following areas:

YANKARI GAME RESERVE

The Yankari National Park is the premier game reserve in Nigeria. Yankari Park and Wikki Warm Springs are located around the Gagi River, approximately 1 1/2 hours by road, southeast of Bauchi Town. The beauty and size of The Yankari Game Reserve make it the most popular reserve in Nigeria.

Set up in 1956 and opened to the public in 1962, the main game-viewing areas of the reserve are open all year round. Japanese, Western Europeans, Americans and Southeast Asian tourists visit this park in abundance.

The reserve covers 2,058 sq. km. of savanna woodland and is well-stocked with elephants, baboons, waterbucks, bushbucks, oribi, crocodile, hippopotamus, roan antelope, buffalo and various types of monkeys. Lions are occasionally spotted as well, despite their natural camouflage. The best time to visit is between November and May, when tourists are likely to see more game since the dense vegetation has dried out and the animals congregate around the rivers.

The Wikki Warm Springs is one of the best features of the game reserves. Flood-lit at night, it is wonderful after a hot day’s game-viewing to relax in the warm water. The spring gushes out from under a cliff, where the water is at least 6 ft. deep, with a bathing area that extends for 600 ft. to an open area. The park is inhabited by a variety of birds, including the huge saddlebill stork, golliath heron, bateleur eagle, vultures, kingflshers, bee-eaters and more. It is excellent for serious bird-watchers.

Other facilities include: Tennis courts, squash courts, a small museum in the reception area plus gas stations with convenience stores at Wikki Camp and Bauchi.

Reservations: It is advisable to make reservation during the holidays and weekends with Easter a particularly busy season. There are many other National Parks besides Yankari, as illustrated on the map. Notable ones include Mambilla, Gumti National Park, Cross River National Park, and Kainji Lake National Park.

The Obudu Ranch

The Obudu Ranch is a popular holiday destination for adventurous tourists wishing to explore the remote corners of Nigeria. Situated in the northeast corner of Cross River State, only 45 miles from the Cameroon border, a tourist can enjoy the countryside of both Nigeria and Cameroon at the same time.

The Obudu Plateau is spread over an area of 40 sq. miles. It is 5,200 feet above sea level. The climate is cool and pleasant with no mosquitoes.

The landscape is spectacular, with rolling grasslands, deep-wooded valleys and waterfalls. Iris best to visit Obudu in the dry season since during the rainy season much of the ranch may be covered in mist and low clouds and there are thunderstorms. Between Dec. and Feb. the harmattan is heavy; therefore, the best times for a visit are the end of Oct. to Dec. and March to May before the rainy season.

Attractions:

Gorilla Camp, 13 km from the hotel, is accessible either by vehicle or on foot, where one can take a long, picturesque walk to the camp, and observe gorillas in their natural habitat. Guests may also ride horses or embark on hiking trips into the wild (comfortable shoes and a guide are recommended). Birdwatching here is unparalleled and there is a pleasantly shaded natural swimming pool near the Ranch House. If visitors accept the challenge of a three-hour hike, they’ll be rewarded with a stop at the waterfall, nestled amid captivating scenery. In spite of the altitude, it can get quite hot in the day, with five sunshine hours in the dry season (Oct. – April) and roughly two during rainy season (July to Aug.). Other activities include: golf, badminton, lawn tennis, squash and horseback riding.

Accommodations:

The Ranch Hotel maintains 33 chalets and boasts a friendly staff, superb restaurant and bar, and laundry/dry cleaning services. Chalets provide exquisite comfort with a large sitting room, color TV, VCR, cocktail bar, kitchen & spacious bedroom with double bed. The Ranch Hotel operates 24-hours during peak periods, Sept.-Dec., reservations should be made at the Cross River State House in Lagos.

Route:

The sights are spectacular on the drive east, through rolling mountains and the dense forest with trees so high their branches form a canopy, shading out the sun entirely. This phenomenon has led to the area being called “Nigeria’s Amazon,” and is not to be missed. However, should one prefer to fly, they can do so from any major city to Calabar then proceed by car over the five hour route via Ikom.

Conclusion

Tourism investment atmosphere in Nigeria is now conducive given the abundant resources available, large market, enthronement of enduring democracy, and a package of incentive put together by government. Foreign investors and other interested individuals should take these advantages to invest in the Nigerian tourism industry for sustainability and profitable returns.

Tourism Investment Opportunities In Nigeria

A Tourism policy was produced in 1990 with the basic objectives to make Nigeria the ultimate tourism destination in Africa.

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Iran: Overcoming sanction with dignity

Posted on January 21, 2012 by parliamentintlmagazine

Islamic Republic of Iran is a modern nation that emerges from the ancient kingdom of Medo-Persia which civilisation dated back to over 7,000 years ago. It is therefore, no wonder that she has in her reservoir deep sense of socio-cultural, traditional and historical template from which she readily draws inspiration and strength of character to launch forth a process of modernisation of civilisation capable of national transformation in this contemporary era. The result today is that the country is fast becoming progressively strong nation.

Unlike most countries in today’s world, colonised, imperialised, bastardised and made almost eternally subservient to foreign powers, the Iranian nation has fought every attempt at colonisation to a standstill and has emerged to become one of the most glorious voice and power against imperialism, multi-national and trans-national corporations manipulations and exploitations.

All these did not come without a price. Iran just like some other countries today, come under bad political leadership, that was corrupt, morally decadent and was killing to mortgage the glorious history of the Persian nation for corruption of the Western influence and manipulation.

As one of the largest producers of crude oil and gas, Iran became a bride for the insatiable greed of Western powers, multi-national and trans-national corporation’s exploitation and hegemonic drive under a morally deficient and corrupt political leadership of the ill-mannered Mohammed Reza kingship of the Shar Dynasty. It was against this national cultural and spiritual degeneration, corruption and national plundering rose the pragmatic, enigmatic and learned Imam Grand Aiyattolah Khomeini whom in the light of righteousness led a revolution in 1979, which toppled the decadent, subservient and corrupt regime of the Shar Dynasty. He quickly retraced the glorious social-cultural, political and spiritual identity of the Iranian nation, with which he set out to define a direction, rules of engagement and character for the revolution. He renamed the country Islamic Republic of Iran to give focus to his transformation agenda for the country.

The modern Iranian nation is built upon three major pillars put in place by the Grand Ayahttolah Iman Khomeini and being faithfully sustained by the current spiritual leader, Imam Grand Ayahttolah Khermeini namely: cultural government, structured economy and disciple political leadership.

Cultural Governance: The Ayahtollah gave the Iranian nation a direction which emphasises that in the success and failure of people or nation, luck nor coincidences are factors, but “ill manners.” He therefore indoctrinated the Iranian particularly the youths on the necessity for good conduct and morality, ability to think thoroughly, spiritual and cultural consciousness and historical reflection based on the fear of God and obedience to Gods commandments as the basis for national regeneration and reconstruction.

Structured Economy: On structured economy, Iran’s Khomeini emphasised responsibility and control that must focus two vital areas: Capacity of the nation to ensure food security and self sufficiency. According to him it will be difficult for hungry people to think properly let alone creatively therefore agriculture is the key; and that there is no place for the weak and the fragmented in a world of dogs eating dogs and the prowling hyenas.

Disciplined Political Leadership: Identified love as the light of life and counselled that it must be the driving force in the social relationship among Iranians irrespective of religion, social status and cultural inclinations. That is why in Iran today the Muslim, the Christians and even the traditional religion worshipers of fire are working together in unity of purpose to build the Iranian nation. Diligence, hard work, dutifulness, faithfulness and abhorrence of corruptions and strict punishment of corruptions, balanced democracy with effective checks and balances under spiritual guardians that is subservient only to God’s commandment.

These are the basis of the Iranian success story that has led to the triumph of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the force of visible and threatening International imperialist conspiracy and adversities from those who considered themselves powerful and had wished that Iran be vegetable in the launch and dinner tables of their multi-national and trans-national corporations glutonic, greed and insatiable appetite.

The following will convince doubting Thomases of the developmental drives and accomplishments of the Iranian nation in the face of adversity:

Iran producers over 85per cent of her national needs
Iran manufactures her own arms and ammunitions including sophisticated weaponry and military capability.
Iran has one of the largest world steel producing company
Iran exported about 600,000 home made cars in 2010
In the face of sanction which prohibited Iran from purchasing nuclear fuel rod, Iran successfully produced her own.
Iran successfully developed, produced and among many uncountable others achievements.

In every strata of development indicators and stride, be it scientific, technological, education and spiritual indicators, Iran has become a force to reckon with in all ramifications. The country is therefore a responsible nation that her courtship should be cultivated by all nations and countries of goodwill based on the game spirit of International co-operations establish on mutual trust and respect.

On the question of Iran sponsorship of International terrorism, this is a blatant and unsubstantiated allegation manufactured through the imagination of those who are hoping to gain the controls of Iranian national wealth by force. Yes, Iran sponsors liberation movement such as the Palestinians and the Hezbollah and such organisations and these organisations are recognise by the United Nations Organisation.

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Special Interview with Henry Okah

Posted on January 21, 2012 by parliamentintlmagazine

Henry Okah, a South Africa-based businessman, currently on trial for October 1, 2010 blasts in Abuja Nigeria, claimed aides of the president advised him to blame northern politicians for the outrageous act. Perhaps more than the blasts, Mr. Okah’s statement has provided fodder for opponents of President Jonathan to attack him. It has also served to rouse Mr. Jonathan’s supporters, who said the disputed interview is further proof that Mr. Okah was out to get the president. Gowon Usman Egbunu, Parliament International’s Editor-in-Chief conducted this interview on phone in the last quarter of 2011.

Who is Henry Okah?

I do not speak about myself as it may be construed as an attempt at redeeming an image frequently under assault from government sponsored propaganda. Instead I encourage people to look through the innuendoes, extract facts and form opinions independent of government. It should be noted however that I am impervious to biased criticism, guided by my conscience, cannot be intimidated and sway only to reason.

You were alleged to have master minded the October 1, 2010 bomb blast in Abuja, how do you respond to this?

These allegations are before a court of law so it is inappropriate for me to respond to this question. Unlike the Nigerian government, I am comfortable with the South African justice system which I firmly believe will resist continued South African government interference.

Do you think the best way to emancipate the people of the Niger Delta is through guerilla warfare? What will you say about the political and traditional leaders of your region who have denied your people access to better social amenities over the years?

Political in the Niger Delta are as corrupt as their counterparts in other parts of Nigeria. The mistreatment and abuse of the populace is not peculiar to the Niger Delta and will only change when corruption in Nigeria is tackled right from the top.

Traditional rulers in the Niger Delta command little or no respect. They are mostly puppets collaborating with every government in power for personal gains. They are not responsible for the injustice in the Niger Delta but feed off it. Most people forget that the people of the Niger Delta have attempted in the past to seek justice through peaceful means.

The injustice in the Niger Delta has persisted for five decades while the only real armed uprising challenging the injustice in the Niger Delta is barely six years old.

Armed insurrection is resultant upon the frustration of people whose peaceful resistance to an injustice has always been met with brutal military force. Nowhere in the world besides Nigeria do oil companies and oil service companies forcibly occupy land accompanied by government soldiers.

What is the relationship between MEND, Boko Haram, Al-Queda Network and Al-Shabaab?

I do not know of any working relationship between Islamic groups in the north and groups within the Niger Delta. The Nigerian government sought to draw this parallel during my application for bail with the false hope that their allegations would complicate my situation in South Africa courts. My lawyer described the Nigerian attorney general as a disgraced and I am compelled to agree with this description. When the Nigerian attorney general’s incoherent letter linking me to Islamic groups in the north was read in court, I felt nothing but shame for this shameless liar and the president he represents. The people of the Niger Delta are fighting against an obvious injustice while Islamic groups in the north are fueled by religious intolerance.

Will you accept another amnesty from President Jonathan?

I never accepted the amnesty as put forward by the Nigerian government. All who accepted were required to sign a form renouncing violence as a means of seeking justice in the Niger delta. I bluntly refused to sign this form. In addition, they were issued I.D. cards and are paid a monthly stipend. None of this applied to me.

I simply accepted to be released to save face for President Yar Adua’s government and pave the way for dialogue as a means of resolving the crisis in the Niger delta.

A pre-condition for peace in the Niger delta was the start of dialogue with all parties towards seeking a lasting solution to the perennial unrest in the Niger delta. The offer of amnesty was never intended as a solution to the problem in the Niger delta but aimed at creating an enabling environment for dialogue.

Dialogue with a number of groups was initiated by the late president Yar Adua but abandoned by Goodluck Jonathan for reasons best known to him.

Dialogue was a pre – condition for peace and in the absence of this, all fighting for justice in the Niger delta are well within their rights to resume with armed struggle in the Niger delta.

Goodluck Jonathan cannot be trusted and very soon, he will run out of luck. What Boko Haram is doing now is little to what is awaiting him from December 2011. Not even the Military power of America will save him. He is a betrayer.

Do you believe in project Nigeria? If yes, what is the Nigeria of your dream?

Nigeria possesses great potential as a nation though our growth has been stunted by decades of military rule and corrupt civilian leadership. I am against the disintegration of Nigeria and believe that with proper leadership, Nigeria will assume its rightful place amongst nations.

You were standing trial over charges of treason felony and arms dealing, along the line, you embraced President Yar Adua’s amnesty, today you are facing another trial. What went wrong along the line and how did you get here?

I am standing trial in South Africa because the government of South Africa is failing to understand that it is interfering in a potentially explosive situation which can only be resolved by Nigerians. The South African government is doing all this with the hope of improving trade relations and assuring the security of its investments in Nigeria but fails to appreciate that South African investments have thrived oblivious to conflict in various parts of Nigeria only on account of the neutrality of the past South Africa governments.

In my meetings with President Yar Adua which were witnessed by some of his aids, I made it clear that violence would re-surface if the real issues were not attended to. Without a doubt, the Niger delta will again erupt and I hope the government of South Africa will wisely extricate itself in good time.

What really does Henry Okah want from the federal Government of Nigeria?

Dialogue is a vital first step.

Is Henry Okah the same as Jomo Gbomo? If no, where is Jomo Gbomo?

Jomo Gbomo in all likelihood is a pseudonym for the media angle of MEND. Before my 2007 arrest in Angola some noisemakers appeared in the Nigerian media claiming I was responsible for emails emanating from MEND. After my arrest they pointed fingers at my brother and then my wife. In response to such baseless talk, the South African police confiscated three laptop computers from my home and I can confidently say nothing relating to MEND will be found on any of those comports.

What was the secret deal between you and some of President Jonathan’s aids?

There was never any deal between any of President Jonathan’s aids and myself. President Jonathan reached out to me through two emissaries in a move which I hoped was intended at finally resolving the crisis in the Niger delta. My optimism was quickly transformed to disappointment after my meeting with the second emissary some time in around April 2010. In this meeting held in South Africa, I was requested to pay for an advertisement in a Nigerian daily extolling some imaginary virtues of President Jonathan. I immediately declined as this would have been out of character with me. I am neither a politician nor a thug and have no interest in securing government contracts of any sort.

I inquired about President Jonathan’s plans for the Niger delta and was informed that it would be disgraceful to Jonathan if fighting resume during his tenure in office. It was then suggested by the president’s representative that we continue with our agitation when he leaves office. I found repugnant, the suggestion that an indigene of the Niger delta be allowed to rule in peace while doing nothing to aid the region then turning around to fight a northerner for acting likewise. Government propaganda presents me as making demands for an oil block. None of the fighters in the Niger delta will accept this lie. The Nigerian government is desperate and if indeed my demands were financial, I would have been “settled” long ago.

Mr. Okah, what in your opinion do you think can bring about peace and social justice in Nigeria?

The government of Nigeria must learn to employ the use of force as a last resort. Dialogue should be the preferred weapon of engagement. As a result of decades of military rule, civilian governments in Nigeria are now used to dictating. The president, governors and other government officials appears to have no idea that they are merely servants of the public. The military and the police have not been taught that they are protectors of the public.

It is common practice for security personal to go around with whips which are used in assaulting civilians without consequence. Public servants see nothing wrong with the brutalization of civilians to make way for their convoys. Minor disputes in universities and legitimate civil demonstrations are subdued with brutal force.

Boko Haram and other radical movements around Nigeria may at some point have attempted unsuccessfully advance their objectives through dialogue. Nigerian leaders should learn to listen and dialogue. The use of helicopter gunships and Nigerian soldiers must always be a last resort.

What is this new charge about you trying to cause harm to internationally protected person about?

That charge relates to the presence of President Jonathan within the vicinity of the bombings in Abuja. I am unconcerned about all the charges in South Africa. The courts will decide.

In February or thereabout this year, you were allegedly moved to what the South African security term maximum security cell. Why? Did you truly have mobile phones on you in a restricted custody?

The prison officials pretended like I did something strange by being in possession of cell phones. Practically everyone in South African prisons has a cell phone and it is no different in the maximum security prison for sentenced offenders where I am presently being held.

It is evident that the South African government is receiving its orders from Nigeria and this violation of my rights as an awaiting trial inmate is intended to please the Nigerian government and has nothing to do with denying me access to phones.

You reportedly said that Nigeria is refusing to seek your extradition home for trial for reason best known to you. What are the reasons?

I would rather not talk about that for now.

Immediately after the October 1, bomb 2010 Abuja Eagle square bomb blast, you became a suspect. Today you are in South Africa being prosecuted for terrorism. Did you mastermind the Abuja Eagle square bombings?

I am indisposed to commenting about a case before the courts. However, is it not amazing that I was arrested hours after the bombing without any investigation or evidence pointing in my direction? Sadly for the South African judiciary, the South African government interfered to effect my arrest and continued detention. My bail was rejected on dubious and non – existence evidence which the South African police supposedly retrieved from a brand new and unused computer.

In reality the Nigerian government sought to arrest me in Congo Brazzaville. I learnt about this and chose to avoid that country. They then sent a delegation which met with the South African authorities. The South African authorities identified a law under which I could be detained and had been waiting for an opportunity to arrest me. I was aware of this meeting and indicated so in my diary which was read in court. In 2010 shortly before my arrest, I brought this to the attention of President Jonathan when we spoke on the phone. He denied knowledge of all this and promised to investigate. I also cited this as reason for my refusal to meet with the new director general of the SSS who requested meeting with me.

What about your brothers being held. Do you hear from them? How do you react to their prosecution in Nigeria; and yours in South Africa?

I am confident that by Gods grace, all this will eventually blow by and I will again face the more important issue of fighting for justice in the Niger delta. The Nigerian government is holding my brother out of spite just as they attempted to detain Dr Dokpesi to spite Gen. Babangida. The pettiness of the Nigerian government is further revealed by their actions in confiscating goods entirely relevant to my brother’s legitimate business in Nigeria in an attempt to destroy his business and punish his family. In Nigeria such uncivilized behavior is to be expected. My brother is not afforded the luxury of a phone so I am unable to contact him directly.

The South African government in the indictment served on me, contends that the offer of amnesty in the Niger delta was sufficient concession by the government of Nigeria to address the injustice in the Niger delta. This assertion is an absurdity and an insult to every indigene of the Niger delta. It further demonstrates the ignorance of the South African government to the problems in the Niger delta and the volatility of that region. Why didn’t the ANC accept amnesty and continue with white rule? The Nigerian government’s problem with me is my refusal to be assimilated into its farce of a peace process.

A process that involves the unbridled theft of public funds under the guise of payments to non-existing militants. Fewer than two thousand people were engaged in the fighting in the delta yet the government of Nigeria claims to have rehabilitated a number greater than the Nigerian army.

I am unfazed by this temporary obstacle in my path. Someday it will be just another insignificant “battle scar”.

Do you suspect any mischief or ulterior motive for your present plight? If yes; by who, and what for.

The South African government, Nigerian government and oil companies in Nigeria are complicit in my and continued detention. I am interfering with the criminal actions of oil companies in the Niger delta.

Are you not disappointed that as a Niger Deltan, the government back here in Nigeria is headed by a man that can be said to be your brother and fellow Niger Deltan; and yet you remain incarcerated in South Africa for an alleged offence that can be resolved by Nigerian courts?

“Alls fair in love and war”. I care little for President Jonathan being from the Niger delta. The battle for the resources of the Niger delta is a war which certain dark forces are determined to win. Jonathan like most people will do the unthinkable to remain in power and this is one of such moves.

I do not begrudge him for this hostile action which President Jonathan may perceive to be for self preservation. I like most Nigerians I supported his succession to office after the death of President Yar Adua as this was his legal right.

On the other hand, the Niger delta is bigger than Goodluck Jonathan, myself or any other individual and hope the people of this region will continue to resist the selfish objectives of Goodluck Jonathan, the oil companies or any other individuals in relation to the interest of the people of the Niger delta.

Do you suspect your plight to be the handiwork of some powerful forces determined to keep you lock out of nearness to where you can easily find voice for justice? Why?

This is all about oil and the continuous deception of the Nigerian people. Those who claim Goodluck Jonathan has brought peace to the Niger delta should state one thing he has done to achieve this. The last offer of amnesty was made by President Yar Adua to create a suitable environment for dialogue. What is Jonathan’s contribution so far? Nothing. Instead he refuses to learn from the mistake of his predecessors by sustaining the lavish lifestyles of charlatans with no unique attributes but who claim to possess a magic portion for peace in the Niger delta.

You reportedly told Financial Times October last year that an associate of President Goodluck Jonathan wanted you to assist in some form of political attacks. Who is this Presidential aide, and what form of assistance did he/she want? Why did you decline?

I also mentioned that this was to assist in pointing the bombings in Abuja in the direction of General Babangida. Evidence relating to this is already before the courts in South Africa so I can say no more. I refused to aid with this plot as it is simply evil.

Surely, you must be in touch with happenings in Nigeria. How do you react to the rising spate of violence and bombings in the country, including the UN building in Abuja?

Many people fail to realize that all the violence being witnessed today is a product of corruption, bad leadership and the continued preference of state sanctioned violence to dialogue. Nigerians are simply frustrated with the prevarication of this confused government.

What is happening to MEND? Is it still on or dead? Or are Niger Deltans satisfied with developments so far in the region?

I have no knowledge of the plans or activities of MEND. It is inconceivable though that such a complex and enduring problem such as exists in the Niger delta will simply evaporate with Jonathan being president as that was never any of the demands of those fighting for justice in the Niger delta. Time will either vindicate President Jonathan or expose his claims of peace in the Niger delta to be fallacy.

With the current spate of violence, especially in the north of the country, were you to be consulted, what would you proffer a way out of the obvious threat to the country’s unity?

I re-emphasize my wish that dialogue be the choice weapon for fighting all conflicts threatening the unity of Nigeria. This government should also desist from paying people to make empty threats against other Nigerian. The Niger delta without oil is an obscure part of Nigeria which cannot by itself wage war against the rest of the Nigeria. Militants in the Niger delta are capable of causing damage within the Niger Delta only and threats being presently issued at the covert instigation of President Jonathan are empty but have potential to create disunity in Nigeria. The real cure for Nigeria however is the extermination of its corrupt leadership. This cannot be achieved through elections as these corrupt leaders are adept at manipulating election results.

The Nigerian government celebrated the exits of Moummar Gadaffi while in reality he and other deposed dictators are more deserving of leadership than the crop of politicians ruling Nigeria.

North African groaning under their now deposed leaders lived better lives than Nigerians. This was evidenced by the reluctance of Nigerians in war torn Libya to b evacuated. Nigeria will only return to the path of success when Nigerians sum up the courage, unify and march on Abuja to excise the “cancer of corruption”, as epitomized by greedy and incompetent leaders.

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Rising Music Sensation – RUTHNAN

Posted on January 20, 2012 by parliamentintlmagazine

“…I was turned down at an audition at Sheraton Hotel but now, I have 12 tracks.”

Life has being the survival of the fittest. This struggle which has led this artist to where she is today from a humble background to sharing stage with prominent face in the music industry is so endearing. Ruthnan, has kept her game tight and is set to grease the world stage. In this interview with Parliament International she shares her experiences.

Background:

For the benefit of you the reader, who may not have met this music Diva, her experience is that of commitment, dedication and resilience all in search for fame. Ruthnan Pachan is an indigene of Plateau state, Muphun by tribe, from Phankshin Local Government. Her experience in music started way back from her primary school days when she had the opportunity of doing music to the delight of classmates, friends and teachers. “Life has never been that fair but with God on my side I have learnt to whether the storms and here I am today with lots of stories to tell” she said. She started performing with live band back in 2003. In search of greener pasture she opted to come to Abuja, this move which was first presented in 2004 will only triggered the desire of being on stage by this sensational, fast rising music artist. So many things have gone underground in her quest to coming out strong but “I have never entertained any regret coming to this town” she said.

Doing music in Abuja:

Doing music in Abuja for the diva is exciting and gradually rewarding “it helps pay my bills beside other things I do.” Right from Jos, her associations with doing copy write music is really an expression of her deepest drive of wanting to know how the big names like Michael Jackson, Dolly Paton, Janet Jackson, and Whitney Houston became great and rose to fame. These names right from her early life had had tremendous influence on her. Though at that level she was rarely doing music professionally but, people around her gave her the opportunity even when it wasn’t clear if that was what she wanted to do in life. To this end, she owes it a honor to her primary school teacher who so believed In her and gave her lead roles in school choir. What an experience she recalls.

What was so paramount for you when you first started?

When I started, the passion was there, I had this dream that things would work out and I did my best to make sure things worked out the best way I thought I knew. So, the opportunities I had I made sure I utilized them to the best of my knowledge even though I had some doubts which trilled my heart. When I came to Abuja, which was where reality dawn on me that I have to foot my bills and take care of things around me all by myself. I became more aware of the fact that I was never going to be presented with things the way it was from Primary school. So, if I must survive, I have to make this thing more professional like place a demand on my talent and ask for payment. Before then, all I get were peanuts and most times nothing to show for what I was doing which left more questions then answers. In that state, I had to speak out and negotiated with who ever wanted my services.

Live band and studio work, any preference?

In her words, “I wouldn’t say either is good or bad.” She feels both have their different advantages. Live band performances presents a lot of opportunities like helping artists whether stage freight, master artist to audience communication and make artist to be thorough in learning other people’s songs. Studio recording on the other hand, brings you out faster. “The business of live bands in Nigeria is most times restricted to some kind of events but with your recorded work, you can hit the airwaves on time and get recognized easily.” She said.

What kind of music do you do?

Doing music with live bands brought varieties for this music diva. With hard work she’s been able to define her kind of music which style is R&B, Native and Pop. The native feel in her song, is such that “I don’t forget where I come from.” She said. “I do the foreign music best but nobody can take the language thing away from me. I do English because I want the people who don’t understand my native language to get to appreciate my songs.

Your vision for music:

I hope to make it big like Asa. As I am climbing the ladder I let God determine how far He wants me to go and where my achievements lead.

How prepared for success are you?

I have learnt to say God surprise me. Sometimes, what we think doesn’t come through the way we had thought they would. Taking this back to the experience I had during the promo of my work, my expectations were high thinking the radio stations will play my songs as soon as I get to meet with them which will ultimately precede my popularity and mega bulks rolling into my account but, all of those were just a mirage and the reverse was the case. So, I have learnt to say God surprise me.

Biggest show you’ve played in?

RAW, that is in 2006 when a church hosted me at the Arts and Culture Centre Abuja.

What is in the box for now?

Currently, I have 12 track album and I am working toward getting a marketer for the album. I started off with just three songs but over time, I have being push to the wall to bring out my best. For now, I do the inter-personal sales and reach out to my audience through live band shows and I believe that through them the big shows will come I don’t know when but I am trusting that it will come soon.

How do you get inspiration to write?

I get inspired when I am alone in touch with nature.

Record label started knocking?

I have problem with the marketing aspect in music, so, if I have a marketer who will buy off my work I’d be good without the record label thing for now. For my shows, I depend on my in house person to work that out for me. If the record labels had come in those early days in my career, I would have taken advantage of the offer but for now, I work with my manager who I have known for over 8 years. This is personal but I have had problems with record label thing.

Challenges in the industry:

Finance and Job risk.

Words for up coming Artists:

If you are really good like Asa, it’s just a matter of time hold on to your dreams because they come through. Use your opportunities wisely and relate to people well.

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Tunde Bakare: Living A Lie

Posted on January 18, 2012 by parliamentintlmagazine

No one contends the fact that Pentecostal pastor and head of the Lagos-based Latter Rain Assembly, Tunde Bakare has received national and international attention for his televangelism, which has sometimes been critical of governments in the country. Indeed, he was in March 2002 reportedly arrested after sermons apparently critical of then President Olusegun Obasanjo.

According to records, Bakare rose from humble beginnings to a position of influence. He was born to a Christian mother and a Muslim father, whom he did not grow up to know. His Christian mother, Madam Abigail Bakare raised him up along with other siblings and that made him inclined towards his mother’s religion of Christianity.

Married to Mrs. Olayide Bakare in 1984, Pastor Bakare’s marriage has played a strong pivotal role in his life, career and ministry. Mrs. B as she is affectionately referred to by her husband has been involved in the work of Ministry all her adult life and has served alongside her husband since their wedding in 1984.

First as a co-pastor of The Latter Rain Assembly and presently a member of the board of trustees of the Church, Mrs. Bakare has been instrumental to the growth and development of her husband’s ministry. She has also raised two girls and three boys born in their 26 years of marriage.

According to the pastor, his lifestyle can be summarized under five major aspects of his life:

His persuasion: “I’m fully persuaded that I will live long in health; having long life in health, with wealth for the purpose for which He created me to be a blessing to humanity”. This persuasion invariably affects and informs his thought patterns, decision making process and choices in life.

His conviction: “God will not justify the wicked, He will not forsake the righteous; the wickedness of a wicked man will fall upon his head and the righteousness of a righteous man will answer for him in the days to come”.

“The minority that is right will become the majority and the majority that is wrong will become the minority, it’s just a matter of time”.

His passion: “To see that the true perspective of the gospel of Jesus Christ is given to people without any contamination or mixture”.

His Legacy: “My legacy? The grace to pray through”. Surprisingly, Pastor Bakare initially as a young Christian did not have a flare or desire to pray, but according to him, circumstances in his marriage as orchestrated by God taught him not only how to pray but also how to pray through.

Secret of his success: Obedience only to the word and instructions of God. Sandwiched between his willingness and desire to do the will of God is obedience even when all things are working contrary to the word of God. He also appeared on AIT television to preach the word of God. The Nigerian presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, on January 31, 2011 announced Bakare as his running mate for the 2011 presidential election which he accepted. Unfortunately, CPC lost the presidential election to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and the ruling PDP.

Living in lies

Ever since his party lost the 2011 presidential poll, Bakare has never ceased to impugn the person, persona and integrity of the President. He not only uses the privilege presented by the Holy Pulpit of God to do the foregoing ungodly act, he also uses the opportunity of any public occasion he finds himself to do it. That nobody listens to his sermonisations today is an indication of the unfortunate embarrassment he has become in the eyes of observing Nigerians.

Perhaps in trying to be in tune with the tripod stand on which he claims to have found his church, Bakare stepped into the shoes of human rights crusaders employing the tools of activism in prosecuting his self-destruct agenda.

His philosophy in this respect is deviously simple: anyone or group whose position on issues of national import is not in tandem with his stand is corrupt, ungodly and anti-people. Little wonder that he conveniently quarrels with any person today and suddenly finds cause to work with same person when he sees a window for reaping where he did not sow the next day.

It is for this and other reason that not a few members of his church had reason to expose him early 2011.

Testimonies

Riding on the back and credibility of Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka 2010, Bakare lead his moribund Save Nigeria group, SNG to protest the stalemate staring the nation on its face following the long absence of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua from the country on grounds of ill health.

But months after he reveled in the positive fallouts of his SNG’s venture using the National Assembly as the vehicle to land him on that pedestal, the truth came out that the pastor was not the man that he made all to believe he was.

In the light of the foregoing, Debo Adeniran, a former military aide to retired General Ibrahim Babangida wrote; “When we were locked out of the National Assembly on SNC’s second procession there, some of us suggested we sat on the Assembly till they were ready to listen to us. Bakare was SCARED. He rationalized that the Assembly could repel us with force if we stayed longer and that procession didn’t have to see the legislators at all costs but only to deliver a position paper to it and the then Acting President.

“But the same Bakare persuaded the procession to make do, in lieu of GEJ, with Yayale Ahmed who truncated the Procession to Aso Rock Villa when he ran to it a few metres to the planned destination.

“It was then that we knew that we rode on Wole Soyinka’s integrity to gain entry to NASS on the first trip, rather than the banalised capability of Bakare to organise a successful protest march. “I’ve been a follower for so long in the movement and would not have minded if beyond being a shepherd who considered everybody his sheep, Tunde Bakare makes a credible and humble leader who earns respect of followers by dealing with everybody as somebody and nobody as nobody.

“I know how General Akinrinade got involved in SNG, we worked closely together at the Movement for Yoruba Autonomy (MOYA) of which I’m the Secretary-General.

“I flew with Prof Soyinka to Abuja the morning of the protest and during the Virgin Nigeria’s 3-hour delay at the airport, MMA2 restaurant, and partly on board Soyinka explained the limit of his participation in the protest. I therefore have information about Soyinka’s true position on SNG.

“I witnessed it when Tunde Bakare’s bouncers prevented many known home-based activists and almost prevented Prof Adeyeye from getting to the podium during the first Lagos Rally/Procession. I played an acknowledged role in pacifying our cadres who felt offended. I also know how Femi Falana was prevented from presenting Soyinka’s emailed message at the Lagos governor’s office.

“We know leaders of courage, leaders of convenient and leaders of opportunism.

“You want to know the source of Bakare’s initial courage and confidence to engage in street protest? It was the pretence that the SNG under Bakare was supporting Jonathan and his aspirations! “Is it the same Bakare that is now threatening to lead a revolution? He can’t lead nothing!”

Also, on October 2, 2006, ahead of the 2007 presidential election, Bakare speaking in the office of a prophet of God in an interview dismissed Buhari among others as credible persons that could rule the country.“Let me tell you the truth by the spirit of God, neither OBJ (President Olusegun Obasanjo), Atiku (Abubakar), IBB and this tall one, (Muhammadu) Buhari are part of the new. They are part of the old that is decaying. That old one is passing away. The new is emerging and these ones are not part of that new.”

“..Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.” 1 Samuel 15:22-2

But God in His all-knowing wisdom proved the lie in Bakare when a few years later he turned around to say that the same God who had ruled out Buhari had asked him to run with the retired military man in the 2011 presidential poll.

The development no doubt caused an observer to write; “If the result of this election which installed President Goodluck E. Jonathan (GEJ) is the handiwork of God, then truly to Pastor Bakare, God “hath also rejected thee from being king.”

“To this end, whatever calamities might come his way, he would have deserved it. But, if God has nothing to do with the victory of GEJ, then it would mean that Pastor Bakare has lied in the name of the Most High and deceived the rest of us with his purported revelation, claiming to see what God did not show him. This would characterize him as an exposed fraudulent, dubious, dishonest and dangerous man that all men and women of goodwill, who cherish integrity and dignity, should stay away from. Either way, Pastor Bakare is a loser both on the spiritual and temporal plains.

“This writer is an advocate of using the pulpit to advance the cause of equity and fairness amongst the people as well as responsibility and accountability on the part of the rulership. There is nothing wrong to be politically active as a man of God. It is not a sin and neither is it a crime. But to claim to have had a revelation from God Almighty and then act against such revelation, leaves much to be desired. In this writers view, only untutored followers who have been indoctrinated beyond redemption could still follow a man who, if he is not dishonest and fraudulent, is an anti-Christ in the garb of a prophet. Or how do you explain a prophet acting in a diametrically opposed manner to the words of his God and Lord?” “If Pastor Bakare was not propelled by a morbid, obnoxiously inordinate ambition, he would have been more spiritually circumspective in his decision making. How can a man of God, whose mantra include fairness, justice, equity, love, mercy, consideration of others, good neighborliness among others, accept to be on the same political platform with divinely rejected retired General Muhammadu Buhari? What could have been the rationale? For those familiar with the contemporary History of Nigeria, one really has to be conscienceless to choose Buhari as his choice for the presidency of Nigeria. But, thanks goodness, despite the limitations of the last presidential election, the Nigerian electorate was not fooled.”

Also, his opting for Buhari as a presidential contender in 2011 casts many doubts on his pastoral and related credentials. As the maximum ruler of Nigeria between 1983 and 1985, Buhari left a myriad load of tears, pains and sorrow among fellow Nigerians that till date he remains an enemy of his political ambition. Some of them include:

Buhari’s overthrowing of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in 1983 was to checkmate the possible angst against the ruling oligarchy who are of his ethnic stock and keep the rest of Nigeria in bondage. Interestingly, observers believe that Buhari’s objective was to protect his Hausa/Fulani oligarchy to the detriment of other ethnic nationalities in Nigeria, he dealt with politicians from his part of the country with “glove hands” and gave politicians of other regions “bare knuckles.”

The following are examples of published facts:

“He detained President Shehu Shagari in a guest House and remanded Dr. Alex Ekwueme, the Vice President in Kirikiri Maximum Prisons. Yet, they were both the leaders of the NPN led government that has just been overthrown. What offence could have Ekwueme committed that Shagari could not have done worse?

“ Buhari sent his goons to ransack the home of Chief Obafemi Awolowo. This was aimed at insulting the sensibilities of the Yoruba Nation by disrespecting and embarrassing their Hero and Liberator from poverty and want. Chief Awolowo was not a member of the party in power that has just been overthrown, yet he had to be subjected to such unwarranted, politically and ethnically motivated vendetta. Pastor Bakare wanted us to believe that this was the handiwork of “fifth columnists” in Buhari’s regime. If this was so, what stopped Buhari from publicly apologizing to Chief Awolowo on behalf of himself and his regime, especially if Buhari’s intentions were clean?

“He ordered Pa Adekunle Ajasin, former Governor of the old Ondo State to be retried two times when they could not find anything against him. This meant that the old man was tried three times unfairly. Buhari ordered Pa Ajasin to be detained regardless of the fact that the old man was squeaky clean. His unfair detention impaired the old man’s health and led to early death for him. When this Honorable man died, he has only one old bungalow that he built as a teacher and principal in Owo town, well before he became the governor, to his name.

“He detained Professor Ambrose Ali of Bendel State in an inhuman condition to the point that the esteemed Professor became blind and died shortly after he was released. When the Professor died, he had only one undeveloped plot of land to his name.

“His detention of Chief Ayo Ojewumi led to the blindness of the man. Buhari refused to let the man receive medical treatment until he completely went blind. Chief Ojewumi died exactly 28 days after he was released from Buhari’s gulag.

The foregoing caused one Dominic Ogbonna to note; “Bakare is now threatening to unleash “Egypt , Yemen , Tunisia” on the Nigerian masses. But if katakata breaks, will Bakare and his family stay around to lead the revolution? Or would he run away to his comfy residence in Atlanta, from where he will deliver another “position paper?” Bakare, we are watching!”

Accountability ala Bakare

When he talks about President Jonathan’s presidency not being accountable, many ask if he can truly prove to be a physician called to heal himself.

For example, it is well known that Bakare is the sole signatory to his church account. Instructively, Latter Rain Assembly does not have a branch anywhere in the country. And whenever Bakare is out of Lagos as he usually does, nobody preaches in his stead. As typical of every dictator, his recorded messages are played via VCD.

For a president who does not bat an eyelid before he delegates responsibilities of immense importance, Jonathan has really done much to move the country forward in all respects. He believes and practices accountability and respect for the other person’s view point. For the Bakares of this country, they are living a lie.

Posted in Nation | Leave a comment

Anti-gay Law:Nigeria needs reparation of stolen wealth,not foreign aid

Posted on January 18, 2012 by parliamentintlmagazine

True friendship does not attach a string to whatever assistance it’s rendering, instead it delighted in given out to the one in dire need. However, the British and other western powers will always attached a string in whatsoever assistance (foreign aid or donations) they give to the so-called poor or Third World countries, they helped to impoverished in the first instance.

Many have asked whether there’s anything called ‘free aid or donations’ from rich countries to the poor ones? It’s however, ridiculous, absurd and perhaps insulting for Britain to say it will stop its foreign aid assistance to Nigeria if it contemplates legislating against same sex marriage otherwise known as gay marriage. But the Nigerian 7th Senate for once, showed the world that after all, the country still has some of its pride left as a nation to protect, as it went all out to consign gay relationship to the pit of infamy when it passed the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Bill. The Upper legislative chamber did not stop at prohibiting the practice; it prescribed harsh punishments for those who engage in it. According to the report of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters which the upper chamber adopted, persons who enter into same sex marriage contract or civil union commit an offence and are liable on conviction to a term of 14 years imprisonment. The bill also imposes a jail term of 10 years on any person who registers, operates or participates in gay clubs, societies and organisations or makes public show of amorous same sex relationships. Ordinarily, you would think that laws made in Nigeria by its lawmakers are for the good governance and welfare of the people. They are supposed to be for the consumption of Nigerian citizens.

But that is hardly the case under the present circumstance. But why the government of Britain has has taken more than a cursory interest in Nigeria’s anti-gay law? Before the Senate took the bold step that fateful Tuesday, the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, had warned that countries that refused to recognize the rights of the sexuality of some people would be sanctioned.

He said his country would consider withholding aid from countries that do not recognize gay rights. Upon the passage of the bill, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Andrew Lloyd, rose against the action of the Senate and declared that” Britain and other western countries would not tolerate any law that prescribes punishment for gays. He said punishment amounts to an infringement of their fundamental human rights, an action he said the western countries would not condone”.

The interest of the British government in this matter is really strange. Its pronouncement that it would withhold aid from countries that do not recognize gay rights is much more so. Indeed, there are pertinent questions to ask whether the law is for Nigerians or for British citizens or nationals of western countries. Why is Britain so concerned about this matter? What does the country stand to gain by seeking to impose its ways on Nigeria? Is this neo-colonial tendency a betrayal of Britain’s subtle or surreptitious hold on Nigeria’s affairs?

The position of London is not only an arm-twisting tactic; it is of a clear act of blackmail whose objective is to whip non-conforming countries into line. No doubt, developing countries such as Nigeria are in dire need of foreign aid. We depend on such aids and grants for the implementation of a number of development programmes. It will therefore be scary to mention that Nigeria or any other third world country for that matter would lose foreign aid on account of an issue that has to do with the pleasures of the flesh.

If the scenario being painted is subjected to debate or analysis, many are bound to beat a quick retreat out of their anti-gay posturing when it is weighed against foreign aid. In fact, many will be tempted to say that Nigeria should look the other way while gay affairs take a pride of place. However, it is matters that have to do with stick and carrot that expose the true faith or worth of men, institutions or governments. Those who do not have the courage of their convictions are likely to jump ship the moment certain carrots are dangled at them. They are likely to abandon their original position and flow with the tide of inducement.

In this matter, it is significant to note that the Senate has stood on the side of what we as a people cherish and value. The President of the Senate, David Mark, was unequivocal about it. He said during the debate on the bill that our values are sacrosanct and that any country that wants to withhold its aid and assistance on account of our principled stand on issues of culture and values was free to do so.

That is the point. As a country or a people, we must defend our mode of seeing and knowing. This is essentially embedded in our culture, and it is our culture that defines our essences. To sacrifice this on the altar of foreign aid is to diminish ourselves and abandon who we are. Human rights as being alluded to by Britain make sense. But the right in question is not inalienable. It is not one of those rights that mankind cannot do without. They are invented or contrived rights which cannot take precedence over a people’s essence or time-honoured values.

If issues of human rights must make sense, they must be viewed from the lenses of time and space. Our epoch in Nigeria does not, as yet, permit such luxuries. It looks and sounds abhorrent in our environment. These contradictions necessarily vitiate whatever rights anybody many lay claim to. The Senate of the Federal Republic is therefore right in the position it has taken. Nigeria should refuse to be swayed by self-serving arguments such as the ones emanating from Britain.

What is foreign aid in the first place?

Foreign aid, which can be defined as the transfer of money, goods, and services from one country to another, is an important part of U.S foreign policy. It began during and following World War II when it was used primarily to help rebuild the economies of Western Europe and to help contain the Soviet expansion in the aftermath of World War II.

Important tools for foreign aid were established shortly after the war. In 1945, the U.S. along with other countries established the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank) as the two main multilateral institutions that would help with debt relief and economic development. The Marshall Plan was announced in June of 1947 by General George C. Marshall, then U.S. Secretary of State. The plan sought to provide funds for rebuilding the countries in Europe which lay in ruins following the war. Marshall had said that the real enemies of democracy were “hunger, poverty, desperation, and chaos.” With foreign aid, the U. S. hoped to not only help countries rebuild while containing the Soviet expansion, but also to strengthen U. S. ties with the recipient countries. The Marshall Plan, also known as the European Recovery Program, was considered a great success. By the early 1950s, Western and Central Europe, as well as Japan, had undergone revitalization, and today Britain, Germany, France, Italy, and Japan are among the top industrial nations in the world.

However, in reality, both the quantity and quality of aid have been poor and donor nations have not been held to account.

There are numerous forms of aid, from humanitarian emergency assistance, to food aid, military assistance, etc. Development aid has long been recognized as crucial to help poor developing nations grow out of poverty.

According to research, in 1970, the world’s rich countries agreed to give 0.7% of their GNI (Gross National Income) as official international development aid, annually. Since that time, despite billions given each year, rich nations have rarely met their actual promised targets. For example, the US is often the largest donor in dollar terms, but ranks amongst the lowest in terms of meeting the stated 0.7% target.

Again, how free is the foreign aid to the recipient country?

Furthermore, aid has often come with a price of its own for the developing nations:

· Aid is often wasted on conditions that the recipient must use overpriced goods and services from donor countries

· Most aid does not actually go to the poorest who would need it the most

· Aid amounts are dwarfed by rich country protectionism that denies market access for poor country products, while rich nations use aid as a lever to open poor country markets to their products

· Large projects or massive grand strategies often fail to help the vulnerable as money can often be embezzled away.

Aid promises:

Aid contributions by individual countries are monitored by reference to a UN Resolution passed as long ago as 1970. The richest countries promised to advance their aid budgets progressively towards a target of 0.7% of national income.

This percentage is somewhat arbitrary in relation to the needs of the poor but it has remained an acknowledged benchmark. The commitment was renewed in the Monterrey Consensus of 2002 and once again in 2008 at the Doha International Conference on Financing for Development. To hasten recalcitrant countries along the path to this goal, development agencies press world leaders to make shorter term promises. The G8 Gleneagles summit in 2005 delivered a commitment to increase aid by 60% (a rise of $50 billion pa) between 2004 and 2010. Annual aid for Africa would double from its 2004 level of $25 billion.

Another important example of a short term commitment is President Obama’s election promise to double US foreign aid from its 2008 level of $25 billion by 2015. The UK government is committed to achieving the 0.7% target by 2013 and the European Union by 2015. Aid-related promises are not confined to the donor countries. In the Monterrey Consensus, developing countries accepted their responsibility to make efficient use of aid through high standards of governance and the rule of law.

Promises unfulfilled

Aid promises have no substance in international law and there is a long track record of backsliding by rich governments. Of the extra $25 billion for Africa by 2010 promised at Gleneagles, only $11 billion has materialised, despite the US honouring its pledge in this regard.

The 0.7% aid target also remains unfulfilled. Only five countries, led by Sweden with 1%, currently exceed this benchmark. The remainders are so far behind that the DAC average for 2010 was an embarrassing 0.32%, about the same as the equivalent figure for 1990. Of the richer countries, US, Italy and Japan occupy the foot of the table.

In seeking to conceal these shortcomings, politicians have become adept at announcing new initiatives which on close examination turn out to be repackaging of existing commitments. Promises of extra funding for agriculture and health by G8 leaders at their meetings in 2008 and 2010 are already proving difficult to monitor due to inconsistent reporting methods. Although the G8 has introduced regular accountability reports to monitor its promises, these logistical frustrations have increased the momentum behind the Aid Transparency Initiative.

The global economic crisis has undoubtedly put pressure on aid budgets. The outcome of the US Congress debate on President Obama’s 2012 budget submission may have a material bearing on future international aid flows.

Nonetheless, the Millennium Campaign has observed that the total cost of bailing out financial institutions in 2008/09 was nearly ten times the aggregate of foreign aid for the last 50 years.

What Nigeria/Africa wants:

According to Chinedu Vincent Akuta , a political activist and leader of “Support Option A4 Group” based in Leicester, United Kingdom ,UK, while reacting to the above summits as it concerns Africa, said “I do not think that Africa needs financial aid from the G8 countries. What Africa needs is the reparation of stolen wealth stashed in western banks, economic transparency, true democracy and peace. Therefore the G8 leaders should forget about aid to Africa and work on returning all the stolen wealth to Africa. African leaders have milked the continent dry by looting their treasuries”.

The stolen wealth should include non-monetary items like traditional artifacts, antiquities carted away by Britain and other western countries during the invasion, slave trading and colonization of the African continent that lasted for several centuries.

Britain, for instance, which colonized Nigeria, took away many of her artifacts like the bronze head from the palace of the ancient Bini kingdom in modern day Edo State, which until today is being kept in the British Royal Museum of Artifacts where Nigerians go there to pay money to watch it with other items of our country’s origin.

Even though, many are of the view that reparation in form of money should be paid to Nigeria and Africa like it has been done to the Jews following the holocaust against the Jewish people by the Nazi-German authority during the World War II. Indeed, the late MKO Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 Presidential election, initiated the process of paying reparation to the African continent and the black people in the Diaspora but that died with him after the political misadventure.

Meanwhile, many African leaders (past and present) are guilty of this offence. These stolen wealth are taken to Europe, America, Asia and Middle East. Using Nigeria as a case study, “The United Nations (UN) says Nigerian kleptocrats have milked the nation to the tune of about $100 billion dollars thorough various acts of grand corruption, the cost of which it lamented by far exceeded the damage caused by any other single crime” (the Daily Sun, Wednesday, December 3, 2008 page 9). The figure quoted above by the United Nations is more than the total amount of aid that the G8 promised the entire African countries and other poor countries. Therefore without corruption, Nigeria would have been an economically powerful nation and thus help other African nations.

Most of the Nigerian stolen wealth are scattered all over the Western countries especially the Swiss, Liechtenstein, and Luxembourg Banks. The late Nigerian Head of State, General Sani Abacha kept most of his stolen wealth in Swiss Bank. He stole over $3 billion dollars. Till date, all the money has not been recovered. Am sure the Swiss Banks are still accepting corrupt money from most corrupt African leaders.

It would be recalled the federal government traced the Halliburton $150 million dollar bribe money to Zurich. The total amount was $180 million dollars. $30 million dollar is yet to be traced or found. A lot of corrupt Nigerian leaders have used the state money to acquire personal properties in Europe and America. Other corrupt African leaders like, late Mobutu Sese Sekou (former president of Democratic Republic of Congo), Charles Taylor (former Liberian President) Ibrahim Babangida (former Nigerian head of state) etc., have most of their stolen wealth all over the world.

The G8 countries have a complete dossier or can easily obtain data on all corrupt money and properties of corrupt African leaders. If the G8 is sincere about giving aid to Africa, they should repatriate this money back to the people whose leaders have made poor and miserable. Bob Geldof has done marvellously well to bring the G8 leaders attention to the plight of poor people of Africa. His project of making poverty history will be more meaningful if he can re-strategize his campaign and ask the G8 leaders to return all the stolen wealth in their countries or else where in world back to Africa.

Akuta further noted that the World Bank should also consider stopping financial aid to Africa particularly where there is a proven case of corrupt leadership. According to him in 2009 World Bank consultation in London (Wednesday, June 17th 2009), he asked about their criteria for disbursing aids and loans to developing countries.

He argued that “though that the World Bank might want to help the poor, but in most cases the problems they are trying to solve were caused by corrupt leaders. The World Bank should devise a means of working with other international financial institutions, to make it difficult for corrupt African leaders to keep their looted money any where in the world. Reparation of the already stolen wealth should be on the agenda of the World Bank. This is the best way the can help the poor people of Africa”.

Africa cannot develop by relying on western aid. Also, Western countries cannot continue giving aid to Africa. The present global economic down turn is a pointer that financial aid from the G8 might not be sustainable. “According to Action Aid, Italy is on course to fall $1.037bn short of its Gleneagles pledge to double financial support to Africa, while France is $1.249bn behind, Germany $497m, the United States $263m, Canada $186m and Japan $138m” (the Independent newspaper, Wednesday, 8th July 2009, page 2).

Please note that the Independent newspaper mentioned above is published in the United Kingdom.

African leaders should learn to develop their economy with minimal foreign reliance. They should look at a fellow third world country like Cuba. Cuba has survived worst economic blockades from the west for over 40 years. Not withstanding the western economic blockages against Cuba, no third world country has approached or even come closer to the Cuban high standards in health and education.

Research has shown that at some point, there were more than 15,000 (fifteen thousand) Cuban medical doctors working in over 25 countries of the third world. This should be a model for other countries to copy and not waiting for financial aid. It’s better to teach and tell Africa to be self reliant than giving aids.

What the G8 should do for Africa is to stop the flow of small arms to the continent. Angola, Congo DRC, Somali, Eritrea etc are examples of the havocs these small arms have done to Africa. The G8 should consider withdrawing recognition of dictators like Omar al-Bashir of Sudan for his complicities in the Darfur crisis. The G8 should also consider tougher sanctions for countries with poor human rights records, for example Burma, Zimbabwe, etc. Any assistance or partnership should be tied down to transparent democratic process.

Finally if for any reason(s) the G8 decides to go ahead with giving financial aid to African countries. Strict conditions have to be met. A country like Liberia should be considered, this is due to their improvement on curtailing corruption. Ghana and Botswana should be considered for being the beacon of democracy in Africa. Nigeria should never be given any assistance or further loans. This is because it ends up in private pockets. Nigeria is sufficiently rich to solve her problems.

Posted in Nation, National Assembly | Leave a comment

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