Category Archives: Nigeria

Nigeria: Letter to President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria By The Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities Of Nigeria in the Diaspora

from Yona Maro

His Excellency President Goodluck Jonathan
President of Federal Republic of Nigeria
Office of the Presidency
Asu-Rock, Abuja, Nigeria
CARE OF:
Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Department for Economic and Social Affairs (DESA)
United Nations
Two United Nations Plaza, DC2-1372
New York, NY 10017
United States of America Secretary Hilary Rodham Clinton
U.S. Department of State
2201 C. Street, NW
Washington, DC 20520
Senator David Mark
President of the Nigerian Senate
Hon. Oladimeji. Bankole (CFR)
Speaker, Nigerian House of Representative

Hon. Mrs. Iyom Josephine Anenih
Nigerian Minister of Women Affairs
Chineme Ume-Ezeoke
SSA on Nigeria’s Civil Society
Hon. Abike Dabiri
Nigerian National Assembly
Office of the Diaspora

His Excellency,

RE: OPEN LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT

On behalf of the more than 22 million Nigerians with disabilities, DPOs, friends and allies both from the civil society government, The Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities of Nigeria in the Diaspora, Equal Rights for Persons with Disabilities International, Inc (ERPDI), Walk the Talk America, Inc, New Nigerian Initiative of Nigeria in the Diaspora, and FESTAC-USA, we thank and congratulate you and your administration for ratifying the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), on September 24, 2010. As the CRPD is the first comprehensive human rights treaty of the 21st century, ratification demonstrates Nigeria’s commitment to full and equal human rights for all of its citizens, as well as its willingness to uphold the international principles embodied in the treaty.

As Nigeria seeks to honor its obligations under the treaty, including its duty to report to the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, implementation through national reform is essential. Article 4 of The UN Convention identifies general and specific obligations on States parties in relation to the rights of persons with disabilities. One of the fundamental obligations contained in the Convention is that national law should guarantee the enjoyment of the rights enumerated in the Convention. In order to assist in meeting this obligation, we humbly and respectfully seek to support and encourage the signing of the Disability Bill before you.
This Bill marks a turning point in the lives of millions of Nigerians, and offers a chance to enhance Nigeria’s economy through the inclusion of people with disabilities, while also upholding Nigeria’s obligation under international law. One tangible benefit of the Bill will be greater economic contributions of 22 million Nigerian’s with a disability,, who are also now , a very formidable political constituency of consequences. Many multinational companies have discovered the potential of people with disabilities to make significant contributions to the workplace, and therefore the economic growth of a nation. For example, the DuPont Corporation (a US based chemical company) undertook a 30 year measure of the performance of its employees and found that disabled employees performed on par or better than nondisabled staff with regard to attendance, safety and overall job performance. Supporting this idea further, the International Labor Organization conducted a study, including countries such as Ethiopia, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe, and found that economic losses related to the exclusion of persons with disabilities from the labor force are large and measurable, ranging from between 3 and 7 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The Bill before you will ensure that Nigeria benefits from the untapped potential of people with disabilities, through the inclusion in skills training and employment opportunities, allowing for greater contributions to society and the economy.

Another key component of the Bill is a right to education. Education is the key for any country to compete globally and see economic gains. It is a means out of poverty, helps prevent disease, generates a skilled employment pool and has been cited by the UN as a major factor in ensuring national peace and stability. Without access to education millions of Nigerian’s with a disability will not only be kept out of the job market, but will remain trapped in a cycle of poverty, dependency and poor health, all factors that lead to national economic and social instability.

Other objectives of the bill, such as the mandate that new buildings be constructed with accessibility requirements, will not only ensure compliance with the UN treaty but will save the Government money over time. It is more cost efficient to construct an accessible building then to build one that is not accessible, and have to modify the structure again in the future. Accessibility in both buildings and transpiration ensures that the 22 million Nigerians who have some form of disability can get to work; access health services, thereby reducing the spread of disease, access banks; courthouses; schools and other essential facilities which will enable them to become self sufficient and productive. A person who is self sufficient and productive can not only better contribute to society, but will ultimately cost the Government less because they will be able to take care of themselves and their families.

In addition, it is critical to keep in mind that it is not just Nigerian’s with a disability that will benefit from this Bill but society as a whole. Since almost every Nigerian will develop a disability as they age, the Disability Bill will be of use to every Nigerian at some point in their life. Therefore, by signing into law the Disability Bill you will not only provide equal right and treatment for 22 million Nigerian’s with a disability, you will also do so for the entire Nigerian society.

Mainstreaming disability is not a radical idea for Nigeria, but falls in line with the previously undertaken movement to mainstream gender. The Commission of Women’s Affairs is a vital part of the Nigerian Government, and has increased not only the rights of women but their participation in and contribution to society. A Commission on Disability would produce the same results and could be created by undertaking the same process that was done for Women’s Affairs. In addition a Commission on Disability would work with all ministries, Department and Agencies in the country and in the Diaspora, as issues of disability is a crosscutting one, affecting all areas of development. The idea of this kind of multisectorial approach is further explored below.

The Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities of Nigeria in the Diaspora, USA Chapter, Equal Rights for Persons with Disabilities International, Inc (ERPDI), Walk the Talk America, Inc., New Nigeria Initiative in the Diaspora (NNID), FESTAC-USA and many other unnamed organizations, Diaspora collaborators, are all willing and able to work with the Federal Government and the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities of Nigeria, to assist in implementing the Disability Bill and in establishing the Commission. We are prepared to assist by providing expertise, guidance, and examples of how other countries have implemented the Convention. For instance Uganda adopted a Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) as a service strategy for reaching more persons with disabilities in 1990. Currently the country runs a CBR model with activities that include identification of persons with disabilities; assessment, referral, rehabilitation and home programs. Families of persons with disabilities are also encouraged to participate in income generating activities. This project involves multisectorial committees at National, District and Sub-country levels. All these committees are geared to mainstreaming disability in general community development and work with the Commissions on Disability. This multisectorial committee approach works for two reasons:

It ensures full inclusion and implementation within society.
The benefits and financial burdens are spread throughout different programs thereby easing budget strains.

We are also interested in helping deflect the cost of establishing a Commission and enacting a Bill. As an NGO with ties to international organizations, the UN and other institutions, we can seek and apply for funds that have already been designated for use in such efforts. As we are part of Rehabilitation International (RI), a global network of more than 1000 organizations of person with disabilities, service providers, agencies, professionals and experts in a broad range of disability-related issues with consultative status to the United Nations, we can attest to the fact that other RI members such as those in Tanzania and India have already received similar support. We have identified United Nations Voluntary Funds on Disabilities, Open Society Institute, Ratify Now and many other unnamed agencies, as potential donor matches and hope that this will further alleviate any cost related hesitancy to signing the Bill.

Signing this Bill will help Nigeria to serve as a leader among human rights, and will change the bleak reality in which Nigerian’s with disability currently live. Without this Bill millions of disabled people will continue to live below the poverty line. They will go without access to education, employment opportunities and critical health care. They will continue to be trapped in a cycle where wide spread discriminations and segregation cause them to remain highly vulnerable to poverty and disease. Without this Bill social stigmas associated with disability will remain so prevalent that even families will continue to reject their own members with disabilities. This Bill will help to change the role of people with disabilities in Nigerian society, moving them from objects of pity or charity, where society is more comfortable giving disabled persons money on the streets then giving them paying jobs and shelter, to one in which persons with disabilities can enjoy equal rights as all other Nigeria’s and contribute to society on a level yet unrealized under current law.

Therefore it is not only on behalf of 22 million Nigeria’s with disabilities that we humbly and respectfully ask you sign the Disability Bill into law. Your Excellency, we want to sincerely state here that appointing any of us into the office of the Special Senior Assistant to the President on Disability Matter, Nigeria would not in any way, honor its obligations under the UN treaty, including its duty to report to the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, essential and mandatory implementation through national reforms, which Article 4 of The Convention identifies general and specific obligations on States parties in relation to the rights of persons with disabilities; .Please Your Excellency, note that one of the fundamental obligations contained in the UN Convention is that national law should guarantee the enjoyment of the rights enumerated in the Convention; would not in anyway meet the needs and aspirations of people with disabilities and their households, it would not in anyway promote and protect their rights, and would not in anyway restore their dignity.

Your Excellency Sir, please, all we are asking for, is the signing of the Bill into law, for in it lays our hopes and aspirations, and it is only when this happens that we can have a breath of FRESH AIR. This Bill is a chance for the nation to demonstrate that indeed, she truly cares for her vulnerable and less privileged members. A chance for Nigeria to fulfill its obligations under the UN Convention while getting back the maximum potential and benefit of all its citizens and for these reasons we reverentially, humbly and respectfully ask the Bill be signed into law.

Please note that valid and verifiable, statistical data has proved that Nigerians in the Diaspora, sends more than ten Billion dollars in cash annually, to their loved ones living in Nigeria. Also, we render billions of dollars on, undocumented healthcares, in form of medical mission, charity work, and other services. Therefore Mr. President, we Nigerians in the Diaspora, as second highest sources of Nigeria’s foreign revenue, to crude oil and gas, deserves to have the right, for our voices to be heard and valid requests to be honored.

Thanks so much for hearing our voices and granting our request.

Respectfully Submitted,

________________________
Chief Eric N. Ufom, President
Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities
Of Nigeria in the Diaspora, USA Chapter
P.O. Box 710251

OECD: Vote for our African brother’s powerful and honest video defining progress!

From: Annah Sidigu

Hi friends and family!

I just learned about this awesome video competition put on by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and saw a video that I really think deserves your vote.

This is a great opportunity to make a big difference in the life of one of our young African artist-activists, which is something I’m really passionate about. Please check out and vote for the video! It’s called: Progress is socioeconomic development through taxation and is by Gabriel Jahmed of Nigeria.

http://www.oecd.org/document/20/0,3746,en_21571361_44315115_46513044_1_1_1_1,00.html

You should also check out the other videos. But I really think this is one of the best and deserves your vote. Note: I don’t know the filmmaker, but I would like to support our African brother and hope you’ll do the same by voting for him and asking others (especially fellow Africans) to do the same. Harambee!

Vote by April 13! The top 3 winners get:

An all expenses paid trip to Paris, France
Screening of the winning films at an international forum.
An opportunity to meet government, civil society and media from around the world.

In solidarity,
Annah

Nigeria: Free Speech And Media Activism: Dangerous But Potent Deterrent To Official Corruption

By Adebayo Adejare

“While I recognize the business of the politician, I call on all of us citizens to also know what our business is. It is to refuse to give the government our silence. It is to fight the government from hiding information and persecuting those who tried to make it available to us — Kole Omotoso” (Famous Nigerian Author and Scholar)

Sometime in March 1975, late Tai Solarin, renowned social critic and proprietor of the famous Mayflower School Ikene, wrote and secretly circulated a short article titled “The Beginning of the End.” It was a scathing criticism of Yakubu Gowon’s corrupt administration and the article turned out top be as prophetic as that government was toppled in a palace coup d’etat within a few months of the article. Such is the repression and violation of fundamental human rights and freedom visited upon people of the third world especially the mass media by military dictators. It was in the same regime that a journalist was arrested, detained and had his hair shaved clean for daring to interrupt the River State Governor’s motor convoy.

In 1984, Nduka Irabor and Tunde Thompson were convicted and sent to jail for violating the Buhari regime decree No. 4 purporting to protect public officers from false and malicious publications. Dele Giwa of Nigeria was bombed to death by agents of Nigeria’s Babagida’s military dictatorship in Nigeria on account of his professional duties as a journalist. The Concord Newspaper was humiliated by court process on account of its exposure of secret gifts by Babangida’s corrupt military Junta to echelons of the Nigerian judiciary. The notorious Abacha regime closed and torched Rutam house premises of the Guardian Newspapers and also proscribed the Punch.

Elsewhere in Chile, an author wrote a book in 1998 titled “The Black Book of the Chilean Justice System” exposing the corrupt activities of the judiciary in Chile. He was, of course, pursued by govt. for prosecution at the instance of the aggrieved justices. Salman Rushdie wrote a book titled “Satanic Verses” about twenty years ago and has had to remain in hiding due to death sentence passed on him by the Ayatollah Khomeini of Iran.

All over the developing world intolerance to criticism and sheer repression of self expression appears to be the rule. Even in so-called democratic civilian setting in Nigeria, the court cases typify the characteristic of intolerance to criticism exhibited by the leadership. But why would any public officer reject transparency and insist on secrecy? It is largely because of the massive corruption and abuse of office that are perpetrated on the people by the leadership in third world nations. The result is mass impoverishment of their peoples and social degradation compounded by capital flight and scaring of foreign investment.

The methods used by leadership to muzzle speech and cover up crimes against the state and individuals vary from regime to regime but it is in the military setting that the crudest form of repression has taken place. Some have said that Nigeria has been much better of than most African countries on this matter just because journalists and others were not disappearing or being murdered the way Idi Amin effectuated atrocities against the Ugandan people. But does it really matter the methodology? Has the proceedings of Nigeria’s Oputa Human Rights Violations Probe Panel not dispelled such illusion? What difference does it make to go by bomb as Dele Giwa did or by lethal injection as Yar’Adua or by hanging as with environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa?

The journalism profession has topped the list of death ridden jobs nay highest-risk jobs due to human hatred of exposure, criticism and desire to cover up crime which is as old as the Biblical murder of Abel by Cain hence the hazardous nature of the profession. The only difference between military and civilian repression is methodology. While the military is violent brazen and often with naked impunity, civilians are often covert and sophisticated. Buhari dictatorship in Nigeria used legislation (notorious Decree 4) and tribunals to suppress free speech. Babagida Junta preferred to carrot and stick approach bribing its way to suppress negative publicity but secretly eliminating journalists and others who are adamant e.g. by letter-bombing as in Dele Giwa’s case. The regulatory power of the state over newspaper and other media as well as the laws of sedition have been manipulated as a sword of repression rather than a shield to protect the administration from false and malicious criticism. So also the law of contempt as in the victimization of Daily Times’s Olu Onagoruwa and Tunji Oseni over their article titled “Zik and Tax” in 1979.

The reality is that free speech remains the greatest pillar of our fledgling democracy hence the Nigerian press must wake up with new vibrancy to its role as a watchdog of our liberties and prosperity. Corruption by public office holders remains the greatest threat to our economic revival and development. It deters foreign investment, retards economic and social development perverts justice morals and ethos and breeds distrusts and political instability. President Obasanjo’s launched a Campaign of National Re-birth and Anti-Corruption Crusade. He also created the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) The challenge before President Goodluck Jonathan is to sustain the momentum with the Press as an ally.

The Nigerian press today has the patriotic duty of examining performance of public office holders and exposing corruption including waste, fraud and abuse of office in addition to its traditional vigilance to expose assaults upon our fundamental liberties and individual rights. Tax evasion would not be so rampant as it is today had Nigerians maintained the momentum with which the Murtala/Obasanjo Military Administration combated the malaise through the media 1975-79.

Social Critics and non-governmental organizations who helped expose the Military’s atrocities (but now in hibernation) are constrained in the matter unless there is adequate Media coverage. The pen is indeed mightier than the sword even in a largely illiterate Society like ours. The media performed well under Gowon regime (1966-75) by exposing the corrupt activities of a ministers (late Joseph Tarka) as well as a serving Governor (Joseph Gomwalk) but we are yet to witness similar activism. But the corrupt Junta of General Ibrahim Babangida “cleared” late governor Muhammed Lawal despite glaring evidence of graft tabled by Dr Seni Bello, the state’s finance chief. Babangida’s corrupt dictatorship wallowed in and fostered a culture of corruption. The euphemism “settlement” was created during his tenure as he utilized state resources to pacify press, opposition and the military in a fruitless bid to attain life Presidency. His side-kick, Sanni Abacha simply follwed the evil tradition.

The Nigerian society is still smirting under the effects of the corrupt culture nurtured under these outstandingly evil and corrupt dictators. Homeland loot recovery remains fraustrated and overseas loot recovery has only been partially successful.

As Andrew Young, an American friend of Nigeria remarked during a television interview in August 2000 public officers who loot the treasury impoverish the entire society and endanger its very survival. Recovery of loot is a difficult exercise but prevention is better than cure. Steadfast commitment of individuals and the media is indispensable to prevention and exposure of waste and corruption in public administration and the nurturing of a culture of a probity integrity and transparency in public office.

The role of the Nigerian Presidency and leadership as creators of public wealth and managers of prosperity must be highlighted by the media. Policy should be debated so that errors and loopholes for waste and embezzlement are exposed and averted rather than trying to recover loot that has left the shores of Nigeria.

Tafa Balogun, Fabian Osuji, Egbo- Egbo, DSP Alamieyeseigha, Lucky igbinedion and others will forever feel victimized unless the crusade continues and other culprits brought to book. Equal treatment before the law is mandatory for justice to be done. The EFCC opened cases against thirty-two out of thirty-six “Obasanjo” Governors but has been able to conclude about four! Anti-corruption campaign is not limited to serving Public Officers but must be even more vibrant against ex-public officers who are adept at deflecting attention from their past corrupt misdeeds to those of incumbents.

The massive plundering of our national resources as was practiced by the erstwhile evil dictators (Ibrahim Babangida and Sanni Abacha) is fast to becoming a model for our largely untutored and permissive new-breed politicians even in our democratic order. President Goodluck Jonathan must continue the anti-corruption campaign with similar gusto as President Obasanjo despite blackmail and sponsored accusations of selective prosecution.

The Tai Solarins, Aper Akus, Godwin Dabohs and all whistle-blowers of our society are ready but they need the support and vibrancy of the Media to succeed. The advent of the internet has boosted our chances at exposure. Even the international law and diplomatic regimes are favourable in view of the extra-territorial application of anti-money laundering laws. But there is fear of retaliation by corrupt public officers. That should not force us to relent. Our Society would remain in economic doldrums and persist in grinding poverty rendering constitutional protection of free speech meaningless unless the plundering of our public resources by Public Officers is exposed and checked. This highlights the importance of the Freedom of Information Act which, when passed, would enhance our anti-corruption efforts.

On this matter of corruption and loot recovery, silence cannot be said to be golden but could be taken to be consent or compelled because of involvement, connivance or benefit or just plain guilty conscience. The challenge of combating corruption is as vital as combating the tyranny of military rule. The job cannot be left to Law enforcement alone. We must resist the temptation to give looters in government our silence. We must demand transparency in Government. The job of Media Practitioners and Patriotic Citizens is to debilitate the fraudulent bloated ego of corrupt Public Persons through exposure, public censure, and demand for removal from office as well as prosecution. We must also discourage media assignments to launder image for corrupt personalities or to blackmail law enforcement. Isn’t it a shame on our local Media that public affairs they neglected to cover despite their exaggerated claims to investigative journalism were were spilled world-wide through the Wikileaks saga.

Nigerian Media Practitioners need to brace and live up to societal expectation by helping to stem corruption thereby enhancing our national survival. No excuses are acceptable. As a Society, we must be unrelenting in our pursuit of loot with zeal similar to that with which the American Government has fought the WAR ON TERROR so that the message will sink that there will be no place for looters to hide or rest.

USA, Tx: Kenyans Bursted

from Judy Miriga

What is going in Texas? One of the most stupid things wananchi do is to fail to use common sense. They go to the same place at the same time, some using same address thereby raising suspicion. Last time several wananchi in Iowa were raided one morning, some 25 of them – – but we didn’t seem to learn a lesson.

The moment the county clerk asked that question, they should have known that they were walking on a time bomb. They then stupidly hop into the same car after saying that they didn’t know each other. Kwani marriage ceremony is a sacrament which has to be eaten at the same time?

MrMeezy wrote:
Texas has long been known as marriage fraud central for Tanzanians with Houston being its epicenter. Sad to see Kenyans now engaging in the same gig. Weren’t Kenyans and Tanzanians also caught hapo hapo in a conspiracy to steal expensive microchips from kina Texas Instruments na kadhalika to the tune of several million dollars several years ago? Most of them were caught and are now rotting in filthy federal jails with hakataa some with decades long prison sentences. Crime is never worth it I tell you.

County Clerk Laverne Soefje said she noticed a trend of Harris County residents with spouses from African countries filing for marriage licenses in her office.

Soefje said that once three such couples came to the office to request a marriage license at the same time. It raised her suspicions, she said.

“ I asked them if they knew each other because they were standing next to each other at the counter, and they said no,” Soefje said. “But when they left the office, they all got in the same car and drove off.”

Soefje said she talked to other county clerks from the Brazos Valley who said they noticed the same trend. She said it was then that she decided to ask the Texas Rangers to investigate.

While Soefje said she was unaware of the federal indictments when contacted by The Eagle on Tuesday, she said the Rangers’ investigator has kept in touch and said authorities discovered one man who married 18 times.

“ It caught my attention, because I couldn’t imagine all of them coming to Milam County when they were from Houston,” Soefje said. “You don’t travel such a large distance to come to a county out of the way.”

4 Kenyans busted in Houston
Twenty-two Brazos Valley residents indicted for marriage fraud

By BRETT NAUMAN
Eagle Staff Writer

The names of 36 Texans indicted by a Houston grand jury Tuesday are listed first in the following chart. The people whom they married have not been arrested.

• Salena Allen, 30, of Midland, married Anthony Anazonwu of Nigeria.
• Ruthie Denise Bailey, 30, of Bryan, married Juma A. Mohamed of Jordan.
• Vicki Bisch, 39, of Bryan, married Demba Sidibe of Mali.
• Brandy Coleman, 23, of Cypress, married Ifeanyi Ubesie of Nigeria.
• Jeri Davis, 21, of Bryan, married Charles Maina of Kenya.
• Latira Davis, 30, of Bryan, married Haji Rajab of Tanzania.
• Vernon Felix, 48, of Houston, married Gladys Iheonunekwu of Nigeria.
• Crystal Franklin, 20, of Houston, married Amaniel Bubelwa of Tanzania.
• Shellia Franklin, 40, of Houston, married Mohamed Sillah of Sierra Leone.
• Terrance Franklin, 23, of Houston, married Ann Laimaru of Kenya.
• Veronica Franklin, 20, of College Station, married Mohammedsameh Abujuba of Jordan.
• Almesha Gooden, 24, of Bryan, married Stewart Basil of Tanzania.
• Carolyn Hedge, 37, of Bryan, married Mamadou Diallo of Guinea.
• Christopher Hedge, 37, of Somerville, married Rose Tweve of Tanzania.
• Joe E. Hedge, 30, of Bryan, married Noreen Munabi of Uganda.
• John T. Hedge Jr., 30, of Bryan, married Grace Munthali of Tanzania.
• John Thomas Hedge Sr., 51, of Bryan, married Agnes Mutagurwa of Tanzania.
• Lenora Hedge, 34, of Bryan, married Akinyemi Osinubi of Nigeria.
• Christopher McMurray, 22, of Bryan,married Sheila Mbwana of Tanzania.
• LaTonya McMurray, 22, of Bryan, married Joseph Kiige of Kenya.
• Kelvin Bernard Mike, 21, of Houston, married Elizabeth Osoro of Kenya.
• Chantella Murphy, 33, of Houston, married Marwan Almajali of Jordan.
• Clarace Nutall, 40, of Bryan, married Anne Bassong of Cameroon.
• Floyd Oscar, 30, of Houston, married Jacqueline Coker of Sierra Leone.
• Victor Parker, 31, of Bryan, married Ndong Avomo of Gabon.
• Charlene Robinson, 23, of Bryan, married Makan Kante of Mali.
• Sherrita Ann Royster, 24, of Bryan, married Ferdinand Namulundu of Kenya.
• Katherine Shields, 35, of Houston, married Christopher Honliasso of Nigeria.
• Lacreta Shields, 22, of Houston, married Assane Mbengue of Senegal.
• Larrica Shields, 23, of Houston, married John Ibe of Nigeria.
• Tamara Taylor, 24, of Houston, married Souleymane Diop of Senegal.
• Hazara Vaughns, 29, of Houston, married Khalil Haddad of Israel.
• Tikisha Walker, 25, of Wharton, married Abdul Khaliq of Pakistan.
• Deandre Warren, 27, of Bryan, married Pamela Wells of Tanzania.
• Tametria Williams, 21, of College Station, married Yacine Khelifi of Algeria.
• Anthony Young, 23, of Bryan, married Irene Nafuna of Tanzania.

Recruiters/Brokers

• Emma Guyton, 46, of Bryan.
• Aminata Smith, 43, of Houston.

Twenty-two Brazos Valley residents are accused of taking part in an international marriage fraud scheme based in Bryan that set up fake unions to bypass immigration laws, federal prosecutors said Tuesday.

One of those defendants, a woman from Bryan, also faces a conspiracy charge for allegedly arranging and profiting from the phony marriages.

Emma Guyton, 46, of Bryan and Aminata Smith, 43, of Houston recruited more than 60 Americans to marry an estimated 210 foreign nationals from African and Middle Eastern countries, prosecutors said.

The foreign nationals, most of whom came into the country on temporary visas, paid Guyton and Smith between $1,500 and $5,000 to arrange the marriages so they could obtain U.S. citizenship and other immigration benefits, prosecutors said.

Guyton and Smith were jailed Tuesday and awaited magistration before a federal judge in Houston, prosecutors said. Each is charged with four counts of encouraging unlawful immigration and four counts of marriage fraud, in addition to the conspiracy charge.

The women face a maximum penalty of 70 years in prison and fines of more than $2 million if convicted on all counts. Thirty-six other Texans charged with marriage fraud face five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Half of the 36 fraudulent marriages identified by federal prosecutors Tuesday were filed in Brazos Valley counties and took place between April 2000 and July 2003.

Prosecutors said they will continue their investigation into conspiracy that was run primarily out of the Bryan and Houston areas. The 20-month investigation, dubbed Operation Two Step, was conducted by the Houston and San Antonio offices of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

As of 2 p.m. Tuesday authorities had arrested half of the Texas residents indicted for marriage fraud. Arrest warrants have been issued for the defendants still free.

The U.S. citizens are accused of receiving payments of between $150 and $500 from Smith and Guyton for each marriage in which they participated, prosecutors said.

Each of the Americans indicted for marriage fraud has married six or more foreign nationals, has a criminal record or has married a foreign national from a country with suspected ties to terrorism, such as Jordan, Pakistan and Algeria, prosecutors said.

Authorities also have issued material-witness warrants for the 36 foreign nationals named in the indictments so they can be forced to testify in their spouses’ criminal cases, prosecutors said.

Once they’ve provided testimony, the foreign nationals will face an administrative immigration panel that could strip them of their citizenship and recommend deportation, said Nancy Harrier, a spokeswoman for U.S. Attorney’s Office in Houston.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt but rather a formal accusation of criminal conduct.

Federal immigration authorities began to investigate the scheme when a Milam County employee complained of an unusual number of suspicious marriages, prosecutors said.

County Clerk Laverne Soefje said she noticed a trend of Harris County residents with spouses from African countries filing for marriage licenses in her office.

Soefje said that once three such couples came to the office to request a marriage license at the same time. It raised her suspicions, she said.

“ I asked them if they knew each other because they were standing next to each other at the counter, and they said no,” Soefje said. “But when they left the office, they all got in the same car and drove off.”

Soefje said she talked to other county clerks from the Brazos Valley who said they noticed the same trend. She said it was then that she decided to ask the Texas Rangers to investigate.

While Soefje said she was unaware of the federal indictments when contacted by The Eagle on Tuesday, she said the Rangers’ investigator has kept in touch and said authorities discovered one man who married 18 times.

“ It caught my attention, because I couldn’t imagine all of them coming to Milam County when they were from Houston,” Soefje said. “You don’t travel such a large distance to come to a county out of the way.”

East Africa: Nigeria IT firm is eyeing Uganda, Sudan, Kenya and Rwanda for its new market

Business and Economic News By Leo Odera Omolo

NIGERIAN information technology firm Computer Warehouse Group Limited has established operations in Uganda, its designated regional hub, with an eye on emerging opportunities in the oil and gas, banking and telecommunications sector.

Through its Ugandan base, the firm intends to exploit growth opportunities in Rwanda, Kenya and Southern Sudan in a bid to extend market share beyond its West African domain.

“We are looking at exploiting outsourcing opportunities in the Ugandan market through assisting local firms with noncore functions like data management. We are focusing on support services to the oil and gas, telecommunications and banking sectors in the East African region,” Computer Warehouse Group CEO Austin Okere told the EASTAFRICAN weekly last week.

Backed by over 18 years experience in the Nigerian market, CWG hopes to exploit existing gaps in the local banking market that include system integration.

Most banks have signed up for utility bill payment facilities meant to boost convenience for clients. But the lack of interconnection links leaves a critical service gap due to delays in transmitting transactions entries.

Introduction of integrated payment systems between banks and utility firms would boost client convenience in the local market, according to CWG.

“Opportunities for system integration exist for banks and utility companies to merge transaction platform that are more efficient and less costly. This would minimize transaction times for local clients while reducing costs for the partnering institutions,” CWG’s country manager for Uganda, Michael Nanzi,” explained.

In addition, CWG is keen on tapping into the opportunities in data recovery services for local banks. Despite sharp growth in branch network and staff members, data recovery facilities are still hampered by limited staff and high operating costs with individual banks preferring in-house infrastructure to shared resources.

The firm’s choice of Uganda as its regional hub was influenced by its growing pool of IT talent and strategic geographical location in regard to Rwanda and Southern Sudan.

CWG is a leading supplier of hardware and software solutions in the Nigerian market, with a niche in banking system software provision of automated teller machine {ATMs} operating platform, data recovery centers and administration of servers.

CWG currently boasts extensive penetration to both the banking and telecommunication sectors in Nigeria. For example, CWG support 3,500 out of the 9,000 ATMs in Nigeria and also supports 22 banks out of the country’s 24 with very small aperture terminals {VSat} and fiber networks. Eleven of these banks are supplied through CWG. The company also provides data server administration services to MTN Nigeria and Ghana. Its annual turnover is estimated at USD 240 million.

It has partnered with various global IT brands such as Dell, Cisco. Infosys technologies, Oracles, and Net App..

The company’s strategic focus is driven by unfolding opportunities in the banking, telecommunications, oil and gas sector that are reflected in increased appetite for superior and cutting edge software solutions needed to maximize customer convenience and efficiency.

Ends

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How Philip Emeagwali Lied His Way To Fame – Sahara Reporters

from Yona Maro

From: elombah daniel
USA Africa Dialogue Series – How Philip Emeagwali Lied His Way To Fame – Sahara Reporters

A Citizen Investigative Essay On SaharaReporters, New York

Philip Emeagwali stirs up diverse emotions in Nigerians, Africans, and black people around the world. His claim of being a father of the Internet, of having invented the Connection Machine, of possessing 41patented inventions, of winning “the Nobel Prize of Computing” and of being a “doctor” and/or “professor” have been conclusively debunked with widely documented evidence.
Yet, the figure of Emeagwali as a black scientific, engineering, and information technology genius and pioneer continues to loom large over discussions of black achievement. The legend of Philip Emeagwali’s purported inventions, widely proven to emanate from the perverse deceptive genius of the man himself, endures and proliferates among Nigerian and black groups around the world.
Only recently, the USAfricadialogue googlegroups listserv managed by Professor Toyin Falola of the University of Texas hosted a discussion on Philip Emeagwali’s vast fraud. Participants in the discussion included Nigerian and African intellectuals, scientists, engineers, and IT professionals. Overall, the discussion reinforced and reiterated one of the worst kept secrets in the Nigerian Diaspora, especially in its online community: that none of Emeagwali’s highfalutin claims, on whose strength he has curried and continues to curry favor and recognition from gullible and hero-hungry black people, is true. Yet, just a few days ago, one of Nigeria’s more visible dailies, The Vanguard, included the academic and intellectual fraud in its list of 20 “most influential Nigerians.” Curiously, unlike previous Nigerian publications and profiles on Mr. Emeagwali, the biographical write-up accompanying the nomination does not repeat any of the well-known claims and “achievements” that Emeagwali has aggressively and fraudulently peddled about himself — claims that many of our people regard as truth. Apparently, the journalists at The Vanguard have become exposed to the widely available refutations of those claims and now know that they are false. But that, precisely, is the outrage. If they know that he is not a father of the internet, did not win “the Nobel Prize” of Computing as he claims, has no invention patents, did not invent the connection machine, does not have a single academic publication, and is neither a “doctor” nor a “professor” by any definition of those terms, why did they include him on the list? What makes Mr. Emeagwali “influential,” his ability to deceive Nigerians and line his pockets on the black speechmaking circuit?
Nigerians and black people deserve to know who the real Philip Emeagwali is. This will save them from the embarrassment of continuing to celebrate a fraud while real black scientific achievers and pioneers starve for attention and recognition. To correct Nigeria’s scientific and technological lag there is a need for investments — both financial and motivational — in the sciences, engineering, and IT fields. Nigerian youths need inspiration in the quantitative and scientific disciplines, but they should get it from actual, not pretending, black scientific, computing, and engineering heroes, not from phonies like Mr. Emeagwali.
Patented Inventions Or The Invention Of Patents?
Debunking the many myths of Mr. Emeagwali’s “achievements” is one the easiest things to do on earth if you have a computer with Internet access. Let us start with his claim of possessing 41 (32 by some accounts on some hero-worshipping black websites) patents for various inventions. A simple search at the website of the US Patent and Trade Mark Office (here: http://tarr.uspto.gov/) reveals that Mr. Emeagwali has only one registered patent, for Emeagwali.com, his website. He has no other patent listed against his name. It is the same patent that most owners of independent websites apply for to legally protect their proprietary rights over the website and its contents. We can state conclusively then that Mr. Emeagwali has no patented invention of any kind, contrary to his and his supporters’ claim.
Specifically, Mr. Emeagwali claims to have invented the Connection Machine (CM-2). This false claim is displayed boldly and shamelessly on Emeagwali.com in the section on “inventions” and “discoveries.” Some black websites like this onehttp://inventors.about.com/od/blackinventors/a/black_historyE.htm credit Emeagwali with inventing the Hyberball Machine Networks (or the supercomputer). Both claims are demonstrably false. The connection Machine, which is capable of conducting simultaneous calculations using 65,000-processors, was conceived by Daniel Hills and built by Thinking Machine Corporation, which Mr. Hills, along with Sheryl Handler, founded in 1982. This information is widely available on the web. The so-called supercomputer is therefore clearly not the child of Mr. Emeagwali by even the most generous stretch of the imagination.
Internet Pioneer?
Mr. Emeagwali claims to have used the CM-2 Machine to carry out billions of calculations by connecting over 65,000 processors (computers) around the world. He claims that this was the rudimentary foundation of the Internet. It is on this ground that he has aggrandized to himself the title of “father of the internet.” But this is a barefaced lie at worst and an egregious exaggeration at best. And it is so absurd in its circular logic that it is hilarious. First, as stated earlier, Emeagwali did not invent the Connection Machine on which his “experiment” relied. Second, Emeagwali used more than 65,000 independent processors “around the world” (meaning on the Internet) to do his calculation. This means that the Internet already existed and that he RELIED ON it for his calculations. Unless the Internet he claims to have fathered is different from the Internet that already existed at the time of his experiment (and which we all know as the existing internet today), he COULD NOT have invented the Internet or fathered it. He could not have been using an internet that, by his claim, did not exist until he invented it. As this website http://www.boutell.com/newfaq/history/emeagwali.html makes very clear, Emeagwali’s research did not contribute to or help invent any of the known components of what we now know as the internet:
Philip Emeagwali did work in supercomputing in the [late] eighties……. But supercomputing and the Internet are very different areas. And Emeagwali did not contribute to even one of the hundreds of Internet standards, or RFCs (Requests For Comments), that were created in the early decades of the Internet—an open process that anyone could participate in. His supercomputing research was completely unrelated to the Internet.
Emeagwali’s research was thus irrelevant to the evolution of the internet. Emeagwali did his supercomputing experiment in the late 1980s. By then, the “core standards” and protocols for information and data flow on the Internet already existed. And although, improvements have been made to the template since then, Emeagwali did not make any of those improvements and cannot therefore claim credit for them.
Emeagwali’s tenuous—and fraudulent—claim to internet fatherhood rests on his assertion that “the Supercomputer is the father of the Internet,” “because both are networks of computers working together.” This, experts agree, is not true, as supercomputing is just one component of the Internet and in fact RELIES ON the rudiments of what we know as the internet to work. So, if anything, the internet concept is the father of supercomputing, not vice versa. But even if we accept Emeagwali’s wrong logic, the fact that he did not invent or pioneer supercomputing means that even on this flawed premise and logic he cannot be considered a father of the internet.
Authentic histories of the internet are accessible all over the web. One can be found here: http://www.isoc.org/internet/history/brief.shtml#SC69. Many people played leading roles in inventing, improving, and constituting the vast technologies, protocols, and ideas that gave birth to and perfected the Internet. It is interesting that none of them is nearly as vocal in claiming that he is a father of the internet as Mr. Emeagwali, who did not contribute to the invention of the internet in any shape or form and in fact relied on the already existing internet to conduct his research. One of the most significant contributors to and pioneers of the internet is Vinton Cerf, who is today a Vice President and Chief Internet Evangelist at Google Inc. Other important figures in the development of the Internet include JCR Licklider, Bob Taylor, Paul Baran, Donald Davies, and Lawrence Roberts. If anyone deserves the title of father of the Internet, it is these people. Yet, none of them craves or has appropriated the title. When interviewed about their contribution to the Internet, they often humbly outline their actual contribution, crediting others with other components and shunning the title or insinuation of having fathered the Internet.
The only “history of the internet” source to even recognize Emeagwali as a legitimate computer scientist to be mentioned when chronicling the history of the internet is the book History of the Internet: A Chronology, 1843 to the Present by Christos J. P. Moschovitis, Hilary Poole, Tami Schuyler, Theresa M. Senft. The book was published in 2001. Although Mr. Emeagwali proudly displays the book’s reference to him on his website and claims that the “father of the internet” moniker (which has since been lazily picked up by several media platforms) originated in the book, there is absolutely no such reference in the book. The book’s reference to Emeagwali only states how Emeagwali’s research “effectively stimulate[d] petroleum reserves” by “harnessing the power of parallel computing.” And it is clear from a cursory analysis of the linguistic properties of this specific reference to Emeagwali that Emeagwali himself supplied the material and the claims articulated in it. It is also clear from the reference that it has nothing to do with the internet but is about improving the modeling of oilfields or oil reservoirs. The content and prose are eerily identical to the autobiographical write-ups and claims on Emeagwali.com and on black websites that simply lift and republish Emeagwali’s claims and self-written biography.
The Nobel Prize Of Computing?
Emeagwali’s other claim is that of winning the “Nobel Prize of Computing.” He is, of course, referring to the Gordon Bell Prize, which he won in 1989. Many uninformed observers have since picked up this fraudulent reference, which emanated from Emeagwali.com, and given it wings. The truth is that the Gordon Bell Prize does not come close to the Nobel in status, recognition or prize money and to compare the two prizes is to insult the prestige of the Nobel and grossly exaggerate the Gordon Bell’s importance. The Gordon Bell Prize is, properly speaking, an annual competition that young, driven, engineering upstarts — mostly graduate students — enter. Winners are usually those whose research are innovative and on the cutting edge of new processes in the field. So, on that score, winning the Gordon Bell Prize is a reward for doing research work that is important and solves an application problem at the time that the award is given. But let us put the award in perspective and recognize that it is actually a very minor award in the narrow field of supercomputing and in the larger computing and scientific community. Here is why the Gordon Bell Prize, Emeagwali’s only legitimate achievement, is much less than what he has portrayed it as:
• The cash award for the prize is a mere $1000. Often, the amount of an award is a good guide to its prestige and significance in the field. • Consider the fact that the most prestigious prize in the field of computing (and yet it cannot even be called the Nobel of Computing without insulting the real Nobel) is the Turing Prize, which carries a cash prize of $100,000. • The Gordon Bell is awarded in the narrow subfield of supercomputing, thereby further thinning the applicant pool and reducing the intensity of the competition. • The prize is further subdivided into several categories. Emeagwali won in one of those categories, the price/performance category. The more prestigious overall Peak Performance category was won by the entry submitted by a team from Mobil and TMC. • It is interesting that apart from Emeagwali no other winner(s) of the Gordon Bell annual prize makes noise about winning it or claims to have won “the Nobel Prize of Computing.” They usually go on to do bigger and better research in the field, the Gordon Bell being just a launch pad for future significant work. The public does not even know the other winners because it is a minor prize even in the field of computing. • Finally, and most importantly, Philip Emeagwali only won the prize in the price/performance category by default. His calculation of 3.1 Gflops was the second fastest speed. The fastest speed belonged to the Mobil/TMC team’s entry, whose calculation, according to the official record of the IEEE, which administers the prize (IEEE Software, May 1990, p. 101), bested Emeagwali’s speed. The speed of the Mobil/TMC Team’s solution to the seismic data processing problem was almost twice that of Emeagwali’s at almost 6Gflops. Similarly, and of more relevance for our purpose here, the Mobil/TMC team’s entry achieved the best speed/cost ratio (price-performance) at 500 Mflops per $1 Million, beating out Emeagwali’s entry, whose speed/cost ration was less than 400 Mflops per $1 Million. In fact the prize in the price/performance category was actually awarded to the Mobil/TMC initially. However, because the Mobil TMC team won also won in the overall Peak Performance category and the IEEE’s prize rule does not allow more than one prize per entry, the Mobil/TMC team forfeited their prize in the price/performance category, sticking with the prize for overall Peak Performance, a more significant category. As a result, Emeagwali’s entry, the second placed entry with the second highest speed/cost ratio, was automatically bumped to first place.
For all these reasons, it is the height of self-promotion and delusional exaggeration for Mr. Emeagwali to claim that he won the Nobel Prize of Computing or that the Gordon Bell is regarded as the Nobel of Computing. Nobody except Mr. Emeagwali regards the prize as such.
It is noteworthy that both Emeagwali and the Mobile/TMC Team relied on the CM-2 Machine (the Connection Machine) for their calculations, the same machine that Emeagwali falsely claims to have invented!
A final point to note here is that the research for which he won the Gordon Bell Prize (by default) has application and relevance only in the narrow area of oil flow reservoir modeling and oil prospecting. His entry for the competition utilized and optimized the capacity of parallel computing, that is, relied on an already existing Internet. Emeagwali’s own website states that he “accessed the supercomputers over the Internet from local workstations.” Neither the research nor the prize had anything to do with the Internet. The Internet was already invented and fairly perfected by then; otherwise he would not be, in his own words, “accessing the supercomputers over the Internet.” This clarification is necessary and important because some of Emeagwali’s supporters and victims tend to assume wrongly that his purported fatherhood of the internet derives from the research for which he won the Gordon Bell Prize. All these facts can be easily accessed here: http://www33.brinkster.com/iiiii/inventions/emeag.html

“Dr.” Emeagwali Or Doctored Emeagwali?
Emeagwali’s final fraudulent claim is that of being a “doctor” and “professor.” Several years ago, before eagle-eyed Nigerians and Africans decided to scrutinize his eye-popping claims, his website audaciously referred to him as “doctor” and “Professor.” Because of recent exposures of his scam, he no longer refers to himself on his website as “Dr. Emeagwali” or “Professor Emeagwali.” However, in what is typical of the Emeagwali scam, his website is still littered with many media references to “Dr Emeagwali” and “Professor Emeagwali.” These stealthily promoted references then get picked up by unsuspecting black media people who are eager to promote black achievement and excellence. Sometimes, he approaches black websites and organizations, asking them to link to or publish his false claims. In the course of the discussion on the USAfricadialogue forum, Ms. Funmi Okelola , the owner and webmaster of cafeafricana.com, revealed that Mr. Emeagwali approached her a few years ago, asking her to help propagate the lie that he is “a father of the internet.” Ms. Okelola, herself an Adjunct Professor of IT, flatly turned down his request, refusing to participate vicariously in his fraud. For good measure, she advised him to seek help for his delusions of grandeur.
But many proprietors of black websites and publications have not been as alert to Emeagwali’s antics as Ms. Okelola and have been falling for his scam. In their eagerness to embrace what they believe to be the proud achievements of a “brother,” they have inadvertently donated space and platform to Emeagwali to consolidate and spread his false claims. Because of the virility of the internet, even some non-black websites have picked up these ubiquitous references that are patently false. Here, on this website http://www.answers.com/topic/philip-emeagwali for instance you will find a clear reference not only to “Dr Emeagwali” but also the following reference in their documentation of his education: “Ph.D., Scientific Computing, University of Michigan, 1993.”
He will not correct what is clearly a false reference, preferring to take cover in the deniability of being able to say that it is others, not him, who use these false, unearned titles to refer to him. The reason he will not correct this falsehood is that it emanated from him in the first place; most of the references were picked up from his website in the days before scrutiny spooked him into avoiding such direct self-referencing. The clearest evidence yet of his complicity and culpability in this misrepresentation is that he sits through interviews where the clueless, awed interviewers refer to him as “Doctor Emeagwali” and “Professor Emeagwali” and he does not correct them. There is a particularly revolting video on youtube (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8244498418903739405#) in which the female interview repeatedly calls him Dr. Emeagwali, obviously assuming and/or reading from her script that he has a PhD. He sits there and nods and smiles through those references without correcting her. Having planted the false biographical information about himself in the first instance, he understandably makes no effort to discourage people from using it or to correct them.
The false references to him as “doctor” and “professor” are not the only falsehoods that Emeagwali coyly and deftly promotes; he routinely lets interlocutors repeat the many false claims that are based on his own prolific misrepresentations. On this websitehttp://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa111097a.htm, for instance, the misinformed interviewer, a black woman who is proudly interviewing “a black inventor” for a book she was writing on black inventors, asks him the following question: “You have submitted 41 inventions to the U.S Patent and Trademark Office concerning seven technologies. Can you give us expanded details?” Clearly, the interviewer was repeatedly the false claim on Emeagwali’s website and in his self-written biographical profiles, without realizing that, as we showed at the beginning of this essay, he has no patent for any technology or invention.
Here is Mr. Emeagwali’s response to her question: “Inventors are reluctant to provided expanded details of their inventions until they receive full patent protection. The reason is that the Patent and Trademark Office can deny patents to inventors that publicly provided details of their invention.” But the truth is that he has neither registered patents for his non-existent inventions nor a patent-pending status. He has no inventions or technologies to patent! The response itself contains a lie. Contrary to Emeagwali’s insinuation that inventors cannot publicly discuss their work until they are patented or that doing so would jeopardize their patent application with the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), inventions and products with “Patent Pending” status are routinely discussed, advertized, and marketed on American television. In fact these public discussions of unpatented inventions always carry the disclaimer that patents are pending, meaning that applications have been made. If public discussion of inventions and technologies were detrimental to patent applications, none of these unpatented and “patent pending” technologies and inventions would be on the American market or be advertized on television. This was Emeagwali seeking to perpetuate the myth that he has several technological inventions that are patented or awaiting patents but avoiding having to mention or discussion the specific fictitious inventions for which he claims to have patents in order to have deniability when checks are made at the USPTO and he is confronted with the truth of his falsehood.

Racism Or Laziness?
The case of Philip Emeagwali is a cautionary tale on the pitfalls of self-delusion, laziness, and a sense of entitlement. Mr. Emeagwali enrolled in a doctoral program in Civil Engineering at the University of Michigan in 1987. His coursework over, he took the comprehensive examination that qualifies one for candidacy. He failed the exam twice and did not take it a third time. In the meantime, he conducted the research that would later win him the Gordon Bell Prize, a research he began as a class project for one of his graduate courses. In 1991, two years after winning the Gordon Bell by default, he petitioned the Dean of the School of Engineering to be allowed to submit a dissertation (despite not having passed his candidacy exam and therefore not being a doctoral candidate) in a different department — the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. His request was curiously granted in what was clearly a sidestepping of standard procedure. Emeagwali submitted the dissertation, basically a rework of his entry for the Gordon Bell competition, on July 24, 1992. A team of internal and external evaluators examined it and found it unworthy of a doctorate and turned it down.
Emeagwali then sued the University of Michigan for racial discrimination. The lawsuit was dismissed for lacking merit and also failed on appeal in 1999. The details of Emeagwali’s graduate school records and of the dueling contentions in the lawsuit are all documented here http://www.michbar.org/opinions/appeals/1999/102999/5473.htmlin the court record of the Michigan Court of Appeals.
A dispassionate analysis of the details, affidavits, and arguments submitted in the lawsuit and in the appeals process reveals the following:
• Emeagwali was a fairly brilliant student but he was lazy and would not put in the work necessary to earn his degree.
• He had a sense of entitlement, feeling that since he was black and had made it into the University of Michigan, he was entitled to a special treatment and academic favors.
• This sense of entitlement escalated after he won the Gordon Bell Prize. He thought that he was entitled to a PhD on the strength of the Gordon Bell competition entry when in fact he was not even a doctoral candidate, having failed his comprehensive examination twice.
• Emeagwali was more concerned with parlaying his newfound default Gordon Bell fame into profitable self-promotion than with the serious academic effort required to complete the PhD.
• He petitioned to be allowed to submit a dissertation only after he realized that he would not be taken seriously as a researcher and may not be able to find a secure job in research or teaching if he did not possess a PhD.

This is a story of how a promising, modestly brilliant graduate student was destroyed by his own hubris, entitlement mentality, and laziness. What Emeagwali failed to earn through hard work and diligence, he has since appropriated to himself by calling himself and getting others to call him “doctor” and “professor.”
Emeagwali is not a doctor of whatever kind. He is not a professor. He has not held any research or teaching job in any educational or research institution since he failed to get a doctorate degree at Michigan. He has also not done any new research. Emeagwali has no single publication in any scientific journal. A search of the most comprehensive scientific publication database (which can be done online) yields only a reference to his Masters Degree dissertation.
Here we have a man who is unemployed, has no serious standing in the scientific, engineering, or computing communities. Yet he is widely referred to as “a father of the internet,” “an internet pioneer,” “the greatest black scientist that ever lived,” “Bill Gates of Africa,” among other over-the-top and unearned titles. The question to pose is: how did the world get so deceived and why did many reputable people and organizations buy into Emeagwali’s con job? Emeagwali is a very industrious, persistent, and successful scam artist; you have to give him that. Very few intellectual frauds have successfully mainstreamed their false claims as Emeagwali has done.
Intellectual Fraud And Its Unwitting Validators
Even former president Bill Clinton was suckered by the fraud, famously referring to Emeagwali as “one of the great minds of the information age” in his speech to the Nigerian National Assembly in 2000. The Clinton reference has provided cover and alibi for Emeagwali to perfect and spread his false claims. Predictably, Emeagwali’s defenders point to the Clinton reference and to CNN’s and TIME Magazine’s references to him as “a father of the internet” and “the unsung hero” of the internet age respectively. These references are boldly displayed on Emeagali.com for the obvious purpose of convincing the uninformed that his claims have been vetted and endorsed by these entities. The problem is that these media organizations sadly endorsed the claims without vetting them. Part of it is sloppiness, but much of it is the result of what black intellectuals who live in the West understand and experience as white liberal pandering, which is itself borne out of white liberal guilt and the fear of the “r” word (racism).
Obviously Clinton was pandering to his Nigerian hosts who believed Emeagwali to be a scientific genius and national hero. Clinton, the savvy politician that he is, and a man who perfected white liberal outreach and pandering to black/African peoples, was relying on the image and descriptions of Emeagwali that was already in the black and mainstream press —descriptions that are traceable to Emeagwali’s own misrepresentations on his websites. What Emeagwali does is so clever as to ensnare even a skeptical and vigilant observer, especially one that is already inclined to believe or seek out claims of black scientific achievement for whatever reason. As indicated earlier, Emeagwali plants these autobiographical write-ups that are ridden with falsehoods and misrepresentations in unsuspecting black publications. He does this by aggressively pitching these claims to their editors as he tried to do unsuccessfully with Ms. Okelola. Then, fired by liberal guilt and a desire to seem welcoming to black achievement and excellence, the mainstream media like TIME and CNN, lazily pick up these references and descriptions. Emeagwali then links to, disseminates, and publicizes these mainstream press references and descriptions (which are actually based on his own descriptions of himself and his “achievements”), thus perfecting and furthering the fraud. This way, he creates deniability for himself. The deception comes full circle but the cycle continues to repeat itself, populating and repopulating the Internet with Emeagwali’s falsehoods.
The sophistication and complexity of the fraud notwithstanding, there is no excuse for reputable organizations like CNN and TIME not to have done a simple due diligence on the false claims of Emeagwali. It is true that at the time that TIME and CNN made the glowing references to Emeagwali, the now widely available refutations of his claims were probably not yet available on the internet. Even so, a basic inquiry from the appropriate quarters would have revealed the truth about the claims on which the references to Emeagwali were based. The two reputable organizations failed to carry out this basic fact checking, an elemental reportorial and investigative duty of journalists. Instead, they relied on Emeagwali’s widely disseminated falsehoods for their stories. The case of TIME is particularly scandalous. The story in which it extols Emeagwali is clearly directly based on Emeagwali’s own autobiographical claims on Emeagwali.com. In fact it is a faithful, almost verbatim reproduction of Emeagwali’s self-written profile. It is lazy, sloppy journalism at its worst.
There is similarly no excuse for President Clinton’s speech writers not to have done basic checks or asked some of the president’s own appointees and advisers who are engineers and scientists about the true value of Emeagwali’s work. Had they done this relatively simply investigation, they would have realized that being a default winner in one category of a minor supercomputing competition for work that has a specific, limited application in the narrow field of oil reservoir modeling does not qualify one to be called “one of the greatest minds of the information age.”
A Self-Replicating Fraud
When challenged, Emeagwali and his supporters can say he is merely repeating and linking to what others call him and say about him and that he does not call himself a father of the internet or a doctor or a professor. But the fraud is a self-replicating one, perpetuating and proliferating itself across both the print and virtual media worlds. Other publications that are searching for black scientific achievers do an internet search and then rely on the previous press descriptions of Emeagwali, which ultimately lead back to the man’s fraudulent biographical claims on his own website. The lazy journalists and Pan-African activists lift these published claims and references (which emanated from the man himself), concluding that they must be established facts if other media outlets had already published them. And on and on it goes. It is a very sophisticated fraud that is aided by the virility of the Internet. This is precisely how even the prestigious Law School Admission Test (LSAT) ended up including a passage about Emeagwali in their test, a passage that is exactly the same as what Emeagwali published on Emeagwali.com about himself!! The examiners at the LSAT did not even bother to rewrite the passage. Nor did they bother to check the veracity of the claims therein. It is clear that they were simply interested including a passage about a “black achiever” to fulfill the need for diversity of content and to deflect or avoid accusations from black test takers and other minority groups that the test does not represent or reflect the experiences of black people and is thus biased against them.
White liberal patronage of black people can be that shallow and sloppy — and insulting to the very people it purports to promote. It is political correctness and pandering marinated in a political agenda–that of ingratiating white liberal politicians and figures to blacks for political support and multicultural validation. The peak of this phenomenon is Black History Month in February when white liberal organizations and black institutions alike pull out all the stops to have self-promoting “black achievers” like Emeagwali speak to them. That’s when they get invited by white liberal and African American organizations to showcase black achievement and innovation! White liberal patronage is a big industry in America. It takes many forms; one of them is what Pius Adesanmi calls the Mercy Industrial Complex (MIC). But the MIC is not as offensive as the false flattery and the silly excuses and defenses that white liberals advance for cuddling black failures and frauds. Hero-seeking black organizations have not helped matters with their patronage of people like Emeagwali. Emeagwali’s deception succeeds so well because of a multiracial coalition of consumers and enablers.
Emeagwali is a very clever, self-conscious scam artist. That is however no excuse for the black community to allow itself to be used to actively promote a fraud.
Testimonies To Fraud And Deception
A participant in the USAfricadialogue discussion, Professor Pablo Idahosa of York University, Toronto told of how, as the institution’s Director of African Studies, he summarily dismissed the request of black students in the institution who came to him seeking sponsorship for their proposal to bring Mr. Emeagwali to the campus to speak to them. Professor Idahosa told of how a cursory scrutiny of the biography that Emeagwali had supplied to the student group convinced him that the man was a fraud and his claims false. Subsequently, he declined to fund the proposed event, refusing to use the institutions name and funds to validate a deception.
Another member of the forum, Dr. Ola Kassim revealed how he had been taken by Emeagwali’s claims when he stumbled on them and how he, as the leader of a Nigerian group in Canada, had decided to invite the self-proclaimed “computer genius” to speak to the group. In a demand that fleshes out the pecuniary motivations for Emeagwali’s persistence in perpetuating his fraud, he requested for an honorarium of $10,000, round the clock limousine service, a five-star hotel accommodation, and first class plane tickets for him and an assistant. Dr. Kassim promptly discontinued correspondence with Mr. Emeagwali, seeing his demands as grossly unreasonable. A few years later, he was glad that he did, as he became exposed to the mountain of evidence proving that Emeagwali is not what — and who — he claims to be. Other African organizations with deeper pockets have been paying up Emeagwali’s ridiculous and undeserved fees, believing that they are paying an African “internet pioneer” and “inventor” to inspire them. It is a classic case of obtaining financial gratification through misrepresentations and false pretenses, what is called 419 in Nigerian parlance. Some white liberal groups also pay Emeagwali to talk about his “achievements” as a way to satisfy their Afrophilic sensibilities and assuage their consciences. These gullible and not-so-gullible deep-pocketed groups keep Emeagwali in business, enabling the jobless Emeagwali to make a living off his deception. They have unwittingly helped him solidify his fraud as he routinely posts videos and audios from these events on his website to further cement his self-created legend. The irony of paying Emeagwali to inspire and motivate black (and white liberal) audiences is that, as one commentator remarked, in addition to being an intellectual fraud, Mr. Emeagwali has no personal charisma, lacks the oratorical skills of a motivational speaker, and, for a man who is fairly well educated with two Masters degrees, has terrible English speaking skills as evident in his online videos.
Yet another member of the forum, Wassa Fatti, a Gambian resident in London, narrated how he had been a fanatical believer in Emeagwali as an African scientific hero and thanked members for providing the overwhelming evidence that convinced him of Emeagwali’s monumental, sophisticated fraud. He was so enamored of Emeagwali’s legend that he, along with like-minded Africans, wanted to write a children’s inspiration book on the fraudulent self-promoter. In his own words, the project was abandoned when even those who were most vocal in touting Emeagwali’s claims and “achievements” could not find independent corroborations for any of the claims and after they realized that every single claim about his accomplishment, except the Gordon Bell Prize, led right back to Emeagwali.com. Fatti writes: “I abandoned [the] project….when others raised concerns that we need evidence to support Emeagwali’s claim. Those who were loudest among us to produce such a booklet were also the least to provide evidence beyond Philip Emeagwali’s verbal claim.”

Why Emeagwali Is Bad For Nigeria/Africa
Some people acknowledge Emeagwali’s deception but suggest that it should be understood in the context of America’s broader culture of self-promotion, deceptive enterprise, profit-motivated lies, and self-misrepresentation. It is true that this culture makes it easier for people like Emeagwali to thrive and inflict their fraud on society. But ultimately, Emeagwali, like everyone else, has to be held personally responsible for his transgressions.
Other Nigerians argue that Emeagwali’s scam has not hurt anyone personally, that it is a victimless fraud. By this logic, exposing Emeagwali’s fraud hurts the image of Nigerians and black people more than it helps it. There is some technical veracity in that argument. But the cost of non-exposure to Nigeria is much greater. There are now as many web postings and videos clearly exposing the intellectual con artistry of Mr. Emeagwali as there are websites and web postings celebrating him. Every time his scam is highlighted, his Nigerian nationality is mentioned to reinforce the stereotypical notion that Nigerians are shifty, lying frauds. His Africanness and blackness also become factors that are invoked to explain his fraudulent ways. So, image-wise, every hard working, honest, achieving Nigerian (intellectual or otherwise, scientist or not) is sullied by Emeagwali’s scam. Every discussion of Emeagwali’s fraudulent self-promotion casts a dark shadow on Nigerians with hard-earned reputations; their genuine achievements are put on trial with every discussion of Emeagwali’s serial dishonesty. They are victims of Emeagwali’s fraudulent activities. His fraud taints Nigeria and Nigerians.
Emeagwali’s quest for a short cut to fame and recognition and his subsequent refusal to take responsibility for his misguided actions and inactions has hurt black people everywhere. Experts on racism believe that every false, frivolous racism allegation or lawsuit actually harms the struggle for racial equality and justice because it makes future, genuine allegations of racism less believable and less credible in the eyes of the dominant white power and judicial structure. This is the damage that Emeagwali’s frivolous recourse to the racism card in his Michigan travails has inflicted on the struggle of black people for equality in America and elsewhere.
Some people argue that Emeagwali should not be denigrated because of his failure to finish his PhD and that many of the giants of the information revolution do not have PhDs. This is true. Bill Gates, Paul Allen, Steve Jobs, Danny Hills, Vint Cerf, and the founders of Google all do not have PhDs. Yet they have gone on to do great things that have transformed the world, as we know it. But the difference between these people and Philip Emeagwali is like night and day. Unlike Emeagwali, these are actual pioneers of various technologies and protocols with documented patents to truly pioneering and innovative technologies. These people celebrate the fact that they do not have doctorate degrees, wearing it as a badge of honor, thereby intensifying the inspirational effect of their life stories and accomplishments. They don’t go around calling themselves “Dr.” and “Professor” like Mr. Emeagwali. In fact, the most well known of these information age pioneers, Bill Gates, proudly proclaims the fact that he dropped out of college to pursue his dream. Unlike Emeagwali, these people do not go around claiming to have patents that they do not have.
The fact is that one does not need a PhD to contribute to scientific knowledge or to invent technologies and techniques that improve human life. That is precisely why Emeagwali’s false claim of being a PhD holder and a professor is so galling. He has a Masters Degree in Engineering from a respected university and does not need a PhD to pursue his intellectual or scientific dreams. He could get a job with his qualification and earn a respectable, honest, decent living. Yet he felt the need to misrepresent himself as a “doctor” and “Professor.” This shows that his fraud is clearly not motivated by necessity, self-preservation, or survival, but by greed and a desire to secure unearned gratifications.
Some people say: “why expose Emeagwali when he is inspiring our people to embrace computers?” The answer to that is that a fraudster should not be the one inspiring “our” people, especially impressionable young black people, who will eventually realize that Emeagwali is a fraud and be devastated. Others argue that Emeagwali is a harmless, self-promoting charlatan who poses much less threat to Nigeria than the thieving politicians in Abuja. There is some truth to that, but the intellectual, activist, progressive, and media constituencies of Nigeria have no moral right to rail against Salisu Buhari and Bola Tinubu’s certificate and biographical deceptions if they cannot hold one of their own to account for his multiple deceptions.

Ignoring Genuine Nigerian Scientific Achievers
The most important reason why celebrating the likes of Mr. Emeagwali is ultimately detrimental to Nigeria (and by extension Africa) is that it takes attention away from the genuine black/Nigerian achievers that deserve to be celebrated and projected as models of black/Nigerian ingenuity. It is an outrage that, as African intellectuals were discussing Mr. Emeagwali’s multi-layered fraud on the USAfricadialogue forum, the exploit of Professor John Dabiri, who recently won a McArthur Genius Award, received barely a blip in the Nigerian and black press. Professor Dabiri is a fluid dynamics expert at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and was among a select few who received the highly prestigious prize that carries a $500,000 cash award.
Another Nigerian, Dr. Joseph Igietseme, led a team of scientists at the prestigious, Atlanta-based Center for Disease Control (CDC) to win this year’s award for outstanding research. Yet another Nigerian, Professor Sam Adeloju beat out 14 finalists to win the James Dyson International Design Award with a device he calls Buoyancy Bazooka that can be shot to a drowning person to save their life at sea. This innovative Nigerian scientist and designer barely got any attention among Nigerians and black people.
In literature, Professor Pius Adesanmi recently won the inaugural Penguin Prize for African Writing, the latest in a long line of young Nigerian writers to win prestigious awards in the last 15 years. One does not even have to mention the Nobel-winning Wole Soyinka, or the multiple award winning Chinua Achebe, whose Things Fall Apart is the most translated work of fiction in Africa and perhaps the world. These two giants are not on Nigeria postage stamps, but intellectual frauds like Emeagwali and Gabriel Oyibo (of GAGUT infamy) are!
Inviting And Enabling Intellectual Fraud
The degree to which Nigeria and Nigeria celebrate people of fraudulent and inflated reputations lends credence to the contention of Professor Pablo Idahosa that Philip Emeagwali was created by “the embarrassing Pan-“Afrikan” infantile, therapeutic achievism that afflicts so many black people [the] world over — the need to find heroes that result in a cathartic sycophancy of anything achieved by black folks.” Professor Mobolaji Aluko, who teaches Chemical Engineering at Howard University, echoed a similar sentiment, describing the tragedy of Emeagwali as an indictment of black people’s gullibility and their unquestioning and naïve commitment to racial solidarity on whatever premise. His words ring compellingly true:
The tragedy is not just Emeagwali’s – who may truly believe what he peddles on his website and his world-wide motivational speeches within the Black circuit that clutches for heroes, particularly in the technical fields apart from sports and the humanities – but those spectators who insist of being conned, or else indicate that Emeagwali serves a harmless, motivational purpose.
Racial therapy is a dangerous enterprise because it emotionalizes what should belong to the realm of reasoned skepticism and intense interrogation. It leads to the celebration of mediocre and phony members of a racial community. Consequently, real black scientific heroes and achievers are ignored.

Conclusion
Mr. Philip Emeagwali is entrenched in his fraud. Being jobless, he earns a living off it. He will not come clean on his own, for that would be economic suicide. It is therefore the duty of everyone invested in black scientific achievement to educate himself on Mr. Emeagwali’s pyramid of intellectual fraud. Mr. Emeagwali knows that there will always be gullible black people and guilt-ridden white liberals to swindle with his false claims. We recognize that there will always be Nigerians and black people who will not get off the self-comforting bandwagon of Emeagwali’s fraud regardless of how much evidence one puts out. Some of it is ego. Some of it is a naïve, misplaced desire to find black heroism where none exists. This essay may not sway those people. But there are many Nigerians, Africans, and black people the world over who are honest, humble, and open-minded enough to recognize and accept that the man they have been led to adore and lionize is a compulsive liar, intellectual fraudster, and a shameless, self-promoting exaggerator. Those people deserve the truth about Mr. Philip Emeagwali.

As culled from SaharaReporters.com
Written by a Citizen Reporter

Pledge #1: Believe in Nigeria as a Nation – Why Public Officials Loot the Nation’s Treasury

From: election2011@ . . .

BELIEVE IN NIGERIA – AS A NATION Part 1

Our First Pledge as a Movement is Believe in Nigeria as a Nation. The question is do all seeking public offices in Nigeria believe in Nigeria as a country? If we do why do we loot our country every day and send the monies as security in to other Nations – Dubai, South Africa, Bahamas, Eastern Europe …

When we pondered what should be our first pledge many argued that Corruption was the greatest National Enemy of Our beloved Nation, but a closer look, you will see the motive that fuels corruption and many of the other ills of our country is lack of belief. Many Nigerians do not believe that Nigeria will survive as a nation today or tomorrow. So when you get into public office, you do what is wise, first secure your self, your family and stockbile away for the “who knows tomorrow” that never comes. You see one of the real problem, is that we do not really believe in Nigeria as Nation. Do we believe in Nigeria as a Nation? – Believe in Nigeria as a Nation.

Welcome to our First Installment of Our 12 Point Pledge to the Nation. Part One, of Point One. Visit www.putnigeriafirst.com and join us today.

Lets Put our Nation First. Yes, We can do it.

We are writing this to you today to invite you to become a member of “Put Nigeria First” movement. PNF is a non-partisan grassroots movement representing the collective interest of Nigerians worldwide in all their social, economic and political interest. It is a generated bottom up call for real economic management of the nation’s abundant resources through good governance.

Together we are stronger. Please help shape Nigeria’s decisions by sharing your input today. By participating in the process as a member of “Put Nigeria First Movement”
Please go to

www.putnigeriafirst.com

and register now.

Thank you for your contribution and for making your voice heard.

Nigeria: Leadership, Excellence and Voice in Nation’s Democracy

from election2011@ . . .

You Are Specially Invited To Join Us

Courtesourtesy Release on behalf of “Put Nigerian First Movement” – Visit Them at www.putnigeriafirst.com

Please Read and forward to all Nigerians and Friends of Nigeria everywhere.

“PUT NIGERIA FIRST” MOVEMENT
Press Release
Abuja, Nigeria
Leadership, Excellence and Voice in Nigeria’s Democracy
WWW.putnigeriafirst.COM

COMMIT TO NIGERIA BY PUTTING NIGERIA FIRST

This is our 12 Points Pledge to the Nation – Are You One with US?

1. Believe in Nigeria as a Nation
2. 24 hours of uninterrupted Power (Electricity) supply to all Nigerians
3. Clean, portable water supply to all Nigerians
4. Produce sufficient food supply for our nation
5. Effective Police Security, Law and Order
6. Accept our diversity: Religious tolerance and disdain tribalism
7. Jobs, Social Security and Unemployment Benefit for all Nigerians
8. Health care for all Nigerians
9. Provide quality Education at all levels of Nigerian institutions
10. Comprehensive and integrated infrastructural development in Transportation, adequate Housing, Waste Disposal, Urban and Rural development for Nigeria.
11. Eliminate Corruption, reduce National waste with accountability and effective management of our National resources.
12. Eradicate poverty in Nigeria, create a vibrant middleclass, improve the dignity and image of every Nigerian.

Lets Put our Nation First. Yes, We can do it.

We are writing this to you today to invite you to become a member of “Put Nigeria First” movement. PNF is a non-partisan grassroots movement representing the collective interest of Nigerians worldwide in all their social, economic and political interest. It is a generated bottom up call for real economic management of the nation’s abundant resources through good governance.

Put Nigeria First has a collective voice that is heard at the local, state and federal government levels on multiple issues pertaining to overall interest of Nigerians worldwide. Through the Put Nigeria First movement, you can put your opinions and ideas into action, and count yourself in the affairs of your country Nigeria. Our platform addresses issues of vital importance to millions of Nigerians worldwide. Expanding opportunities and increasing access to all.
The collective views of all of us which we will be accountable to you will help in our efforts to bring meaningful changes and lasting results nationwide that addresses the critical issue of building a strong nation based on the rule of law and respect for each other.

During the months to come in 2011, the politicking of selecting a president , his vice, 36 governors and their deputies, 109 Senators, and 360 House of reps members, that will govern Nigeria, will commence in earnest. It is expected that Nigerians worldwide will choose a leader to address important issues that have an impact on them, their future and dependents. As a Citizen of Nigeria, your input is needed as delegates deliberate on choosing their leaders.

We ask of you to register yourself and your input by participating fully in the electoral process.

Please go to www.putnigeriafirst.com and register.

Together we are stronger. Please help shape Nigeria’s decisions by sharing your input today. By participating in the process as a member of “Put Nigeria First Movement” you will help shape our advocacy agenda and activities on the issues you care about.

The more we are engaged or involved, the more we can do. Please go to

www.putnigeriafirst.com

and register now.

We at The Friends of Goodluck Ebele Jonathan supports the idea of the “Put Nigeria First” Movement and call on all other Aspirants and Candidates for the Presidential election and all public offices in Nigeria to support the “Put Nigeria First” Movement – Jay Umoru.

Thank you for your contribution and for making your voice heard.

Sincerely
Dshaikh Izuchukwu
Spokesperson “PUT NIGERIA FIRST” Worldwide

Jay Umoru
Spokesman “Friends of Goodluck Ebele Jonathan”
Abuja, Nigeria
Visit www.goodluckejonathan.com

Nigeria: Building On The Foundations Of Unity And Progress

From: Leila Abdul

BEING AN ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN ON THE OCCASION OF THE NATION’S 50TH INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS TODAY 1ST OF OCTOBER 2010.

Fellow Citizens.Today, 1st October, 2010 marks the 50th Anniversary of our independence from Britain. It is with a deep sense of humility and gratitude to the Almighty that I address you this morning. On this day in 1960, the heroes of the nationalist struggles and all Nigerians were full of hopes and dreams.

The citizens of the new country danced in colourful celebration of the newfound freedom. Nigerians were filled with expectations as the Union Jack was lowered and the green-white-green flag was raised in its place. A new country was born. A new journey had started on a road never taken before. The future was pregnant with promise.alt With patriotism and pragmatism, our founding fathers charted a course for the greatness of this country. While there were differences and disagreements, they did not waver in their desire to build a country that future generations would be proud of. They made compromises and sacrifices. They toiled night and day to build a viable country where progress and peace would reign supreme.

Our independence was gained by men and women who envisioned a land of freedom and one of opportunity.

Our founding fathers sought a government of character, that seeks justice to her citizens as our national anthem so eloquently describes: One Nation Bound in Freedom, Peace and Unity. However, today, the opinion of many Nigerians is that these dreams and expectations have not been fulfilled. Not only have people despaired about the slow pace of progress, some have in fact given up on the country. Some believe that if the colonial masters had stayed longer, Nigeria may have been the better for it.

All these postulations, we must admit, are borne out of a somewhat justifiable sense of frustration. Our troubles and failures are well catalogued. For a country that was, in terms of development, on a similar, if not better level with many countries at independence, it is discomforting that we are lagging behind as the economic indicators among nations now show.

In the midst of these challenges, it is easy to forget our unusual circumstances. We have actually been moving from one political instability to the other such that we have barely been able to plan long-term and implement policies on a fairly consistent basis.

This instability has also impacted negatively on institutional development, which is necessary for advancement. The structures of governance had barely been developed when we ran into a series of political obstacles shortly after Independence.

While we were at it, the military took over power and this fuelled a different kind of political instability which ultimately led to the unfortunate 30-month Civil War. This was certainly not the dream of our founding fathers who sacrificed so much to give us Nigeria. They did not dream of a country where brothers would be killing brothers and sisters killing sisters. They did not dream of a country where neighbours and friends would exchange bullets in place of handshakes.

Military rule and the Civil War were major setbacks for our nationhood. They produced a polluted national landscape. This did not offer the best atmosphere for national development. It impacted negatively on Nigeria socially, politically and economically, a situation which further undermined our aspiration as a stable nation. Without political stability, it has been very difficult to plan and build our institutions like other countries that were our peers.

Dear compatriots, despite the serious challenges that we have been living with; we cannot ignore the fact that we have cause to celebrate our nationhood and even a greater cause to look forward to a brighter future. This is a historic occasion when we need to pause and appreciate who we are, what we have, and to reflect on the encouraging possibilities ahead. There is certainly much to celebrate: our freedom, our strength, our unity and our resilience.

This is also a time for stock-taking, to consider our past so that it will inform our future. This is a time to look forward to the great opportunities and challenges that lie ahead for Nigeria. In fifty years, we have in several respects, attained heights that we should be very proud of as a nation.

In the fields of science and technology, education, the arts, entertainment, scholarship, and diplomacy, Nigerians have distinguished themselves in spite of the enormous hurdles they encounter everyday. If we could achieve so much under tough conditions, we are capable of achieving even much more in our journey to the Promised Land.

Our strides in medical science are hardly celebrated. Recently a team of Nigerian scientists led by Dauda Oladepo of the International Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) discovered CD4 Lymphocyte baseline for testing people living with HIV/ AIDS. The effort is all the more remarkable because it was funded by the Federal Ministry of Health and its findings are particularly useful to the Nigerian environment. The discovery is very vital to monitoring and managing the disease progression in infected people.

Also, a Nigerian scientist, Dr. Louis Nelson, has made significant progress in his research to find a permanent cure for diabetes, which afflicts over 123 million sufferers worldwide. The vaccine that has made Yellow Fever disease manageable was developed in our shores! While we may not have landed a spaceship on the moon or developed nuclear technology, our inventors and innovators have made globally acknowledged contributions. Clearly, these are indications that within us are potentials that can be harnessed for greatness.

Nigerian writers have won numerous awards on the global stage. Professor Wole Soyinka gave Africa its first Nobel Prize in Literature. Professor Chinua Achebe pioneered the most successful African novel in history. Ben Okri won the Booker prize. Helon Habila, Sefi Attah and Chimamanda Adichie, among several others, are internationally renowned.

In the movie industry, Nollywood is rated second biggest in the world. Nigerians have by themselves defied all that is negative around them to build a billion dollar film industry from the scratch. This is a major landmark worth celebrating.

Today our actors and artistes are household names in Africa and parts of the world. The future can only be brighter as competition in this sector breeds improved quality and better creativity. Our leading professionals – lawyers, scientists, economists, doctors, diplomats and academics are celebrated all over the world. They occupy prestigious positions in the leading institutions across the developed world. Most of them were born and bred in Nigeria. Most of them schooled here before they travelled abroad. This should tell us something: that daunting as our circumstances have been, we are still full of ability and capability. We are blessed with talented and patriotic Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora, many of whom are willing and ready to return home to be part of the drive to turn Nigeria around for good, so that the country can take its pride of place in the comity of nations.

My brothers and sisters, as we begin the journey to another fifty years of nationhood, we have two choices to make. We can choose to focus on the imperfections and problems that easily beset us as a nation or we choose to focus on the unlimited possibilities that we have. I urge us all to choose the latter. I prefer to see the silver lining in the dark cloud rather than the dark cloud in the silver lining.

Today, we need to celebrate the remarkable resilience of the Nigerian spirit. We need to appreciate, that even though the road has been bumpy; we have trudged on, in hope. We may not have overcome our challenges, but neither have our challenges overcome us. Whenever we are completely written off, we always bounce back from the edge to renew our national bond for the benefit of our progress. That is the Nigerian spirit. This is what has kept us together as a country even when other countries with far less challenges have fallen apart.

Our recovery from the scars of the Western Region Crisis, the Civil War, and the June 12, 1993 election annulment has convinced me more than anything else that Nigeria is destined for greatness. It has proved that in our differences, tough circumstances and diversity, what binds us together is far stronger more than what divides us. We have a glorious future awaiting us. I am convinced that North or South, East or West, Muslim, Christian or other faiths, majority or minority, we are all bound by our common humanity and mutual aspirations.

We are not sworn enemies. We are not irreconcilable foes. We are neighbours who sometimes offend each other but can always sit down to talk over our differences. We are one people and one family. There are clear examples across the country where, in one family, you have people of different faiths and convictions living peacefully under the same roof.

The father could be a Muslim, the mother a Christian and the children professing different faiths. Yet, they do not draw the sword against one another in the name of religion.

Fellow compatriots, one of the greatest achievements of our union this past fifty years is our togetherness. The late Sardauna of Sokoto, Alhaji Ahmadu Bello once said: “Let us understand our differences.” I identify fully with these words of wisdom. Our faith may be different. We may not speak the same language. We may not eat the same kind of food. But we are in a plural society where we have continued to accommodate one another and integrate without reservations. This we must build on! This we must strengthen! We have the opportunity of imitating our forefathers by envisioning a new society where our children and children’s children will live in peace and harmony and enjoy good quality of life comparable to the best the world can offer.

Today marks the dawn of a new era. It is in our hands to decide what we want to make of it. We must reawaken in ourselves the hunger and aspirations of our founding fathers for a strong, united and prosperous nation that shall be the pride of future generations. To do this, we must change the old ways of doing things. The core values of patriotism, hardwork, integrity and commitment to good governance must henceforth take precedence.

It seems to me that the consensus of most Nigerians is that the time has come for us to break from the past and progress into a better future. We should not allow Nigeria to be pulled back again by those who believe it is either they have their way or the country should fall to pieces. The new Nigeria ahead of us, the new Nigeria we have to build together, is a society where everybody must feel at home. It must be a place we can all be happy, comfortable and confident to call our country. It is not just enough for us to talk about how Nigeria can be great; it is our duty to make Nigeria great.

We can change Nigeria from our communities, cubicles and desks. The task to make Nigeria great is a task for everyone.

My fellow citizens, we stand at a cross road. Our forefathers did not achieve our freedom by doing what was easy or convenient. We have not sustained our independence and built our democracy by wishful thinking. We must not allow our future to pass us by. We must grasp it and shape it, drawing on the same spirit and vision that inspired our founding fathers fifty years ago.

On my part, I promise visionary and committed leadership. I promise to give my all, my best, to our great country. I am committed to ensuring public safety and security. Government is fully aware of the ugly security situation in Abia State. We are determined to confront it with even greater vigour. For our present and our future, I am committed to improving the quality of education and to give Nigeria the edge in human capital development. We will rebuild our economy by continuing the implementation of the reforms in the banking and other sectors to ensure economic progress.

I will fight corruption and demand transparency so that we can all take pride in our government. Through various policies, we shall continue to seek ways to grow the economy further, give our citizens greater opportunity so that we can compete better in the global market place.

I am committed to the implementation of a national fiscal policy that will encourage growth and development. We will give priority to wealth creation and employment generation. I am focused on addressing our infrastructure needs, especially power, as this is the biggest obstacle to our economic development and wealth creation.

I am determined to implement to the letter the recently launched power sector roadmap, and I am confident that we will soon be able to provide the power that we need today as well as the resources to meet the needs of tomorrow. All the issues bordering on peace, justice and stability in the Niger Delta are being addressed and will continue to receive attention as we consolidate on the Amnesty Programme.

When God gives you an opportunity, you must use it to His glory and to the glory of His creations. I promise to use the opportunity given to me by God and the Nigerian people to move Nigeria forward. We must therefore pay special attention to the advancement of our democracy through credible elections. I have said this and I will say it again,

with all the conviction in me: Our votes must count! One man, One Vote! One woman, one vote! One youth, one vote!

The future of Nigeria and generations yet unborn is at stake. We must start the journey to the next fifty years with credible elections, with a clean break from the past. We must show the whole world that we can do things the right and the equitable way. This is my pledge and I will never deviate from it.

The Nigeria of the next fifty years must be a land of delight. The signs are not difficult to see. We have a hardworking population, a growing sense of Nigerianness and a new generation of leaders with new ideas. We must have a new sense of purpose and a determination to make things work. WE MUST COLLECTIVELY TRANSFORM NIGERIA.

The ultimate result of all these, Fellow Citizens, is that a new Nigeria is in the making. The worst is over. Our latest democratic dispensation has defied all the odds. Since Independence, we have never had 11 years of unbroken civilian rule as we have today. This is a new experience for us. With this comes stability. With this comes the building of strong institutions. With this comes the ability to plan and pursue our plans.

The great people of Nigeria, I implore all to join in the renewed efforts to remake Nigeria. It is a task for everyone. Pray for our country; wish our country well; do things that will make our country great; see and tap into opportunities for greatness that are everywhere around you and take pride in Nigeria. These are the ideals that I embrace. These are the issues that I am committed to.

In conclusion, I will like to speak to Nigeria’s greatest resource: our young men and women. I say you have the greatest stake in transforming our nation. It is time for this generation of Nigerians to answer the call and contribute to Nigeria’s foundation of freedom.

That is how this generation will make its mark. That is how we will make the most of these opportunities. That is how we will ensure that five decades from now, as our children and grand children celebrate our nation’s independence centenary, we will be remembered as having contributed to the great history of Nigeria.

On my part I commit myself to doing my very best and to call on your intellect, wisdom and commitment to bring this dream to fruition.

May God Almighty bless you all!

May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria!

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria


Visit Our Home Page at www.wanabidii.net – Karibu Tujenge Nchi

NIGERIA: GREAT MINDS TALK ABOUT – UNITY & PROGRESS

From: Yona Maro
Date: Sun, Sep 12, 2010 at 2:31 PM
Subject: GREAT MINDS TALK ABOUT – UNITY & PROGRESS

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: tony egbe
Date: Sun, 12 Sep 2010 09:18:23 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Dr.Jack & Opubo ON: GREAT MINDS TALK ABOUT
– UNITY & PROGRESS!!

“LET US FIX OUR NATION AND STOP THIS EMPTY BRAVADO AND UNSUSTAINABLE
EUPHORIA..”…..Dr. Jack

Dr. Jack,

Please, you and your chorus singer, Mr. Opubo, when are you guys gonna
take the Lead to advance your above suggestion? Should we settle and
make Progress with just watching and shooting one another down?

Intelligent minds like Dr. Azikiwe, your idol, would take the Lead to
advance his philosophy, devoid of empty postulations without actions.
When such is prompted, it will be led by Unity of the Like Minds, as
the First Bold Step with Positive Action, no matter how little!! When
are you guys gonna make that First Bold Step to get the Your kind of
movement started?

The cowardly and the Uneducated does not see anything wrong with
Criticisms and Condemnation of others’ ideas, but their own, even
though these cowards Lack the Courage to make that First Bold Step!!
Again, Great Minds Focus on Unity and Progress!! Should we be waiting
for you guys to wake up from your slumber and Criticisms? Otoiheoma
Egbe.

— On Sat, 9/11/10, Alabo Opubo wrote:

From: Alabo Opubo
Subject: RE: GREAT MINDS TALK ABOUT – UNITY & PROGRESS!!
Date: Saturday, September 11, 2010, 3:04 PM

Thank you Omubo!

You know there are all these folks here who simply think that by
making statements they are accomplishing things because now people
think well of them.

I am yet to learn from any one of them which of the supposed
‘Constitutional Amendments’ they stroke themselves about was
incorporated/adopted in thr complete form in which they submitted it.

Regards,
Opubo G Benebo

There is no earthly hope for a man who is too lazy to acquire enemies
[be forthright and you will acquire enemies, be truthful and you will
acquire enemies] — a Noble Canadian.

——– Original Message ——–
Subject: Re: GREAT MINDS TALK ABOUT – UNITY & PROGRESS!!
From: “Dr. Omubo Jack”
Date: Sat, September 11, 2010 9:05 am

Your postulation below here is very vain, and hallow. How can you you
ignore the past and move forward. Those who do not know there history
are bound to make the same mistakes, is a common saying. Can you ever
be more nationalistic than Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe? This was a
PanAfricanist, and Nigerian Nationalist, who was so magnanimous to
think not only for great Nigeria, but greater Africa. His dreams and
hopes for his country were shattered at the alter of tribalism, and
ethnic demagoguery. He ended up disappointed and reduced to a
sectional hero, than the national hero he should have been. Let us fix
our Nation, and stop this empty bravado and unsustainable euphoria.

Dr. O. B. Jack

Sent from my iPad

On Sep 11, 2010, at 8:35 AM, tony egbe wrote:

NIGERIANS,

What has the Past and Myopic comment of the Dead and Gone Uneducated
Nigerian Leader got to do with the Present and the Future of Nigeria?
Present and
Future of Nigeria are Squarely in our hands and on our shoulders Now.
The present Educated generation of Nigeria that is.

Please, all these regurgitation of unprogressive stands and comments
by the late Nigerian leaders, should STOP!! Those Nigerian leaders of
the yore were NOT half as Educated as the present generation of
Nigerians, with probably the exception of Zik and Awo, if you ask me.

Let us see how we, the present generation, can come together defying
ethnic and tribal lines; and as Well Educated Nigerians to take back
this country of ours!! Day in , and day out, we churn out Hateful
Tribal sentiments, and various innuendos which tend to Destroy the
Gains we have made. At this rate, is there any Hope of Progress for
Nigerians and Nigeria? Look at the Bests and Brightests the Nigeria
Nation ever had are presently in Waste in Foreign Lands, to the
detriment of the Nigeria Nation!! How many of you are Concerned and
Worried about this Truth?

Can we find a way out of this Retrogressive Posturing, or should we
stand akimbo and Waste with our skills, talents, and Trainings to the
detriment of our nation? Unfortunately the present Nigeria Leadership
does not bother about this fact, either due to ignorance or fear of
intimidation. Nevertheless, what can we do to help this nation called
Nigeria as well trained and skilful Nigerians? That is the Big
Question!!

Have most of us given up and Lost Hope in the Development of Nigeria?
Can we find a way to come together in Unity of Common Purpose to
surpass our last outing, when we chipped in with the Nigerian
Constitution ammendment, or the Zik mausoleum, both led by Atty.
Azuoma Anugom? That was classic of a Team Work across ethnic lines!!
That is how Educated Minds should operate to achieve Progress and
Positive Results!!

Let us NOT lose Hope yet; but we need Solid Unity of Purpose, devoid
of all the silly Ethnic Bashings, which is the usual Past Time of
Uneducated Fools among us!! Have a good weekend, everybody. Otoiheoma
Egbe.

— On Sat, 9/11/10, Dominic Ogbonna wrote:

From: Dominic Ogbonna
Subject: Re: When great minds speak…

, “Bring your baseball bat”

Date: Saturday, September 11, 2010, 9:09 AM

Woow,what a wide-ranging interview!

By the way, did anyone notice the little bombshell accidentally tucked
inside the interview? I would like to draw the attention of Ola
Kassim, Bolaji Aluko, Joseph Igietseme, Yinka Odumakin, Pius
Adesanmi, Bobson Arigbe, Odafi Emma, Franklyne Ogbunezeh, etc etc to a
small side-item in the interview, to wit:

“Ahmadu Bello on October 12, 1960 as reported in The Parrot, which was
a column in those days, said something along the lines that the new
country called Nigeria was an estate of his great grand-father, Othman
Dan Fodio. Therefore, they must on no account allow power to change
hands. In the process of maintaining power, they would use the
Northern minorities as willing tools and the Southern minorities as
conquered territories.”

Did anybody notice the above? We fought a bitter online war over this
very issue in August last year, and Adebola Ogutuga and some other
people went as far as contacting the Library of Congress to ascertain
if Bello made such a statement, and if the Parrot even existed! Do
you guys remember?

The key word there is THE PARROT. Ahmadu Bello was reported to have
said that stuff in a NewsPaper called “The Parrot”. Bolaji and his
people called people liars and propagandists, above all because the
“Parrot”, the referenced NewsPaper, was apparently fictional.

With professor Anya’s take above, it should now be clear that the
truth may be more nuanced. It appears there was indeed no “Parrot”
Newspaper. But it appears that there was a column called “The Parrot”,
in some existing Newspaper of the era, and that Ahmadu Bello DID make
the statement attributed to him indeed!

Woow!

People with access to Dr Anya, and the journalists in this forum,
should perhaps follow up and find out which Independence-era Newspaper
ran the “Parrot” column. Once we know the Newspaper, tracking down
exactly what Bello said should be a cake-walk, because we already
know the date of publication, October 13, 1960. That is, assuming a
copy still exists!

Please, nobody, least of all the ever-cantekerous professor Aluko,
should use this as an excuse for another pointless roforofo. I am just
trying to bring some light to an issue that has been extremely
divisive in the past!

Dominic

On Sat, Sep 11, 2010 at 6:56 AM, topcrest topcrest wrote:

‘Dangers in stopping Jonathan’PoliticsSep 10, 2010
Share|

By Clifford NDUJIHE

Prof Anya O. Anya, 73, is primarily a scientist but he is at ease with
politics, governance, law, economics and administration among others.

The pioneer chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group and a key
player in the Vision 2010 and Vision 20-2020 roadmaps, was literarily
shooting from his heaps in an interview with Saturday Vanguard last
Saturday in his Lekki, Lagos home.
In no holds barred fashion, he gave reasons President Goodluck
Jonathan should be allowed to continue as president. He also spoke on
how to tackle graft, ensure credible polls in 2011, why older
presidential aspirants should step aside and why the Igbo should
oppose zoning among others. Excerpts:

At 73, you look so healthy and could be taken to be 60. What is the secret?
The secret is God; His grace. None of us can really say what he wants
to do or what he doesn’t want to do. As He told us in the Bible, He
knew us before we were born. So, there is a plan to each life. Our
duty is to try and fulfil it, the rest is left to Him.
How do you see the issues surrounding preparations for the 2011 polls,
especially the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC’s N87.7
billion budget for voters’ registration?
When you look at it, most people will agree that it is a heavy bill,
perhaps, a bit on the high side. But where we are, to get credible
elections, no price is too high. Given the credibility and integrity
of the man, who is in-charge (Prof. Attahiru Jega), whatever he says,
give it to him so that he will not have excuses.

Let’s take them on their words, give them what they want but let them
deliver a credible and dependable election in which every voters’ vote
will count.

Aside INEC, how can we handle the ever-ready-to-rig politicians?

You remember that Donald Duke, the former Governor of Cross River
State, gave details, a blow-by-blow account of how rigging is planned
and effected. If that is what it is, nobody should be taken by
surprise because we know what to expect. The thing now is to checkmate
it.

First of all, the politicians can checkmate each other. Second, we the
voters can checkmate the politicians and people who want to do funny
things, including the security agencies because in the past, security
agencies had been part of the mishandling of elections. And if
everybody is on his toes ready to play his part, then, at least, the
principle of countervailing forces should act as deterrence and the
outcome should be a credible election.

How do you see the INEC’s election timetable, especially the two weeks
fixed for voters’ compilation?

Two weeks should not be enough but it is still better to have a
voters’ register that more people trust than one that has a history of
manipulation. I say it is not enough because if I am travelling out of
the country on business, I still want to be able to register. If the
window for registration is too narrow then some of the people who
ought to register might not be able to register and you cannot have a
free and fair election, the type we are talking, if any part of the
electorate is disenfranchised for whatever reason.

So, I think that the two weeks is too short. I would expect at least
one month. Anything less than one month is a bit tight.

What do you make of the issue of zoning as regards the presidency?

To understand zoning, you have to understand how it began. Zoning is a
pragmatic attempt to solve a Nigerian problem but unfortunately, it
has not been clearly thought out. And to that extent, because of the
shallowness of the thinking that comes with it, it has elements or
certain aspects that are unacceptable.

First of all, as I have quoted elsewhere, zoning is un-Godly because
God who created us gives us not only free will to effect our choices
unencumbered but also, and more importantly, He allows us to choose in
an atmosphere in which there is equal opportunity for everybody.
Zoning means that you have decided that ‘this one is excluded, that
one is excluded; it can only be from this circle.’ To that extent, it
is not free and so it is not Godly.

Second is the fact that zoning cannot allow merit to be the basis of
choice because the best candidate may be from the excluded zone and
you have excluded him for no reason – not his ability, not his rights
but merely because it soothes some people to say ‘it is our turn.’ So,
because you exclude merit, you also, in the process, encourage
mediocrity.

Third, it is undemocratic and unconstitutional. The Nigerian
Constitution has no place for zoning. The directive principles of
governance in Nigeria make it clear that every Nigerian has a right to
present himself for office and to be voted for. We understand the
reasons people prefer zoning. It is easier to manipulate. A smaller
circle can take a decision that is binding on the rest of the nation.
You cannot build a nation that way.

Proponents of zoning argue that it would ensure power rotation even to
the minorities. Without zoning, some fear that some groups, including
your South-East geo-political zone might not be able to produce the
president in the nearest future.

Rotation is unnecessary if there was a society in which there was
fairness, justice, equity and freedom, which are embedded in our first
National Anthem, in the current one and in our Coat of Arms.

Therefore, there is a mandatory responsibility in leadership to build
a society directed by those values, in which case it does not really
matter where the Nigerian leader comes from provided he is competent
and has the right values – values that give encouragement to all
citizens of the country no matter where they come from. Because there
has been manipulation, the frustrated ones are saying ‘we must rotate
it.’ Return justice to the system, rotation will be irrelevant.

What about some Igbo support for zoning and their clamour to produce
the president in 2015?

Look closely at those who are supporting zoning, they are either
people who have held office and are hopeful that they can hold another
office at a higher level. They want the ground to be softened.

They don’t want to have to campaign throughout Nigeria to be accepted.
They are not looking forward to becoming president of Igboland. They
are president of Nigeria. So, they should be acceptable to the rest of
Nigeria, which means they should present themselves and be ready to
give what is in the best interest of Nigeria and of all sections.

If you look at those who are clamouring for zoning, there is that
element of selfish consideration. There is nobody who is thinking
about what is best for Igboland and Nigeria that will tell you that
zoning will be his preferred option. The reason is simple. By the
nature of the Igbo, Igboland is a democratic society, in which
everybody has a right and the society encourages everybody to compete
on equal level.

How can people, who believe in democratic principles now be thinking
about a principle that excludes because that is what zoning is?
History tells us that when you work for the best conditions to emerge
with a level-playing field and proper acceptance of the right values
for everybody, you will always find that the Igbo will thrive. The
Igbo can compete under any circumstance if the ground is level.

Indeed, why the Igbo have tended to lose out in Nigeria is because of
zoning. Because we have often excluded the best in Igboland from
offices, Nigeria loses and Igboland loses. When you say you want the
Igbo turn, first, you are giving the right to decide on your
leadership to outsiders rather than yourself. Second, you select us
out on the basis of your interest versus my interest and I will like
to protect my own.

So, leadership in Igboland has been tended to be picking out the
self-centred and selfish ones, do a deal with them, often against Igbo
interest so that they become acceptable to Nigeria. When that happens,
such people are often no longer Igbo leaders and they are not Nigerian
leaders either.

Former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme said recently that he hoped
the South-East would produce the president in his life time and former
Biafran leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, said allowing the
Igbo to produce the president would show that the Igbo were no longer
being punished for the civil war. How do you view their views?
Both are just slightly older than me. They are the leading edge of my
generation. Their hope is also my hope but I think that at times we
can be naive. Naive in the sense that we project our hopes outside the
box of the reality on the ground.
The reality on the ground is that nobody donates power to anybody.
When the Nigerian cabal decided that after Chief M.K.O. Abiola, all
the parties must have a Yoruba candidate, why did they do that? The
Yoruba had fought with the assistance of other Nigerians including me.
You fought for the Yoruba?

People forget that I was the chairman of the Strategy Planning
Committee of the CUU (Committee for Unity and Understanding) that gave
rise to the National Democratic Coalition, NADECO. God willing, one
day I will write my memoirs and people will know where these things
started and what happened as different from what some claimed.

The Chinese say that ‘success is an orphan, everybody claims him,
failure is a bastard, nobody claims him.’ Because NADECO seemed to
have become the symbol, all kinds of characters claim they played one
active part or the other.

And because the process at one stage became regionalised and ethnic
different from the way it started, it became possible for all kinds of
people from the Western part of the country to jump up and say they
are NADECO chieftains. The only two people, may be three, who can tell
you what happened and the role I played are Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Ayo
Opadokun and the late Chief Abraham Adesanya.

So, the point I am making is that because the South-West had fought a
heroic battle,
everybody had no alternative than to say ‘accommodate them so that we
can have peace.’ What I am telling my Igbo brothers is to make
themselves so relevant to the Nigerian system that people will say,
‘look, at this point in time, the Igbo candidate is the best we have
and it is in Nigeria’s interest to have him.’

Then, we will have a Nigerian president, who accidentally is an Igbo.

That is the way it has to be and that is the way it will be.

In any case, the Igbo thrive in a competitive environment. Indeed, the
Igbo are the only ones who you can claim they are the original
Nigerians. There is no part of the country where after the people who
say ‘this is my place’, you don’t have the Igbo as the second largest
constituency. We are the ones who are found everywhere.

So, we have, by our efforts, shown that we are Nigerians. Therefore,
we should not be begging for office but show through what you do that
you are so relevant that Nigeria cannot ignore you.

I use Lagos State as an example. As we speak, the 2006 census that
former Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu conducted alongside the federal one
suggest that less than 50% of the population of Lagos is Yoruba and
not less than 40% of the population of Lagos is Igbo.

What does that mean? It means that properly organised, the Igbo can be
the alternative government in Lagos. But I will not be the one, having
worked with the leadership of the Yoruba and knowing that it is
possible to work towards a common purpose with them, to say, ‘let Igbo
organise.’

It is possible for us to arrange a fair system where all the
constituent parts that have a stake in Lagos are part of the
governance of Lagos. We can repeat that in Abuja, Kano and elsewhere
and that way you will find that the clamour for Igbo being allowed
here and there will go.

People will start returning to the original concept where every
Nigerian was at home in any part
of the country. In the 50s, Umaru Altine, a Hausa/Fulani was the Mayor
of Enugu. An Ajibade of the NCNC (National Council of Nigerian
Citizens), was representing Port Harcourt at the Eastern House of
Assembly in Enugu. And you know that Port Harcourt really is an Igbo
City.

The original Igbo name for Port Harcourt is Ugwuocha before it was
changed to Port Harcourt by the colonialists. That was the kind of
Nigeria we had. That was the time that Mbonu Ojike was active and
important in the politics of Lagos. And that was the time that Nigeria
had a dream and future that was promising and encouraged my
generation. We have to try and get back to that and we can only do
that when you have a governance that enjoys acceptance by all
Nigerians across the board. You can’t do it when you are clamouring
for rotation, federal character, zoning and things like that.

This is the right time to go back because the younger generation of
Nigerians are better educated than my generation, they have a broader
view and among them, it is irrelevant where you come from. I have seen
first class people from the North, East, West and South of the younger
generation.

Let’s leave a system that allows them give leadership to this country
and let my generation stop pretending that we are still relevant. We
have had our time, we should encourage our successors to do better job
than we have done. Those making the greatest noise are those
frightened by what they might lose. But what they might lose is their
relevance, which they lost a long time ago by their failure in
performance in office.

In other words, are you asking older presidential aspirants like Gen.
Ibrahim Babangida, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to
step aside for the younger generation?

There is no alternative ultimately. The yardstick suggests that in
spite all the noise, the people who are saying ‘Jonathan will not run,
we want zoning to the North, etc,’ are mostly from the older
generation in the North. You know that 60% of the population of
Nigeria is less than 30 years old, 75 % is less than 60 years.

Those of us above 65 years form less than five per cent of the
population . What does that suggest to you? Really, Babangida, Buhari,
Atiku and the rest of them are already beyond the age where if there
was democracy, demographic democracy will be against them.

So, that is why they want zoning, as it were, to foreclose discussion,
short-circuit giving Nigerians, especially younger Nigerians the
opportunity to express their views. In the houses of most people of my
generation, their children don’t think the way we think.

They know that a better Nigeria is possible and they know we made a
mess of it. If I were their shoes, I will just respect and conserve my
dignity because the shock that these elections will bring will be
quite devastating. What people are projecting will not happen.

I can give you an analysis why even in the North, all this noise is a
lot of air. First of all, there are three tendencies in the North as
we speak. There is the old generation, who are going back to the mind
set of Sir Ahmadu Bello, which in fairness to Ahmadu Bello, he had
turned away from that mind set before he died.

Ahmadu Bello on October 12, 1960 as reported in The Parrot, which was
a column in those days, said something along the lines that the new
country called Nigeria was an estate of his great grand-father, Othman
Dan Fodio. Therefore, they must on no account allow power to change
hands. In the process of maintaining power, they would use the
Northern minorities as willing tools and the Southern minorities as
conquered territories.

So, what is playing out now in the minds of people like Alhaji Adamu
Ciroma, Tanko Yakassai, etc, is that old mind set. But Nigeria has
gone away from that. Even Ahmadu Bello had gone away from that. The
late Amb. Jolly Tanko Yusuf, the first chairman of the Alliance for
Democracy, AD, told us a lot of stories. We worked closely in some of
these political initiatives at certain stage.

Ahmadu Bello was sincere enough that he worked closely with some
Christians and minority Northerners and sincerely not to rebuild his
great grand father estate but the nation. But the following generation
– my generation, there are some, who still have that mind set and they
are the proponents of zoning, etc. That is one tendency in the North
and despite the noise, it is a minority tendency.

The second tendency is the one represented by young, competent
Northerners, who recognise that, ‘yes, we may be northerners, we are
Nigerians. Nigeria is the future and we will give our service to
Nigeria.’ They are well-educated, competent and have held offices,
particularly in the private sector and have made their success
stories. You speak to them privately, an
overwhelming majority of them, which is also the demographic majority,
do not want zoning and are prepared to have Jonathan given a fair
chance.

You know where the younger Shagari stays on the issue? He wants people
to vote for Jonathan. Nasir el-Rufai is the same. I can name more of
such younger people. That is the future of Nigeria. That is the future
of the North.

The third group is represented by people like Buhari, who see the
promise of Nigeria and want that better future to come. I think Buhari
is sincere but he has a baggage of history. Even if the whole North
votes for him, it will not make him the president of Nigeria. And
there are political roles he played in the past that do not make it
easy for all sections of the non-northern part of Nigeria to be
comfortable with him. But I believe that a man like him still has a
role to play in the emergence of that new Nigeria but with a younger
leadership.

President Jonathan has not declared he is running, no electoral
promise of any kind to the electorate and yet you are backing him. Is
his approach in order?

Jonathan is doing what he ought to do at this point in time. He has
been put in a place where the results he produces as president in a
very short period may be an important factor for you and me deciding
to give him a second chance.

So, if his pre-occupation becomes to produce results whether in the
power sector or wherever before he starts telling you what his future
plans are, I think it shows a certain kind of basic wisdom. We must
respect that because it means he is not taking us for granted.
When you now come to the details, neither Jonathan nor Nigeria has any
alternative but to allow him to continue. First of all, Jonathan does
not know how he came to the position he is in.

None of us can take credit for it. Even former President Olusegun
Obasanjo that people say brought Jonathan cannot take credit for his
emergence. Some will say it is providence. Some of us who believe that
there is a higher power called God, will say it is God’s intervention.
Like most things, when God intervenes, there is a purpose for it. When
humans start intervening in things God had more or less put the ground
rules, you are being presumptuous.

And that is why any human being now saying he wants to stop Jonathan
is embarking on wishful thinking because we do not know yet what the
inscrutable mind of God has in this purpose.
All we can do is play our part as human beings, not in opposition to
His will but let His will be done.

There is also the moral dimension even though so many of my northern
compatriots have tended to play it down. They have been shouting that
there was an agreement, which if you don’t keep is not moral. But
there is even a longer-lasting agreement that imposes a greater moral
burden on them.

Since independence, no Northern political leader had emerged without
the support of what we now call the South-South geo-political zone. In
other words, people who had given you consistent support for 50 years,
the only time that through accident of history it is their opportunity
to have a chance at that which you have managed on your own for 38
years out of 50 years, there is something immoral in not recognising
that you have a certain duty, an obligation in such circumstances.
So, those opposed to Jonathan forgetting the geo-political
implications of that are taking a risk on Nigeria and Nigeria could
pay a very heavy price for it.

The reason is simple. An important weapon that has been used in the
predominantly Northern political equation in Nigeria has been the
element of violence. It was violence that was used through military
control, who are managers of violence. It was also violence that gave
rise to the progroms and so that redrew the demographic boundaries of
Nigeria. Easterners in the North and West streamed back to the East
forcefully.

It was also violence, whether ethnic or religious-related, that had
been used as part of the instruments to maintain power over the last
50 years.

There was no equivalent countervailing force in the South. The Biafran
one was an incident, which you could not help under the circumstances
that it developed but it was momentary. Now, you have the potential
for a counter force as represented by the insurrection in the Niger
Delta.

Once you offend the Niger Delta by this riding of a high horse that
only the North can pursue, those who do it must take full
responsibility for the consequences for the greater Nigeria. That is
why I have told people in religious circles, this is the time to pray
for Nigeria.

Jonathan’s emergence has put Nigeria on a knife edge. When the right
forces play out, we will see the birth of a new Nigeria in which where
you come is not a deciding factor as to what you get out of Nigeria
but what you can put into it.

If you mishandle it and give the signal that ‘it must be the way I
want it at all cost’ even when the evidence of history show that you
have had more than your fair share, demography or no demography, you
may see that the so-called minority can hold everybody to ransom.

Could you comment on the decision of the South-East governors not
contest the presidency or vice presidency position so as to chart a
political course for the zone?

It is a very wise approach, very unlike the usual Igbo politicians’
gambit. What has kept the Igbo where they are is that our political
leaders, without exception, up till now have tended to be people who
negotiated their interests even at the risk of group interest. For the
first time, we have political leaders in Igboland, who are saying,
‘look, my interest is not the most important now but the interest of
my people .

To know what is in the best interest of my people, let’s watch and see
who will gives a better deal.’ I think it was a very wise approach.
As a member of the Imeobi (inner caucus) of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, why is
the apex Igbo organisation not taking a stand on the issue of zoning
and other burning political issues ahead the 2011 polls?
People misunderstand what the role of Ohanaeze should be. Ohanaeze is
a socio-cultural organisation of all Igbos whether in Delta, Rivers or
South-East. Socio-cultural and socio-economic relations become
important because they can shape socio-political relations.

To that extent, the priority for Ohanaeze should not be to direct the
Igbos on a political path but to watch everything, analyse it,
encourage everybody to put their ideas on the table so that a
consensus emerges. That consensus becomes the one that Ohanaeze
spreads. It is not to make pronouncements. The day Ohanaeze starts
making fire-written political statements that day it will lose its
relevance and the moral authority it should have.
How would assess Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos, three years after?

Fashola, first and foremost is the discovery of this particular stage
of Nigeria’s political history. Without doubts, he is the best of the
class of 2007 among the governors. Yes, he has advantages but there
are others who have advantage but have not used it as well as Fashola
has used his own.

However, Fashola has a burden. Moving forward, you will find that he
has to broaden the base of his acceptability. I have just related
about the ethnic mix in Lagos. Lagos is no longer a Yoruba city, it is
a cosmopolitan city in Nigeria. Indeed, to a certain extent, it is a
global city. It is one of the emerging mega cities of the 21st
century. ency that he should take into account.

You live in Lekki. What is your take on the controversy surrounding
the proposed tolling of the
Lekki-Epe Expressway?

I was the founding director general of the Nigeria Economic Summit
Group, NESG. We are the ones who pushed the idea that government
resources cannot be enough to develop the society. To take it to the
modern 21st century world, you must have a relationship with the
private sector.

We went on to talk about ‘let the government create the enabling
environment, create incentives and the private sector will be the
engine of growth of the economy.’ The Lekki thing is a good example of
it and the need for partnership cannot be faulted. However, if you are
going into a public, private sector partnership, it is not only
between the partners, the population you will serve or the service
will serve are important stakeholders and you should also consult
them.

What is happening obviously is maybe the consultation did not go down
to the grassroots at the initiation stage as it ought to.
Nevertheless, once it becomes necessary, you re-negotiate.

In re-negotiating, you must remember two things: there has to be a
balance between the investment made by the private sector and the
returns they get out of it. If the return passes a certain threshold,
it will become uncomfortable to the population and they will resist
it.

Now, if you translate that into practical terms; on a 50 kilometre
stretch of road, to think you will have three toll gates within a
distance of 23 kilometres, is too much. Perhaps, if you have one at
the beginning and another at the end of the road, people may complain
but they might live with it. I think that is the area they have to
look at.

How would you assess Jonathan’s performance in office four months after?

Given the efforts to distract him from his core impression to make a
difference in less than a year, I think he has done very well. Also
looking at the circumstances or the intrigues that went on before he
ascended, he has also managed the forces well. Thirdly, the emphasis
he is putting forward as the priorities, going forward, are the right
priorities.

Looking at everything, I believe in his continuing to unleash forces
that can make a difference in the country. Let’s not forget that of
all Nigerian leaders, he is the best educated. He has been distracted
by the nature of Nigerian politics so far but a trained mind makes a
difference.

And ultimately, Nigerians will see the difference between having a
trained leader and people who stumble into leadership.
You were a member of Vision 2010. How far did Nigeria pursue the vision?

Vision 2010 was a stillbirth. When Obasanjo came on the scene, there
was a blueprint that he could have taken and run but he didn’t. He
started taking elements of it later on when he discovered what it was.

But it is not the same because a vision is a vision, it goes
cohesively together.

A vision is not a development plan so you can’t take what you like.
You either take it holistically or you avoid it. When he started
picking instead of embracing it altogether there was a limit to what
could be achieved.

However, most people will agree that his first term was a disaster
compared to his second term. The reason was that for his second term,
there was a blueprint that guided what government was doing. I have
the privilege to have been asked and it was sanctioned by Obasanjo
himself, to chair a small committee of six people.

I was the only man of my generation in that committee. All the others
were brilliant young leaders. The masterstroke why that report was
changing events for Obasanjo’s administration was the fact that he had
the good sense to take three members of that committee and made them
members of his government in his second term.

Two of those members became members of the Economic Management Team –
El-Rufai and Bode Agusto. So by the time that Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
and Prof Chukwuma Soludo, etc came into the team there was at least a
guiding framework and it was easy for them to hit the ground and start
running.

Within the circle of economic managers there were people who could
explain why a suggestion was made to go this way or that way. The
lesson from that is that a government that has a clear view of where
it is going and has minds that are prepared will always achieve more
than people happening to situations by accident or
politically-manipulated design.

That takes us to Vision 20-2020. Do you see Nigeria recording any mileage?
I am always hopeful. Some of my friends say that my problem is that I
am incorrigibly optimistic whenever Nigeria is considered. Vision
20-2020 is within the reals of possibility but
the conditions for it are quite stringent.

When they started the programme, I was invited to serve on it but I
politely declined because I did not think they were serious and I said
so to Shamsdeen Usman, who incidentally was in Vision 2010 and knew
what my role in that first attempt was.

He understood my position. I told him we had always failed at the
point of implementation that until they convince me that they were
serious with the implementation that I would not get involve and I did
not get involved.

When they finished, he got back to me and said. ‘Please Prof, I am
putting you forward to serve in the Central Working Committee, CWC for
the Implementation Plan. Please don’t say no.’ So, I agreed. I was the
chairman of the Regional Development of the Implementation Committee
under the CWC chaired by Chief Philip Asiodu.

We believe we did a good job. Jonathan has launched it, which means
the government has accepted it. So, if Nigerians reaffirm their
confidence in Jonathan and say ‘go ahead!’ it means just as I said
about Obasanjo’s second term, Jonathan will be coming into office
hitting the ground and running straight away because there is a plan
to guide what to do.

People say it is just 10 years away. What we want to do is in many
ways earth-shaking and our history does not give confidence that we
had done things that way before. There is always a new beginning for
any nation.

China is a good example. After wandering for years from 1948 till
probably 1978, they had all sorts of hiccups. But between 1978 and
1990, the framework of what we are seeing now, the huge economy that
is driving China was set in those short 11 years. So, if China has
done it in 11 years, who says Nigeria cannot do it in 10 years?

That is also the reason I said my generation is out of it because the
new ideas, new energies and technologies that are relevant to
development neither Babangida norAtiku nor even myself even though I
am a scientist, can be comfortable with them. Only the young
generation can be comfortable with them.

If we are there giving them the moral encouragement and social
management skills and experience, if we are not among the first 20
economies in the world by year 2020 but are among the first 25, that
is still a very good place from where we are.

Zero tolerance for corruption was a factor that favoured China’s
meteoric recovery. Can Nigeria make it in the face of high-wire graft?
Until you deal with the ogre of corruption, you are not going
anywhere. That is particularly pathetic.

When you get to a situation where three successive heads of state of
one country are named internationally, documented by name of money
passing hands, you know it means that the world has already decided
your case is beyond redemption. But you cannot say anybody is beyond
redemption, only God can say who is beyond redemption. So, Nigeria is
still redeemable. I am hopeful that a change will come.

Now, some people are being charged for the Halliburton case. You may
not always punish all the people who are guilty, the important thing
is to serve notice that it is possible in a system that when you are
caught you are punished. You serve notice to people that ‘although in
this society anything goes, there are still limits.

There are things that if you do you have ruined your entire career.’
That is what has been lacking in Nigeria and that is what is slowly
creeping back. Among the political class, I don’t think they are still
as reckless and acting with impunity as they used to be.

Bode George is there to remind people of what could happen if you are
too forward. It is true that his case is not finished, the fact that a
man like him could be where he is for 18 months is a lesson and
because of it I am hopeful that slowly and surely corruption will
start being fought perhaps selectively to begin with but later
comprehensively as they get more confidence.

Some Northern leaders last week urged President Jonathan not to use
the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to fight governors
who are opposed to his presidential ambition. Doesn’t that defeat the
selective approach?

It is not the type of selectivity I am talking about because their own
selectivity including their own noise is also selective. They don’t
want corruption to be fought because if you go through history, most
of them took part in the Leyland scandal in the 70s, Scania Bus, etc.

They are already speaking from a position of self-interest and
self-preservation. The truth of the matter is and the EFCC has
answered them: when is it that you should investigate petitions on
corruption and when is it that you should not?

The truth of the matter is, where we are, whenever your case comes up
expect no reprieve.

The only reprieve is to do things right. We cannot tell an institution
that has constitutional responsibilities when and how to do them so
long as what they are doing is legal and constitutional.
If the EFCC starts using extra-legal methods, I will be the first
person to defend the victims because the Nigerian law presumes an
accused innocent until proven guilty and if you allow injustice
against one person that injustice could come to you.

What is the way forward for Nigeria ahead 2011 polls?
Despite all the fears and concerns, I am hopeful. Even though I told
you that we are on a knife edge, I think the odds are probably 55-60 %
that we can manage it; certainly less than 50% that we will fail.

It is still a knife edge because one unexpected blowout could still
create a problem. However, I think the future is still bright. Like it
happened in China, the transition may be so fast that when it starts
moving, we won’t believe that it is the same country. It will happen.

Make sure that your vote counts and protect your votes.
Be sure that you take interest in the political process so that at
least you will educate yourself what the parties are promising and
choose the candidates that will serve your interest. When we don’t
take interest in how the candidates emerge, the chances are that the
wrong people can be there and that is where the wrong leadership
begins from.

Throughout the last 10 years, since 1999, in the National Assembly
they have some 419 people, some are people accused of murders. We are
luck things are not worse than what we have. Moving forward, we have
to return integrity to service and politics by participating actively
What do you make of the high cost of governance in Nigeria and jumbo
pay for lawmakers?

As far back as March 2009, I said that each National Assembly man was
costing nigeria N274 million a year.

That is including their salaries, allowances and the money they use in
running the National Assembly. I said in a country where 70 per cent
of the population is living below the poverty line that is not a
sustainable level of expenditure for your legislative arm.

The truth is not just the National Assembly, the cost of governance in
Nigeria is too high. And unless you deal with that you will never
really be able to put your hands together in terms of the development
priorities to now take us to 20-2020 the way we envisaged.
Some have said one way of dealing with it is returning to the
parliamentary system of government. It may be so but once you develop
a system people develop vested interest in it and the battle you have
to fight to change it is at times not worth it.

So the issue now is not how to change the presidential system we are
running but how to make it affordable. First is to reduce the length
of time they have to be there. Nigeria cannot afford full-time members
of the National Assembly. Second is, in the spirit of sacrifice for
nation-building, they themselves must agree that what they earn must
be tied to the average earning capacity of the country.

There has to be a relationship between the GDP per capita and what the
lawmakers or any other person in public office earns.

There is something that economists call the GINI coefficient, which
shows that when the gap between what the lowest paid people and
highest paid people are earning is too wide, that society can never be
stable. That is where Nigeria is because your wealthy people are so
mind-bogglingly wealthy and the poor people are the poorest of the
poor. No society with that kind of gap can survive.

It comes back to the nature of our politics. Right now, because of the
perquisites and the various benefits that being in political office
affords, many people are rushing into politics as a way to make ends
meet, no longer as an avenue for service. We have to change the entire
value system.

And you have to do it by creating incentives for good performance for
those who are prepared to make sacrifices for the nation and at the
same time have clearly what should be done to those who embark on
self-aggrandisement.

Your take on Nigeria at 50?

My prayer is that in this 50th year of our independence anniversary,
God should give us a better opportunity to serve our country, give us
peace, give us understanding and above all, give us leaders, who are
prepared to serve.

Nigeria: The Election Rigging Process in Nigeria Exposed by a Former Governor

from: anacweb

Ladies and Gentlemen, Here is it. The challenge of our age. The ballot box is out of the Cat. Lets for once denounce shame as a people.

Visit www.ttimesnigeria.com for full story or get Guardian News Paper today.

Lets sign up for the ANAC-NILC Good Governance Now: Teleconference, please RSVP if you are intereted to memberservices@anacweb.org

Sign Up For ANAC Good Governance California Convention Symposium, September, 2010 visit www.anacca.org, or Email: lara@anacca.org

A comprehensive expose on how elections are rigged in the country has been unveiled by one of the insiders in the political process and former Cross River State Governor, Mr. Donald Duke.
Last Wednesday at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Duke gave a blow by blow account to a gathering of pro-democracy advocates, including the Save Nigeria Group (SNG), of the modus operandi of State Chief Executives and Resident Electoral Commissioners to thwart the mandate of the electorate, not just in states controlled by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but all the others.
In his opinion, it is not just a question of replacing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, but getting a critical mass to come out to vote and ensuring that votes count.

Now, the Chief of Staff, you call him: ‘Make sure, that we arrange N25 million this week and in two weeks time another N25 million and Seventy-Five million in all.’
Chief of Staff: ‘Your Excellency, how do we do it?’
Governor: ‘Put it under Security Vote.’

In other words, its cash, OK, now, cash in huge Ghana Must Go bags – some of my colleagues will shoot me- (turns to the audience) is any former governor here? (Crowd replies no!)
Good. Cash is lodged in huge Ghana Must Go Bags for the REC and of course, to be fair to them, they call their electoral officers and say the governor has been very benevolent; he has given us this and that. I say three batches because they have them in Senatorial districts. So, you have one in Calabar, you have One in Ikom and Ogoja, those are the headquarters of the Senatorial districts. Each one costs twenty-five million. Of course, the sums are not properly retired. I don’t know how much of this twenty-five million worked. But, there is a rapport this is going on. …………..

The Commissioner of Police walks up to the governor and smartly salutes and says: ‘Your Excellency, I just came to introduce myself. My name is Mr. So, so and so. And the governor goes: ‘Ah, you are welcome. I heard you were here two or three days ago and I was wondering whether I won’t see you. Anyway, you are welcome. Have you settled down?’ ‘Yes I’ve been given accommodation and all that. And the governor asks, ‘where was your last posting?’ He tells him, he says fine.
Governor: ‘That car over there, this is the key and this is your house.
The Commissioner of Police now says: ‘Your Excellency, this Obasanjo is a very bad man. He is a very, very bad man. If you see all the things he has planned for you eh Olorun maje.’
How do we move on? How do we get out of here? What I have done is I’ve tried graphically to paint a picture of a process. How do we change this process? ……………

As I speak to you, we’ve not started voters’ registration. That exercise will take any where from three to four months. It will take at least, ninety days to run through its course, another six weeks to tidy up before it is published; lets not kid ourselves. You can have elections anytime, but you can’t have credible elections in January. So, for those thinking we can have elections in January, I think we have to rethink the process; we cannot have credible elections in January. We may have elections but it may not be credible. Where are we? We need to get out of these holes; we need to traverse the length and breath of this country. We need to recruit an army of people may be 5, 000 in each state, two hundred young men and women who will reach our (people), give each of them a task to ensure that he registers at least a hundred person. That alone, will bring twenty million people into the fold. This is what they did in the Obama election.
Fortunately, I was monitoring the Obama

USA & Nigeria: Re: History of Salary, Compensation and Pension of a US. President

forwarded by Betty Otieno

From: elombah daniel

Re: History of Salary, Compensation and Pension of a US. President

Appendix to Press Release: a Nigerian senator earns more in Salary than Barack Obama and David Cameron

Effective from January 1, 2001, the annual salary of the president of the United States was doubled to $400,000 (N60m) per year, including a $50,000 expense allowance making the president the highest paid public servant. The $400,000 includes everything and $350,000 out of it is taxable.

Below is a table of the earnings of some politicians in the US:Public OfficersEarning per year ($)Earning per year Naira (million)

President400000.0060.0
V. President227300.0034.1
Speaker of the House223500.0033.5
Majority Leader (Senate)$193,40029.1
Minority Leader (Senate)$193,40029.1
Other Senators174000.0026.1
Majority Leader (Representative)$193,40029.1
Minority Leader (Representative)$193,40029.1
Cabinet Secretary$193,40029.1

* Exchange rate is set at $1.00 = N150.00*Please note that US Vice President is also the Senate president.Below is a table showing some of the items in the new (reduced) package for the members of the Nigeria National Assembly:

ItemsSenator (N)Representative(N)
Basic salary/Regular allowances11,145,2009,926,062
Furniture3,039,6002,744,454
Motor Vehicle Loan5,066,0004,963,031
Duty Tour Allowance per day23,00021,000
Severance Gratuity6,079,2005,955,637
Estacodes$600$550

Other allowances expressed as percentages of basic salaries are:
Hardship Allowance @ 50%
Constituency allowance @ 200%
Newspaper allowance @ 50%
Wardrobe allowance @ 25%
Recess Allowance @ 10%
Accommodation @ 200%
Utilities @ 30%
Domestic Staff @ 75%
Entertainment @ 30%
Personal Assistance @ 25%
Vehicle Maintenance Allowance @ 75%
Leave Allowance @10%

Analysis

This analyses translate to the fact that in addition to the regular and legitimate salaries and allowances of N17 million ($113,333) and N14.99 million ($99,933) which senators and reps were collecting yearly and the irregular allowance of estacodes, duty tours etc, they were also collecting N192m ($1.28m) and N140m ($0.93m) respectively in illicit quarterly allocation which is not provided for by RMAFC.

Effectively, a Nigerian senator was taking home at least $1.40m ($1.28m quarterly allocations + $0.113m regular salaries and allowances) as against the $0.174m an American senator takes home hence a Nigeria senator earns at least 8 times as much as an American senator and more than 3 times the American president.

Whereas a Senator in the U.S earns N21, 146,000, the same as a member of the House of Representatives; a UK Member of Parliament earn £64,766 (N14, 896,180)

In other words, a Federal Legislator in Nigeria is paid more than double what a Member of British Parliament earns per annum.

Senate President David Mark alone takes N250 million quarterly or N83.33 million per month. Senate Deputy President Ike Ekweremadu gets N150 million per quarter or N50 million a month.

Mark and Ekweremadu earns in 4 months, six times what the UK Prime Minister earns in a year. David Cameron goes home with £190,000 per anum (N43, 700,000)

In a Next newspaper news article entitled ‘An Assembly for looting’ written by Musikilu Mojeed with Elor Nkereuwem, the authors rightly claimed that each of the 360 members of the House of Representatives were getting N35 million in cash money in quarterly allocation while each of the 109 Senators pockets N48 million each. These allocations have however been slashed by 20% to N27 million ($180,000) and N38 million ($253,333) respectively due to the 20% reduction requested by the late president.

The cut has been a source of a major controversy in the House of Representatives in the past few days where members are agitating to jerk up the sum to N42m quarterly at a time when the government is lamenting being broke and when the already signed 2010 budget is being cut by as much as 40%. What a bunch of greedy inhuman lots! The discordance has caused members of the House to force the speaker, Dimeji Bankole to reduce his quarterly allowance from N140m ($933,333) to N100m ($666,667) or from an annual allowance of N560m ($3.73m) to N400m ($2.67m).

According to data obtained from CIA World Factbook, Nigeria has an estimated per capital income (purchasing power parity) of $2,400 in 2009 as against USA’s $46,400. This means that the average earning in the US is 19.33 times as much as in Nigerian.

With the reduced salary package, a Nigeria senator still get paid N11 million ($73,333) in regular salaries and allowances annually and N152m ($1.03m) in four (quarterly) allocation making a total of $1.11m plus irregular allowances like estacodes and duty tour allowances.

The Senate has allocated N1, 024,000,000 as quarterly allowance to its 10 principal officers, known collectively as the Senate leadership – Each of the eight other principal officers take home N78 million every three months or N26 million per month.

Besides, for this year, the Senate has voted N2.6 billion for local travel, N2.45 billion (foreign travel), N1.25 million (security), N2.28 billion (contingency), N750 million (guest houses for Mark and Ekweremadu), and N500 million (establishment of radio and television stations).

The Executive Branch of government

A Nigerian Minister is paid N31,915,800 (32 million) per year, comprising salary (2,026,400), and benefits plus allowances (N29,889,400)…American secretary (N23,488,000); British Secretary (N29,736,000) German Minister (N30,287,667.20).”

A Nigeria Minister of State gets N30, 538,248 (salary N1, 957,580; allowances N28, 580,666) higher than those of a South African Minister (N7, 704,558);

Compare again to American secretary (N23, 488,000); British Secretary (N29, 736,000) German Minister (N30, 287,667.20)

A local government councillor in Nigeria earn over N1 million per month while a university professor, or a director in a ministry is paid peanuts as take home.

The salary review of political office holders till date revealed that 17,474 officials earned N1.12 trillion yearly of the N1.12 trillion about N94, 959,545,401.20 billion is spent on salaries and N1, 031,654,689,033.18 trillion goes to allowances annually.

While 16,540 out of the political officeholders, as revealed from the document emanating from the Presidency to the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) are expected to undergo a pay cut in line with former President Yar’adua’s proposal earlier in the year, this is yet to take effect.

The officers are: Federal Executive (472); Federal Legislature (1,152); Local Government Executive (3,096) and local government legislature (8,692).

According to the document, officers taken this large lump sum evidently, approximately 17,500 officials only constitute 0.014 per cent (less than a quarter of a percent) of Nigeria’s estimated 140 million people.

Again, it is common knowledge that the salaries of these officers amount to nothing compared to the juicy fringe benefits that accrue to them.

It could be recalled that ministers, advisers, legislators salaries were all jerked up in 2007 and 2008. While the members of National Assembly got 100% pay rise which would cost Nigerian tax payers N52.4 billion every year, and an additional N15.02 billion as multi-purpose allowances given to the lawmakers on quarterly basis, the package accruing to the federal executives had jumped by over 1,000 percent to N98 billion due to their allowances as compared N65.5 billion paid the federal executives during the last regime.

The last time Nigerian workers ever had an enhanced salary package was in 2000 when former President Olusegun Obasanjo announced the N5, 500 and N7, 500 minimum wages both for state and federal workers respectively.

Comparison of the Salaries of Politicians vis-a-vis other professions in USA and Nigeria

The politicians’ salaries listed above might look big to you but if you look at what is obtainable in the society, you’ll surely get the drift. I’d like to compare the earning of these top political positions with those of surgeons in America.

According to ehow.com, several factors such as experience, employer, location, gender and degrees may affect the earnings of a heart surgeon. Salaries discussed here are median earnings from 2009.

• Degree: A cardiac surgeon with a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree will earn an average yearly salary of $292,774. If he has completed a Ph.D., however, the annual salary may rise to $400,000 on average.

It can be inferred from this that a surgeon earn as much as the president or even more. And in nearly all cases a surgeon earns more than the VP and other public office holders.

In the US, top attorneys in a top legal firm earn as much as $500,000 annually, a top journalist (like Christiane Amanpour) earns over a $1m, Wall street guys and top business executives earn $ millions in salaries, benefit, stock options etc. Top Sportsmen and Entertainers earn tens of $ million in salaries, endorsements, advertisements, profit sharing etc. Top CEOs also earn tens and in exceptional cases, hundreds of $ million in salaries, benefit, stock options and profit sharing.

If you consider the fact that many top politicians were also top earners before joining politics, you’d be able to understand the sacrifice intended.

The annual salary of the Surgeon General is about $190,000.

It’s a known fact Michelle Obama, the US first lady was earning much more as a hospital administrator in Chicago than her husband, President Barack Obama was earning as a US senator. According to the couple’s 2006 income tax return, her salary was $273,618 from the University of Chicago Hospitals as Vice President for Community and External Affairs, while her husband had a salary of $157,082 from the United States Senate.

In Nigeria, political offices are often seen as a get-rich-quick avenue because the legitimate salaries and benefits are enormous and are probably unobtainable elsewhere in the system. Another reason is that politicians can also meddle with the public funds with impunity. Candidly, public officers do not differentiate between public and private funds and this is probably the main cause of the do-or-die politics. All arms of government collaborate in the looting causing no checks and balances.

After the late former president Umaru Yar’Adua complained about the nation’s dwindling revenues and that politicians were being overpaid and causing his government a financial stress, there was an approved reduced remunerative package for the politicians. Based on the this, each of the 107 senators (excluding the Senate President and his deputy) would be collecting N11 million ($73,333) in basic salaries and regular allowances every year while a member of the House of Representatives would get N9.9 million ($66,000). Previously, a senator was getting N17 million ($113,333) while a House member was collecting N14.99 million ($99,933).

The regular allowances are accommodation, car maintenance, domestic staff, personal assistant, entertainment, leave, utilities, newspaper/periodicals and constituency. These figures do not include non-regular allowances– vehicle loan, furniture allowance, estacodes, and duty tour allowance and severance gratuity–which are paid separately to each legislator as they become due.

From a previous salary of about N10,000, a police constable now earns between N22,000 and N27,000 depending on his length of service and accommodation plan, while a sergeant’s pay has gone up from N15,000 to about N30,000. And from a pay slip of about N22,000, a Police inspector now earns at least N50,000 monthly.

Let me give an insight of the monthly salary of Nigerian police officers:

Constable = N22, 000 (£98) – N27, 000 (£120.27)
Corporal = N27, 000 (£120.27) – N28, 000 (£124.73)
Sergeant = N31, 000 (£138.09)
Inspector = N50, 000 (£222.72) – N52, 000 (£231.63)
Assistant Superintendent of Police = N80, 000 (£ 356.36) – N83, 000(£369.72) depending on whether he is a one-star ASP or two-star ASP.
A deputy Superintendent of Police = N90, 000 (£400.90)
A full superintendent = N100, 000 (£445.45)

In some states, while the state government claims not to have money to pay workers, it finds it convenient to pay politicians hundreds of thousands as monthly salary for doing practically nothing than looting the state blind. How can a state government justify the over N300, 000 salary paid to a ward councilor (and over N60, 000 to a councilor’s wife) while the highest paid teachers collects less than 30 percent and the least paid teacher collects less than 4 percent of a councilor’s pay. The total annual salaries of councilors in a state like Osun State (running to over N1.4 billion) are enough to employ 2240 workers on N50, 000 monthly salaries. This is pure robbery!

Yet, they reject the payment of N52, 200 minimum wages that the national leadership of NLC and TUC are fighting for.

Other Illegalities

Of all these allowances, the most intriguing is the constituency allowance. What is constituency allowance? You may ask. It is an allowance approved by Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC). The constituency allowance as approved by RMAFC is supposed to be 200% of the basic salary for politician but in reality, they are paid far more than that. The major flaw of this allowance is that the law does not require the politicians to file reports of how the money is spent.

The executives are not left behind, infact, the legislative plunder is like a child’s play compared to what the executives are illegally taking away from the system.

In addition to their constituency allowances, It is no longer a news that governors collect billions of naira as security votes which are unaccounted for and which makes everyone wonder which security are they providing with the money.

According to Davidson Iriekpen in an article titled, Security Vote – for Whose Security? “Every year, billions of naira is allegedly squandered under the guise of security votes. The funds suspected to be illegal, are purportedly being used to provide security for the president, governors and their domains, whereas they are being transferred into personal bank accounts. In spite of these huge sums of money, killings, kidnappings, cultism and other security threats are on the increase across the states. At the federal level, funds are allocated to the Ministry of Defence for the upkeep and welfare of the armed forces and the police, yet billions are still voted for the President as security votes whose impact is unknown.”

Many of the governors appropriate the sum ranging from several hundreds of millions of naira to billions monthly as security vote. And also according to human rights lawyer, Bamidele Aturu, security vote is an illegality and irresponsibility on the part of the country’s leaders. He condemned the governors for appropriating security votes to them even when they know that it is unconstitutional. He also argued that the governors who indulge in security votes rob the society of essential resources.

In a report by RMAFC chairman, Hamman Tukur to the presidency, “He said the Federal, State and Local Governments flout the remuneration provisions made by the commission through frivolous foreign trips, arbitrary appointment of aides and use of excessively large motorcades.

He further said “based on the constitution, RMAFC has the final say on the remuneration package of National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly members, while a law need to be enacted based on the commission’s proposals regarding the pay packages of executive and judicial office holders.”

Notwithstanding this warning, this illegality thrives from the presidency to the council. As the president takes billions of naira in monthly security vote, he also take several millions in constituency allowance.

Conclusion

Past surveys of salaries and benefits of public office holders from the Baltic to the Bahamas, the Americas and the Far East and everywhere else, has showed that Ministers and Federal Legislators in Nigeria are the highest paid in the world, despite the country being among the poorest in terms of per capita income, security, social provision and living standards. On the other hand, Nigerian workers are one of the lowest paid in the world.

The Nigerian Minister earns more than his American, British or German counterpart, and of course enjoys pecks of office those ones cannot even dare dream of – for doing next to NOTHING!!!

Likewise a Senator and his House of Representatives counterpart in Nigeria receive much more than their contemporaries elsewhere.

Do you know even any local government Chairman in Nigeria who does not own houses and fleet of cars?

Nigeria is a relatively poor country and there is no justification for a Nigerian politician earning much more than his American counterpart while others in other callings earn a fraction of what is obtainable in the US.

I think it’s about time we work out a ceiling system for the remunerations of public servants and tie them to what is obtainable in certain professions. And until we get this right, our politics will continue to be a do-or-die affair with the greedy lots dominating the air as their only attractions are the perks of the offices

See the press release here

http://elombah.com/index.php/templates/ja_purity/styles/header/green/components/com_comment/joscomment/emoticons/modern/images/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3823:nigerian-senate-enough-is-enough&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=67

Daniel Elombah
Publisher: www.elombah.com
(A Nigerian Perspective on world affairs)
Office: JE Stevenson Solicitors
Marble Arch, London +44-0-7958588018

Nigeria: BUSY WAITING TO DIE

By

NAIWU OSAHON

I have a story I have been trying not to tell for a long time. I don’t know why I have been keeping it to myself really. May be I have never had anyone to tell the story, but it had been nagging me all the same. Now I feel I must do something about it, tell someone, anyone, in the hope of a break in my unending painful infliction.

I have long lost hope of ever making it. You know what life is like for anyone, for a man, a poor Blackman, a semi illiterate.

Are you listening? It appears you are, so I am going to take you into confidence. I can feel you are warming up to me already. Oh you have feelings, we are friends, and that is good.

As you already know, I was born some 40 years ago in a village called Osemene deep in the woods of Ngazi. There were eleven children in the family and I was the fifth child. Three brothers and a sister were older than me and a brother and five sisters came after me. My father, an illiterate pagan farmer, died when his youngest child was three and the image she has of him, she constructed from recollections of our shabby squalid upbringing.

Our Uncle who inherited us had at the time, 15 children by four wives. He was not scared, however, by the addition of 14 of us including my father’s three wives. He put us to work on his farms as soon as we could walk unaided and so I spent my early life digging, planting, harvesting or hunting. I did not know much about schools until I was sixteen when many would consider me too old to start school.

Of my three senior brothers, the oldest learnt the carpentry trade as an apprentice; his immediate junior, completed secondary school education, and the third, graduated from a university where he studied law. They were both helped with the payment of their school fees from the severely depleted resources of our Uncle. As soon as our lawyer brother came into a bit of money, he decided to send me and the other siblings to school. I did not let him down despite my age, but I had to drop out in secondary three when increased family responsibilities began to suffocate him.

Immediately after dropping out of school, I took up employment as a shop assistant to a relation. The pay was poor, N1,800 a month, but it was some contribution to the fast dwindling fortune of my brother. I had by then lost all ambition of ever becoming the first doctor from our village. In fact, I had grown into a tall handsome man of 24 and women were beginning to notice me. Needless to say, I was a little reckless as a lover and, of course, I was done unto too by many older, more experienced women. In all, I got a child to the bargain, or at least, I was aware of one, although his mother soon poisoned his mind against me. They say that blood is thicker than water. I am sure he would come to his poor helpless father some day, because I love him very much.

I have been through a lot of pain since those early unpromising years. Nothing has changed even now. The sum total of my life has remained the same, one long boring succession of desolation. I have over the years, hopped from one lowly job to another and today, at age 40, I am still chasing after an empty, God-for-saken existence. I have tried several times to break out only to get more hurt and frustrated.

Now at last, I have a labourer’s job I have kept for nearly nine months. The longest I have been on any job, despite the frequent threats of dismissal. “These are hard times for business,” my bosses would often say, but they keep their jobs while we lose ours.

I work in Apapa and live on its outskirts, in the heart of the sin city called Ajegunle (or Aje-jungle, to the initiated). Don’t ask me about Ajegunle. It has a mystery all of its own. I know this much though. It is the most neglected, most squalid, most unkempt, most unplanned conglomerate of shanties this side of the universe and the natives have past caring. Anything you fancy you can get from fresh human skulls to shit meal from low-down scavenging in dump sites for survival.

I have a room in a crowded wooden shack at one end of the only road. A bumpy, twisting, uncared for death trap of a road, congested 24 hours a day with juju men, tricksters, Seven-day Adventists, Jehovah witnesses and other hustling miracle pastors, punks, labourers, drug peddlers, cyclists and molues, (the later being the jargon for public pick-up vans). The molues are forever in a mad rush to get to nowhere in particular. The destitutes appear to have all day and all night. Everyone is busy waiting to die.

I have a small drab cell for a room. I have to keep moving my wooden bunk about, to dodge the sun and the rains. I used to share the room with a mate, until he was dispatched recently by a firing squad for his part in a wages grab. My playmates now are mostly flies, ants, rats, cockroaches, mosquitoes, lizards and snakes. I don’t know why they put up with me really. My blood must be poison to them now for the muck I have been eating.

On the wall, to the left hand-side of the room, there is a mirror, a small mirror, my significant inheritance from my dead mother. She was very attached to the mirror. She believed it had magic power to attract fortunes to its possessor. It had been in my family for several generations. Do you still wonder why we have always been poor in my family? At my mum’s dying bedside, I swore reluctantly to continue the tradition of keeping the mirror in the family. But often recently, I have hoped that someone would smash it up for me since I have been too chicken to tempt fate.

Dangling from the roof by the door is a tiny juju gourd given to me by my stepfather before his death about ten years ago. I am supposed to sacrifice a fowl to the gods every so often and I have not done so for years as you can well understand. Every time the juju gourd sways, I fear the gods are rebelling, my ancestors are turning in their graves, but it may have been the wind.

My landlord charges N1,000 a month for my crawl. It has no window. I rely on the rusty perforated zinc roof for ventilation. The door to the room also leads on to the main road. I cook, eat and sleep in the room and considering my destitute situation, it is not altogether uncomfortable but for the permanent traffic noise outside. It is like living in a shallow bunker under a busy motor way and it is so damn irritating at times.

Every work day, I have to be up as early as 5 00 a.m to get to work for 6.30 a.m. Occasionally, I don’t make it and I get a warning or a cut in pay, depending on how late I have been. We close at 5.30 p.m but I don’t get home until 7.30 – 8.30 p.m most evenings. I am usually so tired when I get home, I drink gari (made from cassava) for supper instead of a cooked meal. Talking about meals, it is often eba (a little more filling cassava meal) with soup revived to last a week by the constant addition of water.

After meals, I sometimes sit outside my room to experience the speeding and hooting traffic. Normally, it is like the entire public transport system in Lagos has been diverted to Ajegunle.

When I eventually go to bed, I tune the radio up loud to try to combat the traffic noise. Now, I cannot sleep anywhere without a radio blaring.

Well yes, I have a radio. I stole it from my junior brother. He appears to be doing fairly well as a N7,500 (or $150) a month clerk in one of the ministries. He visited me about two years ago after some twelve years separation and he brought the radio along with him. One evening he was out for a walk, I took the radio to hide with a neighbour. I let my brother return home ahead of me to meet a battered door, suggesting that thieves had visited our room in our absence. Of course, only his radio was missing. He left in annoyance that night, swearing never to visit his brother again in Ajegunle.

Sunday is my favourite day of the week. Generally I go to church in the mornings and visit friends or wine palours in the evenings to hustle for free drinks. Clerks are often easy preys on such occasions especially if there is a woman to impress.

Do you know there are clerks on N7,500 a month who have houses? I know a chap living in Surulere who has three houses of four flats each. Well, I have heard about corruption and so on, but this chap is definitely on N7,500 a month. He works in a government ministry and goes to church regularly. Of course, he is a functionary with access to public funds, and he is not poor on N7,500 a month.

I earn less than a N150 (or $1) a day and it works out at roughly N5,000 (or $50) a month if I am not fined for lateness or absenteeism. I pay my landlord N1,000 a month for my leaking hell hole. I am still looking for a roommate to replace my late friend.

I spend an average of N1,800 a month on transportation at the rate of N60 for a normal day return journey. I skip lunch at work most days so as not to spend more than N850 a month at N50 a plate of some shit food not fit for a dog. What is left of my wage, I spend at the rate of N375 a week as follows: Soup N150 (including N50 meat); Gari N50; Plantain (one, of N20); Rice N80; Soap N5; Smoke N20; Vicky, N30 (to help occasionally with domestic chores). The law N20 (to guide against molestation).

Vicky has been extremely generous at times, by donating extra time and labour beyond expectation. She refuses to marry me, however, because as she often puts it, I am too wretched.

But wretched people are entitled to some happiness too, aren’t they? We have as much right to this land as the leaders who have selfishly appropriated our commonweal to themselves, but who will give us the chance? There are thousands of people in this country with lots of money for being relatives of our leaders. There are hundreds of millionaires from being awarded contracts not performed, or for idling around corridors of power. I see more and more new cars gliding past on the highways daily. There are new beautiful expensive looking houses everywhere. Obviously, people build them, and people live in them, people who can afford to live in style for doing nothing.

It is a funny country we live in. A few have so much and the rest nothing at all. A few weeks ago, I picked up a dirty rumpled dated newspaper from a dustbin and the first headline I saw, was about Nigeria having over five hundred billion Naira in circulation in one month. Do you know how much of that money I had in my pocket at the time, just a rumpled and dirty N5 note? That was all the money I had in the world, and it was still five days to pay day.

I do not know a lot of arithmetic but five hundred billion Naira for a population of 140 million. I am not even asking for my fair share but surely, am I not entitled to more than N5,000 a month?

I have sometimes toyed with the idea of setting up a business but how does one go about setting up a business? Can you imagine me, a jejune pauper, walking into a bank and asking for a loan? What would I be offering for security, my rags?

Don’t get me wrong. I have considered banks in my idle moments. I have thought of tunnels to connect my room with bank volts. In fact, I have dug such tunnels on a number of occasions only to wake up each time from a dream to find I was still poor.

Why I bother to work I don’t know. Politics sometimes fascinates me. They don’t need special education, do they? Those politicians I mean. Our National Assembly members regularly steal and divert public money into their private accounts in Switzerland. They go on regular overseas tours to transact their private businesses and by accident look in at the United Nations to take instructions on our behalf.

United Nations, that is a big laugh. That is where the elite world is supposed to meet to trash out what to do with the rest of mankind. That is where the big powers hold the whip. Who says might is not right? The United Nation’s library must be full now of empty resolutions on Africa’s endless tribal and alien religious wars. Europe toys with the lives of millions of dissipated Africans in their midst, and America breaks international embargo to prove their might.

Nigeria can’t even produce its own weapons. Some paper tiger. Whites dominate us here and in their countries. They will continue to do just that as long as we continue to have selfish and unimaginative leaders, and wrong national priorities.

I don’t know of any white man who is as poor as I am in Nigeria. That is the honest truth. I have seen so many of them. They all have cars and live in elegant houses. No white man lives in Ajegunle that’s for sure. I know that they live in Apapa. Ikoyi and use several servants.

I applied to work for one once. He took a good look at me and nearly spat on me. I wasn’t smart enough. To think his allowance on his dog could pay my wages ten-fold. In fact, he had two dogs. There were himself, his wife, a daughter of three, and the two dogs, and they lived in a huge house of five bedrooms. His take home pay and allowances amount to twice what he pays 130 Nigerians working under him in the factory.

They come all the way from some paradise countries obviously, so we give them more of what they are already used to. Life must be very good for the white man. He dominates all animals on God’s earth, including black men and their progenies.

It reminds me of the giant bees that stung a man to death up on the hills of Jos some while back. Who says that bees are not sensible? They appear more patriotic than we are. Bees have their rules and no one comes from outside their kind to dominate them. With such bees, who needs an army? We could silence racists in our midst today by releasing a few thousands of our soldier bees in their midst. Power to the people, sorry power to the bees, Nigerian giant bees.

I wish I could turn into a bee or even a scorpion to sting our crooked leaders to death. All of them, just as Rawlings did, not too long ago in one swoop in Ghana, to clear the way for the reasonably wholesome society they now enjoy. In fact, I wish I could turn into anything but human. I know someone who was turned into a lizard for taking his neighbour’s wife. My lizard friend was, before his mishap, a journalist with a state newspaper. All effort to convert him to his former self was in vain. He appeared content to remain a lizard. Life of a lizard must be very satisfying. Other than the occasional menace of mammals, Lizards have little worries and hardly any responsibilities. They don’t need buses, clothes or women, and do not need to be ruled by dishonest politicians. Is it any wonder that our journalist friend preferred to remain in his lizard bliss? Yes, we lost him to the lizards but I envy his freedom from human needs and our heartless leadership.

Not long ago, I was awake to a radio debate on Nigerian leadership. It wasn’t the first time I had heard people discussing the ills of our society. It had been going on every day of my 40 years sojourn on earth, but I felt on that occasion that we ought to stop talking and start doing something. Perhaps a revolution of sorts, where the rejects in society overturn the ruling class by force of arms or whatever.

A governor buys billions of naira shares for his state while in office and as soon as he leaves office, loots the entire fund plus profits. The President appoints his son as the shadow oil minister to supervise the oil account as a family purse; the second in command privatizes Nigeria incorporated to himself and trades with funds in his charge for personal gains; the President of the Senate steals N55m from a poor innocent ministerial nominee up for Senate screening; the National Assembly members pay themselves over N30 million a month for assembling for a few hours a week to brawl and bicker like illiterate savages and the Speaker pockets billions of naira on transportation and exchanges blows with whistle blowers before sacking them from the House. So much greed, so much power in the hands of a thief, in our infantile political jungle. Who voted for these criminals in the first place?

Every day, I pray to God to give me a chance to live. I wonder if there is God. I am sure those rich people do not pray as hard as I do. Perhaps, I ought to have been praying to the devil. Devils organize happenings don’t they? Don’t believe all that crap they tell you about reward being in heaven. Why are pastors having their own here? I want mine here as is the case with all our religious leaders and our rogues in government.

I was involved in the hold-up on Ikorodu Road last week. Mr. Kadiri’s death was all a mistake really. We didn’t mean to hurt anyone but Mr. Kadiri wouldn’t surrender easily and in the ensuing scuffle, the gun I was holding went off. He died immediately. I was so frightened at first but I soon got over it. It was my first big job and we made N370k on Mr. Kadiri’s Peugeot.

My share was a clean N75k. I bought some clothes, an iron bed and a fan from the money. I have now given up the labourer’s work to devote all my energy and time on my new and apparently lucrative job. I have made enough money from previous hold-ups to buy a television set. I am living well now, and my neighbours are beginning to notice.

Vicky now wants to marry me. She packed in two weeks ago. She shadows me everywhere like a tigress watching over her cub. She knows how I make my money. In fact, she was with the Police all night yesterday answering questions about my whereabouts. I am a suspect you see. Those clever little men in uniform traced a button found at the scene of the murder to a blood-stained shirt without a (similar) button found in my room. I was tipped off about the impending police raid and wasn’t caught but they took Vicky. Now my pictures are in all the newspapers. The police claim that I might be able to help them in their enquiries.

Vicky I understand, was severely tortured yesterday night for refusing to give my hideout away. She was released this morning and she immediately passed the information on to me.

I have begun to grow a beard. I reckon if I can remain in captivity for a week my disguise would grow wild enough to fool the police. There is one big job planned for early next week and I don’t want to get caught before then. I think we would pull the job off neatly. Every detail has been carefully rehearsed over and over again. I would retire after the job. A lot of money is involved. Nearly two million Naira out of which I get a third.

I would migrate with Vicky and the money to the Niger to begin life afresh. Open a small shop or a food center. The food center idea titillates me more. A chance to make up for the food I have missed in thirty-six years.

I dreamt this morning that I was tied up with three others to face a firing squad. We were surrounded by thousands of people (men, women and children) surging forward, jeering, booing, crying for blood.

By the time the bullets were finally deposited in my chest and stomach, I was ready. I died still wearing my grin of innocence, admonishing the state for being so impatient and making such a mistake. All I wanted was a small slice out of life and I nearly made it.

Two days before the planned two million Naira wages hold-up, I was, with three others, aligned before the arms robbery tribunal, being condemned to die by a firing squad.

NAIWU OSAHON, Hon. Khu Mkuu (Leader) World Pan-African Movement); Ameer Spiritual (Spiritual Prince) of the African race; MSc. (Salford); Dip.M.S; G.I.P.M; Dip.I.A (Liv.); D. Inst. M; G. Inst. M; G.I.W.M; A.M.N.I.M. Poet, Author of the magnum opus: ‘The end of knowledge’. One of the world’s leading authors of children’s books; Awarded; key to the city of Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Honourary Councilmanship, Memphis City Council; Honourary Citizenship, County of Shelby; Honourary Commissionership, County of Shelby, Tennessee; and a silver shield trophy by Morehouse College, USA, for activities to unite and uplift the African race.

Naiwu Osahon, renowned author, philosopher of science, mystique, leader of the world Pan-African Movement.

Nigeria: Nation Aims To Put Africans In Space

from pwbmspac

The cited publication points to yet another nation becoming interested in the valuable frontier of outer space.

– – – – – – – – – – –

Nigeria really does have a space agency. The west African nation’s National Space Research and Development Agency is already celebrating its 10th anniversary. And as America and Europe’s space agencies set their sights on joint exploration of Mars, Nigeria has big plans of its own: It wants to send a Nigerian up into space in 2015, making Nigeria home to the first black African astronaut.

read more …

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/nigeria/091029/nigeria-space-agency

USA (Md), & Nigeria: ANAC Pledges Support For The “Nice Lace Project” Extends Hands To Former Members

from: anacweb

ANAC Monthly Newletter Update Visit WWW.ANACWEB.ORG For Full Story

1. ANAC Pledges Support for the Nice Lace Project and Extends an Olive Branch to all Former Members of ANAC

Largo, MD – May 27, 2010 – The ANAC Board of Trustees in its May 2010 meeting voted to support the “Nigerian Diaspora” initiative titled the “Nice Lace Project”.

The Nice Lace Project is the acronym for “Nigeria Invasion of Literal Art Culture and Entertainment”, as originally envisioned with the support of other Nigerian International Community organizations. ANAC Board of Trustees, at its May 2010 meeting, voted to support the goals of the Nice Lace Project. ANAC Chairman of the Board of Directors and Trustees, Prof. Martin Okafor appointed the national ANAC Committee Chair for the Literal Arts and Culture Committee, Mrs. Omolara Okunubi – Trustee ANAC California Chapter, as the ANAC representative to the Nice Lace Project. (For More on the Nice Lace Project please Visit www.nicelace.com)

2. The ANAC Board of Trustees voted to extend the terms of all Trustees whose terms will be expiring by the end of May 2010, as well as the term of the current elected officers, until the end of August 2010.

For Complete Story Please Visit WWW.ANACWEB.ORG

Martin Okafor
ANAC Chairman

David Ogunnaike
ANAC Vice Chairman

Colin I. Atobajeun
ANAC Sec. Gen

Peter Agho
ANAC Treasurer

NIGERIA: JONATHAN MUST FIX NAIRA EXCHANGE RATE TEN TO THE DOLLAR

(WE ARE ABYSMALLY POOR AS A PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THE RIDICULOUS NAIRA EXCHANGE RATE TO THE DOLLAR)

By NAIWU OSAHON

There are four main activities Goodluck Ebere Jonathan must tackle robustly before the end of his tenure as Acting President:

(1) Jonathan must begin to systematically increase monthly, our electricity generating capacity from its current level of about 4,000 mw to, at least, 10,000 mw by December, 2010.

(2) Jonathan must fix the naira exchange rate at ten to one US dollar right away and not later than in the next three months.

(3) Jonathan must put right the Niger Delta problems at least along the lines already mapped out by the government.

(4) Jonathan must ensure credible, free and fair general elections next year.

When Prof. Soludo, as Governor of the Nigeria Central Bank, fixed the naira exchange rate at ten to one dollar at the beginning of Yar’Adua’s regime, Yar’Adua vacated the decision out of economic knowledge ignorance and misplaced selfish pride about not being consulted before the decision was taken by Soludo.

Ghana reversed her debilitating downward poverty slide by fixing the cedi exchange rate at ten to the dollar some four years ago. Ghana unlike Nigeria, has minimal problems generating her nominal electricity requirements. So, today, instead of Ghanaians rushing to Nigeria to look for work, Nigerians are invading Ghana to attend schools and deal with basic economic survival needs.

There is nowhere in the developed world where market forces are allowed to fix the exchange rate of the local currency. All the leading economies of the world fix their currencies’ exchange rates and allow market forces to play within rigid parameters up and down such limits and when market forces seem to be having the upper hand, the government declares economic state of emergency. This happened recently with the economic meltdown. Leading economies of the world, including the US and Britain, reined in their market forces to respect national economic ethos and priorities.

Exchange rate issue is, therefore, a political decision which the government of a country takes to determine the level of poverty it can legitimately and morally tolerate amongst its citizens. Babangida downgraded the naira exchange rate by fiat from two to sixty to the dollar in one swoop to deliberately pauperize the citizens and make life too difficult for them to be able to challenge his ambition to be president for life. To reverse our slide deeper and deeper into the bottomless pit of poverty, the exchange rate must be fixed by fiat also, and held within sensible limits for economic forces to speculate in as necessary.

Babangida pretended to allow a debate on IMF’s SAP programme. The masses rejected the IMF programme but Babangida went along with the IMF programme all the same by instituting what he described as his own version of SAP. Babangida’s SAP re-launched our re-colonization in earnest. His leading architects of his SAP were two World Bank and IMF trained experts. Chief Idika Kalu and Chief Olu Falae who argued that our economy would collapse without SAP. Our economy promptly collapsed despite SAP.

Babangida’s SAP protagonists told us that we needed to increase our foreign currency earnings to be able to pay our strangulating foreign debts, import more goods and, of course, technology that use foreign raw materials and spare parts to stay in operation. SAP, we were told ensures increased foreign exchange earnings by liberalizing trade and (scandalously) marginalizing the naira to enhance our export capabilities. Sheer jargon because, the liberalizing business turned out to be a one-way trap. A vicious circle in effect, encouraging us to export more at low prices to import more at high prices because foreigners dictate the prices and no matter what we do, we always end up the debtors.

Our IMF African gurus argued further that after all, the Japanese yen is 120 or so to the dollar. What they concealed from us is that Japan is an export dependent country. They have no raw material. Their export is totally based on what they manufacture. They sell cheap to compete. They fixed the yen deliberately that way from inception, with local values in mind; same way as a hundred British shillings was fixed to produce one pound. In other words, the yen was worth about a shilling relatively from start. The yen didn’t just jump overnight from 1 to 120 to the dollar as African economies were forced to do by the IMF? When the yen wobbles a fraction or two downward in strength, the Japanese government panics and moves close to declaring a national emergency. In general, the yen gets stronger against the dollar yearly and the current projection is that it would exchange 115 to the dollar two years from now.

It would be a miracle if the naira has not jumped from its current 150 to a new rate of 1,000 to the dollar by then because it volts abnormally downward only.

That is how the Ghanaian cedi catapulted to 9, 060 to the dollar in thirty years. The government could hardly pay teachers salaries. They collateralized their gold mines to the West to keep afloat. Without regular foreign aids and donors support, budgets would not balance yearly. So, some four years ago, the government fixed the cedi exchange rate at ten to the dollar and their economy has been looking up since. The citizens are happy and foreign investments have begun to come in.

The foreigners we are trying to pacify with our ridiculous exchange rate are not investing in the Nigeria economy. Of course, they are grabbing our forced privatized parastatals like the airways, power and steel, oil, mines, communications to consolidate their control mechanisms and our total emasculation. Why should they invest in the other sectors to earn our worthless currencies?

No one needs to bring money from abroad to do business in Nigeria; rather Indian and Lebanese traders are operating illegal private banks from several bases around the country. Some of the bases in Apapa, a suburb of Lagos, Nigeria, for instance, are well known to the security personnel who even patronize them. The foreigners have no respect for our laws because they are fronts for our leaders and retired generals and where that fails, they can buy off law enforcement agents. Indians and the Lebanese are printing the local currency (naira) illegally to buy up privatized industries and our hard earned dollars to send home.

During the week-ending 24th June 2001, a senior government official (Chief Bode George) who was the Chairperson of our ports announced (and as expected quickly denied it the following day) that five container loads of Nigeria’s new N500 notes were impounded at the Apapa ports by the Nigerian customs. That kind of money (obviously in trillions of naira) would be enough to wipe out Nigeria’s hundred years oil sales revenue in one swoop and oil is the mainstay of the Nigerian economy. The illegal currencies were reported to be as good as our genuine ones and the owners would have been in a position to pay a thousand, two thousand or even a million naira of it to buy a dollar. Even if they spent one million dollars to print it, they could buy millions of dollars with it to take out.

The only group of people making it, apart from the foreign manufacturers exporting obsolete products to us and the Indian and Lebanese crooks in our midst; are our banks round tripping on the exchange rate scheme; retired rogue leaders living off their loot; senior government officials siphoning our resources into their private accounts abroad; their relations favoured with plum government contracts that are paid for without performance; drug barons and the 419 (con-men) kingpins. Nothing productive is going on right now in our society. We still import everything from sand, toxic waste, European excrement as fertilizers, toothpicks and broken bottles just to earn the opportunity to export dollars. The middle class has been completely wiped out. All we are left with are the rogues and the very poor.

The people determining the exchange rate are, of course, the rogues from the unproductive sector of the economy. They are the ones with access to bank’s bidding facilities for foreign exchange allocations. These are armchair opportunists working off their briefcases. They don’t employ staff, need office accommodation or pay taxes. Every naira they corner, they convert into dollars immediately and transfer abroad.

These are the people determining the fate of the exchange rate courtesy of the IMF and the World Bank. The ordinary everyday Nigerian worker, doctor, lawyer, teacher, secretary, market woman, taxi driver, roadside mechanic etc do not make any contribution to the determination of the value of the naira. And yet, they work very hard, so hard that they are the most stressed people in the world, just to earn N100 a day to buy less than a dollar’s worth of value.

It takes less than five seconds for the average worker to earn a dollar in the USA but the Nigerian needs to work a day or two for it because the West wants him to remain ever dependent on them. Today, you need to work 150 times as hard in Nigeria as you would in the USA to earn a lousy dollar. It is the dollar that determines the value of local products. Every one is calculating prices by it, traders, contractors, prostitutes, since the government trades with it and values it more than the naira, thanks to the IMF and the World Bank. A whole day’s wage (which is five seconds wage in the USA) can only buy two jerricans of garri now or four ripe plantains. How can that be value for labour and for exchanging the naira? No one can feed himself and his family that way. Not all of us have jobs so, a day’s work for a lousy meal a day per person is sending all of us to our early graves.

Economic experts from around the world often paraphrase their economic theories with: “all things being equal.” Our IMF and World Bank trained African financial wizards interpret this with their heads buried in the sand because it is obvious even to the most illiterate person that all things are not equal in African economies. We are often one-export product economies. The buyer insists we drastically devalue our currencies because that is the only way we can compete. Compete to do what? We do not manufacture anything. They would not allow us and when they do, they say ours are substandard and put all sorts of regulations to bar our entry into their markets. They have cartels like the EU. They insist we throw our markets open, the world trade trick, and flood us with so much of their junk and rejects, we don’t have time to think of competing anyway.

All we have to sell of our own are raw materials and they fix prices and pay in their currencies. They force us to trade in their currencies. Our governments, banks everybody trades in the foreign currencies. The local currencies respond by continually falling in value (like a discarded bride) to catch the scarce “real” money coming from abroad.

Nigeria, for example, after paying over US $40 billion (N54 trillion) over the years, was still owing $34 billion (N46 trillion) in 2005 for a debt of $19 billion (N11.7 billion) made up largely of interests and penalty charges in 1985, so who is the fool, the IMF and the World Bank or Nigeria? The latest we hear is that the Paris Club and the IMF have tricked Nigeria into parting with US$12.4 billion in virtually one swoop from her recent oil windfall to close the books on the US$19 billion debt that had already consumed over US$40 billion in payments to the Paris Club. At the rate they are manipulating us, we would continue to be indebted to our colonial masters for another one million years even if we never borrowed a dime from them again.

Because of the gross marginalization of the naira, our economy is comatose. Most factories have closed down. The few still in business are operating at below 20% of installed capacity, resulting in massive unemployment. Warehouses are full of unsold goods. All our infrastructural facilities have broken down. It is too expensive to replace them or buy spare parts. Hospitals have no drugs and no new hospitals are being built. Nurses are not being paid on time and receive pittance when paid. Doctors have become government contractors to survive, neglecting their professional callings.

Our educational system is in shambles. When not closed down, there are no books or teaching aids. They are too expensive to procure. No one can afford to buy books and no one is reading except the Bible and the Koran, which are dumped in millions of copies on us free of charge to keep us ever illiterate and subservient to them. Most teachers have even migrated abroad to more lucrative jobs. Thousands of our youths are unemployed and thousands more waste away at home because schools are closed for a year for every month they open. The most actively pursued business by Nigerians right now is the visa to jump out of the Nigerian sinking ship.

Social services are nothing to write home about. Roads are impassable for potholes and floods. We queue for days on end to buy petrol wasting otherwise valuable man-hours in the process. We have no drinking and cooking water in most homes, no electricity generally for months at a time and yet the authorities are threatening to increase their tariffs.

Telephones are a luxury, they are not for the poor, remarked David Mark when he was Minister of Communications in Babangida’s regime and yet telephones are unreliable. The rogue elite minister, with one of the world’s best gulf courses in the US, wakes up one morning as communications boss and jerks up telephone tariffs by some 700%. Why should our leadership hijackers care if the poor are eating from the dustbin? It is our fate. We are eating something anyway, so telephone companies bleed us dry over epileptic, low quality services.

The typical Nigerian family on a monthly salary of N5,000 spends upward of N3, 000 a month on GSM tariffs (which currently are the highest tariffs in the world) and that is only by perfecting the flash, call me back, and SMS text cultures. People unable to feed themselves or their immediate families, or pay school fees or house rents are going about begging for loans for GSM credit vouchers. It costs a day’s average wage to post an ordinary letter by air abroad and still the letter gets stolen or tampered with before destination.

We are under severe siege as a people thanks to the IMF and the World Bank’s marginalization of the naira. Fear now rules our daily lives. Ugly, harrowing fear of the known and unknown. When we go out in the mornings, we are not sure we would return home safely and with our cars, bikes and other properties, including even the shoes on our feet or the earrings in our ears. If we are lucky to arrive to find our homes unraided in our absence, we sleep with one eye open expecting the worst any moment of the night. In other words, we do not sleep any more, and psychologists must have a thing or two to say about the consequences of lack of sleep on our ability to perform daily chores. The orchins controlling our lives are no longer the illiterate, no-good, lay-abouts of yester-years but generally smart looking, well educated and spoken people who could pass any day for bank executives. They are graduates of our higher educational institutions unable to find employment for as many as 8 to 20 years.

Societal values have completely broken down. Marriages are dissolving as soon as they are contracted. Children have lost respect for their hapless parents who can neither protect them nor provide their basic needs. Hard won earnings can no longer buy simple everyday necessities of life, not even garri, our staple food, let alone encourage us to aspire to own a car or a home in a lifetime. Many wives are prostituting to help families make do with the one measly meal a day now available to only a few in society. Many of our daughters leave their university dormitories at night to hawk their bodies to pay school fees and feed. The boys hold up banks, petrol stations during daylight and whole communities at night in convoys and formations reminiscent of military operations, all to make ends meets.

Armed robbers kill just for the fun of it and to watch us agonize in pains. Dead bodies are everywhere. On the streets and in open graves, deliberately piled in sadistic heaps to poison the atmosphere. Lying, cheating, pulling tricks have become virtues and friends and neighbours are usually the first casualties. No one and nothing is spared in the new culture of destruction instigated by the World Bank and the IMF. Suicides have become common place and obituaries are largely about people in their 30s to 50s. The supposed productive age in society.

NAIWU OSAHON, Hon. Khu Mkuu (Leader) World Pan-African Movement); Ameer Spiritual (Spiritual Prince) of the African race; MSc. (Salford); Dip.M.S; G.I.P.M; Dip.I.A (Liv.); D. Inst. M; G. Inst. M; G.I.W.M; A.M.N.I.M. Poet, Author of the magnum opus: ‘The end of knowledge’. One of the world’s leading authors of children’s books; Awarded; key to the city of Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Honorary Councilmanship, Memphis City Council; Honourary Citizenship, County of Shelby; Honorary Commissionership, County of Shelby, Tennessee; and a silver shield trophy by Morehouse College, USA, for activities to unite and uplift the African race.

Naiwu Osahon, renowned author, philosopher of science, mystique, leader of the world Pan-African Movement.

NIGERIA: THE TSUNAMI CALLED NEO-COLONIALISM.

(AFRICA’S FUTURE CONTINUES TO BE AS BLEAK AS EVER)

By NAIWU OSAHON

Take what the G8 policies have done to Nigeria, for example. Gowon’s military regime in the early 70s structured corruption into governance by importing junk of every conceivable nature; sand, broken bottles, toothpicks and (because European shit is superior to ours), European excrement as fertilizers with the active systematic nudging of the IMF, World Bank and WTO (tagged globalization), to usurp our sudden oil windfall of the era, and get the chance to divert the crumbs received from foreign exporters as agents into their (Gowon and his cronies in power) individual private accounts in Europe. With our foreign earnings from oil exports all returning to Europe to buy rubbish or to idle away in private foreign accounts, more and more of the Nigerian currency, the Naira, began to chase after fewer and fewer US dollars and so began to loose value.

Obasanjo as military Head of state 1976-1979, gallantly resisted IMF and World Bank interference (called SAP, Structural Adjustment Programme), in our economic affairs, although without putting a viable alternative economic programme in place. Shehu Shagari as President between 1979 and 1983 robustly expanded without qualms, on the Gowon’s regime culture of day light looting of the treasury and squandermania, by overwhelming us with more importation of rubbish and the cement and rice deluge, to divert staggering wealth into their individual private accounts abroad and punish us with a debilitating national debt load of over US$18 billion.

We were already a failed state when Buhari (the military leader who ousted Shagari’s regime in December 1983) provided a home-grown alternative to the IMF’s SAP. It was to maintain a strong Naira at approximately one to the US$1.50. Stop all further borrowing from abroad and institute counter trade for essential or desperately needed commodities. Buhari put an upper limit on our foreign exchange earnings used in servicing foreign debts. Rejected all the dubious and unverifiable debts and in less than three years in power, reduced our debt burden by nearly 50%.

Even Britain was already scheming to enter into counter trade agreement with Nigeria when Babangida was sponsored in 1986 by the West to sack Buhari in a military coup and reverse our gains. America, Britain and the other leading western nations hailed Babangida’s coup and immediately sent emissaries to strategize with him. President Reagan went out of his way to send him gifts including books such as Niccolo Machiavelli’s: the Prince, advocating the destruction of civil freedom to strengthen despotism.

Babangida, who promptly crowned himself the Prince of the Niger, pretended to allow a debate on SAP. The masses rejected the IMF programme but Babangida went along with the IMF all the same and instituted what he described as his version of SAP. Babangida’s SAP re-launched our re-colonization in earnest. His leading architects of SAP were two World Bank and IMF trained experts. Chief Idika Kalu and Chief Olu Falae who argued that our economy would collapse without SAP. Our economy promptly collapsed despite SAP.

Babangida entrenched corruption as a way of life on a massive scale and fostered the previously unheard of illegal drug trade and the notorious 419 (the legal code for financial fraud), culture. Babangida compounded our foreign debt crisis by recalling and accepting the Buhari regime’s rejected and cancelled dubious debts and between 1986 and 1991 piled up over US$30 billion foreign debt through dubious contracts, over invoicing and the importation of non-essential services and commodities including toxic waste. He did not bother to service the debt and between him, Abacha and their cronies in office diverted over USA $200 billion, including our USA12.2 billion oil windfall during Babangida’s regime, into their foreign accounts by 1996, buying up posh estates all over Europe.

Babangida alone allegedly garnered over USA $35 billion with which he now cows our politics. He owns estates all over Europe and one of the grandest estates in the world, in Egypt. Babangida’s SAP protagonists told us that we needed to increase our foreign currency earnings to be able to pay our strangulating foreign debts, import more goods and, of course, technology that use foreign raw materials and spare parts to stay in operation. SAP, we were told ensures increased foreign exchange earnings by liberalizing trade and (scandalously) marginalizing the naira to enhance our export capabilities. Sheer jargon because, the liberalizing business turned out to be a one-way trap. A vicious circle in effect, encouraging us to export more at low prices to import more at high prices because foreigners dictate the prices and no matter what we do, we always end up the debtors.

Our IMF African gurus argued further that after all, the Japanese yen is 120 or so to the dollar. What they concealed from us is that Japan is an export dependent country. They have no raw material. Their export is totally based on what they manufacture. They sell cheap to compete. They fixed the yen deliberately that way from inception, with local values in mind; same way as a hundred British shillings was fixed to produce one pound. In other words, the yen was worth about a shilling relatively from start. The yen didn’t just jump overnight from 1 to 120 to the dollar as African economies were forced to do by the IMF? When the yen wobbles a fraction or two downward in strength, the Japanese government panics and moves close to declaring a national emergency. In general, the yen gets stronger against the dollar yearly and the current projection is that it would exchange 115 to the dollar two years from now.

It would be a miracle if the naira has not jumped from its current 150 to a new rate of 1,000 to the dollar by then because it volts abnormally downward only.

That is how the Ghanaian cedi catapulted to 9, 060 to the dollar in thirty years. The government could hardly pay teachers salaries. They collateralized their gold mines to the West to keep afloat. Without regular foreign aids and donors support, budgets would not balance yearly. Although the current civilian government has tried significantly to tackle the economic problems they inherited, the people are still so poor and helpless they are, like other Africans in Africa, dying out gradually from starvation.

The foreigners we are trying to pacify are not investing in our economies. Of course, they are grabbing our forced privatized parastatals like the airways, power and steel, oil, mines, communications to consolidate their control mechanisms and our total emasculation. Why should they invest in the other sectors to earn our worthless currencies?

No one needs to bring money from abroad to do business in Nigeria; rather Indian and Lebanese traders are operating illegal private banks from several bases around the country. Some of the bases in Apapa, a suburb of Lagos, Nigeria, for instance, are well known to the security personnel who even patronize them. The foreigners have no respect for our laws because they are fronts for our leaders and retired generals and where that fails, they can buy off law enforcement agents. Indians and the Lebanese are printing the local currency (naira) illegally to buy up privatized industries and our hard earned dollars to send home.

During the week-ending 24th June 2001, a senior government official (Chief Bode George) who was the Chairperson of our ports announced (and as expected quickly denied it the following day) that five container loads of Nigeria’s new N500 notes were impounded at the Apapa ports by the Nigerian customs. That kind of money (obviously in trillions of naira) would be enough to wipe out Nigeria’s hundred years oil sales revenue in one swoop and oil is the mainstay of the Nigerian economy. The illegal currencies were reported to be as good as our genuine ones and the owners would have been in a position to pay a thousand, two thousand or even a million naira of it to buy a dollar. Even if they spent one million dollars to print it, they could buy millions of dollars with it to take out.

The only group of people making it, apart from the foreign manufacturers exporting obsolete products to us and the Indian and Lebanese crooks in our midst; are our banks round tripping on the exchange rate scheme; retired rogue leaders living off their loot; senior government officials siphoning our resources into their private accounts abroad; their relations favoured with plum government contracts that are paid for without performance; drug barons and the 419 (con-men) kingpins. Nothing productive is going on right now in our society. We still import everything from sand, toxic waste, European excrement as fertilizers, toothpicks and broken bottles just to earn the opportunity to export dollars. The middle class has been completely wiped out. All we are left with are the rogues and the very poor.

The people determining the exchange rate are, of course, the rogues from the unproductive sector of the economy. They are the ones with access to bank’s bidding facilities for foreign exchange allocations. These are armchair opportunists working off their briefcases. They don’t employ staff, need office accommodation or pay taxes. Every naira they corner, they convert into dollars immediately and transfer abroad.

These are the people determining the fate of the exchange rate courtesy of the IMF and the World Bank. The ordinary everyday Nigerian worker, doctor, lawyer, teacher, secretary, market woman, taxi driver, roadside mechanic etc do not make any contribution to the determination of the value of the naira. And yet, they work very hard, so hard that they are the most stressed people in the world, just to earn N100 a day to buy less than a dollar’s worth of value.

It takes less than five seconds for the average worker to earn a dollar in the USA but the Nigerian needs to work a day or two for it because the West wants him to remain ever dependent on them. Today, you need to work 150 times as hard in Nigeria as you would in the USA to earn a lousy dollar. It is the dollar that determines the value of local products. Every one is calculating prices by it, traders, contractors, prostitutes, since the government trades with it and values it more than the naira, thanks to the IMF and the World Bank. A whole day’s wage (which is five seconds wage in the USA) can only buy two jerricans of garri now or four ripe plantains. How can that be value for labour and for exchanging the naira? No one can feed himself and his family that way. Not all of us have jobs so, a day’s work for a lousy meal a day per person is sending all of us to our early graves.

Economic experts from around the world often paraphrase their economic theories with: “all things being equal.” Our IMF and World Bank trained African financial wizards interpret this with their heads buried in the sand because it is obvious even to the most illiterate person that all things are not equal in African economies. We are often one-export product economies. The buyer insists we drastically devalue our currencies because that is the only way we can compete. Compete to do what? We do not manufacture anything. They would not allow us and when they do, they say ours are substandard and put all sorts of regulations to bar our entry into their markets. They have cartels like the EU. They insist we throw our markets open, the world trade trick, and flood us with so much of their junk and rejects, we don’t have time to think of competing anyway.

All we have to sell of our own are raw materials and they fix prices and pay in their currencies. They force us to trade in their currencies. Our governments, banks everybody trades in the foreign currencies. The local currencies respond by continually falling in value (like a discarded bride) to catch the scarce “real” money coming from abroad.

Nigeria, for example, after paying over US $40 billion (N54 trillion) over the years, was still owing $34 billion (N46 trillion) in 2005 for a debt of $19 billion (N11.7 billion) made up largely of interests and penalty charges in 1985, so who is the fool, the IMF and the World Bank or Nigeria? The latest we hear is that the Paris Club and the IMF have tricked Nigeria into parting with US$12.4 billion in virtually one swoop from her recent oil windfall to close the books on the US$19 billion debt that had already consumed over US$40 billion in payments to the Paris Club. At the rate they are manipulating us, we would continue to be indebted to our colonial masters for another one million years even if we never borrowed a dime from them again.

Because of the gross marginalization of the naira, our economy is comatose. Most factories have closed down. The few still in business are operating at below 20% of installed capacity, resulting in massive unemployment. Warehouses are full of unsold goods. All our infrastructural facilities have broken down. It is too expensive to replace them or buy spare parts. Hospitals have no drugs and no new hospitals are being built. Nurses are not being paid on time and receive pittance when paid. Doctors have become government contractors to survive, neglecting their professional callings.

Our educational system is in shambles. When not closed down, there are no books or teaching aids. They are too expensive to procure. No one can afford to buy books and no one is reading except the Bible and the Koran, which are dumped in millions of copies on us free of charge to keep us ever illiterate and subservient to them. Most teachers have even migrated abroad to more lucrative jobs. Thousands of our youths are unemployed and thousands more waste away at home because schools are closed for a year for every month they open. The most actively pursued business by Nigerians right now is the visa to jump out of the Nigerian sinking ship.

Social services are nothing to write home about. Roads are impassable for potholes and floods. We queue for days on end to buy petrol wasting otherwise valuable man-hours in the process. We have no drinking and cooking water in most homes, no electricity generally for months at a time and yet the authorities are threatening to increase their tariffs.

Telephones are a luxury, they are not for the poor, remarked David Mark when he was Minister of Communications in Babangida’s regime and yet telephones are unreliable. The rogue elite minister, with one of the world’s best gulf courses in the US, wakes up one morning as communications boss and jerks up telephone tariffs by some 700%. Why should our leadership hijackers care if the poor are eating from the dustbin? It is our fate. We are eating something anyway, so telephone companies bleed us dry over epileptic, low quality services.

The typical Nigerian family on a monthly salary of N5,000 spends upward of N3, 000 a month on GSM tariffs (which currently are the highest tariffs in the world) and that is only by perfecting the flash, call me back, and SMS text cultures. People unable to feed themselves or their immediate families, or pay school fees or house rents are going about begging for loans for GSM credit vouchers. It costs a day’s average wage to post an ordinary letter by air abroad and still the letter gets stolen or tampered with before destination.

We are under severe siege as a people thanks to the IMF and the World Bank’s marginalization of the naira. Fear now rules our daily lives. Ugly, harrowing fear of the known and unknown. When we go out in the mornings, we are not sure we would return home safely and with our cars, bikes and other properties, including even the shoes on our feet or the earrings in our ears. If we are lucky to arrive to find our homes unraided in our absence, we sleep with one eye open expecting the worst any moment of the night. In other words, we do not sleep any more, and psychologists must have a thing or two to say about the consequences of lack of sleep on our ability to perform daily chores. The orchins controlling our lives are no longer the illiterate, no-good, lay-abouts of yester-years but generally smart looking, well educated and spoken people who could pass any day for bank executives. They are graduates of our higher educational institutions unable to find employment for as many as 8 to 20 years.

Societal values have completely broken down. Marriages are dissolving as soon as they are contracted. Children have lost respect for their hapless parents who can neither protect them nor provide their basic needs. Hard won earnings can no longer buy simple everyday necessities of life, not even garri, our staple food, let alone encourage us to aspire to own a car or a home in a lifetime. Many wives are prostituting to help families make do with the one measly meal a day now available to only a few in society. Many of our daughters leave their university dormitories at night to hawk their bodies to pay school fees and feed. The boys hold up banks, petrol stations during daylight and whole communities at night in convoys and formations reminiscent of military operations, all to make ends meets.

Armed robbers kill just for the fun of it and to watch us agonize in pains. Dead bodies are everywhere. On the streets and in open graves, deliberately piled in sadistic heaps to poison the atmosphere. Lying, cheating, pulling tricks have become virtues and friends and neighbours are usually the first casualties. No one and nothing is spared in the new culture of destruction instigated by the World Bank and the IMF. Suicides have become common place and obituaries are largely about people in their 30s to 50s. The supposed productive age in society.

Our present worthless, nasty, violent life has infested our kids and will infest theirs also like a virus without cure because no one has the courage and vision to put a stop to our rot and gradual disintegration. Recently, thousands of Africans, including Nigerians, died from Meningitis. A few months earlier, a strange Ebola disease ravished lives in Zaire and Cote d’ Ivore.

After the Russian (Chernobyl) nuclear disaster of April 26, 1986, farm products, including cow milk contaminated with nuclear debris and radioactivity, earmarked for destruction were secretly repackaged and dumped in Africa for profit. Nuclear contaminated Russian liquid milk surfaced in Africa as powdered milk under a variety of labels causing strange ailments, suffering, pains and deaths since. For the Group of 8, it is business as usual. Generally, foreign based institutions and NGO’s rushing to our aid from abroad are not in the know about the secret strategy behind the strange and deadly diseases. Often the aid is no more than medicine after death anyway.

NAIWU OSAHON, Hon. Khu Mkuu (Leader) World Pan-African Movement); Ameer Spiritual (Spiritual Prince) of the African race; MSc. (Salford); Dip.M.S; G.I.P.M; Dip.I.A (Liv.); D. Inst. M; G. Inst. M; G.I.W.M; A.M.N.I.M. Poet, Author of the magnum opus: ‘The end of knowledge’. One of the world’s leading authors of children’s books; Awarded; key to the city of Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Honourary Councilmanship, Memphis City Council; Honourary Citizenship, County of Shelby; Honourary Commissionership, County of Shelby, Tennessee; and a silver shield trophy by Morehouse College, USA, for activities to unite and uplift the African race.

Naiwu Osahon, renowned author, philosopher of science, mystique, leader of the world Pan-African Movement.