It must be Bob Marley who sang….You can’t fool all the people all the time

The sacking of Ribadu has given the impression that many more untouchables will emerge from the Nigerian political landscape, that all living untouchables will go free and the incarcerated ones will soon breathe the air of freedom. Time is a function that will always bring out clearer pictures of everything. Some schools of thoughts have dismissed the anticorruption slogan of the illegitimate government in Nigeria. Whatever happens, no one should hope for too much from a government of opportunists and well known perpetrators of fraud. Time will time in all these things!

No amount of press secretaries or press offices can cover our eyes with veil such that we do not see how Atiku in his days in public service and in the PDP contributed to the spread of poverty and penury in Nigeria. For 8 years, Atiku paraded himself as the vice-president of Nigerian under the Obasanjo regime. Together, through their corrupt acts and insincerity, they left office with more problems for Nigerian than what was on ground in 1999. The expectation of the poverty-stricken people of Nigeria was far from being met when Atiku was the vice president of Nigeria.

Atiku’s press office may be quite efficient in refuting allegations of corruption against him. I am not perturbed about what they have to say to defend their boss and their own daily bread. They are doing a dirty job for which they get paid even from looted tax payers’ money! Nothing can take away the truth that in Nigeria, Atiku has gone done in history as one of the looters of our common treasury.

In 1999 and 2003, Atiku helped the PDP to power under the leadership of a very cruel master named Olusegun Obasanjo. Atiku fought a bitter public battle with Obasanjo as a result of the latter’s intention to perpetuate himself in office for life. Atiku had a legitimate ambition of becoming the president of Nigeria but some rancor prior to the 2003 elections and Obasanjo’s ambition put paid to that ambition. While declaring his ambition, he highlighted 5 areas of our national life that required urgent intervention. These include

• Employment generation and wealth creation,
• Security and war against corruption,
• Energy and infrastructural development,
• Education and social services
• The Niger Delta.

Atiku promised to pursue programs that would ensure that Nigeria’s wealth must be for all Nigerians. So, what program was he pursuing or supporting before this time? Nigerian politicians and their ridiculous claims!

Nigerians should be grateful for the hand of fate that cause the katakata between Obasanjo and Atiku because that single event that brought governance to a halt for over 1 year in Nigeria gave us a deep insight into how Atiku participated in the looting to dryness of the Nigerian treasury. Let us imagine for once that everything went smoothly between Obasanjo and Atiku, then, all the allegations and counter allegations of corruption between him and Obasanjo would not have seen the light of the day. At the peak of their roforofo fight (in Fela’s words) Nigerians became tired of both Atiku and Obasanjo and the urge was to see the exit of both of them in 2007.

The implication of not having such a disagreement and subsequent roforofo fight is that power would have been transferred to Atiku and he would have continued to put up the face of an innocent man while stealing behind closed doors. In Nigerian politics, corruption is the keyword and that was why despite all the allegations of corruption here and there Obasanjo and Atiku still had followers. In civilized societies, both of them would have been under interrogation and possible prosecution and imprisonment. Immunity in Nigerian governance is a license to steal and loot. What a shame?

So, it happened that the PDP automatically became Obasanjo and Obasanjo became PDP; and the two became one. He threw Atiku out of PDP and deprived him of a platform to pursue or realize his ambitions. Atiku won case after case in the law court and eventually opted for the AC as the platform for his ambition. During his declaration, Atiku who was the architect of PDP’s rigged victories in 99 and 2003 had this to say "There is no great country without free and fair elections. We must mobilize all Nigerians to ensure that we free and fair and credible polls. Let them come out to vote and protect their votes. They must not allow those who want who want to subvert democracy to alter the outcome," he stated. Notable persons at the event included Chiefs Solomon Lar, Audu Ogbeh, Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Alhaji Lam Adesina, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, Chief Segun Osoba and Alhaji Lawal Kaita among others.

What a wish and what a bunch of political gladiators! This is what the other parties and the people of Nigeria hoped and cried for in 1999 and 2003, but the likes of Atiku and his PDP cohorts smiled away with stolen mandates with Obasanjo as the lead beneficiary. The rest of what happened in 2007 (selection) is history. As a serious embarrassment to all Nigerians dead and alive, Obasanjo installed Umaru in the most shameful and worthless selection process since the evolution or creation of man. In Nigeria, rigging and manipulation of election result are acceptable ways of life. Even Atiku was stunned that he had crooks like Maurice Iwu beating him hands down in this shameful game.

The EFCC accused Atiku of diverting $125m into personal business interests. The report of his involvement in corrupt practices is quite voluminous. Villagers in this square have analyzed it back and forth.

No doubts, Atiku suffered humiliation as he championed the anti-third term struggle against a dictator like Obasanjo. Even a non-performer like Fani-Kayode could afford to spit his saliva on Atiku. He was the person loud enough to tell us such a nonsense that the presidential wing of the Airport is only meant for the President, "not to the Vice President or any other member of the public. It was the magnanimity of Mr. President that allows 20 members of family/staff of Atiku . Indeed politics in Nigeria has continued to bring out the animals in men.

One of the strongest arguments against the EFCC itself is that under Obasanjo, the commission completely strayed out of the path of duty into the field of witch-hunting. That whoever stood in the way of President Obasanjo during the turbulent days of the ‘Third Term’ project was marked for liquidation. Yet it is not clear how EFCC would have found a man corrupt if he was not corrupt at all. Does the EFCC manufacture bank documents and foreign account? Does the EFCC manufacture looted funds transferred to girlfriends or prostitutes? Does it connive with foreign banks to lodge imaginary funds abroad?

 

But one thing that continues to trail Atiku to this day is the international dimension of the allegations of corruption against him. They are popular scandals that had taken a substantial part of the World Wide Web. This is as a result of the involvement of the FBI in the case against him. It could have been cheap counter blackmail to say that EFCC was used by Obasanjo to sniff his dry, but I don’t know if Obasanjo or Ribadu induced the FBI to carry out the raid on his home in the US. I don’t know how many Nigerians bought this testimony told by Atiku when he faced the senate Ad-hoc committee. The real situation is that both Obasanjo and Atiku exposed each other’s corrupt acts and nothing can change that! No amount of haba! or ngbati-ngbati can take those revelations away. Who does not know that reddened eyes cannot light a cigarette?

Atiku has denied his involvement in the Willbros scandal . That is one of the issues that would be resolved with time and there are reasons to continue the probe.

The popular Jefferson’s story will also definitely be clearer with time. The US Congressman needs to be psychologically evaluated anyway as he continues to give contradictory positions/claims that he gave Atiku USD 100 000 bribe to facilitate a business transaction in Nigeria. Jefferson was filmed taking bribe and he also spoke about giving Atiku USD 500 000 as a motivating factor to make sure they obtained contracts for iGate and Mody’s company in Nigeria.

Atiku, just like his former boss Obasanjo and several other corrupt Nigerian politicians are examples of people who have not given full accounts of their stewardships in offices to the Nigerian people. Probity and accountability remain alien to the Nigerian society and several attempts to make it a lifestyle have been crushed by the cabal, both seen and unseen. To this day in Nigeria, there is a class of citizens that are the untouchables because no matter how much we know about their corrupt attitudes and the evils that they perpetrated, they have never been called upon to answer for their deeds or they always find ways to evade being under the searchlights. For the suffering masses and the downtrodden, hope is not near!

Further reading and references:

Gani Fawehinmi on NBA and Atiku

Atiku’s disqualification by INEC

Supreme Court’s Decisions

Acknowledgement

References from the Nigerian Guardian, The Washington Post, BBC, Nigerian Punch Newspaper, EFCC website and the Nigerian Village Square.

Adeola Aderounmu.   

Some life stories are the same. In April 2007, Nigeria conducted a very shameful election. The result is that since May 29 2007, Nigeria is being governed by an illegitimate government. Majority of Nigerians are resilient people, they would rather go about their normal life than fight for their rights.

Indeed, there are pockets of violence here and there in Nigeria but generally Nigeria is peaceful. No one is asking for violence but there ought to be forceful ways to ensure that the peoples’ voices are heard and that their votes should count. In the history of election in Nigeria (since 1959), votes have never been counted. Usually, a candidate is forced down the throats of the populace. It is the same for military regimes. Governance and leadership in Nigeria is by force. 

In Kenya, there is now a threat of ethnic cleansing and genocide looming in the air. The incumbent government has conducted a very questionable presidential election. The opposition and some of the people in general would not allow the election to stand. More than 300 people have been reported dead and imagine that a few dozen people were burnt to dead in a church. The church is supposed to be a place of refuge as I thought. 

A few years ago, we saw how these kinds of scenarios spiraled into large scale violence and civil war is some African countries. Recuperation is not near completion in countries like Rwanda. Sudan is still battling with Darfur. Militants or freedom fighters in Nigeria are still creating fuel crises worldwide.  

In general, the pictures that continue to emanate from Africa are very disappointing. Sometimes, I can’t help to agree that African leaders are useless, thoughtless and senseless. The thirst for power at all costs and by any means is one thing I will never come to understand. Is it that easy to be a public servant? Obviously, I know that it boils down to greediness and corruption and insatiable evil tendencies.  

At the end of the day, some people will organize themselves and start to blame the western world for the problems in Africa. Nonsense! Africans are the architect of their own woes and problems. They should stop blaming their lack of initiatives on slave trade and neocolonialism. 

What are the leaders doing to curb the intrusion of western powers? What are they doing to eradicate poverty on their continent? If truly they are deceived by the western world, it means the leaders are fools for falling into evil. 

Kenyans have a right to protest a useless election and they have the right to demand that their votes be counted appropriately. But it is so unfortunate that there are prices to be paid. I am not sure when countries like Nigeria and Kenya will be able to conduct credible elections. I don’t know when elections in Africa will be devoid of violence and unnecessary killings. Is life no longer precious in Africa?     

One can argue that this is not limited to Africa alone but I have made Africa my business and I refused to measure the successes of Africa by the failures of other struggling nations.

As many parts of Africa continue to battle poverty, penury and widespread underdevelopment, it becomes hard to believe that Africa is the cradle of civilization.     

Adeola Aderounmu

Africa, my Africa….what is your plan for tomorrow?

In Kenya, it was Odinga who was leading as the votes were being counted. Something happened, there were delays and before you could say ABC, Kibaki had won. In politics, this is called the power of the Incumbent.  

Africa my Africa! What a shameful way to end 2007!  

My dear Kenyans, please take it easy and don’t spill blood in your cities or in the slumps. Don’t go about killing brothers or sisters. But you can do all you can to salvage your future. It lies in your hands.  

NIGERIA!

Oh my wonderful funny country! 

Yar Adua, the illegal president of Nigeria has done it again. He has literarily sacked Nuhu Ribadu the chairman of EFCC.

Now, all looters of the treasury in Nigeria can have good parties and merry with stolen wealth.  

Yar Adua came to power illegally and he is NOT the president of Nigeria as per the people’s votes. He is the president of PDPP-People Destroying People Party. In the History of election in Nigeria, votes have never been counted!!!

So, you may understand a little bit about the magic going on in Kenya if you need an example from the wicked sleeping giant called Nigeria.

Yar Adua was helped into position by Obasanjo the ex-convict ex-president and Ibori, also an ex-convict ex-thieving governor and one icon of evil called Iwu.

That is Nigeria for you, the country of VERY USELESS LEADERSHIP where the job of the attorney general is to assist the looting of the treasuty. 

Now, with this new development of removal of Ribadu who was on the heels of corrupt government officials, we’ll just wait and see how the fight against corruption proceeds in Nigeria.

For those who do not know, Nigerian is an oil-rich country but the wealth is concentrated in the hands of a few popularly called the CABAL. This is malicious because more than 90% of Nigerians live in ABSOLUTE POVERTY AND PENURY.

What now for Nigerians? My sympathy as 2007 ends of another sad note…  

Happy New year Nigerians!

Adeola Aderounmu

I thought I’d written all I have to write for 2007. Who would not like a break to spend his Christmas and New Year holiday around his family, friends and loved ones? Can anyone solve global problems by writing too much?

I have spent the last couple of days reflecting on my childhood which was loaded with extreme challenges. I thought about the Christmas season and the joy that came with it annually in spite of all the challenges. It is difficult not to reflect on those times that I spent with my immediate family members, the good times and the bad times. Above all, those days that will never come back but which will continue to mean a lot to me. They will continue to shape the rest of my life by making me a better and a more loving person with each passing day. That, I hope.

This has been a quiet Christmas for me as well. In a manner of personal reflections and thoughts of an approaching new year, I have spent more time alone than I have done at any other time of my life. It may be a sign of growing old to take stock and reflect as others eat and merry away. Along the side, I have spent a little time to be with my nuclear family here in Sweden and tasting all the traditional foods at Christmas. It has been worthwhile. But Lagos is still on my mind! Lagos has been on my mind despite the fact that I boasted that
I preferred a white Christmas. There is never going to be a place like home no matter the amount of face saving that we put up elsewhere.

Indeed, I missed my family and friends in Nigeria especially at this time of the year. The feeling is so strong that I can’t take my mind off the things that I imagine are going on back home in Nigeria. With all the hustling and bustling in Lagos especially, I still feel like I am an incomplete man spending my Christmas away from my Nigerian family. But this is a feeling that I would live with because it was my decision to stay put in the cold winter of Sweden in the first place.

However, one of the news emanating from Lagos the day after Christmas is very disheartening. There is no need to recount all the negative things that one would have to adapt with in Lagos but one very bad thing happened last Christmas (2006) which has also repeated itself this year (2007). When I saw this – pipeline explosion news on BBC I was shocked because I thought I was still living in 2006 or that I just woke up from a dream that had lasted 365 days. How possible? I asked myself. I have just finished seeing the movie- Kate and Leopold one more time not so long ago. If you have seen this movie then you will understand why I started to wonder if I was living in the past or in the future.

If one is not careful, what is happening in Nigeria as a way of life can drive one crazy instantly. In 2006, I was in Lagos when the pipeline explosion happened but I didn’t know there had been an explosion anyway because there was no light and it was impossible to follow the news. It was a phone call from Sweden to find out about my well-being that made me know then that hundreds of people have died in Lagos where I was holidaying. Lagos na wa

Exactly, one year later the same thing has happened. Why don’t Nigerians ever learn from past mistakes? There have been several explosions like that in the past. The people (especially women and children) who scoop fuel are aware of the inherent risk-that it could cost them their lives! Why do people always think that they cannot encounter misfortune when they do stuffs like that? Yes, there is poverty in the land and some people cannot afford even a single meal a day but scooping fuel is not worth dying for. Should it be?

Really, I don’t want to start retracing the cycle of idiocy that has led to this unfortunate incident but I hope that the day would come when people will not have to scoop fuel even if the leakage was an accident or something done by some illegal bunkering.

This is supposed to be a season for joy and happiness but some families have been thrown into mourning. It appears the government has failed the people again in 2007 and the people continue to seek desperate measures to live each day. It is very hard or almost impossible to justify the desperate measure of scooping fuel and it is also very sad that governance in Nigeria does not prioritize the welfare of the people. In this case, head or tail, the people suffer. What a disappointing way to end another (wasted) year!

Still, Lagos is on my mind. I wish all honest and sincere hardworking Nigerians a wonderful new year-2008. May the joy of this season never depart from you. Let’s keep all our dreams and hopes alive and in all that we do, let us seek the common good of all.

All the best!

So long and Happy New Year!

Adeola Aderounmu

I wish all Nigerians a very good time wherever they are and whatever they are doing. 2007 is closing down soon but I pray that your dreams are not shut down in the process!
Keep firing, keep all dreams and hopes alive!

To family, friends, acquaintances and love ones, I wish you a happy celebration and a prosperous 2008.

In a country where it is difficult to get the best out of life, I hope you will not loose courage as a human trait design for survival and perseverance.

It’s been a long road and it is still unwinding….

I hope we’ll all find light at the end of the tunnel

Happy celebration

Drive safely and travel safe.

Be watchful!