As February 2015 is fast drawing near, preparations are in top gear for Nigerians to adjudge who to consign the albatross of piloting the avocations of their country for the next four years to come, politicians from all walks of life are strategizing and doubling efforts to clinch any of the executive or legislative positions at all levels. In whatever aspect you may want to look at it, 2015 is the year which Nigerians will either send PDP packing or give them another chance to continue doing what they have started in the last 16 years.
Unfortunately, several spectators has casted doubts over the possibility of holding the general elections next year due to the rising menace of terrorism currently ravaging most part of the country's northern region, leading to the lost of some territory to the hands of terrorists. Others predicted 2015 to be a bloody year which may in turns might lead to the segregation of Nigeria, courtesy of the nurtured ethno-religious division, hatred, sentiments, distraction, corruption and politics of bitterness nourished by politicians to achieve certain political interest. Hopefully and God willing, we shall prove them wrong, Nigeria will hold a hitch-free general elections come 2015 and move ahead as one.
Now that the battle line has been drawn and the quest for who become the next occupant of Nigeria's number one office has been narrowed between Goodluck Jonathan of PDP and Muhammadu Buhari of APC, it now become imperative for us (Nigerians) to subject the two leading presidential aspirants to a little perlustration and begin to extract the expediency and detriments of electing each one of them, by exposing them to questions before weighing to see who best fit the bills.
We have been focusing attention on the opposition for a while and thinks it's now the best time to redirect our focus to Mr. President and ask how far have we gone, where are we going and how does he intends to drive us to the promise land. Going by the adage that "a good first term deserves another", i see no reason why a miserable first term will deserve a second, so President Jonathan must tell us what his government has been able to achieve before we can choose to consider him for re-election.
Below are just few questions i put together for President Jonathan to provide us with answers on certain critical issues affecting the daily lives of Nigerians like security, unemployment and corruption.
Security: Looking at statistical figures released by ENDS.ng, Dr. Peregrino Brimah put death tolls from Boko Haram activities under President Jonathan's watch to be precisely over 100,000 while perhaps more than one million people has sustained various degrees of injuries and another 1-2 million Nigerians displaced internally and externally, with over 20,000 square kilometers of Nigeria's territory with a population of between 1 million to 2 million people being governed by Boko Haram and more than 1000 innocent civilians (mostly women and children) are being held for ransom by these bloodthirsty demons. Why hasn't the government of President Jonathan halt or minimize the activities of Boko Haram and the terror they are unleashing on innocent Nigerians? Why has the regime of President Jonathan failed to consistently avert the wanton killing of innocent citizens by terrorist and extra-judicial killing by government authorities? Why hasn't Jonathan's government prosecute hundreds of terrorists we were told to be in government custody for several years? Why has the leadership of President Jonathan failed to cater for the well-being of those affected by terrorist activities in Nigeria despite raising over N60bn for such purpose several months ago from public donations?
In recent time, Nigerians and the world were confronted with irritating news of death sentences being handed to soldiers here and there by the Nigerian Military for refusing to fight terrorist due to lack of equipment or rebellion against superior officers for lack of welfare and motivation. What has Jonathan administration did with the over N1trn allocated to the fight against terrorism in the last five years? Why are our military ill-equipped and unmotivated despite allocating funds to such purpose? The excuse that America refused to sell armament to Nigeria is not only silly but nasty, there are loads of other countries to go that are willing to sell.
Kidnapping has been established as the fastest money making industry in Nigeria today, the rate at which kidnappers carried out their criminal activities with ease cannot be compared to anything short of a holy mess. The act of taking hostage for ransom has subsequently tarnished the image of Nigeria in the tourist world and from the 9th spot on the world top kidnapping countries in 2010 to 3rd in 2014 according to RiskMap, all under Jonathan's stewardship. Why has the government of President Jonathan continuously failed to reduced the rate of kidnapping for ransom in the country? Not minding Jonathan's inability to rescue 276 teenage girls kidnapped by terrorist at Chibok secondary school in earlier April this year, why did the government of President Jonathan failed to prevent future occurrence of such ugly incident in the same area? Just few days, another 200 women were kidnapped from that same Chibok where school girls were taken away. To cut it short, the biological uncle of President Jonathan himself was abducted by gunmen in the President's village and nothing was done by the government to prevent a repeat of such shameful act, others were again kidnapped in the same President's hometown weeks after his uncle.
While acknowledging the gigantic efforts put together by men of Nigerian Navy in combating sea piracy in the gulf of guinea, Nigeria still ranks 3rd on the table of world countries with higher rates of sea piracy in 2014 according to International Maritime Bureau, moving much more higher under President Jonathan's stewardship compared to 2010 before Jonathan took over when Nigeria stands between ten to eleventh on the world ranking, courtesy of President Umar Yer'adua's giant stride in minimizing militancy in the Niger Delta. Nigerian waters are now the most deadly in the world during the first half of 2004 according to a new piracy report. Analysts blame the proliferation of weapons to the oil-rich Niger Delta region where armed gangs trade stolen crude. Nigeria's growing prominence for piracy can be traced back to oil, the country's economic lifeblood and the large-scale theft of crude oil which is sold to vessels offshore. "The trade has in turn funded further arms procurement and been behind the spawning of a wide range of criminal activities, including sea piracy." Gangs, armed with automatic rifles and increasingly with rocket-propelled grenades, cruise along in speedboats and barges, finding cover in the maze of creeks and rivers intertwined with mangrove swamps that make up the delta where the River Niger empties into the Atlantic Ocean. What has President Jonathan being able to achieve in terms of complying with SOLAS directives to halt the trade of sea piracy? Why did Jonathan's government awarded a contract to safeguard 700k/ms of Nigerian waters to Tompolo (a renown terrorist) after all the huge funds it said to have been spent on equipping the Navy to combat sea piracy? Considering President Jonathan's failure to bring an end or minimize sea piracy in his five years of leadership, what does he plans to do to curtail the activities of pirates in Nigerian waters and how does he intends to address the lingering issue of oil bunkering in the Niger Delta?
In March 2014, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Navi Pillay, reported corruption and lack of good governance were the major sources of ethnic and religious crisis in Nigeria, Human Rights Watch (HRW) and the CFR Nigeria Security Tracker purport that thousands of people have been killed in the country as a result of communal crisis since 2010 when President Jonathan took over, and events since the start of 2014 have reached unprecedented levels. In April 2014, Amnesty International published a briefing expressing concern over actions by the Nigerian state security forces that may constitute “war crimes” and “crimes against humanity,” urging for the immediate investigation of violations of international humanitarian law. The Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect (GCR2P) also warned of the gravity of such acts, stating, “indiscriminate violence heightens the risk of further mass atrocities, including possible crimes against humanity.” what has President Jonathan done to address these issues? What does he intends to do regarding the indiscriminate killing of Nigeria's that he fails to do in his first five years as President?
On corruption, several Nigerians has adopted corruption as their way of life. Corruption exists, not simply at the human level, but at an institutional level as well. Our political climate and sociocultural narrative is fundamentally shaped by corruption. Corruption manifests itself in different ways, both on a micro and a macro level.“According to Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) for 2014, Nigeria is up eight places to 136 out of 175 countries ranked by the index." Corruption in Nigeria has become institutionalised in the political system, and the government of the day must come clean and lead the fight against the scourge in a bid to allow rational economic growth and development of the people.
Based on a recent survey conducted by the United States- based New York Times, President Goodluck Jonathan's government is said to be the most corrupt since 1960. In an editorial published on its website on May 6, 2014, New York Times attributed the high level of corruption experienced in Nigeria today to President Jonathan's “inept and slow” dispensation making him incompetent to handle the affairs of the most populous black nation, adding that the government had little or no credibility to fight corruption.
Sadly, the only thing obvious is the fact that Nigeria is nowhere close to being taken off the corruption list and President Jonathan is consistently trying to make us believe his government is fighting corruption while his subordinates are becoming richer and richer by the day, and billions of billions of dollars are said to be missing daily from crude oil account but yet, President Jonathan is shielding suspected public looters from investigation and prosecution. What is Mr. President doing to make sure corrupt government officials are brought to book? We are still demanding to know the whereabouts of our missing $20bn oil funds and the $1bn that just disappeared in the excess crude account. Why is Mr. President comfortably mingling in the midst of convicted treasury looters and claims to be fighting corruption?
The debt stock of Nigeria continue to escalate and has currently doubled what it was before President Jonathan came into power. Based on a survey by the Debt Management Office (DMO), the external debt stock of Nigeria as at 2010 was $3.3bn, but has now miraculously jumped to about $6bn. Can President Jonathan justify or show what he did with the massive external borrowing? Why must we keep on borrowing after all Nigeria has all it takes to cater for it needs if properly utilize? Can the President proudly say his government have seen considerable improvement in reducing external debts?
On the issue of poverty and unemployment in the last three years of President Jonathan's dispensation, poverty has reportedly gained ground in the country, making Nigeria climbed 3rd on world poverty ranking with more than 100m Nigerians living in abject poverty according to World Bank and the United Nation. In practical terms, while the government appears to be celebrating a 2% reduction in poverty within Jonathan's five years of leadership, it's still nothing near improvements while 60% of Nigeria's population lives below the international standard of $1 per day. What does this 2% reduction in poverty mean to the rural dweller who cannot afford the minimum of $1 to cater to his daily need of feeding, transportation and other human engagements?
Despite all the drums being beaten by Jonathan's vuvuzelas over the performance of this government, poverty still ravage the lives of the common masses, given that Nigeria is greatly enriched with vast natural and human resource. Unemployment in Nigeria has grown from about one in five people in 2010 before Jonathan became Nigeria's number one citizen to about three out of every seven youths that are willing and able to work but jobless in 2014. Most of Nigerian youths simply have no hope in what the future holds for them and the truth is that most of the insurgency being experienced in the country in its various forms from Boko Haram to kidnapping and Niger Delta militancy are direct nemesis of government's inability to create employment and better the lives of our teaming jobless youths.
In fact, under Jonathan's stewardship, unemployment has grown from about 21% in 2010 to an estimated all time high of 29.3% in 2014 as reported by the National Bureau of Statistics. While commending Jonathan's efforts in launching the Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria (YouWIN) initiative which was established in 2011 and is open to Nigerian youth entrepreneurs who send in business proposals out of which the very best as judged by a third party international consulting firm would receive business training and financial grants to start up businesses that employ a minimum of 5 people. With much adore, the YouWin initiative created only 2400 jobs since it inception and while commendable, here is a question begging for answer: how effective is this strategy to tackle unemployment if in the span of 3 years, YouWIN could only generate 2400 direct jobs (about 0.3%) for Nigeria’s 80 million unemployed population? Nigerian youths needs answer; where are the 3million jobs Jonathan's government claimed to have created yearly starting from 2011?
One of the most vexatious scenario which highlighted the high level of unemployment among Nigeria's teaming youths was the tragic recruitment exercise by the Nigerian Immigration Service where over 600,000 Nigerians applied for a handful of 3000 jobs, resulting to a stampede that claimed the lives of 21 applicants and injured several others. The whole recruitment exercise was canceled by Mr. President without refunding the N1000 paid by each applicant for the recruitment process, President Jonathan further issued a statement directing the ministry of interior to give automatic employment to three family members of each of the dead applicant and the injured ones should also be employed. Is Mr. President aware that not a single person have being employed among relatives of the dead and injured applicants at the time of writing this article? President Jonathan must tell Nigerian youths where is the money they paid since the whole recruitment process has now appeared to be a scam? How prepared if President Jonathan to avoid possible re-occurrence of this kinda tragedy in the near future? What has Mr. President did to deal with those government officials involved in taxing poor jobless youths for employment?
I'd like to move on and on but for time constraints, i will shutdown my system here and pray that these few questions get answers. As things currently stands, i have to consider President Jonathan as incompetent and incapable of ruling a populous and a diverse nation like Nigeria. And unless convincing and meaningful answers are provided to my questions above, President Jonathan should consider my vote, that of my family and everyone under my command as minus to his re-election.
I welcome suggestions, observations, criticism and even insults where necessary.
Tuesday, 23 December 2014
Monday, 15 December 2014
The Romanticism Behind "The Dog And The Baboon" Maxim ~ By: Usama Dandare
I never wanted to join issues with the hate-mongers, the promoters of ethnic/religious sentiments and agents of disunity in our Nigeria of today, but for the emphasis of learning and record, i deem it expedient to shed more light on the above caption and clear the air about this bias blackmail aimed at tarnishing the credible image of General Muhammadu Buhari.
In this piece, i set to shatter the glass houses most Nigerians especially supporters of President Jonathan and PDP lives in. I set to dismiss their baseless cheap blackmail and quash out the myth sold to the general public by the hate-mongers and agents of ethnic bias, in defense of the people's general.
While addressing members of the CPC from Niger State, who paid him a courtesy visit in Kaduna on May 14, 2012, General Buhari, who spoke in Hausa was quoted as saying "Ko dai a yi zabe na gaskiya da adalci a dubu biyu da sha biyar, ko kuwa ayi kare jini biri jini.'' meaning "Either there should be a free and fair election in 2015, or... There will be a fierce challenge."
As expected, the Buhari Phobics wasted no time and briskly jumped out like a bat out of hell without capturing the proper context and real scenario of the proverb, they deliberately gave a different satanic meaning to Buhari's statement, translating the General's words as "the dog and the baboon would all be soaked in blood." what a cheap blackmail.
Without pausing to capture the context of the proverb, they foolishly occupied all the medias telling the world that "General Buhari promised bloodbath if Jonathan wins in 2015" while they failed to cautioned themselves about the inherent dangers associated with inciting remarks.
I don't in anyway blame them (Buhari Phobics) for failing to understand the real terminology and substance in proverbs, this reminds me of an African saying; "When the fool is told a proverb, its meaning has to be explained to him" and this is exactly what i set to do, to explain the meaning and context of "Kare jini biri jini" to the haramites of unity.
"Proverbs are the horses of words and words are that of proverbs; when words are lost, it is proverbs that we use to find them." Proverbs play many roles in our societies. Possibly, most common role that a proverb plays is to educate. Most often tossed around as expert advice in conversation, the innate role to educate people on what might happen if they do something.
To understand the meaning of proverbs, it requires wisdom and sense of understanding, it requires knowledge and sense of reasoning which i think are all lacking in the hate-mongers. The Buhari Phobics lacks wisdom of understanding and the holy Bible taught us who they are; in the book of Proverb 18:2, Solomon the wise man says: "A fool does not delight in understanding, But only in revealing his own mind." and again in Proverb 23:9, he said: "Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, For he will despise the wisdom of your words." is King Solomon speaking directly about the Buhari phobics?
The expression "Kare jini biri" was wrongly translated as "the dogs and the baboons would all be soaked in blood." this is a very counterfactual translation of the Hausa proverb which simply connotes a situation where the fight for something is intense, where you give your challenger a tough fight, and in a nutshell, when you tell your opponent "za a yi kare jini biri jini", it simply means you will challenge him to the end and will never let him go freely over an action or inaction.
In Buhari's case, the people's general was promising his supporters from Niger State and same time sending a warning to election manipulators that; "2015 elections will be a tough fight and he will never let them go with it if the electoral irregularities done during the 2011 election were repeated in 2015, they wouldn't find it easy or went away with it." Simple.
The adage "kare jini biri jini" has been in use among Hausa speaking communities for several centuries and see no reason why the people's general should be an exception, it's absolutely disgusting to put such a widely accepted maxim under bias scrutiny for some selfish political reasons and whoever translated "the dog and the baboon would all be soaked in blood" to reflect the real meaning of "kare jini biri jini" must have done it deliberately to confuse the public and further blackmail general Buhari in the eyes of his supporters and the society at large.
For anyone who speaks or understands Hausa language, there is nothing wrong with the phrase "kare jini biri jini" rather than a warning message sent to someone notorious or naughty. The phrase is derived from old human activities of hunting, which was one of the ancestral occupation of the Hausas in the antediluvian days. Giving that dogs are used for hunting, and whenever dog chases a monkey, both the dog and monkey won't find it easy, it will be a fierce fight for self defence which surely must left both the former and the latter bleeding. Then the dog has two options, either to allow for peace or go for the unusual fight which surely will be tense.
Over the past few years, General Buhari has became a threat among corrupt Nigerians, especially politicians and their cronies at the corridors of power due to his zero-tolerance for corruption and uncompromising principle and the massive support he enjoyed from Nigerians all over the nation. These sets of Nigerians whom are enormously benefiting from the corrupt proceedings of the present day regime and ethnic/religious division nurtured by the government have over time orchestrated deceptive brainwashing against the people's general to dent his popularity among voters especially now that he is out to contest against them.
They birthed all sorts of concocted lies about him, they sold fabricated hogwash to the public. They have persistently concocted so many ridiculous lies against him with worrisome devilish recklessness all to present him bad and tarnish his credibility before the public which they viewed as a serious danger to their corrupt proceedings.
With this, I hope my fellow Nigerians will show a better sense of reasoning and understanding by welcoming corrections and embracing the truth, they should use their brains while thinking not their anus. Our politicians on both sides of the divide, should also abstain from any inciting remarks with tendencies of violence or deceit no matter what the outcome will be.
I rest my case.
In this piece, i set to shatter the glass houses most Nigerians especially supporters of President Jonathan and PDP lives in. I set to dismiss their baseless cheap blackmail and quash out the myth sold to the general public by the hate-mongers and agents of ethnic bias, in defense of the people's general.
While addressing members of the CPC from Niger State, who paid him a courtesy visit in Kaduna on May 14, 2012, General Buhari, who spoke in Hausa was quoted as saying "Ko dai a yi zabe na gaskiya da adalci a dubu biyu da sha biyar, ko kuwa ayi kare jini biri jini.'' meaning "Either there should be a free and fair election in 2015, or... There will be a fierce challenge."
As expected, the Buhari Phobics wasted no time and briskly jumped out like a bat out of hell without capturing the proper context and real scenario of the proverb, they deliberately gave a different satanic meaning to Buhari's statement, translating the General's words as "the dog and the baboon would all be soaked in blood." what a cheap blackmail.
Without pausing to capture the context of the proverb, they foolishly occupied all the medias telling the world that "General Buhari promised bloodbath if Jonathan wins in 2015" while they failed to cautioned themselves about the inherent dangers associated with inciting remarks.
I don't in anyway blame them (Buhari Phobics) for failing to understand the real terminology and substance in proverbs, this reminds me of an African saying; "When the fool is told a proverb, its meaning has to be explained to him" and this is exactly what i set to do, to explain the meaning and context of "Kare jini biri jini" to the haramites of unity.
"Proverbs are the horses of words and words are that of proverbs; when words are lost, it is proverbs that we use to find them." Proverbs play many roles in our societies. Possibly, most common role that a proverb plays is to educate. Most often tossed around as expert advice in conversation, the innate role to educate people on what might happen if they do something.
To understand the meaning of proverbs, it requires wisdom and sense of understanding, it requires knowledge and sense of reasoning which i think are all lacking in the hate-mongers. The Buhari Phobics lacks wisdom of understanding and the holy Bible taught us who they are; in the book of Proverb 18:2, Solomon the wise man says: "A fool does not delight in understanding, But only in revealing his own mind." and again in Proverb 23:9, he said: "Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, For he will despise the wisdom of your words." is King Solomon speaking directly about the Buhari phobics?
The expression "Kare jini biri" was wrongly translated as "the dogs and the baboons would all be soaked in blood." this is a very counterfactual translation of the Hausa proverb which simply connotes a situation where the fight for something is intense, where you give your challenger a tough fight, and in a nutshell, when you tell your opponent "za a yi kare jini biri jini", it simply means you will challenge him to the end and will never let him go freely over an action or inaction.
In Buhari's case, the people's general was promising his supporters from Niger State and same time sending a warning to election manipulators that; "2015 elections will be a tough fight and he will never let them go with it if the electoral irregularities done during the 2011 election were repeated in 2015, they wouldn't find it easy or went away with it." Simple.
The adage "kare jini biri jini" has been in use among Hausa speaking communities for several centuries and see no reason why the people's general should be an exception, it's absolutely disgusting to put such a widely accepted maxim under bias scrutiny for some selfish political reasons and whoever translated "the dog and the baboon would all be soaked in blood" to reflect the real meaning of "kare jini biri jini" must have done it deliberately to confuse the public and further blackmail general Buhari in the eyes of his supporters and the society at large.
For anyone who speaks or understands Hausa language, there is nothing wrong with the phrase "kare jini biri jini" rather than a warning message sent to someone notorious or naughty. The phrase is derived from old human activities of hunting, which was one of the ancestral occupation of the Hausas in the antediluvian days. Giving that dogs are used for hunting, and whenever dog chases a monkey, both the dog and monkey won't find it easy, it will be a fierce fight for self defence which surely must left both the former and the latter bleeding. Then the dog has two options, either to allow for peace or go for the unusual fight which surely will be tense.
Over the past few years, General Buhari has became a threat among corrupt Nigerians, especially politicians and their cronies at the corridors of power due to his zero-tolerance for corruption and uncompromising principle and the massive support he enjoyed from Nigerians all over the nation. These sets of Nigerians whom are enormously benefiting from the corrupt proceedings of the present day regime and ethnic/religious division nurtured by the government have over time orchestrated deceptive brainwashing against the people's general to dent his popularity among voters especially now that he is out to contest against them.
They birthed all sorts of concocted lies about him, they sold fabricated hogwash to the public. They have persistently concocted so many ridiculous lies against him with worrisome devilish recklessness all to present him bad and tarnish his credibility before the public which they viewed as a serious danger to their corrupt proceedings.
With this, I hope my fellow Nigerians will show a better sense of reasoning and understanding by welcoming corrections and embracing the truth, they should use their brains while thinking not their anus. Our politicians on both sides of the divide, should also abstain from any inciting remarks with tendencies of violence or deceit no matter what the outcome will be.
I rest my case.
Thursday, 6 November 2014
Changing Faces Of A Congenital Liar And The Chronicles Of Blatant Lies ~ By: Usama Dandare
In the book of Proverbs 6:16-19, Solomon the wise guy wrote: "There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers." and in the gospel of John 8:44, John the Evangelist wrote: "Lying is hateful to God because He is TRUTH. Satan is the father of lies."
The above biblical view are used to emphasize the fact that all the seven actions listed above are hateful to God, He (God) will not have fellowship with those who are guilty of these sins. They are actions and attitudes that described a person consumed by the devil, those who are troubled and those who bring sorrow. The notion also characterized the characteristics of those who are hateful to the Lord and who are bound to face His wrath on the day of resurrection.
Although the Holy Bible has been in existence long before the emanation of what is called Nigeria today but despite that, i robustly envisage that the above biblical concepts were characteristically connoted for Nigerians and their leaders. In a nutshell, these biblical theory above may be specifically meant for the current superintendence of President Ebele Jonathan which appropriately fit the bills.
As the case of today may be, only what Nigerians now hope for are politicians who will be honest and trustworthy, politicians who will rule without lies but unfortunately; no matter how you feel about the afoot stewardship in Nigeria, it has become luminous over the past four years that the present administration has consistently lied about its beliefs, goals and policies ever since taking the responsibilities of piloting the avocation of this great nation. Those in the corridors of power seems to have decided that the only way they can achieve their desired political outcomes is by systematically deceiving the public about their true actions and achievements in order to divide people's opinions to their topmost advantage.
If you are skeptical, or think calling President Jonathan a liar might be too extreme, i obtest you to loan me few minutes out of your time and read through this article which set to annals the series of "transformation lies" of President Jonathan's transformation agenda. The transformation lies i am referring to, are not simply matters of opinion or typical political blackmail, they are both national and intentional counterfactual statements made by the President and those in his administration in their quest to deceive Nigerians and claim credit for what they did not achieved.
Those who knew President Jonathan dating back to his shoeless era upto the time he became Nigeria's Vice-President, warned us on the inherent dangers associated in voting into power a man who never kept to his promises, we ignored them and went ahead to elect him. But today, Nigerians of all political stripes are coming to a similar, sad and vexatious realization about Mr. President. Almost 80% of those that voted Jonathan into power has now realized their collective mistakes in allowing a congenital liar to pilot the transaction of their only nation and symbol of pride.
Those feeding President Jonathan and the general public with lies aren't Jonathan lovers, the obvious fact is they are only creating a money making ventures by going round the country trying to market an unmarketable commodity to keep the steady flow of ill-gotten wealth into their pockets.
I have no problem whatsoever if Jonathan hired the whole 170million Nigerians to campaign or rally support on his behalf, since he has the constitutional right to pursue his political interest, provided it isn't contradictory to the provision of our constitution. My only problem is this; the same constitution that gave them (Jonathan & co) the right to exercise their political freedom also kicked against playing with the intelligence of the poor Nigerian masses through concocted lies and deceit.
It is sad and vexatious to see a much anticipated potential government squandered its goodwill and productive expectations. Several Nigerians (I inclusive), had high expectations and hopes of a better Nigeria at the onset of Jonathan administration, viewing from his vague and almost immeasurable campaign promises but now; it is a different story, those having full believe in Jonathan's stewardship are now left bristling with rage and it is obvious that Jonathan administration seems to have forgotten the task and responsibilities before it. Perhaps, President Jonathan should have focus more on delivering good governance to the electorate which will in turns bring back the confidence Nigerians used to have in him, instead of rallying round the country selling deceit and falsehood that destroy trust and make it difficult for people to believe him, even when he is saying the truth.
There are several scenarios where President Jonathan and his vuvuzelas were publicly caught in action not only lying once but serially and yet, President Jonathan still expect us to have faith in his leadership after disappointing us and falsifying himself on several occasions, ranging from insecurity, power, asset declaration and so on.
The President and his cabinet members may indeed be telling the truth on normal issues bothering our nation today; but how can we believe them when they have shown themselves unworthy of our unflinching trust?
Come with me, as i recount the chronicles of blatant lies of President Jonathan and his transformational team of notice monkeys dancing only to the tune of their master. Note; i don't intend to obloquy or dishonor the office of the President nor the personality occupying such office, I just want to put facts straight for the emphasis of records.
Can we now be at ease or have faith in a President telling his people that the First Lady was not sick but went abroad for holidays despite several local and international media reporting to the contrary? Mr. President denied all reports pointing to the illness of his wife, only for the First Lady to return weeks after and said she undergoes nine major operations in foreign hospitals, almost at a point of dying. There is God o!!
On 21 Jan, 2014, Jonathan government promised Nigerians that "it will bring Boko Haram insurgency in the country to an end latest by April 2014." Here we are today, Boko Haram just seized Mubi and Vimtim few days back, murdered hundreds of innocent souls on different occasions and still counting. Is this a promise, a deal or a blatant lie?
On 27 Sept, 2014, President Goodluck Jonathan in Edo state said "his administration had reduced poverty rate in Nigeria by 50%." I seriously doubt this development and wondered where Mr. President got these statistical figures from? Who dished out these statistics and what criteria was employed to come up with it? According to 2014 World Bank survey, Nigeria is ranked 3rd on the ranking of world top five poorest countries with 61% of it citizens living below the poverty rate of $1.25 per day and Nigeria alone constituted about 7% of world poorest. This is indeed, one among the chronicles of Jonathan's transformation lies.
President Jonathan on the 31 Dec, 2013, said: "his administration has created over 2million jobs for Nigerians in 2013 alone." Indeed, we have seen the tremendous efforts of Jonathan government in creating employment for Nigerians during the Nigerian Immigration Service recruitment where about six million unemployed young men and women applied for a handful of not more than 3,000 jobs, and also a similar recruitment carried out Dangote Cement where about six PhD holders, over a hundred Msc and thousands of graduates applied for just 100 truck drivers vacancies. What a transformation? In fact, under Jonathan's tyranny, unemployment in Nigeria has grown from about 21% in 2010 to an estimated all time high of 24% as we stands.
Transformation lies in power sector: Speaking with United Nations diplomats on Monday, 31st January 2011 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, President Goodluck Jonathan made this promise and i quote: “If I’m voted into power, within the next four years, the issue of electricity will become a thing of the past. Four years is enough for anyone in power to make a significant improvement and if I can’t improve on power within this period, it then means I cannot do anything…” four years later, Nigeria’s power generation and supply is at it lowest ever. Does this means President Jonathan cannot do anything?
In an interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour on Wednesday 23 January 2013, President Jonathan said "adequate power supply is one area where Nigerians are quite pleased with his government – that his commitments to improve power are working,” he said. “I promise you before the end of this year 2013, power outages will be stable in Nigeria.” We are now approaching 2015, where is the stable power supply? Are we still yet to reach the end of 2013?
Again in August 2012, President Jonathan boasted that "his Government has improved power generation from under 3,000 MW in 2011 to 4,300 MW by August 2012. Therefore, when the 10 NIPP projects are fully on stream, which will be within the next few months as of then, the total national generation capacity will not be less than 9,000MW, a 200 percent increase in generating capacity as compared with figures for 2011 and the highest ever by any administration since independence.” we are still waiting for the 9,000MW, another blatant lie.
Again in Jan, 2013, President Jonathan said "his government has generated 6,443MW of electricity at the end of 2012 and will generate 10,000 MW by December 2013." is this not the same Jonathan government that said it has generated 9,000MW in 2012? How comes it dropped to 6,443MW in 2013?
On April 27, 2013: President Jonathan shamelessly changed face from his earlier statement and said "Nigeria is generating about 4,000MW of electricity and will achieve another 1000MW by December 2013." Please i ask you; what is so special about December in President Jonathan's calendar?
Again on May 1st, 2013: Jonathan government said the 10,000MW target of December 2013 is not feasible but something close will be achieved. The senior minister of power was quoted as saying “Currently, installed available generation capacity has risen to 6,000MW. Peak generation is slightly above 4,500MW. We intend to add additional generation capacity of about 2,200MW from the NIPP projects in the coming year." we said okay, let's wait and see what will happen in the coming year.
Few weeks later on May 20, 2013: the junior Minister for Power, while addressing Senate Committee on Power said: " power generation would increase to 6,000MW in July 2013 before hitting 10,000MW by December 2013." unknown to the state minister that his federal minister has ruled out any possibility of realizing the 10,000MW by December 2013 and while the federal minister said the nation is generating 6,000MW as at May 2013, the state minister is now saying power generation will increase to 6,000MW by July 2013. Now, between the senior and junior minister, who is lying and who is telling the truth? The reality is they are all liars telling blatant lies to protect the interest of Mr. President not minding what Nigerians are going through.
Still on power, having failed to provide stable power supply as earlier promised by the specified month of December 2013, President Jonathan again on 3rd August, 2014, said his government "is projecting a 5000MW target by December 2014." wow!! Another lie in another December again. President Jonathan was quick to forget what he said above and again assured Nigerians of a stable power supply by October 2014. Here we are in November and nothing like power stability across the country.
Upon all these series of promises and blatant lies regarding the epileptic power situation in Nigeria, the reality of the whole issue remains a failure. President Jonathan met more than 4000MW of electricity in 2010 but today despite spending trillions of Naira on power in four years alone, Nigeria is still struggling to maintain a shameful figure of less than 3,000MW. What a transformation?
In the interim, President Jonathan failure to provide stable power have forced Nigerians to spend N796.4billion of their own hard-earned income to fuel their power generating sets annually, and it is high time we begin to ask Mr. President: what has he done with all the trillions budgeted for power generation and distribution in the past five years of his stewardship?
On October 17, 2014: President Jonathan government said "it had agreed and sealed a ceasefire deal with the violent Boko Haram sect and that the 218 girls kidnapped by the sect at Chibok secondary school on 14 April 2014 would be released on Monday 20 Oct, 2014." despite claiming to have rescued the abducted girls on three different occasions. Here we are in November, not a single girl returned not to mention of any ceasefire. In fact after Jonathan's administration reported the ceasefire deal, terrorist have in recent days killed hundreds of innocent souls, captured about five towns and sacked Military/police barracks.
President Jonathan had on several occasions both at home and abroad stated that no $20bn was missing from NNPC crude account, emphasing that if at all such a huge sum got missing or stolen, America must know. After series of audits and investigations, it was revealed that the sum of $20bn was actually missing because it wasn't remitted into the crude account. Yet, another in the series of President Jonathan transformation lies.
On 30 December, 2010, President Goodluck Jonathan, said "he has no ambition to stay in office beyond 2015 if elected President in the 2011 general elections." Jonathan said this while interacting with Nigerians mainly diplomats working in the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, UNECA, and the African Union, AU, in Addis-Ababa. And again at the 2014 Democracy Day Inter-denominational Church Service in Abuja on 29 May, 2014, President Goodluck Jonathan assured Nigerians that he won’t be running for Presidency come 2015. He assured Nigerians that by that time next year, the country ‘will witness a new government’. In his own words, he said; “I can assure you that the next Democracy Day will witness a new government.” To my dismay, President Jonathan just picked up the PDP nomination form few days ago to contest in the presidential election come 2015.
Also at a press conference in Abuja in late 2010, a day ahead of President Goodluck Jonathan’s formal declaration to run in the 2011 presidential election, Mr. Dalhatu Sarki Tafida, then Director General of the Jonathan/Sambo campaign organisation, said "the president won’t seek another term in 2015 if elected" in front of Mr. president and he (Jonathan) didn’t deny or fault this arguments. President Jonathan denial that he made no promise to anyone not to run again in 2015 came as a shock to those not much familiar with him, his denials further described Mr. Jonathan as a congenital liar.
On 8th January, 2012; President Goodluck Jonathan while speaking at a church service at the National Ecumenical Centre as part of the annual Armed Forces remembrance day celebrations, Mr. President admitted that members of the extremist Boko Haram sect have succeeded in infiltrating his government, planting its members in government agencies and security outfits. As expected, President Jonathan while responding to questions during the Presidential Media Chat on May 3, 2014 denied knowledge of the whole statement saying: "I never said Boko Haram infiltrated my government." wow!! What a president? A leader or a liar?
Jonathan led government reported that "it forces had killed the leader of Boko Haram radical sect Abubakar Shekau during a gun duel in the troubled town of Konduga in the early hours of Wednesday 17 Sept, 2014." knowing how Jonathan government professionalized in selling falsehood, several commentators disputed the development as not true despite pictures of Shekau's lifeless body shared by government authorities. As expected, the report of Shekau's death as claimed by the government is again registered among the series of lies as Shekau just released a video in which he denied any report of pointing to his death.
President Jonathan on July 04, 2012, promised Nigerians that "those involved in subsidy scam amounting to about ₦2.6trillion must never go unpunished", saying that his government will not accept corruption. After more than two years now, i am afraid to say that not only the subsidy thieves went unpunished, many of them are now vying for public offices and all the investigation reports by several committees has been swept under Mr. President's carpet.
I wasn't surprised when i overheard the Government of President Jonathan claiming credit for the rehabilitation of Sokoto-Gusau-Funtua federal road. I failed to figure out why Jonathan led government is so desperate to achieve credit for what it did not do? The reality of the fact is that the rehabilitation of Sokoto-Gusau-Funtua federal road started during the era of PTF and was completed by the Obasanjo administration in 2006 when Mal. Yahaya Abdulkarim was the minister of works.
In Jonathan's further desperation to deceive Nigerians, the federal government claimed to have distributed cotton seedlings to farmers in Sokoto state under the transformation agenda of President Jonathan in transforming the agricultural sector, this confused lie didn't only made no sense but also laughable. Sokoto state has never being a cotton producing base and i seriously doubt if the whole of Sokoto state have a single square metre of land where cotton is farmed. How can you gave cotton seedlings to people who doesn't farm cotton? This also is another blatant lie counting in the series of President Jonathan transformation lies.
The Federal Government under the leadership of President Jonathan awarded a contract to Oil Facility Surveillance Limited (OFSL) allegedly owned by a renowned terrorist, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo in February 2011, at the cost of about ₦3.6bn to secure oil pipelines.
Jonathan led Government, through NIMASA, also awarded a public private partnership, PPP, contract to Global West Vessel Specialist Limited, GWVSL, again owned by the same terrorist Tompolo at the cost of over ₦15bn in early 2012. As expected, President Jonathan vuvuzelas publicly denied that Tompolo wasn't awarded any contract despite Tompolo's acceptance to the contrary. What can we call this false account, a lie or a feing?
I would have loved to move on and on but for time constraints, above are just a few of President Jonathan "transformational blatant lies" aimed at deceiving Nigerians in search of another epoch of four years in power. As usual, President Jonathan had already began promising Nigerians on what he will do if re-elected for a second tenure despite completing not even upto 20% of the campaign promises he made in 2011, but he's now unabashedly making new promises.
In the main time, the transformation agenda of President Jonathan has woefully failed Nigeria and Nigerians. It is also imperative to note that in a country where insecurity, poverty, unemployment, vested interest, misuse of power, greed, selfishness, gross irresponsibility, favouritism, deceit, unaccountability, human right violations, immorality, impunity, bribery and corruption among others continue to exacerbate by the day, there could be nothing to illuminate as transformational in the whole system. The slogan "Transformation Agenda" of President Goodluck Jonathan is only augur to deceive Nigerians.
It has also becomes open that President Jonathan didn't possess the moral and leadership qualities required to govern a nation any nation, he has no track record of delivering on his promises right back to his governorship days, and it is also clear that Jonathan isn't able to make significant differences in positions of trust. However, President Jonathan administration have only succeeded in taking away the assiduity of the ordinary Nigerian from his inability and incompetence to handle the thematic issues facing the country today, with deception and shameless lies.
Indeed, Gudluck Ebele Jonathan has done better than the administration of Barack Obama, Nelson Mandela, Lee Kuan Yew, Sun Yatsen, Winston Churchill and that of Franklin Roosevelt combined when it comes to promoting corruption, impunity and rascality.
Finally, only a government that has nothing to offer to it people lie, only a regime that is insincere to its electorates lie, only a leadership without conscience lie to its followers, only a regime that doesn't respect its people lie to them, only a government full of disgraceful and inutile men lie serially to the people under it rule without shame.
I welcome both observations, criticism and insults, i am thick skinned and doesn't get disturbed by brainless insults.
The above biblical view are used to emphasize the fact that all the seven actions listed above are hateful to God, He (God) will not have fellowship with those who are guilty of these sins. They are actions and attitudes that described a person consumed by the devil, those who are troubled and those who bring sorrow. The notion also characterized the characteristics of those who are hateful to the Lord and who are bound to face His wrath on the day of resurrection.
Although the Holy Bible has been in existence long before the emanation of what is called Nigeria today but despite that, i robustly envisage that the above biblical concepts were characteristically connoted for Nigerians and their leaders. In a nutshell, these biblical theory above may be specifically meant for the current superintendence of President Ebele Jonathan which appropriately fit the bills.
As the case of today may be, only what Nigerians now hope for are politicians who will be honest and trustworthy, politicians who will rule without lies but unfortunately; no matter how you feel about the afoot stewardship in Nigeria, it has become luminous over the past four years that the present administration has consistently lied about its beliefs, goals and policies ever since taking the responsibilities of piloting the avocation of this great nation. Those in the corridors of power seems to have decided that the only way they can achieve their desired political outcomes is by systematically deceiving the public about their true actions and achievements in order to divide people's opinions to their topmost advantage.
If you are skeptical, or think calling President Jonathan a liar might be too extreme, i obtest you to loan me few minutes out of your time and read through this article which set to annals the series of "transformation lies" of President Jonathan's transformation agenda. The transformation lies i am referring to, are not simply matters of opinion or typical political blackmail, they are both national and intentional counterfactual statements made by the President and those in his administration in their quest to deceive Nigerians and claim credit for what they did not achieved.
Those who knew President Jonathan dating back to his shoeless era upto the time he became Nigeria's Vice-President, warned us on the inherent dangers associated in voting into power a man who never kept to his promises, we ignored them and went ahead to elect him. But today, Nigerians of all political stripes are coming to a similar, sad and vexatious realization about Mr. President. Almost 80% of those that voted Jonathan into power has now realized their collective mistakes in allowing a congenital liar to pilot the transaction of their only nation and symbol of pride.
Those feeding President Jonathan and the general public with lies aren't Jonathan lovers, the obvious fact is they are only creating a money making ventures by going round the country trying to market an unmarketable commodity to keep the steady flow of ill-gotten wealth into their pockets.
I have no problem whatsoever if Jonathan hired the whole 170million Nigerians to campaign or rally support on his behalf, since he has the constitutional right to pursue his political interest, provided it isn't contradictory to the provision of our constitution. My only problem is this; the same constitution that gave them (Jonathan & co) the right to exercise their political freedom also kicked against playing with the intelligence of the poor Nigerian masses through concocted lies and deceit.
It is sad and vexatious to see a much anticipated potential government squandered its goodwill and productive expectations. Several Nigerians (I inclusive), had high expectations and hopes of a better Nigeria at the onset of Jonathan administration, viewing from his vague and almost immeasurable campaign promises but now; it is a different story, those having full believe in Jonathan's stewardship are now left bristling with rage and it is obvious that Jonathan administration seems to have forgotten the task and responsibilities before it. Perhaps, President Jonathan should have focus more on delivering good governance to the electorate which will in turns bring back the confidence Nigerians used to have in him, instead of rallying round the country selling deceit and falsehood that destroy trust and make it difficult for people to believe him, even when he is saying the truth.
There are several scenarios where President Jonathan and his vuvuzelas were publicly caught in action not only lying once but serially and yet, President Jonathan still expect us to have faith in his leadership after disappointing us and falsifying himself on several occasions, ranging from insecurity, power, asset declaration and so on.
The President and his cabinet members may indeed be telling the truth on normal issues bothering our nation today; but how can we believe them when they have shown themselves unworthy of our unflinching trust?
Come with me, as i recount the chronicles of blatant lies of President Jonathan and his transformational team of notice monkeys dancing only to the tune of their master. Note; i don't intend to obloquy or dishonor the office of the President nor the personality occupying such office, I just want to put facts straight for the emphasis of records.
Can we now be at ease or have faith in a President telling his people that the First Lady was not sick but went abroad for holidays despite several local and international media reporting to the contrary? Mr. President denied all reports pointing to the illness of his wife, only for the First Lady to return weeks after and said she undergoes nine major operations in foreign hospitals, almost at a point of dying. There is God o!!
On 21 Jan, 2014, Jonathan government promised Nigerians that "it will bring Boko Haram insurgency in the country to an end latest by April 2014." Here we are today, Boko Haram just seized Mubi and Vimtim few days back, murdered hundreds of innocent souls on different occasions and still counting. Is this a promise, a deal or a blatant lie?
On 27 Sept, 2014, President Goodluck Jonathan in Edo state said "his administration had reduced poverty rate in Nigeria by 50%." I seriously doubt this development and wondered where Mr. President got these statistical figures from? Who dished out these statistics and what criteria was employed to come up with it? According to 2014 World Bank survey, Nigeria is ranked 3rd on the ranking of world top five poorest countries with 61% of it citizens living below the poverty rate of $1.25 per day and Nigeria alone constituted about 7% of world poorest. This is indeed, one among the chronicles of Jonathan's transformation lies.
President Jonathan on the 31 Dec, 2013, said: "his administration has created over 2million jobs for Nigerians in 2013 alone." Indeed, we have seen the tremendous efforts of Jonathan government in creating employment for Nigerians during the Nigerian Immigration Service recruitment where about six million unemployed young men and women applied for a handful of not more than 3,000 jobs, and also a similar recruitment carried out Dangote Cement where about six PhD holders, over a hundred Msc and thousands of graduates applied for just 100 truck drivers vacancies. What a transformation? In fact, under Jonathan's tyranny, unemployment in Nigeria has grown from about 21% in 2010 to an estimated all time high of 24% as we stands.
Transformation lies in power sector: Speaking with United Nations diplomats on Monday, 31st January 2011 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, President Goodluck Jonathan made this promise and i quote: “If I’m voted into power, within the next four years, the issue of electricity will become a thing of the past. Four years is enough for anyone in power to make a significant improvement and if I can’t improve on power within this period, it then means I cannot do anything…” four years later, Nigeria’s power generation and supply is at it lowest ever. Does this means President Jonathan cannot do anything?
In an interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour on Wednesday 23 January 2013, President Jonathan said "adequate power supply is one area where Nigerians are quite pleased with his government – that his commitments to improve power are working,” he said. “I promise you before the end of this year 2013, power outages will be stable in Nigeria.” We are now approaching 2015, where is the stable power supply? Are we still yet to reach the end of 2013?
Again in August 2012, President Jonathan boasted that "his Government has improved power generation from under 3,000 MW in 2011 to 4,300 MW by August 2012. Therefore, when the 10 NIPP projects are fully on stream, which will be within the next few months as of then, the total national generation capacity will not be less than 9,000MW, a 200 percent increase in generating capacity as compared with figures for 2011 and the highest ever by any administration since independence.” we are still waiting for the 9,000MW, another blatant lie.
Again in Jan, 2013, President Jonathan said "his government has generated 6,443MW of electricity at the end of 2012 and will generate 10,000 MW by December 2013." is this not the same Jonathan government that said it has generated 9,000MW in 2012? How comes it dropped to 6,443MW in 2013?
On April 27, 2013: President Jonathan shamelessly changed face from his earlier statement and said "Nigeria is generating about 4,000MW of electricity and will achieve another 1000MW by December 2013." Please i ask you; what is so special about December in President Jonathan's calendar?
Again on May 1st, 2013: Jonathan government said the 10,000MW target of December 2013 is not feasible but something close will be achieved. The senior minister of power was quoted as saying “Currently, installed available generation capacity has risen to 6,000MW. Peak generation is slightly above 4,500MW. We intend to add additional generation capacity of about 2,200MW from the NIPP projects in the coming year." we said okay, let's wait and see what will happen in the coming year.
Few weeks later on May 20, 2013: the junior Minister for Power, while addressing Senate Committee on Power said: " power generation would increase to 6,000MW in July 2013 before hitting 10,000MW by December 2013." unknown to the state minister that his federal minister has ruled out any possibility of realizing the 10,000MW by December 2013 and while the federal minister said the nation is generating 6,000MW as at May 2013, the state minister is now saying power generation will increase to 6,000MW by July 2013. Now, between the senior and junior minister, who is lying and who is telling the truth? The reality is they are all liars telling blatant lies to protect the interest of Mr. President not minding what Nigerians are going through.
Still on power, having failed to provide stable power supply as earlier promised by the specified month of December 2013, President Jonathan again on 3rd August, 2014, said his government "is projecting a 5000MW target by December 2014." wow!! Another lie in another December again. President Jonathan was quick to forget what he said above and again assured Nigerians of a stable power supply by October 2014. Here we are in November and nothing like power stability across the country.
Upon all these series of promises and blatant lies regarding the epileptic power situation in Nigeria, the reality of the whole issue remains a failure. President Jonathan met more than 4000MW of electricity in 2010 but today despite spending trillions of Naira on power in four years alone, Nigeria is still struggling to maintain a shameful figure of less than 3,000MW. What a transformation?
In the interim, President Jonathan failure to provide stable power have forced Nigerians to spend N796.4billion of their own hard-earned income to fuel their power generating sets annually, and it is high time we begin to ask Mr. President: what has he done with all the trillions budgeted for power generation and distribution in the past five years of his stewardship?
On October 17, 2014: President Jonathan government said "it had agreed and sealed a ceasefire deal with the violent Boko Haram sect and that the 218 girls kidnapped by the sect at Chibok secondary school on 14 April 2014 would be released on Monday 20 Oct, 2014." despite claiming to have rescued the abducted girls on three different occasions. Here we are in November, not a single girl returned not to mention of any ceasefire. In fact after Jonathan's administration reported the ceasefire deal, terrorist have in recent days killed hundreds of innocent souls, captured about five towns and sacked Military/police barracks.
President Jonathan had on several occasions both at home and abroad stated that no $20bn was missing from NNPC crude account, emphasing that if at all such a huge sum got missing or stolen, America must know. After series of audits and investigations, it was revealed that the sum of $20bn was actually missing because it wasn't remitted into the crude account. Yet, another in the series of President Jonathan transformation lies.
On 30 December, 2010, President Goodluck Jonathan, said "he has no ambition to stay in office beyond 2015 if elected President in the 2011 general elections." Jonathan said this while interacting with Nigerians mainly diplomats working in the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, UNECA, and the African Union, AU, in Addis-Ababa. And again at the 2014 Democracy Day Inter-denominational Church Service in Abuja on 29 May, 2014, President Goodluck Jonathan assured Nigerians that he won’t be running for Presidency come 2015. He assured Nigerians that by that time next year, the country ‘will witness a new government’. In his own words, he said; “I can assure you that the next Democracy Day will witness a new government.” To my dismay, President Jonathan just picked up the PDP nomination form few days ago to contest in the presidential election come 2015.
Also at a press conference in Abuja in late 2010, a day ahead of President Goodluck Jonathan’s formal declaration to run in the 2011 presidential election, Mr. Dalhatu Sarki Tafida, then Director General of the Jonathan/Sambo campaign organisation, said "the president won’t seek another term in 2015 if elected" in front of Mr. president and he (Jonathan) didn’t deny or fault this arguments. President Jonathan denial that he made no promise to anyone not to run again in 2015 came as a shock to those not much familiar with him, his denials further described Mr. Jonathan as a congenital liar.
On 8th January, 2012; President Goodluck Jonathan while speaking at a church service at the National Ecumenical Centre as part of the annual Armed Forces remembrance day celebrations, Mr. President admitted that members of the extremist Boko Haram sect have succeeded in infiltrating his government, planting its members in government agencies and security outfits. As expected, President Jonathan while responding to questions during the Presidential Media Chat on May 3, 2014 denied knowledge of the whole statement saying: "I never said Boko Haram infiltrated my government." wow!! What a president? A leader or a liar?
Jonathan led government reported that "it forces had killed the leader of Boko Haram radical sect Abubakar Shekau during a gun duel in the troubled town of Konduga in the early hours of Wednesday 17 Sept, 2014." knowing how Jonathan government professionalized in selling falsehood, several commentators disputed the development as not true despite pictures of Shekau's lifeless body shared by government authorities. As expected, the report of Shekau's death as claimed by the government is again registered among the series of lies as Shekau just released a video in which he denied any report of pointing to his death.
President Jonathan on July 04, 2012, promised Nigerians that "those involved in subsidy scam amounting to about ₦2.6trillion must never go unpunished", saying that his government will not accept corruption. After more than two years now, i am afraid to say that not only the subsidy thieves went unpunished, many of them are now vying for public offices and all the investigation reports by several committees has been swept under Mr. President's carpet.
I wasn't surprised when i overheard the Government of President Jonathan claiming credit for the rehabilitation of Sokoto-Gusau-Funtua federal road. I failed to figure out why Jonathan led government is so desperate to achieve credit for what it did not do? The reality of the fact is that the rehabilitation of Sokoto-Gusau-Funtua federal road started during the era of PTF and was completed by the Obasanjo administration in 2006 when Mal. Yahaya Abdulkarim was the minister of works.
In Jonathan's further desperation to deceive Nigerians, the federal government claimed to have distributed cotton seedlings to farmers in Sokoto state under the transformation agenda of President Jonathan in transforming the agricultural sector, this confused lie didn't only made no sense but also laughable. Sokoto state has never being a cotton producing base and i seriously doubt if the whole of Sokoto state have a single square metre of land where cotton is farmed. How can you gave cotton seedlings to people who doesn't farm cotton? This also is another blatant lie counting in the series of President Jonathan transformation lies.
The Federal Government under the leadership of President Jonathan awarded a contract to Oil Facility Surveillance Limited (OFSL) allegedly owned by a renowned terrorist, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo in February 2011, at the cost of about ₦3.6bn to secure oil pipelines.
Jonathan led Government, through NIMASA, also awarded a public private partnership, PPP, contract to Global West Vessel Specialist Limited, GWVSL, again owned by the same terrorist Tompolo at the cost of over ₦15bn in early 2012. As expected, President Jonathan vuvuzelas publicly denied that Tompolo wasn't awarded any contract despite Tompolo's acceptance to the contrary. What can we call this false account, a lie or a feing?
I would have loved to move on and on but for time constraints, above are just a few of President Jonathan "transformational blatant lies" aimed at deceiving Nigerians in search of another epoch of four years in power. As usual, President Jonathan had already began promising Nigerians on what he will do if re-elected for a second tenure despite completing not even upto 20% of the campaign promises he made in 2011, but he's now unabashedly making new promises.
In the main time, the transformation agenda of President Jonathan has woefully failed Nigeria and Nigerians. It is also imperative to note that in a country where insecurity, poverty, unemployment, vested interest, misuse of power, greed, selfishness, gross irresponsibility, favouritism, deceit, unaccountability, human right violations, immorality, impunity, bribery and corruption among others continue to exacerbate by the day, there could be nothing to illuminate as transformational in the whole system. The slogan "Transformation Agenda" of President Goodluck Jonathan is only augur to deceive Nigerians.
It has also becomes open that President Jonathan didn't possess the moral and leadership qualities required to govern a nation any nation, he has no track record of delivering on his promises right back to his governorship days, and it is also clear that Jonathan isn't able to make significant differences in positions of trust. However, President Jonathan administration have only succeeded in taking away the assiduity of the ordinary Nigerian from his inability and incompetence to handle the thematic issues facing the country today, with deception and shameless lies.
Indeed, Gudluck Ebele Jonathan has done better than the administration of Barack Obama, Nelson Mandela, Lee Kuan Yew, Sun Yatsen, Winston Churchill and that of Franklin Roosevelt combined when it comes to promoting corruption, impunity and rascality.
Finally, only a government that has nothing to offer to it people lie, only a regime that is insincere to its electorates lie, only a leadership without conscience lie to its followers, only a regime that doesn't respect its people lie to them, only a government full of disgraceful and inutile men lie serially to the people under it rule without shame.
I welcome both observations, criticism and insults, i am thick skinned and doesn't get disturbed by brainless insults.
Thursday, 30 October 2014
Tributes To Bilyaminu Yusuf Yabo, The Murdered Son Of My Great-Uncle ~ By: Usama Dandare
It is with a heavy heart that i write this tribute, to pay my last respect to Bilyaminu Yusuf Yabo, my second cousin who was murdered in cold blood by men suspected to be political thugs in Sokoto State. People might be hearing many versions of the whole story which led to the brutal murder of Bilya, but the real story goes like this;
It was on a cool evening of Thursday 23-Oct, 2014, the lifeless body of Bilyaminu Yusuf Yabo, a 21 year old student was found lying in a refuse site at Gawon Nama area of Sokoto close to the residence of Sokoto state governor Aliyu Wammakko, allegedly beaten to death by a group of young men suspected to be political thugs belonging to the ruling political party in the state.
Being him (late Bilya) a brother to the wife of Muktar Shagari, the state deputy governor and gubernatorial aspirant under the platform of People's Democratic Party (PDP) and also a brother to one of the PDP chieftain Dahiru Yusuf Yabo, Bilya as he's popularly called wore a facing cap and shoe with PDP logo on them and went to Gawon Nama. Upon his arrival, thugs stationed at the governor's residence wasted no time in rushing the poor boy, stabbing him with axes and machetes and some using their hands until he no longer breaths. Later after he was dead, Bilya's corpse was thrown at a near waste bin close to where the ugly incident took place.
This isn't the first case of murder committed by political thugs in Sokoto but hopefully the last, several hundreds of innocent souls were slaughtered in cold blood between 1999 to date and nothing has ever been done to curtail this unholy practice or bring the perpetrators to book.
The case of Bilya is no paradoxical to others, he was beaten and macheted to dead while the Nigeria Police & other security personnels attached to the state governor watched helplessly as usual, similar to others killed by same thugs in the presence of security personnels. Bilya's murder and others like it aren't new to residents of Sokoto state, it is just one among the series of manslaughter carried out by political thugs in a free reign without retribution.
I am saddened that this ugly practice has happened despite several measures said to have been put together by the government and security agencies. For the emphasis of records, Bilya was murdered by political thugs for no other reason than wearing a cap and shoe symbolizing PDP. I never knew when wearing a political party logo became a death offense?
I want to state it here that if justice isn't delivered for this gruesome murder, and the murderers face the full wrath of the law, then several others will repeatedly occur. Many more will happen and keep happening until serious proactive measures are taking to curtail this unholy act of inhumanity.
On behalf of Bilya's family, friends and sympathizers, we are calling on the government and all relevant security agencies to step up efforts in fishing out those responsible for the killing of this innocent boy and others, government on the other hand should design ways to approach and halt the killing of poor innocent citizens once and for all.
Bilya, may your soul rest in peace, may Almighty Allah grant you a peaceful eternal rest and reward you with a place in the gardens of Jannat ul Firdaus. May your killers be expose to shame and may they never find peace in whatever they lay hands on, their lives will be as miserable as that of a caponize pig.
Bilya, We will forever miss you, until we meet in the hereafter.
It was on a cool evening of Thursday 23-Oct, 2014, the lifeless body of Bilyaminu Yusuf Yabo, a 21 year old student was found lying in a refuse site at Gawon Nama area of Sokoto close to the residence of Sokoto state governor Aliyu Wammakko, allegedly beaten to death by a group of young men suspected to be political thugs belonging to the ruling political party in the state.
Being him (late Bilya) a brother to the wife of Muktar Shagari, the state deputy governor and gubernatorial aspirant under the platform of People's Democratic Party (PDP) and also a brother to one of the PDP chieftain Dahiru Yusuf Yabo, Bilya as he's popularly called wore a facing cap and shoe with PDP logo on them and went to Gawon Nama. Upon his arrival, thugs stationed at the governor's residence wasted no time in rushing the poor boy, stabbing him with axes and machetes and some using their hands until he no longer breaths. Later after he was dead, Bilya's corpse was thrown at a near waste bin close to where the ugly incident took place.
This isn't the first case of murder committed by political thugs in Sokoto but hopefully the last, several hundreds of innocent souls were slaughtered in cold blood between 1999 to date and nothing has ever been done to curtail this unholy practice or bring the perpetrators to book.
The case of Bilya is no paradoxical to others, he was beaten and macheted to dead while the Nigeria Police & other security personnels attached to the state governor watched helplessly as usual, similar to others killed by same thugs in the presence of security personnels. Bilya's murder and others like it aren't new to residents of Sokoto state, it is just one among the series of manslaughter carried out by political thugs in a free reign without retribution.
I am saddened that this ugly practice has happened despite several measures said to have been put together by the government and security agencies. For the emphasis of records, Bilya was murdered by political thugs for no other reason than wearing a cap and shoe symbolizing PDP. I never knew when wearing a political party logo became a death offense?
I want to state it here that if justice isn't delivered for this gruesome murder, and the murderers face the full wrath of the law, then several others will repeatedly occur. Many more will happen and keep happening until serious proactive measures are taking to curtail this unholy act of inhumanity.
On behalf of Bilya's family, friends and sympathizers, we are calling on the government and all relevant security agencies to step up efforts in fishing out those responsible for the killing of this innocent boy and others, government on the other hand should design ways to approach and halt the killing of poor innocent citizens once and for all.
Bilya, may your soul rest in peace, may Almighty Allah grant you a peaceful eternal rest and reward you with a place in the gardens of Jannat ul Firdaus. May your killers be expose to shame and may they never find peace in whatever they lay hands on, their lives will be as miserable as that of a caponize pig.
Bilya, We will forever miss you, until we meet in the hereafter.
Sunday, 12 October 2014
Nigeria Decide: Who Is President Jonathan? ~ By Usama Dandare
In Proverbs 13:20, Solomon, the wise-guy, wrote: “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.”
The above biblical concept refers to the power of association which helps to shape ones character. We have a tendency to become like the people we associate with and if the people you are with are arrested for a crime, you will be arrested, as well you will be called an accomplice to the crime because you are with criminals.
We see someone who is a companion of someone successful and that person will try hard, too. I have noticed that we try harder to do just as well as the person we are with.
Like our parents always told us when we were young – Be careful who you hang around; Be careful who you associate with. Don’t let just anyone come in and start placing things or speaking things into your life. Parents always warned their siblings and young ones to stay away from bad friends because they might have a huge influence on your life.
The general public tends to always categorized you in the same category with your friends and by nature, friends are assumed to be different people but with the same characters and characteristics, with the same behaviors, practice or believe as only people with things in common tends to live in common, as according to a wise saying "show me your friends and I’ll show you your future or tell you who you are."
Therefore, a friend to a thief is a thief, a friend to a criminal is a criminal, a friend to a fool is a fool and a friend to a saint is also regarded to be a saint. The easiest way to know who a person is, is through his friends and if you want to know someone, know his friends first.
As the 2015 general elections is gathering momentum and preparations are in top gears for Nigerians to elect a new President who will sit on the helm of their affairs for another period of four years, Nigerians indeed needs to know who their presidential contestants are before heading to the polls and perhaps that's what prompted me to write this piece in order for Nigerians to choose who's best characters deserved to pilot their nation's affairs.
Starting with the incumbent President Jonathan Goodluck who is set to seek re-election into the office of the number one citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria come 2015. Who is President Jonathan and who are his friends? Let's not forget to remember that "birds of the same feathers, flew together" and the best way to tell us who you are is by showing us your friends.
First on President Jonathan friends list is: CHIEF DIEPREYE ALAMIEYESEIGHA, a retired Airforce Squadron leader and the former Governor of Bayelsa state who was impeached as a governor on corruption charges in 2015. Diepreye Alamieyeseigha was detained in London on charges of money laundering amounting to a cash sum of £1m found in his London home and later the London Metropolitan police found a total of £1.8m ($3.2m) in cash and bank accounts belonging to him in September 2005, he was arrested and later jumped bail in December 2005 from the United Kingdom by disguising himself as a woman. On July 26, 2007, Alamieyeseigha pled guilty before a Nigerian court to six charges and was sentenced to two years in prison on each charge but On July 27, just hours after being taken to prison, he was released due to time already served. On June 28, 2012, the United States (US) Department of Justice (DoJ) announced that it had executed an asset forfeiture order on $401,931 in a Massachusetts brokerage fund, traceable to Alamieyeseigha. US prosecutors filed court papers in April 2011 targeting the Massachusetts brokerage fund and a $600,000 Maryland home, which they alleged were the proceeds of corruption by Alamieyeseigha, he was granted a state pardon by President Goodluck Jonathan on 12 March 2013.
SAMINU TURAKI: a former Governor of Jigawa and a Senator of the Federal Republic, this is a man who stole N6bn belonging to Jigawa state in a day when he was the Governor of that state. In July 2007, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested Saminu Turaki over allegations of corruption and money laundering. Turaki faced a 32-count charge of money laundering, and was said to have laundered about N36 billion of public funds into private accounts. He was released on bail with stringent conditions.
ADAMU MU'AZU: Alh Mu'azu is indeed one of the closest ally of President Jonathan, he has been given many appointments by Mr. President until he was appointed as the National Chairman of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) on endorsement of President Jonathan. Adamu Mu'azu was the Gov of Bauchi state from 1999-2007 and he is still being investigated for graft by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for allegedly looting N19.8billion belonging to his state while he was governor between 1999 and 2007.
ASARI DOKUBO: a known convicted terrorist who waged full scale war on the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he's the founder of the militant group Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force which became one of the most prominent armed groups operating in the Niger Delta region. He's been convicted severally for terrorism charges and has been arrested in many other countries for illegal arms dealing. He's indeed one of the few influential Nigerians with access to President Jonathan anytime any day.
ALI MODU SHARIFF: Mr. Shariff was a former senator before becoming the governor of Borno state and again returning to the senate, he's a three times senator and two times governor only him. He's been charged for alleged abuse of power and corruption on several occasions and has also been fingered as the potential sponsor of the dreaded Islamic sect Boko Haram by an Australian hostage negotiator Steven Davies and many committees of inquiry. He's also among the best friends of President Jonathan.
AYO FAYOSE: Fayose was elected governor of Ekiti state in 2003 but was later impeached in 2006, he was accused of murdering Tunde Omolaja in 2005 and was also charged with stealing billions and diverting huge poultry funds. He was arraigned for a financial scandal of Four Hundred and Sixteen Million, One Hundred and Thirty Eight Thousand, Three Hundred and Sixty Naira, Seventy-Five Kobo by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission EFCC. He was the PDP flag bearer in the 2014 Governorship election in Ekiti State slated for June 21 2014. He won the election and has been declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission as the new Governor-Elect, Ekiti State, to be inaugurated on Oct 16 2014. This THUG also recently slapped and beat up a sitting Judge in Ado-Ekiti. He's also a man of President Jonathan.
BURUJI KASAMU: a known convicted drug dealer and one among the few close associates to President Jonathan. The U.S. attorney’s office in Chicago said Kashamu is still wanted on charges alleging his drug ring move worth millions of dollars of heroin from Europe and Southeast Asia through O’Hare International Airport during the 1990s. Mr. Kasamu was arrested by English authorities when he landed there in 1998 and held him for five years during extradition hearings. Ultimately, however, British courts let Kashamu go after ruling that Chicago prosecutors had tainted their eyewitness identification evidence by failing to disclose that one of his co-defendants failed to pick him out of a photo lineup. He's now among the strongest pillars of President Jonathan political activities.
GOVERNMENT EKPEMUPOLO (TOMPOLO): Tompolo is a well-known terrorist who also waged war against Nigeria, he's the commander of the militant group Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), he was a high ranking commander in various militant groups in the Niger Delta and made his wealth through terrorism by purchasing stockpiles of weaponry for MEND and also funding militants. Tompolo is actually one of the close member in President Jonathan's circle of friends and one among the beneficiaries of Jonathan regime, he was recently awarded a multi-billion Naira contract to guard Nigerian waters by Jonathan government.
STELLA ODUAH: Mrs. Oduah was the Minister of Aviation until when Jonathan was forced to relieve her off her duties on 12 February 2014 following series of scandals. She is also an active member in the political campaign of Goodluck Jonathan, where she served as his campaign's Director of Administration and Finance. She has also been involved in numerous scandals ranging from highly inflated purchase of BMW bullet-proof cars without following due process as well as certificate forgery case that she claimed to obtained an MBA degree from St Paul's College where Mrs. Oduah claimed she studied for Bachelor and Masters degrees, and was later found the college did not award her an MBA at anytime as the university doesn't even have a graduate school or graduate program.
DIEZANI ALISON-MADUEKE: The corruption tainted minister of petroleum resources and one of the key influential figures of Jonathan administration, she's perhaps one of the closest person to President Jonathan. Alison-Madueke was subject to a Senate probe for paying a miraculous sum of 30.9 billion naira ($263 million) to contractors between 26 and 31 December 2007 when she was the Transport Minister. In October 2009, the Senate of Nigeria indicted Diezani Alison-Madueke and recommended her for prosecution for transferring 1.2 billion naira into the private account of a toll company without due process and in breach of concession agreement. She was also indicted in the alleged disappearance of $20bn unremitted funds from the nation's crude oil account and currently under investigation for allegedly maintaining a charted jet at an annual fee of 10bn Naira. She is and still remains the Petroleum Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
I would had loved to bring you more and more friends of President Jonathan but due to time constraint, i will pause here and leave Nigerians to judge who their Presidential aspirant is and who to entrust their mandate and faith on.
Ladies and gentlemen, i present to you friends of President Jonathan and once again come to you with the question; WHO IS PRESIDENT JONATHAN?
Once more, "show me your friends and i will tell you who you are."
In my next article titled "Who is General Buhari?" on Nigeria decide, I will bring to you the closest associates and friends of General Muhammadu Buhari.
Friday, 10 October 2014
President Jonathan And The Fraud Called Almajiri Education ~ By Usama Dandare
"The word Almajiri is derived from the Arabic “Almuhajirun”, meaning an emigrant. It usually refers to a person who migrates from the luxury of his home to other places or to a popular teacher in the quest for Islamic knowledge. It is hinged on the Islamic concept of migration which is widely practiced especially when acquisition of knowledge at home is either inconvenient or insufficient.
During the pre-colonial era, the Almajiri education system, originally called the Tsangaya was established under the Kanem-Borno Empire, one of the oldest ruling empires in the world extending from the frontiers of northern Nigeria across the Chadian region up to the borders of Libya. It was established as an organized and comprehensive system of education for learning Islamic principles, values, jurisprudence and theology. It was a replica of Islamic learning centres in many Muslim countries such as the madrasah in Pakistan, Malaysia, Egypt and Indonesia etc.
The system was funded by the state treasury and the state zakka funds, and was under the control of the emirs of the traditional government system that existed before the coming of the British. Since Islam encourages charity to the needy and to a student of learning, the community as well readily supported these Almajiri most of whom came from faraway places to enroll in the Tsangaya schools. In return, the Almajiris offered services such as laundry, cobbling, gardening, weaving, sewing e.t.c as charity to the community that contributed to their well being; hence they gave the society what the society gave to them.
The students were at liberty to acquire a vocational and occupational skill in between their Islamic lessons and so were involved in farming, fishing, well construction, masonry, production, trade, tailoring, small businesses etc. Many of them were the farmers of the northern Nigerian cotton and groundnut pyramids. They formed the majority of the traders in the commercial city of Kano. They were the leather tanners and leather shoe and bags makers in the old Sokoto Empire. The cap weavers and Taylors in Zaria city were said to be Almajiris. Thus they formed the largest percentage of the community workforce and made significant contribution to the economy before the introduction of white collar jobs. After colonialization, they were recruited by the British as columbite and tin miners in Jos city which was then under Bauchi before the creation of plateau state.
The system also produced the judges, clerks, teachers etc. and layed an elaborate system of administration in Northern Nigeria. They provided the colonial administration with the needed staff. The first set of colonial staff in Northern Nigeria was provided by the Almajiri schools and this went on for years. In fact, the Almajiri system was a civilizing agent second to none. Before they were gradually replaced, phased out & indeed abandoned."
With the coming of British colonial masters, the British invaded northern region and killed most of the Emirs and disposed some. The Emirs lost control of their territories and accepted their new roles, as mere traditional rulers. They also lost fundamental control of the Almajiri system. The British deliberately abolished state funding in respect to the system arguing that, they were religious schools. With loss of support from the government, its immediate community and the helpless Emirs, the Almajiri system collapsed like a pile of cards. Karatun Boko, western education was introduced and funded instead. The pupils now turned, Almajirai together with their Mallams, having no financial support resorted to begging and other menial jobs for survival. This is certainly the genesis of the predicament of the Almajiri system today.
The system as it is presently being practiced has outlived its usefulness, lazy parents mostly from rural settlements who thought they can't afford to raise a child gave out their siblings to some half-baked semi-illiterate Qur'anic Mallams who use their wards as a means of living and subjects the children to all kinds of labour and exploitations, thus abusing the right of the child and exposing them to various degree of hardship. The young children struggle to cater for themselves and to support their Mallams, forcing them to beg for food and other daily needs, carrying bowls around looking for what to eat and what to take back for mallam and his family, which consumed most of their time rather than engage in learning. Some of these children lost their lives through violence in the streets, some through child stealing, while others are lost through diseases and hunger resulting from lack of good hygiene. At the end, those who were lucky to make it who usually complete the reading of the Holy Qur'an eventually ended up as traders, drivers, wheelbarrow pushers, touting, thieves and so on without any meaningful life to live" as stated during the 21st convocation lecture of Bayero University in 2003 by Prof. Idris A. Abdulqadir.
In view of the above, the Federal Government under the leadership of President Gudluck Jonathan in partnership with the affected northern state Governments decided to integrate the Almajiri Islamic School system to provide quality education for the children beggers and to halt the menace of idle children and youths roaming the streets begging all in the name of acquiring education which has been a source of concern for policy makers in Nigeria.
In order to achieve this, Jonathan administration set out a policy framework which focuses on two critical levels. The first is to engagement with the rationalisation of the existing traditional system of Islamic education with a view to addressing existing problems and challenges, consolidating achievements and expanding opportunities for growth and development of the system.
Secondly, to integrate effectively Islamic disciplines and conventional school subjects, instill values and morals; to provide dual language competency in English and Arabic; and cultivate a culture of educational excellence.
The Federal Government also stressed the need for the development of Almajiri Education in Nigeria among other things, is to ensure the institutional development of Islamic School system and the provision of requisite infrastructural and welfare facilities such that it functions as a true Education system, and to provides a viable educational platforms and model Almajiri schools that could steadily and effectively integrate conventional disciplines into Islamic Education System, providing access to basic education for all children of school age throughout the country. Other objectives are to provide quality products that are imbued with the disciplines, character, knowledge and skills to enable them take full advantage of available opportunities and participate effectively and meaningfully in the socio-economic and political life of the nation."
The program has since kicked off with the commissioning of the first Almajiri Integrated School in Gagi, Sokoto state on 10 Apr, 2012. With the Almajiri system of education nearly over two years on-board, it's imperative to ask if the Almajiri system of education has achieved the desired goals it was targeted to achieve? Has the program reduced the number of school aged children begging or hawking on the streets? Was the Almajiri education able to make an impact on the lives of the poor children and the society at large? How successful was the program in it two years of operation?
Contrary to reports on government owned medias, the Almajiri integrated system of education is a total failure and nothing but a fraud, our corrupt leaders in government have created another tunnel to loot our resources in the name of Almajiri education and to further sustain their looting avenue, they came up with concocted lies deceiving Nigerians on the level success recorded by the program.
Let me tell you this free of charge, my recent visit to one of the school and the first Almajiri school to be commissioned in Sokoto state was a pitiful one, i met few students playing in a mere empty blocks of classrooms with broken chairs and without teachers. I went round the school and to my surprise, i didn't saw a single typewriter not to mention of computers said to have bought for the schools by the federal government, the students were just as dirty and unorganized as before and what pains me the more was how a school was built without toilets or any facility for such purpose, the students have to defecate in nearby bushes and without any provision for water as they have to fetch water outside the school for their personal use. It appears to me that many of the school children are upto today going out to beg on the streets and later returned back to the school at night.
If what i saw was the Almajiri school President Jonathan and his supporters are all bragging about, giving us sleepless nights, then this government is nothing but a disappointment and a total failure. I pity those giving credit to Jonathan led government for initiating this mess called Almajiri system of education, we are in a deep mess. Do you expect me to applaud President Jonathan for constructing a boarding school without toilets?
Call me a prophet of doom if you like but this fraud called Almajiri system of education will collapse in a short period as it has already signaled it way down and will perish away just as others before it as long as the system is being run the same way it's now, some of the schools were already closed down while others were just built and commissioned but never opened for use, they are just being kept empty.
The whole Almajiri system of education lacks basis nor any constitutional backing in the first place, the Nigerian constitution made it clear that all Nigerians are to be treated equally irrespective of tribe, region or religion and i see no reason why some children will be isolated differently from their peer groups just because they were from a poor backgrounds, they've been denied the right to normal education where children of their ages are being taught. Are these poor Almajiris not Nigerians? Why won't they be admitted into our public schools?
Now after graduating from Almajiri school, will the students sit for Almajiri WAEC? Knowing WAEC, NECO & JAMB are yet to devised any syllabus for Almajiri education? What is the end result of an Almajiri graduate? This is just like placing bandage on a deep wound that needs debridement, government would've standardize our educational sector and accumulate the Almajiris instead of lavishing taxpayers money on a new system under a totally failed institution.
It makes no sense funding another system of education while the nation's educational system is in a state of comatose, the deteriorating educational sector in Nigeria which saw about 70% failure in WAEC and a system producing half baked graduates with university/polytechnic lecturers embarking on a year long strike action while some state's primary pupils are chilling at home for more than a year will create another new system of education without fixing potholes in the old system. It's an absolute barbarity at this critical stage of educational decay to think about introducing Almajiri system of education.
For those seeing it as a development, the Almajiri Integrated Education is entirely different from the normal system of education we are used to in Nigeria, it's an integrated Islamic and western education education combined to replace the old system of Almajiri school where only Islamic based oriented knowledge was being taught to the students. It's completely and entirely a new syllabus different from the one taught in our schools and one must be compelled to ask, Is the Almajiri school a primary or secondary school or both? If it's only primary, do we have any secondary school that support such syllabus where the students can further their education? Which tertiary institution will the students be admitted into? Viewing from the fact that our tertiary institutions doesn't support such syllabus. Is there any Almajiri diploma or degree program?
President Jonathan and his vuvuzelas should understand the fact that Almajirci (begging) isn't a problem preferring solution but the failed system which birthed the menace of Almajirci in the country, the leadership failure to deliver good governance to the electorates and positively touched their lives in various capacities led to what we are witnessing today.
Corruption, impunity and leadership recklessness are the main eggs which hatches artificial poverty among the citizenry, resulting to some citizens being unable to cater for the well being and upbringing of their children, thus subjecting them to all kinds of child labour including sending them out far distance to acquire cheap knowledge which in turns led to street begging.
I think the best way to address the menace of child begging is good leadership for all irrespective of tribe, region or religion, and when the rural communities began to enjoy dividends of democracy and feel the impact of governance in their lives, nobody will want to send his child out for slavery as long as they can cater for them.
Finally, this current regime should re-strategize their efforts and forces toward rebuilding the decayed educational system instead of politicking with the future of innocent Nigerian children and the poor masses.
Monday, 6 October 2014
Thursday, 2 October 2014
Nigerians: Beware Of "Hope For Nigeria" ~ SMC
Our attention has been drawn to a fabricated inciting publication which originated from an online community platform "Hope For Nigeria", allegedly operated by some scrupulous elements close to the Government whom are immensely benefiting from the build up of corruption, religious and ethnic sentiments which the present administration conscientiously nurtured to it hindmost advantage.
The publication titled "We Will Kill Any Nigerian That Stand Against Power Coming Back To North" allegedly written by one Aliyu Gwarzo was published on the official Facebook/web page of Hope For Nigeria at exactly 10:17am on Wednesday, Oct 1st 2014 and we found it imperative to clear the air about this development and expose the devilish agenda of Hope For Nigeria.
Part of the post reads:
" S-H-O-C-K-I-N-G!!!"
"We Will Kill Any Nigerian That Stand Against Power Coming Back To North - Aliyu Gwarzo.
**We also captured Ilorin, killed their local King and installed our Fulani Emir.
**We took that ancient town away from the barbarian Yoruba and their filthy pagan gods.
**It is either the Koran or Sword. We will turn this country into war zone and refugee camp if they try to take our power.
''When I say that the Presidency must come to the North next year I am referring to the Hausa-Fulani core north and not any northern christian or muslim minority tribe.
The Christians in the north such as the Berom, the Tiv, the Kataf, the Jaba, the Zuru, the Sayyawa, the Bachama, the Jukun, the Idoma and all the others are nothing and the muslim minorities in the north, including the Kanuri, the Nupe, the Igbira, the Babur, the Shuwa Arabs, the Marghur and all the others know that when we are talking about leadership in the north and in Nigeria, Allah has given it to us, the Hausa-Fulani.
They can grumble, moan and groan as much as they want but each time they go into their bedrooms to meet their wives and each time they get on their prayer mats to begin their prayers, it is we the Fulani that they think of, that they fear, that they bow to and that they pray for.
Some of them are even ready to give us their wives and daughters for one nights sport and pleasure. They owe us everything. This is because we gave them Islam through the great Jihad waged by Sheik Usman Dan Fodio." - ALIYU GWARZO. - Hope For Nigeria.
Read full post here: https://m.facebook.com/hopefornigeria/photos/a.152919604766170.37823.100484630009668/802290979829026/?type=1&refid=18&_ft_&__tn__=%2As
Social Movement for Change wish to state that this publication is false, it lacks source and authenticity, it's concocted and cooked by Hope For Nigeria in a desperate attempt to give the North/Islam or the opposition a bad name just to sell it unpopular paymaster to the Southern electorates, an action which wasn't the first nor the second by Hope for Nigeria aimed at disuniting Nigerians and Nigeria as a whole.
In the interest of all, Social Movement for Change wish to challenge Hope For Nigeria to a public debate on this subject where we could prove to the world how calamitous your activities are to Nigeria's development as well as your plans and modus operandi.
Who is Aliyu Gwarzo? As claimed by Hope For Nigeria to be the author of the said publication and when did he became a news maker? If not for some selfish interest.
Social Movement for Change wants to use this medium to warn Hope For Nigeria that the unity of Nigeria is above anybody's evil work and non negotiatable, no amount of sabotage or hypocrisy will destroy Nigeria's unity and our togetherness as a nation is uncompromising, and no devilish plan can tear us apart either by Hope For Nigeria or it paymasters.
We strongly condemned this unholy action and call on all Nigerians of good will to reject Hope For Nigeria and take this publication plus others by Hope For Nigeria with a pinch of salt, as it's nothing but a divisive attempt to incite us against one another while those sponsoring Hope For Nigeria can be enjoying free flow of our wealth into their bank accounts.
Social Movement for Change also wish to re-affirm it commitments to the fight for a greater Nigeria where impunity and political rascalities would not exist but a Nigeria where peace, justice and unity shall reign.
We are urging Nigerians to live in peace, let's uphold that culture of being our brother's keepers and love one another.
God bless Nigeria.
God bless SMC.
Signed.
Usama A. Dandare
National Coordinator.
Social Movement for Change (SMC).
www.smchange.blogspot.com
socialmovementforchange@gmail.com
The publication titled "We Will Kill Any Nigerian That Stand Against Power Coming Back To North" allegedly written by one Aliyu Gwarzo was published on the official Facebook/web page of Hope For Nigeria at exactly 10:17am on Wednesday, Oct 1st 2014 and we found it imperative to clear the air about this development and expose the devilish agenda of Hope For Nigeria.
Part of the post reads:
" S-H-O-C-K-I-N-G!!!"
"We Will Kill Any Nigerian That Stand Against Power Coming Back To North - Aliyu Gwarzo.
**We also captured Ilorin, killed their local King and installed our Fulani Emir.
**We took that ancient town away from the barbarian Yoruba and their filthy pagan gods.
**It is either the Koran or Sword. We will turn this country into war zone and refugee camp if they try to take our power.
''When I say that the Presidency must come to the North next year I am referring to the Hausa-Fulani core north and not any northern christian or muslim minority tribe.
The Christians in the north such as the Berom, the Tiv, the Kataf, the Jaba, the Zuru, the Sayyawa, the Bachama, the Jukun, the Idoma and all the others are nothing and the muslim minorities in the north, including the Kanuri, the Nupe, the Igbira, the Babur, the Shuwa Arabs, the Marghur and all the others know that when we are talking about leadership in the north and in Nigeria, Allah has given it to us, the Hausa-Fulani.
They can grumble, moan and groan as much as they want but each time they go into their bedrooms to meet their wives and each time they get on their prayer mats to begin their prayers, it is we the Fulani that they think of, that they fear, that they bow to and that they pray for.
Some of them are even ready to give us their wives and daughters for one nights sport and pleasure. They owe us everything. This is because we gave them Islam through the great Jihad waged by Sheik Usman Dan Fodio." - ALIYU GWARZO. - Hope For Nigeria.
Read full post here: https://m.facebook.com/hopefornigeria/photos/a.152919604766170.37823.100484630009668/802290979829026/?type=1&refid=18&_ft_&__tn__=%2As
Social Movement for Change wish to state that this publication is false, it lacks source and authenticity, it's concocted and cooked by Hope For Nigeria in a desperate attempt to give the North/Islam or the opposition a bad name just to sell it unpopular paymaster to the Southern electorates, an action which wasn't the first nor the second by Hope for Nigeria aimed at disuniting Nigerians and Nigeria as a whole.
In the interest of all, Social Movement for Change wish to challenge Hope For Nigeria to a public debate on this subject where we could prove to the world how calamitous your activities are to Nigeria's development as well as your plans and modus operandi.
Who is Aliyu Gwarzo? As claimed by Hope For Nigeria to be the author of the said publication and when did he became a news maker? If not for some selfish interest.
Social Movement for Change wants to use this medium to warn Hope For Nigeria that the unity of Nigeria is above anybody's evil work and non negotiatable, no amount of sabotage or hypocrisy will destroy Nigeria's unity and our togetherness as a nation is uncompromising, and no devilish plan can tear us apart either by Hope For Nigeria or it paymasters.
We strongly condemned this unholy action and call on all Nigerians of good will to reject Hope For Nigeria and take this publication plus others by Hope For Nigeria with a pinch of salt, as it's nothing but a divisive attempt to incite us against one another while those sponsoring Hope For Nigeria can be enjoying free flow of our wealth into their bank accounts.
Social Movement for Change also wish to re-affirm it commitments to the fight for a greater Nigeria where impunity and political rascalities would not exist but a Nigeria where peace, justice and unity shall reign.
We are urging Nigerians to live in peace, let's uphold that culture of being our brother's keepers and love one another.
God bless Nigeria.
God bless SMC.
Signed.
Usama A. Dandare
National Coordinator.
Social Movement for Change (SMC).
www.smchange.blogspot.com
socialmovementforchange@gmail.com
Tuesday, 23 September 2014
The Cataclysmic Siblings Of Aso Rockers - By: Usama Dandare
“I am treading softly on Islamic terror group Boko Haram because its members are our siblings. It is extremely difficult to deal with them. You cannot mobilize the whole soldiers to go and wipe out your entire family. So, it is easier to deal with foreigners than with your brothers.” ~ President Goodluck Jonathan 2012
If we can recall, a Perth-based International Adviser and hostage negotiator, Dr. Stephen Davis whom was hired by the government of President Jonathan to negotiate the release of Chibok abducted girls, has Named former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-General Azubuike Ihejirika and former Governor of Borno state, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as potential Boko Haram Sponsors. Dr. Davis also mention an undisclosed official of the Central Bank of Nigeria who currently works in the policy operations department of the Bank, Davis refused to disclose his identity but gave a clue that he's an uncle to three suspects arrested in connection with the tragic Nyanya bombing in Abuja.
While some quarter of Nigerians were rejoicing and jubilating that the end of Boko Haram has began since names are being mentioned, some are saying "NO" it can't be possible, which evidence does this man has to accused Ihejirika of hands in Boko Haram? the man that fought so hard for Nigeria as a military officer.
As an intellectual, the first thing to do before jumping in to accuse or exonerate somebody is to take a closer look to the two men in question and analyze the tendencies of their possible involvement in breaching the long enjoyed peace and unity in Nigeria, not forgetting also about Dr. Stephen Davis.
Senator Ali Modu Shariff, a three times Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and a two times Governor of Borno state all in sixteen years. Meaning, Ali Modu Shariff has been a political office holder since the onset of democracy in 1999 to date and one among the few richest billionaires in Nigeria, he recently added the fourth private jet at a cost of over ₦11bn to his fleet of luxury flights. Senator Ali Shariff (popular known as SAS) was a school dropout and a close ally to President Jonathan, he was awarded a contract sum of ₦3bn to procure military hardware for Nigerian government during Gen Abatcha regime and many people believed he uses that opportunity to smuggled arms into the country for his personal purpose.
SAS was a Governor of Borno state for eight years from 2003-2011 after spending four years at the senate, his regime as a state Governor virtually did nothing to the state as far as democratic dividends are concerned, no infrastructures, no welfare, no economic growth. The only project SAS did as a Governor with all the state/local government statutory allocation for eight years was to trained a group of thugs he named ECOMOC who works for his political ambitions as political thugs, and many believed these Ecomoc are what turned over to become the dreaded terrorist sect called Boko Haram today, SAS however owns an airline "Sky Bird” through which he allegedly smuggled arms into the country.
Lt.-General Azubuike Ihejirika on the other hand is a retired army officer who rose to the highest ranking in Nigerian Army and as you may all know, he's a close associate of President Jonathan and has now ventured into politics with the intention of contesting the Governorship office of Abia state having full Presidential backing. Since the name of Ihejirika was mentioned among Boko Haram sponsors, it has been like a war between my Hausa anf Igbo friends, the Igbos were furious that accusing Ihejirika was a conspiracy against the Igbo tribe seeing he was the only Igbo to attained such a high rank within the military for the past forty years and such a man that sacrifices his life for Nigeria can never engage in threatening her sovereignty.
Many northerners believed Ihejirika is using Boko Haram to terrorize the north in retaliation for the killing of his tribal men during the Biafran civil war where thousands of Igbos were killed by government troops under the command of northern commanders, this they said was why "Ihejirika ordered the military not respond as they cowardly watched the assassination of Gen Shuwa", the then military commander who led an offensive against Biafran soldiers.
As you may all know, Nigerian forces under the flag of Joint Military Task force (JTF) recorded a tremendous achievement in the fight against boko Haram leading to the death of the sect overall leader, that time the original Abubakar Shekau was killed in an offensive by the Military, the terrorist were on the run and the villagers of the villages ravaged by Boko haram today were themselves single handedly apprehending Boko haram fighters in the bushes with the help of Civilian JTF (a youth vigilentee group) before the appointment of Gen Azubuike Ihejirika as the Chief of Army staff.
As soon as Azubuike Ihejirika assumed duty, the first action he took was to transfer the leadership of the JTF that exalted in chasing out Boko Haram out of northeast, he also disbanded the JTF whom were patrolling all over the troubled states, borders, and surrounding bushes in search for the remaining terrorist who flee military offensives, Ihejirika then created the so called "7 division" that was widely believed to be a deliberate sabotage of the success of JTF. With the creation of 7 division, powers of the CJTF and JTF were cut to a minimal level, making the military an army that was stationary instead of an army that took proactive measures in combat, thus allowing Boko Haram to regroup back in bushes and camps.
Ihejirika's disbanding of JTF and reduction of CJTF powers led to Boko Haram's regrouping and survival to reign more terror on Nigeria and her people, it was evident the retired army chief wanted to preserve Boko haram and not complete their defeat to keep the money flowing from the continuous war on terror in the north. Spectators wondered what were Ihejirika's reasons for transferring all the military heroes and intelligent officers that championed the war against Boko Haram out of the states? Ihejirika deployed a new commanding officer acknowledged by SAS and this can show a strong link between the two men from day one, Ihejirika and SAS.
Another offside scored by Gen. Ihejirika was failing to answer questions, investigate or fish out those top military officers who always gave "orders from above" stopping government troops from engaging or chasing terrorist at the time of an attack, the surprising disappearance of troops from their duty post each time Boko Haram insurgents signaled their arrival all started when Ihejirika was the Chief of Army Staff and to my dismay, Gen Ihejirika has never questioned those deserted soldiers.
On the part of the whistle blower, Dr Stephen Davis is a Perth-based expert negotiator who left his home in Australia to travel to Nigeria after being recruited by the country's president for his hostage negotiation expertise, he was hired to negotiate the release of 276 girls abducted in a raid on their secondary school in Chibok town of Borno state, by the violent group Boko Haram.
The former Canon Emeritus at Coventry Cathedral in the UK, was hired by President Jonathan (although the president has denied hiring any negotiator) and asked to come to Nigeria after previously brokering a truce between violent Niger Delta terrorist and the government in the Niger Delta region in 2004 and 2009.
These three gentlemen have generated a lot of reactions and controversies among Nigerians and i wonder, instead of Igbo people to be defending their kinsman Ihejirika and Hausa defending their own SAS, why do we have courts in Nigeria? Why can't we simply pressure the government to arrest and prosecute anyone suspected to have links with terrorism? Non among you either has the power or privilege to declare someone innocent or guilty, it can only be proved by the court of law.
Instigating and casting insults on one another in defense of Ihejirika or SAS only makes us look like motor park touts assuming we were not one, and until we learn to unite and face our enemies with a common goal, people may mistake us for another group of prostitutes who keeps chorussing what they has been paid to sing irrespective of whether it makes sense or not.
The most amazing part of all was the public denial by Nigerian Government of not hiring the services of Dr. Stephen Davis, the spokeswoman of the State Security Service (SSS) also dismissed Dr. Davis allegations calling him a self acclaimed negotiator, this shameful denial of Nigerian authorities reminds me of the words of a US military general, Hiram W. Johnson who says: "The first casualty when war comes is truth.” Dr. Stephen Davis has now been rejected by the government that facilitate his coming all the way from Australia just because he spoke the truth he knew about the evils involved in destroying the foundation of our founding fathers.
I personally doesn't know what Dr. Davis will gain by voluntarily coming all the way from another continent to Nigeria just to coming and lie, and had it been he was hired by the opposition, i may agree he's being partial but how can he lie against the people that hired his services? One quality i adore in white men is that quality that's missing in us blacks, "their inability to be economical with the truth" and that led Dr. Davis to his revelations. Instead of the government to arrest the alleged sponsors and commence investigations, Mr. President is seen hobnobbing with one of the accused even before we could spell SAS. Chai!! DiarisGodoo!
President Jonathan's inaction to bring the alleged sponsors of Boko Haram to justice took me down the memory lane to 2012 when Mr. President was quoted as saying; “They (Boko Haram) are our siblings and you cannot send the army to wipe out your family…. We are handling them with a soft approach.” Clearly, President Jonathan isn't capable of addressing the security challenges in Nigeria.
Nigerians from all over the globe got furious over Mr. President's remarks and i told them; listen guys, Mr. President isn't a fool, he definitely knew what he was talking about by calling Boko Haram his siblings, he knows what he was saying. He won't wipe out terrorist because they are his siblings but can wipe out protesters and the opposition, Mr. tried to play a sympathy game with this but failed.
The relative peace of mind and ease in operations enjoyed by President Jonathan's siblings (Boko Haram) must inevitably be attributed to the soft approach by their dady's government. Well, Nigerians are well conversant with Jonathan's romantic unionism with terrorists, his preservation of them and his continuous opposition to their designating as "terrorist group" for many years until when pressured by international communities.
The security of Boko Haram has long been guaranteed with their dady in Aso Rock, given them all the protections they need to drive in convoys with Armored Carrier vehicles uninterrupted and operates in a free reign undisturbed, given Shekau the confidence to threatened that he will kidnap and sell Barrack Obama and viladmir Putin. Did Boko Haram has anything to fear with their dady in power?
While President Jonathan is here deceiving himself by pretending to be sympathetic, merciful and all loving President in search for sympathy votes ahead of 2015, his siblings (Boko Haram) are there killing thousands of other people's siblings, fathers, mothers, grandfathers, grandmothers and wiping out a whole town.
A total of about 25 towns are under the full control of Boko Haram insurgents with their flags flying at every angle in the towns but yet, President Jonathan is here parading himself as a born again who doesn't want to shed peoples blood with soft approach to Boko Haram while forgetting he's on the verge of loosing a whole state out of his rule. It may interest you to know the towns that are being controlled conveniently by the Boko Haram terrorist, they include: Damboa, Buni Yadi, Madagali, Gwoza, Gujba, Gulak, Bama, Gulani, Shuwa, Marte, Kukawa, Michika, Dikwa, Bularafa, Bazza, Gamboru Ngalla and Buni Gari. Others are Banki, Bara, Pulka, Bumsa, Ashgashiya, Taltaba, Limankara and Njibulwa, all in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.
The only way to end this whole mess called Boko Haram, is to flush out their dady out of Aso Rock and charge him to court, this only will lead to unraveling all the sponsors of terror in Nigeria.
In the midst of all this brouhaha, another untouchable associate of President Jonathan was indicted in a case of arms smuggling. Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor's jet was arrested in South Africa carrying a cash sum of $10m, allegedly on a mission to smuggle arms into Nigeria. Pastor Oritsejafor's closeness to the presidency made him untouchable in Nigeria and as such, the Federal Government quickly rush out and claimed ownership of the cash and confirmed the legality of that particular trip just to exonerate President Jonathan's spiritual Godfather.
Government's claims failed to highlights any sense of truths in them and has no tendency of coinciding with the fact, it's yet another attempt by President Jonathan to cover up or protect his siblings and their uncivilized activities. People from all works of life accuses Jonathan's government of insincerity and faul play in this Oritsejafor's saga, thus loosing support from those in their tents.
The Federal Government in an attempt to clear Oritsejafor's name claimed it was aware of the cash movement, that it sent for arms to fight insurgency and it deliberately gave out cash of $9.3m to ensure the speedy flow of the transaction, and it reasons for buying arms in South Africa was because some countries were stopping arms dealers from selling military hardwares to Nigeria. This can't match anything except a baseless and dubious statement.
Permit me to finally hold a brake here and leave you with the 11-point posers raised by Mr Festus Keyamo, an activist and human right lawyer over the seized $9.3 million arms deal involving Oritsejafor's private jet.
"The following rhetoric posers are germane to this issue:"
"1. Is it really faster and safer to do an international transaction of such magnitude by ferrying cash across the continent or by a simple wire transfer that can go through in a matter of few minutes or few hours?"
2. "If, indeed, the matter involves security issues like the purchase of arms by a foreign government like Nigeria, why was the South African Government not brought into the picture beforehand? How could the South African Government be sure that the arms were purchased legitimately by the Nigerian government and not by insurgents if they were not officially informed beforehand?"
3. "If indeed the manufacturer(s) of such equipment was/were expecting such large amount by cash, why did they not make adequate arrangements with the authorities in South Africa to declare and clear the cash on arrival?"
4. "Why was money belonging to the Federal Government and meant for purchase of equipment for the Federal Government moved by a private jet and by private individuals and why were they not accompanied by the officials of the Department of State Services or the office of the National Security Adviser in official capacities?"
5. "Why would a government that is at the peak of promoting the cashless policy in our economy be the chief breaker of that policy by moving such a large amount by cash?"
6. "If, indeed, it was a legitimate transaction of the Federal Government, why were the officials of our embassy in South Africa not on hand to make the entry easier and smoother?"
7. "Since the South African Government has said the amount is above the limit of cash allowed into that country, why would a whole government like Nigeria not know the simple immigration laws of a sister and friendly country before allowing that type of amount of cash to be taken to that country?"
8. "Why would the Nigerian government seek to smuggle cash into a country without disclosure if it was, indeed, for a legitimate transaction?"
9. "From where did the Federal Government source that amount in Nigeria? Was it from the Central Bank of Nigeria or from the black market? Nigerians demand answers to this with proof."
10. "Is it just a wicked coincidence that it is the aircraft belonging to a personal friend and unapologetic ally of the President in the person of Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor (my big brother in Warri), that was used to smuggle the cash?"
11. "If, contrary to the above posers, the transaction was contracted out to a private company in Nigeria, does it not amount to the offence of Money Laundering under our laws for the Federal Government to have allowed that company to attempt to pay for the equipment by cash to the tune of that amount without passing through a financial institution?"
We need answers not brainless insults, Nigerians needs answers with facts and proofs.
If we can recall, a Perth-based International Adviser and hostage negotiator, Dr. Stephen Davis whom was hired by the government of President Jonathan to negotiate the release of Chibok abducted girls, has Named former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-General Azubuike Ihejirika and former Governor of Borno state, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as potential Boko Haram Sponsors. Dr. Davis also mention an undisclosed official of the Central Bank of Nigeria who currently works in the policy operations department of the Bank, Davis refused to disclose his identity but gave a clue that he's an uncle to three suspects arrested in connection with the tragic Nyanya bombing in Abuja.
While some quarter of Nigerians were rejoicing and jubilating that the end of Boko Haram has began since names are being mentioned, some are saying "NO" it can't be possible, which evidence does this man has to accused Ihejirika of hands in Boko Haram? the man that fought so hard for Nigeria as a military officer.
As an intellectual, the first thing to do before jumping in to accuse or exonerate somebody is to take a closer look to the two men in question and analyze the tendencies of their possible involvement in breaching the long enjoyed peace and unity in Nigeria, not forgetting also about Dr. Stephen Davis.
Senator Ali Modu Shariff, a three times Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and a two times Governor of Borno state all in sixteen years. Meaning, Ali Modu Shariff has been a political office holder since the onset of democracy in 1999 to date and one among the few richest billionaires in Nigeria, he recently added the fourth private jet at a cost of over ₦11bn to his fleet of luxury flights. Senator Ali Shariff (popular known as SAS) was a school dropout and a close ally to President Jonathan, he was awarded a contract sum of ₦3bn to procure military hardware for Nigerian government during Gen Abatcha regime and many people believed he uses that opportunity to smuggled arms into the country for his personal purpose.
SAS was a Governor of Borno state for eight years from 2003-2011 after spending four years at the senate, his regime as a state Governor virtually did nothing to the state as far as democratic dividends are concerned, no infrastructures, no welfare, no economic growth. The only project SAS did as a Governor with all the state/local government statutory allocation for eight years was to trained a group of thugs he named ECOMOC who works for his political ambitions as political thugs, and many believed these Ecomoc are what turned over to become the dreaded terrorist sect called Boko Haram today, SAS however owns an airline "Sky Bird” through which he allegedly smuggled arms into the country.
Lt.-General Azubuike Ihejirika on the other hand is a retired army officer who rose to the highest ranking in Nigerian Army and as you may all know, he's a close associate of President Jonathan and has now ventured into politics with the intention of contesting the Governorship office of Abia state having full Presidential backing. Since the name of Ihejirika was mentioned among Boko Haram sponsors, it has been like a war between my Hausa anf Igbo friends, the Igbos were furious that accusing Ihejirika was a conspiracy against the Igbo tribe seeing he was the only Igbo to attained such a high rank within the military for the past forty years and such a man that sacrifices his life for Nigeria can never engage in threatening her sovereignty.
Many northerners believed Ihejirika is using Boko Haram to terrorize the north in retaliation for the killing of his tribal men during the Biafran civil war where thousands of Igbos were killed by government troops under the command of northern commanders, this they said was why "Ihejirika ordered the military not respond as they cowardly watched the assassination of Gen Shuwa", the then military commander who led an offensive against Biafran soldiers.
As you may all know, Nigerian forces under the flag of Joint Military Task force (JTF) recorded a tremendous achievement in the fight against boko Haram leading to the death of the sect overall leader, that time the original Abubakar Shekau was killed in an offensive by the Military, the terrorist were on the run and the villagers of the villages ravaged by Boko haram today were themselves single handedly apprehending Boko haram fighters in the bushes with the help of Civilian JTF (a youth vigilentee group) before the appointment of Gen Azubuike Ihejirika as the Chief of Army staff.
As soon as Azubuike Ihejirika assumed duty, the first action he took was to transfer the leadership of the JTF that exalted in chasing out Boko Haram out of northeast, he also disbanded the JTF whom were patrolling all over the troubled states, borders, and surrounding bushes in search for the remaining terrorist who flee military offensives, Ihejirika then created the so called "7 division" that was widely believed to be a deliberate sabotage of the success of JTF. With the creation of 7 division, powers of the CJTF and JTF were cut to a minimal level, making the military an army that was stationary instead of an army that took proactive measures in combat, thus allowing Boko Haram to regroup back in bushes and camps.
Ihejirika's disbanding of JTF and reduction of CJTF powers led to Boko Haram's regrouping and survival to reign more terror on Nigeria and her people, it was evident the retired army chief wanted to preserve Boko haram and not complete their defeat to keep the money flowing from the continuous war on terror in the north. Spectators wondered what were Ihejirika's reasons for transferring all the military heroes and intelligent officers that championed the war against Boko Haram out of the states? Ihejirika deployed a new commanding officer acknowledged by SAS and this can show a strong link between the two men from day one, Ihejirika and SAS.
Another offside scored by Gen. Ihejirika was failing to answer questions, investigate or fish out those top military officers who always gave "orders from above" stopping government troops from engaging or chasing terrorist at the time of an attack, the surprising disappearance of troops from their duty post each time Boko Haram insurgents signaled their arrival all started when Ihejirika was the Chief of Army Staff and to my dismay, Gen Ihejirika has never questioned those deserted soldiers.
On the part of the whistle blower, Dr Stephen Davis is a Perth-based expert negotiator who left his home in Australia to travel to Nigeria after being recruited by the country's president for his hostage negotiation expertise, he was hired to negotiate the release of 276 girls abducted in a raid on their secondary school in Chibok town of Borno state, by the violent group Boko Haram.
The former Canon Emeritus at Coventry Cathedral in the UK, was hired by President Jonathan (although the president has denied hiring any negotiator) and asked to come to Nigeria after previously brokering a truce between violent Niger Delta terrorist and the government in the Niger Delta region in 2004 and 2009.
These three gentlemen have generated a lot of reactions and controversies among Nigerians and i wonder, instead of Igbo people to be defending their kinsman Ihejirika and Hausa defending their own SAS, why do we have courts in Nigeria? Why can't we simply pressure the government to arrest and prosecute anyone suspected to have links with terrorism? Non among you either has the power or privilege to declare someone innocent or guilty, it can only be proved by the court of law.
Instigating and casting insults on one another in defense of Ihejirika or SAS only makes us look like motor park touts assuming we were not one, and until we learn to unite and face our enemies with a common goal, people may mistake us for another group of prostitutes who keeps chorussing what they has been paid to sing irrespective of whether it makes sense or not.
The most amazing part of all was the public denial by Nigerian Government of not hiring the services of Dr. Stephen Davis, the spokeswoman of the State Security Service (SSS) also dismissed Dr. Davis allegations calling him a self acclaimed negotiator, this shameful denial of Nigerian authorities reminds me of the words of a US military general, Hiram W. Johnson who says: "The first casualty when war comes is truth.” Dr. Stephen Davis has now been rejected by the government that facilitate his coming all the way from Australia just because he spoke the truth he knew about the evils involved in destroying the foundation of our founding fathers.
I personally doesn't know what Dr. Davis will gain by voluntarily coming all the way from another continent to Nigeria just to coming and lie, and had it been he was hired by the opposition, i may agree he's being partial but how can he lie against the people that hired his services? One quality i adore in white men is that quality that's missing in us blacks, "their inability to be economical with the truth" and that led Dr. Davis to his revelations. Instead of the government to arrest the alleged sponsors and commence investigations, Mr. President is seen hobnobbing with one of the accused even before we could spell SAS. Chai!! DiarisGodoo!
President Jonathan's inaction to bring the alleged sponsors of Boko Haram to justice took me down the memory lane to 2012 when Mr. President was quoted as saying; “They (Boko Haram) are our siblings and you cannot send the army to wipe out your family…. We are handling them with a soft approach.” Clearly, President Jonathan isn't capable of addressing the security challenges in Nigeria.
Nigerians from all over the globe got furious over Mr. President's remarks and i told them; listen guys, Mr. President isn't a fool, he definitely knew what he was talking about by calling Boko Haram his siblings, he knows what he was saying. He won't wipe out terrorist because they are his siblings but can wipe out protesters and the opposition, Mr. tried to play a sympathy game with this but failed.
The relative peace of mind and ease in operations enjoyed by President Jonathan's siblings (Boko Haram) must inevitably be attributed to the soft approach by their dady's government. Well, Nigerians are well conversant with Jonathan's romantic unionism with terrorists, his preservation of them and his continuous opposition to their designating as "terrorist group" for many years until when pressured by international communities.
The security of Boko Haram has long been guaranteed with their dady in Aso Rock, given them all the protections they need to drive in convoys with Armored Carrier vehicles uninterrupted and operates in a free reign undisturbed, given Shekau the confidence to threatened that he will kidnap and sell Barrack Obama and viladmir Putin. Did Boko Haram has anything to fear with their dady in power?
While President Jonathan is here deceiving himself by pretending to be sympathetic, merciful and all loving President in search for sympathy votes ahead of 2015, his siblings (Boko Haram) are there killing thousands of other people's siblings, fathers, mothers, grandfathers, grandmothers and wiping out a whole town.
A total of about 25 towns are under the full control of Boko Haram insurgents with their flags flying at every angle in the towns but yet, President Jonathan is here parading himself as a born again who doesn't want to shed peoples blood with soft approach to Boko Haram while forgetting he's on the verge of loosing a whole state out of his rule. It may interest you to know the towns that are being controlled conveniently by the Boko Haram terrorist, they include: Damboa, Buni Yadi, Madagali, Gwoza, Gujba, Gulak, Bama, Gulani, Shuwa, Marte, Kukawa, Michika, Dikwa, Bularafa, Bazza, Gamboru Ngalla and Buni Gari. Others are Banki, Bara, Pulka, Bumsa, Ashgashiya, Taltaba, Limankara and Njibulwa, all in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.
The only way to end this whole mess called Boko Haram, is to flush out their dady out of Aso Rock and charge him to court, this only will lead to unraveling all the sponsors of terror in Nigeria.
In the midst of all this brouhaha, another untouchable associate of President Jonathan was indicted in a case of arms smuggling. Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor's jet was arrested in South Africa carrying a cash sum of $10m, allegedly on a mission to smuggle arms into Nigeria. Pastor Oritsejafor's closeness to the presidency made him untouchable in Nigeria and as such, the Federal Government quickly rush out and claimed ownership of the cash and confirmed the legality of that particular trip just to exonerate President Jonathan's spiritual Godfather.
Government's claims failed to highlights any sense of truths in them and has no tendency of coinciding with the fact, it's yet another attempt by President Jonathan to cover up or protect his siblings and their uncivilized activities. People from all works of life accuses Jonathan's government of insincerity and faul play in this Oritsejafor's saga, thus loosing support from those in their tents.
The Federal Government in an attempt to clear Oritsejafor's name claimed it was aware of the cash movement, that it sent for arms to fight insurgency and it deliberately gave out cash of $9.3m to ensure the speedy flow of the transaction, and it reasons for buying arms in South Africa was because some countries were stopping arms dealers from selling military hardwares to Nigeria. This can't match anything except a baseless and dubious statement.
Permit me to finally hold a brake here and leave you with the 11-point posers raised by Mr Festus Keyamo, an activist and human right lawyer over the seized $9.3 million arms deal involving Oritsejafor's private jet.
"The following rhetoric posers are germane to this issue:"
"1. Is it really faster and safer to do an international transaction of such magnitude by ferrying cash across the continent or by a simple wire transfer that can go through in a matter of few minutes or few hours?"
2. "If, indeed, the matter involves security issues like the purchase of arms by a foreign government like Nigeria, why was the South African Government not brought into the picture beforehand? How could the South African Government be sure that the arms were purchased legitimately by the Nigerian government and not by insurgents if they were not officially informed beforehand?"
3. "If indeed the manufacturer(s) of such equipment was/were expecting such large amount by cash, why did they not make adequate arrangements with the authorities in South Africa to declare and clear the cash on arrival?"
4. "Why was money belonging to the Federal Government and meant for purchase of equipment for the Federal Government moved by a private jet and by private individuals and why were they not accompanied by the officials of the Department of State Services or the office of the National Security Adviser in official capacities?"
5. "Why would a government that is at the peak of promoting the cashless policy in our economy be the chief breaker of that policy by moving such a large amount by cash?"
6. "If, indeed, it was a legitimate transaction of the Federal Government, why were the officials of our embassy in South Africa not on hand to make the entry easier and smoother?"
7. "Since the South African Government has said the amount is above the limit of cash allowed into that country, why would a whole government like Nigeria not know the simple immigration laws of a sister and friendly country before allowing that type of amount of cash to be taken to that country?"
8. "Why would the Nigerian government seek to smuggle cash into a country without disclosure if it was, indeed, for a legitimate transaction?"
9. "From where did the Federal Government source that amount in Nigeria? Was it from the Central Bank of Nigeria or from the black market? Nigerians demand answers to this with proof."
10. "Is it just a wicked coincidence that it is the aircraft belonging to a personal friend and unapologetic ally of the President in the person of Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor (my big brother in Warri), that was used to smuggle the cash?"
11. "If, contrary to the above posers, the transaction was contracted out to a private company in Nigeria, does it not amount to the offence of Money Laundering under our laws for the Federal Government to have allowed that company to attempt to pay for the equipment by cash to the tune of that amount without passing through a financial institution?"
We need answers not brainless insults, Nigerians needs answers with facts and proofs.
Wednesday, 17 September 2014
KILL CORRUPTION, NOT OUR SOLDIERS: Justice Must Be Done To Maimalari 12 - Social Movement for Change (SMC)
The text of a press conference held by members of SMC in Abuja.
16 Sept, 2014.
Ladies and gentlemen of the press, we received with shock the news of a barbarian judgment yesterday 15 Sept, 2014 on thirteen soldiers of the Nigerian Army by a military court martial presided over by Maj. Gen. C.C. Okonkwo, the court martial was setup to investigate eighteen soldiers for involving in a gun attack targeting the General Officer Commanding 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen. Ahmed Mohammmed, in Maiduguri, Borno state on May 14, 2014.
"Maj. Gen. C.C. Okonkwo found thirteen out of the eighteen soldiers guilty of criminal conspiracy, mutiny, attempt to commit murder (shooting of the vehicle of the GOC); insubordination to a particular order; insubordination and false accusation. The court martial discharged and acquitted five out of the eighteen soldiers namely David Robert, Mohammed Sani, Iseh Ubong, Sebastine Gwaba and Naaman Samuel."
"Twelve others namely Jasper Braidolor, David Musa, Friday Onuh, Yusuf Shuaibu, Igonmu Emmanuel, Andrew Ugbede, Nurudeen Ahmed, Ifeanyi Alukagba, Alao Samuel, Amadi Chukwuma, Alan Linus, and Stephen Clement, were found guilty and sentenced to death while Jeremiah Echocho was sentenced to 28 days with hard labour."
We wonder where these nature of judgments originated in this our 21st century? It is absolutely malapropos and scatterbrained for any well organized system to issue such barbarity on people who were pushed to the wall, people who were forced to revolt against oppression and injustice without properly investigating the genesis of their action or inaction.
Although, what the soldiers did amounts to a punishable offense but in an ideal society, the cause of their action summoned more severe retributions than the offenders but to our dismay, the GOC whom his derelictions to duty and gross irresponsibility resulted to the ugly incident of May 14, 2014 was left unpunished while the poor soldiers are now forced to pay the price of his inept nitwits.
The cause of the their action should have been given much priorities and emphasis more than their action.
In any spirit less society like ours, a society characterized by corruption, un patriotism, insensitivity, immorality, callousness and impunity, a society deeply affected by deficiency of good leadership. The action of these poor soldiers and many other incidents where people takes law into their hands is inevitable and until we choose to do the things the right way, the better for Nigeria.
In view of the above, Social Movement for Change condemned in it strongest terms the barbaric death verdict by Maj. Gen. C.C. Okonkwo's court martial issued against twelve soldiers of the Nigerian Army for their role in the shooting of the General Officer Commanding 7 Division of Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen. Ahmed Mohammmed, in Maiduguri on 14 May, 2014.
It is un impressionable, irresponsible, callous, obdurate and case-hardened for such ill-hearted judgment to be issued at this satirical and reproachful moment in our yesteryears.
Viewing from the current security situation ravaging Nigeria's peace and unity, this verdict alone can fall off the already low morale of our gallant forces in the battlefield, which is more crucial for us now than the so-called mutiny.
SMC is hereby calling on the Nigerian Military leadership and the Military Court to as a matter of urgent, reverse it earlier verdict to a more human friendly judgment or acquit and discharge the poor men free of charge.
We wish to call on both local and international human right agencies and activists to come to the help of these poor innocent soldiers in what appears to be a complete human right violation and a crime against humanity. We also urge Nigerian judiciary, Nigerian Bar Association and all relevant authorities to step up efforts in delivering justice to these soldiers.
We expect the military top leadership to launch a straight fight against corruption and impunity which are the main factors behind the so-called mutiny and are responsible for killing the morale of our combat troops in the troubled Northeast, but not killing our soldiers.
Social Movement for Change equally wish to join other across Nigeria and the world in showing sympathy and support to Maimalari 12 soldiers, "we are with you and you have our total support" and urge all well-meaning groups/individuals to do the same.
Join the fight against injustice! #FreeOurSoldiers
#KillCorruptionNotOurSoldiers
God Bless Nigeria
God Bless SMC
Thanks!
Usama A. Dandare
National Coordinator,
Social Movement for Change (SMC).
@SMChangee
socialmovementforchange@gmail.com
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