Loot Recovery: What Do We Know?

[Kenn]

ILN,


I note that your last post is a response to my rhetorical question: “Where is the new idea”?

May I point out that the two reports you have there present nothing new. Regarding the first, I’m sure you were aware how even the very corrupt Abacha made a great show of trying executives of failed banks, including the well known case of Chief Femi Adekanye amongst others. So, if it is a question of trying people like this, I must point out that Obasanjo is only taking a page from Abacha’s and therefore there’s nothing new there. Until Obasanjo commits himself to initiating a proper and honest reform of the banking system, these selective trials can serve no purpose.

As for the second, you’d note that I’ve already mentioned the impetus for the present activities against people accused of 419, but even in that, you cannot deny that this is just a ‘showpiece’ trial to create an impression that government is tackling the problem, but are they? Does the trial of Ibekwe, Ade Bendel or Ajudua represent a genuine effort at clamping down on the menace? And even if you do believe it is a genuine effort, all it still is at this stage is a mere trial, not conviction. The same can be said of Alhaji Bulama’s trial. So, these cases represent nothing new.



CHEERS!

[I Love Nigeria]

Kenn1,

I hope that the govt. is more serious than you portend, I hope that your forecast is wrong, for all our sakes!

The longest journey, begins with the first step! Let us be optimistic.

We will be watching the events as they unfold.

[DeepThought]

>>We will be watching the events as they unfold.<<

Whey your microscope ? come and see american wonder .......77777 rondo rondo You go watch so taaaae you go tire 8o

As for me... I dey go fishing O jare :rollin

[I Love Nigeria]

DeepThought,

Nigeria will become all the good, that we all desire of Nigeria, we all, then, can go fishing!

[Kenn]

http://odili.net/news/source/2003/sep/22/300.html

[PopGee]

Good - more proof of corruption at the NASS. So following the OBJ doctrine - Nigeria has no need for a legislature since they are just as corrupt and wasteful as the Local Councils he is now scheming to scrap.

[CIkpatt]

Perhaps, it is just my humble self seeing the corruption problem in Nigeria from a different light - because I am different from y'all. As long as there is Nigeria with prevailing systems having been textured by ways Nigerians think and do stuff, there will remain corruption - and corruption worsens untill death removes slams it dead.

That Senators of the Federal Republic demand money to approve of Ministerial nominees is not unexpected. I'd be "troubled" if that did not happen. Why? It would mean that they are up to something worse than just being "settled".

Are those not the same who have seen Naira at work, having bribed and bought gullible Nigerians with money to secure legislative positions in the first place?

It happens up to the Presidency. The President jokes it away. Nigerians overtly applaud smart ones who are not "caught" and Nigerians love corruption [last night, I read two current Newsmagazines - The NEWS and one other tabloid - and all there were are scripted reflections of a sorry and debased society scarcely noticing its depravity]. I worked and led operations first hand in a Special Investigations Unit [Anti-Fraud and high crimes] and you cannot begin to imagine the extent of corruption in high places, a tree whose roots have dug deep beyond the center of the earth's crust. There are some things. Look, it only takes those who know the extent or degree of a problem to solve such problem. I unequivocally submit that corruption in Nigeria can be fixed - only one has to know and be WRA to do what must be done. And what must be done is so simple that it confounds the wisdom of many learned ones.

Untill we review and re-engineer those systems that power Nigeria corruption, Nigerians will remain corrupt and government officials will remain corrupt. And experiences have made some of us [truly emancipated ones] figure out some effective ways to deal with this problem. Gone are the days that pearls were cast unto swines. Blessed is the hope that redemption will come.

ILN, I am very sure you have a good heart but I am afraid you lack understanding of the machinery of corruption in Nigeria high places. Meaning: your viewpoint and "way out" of corruption has been tried, tested and proven a failure. Not because they are not "smart", but because as the Mosaic Law was weak through the flesh, your suggested methods are weak through Nigeria. Should you be in a position of governing authority today and maintain your stated viewpoints, you'd be in for a rude awakening the first week and great chances are that you may be ensared and overwhelmed by them.

There is no way any one can come forth with information about corrupt high flyers and expect justice at days end. Listen to me, the system is so frail and itself so clogged and bugged that no matter which route you take (in good faith), justice is murdered or rendered comatose.

As you read, Speakers are meeting to jam heads over processes toward Constitutional amendments and other things [or so they claim]. For those who really have a call to serve Nigeria, this is time to forge relationships toward a formidable group that can "work" hard with so-called law makers toward preparing grounds for 2007 and beyond. Why? The only weapons that may be used to scratch impending plots to steal 2007 shall be potent laws and transparent arrangements to check PDP - Nigeria's truly popular party for a corrupt mass called Nigerians.

[PopGee]

Ikpatt,

I have read and re-read your post. And I'm confused. You rightly point out that the bribe-taking Senators should not come as a surprise considering their antecedents and then talk at the end of some "work" with the (same?) law-makers to fix corruption.

Pardon my cynicism - I see NOBODY in public life in Nigeria right now able/willing to genuinely address the country's fundamental problems.

They are now in the process of replacing a constitution of military dictatorship with one of the PDP dictatorship.OBJ and his fellow soldiers who now dominate Nigeria's political landscape know no other way of governing.
And some call that progress.

[Picasso]

Pardon my cynicism - I see NOBODY in public life in Nigeria right now able/willing to genuinely address the country's fundamental problems

PopGee,

Its funny you would say that. Good morning o!

Gani was the ONLY candidate during the last election who can uproot this tree of corruption from the Nigerian system. But when some of us were rallying around him during the election, you guys were busy tearing him apart, calling him a socialist and a radical without economic foresight.

Oh well, all that is in the past now. We are yet to see the dividend of the Obasanjo economic policies which you guys favoured over Gani's. Corruption is all over the placePray tell how an economic policy can function under the ominous presence of corruption.

Good morning again o!

[PopGee]

Onos,

Sorry to burst your bubble. You and other Gani supporters continue to miss the point. The issues, fight at stake go beyond the ego of one individual. We are talking about IDEAS and the realistic way to gain control of the levers of power in a third world country.
Let me give you an example likely to draw a firestorm from another cult-hero in politics - Awo.

As an individual and his politics, Awo can objectively be called an unreconstructed tribalist - especially his pan-Yoruba nationalism and its lingering effects on socio-political relations in the country today.

But the same man proved his mettle in governance by his acumen in bringing together like minds in achieving his vision for his community. The free education idea was not original to Awo - it came from the minds of Rev. Ayanlaja and Adekunle Ajasin. His economic wizardry came from the mind of Sam Aluko.

Awo was quite comfortable in the company of Yoruba intellectual giants like Oluwasanmi, Aboyade, Bola Ige, Mabogunje and others I cannot quickly recall at this time (in-house historians like Orems will clarify).Awo still fell short in realizing his ambition to govern all of Nigeria because of his inability to expand his universe of influence beyond his ethnic enclave.

Do you get the point now? That a movement and the realization of its ideals goes beyond the whims of one person -even one with charisma and personal vision.

Gani has yet to even come close to building an Awo-type coalition that will gain credibility in even ONE local govt. area much less the harder task of a NATIONAL movement/party that will vie realistically for power to do all the wonderful things folks like you tell us sceptics he can deliver.

Abiola did not win the June 12 election on his own steam. His Igbo SDP allies delivered the East; his Hausa-Fulani allies delivered the North. Ditto for the Middle Belt, South-South. He succeeded where Awo failed because he was able to expand his universe of influence beyond his homeland. And it worked. Gani was alive then and saw how it was done.

So why are NCP loyalists like you not demanding a change of strategy from Gani instead of simply letting him play scout leader and following like loyal troops in a march to no-where.

It does nothing to sit on the sidelines to say "we told you so" for rejecting Gani at the polls. Even Jesus had a tough time convincing people he was the Messiah - but he did not sit on his tush sulking. He went out to preach and convince society of his mission.

Sorry for the crash course in political science.You asked for it.

[CIkpatt]

Popgee,

We have to learn from what had happened during the last 419 Elections. No way must potential good men fold arms and watch the PDP bastardize the Constitution and Electoral process in ways similar to what had obtained.

I did not suggest any should "work" with current NASS toward containing corruption. How can one work with rabbits in a carrot farm?

Rather, we must "participate" in every allowable and concievable way toward such legislative matters such as Constitutional and/or electoral reforms. Or, the PDP will hijack or stunt the process to stack favors and fix laws to sustain power. That is what I meant.

[PopGee]

Ikpatt,

So you wan run against IBB for 2007? Tell us now so we can begin to save our pennies and grill you about a manifesto.

As you can see, Gani could do with someone like you in Akwa Ibom or NASS instead of relying mostly on aluta "activists".

[DeepThought]

>>I see NOBODY in public life in Nigeria right now able/willing to genuinely address the country's fundamental problems. <<

Really?

If support for the status quo in Nigeria is O.K so why complain;
>>They are now in the process of replacing a constitution of military dictatorship with one of the PDP dictatorship.OBJ and his fellow soldiers who now dominate Nigeria's political landscape know no other way of governing.<<

Why act suprised?


>>Sorry to burst your bubble. You and other Gani supporters continue to miss the point<<

No its you who miss the point.Or perhaps the point(s) is/are not well defined

Before we run round in circles, perhaps it better to clearly define on what premises support for Gani is based upon and what it is not.

1.Its not about him having a nation wide political machinery
2. It not about his whims
3.Its not even about his economics

Support for Gani with all his imperfection hinges on this
1.>>
No way must potential good men fold arms and watch the PDP bastardize the Constitution and Electoral process in ways similar to what had obtained.<<

2.Does he have the primary requirements of the type of leader Nigeria needs;- intergrity, good intentions and some vision?
3. What are the alternatives to Gani, who were the other players in the field?
- Those are the points

I will support ANY good cripple against the establishment even if he has no chance of winning

I know Ganni is not going to win an election anytime soon in Nigeria . I don't believe I must be on the winning team. I'll rather be on the right team. I know the right team for some is simply the team most capable of winning.


I am with the "troop leader on his match to nowhere"

[PopGee]

DeepThought,

I wonder where you ever got the idea I was complaining or surprised about the Nigerian situation - though I grant you the right to interprete my observations as best suits you.

Please keep marching on but you folks should stop acting as if the rest of us owe Gani anything. Like anyone else gunning for public office - HE WILL HAVE TO EARN HIS STRIPES.

Sorry, this cat is tired of having anyone projected by adoring fans as a Messiah for Nigeria. I'm constrained by my religion to recognize only JC as the Man.

[Kenn]

http://odili.net/news/source/2003/oct/14/205.html


Well as salacious as they come, the rumour mill says the wife's 'contact' is 6 billion naira, while ONE for the son is 500 million.

As I said, it's rumour..

[Wole]

When Professor Wole Soyinka advised the agbe at Aso rock to reign in his wife (or have you people forgotten), some of us knew what the kongi was trying to say.

If the opposition is really really interested in exposing dirty deals by the execs, they should please start by asking for the names, and real owners of companies that were granted fuel import licences. May be then, the whole nation will know why the fuel SCARCITY (with it's natural attendant price hike) persists for so long and SHALL never go away. In those names of those importing fuel you'll see Gbenga Obj, and yes of course, the iyalode herself, Stella.

Of course, this should not be new to you folks since the agbe himself about 3 years ago admitted improprieties in the grants of oil bloc and licences but was clever to blame it on Madame (or have you guys forgotten that). Never mind that we never elected the wife(?) but him. But, as usual, we let the ape go free on that incident. Moons after, he is still the defacto oil minister, and 4 price hikes has graciously been levied on our people, the lines at the filling station never went away, and now, now after $960 million he collected from the last NA for turn-around maintenance of the oil refineries (which he never did, and has so far refused to name the contractors he awarded the TAM to), he now says he wants to sell the refineries.

But why am I not surprised, we are used to selling govt properties just immediately after sinking millions of dollars into them thereby selling them at a discount or with subsidy. The same subsidy the citizens are not entitled to.

I knew something was going down when the same man that popularized the peugeot as official car and austerity measure, now says BMW is the official game car and proceeded to bring them in, games village a la Festac village, stadium built at a jaw dropping amount at a time when the economy was in shambles, COJA appointments, disappointments and resignation. What else if not for corrupt intent or corrupt compromises will make a President that bans importation of nearly all commercial goods will now insist that the one and only one thing Nigeria is known to have in abundance, oil MUST be imported 4 1/2 years now and counting. Please my people go figure that.

All I can say is that the mob has taken over our country and we are still in deep sleep!!!!!!!