Date Published: 12/23/09
IN SUPPORT OF IBORI, TINUBU, ATTAH, ODILI AND OTHERS By John Ayodele
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Nigeria is not doing a good job by harassing our national leaders who have been following in the footsteps of great time statesmen, but graciously helping themselves to our money. The national cake as the money is variously called belongs to us all, including our leaders who have been lucky to find their ways into the government coffers, where they could afford to use the money as they deem fit.
Is it the fault of these leaders to be in government? As a matter of exactness, they did not vote for themselves. Never mind the argument that they stole themselves into office or confuse the voters into getting their votes. Why would the EFCC as they are also known be harassing people who are supposed to be enjoying their hard earned money? Who does not know the smartness of these leaders to use government money like Robin Hood? Barkin Zuwo told us all that government money spent by government leaders should bring no ‘palaver’.
If not for Lamido Sanusi who could not find something else to do, who would have thought that most of the so-called business leaders are also finding ways to drinking the blood of the nation’s sufferers? The current governor of the Central Bank in Nigeria should allow sleeping dogs to lie or allow the status-quo to remain. These many leaders, whether in government or business (public or private) have always used the blood of majority for breakfast and super for years. Why would it bother a Sanusi when former Central bank governors minded their business and ‘carry-go’? Soludo, a possible Professor-governor, Sanusi, Isong, Ahmeds and others have always told the nation that “all was correct” and possibly allowed all sleeping dogs to lie.
The Nazi Germany had a story of a Pastor Martin Niemoller who kept mute when the Jews, Catholics and others were being murdered because he was not affected. He was eventually attacked and nobody came to his rescue.
Political Science could teach ‘nonsense’ to some areas of low political culture where it does not mean much. Some Nigerian politicians refuse to agree with the teaching that people have the sovereignty of power. I think this great discipline did not reckon that this might not be true of all polities especially in places where ‘demo-crazy’ is practically being practiced rather than democracy. The wise elites are wont to advise the poor masses to protect their votes from being stolen by vote robbers while these elite-politicians never protect the public purse or interest as soon as they get into power.
We are told of how politicians would join the traditional powers in inflating population figures to manipulate the future for ulterior motives, and never because of the love for their local populace.
The EFCC should stop running after these great leaders who have served with all their family members, and should be allowed good rest after their hard labor in power. These leaders have done sufficient explanation that they were already rich before getting into government.
Yes, Mr. Odili told the world that he was as rich as Bill Gates before doing the Rivers people a favor of becoming an ordinary governor. What else does the EFCC or the other anti-graft body looking for? Perhaps, Odili needs to do a follow-up by showcasing all the great things he did while in power for eight years.
Who does not know that OGD in Ogun State was a multi-billionaire before becoming a common governor?
Does Odili need to tell why he did not buy all the flying objects linked to him, tell about billions of naira & kobo also traced to him and several of his friends, mischievously called his fronts by the poke nosing EFCC and ICPC set up by busy body Obasanjo’s government. Of what interest is it for Odili to tell if OBJ benefited massively by getting juicy land in Rivers from his government but still did not play ball to hand over the baton.
Why bothering a National figure like Bola Tinubu? An avowed ex NADECO, pro-Abiola, pro-June 12, pro-this and pro-that, who indubitably performed in Lagos State! Even if the allegation is proven that he awarded a multi billion contract to a company run by fronts, what concerns an EFCC with someone displaying smartness? After all, he is an accountant who is trained in the art of ‘conjuring’ figures. All allegations remain unproven except that some Newspapers have been throwing up conflicting figures revealing that the EFCC inflated the money figures and Tinubu might have not been as greedy as painted by the ‘walkabouts’ called EFCC. The anti graft body has not been bold enough to call the bluff of Asiwaju who variously dared them to come out with any dirt on him.
This is why some of these governors have been raising abuses at Obasanjo who unconsciously created the EFCC to gain some prestige and seemingly to catch some stubborn political goats that needed to be forced kow-tow under baba’s control.
Special commendations should go to some of the ex-leaders who used all the street tricks to outfox Obasanjo and his goons even though the EFCC of today still won’t leave ex-governors alone. There are stories and news all over the place in Nigeria suggesting that the ‘walkabouts’ are still gathering data on how Tinubu helped himself with juicy contracts using friendly companies. Mr. Attorney-General in Nigeria, a man named Aondoka has been very nice in quickly calling the EFCC and some enemy Newspapers to order that Tinubu had no case to order. Not the EFCC and its leadership! This organization is playing with fire because Asiwaju is a possible future Vice president or even President of Nigeria, and they better watch it!
The former governor of Abia is a courageous young man who gave a good fight to Obasanjo and the EFCC, even though the current EFCC under Yaradua has taken over the fight. For goodness’ sake, who in the world does not know that Orji Kalu was about the tenth richest man in the world before he became the governor of Abia in 1999? At least we all are aware that he donated about 2.8billion naira? to the ruling party in that year. Can you see how people can be envious of a rich man? No one mentioned his richness or his generosity after he fell out with PDP and Obasanjo!
Kudos to this man who fought the Obasanjo Federal power to a standstill – ‘gun for gun’, ‘naira for naira’, ‘paper for paper’ and more. Arthur Nzeribe must have wondered how this man stole his battle style to defeat PDP machinery in Abia. Although for just one moment when Obasanjo’s EFCC wanted blood and the ebullient governor would not want anyone to lose blood, he had to ferry his mother and few others away from Nigeria to rest while he ably stood his ground hiding within the confines of the State House in Awka till the end of his term. The reported act of cowardice by Kalu was only a white lie about his wife needing him by her side for surgery and should be expected of a warrior like him.
Instead of handing him a National honor for leaving his multi-billion naira (dollars?) to help in Abia, the EFCC is still following him about over some few billions which are intangible against his assets. Such a man can never steal except use government money. Thank God that he could see our gentle President at anytime, the EFCC will have a difficult task in their continued attempts to embarrass a man whose many companies collapsed because he was in service of his dear state. The good and highly connected has also warned all about his close relationship with the White House, meaning to be forewarned is to be forearmed.
Even though it is difficult to fault the diligent investigative duties of the Online Sahara Reporters or Pointblanknews in their daily reports on the so-called profligacy of some of our highly successful former or serving governors & others, who will not quickly agree that it is a hard job to govern an oil State? It is also important to explain respectfully to Chief Edwin Clark that retired but not tired ex-governor of Delta State in the name of Chief (Hon.) James Onanefe Ibori should be absolved of all accusations and allegations to enjoy his retirement benefits. In fact, a whole High Court Judge had recently discharged him of about 700? allegations of stealing while in office as the governor of Delta State. Trust the busy bodies at EFCC, they would not allow the good man to rest. The guys at EFCC have rustled the peace by pointing out our honorable ex-former was not acquitted!
Where were all these newspapers and leaders including our revered Chief Edwin Clark when the indefatigable Gani Fawehinmi lost a case against James Ibori in court? Never mind if the whole world still say that James Ibori was involved in some ‘concocted’ crimes in London before returning home in Nigeria to do another one. Where were the leaders and the so-called newspapers when he won to become governor in both 1999 and 2003?
When will Nigeria honor their real leaders who have shown smartness at home and abroad? Hon. James Ibori should even be respected by all for ensuring the victory of the current president after the OBJ reign in 2007. Ibori wanted to continue to continue service in higher offices but the envy of some Nigerians like OBJ and people at EFCC made him to return to his business and family who have been missing him for eight long years during which he was helping his people. The loafers would not stop at reminding us all that James O. Ibori and James O. Ibori are one and the same who had a criminal case in London. Smart guy, he was even able to outfox all his adversaries by leaving behind at Asaba his cousin as his successor. One can be rest assured his successor will also have a second term and will hand over to his own cousin in 2015.
These former leaders should be praised for making Nigeria popular both in Africa and outside the continent. A story was told of how these ex rulers have been showcasing the richness of Nigeria to the rest of the world by buying all the expensive properties all over the world. A Briton once snubbed selling his property to a fellow Briton but preferred an unnamed Nigerian leader who would pay cash and wanted everything hushed up.
The arrival of our former and current leaders in any social function in Europe or America is always heralded with glee and happiness because they have the ‘mullah’ to make everybody happy. Is this not good for the rebranding that Aunty Akinyuli is trying to do for the Federal Government of Nigeria? The rebranding project will never succeed unless the ex-governors are involved because they are more marketable than the Soyinkas, Anyaokus and the rest who are not smart.
Remember one guy who sometime in the past queried how IBB made his money after telling us how much a Nigerian army General makes?
The good thing about our renowned leaders is that they will always win, while some are still planning for 2011, these smart leaders have finished work on 2015 with sure strategies in which there will be no electoral reforms, electricity will not work, the Police Force will still be pocketed by their caucus and their men will keep going.
Pity Mr. President is sick, but some are very happy because his rule of law mantra is affecting the job of those who really have desires to satisfy. His seven point agenda will never work as long as he is sick and neck deep in the compradors’ den.
To those who are worried whether Jonathan Goodluck will be able to keep these ex governors and leaders in check, tell him to abolish the EFCC or join the House of (selected) Representatives in the plan to make the EFCC a toothless dog.
Nigeria is clearly winning with the good leaders in power and authority.
John Ayodele
bishopbode@gmail.com
Lagos, Nigeria
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