Former President Obasanjo rubbishes Buhari on lack of educational qualification to rule Nigeria

 PARIS, FEBRUARY 07, 2018: (DGW) 

FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo  again rubbishes President Buhari on educational qualification to lead Nigeria. In what is a clear case of ridiculing Buhari, the former President who recently bagged a Doctorate degree said many of the country’s leaders lack basic economic skills which is one of the reasons why Nigeria has not made any progress. He made the disclosure on Tuesday at the 15th annual leadership symposium organised by the Center for Values in Leadership (CVL) in Lagos, Nigeria. The former President who was the special guest of honour said: “The three ingredients of success are leadership, governance and development. Leaders should understand the world we live in; they should not live their lives in ignorance of what is happening around them. “Any leader that wants to be successful must have a good knowledge of the economy but some of our leaders do not even understand what demand and supply, which is the most basic aspect of economics. In Nigeria, we are not there yet, but, we would be deceiving ourselves if we do not speak home truths. “What are these home truths? The first is that diversity must be acknowledged and be appreciated. We should make diversity an asset and not a liability. “The second is infrastructure and the basis of our development must be adequate provision of infrastructure. We should also be able to transition peacefully from one government to the other or one party to the other. We must transition to a popular movement and give the people the feeling that power is in their hands,” 

 On the ongoing insecurity ravaging the country particularly the killings being carried out by Fulani herdsmen, Obasanjo said ''security issues should not be emotional and, in any decision taken towards security, the changing times must be considered.'' “You cannot use the security methods that were used in the colonial times and assume that it would be effective in the 21st century. Adapt modern security techniques and don’t say that it is not your culture. Culture is dynamic. It changes. When we ordered motorcycle riders to ensure they wear crash helmets for safety, the late Abubakar Rimi objected and said it was not their culture in the North to wear helmets.'' ''I responded by telling him that riding a motorcycle is not their culture, either; it is a western culture. And, I also told him that if he wants to retain the cultural means of transportation in the North, then, everybody should be riding a donkey or a camel because motorcycles were invented by the West.”


original

THE 'DNA' DIDN'T CHANGE ......Bad record...?

FLASHBACK: The coup speech that overthrew Buhari on August 27, 1985…

I, Brigadier Joshua Nimyel Dogonyaro, of the Nigerian Army, hereby make the following declaration on behalf of my colleagues and members of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

Fellow country men, the intervention of the military at the end of 1983 was welcomed by the nation with unprecedented enthusiasm. Nigerians were unified in accepting the intervention and looked forward hopefully to progressive changes for the better. Almost two years later, it has become clear that the fulfillment of expectations is not forthcoming.

Because this generation of Nigerians and indeed future generations have no other country but Nigeria, we could not stay passive and watch a small group of individuals misuse power to the detriment of our national aspirations and interest.

No nation can ever achieve meaningful strides in its development where there is an absence of cohesion in the hierarchy of government; where it has become clear that positive action by the policy makers is hindered because as a body it lacks a unity of purpose.

It is evident that the nation would be endangered with the risk of continuous misdirection. We are presently confronted with that danger. In such a situation, if action can be taken to arrest further damage, it should and must be taken. This is precisely what we have done.

The Nigerian public has been made to believe that the slow pace of action of the Federal Government headed by Major-General Muhammadu Buhari was due to the enormity of the problems left by the last civilian administration.

Although it is true that a lot of problems were left behind by the last civilian government, the real reason, however, for the very slow pace of action is due to lack of unanimity of purpose among the ruling body; subsequently, the business of governance has gradually been subjected to ill-motivated power play considerations. The ruling body, the Supreme Military Council, has, therefore, progressively been made redundant by the actions of a select few members charged with the day-to-day implementation of the SMC’s policies and decision.

The concept of collective leadership has been substituted by stubborn and illadvised unilateral actions, thereby destroying the principles upon which the government came to power. Any effort made to advise the leadership, met with stubborn resistance and was viewed as a challenge to authority or disloyalty.

Thus, the scene was being set for systematic elimination of what, was termed oppositions. All the energies of the rulership were directed at this imaginary opposition rather than to effective leadership.

The result of this misdirected effort is now very evident in the country as a whole. The government has started to drift. The economy does not seem to be getting any better as we witness daily increased inflation.

The nation’s meager resources are once again being wasted on unproductive ventures. Government has distanced itself from the people and the yearnings and aspirations of the people as constantly reflected in the media have been ignored.

This is because a few people have arrogated to themselves the right to make the decisions for the larger part of the ruling body. All these events have shown that the present composition of our country’s leadership cannot, therefore, justify its continued occupation of that position.

Furthermore, the initial objectives and programmes of action which were meant to have been implemented since the ascension to power of the Buhari Administration in January 1984 have been betrayed and discarded. The present state of uncertainty and stagnation cannot be permitted to degenerate into suppression and retrogression.

We feel duty bound to use the resources and means at our disposal to restore hope in the minds of Nigerians and renew aspirations for a better future. We are no prophets of doom for our beloved country, Nigeria. We, therefore, count on everyone’s cooperation and assistance.

I appeal to you, fellow countrymen, particularly my colleagues in arms to refrain from any act that will lead to unnecessary violence and bloodshed among us. Rest assured that our action is in the interest of the nation and the armed forces.

In order to enable a new order to be introduced, the following bodies are dissolved forthwith pending further announcements: (a) The Supreme Military Council (b) The Federal Executive Council (c) The National Council of States. All seaports and airports are closed, all borders remain closed.

Finally, a dusk to dawn curfew is hereby imposed in Lagos and all state capitals until further notice. All military commanders will ensure effective maintenance of law and order. Further announcements will be made in due course. God bless Nigeria.

Follow us on twitter @thecableng

Copyright 2016 TheCable. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.thecable.ng as the source.https://www.thecable.ng/flashback-coup-speech-overthrew-buhari-august-27-1985

 https://www.thecable.ng/flashback-coup-speech-overthrew-buhari-august-27-1985

 

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Nigerian Senate pushes social media clampdown bill, hits back at critics

 Nigerian Senate pushes social media clampdown bill, hits back at critics

December 3, 2015Hassan Adebayo

The Nigerian Senate, on Thursday, hit back at critics of a proposed law which sets out heavy sanctions for people who “falsely” criticise public officials or institutions.

The bill, sponsored by Bala Ibn Na’allah, a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress from Kebbi State, has been widely criticised, and is seen as not only a significant clampdown on freedom of speech, but a deliberate targeting of critics of federal lawmakers and the National Assembly.

Nigerian lawmakers frequently come under the media spotlight because of the huge salaries they draw with relatively little output.

Mr. Na’allah’s bill, titled “A Bill for an Act to Prohibit Frivolous Petitions and other Matters Connected therewith” seeks to compel critics to accompany their petitions with sworn court affidavit, or face six months imprisonment upon conviction.

The bill says, “Not withstanding anything contained in any law, it shall be unlawful to submit any petition, statement intended to report the conduct of any person for the purpose of an investigation, inquiry and or inquest without a duly sworn affidavit in the High Court of a state or the Federal High Court confirming the content to be true and correct and in accordance with the Oaths Act.

“Any petition and or complains not accompanied by a sworn affidavit shall be incompetent and shall not be used by any government institution, agency or bodies established by any law for the time being enforced in Nigeria.

“Any person who unlawfully uses, publishes or cause to be published, any petition, complaint not supported by a duly sworn affidavit, shall be deemed to have committed an offence and upon conviction, shall be liable to an imprisonment for six months without an option of fine.”

It continues: “Any person who acts, uses, or cause to be used any petition or complaints not accompanied by duly sworn affidavit shall be deemed to have committed an offence and upon conviction, shall be liable to an imprisonment for a term of two years or a fine of N200,000.00 or both.”

It also states that, “Where any person in order to circumvent this law makes any allegation and or publish any statement, petition in any paper, radio, or any medium of whatever description, with malicious intent to discredit or set the public against any person or group of persons, institutions of government, he shall be guilty of an offence and upon conviction, shall be liable to an imprisonment term of two years or a fine of N4,000,000.00.”

For the social media, the bill says, “Where any person through text message, tweets, WhatsApp or through any social media posts any abusive statement knowing same to be false with intent to set the public against any person and group of persons, an institution of government or such other bodies established by law shall be guilty of an offence and upon conviction, shall be liable to an imprisonment for two years or a fine of N2,000,000.00 or both fine and imprisonment.”

The bill received an unusually rapid attention at the senate, with two readings made within two weeks of its introduction.

Many Nigerians have slammed the lawmakers, mainly using the social media.

SENATE HITS BACK

On Thursday, Dino Melaye (APC-Kogi State) set the tone for the Senate’s response when he raised a point of order, lashing out on New York-based online media platform, Sahara Reporters.

Mr. Melaye claimed that untrue stories had been published against him and the Senate, and warned that the senate should not overlook.

“While I celebrate the social media as one of the actors, this senate should not be blackmailed,” he said.

“The senate is a sacred hallowed chamber. The bill moved yesterday by Ibn Na’allah has been misconstrued by the same people.

“This senate should not be quiet about it.”

Other lawmakers took turn to speak about alleged false publications in the media.

The senate leader, Ali Ndume (APC-Borno State), said the publication of false stories was becoming rampant in the country.

The senate as a lawmaking body should hold people responsible for their actions, Mr. Ndume said.

“It is not only Sahara Reporters; there are other online platforms that wake up and post all sorts of things.

“At a point, one of the online platforms accused me of buying 400 golf cars for Boko Haram use,” he said.

Biodun Olujimi (PDP-Ekiti State) also expressed frustration, saying she had to exit all the social media “because of these problems”.

Ruling on the matter, the senate president, Bukola Saraki said, “We all support freedom of speech but as a senate we should not be blackmailed.

“You can’t write false stories just because it is social media.”

The matter was referred to the committees on ICT, judiciary and to be led ethics and privileges committee.

 http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/194386-nigerian-senate-pushes-social-media-clampdown-bill-hits-back-at-critics.html

Why Buhari Is Not The Type Of Person I Would Like To Call My President – Femi Aribisala

Posted by: niyi April 19, 2015

Buhari is not the type of person that I would like to call my president. I don’t even agree that he is a strong leader. He is not very intelligent, he is not very articulate and I don’t even agree that he is a strong leader.

Controversial Vanguard columnist and fellowship coordinator of Healing Wings, a pentecostal Christian fellowship in Lagos, Femi Aribisala says President-elect Muhammadu Buhari still needs to ask for forgiveness for killing people through extra-judicial means and for jailing people for telling the truth, among other things. Apart from the sins he says Buhari needs to seek forgiveness for, Aribisala also thinks he cannot move the economy of Nigeria forward.

“In my view, I am pessimistic. I don’t think Buhari can move the economy forward because he has no understanding of economics. I tell people that I am waiting for our currency to be equal to the dollar which is one of the things he promised,” Aribisala told Vanguard in an interview.

“One has to see who his advisers are. Again, one has to deal with his antecedents. If there was a change in Buhari, we should have known it in the last three months. It should have come out from his pronouncements during the campaign, but there was nothing there. He said he is going to give N5,000 to 20 million poor people in Nigeria and that is N120 billion which he is going to give away in a situation where the country is cash strapped. I am going to see how this is going to happen. Buhari does not understand how to tame corruption. He did not succeed the last time.

“There are certain tendencies in the man that tells me he does not understand how to tame corruption because we are talking of a change campaign. But who are the people around him? They are not changed people. It is paradoxical that now, the party chairman is saying they don’t want defectors anymore. But how did they come to where they are? I don’t see these changes coming with Buhari. This was a rhetoric that was convenient for the purpose of winning an election. It has succeeded, but don’t let us ascribe more to it. It is going to have some grand gestures but, in the final analysis, will be meaningless,” Aribisala said.

Speaking further, he maintained that Buhari is not the type of leader he could be proud of. “Buhari is not the type of person that I would like to call my president. I don’t even agree that he is a strong leader. He is not very intelligent, he is not very articulate and I don’t even agree that he is a strong leader. Most of the positions he held, his deputies were in charge. People run circles around him. Part of the problem with democracy is that we don’t necessarily have the best choices. You have to choose between bad choices or some bad choices. I don’t see anything that will, ordinarily, make me to want Buhari as my president. I don’t see how he is an improvement on Jonathan for whatever it is that you think of Jonathan,” he said.

 http://www.informationng.com/2015/04/why-buhari-is-not-the-type-of-person-i-would-like-to-call-my-president-femi-aribisala.html

Presidency Strikes Back At Kwankwaso

Posted by: foluso on June 15, 2014

President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday responded to the Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso’s allegation that the President wants to assassinate him. 

The response which was conveyed through two ministers suspected to be acting on behalf of the President, criticized Kwankwaso in separate statements issued in Abuja by Labaran Maku, the Minister of Information as well as the Minister of Police Affairs, Abdul Jelili Adesiyan.

 The ministers described the governor as being desperate and paranoid; pointing out that his allegation against Jonathan was the peak of irresponsibility and an indication of a failed governor.

Maku, challenged the governor to explain to the people of Kano the role him and the All Progressives Congress played in the emergence of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the Emir of Kano, instead of dragging the President to it.

It would be recalled that Kwankwaso on Wednesday accused the President of being responsible for the conflicts that trialed the appointment of the new Emir, Sanusi. He also stated that the President should be held responsible for whatever happens to him, his family or the people of the state

According to the statement issued on behalf of the information minister by his Chief Press Secretary, Joseph Mutah, he said Kwankwaso was trying to smear the image of the president and the Federal Government.

“It is a known fact that the appointment of traditional rulers is within the purview of state governments and it is surprising why Kwankwaso has chosen to drag the name of the President into the succession crisis rocking the Kano Emirate.

“Instead of throwing tantrums and casting aspersions on imaginary enemies, Kwankwaso should face the people of Kano and explain to them the role he and APC leaders played in the imbroglio.

^{Minister of Information, Labaran Maku}

“The Police in Kano have offered explanations why officers and men were deployed to guard the palace of the emir, yet Governor Kwankwaso decided to further his unbridled campaign of blackmail against the President and the Federal Government.

“The recent outbursts of Kwankwaso have lent credence to observations in some quarters that the governor is now afraid of his own shadow as the people of Kano become increasingly impatient with his years of one-man rule under which he imposes his will on the state in total disregard to the wishes of the people” Maku said.

However, Kwankwaso, on his Twitter page on Wednesday, insisted that he followed the same procedure which Ibrahim Dankwambo, the Gombe State governor adopted in appointing the new Emir of Gombe, and questionedwhy the President should cause crisis in his state, as well as accused him of plotting an agenda which is not good for this country. He urged the Jonathan-led administration to focus its attention on the security challenges bedeviling the country and not him.

^{Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso}

Maku went further to say that: “After the recent denial of freedom of choice for the people of Kano by imposing local government chairmen and councillors on them, he then took on the late Kano monarch shortly before his demise.

“Governor Kwankwaso, as is well known to the public, then went on a highly politicised selection process, turning the ascension to the throne of Kano into a partisan political enterprise during which prominent All Progressives Congress leaders and some governors moved to Kano reportedly to influence the outcome.

“The result is the outpouring of anger and protests in the ancient city of Kano with the unfortunate breakdown of law and order.

“Governor Kwankwaso is therefore singularly responsible for the violence in his state. The selection of successors to other traditional institutions in other parts of the North in recent years has not witnessed the kind of public anger and protests and violence that greeted the exercise conducted by Kwankwaso at the Government House in Kano.

“The police authorities in the light of the violent opposition to the highly political selection process for the new Emir of Kano only helped to restore law and order and to protect the historic palace of the throne of Kano from being razed or destroyed by aggrieved people of Kano.

“To turn round to blame President Jonathan or the Federal Government for the crisis is the height of delusion and irresponsibility on the part of Kwankwaso. He is the architect of the crisis and violence and if he has a conscience, he should examine his role in this unfortunate and needless crisis into which he has plunged the ancient city of Kano and its respected traditional institution in recent weeks.

“The latest claim by Kwankwaso is wild and outlandish and does not fit into the character of President Jonathan or the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“The Federal Government urged the people of Kano to remain peaceful and law-abiding, as well as shun violence “in spite of the highhandedness of Governor Kwankwaso and his associates” Maku said.

Similarly, Police Affairs Minister who also berated the governor, said it unfortunate that instead of Kwankwaso to be thankful for the efforts of the officers who maintained peace during the crisis, he was busy insulting the president.

In a statement issued by Adesiyan’s Chief Press Secretary, Wale Akinola, the minister stressed the need for Kwankwaso to be educated on the role of security agencies in the country.

“Police have the mandate to protect the lives and property of every citizen of Nigeria and Kano State cannot be an exception.

“When there is protest, the police should be able to protect people’s lives so that it will not lead to a major crisis and that was what the police did in Kano to stop youths who were dissatisfied with the appointment of Sanusi as the Emir of Kano.

“But instead of appreciating the efforts of security agents in bringing about peace in the state, Kwankwaso was abusing Mr. President.

^{Minister of Police Affairs, Abdul Jelili Adesiyan}

“I think Kwankwaso needs to be educated on the role of police and other security agencies in the society as well as the functions of the President of Nigeria in order to give him an insight into their operational procedure” Adesiyan said.

The minister described the governor’s outburst against the President as an indication of a failed governor who acts against the will of the people.

“It is rather unfathomable that Kwankwaso could use the protest that followed the appointment of Sanusi as the Emir of Kano as an opportunity to insult the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria the way he likes.

“His recent outburst is an indication of a failed governor who acts against the will of the people.

“Have you ever seen the opposition party insulting the President of the United States of America, or the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, or Chancellor in Germany?

“It is only in Nigeria that those who lack patriotism like Kwankwaso can insult the President at will.

“Rather than reflect and ever remain grateful to PDP for giving him the platform to become a governor and a minister, Kwankwaso now has the audacity to abuse the President.

“While I recognise the inalienable right of citizens to hold opinions and identify with political platforms of their choice, I find it very difficult to understand the type of bitterness that has taken hold of an elected person like Governor Kwankwaso who hugely benefitted from the PDP on which platform he was twice elected governor in addition to being appointed minister.

“Kwankwaso has not only shown his aversion to the unity of the nation but also the agenda of his party, the APC, to attack well-meaning individuals and leaders as a means to cause confusion among Nigerians and destroy our oneness as a people” Adesiyan added.

When Kwankwaso was asked to respond to the ministers’ statement, he said he had no comments, while his media aide, Baba Dantiye, later said: “We have no more comments on this. We are busy with the convention.” 

GOOD INTENTIONS.......BAD EXECUTIONS

As  we praise the Governor  of Enugu state (Nigeria) and the authorities for many infrastructural development in the state;  one may not overlook the attitude of  so many contractors who  start kilometers of road projects in residential areas and abandon them  for a long time, thereby exposing the residents  of such areas to untold hardship, (damages to property)  and health hazards especially  respiratory problems  for unjustifiable period of time.

The pictures are that of Corner stone junction(Nike Lake Road) to Ugbene 2 since September  2013 

May  these contractors be controlled  a little bit  closer,

FG to buy made-in-Nigeria vehicles

By BusinessNews Staff on October 4, 2013

The Federal Government on Wednesday approved the Automotive Industrial Policy Development Plan for the country.

The decision was taken at the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Through the policy, the government hopes to significantly reduce the high vehicle importation bill, which stood at $3.4bn (N550bn) in 2012.

As a first step, the Federal Government said all vehicles purchased by it would be from local assembly plants, except they were specialised and could not be produced in the country.

The ministers of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku; Federal Capital Territory, Bala Muhammed; and Industry, Trade and Investment,  Olusegun Aganga, briefed State House correspondents at the end of the meeting.

Aganga said the policy was aimed at transforming the Nigerian automotive industry and attracting investments into the sector.

He said a situation where the nation spent N4.2bn on the importation of vehicles into the country in 2010 was eating deep into the foreign reserves.

Aganga said in arriving at the policy, which took about nine months to put together, the government got the input of some car manufacturing giants like Nissan and Toyota.

These companies, he added, would soon announce their investments in the country.

He said, “A transformed automotive industry will realise its potential as a major driver of economic growth and diversification, job creation, local value addition, and technology acquisition.

“These recommendations were adopted at various conferences and consultations with stakeholders, including some original equipment manufacturers. After deliberation, the Council approved the Automotive Industrial Policy Development Plan.

“Council also approved that the government should direct that all vehicle purchased by the government should be from the local

 assembly plants unless it is specialised in nature and the NAC has certified that it is not produced in Nigeria

“The Council approved that the recommendation should be backed by appropriate legislation to give comfort to investors that there will be no abrupt change in policy.”

He added that his ministry had taken note of what led to the collapse of similar policies in the past and had taken measures to avoid the same fate for the new policy.

According to the minister, highlights of the new policy include the establishment of three automotive clusters across the country, the revival of the metal/steel sector and the tyre manufacturing industry to support the sector.

Aganga added that the government would work on tariff to encourage local manufacture and discourage importation of vehicles.

Mohammed said the Council also approved the rehabilitation and expansion of the outer Southern Expressway in the FCT from the Villa Roundabout to the OSEX/Ring Road 1(RR1) junction, including five interchanges, in the sum of N39bn.

He said the project was aimed at ensuring free flow of traffic and significantly reduce travel time in and out of the city.

The minister said, “The existing segment of the OSEX from the Villa roundabout to RR1 is only partially developed with a two-lane main carriageway and one two-lane service carriageway as against the 10-lane expressway provided in the Abuja Master Plan.”

http://businessnews.com.ng/2013/10/04/fg-buy-made-nigeria-vehicles/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=fg-buy-made-nigeria-vehicles

Jubilation as first international flight takes off from Enugu airport

Our Reporter August 24, 2013

It was jubilation galore on Saturday as the first international flight from the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu, Enugu State took off to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with 153 passengers on board.
The flight was by Ethiopian Airlines, using a Boeing 737-800, which took off at 2.20pm.
The event was witnessed by four South-East state governors of Abia (Theodore Orji), Anambra (Peter Obi), Ebonyi (Martin Elechi) and Enugu (Sullivan Chime).
Others who witnessed the event were the Ministers of Aviation (Stella Oduah), Finance (Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala), Health (Onyebuchi Chukwu) and Power (Chinedu Nebo), as well as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim.
Members of the National Assembly, led by the Deputy Senate President, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, state executive members and legislators, traditional rulers and captains of industry were also present at the brief ceremony.

Briefing newsmen in Enugu, Okonjo-Iweala described the day as historic in the lives of the people of the South-East zone and thanked President Goodluck Jonathan for making the project a reality.
Anyim described it as a dream come true for the people of the South-East, while Ekweremadu said that the introduction of international flights in the airport would make it easy for the people to travel to any part of the world.
Ekweremadu said the National Assembly would ensure adequate budgetary provision was made to complete the new terminal building.
The Chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum, Obi, commended the President for fulfilling his promise to Ndigbo.

Oduah said that more airlines would soon commence operation at the airport and announced that the Nigerian national carrier would start operation before the end of the year.
The host governor, Chime, said the flight was part of a grand plan to change the economy of the South-East zone positively.

In his remarks, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Ethiopian Airline, Esayas Hailu, said the airline would operate four times a week from Enugu to Addis Ababa.
Hailu said the Igbo were very enterprising and needed an outlet right from their doorstep.
He said that very soon the flight would go daily.
A passenger, Nicodemus Igboabasi, a businessman from Anambra State, applauded the Federal Government for making the day a reality.
Igboabasi said it would reduce the cost of doing business and the stress of travelling long distances to board international flights from the zone.
Various traditional groups performed at the ceremony.
The Enugu route will be the airline’s 46th African and the 76th international destination.

 http://sunnewsonline.com/new/national/jubilation-as-first-international-flight-takes-off-from-enugu-airport/

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Protest For Nigeria.

Protest For Nigeria.

Fellow Nigerians,

The only choice we have is to take action(s) now to save Nigeria. No price will be too much to save Nigeria. In doing so, we also need to take action(s) beyond the Nigerian boarders, especially now that the world has become a global village. It is on this note that, we are calling on all Nigerians to join and protest for Nigeria at the international arena. Simply copy the petition below and send to the lists of the contacts below. Surely our cumulative action(s) will yield results.

Dear Sir/Ma,

Part of Nigeria’s biggest problem is capital flight, occasioned by massive top level corruption. At present, “The World Bank estimates the country’s generals and gangster politicians stole $300 billion in the three decades to 2006”(Time Magazine, May 3^rd 2010 Edition, Page 42). These stolen funds are usually kept in European, American and other oversea banks, while some are used to buy properties in the same countries. The cumulative effects, being high unemployment, poverty, crimes, insecurity and the near collapse of the entire Nigerian system. Little wonder United Kingdom Guardian Newspapers of Thursday November 27^th 2008 page 23, grouped Nigeria among the list of 20 failed states. A failed Nigeria, with a population of about 150 million will be the greatest challenge for the international community.

Therefore, time to take action is now. Kindly use your good office to effect a policy change that will deny corrupt Nigerian officials and their family members, access to your country. Where such law exists like the, United States Presidential Proclamation 7750 of January 12, 2004, authorities should commence full enforcement. Those on dual citizenship with your country should be placed on crime watch lists. Investigate properly every money transfer originating from Nigeria to, or through your country/banks. For lists of corrupt Nigerian officials, please contact your embassy in Nigeria, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and Interpol. Furthermore, sign an extradition treaty with Nigeria if none exists.

This is a non governmental, but a citizens/groups led request for your government’s assistance. The Nigerian masses will be highly grateful if your government could oblige the above request.

Note:

Please copy the above petition and send to the recipients below.

President Barack Obama,

The White House.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact (click on the web page and send this petition).

Committee On Foreign Relations.

U.S. Senate.

Tel: +1-202-224-4651.

Tel: +1-202-224-6797 

Fax: +1-202-228-3612           

Committee On Foreign Affairs,

United States House of Representatives,

http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/contact.asp (click on the web page and send this petition).

The British Prime Minister, (David Cameroon)

No 10 Downing Street, London.

https://email.number10.gov.uk/Contact.aspx (click on the web page and this your petition).

Foreign Affairs Committee,

House of Commons, London.

SW1A 0AA
Telephone: +442072196394/6105
Fax: +442072195365
Email: foraffcom@parliament.uk

            patersona@parliament.uk

European Parliament,

Committee on Petitions,

The Secretariat, Brussels.

https://www.secure.europarl.europa.eu/parliament/public/petition/secured/submit.do?language=EN (click on the web page and send this petition).

Secretary-General,

Association of Southeast Asian Nations

Jakarta, Indonesia.

Email: termsak@aseansec.org

Please be kind enough to send the above petition to other international NGOs, Other countries/governments, various regional organizations etc. May God Bless Nigeria.

Chinedu Vincent Akuta.

An activist and leader of “Support Option A4 Group” Leicester-UK

akutachinedu@yahoo.com

http://briefsfromakuta.blogspot.com/