Much Ado About Zuma’s Ranting
January 31, 2008 by 
Che Oyimnatumba · Leave a Comment
Written by: Felix Ashimole
Jacob Zuma, the embattled, ANC leader and potential South African President, bit the finger that fed him last week at an Economic summit in Switzerland. In apparent bid to woo the Western donors and Multi-national Corporation, to consider him as the next talisman man in post Mbeki South Africa, Zuma castigated the April 2007 elections in Nigeria and said the Nigerian example is not a worthy one for Africa. Furthermore, he exhorted Africans to emulate the smoking protest in Kenya.
Wisdom is like a goat skin bag, every man carries his own. But when a man casts a stone at a man suffering from elephantiasis of the scrotum, whatever abuse he received, is justifiable. Indeed, a child seeking assurance of manhood, measures the density of his beard with his father’s. For objectivity’s sake, I will not remind you my esteemed readers that taking a bath after sleeping with a HIV infected person does not prevent you from being infected.
I agree with Zuma that the last election was below the previous standards set in Nigeria. But unfavorably elevating the Kenyan demonstration blinds me to reason!
It may please Mr. Zuma to remember that in the days when Nigeria was a giant with a giant’s foot step, Nigeria spear headed the liberation of South Africa that has given Zuma freedom to defeat the incumbent in an ANC convention. But things are no longer at easy in Nigeria and a cripple can now dare Tyson to a biting/boxing competition. Zuma’s indictment should be a wake up call to Nigerian leaders that Nigeria is now a giant with the footprint of an ant. The leadership class should commit suicide if they can not evolve a refined class and allow the oppressed class to take over leadership.
Spanish Prisoner Letter
January 31, 2008 by OCI · Leave a Comment
This type of scam (419), originally known as the “Spanish Prisoner Letter”, has been carried out since at least the sixteenth century via ordinary postal mail.
We have been called everything from 419ers, to scammers, and yahoo-yahoo etc by the world and Nigerians have been treated as scum everywhere due to this letter crime.
It is rather interesting to discover that this crime afterall did not originate from Nigeria but Spain; one wonders why it is no longer associated with it origin unlike many other ‘things’ that are to date known by their origins. Is it because it no longer exists in Spain or because Nigeria has been made the escape goat, so that it will be darker than it appears?
Advance fee fraud or ‘419′ fraud (named after the relevant section of the Nigerian Criminal Code) is a popular crime with the West African organised criminal networks. There are a myriad of schemes and scams - mail, faxed and telephone promises designed to facilitate victims parting with money. All involve requests to help move large sums of money with the promise of a substantial share of the cash in return.
This type of scam, originally known as the “Spanish Prisoner Letter”, has been carried out since at least the sixteenth century via ordinary postal mail. These scams have come to be associated in the public mind with Nigeria due to the massive proliferation of such confidence tricks from that country since the mid-eighties, although they are often also carried out in other African nations, and increasingly from European cities with large Nigerian populations, notably London and Amsterdam.
The laws from Section 419 and laws in place in other jurisdictions criminalising the offences do not scare away the criminals who profit from these crimes. The stakes and profits are simply too high and many government officials are believed to be involved with the criminal gangs.
Victim’s individual monetary losses can range from the low thousands into multi-millions. True figures are often impossible to ascertain, because many victims, embarrassed by their naiveté and feeling personally humiliated, do not report the crime to the authorities. Others, having lost so much themselves, become “part of the gang” recruiting more victims from their own country of residence. There are tragic cases of victims being unable to cope with the losses and committing suicide.
SOURCE: Met Police
**NOTE: This is not a justification for this economic crime as perpertuated by criminals all over the world.
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Senator Aliyu Apologises
Who Will Bell the ‘Big Cats’ in the Senate for Us?
Senator Aliyu stirred the hornets nest a week today when he alleged on the floor of the senate while contributing to a debate that ‘there are criminals amongst them in the senate’. He averred that while in the police force, he investigated some of these suspected 419ers now turned honourable senators.
Aliyu’s allegation raised a lot of dust within the senate and house of representatives respectively; he even went further to insinuate that he will reveal the identities of the people involved when called to do so. The revelation as we all know is belated. We all know that the upper and the lower houses as presently constituted is not as hallowed as the chambers the sit in. We all thought, Aliyu has come to finally bell the cat
While waiting for the revelation, low and behold the ‘dog’ came around with his tail between his legs to tender an apology to his colleagues.
“Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, last week Wednesday, there was a motion brought before the Senate for debate by the Committee Chairman on Drugs and Narcotics and Financial Crimes. I was a co-sponsor of that motion. During the debate my contribution became controversial and angered many of my colleagues and members of the House of Representatives. The media had a field day. I have come to realise that I am losing my friends in the Senate because of that debate. I do not want to lose them. The controversy of that debate must end. We must be our brothers’ keepers. We must remain absolute, strong and united as a single family. I know both members of the House and Senate have tremendous respect for me. I want to keep that respect,” … Guardian@19.00GMT
One wonders who Aliyu owes allegiance to; his colleagues and friends or the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the constitution he swore to protect? OR Has this become another PDP family affair?
Senator Aliyu owes it as a duty to Nigeria and Nigerians to tell us what he knows.
Could Chief Gani Fawehmi or someone out there take Senator Aliyu to court and compel him to tell us who the suspects are, so that they can be properly investigated and if found culpable be tried for the offense.
Who will bell the ‘big cats’ in the senate for Us?
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Super Eagles’ Prayer
January 30, 2008 by OCI · Leave a Comment
OLULANA asked me to tell you that there shall be a way for you where there seems to be no way,
OLUPESE says He shall provide for you,
AIKU says you shall not die,
ARABA-RIBITI says He is bigger than your problems,
ALAABO says He shall protect you from all evils,
IYANU says your miracle has started,
ALAGBARA-NLA says, He shall strengthen you in your weakness,
ATOFARATI says you shall not be disappointed,
OLUWOSAN says He has healed you,
ATOBAJAIYE says he has enough for you to enjoy.
Congratulations God is for you, who can be against you?
I rejoice with you!!!!!
…… Anonymous
I think the Super Eagles of Nigeria deserves this kind of prayer at times like this, also to football- loving Nigerians out there.
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When Is A Deal Not A Deal?
January 29, 2008 by OCI · Leave a Comment
Yar’Adua Meets Shell CEO - Jeroen van der Veer
Awash this week on the Nigerian dailies was the meeting between Nigeria’s President Umaru Yar’Adua and Mr Jeroen van der Veer of Shell.
We are being told that the doomsday for the multitude of Shell workers in Nigeria have been temporarily averted but not completely shelved.
As a matter of fact, we have not been let into the details of the discussions and (agreement); however, it is indicative that Shell may have walked away from that parley much happier for the deal they have cut for themselves than the generality of Shell workers in Nigeria.
I do not intend to go back and forth the issues of work ethics, corporate and social responsibilities of the multi-nationals operating in Nigeria; but, i am very much interested in the defenders (protectors) of the common man in Nigeria.
The defenders (politicians) as we have come to realise have been the worst enemies of the common and ordinary Nigerians to whom they have sworn to serve and protect. As darkness turns into light, Nigerians are slowly coming to terms with the lopsidedness of some of the deals the last adminstration of President Obasanjo consumated on behalf of Nigerians.
I do sincerely hope that whatever agreement President Yar’Adua has entered on behalf the the Shell employees in Nigeria is ‘in their best interest’ and nothing else.
The days ahead will be very revealing to the Shell workers and Nigerians if the deal reached with Shell has been entered in good faith or not. We have learnt over-time that, most deals in Nigeria are consumated with selfish intents rather than the benefits as orchestrated. GHANA 2008 is a revelation that is unravelling. The NFA, Dr Adamu, Betti Vogts and their cohorts will have a lot to explain to Nigerians should it all go wrong later today when the super eagles meet Benin. I hope the eagles will mount on wings today like the eagles they are. Good Luck, boys!!!
Which brings me to the question; When is a deal not a deal?
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Religion has Shaped Politics in South Africa and Nigeria
January 29, 2008 by OCI · Leave a Comment
Written By: Prof. Ali Mazrui is Chancellor of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture, Kenya
A major contrast between Nigeria and South Africa is the role of religion in their respective politics. The era of apartheid in South Africa was also the era of a de facto theocracy.
The Dutch Reformed Church was virtually a state-religion, and much of the ideology of racial separation was legitimised in Biblical terms about the curse of Cain on Black people.
Paradoxically, the first Christian winners of the Nobel Prize for Peace in Africa were Blacks from South Africa. The first was Albert Luthuli, the President of the African National Congress (1952-1960) and was committed to Christian non-violence. He won the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1960.
The second African Nobel Peace Laureate was a professional cleric, a Bishop of the Church of England; Bishop (later Archbishop) Desmond Tutu won the Prize in 1984. The racial version of Christianity embodied in the doctrine of apartheid, was rapidly outweighed by a more tolerant version of the Christian gospel.
Abuja on a time bomb:the Gwari Revolt!
January 24, 2008 by Che Oyimnatumba · 3 Comments
Written by: Che Oyinatumba
The city of Abuja as the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria, was chiseled out in 1976. Its life as an administrative edifice started when the aborted Okah coup forced IBB to flee into the fortress called Aso Rock Villa. Abuja has only three regimented entrances, namely Kogi-Gwagalada, the most port-hole infested of all entrances to Abuja.Niger (Suleja/Zuba)- Kubwa and Nasarawa-Karu. Companies whose life wire is dependency on unfinished inflated government contracts, followed the Father-Christmas to Abuja.
Since the forward march order by IBB to all and sundry to relocate its head office to Abuja, Abuja has become the fasted growing city in Africa. There is constant vibration of excavators, spikes of welding rods and the glittering helmet of German expatriates. At every turn, there is a new construction springing up. One needs only to be away from Abuja for two weeks to appreciate the rapid changing skyline and topography.
From Clinton Boulevard through the city gate to the major streets, Abuja is beautifully lit like a charismas tree. This illumination hides the filth of Abuja. Any tourist on his way to any of the five star hotels, will find it difficult to believe that Nigerians live on the brink of decent into the bottomless pit of poverty.
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