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Friday, September 30, 2005

ANGLICAN CHURCH CHIDES CORRUPT NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT


ARCHBISHOP PETER AKINOLA AND LEADERS OF THE NIGERIAN JUDICIARY.

Yesterday, I commended the laudable and remarkable decision of the Anglican Church of Nigeria to severe ties with the Church of England and her fellow harlots in other parts of Europe and America where they have welcomed the devil to corrupt and pollute their temples in homosexuality. Today, I am very happy to bring you another commendable news of the chastisement of the corrupt ruling government of Nigeria by the Anglican Church of Nigeria. And I believe that the most Reverend (Dr.) Peter Akinola, the Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Nigeria is serious and not just making such populist public statements to impress the gullible ignorant masses of Nigeria. But, to speak out against the tyranny of corrupt and wicked rulers in Nigeria. We should encourage fearless Christian leaders and denounce those who have compromised their faith in exchange for filthy lucre.
ARCHBISHOP PETER AKINOLA WITH THE FORMER BISHOP OF CANTERBURY.

Anglican church chides Nigeria's "scheming" rulers
Fri Sep 30, 2005 8:25 AM GMT
By Camillus Eboh

ABUJA (Reuters) - Nigeria's Anglican primate on Thursday challenged the country's politicians to curb their "ostentatious" lifestyle and called for an immunity clause protecting them from prosecution to be scrapped.

Archbishop Peter Akinola also said politicians were "scheming" ahead of the next general election in 2007 instead of working to alleviate the suffering of the poor masses in Africa's most populous nation.

"The political class are not helping matters as scheming for the 2007 elections seems to override every other consideration," the influential Akinola, who leads the world's second largest Anglican community, told a news conference.
"The suffering of the vast majority is as glaring as the ostentatious living of a privileged few," he said.

His words will come as music to the ears of most Nigerians, who live in poverty with few basic services like running water or electricity in a country that exports billions of dollars' worth of oil every year. Decades of corruption, mismanagement and neglect under successive military rulers have left the country's infrastructure in disarray.

Six years after a return to civilian rule, few of Nigeria's 140 million people have felt any improvement despite government talk of "dividends of democracy". Many still see politics as a money-making venture rather than a mission of public service.
One recent controversy saw the governor of the oil-producing state of Rivers -- where armed conflict, sabotage and kidnappings are rife -- come under fire for building a new government house with helipad and pool and buying a private jet.
Akinola said a constitutional clause giving immunity from prosecution to elected officials had done more harm than good.

"When leaders are clearly living beyond their means or where there is evidence of funds being transferred into foreign bank accounts, if the immunity clause should be called to their aid it makes the whole idea ridiculous," he said.

Governor Joshua Dariye of Plateau State is under investigation by British police over alleged money-laundering and has been charged with embezzling public funds in a Nigerian court, but has successfully claimed immunity from prosecution.
Akinola's call comes a day after another governor, from the oil-producing state of Bayelsa, was charged in a London court with money-laundering. Police had found 1 million pounds in cash at his London house. He denies any wrongdoing.

Wednesday, September 28, 2005

The Anglican Church Of Nigeria Refuses To Sleep With The Devil In The Canterbury


The news that the Anglican Church of Nigeria has severed ties with the Church of England did not surprise us. Because, it is long overdue. Since the Anglican Church of England and America have decided to rebel against the supreme authority of the Almighty God and continue in their corruption and pollution of the Holy Body of Jesus Christ, the true brethren of the Church of Nigeria did the right thing by separating the sheep from the goats in the vineyard. The Most Revd. Peter J. Akinola, CON, DD, the Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Nigeria has already made the reasons for this historical decision known since April, and below is the full text of his letter.

7 April 2005.

A LETTER FROM THE PRIMATE OF ALL NIGERIA TO THE HOUSE OF BISHOPS AND THE MEMBERS OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA


My sisters and brothers:

Greetings in the name of our risen Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I am grateful for our fellowship in the Gospel during these difficult days within the worldwide Anglican Communion and I am still rejoicing at the memory of our time together in Kaduna. I am also thankful that while we are all engaged in many different expressions of practical concern for the poor and the oppressed at home and abroad we share a common commitment to the primary mission of the Church, which is to proclaim redemption from sin and the promise of life eternal through faith in Jesus Christ.

I now write to you in response to the recent Covenant statement from ECUSA’s House of Bishops during their spring meeting in Camp Allen, Texas and also because there have been a number of misleading reports about the recent Primates’ meeting in Northern Ireland.

While the statement issued by ECUSA’s House of Bishops expressed a desire to remain in the life and mission of the Anglican Communion, I was disappointed that the only regret offered was for their failure to consult and the effect of their actions instead of an admission that what they have done has offended God and His Church. As was pointed out in the Primates Communiqué issued in February ‘the underlying reality of our communion in God the Holy Trinity is obscured, and the effectiveness of our common mission severely hindered.” ECUSA has yet to grasp this reality and still appears to be chasing shadows. Until this is recognized there can be no hope of meaningful reconciliation.

The statement answered the call for a moratorium with regard to the ordinations of non-celibate homosexuals with a pledge to withhold consent to the consecration of any bishop until 2006 – I find this response to be disingenuous since it holds the entire church to ransom for the sin of a few. While they have claimed to answer the call for moratorium on the blessing of same-sex unions we know that there are Dioceses where the clergy are still continuing the practice of blessing same-sex partnerships with the Bishops’ explicit permission. I find this duplicitous and I would point out that the underlying issue is not a temporary cessation of these practices but a decision to renounce them and demonstrate a willing embrace of the same teaching on matters of sexual morality as is generally accepted throughout the Communion and described in Lambeth Resolution 1.10.

With regard to the Primates meeting in Ireland I find it highly offensive to hear claims that a group of us were influenced by external forces into taking stands that we would not otherwise have taken. There is absolutely no merit to these claims and I am saddened that there are those who wish to perpetuate this malevolent falsehood. Our actions and agreements were the result of prayerful deliberation and principled conviction. The idea that orthodox Americans manipulated us is an insult – in truth we in the Global South have been challenging them to stand firm. And there were a number of us who felt that the recommendations did not go far enough but out of respect for the office of the Archbishop of Canterbury we were willing to leave space for serious reflection and genuine repentance.

I was appalled by statements claiming that the devil was wandering the halls of the Dromantine Retreat Center – perhaps those who make such observations should first look within themselves before they accuse others. Many of us believe that what we achieved in our time together was due to the work of God’s Holy Spirit and to claim otherwise is blasphemous.

I have noted with disappointment that there are those in ECUSA and the Anglican Church of Canada who are suggesting that these Provinces should defy the Primates’ request that they voluntarily withdraw their members from the next meetings of the Anglican Consultative Council. I would urge the appointed leadership of these Provinces to weigh seriously the consequences of such actions if indeed there is to be any hope of the reconciliation and healing that we all seek. Moreover I believe that it is an accurate sense of our meeting to say that the Primates do not expect ECUSA and the Canadian church to participate in ANY of the structures of the Communion until they have chosen to respect the mind of the Communion. Until they decide to return - something for which we earnestly pray – the sad truth is that they have walked away from the Communion.

Finally, I need to address the important matter of provincial and diocesan boundaries. As I have repeatedly reaffirmed maintaining good order is important for the work of the Gospel but it can never be used to silence those who are standing for the Faith and resisting doctrinal error. It was our common understanding in Newry that the extraordinary pastoral relationships and initiatives now underway would be maintained until this crisis is resolved. If, however, the measures proposed in our Communiqué to protect the legitimate needs of groups in serious theological disputes prove to be ineffectual, and if acts of oppression against those who seek to uphold our common faith persist, then we will have no choice but to offer safe harbour for those in distress.

These are challenging days for our common life and witness, they are also a glorious opportunity for us to demonstrate the truth that we serve the living God who can make all things new. May we all make every effort to submit our lives to His gracious will so that we may all be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.

The Lord be with you.

Sincerely yours,

The Most Revd. Peter J. Akinola, CON, DD
Archbishop, Metropolitan and Primate of All Nigeria

Wednesday, September 21, 2005

NIGER DELTA MILITIA THREATEN TO ATTACK OIL INSTALLATIONS


Now the true life melodramatic reality documentary of Nigerian politics continues to send shock waves all over the country. And we are afraid of the grave consequences of the recent arrest of Alhaji Mujahid Asari Dokubo. But, we are still investigating the matter.

Nigeria militia violence threat
Separatists in Nigeria's oil-producing Niger Delta region have threatened to sabotage oil installations as they call for the release of their leader.
Mujahid Dokubu-Asari, head of the Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force, was arrested in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

Mr Asari's group seeks more control of oil resources for the Ijaws, the biggest group in the Niger Delta.

Last year the group contributed to a sharp rise in world oil prices when it threatened war against oil companies.

'Mayhem'

A statement issued by the Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force on Wednesday warned of "grave mayhem" if Mr Asari were not released within a specified deadline.

"If word has not been received from our leader, all state agencies, oil companies and their agents should cease functioning in their Niger Delta flowstations and related facilities must be shut down," the statement read.

The group warned all oil company staff to leave the Delta region.

Mr Asari's supporters demonstrated in Port Harcourt overnight, demanding his release.

Police told the BBC that Mr Asari was being taken to the Nigerian capital, Abuja.

The Niger Delta remains one of Nigeria's poorest and least developed regions, despite being a major oil exporter.

Story from BBC NEWS:

Monday, September 19, 2005

40 REASONS WHY GOVERNOR DIEPREYE ALAMIEYESEIGHA MUST NEVER RETURN TO CREEK HAVEN


Chief Dr. D. S. P Alamieyeseigha (JP)

The cookie is already crumbling before our very eyes as we warned exactly four months ago and most of you ignored our whistles until now that the truth has been stripped stark naked in the open for the whole world to see. The days of reckoning are here.

Everyday by day, the rulers of Nigeria continue to confirm the international image of Nigeria as one of the most corrupt nations in the world.

We are publishing selected news report on the latest international scandal on another leading figure of the corrupt ruling party in Nigeria, the Self-Styled Governor-General of the Ijaw Nation, Chief Dr. D. S. P Alamieyeseigha (JP) , the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State, who was caught and arrested in London for money laundering. He was found with over $36 million. Alamieyeseigha's arrest was connected to the transfer of the money believed to be between 10 million and 20 million pounds (18 million dollars and 36 million dollars) from an account with the HSBC, a prominent bank in London.

The governor of Plateau State, Chief Joshua Dariye was also caught for the same crime, but he was granted bail and he returned to Nigeria and has escaped from prosecution under the immunity clause. An immunity that most of these rogues and crooks in government have used to escape from being punished for their rampant criminal activities in Nigeria and abroad.

Imagine the so called Governor-General of the Ijaw Nation who has been most vocal in accusing the multi-national oil companies operating in Nigeria of failing in their statutory obligations to the corporate development of their host communities in the Niger Delta of Nigeria. And he is the one misappropriating the revenue allocation to the state and hiding them in foreign accounts. Imagine what such a huge sum of money could do for the development of the underdeveloped villages in the creeks of Bayelsa State. And all the other governors of the states in the Niger Delta of Nigeria from Abia to Ondo should be thoroughly investigated at home and abroad to find out where they are hiding all the billions of naira they have stolen from our revenue allocations.

As already noted in our work-in-progress feature documentary film, “Winds of Fire, Winds of Change: New Dawn in the Niger Delta” that these corrupt and wicked governors, ministers and their accomplices are the real enemies of the Niger Delta region and not the foreigners who are paying all their taxes and dues to the Federal Government of Nigeria from the local government to the office of the President. And when they have given the oil revenue to the government, these indigenous criminals in power will misappropriate these funds instead of using them to develop the deprived host communities in the Niger Delta of Nigeria.

We have decided to give this special report the title of "40 REASONS WHY GOVERNOR DIEPREYE ALAMIEYESEIGHA MUST NEVER RETURN TO CREEK HAVEN" from the original classic article by the fearless Sgt. Werinipre Noel Digifa, Chairman SEA. Published first on the web site of the Niger Delta Congress two years ago.

Please, read and we welcome your comments.

40 REASONS WHY GOVERNOR DIEPREYE ALAMIEYESEIGHA MUST NEVER RETURN TO CREEK HAVEN
By Sgt. Werinipre Noel Digifa Chairman, SEA.

This is a clarion call on all well-meaning Ijaw sons and daughters to challenge and reject bad government and civilian dictatorship. It is a call on our fathers and mothers to save the future of our generation and indeed, the threatened generations of unborn babies crying for true lasting and meaningful change in their wombs. After a careful and objective appraisal of the government of Chief Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha, therefore, the Supreme Egbesu Assembly, like the vast majority of Bayelsans, is completely dissatisfied and nonplussed over the poor state of affairs in Bayelsa State, and is prepared to take every possible step to halt their dangerous drift to the precipice; this unequivocal position is anchored on the following grounds which in themselves could not be said to be exhaustive enough in cataloguing the avalanche of social malaise and maladies that have bedeviled the state since Governor Alamieyeseigha assumed office on May 20, 1999.


1. He is an accessory after the fact in the destruction of Odi as he collaborated with President Obasanjo to wipe out a community of over 50,000 people! This is genocide and Governor Alamieyeseigha ought to be tried alongside President Obasanjo at the International Criminal Court of Justice at The Hague.

2. He has made his cousin, Abel Ebifemowei, transport officer government House, as the Hamza-Almustapha of Bayelsa State, who indiscriminately intimidates and brutalizes all perceived political opponents.

3. Government House itself, the seat of democratic power is run by a unitary and military system of government. Every thing rotates and revolves around Abel Ebifemowei. Nothing works for anybody without him. Most workers there know this and live with this fear daily but regrettably, their freedom of expression has been taken away.

4. Despite having collected well over N80 billion from the federation account, there is practically nothing to show for it in Bayelsa State.

5. A peripatetic governor, he governs Bayelsa State from Port Harcourt, Abuja, America and the United Kingdom. Like a growing child who sees less and less of his hopeless father, as the years go by, Bayelsa State does not in reality know Governor Alamieyeseigha except of course as a nominal governor.

6. Akesedo an ordinary civil servant is now the Sgt. Rogers of Abacha Junta in Bayelsa State. He mandated his cousin, the transport officer and his Chief Protocol Office, Joe Akedesuo to arrest and maim Chief Gbassa Ebiserikumo and Evangelist Bannerman Embiowei, among others.

7. He uses his terror machinery to issue threat letters to journalists who have been dispassionately protecting and projecting the endangered interests of Bayelsa State and the Niger Delta.

8. He plays Father Christmas to his non-Ijaw friends and associates with our money by awarding over bloated contracts especially the construction of the NDU permanent site.

9. Three and half years into his administration, it is a thing of wonder and amusement that not a single kilometer of road has been completed and commissioned in Bayelsa State.

10. The so-called and much celebrated Niger Delta University is a glorified Secondary School as it lacks the basic rudimentary facilities to qualify for a University. It will be a miracle if the National University Commission Accreditation Panel gives it a pass mark, eventually.

11. He claims that there is no money in the state for project yet construction work on his multi-million naira Opolo residential house; his Kpansia Three Star Hotel; his multi-million naira Mgbuoba edifice at Port Harcourt; his multi-million naira residential building at New GRA Port Harcourt and his multi-million naira marble house in William Jumbo Street, Old GRA Port Harcourt has not stopped even for a day.

12. His fighting to relieve some well-meaning sons of Ijaw land particularly those from Bayelsa, of their federal appointments e.g. Chief Amange of Niger Delta Basin and Rural Development Authority, Ebiserikumo Gbassa of Federal Civil Service, Chief Sir, Charles Dorgu of Federal Capital Development Authority, Chief Alex Fouebide of Presidential Project Monitoring Committee on NDDC, is undoubtedly condemnable.

13. As a son of Bayelsa, he has refused to recognize the founding fathers that fought for the creation of the state like Late Chief Fred Agugu.

14. He is very selfish and arrogant. He thinks only about himself. That is why he is building another Government House in Yenagoa when the State lacks basic amenities like water, roads, good heath care services etc.

15. His development projects are seen only on the pages of newspapers, signposts and radio Bayelsa, which he employs at will to blackmail the opposition and hoodwink Bayelsians.

16. It is shameful that as Governor for three and half years he could not complete even the sand filling of the 21 kilometer road project of his hometown Amassoma.

17. He replaced Amassoma Secondary School with the glorified Niger Delta University without providing any alternative for the people. As a result, the existing secondary school is now an afternoon school sharing the same building with a primary school.

18. Since assumption of office, he has not embarked on a working visit to the original eight Local Government Areas, not to talk of his fraudulent additional 24 local governments areas, which he cannot fund.

19. Despite repeated calls by the civil populace for an unbiased investigation into the appropriation and judicious use of the N5 billion-development fund launch for the State in 1998, he has maintained a sickening silence.

20. He cannot even rehabilitate the only Yenagoa-Mbiama Road, which connects Bayelsa to the outside world. The road presently is a death trap, claiming lives daily.

21. He has abandoned the much-celebrated and advertised Yenagoa-Oporoma-Ukubie Road, Yenagoa-kolo-Nembe-Brass Road the Sagbama-Ekeremor-Agei Road.

22. His government is a government of fraudulent feasibility studies and not a government of actual development.

23. It is incontrovertible that President Obasanjo hates Ijaws with all his soul. But unfortunately, our dear governor is now the campaign manager of Obasanjo's 2003 project. He was among the governors and political office holders that visited Otta Farm to beg Obasanjo to re-contest. He formed part of the team that went to broker peace between President Obasanjo and the National Legislators in the wake of the impeachment moves against the President, even when Ijaws want Obasanjo out.

24. He has been looking for investors abroad for three and half years without even providing a sound bread baker. He is deceptive and would do worse if re-elected.

25. Development outside Yenagoa is frustratingly slow. Yenagoa is being knocked into shape and the expense of the rural communities where over 80 percent of the people reside.

26. He encourages electoral fraud and violence in the State as witnessed in the last PDP council primaries where over 40 Bayelsans died.

27. He claims to be an apostle of resource control in Ijaw land when he cannot galvanize the State House of assembly to pass a bill in this regard.

28. He has wasted so much of our resources on frivolous projects. For instance, the OBJ airport and his tollgate at Igbogene along Yenagoa-Mbiama Road.

29. He has failed the people by not fulfilling any of the electoral promises he made e.g. the road project at Ekeremor.

30. Our governor always travels abroad as if it's from Yenagoa to Amassoma. He has become Nigeria's Foreign Affairs Minister. Thereby, putting a halt to all economic, political and social activities of the state during his sojourns abroad.

31. He has forcefully annexed the Amassoma market, converted it to his private property and built his house there instead of his father's compound, as is the tradition in Amassoma.

32. He prevented multi-national oil companies like Shell, Texaco and Agip from establishing in Yenagoa.

33. He built a public market and gave out all the stores to his wife. No wonder the market could not function.

34. He spent our money to buy guns and speedboats for his campaign instead of building infrastructures for the people.

35. Governor Alamieyeseigha operates an over bloated government with a bogus number of Special Assistants and advisers with serious duplication of functions.

36. A governor that has been indicted by the Independent Corrupt Practices Tribunal has no legitimate business governing Bayelsa State.

37. In spite of the fact that Bayelsa is one of the smallest and youngest States of the federation, the Punch of September 23, 2002 quotes governor Alamieyeseigha as earning the highest annual remuneration of N18 million naira per annum.

38. Governor Alamieyeseigha has desecrated Ijaw land and the ancestors are angry. The series of fatal accidents he has had lately is only a warning signal. He better think twice because the series of accidents have rendered the siblings of the victim families hopeless.

39. Since assumption of office he has not published quarterly audited financial accounts of the state.

40. His recent secret moves to obtain a N2 billion loan for the State from Standard Trust Bank is not only disgusting but also preposterous. And also the youths have been advice not to allow themselves to be used as political thugs. Because none of the aspirant’s children is in Nigeria they are all abroad not to talk of partaking in the election.

We are asking the Nigeria Police Force and the State Security service to watch careful the flow of arms in Bayelsa State. And that the police should try as much to bring any-body caught with arms to book to observe the rule of law. We will not accept intimidation as true Ijaw people. God bless our fatherland.
March 2003.


Chief Dr. D. S. P Alamieyeseigha (JP)in action as the Self-Styled Governor-General of the Ijaw Nation.

FG Pushes for Alamieyeseigha's Trial

Vanguard (Lagos)
NEWS
September 18, 2005
Posted to the web September 18, 2005

By Ben Agande
AMID the report that Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha of Bayelsa State, arrested last Thursday in London for alleged money laundering, would remain in Britain until November 15 when his fate would be determined by the Metropolitan Police, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) may have commenced moves for the trial of the embattled governor in the British capital.
The EFCC's wish for the governor's immediate trial will, however, depend on the strength of the evidence the Metropolitan Police may have against him.
A source close to Sunday Vanguard disclosed this at the weekend just as President Olusegun Obasanjo said the fact that Alamieyeseigha was arrested on money laundering allegations, in spite of his position, was an indication that his administration's anti-corruption measures were working.

The embattled governor, it was gathered, had begun to assemble a team of lawyers ahead of his possible trial. The identity of lawyers already contacted in Britain could not be ascertained at press time.

In Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State, at the weekend, there were mixed reactions to the news of the governor's arrest. Although the state capital was calm, many of the state commissioners were said to have gone underground for the fear of being invited by the EFCC to make statements on the arrest of the governor.
Government sources in Yenagoa, last night, said the deputy governor, Mr. Jonathan Goodluck, had been summoned by the Presidency to Abuja on the Alamieyeseigha saga.
"The fact that the police arrested this man (Alamieyeseigha), no matter his position, is in fact an indication that our anti-corruption measures are working", Obasanjo said yesterday while fielding questions on the Cable News Network (CNN).
He went on: "Now in the history of Nigeria, up to the life of this administration, that nobody so highly placed has been arrested and being charged isn't because they haven't committed an offence but because we know that and we are telling the world that this is what we are going to do. We are grateful that you mentioned that I was accused and see what it has opened for us, go ahead.

"Now, if I do that, all our friends will know that nobody, nobody ... no sacred cow and that is what has happened and this is what is happening".
EFCC chairman, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, who was said to have been informed about the allegations against Alamieyeseigha before his arrest, it was gathered, left Nigeria for London last Thursday, apparently to press for immediate prosecution of the governor if there was enough evidence to do so. The EFCC's position, according to sources, was informed by the thinking that it was better to try him immediately in Britain where his right to immunity would not apply rather than allow him to return to Nigeria and seek protection under the immunity clause from prosecution.
"We want to avoid a repeat of the case of the governor of Plateau State, Chief Joshua Dariye, who was arrested by the same Metropolitan Police on money laundering allegations and granted bail only for him to run back to Nigeria", a source said. It added: "The commission is committed to ensuring that no matter how far people who commit crime run, the long arm of the law catches up with them. We don't want to repeat the same mistake that we made on Dariye".

Sunday Vanguard gathered that the Federal Government was determined to fully cooperate with the British government to ensure that all Nigerian government officials found to have been involved in money laundering were brought to book. "We are aware that the Federal Government had to give an approval for the waiver of the diplomatic immunity of Governor Alamieyeseigha to allow the Metropolitan Police arrest and question him on the money laundering allegations against him", the EFCC source stated, pointing out: "The understanding was that since he cannot be arrested or prosecuted in Nigeria when he comes back, it is better for the Metropolitan Police to be allowed to do the job".

Reports said yesterday that Yenagoa was quiet as the news of the arrest of the governor in London filtered in. Most politicians and top government officials in the state, approached for comments were almost short of words. The atmosphere at both the state secretariat and the Creek Haven, the state's seat of power, was quiet as top government officials and politicians were seen discussing in groups in low tones.

However, some of the governor's aides, who were contacted on telephone, declined to comment on the incident, saying, "the governor cannot be reached for any information".

Some politicians, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the arrest was politically motivated, while others described it "as a welcome development", especially with so much display of wealth by politicians in the state.
Commissioners to underground

Many of the commissioners could not be reached at the weekend as they were said to have gone into hiding out of the fear that the EFCC could invite them for questioning over the allegations against Alamieyeseigha.

Also the deputy governor, who is in charge of the state in the absence of the governor, could not be reached, but sources close to the Government House, Yenagoa claimed he had been summoned to Abuja by the Presidency on issues relating to the governor's arrest.

A press conference arranged for him on the Alamieyeseigha saga last Friday was cancelled at the last minute. No official reason was given for the cancellation but Sunday Vanguard learnt that he was advised against speaking on the matter.
The Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Zaiki, reportedly travelled to London the moment the story on the governor's arrest broke last Thursday ostensibly to give him (Alamieyeseigha) a helping hand in the British capital.

Bayesians go spiritual

Yesterday, all Bayesians were asked to engage in three-day fasting beginning from today to seek divine intervention for their governor.
The General Overseer of the Government House, Yenagoa Church, Pastor Leghemo, aired the appeal on the state radio, Glory FM.

Copyright © 2005 Vanguard. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com).

Saturday, September 17, 2005

IF IT IS THE WILL OF GOD, REV. OKOTIE WILL BE THE PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA


If it is the will of God, Rev. Chris Okotie will be the President of Nigeria in 2007.

Nigerian Times wants the best for Nigeria. And we are not going to accept any more corruption to continue to plague Nigeria.

Bishop Ajayi Crowther said, “Only the best is good enough for us.” And this is the motto of Nigerian Times and will continue to be our motto and the pivot of our commitment to the nation building of a New Nigeria in the leadership of Africa among the comity of nations in the world. No more, no less.
Rev. Chris Okotie was first a very successful Pop star in Nigeria in the 1980s whilst he was studying Law at the University of Nigeria in Nsukka across the River Niger in Eastern Nigeria. He qualified as an attorney and later went on to a Bible School in the US. Then, he returned to Nigeria to begin his Christian missionary assignment through the Household of God Church in Ikeja, Lagos. I have spoken to him once on phone. I have access to him one on one. He is very humble and yet brave like David in the Holy Bible.

He wants to be the President of Nigeria. And millions of Nigerians wish he could be the next President of Nigeria. But, the evil men in power want to prevent this dream from coming to pass.

Nigerians very well know these evil men. One of them is a well-known evil genius. The others are corrupt feudal lords in Northern Nigeria who want to continue to enslave their people.

If only the majority of the poor masses in Northern Nigeria are enlightened, Rev. Chris Okotie will not have any opposition in convincing the majority of Nigerians to elect him in the next Presidential Election in 2007. But, the majority of the people in Northern Nigeria are mostly Muslims with only Islamic education and has been indoctrinated by their opinionated rulers to oppose and reject anything Christian and they have never voted for any Christian Presidential Candidate since Nigeria became Independent on October 1st 1960. These are the political pawns of the corrupt and wicked feudal lords of the ruling Oligarchy controlling the economic and political reins of power in Nigeria. These are the enemies of our progress and success. These are the same people who are planning to stop Rev. Chris Okotie by all means and at all costs. But, we pray for the divine intervention of God. Except God wants the poor masses of Nigeria to continue to languish in the agonies and ironies of Nigeria.

The lack of consensus among the poor majority of the Nigerian Electorate is responsible for their economic and political underdevelopment. Because, their oppressors will continue to take advantage of the political and religious dichotomies in Nigeria to exploit the ignorance of the poor masses. So, we need to embark on extensive and intensive political mass literacy campaign to educate the Nigerian Electorate to enlighten them to realize the falsehoods of the corrupt and wicked feudal lords in North and their partners in crime in the South.

Here is an article in defense of the ideals, goals and objectives of Rev. Chris Okotie. Please, read it if you love your fellow human beings and if you love the progress of Nigeria. Because, if bad and corrupt oppressors continue to ruin Nigeria, the more problems of 419 Internet Scams, Poverty and Terrorism that America will confront from Nigeria and the rest of Africa. Because, these evil and corrupt oligarchs will continue to waste all the resources in Nigeria and they will make the environment unprofitable to foreign investors and will continue to stymie the economic and democratic developments in Nigeria the most populous country in Africa with the largest market.

First and foremost, The House of Nigeria FRESH is an organization of people who agree to the principle of change in Nigeria. This change comprises good leadership, which will ensure better security of the citizenry, hope for the future, confidence in the government, equality and fairness to all, and a host of other things that good governance is associated with. Presently, the organization has a membership of over 7 million Nigerians as at the last count. The organization is being headed by Rev. Chris Okotie and from all that has been said about the ideals of the organization; Rev. Chris Okotie does not need a further manifesto because he stands for the ideals of The House of Nigeria FRESH.

Another point worthy of correction here to the writer, is the fact that Rev. Chris Okotie does not have a political ambition. The man has said it time and again that he has no plans to be known in political circles as a politician instead he has a mission to be president of The Federal Republic of Nigeria. The only reason he has to join a political party is in obedience to INEC's rules and regulations that a citizen cannot contest on an independent platform.

Given these few facts above, we don't see how they relate to a man with "a political ambition" or one seeking political relevance as portrayed by the writer. At a particular point in the writer's piece, he made mention of a "feverish resurgence of Godism in Nigeria". A situation where he claims a citizen (or contestant) resorts to using God's name and order as a tool of enforcement on the electorate when running for elective positions. We really don't see how that applies in the case of Rev. Chris Okotie. The man has never told you that you must vote for him because he was ordered by God to run for presidency.

We all know Nigeria is not a theocratic but a secular state and that is why we clamour for a country that will be bereft of inequality, injustice, and unfairness to all her citizens irrespective of their cultural or spiritual beliefs. At least, we all have a right to our beliefs as long as they are in harmony with the laws of the state. To now say the Reverend gentleman here, is "waving God in our faces or using the Almighty as a prop" in a country where we have diverse religions is a statement we find abysmally absurd and devoid of any element of fairness in thinking. We are beginning to think that the writer had some form of bias in mind when he was conjuring up his piece. But thank God, he at least paid some credos to the Reverend in his piece when he said Rev. Chris Okotie looks well credentialed. At least, that is a plus for a citizen who is vying for the No. 1 office in the land.

One point worthy of note here is this: Not every good and talented man and woman in the country can be accused of complicity in the rape of our country. Maybe the writer is one of the lot but we can assure him that there are still many of us who can stand out with our heads high that we did not comply in any way to the degenerate state Nigeria is in today. That is what being a good citizen requires from anybody. A country that has been under the grip of a cabal for so long and has become so degenerate only calls for another crop of citizens who are responsible enough to assume leadership positions.

When God singles you out for a leadership role, it is because He has seen something in you that He can use to fulfill His aim of leadership. It is not necessarily because you are spiritually oriented or good- natured. You have to understand the principles and dynamics of what leadership entails. Mind you, the emphasis here is not on the man who is a "politician" but on the man who is a "leader". Politics here is only the machinery or springboard through which the leader ascends to office. So, we really don't see what the writer's problem is in drawing the line between the man Rev. Chris Okotie as a man with leadership qualities and not a politician.

For the first time in the history of Nigeria, something different is taking place. A great change is about to come and yet some of us are not prepared for it. What with young minds like Waziri Adio who think that "no man can drop in from nowhere and be the next president of Nigeria on May 29, 2003 ahead of all the other career politicians, the owners of the game and the incumbent..." This line of thought has been the bane of our society. Some group of people think that they own Nigeria so they feel they have an allegiance to power but we think that era is coming to an end. This time, we as Nigerians know that our future is in our hands and we will take it and make the most of it for the benefit of our motherland and generations to come.

In quoting the writer's jaundiced view, " Being grandiloquent and belching hot air on talk shows and in newspaper interviews won't do the job.... You need more than a miracle to make Chris Okotie the president of Nigeria by May 29, 2003", I would like to advise him to hold on to his view very tight but when the great proclamation eventually comes to pass, let him not forget the days of disenchantment, mockery, and unbelief.

As a quick reminder here, Rev. Chris Okotie has declared for the Justice Party (JP) as the presidential nominee for the party. We believe the writer watched or heard about his declaration. Rev. Chris Okotie is still very much in contention for the struggle to emancipate our Nation from the throes of ill governance and truly set us on the right path to Nationhood. This much said, Nigerians know better the right thing to do when the time comes - We will vote for our conscience!
· Ojadua and Okene are members of Okotie's The House of Nigeria FRESH.

Wednesday, September 14, 2005

BEFORE WE CAN MAKE POVERTY HISTORY

All the bloggers with those "MAKE POVERTY HISTORY" notices on their blogs and others should read this report.

THE POOREST OF THE POOR IN AFRICA.
The $1-a-day measurement of the poorest of the poor is not a very good standard of economic indicator for knowing the level of poverty. Because, there are millions of people in Nigeria who earn up $3 per day and yet they are 100% poorer than millions of those who are on welfare in America and Europe. Majority of Nigerians are so poor that poverty no longer makes sense to them. Because, they are not worried. Over 60% of Nigerians in the rural areas are poor peasants who don't even know what is going on right now in New Orleans. Because, they cannot read or write, they have no power supply, no pipe borne water supply, the UN boreholes have been abandoned since they broke down, no feeder roads, no TV and no CNN. They have radio. But, they only listen to local music and religious sermons in their native Hausa or other native languages. There were some naked tribes in Nigeria as late as the late 1980s until Christians missionaries came to clothe them. But, hundreds of them are still going about with only loin-clothes or single wrappers without under wears and they don't need Victoria's Secrets since they have no secrets to hide. Yet, they are not poor. Because, they live within the standards of their primitive native communal African life with houses and farmlands and livestock such as goats, sheep, cattle and poultry. And they are very very happy. Even, in one particular clan, the married men offer their wives to their male visitors to sleep with them as a custom of hospitality.

Measuring poverty: Does $1-a-day standard make sense? By Ed Stoddard
Tue Sep 13, 8:16 AM ET

One of the controversies casting a shadow over this week's United Nations summit centers around how the global body defines some of the world's most basic but most intractable problems and what it wants to do about them.

But as world leaders wrangle over whether it is right to retain the ambitious goal of slashing the proportion of people who live on less than $1 a day by 2015, some academics question whether that measurement itself is relevant.

Critics say the $1-a-day measurement of poverty does not distinguish between the widely different experiences of the poor, which cannot be measured simply by looking at income.

"The ... fundamental question is whether such statistical propositions as the $1-a-day-life reflect any reality that real people live in," asked Canadian philosopher John Ralston Saul in his recently published book "The End of Globalism."

"After all, people at $3 a day could be living a life of pure despair in a savage slum of Lagos, a life far worse than that at $1 a day in a stable slum like Klong Toey in Bangkok, where there is a societal structure," he wrote.

The goal to reduce the number living on less than $1 a day by 2015 is enshrined in the Millennium Development Goals, a set of eight specific objectives on poverty, hunger, primary education, AIDS and other issues, agreed at a summit in 2000.

In the pre-summit wrangling, the United States said at first it wanted to delete all reference to the words "Millennium Development Goals." Then it said it would accept the use of the phrase provided it could be "properly defined."

Critics contend that the goals themselves set an objective on poverty that obscures the complexity of the problem and that focusing on the $1-a-day measure can be misleading.

SMOKE AND MIRRORS?

The World Bank says the number of people living on less than $1 a day fell to 1.1 billion in 2001 from 1.5 billion in 1981 -- a much trumpeted trend that mostly reflects the economic rise of China and India.

But it also says the number living on less than $2 a day increased to 2.7 billion in 2001 from 2.4 billion in 1981.

"The 1.6 billion people in the middle, between the $1 and $2 a day poverty lines, are still very poor and remain vulnerable to economic slowdowns," it said in a recent report.

So if the goal posts were moved, and $2 a day was the benchmark -- and it is the preferred measure of some analysts -- it would suggest that global poverty is in fact on the rise.

"The evolution from the $1 category to the $2 category might mean a marginal improvement or nothing at all or a worsening in poverty," Saul wrote.

"What a sensible person would say is that there are no clears signs of progress, and there may be serious slippage, except in India and China," he added.

In its global human development report released last week, the United Nations Development Program said another 1.7 billion people could be living on $2 a day by 2015 if current trends continue.

Some observers say the data could signal rising inequality -- which may or may not point to an increase in the absolute number of people living in poverty.

"In really poor countries, this would not be a good sign as it can point to a deterioration of other social indicators such as health and education and nutrition," said Carola Gruen, a professor Johannesburg's University of the Witwatersrand.

RELATIVE POVERTY

The $1-a-day figure is referred to as the extreme poverty line and is calculated on a purchasing power parity basis.

This method attempts to account for inflation while also measuring the relative purchasing power of different countries' currencies for the same types of goods and services.

But it is difficult to broadly measure the impact of inflation on different income groups whose baskets of commonly purchased goods are not the same, with food a heavy component of expenditure by the world's poorest.

So a person in country A could move well above the $1-a-day threshold but the additional income could simply be eaten up by a sharp rise in his or her staple food commodity.

Africa is the one place where there is a consensus. Everyone agrees it has been getting poorer by just about any definition.

Using the $1-a-day or less measurement, the World Bank says the number of people in Africa living in extreme poverty almost doubled in 20 years, rising to 313 million in 2001 from 164 million in 1981.

Recent commitments of increased aid and debt relief, such as those agreed by the world's leading industrialized nations at a Group of Eight summit in July, have been welcomed.

But Africa is still the one major region which is not expected to meet the poverty reduction goal by 2015 -- and however one measures poverty, that can only be bad news.

"If the Millennium Goals are not achieved by 2015, we will fail to prevent the deaths of hundreds of millions of people from hunger, poverty, AIDS and disease," the U.N. Millennium Campaign said last month.

"This year alone, 11 million people have died from poverty and ill-health and 3 million from AIDS. There is no bigger security threat to human lives and no more blatant violation of human rights than this," it said

Tuesday, September 13, 2005

NIGERIA RECALLS POLICE FROM THE CONGO AND NIGERIA FREES DETAINED RUSSIANS


Nigeria police hit by sex scandal
Nigeria is withdrawing its 120-strong police contingent serving with the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo's capital, Kinshasa.
The UN launched an investigation into sexual harassment allegations three weeks ago and the entire unit was withdrawn from their duties.

Nigerian police spokesman Haz Iwendi said 10 officers were accused of sexually harassing local women.

"When one is contaminated, the whole bunch is contaminated," he said.
Speaking from Nigeria, he said a senior police officer had already been sent to DR Congo to bring them home.

"We have contingents in about 19 countries right now and we want to send a message to all other contingents that if one finger collects oil, the whole hand is stained," he said.
Fragile peace deal

A spokesperson in Kinshasa for the UN force, known as Monuc, said the group had only arrived in June and had primarily been there guarding UN locations in the capital.
"Since the allegations emerged on 27 August they have been confined to barracks," Rachel Eklou told the BBC News website.

Monuc has been plagued by allegations of sexual abuse, with peacekeepers and other UN staff being accused of rape and giving food or money in exchange for sex.
It is the world's largest peacekeeping operation with some 19,000 staff trying to shore up a fragile peace deal.

It has just announced that a further 800 police officers are being sent to help with elections expected next year.

Poll delay.
The UN Security Council voted for the temporary expansion to ensure the smooth running of the polls.

Elections were due before the end of June under the terms of the 2002 peace deal, but MPs backed a six-month delay.

Implementing a peace deal since the end of a five-year civil war, in which an estimated three million people were killed, has proved difficult.
The planned elections will be the first since independence from Belgium in 1960.
Registration for the election is under way and an estimated 28 million Congolese will be eligible to vote.



OIL TRUCKS IN NIGERA.
Oil theft trial in Nigeria
12/09/2005 - 15:02:50

Twelve Russian sailors held in Nigeria for nearly two years on charges of stealing crude oil are expected be handed over to their embassy today, a Russian Embassy official said.

In a written order on August 4, Judge Roseline Ukeje of the federal high court in Lagos, had said the Russians – all crewmen of the Greek-owned ship MT African Pride found laden with suspected stolen oil off Nigeria’s coast – would be handed over to their embassies rather than jailed as their trial proceeded.

The embassy spokesman said the court hearing to formalize the release had begun this morning. As a condition of release, the judge had required the embassy to give written guarantees the sailors would continue to attend their trial
.

Monday, September 12, 2005

"MIKEY MOORON DESERVES TO BE HEARD


See what they are Hawking.

From Bush-haters to Bush lovers, speak out!
Those who don't want others to be heard don't deserve to be heard.
So, I welcome you all to express yourselves and I will give you enough space to do so.

MICHAEL MOORE AND PRESIDENT GEORGE W.BUSH.

chichi316 - 3:56 AM ET September 12, 2005 (#129016 of 129016)
(from the Readers Opinion Forum of the New York Times.)

MIKEY MOORON DESERVES TO BE HEARD
Mikey Mooron or Michael Moore deserves to be heard.

In my belief in the Freedom of Speech, everybody deserves a hearing if we have to be fair in a just society.

Michael Moore deserves to be heared and heared aloud and clear and it is good to tell the truth no matter whose ox is gored.

Michael Moore does not hate GWB.

I am proud to say that I was the first blogger who went on the New York Times' Forum to ask others to go out there and support Cindy Sheehan's right to see her President since she sacrificed her only son Casey for the good of the United States of America.

GWB will not lose anything by granting her audience again.
She is a woman and women are very emotional whereas George W. Bush is very rational.

Even the Bulldog Manifesto and other bloggers calling for the impeachment of Bush have been highlighted in my opinions on the New York Times' Forum.

I am a Nigerian who is an American at heart.

I love America. Because America has always been there for me when I was in my most challenging moments in Nigeria. God always sends me help from the US since 1984 to date.

Nigerians were among the thousands killed on 9/11. And two Nigerians in the US Marines have been killed in Iraq. And I am ready to fight for America anytime I am called upon to do so.

Sunday, September 11, 2005

FOR THOSE WE CANNOT JUST FORGET ON 9/11


To All My Fellow Americans Who Voted for George W. Bush:

On this, the fourth anniversary of 9/11, I'm just curious, how does it feel?

How does it feel to know that the man you elected to lead us after we were attacked went ahead and put a guy in charge of FEMA whose main qualification was that he ran horse shows?

That's right. Horse shows.

I really want to know -- and I ask you this in all sincerity and with all due respect -- how do you feel about the utter contempt Mr. Bush has shown for your safety? C'mon, give me just a moment of honesty. Don't start ranting on about how this disaster in New Orleans was the fault of one of the poorest cities in America. Put aside your hatred of Democrats and liberals and anyone with the last name of Clinton. Just look me in the eye and tell me our President did the right thing after 9/11 by naming a horse show runner as the top man to protect us in case of an emergency or catastrophe.

I want you to put aside your self-affixed label of Republican/conservative/born-again/capitalist/ditto-head/right-winger and just talk to me as an American, on the common ground we both call America.

Are we safer now than before 9/11? When you learn that behind the horse show runner, the #2 and #3 men in charge of emergency preparedness have zero experience in emergency preparedness, do you think we are safer?

When you look at Michael Chertoff, the head of Homeland Security, a man with little experience in national security, do you feel secure?

When men who never served in the military and have never seen young men die in battle send our young people off to war, do you think they know how to conduct a war? Do they know what it means to have your legs blown off for a threat that was never there?

Do you really believe that turning over important government services to private corporations has resulted in better services for the people?

Why do you hate our federal government so much? You have voted for politicians for the past 25 years whose main goal has been to de-fund the federal government. Do you think that cutting federal programs like FEMA and the Army Corps of Engineers has been good or bad for America? GOOD OR BAD?

With the nation's debt at an all-time high, do you think tax cuts for the rich are still a good idea? Will you give yours back so hundreds of thousands of homeless in New Orleans can have a home?

Do you believe in Jesus? Really? Didn't he say that we would be judged by how we treat the least among us? Hurricane Katrina came in and blew off the facade that we were a nation with liberty and justice for all. The wind howled and the water rose and what was revealed was that the poor in America shall be left to suffer and die while the President of the United States fiddles and tells them to eat cake.

That's not a joke. The day the hurricane hit and the levees broke, Mr. Bush, John McCain and their rich pals were stuffing themselves with cake. A full day after the levees broke (the same levees whose repair funding he had cut), Mr. Bush was playing a guitar some country singer gave him. All this while New Orleans sank under water.

It would take ANOTHER day before the President would do a flyover in his jumbo jet, peeking out the widow at the misery 2500 feet below him as he flew back to his second home in DC. It would then be TWO MORE DAYS before a trickle of federal aid and troops would arrive. This was no seven minutes in a sitting trance while children read "My Pet Goat" to him. This was FOUR DAYS of doing nothing other than saying "Brownie (FEMA director Michael Brown), you're doing a heck of a job!"

My Republican friends, does it bother you that we are the laughing stock of the world?

And on this sacred day of remembrance, do you think we honor or shame those who died on 9/11/01? If we learned nothing and find ourselves today every bit as vulnerable and unprepared as we were on that bright sunny morning, then did the 3,000 die in vain?

Our vulnerability is not just about dealing with terrorists or natural disasters. We are vulnerable and unsafe because we allow one in eight Americans to live in horrible poverty. We accept an education system where one in six children never graduate and most of those who do can't string a coherent sentence together. The middle class can't pay the mortgage or the hospital bills and 45 million have no health coverage whatsoever.

Are we safe? Do you really feel safe? You can only move so far out and build so many gated communities before the fruit of what you've sown will be crashing through your walls and demanding retribution. Do you really want to wait until that happens? Or is it your hope that if they are left alone long enough to soil themselves and shoot themselves and drown in the filth that fills the street that maybe the problem will somehow go away?

I know you know better. You gave the country and the world a man who wasn't up for the job and all he does is hire people who aren't up for the job. You did this to us, to the world, to the people of New Orleans. Please fix it. Bush is yours. And you know, for our peace and safety and security, this has to be fixed. What do you propose?

I have an idea, and it isn't a horse show.

Yours,
Michael Moore
www.michaelmoore.com
mmflint@aol.com

Saturday, September 10, 2005

SWISS BANKS RETURN STOLEN $290 MILLION TO NIGERIA



The good news that banks in Switzerland have agreed to return over $290 Million stolen by the late dictator Gen.Sani Abacha is even better than the fake debt relief that the President of Nigeria said that he has secured from the Paris Club. But, before we start going to Abuja to shake the hand of President Olusegun Obasanjo to commend his laudable efforts, may we ask him to ask for the other loot still saved in Swiss banks and other foreign banks by the present corrupt rulers in Nigeria. All the governors and their proxies, ministers and their proxies, legislators and their proxies and rogues in government who are still unrepentant and are looting our national treasury through their white elephant projects. All these looters must be made to return their own stolen millions of dollars.

Any dummy will know that most of them are operating various foreign bank accounts in the names of their proxies or under their secret identity and also using the loot to purchase mansions in America and Europe like the case of the Vice President of Nigeria Alhaji Atiku Abubakar who has one of his wives in the US acting as his partner in crime. Until, they are all brought to justice, Nigeria will not be safe for those who believe in honesty, probity and equity.Because, if we don't get rid of the wicked in our midst, the wicked will get rid of us. As we have already said earlier, a thief is a thief from stealing $1 to $1,000,000.

The Swiss banks must return the remaining money and other millions of dollars stolen by the other Nigerians, dead or alive.

Swiss to return $290m 'state funds' to Nigeria
from late dictator's accounts

By Balz Bruppacher, AP writer, in Berne
Published: 10 September 2005

Banks in Switzerland have been told to start returning to Nigeria $290m (£158m) in funds seized from accounts linked to the late dictator Sani Abacha.

"The transfer became possible with the signing of an agreement with the World Bank to monitor Nigeria's use of the funds," said Livio Zanolari, a spokesman for the Swiss Justice Ministry.

The $290m was to be paid immediately to the Bank for International Settlements in Basel, Mr Zanolari said. The international bank will then credit it to the Central Bank of Nigeria.

A second instalment of $170m will be made when assets have been converted to cash, said Mr Zanolari, but he said he did not know how long that would take. That second instalment will complete the payment of all the funds found in Switzerland, he said.

The money has been frozen in Swiss banks since 1999. The Swiss supreme court gave a green light for the return last February when it rejected an appeal by the Abacha family.

But the Swiss cabinet said it wanted the World Bank's involvement organised first to guarantee the money would go toward development projects in areas such as health, education and infrastructure, as promised by Nigeria.

The agreement with the World Bank has now been signed, Mr Zanolari said.

Olusegun Obasanjo, the Nigarian President, accused Switzerland in May last year of stalling on the return of the funds, but Swiss officials said it was held up only because of the need to work out details with the World Bank.

The Nigerian government had accused Abacha of creating a criminal organisation after his takeover in 1993 and plundering $2.2bn from state funds until his death of an apparent heart attack in 1998.

After he died, Swiss officials blocked about $730m in bank accounts in the country linked to Abacha and his associates. Some $216m has previously been returned to Nigeria.

The Nigerian government has been pushing, with some success, for the return of Abacha's looted funds from other countries, including Britain, Luxembourg, Lichtenstein and Austria. Transparency International, the anti-corruption organisation, ranks Nigeria, the world's seventh largest exporter of oil, as the world's third-most corrupt country.

Banks in Switzerland have been told to start returning to Nigeria $290m (£158m) in funds seized from accounts linked to the late dictator Sani Abacha.

"The transfer became possible with the signing of an agreement with the World Bank to monitor Nigeria's use of the funds," said Livio Zanolari, a spokesman for the Swiss Justice Ministry.

The $290m was to be paid immediately to the Bank for International Settlements in Basel, Mr Zanolari said. The international bank will then credit it to the Central Bank of Nigeria.

A second instalment of $170m will be made when assets have been converted to cash, said Mr Zanolari, but he said he did not know how long that would take. That second instalment will complete the payment of all the funds found in Switzerland, he said.

The money has been frozen in Swiss banks since 1999. The Swiss supreme court gave a green light for the return last February when it rejected an appeal by the Abacha family.

But the Swiss cabinet said it wanted the World Bank's involvement organised first to guarantee the money would go toward development projects in areas such as health, education and infrastructure, as promised by Nigeria.
The agreement with the World Bank has now been signed, Mr Zanolari said.

Olusegun Obasanjo, the Nigarian President, accused Switzerland in May last year of stalling on the return of the funds, but Swiss officials said it was held up only because of the need to work out details with the World Bank.

The Nigerian government had accused Abacha of creating a criminal organisation after his takeover in 1993 and plundering $2.2bn from state funds until his death of an apparent heart attack in 1998.

After he died, Swiss officials blocked about $730m in bank accounts in the country linked to Abacha and his associates. Some $216m has previously been returned to Nigeria.

The Nigerian government has been pushing, with some success, for the return of Abacha's looted funds from other countries, including Britain, Luxembourg, Lichtenstein and Austria. Transparency International, the anti-corruption organisation, ranks Nigeria, the world's seventh largest exporter of oil, as the world's third-most corrupt country.

Friday, September 9, 2005

WE DENOUNCE ALL ENEMIES OF NIGERIA


WE ARE FOR ONE UNITED NIGERIA TO THE GLORY OF GOD.

NIGERIAN TIMES is totally in disagreement with all the secessionists daring to divide the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Because, we believe in one united Nigeria for the common good of all bona fide Nigerians and all the people living and working in Nigeria regardless of race, class or creed.

The nightmares of the last civil war in Nigeria are still lingering in our memories. And even though the wounds have healed, but the scars are still visible on our bodies and the memories of the agonies are like thorns in our hearts. We have vowed that never again shall we tread that path of wanton corruption and destruction of humanity in bloodshed.

Therefore, we denounce the current separatist demonstrations of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB). Because, it is another suicide mission and a total waste of time. Scores of lives have been lost in the various violent clashes with the Nigerian Police and MASSOB has not accounted for the loss of these lives. The lives of these people have been wasted in a futile struggle.

We ask MASSOB to account for the life of every person who has been lured into their secesssionist movement. What is the life insurance?

If MASSOB is honest and sincere, then all the hypocritical members of MASSOB should return their Nigerian Passports back to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and see how far they can go. It is hypocrisy to be enjoying the privileges of bona fide citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and using the Nigerian Passport to travel abroad and to live and work in foreign countries while claiming to be "Biafrians"? Anyone who applied for a Nigerian Passport has entered into a contract with the Federal Republic of Nigeria to be his or her nationality and for that same person to claim the nationality of another sovereignty, that person is a crook, rogue, hypocrite, liar, criminal, bastard and a fraud. The person is an enemy of the state of Nigeria and should be arrested and treated as an enemy of the present and future sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Our word is enough for the wise.

NIGERIA: Police arrest 45 people in violent southeast secessionist protests
08 Sep 2005 18:26:33 GMT

Source: IRIN

ENUGU, 8 September (IRIN) - Anti-riot police arrested 45 protestors in the southeast Nigerian town of Onitsha during region-wide demonstrations called by a banned secessionist group, police officials and witnesses said on Thursday.

The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) said it called protests held in several southeastern cities on Wednesday to protest alleged harassment of its members by the security forces and to intensify its demand for secession.

At one protest in Onitsha, Anambra State, a policeman sent to stop the protesters was shot dead by MASSOB activists, according to police.

"Four policemen were shot by the MASSOB men and one died on the spot, with the rest still in hospital," said police spokesman Kolapo Sofoluwe.

The police remain on a high alert and ready to arrest any protestor attempting to take to the streets without police permission, he said.

"Anybody who comes out in the name of MASSOB or any other banned organisation will definitely be arrested," said Sofolouwe.

More than three decades after the bloody Biafra war, fought to claim independence for the oil rich southeast, MASSOB continues to draw large crowds for its rallies, demonstrations, boycotts and stay-at-home protests, often featuring symbolic declarations of independence.

However, MASSOB denies secessionist efforts are violent these days and says members would not have shot on police.

"We're non-violent, we did not attack the police," Tony Franks, a spokesman for the group, told IRIN.

He accused the police of opening fire on unarmed protesters at Onitsha and injuring two people. He said police brutality was the very reason for the protest.

"We called a nationwide protest against police brutality on our members, especially our leader," Franks said.

Leader and founder of MASSOB, Ralph Uwazurike, has spent the last week in hiding after accusing a top police chief of offering to ease off security surveillance of his activities in return for five million Naira, or US $37,878.

Uwazuruike claims that successive governments have oppressed and discriminated against Nigeria's Igbos, the ethnic group that dominates the south east.

His campaigns have struck a chord among thousands of jobless Igbo youths born after the 1967 civil war but who have joined MASSOB's ranks.

Human rights groups say that dozens of pro-Biafran activists have been killed over the last six years for campaigning for such beliefs, with hundreds still in detention after being arrested by the police at marches and rallies organised by MASSOB.

Thursday, September 8, 2005

NORTHERN NIGERIA DESPERATELY SEARCHING FOR OIL


OIL TRUCKS IN NIGERIA.

The predominantly 19 Islamic states in Northern Nigeria have made a questionable deal with a foreign oil prospecting firm to search for oil in the Lake Chad and Benue River. The $134 million for the venture is coming from the treasury of the predominantly Christian states in the Niger Delta of Nigeria.

The desperation for oil wealth is the genesis of the political crisis in Nigeria. Because, the oil producing states in Southern Nigeria have been robbed of most of their oil wealth. And they are now agitating for the resource control of their mineral resources in the Niger Delta of Nigeria.

The desperate search for oil in the Lake Chad and Benue River has been going on since oil was discovered in commercial quantity in the Niger Delta in 1956. But all the efforts and millions of dollars have been wasted in the arid terrains of Northern Nigeria like packages thrown in the quick sand in the Sahara Desert.

We pray and hope that the $134 million will not vanish into the pockets of the corrupt officials of these 19 states in Northern Nigeria with their foreign collaborators. Because, these are the conduit pipes for the misappropriation of funds in Nigeria by making up cock and bull stories to launch White Elephant projects for the purpose of looting the national treasury.

At the end of the day, we would be licking our dry lips in the desert of Northern Nigeria where the groundnut pyramids have since disappeared. We would have preferred the $134 million to be spent on agriculture in the states that produced the groundnut pyramids of the 1960s. The political motives of the desperate search for oil in Northern Nigeria are wrong and should be dismissed.

Nigeria signs $134m oil deal
08/09/2005 14:09 - (SA)

Kano - A firm set up by the 19 states of Nigeria's under-developed north has signed a $134m deal with a South African firm to prospect for oil in the arid lands around the Lake Chad basin, said officials.

Nigeria was already Africa's biggest oil producer, with exports of about 2.5 million barrels a day, but thus far drilling had been largely confined to the jungles and swamps of the far south and the adjacent waters of the Atlantic.

Many northerners had accused the government and oil firms of ignoring the potential of their mainly-Muslim region, which bordered on oil-producing areas of Chad and Niger, and thus of excluding them from Nigeria's only successful export business.

$134m-agreement

Now, the northern states had formed the New Nigeria Development Company (NNDC), which joined up with SA's Energem Petroleum Corporation to buy the exploration rights to two oil blocks in the basin of the Benue River and two in the Lake Chad region at auction last week.

NDDC's Mohammed Auwal Haruna said: "NNDC signed a $134m-agreement for oil exploration in the Chad Basin and Benue Trough, which geophysics and geologic surveys have indicated are replete with oil and gas deposits."

He added: "Our partner in this venture, Energem, is a competent and reputable oil company that has extensive upstream and downstream activities in many countries in the world and we hope this partnership will translate into a productive venture."

Political sop

Nigeria first begun to look for oil in the north in the 1960s, shortly after the first wells came on line in the Niger Delta far to the south.

Exploration had continued off-and-on since then, but had proved unsuccessful.

The state-run Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation drilled 23 test wells in the Chad Basin in 2001, but all turned out to be dry and many in the north derided the project as a political sop to appease regional interests.

Nigeria attempted to auction 77 oil exploration blocks last week, but most international and local firms were more interested in the proven potential of offshore areas in the Gulf of Guinea than areas in the north, and most of the onshore zones remained unsold.

Wednesday, September 7, 2005

Tuesday, September 6, 2005

NIGERIA DONATES $1 MILLION TO AMERICA FOR KATRINA


CHARITY IS OUR FIRST DUTY. AN AMERICAN OFFICER GIVES RELIEF TO SURVIVORS OF THE CATASTROPHIC HURRICANE KATRINA IN NEW ORLEANS.

Nigeria has donated $1,000,000 (one million dollars) to support the emergency relief efforts to help the survivors of the catastrophic hurricane Katrina in the Gulf Coast.

We commend the humanitarian efforts of Nigeria and all the other countries in the world to comfort the bereaved victims of the horrific hurricane Katrina. And we want Nigeria to do more. Because, Nigeria can give more than $1 million. We can even supply free gas to the US. No amount of Aid is too much in charity.


PRESIDENT OLUSEGUN OBASANJO OF NIGERIA HAND IN HAND WITH PRESIDENT GEORGE W.BUSH OF AMERICA.

Nigerian Times was the first on line current affairs news blog that asked the rest of the world to come to the Aid of America at the very beginning of the emergency in the Gulf Coast. Because, we knew that the collateral damages of hurricane Katrina would be too much for Americans to bear alone.

Sunday, September 4, 2005

THE PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA IS CORRUPT: DR. ORJI UZOR KALU



The most fearless governor in Nigeria, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu has decided to say the truth no matter whose ox is gored. He has declared to the whole world what we have been publishing on NIGERIAN TIMES that the President of Nigeria Chief Olusegun Obasanjo is corrupt. And he can even prove it. And we want him to prove it. Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu should reject all the overtures to bribe him. Because, that is what we know that the corrupt ruling party of Obasanjo the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will be trying to do right now to save their President from disgrace.

We said it that the days of reckoning are coming and the days are already here.

Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu wants to be the President of Nigeria and the one person that can stop him is the so called evil genius, Alhaji Ibrahim Gbadamasi Babangida. And the only power that can stop this evil genius is the ultimate power of God.

The news is all over the place and we have published the report below.
As the saying goes, the die is cast.



LAGOS, Sept. 3 (Xinhuanet.)
Nigeria's anti-fraud agency has begun the investigation of President Olusegun Obasanjo over alleged corruption leveled against him by a state governor, according to the agency's chairman Nuhu Ribadu.

The president personally authorized the investigations of Obasanjo, some of his aides and other topofficials; local press as saying Saturday quoted Ribadu.

Orji Uzor Kalu, governor of the southern state of Abia, had in a letter dated August 22 said he had "overwhelming evidence" that Obasanjo operated illegal foreign bank accounts and used public money to fund a secondary school in his hometown, Ogun state.

Kalu also accused some of the presidential aides and senators of collecting large sums of money on several oil and defense contracts including the recent privatization of two steel mills atAjaokuta and Aladja.

On receipt of this letter, "the president has authorized the EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) to conduct, 'a clinical investigation' in all the issues raised," Ribadu said.
"This is a very serious issue and a milestone in the history of this country. If the president says go ahead and investigate me and make it public to the whole world, it will open the gate for us to go everywhere and investigate what is going on."
"This is a very important development for us all. We have reached a stage in the fight against corruption where there is no hiding place for anybody no matter how highly placed," Ribadu said.

Nigeria is rated as one of the most corrupt countries in the world, but Obasanjo has intensified his war against corruption among the high places this year that saw two ministers and a police chief sacked. Enditem

Saturday, September 3, 2005

fMICHAEL MOORE RAPS GEORGE W. BUSH ON HURRICANE KATRINA



I have just received a copy of this letter from Michael Moore and I have to publish it verbatim as he sent it to me.

Of course, I respect Michael Moore, because we are both film makers and with meeting points in our open mindedness in expressing our peculiarities in public opinion and ideological beliefs.


Friday, September 2nd, 2005

Dear Mr. Bush:

Any idea where all our helicopters are? It's Day 5 of Hurricane Katrina and thousands remain stranded in New Orleans and need to be airlifted. Where on earth could you have misplaced all our military choppers? Do you need help finding them? I once lost my car in a Sears parking lot. Man, was that a drag.

Also, any idea where all our national guard soldiers are? We could really use them right now for the type of thing they signed up to do like helping with national disasters. How come they weren't there to begin with?

Last Thursday I was in south Florida and sat outside while the eye of Hurricane Katrina passed over my head. It was only a Category 1 then but it was pretty nasty. Eleven people died and, as of today, there were still homes without power. That night the weatherman said this storm was on its way to New Orleans. That was Thursday! Did anybody tell you? I know you didn't want to interrupt your vacation and I know how you don't like to get bad news. Plus, you had fundraisers to go to and mothers of dead soldiers to ignore and smear. You sure showed her!

I especially like how, the day after the hurricane, instead of flying to Louisiana, you flew to San Diego to party with your business peeps. Don't let people criticize you for this -- after all, the hurricane was over and what the heck could you do, put your finger in the dike?

And don't listen to those who, in the coming days, will reveal how you specifically reduced the Army Corps of Engineers' budget for New Orleans this summer for the third year in a row. You just tell them that even if you hadn't cut the money to fix those levees, there weren't going to be any Army engineers to fix them anyway because you had a much more important construction job for them -- BUILDING DEMOCRACY IN IRAQ!

On Day 3, when you finally left your vacation home, I have to say I was moved by how you had your Air Force One pilot descend from the clouds as you flew over New Orleans so you could catch a quick look of the disaster. Hey, I know you couldn't stop and grab a bullhorn and stand on some rubble and act like a commander in chief. Been there done that.

There will be those who will try to politicize this tragedy and try to use it against you. Just have your people keep pointing that out. Respond to nothing. Even those pesky scientists who predicted this would happen because the water in the Gulf of Mexico is getting hotter and hotter making a storm like this inevitable. Ignore them and all their global warming Chicken Littles. There is nothing unusual about a hurricane that was so wide it would be like having one F-4 tornado that stretched from New York to Cleveland.

No, Mr. Bush, you just stay the course. It's not your fault that 30 percent of New Orleans lives in poverty or that tens of thousands had no transportation to get out of town. C'mon, they're black! I mean, it's not like this happened to Kennebunkport. Can you imagine leaving white people on their roofs for five days? Don't make me laugh! Race has nothing -- NOTHING -- to do with this!

You hang in there, Mr. Bush. Just try to find a few of our Army helicopters and send them there. Pretend the people of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast are near Tikrit.

Yours,

Michael Moore
MMFlint@aol.com
www.MichaelMoore.com

P.S. That annoying mother, Cindy Sheehan, is no longer at your ranch. She and dozens of other relatives of the Iraqi War dead are now driving across the country, stopping in many cities along the way. Maybe you can catch up with them before they get to DC on September 21st.

Thursday, September 1, 2005

When the chips are down...


HUGO CHAVEZ OF VENEZUELA.

"When the cookie crumbles and the chips are down, then you will know your true friends in the midst of the chaos."-Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima (Nigerian Poet.)

As America recovers from the ruins of the catastrophe of Hurricane Katrina that wrecked New Orleans, most of all the so called friends of America have not shown up to comfort America, except for Hugo Chavez of Venezuela. The same man that Papa Pat Robertson of the 700 Club said was the enemy of America.
Well, with an enemy like this, who needs a friend.

I mean where is the twin brother of George W. Bush?
TONY BLAIR!