Ribadu Haters Are Enemies Of Nigeria

Whether we accept it or not, Ribadu has set a noteworthy record in this country and obviously, he is highly regarded on the international scene. Somehow, I believe that what is happening right now will smear the image of Nigeria. Yar’Adua should understand that what his officers have done shows that they do not have the love of Nigeria at heart. God will judge them all.

Sanusi Adeleke,
Bariga, Lagos.

For so long, politicians named by Nuhu Ribadu in alarming corruption cases have, in collaboration with the police hierarchy, been hungry for vengeance (”The plot to Jail Ribadu,” TheNEWS, 18 August, 2008 edition). They have succeeded at last. The bad side, however, is that they have sent a very wrong message to anyone who ordinarily would have loved to genuinely commit himself or herself to the service of this country. It is a shame.

Benson Ovie,
Warri.

By forcefully sending him to Kuru, the police hierarchy lent itself as a willing tool in an orchestrated campaign that bordered on the puerile. We know better now. Sadly, President Umar Yar’Adua has shown ultimate naivety by swallowing such reasoning hook, line and sinker. It goes to show that we are still being led by the vindictive and ignorant who want the world to believe otherwise.

Ahmed Tanko,
Gasau.

Nuhu Ribadu is only reaping the fruit of his misdeeds. He never realised that the sun would always set for all to retire to bed. Now that he is on the receiving end, I hope he has the grace to accept his fate like the people he brought to shame.

Wale Odesanya,
Ibadan.

The next person who should taste the grape of humiliation is ex-President Olusegun Obsanjo. He is the architect of everything Nuhu is going through. It would be in line with the law of Karma if those in charge extend the same treatment to him.

Basil Enobong,
Uyo.

Neither the Police Service Commission nor Mike Okiro, the unseen arrow head of the Disgrace-Nuhu campaign can equal Ribadu’s achievement in service to fatherland. That is why they are in a hurry to rubbish and ultimately bury his sterling service record. What they must not forget, however, is that what goes round comes around. Some day, they will find themselves receiving ignoble treatment.

Ismail Abdulkadir,
Sokoto.

What Nuhu Ribadu’s enemies do not realise is that the more they persecute him, the bigger and better his image in this country.

Ramota Liadi,
Ilorin.

You can try all you can to frustrate a man of principle. But what is certain is that truth, as in the case of Ribadu, will triumph in the end.

Kayode Agbelemoge,
Akure.

Those who are humiliating Nuhu Ribadu do not know that they are improving his C.V. After his course at Kuru, you can bet that he will get a good international appointment. Walahi!

Tunde Buraimoh,
Aghenebode.

It is quite certain that those fat cat politicians who stole our commonwealth are behind Ribadu’s travails. May those corrupt people end up in hell fire!

Yetunde Adamolekun,
Akure.

I wonder why President Umar Yar’Adua who looks as harmless as a dove would look the other way while enemies of progress punish Nuhu Ribadu who gave this country some international credibility. It beats my imagination.

Johnson Lokpobiri,
Port Harcourt.

It is now very clear that some politicians who sponsored President Umar Yar’Adua into office wanted Ribadu out of the way.
I pray that these figures will not wreck the boat for Mr. President.

Mohammed Alkali,
Sokoto.

President Umar Yar’Adua claims to set great store by the rule of law. Yet his lieutenants bent all the rules in the book to demote Nuhu Ribady. Hypocrisy!

Tidjani Hunsu,
Badagry.

All citizens of the West African sub-region were happy that Nigeria, in the past seven years or so, was serious about fighting corruption. But the drama in EFCC and the punishment inflicted on Nuhu Ribadu and those who worked with him show that the Yar’Adua government is not serious.

Lekan Afolabi,
Lagos.

There is no doubt that the Federal Government is insincere about the anti-corruption war. It is obvious that the Yar’Adua administration is not to be trusted. I know that by the time he leaves office, ex-President Obasanjo would be more appreciated for at least giving us a man like Nuhu RIbadu.

John Kabiru,
Ifo.

I have a strong feeling that the Police High Command were keen on demoting Nuhu Ribadu so that he would not become Inspector-General one day. That, to them, would nail the coffin of wetin you carry?

Bature Mustapha,
Kano.

Nuhu Ribadu must be a strong man indeed. For him to withstand all these problems shows him to be a man of steely interior.

Cosmas Atoise,
Otukpo.

By the time the politicians finish with Ribadu, the image of Nigeria in the comity of nations will be virtually destroyed.

John Chukwuemeka,
Onitsha.

The recent demotion of the former EFCC boss, Nuhu Ribadu from Assistant Inspector-General of Police to Deputy Commissioner and the surreptitious moves to withdraw him from the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, barely one month to the completion of his course showed the obvious weakness of President Yar’Adua as a man of his own. How can he descend to the level of humiliating Ribadu who fought very hard to give some form of credibility to Nigeria?

Ruth Akintunde,
Lagos.

We should not sympathise with Ribadu at all. This is what I call law of retribution. What is happening to him is simply nemesis. He has humiliated several people in the past on flimsy charges, especially those that were opposed to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo. People like Atiku, Dariye, Okocha and several others would be jubilating now. Ribadu must learn to cry no more.

Ahmed Yau,
Biu.

If I were Farida Waziri, the EFCC Empress, I would make sure I carve out a niche for myself. I would, unlike what she is doing currently, not undo what Ribadu did before he left.

Mary Omiyale,
Ibadan.

The way Farida Waziri transferred those who worked with Ribadu shows that she is jittery. But of what? Is governance or, in her case, administration, not expected to be a continuum?

Ojo Bamiteru,
Ile Oluji.

The international community will by now be alarmed about how the Nigerian government is persecuting one of its best citizens. This defies all logic.

Ibrahim T. Olubode,
Owo.

— Senator George Akume, dispelling rumours of a rift between him and Senator David Mark.

Citizen diplomacy is all about rights and responsibilities and not about breaking constituted laws.

— Chief Ojo Maduekwe, Minister of Foreign Affairs explaining that government cannot use citizen diplomacy to save a Nigerian sentenced to death or prison term abroad for criminal offences.

Since I was brought into politics by people, I have no intention of abandoning it because people still like my style in politics.

— Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, candidate in the 2007 Presidential Election, stating his resolve to remain in politics despite the numerous setbacks he has suffered.

Impeachment is not the best option to enforce accountability in governance.

— Hon. Dimeji Bankole, Speaker, House of Representatives, cautioning his colleagues on plans to impeach him.

We are partners in progress; why should we be suffering for what we don’t know? We are not oil workers; we are construction workers, working towards the development of the region.

— Dr. Emmanuel Ikpengwa, National President of Construction and Civil Engineering Senior Staff Association, CCESSA, calling on militants to spare them in their kidnapping spree.

The people were not only optimistic that the tour would expose public office holders who believe that government money is national cake, but also yield council chairmen who award contracts on paper only to abandon the projects and divert money meant for them into their pockets.

So far, the legislators have visited most council areas including the most difficult terrain, Mbamga in Sardauna Local Government where the 24 lawmakers had to be carried on motorcycles for over six hours, and Dampar in Ibi Local Government Area where they sailed by speedboat on River Benue for four hours.

The tour has no doubt helped expose some unsavoury happenings. For example, the legislators found questionable the manner the council chairmen spent the N180million special grant released to each of them by the state government. The Governor, Danbaba Suntai released the money to enable them embark on meaningful projects.

The tour also exposed some contractors who collected millions of naira for projects but abandoned them. In fact, contractors handling the 50 housing units in each of the 16 local government areas were paid over 50 per cent of the contract sum, yet they abandoned the work.

At Gembu, Sardauna Local Government Area, the contractor handling the General Hospital project collected over 95 per cent of the contract sum but abandoned the project site. Again, contractors handling Millennium Development Goals projects in some councils either did shoddy jobs or were working at snail speed.

Hon. Gbana told Across Nigeria that the lawmakers would take decisive resolutions and communicate same to the Governor for necessary action. This, it was gathered, may include revocation of some of the contracts, reprimanding chairmen that did not perform to expectation, and compelling erring contractors to refund money to the state government or face prosecution. However, performing chairmen, the legislators assured, would be recommended for reward.

Repor By Ben Adaji

Awesu, who operated at Licensing Offices in metropolitan Lagos, said he has been in the illegal business for the past three years; and had made a fortune from it. According to him, his modus operandi was to stand at the entrance of Licensing Offices in Lagos, cornering anybody he suspected to be in need of number plate and offering to provide it. He said many people fell easy prey to his antics because they wanted to avoid the stress involved in the system, adding that they did not even mind paying higher than the official price as long as they could sit somewhere and get the plates quickly.

Awesu said he was aided in his nefarious activities by government licensing officers who encouraged number plate seekers to patronise him because of the huge returns he made to them on every number plate he sold. His words: “I work at the licensing offices in Lagos, not as a staff but as an agent and tout. I go from one licensing office to the other. If business is dull in one licensing office, I quickly move to another. The licensing officers know me very well so they don’t disturb me. Besides, I give them huge returns. What I do is that when I see somebody coming for number plate, I would run and meet the person and tell him or her that I can get it for him or her. Some will shun me while some will agree that I do it. Then, I will tell them the cost, which might even be higher than the official price. But they often fall victim because I would ask them to sit somewhere while I go to process everything for them. It is not all the time that I get them fake plates; sometimes I get them the real thing with the help of the officers. After all, we would spend the money together.”

Explaining how he was nabbed, Awesu said that he came to Ibadan to deliver a number plate to one of his customers, not knowing that an ambush had been laid for him by the police. Briefing the press on how Awesu was arrested, Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Azeez Bashiru said on 28 July, the house of the state Commissioner for Women Affairs in Ibadan was invaded by hoodlums who made away with some valuables. In the course of police investigation, it was discovered that the robbery was spearheaded by one Alhaji Moruf Akintunde, a.k.a. Tula. According to him, it was revealed that the thieves used one Toyota Hiace bus with registration number XV 361 AAA which belonged to the said Akintunde. He was subsequently arrested and confessed to owning the bus. He, however, said the number plate attached to the vehicle was procured for him by one Jayeola Oluremi. When arrested, Oluremi named Awesu as the person who always provided them with fake plates.

In a related development, a fake policeman named Adesola John Abiodun who attempted to steal a motorcycle at Mokola Police Station in Ibadan was arrested by the station guard on duty. Lying to the guard that he was a policeman and wanted to remove his motorcycle parked there, he was asked to produce his identity card, which was discovered to be fake. Upon searching the suspect’s house, a pair of mobile police uniform, a police wallet, some NURTW tickets and one vehicle registration plate with OY 3374 GY inscribed on it were recovered. Admitting the crime, he said he was pushed by devil.

Report By Gbenro Adesina.

By Tayo Odunlami & Michael Mukwuzi

The gloom on Chief Amos Aderemi’s face last Tuesday compared well with the dark cloud that envelopes the skyline preceding a heavy downpour, as he gazed at the Daily Stock Market Report of a national newspaper. For the umpteenth time this year, the report was a horror. A frustrated Aderemi could not help but holler: “Oh! My God, I am finished.”

Over the last three years, 61-year-old Aderemi, a retired civil servant, has been passionately patronising the Nigerian stock market, pumping into some stocks virtually his entire retirement benefits and life savings. Within the period, he had steadily accumulated a total of 10 stocks across the sectors and had been, until early this year, grinning happily, as he observed his investment worth multiply. His last addition was the Japaul offer which ran from 24 September, 2007, to 31 October, 2007, at N13.50 per share.

Buoyed by the consistent impressive performance of the stock market generally and the heartwarming results from his own stocks over time, Aderemi sold off his one-storey building on Bale Street, Ajegunle, Apapa, Lagos State, to garner money from which he splashed N2.5m on the Japaul offer. The following month after the offer closed, he also put N1m on the Costain West Africa plc offer which was going for N13 per share.

For full details, demand the 01 September, 2008 issue of TheNEWS from your vendor now.

Foreign Operations: UK/EUROPE AGENT
Jay Magazines & Newspaper Distribution
Unit 21 Brockley Cross
Business Centre,
96 Endwell Road, London SE42PD
Contact: Julie Ugbowanko
Tel:020-7635-8888,07976-628-251
Fax 0207-635-5568
E-Mail: Jaymags@aol.com
Website: www.jaymags.com
QUALITY NETWORK SERVICES
Unit 9, Meridian Centre, 258 Kingsland Road, London E8 4DG
Contact: Abiola Fatai
Tel: 0208 525 1689, 0207 254 0371,  0956413 293
E-mail: fataiabiola2000@yahoo.com

By Babajide Kolade-Otitoju/ Just back from Ghana

Recently, three Nigerian journalists on a visit to Ghana got a rude shock. They had gone to the Greater Accra area, hoping to buy enough Kente fabric at the textiles market located there. They thought they had enough dollars on them to buy as much of that legendary Ghanaian hand-woven fabric, which, the government and people of Ghana like to present as the country’s most favoured tourism product.

However, the visitors were taken aback when the trader sold to them two tiny pieces of the Kente material for $100. For the journalists, this was evidence that the era of dollar superiority over the Ghana cedi was over. Indeed, right now, the Ghanaian currency, the Cedi, is slightly stronger than the dollar. A visitor seeking to exchange $100 for the cedi will get 98 cedi. Most hotels, however, prefer to put the two currencies at par.

The current exchange rate in Ghana means that tourists from Nigeria or even South Africa must be conscious when shopping in the country, because the Ghanaian Cedi is much stronger post-redenomination than the currencies of both nations. Significantly, the dollar is still much stronger than the currencies of both South Africa and Nigeria. In most top-class Ghanaian hotels, it costs more than $4 to use the Internet for just one hour. Converted to naira at the current exchange rate, that is approximately N582 per hour. In Nigeria, most cybercafés charge about N100 per hour. Taxi cabs generally charge $5 per trip in Ghana, which is also on the high side.

For full details, demand the 01 September, 2008 issue of TheNEWS from your vendor now.

Foreign Operations: UK/EUROPE AGENT
Jay Magazines & Newspaper Distribution
Unit 21 Brockley Cross
Business Centre,
96 Endwell Road, London SE42PD
Contact: Julie Ugbowanko
Tel:020-7635-8888,07976-628-251
Fax 0207-635-5568
E-Mail: Jaymags@aol.com
Website: www.jaymags.com
QUALITY NETWORK SERVICES
Unit 9, Meridian Centre, 258 Kingsland Road, London E8 4DG
Contact: Abiola Fatai
Tel: 0208 525 1689, 0207 254 0371,  0956413 293
E-mail: fataiabiola2000@yahoo.com

By Clement Oriloye

Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, clocked 48 years last month, and coinciding with the celebration was what could well be a presidential vote of confidence in a controversial monetary policy the apex bank conceived last year.

A year ago, on 14 August, Soludo announced CBN’s plans to redenominate the naira with a view to fast-tracking revaluation of the national currency. The CBN explained that the medium and long-term benefits of its brain-wave could be appreciated when redenomination was seen in the context of the policy initiatives - adoption of inflation, targeting framework for the conduct of monetary policy, sharing part of the Federation Account Funds in United States of America’s dollar to deepen the foreign exchange market, and liquidity management and current account liberalisation/convertibility. The 4-point agenda was designed to make the naira the “reference currency in Africa.”

The CBN envisaged the gains to include efficient pricing cultivating the habits of using coins and reinforcing the on-going currency reforms, promoting a more efficient payment system by making the Automated Teller Machines an integral part of the nation’s payment culture and decongesting banking halls. If President Umaru Yar’Adua had bought the idea outright, the N1000, the highest denomination, would have started losing the two zeros affixing it with effect from this week. Some economists dub it redecimalisation. But a babel of opinions attended the announcement of the policy, some lauding, others throwing it in the trash can. Michael Aondoaka, Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, said Soludo did not obtain presidential approval before announcing the plan. The Federal Executive Council, FEC, also, at its bi-monthly meeting on 29 August last year, demanded more explanation on the policy. At the meeting, Soludo shed light on his new agenda for the naira. Apparently, the CBN’s governor’s explanation wasn’t convincing as the council, through Shamsudeen Usman, the Finance Minister, announced after the meeting that there were still some grey areas of the policy that Soludo needed to clarify with members of the President’s Economic Management Team, EMT.

For full details, demand the 01 September, 2008 issue of TheNEWS from your vendor now.

Foreign Operations: UK/EUROPE AGENT
Jay Magazines & Newspaper Distribution
Unit 21 Brockley Cross
Business Centre,
96 Endwell Road, London SE42PD
Contact: Julie Ugbowanko
Tel:020-7635-8888,07976-628-251
Fax 0207-635-5568
E-Mail: Jaymags@aol.com
Website: www.jaymags.com
QUALITY NETWORK SERVICES
Unit 9, Meridian Centre, 258 Kingsland Road, London E8 4DG
Contact: Abiola Fatai
Tel: 0208 525 1689, 0207 254 0371,  0956413 293
E-mail: fataiabiola2000@yahoo.com

By Sunday Orinya/ Lafia

As you approach the town, a concrete signpost made by a member of the ubiquitous NYSC welcomes you to “Awe, the Salt City”. As you move into Awe town, the headquarters of the present Awe Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, you start feeling a sense of deceit in the message because of the absence of city trappings or any sign of a salt industry to confirm that the town deserves the name.

There are no tarred roads, no pipe-borne water, no street lights, no decent hotel to accommodate visitors and, above all, no sign of a salt or any industry for that matter. In fact, electricity is a recent development in Awe, a town that is said to be approaching its third century of existence.

Why does Awe pride itself as a city? It is a city living completely on its past glory as a centre of commercial activities. Awe was discovered by a hunter from the Jukun ethnic group because of large deposits of salt in the area before the fall of Kwararafa empire. It is now inhabited largely by Hausas called the Katsinawas, the Jukuns and the Kanuris.
 

For full details, demand the 01 September, 2008 issue of TheNEWS from your vendor now.

Foreign Operations: UK/EUROPE AGENT
Jay Magazines & Newspaper Distribution
Unit 21 Brockley Cross
Business Centre,
96 Endwell Road, London SE42PD
Contact: Julie Ugbowanko
Tel:020-7635-8888,07976-628-251
Fax 0207-635-5568
E-Mail: Jaymags@aol.com
Website: www.jaymags.com
QUALITY NETWORK SERVICES
Unit 9, Meridian Centre, 258 Kingsland Road, London E8 4DG
Contact: Abiola Fatai
Tel: 0208 525 1689, 0207 254 0371,  0956413 293
E-mail: fataiabiola2000@yahoo.com

Whatever her admirers may say about her aristocracy, kindness or whatever, Marie Antoniette, wife of the King of France, Louis XVI, is remembered for her nonchalance towards the people. When she heard that citizens of France had no bread to eat, she reportedly interjected: “Let them eat cake!”

Imelda Marcos, wife of the Philippines dictator, Ferdinand Marcos was, because of her fashion craze, called the “Street Butterfly”. Her husband who ruled from 1965 to 1986 was notorious for political repression and corruption. When her husband was overthrown in 1986, the couple fled to Hawai, United States. Imelda, who was Miss Manila in the 1950s, owned thousands of expensive shoes all of which exhibited her love for the good life, even as poverty ravaged her country.

However, there were other first ladies who hovered behind their husbands. Apart from consulting astrologers for her husband, Nancy Reagan, wife of former United States President, Ronald Reagan, did not stir any controversy. And while her husband battled with the Monica Lewinsky affair, Hillary Clinton kept a steady head.

Nigeria also has had first ladies who were either loud or humble. Mariam Abacha enjoyed the opulence of power when her husband, General Sani Abacha, stole the country blind, killed and maimed opposition elements.

Now, Nigeria has another First Lady, Turai Yar’Adua. While her husband is publicity-shy or, because of ill-health, weak, Turai is stealing the show. Her influence is considered pervasive in high government circles.

What are those factors that make the woman so influential that critics say the fear of Turai is the beginning of political wisdom? Our footsoldiers have been at work for the past one month, digging up what they could about her, which would make possible a better understanding of her persona.

The result of the investigation is our cover this week. It is entitled, “Turai Yar’Adua, Power Behind The Throne.”

*****************************************

The Nigerian stock market is bearish. That is, values of shares are nose-diving; consequently, investors are becoming worried.

By Michael Mukwuzi/ Johannesburg

Hours after the exciting closing ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympics, viewers on DStv’s Channel 198 are primed for a 91-day long session of excitement, intrigues and manipulation as the third season of the Big Brother Africa Reality Television show kicked off inside the BBA House in Randberg, Johannesburg, South Africa.

As usual, 12 housemates selected from 12 African countries – Angola, Botswana, Ghana, Malawi, Namibia, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Nigeria – will live together until, after several rounds of public voting, just one would walk away, US$100,000 richer.

Traditionally, the housemates will have no contact with the outside world and will be watched 24/7 by audiences tuned in to DStv Channel 198 across the continent.

For full details, demand the 01 September, 2008 issue of TheNEWS from your vendor now.

Foreign Operations: UK/EUROPE AGENT
Jay Magazines & Newspaper Distribution
Unit 21 Brockley Cross
Business Centre,
96 Endwell Road, London SE42PD
Contact: Julie Ugbowanko
Tel:020-7635-8888,07976-628-251
Fax 0207-635-5568
E-Mail: Jaymags@aol.com
Website: www.jaymags.com
QUALITY NETWORK SERVICES
Unit 9, Meridian Centre, 258 Kingsland Road, London E8 4DG
Contact: Abiola Fatai
Tel: 0208 525 1689, 0207 254 0371,  0956413 293
E-mail: fataiabiola2000@yahoo.com