posted
First, it was Abubarkar Audu of Kogi State. Now, it's Atiku Abubakar, the Vice President of BiafraNigeria.
quote:U.S. Searched U.S. Home of Nigerian VP
The Associated Press Saturday, August 27, 2005; 4:35 PM
WASHINGTON -- The government confirmed Saturday that the U.S. home of Nigeria's vice president had been searched as part of a federal investigation, which news reports have linked to a Louisiana congressman.
A State Department spokeswoman would not confirm when the search occurred, referring questions to the Justice Department. A Justice spokesman declined to comment.
The Times-Picayune of New Orleans first reported that agents had searched the Potomac, Md., home of Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Aug. 3. On the same day, FBI agents searched the Washington and New Orleans homes of Rep. William Jefferson, an eight-term Democrat.
The State Department would not say whether the searches were linked.
"All inquiries regarding the search of the United States residence of Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar should be directed to the Department of Justice," spokeswoman Joanne Moore said. "We do not comment on ongoing federal law enforcement investigations."
Asked about the searches, Justice spokesman Charles Miller responded, "There's nothing I can say."
Moore said she could not immediately comment on how issues of diplomatic immunity related to the search of the U.S. home of a foreign elected official.
The searches of Jefferson's homes came amid questions about his financial dealings with a high-tech startup company.
The Times-Picayune has reported that investigators were looking into Jefferson's dealings with Abubakar and the vice president of Ghana.
Jefferson's spokeswoman, Melanie Roussell, said Saturday that the congressman had no comment.
Abubakar could not be reached for comment. A phone number for his residence was not listed. The Nigerian Embassy was not open.
Why does the Vice President of a country that seeks debt forgiveness have a home in the Washington DC Area? Atiku Abubakar is a thief.
___________________ The only solution is to divide BiafraNigeria. If not now, then when? If not us, then who? Posts: 173 | Registered: Mar 2001
| IP: Logged
posted
US probes Nigeria vice-president Sunday, 28 August 2005, 05:03 GMT BBC News
The US government says federal agents have raided the Maryland home of Nigerian Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.
The search took place on 3 August, but officials refused to confirm reports that it was linked to raids on homes belonging to a Louisiana congressman.
William Jefferson is being investigated over the financing of a high-tech company and his properties were searched on the same day.
There has been no comment on the case from Mr Abubakar.
Low profile
Mr Jefferson, a Democrat who has served eight terms in the House of Representatives, has come under scrutiny as the FBI looks into an international telecommunications deal.
Investigators are interested in Mr Jefferson's links with Mr Abubakar and the vice-president of Ghana, Aliu Mahama, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.
According to the newspaper, Mr Jefferson visited Ghana in mid-July.
Although he is technically the second most powerful man in Nigeria, Mr Abubakar has kept a low profile in recent months, says the BBC's Grant Ferrett.
Political manoeuvres within the governing People's Democratic Party (PDP) have undermined his ambitions to stand for the presidency in elections scheduled to take place in two years' time.
Previously a close ally of Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, he is now believed to be out of favour.
This has prompted some observers to question whether the FBI investigations are linked to the disagreements with the PDP.
Mr Abubakar reportedly only uses his home in Potomac, Maryland for a few months each year.
His wife, Jennifer, is a doctoral student in international relations at the American University in Washington.
___________________ Biafra is inevitable.Illegitimis nil carborundum. Posts: 760 | From: europe | Registered: Jan 2005
| IP: Logged
posted
I am not one to go on hunches. But, Atiku's recent problems have a curious coincidence with Obasanjo's recent attacks on Atiku. Obasanjo recently accused Atiku of disloyalty, asking Atiku to demonstrate his loyalty to the presidency by swearing on the Bible and Quran. Atiku refused to take the oath. Obasanjo's demand came after Atiku stated to the press that Obasanjo swore to him that he (Obasanjo) would step down from power in 2007. Obasanjo denies ever taking such an oath.
If this is a sign that the criminal in Aso Rock and his deputy are about to mutually destruct, then I say kudos to BNW for making those exclusive pictures of Atiku's mansion available. I guess the FBI will wait until Obasanjo misteps before it raids the banks that are holding Gbenga Obasanjo's illegal accounts.
___________________ You ain't seen nothing yet Posts: 150 | Registered: Mar 2001
| IP: Logged
quote: Obasanjo's demand came after Atiku stated to the press that Obasanjo swore to him that he (Obasanjo) would step down from power in 2007. Obasanjo denies ever taking such an oath.
In a civilized democracy information such as this latest news is enough to dismantle a rubbished government and its visionless rogues of leaders. In nigeria, this revelation may in fact elevate the VP's status. Where did a civil servant acquire millions of dollars he used to purchase this mansion in 2000? This is one out of many mansions this awusa moron owns including one in Evanston, Illinois a suburb of Chicago where his teenage son who attends Northwestern U lives. Where did serving judges, justices and permanent secretaries get the kind of money used to acquire the Ikoyi houses and things? Is that useless country not overdue for a very BLOODY hostile military takeover that would see all the current militaricians and all permanently destroyed? While some folks are busy playing the racial card against the Igbo, what are left of a country they call home are the skeletal remains of what used to be. obasanjo being the kingpin of corruption should not act as if he is cleaner, he’s not.
___________________ BIAFRA: The land of my ancestors now, yesterday and always. So it will be! Posts: 2482 | From: Ala Igbo | Registered: Apr 2004
| IP: Logged
quote:Is that useless country not overdue for a very BLOODY hostile military takeover that would see all the current militaricians and all permanently destroyed?
Did you just call for the army to take over Nigerian Government MeB? Please tell me how that will benefit Ndigbo and the country? Tell us how you reached the conclusion that nigerias further lies in the hand of Hausa/Fulani Murstaphas killing off the current rulers. Thanks.
___________________ Feel me? Ofu onye ana asi unu abia go. - Ednut Igbo-American . www.airamericaradio.com visit her. Posts: 2447 | From: Mother Earth | Registered: Mar 2001
| IP: Logged
posted
It looks like political intrigue is high gear in the Obasanjo and Atiku camps. May God help Nigeria.
quote:Obasanjo denies Atiku's claim on 2007
Nigeria probes FBI raid on Vice President's U.S. home
From Laolu Akande, New York, Martins Oloja and Madu Onuorah (Abuja) SIGNS of a crack in the Presidency emerged yesterday with President Olusegun Obasanjo, on national television, differing with Vice President Atiku Abubakar on the latter's account of the President's expressed desire to quit in 2007. Obasanjo also denied swearing to an oath to support the Vice President's bid to succeed him in 2007.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has begun a probe of the raiding of the Vice President's United States home on August 3 by some agents of the American Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI).
Vice President Atiku Abubakar had in an interview with a national newspaper been quoted as saying that Obasanjo once swore to an oath on the 2007 presidential election. The interview also quoted the vice president as saying that he was instrumental to Obasanjo not being killed in prison by the agents of the late Gen. Sani Abacha.
Obasanjo's rebuttal came in an answer to a question from a student of History at the University of Abuja who introduced himself at the monthly presidential media chat, as Ameh Attah.
The student had asked if the account of the interview by Abubakar on the 2007 terminal date was true. Obasanjo in his reply, differed with his deputy. The President said that he read the interview, and maintained that there must have been a misrepresentation by Abubakar.
His words: "I do not swear. The only swearing I have taken is the one on defending the Nigerian Constitution and doing good to all manner of people", and giving my life to that.
Obasanjo continued: "The Vice President said I never told him I am staying (beyond 2007). He is right there. Nobody can say I have ever said that. If I swore to protect the constitution, it is clear what the constitution said about my tenure."
But on the alleged oath, Obasanjo queried: "For what reason can I swear to him? If I give him my word, why would I swear? The idea of swearing... the Vice President got it wrong."
He then said: "There were proven cases of doubtful loyalty on his part...I brought a Bible and a Koran? Maybe because he knows the proven cases of doubtful loyalty are clear. So, generally his statement were a little case of exaggeration, here and there, may be due to dimming of memory because of time lapses."
Obasanjo also continued to defend the increase in fuel prices by the Federal Government last week, and asked the citizens to get prepared for more sacrifices for a brighter economic future.
The President said that the decision to raise the prices was painful for him but added he had no viable alternative for now.
His words: "It is really agonising for me. Those who are feeling what is all these should note that we are trying to look at welfare for today and for tomorrow. It is about sustainability. We have to make sacrifices. They are necessary for the medium and long-term prosperity of our country."
The President however said that the price would crash as he describes the oil price at the international market as "an aberration".
He said: "Sooner or later, the price will come down. It will happen. It is not all the time that it goes up, we will jack up prices. We will soon have stabilisation. It is agonising for me. We will soon have stabilisation. It is agonising for me. What should we leave to suffer? Is it health? All indicators of poverty level?"
He continued: "We need the money to build infrastructure, to build roads, bridges, fund education and health."
Obasanjo listed the implications of failing to stop oil subsidy oil subsidy in the country. He said: "If we spend N200 billion a year to subsidise oil for people who have five cars, we will discover later that we have cars but we will not have roads to use the cars. Spending N25 on a litre of petrol is too heavy and unsustainable economically by government.
Meanwhile, the U.S. home of Vice President Abubakar was on August 3 raided by some officials of the FBI.
The house is occupied by one of the Vice President's wives, Jennifer, a doctoral student at the American University in Washington D.C.
The action has, however, been described by a loyalist of the Vice President, Dr. Usman Bugaje, as "a storm in a tea cup."
Also raided, according to a U.S. newspaper, the Times Picayune of New Orleans, is the home of Ghana's Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama. The report was also published yesterday by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and Yahoo! on their websites.
The raid was a follow-up to the investigation of a former U.S. Congressman, William Jefferson.
Atiku's home is in Potomac, Maryland State, close to Washington D.C.
A source familiar with the development explained to The Guardian that Jefferson, a former Democratic Party legislator from the state of Louisiana, was being investigated regarding telecommunications deals he facilitated between some U.S. investors and top government officials in Nigeria and Ghana.
It was also learnt that the deal is yet to be properly linked to Vice President Abubakar.
In Nigeria, the contract is said to involve the bid to build a pilot scheme of a high-speed broadband telecommunication technology in the country, for the Nigerian Telecommunication Limited (NITEL).
Investigators are wondering if Jefferson received bribes from the US investors which was then passed to Nigerian government officials including Abubakar and possibly Ghana's vice president Aliu Mahama. A similar telecom deal was being put in place in Ghana about the same time. But sources said the deal actually never materialised for the investors.
The Guardian was also informed that the probe of the former U.S. Congressman may actually be a sting operation, which means the investigators having been alerted to the congressman's alleged improper financial dealing, may have prompted the reported payments to the US former congressman after putting him under surveillance for about a year-during which he travelled to Nigeria and Ghana.
But Bugaje, a former political adviser to the Vice President and now Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Relations, last night told The Guardian that Jefferson was at the Vice President's home on August 1 to discuss matters pertaining to the Nigerian telecoms sector. Abubakar had reportedly left the U.S. on August 2 while the men of the FBI visited on August 3.
Jefferson was not only the Chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Brazil and Nigeria, a position that made it mandatory for the legislator to relate with top officials of both countries, he was also the chairman of the powerful National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP).
The Federal Government yesterday said it would investigate the matter, adding that it was still treating it as a matter involving an individual who happened to be a top official of the Nigerian government.
The government said that following the media reports on the search, the Nigerian Ambassador to the United States, Dr. George Obiozor, had been mandated to get a full report of the incident and forward it Abuja immediately.
Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media), Mrs. Oluremi Oyo, in a statement last night said that when the incident initially happened, Obiozor sent a report of it to the government.
She noted that Vice President Abubakar confirmed the incident.
According to Oyo "when the search of the residence of Vice President Atiku Abubakar in Maryland, U.S.A. took place, our Ambassador in Washington, Dr. George Obiozor immediately reported the matter. He was instructed to follow-up through diplomatic channels to establish the cause of the search and the findings.
"The United States State Department informed our Ambassador that although the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) gave the department a hint of the search, the State Department does not interfere in the work of the FBI. Subsequently, the Ambassador sent in two other reports confirming the warrant of search as well as items and articles taken away from the residence. Later, the Vice President confirmed the incident."
Oyo added: "since then, nothing was released to our ambassador in Washington. With today's reports on the BBC, the ambassador and our law enforcement agents have been instructed to follow up and collect the full report on the incident. When the report is received, the nation will be informed.
"It is pertinent at this point that nothing concerning the incident has tarnished the Government of Nigeria. It remains an individual's issue."
Another statement by Senior Special Assistant to President Olusegun Obasanjo on Public Affairs, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode, read: "We have no comment on this issue for now other than to say we are going through diplomatic and non-diplomatic channels to find out what is going."
Jefferson is not new in dealings with Nigerian top government officials. During the June 12 crisis, he started off supporting Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola's victory at the elections alongside the Congressional Black Caucus in the US Congress. He later changed course around 1995 and started mobilising support for the Abacha junta in what he called "constructive engagement" with the then Nigerian military government.
Jefferson became an active US supporter of the Abacha regime and was believed to have met the former military ruler during a visit to Nigeria at a time when Abacha was treated as an international pariah. He was even later accused of receiving financial contributions from oil companies as a result of his support of Abacha. His office then denied that the contribution from the oil company had nothing to do with his support for Abacha.
His Washington D.C office has been silent on the FBI investigations since the story broke out last week.
A report last week Thursday by the Times Picayune of New Orleans, based in Jefferson's state of Louisiana had reported the probe of the former legislator and the raiding of his home, car and office in Washington D.C.
On Saturday, the newspaper and the Associated Press in an update of the story reported that Jennifer Abubakar's house in Maryland was also raided on August 3.
Although many Nigerians and Americans in Maryland believe the house belongs to Atiku, the official estate records indicate that it was bought in Jennifer's name. The vice president is known to stay in the house most of the times he is in the US. The wife and children are said to be permanently based in the house. Mrs Jennifer Atiku, a doctoral student of the American University in Washington D.C. is also the Director of an AIDS Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) in the U.S., the Gede Foundation, which raises funds abroad for charity in Nigeria. Real estate estimates put the value of the house at about $2 million. Abubakar is also known as the founder of the American-ABTI University in Nigeria.
The AP reported on Saturday that the U.S. State Department confirmed that the " home of Nigeria's vice president had been searched as part of a federal investigation, which news reports have linked to a Louisiana congressman." Efforts to reach the State Department and the US Department of Justice over the weekend were abortive, but sources familiar with the story said the FBI had informed the State Department before the raid was conducted because of a possible claim of immunity of a foreign official.
That immunity was denied, according to sources, considering that Abubakar was not in the house while the search was ordered nor was the house considered an official residence of a diplomatic official.
A source said after the search, boxes were removed from the home, quoting eye witness accounts from neighbours. Although no one has been linked the raid to anyone, AP also quoted a US Dept of Justice spokesperson that "all inquiries regarding the search of the United States residence of Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar should be directed to the Department of Justice...We do not comment on ongoing federal law enforcement investigations."
Nigerian embassy officials were also not available for comment at the weekend. According to the Times-Picayune, "the FBI had been on the trail of records they hope will show whether Jefferson, representatives from New Orleans on the platform of the Democratic Party paid, offered to pay or authorised payments to officials in the governments of Nigeria or Ghana."
The paper reported that it had seen subpoenas that showed that the FBI was seeking documents related to Jefferson's dealings with Abubakar and the vice president of Ghana, Alhaji Aliu Mahama. Jefferson returned from a five-day visit to Ghana in mid-July, about three weeks before the FBI raided his homes.
According to the paper "The subpoenas focus, in part, on a telecommunications deal Jefferson was trying to engineer in Nigeria over the past year, according to documents and those familiar with details of the investigation."
The investigations is said to be based on the US law-the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which bars corporations or their agents from paying, offering to pay or authorising payment of money or anything of value to further their business interests abroad.
The probe of the raid should have started last March when the raid took place.
Posts: 38 | Registered: Nov 2003
| IP: Logged
By Jide Ajani, Umar Yusuf, Rotimi Ajayi, Charles Ozoemena & Emma Aziken Posted to the Web: Tuesday, August 30, 2005
*As PDP mediates Obasanjo-Atiku feud
YOLA — PEOPLE sus-pected to be arsonists have set on fire the ABTI Academy Complex housing the ABTI/American University and ABTI Ventures, both in Yola and believed to be owned by Vice-President Atiku Abubakar. The police say they have arrested five persons in connection with the attack.
However, despite the cold war between President Olusegun Obasanjo and Vice President Atiku, both men were at their duty posts yesterday just 24 hours after the President said on television that his deputy had failed to prove his loyalty to him (Obasanjo) when challenged to do so.
However, the People's Democratic Party (PDP) is to wade into the face-off between President Obasanjo and the Vice President Atiku. National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr John Odey, told reporters last night that the party could not afford to allow the face-off between the two leaders of the party to degenerate.
Mr Odey said the party was conscious of the dangers the continued altercation between the two leaders could cause to the party.
The PDP, he said, would organise a frank talk between the two leaders to enhance the image of the party. He, however, said there was no division within the party.
The opposition ANPP, reacting to the face-off, said God was at work, sending confusion into their midst.
Foot soldiers on both sides, appeared yesterday to be spoiling for a show down, while outspoken Senator Ibrahim Kuta asked Vice President Atiku and presidential aspirant, General Ibrahim Babangida, to join forces to confront the president.
The police in Adamawa later said not much damage was done by the arsonists before the fire was put off.
The out-going Police Commissioner, Alhaji Abubakar Hafiz Ringing, told reporters in Yola that a report was lodged with the police over the incident and security operatives were drafted to the two business places leading to the arrest of the five suspects.
Security operatives drafted to the two places recovered some quantity of petrol in polythene bags abandoned by the arsonists. He ruled out political motive. The Police Commissioner confirmed that security had been beefed up around all property owned by the Vice President.
Foot soldiers at work
The face-off between President Olusegun Obasanjo and Vice President Atiku Abubakar is set to enter another level as foot soldiers on both side of the divide are spoiling for a showdown, Vanguard can reveal authoritatively.
In separate interviews last night, aides to both President Obasanjo and Vice President Abubakar maintained that the present face-off between their bosses might enter another level soon as a source in the Presidency said the statement made by President Obasanjo during his monthly media chat on Sunday was as a result of months of studied silence on the issue of disloyalty.
In fact, Vanguard was informed for quite a while: "President Obasanjo had been the one insisting that we should thread softly on issues concerning his deputy. He had been the one restraining most of us not to open up. But when you look at the latest statements credited to the Vice President and for which he had not denied, you can then begin to imagine what his boss, President Obasanjo had been going through all along.
"There was the issue of the presidential primaries of 2003 and which people were already beginning to overlook. But the truth of the matter is that when you look at recent statements credited to the Vice President, it would be very clear that what has been going on is a matter of clear and manifest disloyalty."
However, a former aide to Vice President Abubakar told Vanguard: "What we have decided to do is to ensure that as much as possible we do not get involved in any form of media battle.
Obasanjo, Atiku at work yesterday
In spite of the estranged relationship between President Obasanjo and Vice President Atiku, both of them were at their duty posts yesterday, but with an unusual calm at the State House. Both the president’s side and that of his deputy were very calm.
However, their aides and some staff of the State House were seen discussing in low tunes the unfolding drama and the possible consequences of the quarrel between the most visible personalities in Nigeria’s seat of power.
While the President attended to a delegation from Kwara that came to the State House with the Zimbabwean white farmers as well as received a delegation from the United States-based International Fertilizer Development Corporation, the Vice President who arrived Abuja from Yola, Sunday evening, opened the Stakeholders’ Forum on Technological Adaptation for Processing of Sesame Seed Products in Nigeria. He also received the Prime Minister of Sao Tome and Principe.
Attempt by newsmen to get a possible reaction of the Vice President on the raid on his house in Maryland, United States by the American Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) proved difficult. His Chief Press Secretary, Mohammed Yakub, told Vanguard that the case had become a diplomatic affair and so no comment "until the report of the investigation comes out"
ANPP says it is an act of God
The All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) has described the discordant tunes between President Obasanjo and Vice-President Atiku on their relationship as a confusion wrought by God for the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) dishonesty on the 2003 elections.
Responding to the conflicting positions of the nation’s top two political office holders on the bond between the two of them, Alhaji Ibrahim Modibo, national publicity secretary of the ANPP said what was happening was bound to happen to those who stole the mandate of the people.
"It is an act of God, one after the other PDP is daily on the verge of total collapse. You know when people steal other people’s victory, so it is an act of God bringing confusion, bringing crisis and also trying to bring an atmosphere of total disharmony and collapse of the party," Alhaji Modibo said.
Noting that the emerging crisis in the administration signalled the death of the ruling party, Alhaji Modibo said: "I want to assure all that PDP is on its death bed. What is happening is nothing surprising because we knew it was bound to happen. I want to suggest to President Obasanjo that he should quickly handover to General Buhari because he did not win the 2003 election."
Senator Kuta wants IBB, Atiku to confront OBJ
Senators yesterday evaded comments on the altercation between President Obasanjo and Vice-President Atiku. But Senator Idris Kuta in an exception, dared General Ibrahim Babangida and Vice-President Atiku to join forces to get an assurance from the President on his exit strategy. Senator Kuta has equally called for an apology from the United States government for the raid.
Senator Kuta, chairman of the Senate Committee on Works spoke in response to President Obasanjo’s claims of disloyalty on the part of the Vice-President and reports of the alleged raid by American security agents on Atiku’s American residence.
However, several other Senators contacted yesterday refused to comment on the issue. One Senator called on phone said he was at the airport going away from Abuja while another Senator contacted in the National Assembly complex told journalists to pretend he was never seen when the issue of the perceived misunderstanding between the President and his deputy was raised.
However, responding to the development, Senator Kuta traced the misunderstanding between the nation’s first two political office holders to the quest for political ascendancy ahead of 2007.
"The Vice-President is in a fix in the sense that he has indicated his interest to vie for the presidency in 2007. Obasanjo on the other hand is trying to scheme his way into extending his tenure. So, there is no way the two of them can get on well, they have to fight. One wanting the other to go and the other one not wanting to go and it is we the followers that are going to suffer," Senator Kuta said yesterday.
Noting that the conspiracy to extend the tenure of present political office holders was a scripted plot also involving the governors, he said: "Today, we don’t know what the president and the governors are up to. Are they prepared to leave in 2007 or not? I keep saying that I feel sorry for those who are too eager to look for what is not vacant. When you talk to people around the president they tell you that there is no vacancy in the villa. You go to Government Houses in the states, those who are following the governors are saying there is no vacancy. So where do we go?"
NITEL denies US telecom firm
NITEL management said yesterday that it had no relationship with US telecom firm, Gates, allegedly linked to a meeting with Vice President Atiku. The firm was said to have presented a proposal to Vice President Atiku to speed up its broadband technology.
quote:Atiku refused to swear oath of loyalty —OBASANJO
By Kayode Matthew & Paul Odili Monday, August 29, 2005
LAGOS—PRESIDENT Olusegun Obasanjo alleged, last night, that Vice President Atiku Abubakar once declined to swear that he (Atiku) was loyal to him (Obasanjo).
President Obasanjo fielding questions during his monthly media chat on television said he had invited his deputy to swear on the Bible and the Koran to prove his (Atiku’s) loyalty. "He refused to swear and it was bad enough," President Obasanjo said in response to a question on a statement credited to the Vice President in a recent newspaper interview.
Vice President Atiku in that interview had said President Obasanjo swore before him that he (Obasanjo) was not going for a third term.
But responding last night, President Obasanjo said: "There were misrepresentations and misinformation in that interview. The Vice President said I swore before him. I do not swear. The only time I swore was the oath I took in 1999 to look at the welfare of Nigerians. In that interview, the VP said I never told him I am staying. He is right. I never told anybody I am staying.
"I never swore before him. Why should I swear? I don’t say things frivolously. On the idea of swearing, the VP got that wrong. What I did was to bring out the Bible and the Koran and asked him to swear if he was still loyal to me. Of course, he refused to swear and it was bad enough. I did that to be assured of his loyalty to me and to ensure there is no division between us. Having put that behind me, I don’t want to dwell on it again."
On the fuel price hike, President Obasanjo said he would consider reconstituting the Senator Ibrahim Mantu palliatives committee in the light of the recent increase in the pump price of petrol.
He said the hike was necessary because government could no longer bear the yearly N200 billion it spends to subsidise petroleum products. He said the recommendations of the previous Mantu committee had not been fully implemented and that he would support the idea to bring back the committee.
Obasanjo said the decision to increase prices was painful, but insisted that was the only option left for his government. "We have been talking about infrastructure and accessibility like roads. But how do we build and sustain them if we continue to maintain subsidy on them? And at the same time we have to show concern for our children. What they need is education and health care.
"We cannot do all these things. So those who are saying what is all this should understand we are looking after the welfare of children not just for today, but also for tomorrow. We do not want to have a good road today and not have it again tomorrow. And I want Nigerians to understand that the sacrifice is necessary for the future prosperity of the nation."
On the Mantu committee, he said: "Even that one has not been fully implemented. For instance, we said on public transport that we would give matching grants. Some state governments said they do not want, some said they would take. I commissioned some public transport schemes in Kaduna and Rivers States from the grants received. The Mantu report said we should do something about stabilisation and we are looking into that. And when we are talking about palliatives, it is important that we go into the core of it.
"The report talked about lowering of tariff on imported drugs and that we have done. It talked about reduction in the tariff for buses, we have done that. But the subsidy of N25 a litre of fuel is too heavy for the government. It is agonising for me to take this decision."
___________________ Home is Best Posts: 43 | From: UK | Registered: Jan 2003
| IP: Logged
quote: Did you just call for the army to take over Nigerian Government MeB? Please tell me how that will benefit Ndigbo and the country?
Ed, and so?? As for your second question I will answer you when you tell us what YOU and your country are benefiting from your present government. Never mind, I’ll give you a clue. Once in elementary school an Enugu/Anambra (no scorn intended) chap was asked to plug in by choosing Is/Was to complete a sentence. He resorted to, "ma Is ejero, Was ejee." So borrowing from that, since the present government to me has not lived close to expectations there is nothing wrong from seeking their volatile demise. Sir, what have you or your country gained from this government; political assassinations, embezzlements, outright stealing of public funds, corruption in all corners of the government, a highly corrupted VP, IG and Justices, lack of road infrastructures, absence of medical care, how about disappearance of pipe borne water, electricity supply, security and safety, abuse of educational sector, total neglect of the masses etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc infinite??????????? Ed, please tell us!
___________________ BIAFRA: The land of my ancestors now, yesterday and always. So it will be! Posts: 2482 | From: Ala Igbo | Registered: Apr 2004
| IP: Logged
posted
The manson at sorrel, yet Nigerian children feed on 10 cents day. What a country. Times have changed, not too long ego an Hausa man lives in an unfurnished home. A neatly furnished home for an Hausa man is usually a carpet or a rug with no toliet system and furniture chairs. Touching the house will be a justifiable arson because it is a grand larcney.
Hail Biafra
Posts: 1673 | From: Minnesota USA | Registered: Mar 2001
| IP: Logged
quote:Originally posted by NigerianKind: But Wait oh! How did BNW get those pictures since nobody else has the pictures? Enquiring minds want to know.
Nigeriankind:
BNW is not only the leading African website. BNW is the online place to go when you want pictures about Africa, especially Biafra-Nigeria. See for yourself. That is why all major Nigerian websites routinely copy pictures from BNW, even though they never give credit.
Thus, I don't know why you act surprised that BNW has pictures that cannot be found anywhere else. That is exactly what BNW does. After all, it was from BNW that egbeomooduduwa.com copied the picture of Audu Abubakar's mansion. I hope your enquiring mind has now been satisfied.
Posts: 155 | Registered: Mar 2001
| IP: Logged
posted
Whether its OBj, Atiku, IBB, Marwa, Buhari or any other of the old schools, nija will never know peace or move forward. Let us all canvass for new system, new ideal and the thorough new breed led by Gani Fawehinmi. Only then can we progress as a nation and as a people.
Atiku has a mansion in DC and Chigaco so what? This is a pitiance to the thieving going on with the sale of all nijas worthwhile parastatal.
This band pirates ruined our education system only to establish theirs, they ruined NPF only to have their own security. They will not ruin our lives because of their ambition. Let us all do the right thing and educate our friends, relations about the new lease that Gani and NCP will usher in.
Posts: 380 | From: US | Registered: Dec 2004
| IP: Logged
Because BNW is the only one willing to invest in resource that can get you those pictures. Even your Nigeria Guardian or any news media your Nigeria kind can't afford those pictures.
quote:The manson at sorrel, yet Nigerian children feed on 10 cents day. What a country. Times have changed, not too long ego an Hausa man lives in an unfurnished home. A neatly furnished home for an Hausa man is usually a carpet or a rug with no toliet system and furniture chairs. Touching the house will be a justifiable arson because it is a grand larcney.
First they chased you out of Nigeria with the barrel of a gun into exile in the USA, and now, they are here paying cash for bigger houses while u toil to make payments to your 30 year mortgage loan with bigass interest. And you still say the Hausa man is stupid? Did you even see how good looking that Jennifer is and she is only a quarter of his legal woman. Na them oh.
___________________ Feel me? Ofu onye ana asi unu abia go. - Ednut Igbo-American . www.airamericaradio.com visit her. Posts: 2447 | From: Mother Earth | Registered: Mar 2001
| IP: Logged
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
