By E. Terfa Ula-Lisa Esq. 

Some pseudonym had in the media boasted that it was Atiku, IBB, Danjuma and Abubakar that brought Obasanjo to power from his place of imprisonment. While that has not been proven, we know that there was much noise in the press about Obasanjo dishonoring the pact he had entered with the so-called North, so there may be some truth in it. We know that all the persons mentioned above, have been involved in the active misrule of Nigeria. If they packaged Obasanjo to rule according to their dictates, they sure did not expect him to fight corruption or to cut them off from the gravy train. If for instance, PDP won by virtue of Atiku and his group as reported, then, we need to chart a new course, not going back to Atiku for salvation. “Mr Obasanjo's estranged vice-president, Atiku Abubakar, instrumental in securing past PDP victories, wants to be president, as does Ibrahim Babangida, a former military ruler” The Economist of August 31^st 2006 had written. It then means that if the past elections were as flawed as all the local and international monitors made it, the blame lays squarely at the feet of the facilitators, Atiku and his PDM machinery so we need to watch him and the next elections. Some other reasons abound below why Atiku should never be trusted with the mantle of Presidency. 

As the current Vice-President, he is the # 2 person in the order of hierarchy in Nigeria. It is a collective responsibility, if Obasanjo has failed, he has also failed. If it is true that he introduced OBJ this second time around, and he finds OBJ so abhorrent now, then Atiku must have a poor sense of judgment. He cannot be trusted going forward. If however, OBJ’s Reform policies are on track and need a little tweaking and uniform application to succeed, then Atiku cannot be his successor because Atiku promises change. Atiku makes an indictment of the government which he serves in his own words as follows: 

“This election is about change – change not only in our national leadership, but also change in how the rest of the world will see Nigeria from now on. Change not only in our party politics and politicking, but also change in our country itself. As that election approaches, Nigerians have a critical choice to make. They can choose to continue with our frighteningly depressing present or they can choose change. It is clear to me that our people want change, change for reforms that work for the people; change for reforms that create jobs; change that provides adequate electricity, good roads, security of life and property; change for a genuine and sincere fight against corruption; and above all, change for the rule of law, real democracy and greater freedoms for individual Nigerians and the states of the federation. I am the candidate for change.” 

Speech by Abubakar Atiku, GCON, Vice-President, on the occasion of his declaration for the presidency of Nigeria in the 2007 election, at the old parade ground, area 10, Garki, Abuja. Saturday, November 25, 2006 

My point here is that, except some whistle-blower memo is produced in which Atiku had opposed seriously the policies or application of policy of his government by his boss, he cannot be heard at this time, this eight year, to complain about the policies or performance of his government. To do so would be self-serving, opportunistic and hypocritical; to use some of the adjectives he had used to describe his erstwhile party, PDP from which he had not resigned while taking the Presidential slot of a rival party. 

Lacks Integrity  

Every organization has persons who rule it and sometimes the officers fall out and go their separate ways. In all fairness, one does not expect Atiku to agree with the conduct of his boss in everything. Every innocent bystander watching the political developments in Nigeria would come to the inevitable conclusion that Atiku, as Vice-President had fallen out with his boss. Now it does not matter whether the boss was behaving like a wicked step-mother, the proper thing in such circumstances is to hand in the letter of resignation honorably and walk away quietly or go on to head the opposition to repair whatever infractions of the constitution or Due Process that might exist. Atiku lacks integrity by not resigning even after such apparent irreconcilable differences with his boss who had called him to deputize. Integrity refers to the quality of being complete or undivided or being in an unimpaired condition (Webster’s). Atiku could not while still enjoying all the perks and position of the Vice-President in a PDP government in all good conscience also be arrow-head of the opposition. Atiku could not properly contend like he did:

"We are in grave danger of surrendering our country to a cabal of opportunistic, greedy and hypocritical people which hides under the guise of high moral principles to debase our democratic institutions," and retain his seat under the canopy of the said cabal. 

Compromised Candidacy 

We know that Nigeria is not the United States but our politicians and representatives are given a modicum of respect by virtue of being leaders of a distinct set of people. A situation where the Potomac home of a sitting Vice-President of Nigeria is searched after due consideration of facts and a judgment call by the diplomatic purview of persons versed in those nuances in regard to ongoing FBI criminal investigations should cause that person pause if he seeks to be leader of the most populous black nation on earth. Atiku has by that very search been exposed to suspicion, discredit or mischief. His reputation being compromised, how are we sure that if we have such a person voted in as President, that some foreign party may not use such information or process adversely against the interest of Nigeria? What happens if for instance evidence is brought that bespeaks of his request for a bribe, could he still battle corruption in all good conscience while in the center of an international corruption probe? 

What Truth? 

The Vice President of Nigeria wrote and signed “As regards NDTV and Mofas, I wish to state categorically that I have no interests, investments or shareholding whatsoever, directly or indirectly, in any of these two companies. I do know Otunba J. O. Fasawe, the Chairman of NDTV and Moffas, respectively, and I count him as one of my friends. He is a long time friend and a prominent member of my political party, the People's Democratic Party (PDP). I do not, however, have any business dealings whatsoever with him, nor am I involved in any way in or with any of his companies or businesses. 

Coincidentally, paragraph 50 of the FBI's affidavit in the USA where he goes to vacation and seek enforcement of Due Process through his intellectual lobbyists says 

"50. In a July 12, 2005 meeting with CW-1, Congressman Jefferson related that the direction of the Nigerian Business deal depended on obtaining assistance from --(dedacted)--. Congressman Jefferson explained he would request the --(dedacted)--to assist with two key issues related to the deploymentof iGate technology to Nigeria:

a) Assistance in extinguishing a $2million debt with NDTV that relates to a previous NDTV procurement of rights to deploy iGate technology in Nigeria

b) Assistance in gaining Nitel's cooperation for the co-location of iGate technology in Nigeria." 

The Vice President on the other hand, continues in his submission before us: 

“The EFCC has sought to draw a connection between NDTV and myself by alleging that I contributed the sum of =N=30 million towards the purchase of the head office building of NDTV. Again, in characteristic fashion, the EFCC has arrived at a conclusion not only unsupported by the facts but also in direct conflict with information it has been provided with. The facts as regards this are simply that I Facilitated a loan for a friend, Otunba J. O. Fasawe, in his time of need. Otunba Fasawe had indicated to me his desire to secure the purchase of an office complex for a new business venture he was involved in. At the time he told me of this, he indicated that he was significantly out of pocket and requested my assistance in advancing a short term loan to finance the down payment of this purchase. The EFCC's report indicates that this payment was made on the 7th January 2003”. 

Can anyone contribute thirty million Naira (whether as a short term loan or down payment) to a business and say without flinching that “I have no interests, investments or shareholding whatsoever, directly or indirectly”? 

Conclusively, and this is just my opinion, nothing personal since I have never met the man; the man is just not presidential material. He says Obasanjo is doing everything wrong – then, tells us that he, Atiku, recruited the Reform team, seeking to take credit for whatever we may concede to this government. That is so classless. Argued, if he did recruit all the professional technocrats, he not being one, it was done at the behest of Obasanjo because as Vice-President, he has no role but one given to him by his boss. The stars of this Reform Team he purportedly recruited besides Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala are still serving Obasanjo faithfully. Ribadu has publicly indicted the VP, El-Rufai and others were on the Administrative panel and El-Rufai has reportedly publicly told him to resign if he does not belong. That is the course of action all principled persons who are not afraid of being stripped of their immunity do. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala resigned when she disagreed irreparably with her boss. Nigeria does not need at this time such a person to lead them. There are much more qualified persons without the taint and baggage of Abubakar Atiku. The man does not have passion for any programs, nor does he have even a clue regarding the Due Process mantra which he uses to hoodwink Nigerians and the International Community.

Robot  Villager

# 1 By E. Terfa Ula-Lisa Esq. Some pseudonym had in the m...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 25.01.2007 08:02

I Love Nigeria  Villager

# 2 BUT Where is EVERY BODY????????????B> E. Terfa Ula-Lisa Esq. Has here stated succinctly, what I have struggled for months to say in a series of commentaries here and everywhere! I have tried hard in several article to inelegantly say.... what this fine gentleman has elegantly, eloquently and logically presented here in great sequential order! How come there are no takers here? where are the commentaries on this wonderful article by E. Terfa Ula-Lisa Esq. Is it the case that some here cannot handle his clearly stated logical case against Atifku? Posted by I Love Nigeria| 25.01.2007 17:04

ula-lisa  Villager

# 3 Profile: Atiku Abubakar By Senan Murray BBC News, Abuja A founding member of Nigeria's ruling People's Democratic Party, Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, 60, was forced out of the party after a bitter feud with President Olusegun Obasanjo. In a probe ordered by Mr Obasanjo, the vice-president was accused of diverting $125m from a public development trust fund into his personal businesses. Although Mr Abubakar has denied the allegations and has hit back at President Obasanjo with counter-allegations of corruption, some of the mud may have stuck. Mr Abubakar is still faced with the difficult task of convincing Nigerian voters that 20 years in the customs service is enough to make one a multi-millionaire, with business interests in oil, media, publishing and education. He owns the high-profile ABTI American University of Nigeria in his north-eastern Adamawa State. His oil services company Intels Nigeria Limited operates in Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Sao Tome and Principe. In his most explicit comment yet on the source of his wealth, Mr Abubakar says, in a newly published biography, that he became wealthy "through wise investments, hard work and sheer luck of being at the right place at the right time." But the anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, which has probed Mr Abubakar's handling of the Petroleum Development Trust Fund (PTDF), does not believe him. 'Power shift' The vice-president's legal battles could keep him distracted while President Obasanjo concentrates on trying to install the PDP's Umaru Musa Yar'Adua as his successor when he steps down in May. A Lagos High Court has voided two reports accusing Mr Abubakar of corruption - but appearances before the Senate and in court could still see him ruled out of contention for the presidency. A lot of people feel that the president's viciousness towards his deputy... is really uncalled for Adamu Hamza Political analyst Now running on the opposition Action Congress ticket, Mr Abubakar still has to overcome the ANPP's Muhammadu Buhari if he is to compete in April's elections after an electoral pact between the two parties. He has four wives and several children but no living brothers or sisters. "He is a humble, kind-hearted family man who does not forget his friends," his spokesman, Garba Shehu told the BBC News website. But others see Mr Abubakar differently - as a shrewd politician who does not hesitate to spend huge amounts of money to achieve his political ends. He says his political role model is former US President Bill Clinton. "Clinton is just a fantastic politician. You could tell that he loves politics and I just love politics." Mr Abubakar had been hoping that the campaign for "power shift" - the idea that it is the north's turn to hold power after Mr Obasanjo, a southerner - would work in his favour. But like Mr Buhari and the ruling PDP's Mr Yar'Adua, Mr Abubakar is a Fulani Muslim, so what he had hoped would be his support base has been diluted. David and Goliath He sees himself as "the symbol of democracy in Nigeria" because of his public opposition to attempts to change the constitution to let President Obasanjo stand for a third term in office. That stance has put Mr Abubakar in the good books of many Nigerians, but may not translate to votes in April because some feel he was mainly motivated by a desire to take Mr Obasanjo's job. Furthermore, those people who want change after eight years of Mr Obasanjo will hesitate to back the man who was second-in-command for all that time. However, Mr Abubakar's feud with President Obasanjo is fast becoming a sort of David and Goliath story with many would-be voters empathising with the vice-president whom they see as a persecuted man. "The president is using state might to fight Atiku and a lot of people feel that the president's viciousness towards his deputy, who is David in this case, is really uncalled for," says political analyst Adamu Hamza. And if money alone can win votes - and it does tend to win votes in Nigeria - then Mr Abubakar may well be Nigeria's president-in-waiting. Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/h...ca/6292141.stm Published: 2007/01/25 11:50:40 GMT ____________________________ Not this time broz! Abegi :rolleyes: :rolleyes: Posted by ula-lisa| 25.01.2007 17:26

Ebe2  Villager

# 4 How come there are no takers here? A very simple reason: this is a disingeneous piece of crap, excuse my language. The EFCC report was disappointing in that it failed to show that Atiku benefitted personally from the I-gate deal or that the PTDF monies lodged in several banks were lost. In fact, the assertion (backed by evidence) of the Atiku people that these monies yeilded interest to the tune of N1billion has not been disputed by EFCC or the administration. People don't care about these empty, one-sided nonsense because NO GOVERNMENT MONEY WAS SHOWN TO BE HAVE BEEN LOST in qhatever Atiku did or didn't do at PTDF. In fact the lodgements made money for the government. Going back to the I-gate issue and the Jefferson indictment, there is no shred of evidence to suggest that... 1. Jefferson got the assistance he was seeking from Atiku (the redacted name) 2. That the bribe money given to Jefferson by an FBI informant for purported transmission to Atiku was given to Atiku. Last time I checked, the money was found in Jefferson's freezer even though he claimed he had given it to Atiku. I don't believe--and most discerning Nigerians do not believe--that Atiku's claim that he had no relationship whatsoever with those behind I-gate. He's not been completely honest about his relationship with some of these people. But, and this is a big but..... 1. Fasawe was also a friend and business partner of OBJ, so if we're going to crucify Atiku for having friends who are suspected of shady deals, let's include OBJ. 2. Atiku's relationship to Jefferson has not been shown to have cost the Nigerian government any money. 3. If having relationships with foreigners, including shady ones, were a criminal offense, OBJ would be the greatest criminal in Nigeria. It's common knowledge that his relationship and dealings with Carl Masters and Andrew Young costs Nigeria tens of thounsands of dollars in so-called consultancy fees every month. It's also known that these friends of his have secured unfair economic advantages like oil lifting and other profitable influence peddling deals through their relationship with OBJ. All these at the expense of the Nigerian treasury. So, Nigerians do not care for these ILN/Ula-Lisa hatchet jobs because they are saying they will not crucify a man (Atiku) who is at worst guilty of bad association and perjury while sparing a man (OBJ) whose bad association has cost and continues to cost Nigeria money and who will not provide simple, straightforward answers to very serious allegations of monumental and unprecedented corruption. They are saying that they will not be stupid enough to go after a man (Atiku) who had made his money (fraudulently to be sure) before becoming VP and has NOT been shown (the president had a chance through EFCC to do so but he failed) to have personally enriched himself since he became VP, while leaving intact and celebrating an evil rogue (OBJ) who had N20,000 in his account in 1999 and is now a multi-billionaire and controls, through fraudulent shareholding and embezzlement, the commanding heights of the national economy. But Nigerians agree with Mr. Ula-Lisa on one thing. Atiku is not presidential material, but it's not for the silly, hollow reasons Ula-Lisa posted above. In fact Nigerians are no longer concerned about Atiku because they know that there's no way in hell he'll be president on May 29 2007. Only those afraid of the damaging exposes Atiku is making against their messiah (OBJ) and only those who, for reasons known only to themselves, venerate the monstrous brigand from Otta, are still obsessed with the largely irrelevant Atiku. Nigerians are more interested in cogent, detailed replies to the recent series of damaging, detailed, and documented allegations of OBJ's corruption and raping of Nigeria than they are in discussing an emasculated politician who is part of the OBJ rot and failure and is therefore completely discredited from any serious effort at securing the presidency. I hope these points answer your question a bit. Please don't forget to ask for elaboration or clarification if this does not do it for you. Thank you. Posted by Ebe2| 25.01.2007 17:46

I Love Nigeria  Villager

# 5 Ebe2 It is refreshing that you agreed with Lisa Esq.'s crucial points! The relevant and significant portions of Ebe2 statments as excerpted for relevants by ILN: Nigerians agree with Mr. Ula-Lisa .... Atiku is not presidential material.... In fact Nigerians are no longer concerned about Atiku because they know that there's no way in hell he'll be president on May 29 2007. I could not have said it better! Many thanks to Professor Moses Ebe Uchonu! lumo, lumo, lumo pepe pe! (ILN in a-sing in a Nigerian language mode)! Posted by I Love Nigeria| 25.01.2007 17:58

ula-lisa  Villager

# 6 =Ebe2;151138>A very simple reason: this is a disingeneous piece of crap, excuse my language. The EFCC report was disappointing in that it failed to show that Atiku benefitted personally from the I-gate deal or that the PTDF monies lodged in several banks were lost. In fact, the assertion (backed by evidence) of the Atiku people that these monies yeilded interest to the tune of N1billion has not been disputed by EFCC or the administration. People don't care about these empty, one-sided nonsense because NO GOVERNMENT MONEY WAS SHOWN TO BE HAVE BEEN LOST in qhatever Atiku did or didn't do at PTDF. In fact the lodgements made money for the government. Going back to the I-gate issue and the Jefferson indictment, there is no shred of evidence to suggest that... 1. Jefferson got the assistance he was seeking from Atiku (the redacted name) 2. That the bribe money given to Jefferson by an FBI informant for purported transmission to Atiku was given to Atiku. Last time I checked, the money was found in Jefferson's freezer even though he claimed he had given it to Atiku. I don't believe--and most discerning Nigerians do not believe--that Atiku's claim that he had no relationship whatsoever with those behind I-gate. He's not been completely honest about his relationship with some of these people. But, and this is a big but..... 1. Fasawe was also a friend and business partner of OBJ, so if we're going to crucify Atiku for having friends who are suspected of shady deals, let's include OBJ. 2. Atiku's relationship to Jefferson has not been shown to have cost the Nigerian government any money. 3. If having relationships with foreigners, including shady ones, were a criminal offense, OBJ would be the greatest criminal in Nigeria. It's common knowledge that his relationship and dealings with Carl Masters and Andrew Young costs Nigeria tens of thounsands of dollars in so-called consultancy fees every month. It's also known that these friends of his have secured unfair economic advantages like oil lifting and other profitable influence peddling deals through their relationship with OBJ. All these at the expense of the Nigerian treasury. So, Nigerians do not care for these ILN/Ula-Lisa hatchet jobs because they are saying they will not crucify a man (Atiku) who is at worst guilty of bad association and perjury while sparing a man (OBJ) whose bad association has cost and continues to cost Nigeria money and who will not provide simple, straightforward answers to very serious allegations of monumental and unprecedented corruption. They are saying that they will not be stupid enough to go after a man (Atiku) who had made his money (fraudulently to be sure) before becoming VP and has NOT been shown (the president had a chance through EFCC to do so but he failed) to have personally enriched himself since he became VP, while leaving intact and celebrating an evil rogue (OBJ) who had N20,000 in his account in 1999 and is now a multi-billionaire and controls, through fraudulent shareholding and embezzlement, the commanding heights of the national economy. But Nigerians agree with Mr. Ula-Lisa on one thing. Atiku is not presidential material, but it's not for the silly, hollow reasons Ula-Lisa posted above. In fact Nigerians are no longer concerned about Atiku because they know that there's no way in hell he'll be president on May 29 2007. Only those afraid of the damaging exposes Atiku is making against their messiah (OBJ) and only those, who for reasons known only to themselves, venerate the monstrous brigand from Otta, are still obsessed with the largely irrelevant Atiku. Nigerians are more interested in cogent, detailed replies to the recent series of damaging, detailed, and documented allegations of OBJ's corruption and raping of Nigeria than they are in discussing an emasculated politician who is part of the OBJ rot and failure and is therefore completely discredited from any serious effort at securing the presidency. I hope these points answer your question a bit. Please don't forget to ask for elaboration or clarification if this does not do it for you. Thank you. @Ebe2 1.This 'disingenious piece of crap' has caused you to concede the parts highlighted. You may have more clarity than most, but the last I read from the newspapers some so-called intellectuals were falling over this 'perjurer' in their committee to lobby the western world. 2. The Newspapers had the report of his going back to Nigeria with FBI escorts (call it spin if you will). 3. His advisers were defending him at INEC office with all fanfare and his spinmasters were calling him the defender of the Due Process Universe. 4. Just BTW, Conspiracy to bribery is also a crime if any of the steps or elements of the crime is proved. Even if the monies did not reach the destination. 5. I also know that Nigerians are not very educated about the legal aspects of corruption, that is why we write what appears to be 'clap trap' to educate them. Influence peddling is a crime; and using government monies to favor your biz partners is a crime of corrupt enrichment even where the profit is gleaned off the capital and the monies returned intact plus profit. 6. A confirmed perjurer is also a criminal, same as an armed robber. Not fit to be President. But the BBC interview his supporters and write the above that must be refuted. Repeat a lie enough times and people start believing it. 7. I pick my fights; if you notice OBJ is not contesting, he is gone, I am looking ahead to the pretenders to leadership. Even prosecutors pick the areas of least resistence to get info to convict. EFCC investigated ATK not OBJ. Posted by ula-lisa| 25.01.2007 18:10

Ebe2  Villager

# 7 1.This 'disingenious piece of crap' has caused you to concede the parts highlighted. You may have more clarity than most, but the last I read from the newspapers some so-called intellectuals were falling over this 'perjurer' in their committee to lobby the western world. I never heard of "so-called intellectuals" lobbying the western world on behalf of Atiku. Perhaps you know something that I don't know. Please share. 2. The Newspapers had the report of his going back to Nigeria with FBI escorts (call it spin if you will). This has since been refuted and proven to be a piece of yellow reporting common with many Nigerian publications. It's bringing up silly things like this that makes one reach the conclusion that you guys are getting worked up over--and are obsessed with Atiku--- a man who is no longer a serious political player. It also makes one suspect that this is not just about pointing out Atiku's unsuitability for the presidency but also a character assassination exercise on behalf of OBJ. 3. His advisers were defending him at INEC office with all fanfare and his spinmasters were calling him the defender of the Due Process Universe. What do you expect from, to use your own words, "his advisers" and "his spinmasters"? There are other Nigerians who may express admiration for his fight against the third term, this writer included, but that does not mean they have no issues with or that they support his presidential ambition. These things are quite nuanced and they should always be understood on those terms. 4. Just BTW, Conspiracy to bribery is also a crime if any of the steps or elements of the crime is proved. Exactly. Nothing has been proven, not by the EFCC report and not by the FBI indictment. Let's wait. 5. I also know that Nigerians are not very educated about the legal aspect of corruption, that is why we write what appears to be 'clap trap' to educate them. Influence peddling is a crime; and using government monies to favor your biz partners is a crime of corrupt enrichment even where the profit is gleaned off the capital and the monies returned intact plus profit. Yes, influence peddling is a crime, but... 1. OBJ is a bigger influence peddler than Atiku 2. The EFCC report and its other variant (what was it called?) DID NOT prove that Atiku used his influence to secure for I-gate any economic advantages. In fact, this point of yours is largely academic, since the I-gate scheme never materialized, having been scuttled by all kinds of logistical, bureaucratic, and financial problems. Had the company actually done any business in Nigeria, then one could investigate an influence peddling case against Atiku after establishing that his relationship to them was stronger he claims. Also, since (1)the I-gate scheme never actually materialized and the company never actually did any business in Nigeria; since(2) the Atiku people were able to demonstrate without refutation from the OBJ people that the accrued interests were interests on bank deposits; and since (3) the banks in question insist that the money deposited with them was NOT the same money lent out (the Globacom evidence regading the payment for the SNO licence proved it beyond any doubt), your point here, while valid, does not apply to Atiku's case. 6. A confirmed perjurer is also a criminal, same as an armed robber. Not fit to be President. But BBC interview his supporters and write the above that must be refuted. Exactly. But it is not confirmed yet that Atiku had more relationship with those folks that he's letting on. That was just my hunch, which is I think shared by many Nigerians. Unfortunately, the EFCC bungled its chance to show this, much to the disappointment of those of us who wanted to have our suspicions about Atiku proven and demonstrated. 7. I pick my fights; if you notice OBJ is not contesting, he is gone, I am looking ahead to the pretenders to leadership. Even prosecutors pick the areas of least resistence to get info to convict. EFCC investigated ATK not OBJ. Since OBJ is not contesting, should he then be allowed to... 1. Keep his massive loot, which he has now used, we're told, to acquire huge stakes in the insurance, oil, banking, agricultural, and private educational sectors of the country? 2. Go scotfree and not be held accountable for his crimes of highfallutin corruption, abuse of office, election rigging, and human rights abuses? Isn't prosecutory intervention designed to punish the guilty, establish a deterrent, and set a precedent of justice so that confidence in the judicial system is sustained? Posted by Ebe2| 25.01.2007 19:00

ula-lisa  Villager

# 8 @Ebe2 There are 2 different issues you are mixing up: 1. Conspiracy (Jefferson) to comit a crime in USA (bribery of an official) which had to do with the FBI affidavit; investigation ongoing; 2. The PDTF Atiku's use of government money to favor his biz partner as captured by this quote of Atiku: “The EFCC has sought to draw a connection between NDTV and myself by alleging that I contributed the sum of =N=30 million towards the purchase of the head office building of NDTV. After this assertion: “As regards NDTV and Mofas, I wish to state categorically that I have no interests, investments or shareholding whatsoever, directly or indirectly, in any of these two companies. EFCC investigates through leads, especially petitions feel free to petition them regarding OBJ and forward whatever info and we would back you. In the US Clinton was investigated while on seat but even the Republicans were complaining of his purported obstruction of justice. Nigeria is a less developed system, time of investigation may be a factor if you feel strongly about it. Regarding this intellectual group; Sunday Tribune sources close to the US home of the Vice President revealed that members of the lobby group includes former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Tom Ikimi, former chairman of the PDP, Chief Audu Ogbe, former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Duben Onyia, Honourable Wale Oshun, AC gubernatorial candidate in Ekiti State and pro-democracy activists, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and US-based Nigerian academic and activists, and Prof. Bolaji Aluko. In the spirit of sharing, please read for ya self: http://odili.net/news/source/2007/jan/14/550.html Posted by ula-lisa| 25.01.2007 19:24

Ebe2  Villager

# 9 Ula-Lisa, I am not confusing the issues. The two are related. I believe I-gate was behind the NDTV scheme or vice versa. Simply substitute NDTV for I-gate in the areas where I talk about the EFCC report. But I am aware that the two cases-- Jefferson indictment and EFCC report--are different. I responded to both of them in my post precisely because you invoked both cases in your post. “The EFCC has sought to draw a connection between NDTV and myself by alleging that I contributed the sum of =N=30 million towards the purchase of the head office building of NDTV. After this assertion: “As regards NDTV and Mofas, I wish to state categorically that I have no interests, investments or shareholding whatsoever, directly or indirectly, in any of these two companies. There are two issues here as enunciated in the EFCC report. One has to do with the N30 million. The other has to do with Atiku's building, which the EFCC report alleges, with little or no evidence, was being used as NDTV headquarters. On the first, Atiku claims that the N30 million was a loan to the PERSON of Fasawe, not to NDTV. I have my doubts about this claim, but it was/is up to EFCC to prove that money went from Atiku to NDTV. So far they haven't done so. With OBJ's desperation to get Atiku using the EFCC, my sense is that if there was more to this and if there was evidence contrary to what Atiku is claiming, the OBJ people/EFCC would have since provided it to tie Atiku to NDTV. On the second issue, Atiku denied outright that the building in question was ever used as NDTV headquarters. Again, since EFCC is so bent on nailing Atiku, the burden is on them to provide proof of this. The EFCC report fails to prove this. Instead it's full of suggestion, insinuation, conjecture, and counterfactuals. EFCC investigates through leads, especially petitions feel free to petition them regarding OBJ and forward whatever info and we would back you. This is just beyond the pale. Why are you getting worked up over largely unproven and watery allegations of corrupt enrichment against Atiku but when it comes to OBJ you're asking me to petition EFCC? Did EFCC receive a petition from me before probing Atiku? How does asking for balance on your part invite such a reckless and thoughtless response? Are there no petitions against Anenih, Bode George and other OBJ buddies? Have they been investigated? Are you not aware that Atiku and other people have made some well-documented allegations of direct personal corruption against OBJ and that these allegations are yet to be denied by OBJ--with the latest one being that he (OBJ) inexplicably returned N700million to the Mofas account and now owns six high tech farms in different geopolitical zones of the country (all for a man who only had N20,000 in 1999)? In the US Clinton was investigated while on seat but even the Republicans were complaining of his purported obstruction of justice. Nigeria is a less developed system, time of investigation may be a factor if you feel strongly about it. No one is naive enough to believe or expect that OBJ, who established the EFCC, will allow himself to be investigated by that body while he is president. What one is pleading for is that your outrage against Atiku's alleged corruption should be matched and balanced by an even bigger outrage against a much bigger alleged thief, OBJ. Is that too much to ask? Can one not ask that unless one also asks for an investigation of OBJ while he is office? Why are you obsessed with a politician who has largely been emasculated and has NOT BEEN accused in any investigation that I know of of looting the treasury or embezzling money from government, while not being bordered about the fact that OBJ is about to buy himself immunity for all his crimes and looting in office by imposing a president on us and by changing the PDP constitution to give himself actual power post-May 2007 Yar'Adua government? Regarding this intellectual group; Sunday Tribune sources close to the US home of the Vice President revealed that members of the lobby group includes former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Tom Ikimi, former chairman of the PDP, Chief Audu Ogbe, former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Duben Onyia, Honourable Wale Oshun, AC gubernatorial candidate in Ekiti State and pro-democracy activists, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and US-based Nigerian academic and activists, and Prof. Bolaji Aluko. This is a very serious allegation on your part--your claim that these people lobbied the United States government on behalf of Atiku. The insinuation here is serious. Please provide the proof by posting the Tribune story. I find it hard to believe that Prof. Bolaji Aluko was lobbying the US government for Atiku. I equally find it hard to believe that the politicians you mentioned, who have much less clout and influence with the US government than Atiku, would be lobbying the government on behalf of Atiku. I also can't believe that Tribune would publish such a story without proof, which is why I am asking for the story. Thanks. Posted by Ebe2| 25.01.2007 20:41

ula-lisa  Villager

# 10 =Ebe2;151177>Ula-Lisa, This is a very serious allegation on your part--your claim that these people lobbied the United States government on behalf of Atiku. The insinuation here is serious. Please provide the proof by posting the Tribune story. I find it hard to believe that Prof. Bolaji Aluko was lobbying the US government for Atiku. I equally find it hard to believe that the politicians you mentioned, who have much less clout and influence with the US government than Atiku, would be lobbying the government on behalf of Atiku. I also can't believe that Tribune would publish such a story without proof, which is why I am asking for the story. Thanks. How could you have missed it? Please refer to my post# 8 above; Here is the link again - http://odili.net/news/source/2007/jan/14/550.html You asked me a series of qtns, I answered you. I am not responsible for trying Atiku. If appointed Independent Counsel, I have the conviction to do a good job of nailing him. I wrote my thesis above, you call it 'crap', I am only defending my thoughts, nothing personal. I just hate corruption and persons using state resources to become so called 'big big men' das all. I too am entitled to ma opinion. FYI: I have hitherto written about OBJ even here. I do not have to mention OBJ each time I write that Atiku is not qualified to be my next President. Posted by ula-lisa| 25.01.2007 21:07

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