For almost four decades Nigeria was weighed down by coups. Military coup d’etat is the extrajudicial means through which military officers come to power and assume the instrument of state. Coups may happened for any given reason, but for the most part, they occur due to a combination of two or more adverse factors, i.e. political flux or political vacuum, economic depression, institutional malady, difficult ethnic and or religious rivalry, persistent marginalization, and  irrational ego and breakdown of professionalism within the military. Coups may also be triggered by external interests. No matter the coup- trigger factor, the civilians are always part of the planning and execution process. And in most cases, civilians benefit the most from the spoils of such takeovers.

Another phenomenon that has been an excruciating burden on Nigeria is corruption: embezzlement, nepotism, bribery, and fraud. Coups are bad, but corruption and other debaucheries are excruciatingly insidious -- so much so they have been eating away at the nation’s moral and ethical seam. Indeed, corruption in all its manifestations has been tugging at the nation’s porous foundation, and has also contributed to stunting the nation’s growth and development. When we think of corrupt practices, politicians and other public servants comes to mind (as the group that is mostly involved in such practices). We rarely think of Diaspora-Nigerians as being involved in such dissipations. There is extensive evidence to show that some oversea-Nigerians are deeply involved in committing, perpetuating and encouraging corruption. Some later day Nigerians are to corruption what some yesteryear civilians were to coups.

In what ways do Diaspora-Nigerians contribute to the fetid situation? Many: (1) they are the conduit through wish stolen money are banked overseas; (2) they help officials hide other assets; (3) they help in securing real estate and other investment portfolios; (4) they help to arrange prostitute and call girls for visiting officials; (5) they help to buy and ship cars and other luxury items; (6) they supply forged and enabling documents; (7) they provide bogus business plans and proposals and then fail to executive such contracts; (8) they front for foreign and domestic business enterprises with the aim of pocketing ten or more percent of the contract value; (9) they sing the praise of corrupt politicians, and in some cases, help to arrange phony or meaningless “achievement” awards and honorary degrees; and (10) they launch vicious attacks against anyone who criticize their favorites. And indeed, many oversea-Nigerians are on the payroll of state or federal government.

Helping public officials to loot and hide illegal bounty is a big business in the US . Aside from prominent 419ers, how many Nigerians do you suppose are living large without visible sources of income? How many Nigerians do you suppose travel to Nigeria and other countries on “business trip” 3-5 times a year? How many Nigerians do you suppose are always welcoming public officials to the US week after week, month after month? These Nigerians have the inside connection to certain government officials. Whatever these officials want, these Nigerians provide. Those in the know know that there are six hotspots for Nigerian officials visiting the United States : New York City ; Houston and Dallas; Los Angeles ; Atlanta ; and the DC/MD/VA area. The aforementioned are the favorite spots for Nigerian politicians; but Las Vegas , Nevada , and Miami , Florida , are also fast becoming a must-see and must-be places, too.

Politicians who call the Niger Delta home seem to favor Atlanta , Houston and New York . For the Bayelsa State contingent, Atlanta , Georgia , is their favorite play ground, their Mecca ; it is the place they like to buy real estates, chill out and wind down and consort with shady women. Rare is the Bayelsa State politician who comes to the United State without stopping in Georgia . Here they have easy access to call girls and prostitute and some Ijaw indigenes that are morally and mentally bankrupt. Atlanta was home to the Alamieyeseigha posse. Most of his thugs and errand boys live there. Until a few months ago his chief enforcer, his number one gofer, lived there. I wonder who lives in his (T.O) palatial homes now that he has made his way back to Nigeria to reline his pockets. Goodluck Jonathan also had some of his gofers there, and also had boys in Texas .

Governor Timpre Sam Syla is new on the job, but he seems to have goons in Seattle , Washington , amongst other places. What is so striking is that a whole lot of people are in the race to become Sylva’s chief enforcer. Aside from the big guns from Bayelsa State , where do you suppose current and former public officials keep stolen monies? Those from the western part of the country seem to prefer the United Kingdom , Germany , and Switzerland . Whereas officials from the northern zone seem to prefer places like Saudi Arabia, Dubai and other Middle East countries. And then there is President Yar’Adua: where is he hiding his illegal bounty?

Sabidde@yahoo.com

Robot  Villager

# 1 var sbtitle9949=encodeURIComponent(How Diaspor...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 23.01.2008 18:34

Shoko Loko Bangoshe  Villager

# 2 Sabella, I am truly astonished. This is indeed a shocking revelation. You mean that Diasporan Nigerians are actually engaged in contributing to the nation's demise? And there I was, thinking that the moment a Nigerian left Nigeria, he became purer than pure, holier than holy and full of integrity and honesty! Posted by Shoko Loko Bangoshe| 23.01.2008 18:50

abidde  Villager

# 3 Shoko Loko Bangoshe: Kai…Kai…Kai…Nna, make you leave me alone ooo. Na wetin I do you sef. Ok, I have a deal for you: leave me alone and I shall sell you my oil and gas contract. Moreover, I hear that seven governors from the oil producing states are coming to Texas for a conference next week. They will need housing, food, transportation, babes, shipping and banking services. I can introduce you to my pals amongst them and you give me 9.9% of the deal. Remember I am from the Delta? Sabella Posted by abidde| 23.01.2008 19:00

Exxcuzme  Villager

# 4 Sabella, Those so called diasporans you are referring to are not real diasporans, some of those that hobnob with Objoke selected governors were those wanted in Nigeria during Abacha time for Banking Fraud etc who escaped abroad to continue their 419 activities. When we talk about diaporans, we are talking about those that left for economic reason, persecution during the military period for democratic activities. When these people got abroad, they actually went to school (legit one o!), went thru their host system to actually became achievers. So dont call most of those Nido members "diasporans" as they were criminals in Nigeria and they continue their 419 activities abroad. They are only hosting their business partners from Nigeria. Real diasporans know what they went thru to achieve whatever they achieve, they long to impart their skills at home and you would not see them anywhere those leches dine. Posted by Exxcuzme| 23.01.2008 19:46

K_Station  Villager

# 5 Oga Sabe, I no know how many Nigerians in diaspora fall into this 'priviledged category' o! Many that I know including myself are still waiting to help hide our first illegal bounty, and the proof is in how much I owe on my credit cards now! I beg if any villager has inside connection in government or knows anybody who want to hide their illegal bounty, I dey here o! I actually specialize in hiding all kinds of bounty, if you know what I mean..... Posted by K_Station| 23.01.2008 22:14

St.Iyke  JJC

# 6 Since, the author of the article is well informed about the "runs". How come he did not name names ? It is high time, we have a new Dele Giwa, who is bold and honest enough to confront our thieves in high places. The article is suitable for Beer Parlour gossip. Posted by St.Iyke| 24.01.2008 02:57

Jah Guda  Villager

# 7 I would have been surprised if this was not the way things are done by our collection of klepts. Makes a lot of sense; the clueless rule Nigeria, they are totally devoid of common sense, economic sense, compassion and emotions. In other words, they are unintelligent and brutal. Then you have the other side of the coin; the politicians very own ‘Mr Fix It’. Like the saying goes, money gives you the very best in life; be it a car, house or a financial/legal adviser. It goes without saying that these politicians can afford the best; memories of Alams offering Crystal Champagne to a young British TV reporter, not water or Cola but a bottle of $200 Champagne, well, it’s not his money so why watch the pennies? In accounting circles we call it OPM (other peoples money). We see this when we audit clients accounts-first class travel, £300 a night hotel rooms and so on. Stories abound about Nigerian politicians in London. Their shopping sprees, hotel bill’s, paying cash for half a million pound property; my English friend’s dad even told me a story about a Nigerian politician who left £250,000 in the back seat of a London Taxi. The taxi driver drove off and was never seen again, this happened in 1985. These politicians hire the best Nigerian brains in the West to do their dirty work and in return look after their Mr fix it who is actually the brain behind his acquisitions and also helps seeks out middlemen on behalf of the politician. An acquaintance here in London, a Nigerian Solicitor and father of an English premiership footballer, was recently struck off by the Law Society of England because he assisted some very dodgy Nigerians in money laundering. He is not too bothered because his ‘contacts’ in Nigeria have arranged for him to return to Nigeria, sit the Bar exams and eventually practice and live there. He already owns a magnificent house in Lagos. Posted by Jah Guda| 24.01.2008 05:49

Oghre  Villager

# 8 Reads to me like someone really upset that they have not had their own share of the national diasporan cake. Sabella, no worry some day a local government chairman (at least) go approach you for bounty hiding. I will like to be there to see your reaction. Knowing Nigerians, when they never get political appointment or contract article they always full ground. I am still reading the articles by Orji Kalu, Tinubu and Bafarawa before they became governors. Posted by Oghre| 24.01.2008 12:21

toksyleigh  Villager

# 9 Sabbela, What you have to remember is that most of our current leaders are the former intellectually lazy Nigerians, 419ers, credit card fraudsters, petty criminals and store cashiers living abroad. I mean remember Ibori, Fayose, Andy Uba and them....only in Nigeria can a former common thief in London and America become Governors, Senators, Vice Presidents, special Advisers...et al. Y' all know why? Because with all our so called education and civilization we worship one thing and that thing is money. Most of us are morally bankrupt. A guy can be as poor as a church rat today and tomorrow become a millionaire without any hard work or source of wealth (Thanks to Gbenga Obasanjo, now we know that some of our so called leaders actually sleep with their daughters for Juju get rich quick scheme... God I wish he would name names) we do not ask questions we hail him, worship him and decorate him with chieftaincy titles and some people give our daughters and sisters away to these people. We desecrate, steal and rape our own father and mother land, bring all the wealth to a white man's country yet we complain why these people treat Black people with so much disdain and disrespect. Tell me how would you treat a man that you know is more naturally blessed than you, yet he defiles and violates himself just to please you? EXACTLY...need I say more? God Help us all Goriola Abamieda Jnr. Posted by toksyleigh| 24.01.2008 12:48

draftman  Villager

# 10 Sabella: Mr. 411 please calm dowm, I was enjoying your article, and waiting for name of these goons, but you failed to name anyone. I was annoyed at the end on your article when you names our President Ya'adua. Please Nigerians, can we give this man a change in the office, let's see what he can do, before we started cricified him, otherwise we never get any one that is free of critism. Fairness in of the essence here. What can a president do to please us, this president is the most educated president, the most open government, he recently encourage cancelling immunity for himself, vice, governors, and other high officials, he opened his financial to the world, and his is the most handsome president. What else do we want, we are so suspecting, and critical. Nobody is clean in your eyes. God would help the President. Posted by draftman| 24.01.2008 13:50

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