Three Blind Mice
Sonala Olumhense

Nigeria has survived some of the worst leaders known to governance.  As it turns out, some of them are also cowards who have no problem bending the truth. 

Last weekend, three such men confronted the nation with a startling story.  The roll call:

• Muhammadu Buhari, who ruled Nigeria from 1983 to 1985
• Ibrahim Bademasi Babangida, his successor, 1985 to 1993
• Abdulsalam Abubakar, who had a colourless cameo appearance following Abacha’s death in 1998.

My theory is that the three men scandalously agreed to read from the same speech at the 10^th anniversary of the death of Sani Abacha.  The thrust of that speech: to praise Abacha and initiate the political burial of Olusegun Obasanjo.  And so, the Committee of Three announced to History and their country, Abacha—known to the entire world as one of our specie’s most devious and corrupt men—was not a thief at all.

They said Abacha never looted Nigeria’s treasury.  They said Abacha was a patriot. 

Said Buhari: “Ten years after Abacha, those allegations (of looting) remain unproven because of lack of facts.” 

“It is not true that (Abacha) looted the treasury”, said Babangida.  “ I knew who Abacha was because I was close to him.”

I know these men to have been reading from the same bad script because when they were in power and had speeches crafted for them, none of them sounded quite as sad as this.  But somewhere, they reached an agreement to apply a different coat of paint on the statue of Abacha.  Talk about spraying pepper into the injury!

But we must restate the truth: Contrary to the propaganda of these men, Abacha was a monumental thief.  And Nigerians and the international community do have proof: the billions of dollars being returned from accounts that belonged to the man or members of his family. 

How heinous a thief was Abacha?  Nobody is certain.  Obasanjo said the man stole about $4.3 billion.  But in London in November 2006, the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Nuhu Ribadu, was even blunter.   “Abacha took over $6 billion from Nigeria,” he said, of which only $2 billion had been recovered. 

It may be convenient now for Abubakar to attempt writing history with a pair of scissors, but does he remember Michael Ani?  Mr. Ani was the Finance Minister under Sani Abacha, and it is on record that while he was trying to reconcile state accounts in the handover exercise to Abubakar, he discovered that $1.3bn had been illegally withdrawn from government accounts.  Mr. Ani found that the withdrawals had been ordered on Abacha's personal authority by his National Security Adviser, Ismaila Gwarzo. 

Messrs Buhari, Babangida and Abubakar are still looking for facts?  Here is a brief sample:

• December 1999: Swiss authorities freeze $550 million in bank accounts that belonged to Abacha, his family, and his associates including former Mr. Gwarzo, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu and other businessmen; the court order covered 120 accounts in a dozen banks.
• September 2000: Swiss banking commission says 19 institutions had had dealings with the Abacha regime, and criticized leading banks in the country for accepting the funds.
•  
• January 2000: Swiss authorities freeze $645 million linked to Abacha.May 2000: Luxembourg confirms it has found and frozen $630 million in eight bank accounts in MM Warburg & Co., a private bank belonging to Sani Mohammed and Abba Sani Mohammed, Abacha’s sons.
•  
• April 2001, Britain’s Financial Services Authority, says that 23 London banks had handled $1.3bn belonging to family and friends of General Abacha.  British courts order some of the world's largest banks to freeze accounts believed to belong to Abacha.

•   October 2001: the British High Court orders the government to help Nigeria trace more than $1bn allegedly looted by late dictator Sani Abacha

•   In May 2002, President Obasanjo strikes a deal with Abacha's family by which the government was to recover about $1.2 billion, while the Abachas kept $100 million and par bonds worth $300 million.

I could go on and on, but I know it is not the facts that these gentlemen have sought for 10 years while being unable to substantiate their statements.  This sinister, subterranean plot to rewrite the effrontery of Abacha and his clan is calculated to return all the funds that have been separated from the Abachas to them. 

Let me reload.  On several occasions in this column, I criticized Obasanjo for failing to expand his war against corruption beyond the borders of the hunt for Abacha’s loot.  Not only were there many former leaders who had also ripped the nation off, I thought it was important that he demonstrate he was not on a revenge mission against the man who had sent him to jail. 

Obasanjo fought his own war his own way, creating a corrupt and incoherent anti-corruption regime.  What is now happening is that some of the people to whom he gave a free pass are seizing advantage of his departure from office to lay landmines on his legacy.  What is emerging from the mouths of Buhari, Babangida and Abubakar is that Obasanjo’s vengeance, not Abacha’s corruption, is responsible for the image of Abacha as a lootocrat.  It is fascinating to consider that people who saw him routinely, including at the National Council of States, are leading this charge. 

It is also interesting to read the telling punch line provided by Abubakar.  We must stop the probing of former leaders, he says. 

But of course.  That would prevent anyone asking questions of his own frantic final months in office. 

That would prevent anyone asking questions of Babangida, widely-regarded as the patron-saint of corruption, and a man who considers it a compliment to be described as the “evil genius”.  Okey Ndibe once labeled him “Maradona”, but where this Maradona once dribbled for his own amusement, he is now dribbling into his own net.

And Buhari.  Once upon a time, he would have been given the benefit of the doubt, perhaps for his War Against Indiscipline, if not for his war against the press, but all we owe him now are doubts.  Ten years after the fact, he has forgotten to wear his mask. 

In one sense, this is about Obasanjo’s farcical war against corruption; a warning that if you battle this demon in halves, it consumes you.  Now, his own garrison commanders are putting him on trial.

Of greater importance, Nigeria is a country that must ask itself why, when it seeks leaders, winds up with misguided men with no capacity for inspiration.  Some nations enjoy leaders and statesmen whose character and conduct shower their lands with wisdom and example; we receive pretenders and liars who measure the truth like a magician conjuring a bird from a handkerchief. 

That is why, even if Abacha were a saint, it has taken three men who allegedly rose to the finest of their khaki uniform 10 years to summon the courage—as they nervously clutch to each other hands—to say it.  The grand military stratagem must have been to have the man roast in hell so they can dig him up and hope heaven will accept his ashes. 

With friends like this, I am sure Abacha prefers where he is. 

• sonala.olumhense@gmail.com

Robot  Villager

# 1 Three Blind Mice... The roll call: Muhammadu Buhari, who ruled Nigeria from 1983 to 1985; Ibrahim Bademasi Babangida, his successor, 1985 to 1993; Abdulsalam Abubakar, who had a colourless cameo appearance following Abacha’s death in 1998. They said Abacha never looted Nigeria’s treasury. They said Abacha was a patriot. Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 15.06.2008 14:01

Anambra Movement  Villager

# 2 Thanks for the cartoon I keep asking myself why can't the nigerian masses rise up against these selfish, shameless retards?..The deposit billions of dollars, euros, pounds in foreign banks while our people are dying of hunger.... My pain is that these same banks will use these "NIGERIAN" money to give nigerians abroad loan with interest... Please God let them all die...though the bad die very old. may they all (looters) die a miserable,slow death....in agony, Amen Posted by Anambra Movement| 15.06.2008 14:20

Bode Eluyera  In Purgatory

# 3 This is why I advocate for the BREAK UP OF NIGGERIA in my multiparts article "Niggeria: To be or not to be? (parts 1-6) . One of the MAIN reasons that I gave in support of my position (part 6) is the HYPOCRISY AND/OR INSINCERITY OF THE NORTH. It's really very DISHEARTENING to come to terms with the fact that all these 3 INCOMPETENT, CORRUPT, VISIONLESS AND MORALLY BANKRUPT NORTHERNERS HAD NOT ONLY RULED NIGGERIA BEFORE, BUT ARE STILL VERY ACTIVE IN NIGGERIAN POLITICS. WITH THESE PEOPLE, WE ARE DOOMED!!! Posted by Bode Eluyera| 15.06.2008 14:31

19 guy  Villager

# 4 =Anambra Movement;4295055790>Thanks for the cartoon I keep asking myself why can't the nigerian masses rise up against these selfish, shameless retards?.... Are you not Nigerian? Posted by 19 guy| 15.06.2008 14:36

Bode Eluyera  In Purgatory

# 5 =Robot;4295055786>Three Blind Mice... Of greater importance, Nigeria is a country that must ask itself why, when it seeks leaders, winds up with misguided men with no capacity for inspiration. Some nations enjoy leaders and statesmen whose character and conduct shower their lands with wisdom and example; we receive pretenders and liars who measure the truth like a magician conjuring a bird from a handkerchief. That is why, even if Abacha were a saint, it has taken three men who allegedly rose to the finest of their khaki uniform 10 years to summon the courage—as they nervously clutch to each other hands—to say it. The grand military stratagem must have been to have the man roast in hell so they can dig him up and hope heaven will accept his ashes. The BITTER TRUTH is that GIVEN THE PRESENT POLITICAL SYSTEM AND STRUCTURE, WHICH WILL NEVER CHANGE, WE/NIGGERIA WILL CONTINUE TO BE RULED BY CORRUPT, INCOMPETENT, VISIONLESS AND MORALLY BANKRUPT NORTHERNERS/ RETIRED CRIMINAL OFFICERS. My article, "Niggeria: To be or not to be? (part 4) was completely devoted to this issue where the above assertion was proved BEYOND ANY REASONABLE DOUBTS. Posted by Bode Eluyera| 15.06.2008 15:09

Bejim  Villager

# 6 I felt sad reading reports of those statements supposedly made by the three former heads of state. These are men who seem to agree only when it comes to maintaining the culture of gang-rape of national resources, a culture that has ensured that Nigeria remains a stunted nation. The saddest aspect is that these men and their likes appear to be still in charge of the land. When must we put an end to this? Posted by Bejim| 15.06.2008 16:13

Drakin  JJC

# 7 =Bode Eluyera;4295055794>This is why I advocate for the BREAK UP OF NIGGERIA in my multiparts article "Niggeria: To be or not to be? (parts 1-6) . One of the MAIN reasons that I gave in support of my position (part 6) is the HYPOCRISY AND/OR INSINCERITY OF THE NORTH. It's really very DISHEARTENING to come to terms with the fact that all these 3 INCOMPETENT, CORRUPT, VISIONLESS AND MORALLY BANKRUPT NORTHERNERS HAD NOT ONLY RULED NIGGERIA BEFORE, BUT ARE STILL VERY ACTIVE IN NIGGERIAN POLITICS. WITH THESE PEOPLE, WE ARE DOOMED!!! Just out of curiousity, why does your Nigeria have two G's is this intentional or a mistake? because it was used repeatedly. :icon_ques Posted by Drakin| 15.06.2008 18:51

emj  Villager

# 8 Let me reload. On several occasions in this column, I criticized Obasanjo for failing to expand his war against corruption beyond the borders of the hunt for Abacha’s loot. Not only were there many former leaders who had also ripped the nation off, I thought it was important that he demonstrate he was not on a revenge mission against the man who had sent him to jail. He had an agenda and had also cut a deal with u know who....da devil himself...so he could breathe easy. Obasanjo fought his own war his own way, creating a corrupt and incoherent anti-corruption regime. What is now happening is that some of the people to whom he gave a free pass are seizing advantage of his departure from office to lay landmines on his legacy. What is emerging from the mouths of Buhari, Babangida and Abubakar is that Obasanjo’s vengeance, not Abacha’s corruption, is responsible for the image of Abacha as a lootocrat. It is fascinating to consider that people who saw him routinely, including at the National Council of States, are leading this charge . He thought that he was being smart....being part of the musical chairs...but remember that even with that, there has to be a fall-guy at the end of the day....not only are they trying to bury him.....their intention from every indication(and smoke-signals) is to make him irrelevant....and at the end of the day, make them look like saints.:twisted: It is also interesting to read the telling punch line provided by Abubakar. We must stop the probing of former leaders, he says. But of course. That would prevent anyone asking questions of his own frantic final months in office. Remember that it was not abubakar's will, he had power tossed at him unexpectedly....a once in a lifetime opportunity(remember when da mice bites ur feet and blows air on it so u won't feel da pain)...aje loju onile...se jeje muti......chop slowly and clean mouth:p That would prevent anyone asking questions of Babangida, widely-regarded as the patron-saint of corruption, and a man who considers it a compliment to be described as the “evil genius”. Okey Ndibe once labeled him “Maradona”, but where this Maradona once dribbled for his own amusement, he is now dribbling into his own net. Maradona's case just blows ones mind away...he's living in his fiefdom without harassment. And Buhari. Once upon a time, he would have been given the benefit of the doubt, perhaps for his War Against Indiscipline, if not for his war against the press, but all we owe him now are doubts. Ten years after the fact, he has forgotten to wear his mask. Hmmm....some benefit.....he's still the same old hard self...better not to have a President then have him....real clueless. In one sense, this is about Obasanjo’s farcical war against corruption; a warning that if you battle this demon in halves, it consumes you. Now, his own garrison commanders are putting him on trial. He set himself up big time....so let him live with it .....QAS:cool: Posted by emj| 15.06.2008 19:23

Omowa2  Villager

# 9 Brothers and Sisters, There is NO SMOKE without fire is you will not mind that cliche. We can not read news reports coming out of Nigeria as episodes, we must take all the parts together. Did you not read what Jokolo had to say? How some folks are working to bring Buhari, Atiku, IBB and others together? Are you sure something is not in the wings. Nigerian elites are not known to take us by surprise, they warn us ahead of time but we never heed their warnings. They know something we do not know so brothers and sisters do not think a Buhari will wake up one day and swallow his pride and be found in the same camp with IBB. In Nigerian 'Choplitics' there are no permanent enemies ONLY permanent interests. These guys know what they are doing, it will all soon come together someday. Omowa 2 Posted by Omowa2| 15.06.2008 21:45

DeepThought  Villager

# 10 May they die screaming Posted by DeepThought| 15.06.2008 22:55

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