Patience and Goodluck Jonathan, Stop Telling Lies..!

By Adeola Aderounmu

A few weeks ago, that should be in January 2013 Nigeria’s ruler Mr. Goodluck Jonathan went on air on CNN to tell the world that electricity has improved in Nigeria.

Specifically he mentioned Lagos and Abuja as places were things have gone better.

In a follow up report Amanpour was able to prove that Goodluck Jonathan lied. Lagosians were interviewed and they completely denied the report that power supply has improved in Lagos.

I’d been listening more to Nigerian Radio in recent weeks and one of the daily programs on many radio stations is that callers are allowed to report traffic and power supply in their area.

Usually you hear very tragic reports about the poor traffic and almost complete absence of electricity.

Nigerians are living in almost complete darkness. It is possible that Nigerians have the worst power supply system in the world. Syria is at war and probably approaching similar situation in some areas of the country.

I wrote a blog sometimes ago describing NEPA as the worst government institution in Africa. I stand by that report. What is more damaging in this situation is that Nigeria’s ruler has become a very serious liar.

In a country where there is no shame that is not unexpected. With all the lies and looting that Goodluck Jonathan has perpetrated, you will be amazed what kind of country Nigeria is. You will be more shocked how Nigerians think really!

In a slightly normal society, even if all of Jonathan’s previous atrocities are covered, the ones that he has openly committed in recent times are enough to chase him out of power by force or by constitutional means. But Nigeria is a very abnormal country where evil reigns and stupidity rules. You’ll hardly find a thing that is normal about the government-its formation and operations.

I remembered when he was on his campaign trail and saying times without number that Nigerians should give him only one term and he would change things around for them. Under Jonathan, corruption got a new high. He gave power and position to the people from his region and they continue the usual process of milking Nigeria, the same atrocities that have crippled a potentially great nation.

It is difficult to comprehend the madness of Nigerian political class. It is even more unbelievable the disconnection that the people are sufferng from, thereby making the country a complicated rat race. Nigerians don’t care about the government and consequently Nigeria was rated as one of the worse places to live in the world. Because of the disconnection mentioned above, the political class and the wealthy see something different from the over 100 million people living in absolute poverty.

Jonathan and his spokespersons can deny anything and everything that Jonathan said on his campaign trails. It will be abnormal if Okupe and Abati do not tell lies. Nigerians may die of shock if the politicians and their handlers become truthful.

Around August 2012 when Patience Jonathan was terrible sick and had to be flown out of the country, the useless Nigerian presidency as usual lied and said that Mrs. Jonathan was on holiday, resting.

But in February 2013, she reportedly wasted N500 million of tax-payers money during a thanksgiving ceremony where she said that she was “dead” for 7 days and that she did 9 surgeries to correct her “unknown ilment”. She did not say exactly what happened to her but she was under the knife 9 times. At the same time, Joanthan, Abati and Mrs. Jonathan’s spokesman (whatever his useless name is) all came out and said that Mrs. Jonathan was resting because she has been tired from her activities. Who send her message?

Anyway, like I mentioned earlier all of these lies and atrocities are enough to pursue Mr. Jonathan out of Aso Rock. But he is there, he reigns over the Kingdom of lies. And some Nigerian think Amanpour went too far? Really? Ask yourself, “how am I thinking”? It’s not that CNN is a saintly organisation but did Jonathan speak the truth?

Nigeria is a fraud manufactured by the British 100 years ago. This country will not make it as a unit. The unitary form of government is a disaster. The overall intelligence of the people called Nigerians is at test. It has always been at test. How can they allow a system that doesn’t work? Nigerians pretend that they love one another whereas the real purpose of their political agenda is self-enrichment.

Nigerians should stop, think and look for the truth. The truth is that the different tribes don’t like one another. Jonathan will continue to lie until his time and days are over. The persons who came before him lied and the ones that are coming after Jonathan will also lie and vanish. The system does not work and will remain rotten.

The people will live hopelessly, believing lies.

Under a regional system of government a man like Obasanjo quite evidently would never have emerged from western Nigeria. He has never won elections in his constituency and the surroundings. But he was Nigeria’s ruler (thrice!) because of the rotten political and military system.

Unitary system has ensured that fools, thugs, idiots, robbers, nonentities and pretenders rule in Nigeria under military and pseudo-democratic dispensations.

The time is now to stop this political nonsense, lies and hypocrisies. The greatest challenge is how to sensitize Nigerians and get them connected to the system. For as long as they remain disconnected as they are now, the lies will continue, the corruption rate will rise, the poverty and absolute failure of the system will become more visible. Nigeria will continue to benefit only the few-the rich and the connected.

With Somalis returning home from around the world, if something drastic is not done, Nigeria will go from one of the worst places to be born on earth to actually becoming the worst place to be born and live.

Obama’s Victory: The Lessons for Nigeria’s Do-Or-Die Politicians

Adeola Aderounmu

The American Electoral System is a modified form of democracy in itself. The people have become used to the system after 200 years and they are satisfied with how it works.

In my country of birth Nigeria one is constantly worried about the nature of the politics. Nigeria’s politics is a disgrace to humanity. It is depicted by lack of common sense and it does not serve the purpose for which it is intended.

Nigeria’s politics is bloody and deadly. It raises violent men and women and suppresses intellectualism.

Nigeria became an independent country in 1960 and since then it has been from grace to grass politically because someone fools and idiots ran the show using violence, arson and aggression.

In very worrying situations, intellectuals have been part of this worrying politics.

It is so sad because Nigerians are not ready or willing to change their violent democratic principles.

Check out this joke on facebook:

IF USA WAS NIGERIA, TODAY’S HEADLINES WILL READ:

•Don’t celebrate yet, Romney tells Obama (TELL magazine)

•Concede defeat, Obama urges Romney (Punch newspaper)

• 20 opposition cadres riot (The Sun newspaper)

• Romney Demands Vote Recount (Vanguard newspaper)

• Elections rigged (Guardian newspaper)

• No evidence of manipulation (NTA news)

• The Church declares elections free and fair (News Line)

• There will be violence if we lose; Romney declares (LTV 8 news)

• Election results for Arizona awaited (Channels news)

• Trucks with suspected ballot papers crosses into USA from Mexico (Tribune newspaper)

• Romney is an opportunist – Go back to your farm (AIT news)

• I will not accept results, Romney tells Obama (STV news)

• McCain heads to Election Petition Tribunal (MITV)

• White Majority rejects results (PM News)

• Kenyan Big Boy Senator Obama Throws Lavish Party to celebrate Election Victory (City People)

• Free for all fight at Obama rally in Grant Park (Channels TV)

• Northern elders, Arewa and Sultan rejects results (ThisDay)

• Republicans and Democrats supporters clash in Ketu and Ajangbadi, 14 dead, Romney threatens more heads will roll. (Sahara Reports)

• The people behind Obama’s victory: True story uncovered (Newswatch)

Funny. But Let’s Be Objective This Would Have Been The Report If USA Was Nigeria.

Food For Thought.
Learn And Change (likely source, ENVOY MAG facebook page)

These imaginary headlines are so true and sad.

Nigeria will not have a free and fair election in the nearest future because the political structures are weak and the system of government is very sickling.

True federalism is needed and there is an urgent need to take power away from the center.

The people of Nigeria actually need a referendum to decide on the future of the British creation. This is why Biafra will never go away no matter how much it is suppressed by the reigning gangsters in Abuja.

The poverty in Nigeria is tied to the recklessness of the political status quo that promotes nepotism and total corruption. Total corruption is the state where almost everything in a system is corrupt and where the mentality of attaining sufficiency and happiness are tied to malpractice and ills rather than common good. This is the situation in Nigeria and it is very sad.

If this generation is too cowardly and too corrupt to make the radical changes, I am convinced that one generation in the future (no matter how long it takes) will make it right. It will never be too late to catch up with the rest of the world if the world doesn’t end today.

Meeet Farouk Lawan, One of several thieves ruling Nigeria

Farouk Lawan
(photo: osundefender)

 

 

 

By Adeola Aderounmu

If you are one of those following news from Nigeria, you would have heard about a $3 Million dollar bribe involving one crook called Farouk Lawan who is a member of the Nigerian National Assembly.

Either by trap or whatever means this thief was caught on camera collecting a down payment of $600K.

This fool and thief is supposed to be a member of the committee that probed the oil subsidy scam rocking Nigeria under the feeble Jonathan administration. If you are interested in all these useless stories you have to do more goggling and reading of Nigerian newspaper or online news sites.

My own take is that Farouk Lawan is a thief and he is not alone. Almost all Nigerian politicians are thieves because they are involved in giving or taking bribes daily.

Even the oil magnate Otedola who is the other player in this ugly scenario is not a saint but he can claim that he is a businessman and that the problem in the oil industry is the problem of the Nigerian government and not his.

My grievance is with the Nigerian state, a failed aggregation of familiar enemies who are led all the time by tropical gangsters in uniform or mufti.

The other day Obasanjo called all of them (including himself of course) thieves and robbers and some people almost called for his head.

But Obasanjo is right. Nigeria is rulled by robbers and thieves in disguise. He was once one of them and wherever possible he continues to pull the strings to put these thieves and robbers in places.

While Nigeria last the immunity clause is a license to steal and loot. While out of office no one talks about the monies that thieves like Farouk Lawan have stolen. It took the British government to nail the notorious James Ibori who became a governor despite being an ex-convict and a known rogue!

What Farouk Lawan has done is the norm in Nigeria. These crooks who have re-packed themselves as politicians are always stealing money to build houses and empires in Nigeria and abroad.

A camel will go through the eye of a needle before you will find a Nigerian politician or top public servant who does not help himself/herself.

Nigeria is in a hopeless situation because corruption reached a new height under Goodluck Jonathan. The earlier the bunch of thieves in Aso rock and across all government houses in Nigeria are swept away, the better for the future of the unborn generation.

With what they have in Nigeria today, the country is very hopeless. Moreso because Farouk Lawan will walk free the same way Babangida who stole more than 12 billion dollars walked free. Babangida even committed treasonable felony when he cancelled the June 12 1993 presidential elections. In Nigeria it pays to be a political criminal! You steal big and live big. What a country!

June 12 1993, Just Like Yesterday..!

Adeola Aderounmu

I remembered when my parents used to talk about how life was in the 1950s and 1960s. Then I used to imagine how they could possibly remembered things that happened so long ago vividly. Now that I am an adult, I think I understand better how time can fly and then 19 years can be like 4 months!

This is the way that the time that had passed since June 12 1993 to this moment seemed to me. In fact, June 12 seemed to me like yesterday. It’s all so fresh in my memory. I was studying at the University of Lagos at that time.

As I remember June 12, I will dwell on the principles of the events of that day and not on the person of MKO Abiola, Bashir Tofa or the tropical gangster called Babangida. The reason why I will not dwell on personalities fully is because the election was not about them, it was about democratic principles and the rule of law.

On June 12 1993, millions of Nigerians voted in the best election ever conducted in the history of Nigeria. It was possible for the people to vote right because the elections were properly planned and well conducted. There were pre-election debates and it was easy to know who was intelligent and who was really dull.

The people voted and the results were rolling in more to the favour of MKO Abiola. When it became evident that Abiola would win, Bashir Tofa (the opponent) was said to have sent him congratulatory messages. Now, that is a good man when it comes to the spirit of politics without bitterness. Records have it that as the results were been announced, the prices of goods and services were dropping. There was a tailor who refused to be paid for the services he had rendered. He was so overjoyed that “at last” hope has come to the people.

That was the spirit and mood until Nigerians received a rude shock from the nonentity called Babangida. This useless man cancelled or annulled the best election in our history. There were many theories to this annulment including that Abiola is a creditor of the government, or that a few idiots would not like to see him be president of Nigeria. Some people said it was because of what he did when he was in NPN that he betrayed Awolowo. I will not be drawn into these kinds of thoughtless arguments.

The fundamental thing about June 12 was that an election held and Abiola won. The crime about it was that some cabal secretly plotted against Abiola and eternally denied him of the mandate that the Nigerian masses gave to him. He was asked by the people to give them hope, but a few hopeless and selfish persons, some of whom unfortunately are still around the corridors of power decided otherwise.

The annulment was resisted by many true democrats, some were killed and many went into exile. Some people chickened out and were back in subsequent governments because they were simply thieves and opportunists originally. The vice-president-to-be for that annulled election is now back into the new illegitimate government that started on May 29 2007. This will show any reasonable person that such people have no shame for their misdeeds and I doubt that this man was not once a looter of our treasury. They never get enough, do they? They always stage a return to our lives and the implication is that since 1960, we have had a system of recycling sycophants in our government houses. Those that cannot be recycled stay out as useless godfathers-destroying the system to selfish ends.

Many people died in the struggle to actualize that mandate popularly called JUNE 12. May their souls find peace. They are more honourable than Babangida and his hopeless cabal put together. It remains to be proved if there were no foreign interference in the death of MKO Abiola himself, the man widely believed to have won the 1993 elections. It is not understandable why he died under questionable circumstances while a delegate from the United States was visiting him. How did a cup of tea become a poison? Historians have their hands full there and those who know the truth but cannot say it will always be judged by their consciences.

MKO Abiola died when many thought he would be released to claim his mandate after the death of one of the notorious generals called Abacha. The implication is that he was up against an evil cabal who will not mind travelling to hell just to deny him. Indeed the cabal succeeded in their plots and 14 years after, can anyone see any progress in Nigeria? Don’t even think about the GSM, I am tired of that jingle as a measure of progress.

One thing is sure, in as much as we have refused to take the right steps and as long as we have not resisted those who are manipulating our country to a selfish end, millions of people will continue to live in poverty. This is not a curse, I lived through this dilemma and my family and friends do not deserve my curse. It is just what I call the unarguable reality of our lives. It is not for fun that the holy books stated that “You will know the truth and the truth shall set you free”!

It is one thing for us to know the truth, acknowledge it, make amends and set Nigeria on the path of glory and it is definitely another thing to continue to deny ourselves the knowledge of the truth, make a few people enjoy the fruits of the land and leave the helpless and resilient majority wallowing in absolute/abject poverty.

The way to GLORY will be a struggle on all aspects of our lives, social, economic…and so on. The way to prosperity and the good of all will be to seek the men and women who will be ready to serve selflessly and dedicatedly. In Nigeria, we need the rule of law above the rule of men.

May each June 12 continue to unsettle the mind of the wicked. May it bring jugdement who those who spilled the blood of the innocents. AND May the goodness of June 12 bring milk and honey back to the Nigerians who are weak and poor, living on less than 1 dollar a day.

This is my personal opinion and that is the way that I see it.

 

First Published on this blog in 2007

JUNE 12 1993

By Adeola Aderounmu

What happened on June 12 1993?

On June 12 1993, several millions of Nigerians voted in the best election ever conducted in the history of Nigeria.

The elections itself had been planned along two party system. Social Democratic Party’s candidate was Chief MKO Abiola while Alhaji Bashir Tofa was the candidate of the National Republical Convention.

Nigerians voted massively in favour of Moshood Abiola.

Bashir Tofa (the opponent) sent congratulatory messages to MKO Abiola.

As the results were announced, the prices of goods and services were falling.

There was happiness all over Nigeria. There was hope that a new dawn has come.

There was a tailor who refused to be paid for the services he had rendered. He was so overjoyed that “at last” hope has come to the people.

Bus conductor and drivers were offering free rides. You didn’t have to pay anything.

That was the spirit and mood until Nigerians received a rude shock from the military gangsters led by one notorious Ibrahim Babangida. He announced the annulment of the results of the elections without reasons.

There were many hypotheses trying to explain or justify the annulment including that Abiola was a creditor of the federal government, or that a few idiots would not like to see him be president of Nigeria.

Some people said it was because of what he did when he was in NPN that he betrayed or opposed Awolowo, a fellow Yoruba politician. He is also alleged to have sponsored military coups in Nigeria.

No form of arguments would justify the annulment of the June 12 1993 peaceful presidential elections.
The fundamental thing about June 12 was that an election held and Abiola won.

By cancelling the decisions made by Nigerians in a democratic process, treasonable felony was committed by Babangida and those around him including the late Abacha.

Babangida should be arrested and tried not only for corruption but for treason and crimes against humanity. Why is Babangida still a free man in Nigeria?

It is a revelation of the stupidity of the Nigerian Law system and the useless judiciary structure that make it impossible for people who committed treason to remain free in Nigeria.

It is a revelation of the types of thieves, looters and abnormal people who capture and rule Nigeria since 1960 to date.

Are some people above the law in Jonny’s county?

The annulment was resisted by many true democrats, some were killed and many went into exile.

Many innocent Nigerians died in the failed struggle to actualize the annulled mandate.

Many Nigerian politicians sold their souls for porridge because they could not stand on the June 12 mandate. Political prostitution is an old business in Nigeria.

Baba Gana Kingibe was a prince of the game of political prostitution long before Atiku Abubakar.

Nigerian traditional rulers who could have pressurized the silly Babangida kept mute. They loved bribes because their prosperity is built on them. Traditional rulers in Nigeria are part of the criminality of the rulership.

Those whom we taught were leaders became rulers and accomplices to the crime. Obasanjo said Abiola was not the messiah. I don’t remember MKO claiming to be one.

Abiola died without realizing his dreams and without claiming the mandate he got from millions of Nigerians in the most peaceful and fairest election ever in the history of Nigeria.

The circumstances surrounding Abiola’s death remains controversial. He died in the arms of American visitors sent by Bill Clinton. He was poisoned in the presence of the American delegation. It has become one of the several conspiracy theories that he was killed by the Nigerian military government with the assistance of the Americans.

Abiola’s nephew told me how the issue of repatriation seriously pursued by Abiola became one of his likely undoing.

Those who are too young to understand the June 12 story should continue to discern what they read because lies will be told. Many things have been said against Abiola. Some of them may be true but nothing said can take away the fact that he won the election and that Babangida is a living criminal.

How the laws work in Nigeria is still a mystery. How can someone commit treason and be free?

The 2011 elections are by no means close to the peaceful and fair elections of June 12 1993.

And for those who are superstitious it appears that until something is done to make amends for the devilish errors of June 12 1993, Nigeria may never make progress. Living conditions have become worse since then.

Naming the University of Lagos after MKO Abiola is very unnecessary. The man would turn in his grave if the hope of 1993 radiates once again.

When Obasanjo was imposed on Nigerians in 1999 politicians thought they have made amends for June 12 1993. That was an error of judgment. Obasanjo was anti-June 12, so it doesn’t count in the superstitious world. In fact it may have added salt to the injury.

Recently Obasanjo called Nigerian politicians crooks, thieves and armed robbers like I have always done. The difference between our common points of view is that Obasanjo is included in the list of those he counted. He looted especially the power fund. Nigerian remains in permanent darkness.

Since 1999 the standard of living has dropped and gotten worse. More people have become poorer and lives have been lost in several conflicts.

I do know that the Nigerian government also stupidly adopted May 29 as democracy day in Nigeria. May 29 is not a day of democracy. On May 29 1999, Evil triumphed over good in Nigeria.

Sometimes I wondered how Nigerians allow the useless government to impose things that are evil on them.

It would have been better, to honour those who gave their lives for democracy that June 12 be made the national democracy day. Or we just don’t have any democracy day and still honour these unsung heroes on October 1st every year.
Rather what we do is to decorate accomplished political looters and thieves with national honours.

It appears to me that for as long as we continue to deny the truth about the significance of June 12 and its role in the establishment of our struggling democratic process that we may not make any real progress in this country.

During the presidential debate in 1993 Abiola spoke to Nigerians and answered their questions on what his plans are and how he will help Nigeria to become great.

June 12 came with a manifesto and programs of hope. That is why it is sad that we didn’t experience the reign of Abiola.

A mandate similar to what Abiola got in 1993 and the hopes and confidence that came with it are necessary ingredients for growth and development of Nigeria.

I don’t think anybody can rule Nigeria successfully without a mandate similar to that which Abiola obtained in 1993.
It cut across religion, regions and tribes. It was a universal mandate, made in Nigeria.

It will also be impossible for anyone to lead Nigeria and make meaningful progress without a manifesto of hope and programs that are well planned and thought through.

The positive impacts of Abiola’s victory lasted a few hours; they are part of the most memorable hours of my life. For the first time in my life, then in 1993, I saw hope on the faces of Nigerians. As a country we saw light at the end of the tunnel but the light faded away, very quickly.

In 2012 we remain in the tunnel, led by useless rulers like Jonathan and ruled over by corrupt Ministers, corrupt governors and armed robber legislators as confirmed by Obasanjo.

Hope is gone?

Related post:

http://aderinola.wordpress.com/2007/06/05/june-12-1993-just-like-yesterday