The 2015 Nigerian Presidential Campaign: Intolerance, The Enemy Within, and APC Challenges!

From all indications, one important factor that will determine the outcome of the coming Presidential election won’t be the party with the most Dollars to burn between now and the day of the election, but to what extent General Buhari’s fans and hate groups are managed and domesticated throughout the campaign. In other words, what will become of Nigeria in the second week of February, 2015, and whether or not the change and the revolution are televised is dependent on the willingness of anti-GEJ groups to accept the fact that changes, democracy and democratic values thrive best under a tranquil political environment. And it is about tolerance. That is an albatross calling for immediate and definitive diagnosis, and diligent and decisive resolution by the APC leadership. Because the progressives have much at stake, much to gain, and much more to lose in this election. 

It is a no-brainer, the Buhari's ticket means a lot to different people differently. Truth is, some followers of the retired General firmly believe that, with or without Professor Osinbajo, he is indeed in the race to recover for a utopia northern Nigeria the Presidency that was stolen from them by the "shoe-less one from Utuoke." In this category you will find the most radical and die-hard elements within the All People Congress (APC). Not left out are all the irredentist northern elders and all the Professor Anglo Abdulahis of the Arewa Consultative Forum - reveling in the outdated philosophy of a 'no northern candidate/presidency no Nigeria.' 

And until the leadership of APC and concerned real progressives of northern extraction rein in on these hate groups - imbue them with the basic truth and understanding that Gen Buhari is not in the race to become the President of "an Arewa Republic", but that of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the better it is for the party and brighter the chances of the fulfillment of the much hyped and the most talked about revolution. 

Few days ago, it was reported that irate mobs ambushed and disrupted the convoy of the Governor of Gombe State, while on a campaign trail canvassing for votes for President Jonathan in Kashere, Akko Local Government Area of the state. The Governor, like any other Governor or voter in Nigeria, has a protected constitutional right to market his Presidential candidate before any audience or community in the country. 

That the Governor and his entourage had to seek refuge at the Palace of the Emir of the town, while on a legitimate engagement, is in every respect, worrisome and inconsistent, not just with the letter and the spirit of our electoral laws, but with the voting rights that are protected by our constitution, and above all, inconsistent with the democratic values and the egalitarian principles amply projected by APC leadership. 

In sum, the thesis of this short piece is not whether APC will win or be defeated, it is the imminent impact of the unbridled intolerance, and the near probability that it will not create room for a winning candidate to emerge come February 14, 2015. That is my fear - managing the extremism and antics of the die-hard, albeit faithful adherents/followers of the Buhari's ticket during the campaign. They are the enemy within whose overzealous resolve may likely turn counterproductive.

Here is the deal: if any political party, either by design or omission, is denied the right to campaign in any state, regions, or community, chances are that there won’t be any election in the affected state, region, or community. And in the event of an impasse or stalemate developing, the incumbent stays in office. Worst case scenario, an interim government will evolve. But in no case will a President Buhari or a government with the goals and objectives of APC emerging at the national level. 

In sum, without a free and fair campaign, the possibility of a free and fair election taking place is moot. A free and fair campaign is one without intimidation, harm or threat of harm to those who share contrary views. And that is a daunting challenge that Buhari and APC leadership must find ways to address and preempt starting from this very moment. Because the progressives have much at stake and much more to lose in this election. This is a timely warning. And I don't want to be vindicated.

Happy New Year in Advance, everybody. 

THE OBAMA/CASTRO ACCORD AND CONSOLIDATION OF GREATNESS!

About an hour ago, President Barack Obama announced the resumption of diplomatic relations with the nation of Cuba. With this development, President Obama is now in the league of Great Presidents – a tremendous legacy in every respect. It takes courage, audacity, greatness to compromise and structure an accord of this magnitude after decades of hostility and massive economic decline and humanitarian chaos. Former Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin of blessed memory respectively, overcame their differences following the brutal and bloody Six-Day War, and restored peaceful relationship on September 18, 1978. Thus, came into being an agreement popularly referred to as the Camp David Accord, brokered at the instance of President Jimmy Carter of the United States of America, following intense and relentless negotiations - negotiations that culminated in the withdrawal of Israel from Sinai Peninsula. In the instant case, it is thanks to Pope Francis, who thought it prudent to initiate a talk between Washington and Havana, which culminates in what I would like to phrase, “The Vatican Accord.” Yes, it takes two or multiple willing and selfless parties to negotiate a deal, and structure a mutually benefiting accord. And President Obama, once again, and with his audacious self and creative mindset, proved that change is indeed possible. It is all about willing parties and the ability to jettison fear of the unknown. I hope the political leaders in Palestine and Israel are watching. 
Alex Aidaghese* Dec 17, 2014.

The Goal, The Journey, and The Choice of Topics!

INTRODUCTION!

As I have always maintained, this Blog was never developed or created to be a fault-finder or the revelation of me and my turbulent journey through the years. We are a rescue package, focused on public affairs, and defining mechanisms for effective leadership - a common sense approach to tolerance and performance enhancement  in the political system. That was the intent, and still is. It was never calculated to market myself as an electoral candidate. I made these declarations in light of the open and private endorsements I have received from well wishers who, reading my works, thought it fit to endorse me for leadership position. And I will always be grateful to these gentlemen and ladies.  On the flip side, the writing experience isn't all that celebratory, career-wise. Not everyone is comfortable, knowing full well that you have strong opinion. You are feared and resented, rather than revered and appreciated. So, it is a hard choice that you have to make. Stay aside from the debate and stay safe professionally and financially. Or do the contrary - getting into the debate striving to make a change and suffer the obvious: deprivations. In the word of Professor Wole Soyinka, the Nobel laureate, the man dies in all who keep silent in the face of tyranny. I have done my best for me to be successful in every respect imaginable. Therefore, believing as I always do that GOD IS WATCHING OVER ME, the dreams shall be fulfilled. I am not perfect. And no one is. I have stepped on the toes of some vengeful, greedy, self-serving and vindictive recruiting elements within a very powerful institution, but my hands are clean. My conscience is clear, and I will overcome.

VESTED INTEREST OR NATIONAL INTEREST:

I was not even a University student, when I wrote an Op-ed published by the Daily Times and the Nigerian Observer following the dumping of Toxic Waste at Koko Town near Warri, decades ago. My involvement or interest couldn't have been motivated by a desire to inject myself into the public domain. I did not do it for money or in pursuit of material benefit or political ambition.

I was simply doing my best for my country considering my age, trying to wake up the military government and our diplomatic staffs in Europe to their responsibilities. That our diplomatic staffs all over Europe ought to have been on full alert of the movement of a toxic laden Italian Ship roaming the high sea looking for vulnerable entity to market its deadly waste and keep their home government abreast of the development for our national interest is not expecting too much. They never did. My piece catalyzes a discussion about the policing or lack of it of our water and harbors, and of course, resulted in a concerted response from a government that was completely nonplussed and humiliated by the incident. 

By the way, there was no internet at that point in time or social media. I had to mail the first letter to Daily Times office in Lagos, and hand-delivered the second copy to the office of the Feature Editor of the Nigerian Observer at Airport Road, Benin City. 

The Nigerian Observer published its piece in three days, while The Daily Times published its version a week later. The piece was titled, "Toxic Waste Terrorism." So, I have been around in this business.

And more than a decade ago, I was to accomplish a feat uncommon in international diplomacy. When I saw a sign at Logan Airport in Boston, Massachusetts, stating that going to Nigeria and Haiti is dangerous, I did not find it amusing. A sign that was at every departure point at every airport in the US. Problem was, I didn't know who to approach within the Nigerian community to initiate removal effort.

An opportunity came, when I met with a top level Diplomat at a social event at the Nigerian High Commission in New York City, New York. I confronted the gentleman about the sign the moment I grabbed his hands for a hand shake, undermining his high visibility and diplomatic ethics. He replied that he is aware of the sign. On the question of what effort he has made to remove it; he did not answer. He released his hand from my grip and just walked away.

Later at the party, and after his welcome address, he came directly to me straight from the podium and said, I don't know who you are, but I want you to know that I am not offended by your questions. Here is my business card; 'it is Nigerians like you I want to be seeing in this place whenever we have event.' I thanked him and I told him that due to my work schedule and academic calender, I won't be able to honor his invitation.

When I got back to Boston, I sent him a one page Memo based on the fatherly counsel I received from Professor Jegede, then Secretary of the Nigerian Law School. 

(There were about three hundred and fifty of us from Edo State at the Nigerian Law School that year and only nineteen beds were allocated to us. You have to participate at a ballot to secure a place out of the nineteen spots. I participated, but did not pick a winning number. When news came that some vacant beds were available at the old hostel at Igbosere Road, I knew I have to move fast. But there is one problem: you have to apply for a spot, and the letter must be signed or endorsed by a family member with a national presence. I don't know of any in my family or community. And I came up with an option: Petition the Secretary. With a three-page long memo, I successfully petitioned the Professor. He granted my request instantly; according to him, reading only the first and the last paragraph. He warned me to make it one page next time, with reasons I wont state here).

This time, I edited the memo to the Diplomat/Councillor to one page, stating chronologically what he should do to ensure the removal of the sign - starting from the nature of the grievances or concerns expressed by the relevant authority in the US and solutions. I took it to the Post Office and it was sent by Registered Mail. The "Going to Nigeria and Haiti is Dangerous" signs were removed from all the US Airports within one month. I was not eyeing a political office, when I initiated the removal process.

First, you see a problem. Second, you identify that it is a problem that must not be left unsolved. Third, you go about looking for ways to solve it. We have millions of Nigerians in the US, and we have thousands of Nigerians raveling through US Airports every years. But how many see a problem in the sign and the damage o our individual, collective, or national image, or that the sign is removable, if we do the right thing? 

At the global scene; it has been another wonderful experience or success story. One of the essays here was the rallying force behind the successful protest in Turkey about a year ago over the planned conversion of a public park to an industrial complex or a non-recreational use. When I saw people logging in continuously to this Blog from Turkey, I thought they were Nigerians or Nigerian students in Turkey. At a point, I realized that they were reading the same essay - "Stabilization Clause versus Sustainable Development and Human Rights." During that period there were protests going on in Turkey over appropriation of a public park for non-recreational use. In the said essay, I covered the story of a community in Sub-Sahara Africa that was relocated to a brand new location and the hardship and deprivations that followed immediately after. The main issue in the essay was the failure of those who supervised the relocation of the entire community to provide for in the new settlement a continuation of the nature of the trade, business, profession that the people in the community were into in their old habitat prior to the relocation. They never did. I did not, when writing that essay, thought that in no distance time it will serve to shape how natural resources are appropriated in far far away land. 

By the way, if you are following the development in Bakassi Peninsular, a community of people that Nigerian Government ceded to the Cameroon, it is the same situation. Those who were not willing to remain in the Peninsular and become Cameroonians were relocated. Today, it is a sorry state of affairs. They left behind their trade, their culture, their neighbors, and their means of livelihood. They now live in a foreign land in their own country.

And last, but not the least, my foray into the last US Presidential election in a protest piece that turned out to be more effective than intended or anticipated, will always remind me of the man I have always wanted to be. I put my craft to the test in a country you could arguably cast as the apex of global politics and democratic idealism. At the end, I made a huge impact.

(I remember one morning watching NBC Today Show, with Matt Lauer, interviewing Maria Bartiromo of then CNBC. The interview was about the coming US Presidential election and what President Obama need to do to stimulate hiring process by Wall Street. She said unequivocally that 'there is nothing Obama can do now. Wall Street guys are sitting on their profits and will not initiate any hiring process, until a new President is sworn in in January.' In other words, President Obama is done and gone for good. I did not take that statement kindly, for many reasons. First and foremost, the money they are sitting on and refusing to spend in order to spark employment surge was accumulated under the economic rescue passage that President Obama initiated. We know what the economic situation was when he became the President about three years earlier. Now they want to frustrate him out of the Oval Office! It won't happen. And earlier the same week, there were very disturbing remarks from Governor Ed Rendell of Pennsylvanian, Mayor Cory Booker of Newalk, and memo co-written and co-signed by Mr. James Carville and another wherein they argued that President Obama and his campaign team should not mention or use Wall Street and Bain Capital (a firm where Governor Mitt Romney, President Obama's opponent, worked at for many years before he became the Governor of Massachusetts) in their campaign. In my reckoning, it is either these gentlemen do not want President Obama to win or they simply thought that he is defeated already. If his opponent is campaigning with his job creation ability, invariably, his exploits or antecedents at his previous gigs must be on full blast, not the contrary. I reasoned. It was more like a dirge narrative. And I wasn't going to take any of it. So, watching Maria Bartiromo and Matt Lauer that morning, I knew the time has come for me to intervene. That intensity was fueled by the echoes of Senator Mitch McConnell's declaration on the eve of President Obama's first inauguration that his major goal is to make Obama a one term President. His diabolical declaration got a following at Fox News where the racist bunch, Sean Hannity and Bill O'Reily told their audience that they want President Obama to fail as President. The garrulous Rush Limbaugh was to follow their lead, praying and declaring on his radio talk show that his wish is for President Obama to fail as a President. How did we get here in our body politic that native born Americans would exercise no caution, wishing and praying for a President, democratic elected by an overwhelming majority, to fail in office? That is the height of hatred. His only offense, if at all, is that he is BLACK. After reminiscing for hours, I stood up and declared: President Obama will not be a one term President. The Black race cannot afford that history. And Democrats as well as the Progressives cannot relive that experience. And I went to work. And it was a successfully outcome. I went to my computer and I stayed until 3 a.m in the morning of the next day, typing and editing an essay I would later titled: "Obama: Citizen United, Invisible Resistance, and the Hacking of American Democracy." I let it all out, without any reservation. I posted it on my Facebook Wall and on this very Blog on June 08, 2012. It was electrifying, to say the least, and it created a bandwagon effect instantly. We did not invent any thing out of the blue; we, in plain English, elaborated on what most progressive commentators and pundits were thinking about, but were either scare to let it all out or do not know how to express them for maximum effect like we did. The embrace was overwhelming. Thus, set the pace for a purposeful and product campaign, that did not only define the opponent, but culminated in a landslide victory at the poll). 

The Proximity Factor!

You really cannot do much or influence change in the political system, unless you are close to where the action is, or close to one who is close to the action spot. In other words, I was able to initiate contact with the Diplomat, because my American girl friend knew about the event from her African American family friend who was invited to the event at the Nigerian House by the Special Guest of Honor. She practically begged them, stating Alex would love this. 

In essence, I would not have been able to do what I did where it not for the efforts of a lady who believed in me and using her African American connection to ensure my presence at the event. 

Also, I would not have been able to intervene remotely at the US Presidential election, but thanks to the availability of the Internet and the social media. That's the exposure or proximity I'm talking about.

Neither of the events was I directly or remotely or officially connected as a staff or in a position to take action. It was simply a matter of chance, which I did take advantage of.  It is difficult to make a change or use others to make a change, if you are not within proximity of action.

Basically, there is no vested interest in what I do or write about. As long as there is no undue deprivations or infliction of harms to the harmless, I will be okay. After all, the efforts of others as well as the sacrifices that I made, helped by being a good student of my parents and the priceless counseling from elders I met along the way made me who I am. 

I never at any time since my grammar school days doubted the possibility of great men and great women of Nigeria coming to term with our realities, our potential for greatness, and with the fact that not even the way we worship or the language we speak or our geographical locations will stop us from attaining the status we were prior to the Treasonable Felony Trial. At that period in our political history it was a government for the people. That was where the transformation was cut short, and that is where it must start for it to be endearing and sustainable. 

Alex Aidaghese*

EFCC Re-arraigns Bamanga Tukur’s son, others, over N3.1bn subsidy scam - Premium Times Nigeria

Thou Shall Not Criticize or Blog in Vain. 

Few days ago, December 04, 2014, we revisited the unresolved petroleum subsidy scam perpetrated by bogus petroleum marketers on NNPC and the show of shame of the EFCC boss in the process. The story is not new. Why I revisit it few days ago is understandable. The leading characters within the group are the children of very powerful political leaders. And the repeated lies by EFCC and the unbelievable state of denial that the Presidency has degenerated to in the whole saga since the completion of the Aigbojie Investigatory panel, leave much to be desired. Therefore, reading the attached story this morning was a welcome development. At last, EFCC realizes that Nigerians are watching and will be watching as long as hamiltonatlarge.blogspot.com is on it. Dropping names of the thieving children of prominent political leaders before visiting Diplomats as proof that you are not under the influence of the Presidency or interest groups in your prosecution of fraudulent Petroleum Marketers, as Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde did was childish, deceitful and professionally repugnant. 

Of what national interest is a trial when the Chief Prosecutor or law enforcement czar is inwardly indisposed to conviction of the culprits. It is not enough to empanelled a grand jury, when you do not nurse any intent to prosecute or how to mobilize your resources to ensure diligent prosecution. That is not just a professional failing, it is also a moral failing of monumental proportion. 

Point is, EFCC doesn't know how to manage its case load and it is not abreast of the enormity of the disillusionment created in us by the arrogance of the privileged few who perpetrated the scam.

That impeached Governor Nyako was able to evade the apprehension of EFCC, vindicates those of us who have always insisted that the Immunity Clause in the 1999 Constitution, as amended, is not the cause of our inability to surmount corrupt practices at public places, but the weakness of our law enforcement agencies.

The inability of EFCC to secure conviction of Bamanga Turku's son and his friends, despite the overwhelming evidence of corrupt enrichment proven beyond reasonable doubt by two separate investigatory bodies, is another example. 

At this point in time, Nigerians want to read stories of forfeiture or stories of contrite by petroleum marketers. 

They want to read about the incarceration of the bogus marketers for failing to surrender their loots to the state, not claim of bogus trial bandied about the media circle and before foreign dignitaries that has become the trademarks of EFCC and its Chairman. 

EFCC should by now know how to mobilize its unlimited legal resources, to always be at alert, and on standby to surmount the often repeated bogus motions for adjournment and baseless interim or permanent injunction orders at the prompting of defense counsels. 

It is my hope that the Presidency stay on the case this time, not just for the period of the Presidential election, but always after.

OBASANJO: A Presidential Memoir and the Ceding of Bakassi Peninsula!

A Presidential Memoir, without a reasonable and convincing expose on the ceding of States’ Rights and Territorial Integrity to another country or countries at the instance of the President is totally and unequivocally incomplete. Such a memoir is un-presidential, half-baked, and in every respect, inconsistent with the style and manner of works of Great Presidents. 

What I do know is that, if the ceding of our own Bakassi Peninsular, a community, and its people, rich in the cultural and unquantifiable magnitude of natural mineral resources, were to happen under a government or administration headed by President Jonathan, Obasanjo would have by now, conspired and driven the “infidel Jonathan” out of Aso Rock. Hate him or love him, President Jonathan did not bargain away our rights, our people, our mineral resources, and our entitlements in a territory that was and has been a part of that geographical landmass that later evolved into the Nigerian Republic in 1914. President Obasanjo did, when he was the President of Nigeria.

The uncoordinated forced evacuation of native Nigerians from their native towns and villages collectively known as Bakassi Peninsular under President Obasanjo was a crime against humanity. They gave them two options: If you elect not to pay allegiance to the Cameroonian flag, and retains your Nigerian citizenship, you must evacuate yourself and your belongings to a new settlement. In that case, your culture, your herds, your business, your farm, your animals, your neighbors and neighborhood that date back to decades, must let go. And some of them did so. 

The second option was: If you choose to remain in Bakassi Peninsular, and do not desire to let go of your business and cultural heritage, you automatically renounced your Nigerian citizenship, and therefore, become Cameroonians. 

Today, those who succumbed to the promptings of president Obasanjo and accompanied him to the unknown cannot tell their stories of woes, of deprivations, of defeat and abandonment by a government and leadership that lied to them.  

A Nigerian who is now a Cameroonian, later told newsmen that from time immemorial, they have been Nigerians. The lands are theirs. In other words, there was never a time, when their identity as a people or as a race was in doubt. There was never any known migration from another land to present Bakassi Peninsular. They have been part of the land and the land has been part of them as Nigerians. According to the news report, the gentleman said he decided to stay and become Cameroonian, because of his business and family to fend for. Basically, it was the fear of the unknown.

Today, Cross River State, though still an Oil Producing State, thanks to President Obasanjo, no longer enjoy the presence of oil wells like the neighboring states as it was before - a development that cuts drastically into the financial wherewithal and stability of the once robust model state. That part of the State, that part of Nigeria, known to be very rich in oil wells was ceded to Cameroon. No present political leader is talking or concerned about the massive economic and social deprivations that accompanied the willful surrender and at the peril of Nigerian as a nation-states.

As President Obasanjo’s Memoir makes the round in bookshops and talk shops, one thing is certain; himself and his generations and political friends will not know poverty again. They have succeeded in enriching themselves with lucrative oil blocs and other wealth-building apparatus. And they have nonchalantly acquiesced on our collective rights as a nation-state in the face of modern-day robbery and false partitioning of a sovereign territory at the behind the scene prompting by France and by an ICJ whose convoluted finding lacks precedent as to statutes or facts.

That Obasanjo, a rambunctious retired military officer should capitulate so easily, and without protest, should not come to anyone by surprise. He was at that point in time scheming to subvert our constitutional framework as it relates to the succession process, with a view to undermining the term limits. Going by his calculation, anything worth doing to be the good boy of influential western powers and in the good book of international institutions are worth doing well, even if it means sacrificing a viable and age-old component of the Nigerian state.

Here is a poser for Mr. Obasanjo: Where is Hawaii? Where is Guam? Where is Alaska? How far are they from the nearest State or States within the US mainland? The same question also goes to Falkland Territory. How far is it from the mainland of the United Kingdom? In this modern era, great Presidents strive to retain or annex any land or waterway that poses any form of strategic, economic, or security risk or harm. Most often, they do so without regard to the legal or arbitration process. 

Given the fact that President Obasanjo does not belong to the class of the great men and women who thought it fit and of overriding national interest to acquire or retain the territories mentioned above, I would humbly suggest to the former President to take a course from his good friend, President George Walker Bush, on how to be Presidential on retirement. He should, with all due respect, leave President Jonathan alone. Let Nigerians decide whether to retain him at Aso Rock or vote him out at the next Presidential election. In four years, President Jonathan who does not know how to govern fixed the roads that you, Mr. Perfect President, couldn’t fix in eight years. That is a fact. Thank you. 

BUHARI: The Need to Restructure the Front Office and Why I am Leaning Towards Atiku for APC Ticket!

ON GENERAL BUHARI: There must be a total, vehement, and unequivocal detachment from what's been. I do believe in my heart that General Buhari has the tenacity and toughness to deal with those stealing our wealth, but whether he has the intellectual wherewithal to carry Nigeria as a country - its people and resources - to a new and enviable level in this modern time, is my doubt. ALEX AIDAGHESE - "In Search of a Real Political Party" September 8, 2013.

ON VICE PRESIDENT ATIKU: Since the exit of President Obasanjo, Atiku is the only political leader on the scene who is able to articulate what he really wants to do as President. His clarity of thoughts on public affairs is outstanding. I want to be very frank and honest here; the fact that the materials on his campaign website or his published interviews were put together by advisers is irrelevant. Irrelevant because his opponents cannot boast of similar materials or consider it prudent to put together similar materials. How can you be an effective performer, if you cannot conceive or develop a coherent narrative for leadership? I have no doubt in my mind that Atiku is much better than his peers in that aspect - why I want to be President. ALEX AIDAGHESE - "In Search of a Real Political Party" September 8, 2013.

Presidential Candidate Buhari’s performance the other day at a televised interaction with the press was, to say the least, un-presidential and hardly expected. Ours is a monocultural economy. In other words, crude oil, as the main stay of the Nigerian economy, must be, not just a major topic, but understandable to the level of expertise and at the command of any Presidential candidate. That General Buhari fumbles so badly in handling questions relating to the stability of crude oil prices in the international market place is an indictment and a slap on the wrist of his media handlers and economic advisers. Something is fundamentally wrong with his campaign if, at this point in the Presidential Primaries and few months to the main contest, Gen Buhari does not have an Economic Advisers on his team. Given the enormity of the show of shame, I suggest that all his advisers and anyone directly or remotely connected with his campaign prior to that interview should be fired. Above all, if at this point in the general election, it does not occur to General Buhari that he is not one knowledgeable in the act of number-crunching and in the vocabulary of global market, and who would, therefore, desire and appreciate the presence of an economist and campaign strategist on his team, then, with all due respect, he is not ready to be President of Nigerian at this point in time.

`

Once bitten twice shy. When APC was registered by INEC as a political party, there was an overwhelming excitement and a feeling of relief within the class of progressive commentators in the social media. They, and like most disinterested Nigerian intellectual class, saw the development as a bold and one of a kind occurrence in the struggle to decimate the PDP as a political party. Indeed, it was a national moment that we all saw and celebrated as the beginning of a process to end the dominance of our political system by the same political careerists who have been on the scene for decades.

Most of the progressive commentators came up with strategies that would facilitate recruitment drive and grass-root support system. In other words, there was a consensus within the group of the need to develop a progressive narrative and take it down to the people at rallies, at conferences and seminars. It didn't happen. The demands fell on deft ears and were rejected by the top characters within the APC establishment. The most vocal antagonists of progressive voices happened to be Buhari handlers and supporters.

That Gen Buhari was a military dictator was never in doubt. That he imprisoned political leaders of the second republic indiscriminately was never in doubt. Personally, wanted an explanation or a show of contrite from General Buhari for the ill-treatment of Professor Ambrose Ali who was the Governor of the old Bendel State for four years. It is profoundly disheartening that Professor Ambrose, a man who paid for thousands of WAEC candidates to take their exams; a fatherly fellow who built and funded for us a new brand University; who paid bursary to the entire Bendel State students, that he has to rot in jail and died in abject poverty, because he built three bedrooms bungalow for his Father was and still very difficult to digest or process. It was the same story all over Nigeria. That would have made the need for familiarization tour a major task by Buhari. It did not happen.

Where is common sense? I am not here to reenact or rejuvenate the discriminatory prosecutions and imprisonments of political leaders Nigerians witnessed under Buhari leadership. All I wanted was the presence of Buhari at Town Halls, at University Campuses, at Market or Village Squares telling his stories, that indeed, he is different from the Buhari in Military uniform, that he cherishes democratic principles, freedom of the press and the sanctity of the universally acclaimed rights – the fundamental human rights. Inherent rights, which he blatantly abused. Buhari and his handlers never did.

They ran after rebel governors and all the FFK they could find running from PDP. One guy even wrote a piece, lecturing progressive commentators about the correct approach to capacity building, arguing that it is better to align with rebel governors because they have larger follower-ship for the APC to tap into. Another blogger considered it degrading for Buhari to go about the countryside searching for new members.

Today, the much-celebrated converts have indeed, reconverted to where they belong - PDP. And one of the major recruits, though gone, is not going without a fight. He has succeeded in an unimaginable proportion in branding APC as an Islamic Party made up of Islamic Fundamentalists, with a goal to convert Nigeria into an Islamic state. Myopic as you would want to brand the author and his conspiracy theory, one thing is not in doubt though; his message has gotten some rhythms in most places. And Buhari and his handlers are now in a state of quagmire, completely clueless on what to do to extricate Presidential Candidate Buhari from that pigeonholed characterization.

Worse still, progressive commentators who were in a celebratory mood when APC was formed and registered, and who would as naturally expected, be at the fore front for repackaging and redefining the redemption songs of citizen Buhari, have all gone for good. They were selfishly pushed away from having a say in what becomes of APC, and specifically, on managing Gen Buhari. 

Buhari is not yet the President, to the extent that his inner followers do not even want to welcome newcomers to his fold, leave much to be desired. They built a war around a man who under normal circumstances would have been all over the place meeting and strategizing with real progressives – visionary, modern, and creative progressives. They never did.

I resent cultist approach to governance in any shape or form. Gen Buhari main weakness, from my own common sense reading of his past, present, and the attitude of his handlers is that he is susceptible to manipulation by few elements. If they couldn't prepare him for a media chat, they must not spend a day longer at his side. 

If Buhari has adult children, I suggest they step into the scene right now and initiate a drastic remake or repackaging of their beloved dad for the uphill battle that is yet to come, if he wins the primaries. It is a modern world. Buhari is not part of it. 

Finally, if Vice President is relevant today, it is more about his grasp of the issues and the simplicity and ease that he articulates his motivations in power. The same is true of his website – free flow, clear and easy to read and digest. And that is the main reason I am leaning towards him as APC candidate. Truth is, if you cannot articulate why you want to be President; if you do not have the foresight to assemble credible followers who believe in you and your dream and how to help you refine your craft; if you do not have the common sense to initiate and conduct self-assessment as well as the assessment of your media handlers and advisers and to know that something is fundamentally wrong in the management of your campaign and message delivery format, then, with all due respect, you may likely not have my support and those of nonpartisan, reasonable, and discerning minds. You just cannot dwell on solutions, without being abreast of the underlying problems or its existence. You cannot fathom solutions or seek one, without a thorough understanding of what the issues are or what ails you. Awareness comes first, followed by identification of the problems, and finally, identifying and recruiting the rights men to address the problems to a satisfactory end. Vice President Atiku is reputed of being an expert in identifying and recruiting visionaries and creative minds for appointment into strategic positions in public and private places. Besides, that he is more modern than his peers in terms of management and governance is not in doubt.

Lawan: I Collected $500,000 Bribe Offer, Articles | THISDAY LIVE

Revisited: Petroleum Subsidy Scam, EFCC and Presidential Denial!

As at the time of writing, Mr. Farouk Lawan, the debonair, diminutive and dapper Boyish-looking member of the Nigerian House of Assembly, reputed to be highly savvy and conversant in rules and procedural trajectories of the House business, is still holding on tight to his chair in the Lower House, years after confessing to have received more than half a million dollar from the Nigerian SSS in a sting operation that went awry. It was a high stake maneuvering, designed and executed, though with doubtful intent, by the SSS and Chief Otedola, with a goal to inducing Mr. Farouk Lawan and his deputy, Mr. Emanalo Boniface, to alter the report of their investigations into the fraudulent dealings of some bogus petroleum marketers in favor of Chief Otedola. 

As the talk of removal of petroleum subsidy resonates, and about two years after the report of the Lawan Committee, the SSS, whose funds was recklessly dissipated in the botched job, is yet to recover a dime from the two congressmen. In similar vein, EFCC is yet to secure a conviction of any of the major players in the scandal.

The question that Nigerian have not asked or yet to ask, is: what informed the SSS involvement in the report, given the fact that the Committee was doing a legitimate investigation? Besides, we have it on record on this Blog that the Senate, in previous year, did publish the names of Petroleum Marketers who benefited from the Petroleum Subsidy Funds, without actually stating whether or not the beneficiaries supplied or imported Petroleum Products in accordance with the terms of the contract.

What the House of Representative or the Lawan Committee did or intended to do was more extensive and damning in every respect. And the Report later indicated so. In spite of everything, someone or some powerful Nigerians wanted a preemption of the report by any means necessary. SSS involvement was not to protect our national interest or the integrity of the House of Representative, but to punch holes in the report of the Committee, with a view to discrediting and rendering it useless. It didn't happen. 

Today, crude oil is back in the news, and the talk of removal of petroleum subsidy is ripe.

What I want Nigeria to remember is that, one, the more than half a million dollar furnished Mr. Farouk Lawan and his deputy by SSS has not been recovered.

Secondly, Mr. Lawan and his collaborators are still in the House. These gentlemen do not enjoy any immunity in the instant case. That they are still standing is an indictment on the part of the Executive on whose branch is the SSS, as well as the Attorney General, who, from all indications, didn't consider the bribery scandal egregious to warrant the attention of his office.

And three, that the most influential names among the bogus petroleum marketers are not in jail, and have not refunded the money they stole. Truth is, in more decent climes there would not have been any need for a trial, but an outright recovery or forfeiture proceeding. Because their culpability and guilt have been established beyond every known standard of reasonable doubt.

On the other hand, in the United States of America, where the Almighty Dollar is the means of exchange, their FBI could only expend about $90,000 to execute similar operation that their counterpart in Nigeria wasted about half a million Dollar to execute, without success. 

In addition, the FBI, working with the US Justice Department, tried and convicted Congress man, William Jefferson, who accepted the bribe for the purpose of inducing a Nigerian businessman to secure favorable terms in a telecom deal. Prior to the trial and conviction, FBI did recover $80,000 out of the money they gave to Mr. Jefferson for the sting operation.

At this juncture it is trite to conclude that the deficiency inherent in the prosecution and conviction of influential white collar criminals in our public sector is made worse by a President who is seemingly oblivious of the egregious state of the situation. 

Once at a public event, the President commended the EFCC for the trial of about 200 white collar criminals. He did not make any mention of the notorious petroleum marketers. He also, in a praising mood, took umbrage at EFCC for not publishing or celebrating their accomplishments. The success stories the President and who ever it was that briefed him before the public praise, are trial and conviction of Yahoo-Yahoo operatives and other petty thieves.

What the President may not have known at the time of that media briefing is that the children of the last two big guys of his own political party who, no doubt, are the kingpin of the one of a kind petroleum subsidy scam in the history of Nigerian oil subsidy, have not been tried or convicted. That is in spite of the overwhelming evidence of culpability established by Lawan's Committee as well as the proof beyond reasonable doubt findings of the Aigbojie's investigatory panel instituted by the President. 

Also, to say EFCC on its part is in denial is an understatement. Few months ago, while in audience with some delegates from the Netherlands Embassy at Abuja, the Chairman of EFCC, told his visitors that there is no body or institution out there exacting pressure on the agency on who to prosecute or let alone. He concluded by citing the trial of the children of the last two chairmen of PDP. What the EFCC boss failed to tell his guests is the percentage of the scammed funds he has recovered from the two scammers. He specifically stated: Trial, and not conviction or forfeiture or recovery.

I would like to conclude by saying that trial is not synonymous with conviction or forfeiture. And from all indications, the Presidency is in denial with respect to trial and conviction of fraudulent Nigerians by the law enforcement agencies. 

Therefore, any attempt to temper with petroleum subsidy or hike the price of petroleum products, without a show of concrete proof of recovery of the previously squandered funds by NNPC and its affiliate must be resisted and rejected by every Nigerian.  

I supported the removal of subsidy during the "occupy Nigeria" protest about two years ago, not necessarily because subsidy is economically stupid, but on the ground that, as applied or implemented in Nigeria, does not reflect in lower prices at gas pump. And Nigerians know the cause of that disconnect: those paid to supply never did supply. And that has been the culture. 

Prior to the involvement of the House Committee, and prior to inauguration of the "occupy Nigeria" protest, the President told Nigerians that there is a fraud in the subsidy regime, and that powerful forces are frustrating the happening of the intended benefits - lower prices of petroleum products. One would have thought that on the publication of the Lawan Committee and the indictment of the bogus petroleum marketers by the Aigbojie's panel, the President would have taken the initiative to direct the recovery or forfeiture process straight from his office. This is a unique case, and there is nothing abhorrent in the President being a judge in his own case on behalf of Nigerians. Oil is the main stay of the Nigerian economy, and petroleum subsidy is a crucial component of that arithmetic. Today, we know better. 

Also, the former Governor of Central Bank, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, now the Emir of Kano, supported the removal on the ground that the subsidy only benefits wealthy and highly placed Nigerians. Though the Emir's position and few others correspond with mine, I did in fact, argued that Government should, for the meantime, step into the importation of the essential petroleum products, and reinvest the accruing profits into expansion and capacity building of domestic refineries. That is a bold step, if we must succeed in overcoming all the ills associated with our petroleum subsidy.