EXCLUSIVE: Nigeria’s biggest oil fraudsters; the worst subsidy scam ever

EXCLUSIVE: Nigeria’s biggest oil fraudsters; the worst subsidy scam ever

DON'T CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA: MY FATHER HAS INFLUENCE & MY UNCLE TOO!

Another sad day in Nigerian history: we are yet to hear the worst about the petroleum subsidy scam. This story and the events that you are about to read will make you mad, cry for Nigeria, or want to start a revolution. But wait, the fact remains, the people involved are not those you would ordinarily think of going after in the event of any revolution. They are not political leaders we love to hate. From all indications and in light of what we have seen so far about the subsidy scam, one cannot help but conclude that it was simply an organised crime professionally perpetrated by Nigerians who share the same political and business connections. They are the children and blood relations of the leaders of our political parties.

We must not fail to applaud Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede and his Technical Committee for a thorough investigation. I am in total support of his recommendation, demanding a total refund of the money the scammers received from the NNPC and PPPRA for oil and gas that they didn't supply. I consider it a smart move because litigating recovery via criminal prosecution of the culprits might not yield a result that would benefit the nation, given the unreliability of our judiciary in similar cases.  If at all, it serves a better national purpose to go after the fruits of the crime first before prosecuting the offenders for crimes against the state. I have always been in support of the Civil Asset Forfeiture Law because it saves time and money. And above all, the outcome is more predictable.

The Technical Committee did the job as defined by President Jonathan. They have shown with facts and figures - proof beyond a reasonable doubt - that the offenders cooked up papers and went before a constituted authority to collect money, knowing full well that they did not supply oil or kerosene to NNPC. The proof is very glaring for the whole World to see: if you claim, for instance, that you did supply oil to NNPC, using Ship YMJ  at Lagos Terminal on 10/10/2010, and on 10/10/2010, Ship YMJ was in Singapore and could not have been at Lagos Terminal, then you lied. In a similar vein, if Ship YMJ that you alleged to have used does not exist at all, then invariably you lied. This is 419 against the people and government of Nigeria. They were very conscious of what they were doing. They knew very well that it was unlawful to defraud the State. They simply did not care. These guys should be in handcuffs and paraded before Nigerians and the World to see. 

Why Bakassi, Ogoni Others Are Restive

Why Bakassi, Ogoni Others Are Restive


SPECIFICALLY ON BAKASSI

The Bakassi saga will not abate until the people are restored to their God-given land and territory forcibly taken from them by ICJ and the Obasanjo government. How on earth could an elected government relocate a group of people from their land, without availing them the right or opportunity to consent before ceding their territory to another sovereign?  What the UN and ICJ should have done is to conduct or hold a referendum on the issue. The people have the right to vote on whether or not they want to merge with Cameroon or remain on their God-given land as they have always been as a legitimate part of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is a legitimate political question to ask via a televised referendum in the territory. It will eventually come to that, if not now, but in the nearest future. 

The Bakassi story is unheard of anywhere in civilized World - the land and the people of Bakassi are one and the same. You cannot move the people and leave the land behind - they both belong to Nigeria. The ongoing Bakassi impasse is a challenge before this generation or the emerging new leadership. Reclaiming Bakassi is a task that must be done. If doing that demands going into politics, so be it. 

Akin say 'legitimate' rape won't cause pregnancy : Stltoday

Akin says 'legitimate' rape won't cause pregnancy: Stltoday

Reading and digesting Rep. Todd Akin's comment is a very difficult thing to do. It shows how extreme and detached most Republican members of Congress are from American realities. Unless this man wants the world to believe that ejaculation does not take place during rape. What is the difference between rape, sex, and love making? The process or means are the same. Except in the case of rape, there is no consent, no interest, and no physical attraction. Above all, there is no emotional connection - it is simply against the victim's will.

I  trust Sen. Claire McCaskill will be able to handle this far-right zealot and call him who he really is - a sadist -  without any equivocation in their coming debates and place him where he rightly belongs - out of Congress. That place, as originally conceived, is for the refined minds. Not anymore. But that has to change to ensure sustainable peace, growth, and greatness in the polity.

If I may ask: what's so legitimate about rape? If the sexual encounter was without the woman's consent, it is rape. If it is rape, it is not legitimate. It is inhuman. It is savagery and it is un-American. Granted, I am not a Native American English speaker, but suffice it to say that the word "legitimate" in that sentence is not legitimately used. You cannot glorify an act that is evil with semantic sophistry. And that's Republicans for you. "By their fruits, ye shall know them."

Blogger's comment:

You may also want to read  "REP. TODD AKIN: LEGITIMATE RAPE + FORCIBLE RAPE = REPUBLICAN EXTREMISM" for an objective and interesting take on the issue. It was posted on this Blog on August 22, 2012. 

REP. TODD AKIN: LEGITIMATE RAPE + FORCIBLE RAPE = REPUBLICAN EXTREMISM

Most Republican members of Congress will never discard their antediluvian view about women.  Congressman, Todd Akin is not alone in the act of women bashing - he is a quintessential Republican. His extreme views about women and rape dovetail in toto with that of Mr. Paul Ryan as well as mainstream Republicans.

Mr. Paul Ryan (Governor Romney's running mate on the Republican Presidential ticket) is the mastermind of the "Forcible Rape" Bill of 2011. The truth is that the "Legitimate Rape" bombshell by Mr. Todd Akin, incendiary and demeaning of women as it appears in the eyes of reasonable people all over the World, is not alien to Republican members of Congress - it is their trademark.  Mr. Todd Akin is in a precarious position presently, not necessarily because of what he said, but for the timing of what he said. Period.

To those who do not know and who care to know, "Legitimate (Forcible) Rape" is a Republican invention, developed by Mr. Paul Ryan. And Mr. Paul Ryan is Governor Romney's running mate for the Republican ticket for the November Presidential election. So, the rage in the media by Republicans and their sympathizers over Mr. Todd Akin's remarks goes to show how desperate Republicans are. The developing global outrage over Mr. Akin's statement is becoming too overwhelming. Simply put, Republicans are running away from their brainchild.  

Last year Mr. Todd Akin co-sponsored a Bill with Mr. Paul Ryan (Governor Romney VP choice) along with Republican members of Congress, arguing for an abortion exception only in cases of “Forcible Rape" during the deliberation on "No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act." That language was eventually expunged from the bill following opposition from Democrats.  The truth is that Mr. Todd Akin is only repeating or reinstating the position of his party on the issue of “Forcible Rape” bill – that was originally developed and supported by every Republican member of Congress - using different terminology.

It is worth repeating that there is no difference between "Forcible Rape" as argued by Paul Ryan and Republicans members of Congress during the deliberations on the "No Taxpayer for Abortion Act", and "Legitimate Rape" as argued by Todd Akin in his interview last Sunday. To Mr. Paul Ryan, Mr. Todd Akin, and Republican members of Congress, "Forcible Rape" means the victim was completely overpowered causing the victim to succumb under enormous pressure. And for Mr. Todd Akin, "Legitimate Rape" means the victim was completely overpowered causing the victim to succumb under enormous pressure. In both cases, the victims did not voluntarily participate or play any supporting role throughout the duration of the ordeal. In the opinion of Republican members of Congress, Mr. Paul Ryan and Mr. Todd Akin that is the minimum standard that a rape victim must meet to qualify as a rape victim. Otherwise, in the opinion of Republicans, she is an accomplish – a willing participant in the act of rape who cannot be within the protected class. Insane? No. That is vintage Republican. Because there is no difference between "Legitimate Rape" and "Forcible Rape", Paul Ryan (Mitt Romney's running mate) and Republican members of Congress are as guilty as Mr. Todd Akin.

For Republicans and their fellow talking heads on TV and Radio Stations to be calling on Mr. Todd Akin to step down from the Senatorial race is totally absurd, and it is a glaring exemplification of Republican hypocrisy. They want to run from the truth; they want to run from the opinion and the legislation that they openly canvassed and vigorously supported on the floor of the House. It is nothing new. And it is just Republican amnesia.

In a similar vein, early this year the Republican-controlled State of Virginia Congress passed a law that would require women who want an abortion to undergo a transvaginal ultrasound test in order to qualify for early term termination.  In that case, women who seek abortion would have no choice, but to surrender their vagina for the examination process in order to meet the State of Virginia General Assembly requirement for assistance. It was similar stories all over the US where Republicans are in control of State General Assembly.

It came to a point that a female member of the Ohio General Assembly demanded that men should also undergo a medical check-up to be able to qualify for the use of VIAGRA. According to Senator Nina Turner “The men in our lives, including members of the General Assembly, generously devote time to fundamental female reproductive issues–the least we can do is return the favor,” “It is crucial that we take the appropriate steps to shelter vulnerable men from the potential side effects of these drugs.” Why not; what is good for the goose is good for the gander.  What is good for Republican men is also good for American women.

In a nutshell, with respect to the “Legitimate Rape” biological mumbo jumbo or junk science, Mr. Todd Akin is not saying anything new or making any assertion uncharacteristic of Republican members of Congress. The only difference presently is that Congressman, Paul Ryan who co-sponsored the infamous “Forcible Rape" bill is running as a VP candidate with Governor Romney under the Republican ticket. They are running from their trademark. And that’s unfortunate.

Semantically, "Legitimate Rape" is 'Forcible Rape." Adding to that, Mr. Todd Akin’s argument during his interview was the same argument by Republican members of Congress in their support for the “Forcible Rape Bill" in the House during the debate on the “No Tax for Abortion Act.” So, who is fooling who? "Forcible Rape" is the brainchild of Paul Ryan and Todd Akin and it is vintage Republicans. If Republicans, due to the "Forcible Rape" saga, are unwilling to trust Todd with their votes and money, why must we trust Paul Ryan? Invariably, if we cannot trust Paul and Todd, we shouldn't trust Paul and Governor Romney with our votes. It is that simple.

Mr. Paul Ryan, Mr. Romney, and Republican members of Congress can’t feel your pain. No, no, they can't, because they are not part of your world. If they are not familiar with your reality, they cannot fathom your needs. That is the essence of governance. And that’s what makes President Obama different from Mr. Paul Ryan and Governor Mitt Romney. Obama knows what ails us because he is a part of American existence, our reality, and daily living. That’s the main reason we must return him to the Oval Office with our votes.