President Goodluck Jonathan Must Not Repeat The Mistakes Of Dr Nnamidi Azikiwe

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A few weeks ago, President Jonathan lamented that critics have venomously made him the issue when Nigeria’s problems which according to him began in 1914 preceded him. In making that statement, President Jonathan demonstrated a serious misunderstanding of the expectations that came with his presidency and the failings that already seem to be trailing it, which has incited the more than usual venomous punching his administration, has received.  President Jonathan should  realise that  Nigerians or the so called venomous critics are not unaware that the nation has been afflicted with crises particularly since the mistake of the amalgamation in 1914, but what the critics equally expected especially with the unusual circumstances of his presidency which in itself inspired so much hope and expectations is that he would get to work in a transformational capacity to redress and resolve at least some of the fundamental issues that has beset the nation since the mistake of 1914.

 

Having  been  elected  in an election  adjudged reasonably free and fair and under unprecedented  circumstances,  the citizenry expected  rapid  action against corruption , a clear and focused strategy for  infrastructural  development, job creation, poverty reduction  and most importantly for the convocation of a sovereign national conference to address once and for all the vexed issue of the Nigerian question which has continued to dog the nation. As the days have gone by, it has become increasingly obvious that president Jonathan is either not ready or prepared to confront the fundamental issues for which it was hoped his unusual presidency will resolve.  Most notably he is yet to convene a sovereign national conference,   even while ironically acknowledging as he did a few weeks earlier, the deep crisis the nation has confronted since 1914.

 

The refusal so far to seize this historic opportunity to convene a sovereign national conference preferring instead to appease and pacify the Northern political leadership who have for narrow selfish reasons stood in opposition to the convocation of an SNC, amounts to repeating the mistakes that Dr Nnamidi Azikiwe and to some extent General Aguiyi Ironsi made for which the nation continues to suffer.  Dr Nnamidi Azikiwe made the wholesome mistake of repeatedly appeasing and pacifying the North in a bid to achieve his Pan-Africanist ideal of a united Nigeria. This led to repeated negotiations and compromises that were skewed to accommodating the north.

 

 

In 1953 when Chief Anthony Enahoro moved the motion for self government by 1956 in the federal House of Representatives, the North stridently opposed the motion for independence and moved a counter motion. Following the crisis, the embittered Northern members of the federal  house of representatives issued   an eight point program in which they called for secession of the North and shortly after sponsored riots that killed scores of Southerners  in  Kano in 1953, effectively beginning the pattern of sponsored mass killings by Northern leaders.  In spite of this lack of patriotism  and sponsored mass murder of southerners in Kano  because of a motion for self government which  made it  obvious that the so called Nigeria was unworkable,  Dr Nnamidi Azikiwe chose to appease and pacify the north by declaring  that they would wait for the North.  In 1957 when the British colonial authorities offered independence individually to the regions provided two out of the three regions accepted the offer, the Northern region declared they were not ready for that level of political and economic independence, the Western region declared their readiness to accept the offer and the East was the tie to keep or break Nigeria. Again Dr Nnamidi Azikiwe choose to appease the north and decided not to accept the offer in other to avoid the break-up of Nigeria. That singular action by Dr Nnamidi Azikiwe prevented Nigeria’s break-up.

 

Following the elections of 12th December 1959 to the 312 member federal House of Representatives in the then parliamentary system, none of the 3 major parties had a clear majority to form the government. The Northern people’s congress (NPC)  and  allied political parties won a  total of 148 seats  Dr Nnamidi Azikiwe’s  National council of Nigerian citizens (NCNC) and allied political parties won a total of 89 seats while Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s action group (AG) and allied political parties won a total of 75 seats.  In terms of votes, the NCNC and allied parties won the largest number of votes with a total of 2,592,629 votes; the NPC and allied parties came second with 2,027,194 votes while the AG and allied parties came third with 1,986,839 votes.  While the NCNC had a superior number of votes overall, earlier concessions to the North in the structuring of parliamentary seats ensured that the NPC won more seats with less votes.

 

With a 312 member parliament it was obvious that no party could form the government without a coalition.  The combined seats of the NCNC totalling 89 and AG totalling 75 gave them a parliamentary majority of 164 seats above the 51% required to form a government.  Chief Obafemi Awolowo offered a coalition between the NCNC and AG in which Dr Nnamidi Azikiwe would be the prime minister and he would be the minister of finance. Once again, in what is now considered the greatest sacrifice and the greatest mistake in the annals of African history, Dr Nnamidi Azikiwe choose to decline the opportunity of becoming prime minister and opted to become a junior partner in a coalition with the northern NPC  for  the  sole purpose  of preserving Nigeria’s unity.

In spite of the overwhelming sacrifices made by Dr Nnamidi Azikiwe particularly in appeasing, pacifying and making possible the coalition that gave power to the North at independence, it soon became obvious that the North had been clearly opportunistic and never appreciated any of those sacrifices. In the following years, acrimony, intimidation, conspiracies, census and election rigging, violence  and  other  grave incidents due to the high handedness and insensitivity of the ruling NPC culminated in the truncation of the first republic. By the time Dr Nnamidi Azikiwe realised his mistakes and teamed up with the AG to form UPGA in 1964, it was too late as the rigging machine had already been set in motion which made it impossible for UPGA defeat the NPC. The military came with guns blazing and the rest is history.  In the end, every sacrifice Dr Nnamidi Azikiwe made in appeasing and pacifying the north for the purpose of preserving Nigeria’s unity was never reciprocated as the North, largely opportunistic took advantage of the likes of Dr Azikiwe to in the end achieve and unleash their agenda.

 

General Aguiyi Ironsi likewise made the same mistake when on assuming power in January 1966 after quashing the unfortunate coup; he had the possibility of dissolving what was by then very obvious to all and sundry as an unworkable nation. The North was indeed already campaigning stridently for secession.  Confronted with such a volatile situation, General Aguiyi Ironsi rather than the practical and realist option of balkanizing the nation  opted  to unify it.  Once again like Dr Nnamidi Azikiwe he choose appeasement and pacification in place of wielding the big stick. He disregarded advice and warnings of an impending coup and in an effort to hold the nation together,  promulgated the unification decree in line with the command structure of  the military as a temporary measure. That finally became his undoing and a convenient but fraudulent excuse by the Northern coupists who overthrew and killed him chiefly on the grounds of the unification decree. Ironically the same North now went on to consolidate the unitary system in its worst form with which the nation remains stuck to date and of which the North remains the greatest opposition to any effort including the SNC to return to a true federal system.

 

Thus; all through history, the North has been opportunistic, selfish, tribalistic and deceptive, constantly changing to suit their sole interests at the expense of others.  Unfortunately those methods worked for them with the likes of Dr Nnamidi Azikiwe who selflessly worked for a united Nigeria without realising the opportunistic nature of those he contended with. In light of the debate over the convening of an SNC and the opposition of the North to it, President Jonathan should re-evaluate Nigeria’s history and avoid the pitfalls and mistakes of Dr Nnamidi Azikiwe . It is obvious that the North’s opposition to the SNC is not borne out of patriotism but rather out of the usual opportunism in their desire to maintain the status quo of a flawed unitary structure with its attendant injustices.  Once again, they care not for the interests and desires of the generality of Nigerians but for the narrow selfish interests of the North.

 

If as Arewa consultative forum (ACF) the mouth piece of the North now pretends that their interest in opposing an SNC is to preserve Nigeria’s unity, then it needs to be called out as the fraud that it is; for even the most daft recognises the common sense that the best and most sustainable way of preserving Nigeria’s unity is through dialogue and consent of all ethnic nationalities.  To do otherwise amounts to internal colonialism which cannot last. Secondly it’s an indictment of the North who have held power in the last 4 decades since the foundational years of Nigeria that they created a nation with so much economic, political and social injustice to the extent that they now fear an SNC would lead to Nigeria’s break-up.  If they had invested their time in power in building a nation with justice, equality, prosperity and social stability, we wouldn’t be faced today with the dilemma of holding a sovereign national conference and its feared implication of a break-up.

 

Thus, the crisis of nationhood the nation faces is a problem the North created and they cannot hold the rest of the nation hostage for their own failings. The Kano riot of 1953 over the opposition of the North to independence fundamentally establishes a long history of the Northern leadership sponsoring the violence and mass murder of innocents.  The same is true of routine riots and mass killings in the North over the decades and of the present Boko haram killing spree. The culture of premeditated sponsored mass killings by Northern leaders  which is now deeply rooted will know no end  until  the nation confronts the demons of her existence by holding a sovereign national conference.

There has been too much blood letting in Nigeria’s history, and the nation has reached an important cross roads.  President Jonathan should consider himself a child of destiny whom circumstances has made the “Moses” of this generation to lead the beleaguered masses out of the circle of endless bloodletting, strife and bondage by convening a sovereign national conference.  As the experience of Dr Nnamidi Azikiwe shows, appeasing or pacifying the North is a bad strategy which has never worked and will not now work as the North has always been selfish, opportunistic and has never been genuinely interested in the overall interests of the whole nation.   President Jonathan must avoid the mistakes of Dr Azikiwe, stop all appeasement and fulfil his destiny by quickly convening an SNC. He must rekindle hope in those who vehemently criticise his regime because he has yet to begin the fulfilment of the promise his rare opportunity brought to the millions who voted for him. President Jonathan must look to the future and face the moment with courage, audacity and tenacity as he fulfils his destiny by standing against the odds and convening an SNC.

 

This is the most important task of his administration and he owes the generation of children even yet unborn this most fundamental and important task of convening an SNC to unshackle the nation and the enslaved masses. The British colonial authorities departed in 1960, leaving behind the volatile and fractious contraption they conceived to serve their imperial interests. It is now time for us to dialogue and choose our own destiny and President Jonathan should lead that historic effort by convening a sovereign national conference!

 

Lawrence Chinedu  Nwobu

Email: lawrencenwobu@yahoo.com

 

 

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kano_riot_of_1953

http://www.thenigerianvoice.com/nvnews/13215/1/how-zik-stopped-nigeria-from-breaking-up-in-1957.html

http://africanelections.tripod.com/ng.html

http://africanelections.tripod.com/ng_detail.html#1959_House_of_Representatives_Election

http://www.academicjournals.org/ajpsir/pdf/pdf2010/December/Ojo.pdf

Statement From Mr Femi Otedola On The Bribery Scandal

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I have stated the facts in my interview with Thisday newspaper and nothing but the facts. That Farouk Lawan demanded $3 million from me and because I refused to oblige him he included the name of Zenon amongst those who bought forex without importing petroleum products. He did this without even asking Zenon to produce a single documents of the forex transaction. He clearly wanted to extort money for an offence I did not commit. That is why I went to report to the security agencies. If I had anything to hide I wouldn’t have gone to the agencies. There is an old adage that says “people who live in glass houses should not throw stones”.

Moreover it is not possible to purchase $232, 975,385.13 million from CBN without importing the product. The total figure is not even $232, 975,385.13 million as alleged but $372, 207, 990 million. They should go and amend the report to read $372, 207, 990 million which is the correct figure. It is not possible to purchase this volume of forex from the CBN with first class banks such as Access bank, FCMB, GTB, UBA and an international bank BNP Paribas which is one of the biggest and most respected banks in the world.

If people at my level who have worked hard to build their businesses can be blackmailed this way all in a bid to extort money from them, I pity people that are just starting out in business in this country. In all my business dealings I have always been above board and the records are there to prove. As far as I know Lawan could not have been working alone in this extortionist plot. A tree does not make a forest. Let me also state for the records that we are not in any way affiliated to the other company Synopsis enterprises Ltd also included in the report. Actions of today by the house is laughable, a mere celebration of corruption and a further indictment on their honorable member.

PRESIDENT JONATHAN MOVES AGAINST TIMIPREYE SYLVA; SETS HIM UP WITH COCAINE AT WIFE’S OFFICE.

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In a bid to undermine the present Sylva’s case which is at the Federal High Court, Abuja and also in his bid to make sure he gets a pound of flesh against former Bayelsa Governor. 247ureports.com investigation reveals that President Jonathan using his Proxies at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission [EFCC] “is at it again”.

This time, EFCC men who went to search former Bayelsa’s governor wife’s office situated at Onitsha Street, Area 11 beside Petrus Hotel in Abuja, came out with a purported finding of Cocaine claiming that it was found in the Former First Lady’s office.

247ureports also learnt that, one of the men of the EFCC upon entering the building, directly dashed upstairs unaccompanied and unescorted – and then showed up with a package claiming to be a parcel of Cocaine. The EFCC has also arrested the occupant of the office of the Former first lady.

The office, as 247ureports.com learnt, is being used by the NGO of the former first lady. The President of the Federal republic of Nigeria had been on a targeted hunt against the former governor of Bayelsa State. The President was principally responsible for the removal of the former governor from the seat of governor.

 

Full Text of the Speaker’s speech at the plenary session today:

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Text remarks by the Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (CFR) on the occasion of the special plenary session of the house on Friday 15th June 2012

Protocols

My Dear Honourable Colleagues,

I now formally welcome you to this Special Session of Plenary which has been summoned pursuant to Order 5(18) (2) of the Standing Rules of the House of Representatives. It is the Second Special Session since the 7th House of Representatives was inaugurated on the 6th June 2011.

2. The object of the Session, which you have just accomplished, is to deliberate on grave allegation of bribery brought against a member of this Hallowed Chambers. Hon. Farouk Lawan by Mr. Femi Otedola, an oil marketer, in connection with the work of the Ad-Hoc Committee on the Monitoring of Fuel Subsidy Regime empanelled by the House for that purpose.

3. In accordance with our Legislative Agenda we must continue to be, not only sensitive to the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians but also proactive on all matters of urgent National importance, therefore, while I apologize for the inconveniences caused to members by this sudden recall from the recess, I trust, we all appreciate that this is a call to important civic duty for our dear country.

4.Hon. Colleagues, when we elected to pursue the entrenchment of probity, accountability and transparency in the conduct of government business as a cardinal Legislative Agenda we advised ourselves never to expect that it will be an easy task. Accordingly I have had cause to occasionally sound a note of warning and reminder that our constitutional task is inescapably hazardous requiring total commitment, diligence, transparency; determination and sacrifice.

5. The Constitution has given the parliament three broad duties, which include Law Making, Representation and Oversight. It is interesting to note that of these three, it is that last function, which gives legislature the powers to conduct oversight, that has tended to cause conflict between the legislature and the Executive and remains the most controversial. Yet  it would have been impossible to conduct the other two functions successfully if the Constitution had not given the parliament oversight powers: the single most potent weapon that  makers of the Constitution put in place to check abuse by those who execute its law.

6. In full compliance with the Constitutional prescription in S 62(1) and (2) the House has always ensured that all Committees empanelled by it, be they Ad-Hoc or Standing, are given a clear mandate. I find it compelling to state for the umpteenth time that the constitutional power of investigation conferred on the Legislature is for the purpose of law reform and for the exposure of corruption, inefficiency or waste in the execution or administration of laws within its legislative competence and in the disbursement or administration of funds appropriated by it. In the exercise of this function there shall be no sacred cows.

7.I have emphasized the constitutionality of the oversight function of the legislature because there lingers among many public officials, the notion that in holding public or investigative hearings, the Legislature is over stepping its bounds and also neglecting its other functions. Nothing can be further from the truth. The records of our performance for the first legislative year, which just ended on 6th June 2012, show that the performance in the area of legislation was equally impressive.

8. I wish at this point to make this pledge that the House of Representatives shall continue to act responsibly by ensuring that all investigations are instituted only when absolutely necessary. Furthermore, we shall insist on probity and fairness on the part of our members conducting such investigations; and we shall not hesitate to sanction anyone who in the course of these investigations overreaches himself or uses the process to intimidate anyone or engages in corruption.

9. The recent investigations into two Sectors, namely Oil Subsidy Regime and Capital Market were conducted in public, evidence and testimonies were freely given and taken and in the case of oil subsidy regime, monumental fraud was disclosed in the report of the Ad-Hoc Committee which has since been passed by the House and referred to the Executive for implementation by relevant agencies.

10. While we consider it preposterous and hasty to dismiss the current bribery allegations, pending the outcome of ongoing investigations, including our in-house investigation just instituted, we reject in totality insinuations being orchestrated in some media to the effect that the allegations have eroded the integrity of the Resolutions of the House on the report and rendered same unworthy of implementation.

11. Let me reiterate that the resolutions of the Hose over the fuel subsidy regime remain valid despite this recent controversy. We must as a country learn to separate institutions from individuals and we must admit that, in the present case, the alleged conduct of an individual cannot negate the conclusions of the whole House. Let me also reaffirm here that we have not been compromised and we shall never compromise our stand against corruption. The credibility of that report therefore remains inviolable and we stand by it.

12. May I, therefore, urge the Executive to match words with action in the implementation of these resolutions? As just resolved by motion, relevant Committees of the House must diligently monitor the implementation of the resolution by agencies under their supervisory jurisdiction and report back to the House within reasonable time.

13. My Dear Colleagues, the scope of our resolve for transparency in the conduct of government business includes all the arms of government; all public functionaries and all persons doing business with government or operating under Acts of the legislature. As members of parliament we enjoy no immunity and we seek none, let us therefore remind ourselves constantly that we must live above board. We offer ourselves for public scrutiny at all times in our effort to build a better Nigeria. As humans where we err and our attention is called we shall be willing to make amends in the overall national interest.

14. I call upon all of us to remain firm, resolute and committed to the execution of our constitutional mandate whatever the hazards. We must NEVER repeat NEVER be cowed or intimidated by any form or colour of antics that may be fashioned with intent to dampen our spirits and or break our resolve. It remains for me to say that, when the army suffers causalities of a few officers and men at the battlefront, it beats no retreat except it does not intend to win the battle. I am confident that men and women of integrity and character are in the overwhelming majority in our fold and we do not lack the numbers to prosecute the battle. We shall be judged not only by our words but more so by our actions.

15. To the good people of Nigeria we appeal for patience and understanding and wish to once more assure you of our sincerity of purpose and the determination to deliver the Nigeria of our dreams. The road may be rough and herculean but victory is sure.

16. Now therefore is the time to double the pace of our performance, including the investigative hearings, given that from the monumental fraud uncovered through these investigations, we know that we are surely on course.

17. The current unfortunate bribery allegation, whatever the outcome of ongoing investigation can only serve as impetus for us to do more, in the quest for the entrenchment of probity in governance.

18. In addition to routine oversight, we shall investigate everything that needs to be investigated in the process of the fashioning of a better Nigeria. In this regard, we shall continue to seek synergy with the other arms of government so as not to work at cross-purposes.

19. May the Almighty God grant us the Courage and Grace to do what is right at all times and in all situations?

Thank you all.

Boko Haram:JTF Kills 5, One Woman in Kano

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Information reaching 247ureports.com through top security sources in Kano State indicates that the joint task force [JTF] stationed Kano have killed five Boko Haram suspects including a woman.

As gathered, the men of the JTF raided a suspected hideout of the Boko Haram at the early morning hours of 5am today at Damarwa town located within Kano metropolis. The raid resulted in a heated gun battle between the men of the JTF and the Boko Haram suspects. The gun battle lasted for 1.5hours before the men of the JTF subdued the suspects. The men of the JTF did not sustain and injuries. The area has been barricaded by the men of the JTF.

It is recalled that three days ago the JTF arrested 5 Boko Haram suspects.

House Suspends Lawan, Launches War On Otedola and other Oil Thieves

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Today, As Speaker Entered the Emergency Session

 

The lower chamber of the National Assembly [NASS] in their emergency meeting rose to pass the motion moved by Hon. Mohammed Bawa for the suspension of the chairman of the adhoc committee on oil subsidy probe, Hon. Farouk Lawan which was seconded by Hon Uche Ekwunife.

Hon. Farouk Lawan was suspended from the committee on education and from his chairmanship of the adhoc committee on oil subsidy. The lower chamber of the NASS in suspending the Honorable member also took the opportunity to warn of the dangerous trend being embarked on bythe powers that be in the country. Hon Samson Osagie representing a constituency in Edo State voiced his concern over the powers that be in the country using the security apparatus of the country for blackmail of members of the NASS. He likened it to the Richard Nixon Watergate in the USA.

 

The Speaker of the lower chamber of NASS also spoke emphatically on the attempt to soil the name of an institution through the alleged crime of an individual member. “Separate institutions from an individual” said the speaker who continued to add that “we will continue to engage in investigation regardless. The integrity of the report remains intact. We shall never been comprised. The majority of the lawmakers are people of integrity”.

 

The NASS went to move to add Item 29 to the report of the adhoc committee on oil subsidy. The addition of item 29 re-introduced the company belonging to Femi Otedola [Zenon Oil Company] to the names of companies submitted to the economic and financial crimes commission [EFCC]. The company belonging to Femi Otedola was reported to have received over N300billion in foreign currency through the central bank of Nigeria for the purchase of petroleum products. The Zenon oil company after collecting the money failed to import the petroleum products.

The House then passed a motion for Zenon to provide answers to the EFCC – what it used the foreign currency [dollars] for?

 

stay tuned

 

NANS demands trial of Otedola, Lawan

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The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) yesterday demanded the trial of both the giver of the $620,000 bribe rocking the House of Representatives, Mr. Femi Otedola and the alleged taker, Mr. Farouk Lawan, who is the Chairman of the House Ad Hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy Management.

But the National Youth Council of Nigeria (Kaduna chapter) warned the executive arm against dumping of the report because of the allegation against Lawan.

NANS, which made its position known in a statement in Abuja by its President, Comrade Dauda Mohammed said it was shocked by the bribery allegations.

The statement reads:  “The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) received with shock recent revelations bordering on the dealings involving the Chairman of the House of Representatives ad hoc committee on Fuel subsidy probe, Hon Farouk Lawan. We were shocked not only because of the conduct of Hon Lawan as an ad hoc committee chairman but rather because of the esteem regards we have had in the past for Hon. Lawan as the Chairman of the House Committee on Education.

“There is no doubt that Nigerians were excited by the decision of the House of Representatives to entrust such responsibility in the hand of a man who have always worn the toga of Integrity in the National Assembly.

“With the revelations of the last few days concerning the alleged bribery of Hon Farouk Lawan by a businessman, Mr.Femi Otedola, we wish to state that Nigeria has been taken miles back in our quest for role modeling for the younger generation of Nigerians.

“As an organisation, we want to categorically state our opposition to any act of corruption as this has remained a major impediment to our quest for development as a nation.

“In this regard, the NANS demands for the immediate arrest and prosecution of Hon. Farouk Lawan, Mr. Femi Otedola and any other person found to have been involved in the bribery scandal.

“ NANS also wishes to lend our voice to the demand of other Nigerians that the report of the subsidy probe panel be fully implemented as we are more particular about the message other than the messengers at the point of our history.

“We urge the leadership of the House to allow a thorough investigation by the anti-graft agencies into the allegations as we await further revelations on the matter.

“We wish to state that Hon Lawan has lost every moral ground to remain as the Chairman of the House Committee on Education as we hereby demand for his immediate resignation.”

On its part, the Kaduna chapter of the NYCN through its Secretary-General Comrade Danjuma Sarki said:  “The Executive arm of government should not use the bribery allegation against Lawan to cast aspersion on the report or tarnish its integrity. We maintain that the report that was released by the committee was no doubt a product of a thorough and objective investigation of the massive fraud and clear rip-off of our collective national resources by a few Kleptomania, who have been milking our country dry at the expense of the masses.

“We want to caution the President Goodluck Jonathan and the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) not to allow the oil cabal and some enemies of the growth and development of the Nigeria people use this opportunity to scuttle the implementation of the report, but should ensure that all those indicted are made to face the music and monies looted by them recovered.

“Anything short of that would certainly tarnish the image of his government before Nigerians and the international community.

“The government should remember that, all Nigerians are very much aware of the report, the great applause and reactions that it received from the good people of Nigeria was unprecedented.

“Therefore, any attempt to dump the report like that of the Hon. Tony Elumelu-led $16 billion power probe and others, shall be met with stiff resistance by well-meaning Nigerians.

“We emphatically reiterate our strong confidence in the House of Representatives, under the able leadership of Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, who we believe is a man of honour and integrity, with so much commitment to the eradication of corruption and development of our country. “We call on the House not to allow this allegation shatter its resolve towards ensuring transparency and accountability in the oil industry, but to pursue their cause of sanitising the sector.

“However, we demand a thorough and unbiased investigation of the allegation against Hon. Farouk Lawan, the chairman of the committee by Chief Femi Otedola, so as to ascertain the truth and whoever is find guilty should be made to face the wrath of the law.”

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Source: The Nation

Obama’s global popularity wanes

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US President Barack Obama arrives from a campaign trip yesterday in Washington

 

The world’s love affair with Barack Obama is not quite over – but it’s on the rocks. A survey of global opinion of the US president shows large numbers of non-Americans feel badly let down by the man awarded the Nobel peace prize for 2009.

A Pew Research Centre poll of attitudes toward the US in 21 countries found that confidence in Mr Obama’s foreign policy has fallen sharply since he took office three years ago, particularly over drone attacks.

Hopes that Washington would prove more internationalist, seek UN approval for military action and be more even-handed in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have been dashed. Foreigners also feel let down by Mr Obama’s inertia on climate change.

Perhaps most worryingly for Washington, the real collapse in confidence is over the US economy, with majorities in the UK, Germany and France saying that China is now the world’s top economic power. But Mr Obama still commands far more respect than his predecessor, George Bush.

The poll reveals particular hostility to US drone attacks in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Yemen. Although Washington claims the attacks are carefully targeted at major terrorists, they frequently kill civilians.

The drone strikes are backed by 62 per cent of Americans but have only minority support in every other country polled by Pew.

The strongest overseas support for the US strategy is in Britain, where 44 per cent approve. But in France, China, Mexico and Russia there are large majorities opposed to it.

The US president’s standing remains strong in Europe, where he has an 80 per cent approval rating – down just 6 per cent on three years ago. But it is a different story elsewhere. The sharpest drop in confidence has been in China, where support has fallen from 62 per cent in 2009 to 38 per cent this year.

Obama’s lowest standing is in the Muslim world, where fewer than one in four approve of his policies. That is still markedly higher than views of the US as a whole. Just 15 per cent of people in Muslim countries have a favourable view of the US.

When he came to power, nearly half of non-Americans thought the new US president would seek international approval to use military force. Just 29 per cent believe he has done so. He was also expected to “be fair with the Israelis and Palestinians” and to confront climate change. Large majorities now feel let down on those issues.

Still, the romance many Europeans developed with Mr  Obama, giving them a more sentimental view of the president than most Americans have, largely continues. Large majorities in Europe would like to see him re-elected, led by 92 per cent of those polled in France.

This is not so in the Middle East, where three out of four Egyptians and clear majorities in other countries want him out of office.

The Oil Thieves

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By Chidi Orazulike

With an official production figure of 2.4 million barrels per day, Nigeria ranks as Africa’s biggest Petro-state, raking in billions of dollars in petroleum revenue. However, there are indications that the nation maybe producing more than the official figure while the rest is lost through the unscrupulous activities and manipulations of criminal cartels who engage in oil theft. The crime occurs at the most basic level when pipelines rupture or spring leaks, allowing local inhabitants to siphon off the oil.  Many leaks occur throughout the Niger Delta for purely technical reasons. An estimated 70 percent of the pipelines in the Niger Delta are over 30 years old, have exceeded their technical life-span, and are laid near to the surface.  Nigerian crude is a high-quality, light low sulfur grade referred to as ‘Sweet’, which is highly prized by oil consuming nations because of its high gasoline content and relatively cheap processing costs. In most cases oil thieves breach a pipeline at night with the result that the oil company shuts down the flow in the line when the drop in pressure caused by the breach registers on the gauges at the flow station. While the flow is shut off for the company to inspect the line, find and repair the breach, the thieves excavate the pipeline some distance away and install a tap underground through which they deliver a constant supply of oil to their own facilities. As the supply is constant, no fluctuation in pressure is registered at the company’s flow station when the flow resumes after the repairs to the initial breach. Technical advice on the installation of the tap or ‘hot-tapping’ as it is known, is allegedly often provided by either a former oil company employee or a currently employed company insider who also provides information on security patrols and schedules. Recently, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC) raised an alarm over activities of oil thieves on the new Nembe Creek Trunkline (NCTL). According to the company’s Managing Director, Mutiu Sunmonu, on the 24th of December 2010, the line was shut down because of leaks caused by two failed bunkering points, “since repairs were completed, more than 50 theft valves have been discovered. In one case, some 17 illegal bunkering points were found within a distance of 3.8km.” Individuals transfer oil extracted illegally from facilities into containers and onto barges or lighters, which then take the oil to tankers.  This process of “bunkering” is what has given the business of oil-theft in Nigeria its common name.

WHO ARE THEY? While the conventional image invoked at the mention of an oil thief is the hooded Niger Delta militant who may burst pipelines to steal oil, they nevertheless have accomplices who are neither from the Niger Delta region nor even know the location of the pipelines. While the former may be of very rugged and of violent disposition, the later operate with more stealth in their suits and uniforms, in some cases working hand in glove with the militants as ‘field operatives’. Information from the international whistle blower, Wikileaks, indicate that the process of “bunkering” and off-loading oil at terminals or tankers requires a network of accomplices to provide protection from the security forces of the oil companies and the Nigerian State to transport, transfer and sell the oil at international market prices.  Leaders of armed bands arrange “internal” protection when they steal oil, while those outside militant groups bribe official security forces to “look the other way” during loading and transportation of specific barges or when tankers tie up at terminals. A report on illegal sale of crude oil, commissioned by the Coalition of Party Leaders of Nigeria (COPLON) under former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration in 2003 indicated collusion between naval officers and oil thieves. The report stated that the illegal oil ‘bunkerers’, who are organized in a union and regulated by a group referred to as the Grand Council, worked in close co-operation with the leadership of the Naval Base NNS Okemiri. It noted that following the Nigerian Federal Government’s decision to target the activities of militia and illegal oil bunkerers in the Niger Delta, a message code named “Go Blanket” was passed from an officer of NNS Okemiri, advising the illegal traders on July 6, 2003 to temporarily suspend their activities. Another report from a Norwegian security analyst firm, Bergen Risk Solutions, contends that the “dirty job of stealing oil” is driven by the relatively low cost of fuel production in Nigeria. “Corruption and organised crime seems to be at play…There is already not only a market for stolen oil but also an established network to service this market. Official collusion is not only probable, it has well established and ‘proud’ traditions. Given that corruption is rampant in Nigeria and elsewhere in the Gulf of Guinea, the claim that government officials are involved in the trade of stolen oil – also offshore Benin – might well be true.” Of course, Nigerians do not need to think of the probability of official collusion in the illegal business of oil theft. A classical example is the celebrated case of the sudden disappearance of the MT African Pride, which was seized on suspicion of being used to smuggle crude oil out of Nigeria. The vessel was arrested by the Nigerian Navy on August 8, 2003, but was, however, declared missing in custody of the Western Naval Command on October 10, 2004, causing huge national embarrassment, with the Nigerian Navy and Police officials blaming each other. The then Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Samuel Afolayan and other top brass of the Navy were accused of complicity over the missing vessel. Even the former Minister of State for Defence (Navy), Dr. Olu Agunloye, was mentioned in connection with the MT African Pride saga. The case climaxed with the conviction and dismissal of two senior officers of the Nigerian Navy, Rear Admirals Francis Agbiti and Samuel Kolawole, both of whom were on the verge of retirement after 34 years of service. Sadly, that shameful episode did not bring an end to such criminal escapades. Recently, a Nigerian ship, MT Madina was reportedly arrested in Ghana for allegedly carrying crude oil stolen from Nigeria to a private jetty in Accra, Ghana. Although the ownership of the vessel was yet to be ascertained, members of the Indigenous Ship Owners Association of Nigeria (ISAN) were quoted as working to unravel its ownership. As at press time, the ship’s captain and his crew were reportedly still under detention by the Ghanaian authority. In recent times however, there has been a significant decrease in reported cases of oil theft that involves the participation of militants and increase in what might be termed “Legal Oil Theft.” The term refers to the lifting of crude oil beyond the licensed volume. The crime is usually conducted through fraudulent Bills of Lading, which transfers contractual rights and liabilities to the owner. Therefore, the possession of a Bill of Lading is a proof of entitlement to the goods.  Since the process of oil transportation involves a private carriage where the vessel charterer accepts commercial control over a vessel for a specific period of time or for a specific purpose, the shipper and charterer issue the Bill of Lading. This paper chain for Bills of Lading for transport of crude oil provides ample opportunities for theft of oil by those with a legal license to lift oil. The process is facilitated with the involvement of the ship captain, staff at the point of loading and oil company personnel. The fraudulent issuance Bills of Lading contributed in no small measure to the mindboggling ballooning of the subsidy funds disbursed by the government in the past. Findings at the recently concluded hearings at the oil subsidy probe by the National Assembly reveal that the claim by some licensed importers that Nigeria imported and consumed about 60, 000 tons of fuel per day could not be substantiated. Facts available to the National Assembly showed that the country’s effective consumption was about 30,000 ton per day, a 50% hike by the criminal cartels that held the collective till to ransom. Invariably, out of the N1.7 trillion paid for subsidy in 2011, about N850 billion went to the oil thieves from the national purse. Already, there are speculations that the expected report of the Oil Subsidy Probe Committee allegedly indicted not only the Minister of Petroleum Resources, but also some high ranking officials of the NNPC, PPPRA and DPR. This, of course, is a subject for further investigations by OGP.

EFFECTS Perhaps, the most dangerous effect of the massively organized oil theft business is the criminality and corruption it fosters. The crime amply fed the rise of militant movements in the Niger Delta region and gave them prominence. By early 2005, they had graduated to Kidnapping. It would be recalled that the current wave of kidnapping began with the abduction of expatriate oil workers by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger-Delta (MEND) in 2005. The group had claimed that it kidnapped the oil workers as a means of alerting the world to the many years of injustice, exploitation, marginalization and underdevelopment of Niger-Delta region. But today, most analysts believe that the kidnapping was nothing but a reaction by the so-called militants and their sponsors to the threat of driving them out of business. Unfortunately other unscrupulous groups have since taken over the kidnapping business, making millions of dollars without caring about the underdevelopment of the Niger Delta region. Directly related to the crime and corruption is the huge economic losses inflicted on the Nigerian economy by the oil vandals. Earlier this year, Ian Craig, Shell’s Director for Sub-Saharan Africa revealed that “Nigeria loses about 150, 000 barrels of crude oil per day to oil thieves. Under the current crude oil price regime this translates to about $1.8 million or N2.88 billion every day. He said Nigeria could produce 4 million barrels of oil per day, but big changes would be needed for this to happen.” Besides, not only are these enemies of the Nigerian state bleeding the country dry, they are also compounding the woes of the already fragile environmental situation in the Niger Delta region. Indeed, Shell had earlier submitted that more than 75 per cent of all oil spill incidents and more than 70 per cent of all oil spilled from SPDC facilities in the Niger Delta between 2006 and 2010 were caused by sabotage, theft and illegal refining. The activities of the actors in the criminal game appear to have strengthened the old argument of oil companies that criminality rather than negligence mainly accounts for environmental crisis in the Niger Delta. The far reaching effects of the spillages are unquantifiable. Environmental reports on the effects of oil spillage indicate that major oil spills heavily contaminate marine shorelines, causing severe localised ecological damage to the near-shore community. Oil destroys plants and animals in the estuarine zone. It settles on beaches and kills organisms and other marine lives like fish, crabs and other crustaceans. Oil endangers fish hatcheries in coastal waters and as well contaminates the flesh of commercially valuable fish. It poisons algae, disrupts major food chains and decreases the yield of edible crustaceans. It also affects coast birds, impairing their flight or reducing the insulation property of their feathers, thus making them more vulnerable to cold. Oil on water surface also interferes with gaseous interchange at the sea surface and dissolved oxygen levels will thereby be lowered. This, no doubt, reduces the life span of marine animals. And in a bid to clean oil spills by the use of oil dispersants, serious toxic effects are exerted on plankton thereby poisoning marine animals. This can further lead to food poisoning and loss of lives.

CONCLUSION As the Federal Government grapples with developmental issues in Niger Delta, the battle against oil thieves has also taken the center stage. The Federal Government is not unaware of the deadly consequences of this illegal trade. In responding to the situation, the Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta, codenamed Operation Restore Hope, has been restructured and is now known as Operation ‘Pulo Shield’. In February, Agency reports noted that ‘pulo’ is an Ijaw name for “oil”, meaning that the task force is also codenamed ‘Operation Oil Shield.’ The composition of the outfit had also been expanded to include other agencies like the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS), Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). Others are the Presidential Committee on Maritime Safety and Security (PICOMSS), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the NNPC and other oil producing companies. The operational scope of the task force covers the nine oil producing states of Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo and Rivers. The Federal Government has also awarded a contract to a private firm to patrol Nigeria’s waterways against pirates and other criminals along the coastline from Calabar to Lagos. However, the contract has been dogged by controversies over the propriety of handing the security of the nation’s coastline to a private security firm reportedly with links to Government Ekpumopolo, an ex-commander of a faction of the dreaded militants in the Niger Delta region. The security contract valued at $103.4 million (about N16 billion) was awarded to Global West Vessel Specialist Nigeria Limited (GWVSNL) a company in which Ekpomopolo, also known as Tompolo is said to have a vested interest. However, it is clear that the federal government has a responsibility to do more in its efforts to bring the menace of oil theft under control, if not eliminate it entirely. The constituted agencies should not only be created, but must also be empowered and equipped to effectively dispense their duties. Any culprit, whether in the creeks, the cozy comfort of their offices or in the corridors of power, must be brought to book and prosecuted.

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Source: nigerianoilgas.com

Russia presses Iran ahead of nuclear talks

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TEHRAN — Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov flew into Iran on Wednesday for a brief visit to discuss upcoming international talks over Tehran’s disputed nuclear programme.

The trip preceded a new round of negotiations between Iran and the major powers that is to be held in Moscow next Monday and Tuesday.

In a joint news conference after meeting his Iranian counterpart, Ali Akbar Salehi, Lavrov revealed little of what they talked about.

“The Iranian side is interested in coming up with solutions which would contribute to the settlement of the nuclear issue,” he said, speaking through an official interpreter.

He reiterated Russia’s opposition to unilateral sanctions imposed by Western countries that are hurting Iran’s oil export-dependent economy.

Salehi said he was “optimistic” about the prospects of the Moscow negotiations, despite two unproductive rounds in Istanbul and Baghdad earlier this year.

“The direction taken by the two sides to resolve the issue is the right one,” he said. “The issue is complicated and one has to have patience to make progress.”

He added: “In this process, it can slow down at times, then accelerate. But we are optimistic about the final result.”

Lavrov was also to meet Iran’s lead negotiator, Saeed Jalili, before flying out, according to Iranian officials.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Tuesday that the Iranians “are under tremendous pressure from the Russians and the Chinese to come to Moscow prepared to respond” to proposals by the world powers to alleviate the showdown over Tehran’s nuclear activities.

She said: “The Russians have made it very clear that they expect the Iranians to advance the discussion in Moscow. Not just to come, listen and leave. We will know once it happens.”

Moscow is the most sympathetic to Tehran among the six powers negotiating with it in the talks, although it has sided with the West in expressing fears that Iran could be pursuing the development of a nuclear weapons capability, which has raised the spectre of military strikes by the United States or Israel.

The so-called P5+1 group of nations — comprising UN Security Council permanent members Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States, plus Germany — offered a package of proposals to Iran in the last round, in Baghdad in May.

They called for Iran to halt its enrichment of uranium to 20 percent, ship out its stockpile of 20-percent uranium and halt enrichment at its fortified Fordo facility.

In return, they offered nuclear cooperation, spare parts for Iran’s dilapidated passenger aircraft fleet and an easing of a EU ban on tanker insurance that hinders oil sales to Asia.

Iran’s negotiators rejected the package as grossly insufficient. They countered with a list of their own issues that included many non-nuclear topics such as regional security, and the demand that the P5+1 override several UN Security Council resolutions by agreeing that Iran has a “right” to uranium enrichment.

The distance between the two sides’ positions almost caused the Baghdad round to collapse, but last-minute discussions managed to eke out an agreement for the Moscow round, which will take place just two weeks before an EU embargo on Iranian oil imports is due to to be fully imposed.

In the past few days, Iranian officials have softened slightly their stance by saying the issue of 20-percent enriched uranium could still be up for negotiation — but only if the concession offered in return was of the same importance.

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