TNN.ng: Corruption

[OPINION]: The Trial Of Bishop Kukah - By Tatalo Alamu

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<b>Poor Mathew Hassan Kukah! He has had it up to the nape of his cassocks. The torrents of abuse have now transformed into a tsunami of vilification. It was just as well that the week ended with the congregation of Catholic Bishops removing the ground from under Bishop Kukah by wholeheartedly supporting President Buhari’s anti-corruption hurricane.</b></div>
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Never in Nigeria’s public history has a hitherto respected man of god tumbled so fast in public esteem. Never has a man so widely admired for his cutting intellect become a master of pompous equivocation and fatuous obfuscation. Never has the implacable Nigerian intellectual lynch mob been so fast and furious in dismembering and devouring its victim.</div>
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It is a sad spectacle, and a consuming Nigerian tragedy to boot. Many of us who consider ourselves friends and admirers of the gutsy and cerebral Bishop of the Sokoto Catholic Diocese can only watch in pained silence as the man of god appears to unravel in a drama of self-demystification. But in revolutionary situations, everybody must answer their fathers’ name and one must be ready to drop a friend because of principles rather than drop principles because of a friend.</div>
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These must be revolutionary times in Nigeria indeed. It is only in revolutionary times that people lose total respect for priestly cassocks and other symbols of traditional authority. It is only in revolutionary times that the sacred become desacralized in bitter profanity and people move from hero to zero. The man of the people becomes the enemy of the populace. The dark night does not recognize sacerdotal distinction.  As the mob brays in implacable distemper, the expiring ruling class that has held Nigeria hostage must note this development.</div>
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Bishop Kukah’s superiors in the Nigerian Catholic nomenklatura  must be clicking their tongue in sagely relish. A child can have as many new clothes as an elder, but he can never have as many rags. Many of the superiors of the Sokoto Bishop must be rubbing their palms in smirking satisfaction. Only the barely discerning would not have noticed a certain froideur, a chilly discomfort among the Catholic hierarchs as Kukah rose to secular apotheosis as a liberating theologist and friend of the rich and powerful at the same time. As the Yoruba will put it, nobody must stop a youngster from climbing the hill of Langbodo.</div>
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In retrospect, perhaps it will be said that the Sokoto bishop chose the wrong time to cross the Homeric frontline between the Nigerian powerful and the teeming powerless; and between whistle blowing against the powerful or becoming a loud and brash megaphone of its rearguard rally. Not even the most gifted and proficient trickster knows when the trick will fail, and in revolutionary situations one cannot be too careless in his choice of enemies.</div>
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The last straw, it seems, is Kukah’s stirring at the behest of the controversial Peace Committee. Let it be bluntly and baldly stated that this committee is not about peace at all. It materialized as a last ditch ruling class initiative to force General Buhari to accept dishonorable defeat and hence to stave off the revolutionary turmoil and anarchy that would have accompanied electoral miscarriage. It is a wearisomely familiar Nigerian ploy to impose “peace” in the absence of social and political justice. But they misjudged the mood of the nation and the fact that Nigerians have had it with their ilk.</div>
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Bar a few misguided ones who are glad to be dredged up from peat bog of political oblivion and the odd naïve do-gooders, most of our newly minted peaceniks are compromised scoundrels working for the old regime and traditional mischief-makers on a typical pay day. Available reports indicate that some of them were already privately gloating about the inevitability of a Jonathan victory. They came to bury Buhari and not to praise him. But it bombed spectacularly. Perhaps this is one of the “spectacular” things that Jonathan did which Kukah  referred to with deliberately oblique disingenuity.</div>
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Having failed in their core mission, they have now transformed into a “peace” council to disturb the peace of the nation, and to stalemate the inevitable sanitization of the polity. They have gone about endlessly chattering about due process and the fact that this is a democracy and not a military order. One wonders how democracy and due process would have fared had they succeeded in suborning the sovereign electoral will of Nigerians.  Let this be the last time President Buhari will give them a decent hearing.</div>
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Kukah’s attempt to defend the motive of the peace council has brought a gale of angry denunciations on the internet and social media with many of them charging the Catholic supremo with perfidy and betrayal. This columnist read about three hundred of these angry rebuttals and only a few were willing to stake their integrity on the integrity and honesty of the bishop. It was redolent of pent up fury and misgivings, as if they have been waiting for Kukah to cross the line.</div>
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Kukah’s  attempt to correct a purportedly mischievous slant that gave the impression that the council went up to President Buhari to bargain for a soft landing for the disgraced and discredited Jonathan drew even more tempestuous  tirades. And then in the unkindest cut of all, a shadowy and hitherto unknown organization going by the name of CUPS came out to directly impugn Kukah’s integrity and claims to probity in a well-detailed allegation of sleaze and corruption.</div>
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This column will refrain from publicizing the salacious and insalubrious details, but they go to show how far Bishop Kukah’s stock has fallen. It is a remarkable development and no matter his public grandstanding and defiance of the gravitational pull of seamy scandals, the plucky priest must be having some anxious private moments. Even if they remain at the level of mere allegations, that they are ever broached at all shows how public perception can be influenced by the power and putrescence of offensive associations. The bishop’s cup is full and it overflows indeed.</div>
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It may well be too late to ask the august catholic prelate to return to base. For a man of such calm and deliberate mien, such choices are not lightly made in the first instance. As we have said, everybody must answer to his patronymic in these perilous times. Like a savage hawk remarkable for its hunting prowess and ferocious precision, the Nigerian ruling class knows the particular moment to home in on its intended prey and which foibles and personal peccadilloes to zero in upon.</div>
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In a postcolonial society infamous for its political dysfunctionality , the transition from  civil society activist to state actor is a very precarious affair indeed. In Nigeria, only few people, if any at all, have been able to manage the transition without major scars. This is because inchoate and disadvantaged civil society feels abandoned and neglected by one of its own. Like vultures waiting for the ethically deceased, they bid their time waiting to take their pound of flesh or carrion and the quiet hysteria of private abandonment soon gives way to the public hullabaloo of angry and messy divorce.</div>
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The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese seems to have had it coming for quite some time. There might have come a time when a practical patriot like Kukah might have come to the conclusion that it might be better and more nation-rewarding to remonstrate with the Nigerian powers that be at close proximity than to demonstrate against them from a far distance.</div>
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As a minority scion of the most minority of ethnic formations, Kukah might have concluded that he stood no chance raising hell among the hell-bound  majority monsters—as he himself once memorably dismissed Nigeria’s major ethnic formations. It may well turn out to be a bridge too far, but in the brutal power calculus of Nigeria’s political coliseum, innocence is not a virtue but a symptom of suicidal naivety.</div>
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Who will then speak and speak up for the Nigerian minority ethnic subaltern? As a devoted watcher of Nigeria’s volatile and explosive political gymnasium, this columnist entered into a private correspondence with the father who art in Kaduna then over his seemingly seamless transition from civil society activist to state actor.  Yours sincerely wanted to know whether the transition was conscious or seemingly unconscious. It was a particularly illuminating exchange whose details must remain private and confidential.</div>
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What did it for this columnist was Kukah’s out of proportion reaction to a Soyinka piece detailing the ills and ailments of the Nigerian postcolonial state. As usual with the implacably agonistic Nobel avatar, it was a merciless and astringent critique dripping with venom and vitriol. The old literary lion does not take hostages in these matters. But anybody who has watched Nigeria’s descent into political infamy over the decades would side with Soyinka’s angst about the fate of his beloved country.</div>
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What seemed to have drawn Bishop Kukah’s particular ire was Soyinka’s damning conclusion that nothing good could come out of the Nigerian state as it was constituted. It is interesting and intriguing that Soyinka’s response to Kukah was a mixture of puckish humour and elderly irritation. Subsequent events seem to have proved the Nobel laureate right.</div>
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Thereafter, certain changes in Kukah’s public personae became noticeable as he moved closer and closer to the sanctuary of state power. An imperious swagger seems to have been added to the bouncy gait even as a pompous and pomaded puffery became the order of the day. A moody irascible brio and prickly condescension became the sine qua non of Kukah’s public engagements. The bishop’s secular beatitude was in full progress.</div>
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But such beatitudes do not beautify, and neither do they ennoble in the tumultuous and turbulent context of a postcolonial nation roiling in crisis and contradictions. In such circumstances and situations, it is the bounden duty of all men of god to speak truth to secular power and not to become carpetbaggers and reactionary rearguard rallying points for the retrogressive and anti-progress rump of a failed ruling class.</div>
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The current pope is an outstanding exemplar of this sacred moral responsibility to the powerless of the earth; and so was the old much admired and revered Polish pope, the illustrious Cardinal Karol Wojtyla. We dare say that in the last decade and a half beginning with the Oputa Panel, Bishop Kukah has been rather remiss in that historic and sacred duty. If it is not too late, this gifted priest should find his route back to public restitution and redemption.</div>
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<i><b>Culled from <a href="http://thenationonlineng.net/the-trial-of-bishop-kukah/">The Nation</a></b></i></div>
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[OPINION]: The Trial Of Bishop Kukah - By Tatalo Alamu

Poor Mathew Hassan Kukah! He has had it up to the nape of his cassocks. The torrents of abuse have now transformed into a tsunami of v...

Don’t Encourage Corruption, APC Cautions National Peace Committee

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<b>LAGOS, NIGERIA - Two days after the National Peace Committee met with President Muhammadu Buhari and cautioned him on the probe of the immediate past administration, the president’s party has risen in his support.</b></div>
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The ruling All Progressives Congress, in seeming reference to the committee members, asked opinion leaders to ensure that their actions and utterances do not give comfort to those who looted the commonwealth of the country.</div>
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Some members of the peace committee, headed by former military ruler, Abdulsalam Abubakar, include the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar; the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Ayo Oritsejafor; and prominent Catholic cleric, Matthew Kukah.</div>
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Speaking after the committee met Mr. Buhari, Mr. Kukah said although the leaders were not in support of corruption, they were worried about the process.</div>
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“I think what we are concerned about is process,” he said. “It is no longer a military regime and, under our existing laws, everybody is innocent until proven guilty.</div>
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“Again, our own commitment is not to intimidate or fight anybody. The former President’s commitment and what he did still remains spectacular and I think that President Buhari himself appreciates that.”</div>
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However, on Thursday, the APC, in a statement issued in Lagos by its National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, warned against any attempt to truncate the ongoing fight against corruption in the country. It expressed total support for President Buhari’s determination to end the scourge in the country.</div>
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It appealed to all Nigerians, especially opinion leaders, to ensure that their actions and utterances do not give comfort to those who looted the commonwealth of the country.</div>
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“Our party promised Nigerians change, but the change that we promised and which Nigerians desire so much cannot be achieved if we allow the resources that belong to all Nigerians to be appropriated by a few.</div>
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“How do we upgrade our decayed infrastructure and provide jobs for our people when the money meant for that has been embezzled by a few?</div>
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“President Buhari has promised to break the vicious cycle of corruption that has held Nigeria down.</div>
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“How can he do that if he allows those who have looted the treasury to escape justice, and then use their ill-gotten wealth to fight the government?</div>
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“How can he do that if he turns a blind eye to the monumental cases of corruption in all sectors?</div>
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“We know that fighting corruption in a society where the cankerworm has eaten deep into its fabric will not be easy. We know that corruption will always fight back.</div>
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“But there is no other choice than to confront and destroy this monster once and for all, lest it destroys Nigeria,” it said.</div>
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The party said the President’s sincerity of purpose could be seen from his statement that any of his party members who was found to be corrupt would not escape justice.</div>
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“Therefore, those who are shouting themselves hoarse by saying the Buhari Administration’s fight against corruption is selective or is a distraction, are only seeking to sabotage the epic battle.</div>
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“If they have any case of corruption against any member of the APC, they should forward their evidence to the appropriate anti-corruption agency,’’ it said.</div>
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The party said that the danger in truncating the fight against corruption was that it would consign Nigeria to poverty, insecurity and unemployment in perpetuity.</div>
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“That is why we are restating our unalloyed support for the President, and urging him not to be deterred or distracted by those hiding under sophistry to weaken the fight.</div>
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“We are glad that most Nigerians have lent their support to the government’s fight against corruption, going by their interventions on the Social Media, which has now become a people’s parliament of sorts.</div>
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“We urge them not to relent in their support, irrespective of the antics of the naysayers,” it said.</div>
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<b>NAN</b></div>
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Don’t Encourage Corruption, APC Cautions National Peace Committee

LAGOS, NIGERIA - Two days after the National Peace Committee met with President Muhammadu Buhari and cautioned him on the probe of the ...

Buhari Beams Searchlight On CBN, FIRS, NIMASA, Others; Appoints PwC, KPMG To Audit Agencies

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<b>ABUJA, NIGERIA - Information reaching us has it that the Federal Government has appointed renowned accounting and auditing firms, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdeler (KPMG) to audit Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and other agencies.</b></div>
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Also to be audited are Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).</div>
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Others are Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Revenue and Mobilisation Allocation Federation Commission (RMAFC), Federal Ministry of Finance, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Nigerian Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI) among others</div>
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Buhari and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) had accused the Goodluck Jonathan led-administration of undermining previous audit of the agencies.</div>
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Last week, <a href="http://dailypost.ng/2015/08/13/breaking-buhari-appoints-pwc-kpmg-to-audit-nnpc-cbn-firs-others/">DAILY POST</a> reported the tension in many of the agencies marked for investigation of corrupt practices.</div>
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Those still in office as well as former staff, including retired or sacked workers are monitoring developments and anxious of contents of the audit report, it was leant.</div>
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Edo State Governor, a member of the National Executive Council-backed committee set up to investigate NNPC financial accounts had disclosed that the audit of affected agencies would cover the period between January 1, 2010 and June 30, 2015.</div>
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Buhari Beams Searchlight On CBN, FIRS, NIMASA, Others; Appoints PwC, KPMG To Audit Agencies

ABUJA, NIGERIA - Information reaching us has it that the Federal Government has appointed renowned accounting and auditing firms, Price...

[OPINION]: Peace And The Nazarene Peasant - By Pius Adesanmi

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRnH7NhLElOWw7DIyPHqJdwLThix521L3AJ-7Qt-rV_VLMFfJFLxd0FgGXGtUTh99u5RTlEnd4rPM2mrJhMCi69fJ-TvA5oh8uxfaao-BcuFtw-HJpcIPpI92rajWcK-Jsd_GneC9XY7Gu/s1600/pius_adesanmi_4_1_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRnH7NhLElOWw7DIyPHqJdwLThix521L3AJ-7Qt-rV_VLMFfJFLxd0FgGXGtUTh99u5RTlEnd4rPM2mrJhMCi69fJ-TvA5oh8uxfaao-BcuFtw-HJpcIPpI92rajWcK-Jsd_GneC9XY7Gu/s1600/pius_adesanmi_4_1_1.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b>The Nazarene peasant whose earthly father was a carpenter rose to international fame for so many reasons. He was born in a manger among goats and sheep. Today, over a billion people swear by his name. They swear by his name because his life is a compass, a total compendium of examples, a mirror of definitions. His life answers every question, illuminates every riddle, and provides definitions for everything.</b></div>
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We must examine such an exemplary life for a lasting definition of peace. The Nazarene peasant had two definitions of peace. One is the absence of conflict and chaos. Chaos could be a function of wars or of the anger of the elements. That is why he told the raging tempest and winds:</div>
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"Peace, be still."</div>
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And they all sweetly obeyed his will. </div>
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And no water swallowed the ship where lay the master of ocean and earth and skies. And no grave in an angry deep had power over him.</div>
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Another day, another time, the Nazarene peasant gave the world a second definition of peace. The second definition should be the most important for his followers in the corrupt backwaters of Africa and the Third World. He defined peace as the absence of corruption. He defined peace as zero tolerance for corruption.</div>
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And this is where he adds a class dimension to his conceptualization of peace and fair. He says there can be no peace and no fair in the land when a class of people is perpetually allowed to corrupt the land. For him, peace is when you take decisive and resolute steps to deal with corruption; fair is when you deal with corruption in an all-encompassing manner, with no possibility of a soft landing for anybody.</div>
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To avoid any misunderstanding of this second definition of peace, the Nazarene peasant gave a practical demonstration. He took a koboko and went to the greatest haven of corruption in his day - the Temple.</div>
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And he flogged and drove away all the moneychangers. And swept the Temple clean of corruption.</div>
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No moneychanger was left unflogged and unpunished.</div>
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Had a euphemism committee appealed to the Nazarene peasant to "be fair" to the moneychangers, it would not have worked. He would have said that he sees fair from the perspective of the victims of the moneychangers, the victims of their corruption. He would have told them that his definition of fair is appropriate punishment for corruption without fear or favour.</div>
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Had he encountered goats and sheep as he furiously flogged corruption out of the Temple, my spirit tells me that he would not have developed a soft spot for the only companions he had in that humble manger. Goats and sheep were his benefactors because they shared their abode with his mother when she was in labour. Yet, goats and sheep would not have benefited from nepotism and special favours.</div>
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Oju wa ni won se bi - goats and sheep are the singular owners of this eye witness narrative of his birth but had he encountered them during his anti-corruption sweep through the Temple, he would not have treated them differently from the moneychangers. Every goat and every sheep would have had to account for every yam eaten.</div>
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These are the issues for President Buhari to reflect upon as he is subjected to one and the repeated visit by the Soft Landing-General of the Federation, Abdulsalami Abubakar. This retired General is a clear and present danger to President Buhari's integrity narrative. How Buhari handles him will determine whether we can take his anti-corruption war seriously. It will determine whether Professor Itse Sagay will be allowed to function and deliver.</div>
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President Buhari went to the United States and talked the talk about the Halliburton bribery scandal. He said he would reopen that file. The creme de la creme of Nigeria's leadership received and shared USD 180 million in bribes from Halliburton. Three former Heads of state were fingered in this bribery mess. Abdulsalami Abubakar is one of them. And that is not mentioning the monumental disappearance of funds he presided over in his short spell as Head of State. </div>
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President Buhari, how are you going to proceed with the Halliburton case when one of the indictees is constantly visiting you on soft landing (fairness is a euphemism) missions? He started with Hajia Desinatu. President Buhari, how is Professor Sagay to feel when he sees you in photo-ops with a man who may soon come to the attention of his committee? You have said that there will be no sacred cows in this new anti-corruption business. No sacred cows means no photo-ops with potential subjects of investigation and prosecution. The Nazarene peasant would never have entertained a handshake from any of the moneychangers he drove away from the temple.</div>
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President Buhari, one of your visitors owns a private jet. Recently, that jet was involved in a very messy affair in South Africa. That messy affair was supervised by the corrupt and discredited former national security adviser. Because the owner of that jet was untouchable under your immediate predecessor, an official lie was fabricated to cover up the mess and dissociate him from the money laundering and gun running scandal his jet was used for. Needless to say, nobody is satisfied with the tall stories told about how his jet came to be involved in such a messy affair. It is a file that you will have to reopen. This man should not be doing photo-ops with you until we are sure that we have no yams to retrieve from him. The Nazarene peasant would have been particularly harsh on this man. Did he not warn that "many shall come in my name?"</div>
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When next a committee visits you, look at the composition and receive only the credible people in it. There are unassailable public role models in that committee. Stick with those names and the public will not be jittery that they are visiting you. But the two I have mentioned make me nervous. They make the country nervous.</div>
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One last word for you, President Buhari. Do not joke with your personal security. Corruption is powerful. Corruption fights back. If corruption pleads and cajoles and appeals and you refuse to play ball, corruption will try to take you out - especially if you truly and genuinely move beyond talk and body language to actually touch that deadly Halliburton file. Stop your foolish populism of breaching your security instructions to mingle while you are fighting corruption.</div>
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Corruption fought the Nazarene peasant.</div>
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Corruption elevated Barabbas the thief above him.</div>
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Corruption conspired with the political leaders of the land to hang him on the cross.</div>
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Unfortunately for corruption, burdens are lifted at Calvary.</div>
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<b>Culled from <a href="http://saharareporters.com/2015/08/12/peace-and-nazarene-peasant-pius-adesanmi">SaharaReporters</a></b></div>
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[OPINION]: Peace And The Nazarene Peasant - By Pius Adesanmi

The Nazarene peasant whose earthly father was a carpenter rose to international fame for so many reasons. He was born in a manger among...

We’ll Be Committed To Nigerian People - Sagay

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIgrA1UA5B11NTvLowcnILb-M-qqotvEpTI7fEHF8qSDXmxDV9kA0uXiwwF_DVRyLvgDw5L5z33aym-_O_PAJ51FsAQ87BRJrHOyikgc2UZfY9oEhJxl5_lj4lGH9sEx2tj2eL4BzJpoh8/s1600/Sagay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIgrA1UA5B11NTvLowcnILb-M-qqotvEpTI7fEHF8qSDXmxDV9kA0uXiwwF_DVRyLvgDw5L5z33aym-_O_PAJ51FsAQ87BRJrHOyikgc2UZfY9oEhJxl5_lj4lGH9sEx2tj2eL4BzJpoh8/s640/Sagay.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>LAGOS, NIGERIA - Human rights activist and chairman of the newly constituted Presidential Advisory Committee on Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN) has expressed the determination of the committee members to do their work diligently and be responsible to the Nigerian people.</b></div>
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Sagay gave the hint while speaking with <b><a href="http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/news/we-ll-be-committed-to-nigerian-people-sagay/105984.html">Daily Trust</a></b> in a telephone interview yesterday.</div>
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According to him, it is important for all Nigerians to support the Buhari administration in confronting corruption.</div>
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All of us have a responsibility to assist this government to fight corruption which is the greatest scourge confronting this country today. Although, I can't give you any detail now because we are still meeting, it is when we have met and taken a decision that I would be able to tell you what the committee’s decision is. But one thing I can tell you is that we are very committed. We are extremely committed to the Nigerian people in combating the scourge of corruption, he said.</blockquote>
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Reacting to the allegation that his appointment was meant to compensate him for his support and subtle campaign for Buhari and the APC during the last general elections, Sagay said he was not bothered by such criticism as those peddling them are the same people the anti-graft institutions are preventing from crippling the country.</div>
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He added: </div>
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Nothing surprises me. Those who are making the criticism are low-minded people. I don't bother myself about them. These are people one has to rise above. These are people whom institutions are being set up to curtail their activities. These are people with no integrity. They are low-minded with no moral integrity. </div>
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Some people will not do anything to better the society. They lack patriotism. I am not surprised about their criticism at all. They are always concerned about themselves; self, self, self. I have no time for them.</div>
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We’ll Be Committed To Nigerian People - Sagay

LAGOS, NIGERIA - Human rights activist and chairman of the newly constituted Presidential Advisory Committee on Corruption, Prof. Itse ...

Obasanjo In Aso Villa To Puncture Jonathan's Move For Leniency

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmYEfCJvr4PKiE2SIAPWuLR2U_do3m6NKuONfyl1JuQD8eLaDjiiYyS_6e2NilSbcW1gxjyyujc8rMC5wTppGkfo9I9aGq0ZieoYzjn6en27qKwGJP2egr3wT1AJPDYxI0yv8PBtl3hf1H/s1600/Peace+Committee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmYEfCJvr4PKiE2SIAPWuLR2U_do3m6NKuONfyl1JuQD8eLaDjiiYyS_6e2NilSbcW1gxjyyujc8rMC5wTppGkfo9I9aGq0ZieoYzjn6en27qKwGJP2egr3wT1AJPDYxI0yv8PBtl3hf1H/s640/Peace+Committee.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>ABUJA, NIGERIA - Former military Head of State General Abdulsalam Abubakar (rtd) and other members of the National Peace Committee for the 2015 general elections were rattled by the stubborn posture and utterance of President Muhammadu Buhari during a meeting with him on Monday. </b></div>
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Mr. Abubakar had led members of the National Peace Committee in yet another mission to plead with Mr. Buhari not to probe the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.</div>
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However, several participants at Monday's meeting told <b><a href="http://saharareporters.com/2015/08/11/corruption-probe-peace-committee-shocked-meeting-president-buhari">SaharaReporters</a></b> that the president remained obstinate and made no secret of his determination to proceed with the probe. </div>
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<i>SaharaReporters</i> learnt that Monday's meeting was a stepped up version of previous failed attempts to sway Mr. Buhari from his determination to probe acts of corruption by officials of Mr. Jonathan's administration. <i>SaharaReporters</i> had revealed that former Commonwealth Secretary General Emeka Anyaoku visited President Buhari to press the case for letting bygone be bygone shortly before the latter’s departure for an official visit to the US. Our sources had disclosed that Mr. Anyaoku had undertaken his mission to the president at the behest of Mr. Jonathan. </div>
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After Mr. Buhari's return from the US, President Jonathan stepped up maneuvers to talk him into discontinuing the probe of his administration. </div>
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A source close to the former president told <i>SaharaReporters </i>that Mr. Buhari's pronouncements that his government would probe his predecessor had contributed to a major health crisis that beset former First Lady Patience Jonathan. </div>
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"Madam [Mrs. Jonathan] has been suffering from serious depression," said a source. Ms. Alison-Madueke has also had a share of ill health apparently triggered by being the focus of global attention for symbolizing the pervasive corruption of the past administration. A source close to her in the UK stated that she collapsed in her posh apartment in London due to "exhaustion" and had to be hospitalized for two days. </div>
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Last week, former President Jonathan reached out to former military Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, and urged him to arrange a one-on-one meeting with Mr. Buhari to discuss his concerns. President Buhari agreed to a secret meeting with the former president last Thursday in the dead of the night. A source familiar with the meeting told <i>SaharaReporters </i>that Mr. Jonathan appeared jittery at the meeting and was unable to articulate the case against probing his government. Instead, the former president reportedly asked mundane questions about how Buhari was coping with governing the country and offered to help in any way.</div>
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The meeting was over in less than 30 minutes. </div>
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Meanwhile, former President Olusegun Obasanjo was so incensed on hearing about Mr. Buhari's meeting with Mr. Jonathan that he called at the Presidential Villa 24 hours later to meet with Mr. Buhari behind closed doors. </div>
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A source at the Presidency revealed that Mr. Obasanjo, whose record of corruption as president was equally monumental, urged Mr. Buhari to send former President Jonathan to jail. </div>
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Another source stated that Mr. Obasanjo volunteered to use his international contacts to help trace the funds stolen during Mr. Jonathan's administration, adding that much of the funds were laundered through arms deals as well as shady oil sales and swaps.</div>
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On learning of former President Obasanjo's ominous mission to Aso Rock, Mr. Jonathan reportedly contacted General Abubakar (rtd) again, this time pleading with the retired general to intercede with Mr. Buhari. </div>
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Monday, Mr. Abubakar and fellow members of the National Peace Committee first met with President Buhari in a closed-door session before appearing before the media. A member of the committee revealed that their team first told President Buhari that they had come to discuss how to "wind up' and to check if there was a new national assignment they could undertake.</div>
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The source also revealed that, even though the committee did not mention former President Jonathan by name during their interaction with Mr. Buhari, the committee members cautioned against leaving the impression that the government was targeting "anybody". They also appealed to Mr. Buhari to tarry a little before deciding on probing anybody. </div>
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A source at the Presidency stated that Mr. Buhari was well aware of the committee's secret mission, hence his decision to speak forthrightly in response. Among the committee's members is a controversial President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ayo Oritsejafor, a loyalist of Mr. Jonathan. His private jet was involved in an arms deal scandal after South African authorities discovered, and confiscated, $9.3 million in cash inside the aircraft. The Jonathan administration then stated that the funds were meant for the purchase of arms to prosecute the war against Islamist insurgents, Boko Haram. </div>
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Officials of the Buhari administration disclosed that the Presidency had already identified and was investigating acts of corruption involving former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd) and former Petroleum Minister, Alison-Madueke. In addition, our sources said the new administration was pursuing leads about huge corrupt deals involving former First Lady, Patience Jonathan, former Attorney general, Mohammaed Bello Adoke, the Amnesty Office, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), and the Federal Capital Territory. In one instance, more than $1 million dollars in cash was found at the residence of Gordon Obuah, a former Chief Security Officer to Mr. Jonathan. </div>
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"We are also looking at properties purchased in Ghana, Dubai, UK and US by various officials of the immediate past administration," one source disclosed.</div>
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He added that one of the biggest means of money laundering was the reckless purchase of private jets by former cohorts of Mr. Jonathan. </div>
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At the end of the meeting yesterday, President Buhari made it clear to members of the committee that his government would soon commence trial of Nigerian treasury looters.</div>
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Obasanjo In Aso Villa To Puncture Jonathan's Move For Leniency

ABUJA, NIGERIA - Former military Head of State General Abdulsalam Abubakar (rtd) and other members of the National Peace Committee for ...

[OPINION]: Finally, The Anticorruption War is Fully On - By Timawus Mathias

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUmTHbmHHpfOCQ6gOdkxhn7rw268KKAnONvpSMy73GVFH1xLjp8Pi7Xqg4rSO0XIL7iJ7scfj7sqwZjjOge1z56rM_6o6wQgE22x1GX3ojscxyWojo1aZkImh81ueageihSV1YdhpxH6Vy/s1600/GMB+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUmTHbmHHpfOCQ6gOdkxhn7rw268KKAnONvpSMy73GVFH1xLjp8Pi7Xqg4rSO0XIL7iJ7scfj7sqwZjjOge1z56rM_6o6wQgE22x1GX3ojscxyWojo1aZkImh81ueageihSV1YdhpxH6Vy/s1600/GMB+008.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b>How did I miss the white smoke that billowed from the chimneys of Aso Rock Villa! Such event as the setting up of a Presidential Advisory Committee on Corruption is significant, but my goodness, election of Professor Itse Sagay as Head requires a profound symbol to herald the occurrence.</b></div>
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President Muhammadu Buhari’s shift to overdrive has gotten the nation gliding truly on the highway of Change. Most Nigerians who voted him to office had worried that this gear shift would not come to pass. Nigeria, despite its huge potential has continued to lag behind in almost every facet of life as its infrastructure has remained perpetually underdeveloped, its human resources untapped and its young ones unemployed. Nigeria is the proverbial case of dying in the midst of plenty. Nigeria is probably one of the most blessed countries in the world with an alarming rate of poverty and unemployment that completely belies its rich resources, all in the main, due to the cancer of corruption afflicting the nation.</div>
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Today, the thrust of President Buhari’s singular issue that would guarantee his success as the change President Nigerians voted and hoped for has moved one step forward and one notch higher. The setting up of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Anti-corruption is undoubtedly a significant step in the drive to exorcise the demons of corruption that had hitherto hindered the nation from asserting itself as one of the most successful economies in the world.</div>
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The leader of the Committee Professor Sagay is a man of unquestionable integrity and the members of the committee as people committed to the cause of change in Nigeria. The committee signals Buhari’s commitment to dealing with the issue of corruption in Nigeria and moving the country forward towards achieving the lofty ideals on making Nigeria a better place. This development marks a significant departure from the general and perennial lips service paid to the issue of corruption in the past. Setting up a Committee of scholars is significant because first and foremost corruption in Nigeria needs to be defined and identified for what it is. It is so rooted in us to the point that it is seen as the Nigerian way of life. In Ghana, the word kalabule refers to corruption. A Nigerian is also despicably called a kalabule. A definition is necessary to set clearly what needs being traced, and dealt with from origin.</div>
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It portends the hope that we would return to the traditional values of goodness and godliness, virtue and integrity that hitherto characterized our society. Now there may be hope that the days of War Against Indiscipline (WAI) and creation of a society where people are loved and respected based on the "content of their character" and quality of their productivity rather than their association, are soon with us.</div>
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It would be of interest to know what solution can be proffered to the challenge of political party and political activity financing given the inevitable pillage of State treasury by politicians who consider their activity as investment for which transfer of State assets is the return. Another area of interest is the issue of local government funding as in most states in Nigeria, most local governments have been reduced to cash points for state governments who divert the funds for uses that do not meet the needs of Nigerians at the grassroots.</div>
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The Sagay-led committee must isolate and define the issue of contracts inflation, poor implementation of outright abandonment; embezzlement of public funds and the conversion of States into fiefs by our elected. These have been accepted as the norm. It is from here that the nation must depart in order to restore public confidence in government and governance in Nigeria.</div>
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The committee must propose means towards delivering Nigeria from the corruption that has eaten deep into the entire fabric of the nation with the full awareness that the future of the nation depends on success or failure. They must be prepared to give their all into defining of this must win fight, even for the sake of generations of Nigerians who know nothing about dignity in labour - generations who have more accustomed to the mysterious path to a so-called success without recourse to merit, competence, competition, effort and indeed, hard work.</div>
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Present and future generations must see that there is a reward for hard work and punishment for the lazy, indolent and corrupt. In this lies all hope for the rebirth of the Nigerian nation and its people’s dreams and aspirations. Herein lies all hope for the renewal of trust between government and the governed. The hope is that henceforth, all Nigerians would stand equal before the law and in the awareness that with commitment and effort, the system will provide the opportunity for everyone to be anything one dreamed of becoming in life. The Sagay committee is made up of men who understand that the tied to corruption is the key to fundamental platform for Buhari’s success the key to the rebirth. Then it would be a new Nigeria “where peace, love, unity and the labour of our heroes past shall never be in vain” as citizens would melodiously sound the anthem.</div>
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Time is of essence. Nigeria is a large country with many complexities. For years, the country has degenerated from one level of the malady of corruption to another far worse one. The political system guarantees separation of power and devolution to states and other tiers in the realm. Yet the reforms proposed must be all encompassing, if the attainments are to be thorough and sustainable.</div>
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Culled from <b><a href="http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/opinion/finally-the-anticorruption-war-is-fully-on/105924.html">Daily Trust</a></b></div>
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[OPINION]: Finally, The Anticorruption War is Fully On - By Timawus Mathias

How did I miss the white smoke that billowed from the chimneys of Aso Rock Villa! Such event as the setting up of a Presidential Adviso...

Follow Due Process In Fighting Corruption, Peace C'ttee Advises Buhari

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSK27Ns-X_67qrQDIM1-z9nlLwPIty-wcoWtZG7GYebi4PAoWz8AQT7FS79cBq0mxrKPDryjLrTdGGrfloha_2-oAJEVVzeVfTwEkTuQbYPfremizNPOQJ5L4isQs7JCNhOn12GDwLDSnm/s1600/Peace+Committee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSK27Ns-X_67qrQDIM1-z9nlLwPIty-wcoWtZG7GYebi4PAoWz8AQT7FS79cBq0mxrKPDryjLrTdGGrfloha_2-oAJEVVzeVfTwEkTuQbYPfremizNPOQJ5L4isQs7JCNhOn12GDwLDSnm/s1600/Peace+Committee.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b>ABUJA, NIGERIA - The resolve of President Muhammadu Buhari to probe the administration of the ousted former President Goodluck Jonathan may have stirred a cold war between him and the former Head of State and Chairman of the National Peace Committee for the 2015 General Elections, General Abdusalami Abubakar (rtd).</b></div>
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Abdusalami Abubakar-led Peace Committee on Monday visited President Muhammadu Buhari at Aso Rock Presidential Villa.</div>
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According to <b>DAILY TRUST</b>, the committee says it is concerned about the process of the anti-corruption war of Buhari's administration.</div>
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Addressing State House journalists after the meeting, a member of the committee, Bishop of Sokoto Diocese Hassan Kukah said the position of the committee was that Nigeria was no longer in a military regime.</div>
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Kukah said:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
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It (Buhari's anti-graft war) is not heating up the polity. In our conversation with former President Jonathan and members of the parties, I don't think any Nigerian is in favour of corruption or is against the president’s commitment to ensuring that we turn over a new leaf. </div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
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I think what we are concerned about is process. It is no longer a military regime, and under our existing laws, everybody is innocent until proven guilty. Again, our own commitment is not to intimidate or fight anybody. The former president’s commitment and what he did still remains spectacular, and I think that President Buhari himself appreciates that. So, our effort really is to make sure that the right thing is done.</div>
</blockquote>
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Other than Kukah and Abdusalami, others present at the meeting included Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar III; the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor; Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Revd. Nicholas Okoh; Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan; a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mrs. Priscilla Kuye; and Senator Ben Obi among others.</div>
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Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has vehemently stated that it would not be business as usual in various corrupt practices before his administration, especially in the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). The President explained that a single treasury account had been established for all federal revenue to ensure greater probity, transparency and accountability in the collection, disbursement and utilisation of national funds.</div>
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President Buhari, who vowed to break the vicious cycle of corruption, unemployment and insecurity in Nigeria, stated that his administration would not only ensure that stolen monies stashed in foreign bank accounts were returned but that the looters must be tried. He disclosed that he was gathering documents which would serve as evidence against suspected culprits in the anti-corruption war.</div>
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The meeting between President Buhari and the committee, it was gathered, followed an earlier meeting with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during which committee members were told of the persecution that members of the PDP were facing in the hands of the new governing party.</div>
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"Nigeria has to break this vicious cycle before we can make progress," the President said.</div>
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The President, who regretted the sorry state of the country's finances also told the committee that as part of his actions to address the national problems he inherited, he has ordered the reorganization of Nigeria's revenue generating institutions.</div>
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His words: </div>
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We have really degenerated as a country. Our national institutions, including the military, which did wonderfully on foreign missions in the past, have been compromised. But we are doing something about it. The military is now retraining and morale has been resuscitated. </div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
As Petroleum Minister under Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo in the 1970s, I could not travel abroad until I had taken a memo to the Federal Executive Council asking for estacode. Now, everybody does what he wants. That is why security-wise, and economically, we're in trouble. Those who have stolen the national wealth will be in court in a matter of weeks and Nigerians will know those who have short-changed them.</div>
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The National Peace Committee, then asked him to follow due process in the anti-graft war.</div>
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They also reminded the President that Nigeria is not under a military regime, stressing that everyone suspected to have committed any crime was assumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.</div>
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Rising from the meeting held behind closed-doors in the Presidential Villa, the committee remarked that though corruption was not to be condoned, the process of prosecuting suspects has to be constitutional.</div>
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Speaking to State House Correspondents on behalf of the committee, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Dr. Matthew Hassan Kukah, who confirmed the meeting with former President Goodluck Jonathan, however, said the former president never begged for their intervention.</div>
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According to him, the meeting was a hearing-out process.</div>
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We gave a bit of update about the relevance of the Peace Committee itself and how we can help to nurture what God has given to us. Anybody is free to come to our committee but President Jonathan never by telephone or another means talked to the committee. We went to see him, but that was after we had already seen members of the political party, members of the civil society; we plan to see the Speaker because we couldn't see him yesterday. </div>
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This is a very planned series of interventions essentially just to hear out everybody and I think the good news is that Nigerians are committed to a new nation. They are committed to ensuring that the gains and blessings God has given us come to fruition.</div>
</blockquote>
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Follow Due Process In Fighting Corruption, Peace C'ttee Advises Buhari

ABUJA, NIGERIA - The resolve of President Muhammadu Buhari to probe the administration of the ousted former President Goodluck Jonathan...

This Isn't The Buhari I Knew - Soyinka

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<b>ABUJA, NIGERIA - Nobel laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, has described President Muhammadu as a "born-again" phenomenon on the Nigerian political landscape, who is ready to make amends for his past mistakes.</b></div>
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Soyinka, who spoke in an interview with <i>Zero Tolerance</i>, a periodic publication by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) noted that Buhari has already paid some debts to the Nigerian community, describing him as a lucky man.</div>
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Soyinka noted that although Buhari has not come out openly to apologise for his wrong deeds in the past, he has nonetheless accepted the fact that he had made some mistakes.</div>
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He said: "He (Buhari) has not brought himself round to apologise; if he had done that, I might have been less ambiguous about him. But I think from my findings about him, he is a born again phenomenon. If I am wrong, well, too bad. Though I don’t believe in 'born-againism' but I think this may be an exception."</div>
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<b>Nigerians should've challenged Jonathan for defending stealing</b></div>
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The laureate also descended heavily on former President Goodluck Jonathan for trying to differentiate between stealing and corruption, saying Nigerians should have challenged him on that.</div>
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Soyinka noted that it was wrong for a president to have taken such a position on a serious issue like corruption, thereby playing down its negative impact on the nation and its people.</div>
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He said: "The media should have challenged President Jonathan to define what stealing is, when he said that stealing is not corruption. How can a public figure, an intelligent person like that, come out to tell the public that corruption is not stealing? Then you should have asked him, what then is corruption? The media should have challenged him.”</div>
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<b>Pyrates Confraternity isn't a cult</b></div>
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The pioneer Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, chairman, who is believed to have co-founded the Pyrates Confraternity in Nigeria, said it was wrong to lump cultism with confraternity, arguing that the two were not the same.</div>
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According to him, belonging to confraternities is a normal culture in colleges and not an evil cult, as wrongly portrayed by ignorant persons in Nigeria.</div>
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Soyinka said: "Everybody knows that fraternities are a normal culture in all colleges. It exists in all colleges. President Clinton was a member of a fraternity. In fact, anybody who goes to college in the United States is a member of a college fraternity. There is absolutely nothing evil or occultic about fraternity.</div>
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"But here, the media is largely responsible for fuelling the ignorance of society of the words 'cultism' and 'fraternity'. This is a disservice and I have said it again and again. There are evil cults, whose members must prove themselves by going to rape. There are others whose entry is to slash or eat somebody or rob; it has nothing to do with college fraternity.</div>
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"The media owes the responsibility to constantly tell the public the truth. But they go on and children grow up, believing that college fraternity is Satanic, demonic and this is wrong."</div>
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This Isn't The Buhari I Knew - Soyinka

ABUJA, NIGERIA - Nobel laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, has described President Muhammadu as a "born-again" phenomenon on the Nig...

$2.1 Million Seized Cash: Ex-NHIS Boss Surrenders To EFCC

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEGw23urEImtqYJqhspeygjZmW8mvgDViWBnZtJdNqhE8KIaBzgAu3uem6C2WRIJv0Cs6HWHGQEdBxc4uWN-DgD8MVHEW7GRrjtxegbNxTk2Yc80m7U1ggMSTtYwiX59tJQmEKwLbMqkRM/s1600/Agbe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEGw23urEImtqYJqhspeygjZmW8mvgDViWBnZtJdNqhE8KIaBzgAu3uem6C2WRIJv0Cs6HWHGQEdBxc4uWN-DgD8MVHEW7GRrjtxegbNxTk2Yc80m7U1ggMSTtYwiX59tJQmEKwLbMqkRM/s1600/Agbe.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b>ABUJA, NIGERIA - A former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Dr. Olufemi Thomas, has surrendered to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for interrogation on the alleged seizure of $2.1million cash.</b></div>
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The EFCC had threatened to declare him wanted after efforts to locate him both in Lagos and Abuja proved abortive.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
Thomas had denied ownership of the said cash and claimed yesterday that he was never on the run as reported by the media.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
The EFCC is however continuing with its investigation of the matter and may invite a former Minister of Health for questioning on how NHIS paid ₦990million for a plot of land estimated at ₦350million, while Thomas was in office.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
Thomas reportedly arrived Abuja on Thursday night and reported at the EFCC headquarters, Abuja early Friday.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He was said to have been grilled for several hours by the agency after which his media aide, Mr. Sola Adeyemi, issued a statement describing him as "a law-abiding person, a true professional and a man of his words."</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said: </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
Today (Friday), we were at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja in reaction to media reports that Dr. Thomas was wanted by the anti-graft agency in connection with a $2.1million cash seizure, where my boss made an official statement on the allegation of money laundering. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
This shows that he was never on the run, and he would never do anything against the law of the land. He has gone to answer the EFCC call. So we believe my boss’ visit will put to rest all these allegations and help the anti-graft agency in their further investigation of the matter. Therefore, until the investigation is concluded, we would not speak on this matter.</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Adeyemi appealed to the media to "maintain a high level of professionalism in the discharge of your duties in order that the anti-graft agency can focus on a thorough investigation on the various allegations."</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
According to <b><i>The Nation,</i></b> a reliable source in the commission said the former Executive Secretary of NHIS voluntarily came to the EFCC office for interrogation on the seized cash.</div>
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"We have interacted with him and we asked him to make statement accordingly on what he knew about the cash," the source said.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
"We also grilled him on the relationship between him and the Bureau de Change operator, Ibiteye John Bamidele, who was <a href="http://nigerianewsroom.blogspot.com/2015/07/man-nabbed-at-lagos-airport-with-fake.html">arrested with the money by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency </a>(NDLEA).</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"We are proceeding with the next stage to investigate issues highlighted from the submissions of the two people. There are other clues we are also considering too.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"The ex-NHIS is on administrative bail and he has given assurance that he would report to the EFCC anytime he is needed."</div>
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$2.1 Million Seized Cash: Ex-NHIS Boss Surrenders To EFCC

ABUJA, NIGERIA - A former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Dr. Olufemi Thomas, has surrendered to th...

Probe: Remove The Log in APC's Eyes Before Removing The Speck From Others' - PDP Tells Buhari

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0bJX6JZ87fdI69JID-SQ62zSMVvNrYNhe1u3wInlkImA_5IWHJHnVuc42rQC8zZNyiV-U_MEApdR6wrGkwpEAVlnSzm3js_eCXWOT1EBJ4KFIbQ4mcJKjkozK6Gs1h3Ns4lfaV4klm906/s1600/Metuh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0bJX6JZ87fdI69JID-SQ62zSMVvNrYNhe1u3wInlkImA_5IWHJHnVuc42rQC8zZNyiV-U_MEApdR6wrGkwpEAVlnSzm3js_eCXWOT1EBJ4KFIbQ4mcJKjkozK6Gs1h3Ns4lfaV4klm906/s1600/Metuh.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="font-family: ''; text-align: justify;">
<b>ABUJA, NIGERIA - The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said it was on the same page with Buhari in the fight against corruption, but that due process must be followed.</b></div>
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The PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, in Abuja on Tuesday, said the clarification became necessary so as to remove any misconception that it was against the decision of the present administration to probe some past officials of government because they were PDP members.</div>
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<div style="font-family: ''; text-align: justify;">
Metuh said: </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="font-family: '';">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The PDP supports the decision of the Federal Government to fight corruption in our country. </div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="font-family: '';">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
However, we make bold to state that it should not be disguised to victimise innocent citizens. Democracy has come to stay in Nigeria and no citizen, irrespective of political, religious or ethnic affiliation, should be denied access to due process and the rule of law in the process. </div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="font-family: '';">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Furthermore, we make bold to state that he who comes to equity must come with clean hands. In that regard, therefore, we advise members of the APC blowing the horn ahead of the cart to keep quiet because many of them have been major beneficiaries of corruption and sleaze associated with themselves and their allies, especially one of them who as a disguised errand boy of a well-known APC leader is a major beneficiary of the largesse of perpetrators of corruption. </div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="font-family: '';">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Apart from Mr. President, who for now, is not associated with any sleaze or corrupt activity in this democracy, most APC leaders are still those who as governors, ministers and labour leaders have been the worst corrupt set of Nigerians ever to bestride the political landscape of the country. </div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="font-family: '';">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It is a great miscarriage of perception therefore for the APC leaders who are perpetrators of sleaze and corrupt acts to attempt to deceive Nigerians with imaginary holiness in this anti-corruption war by the President.</div>
</blockquote>
<div style="font-family: ''; text-align: justify;">
Consequently, he called on the President, as the leader of the APC to remove the log in the eyes of his party while "we support his commitment to remove the speck from the eyes of others."</div>
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Probe: Remove The Log in APC's Eyes Before Removing The Speck From Others' - PDP Tells Buhari

ABUJA, NIGERIA - The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said it was on the same page with Buhari in the fight against corruption, but that ...

Not Probing Jonathan's Administration Will Amount To Endorsing Corruption and Impunity - APC

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDsmkcnpS0So1aRUdwY2nrfC8RXoUQhX7wTo1okLy6qZhcEm3lbT-0atv9ZMO9Kf4qoxCxAjtLJBJzwG4nxBkEwzRkT0pbQAIUvpPzriXP7xVl8Kk53Un6lxAKjpledSVQWTcRyxMOJ9q8/s1600/Lai+Mohammed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDsmkcnpS0So1aRUdwY2nrfC8RXoUQhX7wTo1okLy6qZhcEm3lbT-0atv9ZMO9Kf4qoxCxAjtLJBJzwG4nxBkEwzRkT0pbQAIUvpPzriXP7xVl8Kk53Un6lxAKjpledSVQWTcRyxMOJ9q8/s1600/Lai+Mohammed.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>LAGOS, NIGERIA - The All Progressives Congress (APC) said on Tuesday that it supported the probe of the Jonathan administration by Buhari in the light of mind-boggling corruption that had been uncovered by the Federal Government.</b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: ''; text-align: justify;">
"Some people have insinuated that the Buhari administration should ignore the massive looting of our patrimony and move on. We say no responsible government can afford to do that, because it will amount to endorsing corruption and impunity," the party said in a statement issued in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.</div>
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<div style="font-family: ''; text-align: justify;">
The APC said billions of dollars had been skimmed off by "pathologically-corrupt public officials" in the oil sector alone, wondering how the government of the day could meet its obligations to the citizens if it refused to recover the huge funds taken away by thieving officials</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: ''; text-align: justify;">
Mohammed's statement read: </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="font-family: '';">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It is an irony that those who are suggesting that the Buhari administration should turn a blind eye to the incomprehensible looting are the same ones accusing the government of not doing anything. </div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="font-family: '';">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It is even a cruel irony that the same party that presided over what is fast emerging as the worst governance in the history of our country is the same one that is daily bad-mouthing an administration that is cleaning up its mess. </div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="font-family: '';">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Where does one start from? Is it the fact that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation failed to remit ₦3.8tn to the Federation Account or the mind-blowing stealing of 250,000 barrels of crude oil per day? </div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="font-family: '';">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Is it the fact that the NNPC itself does not know how many bank accounts it had or into which ones the payments for Nigerian crude are made? Could anyone have imagined that a government minister would steal the unprecedentedly-huge amount of US $6bn of public funds as being alleged? </div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="font-family: '';">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
How does any sane person rationalise the fact that $1bn was unilaterally and illegally withdrawn from the Excess Crude Account just because, as the immediate past Minister of Finance has disclosed, the President ordered the withdrawal? What about the billions of naira waivers recklessly approved to dubious importers by the Jonathan administration? </div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="font-family: '';">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Is it not clear now that the stealing and the profligacy – more than anything else, including the fall in oil price – helped to drastically reduce the monthly allocation from the Federation Account from about ₦800bn to about ₦400bn , thus pauperising the states and the local governments, and by extension the citizenry? </div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="font-family: '';">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Against the background of the stunning revelations, what message will any government be sending to its citizens and indeed the global community by looking the other way, when it could still recover some of the looted funds for the benefit of the people? </div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="font-family: '';">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This is why we are supporting the Buhari administration's probe decision and we are calling on all Nigerians to support ongoing efforts to get to the root of the matter.</div>
</blockquote>
<div style="font-family: ''; text-align: justify;">
The APC said it was clear that the Jonathan administration had deliberately delayed giving the then incoming Buhari government the handover notes so as to avoid being asked critical questions pertaining to the looting under its watch.</div>
<div style="font-family: ''; text-align: justify;">
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Not Probing Jonathan's Administration Will Amount To Endorsing Corruption and Impunity - APC

LAGOS, NIGERIA - The All Progressives Congress (APC) said on Tuesday that it supported the probe of the Jonathan administration by Buha...

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