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Crack Ya Ribs: Julius Agwu Storms UK & Ireland in August, Kicks Off in Dublin

Xclusive Magazine — Fri, 27 May 2016 14:45:46 +0000

The ace comedian, Julius ‘the Genius’ Agwu (INSET) Crack Ya Ribs poster

The ace comedian, Julius D’Genius Agwu is set to storm Europe in August and will kick off his annual Crack Ya Ribs in Dublin, Ireland on the 13 August 2016 at Carlton Hotel, Tyrrelstown, Dublin 15.

XCLUSIVE MAGAZINE understands that after what is expected to be five-star rib-cracking jokes in Dublin, Julius Agwu will move the laughter train to Aberdeen, Scotland for another rib cracking event on the 20 August 2016. He is expected to round up the tour with a grand finale on 28 August 2016 in London.

Julius Agwu, who had a successful brain surgery on Tuesday, 12 May 2015 at the Park Plaza Hospital in Houston Texas, United States of America, is now fully recovered and is set to continue doing what he knows how to do best – put laughter on the faces of millions of people in Africa and all over the world.

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Ibori’s UAE Assets Among Criminal Proceeds Buhari Wants to Recover

Xclusive Magazine — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 14:08:11 +0000

James Ibori, 52, currently serving 13 years in UK prison.

The recent agreement signed by President Muhammadu Buhari with the United Arab Emirates, UAE, may be Delta State gain. A top government official within Buhari’s government confided in XCLUSIVE MAGAZINE that indications are that the assets of former Delta State governor James Onanefe Ibori stacked away in Dubai are among the many criminal proceeds from Nigeria that President Buhari intends to trace and recover now that there is a legal basis to ask for the return of such stolen assets. Chief Ibori was governor of Delta State between May 1999 and May 2007.

In a meeting with the head of UAE government, His Highness Sheikh Muhammad Bin Zayad Al-Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the UAE armed forces, the world’s second largest Arab economy, signed an agreement with Nigeria, among other three agreements, “to improve the effectiveness of both countries in the investigation and prosecution of crime, and the confiscation of criminal proceeds.”

Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President, SSAP (Media and Publicity), explains in a press statement: “Under this agreement, proceeds of crime were defined to include ‘any assets derived or realized, directly and indirectly, by any person as a result of criminal conduct or the value of any asset. ‘Asset’ itself defined as ‘money and all kinds of moveable or immovable or tangible or intangible property, and include any interest on such property.'”

Ibori, who is serving 13 years in jail in the United Kingdom for fraud totalling nearly £50m ($77m), was arrested in May 2010 by Interpol agents at the instance of the London Metropolitan police in his posh apartment in Dubai and extradited to London. His stolen assets in real estate and shares hidden in UAE run into billions of Naira. During his trial in the UK, one of the counts Ibori admitted, reported the BBC, “related to a $37m fraud pertaining to the sale of Delta State’s share in Nigerian privatised phone company company V Mobile.”

Although Ibori’s assets are at the front-burner of the stolen assets Pres. Buhari wants to trace and recover because of their sheer volume, XCLUSIVE MAGAZINE understands that there are other 23 Deltans said to own choice properties in Dubai and Abu Dhabi bought with billions of naira stolen from Delta State, among them are former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, Hon. Michael Diden (aka Ejele, current member of Delta State House of Assembly) and Tuoyo Omatseyi, former Executive Director of NDDC.

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Vincent Azie: Does Nigeria Need Good Technocrats?

Xclusive Magazine — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 12:27:30 +0000

Vincent Azie then acting Auditor-General of the Federation was sacked by President Olusegun Obasanjo

Nigeria has suddenly been counselled in retrospect that it is impossible if not foolish to expect a government to be dominated by genuine technocrats even if it was aggressively promised at election time and is the basis of a famous electoral victory. As such, Nigerians are told that it saddled with the reality that old politicians that have deliberately failed and underdeveloped the country simply to line their pockets with fabulous wealth from state resources, is its most pragmatic national choice. Kleptocracy, thus, is the fate of Nigeria i.e. a government of thieves, by thieves for thieves. One may ask if outstanding technocrats actually exist in the country.

170 million people and counting and all Nigeria has to show for its administration are chameleonic and persistent kleptocrats. As politicians would say “where were the technocrats when the politicians were cooking the soup”? The staple rapacious sinecures of Nigerian politics have metamorphosed from “national cake” sharers to “political soup” potters; the butterfly has evolved back into a slug. The ‘eternal baby syndrome,’ which was hitherto blamed on the military for starting the calendar of progress from zero when a democratic government comes into power is now freely used by politicians when a new party comes into power. Growing up into political maturity is not a reasonable object of Nigeria’s democracy.

Nigeria does not in reality need good technocrats for anything or any purpose. Genuine technocrats work and are not content to benefit from occupying a sinecure. There are examples of this. When Vincent Azie was made acting Accountant General of the Federation he had two choices; either to enjoy sinecure for privilege and power or do a thorough technocrats job in truth and with justice. Azie chose the latter. He did an impeccably fine job in auditing the nation’s accounts and found corruption everywhere, quantitatively i.e. with hard evidence.

However, since the political economy as governed by “Owners of Nigeria Technostructure” (ONT) has no value whatsoever for a diligent technocrat committed to work and service to the nation with bureaucratic morality and duty, his boss at the time, President Olusegun Obasanjo, fired him for doing an incredibly fine job. The ONT expected that Azie would be thankful for the appointment, enjoy his sinecure and retire a fabulously wealthy man. Azie simply wanted to serve his country as best as he could.

Vincent Azie’s sacking was not just a punishment for the truth and justice with which he did his job, considered to be naiveté on his part, but also as a warning to others who would attempt to do the same. Technocrats have been routinely given the implicit options of enjoying their sinecures or resigning. It would amaze the public how many genuine technocrats have resigned from the service as such. That is a side of potential good governance most Nigeria never hear about or see.

Vincent Azie who was sacked in 2002 was able to do a far better job in anti-corruption than the whole of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) established in 2004 could ever do. You can see why Obasanjo sacked a man who makes Nuhu Ribadu look like a novice in comparison. The creation of the EFCC was just a ruse to make Nigeria appear “aid and investment” worthy to donors and investors, ticking the checklist of good governance. Real good governance is not about box-ticking but genuine hard work, discipline and vision. However, Vincent Azie has remained true to his professional technocratic values in retirement while Nuhu Ribadu sold himself down the river with the reversal of the outcomes of his works as a popular “corruption czar” to achieve elected political office.

Since General Murtala Mohammed’s purge of the civil service technocrats, they have increasingly become a dwindling breed in government. Of the technocrats that exist most are “wards of public relations” rather than “people of true merit”. But those of genuine merit will not get a chance to upset the agenda of the ONT with their good service. Nigerians should forget about the governance of technocrats for the time being.

“Prayer politics”, “prayer economics” and “prayer business” should seriously be established as new fields of study in the academy since “prayer” has been elevated to the status of “technocrat” in Nigeria. Nigeria is a nation where if a bank or manufacturing industry is being opened or commissioned, the owners invite men acclaimed to possess monumental spiritual powers to say prayers that will make the venture very successful. The same happens when a new government comes into power.

Praying for the success and protection of a kleptocrat who puts all his capacities into robbing his own treasury dry, is quite a prayer. One should wonder what the Lord Almighty thinks about answering such prayers. If people believe prayers will answer all Nigeria’s government problems it has to be still in the Middle Ages and the evidence will support such. God did not make advanced rich country advanced or rich, men and women, particularly technocrats did.

Dr. Nane is an errant scholar and economist. Follow him on twitter: @Grimot

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Judge hearing N169m Delta State Scholarship Fraud Case Transferred

Xclusive Magazine — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 11:10:11 +0000

Former Secretary of Delta State Scholarship Board Peter Amromanoh & Chief Accountant Andrew Boji Nkwor

The judge presiding over the N169m Delta State Scholarship fraud case has been transferred out of Asaba to Oleh. Confirming the development, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said in a press statement that the transfer of Justice C. O. Eminifoye of the Delta State High Court means that the case will now have to start de novo October 27.

Justice Emifoniye has presided over the case since March 2015, after the former Executive Secretary of the State Scholarship Board Peter Amromanoh and the Chief Accountant Andrew Boji Nkwor had challenged the jurisdiction of the court and the proof of evidence, stating that it does not disclose the commission of the offence in the charge.

Mr Amromanoh and Mr Nkwor are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing. The prosecution alleged that Mr Nkwor abused his office and, in connivance with Mr Amromanoh, stole over N36 million meant for the payment of bursary to Delta State students studying in various institutions of higher learning. They are also alleged to have paid bursary to “ghost” students.

One of the counts against them reads: “That you Mr. Peter Amromanoh being the Executive Secretary of Delta State Scholarship Board and Andrew Boji Nkwor being the Chief Accountant of the Delta State Scholarship Board sometime between 2008 to 2012 at Asaba in the Asaba Judicial Division of the High Court of Delta State, stole the sum of N31,720,000.00 being money meant for the payment of Bursary to students of Delta State origin studying in various institutions of higher learning in the 2008 to 2010 sessions by fraudulently paying same to ghost students which you knew, not to be true and thus fraudulently converting the said sum to your own use.”

Justice Emifoniye had, at the last sitting on 1 July 2015, adjourned the case to October 26 and 27, 2015 for further hearing.

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I write to continue the message started by Chimamanda Adichie – Mwenya Kasonde

Xclusive Magazine — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 12:49:55 +0000

Dr Mwenya Kasonde

Dr Mwenya Kasonde is a medical doctor turned entrepreneur. She studied at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, graduating with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery. She also holds a diploma in Health Economics from University College Dublin.

She left a career in emergency medicine to set up Sishima Holdings, a group of companies with business interests which currently include publishing, real estate, healthcare and financial services. The company is an African company dedicated to the advancement and empowerment of the continent and its people.

Mwenya is an award winning public speaker and writes extensively on the subject of African business trends and opportunities. She is passionate about economic empowerment, health and poverty alleviation.

Mwenya is currently living in Dublin, Ireland. A Brighter Shade of Black is Dr Kasonde’s first book.

A Brighter Shade of Black is Dr Kasonde

What were your motivations for writing the book?
I was motivated to write this book after I grew increasingly frustrated with the negative depictions of Africa. We hear so many stories of hunger, poverty and war and yet there is so much more to this amazing continent! What about the other side of the story? The Africa that I know is a land of opportunity, a vibrant, diverse and thriving continent with many high achievers and notable people. I wanted to continue the message started by Chimamanda Adichie, a Nigerian Writer who wants to break away from the view of a ‘Single Africa’

Who is your book aimed at?
This book is aimed at Africans and non-Africans alike. I think many of us have bought into the “we are poor” narrative and are missing out on the beauty of the continent. Casting people as victims’ works very well to keep them powerless. I want Africans to celebrate their culture and success and show that they are more than the stereotype that has been created.

What is the key message of your book?
The key message is simple; Africa is not as poor as you think! We have many successful businessmen and woman that deserve the recognition that has been overshadowed by a story of poverty. Forbes list of Africa’s 50 Richest was a monumental step towards showing that there are two sides to every story, and I hope to continue this with A Brighter Shade of Black.

What do you hope to achieve by writing the book?
I hope to educate, inspire and motivate African people especially towards regaining their power by writing this. I believe once people can truly appreciate what we, as a continent, already have then they will continue to make strides to make things even better for everybody, including themselves and their families.

A Brighter Shade of Black (£12.99), is now available to order from all good bookstores and via Amazon.co.uk

About the Author: Dr Mwenya Kasonde is a medical doctor turned entrepreneur. She studied at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, graduating with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery. Mwenya is currently living in Dublin, Ireland. A Brighter Shade of Black is Dr Kasonde’s first book. Follow her on twitter: @KasondeMwenya
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Zambian Author Mwenya Kasonde Tells Us Why World’s Poorest Continent Isn’t As Poor As We Think

Xclusive Magazine — Thu, 15 Oct 2015 15:44:43 +0000

A Brighter Shade of Black (cover) by Dr Mwenya Kasonde

Ireland – Dr Mwenya Kasonde’s A Brighter Shade of Black, the optimistic and eye-opening new book that is set to challenge the global perception of Africa as a continent fuelled only by poverty.

You only have to take a look at recent news stories such as the bombing of the Nigerian capital, to see that only too often, stories of Africa relate to conflict, poverty and a desire to leave the home land for a better life elsewhere. But is this really painting a true picture of Africa and her people?

A Brighter Shade of Black is the debut book by Dr Mwenya Kasonde which explores the Western portrayal of Africa. Dr Kasonde aims to turn common misconceptions on their head and show that the world’s poorest continent isn’t quite as poor as you think!

Dr Kasonde explores the ever-growing wealth that is present in Africa, and aims to shatter the western disillusionment that nothing more than poverty exists in Africa. She hopes to break away from the ‘Bono’ effect, created by the singer’s ONE campaign, which has created a singular image of Africa which is not representative of the many areas of growth and opportunity that the world’s second largest continent presents.

From Hermon Kojo Chinery Hesse, the African Bill Gates; to R&B and Hip Hop icon, Akon, she explores the hidden depth of talent and wealth that is present. Relating the stories of resilient people who are part of the Africa that is rising, A Brighter Shade of Black depicts an Africa that is set to have the fastest growing economy of any continent over the next five years, according to the International Monetary Fund.

Mwenya has spent 18 months preparing for the book, including scouring through research reports, news archives and speaking with influential people and journalists. Speaking about her motivations for writing A Brighter Shade of Black, Dr Kasonde explains:

“The impetus to write this book came from watching a BBC TV documentary. As the program progressed my sister and I became increasingly frustrated and angry. The subject was about immigrants to the UK from Africa and the Caribbean. It seemed to me that yet again, only a small portion of the story was being told.”
“It’s time to hear about the new Africa. A continent no longer torn apart like it once was by horrific civil wars, famine and abject poverty. And that is why I needed to write this book. I hope to play a small role in opening eyes to the boundless possibilities that exist in this great continent. It is a story about the exciting, emerging Africa that I like to think of as A Brighter Shade of Black.

A Brighter Shade of Black (£12.99), is available to order from all good bookstores and via Amazon.co.uk from 16th October 2015

About the Author: Dr Mwenya Kasonde is a medical doctor turned entrepreneur. She studied at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, graduating with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery. Mwenya is currently living in Dublin, Ireland. A Brighter Shade of Black is Dr Kasonde’s first book. Follow her on twitter: @KasondeMwenya
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Buhari: His Pact with the Devil and Political Damnation

Xclusive Magazine — Wed, 07 Oct 2015 15:02:00 +0000

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has searched and decided, the Department of State Services (DSS) has screened and cleared, the Nigerian Senate has accepted and announced the candidates for long awaited “ministerial list”. The Nigerian nation has been deceived and spat upon by its leader once again. Habit or repetition is definitely not “CHANGE.”

In a nation full of decent competent technocrats and those with clean records President Buhari, the self-styled “Grand Sherriff of Anti-Corruption” has chosen the most corrupt ministerial cabinet Nigeria has ever seen for a first term or second term presidential tenure. Buhari’s ministerial list has shown Nigeria concrete evidence that to be a long standing or born again democrat you have to be pragmatic, be a thief. Buhari is now the “Prince of Thieves”.

Buhari’s anti-corruption message by way of his “ministerial list” to Nigerians is that if you are elected or appointed politicians, especially governors, steal as much as you can while you are to secure your career future. Even the best of men, the “Prince”, will accept your money for election purposes and protect you with his reputation and power.

The “ministerial list” of Buhari has the rare technocrat, the rest are politicians, gubernatocrats and gubernatorial candidates, the current biggest and aspiring biggest thieves, respectively within the Nigerian political economy.

The four months Nigeria waited for an active executive arm of government now makes good strategic sense. Buhari and his team imposed “inevitability” on the Nigerian in the same way Nigerian TV evangelists make miracle seekers give false testimonies before not after their “miracles” occur. The start of the miracle process is delayed by numerous postponements long enough to make the person become desperate then, a false testimony is obtained and the miracle is performed; when nothing happens you simply go away and internalise you anger. That is Buhari’s style.

If members of his cabinet, especially the thieving gubernatocrats who used vast stolen public monies intended for the people to successfully finance Buhari’s presidential ambition, secure impunity under the protection of the Man, who else is he going to successfully prosecute? Sambo Dasuki is an old enemy Buhari has prosecuted. We may see many revenge and grudge witch hunts from Buhari, not thoroughgoing anti-corruption.

Even the witch hunts will be limited to politicians whose stealing that is not linked in any way to those thieves Buhari is “princing”. If you stole with Fashola, Amaechi, Fayemi, Ogbeh and other politicians Buhari needs, it is time to thank your stars that Buhari is in power; you shall go scot free.

To see a man, who in 18 months of military rule created Nigeria’s greatest ever hope of a “Better Society” on a national and international level, backslide into a ‘prince of thieves’ in old age is certainly heart-breaking. Buhari as a military ruler refused to give rents special interest groups to stay in power. As a democratic president he has opted for giving the most corrupt type of rents to achieve and stay in power. The man loves power more than Nigerians previously thought.

The enduring torment and despair Buhari must have suffered when General Ibrahim Babangida overthrew him by way of coup d’état in 1986 and the impacts is something Nigerians have underestimated or not even thought about. However, it is increasingly evident that the coup of 1986 broke Buhari badly and irreparably. A careful examination of his recent actions would without much effort reveal Buhari has backslid on everything good he stood for as military ruler.

The anti-corruption campaign under Buhari at election was a persuasive illusion that has ended with a foul taste. Corruption is here to stay. If men can steal to influence elections to win Buhari’s favour and power in his cabinet, they will steal to win political favour with whoever will succeed Buhari. Buhari cannot stop his cabinet or the legislature from stealing or the judiciary protecting their thefts.

Africans often say “the best protector of a treasure is a thief”, but that is just native sense that has failed time and time again in the modern word. Buhari’s princing of thieves is an egregious move, but without the money of thieving gubernatocrats Buhari would never have gotten into power.

Buhari is most tragically Nigeria’s Faust. Buhari made deals with the Devil and political damnation is upon him. Buhari has squandered his past legacy completely. Most will forget the days of excellence of the Buhari-Idiagbon duo that sought to fix Nigeria effectively and remember a man who condemned himself to success dependent of the rapacious and damaging proceeds of corruption. I now understand why many insist Buhari was nothing without Idiagbon but I will not speculate with counterfactuals.

The anti-climax of an anti-corruption campaign has never been so bad so soon, at least in Nigeria.

Sai Baba! Sai Buhari!

Dr. Nane is an errant scholar and economist. Follow him on twitter: @Grimot

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Buhari: As Nigerians Eagerly Await His Cabinet Names

Xclusive Magazine — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 17:55:46 +0000

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari. Photo credit: Yahoo News

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday submitted his cabinet names to the Senate president, Senator Bukola Saraki. As Nigerians eagerly and anxiously wait for Senator Saraki to reveal the names, at least we already know one of his ministers. President Buhari himself! To the initiated that is no surprise. None of the current stock of politician at the present appears to have the ‘integrity capital’ Buhari has and as such has to be there in the cabinet.

However, there are some implications of such self-appointment as Minister of Petroleum Resources even though it is a good and wise move. It is a “Cabinet of One” for now. Buhari is the man credited with creating the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) besides being Federal Commissioner for Petroleum resources both in 1970s under Head of State, General Olusegun Obasanjo. He was also largely responsible for the nationalisation of the sector and is said to be disgusted how that turned mostly due to corruption. Buhari is “back home” with oil sector.

The President knows the oil sector inside out. Maybe that is why his synergy with the new Managing Director of NNPC, Ibe Kachikwu, is working out well. One hopes Buhari would clean-up the sector and not stick to policy of bombing illegal oil sector operators and that refineries are not privatised, which would lose the government control of this vital national sector.

There is no doubt that as Minister of Petroleum the responsibility of oil sector will lie fully under Buhari’s control. Any successes or failures found will lead directly back to the President. It is not as easy or privileged as it seems if we factor in the anti-corruption requirement. There are many players in the oil sector that would want to sabotage his transparency policies, but evidently Buhari seems to be the best man to fight any backlash encountered.

A few former heads of state have doubled as minister. It is often a reaction to the existence and evidence of hyper-corruption (say, in the oil sector) and an attempt to prevent or reduce incidences of further corruption. There may be other reasons though.

One and half decades ago, President Olusegun Obasanjo doubled as Minister of Petroleum Resources after incidences such as the rapacious and corrupt antics of Dan Etete, an ex-minister of Petroleum, became public news. The recent allegations made against the immediate past Minister of Petroleum, Deziani Alison-Madueke that $700 million was found in her residence would make any President with an anti-corruption agenda cautious.

Some may question the length of time it took Buhari to appoint himself and others to his ministerial cabinet. It would certainly be challenging to find new candidates for petroleum minister that will not repeat the antics of Nigeria’s long list of hyper-corrupt individuals that have occupied the position. To give Buhari the benefit of the doubt, he may have searched well for an upright moral minister to do the job and ended up with picking himself.

Though it could be considered petty, it is of reasonable significance in the polity that Buhari will be minister while a minister of state will handle the day-day affairs of the ministry is reminiscent of a time when it was widely believed that a Northerner must be “at the top” while a Southerner would do all the hard work as a subordinate. Is the Minister of State going to be a Southerner?

It would also be quite offensive to Southerners that the names submitted initially for clearance as prospective ministers were all from the South except one, only to see that Buhari has appointed a majority of Northerners to his cabinet. That would also revive echoes of Northern rule in Nigeria. This line of thinking has become pervasive in Nigeria and cries of “federal character” have been simmering eagerly waiting for the opportunity for “a boil over.”

It would be interesting now that Buhari is ready to staff his cabinet with ministers, the country would start to perform far better than it is already doing which millions of Nigerians think is good work so far. Buhari’s opponents and critics will have a field-day if such better governance performance does not materialise even by mid-term. Serving in the cabinet may be more of curse than a privilege, purely due to the expectations placed upon Buhari’s administration.

The time has come for a national executive, complete with a ministerial cabinet, to lead Nigeria from the front into a new era in its history.

We are watching!

Dr. Nane is an errant scholar and economist. Follow him on twitter: @Grimot

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Buhari’s Ministerial List and Gubernatocracy

Xclusive Magazine — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 15:16:33 +0000

President Muhammadu Buhari (middle) with his Influencer & Gubernatocrats: Bola Tinubu, Babatunde Fashola, Donald Duke & Chibuike Amaechi

There are several former governors on the proposed President Muhammadu Buhari’s “ministerial list.” Most of these governors on the list are not in jail today largely due to the conditions of “hyper-impunity” in Nigeria for which those who are very visibly guilty of grand theft of public funds and vote stealing enjoy. If the published list is not a hoax, because it looks like one, then the wait for Buhari to pick a ‘squeaky clean cabinet’ of highly competent and incorruptible individuals has been a sore waste of the nation’s time.

Ministers have traditionally been academics and technocrats. However, such people do not have money to support a president significantly in a crucial election unless they have had access to state resources they way some figures (e.g. Funsho Kopulokun of NNPC notoriety did) who are on the ministerial list have. Femi Falana’s name on the list looks like an act of “moral concentration” i.e. using a genuinely super-clean individual’s image to launder filth.

The monies the All Progressives Congress (APC) governors stole recently and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governors stashed away ages ago now constitute the ‘grease that oiled the wheels’ of Buhari’s election success. I call it “Gubernatocracy”. It is a new dimension in Nigerian politics and we should sincerely and thoroughly thank Buhari for its creation even though he appears captive to it.

From both simple observation and very reliable insider information, when Olusegun Obasanjo came to power in 1999, it was military men who had the tons of money to speculate in the Nigerian political economy especially on elections. That has “CHANGED.” A reasonable proportion of the people with such cash to throw around in politics nowadays are thieving ex-governors. Buhari accepted their stolen cash support with his eyes far wide open.

People in Nigeria and Diaspora vehemently swear by Buhari’s ‘precious integrity’ but for how much longer? You cannot fool everybody all the time, as Lincoln said. It is very surprising that ex-Governor James Ibori is not on the list. Buhari has the power to get Ibori released from prison in the United Kingdom and to serve in his cabinet immediately. Before anyone laughs at such a bizarre suggestion let us ask some questions.

How come Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the key influencer of the appointments in Buhari’s cabinet? What is Olagunsoye Oyinlola’s name doing on the ministerial list? What is Donald Duke’s name doing on the ministerial list? What is Babatunde Fashola’s name doing on the ministerial list? What is Chibuike Amaechi’s doing on the ministerial list? What is Rabiu Kwankwanso’s name doing on the ministerial list?

Money!!! Pound for pound, are any of these former governors who made the list lesser thieves of public funds or lesser thieves of votes than James Ibori? And which of these ex-governors has a better rating of ‘integrity’ or ‘conscientious service’ than James Ibori? And which of these ex-governors if prosecuted for their tenures in government by the “standards” Buhari “sold” to Nigerians at election time would not spend a live-long time in jail?

Other former governors who made Buhari’s lists are Segun Oni and Kayode Fayemi, both of Ekiti State, might be cleaner men but we have figured out why Buhari is so keen to have ex-Governors in his cabinet. Money. Alas, money from the same types of corruption he wants to stop. Titi Meme Koko!

Some of these former governors who made the ministerial list are major figures in the contemporary “Cross-Carpeters for Power” movement in Nigeria. They migrated to PDP now they have migrated again to APC. If a new dominant party emerges they shall all migrate to it as if it is a habit. Power and access to lucrative state resources is all that motivates these gubernatocrats who made the list in politics not the people, public interest or service. These are ruthless political entrepreneurs after all.

Some of these former governors were “ran out of office” by the courts because of the very criminal ways by which they stole elections. Among them were governors who actually had the temerity to go to court to get injunctions to prevent investigations into their many acts of grand corruption.

Yet, Buhari has to work with these ex-governors because they now call the tune. Someone quipped that Buhari is still thinking like military ruler at a time when there was a revolving door between being minister and governor. And Nigerians are expected to hope for a better and less corrupt Nigeria? Now you can laugh.

If Buhari’s alleged rhetoric of forgiving thieves of public funds and other corrupt acts in their past is to be taken seriously even by a minority of Nigerians, he should start by forgiving Sambo Dasuki to show how far he will go in his righteousness. We all know the story. Nigeria is not short of good men and women who will serve Nigeria selflessly and conscientiously; the current shape of gubernatocracy is a bad choice for Nigeria.

All in all, if the ministerial list as revealed is true, Buhari has by his own doing or by compromise lost most of his legitimacy. The only way his legitimacy can survive is if the list is a hoax.

Dr. Nane is an errant scholar and economist. Follow him on twitter: @Grimot

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Akpabio and His Imaginary “World Class” Hospital

Xclusive Magazine — Wed, 16 Sep 2015 18:39:19 +0000

FLASHBACK: Godswill Akpabio commissions the “world class” Ibom specialist hospital

A few months back, Senator Godswill Akpabio, the former Governor of Akwa Ibom State very proudly announced with so much grace and aplomb that he had just commissioned a “world class” Ibom specialist hospital in his state. Any scepticism about the announcement was “predictably” deemed ‘enmity to progress’ in Nigeria.

However, Senator Akpabio recently and unfortunately suffered a car crash in Abuja, Nigeria and was promptly flown into UK for treatment, lifesaving or otherwise. What ever happened to the “world class” hospital he built and commissioned in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State? Why was he not taken there?

In one sense, such case of Akpabio’s misfortune can be presented as a classic textbook sign of the consequences of hyper-corruption going on in Nigeria. Senator Akpabio built a “world class” stadium then a “world class” hospital in Uyo but they are both of no significant use or benefit to the local public not even Akpabio himself.

The real beneficiaries of the “world class” facilities built by Akpabio in Akwa Ibom are the contractors and the politicians awarding the contracts including “the man” himself. You have governors who want to build underground rail, air-conditioned bridges, and submarines in their states. Such projects are not for the development of transport in Nigeria; they are good projects for siphoning money and creating rents.

In another sense, Senator Akpabio came to the UK simply because he does not want to die and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. The rich customarily want to live far longer than usual and are perhaps more concerned about their health than their compatriots. So, when then the rich especially the politicians and administrators of the nation are seriously ill or injured going to Europe or America for treatment has become a strictly adhered to tradition.

The rich administrators and politicians never seriously think to build, maintain and upgrade such medical facilities at home. It is a curse for them to think and act in that direction. And there is the fear of assassination and juju too when politicians suffered accidents. Never underestimate the influence of prophets, marabouts and native doctors over those who rule the land.

Nevertheless, Senator Akpabio did “actually” build a “world class” hospital in his home state, Akwa Ibom, as governor breaking the unusually all-encompassing curse placed upon those who rule the land. Wow!

Yet, in the hour of reckoning, Senator Akpabio’s flight to the UK immediately raised questions of how world class his “world class” hospital really is. The hour of reckoning might have craped the image of a man who was portrayed in the media and by NGOs as a “world class” governor in Nigeria.

“World class” as a rule-of-thumb always precedes colossal expensive failures in Nigeria. The National Theatre in Iganmu, Lagos was hailed as a “world class” facility for the Arts in 1977 when it was opened up for Festac ‘77. When I last visited the National Theatre in 2004 it was just like a run-down lecture theatre on a university campus. The swamps in front of the national theatre were never reclaimed.

Not surprisingly, according to Chinua Achebe, the National Theatre was built at the cost of £72 million. In comparison the Barbican Centre in London, England built at the same time as the National Theatre cost a trifling £5 million to build, with or without my experience it remains a world class venue for the Arts.

The “world class” privatisation of the electric power sector was fondly bragged about and vehemently defended by at least one of National Energy Regulation Commission’s commissioners as “world class”. What was privatised was sincerely “black outs” with Nigeria having one of the worst electricity consumption rates per capita on the planet.

Whenever you hear the word “world class” at the commissioning of a mega project in Nigeria be very circumspect because it is very likely to be an indication that the elected and appointed thieves of public funds have just lined their pockets again.

Millions of dollars are spent on the white elephant projects every year in the name of “priorities”. Governor Akpabio and other top-ranking elected and appointed administrators should take at least a proper crash program education in the sensible design and astute implementation of priorities for the political economy of developing nation. It would give them a wonderful education.

The politicians and administrators of the land will learn that needs of the people and the needs of the political jurisdiction are “priorities” that far exceed needs of politician, their patrons and their client. A friend of my who is extremely pessimistic of Nigeria’s future would counsel in this case, “try explaining it to my Alsatian, he will make better sense of it.”

The lesson from Senator Akpabio’s unfortunate experience is that if one really wants to experience “world class” services they should travel abroad to advanced nations for it because anything touted as “world class” in Nigeria is not only an insult to the lofty practical standard, it is also a sign of continuing thievery.

Dr. Nane is an errant scholar and economist. Follow him on twitter: @Grimot

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