By Dele Sobowale

Let me use this occasion to re-assure Nigerians and members of the international community that we now have strong leads as to those involved in this terror war against Nigeria and Nigerians. I have directed security operatives to go after them no matter where they may be hiding”.

President Jonathan, September 2, 2011.

Tough talk coming from a president and the sort of response people under siege expect of their leaders. When England was under heavy bombardment by Nazi Germany and Hitler offered a truce, on his own terms, Prime Minister Winston Churchill, 1874-1965, refused saying, “what sort of people do they think we are?” He then proceeded to address Britons in perhaps the most quoted war speech of a national leader.

“We shall defend our island whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills, we shall never surrender [June 4, 1940]”.

Churchill however did not stop at making inspiring speeches, he also demonstrated courage. Like our President, Churchill was also under pressure by yellow-belly cowards to enter into negotiations with Adolf Hitler, 1889-1945, and save the nation from further destruction.

Instinctively, because he was a student of history, which is no longer taught in Nigerian schools, Churchill knew that accepting peace on Hitler’s terms was the beginning of serfdom. Those advising Jonathan to negotiate with people who have issued an ultimatum are asking the Nigerian president to abdicate his responsibilities, to provide for the security of the country and its citizens.

No group of people has the right to kill and maim other innocent citizens, irrespective of their grievances, and demand restitution because they suffered losses as a result of the war they started themselves. In fact, Boko Haram members should count themselves lucky that we live in a docile country where most wrongs go un-avenged.

It is a fact that they also murdered people of other faiths; killed people who were exercising their rights to enjoy themselves at fun spots. Yet, in their ultimatum to government, they make no mention of these atrocities as if it is their right to terminate other people’s lives at will.

Thus when President Jonathan made the announcement, Nigerians and the international community expected some top level arrests to have been made by now. What, the people did not expect was what occurred on October 1, 2011. Sensible people would agree with government that a low-key celebration was in order.

Government cannot be doling out $200 million to singers and jesters every year. But, by God, the military parade at the Eagle Square must go on. It is the one symbolic gesture that the President can make to demonstrate to the nation’s enemies, at home and abroad that “we shall never surrender”.

On October 1, 2011, President Jonathan surrendered the parade ground on our behalf; Churchill would never have done that. Perhaps, that was why the English colonized us “and not we them” (apologies to Professor Akinyemi). That day will never go down in history as “our finest hour” (Churchill again).

CODE OF CORRUPTION BUREAU?

“Regarding the case of the other state governors since 2006, and whether or not a lot of time has not been wasted, and why Tinubu has been singled out, Tinubu has not been singled out, it is an ongoing process”. You will also know that some of the governors at the time made some refunds to the Federal Government. Somebody like Saminu Turaki made some refunds to the Federal Government. So it is an ongoing exercise”.

Mr Sam Saba, Chairman Code of Conduct Bureau, THE PUNCH, September 28, 2011.

The CCB might as well be called the Code of Corruption Bureau, if what Mr Sam Saba told us is true. First let us reproduce an important part of the PUNCH report of the day under discussion. “The governors listed by the CCB in 2006, are, James Ibori (Delta State), Lucky Igbiniedon (Edo State), Ayo Fayose (Ekiti State), Boni Haruna (Adamawa State), Gbenga Daniel (Ogun State), Olagunsoye Oyinlola (Osun State), Saminu Turaki (Jigawa State), Ahmed Karfi (Kaduna State), GOODLUCK JONATHAN [capitals mine](Bayelsa State), Chimaroke Nnamani Enugu State), Achike Udenwa (Imo State), Sam Egwu (Ebonyi State),and Bola Tinubu (Lagos State)”.

No other governor on that list was prosecuted by the CCB and Tinubu was the only one, who was not a PDP governor. Even a child would find it difficult to believe that it was a mere coincidence that Tinubu was singled out – even if one believes Mr Saba’s claim that “it is an ongoing exercise”.

What could be ongoing about the process when Saminu Turaki had already been allowed to make refunds to the Federal government? Mr Saba and the CCB must have been cut out for a unitary/military government and not a democratic republic – which Nigeria pretends to be. Twelve PDP governors were listed for having contravened the law – mostly, they under-declared assets which were probably illegally procured. The victims were the states.

Instead of refunds being made to the states, the money was given to the Federal government. In its absolute economy with the truth, the CCB, failed to disclose how much loot was found in the possession of each of the parties and how much was “refunded” in order for sensible Nigerians to determine for themselves if the forbearance was fair to all concerned.

It should not escape the notice of people with commonsense that the CCB, instead of arresting and handing the culprits to the courts to judge their cases, had turned itself into the investigator, the prosecutor and the judge at the same time. It is doubtful if the framers of the law intended the Bureau to assume such powers.

FUEL SUBSIDY REMOVAL: TIME FOR CAGES -1

“Man was born free, and everywhere he is in chains”.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau, 1712-1788, in THE SOCIAL CONTRACT.

The people of every free country submit or should submit themselves to a government which puts their welfare above anything else. That is the basis of all social contracts. When government becomes parasitic; when leaders become avaricious ; then the social contract has broken down irretrievably.

The Egyptians have shown the world what to do with a government that has lost touch with reality. Mubarak now attends court in a cage. Nigerians must free themselves from bondage; now or never!!! NLC, ASUU, TUC, SANU etc, and the political opposition must fight to win this time around. To us at UniJankara it was obvious that fuel subsidy removal was a matter of time.

Jonathan side-stepped it in his campaign and shallow thinkers failed to read between the lines. Instead of curbing waste and fraud, which will benefit most Nigerians, the President wants to provide his “friends” with more funds to embezzle (and enjoy the privilege of “making refunds”) while impoverishing the vast majority of Nigerians.

OVER N1.5TN VANISHED WITHOUT TRACE.

That was from 1999 to 2005. In small lots and huge amounts money vanished from every Federal Government Ministry or parastatal. READ THE BOOK. Forget WikkiLeaks. Read DeleLeaks. N5000 per copy.