SIX COUNTRIES TURNED DOWN ALISON MADUEKE'S SHELTER REQUEST.

No fewer than six countries have already refused to grant a place of safety request by the minister of petroleum resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke. The Business Council for Africa (BCA) said in its just released monthly report that about $1 trillion is the latest estimated figure of the looting of the Nigerian treasury between 1960 and 2005 alone. According to the report dated March 2015 focused extensively on Nigeria’s general elections. It said the notorious minister, whose impunity is known to have been closely protected by President Goodluck Jonathan, will be coming under the microscope for the first time in her ministerial career. “Given her reputation, it comes as no surprise to learn that 6 countries have already refused to grant her asylum to live in their countries as she now wishes to leave Nigeria at the earliest possible opportunity,” it said. The BCA recalled the president-elect Muhammadu Buhari lamenting that the rest of the world looks at Nigeria as the home of corruption, one where stealing is not corruption but a way of life, and that his administration will pursue all public officers and individuals who are believed to be guilty of corruption. It observed that despite an earlier promise, it is now understood that Buhari’s anti corruption fishing net will include ministers currently serving under President Goodluck Jonathan.  Alison-Madueke’s departure from Nigeria is likely to be followed by several other PDP elders, party members and supporters as well as some former government officials, as Buhari’s anti corruption drive will be far-reaching. “It will be very interesting to learn in the coming months exactly how far back in Nigeria’s history his administration will go in the pursuance of those who have robbed”. The latest estimated figure of theft from the Nigerian treasury between 1960 to 2005 is estimated $1 trillion. Given that President Jonathan’s administration is considered the most corrupt of any of its predecessors, that figure is going to be considerably magnified, but whether the new president will wish to pursue former heads of state is a matter of interest and considerable debate to Nigeria observers. It is this subject that is primarily responsible for Buhari’s success in winning the election, as well as his campaign promises to eradicate Boko Haram, revive the economy and rebuild Nigeria to its position as the number one country in Africa. While the BCA agreed that the March/April 2015 were “the most credible elections in Nigeria’s history”, it said they could not be called the most incorruptible. On the contrary, it referred to them as the worst because of the amount of money that the PDP so freely and openly spent on trying to secure the re-election of the out-going President Goodluck Jonathan. “The stories and reports from the 36 States of the federation and the amount of money distributed by the PDP to elders, rulers, church leaders, unions and youth leaders amongst others in an endeavour to favour the voters towards the PDP has backfired badly,” the report said. BCA said that if the 2011 elections were considered bad, the 2015 elections will undoubtedly go down as the most corrupt in Nigeria’s history, certainly since 1999, as the amount of money being distributed as bribes primarily by the PDP so very openly would readily confirm. It reported that since November when campaigning began, President Jonathan and General Buhari during their travels made no fewer than 109 promises of what they intend to achieve if given the mandate in the presidential election. “President Jonathan’s campaign continued to hinge on his party’s Transformation Agenda and the achievements of his Government in the last 4 years, particularly in the agricultural sector, job creation and the empowerment of women,” the report said.  In that regard, it credited Jonathan as having achieved a great deal during his tenure. According to the report, it was, however, Jonathan’s failures, rampant corruption, insecurity, inability to eliminate the Boko Haram insurgency, failure in such sectors as the economy, and power in particular, and the overall feeling that he was ruled rather than leading that have cost him his re-election bid. The report also stated that in the 2015 elections, up to 250 Nigerians lost their lives, describing that deplorable record as speaking volumes for the control achieved by the police at the campaign rallies by the two main candidates. It described the cost of the campaigns of the two main parties as “simply staggering”, noting that by the first week of March, Buhari had spent some N332.58 billion as compared to the expenditure of President Jonathan which amounted to N1.05 trillion. “This is without taking into account the cost of other expenses for such items as campaign rallies, where the PDP has spent N1.06 billion against Muhammadu Buhari’s APC’s N595.08 million, and clearly demonstrates the desperate lengths that the PDP have gone to in order to try and secure the re-election of President Jonathan.” In a swift reaction to cover the asylum seeking, Mrs Diezani Alison Madueke, said last night that she was not seeking asylum in any part of the world, as claimed by her traducers. An online publication reported, yesterday, that the minister had been denied asylum by six countries, where she had so far applied, but did not mention the countries involved. Mrs Madueke, who spoke through the Group Public Affairs General Manager of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Mr Ohi Alegbe, denied ever contemplating relocating from Nigeria. Alegbe said his boss merely went for a short vacation outside Nigeria and would soon return to her job. He said the claim that the woman had been denied asylum by six countries was not only a fabrication aimed at confusing some gullible persons, but deliberately targeted at smearing the minister and her office. Alegbe said: “I want to say that the Minister of Petroleum has never contemplated going on asylum in any part of the world and has never applied for asylum anywhere. “The minister has only gone for a short vacation abroad and will soon return to Nigeria, having no reason to leave her job and country for any other place.” The online medium, quoting a group known as Business Council for Africa, BCA, had said that no fewer than six countries had already refused an asylum request by Mrs Diezani Alison Madueke. The BCA gave the impression that the minister would be investigated under the new administration of Gen Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd), even though he had said that he would not probe his predecessors. “Given her reputation, it comes as no surprise to learn that six countries have already refused to grant her asylum to live in their countries as she now wishes to leave Nigeria at the earliest possible opportunity,” it said. In an earlier event immedietely after President Goodluck Jonaathan lost re-election bid to General Muhammad Buhari (Rtd), the minister, popularly called the oil goddess, and known for her exuberance and plundering of Nigeria’s petro-dollars with impunity has paid an early morning visit to Ex-president Abdulsalami Abubakar who happen to be the Chairman of the Abuja Peace Accord. Diezani is known to partner with Kola Aluko and other sudden billionaires to loot Nigeria’s wealth, some of whom have even swindled her of billions of dollars, leaving here broke and frustrated lately. She was behind much of the dirty and desperate campaigning against the opposition revolution and was part of those who sponsored the NSA Sambo Dasuki and army chief election postponement in the hope of defeating President-elect Buhari. Diezani has been in charge of the kerosene subsidy scam that has constantly looted $100 million monthly in fake subsidy money for kerosene through Mr Ifenyi Uba that sold at over N100 a liter against subsidized rates meant to be N50/liter. This money has amounted to over $12 billion dollars being looted by Diezani, president Jonathan and the Cabal every year which is part of over $20 billion dollars that gets missing in 18 months as reported by former central bank governor and now Kano Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. Cabal like Aliko Dangote have also recently pilgrimaged to Abdulsalami and President-elect Buhari to negotiate terms of continued enjoyment to the death of Nigerian masses. Aliko Dangote was also spotted seated and looking ignored in Bhari's office immedietely the election results were announced.

SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT TO RELEASE NIGERIA'S $15MILLION THAT WAS SIEZED TO BURST THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES AFTER IT WAS RUBBISHED UNDER GOODLUCK JONATHAN ADMINISTRATION.

The South African law enforcement agencies seized $15million in two batches: $5.7million that had been wired to Standard Bank and $9.3million in cash, which was confiscated. It was brought into the country through Lanseria airport in Johannesburg in three suitcases by a delegation said to represent the Nigerian government. In both cases, the money was suspected to be for illegal use. Now South Africa wants to use the money to extend an olive branch to Buhari’s government and mend relations between the two countries, which became strained during the tenure of outgoing president Goodluck Jonathan. “The positive thing about Buhari is that, one of the people who supported him is Atiku Abubakar. That makes him our man and he will automatically work well with President Jacob Zuma,” a government source said. Atiku Abubakar is close to Jacob Zuma. He was Nigeria’s deputy president during the presidency of Olusegun Obasanjo, at the time when Zuma was Thabo Mbeki’s deputy. “Also, this man; Buhari is a retired military general. It is true that the military needs some beefing up to fight Boko Haram and we should help,” the source added. So how will Nigeria know that it stands to benefit from an otherwise controversial transaction that had exacerbated tensions between the two countries? Diplomatically you send a signal. Obviously they will have to make a request once they receive a positive signal, but the request will just be an official step to finalising the transaction.” General Buhari is due to take over the leadership of the country after winning the recent elections. Formal talks have not yet begun, but South Africa has apparently started sending “positive signals” through its diplomats in Nigeria and to the Nigerian embassy in Pretoria.  To ensure that the process of returning the money or regularising the sale of arms looks as clean as possible, the Hawks investigation will continue, the source said, but will be managed politically to reach a conclusion that is diplomatically favourable. “One way is to make the investigators say: ‘Yes, a law has been broken, but it’s true that the government of Nigeria is the owner of the money and genuinely wanted to buy arms legally. They might have flouted the rules, but it’s a genuine transaction. We will say this money does not come from dirty hands or rebels or arms dealers,” the source said. “We will find a way to regularise the transaction and either return the money or give them arms.” Nigeria wanted to buy arms such as helicopters and ammunition to strengthen its fight against Islamic extremist group Boko Haram. Last year, the M&G reported that the head of the national conventional arms control committee, Jeff Radebe, who is also the minister in the presidency, was blamed by his colleagues in government for taking a unilateral decision to try to regularise the sale of arms to Nigeria to facilitate the release of bodies of South Africans who were killed when the TB Joshua church building collapsed in Nigeria. At the time, Radebe denied it and said the committee had met in October and decided to propose unlocking the Nigerian arms trade. The M&G quoted from two letters that Radebe had written to JP “Torie” Pretorius of the Hawks and Dumisani Dladla, the head of the arms control committee’s secretariat, in which he said the failed attempt on September 5th to pay an arms dealer in South Africa “was, in fact, a legitimate requirement from the government of Nigeria”. “Although the required administrative processes were not adhered to at the time, the government of South Africa deems it a bona fide error,” he wrote.  This week a government source told the M&G: “What Jeff did may have been unilateral, but it is now an avenue that South Africa is willing to explore. Even when we were doing damage control after your story, the discussion centred around how we can get a positive outcome out of this.” The committee apparently met after the article was published in November last year and decided to return the money or the sale of arms to appease the new government of Nigeria after the elections. “After the story, they had to regroup and say: ‘How do we deal with this situation?’ You cannot let it hang forever; you must find a way to conclude it in a way that will satisfy both sides,” the source said. Zuma has apparently been briefed by ministers who serve on the committee and has warmed to the idea. Efforts to get comment from Zuma’s spokesperson Mac Maharaj and from Radebe were unsuccessful. Relations between Nigeria and South Africa have not been at their best, particularly between the Jacob Zuma and Jonathan Goodluck administrations. By returning this money you get friendship, loyalty and an opportunity where he General Buhari is willing to work with us to lead the continent and speak with one voice. “Instead of Nigeria second-guessing us all the time, we will compare notes and stop fighting for things like the United Nations Security Council seat that’s not even permanent,” the source said. “Nigeria is a strategic country that South Africa cannot ignore. It’s a big market. It’s possible South African companies make more money in Nigeria than in South Africa.” When Buhari won election against Jonathan in last month’s elections, Pretoria was already positioning itself for refreshed relations with Federal Govt of Nigeria. The M&G has seen a letter that Buhari wrote to Zuma a few days before the elections, in which he complained about Jonathan’s alleged delaying tactics over the poll and the use of violence in an attempt to sway the vote in his favour. “I thank your government and your mission in Nigeria for your contributions to Nigeria’s democratic process. While Nigeria’s democracy must be established and secured by the commitment to fairness and the rule of law of Nigerians, the goodwill and positive influence of your government have helped us on this difficult yet vital journey,” Buhari wrote. “It is not your business who wins elections in Nigeria, but we seek your help in making sure the election is a free and fair one for us to win or lose according to the people’s will.” He is expected to hold a one-on-one meeting with Zuma on the sidelines of the African Union summit that South Africa is hosting in June, and it’s anticipated that the issue of the seized money will be discussed. Either Zuma or Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa will attend Buhari’s inauguration in May. Asked for comment, department of international relations and co-operation spokesperson Nelson Kgwete said the department had not been in talks with Nigeria over the confiscated money and knew nothing about a proposal to either return the money or sell arms to that country.

Global Spotlight is Firmly Fixed on Nigerian Elections - Op-Ed by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and U.K. Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond. Press release March 21, 2015.

Nigeria’s more than 70 million voters will soon go to the polls to choose their country’s leader for the next four years. Whether the victor is incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan or opposition challenger General Muhammadu Buhari is entirely for Nigerians to decide. Around the globe, Nigeria’s friends will be united in hoping that the vote will be peaceful, transparent, and fair and that—win or lose—all sides will respect the outcome. There are good reasons why the international spotlight is firmly fixed on Nigeria during this critical period and why we have come together to support an open and credible electoral process. Nigeria is Africa’s largest democracy and what happens there will have an impact well beyond its borders. A successful election, free from violence and with wide participation, accurate vote counting, and responsible leadership from the candidates would inspire the region and spur future progress and prosperity. It would also be a historic show of support by Nigerians for democratic values and an equally firm rejection of the brutal terrorist group, Boko Haram, and others who advocate or perpetrate violence. As friends and democratic partners of Nigeria, we urge that the voting for president and parliament go forward as scheduled on March 28; there should be no further delay of this crucial vote. We are heartened by the fact that Nigerians from across the political spectrum appear to recognize the necessity of inaugurating a new president by the constitutionally mandated deadline of May 29. Obviously, we share Nigerians’ concerns about violence, both related to elections and more generally. In 2011, more than 800 people died in post-election clashes, and a recent survey shows that half of Nigerians are concerned about political intimidation this time around.  The good news is that President Jonathan and General Buhari have repeatedly and publicly stressed their commitment to nonviolence before, during, and after Election Day. Both candidates have affirmed their intent to act solely through legal channels in pursuing any concerns that might arise regarding the fairness of the vote. It is imperative that they—and their backers—live up to this pledge. Elections should be decided at the ballot box and, if necessary, in the courts; not through efforts to coerce others. Respect for the constitutional process and the independence of Nigeria’s Independent National Election Commission, INEC, is the right approach, and the only one that offers a sustainable way to address Nigeria’s many challenges. The countries we represent, the United States and the United Kingdom, strongly support the pledges articulated by the Nigerian candidates. The elections must be decided in accordance with the rule of law. It follows that any person who incites violence at any stage in the electoral process, or who seeks power through unconstitutional means, should be held accountable and should understand that the consequences will be severe, both domestically and internationally. After an election, it is natural to focus attention on the winner, but in any democracy, the unsuccessful candidates also have critical roles to play. No one expects any political leader to retreat from firmly-held policy positions or beliefs, but a losing candidate owes it to his or her country to acknowledge defeat as soon as the popular verdict is clear, to urge supporters to accept the outcome, and to advocate unity in the face of national threats. That is the kind of leadership Nigeria needs. A free, fair, and peaceful presidential election does not guarantee a successful democracy, but it is nevertheless an essential ingredient—especially now in Nigeria. This is a country rich in resources and blessed by a creative and dynamic population. Its leaders can be extremely effective as evidenced by their swift action to prevent Ebola from establishing a foothold in their nation—thus saving thousands of lives. Overall economic growth rates are healthy and parts of the country are doing well. And yet, Nigeria has been held back by local tensions, a wide disparity between rich and poor, the lack of an adequate safety net for the disadvantaged, shortages of electricity, a rigid bureaucracy, and widespread corruption. These challenges have made the country vulnerable to internal conflict including the kidnappings, murders, and other atrocities perpetrated by Boko Haram. Nigeria’s next government will need the support of all its citizens to address these challenges, and its unity will make it easier, on the security side, for regional neighbors and the larger international community to provide necessary help. We urge all eligible Nigerians to vote, to resist those who attempt to incite violence, and to come together as one country to defend against terrorist threats and to build the shared prosperity and enduring freedom all Nigerian citizens deserve.

WE SUPPORT INEC TO USE CARD READER -US

The United States government has thrown its weight behind the Independent National Electoral Commission to use the Permanent Voter Cards and the Smart Card Readers in the March 28 and April 11 elections. The introduction of the PVC and the card reader for use in the general election has been a subject of hot debate and several litigation in Nigeria. The American government on Wednesday through its Vice President Joe Biden, spoke with Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party and the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Maj Gen Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd) on the forthcoming presidential election. On Thursday, in a statement issued by the US Embassy in Nigeria and made available to the media, the US Vice President commended President Jonathan and General Buhari for signing the Abuja Accord in mid-January as a show of their commitment to non-violence throughout the election process. The statement read in part, “The Vice President further expressed the United States’ support for the Nigerian Independent National Electoral Commission and its work to deliver free, fair, and credible elections, in part through its essential efforts to distribute Permanent Voter Cards and help ensure that electronic voter card readers are in place and fully operational.” Biden also noted his concern about the violence during some recent election-related events and re-emphasised the need for both presidential candidates to make clear that such violence has no place in democratic elections. The US vice president stated further that the American government would stand with the Nigerian people in support of credible and peaceful elections, and would continue to stand with the Nigerian people whatever the outcome of the presidential poll.

WE SUPPORT INEC TO USE CARD READER -US

The United States government has thrown its weight behind the Independent National Electoral Commission to use the Permanent Voter Cards and the Smart Card Readers in the March 28 and April 11 elections. The introduction of the PVC and the card reader for use in the general election has been a subject of hot debate and several litigation in Nigeria. The American government on Wednesday through its Vice President Joe Biden, spoke with Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party and the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Maj Gen Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd) on the forthcoming presidential election. On Thursday, in a statement issued by the US Embassy in Nigeria and made available to the media, the US Vice President commended President Jonathan and General Buhari for signing the Abuja Accord in mid-January as a show of their commitment to non-violence throughout the election process. The statement read in part, “The Vice President further expressed the United States’ support for the Nigerian Independent National Electoral Commission and its work to deliver free, fair, and credible elections, in part through its essential efforts to distribute Permanent Voter Cards and help ensure that electronic voter card readers are in place and fully operational.” Biden also noted his concern about the violence during some recent election-related events and re-emphasised the need for both presidential candidates to make clear that such violence has no place in democratic elections. The US vice president stated further that the American government would stand with the Nigerian people in support of credible and peaceful elections, and would continue to stand with the Nigerian people whatever the outcome of the presidential poll.