BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Russia would regard any military intervention linked to Iran‘s nuclear program as a threat to its own security, Moscow’s departing ambassador to NATO warned on Friday.
“Iran is our neighbor,” Dmitry Rogozin told reporters in Brussels. “And if Iran is involved in any military action, it’s a direct threat to our security.”
Rogozin was speaking two days after the killing of a nuclear scientist in Tehran by a hitman on a motorcycle.
Kremlin Security Council head Nikolai Patrushev, who is close to Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, said Israel was pushing the United States towards war with Iran, according to the Interfax news agency.
Russia, however, opposes a boycott of Iranian oil.
“We are definitely interested in the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction,” Rogozin said on Friday. “But at the same time, we believe that any country has the right to have what it needs to feel comfortable, including Iran.”
Rogozin, often described as an anti-Western hawk, was appointed deputy prime minister in December, and will oversee Russia’s defense sector when he returns to Moscow.
The United States, the European Union and Japan are drawing up sanctions on Iran to try to force it to abandon its suspected nuclear weapons program. Tehran says its program does not have military aims.
The United States on Thursday took punitive action against three oil companies dealing with Iranian oil.
EU foreign ministers are expected to agree on a ban on imports of Iranian crude oil on January 23 – though with a grace period to give European companies time to find alternative sources of crude.
Japan on Thursday pledged to take concrete action to cut its oil imports from Iran.
(Reporting By Sebastian Moffett; Editing by Sophie Hares)
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
(Codewit.com) National President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, (CAN), Pastor Ayodele Oritsejafor, in this interview with KEHINDE OYETIMI, stresses the need for a collective fight against Boko Haram, holding that the protest against fuel subsidy removal has political undertone. Excerpts:
WHAT will you say on the declaration of war on Christians in the North by members of the Boko Haram?
I will encourage the Federal Government to be firm and do what they are supposed to do for the security of lives and property of Nigerians. I don’t think I want to comment further than that for the fact that it was the Boko Haram leader that said that. I can’t see myself responding or reacting to him. It is belittling.
The protest by Labour and many Nigerians against the increase in petrol price seemed to have been hijacked. Unfortunately, it appears that many do not even understand the position of the Federal government on the removal of the subsidy. What is your take on this?
My heart truly goes out to Nigerians at this time. Many people are angry and that is understandable. You have to pay so much for transport now. It is heavy on Nigerians and I understand how they feel. But I would appeal to Labour and the civil society and the various groups out there. Please for the sake of God and for the sake of our country, they should go back and sit with the government and find a way to come out of this. This strike should not go on indefinitely.
Like we are already seeing, the some people are already taking advantage of it. It has started already and only God knows how far this can go. There are even more dangerous persons. I must be very blunt. God forbid that Boko Haram would come in and take advantage of what is happening and cause the real big problem that we are all running away from. We do not want to hear such things.
Again, they should give the President a chance; they should sit and negotiate further and talk. I pray that Nigeria would not lose sight of the plight of fellow Nigerians that are dying every day in the North. While we have well meaning protest leaders, I noticed that there are some people who are just opportunists. Because they found out that this thing is popular, all of them are out on the streets. They want to score cheap political points. They are out there making a lot of noise.
The question that I have for such persons is: Where were you when Nigerians were being shot all over the North? Why did you not organise this kind of protest? Are you trying to tell me that petrol is more important than human life? Can we put petrol and human life on the same scale? We can’t do that! I mean human life is precious. You can’t compare petrol to human life. Dead people don’t buy fuel! Dead people don’t go to the market! Dead people can’t drive cars! It is only the living that can use fuel for God’s sake.
There are some wrong people out there right now. I am very sad with the House of Representatives for convening an emergency sitting because of fuel. They could not convene emergency meeting when people were being killed every day. In fact, it was on a Sunday. The Christians abandoned church services because of fuel subsidy.
As we are talking now, people are dying. Last week, four young Igbo Christians, who were buying fuel in Potiskum, were gunned down and nobody is talking about this. Three women in Tafawa Balewa in Bauchi went to look at their farms but were gunned down. Some people said that their eyes were plucked. They had to call me to console the people and talk to the elders of that community by phone. You could feel the pains.
Some days in Gusau, Zamfara State, six churches were vandalized under the pretext of fuel subsidy riots. Only God saved us that people were not inside those churches. I can go on and on.
Some days ago, the governor of Borno State gave N100 million to the families of the father-in-law of the late Yusuf. N100 million to the families of a slain criminal! Who is going to compensate Pastor Orji’s wife and children that I had to relocate out of Maiduguri? I rented a house for them; I paid for two years. I bought a car. I started a business for her. I am still spending money on the children.
Are you saying that Nigerians should fight Boko Haram and not fuel subsidy?
That is my point! Yes, I feel that fuel subsidy is important but human life is on a higher scale. They should put this energy into fighting Boko Haram. Let us end this madness.
On Saturday, President Jonathan slashed the salaries of members of the executive but many believe that his fight against corruption is not strong enough. What can you say on this?
Probably what people want is for him to do more. I think he is doing what he is supposed to do. They want him to do more. Desperate situations demand desperate measures. I think with the way things are today, even the EFCC is being reorganised. Let us give the man a chance, let us see what he is going to do.
In many parts of the country where there are protests, it appears hoodlums have taken over as they now collect valuables from Nigerians…
When things like this happen, there are opportunists. There are people who just jump on things to get cheap popularity. They don’t really mean well for Nigeria and Nigerians. Some of them are failed politicians; they are people who have lost out in the political equation. They are trying to use the removal of fuel subsidy to re-launch themselves and to be acceptable to the people. Some of them have never seen such assemblage. They want to jump there and talk. Unfortunately, for journalists, instead of concentrating on the people who are dying every day, they flash them (the protests) on the front-page: mother of all protests, sister of all protests and uncle of all protests! I mean it is ridiculous. It is not surprising to me that the wrong people have hijacked it.
My advice is that Labour should sit with the government and find a way to end this thing. It is not good for us; it is not good for Nigerians and for anybody. We should concentrate; we should return to the issue. The issue that Nigeria is facing is the issue of security. We have a serious problem of insecurity in the country. We need to go back to it. If this protest was on that, I think it would be more meaningful. That does not remove the fact that I care for Nigerians.
I want to use this opportunity to say shame on southern governors! Shame on them! Shame, shame, shame…three times on them! That their people are being killed and slaughtered and none of them is coming out to say anything. They cannot even engage their northern counterparts, to tell them and insist that such things must stop, and publicly or privately go to them and tell them that they must stop this. That we are doing all we can to protect the lives of your people in the south. This is not proper. Does it then mean that southern governors are not religious too?
If Borno State governor can give out N100 million to the families of Yusuf, I am asking myself where are the governors in the south? Don’t they wear shoes that pinch them? Does it then mean that their people who are dying are not shoes that pinch them? That they cannot go to their counterparts and tell them that they must compensate them? That they must rebuild their businesses? That they must settle the widows? That they must help the orphans? No wonder no single church has a Certificate of Occupancy in the north? Does it not occur to them that there are states in the far north where there are laws on ground that says that any landowner must not sell any piece of land to anyone who wants to build a church or brothel? It is a law in some of the states in the north.
Can you imagine putting a church and brothel side by side? That means that you are comparing a church with the harlot’s house. If any law like that comes out in the south, how would this people take it? I am not against Islam; I am not against these Muslims. I know good Muslims, men and women who are good Muslims with good hearts. We own Nigeria together; we want to work with them but these are the realities on ground. I am also putting this blame on all governors for not doing what they ought to do. I am ashamed that they are silent and not doing anything. They ought to make stronger moves and go to their colleagues and say this thing must stop. We ought to fight this from different angles.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Barely 48 hours after an online publication exposed the sordid details of a N1.2 billion mansion just purchased by President Goodluck Jonathan’s Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala,in Maitama area of Abuja, ireports-ng.com has uncovered four secret bank accounts where billions of naira, millions of US dollars and GB pounds are hidden by current Nigeria’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke.
Adoke was appointed as Justice Minister by President Jonathan on April 6, 2010 and has since then been enmeshed in various allegations of corruption and providing cover for the corrupt who are facing court trial by withdrawing corruption charges against them.
Weeks of underground investigations by ireports-ng.com have however revealed more shocking details about Adoke’s secret bank accounts in the nation’s federal capital territory, Abuja. One of such is an account number 002228052782 at a branch of First City Monument Bank located at Plot 252 Herbert Macaulay Way,Central Area Abuja. In the account is a stunning sum of $16 million US dollars.
Further investigations revealed that Adoke is keeping yet another $24 million US dollars in account number 041152000428 with Diamond Bank located at Plot 117 Adetokunbo Ademola Street, Wuse 2 while another 5.3 million Great Britain Pounds is also kept in the same account with Diamond Bank.
As if that was not enough, ireports-ng.com also revealed that Nigeria’s Justice Minister operates another secret account with the Ahmadu Bello Way branch of Zenith Bank, Abuja where a whooping sum of N6.2 billion is being kept.
Born on September 1st,1963, Adoke was not known for any serious legal practice until he was brought to the limelight in 2010 when he was appointed as Justice Minister by Mr Jonathan. Since then, there has been series of allegations of under the table deals by Mr Adoke using his official position. He has in the last 48 hours issued two statements to threaten protesting Nigerian workers to sack them and charge civil society activists involved in the protests with treason.
Last year, an online publication accused Adoke of taking bribes from an arranged sale of moribund NITEL property in Area 11, Abuja and buy back of same from Adoke’s kinsman popularly called Alhaji AA Oil. Adoke’s share of the deal was said to have been diverted to build a massive mansion for him on Gana street, Abuja. Though he denied ownership of the property saying it belongs to AA Oil, finishing works have since stopped on the sprawling property which was being worked on day and night before the scandal broke out.
Also last year, a civil society group called Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders,CACOL petitioned Nigeria’s anti-graft police, EFCC to probe allegations that Mr Adoke collected bribes running into over $23 million US dollars from a plea bargain deal he arranged between government and some multinational firms including Siemens, Halliburton and Julius Berger.Ironically, Adoke supervises the EFCC that is supposed to investigate the various corruption allegations against him. It is yet to be seen whether the present head of the agency, Mr Ibrahim Lamorde will have the courage to probe graft allegations against Adoke which his predecessor failed to touch.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Friday 13th of January,2012 witnessed the first ever Nigerian rally in Finland. Nigerian communities in Finland usually reflect the quiet Scandinavian nature .Keeping mute about most Nigerian issues. However, recent fuel increases, corruption and cost of governance in Nigeria has ignited negative reactions among Nigerian diaspora in Finland.The rally tagged “Occupy Helsinki†was the first rally to be organized by Nigerians in Finland.The rally began at 14:00 EST and protestors marched to the Finnish parliament house. The aims of the rally were to address
-The issue of insecurity in Nigeria and the Boko Haram threats.
-Lack of basic and social amenities , provision of employment and security
-Request for immediate suspension of the subsidy removal.
-Reduce the cost of governance in all tiers of governance.
According to one of the frontiers of the rally ,Mr Mohammed Idris who initiated the facebook page said the rally was very successful with the Finnish police providing the necessary security. However,he expressed his disappointment at the conduct of one Mr Kelechi Obinna who was said to be organizing another faction of the protest with different slogans promoting religious and tribal sentiments.
Other Coordinators of the rally, one Mr Oladeji Ikuesan claimed that apart from the subsidy issue as rally points,the Finnish foreign minister Erkki Tuomioja has wrongly commended the Nigeria government during his last visit, he claimed that Finnish government representative commendation did not reflect the true situation in Nigeria and of Nigerians.He argued that a government highly accused of corruption, inability to secure Nigerians from a terrorist group and overblown cost of governance should not be praised.He described the rally as successful despite disruptions from one Obinna kelechi faction affiliated with the PDP party.
However, a small drama ensued at the the Finnish parliament house , when one of the protestors Mr Obinna Kelechi ,a staunch PDP member in Finland ,who claimed to lead a faction of the protest rally,suddenly interrupted the spokesman of the Occupy Helsinki rally and advocated that a genocide plan by northern Nigeria on the Igbo tribe should be the burning issue and not fuel subsidy.When we contacted Mr obinna Kelechi .He said,they should rally against terrorism,corruption and to become proactive against an imminent civil war in Nigeria. He said,he had to interrupt My Oladeji Ikuesan because he was making comments against an earlier peace pally which itemized what rally agendas should be voiced.
However,the Nigerian community agreed the rally was a success and there is need work more on a unifying voice amongst Nigerian community in Finland to condemn excesses of the Nigerian government.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Nationwide strikes in Nigeria have continued for a fourth day as labour unions and government refuse to shift ground on the recently removed fuel subsidy. Commercial activities have ground to a halt as banks, shops and petrol stations closed since Monday. The strike, organised by Nigeria’s two largest trade unions federations – the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) – seeks the reversal of the fuel subsidy withdrawal which came into force on January 1. The price of fuel, transport and food have all more than doubled since the removal of the subsidy and pose the biggest test for Nigeria since its return to democracy in 1999.
Oil workers threaten
Oil production has been largely unaffected thus far, but this could all change if the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) join the strike as threatened. PENGASSAN’s president, Babatunde Ogun, prepared his members for strike actions by directing “all production platforms to be on red alert in preparation for total production shutdown†while the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has also threatened to shut down oil production.
If the strikes move into the oil sector the country will genuinely be facing a general strike. Oil accounts for around 40% of Nigeria’s GDP, 80% of government revenues, and 95% of foreign exchange earnings. This possibility has caused alarm on the international oil markets, especially in the context of current fears over possible retaliation by Iran against an EU embargo on its oil; prices of oil have now risen to over $100 per barrel. A genuine general strike would push the current situation into a fully-fledged crisis. Jonathan’s government would be forced to negotiate and accept some of the strikers’ demands or engage in, possibly violent, confrontation.
Airlines have also been affected as only selected international flights have been allowed to leave the country while all domestic services have been grounded. Up to 500 passengers have been left stranded in the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos, as members of the NLC and TUC stormed the airport to enforce the strike order. All airport services were nonexistent as airlines such as British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Emirates were prevented from attending to their passengers.
Strike strategy
Although the strikes and demonstrations across the country have so far remained largely peaceful, there have been reports of sporadic clashes between security forces and protesters in various major cities, resulting in 8 deaths. 12-hour curfews have been imposed in the Niger State Capital Minna and the Oyo State capital Ibadan due to the outbreak of riots and destruction of government property. The capital Abuja has remained mostly deserted with minor pockets of pro- and anti-subsidy removal protesters converging in parts of the city.
The labour unions are remaining resolute in their stance and have directed all union members to ensure total compliance with the strike action until further notice with Secretary-General of the NLC, Owei Lakemfa, stating “the government must reverse the fuel price increases before we end the strikeâ€. The unions have also vowed to adopt a change of tactic should the government continue to refuse to reverse the fuel policy and have threatened to lodge a case with the International Criminal court over the deaths of protesters at the hands of the security forces.
Government perseverance
The government has also remained steadfast in its stance with government officials defending the action through media and news publications.
Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Lamido Sanusi, for example, cited the rampant smuggling and diversion of fuel through the country’s porous borders by explaining “if you have fuel selling at N65 ($0.40) per litre in Nigeria and at N190 ($1.17) in a neighbouring country, it is simple economics anybody who knows he can take advantage of that rent will take advantage of itâ€. Meanwhile Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo Iwela, urged Nigerians not to judge the present government by the poor implementation of past policies, assuring Nigerians that the fuel subsidy removal would improve the lives of the people. At the same time, however, Minister of Labour and Productivity, Emeka Worgu promised after a meeting with the president that the option for dialogue was still open.
As the strikes continue, Nigeria is at economic standstill with no foreseeable end in sight. Worryingly for the government, the longer this strike continues, the broader the opposition movement becomes.
For many protestors this is not a narrow economic dispute but a revolt against a plethora of grievances. Years of corruption, financial mismanagement, underdevelopment and lack of employment have added to the feeling of resentment towards the government and there are calls for Jonathan to resign.
At time of writing, it is unknown whether and when a compromise will be reached between government and the unions, and the air of uncertainty seems to be increasing national agitation. Speaker of the Senate David Mark and Kwara Central Senator Bukola Saraki are seeking to broker negotiation between the parties. Saraki has called for the fuel subsidy to be re-introduced while these negotiations continue. It is unknown whether Jonathan would willing at this point to take such a step, which some will see as a climb down. However, without a compromise of some sort, it appears that Nigeria’s current turmoil will not only remain but intensify.
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Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Nigeria’s trade unions say they are suspending protests for two days to allow more talks with the government.
The announcement comes on the fifth day of a general strike over the removal of a fuel subsidy, which has caused fuel prices and transport fares to double.
Thousands of people have taken to the streets, while several people have died in clashes with police.
The unions said Thursday’s talks with the president were “fruitful” and would continue on Saturday.
The main union organisations jointly announced there would be no mass rallies or protests over the weekend and flights would resume, enabling delegates to travel to the capital, Abuja for talks.
The oil workers’ unions had said they would cut oil production in Africa’s biggest exporter, starting from Sunday.
“We want to make sure that [on] Saturday and Sunday people – we – relax,” Nigeria Labour Congress head Abdulwahed Omar told a rally in the capital, Abuja.
“But Monday morning, it is going to be the mother of all crowds,” he said, reports the AFP news agency.
Oil accounts for some 80% of Nigeria’s state revenues but after years of corruption and mismanagement, it has hardly any capacity to refine crude oil into fuel, which has to be imported.
The government has promised to use the $8m (£6m) it spends each year on the subsidy to improve schools, healthcare and electricity supply.
But many poor Nigerians fear it will just end up in officials’ pockets, while they see cheap fuel as the only benefit they get from their country’s oil wealth.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Today, we the Christians of Nigeria resident here in Finland, filled with grief over the massacre of our brothers and sisters in the Lord, are marching to protest their wanton and brutal killing. They were killed and are being killed for no other reason than that they are Christians. You are no doubt witnesses, as we are, of news media reports and video footages of the ongoing Ethnic and Religion cleansing in that country. The Islamic terrorist group called Boko Haram after a spate of bombing and killing since 2009 has recently stepped up it’s campaign to forcefully Islamize Nigeria. The Christmas day bombings at churches that claimed the lives of over forty Christians is part of this campaign. Surely you are also aware that they have ordered ALL CHRISTIANS living in the “North” to leave to the south and that they have followed up this threat by intensifying the Ethnic and Religion cleansing… There is evidence that BH is supported in these atrocities by the political and religious class in northern Nigeria. Recently, the president of Nigeria, His Excellency Goodluck Jonathan revealed that they have penetrated all sectors of the government including the security forces and even the presidency. Boko Haram (and their supporters and sponsors) wants all Christians to leave the “North” but for the record, the “North” is not what Muslims claim it is. The “North” is not homogeneously Muslim. In fact, even the 12 states (out of the 36 states and Federal Capital territory of Nigeria) that declared sharia Islamic law nearly a decade ago are not all majority Muslim as the Islamic world would like the world to believe. Others have significant indigenous Muslim population. Muslims are in the minority in Nigeria, perhaps just one third if not less. Not withstanding, they have ruled Nigeria for up to 75% of the time since independence, controlled power and controlled revenue from oil and other resources. Mismanagement of these resources over the decades, discrimination and exploitation had already forced many (mostly Christians) out of the country. Further escalation will lead to mass exodus that will make the Somali refugee problem or any other in Africa – a child’s play We call on the Finnish people, leaders and government to condemn these dastardly acts of ethnic and religion cleansing and to help create awareness in the international community about these atrocities so that those sponsors will be brought to book. The problem is comparable to the problem in the Balkans in the early 90s. The difference is that in Nigeria, Christians are at the receiving end. For so long Muslims have been allowed to get away with atrocities and ethnic cleansing and that has engendered them to further violence. At this juncture, the words of Pastor Martin Niemoller regarding the inactivity of German intellectuals following the Nazi rise to power and the purging of their chosen enemies, group after group come to mind: “First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for the Communists and I did not speak out because I was not a Communist. Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me.†Pastor Martin Niemoller It is not just because a Christian, in the person of Goodluck Jonathan is the president as some are erroneously speculating at the moment. This problem has been in existence for so long but it seemed only one ethnic group that is almost exclusively Christian had borne the brunt – the Igbos. This eventually led to the civil war (the Nigeria-Biafra war) of the sixties. Considering the gravity of the situation in which we are at the moment, it may be pertinent to expatiate on this point. Nigeria is a multi-ethnic and multi-lingual country with a population of more than 160 million people. There are three major ethnic groups, the Igbos (also known as Ibos) and the Yorubas in the South, and the Hausas in the North. There are about 250 other smaller groups in the federation. The Hausas are predominantly Muslims, and live in the Northern part of Nigeria, the Yorubas are split almost evenly between Christians, Muslims and Traditionalists, and live in the South-Western part of Nigeria, and the Igbos, 99% Christians live in the South-Eastern part of Nigeria. Today the Igbos of Nigeria have demonstrated to the world their commitment to peaceful coexistence by refusing to take up arms for self-preservation in the face of a targeted, determined and unrelenting genocide in the Northern part of Nigeria by appealing to the UN and the International Community for immediate response and protection of Igbos (Ndigbo) of Nigeria. Today we have decided to bring to the attention of the International community the enormity of the crime against humanity, the despicable carnage, the pogrom, the ethnic cleansing going on in Nigeria today. As you are reading this, the massacre is on-going with outrageous ferocity and wicked intent wipe out the Igbos and Christians and to Islamize Nigeria. We continue to bury our brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, sons and daughters in thousands every week, and every month. We have watched our daughters and wives publicly raped and butchered, pregnant women’s stomach cut open, and the foetus removed, breast feeding mothers have had their breasts cut off and allowed to bleed to death. Hundreds have been burnt alive, and the world pretends not to know. Innocent and law abiding citizens whose only crimes have been their industriousness, mobility, and Christianity continue to face the threat of extinction everyday. We have been persecuted and have even fought back against our powerful persecutors for more than half a century now. Rather than bring us peace and security, the silent support of some International bodies (OIC – Organisation of Islamic Countries for instance) has increased the advantage of our murderers over us. HISTORY OF IGBO & CHRISTIAN MASSACRE (City/Town and Year) – Jos in 1945 – Kano genocide 1953 – 1966 pogroms- over 50, 000 killed – 1967-70 – over 2,000,000 killed during the bloody civil war – Kano1980 – Maiduguri in 1982 – Jimeta in 1984 – Gombe violence in 1985 – Kaduna & Kafanchan 1991 – Bauchi & Katsina 1991 – Kano 1991 – Zangon-Kataf in 1992 – Funtua in 1993 – Kano in 1994 – Kaduna in 2000 – Kaduna in 2001 – Maiduguri in 2001 – Kaduna 2002 – Beheading of Gideon Akaluka in December of 1996 in Kano – Saint Moritz killed December 2001 – Post April 2011 Presidential Election: 10 youth corpers and numerous citizens murdered because a Christian Southerner was elected. – Jos Christmas eve 2010 – Christmas day 2011 – January 6 2012 – Ongoing today We thank you in advance for your kind attention and for your expected positive action Thank You CONCERNED CITIZENS OF SOUTHERN NIGERIA.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
The current Nigerian revolution is a long-awaited war against corruption at all levels especially in the government: against corrupt ministers, senators and members of the House of representatives, state governors and their commissioners, the cabals of the Nigerian economy – Dangote, Otedola, Adenuga and their likes who monopolise and frustrate the ordinary Nigerian, the multi-nationals both local and foreign that manipulate the Nigerian economy – Shell, Chevron, MTN, Total, AP, Honeywell, IPMAN Investment etc .
Corruption is wicked. It is found in every sector of life in Nigeria. It is worst because the government officials are the greatest culprits directly and indirectly. The victims are the poor masses. A litre of fuel at N150 for an ordinary man who earns N20, 000 a month is a crime. The same litre of fuel at N150 or even N250 for a senator who «steals» home N50 million monthly is just nothing. We have waited long for a time like this in the history of Nigeria. It is not about fuel subsidy or the killings by Boko Haram alone, but this is a revolution against corruption of all our governing structures which have stagnated this country for many years now.
May everyone be involved as much as he/she could. Radical actions through street protests and strike actions can bear fruit this time. Un-radical actions through articles and all the available social networks can be of help. Let us pull down the walls of corruption in Nigeria. It is time for the long awaited popular revolution of the Nigerian people. We have suffered for so long that it has become part of us – «suffering and smiling». That is why in the midst of the daily crimes of our government, we have been smiling, calm, and are even rated the most optimistic in the world. Still, we all know that the Nigerian government has killed numerous numbers of our sons and daughters through their innumerable corruption acts.
It is a moment of revolution. Unfortunately there are many faces of it that confront the present government. From the northern Islamic extremists it is the Boko Haram phenomenon. From within Abuja and other major cities it is a cry for and against the fuel subsidy. For the respect of human lives I wish no lives especially innocent lives of the ordinary poor people on the streets should be lost. It is however inevitable that many lives worth to be sacrificed for this revolution to yield a lasting result. The government has killed more than Boko Haram. The cabals, politicians, senators, honourable members of the parliament, state governors, ministers and commissioners have been wasting Nigerian lives more than the deadliest terrorist group in the world, through their wicked corruption acts. Unfortunately the so-called international community keeps quiet, plays diplomacy because they also profit for this injustice and dishonesty.
Can we count how many lives that are lost on the Nigerian bad roads through accidents that could have been avoided if the roads were put in good shape by our millions from oil revenue? Can we count the number of Nigerian youths in prisons outside the country because of their economic crimes so that they can at least feed? Can we quantify how many of them that are executed on daily basis as a result of these crimes especially on cocaine trafficking? Do you know how many Nigerian girls that are forced into prostitution all over the world because of hardship, even in Islamic countries like Mauritania where I live? Can we count how many Nigerian parents that commit suicide because they can no longer live from hand to mouth? It is the Nigerian government that killed all these people. The litany of these unnecessary deaths continue because just about 5,000 individuals out of a whole 150-160 million Nigerians sit on the country`s wealth and share it among themselves. For example, a senator or member of the House of Representative who earns N50 million monthly as his basic salary (excluding sitting allowances and all other unreasonable allowances) can never understand why a litre of fuel should not cost more than N200. And so, with or without the fuel subsidy, his life is not affected. Of course his wife and children are all overseas and do not even feel an iota of the decadence or hardship in Nigeria.
Since 1999 that I started following closely the Nigerian political evolution as a young man of my age, I have never seen any government policy that have been geared towards a direct amelioration of the common man`s life in Nigeria. The fact of 27,000 jobless Americans is about to cause Barack Obama his presidential seat of the US. In Nigeria, neither roads are built nor even maintained. I have never drunk pipe-borne water in my town; we drink from a water tank constructed by my father in the house. We have never celebrated in Nigeria a full day of uninterrupted power supply, where as Ghana celebrated recently ten years of uninterrupted power supply. There are no good public schools of meaningful educational standard. Shame to the Nigerian government, shame!
This is no more time for much talking. Let us all use every means we can afford to drive home this revolution. Let fellow Nigerians in Diaspora should get involved from where they are since there are electric power supplies from those countries, as Nigerians at home may not even have access to electricity in order to stay connected online. Subsidies have been removed at several times on various products but where was the money taken to? Why would a state governor take N100 million every month for security vote, inside his personal pocket where as there is no light, water, good road, school and hospital in his state? Why will honourable members be allowed to continue stealing our public funds in the name of making laws that do not impact any positive change in the Nigerian daily life? Why should we allow the multi-nationals and politicians to be using our common wealth to sponsor those who have vowed to kill and exterminate particular tribes or religious affiliations in the country? The corruption is too much!
The fuel subsidy crisis and the Boko Haram killings are glaring signs that it is time for the Nigerian society to be overhauled. Enough is enough! Our future is in our hands. The president may mean well to boldly desire and attempt to fight corruption among his men but he has shown his incapacity to confront these individuals that have held the nation to a stand-still for many years now. Imagine a senator who has fleets of houses all over the country and overseas (UK and Dominican Island), and yet he has a permanent suite paid and reserved for him in Nicon Hilton and Sheraton Hotels all year round. Can you imagine how many hospitals that such amount of money can build? Or rather how many families such millions can feed? Or how many jobless youths such money can give back their lives?
This wickedness should be addressed now or never! Perhaps the badly calculated removal of the fuel subsidy by the President Goodluck, the killings by Boko Haram, and the nationwide strike action are all blessings in disguise to usher in a radical revolution against corruption; a revolution for change. Let the blood of those innocent citizens not be in vain. How I wish our Catholic Bishops, priests and reverend sisters, monks and nuns, reverend brothers and seminarians could go out on the streets and march with their uniforms to say No to this level of corruption. It is no longer enough to be saying the Prayer for Nigeria in distress and that against Bribery and Corruption. More radical action is needed and is needed most now. Imagine what impact it could have both nationally and internationally if our religious leaders could come out and trek on the roads to denounce this corruption. We need to radically change Nigeria. How I wish I am in the country now. It is a moment of grace, as well as a moment of great trial for all Nigerians. Let my people go!
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
THE Federal Government’s offer of palliatives after it has removed the fuel subsidy has been described as “medicine after death†by Prof. Wole Soyinka.
In a statement at the weekend entitled, ‘Back To The Trenches, Predictably,’ the Nobel laureate said: “Rarely has government alienation from the people it is meant to serve been so pronounced as demonstrated in the recent removal of the so-called oil subsidy. The bruited palliatives, as illusory as electoral promises, belong to what Nigerians routinely describe as ‘medicine after death.’
“A serious government would have emplaced the ‘palliatives’ first, worked assiduously to ensure that they were effectively enforced, with, at the very least, a guaranteed stabilisation of the existing level of Nigerian subsistence – which was nothing to crow about in any case. Nothing remotely approaching this protective measure has taken place, only – business as usual.â€
Describing as incongruous government’s attempt to stop organised labour from embarking on its strike today to protest the removal of the fuel subsidy, Soyinka stated: “If Labour therefore chooses to ignore the order, it has impeccable precedents – it is merely the chickens coming home to roost.â€
Also, a group of Nigerian writers led by Prof. Chinua Achebe issued a statement yesterday pledging solidarity with the Nigerian people.
The statement said: “We are troubled by the turn of events in Nigeria, and hereby call on President Goodluck Jonathan and the rest of the country’s political leadership to take immediate steps to tackle the state of lawlessness in certain parts of the nation and address the trepidation and rage that has reached dangerous levels within the Nigerian populace.
“Nigeria is witnessing a new escalation of sectarian violence, culminating in explosions that have killed or seriously wounded scores of people at churches and other centers of worship and local businesses.â€
The statement further said: “Clearly, the sophistication and deadly impact of the terrorist attacks suggest an agenda to create widespread fear and, possibly, to foment anarchy or war. President Jonathan has no greater duty than to ensure that Nigerians are safe wherever they live or visit within the country. He should demonstrate his recognition of that solemn duty, in our view, by doing the following:
(a) Outline both short and long term plans to comprehensively address the scourge of terror,
(b) Appoint competent and committed officials to head the various security agencies, and
(c) Serve as an agent to heal the many divisions plaguing Nigeria, and persuade all well-meaning people to enlist in the fight against festering violence.
“President Jonathan’s decision to remove fuel subsidies in the country at this time was ill-advised. Coming at the advent of the New Year, and barely a week after the gruesome Christmas Day attacks on worshippers, the policy has forced many Nigerian citizens to perceive his leadership as one that is both insensitive and possibly contemptuous of the mood of its people.
“We stand with the Nigerian people who are protesting the removal of oil subsidy which has placed an unbearable economic weight on their lives.
In another statement entitled, ‘The pilchard is broken’, a group led by eminent lawyer, Tunji Braithwaite, said: “There is now, a hue and cry, indeed, an uproar across the country over a 125 per cent increase in the price of petrol in one fell swoop decreed, by the Nigerian imperial majesties (they number over a thousand) for their Nigerian subjects. Why now this hue and cry!! And, why is the uproar only on the petroleum increase? What about the widespread bloodshed, the insecurity, the corruption, the unconscionable and oppressive Nigerian constitution?
“All these must be addressed and resolved by the people.
“This is because, the price increase is the symbolic last straw that breaks the camel’s back.
“What about the cost of governance and the financial burden to the people of Nigeria of Nigeria’s brand of democracy – the undeserved super jumbo wages, allowances and perks for every so-called “elected†(though not elected) of the cartels in the executive and the legislative arms of government in Nigeria? It is our position that any belated effort to cancel the price increase at this late hour will not even assuage the justified anger of the long-suffering Nigerian people. The entire comprehensive political and social oppression, threatening the corporate existence of the country MUST be tackled NOW.â€
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
LAGOS, Nigeria — A national strike paralyzed much of Nigeria on Monday, with more than 10,000 demonstrators swarming its commercial capital to protest soaring fuel prices and decades of government corruption in the oil-rich country.
At least one person was killed in the unrest in Lagos, and a large mob of people pushed the body in a wheelbarrow down the street. And in the northern city of Kano, 18 people were wounded when security officers used tear gas and fired at a crowd protesting the fuel price hikes.
Protesters in Lagos took gasoline from motorbikes to set tires ablaze. And some demonstrators waved placards bearing an effigy of President Goodluck Jonathan with devil horns and fanged teeth, and showing him pumping fuel at a gas station.
“Our leaders are not concerned about Nigerians. They are concerned about themselves,” said protester Joseph Adekolu, a 42-year-old accountant.
Police carrying Kalashnikov rifles and gas masks in Lagos largely stood by as the demonstrators marched on the first day of an indefinite strike called by labour unions. Protesters also took to the streets in Nigeria’s capital of Abuja.
However, at least one person died following an altercation in the Ogba neighbourhood, according to a witness who spoke on condition of anonymity fearing police reprisals. The police officer accused of shooting him has been arrested, said Lagos state police spokesman Samuel Jinadu.
Gas prices have risen from $1.70 per gallon (45 cents per litre) to at least $3.50 per gallon (94 cents per litre) since a government fuel subsidy ended on Jan. 1 at the orders of Jonathan’s administration. That spurred a spike in prices for food and transportation across a nation of more than 160 million people, most of whom live on less than $2 a day.
While lawmakers on Sunday rebuked the president’s decision, the unions said they would continue their strike.
Bola Adejobi, 53, said she’s protesting against more than just fuel costs. For her and many others in Africa’s most populous country, the strike represents anger that much of the nation remains without electricity and clean drinking water after more than 50 years of oil production.
“It is high time to take Nigeria into our hands,” Adejobi said. “It happened in Egypt. It happened in Libya.”
Nigeria’s finance minister said the country has been using borrowed funds to maintain the subsidy.
“Greece got where it is now because for years, they didn’t do the right thing. They kept borrowing and borrowing to finance development,” Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala told local television station Channels TV on Monday. “We can’t keep borrowing to finance our development.”
Two major unions have said they will maintain the strike despite a court restraining order. A similar situation occurred in 2003, when strikers over eight days attacked shops that remained open, took over air traffic control towers and caused a drop in oil production in a country vital to U.S. energy supplies.
The strike comes as activists have begun a loose-knit group of protests called “Occupy Nigeria,” inspired by those near Wall Street in New York. Their anger extends to the government’s weak response to ongoing violence in Nigeria by a radical Muslim sect that, according to an Associated Press count, killed at least 510 people last year.
Famous Nigerian authors, including Chinua Achebe, issued a statement Monday saying they support the strike, and warning that if left unattended the violence by the extremist group could sweep the country.
“The country’s leadership should not view the incessant attacks as mere temporary misfortune with which the citizenry must learn to live; they are precursors to events that could destabilize the entire country,” their statement read.
The government has so far failed to calm public anger over the spiraling gasoline costs. The government has promised that the $8 billion in estimated savings a year from the end of the fuel subsidies would go toward badly needed road and public projects.
One protester in Lagos held his protest sign upside down.
“Our life is already turned upside down,” he told a reporter. “It is not how it’s supposed to be.”
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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