Awaiting Trial Endlessly in Nigeria; A National Shame!
By Paul I. Adujie
Lawcareer2007@aol.com
New York, United States
A compelling and very engrossing journalistic feat appeared in the pages of The Guardian Newspapers on Saturday, October 5, 2007. Courtesies of BY GODWIN IJEDIOGOR, JOHNSON ADEBAYO AND SUNDAY ORISAKWE who have just earned the respect of every Nigerian, and decent people everywhere. Their report was titled, Our Stories , By Awaiting Trial Men; and women, I suppose there are women in endless detention in Nigeria as well?
This is great journalism, thorough investigative and dynamic reporting! Names, dates, details of course of the plights and predicaments of those poor citizens Awaiting Trial in Nigeria
First, I was instantly gratified by the great presentation of part of our national shame that is so well concealed and hidden from public view.
I was also delighted by the very high quality of journalism, as epitomized by the two journalists who crafted the detailed report. It contained specifics, such as names, dates, age and trumped-up charges against particular detainee. This breakthrough report, attuned readers to the excruciating experiences the average Nigerian, unlucky to be detained, detained with flimsy excuse or no excuse at all.
Given the fact that everyone politician in Nigeria have recently been singing and regurgitating rule of law, rule of law, rule of law, any thinking person would therefore wonder, upon reading this reportage on the plight and predicaments of detained persons in Nigeria, as encapsulated by journalistic marvels at The Guardian. This report rekindled my faith in Nigerian journalists, who have been too partisan in recent years. Some of us have become disenchanted as a result of this glaring partisanship in addition to, worries that when news from Darfur Sudan is to be had, it is unexpectedly absent from Nigerian news sources, but instead in non-African news sources.
Nigeria is not too far from Darfur; Nigerian journalists are closer to Darfur than the American and European journalist or counterparts.
Why do we have so many poor people detained without trial? Corruption and elitism are the major factors. Corruption is 90 percent responsible for needless detention. Detention is used by corrupt police officers to extort money from those who are innocent and know that they are innocent beyond reasonable doubt. But such innocents would pay bribe to extricate themselves from endless detentions, because they know full well, that they cannot rely on the criminal justice system to save or deliver them from evil policemen
Elitism explains why no one in the judiciary, in the police force, in the political leadership from local government to state to federal levels, seem not to be losing even one night sleep, over the sorry state of affairs of Nigerian citizens who are detained, without justifications and poor Nigerian citizens who are falsely accused of serious crimes, such as armed robberies!
It is often said that a good society is measured by how it treats its underprivileged citizens. It does appear that Nigeria shamefully or shamelessly scores below zero when it comes to treatment of poor Nigerian citizens. No one seem to lose sleep over the hardships and the sufferings of the downtrodden.
Why is it, that we hear hypocritical preachments of the rule of law and due process, when it comes to serving corrupt governors and other politicians their just deserts in legal penalties and consequences, but everyone seem silent regarding the wasted and ruined lives of poor Nigerians citizens, who are falsely arrested, falsely accused and falsely detained endlessly?
It is my position that Nigerian lawyers can do so much to change these awful plights and predicaments of 100,000 Nigerian citizens who are detained endlessly without charge, without trial and without mercy. Nigerian lawyers can volunteer time, to represent and advocate the cause of those fellow Nigerian citizen who are detained endlessly by bribing grubbing evil policemen.
It is again, often said, that extent of human refinements in a given society is measured by, willingness to act selflessly, without compensation or such expectations, and for the benefit of others. And in this instance, acting for the benefit of Nigerian underprivileged citizens. Who in Nigeria is better suited to undertake this task? The Nigerian lawyer!
Nigerian lawyers can, through the Nigerian Bar Association or Non-Governmental Organizations and even through the Nigerian Legal Aid Council etc, help in enlightening the Nigerian public about individual rights and freedoms.
Additionally, Nigerian lawyers, can, as individuals or as groups, advocate the causes of Nigerian citizens who are detained without trials. Nigerian citizens who are routinely detained without being afforded any opportunity to have their day in court.
It is absolute perversity to detain citizens without trials. It is gross injustice to falsely charge any citizen with any crime and worse, armed robbery which carries death penalty!
In the United States, any person charged with an offense, who is unable to afford the services of a lawyer, is provided with the service of a public defender, at the expense of the taxpayers. I understand and reconcile myself to the fact that the situation is not the same in Nigeria. But there is something else that happens in the US, which we can emulate in Nigeria. And it called pro bono work; It simply refers to lawyers working for free.
There are instances where American lawyers engage in legal work for free. Individual lawyers engage in this sorts of work and so do major law firms. So, apart from belonging to country clubs and rotary club and lion clubs and such other seemingly elitist clubs in Nigeria. Nigerian lawyers can take interest in pro bono work and target so legal work for the direct benefit of Awaiting Trial citizens.
In the United States, lawyers, especially within the first five years of admission to practice law, are required to undertake Continuing Legal Education or CLE, seminars or workshops; and frequently, doing pro bono work is recommended and, it is credited toward in CLE classes certain practice jurisdictions.
There should be a holistic approach in Nigeria towards the banishing of this national shame of detention of our citizens, innocent citizens detained without trial or even a charge in any criminal proceedings. First, there should be police reforms and enlightenments to eradicate bribery and corruption, the major factor for these false arrests and detentions in the first place.
These raids in which Nigerian citizens are falsely arrested, falsely detained endlessly, are mostly motivated by police search for bribe money, "income"
Then, in the eventuality that persons are detained, the judicial system should be active in determining proper arrests, detentions and proper procedures are adhered to by the police and prosecutors. Nigerian criminal justice system should be awake to its national duty.
I have had cause to be critical and upbraid the Nigerian Bar Association, which in my view, seem to have become too partisan, just like their journalists counterparts in NigeriaHow else does the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association explain the fact that the NBA have in the preceding eight years reserved their legal support and defense for egregiously corrupt public officials? Why is it that the NBA has been fixated on matters of impeachment of errant governors?
And why is it, that the NBA has been loudly supporting the current attorney general in what is clearly his double standards and hypocrisy regarding his loud and endless proclamation for the rule of law for Orji Uzor Kalu and James Onanefe Ibori and in the process, undermining other agencies and department of government which are fighting corruption?
Why is false imprisonment of poor Nigerian citizens, about 100,000 of them, not considered a national emergency
Why is the false detention without trial, and in other cases, false accusation for armed robbery, a capital offense, not considered a matter of such magnitude to warrant the attention of the highly esteemed NBA?
Why does the NBA appear these days, as if it is just a self-interested, self-absorbed and elitist trade group? The poor Nigerian citizens are neglected and abandoned to their misfortune imposed on them by corrupt police officers, because they are poor citizens, as a result of the humble circumstances of their birth?
All this, even as the NBA include Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) whose specialties these days, seem to be, just jostling endlessly to represent privileged Nigerians, who, incidentally, are vapidly corrupt, thanks to their unconscionable looting, pillaging and plundering of Nigeria’s public wealth.
Arrest Corrupt ex-Governors NOW! With Zero Options! The now famous Rule of Law and Due Process Brigade in Nigeria, can take that, and kiss it! Ditto the courts! Somebody should whisper it to Nigerians, that Nigeria need radical surgery, precise radical surgery to remove the corrupt and corruption from our society! I hold the view, that, extraordinary infestations, such as corruption, demands vigorous solution.
Looting cause poverty, poverty, for which some Nigerians are detained falsely and when charged, are also falsely charged! Poverty is "the" crime in Nigeria. And corruption with impunity is rewarded with a slap on the wrists and a pat on the back of the corrupt public officials. While those who poverty is inflicted upon, by corruption, are doubly punished with endless false imprisonments. Talk about double jeopardy!
Why is the squalid, pungent and abject infectious diseased conditions in Nigerian detention centers not a matter that warrant and merit’s the preachments of the rule of law by the AG and the NBA itself? Is the rule law and due process exclusively for the rich and jails for the poor in Nigeria? Who exactly cries for the poor?
In recent times, I have had cause wonder about all of the above, in articles which are excerpted and follows Rule of Law Tainted-Coated With Impunity? Is there any evidence that Mr. Andoakaa consulted or contacted Nigeria Police, EFCC and ICPC before issuing all-clear to Mr. Ibori lawyers, advantage Mr. Ibori? It can also be observed, that Mr. Andoakaa has been unusually efficient and speedy, in matters concerning Mr. Kalu and now, Mr. Ibori.
Notice how quickly he responded to Mr. Ibori’s lawyers? How about some measure efficiency and speedy actions for poor Nigerians in detention without trial and are dying in decrepit prison conditions? Prison conditions in Nigeria are said to be abject and worse than squalid.
How about the rule of law and due process for those Nigerians awaiting trial for years and still in detentions? 100,000 of them! Whose interest does Mr. Andoakaa represent? Nigeria or looters?
Servant-Leader President Yar’Adua’s Nigeria Meets the World It is against this background that the average Nigerian are tired and truly frustrated with these preachment of the rule of law and due process that is elitist and never extended to the more than 100,000 prisoners and detainees in Nigerian prisons and detention centers, detainees and prisoners, who have not stolen billions of Naira. Prisoners and detainees, clearly, Nigerians in prisons and detentions who have not had their day in court, who have not benefited from due process and rule of law mantras!
Meanwhile, audacious criminals, the looters, the plunderers and pillagers ex-governors, public officials in Nigeria, are able to hire tons of lawyers and tens of Senior Advocates and generate tomes of spurious defenses based tenuously, fine principles and tenets of law, such as, the rule law and due process! Talk of notorious criminals wrapping themselves with our constitution when it is time to pay for their desecration of the same constitution!
Amnesty International recently released a report in connection with the appalling conditions in Nigeria’s prisons and detention centers. Nigerians actually did not need Amnesty International to remind us of the decrepit and fetid conditions of prisons and detention centers in Nigeria.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo had a direct personal experience in the abject and squalid conditions in which detainees in Nigeria must live. As a result, as president of Nigeria, he established a prison decongestion commission. And now, we must ask, where are the recommendations or report of that commission? When will these reports and recommendations be implemented to ameliorate and alleviate the pungent conditions in which detainees in Nigeria are compelled to live?
Attorney General’s Power-Grab & Misplaced Priorities? It seems to me that the appalling squalid and pungent conditions endured by detainees in Nigeria, should concern Nigeria’s new attorney general and minister for justice. Further, it would seem that the attorney general and minister for justice would need to establish his self-proclaimed avowal as champion of the rule of law, with policies that will improve the conditions in prisons and detention centers in Nigeria.
Additionally, the attorney general must seek to establish his credentials as a rule of law champion, by establishing rules that would prevent needless detentions of persons in Nigeria.
Currently, there are tens of thousands of Nigerians in prison cells and detention centers, and an overwhelming majority of these detainees are, "Awaiting Trials" most of these persons, are clearly innocents, who have been picked up by law enforcement agencies without justifications, if at all, for flimsy "reasons"
The attorney general and minister of justice, appears self-interested in the well-being of the upper class Nigerians. As he is obviously fixated on welfare of the ex-governors who are currently facing trials, and how longer, than 48 hours these looters may be detained by the EFCC. He is, in doing so, reaffirming Nigeria as a class conscious society with attendant social stratifications, in the most negative ways. The poor are punished for being poor!
How is it that the self-proclaimed champion for the rule of law, the new attorney general, has not publicly placed his prison decongestion policies for national debate?
How is it that the attorney general has not bothered to articulate his thoughts and policy responses, to the well publicized appalling conditions in Nigerian prisons and detention centers?Why has the attorney general and minister of justice not asked himself and supply the reasons why the average detainee in Nigeria spends more than 48 hours in detention?
Why has the attorney general and minister of justice not asked why Nigeria has so many "Awaiting Trials" detainees? Why does the attorney general seem to reserve his tears for looters and their prospects of being in prisons or detention centers for more than 48 hours?
Why is he not similarly verbose and garrulous in worries about poor detainees?
Detention without trial and or, being falsely charged are inequities wrapped in unfairness and gross injustice, meted to Nigerian citizens who are poor. This tyrannical practice should have been dumped already, as relics of military governments.
Detention of an innocent Nigerian citizen for ten years, is extremely perverse, it is an outrage! It is a national shame that should agitate all Nigerians, including the judiciary, all Nigerian lawyers, NBA corporate body and all political leaders in our nation
Arrest Corrupt ex-Governors NOW! With Zero Options!
Rule of Law Tainted-Coated With Impunity?
Servant-Leader President Yar’Adua’s Nigeria Meets the World
Attorney General’s Power-Grab & Misplaced Priorities?
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Friday, October 5, 2007
Death of Nigerian Soldiers Peacekeepers; Hold Sudan Government Accountable
Death of Nigerian Soldiers Peacekeepers; Hold Sudan Government Accountable
By Paul I. Adujie
Lawcareer2007@aol.com
New York, United States
Murdering Nigerians, soldiers or civilians, must be turned into unaffordable and exorbitant luxury, too expensive for Sudan, Spain, Turkey and everywhere else.
There must be consequences for President Omar Bashir and his other riff-raffs in Khartoum, for the senseless and gruesome murder of our soldiers in Darfur-SudanPresident Bashir and his gang of dictators should be held to account for the murder of seven Nigerian soldiers, peacekeepers who were selflessly, gallantly and heroically protecting harmless Darfurians who have suffered death and deprivations from agents of death funded and supported by the Sudanese government in Khartoum
It is public knowledge that President Bashir’s government has for years, supplied weapons and money, to Arab marauders also known as Janjaweed, whose mission is to wipe out Africans in gentrification in favor of Arabs. Mr. Bashir’s government has tacitly aided ethnic cleansing and horrific genocide; against the Africans in Darfur Sudan and as a result, millions of Africans have been displaced and turned into refugees and tens of thousands other Africans have been murdered brutally, by the Khartoum assisted Jajanweed militias.
As Nigerians grieve with the family and friends of our troops, who were murdered in the course of their selfless duty of peace keeping, duties which our troops have to perform in harsh conditions and in the middle of nowhere in Darfur Sudan; We must demand actions and measures that must be taken against President Bashir, the sponsor of these Arab Janjaweed lunatics and there must be change in the rule of engagement, and such new rules, must enable our troops to take-on Janjaweed most aggressively!
These fallen Nigerian soldiers were enduring most harsh conditions in that Janjaweed terrain in Sudan. It is a very sad day for the families of these soldiers and it is as well a gloomy day for Nigeria and Africa. Preserving and protecting the work of our heroes-past, requires that measures are taken immediately to forestall a repeat of this dastardly act by those Janjaweed murderers
New policies, in light of these murders, are being considered by our government. Such new policies must include, equipping our troops with more sophisticated arms or changing the rules of engagement. For instance, letting our troops shoot when they are threatened or provoked. We must refuse and insist on not being sitting ducks to be murdered by these Janjaweed criminals.
As we grieve for the family and for our nation and we offer condolences, we must be cleared eyed regarding what are in our best national interests. We may so determine that it is not in our best interests to continue peacekeeping in Darfur Sudan, in view of the fact the government in Khartoum is an accessory to the killing of our soldiers by Janjaweed. These Janjaweed criminal elements are known agents of the Khartoum government. It is therefore time to demand that Mr. Omar Bashir call his Janjaweed to order, or Nigeria will be compelled to take vigorous and robust military action to accomplish our mission in Darfur.
It is true that historically, Nigeria has always committed to Pan African processes; including peacekeeping operations that have come at great costs in blood and treasure of incalculable magnitude. Liberia, Sierra Leone and Republic of Congo are only recent memory, where so much money was expended thanklessly by Nigeria and many of our troops were slaughtered by those who we were trying to help. And still, Nigeria gets no respect for these gigantic efforts on the part of Nigeria, in being our brother’s keeper
It is understandable that President YarAdua would announce, "There is no sacrifice Nigeria won't make for the African man, the black man," Nigeria will continue our longstanding history. Our troops will continue to make Nigeria’s contribution to try to secure peace across the world. Nigeria have been at the lead of African Union, AU and every efforts aimed at stabilizing Darfur Sudan and resolving the intractable internecine crises there. Nigeria needs to rethink policies directed at those who attack us unprovoked! The picture of a tearful-mournful little girl, and photograph published on Friday is heart wrenchingly sad. Her tears drove the message home! Those who killed her father must be held to account!
As I understand it, Nigeria's National Assembly is examining the circumstances leading to the gruesome murders of our troops by these Janjaweed criminal elements in Darfur Sudan. It bears repeating, that these criminal elements are sponsored and funded by the government in Khatoum led by Mr. Bashir, Nigeria hold Mr. Bashir to account for the murder of seven our troops in Darfur
Mr. Bashir should be held responsible for the safety of our troops that are still in Darfur. We should make it very costly for Mr. Bashir, in particular, because he has surpervised the mass murders and genocide of Darfurians for far too long. Criminal murders committed by Janjaweed against our troops are the foreseeable consequences of the genocide in Darfur. The genocide and ethnic cleansing in Darfur is now personal to Nigerians. It now has hit home big time!
The primary duty of any government, including every administration in Nigeria, must be protection Nigerian citizens worldwide. This must form the fulcrum of our national duty. It is the first order of business in protecting and preserving Nigeria’s national interests. It must be repeated here therefore, that Nigeria ought to review our foreign policy, and African policy. Nigeria must put policies in place, policies which would announce to the world that the government of Nigeria values and respect the lives of Nigerian citizens
The government of Nigeria should then take a further necessary step, which is, urging the world to put high premium, worthiness and value to the lives of Nigerian citizens and accordingly, respect Nigerian citizens or fear the consequences of doing anything less! Enough is enough!
By Paul I. Adujie
Lawcareer2007@aol.com
New York, United States
Murdering Nigerians, soldiers or civilians, must be turned into unaffordable and exorbitant luxury, too expensive for Sudan, Spain, Turkey and everywhere else.
There must be consequences for President Omar Bashir and his other riff-raffs in Khartoum, for the senseless and gruesome murder of our soldiers in Darfur-SudanPresident Bashir and his gang of dictators should be held to account for the murder of seven Nigerian soldiers, peacekeepers who were selflessly, gallantly and heroically protecting harmless Darfurians who have suffered death and deprivations from agents of death funded and supported by the Sudanese government in Khartoum
It is public knowledge that President Bashir’s government has for years, supplied weapons and money, to Arab marauders also known as Janjaweed, whose mission is to wipe out Africans in gentrification in favor of Arabs. Mr. Bashir’s government has tacitly aided ethnic cleansing and horrific genocide; against the Africans in Darfur Sudan and as a result, millions of Africans have been displaced and turned into refugees and tens of thousands other Africans have been murdered brutally, by the Khartoum assisted Jajanweed militias.
As Nigerians grieve with the family and friends of our troops, who were murdered in the course of their selfless duty of peace keeping, duties which our troops have to perform in harsh conditions and in the middle of nowhere in Darfur Sudan; We must demand actions and measures that must be taken against President Bashir, the sponsor of these Arab Janjaweed lunatics and there must be change in the rule of engagement, and such new rules, must enable our troops to take-on Janjaweed most aggressively!
These fallen Nigerian soldiers were enduring most harsh conditions in that Janjaweed terrain in Sudan. It is a very sad day for the families of these soldiers and it is as well a gloomy day for Nigeria and Africa. Preserving and protecting the work of our heroes-past, requires that measures are taken immediately to forestall a repeat of this dastardly act by those Janjaweed murderers
New policies, in light of these murders, are being considered by our government. Such new policies must include, equipping our troops with more sophisticated arms or changing the rules of engagement. For instance, letting our troops shoot when they are threatened or provoked. We must refuse and insist on not being sitting ducks to be murdered by these Janjaweed criminals.
As we grieve for the family and for our nation and we offer condolences, we must be cleared eyed regarding what are in our best national interests. We may so determine that it is not in our best interests to continue peacekeeping in Darfur Sudan, in view of the fact the government in Khartoum is an accessory to the killing of our soldiers by Janjaweed. These Janjaweed criminal elements are known agents of the Khartoum government. It is therefore time to demand that Mr. Omar Bashir call his Janjaweed to order, or Nigeria will be compelled to take vigorous and robust military action to accomplish our mission in Darfur.
It is true that historically, Nigeria has always committed to Pan African processes; including peacekeeping operations that have come at great costs in blood and treasure of incalculable magnitude. Liberia, Sierra Leone and Republic of Congo are only recent memory, where so much money was expended thanklessly by Nigeria and many of our troops were slaughtered by those who we were trying to help. And still, Nigeria gets no respect for these gigantic efforts on the part of Nigeria, in being our brother’s keeper
It is understandable that President YarAdua would announce, "There is no sacrifice Nigeria won't make for the African man, the black man," Nigeria will continue our longstanding history. Our troops will continue to make Nigeria’s contribution to try to secure peace across the world. Nigeria have been at the lead of African Union, AU and every efforts aimed at stabilizing Darfur Sudan and resolving the intractable internecine crises there. Nigeria needs to rethink policies directed at those who attack us unprovoked! The picture of a tearful-mournful little girl, and photograph published on Friday is heart wrenchingly sad. Her tears drove the message home! Those who killed her father must be held to account!
As I understand it, Nigeria's National Assembly is examining the circumstances leading to the gruesome murders of our troops by these Janjaweed criminal elements in Darfur Sudan. It bears repeating, that these criminal elements are sponsored and funded by the government in Khatoum led by Mr. Bashir, Nigeria hold Mr. Bashir to account for the murder of seven our troops in Darfur
Mr. Bashir should be held responsible for the safety of our troops that are still in Darfur. We should make it very costly for Mr. Bashir, in particular, because he has surpervised the mass murders and genocide of Darfurians for far too long. Criminal murders committed by Janjaweed against our troops are the foreseeable consequences of the genocide in Darfur. The genocide and ethnic cleansing in Darfur is now personal to Nigerians. It now has hit home big time!
The primary duty of any government, including every administration in Nigeria, must be protection Nigerian citizens worldwide. This must form the fulcrum of our national duty. It is the first order of business in protecting and preserving Nigeria’s national interests. It must be repeated here therefore, that Nigeria ought to review our foreign policy, and African policy. Nigeria must put policies in place, policies which would announce to the world that the government of Nigeria values and respect the lives of Nigerian citizens
The government of Nigeria should then take a further necessary step, which is, urging the world to put high premium, worthiness and value to the lives of Nigerian citizens and accordingly, respect Nigerian citizens or fear the consequences of doing anything less! Enough is enough!
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Rule of Law Tainted-Coated With Impunity?
Rule of Law Tainted-Coated With Impunity?
Written by Paul I. Adujie
Lawcareer2007@aol.com
New York, United States
Spouting and mouthing the rule of law has become a cover and camouflage for impunity in Nigeria? It does appear as if a pattern of tainted preachments of the rule of law and due process is emerging, courtesy of Attorney General of our Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Michael Aondoakaa (SAN).
First were his very public utterances and pronouncements, in which he demanded obeisance from the EFCC which in led to an uproarious reactions from all segments of the Nigerian populations at home and abroad. What quickly followed was Mr. Andoakaa’s public squabbling with prosecutors from the EFCC, again, as is, customary with him, he in open court, engaged in a very public squabbles, quarrels and fights instead of inter departmental memos, emails or telephone calls or personal invitations to members of agencies of the federal government of Nigeria.
There is a consensus among Nigerians that corruption be fought most aggressively, most vigorously and rigorously . President YarAdua has repeatedly, and publicly committed himself to this consensus and purpose. The president has repeatedly re-dedicated himself to reforms, including the war against corruption. Inexplicably though, neither Mr. Kalu or Mr. Ibori have been doggedly pursued by prosecutors in Nigeria, except the EFCC, the EFCC which Mr. Andoaka overt actions and statements sent obvert and subliminal messages, regarding sacred cows who may not be made to account to Nigerians
Before Mr. Andoakaa became the AG, Nigerians knew about and wrote about and discussed the rule of law. http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=ADHERENCE+TO+THE+RULE+OF+LAW+AND+DUE+PROCESS+AS+NIGERIA+ADVANCE+Adujie&btnG=Search The rule of law is nothing new! Mr. Andoakaa must be reminded that the rule of law and due process are fine legal ideals, principles and tenet of the law, which were not invented by him or by others, in the new political dispensation in Nigeria, just so, to enable them spirit acolytes out of prison.
Presently, in the name of the rule law and due process, it has begun to look as if, Mr. Orji Uzor Kalu, former governor of Abia State, is at this time enjoying an undeserved reprieve from prosecution and the law. He is allowed to continue to bask and revel in his, in-your-face attitude, with stolen wealth, in arrogance and unmitigated impunity! All this, even after a 107 federal charges were leveled against this same Mr. Kalu.
Now comes the Mr. Onanefe James Ibori the former governor of Delta State, the "almost-ex-convict", who is alleged to have stashed millions of pound sterling in England including properties with values in hundred of millions pound sterling as well. According to published reports, the Attorney-General of our Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Michael Aondoakaa (SAN), personally wrote a letter in which he exonerated Mr. Ibori of any wrongdoings and therefore pushed the hands of a London court to defreeze and remove the embargo on Mr. Ibori’s assets. It will be recalled that the Southwark Crown Court in London had on Monday discharged a restraint order it granted on August 2 against Ibori, Erin Aviation and others, suspected of looting public treasuries in NigeriaNigeria’s Attorney General and Justice Minister, with a stroke of his pen, carte blanche, set Mr. Ibori and others in cahoots with him, free of money laundering in England and perhaps, the corrupt enrichment charge, that were clearly precursor to laundering money.What motivated the AG to write that Mr. Ibori and his cohorts have no case to answer? Who does the AG work for, Nigerians or a cabal of thieves with affluence?
Why did the AG deny writing the letter which freed Mr. Ibori’s assets? Why did AG choose to hide under his polemically and semantically twisted difference between a letter to the Southwark Crown court, and a letter to Mr. Ibor’s lawyers, which a thinking AG would have known, or should have reasons to know, that such letter will invariably and inevitably end up being tendered in the Southwark Crown court and any other court on earth in defense of Mr. Ibori? The AG is dumb or disingenuous or both. How could he write a letter on behalf of Nigeria and deny it? How could he not anticipate the exculpatory nature of his weighty letter, which in effect, exonerates Mr. Ibori and cohorts?
The AG continues to argue strenuously, that he has not done anything to frustrate corruption cases against Nigeria public officials, but, every step of the way, we find that the AG has taken several steps, which contradicts his claimed stance against corruption.The AG is seeking to cloak and shield himself with legal technicalities and mumbo-jumbo relying on Fred Egbe vs. the State, the Supreme Court held that it was wrong to charge a person to court and then start to look for evidence. The fact is, Mr. Ibori and his cohorts, had assets that were seized, frozen or embargoed as unexplained wealth or product of money laundering. The AG should tell Nigerians the source of Mr. Ibori’s millions of pounds in cash and other assets in England. Was Mr. Ibori a business magnate, baron or mogul between 1999 and 2007? What was Mr. Ibori’s net worth in 1999?
There were good reasons to freeze Mr. Ibori’s assets in England. It should be assumed that those reasons have not changed or cease to exist. It must also be stated that it is indeed common practice to sequester or put assets in escrow, where the assets owner or claimer is being investigated. This practice is not peculiar to Nigeria. It is a standard practice in the UK and US as well. The difference here is that, the AG, who is a part of Nigeria’s current government, and by extension, a continuation of reasonable public policies by other Nigerians in the previous Nigerian administration, previous AG and all, has wittingly aided and abetted the manipulation of a court in London for the benefit of Mr. Ibori, Mr. Ibori, another one of those who have contributed to keeping Nigeria at her knees with unbridled corruption and graft.
The letter issued by the AG is perhaps not illegal, but it is clearly inappropriate, it is indeed, grossly inappropriate! It is comical to think that Mr. Andoakaa wrote that letter to defense counsel, so that Mr. Ibori can tender it before his dentist in England, just so he could receive good dental care?
There are many actions in this world that are legal, but considered by all reasonable persons as highly inappropriate. Mr. Andoakaa has acted most inappropriately in this instance and many instances before this.
It is matter of public record and general knowledge, the fact that it has taken Nigeria so long and a great expense, in cash and time, and so much more in efforts to retrieve looted Nigerian resources in America, England and Switzerland etc Efforts by Nigeria to retrieve money spirited abroad from Nigeria, especially during the President Obasanjo years. Nigerians are you aware, or ought to be aware, that Nigeria’s efforts, met with all manners of "prosecutorial-blockade" every step of the way, to the extent that the former Finance Minister Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was publicly critical and chastised some foreign governments for their Lackluster support for Nigeria’s loot-recoveries. These foreign government and their justice systems are perhaps informed by their self-interested delays in connection with Nigeria's loot recovery efforts (capital flight is how they see it) when Nigeria money leave their countries upon being recovered
Nigeria’s AG just committed a huge blunder which favors Mr. Ibori and his cohorts, persons who can now distribute or sequester those stolen millions and efforts to re-trace them is now made more difficult, arduous or nearly impossible. Mr. Andoakaa is often sounding like a robot just spewing dogmatically, as he is repeating rule of law and justice, while Nigeria’s public enemies go through the wide gates the AG has flung open. I know of no Nigerian going out to the street to dance in praise of rule of law and justice being alive and well in Nigeria! If it essentially means all opulent and affluent looters will enjoy their looting unpunished.
Nigerians should demand that the AG explains why he issued the infamous letter to Mr. Ibori’s defenders, Ian Timlin (Partner) and Julie Thrower (Solicitor) counsel from a firm of City Dispute Resolution Solicitors, Speechly Bircham before reviewing the very public allegations against Mr. Ibori, allegations so public and notorious, this AG must be aware in both his personal and official capacity. Moreover, did the AG consult the EFCC and ICPC to determine or verify, whether or not, Mr. Ibori has no case to answer in Nigeria?
Is there any evidence that Mr. Andoakaa consulted or contacted Nigeria Police, EFCC and ICPC before issuing all-clear to Mr. Ibori lawyers, advantage Mr. Ibori? It can also be observed, that Mr. Andoakaa has been unusually efficient and speedy, in matters concerning Mr. Kalu and now, Mr. Ibori. Notice how quickly he responded to Mr. Ibori’s lawyers? How about some measure efficiency and speedy actions for poor Nigerians in detention without trial and are dying in decrepit prison conditions? Prison conditions in Nigeria are said to be abject and worse than squalid. How about the rule of law and due process for those Nigerians awaiting trial for years and still in detentions? 100,000 of them! Whose interest does Mr. Andoakaa represent? Nigeria or looters?
The AG’s actions and words, are in direct conflict with President YarAdua’s stances against corruption, in fact, the AG’s actions and words measured against the president’s, are mutually exclusive opposites! Why is the president retaining this AG? The president should clear the air. The president should inform Nigerians where he stands on the AGAccording to published reports, Mr. Andoakaa wrote an exculpatory letter to Mr. Ibori’s lawyers in London, Mr. Andoakaa’s letter, in effect, amounted to a get-out-of-jail card for Mr. Ibori. Mr. Andoakaa’s letter was the foundational basis for the unfreezing of Mr. Ibori and his cohorts assets in England.
It is now incontrovertible that Mr. Andoakaa is not committed, dedicated and passionate about the hot-pursuit of Nigeria’s war on corruption. If anything, it is clear that Mr. Andoakaa has, every step of the way sought to undermine and pull the carpet off, of the feet of the EFCC, ICPC and now, the London prosecutor and court, in efforts to derail the well deserved punishments that accrued to Mr. Kalu and Mr. Ibori as a consequence of their egregious pillaging and plundering of Nigeria’s resources.
Notable public actions, utterances and pronouncements by Mr. Andoakaa have established him as a person , acting in collusion, connivance and in concert with elements, who do not have Nigeria’s interests. Mr. Andoakaa should informed that he is no longer in private legal practice, even that, there is an ethical standard and rules about conflicts of interest.
Discerning and reasonable Nigerians have therefore come to the conclusion that Mr. Andoakaa is a disservice to Nigeria and that President Umaru Yar’Adua must remove him forthwith. Or be forever tainted by the antics and ignominious actions of Mr. Andoakaa. President YarAdua must dismiss or fire Mr. Andoakaa now, and disassociate himself and his administration from the inappropriate, unacceptable and shameful conduct of Mr. Andoakaa.Mr. Andoakaa must go!
Written by Paul I. Adujie
Lawcareer2007@aol.com
New York, United States
Spouting and mouthing the rule of law has become a cover and camouflage for impunity in Nigeria? It does appear as if a pattern of tainted preachments of the rule of law and due process is emerging, courtesy of Attorney General of our Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Michael Aondoakaa (SAN).
First were his very public utterances and pronouncements, in which he demanded obeisance from the EFCC which in led to an uproarious reactions from all segments of the Nigerian populations at home and abroad. What quickly followed was Mr. Andoakaa’s public squabbling with prosecutors from the EFCC, again, as is, customary with him, he in open court, engaged in a very public squabbles, quarrels and fights instead of inter departmental memos, emails or telephone calls or personal invitations to members of agencies of the federal government of Nigeria.
There is a consensus among Nigerians that corruption be fought most aggressively, most vigorously and rigorously . President YarAdua has repeatedly, and publicly committed himself to this consensus and purpose. The president has repeatedly re-dedicated himself to reforms, including the war against corruption. Inexplicably though, neither Mr. Kalu or Mr. Ibori have been doggedly pursued by prosecutors in Nigeria, except the EFCC, the EFCC which Mr. Andoaka overt actions and statements sent obvert and subliminal messages, regarding sacred cows who may not be made to account to Nigerians
Before Mr. Andoakaa became the AG, Nigerians knew about and wrote about and discussed the rule of law. http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=ADHERENCE+TO+THE+RULE+OF+LAW+AND+DUE+PROCESS+AS+NIGERIA+ADVANCE+Adujie&btnG=Search The rule of law is nothing new! Mr. Andoakaa must be reminded that the rule of law and due process are fine legal ideals, principles and tenet of the law, which were not invented by him or by others, in the new political dispensation in Nigeria, just so, to enable them spirit acolytes out of prison.
Presently, in the name of the rule law and due process, it has begun to look as if, Mr. Orji Uzor Kalu, former governor of Abia State, is at this time enjoying an undeserved reprieve from prosecution and the law. He is allowed to continue to bask and revel in his, in-your-face attitude, with stolen wealth, in arrogance and unmitigated impunity! All this, even after a 107 federal charges were leveled against this same Mr. Kalu.
Now comes the Mr. Onanefe James Ibori the former governor of Delta State, the "almost-ex-convict", who is alleged to have stashed millions of pound sterling in England including properties with values in hundred of millions pound sterling as well. According to published reports, the Attorney-General of our Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Michael Aondoakaa (SAN), personally wrote a letter in which he exonerated Mr. Ibori of any wrongdoings and therefore pushed the hands of a London court to defreeze and remove the embargo on Mr. Ibori’s assets. It will be recalled that the Southwark Crown Court in London had on Monday discharged a restraint order it granted on August 2 against Ibori, Erin Aviation and others, suspected of looting public treasuries in NigeriaNigeria’s Attorney General and Justice Minister, with a stroke of his pen, carte blanche, set Mr. Ibori and others in cahoots with him, free of money laundering in England and perhaps, the corrupt enrichment charge, that were clearly precursor to laundering money.What motivated the AG to write that Mr. Ibori and his cohorts have no case to answer? Who does the AG work for, Nigerians or a cabal of thieves with affluence?
Why did the AG deny writing the letter which freed Mr. Ibori’s assets? Why did AG choose to hide under his polemically and semantically twisted difference between a letter to the Southwark Crown court, and a letter to Mr. Ibor’s lawyers, which a thinking AG would have known, or should have reasons to know, that such letter will invariably and inevitably end up being tendered in the Southwark Crown court and any other court on earth in defense of Mr. Ibori? The AG is dumb or disingenuous or both. How could he write a letter on behalf of Nigeria and deny it? How could he not anticipate the exculpatory nature of his weighty letter, which in effect, exonerates Mr. Ibori and cohorts?
The AG continues to argue strenuously, that he has not done anything to frustrate corruption cases against Nigeria public officials, but, every step of the way, we find that the AG has taken several steps, which contradicts his claimed stance against corruption.The AG is seeking to cloak and shield himself with legal technicalities and mumbo-jumbo relying on Fred Egbe vs. the State, the Supreme Court held that it was wrong to charge a person to court and then start to look for evidence. The fact is, Mr. Ibori and his cohorts, had assets that were seized, frozen or embargoed as unexplained wealth or product of money laundering. The AG should tell Nigerians the source of Mr. Ibori’s millions of pounds in cash and other assets in England. Was Mr. Ibori a business magnate, baron or mogul between 1999 and 2007? What was Mr. Ibori’s net worth in 1999?
There were good reasons to freeze Mr. Ibori’s assets in England. It should be assumed that those reasons have not changed or cease to exist. It must also be stated that it is indeed common practice to sequester or put assets in escrow, where the assets owner or claimer is being investigated. This practice is not peculiar to Nigeria. It is a standard practice in the UK and US as well. The difference here is that, the AG, who is a part of Nigeria’s current government, and by extension, a continuation of reasonable public policies by other Nigerians in the previous Nigerian administration, previous AG and all, has wittingly aided and abetted the manipulation of a court in London for the benefit of Mr. Ibori, Mr. Ibori, another one of those who have contributed to keeping Nigeria at her knees with unbridled corruption and graft.
The letter issued by the AG is perhaps not illegal, but it is clearly inappropriate, it is indeed, grossly inappropriate! It is comical to think that Mr. Andoakaa wrote that letter to defense counsel, so that Mr. Ibori can tender it before his dentist in England, just so he could receive good dental care?
There are many actions in this world that are legal, but considered by all reasonable persons as highly inappropriate. Mr. Andoakaa has acted most inappropriately in this instance and many instances before this.
It is matter of public record and general knowledge, the fact that it has taken Nigeria so long and a great expense, in cash and time, and so much more in efforts to retrieve looted Nigerian resources in America, England and Switzerland etc Efforts by Nigeria to retrieve money spirited abroad from Nigeria, especially during the President Obasanjo years. Nigerians are you aware, or ought to be aware, that Nigeria’s efforts, met with all manners of "prosecutorial-blockade" every step of the way, to the extent that the former Finance Minister Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was publicly critical and chastised some foreign governments for their Lackluster support for Nigeria’s loot-recoveries. These foreign government and their justice systems are perhaps informed by their self-interested delays in connection with Nigeria's loot recovery efforts (capital flight is how they see it) when Nigeria money leave their countries upon being recovered
Nigeria’s AG just committed a huge blunder which favors Mr. Ibori and his cohorts, persons who can now distribute or sequester those stolen millions and efforts to re-trace them is now made more difficult, arduous or nearly impossible. Mr. Andoakaa is often sounding like a robot just spewing dogmatically, as he is repeating rule of law and justice, while Nigeria’s public enemies go through the wide gates the AG has flung open. I know of no Nigerian going out to the street to dance in praise of rule of law and justice being alive and well in Nigeria! If it essentially means all opulent and affluent looters will enjoy their looting unpunished.
Nigerians should demand that the AG explains why he issued the infamous letter to Mr. Ibori’s defenders, Ian Timlin (Partner) and Julie Thrower (Solicitor) counsel from a firm of City Dispute Resolution Solicitors, Speechly Bircham before reviewing the very public allegations against Mr. Ibori, allegations so public and notorious, this AG must be aware in both his personal and official capacity. Moreover, did the AG consult the EFCC and ICPC to determine or verify, whether or not, Mr. Ibori has no case to answer in Nigeria?
Is there any evidence that Mr. Andoakaa consulted or contacted Nigeria Police, EFCC and ICPC before issuing all-clear to Mr. Ibori lawyers, advantage Mr. Ibori? It can also be observed, that Mr. Andoakaa has been unusually efficient and speedy, in matters concerning Mr. Kalu and now, Mr. Ibori. Notice how quickly he responded to Mr. Ibori’s lawyers? How about some measure efficiency and speedy actions for poor Nigerians in detention without trial and are dying in decrepit prison conditions? Prison conditions in Nigeria are said to be abject and worse than squalid. How about the rule of law and due process for those Nigerians awaiting trial for years and still in detentions? 100,000 of them! Whose interest does Mr. Andoakaa represent? Nigeria or looters?
The AG’s actions and words, are in direct conflict with President YarAdua’s stances against corruption, in fact, the AG’s actions and words measured against the president’s, are mutually exclusive opposites! Why is the president retaining this AG? The president should clear the air. The president should inform Nigerians where he stands on the AGAccording to published reports, Mr. Andoakaa wrote an exculpatory letter to Mr. Ibori’s lawyers in London, Mr. Andoakaa’s letter, in effect, amounted to a get-out-of-jail card for Mr. Ibori. Mr. Andoakaa’s letter was the foundational basis for the unfreezing of Mr. Ibori and his cohorts assets in England.
It is now incontrovertible that Mr. Andoakaa is not committed, dedicated and passionate about the hot-pursuit of Nigeria’s war on corruption. If anything, it is clear that Mr. Andoakaa has, every step of the way sought to undermine and pull the carpet off, of the feet of the EFCC, ICPC and now, the London prosecutor and court, in efforts to derail the well deserved punishments that accrued to Mr. Kalu and Mr. Ibori as a consequence of their egregious pillaging and plundering of Nigeria’s resources.
Notable public actions, utterances and pronouncements by Mr. Andoakaa have established him as a person , acting in collusion, connivance and in concert with elements, who do not have Nigeria’s interests. Mr. Andoakaa should informed that he is no longer in private legal practice, even that, there is an ethical standard and rules about conflicts of interest.
Discerning and reasonable Nigerians have therefore come to the conclusion that Mr. Andoakaa is a disservice to Nigeria and that President Umaru Yar’Adua must remove him forthwith. Or be forever tainted by the antics and ignominious actions of Mr. Andoakaa. President YarAdua must dismiss or fire Mr. Andoakaa now, and disassociate himself and his administration from the inappropriate, unacceptable and shameful conduct of Mr. Andoakaa.Mr. Andoakaa must go!
Monday, October 1, 2007
Iran Gone Nuclear? Who Decides? Who is Afraid, Why? (II)
Iran Gone Nuclear? Who Decides? Who is Afraid, Why? (II)
Written by Paul I. Adujie
Lawcareer2007@aol.com
New York, United States
After all the pre-war lies which were told by President Bush and his government before the invasion and occupation of Iraq, the current American government may soon start bombing Iran without a scintilla of efforts to even pretend to lie or pretend to proffer any excuse to Americans and the rest of the world, for invading, and in all probabilities, occupying Iran.
The drums of war against Iran is beating loudly and louder everyday.
America has no respect for international law, unless it benefits America! America has observed many UN conventions, protocols and treaties only in their breach. The US has refused to implement the UN Kyoto Protocols on efforts to attain a better world environment and fight or reduce global warning. This week, President Bush ignored a UN debate in New York, on the environment, and instead, organized an American version of the UN conference.
The US has been at loggerheads with the rest of the world and the UN, regarding the UN’s desire to implement International Criminal Court or UN ICC. The US seeks a preferential treatment for American citizens, who the US have argued, should not have to be made accountable to the UN international court.
American has frequently been in World Trade Organization WTO disputes with Canada, China and most of Europe. All, as a result of the US insistence on getting preferential treatment for its heavily subsidized agricultural industries, farms and food producers. And the US also seeks protections for its steel industry etc and so, signatories to the WTO are appalled at US frequent disregard of WTO rules ; US opponents have sued and frequently, they have prevailed against the US unfair practices. And yet, the US is the most aggressive advocate of free market and removal of subsidies. Policies which are imposed on developing nations by the US itself.
America have in my life time managed to have been strange bedfellows with unsavory and undemocratic governments in various parts of the world. America have also managed to have subverted democratically and constitutionally elected government in different parts of the world. America has frequently violated the political independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq, Grenada, Cuba, Panama etc all, in my life time as well. These are the lawless actions of a rogue state or who exactly defines rogue states?
America’s Central Intelligence Agency , CIA, once used a man named Manuel Noriega of Panama. When the CIA no longer needed the “services” Manuel Noriega? He was plucked by the US from his seat of power as the sitting president of Panama and dumped in a prison for 15 years in Florida, United States! A US court has just approved the deportation of Manuel Noriega to France to face money laundering charges there, more jail time is slated for Noriega in Sarkozy’s new France. Ah, Saddam Hussein used to be in the service of the United States as well, as when he fought proxy war against Iran for instance!
America fought Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua in the 1 980s and destabilized that country and the Honduras by arming anti government forces in those countries, even in violation of American laws, hence the Iran-Contra scandal of the Reagan administration, remember Colonel Oliver North? And Admiral Pointdexter?
America invaded Grenada and fought Maurice Bishop, then Prime Minister, he is no more. He has not been heard from ever since.
Clearly, America has used every opportunity to subvert President Castro of Cuba and has in fact blockaded Cuba’s economy for over forty years, thereby strangulating the economy of Cuba. America has supported and financed the overthrow of President Hugo Chavez and the US almost succeeded in its efforts in 2002
America was implicated in its facilitated overthrow of President Betrand Aristide of Haiti in 2004, I certainly have nothing to say in favor of the America or anyone who play any roles in the overthrow of democracy and constitutionalism in any part of the world. Just imagine if all these countries have had atomic-nuclear WMD, just like North Korea, would the US be so fast in antagonizing them? I think not!
Apparently, America has aversion to following international law and rules. America does not care neither does it observe, obey or respect UN protocols and conventions. America does not respect treaties or conventions regarding war prisoners and torture.
The US creates new names or labels, such as enemy combatants, this in order for the US to circumvent international law. The US has detained war prisoners without trial. The US also contracted-out extraordinary “rendition” of war prisoners. In plain English, the US has outsourced some unusual treatments of war prisoners to third countries. The US is engaging in illegal conducts and sometimes use the help of other countries to conduct illegalities contrary to US laws.
In this world, the law, treaties and conventions and UN resolutions are targeted at the poor individuals and poor nations. And from all available evidence, this is just the way the world works.
America has thumped its nose at the rest of the world regarding Hiroshima and Nagasaki, it has similarly unilaterally invaded and occupied Iraq despite worldwide stiff opposition to the war against Iraq.
America, has for decades seem to have played abominable and ignominious roles in travails of Angola, Congo, Haiti, Panama, Grenada, Nicaragua and many others. Why, in view of this miserable record, does America always manage to control debate about peace, democracy and weapons proliferations? America frequently undermines foreign government that America does not like and the world seem nonchalant.
Why is this the America which practices gunboat diplomacy and bully-like mantra of might-is-power-is-right is the same America that wants to decide who could possess what weapons? Who could possess F15, F22 fighter jets and or atomic-nuclear and WMD capability? What country really has the right to decide what some other country chooses as its weapons? I take the position that any government’s resources are better spent on bread, butter and public infrastructures for human abundance. No government should waste money on weapons. Conversely, every government that can afford weapons should go ahead! No one should have atomic nuclear WMD capabilities or, everyone should have them! For mutually assured death and destruction or defense.
In a world where the UN is a toothless and clawless lion, President Bush shunned a global opposition to the continued occupation of Iraq, Bush is instead preparing for a parallel invasion and occupation of another Persian Gulf nation of Iran, based on the trumped up charges of nuclear ambition.
Only this week, The New York Times had an editorial in which it was alerting the world about the probability of an American invasion and occupation of Iran, it was titled, “The Crazies and Iran” the newspaper discussed the near cavalier attitude of American war mongers regarding military actions being loudly contemplated against Iran.
America from all indications often act contrary to world opinion. America led Europeans and Israel in undermining and stifling of a popularly elected constitutional and democratic government for Palestine, just because America did not like the winners of a free and fair elections!
America had engaged in similar subversion of constitutional and democratic leaders in Algeria, because they were too close to Islam; And in Egypt, democrats, members of the Islamic Brotherhood were opposed by the Americans because Americans did not like them.
But be reminded that President Bush’s power and electoral base, is dominated by extreme right-wing ultra religious Christian conservatives evangelicals!
America obviously does not seem to mind mixing religious orthodoxy with politics in America, but the same America is alarmed by religious influences in Algerian, Iranian, Egyptian politics and elections?
Why is America perpetually interfering in the affairs of independent sovereign nations? Why is America afraid of incremental democracy in these lands where America resorts to subversions and usurpations?
True democracy must be given time to develop and grow in orderly manner, with due attention and respect to local conditions and circumstances. Democracy does not have to come from America, pre-fabricated as it were; there must be no requirements to be pro-America or be a puppet of America before it is respected as a democracy!
Who, anyways, defines true democracy? I like globalization, but who defines globalization? Must globalization mean that America and its allies remain producers, while the rest of the world is condemned to dumping ground consumer status, where cheap labor may be had? Must world peace rely on the old world order of inequitable division of power entrenched in the establishment of the United Nations over 62 years ago? Must world peace depend on preventing developing countries from protecting their nations and best national interests, because America and its allies do not approve?
Why is this the America which practices gunboat diplomacy and bully-like mantra of might-is-power-is-right is the same America that wants to decide who could possess what weapons? Who could possess F15, F22 fighter jets and or atomic-nuclear and WMD capability? What country really has the right to decide what some other country chooses as its weapons?
I take the position that any government’s resources are better spent on bread, butter and public infrastructures for human abundance. No government should waste money on weapons. Conversely, every government that can afford weapons should go ahead! No one should have atomic nuclear WMD capabilities or, everyone should have them! For mutually assured death and destruction or defense.
Iran must not be invaded and occupied under any false pretext, just as Iraq was. Where, in view of the abundance of evidence, does America (and France) find the audacity to engage in preachments against Iran’s nuclear ambitions?
Written by Paul I. Adujie
Lawcareer2007@aol.com
New York, United States
After all the pre-war lies which were told by President Bush and his government before the invasion and occupation of Iraq, the current American government may soon start bombing Iran without a scintilla of efforts to even pretend to lie or pretend to proffer any excuse to Americans and the rest of the world, for invading, and in all probabilities, occupying Iran.
The drums of war against Iran is beating loudly and louder everyday.
America has no respect for international law, unless it benefits America! America has observed many UN conventions, protocols and treaties only in their breach. The US has refused to implement the UN Kyoto Protocols on efforts to attain a better world environment and fight or reduce global warning. This week, President Bush ignored a UN debate in New York, on the environment, and instead, organized an American version of the UN conference.
The US has been at loggerheads with the rest of the world and the UN, regarding the UN’s desire to implement International Criminal Court or UN ICC. The US seeks a preferential treatment for American citizens, who the US have argued, should not have to be made accountable to the UN international court.
American has frequently been in World Trade Organization WTO disputes with Canada, China and most of Europe. All, as a result of the US insistence on getting preferential treatment for its heavily subsidized agricultural industries, farms and food producers. And the US also seeks protections for its steel industry etc and so, signatories to the WTO are appalled at US frequent disregard of WTO rules ; US opponents have sued and frequently, they have prevailed against the US unfair practices. And yet, the US is the most aggressive advocate of free market and removal of subsidies. Policies which are imposed on developing nations by the US itself.
America have in my life time managed to have been strange bedfellows with unsavory and undemocratic governments in various parts of the world. America have also managed to have subverted democratically and constitutionally elected government in different parts of the world. America has frequently violated the political independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq, Grenada, Cuba, Panama etc all, in my life time as well. These are the lawless actions of a rogue state or who exactly defines rogue states?
America’s Central Intelligence Agency , CIA, once used a man named Manuel Noriega of Panama. When the CIA no longer needed the “services” Manuel Noriega? He was plucked by the US from his seat of power as the sitting president of Panama and dumped in a prison for 15 years in Florida, United States! A US court has just approved the deportation of Manuel Noriega to France to face money laundering charges there, more jail time is slated for Noriega in Sarkozy’s new France. Ah, Saddam Hussein used to be in the service of the United States as well, as when he fought proxy war against Iran for instance!
America fought Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua in the 1 980s and destabilized that country and the Honduras by arming anti government forces in those countries, even in violation of American laws, hence the Iran-Contra scandal of the Reagan administration, remember Colonel Oliver North? And Admiral Pointdexter?
America invaded Grenada and fought Maurice Bishop, then Prime Minister, he is no more. He has not been heard from ever since.
Clearly, America has used every opportunity to subvert President Castro of Cuba and has in fact blockaded Cuba’s economy for over forty years, thereby strangulating the economy of Cuba. America has supported and financed the overthrow of President Hugo Chavez and the US almost succeeded in its efforts in 2002
America was implicated in its facilitated overthrow of President Betrand Aristide of Haiti in 2004, I certainly have nothing to say in favor of the America or anyone who play any roles in the overthrow of democracy and constitutionalism in any part of the world. Just imagine if all these countries have had atomic-nuclear WMD, just like North Korea, would the US be so fast in antagonizing them? I think not!
Apparently, America has aversion to following international law and rules. America does not care neither does it observe, obey or respect UN protocols and conventions. America does not respect treaties or conventions regarding war prisoners and torture.
The US creates new names or labels, such as enemy combatants, this in order for the US to circumvent international law. The US has detained war prisoners without trial. The US also contracted-out extraordinary “rendition” of war prisoners. In plain English, the US has outsourced some unusual treatments of war prisoners to third countries. The US is engaging in illegal conducts and sometimes use the help of other countries to conduct illegalities contrary to US laws.
In this world, the law, treaties and conventions and UN resolutions are targeted at the poor individuals and poor nations. And from all available evidence, this is just the way the world works.
America has thumped its nose at the rest of the world regarding Hiroshima and Nagasaki, it has similarly unilaterally invaded and occupied Iraq despite worldwide stiff opposition to the war against Iraq.
America, has for decades seem to have played abominable and ignominious roles in travails of Angola, Congo, Haiti, Panama, Grenada, Nicaragua and many others. Why, in view of this miserable record, does America always manage to control debate about peace, democracy and weapons proliferations? America frequently undermines foreign government that America does not like and the world seem nonchalant.
Why is this the America which practices gunboat diplomacy and bully-like mantra of might-is-power-is-right is the same America that wants to decide who could possess what weapons? Who could possess F15, F22 fighter jets and or atomic-nuclear and WMD capability? What country really has the right to decide what some other country chooses as its weapons? I take the position that any government’s resources are better spent on bread, butter and public infrastructures for human abundance. No government should waste money on weapons. Conversely, every government that can afford weapons should go ahead! No one should have atomic nuclear WMD capabilities or, everyone should have them! For mutually assured death and destruction or defense.
In a world where the UN is a toothless and clawless lion, President Bush shunned a global opposition to the continued occupation of Iraq, Bush is instead preparing for a parallel invasion and occupation of another Persian Gulf nation of Iran, based on the trumped up charges of nuclear ambition.
Only this week, The New York Times had an editorial in which it was alerting the world about the probability of an American invasion and occupation of Iran, it was titled, “The Crazies and Iran” the newspaper discussed the near cavalier attitude of American war mongers regarding military actions being loudly contemplated against Iran.
America from all indications often act contrary to world opinion. America led Europeans and Israel in undermining and stifling of a popularly elected constitutional and democratic government for Palestine, just because America did not like the winners of a free and fair elections!
America had engaged in similar subversion of constitutional and democratic leaders in Algeria, because they were too close to Islam; And in Egypt, democrats, members of the Islamic Brotherhood were opposed by the Americans because Americans did not like them.
But be reminded that President Bush’s power and electoral base, is dominated by extreme right-wing ultra religious Christian conservatives evangelicals!
America obviously does not seem to mind mixing religious orthodoxy with politics in America, but the same America is alarmed by religious influences in Algerian, Iranian, Egyptian politics and elections?
Why is America perpetually interfering in the affairs of independent sovereign nations? Why is America afraid of incremental democracy in these lands where America resorts to subversions and usurpations?
True democracy must be given time to develop and grow in orderly manner, with due attention and respect to local conditions and circumstances. Democracy does not have to come from America, pre-fabricated as it were; there must be no requirements to be pro-America or be a puppet of America before it is respected as a democracy!
Who, anyways, defines true democracy? I like globalization, but who defines globalization? Must globalization mean that America and its allies remain producers, while the rest of the world is condemned to dumping ground consumer status, where cheap labor may be had? Must world peace rely on the old world order of inequitable division of power entrenched in the establishment of the United Nations over 62 years ago? Must world peace depend on preventing developing countries from protecting their nations and best national interests, because America and its allies do not approve?
Why is this the America which practices gunboat diplomacy and bully-like mantra of might-is-power-is-right is the same America that wants to decide who could possess what weapons? Who could possess F15, F22 fighter jets and or atomic-nuclear and WMD capability? What country really has the right to decide what some other country chooses as its weapons?
I take the position that any government’s resources are better spent on bread, butter and public infrastructures for human abundance. No government should waste money on weapons. Conversely, every government that can afford weapons should go ahead! No one should have atomic nuclear WMD capabilities or, everyone should have them! For mutually assured death and destruction or defense.
Iran must not be invaded and occupied under any false pretext, just as Iraq was. Where, in view of the abundance of evidence, does America (and France) find the audacity to engage in preachments against Iran’s nuclear ambitions?
Iran Gone Nuclear? Who Decides? Who is Afraid, Why? (I)
Iran Gone Nuclear? Who Decides? Who is Afraid, Why? (I)
By Paul I. Adujie
Saturday, 29 September 2007
Lawcareer2007@aol.com
New York, United States
There are those in this world who still believe that America’s opposition Iran’s nuclear power ambition is altruistic and benevolent. There are equally those who share in America’s view, that leaders of Iran are irremediable lunatics who would annihilate and obliterate the world, as soon as Iran obtain nuclear arms.
But are these positions above tenable? Is it a mere coincidence that every developing country that aspires to attain nuclear capability is suddenly hounded by America and America’s loose "coalition" of an exclusive nuclear power club? It is no coincidence at all.
The post World War II world order which gave monopoly of power to America and a few European countries to dominate the world has become painfully outdated and outmoded. This is why I advocate the abolishment of veto power that is currently reserved by America and a few European countries in the United Nation’s Security Council. The United Nation must be democratized.
There is continued inequality in the world, and in particular, at the UN. Bush pointedly ignored UN activities in New York regarding world environment, only for the Americans to have side conference in Washington DC at US State Department
Nigeria is frequently relied upon by the UN to engage in peacekeeping worldwide, and in Africa and West Africa in particular, and yet, Nigeria is not a member of the UN Security Council, and no African country is a member of the veto wielding group. And only this week, the United States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Department of State, Jendayi Frazer had on Thursday pointed out that countries applying to become members of the Council must meet certain criteria such as being fully democratic, responsible and stable. This position is just nonsensical!
China is not an epitome of democracy, but it has always been a member of the UN Security Council, as well as happy owner of abundant atomic -nuclear arms. As President Yar’Adua rightly pointed out in New York this week, it is only logical, to include Nigeria at UN Security Council, Nigeria is an African representative and a major role player, in world affairs. It makes perfect sense to have an African representative, especially when African issues are discussed.
America stampeded the United Nations into resolutions against Iraq before the US invasion and occupation of Iraq in 2003. America engaged in outright deceptions and unmitigated lies, as precursor to invading and occupying Iraq. Iraq has since turned into a debacle, a quagmire and an unending inferno. The American people in majority opposed President Bush and his administration on the march to war in Iraq. A majority of the peoples and governments of the world opposed Bush’s Iraq war policy to no avail.
Notable among governments of the world that opposed America, was France which in fact, led the pack.Now however, that was then, during the administration of Mr. Francois Mitterand, the new government of President Nicolas Sarkozy, is a different animal. Sarkozy and his foreign minister, Mr. Kushner, are both very vocal, aggressive and public in their support for President Bush’s regime change program against Iran. France has recently ratcheted up the rhetoric of punishments for Iran with sanctions and with the extreme measure of even a war.
The current government of France has stridently opposed President Bush and his wrong-headed invasion and occupation of Iraq in 2003, that was during the former President Mitterand of France.
Now, France’s new President Sarkozy seems to be in a mad-rush, mad-dash to kiss-and-make-up with President Bush and the war mongers, who are again beating war drums against Iran, as it was against IraqThe new leaders of France are unabashed and unalloyed in their support for Bush anti Iran policies.President Sarkozy of France and his foreign minister, at times, sound more aggressive and belligerent than the Bush everyone else among those against Iran aspirations to membership of the exclusive nuclear club. France vehemently oppose Iran’s efforts at nuclear capability acquisition, at least, in harshest words
The average American was lied to regarding the WMD excuses Mr. Bush used to invade and occupy Iraq or the untenable nexus between September 11, 2001 attacks and Saddam Hussein or his government. Iran will be invaded and occupied, based on lies and false pretexts. It is truly dejavu.
History of 2003 is about to repeat itself! Iran’s oil is about to be commandeered; And the cornering and commandeering of oil resources in Persian Gulf would be complete! For those who never believed what some of us have said all along, Mr. Alan Greenspan, a prominent, high profile Republican of long standing, confirmed, corroborated and gave more credence to the fact that oil was the reason for President Bush’s invasion and occupation of Iraq.
We asserting here as well, that the invasion and occupation of Iran, when it occurs, will be because of oil in Iran. Owning or controlling the oil resources and the Persian Gulf, will confer strategic advantage on America and it "coalition" of allies. It should be clear to all now, that the next world struggle is for the reapportionment and reallocation of energy resources and the command and control of the Persian Gulf for military and strategic superiority.
President Bush of the United States would have the world believe that he is against nuclear proliferation in the mode of Strategic Arms Limitation Talks, SALT or Strategic Arms Reduction Talks, START reminiscent of the Détente and Deterrence era of more than 20 years ago.
The truth of the matter is that the USA and its allies have jointly and severally created the impression that they are selectively anti nuclear proliferation. In words, actions and collusions or silence at times, America and its supporters have demonstrated a selective opposition to the acquisition of nuclear capability by say, North Korea, Libya, South Africa, Iraq and now, Iran.
There is an attitude that have been pervasively and demonstrably proven by America and its allies, through their words and actions, to the effect that they are only interested in their self-interests! Which is, their interests maintaining monopoly and domination of possessing of atomic and nuclear powers in addition to WMD, conventional and unconventional weapons superiority. America’s zeal is unsurpassed it its efforts at preventing the acquisition of atomic, nuclear and WMD capabilities by those to whom America and its allies have no favorable disposition; There is a clear double standards in these haphazard determinations. India and Pakistan were once forbidden from atomic-nuclear capabilities, but now? They have it, even though General Pervez Musharaf of Pakistan was disfavored by the US as undemocratic leader of an Islamic republic a few years ago, now, he is an "ally" on the war on terror, his now a good pal
Why is it okay for some countries to possess dangerous weapons of atomic, nuclear and WMD, but some others cannot not? What are the set parameters or criterion for measuring who should and should not have these capabilities? President Bush ignored and disregarded the checks and balances that is embedded and entrenched in the US constitution, lied to the American people and began the war in Iraq. A mid-term elections in America in 2006 by a majority vote cast be the electorate, repudiated Bush’s Iraq policy, to the advantage of Democrats at the expense of Bush’s Republican party. Nevertheless, Bush and his Republican party continues to pursue and push full-speed ahead, their wrong headed policy that had been repudiated by a majority of the American voters and people! What is the essence of democracy and separation of powers, check and balances between the branches of US governmental arms, in light of these development?
Why should I prefer President Bush invasion and occupation of Iraq to the speculation that Iran or North Korea might misuse atomic-nuclear or WMD weapons? Why should I trust America, with dangerous weapons? America, the only country that has actually used or exploded atomic-nuclear weapons in attack against another country; Any more than I can trust country A or Country B? Why should I trust and prefer atomic-nuclear WMD weapons in the hands of , say, Israel, a country that has perennially disregarded UN resolutions for decades as it usurped Palestinian rights, or invaded Iraq and most recently, invaded Syria?I will rather rely on my experience with American and Israeli behavior with the weapons and military advantage that both countries currently possess and not mere conjectures or speculations against Iran.
Why is it somehow acceptable for the US and its friends to have atomic nuclear weapons, WMD and all, despite known, and repeated misuse and abuse of such powers? Conversely, it is somehow, unacceptable for other countries to have this capabilities even though they have clean slate and unblemished record?
It bears repeating that America remains the only country on earth which has ever used atomic or nuclear weapons against another nation as in Hiroshima and Nagasaki Japan during World War II, to obliterate civilians, women and children, citizens of Japan. It was a complete devastation.
And yet, America is the "leader" among the countries with strong objections to any developing country that aspires to join or which becomes a defacto member of the nuclear power club of countries in the world
America’s objections be seen not altruistic or benevolent. Are we to assume that America’s objections arises from its first-knowledge of the true ramifications and magnitude of atomic-nuclear WMD impact, when America used it? Or is America’s steadfast opposition more as a result of, not wanting others to have a competitive edge of the so-called, Mutually Assured Destruction, MAD?
Some believe that America did not invade North Korea but Iraq instead, because North Korea had the conventional army and the nuclear weapons to inflict heavy losses on America. Whereas, Iraq had been decimated , pulverized and crippled since the first Gulf War and imposition of sanctions and no-fly zone.It is also the case, that Israel would not have invaded Iraq some twenty years ago, or Syria, several weeks ago, had it been the case that Iraq and Syria, had the unfettered rights to the acquisitions of atomic-nuclear WMD capabilities as Israel have had. So, who does non-proliferation really protect?
Shall we believe that Americans and their allies are so kind and humane and as a consequence, they oppose Iran, Iraq, North Korea atomic-nuclear WMD capabilities ambitions?
Are we to believe that America and its allies are genuinely concerned and touched by the risks posed by "rogue-nations" which are, in the view of the Americans, these "rogue-nations" are led by persons certified by the Americans as irremediable lunatics, and as such, atomic-nuclear-WMD in the hands of persons determined by America to be incurable despots, tyrants and dictators Perverz Musharaf? Would lead the world into apocalyptic catastrophic Armaggedon end of the world?
Or perhaps we are to believe that America and its allies are motivated by a desire to exclude developing countries from the atomic nuclear WMD exclusive club, it is to keep so, exclusive!
Discerning observance know that possession of atomic nuclear WMD is a deterrence to would be attackers, invaders and war mongers. We also know that this capabilities is a sorts of one-comeuppance against countries that do not possess these prized weapons.
Why should America and its allies, who indeed already have these weapons, be the ones to determine who is insane or fit or not, regarding the leadership of politically independent, sovereign nations with inviolate territorial integrity? Are some countries in the world at the cusp and verge of re-colonization? Or why must America and its allies be the ones to approve whether Iran acquires nuclear power for peaceful or some other purposes?
Israel has enjoyed and continues to enjoy, what it calls "Strategic Ambiguities" regarding whether it possesses atomic nuclear WMD or not.
Israel has been able, enabled and emboldened by its friends and allies, including good old USA, to unilaterally bomb Iraq atomic nuclear facilities in 1981, in clear violations of international law; Israel again, recently violated Syria’s airspace and of course, violated international law as well as Israel audaciously, peremptorily, without provocation, bombed facilities in Syria. All this, give new meaning and credence to the rumor, to the effect that law is meant to restrain the weak and foolish, while the law protects the rich with powerful friends. International law, treaties, conventions and protocols is meant to restrain developing countries from the pursuit of their best national interests; While preserving upward acceleration and ascendancy of already powerful nations and their allies? Israel bombed Syria’s facilities this month, and neither the US, the Europeans or even the UN have held Israel to account, but why is this so?
Israel builds apartheid wall, a wall which has intensified sufferings and immeasurable hardships for bedraggled Palestinians. All this, with a wink, a nod, financing and tacit approval by America. Could another country other than Israel indulged itself and get away with it, scot-free?
To be continued….
By Paul I. Adujie
Saturday, 29 September 2007
Lawcareer2007@aol.com
New York, United States
There are those in this world who still believe that America’s opposition Iran’s nuclear power ambition is altruistic and benevolent. There are equally those who share in America’s view, that leaders of Iran are irremediable lunatics who would annihilate and obliterate the world, as soon as Iran obtain nuclear arms.
But are these positions above tenable? Is it a mere coincidence that every developing country that aspires to attain nuclear capability is suddenly hounded by America and America’s loose "coalition" of an exclusive nuclear power club? It is no coincidence at all.
The post World War II world order which gave monopoly of power to America and a few European countries to dominate the world has become painfully outdated and outmoded. This is why I advocate the abolishment of veto power that is currently reserved by America and a few European countries in the United Nation’s Security Council. The United Nation must be democratized.
There is continued inequality in the world, and in particular, at the UN. Bush pointedly ignored UN activities in New York regarding world environment, only for the Americans to have side conference in Washington DC at US State Department
Nigeria is frequently relied upon by the UN to engage in peacekeeping worldwide, and in Africa and West Africa in particular, and yet, Nigeria is not a member of the UN Security Council, and no African country is a member of the veto wielding group. And only this week, the United States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Department of State, Jendayi Frazer had on Thursday pointed out that countries applying to become members of the Council must meet certain criteria such as being fully democratic, responsible and stable. This position is just nonsensical!
China is not an epitome of democracy, but it has always been a member of the UN Security Council, as well as happy owner of abundant atomic -nuclear arms. As President Yar’Adua rightly pointed out in New York this week, it is only logical, to include Nigeria at UN Security Council, Nigeria is an African representative and a major role player, in world affairs. It makes perfect sense to have an African representative, especially when African issues are discussed.
America stampeded the United Nations into resolutions against Iraq before the US invasion and occupation of Iraq in 2003. America engaged in outright deceptions and unmitigated lies, as precursor to invading and occupying Iraq. Iraq has since turned into a debacle, a quagmire and an unending inferno. The American people in majority opposed President Bush and his administration on the march to war in Iraq. A majority of the peoples and governments of the world opposed Bush’s Iraq war policy to no avail.
Notable among governments of the world that opposed America, was France which in fact, led the pack.Now however, that was then, during the administration of Mr. Francois Mitterand, the new government of President Nicolas Sarkozy, is a different animal. Sarkozy and his foreign minister, Mr. Kushner, are both very vocal, aggressive and public in their support for President Bush’s regime change program against Iran. France has recently ratcheted up the rhetoric of punishments for Iran with sanctions and with the extreme measure of even a war.
The current government of France has stridently opposed President Bush and his wrong-headed invasion and occupation of Iraq in 2003, that was during the former President Mitterand of France.
Now, France’s new President Sarkozy seems to be in a mad-rush, mad-dash to kiss-and-make-up with President Bush and the war mongers, who are again beating war drums against Iran, as it was against IraqThe new leaders of France are unabashed and unalloyed in their support for Bush anti Iran policies.President Sarkozy of France and his foreign minister, at times, sound more aggressive and belligerent than the Bush everyone else among those against Iran aspirations to membership of the exclusive nuclear club. France vehemently oppose Iran’s efforts at nuclear capability acquisition, at least, in harshest words
The average American was lied to regarding the WMD excuses Mr. Bush used to invade and occupy Iraq or the untenable nexus between September 11, 2001 attacks and Saddam Hussein or his government. Iran will be invaded and occupied, based on lies and false pretexts. It is truly dejavu.
History of 2003 is about to repeat itself! Iran’s oil is about to be commandeered; And the cornering and commandeering of oil resources in Persian Gulf would be complete! For those who never believed what some of us have said all along, Mr. Alan Greenspan, a prominent, high profile Republican of long standing, confirmed, corroborated and gave more credence to the fact that oil was the reason for President Bush’s invasion and occupation of Iraq.
We asserting here as well, that the invasion and occupation of Iran, when it occurs, will be because of oil in Iran. Owning or controlling the oil resources and the Persian Gulf, will confer strategic advantage on America and it "coalition" of allies. It should be clear to all now, that the next world struggle is for the reapportionment and reallocation of energy resources and the command and control of the Persian Gulf for military and strategic superiority.
President Bush of the United States would have the world believe that he is against nuclear proliferation in the mode of Strategic Arms Limitation Talks, SALT or Strategic Arms Reduction Talks, START reminiscent of the Détente and Deterrence era of more than 20 years ago.
The truth of the matter is that the USA and its allies have jointly and severally created the impression that they are selectively anti nuclear proliferation. In words, actions and collusions or silence at times, America and its supporters have demonstrated a selective opposition to the acquisition of nuclear capability by say, North Korea, Libya, South Africa, Iraq and now, Iran.
There is an attitude that have been pervasively and demonstrably proven by America and its allies, through their words and actions, to the effect that they are only interested in their self-interests! Which is, their interests maintaining monopoly and domination of possessing of atomic and nuclear powers in addition to WMD, conventional and unconventional weapons superiority. America’s zeal is unsurpassed it its efforts at preventing the acquisition of atomic, nuclear and WMD capabilities by those to whom America and its allies have no favorable disposition; There is a clear double standards in these haphazard determinations. India and Pakistan were once forbidden from atomic-nuclear capabilities, but now? They have it, even though General Pervez Musharaf of Pakistan was disfavored by the US as undemocratic leader of an Islamic republic a few years ago, now, he is an "ally" on the war on terror, his now a good pal
Why is it okay for some countries to possess dangerous weapons of atomic, nuclear and WMD, but some others cannot not? What are the set parameters or criterion for measuring who should and should not have these capabilities? President Bush ignored and disregarded the checks and balances that is embedded and entrenched in the US constitution, lied to the American people and began the war in Iraq. A mid-term elections in America in 2006 by a majority vote cast be the electorate, repudiated Bush’s Iraq policy, to the advantage of Democrats at the expense of Bush’s Republican party. Nevertheless, Bush and his Republican party continues to pursue and push full-speed ahead, their wrong headed policy that had been repudiated by a majority of the American voters and people! What is the essence of democracy and separation of powers, check and balances between the branches of US governmental arms, in light of these development?
Why should I prefer President Bush invasion and occupation of Iraq to the speculation that Iran or North Korea might misuse atomic-nuclear or WMD weapons? Why should I trust America, with dangerous weapons? America, the only country that has actually used or exploded atomic-nuclear weapons in attack against another country; Any more than I can trust country A or Country B? Why should I trust and prefer atomic-nuclear WMD weapons in the hands of , say, Israel, a country that has perennially disregarded UN resolutions for decades as it usurped Palestinian rights, or invaded Iraq and most recently, invaded Syria?I will rather rely on my experience with American and Israeli behavior with the weapons and military advantage that both countries currently possess and not mere conjectures or speculations against Iran.
Why is it somehow acceptable for the US and its friends to have atomic nuclear weapons, WMD and all, despite known, and repeated misuse and abuse of such powers? Conversely, it is somehow, unacceptable for other countries to have this capabilities even though they have clean slate and unblemished record?
It bears repeating that America remains the only country on earth which has ever used atomic or nuclear weapons against another nation as in Hiroshima and Nagasaki Japan during World War II, to obliterate civilians, women and children, citizens of Japan. It was a complete devastation.
And yet, America is the "leader" among the countries with strong objections to any developing country that aspires to join or which becomes a defacto member of the nuclear power club of countries in the world
America’s objections be seen not altruistic or benevolent. Are we to assume that America’s objections arises from its first-knowledge of the true ramifications and magnitude of atomic-nuclear WMD impact, when America used it? Or is America’s steadfast opposition more as a result of, not wanting others to have a competitive edge of the so-called, Mutually Assured Destruction, MAD?
Some believe that America did not invade North Korea but Iraq instead, because North Korea had the conventional army and the nuclear weapons to inflict heavy losses on America. Whereas, Iraq had been decimated , pulverized and crippled since the first Gulf War and imposition of sanctions and no-fly zone.It is also the case, that Israel would not have invaded Iraq some twenty years ago, or Syria, several weeks ago, had it been the case that Iraq and Syria, had the unfettered rights to the acquisitions of atomic-nuclear WMD capabilities as Israel have had. So, who does non-proliferation really protect?
Shall we believe that Americans and their allies are so kind and humane and as a consequence, they oppose Iran, Iraq, North Korea atomic-nuclear WMD capabilities ambitions?
Are we to believe that America and its allies are genuinely concerned and touched by the risks posed by "rogue-nations" which are, in the view of the Americans, these "rogue-nations" are led by persons certified by the Americans as irremediable lunatics, and as such, atomic-nuclear-WMD in the hands of persons determined by America to be incurable despots, tyrants and dictators Perverz Musharaf? Would lead the world into apocalyptic catastrophic Armaggedon end of the world?
Or perhaps we are to believe that America and its allies are motivated by a desire to exclude developing countries from the atomic nuclear WMD exclusive club, it is to keep so, exclusive!
Discerning observance know that possession of atomic nuclear WMD is a deterrence to would be attackers, invaders and war mongers. We also know that this capabilities is a sorts of one-comeuppance against countries that do not possess these prized weapons.
Why should America and its allies, who indeed already have these weapons, be the ones to determine who is insane or fit or not, regarding the leadership of politically independent, sovereign nations with inviolate territorial integrity? Are some countries in the world at the cusp and verge of re-colonization? Or why must America and its allies be the ones to approve whether Iran acquires nuclear power for peaceful or some other purposes?
Israel has enjoyed and continues to enjoy, what it calls "Strategic Ambiguities" regarding whether it possesses atomic nuclear WMD or not.
Israel has been able, enabled and emboldened by its friends and allies, including good old USA, to unilaterally bomb Iraq atomic nuclear facilities in 1981, in clear violations of international law; Israel again, recently violated Syria’s airspace and of course, violated international law as well as Israel audaciously, peremptorily, without provocation, bombed facilities in Syria. All this, give new meaning and credence to the rumor, to the effect that law is meant to restrain the weak and foolish, while the law protects the rich with powerful friends. International law, treaties, conventions and protocols is meant to restrain developing countries from the pursuit of their best national interests; While preserving upward acceleration and ascendancy of already powerful nations and their allies? Israel bombed Syria’s facilities this month, and neither the US, the Europeans or even the UN have held Israel to account, but why is this so?
Israel builds apartheid wall, a wall which has intensified sufferings and immeasurable hardships for bedraggled Palestinians. All this, with a wink, a nod, financing and tacit approval by America. Could another country other than Israel indulged itself and get away with it, scot-free?
To be continued….
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
American Race-Relations Regressing
American Race-Relations Regressing Written by Paul I. AdujieNew York, United States
A man cannot come to your home and congratulate your mother for not being a prostitute, to do so will amount to the ultimate insult; says Boyce Watkins who is currently a Finance Professor at Syracuse University.
The above comments, were made in response to Fox Television commentator’s goof-offs Bill O’Reilly, of Fox TV‘s "The O’Reilly Factor" blundered after meeting a prominent African American leader, the Reverend Al Sharpton.
Bill O’Reilly, an ultra conservative, extreme rightwing public affairs commentator, visited Sylvia’s, the famous restaurant in Harlem, New York City in the company of Reverend Al Sharpton, a renowned African American activist; At the end of the visit, Bill O’Reilly was quoted as saying "I couldn’t get over the fact that there was no difference between Sylvia’s restaurant and any other restaurant in New York City. I mean, it was exactly the same, even though it’s run by blacks, primarily black patronship" (patronage)?
O’Reilly and persons like him just make my head spin, what with the monumental ignorance that they publicly exhibit?. His dumb comments encapsulates and exemplifies the state of affairs in race-relations in today’s America which appears to be retrogressing
Mr. O’Reilly garrulously stereotyped African Americans and generalized about African Americans as if he was talking about cavemen or persons from mars or 17th Century civilization in today’s world or as if describing animals from whom he did not expect decent human behaviors. He talked about them so inelegantly, that he betrayed a common attitude among whites like him, who seem to be shocked upon learning we too, bleed blood or that we have normal lives and actually sit to enjoy fine dining without expletives!
This week has been very difficult in race relations in America. Racism was part of America's past. Racism is still a major disease that ravages America. This week rekindles an apt question asked by a Nigerian recently. Do Africans understand racism? In this regard, I am wondering how American racially motivated incidents of the past several days is being viewed by Nigerians and other Africans!
In the past ten days, we have learnt or have been reminded of the double standard in the criminal justice system in America which appears not to have changed from Jim Crow laws of yesteryears as Jena, Louisiana prosecutors informed African American High School boys, that he could ruin their lives with a stroke of his pen and he does with the help of a judge. A young African American, Mr. Bell, is still unjustly imprisoned for participating in a school yard fight. A school yard fight that had it genesis from unequal right and unequal justice in Jena. Jena High School had a tree, under which only white students could sit and frolic.
African Americans sought the "consent" and "permission" from the school administration, to be able to also sit under the same tree, sometimes. And school administrations says, no problem! Upon exercising this innocuous right, white students or their parental cohorts hung nooses from the tree. A clear reminder of the repugnant and reprehensible practice of how white America historically terrorized and lynched and brutalized African Americans.
African American at Jena High School reported the explosively provocative nooses display to the school administration and school administration did no more than slap the white students on the wrists. Then, palpable tensions ensued and it culminated into frequent schisms and physical fights, local prosecutors attempted intimidating African American students with threats of ruining their lives with a single stroke of his pen.
Boys will be boys, especially in High School, where adolescent hormones rages over the surface often. More fights ensued and violence intensified, a white student who allegedly taunted African American students in the melee, was roughened up and severely bruised and then, all hell broke lose. 6 African American young boys were summarily charged with attempted murder! This was in December 2006. Seething complaints bubble to the open, and the hypocrisy and double standard of American criminal justice system is laid bare for the world to see. A court declares Mr. Bell, a juvenile, who ought to be tried, but not as an adult. Mr. Bell, the only one among the Jena 6, who is currently incarcerated and jailed as an adult, remains in detention despite this court order. Local prosecutors and a local judge who appears in cahoots, are adamant in keeping Mr. Bell in jail. And there Mr. Remains; despite nationwide uproar over the disparity and inequality in the criminal justice system versus comparative treatment of white with the perennial maltreatments and injustices which are visited upon African Americans.
As if in simulcast, an overlapping event occurred in Las Vegas, where there was the wide spread demonstrated and apparent desire by some to retry or even lynch O. J Simpson for an offence which he was previously acquitted, more than ten years ago, as Mr. Simpson’s laughable and foolish behavior in Las Vegas is turned into a ten count charge of armed robbery, kidnapping and what appears to have been staged, contrived and orchestrated to teach Mr. Simpson a lesson. Mr. Simpson acted foolishly and ineptly, and in all the silliness, it was clear that his white “friends” were following a script as they betrayed him. The sophomoric events in a hotel room on that fateful day, were tape-recorded and broadcast in every media. It was such a hoax and hoopla over very little, by dishonorable.
Clearly, it is obvious to even a fleeting observer that a majority in white America, including high profile trial and defense lawyers who ought to know better, are still seeking Mr. Simpson’s blood, in the murder, by unknown persons, of Nicole Brown-Simpson and Ron Goldman over ten years ago. It will be recalled, that Mr. Simpson was tried and duly acquitted by a jury of his peers. This is how it is supposed to work in America. Unless you are an African American accused, rightly or wrongly, of murdering of a white?
During this week as well, I have been glued to Public Broadcasting Service, as I watched Ken Burns’ PBS series documentary on War, the Second World War in which the American government and people famously claimed righteous defense of freedom and liberty, while simultaneously, it was fashionable to deny African Americans freedoms and individual liberty at home, while African Americans were segregated at home. And While African Americans were segregated in fighting units in the American Armed Forces.
African Americans were frontally attacked by White American soldiers, African Americans were attacked, terrorized and brutalized by White Americans civilians as well, all these, during the Second World War, when America was fighting wars in Europe supposedly for freedom and liberty, to which African Americans were not entitled or accorded in America from fellow Americans who are white. African American civilians working in military industrial complexes were segregated, after they were repeatedly terrorized and mauled by white Americans.
In plain English, there was a raging war in America in which white Americans brutalized African Americans and it was viewed as God ordained pecking order and divine and a given. Why did America have to travel thousands of miles to Europe to fight one Adolph Hitler, where there were millions of Adolph Hitler’s minis on US soil?
This week also marked 50 years of the forced racial integration of an Arkansas High School, which led to the Army National Guard leading 9 African Americans into a High School, that was all-white population. Can anyone imagine a child any where in the world being escorted by soldiers to attend High School classes? An event that is supposed to be so mundane and taken for granted in every part of the world, but for the African Americans, platoons and brigades upon brigades of military protective escorted were a necessity.
African Americans High School students at the time recounted this week, how were nevertheless, spat on, humiliated and demeaned, but the African American youngsters preserved and we witnessed the enduring raw emotions a couple of days ago, as the 9 African Americans recounted their unsavory experiences of fifty years ago… even as President Bush’s administration have sought to dismantle Affirmative Action programs, and efforts that were geared toward addressing historical injustices meted out to African Americans. President Bush with his Republican Party, have enacted legislations that seek to dismantle individual freedoms and liberty even as it continues to stack the US Supreme Court with neo-conservative justices with a view of entrenching ultra conservative social policies
It is against this backdrop, that Bill O’Reilly’s ignorant comments, in which he generalized and stereotyped African Americans, should not be viewed as an isolated misperception.
There is a pervasive double standard and hypocrisy in the way white America treat African Americans. Some were beginning to assume that these racist actions, utterances and attitudes are merely in the past. Fredrick Douglass was right about racism hydra-headed issue of our time. Unfortunately, this week is proof that racism remains an American pandemic!
Sources www.boycewatkins.com and www.nytimes.com
A man cannot come to your home and congratulate your mother for not being a prostitute, to do so will amount to the ultimate insult; says Boyce Watkins who is currently a Finance Professor at Syracuse University.
The above comments, were made in response to Fox Television commentator’s goof-offs Bill O’Reilly, of Fox TV‘s "The O’Reilly Factor" blundered after meeting a prominent African American leader, the Reverend Al Sharpton.
Bill O’Reilly, an ultra conservative, extreme rightwing public affairs commentator, visited Sylvia’s, the famous restaurant in Harlem, New York City in the company of Reverend Al Sharpton, a renowned African American activist; At the end of the visit, Bill O’Reilly was quoted as saying "I couldn’t get over the fact that there was no difference between Sylvia’s restaurant and any other restaurant in New York City. I mean, it was exactly the same, even though it’s run by blacks, primarily black patronship" (patronage)?
O’Reilly and persons like him just make my head spin, what with the monumental ignorance that they publicly exhibit?. His dumb comments encapsulates and exemplifies the state of affairs in race-relations in today’s America which appears to be retrogressing
Mr. O’Reilly garrulously stereotyped African Americans and generalized about African Americans as if he was talking about cavemen or persons from mars or 17th Century civilization in today’s world or as if describing animals from whom he did not expect decent human behaviors. He talked about them so inelegantly, that he betrayed a common attitude among whites like him, who seem to be shocked upon learning we too, bleed blood or that we have normal lives and actually sit to enjoy fine dining without expletives!
This week has been very difficult in race relations in America. Racism was part of America's past. Racism is still a major disease that ravages America. This week rekindles an apt question asked by a Nigerian recently. Do Africans understand racism? In this regard, I am wondering how American racially motivated incidents of the past several days is being viewed by Nigerians and other Africans!
In the past ten days, we have learnt or have been reminded of the double standard in the criminal justice system in America which appears not to have changed from Jim Crow laws of yesteryears as Jena, Louisiana prosecutors informed African American High School boys, that he could ruin their lives with a stroke of his pen and he does with the help of a judge. A young African American, Mr. Bell, is still unjustly imprisoned for participating in a school yard fight. A school yard fight that had it genesis from unequal right and unequal justice in Jena. Jena High School had a tree, under which only white students could sit and frolic.
African Americans sought the "consent" and "permission" from the school administration, to be able to also sit under the same tree, sometimes. And school administrations says, no problem! Upon exercising this innocuous right, white students or their parental cohorts hung nooses from the tree. A clear reminder of the repugnant and reprehensible practice of how white America historically terrorized and lynched and brutalized African Americans.
African American at Jena High School reported the explosively provocative nooses display to the school administration and school administration did no more than slap the white students on the wrists. Then, palpable tensions ensued and it culminated into frequent schisms and physical fights, local prosecutors attempted intimidating African American students with threats of ruining their lives with a single stroke of his pen.
Boys will be boys, especially in High School, where adolescent hormones rages over the surface often. More fights ensued and violence intensified, a white student who allegedly taunted African American students in the melee, was roughened up and severely bruised and then, all hell broke lose. 6 African American young boys were summarily charged with attempted murder! This was in December 2006. Seething complaints bubble to the open, and the hypocrisy and double standard of American criminal justice system is laid bare for the world to see. A court declares Mr. Bell, a juvenile, who ought to be tried, but not as an adult. Mr. Bell, the only one among the Jena 6, who is currently incarcerated and jailed as an adult, remains in detention despite this court order. Local prosecutors and a local judge who appears in cahoots, are adamant in keeping Mr. Bell in jail. And there Mr. Remains; despite nationwide uproar over the disparity and inequality in the criminal justice system versus comparative treatment of white with the perennial maltreatments and injustices which are visited upon African Americans.
As if in simulcast, an overlapping event occurred in Las Vegas, where there was the wide spread demonstrated and apparent desire by some to retry or even lynch O. J Simpson for an offence which he was previously acquitted, more than ten years ago, as Mr. Simpson’s laughable and foolish behavior in Las Vegas is turned into a ten count charge of armed robbery, kidnapping and what appears to have been staged, contrived and orchestrated to teach Mr. Simpson a lesson. Mr. Simpson acted foolishly and ineptly, and in all the silliness, it was clear that his white “friends” were following a script as they betrayed him. The sophomoric events in a hotel room on that fateful day, were tape-recorded and broadcast in every media. It was such a hoax and hoopla over very little, by dishonorable.
Clearly, it is obvious to even a fleeting observer that a majority in white America, including high profile trial and defense lawyers who ought to know better, are still seeking Mr. Simpson’s blood, in the murder, by unknown persons, of Nicole Brown-Simpson and Ron Goldman over ten years ago. It will be recalled, that Mr. Simpson was tried and duly acquitted by a jury of his peers. This is how it is supposed to work in America. Unless you are an African American accused, rightly or wrongly, of murdering of a white?
During this week as well, I have been glued to Public Broadcasting Service, as I watched Ken Burns’ PBS series documentary on War, the Second World War in which the American government and people famously claimed righteous defense of freedom and liberty, while simultaneously, it was fashionable to deny African Americans freedoms and individual liberty at home, while African Americans were segregated at home. And While African Americans were segregated in fighting units in the American Armed Forces.
African Americans were frontally attacked by White American soldiers, African Americans were attacked, terrorized and brutalized by White Americans civilians as well, all these, during the Second World War, when America was fighting wars in Europe supposedly for freedom and liberty, to which African Americans were not entitled or accorded in America from fellow Americans who are white. African American civilians working in military industrial complexes were segregated, after they were repeatedly terrorized and mauled by white Americans.
In plain English, there was a raging war in America in which white Americans brutalized African Americans and it was viewed as God ordained pecking order and divine and a given. Why did America have to travel thousands of miles to Europe to fight one Adolph Hitler, where there were millions of Adolph Hitler’s minis on US soil?
This week also marked 50 years of the forced racial integration of an Arkansas High School, which led to the Army National Guard leading 9 African Americans into a High School, that was all-white population. Can anyone imagine a child any where in the world being escorted by soldiers to attend High School classes? An event that is supposed to be so mundane and taken for granted in every part of the world, but for the African Americans, platoons and brigades upon brigades of military protective escorted were a necessity.
African Americans High School students at the time recounted this week, how were nevertheless, spat on, humiliated and demeaned, but the African American youngsters preserved and we witnessed the enduring raw emotions a couple of days ago, as the 9 African Americans recounted their unsavory experiences of fifty years ago… even as President Bush’s administration have sought to dismantle Affirmative Action programs, and efforts that were geared toward addressing historical injustices meted out to African Americans. President Bush with his Republican Party, have enacted legislations that seek to dismantle individual freedoms and liberty even as it continues to stack the US Supreme Court with neo-conservative justices with a view of entrenching ultra conservative social policies
It is against this backdrop, that Bill O’Reilly’s ignorant comments, in which he generalized and stereotyped African Americans, should not be viewed as an isolated misperception.
There is a pervasive double standard and hypocrisy in the way white America treat African Americans. Some were beginning to assume that these racist actions, utterances and attitudes are merely in the past. Fredrick Douglass was right about racism hydra-headed issue of our time. Unfortunately, this week is proof that racism remains an American pandemic!
Sources www.boycewatkins.com and www.nytimes.com
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Servant-Leader President Yar’Adua’s Nigeria Meets the World
Servant-Leader President Yar’Adua’s Nigeria Meets the World
Written by Paul I. Adujie
Lawcareer2007@aol.com
New York, United States
Nigeria is virgin business destination with abundant and boundless opportunities for Nigerian and foreign investors alike. This was the central theme and message of an all day conference and seminar on Monday.
Chief Nduka Obaigbena the ThisDay journalistic marvel and business guru, presented Nigeria to the world in New York on Monday and it was wildly successful and over-subscribed event. Nduka, as his Nigerian and American friends simply called him all day, accomplished what he set out to do.
President YarAdua our newly minted chief executive attended the conference-workshop’s grand finale. President YarAdua who is primarily in New York to attend the United Nations’ General Assembly annual gathering here in New York gave an impassioned speech, extempore, with full grasps of all issues Nigerian. He addressed all of Nigeria’s current challenges and prospects.
He repeated his vision of Nigeria, a developed and advanced nation where national prosperity is shared by all citizens. He used the occasion to invite Nigerians, Americans and others to invest in Nigeria. He repeated his administration desire to ensure that everyone adhere to set rules.
Nigeria Meets the World conference initiated, engineered and choreographed by Chief Nduka Obaigbena and his ThisDay Newspapers. The events were jointly sponsored by Oceanic Bank, Diamond Bank, UBA etc. There was a general session in which panelists detailed their positions on Nigerian issues and thereafter, the events were broken into several sessions in sections. My favorite and apparently, everybody’s favorite section session, was “Fighting Corruption” in which the indomitable Mallam Nuhu Ribadu of the EFCC, the unruffled Mr. Justice Emmanuel Ayoola of the ICPC presented papers to standing ovations and endless thunderous applauses. They were joined by the very eloquent Dr. Oby Ezekwesili of the World Bank, as well as, Senator Victor Ndoma of our National Assembly.
On the matter of rules and President Yar’Adua’s administration continued insistence, adamant and repeated shrill-shouting of the importance of rule of law, due process and rule obedience, issues came to fore in some of the sections; and in particular, the “Fighting Corruption” seminar. There were notable and under stable criticism directed at Mr. Michael Andoakaa SAN, the attorney general of our federation for engaging in very public fights with heads of agencies of government, in particular, the EFCC.
The concerns expressed were particular strong, in view of the apparent appearance on the part of the attorney general’s public utterances and admonitions that tended to undermine, undercut and emasculate the EFCC. The attorney general’s comments had led some to wonder whether there were efforts, unexplained, to strangulate and stifle the EFFC’s vigorous pursuits of corrupt public officers, especially, ex-governors. The worry and complains of Nigerians were directed at the AG, as he seemed to have been sending conflicting messages regarding what Nigerians had assumed as a national resolve to tackle corruption and decimate or eliminate corruption from Nigeria. Nigerians at home and those of us in the Diaspora are insisting that there be no get-out-of-jail cards for corrupt ex-governor.
Ex-governors and some other former public officials have been engaging in desperate efforts to escape punishments and legal consequences of their looting and corruption, by obtaining frivolous and barely legal court orders. The former governor of Abia state, Mr. Orji Uzor Kalu was said to have obtained an exparte motion in order to truncate his schedule continued trial. Exparte motions and orders as such, are like orders to show cause, they are not necessarily definite or determinative, they are a precursor to further actions and more over, they are time sensitive embedded with expiration dates.
Hiding under these sorts of questionable or even spurious and frivolously issued exparte orders, while there is a subsisting federal court order, is what has led to the false cover and camouflage under which Mr. Kalu sought to escape punishment for 107 counts charge of corrupt enrichment. Mr. Kalu, has so far, “successfully” accused the EFFC of violating due process and the much touted rule of law!
The rule of law should not be used as a ruse, as a shield or as a cloak by those who are charged with heinous crimes against Nigerian people. It is just so painful to be watching from the sidelines, how corrupt ex-governors and other public officials are seeking to benefit from their impunity, twice. First, by looting unimpeded without regard to Nigerian laws which prohibits looting and corruption and second, by now seeking protection from our constitution and laws, for which they had not the slightest regard, in the first place!
In this regard, the current attorney general of the Nigerian federation, appears to be constituting himself to an obstacle, impediment and bane to fight against corruption in Nigeria.
Nigeria’s resolve to eradicate corruption should be unmistakable. There should be no succor or respite for those who plunder and pillage Nigeria of sorely needed resources for our national development. For our collective memory upgrade, the dearth of infrastructure in Nigeria is a consequence of corruption. A bad or impassable road is a result or outcome of budget diversion, money budgeted for good, new or repair of road are diverted to the personal use of corrupt officials. Hospitals are deprived of equipment? Ah yes! Money budgeted has been diverted. Epileptic power supply or no power supply at all, why? You guessed it, money budgeted has been diverted to some public official’s private use.
Crime and insecurity in the land? Money budgeted for crime fighting and for protection of lives and properties in Nigeria, is in the private pockets and bank accounts of Tafa Balogun the disgraced inspector general of police. It is against this background that the average Nigerians are tired and truly frustrated with these preachment of the rule of law and due process that is elitist and never extended to the more than 100,000 prisoners and detainees in Nigerian prisons and detention centers, detainees and prisoners, who have not stolen billions of Naira. Prisoners and detainees, clearly, Nigerians in prisons and detentions who have not had their day in court, who have not benefited from due process and rule of law mantras!
Meanwhile, audacious criminals, the looters, the plunderers and pillagers ex-governors, public officials in Nigeria, are able to hire tons of lawyers and tens of Senior Advocates and generate tomes of spurious defenses based tenuously, fine principles and tenets of law, such as, the rule law and due process! Talk of notorious criminals wrapping themselves with our constitution when it is time to pay for their desecration of the same constitution!
Teachable moments!
There were a great many Americans among the attendees of Nigeria Meets the world. The was Larry Summers, formerly of Harvard, and formerly a member of the President Clinton administration. There was Mr. Paul Begalia of CNN and formerly of the Clinton White House. Ambassador Carrington, formerly US ambassador to Nigeria. Those were the prominent Democrats present. Not to be outdone, the Republicans was represented by Dr. Henry Kissinger who is not known or remember for even one favorable policy towards Nigeria or Africa. Kissinger’s US foreign policy did not have Africa on its radar, the US in his time completely ignored Africa and or, actively undermined Nigeria and Africa.
And yet, Nigerians, some Nigerians seem to adore Dr. Kissinger and hold him in awe, adoration and appear to be completely enamored by this beefy old man. At this event on Monday, he talked generalities about Nigeria resources and potentials, aka oil energy.
He alluded to contests resources all through history which lead to incidents and will lead to more such dire incidents (I thought of slavery and colonization for raw materials for the powering of industrialization of America and Europe) and invasion, occupation and re-colonization in the future for oil energy for the continued industrialization and progress of, you guessed it, America and Europe.
As Kissinger engaged in these generalized ambiguities, the secretary to our federal government, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe diplomatically and eloquently stated Nigeria’s position and outlook. Chief Nduka Obaigbena asked pointed questions, including the issue of a so-called Africom or US African Command on the Gulf of Guinea where the US is said to be increasingly active militarily. A member of the audience, Mr. Max Gbanite also asked questions in line with Nduka. In the audience with me was Eric Ula-Lisa Esquire, the Bishop, Mr. Ade Animashaun aka MyHotBriain Mr. Mbonu all, regular commentators on Nigerian public policy issues at www.nigeriavillagesquare.com I also met and interacted with a former ThisDay journalist, Mr. Segun Adeniyi, who is now, Special Adviser to Nigerian president on media. I urged him to market Nigeria aggressively and often.
I take the view that President Obasanjo was not well served by his media handlers, as Obasanjo critics always were ahead of the game. They defined him and the issues. My hope is that President YarAdua’s handlers do not permit such scrambling, reactive and always being on the defensive, become a standard rule or mode of operation. I invited Mr. Segun Adeniyi to become an active participant with us at www.nigeriavillagesquare.com which he accepted, he told me he was braced for our critical appraisals which he takes inoffensively in good sportsmanlike manner, knowing full well, it for the soul of Nigeria.
Dr. Kissinger engaged once again in platitudes and generalities about Niger Delta and what Nigerian government ought to do about such internal matter about elections and democracy. He betrayed such ignorance, upon which Ambassador Kingibe exhibited and demonstrated his astute diplomatic skills. He promptly lectured Dr. Kissinger about where the Gulf of Guinea is on the world map and Kissinger scrambled and tried hard to wiggle out of the his major gaffe that he made as “the” dinner guest speaker. Ambassador Kingibe was gracious, diplomatic and polite even as he was pointedly precise about the ignorance and what Kissinger who does not know.
Kissinger is a man, who does not shy away from his reputation as a very conceited intellectual-diplomat. There is something we can perhaps learn from Dr. Kissinger, he was born in Germany, came to America, he saw and conquered. He is now an authority on American foreign policy and diplomacy, an icon; And yet, he conveniently extolled Germany in conspicuous mentions in his very short speech. This is a world where some Nigerians are too quick to deny their Nigerian origins.
Adolf Hitler is not an Hausa-Igbo-Yoruba man. Nazi is not a Kanuri-Ijaw or Esan word.
Nigerians must learn to take pride in Nigeria, advocate Nigeria’s worthy causes and take a cue from Mallam Nuhu Ribadu of the EFCC, who repeatedly and emphatically told the audience at the Fighting Corruption seminar, that he and the EFCC staff are so determined to serve and protect and preserve Nigeria’s national interests and that Nigeria is worth dying for. Nigerians, arise to serve Nigeria and protect Nigeria.
Written by Paul I. Adujie
Lawcareer2007@aol.com
New York, United States
Nigeria is virgin business destination with abundant and boundless opportunities for Nigerian and foreign investors alike. This was the central theme and message of an all day conference and seminar on Monday.
Chief Nduka Obaigbena the ThisDay journalistic marvel and business guru, presented Nigeria to the world in New York on Monday and it was wildly successful and over-subscribed event. Nduka, as his Nigerian and American friends simply called him all day, accomplished what he set out to do.
President YarAdua our newly minted chief executive attended the conference-workshop’s grand finale. President YarAdua who is primarily in New York to attend the United Nations’ General Assembly annual gathering here in New York gave an impassioned speech, extempore, with full grasps of all issues Nigerian. He addressed all of Nigeria’s current challenges and prospects.
He repeated his vision of Nigeria, a developed and advanced nation where national prosperity is shared by all citizens. He used the occasion to invite Nigerians, Americans and others to invest in Nigeria. He repeated his administration desire to ensure that everyone adhere to set rules.
Nigeria Meets the World conference initiated, engineered and choreographed by Chief Nduka Obaigbena and his ThisDay Newspapers. The events were jointly sponsored by Oceanic Bank, Diamond Bank, UBA etc. There was a general session in which panelists detailed their positions on Nigerian issues and thereafter, the events were broken into several sessions in sections. My favorite and apparently, everybody’s favorite section session, was “Fighting Corruption” in which the indomitable Mallam Nuhu Ribadu of the EFCC, the unruffled Mr. Justice Emmanuel Ayoola of the ICPC presented papers to standing ovations and endless thunderous applauses. They were joined by the very eloquent Dr. Oby Ezekwesili of the World Bank, as well as, Senator Victor Ndoma of our National Assembly.
On the matter of rules and President Yar’Adua’s administration continued insistence, adamant and repeated shrill-shouting of the importance of rule of law, due process and rule obedience, issues came to fore in some of the sections; and in particular, the “Fighting Corruption” seminar. There were notable and under stable criticism directed at Mr. Michael Andoakaa SAN, the attorney general of our federation for engaging in very public fights with heads of agencies of government, in particular, the EFCC.
The concerns expressed were particular strong, in view of the apparent appearance on the part of the attorney general’s public utterances and admonitions that tended to undermine, undercut and emasculate the EFCC. The attorney general’s comments had led some to wonder whether there were efforts, unexplained, to strangulate and stifle the EFFC’s vigorous pursuits of corrupt public officers, especially, ex-governors. The worry and complains of Nigerians were directed at the AG, as he seemed to have been sending conflicting messages regarding what Nigerians had assumed as a national resolve to tackle corruption and decimate or eliminate corruption from Nigeria. Nigerians at home and those of us in the Diaspora are insisting that there be no get-out-of-jail cards for corrupt ex-governor.
Ex-governors and some other former public officials have been engaging in desperate efforts to escape punishments and legal consequences of their looting and corruption, by obtaining frivolous and barely legal court orders. The former governor of Abia state, Mr. Orji Uzor Kalu was said to have obtained an exparte motion in order to truncate his schedule continued trial. Exparte motions and orders as such, are like orders to show cause, they are not necessarily definite or determinative, they are a precursor to further actions and more over, they are time sensitive embedded with expiration dates.
Hiding under these sorts of questionable or even spurious and frivolously issued exparte orders, while there is a subsisting federal court order, is what has led to the false cover and camouflage under which Mr. Kalu sought to escape punishment for 107 counts charge of corrupt enrichment. Mr. Kalu, has so far, “successfully” accused the EFFC of violating due process and the much touted rule of law!
The rule of law should not be used as a ruse, as a shield or as a cloak by those who are charged with heinous crimes against Nigerian people. It is just so painful to be watching from the sidelines, how corrupt ex-governors and other public officials are seeking to benefit from their impunity, twice. First, by looting unimpeded without regard to Nigerian laws which prohibits looting and corruption and second, by now seeking protection from our constitution and laws, for which they had not the slightest regard, in the first place!
In this regard, the current attorney general of the Nigerian federation, appears to be constituting himself to an obstacle, impediment and bane to fight against corruption in Nigeria.
Nigeria’s resolve to eradicate corruption should be unmistakable. There should be no succor or respite for those who plunder and pillage Nigeria of sorely needed resources for our national development. For our collective memory upgrade, the dearth of infrastructure in Nigeria is a consequence of corruption. A bad or impassable road is a result or outcome of budget diversion, money budgeted for good, new or repair of road are diverted to the personal use of corrupt officials. Hospitals are deprived of equipment? Ah yes! Money budgeted has been diverted. Epileptic power supply or no power supply at all, why? You guessed it, money budgeted has been diverted to some public official’s private use.
Crime and insecurity in the land? Money budgeted for crime fighting and for protection of lives and properties in Nigeria, is in the private pockets and bank accounts of Tafa Balogun the disgraced inspector general of police. It is against this background that the average Nigerians are tired and truly frustrated with these preachment of the rule of law and due process that is elitist and never extended to the more than 100,000 prisoners and detainees in Nigerian prisons and detention centers, detainees and prisoners, who have not stolen billions of Naira. Prisoners and detainees, clearly, Nigerians in prisons and detentions who have not had their day in court, who have not benefited from due process and rule of law mantras!
Meanwhile, audacious criminals, the looters, the plunderers and pillagers ex-governors, public officials in Nigeria, are able to hire tons of lawyers and tens of Senior Advocates and generate tomes of spurious defenses based tenuously, fine principles and tenets of law, such as, the rule law and due process! Talk of notorious criminals wrapping themselves with our constitution when it is time to pay for their desecration of the same constitution!
Teachable moments!
There were a great many Americans among the attendees of Nigeria Meets the world. The was Larry Summers, formerly of Harvard, and formerly a member of the President Clinton administration. There was Mr. Paul Begalia of CNN and formerly of the Clinton White House. Ambassador Carrington, formerly US ambassador to Nigeria. Those were the prominent Democrats present. Not to be outdone, the Republicans was represented by Dr. Henry Kissinger who is not known or remember for even one favorable policy towards Nigeria or Africa. Kissinger’s US foreign policy did not have Africa on its radar, the US in his time completely ignored Africa and or, actively undermined Nigeria and Africa.
And yet, Nigerians, some Nigerians seem to adore Dr. Kissinger and hold him in awe, adoration and appear to be completely enamored by this beefy old man. At this event on Monday, he talked generalities about Nigeria resources and potentials, aka oil energy.
He alluded to contests resources all through history which lead to incidents and will lead to more such dire incidents (I thought of slavery and colonization for raw materials for the powering of industrialization of America and Europe) and invasion, occupation and re-colonization in the future for oil energy for the continued industrialization and progress of, you guessed it, America and Europe.
As Kissinger engaged in these generalized ambiguities, the secretary to our federal government, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe diplomatically and eloquently stated Nigeria’s position and outlook. Chief Nduka Obaigbena asked pointed questions, including the issue of a so-called Africom or US African Command on the Gulf of Guinea where the US is said to be increasingly active militarily. A member of the audience, Mr. Max Gbanite also asked questions in line with Nduka. In the audience with me was Eric Ula-Lisa Esquire, the Bishop, Mr. Ade Animashaun aka MyHotBriain Mr. Mbonu all, regular commentators on Nigerian public policy issues at www.nigeriavillagesquare.com I also met and interacted with a former ThisDay journalist, Mr. Segun Adeniyi, who is now, Special Adviser to Nigerian president on media. I urged him to market Nigeria aggressively and often.
I take the view that President Obasanjo was not well served by his media handlers, as Obasanjo critics always were ahead of the game. They defined him and the issues. My hope is that President YarAdua’s handlers do not permit such scrambling, reactive and always being on the defensive, become a standard rule or mode of operation. I invited Mr. Segun Adeniyi to become an active participant with us at www.nigeriavillagesquare.com which he accepted, he told me he was braced for our critical appraisals which he takes inoffensively in good sportsmanlike manner, knowing full well, it for the soul of Nigeria.
Dr. Kissinger engaged once again in platitudes and generalities about Niger Delta and what Nigerian government ought to do about such internal matter about elections and democracy. He betrayed such ignorance, upon which Ambassador Kingibe exhibited and demonstrated his astute diplomatic skills. He promptly lectured Dr. Kissinger about where the Gulf of Guinea is on the world map and Kissinger scrambled and tried hard to wiggle out of the his major gaffe that he made as “the” dinner guest speaker. Ambassador Kingibe was gracious, diplomatic and polite even as he was pointedly precise about the ignorance and what Kissinger who does not know.
Kissinger is a man, who does not shy away from his reputation as a very conceited intellectual-diplomat. There is something we can perhaps learn from Dr. Kissinger, he was born in Germany, came to America, he saw and conquered. He is now an authority on American foreign policy and diplomacy, an icon; And yet, he conveniently extolled Germany in conspicuous mentions in his very short speech. This is a world where some Nigerians are too quick to deny their Nigerian origins.
Adolf Hitler is not an Hausa-Igbo-Yoruba man. Nazi is not a Kanuri-Ijaw or Esan word.
Nigerians must learn to take pride in Nigeria, advocate Nigeria’s worthy causes and take a cue from Mallam Nuhu Ribadu of the EFCC, who repeatedly and emphatically told the audience at the Fighting Corruption seminar, that he and the EFCC staff are so determined to serve and protect and preserve Nigeria’s national interests and that Nigeria is worth dying for. Nigerians, arise to serve Nigeria and protect Nigeria.
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