They Shot, They Ruled, They Stole $408 (£225) Billion
Written by againstbabangida.com
Even by Nigeria's domestic figures, at least past rulers have stolen or misused $407 or £225 billion. And if President Olusegun Obasanjo's administration, which actively participates in the financial mess, can give such high numbers, we all can be sure the situation is far worse. That is as much as all the western aid given to Africa in almost four decades. The looting of Africa's most populous country amounted to a sum equivalent to 300 years of British aid for the continent.
It appears Nigerian soldiers are craving for their pastime, as the United States warned it would severe relations with Nigeria if the military staged any coup now. The US said current political problems were not enough to support the truncation of Nigeria's democracy under any guise.
Convinced that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would before the December 16 convention prune its long list of presidential aspirants, those who strongly believe that they could be shunted aside have started making frantic contingency efforts, particularly General Ibrahim Babangida.
It may appear too distant a comparison just yet, but the bombings in the past few days must concern all Nigerians as the 2007 elections draw near. Is Nigeria becoming politically unstable as Iraq, or are these just isolated instances of chaos?
“You are not my party member and as such, you don't expect me to support a successful completion of your tenure, not to talk of second tenure because there is no way I can work against my party candidate to favour your own mandate when you are not a member of my party.” - President Olusegun Obasanjo to Governor Peter Obi
