Yearly Archives: 2015

Another Christmas: James Ibori and the “Invisible Man”

Post author:Grimot Nane Zine
Post published:December 25, 2015
Post category:Corruption Elections Governance
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Reading time:4 mins read

Christmas is here! This time last year many politicians from Delta State were queuing up in London, England to see ex-Governor and Gubernatocrat, Chief James Onanefe Ibori. They were far away from home and the main reason they wanted to see “the Man” was to secure their political futures in the wake of the 2015 general elections and perhaps do other things for themselves. After all, Ibori is founder of the dominant Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) based Ibori Dynasty that rules Delta State even when he is in the slammer in a foreign land! One may wonder what this Christmas holds for the Ibori Dynasty. (more…)

The Blood of Nnamdi Kanu: Exit From Nigeria

Post author:Grimot Nane Zine
Post published:December 24, 2015
Post category:Governance Niger Delta Crisis
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Reading time:6 mins read

When we say the ‘blood of Nnamdi Kanu’, there is no intention to link it to the ‘blood of Jesus’ for that will be blasphemy and an unnecessary if not foolish comparison. However, the blood of Nnamdi Kanu is becoming more important every day in the future and stability of the state of Nigeria; his obtusely directed detention has made him the stuff of an unlikely hero to millions. He who spills Kanu’s blood shall bring great misfortune to himself and the nation of Nigeria; sooner or later. Dismiss the young man, Kanu, but can you dismiss the concerns and support his cause celebre status has had on Igbo and non-Igbo Nigerians? (more…)

Dasuki’s Warning to Buhari : Anti-Corruption Miss Road

Post author:Grimot Nane Zine
Post published:December 17, 2015
Post category:Corruption Governance
Post comments:1 Comment
Reading time:6 mins read

Col Sambo Dasuki has sent a strong warning to President Muhammad Buhari; and the encoded message is “back off! or we both will share the same prison cell”. The recent disclosure that President Buhari was given two jeeps and $300,000 by former National Security Adviser, Dasuki, as a gift from the presidency in the aftermath of the assassination attempt made on his life may be the tip of a ‘sweetened iceberg’. Dasuki may have a lot to reveal about President Buhari and members of his fellow APC if he is forced to but this revelation is a warning. Perhaps, the truth will have to be held hostage and anti-corruption shall become a ‘miss road’ matter. Or they all go down. (more…)

Show Us a Frivolous Corruption Petition!

Post author:Grimot Nane Zine
Post published:December 12, 2015
Post category:Corruption Elections Governance Social Relations
Post comments:1 Comment
Reading time:4 mins read

In the arena of corruption, especially at the grand level where billions of dollars are stolen as a rule of thumb, secrecy and cover-ups are two of the most dominant factors. Many of the world’s great scandals relating to corruption are found out by mistake or whistle-blowing. Once in a while trifling investigations into some minor malfeasance or routine crime ends up unexpectedly uncovering some case of grand corruption. A peripheral component of major corruption may seem frivolous by those who choose to see it so, but how about the main act? (more…)

Gagging Social Media with Democratic Decree: Nigeria

Post author:Grimot Nane Zine
Post published:December 9, 2015
Post category:Corruption
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Reading time:6 mins read

Ouch! The Nigerian Legislative Houses will through a least beneficial and developmentally obtuse act of legislation, the “Act to Prohibit Frivolous Petitions and Other Related Matters” bill, sponsored by Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah who decided that commentators on Nigerian politics and society will face a seven jail sentence or $25,000 / $10,000 fine for “abusive messages”. Nigeria’s military days may be here again but by democratic decree. The self-interest of those in power seeks to become unrestricted regardless of the constitution. Well, the people and their expressions do not count. (more…)

The Sambo Scandal & the “Owners of Nigeria”

Post author:Grimot Nane Zine
Post published:December 7, 2015
Post category:Corruption
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Reading time:7 mins read

The “Sambo Scandal” (concerning one Col Sambo Dasuki) is just another story when compared to the full scale of looting in Nigeria; it’s just ‘Hot Air’ and Hollywood. The Government of Nigeria (GON) since the military regime of Yakubu Gowon has squandered around $1 trillion on nothing but personal enrichment and the provision of mostly shoddy goods and services to Nigerians. Call it the “national cake” (that has no bakery) or the “pot of soup” (that has no kitchen), Nigeria’s wealth is on a daily basis being shared like cake and soup at parties for and by the “Owners of Nigeria Technostructure” (ONT) and at their very own imperturbable convenience. This situation is incredibly far beyond the stilted fanaticisms of All Progressives Congress (APC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) supporters. (more…)

Fuel Hoarding and Governance Failure

Post author:Grimot Nane Zine
Post published:November 30, 2015
Post category:Corruption Governance Niger Delta Crisis
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Reading time:5 mins read

The GON is getting very tough at the “tail end” of the oil sector by punishing retailers of petroleum fuel for “hoarding” like they have “weak oil bunkerers”. Meanwhile, the executive cabinet of GON is staffed by hoarders of billions of dollars’ (in cash and assets) of “oil wealth”. This is the latest showing of “no-nonsense anticorruption” at its most trifling in Nigeria. Yes, the landlord chasing rats in the living room while his house is fully on fire? This ‘catching the serpent by the tail’ solution is a dangerous staple approach adopted by the current GON. (more…)