Prince Shadrach P Banigo Sr.

Omo-Ibani of Bonny

Economist

http:www.africannight.comm

IN A COUNTRY LIKE NIGERIA:

It was mid-day, one Saturday, when my telephone rang. Immediately, I recognized the voice of the caller, Mrs. Okoro. When I asked how the going? She struggled, and then said, “our long planned indigenous party has been suspended indefinitely. She called to check if African Night Entertainment would void the contract for the occasion. Immediately, I can feel Mrs. Okoro pain. Cancellation of such a community get-together event would be the last thing her group wanted.

In Africa, the threads of tribal claims, originality and social status that go beyond distance weave such a pain. It was not a surprise that Mrs. Okoro community felt humiliated when Senator Wabara (former Senate President) corrupt behaviors were made public.

Eventually, when it becomes difficult for the bragging right as in the article, “African Spirituality” the party seems to be over for this Nigeria ethnic group. Your neighbors watching.

In a country like Nigeria, all help is wanted in the search for effective leadership.

The actions of some prominent leaders demean what Nigerians are hoping for in term of leaderships.

The day after Ebitimi Banigo, former Federal Minister of Science and Technology and Chairman, Allstates Trust bank was arrested by EFCC, I received a Google alert. His world was fallen apart. He is now wondering if he will ever walk as a free man again as he get through the succession of joyless days he see lining the path ahead of him. Hey, bro. Banigo, its your life, your personality. Just allow yourself to feel and to express your feelings. Do not forget to forgive your self. In order word, accept your feelings.

Reading Ebitimi biography that was posted on-line, something appeared to be funny. There was no mention of the Ibani Kingdom in any part of his life. Then I asked my friend; is this guy a Banigo? Why did he claim to be a citizen of Bayelsa State? The Banigo’s domain is in the beautiful Island of Bonny, Rivers State. My friend suggested that he might have gotten a deadbeat dad from one of the undocumented Banigo. I quipped; the Banigos produce top quality dads. Maybe a little background check would have solved this problem. It could be that the Obasanjo government might have appointed a non-Nigerian to a cabinet post.

Ebitimi, you brought many of your current trouble on your self. You resorted to gang looting of your state treasury. You violated the good citizen ethic trusted in you when you helped channel resources for social services in Bayelsa state to oversea. Moreover, you suppressed evidence by claiming to be one of the Banigo. By this finding, I have asked the University of Port Harcourt to cease recognizing you as an honoring doctor of letter. My next stop is Harvard. They need to strip this guy of any recognition he may have received because he may be a living 419.

Many Nigerians do not understand why their trusted leaders end up in unacceptable behaviors. The effects of such embarrassment have left too many souls with no answer.

These crooks unspeakable actions bring humiliations to Nigerians at home and abroad. We all know an appropriate leadership will do better than the gang of People Democratic Party (PDP) thieves in government today.

Some sloppy argument why these few lucky dogs ate the fattest bones makes no news. What Nigerians need to know is the arithmetic of frauds that landed these dogs the fattest bones. How do they get away with so much money in a country where many citizens still lacks one complete meal per day? How do they do it? It is unthinkable as the spin off from their looting continues to cripple the nation economy. The time is now to stop such a communal way of life that is inappropriate for advancement. Nigerians need to stop showering these criminals with compassion.

Unfortunately for Nigerians, the inability of the government to market their actions to the public is dividing the country. These criminals are claiming tribal prosecution that goes a long way to underscore the need for public office accountability. They are methodically transferring their misgivings for their own actions and choices to other in their community by invoking the tribal line. Such claims bred the feelings of resentment, sadness, and inadequacy in Nigeria. Invariably, their shame became their community strength.

We do not pray for another war in Nigeria. As a prisoner of war, I witnessed some of the most ugly side of human destruction. Why the Ibos wanted non-indigenes to defend their Ibo land is still a mystery. Yeah, non-Ibo fighters were the lifeblood of the so-called Biafra nation because the Ibo men and women were hiding under their mama’s beds, quote me direct. My cousin was Chief of rebel Air Force. He later dumped them for good.

It was the only the to teach the rebels the full meaning of “actualization”.

Now that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have set a goal, they must develop a plan to reach it, and stay focused otherwise; the whole drama will look like a “white wall tomb”. In their defense, I will say, despite some serious setbacks, no amount of tribal hates will stop them. Government is check and balance. As patience and discipline bond, Nigerians will wait for deliverance as they continue to search for competent leadership. Now, more than ever, they are ready to elect true public servants.

My experience of tribal society, Nigerians will tolerate bad economic down side, but the idea of indirect politics targeted to specific geographical zone infuriates citizens. I call on the EFCC to reach out to the public with better information about their functions. I see nothing tribal in the EFCC program. The only problem facing their selective procedures in discharging their functions is dealing with crooks that claims to be in the Vice president camp.

These criminals and their supporters need to be crying for the erosions of public trust in their leadership. Again, the question of effective leadership of the Obasanjo regime has not been answer. With each passing day, comes smears campaign. Is the PDP a political party or a gang of criminals assembled to loot the national treasury? If they have carry out their respective duties accordingly, Nigeria would have channeled the EFCC resource toward education, or maybe, some type of infrastructures to boost her economy.

We must be very vocal and courteous in this matter. I feel it is fair for the EFCC to pursue their goal as it did remind future public servants on ethic and accountability.

Perhaps, the benefit now is the international results. According to information available, the Nigeria anti-corruption war gives Nigerians a new face globally. In the end, Nigerians are been forced to withdraw their job applications instead of submitting them. No matter their educational background, they are like “industrial reject” in the job markets.

We cannot speak of quality leadership without discipline. What part of the constitutional duties of their offices does these PDP stewards does not understand?

Feeling shame for the fallout and embarrassed by the magnitude of the coverage in the media; they manufactured the vice president conspiracy theory. Rather than serve their mandate, they are invoking tribal hates now than ever to carry on in their respective tribes.

It hurt and the agony is very visible worldwide. We are all embarrassed by their actions. Public services are commitment to strict standards of business conducts. I agree with the claim that the fish-out may be political motivated. However, I do no agree with the claim that it was a conspiracy to undermine the affected individual’s shot to the presidency. To begin with, these individuals have no presidential quality in them.

Nigerians must not forget that these looters of public funds failed to obey the laws of Nigeria as public servants and were dishonest in the discharge of their duties. Rather than capitalize on the chance to eradicate the suffering of their people by participating in policy, which affects then, instead, what they bring to their people was countless loose ends. Their supporters should do the translation.

Nothing wrong in exploring the minds as to what behind the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission motives. In checking the conspiracy claim, I am not saying that these are no political materials but again, most Nigerians found themselves now than ever in an unusual circumstance dealing with situations beyond their control.

I am proud of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission result, and agree with the methodical approach that focused mainly on the criminals and their associates. Each humiliation lead to a strong warning to future public servants.

I find it very difficult to relate the EFCC results to political retaliations. My decision is base on the facts that Nigerians always tried to share community humiliation because it does not matter who does this or that due to the collective responsibility of each tribe.

Hence, characters like Ex Governor of Bayelsa State, former Senate President, former Chairman of Allstates bank, former Inspector General of Police, Mr. Tafa Balogun, former Minister of Education, Professor Fabian Osuji, etc are still considered to be heroes in the face of humiliation and embarrassment. Immediately after their charges, a picture of martyrdom was created in their respective tribe while the communal respect for the Nigeria leaderships vanished. It’s even more complicated as only very few Nigerians see these criminals as robbers who looted the national treasury that was unfair to the people of their tribe in particular and Nigeria in general.

They are martyrs because of their leadership’s roles. They claimed to be fighting for the common people against giant central government. Yeah, like the stacking of real community dollars in their house. It’s like litmus and is pushing separatist psychologically against the values Nigerians cherish. At the same time, innocent citizens are routinely stalked, harassed, and intimidated as they try to stay away from the country’s fanatic’s leaderships who deployed the Army indiscriminately to suppress civil non-violent protest.

Although the action of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission may have angered the majority of the affected tribes, but their tolerance is long over due with those who robbed the national treasury.

Moreover, as the people’s eyes and ears, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission may be fighting to preserve for the future generations, a country free of dishonest public servants. Today, Nigerians is charm from the Ibo beach in Haiti to Ijebu Ibo in Ogun State due to the EFCC effort. Good citizens cannot fail to see changes in the New World order. Shouldn’t public servants be taught about their oats of office?

We must stop them from using public resources to host a stadium size wedding reception. An indirect use of public goods is fraud.

These criminals in government should acknowledge the fact that their action was in bad faith. Their evil-minded actions have presented a problem for their respective tribe in particular and humanity in general. Think about how the Ibos stopped all block parties on the eve of Senator Wabara (former Senate President) scandal. A friend was thinking about the relocation cost. It hurt. It turnout the relocation was just for the shame of it.

The feeling was even sad as the Ijaw pride disappeared. Their governor-general and 419 banker are under arrest in Nigeria.

Problem: How do we justify behaviors, which actually are inversely related to public trust. To be assigned a custodian of public function, you must serve. Nigeria economy remains troubled. The failure to reach an agreement on resource control denied citizens of the Niger Delta region the stability to enjoy equal political, economic and social rights.

Safety Concerns:

Recently, the Nigerian Police threw tear gas on mothers grieving the lost of life during the Sosoliso Airline crash. What part of the statement by Bola Belgore, “we are concerned mothers of Nigeria” does these Police Officers not understood? Through carelessness by the airline regulator, Nigeria mothers have lost a good number of their children. They rally in solidarity because they believe the crash was avoidable. Give peace a chance and fix the damn airline business. Could you imagine how a thirty –three years old car would operate? Nigeria let thirty-two year old airbus fly it space as a human carrier. A very big mess. I lost a cousin . May peace be upon them.

May Nigerians celebrate new beginning in 2006?

Monday, December 19, 2005

Prince Shadrach Banigo Sr.

Economist

Info@africannight.com

U.S.A.