OF NIGERIAN PASTORS AND PRIVATE JETS

 

The news media and the social internet sites like Facebook, Twitter and several Nigeria online portals have been abuzz since Saturday, 10^th November, 2012, after reports that Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), had joined the rarefied ranks of Nigerian Pastors who owned private jets. It was Pastor Ayo’s Birthday and he was also celebrating his 40^th Anniversary as an Ordained Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. So, some wealthy members of the Church where he serves as the Senior Pastor, Word of Life Bible Church, Warri, contributed money and bought an airplane as a gift for him. The President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, was among the several local and international dignitaries who were in Warri to rejoice with Pastor Ayo on the august occasion.

Expectedly, criticisms have trailed the development. Pastor-bashing is now common-place in Nigeria, and especially on social media like Facebook, even by some who claim to be "Christians" but have no understanding whatsoever of the Bible and have no respect for spiritual authority.

Not unexpectedly, even the latter-day “social critic”, good governance “crusader” and President Jonathan-basher, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, joined the band-wagon not wanting to miss an opportunity to politicise the matter. He tweeted "@afo4u: @elrufai And the church members are wallowing in abject poverty"...irony of life, but it is CAN, PDP branch...so anything is possible.

And, in response to El Rufai’s malicious tweet which went viral on the internet, some have even alleged that it was the Presidency that actually bought the private jet for Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor!!

The statement by Nasir El Rufai, a chieftain of the Congress of Progressive Change, who has been critical of the Joint Task Force for its response to Boko Haram activities in the north, underscores the manifest mischief of some who have been attacking Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor using the airplane gift as their excuse.

This is not surprising. Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor’s election as the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria in 2010 was historic. It was the first time that someone from the Pentecostal fold would become the President of CAN. His emergence as CAN's leader also happened at a time when the terrorist jihadist group, Boko Haram, began escalating its murderous activities in the northern part of Nigeria. And in January, 2011, just months after Pastor Ayo's elevation as CAN's President, the Central Bank of Nigeria under the leadership of its Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, introduced its Malaysia-style Islamic Banking which Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja, recently declared to be unconstitutional and illegal. It became incumbent on Pastor Ayo to articulate and voice out the stance of the Nigerian Church on these two issues. And his passion and conviction in dealing with these issues have come to define public perception about him.

For many Christians, particularly in northern Nigeria, Pastor Ayo's leadership of CAN could not have been more timely. Not one to be intimidated into silence, Pastor Ayo's forceful statements on national issues cannot be ignored. For those who would have preferred him to be subservient and kow-tow to the reactionary elements who, though not even of the Christian faith, had successfully influenced the actions of some of the past leaders of CAN, Pastor Ayo was soon accused of "heating up the polity" even when it was clear to all that he was merely responding to the actions of those who were actually causing division, strife and the death of thousands of innocent and hapless Nigerians. For a man known for his utmost commitment to God and the establishment of His Kingdom, hypocritical posturing and pandering to the gallery for photo opportunities to be hailed as a politically correct "pacifist" while thousands of his Christian brothers and sisters are plunged into utter misery and rendered widows, widowers or orphans was not an option. Loquacious Mallam Nasir El Rufai merely gave voice to his constituents who have been frustrated by Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor’s uncompromising and principled stance on the on-going war against the Church and Christians in Nigeria!

As far as I know, the Nigerian Pastors that currently have private jets are Bishop David Oyedepo, Pastor Adejare Adeboye, Pastor Chris Oyakhilomen and, of course, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor who was given one just last Saturday by members of his congregation as he celebrated 40 years of ministry.

These men have to travel very frequently around the world ministering. Redeemed Christian Church of God has thousands of branches and millions of members on all continents of the world. Winners' Chapel and Christ Embassy equally have many international branches and hundreds of thousands of members. Pastor Adeboye, Bishop Oyedepo and Pastor Oyakhilomen travel thousands of kilometres monthly doing God's work and have to be in places not well-served by commercial flights. On his part, Pastor Oritsejafor travels every other day within and outside Nigeria as the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria. tI do not worship in Pastor Ayo's Church, but I know him personally and can confirm that he hardly spends a full week at home in Warri because of his very busy ministry itinerary. So, for logistic reasons, having private airplanes is actually a NECESSITY for these men of God. The private jets are imperative if they are to do the work God has committed into their hands effectively and efficiently. This is not just about luxury or status.

The Pope rarely travels more than thrice internationally in a year. Yet the Pope has a private jet. Why has nobody complained about that?!

Very few know about the social and philanthropic work which these men of God, and thousands of others, are doing. In reality, the Church is doing more than any government, international agency or Non-Governmental Organisation to fight poverty, illiteracy and diseases in Nigeria today. The Church in Nigeria is much more effective than the government at all levels! It is not just in the habit of Churches and Christian Ministers to be boasting about their poverty-alleviation programmes and charity works like companies and many non-faith based NGOs love to do for public commendation and approval. They leave God, the Rewarder, to judge what they do in the "closet" and reward their good works both here on earth and in the hereafter.

That there are some Pastors who are fleecing the sheep and whose god is their bellies, does not mean all wealthy Pastors are scammers. Many of them are entrepreneurial and do not even get remuneration from their Churches. In fact, they are often the biggest donors/givers in their Church.

Prosperity is scriptural. The worship of Mammon (money) is not. Let us not be like those "Christians" of whom Kenneth Hagin Sr. wrote in one of his books that they prayed: "Lord, please keep our Pastor humble. We will keep him poor"!

 

What was Jesus’ experience with matters like this? Let’s see John 12:1-16:

1. Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.
2. Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honour. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him.
3. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
4. But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected,
5. "Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages."
6. He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
7. "Leave her alone," Jesus replied. "It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.
8. You will always have the poor among you but you will not always have me."
9. Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.
10. So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well,
11. for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.
12. The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem.
13. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the king of Israel!"
14. Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written:
15. "Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt."
16. At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him.

If Jesus were alive today and a Nigerian, religiously-minded "Christians" would abuse and condemn him for not agreeing to Judas Iscariot's suggestion that the expensive perfume be sold and "given to the poor". Some people like to point to the fact that Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem. But, they conveniently ignore the verses in the same chapter of the Bible (John 12 above) where we are told Mary poured perfume worth ONE YEAR'S WAGE. That is ABOUT N216,000 TODAY if we use the minimum wage of N18,000 per month!! Designer perfumes sell for no more than N20,000 for a 100ml bottle of a high-end eau de parfum!!

The point is: "MODERATION" IS SUBJECTIVE! For example, if a person has a net-worth of say N1Billion, why would you begrudge him for having a car that costs even N50Million? Or why complain if he owns an airplane that costs $5million if he thinks his business and lifestyle demand that he owns a jet? And who says that means he cannot or does not give generously to the poor?

What then would be said about very wealthy people in the Bible whom God blessed exceedingly like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, David, and Solomon, for example? And they were men of God: Prophets and Teachers. David wrote a lot of Psalms and Solomon wrote much contained in the book of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. Solomon was so lavish in his lifestyle that the Queen of Sheba heard of his opulence and travelled all the way to Israel to see for herself.

1st Kings 10:

1. When the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon and his relationship to the Lord, she came to test Solomon with hard questions.

2.  Arriving at Jerusalem with a very great caravan—with camels carrying spices, large quantities of gold, and precious stones—she came to Solomon and talked with him about all that she had on her mind.
3. Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too hard for the king to explain to her.
4. When the queen of Sheba saw all the wisdom of Solomon and the palace he had built,

5. the food on his table, the seating of his officials, the attending servants in their robes, his cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he made at the temple of the Lord, she was overwhelmed
6. She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true.

7. But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half was told me; in wisdom and wealth you have far exceeded the report I heard.
8. How happy your people must be! How happy your officials, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom!
9. Praise be to the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the Lord’s eternal love for Israel, he has made you king to maintain justice and righteousness.”
10. And she gave the king 120 talents of gold, large quantities of spices, and precious stones. Never again were so many spices brought in as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.
11. (Hiram’s ships brought gold from Ophir; and from there they brought great cargoes of almugwood and precious stones.
12. The king used the almugwood to make supports for the temple of the Lord and for the royal palace, and to make harps and lyres for the musicians. So much almugwood has never been imported or seen since that day.)
13. King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired and asked for, besides what he had given her out of his royal bounty. Then she left and returned with her retinue to her own country.
14. The weight of the gold that Solomon received yearly was 666 talents,
15. not including the revenues from merchants and traders and from all the Arabian kings and the governors of the territories.
16. King Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold; six hundred shekels[ of gold went into each shield. 17 He also made three hundred small shields of hammered gold, with three minas[g] of gold in each shield. The king put them in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon.
18. Then the king made a great throne covered with ivory and overlaid with fine gold.
19. The throne had six steps, and its back had a rounded top. On both sides of the seat were armrests, with a lion standing beside each of them.
20. Twelve lions stood on the six steps, one at either end of each step. Nothing like it had ever been made for any other kingdom.
21. All King Solomon’s goblets were gold, and all the household articles in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. Nothing was made of silver, because silver was considered of little value in Solomon’s days.
22. The king had a fleet of trading ships[h] at sea along with the ships of Hiram. Once every three years it returned, carrying gold, silver and ivory, and apes and baboons.
23. King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth.
24. The whole world sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart.
25. Year after year, everyone who came brought a gift—articles of silver and gold, robes, weapons and spices, and horses and mules.
26. Solomon accumulated chariots and horses; he had fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand horses, which he kept in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem.
27. The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as plentiful as sycamore-fig trees in the foothills.
28. Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and from Ku—the royal merchants purchased them from Kue at the current price.
29. They imported a chariot from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty. They also exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and of the Arameans.

 

So, how does one explain King Solomon's immense wealth (which God Himself gave to him) and his obscenely opulent and exotic lifestyle? In fact, Jesus even endorsed King Solomon when He said "A greater than Solomon is here" in reference to Himself. And, today, those of us who are truly Christ’s can even exceed Solomon's wealth IF we would be Kingdom-focused and walk with God in complete obedience and holiness. Personally, I am looking forward to being a Billionaire and being used by God to advance the Gospel of Christ in these Last Days. Like God said in Zechariah 1:17, it is BY PROSPERITY that His cities (His Kingdom) shall be spread abroad.

Here is what someone wrote about King Solomon's wealth in a piece titled “King Solomon’s Wealth More Than Mr. Gates?” (http://www.solomonsuccess.com/king-solomons-wealth-more-than-mr-gates/):

“Everyone knows King Solomon’s wealth surpassed anything the ancient world had seen but was he richer than the world’s current richest man, Microsoft founder Bill Gates? Right now, Gates net worth is estimated at around $40 billion. To his credit, he’s signed a pledge to give half of it away and is at the forefront of a worldwide effort to eradicate AIDS and distribute computers to Third World countries. That aside, let’s take a hypothetical look at the numbers between the two men.

The New International Version of the Bible mentions King Solomon’s yearly salary at 666 talents of gold per year. One talent of gold equals 34.5 kg, which converts to 1109 troy ounces. A ballpark current value of gold is $960 per ounce. Multiply that out and the King’s salary was about $760 million per year. Not bad. Not bad at all. Multiply that by the 40 years he was in power and you end up with a figure of slightly over $30 billion. That’s just salary!

But King Solomon’s wealth would not be complete without accounting for the other property and assets he owned. Horses, land, etc. Plus, we’re figuring that if he was investing by Biblical principles and had God’s voice in his ear, his return on investment would have been a healthy one. Just taking a wild guess, it seems like the King could have been the owner of a net worth that could easily have translated into $100 billion today.

While we’re pretty sure he got no royalties for having authored parts of the Bible, and he did have 700 wives under his care, which surely must have been a serious drain on his budget, but the guy was doing alright, even by today’s standards”.

Let us honour our men of God who are celebrated world-wide. If there is any veritable case of fraud or embezzlement against any clergy-man, let the law take its course. To generalise that all wealthy Pastors are thieves and assume that they must be exploiting their Church members is twisted, unjust and wicked.

GOD BLESS NIGERIA!

 

 

Eghes Eyieyien

ale leaders are particularly highly vulnerable to this situation because of the lure of power and influence for some women.

Be on your guard; that relationship with someone who is not your spouse and which is increasingly become intimate may appear harmless and you say you "trust yourself" that you can control your emotions. But it is a slippery slope that you can't afford to travel on. Your marriage is worth defending despite the challenges which may be tempting you to seek comfort and support outside your marriage.

Below is the link to an interesting article on the subject:

http://www.businessinsider.com/hanging-out-with-attractive-member-of-desired-sex-is-asking-for-trouble-2012-11

 

 

 

 

 

THE MODALITIES AND LOGISTICS FOR A SOVEREIGN NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN NIGERIA

The Sovereign National Conference (SNC) is not a cure-all panacea. It is a beginning. It will bring all ethnic nationalities to the discussion table where a no-holds barred discussion of the terms of our union will be (re)negotiated.

Below are my proposed modalities and logistics to give effect to the SNC in practical terms:

A. Legality/Constitutionality:

- The Presidency will send an Executive Bill to convole the SNC to the National Assembly.
- The National Assembly will pass the Sovereign National Assembly Convocation and Related Matters Act.
- All the decisions of the SNC will be subject to ratification by a national referendum through a collegiate voting system so that the larger tribes will not subvert the wishes of the smaller tribes.
- The Referendum will be conducted by INEC and subject to Local and International Observers' participation.
- The ratified decisions will form the basis of a new and true Constitution of the Peoples of Nigeria.
- Any ethnic nationality that chooses to opt out of Nigeria will be permitted to do so peacefully.

B. Selection/Election of Representatives at the SNC:
- Representation shall be only from Ethnic Nationalities: 10 persons per ethnic national no matter its official population figure. The tribe shall select or elect its representatives freely as it deems fit but with clear proof of acceptance by majority members of the tribe.
- No card-carrying member of political parties shall participate in the SNC.
- There shall be no appointees of government.
- The Chairman of the SNC shall be a retired Chief Justice of Nigeria while the Deputy Chairman shall be a retired Justice of the Supreme Court. They shall be male and female. They shall have no voting right. They are merely moderators.
- The Secretariat of the SNC shall be the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly.

C. Funding:
- The Federal Government shall fund the SNC as provided for by the SNC Convocation Act.
- Each Representative at the SNC will receive only a refund of travel costs and provided accommodation allowance of N60,000 per day which is more than sufficient for a Four-star Hotel in Abuja.
- A Sitting Honorarium of N250,000 flat shall be paid to each Representative for the entire duration of the SNC.

D. Duration:
The SNC shall convene for a three month period.

E. Transparency and Integrity of the SNC:
- To ensure the integrity of the SNC, all Representatives shall declare their assets and the Assets Declaration Form shall be published on the SNC website. The Assets Declaration Form shall be notarized and the bank accounts declared shall be attested to by the bankers of the Representative.
- The Chairman, Deputy Chairman and Secretary of the SNC shall similarly declare their assets as if they were Representatives.
- All issues for deliberation at the SNC shall be discussed publicly at plenary sessions of all the Representatives. There shall be no committees.
- A consensus need not be achieved on the issues discussed.
- All issues shall ve the subject of the national referendum.
- All sessions of the SNC shall be televised live by NTA Network using a new broadcast channel created specially for that purpose. All sessions shall be streamed live via the internet. Past sessions shall be archived and made accessible via the SNC website.
- The decisions of the SNC which are ratified by the National Referendum shall be final.
- The National Assembly shall adopt the ratified SNC decisions as law by incorporating into the New Constitution. The New Constitution shall NOT be subject to consent by State Houses of Assembly or assent by the President. This would be made clear as part of the SNC Convocation Act.

An SNC is feasible and imperative.

But most members of the political class (despite religion, section or tribe and including many in the opposition who love to mouth "Sovereign National Conference") are really satisfied with the status quo. They are deluded thinking that Nigeria's problems are not really fundamental and that palliatives will stop the agitation of various groups in the country.

A restructured Nigeria based on the outcome of an SNC would take away the gravy tray from the political elite. Sadly, most human beings do not change because they see the light but because they feel the heat. May that heat not be cataclysmic!

GOD BLESS NIGERIA!


Eghes Eyieyien,
Lagos.

FOR A SOVEREIGN NATIONAL CONFERENCE

I was against a Sovereign National Conference (SNC) because I felt the National Assembly has legitimacy and could amend the Constitution to effect the fundamental changes we require without recourse to an extra-legislative SNC. I have changed my mind. I was wrong. With the activities of Boko Haram and the prevailing tension in our country, I realise now that true prosperity, enduring peace, unity, justice and equity will continue to elude Nigeria until the terms of Nigeria's nationhood are discussed openly, freely and duly renegotiated by the federating nationalities.

Firstly, the membership of NASS is presently unduly skewed to the north-west geo-political zone based on the false population census figures of the last 60 years so other zones are not fairly represented in NASS.

Secondly, most of the present members of NASS have proved to be no different from their greedy and corrupt predecessors and so cannot be trusted to deal with controversial issues such as true fiscal federalism, resource control based on derivation, a unicameral legislature etc. without compromising because of filthy lucre.

Consequently, I now identify myself with the call for a Sovereign National Conference. I still believe in Nigeria. Our existence as a country was God's sovereign act not Lord Lugard's idea. However, we can only build a nation where truth, justice, equity and prosperity reign if we are courageous enough to convene an SNC and assure our children's future is not futher jeopardised as citizens of Nigeria. As we celebrate our 52nd Independence Anniversary, the time is ripe to emplace the constitutional machinery to duly give effect to a Sovereign National Conference.

God bless Nigeria!

PRESIDENT JONATHAN SHOULD SACK SANUSI NOW!

...

"Sanusi behaved as if he was the de facto President of Nigeria. He had cashed in on the weakness of the Jonathan administration to run his own parallel government...It is strange how a man of such sartorial tastes ended up in banking and not showbiz...The profession he chose [is] not for vainglorious and adventurous rabble-rousers." ~ Bashorun Dele Momodu



After reading Dele Momodu's article which he aptly titled " The Bully Called Sanusi" published in his back page column in the Saturday, 22nd September, 2012, edition of Thisday newspaper, the urgency to sack Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the CBN Governor dawned on me.

Sanusi has outlived his usefulness in that hallowed office! His arrogance, infantile flippancy, ineptitude and incompetence should no longer be countenanced. Why he has stayed in office this long despite his folly and foibles is a mystery.

Nigeria needs a new CBN Governor like YESTERDAY! My recommendation for the position is Mr. Ballama Manu. He was the Executive Director, Operations, NDIC; former, Executive Director, Union Bank; former Chairman of Federal Inland Revenue Service; and former Interim Chairman of the Nigeria Stock Exchange. He would make a great CBN Governor. By the way, he is from Yobe State and a Muslim. If the CBN Governor must be a northern Muslim, there are of course very many others who are imminently qualified: a person like Alh. Ado Wanka (MD of Unity Bank) and Mohammed K. Ahmad (Director General of the Pension Commission) readily come to mind.

But this is not even about section or religion. I am a NON-TRIBALISED (as distinct from "de-tribalised"!) Nigerian. My marriage, close friends, business associates and employees bear testimony to this fact.

Sanusi is an Old Boy of my alma mater (King's College, Lagos) and I used to be his fan. I supported his appointment as the CBN Governor and also spoke publicly in favour his controversial removal of the eight bank MDs. I was on Channels TV's live programme, Sunrise (with Chamberlain Usoh and Suleiman Aledeh as hosts), pushing his suitability for the post the day he appeared before the Senate for his confirmation hearing. I was also on Channels TV's live programme, Business Morning (with Boason Omofaye as the presenter at the time) defending his take-over of the eight banks and the sack of their MDs.

So what happened? Sanusi's imposition of his wrong-headed, illegal, unconstitutional, Malaysia-style Islamic Banking policy exposed him as an Islamist. I subsequently also became aware of his inglorious role in the infamous Kano religious riot which culminated in the beheading of Gideon Akaluka in 1996 and for which he was incarcerated for two years in Sokoto Prison by the government of Gen. Sani Abacha. This vital factual information is, understandable not disclosed in any of his profiles. The Senate was misled by late President Umaru Yar'adua (who ensured that this information was not highlighted in his Security Report) to confirm him as the CBN Governor. I have challenged Sanusi publicly to come clean on this issue or sue me if I have maligned him!

Moreover, his incompetence, profligacy (he now wants CBN to be sponsoring the Super Eagles!! LOL!!) and inane monetary policies have damaged the financial services sector and badly affected our nation's economy.

President Goodluck Jonathan should sack this guy before he does even more damage! It has now reached a crisis point. And the time to act is NOW!!

God bless Nigeria!

ILLEGAL ISLAMIC BANKING AND THE USURPATION OF THE NIGERIAN LEGISLATURE

“There are no provisions in the CBN Act and the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act that empower the CBN Governor to issue a licence for non-interest financial institution to operate under the principles of Islamic jurisprudence without the approval of the Head of State through the Minister of Finance. Unlike the other specialised bank, the Jaiz International Bank Plc can only be established in the country with the intervention of the National Assembly by amending the BOFI Act. This case is hereby struck out for lack of locus standi, but the AGF should take steps to remedy the situation, and further ensure that the CBN carries out its duties within the provisions of the law establishing it”.

........Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Finally, there has been a pronouncement on the vexed issue of the illegal introduction of Islamic Banking in Nigeria by the Sanusi Lamido Sanusi led Central Bank of Nigeria without recourse to the National Assembly to amend the Banks and Other Institutions Act in order to accommodate it. Punch newspaper reported that Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja, made the ruling quoted above on Friday, 15^th June, 2012, while giving judgment in the case instituted by Godwin Ogboji against the licence issued to the Jaiz International Bank Plc to carry out Islamic banking in the country. The suit was, however, struck out on the grounds that the plaintiff lacked the locus standi to institute it. However, Justice Kolawole noted that had the plaintiff not lacked the locus standi to initiate the action, he would have nullified the licence issued to the Islamic bank. He called on the Attorney General of the Federation to remedy the situation and ensure that the CBN complies with the law. The story is available online at this link: http://www.punchng.com/news/sanusi-lacks-power-to-establish-islamic-bank-court/

But the issue of the locus standi of the plaintiff is somewhat curious and is bound to generate controversy. Can a bona fide Nigerian citizen not sue an agency of the Nigerian government for actions which would undermine his human and constitutional rights? Or even actions that are blatantly illegal merely because he or she is a citizen concerned about upholding the rule of law? If the Attorney General of the Federation is conflicted because of religious, social, political or even economic reasons and chooses not to act in this particular instance as recommended by Justice Kolawole, what remedy is open to the ordinary Nigerian to ensure that the Central Bank of Nigeria complies with the provisions of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) with regard to Islamic Banking?

I am concerned that, while the judgment of Justice Kolawole is well-intentioned, it is in reality superfluous and unenforceable. The Central Bank Governor had called the bluff of opponents by asking them to “go to court” probably thinking that nobody would do so. The issue of contention had been the manner in which he introduced Malaysia-style Islamic Banking contrary to the provisions of BOFIA which actually already stipulates Profit and Loss Sharing Banking as the form of non-interest banking to be practised in Nigeria. Unlike his predecessors, some of whom were committed Muslims, Sanusi has demonstrated his inability to extricate himself from his Islamic fundamentalism and conduct the affairs of his office without prejudice to the rights and sensibilities Nigerians of other faiths. I expect that the CBN would hurriedly file an appeal against Justice Kolawole’s ruling even though he struck out the suit. To most Nigerians, despite his populist and “radical” posturing, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi’s Islamist agenda is no longer in doubt.

But even more worrying is the fact that the Seventh National Assembly may still be unable or unwilling to act on the issue of Islamic Banking in order to stop its usurpation by the CBN which has abused its regulatory powers in a manner that is tantamount to legislation as regards this issue. Not a few Nigerians were embarrassed and disappointed when in July, 2011, the National Assembly summoned the CBN Governor to appear before it to clarify the Bank’s position on Islamic Banking and the Cashless Policy only for the Deputy Speaker of the House (Emeka Ihedioha), who stood in for the Speaker (Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal) who was conveniently absent, to prevent the members of the House who had questions for the Governor from speaking. The highpoint of the charade was when some members gave a standing ovation to Sanusi! It is indeed ironic that the same House of  Representatives is about to amend the CBN Act so as to curtail the Governor’s powers simply because its members were incensed by the refusal of Sanusi to submit the CBN’s Budget to it.

The greatest challenge to our fledgling democracy today is impunity. The certainty that there would be no consequences for illegal activities is the bane of our nation. Corruption thrives because of impunity. Government officials at all levels are inept because of impunity. Our people remain impoverished because of the impunity of our Kleptocrats. The Rule of Law is nothing but a mere politically correct slogan mouthed by our “leaders”.

The National Assembly must wake up to its responsibilities and ensure that laws are obeyed especially by government agencies and public servants. It must no longer tolerate the usurpation of its legislative functions by inordinately ambitious public servants like Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

Five Quick-Win Issues for President Goodluck Jonathan's Attention

Most of my friends and acquitances know how I vigorously campaigned for Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to be elected Nigeria's President last year. I believed he was the best choice of the three leading candidates. I still do. While I am disappointed with his performance thus far, I believe he could still make a transformational difference in the next three years of his tenure.

Here are my thoughts on Five Quick-Win issues for GEJ's attention so as to save his Presidency from growing public odium:

1. Immediately arrest and prosecute the sponsors and financiers of Boko Haram in the PDP who are already known to the intelligence agencies as his National Security Adviser hinted publicly some weeks back in Asaba.

2. Affirm his decision not to seek a second term as President which was a "campaign promise" he publicly and voluntarily made early 2011.
3. Remove his non-performing Ministers and other heads of Departments and Agencies; especially the Minister of Petroleum Resources and the Minister of Aviation for their vicarious liability with regard to the fuel subsidy fraud and the crash of the Dana Airline plane.
4. Cancel the Concession Agreement with Bi-Courtney for the re-construction of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and immediately commence the re-construction of the road with government resources to stop the carnage on that road.
5. Publish his Assets Declaration and ensure the diligent prosecution of all those indicted by various National Assembly Probe Panels for corruption/fraud (Power Sector, Fuel Subsidy, Police Pension, Capital Market etc.) and former Governors and other politically exposed persons indicted by the EFCC/ICPC; particularly in the Halliburton and Siemens cases.

I hope GEJ can muster the will and courage to do the above.

NADINE IS GONE

The Dana Airline passenger manifest for the Abuja-Lagos flight which crashed yesterday, which some person(s) had released without due process and circulating irresponsibly on various social media with no care about the sensibilities of the victims' families and friends, had the name "N. Chidiac" on it.

Could it be NADINE CHIDIAC? I called her number several times. It didn't even ring. I called a... mutual friend to know if it was Nadine. He was not sure but expressed fear that it could be since the name Chidiac, a Lebanese name, was unique in our Nigeria. A while ago, I googled her name and came across her photograph on Dele Momodu's Lockerz page with this written: "What a cruel world, Nadine Chidiac, Rest in Peace!"

So NADINE CHIDIAC is no more?! Unbelievable!! I met Nadine during the Easter weekend in 2003 when my wife and I went to spend the weekend at the Peninsular Resort in Lekki, Lagos. She was then the Manager of the Hotel. I spent time with Nadine in her office and we talked for long like old friends even though we only just met. I shared the Gospel of Christ with her and, though she had been deeply religious and always went to Church, she asked me to pray with her to receive Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Saviour. And so she gave her life to Christ during that meeting. Praise God! We became good friends.

Nadine was was very beautiful, charming, empathetic and professional. She always had friendly smiles for everyone. She left Peninsular Resort soon afterwards and went on to manage Oceanview Restaurant and Robert's Cafe before setting up her own outfit, Nadine Integrated Services Ltd.

Nadine is gone. But I shall see her again.....at Jesus' Feet.

May the LORD give her young daughter (bless her sweet soul!) and her entire family the strength to bear this irreparable loss in Jesus' Name. Amen!

......AND NABIL HANGA IS NO MORE.

It was my friend, Kelechi Deca (Editor-in-Chief of The Economy magazine), that drew my attention to the story of Nabil Hanga's demise and, last Friday, I called my friend and Nabil's boss, Ismaila Zakari, to confirm it. I was deeply saddened and lost for words when he affirmed that Nabil had indeed passed on.

I met Nabil for the first time (and, sadly, the last time!) on Saturday, 29th October, 2011, when he came to present a paper on fighting corruption on behalf of Ismaila Zakari at the Lagos Launch of Stand Against Corruption and Kleptocrats! (SACK!). He was suave, urbane and came across as very intelligent; yet he was somewhat self-effacing and humble. He was only called upon by Ismaila that Saturday morning of the SACK! Launch to represent him as he was part of the NIPSS class set which was due to meet with the President. Nabil dutifully accepted the directive even though he had prior plans for that day. He tried to leave the programme early to meet up the other appointment but conceded to my persuasion that he should stay till we were done.

Nabil died because there was no neuro-surgeon in the hospital to immediately operate on him when he was rushed there. His family and friends raised $100,000 and flew him abroad. But it was too late to save Nabil. Please read his story with this link: http://www.bellanaija.com/2012/05/14/for-nabil-by-anonymous/

It is tragic that such a young and enterprising Nigerian, whose life held so much promise, should die needlessly at just 26 years of age.

Life has become too cheap in Nigeria. In most other nations, because of the immense value they place on human life, people who work in the health sector are among the best paid employees. The reform of our health-care system must include assuring competitive remuneration for our doctors and other health professionals in both the public and private sectors so as to minimise the lure of employment abroad.

May God grant the Hanga family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.

NIGERIA, ISLAMISM AND THE ISLAMIC DEVELOPMENT BANK

In some ways, I truly admire Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. He is not just a very intelligent, suave, populist orator; he is also a great strategist. While he still continues to be irritatingly loquacious and he stubbornly experiments with his inane ideas and policies which are destroying the capital market, the banking industry and the economy, one cannot but admire his single-minded commitment to foist his Malaysia-style Islamic Banking on Nigerians despite superior and rational arguments that have been canvassed by a number of informed people that a uniform and religion-neutral Non-Interest Financial Institutions (NIFI) Framework should be issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria to replace its extant NIFI Guideline. But that is not even the issue of our discourse here.


Not many might have noticed that Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has since taken a back seat with regard to the promotion and advocacy of Islamic Banking. His advisers and fellow Islamists must have told him he would help their Jihadist cause better if he worked from the shadows. Now, my friend and former colleague at the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) where we were both Senior Managers in 1996, Dr. Yerima Ngama, the Honourable Minister of State for Finance, has stepped forward as the new face of Islamic Finance advocacy and promotion in Nigeria. He has even been designated the Islamic Development Bank “(IsDB) Governor - Nigeria” And the Vice President, His Excellency, Arc. Namadi Sambo, has found himself being pushed forward by his subordinates to give “Presidential endorsement” to the Finance Agenda of Political Islam. Kudos to SLS!!


Sanusi must be feeling triumphant that Islamic Finance appears to be on the march in Nigeria. He has succeeded in making all the financial regulatory bodies in Nigeria to sanction Islamic Finance in one way or the other. The Securities and Exchange Commission, the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, and more recently, the National Pension Commission have all made some adjustments to their regulatory guidelines to accommodate “Shariah-compliant” financial products and services.


The Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, played host to The IsDB- Nigeria Business Forum which took place from 15th to 16th March, 2012. The Islamic Development Bank and its partners pulled out all the stops to put up a display designed to impress its foot-print on the African Jewel south of the Sahara. It’s delegation included its Group President, Dr. Ahmad Mohamed Ali Al-Madani, Dr. Birama B. Sidibe (Vice President, Operations), Dr. Abdel Rahman Taha (CEO, Islamic Corp. for the Insurance of Investment & Export Credit),  Khaled Al-Aboodi (CEO, Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector), and Dr. Waleed Al-Wohaib (CEO International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation). The “Country Hosts” were said to be the Coordinating Minister for the Economy & Hon. Minister for Finance, Dr. Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Hon. Minister of State for Finance & IsDB Governor - Nigeria, Dr. Yerima Lawan Ngama, and Executive Secretary of Nigeria Investment Promotion Council (NIPC) –Eng. Mustafa Bello. Chicason Group, Jaiz Bank and Bank of Industry were the “Corporate sponsors” of the event. Sadly, the “Distinguished Special Guest of Honour and Patron of the Business Forum”, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, did not grace the occasion but was ably represented by Arc. Namadi Sambo.


Just last week, during the special meeting of the African Governors Forum on the Special Programme for the Development of Africa (SPDA) held in Khartoum, Sudan, the Nigerian Vice President announced while delivering his keynote address that the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) has set aside about $2billion dollars (about N310 billion) in support of Nigeria’s developmental programmes which is to span three years (2012-2014). By the way, the Opening Ceremony of the IDB programme was “graced” by Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir who is wanted by the International Criminal Court on war crimes charges.

Last February, the Federal Government sought approval from the National Assembly for its intention to borrow $7.9 billion from the World Bank, African Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank, EXIM Bank of China and Indian lines of credit. The President indicated that the funds would be used to cover pipeline projects in the 2012-2014 External Borrowing Plan. Under the plan, government will borrow $2.64 billion annually. Even before the approval of the National Assembly, Dr. Yerima Ngama disclosed that Nigeria has already applied for US$670million “interest-free loan” from the Islamic Development Bank. This “interest-free loan”, however attracts a charge which the IDB’s Disbursement Manual calls “a modest service fee, not exceeding 2.5%, to recover part of the administrative costs incurred in project identification, appraisal and supervision”. However, if it is an OCR (Ordinary Capital Resources) Loan, the service charge is 4%. It is not clear yet whether Nigeria’s Loan request is considered an OCR Loan and what the proposed Profit and Loss Sharing arrangement is between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Islamic Development Bank on the “interest-free loan” being sought.

If you are familiar with Nigeria’s history with foreign debts, you must have been alarmed as I was.  As at 4th April, 2012, our Foreign Exchange Reserves were a mere US$35,822,362,444.10 while our States and Federal Governments' External Debt Stock as at 31st December, 2011, totalled US$5,666,579,900 Our Domestic Debts stood at N5,622,843,712,000that is about US$36,276,411,045 using a conservative exchange rate of US$1/N155. The Debt Sustainability argument that our GDP can accommodate more debts is hollow. The reality is that our cashflow as a nation cannot sustain more debts! Nigerians should rise up to say NO to the government's plans to borrow about US$7Billion for the pipelines project. However, we should even be more alarmed that, under the guise of finance, the Political Islamists in the Federal Government want to surreptitiously lure Nigeria and Nigerians into indebtedness to the religious organisation, the Islamic Development Bank.

Some would argue that the Islamic Development Bank is merely about finance and that “money has no religion”. But is the IDB really all just about finance?
 

The IDB website (http://www.isdb.org) says much which is enlightening:

Establishment

The Islamic Development Bank is an international financial institution established in pursuance of the Declaration of Intent issued by the Conference of Finance Ministers of Muslim Countries held in Jeddah in Dhul Q'adah 1393H, corresponding to December 1973. The Inaugural Meeting of the Board of Governors took place in Rajab 1395H, corresponding to July 1975, and the Bank was formally opened on 15 Shawwal 1395H corresponding to 20 October 1975.

Purpose

The purpose of the Bank is to foster the economic development and social progress of member countries and Muslim communities individually as well as jointly in accordance with the principles of Shari'ah i.e., Islamic Law.

Functions

The functions of the Bank are to participate in equity capital and grant loans for productive projects and enterprises besides providing financial assistance to member countries in other forms for economic and social development. The Bank is also required to establish and operate special funds for specific purposes including a fund for assistance to Muslim communities in non-member countries, in addition to setting up trust funds. The Bank is authorized to accept deposits and to mobilize financial resources through Shari'ah compatible modes. It is also charged with the responsibility of assisting in the promotion of foreign trade especially in capital goods, among member countries; providing technical assistance to member countries; and extending training facilities for personnel engaged in development activities in Muslim countries to conform to the Shari'ah.

Membership

The present membership of the Bank consists of 56 countries. The basic condition for membership is that the prospective member country should be a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), pay its contribution to the capital of the Bank and be willing to accept such terms and conditions as may be decided upon by the IDB Board of Governors.

In its 1440AH (2019 AD) Vision Document it clearly states: “As an Islamic development bank, IDB needs to be driven by a vision of development that is inspired by Islam. The Islamic vision of development has its roots in Religion (Deen), and is heavily governed by Divine Law (Shari’ah), ethics and morality (Akhlaq). It is predicated upon the premise that human beings are created by God to fulfil a specific mission.” IDB’s vision states: “By the year 1440 Hijrah IDB shall have become a world-class development bank, inspired by Islamic principles, that has helped significantly transform the landscape of comprehensive human development in the Muslim world and helped restore its dignity.”

The Islamic Development Bank’s Disbursement Manual states as follows:

“The Islamic Development Bank operates according to the Shari'ah principles. Shari'ah is the set of rules derived from the Holy Quran, the authentic traditions (Sunnah) of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and the scholarly opinions (Ijtehad) which are based on the Holy Quran and the Sunnah. The principles of Shariah that govern Islamic banking are the following:-

- prohibition of interest (riba) in all financial transactions, such as: riba in debts,

riba in sales, including forward currency deals and futures exchanges.
- Participation in profit and loss sharing, since return is not guaranteed in an
Islamic transaction.”

The Disbursement Manuel also states: “IDB does not borrow from the market and its operations are sustained by share-holders capital, retained earnings and funds generated internally through its foreign trade and project financing operations. The IDB has no non-regional members. The IDB is an institution established by the Ummah, for the Ummah and operated and managed by the Ummah. The IDB finances trade and development projects both for the public and private sectors, finances large and medium sized projects and small enterprises in the member countries.”


There is no doubt that the Islamic Development Bank is a religious financial institution dedicated to the promotion of Islam and Shariah-compliant finance for the benefit of Muslims. It is ridiculous when apologists say otherwise. If Nigeria were an Islamic country there would be no problem. But Nigeria is not an Islamic country and it is not part of the “Muslim world”. While there are Muslim Nigerians, Nigerians are a multi-religious people and the Nigerian state is constitutionally secular. So it cannot be OK for Nigeria to be a member of IDB or to be seeking loans from it. Nigeria has no business with IDB.


The erosion of Nigeria's secularity has been insidious over the years such that many Nigerians do not even notice it. The real issue here is POLITICAL ISLAM or ISLAMISM: the effort to impose Islam and the Principles of Shariah in the political, social and economic space of a country. For Islamists, religion should not be private to the practitioner. The state and its organs must conform to Shariah Law. Some do not even understand Islamism so naively think there is no danger when our state institutions are allowed to promote Islam against other religions in the country.


Our Naira notes have Hausa words written not in our "abidi" anglicised text, in which the language is written and taught in schools, but with Arabic script. The insignia of the Nigerian Army similarly has Arabic writings. It was Gen. Ibrahim Babangida who arrogantly went and enlisted Nigeria as a member of the Organisation of Islamic Countries without the knowledge of his deputy at the time, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe. Commodore Ukiwe lost his office unceremoniously when he told journalists that he was unaware of Nigeria’s membership as the matter was never discussed how much more approved by the Supreme Military Council. Nigeria became a member of the Islamic Development Bank in 2005 under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. One cannot help but wonder who Obasanjo was trying to impress by this unfortunate move. I do not recall the National Assembly discussing the issue and giving its approval for the appropriation of the country’s investment in IDB’s Share Capital. Nigeria presently holds 7.69% of the bank’s Paid-up Share Capital of 17.7826Billion Islamic Dinar or approximately US$ 27.32Billion as at 25^th November, 2011, making it the fourth largest shareholding after Saudi Arabia’s 23.61%, Libya’s 9.47% and Iran’s 8.28% shareholdings. Shariah was introduced in some northern states contrary to the Nigerian Constitution. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi introduced Malaysia-style Islamic Banking contrary to the Nigerian Constitution and the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act. Sanusi also made Nigeria a founding member of the International Islamic Liquidity Management Corporation and invested US$5million in its share capital. Sanusi had also been advocating that Nigeria should issue "Sovereign Sukkuk Islamic Bonds". And now the Federal Government is seeking loans from the Islamic Development Bank when we are not an Islamic country.


No doubt, it is might be deemed to be civil and politically correct to close one's eyes to these developments so as not to be seen as "intolerant" and not be accused of being "Islamophobic". Some non-Muslim readers may even reiterate the new mantra of “financial inclusion” as the reason why Islamic Banking should not only be accommodated in the Nigerian financial system but even promoted with state funds.

Religion is a very important part of the discussion because of the unfortunate role it plays in
Nigeria's politics. It is actually the main tool being exploited by many politicians for ascendancy to office both in the north and in the south. Why was Gen. Ibrahim Babangida able to unilaterally make Nigeria a member of the Organisation of Islamic Countries? Possibly because of the fallacy that Muslims are in the majority in Nigeria? Why was a Governor able to single-handedly breach the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which he swore to uphold and declared Shariah in Zamfara State and even the otherwise bold President Olusegun Obasanjo was intimidated not to challenge the act in the Supreme Court? Because Zamfara State is seen as a "Muslim State" since the majority of its indigenes is Muslim. Even the highly respected Muslim former Chief Justice of the Federation, Late Justice Mohammed Bello, declared that the introduction of Shariah was a contravention of the Nigerian Constitution. But today, some other northern states are Shariah states and the rights of other non-Muslim Nigerians are daily infringed there. Boko Haram has taken the cause of Islamism to a new level: it is carrying on a Jihad bombing, maiming and killing innocent people in the futile bid to make Nigeria an Islamic state.


Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and his fellow proponents of Malaysia-style Islamic Banking in Nigeria and the entrenchment of the Islamic Development Bank’s Islamist Agenda in our nation are actually on a "Financial Jihad". It is the continuation of the Islamist Agenda of Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto and Premier of old Northern Region, who famously said he wants to dip the Quran in the Atlantic Ocean and make Nigeria the estate of his Great Grand-Father, Usman Dan Fodio. The objective is to make out Nigeria as an Islamic country and ensure the imprint of Islam and Shariah Principles in the Nigerian government, our institutions and the Nigerian financial system. Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi is one person that has perfected the practice of Taqiyya: Sacred Deception - the Islamic doctrine of deceit to defend and promote Islam; deception which advances Islam which is not regarded as sin. He has deployed the doctrine very well so far in his Jihadist activities. But not everyone is deceived.


I am against undermining the nation's constitution and our secularity to advance Islam or Christianity for that matter. We must defend Nigeria's secularity. We cannot and must not continue to condone the deliberate actions of those whose agenda is to advance Islam and portray us as an Islamic nation. No religion should be given preference by the government in whatever way. If Nigeria must borrow, there are numerous non-religious lending institutions around the world which do not have a religious agenda like the Islamic Development Bank. If IDB is just about finance as some think, why does its "Purpose" include to "foster the economic development and social progress of member countries and Muslim communities individually as well as jointly in accordance with the principles of Shari'ah i.e., Islamic Law."? Do the World Bank, Africa Development Bank, International Monetary Fund etc. have such an agenda?


The Islamic Development Bank is about Political Islam and the funding of projects is the bait to draw in poor nations looking for "cheap money". Nigeria does not need Islamic Development Bank's loans, interest-free or not, and its other greek gifts. We can do without Islamism’s Financial Agenda.


GOD BLESS NIGERIA!


 

Eghes Eyieyien

6^th April, 2012

MALLAM SANUSI LAMIDO SANUSI, BOKO HARAM AND RELIGIOUS EXTREMISM

If you follow the news like I do, you would no doubt have read the latest "mis-speak" by Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the international award-winning Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria which was published on the upper column of the front page of Thisday newspaper of Saturday, 28^th January, 2012. If you did not read the story, below is the internet link to access it:

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/sanusi-links-bo

Expectedly, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi later refuted the Thisday story on Sunday, 29th January, 2012, claiming that he was "misquoted". Here again is the internet link to access the story:

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/san

But, as any discerning reader can easily tell, Sanusi’s rebuttal was feeble, baseless and a mere, inconsequential, after-thought. A man speaks from the abundance of his heart. He may regret saying something or wish he had said it in a more refined way, but what a man says is really what he meant to say! It is straight from the heart. Sanusi’s rebuttal should have actually been about the Financial Times story published last Thursday, 26th January, 2012, not the Thisday story which was culled from it.

Part of the Financial Times story reads: “ “There is clearly a direct link between the very uneven nature of distribution of resources and the rising level of violence,” Mr Sanusi told the Financial Times in an interview, arguing that it was now necessary to focus funds on regenerating other regions if Nigeria wants to secure long-term stability”. “

The error of Thisday as perceived by Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi may have been because the newspaper used the obviously offensive word "Derivation" in its caption of the story since the paper accurately captured all Sanusi told Financial Times of London.

Now, what would be the ordinary reader’s understanding of Sanusi's statement? How has the "distribution of resources" led to Boko Haram's murderous campaign?

The full text of the Financial Times story is accessible at this internet link:

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/02ce9e7e-4837-11e1-b1b4-00144feabdc0.html

Permit me to reproduce the full Financial Times story here to help put things in context:

Attempts to redress historic grievances in Nigeria’s oil-rich south may inadvertently have helped create the conditions for the Islamic insurgency spreading from the impoverished north-east of the country, says Lamido Sanusi, Nigeria’s central bank governor.

In the past year, the Boko Haram sect has been responsible for proliferating attacks on churches, police stations and other state targets. Last week, it claimed responsibility for multiple bomb blasts which claimed nearly 200 lives in t e northern city of Kano. The size and sophistication of the attacks underlined fears that the conflict is spiraling out of control.

“There is clearly a direct link between the very uneven nature of distribution of resources and the rising level of violence,” Mr. Sanusi told the Financial Times in an interview, arguing that it was now necessary to focus funds on regenerating other regions if Nigeria wants to secure long-term stability.

Oil-producing areas in the predominantly Christian south benefit from 13 per cent of the revenues generated from oil in their area, on top of the federal allocations they and other states receive. As world oil prices have risen over the past decade, this has led to a widening gulf in income between oil-producing states and those without oil. The commercial capital Lagos, which raises 75 per cent of its own revenue from taxes, is the exception.

This formula was introduced after the military relinquished power in 1999 among a series of measures aimed at redressing historic grievances among those living closest to the oil and quelling a conflict that was jeopardising output.

But by seeking to address one problem, Nigeria may have created another, weakening other states in the federation and fostering resentment in the poorest region which has spawned the Boko Haram sect.

“When you look at the figures and look at the size of the population in the north you can see there is a structural imbalance of enormous proportions,” Mr. Sanusi said. “Those states simply do not have enough money to meet basic needs while some states have too much money.”

According to official figures, the leading oil producing state, Rivers, received N1,053bn between 1999 and 2008 in federal allocations. By contrast the north-eastern states of Yobe and Borno, where the Boko Haram sect was created, received N175bn and N213bn respectively. Broken down on a per capita basis, the contrast is even starker. In 2008 the 18.97m people who lived in the six states in the north-east received on average N1,156 per person.

By contrast Rivers state was allocated N3,965 per capita, and on average the oil producing South- South region received on average N3,332 per capita.

This imbalance is compounded when the cost of an amnesty programme for militants in the delta is included together with an additional 1 per cent for a special development body for the Niger delta. To boot, the theft of oil by profiteers in the region diverts tens of millions more weekly from federal coffers.

The imbalance is so stark, he added, because the state still depends on oil for more than 80 per cent of its revenues. Nigeria has made little headway raising taxes for example from agriculture, which accounts for 42 per cent of GDP.

Inhabitants of the delta tend to have little sympathy with complaints about the revenue formula, given that Nigeria was ruled and at times plundered for much of the four decades after independence by northern leaders. Indeed, state governors from the region are now lobbying for an even greater share of oil revenues – in some cases they believe it should be as high as 50 per cent.

Northern Nigeria’s economy has traditionally depended on the government more than the south. Many of the industries set up as part of earlier efforts to promote national balance have gone bust or been sold off during a decade of liberal market reforms, power shortages and infrastructure collapse.

The north’s inhabitants, although more numerous, are also among the poorest in Africa, and therefore represent a less attractive market for the banks, telecoms and retail companies booming in pockets of comparative affluence in Nigeria’s south. “We now need some sort of Marshall plan for these areas so we can begin to regenerate industrialisation,” Mr. Sanusi argued.

I am very concerned about Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. Nigerians should be worried about him. Most people really do not know this man and how very dangerous he really is. He is one of those championing the idea, which is now gaining momentum, that Boko Haram is the consequence of “poverty and unfair national revenue distribution”. This is false and a well-articulated disinformation by the powerful sponsors, financiers, organisers and supporters of Boko Haram. And they have successfully sold this lie especially in the American media with people like Ambassador John Campbell pretending to be the authority on Nigeria at the United States’ Council of Foreign Relations because of his stint in our country as the American Ambassador some years back.

Was Mohammed Yusuf, Boko Haram’s founder poor? Was Baba Fugu poor? At least Baba Fugu was of such personal networth that the High Court and the Court of Appeal felt that N100million was the least amount that it should ask the Borno State Government to pay his family as “compensation” for his alleged killing by some officers of the Nigeria Police after his arrest. In fact the Borno State Government has since explained that the reason it thought it was pointless taking the case to the Supreme Court for final adjudication was because it was afraid it might be made to pay much more than the meager N100million that the High Court and Court of Appeal decided it should pay the family. Clearly, the Courts know that the family is not poor unlike the families those killed by Boko Haram in Borno State which the State Government recently paid N250,000 (Two hundred and fifty thousand Naira only) as “compensation” for their irreparable loss. I guess the Borno State Government reckoned that the gesture, however little, is really what counts since money cannot resurrect the dead even though the widows, widowers and orphans created by Boko Haram’s thirst for innocent blood could no doubt do with much more than N250,000.

Was that suicide-bomber who drove his vehicle into the car park of the Nigeria Police Force Head Quarters in Abuja a poor man? Not likely. The pictures of the man that were on the internet after the bombing showed him looking very-well fed and smiling contentedly while standing by his car with an AK47 automatic assault rifle on his shoulder. The report then was that the man had given his family N2miilion as “pocket-money” before he left Maiduguri for Abuja to carry out the Boko Haram attack. He was also said to be well educated and a successful businessman.

What about Alhaji Abdul Mutallab's son, the “bomb-in-the-pants” failed suicide-bomber who tried to blow up the plane in which he travelled  to the United States just before it landed and who is now standing trial for terrorism there? Surely, the young man was not poor. Though unemployed, the UK University-educated boy had enough monthly allowances from his billionaire banker-father to travel frequently to Yemen, Ghana, Nigeria and the United States.

So where is this concept of “poverty-caused-Boko-Haram” coming from? Appears that, in addition to the Islamic Jihadist agenda of islamising Nigeria and imposing Shariah, it is really the envy of the patrons of Boko Haram over the 13% Derivation Funds being paid to the oil-producing states that created the terrorist group. They and Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi seem to have conveniently forgotten that prior to the Military’s incursion into government in 1966, the Derivation Formula was actually 50% of the funds generated to the regions where the revenue was derived and 50% to the Federal Government. So the perceived “injustice” of Nigeria’s revenue distribution should not be by Boko Haramites but by the oil-producing states whose peoples have not ceased to advocate for “Resource Control” till date. Boko Haramites, like other Islamic terrorists elsewhere in the world, are not poor people but just wicked, insane, misguided and deluded religious extremists who believe they do God service by their murderous activities.

Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi sent me a text last Sunday threatening me that he would sue me for "libel" for disclosing on my Facebook page, on the discussion thread where I raised the Thisday story of his statement about the motivation of Boko Haram, that he was indicted by Gen. Sani Abacha for the Kano religious riot in which Gideon Akaluka was beheaded. Sanusi's indictment was for his complicity as one of those the government believed instigated the riot. In fact, the report at the time was that eight people were fingered by the security agencies for their role in causing the riot. Seven of them were allegedly executed summarily but Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi was spared because of the pleas of notable northern leaders on his behalf being a Prince of Kano Emirate. His grand-father was the Emir of Kano who was deposed by the government of Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Premier of the Old Northern Region of Nigeria and the Sardauna of Sokoto. So Gen. Sani Abacha's government sent Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi to be incarcerated in Sokoto Prison for a period of about two years. He was never formally charged or put on trial before a Court or other judicial panel. So Sanusi somehow believes that all Nigerians above forty years of age and well-informed enough to know what transpired at the time have somehow developed a sudden case of mass amnesia or would be too star-struck by his award-winning brilliance to speak out. So he has ensured that the inglorious period of his incarceration is unaccounted for in his resume since he conveniently omits it from his Curriculum Vitae and Profile. I guess any human being would have done the same if they had such a skeleton in their closet and had to serve as the Governor of a Central Bank.  

I have challenged some journalist to go and interview Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi to get his reaction to my "allegation". And to independently check this information with his close friends, his former colleagues at ICON Merchant Bank and the key operatives of our security services and the Prisons authority who were in employment between 1993 and 1998.

So why have I decided to go public with this information at this time? I have decided to go public with this information at this time because I am now convinced that Sanusi is a dangerous religious extremist in government. He should never have been appointed as the CBN Governor!

Now there are many questions that should arise in the minds of Nigerians who seek TRUTH about Sanusi:

1. Why did he choose to go to Sudan for his Shariah Doctorate?

2. Osama Bin Laden was in Sudan about the same time Sanusi was in Sudan. Did they meet in Sudan?

3. Who were Sanusi's associates, friends, classmates, teachers and Imam in Sudan?

4. Who financed Sanusi's education in Sudan since he was without a job at this time?

5. Why has Sanusi been so zealously pro-Shariah implementation in Nigeria as shown in his writings on www.gamji.com?

6. Is Sanusi's fanatically advocacy of Islamic Banking and the issuance of "Sukuk Sovereign Bonds" by Nigeria merely about Finance?

7. Does Sanusi have any links to Boko Haram especially since he is eager to explain their activities?

8. Alhaji Abdul Mutallab, the Chairman of Jaiz Bank, former Chairman of First Bank and father of the failed "pants-bomber", is well-known as Sanusi's "god-father". Sanusi was also known to be a mentor and close friend of Abdul Muttalab's terrorist son who was an Al Qaeda recruit. What role did Sanusi play in radicalising this his protege?I am now convinced that Mallam Sanusi is too dangerous a religious extremist and a Jihadist to be in government how much more the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria!

There are several questions on my mind about Sanusi and which should bother other Nigerians as well:

1. Did late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua not know these facts about Sanusi’s past?

2. If late President Yar’adua had this information, why did he think it was irrelevant to his decision to appoint Sanusi as the CBN Governor?

3. Did the security clearance issued by the State Security Service and/or other security agencies disclose this detail about Sanusi’s past?

4. Was the Senate aware of Sanusi’s indictment and incarceration when he appeared before it for the confirmation hearing to be appointed as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria?

5. Did the Senators ask Sanusi to explain where he was and what he was doing during the missing period which is unaccounted for in his Curriculum Vitae?

6. Why did Sanusi choose to go to Sudan for his Doctorate in Shariah Law?

7. Late Founder of Al Qaeda, Osama Bin Laden, was in Sudan about the same time when Sanusi was in Sudan. Did they meet in Sudan?

8. Who were Sanusi's associates, friends, classmates, teachers and Imam in Sudan?

9. Who financed Sanusi's education in Sudan since he was without a job at that time?

10. Why has Sanusi been so zealously pro-Shariah implementation in Nigeria as shown in his writings on www.gamji.com?

11. Is Sanusi's fanatical promotion of Islamic Banking with public funds and his advocacy of the issuance of "Sukuk Sovereign Bonds" by the Federal Government of Nigeria merely about “an alternative banking window for the unbanked Muslims” and international finance, respectively?

12. Does Sanusi have any links to Boko Haram especially since he seems to know what is really motivating their members?

13. Alhaji Abdul Mutallab, the Chairman of Jaiz Bank, former Chairman of First Bank and father of the failed "pants-bomber", is well-known as Sanusi's "god-father". Sanusi was also known to be a mentor and close friend of Abdul Muttalab's terrorist son who was an Al Qaeda recruit. What role did Sanusi play in “radicalizing” this protégé of his since his father had explained that the boy became “radicalised” outside his home and despite good parental guidance?

President Goodluck Jonathan and other peace-loving Nigerians should be very worried about Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi remaining as the CBN Governor given his history as a suspected sponsor of a religious riot and the fact that he has manifested extremist tendencies even as the CBN Governor.

I am actually looking forward to Sanusi's "libel suit" against me and I have told him he should see it as his opportunity to set the records straight about his indictment by Gen. Sani Abacha.

GOD BLESS NIGERIA!

  

Eghes Eyieyien

1^st February, 2012.