Eddy Ogunbor

Friday, 7 August 2015

Scandal: Former Finance Minister in Multi-Billion Naira Campaign Fund Theft

The PDP still absorbing the shock of having lost the bid for re-election after 16 years in power has made a troubling discovery: billions of Naira disappeared from its campaign treasury.

By Victoria Ayuwei and Stephen Onyeukwu, Per Second News

Two members of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organization, (PCO) Nenadi Usman and Chief Ahmadu Ali, are likely to be charged soon in a campaign fund scandal that threatens to engulf politicians in the opposition party.

Top leaders of the party seems to have disowned the duo in a matter before Justice C.U Ndukwe at the Abuja high court, Per Second News gathered.

Investigations reveal that former minister of finance, Nenadi Usman, through her company, Jointrust Dimentions Nigeria Limited received over 10 billion Naira meant for contractors and vendors during the 2015 presidential campaign.

Usman, who was the director of finance for the campaign has been accused of refusing to pay contractors who are now protesting against unpaid debts estimated at over N2 billion.

The scandals rocking the PDP are hard to sort through, and as often the case, what appears scandalous on the surface hides even deeper malfeasance.

A source in the know speaking under the condition of anonymity said that “Usman used her corporate account to receive billions of Naira, and disbursed billions of Naira to several persons and companies with overwhelming ties to the PDP”.

“ She orchestrated this fraud in order to circumvent campaign donation limit threshold, with most of the disbursements paid to herself through her personal aide, PDP stalwarts, and companies with ties to PDP and herself, the source said.

PDP through its counsel Kwon Victor, who is also the party’s Legal Adviser, had on 18 June 2015, in defense to a lawsuit against Nenadi Usman, Ahmadu Ali and PDP, disowned Usman in PDP campaign-related transactions allegedly carried out with her company, Jointrust Dimentions Nigeria Limited.

Evidence made available showed Usman, through her company, received and disbursed about N10 billion Naira in the run up to the presidential election and after the defeat of Goodluck Jonathan.

A contractor Silon Concepts limited through its lawyers, Festus Keyamo chambers in suit no: FCT/HC/CV/2017/2015 took Nenadi Usman, PDP and Ahmadu Ali to court in a bid to get paid for contract executed.

Ahmadu Ali and Nenadi Usman are yet to file any defense to state their side of the story. Rather, the former minister of finance filed a notice of preliminary objection on 3^rd July 2015, where she struggled to rope PDP into several multi billion Naira transactions carried out through her company Jointrust Dimentions Nig.Ltd.

Per Second News gathered that PDP again, for the second time in a counter affidavit on 15^th July, 2015, strongly objected to Usman’s position by rejecting ties to all multibillion Naira transactions carried out through Jointrust Dimentions Nig. Ltd where she is the sole signatory to that account. PDP insists that Usman and others acted alone on matters brought up by Silon Concepts Ltd.

As PDP and Nenadi Usman fights dirty, rather than address why they have not paid Silon Concepts limited, Festus Keyamo chambers has filed a counter affidavit on 23^rd July 2015, with strong arguments on why Nenadi Usman is personally liable as a known agent of the PDP.

Keyamo argued that it is only appropriate for Nenadi Usman, who operated mostly as a lone ranger through her private account, to tell the court her side of the story. Per Second News gathered that she operated from a Zenith Bank Account number 10107406XX, (Last two numbers blocked by Per Second News for privacy concern).

In a twist, George Uboh, Managing Director of Panic Alert Security Systems (PASS) has called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of Senator Nenadi Usman, Femi Fani-Kayode, Chief Emeka Offor and others. In a statement in Abuja Thursday Uboh said he has been monitoring a case of unpaid campaign debt against PDP, Ahmadu Alli and Nenadi Usman by Silon Concepts limited. Uboh said that as he observes with dismay how PDP and Nenadi Usman dissipate their energies by washing their dirty linens in public rather than pay what they owe the legitimate contractor for a job duly contracted.

He claimed to have obtained all relevant bank documents in relation to transactions done by Usman using Jointrust Dimentions Nigeria Limited.

Below are some deposits into the account for purpose of financing President Jonathan’s election: N500 million on 11/02/15, Global Scan Systems Nigeria Limited, owned by Sir Emeka Offor, Offshore Logistics Solutions, N 202million on 11/02/15;Global Scan Systems Nigeria Limited (owned by Emeka Offor), N1.2Billion Naira on 11/02/15;Interbridge Company, N100million on 11/02/15Castilo towers BDC, N250million Naira on 11/02/15, Interbridge company, N122 million on 01/02/15, Prime concept, N110million on 20/02/15Eco system, N500 million on 13/02/15, DI International, N250m on 19/02/15, Crescent Pillars Ltd, N 21million on 19/02/15”.

He also listed payments from the Jointrust Dimentions as follows;

N1.1Billion to Femi Fani Kayode on 02/02/15, another N240million naira to Femi Fani Kayode on 19/03/15, N67m to Dee Bakers Ltd on 03/02/15, N95million to Rigir First BDC on 03/02/15, N370m to Goodluck Support Group on 23/03/15, N80m to People’s Democratic Institute on 10/03/15, N260m to Social Capital Limited on 27/02/15, N250m to Social Capital Limited on 03/02/15, N80m to Fendship Express Nig Ltd on 13/01/15, N120m to Achike Udenwa & Viola Onwuliri on 13/01/15, 10m to Ibitoru Linda Ofili, on 13/01/15.

Uboh, alleged that after the March 28 elections, Nenadi Usman started disbursing money in the account to herself through cronies and other PDP PCO members, but stubbornly refused to pay legitimate contractors in full for jobs done.

According to him Usman issued cheques to one of her cronies in multiples of N10, 000,000 in one day in the manner below:

On April 20, 2015, Usman cashed seven of separate 10 million Naira cheques, to wit: Cheque numbers 398-404 (10,000,000 each).

On April 22, 2015, Usman cashed four of separate 10 million Naira cheques, to wit: Cheque numbers 410-413 (10,000,000 each).

He said it was wrong and illegal for Usman to use her corporate account to receive and disburse campaign funds on behalf of PDP.He asked: “why did she refuse to use the PDP PCO account to receive and disburse the aforementioned billions, when the evidence shows that she was signatory to both accounts in same Zenith Bank?”

“why was Fani-Kayode paid N1.34 billion Naira in his personal capacity from Usman’s corporate account? Is this payment campaign related? If it is campaign-related, is it legal to accept such in one’s personal capacity and, worse yet, from a corporate account instead of campaign organization account?

“Why did Emeka Offor and his company pay N2.2Billion Naira into Usman’s corporate account? Was it for election purpose or Usman’s personal use? Is it ethical to pay campaign funds into a corporate account? Are we sure these guys did not circumvent extant campaign donations laws in their desperation to win last presidential election?

“Why would a distinguished senator and former finance minister of the Federal republic of Nigeria, who by virtue of her former position should be held to a high standard of ethics and financial propriety, commit such a hoodlum-like and hustler-like financial impropriety?”, Uboh queried.

Per Second News can authoritatively reveal that the campaign fund complaint has reached President Goodluck Jonathan, who was shocked that money has not been paid to contractors, despite overwhelming evidence that it has been released to the PDPPCO.

“President Goodluck Jonathan is not happy, the man is embarrassed because he also gave money to the PDPPCO and yet he is hearing these stories about debts running into billions of Naira, a close aide said Thursday night in Abuja.

Why banks reject foreign currency deposits’

BANKS’ recent rejection of foreign currencies in deposits might have been informed by the consideration that they are idle resources that yield no benefit to them. The nation’s renewed fight against money laundering is another reason.
Already, there are indications that over $1 billion sitting idly in banks may have been mostly accumulated by the speculative exchange of naira for dollar and random opening and storing of the green back in domiciliary accounts.
More so, the barring of the 41 items from the official foreign exchange (forex) window has streamlined demand and opportunities for banks to trade short-term with the funds.
The naira may be heading back to the all-time low recorded recently when it hit N245 to a dollar at the parallel market, as it fell further yesterday to the range of N235 – N238 in different areas of Lagos, with the official rate remaining stable at N199 per dollar. It had on Tuesday exchanged for N225 at the parallel before noon but dipped further to N229 at the close of business.

Bishop Okogie Drums Support For PMB, Appeals To Nigerians

Archbishop Anthony Cardinal Okogie has said President Muhammadu Buhari is not a stupid man, and neither is he a fool.

Okogie who is the Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos called on Nigerians to be patient with the president so he can deliver on his election promises, Vanguard reports.

“He is not a stupid man, he is not a fool and one thing I know he has in his head is that, he is no more a soldier so he has to take his time to make sure that things go the way they should go,” Okogie said.

The Archbishop said this on Wednesday, August 5, at an interactive session with newsmen in Lagos.

The cleric explained that Buhari needed time to correct the anomalies in the country.

READ ALSO: Bishop Okogie Blesses Buhari, Sets Agenda For President-elect

Okogie stated: “You know when you are entering a new job, you don’t rush; you got to take your time, because if you do not take your time you make a lot of mistakes.

“And right at his inauguration, he even mentioned it that the ground is rough; so he has to take his time to correct these things; I think that is what he is trying to do.

“Don’t you see what he is doing now with the Boko Haram, he is meeting all the Head of States and that thing cannot just take one second or one day or one week, he is going to win them over.”

According to the cleric, the economy of the nation has been destroyed completely by people who are supposed to be patriotic Nigerians.
He wondered what they would do with the money they have syphoned, saying: “If we can only remember that one day we are going to leave all these things behind, we are not going to carry them, then the nation will move, but we are not allowing things to move.”

Okogie said he could see signs of progress as two refineries are now working.

Some months back Bishop Okogie had assured Buhari of continuous prayers and support where necessary, while also calling on the people to be patient. He had said: “I reassure the president- elect of our prayers and spiritual solicitude, we look forward to seeing a president that will be the Nelson Mandela and the Le Kuan Yew of Nigeria.

He had also warned Buhari to be wary of “wolves in sheep clothing” and all the political jobbers who jumped ship to identify with the winning party.

Thursday, 6 August 2015

We will force Ekweremadu to do our bidding - Oyegun

As the leadership crisis in the National Assembly nears its end, the leadership of the All Progressives congress, APC, has admitted to losing the battle and possibly the war, as well over 81 Senators passed a vote of confidence on Senate President Bukola Saraki and his Deputy Ike Ekweremadu.
Ekweremadu, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, wrestled the Deputy Senate President position from the APC, on account of the party’s failure to reconcile the conflicting interests between Saraki and senator Lawan who both itched for the position.
On June 9, Saraki outsmarted the APC to become the Senate President, an action which created a vacuum for Ekweremadu to also triumph over Ali Ndume who did not get the numerical strength to pull it off, since most members of the APC absconded to attend the alleged reconciliatory meeting with President Buhari.
See: I had no choice but to ignore Oyegun’s letter – Saraki
This event which the APC initially rejected and thereafter accepted was revealed by the APC Chairman, John Oyegun, as part of their plan to get Ekweremadu out of the equation at the time.
“If he wants to resign, we would be very very glad, but for now, as at today, our mission is to get the Senate settled to get them at work.”
The APC leadership had clearly exhibited discontent with the emergence of Ekweremadu and the current situation would have been managed.
Chief Solomon Edojah, Chieftain of the APC has however confirmed that Ekweremadu must be fused into the plans and manifesto of the APC Government, since he already took a position originally designed for an APC member.
See: We have disappointed Nigerians but don’t blame me – Oyegun

Against this backdrop, Oyegun also revealed that Ekweremadu has remained a stumbling block the APC cannot remove considering the Constitutional requirement of getting two-third majority which the APC currently does not have.
He sated this during an interactive session with journalists in Abuja stressing that the APC has lost hope of removing Ekweremadu as the Deputy Senate President and added, the party was overwhelmed by the actions of its members in the National Assembly.
He dispelled the insinuation that Ekweremadu was only occupying his position on temporary basis.
“Do you know the rules of the House? You can only remove them with a two-third majority so what makes it temporary.
“Simple, in the case of the House that we have just dealt with it, we got to the bridge but have not crossed it, they had not named any principal officers, so obviously it was a lot easier to handle.
“The Senate has named its Principal Officers and by their rules they can only be removed either when they voluntarily resign or when you command a two-third majority to vote them out.”
Oyegun also assured that reconciliatory moves are ongoing to bring lasting peace in the National Assembly despite the petition for forgery currently distracting the Senate.
He also lamented the scenario that took place in the House of Representatives which has creating a razor-sharp divide between members of the APC which needs Gods intervention.
See: Why we fought Oyegun, Tinubu over Gbajabiamila – APC lawmakers
“So the approaches obviously will be totally different in the sense that, in the senate also I hear there is a court process underway, that makes a lot of issues sub judicial so it changes the picture doesn’t it?
“Is not good enough for us with what happened in the House but we are also watching that and we are going to engage on the senate situation and by God’s grace it will also be resolved

INVESTIGATION: Nigeria earned $11.8bn from LNG; not $5.6bn claimed by PDP, Jonathan govt.

Bassey Udo

Nigeria earned at least $11.8 billion as dividends from the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Company, and not $5.6 billion as claimed by former Nigerian governments led by the People’s Democratic Party, PREMIUM TIMES can confirm today.
The figure covers remittances due to have been paid to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, which holds 49 per cent shareholding in the NLNG, on behalf of Nigeria.
The remaining equities are held by Dutch firm, Shell, and its Italian counterpart, Eni/Agip.
After weeks of being rebuffed by different government agencies and the NLNG, over requests for the details of the remittances to Nigeria, PREMIUM TIMES arrived at the figure based on an analysis of payments to Agip, exclusively sourced by the paper.
The investigations showed that the Federal Government, through the NNPC, earned $11.8 billion (about N2.5 trillion) as dividends from NLNG between 2004 and 2014.
Pioneer Status
The NLNG operated for at least 10 years under a controversial tax freedom holiday, called the pioneer status, which was granted by the Nigerian government. The incentive is usually given pioneer investors in new sectors of the economy to encourage more investments. In the case of NLNG, it was to trigger investment in gas.
Even with the tax relief, the government and other shareholders drew dividends from NLNG during the period, but the Nigerian authorities refused to provide details of how much was paid from 2004, under the Olusegun Obasanjo administration.
Controversy over the money started in June when the Nigerian Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative, NEITI, announced that it had uncovered that the NNPC failed to remit $11.6 billion paid by the NLNG.
NEITI urged President Muhammadu Buhari to recover the money.
In response, the NNPC spokesperson, Ohi Alegbe, said the matter had already been referred to the Inter-Ministerial Task Team (IMTT) for reconciliation and resolution.
“At the last meeting of IMTT, it was resolved that the Minister of Petroleum, Chairman of NEITI, Executive Secretary of NEITI and the Group Managing Director of NNPC should meet on the issue of NLNG dividends and report back to IMTT.
“Unfortunately, that meeting has not held. However, another meeting of IMTT is coming up next week and the issue will be taken up from there. NEITI, as a member of IMTT, is aware of the ongoing efforts to reconcile and resolve the issue of NLNG dividend remittance,” Mr. Alegbe said in a statement June 10.
He did not confirm or deny the amount in question.
By July, nearly a month later, the new federal government said it was disbursing $2.1 billion out of the NLNG funds to cash-strapped state governments to enable them clear backlogs of salaries owed workers.
The distribution was the first time in Nigeria’s history. It is the first time that funds from NLNG would be shared between the federal and state governments.
The ruling All Progressives Congress accused the previous PDP government of diverting past remittances, an allegation denied by the PDP.
APC spokesperson, Lai Mohammed, said over $4 billion of the NLNG money was outstanding.
In its response on July 12, the PDP said the party’s previous administrations –from Obasanjo to Goodluck Jonathan— deserved praise than rebuke for saving the LNG funds for the new government.
The party’s spokesperson, Olisa Metuh, said since NLNG had been on a “10-year tax haven” (he probably meant tax holiday) until 2014, “successive governments, right from President Olusegun Obasanjo never shared nor tampered with the cumulative dividends over the years”.
He said as of May 29, when Mr. Jonathan left office, the NLNG dividend stood at a cumulative $5.6billion and “not a single cent was ever taken from the funds”.
Denials
Repeated attempts by PREMIUM TIMES to confirm that figure were rebuffed by all the relevant government agencies.
The Corporate Communications manager of NLNG, Tony Okonedo, said releasing the details to PREMIUM TIMES would amount to a breach of confidentiality.
“Any details on the dividends we (NLNG) paid to government, the best place to go is NNPC that received it. For us, we are very clear on what we paid,” he said.
The NNPC told PREMIUM TIMES that the corporation did not have any information on dividend payments by NLNG.
“Your best bet for such information would be NLNG, which made the payment,” Mr. Alegbe said.
Neither the NLNG nor the NNPC was forthcoming with information on their annual report and financial statements.
The ministry of finance and office of the accountant general also refused to provide details.
Eni to the rescue
Regardless, PREMIUM TIMES sourced Eni’s financial filings, and confirmed that the company received billions of dollars as its due of dividend since 2004.
Eni owns 10.4 percent of NLNG, while Nigeria holds 49 percent stake.
A review of Eni’s consolidated financial statements showed that the company received €2.319 billion ($2.5 billion) as total dividends billion between 2004 and 2014.
Eni received €72 million in 2004; €33 million in 2005, €56 million in 2006; and €131 million in 2007.
The company also earned €453 million in 2008; €101 million in 2009; €188 million in 2010; €483 million in 2011; €331 million for 2012; €224 million in 2013, and €247 million in 2014.
At 49 per cent, Nigeria’s dividend climbed to $11.8 billion. That is about N2.5 trillion.
The figure tallies with the $11.6 billion reported in the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) 2009-2012 Audit Report. The little difference might be as a result of fluctuating exchange rate.
Still, there is a discrepancy as previous reports show that the NLNG had announced in 2014 that it paid a total $13 billion as dividend to the government.
The firm’s managing director, Babs Omotowa, stated this when the company celebrated its 3,000th LNG export cargo in Abuja, in March.
He said Nigeria now owned $14 billion of assets on Bonny Island; $13 billion in dividends, another $11 billion earned in feed gas sales revenue, over $10 billion expenditure in local economy on goods, services and salaries of thousands of staff employed.

Wednesday, 5 August 2015

Buhari Orders Speedy action On Re-establishment Nigeria Airways

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday ordered the Ministry of Aviation to immediately come up with modalities on the establishment of a new national airline.
Nigeria has been operating a public-private partnership (PPP) national airline since the defunct Nigerian Airways folded.
Briefing State House correspondents at the presidential villa, Permanent Secretary, Aviation Ministry, Binta Bello, said the President was worried about Nigeria not having a national air carrier.
She also said the President was briefed on the challenges domestic airlines were facing despite federal government’s N300 billion intervention fund designed to boost their operations.
According to her, the airlines were hugely indebted to regulatory agencies under the Aviation Ministry, including other factors that have left some of the airlines still struggling to maintain optimum operational capabilities.
Bello added that the four state-of-the-art terminals being constructed with Chinese Bank loan will be ready by first quarter of 2016.

Buhari’s US Visit: A Master Stroke In Image Laundering, By Charles Anyiam

I believe that with the beating that the Nigerian image has taken over the years, the presidency must capitalise on the credits generated by Buhari’s US visit. I suggest that a marshall plan be drawn up to engage world opinion on behalf of Nigeria. The momentum generated from this trip has to be seized to project the new face of the country. The goodwill of the enormously powerful Nigerian Diaspora should come handy in this regard.

For the first time in a long time, I was proud to be a Nigerian living and practicing journalism in America. And as I flew into the triple-digit heat of Washington DC from the excellent Los Angeles’ weather, I was unsure what to expect from the Nigerian government delegation led by the new helmsman in Abuja, Muhammadu Buhari that was in town for crucial meetings with the Barack Obama administration, given the theatre of shame and serial disappointments to which we had been subjected by Nigerian government officials whenever they show up in America. On this occasion, I was in DC as a guest of the US Chamber of Commerce and the Corporate Council For Africa, and by extension the Nigerian mission in the United States.
In 1999, I had a similar privilege to have been ’embedded’ in the high-powered government delegation under the Olusegun Obasanjo administration to the Bill Clinton White House for bilateral talks shortly after Obasanjo’s return to power as president. For political expediency, the delegation had included faces from the past – T. Y Danjuma, David Jemibewon, Bola Ige, Chuba Okadigbo, Sule Lamido, Patrick Dele Cole, and such then new ones as Dapo Sarumi and Dubem Onyia, Andy Uba among many others – who were to form the bulwark of the first Obasanjo administration.
In comparison, the Buhari delegation to the US on the week of July 20th was lean. And without the usual fanfare and with all the wives and mistresses in tow. Not discounting the annoying presence of all the political jobbers, hustlers and court jesters who always invade the destination. In contrast, this delegation was made up of top civil servants and a handful of serving state governors. Only Governor Oshiomhole showed up with his trophy wife who by the way conducted herself with decorum. There was on hand in the delegation former Governor Rotimi Amaechi, the stormy petrel of Niger Delta politics whose role leading up to the national elections is said to have been catalytic to the success of President Buhari at the polls. The team I saw in DC was well coordinated, disciplined and very business-like. The President himself set the tone with his dress code – a simple kaftan and cap to match. Buhari was poised, focused, dignified and stayed on message all of the time. I watched with delight the air of aristocracy and charisma he unassumingly projected in all of the meetings I was privileged to attend. His responses to questions and remarks at the different fora were deliberate, intelligent and not rushed.
His speeches were well delivered with poise and self-assured confidence, and at times laced with appropriate humour. Overall, he came across as a man who is comfortable in his own skin and new role. And there was a Mandela-like aura about him and for several moments I was reminded of Madiba as I watched Buhari in DC – a visionary on a mission. In the presence of President Obama, Buhari looked every bit presidential and I dare say that only very few African presidents could match the comportment and honour that he brought with him to the White House, and invariably to all the other meetings he had with high US government officials, the media, and US business leaders.
That is why I am miffed by some of the puerile commentaries in local Nigerian press about the Buhari visit to the United States. What is at times lost on most Nigerians at home is the abyss to which Nigeria’s image abroad as a nation had sunk, and the incalculable damage that has been done to the corporate profile of the nation. Some are wont to dismiss it as mere Western propaganda and a vestige of Afro-pessimism. Right and wrong. Right in the sense that Nigerians as a people are intimidating by their very nature, flamboyant, aggressive and loud for no fault of theirs. Wrong because Nigerians and Nigeria have not managed their image well. They have over time allowed others to define them in the marketplace of ideas. Hence, their best traits as a people have been subverted by the tyranny of the minority of few bad apples in the bunch. And in today’s world, perception is everything!
Many years of totalitarian regimes have equally not helped the Nigerian image. Eventually, totalitarianism gave birth to unmitigated corruption, highhandedness in high and low places leading to the attendant impoverishment of the citizenry. That is the face of Nigeria in today’s marketplace – and from the White House to Whitehall and from Wall Street to Main Street around the world.
Given the foregoing, my verdict is that Buhari’s US visit was a master stroke in image-making especially at a time when Nigeria is still reeling from the after shock of a long list of diplomatic snafus by the immediate past administration of Goodluck Jonathan. Without fixing the image problem of Nigeria as a serious player on the world stage, the successful execution of the war on terrorism (Boko Haram), providing adequate power supply and solutions to the overarching issue of mass unemployment will remain unattainable. In my considered opinion, this trip was well worth every kobo of it!
I believe that with the beating that the Nigerian image has taken over the years, the presidency must capitalise on the credits generated by Buhari’s US visit. I suggest that a marshall plan be drawn up to engage world opinion on behalf of Nigeria. The momentum generated from this trip has to be seized to project the new face of the country. The goodwill of the enormously powerful Nigerian Diaspora should come handy in this regard. That is how Israel has done it by tapping into the vast resources of the Diaspora Jewry. India is on that roll too. Former President Obasanjo recognised that dynamic and it led to the formation of the quasi-government Nigerians In The Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) under the superintendence of Ambassadors Dele Cole and Joe Keshi who was the then Nigerian Consul General in Atlanta. I also had a front-row seat to the birthing of that entity. As it is presently constituted however, NIDO will need some re-engineering as I am of the subjective opinion that the Jonathan administration tampered with NIDO to no good effect.
At the Town Hall meeting with the Diaspora Nigerians during this visit, I could sense the groundswell of support for Buhari from an audience that was at first apathetic, some of who had been apologists of the Jonathan administration with its well documented strategy of bribing every pressure group around the world, of which NIDO and the various Nigerian associations in the US can be categorised. I counted at least three or four times when they rose to their feet to cheer Buhari. Most of the guests later confessed their confidence in and support for the new president. Some of them told me that their unfavorable opinion of the man had dramatically changed after listening to him, and that their hope for the future of the country had been restored. There was gone the hollow and hopeless look on the faces of Nigerians in America after an event such as was held July 21 at the Nigerian embassy premises in Washington DC.
However, as much as the embassy staff struggled to put on a hitch-free event perhaps because the “fear” of Buhari which I am told is the beginning of wisdom for Nigerians was evident, the Town Hall meeting was yet marred by poor logistical planning. Seating arrangement was atrocious with the hall overflowing beyond legal capacity. Many guests with valid invitation from the embassy were subsequently turned away at the gates. Some of them, I was told had flown into DC from other states but were barred for lack of space.
And if it is not already in the new administration’s plan, I recommend that all of Nigeria’s mission abroad must be restructured in line with the Buhari posture which I saw in DC. It cannot be business as usual at our embassies if Nigeria has to win the war on the burnishing of her badly battered image which I believe is central to the revival of the economy. At the US Chamber of Commerce dinner, President Buhari asked for American investors to take interest in the agriculture and solid mineral mining sectors of Nigeria’s economy. And I can assure you that these investors will not lift a finger for Nigeria until she takes concrete steps to re-do her image as a corrupt, inept, violence-prone and unstable investment and tourism destination. Truth be told, Nigerians, especially the Diaspora, must be empowered to tell our own story, or others will continue to define who we are.
Perception. That should be the name of the game as Nigeria undoubtedly steps into a new era under Muhammadu Buhari.
Charles Anyiam is Editor-In-Chief of The African Times-USA.