Ola Kassim, I really like your perspective on this SNG matter and all these folks doing their nocturnal secreta at Aso Rock. As wind don blow foul nyash don show! Wayo Nigerians and their naija-ills. Aso Rock and the Nigerian Presidency are all public institutions, and these privatized meetings are actually contrary to the nature of the public trust and accountability that ought to be the hallmark of these institional orders. But, frankly, Dr. Ola Kassim, I am laughing as I am so noxiously happy about how these aberrants now catch your ethical scrutinizing attention and so profoundly.
How I wish all the things that you are now pointing out about SNG resonated in the ways NIDO-A operated under your helms and coterie, with all those Abuja-darling with Obasanjo, especially in the days leading to that harbinger to the third term, that deformed National Reform Conference, that NIDO-A and its allies in Europe, Asia, and other continents were so soaked in it that they did not care for the scrutinies offered by many Nigerians then and afterwards. That also pertains to the public interest and scrutiny regarding that Abuja diaspora land deal.
Herein, I am hillariously excited because I think that that saying to beware when pointing fingers at others because the rest are pointing in one's direction is temptingly almost true in this case. This could be a sound case of "physician first cure thyself!" It seems to me that SNG is mirroring the tactics of NIDO-A so copiously in another era where NIDO-A has been sidelined in the Aso Rocky political chambers, that folks like you have become ill at ease! No problem, the magnificat of Luke 2 says that long time ago- the rich have been sent away empty! Now, it is their habitation another has taken, so has it become with SNG and its mimicry of the NIDO-A ways that it too shall have its relevance cut short- as those who use the sword will die by the sword, the same political methods they are now using shall be their doom! --- On Mon, 11/29/10, olakassimmd@aol.com <olakassimmd@aol.com> wrote:
From: olakassimmd@aol.com <olakassimmd@aol.com>
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Re: [NaijaPolitics] Re: [NaijaElections] On the Matter of the SNG Visit and Rejected $50,000 Gift/Bribery (?) At Aso Villa { Re:Haba! Re:President Jonathan Offered Us $50,000 Bribe, But WeReturned It - PastorTunde Bakare Confirms
To: NaijaPolitics@yahoogroups.com, NaijaElections@yahoogroups.com, USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com, OmoOdua@yahoogroups.com, naijaintellects@googlegroups.com, ekitipanupo@yahoogroups.com, ekitipeoplesvoice@yahoogroups.com
Date: Monday, November 29, 2010, 10:08 PM
Dear Adebayo Adejuwon, Yinka Odumakin et al:: I also want to move on from this but I won't until I debunk Adebayo's lackluster attempt to arrogate an unrealistic aura of invincibility and piety to the leaders of the SNG, --one that suggests that no one needs to question their motives and actions on the basis--that they are on a mission to save Nigeria. Adebayo--you are absolutely wrong in this regard. Any pressure group should necessarily expect to also face some scrutiny from time to time. If you can't stand the heat you should get out of the kitchen. As I wrote earlier today there is nothing wrong with holding secret meetings in political circles as these go on all the time for both legitimate and illegitimate purposes. We, the public need not be told of every move taken by the SNG before it embarks on its actions. However, probity demands that such actions be made public in order to avoid the kind of embarrassment that has arisen from this fiasco, once such actions are taken. This is not the first time a faction of the SNG has been accused of engaging in secret meetings. About two months ago a faction of the SNG held a Press Conference in Abuja in which they announced the expulsion of Yinka Odumakin and one other member from the SNG because they had engaged in clandestine meetings with potential presidential candidates. Courtesy of Sahara Reporters we are now aware of SNG's midnight visit to Aso Rock. You have mentioned at least on two occasions today that the SNG only needs to report to those who need to know, whom I assume are those you consder are its real stakeholders. Who are these privileged people to whom SNG is only accountable? Is the SNG saving Nigeria only for these privileged people or is it embarking on a mission to save Nigeria for all Nigerians--especially the suffering masses? The inexperience shows clearly in the way the affairs of the SNG is handled and in the public statements by Yinka Odumakin. Yinka Odumakin is comfortable with running secret midnight errands at Aso Rock but is uncomfortable in revealing the details of the meetings held until forced to do so. Yinka Odumakin, has enough gall to start running his mouth on me just because I once called him out on a statement that NIDO and anyone connected with NIDO should have no say in Nigeria's future. Today, Yinka Odumakin has repeated unfounded allegations against my person that I am sure can not stand when tested in court. Yinka Odumakin has alleged that I stole some land from NIDO members. Does he have any evidence for this? He also stated today that I laundered money for OBJ--does he have any evidence for this allegation too? Are these the kinds of baseless allegations we should expect from a potential future leader of Nigeria which Yinka Odumakin and his admirers promote him to be? As I have written before, Yinka Odumakin and his ilk represent a potitics of the past the kind epitomized by "wetie" politics in the SW; a politics that is based mainly on unfounded demonization of the characters of their political opponents rather than one that offers convincing and more promising alternative future for Nigeria and Nigerians. These kinds of political leaders do not have political opponents with whom they differ on visions on services for the citizens they serve; they do not have competing political ideas instead what they relish are life long political enemies whom they demonize at every corner and at every stage of their political careers. No, I refuse to give a blank check to the Yinka Odumakins of Nigeria. Neither do I expect to receive any from them. I believe in responsive and responsible leadership--one that is informed by politics of ideas, not one based on fear and demonization. Yinka Odumakin--you asked earlier today whether I have done anything with integrity in my life. My simple answer to you is this. Everything I do is with integrity. I have done several tasks today meriting such! Now I am waiting for you to repeat the spurious allegations you have leveled against me--this time with some juicy details! I promise that the person responding to you will not be one you can easily confuse with an OPP thug from Gbogan, or an Omo onile land grabber. You will be dealing with the real Ola Kassim, not the one you have demonized in your dreams. Bye, Ola "Lamenting the times without doing anything to make them better is a cheap show of wisdom. These are your times, righting what is wrong in them is part of your struggle".--Ola Kassim MD
-----Original Message----- From: Adebayo Adejuwon <adeadejuwon@yahoo.com> To: NaijaElections@yahoogroups.com; USAAfrica Dialogue <USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com>; NaijaPolitics@yahoogroups.com; OmoOdua <OmoOdua@yahoogroups.com>; naijaintellects <naijaintellects@googlegroups.com>; ekiti ekitigroups <ekitipanupo@yahoogroups.com>; Ekiti peoples voice Ekiti peoples voice <ekitipeoplesvoice@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Mon, Nov 29, 2010 9:38 pm Subject: [NaijaPolitics] Re: [NaijaElections] On the Matter of the SNG Visit and Rejected $50,000 Gift/Bribery (?) At Aso Villa { Re:Haba! Re:President Jonathan Offered Us $50,000 Bribe, But WeReturned It - PastorTunde Bakare Confirms Any pressure group visiting Aso Villa should make their visit and purpose known either before or after the visit.............Professor Bolaji Aluko Any pressure group visiting Aso Rock should make its purpose known to who? To its membership I suppose? Its leadership? Its immediate constituency? Or to some self appointed watchdog of the pressure group? Or to the parties holding the meeting? While I quite agree that a lot of lessons must have been learnt by all parties in this case, I remain unsettled by this self righteous disposition of some of us which smacks of control. I take the position that this matter is already settled as far as I can see it. While I subscribe to the idea accountability, which, to my knowledge, SNG has never failed in doing to the knowledge of its constituency and have done creditably well in this case regardless of who think otherwise, I do not see any reason why SNG must become object of control of some self selected individuals and groups. Not even when it has become so clear that what is being discussed may not just be the issue of what transpired between GEJ and SNG at Aso Rock. This is my take. Can we move ahead please. Adebayo Adeneye Adejuwon
From: Mobolaji ALUKO <alukome@gmail.com>
To: USAAfrica Dialogue <USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com>; NaijaPolitics@yahoogroups.com; OmoOdua <OmoOdua@yahoogroups.com>; naijaintellects <naijaintellects@googlegroups.com>; ekiti ekitigroups <ekitipanupo@yahoogroups.com>; Ekiti peoples voice Ekiti peoples voice <ekitipeoplesvoice@yahoogroups.com>; Naija Elections <naijaelections@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Mon, November 29, 2010 5:11:58 PM
Subject: [NaijaElections] On the Matter of the SNG Visit and Rejected $50,000 Gift/Bribery (?) At Aso Villa { Re:Haba! Re:President Jonathan Offered Us $50,000 Bribe, But WeReturned It - PastorTunde Bakare Confirms
Tony Eluemunor: Very well-said, Tony! Moving on very quickly before I remember that I am writing not only to Tony E......here are my own thoughts: 1. For the record, Pastor Bakare (and wife) and Yinka Odumakin of the SNG sponsored themselves for the US trip of Nov. 2-5, 2010. Nobody on this side of the Atlantic paid a penny for their transport, accomodation and food. In fact, Pastor Bakare insisted on paying for the two meals that we shared - including mine - rebuffing any attempts by us to play full hosts rather than sponsors. They were very easy and affable guests, and we will be happy to host them again. 2. With regard to the issue of the SNG/Aso Villa visit at hand, an issue that needs to be clarified is the purpose and content of the visit, which was held at 8-for-10pm-till-midnight a few days ago, but was never reported in the media until SR wrote about it. Tony Uranta, for example, indicated that it had nothing to do with GEJ's ambition, while (I believe), Yinka Odumakin and Pastor Bakare indicated that it was a comprehensive discussion of the state of the nation, including (naturally) GEJ's ambition. SNG remains a new and powerful pressure group in the country, and a visit to the highest seat of power in the nation is in order, provided transparency and accountability are the watchwords. 3. I believe that a gift of $50,000 (roughly N7.5 million) was indeed offered - by all accounts handed over by Minister Mr. Godsday Orubebe - for "transport money" (according to Pastor Bakare) - which as of this minute, is back in the hands of the offeror, since it was not permanently accepted by the principals to who it was offered. It was originally a re-imbursement/gift, apparently customarily offered to all Aso Villa visitors that WOULD accept it. The money was NOT presented as a bribe or payment (either for past service rendered, for current service rendered or for future service to be rendered). 4. What still needs to be clarified/re-stated - just to fulfil all righteousness - was whether the money was a cheque (I read that somewhere) or was in bundles of $100 bills (which is what the eyewitness Yinka Odumakin stated, which I believe).
5. Spirited attempt to reject the money occurred on site at the Villa - the attempted rejection was on principle; the SNG delegation had not asked for any reimbursement before, during and after the meeting, and were not expecting it, as it might be wrongly interpreted, I believe - but was aborted so as not to create a midnight scene at Aso Villa. The final rejection was postponed into the quiet environment of the Hilton (?) Hotel, where it was arranged live to be returned via Mr. Tony Uranta to Mr. Orubebe, and later confirmed to have been properly returned by Mr Oronto Douglas. [This is according to the "deposition" of Mr. Yinka Odumakin on Naijapolitics! :-).] 6. Clearly someone in GEJ's camp who knew only PART of the story (the offer of the gift) but not the FULL story (the return of the gift) spilled the beans to SaharaReporters, who (as usuall) was sitting "jejely" wherever he sits, and who (as usual), after confirming the broad outlines of the story from as many parties in the matter as he felt necessary or he could lay a hold of, went to press with it with a headline of his choice, taking full literary liberties.
7. The rest, as the saying goes, is history: denials and counter-denials, accusations and counter-accusations. 8. My own summation is multi-fold: (a) any pressure group visiting Aso Villa should make their visit and purpose known either before or after the visit. Naturally, there will be off-the-record remarks, but the existence of the visit and the broad outline of the visit should be made known as soon as possible so that there is no whispering campaign. Even the Bible says (in Proverbs 23.1): "When you sit down to dine with a ruler, Consider carefully what is before you..." One Bible commentary talks about the " the slipperiness of the smooth ground of the king's court.." (b) there are pressure groups that are more vulnerable than the others to allegations of bribery and corruption, and SNG is certainly one of them. The Okrika Womens Group or the Ekiti Boys Brigade visiting Aso Rock and getting a brown envelope will not draw the same eyebrow-raising as an SNG, no matter the amount. Pastor Bakare's personal endorsement of Buhari-for-President - as distinct from SNG's neutrality - raises that ante of vulnerability, whether Bakare likes or believes it or not. Consequently, the SNG should make sure in UNCLEAR TERMS that in future it would FROWN at ANY ATTEMPT to be given it a gift by ANY government official, period. If it is done to ALL similar groups as part of budgeted government effort to promote civic participation of NGOs, fine. (c) Yes, Tony, $50,000 (tax free or not) is a lot of money, particularly for yours truly who lives in the USA. I am often BAFFLED when my fellow Nigerians living in Nigeria MINIMIZE dollar amounts. How many times have I heard "You should be able to afford $1,000", or "Tamodu is bigger than $50,000". Listen up: give me $50,000, and I got 1 million ways of what to do with it right now! I think that part of the reason why corruption persists in our country is the brutalization and numbing of minds to little monies, resulting in hisses like "Shhhhmuuu, only N10 million? What about Lakuregbe that stole N1 billion?" We have to snap out of that mentality - for the sake of our country, which corruption has eaten into like a canker-worm. (d) I believe that there are valuable lessons learnt from this episode. And there you have it. Bolaji Aluko On Mon, Nov 29, 2010 at 6:45 PM, Tony Eluemunor <teluemunor@yahoo.com> wrote: | Dear All, I have found reasons in the past to criticise SNG, so I elect not to comment on the bribery or no bribery allegation as it pertains to SNG, knowing that the truth, real truth, will out. I have just a few points to make though. 1. When Mr. Amos Adamu fell into hot water at FIFA headquarters, the EFCC boasted that no matter what punishment he could face there, he would have a hot case, a frying pan this time, waiting for him in Nigeria. Now, will the EFCC look into this matter? Well, the government is a continuum, so if not now, may be later ---and some persons would be called upon to say under what heading they made certain expenditures. All this talk about transport money (Lagos -Abuja -Lagos) and hotel accommodation ( for a night at Hilton) for a group that just returned from the US on same SNG work is meaningless, unless Prof. Aluko, who said he invited SNG to the US, sponsored the members. 2. According to Yinka's explanation some posts below, the meeting with Mr. President was initially for 8pm, but it was later shifted till 10pm, just so that A, YES, ONE member of the seven or eight-man party would arrive. When I read that, I shook my head; so if there were 20 persons in that SNG party, my own President would have accepted a change of time for the meeting ten times over, just so that all SNG members could be present? Is there no person in Aso Rock Presidential Villa to teach the man how to be presidential? His detractors say he is the least powerful (actually the person said the most un-powerful) President Nigeria has ever had! Others say he is timid, but he should not grant such persons more reasons to look down at him – he is Mr. President for God's sake!
Could those detractors be right after all? Or was the time for the meeting not agreed on before someone kept the President of Nigeria waiting? And for two complete hours? And tell us Yinka, did he come to welcome you guys at the car park or even at Aso Rock's Third Gate? Well, if the President of Nigeria can wait for me, anyhow, I think I can make any accusation against him!!!! If President Jonathan does not know that the support he received from the SNG has expired, then he NEEDs great lessons in politics, and he should crack his PhD brain some more. A revolution is on in the South-West and SNG will like to be fully part of that revolution. As he is from the South-South, I know he will still understand this "the West don waka"! Fourth, if truly Pastor Tunde Bakare and Yinka Odumakin and co turned down $50 k bribe, they have done a great thing; and I praise them for that. They should not listen to many forumites that make it appear that the sum is infinitesimal. It is not, not even in the US, and it is tax-free too. And thanks to them, we now know how strong the fight against corruption is. Thanks. Tony Eluemunor.
From: idowu <idowubobo@yahoo.com>
Subject: ||NaijaObserver|| Re: [OmoOdua] Re: [NaijaPolitics] Re:President Jonathan Offered Us $50,000 Bribe, But WeReturned It - PastorTunde Bakare Confirms
To: NaijaPolitics@yahoogroups.com, "OmoOdua" <OmoOdua@yahoogroups.com>
Cc: "Naija Observer" <NaijaObserver@yahoogroups.com>
Date: Monday, November 29, 2010, 2:49 PM
"Stay there and be mixing Pronto and Ovaltine, come home and see what politicians do with money."-Cyber Oko Alaja Cyber: I deh laugh oooo!!!!!
Pronto!!! Idowu
"Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God." --Thomas Jefferson "There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest." -- Elie Wiesel
From: "cyberagbekoya@yahoo.com" <cyberagbekoya@yahoo.com>
To: OmoOdua <OmoOdua@yahoogroups.com>; NaijaPolitics <NaijaPolitics@yahoogroups.com>
Cc: Naija Observer <NaijaObserver@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Mon, November 29, 2010 4:06:39 PM
Subject: Re: [OmoOdua] Re: [NaijaPolitics] Re:President Jonathan Offered Us $50,000 Bribe, But WeReturned It - PastorTunde Bakare Confirms
Quote Is Aso Rock now a Brueau de Change and also is this the way GEJ dash out foreign currencies to every visitor to Aso Rock? Pronto Unquote Stay there and be mixing Pronto and Ovaltine, come home and see what politicians do with money. -Cyber, oko Alhaja Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone from Zain Nigeria
Date: Mon, 29 Nov 2010 13:30:27 -0800 (PST) Subject: [OmoOdua] Re: [NaijaPolitics] Re:President Jonathan Offered Us $50,000 Bribe, But WeReturned It - PastorTunde Bakare Confirms
"On the transport fare of $50,000 by the presidency to the delegation that came visiting, perfectly okay. Think about it, ten people on a business class ticket from Lagos to Abuja and back to Lagos, and also passing the night at Transcorp Hilton, there wouldn't be any change left in that sum by my estimation. How could this be a bribe for goodness sake? $50k!"-eRG eRG: For a long time, I have been looking for somoe point to agree with you on, this statement I do agree because of African culture. It was not a bribe, but a gift. The question then is why was the gift not in Naira? Is Aso Rock now a Brueau de Change and also is this the way GEJ dash out foreign currencies to every visitor to Aso Rock?
Pronto!!! Idowu
"Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God." --Thomas Jefferson "There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest." -- Elie Wiesel
From: eRG <edoregeneration@yahoo.co.uk>
To: NaijaElections@yahoogroups.com; OmoOdua@yahoogroups.com
Cc: NaijaElections@yahoogroups.com; NaijaPolitics@yahoogroups.com; USAAfrica Dialogue <USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com>; naijaintellects <naijaintellects@googlegroups.com>; edo-nationality@yahoogroups.com; NaijaObserver@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Mon, November 29, 2010 11:02:23 AM
Subject: [NaijaPolitics] Re:President Jonathan Offered Us $50,000 Bribe, But WeReturned It - PastorTunde Bakare Confirms
"4 Strategically,there was nothing to report about the meeting as we would appear immature to begin to sing about some promises that needed time to fulfill before concluding that he would not correct the ills we pointed out." - Alagba Odumakin
Alagba Odumakin:
It's me again, eRG. Glad to see you've cleared the "aggie baggie" with Prof on the mischief-making thing. I will pass my judgement on this whole shenanigans shortly, but before that could I request for the MOM (Minutes of Meeting). Nobody took the minutes? No? I hope not, because someone might be posting their own version of the MOM shortly in the "blogosphere".
Here are my own take on this issue;
1. On the matter of SNG honouring an invitation from the political apparatchiks at the Presidency, I don't see anything wrong as long as your relevant stake-holders were kept abreast of issues before and after the meeting. It would have been confrontational and politically-immature to do otherwise.
2. On the transport fare of $50,000 by the presidency to the delegation that came visiting, perfectly okay. Think about it, ten people on a business class ticket from Lagos to Abuja and back to Lagos, and also passing the night at Transcorp Hilton, there wouldn't be any change left in that sum by my estimation. How could this be a bribe for goodness sake? $50k! You guys were WRONG for returning this token after collecting it. Worse, you could have issued an SNG receipt to Orubebe for the money, because I suspect somebody might have short-changed you guys on that front.
3. On the sum of $50k: I don't understand what measure Pastor Bakare adjudged this to be bribe money. I've seen cheques given as tithe to men of God for greater sums that than figure. Ehn? President Jonathan bribing Pastor Bakare with $50k? I never knew the pastor was that cheap. Even me a "trainee" pastor would have slapped anyone's face 70 times 70 with that meagre sum.
Over all, I'm disappointed that SNG is making a mountain out of this molehill. eRG "God gives, Man hoards and Satan steals" - eRG's Father
From: yinka odumakin <yod2011@hotmail.com>
To: OmoOdua@yahoogroups.com
Cc: NaijaElections@yahoogroups.com; NaijaPolitics@yahoogroups.com; USAAfrica Dialogue <USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com>; naijaintellects <naijaintellects@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Mon, 29 November, 2010 17:03:34
Subject: Re: [OmoOdua] Re: [NaijaPolitics] Re: ||NaijaObserver|| Re:[NaijaElections] Re:President Jonathan Offered Us $50,000 Bribe, But WeReturned It - PastorTunde Bakare Confirms
Prof:
For record purpose,some clarification:
1 This was the first time money was offered to SNG and it was returned.Any report about any other occasion is "fake rumour".
2.All who should be consulted were informed before honoring the meeting.They were also informed of all that happened afterwards.
3 Timing was to be 8pm but we asked for 10pm because somebody who was to join the meeting from our side was delayed.
4 Strategically,there was nothing to report about the meeting as we would appear immature to begin to sing about some promises that needed time to fulfill before concluding that he would not correct the ills we pointed out.
BTW,I think you should keep Dr Kassim out of this not to spoil the discussion.
Yinka.
"After going around and around and around the same old mountain,may be it's time to finish the job.May be it's time to claim the promise.I dont know about you,but im tired of going around and around and around the mountain"-Rapheal Warnock"-
Date: Mon, 29 Nov 2010 10:34:41 -0500 Subject: Re: [OmoOdua] Re: [NaijaPolitics] Re: ||NaijaObserver|| Re: [NaijaElections] Re:President Jonathan Offered Us $50,000 Bribe, But We Returned It - PastorTunde Bakare Confirms
Yinka: My quick responses below:
On Mon, Nov 29, 2010 at 9:36 AM, yinka odumakin <yod2011@hotmail.com> wrote: Prof:
Sorry about the mischief stuff.
Apologies accepted. But honestly I believe you could call me up if you had any grey area and I would explain to you.
OS called you. I was aware of his call(s). I did not believe that 1000 people should be calling you on this particular matter. In fact, when I first read the money issue, I thought it was the account of an earlier occasion, because I could SWEAR that I heard a similar encounter involving the SNG BEFORE now, when money was ALSO returned after being returned. Is that NOT correct? I identify with Ola Kassim's query: if someone knows that I am VIRULENTLY against accepting money, and I have VIRULENTLY refused it a first time or a recent time, it is UNLIKELY that he would offer it a second time. So if money had been offered before - if my recollection is right - it is QUITE POSSIBLE that someone thought that the first offer was taken, and that he was offering it a second time in an acceptable manner, just that this time, things went awry. If I had called, that is what I would have asked to be clarified, whether this offer/rejection was the first, second or third time, etc. Jesus said we should let our yes be yes and our no be no.There is nothing to misunderstand in yes and no.
The Yoruba say that the conversation with a bloated scrotum is in four sentences:1,your scrotum is bloated 2.No it is not 3.Where is it ? 4.Here it is.
Money was offered to us which we returned and which we were not going to even make any issue of until the moles in GEJ camp went to work.
I do not know the motive behind the donation - or bribe - but my first inclination is to consider it improper. I believe that you also considered it improper, hence your returning it. But you did well NOT to make a fuss of it, so that you do not misrepresent the matter. Where you did wrong, in my mind, is NOT reporting the event AT ALL. There may be certain things said OFF THE RECORD - and every body should know that - but SNG cannot and must not meet the President of Nigeria, and have EVERY SINGLE DISCUSSION to be off-record! This was not brother-to-brother talking, for crying out loud! This particular outcome is another bitter lesson, that when you deal with power in Nigeria - in fact any power in the world - that you have to be TRANSPARENT, otherwise someone there will try to BLACKMAIL you, CRUSH you. There is ABSOLUTELY no reason why SNG should visit Aso Rock without the world knowing about it either BEFORE the meeting, or particularly AFTER the meeting. When Pastor Bakare had come out in full support of Buhari, even if he had CLARIFIED that that was HIS POSITION, and not SNG's position, he should know that he could easily be the target of blackmail by one or more of GEJ's supporters if he went into any secret discussion with President GEJ - a potential opponent of Buhari. That is simple logic. I read that the meeting ended at 12 midnight or thereabout - fair enough - but was the unholy hour of the press meeting of yore with IBB (leaving at 2 am) not also an issue? There could no doubt be a reason to end a meeting at 12 midnight, but if it is at Aso Rock, the more reason why you BETTER tell the world, otherwise someone will say that it was under cover of darkness. You have access to OS and he would tell you the party that leaked the whole encounter.
You got that one right. We bounce ideas off each other. He sometimes knows more than I know - and he shares - and I sometimes know more than he knows - and I share. Every circumstance is different. I can overlook darts from the enemies but the arrows of friends are hurtful.
That presumes that they are arrows or darts that I was throwing! When I ask for deposition from you, Bakare or, Sowore, I ask for statements or re-statements of truth from friends. With nothing to hide, it should not be difficult to state or re-state them. If you have already made all the statements that you wish to make, say so, and I would take those as your final depositions, until you say otherwise. "Nuff said too - for now. Yinka. "After going around and around and around the same old mountain,may be it's time to finish the job.May be it's time to claim the promise.I dont know about you,but im tired of going around and around and around the mountain"-Rapheal Warnock"- Bolaji Aluko Still SAM though! :-)
Date: Mon, 29 Nov 2010 08:30:47 -0500 Subject: Re: [NaijaPolitics] Re: ||NaijaObserver|| Re: [NaijaElections] Re: President Jonathan Offered Us $50,000 Bribe, But We Returned It - Pastor Tunde Bakare Confirms
Yinka Odumakin: So you are calling me now a Senior Advocate of Mischief (SAM) because I ask a few questions of this rather unfortunate episode? Wonders will never cease! Here you are, without ANY solicitation from SNG, I single-handedly urged the SNG through yourself to visit the United States - because I believe and still believe in what the SNG is for and is doing. You may have been planning a meeting to the US beforehand, but I knew nothing about that. After several emails and phone calls between myself, you and Pastor Bakare, you accepted to come, and I believe that you had a successful outing from November 2-5, meeting with the Ambassador, Nigerians at a town hall meeting and at a teleconference, and a talk at the Johns Hopkins international studies center. In addition to a number of meals that we had together, I must have spent as much as 20 hours with the three of you (Yinka and the Pastor and his wife) as well as two other pastors resident here in the US during that three-day period. I came away impressed at your joint sincerity - in addition to some other impressions about what was going on in the country and about some people. As a result of your recent visit, I cannot plead that I am not somehow involved with the SNG - with NDERG (which I coordinate) and NPLF publicly indicating that they were hosts of the SNG trip. The surprise that I expressed at the news of the SNG meeting at Aso Rock within the past few days has NOTHING to do with the money, because when I expressed that surprise, I had NO IDEA that monies had changed hands, ABSOLUTELY none. Part of the impression that I formed during your visit was that the SNG was DONE with Aso Rock - but that obviously may have been wrong on my part. And now this money issue. When I ask for depositions from 7 people, it is not because I doubt your story or that of Pastor Bakare - or of Sowore for that matter - but that there needs to open disclosure. Deposition does not mean doubt, just that each party should lay their stories on the table, for the world to know, so that inconsistencies can be ironed out. Clearly an SNG delegation comprising at least yourself and Pastor Bakare visited the President at Aso Villa - but the news of the visit was out UNTIL the money issue was included in the reportage. If the "donation" - or "bribe" as some people now call it - was made under wraps, secretly, furtively, then it was wrong to make it. It was proper NOT to take, and PROPER not to make a fuss about it since it was NOT offered as a bribe by the giver. But when there is some UNCERTAINTY as to whether the donation - or bribe - was accepted PERMANENTLY or not - or that even that MORE MONEY was asked for, etc. - then that calls for concern and for clarification from all sides. But to be this defensive and call me a Senior Advocate of Mischief when all I asked for was accountability from those I believe the truth is a bit much. I shall leave it at that for now. It is a sad outcome - not the bribery, but your reaction. It leaves a bad taste in the mouth, your reaction. Bolaji Aluko
On Mon, Nov 29, 2010 at 7:01 AM, yinka odumakin <yod2011@hotmail.com> wrote: Alagba Idowu:
The Yoruba say that "eni to sun la n ji,a o ki n ji eni to n pi roro"(you wake a sleeping man not the one feigning sleep).
Prof is being mischievous and it is galling!
Why would he need deposition from Sowore for instance?
Well,we will summit ourselves even for inquisition!
Yinka.
Shaking his head as the Senior Advocate of Mischief (SAM) prepares for the trial.
"After going around and around and around the same old mountain,may be it's time to finish the job.May be it's time to claim the promise.I dont know about you,but im tired of going around and around and around the mountain"-Rapheal Warnock"- Date: Sun, 28 Nov 2010 22:54:58 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: [NaijaPolitics] Re: ||NaijaObserver|| Re: [NaijaElections] Re: President Jonathan Offered Us $50,000 Bribe, But We Returned It - Pastor Tunde Bakare Confirms
Who is going to do deposition and why is deposition needed. Pastor Bakare said his team was given $50,000 someone an eye witness called Saharareporter and told him the whole story. Tony Uranta coroborated the visit. Douglas Orubebe confirmed they received the money. If you think the SNG are so stupid not to document their call and conversation with Douglas Orubebe, then tell GEJ to continue to press the issue. You are yet to request the deposition of Atiku and $40 million money laundering, you are requesting the deposition of a group of honorable Nigerians who honored the invitation of their president and was tempted with the sum of $50,000 which they honorably rejected. If they rejected the money outrightly at the point of offer, some of you will be doubting that such a thing ever happened and also would have been saying, why didn't they collect the money as evidence and then return it. If the FBI did not allow Jefferson to collect Atiku's money, there would be no evidence.
Pronto!!! Idowu
"Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God." --Thomas Jefferson "There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest." -- Elie Wiesel
From: Mobolaji ALUKO <alukome@gmail.com>
To: NaijaPolitics e-Group <NaijaPolitics@yahoogroups.com>
Cc: NaijaElections@yahoogroups.com; USAAfrica Dialogue <USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com>; naijaintellects <naijaintellects@googlegroups.com>; OmoOdua <OmoOdua@yahoogroups.com>; ekiti ekitigroups <ekitipanupo@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Mon, November 29, 2010 12:31:07 AM
Subject: [NaijaPolitics] Re: ||NaijaObserver|| Re: [NaijaElections] Re: President Jonathan Offered Us $50,000 Bribe, But We Returned It - Pastor Tunde Bakare Confirms
Dominic: All I can say is that we need depositions from seven persons - Bakare,Odumakin, Orubebe, Douglas, Uranta, Jonathan and Sowore - what did they know and when did they know it - and why!! :-) No ands, ifs or buts..... And there you have it. Bolaji Aluko
On Mon, Nov 29, 2010 at 12:33 AM, Dominic Ogbonna <summadom@gmail.com> wrote: "I don't like all of this one bit, hence my hesitancy when I first heard the news of the SNG visit to Aso Villa." -Bolaji Aluko
Bolaji:
The thing taya person, and it is hard to comment on this issue without insinuating the wrong impression or straining alliances that I personally would not really like to strain. Fact of the matter is: no matter how you look at it, nobody -NONE OF THE PARTIES- come out of this story looking too good.
(a.) Why the clandestine visit to Aso Rock in the first case? Sure, money may have been rejected, but money is NOT the only thing with which a man can be bribed. People can also be enticed with sex, or power, or influence -something IBB did extremely well.
So are some folks in the SNG using the platform to shop for something other than money? Are some of he folks shopping for political influence?
You will remember the last SNG scandal -when it was alleged that some folks were using the SNG to negotiate political positions. That accusation was not exactly denied, merely rubbished and superciliously dismissed. We refused to join that conversation then, because you do not chase mice while your house is burning.
But is the pattern is beginning to add up ?
(a.) You will notice that after Jonathan became President, it appeared he had no further use for the SNG. And once that happened, SNG itself became critical of the president, and some of its people started supporting other candidates. The Chicken and the egg, which one produced the other ??
Did SNG switch sides because, Jonathan did not deal?
Or did Jonathan refuse to deal because, the SNG switched sides?
You can't help wondering.
(b.) And now, out of the blue, we hear that SNG met with Jonathan! And before the story broke out, some SNG folks had in fact almost started sounding pro-Jonathan again, to my own utter bewilderment I must confess -until I read the story on Saturday.
(c.) So who broke the story to SaharaReporters anyway? Was the story deliberately orchestrated by the SNG, and if so why? Did the story sneak out inspite of the SNG officialdom, and if so why? Something does not compute.
(d.) And then there is the money: Why was the cheque accepted in the first place? If someone gives you a bribe, and you don't want it, normally you would say "thanks, but no thanks", abi? "
So why was the money taken home in the same instance? Did someone want to get a photograph? And they quickily thought of it as soon as the money was offered?
Or was the "transport money" offered to one SNG member, who took it home, before other righteous delegates persuaded him to return it?
Was the money offered in the presence of all of the SNG delegates? And why did Orurube follow them all the way back to the hotel?
We have to ask because, the explanation that was given - that the SNG took the money because, it 'didn't want to create a scene' - makes absolutely no sense.
Alagba Yinka, you must please not take this personally. I have nothing but respect and admiration for your person. And no sir, I am NOT insinuating that some of the folks we respect might have initially considered taking the money. But this story does not compute. Not completely.
And now that the story is out, and both Jonathan's and SNG's camps are openly calling each other liars, we need FULL TRANSPARENCY and disclosure. Otherwise, at the back of their minds, people will always wonder ....
Dominic,
On Sun, Nov 28, 2010 at 11:29 PM, Mobolaji ALUKO <alukome@gmail.com> wrote: Dear All: $50,000 is a lot of dough - and I don't like all of this talk one bit! Someone either offered money or did not offer money. Someone either took money or did not take money. Someone either returned money or did not return money. Someone either took the returned money or did not take the returned money. You cannot be pregnant and not pregnant at the same time. Since you and I were not there at this (in)auspicious meeting, how did anybody know what or whether money was offered or not? Who knew what, and when did they know it? Who wants to rubbish who? The SNG, President Jonathan or Team Jonathan - who are the rubbished and/or the rubbishers? Therefore, we must take (further sworn?) depositions from: to get to the bottom of it all. And there you have it. I don't like all of this one bit, hence my hesitancy when I first heard the news of the SNG visit to Aso Villa.
Bolaji Aluko Shaking his head And suspending judgment __________________________________________________________________________________________ President Jonathan Offered Us $50,000 Bribe, But We Returned It - Pastor Tunde Bakare Confirms Posted: November 29, 2010 - 00:42 Posted by siteadmin Fiery Lagos-based pastor, Tunde Bakare, has confirmed to Saharareporters that President Goodluck Jonathan provided a $50,000 cash bribe to a delegation of the Save Nigeria Group that visited him last Monday, but that the group sent back the money. Pastor Bakare's confirmation came in the midst of a tepid denial of our earlier report by Tony Uranta, one of Mr. Jonathan's political operatives. Uranta had claimed on his Facebook page yesterday that Saharareporters misrepresented the crux of the meeting between the president and the Pastor Bakare-led delegation. Specifically, Uranta denied that Jonathan discussed his ambition to run for office with the SNG delegation. He also stated that no money was offered to the SNG team and claimed that, contrary to our earlier report, the Bakare group had not asked him to return the bribe money to Jonathan. But in a telephone interview with Saharareporters on Sunday evening, Pastor Bakare confirmed that the details of our earlier exclusive report were factual and unimpeachable. Bakare, who has a reputation for speaking out fearlessly on current political issues, affirmed that the Minister of the Niger Delta, Godsday Orubebe, had offered the SNG delegation the sum of $50,000 on behalf of President Jonathan. The SNG had met with Jonathan to review his performance in office. In the phone interview, Pastor Bakare stated categorically that his team was indeed offered money after it submitted a position paper on why it was opposed to the president's ambition to be re-elected. He confirmed that the cash was immediately returned to sender through Uranta, shortly after it was presented to the SNG delegation. The SNG convener told Saharareporters that his team felt terribly embarrassed and offended by the orchestrated attempt by Jonathan and his team to buy the SNG's support through illicit means. An obviously angry Bakare said, "You can quote me. I don't do deals and I don't lie. Tony [Uranta] could be saving his own face. Tony lied that he didn't collect the money from us. There are living witnesses. Orubebe has confirmed to me that the money was returned. Mr. President is aware through Oronto Douglas that we returned his money through Tony." Bakare said he, Yinka Odumakin and other SNG officials went to the meeting with Jonathan with a written document that explained why the SNG would not support his candidacy. "We submitted a document regarding the culture of impunity in which he (Jonathan) continues to swim," he said. As Saharareporters had exclusively reported, Jonathan sought a meeting with the Save Nigeria Group to discuss his ambition to run for office after it dawned on him that former Vice President Abubakar Atiku, the consensus candidate chosen by the so-called Northern Political Elders Forum, was going to present a stiff political challenge. A close aide to Mr. Jonathan told Saharareporters that, whilst Atiku is steeped in corruption, the president was also aware that the Atiku group had a dossier on corrupt deals by both Jonathan, his wife and his close associates and advisors, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo. After Bakare made his presentation and accused Jonathan of having abused the goodwill offered him by Nigerians, the president tried to buy the group's loyalty by giving its officials $50,000 through Orubebe. An Abuja-based democratic activist told Saharareporters that, by attempting to buy the SNG's support, Mr. Jonathan had "exposed himself to charges of hypocrisy and doing the opposite of what he preaches." In a speech on Saturday, Mr. Jonathan had urged Nigerians to ignore politicians who seek to win elections by offering money to groups and individuals. The president gave the do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do sermon at the 2010 graduation ceremony of the Senior Executive Course 32 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in Kuru, Plateau State. Vice President Namadi Sambo represented the president at the event and read the speech on Jonathan's behalf. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ On Sun, Nov 28, 2010 at 10:43 PM, Adebayo Adejuwon <adeadejuwon@yahoo.com> wrote: Chief Ogonna: I get your point. But you are putting me in a difficult position. Honestly you are. I am not too sure Pastor Bakare and SNG have anything to gain by embarrassing the president. I sincerey do not think so. And please dont even allow the idea of SNG extracting a pound of flesh from GEJ cross your mind. Oh no, this will be an unchristian like disposion and I can assure you that nobody in SNG will do that. But, Ogonna, let us look at it this way. If the president men- I mean Orubebe, Oronoto and Tony decides to leak the "gift" to the press, who will believe Pastor Bakare and SNG? Think about it. Maybe such a meeting ought not have attracted any "funding" from the presidency at all. From the report I have read so far, GEJ called the meeting and the agenda was to review GEJs performance so far. What does this tell you? My take is that GEJ reckons with SNG and perhaps, may wish to be given a fair an unbiased assessment of his performance, which, I have reasons to believe, happened. We may not agree on what the larger implication of sending such "gifts" means to the integrity of the two parties. My take is that, some lessons have been learnt and both GEJ and SNG can still collaborate now that the standard is now known. The Orubebe's of this world may just be doing their jobs. And this may just be the way others before them did it. Nothing to worry about. I am sure when next the president host any group, especially, a group whose position on "gifts|" is public knowledge, the conduct of Aso Rock officials will be different. So, Ogonna, it is not about plotting to bring GEJ down. I do not see it as such.
Cc: "NIgerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com" <NIgerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com>; talkniga <talknigeria@yahoogroups.com>; "IgboWorldForum@yahoogroups.com" <IgboWorldForum@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sun, November 28, 2010 7:24:04 PM
Subject: Re: [NIgerianWorldForum] Re: ||NaijaObserver|| President Jonathan Offered Us $50,000 Bribe, But We Returned It - Pastor Tunde Bakare Confirms
Mazi Adejuwon,
My argument is that Bakare is now wallowing in 'petiness' with the current brouhaha reported by Sahara which shouldn't have made the headlines of any respectable 'news organization' EXCEPT for the purpose of polarizing the people for the benefit of those puppetering this 'sick joke'.
Maybe Bakare is now so 'Rich' off of collecting Tithe money and gift bags from his well and connected friends that he forgets that he ridicules the President, good for him. What is the use of 'harping' around like a Pharisee who must shout when delivering his offering so the people can hear?
So are you trying to say that those currently 'dictating' the SNG were are behind Sahara reporters because one became public before the other?? Again your ziggmatics fails my intellect-- so you helped save the humble president, now you wish to humilate him to extract your pound of flesh? How christian-like!
O.M.O.
Sent from my iPhone
The last time I checked Omoyele Sowore has been running Sharareporters before SNG was born early this year. And if I remember very well, the first national assignment SNG gave itself was to help this chicken hearted man called Jonathan who had been humbled by Turai. What is the logic behind your argument.
Gen Vin,
Bakare is letting himself to be disabused via SaharaMalReporters ... But of course we know the same 'progressive hypocrites' behind SNG are also financing sahara-- so it makes sense they would use their media front to launder their rotten magic.
O.M.O.
Sent from my iPhone
Hhhhhhhhhmmmmmmm This story looks crooked coming from sahara. They met with Jonathan..No money given They met with Orubebe..money was given When did orubebe become Jonathan.?? these are two different people Rev bakare. I know the seal to prove purity and lack of sin in you..being too ambitious. Take it easy Bakare...You took the monies all the way home..photographed them...then return them to Jonathan or Orubebe ?. vin....../// yesterdays thoughts are today's news will keep blowing while relaxed.....they are listening | n
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