It seems there is no hiding place for Yar Adua currently from American politicians who are all eager to speak against the Nigerian President. Sad to see how little respect our President commands but it is also understandable that Yar Adua , with his gross ineptitude , is a target no one can fail to hit .

http://www.independentngonline.com/news/tfpg/article01

Bunkering: 20% Of Nigeria's Oil Lost Daily - U.S. Congressman

*Says Aso Rock Aware Of Dealings

*Ghana Woos Nigeria's Oil Majors, Others
By Rafiu Ajakaye and Adeola Yusuf, Lagos (With Agency Reports)

Up to 20 per cent of daily oil production in the Niger Delta is lost to bunkering, an American lawmaker disclosed at the weekend, in what he believes is an illicit trade with the tacit backing of Aso Rock.

Donald Payne, United States House of Representatives Africa and Global Health Committee Chairman, said bunkering in the Deep South is too prevalent to thrive without the support of the Nigerian establishment.

Washington is neither impressed with the happenings, nor with the inaction of President Umaru Yar'Adua who feigns ignorance of bunkering, Payne stressed.

"In the Delta," he explained, "the amount of oil misappropriated is up to about 20 per cent, (which) is flagrant. It is not like diamonds which you can stick in your pocket.

"If you're stealing crude, you have got to have a big pump and a big ship. It is in the water, and everyone has got to see it. So, that means a lot of people are either looking the other way or involved in this skimming."

In his view, Nigeria has a lot of work to do, because it a country that has "so much potential, so many bright people. Here in the United States, you have tens of thousands of Nigerian doctors.

"Nigeria is a country where it is a part of their heritage to get an education, become a professional, work hard. So, there is no need for (the) country to have the abject poverty it has, and the opulence on the other hand.

"It is too much of a disparity. We certainly need to focus on Nigeria."

In what explains why U.S. President Barack Obama shunned the continent's most populous nation in his first touchdown in sub-Saharan Africa, Payne repeated that Yar'Adua's election fell short of democratic expectations - a fact made worse by his poor performance so far.

"We are disappointed that the new government of (Yar'Adua) has not focused more on the Delta region. We visited (him) in Nigeria right after his election. We said we had concerns about the fact that the election appeared not to be transparent, did not appear to be fair and free.

"It was not an election to be proud of. He agreed that the election was less than perfect and appointed a commission to look at how to strengthen the electoral process."

Payne has represented New Jersey 's 10th District in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1989, and is about the most respected American lawmaker on African affairs.

Nearer home, the gale of oil boom blowing in Ghana has started to lure some major oil companies in Nigeria to the former Gold Coast.

Ghanaian President, John Attah Mills, has already confirmed that he has "seen all sorts of people flocking into (the oil fields). People knocking on our doors, making all sorts of proposals."

If consultation by Ghanaian officials and the oil majors yield results, it could halt the development of new oil projects and hamper ongoing ones in Nigeria.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Ghana could earn over $20 billion from only one of its first offshore field, and this has led to a rush, because "oil companies are in business whose natural law advocates that you run it at gain when you run in a peaceful and friendly environment.

"But it would be very difficult at a tensed environment," said a source in one oil firm.

Particularly so, as Attah Mills has declared that Nigeria is not a good example for his country when it comes to oil industry activities.

Tullow Oil announced on July 13 that the Ghanaian Energy Minister has approved the Jubilee field Phase 1 development plan and unitisation agreement.

Phase 1 calls for up to 17 wells, including up to nine oil producers, five water injection wells, and three gas injection wells.

Water, and possibly gas, injection wells will enhance production and maximise oil recovery by maintaining reservoir pressure.

Gas will be available for export to shore, and or re-injected into the reservoir, thereby eliminating gas flaring.

Hmm, this is one of the most objective comments coming from the US. One devoid of conspiracy theories, just issues and facts. Hope this is the new USA.

Afam:

Hmm, this is one of the most objective comments coming from the US. One devoid of conspiracy theories, just issues and facts. Hope this is the new USA.

Indeed but notable is the fact that the main commentator , Donald Payne, is the Chairman of of the American house of Rep commitee on Africa and Global Health. He , Mr. Payne , is likely to have detailed knowledge about the workings of many African countries.

The USA may be self-serving most of the time but their current stance against illegitimate and corrupt Nigerian leaders is to be applauded by every Nigerian who sees the big picture . Our leaders , and indeed many Nigerians , can continue with self-delusional noise about how the USA is not in a position to lecture anyone but we all know which nation , between the USA and Nigeria , is a disgrace with how it cannot even give majority of its people electricity, potable water, decent roads, adequate healthcare, robust education, etc, etc mainly due to the type of unchecked corruption and lootocratic leadership Obama and other American politicians are now speaking against.

Sure, I agree with you on this one.

I never hide my dislike to the double standards and hypocrisy of the West as regards their meddling in the internal affairs of other sovereign nations especially to serve their selfish interests.

So, in fairness to them whenever we see objective analysis it makes perfect sense to applaud them.

Unfortunately, there are many people on this forum that sees any negative remark on the West to mean hatred for the West and some religious bigots would even push the envelop to include anti-semitism.

Afam:

Sure, I agree with you on this one.

I never hide my dislike to the double standards and hypocrisy of the West as regards their meddling in the internal affairs of other sovereign nations especially to serve their selfish interests.

So, in fairness to them whenever we see objective analysis it makes perfect sense to applaud them.

Unfortunately, there are many people on this forum that sees any negative remark on the West to mean hatred for the West and some religious bigots would even push the envelop to include anti-semitism.

That is my stance also. I hope the USA , and perhaps the developed nations , will see the need , given the current perilous state of World finance , to move beyond self-servitude and populist rhetorics in taking action against African nations where the electoral will of the people is continously ignored like Nigeria. It is one thing for Obama to talk the talk but an ethically and morally sincere USA should consider sanctions against Nigeria and its ilk in Africa if harmful election rigging persist - especially at Presidential and Gubernatorial level .

Sincere Electoral reforms is where we begin the turnaround of Nigeria . It is pointless hoping for change from the current crop of Nigerian leaders because they do not have the peoples mandate and they are not in office to serve anyone but themselves, their godfathers and associates !!!

Nigeria can be greater than any African nation when Nigerians get the genuine chance to vote in the Fashola's of the world rather than have grossly  inept and thieving rogues like Yar Adua and Alao-Akala imposed on them by heartless godfathers like OBJ!!!!

This is why Obama stated that Africa needs strong institutions (e.g a fair and democratically strong electoral sector ) instead of strong men.