16th March 1997
[size=18pt]NIGERIANS VOTE IN LOCAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS[/size]
INTRO: Nigerians have shown their wish for elected government by voting massively in council polls, putting pressure on army rulers to restore democracy.

Nigerians crowded heavily-guarded polling stations on Saturday (March 16), to vote in local council elections which opponents of the military government say is a sham and have vowed to disrupt.

In Lagos, Nigeria's commercial hub, armed police stood by as people voted in open ballot system by queuing behind candidates of their choice and being counted.

The Campaign for Democracy pressure group had called for a boycott of the poll and vowed to disrupt the poll after two of its members had been arrested and others harassed by state security agents.

From London, an anti-government group faxed a statement to news organisations in Lagos calling for people from southwestern Nigeria to shun the poll.

But turnout was heavy even in the southwest -- the opposition stronghold and home of Moshood Abiola, the undeclared winner of the annulled 1993 presidential poll which the army scrapped.

Local newspapers said about 50,000 policemen were deployed nationwide to ensure peaceful conduct of the election.

"The crowd is encouraging and so far so good," Adebayo Abdulsalam, the presiding officer at the Lagos City Hall polling centre where long queues of voters had formed, told Reuters.

At Odo-Abore, a notable trouble spot in the outskirts of Lagos, people stormed the polling centre there shouting they had not been registered to vote.

Journalists in the inland capital Abuja said the turnout was strong and residents of the northern Sokoto state, contacted by telephone from Lagos, said many people had turned out to vote.

The vote is the first in Nigeria since the June 12, 1993 presidential election to restore democracy, which the army annulled plunging Nigeria into political crisis.

Abiola has been detained in Abuja since 1994 for proclaiming himself president in defiance of the government.

Rather than new elections, his supporters have called for his release from detention and installation as president.







[size=18pt]28th May 1997 - Beegeagle wordpress
Abacha sends in troop re-inforcements to Sierra Leone as Nigeria flexes muscles as regional Superpower[/size]
Nigerian reinforcements ECOMOG peacekeeping troops arrive on May 28, 1997 at Lungi International Airport in Freetown with a Nigerian Air Force Hercules cargo plane shuttling troops, ammunition and supplies following the military coup in Sierra Leone.









[size=18pt]29th May 1997 - The New York Times
More Nigerian Troops Land in Sierra Leone[/size]

FREETOWN, Sierra Leone, May 28— Several hundred Nigerian troops landed in Sierra Leone today to support the ousted Government's battle to regain control from mutinous soldiers. They joined a Nigerian force that arrived on Tuesday and secured the airport.

The troops' arrival signaled that Nigeria was keeping open a military option to try to restore President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah to power if diplomatic pressure failed.

Mutineers taunted the Nigerian troops as they left their ships and headed for barracks outside the capital, Freetown, where they were to bolster other Nigerians stationed here since 1994.

Those troops were unable to prevent junior army officers from taking over the capital and overthrowing Mr. Kabbah's civilian government in a coup on Sunday that left at least 20 people dead.

Earlier today, the coup leaders scrapped the Constitution and banned political parties but promised a return to ''proper democracy'' in the future.

[size=23pt]Swiss court document on so-called "Abacha Loot" case, shows Abacha was maliciously and unjustly blamed[/size]

http://www.mcswisslaw.com/pages_e/2008%20Monfrini%20-%20The%20Abacha%20Case.pdf

[size=18pt]" The existence of a system of confiscation orders that is independent from a criminal conviction is therefore a necessity in grand corruption cases. In this context, reversing the burden of proof or imposing procedural consequences on the failure of the asset holder to cooperate regarding the origin of the assets, appear to be best legislative practice. The presumption of innocence does not necessarily apply to confiscation proceedings and ‘presumptions of fact or of law operate in every criminal-law system and are not prohibited in principle’ and therefore do not breach the right to a fair trial.28 "[/size]


[size=18pt]This is 21 page Swiss court document but the above extract is very revealing indeed.

Basically, by qualifying Abacha's family members together with PDP stooges claiming to be Abacha's business associates as a 'Criminal Organisation', Nigerian Government did not need to prove that the funds in the foreign accounts belonged to Abacha, The Onus was on Abacha to proof that he was innocent of the charges.

Of course a deceased man could not do that.

Abacha's son Mohammed could not fully challenge the allegations as he was locked up at the time by Obasanjo on trumped up charges.[/size]

The above post should convince any doubters that Abacha was honest and that the money in those foreign accounts were never put there by him.

So basically Obasanjo could have accused you or I that the money in a Swiss account belonged to us and by saying that we are part of a criminal organisation, the Foreign courts would accept our guilt and then put the onus on us to prove we are innocent?

[size=18pt]Wow!!![/size]

[size=38pt]Wow!!![/size]

And if you are deceased as Abacha, it would be impossible for you to prove your innocence right?

This was enough for the usually critical and investigative Western news press to label him a looter?

And all because Abacha never allowed them to control how he ran Nigeria.

Thank God I am now exposing the truth.

The amazing thing is that Nigerians are reading this thread but cannot comment as they have grown to hate Abacha because of all the propaganda, and I guess many do not know how they can get to admit that they have been deceived all these years.

With evidence as explosive as this one would have expected this thread to catch fire!!

I guess most poeple are in shock about all the evidence being presented.

Others may be doing their own ivestigation and clarification.

In either case this is fine.

The important thing is that the truth is now out.

[size=18pt]Abacha: Legacy of a great leader [/size] -by OLIVER OKPALA, a political analyst
ON June 8,1998, one of Nigeria’s erstwhile Heads of State and military chief, General Sani Abacha, passed away in Abuja, the nation’s capital. General Abacha passed on whilst still in office as Head of State. The place of Gen. Abacha in Nigeria’s military and democratic history can scarcely be over-emphasized. He was one Nigeria’s finest military officers.

He was immensely popular and highly respected among his peers in the military and among the civilian populace.

General Abacha came into national prominence in the heady days of the second democratic republicanism in Nigeria which spanned from October 1, 1979 to December 30, 1983. It was General Abacha, then a Brigadier-General, who announced the military take-over of the reins of power from the civilians. It was this coup which brought the regime of Major-Generals Muhammadu Buhari and Tunde Idiagbor to being.

This military putsch was most celebrated and welcomed across the country. The civilian-to-civilian elections had just taken place. The elections were marred by a lot of irregularities. The elections were massively rigged. There were cases of ballot box snatching, illegal thump-printing of ballot boxes, and declaration of false results and outright manipulation of electoral results.

Victors in the elections were turned into losers in broad daylight. Verdict ’83 became magic ’83. Hell was let loose. There was arson, murder, looting, rampage and brigandage, especially in the Western part of the country. The country was literally at the edge of the precipice. Then the military struck. Abacha was the harbinger of this news. The politicians were all sent packing.

The military, with Buhari and Idiagbon as the helmsmen, held sway. When Buhari and Idiagbon derailed from the charted course, it was again General Abacha who announced their removal and the constitution of the Armed Force Ruling Council with General Ibrahim Badamasi Babahgida, IBB, as the military president.

General Abacha played a key role in saving Nigeria from ruin. He came to the rescue of Nigerians together with other military officers to truncate the prevailing political, economic and social rot and decay on the side of the people and to halt the descent of the Buhari-Idiagbon regime to autarchy.

Whilst the Babahigda government mooted the idea of return to civilian rule, General Abacha stood by that resolve and respected the wishes of generality of Nigerians for a quick return to democratic republicanism. General Abacha played a key role as the Chief of Army Staff and later Chairman Joint Chief of Staff. He helped immensely to stabilize the Babangida administration, especially at its inception.

As Chief of Army Staff, General Abacha introduced a lot of reform in the army. The military were carried along in the government. During his tenure as Chief of Army Staff and later as Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, a lot of reforms were introduced in the military as an institution. Many barracks, office blocks and senior staff quarters were established across the military formations in the country. The welfare of the military men and their families were enhanced.

The military began to have a sense of belonging and well-being. General Abacha contributed greatly to the restoration of the lost glory of the military in Nigeria.

Even when the Babangida regime was being roundly castigated, General Abacha kept faith with the government and the Nigerian people. After the June 12 debacle and its attendant hullaballoo and political log jam, General Abacha did not lose faith in the Nigerian people.

When General Babangida stepped aside, General Abacha agreed to stay on to help to bring stability, credibility and a sense of purpose to the Ernest Shonekan-led Interim National Government,ING.

There is no gainsaying the fact that General Abacha played a major role in giving the ING a distinctive feature of credibility and acceptance among the wide spectrum of the Nigeria political class and the international community.

It was due mainly to General Abacha’s sagacity, acumen and professionalism that Nigeria was able to weather the storm of the June 12 political commotion. Abacha acted as a mediator between the civilian populace and the political class on the one hand and the military on the other hand.

Perhaps, at no better time than when the storm of the cancellation of the 1993 presidential election was raging did General Abacha show the great stuff he was made of and his statesman-like leadership and dexterity. In a sense, Nigeria remained an indestructible, corporate entity after June 12, thanks to General Abacha’s mature leadership, great skills and prodigious sense of judgment.

As the Shonekan-led ING was subjected to a barrage of criticisms, nationally and internationally, for its lethargy and lack of direction, General Abacha was the Moses who led Nigerians out of the bridge and an uncertain and bleak future. He took the driver’s seat from Shonekan, infused a sense of direction and business to governance and halted the palpable drift to hopelessness.

As Head of State, General Abacha assembled a wonderful cabinet of experienced men and women from the political class. He also enlisted the services of technocrats. His cabinet was a rich blend of the old and young, the politician and the statesmen, the captains of industry and the bureaucrats. General Abacha tried to assuage the feeling of the political class and the section of the country who felt short-changed by the annulment of the June 12, 1993 election.

His government reached out to all shades of opinion in the country in order to move the country forward.
General Abacha believed so much in deliberation and discussion with the political class on the way forward for the country. He set up a Constitution Review Committee. He also constituted the Constituent Assembly. This Assembly attracted a wide array of both old-breed and new-breed politicians.

The Constituent Assembly brain-stormed and deliberated extensively on democracy in Nigeria. It was in the course of the deliberations at the Constituent Assembly that the idea of the six geo-political zone structure which later represented the basis for zoning and geographical spread in the post-1999 political parties and the Federal Government.

During the Abacha regime, many political parties and associations flourished without let or hindrance. Like-minded politicians held meetings freely and formed a plethora of associations. After the Constituent Assembly, Abacha’s government democratised the local government by conducting peaceful and credible elections of councilors and chairmen. Abacha’s government also conducted House of Assembly and National Assembly elections in the country.

Abacha was so popular that politicians who were eyeing the presidency dropped their ambition and openly called on him to continue his good works. All the political parties adopted him as their presidential candidate. Rallies and conferences were held to persuade Abacha to run for the presidential election.

General Sani Abacha’s legacies are there for all to see. His legacies cannot be obliterated. This great son of Nigeria, nay Africa, deserves the nation’s respect and honour. As a worthy leader and compatriot, Abacha’s place in the Nigeria political pantheon should be assured. This great leader’s place in Nigeria’s history cannot be denied.

As we mark the 13th anniversary of General Abacha’s departure from planet earth, it behoves all men of goodwill and history to immortalize this distinguished Nigerian, selfless leader, fine officer, great reconciliator and consummated administrator.

Sleep on, fearless General, for the labours of our past heroes shall indeed not be in vain. And their memories shall be evergreen. Surely General Abacha’s good works keep his memory well alive.

Mr. OLIVER OKPALA, a political analyst, wrote from Abuja.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/06/sani-abacha-legacy-of-a-great-leader/

[size=18pt]Obasanjo considered bribing Abacha's driver to accuse Abacha in court of looting[/size]

Truth, lies and a conviction

By Abdulrazaq Magaji, (magaji777@yahoo.com)
Abuja, Nigeria

‘Yes, I lied. But I later reflected on my life and what I will meet in the hereafter. Whatever financial reward one gets here for giving false testimony, one will one day definitely die. So, I realized that what I was doing was mortgaging my hereafter, and went back to the court and told them that I lied. I was promised so many things. But let me clarify something first: when I was arrested, my case had nothing to do with Major Al-Mustapha.

I was arrested concerning the issue of Mohammed Sani Abacha. They told me they wanted to recover some money from him and they promised me 10 per cent of whatever they will recover, plus a house at any place of my choice. After convicting him, they will also take me to any country of my choice. Then later, they brought Al-Mustapha’s case, read all the charges against him and told me what to say when I am taken to court.

I went back to the court earlier and said that I lied, but the court still decided to discard my second testimony and based its judgment on the lies I told earlier. That’s why I now want everybody to know the real truth, through other means. Only one promise was fulfilled. They bought me a house in Jos; but I was not relocated to Saudi Arabia and did not get 10 per cent of the Mohammed Abacha loot as I was promised. Even if they fulfill the promises now, I will not accept anything from them. My conscience is pricking me; that is because of my false testimony against an innocent person. That person is now facing death by hanging. If he is killed, his blood is on my hands; and no matter how long I live, one day I must die. So, I want the world to know that he is innocent.’



Read more: http://socyberty.com/issues/truth-lies-and-a-conviction/#ixzz1zCWT2n1j

[size=18pt]26 June 1997 -The New York Times
Nigeria flexes muscles as regional Superpower[/size]

MONROVIA, Liberia— Almost every day, huge Russian-built helicopters fly out of James Spriggs Payne Airport here, raising a deafening din as they ferry troops and artillery to Nigerian positions in neighboring Sierra Leone.

Off Sierra Leone's rainy coast, 250 miles to the east, frigates await orders from Abuja, the Nigerian capital, to shell the shore in post-independence Africa's first exercise in gunboat diplomacy.

Nigeria has explained the operation as an effort to restore -- by force, if necessary -- Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, the democratically elected President, who was overthrown by junior army officers on May 25 in a wildly destructive coup. Publicly at least, the action by Nigeria's military dictator, Gen. Sani Abacha, has generally been applauded by other African states.

The military buildup in Sierra Leone, more than a thousand miles west of Nigeria, is one of many instances in which Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation, has been flexing its muscles and extending its influence in a vast ''neighborhood'' that stretches from Mauritania to Equatorial Guinea.

In many countries, Nigeria's diplomacy goes little noticed by outsiders.

In Gambia, Nigeria has maintained military advisers to assist a young President, recently converted to civilian life, who seized power as a captain in 1994. In Chad, Nigeria subsidizes gasoline consumption, assuring itself strong influence over a long-unstable state. In Benin and Niger, Nigeria brought uncooperative governments to their knees with the simple act of stopping or quietly slowing trade.

And with its unique combination of bluster and sense of mission, Nigeria has mounted full-blown military interventions in Sierra Leone and Liberia that have shown it to be West Africa's lone superpower: a potentially rich nation of 105 million people with immense oil reserves and a large and capable army.

As Nigeria struggles to impose its own style of order on smaller countries, many people are asking whether a military dictatorship renowned for its own disorganization and criminality is fit for the task.

Officials of many West African nations express deep anxiety over what they see as an unstable superpower that flouts common notions of democracy at home while throwing around its weight elsewhere.

For these skeptics, Nigeria's interventions in Liberia and Sierra Leone are best explained as a grab to control rich resources -- diamonds, gold and valuable hardwoods.

''You won't ask me to believe that all of the operations they are undertaking are driven by a sense of noblesse oblige,'' said one senior West African diplomat. ''Nigeria has always seen itself as rightfully dominating this region, and that often involves the grabbing up of resources by their own generals or for their own companies.''

Others see Nigeria's role as largely positive. The West's hasty withdrawal at the end of the cold war allowed Sierra Leone and Liberia to disintegrate into stateless battlegrounds between military governments and local warlords; whatever its motives, defenders point out, Nigeria filled the vacuum.

After seven years of costly intervention to try to end the civil war in Liberia, the closest thing to an American colony that has ever existed in Africa, Nigeria's rulers are now overseeing final preparations for what it is hoped will be this country's first truly democratic elections, on July 19.

''Imagine you are in a river drowning, and a huge snake swims by, so you climb on its back, and it carries you to the bank,'' said Wilson Tarpeh, a prominent Liberian businessman. ''It has still saved your life, even if it remains a snake.

''If we had had the United States or someone else to help us, we would have loved it. But in the end, Nigeria came in and stopped the carnage here and has brought us peace.''

This is clearly the thought that Nigeria's President, General Abacha, a man largely isolated from the world stage because of his military's human rights record, would like the outside world to focus on.

''It is our duty to insure that there is peace and stability in our sub-region because if Sierra Leone were to be destabilized, it will destabilize neighboring countries and would cross to Nigeria,'' Nigeria's Foreign Minister, Tom Ikimi, said recently in a radio interview.


https://www.nairaland.com/693700/abacha-act-against-coup-plotters/7

^ yes , Abacha wos weally weally bad bad man children

[size=18pt]20th January 1998 - BBC News
Abacha orders liquidation of 26 Banks in attempt to clean up banking sector[/size]

Nigeria's Central bank has liquidated 26 banks because of debts totalling nearly $400m. The banks had failed to meet a deadline which expired in December to recapitalise or face closure. The liquidation is part of a crackdown by the current military government on malpractices in the banking sector as Hilary Andersson reports from Lagos.

13 merchant banks and another 13 commercial banks have been liquidated after failing to meet the deadline to put their houses in order. First they were given until March last year to recapitalise, and later the deadline was extended to December.

They've been shut down with almost $400m in outstanding debts. The bank liquidator, the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation, has only got about half the funds necessary to pay back depositors, many of whom have almost given up hope of ever seeing their money again.

The liquidation of the 26 banks is part of a campaign started by the country's military leader, General Sani Abacha, four years ago when he came to power, to clean up the banking sector. He set up the Failed Banks Tribunal which last year investigated and imprisoned many bankers who could be seen, business suits and all, clustered in the squalid conditions of a Lagos detention centre. Some fled abroad to escape arrest.

The banking sector has long been riddled with fraud, with bankers lending themselves huge sums of money and using the banks as a private source of funds for their own business ventures.

Some banks were caught out when currency regulations suddenly changed meaning they could no longer buy currency at one rate and make huge profits by selling it off on the black market for another. Foreign and Nigerian bankers alike say that sanity has returned to the banking sector over the last year, and they give credit to the military government's draconian approach.

https://www.nairaland.com/693700/ghana-must-go-1983-shagari/7


Picture below:
Gen.Abacha with his Sports Minister Jim Nwobodo

[size=18pt]Tribute to Late General Sani Abacha[/size]

By

Muhammad Nourah Bamalli

nourah_bamalli@yahoo.co.uk

In 1990 I was opportuned to have met with General Sani Abacha (then a Major General and Chief of Army Staff) at No. 7 Probyn Road, Ikoyi, Lagos. The meeting was a sheer co-incidence. I had gone to see the then Managing Director of United Bank for Africa (UBA), Alhaji Suleiman S. Baffa, who was also the Chairman of the Lagos State Chapter of the Kano State Foundation, where I served as the Secretary of the Chapter. As a duty I used to go to him frequently to discuss matters relating to the operation of the foundation in the State. That Sunday, I was with him from about 11: 00 in the morning up to about 5: 00pm, when his house boy came in a rush to announce the arrival of some important personality in the house.

Immediately, our host rushed to receive the guest, while I remained seated getting ready to take my leave as soon as the important guest came in. While I was wondering who it would be, General Abacha came in together with another gentleman (an elderly Kanuri man who simply came in and remained quietly seated throughout the period of the visit and was not even introduced). I immediately stood up to receive General Abacha, who came in directly to me, as the next only person, and shook my hands and urged us all to sit down. At this point I indicated my wish to take my leave. To my surprise he objected to my request and insisted I remained seated. I then requested to move to another sitting room, to give them a chance to discuss, but still Alhaji Baffa insisted that I remained seated, and even added that the visit was mainly to say "hello" and nothing more. So I remained seated. This was a rare opportunity to see General Abacha in close contact. My mind kept telling me that this was the man who announced the 1983 coup against the Shagari government, and yet he took time to visit his friends just to say "hello". How amazing! I snatched a close look once again at the smallish man, who by now had started asking his host about the family and other related matters. So this was the "I Brigadier Sani Abacha of the Nigerian Army?" The Abacha, who, in 1987, (then the Chief of Army Staff) had decorated my brother (then Major) late Gen Bamalli with the coveted Chief of Army Staff Award. The no-nonsense Abacha? The Abacha who, for the second time in less than two years (1984 - 1985), announced yet another successful coup of President Ibrahim Babangida? Simply sitting down in a friend's house to say "hello"? Well, here he was doing exactly that. Our (Or I should now say Abacha's host) went in to the inner house and announced the presence of his august visitor to his wife, who immediately came to the living room and exchanged greetings. General Abacha asked the whereabouts of almost all the members of the family, and went on to discuss family matters that I thought only the lesser mortals remember, or have time, to discuss. Otherwise, I said to myself, how could General Abacha ask about the well being of anybody's family? So coup plotting and planning still allows for such human consideration? But indeed here was General Abacha exhibiting elements of human feeling. That done, Abacha began to speak. My attention was immediately drawn to him. He was watching the life sized TV screen in the living room of his host. The TV programme, which was a news item on CNN, was about the dismantling of the Berlin wall, between the East and Western Germany. General Abacha recalled when he visited Germany and insisted in seeing the Berlin wall and even in crossing (from the western side), to the other side, to see for himself. He narrated that he was denied the opportunity, but he insisted, so much so that the adventure turned into a showdown; which he said, was settled by the officials of the Nigerian embassy, who intervened by identifying him to the German officials. In the end he was allowed to pass through and even had the opportunity to ask questions. He narrated the episode so well and so interesting that, even afterwards, I developed interest in the Berlin wall affairs, before it became stale.

After the news report, Alhaji Baffa introduced another topic to his guest. He presented to him some invitation cards in which his family was inviting well-wishers to the opening of a saloon, belonging to one of his daughters at Ikoyi Hotel. He told General Abacha that the cards were actually meant to be sent to Hajiya (meaning Hajiya Maryam Abacha) for her attendance. After carefully reading (I noticed how carefully he read and without glasses (not even his trade mark of dark goggles!) He then asked his host why wouldn't the girl get married instead of opening a saloon? Alhaji Baffa replied that the girl (his eldest daughter I believe) was already married with a child, that she only needed this venture as a business. The relief on General Abacha was great and he went on to remark that:

I have always preferred the girls to marry, particularly

after they graduate from school. I wonder why girls nowadays don't get married. Or is it that the right husbands don't come forward?

He made a fairly long statement on the issue of marriage,

to which his host complemented and supported.

Then came the introductions. The host introduced me to the General, thus:-

Alhaji Baffa: This is Nourah Bamalli.

Gen. Abacha: (Shaking hands once again) How are

you?

Alhaji Baffa: He is the brother of Major

Bamalli.

Gen. Abacha: Are you his junior or elder

brother?

Nourah: (Laughs) No sir I am his

junior brother.

Gen. Abacha: (Smiles) Because you have this beard.

After being served some soft drinks and cakes, General Abacha offered to take his leave. We all stood up to bid him farewell. We again shook hands and he departed. At the time the host was seeing off his guest, I felt I should also see him off to his car, as a mark of respect, instead of just remaining in the living room. So I followed them out. At the door, the two men paused for a while, and I heard General Abacha telling Alhaji Baffa that his brother (referring to me and to late Gen Bamalli) is one of the best officers we have in the army. Just then he turned and saw me and he retreated. And for me, I also quickly turned back to the living room feeling rather embarrassed, but quite happy inside me, for having the singular opportunity to hear General Abacha's true feeling about his younger officers. Talk about General Abacha being insensitive! After a while, my host came back and met me waiting for him. I asked him if General Abacha was his classmate, for him to undertake to pay him such a visit. Alhaji Baffa replied that at the time he left school, General Abacha had not entered, so he was not his classmate. They happened to be friendly through the relationship of their wives, and they have maintained it all along.

Since then I continued to see General Abacha only on TV and on the pages of newspapers. However, the second time I came in close contact with General Abacha was also quite memorable to me. It was in December 1992 on the morning of yet another Sunday, when he came to condole our family over the death of our father, late Alhaji Muhammadu Bamalli Nuhu. General Abacha was amongst the early callers to the house, at about 6.30am, and took part in all the burial arrangements of our dear father (May his soul rest in peace, Amin). He came in like an ordinary man and condoled the family sincerely and immediately left for Lagos. General sani Abacha, the man who was generally misunderstood during the time he lived!

May Almighty Allah grant his soul eternal peace and give

his family, in particular and the country at large, the fortitude to bear his irreparable loss, Ami

http://www.gamji.com/article8000/NEWS8037.htm

I tire ooo

In the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary people taking the poll are still voting that Abacha looted

Ignorance of Nigerians is epic!!

Pic: Gen Sani Abacha with Gen. Useni

[size=18pt]29th November 1996 - The New York Times
Abacha announces launch of Vision 2010 - to raise living standards of Nigerians[/size]

LAGOS, Nigeria, Nov. 28— In the face of widespread skepticism from Nigeria's domestic opposition, Nigeria's military leader, Gen. Sani Abacha, is pushing ahead with an effort to spur economic change and enhance his political image.

This week, the Nigerian Government announced formation of a 170-member committee set up to raise the living standards of Nigeria's 100 million people. The program, known as Vision 2010, was first announced at a conference in September in the capital, Abuja.

Opposition groups immediately criticized the makeup of the panel, which consists almost entirely of establishment figures. The chairman is Ernest Shonekan, head of the short-lived interim Government of 1993 that gave way to the current military rulers. Its members include prominent politicians, traditional rulers and business executives, all culled from among Nigeria's elite.

''We intend to capture the imagination of our people,'' General Abacha said this week.

Nigeria is among the world's top 10 oil-producing nations, pumping 2 million barrels a day, yet its roads and infrastructure are decaying. Poverty is widespread, with some public-sector employees earning as little as $450 a year. Infant mortality is estimated at 75 deaths per thousand births, nearly 10 times the rate in the United States.

While corruption has kept a rich elite comfortable, the middle classes and the poor have suffered a significant drop in living standards over the last decade. A recent study by Transparency International, a group devoted to fighting business corruption, rated Nigeria as the world's most corrupt country, followed by Pakistan, Kenya, Bangladesh and China.

Many ordinary Nigerians blame their country's economic troubles on years of rule by the military. Vision 2010, officials have said, is intended to convince Nigerians that General Abacha's Government is sensitive to the plight of common people.

But not every one is convinced. Some of the sharpest criticism has come from Nigeria's southern newspapers, many of which are critical of the current military Government, which for the last two years has imprisoned the presumed winner of the 1993 elections, Chief Mashood Abiola.

They have portrayed Vision 2010 as a carefully shaped campaign to burnish General Abacha's image, and say the date suggests the military intends to hold on to power at least until 2010.

''2010 Abacha's New Hand-Over Date?'' read the front-page headline of the Tempo newspaper the week the program was begun. One opposition group, the Campaign for Democracy, asserted that Vision 2010 is intended to distract from Nigeria's real problems.

''While the trade-union movement, the intellectual and students' movements, the political and business communities in Nigeria today have been generally pummeled into frustration and general irrelevance, the regime is making claim to implement a vision for the next one and a half decades,'' said Sylvester Odion-Akhaine, one of the leaders of the Campaign for Democracy. ''The Vision is for whom and with whom?''

In contrast to his predecessor, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, General Abacha is a retiring figure who is not often seen in public. A different tone was set in last month's Independence Day celebrations. Instead of the traditional military processions past the country's leader, hundreds of young children stood in rows, North Korean style, singing General Abacha's praises. The general stood facing a huge picture of his face in a stadium covered with slogans proclaiming themes of nationalism, patriotism and stability.

If we had appreciated how good Abacha was whilst he was alive, we may not have allowed the current rogues to ruin Nigeria

19th January 1997 - The New York Time
[size=18pt]U.S accused of sponsoring bombings aimed at distablising Abacha's government[/size]

. .LAGOS, Nigeria, Jan. 18— Nigeria's relations with the United States have deteriorated sharply since a series of unexplained bomb attacks that senior Nigerian officials have said were backed by Western nations.

The bombings, which have taken place in the country's commercial capital, Lagos, have been aimed at military personnel and property. In the most recent, on Tuesday, an explosion destroyed a bus outside an army barracks, killing 2 and injuring 27 of its passengers, who were soldiers.

Nigeria's military Government sees itself as the target of the bombing campaign, for which no one has claimed responsibility. Government leaders have blamed the country's largest opposition group, the National Democratic Coalition, or Nadeco, many of whose members live in the United States.

Nadeco, whose leadership is largely under arrest, has denied any connection with the bombings.

For two years, the United States has led international efforts to isolate the Government of Gen. Sani Abacha, accusing it of severe, widespread human rights violations in Nigeria, which is Africa's most populous country.

The United States, the European Union and the Commonwealth all imposed limited sanctions on Nigeria in November 1995 after the execution of nine human rights advocates, including the playwright Ken Saro Wiwa.

Since the bombing wave began in late November, Nigerian officials have accused Washington, along with Canada and South Africa, of supporting groups that they say seek the violent overthrow of General Abacha's Government.

''Because we are not yielding to their pressure,'' said Information Minister Walter Ofonogoro, ''Western nations are now going about sponsoring people to plant bombs to cause trouble and destabilize our country.''

American diplomats in Nigeria have denied any link to the bombings, which the United States Embassy has denounced. But Nigerian officials have repeatedly raised questions about a State Department warning last month to Americans traveling in Nigeria. Issued after the first two attacks, the statement cautioned that there might be more.

Last month, Nigeria's Foreign Minister, Chief Tom Ikimi, summoned the United States Ambassador, Walter C. Carrington, to a meeting in the capital, Abuja. The envoy was told that the State Department travel warning had been issued to cause disruption.

Mr. Ikimi also said American citizens were being smuggled into Nigeria from Benin in a possible attempt to destabilize the country.

Mr. Carrington, who has been a vocal critic of Nigeria's human rights record, has a history of testy exchanges with the Government. The relationship soured further last week when a newspaper sponsored by the Nigerian Government, The New Nigerian, ran a full-page ''announcement'' from a previously unknown group, the National Association for the Advancement of Nigeria, attacking the envoy.

''Ambassador Carrington is a typical example of the haughty, boot-licking, white-minded but black-bodied scallywags that conscientious peoples all over the world should laugh at,'' the announcement read. Mr. Carrington is black.

The State Department called in Nigeria's Ambassador to the United States, Alhaji Hassan Adamu, to express Washington's displeasure with the attack. But officials said Mr. Adamu denied Government involvement in the newspaper announcement.

https://www.nairaland.com/693700/presid-obasanjo-raids-shuts-insider/7

you are back with your nonsense , abi?

^ I have said it before and I would say it again, you have a right to wallow in your ignorance.

[size=18pt]SERAP to sue Federal Government to show whereabouts of "recovered loot"[/size]

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), an indigenous civil
society organization (NGO) has dragged the Federal Government to court over
alleged failure to release information and documents on the spending of recovered
stolen funds.

SERAP said the suit which was filed last week at the Federal High Court in the
commercial city of Lagos followed a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the
Accountant General of the Federation dated 26 September 2011.

The revelation that Nigerian past and present public officials stashed away the
country’s resources abroad prompted former President Olusegun Obasanjo to
commence bid to recover in 2000, after the inauguration of democracy on May 29,
1999.

To achieve the goal, Obasanjo established the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) and appointed Malam Nuhu Ribadu to head the anti-graft
agency to urgently proceed in the search for over $400 bilion looted by past
leaders of the country.

Many years down the line, hundreds of millions of dollars allegedly stashed by
late General Sani Abacha were said to have returned to the country. Many groups
have claimed that not less than $3 billion was looted by corrupt leaders during the
regime of the late military junta. Some authorities have alleged that the large bulk
of this amount were in Swiss accounts. Jersey Island, for instance, in 2003 was
reported to have returned about $180 million of Abacha’s loot traced to seven of its
banks. So far, the bulk of the alleged Abacha’s money have be traced to and
recovered from Switzerland.

In the same vein, the Swiss ambassador to Nigeria , Dr. Pierre Helg had disclosed
in February 2006 that a whooping sum of $700 million had been returned to
Nigeria .

Meanwhile there were also report that attempt was made by the military regime of
General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) to recover wealth traced to Abacha’s family
between 1998/1999.

On March 22, 1999, Abdulsalami’s regime revealed that Abacha’s son and Bashir
Dalhatu had returned $58m and 30m /Deutsch Mark, while former finance
minister, Chief Anthony Ani, was reported to have returned an undisclosed amount.

As at August 2011, President Goodluck Jonathan has recovered funds amounting
to 22.5 million ponds sterling from the Isle of Jessey in the United Kingdom.

The organization in a statement issued at the weekend, noted that under the FOI
Act, it has the right to request for or gain access to information which is in the
custody or possession of any public official, agency or institution.

The plaintiff explained that the suit is seeking an order “granting leave to the
Plaintiff/Applicant to apply for judicial relief and to seek an order of mandamus
directing and or compelling the Defendants/Respondents whether by themselves
and/or their agents to disclose to and or make available to the Applicant the
information requested as contained in a letter dated 26 September 2011 to the
Accountant General of the Federation.”

According to the plaintiff, “The disclosure of the information requested will give the
general public a true picture and a clear understanding of how the spending of
recovered public stolen funds have impacted on the lives of the poor and indigent
and other disadvantaged Nigerians.”

The statement further disclosed that no date has however been fixed for the
hearing of the application.

NIGERIANS you love deceiving yourself he's a very horrible man and extremely corrupt he ruled for eight years he did nada he did not develop the country he stole so much and committed one of the brutal genocides Africa has ever seen babaginda saved your lives the only problem with babaginda is that his extremely corrupt but his era focused on helping listening and acting fast with the people and development and by far the most transparent president Nigeria has ever seen.

^^ 14 pages of evidence cannot persuade people like you, who are happy to be deceived by lies fed to you, for which there is no evidence to back them up.

Ironic that you are the one talking about Nigerians loving to deceive themselves.

You do not even know how long Abacha served for.

ok if i tell you this guy killed some of my family hey for standing for there rights will you believe me when i was little and be raised in England i heard so much negative news about this man then one day i heard my auntie and uncle had died for standing for there rights i wont lie to you i have meet this man in court (not him exactly) his personal adviser and lawyer i won because they court trial was England and there was enough evidence persecuting him. and who do you think you are to say things like that Nigeria witnessed allot of pain i don't want to insult you i'm a very peaceful guy and i wont embarrass myself online look at wiki leaks and that's just one of my sources i work with the British government so i know very much well what happened
sorry for my mistake he ruled 5 years and did nada.

^
I am sorry if your family member were killed during protests. But why blame Abacha for mistakes made by police?

The negative propaganda against Abacha you where hearing was maliciously orchestrated by the corrupt and genocidal Obasanjo and Babangida and their Western allies / world bank and Swiss and UK authorities.

The purpose of the is thread is to tell Nigerians the truth and rectify over 14years of un-challenged propaganda against the visionary and competent Abacha.

why are you so stubborn ask any Nigerian why is Nigeria democrat because of obasanjo he fought and was locked in jail because of that man your making noise about you need to close this thread and think because my family was killed by him police could have caused the murder but it was his ordering. but i strongly believe that everyone should have there opinion and that's whats killing Nigeria there scared they will get killed if they do or locked in jail by there leaders but in those days Nigerian were smarter they protested so much and allot of people died because of sani abacha(who else would order there innocent deaths).if he was visionary he would have developed the country or did something that touched the people not let them cry then die.i wont argue no more you deserve your own opinion.sorry.

so if your family members are killed during protest, it means that Abacha ordered their killing?

I tire oooo!!

Do you know the fact that there were so many protests during Abacha's regime indicates that he could nothave been the tyrant that that he is being made out to be.

How many street protests did you recall in Iraq during Saddam Hussein's rule - when people are too scared to protest is the real sign that a leader is a tyrant.

You saying Obasanjo brought us democracy? that is not true. Nigerian is not democratic, every elections since Abacha has been rigged and Obasanjo was responsible for most of those rigged elections.

Abacha was developing Nigeria and his economic performance was infinitely better than Obasanjo's in fact since Abacha's death, Nigeria has been hijacked by corrupt criminals like Obasanjo ,IBB and other PDP cronies who have Killed Nigeria.

It is very clear that you have not read this thread before commenting.

anulaxad: why are you so stubborn ask any Nigerian why is Nigeria democrat because of obasanjo he fought and was locked in jail because of that man your making noise about you need to close this thread and think because my family was killed by him police could have caused the murder but it was his ordering. but i strongly believe that everyone should have there opinion and that's whats killing Nigeria there scared they will get killed if they do or locked in jail by there leaders but in those days Nigerian were smarter they protested so much and allot of people died because of sani abacha(who else would order there innocent deaths).if he was visionary he would have developed the country or did something that touched the people not let them cry then die.i wont argue no more you deserve your own opinion.sorry.