It always looked good in principle. It was always articulately put and eloquent speakers and govt functionaries are recruited to sell it. But it turned out to be a curse on the people. It also seemed to happen to nigeria every 13 years! The myth of the cursed unlucky number 13 has gained prominence over the years even hollywood made the huge box office hit 'friday, the 13th'. And i ask myself if this numerically odd number 13 is just a number or if actually carries a huge curse. In 1960, nigeria gained her independence. Lets look at this year as our baseline an obviously significant time in our history. Another significant thing in our history was the discovery of oil. Little wonder the govt signed her FIRST PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT 13 years later in 1973. The beginning of our woes having eaten the forbiden fruit! The sweet crude oil. 13 years later we were in trouble,economic trouble. Suspiciously,13 years before our independence in 1947 the almighty all-knowing IMF had put in motion the marshal plan an began to look into 'helping' out non-european countries. Coincidence? Well, 13 years after signing the first participation agreement in 1973 and promises by govt of PROSPERITY brought us to the IBB era in 1986. This time IMF and ibb gave us SAP. The wonder economic pill. But it got worse it failed! It was an IMF lie! 13 years later in 1999 came Obj ,IMF and their stooge okonjo-iweala with the Debt Cancellation crap! To pay back the same loan we took from IMF For the SAP pill 13years earlier! We made the deal and the nigerian people were promised heaven ! We believed and paid 12b dollars! Things got worse! Now 13 years later its 2012 and IMF Is here with iweala and the weakminded GEJ and another pill -removal of oil subsidy! Another curse another 13 years! 1947 to 1960 to 1973 to 1986 to 1999 to 2012 to,