Micmac à Dakar

LÉxpress: Vincent Hugeux: 22/02/2007:

Rumeurs de réconciliation entre le président Wade et son ex-héritier Idrissa Seck, hésitations autour du calendrier électoral... L'incertitude domine la présidentielle du 25 février

Le Sénégal fut, en 2000, le royaume de l'alternance tranquille. Sera-t-il, un septennat plus tard, celui de la continuité fébrile? A la veille du premier tour du scrutin présidentiel, fixé au 25 février, de lourds nuages obscurcissent l'horizon du pays de la teranga, devenu indéchiffrable.

Témoin, l'étrange tango que dansent le sortant Abdoulaye Wade, 80 printemps avoués, et son ancien Premier ministre et ex-héritier présomptif Idrissa Seck, un temps frappé par une disgrâce qui lui valut sept mois de prison. Tous deux figurent parmi les 15 candidats à la magistrature suprême, mais le «pacte secret» qui les lierait plonge leurs partisans respectifs dans une perplexité teintée de ressentiment, tant étaient virulents les anathèmes échangés naguère par Gorgui - le Vieux - et Ngorsi - le Garçon. Le rabibochage claironné par la présidence pourrait certes inciter l'ambitieux «Idy» Seck à attendre son tour. Mais un tel ralliement dérouterait une base qui rêve d'en découdre. Au sein du clan Wade, le scénario hérisse des personnages aussi influents que le ministre de l'Intérieur, Ousmane Ngom, ou Karim Wade, fils et conseiller spécial du prophète du sopi (changement). D'autant que quadras et quinquas verraient d'un mauvais oeil l'adoubement, fût-il différé, d'un rival dont la jeunesse - 47 ans - sonnerait le glas de leurs ambitions.

Les indices de nervosité au sommet sont légion. A commencer par la brutalité de la répression d'un modeste défilé dakarois, le 27 janvier, prélude à l'interpellation musclée d'une poignée de figures de proue de l'opposition, dont l'ancien chef du gouvernement Moustapha Niasse et le socialiste Ousmane Tanor Dieng. Les atermoiements relatifs au calendrier électoral ont eux aussi de quoi donner le tournis.

Acte I: «Ablaye» Wade décide, au nom d'un louable souci d'économie, de marier les échéances présidentielle et législatives.

Acte II: à quelques semaines du jour J, un arrêt opportun du Conseil d'Etat impose le découplage des scrutins, donc la prorogation jusqu'en juin du mandat des députés. Lecture politique? Gorgui a d'abord parié sur sa popularité, érodée mais indéniable, pour entraîner dans son sillage le Parti démocratique sénégalais (PDS). Avant de mesurer combien le discrédit frappant les élus de son camp risquait de plomber sa performance. Les législatives pourraient d'ailleurs accoucher d'une assemblée indocile, contraignant Wade à rééditer la vaine offensive de charme déclenchée à l'automne 2006 en direction des cadors de l'opposition, invités à rallier un cabinet d'union nationale.

Une certitude: la garde rapprochée de l'ancien avocat au crâne poli veut à tout prix voir son héros rafler la mise dès le premier tour. Tant elle craint, en cas de ballottage, l'impact d'une alliance de circonstance unissant les anti-Wade. Déjà, si plusieurs opposants historiques se résignent à la défaite, d'autres, plus radicaux, agitent le spectre de la fraude, invoquant le retard pris dans la distribution des cartes d'électeur. Nul doute que l'annonce d'un triomphe par KO d'Ablaye lèverait un vent de fronde dans les banlieues déshéritées du Grand Dakar, là où les jeunes candidats à l'exil rapatriés d'Espagne remâchent leur amertume. D'autant que les «grands chantiers» de Wade le visionnaire - échangeurs urbains, hôtels de standing, nouvel aéroport - n'ont en rien adouci le quotidien des plus humbles. En fait de chantier, le plus urgent n'est pas le moins ardu: déblayer le boulevard qui mène au palais.

LÉxpress : 22 /02 /2007

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Source : Walfadjri : Retrouvailles entre WADE et Idrissa SECK :

Les termes d'un accord secret

Abdoulaye Wade capitule devant Idrissa Seck. C'est la lecture qui s'impose après la déclaration, hier, du chef de l'Etat sénégalais qui a blanchi, publiquement, son ancien Premier ministre à propos des chantiers de Thiès et de toutes les autres accusations qui pesaient sur ce dernier. Une vieille exigence, en fait, du maire de Thiès que vient de satisfaire le président Wade qui, de sources digne de foi, aurait même accédé à une autre revendication de son ‘fils d'emprunt' : se retirer de la course à la présidentielle au profit d'Idrissa Seck.

Source : Walfadjri

Abdoulaye Wade, secrétaire général national du Pds, pourrait ne pas se présenter à la prochaine élection présidentielle. C'est en tout cas l'une des exigences d'Idrissa Seck qui a, du reste, toujours clamé que la condition sine qua non à des retrouvailles entre lui et son ancien mentor était que ce dernier se retire à son profit. Des sources dignes de foi affirment que le président Wade aurait accédé à cette demande. Si cette information se confirme, Idrissa Seck devrait être le candidat d'un Pds réunifié. En retour, l'ancien Premier ministre appuyerait l'idée d'un report de l'élection présidentielle après celui des législatives. ‘Pour permettre à Wade d'achever ses chantiers’, commentent nos interlocuteurs. Mais, cette formule n'est pas sans conséquences. Les risques d'un vote sanction de la part de responsables et de militants du Pds hostiles aux retrouvailles entre Wade et Seck sont réels. Et le peuple dans tout cela ? Par ailleurs, l'idée d'un report de l'élection présidentielle ne va certainement pas agréer l'opposition qui s'est montrée particulièrement virulente après celui des élections législatives. Non plus, les alliés d'Idrissa Seck au sein de la coalition Jamm-Ji, la Ld/Mpt et le Ps principalement, renseignent des sources proches de ces deux formations politiques, ne seraient pas favorables à ce report. Tout comme les retrouvailles entre le maire de Thiès et le chef de l'Etat sénégalais, annoncées par ce dernier, ne les enchantent point.

C'est, d'ailleurs, pour cette raison qu'Idrissa Seck a diféré, hier, son point de presse pour aujourd'hui, afin de tenter de rallier à sa position ses alliés dans la coalition Jamm-Ji. Dans la nuit d'hier, une rencontre tripartite entre le maire de Thiès,Ousmane Tanor Dieng et Abdoulaye Bathily devait avoir lieu. Si un accord est trouvé, il devrait permettre de mettre sur pied une nouvelle alliance entre le Ps, la Ld/Mpt et le Pds sous la réfule d'Idrissa Seck. Le tête-à-tête entre le président Wade et Idrissa Seck qui eu lieu, hier, au palais de la République est l'épilogue de plusieures démarches entreprises depuis plus de six mois. Les premiers a avoir tenté de réconcilier le ‘père’ et le ‘fils’ sont Jean Pierre Bloch, qui se trouve être un ami commun du président Wade et de son ancien Premier ministre, et Reffeck Bourgi. Bien plus tard, l'homme d'affaires proche du chef de l'Eat sénégalais, Pierre Aïm, entrera en action. Ce dernier a d'ailleurs séjourné pendant deux mois dans la capitale sénégalaise pendant lesquels il rencontrait Wade le jour au palais présidentiel et, la nuit, il se rendait au point E chez Idrissa Seck. Cette gymnastique, Pierre Aïm l'a poursuivie jusqu'à l'éclatement de l'affaire des milliards de Taïwan. Il s'éclipsera pour laisser la place de go betweem à Cheikh Béthio Thioune qui fera long feu ainsi que le président du Conseil de la République, Me Mbaye Jacques Diop et Awa Guèye Kébé, cette dernière a été reçue cinq fois de suite par le chef de l'Etat sénégalais. ‘C'est, donc, de guerre lasse que le président Wade a décidé d'explorer la piste religieuse’, soulignent nos sources. Il s'en est alors ouvert aux khalife général des Mourides et des Tidianes, Serigne Saliou Mbacké et Serigne Mansour Sy. Les deux guides religieux sensibles à sa requête, désigneront Serigne Abdoul Aziz Sy Junior comme médiateur. Celui-ci, après moult démarches, non sans casuistique, a réussi à convaincre Idrissa Seck à s'asseoir avec Wade autour d'une même table. Circonspect, et pour éviter la déconvenue de Moustapha Niasse après son audience avec Wade, Idrissa Seck pose trois conditions. D'abord, il a exigé du médiateur principal, à savoir Serigne Abdoul Aziz Sy Junior, qu'il fasse une déclaration publique pour dire qu'il a ‘forcé’ le maire de Thiès à prendre langue avec son ancien mentor ; ensuite que Wade le blanchisse publiquement à propos des chantiers de Thiès et, enfin, que le chef de l'Etat accepte de parler avec lui de Tout. Ces trois conditions remplies, Idrissa Seck pouvait alors s'asseoir à la même table que Wade. Pendant près de quatre heures d'horloge, ils ont discuté, hier, de Tout comme souhaité par Idrissa Seck. Et sans témoin. Le médiateur, Serigne Abdoul Aziz Sy Junior n'a assisté qu'au début du tête-à-tête (dix minutes) et à la fin de celui-ci pour, nous dit-on,’harmoniser les positions’. Au sortir de la rencontre, Wade annonce ses retrouvailles avec Idrissa Seck. L'ancien Premier ministre se prononce sur la question aujourd'hui.

Source : Walfadjri

L'envoyé spécial de la CEDEAO sur la crise sociale, en Guinée

Je suis optimiste. Si en tout cas on se met tous ensemble, nous pouvons parvenir à notre objectif commun, celui d'aboutir au rétablissement de la paix et de la quiétude sociale en Guinée." Voila ce qu'a déclaré le jeudi 22 février 2007 l'ancien président nigérian à sa sortie d'audience avec le Premier ministre guinéen Eugène Camara. La rencontre qui a eu lieu au petit palais présidentiel de Conakry à Kaloum, s'inscrit dans le cadre du mandat confié au Général Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida par la présidence en exercice de la Communauté Economique des Etats de l'Afrique de l'Ouest.

En effet, désormais médiateur de la CEDEAO et de l'Union Africaine dans la crise sociale qui oppose le gouvernement guinéen aux syndicats du pays, le grand commandant de la République fédérale du Nigeria fait en même temps office de conseiller personnel des deux institutions précitées auprès du Général-Président Lansana Conté sur cette question. A ce titre, il pourrait apporter son appui politique et financier au niveau des partenaires de la Guinée pour la mobilisation des fonds nécessaires à la mise en application des accords signés par les parties en négociations dans cette crise. C'est, entre autres, pour cette raison que l'ancien chef d'Etat nigérian est pour la deuxième fois consécutive à Conakry pour s'entretenir avec les différents groupes de cette crise sociale, en compagnie du président de la commission de la CEDEAO.

Après ses entretiens jeudi avec le Premier ministre Eugène Camara, les présidents des institutions républicaines (l'Assemblée nationale, la Cour Suprême, le Conseil Economique et Social), la délégation du Général Babangida rencontrera les autorités militaires guinéennes, les chefs des confessions religieuses (Imams et Archevêques), les ambassadeurs de la CEDEAO, ceux de l'Union Européenne, la coordination du système des Nations Unies, l'ambassadeur américain, les syndicats, la société civile et les parts politiques. Et avant de quitter Conakry samedi 24 février, l'envoyé spécial de la CEDEAO sera reçu en audience par le chef de l'Etat, le Général Lansana Conté.

Tous ces contacts permettront sans nul doute au Général Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida d'être à même de donner des informations fiables et crédibles à ses mandataires sur ce qui se passe en Guinée, dans la perspective de la recherche d'une solution idoine de sortie de crise.

Parallèlement à cette mission, une délégation de hauts fonctionnaires de la commission onusienne des droits de l'homme, comprenant Madame Marie Thérèse et Monsieur Roberto Ricci, s'est entretenu jeudi avec le chef de la diplomatie guinéenne. Au cours de cette autre audience qui a également porté sur les incidents consécutifs à la grève de l'inter centrale CNTG-USTG élargie à l'USTG et à l'UTDG, Mamady Condé a insisté sur l'esprit d'ouverture du gouvernement guinéen à propos des événements qui ont eu lieu. Evénements qu'il a largement expliqués aux missionnaires de la commission des droits de l'homme de l'ONU. Ces derniers ont posé quelques questions de compréhension sur la procédure juridique engagée à cet effet. Des questions pour lesquelles de satisfaisantes réponses ont été apportées au cours d'une seconde audience avec les autorités judiciaires de notre pays. Car en fait, la Guinée a mis en place une commission de supervision des enquêtes relatives aux incidents tragiques survenus lors des différentes grèves que notre pays a enregistrées.

Dépêche de Cissé Aboubacar, correspondant diplomatique de Guinéenews© à Conakry

‘Obasanjo has no right to sack Atiku’

From GODDY OSUJI, Enugu

Saturday, February 10, 2007

As the political battle between President Olusegun Obasanjo and his deputy, Atiku Abubakar rages on, the Chairman Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Enugu State branch, Mr. Ikeazor Akaraiwe, has blamed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the unending crisis.

But even as he condemned the declaration of the Vice President’s office vacant, Ikeazor argued that Atiku should have followed the parh of honour by tendering his resignation letter "PDP actually is the cause of the problem because when it gained from the governor of Jigawa state, they (PDP) said nothing and when the governor of Sokoto state left ANPP their rival, to join DPP they said nothing, they were quite happy that the ranks of their opponent is being depleted but now that their own man is doing it, they reacted".

Akaraiwe however said that for the fact that PDP did not speak up does not mean "we ought to condone something wrong".

In an exclusive interview with Saturday Sun in Enugu, the NBA branch chairman faulted the Vice President, pointing out that the situation "is that the Vice President has declared intention to contest the office of the president under the platform of AC whereas he is the vice president under the platform of PDP, by doing that, legally in my view, the purpose of section 243 of the Nigerian constitution, is that he can no longer remain the vice president of Nigeria on the platform of PDP.

But can the president sack him, which is another issue. The issue is that does he remain the vice president of Nigeria having left the party by which he got to office? In my view he cannot, the honourable thing if he has honour, would have been to resign. But can the President sack him or declare his office vacant, in my view the constitutionality of the alleged vacation of the Vice President is in doubt, the president cannot, he should go to court to ask the court to interpret the constitution vis a vis what the VP has done or go to the National Assembly to impeach him. All I am saying affects all the others who defected and still retain their offices. You cannot come to office on the platform of party A and leave the office to contest another office on the platform of another political party and remain in office".

A way out of the logjam

In my view, Atiku Abubakar must maintain honour. From the moment he began to find it impossible to work with the president, making critical statements against government policies he is part of, he ought to have resigned. The way out of this logjam is for the President to go to court for the interpretation of the constitution if he (Atiku) has the right to still remain in office having declared for another political party’. Instead of his (Obasanjo) aides heating up the polity, they should respect the judiciary and the sensibility of Nigerians".

Peter Obi’s impeachment

Akaraiwe disagreed with the comments of the Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN) over the impeachment of Peter Obi and the Appeal Court judgment where he (Ojo) said that Gov. Etiaba should remain in office contrary to the court order until the appeal is resolved. He argued, "The moment that court gave an order that Obi should go back to office, Mrs. Etiaba should have toed the pah of honour and step down immediately".

What is happening now is that the judiciary is beingridiculed. It is for the loser in that case that’s supposed to apply for a stay of execution and if court grants that, then she can remain in office. But I am not aware that anybody has done that. What Ojo has said in my view is his own opinion and for Etiaba to remain in office on the basis of that statement is unacceptable. The statement does not carry the force of law", he contended.

On the violation of court orders by governments, the NBA chairman frowned at government continuous deprecation and the irresponsible habit of disobedience to court orders and "we say it is wrong and will continue to condemn it and the PDPbeing the party in control of federal and most states have acted reprehensibly and irresponsibly and the bar will not continue to sit idly while court orders are disobeyed. Last time we went on strike for two days but now we will do more than strike. The issue will be tabled before the NEC in Owerri.

The Enugu State NBA chairman commended the Nigerian Judicial Council (NJC) for suspending the judges that handled the impeachment of Govs. Ladoja and Obi and called for their immediate dismissal as a way of putting away these reprehensive behavior beyond that, he expressed worry over his colleagues, who are Attorney Generals who collaborate with governments and advised them to throw in the towel in such situation.

'Those who thought I wouldn’t survive in office for more than 3 months are now courting me'

By CHIDI OBINECHE Thursday, February 22, 2007

Kogi State governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, says his initial antagonists in office have turned round to embrace him, having come to know much about him.

Idris, who already has the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket in his kitty for the April 14, 2007 elections, believes that this turn around in his relationship with the people puts him in good stead for a second term in office.

Fielding question from journalists in Lagos, Gov. Idris revealed that when he came into office in 2003, some skeptics didn’t give him a chance. They felt he might not run the state for even three months. Having put them to shame, he is now marching assuredly with the people, doling out goodies for them and enjoying their goodwill, to the extent that he now contends that a gang up of all the parties cannot truncate his comeback bid.

"Even if all the parties come together against PDP, I am assuring you that by God’s grace, we will kick all of them out," he says.

Congratulations for the survival of your daughters in the ADC crash. What is your experience as far as the crash is concerned?

You may not believe it even when I heard about the crash and I was made to believe that my three daughters were on the plane, I was not moved at all because I had confidence that my daughters would be okay. Even after I heard that the plane caught fire in the air, I told my son who was with me that my conscience told me that every thing was okay because I didn’t see any reason my three daughters would die in a plane crash. I found it so difficult to believe.

After being the governor of Kogi State for three years, what have been the challenges? Now that you are contesting for the second time, what are your priorities for the state if elected for the second term?

You have to know that I came from the private sector into the public service. There are two different things. The unfortunate part of it is that when people in the private sector want anything done, it is done immediately because they are always looking forward to the result. That has always been my lifestyle from the beginning.

When I came in, I didn’t find it easy at all with the civil service because things refused to work the way I wanted it and that meant I had to do something. I said that if I had to take the challenge by fighting or by being too hard, I might not get the result, I had to educate them on how I wanted my administration to run. It took me some time, but I was fortunate to get their cooperation and they have adjusted. For instance, on my assumption of office, I discovered that if an approval was given for money to be disbursed, it doesn’t come out on time. I told them I would not take that nonsense and I told them that henceforth any approval must not take more than three days.

Since then and up till now, some even took a day, but the highest is two days and there are so many things I met on ground that were not supposed to be. I believe in encouraging the workers, making them feel they are part of me and I had to carry them along and also give them their due respect and what they are supposed to have by right, like salaries, benefits and so on. As soon as that is done, they will be happy. If it has always been so in the private sector, I am sure it could be so in the civil service and that is why I have been getting on with them.

When you came into office, there were backlog of loans and emoluments left by the former administration. How have you been able to pay as well as embark on development projects?

It has not been easy actually, because as I am talking to you, I am still paying the last loan that my predecessor took, about N2 billion. I was the one that paid off that loan and they initially asked me to pay about N1.4 billion as interest. I told them no, that I was not going to pay because it seemed that there were some plans to defraud the government. If not, why was it not inclusive while they were taken from the allocation? I decided that I was not going to pay. Of course, I went to court and instead of paying N1.4 billion, they brought it down to N620,000, which I am still paying up till now. I am paying N50 to N100 million every month to clear that one.

Beside that, there are other debts that have been hanging on us. Government is a continuous exercise. You continue to do the little you can and squeeze out again for development. Naturally in government, everybody expects you to do something. They want to see your achievements .

Where this is not there, they would feel you have done nothing. Nobody would ask you whether you have the money or not or whether you use the money in paying debt; nobody cares what you have been able to do as at the time in question. I am happy that I have been able to manage the resources available and I have been careful and making sure that every thing is in place just as I did in my private business.

You just secured the ticket for the second term. How do you see Kogi politics in the past three years as governor?

Many people outside Kogi politics feel people in Kogi fight themselves, probably that might be the experience of people who are not within, but it is not so. I think there are problems everywhere, but I believe that our own is well managed. If not, it could escalate like other people’s. I believe for you to have people rooting for you, first of all you must show good example. You must earn their feeling trust and by the time you are able to win their hearts, whatever you tell them, they would believe. Initially, it was not easy because the people needed to understand and some people felt I would not handle or administer the state for even three months.

I am sure most of them are surprised and they couldn’t believe what they have seen. I have never been a failure and I would never be a failure I look at it as a challenge not only from God but even from the people who feel I have been asked to come and do these things for them. I believe that God has a hand in it. I always have that at the back of my mind. I believe that after the first and second year, most of the people must have been known the kind of person I am. They are now convinced that I am not somebody they need to fight.

All of them decided to work with me. I am happy and grateful that most of them who were not with me before eventually came in, and they became my best supporters. I don’t see Kogi State as a state that is volatile. The secret behind it is patience and tolerance. If you are able to have these two qualities, you have no problem because everything will come and it will pass.

Recently, it was learnt that the EFCC officials were here in Kogi. So, what is the latest on this?

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), as far as I am concerned, is a blessing to me because I know there are so many petitions, not only in Kogi but in so many other states and I am sure they have visited all the states in Nigeria and I am looking forward that they should visit us too, so that we see whether we are doing the right thing. When I learnt they invited a few people, I said fine. Let them come and ask us what these people petitioned about, whether it was true or lies. I think it is only in Kogi State where the people invited by EFCC were discharged the same day. I believe it is the right thing because they are doing their job.

For example, they said the Meme Bridge was built for N1.5 billion which is not true, it is just N208 million. All these claims are not true. So, you can see how they magnify the whole thing. To me, EFCC is a blessing because I would be clear myself and I am sure that after this, they will know that there are states with transparent dealings. I am happy with it because I want to be checked to ascertain my deed. Whoever you are, if there are no checks and balances, you may loose. Let us see it as something good for the whole country and even for us that are governors.

In 2003, it is ANPP and PDP that contested. This time, we have ANPP, AC alliance PDP and others. What are your chances in the forthcoming elections?

As far as I am concerned, ANPP and AC, are no threat. They are no threat at all, because already we are holding the crown and we are still holding the public, not because we are PDP, but because of what we have been able to do for the people. We must know that it is the people who decides who to serve them and if people have seen what the PDP government has done compared with what ANPP has done, they would make up their minds on who should be there. I am not bothered at all. There must be a contest and when the day comes, we all go to the polls and then we see who is more popular. Even if all the parties come together against PDP, I am assuring you that by God’s grace, we will knock all of them out.

There has been call for power shift. What is your stand on it?

Power shift is in order. It will be wrong for anybody to say there won’t be power rotation and as far as I am concerned, I am not part of it. I am one of those who are clamouring for power shift for peace to reign in any state or in any country and it has happened in Nigeria. Those days, northerners believed power must never leave the North. Nobody believed it would happen, but if it happened and it has gone to the South West and it would still go to the South-east. It is our right that any other region must have a taste of power. We must take note of what is happening in Nigeria. Power would return to the North. Next time it should go back to the South.

This will bring about peace and harmony. The same thing should happen in Kogi State among the three senatorial districts we have. I am in support of this and I am working towards it.

Distribution of projects

Why should I give people basic amenities because they did not vote for me? Why? Any leader who does that is a selfish leader and I don’t call that person a leader. I must be fair and ensure justice in all I do. Whatever I have done for East, where I come from, is what I will do in other zones. For example, roads are scattered all over the place; I never concentrated them in any zone. Water and school are evenly distributed. For instance, Okene didn’t vote for me, that does not gives me the power to neglect them. No, I can’t do that because Okene is part of my place, and they are part of me.

New university

Education is our backbone. In fact, it is better to give your children education than money. I take education as a priority. As at today, I doubt if there is any state, which can compete with Kogi. Though they say I am the first in North/West and third in the whole Nigeria, I doubt if there is any state that will compete with me. When I came in the university was a glorified secondary school. I knew what it means to the people of Kogi State. I went to the university personally to confirm what the problem was. I promised that before the end of the year, most of the courses would have been accredited. Today, I am proud and happy and I thank God to have fulfilled my promise. For now, we have 15 courses accredited.

Most states of the federation disputed the figures given to them by the recent census in the country. Would you say they got the right figure in Kogi State?

I believe we worked hard to ensure everybody was counted. I have the feelings that most of the people were counted. I believe that the people should do their job well and make sure that all that were counted were actually featured. Actually, we have not been able to get the breakdown to know precisely, what we have in different senatorial districts. Maybe that would tell us whether they got the actual figure.

Nigerians have expressed doubt about the sincerity of INEC, ahead of the 2007 elections. Most people felt it might not be free and fair. Are you worried about it especially when people feel that forces in Aso Rock are controlling INEC?

I am not worried. Why won’t they conduct free and fair election? Again, what would they gain in causing problem in Nigeria. As far as I am concerned, I don’t believe that they are being controlled or somebody somewhere is teleguiding them. I am sure they know what they are doing.

What is your message to the Kogi citizens?

My message is that so far so good. It has been quite good. Even if you notice the primaries we had, it was one of the best primaries we had in Nigeria and that is a pointer that we are getting better. I believe that elections in Kogi State will be free and fair. People now know that there is no need for violence. I believe it is going to be peaceful.

Du plan Pan Sahel au contrôle pur et simple du Sahel...Le Pentagone s’installe en Afrique subsaharienne

Alwihda 22/02/2007)

L’annonce a été faite le 6 février 2007 par le secrétaire américain à la Défense, Robert Gates. Le Pentagone va mettre en place un commandement militaire régional pour l’Afrique pour superviser les opérations de lutte contre le terrorisme et les relations américaines avec ce continent.

La nouvelle version de ce qui est convenu de nommer la Pan Sahel initiative (PSI) a déjà été mise en place avec un budget de plusieurs millions de dollars supplémentaires.

Ce qu’a annoncé en substance Robert Gates devant de hauts responsables du Pentagone vient confirmer le déploiement de soldats américains dans la région du Sahel et du Maghreb depuis l’annonce par Al Qaïda d’un nouveau front pris en charge par l’ancien GSPC algérien dont les rangs ont été alimentés par d’autres factions libyennes et marocaines.

« Le président George W.Bush a décidé de créer un nouveau commandement unifié pour l’Afrique » , c’était le message délivré par Robert Gates lors d’une audition devant une commission du Sénat qui devait étudier les modalités de cette nouvelle initiative créée pour renforcer le PSI (Pan Sahel Initiative).

Il faut ici préciser que le programme remonte à l’année 2003.En effet, dès le mois de janvier 2004, des moyens considérables ont été déployés par l’armée américaine pour soutenir la lutte des troupes locales contre le GSPC. L’aide a été organisée dans le cadre du programme d’assistance militaire Initiative pan-Sahel (PSI), opérationnel depuis novembre 2003 et doté pour 2004 de 6,5 millions de dollars.

Ce programme vise à aider le Mali, le Tchad, le Niger et la Mauritanie à combattre « la contrebande, les criminels internationaux et les mouvements terroristes ».

D’autres projets ont suivi en 2005 et 2006 avec des manœuvres conjointes allant du Maroc au Tchad en passant par la Mauritanie, le Sénégal, le Niger, le Mali, jusqu’aux portes du Soudan.

Un document Top Secret

À la lecture de ce document présenté devant les chefs des états-majors le 6 février 2007, on peut se rendre compte que Robert Gates n’a pas précisé où sera basé le siège de ce nouveau commandement qui s’ajoutera à trois autres commandements régionaux, qui sont déjà en place depuis 2004.

La responsabilité de l’Afrique au Pentagone était jusqu’à présent répartie entre trois commandements régionaux. Le commandement central (Centcom), qui supervise le Proche-Orient, a la responsabilité de la Corne de l’Afrique. Le commandement pour le Pacifique se charge de Madagascar tandis que celui pour l’Europe s’occupe du reste, c’est-à-dire de la plus grande partie de l’Afrique.

Washington considère comme « essentielles au succès de cette initiative, les contributions de pays africains » en vue de faire échec aux terroristes dans le Sahel et assurer la sécurité de l’Afrique de l’Ouest « parce qu’aucune initiative individuelle ne pourrait prospérer ».Les Etats-Unis avaient, en fait, commencé à s’intéresser à cette région au lendemain de la « guerre totale » qu’ils avaient engagée et la dispersion des cadres d’Al Qaïda et de ses sympathisants, un peu partout dans le monde.

Une grande logistique de guerre

Depuis 2003, le Sahel a connu des turbulences graves : putsch militaire en Mauritanie, séditions au Mali et au Niger, le GSPC dans le Sahel, soulèvements au Soudan et au Tchad, et enfin, le retour au cycle sans fin de la tourmente somalienne, avec cette fois-ci, une intervention militaire de l’Ethiopie, encouragée par les Etats-Unis.Après avoir investi la vaste bande du Sahel et qui va pratiquement de la Mauritanie au Tchad et à l’Ethiopie en passant par le Mali et le Niger, les Etats-Unis élargissent leur champ d’action, passant de ce fait, du plan Pan Sahel à l’Initiative transsaharienne de lutte contre le terrorisme, le TSCTI, puis au contrôle pur et simple du Sahel par les armées locales interposées.

Washington avait choisi, dans le cadre de la lutte contre le terrorisme dans l’Afrique subsaharienne, neuf États africains, qui sont la Mauritanie, le Mali, le Niger, le Tchad, le Sénégal, le Nigeria, l’Algérie, le Maroc et la Tunisie et proposait de faire de l’Initiative transsaharienne de lutte contre le terrorisme un instrument majeur de sécurité dans la région.

Ce sont quelque 250 tonnes de matériels divers et 350 soldats ont été acheminés dans la région par un pont aérien de deux semaines, à partir de la base aérienne de Rota, en Espagne. Une fois les troupes et le matériel acheminés, des moyens aériens de protection ont été mis à disposition à partir des bases de la Royal Air Force à Mildenhall et Lakenheath, en Grande-Bretagne.La protection de l’opération a également mobilisé des éléments du 32ème groupe des opérations spéciales, une unité liée à la CIA.

Dans les semaines qui ont précédé l’opération, des éléments du 10e groupe des forces spéciales, basé à Stuttgart, avaient été envoyés pour superviser l’entraînement des troupes africaines. « PSI est un outil important de la guerre contre le terrorisme et a beaucoup fait pour renforcer les liens dans une région que nous avions largement ignorée par le passé, et notamment entre l’Algérie et le Mali, le Niger et le Tchad, précise le colonel Victor Nelson, responsable de ce programme pour le bureau du secrétariat d’Etat à la défense chargé des questions liées à la sécurité internationale.« Nous disons depuis longtemps que, si la pression devient trop dure pour les terroristes en Afghanistan, au Pakistan, en Irak et ailleurs, ils trouveront de nouveaux endroits où travailler, et les régions du Sahel et du Maghreb font partie de ces endroits ».

par : ABDELHAK NAJIB - Gazette du Maroc - N°51219 Février 2007

http://www.lagazettedumaroc.com/

Source: Alwihda - Gazette du Maroc © Copyright Alwihda Visiter le site de: Alwihda

Communiqué et propositions de la Société Civile pour une sortie de crise

Voici en intégralité un communiqué et des propositions de sortie de crise que la Société Civile vient de nous envoyer.

Communiqué N° 24.

Face à la poussée des revendications populaires les autorités guinéennes continuent à jouer de l’amalgame pour refuser d’appliquer les accords obtenus et ouvrir la voie à un changement pacifique dans notre pays. Dans une série d’interventions, elles font répandre des rumeurs sur une inspiration (et un soutien) étrangères des mouvements sociaux. Cette trouvaille de la « main étrangère » est basée sur des mentions de gisements de gaz naturel au large de Conakry. Les guinéens seraient incapables de penser et d’agir par eux-mêmes pour changer leur misérable sort.

Apres avoir vainement essayé de donner au mouvement populaire une coloration ethnique, les autorités se sont engagé récemment dans une campagne insidieuse de discrédit afin d’anéantir la lutte pour le changement. Mais c’est là une méthode éculée qui ne prend plus. Le pouvoir guinéen n’a que lui-même à blâmer pour les détériorations du dialogue politique et social ainsi que la détérioration des conditions de vie des populations qui sont à la base du mouvement revendicatif pour le changement apaisé.Cette campagne est une insulte au peuple de Guinée engagé aujourd’hui à lutter pour le changement dans le pays au prix de la vie de nombreux citoyens.

Au moment où la communauté internationale suit avec attention la répression qui s’abat sur des citoyens se battant pour sortir notre pays de la crise, il est malheureux et contre-productif de lancer des insinuations non fondées dans l’espoir de gagner du temps et de briser le front uni des forces en lutte. Ces méthodes sont inspirées des pratiques du passé, de la période du complot permanent où tout opposant était marqué du label honteux et infamant d’agent de la « cinquième colonne » au service de l’étranger.

Le peuple de Guinée s’est émancipé de cette période de peur. Il sait à présent identifier ceux qui se battent pour la patrie et ceux qui s’accrochent à leur privilège. Le CNOSCG demande aux autorités de mettre fin à ces campagnes et de se présenter à la table de négociations pour honorer les accords signés avec l’inter Centrale qui pourront sortir le pays de la crise actuelle.

Fait à Conakry le 20/02/2007.

Le Conseil National des Organisations de la Société Civile Guinéenne

Propositions pour une sortie de crise

L’état de siège décrété le 12 février 2007, même allégé, est toujours en vigueur sur l’ensemble du territoire national.

Cette décision prise par le Chef de l’Etat fait suite aux manifestations populaires spontanées, provoquées par la nomination de Monsieur Eugène CAMARA au poste de Premier Ministre, Chef de Gouvernement.

Ce choix du Chef de l’Etat ne correspond ni aux termes de l’accord signé avec l’Intersyndicale ni aux attentes du peuple qui aspire à un changement réel, à une rupture radicale avec le mode de gestion actuel du pays.

Les populations ont payé un lourd tribut par le nombre de tués et de blessés depuis le début de la contestation.

En ces heures cruciales pour la nation, le Conseil National des Organisations de la Société Civile Guinéenne (CNOSCG) en appelle au sens civique et patriotique de tous les citoyens pour sauver notre pays.

Une bonne sortie de crise doit nécessairement passer par :

1. Une concertation entre les représentants des Eglises et des mosquées, les forces vives (syndicats, partis politiques, organisations de la société civile), les représentants des institutions républicaines et l’armée.

2. La facilitation de ce processus assurée le Conseil Œcuménique.

3. La mise en œuvre d’un processus de désignation du Premier Ministre consensuel que les Guinéens appellent de leurs vœux, selon les accords du 27 Janvier 2007. Ce processus reposera sur la proposition par chacun des acteurs d’une liste de quatre personnalités répondant strictement aux critères et profil définis pour le poste de Premier Ministre. A l’issue du processus, une liste finale de 4 personnalités devra être produite, dans laquelle le Chef de l’Etat choisira dans les 48 heures le Premier Ministre de consensus.

4. Le Premier Ministre constituant ensuite son gouvernement après consultation des différents acteurs. Il s’attellera alors immédiatement à la légalisation constitutionnelle de ses attributions. Le Premier Ministre et les membres de ce gouvernement de transition ne seront pas éligibles aux élections législatives et Présidentielles suivantes.

Les préalables à cette concertation sont : la levée totale de l’état de siège et la libération de tous ceux qui ont été arrêtés arbitrairement.

Conakry le 20 Février 2007

Le Conseil National des Organisations de la Société Civile

Guiné-Bissau: Abutres são a segunda maior empresa de limpeza

23-02-2007 9:32:00

Pássaros malditos para uns, sagrados para outros, os abutres em Bissau, capital da Guiné-Bissau, são conhecidos como a segunda maior empresa de limpeza da cidade, convivendo pacificamente com a população.

Atraídos pelo lixo acumulado em algumas zonas da cidade, os djagudi (em crioulo) comem tudo o que é podre, principalmente restos de alimentos, garantindo assim a limpeza de alguns locais. Em Bissau, estão maioritariamente concentrados na zona da cantina militar, próximo da Praça dos Heróis Nacionais, antiga Praça do Império, e no matadouro, junto ao porto da cidade.

"As pessoas convivem pacificamente com os djagudi porque eles comem as coisas podres e previnem as doenças", explicou um cidadão guineense, depois de questionar, algo intrigado, qual o interesse dos jornalistas pelo abutres.

A par desta missão de limpeza, os djagudi estão ligados a práticas místicas, segundo os guineenses, que passam por só poisarem no poilão (mafumeira, árvore frondosa de onde se extrai uma espécie de sumaúma), sagrado para a etnia papel, que acredita que estas árvores e os abutres chegam a viver mais de 300 anos.

Além disso, os abutres acompanham os sacrifícios feitos pelos homens velhos da etnia papel a "irã", uma divindade, que tem o poder de curar ou de fazer mal. Os sacrifícios de animais - galinhas, carneiros e porcos - a "irã" é feita nos poilão e o cheiro a sangue e carne morta, justifica, numa perspectiva ocidental, a presença dos abutres nessas árvores e não em outras.

Com 300 anos ou não e ligados ao misticismo da cultura africana, o certo é que os abutres contribuem decisivamente para a limpeza da cidade de Bissau, chegando onde a Câmara Municipal não consegue ainda garantir serviços.

http://www.observatoriodoalgarve.com/cna/noticias_ver.asp?noticia=11497

PDP ticket: Obasanjo, unfair to Babangida

The Special Adviser to General Ibrahim Babangida on Media, Prince Kassim Afegbua, says that despite what happened to the former military president in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), he is already a candidate for the 2007 presidential election.

Prince Kassim Afegbua

According to Afegbua, who spoke in Abuja, Babangida is already the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Party (NDP), adding that it was obvious that there would be a gang-up against the former head of state in the PDP.

"Whether you like it or not, few people determine your fate when it comes to party primaries," he said, adding, however: "Essentially, Babangida has not been a party man, as it were. But he has all it takes to win a general election, to defeat anybody."

Afegbua spoke on these and many other issues.

Babangida and PDP

No matter what happened, we are on top of the situation. The General, IBB remains a formidable force in Nigerian politics and we cannot take that away from him. He enjoys the popularity across board. We knew that party primaries are essentially controlled by the machinery of the party, which could be manipulated to suit certain interests. We have an alternative, which is a fallback option. However, what is clear is that President Olusegun Obasanjo is unfair to Babangida. Babangida played a role in his emergence as president. We cannot understand why he could be against him in PDP. If he would not support him, at least he would have allowed all the aspirants to go to the party’s national convention and test their popularity. That was what we wanted.

What, then is your fallback option?

As I have always told anybody who cares to listen, IBB has been an aspirant in PDP, but he is a candidate in the NDP. That means, he has a political party that has endorsed him. He would embrace the party that has endorsed him and team up with other political parties that share his aspirations, his concerns, his policies and his programmes to present him to Nigerians as a viable political material to champion the aspiration of this country in the next four years.

No matter how you describe it, Babangida’s desire in 2007 is to introduce broad-based governance, which will be all-inclusive in nature such that people from other political parties will be given opportunity to present themselves for elections and represent the political viewpoint of their respective constituencies. He is not going to run an exclusive government. He has to spread it, instead of having just one political party winning 28 states in the governorship race, giving room to one party nation, Babangida will like to see a situation where different political parties win different portfolios.

It will be a kind of cross-fertilization of ideas, both the radical viewpoint and the other viewpoint, to propel the engine of growth. His desire is to see how we can bring people from different backgrounds, different ethnic stocks, that represent the divergent views of the Nigerian polity, to participate in governance so that we can reduce tension. What we have now is a tense situation that is waiting to explode at the slightest prompting and Babangida does not want that. He believes so much in the unity of this country.

Gusau’s declaration and Babangida’s aspiration

Nobody can disqualify Babangida. If you disqualify him, there are provisions in other political parties that will naturally buy into an IBB presidency. Do not forget that he has been a president in this country, he is a law abiding citizen, and he has all it takes. He has met all the constitutional provisions enshrined in the Nigerian constitution. The idea of contemplating that General Gusau is a standby does not arise. The relationship between Gen Gusau and Babangida is cordial. No doubt about that. Babangida is magnanimous.

Babangida is large hearted. He is one man who can stomach all kinds of bestiality and you feel nothing is amiss. That one is God given. He has all the inherent traits that is only peculiar to him alone that one begins to wonder whether this man is actually a Nigerian. But beyond that, this is politics. It has to do with self, the individual. What have you got to showcase and all that? Gusau may be trying to test his own popularity, which is permissible under a democratic process. So he has the right as a Nigerian to participate in the process.

NDP and the coming general election

As I speak to you now, we are doing our primaries and congresses. On December 16, we will be doing our Senate and House of Representatives primaries and on 21 December, we will be doing our presidential convention and in which case since IBB is our sole presidential candidate, we will just ratify him at the convention in line with article 27 of our party constitution.

Babangida’s programmes

Among all the presidential candidates in PDP, IBB is the only one who acts differently. He says he was not going to be a copy cat and that he will be innovative, creative and productive. Other persons said they want to continue with the reforms. He is the only one that has said he is not going to be a copy cat. That also means that circumstances in the future are not predictable.

You should also have at the back of your mind that when such circumstances come, we should have the ability to design policies and programmes to fit into those circumstances. Any other person who is saying he will continue with the reform, what happens when time changes, when climate changes, what happens? IBB is going to look seriously at all sectors of the economy. The energy sector is the number one in his priority. The Niger Delta Region is one area that is attractive and dear to his heart.

He has said time without number that he is going to introduce marshal plan on the Niger Delta region, and that means re-claiming the creeks so that we can build on them. Port Harcourt was reclaimed from the creeks, Victoria Island was reclaimed and today, it is the hotbed of corporate Nigerian business practice. So nothing stops us from reclaiming the creeks in the Niger Delta so that you can build good roads, you can build hospitals, you can build good schools and all that because when you go and understudy the entire terrain of the Niger Delta, you need to drain certain areas, you need to provide artificial land where it doesn’t exist. You need to go to those areas to see how you can make them habitable for the people.

Babangida has all that in mind. In addition, in the energy sector, he is looking at how he can decentralize the energy sector. People are saying that they cannot be connected to the national grid, that concept is becoming too over laboured. Whether we like it or not, we should allow the zones to have different power stations with capability of producing steady power supply that will naturally propel investment and stimulate foreign investors into the country and also be able to sustain our industrial base. He is looking at that. Security of the nation is so paramount in his mind. He has said it time and time that if given the opportunity to serve this country again in 2007, he will declare that particular sector an endangered specie because the security situation in the country is appalling.

When you are talking about foreign investment, one area you have to look into is security and also, the judiciary. The man who is coming to do business in your country must look at the kind of justice to be meted out to him in the event that he is being shortchanged or is being circumvented by sharp practices. He will also have to be sure that as he goes to sleep, he is sure of having a sound sleep.

What we have today is a reversal of that role. We are in a serious dilemma. If you travel on the road, the roads are not safe, arm banditry everywhere. If you are sleeping in your house, you are afraid of being visited by burglars and what have you. It is becoming so worrisome and it is going to be a collective effort. However, the government has to set the pace to pursue that vigorously and try to cement it. That is an attraction to Babangida presidency in 2007.

Babangida has the Midas touch. His Midas touch can be seen in the way and manner he champions his policies and programmes. He re-engineered this country. He took us away from our traditional ways of doing certain things and deregulated the economy to the point that a level platform was created for people to pursue their individual and committed enterprise and today, those who are the big players in the Nigerian economy graduated from that Babangida school of deregulation and aggressive market-driven economy.

The select few, who do not like his face, have been too vocal presenting issues on the reverse side. We have taken time to do a critical analysis that in the history of this country you cannot obliterate his eight years in government and say he did not do anything. He created institutions to manage different sectors of the economy, which is how his mind works. He is a man who believes in initiative, innovations and creativity. That is why we are saying that Nigerians should give him the opportunity to represent them and they will see, in the post-millennium Nigeria, the magic this man can perform. They will see a new Babangida who will have the opportunity of saying thank you to a country that have nurtured and provided him the opportunity to serve them. ( hehehehehihihihi)

Voters’ registration and INEC

Well, it is becoming worrisome. We raised this fear in the past. We said that the process has been cumbersome and that many Nigerians, eligible voters may be disenfranchised. Having said that, we are aware that INEC has its own programmes, in terms of the innovations it is going to introduce. We are saying that whether the innovations are right or wrong, the timing is becoming worrisome.

It is raising a lot of apprehension on the polity. People are beginning to wonder whether the commission is actually not doing the bidding of somebody outside, whether it is not doing the bidding of the Presidency and what-have-you. If you go to the field to find out what is happening, you will confirm Nigerians’ fears that 2007 may be heading for the rocks.

However, we still have to have a level of confidence in the process because head or tail, we want this government to leave power in May 2007, in the spirit and letters of the 1999 Constitution. The government will be terminating its mandate with the people on that date. In view of that, an election must hold. These are the issues at stake.

We must not afford to play with them. We are looking towards a free and fair election. If INEC cannot finish with whatever they are doing now, they should introduce Option A4, queue behind your candidate and the result will be counted there. That process was used in 1993 and it was adjudged to be the most credible election we have ever had in this country. Why don’t we re-visit such a system if what we are having at hand now cannot sustain the process as it were?

Spate of impeachment of governors

We thank God that the Supreme Court has re-instated Ladoja. Whether we like it or not, the way and manner impeachments have been carried out leaves much to be desired. The processes were unbecoming of a nation that is just trying to nurture democracy and follow the rules and regulations. It is quite ridiculous but we have to move ahead. We should not allow those impeachments to bother us so much. They are avoidable, but they said it is part of our learning process. The problem of our learning process is simple. We learn what is right except that we are not learning it right, because when you say you are in a learning process, it means, you do not know it. We know what the law says, but people choose to interpret it upside down.

EFCC’s renewed action against politicians

For a long time, we have said that EFCC is selective in the way and manner it handles its anti-corruption activities. The reasons are simple. If you want to do anti-corruption as it is done in every other country that has gone through this kind of process, what you need to do is to build institutions that will provide checks and balances, to remove monopoly and discretionary powers of those who are sitting in offices performing one role or the other on behalf of the state. However, if you allow one man to be performing the role of 10 men, you make him so powerful and you are indirectly and directly breeding corruption. Corruption is monopoly, plus discretion, minus accountability. EFCC ought to build institutions, teach people what its activities are, in ministries and corporate organizations.

Nigeria- The Sun News On-line

By ONUOHA UKEH

Thursday, December 14, 2006

Fin de la rencontre au palais: on propose au syndicat 4 postes ministériels dans le gouvernement de Eugène Camara :JAMAIS !!!

"Jamais !", aurait répondu le syndicat. "

Entamée dans l'après-midi du 20 février, la concertation entre le syndicat, les institutions républicaines, le patronat, les religieux et l'état-major vient de prendre fin au palais du peuple.

Selon les indiscrétions de certains participants, le président de l'Assemblée nationale, El Hadj Aboubacar Somparé a, vainement, tenté de faire accepter Eugène Camara comme Premier ministre, chef du gouvernement.

"M. Aboubacar Somparé nous a lu une lettre qu'on avait adressé au chef de l'Etat depuis janvier. Nous lui avons dit que c'est dommage pour lui qui se dit médiateur d'ignorer jusqu'au niveau de la situation. Nous lui avons dit donc que cette lettre a longtemps été dépassée et qu'on en est à la nomination d'un Premier ministre de consensus", rapporte un participant, sous le couvert de l'anonymat.

C'est après que le président de l'Assemblée nationale aurait proposé: "Comme vous avez demandé un gouvernement de large consensus. Donc, laissez à celui que le chef de l'Etat a désigné à la Primature l'opportunité de former ce gouvernement".

Il a même été proposé aux syndicats quatre (4) postes ministériels dans le futur gouvernement "Jamais !", aurait répondu le syndicat.

"Si nous avons demandé un gouvernement de consensus, cela veut dire que le Premier ministre, chef du gouvernement, en tant que membre de ce gouvernement, doit être de consensus", aurait répondu le syndicat.

Par ailleurs, le syndicat aurait fait savoir que Eugène Camara a été rejeté par l'ensemble du peuple de Guinée: "Nous ne sommes qu'une portion du peuple, mais depuis vendredi (NDLR: 9 février, le jour de la publication du décret présidentiel), c'est tout le peuple de Guinée qui est sorti pour protester contre sa nomination. Sur les 33 préfectures de la Guinée, 29 ont détruit tous les symboles de l'Etat. Cela n'est rien d'autres que l'expression du rejet ! ", aurait ajouté le syndicat

.En outre, le syndicat a dit son étonnement de constater que le président de l'Assemblée nationale, médiateur, soit si partial. Le syndicat a donc demandé aux autres participants- qui n'avaient jusque-là pas été autorisés à parler- d'exprimer leurs propositions.

A en croire des participants, le patronat aurait défendu la position de l'inter centrale, regretté qu'il y ait eu toutes ces pertes- humaines, matérielles, financières, etc.- à cause de la nomination d'une personne et souhaité qu'un autre Guinéen soit nommé à la place de Eugène Camara afin que la Guinée reprenne la paix et la stabilité souhaitées par tous.

Quant aux dirigeants des confessions religieuses, chrétiens et musulmans auraient demandé que soit fait tout ce qui pourrait ramener la stabilité et la paix dans le pays.

Enfin, le syndicat aurait demandé et obtenu que la médiation soit désormais conduite par les religieux. "Nous avons demandé que ça soit aux religieux de rendre compte au président de nos entretiens. Les institutions républicaines se sont disqualifiées par les positions partisanes de leurs dirigeants. Nous n'avons plus confiance en eux. Vous savez bien qu'ils n'osent pas aller rencontrer le chef de l'Etat pour lui dire exactement ce qui se passe...", a confié un syndicaliste, qui a fini par marteler "qu'il ne peut pas y avoir la paix sans la nomination d'un Premier ministre de consensus".

Nigeria : Ibb to obj:You can’t provoke me

General Babangida to General Obasanjo :You can’t provoke me

Our enthusiasm soared to high heavens, last Wednesday, as we cruised in the Bellview airplane to Abuja, en route Minna, the Niger State capital, for the crucial appointment with the former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida. Our adrenalin spiked as we reviewed our strategy on the flight and anticipated a groundbreaking interview.

You can’t blame us. After all, it is not everyday you secure an interview with a former Head of State, even a controversial one as the Minna-born General. There is, indeed, a lot to excite any editor about the possibility of a Babangida interview at a time like this when he is assailed in virtually all fronts by his political traducers, even the presidency.

However, we got the first shocker at our hotel suites in Minna when the General sent words that the appointment, originally scheduled for 6p.m., would now hold at 10 a.m. the following day. He had thrown ice cubes on our enthusiasm. We all retired to bed early.

But there was no monkey business the following morning as the General was already waiting for us on the dot of time in his exquisite office on the ground floor of his hilltop mansion. “How many of you are fasting?” he asked in the spirit of Ramadan, flashing his characteristic toothpaste smile, resplendent in his immaculate babaringa. Before we could respond, fired another salvo. Pointing at our tape recorders and camera, he asked: “Are we doing an interview?”

We exchanged quick glances as we chorused “yes”. And the interview started in earnest. We sat on the edge of our chairs for most of the one-and-a-half hours the session lasted as Babangida took each question in his stride, either answering pointedly or maneuvering around it.

Although he bluntly refused to answer questions on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and Nuhu Ribadu, his youthful chairman, saying it was not in his character to join issues with subordinates, he, however, counseled his traducers, especially the presidency, not to bring his children into the unrelenting war against him, his ambition and his past.

He somewhat advised President Olusegun Obasanjo to rein in his foot soldiers and accord him the dignity and honour appropriate for a former Head of State and a fellow General. To do otherwise would be breaching the code of honour the ‘cult’ of Generals and ex-Heads of States bestows on its members, he added for effect.

And for the first time since the run-off to 2007 began, he made a definitive declaration of his presidential ambition, saying: “…I will contest, insha Allah.”

Excerpts of the interview:

A lot has been written and said about you. How do these things get at you?

Get at me? They don’t get at me in terms of getting provoked. A journalist came here recently and asked all kinds of questions. At the end, he ended up asking me: do you ever get annoyed? I said ‘no’. He tried to provoke me. No way. It’s just the nature.

Is that also why you have not allowed yourself to be provoked by the presidency?

They wouldn’t provoke me.

But they appear to be doing things to provoke you?

If it is to provoke me, they are wasting their time.

Some people are interpreting it to mean that you are afraid of saying too much because they might come after you one way or the other.

To be fair to the president, I don’t think he will allow that. Not only to me but also to those of us who were in that office before. There should be some respect and decorum and I think he stands by that. It’s like during my time, if he abused us on the television, or in the papers, I did have pressures from members of the Armed Forces Ruling Council who would want us to react one way or the other. They would say we must show him this government is in power, we will not allow it. And I would say ‘No, we belong to a ‘cult’. Either you are a four star (General) or a former Head of State; we belong to that ‘cult’. So, we must not do anything that will demystify or destroy that ‘cult’.

The impression people get is that the president is breaching the code of that cult in the way he talks about you, in the way he says blatant things about you, and even arresting your son.

No, my son wasn’t arrested. My son was invited and he went on his own. For him (his son), it’s part of growth. We didn’t have any fear whatsoever. He did do anything wrong. So, they might as well investigate him or do anything they want to do. They asked him questions and he answered those questions to the best of his ability. In any case, he wasn’t just watching. There was a time he started trying to make money. I had been out of office for nine years. So, anybody who is fair-minded cannot blame me. When I was in office, he was in the university. He wasn’t doing anything other than reading.

And I believe because he is a Nigerian, he has to find a way of living, a way to sustain himself. So, he chose to go into business, and legitimately too. And he is entitled to choosing his line of business. I try as much as possible not to get involved because I do tell them that the name, Babangida, might be a problem to them. So, they must use their hands, use their God-given talents to achieve whatever they want to achieve.

You are not to get him involved in what?

No, I try to keep him away from seeking for government jobs, not to be involved in the cutthroat competition that is going on in the business community. So, I said he should do something that he can sit on and if you or anyone asks him: what are you doing? And he tells you confidently, ‘I’m doing this,’ and he does it through the process. For example, he runs a security outfit. People come in, he trains them, gives them uniform and he goes to people to solicit for clientele. So, at least, he is involved. He is not using his head to say ‘okay, let me talk to or plead with Minister A or Minister B’. No, no, no. The principle is first: start doing something for yourself. Let people know you are doing something.

What is his core business?

He has about three important areas. The first one is a security outfit he set up. When he was leaving school, he discovered that he could do a few things with his colleagues who were also leaving. So, he established a small training institution here in Minna and brought those we worked with but who were now unemployed because of their knowledge and expertise. He brought them to come together to put their knowledge and ideas on how to continue providing security services like guards in houses, guards in banks, hotels, in so many other places. People who have the knowledge train them and he runs out to go and seek for clients.

He also runs a cyber cafe here. Again, he has some of his classmates with whom he went to university together, and who were looking for something to do. So, they put their heads together, got into the business. And most of the time, I provided the little money they needed. So, at least, they are doing something productive, as far as I’m concerned,

Why would your name be a burden to your children rather than an asset?

Given the Nigerian factor, given the Nigerian situation, I think it would be a burden. I told him, in life, he is going to meet two types of Nigerians: those who hate me, and they hate me with passion. And those who like me also like me with passion. Maybe, those who hate are more vocal and the moment somebody sees him, it’s ‘ah, Babangida!’ They (his children) know that and somehow, God gives them the strength. And they don’t feel, and they have no cause to feel ashamed to be a Babangida. But they do understand that their father has been in public life for a long time.

I’m happy they read a lot about me in the newspapers. Some are negative, some are positive. But, it doesn’t bother them. And I remain grateful for that. The only thing I keep on praying is that those who fight me should be brave enough to face me. They shouldn’t be cowardly. They should not transfer the fight to kids. They should engage me. They should fight me. They should leave the kids alone. It is probably going to be difficult (to believe), but throughout my military career, I never joined issues with people below me. Anybody below me, I don’t join issues with him.

Still on Nuhu Ribadu. He’s been quite unrelenting in attacking you. Often times, he says you popularised or glamourised corruption.

No, I said I don’t join issues and I will not join issues with him.

Okay, you are aspiring now to come back next year. If that happens, how are going to retain EFCC?

I think in running this country, there is much, more important thing to think about and do really than worrying about various government institutions. They have been established, they have been established. There are more important things to think of, quite frankly. It’s like you asking me if I become the president, whether I would retain the civil defence organization. Those are institutions of government. You don’t devote a lot of time thinking about little things that are part of government.

Why I asked is because it is becoming a campaign issue now. Some presidential aspirants are already saying that if they get there, they would retain EFCC and also retain Ribadu because, according to them, for the first time, we are seeing a seemingly concerted effort to attack corruption.

As far as the campaign is concerned, I know the issues that touch this country and the people of this country. And I would use those issues that form the core of our daily existence.

And EFCC is not one of them?

The whole essence of government is for the welfare and security and the people. So, my preoccupation would be the welfare and the security of the people. So, you don’t necessarily single out little things. I think I should be above that now.

Last week, you said you didn’t annul June 12, that you cancelled it. What do you mean by that? Cancellation tells you that somebody would be held responsible. And that’s me. I was never afraid of accepting responsibility.

When are you finally going to explain why it became necessary for you to ‘cancel’ it?

In fact, I’m just reading a book about June 12.

By Omoruyi?

No, no. It was written by another Nigerian who actually got involved in things that led to the cancellation of June 12.

So, we should change the word to ‘cancellation’?

No, no, no. I read somebody (a column) today who was abusing me. He said I’m an idiot because I play around with words. That he checked the dictionary and they (annulment and cancellation) mean more or less the same thing. ‘More or less the same’. He said that was foolish academics. Foolish academics. I agree. But of course, I keep on learning until I die. The important thing about education is to develop your mind and enrich your brain. So, I will keep on learning and I will keep on associating with these professors and the rest of them so that I can pick something from them.

It was also reported that you fear that PDP may deny you its platform. That if that happens, you probably would seek accommodation somewhere. The statement was credited to Kassim Afegbua.

Kassim is an NDP young man and he would and his boss would like to see me in their fold. Three, four days ago, UNPP came here and gave me a resolution and said they wanted me to be their…(candidate). The good thing is that we have 45 political parties in this country. Therefore, God is kind, Nigerians are kind. Forty-five parties. So, instead of wasting my time to be a particular party’s candidate, I have a platform.

The PDP, your present party, has been plunged into avoidable crises. What’s you view on the way it is being run?

From my knowledge, in all developing countries and in not-so-developed countries, there are always crises in party management and the ability to resolve the problems is what stands out a good party. Now, there is crisis in the PDP. No doubt about that. But I know the men and women at the helm are capable of resolving this problem. And I think that’s what you need in any organization. You should have crisis, but you should also be able to resolve it.

What is your take on the sparks between Obasanjo and Atiku? We have been hearing and reading stories of the president buying cars for concubines and all that. What do you make of all these? You were once there.

I think the ‘quarrel’ is not the best for our fledging democracy. But then we should also expect that it’s not unusual to find a president and a vice president coming in to tussle. It’s also not unusual to find a minister who wants to take over from the president whom they are serving together in the same cabinet. So, we should be able to accept that this is normal. But what is important is that we should be able to resolve our differences amicably in the interest of the party, in the interest of the system, in the overall interest of the nation.

As a statesman, you have access to the two of them. What efforts have you made to help resolve the imbroglio because it’s becoming a huge embarrassment?

Yes, I have access to them. Yes, it’s true I talk to them. Yes, it’s also true what I tell them I don't discuss publicly.

In other words, your efforts to reconcile them have failed.

No, they haven’t failed.

But they are still engaging.

No, no, no. Understand it this way and I told you long, long time ago that when I talk with the president or with the vice president or with any other person for that matter, I don’t normally share it. I have done my job by talking. I have done my job by getting to know the other side. I’m concerned enough to talk to both of them.

In 1999, you helped Obasanjo, your former boss and friend to gain power. Now, you want to come back in 2007, are you banking on his support?

I’m banking on God’s support and the support of over 60 million registered Nigerian voters. What we are saying is this: you helped him in 1999…

(Cuts in…) No, I didn’t help him. I supported him.

But he has vowed not to support you.

Honestly, I never knew that.

But you have read about it?

I don’t believe everything that people write.

Why?

Because, for example, you people (some papers, not THE SUN)) wrote that I arranged a loan in Paribal in Paris, and I knew it’s not true because I have no connections whatsoever with them. So, you can understand.

Talking realistically now, there is a concerted determination by the presidency to ensure that you and Atiku do not run. And everything is being done to make sure that it is actualized, including the possibility that you are going to be indicted by the EFCC. Are you still running?

(Pauses…) Okay, let me use the phrase with which the media used in castigating me. I will contest, insha Allah. The media castigated me for using that phrase but I can understand because the man who castigated me doesn’t know what it means.

Despite the presidency, despite the position of the federal government on this issue, you are running?

To be honest, I don’t know the position of the federal government on this issue. These are all speculations coming from the media, other people that are interested, other people who hate this character (thumbing his chest). But left to me, I don’t know whether there is anything like that.

How would history remember Obasanjo as a president?

It is left for history to remember him (any way it wishes). He is part of history. All of us are part of history.

Now that you have said definitively that you are going to run, how do you deal with people out there who are wondering why you want to come back willy-nilly? They said you’ve been there before for eight years. What is it that you forgot that you now want to come back to do? They specifically ask: what did you forget in Aso Rock that you want to come and take?

I think I forgot a lot of things. I left the exchange rate of the naira, for example, at not what it is today. When I left, I left a litre of petrol at 70 kobo and not N75 that it is today. When I left, the fertilizer that the ordinary farmer uses was less than N100. It is now N2000. When I left, there was some security of life and property. So, I feel we should still be able to work on those things that touch on the lives of the ordinary people.

But how far do you think you can go, granting the fact that some people consider the issue of June 12, Mamman Vatsa and a whole lot of things an albatross on your neck? How far do you think you can go?

It depends on what you call an albatross because, deliberately, some people just don’t want to look at some of these issues. If you take the phrase that I stole N12.4 billion, and if you use a little common sense and use elementary arithmetic, you will find that there is no way this country could earn this amount of money in one year at that time because the price of crude oil never went beyond $24 per barrel during my time.

As I have always told my friends, I even managed poverty during my time. I managed it at $10 per barrel. Some times, it went down to $9. And I wasn’t making 2.3million barrels per day. So, it’s common sense. It’s simple arithmetic. Even at maximum production output, I couldn’t have pushed it to 2.3 because everything was batched. So, how can you steal what you didn’t earn?

So, it’s a matter of perception, it’s a matter of explaining.

And as long as you can support what you are saying with documents, with facts to convince the ordinary people, there is no problem. Some haven’t even done their homework. Some already have their mind-set. So, if you keep on shouting for the rest of your life, they just will not believe. They will tell you, Babangida has nine million pounds, 6 billion Dutch Marks. They don’t even know that it is not Dutch Mark now. They don’t even know it’s Euro. Now, a whole country cannot have this amount of money. If I have this amount of money, then, I can be able to dictate to the New York Exchange. But because you don’t like a man, you ascribe all evils to him. But then, the beautiful thing is that I also owe it a duty to explain some of these things to see if I can appeal to the conscience of people to do understand that some of these things are untrue.

Why have you not said something definitive about June 12 up till now? You always dance around it.

Because I don’t want to ethnicise it. I don’t want it to be an ethnic thing. People wanted to see it as a deprivation of the Yorubas, that we deprived them… And quite frankly, I don’t want it to look like one part of the country has been cheated. No. There was a general election. And this election was national. And there was a decision, and such decision didn’t favour a candidate. It’s not that it didn’t favour southwest. That’s why I don’t like the idea of mentioning names. People have a lot of perceptions about this. But I will refrain from putting the blame on anybody. Rather, I will accept responsibility.

I think the issue is beyond putting the blame on anybody or personalizing it. The issue is you coming out, as part of the healing process, and part of entrenching the truth, to say these are the reasons why we annulled or cancelled the June 12 election.