Won’t Get Fooled Again: By Femi Soneye

If you’re sick of being misled by Nigerian politicians who promise much and deliver little, please take note. If you’re tired of being seduced by imagery of lying politicians, and tricked by those who exploit corrupt influence for personal gain, please this is for you. We need better leaders, but we aren’t going to get them until we become smarter and more demanding followers. Before we miss it again…I want to state categorically what I know about the Atiku/US Investigation. In the run up to the 2015 elections the PDP sought vigorously to pin anything on defectors, especially the gang led by Atiku. It was perceived at that time that Atiku might clinch the APC ticket. I was invited by the late Nigeria’s ambassador to the U.S, Prof Adebowale Adefuye (Late) to be on a 4 day -Trade Mission trip to Nigeria, organized by the Corporate Council on Africa from March 11 – 15, 2013. The powerful delegation was led by Mimi Alemayehou, who at that time was U.S Executive Vice President, Overseas Private investment corporation (OPIC) and U.S Ambassador Robert Perry.

During the trip Amb Adefuye sampled my opinion on an Atiku versus Jonathan in the forthcoming elections. The ambassador was concerned about the future of Nigeria. He told me several enquiries have been sent from Abuja in recent weeks about some ‘important politicians’ amongst whom was Atiku at that time. He asked me to tell him what I know about those individuals, especially their dealings in the US. He knew I had served at the U.S Air Force and had my contacts in Washington.

Adefuye was a statesman who wanted good for all Nigerians, irrespective of party affiliations. Cut long story short, after we arrived back to Washington after the trip…an embassy staff who was also on the trip… became so close to me, he was friendly and visited me at home. I did a background check and found out he was actually an NIA agent and not a ministry of foreign affairs protocol officer as earlier claimed. One day he was bold enough and asked me about Atiku and three other individuals who are currently in government now. He said his boss in Abuja needs the info. At that point I told him I just was exiting the US Air Force and would not be able to help him, but I can direct him to relevant U.S agencies that can help fast track his investigation.
After close to one month, it was clear the United States government was not investigating Atiku nor actively pursuing any case against him. The official made enquiries at the Department of Justice, Office of Alien Property, State Department, prosecuting agencies, Federal courts and local law enforcement agencies, especially from the state of Maryland where Atiku had a property at that time.

We found out that the US under the Office of International Affairs (OIA) wanted everyone involved in the Jefferson matter to face justice. The OIA obtained essential evidence for criminal prosecution but the OBJ government did not wholly play ball. Instead a bargain was made in a bid to save a son in-law of a minister at that time. Desperate to deal with the matter and pursuit of justice for the Americans involved..prosecutors in the U.S accepted and the son-in-law, came forward testified against Jefferson, who was found guilty, convicted and sent to jail while the son in-law of the Nigerian minister was allowed to go…. case closed.

For moral reasons and some characters you can be denied a US visa. In immigration law terms, these characteristics are known as the grounds of inadmissibility.

As the election come close, we should not fall for the gimmicks of politicians again, who cares if Buhari was not allowed to visit the U.S for 15 years…or Atiku not going to the US prevent him from aspiring to become president of Nigeria. Is visiting the US now a criteria to rule and rule well?

My people… leaders don’t have the ultimate power o…followers do. Without followers leaders cannot lead. They can’t even call themselves leaders.

If Buhari has done what he told you he would do during the last campaign and you’re comfortable with him and his policies, please vote for him. If you feel you need another person and your life is now hell, kindly vote him out and vote who you feel will make your life better. Do not fall for propaganda. If your governors have been abysmal, don’t fall for another round of handouts…vote them out.

My message is simple. If we want better leaders, we must become more informed and more demanding followers. It’s time to put aside permanently some erroneous ideas, such as the notions that followers are weak and leaders are strong. Nigerians’ it’s time for followers to sit at the banquet table and for leaders to serve.

Soneye is the publisher of www.persecondnews.com