The Cartoonist Blogger

In what has sent tongues wagging and tempers rising over the sheer invidiousness of the gesture, Mallam Sanusi Lamido, CBN Governor made a donation of N100 million to victims of the recent Kano bomb blast perpetrated by Boko Haram.

Any attempt to bring succor to people in sorrow and assuage their pain deserves commendation. Mallam Sanusi in ordinary terms and different circumstances has performed a noble act of philanthropy. But that act has won him, not the commendation, but the anger and condemnation of many Nigerians who see in his apparent act of kindness evidence of double standard, moral failure if not criminal abuse of position. For one, Mallam Sanusi who many have for long seen as a religious bigot, fundamentalist and ethnic throwback, is from Kano. He is in fact from a prominent lineage of the Kano ruling elite. Sanusi’s critics want to know what makes Kano deserving of this act of philanthropy than other towns and cities of, even the North, that have come under the terrorist ministration of Boko Haram. Is this not a case of partiality to one’s kith and kin?

A more fundamental question, one that calls attention to potential abuse of office of a criminal kind, is that which seeks to know from which source Sanusi derives the authority to dole out such largesse. As a public servant, a political appointee, is the CBN governor empowered to dole out such amount of funds, the question goes? Even ministers have a financial ceiling (N50 million?) beyond which they cannot go without approval from a higher authority.

Many Have Been Asking From what section of the rules and regulations guiding the office of the CBN governor does Sanusi get the authorization to give out public money in this fashion? Was it his personal money? If not, where did he get the money from? And why was it presented as a personal act of kindness? However, the CBN has come out to say that the donation was part of its Corporate Social Responsibility which is backed by regulation.

Another report gave it out that Mallam Sanusi has promised to return the money should it be found that it was unauthorised. But where will he get the money to repay from- the same CSR fund from which he took it in the first instance? What evidence can the CBN provide for past acts of CSR in this regard?

The donation of N100 million is quite a little sum compared to the loss and pain, a lot of it irreparable, suffered by the people of Kano and other parts of Nigeria that have been visited by the mindless terrorism of Boko Haram. How much can be paid to the many dead or their dependants who died or lost property in Kano? Is it those made orphans, widows and widowers, in the Christmas day bombing in Madalla that some donation of money will compensate? No amount of money would be enough for such people. But what is being questioned here is the principle behind Mallam Sanusi’s act of kindness.

What An Unfortunate Situation...

Kindly Compare the Two Pictorial Presentation of How Nigerians have fed with the Yearly Increase in Government Budget. Its Expected that as the Budget increases that the Benefits that should come to the people should also increase.

Several Years Ago when Budgets were still declared in millions, things seem OK for Nigerians with Prices of goods and services still favorable to the masses and Nigerians where a little bit comfortable But Presently Government Budgets are being declared in Trillions of Naira and instead of Nigerians getting a better deal out of this increase it just seems that we are continually sinking further and shrinking while the Budget keeps increasing,

leaving us to ask the Question. How is Our Budget being Managed, Is it being used in the interest of the people or in the interest of some pockets and Bank accounts?

The three-week long public hearing on The Fuel Subsidy Probe finally came to an end on Thursday, February 9. During the public hearings, about 140 oil firms that participated in the Petroleum Support Fund appeared before the committee to explain their roles in the scheme.

This was in addition to the invitation of the government players such as the ministers of Finance and Petroleum Resources; top executives of the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency; the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation; Accountant-General of the Federation and Nigeria Customs Service among others.

The Probes has finally ended but Nigerians are still looking out for what is going to come out of this probe and the probe ended in a fashion many Nigerians seem not to have expected as it was expected that a lot of striking secrets should have been uncovered but several days has passed and not much is being said about what was discovered in the Probes.

Will this be an addition to several other probes that has been carried out without a meaningful report and actions? Lets Keep on Watching

Timipre Sylva seems to have falling out Completely with His Boss, President Goodluck Jonathan and ex-governor, Timipre Sylva have been locked in a political duel over who controls their home state of Baylsa.

For five years (2007-2012) their relationship was a subject of controversy, dangerous insinuations and a source of worry to Bayelsans and the Ijaw nation. They engaged in shadow boxing to cover the deep animosity they have for one another. But now they have donned their gloves to commence a dirty fight that could have far-reaching reverberations.

It took the official presentation of flag to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) recognized governorship candidate, House of Representatives member, Henry Seriake Dickson at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex for the bubble of resentment to burst between President Goodluck Jonathan and ousted governor, Chief Timipre Sylva.

Jonathan’s statement at the ceremony which, political observers said has confirmed insinuations that he has been deeply displeased with the style of governance of the state has opened another frontier of war for Sylva who is fighting tooth and nail to salvage his crashing political career.

Several Activist and Groups in the Country has been clamoring for the amendment of the 1999 constitution by removing the immunity clause for public holders to be prosecuted while in office when they fall foul of the law of which the immunity clause had become a hindrance to tackling corruption in the country.

‘’It is now proven to be a stumbling block to the effective investigating and prosecuting of persons suspected of being connected with corruption. ‘’It is worrisome that this immunity has now been transferred to people who ordinarily have no such protection under the constitution.”

This has been the problem that has Handcuffed the EFCC and ICPC from Successfully Prosecuting Most of the top Office holders both past and Present who were believed to have embezzled some public funds or mismanaged public funds.

Since the Fuel Subsidy Removal wahala, and the Promises of the Federal Government that there will be some palliative to help reduce the burdens already placed on the masses as a result of the Fuel Subsidy removal. So many things were outlined by the Government in their Fuel Subsidy reinvestment and Empowerment Program which if implemented will truly help to alleviate the problems of the people.

But The questions most Nigerians are asking today is where are the Palliatives the Government promised as we are yet to see any sign of these taking effect anywhere. We still don't know if this will be another mere promises of the Government or if this is being hijacked again by another new set up Cabals like the Fuel Subsidy was Hijacked by some Cabals.

The Islamist Group Boko Haram has ordered that all Southerners should leave the North and Northerners in the South should leave the south also and return to the North within a set time and failure to do so will provoke some attacks from them on the people.

Well the Threat might be serious but the picture above shows a resemblance of how the norther states will look like if all the southerners decides to leave the North.

At that time the Biggest Looser will surface.