n the words of Malam Nuhu Ribadu, the versatile Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,

"�we are not looking for a saint, because we can't get one that will occupy public office. But let us try and remove the terrible ones, the very, very bad ones, and the very, very bad cases that we see in front of us; and let us give room for something that is tolerable�.Honestly, I will say all we need in this country [Nigeria] is just to improve on things as they stand right now. At least, let us reduce this corruption to a tolerable level. Let corruption not be the definition of our lives and us. Let corruption be controlled, let it not take care of our lives. Let's see if we can have a semblance of good governance. Obasanjo as a person has been extremely wonderful and his regime has also been wonderful. I believe we would get better progressively. It will get to a stage where we would be talking of zero tolerance level of corruption. I think it is a gradual process."

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Atiku might have the Money to buy off Nigeria, but he should safe the country from further decay to a point where some Schools of thought would tag his actions with Obasanjo as North and South, or Christian and Moslems issue. It is a number one and number two positions in an ego race. This is an issue that most Nigerians should look at as a way of revitalizing Nigerian image. If in the history of any Government, you have someone as a deputy, whose roles are determined by his 'boss', whose roles are determined by what the 'boss' wants him to do, who is supposed to be loyal to whomsoever he deputizes for, and positioned himself as the boss, there is a problem.

In the history lane, Nigerian might start asking reasons behind Babangida's organized palace coup against Buhari in 1983. It was believed that Idiagbon was the Deputy of Buhari. It was also believed that it was Idiagbon who made most decisions. In one sense, whatever Idiagbon did not want, even if Buhari wanted it, would not fly. Unfortunately Northern leaders did not like that, and they teamed up against Idiagbon, a bloody Yorubaman and a number two Nigerian citizen then; Babangida took that advantage and terminated Buhari's administration. They believed that number one is number one, and number two should go along with number one, when it comes to matters affecting Nigerians. What would Babangida have done to Aikhomu, if the later refused to abide by his boss's directive?

Ironically, when Obasanjo submitted the EFCC report to the Senate, Atiku loyalists disregarding their loyalty to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, decided to compile, no fewer that 127 impeachable offences, against Obasanjo. That is something they had tried before, but because of their voracity, they swept it under their carpet. What magic do they have now at the 'late hour' that would make it possible for them? Instead for them to treat the case brought to them as professionally as possible, without even reading it, some resolved into compiling Obasanjo's impeachable offences, resolving into the game of 'your chicken spilled my coffee, I am going to break its eggs'. It is another way of saying that, oh yes, what you sent to us is 'true', but what about you also. Where are the Saints please? Complete that first part of the equation before you, get appropriate answers to the next challenge, and pick on the next one later, if they have the gut to do that. What a mess!

There are some protocols in the public service. What Atiku needed to have done is to resign, if he could not work with the President? That happens in a decent world, where people respect themselves, and where dignity runs through the veins of the leaders. In a civilized society, resignation would be the final code. Unfortunately, in Nigeria, especially, some high ranking officials are like the little tortoise that has no dignity in their profile.

EFCC sent some information to the Federal Government on Atiku, Obasanjo turned around to set up an executive committee, to look into the salient matters therein and briefed the council appropriately. Members of the Committee were Attorney General and Justice Minister, Mr. Bayo Ojo, the FCT Minister, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, Education Minister, Mrs. Obiageli Ezekwesili, Minister of State for Water Resources, Mr. Dada and the National Security Adviser, Major General Sarki Muktar (rtd). These are cabinet members, the inner circle that could possibly 'cover up' for Atiku. Unfortunately the Committee came out with Atiku's indictment. That is very strange.

In their indictment, part of its reports states that

"We are of the view that His Excellency, Vice President Atiku Abubakar (hereinafter referred to as the VP) abused his office and position by diverting funds approved for the PTDF operations to placements in ETB and TIB Plc, instead of implementing the projects budgeted for. The funds were deposited in the two banks at below-market rates over a period of time."

Part of the indictment was the movement of money in the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) of which Vice President Atiku Abubakar is the Chairman. Atiku was trusted with the PTDF funds and he turned around to make it his personal account, under the cover that it was for PDP campaign. That is not right.

In the course of his interaction with the panel, Atiku was said to have explained that the money allegedly collected by Otunba Fasawe was expended on Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) electioneering process and that the President was aware of all the transactions. What is the moral justification in expending the public money on the PDP electioneering process, if that was the case? Did the Party authorized him to do that, or he acted on his own, possibly part of the money could have slipped into his own personal account, under the disguise that it was spent on PDP campaigns.

Vice President Atiku Abubakar

Instead for Atiku to resign he decides to go to Court so that he would not be disgraced out from office. Was he ever told the truth that since he has immunity granted him, that he cannot sue since he can not be sued while in office? Did the seven SANs gathered, ever told him the other aspect of his immunity, that, since no one can sue him while in office, he could not sue either? Whereas what is made known to the public today (September 2006) is more than disgracing himself, but the entire Nigeria making a mockery of the "nascent democracy", if I may use the word of my friend Na'Abba.

Assembling seven Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), to defend him is a pointer to that guilt. Atiku, taking the hard line that Babangida and Buhari took not appearing at the Oputa Panel, is a way of admitting guilt. If he knows that he is innocent, all he has to do is to submit his documents to counter whatever EFCC submitted, and for whatever decision made by the inquiry set up by the Federal Government.

No one should blame Nigerian Lawyers for taking up Atiku's case, as someone opined that "Lawyers are Liars", they went to School to study how to defend or prosecute, following the laws of the land. They have to make a living, somehow, because that is what their profession entails. Not that they do not know what the law says, but they have to defend their clients.

In another admittance of guilt and ironically, when a journalist asked about the EFCC report, Atiku reacted that Obasanjo made more money than him during this administration (1999-2006). In his own words, in his interview granted Saturday Sun published on Saturday, September 9, 2006,

"When he [the president] keeps saying over and over again that I am corrupt, I keep looking at him. Because what I know is that he is richer than I am. He has made more money since he came into office than I have made."

Atiku's situation is like a teacher who gets to the classroom and all his pencils in the box were gone. He saw a student with one of the 'stolen' pencils, and when he asked, the student told the teacher that, Joe took ten of the teacher's pencil. He did not mention about the one pencil in his hand. Atiku should have defended the laundry of some cloudy government businesses sold to him, using different Companies which might belong to him. That is what we call voraciousness in the modern dictionary. It is beyond the accumulation of wives as a means of wealth in those days. It is immoral, Mr. Nigerian Vice President.

If given the opportunity Atiku would purchase the whole of Nigeria in his pocket, and everyone would have to pay homage to him as the 'lord of the flies'. That is an unfortunate development in this modern world of Nigeria.

Without going into details of the EFCC report on Atiku as published by ThisDay Newspaper, Thursday, September 7, 2006, we should just mention the knots that tie Atiku's business deals with the public properties. According to Atiku,

"As I have said repeatedly, I have nothing to hide. I have committed no crime. I am willing and ready to answer whatever question any organisation wishes to put to me on this matter."

He has been asked to provide some information on himself (Atiku) and others, such as Otunba Fashawe; Vernon Jackson; Maureen Scurry a.k.a Maureen Edu; NDTV; Rosecom.Net; Life Energy Technology Holdings (LETH); TDC Oversees; Arkel Sugar; Arkel International; IGate; ANJ Group; W2-IBBS, Limited; Diverse Communication; Global Energy& Environmental Services; Jefferson Interest Inc.; IBILE Holdings Limited; International Broadband Services, Limited; William Jefferson; Andrea Jefferson; Jamila Jefferson; Jalilah E. Jefferson; Nailah A. Jefferson; Jelani F. Jefferson; Akilah A. Jefferson; Tory Bullock; Philips Jones, Jr.; Mose Jefferson; Bennie Jefferson; Archie Jefferson; Coy related to the above. Where are the Saints?

Some individuals associated with Atiku are Segun Egunjobi, Otunba Fasawe, Mrs. Maureen Edu, Mr. Dumebi Kachikwu, Aliyu Maigari, Albert Julde Mashi, Suleiman Yahyah, Muhammed N. Haruna, Otunba Mike, Denuga (Jr), Nda Yakubu, Mr. Uko Ukaiwe Nwafor, Nureni A. Yusuf, Ranti Orioke, Amos Segun Adepoju, Adenike Adedeji, Ademola Oyejide, Musa Garba, Umar N. Pariyah, Mohammed Babangida, and Ibrahim Sani Zubairu as reported in the EFCC Reports, are connected with the allegations against Atiku. Are these the Saints of the Century?

Part of what US Law Enforcement is requesting from Nigeria is the employment history, history of travel outside Nigeria, criminal history and other biographical information. It also requests that the US law enforcement authorities, prosecutors and agents be allowed to communicate directly with the lead investigator in Nigeria involved in collecting this information.

Why should the behaviors of Atiku causing Nigeria to divulge some of its information to a foreign government especially in the Nigerian Communications Commission, Ministry of Communications, Nigerian Embassy to the United States, Nitel, and the Managing Director of Nitel. This is a way of opening up some of the Nigerian private information that ought not to have been made available to any other foreign government. This is a disgrace to the Nigerian Government.

Other needed information relating to or involving some of the above listed individuals and entities are

"Correspondences between United States Congressman Williams Jefferson and Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar relating to any U.S. based business venture in Nigeria; Correspondences between United States Congressman Williams Jefferson and Jamilah Jennifer Atiku- Abubakar , wife of Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, relating to any U.S. based business ventures in Nigeria; Correspondence between IGate, including its officers and representatives and Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and any other Nigerian Public official; Correspondence between Netlink Digital Television (NDTV) NDTV, including its officers and representatives and Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and any other Nigerian public official; Correspondence between Atiku Abubakar (or any of his subordinates or representatives), and any government official or agency, including Nitel, relating to some of the above listed individuals and entities".

The mere fact that Atiku's name has been associated with the elongated soiled businesses and names, in the ongoing investigation, and for Atiku to have been walked out of the Federal Executive Council is a signal for him to have honorably departed the administration. Why is he holding on so tight to the position? Is that not enough for him to honorably resign, if he knows what Honorable means? If you are in a position, and your name is being negatively mentioned in one form or the other, the honorable thing to do is to step out, leave, and allow them to have a thorough investigation, without you using your position to impede the investigation, and let them do their job. The truth will definitely come out. Hanging on there in the name of IMMUNITY is a sign of guilt. None of those hanging on because of their IMMUNITY would be there for ever; the long hand of law will catch up on them. We are still searching for Saints.

Atiku, issuing a challenge to an Authority, a Law Enforcement for that Matter, that he is ready for the FBI is to say the least ridiculous. US law enforcement is different from Nigeria Law enforcement. Their investigations are always thorough. They won't call the 'Fire Fighters' until there is a smoke from that angle. It is exactly what EFCC is doing in Nigeria. The evidences are there, all they are doing is to confirm from him the facts gathered.

Should it have taken another foreign government to show us how to put Nigerian public officials in order? Ironically, Obasanjo has been keeping the request and the letter reporting Atiku's hazy business deals from the United States to himself since 2004. For another country to have made such request on the number two Nigerian Citizen is more ludicrous than being ridiculed, if the English experts would allow me to say that.

Atiku, in some quarters, believed that he should not resign because of the fear of being arrested by EFCC. That's still bugs down to the same thing that if he thinks that he is innocent, as he continues to claim, he should go that route and defends himself. The fear of guilt would not let him resign. No Saint found.

Some people do not know what is behind being HONORABLE. Atiku has been alleged to have made so much money from Nigeria, from Custom to the Vice President position. He is among the 'Distinguished Honorable' of Nigeria. Instead of being thankful to God and enjoy his wealth, he is working toward bringing down the country using North-South, Christian-Moslem. He may deny that, but that is the direction this feud is going toward. Bringing the country down through the ill-gotten wealth, which I think is being used to foment trouble within the country, has to stop for the sake of our children. That is being ungrateful to God who has given him the opportunity to make the money. As Obasanjo has been sentenced back to Otta Farm by the failed Third Term Bid, Atiku should go home and enjoy his wealth allowing others to make their honest contributions to Nigeria.

I never been to Law School, but with the number of Constitutional courses that I took toward my Ph.D. program in Political Science, were sufficient to educate me that Section 137(1) (i) of the 1999 Constitution states:

"� A person shall not be qualified for election of the office of the president if: (1) He has been indicted for embezzlement or fraud by a Judicial Commission of Inquiry or an Administrative Panel of Inquiry or a Tribunal set up under the Tribunals of Inquiry Act, a Tribunal of Inquiry Law or any other law by the Federal or State Government which indictment has been accepted by the federal or state government respectively."

If lawyers (NBA) are backing Atiku on this subject, Nigeria Judiciary is degenerating into a staid 'K-Leg', unless they are proxy to some information that we do not have access to. Nonetheless, for Atiku's name to have been linked with these individuals, through a Foreign Country, is enough to disqualify him from the 2007 Presidential bid. Nigerians hope that it is not the Nigerian Bar Association drifting Obasanjo-Atiku feud into a polarized dimension, North-South, Christian-Moslem. Are these the products of Babangida?

Nigerians hope the rest of 'lesser saints' on the EFCC list are monitoring the development. EFCC has promised to publish those names, while some of them are already planning to deflect to other countries, possibly Ghana, Sierra Leone, or Liberia, with their accumulated annual leave. Little do they realize that the world is becoming a global village? Charles Taylor is in Hague on trial. No more hiding place for bad leaders any more. The popular song writer singer, Phil Collins, would sing that "You can run, but you cannot hide" The Yoruba man would say, "eni je gbi, ni yio ku gbi". Literarily, what will kill you is whatever you put into your system. Whatever offense you commit, you will pay for it, not in the next world, but here before you close your eyes and heart. Teachers reward has been revised to be in this world not in the next world that no one knows about.

Nigeria is bigger than anyone, any group, Ethnic or Religious group. If we do not do what is right for the growth of Nigeria, the future of our children is in a very difficult and challenging situation. Do we want to put our children through pains Nigerians are going through now? We should not do that.

In our religions, whomsoever we believe in, their leaders suffered for us, so that we could have better life. Sacrifices were made, and we need to make sacrifices as well, for the sake of our children. Nothing is too big or too much for a better tomorrow. Assembling lawyers, to defend Atiku is cowardly, and a clever way of saying, yes, 'I am guilty, but for some reasons, with my wealth, you will not succeed in prosecuting me'. Paying the high ranking lawyers, with nothing less than N10 million per person, who knows what the Judges would benefit from this case, it is not right. Judges and Lawyers could be smiling to the Bank right now. Where are the Saints?

Laws might have to be stricter on any Public officials accused of mismanagement or abuse of office, like the US Hobbs Acts for public officials.

If we may advise Atiku, he should honorably resign; damn the consequences pay whatever price that needs to be paid for the sake of Nigeria, and for the future of our children. He should get his papers and defend himself, thereafter if, and, when, he is arrested.

No good thinking Nigerians should allow him to take over the helms of Nigerian affairs, come 2007. He is through with the public service. He should go home and enjoy his wealth. He can lecture at his University, teaching Government and Business Ethics, and how not to abusive public position. These are some of the bitter pills to take in our daily life.

The Saints are yet to be found anywhere in the world. But the tolerable ones are doing their best for their communities.