Our officials are too corrupt to have immunity, says Yar'Adua

naaah...our president does not speak...this is make believe

'Nigerian government got a boost, with the conviction on Monday of Bode George, a top member of the ruling PDP, for corruption, President, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, said his'- Woah what's with the indiscriminate use of commas? ''Nigerian government got a boost, with the conviction on Monday of Bode George, a top member of the ruling PDP, for corruption, President, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, said his'- Was this article edited? That sentence doesn't make any sense. Careful guys.

Is this the president speaking? This is a new phase. Let's cut him some slack.

i do not think our problen with corruption has been with this president,rather with the people around him.and the system that brought him in,if he does focus on electoral reform,he will be remembered with fondness.i dont think he is an ambitious man.

Who do the so-called YCE members represent? They're all bunch of jobless loafers ... and Yar'Adua finding his voice after conviction of a member of his enemy's camp smacks of high-level treachery. He must provide higher level of 'financial and moral' independence for d quality prosecution of James and Peter. And the many others still at large ...

Story story, story!!! na today

Let Mr. President walk the talk!As they say talk is cheap. An administration that finds nothing wrong with Aondoaka and is chubby with an Ibori is not to be taken too seriously on anti-corruption matters.

2 yr imprisonment for 84 Billion naira fraud? I ll steal the same if the punishment is 2 yrs, Didnt Madoff got 150 yrs? Bode George should have been lock up for the rest of his life. Nigeria is a FAILED STATE.

even the so called electoral reform is a taboo. we should not expect anything different cos its still the same old corrupt Iwu administration. This president is the slowest this country has had so far and his so called electoral reform might just give him a second term.

I commend Mr. Yar'adua then if immunity clause can be remove from top post in Goverment till low level,also the declaration of asset should put into the law up to party Chairman in every part of existing election be operate

if the punishment for N84B is just 104weeks then it is worth taking the risk.

PDP!!!, Papa Deceive Pikin, the most party in the world. Bode George should have been given 84 years imprisonment to = the amount of money stolen in figure. This is just 1 of many cases, what about OBJ, IBB, and others. Are they above the law? God Bless Nigeria

That's what I'm talking about people!

Fraud and corruption are the twin foundation of the current state (political, social, economic, financial et al) of our nation. The position of the President contained in above report is in order and a good point to commence real action to resolve the twin menace. I urge the President to take urgent action(s) to enforce compliance by INEC, Police, EFCC, ICPC other intelligence and law enforcement agencies as well as initiate joint and coordinated action(s) with the other arms of Government (Legislature and Judiciary) to achieve the laudable objectives he has indicated to the Yoruba Elders. The Presidency should establish a special organization (Marshals) to undertake the task of enforcement of compliance with Presidencial orders by all concerned. The Judiciary and the Legislature should cooperate by ensuring that the highest possible penalties are leveled against those convicted. Hefty fines and orders for refund of monies and assets procured with proceeds of crime should be imposed as well. The Yoruba Elders' demand for location of oil refineries in Yoruba land should be handled with caution as such decisions must be subject to other factors including the principle of comparative advantage. The fact that the business, financial and economic hob of the nation coupled with the concentration of infracstructures are in Yoruba land may be the very argument against further concentration of additional national investments in this region at the expense of other regions, the Niger Delta for example. There is also the argument to decentralize investments and so encourage population dispersal/spread to other regions. Bassey Eniang

I just hope they we be jail realy.

Before Mr Umoru starts basking in the euphoria of Bode’s two year palliative conviction, let’s have a critical look at some salient points. One, judgement on Bode did not say he stole money and how much money was missing. It only accused the man and his co-travellers of contract splitting, inflation and mis-management…whatever all that means in real terms. But common logic should have convinced the court that the difference in monetary values of all these guilts…N84 billion or so…should have been refunded to the state. I’m not sure if the trial court was interested in that option. Two, was there any parity between the offences and the length of conviction? Absolutely NO. I would not be surprised if the appeal court quashes or even reduces the sentence to 3 months which would have lapsed at the time such judgement is finally arrived at. Three, that Bode is now cosmetically nailed by Umoru is because he’s no longer relevant in the PDP’s scheme of things and his (Bode’s) failure to capture Lagos on two previuus attempts. Otherwise, where’s the PDP’s Mr AG/Minister for Injustice...St. Michael…the man who has been shielding Ibori, Odilli, Dariye , DSP etc from the long arms of the law and the EFCC? These crop of crooks nominated the AG into Umoru's cabinet to compensate him for being their lawyer during Ribadu's EFCC,amission he has continued to defend even under Farida. This same crop of crooks are now dictating the pace and face of 2011 PDP politics at Aso Rock. He could not intervene for Bode and co because they belong to “enemy camp”. All these failiings go to show that Mr Umoru should not be taken seriosly on his sanctimonious anti-corruption preachments. And until his cotterie of jesters who have held popular justice and governance in Nigeria to ransome, Umoru remains unconvincing. He is being enslaved by the prospects and "abracadabra" of 2011 elections. But then, where are the opposition parties? Nowhere to be found, the sad news is that there's only one party in Nigeria, and that party is a CURSE.

How did Bode George fall out with his cohorts? Abi... he didn't want to share with them the loot from marine(NPA) administration...haba...only an infamous thief can chronicle the saga of his pairs. So many of them are still moving free in the country being protected by their likes in Government, who constantly receive tithe from the green white green pen robbers. 9ja we need some cleansing...wetin.

Make una leve Ibori alone he is the nest VP and the people of south-south are hapy wit him

I commend Mr. Yar'adua then if immunity clause can be remove from top post in Goverment till low level,also the declaration of asset should put into the law up to party Chairman in every part of existing election be operate

Announcing name change from Mr. DoGood to Goody Goody

"He that is down needs fear no fall" He that has nothing to fear/hide needs no protection.Armed robbers secure the services of herbalists and fake "men of God" for protection.For our leaders, they secure the services of herbalists, fake men of God, thugs, bribe security personnel do all sought just to hide from the long hands of the law. All these have failed them they now want to use the LAW to ESCAPE the LAW.They want to wrap the fine linen of the constitution around them to hide their atrocities. IMPOSSIBLE. Everyday is for the likes of Bode George, One day is for the true patriotic Nigerians. GOD PASS DEM!

untill the president starts his new crusade with his godfather ibori, most nigerians will not believe him.

Mr. President with all due respect, you are just paying lip service to corruption .if you start war on corruption the whole will know. For instance why is that funds are allocated to basic infrastructure like roads and yet our roads are so terrible year in year out. How come you have not had the courage to set example with past governors in glaring cases of corruption? Order for trial of ibori, orji uzor kalu,peter odili, lucky igbinedion. Its then that we will know you have started and serious.

Why are lawmakers even affraid. Nobody will touch them on constituency stolen funds. Pass a bill that whatever happens when they leave office be visited on the new lawmaker for settlement because of continuety. In that way they retire with their looted funds. Direct all financial enquiries of its former members to NASS joint committee. Pass a second bill that the security agencies establish kidnap proof assurance for law makers and their families. In that way they can preserve their loot as Reps Speaker has told Niger Deltans to hold their Govs for under development. May it please you to add that you graciously forget constituency projects please.

Thank ye Mr. President. The message of anti-corruption is a difficult one to preach in our nation today! It appears to be the language many Nigerian understands and the only currency that makes sense to many. I think it is a matter that deserves concrete attention, first of all through reorientation, aimed at reordering of our value system as a people. The question every commentator must answer to his/her conscience is, how am I doing in my own small areas of influence. If I say do not steal, do I also rob the temple; if I point to a particle in my brother's eye do I remove the log in my own eye; if I criticize corruption; do I live above it in my relationship with my immediate family, particularly my wife? People say our leaders are corrupt and it is their examples Nigerians are following. If that be the case, then we lose our right to criticize as we have joined them. If we point accusing fingers to our leaders, we forget that we are all leaders, whose no 1 follower is us. How then are we leading ourselves? It is my submission that the issue of corruption demands deeper soul searching from my compatriots than we are doing now if we are genuinely committed to making it unpopular. I use the word, 'unpopular’ deliberately. The goal should not be eradication. The truth is there is no nation on earth where corruption has been eradicated, not even in the Vatican. Corruption is only made unpopular through the instrumentality of the law and the resolute willingness of all and sundry to defend the law and see to its impartial enforcement and application. As for Mr. President I am tempted to ask which budget he and his cabinet members running the nation with now? Shalom!

Insincerity 09.Two years to punish an elite robber? Nigerian government is not yet ready for the anti-graft war!

MR President. permit me to say that we are sick and tired of all these chess game that government is using d country to play. Bode was convicted to just 2 and half years in prisonment for such an enomous offense and you telling us you are commited to fighting corruption. Do you need a sorcerer to tell you that the likes of Ibori and his coholts (especially ur minister for injustice) are so corrupt. let us see them prosecuted then we can start taking you seriously. A piece of advice Mr President. Concentrate on 1 point agenda (fighting Corruption) and every other thing will start working. Also ensure you dont get distracted on how you will secure the presidential seat next election. Take these view advices for your own good or ignore them to your own peril. God pass una.

I am thrilled. Welldone Mr. president on your statement. It is the best I have heard from you. Nail them, empty them and lock them up. It's the lessons Nigerians need.

why are nigerians so one side minded.what concerns ibori with the arrest of Bode George

I hope this YCE did not go to beg Yar'Adua on Bode George's behalf. That old thief should be left to rot in prison.Thought he was laughing at the commencement of the case, feeling cool, believeing that it will end 'as usual'. Meanwhile Yar'Adua should also begin to purge himself of thieves like Aondoaaka.

Nigerians are dye in the wool skeptics. They remind me of one Hausa musician who sang a song "Dan Adam mai wuyan gane hali". He says "idan kayi kuka, a ce kayi kuka. Idan kayi murna a ce kayi murna." Meaning: people are hard to please. If you cry they will complain, if you are happy they will complain. Ah-ah!!! This song is apt in describing Nigerians.

His excelency mr president alhaji musa yardua is a gud man.he is a wiling servant to d mases of nigeria.but he is sorounded by bad folowers.i believe since d coruption crusade started,dis is d bigest fish caught sofar.but rily hapened to d money d looted?.wil dia properties b confiscated?.wil d money b colected back?.so u mean dey wil just go jail and comeback and continue to enjoy d looted funds.judges should always look at gray areas like dis wen and after pasing judgment.kudos to dat lagos lawyer.odas should from him

See politics at play. All na lie.

we want action not rhetorics!

Do i hear him right? A lot have been spoken and no due action measurable to effect them. I only hope, the president is not just trying to hoodwink us like he has always been known for. The governments so far don't care and will never care- most unfortunate Nigeria, but we shall survive whether they like it or not.

Excursion!! Cxcursion!! There will be excursion of UNILAG Jambites to Maximum Kirikiri on Saturday to visit Bode George and find how is enjoying the new abode, lessons learnt, advice for the colleagues in crime and the prospective thives, how does he want to be remembered, when would he publish his memoeir any words for PDP? By the 2011 the next time he will see the sun in a free atmosphere, would he still join politics among other questions?

@Frank London. Great comments. They will have to prove with other cases that their is more to this than window dressing by dealing with other high profile cases involving such people as IBORI, ODILI, AONDAKAA e.t.c Whether it is intra - fraternal fighting or not though, it is a good start and we hope they will continue to fight themselves for the benefit of the masses.

2yrs for 84 billion naira fraud? Please set them free immediately and give them GCFR. "e dey look like say na marine wichcraft hold naija down down down the abyss" A house built on sand cannot stand. What is Nigerias foundation?

Prosecute those who do not have immunity first. Are all the ex govs and thair deps in jail? They no longer hav immunity.Only presodents vice presidents, govs and dep govs have immunity. What is all this talk. Tony Anenih isnt immuned to prosection.By the way the president's party is appealing bode george's sentence. Blame me.