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Biafra Nigeria World

The Fleecing of BiafraNigeria:
The Case of Kogi State Governor Abubakar Audu -- Part I
by
Nehlah S. Nchami

The January 2002 issue of Washingtonian Online reported top house sales of 2001 by VIPs. Among the sports stars, former presidents, and princes mentioned was BiafraNigeria's Kogi State Governor Abubakar Audu.

According to Washingtonian Online, Governor Audu purchased a $1.72 million home situated on more than three acres in Potomac Maryland, United States.

The question on my mind is: How is a BiafraNigerian State Governor who earns approximately $8,894.82 (889,482 Naira) per year able to afford a house in the United States that costs $1.72 million? At this salary, Audu would be able to purchase this home in 193.371 years, assuming he spent nothing of his salary.

Audu was elected Kogi State Governor in 1999, and in 2001, was endorsed for re-election. Alhaji Mohammed Idris, who spear headed Audu's endorsement, at that time stated that "[w]ithin this two years of [Audu's] governance of this hitherto neglected state by successive past administrations, [Audu has] substantially transformed the entire state to the amazement of many Kogites and also improved the quality of lives of the people through economic empowerment and the provision of social amenities across the state."

Audu's "governance" has entailed failure to timely pay "workers in the state who are owed salary arrears and allowances", although Audu has expressed a desire to pay workers' wages in arrears "to reduce their suffering and that of their dependants." Audu's "governance" has also entailed the creation of twenty-five additional local government councils that has spawned political instability and violence in Kogi in the form of arson destruction and protests. These incidents have claimed the lives of over ten people in Kogi.

During his governance, Audu built a school and named it after himself, he donated a bus to a church and performed several other charitable acts, and of course, the purchase of his US-based $1.72 million home. Interestingly, Audu presented the Kogi State budget "of over N25,047,835,109 billion to the state House of Assembly...Presenting the budget proposal at the weekend, to the House in Lokoja, [Audu] told the House that the upward review of the budget became necessary to meet the yearnings and aspirations of the people of the state."

How is it that the budget keeps increasing but salaries aren't being paid on time? In a nation where the average salary is $500 annually, could Audu not have used some of the money he used to purchase his house to pay salaries owed in to reduce suffering for workers and their families? Could it be that funds appropriated under the budget are being used to finance purchases of $1.72 million homes? Or could it be that oil proceeds are not being distributed among the general populace?

Various explanations can be offered for how government officials in countries such as BiafraNigeria can afford their extravagances. Such extravagances in the face of massive unemployment and underemployment, massive unrelieved economic strife/difficulties and ethnic inequality have only one explanation -- in this case, The Fleecing of BiafraNigeria.

See also, The Fleecing of Biafra Nigeria: The Case of Kogi State Governor Abubakar Audu -- Part II