ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A highly successful and award–winning British Chevening Scholar, Poet, Editor, Columnist, Communications Consultant, Author, Commentator on national and international issues, Environmental and Publishing Consultant, with expertise in Conflict Management, Public Surveillance, Media, Business Management and Administration, General Marketing, Market Research, Sales, Advertising and Public Relations.
A highly successful and award–winning British Chevening Scholar, Poet, Editor, Columnist, Communications Consultant, Author, Commentator on national and international issues, Environmental and Publishing Consultant, with expertise in Conflict Management, Public Surveillance, Media, Business Management and Administration, General Marketing, Market Research, Sales, Advertising and Public Relations.
 
John Odey Aduma, British Chevening Scholar, Author of The Diamonds Are Here and a renowned environmental journalist was born on December 13, 1963 at Okpoma, Yala in Ogoja, Cross River State of Nigeria. He was educated variously at Christ the King’s School, Okpoma, 1969-1970; St. Mel’s Primary School, Woleche-Ebo, 1971; St. Gabriel’s Primary School, Ebo-Ipuole, 1972-1974; Christian Vocational Commercial School, Okuku, Ogoja, 1975; Faith Institute of Stenography, Shogunle, Lagos, 1976; Aladura Comprehensive High School, Anthony Village, Lagos, 1977-1982; University of Ibadan, Department of Adult Education, 1983-1984; Obafemi Awolowo University, 1985-1989, where he graduated with a B.A. (Hons) in English Studies; University of Lagos, 1991-1992, where he worked for and obtained an M.A. in English; and at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, 1994, where he took a Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism; City University, London, United Kingdom, 2003 - 2004, where he was a British Chevening Scholar and studied for his M.A. in  International Journalism with specialism in Environment; City Business College, London, 2005-2006 for a  Post Graduate Diploma in Management Studies, but completed only the taught course; Voice Coaching, CSV Media, London, 2006; Radio Production, CSV Media, London, 2006 and the City and Guilds Certificate in Conflict Management. 2006.
Besides, he has attended many training courses in Planning, Writing and Production Skills on Communicating for the Environment. He also holds the UK Chartered Institute of Environment Health (CIEH) Certificate in Food Safety.
He was the winner of the Nigerian Media Merit Award for Investigative Reporter of the Year and the Diamond Awards for Media Excellence, Reporter of the Year, both in 1993. He also received a Community Service Award in 1997 and the Outstanding Staff Award of the Daily Times of Nigeria Plc in the year 2001.
In 1994, he edited Lord Rumens, a book on a prominent Nigerian business tycoon and Lawn Tennis icon, Chief Ajisomo Alabi. He is a member of the Green Environment Movement, and the Nigerian Field Society, he was on the Core Committee of the National Technology Summit, and was the Summit’s Publicity Chairman.
Other national and important committees on which Aduma has also served or headed included the National Planning Committee, Youth Development, Federal Ministry of Education and Youth Development, 1993; Core Committee, the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF)/Ford Foundation, Kano Eastern Bypass Roadside Tree Planting Exercise, 1997; Chairman, Planning Committee, Alhaji Babatunde Jose’s 75th Birth Day, 2000, (Dr. Jose was a doyen of Nigerian journalism and was the first African Editor, Managing Director and Chairman of the Daily Times of Nigeria Plc); Chairman, Planning Committee of the 7th and 8th General Murtala Muhammed’s Memorial Lecture (the late Nigerian Head of State), 2001 and 2002; Chairman, Planning Committee of the Daily Times of Nigeria Plc’s 75th Anniversary, 2001 including sitting on many national techno-industrial committees (too numerous to mention here) in his capacity then as Executive Secretary, Foundry Association of Nigeria.
Aduma, Communications/Environmental Consultant, Critic, Poet, Essayist, and Columnist, was formerly Staff Reporter, The Guardian (flagship of the Nigerian media) 1990-1993; Consultant/Chairman, Media, Green Environment Movement, Nigeria, 1990-2003; Senior Correspondent, The Independent Weekly, (1993-1994); Head, Environment and Property Desk, The Punch (1994-1997); Editorial Consultant and Contributing Editor, the Nigerian Conservation Foundation’s Tortoise Magazine, 1995; Contributing Editor, Pole Star Magazine (1998); Member, Editorial Board of The Nigerian Conservationist Magazine (1995-2000), Executive Secretary, Foundry Association of Nigeria, (1997-2000), Public Affairs Manager (Lagos Office, albeit on voluntary capacity), The Pastoral Resolve, 2000, (a pastoralists NGO) headed by one of Nigeria’s former Head of State), General Muhammadu Buhari; and Chairman, Editorial Board of the Daily Times of Nigeria Plc (2000-2003).
He was one of the twelve eminent persons appointed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo (GCFR) of Nigeria into the Administrative Panel of Inquiry, also known variously as Presidential Panel, Commission of Inquiry, respectively to investigate the illegal trade in and smuggling of Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna into and out of Nigeria in 2003.
In year 2003, he attended the Chevening Leadership Programme, (sponsored by the British Council and Shell) at the elite Lagos Business School (the Pan-African University) in Nigeria and thereafter, proceeded to the United Kingdom as a British Chevening Scholar to study International Journalism at City University, London, where he worked for and obtained an MA in International Journalism.
Professional Mentor under City University of London's Post Graduate Professional Mentoring Strand. at Post Graduate
Aduma is currently the Chief Executive Officer of UK Magazines Ltd, publishers of VIGILANCE-THE WORLD’S LEADING SECURITY MAGAZINE (www.vigilance-securitymagazine.com)

EPILOGUE

Until I return, think on my poem below which is the slogan of the MOVEMENT FOR AFRICAN RENAISSANCE AND GLOBAL PEACE, UNITED KINGDOM titled: THE NIGERIAN SPIRIT.

The Nigerian spirit is the spirit that stirs up the best in Nigerians.
It constitutes great visions and great dreams; dreaming big dreams and seeing to their realization; a giant will and a spirit of invincible determination; marvellous possibilities, resilience and boundless elasticity; tenacity of purpose; selflessness and loyalty to fatherland; the highest level of patriotism; giving God a prime place in the Nigerian mind and in national life; a strong abhorrence for religious bigotry and irreligiousness of religion; an enterprising and inquiry mind; an excellent spirit; dedication and devotion to duty; a spirit so strong that it cannot be discouraged; the truth, without which the citizen is not free; fearlessness; confidence in self; the fatherland, humanity and posterity, yet very humble; a sense of nationalism rather than ethnicity; absence of avarice and thievery; honesty and integrity; a sense of community rather than individualism - being one's brother's keeper, creating a sense of sanity in one's little corner in the midst of endemic or pervasive corruption; walking tall without entertaining grasshopper complex; the spirit to say to oneself after the accomplishment of a great task that the best is yet to come; the ability to recreate one's world, where one is thoroughly dissatisfied; utmost enthusiasm rather than grumbling; time consciousness rather than getting hooked to the so-called African time; a high sense of moderation instead of unbridled ostentation and acquisitive tendency; a great sense for details and observation; a sense of service rather than pecuniary consideration; observance of the country's laws and order in order to keep the peace. The Nigerian spirit is to be cultivated and practised.
 
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NATIONAL REBIRTH

PREFACE AND INTRODUCTION

Nigeria was once a foremost nation pointing the light for other African nations to follow, but today like the eagle which was brought down from the sky by an ant gnawing at her wings, corruption has brought down Nigeria from her once Olympian and soaring height, such that in the comity of nations she has been reduced to a mere footnote and smaller African nations including those which gained independence recently are the ones now speaking for the continent.

The soul of Nigeria died the day, Sunday 15th January, 1956 when oil was discovered at Otuabagi and Otuogadi in Oloibiri in the present day Bayelsa State by Shell Darcy. That day it was too that the spirit of enterprise, competitiveness and innovations died, and following afterwards, Nigeria lost her heart and senses of rightness/justness and wrongness including of course, universal altruism. Hence what passes for Nigeria today is the relic of her old self walking with her head and legs up.

Corruption has brought Nigeria international ridicule and embarrassment...
Thus, in conceiving the idea of Scorpion we are embarrassed by the current abysmal level of corruption including stagnation to regression in every facet of that country’s life and disappointed at Nigeria’s current zero image at international level.

The task ahead is not going to be easy, but with the collective efforts of all Nigerians at home and abroad, all friends and well-wishers of Nigeria across the globe joining us in this crusade by reporting all sharp practices in that country including all their unpleasant experiences in the course of doing business, or just visiting Nigeria for other enterprises, we are well able to uproot the evil tree in the House of Nigeria.  

Above all, with God on our side we are able to root out corruption and general insecurity in the erstwhile giant of Africa, make her a paradise of glory and a beautiful bride for foreign investors and tourists once more.

We therefore, call on all Nigerians, friends and well wishers of Nigeria to send us information, documents, facts and figures detailing all forms of corruption in that country. Although steeped in stupendous corruption, the current Government may not be willing to take action against established corrupt cases or be favourably and genuinely interested in fighting corruption as the saying goes, “He who lives in a glass house should not throw stones,” we are prepared to press for prosecution of all cases relating to corruption in any form in Nigeria by enlisting world leaders and relevant international bodies such as the United Nations and Transparency International.

According to recent information on Nigeria courtesy of the National Bureau of Statistics, more than 100 million Nigerians live on less than $1.00 a day. Oil - rich Nigeria, and indeed, Africa with all its superabundant natural and manpower resources has no business being poor.

Although our focus at this time primarily is Nigeria, we should welcome information on corruption from other African countries on other African corrupt rulers.

We should like to add that the management of Scorpion does not take responsibility for any publication herein and their aftermath.

Ridding Nigeria, indeed Africa of corruption is a task that must be done! Don’t just talk about it, report it and take action.

Until I return may the Great God of Nigeria stir up the spirit of the coming revolution in you even as I profess my faith once more in our dear country I BELIEVE IN NIGERIA.

PREAMBLE

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

What is Nigeria? (Politically, geographically, economically, religiously, culturally, militarily, Kingdoms before amalgamation....)
Prior to the the coming of the European in 1800, in this wise, British who amalgamated Nigeria in 1914, the upper and lower Niger of what is today Nigeria was made of of independent, but interacting kingdoms. However with respect to the founding of Nigeria by the colonialists whose representative, Lord Frederich Lugard in 1914 conjoined Nigeria in a semblance of the confluence of two major Rivers - Niger and Benue in Lokoja, the present capital of Kogi State and against the backdrop of the country's current multifaceted problems, due mainly to imbalance, unfairness and corruption within the body politics of the country, Nigeria can simply be divided within the context of our subject matter as a corrupted political kingdom of the previously extant kingdoms forced together by imperialistic colonial officials on behalf of Her Majesty's Government, not for the sake and benefits of the natives/indigenous people within theses contiguous kingdoms, but for the sake and benefit Great Britain whose representatives, the colonial officials had carried out the forced 'marriage' on her behalf.
And cartographically speaking, the hitherto independent kingdoms in and around the Niger and Benue rivers was divided using the instrumentality of the bloody jihadi routes carried out by land thieves/robbers/grabbers from the East (Mecca) who had accessed Nigeria through Senegal and settled in Gobir in the present day Borno State, where the bloody and orgiastic acts of violence were initiated and perpetrated by the leader of the criminal gang, one Usuman Dan Fodio, who on disappearing to the mountains with his band of fellow criminals was to later reappear with them to carry out maximum havoc to the natives - the indigenous people who were the orginal owners of the land within the areas of the upper Niger including a part of the Middle Belt, killing, maiming and beheading them just as Boko Haram is doing currently, destroying their properties - the bestiality of which has continued till date as being carried out by Boko Haram and the Fulani herdsmen - displacing and actually dispossesing them of their natural land/natural habitat, which was later to be replaced with what was then known as the Sokoto Caliphate, even though now dead, buried, never to rise again, is being promoted and kept by yesterday's men and women who I'd like to refer to as the caliphate delusionists  - a worrisome situation which makes the deluded offspring of the jihadi gang leader lay claim to the federated kingdoms as their forefathers' estate as arrogant Ahmadu Bello had claimed in the 30s: “The new nation called Nigeria should be an estate of our great-grandfather, Uthman Dan Fodio. We must ruthlessly prevent a change of power. We use the minorities of the North as willing tools and the South as a conquered territory and never allow them to rule over us, and never allow them to have control over their future.” –Sir Ahmadu Bello, Leader of the NPC and Premier of Northern Nigeria, (Parrot Newspaper, 12th Oct. 1960; republished on November 13, 2002, by the Tribune Newspaper, Ibadan.)

NIGERIA IS A VERY BIG TOILET FULL OF WORMS!

The level of corruption in Nigeria is such that the whole country has been converted into a big toilet/lavatory wherein dwell as worms without exception, all Nigerians. In this very big toilet, the worms called Nigerians not only dwell, but feed, eat, drink, breathe, move and have their beings - take them out of this toilet and they will die just as if you remove worms from the toilet and put them in a clean environment, they will each die in a matter of moment; for it is not in the nature of worms to live, feed, eat, drink, sleep and derive their beings in a clean environment. Therefore, every space in that big toilet is a mere extension or an annex of the big national toilet, be it the church, mosque, workplaces, institutions, on buses, at bus stops, at home, school, the military, every political space, the police, professional associations, INEC, palaces, homes, hotels, etc, etc.