Reader comments on Alams State Pardon and Sanusi Lamido’s Impersonation

Find below sample reader responses to my March 23, 2013 article titled “ State Pardon: Why Jonathan Can’t Appeal toSovereignty” and my Mar...

Find below sample reader responses to my March 23, 2013 article titled “State Pardon: Why Jonathan Can’t Appeal toSovereignty” and my March 30, 2013 article titled “CBN Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi’s Fake Facebook Account.” See you next week.

Thanks Dr. Farooq for this. I have been so bitterly disappointed by this fiasco of a pardon that I have refrained from commenting about it. Even by the sordid standards our dear President seems to have set for himself, this state pardon reeks of the most primitive type of tribalism and nepotism. To be honest with you, I am less worried about what the US government thinks of Nigeria, I am more worried about the message being sent to young Nigerians and to the foreign investors we (and the government) are waiting for to come and pour their crisp dollars into our economy. Basically, the government is saying, if you're well connected, you can steal, loot and embezzle and get away with it. What serious investor will come to Nigeria when the rule of law is manipulated and when well-connected criminals get away with everything? Young Nigerians are watching and learning all the ropes, patiently waiting for their turn to loot their share of the national cake, and get away with it. The modest (even if selective and controversial) gains made by the EFCC under Obasanjo seem to have been now rendered worthless and completely unraveled. This is a dangerous precedent.

Zainab Usman, Oxford, UK

Nigeria needs leaders with ideas and conscience not opportunists. This is an interesting " diagnosis'' of the disease killing the Jonathan presidency. He is suffering from intellectual kwashiokor and moral bankruptcy. GEJ is a disgrace to Ph.D. holders and i wonder how he defended his final dissertation. It may be difficult for a minority to rule Nigeria again, because he has spoiled their chance.

AbdulRafiu Lawal, Assistant Editor, Tell Magazine, Lagos

Thanks for reminding us again how utterly beholden our governments have been to the United States. I’ve always said that Nigeria is America’s 51^st state. You are absolutely right that Jonathan and his minions are shaking in their boots over America’s opposition of their fraudulent state pardon of criminals. They can’t afford to risk their masters’ wrath. But they come to the public to do “shakara” and gullible people will believe them. I am just so sick and tired of this country of ours.

Sabi’u Umar, Kano

Sanusi Lamido Sanusi's Impersonation on Facebook

I once received a message from one Sanusi Lamido. The Facebook profile matched that of SLS: the pictures, birthday, schools attended, etc.  The title “CBN governor” is even added on the profile. We had dozens of mutual friends. The message read exactly: "Hello I will like to have you on my new transaction am proposing, I will like to know if you are interested before giving you the full details about it and I will like our conversation private and am sure I can count on you for that". I noted the errors, but still thought it was from SLS. I however concluded that I didn't want to have anything to do with it and clearly sent a reply declining.

To my surprise, another mail came back and it read: "The transaction is worth 220 billion naira and I don't really know if you financially fit for the transaction. Have set up a team responsible for the progress of the transaction, the team has made an arrangement that each an every must be able to deposit the sum of 5million for the team commitment fee, the money paid is to ensure seriousness and commitment of each an every member. Note the 5million deposited will be added to the 35%am offering each an every member, so I will like to know if you are capable for the transaction."

I never bothered to even reply the second mail. I later made a Facebook search for SLS and discovered multiple accounts. Same applies for other VIPs. I think "GEJ" has scores. Since then, I have never sent a FB friend request to anyone in such category of people because the account is either a fraudster's or it belongs to some lackey ready to do anything to promote his boss.

Ibrahim Nashabaru, Kano

I actually followed the argument on the imposter’s page and sighed when I saw your column. It is an unfortunate and embarrassing trend that is unbecoming of laggards and lazy asses. So much for dumb-foolery and joblessness. Thank you for alerting the public.

Shittu Fowora, Kaduna

I find the brazenness of the fraudsters shocking; the credulity of their 'victims' repulsive.

Musa Shehu, Birnin Kebbi

Impersonators invading Facebook is not just a Nigerian thing, but only Zuckerberg and his admin can arrest the situation, maybe by creating a "verified" tag for prominent profiles just as it is on Twitter, where you will not be in doubt anymore because even "the president of the world's" account has been confirmed to be manage by himself.

Salihu Alkali

I say 'well done' for exposing this group of dimwitted scammers. We all, in one way or the other, have fallen 'promising' victims to such pernicious Facebook accounts. The Dikko Indes, the SLSs, and the Dangotes have all been used. Your insightful cues cannot be given at a more timely instance.

Usman Zakari Ibrahim, Katsina