Ribadu Introduces ‘Nigerian Mentality’ to Wolfowitz’s Discourse
May 4th, 2007 | Published in America, Corruption, EFCC, Governance, Nigeria | 7 Comments
[tag]Paul Wolfowitz[/tag], president of the [tag]World Bank[/tag] is embattled over the “preferential treatment” he gave a woman rumored to be his girl-friend. Nigerian own’s [tag]Nuhu Ribadu[/tag] of the [tag]EFCC[/tag] pleads for Wolfowitz on the pages of the New York Times, an excerpt:
“And he [Wolfwitz] has matched words with deeds through initiatives to promote greater international cooperation with poor countries, especially regarding the recovery of assets from pilfered resources. Effective efforts at fighting corruption cannot stop at our borders when up to 80 percent of the “grand corruption†perpetrated in Africa is dependent on international mechanisms that facilitate money laundering. Mr. Wolfowitz has made a praiseworthy effort to halt the illicit drain of money from the coffers of poor countries. Just this simple step — denying a haven for money stolen from a poor country — addresses more than half the problem of corruption in Africa.”
Is [tag]Wolfwitz[/tag] the only one capable of performing the “feats” listed by Ribadu?
I didn’t know the world bank president could make “a praiseworthy effort to halt the illicit drain of money from the coffers of poor countries”, yes by virtue of his post Wolfwitz could have pulled some strings, but to “halt the illicit drain” is very far from reality.
So because Wolfwitz has been kind to Nigeria and Africa, his failings - if indeed he has any - should be disregarded?
Ribadu has trivialized the issue being discussed - which borders on ethics, nepotism, misuse of power, etc - and simply spun it using “Nigerian mentality”. And I’m not surprised!
May 4th, 2007 at 1:36 pm (#)
I am most encouraged to read that Nigeria has become a “leading reformer” in fighting corruption, and that was why Nigerian voted so enthusiastically to return the PDP to power under the coming leadership of Umaru Yar’adua and Goodluck Jonathan.
May 4th, 2007 at 2:21 pm (#)
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May 5th, 2007 at 6:52 am (#)
Wolfowitz was “demonized” in the world press and in the blogosphere for his role in the runup to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. What a lot of people fail (refuse) to recognize is that he has been very aggressive and effective in his role as President of the World Bank. Can Wolfowitz be replaced? Of course, but Africa and Africans will feel the difference in leadership style at the World Bank when and if he is replaced as a result of this present “witch hunt”.
May 5th, 2007 at 7:21 am (#)
I have read discussion of Wolfowitz’s role at the Pentagon by reporters and bloggers in relation to his problems in his current job. It does seem very relevant to me, however, given the serious corruption and fraud in military contracting during his watch there. His Israeli girlfriend, for example, was already double-dipping as a Pentagon consultant while at the same time drawing her salary from the World Bank. He may have presented a good “image” to Africa, but I cannot see how Wolfowitz can honestly stand against corruption any more than Obasanjo can.
May 5th, 2007 at 7:40 am (#)
I made a mistake above. Shaha Riza is reported by blogger Steve Clemons to be a Libyan national raised in Saudi Arabia. I really do not know that much about her aside from the reported liason with Wolfowitz.
May 5th, 2007 at 7:57 am (#)
Shaha Riza is muslim.
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=4§ion=0&article=60884&d=23&m=3&y=2005
That only pertains indirectly to the propriety of her working as a Pentagon consultant and World Bank staff at the same time.
http://www.whistleblower.org/content/press_detail.cfm?press_id=929
May 5th, 2007 at 3:15 pm (#)
To BRE: I do not see this as witch-hunting, and even if it is - it comes with the territory.
Yes, the removal of PW might lead to a “difference in leadership style at the World Bank” towards Africa. But I think it is just too early to see how this transition (if there’s one) will impact Africa. Historically, World Bank prescriptions on Africa haven’t been that positive anyway - well, speaking in very broad sense that is.