₦airaland Forum

The All Progressives Congress, (APC) Network for Change has lauded President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Mala Buni of Yobe State, for bringing terrorist activities in Yobe State to an end.

In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Alih Lukman, on Tuesday, the group said terrorists and terrorists activities have almost been completely exterminated in Yobe due to the commitment shown by President Buhari to end the scourge and the cooperation received from Buni.

"We call it a partnership because the kind of support the President is receiving from the Yobe State Governor is total and unhindered which has resulted in the complete change of the otherwise tense security situation in the state.

"We now have a Yobe State that is not only peaceful and calm but on a fast track towards infrastructural development," the group stated.

The APC Network observed that while the president has continued to sustain efforts at restoring peace in the state by equipping the military, the Governor on his part has continued to complement the efforts of the central government by ensuring that resources earmarked for projects are utilized for the purpose. 

"We are aware also that thousands of youths in Yobe State have been empowered and given interparental skills which have reduced crime and improved social life in the state."

The Network said it is excited that in just five years of President Buhari in office and only one Year of Buni, such level of partnership could be attained to the extent that the threats of insecurity that once plagued the state are gone for good. 

The Netwoks said President Buhari by making the issue of security a major priority of his government, has given the military the needed push which has translated into the peace and calm being experienced in many parts of the Northeast including Yobe.

The Network said Governor Buni, by making youth empowerment the central theme of the policy of his administration, has, on the other hand, made it impossible for terrorists to find willing tools to recruit informants or fighters among them.

It said though the formation of Boko Haram has been traced to a small community in Yobe State, the commitment shown by Governor Buni is a clear demonstration that terrorism could be defeated if the right approach is adopted. 

The Network noted that any time the military succeeds in an operation against the insurgents, the Yobe State governor, to show appreciation, is first to commend its efforts and that of the President whether the governor is in the country or not.

It recalled that in January when the military neutralised scores of Boko Haram terrorists, Governor Buni commended the military authorities and charged the troops to adopt new strategies in order to finally get rid of the Boko Haram menace.

"He particularly applauded the efforts of security operatives working under Sector 2 Operation Lafiya Dole of the Nigerian Army for recording tremendous success in the fight against Boko Haram across Yobe State and advised the security agencies to  make the war against insurgents population-centric, by involving local people in sourcing information regarding security situations in local communities."

The Network said the Yobe State Governor also praised Nigerian soldiers for successfully repelling a Boko Haram attack on the state capital, Damaturu, in December 2019 and expressed happiness with the President for help in thwarting the evil intentions of the insurgents while calling on residents to give maximum support to security forces by providing useful information.

"We are also aware that the Governor is talking to other stakeholders in the state, such that while the Federal Government is doing its part through the security agencies, the Governor is also doing his part talking to the relevant persons to give the youths the right orientation.

"This is what we have been asking political leaders and other stakeholders to do to support the military and we are happy that someone has picked up the initiative and the result is there for all to see."

The Network called on other governors and political leaders to emulate Mai Mala Buni in giving their total cooperation to the President and to engage the youths in their states in productive activities.

Said the Network: "When the youths are given the right orientation and are engaged in productive activities, the tendency to be attracted to vices and terrorist activities would be reduced.

"The Yobe State governor is doing the right thing, governors whose states have been ravaged by Boko Haram have no option but to give their full cooperation to the President as Governor Buni is doing."

*Banditry: Arewa salutes COAS, troops for gallantry, rapid success of Operation Sahel Sanity*

The Arewa Crusaders Against Banditry (ACAB) has hailed the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai and troops for the rapid success of Operation Sahel Sanity in the northwest. 

ACAB said the Nigerian Army has so far exceeded expectations, returning normalcy to the once-troubled region, particularly in Zamfara and Sokoto States. 

While launching the exercise in Faskari, Katsina State, in July, the COAS pledged to comprehensively tackle banditry and other crimes in the region and other parts of the country.  

And barely two months after, the Arewa Crusaders Against Banditry said the exercise is already yielding dividends aplenty, with hundreds of bandits killed and many others injured. 

Speaking on behalf of the group on Tuesday, Mallam Idris Gambo said the north is proud of the COAS and troops' modest achievements in such short period. 

"The Arewa Crusaders Against Banditry is aware of the leadership strides of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai. This is evident in the exploits of Troops of Operation Sahel Sanity deployed at forwarding Operation Base Sabon Birni LGA of Sokoto State, where it smashed a notorious illegal arms smuggling syndicate who specializes in massive arms supply to bandits in the North West from across the international borders," the group said.

"This feat is a further testament of the level of dedication by the troops of the Nigerian Army whose morale have been boosted by the innovations introduced in the operations of the Nigerian Army since the appointment of Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai as Chief of Army Staff by President Muhammadu Buhari.  

"The various successes of Operation Sahel Sanity has further reaffirmed the confidence of an overwhelming majority of Nigerians in the Muhammadu Buhari led administration and the military to be able to arrest the activities of criminal elements that dare the peace of the citizens in North-West Nigeria, as well as other parts of the country.  

"Our appreciation goes to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai for leading the Nigerian Army most professionally despite the numerous operational challenges associated with conducting many operations across the country simultaneously. 

" Our appreciation also goes to the troops that have been dedicated and steadfast in the trenches, ensuring that the enemies of Nigeria are not allowed to disrupt the peace of the country through their nefarious activities."

The Arewa group also hailed the citizens of Zamfara and Sokoto for supporting the Army in its quest to rid their states of bandits and other criminal elements. 

It said the success of the Operation Sahel Sanity should serve as a wakeup call to other states on the need for synergy. 

" The Arewa Crusaders Against Banditry herby state that Zamfara State and its citizens have shown that the quickest way to defeat any insurgency is by collaborating with the security agencies while shunning conspiracies and sabotage that will ruin the efforts of the military," the statement added. 

"The political authorities by this action have indeed set a worthy example for other states experiencing acts of criminalities as the task of curtailing the activities of criminal gangs is not for the security agencies alone, but rather that of active participation and collaboration of all stakeholders including the citizens.

"We wish to state that this statement of fact must be the watchword moving forward as we are all expected to join forces with the Nigerian Army in ensuring that all parts of Nigeria is safe for all concerned in our quest for sustainable peace and development. 

The group, however, called on all Nigerians to continue to show solidarity with the COAS and the troops in their various operations across the country.  

"We consequently wish to state that there are worthy lessons to be learnt and emulated as provided by the Zamfara and Sokoto examples. Nigerians must also develop the habit of appreciation of our troops that have been engaged in the task of keeping Nigeria safe and secured at every point in time. 

"The Arewa Crusaders Against Banditry enjoins Nigerians from all walks of life to see the Nigerian Army as partners in progress and as well inculcate the habit of appreciating their invaluable sacrifices in the war against criminal elements that are bent on seeing to the regime of sorrow, tears and blood. 

"The Arewa Crusaders Against Banditry wishes to state that it is not yet Uhuru, as the task before us requires continued cooperation from all and sundry in North West Nigeria as well as other parts of the country. This is true must be seen as a collective endeavour, rather than the responsibility of the Nigerian Army alone."

PRIMING EDO STATE TO BE A MAJOR SUPPLIER OF SKILLS TO ENABLE NIGERIA COMPETE ON THE GLOBAL SCENE



The world is undergoing transformation at an unprecedented pace and scale, with the fourth industrial revolution advancing at a rapid speed, driven by data and powered by hitherto unimaginable computing power in mobile devices. 
This transformation of the economic landscape presents nation-states with opportunities and threats that could either propel them into relevance or move them further into irrelevance. 
China in the last 30years has been able to move about 800million of her citizens out of extreme poverty, while growing to become the second-largest economy in the world, through a deliberate policy of human capital development that has led the country to acquire expertise that has led it to become a major manufacturing and export hub in the world today.

Nigeria has within this period been a major importer of virtually all of her needs while exporting her finest human resources especially those in the youthful age bracket who seek greener pastures in Europe, Asia, and America. Edo state has acquired a reputation as a major exporter of migrants seeking greener pastures and having to resort to crime in Europe, driven by the fact that many of the young in the state had lost hope of moving up the ladder of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. 

Successive governments had failed to create enough opportunities for Nigerians in Nigeria and Edo state was no exception to this rule as the wave of migration both legal and illegal continued to gather momentum. In his campaign in 2016, Governor Godwin Obaseki made it clear that his administration would focus on building a digital economy to enable the youth to fulfill their God-given potentials and move up the rungs of the economic mobility ladder, without having to resort to crime.

Upon assuming office, the governor launched the Edo Skills Development Programme (Edo Jobs), to create employment opportunities for about 200 thousand citizens of the state. There has never been a shortage of “youth empowerment schemes” in Nigeria that have become channels for diverting state funds to vested interests and for funding crony/patronage networks, without any significant benefit to the society. 
Edo Jobs, however, was a first-of-its-kind program due to the fact that it was so brilliantly conceived that it attracted partners from the private sector and international development institutions.

Being a thorough professional and visionary, the governor domiciled the project in Edo State Skills Development Agency, led by the 36year old Ukinebo Dare as Managing Director. The state government took a different approach to the Edo Jobs initiative, wherein the goal was to build a large pool of employable youths rather than the usual system of giving handouts without proper data or impact monitoring and evaluation mechanism being put in place. Edo Jobs commenced with a statewide registration of the youth and their categorization based on interests, educational level, and skills, which then guided the implementation of the program.

The Edojobs job matching portal was created to connect job seekers with job opportunities.  EdoInnovates was conceived to train talents in the state around ICT knowledge and to help them become entrepreneurs and freelancers. Edo Production Centre, a 23thousand square meter property with constant power availability, was also created as a warehouse for industrial opportunities for the youth to have access to knowledge, equipment, and markets in various vocational enterprises including artisans and small scale manufacturers such as machine fabricators, waste recyclers, pencil, producers of pencils, toothpicks, furniture, hair extensions, among others.
In the last four years, Edo Jobs has matched over 50thousand youths to jobs, while about 30thousand have been upskilled, with over 20million Naira given in grants through a pitch competition. 
The state now boasts a vibrant and growing community of digitally literate youth who are already doing freelancing jobs and earning in dollars. The Edo Jobs program has also targeted specific interventions at returnees from Libya and other countries, to enable them seamlessly reintegrate to socio-economic life back home in Nigeria.
The Edo Jobs program has been so successful that it has attracted a diverse base of partners including partners such as GIZ, DFID, Oxfam, SOS Nigeria, MainOne, Slot Academy, and the Bank of Industry. About 160thousand youths have been reached through the Edo Jobs program, with the numbers set to grow even more in the coming years.
Edo Jobs is a clear example of the way government programs ought to be structured with private sector partners, to ensure accountability and sustainability of government interventions over a longer timeframe to enable the people to reap their multiplier effects. 
The Edo Jobs programme has made huge strides in aggregating demand for jobs and consolidating supply in Edo state through a structured skill acquisition system. This model ought to be emulated by both the Federal and state governments in Nigeria to arrest the downward slide of employment and underemployment figures in the country.

President Buhari has liberated 5 states from Boko Haram terrorism - Amnesty Report

A report by Global Amnesty Watch (GAW) says President Muhammadu Buhari has effectively stamped out Boko Haram terrorists from five states in the northeast. 

The 36-page report, titled "Commendable Feats and Successes of the Muhammadu Buhari Administration in the War Against Insurgency in Nigeria" examined the country's fight against insurgency in the last five years. 

Renowned scholar, Prof Oluwale Ogundipe, Dr Ibrahim Mansur, Dr Okey Okechukwu, Comrade Ibrahim Abubakar of the Save Humanity Advocacy Centre (SHAC) all joined GAW's country representative, Terrence Kuanum to unveil the report on Monday in Abuja in the presence of top government functionaries, academics and civil society groups. 

According to the report, the emergence of President Buhari in 2015 saved the country from impending collapse and disaster. 

"Nigeria was indeed on the brink and was in dire need of a saviour that would lead the onslaught against the rampaging Boko Haram insurgents that were gathering momentum every passing day," it read in part. 

"The periods of 2010 to 2015 was indeed gloomy when the Boko Haram insurgents overran a military base in Baga, Kukawa local government area in Borno state, in what remains the deadliest Boko Haram attack in the history of the insurgency in North-East Nigeria.  

"The 2015 Baga massacre was a series of mass killings carried out by the Boko Haram insurgents between January 3 and January 7 2015. Baga and at least 16 other towns were destroyed as over 35,000 people were reported to have been displaced, with many feared to have drowned while trying to cross Lake Chad and others trapped on islands in the lake."

The report, however, noted that "Boko Haram has been significantly downgraded since the coming on board of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015. 

"The insurgents have been pushed back and restricted to the fringes of the Lake Chad Basin Region around the Borno axis, where they no longer control any territory as was the case before."

While admitting pockets of attacks occasionally experienced in Borno, GAW hailed the president for liberating five states and restoring normalcy. 

Among others, the report acknowledged that President Buhari instilled professionalism and innovations in the operations of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 

It added that "the Muhammadu Buhari administration also entrenched a regime of transparency and accountability in the Nigerian Military that ultimately saw to the renewed vigour in the prosecution of the war against Boko Haram insurgency as well as other forms of criminalities in the country. The era of massive corruption in the Military has also been curtailed through the multilayer processes introduced in line with global best practices in defence spending.  

"This reports also identified that there has been an improved defence budgeting as well as the provision of training for officers and soldiers in counterinsurgency operations."

GAW, however, recommended that all relevant stakeholders must continue to render support to the efforts of the Federal Government towards addressing the pocket of security issues in the country. 

It further called on the "political leadership of the various states in the country to dutifully align themselves with working solutions and not promote divisions along ethnic or religious lines. 

" The various security agencies must continue to promote credible Intel on the activities of criminal gangs in the country and sharing same in a process that will not compromise the system. 

"The government must begin the process of identifying and prosecuting those found guilty of aiding and abetting the activities of terrorist and militant groups in the country.

"The government of Borno State must come to the table by tasking all stakeholders in the state to proffer solutions that would assist the armed forces  in dislodging the remnants of the Boko Haram insurgents perpetuating violence in Borno State."

Absence of Boko Haram in Gombe, another gain of Buhari’s administration- Goje


The complete flushing out of Boko Haram terrorists and other violent groups in Gombe State has been achieved through the sustained efforts and commitment of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to secure Nigera, a prominent progressive politician, Alhaji Ali Goje , has said.

Goje , who hails from Gombe state in a chat with newsmen in Abuja, said Gombe has benefitted immensely from the President Buhari administration in the area of security.

He said this is another great achievement of the Buhari administration that is often overlooked but is of utmost significance to the people of the state and Nigeria. 

While recalling what Gombe went through in the past, Goje said it was so bad that  Gombe State was considered as one of the sleeper cells of Boko Haram where they keep reserve fighters who many times unleash violence on the people of the state .

He said in addition to the terrorists who were threatening the peace and security of the state, there was a whole clan of political thugs being raised in the name of Yan Kalare and Sara Suka who were equally tormenting the people of the state.

He said the combination of these violent groups,  enthroned a regime of violence in Gombe and made life unbearable for the common man in the state.

"People were afraid to go about their normal businesses because of the activities of terrorists who had gradually crept into the state and were manifesting in many forms.

"Many parts of the state came under attack from the terrorists,  the height of which he said was the attempt by Boko Haram to overrun Gombe town in 2015.

He said the explosions and sounds of gun shots arising from that incident alone when the Boko Haram seized a checkpoint and tried to enter Gombe before they were repelled, was traumatizing enough. 

Goje also recalled that prior to that incident, the Boko Haram had twice in 2014, stormed a French-owned cement company, Lafarge, as they attacked two towns in Gombe state, Bajoga and Ashaka, raided banks and burnt government buildings as well as political party offices

He said though the terrorists were pursued by the military for five kilometres, from Bajoga to Ashaka, after three hours of fighting, the fear that gripped Gombe from that encounter was palpable. 

The politician said as if that was not enough, youths in the state were drawn to violence by the patronage of local politicians who engaged them as thugs who go about killing people and burning houses of political opponents. 

He said the situation was so bad that people could not move freely as they could be attacked directly or be caught in any cross fire.

Goje says he strongly believes that the coming of President Muhammadu Buhari has helped to restore normalcy, peace and tranquility to the nooks and cranny of Gombe State. 

He said that is why Gombe, though in the Northeastern part of the country, has remained  one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria today. 

"When President Buhari was sworn in, things began to change. I don't know whether to call it body language, but immediately he won the 2015 election, we began to see improvements in the security in Gombe. 

"When President Buhari finally directed the relocation of the operational headquarters to the Northeast, that was when it dawned on us that finally, the solution to our problems had come and we have not been disappointed since then," stated.

Goje said from 2015, many of the terrorists were arrested and many of them fled to Chad and parts of Borno as they couldn't stand the heat of the onslaught against them.

The politician recalled that in 2018, troops of Operation Lafiya Dole and the Department of State Service (DSS) arrested a bomb specialist who makes Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) for  Boko Haram, in Gombe which marked the neutralisation of their activities in the state.

He thanked President Buhari for restoring peace and security in Gombe saying it is something the people of the state cannot forget in a hurry.

"You know they say it is who wears the shoes that knows where it pinches. We have worn the shoes of terrorism and political violence and we are now wearing the shoes of peace and calm so we know the difference, Goje stated.

He said people in Gombe now go about their normal businesses without fear of being attacked or bombs exploding and called on the government to sustain its efforts so that meaningful development would thrive in the state.

Hon. Goje called on the government and people of Borno and other parts of the Northeast to embrace the President’s efforts so that terrorism would be given the final push out of Nigeria. 

"Let us join hands and collaborate with the President, those of us from the Northeast should not allow other interests to deny us of the joy and peace and security, Mr. President means well," he added.

By Mohammed Haske


On the 4th of November 2011, the two major towns of Damaturu and Potiskum in Yobe State were on fire following coordinated bombing and shooting attacks on police and other facilities in the State. 

Residents of the two towns for several hours could not fathom what was happening as they ran in different directions for dear lives. 

At the end of the pandemonium which were confirmed to have been attacks caried out by Boko Haram, no less than 150 persons lay dead and several buildings were razed. 

As the Boko Haram terrorists were turning Yobe State upside down, its members were also causing havoc in Maiduguri as they attacked the convoy of the then governor, Kashim Shettima and two of their suicide-bombers attempted to blow up the military Joint Task Force headquarters in Maiduguri in a botched suicide attack on the same day.

All these happening in one day, gives an idea of the kind of terror the people in the Northeast part of the country were being subjected to before the coming of the current administration.

Markets, schools, worship centres and other public buildings became no go areas for several months for fear of bomb and gun attacks.

Those who have no compelling reasons to stay in any of the five Northeastern states of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe and Yobe Stats hurriedly stalling economic activities in those states. 

Access to education and medical care became a tall order as security even such places could not be guaranteed. 

The Boko Haram were having a field day as they were even threatening to match to Abuja to bring down the central government. 

The situation was so bad in 2011, that the Boko Haram terrorists had moved from attacking ordinary residents to threatening the highest symbol of constituted authorities in the states, the governors.

Spokesman for Boko Haram at the time, Abu Zaid, threatened that the Boko Haram would hunt down the governors of Borno, Bauchi and Gombe if they fail to apologise to them. "We would not relent in our efforts of searching for them until they come out publicly and apologize," he was reported to have said.

Then Bauchi State governor, Malam Isa Yuguda and his former counterpart in Gombe State , Danjuma Goje were so stricken with fear that they had to buy spaces in national dailies to apologise to the terrorists as demanded.

The two publicly appologised  Boko Haram, for any rights violations suffered during the military crackdown on its leaders in 2009.

Said Yuguda, "I apologise to the members of Jama'atu Ahlussunnah lidda'awati wal Jihad for perceived injustices caused them as they have the full rights to be protected by the law," 

While Goje said: "As a true Muslim, who believes in peace and brotherhood, I hereby tender my public apology to the organisation for any wrong done to it in the course of performing my duty as the then governor of Gombe State".

The Borno State governor on his part offered amnesty to the terrorists as a way of placating them.

Adamawa too had its bitter taste of the nasty experience with frequent attacks and shootouts, bomb attacks on police stations,  banks worshippers centers, etc..

But with the coming of the current administration the people of the Northeast no longer live in fear.

Adamawa has become safe and peaceful while economic activities and spiritual functions have resumed fully. 

The people of Damaturu, Potiskum, Geidam and other towns constantly attacked  y terrorists in the past, have put such gory incidences behind them.

The atmosphere of peace  and calm is even more pervasive in Gombe and Bauchi states where the insurgents have been completely flushed out.

In most parts of Borno, normacly has also returned.

Most of the rural areas vacated for fear of attacks are now occupied.

The suicide bombers have been frustrated as their attempts have been detected and stalled.

Abduction of young women and girls at random has also been stopped.

The people of the Northeast are immensely grateful to President Muhammadu Buhari who made it a priority to secure and return peace to the terrorism ravaged states of the Northeast. Every time one travels to the Northeast, one cannot help but notice the hope on the faces of residents.

Haske a public affairs analyst wrote this piece from Yola.

*Insurgency: Gov Zulum given 7- days ultimatum to apologize to PMB, Nigerian troops over false accusations*

Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has received a seven-day ultimatum to apologize to President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian military over a series of false accusations levelled against troops on the frontlines.

The North East Peace Assembly (NEPA) said failure to do so means he would be compelled to tell the world about his secret pact with Boko Haram and its sponsors. 

This was contained in a statement signed by the group's leader, Mallam Musa Babangida, on Saturday, following an investigative report which rubbished the governor's latest allegation claiming troops' involvement in agricultural activities in the northeast. 

In the statement titled, "Gov. Zulum; reclaim your honour by tendering an unreserved apology to Nigerian Army for consistent defamation of character", the North East Peace Assembly demanded that Zulum do the needful to redeem his already battered image.

It said the governor is fast "carving a niche for himself as an astute fabricator/inventor of sensational fake news" and Nigerians now perceive him as "one of the many covert forces promoting Boko Haram terrorism in Nigeria".

"The North East Peace Assembly (NEPA) wishes to animate the conscience of Borno state Gov. Babagana Umara Zulum to claim his honour and dignity for unswervingly portraying himself as a leader who regales in peddling blatant lies on the Army. He must do it within seven days of this publication and upon failure, Nigerians should compel him to tell the rest of the world, the secret pact he has signed with Boko Haram and its sponsors," the statement reads.   

"This reminder and even outright request to Gov. Zulum is prodded by the findings and release of the report of an Investigative Team set up by the Army leadership to verify the authenticity of Zulum’s latest allegations that soldiers in the war front have coercively seized farmlands and fishing rivers from locals and converted same for personal farming and fishing activities.

"For the records, let us remind the disco-ordinated Gov. Zulum that the Nigerian Army under the leadership of Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai is too professionalized and disciplined to engage in such acts of subversions and maltreatment of the same people it has devoted years to exculpate from the shackles of Boko Haram terrorism.

"Additionally, like the falsity of the seizure of farm and fishing enclaves; Gov. Zulum’s hasty conclusions that soldiers were behind the Boko Haram attack on his convoy near Baga is the most absurd, illogical or ridiculous reasoning and conclusion by a leader of his status. Gov. Zulum is fast carving a niche for himself as a purveyor of twisted facts and astute fabricator/inventor of sensational fake news.

"Nigerian troops in the battlefield have never engaged in any act of sabotage or complicity in the counter-insurgency operations; inclusive of Zulum’s wretched farming and fishing allegations and the alleged attack on his convoy by  Boko Haram in Borno state. For the umpteenth time, the Special Investigative Panel has exonerated soldiers of any sabotage or complicity as bandied by Gov. Zulum or others before him."

Beyond mere apology, the group, however, asked the governor to comply and support the fight against insurgency in Borno. 

"We strongly believe this is the only alternative at the disposal of Gov. Zulum now and he must bring his head down to comply in the interest of peace. It is only then, Nigerians will know, he is truly committed to the war against insurgency in Borno State.

"However, should Gov. Zulum be obstinate over this plea or fails to tender the apology, it will show clearly that the Governor knows what the rest of Nigerians don’t know about Boko Haram and definitely unhappy that Nigerian troops are in Borno to defend the country."

EARL OSARO ONAIWU AND THE POLITICS OF HATE AND INGRATITUDE

Like any competitive sport, politics is sustained by keeping to the rules and being gracious towards competitors.

The practice of denigrating opponents ultimately is a zero sum game that nourishes desperation and a win at all cost mentality, while losers resort to scorched earth tactics, leading to an atmosphere where governance becomes an exercise of trying to find a needle in a haystack.


It is rather sad and disheartening to see that an Edo man who contested for Governorship and failed several times who was never castigated and has benefited so much from very prominent sons of Edo.

Earl Osaro Onaiwu's recent outburst on Captain Hosa Okunbo's open letter and that of Hon. West Idahosa which wasn't directed to him and had practically nothinghing to do with him.

These prominent and highly respected Edo son's has reached the zenith of their endeavours in life and deserves to be respected to mention but a few, captain Hosa Okunbo and the Likes of many others, though it is in the public domain that Captain Hosa sponsored Osaro Onaiwu's daughters wedding at the time and also paid the medical bills of his late brother Dr. Onaiwu of blessed memory. In addition Osaretin his brother had also worked for captain Hosa for about three years and we all knew what happened then.



Haven't contested for governorship several times and failed, Earl Osaro Onaiwu would now go as far as attempting to maliciously malign these highly respected great sons of Edo whom he had one way or the other benefitted from, it is completely unacceptable. Honor should be given to whom it is due.


That a man of Earl Osaro Onaiwu's standing would choose to throw caution to the winds over a political game in which he isn’t the front line player or even the umpire, is a worrying omen as the election draws nearer.


For a man who has been a beneficiary of the political system of the state to begin to throw insults against prominent Edo sons, of whose benevolence he has received in the past, is a reason for well meaning stakeholders in the state to pause and reflect on the direction in which “the heartbeat of the nation” is headed.

If the current trend continues, being characterized by a seemingly intractable progression in error, it appears that the next elections in Edo state would be heated up.


Politics must be a contest of ideas to win the people over to the platforms that best represent their aspirations and paint a better future for them.



The good people of Edo state deserve better leadership and persons such as Earl Osaro Onaiwu must take the lead in elevating the quality of politics being played in the state.


In his exalted position he ought to be calling erring youth to order instead of choosing to walk the path of maligning others for cheap points.


The people of Edo state do not need a more heated polity and persons like Earl Onaiwu must consciously and consistently commit themselves to ensuring that the decibels of the drums of war are reduced and eliminated completely.

Elections will always have winners and losers, but the challenge before the people of Edo state is to unite across party lines to develop the state after the ballots have been cast and the new government sworn in.


A situation where elders of the state in positioning for personal interests choose to act like bulls in a China shop at such a critical stage in our political evolution is unbecoming.

By Bukola Olasanmi

President Muhammadu Buhari is a man of his words. During the 2015 elections, he promised to do three things, improve on the economy, tackle corruption and address the insecurity in the country.

He has since assuming office started the fight against corruption from which millions of dollars have been recovered by the government and many serving and former public officials brought to book.

The current administration by the introduction of the Treasury Single Account and Bank Verification Number, BVN, also blocked major conduits for corruption.

The economy has also been on a steady rise since the stabilisation of the exchange rate, increased investment in the agricultural sector and stability of the banking system.

While much has been achieved in the areas of improving the economy and fighting corruption, the focus of this piece will be on security and how the current administration has succeeded where others feared to tread because of the impact it has had on all citizens especially the masses.

Before the coming of the current administration, the level of insecurity was so high that Boko Haram terrorism extended to all the states in the Northeast except Taraba, that life became a living hell for the people of Yobe, Bauchi, Adamawa and Gombe States.

More than 20 local councils in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States were captured by Boko Haram and placed under the administration of terrorists.
Major towns within the axis like Potiskum, Buni Yadi, Biu, Madagali, Gwoza, Garkida, Bama, Baga, Monguno, Benisheik etc. all lost their peace as the insurgents could invade any at will and sack residents.

It was so bad in the country that the Boko Haram terrorist hoisted their flags at Gwoza, excised it from other parts of Nigeria and declared their caliphate there. They did not stop at that but extended their nefarious activities to other states outside the Northeast like Kano and Abuja targetting high profile personalities like the emir and the Inspector General of Police and sensitive buildings like the United Nations building in Abuja and the headquarters of the Department of State Security. States like Niger, Plateau and Kogi State precisely, Okene and Koton Karfe, began to feel the negative impacts of the terrorists.

Extending their tentacles became so easy that the insurgents began planning to settle and extend their reign of evil to Lagos. But as Mr. President took over the mantle of leadership and kept to his words to secure Nigerians, he directed that the operational headquarters of the fight against insurgency move to the theatres of operation. From that moment, things began to change.

The terrorists, seeing the depth of intelligence put into security and the commitment of the government towards fishing them out, fled from Abuja to other places.

The effective monitoring and surveillance mounted in Kaduna, Niger, Kogi and Plateau made the terrorists in those states to also flee. Most of them were later confirmed to flee to reinforce their fast diminishing strongholds at Sambisa forest which was being battered and their members were being pushed to the fringes of the Lake Chad.

The Northeastern states of Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa and Yobe that were being traumatized by the terrorists began to heave sighs of relief as the Buhari administration, through reinforced coordination and strategies sacked the terrorists elements in those states and people began living their normal lives.

The livestock market at Potiskum has since bounced back attracting traders and other business interests beyond the shores of Nigeria while Mubi has retained its verve with schools and other activities resuming in full swing.

With sustained efforts, the Boko Haram miscreants and ISWAP activities have been confined to few border communities in Borno State. Even within Borno, places that were hitherto tormented by the terrorists like Gwoza, Izge, Biu, Benisheik and Konduga, have been liberated and kept free from their operations. 

No doubt, President Buhari has kept his promise of eradicating terrorism in all these states and what is left today is the remnants of the terror group in parts of northern Borno. Nigerians are happy that President Buhari has not disappointed them with his promises to make Nigeria secure for citizens. 

The level of economic activities within the states liberated from terrorism has quadrupled and many who were displaced in various parts of the country have returned to their communities. 

Food security has been enhanced with the increase in the production of farm produce that are found only in those states. The general atmosphere in Nigeria has been that of fresh air and the people are happy that they have been enabled to pick up the pieces of their lives. General Buhari's credentials as a man of integrity has been enhanced with these achievements.


Olasanmi is a journalist and wrote from Abuja.

Yoruba Youth Group blast Fayose over attacks on Bode George, Obasanjo.

A Pan Yoruba Youth organisation, National Committee of Yoruba Youth NCYY, has described recent verbal attacks on two Yoruba Elders, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, Chief Olabode George by former Ekiti governor, Ayodele Fayose, as lacking the virtue of the Omoluabi culture, that Yoruba people are known for, especially in their public conducts, towards the elderly in the society.

The group said Fayose's outburst, even though not new to the public, reflects the extreme bad taste, that Fayose's knowledge of public communication, has become synonymous to.

Reacting through a statement jointly signed by Akindele Lawson and Saheed Bello, Coordinator and Secretary respectively, the youth group said rather than accepting the cautions made by these elder statesmen to characters like Fayose and other public office holders of his type, Fayose resorted to his traditional public conduct of exhibiting tendencies alien to the Yoruba virtue of Omoluabi and respect for elders.

"Fayose's attack on Chief Olabode George, is not only a futile attempt at twisting the fact, it also clear demonstrate Fayose's perpetual behaviour as an ingratitude character, who have since forgotten how the goodwill of leaders, like Chief Olabode George, ensured his first ever emergence, as the Governor of Ekiti state. Was Chief Olabode George not an older person, when he mobilsed the party's machinery and every needed support, for the emergence of Mr Fayose as candidate of the PDP and his eventual victory at the poll in 2003."

“It is unfortunate that someone who have been privileged to have occupied the exalted seat of the Governor of Ekiti state, will continue to exhibit lack decency in public communication, thereby confirming our belief that Ayo Fayose, cannot act at anytime, beyond his intellectual capacity,” .

The group further said the Mr Fayose has formed the habit of casting aspersions and spreading falsehood against perceived political opponents, thereby making him a huge embarrassment and disgrace to the highly urbane and educated Yoruba people.

The group said it will continue to expose Fayose as a barefaced liar, saying it will no longer tolerate his reoccurring disrespect, for any Yoruba elder, whatsoever.

*Ebonyi natives write Buratai, hail COAS over Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, other achievements*

Some well-meaning indigenes of Ebonyi State have applauded the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. T.Y Buratai for the siting of the Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Abakiliki, the state capital. 

In an open letter on Friday, the group, under the auspices of Association of Ebonyi Indigenes in Abuja (AEIA) also commended the COAS for the success of various operations in the state and across the country. 

According to the letter signed by its president, Comrade Collins Ezedike, the Ebonyi indigenes said the army facility "would go a long way in providing quality medical services to the people of Ebonyi as well as other neighbouring states". 

The letter said, "The Association of Ebonyi People in Abuja wishes to use this medium to extend our total appreciation to the indefatigable Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai for the wonderful initiative of the establishment of the Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.

"Our stomach is indeed filled with joy and appreciation for the choice of Abakiliki as the location for the Nigerian Army Reference Hospital. We are incredibly humbled by the decision of the hierarchy of the Nigerian Army to choose Abakiliki from the list of cities in the whole of South-East Nigeria.  

"Dear Chief of Army Staff, we the members of the Association of Ebonyi Indigenes in Abuja is aware of your support and commitment towards peace and stability in the state that has resulted in the drastic reduction in the activities of bandits, kidnappers, ritualist and other criminal gangs in the state. "

The group added that it is well informed of the COAS' support and commitment towards peace and stability in the state that has resulted in the drastic reduction in the activities of bandits and other criminal activities. 

Describing the Army chief's commitment as "unflinching", the group further saluted his "courage, foresight, dexterity and doggedness in leading the troops to victory in the war against terrorism, militancy and banditry" 

The Ebonyi Indigenes in Abuja, however, assured the COAS of its total support and sustained cordial relationship with the state government and the entire Ebonyi people.   

"The Association of Ebonyi Indigenes in Abuja wishes to inform you that the people of Ebonyi State would continue to extend its support to all the army operations in the state as well as in other states in the south-east region. It is also our desire that the fruitful relationship between the government of Ebonyi State and the Nigerian Army is sustained now and in the future," the letter added.

"As members of this association in Abuja, we wish to on behalf of our brothers and sisters in Ebonyi state and other states of the federation extend our appreciation to you and also to inform you that you have our support always. 

"We also pray that God continues to grant you the wisdom to continue to lead the Nigerian Army as they carry on with the task of protecting lives and properties in Nigeria, as well as preserving the territorial integrity of the country.  

"The good people of Ebonyi state would not relent in its support for the Nigerian Army in its various operations in the state and other neighbouring states as the success of the activities of the Nigerian Army would indeed be beneficial to all of us in the country. 

"The Association of Ebonyi Indigenes in Abuja is proud of your loft achievements as Chief of Army Staff, and it is our prayers that God grants you wisdom in the task at hand. We are grateful for your kind gestures towards Ebonyi, and we promise to always extend our support to you at all times. "

Northern patriots show appreciation to Buhari, say President has liberated 5 North-East States from terrorists

The Coalition of Northern Patriots (CNP) has expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for stamping out Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists in five states in the North-East. 

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Nuruddeen Dodo said Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe States are experiencing a new lease of life, thanks to the president. 

According to the group, President Buhari has so far kept his campaign promise of ending insurgency across the region. 

With sustained onslaught by the troops and cooperation of all relevant stakeholders, the northern patriots assured that Borno too will be free from pockets of attacks as being experienced. 

"The Coalition of Northern Patriots is using this press conference to profusely thank Mr President, President Muhammadu Buhari on his gigantic efforts of totally riding Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe States of Boko Haram terrorism," the statement reads. 

" The Coalition of Northern Patriots as critical stakeholders is aware of the tremendous efforts by President Muhammadu Buhari towards seeing to an end of the Boko Haram crisis in Borno State as the last remaining state in Nigeria for the administration to fulfil 100 per cent of its promise in 2015. This much is evidenced in the renewed onslaught by the Nigerian military against the remnants of the Boko Haram terror group and a complete overhaul of strategies by the security architecture.

" This is also on the heels that the Nigerian Military was able to corner the remaining Boko Haram members in their hideouts in Borno State and as the Chief of Army Staff has been leading the final onslaught. This is a welcome development, and we wish to state that baring all unforeseen circumstances,  Boko Haram would be routed out of Borno State through the concerted efforts of the various security agencies. 

"We also wish to appreciate MR  President who has indeed lived up to expectations in the war against terrorism. His commitment and passion towards ending the Boko Haram insurgency have come at a great sacrifice to him and his family." 

While saluting the brave troops and the security chiefs for this feat, the group called on the Borno State government and all relevant stakeholders to join hands with the president in his efforts to address the threats posed by the remnants of Boko Haram in the state. 

Going further, CNP, however, warned persons and groups secretly extending covert support to Boko Haram in Borno to "desist from such ignoble enterprises."

The statement further cautioned international NGOs in operation in the state to quit engaging in acts that would jeopardize the efforts of the Nigerian Military in their various operations.

...warns citizens against promoting false narratives

Following a report by the United States over plans by Islamic militant group, al-Qaeda, to infiltrate Southern Nigeria and expand its network across West Africa, the Coalition Against Terrorism in Nigeria (CATN) has charged the police, Department of States Services and other security agencies to be on red alert.  

The anti-terrorism organisation also warned Nigerians to equally be vigilant and avoid promoting attempts by some individuals or groups to sow unwholesome propaganda at a time the military has shoved these terrorists to obscure parts of the north.

The Coalition Against Terrorism in Nigeria gave this charge at a press conference on Tuesday in Abuja. 

Speaking on behalf of the group, Barr. Abdulmalik Alfa said all hands must be on deck to compliment the efforts of the military. 

According to Alfa, the police, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, DSS and other stakeholders have critical roles to play to support the troops. 

"There is no doubt that the sustained offensive by the Nigerian Army against the Boko Haram terrorists and other militant groups across the country has indeed placed these nefarious groups in disarray," he said. 

"This fact was buttressed by the exploits of the Chief of Army Staff, who had been leading the charge against the Boko Haram terror group by physically relocating to North-East Nigeria and directing the counter-insurgency operations.

"The Coalition Against Terrorism in Nigeria has, on numerous occasions encountered the Nigerian troops in operations in North-East Nigeria during some of our on the spot assessment surveys in North-East Nigeria. This is indeed commendable and mostly responsible for the abandonment of the mission of the terror group towards expanding their nefarious activities to other parts of the country.  

"We consequently wish to state that there is an urgent need for other critical stakeholders to join hands with the Nigerian Military by extending support in areas necessary towards addressing the threats posed by the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist group in the country. 

"We also state that the Nigerian Air force has a critical role to play in the war against terrorism by ensuring seamless cooperation with the ground troops in their various operations. This is the applicable norm in countries battling insurgencies. The Nigerian Airforce as a critical stakeholder should continue to sustain and weaken the terrorists through airpower while the ground troops continue to engage in clearance operations. 

"The Coalition Against Terrorism in Nigeria also states that from our preliminary reports, other security agencies such as the State Security Services, Nigerian Police, the Civil Defense, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, the Nigerian Immigration and the Nigerian Customs Service all have invaluable roles to play in addressing the various security challenges in the country.  

" We wish to state that the Nigerian Police Force, as well as the DSS, have the responsibility of ensuring that they secure areas that have been cleared of Boko Haram terrorists because the operations of the Nigerian Army is mobile and not stationary. After liberating communities of Boko Haram elements, it is expected that the security of these communities automatically rests on their shoulders. "

CATN, however, urged the international community to render genuine assistance to Nigeria due to the country's strategic importance in the African region and among the comity of nations. 

Going forward, it advised the US and others to adopt "proper channels of sharing Intel with the security agencies in Nigeria rather than going public as this would go a long way in ensuring that Nigerian citizens do not panic unnecessarily given the sensitivity of such information and the impact it would have on the psychological wellbeing of Nigerians.

"We wish to at this point state that there is a need for the anti-terrorism wing of the Nigerian Police Force to be on alert to ensure that terrorist cells do not spring up anywhere in Nigeria. This is especially necessary with the recent Intel of the attempt by the Al-Qaeda terrorist group to set up terrorist cells in some parts of Nigeria." 

While calling on Nigerians to avoid being used to promote terrorists' agenda, the group urged "security agencies to be vigilant in their operations to ensure that terrorist networks across the world do not infiltrate any part of Nigeria."

By Prince Emmanuel Odigie
 
Like any competitive sport, politics is sustained by keeping to the rules and being gracious towards competitors.  It also feeds on loyalty to leadership and followership.  In this write up, it will be pertinent that I don’t address Osaro Onaiwu as an “Earl”.  This is because with that name, which is associated with nobility in the great United Kingdom, Osaro Onaiwu had, for so many years, dressed himself in a borrowed robe.

The story of how he came by that name, to some of us who know his pedigree right from his Ikeja heyday when his reputation was suspect on account of his involvement in some sleazy deals, is blowing in the wind. And, because the name-“Earl”-was borrowed, Osaro Onaiwu has not been able to either exhibit the virtues of the name or keep fidelity to the nobility of it.

Having failed abysmally on several occasions to live up to the billing of that name, I am at no pains at all to just refer to him, in this write-up, as Osaro Onaiwu-the scoundrel. And, I challenge him to prove otherwise.

It is granted that the practice of denigrating opponents ultimately is a zero-sum game that nourishes desperation and a win-at-all-cost mentality; and, where losers resort to scorched-earth tactics, leading to an atmosphere in which governance becomes an exercise of trying to find a needle in a haystack.

I am saddened to see that Osaro Onaiwu, who failed awfully in business and had also contested for the governorship seat and failed on the number of times he did, and who was never castigated for doing so and had even benefited so much from very prominent sons of Edo, is engrossed in an odious pastime of casting aspersions on well-respected Edo leaders who tower above him in honour, dignity and integrity.

Specifically, Osaro Onaiwu's recent outburst against my mentor and elder brother, Captain Hosa Okunbo, tantamount to crossing the line. He had also taken misguided swipes at respected lawyer and former member of the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Ehiogie West-Idahosa for no just cause. I have yet to see anywhere in which the recent activities of Capt. Hosa Okunbo and Hon. West-Idahosa had directly touched on the person of Osaro Onaiwu to necessitate his unconscionable assaults on these leading lights of Benin Kingdom.

These prominent and highly respected Edo sons have attained the zenith of their endeavours in life and deserve to be respected. There are many others who are also in that category.   But my main concern is Capt. Hosa Okunbo that Osaro Onaiwu had gleefully clobbered for whatever reasons.  I have taken it upon myself to respond to Osaro Onaiwu because he had not only shown how hateful and envious, he is of Capt. Hosa but also how ungrateful he has been to the man who had shown him brotherly love.

For instance, it is public knowledge that Capt. Hosa sponsored Osaro Onaiwu's son’s wedding in 2015 and had also patronized his failed public relations company, RED CARPET, on several occasions. Capt. Hosa also contributed to the medical bills of his late brother, Dr Onaiwu, when he was critically sick. I challenge Osaro Onaiwu to debunk my assertions.

I am not done yet. Capt Hosa played a major role in Osaro Onaiwu’s father’s burial as can be attested to by his family and, in addition Etinosa, his brother had also worked for Captain Hosa during the construction of the Wells Carlton Hotel in Abuja for about three years. I am very much aware of what happened then and how Osaro Onaiwu came to beg Capt. Hosa on behalf of his brother for his misdemeanor for which Capt Hosa had to forgive his brother. I take personal responsibility for divulging these facts without recourse to my elder brother and mentor, Capt. Hosa, who keeps persuading us not to join issues with some of these fellows.

Could Osaro Onaiwu’s irrational attacks on Capt. Hosa just be about politics? Or could they just be an avenue to actually express his unmitigated envy towards a man that had consistently shown him love and compassion? Or could they just be that God has allowed forces greater than him (Osaro Onaiwu) to use him in propagation of acts of ingratitude to really show that he is indeed an ungrateful wretch, unknown to Capt. Hosa?

Having contested for the governorship position several times and failed, that Osaro Onaiwu would now go as far as attempting to maliciously malign Capt. Hosa, et al, these highly respected great sons of Edo whom he had, one way or the other, benefitted from, is completely unacceptable. Honor should be given to whom it is due. Capt. Hosa deserves honour.  Other well-meaning leaders of the great Benin Kingdom deserve honour.

That a man of Osaro Onaiwu's supposed standing would choose to throw caution to the winds over a political game in which he isn’t a player, let alone a frontline player or even the umpire is worrying. For a man who has been a beneficiary of the political system of the state and the eleemosynary acts of Capt. Hosa to begin to throw insults against him and other prominent Edo sons is a good reason for well-meaning stakeholders in the state to pause and reflect on the direction in which “the heartbeat of the nation” is headed. It shows that some persons like Osaro Onaiwu have lost their moral compass.

If the current situation in the State, characterized by a seemingly intractable progression in error by some individuals, including Osaro Onaiwu, continues, then, it does appear that the next election in Edo State could be a victim of desperate manipulation by those who want to hold on to power in spite of their abysmal performance in office in the last four years. But I am rest assured that the good people of Edo State, through their eternal vigilance, would put them and their collaborators, like Osaro Onaiwu, to shame.

Whereas, politics must be a contest of ideas to win the people over to the platforms that best represent their aspirations and paint a better future for them; the good people of Edo State deserve better leadership. It is sardonic of what they claim to stand for if persons, such as Osaro Onaiwu, are not taking the lead in elevating the quality of politics being played in the state.

In his supposed exalted position, Osaro Onaiwu ought to be calling erring youth to order instead of choosing to walk the path of maligning others for cheap points or recognition.

The people of Edo state do not need a heated polity ahead and after the scheduled September 19, 2020 governorship election. Persons like Osaro Onaiwu must consciously and consistently commit themselves to ensuring that the decibels of the drums of war are either drastically reduced or completely eliminated.

Elections will always have winners and losers, but the challenge before the people of Edo state is to unite across party lines to develop the state after the ballots have been cast and the new government sworn in.

A situation where elders of the state, in positioning themselves for personal gains and promotion of parochial interests, choose to act like bulls in a China shop at a critical political intersection in our State’s political evolution is unfortunate. We sincerely do not deserve it and the political shenanigans being promoted at the expense of our commonwealth and destiny of our teeming youth population must stop.
 
▪︎Prince  Emmanuel Odigie sent this right of reply from Benin City.

EdoDecides2020: Selfish Politicians Exploiting the Vulnerability of the Poor Masses During Campaigns Amidst Covid-19 Pandemic.


As political activities continue to take center stage leading to the Gubernatorial election in Edo State come September 19, The political class in the state are using the process to exploit the vulnerability of the poor masses in the state by their total disregard for the INEC and NCDC guidelines on political rallies and campaigns.


In the last one week, I took my time to monitor campaigns and rallies in the state and observed the huge crowds that are mobilized to the venue of these rallies and campaigns by the major political actors in the state with many of these persons not wearing facemask of even adhering to the social distancing protocol but on the contrary, you could see the political bigwigs wearing face mask to protect themselves while the poor masses a left bare.



In a bid to find out why some of these persons attended such rallies and campaign despite the spread of the covid-19 virus, it wasn't far fetched that money was involved.



I decided to speak with a few of them I met with and they gave same answers that they were paid between 1000 - 3000 naira to attend the political rallies i then reminded them that the covid-19 virus was still very much active even though they laughed it off and said God forbid it wasn't their portion to get infected with the virus as they only came out to look for daily bread especially at this very period that they are guaranteed of making some little change during the campaigns in the state.



When will our political class begin to put the interest of the masses first?



Benedict Aguele wrote this piece from Benin City, Edo State Twitter: @benaguele

By Hyacinth Ogbu

Worldwide, the Army traditionally plays the role of securing the sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations. Excitingly, in Nigeria, the Army has gone a notch higher by establishing its imprimatur as a strong agent of development through the provision of awful and charming infrastructural facilities and social amenities to various communities in the country which play host to them.

Never in the recent history of Nigeria has the country been troubled by multifaceted insecurities than what it is experiencing at the moment. To say, civil security has been overwhelmed by these orchestrated insecurities is stating the obvious. However, the Nigerian Army has never belched each time it is called for intervention; but rescues the endangered Nigerians.

And almost always, the Nigerian Army has been the last resort and proved its mettle as the guardian angel of the Nigerian people. In the Northeast, Northwest, Southeast and North Central, the Army has shadowed as great and admirable emancipators of a people trapped by a vicious circle of violence and bloodbath.

Even with the resurgent insecurities, the Army has risen to task, especially in containing the acts of armed banditry and other criminalities troubling the Northwest. The launch of “Operation Sahel Sanity” by the COAS and leader of the counter-insurgency operations, Lt. Gen. TY Buratai has landed with resounding success; restoring peace and security.

President Muhammadu Buhari has never flinched on his responsibility of deploying the Army to assist civil security to provide security and to ensure that there is peace in every part of Nigeria.

But sometimes, appreciation from beneficiaries of an effort or project is difficult and rare. It is normal with human beings. In any case, one part of Nigeria that deeply appreciatives and excited with the Nigerian Army is the Southeast. This is a region once held captive in their fatherland by armed criminal elements.

These evil men masterminded gruesome murders, violence, constantly sealed up the Southeast unlawfully and recklessly in exercise of barbaric might. Citizens were subjected to untold hardships in the region. Innocent and law-abiding Nigerians became targets of molestations, harassments and intimidations by the criminal elements assembled into various gangs. Many Ndi’gbo and our visitors were even afraid to travel home to celebrate yuletide and new yam festivities because these elements laced the killings with armed robbery and kidnappings.

Nonetheless, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General TY Buratai launched the first military exercise code named “Operation Python Dance I” (Egwu Eke I), spanning from November 27 to December 27, 2016. The one-month military exercise crushed the season of armed robberies, kidnappings, cultism, inter-communal clashes, herdsmen-farmers clashes and associated violence in Nigeria’s Southeast region. The Army patrols, road blocks and checkpoints restored instant peace, tranquility and security to a people immensely troubled by bands of armed criminals, ethnic militias, miscreants and hoodlums.

Similarly, a repeat edition of the “Operation Python Dance II” (Egwu Eke II) was also conducted in the Southeast a year later, in 2017. It recorded similar positive impacts in securing the lives and property of law-abiding Nigerians in the region. Largely, the Nigerian Army has been able to rescue a region once in the jaws of armed men, tormentors and killers. Every part of Nigeria has experienced the saving interventions of the Army.

But apart from performing its natural and constitutional obligations, the Nigerian Army has marketed itself uniquely under the Buhari Presidency and its leadership by Gen. Buratai for introducing a third mandate in its operations. The Nigerian Army today is vigorously pursuing the agenda of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in various sectors in host communities across Nigeria.

Anywhere there is the presence of the Nigerian Army, the host communities have had the special privilege of benefitting from water, road, electricity projects or health services. It is a deliberate strategy by Gen. Buratai to win the heart and minds of host communities as well as endear them to the Army. These critical capital projects have immensely supported civilian populations.

Therefore in 2017 in the Southeast, the 82 Division, Nigerian Army built an over N200 million water plant at its Abakpa Cantonment Enugu. It was personally commissioned by Gen. Buratai. The water treatment plant with a capacity of over one million litres per day was conceptualized to serve the military personnel of the Abakpa cantonment and the members of the host community of Abakpa.

Strikingly, though, the primary source of the water plant is the Ekulu River, but the efforts of the Nigerian Army in constructing the water treatment plant is the first time the Abakpa community accessed treated, portable and hygienic water in the history of their existence. The residents were faced with the severe problem of availability of water. The natives usually go to distant places in search of water to perform domestic chores. But the Army had ended the era of suffering over water.

And the Army has not rested on its oars in pursuing the agenda of repositioning the Army as well as consolidating on CSR gestures and benevolence to host communities. A few days ago, Gen. Buratai performed the ground-breaking ceremony of the Nigerian Army Reference Hospital at Nkwagu Cantonment, Abakaliki, Ebonyi state.

The Army Reference Hospital is conceptualized as a world class and state-of-the-art hospital designed to serve both the Nigerian Army personnel and the civil populace in the South-East region of the country generally. Access to quality healthcare has been a major problem in most communities in Nigeria. This is where the excitement over the project is derived.

Therefore, the decision of the Nigerian Army to avail the people of the Southeast this rare health facility is commendable and a legacy the people will enjoy for generations. It is an indication that the Army leadership, does not only think about security of the people, but also the health and physical wellbeing of Nigerians.

An elated Ebonyi state Governor David Umahi was full of eulogies for the Nigerian Army. The action of the Army leadership in establishing the Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Abakaliki has for the umpteenth time confirmed to the Governor that the Service Chiefs are indeed committed to defending the territorial integrity of the country and fond of the Nigerian people.

This latest action by the Army has compelled Gov. Umahi to stoutly dispute the National Assembly (NASS)on sack of the Service Chiefs. Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Gov. Umahi hotly disputed the position of the NASS demanding for the sack of the Service Chiefs in the wake of resurgent insecurities.

The Governor rather canvassed for more support and funding to security agencies. Particularly, Umahi echoed that the Nigerian Army is not only appreciated in the region, but a blessing to the Southeast.

His words; “I want to disagree with the National Assembly in my own view about the change of service chiefs. One thing I have realized is that we like change too much in this country. We want everybody to taste every seat. That is not what we need at this critical time of our security challenges. What we need is cooperation with the security agencies. The Chief of Army staff is also a very committed person. Very friendly to the civil society.”

Interpreting the issue with the eye and wisdom of an elder and a true leader, Gov. Umahi aligned with the position of President Buhari by insisting that “I will be suggesting to Mr. President in support of his retaining the Service Chiefs that we should increase their funding of the Armed Forces, we should increase their logistics, we should increase the programme that will bring information to the security agencies.”

He added; “So, I support Mr. President that instead of changing the Service Chiefs he should rather increase their funding and increase the frequency of his meetings with them. And also encourage civil society to come up with information that will assist the security agencies.”

Clairvoyant minds have sighted the capacity of the Nigerian Army and believe that with a little support by government and the civil population, Gen. Buratai’s leadership of the Army will surmount all insecurities soonest. Gen. Buratai’s leadership of the Army has seamlessly continued to win more converts for the Buhari administration, in degrees even far more than the core politicians.

The latest verdict of Nigerians in the Southeast is crystal that the Service Chiefs, particularly the COAS are all performing excellent jobs. Gen. Buratai particularly has brought uncommon values and panache to the Army such as professionalism, discipline, loyalty and patriotism. Even the doubting Thomases are now beginning to see the wisdom of President Buhari in insisting on still keeping the Service Chiefs in office. The effects are palpable, as seen by everyone from the activities of Operation Sahel Sanity in the Northwest to now the Southeast. #


Ogbu PhD wrote this piece from Ebonyi State University,

Boko Haram : Understanding Why Borno Elites Must Do More

By Pita Agbese

No insurgent group can operate for long by relying exclusively on its own resources. To operate beyond a few weeks, an insurgent group requires external resources such as money, territory, weapons, intelligence, materiel, and new recruits. It may also need ideological support derived from common ethnic, religious or regional identities. These resources may be given voluntarily, or the insurgent group may acquire them forcefully through looting and pillage. For instance, the insurgent group may be able to raise a huge sum of money from groups in the diaspora with which it shares bonds of ethnicity or religious identities. Such an avenue of funding from Palestinians living outside the Israeli-occupied territories has been crucial for the survival of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). Without cutting off its sources of funding, it is difficult if not impossible to defeat an insurgent group. Thus, the resiliency of an insurgent group is the function of its support base.
Boko Haram, an insurgent group based largely in the North East geopolitical zone and using terrorism as its main insurgent strategy, has been terrorizing Nigeria and its closest neighbors, Chad, Cameron and Niger, since its violent phase began in 2009. It has survived, despite military and diplomatic onslaught by Nigeria and its neighbors, for more than eleven years. Part of its ability to survive has been its clever adaptability to changing circumstances, For instance, by establishing linkages with Islamic terrorist organizations such as Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and the Islamic State, it has been able to draw on weapons, funding and fighters. As important as foreign assistance has been to Boko Haram’s resiliency, it could not have operated without assistance, voluntary or coerced, from its immediate geographical area of operation. It first, much of this assistance was coerced. Boko Haram would raid a village and steal food, looting banks and pilfering other essential commodities. It also killed people, abducted women and children and conscript men and young boys as fighters. Boko Haram has relied on assassinations of targeted individuals and those opposed to its ideology. Terrorizing people in the North East Zone and pillaging their resources allowed Boko Haram to sustain itself. Terrorism and pillaging were particularly useful to the terrorist organization when it seized a large swathe of Nigerian territory even before receiving outside help. Today, it no longer controls much of any territory. The thirteen local government areas that it had seized have been taking away from it.
Although Boko Haram no longer controls any definable territory of the Nigerian federation, it is still able to launch deadly attacks on the Nigerian population and the Nigerian armed forces. As military operations against the terrorist group has mounted, it has resorted to ambushing Nigerian soldiers. It is no longer able to launch spectacular attacks as it did in bombing police headquarters and UN offices in Abuja, but it remains a very deadly force. It has killed scores of Nigerian soldiers in the last few months. Much of its successes against the soldiers has derived from its ability to gather actionable intelligence on troop movements.

There are speculations that Boko Haram gains intelligence on troop movements because of saboteurs within the armed forces. While such rumors cannot be dismissed with flippancy, it must be noted that Boko Haram cannot gather such intelligence and operate with deadly accuracy without some open or tacit support from the local communities where it operates. Whether such support is voluntary or coerced, it must be recognized that military actions alone, short of a scorched-earth policy, would not eradicate the scourge of Boko Haram. As frustrating as it is not to unleash every firepower in the arsenal of the Nigerian armed forces against Boko Haram, that frustration must be tempered with the reality that fighting against Boko Haram in ways that violate Nigerian and international law would be counterproductive.

The only viable option is to engender greater cooperation from the communities where Boko Haram operates. First, it must be clearly demonstrated to the communities that despite sharing ethnic, religious and regional affinities with Boko Haram, Boko Haram’s goals are antithetical to the welfare, peace and security of the zone. What does Boko Haram want and how are its goals and objective in direct conflict with the interests of the people in the region? The terrorist group has spelt out its goals and objectives. It has also vividly made clear through extreme violence, the strategies it uses and intends to use in achieving its set goals and objectives.
Boko Haram’s aims and objectives are quite clear. Its’ leader, Abubakar Shekau, has publicly stated what the group stands for. As he puts it, “we are an Islamic caliphate. We have nothing to do Nigeria. We don’t believe in this name.” Among the most fundamental of Boko Haram’s goals and objectives are following: the overthrow of the Nigerian government and its replacement it with an Islamic State; the rejection of Westernization, including forbidding any participation in Western-style political activity such as voting in elections and running as candidates; and prohibition against engagement in social activities. Boko Haram also rejects Western-style secular education and it seeks to replace secular education with an unspecified Islamic education. The terrorist group is particularly vehemently opposed to girls receiving Western education and it has demonstrated its disdain and its total rejection of Western education by killing students, abducting them and forcefully marrying off the female students, and bombing schools as well as assassinating teachers. Boko Haram rejects the Nigerian government labelling its leaders, even if they are Muslims, as infidels.
Until March 2015 when Boko Haram was forcibly driven out of the Nigerian territories that it had seized, Boko Haram had established what it called an Islamic State in those territories. We therefore have a clear idea of the type of society Boko Haram would create if its goal of overthrowing the Nigerian government was met. It would be a deadly and an ultra-conservative and highly theocratic state. Although it would be said to be an Islamic state, it would have very little resemblance to Islam. While Islam reveres learning and knowledge, Boko Haram’s Islamic caliphate would be anchored on abhorrence to learning and knowledge. It would be a caliphate steeped in ignorance and fear of knowledge. Boko Haram’s caliphate, from what we saw of the territories that it briefly administered, would be a highly autocratic state. It would not be rooted in justice, even for its Muslim population. It would also be a state anchored on prejudice as the non-Muslim population under its control would be subjected to extreme oppression, brutality and brigandage. Shekau himself has justified the abduction of non-Muslim girls proclaiming that Islam gives him right to enslave such abductees.

Most of the victims of Boko Haram’s capricious rule would be Muslims. This is already quite clear. Although proclaiming that it was fighting for Islam, most of Boko Haram’s victims have been Muslims. Yes, Boko Haram has attacked churches and killed hundreds of Christians but a large majority of its victims, in terms of those assassinated and bombed out of existence, have been Muslims. Thus, for Muslims openly and tacitly supporting the terrorist group, the sobering lesson is that if Boko Haram succeeds in its objectives, Muslims would be the worse for it. Muslims would not receive any education at all because while Boko Haram makes vague references to Islamic education, the contents of such education remain inchoate. Moreover, where are the teachers who would provide Boko Haram’s style of Islamic education?
Second, the fact that Boko Haram is willing to bring in foreign terrorists to help it overthrow the Nigerian government should be of concern to people in Boko Haram’s major theater of operation. If Boko Haram succeeds, it would deprive the people of their Nigerian identity without being able to provide a better identity for its inhabitants. A Boko Haram caliphate over Nigeria would be a pariah state. It cannot count on cooperation among its neighbors. It would have to deal with the Western countries whose culture and whose education Boko Haram has rejected, from a very weak position.

What Must Be Done

The Nigerian military needs maximum cooperation from communities in the North-East Zone to be able to decimate, and ultimately, eliminate Boko Haram. Some of the communities have set up vigilantes in the form of civilian joint task forces. This is commendable. Some members of these outfits have paid the supreme sacrifice as they have been killed by Boko Haram. While this level of cooperation is appreciated, it is not enough. The military needs other forms of proactive cooperation. It needs prompt and effective intelligence on Boko Haram to enable it launch attacks on the group and in helping to forestall attacks by Boko Haram. The military also requires the communities to stop aiding and abetting Boko Haram and from shielding Boko Haram leaders and fighters from justice.

It is equally important for people in the North-East Zone to recognize that Boko Haram cannot overthrow the Nigerian government or over-run the entire country. At best, Boko Haram may succeed in capturing and holding a swathe of the country but its ability to extend its territorial control beyond a few local government areas in the North-East is highly circumscribed. We have seen the dastardly acts that pass for Boko Haram’s administration of a conquered territory. I do not think that most people in that part of Nigeria would look forward to that type of violent, oppressive and capricious governance.

While some people may be taken in by Boko Haram’s trenchant criticisms of the Nigerian government as corrupt, it should be noted that Boko Haram does not present any viable alternative to corruption in Nigeria. In fact, a Boko Haram administration, as we have seen in the brief period it governed the occupied territories, is far more corrupt than the Nigerian government whose corruption Boko Haram condemns. It is corruption for the Boko Haram leadership to send young men, other people’s children, to die while Boko Haram leaders stay away from the battlefield.

Communities in the North-East must refrain from cooperating with Boko Haram, openly or tacitly. They also stop seeing members of Boko Haram as their own people. Boko Haram does not see them as their brothers and sisters, fathers and grandfathers and mothers, sisters and aunts. They just see them as objects to be sacrificed to attain their atrocious and immoral goals and objectives.

Prof Agbese is a scholar at the University of Northern Iowa, USA.

Edo2020: APC Flag off Shows the People are with Ize Iyamu/ Gani Audu - Prince Odigie


A former Commissioner representing Esan central on the board of EDOSOPADEC, who resigned his appointment from the Governor Obaseki led administration Prince Emmanuel Odigie has said the massive turnout of the Edo People during the campaign flag off of the All Progressive Congress yesterday in Benin City is a clear signal that the people truly are with the party's Govnership and deputy candidates.

Speaking to newsmen in Benin City on Sunday evening he said the people have already spoken and that indicates they are fully in Support of Ize Iyamu/Gani Audu ticket under the platform of the All Progressive Congress.

Prince Emmanuel Odigie said the current Governor who is seeking re-election does not enjoy the same support because the people of Edo state do not have confidence in him and he has also not performed in the last four to give him the audacity or tenacity to seek re-election.

Prince Emmanuel Odigie appealed to the National peace accord committee head by General Abdulsalami Abubakar to work with INEC, security agencies and other stakeholders, invite the political gladiators and political parties candidates of the 14 political parties participating in the election to sign a peace accord agreement to ensure there is peace in our state. this is imperative and unprecedented because of the drum of war in Edo state. ( Heart beat of the Nation)

We saw what happened in King Square, Oba's Palace and most recently Edo State House of Assembly.

We need peace in Edo, election is not war.

The political parties should engage in issues based campaigns.

Youth Council Vows to Expose Persons, Govt Agencies Involved in Fraud and fiscal irregularities in the country

The National Youth Council of Nigeria has threatened that it will expose persons, agencies of Government that are involved in Fraud and fiscal irregularities in the country. 

Speaking to news men at a Pre Conference Press briefing on International Youth day, A day set aside by the United Nations to celebrate Young People in the World and harness their potential conference in Abuja, the National President of the Council, Amb Sukubo Seraigbe Sukubo disclosed that this year's celebration Wil feature compilation of list of corrupt MDA's and persons to be forwarded to Mr. President Muhammadu Buhari for Action and all related Anti Corruption agencies.

The National Youth Council of Nigeria are in receipt of petitions from our affiliate Youth organizations and we have  thoroughly investigated some of the petitions. we shall submit the list of these persons and Government Agencies to media at the appropriate time and also submit a petition to relevant anti-graft agencies for necessary actions.

The President of council also noted that the Youth of Nigeria under his leadership Will not allow corruption which had hithatrtho distroy our economy to continue to have it's way.

While Speaking further on the Nigerian Youth Investment fund, he said the Council has received nod from the Ministry of Youth to set up modalities and centers across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory and recommend credible youth to pilot the scheme.

As young people whose only Country is Nigeria, we shall join efforts with Mr President to build a stronger Soceity that we can all be proud of.

As the September 19 Governorship election in Edo State draws closer a group known as OTITI-ESAN KWOLEGBE FOR POI has thrown their weight behind the candidate of the APC pastor osagie oze Iyamu,

Speaking to newsmen in Ekpoma Esan West Local Government Council the Converner of the group and former chairman of the APC in Edo state Prince Tony Omaghe said they were here today, in the midst of our fellow compatriots, to discuss and interrogate our political compass as we approach the twilight of a new Dawn in the political trajectory of our dear Esanland.

Since the inception of civil rule in 1999, Edo Central Senatorial District has burn the brunt of marginalization in all facets of social, political and infrastructural developments, that was further kindled with the short-lived administration of Prof. Osariemen Osunbor. His tenure, which would have brought relief and social Justice to Esanland was truncated by forces beyond our control. However, since that unfortunate incident of history, our collective efforts have been geared towards agitating and plotting several interactive graphs that would rightly accord us our pride of place in the political equation of Edo State.
This meeting has become inevitable to rouse the consciousness of our people who are driven by different political persuasions and ideologies, to join hands in the collective quest for political equity in advancing the cause of an Esan Governor in the next dispensation. This is the Esan Agenda which is supported by the facts that Edo Central Senatorial District has not effectively occupied the seat of the Governance of Edo State since 1999, whereas the Edo North and South have had it in successions. Edo South, under Chief Lucky Nosaghare Igbinedion ruled for eight years, Edo North under Comrade Adams Oshionhole ruled for eight years, and rather than go to Esanland in 2016, Mr. Godwin Obaseki of Edo South again was elected to office.

The idea of the Esan Agenda has been a recurring issue for some time, and we believe this can be best realised through implicit tact and diplomacy, considering the demographic balance that weighs against us.

We must build friendship and have allies knowing that in the game of politics we must be sensitive to the feelings of others. We must promote constructive engagement and collective bargaining in the minds of our political associates so that our aspiration and temperament are properly understood.

We need the cooperation of the other Senatorial Districts in achieving this objective. We have reviewed and fully appreciate the tide of promises made by the contending political parties who are vying for the seat of government in the September 19 election. The choice we make is very important in determining our political future. We have studied their various election agenda and believe that our hopes and aspirations are best represented in the SIMPLE AGENDA of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the candidate of All Progressives Congress, (APC)
The SIMPLE AGENDA, as documented, is a reflection of the aspiration of the needs of Esanland. It addresses inter alia the following challenges of our corporate existence, viz:
(a). SECURITY AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT.
(b). INFRASTRUCTURAL DEFICIT.
(c). MANPOWER DEVELOPMENT
(d). PUBLIC, PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP in the development of our abundant human and natural resources.
(e). LEADERSHIP BY EXAMPLE. This is imperative in attaining a new social order for the repositioning of our civil society
(f). EMPLOYMENT GENERATION for the legion of School leavers and those who must be trained to acquire skills in various vocations.


We call on Esan people and leaders not to be deceived by vain promises made by those who have consistently betrayed our aspirations. Some 'leaders', who consider their interest more Paramount than that of the people, have again recently sold our future and the Commonwealth of Esanland on mere receipt of political 'portage'. While some received Cash, others got Vehicles as compensation for abandoning the Esan Agenda. This betrayal must be resisted by our people who must now critically analyse the candidates of the two frontline political parties.
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Governor Godwin Obaseki, does not appear to me a promise keeper. He also does not have the interest of Esanland in mind. In the past four years of his administration, he has had many opportunities to assuage the visible marginalization in Esanland, but turned his back against us. We can count a litany of such indiscretion against our land. There are no visible development in any of our LGA towns and villages, our local schools don't have teachers, no laboratories or library in any of our public schools, Nearly all school buildings are derelict, no government presence in the health sector, all Primary Health Centers have been virtually abandoned because of poor staffing and lack of equipment, No attention is accorded to repair or construct access roads, even the Federal government initiated SEEFOR program for rural road development is not visible in Esanland. All the access roads to Esanland, whether through Igbanke to Igueben, or through Ehor to Ogwa, or through Auchi to Ekpoma have all failed. There has been no appointment of Esansons into any responsible government positions in the last four years. We have not seen the much desired love and attention to our needs to convince us that when reelected, Obaseki will be a 'newman'. The 60MVA transformer at Irrua, which was facilitated by Rt Hon Patrick Ikhariale, (while he was at the House of Representatives), that was installed to provide regular and stable electricity to Esanland was forcefully removed at the instance of Governor Obaseki to unapproved location outside Edo Central. All Esan roads and infrastructures provisioned in the last four years' budgets were never done, thus making easy access to our towns and cities impossble.

The Federal college of Education approved to be cited in Irrua was arbitrarily relocated to Ekiadolor in Edo South, where the Tayo Akpata University of Education was abandoned. Today, he claims credit for the ongoing infrastructural facelifts in Ambrose Alli University. To the contrary, facts reveal that the projects in AAU are sponsored by the Federal government under the TETFUND intervention scheme for tertiary institutions. Rather, the Obaseki regime has drastically reduced the monthly statutory subvention to AAU, thus constraining their academic operations.

Esanland has no portable WATER, the Ugbalo water project co-sponsored with the Federal government has been abandoned for lack of counterpart funding. While our villages are ravaged by gully erosion, the Edo government refused to apply the approved Ecological funds sourced from the Federal authority in solving this problem.
Furthermore, the incumbent Governor refused when he had opportunity to make an Esanman the Head of Service of Edo State, the Secretary to State Government, as well as Chief of Staff, when the occasions arose. He by-passed us and gave the positions to his cronies from other areas of the state, thus furthering our political marginalization as a People. Information reaching OTITI-ESAN KWOLEGBE indicate that the Governor, has already anointed his deputy, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu as his successor, if per chance he's reelected. This puts Esan in a very precarious position, but God forbid, this will never happen.

Thank God the candidate of APC, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu has demonstrated strong commitments to ensuring his successor comes from Esanland. POI has shown strong belief in our people by giving them loud and strategic positions in his campaign organization. His campaign Director General (DG) and many of his campaign Directors are from Esanland. The POI agenda and desire for political equity in Edo State favours our collective aspirations as a Senatorial District. We shall pursue the actualization of the agenda with all vigour.

In conclusion, we call on all Edolites, and particularly, Esan people to join us in the mobilization towards achieving the promises of the APC's 'S.I.M.P.L.E' agenda, and the promise of Installing an Esanman as the successor of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu. We deserve a better lease of life in Esanland, and as a strategic Senatorial District, we resist further attempts at marginalization in the hands of Governor Obaseki.
We have consulted far and wide, we have searched our minds and interrogated various scenarios, and have come to the conclusion that the candidate who shows us love and has our interest at heart, is the one deserving of our support. Let's support the candidate of APC, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, who has shown us love. He is in a more formidable position to win the election considering his state-wide support base. His election will help in realizing the Esan Agenda and aspirations, and also restore the integrity of the 'tripod' upon which the political stability of Edo State stands. We have extracted a solid commitment from the APC candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, that there will be a deliberate intervention in the Infrastructural renewal of all five LGA's in Esanland. We believe he will deliver on all promises. We therefore call on all Esan sons and daughters at home and the Diaspora to vote massively for APC in the election come September 19th, 2020; for we see Hope and great promise in the SIMPLE AGENDA of Pastor Osagie Andrew Ize-Iyamu. All ESAN are invited to embrace the SIMPLE AGENDA of Hope that would take Esan to the NEXT LEVEL OF DEVELOPMENT.
VOTE THE BROOM.
VOTE PASTOR OSAGIE IZE-IYAMU.
VOTE APC,
OTITI-ESAN KWOLEGBE.
ENIGIE GHATOR, EKHALE, ISE. .

IN politics, globally, and in life generally, emotional maturity and emotional intelligence are two different but symbiotic factors essential to maintaining healthy relationships.

Experts describe emotional maturity as the ability to handle situations without gratuitously escalating them. Instead of seeking to blame someone else for their problems or behaviour, emotionally mature people seek to fix the problem or behaviour and always accept accountability for their actions.
No matter the situation, or so the experts assert, emotionally mature people don’t lie in uncomfortable situations. Rather, they face the reality of the situation frontally. And, they don’t resort to personal attacks during a disagreement; they address only the issue. They are not impulsive and don’t speak recklessly. They ensure that they are calm and think before they speak.
On the other hand, emotional intelligence is the ability to identify and manage your own emotions as well as the emotions of others. You can identify an emotion and respond to it rather than react, which is another critical skill.
But those who – like Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State – are deficient in these areas see a breakdown in communication and, ultimately, complications in or the breakup of their political, business or even romantic relationships.
Perhaps, because he doesn’t even know what they are or understand how they work – both separately and in tandem – Obaseki forgot to acquire the skill-set needed to navigate life and politics, which is why the house his predecessor literally helped him build for the collective sheltering of Edo indigenes with sweat and sheer willpower, has collapsed under his watch.
Even the umbrella that he sought refuge under is now leaking porously. Everything that can possibly go wrong with a political campaign is going wrong with Obaseki’s. From the gale of resignation to a groundswell of apathy by the electorate to his ambition, all the indices are that the second term bid of the governor is dead on arrival.
Obaseki and his cheerleaders were in denial all along as they continued to run on their contrived popularity and propaganda but the penny has dropped with happenings in their camp in recent days.
Last Tuesday, Mr Patrick Iyoha, the Director, Obaseki/Shaibu Movement, resigned his appointment with immediate effect, citing personal reasons. The resignation of Iyoha, also a member of the Edo State Waste Management Board, threw the campaign organisation into disarray, as he was the nerve-centre of Obaseki’s re-election bid.
But it was not only Iyoha that resigned within the week. Two members of the State Post Primary Education Board – Mr Gabriel Oiboh, Chairman and Mr Osanyemwere Osawe, a member of the board – also resigned their appointments. Oiboh and Osawe said their resignations followed pressure by Obaseki to defect to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Earlier on Monday, July 27th, three commissioners of the Edo State Oil and Gas Producing Area Development Commission had resigned their appointments. The commissioners – Osamwonyi Atu, Emmanuel Odigie and Rilwanu Oshiomhole – hitherto represented Edo South, Edo Central and Edo North senatorial districts.
Particularly, Odigie said he was resigning, because “The appointment was given to me based on my membership and commitment to the APC. I have contested elections twice to the House of Representatives on the APC platform, as a party loyalist, and based on my principles, I strongly believe it will be unfair to cross over to the Peoples Democratic Party.”
Oshiomhole echoed the same sentiment, adding that as a loyal party man, his resignation was to enable him to work for the success of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the APC governorship candidate in the September 19th election.
The previous Friday, Commissioner for Environment and Sustainability, Dame Omoua Oni-Okpaku resigned from the state cabinet, joining a long list that includes several cabinet members and senior aides of the governor. These resignations were preceded last May by the shocking exit of Taiwo Akerele, the immediate past Chief of Staff to the Governor.
Those conversant with Nigerian politics and how the government – whether federal or state – works, know that the appointive position of the Chief of Staff is usually given to an ally of the governor or president as the case may be. Akerele was seen as Obaseki’s eyes and ears in the government, the major interface between the governor and the people, stakeholders in the state and appointees.
The blame of Akerele’s shocking resignation was laid squarely at the feet of Obaseki, who was variously accused of having evolved into an imperious and inexorable leader especially as it became clearer by the day that he was taking on too many pointless, ego-driven battles.
When John Maiyaki, a former Chief Press Secretary to Governor Obaseki resigned his appointment in 2019 long before the governor defected to the PDP, he said it was the people of Edo State that are opposed to the governor’s second term, not the former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomole.
Maiyaki said those, who worked for the election of the governor in 2016 were disappointed that he abandoned the developmental agenda on which he was elected and had subjected the people of the state to abject poverty. He further alleged that it was indisputable that Governor Obaseki has refused to implement the continuity agenda promised to the Edo People in 2016 describing it as a needle to the bubble of lies created by agents of underdevelopment and poverty in the state.
According to him, “It is a decision made after a clear evaluation of the competence, actions, and intentions of Godwin Obaseki, who though admitted to the success of the administration he succeeded, has merely reversed the gains recorded in a futile attempt to create a political dynasty founded on nepotism, ethnic division, corruption, and disregard for the rule of law.
“Certainly, no right-thinking member of the society would support this. It is therefore not a surprise that Edo citizens, high and low, young and old, have abandoned personal sentiments or affiliations, and resorted to logic and core hard facts in their collective rejection of the governor.
“This simple truth is backed by the fact that Godwin Obaseki is presently fighting to earn the approval of his own family members who have since embraced the party and the Edo People’s Movement in the mission to kick out the inept leader from office.” Maiyaki should know. He was Obaseki’s spokesman for three years.
Like Dr Mike Murdoch once said, “A foolish man will enjoy a perfect today and lose a perfect tomorrow. A wise man will forfeit a perfect today to gain a perfect tomorrow. Maturity is the ability to delay gratification.”
Obaseki seamlessly rode into power on the wings of the accomplishments of his predecessor. As noted by Maiyaki, he was supposed to consolidate on the gains bequeathed to him but deviated and took the state many years back. Alas, where the people expected political maturity, they found scapegoating and scaremongering.
His subsequent projections, including paranoia, an inability to self-analyse, and a lack of emotional intelligence will lead to his downfall at the polls.
In the twilight of his administration, especially, Obaseki began treating governance as some spectator sports by fomenting trouble where there was peace with the intent to distract the people from their daily drudgery and to expect somehow, at the end of it all, that the miracle of a better-governed state would emerge.
But there is a silver lining in all these, of course, and the informed electorate of Edo State has fully come to terms with the sure-fire power of their votes to effect a change in government, which they have unanimously consented to do on September 19th.
In the end, it is left to Pastor Ize-Iyamu to help the people sort through all of the debilitating disruptions of Obaseki. He is coming adequately prepared for the job.
Apart from having spent the best part of his meritorious existence in the state, he has acquired, along the line, political maturity and dexterity, and a leadership skill-set that would come handy as he attempts to put the state back in order from the day he is sworn in as the next governor of Edo State.

George-Hanson wrote this piece from Lagos Nigeria.

Edo PDP House Of Assembly Candidate condemns the crisis rocking the state house of assembly

The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Oredo West Constituency into the state house of assembly, Eghosa Agbonifo has condemned the crisis rocking the state house of assembly when some lawmakers purportedly resumed sittings and claimed to have impeached the Speaker, Rt Hon Frank Okiye in an undisclosed location and thereafter claimed to have elected Hon Victor Edoror as the new Speaker.
In a statement issued in Benin City yesterday, Agbonifo said the lawmakers who claimed to have met do not have such powers since their seats have been declared vacant because they refused to resume sitting since the inauguration of the house in June last year. He therefore described their action as illegal.
Agbonifo said lawmakers have failed to resume sitting and their seats declared vacant, the runners-up in their election in 2019 ought to have been sworn.
“As far as I am concerned, what they did is not known to law. It is illegal and unconstitutional. We are talking of people who were never sworn in because they on their own decided to stay away from sittings and their seats were declared vacant.
“For instance my constituency, Oredo West has not been represented in the house since it was inaugurated and since their seats were declared, I as the first runner-up in the election ought to have been declared the winner and sworn-in. My demand is that I and others should be sworn in to complete the house.
“Their purported sitting and impeachment of the Speaker and their purported election of a new speaker is of no effect.
“I call on security agencies to ensure there s peace because their action can spark crisis in the state because the state is preparing for a governorship election with imminent victory for the PDP and Governor Godwin Obaseki”

Just In: Newly Sworn in Speaker in Edo State pays courtesy visit to Edo State Commissioner of Police



Members of the Edo Assembly, led by newly-elected Speaker, Rt. Hon. Victor Edoror, pay a courtesy visit to Edo State Commissioner of Police, Johnson Kokumo.

He has assured them of his support as the 7th Assembly is now in session.

By Ghazali Al-Mustapha

It is now a common sight for governors to sprint to Abuja to seek respite each time there's perceived security breach in their respective states. They do so at a lightning pace. Usain Bolt will feel like a proud father. 

In their customary pattern, the governors are billed to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari again later this week after Tuesday's National Security Council meeting. The planned gathering has drawn concern from across the board, especially after the purported attack on the convoy of Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State, said to be on his way back after distributing relief materials to Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs.

There were also claims of an attempt by insurgents to take over the state capital, Maiduguri in addition to the security challenges in Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kaduna, Niger, Plateau and Benue states where banditry, abductions and cattle rustling have become rife. 

As the governors prepare to embark on another athletic exercise, however, the focus has once again shifted from the main issues resulting in the security threats in the north to politics. Once more, certain forces have tried to paint a gory image, depicting that the insecurity has to do with the Service Chiefs.

The President, though, by involving relevant stakeholders like the governors and other political appointees for the next meeting has shown that he understands the issues beyond a single narrative and is willing to interrogate the situation at the appropriate quarters. On their part, meanwhile, the governors exhibited despondency and utter cluelessness whenever security issues arise. 

The governors hide under the ridiculous fabric that since they do not control any of the security agencies, the mandate falls on the Federal Government to address such problems. Doing so, they completely ignore the fact that as chief executives of specific spaces, they constitute the first line of defence with their constitutionally assigned roles of ensuring the security and well being of citizens in their respective states.

Recall that at the end of a meeting with the President on security matters in 2017, the state governors were made to realise their greater roles in providing adequate security for citizens even more than Abuja. The same year, the Northern Governors’ Forum met and decided to collectively tackle the issue of insecurity bedevilling the region as one entity instead of leaving it to the individual states affected to do so.

In a communiqué read by the chairman of the forum, then Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, the governors took other measures like resolving to accept the recommendations of the Body of the Attorneys General of the 19 Northern States to domesticate the model Penal and  Fiscal Responsibility Law and the model Administration of Criminal Justice Law through the necessary legislative actions by subjecting them to the individual peculiarities of the states.

They also identified some of the factors that make the security situation in the region intractable to the porous borders which they say allows criminal elements to move freely within the West African sub-region; access to arms through the black-market and the lack of strong legal framework.

The governors went further admitting that the huge forests in the north allow bandits to easily move from a place, making it difficult to engage them in combat.

But they unanimously agreed that the military has been overtasked with the task of ensuring adequate security as they were in operation in almost all parts of the country. 

This underscores the fact that the issues are beyond what combat operations alone can handle. Additional proactive measures must be taken to avoid deterioration to the point where military engagement would be required like putting in place a comprehensive business plan as well as opening discussions to boost power supply and offer financial assistance to citizens. They acknowledged that the military has done much to reduce the magnitude of violence in the region.

For instance from 2009 when violence broke out in the Northeast till now, the military has done a lot to bring the situation under control. These are obvious in the fact that the military had recaptured an area spanning 20 local councils with a population of about two million inhabitants in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States once taken over and declared a caliphate by the insurgents.

Admittedly, so much was lost due to the activities of the insurgents; the destruction of infrastructure and large-scale humanitarian crisis owing to the sacking of many communities. But the military was able to reverse all that, making it difficult for the terrorists to continue such attacks while opening markets and roads hitherto closed.

Governors and politicians in states like Adamawa, Bauchi and Gombe which were initially ravaged by Boko Haram have taken the initiative to cooperate fully with the military in terms of logistical support, frequent consultations and provision of relevant actionable intelligence.

They have also made steps to disabuse the minds of their youths against violence, engaging them in productive economic activities and involving communities in early detection. However, their counterpart in Borno and to some extent, Yobe, have fallen short in that regard.

This perhaps explains why insurgency has almost been obliterated in the aforementioned states yet continued to escalate in Borno and Yobe as the governors and elders abandoned their own duties to the military. 

The current governor of Borno, unfortunately, unlike his colleagues, seems not to have grasped the enormity of the task on his shoulders, instead of jumping at the slightest instance to blame the military. He isn't alone, though. 

The politicals elites in Borno have remained on the sidelines, doing almost nothing to support the military. There are reports that they chose to act that way as they were profiting from the smuggling businesses and the take over of the multi-million naira fishing business in Baga.

There's is also the report of the lack of conscious efforts to reduce the level of poverty in Borno which is making insurgency to thrive in the state.

One, however, expects that since the stakeholders and political class have realized that the military cannot do all, they should have stepped up efforts, embarking on alternative dispute resolution mechanism, ensuring fairness and justice in the conflict between communities and providing the enabling environment for all citizens to cohabit with one another without any fear of molestation. 

To tackle insecurity squarely, Zulum and other governors obviously need to do more than embark on their usual trip to Abuja. They have to provide leadership at the various levels including the local government and communities.

They need to ensure that political thugs who were armed during the last elections are disarmed and deradicalized as quickly as possible. The governor also needs to be in constant consultation with citizens of their respective states. Only then can they dash to the nation's capital and no one would bother. Absolutely none.


Al-Mustapha is a security expert and wrote from Kaduna.

*Boko Haram: Nigerians vow to champion mass campaign, public awareness against insurgency to complement military’s efforts*

A group of well-meaning Nigerians, under the aegis of Initiative for One Nigeria (ION), have vowed to hold massive campaigns to create awareness in support of the military's efforts in the war against Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists.  

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday in Abuja, Secretary-General, Comrade Ohene Dominic Ejembi, said there is need for active participation by all citizens, stressing that the war against the insurgents shouldn't be left alone for the Federal Government and military. 

According to ION, from its findings, there has been neglect from politicians, community heads as well as relevant stakeholders in charting a solution to the insurgency. 

Describing the efforts of the military so far as "brilliant", the group believes much more can be achieved if all and sundry would elect to come together and support the Nigerian military wholeheartedly.  

The Initiative for One Nigeria, however, reassured by closing all gaps and working together with the military, the country will experience a rebirth in the coming days. 

Read the full statement below:

The Initiative for One Nigeria, an organization dedicated to the peace and progress in Nigeria welcomes you all to this important press conference convoked in the light of the fact that there has been an erroneous mentality that the war against insurgency is the preserve of the Federal Government /Military alone.   

While it is understandable that this line of thought has been entrenched in the system for so long, however, it is not too late to change the mentality to that of collective endeavour rather than a job for the Federal Government/Military alone.

It is instructive to state that the Initiative for One Nigeria has carried out extensive research on why the war against insurgency in Nigeria is prolonged and the findings from the various reports indicate that there has been near neglect of charting a Nigeria solution to the insurgency and the critical stakeholders have not availed the much-needed support.

The Initiative for One Nigeria states that there is no better time for all and sundry to come to the table and work with the Federal Government in the fight against insurgency as these insurgents are not spirits but humans that reside in Nigeria.

It is indeed a statement of fact that ending the Boko Haram scourge rest within us as Nigerians because we have the wherewithal and the know-how to end the insurgency, but a situation where the citizens are not cooperative with the Federal Government and the military, there would always be setbacks. This is not restricted to Nigeria alone but in other climes that have experienced insurgencies and successfully overcome it.

We must also realize that the effort to end Insurgency in Nigeria must be a collective one, and the time to act is now. The participation of the citizens of Nigeria is as critical as the efforts of the Nigerian Military in the insurgency crisis in Nigeria.

It is common knowledge that indeed there have been gaps that were created as a result of the nonchalance and the politics of bitterness as displayed by some members of the political authorities in North-Eastern states in the country as well as other parts of the country. This has to end as a matter of urgency. 

It must be noted that the role of the community leaders in ending the Boko Haram scourge cannot be overemphasized. And this much they must realize and extend their support to the Nigerian Military because at the end of the day, Nigeria would be the ultimate beneficiary. 

The Initiative for One Nigeria is of the firm conviction that Nigeria can defeat the Boko Haram insurgency especially with the level of commitment displayed by the Military since 2016 when it gained ascendency over Boko Haram and the consequent recapturing of all Nigerian territories that were hitherto under the control of the Boko Haram group. 

The dislodgement of the Boko Haram group from their operational base in Sambisa forest is another highlight of the efforts of the Nigeria Military in the war against insurgency in Nigeria. It is thus our considered opinion that should the efforts of the Nigerian Military had been complemented with support from other critical stakeholders; the war against insurgency would have long become history in Nigeria.  

This also reinforces the position of the Initiative for One Nigeria, as well as other groups of like minds that have been advocating for cooperation from all and sundry in support of the efforts of the Nigerian Military thus far. 

We wish to place it on record that this position of ours should not be construed to mean that support from the civil populace has not been availed, but rather not in the right proportion and this is responsible for where we are today in the war against insurgency.

The Initiative for One Nigeria wishes to state that should Nigeria get overwhelmed by the Boko Haram scourge, we would all have our selves to blame because of the opportunities to proffer Nigeria solutions to the Boko Haram Insurgency has been availing itself to us in ways too numerous to mention.

It is a function of two things; its either we take the opportunities and end the insurgency, or we live with the consequences of the insurgency that has already claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and displaced millions of people. 

The Initiative for One Nigeria states that the efforts of the Nigerian Military have been brilliant as evident in the various successes recorded so far. These efforts can yield the ultimate result if all and sundry would elect to come together and support the Nigerian Military wholeheartedly.  

The Initiative for One Nigeria is holding this press conference as a clarion call to all citizens of our great country in absolute reverence to our National Pledge to Nigeria our country, to be faithful, loyal and honest. To serve Nigeria with all our strength to defend her unity and uphold her honour and glory so help us, God. 

The Initiative for One Nigeria is confident that in the coming days and weeks, there would be a rebirth in the country where all Nigerians regardless of their ethnic and religious affiliations would come together and assist the Nigerian Military in the war against insurgency in Nigeria.

It is indeed time to end insecurity by closing all gaps and working together with the Nigerian Military as they continue to push for the final decimation of the Boko Haram group. 

I thank you all for your patience and time, and we desire that in no distance time, Nigeria shall be indeed free from the threats posed by the Boko Haram group.

Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 

Thank you all, and God bless.

*Lack of political collaboration, not military sabotage responsible for the resurgence of Boko Haram, ex-Senate President, Ebute writes Governors Forum*

Third Republic Senate President, Senator Ameh Ebute, says a lack of political collaboration and not sabotage on the military's part is behind renewed Boko Haram/ISWAP activities in the country. 

The elder statesman made this known in an open letter to the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) on Wednesday.

According to Senator Ebute, while Boko Haram/ISWAP threats have almost vanished in neighbouring states, it persists in Borno due to the unwillingness of political leaders to partner and support the military. 

The erstwhile lawmaker urged the NGF to call their counterpart from Borno, Babagana Zulum, to order, adding that his administration hasn't been cooperative with authorities towards ending the Boko Haram scourge. 

"If the truth must be told, with the way and manner the political authorities in the state are treating the threats posed by Boko Haram, we might experience the worse soon," the letter reads in part.

"In our opinion, it is an anomaly to assume that the task of securing Borno State is the exclusive preserve of the Federal Government alone.

"The case of Borno state is unfortunate because it has remained the unresolvable base of the insurgency not because the Federal Government has not lived up to expectations, but because the current government in the state has not deemed it necessary to support the military in their operations.

"Has the state government been cooperative with the military authorities towards ending the Boko Haram scourge? These questions are because all we see in the media is either the state Governor is attacking military commanders at checkpoints or his Deputy speaking to our selfless men and women in a very derogatory manner."

Ebute further advised Zulum to take a queue from governors of Yobe, Bauchi, Adamawa and Gombe states, all of whom, according to the ex-Senate President have always been on the side of the troops. 

The reverse, he said, has dampened the morale of the troops and in turn, bolstered criminal activities. 

His words: "The governors of Yobe, Bauchi, and Adamawa and Gombe states have indeed set examples worthy of emulation for their continuous support towards ensuring there is no resurgence of Boko Haram in their domains. This they have achieved by working day and night with the military."

Challenging the governors to avail more resources for the military, Senator Ebute, however, reiterated that the troops must be encouraged and appreciated to continue to give in their best in the task at hand. 

"Governors as Chief Security Officers are aware that resources are needed in security operations. As such, they must advocate for more resources for the military to aid their operations," he said. 

"The military must be encouraged and appreciated to continue to give in their best in the task at hand. The psychological implication of these cannot be overemphasized."

*Insecurity: Centre calls for more synergy, political consultations to double military’s successes recorded between 2015- 2020*

The Save Humanity Advocacy Centre (SHAC) has called for enhanced synergy, consultation and less conspiracy among political leaders and relevant stakeholders to double the Armed Forces' successes recorded in the last five years. 

According to SHAC, the strategies being deployed by the military hierarchy has been effective despite sabotage by International Non- Governmental Organizations and the political actors within the theatre.

The centre made this known in its abridged strategic report on the Boko Haram crisis in Nigeria from 2010 till date and the effectiveness of the Nigerian Military strategies towards addressing the threats posed by the Insurgency. 

In the report signed by its Executive Secretary, Abubakar Ibrahim, on Wednesday, the SHAC analysed the genesis of the Boko Haram crisis, the approach of previous governments and what the current administration is doing differently. 
Among others, the centre recalled that the military headquarters was moved from Abuja to Maiduguri, funding for operations drastically increased and new military leadership were appointed. 

This, according to the report, has resulted in a significant turnaround in the prosecution of the Boko Haram war in favour of the Nigerian troops who are edging closer to the end of its clearance operations. 

In order to sustain the momentum, the centre, however, urged stakeholders to join hands with the federal government.

While calling on religious and community leaders to support the troops, SHAC advised political leaders to desist from undermining their efforts. 

Read the abridged report below:

Introduction:

The Boko Haram crisis in Nigeria has claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions of people. It has been estimated that the cost of the damages in North-East Nigeria is in the region of $9billion since 2009 when the group began its violent campaign in Nigeria.

Since 2009, the Boko Haram insurgency and the government’s military response have killed tens of thousands of civilians and displaced millions across the Lake Chad region, which straddles Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria.

Boko Haram re-emerged in 2010 under the leadership of Abubakar Shekau, carrying out sporadic attacks across the northeast. Its clandestine tactics gradually grew more sophisticated, but the Nigerian government was slow to recognize the extent of the crisis. Then-President Goodluck Jonathan instead framed Boko Haram as a terrorist organization with ties to international jihadist networks, thereby laying the ground for a narrow counterterrorism response.

In 2013, the Nigerian Military intensified its campaign against Boko Haram. Yet its indiscriminate tactics failed to degrade the group's capacity and deeply alienated the region's civilian population. A state of emergency imposed on Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa States only deepened the cycle of violence.

In April 2014, Boko Haram’s kidnapping of 276 female students from the town of Chibok made worldwide headlines, drawing greater policy attention to the crisis. Several Western governments—including the United States—offered technical assistance and intelligence-sharing to help find the girls.

In 2015, a renewed military offensive began making headway against the group. The Nigerian MilitaryMilitary seized back most of the territory previously held by Boko Haram. Although major military campaigns in 2015–2016 succeeded in degrading the group's territorial control, Boko Haram has proven remarkably adaptable in its tactics: Since early 2017, military gains and improved security in parts of north-eastern Nigeria have spurred a greater focus on conflict stabilization measures.

The Issues: 2010-2015

From 2010 onward, Boko Haram started launching a series of attacks on security structures and military installations in the North-Eastern part of the country. For example, on September 7 2010, Boko Haram attacked and overrun a prison in Bauchi, freeing over 700 inmates in the process. Between 2010 and 2015, Boko Haram attacks became more daring and brazen. Never in the history of political violence in Nigeria had any group deliberately targeted not just military structures but military formations and barracks. The attacks launched on Giwa Barrack and Baga military base in Borno State in 2014 and 2015 are cases in point. In the two encounters, over 500 lives were lost. What became noticeable in the course of the confrontation was that the adversaries simultaneously employed asymmetric and conventional tactics and strategies in waging war.

The fact lends credence to the lackadaisical approach by previous administrations towards addressing the threats posed by the Boko Haram group. It was stated in several fora that the Goodluck Jonathan administration saw the emergence of the Boko Haram group as a ploy by the North against his administration following the death of President Umaru Yar’Adua in 2010. Consequently, the government paid little attention to the activities of the group now led by a radical Abubakar Shekau. The group, therefore, grew in strength and sophistication and continued to wreak havoc in North-East Nigeria.

Another factor that was of significant concern was that lack of professionalism in the Armed Forces occasioned by mass corruption that saw monies meant for the purchase of arms and ammunitions ending up in private pockets. This fact consequently led to casualties of immeasurable proportion on the side of the Nigerian troops, and also the Boko Haram group capturing territories on Nigerian soil.

The government in Nigeria between 2010 to 2015 exhibited a lack of political will to end the Boko Haram crisis. This nonchalance put the Nigerian MilitaryMilitary under strain and lacking in the right motivation and equipment to confront the Boko Haram terrorist group headlong. This also led to near incapacitation of the Nigerian MilitaryMilitary that came under heavy bombardment from the Boko Haram insurgent group with no meaningful response from the Nigerian Military.

The 2015 Baga Massacre is an example of how incapacitated the Nigerian MilitaryMilitary were in dealing with the threats posed by the Boko Haram group. Boko Haram overran a military base that was the headquarters of the Multinational Joint Task Force containing troops from Chad, Niger, and Nigeria. The terror group then forced thousands of locals from the region and committed mass killings.

Aside from this, the country was generally unsafe with countless Boko Haram attacks on crucial government infrastructures such as the headquarters of the Nigerian Police Force and the Headquarters of the United Nations in Nigeria. Public places such as motor parks, places of worships were not spared either as Boko Haram imposed a regime of absolute fear in the country. The government seemed clueless on ways to address the threats posed by the Boko Haram group, so much, so it blamed members of the opposition, while the country continued to bleed.

2015-2020

The change of government in May 2015, has brought about a significant difference in the prosecution of the Boko Haram war. Upon assumption of office, President Muhammadu Buhari promised to take the issue of security.

President Muhammadu Buhari has made some modest reforms to improve the Military's effectiveness against Boko Haram. He moved the Military's headquarters from Abuja to Maiduguri, increased funding for operations in the area, and appointed new military leadership.

Among his earliest acts in office was to replace the heads of the army, navy, and air force. The new army chief by many accounts has taken a more proactive approach than his predecessors toward countering the group. For example, they moved the army's operational headquarters from Abuja to Maiduguri and have deployed more long-range patrols in the region. Experts suggest that the Military is now conducting more strategically-focused operations, such as those that target Boko Haram's logistics routes.

According to reports, morale within the army has improved under the new leadership. The government has arrested several former senior officials on corruption charges, including former President Jonathan's National Security Advisor, who has been charged with fraud over a $2 billion arms deal for equipment that was reportedly never delivered. Jonathan's former chief of defence has been accused of stealing $20 million from the air force, and, as of late March 2016, some 300 individuals, including army officers, and companies were under investigation for the embezzlement between 2011 and 2015 of an estimated $240 million in fraudulent or overpaid defence contracts.

Under the present administration, Nigeria has sought military support from its neighbours, who increasingly suffered attacks during Boko Haram's upsurge. Since 2015, Cameroon, Chad, and Niger have deployed thousands of troops as part of a multinational force authorized by the African Union. The coalition has been credited with helping the Nigerian MilitaryMilitary retake much of the territory claimed by Boko Haram and reduce violence linked to the group to levels seen before 2014.

The Nigerian Army has introduced various counter-insurgency strategies that have recoded multiple gains.

Aside from the reclaiming of territories once under the control of the Boko Haram group, the Nigerian Army also displaced the group from their operational headquarters in Sambisa forest.

The period from 2015 to date has also witnessed a transformation of the Nigerian MilitaryMilitary from a force in disarray to a professional fighting force fighting within the rules of engagement and respect for human rights.

Conclusion:

This report concludes that the period between 2010 to 2015 could be regarded as one of the lowest points in the history of the Nigerian Military because of the inability to deal with the threats posed by the Boko Haram group. The period was also occasioned by the dearth of arms and ammunitions in the Nigerian Military as well as a high rate of lethargy amongst the officers and soldiers in the prosecution of the war against Insurgency.

It is indeed a statement of fact that with the advent of the Muhammadu Buhari administration in 2015 the fortunes of the Nigerian Military changed as evident in the prosecution of the war against terrorism in Nigeria. A cursory look at the available indices indicates that there have been substantial gains in the fight against Boko Haram terrorist group.

This period has seen their ranks broken, and they have resulted in aiming at soft targets in women and children, going on rampages in villages and causing destructions to paint a picture of a potent fighting force. However, in truth, they are in disarray. The troops have displayed the right mental balance in the prosecution of the war, and this has led to the tangible gains recorded so far. All of these gains are attributable to the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari to address the various threats posed by the Boko Haram group.

Recommendations:

After extensive study of the Boko Haram crisis from 2010 to date, the following recommendations are made:

All stakeholders must join hands with the federal government in the war against terrorism in Nigeria.

The political leadership in the country must desist from attempting to undermine the efforts of the Nigerian Military by engaging in acts that are counter-progressive in the war against terrorism.

The religious and community leaders in the North-East must continue to support the Nigerian Military in its operations in a bid to bringing to an end the Boko Haram crisis.

Senate exonerates OMSL, dismisses alleged illegal security activities at Lagos ports

…commends company for genuine national interest, $400M security investment

The Nigerian Senate has cleared Ocean Marine Solution Limited (OSML) of allegations of illegal security activities at the Secure Anchorage Area (SAA) of the Lagos ports following the conclusion of an investigation which revealed that contrary to the allegations, the company had invested over $400 million to help strengthen security in the area.

The exoneration was contained in a Senate resolution passed upon the submission of the report on the investigation into the allegation by the Joint Committee on Navy, Marine Transport, and Finance.

According to the report, OMSL had shown genuine and commendable national interest with the investment of over $400 million into the security at the SAA and the Nigerian waterways.

“OMS provided the needed platforms and logistics for the Nigerian Navy to effectively perform 24/7/365 patrol operations as well as to provide the required protection for vessels waiting to berth at the Lagos Ports,” the report read in part.

Since its investigations showed no fraud in the operations of OMSL, and that the company, apart from operating at no cost government, is investing in the security of the country’s waterways, the Senate ruled that it “should be allowed to continue its operations at the SAA until such a time when a better and more cost-effective system is put in place by the Government.”

CORRUPTION: PDP members petition ICPC, accuse Obaseki of diverting state funds using AfriInvest.

…says Governor planning to use stolen funds as starting capital for regional bank

Some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under the aegis of Concerned Edo PDP Stakeholders, have petitioned the ICPC over alleged diversion of state funds by Governor Godwin Obaseki through the award of fraudulent contracts to his personal firm, AfriInvest Limited.

A copy of the petition signed by Andrew Egboigbe, a PDP member in Ward 3, Orhionmwon LGA of Edo, and submitted at the ICPC on Monday, was made available to the press in Benin City.

The petition, titled ” Petition against the unfairly advantageous awarding of Edo State Contracts to Afrinvest Limited by Mr. Godwin Obaseki”, alleged that Mr. Godwin Obaseki abused his office as Governor to unfairly award inflated contracts to his company, AfriInvest Limited, in flagrant disregard for the constitutional provision that guides the award of contract.

The petition alleged that Obaseki, been the founder of Afrinvest, used his position as Governor, to unfairly award contracts to his company in flagrant disregard for the constitutional provision that guides award of contract.

It read: “We, as concerned Edo indigenes, who have no other place to call our home except Edo state, file this honest petition against Mr. Godwin Obaseki, the governor of the state. and his firm, Afrinvest Ltd.”

“This followed revelations from reliable sources of unfair advantage the governor bestowed upon the firm using accumulated state funds meant for developmental works and projects.”

The petitioners claimed that although Mr. Godwin Obaseki stepped down as the Chairman of AfriInvest’s Board of Directors in 2016 on the assumption of office, he installed one Mr. Ike Chioke who served as his stooge at the firm and helped him siphon state’s resources.

“One of such abuse of his official position was when Obaseki, single-handedly, without the approval of his cabinet and legislative arm of government, awarded a N1.8 billion naira consultation contract on water storm project to Afrinvest Ltd., without the justification of the inflated sum and the nature of the contract. This, when established, will find the governor in contravention of Section 19 of the ICPC Act 2000.”

“That Afrinvest Ltd has, on different occasions, served as front and pipe for Mr. Godwin Obaseki’s diversion of state’s funds through bogus contracts and budgetary allocations.”

The petitioners further alleged that the security votes of Edo state which increased to an annual sum of 7.5 billion naira by Obaseki, since 2016, had been deposited in Afrinvest Ltd’s bank account.

According to the petitioners, the stashed funds and other illegally obtained profits are what Governor Godwin Obaseki used as starting capital to resuscitate PRIMUS bank which the Governor, acting through his proxies, is now seeking approval for, to operate as a regional bank.

“That Primus bank was funded through stolen funds and granting approval for its operations could lead to a financial closure as it remains vulnerable to an abrupt close when investigations if its fraudulent findings come to light.”

They urged the ICPC to act within the mandate of its powers “having established these facts and provided the surrounding context of the corrupt relationship between Obaseki, Afrinvest, and Primus Bank.”

“The ICPC in line with its core mandate to examine the practices, systems, and procedures of public bodies and where, in the opinion of the commission, such practices, systems born procedures aid or facilitate fraud or corruption, to direct and supervise a review of them.”

There are currently 34 States and the FCT on the program.
States indicate their interest in benefitting from the program through the signing of an MOU, which details responsibility of the States and the FG.
Through the MOU , the States are responsible for the implementation of the program while the FG provides funding.
The program targets public school children in primary 1-3 and provides 1 free meal a day for the duration of the school term on school days at 70naira/ child/ day Each school term lasts approximately 3 months.

The program commenced in 2016 as one of the Social Investments under HE President Muhammadu Buhari, overseen by the office of the Vp.

During that time, it is reported that upto 9 million children were beneficiaries of the intervention. There are also less visible beneficiaries such as the cooks who prepare and serve the food and the smallholder farmers who provide the food items.

In order to institutionalize these legacies, Mr President Created a ministry for humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development in August 2019, 3 years after the programs started.

The School feeding program and the other SiPs were moved to the Ministry and have carried on without changes due to the fact that institutionalization takes time for the right structures to be put in place and also to avoid disruption to the pupils. Plans had been developed to carry out massive enumeration of beneficiaries, facilitate legal frameworks and deploy extensive monitoring systems during the Holidays.

Unfortunately, covid-19 struck the world and Nigeria made efforts to modify its available social protection apparatus to respond to the glaring humanitarian crisis facing the country, especially on food security.

Mr president directed the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to liaise with State Governments and come out with modalities to continue the school feeding program even by jough schools were shut down.

Discussions were held through the Nigerian Governors Forum and plans were discussed and it was agreed that take home rations would be provided to the beneficiaries of the program using the existing Structures of the program based on the urgency of the situation at the time.

It was agreed that State Governments would use their available resources such as school registers, sbmcs and subebs to identify the household of the children in the communities where the school feeding already exists. This is as Nigeria grapples with the paucity of detailed data on its citizens.

It is worthy to note that not all schools in each state participate in the program. Since State Governments are responsible for the expansion of the program to all the public primary schools.
The plan also identified that a typical household in Nigeria has 5.6-6 members in its household, with 3-4 being dependent and so each household was assumed to have 3 children. The data used is what was transferred with the school feeding program to the Ministry and is reported from validation exercises from NBS.
The cost of food rations is 4,200 and contains items that were assessed not just for sustenance but also for their nutritional value to children- rice for carbohydrates, beans and eggs for protein, salt for iodine palm oil and tomato paste for vitamins.

Knowing this was a novel solution in Nigeria although a fairly common practice in other countries, the 3 most affected states at the time , Lagos, FCT and Ogun were selected as pilots for the program so that lessons would be learnt.
The role of the FG was to fund and to monitor while the States Implement. The data of the beneficiaries was also collected as part of the monitoring process to begin to formulate a database for the Ministry.

So far only these 3 states have been concluded
With beneficiary breakdown as follows;

FCT - 29,609 households
Lagos - 37,589 households
Ogun - 60,391 households

A former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Alani Akinrinade (retd.), has said the sacking of the heads of the armed forces in the country is at the discretion of the President, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

The former army chief said service chiefs could resign if they felt they did not have anything new to contribute again or wait to be sacked by the President.

Akinrinade made this known in a recent interview.

There have been calls for the sacking of service chiefs due to the worsening insecurity in the country and the Senate last week called on President Muhammadu Buhari to sack them.

Asked if he supported the calls that service chiefs should go, Akinrinade said the President had the power to either sack the service chiefs or retain them.

He said, “A service chief can resign but sacking them is at the discretion of the President. When you get to that position, you are serving at the discretion of the President.

“If he wants you to go, then you leave. If you have served and you feel that you don’t have anything again to contribute, then you can approach the President and tell him. Or you can write to your minister who will deliver such letter to the President to tell him that you will like to leave.

“But if you are not interested in leaving, you wait for the President to tell you to leave. There is no tenure and that is the problem. It is not stated anywhere that you have to serve as the Chief of Army Staff for four years or as Chief of Defence Staff for two years. There is no tenure.”

Akinrinade, who is a chieftain of the National Democratic Coalition, said the civil service rule stipulating retirement for anybody who has served for 35 years which he said had been extended to the armed forces was not helpful to the nation at times.

 He stated that some persons might join the armed forces early and would still be productive after spending 35 years in service.

He said, “The civil service rule which has been extended to the forces now; that if you have served for 35 years, you should leave. I don’t particularly think this is a good idea because somebody can serve for 35 years and he or she is only 56 years old, has such person reached the climax of their productive life?

“If the person is doing well are we going to just kick out such person because they have served for 35 years? 

These are matters which
we have installed in our system but which are not necessarily productive at some points. “

Asked to proffer solutions to the insecurity in the country, Akinrinade said it would be difficult to offer good advice without having complete information of what was going on in the military and in the minds of the enemies of the country.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FUPS8zkmcc