₦airaland Forum

By Richards Murphy

I was jolted out of my seat when I read the story published by Reuters titled 'Islamic State fills the void in Nigeria as soldiers retreat to 'super camps". I imagined how such a piece laced with outright mischief, and illogical conclusions would have passed editorial integrity and certified fit for publication.

As a start, the whole concept of the Super Camp Strategy launched by the Nigerian Army was deliberately presented to picture a situation where troops would leave communities they hitherto protected to form clusters somewhere in a bid to avoid or minimize casualties. While this misrepresentation of fact can be stated to be uncharitable, it further reinforces the conspiracy theory that stated that Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters are receiving support from external sources, as well as the deplorable role most international NGOs are playing in the theatre of operations in North-East Nigeria.

I say this because the Reuters story quoted sources from the international NGOs in operation in North-East Nigeria and they based their judgment on what was availed them, which in my opinion is the height of unprofessionalism and unbecoming of a news medium such as Reuters.

It is more challenging to come to terms with the fact it was stated that the army's withdrawal into large bases has coincided with a string of insurgent raids on newly unprotected towns and has left the militants free to set up checkpoints on roads as they roam more freely across the countryside. The first question is, were they referring to any part of North-East Nigeria or a neighbouring country? Because I am at a loss, just like the generality of Nigerians as to why anyone or organization would want to adopt a strategy such as the one advanced by Reuters in areas that it has complete control over. It is tantamount to leaving the comfort of one's bedroom and taking solace elsewhere.

This is quite worrisome and somewhat an insult to our sensibilities as a people in Nigeria when foreign media organizations come in and scoop half-truths from their accomplices masquerading under various humanitarian nomenclatures in an attempt to unsettle the efforts of the Nigerian Military in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria mainly when successes are recorded and Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters retreating to the fringes of the Lake Chad Basin region.

This in my considered opinion is the height of mischief, and unsuspecting members of the general public must disregard it because, since the introduction of the Super Camp Strategy by the Nigerian Army in the fight against terrorism in North-East Nigeria, Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters have suffered heavy casualties as rightly reported by reputable news mediums in Nigeria.

The Super Camp Strategy is not a situation where troops would withdraw to "super camps" that can be more easily defended against insurgents as stated by Reuters. Instead, the Super Camp Strategy is one that is designed to create military presence everywhere in villages and localities of the troubled areas of Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states.

I recall in a parley with members of the Borno Elders Forum, the Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Olusegun Adeniyi, stated that the Super Camp Strategy will ensure fast mobilizing, quick reaction and more extended reach at tactical level, combined with the striking power of the Air Taskforce to see that the days of Boko Haram moving freely and passing in between static defence location is over." Also, true to his words, the introduction of the Super Camp Strategy has seen to the presence of troops in places such as remote communities, unlike in times past where soldiers were stationed in military bases.

If the Super Camp Strategy is not a brilliant one, I don't know what else to call it. And my guess is that those that do not want an end to the Insurgency in North-East Nigeria are those behind the Reuters story, and it is such a shame that Reuters with all its years of journalism would condescend so low to tow this dishonourable path.

This is on the heels that activities of international NGOs operating in North-East Nigeria have been suspect. For them, the war against terrorism in North-East Nigeria should not come to an end so they can continue to justify their stay in Nigeria as well as funding for their operations. This is aside from the fact that it has been speculated in some quarters that most of these NGOs are involved in espionage activities for the sponsors of Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists.

In all of these, one thing comes to my mind, and it is the fact that with the introduction of the Super Camp Strategy, the end of Boko Haram/ISWAP is in sight, and this fact is not going down well with a group of actors and as such all must be done to discredit in its entirety. But again, would this new offensive against the operations of the Nigerian Military work? Would the Military hierarchy succumb to the Reuters blackmail?

Your guess is as good as mine. I believe that all must be done by the military hierarchy to sustain the tempo in its operations in North-East Nigeria, with regards to the Super Camp Strategy. And less I forget to mention that the Super Camp Strategy involves two critical components, which is taking the fight to the enemies in their domains and a routine introduction of counter-insurgency strategies that always takes the Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters unawares as against what was obtainable in the past.

At this point, the likes of Reuters and its accomplices should adopt another strategy in their attempt to mislead members of the unsuspecting general public. The attempt at discrediting the Super Camp Strategy is feeble in its delivery. And those afraid of the end of Boko Haram/ISWAP should do the needful, which is to pack their belongings and leave Nigeria, instead of the futile attempt at distorting facts.

Murphy is a security expert based in Calabar.

The Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai receives ‘FELLOW WILDLIFE SOCIETY OF NIGERIA HONOUR AWARD’. The award was received on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff by the General Officer Commanding 2 Division Nigerian Army, Maj Gen Anthony Bamidele Omozoje at the Wildlife Society of Nigeria Annual Conference 2019.

The conference which was organised by the Wildlife Society of Nigeria took place at the Otunba Subomi Balogun Conference Centre, University of Ibadan.

According to a press release signed by Colonel Hassan Ifijeh Mohammed, deputy director, Army Public Relations, 2 Div, the conference afforded intellectuals the opportunity to brainstorm on Wildlife Conservation best practice. The theme of the conference was ” WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT CONTRIBUTION TO THE DIVERSIFYING ECONOMY”.

At the conference, the need to balance between wildlife resources utilisation and conservation for human sustainance was identified. The urgent need for increased funding and implementation of stronger forestry policy was also noted.

The General Officer Commanding 2 Division Nigerian Army Maj Gen Anthony Bamidele Omozoje thanked the organisers of the conference for honouring the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai with the well deserved ‘ Fellow Wildlife Society of Nigeria Award’ for his contribution to wildlife conservation in Nigeria.

*T.Y Danjuma, Governors, others perpetrate evil under farmers-herders' crisis to undermine Buhari presidency - Ex-Senate President Ebute*

Third Republic Senate President, Chief Ameh Ebute, has accused some respected politicians, serving governors and elder statesmen of leveraging on the Famers-herders’ clashes to discredit President Muhammadu Buhari's administration.

The highly-revered ex-lawmaker made this known in a paper presented at a One Day International Conference on Good Governance and Accountability in Government organised by the Coalition for Civil Society Organizations for Change and Good Governance on Tuesday in Abuja.

In his piece titled “Appraising 100 Days of President Buhari on the saddle and building a nation where justice shall reign”, Chief Ebute gave an honest assessment of the president's second term thus far.

According to him, out of desperation for power, certain well-known politicians have either taken to sponsoring violence or simply turned blind eyes to clashes around them for their selfish gains.

In the forefront, as stated by Mr Ebute, is former Defence Minister, LT Gen TY Danjuma (Rtd) who he claims has surprisingly remained mute despite the farmers/herders in his state, Taraba, because those affected are not from his ethnicity.

The former number 3 citizen also fingered the opposition of fuelling the wave of violence, going as far as allegedly sponsoring the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) – thus keeping to their vow to make the country ungovernable for Mr Buhari.

Despite these conspiracy, however, Chief Ebute hailed the pesident for remaining resolute and focused, holding firm to his transparent and accountable ideals.

While admitting that the positive signs points towards path to greatness for the country, the ex-Senate President urged Nigerians to embrace the excellent governance philosophy of Mr Buhari.

Read excerpts from the paper below:

It is no longer a secret that the various security challenges facing Nigeria predate the Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. It is on the heels that before 2015, there has been insinuation in certain quarters about the sponsorship of violence as a means of achieving political, religious, and ethnic goals by elite politicians.

These politicians whom in some instances are referred to as senior citizens or elderly political leaders have exploited ethnic and religious clashes to their advantage. A good example suffices in Taraba state where a former minister of Defence is silent over the killings in Taraba state because those being killed are not from his ethnicity.

The Taraba state killings raise the question as regards the sincerity of heart and of the purpose of supposed elderly political leaders in Nigeria who have been exploiting situations for their personal and selfish gains. They turn a deaf ear if the victims of such nefarious activities are not from their ethnicity and also feign ignorance if their kin perpetrated acts of violence. When factions of political elites compete for political power at the national level based on identity, groups emerge at the subnational level in Defence of these identities.

Also, those that lost in the 2019 general elections in Nigeria have vowed to make the country ungovernable, and this explains why despite the efforts of government, some of these issues won't go away. I believe that they intend to cause the disintegration of Nigeria and to paint a picture of incapacity before the eyes of the international community.

Nonetheless, some of us conversant with the dynamics involved in the contemporary Nigerian society would readily attest to the fact that the killings and kidnappings, as well as the rise in cases of armed banditry, is as a result of what members of the opposition have plotted thinking that Nigerians would be gullible.

They have deployed huge resources to make the country ungovernable, they have also engaged the services of both local and international media to escalate issues to their advantage, not minding the consequences of their actions.

They have also adopted a negative narrative in the clashes between farmers and herders. In the wisdom of members of the opposition, the farmers-herders conflict must be construed in such a way that would make the citizens lose faith in the present Administration. While this is not only despicable, it is also an indication that those that failed to actualize their political ambitions at the general elections have refused to move on with their lives. However, instead, they have chosen this dishonourable path of fuelling ethnic and religious conflict aimed at distracting and destabilizing and distracting the Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Most politicians hide under cover of farmers-herders' crisis to perpetrate evil in the society. They arm and sponsor militia groups to wreak havoc. This much has been witnessed in situations where there has been a hasty ascribing any form of crime or criminality to a particular ethnicity or religion.

For example, we have seen situations where people from southeast Nigeria have been arrested masquerading as herdsmen after committing a crime or engage in any criminal behaviour. I also recall a particular episode that happened in Ghana, where a Nigerian man was arrested after killing three persons. He claimed to be a Fulani herdsman but couldn't speak Hausa or pronounced a word in Fulani.

That is the irony of the situation we face as it stands today. People are masquerading under different umbrellas to perpetuate evil and passing the blame on ethnicity or religion, which would ultimately lead to reprisal attacks on innocent people going about their normal businesses. The cases presented in the Benue-Taraba axis gives us a hint on how the political elites have continued to exploit the situation for their benefits.

The political elites understanding the gullibility of their subjects have formed the habit of taking advantage of communal clashes to paint a particular ethnicity or religion in a bad light just in an attempt to be able to perpetuate their nefarious activities thereby causing unrest in the polity.

It is most worrisome that in a state like Taraba, the government would choose to play petty and feign ignorance to the monster they created. I am particularly pained that a personality such as Lt. Gen. Theophilus Danjuma would condescend so low as meddling in petty politics despite what he has benefitted from Nigeria.

The likes of Danjuma and his cohorts have indeed shown that they do not have the interest of the country at heart. This is also on the heels that some CSOs have been able to expose the fact that a high ranking member of the opposition is behind the wave of violent protests by members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) with huge sums of monies.

While I consider such acts as despicable, I am gladdened with the fact that Nigerians didn't sell their birthrights for a plate of porridge. Indeed, Nigerians were wise when they cast their votes for integrity, accountability, and transparency. If the reverse has been the case, I am sure there would have been no country called Nigeria today due to the wickedness of these individuals parading themselves as elder statesmen.

I believe that the traditional rulers must rise to the challenge instead of blaming the table of President Muhammadu Buhari. They must understand the dynamics involved in the farmers-herders' crisis and realize that it is merely the act of political elites manipulating the system to their advantage, and at the detriment of peace and tranquillity in the system.

A good example can be seen in Zamfara state where peaceful engagements and collaboration with security agencies have helped to tame the nagging problem of insecurity. Also, the South-West Governors have been holding meetings on how to support the security agencies to address the insecurity situation.

However, some governors who have exhibited a high level of incompetence are still bent on passing the blame on President Muhammadu Buhari, whereas they are the Chief Security Officers of their respective states and they draw security votes every month.

The democratic experience in Nigeria has not come without its challenges. Some of us have witnessed Nigeria in its lowest, so much so that we feared for the worst to happen. However, our hopes were rekindled with the advent of the Muhammadu Buhari led administration, which by all standard is a worthy example of accountability and transparency in governance.

Nigeria indeed got it right in 2015, as well as 2019 with the way and manner the government has carried on since then. So in this context of this conference, which is the first 100 days in office of President Muhammadu Buhari, I am convinced to say the foundation for economic growth has been laid.

As an elder statesman, I have witnessed administrations in Nigeria, and I dare say that the level of commitment displayed by President Muhammadu Buhari in the governance of Nigeria is equal to none.

The first 100 days in office of President Muhammadu Buhari is filled with hopes for Nigeria. All the critical sectors of the economy are receiving the required attention, and it is sufficing to say that President Muhammadu Buhari has indeed displayed an unalloyed commitment to the growth and development of Nigeria and as such it behoves on all well-meaning Nigerians to lend its support to this Administration in its quest to building a country of our dreams for this generation and generations to come.

Civil society organizations (CSOs) are often assumed to be institutions that facilitate communication between citizens and policymakers. However, CSO advocacy is only as effective as the space allowed by the government, the resources available from funders, and their internal capacity.

Emerging trends point to the fact that the Muhammadu Buhari led Administration has indeed highlighted to Nigerians that when there is a will, there would always be away. This much the Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has displayed in the first 100 days in office.

This is noteworthy that despite the conspiracy to paint the Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in a bad light, the high level of transparency and accountability displayed has indeed negated the plot to make the country ungovernable.

The first 100 days in office of President Muhammadu Buhari has indeed proved to Nigerians that indeed Nigeria is on the path of greatness. I cannot but align with the vision and mission of this Administration, and I encourage the generality of Nigerians to do same because never in the history of Nigeria have we experienced such display of sincerity of heart and purpose and a rare demonstration of commitment to the advancement of Nigeria as a country.

The leaders and the led should embrace the excellent governance philosophy if development administration is to meet the underlying rationale it stands for. Both the leaders and the led have their roles to play to embrace good governance and strengthen development administration. Highly developed nations can attest to the promotion of national development through the application of good governance in their development administration.

*Nigerians must unite to expel NGOs that undermine our sovereignty – Coalition*

The Coalition of Civil Society for Good Governance and Change Initiative, an umbrella body of over 100 civil society groups in Nigeria has taken a stand against International NGOs and individuals that undermine the sovereignty of Nigeria.

This was disclosed by the President, Comrade Okpokwu Ogenyi at a one day International Conference on Accountability in Governance to evaluate the 100 days of President Muhammadu Buhari.

In his remark, Comrade Ogenyi hailed President Buhari for an incredible start to his second tenure as well as a groundbreaking victory at the tribunal – a testament of the Judiciary’s independence in the last four years.

Mr Ogenyi was particularly impressed by the drastic decline in the rate of insurgency, banditry, crime and other social vices in the first 100 days of the president's second term.

While acknowledging the tremendous role played by domestic Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) who serve as the guardians of the governance system, the group was critical of their counterparts outside the shores.

In Comrade Ogenyi's words, these foreign CSOs and NGOs, particularly Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch “deploy disreputable local entities to fuel and support activities directed at precipitating the disintegration of the nation".

According to him, these groups are directly funding the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and others whose mission is to underme the president's progress.

On behalf of the group, Comrade Ogenyi, however, called on Nigerians to unite in flushing out these so-called international NGOs out of the country.

Read the full statement below:

This conference should have held on the exact day that President Muhammadu Buhari attained the first 100 days of his second term in office. We apologise that this did not happen as we had to shift the event even though all the necessary logistics have been put in place for the epochal moment. This preferred venue, the International Conference Centre was not available so we have to work with the date that this venue is available. The unavailability of the venue turned out not to be a bad thing because we subsequently realized that the conference would be more expressive by allowing the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal to have delivered its ruling, the positive assessment that some participants will inevitably make here could have been construed as interfering to influence the proceedings in a way that it may amount to subjudice.

With the tribunal having given its ruling and upholding the re-election of President Buhari so the conference is going ahead today without anyone having to exercise fears about their public acknowledgement of Mr. President’s giant strides.

Permit me to use this opportunity to congratulate President Buhari on the confirmation of his victory by the Tribunal. The verdict testified to the intelligence of Nigerians who voted for a leader that is unwavering in his commitment to change the country as opposed to returning treasury looters to office to rob the country dry.

It is instructive to note that these same looters had promised mayhem and hell-on-earth for Nigerians if they dared vote President Buhari. Their rejection of corruption even in the face of mortal threats is the reason we are able to gather here today because President Buhari has demonstrated that the trust the people have in him is not misplaced. We are aware that these bitter losers did all in their power to ensure that killings continued in the country coupled with degenerating security situation.

However, in 100 days of Mr. President being sworn in for another term of four years, it is apparent that politically masterminded killings across the country might have gathered momentum and increased in frequency but there is a decline in such evil activities as we speak today. This rolling back of the forces of evil is all thanks to our security agencies, who being inspired by the Commander-in-Chief have continually evolved strategies to counter the many iterations of the security breaches being rolled out by disgruntled politicians and their foot soldiers.

As this conference testifies to the effectiveness of our security agencies, we are equally mindful of the enviable role being played by Civil Society Organizations, CSOs, that have equipped themselves to now serve as the guardians of the governance system that is based on our constitution and sovereignty. They have been proactive by regularly having periodic reviews, engagement with intellectuals and sharing ideas with one another.

Unfortunately, this reassuring role is negatively mirrored by the activities of foreign CSOs and NGOs that deploy disreputable local entities to fuel and support activities directed at precipitating the disintegration of the country. There is need for this conference to take a stand on the popular demand by Nigerians that foreign CSOs and NGOs that undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty must leave the country.

Some fearless Nigerians that are unhappy with the subversive activities recently occupied the Offices of Amnesty International in Nigeria with a demand that the NGO ends its deep state operation in Nigeria and leave the country. We thank all those that participated in the 10 days non-stop protest at Amnesty International’s office. Such people have in their own way contributed immensely towards eradicating groups that are working against the interest of Nigeria with the objective of again enslaving us.


If eternal vigilance is truly the price for freedom then we must perpetually be on the lookout for the various mutations that Amnesty International is using to continue its nefarious activities all in the hope of undermining the interest of Nigeria. Our vigilance in this regard has exposed a new entity like the Human Rights Watch, which is making efforts to continue where its partner was halted by patriotic Nigerians. These are groups that have done much to undermine the gains that the Buhari Presidency has made in securing Nigeria from the dangerous clients of these questionable groups.

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, is one of the clients supported by these NGOs that brand them as “harmless agitators” even the law of Nigeria is clear that it is a terrorist organization. Even if the law had not proscribed IPOB as a terrorist group, its coordinated and organized attacks and attempted attacks on senior Nigerian politicians is a confirmation of that group’s ideology of being reliant on violence to get things done. This approach to treating fellow Nigerians shabbily because they occupy national office is irresponsible and must be condemned by all right thinking persons.

In the space of the first 100 days of his second term, President Buhari’s government has also exposed the lie and sham that is the leadership of Islamic Movement in Nigeria, IMN, Sheik Ibraheem el-Zakzaky, who in compliance with a court ruling was allowed to travel to India for medical tourism. It was that trip that finally exposed him as a fraud that was seeking an escape route to Iran in a bid to internationalize the activities of his proscribed IMN terrorist group. Nigerians are now enjoying respite since el-Zakzaky bungled his own medical treatment to expose that he was as smart as he had made the country to believe.

The decision to outsource their terrorist activities to the #RevolutionNow movement has seen the raging protest leader, Omoyele Sowore, ending up where he belongs. We must thank the government for this proactive approach that has curtailed aspiring terrorists before they become full blown.

This fix on security is beginning to make positive impact on other sectors and we believe that if this much can be attained in such a short time then Nigeria is on the path of a rebirth. We are confident that by telling Mr President what he did right in these 100 days he will know how to deliver qualitative leadership that will surpass his first term.

I however call on participants at this conference to make contributions without fear or favour so that deliberations at the end of the conference can be articulated and presented to authorities at the highest level for further actions.

I thank our various speakers who will be making presentations on various topics. We are honoured to have their presence and intellectual inputs at this event. I can only ask participants to remain attentive so that they will gain maximally from this conference.
It is on this note that I welcome you all to the conference as I wish you happy deliberations.

By Sola Ogunmola


Similar to when he dismally lost the 2019 Presidential Election to President Muhammadu Buhari, defeated People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, is again being begged not to head to the Supreme Court after the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal dismissed his challenge of his defeat. Those begging him to shun the apex court are doing a disservice to the nation because they will allow him some level of redemption if he can pretend that it was their appeal that made him accept the Tribunal’s verdict. Only a few genuine lovers of Atiku are begging him to capitulate because they know shame is the only item he will come back with from his judicial shopping.
President Buhari’s guaranteed victory has become Atiku's shame, a configuration that even the Supreme Court will soon sanction should the election loser persist in approaching the bench. There are at least seven reasons the Supreme Court would affirm Atiku’s loss and shame.
The first is that even the PDP candidate is aware that he is engaged in spear fishing, a long shot in the dark, hoping that by a fluke of defect something will happen to make his wildest dream become a walking reality. But dreams tend to remain in the realm of the intangible so Atiku Abubakar knows that Atiku Abubakar is not going to get by judicial pronouncement that which the electorate have denied him at the ballot.
The second reason is that the nation’s eminent jurists have rediscovered the beauty of honour. Time there was when Atiku was credited with having judges in his pocket to the extent that he was reputable to be capable of buying any legal outcome he desired. But a lot has changed since when he last had unfettered access to the nation’s treasury. This include the reality that Atiku has refused to accept that some of the judges in his pocket have either retired or have left the bench in disgrace. They are no longer in any place to rig outcomes and that much should have been clear to Atiku from what transpired at the Tribunal.
The third reason is that Atiku hired more businessmen than lawyers for his brief. The crowd of dark suited men around him are more interested in bank deposit alerts going off on their phone than telling their client the truth. This team has perfected how to milk public opinion by first deploying lies in the media and then running laughable forecasts on the back of those lies. These are the same men that had misled Atiku to think that his petition at the tribunal was a cut and dried affair that would have seen him sworn in within minutes of the ruling being delivered; instead, the verdict exposed these lawyers as people still toddling in the judicial arena. To place the hope of a favourable Supreme Court verdict on these same team or the consultants they will hire is in the realm of fetching water in a basket. But again, the lawyers had reportedly said they were on the brief to recover their share of the nation’s money in Atiku’s custody.
The fourth reason is that the whole of Atiku’s petition was built on lies. The Tribunal unravelled the lies and delivered its verdict based on this discovery. It will amount to delusion to expect that the Supreme Court would ignore that the petition was based on lies. If anything will change at the apex court it would be the discovery of more lies told by the loser and his legal team.
The fifth reason is that the threat of violence and destabilization of Nigeria should he lose the election has not done much to deter anyone that’s interested in the right thing being done. It did not stop the electorate voting for Buhari. It did not stop the Tribunal from being impartial. There is no way the threat of violence can then coerce the Supreme Court. Rather, the instances of the threats being carried out to cause security breaches in the country could now haunt Atiku as more citizens and groups are demanding that the government get to the root of the violence and the identity of those responsible for terrorising Nigerians.
On the sixth place is the realization that hallucinations played key roles in Atiku’s petition. He saw servers at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) when none existed. He dreamt incidents of rigging and voter intimidation but was unable to prove them in spite of the length of time he had to make his case. His petition was so hopeless that INEC declined to put up a defence. He cannot bring up new facts or evidence before the Supreme Court, not that he has any. Whatever he wants to use to make his case against the ruling must have again come from the yarn spurn in his dream.
To the seventh reason, even the spiritual realm has rejected Atiku because just about everyone, except his greedy followers, has rejected him. The rejection is not unconnected with the aura and reality of corruption that hang around his persona. All the water of the Gulf of Oman will not wash him clean neither can the entire perfume in Saudi Arabia obscure the stench of corruption that oozes from his person.
Atiku will do well to manage this round of shame well so that there is a sliver of hope that he may yet end his days with some semblance of honour to his name assuming that is still possible. Not going to the Supreme Court would be his saving grace for he will then be able to escape the final ridicule.
This is why those who truly love Nigeria must stop discouraging him from pursuing this path. With the magnitude of damage he did to and he is still doing to the country a trouncing at the Supreme Court by President Buhari still won’t be adequate punishment but it would still be some consolation to the victims of Atiku’s corruption and desperation to clinch power.

Ogunmola wrote from Iyana Ipaja, Lagos.

*Boko Haram: Coalition hails Super Camp, charges Borno, Yobe political leaders to back ‘masterstroke' military strategy*

The Coalition Against Terrorism and Extremism (CATE) has applauded the Nigerian Army's Super Camp strategy, describing it as a “masterstroke” and the long-awaited catalyst to flush out the remnants of Boko Haram from the North-East.

The group made this strong case for the military's latest approach at a press conference held in Abuja by the National Coordinator, Gabriel Onoja on Sunday.

The strategy entails the concentration of fighting forces in strongholds called Super Camps with capacity to respond swiftly to the adversary.

According to CATE, this move has been a huge success, encouraging the leadership of the Nigerian Military not to relent in its efforts to get rid of the already decimated, fleeing Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists.

The group, however, urged political leaders in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States to lend their support to the military’s effort.

CATE further called on traditional and religious leaders to back the exercise while ensuring that their subjects do not act as spies for Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist and against the interest of the military.

Read full press statement below:

I welcome you all to this press conference put together by the Coalition Against Terrorism and Extremism to bring to the members of the general public the effectiveness or otherwise of the efforts of the Nigerian military in the fight against Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist in North-East Nigeria.

The Coalition against Terrorism and Extremism having reviewed the activities of the Nigerian Army in North-East Nigeria wishes to inform the members of the general public that the efforts of the Nigerian Army in the fight against Boko Haram terrorists have been quite herculean, and credit must be given to the leadership of the Nigerian Military for providing that sound and dynamic leadership that has kept the morale of the fighting troops high in the past four years.

The Nigerian Military has indeed shown an unalloyed commitment to defending the territorial integrity of Nigeria through the introduction of military strategies on a routine basis aimed at defeating the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists.

The Coalition against Terrorism and Extremism wish to make particular mention of the recently introduced Super Camp Strategy by the Nigerian Military that has seen Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist suffering heavy casualties.

The Coalition Against Terrorism and Extremism notes that the Super Camp Strategy as introduced by the Nigerian Military is indeed a masterstroke and wishes to encourage the leadership of the Nigerian Military not to relent in its efforts to rid North-East Nigeria of remnants of Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists.

This is on the heels that by all indications, the Super Camp Strategy has indeed been a huge success and as such it is expedient on all well-meaning Nigerians to rally round the Nigerian Military in its final onslaught against Boko Haram/ISWAP.

The Coalition Against Terrorism and Extremism having monitored the successes recorded by the Nigerian Military in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria also wishes to state that indeed the leadership of the Nigerian Military has displayed a high sense of patriotism and a burning desire to see to the end of terrorist activities in Nigeria.

It is against this backdrop that the Coalition Against Terrorism and Extremism is driving awareness on the need for all and sundry to lend their support to the Nigerian Military in the final push against terrorists and terrorism in Nigeria.

The Coalition Against Terrorism and Extremism wish to also call on the political leaders in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States to lend their support to the efforts of the Nigerian Military towards the final onslaught against Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists in North-East Nigeria.

The political leaders in North-East Nigeria must as a matter of urgency see to the provision of necessary infrastructures and social amenities in their various domains in an attempt to complement the efforts of the Nigerian Military at bringing about lasting peace in North-East Nigeria.

The traditional institutions in the North Eastern States must also lend their support to the Nigerian Military in the final push against Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist in Nigeria by ensuring that their subjects do not act as spies for Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist and against the interest of the Nigerian Military.

The Coalition Against Terrorism and Extremism also charges the various religious organizations in North-East Nigeria to make it a duty to propagate the message of one Nigeria where peace shall reign supreme.

The religious institutions must, as a matter of urgency, lend their voice to the campaign to end terrorism in North-East Nigeria by supporting the activities of the Nigerian Military, especially the Super Camp Strategy.

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press and other critical stakeholders:

It is a statement of fact that the operations of the Nigerian Military in North-East Nigeria has been a huge success. The Coalition Against Terrorism and Extremism applauds the leadership of the Nigerian Military, as well as its commanders and troops in all the Sectors of Operation Lafiya Dole who are giving their best in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria.

$9.6 Billion Judgement: CSO demands Malami's resignation, accuse AGF of sabotage.


Nigeria's Civil Society Group, known as the Centre for Public Accountability (CPA) is demanding the resignation of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami. , the group alleged, that Mr Malami failed to properly advise President Muhammadu Buhari, on the implications of the refusal of the Federal government, to honor a gas contract agreement, between the Federal government and United Kingdom based company, P$ ID, a disagreement that led to a recent London court judgment, mandating Nigeria to pay the company, a whopping sum of $9.8bn.

The group in a petition addressed to the Attorney General and signed by its Executive Director, Olufemi Lawson, said the refusal of Malami to take the necessary steps, when President Muhammadu Buhari's administration took over at a time that the reparation costs stood at just $850m, has brought us into this mess today.

"Throughout the first term of the administration, despite your full knowledge of the matter, there were no attempts to appeal the then pending judgement, neither is there a single application for stay of execution, nor a move to set the award to P& ID aside. This is very unfair to us as a nation and grossly incompetent on your part as the AGF." the petition read.

The group said it is in deep consultations, and shall soon be embarking on a protest to occupy the Ministry of Justice within seven (7) days herefrom and further expose the "venomous misdeeds of Mr Malami, against the Buhari led government and the Nigerian people."


Read full petition below:


5th September, 2019


Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN

Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation,

Federal Ministry of Justice,
Abuja.


Dear Sir,

RE: 9.8 BILLION DOLLARS JUDGEMENT AGAINST THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN FAVOR OF THE P & ID THAT NIGERIA MAY NOT FAIL AGAIN; AN IMMEDIATE DEMAND FOR YOUR RESIGNATION.

We bring you solidarity greetings, on behalf of Center for Public Accountability (CPA), a Non-governmental civil society organization committed to the probity, accountability, transparency and due process and we do hereby write you as follows:


That as you aware Sir, on 16 August, Mr Justice Butcher of the London Admiralty Court awarded a record-breaking US$9.8 billion against the Federal Government of Nigeria for breach of contract involving a shadowy off-the-shelf company, Process and Industrial Development Limited (PI&).

Since this decision of the London court was arrived at, not only have we become traumatized as Nigerians, but we have also become extremely disturbed about the overall implication of this obnoxious debt on the Federal Government's ongoing effort at repositioning our great country, particularly in the area of lifting our people out of poverty.


Sir, without equivocation, we wish to state that the unfortunate situation we have found ourselves today, cannot be other than as a result of your incompetence as the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation.

It is disheartening that your inaction and refusal to take the necessary steps, when President Muhammadu Buhari's administration took over at a time that the reparation costs stood at just $850m, has brought us into this mess today. Throughout the first term of the administration, despite your full knowledge of the matter, there were no attempts to appeal the then pending judgement, neither is there a single application for stay of execution, nor a move to set the award to P& ID aside. This is very unfair to us as a nation and grossly incompetent on your part as the AGF.

Sir, is it not worrisome, that since May 2016 that the Arbitration Tribunal on this matter, wrote to the Nigerian Government reminding all the Parties to be aware from Procedural Order No 12, that the Tribunal has decided that the seat of the arbitration is England, you did not do anything in response?

There is therefore no doubt, that all what your office is preoccupied with now, is to cover up your failures to advise Mr President appropriately, as this matter could have been easily settled for the earlier cost of $850 million.
Instead, you took the decision to gamble on the arbitration and turned an $850 million liability into a $9.6 billion liability.

Sir, beyond the financial burden that this places on us as a nation, it also has the tendency of discouraging foreign investors from Nigeria, a situation which will be counterproductive to President Buhari's commitment towards diversifying our economy, by opening the doors for foreign investors, a move that will take the teeming population of our people, away from the unemployment market.


It is therefore our patriotic demand, that you honorably resign your appointment as our country's Attorney General. Your continued stay in the position, has far reaching implications on us as a nation, beyond the present controversial $9.8bn judgement debt.

President Buhari's administration has demonstrated beyond doubt, and in absolute commitment, our bilateral cooperation with the United Kingdom, and as Nigerians, we have always anticipated the needed support towards the anti-corruption efforts of his leadership, and compliance with decent diplomatic obligations.

You have not only proven to be incompetent, but have also become an albatross, to the President Muhammadu Buhari government and aspiration of Nigerians, towards a sane, decent and corruption free Nigeria.

This could have been a major omission on the part of the Federal government, but since we have not seen an acceptance of guilt from your Office, especially judging by your public statements, it means you are no longer competent to be the AGF of Nigeria, especially as you can no longer diligently perform your duty as the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation.

For the fact that you ill advised Mr President and allowed Nigeria to be brought under this unimaginable debt burden, we as patriots, have no other option, than to demand for your immediate resignation as our Minister of Justice and AGF.

The signs are obvious and as Nigerians, we have several reasons to be genuinely concerned, about your non committal to our national interest by these emerging judgement debts and the unprecedented number of litigations, against our country.

How justifiable is it, for you, to continue to hold sway, as our country's chief law officer, while we continue to undermine the rule of law locally and internationally, wholly accumulating debt for our children and unborn generations to pay? It is therefore imperative that you allow reasoning to prevail and resign from Office or face sack. To press home our point we are in deep consultations and shall soon be embarking on a protest to occupy the Ministry of Justice within seven (7) days herefrom and further expose yours venomous misdeeds against the Buhari led government and the Nigerian people.

In conclusion, we wish to restate our continued support and dogged commitments towards repositioning our country, particularly this administration's war against corruption. Hence, everyone who may undermine these efforts, deserves no such place.


I remain,

Yours Faithfully,

Olufemi Lawson,
Executive Director

CENTRE FOR PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY (CPA)

*Nigerian professionals in Europe hail PMB's court victory, wants more foreign investment over impressive 100 days in office*

The Association of Nigerian Professionals in Europe (ANPE) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to consolidate on his groundbreaking foreign investments after marking 100 days in office as well as victory at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.

This group of Nigerian intellectuals made this known on Thursday after an annual general meeting in The Hague, Netherlands to score the first 100 days of the president's second term in office.

In a communique jointly signed by Dr. Agwu Onyeke (President) and 13 others executives across Europe, the ANPE rated Mr Buhari high having analysed critical areas of security, economic stability, and the independence of the Judiciary.

According to the group, the last decade days ushered a new chapter in the history of the country’s democracy with the “re-jigging of the governance approach in the conduct of government business”.

The group further applauded President Buhari for demonstrating capacity and commitment to the entrenchment of democratic ideals in all spheres of life in Nigeria.

See the full communique below:

Introduction

The Association of Nigerian Professionals in Europe, arising from its annual general meeting which held in The Hague, Netherlands deliberated on the state of affairs in Nigeria with a view to assessing the first 100 days in office of President Muhammadu Buhari, which is in line with the core objective of the organisation to periodically review the state of the nation in Nigeria and making suggestions that would see to the socio-political upliftment of the country.

The Association of Nigerian Professionals in Europe, after an extensive deliberation on critical sectors in Nigeria, such as security, economy and the independence of the Judiciary came up with the following resolutions:

The Resolutions:

That the first 100 days in office of President Muhammadu Buhari has indeed marked the beginning of a new chapter in the history of democracy in Nigeria with the re-jigging of the governance approach in the conduct of government business.

That the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has indeed demonstrated a capacity and a commitment to the entrenchment of democratic ideals in all spheres of life in Nigeria.

That the critical sector of security has received the needed attention, it deserves with the quality of appointments as well as the display of commitment by those saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that the territorial integrity of Nigeria is protected at all times.

That there has been a substantial improvement in the security situation in Nigeria, especially in the fight against Boko Haram terrorist and other militant groups in Nigeria.

That from all available indices, there has been the formulation of sound economic policies that would translate to financial stability within a short period.

That the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari within the first 100 days in office has displayed an extraordinary commitment to translating the hopes and aspirations of Nigerians into tangible realities with the introduction of institutional reforms in critical sectors of the economy aimed at guaranteeing economic prosperity.
Conclusion:

The Association of Nigerian Professionals in Europe concludes that the first 100 days in office of President Muhammadu Buhari can be described as a huge success and an indication of things ahead for Nigeria.

The Association of Nigerian Professionals in Europe also wishes to state that with the visible improvements in the critical sectors in the economy of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari has indeed displayed a rare commitment towards ensuring that the right foundation for economic prosperity for Nigerian is laid.

The Association of Nigerian Professionals in Europe having been satisfied with the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari towards the growth and development of Nigeria within the first 100 days in office, wishes to encourage Nigerians across the world to support the noteworthy initiatives of President Muhammadu Buhari by driving massive investments to Nigeria to complement government efforts.

The Association of Nigerian Professionals in its final assessment of the first 100 days in office of President Muhammadu Buhari gives it a pass mark with huge prospects.

By Israel Abiodun

The recent verdict by the Elections Petitions Tribunal affirming the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari at the general elections is an indication that Nigerians indeed got it right in casting their ballots overwhelmingly for President Muhammadu Buhari for another four years in office.

Whether we like it or yes, President Muhammadu Buhari has done what no president in the annals of the democratic dispensation in Nigeria has done. He has shown what it means to have integrity. He has displayed an unimaginable level of patriotism and dedication to the unity of Nigeria, and a Nigeria of our dream where every voice would count regardless of religious or ethnic affiliations.

I am one of those that have always asked questions whenever mischief-makers spread negative narratives about the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari to leaving Nigeria better than he met it. I also often ask if these individuals are in Nigeria or holed up somewhere in space. But again, it is understandable.

In the first four years of the life of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigerians indeed witnessed the introduction of a sound foundation for economic growth and prosperity. I am aware that in some quarters, many debates were generated as regards the policy direction of the administration. However, these same individuals that hitherto saw nothing good in the various policy initiatives of the administration were left in awe with the manner of progress the country recorded within a record period in critical sectors of the economy.

Enter the life of the second tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari, and every discerning mind would want to agree with me that with the way and manner the government has hit the ground running, Nigeria is indeed on the path of greatness. President Muhammadu Buhari has once again shown to Nigerians that that same zeal and commitment that he exhibited during his first term in office would be replicated in his second term in office, and the events that shaped the first 100 days in office, should give every well-meaning Nigerian a cause to smile.

The cabinet has been formed and portfolios assigned to ministers, other critical appointments have been made and as they say, on your marks, get ready and go! That is the mood of the present administration, and I am somewhat elated with the way and manner every member of the new team seems to be carrying out their duties and responsibilities with every sense of urgency.

The first 100 days in office in the life of this present administration gives me hope and as well indicates that Nigeria still got it right by electing President Muhammadu Buhari for another second term of four years. I stand to be corrected, it takes only a man of vision and courage to be able to confront the cankerworm of corruption that has eaten deep into the very fabric of our national life.

It also takes a man that is interested in the safety of lives and properties of Nigerians to be able to make quality appointments into the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which has in turn translated to the various successes recorded in the fight against terrorism in North-East Nigeria and other parts of Nigeria.

It also takes a man of integrity to be able to match his words with actions and not play to the gallery as the everyday politicians would do. The above listed are some of the characteristics that marked the first 100 days in office of President Muhammadu Buhari and an indication that Nigeria indeed is still getting it right with President Muhammadu Buhari at the helm of affairs in the country.

I am convinced with every breath in me that with President Muhammadu Buhari at the helm of affairs in Nigeria for the next four years, victory over our adversaries would be our greatest reward and peace, unity and greater prosperity will be our collective legacy. This much I can vouch for because of the commitment of a man who all of his life has been interested in the betterment of the lives of the ordinary man and woman on the streets. A man whose belief in the unity of Nigeria is unwavering and whose dedication to the Nigerian cause is infectious.

That is Muhammadu Buhari, the President that Nigerians voted for to lead them to the promised land in the next four years. I am also convinced that God in his infinite mercies has shown Nigeria mercy by leading us right into voting him as president despite the antics of those that contributed immensely to the mess Nigerian found itself in times past, as well as those whose intent and purpose is to see to the disintegration of Nigeria.

As we celebrate the first 100 days in office, we owe this great country of ours a duty to do the right thing by extending our unalloyed support to the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to succeed. We all have a part to play given the fact that we know who our president is, and we also understand that the sincerity of heart and purpose guides his actions and inactions.

We must also realize that this generation and indeed the unborn generation of Nigerians have nowhere to call home and as such we must remain here to salvage it together. Nigeria indeed got it right. Also, President Muhammadu Buhari would do it just right for the unity, growth, and development of our dear country. This I am convinced about.

Abiodun wrote this piece from Ibadan.

*Hold Atiku responsible for any upsurge in terrorism, banditry, others, group says after dismissed petition*

The National Coalition for Change (NCC) has asked Nigerians to hold Alhaji Atiku Abubakar responsible for any upsurge in terrorism, banditry, ethno-religious crisis and other vices that may accompany his dismissed petition at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.

The Justice Mohammed Garba-led Tribunal, had on Wednesday, ruled that President Muhammadu Buhari was duly elected, brushing aside the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appeal.

In a statement signed by Secretary-General, Jeremiah Giwa, in reaction to the judgement, the NCC says it is victory for democracy and a testament that the Judiciary can't be bamboozled by cheap blackmails.

While admitting that it is within the constitutional right of the opposition candidate to seek redress at the Supreme Court, the group warned against embarking on a path that may potentially threaten the peace of the land.

The coalition reckoned that the country enjoyed improved peace, harmony and tranquillity prior to the Tribunal's verdict and therefore Atiku would be held culpable for any sudden shift.

However, the NCC urged President Buhari to see the verdict as the watershed to usher the final phase of his amiable reforms.

Read full statement below:

The National Coalition for Change (NCC) is pleased with the ruling of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja has dismissed the petition the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, challenging the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Not only is the Tribunal’s verdict a victory for democracy, it has gone the extra mile to prove that propaganda, even when deployed by corrupt moneybags, is no match for the will of the people and the rule of law. The Tribunal has expressed the will of Nigerians.

The Tribunal has set Nigeria on the path of peace and restoration by failing to legitimize the culture of lies, violence and manipulation upon which the Atiku/PDP challenge was based; they had even vehemently attempted to blackmail the courts into doing their bidding in order to coerce from the Tribunal the victory they could not intimidate the Nigerian electorates to give them at the polls.

NCC commends the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal for not succumbing to Atiku’s blackmail, particularly in the petitions he filed on the use of card readers and the phantom server that the PDP supposedly found in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The fraudulent claims in these petitions were intended to make mockery of the bench by through the expectation that judges are not technologically enlightened enough to know when they are being lied to.

The judges on the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal are true heroes of democracy and NCC will so recognize and honour them at the appropriate time. They have proven that there can still be found within Nigeria upright men that cannot be swayed by ethno-religious sentiments and bribes.

We urge President Buhari to see the verdict of the Tribunal as the final impetus for him to roll out the final phase of his reforms for Nigeria now that the obstacle of the PDP/Atiku judicial challenge has been removed from his path. He must particularly ramp up the war on corruption without fear of a backlash because no one can at this point claim to be hounded because he or she is a member of the opposition. The anti-terrorism war must also extend to those that had hidden under the cover of opposition to finance terrorists.

Without prejudice to Atiku and PDP’s rights to seek a review of the ruling at the Supreme Court, we advise them to pursue their rights in a manner that does not threaten the peace. Even the mentally incapacitated knows that it is time for Atiku to stop implementing his Dubai Strategy that has failed from one phase to the other.

Prior to the Tribunal’s verdict, the impressive reduction in the intensity of crimes before and after the election is well documented; we shall therefore hold Atiku and the PDP responsible for any upsurge in terrorist attacks, banditry, kidnapping, ethno-religious strife and other spikes in crime in the aftermath of the ruling.

We congratulate Nigerians on being saved from the desperadoes that had attempted to exploit the judiciary as a tool to overthrow the government they had overwhelmingly entrusted with the mandate to administer the country.

*100ys in Office: Nigerians in Diaspora give Buhari pass mark in security, anti-corruption, others*

Some well-meaning Nigerians in the diaspora under the aegis of Arise Nigeria (AN) has rated President Muhammadu Buhari's administration high for tackling insecurity, anti-corruption and reviving the economy.

The intellectual think-tank with headquarters in London, United Kingdom and branches across Europe, Asia, America and other parts of Africa sounded the president's trumpet after critical assessment of his government from 2015 till date.

In a well-detailed report to mark 100 days of the president's second term, jointly signed by Dr. Philip Edeawor and Mr Charles Eze, its Chairman and Chief Operations Officer (COO) respectively, the group said it gathered feedbacks on the policy initiatives and level of implementation.

Arise Nigeria, therefore, concluded that Mr Buhari has surpassed expectations having made considerable improvements in all sectors of the economy in the last four years.

The group, however, urged Mr President to maintain the same vigour and expediency in the remaining four years of his administration.

The statement reads in part: “The Muhammadu Buhari administration from the available statistics at the disposal of Arise Nigeria, has indeed done tremendously well in addressing corruption in the country by introducing measures such as the implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and the introduction of the Whistle Blowing Policy which gave rise to tremendous successes in the fight against corruption.

“ The administration also introduced institutional reforms that strengthened the various anti-corruption agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC). Consequently, this yielded positive results with the revelations that followed, as well as the recoveries and convictions made.

“ The Muhammadu Buhari administration in the past four years was able to address the level of insecurity in the country with the quality of appointments made in the Armed Forces which translated to the various successes recorded in the fight against terrorism and other militant groups in the country. This is on the heels that before the advent of the Muhammadu Buhari administration, Boko Haram terrorist occupied over 16 local government areas in North-East Nigeria, and the activities of militant groups such as the Niger Delta Avengers, the Islamic Movement in Nigeria and the Indigenous People of Biafra were unabated.

“ The capital city of Nigeria was also under constant attack by terrorist groups as evident in the attack the headquarters of the Nigerian Police Force as well as the headquarters of the United Nations in Nigeria.

The efforts of the Armed Forces as well as the political will exhibited by the government has indeed assisted tremendously in turning the tide against Boko Haram terrorist in North-East Nigeria. Also, the activities of other militant groups have been curtailed.

“ There has also been a tremendous improvement in the economy of Nigeria despite the rot inherited. Arise Nigeria identified a combination of factors as responsible for this. And they are the commitment exhibited by President Muhammadu Buhari as well as the quality of appointments in critical sectors of the economy.

“ Arise Nigeria after the extensive analysis of the state of affairs in Nigeria in the period under review comes to the conclusion that the periods of 2015 to 2019 in Nigeria experienced tremendous growth and development occasioned by the provision of sound leadership and a commitment to the introduction of noteworthy policy initiatives that have translated to improvement in all sectors of the Nigerian society.

“ However, Arise Nigeria notes that the gains, as mentioned above, did not come without an exceptional level of the sacrifice given the deplorable state of affairs pre-2015. The indices that Nigeria would consolidate on these modest achievements are visible.

“ It is, therefore, the considered opinion of Arise Nigeria that with the sincerity of heart and purpose as exhibited by the Muhammadu Buhari led administration, Nigeria has indeed made considerable improvements in all sectors of the economy.

“ The years under review indicates that the foundation for the "change" that Nigerians craved for has indeed been laid. What is now required is consolidation which Arise Nigeria believes would come about in the next four years of the life of this present administration.

“ Arise Nigeria in its assessment gives the Muhammadu Buhari led administration a pass mark in its resolve to put Nigeria on the path of economic growth and development in the years under review.

“ It must also be stated that if the same vigour and expediency exhibited by the Muhammadu 'Buhari's administration in the past four years is sustained, Nigeria would indeed experience tremendous growth and development in the years ahead.

“ Convincingly the last 100 days of Mr. President has witnessed sustained efforts to domesticate the legacies of his administration. Arise Nigeria is therefore confident that Mr. Presidsnt is on track and his lieutenants in the critical sector be commended.”

*100 Days in Office: Pro-democracy group hails Buhari's commitment towards building strong institutions*

President Muhammadu Buhari has received massive adulation from the National Democratic Front (NDF) for strengthening the country's institutions in the first 100 days of his second term.

President Buhari and other elected officials sworn-in on May 29 marked their first decade days in office last Friday.

While there's been some insurmountable hurdles along the way, Mr Buhari scaled through unscathed, visibly plotting some strategic policy initiatives designed to better the living standard of Nigerians.

In a statement signed by Secretary General, Dr Bolaji Abdulkadir, the NDF acknowledged this magnificent feat, hailing Mr Buhari for showcasing an unalloyed commitment to the unity, growth and development of Nigeria.

The pro-democracy group even affirmed that the last 100 days ushered what is called the “Era of Abundance” for the country due to the various policy initiatives being aggressively implemented across the country.

Several sectors have benefited from the drastic upswing, but according to the NDF, the economy, security, international relations and health are the most clearly improved.

The group, therefore, urged the President to maintain the same momentum while ensuring gains made in critical sectors in the first tenure are consolidated upon.

Read full press statement below:

We warmly welcome you to this press conference put together to appraise the 100 days in Office of the second tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The second tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari as president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria began effectively from May 29th, 2019 in an occasion that was witnessed across the world. On that day, Nigerians were regaled with the sight of the man they overwhelmingly voted for as their president.

The hopes and dreams of Nigerians were fixated on that man whose integrity and sincerity of heart and purpose had never been in doubt. And in just 100 days since he assumed leadership of the country, there have been tales of strategic policy initiatives that are designed to set Nigeria on the path of progress.

President Muhammadu Buhari in the last 100 days has indeed demonstrated an unalloyed commitment to the unity of Nigeria, as well as its growth and development in a manner that is capable of evoking envy from other African countries.

The Last 100 days in Office of President Muhammadu Buhari has ushered in what is called the “Era of Abundance” for Nigeria due to the various policy initiatives that are being aggressively implemented across the country.

It must be stated that President Muhammadu Buhari in his first tenure between 2015 and 2019, indeed set the agenda rolling through the implementation of laudable initiatives that is translating to tangibles in this era. This speaks volume of a man who is blessed with foresight and a man whose dedication to the leaving Nigeria better than he met it has never been doubted.

In the critical sector of the economy, President Muhammadu Buhari has indeed done tremendously well to the envy of other countries as well as economic analysts that predicted that the Nigeria economy was never going to come out of recession. There has also been a tremendous improvement in other sectors of the Nigerian economy, such as security, agriculture, health, and education.

The security sector is one area that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has fared brilliantly well, especially in the fight against Terrorism and other militant groups in the country. This is with the fact that before the emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari Boko Haram terrorist-controlled over 16 local government areas in North-East Nigeria. However, with the quality of appointments in the critical security sectors, Nigeria was able to turn the tide against the Boko Haram terrorist and other militant groups in the country.

Under President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria has been able to make substantial gains in international relations with countries in the world that have resulted in the signing of bilateral agreements.

The health sector was among the areas that witnessed tremendous improvement in the first tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari, and this is mainly responsible for the rapid gains seen within 100 days in Office into the second tenure as president.

This is indeed a testament to the fact that President Muhammadu Buhari has made a thunderous statement on governance in the country. He has demonstrated capacity; he has shown a high sense of political will. He has also shown that leadership is all about commitment.

That commitment exhibited has seen to the rapid manifestation of positive results in the first 100 days in Office by President Muhammadu Buhari.

It is therefore imperative for President Muhammadu Buhari not to relent in his efforts towards making Nigeria a much better place for this generation as well as the incoming generation. This much he promised Nigerians during the inauguration and commencement of his second tenure in Office.

The gains made in critical sectors of the economy in the first tenure must be consolidated in ways and manners that would bring about the meaningful impact on the lives of Nigerians. President Muhammadu Buhari must continue to uphold the trust and confidence reposed on him by the generality of Nigerians who have placed their trust in him.

The gains recorded in the first 100 days is indicative of this fact, and it becomes expedient that the same trend is embraced so that at the end of the four years’ tenure, Nigeria would have been placed on a solid rock foundation that would eventually lead to the era of abundance.

Consequently, there is no element of doubt as regards the loud statement of President Muhammadu Buhari on governance in Nigeria.

Ladies and Gentlemen: I thank you all for taking out time to grace this occasion and also charge you all to take this message to your constituencies.

By Bunmi Oteniya


The 2019 general elections have come and gone and, as they say, the rest is history after President Muhammadu Buhari was sworn in for a second term of four years on May 29th, 2019. It has been close to 100 days since the commencement of the second term administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and if we must admit a lot has changed in the polity.

Appointments have been made, policy statements have been issued and as well as strategic actions have been implemented towards ensuring that Nigeria is on track in delivering its mandate to the people that voted overwhelmingly for the candidate of their choice during the presidential elections.

While I must admit that the 2019 general elections were indeed a fiercely contested one that indeed brought about political tension in the country, but again, Nigerians exercised their political franchise wisely by electing President Muhammadu Buhari, a decision, in my opinion, many Nigerians would come to appreciate at the end of the day.

Three critical areas have attracted my attention since President Muhammadu Buhari took over the mantle of leadership in the country for a second tenure. They are in the areas of appointments, policy initiatives, and mending fences across the country. While these areas might not sound loud in the minds of some, the truth is that for some of us conversant with what governance entails at the highest level would readily attest to how giant the present administration’s strides in these areas have been since May 29th, 2019.

As a start, the President gave assurances that the present administration would hit the ground running by ensuring that critical appointments are made. And true to his words, the cabinet has been inaugurated and portfolios assigned to various ministers. This has been hailed by many political pundits that have indeed scored the President high in this regards. And I can’t help but agree with their position which has indeed reflected the desire of a government with a burning desire to ensure that its citizens are availed the best at every point in time.

In my opinion, there has been a renewed commitment from the present administration towards translating the hopes and aspirations of the people into tangible realities. This can be seen in the way and manner the government has responded to national issues, and also with the way and manner it has been able to make timely decisions on sensitive matters that affect the ordinary man and woman on the streets.

An excellent example of the renewed commitment of the present administration towards protecting the rights and privileges of all Nigerians regardless of their location is evident in the unfortunate incident in South Africa involving Nigerian citizens. The government response has been hailed in many quarters as phenomenal in the sense that it wasted no time in making its displeasure known to the South African authorities and also the demand for full compensation for all the victims. However, the catch for me is the way and manner the government has been able to manage the crisis that almost erupted in Nigeria. Not only were the security agencies up and doing, the government also embarked on a sensitization drive to inform Nigerians that violence has never been a replacement for dialogue and as such there was no need for attacking South African businesses in Nigeria.

The setting up of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission for the engagement of Nigerians in Diaspora in the policies, projects, and participation in the development of Nigeria and to utilize the human capital and material resources of Nigerians in Diaspora towards the overall socio-economic, cultural and political development of Nigeria is indeed one area that credit must be given to the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

This is indeed a brilliant one given the fact that migrant remittance to Nigeria in 2018 was 77.2% of the federal government’s budget and more than ten times the foreign direct investment flow in the dame period into Nigeria according to a report published by PWC.

In the report by PWC, it estimated that migrant remittances to Nigeria could grow to $25.5 billion, $29.8 billion and $34.8 billion in 2019, 2021 and 2023 respectively. It also stated that Nigeria accounts for over a third of migrant remittance flows to Sub-Saharan Africa, and the government must engage the Diaspora.

PwC, therefore, recommended the need to create platforms that increase the accessibility of crucial information for Nigerians in the Diaspora; encourage and create pooled investment vehicles, and early-stage businesses with smaller financing needs, presents an excellent opportunity for those in the Diaspora to invest through angel networks. And that platform is the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission. What does this tell us? It does tell us that there is a government in place that is willing to do all within its means to see to the development of Nigeria. I stand to be corrected, what the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has done by creating the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission is a masterstroke whose positive impact would be felt from generations to generations.

Another strategic area of intervention is the creation of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development. The ministry charged with the responsibility of providing solutions to the plight of millions of Internally Displaced Persons as well as coordinate humanitarian affairs and social development in the country. This is indeed another masterstroke of the Muhummadu Buhari administration given the fact that the country, in the last ten years, has witnessed humanitarian crisis that has resulted in the displacement of an estimated 1.8 million people in North-East Nigeria.

It is also on record that lots of work have gone into peace enforcement and peacebuilding in the country with the various initiatives embarked upon by the government. The critical security sector has also received much-needed attention with the different security strategies designed to combat terrorism and other acts of insecurity in the country.

At this point, it is imperative to state empathically that President Muhammadu Buhari is indeed a leader of repute and that Nigerians were wise in their choice of him as President of this great country for another four years. The fact that in just 100 days into the life of the administration and we can lay our hands on a couple of strategic interventions buttresses the point that the next four years would indeed usher in for Nigeria greener pastures.

I make no hesitation to state that President Muhammadu Buhari is indeed still the answer for our quest towards translating our hopes and aspirations into tangible realities in Nigeria. And those with contrary views should please put them forward.

Oteniya wrote this from Instabul.

Boko Haram: Human Rights Watch garnering sympathy for insurgents with fake report - CESJET

The Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency (CESJET) has accused the Human Rights Watch of garnering sympathy for Boko Haram insurgents with fake and unfounded report.

The group was reacting to a 50-day page report entitled “They Didn’t Know if I Was Alive or Dead."

The report claimed that the Nigerian military were detaining underage Boko Haram fighters.

However, CESJET while reacting, said the intention of the report was to garner sympathy for the sect while painting the military as an organization that incarcerate, torture and dehumanize children.

Comrade Ikpa Isaac, Executive Secretary of CESJET while addressing newsmen on Tuesday, called on the Nigerian authorities and the rest of the world to throw the Human Rights Watch’s report into a garbage bin because it lacks substance and has no element of truth.

Text of his speech below.

Several factors are interesting about this report but we shall limit ourselves to a few of them because there is the inherent danger of unnecessarily promoting a work of fiction and elevating it into the realm of fact in the course of highlighting its shortcomings to the populace.

The first thing we want to draw attention to is the timing of the report, which is coming at a time when Boko Haram and its various iterations are struggling to justify to their sponsors the merit of receiving continuous funding because they no longer make the news in any impressive or profound way. This in part explains why the terrorist group is desperate in attacking military formations so that it can continue to lay claims to exploit and consequently the allowances and remittances it is being owed by those propping it up against the Nigerians state.

This strategy of shopping for incriminating anecdotal concoctions against the Nigerian military is a strategy that Amnesty International, a leading antagonist of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and key supporter of terrorists in the country, had repeatedly deployed without success. It is disappointing that Human Rights Watch is now replicating the same strategy without modification after Amnesty International that originally owned the approach of discrediting the military to give traction to terrorists has given up on it.

The intention of the report is to garner sympathy for Boko Haram fighters while painting the military as an organization that incarcerate, torture and dehumanize children. The military is meant to become distracted in its war against terrorism especially since it will now be compelled to ignore the bulk of Boko Haram fighters are usually youths that just went past their teenage years. Besides slowing down the fight against terrorism, making exception for this population bracket will prove fatal for troops for those in the post-teenage age band have proven to be most ferocious and deadly. The fact that poor nutrition that resulted in stunted growth gives them the appearance of children does not imply that they behave with the innocence of children.
Troops’ units that have in the past made the mistake of treating hardened terrorists as children have tales to tell.

The second issue to draw attention to is the decision of Human Rights Watch to lump together detention units with rehabilitation programmes marks a new low in the extent that some foreign owned outlets will go to justify extorting donors that fund their programmes. Had the group looked beyond the dollar signs that is clouding the eyes of its decision makers it would have realized that its claim of the Nigerian military using kids as prisoners in the name of Boko Haram is another cheap blackmail that Nigerians have now become familiar with as coming from foreign agents bent on destabilizing Nigeria. Such claim is part of the technical support that has been promised as a clandestine means to embolden Boko Haram when its obvious they can no longer sustain their evil against the Nigerian state.


Thirdly, the only aspects that should have been of concern to Human Rights Watch at the exact issues it shied away from. Other local or indigenous groups that have worked in the areas affected by Boko Haram have done much to improve on the conditions in the area through genuine humanitarian work. But Human Rights Watch has not done anything to address its discovery of a so call harsh interrogation of children, and that is assuming that it is genuinely interested in the wellbeing of children. For instance, it supposedly documented the lack of adequate sanitary facilities at detention centres without even running a pilot programme with one cell to demonstrate the quality of facilities it deems acceptable. The implication is that it is more interested in watching human suffering and misery than addressing them. The obsession is with writing reports, doctored reports that serve fake news, instead of taking practical steps that solve identified problems.

We would have also loved for Human Rights Watch similarly failed to be realistic by asking that children that are freed from detention should be handed over to civilian judicial authorities, forgetting that some of them were in custody as per court rulings. It really wants to help it should come up with plans to have children caught up on the wrong side of the conflict relocated to third party countries where they will be far away from the harrowing reality of relieving the difficult moments and experiences the group claimed they have had. But Human Rights Watch is in no condition to do this when its entire report is built on lies. It is largely a make-believe literature founded mostly on lies.


CESJET is therefore calling on the Nigerian authorities and the rest of the world to throw the Human Rights Watch’s report into a garbage bin because that is where it rightfully belongs. Perhaps some measure of originality might have mitigated the situation such that some lines in the document would have been salvageable but the manner it copied an old format that has failed to record any success paints those that who issued the report are as lazy and unimaginative. It would not be out of place for those that paid this NGO to do a hatchet job suddenly start demanding for refund.


It is on this fact that I encourage the world and members of the fourth estate to continue to demand more answers to the persistent questions;

1. Why are they doing this to Nigeria?

2. Why do they want Nigeria to fail even when the counter has refused to fail ?

3. Who is afraid of President Buhari and the military?

*Revealed: Group uncovers plot by international NGOs to discredit Buhari's 100 days in office*

....says Human Rights Watch acting opposition's script

The Coalition for Human Rights Groups in Nigeria (CHRGN) has claimed that there's an ongoing campaign by some foreign civil society groups to desperately discredit President Muhammadu Buhari's 100 days in office.

The group came to the conclusion that the Human Rights Watch (HRW) is in the forefront of this nefarious plot after extensively studying a report set to be released to the media.

In a statement signed by Executive Director, Maxwell Gowon, on Tuesday, the Coalition revealed that the Human Rights Watch took this shameful path after receiving humongous amounts of monies from the opposition.

According to the group, the HRW's recently released “mischievous” report was no coincidence with the President’s 100 days in office as it was meant to paint his administration in the negative light.

The Coalition, therefore, advised the Human Rights Watch and its allies in the business of misleading the general public to desist from such nefarious actions in the interest of peace and stability of the nation.

Read full statement below:

It further revealed that the Human Rights Watch as an organization is “not credible enough to issue a report on the state of affairs in Nigeria because there have been unanswered questions regarding its methodologies and presence in Nigeria and other climes it is operating from”.

The Coalition of Human Rights Groups in Nigeria is in receipt of a grand plot by some agents masquerading under cover of civil society organizations to discredit the laudable strides of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Coalition of Human Rights Groups in Nigeria having extensively studied the intended report slated for release to the media in Nigeria wishes to state that the Human Rights Watch (HRW) is in the vanguard of the nefarious plot after huge amounts of monies have exchanged hands.

The Human Rights Watch a supposedly Human Rights Organisation in a news release titled ‘Nigeria's Military: Holding Children as Boko Haram suspects" attempted to ingloriously portray a scenario that smacks of mischief by stating that the Nigerian Military has detained children without charge for months or years in squalid and severely overcrowded military barracks, with no contact with the outside world.’

While it is expedient to put the records in proper perspective for the discerning minds to make their informed decisions, the Coalition for Human Rights groups in Nigeria wishes to state that the report by the Human Rights Watch is indeed an attempt at discrediting the laudable initiatives of the Muhummadu Buhari led administration.

As a start, the Human Rights Watch as an organization is not credible enough to issue a report on the state of affairs in Nigeria because there have been unanswered questions regarding its methodologies and presence in Nigeria and other climes it is operating from.

It is also on record that in times past, some members of the opposition in Nigeria paid hefty sums of monies to the organization for it to release or to commission false reports on the state of affairs in the country to paint a picture of gloom and despair before the local and international community.

The recent report titled 'Nigeria's Military: Holding Children as Boko Haram suspects' is one of those numerous attempts aimed at causing disaffection in the polity. It is also instructive to state that the report, is intended for mischief purposes as there are no tangibles that suggest that the Nigerian Military would hound women and children into cells in Giwa Barracks in Borno state.

The Human Rights Watch as an organization is one that has a history replete with mischief and activities geared towards achieving pecuniary gains. This is evident in the postulations that the Nigerian Military has indiscriminately hounded young children in detention on fictitious allegations.

In the words of the Human Rights Watch, Children are being detained in horrific conditions for years with little or no involvement with Boko Haram terrorist is at best the fiction of their imaginations. This is expedient of the fact that the Coalition of Human Rights Groups in Nigeria has followed the activities of the Nigerian Military in North-East Nigeria with keen attention, and there has been no instance where cases of indiscriminate arrests were made in North-East Nigeria. Also, to think that the Human Rights Watch could make such bogus assertions defeats common sense.

The Coalition of Human Rights Groups in Nigeria is aware of the grand plot to discredit the Muhammadu Buhari led administration, and it's consequently appalled by such blatant disregard for the sensibilities of Nigerians and Nigeria as exhibited by the Human Rights Watch.

We are consequently constrained to state that it is too much of a coincidence for the Human Rights Watch to seek to release a mischievous report to coincide with the first 100 days in office of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The report intended for release by the Human Rights Watch is indeed an amalgamation of fictions and half-truths that do not in any way reflect the realities on the ground in Nigeria. So much so that we are tempted to ask specific questions such as in whose interest is the Human Rights Watch advancing? The interest of the over 180 million Nigerians or the interest of a select few that are hell-bent on changing the narrative in Nigeria by calling a dog a bad name to hang it?

The Coalition of Human Rights Groups in Nigeria views such attempt as derogatory and inimical to the overall interest of Nigeria, as well as an insult to our sensibilities as a people, and wishes to bring to the attention of the members of the unsuspecting general public of this nefarious publication that is laced with outright mischief and a despicable attempt at pleasing their paymasters.

The Coalition of Human Rights Groups in Nigeria also wishes to state that since the unfortunate Xenophobic crisis in South Africa, the Human Rights Watch has not deemed it pertinent to condemn it in its entirety, but instead they have chosen to toe the dishonourable path of dancing to the whims and caprices of their paymasters who seem to have not gotten over their electoral failures in the last general elections in Nigeria.

This is also on the heels that since 2009, when the Boko Haram terrorist took up violence in Nigeria, there has never been any record of the Nigerian Military taking into detention children and women. Instead, the reverse has been the case with tales of how Boko Haram terrorist have exploited women and children as shields in the theatre of operations in North-East Nigeria.

The cases of the Chibok and Dapchi girls are still fresh in the minds of Nigerians and the international community, and as such, it is indeed despicable for the Human Rights Watch to attempt to change the narrative in return for a mess of porridge.

The Coalition of Human Rights Groups in Nigeria wishes to state in unequivocal terms that the report released by the Human Rights Watch is at best the height of mischief and a disservice to the advocacy for Human Rights in Nigeria and all over the world.

The Coalition of Human Rights Groups in Nigeria wishes to by this statement sound a word of caution to those that are hell-bent on misleading the general public to desist from such nefarious actions in the interest of peace and stability in Nigeria.

Christians, Muslims end 40 days prayer and fasting for Nigeria, pray against disunity, xenophobia, others



Nigerians, across religious divides, on Monday poured out their hearts to God in prayers for the soul of Nigeria and against of disunity and retrogression.

The prayer was part of activities to mark the grand finale of the 40 days fasting and prayers organised by The National Interfaith and Religious Organisations for Peace (NIFROP).

The event, which was graced by over 500 clerics and many Nigerians from both Christain and Muslim faiths, witnessed torrential prayers for Nigeria and Nigerians.

The clerics took out time one after the other to intercede for the nation, her leaders and Africa at large.

The well-attended event also witnessed rain of prayers against the spirit of xenophobia in South Africa, which has sent many promising Nigerians to their early graves.

Speaking during the programme, the National President of NIFROP Bishop Sunday Garuba, described the 40 days fasting and prayers as a huge success.

“We have successfully come to the end of the 40 days’ prayer and fasting programme designed by the National Interfaith and Religious Organisations (NIFROP) to pray and fast for Nigeria for God to unite Nigerians in our quest for national unity.

“The 40 days’ prayer and fasting programme was such a huge success in that Nigerians from all ethnic and religious affiliations gathered and prayed in one voice for Gods intervention against the evil plot by some enemies of Nigeria to see to the disintegration of the country.

“The large turnout of clerics from all over Nigeria for the grand finale of the 40 days’ prayer and fasting programme is an indication that Nigerians have indeed have risen above religious sentiments to pray and fast for the unity of the country and to put to shame the evil plans of the enemies against the unity and progress of Nigeria.”

The cleric said he was optimistic that all the prayers tabled before God would receive speedy answers.

Also speaking, Sheik Ahmad Jibrin also stated that what Nigeria needs in this critical point of its existence was prayers and supplication to God for the grace for Nigerians to see that the myriads of challenges been experienced are the handiwork of distractors who are angry with the level of growth and development in the country in the past four years.

“We have prayed and fasted and the revelations we received are indicative of the fact that Nigeria shall experience and unimaginable level of unity now and in the years ahead.”

“We have prayed and fasted and the revelations we received are indicative of the fact that Nigeria shall experience and unimaginable level of unity now and in the years ahead.”

“As you can see, the turnout is massive, and the composition is an indication that Nigerian clerics have indeed embraced this laudable initiative and that is why over 500 clerics have gathered here in Abuja.”

The high point of the event was awe inspiring performance by rave of the moment and Ekwueme crooner, Prospa Ochimana.

Tamed insecurity as Buhari's 100-days statement

By Idoko Ainoko


One issue the opposition use to campaign against President Muhammadu Buhari in the election that held in March this year is the issue of security. They cited continued Boko Haram threats, commercial scale kidnap for ransoms, banditry, ritual related killings, ethno-sectarian strife, and other forms of criminality that undermine the safety of life and property in the country.
It is a fact that President Buhari inherited some of these security breaches from the previous administration while others arose from situations that were created and nurtured by past administration. He however owed it to Nigerians to address the problem because tackling insecurity was a major plank of the manifesto that got him elected for his first term.
While he did much to tame Boko Haram and other security threats in the first three year of his first term, the months leading to the election were harrowing for Nigerians because of noticeable degeneration in the security situation. This development was later discovered to have political undertones. The opposition was not successful in dissociating itself from sponsoring the security breaches in order to use them as campaign props against President Buhari. The Federal Government has, at the peak of electioneering, accused the opposition of contriving the security breaches.
President Buhari's victory in the election meant that the opposition, or those behind the security crisis, never bothered to deactivate or decommission the killer groups they unleashed on the country. Even if they had tried, like a golem, the killer groups had taken on lives of their own such that they would not heed the commands of their creators to demobilize. A new wave of security threats was this born, one that pro-opposition analysts had predicted would consume the Buhari presidency.
But in 100 days, President Buhari has proven that he is the master of restoring security even in the most hopeless of situations. Between being sworn in and now, he has been able to reel in the bandits, Boko Haram, high way kidnappers and diverse characters who had participated in the electoral process clandestinely were on the verge of by metamorphosing into higher levels of threats.
As it was in his first term, Mr President again relied on his trusted military chiefs to arrest the decline instigated by those that would rather see the country in tatters. But the military responded differently in proof that they have the capacity to respond to whatever mutations the sponsors of the security breaches decide to come up with.
The Nigerian Army, as usual, was able to promptly and effectively respond to the attempt to blanket the country in various forms of insecurity. As of the time of writing the bandits in the north-west of the country have been supressed below their pre-election activities, which was of course in conjunction with the governments of the affected states. Boko Haram had again been reduced to mostly operating from across international borders. Kidnappers have been arrested in high numbers while extremist elements have been kept off the streets.
Other services of the military, the Nigeria Police Force and Department of State Services (DSS) have all been brought into a collaborative effort that have put criminals in their place. They could make attempts to appear relevant but all such actions are met with the deserving response from the state. This has left little space for manipulated security breaches to grow in the country.
These concerted efforts at taming the security situation were not without resistance from those that created the crises in the first place. Each time the military makes progress against terrorists and bandits there were attempts to paint the government as being in the wrong. But President Buhari’s commitment to Nigerians and the security chiefs' dedication to their duty has ensured that there was no laxity in addressing the problems being created by the enemies of the country.
One must thus appeal to President Buhari with his security team not to slow down on the tempo that delivered this kind of improvement in a mere 100 days. If this much can be achieved in 100 days then one can imagine what would have been put in place in the next two years.
In conclusion, Nigerians must recognize that they have roles to play in scaling up the impressive results that have been recorded in these 100 days. The elections are over and the next three years plus should see us all tackling security challenges and other national issues as “a people” instead of dwelling on differences that have not done much to uplift the country in the past. President Buhari has done his part in taming insecurity and Nigerians must now do their own part by standing against those things and people that aggravate security breaches.


Ainoko wrote this piece from Kaduna.

Biafra: Lawyer files criminal complaint against Kanu at ICC, seeks arrest warrant


A criminal complaint has been lodged against the leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, at the International Criminal Court in Hague.

In the complaint, the ICC was also asked to order his arrest and prosecution.

Mr. Thomas Carroll of GAYLORD POPP, LLC, acting on behalf of the Incorporated Trustees of Make Nigeria Better Initiative (MNBI), in the criminal complaint dated 2nd September, 2019, said the IPOB issued a threat to attack President Mohammadu Buhari, during his visit to Japan to attend the 7th Tokyo International Conference on African Development, holding in the City of Yokohama, Japan from August 28-30, 2019.

According to MNBI, apart from the recent physical attack carried out by the group against former Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, by IPOB in Nuremberg, Germany, acting on the orders of the accused, similar threats have also been issued against the five south east governors, including Governors David Umahi of Ebonyi, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia and Willie Obiano of Anambra State.

IPOB also put on notice Ndigbo leaders such as the President-General of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Nnia Nwodo, whom it accused of supporting “Operation Python Dance” which was launched by the Nigerian Army in the South-East in 2016 in the wake of protests by IPOB members who were causing havoc and forcefully demanding secession from Nigeria.

In the criminal complaint, MNBI prayed the court for the following request:

"That the ICC Prosecutor opens an investigation of the Accused on her own accord under Article 15 (1) of the Rome Statute;

" That the ICC Prosecutor also formally “submit to the Pre-Trial Chamber of the ICC a request for authorization of an investigation” of the Accused under Article 15 (3) of the Rome Statute;

"That the ICC Prosecutor obtain International Arrest Warrant for the Accused from the ICC in accordance with Articles 58 (1) (a), 58 (1) (b) (i), 58 (1) (b) (ii) and 58 (1) (b) (iii) and proceed to arrest the Accused from wherever he is hiding so he can face their trial.

"That the ICC Prosecutor compels the Accused upon conviction under the Rome Statute to pay the sum of $1,000,000,000 (One Billion US Dollars) as punitive damages for causing death, injury and maiming of several Nigerians through his acts of terrorism.

"That the ICC Prosecutor compels the British Government to expeditiously begin the process of cancelling the citizenship of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, entering an Exclusion Decision and or Order barring him from all territories of the United Kingdom so he can return to Nigeria and face his treasonable felony trial pending before Honourable Justice (Mrs.) Binta Nyako sitting at the Federal High Court, Abuja."

500 clerics storm Abuja for the grand finale of 40-days of deliverance prayer for Nigeria


Over 500 clerics from various religious faiths and ethnicity have assembled in Abuja for the grand finale of the 40 days’ prayer and fasting programme organized by The National Interfaith and Religious Organisations for Peace (NIFROP). This was contained in a statement by Sheik Ahmad Jibrin, a Co-Convener in Abuja.

The statement stated that the 500 clerics were drawn from all parts of Nigeria in solidarity of the initiative to pray and fast for the unity of Nigeria in this critical point of its existence.

“We have successfully come to the end of the 40 days’ prayer and fasting programme designed by the National Interfaith and Religious Organisations (NIFROP) to pray and fast for Nigeria for God to unite Nigerians in our quest for national unity.”

“The 40 days’ prayer and fasting programme was such a huge success in that Nigerians from all ethnic and religious affiliations gathered and prayed in one voice for Gods intervention against the evil plot by some enemies of Nigeria to see to the disintegration of the country.”

Sheik Ahmad Jibrin also stated that what Nigeria needs in this critical point of its existence was prayers and supplication to God for the grace for Nigerians to see that the myriads of challenges been experienced are the handiwork of distractors who are angry with the level of growth and development in the country in the past four years.

“We have prayed and fasted and the revelations we received are indicative of the fact that Nigeria shall experience and unimaginable level of unity now and in the years ahead.”

According to one of the clerics that came to Abuja for the grand finale of the 40 days’ prayers and fasting programme, Pastor Stephen Okwu, he stated that one of the reasons why they have agreed to converge for the grand finale was because of the multiple revelations on the need for all Nigerians regardless of ethnic or religious beliefs to come together and pray for Nigeria.

“We are convinced beyond doubt that God, in His infinite mercies, has indeed heard the cries of his children for people of diverse religious faiths to congregate and pray for the common good of the country. Those of us Christians, as well as our Muslim brothers and sisters, have constantly interacted and agreed in one voice to be a part of this historical event that the Lord Almighty in his infinite mercies has made to come to pass.”

in a similar vein, another cleric Imam Abdul Ibrahim also stated that the purpose of the gathering is to show solidarity to a noble cause towards ensuring the continued unity of Nigeria.

“The unity of Nigeria supersedes tribes and religion, and that is why you can see the large turnout of Muslims and Christians for the grand finale of the 40 days’ prayers and fasting programme in Abuja.”

“We see ourselves as Nigerians before our tribes and religions, and this is contrary to what the enemies of Nigeria want and Insha Allah they have been defeated by the large turnout of people drawn from various parts of Nigeria.”

“As you can see, the turnout is massive, and the composition is an indication that Nigerian clerics have indeed embraced this laudable initiative and that is why over 500 clerics have gathered here in Abuja.”

In his remark, Bishop Sunday Garuba, a co-convener of the 40 days’ prayer and fasting programme stated that the 40 days’ prayers and fasting programme are essentially to intercede on behalf of Nigeria for God to deliver the country from the evil that wants to see to its disintegration.

“The large turnout of clerics from all over Nigeria for the grand finale of the 40 days’ prayer and fasting programme is an indication that Nigerians have indeed have risen above religious sentiments to pray and fast for the unity of the country and to put to shame the evil plans of the enemies against the unity and progress of Nigeria.”

It would be recalled that the National Interfaith and Religious Organisations for Peace (NIFROP) commenced a 40 days’ program of fasting and prayers for the unity of Nigeria. The programme which is holding at the Unity Fountain in Abuja attracted Christian and Muslim faithful’s from across the country.

The event which ends on the 9th of September 2019 has so far attracted 500 clerics from various religious organizations as well as ethnicity across Nigeria to pray and fast for the unity of Nigeria.

*Boko Haram: Security expert writes Defence Minister on strategy to end terror*

....sues for more synergy with Service Chiefs

A respected security expert, Comrade Richards Murphy, believes a greater synergy between new Defence Minister Gen. Bashir Salihi Magashi (rtd) and the Service Chiefs is crucial in flushing away the last phase of insecurity in the country.

Mr Murphy made this known in a letter addressed to the Defence Minister on Wednesday.

According to the security expert, harmony among the military actors on the turf would lead to more sacrifices and result.

He further urged for improved and well-supervised budgetary allocation for the military to carter for troops’ welfare, particularly those in the frontline.

Mr Murphy reckoned the divisive roles played by disgruntled politicians in the opposition corner and former elder statesman such as T.Y Danjuma in fuelling the violence and killings.

As a competent and experienced performer, he, however, urged the minister to continue in his usual stride, especially after such massive trust by President Muhammadu Buhari.

My Honourable Minister, please I pledge your indulgence to permit me to warmly congratulate you on this new appointment as Nigeria's Political Chief of the Defence Ministry.

Sir, from my years of experience on security matters, I believe, His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari has made a proven and trusted choice in your appointment to lead a ministry. I consider it very sensitive to national interest that you are extremely burdened by the subsisting circumstances of the prevailing insecurity challenges assailing our cherished country to come to the rescue.

However, in spite of the enormity of the mandate of your present office, there is no modicum of reservation in me that stars shine everywhere. And I can vouch for your competence and experience as a performer whose vast knowledge has resolved the most complex of mysteries in the past, throughout your meritorious military career, until a blissful retirement.

The Hon. Minister, Sir, it's unnecessary to remind you about the magnitude of the insurgencies and insurrections, Nigeria is facing at the moment. I know, it's a knowledge on your fingertips. But let me bore you a little that from the mindset of Mr. President from the outset, he wants to deal the final lethal blow on Boko Haram terrorism and farmers/ herders crises in the country.

And Mr. President knows these twine insecurity threats to our beloved country, Nigeria would have been eclipsed long ago, assuming political leaders at the lower rung of power imbibed his disposition, absolute cooperation and hard work to collectively terminate these evil plots against our country.

Your appointment as Defence Minister therefore, stems from Mr. President's conviction that at this time of our political nay security challenges odd history, none can do the job better than you. We are honoured by this presidential trust in you!

And from my observation afar, your first few weeks of official outing, tells me lucidly that you do not only have proper grasp of the briefs of the mandate, but your first few official steps in this direction by visiting Nigerian troops in the frontline/ trenches of counter-insurgency in the Northeast have gladdened the hearts of many Nigerians.

I dare say, it is indisputably, your rare courageous expression of the courage and determination, Nigerians never saw in your predecessors. Everyone now knows, a new Sherrif is in town and the #NextLevel is consolingly impressive.

I want to encourage you,Sir, to continue with this spirit to blend the previously seeming gulf between the political and the Military leadership in the last phase of routing out Boko Haram terrorism from the shores of Nigeria.

And may I quickly remind you that with another competent solder, someone, I admire so much, like the COAS and Leader of the counter-insurgency operations, Lt. Gen. TY Buratai, with same proclivity with you, I foresee the final end to these endemic crises. This synergy is what Nigeria needs now to terminate the most troubling crises to the federation.

Both of you have shown me a remarkable and credible departure from the "big men" or leaders we know, who despite the urgency of work at hand, sit back in their Abuja's cosy offices to dread gunfire in the fields, but relish the paraphernalia of office. Such posture was far detached from subordinate leaders on counter-insurgency, untill there is a presidential order to relocate to the theatre of war with insurgents. Sir, this is the right path that you have chosen!

Gen. Buratai particularly is a leader, I have sensed is personally committed to ending terrorism and weird insurrections in our country. I have never seen a COAS who dares all odds to wear his war boots and jumps into the trenches with troops to battle insurgents. He does it in rare areas of troops heated battles with insurgents like Gwoza or Bama, and so on.

Let me remind you that Nigerians passionately appreciate the immense contributions of the Nigerian Military particularly the excellent job which Mr. President has been devoting time, energy and national resources to do for the liberation of our country from insecurity threats. No Nigerian democratic political leader has come this far in tackling our security challenges or securing our lives than Buhari.

Again, Sir, with you pairing with another crack soldier, like Gen. Buratai in spirit, determination, courage and commitment to timely end senseless killings in Nigeria, you must prioritize and untie the political knots which strangulate financial operations in the Northeast and elsewhere soldiers are involved on special Internal Security (IS) assignments. Indeed, I appeal to you that whenever budgeted funds for defence and security ought to function, there should be no delay.

We know security of lives and property of a nation needs urgent attention like a pregnant woman trapped at home by labour pains in the middle of the night. As political head of Nigeria's Defence architecture, please, ensure defence budgets are insulated from bereaucratic bottlenecks and released to appropriate security authorities instantaneously to serve the purpose for which tax payers monies are approved by the National Parliament.

Sir, may I plead again that you must be in constant and consistent contact with your Finance counterpart Minister to see that budgeted security releases are made as early as possible to carter for troops’ welfare, particularly in the frontline and also, other expenses on security emergencies. I do know you understand that where national security is involved, all bereaucratic hurdles are dismantled instantly. Please be constantly alert Sir!

Furthermore, I am encouraged to advise you on what others reading this open epistle may consider extraneous, but I feel, it's necessary. It escapes or rather beclouds most occupants of your office.

I hinted earlier about the unnecessary persistence of the bad omen on insecurity. It is Boko Haram crisis in Nigeria and the ferocious insurrections crippling development in our country under the Buhari Presidency. It's because of the political and personalised interests of some evil Nigerians who sponsor as well as profit from the instigated violence and killings.

I suspect top politicians, some of whom have lost out so terribly in popular, electoral contest against the candidature of President Buhari or irreconciliably against his Presidency are the masked brains behind these violence and killings to discredit his Government.

Please, Sir, it is now your official responsibility, as political ombudsman of Nigeria's Defence Ministry to scout for these personalities and define political solutions or strategies to ensure, the Nation's security agencies are not involved in unnecessary bickering with political actors whose major aim is targeted at either Mr. President or Security Chiefs.

Its not too good that Nigeria, a country facing very dire insecurity threats would have it's heads of security agencies at the topmost echelon bickering in public glare over a misunderstanding. It should not be allowed to degenerate to the extent they have not only become the laughing stock of themselves, but the whole world. I don't find this comfortable and you must put an end to it, Sir!

Also, whilst approaching this delicate issue, you must also clandestinely identify cheap or mighty actors, with selfish political goals in their local domains. They should not be blessed to be larger than the federation of Nigeria, which we have all consented, right from our forefathers to geographically co-exist in peace and harmony.

Hon Minister, Sir, I plead with you to also extend same to other Nigerian leaders that this is the only right time to hold Nigeria and Nigerians together as one indivisible entity for present generation and posterity.

I have to remind you of this missing fraternal gap and plead for your intervention because elder statesmen like Gen. TY Danjuma and others, who are angry with Mr. President on a personal political relationship at one end, show us ethnic bigotry at another end in vain attempts to demonize the Nigerian Army. And it is done in the manner Gen. Danjuma brazenly did earlier in the year when he passed unstatesmanly remarks at the first convocation of the Taraba State University, Jalingo, indicting the Army.

Sir, it's your responsibility to now oversee to a conclusive harmony of Nigeria on security matters. So, working on a day to day synergy with military and political actors on the turf is imperative between you and your compatriots who are still in uniform or retired.

I believe, your personalistic humility in reaching out to these actors, devoid of pride and in your usual nationalistic passion would really teach them the virtues of sacrifices for the nation, as against egoistic self-serving motives.

Sir, lastly, it's now on your table to look at the herders/farmers’ crisis from a more strategic and all- inclusive strategy for Nigeria to overcome it. Please, do not allow desperate sabs or same underground or veiled forces to taint Mr. President’s image with such crisis. I know, you have the remedy to these conflicts.

Sir, i wish you the very best in your newest national assignment. Please, extend my warm regards and gratitude to the troops on the battlefield. Please, Sir, tell our gallant troops, Nigerians are with them in soul and spirit.

Buratai And Nigerian Army’s Super Camp Strategy

By Usman Jega

"Sure, we want to go home. We want this war over with. The quickest way to get it over with is to get to bastards who started it. The quicker they are whipped; the quicker we can go home."
---Gen. George Smith Patton Jr; a Commander of the United States Seventh Army in the Mediterranean theater of World War II, following the D-Day in 1944.

I beg to be pardoned, if indeed what anybody would glance now hurts some feelings. But as Nigerians, we have lived under the spell of Boko Haram terrorism for years. We have seen the worst of insurgency in the country.

At certain points and precisely before the advent of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, insurgency was on the verge of completely obliterating Nigeria. The soothsayers prophesied it. And the executioners went to task and mindlessly executed it.

Ears heard the giggling nasty sounds of the consuming danger. Eyes sighted it's raging fury and wickedness. Blood spilled recklessly and endlessly, sucking the land in uncontrollable tears.

With chained feet and spirit, leadership was weak at all levels to interrogate insurgency. We all shrunk before the atrocious audacity of Boko Haram terrorists. And there was no pretenses about it.

In fairness to my conscience, I won't say insurgency has ended in Nigeria. But anyone, within or outside Nigeria, who says the sparking and consuming fire of insurgency has not been substantially blighted in the country today, under the Buhari Presidency, may with gusto challenge Amighty God to a fisticuffs on who owns the universe.

Why have I strayed this far into such poetic renditions? I need to be excused because sometimes, and in the course of introspection, I blame my extreme curiosity.

But my curiosity to monitor the progression of Boko Haram and the efforts of Nigerian Government's in terminating a menacing scourge, I stumbled over something interesting. A foreign news channel, TV DW News played online a synopsis and video clip of a documentary done on Boko Haram activities in the Northeast, particularly in Monguno, Borno state, as latest as August 26, 2019.

It had the caption; "Nigerians flee from Boko Haram to town of Monguno." I got curiouser. The brief words of summary said;

"As northeastern Nigeria continues to suffer under the conflict with the terror group Boko Haram, tens of thousands of people have sought shelter in the town of Monguno, where a military base provides little protection, and food and water are scarce."

I also took time to listen to the video clip, expecting to hear something really frightening. But I got nothing! The visiting reporter really did a poor job of his assignment either out of deliberate negligence or mischief. I sensed him desperately, but fruitlessly attempting to amplify the tempo of a considerably waned crisis! He just had nothing in the report, but speculated abundantly on it's rising tempo.

I caught the foreign reporter with a first lie! What struck instantly was that the report was cast in a manner, erroneously conveying a message to someone unfamiliar with Boko Haram operations in the Northeast Nigeria to think, Monguno where fleeing natives took refuge was outside of Nigeria. But it was far from it.

Monguno is indeed in Nigeria's Borno state, the former hub of Boko Haram terrorism. TV DW News reporter didn't know they could not have approached the same town before october 2015 to package their self- betraying report on "raging" insurgency in Nigeria.

It became clear to me, the nest of interests in pleasured by a festering insurgency in Nigeria activated it's cyberspace terrorism prowess. I laughed at them a dozen times because it was apparent they took for granted, the impact the COAS and emperor of the counter-insurgency operations in Nigeria, Lt. Gen. TY Buratai had done in the Northeast. Like the proverbial African cat, Gen. Buratai has nine lives.

The counter-insurgency leader's brain consistently kicks with burstling ideas, strategies and tactics. Buratai has stepped out again against the enemy; but this time, propelled and prodded to action by Sun Tzu's wisdom as enunciated in the Art of War thus;

"If your enemy is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him... Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected."

Like Gen. George S. Patton echoed, Gen. Buratai has taken insurgents by surprise by launching the Super Camp Strategy against terrorists in the final phase of routing out Boko Haram. He has exported the counter-insurgency operations to the doorsteps of insurgents or enemies irrespective of wherever they are found in the Northeast.

Boko Haram insurgents know exactly the fresh trouble this strategy embodies , added to the ongoing clearance operations. Sounds of Boko Haram bomb blasts are now hardly heard, even in the obscure parts of Northeast.

Gen Buratai is famed for his competence to decode the strategies of the enemy and engage in counter strategies that weaken the war adversaries of Nigeria. Boko Haram knows it has found a good match at home in Gen. Buratai and the Nigerian troops. And this leader of counter-insurgency is not prepared to fail his country. He pressures and conquers.

It's now clear to all discerning eyes that like the American George S. Patton, the leader of the counter-insurgency operations in Nigeria, Gen. Buratai wants a quick end to the war against Boko Haram terrorism. And he knows, the quickest way to do it is by taking the battle to terrorists. Therefore, terrorists camps in the Northeast are in complete disarray as troops give insurgents hot chase in their obscure hideouts.

Jega wrote this piece from Abuja.

*Xenophobia: Amnesty berates South Africa, Ramaphosa’s poor handling of obligations to foreigners*

....seeks prosecution at ICC

A London-based civil society group, Global Amnesty Watch (GAW), has called out South Africa president, Cyril Ramaphosa, over his sluggish handling of xenophobic attacks in the country.

In a statement signed by Head of Africa Affairs, John Tom Leva, on Wednesday in London, United Kingdom, to address “xenophobic anti-foreigners attacks on nationals of other African state”, the group was critical of the rainbow nation's poor handling of obligations to foreigners.

According to the group, the perpetrators carry out these devilish act with a level of confidence that SA government is sympathetic and conscious of their activities.

The Global Amnesty Watch, however, urged the International Criminal Court (ICC) to hold Ramaphosa liable for the failure of his country’s security agencies to rise up to their responsibility of protecting lives and properties.

The GAW therefore called on the African Union and the United Nations to weigh in, imposing targeted sanctions on the “specific persons that have responsibility for preventing the horrific events of this nature”.

Read full press statement below

Global Amnesty Watch (GAW), like the rest of the world has watched aghast as some xenophobic South African launched unprovoked attacks on nationals of other countries that are resident in South Africa.

We have taken time to observe these attacks, whose pattern suggest that the perpetrators have a level of confidence that their government is sympathetic to the crimes they are committing against humanity under the guise of taking action against migrants. Our team of researchers have observed patterns that are more disturbing than the attacks themselves.

The attacks are not being carried out randomly by criminals or drug addicts. Almost all the instances involved attacks that were well planned and executed, often involving the participation of entire communities.

There is a pattern of looting and invasion of homes and businesses, which suggests that the xenophobic South Africans behind these attacks had always coveted the assets and property of their victims.

The police and other security agencies in South Africa have practically sided with the xenophobic attackers. Instances where they stayed aloof while Nigerians, Zimbabweans, Malawians and others are killed while in some instances they gave active support to the attackers.

Much as the world labelled these attacks as xenophobic in nature GAW has noted an element of terrorism in the instances where the attackers created videos of their attacks, publish them online and go out of their way in order to cause maximum terror and fear in the heart of migrants.

The response of the South African government, considering the history of xenophobia in that country, has not been encouraging; there is a lethargy on the part of the government in ordering law enforcement to arrest and prosecute offenders. As conspiratorial as it sounds, there are concerns that the South African Government is allowing the attacks so that the jobs and businesses that would be left behind by terrorized migrants (mostly legal and documented migrants) would help to it to reduce the unemployment figures of the country.

The attacks in South Africa are beginning to spawn retaliatory attacks in the countries’ whose nationals are being killed in South Africa, notably Nigeria.

Global Amnesty Watch condemns the senseless attacks on Nigerians and citizens of other countries resident in South Africa. The attacks are barbaric and stand against the spirit of Africa integration that generations of visionary continental leaders have been pursuing as exemplified in an organization like the African Union (AU).

To the extent that the South African government allowed the attacks to go on for so long without taking appreciable steps to stop them, we urge the International Criminal Court (ICC) to hold President Cyril Ramaphosa vicariously liable for the failure of his country’s security agencies to rise up to their responsibility of protecting nationals of other countries who are in South Africa.

GAW calls on the AU and the United Nations to weigh in on the situation by imposing targeted sanctions on the specific persons that have responsibility for preventing the horrific events of this nature from happening but failed to prevent them. All African countries are by the same token advised to sever all relations with South Africa until it demonstrates stronger commitment to rein in the murderous population of its nationals. This should include a continent-wide boycott of South African product and services until the country, its government and nationals become responsible.

The Government of Nigeria must immediately begin implementing long term measures towards a large-scale relocation of Nigerian businesses in South Africa to Nigeria since historical records show that these xenophobic attacks have worsened in frequency and intensity. The projection is that the situation will only grow worse over the coming years as South African grapples with their government’s bad choices and the laziness that has prevented them from thriving under the same conditions that migrants became prosperous.

We sympathize with the families that have been bereaved, lost businesses or forced to flee their homes because of the attacks. We encourage such families and victims of the attacks to step forward to document their experiences, which would form the bases of the petition to be sent to the ICC.

By Okanga Agila


A lot has been said about the exploits of the Nigerian Army in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria. While some have questioned its operational effectiveness, some have also praised it to high heavens. In my opinion, those that have had reasons to question the operational efficiency of the Nigerian Army did so on reasons best known to them. Also, those that have praised the operational effectiveness of the Nigerian Army did so based on what it is they have seen by making a comparison with what it was in times past and what it is now.

I belong to that school of thought that is full of praises for the Nigerian Army not just in the fight against terrorism in North-East Nigeria, but for how it has been able to handle its military operations simultaneously across the country. In the North and the East, South, and West, the presence of the Nigerian Army is felt.

This brings to the issue of leadership and the critical role it has played in the fight against terrorism and other militant groups in Nigeria. According to one of the celebrated war strategist of all time and author of the book ‘Art of War’ Sun Tzu, “the general who advances without coveting fame and retreats without fearing disgrace, whose only thought is to protect his country and do good service for his sovereign, is the jewel of the kingdom.”

This is one attribute of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai that I have in numerous forays tried to bring to the front burner for Nigerians to indeed understand and appreciate the sacrifices that have gone into winning the war against terrorism and other militant groups in Nigeria. He is indeed the jewel of the kingdom because if the territorial integrity of Nigeria is questioned, then there would be no country.

For me, no matter what anyone thinks, there has been a substantial difference in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria since 2015. This much was corroborated in many quarters and also coupled with the fact that no Nigerian territory is under the control of Boko Haram terrorist anymore. How was this possible you might want to ask? It’s simply leadership. We must admit the role of sound leadership in all human endeavours. And the operations of the Nigerian Army are not an exception to the impact or effect of good leadership in its operational outcomes.

Just like Sun Tzu, stated, ‘the general who advances without coveting fame and retreats without fearing disgrace, whose only thought is to protect his country and do good service for his sovereign, is the jewel of the kingdom’ and this is the case of Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai if you ask me. He has been bold to admit and strategize at the same time. He is not one that would only churn out commands. He is involved most times in the execution of these commands as evident in the numerous instances where you can’t but find him in the trenches, either reviewing with his commanders or feasting with his soldiers in an attempt to provide that psychological boost that they require to keep the fire burning.

I recall on one of the occasions of an event where Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai spoke extensively about his vision and mission for the Nigerian Army. He was concise in his words and also sincere in its delivery. I recall that three years down the line, he has been able to match his words with action. The promises he made has been religiously fulfilled to the extent that I wondered how he was able to do some of the things he does. However, again, I am reminded by Sun Tzu that ‘thus we may know that there are five essentials for victory: (1) He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight. (2) He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces. (3) He will win whose Army is animated by the same spirit throughout all its ranks. (4) He will win who, prepared himself, waits to take the enemy unprepared. (5) He will win who has the military capacity and is not interfered with by the sovereign.” All of these have been systematically incorporated in the operations of the Nigerian Army I must add, and the number three quote says it all about how Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai has been able to turn a once disillusioned Nigerian Army notorious for making retreats instead of advancing in the fight against Boko Haram terrorist to a robust and strategic Nigerian Army that has indeed taken the battle to the Boko Haram terrorist.

This is because the same zeal and commitment exhibited by the Chief of Army Staff are the same displayed across the ranks in the Nigerian Army which has ultimately translated to what is now recorded as the successes of the Nigerian Army in the fight against terrorism and other militant groups in Nigeria.

We must admit that since 2015, the successes recorded by the Nigerian Army has conformed with the promise made by the Chief of Army Staff that never again would the territorial integrity of Nigeria be threatened. The question is, has he kept this promise to Nigeria? The answer is yes. This is on the heels that since the present administration came on board in 2015 and the subsequent appointment of the service chiefs, Nigerians have indeed had a reason to sleep well, especially those of us resident in the federal capital territory, who were once under constant attack from Boko Haram terrorist.

It is instructive to state that since 2015, the federal capital territory has not experienced any Boko Haram threat. This is no mean feat; it just tells of how the Chief of Army Staff has been able to match words with actions and how he has been able to carry all along in the quest to keep Nigeria safe and secured. This, in my opinion, is explained by a quote by Sun Tzu, wherein he stated that ‘regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you into the deepest valleys; look upon them as your beloved sons, and they will stand by you even unto death.’

This has been one of the strategies employed by the Chief of Army Staff, and it has yielded tremendous success as regards the war against terrorism in Nigeria. Also, it is instructive to add that Boko Haram terrorist has not been able to spread their tentacles to other parts of Nigeria; instead their remnants have been confined to the fringes of the Lake Chad Basin region.

I think at this point and with the way and manner Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai has carried on since 2015, military historians in Nigeria are duty-bound to document his exploits to serve as reference material in the future. For me, the summation of Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai’s leadership of the Nigerian Army is that of a promise kept and still counting.


Okanga, a traditional warrior wrote this piece from Agila, Benue State.

By Comrade Oladimeji Odeyemi.


It may not have undergone the processes of research, but the maxim that a country's military is next to her economy is a verifiable fact that needs no research-based evidence, at least in Nigeria.

Across the globe, countries pay significant attention to their military as the last line of defence for survival and peaceful existence. As they say, safety first before anything.

For the Chief of Army Staff of the Nigerian Army, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai, a secured Nigeria from the West to East, South and the North is what he apparently sleeps, eat and walk. What a fixated burden!

As Nigeria's number one soldier, General Buratai takes singular fulfillment in ensuring that his officers and men, especially those in the frontline of war have an unfettered commitment to the cause they are fighting for the country.

Without any prejudice, human beings are naturally forgetful especially when the pains and cries of yesterday are gone. That is why those of us with a mark of recap must not hesitate to compare and contrast. A flashback to the periods between year 2013 to 2015 and how the country was on the brinks with Boko Haram insurgents claiming territories and establishing caliphates is one that should not be left out in the general analysis of war against terror in Nigeria.

A review of that period of Armageddon which lasted till 2015 indicated that the Military commanders then, didn’t understand what they were confronted with, and that gave the Boko Haram fighters the impetus to unleash terror in unimaginable quantum.

From a culture of stealing Military funds, stealing funds meant for procurement of arms and equipment , from a ragtag army with no logistics back-up. General Tukur Buratai simply put himself in the place of his soldiers, feeling their pain as his pain, knowing their needs as his needs — He wasn't the boss who stayed to far from his troops, he lived among them.

However, left and right, one can see the futile laborious efforts of some ignorant and unpatriotic people aiming to diminish the laudable impacts of the counter-terrorism operations under the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, through the commanding heights and ingenuity of Lieutenant General Buratai, a military leader, strategist and tactician.



Of course, one may pardon their ignorance and partisan views, but it will be criminal to let the misinformation pass without addressing them. It is, however, cheering to know that many Nigerians, especially those whose the professionalism and patriotism of the Nigerian Army has positively rubbed on, would have nothing to say about the leadership of General Buratai, but Gracias!



When General Tukur Buratai was appointed the COAS in July 2015 by President Buhari, he promised to make a difference in the counter-terrorism operations; he vowed to defeat Boko Haram insurgents, reclaim all seized territories and free Nigerians held hostage by terrorists. He gave Nigerians timelines to execute his assignment and has religiously complied with it. Today, we sit here to savour a greater freedom from these demonic forces who were gradually making inroads to the nation’s capital city, Abuja, before being cut to size by General Buratai and his gallant soldiers.



Although he is gentle officer, General Buratai has been brutal on Boko Haram and bandits, and in the history of the Nigerian Army , he is a man with many ‘firsts' . It was under his leadership that the Nigerian Army gets it own prestigious University.



In addition to the establishment of this University , the Nigerian Army under General Buratai’ s command do not take for granted the training and re-training of its personnel.



They have expanded their in-theater training for troops in the frontlines to afford them the required capabilities to operate and conduct effective operations. Special attention was also given to providing local and foreign training opportunities for all cadre of officers and soldiers.



The nations' territorial integrity, particularly along our land borders has not been breached unlike what was obtainable before now . The Nigerian Army continually maintained a posture to defend Nigeria’s territorial rights and Interests.



General Buratai understands the power of unity and that is why he maintained a robust security relations with the neighboring countries of Benin, Cameroon, Chad and Niger Republic in the fight against the ISWA which is terrorising all the aforementioned countries. Together they have achieved tremendous success of decimation of the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist group.





General Buratai’s core values that emanated from professionalism and responsiveness included training, regimentation, welfare, operational exigencies, logistics, inter-agency cooperation and observance of human rights.



On human rights, the Nigerian Army under Buratai, has experience a marked departure from its past rocky relationship with human rights bodies, but now engage them as partners rather than rivals in the internal security operations of the Country . The Army leadership has been able to close the gap with the civil populace, human rights agencies and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).



Also lauded by Nigerians are the Nigerian Army open dialogue with human rights and legal bodies like the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Amnesty International (AI), International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and Human Rights Writers Association (HURIWA).







At some point in the life of the current Army leadership, General Buratai’s vision at improving the institution’s image led to the establishment of Human Rights Desk under the Department of Civil/Military Affairs (CMA) , the desk was instituted to investigate all cases of human rights violations involving the army.



The leadership of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Tukur Yusufu Buratai, also received ovations from Nigerians when it reabsorbed some dismissed soldiers and officers accused of acts of cowardice amongst others by a previous court-martial.





The Nigerian Army under General Buratai is witnessing a lot of reorganization and redeployment in a bid to improve their overall operational responsiveness and professionalism. The Chief of Army Staff regularly approved the redeployment of field and operational commanders in order to inject new ideas in the command and control structure in various operations across the country.



The provision of adequate healthcare to personnel and their families has continued to remain one of General Buratai’s priorities. Many officers, soldiers and their family members have benefited in the Nigerian Army Medical Evacuation both within and outside the Country.



General Buratai Enhanced innovation and partnerships in the defence industry have also encouraged and supported all officers and soldiers who have innovative ideas and competencies.

It has also resumed full collaboration with the Defence Industries Coorporation (DICON) for needed parts and small arms and ammunition.



Similarly, the Nigerian Army is partnering with several companies in Nigeria including Innoson Motors, Proforce Limited and Nigeria Machine Tools, among others, towards the production of light and heavy armoured vehicles, critical equipment as well as protective clothing for the troops.

These collaborations have led to the development of the TYB Rover, Infantry Patrol Vehicle (IPV) and the Bionbion Helicopter, among several other equipment.



The Army also engaged some foreign technical companies and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) to help in the repair and refurbishing of some of the heavier and more delicate platforms.

A number of new developments that have taken place includes : The establishment of the Nigerian Army Women Corps (NAWC) to develop female officers and soldiers that can be employed in all operational engagements of the Army.



It is equally worth of note, the establishment of the first ever Cyber Command. The Command which has been effectively tackling the fake news against the Army, the country and secure the cyber domain from hostile elements.





While not pushing a picture of perfection because every human being have their ups and downs, it is, however, established that the Army Chief, within a short period of time has been able to galvanized and lead a relatively discouraged and unmotivated soldiers that he inherited to a veritable team of patriotic officers who are now willing to put all they have in defence of the county and her territory.

Clearly, the genuine intentions of Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai and his unalloyed commitment in the war against terrorism in Nigeria, has reignited a true Nigerian spirit. For this, all and sundry must doff their hats for him and all the gallant troops fighting day and night to keep Nigeria secure. But as they say, the reward for hardwork is more work.



This article was contributed by Comrade Oladimeji Odeyemi, a security analyst and a counter terrorist expert. He is the Convener of the Coalition of Civil Society Groups against Terrorism in Nigeria.

Understanding Nigerian Army Super Camp Strategy

By Anthony Kolawole

I have always admired the operational strategy of the Nigerian Army in the war against Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist in North East Nigeria despite the criticism it has received in some quarters in recent times. In my opinion, the bulk of the criticisms were not grounded in facts, but on assumptions and illogical conclusions.

If one flashes back to the periods between 2013 to 2015 and how the country was on the brinks with Boko Haram insurgents claiming territories and establishing caliphates, we would understand how effective the counter-insurgency operations have been post 2015. However, again, this is understandable because we are in a country where everybody is an expert even on issues they are ignorant about.

That no territory in Nigeria is under the control of Boko Haram terrorists is no mean feat for those of us that under the dynamics involved in warfare. Not to talk of asymmetric warfare. Some of us that are schooled in the art of war as propounded by Sun Tzu, the great Chinese war veteran would readily understand and appreciate the efforts of the Nigerian Army in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria since 2015.

As a start, Guerrilla warfare as described by Sun Tzu in ‘The Art of War’ is characterized by repeated surprise attacks and efforts to limit movement of enemy troops. This is very instructive because the Boko Haram war in North-East Nigeria is such that epitomizes what Sun Tzu describes as sabotage, ambushes, and surprise raids on unsuspecting military targets, often fighting in their homeland and the use of their familiarity with the local landscape and terrain to their advantage.

This was what has been the case since 2009, when the Boko Haram violent campaign started in Nigeria. But ironically, the military commanders then didn’t understand what they were confronted with, and as such the Boko Haram fighters gained advantage and unleased terror in unimaginable quantum. So much so that we feared that Armageddon had befallen Nigeria. However, all of these has changed with the new realization by the military authorities on the dynamics involved in the war and the subsequent deployment of what I would call a Super Camp strategy in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria.

I am fascinated by the super camp strategy concept because it in itself gives the Nigerian Army a psychological advantage, and this advantage has yielded the much-needed results in the war against terrorism in Nigeria. For emphasis sake, the Nigerian Army Super Camp Strategy involves two critical components. One is taking the fight to the enemies in their domains as against what was obtainable in the past where troops would wait for Boko Haram terrorist to bring the battle to them. The second component involves a routine introduction of counter-insurgency strategies that always takes the Boko Haram fighters unawares. This is legendary.

This much has been the focal footprints of the Nigerian Army, and little wonder why they have been able to record tremendous success in the war against terrorism in Nigeria. A good example can be found in the recent success recorded by the Nigerian Army on routine patrol along Monguno-Mairari-Gajiram axis in the North-East Nigeria, where heavy casualties were inflicted on Boko Haram terrorist and scores of weapons and ammunition recovered.

We must learn to call a spade a spade in Nigeria regarding the war against terrorism. We must admit that a lot has changed since the advent of the present administration and with the current service chiefs that have indeed led by example. I also beg to add that special recognition goes to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai under whose leadership the Nigerian Army has been able to make tremendous progress. For those that still have a reason to doubt the effectiveness of the operational strategies of the Nigerian Army, they are probably out for mischief or are sponsored elements contracted to cry wolf where non exist.

Back to the crux of this piece, which is the Super Camp Strategy. This is a unique one that should be commended by every discerning mind. This is especially so because the threat hitherto posed by Boko Haram terrorist has been effectively contained so much so that what is now left is clearance operations as what is being experienced in recent times. This much was confirmed by Colonel Sagir Musa, the acting director of Army Public Relations wherein he stated that Boko Haram terrorists and other radicals have suffered heavy casualties as troops of the Nigerian Army continue to dominate the theatre of war, causing remnants of Boko Haram terrorists devastating consequences.

I could not agree less with him because as one conversant with the happenings in the theatre of operations in North-East Nigeria I say in unequivocal terms that the activities of the Nigerian Army have been such a huge success. So I can’t but give credit to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai whose leadership strides has impacted positively on the troops in the theatre of war in North-East Nigeria. This is also with the fact that we have witnessed situations where Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai has been seen in the trenches with his troops in the battlefront and providing that psychological boost as well.

This, in my opinion, speaks of Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai as a war strategist that deploys Intelligence, Credibility, Humaneness, Courage, and Discipline in leading the war against terrorism in Nigeria. According to Sun Tzu, if leaders are to succeed, their competence must permeate every aspect of their work. Their technical proficiency must also conform to or exceed expectations. Sun Tzu also stated that leaders must demonstrate respect for those with whom they interact. This applies to subordinates, peers, and competitors, leaders must project decisiveness and courage in the face of challenges. Also, to prepare their forces for all tactical contingencies that may arise in the field of battle.

I must indeed confess that Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai has displayed an unalloyed commitment in the war against terrorism in Nigeria. The above-listed attributes are indeed a demonstration of the true Nigerian spirit. And we must in this instance doff our hats for him and all the gallant troops fighting day and night to keep Nigeria free from the clutches of Boko Haram terrorists.

Kolawole PhD, a University teacher wrote this article from Keffi.

*God has put Nigeria's enemies to shame, declares Cleric at 40- Inter- Faith prayers for Nigeria*

The National Inter-Faith and Religious Organisation for Peace (NIFROP) says the enemies of Nigeria's peaceful co-existence, unity and tranquillity have been put to shame by its prayers and supplication.

The inter-religious faith group is currently undergoing an intensive 40-day fasting and prayer at the Unity Fountain for the country's deliverance from the spirit of disunity.

In an address by its National President, Bishop Sunday Garuba, on Monday, the group reckoned it seemed as though these adversaries were succeeding with the spate of terrorism, banditry, kidnappings, robberies, ethnic strife and other negative occurrences.

They admitted that the blood of those unjustly killed by people that seek personal profits from all manners of evil cried for vengeance and almost ruined the nation.

However, with the timely intervention of the Inter-Faith group, there's hope for Nigeria, a promise of renewal and rebirth.

According to Bishop Garuba, “God has placed an army of host permanently on standby to frustrate their plans and bring their evil expectations to nought.”

The cleric added that peace is returning to Nigeria, noting that the killer herdsmen are now being exposed, political backers are no longer a mystery while bandits have opened up about what was at the root of the death campaign.

The Inter-Faith group therefore called on Nigerians not to wary or faint, sustaining the same momentum as the county is on the right path to greatness.

Read full statement below

May the peace of God abide with us all at all times. We want to start by thanking brethren that have kept the faith since we began this 40-days of intercession, fasting and prayers to deliver our dear country, Nigeria, from the spirit of disunity.

The period preceding this programme was one of heightened tension, uncertainty, fear and apprehension that our God given country was on the path to falling off the cliff. They were dark days in need of the light that only God can shine on dismal situations. The despondency that blanketed the nation was understandable as most of us feared that the spate of terrorism, banditry, kidnappings, robberies, ethnic strife, increasing incidents of suicides and other negative occurrences meant that the enemies of Nigeria were succeeding.

We thank God that as believers we did not become fixated on our own abilities and wisdom but that we rather resort to God our creator by way of the 40-Days of fasting and prayer centred here at Unity Square in Abuja while brethren were encouraged to intercede on behalf of the country from whatever part of the world they may be. We made that commitment to stand in the space on behalf of Nigeria while pleading for mercy for the things that might have been done wrong in the country in the past and for peace and prosperity to return to the land of our fathers.

In the course of our intercession, we have been led in the spirit to realize that there are yokes to be broken for the captives to be set free. We therefore pleaded for God to break these yokes. We broke the bondage that the country has been put into by the inordinate ambition of men who tainted the land with the blood of the innocent, the blood that cry for vengeance because they were unjustly killed by people that seek personal profits from all manners of evil. We have destroyed the shackles and fetters put on the nation by those that had no qualms handing the country over to the devil in exchange for selfish gains.

Even for those that had consistently prophesied doom into the future of our nation we received a new message from the Most High. As we waited on God we were given the prophecy of hope, a message of renewal and a promise of rebirth. We are now confident that in whatever form the evil ones rise against the country the God has placed an army of host permanently on standby to frustrate their plans and bring their evil expectations to nought. They shall plot evil for the country and have it manifest only in their own lives. Our dear country will only grow from strength to strength and from glory to glory.

Brethren, within days of starting the fasting and prayer programme, we began to see manifestation of the power of God as we experience the signs and wonder that point to the fact that we are beginning to overcome the demon of division amongst us. It all started with one incident after the other that expose those behind the confusion, violence and deaths in the land. Incidents that once appeared spontaneous suddenly begin to appear in different light that clearly exposed the persons behind them.

Peace is returning to Nigeria. The killer herdsmen are now being exposed to be herders of evil from all ethnic configurations across the country, who have no animal to pasture but are rather intent on exploiting that identity to conceal their evil enterprise. The political backers of such criminals have also been exposed such that we now know that some of them are sponsored purely to cause a sense of insecurity. Even the Ohaneze Ndigbo President has confessed that some of his members are committing crimes and alleging that others are involved.

The so called terrorists have also been exposed as the employees of certain interests that are bent on destroying the country. They have with their own mouth begin to recount how they are being sponsored to cause bloodbath to justify the false claims being made by these sponsors. These confessions have proven useful for the military to hunt down the ones that have refused to repent and embrace peace.

The bandits have opened up about what was at the root of the campaign of death they waged in the north-west of the country. Again, it is disheartening that their evil behaviour was directly tied to the actions and activities of certain people, who ordinarily should have been working for the improvement of the lives of the masses.

Our prayers and fasting have brought positive development in the fight against kidnapping. In the period since we began, the workings of kidnap gangs and their extensive network that span across the security agencies have been exposed and major arrests made. We are now assured that even more networks that operate in the dark will soon be burnt as the light of God burns brighter to expose and destroy the evil in our land. We are seeing more results as more kingpins in the kidnappers’ food chain are being arrested as opposed to only apprehending low level operatives. Large caches of arms are also being retrieved from these criminals.

We have in the same period seen that God is not limited by space and distance because even the criminal financial networks that are used to finance some of these evils were busted in far away United States of America. The people who had been stealing from others to finance terrorists have been exposed and have now been arrested. We thank God that were never for once misled into envying their false lifestyles but that we rather waited on the Lord for all our needs.

Our thanks to God for these breakthrough in such a short space of time are limitless. We will now devote the days ahead to thanking God for the turn around going on in the country even as we pray that the Lord will perfect that which he has started. We are confident that more of those carrying out evil against Nigeria will be exposed until there shall be none of the them left to trouble the country. We also pray that the spirit of God should arrest any new plans being hatched to resume the commission of these evil acts.

Brethren, God has given us victory on the spiritual front; we must now as a people affirmatively take steps that will ensure that we win the battles against disunity on the human front. Those that precipitated these problems did so to cause division among us as citizens of a country, it is now up to us to work on uniting ourselves now that the enemies of the country have been put to shame. The demons of division and disunity have been banished from among us and we must do everything to make sure they do not return to torment the people of God.

We appeal to you brethren not to give up praying. We must in the same way not relent in praising and thanking God for what he has done, what he is doing and what he will do concerning the peace and prosperity of Nigeria.
It shall be well with us.

The Fall of Nnamdi Kanu, Season 4

By Abiodun Israel

When ex-Presidential aide, Reno Omokri said Nnamdi Kanu’s mouth will kill him not many Nigerians took him seriously. Omokri must have thought he was being predictive or prophetic but he never knew he was attempting to prevent a fractured pottery from falling; it did not matter. Even as at the time the ex-presidential aide made the glaring prediction, Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has proven to be a disaster that happened long ago. The only thing that would have prevented the disgrace he faces today was if his mother had miscarried at his conception. Short of that the IPOB leader was born destined to end in infamy.


Interestingly, Omokri is someone known for his pointless ripostes; he comments on issues that even a mentally limited person will be wise to keep quiet over. From all indications, he seems to know Kanu better than any other Nigerian, kindred spirit in the business of irresponsible loquaciousness. But it all ends there. The spin doctor is not in the business of sending young people to confront military Armored Personnel Carriers with crude weapons. That is suicide mission, the kind Kanu has committed to sending his people on in the recent years that he has been in the business of extorting his kinsmen with a fraudulent claim of working to restore the defunct Biafra republic.

Had Kanu remained in the United Kingdom and not returned to Nigeria in October of 2015, he might perhaps have retained the aura of a charismatic leader that once surrounded him. In between changing adult diapers for his charges as social care worker, Kanu would have been able to keep running the usual circuits, like the Igbo World Congress of September 2015 where he made his "we need guns and we need bullets" pitch, which he used to shaft gullible Igbos out of their money. He would have by now been able to offset the same London mortgage he was in a hurry to pay off.
But that is not the dramatic Kanu way. He possibly thought his rants were not being heard loud enough so he had to move closer home to be escorted straight into the slammer. Contrary to his earlier rants, he was arrested and kept in captivity and Nigeria did not burn. In fact, he had to regularly throw tantrums during court appearances for him to remain relevant in the news in a country where it became apparent that he was stale news. It was under such irrelevant condition that he morosely accepted to be let out on bail, by the same government he claimed not to recognize, to attend to his failing health – it turned out he never attended to his health because there were no indication that he sought psychiatric help after his release. His braggadocio ended with him abandoning his so called comrades in jail while he pranced about town receiving obeisance from misguided followers. Thus end the season one of how Nnamdi Kanu’s mouth will kill him.


Perhaps in a bid to create the impression that his rants about securing a Biafra republic for his deluded followers, Kanu violated every bit of his bail conditions and did so much damage to the Igbo cause between April and September 2017 before fleeing like the common criminal that he is. In that space of time he managed to antagonize other ethnic nationalities with his uncouth language to the point that quit notices were being issued to Igbos to leave parts of the country. In the referenced period, he managed to get more Igbo sons killed than anyone thought was possible – he sold them the dummy that they Biafra has been recognized by foreign interest to the point where he inspected a guard of honour mounted by comical looking IPOB members, which left one to query if mental illness can be contagious.
He bragged so much about possessing caches of firearms and even nuclear warheads, which took on some air of credibility given the fund raising he had done at the Igbo World Congress. We went on to then threaten that IPOB has the capacity to shut down the system such that there would be no general elections if his group did not get referendum. That declaration that there will be no election in Igboland and a growing belligerence with criminality on the part of his members brought down Operation Python Dance II, a training drill by the Nigerian Army, upon the south-east. The brainwashed IPOB members that attacked the troops taking part in the exercise in the false belief that it was the start of Biafra War 2 where shocked to discover that while Kanu had firearms stashed away in his father’s house he did not have enough to take on that single detachment of the army; they must have been supremely confounded that the whole money raised for him was not spent on weapons. (More surprise awaited them when they discovered that Kanu places the death of his family dog, Jack, was more painful than the human IPOB members that died in the confrontation with the military).


Kanu fled the military response to his organization’s provocations. He might have remained a hero had he continued to remain in hiding since there was a rising cult following of the Biafra leader who sacrificed himself in pursuit of a separatist agitation that failed before it was conceived. But the myth of a martyred IPOB leader dissipated with the realization that Kanu was somewhere in Ghana eating peppered ‘suya’ when his followers were still mourning the death of loved ones that he sent to their early graves. That sighting was treated as a conjecture for a long time until Kanu surfaced almost one year later at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem. There is something wrong on too many levels for a dead leader to surface to share in the joy of the living. Not everyone wants a living martyr.
It was the season during which he somehow managed to upgrade IPOB into a terrorist organization that was proscribed by government, effectively ruling out the prospect of the organization being able to drive the discourse about securing a better deal for Igbos in the modern day Nigeria. The curtain fell on season two of how Nnamdi Kanu’s mouth will kill him and how it has killed the Igbo nation.

Whoever scripted Season Three of how Nnamdi Kanu’s mouth will kill him should never be forgiven for the very fact that it covered a period that destroyed the Igbos’ political fortunes in the country. He emerged from hiding to galvanize the south-east against registering to vote. He declared a boycott of the 2019 polls and aggressively propagated that message only to lift the boycott a few days to the elections, and secretly at that such that his people are holding the sloppy end of the stick as things stand today. He projected his hallucination unto others and created the myth of Jibrin of Sudan, claiming that President Buhari has died and has been replaced by an impostor look-alike. His opposition challenger, Atku Abubakar became a Cameroonian in Kanu’s hallucination, which prompted some people to question why the authorities in the United Kingdom are yet to commit him to a care home.
Kanu ranted so much that it became difficult to keep track of the issues he talked about owing to the degenerative psychological breakdown he is suffering from. It became inevitable that the third season of his show was ending on a disastrous note as people learnt to focus on more important and developmental issues instead of being mired in barely intelligent expositions of the IPOB leader. The curtain fell on the third season with the world remembering Kanu as basket case.

The fourth season is unfolding and it has proven to be the disaster of the three previous seasons rolled into one for Kanu. His source of funding has been exposed as the extensive network of scammers and fraudsters that were indicted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the United States. Curiously, shortly before their indictment went public, Kanu had unleashed IPOB upon Igbo political leaders – a former Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu was the first to have a taste of what Kanu’s vision of Biafra was meant to be. The senior politician was beaten up in Nuremberg, Germany where he had gone to celebrate a festival that is sacred to the Igbos. The outrage that greeted this sacrilege did nothing to deter Kanu and IPOB to retrace their steps. He instead threatened to attack more Igbo leaders.

Unfortunately for Kanu, the Igbos are not helpless neither are their leaders unaware of what to do. Without any prompting from these leaders, many Igbo youth groups have requested for Kanu and those in the Diaspora that share his idea of vitriol and violence - laced engagement should be returned home for treatment. One can easily guess that the treatment they have in mind is some extended stay in Kuje Prison, especially since the IPOB leader is a fugitive from justice. For running his mouth to incite IPOB militants against Igbo leaders, which provoked the attack in Germany, something larger than a python is now chasing after Kanu. The entire Igbo nation is now angry that Kanu overstepped his bounds; they want his head for desecrating the highly revered Igbo tradition. This is Season Four still loading, let’s wait to see how lower this scoundrel will sink in this iteration before his mouth finally buries him as predicted by Reno Omokri.

Abiodun a public analyst wrote from University of Ibadan, Oyo State.

Nationwide arrest order on IMN excites citizens, as group urges police to move for IPOB members in Nigeria


The Citizens Action for Change (CAC) has described the police order for the arrest of Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) leaders across the country as a welcome development.

Recall that the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, had recently ordered the arrest of all identified leaders of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) and the dismantling of any terror infrastructure traced to the group.

IGP Adamu, had in a signal to the operatives dated August 30, 2019, said the force would not allow the Shi’ite members to violate the proscription of the IMN by the court.

He blamed the violent protest by the group on July 22 for the killing of the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operations, Federal Capital Territory Police Command, Umar Usman, and a youth corps member, Precious Owolabi.

Reacting to the development, CAC in a statement through its president, Ayokunle Bakare urged the relevant authorities to extend the same treatment to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its members, not only in Nigeria but also abroad.

Bakare spoke at a press conference held in Abuja on Tuesday.

The group also urged the Nigeria Police Force to ignore the propaganda from IMN and focus on the job of providing security for Nigerians.

His statement below.

We understand that this directive rides on the proscription of IMN as a terrorist organization having been so gazetted by the Federal Government as a logical follow-up to a court order.

The IGP’s directive is a welcome development considering the harrowing experience that members of this proscribed group have put Nigerians through, particularly in Abuja and other cities where its members have unleashed violent protests against the country under the guise of fighting for the release of its leader, Sheik Ibrahim el-Zakzaky. We cannot forget too soon how a Deputy Commissioner of Police, a journalist and other Nigerians lost their lives to the murderous activities of this group.

We are mindful of the recent revelation that IMN and its leader, el-Zakzaky, are running a campaign on behalf of the Islamic Republic of Iran to destroy Nigeria. Events since 2014 have continually validated this accusation, including the charade of el-Zakzaky seeking medical treatment abroad and his hurried return from India when he discovered that his Iranian handlers were in no position to help him jump bail.

We have seen the tepid response from IMN’s spokesman, Ibrahim Musa, which tried to make light of a severe situation by making claims to suggest that the IGP’s directive were motivated by sectarian partiality. This claim is irresponsible to say the list. It attempts to trivialize the grievous crimes that IMN has committed against Nigeria as a corporate, sovereign state.

A key point to be made is that when it is comes to securing the lives of Nigerians, sectarianism has no place. Citizens Action for Change (CAC) is apolitical and secular so IMN cannot impugn sectarian interest to our intervention. We are therefore not interested in the brand of worship adopted by IMN members because our focus is their persistent rejection of the Nigerian state and the acts of terror they have pursued in the course of trying to force others to accept their own views of religions.

We also want to place a disclaimer that IMN and Musa, its spokesperson, have no right raising the alarm that the government will use its “office to brutally kill, maim and imprison thousands of innocent Nigerians, simply because of their faith at such a difficult time being experienced by Nigerians.” It is the height of hypocrisy for an organization whose members do identify as Nigerians is worried about what will befall Nigerians when the police fully implement the IGP’s order. It is the best description of confusion for someone to worry about a people it does not recognize as having the right to exist because that is the IMN mindset. It is ridiculous that IMN made a poor attempt creating the impression that IMN members are being persecuted for their Shiite orientation when in reality there are many other Shiites who do not belong to the outlawed terrorist group and such people have demonstrated that there is nothing to fear on the part of those that do not belong to IMN’s terrorist network.

It is surprising that IMN is still deluded to think that Nigerians are not aware of the places where it has cells that are being activated to cause problems for Nigeria. Its spokesperson, Musa, thinks that incessant kidnappings, attacks by bandits and terror attacks in most parts of the North are the more pressing problems that Nigeria should address. We are waiting for when IMN will be bold enough to explain how it has been raising money through the aforementioned crimes. The thousands of youths it pours onto the streets of Abuja remain so jobless by day time but rob at night to make up for not engaging in productive work during the working hours.

The lie about attacks being ordered against their interests during the first Islamic month of Muharram represents a new level of irresponsibility. Are they suggesting that the rest of Nigerians should keep quiet while their country is destroyed under the guise of some miscreants celebrating Muharram? IMN members must do some introspection and ask themselves what happened when last year and the preceding year when attempted their disruptive march and citizens of various states and cities were forced to resort to self help to curtail IMN.

If the terrorist organization, which has now been proscribed, ventures a repeat of last year we are worried that they will meet stiffer resistance on the streets of our cities than they met the last time. At that point they will be grateful to be arrested by the police because they will face the full wrath of Nigerians.
Our candid words of advice for IMN and their leaders is that they will make more sense if they willingly submit themselves to the relevant authorities so that they can be tried for whatever crime they are complicit of.

Therefore, the only time IMN members should have the courage to gather in group is when congregate to jointly surrender the weapons in their custody and to give themselves up of for rehabilitation. If they think that the propaganda they have rolled out since the IGP first gave the directive will dissuaded Nigerians from asking that they be dealt with in accordance with the law then they should think again. Allowing them to get away with such brigandage means that the country will have to extend the same treatment to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its members, not only in Nigeria but also abroad.

We urge the Nigeria Police Force to ignore the propaganda from IMN and focus on the job of providing security for Nigerians. Anyone that runs foul of the law should be made to answer for it so the threat of continue to protest for the release of el-Zakzaky is not the one that a proscribed IMN can undertake.

There are indications that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission may approach a Federal Capital Territory High Court to obtain a remand order to further keep the Managing Director of Galaxy Transportation and Construction Services Ltd, Engr Babagana Abba Dalori. Dalori has been in the custody of the commission since April, over allegations of fraud amounting to over seven billion Naira, through a ponzi scheme.

The remand order, it was learnt, is to allow the commission deepen its ongoing investigations into how the businessman made away with the fund, allegedly belonging to over twenty thousand people, who entered into business with the suspect, but never got any refund on their investments.

A reliable source within the EFCC said, “We are going to obtain a court order to hold Dalori for some weeks more, pending the conclusion of investigation."

The source further said, “We have many cases against Dalori being handled by different teams. We cannot just arraign him immediately. We want to do a thorough job before taking him to court, even though he has been arraigned few days ago.”

The source also said the failure of the accused to cooperate with investigators have necessitated the move by the commission, even though some accounts linked to the suspect, had been frozen and his properties seized by the commission.

Recall that some groups, recently condemned the continued detention of Babagana Dalori by the EFCC. They insisted that it is illegal, for the EFCC to continue holding the Galaxy Construction boss in its custody without proper arraignment before a court.

Dalori has also severally denied running a ponzi scheme, tendering copies of licences of compliance with regulations in the operation of a mining business. Some of them are: Federal Ministry of Mining and Solid Minerals, National Inland Waterways Authority, Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, Nigeria Industrial Training Fund, Bureau of Public Procurement, National Pension Commission, Federal Inland Revenue Service and the EFCC Special Control Against Money Laundering (SCUML).

*Attack on Ekweremadu: Group vows to set up task force to identify IPOB members at Nigerian airports*

A group of concerned Nigerians, under the aegis of One United Nigeria Agenda, has warned members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the diaspora not to venture returning back to the country as a task force has been set up to screen them at various international airports.

The group gave this threat at a press conference by its President, Comrade Atumeyi Victor, in Abuja on Thursday to address IPOB's spate of attacks on Nigerians, particularly ex-Senate President Ike Ekweremadu.

According to the One United Nigeria, this has become paramount to curtail the excesses of the terrorist group who appear hell-bent on damaging the image of the country in the eyes of the international community.

Amongst other things, the proposed task force will nab those responsible for the attack on Ekweremmadu as soon as they set foot in Nigeria and hand them over to the Police.

The group added that there will be profiling, arrest, processing and handing over to relevant security agencies for prosecution irrespective of whether the IPOB member has carried out any attack or not.

In a bid to facilitate the capture of fugitive leader Nnamdi Kanu, the One United Nigeria group, therefore, announced modalities for crowdfunding a N100 million bounty.

Read full statement below:

Gentlemen of the press, we are here addressing this press conference today because our expectations were not met by the federal government of Nigeria following its tame response to the attack on the former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), in Nuremberg, Germany.

For a government that recognized IPOB as a terrorist group to the extent that it proscribed its activities across Nigeria, we had expected that all those that attacked Senator Ekweremadu would have been repatriated to Nigeria by now. Returning these criminals to Nigeria will allow for them to stand trial for their crime, which was motivated by their terrorist agenda. Attacking the senator was intended to scare political office holders in Nigeria from travelling abroad to pursue the interest of the country.

To show that we are right, the failure of the federal government to repatriate the IPOB terrorists gave them the confidence to announce reward for information about the travel plans of senior government officials of the country. They even boasted about how they will use such information to stage other attacks.

We note the ploy of making it appear as if IPOB members are only interested in attacking politicians of Igbo origin but we refuse to accept this cheap trick. Irrespective of their ethnic identifications, all senators of the Federal Republic are Nigerians, attacking anyone of them, even where the attack was carried out by his own kinsmen, is the same as attacking the National Assembly – the symbol of Nigeria’s democracy.

Gentlemen of the press, if it is madness that is inspired IPOB’s attack on senator Ekweremadu, it is now apparent that the madness has gone beyond the kind that is treatable because they have not dared to include the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on their hit list. The implication of this is that they will in the foreseeable future begin to launch attacks against the interests of Nigeria abroad and other Nigerians.

It is a dangerous situation that cannot be allowed to continue because of the grievous consequences that will follow. Not only would it not be allowed to continue, there should also be punishments for those that brought about it in the first place. The message must be sent out in unequivocal terms that even where the government becomes limited for diplomatic reasons Nigerians will rise up to defend their country against terrorists the same way they halted Boko Haram’s ascendancy.

We therefore use this opportunity to warn the IPOB members abroad not to contemplate visiting home. This warning is necessary because we have set up a task force with the mandate to compile a dossier of IPOB members to be used by another task force responsible for enforcement, with the mandate to arrest all those responsible for the attack on Ekweremmadu any day they set foot in Nigeria. We will of course hand over such criminals to the police after they must have been processed.

The relevant task force will also collate names of IPOB members that would be matched to photo identities for publication and display at all international airports and arrival ports in Nigeria. This is to ensure that those who take the citizens of Nigeria for granted never escape justice anytime they visit Nigeria. One United Nigeria Agenda will ensure that IPOB terrorists are treated like Boko Haram suspects since they have decided to internationalize their acts of terrorism and taking their irresponsible behaviour cross international borders.

This treatment shall be extended to any known members of the terrorist group resident abroad and travelling into Nigeria. The profiling, arrest, processing and handing over to the police for prosecution shall be irrespective of whether the IPOB member has carried out any attack or not. Being a member of the group is enough grounds to be treated as attempting to re-introduce IPOB into Nigeria after he terrorist organization has been purged out of the system.

Permit us to inform you that One United Nigeria Agenda is in the process of fine-tuning modalities for crowdfunding a N100 million bounty for any individual, group, soldier of fortune that can arrest and ship IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu back to Nigeria to answer the case he has before he court. Being a fugitive from justice, Kanu has been the chief instigator of violence against Nigerians by IPOB miscreants. We believe that cutting off the head of the serpent will kill the monster of IPOB’s terrorism.

We are also working on another fund to drive advocacy to the countries with the worst case of IPOB infestation with the objective of holding sensitization sessions in this countries to empower them with information how to tackle the IPOB problem. A local version of this advocacy is also in the works and will involve making contacts with the diplomatic missions of the affected countries.

Our belief is that this advocacy will help the world, particularly the affected countries, to now better understand and appreciate that the entire array of crimes that “Nigerians” are being blamed for are exclusively IPOB oriented. Crimes like drug-running, gun-running, human trafficking and fraud are being committed by IPOB members to raise funds for their group’s terrorist activities.

We believe it was divine providence that made IPOB to overstep its bounds because so many facts that were once hidden about the cause of the bad reputation that bedevilled Nigeria are now known to the world. That source is called IPOB. We have successfully dealt with its local component, which is why we will not allow any variant of the virus called IPOB to be reintroduced to the country by way of their members travelling into the country.

Biafra: Be wary of Kanu, IPOB terrorists - Diaspora Group urges Nigerians abroad

Nigerians living abroad have been asked to avoid Nnamdi Kanu and members of his outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.

Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group (NDMG), which gave the warning, said the activities of IPOB outside the shores of Nigeria needed concerted efforts by all critical stakeholders to protect the image of the country.

The group at a press conference held at the Enish Restaurant, Finchley, London on Wednesday, said the activities of IPOB are despicable and an affront to Nigerians all over the world.


The Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group recently convened an emergency general meeting of its executives in London United Kingdom to review the recent posturing of the members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)

The activities of IPOB are despicable and an affront to Nigerians all over the world to the way and manner the image of the country has been dragged in the mud before the eyes of the international community.


Angela Boroh, President of the group, who spoke on behalf of NDMG, called Kanu and his members to desist from acts that would tarnish the image of Nigeria in the interest of peace and tranquillity.

Her statement reads below.

The Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group is dismayed that a group of Nigerians masquerading under the umbrella of IPOB would denigrate so low as to constitute themselves into a nuisance outside the shores of Nigeria.

While this is condemnable, it must be stated that Nnamdi Kanu and his militant members of IPOB abroad have exhibited a high level of disrespect for the constituted authority in Nigeria with the recent attack of a high ranking member of the National Assembly in Germany. The latest threat to attack Nigerians living abroad and those traveling abroad from Nigeria is also another indication of the despicable attitude of Nnamdi Kanu and his co-travellers.

The Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group advise well-meaning Igbo Sons and Daughters in the Diaspora to distance themselves from Nnamdi Kanu and his terrorist group IPOB at the risk of been labelled terrorists. All well-meaning Igbo Sons and Daughters in the Diaspora must rise to this challenge and condemn the actions of IPOB that has brought shame to Nigeria our beloved country.

The Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group wishes to inform the world of its total and unflinching support for the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, under whose leadership of the country Nigeria has experienced tremendous growth and development.

The Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group identifies with the leadership style of President Muhammadu Buhari that been translating the hopes and aspirations of Nigerians into tangible realities in the past four years. This much can be seen in critical sectors of the Nigerian economy that were hitherto moribund as a result of leadership failure by previous administrations.

The Nigerians in Diaspora salutes the courage and commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari in his quest to take Nigeria to greater heights.

The war against corruption as instituted by the administration of President Muhummadu Buhari is highly commendable and an indication that Nigeria can be great again. The Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group believes that with if the present efforts at ridding Nigeria of corrupt practices are sustained, Nigeria would indeed move to the next level of sustainable growth and development.

The Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group is also aware that the various diplomatic shuttles by President Muhummadu Buhari has resulted in economic prosperity for Nigeria as a country and it is our considered opinion that more of those diplomatic shuttles are necessary for Nigeria to consolidate its position in the comity of nations in the world.

The war against terrorism and other militant groups in Nigeria is another area the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has performed creditably well. Consequently, the Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group applauds the various security agencies involved in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria.

The Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group wishes to call on all well-meaning stakeholders in the Nigerian project to extend their support to the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in this critical point of our existence.

The Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group also wishes to advise Nnamdi Kanu and his gang to desist from acts that would tarnish the image of Nigeria in the interest of peace and tranquillity.

The Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group also uses this medium to advise well-meaning Nigerians in the Diaspora to go about their normal business without fear from attacks by members of IPOB.

That Nnamdi Kanu and his members should act as a matter of urgency desist from any act that would cause economic or physical harm to any Nigerian in the Diaspora.

The Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group herby declares its absolute confidence in the unity of Nigeria and believes that no organization, despite the multiple evidence of funding from a terrorist network can cause the disintegration of Nigeria.

By Ali Bako

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."---George Orwell, famed English novelist and essayist, journalist and critic.

I devoted time to understand why Armed Forces Rememberance Days or Fallen Heroes Days are observed with frenzy globally. And it is done with much prayerful devotion or solemnity by individuals and Governments alike.

And after a painstaking research, I came to the inevitable conclusion that the Military anywhere in the world is the backbone of the survival, peaceful existence and security of any nation. Without the Military serving as counter-force, mightier nations would have been freely annexing "weaker" countries so mindlessly. Some pundits argue that outside the economy, the true might of any country resides with it's military.

An American, Claudia Pemberton fondly encapsulates the messianc relevance of his country's soldiers in this epigram; "America without her soldiers would be like God without His angels."


Historically, wars, conflicts, agressions and violence are innate and inseparable from human communities, whether as large as countries. Wherever people congregate in a defined geographical expression, it's predictable that unrestrained tampers even within groups, among communities and nations could be violently expressed anytime.

It's difficult to point at any nation of the world today, which has not experienced a civil strife or external invasion in her history. The task to repel the aggressors is exclusively Military.

Some of these conflicts are spurred to settle age-long grievances, where dialogue consistently fails; pull the strings of self-determination; racial supremacy or for some idiotic reasons such as Boko Haram's violent campaigns against Western-styled education and leadership in Nigeria.

But in all instances, it is the military that bears the final brunt for the weired actions of incensed men with the daunting task of restoring peace and security, what majority of humanity needs desperately at all times. So, the military is a priced asset anywhere.

Elmer Davis espouses this idea by echoing that "This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave."

It the reason nations of the world invest billions in fortifying it's military base from personnel general and specialised trainings to latest modern armaments. A nation's ownership of a certified, professional and patriotic Army is a signpost of it's proud existential heritage.

And I was scared in the years between 2011 to 2015, when Nigerian troops battling Boko Haram in the Northeast shirked before insurgents in the frontline; frequently celebrated mutiny in the battlefields, instead of matching them with superior valour; while others even resisted redeployment.

Tales of some Nigerian soldiers' connivance with the enemies to sabotage the anti-terrorism war resonated trenchantly and assailed the ears to my utmost amazement.

It informed me with lucid clarity that there was a problem with the Nigerian Army or soldiers of my beloved country. Such manifestations portrayed unpretentiously that Nigerian Army was peopled by unprofessional, unpatriotic, disloyal and disgruntled soldiers. No nation could have been proud of such an Army in any guise.

But behold! In July 2015, the good Lord sent a rescuer and reformer to the Nigerian Army. President Muhammadu Buhari appointed a professionally cracked soldier, an experienced warmonger, an astute Military administrator and epitome of excellence, Lt. Gen. TY Buratai as Nigeria's Chief of Army Staff (COAS). He was also crowned as the ombudsman of counter-insurgency operations in the country.

I really felt the burden imposed on Gen. Buratai in the service of his fatherland. Unknown to me, the Army General was thrown into a familiar turf and terrain, as he would later exceedingly disprove my doubts about his military persona.

The COAS mounted his leadership seat with two agenda. First, it was clear to him, the inevitability of regaining the pride of the Nigerian Army by reforming and repositioning it into a professional, patriotic, responsive and responsible Army for the performance of it's assigned constitutional roles.

Secondly, Gen. Buratai knew that after the in-house cleansing of the Army, the mandate of winning Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria was an assignment which could not be procrastinated a day longer. And it was possible with a professional, patriotic and trustworthy soldiers as his trustees on this special national service.

Like the conviction of Rwandan President Paul Kagame who proclaimed that; "We make progress not to be credited for it. We do not make progress for ourselves;" Gen. Buratai launched enduring reforms and innovations in the Nigerian Army as first agenda.

And throughout his tour of Army formations, Gen. Buratai had one central message he transmitted to all Army Commanders at lower rungs and personnel wherever he stepped his foot. He reminded them that he is aware of their subsisting problems such as neglect of welfare, poor equipment base and the urgent need for terrorism combat refresher trainings. It excited soldiers tremendously because some soldiers had already felt the impact of his nascent leadership even before his visit to their formations.

Gen. Buratai assured Army personnel of his leadership as absolutely submissive to their professional yearnings and Military discipline; but however, very intolerant of cretins in the system.

So, he departed every Army Formation with the words of American diplomatic guru and war veteran, Gen. Collin Powell thus;

"The day the soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you stopped leading them. They have either lost confidence that you can help them or concluded that you do not care. Either case is a failure of leadership."

Thereafter, Gen. Buratai and troops moved to the war theatre. And the tide and the gory narratives changed in the counter-insurgency war in the Northeast.

Nigerian troops in the frontline experienced for the first time, their boss, now Gen. Buratai laced his boots and hopped into the jungle, forests, and caves with them to confront Boko Haram terrorists in Northeast.

Troops were further impressed that at critical moments of battle with insurgents, when strategies seem exhausted, they turned and saw their boss, Gen. Buratai barking strategic directives in the heat of battle, with a gun clinched within his fists. It was a great morale booster to troops.

And in each of such encounters and numerous others, Nigerian troops coasted to victory against insurgents. I know this was the foundation of what Nigerians today, truthfully celebrate as decimation and defeat of terrorism.

I wept for my dear country Nigeria, in 2016, the day, I watched the video footage of Gen. Buratai and Nigerian troops, ferociously battle out insurgents in Gwoza, the headquarters of their "Islamic caliphate," illegally declared and occupied within Nigerian sovereignty for years.

Shortly after the fierce exchange of gunfire, with terrorists and scores sent to their waterloo; while a few others escaped, the same Nigerian Army squad came back to Gwoza, now, the cleared center of torture and extra-judicial executions of Nigerians by terrorists.

So, I said to myself, this feat was even possible with Nigerian Army, yet, we were allowed to go through these years of traumatic experiences of agonies, killings and displacements?

I still vividly recollect, what my COAS staff told natives of Gwoza, who milled around, like bees on honey, when they shortly after spotted Buratai and troops.

"By the Grace of Almighy Allah, we worship and serve in truth; nobody will seize your land, occupy it, take you into slavery on the land your forebears bequeathed to you;" Gen. Buratai addressed jubilant natives, as they hog soldiers in ecstasy.

To this moment, insurgents have neither been able to recapture Gwoza, despite their desperate struggles nor any of the other 17 LGAs Buratai reclaimed from terrorists occupation in the Northeast.

Nigerians experienced this new and refreshing reality because in Gen. Buratai's reformation preachments, he reminded troops of the power in the words of George S. Patton (Jr) that;

" ...It is a proud privilege to be a soldier – a good soldier … (with) discipline, self-respect, pride in his unit and his country, a high sense of duty and obligation to comrades and to his superiors, and a self confidence born of demonstrated ability."

And it has also not escaped my attention that Nigerian troops have not severed themselves from these lofty teachings of patroitism and endearing leadership of Gen. Buratai. It does not foreclose the chances of the few unpatriotic elements and sabs in the system, who are applying every satanic measure to discolor the counter-insurgency operations and insurrections in Nigeria to reverse the gains on the counter-terrorism campaigns.

But to the majority of our patriotic solders and troops in the frontline, I will leave them with the words of

Adlai Stevenson II, to ponder;

"Patriotism is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotions, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime." And definitely, there is reward for everything, my cherished soldiers.

Thumps up, Gen. Buratai and our gallant soldiers for efficiently serving as the melting point of Nigerian Armed Forces in the campaign against terrorism. Let not your spirit wane, even for a second, until the final blast of the whistle of victory for the total freedom of our country over insurgency!

Bako a retired police officer wrote from Idah, Kogi State.