As I write this little précis, I remember vividly the horrendous and dastardly events of Tuesday 7th August 2018 when hooded men of the DSS and some policemen barricaded the entrances of the National Assembly and openly prevented our legislators’ access to their offices.

This brazen act remains condemnable by all well meaning Nigerians, it is on this ground that I also join millions of Nigerians to Commend the dispatch with which the Ag. President Yemi Osinbajo treated the incident by promptly sacking the DG of the DSS, Lawal Daura. This act by VP Osinbajo not only helped to save the image of the country from the show of shame perpetrated by security operatives but also proved that our security commanders are not above the laws of the land.

The promptness of the sack notwithstanding, I am personally perturbed by the subterfuge currently being made by the Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris, to present himself as the holy man who is investigating the recalcitrant Daura whereas, in reality, IGP Idris has been and is still a key player in the systematic assault of our nascent Democracy. Suddenly, the IGP is leaking investigation reports to the press, trying to absolve himself from the activities of that day.

But Nigerians are not fools Mr IG, they know you are more horrible than Daura of the DSS. I will therefore like to use this medium to remind Nigerians of five instances where our holy IGP subverted the cause of democracy in a similar or even more horrendous manner.

The first instance was on the 24th of July, when police men under the directives of our holy IGP laid siege on the residences of the Senate President and the Deputy President of the Senate ostensibly to prevent the duo from attending the legislative sitting of that day. Uptill today our holy IGP has not denied his role in the acts of that day, but we know better

Secondly is the refusal by the IGP to honor invitations by the Senate on flimsy grounds that he has taken the issue to court. This excuse is one of the greatest affronts on the constitutional powers of the legislative arm to invite key officials of government to clarify infractions involving their agencies. Despite repeated reminders and widespread calls by Nigerians on IGP Idris to honor the summons, our holy IGP refused to honor the summons sent to him on three different instances; 24th April, 2nd of May and 9th of May 2018 respectively.At least as bad as Daura is, he never runs away from senate invitations.

Thirdly is the show of shame in Benue state wherein police officers working under the orders of the IGP provided unholy security to eight lawmakers who served a notice of impeachment to Governor Ortom while preventing twenty two other lawmakers loyal to the governor from gaining access to the Benue state House of Assembly. The development forced the majority of the lawmakers who were twenty two in number to have to hold their seating at the Benue state government House for fear of police brutality.

Fourthly the protest on 2nd July in Borno state by gun wielding aggrieved policemen over nonpayment of their allowances for seven months in a row by the IGP, and the recent withdrawal of mobile policemen from Benue state despite the ongoing crisis in the state remains enough reasons for a sane IGP to honourably resign his apppointment; and

Finally the fact that policemen were also vividly active and indeed involved in concert with the DSS during the 7th August siege on the national assembly, simply rubbishes the the claims by our unholy IGP to the effect that he was unaware of the events of that day.

I would have loved to go on and on, but all followers of events in our dear country can vividly recall several instances where our randy IGP acted in utter disregard to our laws. Today we are discussing the indiscretion of Daura of the DSS, but the solution to our problems lies in the present administration doing a critical appraisal of the credentials of the nations’ security dons with a view to identify enemies within. When this is done, it will become clear WHY OUR RANDY IGP CANNOT CLAIM HOLINESS, as he will be one of the first casualties.


B B.BASHIR


(copied)

Frank Eze, you are on point. We need to hear more truths like this. These men, once they resume office, they turn to tyrants. They should be checked, this is a democracy and not a zoo where one man rules all.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, announced that Nigeria’s Democracy Day would now be celebrated on June 12, off from the previous date of May 29. He also conferred the late Chief MKO Abiola with honour of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR), the nation’s highest honours.

The President who personally signed a press statement to this effect, also tweeted that the decision followed due consultations.

“Dear Nigerians, I am delighted to announce that, after due consultations, the Federal Govt has decided that henceforth, June 12 will be celebrated as Democracy Day.
We have also decided to award posthumously the highest Honour in the land, GCFR, to the late Chief MKO Abiola.

“Chief Abiola’s running mate, Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe, is also to be awarded a GCON.

“Furthermore, the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN, tireless fighter for human rights & democracy, & for the actualization of the June 12, 1993 elections, will be posthumously awarded a GCON.” Buhari tweeted.

Excerpts from the press statement signed by Buhari recounts that “for the past 18 years, Nigerians have been celebrating May 29 as Democracy Day. That was the date when for the seocnd time in our history, an elected civilian administration took over from a military government. The first time this happened was on October 21, 1979.

“But in the view of Nigerians, as shared by this Administration, June 12, 1993, was far more symbolic of Democracy in the Nigerian context than May 29 or even the October 1,” the statement read.

According to the statement, the commemoration of the new date and investiture of the various honours will take place on June 12, 2018, “a date which in future years will replace May 29 as a National Public Holiday in celebration of Nigeria Democracy Day.”

https:///2sBO5h7

Don't be an enemy of progress, just the train.

MetroBaba1:
The Next 15months Will Speak For Itself

Mtchew... Magu! Magu!! Magu!!! This your name will soon become a dictionary word synonymous with the fight you claim to be fighting. Now recovered loots cannot be reconciled between you and madam Kemi. Is EFCC now a bank or what? Will you recover and not remit? I think that is called Re-looting or better still "Aloota Continua".

The next news we are going to hear is that the Eagle flew away with the money in your possession. You are in charge of the anti-corruption fight, Please kindly defend the position Madam Kemi is taking. Obviously, she has her own records and it doesn't reflex the balance you claim is in your possession.

Let me help you with the arithmetics, what happened to over N648 Billion in your possession. We need to know.

There is this news that you are planning to become the president of Nigeria, come 2019. You are storing away Nigerian funds to serve your personal goals or ambition. You remember what recently happened MMM big guy? Issorait.

They might as well hand over the country to Dangote. Other business men no dey?

Nigeria has filed a claim against JP Morgan Chase for more than $875 million, accusing it of negligence in transferring funds from a disputed 2011 oilfield deal to a company controlled by the country’s former oil minister.

A spokeswoman for JP Morgan dismissed the accusation on Thursday, saying the firm “considers the allegations made in the claim to be unsubstantiated and without merit”.

The suit filed in British courts relates to a purchase of the offshore OPL 245 oilfield in Nigeria by oil majors Royal Dutch Shell and Eni in 2011.

At the core of the case is a $1.3 billion payment from Shell and Eni to secure the block that the lawsuit says was deposited into a Nigerian government escrow account managed by JP Morgan.

The lawsuit said JP Morgan then received a request from finance ministry workers to transfer more than $800 million of the funds to accounts controlled by the previous operator of the block, Malabu Oil and Gas, itself controlled by former oil minister Dan Etete.

According to Reuters news agency, the lawsuit said that JP Morgan then transferred the funds to two accounts controlled by Etete, without sufficient due diligence to make sure the money did not leave accounts controlled by the Nigerian government.

Reuters was unable to reach either Etete or Malabu for comment.

Source:https://www.vigil360.com.ng/economy/31-top-stories/6123-nigeria-sues-jp-morgan,-demand-$875-mln-over-malabu-oilfield-deal.html

With that kind of package on your chest? No be today sha!

IdokoJimmy what is the authenticity of this report? If it is true, then there is trouble. Buhari, please help your people nah? What is this? We have never seen this type of Government before o! Comment on this development nah? This is just unacceptable. How can a man who is placed in the position to fight corruption turn into a 21st century Hitler?

The recent disclosure by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that an alleged sum of N2,922,236,310 was paid to 54 senators during David Mark’s tenure as Senate President may have all to do with Ibrahim Magu’s lingering non-confirmation than any fight against corruption, Vigi360 investigations reveal.

Reports leaked to the media by the anti-graft agency claimed 5 of the 54 senators are still in the Senate, including a principal officer believed to be the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, but Vigil360 gathered from a serving senator and former governor that the number of serving senators who benefitted from the payment are far higher than the 5 claimed in media reports.

It was revealed that Magu is deliberately using his EFCC to target the said 5 senators who he believes are the core of the opposition to his confirmation as the acting Chairman of the Agency.

The payments made early in 2015, became an ace for Magu in the unending imbroglio engendered by the rejection of his nomination by the Senate, after the acting Chairman was reportedly made aware of moves by the Senate to make a final push for the Presidency to forward a new nominee for Chairman of the commission.

The resumption of investigation into the alleged payments had aroused suspicion of witch-hunt targeted at some senators, after the EFCC picked up David Mark as the arrowhead of the alleged beneficiaries. Mark, since the current 8th Senate, has been largely withdrawn and reserved in activities at the Red Chamber but the EFCC had no option but to arrest him as its blackmail against the anti-Magu force in the Senate threatened to unravel.

The anti-graft agency arrested the former senate president on December 14 over the alleged fraudulent payments during his tenure, which operatives of the agency claimed was a misappropriation of funds meant for projects at the National Assembly.

Mark had few days after his release slammed the agency’s allegations as “spurious, contrived and baseless.” He also accused the agency of chasing shadows.

And while the agency may indeed be chasing shadows, its acting Chairman is actually chasing his confirmation.

Vigil360 was reliably informed that Magu is uncomfortable over feelers from the Villa that the Presidency may have concluded on forwarding a new nominee to the Senate for confirmation. The decision is believed to be a tradeoff for the speedy consideration and passage of the 2018 budget as well as confirmation of pending nominations into various board appointments.

The Senate, it will be recalled, had suspended further consideration of nominations from the Presidency, following the latter’s failure to heed its request that a new nominee be forwarded after it rejected Magu’s nomination on the second time of asking.

Magu’s fate is also not helped by the disposition of the All Progressive Congress (APC) leadership in the Senate which considers itself critical to the party’s 2019 prospects and is against his nomination.

Unfortunately, the N2.9b blackmail has been dismissed by sources at the centre of the allegations as another of Magu’s media grandstanding and triumphalism and will in no way alter his already “decided fate.”

SOURCE: https://www.vigil360.com.ng/exclusive-report/5843-n2-9b-%E2%80%98illegal%E2%80%99-payment-why-magu-is-after-the-senate.html
@Lala

How Magu Is Punishing EFCC Staff Who Blew Whistle Against The Leadership Of The Commission

Emerging reports indicate that the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu is ridiculing the recently introduced whistle blower policy of the Federal Government, with the suspension of some EFCC staff who had written a petition to President Muhammadu Buhari detailing prevailing corrupt practices in the Commission.


Vigil360 recently gathered that Magu had authorized the suspension of some EFCC Staff on December 29, 2015 via EFCC/PF/(personal file number of staff), after it was established that they wrote an SOS to President Muhammadu Buhari titled "Requesting for the rejuvenating and overhauling of the EFCC." Their suspension came barely a month after he was appointed the Acting Chairman of the Commission.


The petition according to a credible source in the Commission detailed the corrupt practices that prevailed under the leadership of the past Chairmen of the Commission.


Apart from the SOS, the aggrieved staff also wrote other petitions to the President including “The hidden corrupt chameleon in EFCC published on 8th June”; “Why the appointment of the next EFCC chairman must not be sentiment based" and “Last minute corruption and looting by EFCC leadership of Mr Ibrahim Lamorde.”


Irked by the development, the source said Magu ordered their suspension claiming that their action contravened sections of the EFCC Act. Currently, he is secretly accusing them of conspiring with the Department of State Services (DSS) by giving them information about his illegal activities. He said the information handed over to the DSS may have informed the damning report forwarded to the Senate prior to his appearance for confirmation. Magu according to him is blaming them for his non-confirmation.


Meanwhile, when Vigil360 spoke to one of the affected staff, he lamented that with the adoption of the Whistle Blower policy, Magu should have allowed them to return to work without further delay or stringent conditions. He disclosed that instead, the Commission in a letter dated November 15, 2017 gave them stern conditions for resumption.


One of the conditions according to him was that the staff must refrain from disclosing any operation or activities of the Acting Chairman to the President, the Attorney General of the Federation or any other government agency or high ranking government official. He added that while some of the staff have reportedly written undertaking and resumed, few others have refused to write such undertaking describing it as illegal. They maintained that since Magu has nothing against them, they must be allowed to resume without any obnoxious condition.


It was also gathered that majority of the staff in the Commission are aggrieved over the nonpayment of their statutory allowances by the Acting Chairman. Some of the staff who pleaded for anonymity said the leakage of the identity of a prospective successor rattled Magu and since then he has been behaving like a retiring masquerade.


Another source claimed that Magu is currently appropriating all available resources to himself, since his days are now numbered. Meanwhile, the aggrieved staff has blamed the recent escape of some detainees in EFCC detention centre Lagos on the poor welfare situation. He said the suspect handlers negotiated a fee with the suspects to facilitate their escape. He warned that more of such incidents as well as leakage of sensitive information may continue to happen in the coming days.


https://www.vigil360.com.ng/politics/21-top-news/5806-how-magu-is-punishing-efcc-staff-who-blew-whistle-against-the-leadership-of-the-commission.html

Oboy you be His Royal Baldness. I been think say I bald.

A young upcoming media on-air personality Eniola Lawal adopted the strategy of keeping mute on an evolving allegation that she toned her skin. This was raised by an aproko Nigeria twitter user @KingsleyMandu. Please, what is this twitter girl's business? Even if she was an albino, what is her business? Judge this matter, please.

Uncle, Wetin happen? You suppose dey Sudan from Niger sef. In short, Queen dey wait for you o!

Otom is not doing it because he is a different Tiv man. He is only trying to pave way for his re-election. For the record, the Idomas have produced eminent people like Justice Ogebe who served as a supreme court Judge as well as Ikongbe-a one time Federal Court of Appeal Judge amongst many others. It should be a shame that favouritism still persist to the extent that the appointment of a state chief judge from a certain tribe is turning a national celebration.

nawtyme:
Even in the same state we promote tribalism. Yet we complain when treated poorly by other nationalities black or white.
Does it mean that for 41 years there has been no idoma man qualified for the job or they were not qualified because of their tribe?
We are our own problems.
That is how someone who gained admission into a federal government college with a common entrance score of 13 will gain employment and be the boss over people who were admitted into the same school with a cut off mark of 131 simply because he is from a particular tribe.

The Senate Committee mandated to investigate the sacked Chairman of Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, Alhaji Abdulrasheed Maina has accused the Economic and Financial Crime Commission of sharing the over 222 recovered houses among officials of the Commission. The Chairman of the Federal Establishment Committee, Sen. Emmanuel Paulker made the disclosure under order 42 and 43 of the Senate rule during Thursday's plenary.
He said the Committee discovered that the EFCC recovered over 222 houses including hotels from Maina but lamented that the houses were shared among officials of the commission.

He added that since the mandate of the Committee was limited, it could not investigate further to identify who got what, where and under what circumstances.
According to him;

“Mr President, Distinguished colleagues, you could recall that the committee investigating former Presidential Task-force on Pensions Reforms, Abdulrasheed Maina was barely a month now.”

“We met a very complex situation because we realized that over 222 houses including hotels have been recovered by EFCC and ICPC and shared, but we lack the mandate to investigate that aspect. I wish that we should be given time,” he added."

Source:https://www.vigil360.com.ng/politics/21-top-news/4530-how-efcc-shared-222-houses-recovered-from-maina-senate.html

Former Director General of the Department of State Services, DSS, Ita Ekpenyong has reacted to his failed arrest by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), over alleged involvement in arm purchase for the Nigerian Military. An Unnamed source close to the former DGSS told Vanguard that the attempt to arrest Ita was strange, despicable and an afterthought since Ekpenyong was never invited or questioned in relation to the arms probe.

He explained that the former DG of the DSS has no business buying military equipment for the Military since they have their laid down procedures and policies.

According to him, two years after the Presidential Panel on the Arms Probe was inaugurated by President Buhari, no mention was made of the involvement of the DSS so it was strange when the EFCC came from nowhere to arrest the innocent man. He noted that since he has handed over to Mallam Lawal Daura, if the EFCC needs clarification on any matter that is within its jurisdiction, it should request such information from the current DGSS. Where the current DGSS cannot answer then he can be invited to make such clarification.

“EFCC had never before now invited or questioned the former DG on any criminal breach, only for its operatives to barge into his home, with a view to arresting him as a common criminal. Ekpenyong had made it clear that the DSS under his watch had no role whatsoever to play in the arms purchase since it was not within its remit to acquire arms for the military.

The DSS played no role at all in the arms purchase and that is the truth. The DG served this country faithfully and transparently and since leaving office in 2015, nobody has had any reason to accuse him of taking anything that does not belong to him. As a tradition, the DSS makes returns to the Presidency on March 1 every year on its operations and nothing done by the agency can, therefore, be hidden from the government.

Even assuming that there are issues with DSS management, which the EFCC needed to investigate, the current DSS DG is there to answer to such matters without storming Ekpeyong,s home with guns in the wee hours of the day. The equipment that were procured to secure this country during his tenure are there with their papers and the vendors are known. So, nothing is hidden.

It is apparent that the EFCC is either actuated by ulterior motives to intimidate and blackmail the DSS through orchestrated media trial or simply trying to dent the image of the Service and its personnel for reasons best known to them."

https://www.vigil360.com.ng/health/26-top-news/4522-ita-ekpenyong-speaks-on-his-failed-arrest-by-efcc.html

Justice Tukur Aliyu of the Kaduna State High Court has fixed December 15, 2017 to hear the suit filed by the embattled former Chairman of the Presidential Pension Reform Task Team, Mr Abdulrasheed Maina to stop the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from arresting or prosecuting him over alleged corruption.

Maina had through his lawyer, Muhammad Sani Katu, filed the suit at the court to challenge the power of the EFCC to declare him wanted or seize his properties in Kaduna and Abuja over allegations of corruption leveled against him by the anti-graft agency.
In another suit he filed at the Federal High Court also in Kaduna against the EFCC, Attorney General of the Federation, the Senate president and Speaker House of Representatives, Maina challenged the legality of the EFCC to declare him wanted on the grounds that the commission lacks powers to exercise such function.

But the EFCC in a counter affidavit opposing the motion sought the relief of the court for an adjournment to enable them study the issues raised by the respondent and reply accordingly.

The commission said it was only discharging its duties as provided in Sections 6, 7, 8, 13 and 41 of the EFCC Act 2004, which empower it to investigate all cases of economic and financial crimes reported to it for possible prosecution where a prima facie case is established.

After listening to both parties, Justice Aliyu adjourned the case to December 15.

SOURCE:https://www.vigil360.com.ng/politics/21-top-news/4448-maina-files-suit-to-stop-efcc-from-arresting-him.html

A clearly misleading Twitter handle on the bio page of Babatunde Fashola, Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Works and Housing, has remained undetected for nearly 10 months checks by Vigil360 has revealed.

The handle @FMPWHng, appears on the bio page of Fashola officially verified Twitter handle, @tundefashola.

The bio reads:

Honourable Minister of @FMPWHng;

Former Lagos State Governor.

Tweets from the Honourable Minister are signed -BRF.

However, a check on the handle shows it belongs to an Indonesian freelance model, Siva Aprilia Real, who includes UK-based soft-porn magazine, FHM, in her bio.

The model also runs her trade at Jakarta’s Smooth Club & KTV where she is billed for a ladies party this Friday which promises free Smirnoff Vodka for 4 ladies.

The handle ostensibly sought to reflect the official Twitter account of Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, @FMPWH.

The embarrassment is quite unlikely of the former Lagos Governor reputed to have deployed millions of naira in developing social media and ICT structures in his years as governor.

The embarrassment is worse on desktop view, with the avatar of the cleavage-baring model appearing just besides that of Fashola with a baby lifted on to his right arm

The Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing also referenced the embarrassing handle in a tweet on February 18 while reporting Fashola’s tour of South-South highway projects.

“Hon Minister @TundeFashola and @FMPWHng's whistle-tour of South-South Highway Projects. #FasholaSSTour,” the tweet read.



⚡ Hon Minister @TundeFashola and @FMPWHng's whistle-tour of South-South Highway Projects. #FasholaSSTour https:///tREyribmbi

— Fed Ministry of PWH (@FMPWH) February 19, 2017


Fashola also retweeted his Ministry’s error.

Although social media stunts of this nature are routinely pulled to attract traffic to a user, it is inexplicable why Fashola’s official twitter handlers may resort to such stunts with a handle that has only124 followers when the Minister has 677,000 followers which is even higher than the model’s 598,000 followers on Instagram.

SOURCE: https://www.vigil360.com.ng/nationwide/4167-nigeria-power-minister%E2%80%99s-twitter-bio-links-to-indonesian-soft-porn-model.html

White House Releases Official Donald Trump And Mike Pence Portrait – Who Do You Think Looks Presidential?

These photos released by The White House, Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, are the official portraits of President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence
The White House today, 31st October, 2017 released the official portraits of President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence. The two are smiling in their photos, captured in front of an American flag, with Trump wearing a blue tie and Pence in a red one. White House photographers Shealah Craighead and Myles Cullen made the photos of Trump and Pence, respectively.

The photos are traditionally hung in government buildings across the United States and in U.S. embassies world-wide. The release comes more than nine months after the pair was sworn-in, during which time the spaces were occupied by empty picture frames.
Who do you think looks presidential?

Source: https://www.vigil360.com.ng/global-news/15-us-canada-news/3911-white-house-releases-official-donald-trump-and-mike-pence-portrait-%E2%80%93-who-do-you-think-looks-presidential.html

The Maina reinstatement saga is the latest episode in this series of anti-corruption drama characterized by rivalry and competition. All of a sudden the man the EFCC claimed to have declared wanted is perambulating the streets of Abuja freely. He called into last Thursday edition of the Berekete programme. The crusty fellow spoke with Ahmed Isah on live radio with so much grit, yet EFCC with all its melodrama has not arrested him. Who is deceiving Nigerians? The EFCC?
Without sounding immodest, the anti-corruption war has suffered credibility crisis lately. The EFCC especially has been accused of using media trial to blackmail political opponents. Also, despite all its rigmarole in the media the anti-graft agency is yet to successfully prosecute any high profile suspect in the court of law. There is no gainsaying that the Ibrahim Magu-led EFCC has mastered the art of propaganda which it carefully uses to cover it's obvious failures.

Many questions have continued to beg for answers. First, Maina was declared wanted by the EFCC in 2015, yet the man has been moving freely all over Abuja and the world. Second, why would EFCC seal-off some property of Maina while the man in question was somewhere in Abuja speaking with Ordinary Ahmed? Third, the so called N152 million paid into Maina’s account by the DSS was done in 2013 while President Goodluck Jonathan was the President – a case of Magu rubbishing another government agency it considers his competition. Fourth, while Magu is dancing “skelewu” with Mainagate, campaign posters of the former Penson boss have been seen on the streets of Borno, Kaduna and Bauchi States.

In my opinion there is more to what EFCC has reported so far on Abdulrasheed Maina. I believe it is another case of interagency rivalry. This is the reason Nigerians have lost confidence in the Magu-led EFCC which has become another tool of witch-hunt. It is important therefore for the President to urgently address the issue. This frequent case of in-fighting may soon plunge the nation into a major crisis that could consume all of us.

Solomon Adaeve writes in from Illorin, Kwara State.

Source: https://www.vigil360.com.ng/politics/21-top-news/3806-maina-the-case-of-two-fighting-solomon-adaeve.html

This girl is older than 17 o! The things she does, God have mercy.

The Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose is currently declaring his presidential ambition in Abuja on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The event has in attendance the former deputy Governor of Osun state, Oyinlola Omisore, the former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode and Hon. Ladi Adebutu among others.

The declaration is coming after the leadership of the party queried the Governor over an attempt to undermine the party's decision to zone the presidential position to the North.

Governor Fayose challenges Northern PDP presidential hopefuls to declare their intentions as the party has no place for "Package Politicians".

https://www.vigil360.com.ng/politics/20-featured/3107-gov-ayodele-fayose-declares-presidential-ambition.html

Hmm... I believe history will not forgive Nnamdi Kanu with his dual citizenship. The struggle for Biafra did not start today young man, even at the time I believe certain lessons were learnt by Ikemba and the future, designed for Ndigbo. I know its implementation has been slow or even hijacked by our greedy politician brothers, we can take it back through dialogue and not the proposed Kanu's strategy. I am entitled to my opinion but our children need a secure and restructured future and not one of emptiness. Kanu, the result you will get is not what we want. "WAR" is evil, and countries that have gone down that route are yet to come out of its devastation. Please leave us alone.... Nnamdi Kanu!

PiQi:
Up until May 30, 1967, there was nothing like Biafra, either as a nation, geographical territory, struggle or political movement as some will now like to refer to it. Ab initio what is now commonly known as Biafra encompass mainly all the south-east states including parts of present-day Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Benue States.
Many, as I personally do, align with the school of thought that Biafra was a child of circumstance that eventually became a child of necessity. Events leading up to the 1966 coup d’état, the counter-coup, subsequent chaos and lawlessness that followed, including the pogrom on persons of Igbo extraction in Northern Nigeria, led then, by Lt. Col. Odumegwu Ojukwu, Governor of the Eastern region, to declare Biafra’s independence on May, 30 1967. That was the final straw which led to the birth of the idea.

However, Odumegwu Ojukwu as an ardent believer in peace and the Nigeria project did not just call Nigeria a zoo of caged baboons. Despite all that was happening to his people and the suffering they endured, he took part in talks aimed at bringing an end to the hostilities. He encouraged his men to sign the Aburi accord, convened to find an amicable solution to the impending conflict. He never lost faith in a peaceful resolution of the crisis even after Nigerian government reneged on the earlier agreement.

He towed the path of peace to the latter even in the face of unprovoked attacks against his people. He sought to make truce and persevered in the face of unbridled hostilities against the Igbos.

Odumegwu Ojukwu was a peaceful man, committed to his people and very influential in many circles across political, religious and ethnic divide. He had panache, a hater of injustice, a great orator with the fluency of an actor according to a declassified American Embassy Cable from 1968.

He showed a hint of subtle remorseful expression on the civil war which he described as a culmination of actions and reactions years after the war ended, he had such great self-awareness.

Odumegwu Ojukwu was a hero, gentleman, intelligent, ambitious, a committed democrat, a firm believer in the Nigeria project. When Odumegwu Ojukwu returned to Nigeria to a hero’s welcome in 1982 after he was granted state pardon by the civilian government of Shehu Shagari. Odumegwu Ojukwu quickly and fully integrated into the Nigerian State despite spending 12 years on exile in Cote d’ivoire.

He joined the ruling party at the centre, the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), to the disappointment of many who had hoped or wanted him to join the party that was in power at the state level, the Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP).

Since then, the call for the creation of the Republic of Biafra by several actors has historically been strident and recurrent since 1967. Needless to say, the clamour for the actualisation of the struggle has been sustained only by the shenanigans of scoundrels such as Ralph Uwazuike and the fraudulent Nnamdi Kanu who are all not worthy to untie the latchet of Ojukwu’s shoes.

To say the least, the concept Odumegwu Ojukwu had of the struggle has been distorted, misrepresented, twisted and capitalised on by the insidious characters seeking to ride on the shoulders of the Ikemba to deceive and hoodwink innocent unsuspecting youth in their quest for prominence and cheap fame and popularity.

Astoundingly, the delusional grandeur of Nnamdi Kanu to arrogate to himself the messianic toga of liberating the Igbos and seek self determination for them, calling for a referendum is at variance with the dictates and beliefs of Ojukwu, the progenitor of the struggle. Kanu has made a caricature of the struggle, the Igbos have him to blame if the dream of Odumegwu Ojukwu for a peaceful, just and equitable Nigeria where all Igbos will achieve their God given potential is not actualised.

When Kanu spoke, he used uncouth utterances that were de-humanising, disrespectful and disregarding to other people’s existence, and he desecrated the core tenets of his much acclaimed Judaism beliefs where the quest for peace and the praise for peace appear to be an obsession.

Nevertheless, Nnamdi Kanu had taken the wrong path; he made himself a king without a kingdom, ahead of a gullible and docile lot. He listened to no one, particularly the elders of the land, as he beguiled and hoodwinked many youths on his inglorious expedition for selfish and pecuniary reasons. His brand of Struggle is a hoax and remains a mere mirage.

It’s time for the Igbo under the leadership of Ndigbo Ohaneze to quit playing the ostrich and call Kanu to order. I watched a recent video where he mentioned that he was going to Abuja with about 2 million of his supporters for his court case on September 17, 2017. He informed his supporters to burn down Nigeria to the ground the day they learn he was arrested.

I know that by putting Odumegwu Ojukwu and Kanu in one sentence is doing great dishonour to the legacy of the great Ikemba. There is no basis for comparison, one is in the mould of nobles, and the other is not fit to be a serf in Ojukwu’s serfdom.

Odumegwu Ojukwu was an intellectually sound, charismatic, refined gentleman, an accomplished businessman, a dedicated family man, comes from a well-known and influential family, that we all have come to know him personally or read about him, Odumegwu Ojukwu we know but who is Nnamdi Kanu?


Benjamin Tor wrote from Gboko, Benue State.



https://vigil360.com.ng/exclusive-report/3026-nnamdi-kanu-and-the-caricature-of-ojukwu.html

Recent events in my beloved South East have vindicated me. Earlier on, I embarked on a self-imposed assignment to rediscover youths that have been brainwashed by the divisive and deceitful rhetoric of Nnamdi Kanu. I carried out the assignment by publishing articles to reawaken their consciousness and open their minds to the futility of Nnamdi Kanu's struggle. I also attempted to reveal the real purpose of his campaign.
Although I received several mails appreciating my efforts, some misguided youths suspected to be members of the BSS and the so called National Guard sent me several threat messages. Today, "how art the so called mighty fallen". They have all ran into hiding as predicted by President Buhari in his last national broadcast. Let me commend the South East leaders for facilitating the gradual withdrawal of troops from Abia.

Meanwhile, I came across a facebook post by Kelechi Mbianozie who is a Global Affairs Strategist written from Greater New York City Area. I therefore align with his thoughts and sentiments, so I decided to share:

Nnamdi Kanu, the acclaimed leader of IPOB was not supposed to be in any hiding, never. The fact that he is not operating openly now tells you all something, he is on the wrong side of this agitation again. The struggle for self-determination even if possible, transcends beyond an individual. Kanu was advised to rally around the traditional and political leaders of the South. As an Igbo man, I was taught honor, respect, love, self-giving, and honesty by my parents and the community where I grew up. You cannot bring a fight inside the house, if you do, such a person is considered a fool. When Kanu was released, he enjoyed the encomiums of the majority of Nigerians who saw the Federal Governments lawless detention as evil and unconstitutional because he never committed any crime to be locked up for 2 yrs.

He was hosted by Senators and Governors, his father's house became a Mecca of sought, he enjoyed the people's patronage. Not until the butterfly started thinking himself a bird, the self-aggrandizement overwhelmed him so much that he declared: "there would not be any election in Anambra" and his reasons? Because Kanu said so. He brought the battle into his home. He started receiving Genuflection as a tiny god he approved himself of, and even Senator Abaribe who was among the people that signed his bail surety couldn't speak reason into his skull, he spoke to him, Eastern Governors and some traditional rulers spoke to him, he was too pompous to apply wisdom, humility, and honor, but he wants others to accord him the same. Now, all those people who would have stood behind him are doubtful of his intentions, so they stayed clear of him. Now, that they have started chasing him, where will he run into? "Lack of wisdom"

Now, this is his SIN. The moment he commissioned the local army on record, posted it out on social media and spoke openly at a rally about the need to have the Biafra Secret Force, he failed from grace, he not only entered into the nest orchestrated by the Nigeria State, he ignited the article in the Constitution of Nigeria that prohibits anyone from organizing an army against the sovereignty, whether you like it or not, Nigeria is a sovereignty, Biafra is not and was never so it is not even a conquered territory. We reached out to Kanu, advised him to be cautious and apply wisdom, he never listened, he cursed everyone who disagreed with him, we are all "Efulefu". He cut off his communication channel with those who would have helped.

Instead of calling for the boycott of Anambra Election, even when you are not from Anambra, you could have channeled that energy to become a political force in the East, compel your followers to come out in masse and vote in the election and ensure that they elect a credible non-corrupt Governor and House Assemblies knowing that every power and politics is local, you would have scored a gigantic political WIN right there and the Federal Government will start taking you seriously. You ensure that the same thing in Anambra is replicated it in all the South Eastern and the South Southern States, unseat all these criminal Senators, House members, Governors and let us have our own devoted people represent us for once, NO, Nnamdi was so arrogant that he forgot his culture. Anambra of all places, the home of Azikiwe, where we have the timbers and calibers of the East, they saw his affront as an insult, just there alone, Kanu diminished his patronage among Eastern Elders who would have been his backbone. (Elders stays at watch as they send the young to battle).

In the course of my career, I have seen deaths, people who died in the face of war and the earth refused to bury them, their carcas decaying that even vultures were so full that they could not feed anymore. I have seen men, real men, rebels in the face of war, their skulls shattered, their bones and legs ripped off, some bled to their death, but among all, there is nothing like the sight of an amputated spirit, hahahahaaaa, there is no prosthetic for that.

Every single information coming out of his house was fake news propaganda that the UN did this or that was all LIE. We are here at the UN Headquarters and never a time has any issue about Biafra brought to bear in any open sessions, General Assembly, Security Council Consultations, never. But our gullible hardworking brothers whom he met at home never wanted to listen, they believed his lies. The agitation must be seen as non-violent as possible. The flagrant disregard of any advice was appalling. In the scheme of things, you need strategists, advisers, foreign policy analysts, intel ops and lots of professionals to sit down and drive a master plan, Kanu assumed all these responsibilities and was very bad at them. So far, you can see that he is not a strategist, knows very little about building coalitions within and outside Nigeria, I mean coalitions of friendly countries who can reason with the cause, on many occasions, he switched off his phone because he is a stubborn overlord, look at the carnage he has caused and where is he now? in hiding.

There wouldn't have been any need to hide. He should have been entering the Villa and House of Assembly, lobbying and strategizing, that's how wise men WIN. Remember, 'She stooped to Conquer' "

The facebook warriors who are good at calling people names on facebook and cannot have dialogue and reason together, over to you, let your name calling continue, how many people are dead now because of Kanus irresponsible stubbornness? And among all those deaths, none of his family members are involved, now the government of Nigeria has categorized IPOB as a terrorist organization, that's what you get when you start to organize an army, its going to be tougher for Easterners who are travelers. My advice, if you wish to travel outside Nigeria, clean up your social media platforms, you could be turned back at any point of entry because of what the Federal Govt just did.

Final words, all of you that are noise makers on social media, have you ever thought of something very covertly possible? That Nnamdi Kanu may have been paid off to quash the Biafra struggle once and for all? That all these charades were staged? hahahahahaaa, Why did he object against any good advice to go about this struggle perfectly and legitimately? He came back from the UK, was arrested by the Nigerian government that is more or like subservient to the British Lords, Ndi Igbo, wake up before the water reaches your necks.

If we fail to apply wisdom in settling our impasse, we will all perish as fools. I am not going to perish because I see things differently. I don't wish anyone death, can we now wear our thinking cap?? Now?? I mean Now?

Igbo na ekwu si "ijiji nti ike, na eso ozu ala nmuo", onye nwere nti, ya nuru.

Frankeze1967@gmail.com
Twitter: @realfrankeze
Source: https://www.vigil360.com.ng/exclusive-report/2892-lessons-from-nnamdi-kanu-s-drama-frank-eze.html
@lalasticlala

Some people are currently beating the drum of war in parts of Abia and Rivers States. Many young men are putting their lives on the line not realising that they are mere pawns on the hands of chess masters safely tucked away behind high fenced buildings in Lagos, Abuja and other foreign lands.

Many of them have their children studying at the various expensive private schools in the country or living abroad, while they encourage the children of the poor masses to take up arms to challenge the military. They have also insured that in the event of war, their children will be safely ferried away to foreign lands where they hold dual citizenship.

This reminds me of one of my favourite movies of the 90s, the war drama, ‘Saving Private Ryan,’ starring Tom Hanks and Matt Damon. In the movie, a group of U.S. soldiers go behind enemy lines to retrieve a paratrooper whose brothers have all been killed in action, living him as the last surviving son of his parents.

The movie which was set during the Invasion of Normandy in World War II, explored the impact of war on the family especially the men who are at the war front. I can relate with that situation as my father (may God rest his soul) was the only surviving male child of his parents as a result of the Biafran war. In his case, he was saved by his small stature as he was considered too small to carry a gun.

My father lost three of his brothers to the war and my grandmother never truly recovered from the shock. As a result, he was encouraged to marry at a very young age to propagate the family lineage being the only surviving son of his parents.

And although the birth of my brother and I, in quick succession brought immeasurable joy to my grandparents, the distant look in grandma’s gaze often betrayed her sadness.

However, she wasn’t the only one traumatised by the Biafran war, several other women in my village often recalled their experiences especially on rainy days when the rumbling sound of thunder brought back memories of explosion and gun fire. And until her death few years ago, we could never watch war movies in her presence, as it brought back memories of the war. Anybody who grew up in the villages can relate to this.

As a young man growing up in the post civil war era in the East, we heard different versions of what transpired during the war. One of such version is that the Biafran army was at the verge of victory when Ikemba Odimegwu Ojukwu went into exile. This they claimed demoralised the soldiers and made them to surrender.

This particular version created a love-hate feeling in me towards Ikemba: Love for his bravery to stand up and defend his people; and hate for him ‘running away.’ In my naivety, I had believed that if Ikemba had stayed behind, perhaps the Biafran war would have had a different outcome, and my uncles would not have died in vain.

Over the years, I have watched as different personalities tried to resurrect the dream of a Biafran State. In my view, the Biafra agitation has become to the East, what Sharia and resource control is to the North and the South-South; a tool for manipulating the poor masses and a rallying point for individuals who want to exploit our primordial sentiments for overnight fame and self enrichment.

Just few weeks ago, I was amazed to watch a video on the social media of young Igbo men, tearing their Nigerian passport as a sign of their rejection of the country and embracing the new version of Biafra being promoted by IPOB.

This brings me to Nnamdi Kanu, the present actor in the Biafran saga. Kanu is a dual citizen of Nigeria and Britain, and currently carries the passports of both countries. Few weeks ago it was reported that Kanu had bought a bigger house in London close to his former apartment.

That news gave me the impression of someone who’s either preparing to flee or expand his household.

During his detention by the Nigerian government, Kanu had reached out to the British government to push for his release. In a letter dated March 24, 2017, and addressed to the UK High Commissioner in Abuja, he reminded the British government that he is a full British citizen, and is therefore entitled to all Rights, Privileges and Protection, guaranteed under the British Laws and conventions.

This is rather ironic for a man who claims to be more Igbo than Chief Nnamdi Azikiwe, Ikemba Odimegwu Ojukwu and every other Igbo man who dared to challenge him.

A popular Port Harcourt based preacher has a by-line for his TV programme to the effect that “if a man has too many alternative, he may never succeed.” According to him, if you want to achieve a goal, you must be focused on one course of action.

The fact that Kanu holds a British citizenship and has demonstrated his readiness to exploit it when he is in trouble, makes me question his commitment to the course for which he is urging others to die for. If he can’t endure being locked up for the same course, what moral justification does he have to ask you die for it?

I want a Nigeria in which I am treated equal and not discriminated against simply because I am an Igbo man. I believe we the Igbos have not gotten a fair deal in the present arrangement. But if the Yorubas and other regions are calling for restructuring of the country, it also means they are not satisfied too. We must therefore align with the other regions in finding a political solution that works.

However, if Kanu wants me to take him seriously, he must start by renouncing his British citizenship. That way, I know that we are in this together.
Engr. Ikenna Amadi wrote in from Owerri, Imo State

Source: https://www.vigil360.com.ng/exclusive-report/2845-why-nnamdi-kanu-should-renounce-his-british-citizenship-engr-ikenna-amadi.html

lalasticlala

Peace is what we should all pray and advocate for. We are better together.

Ra88:
This is not about Biafra or Ibo people. It's about FREEDOM from the Hell called Nigeria, it's about FREEDOM from oppression.

My fellow Niger Deltans please wake up. This is 2017, make we kno let some illiterate aboki dey use our head.

We can't continue to be 10th class citizens in our supposed country. One Nigeria is fraud, its all because of oil.

Insiders from the Military High Command have revealed to Vigil360 why the Military hierarchy ordered the deployment of troops for the commencement of Exercise Python Dance II in the South East and parts of the South South, Nigeria.

A senior official at the Defence Headquarters, DHQ, who craved anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue disclosed exclusively to Vigil360 that the exercise was prompted by a highly sensitive and classified Intelligence report that members of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) have secretly imported arms and ammunitions and were awaiting delivery in order to commence range exercises (training) for the newly recruited Biafra Security Service (BSS).

The Official said "the intelligence report troubled all security chiefs hence the unanimous decision to move in to frustrate the delivery of the imported weapons and other plans by the group. The decision to include Cross River and River state in the operation was to frustrate possible use of waterways for the transportation of the weapons, and I want to tell you that the Nigerian Navy also made similar deployment in these areas.

When Vigil360 sought to know if the weapons intercepted recently in Lagos were meant for IPOB, he said, "I'm yet to get detailed information regarding the investigation."

The source fingered Turkey in IPOB agitation and posited that since some officials from Turkish diplomatic circles were being sympathetic to IPOB agitation, one could be safe to draw the inference more so that all weapons recently intercepted in the country reportedly emanated from the Turkey.

When asked the reason why Turkey could support such agitation, he said Vigil360 should go and ask Abdulkadir Erkahraman. He said Erkahraman, a Turkish Diplomat took to his Facebook page on Thursday to write unprintable things about President Buhari, claiming that the President was an idiot and would be killed by "Biafran Army soon."

The source maintained that the Turkey dimension opens a new vista to the ongoing investigation in its entirety as security agencies are not leaving any stone unturned.

According to him, "they are investigating the possibility of Turkey providing military training for IPOB members within or outside the country". He quoted the diplomat as saying “The Army of the Biafrans is coming and they will fight you. The Biafrans are saying they don’t want to fight, they want to negotiate but you are killing them," to validate his position.

When Vigil360 expressed reservation about the possibility of IPOB taking arms against the Federal Government, the source said even before IPOB became what it is today, Kanu had approached participants at the 2015 World Igbo Congress held in Los Angeles to request Ndigbo in Diaspora to provide arms and ammunition to enable his group pursue the Biafra struggle. He however said the group blatantly refused to accede to his demand.

On the way forward since the operation is generating reactions, the source said national security interest supersedes all other interest and stressed that the operation would achieve the purpose it was ordered before it will be called-off.

He hinted that the soldiers will soon commence stop and search operations in the area as there are unconfirmed reports that some militant groups in River state may have moved weapons to Abia for the group to use and enforce the election boycott in planned for the upcoming Anambra gubernatorial poll.

Meanwhile, the Southeast Governors not relenting in the effort to seek an amicable resolution to the situation having earlier drum their support for the deployment of troops in the region meant to check the rising incidence of kidnapping, army robbers, insecurity and the myriad of security challenges bedevilling the region.

Source: https://www.vigil360.com.ng/politics/21-top-news/2803-why-the-nigerian-army-deployed-soldiers-to-the-south-east.html#.Wbv_3svJPmY.twitter

Mynd44:
https://www.nairaland.com/4051179/nigerian-army-provides-contact-details

well done o!