₦airaland Forum

Onwubiko’s Dalliance with Shame

By Charles Ibekwe

When Christian clerics engage in acts deemed to be exploitative of their flock or they are found wanting in ways that do not conform to their calling, the response from their followers and sympathizers is usually to throw Psalms 105: 15 at perceived detractors. The verse is “Touch not my anointed ones, do my prophets no harm!” (ESV). It is a veritable blackmail that has made near impossible to hold anyone that goes by the title of “man of God” to account, even in face of glaring shortcomings.

Unlike the man of God who dined with King Jeroboam in 1 Kings 13 and got mauled by a lion, the clergy in Nigeria are getting away with worse. The prophet in 1 Kings 13 still performed his duty of speaking out against the excesses of King Jeroboam but contemporary clergy have become inured to the point of being incapable of self-correction neither do they possess the capacity to call erring colleagues, fellow clergymen, to order.
The fallen clerics are however attractive to the national coordinator of Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, self-styled comrade, Emmanuel Onwubiko, who made the wrong call of cursing God’s true prophet in the person of Pastor Williams F. Kumuyi, who is the General Overseer of the Deeper Life Bible Church. Pastor Kumuyi’s crime in the eyes of Onwubiko was that he dared advise Nigerians against attacking President Muhammadu Buhari.

Interestingly, Pastor Kumuyi does not need defending from Onwubiko or for those who sent him on a self-destructive errand. It is up to God to decide if an urchin should escape divine punishment for cursing his prophet, whose only crime is guiding Nigerians from sin consistent with the injunction in 1 Timothy 2:2 that enjoined us to pray for our leaders.

There are at least nine citations in the Bible that caution against curses and as many as ten that advise civil disposition towards and praying for leaders. So the wise counsel from Pastor Kumuyi, which appears aimed at saving some Nigerians from calling down divine curses upon themselves because of their bitterness against President Buhari, is not misplaced.

What is misplaced is Onwubiko’s sense of appropriateness, which leaves one worrying if the divine curse is not already visiting him. His outbursts in matters concerning President Buhari have become alarming to a point that he may soon be frothing at the mouth whenever the President’s name is mentioned. His loved ones would have to act fast to ensure matters do not get to the point where he would have to be committed. At this stage, therapy may still be useful for him.

Shortly before he launched his attack on the clergyman, he had made so much noise about the President attending the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Saudi Arabia. His grouse, like others uninformed persons that criticised the development, was that attending the OIC meeting was the same as Islamizing Nigeria.

This is stretching the imagination beyond what is tenable considering that the immediate past President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan attended the same meeting in his time when Onwubiko was possibly too deeply asleep to be aware that a Christian president had been Islamized. He had nothing against this same Jonathan practically allowing the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) run the country at the time, to an extent that he even went to cry at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, Israel.

The statement Onwubiko issued to insult the man of God exposed his troubled state of mind and removed all doubts about his penchant for double standards. He admitted as much that he is not just a wannabe religious fanatic but also an incurable bigot, who is apparently beyond redemption. He is shallow to the point where he wants the clergyman to abandon his calling to become adviser to Mr President on ethnic relations and security matters.

Still on his penchant for double standards, rather than situate his argument on whether the pastor erred in the application of the scripture he resorted to quoting the constitution. Quoting the constitution is not bad except that Onwubiko does not believe in Nigeria’s grand norm. He is a known vocal supporter of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a designated terrorist group, which does not recognize Nigeria and its constitution. So what constitution is Onwubiko citing? His support for IPOB is echoed in the statement he issued since some of his lines were taken straight out of IPOB’s a seeming propaganda handbook.

Digging down into his double standard, the same man alleging killer herdsmen and other inanities like Islamization agenda happens to be a strong supporter of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, another outlawed group with a history of tactically imposing its street marches on others as a way of creating the impression that not belonging to their sect is futile. Extremists of this sect have been known to attack, injure and some instances kill the security personnel drafted to keep their provocative activities under control. Because they are his clients, there is nothing wrong in the crimes of IMN.

It should naturally leave one wondering how a man that is this conflicted has the gut to judge others to the point of telling someone, whose achievements he can never best, to cover his face in shame. Those who know Onwubiko up close understand that his outburst was not driven by conviction but by anger and that anger has nothing to do with a sense of right or wrong. It has everything to do with Onwubiko’s transactional tendencies, except for his ethnic bigotry, nothing about his activism comes free. He must be shown the money before he converts his poison into press statements or broadcast media appearances. Even some of the people in his circuit have had cause to fall out with him in instances when sharing formulas were not mutually agreeable.

He must have therefore projected his own behaviour onto others to conclude that anyone asking people not to attack President Buhari must have received a nine digit payoff. What he then did was to switch to the automatic mode when he thinks he has been cut out of a deal, whereby he launched his attack in the belief that he would be invited to share in the loot or be offered an engagement to become a talking head for the Buhari administration. That strategy was dead on arrival. Having previously worked in the Jonathan years when Onwubiko got endless speaking engagements on behalf of that government at broadcast stations in Abuja, it appears he does not possess intellectual capacity that can communicate the complex achievements of the incumbent government.

The HURIWA chieftain will do well to note that his tantrums over his depleted reserves from the Jonathan years will evolve into full blown psychotic episodes in the additional four years that President Buhari has to pilot the affairs of Nigeria. He is thus advised to seek other productive means of livelihood as opposed to selling himself out as a quote-for-hire hitman. The unspeakable penury that could be his portion in the course of the next four years may just be his deserved punishment for cursing God’s anointed. That is when he will know shame.

Ibekwe is a public affairs analyst and wrote from Enugu.

“All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when we are able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must appear inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.” – Sun Tzu, The Art of War

What is the best approach to lulling one’s quarry into letting down their guard? It is to appear conciliatory, pit up a pacifist front, appear to be interested in a common good, empathize, show kindness, offer useful suggestion and of course strike when it is least expected. Sun Tzu’s The Art of War, quoted above, summed the strategy up as “mystify, mislead, and surprise the enemy”.

It appears that this is the strategy that international human rights non-governmental organization, Amnesty International, has adopted in dealing with Nigeria. The NGO that has been in the business of hounding the federal government and its institutions recently launched “Nigeria: Human Rights Agenda”, comprising an Eight-Point Agenda  it wants to saddle the government of President Muhammadu Buhari with.

It is fair to point out that the eight points contained in the document are innocuous on their own if they were presented by an organization that has been less partial and milder in its belligerence towards the Nigerian state, especially at a trying time of fighting terrorism and insurgency. No one should have anything against an agenda that wants the government to end  all forms of violence against women and girls; Protect the rights of children; Ensure accountability for the Niger Delta clean-up; Guarantee freedom of expression; End torture, enforced disappearances and extrajudicial executions; Secure Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; Protect the civic space and improve the operating environment for human rights defenders and activists; and Abolish the death penalty and commute all death sentences.

But given its sometimes criminal interpretation of laws, even international protocols and conventions, it is necessary to ask for the fine prints of Amnesty International’s agenda. It might not have been taken to task over such matters in other countries, but its record in Nigeria requires that the NGO is asked to specify what its intended end point is. What does it seek to achieve with the demands it is making? The query becomes necessary since it admitted in the document that there are existing legal frameworks that have already captured this demand. Could it, for instance, be attempting to interpret these laws and international instruments to suit its own end? Like demanding for the implementation of these demands in a way that cripples the government’s ability to respond to threats, which Amnesty International has been repeatedly accused of without satisfactorily disabusing the minds of the public that those are not its intentions.

Those points on the agenda sound good on paper. But translated into real terms they could produce nightmarish scenarios. For example, “Guarantee freedom of expression” is innuendo for allowing people to make whatever utterances they feel like making irrespective of whether those same expressions would be termed hate speech in other jurisdiction. Even if certain expressions, in other countries, would have attracted judicial censure for being homophobic, inciting, encouraging violence against a particular group amongst other possibilities, Amnesty International wants Nigeria to guarantee that people are free to say whatever they like and retire same under freedom of expression. Common! People are jailed for their tweets in the United Kingdom if the courts find them offensive and harmful.

Add this previous demand to the request to “Protect the civic space and improve the operating environment for human rights defenders and activists”, which is the same as giving a blank cheque to those that are interested in shutting down cities, denying other citizens of their freedom of movement and believe in committing arson in the name of protests. The deception entailed in this demand extends to not taking actions against terrorist sympathizers and collaborators once they brand themselves as civil society or activists. This demand is being made in the same country where activists, aid workers and erstwhile journalists have been found to be passing information to Boko Haram terrorists or helping them amplify their propaganda. What else will Amnesty International ask for?

Human life is precious, should not be taken under any circumstances, arbitrarily or via state sponsored processes. But the request to “Abolish the death penalty and commute all death sentences” exposes Amnesty International as a scam that is operating under a respectable label. It should first actualize this demand in the United States, notorious for executing convicts with cocktails of lethal injections, before marketing same to Nigeria. The NGO must then secure similar understanding from Boko Haram, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPoB), Niger Delta militants, bandits and kidnappers, who are apparently oblivious of the fact that other humans have a right to life. This request and the bit about “extrajudicial executions” is the NGO’s way of asking that law enforcement and military personnel do nothing and allow themselves to be slaughtered during encounters with the aforementioned groups. What country does that?

The poison-laced Eight-Point agenda notwithstanding, the good points in the document should not be ignored, especially when they are issues that other sensible groups other than Amnesty International have been championing. Awareness about gender issues and the rights of children is on the increase and the lesson learnt is that eventually citizen participation and not just the hype by NGOs is what will bring about the required changes. Military and law enforcement agencies have set up human rights desks where citizens can lay complaints, most of which are being addressed. With the benefit of social media, Nigerians are also beginning to hold institutions that wield power to account and higher standard, which makes Amnesty International’s colonial and imperialist intervention of little use.

Even at that questions must be asked. What is Amnesty International’s mission in Nigeria, because the mission appears strange, whatever it is? It did not make such input at the start of President Buhari’s first term in office yet it acted as an opposition party for the entire duration of that tenure. Now that it has presented an Eight-Point Agenda at the start of his second tenure, decision makers in the Federal Government and the agencies in Amnesty International’s crosshair should smell deception. Deception that will be followed by a brief period of the NGO’s inactivity ahead of its attack as propounded in Sun Tzu’s The Art of War.

The government must also ask what its response should be since the group has made the first move. There are no hard and fast rules when dealing with a guerrilla organization of this nature. But a first step is not to reject or accept the presented agenda. The government should then continue to reform the system along the path that conforms with internationally acceptable benchmarks without compromising its ability to respond to the myriad of security breaches confronting the nation.

Above all, the federal government must enlighten Nigerians to the insidious mission of the NGO in the country and how its activities put the lives of citizens at risk. This preparation for the attack that must certainly come from Amnesty International for “The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy's not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him; not on the chance of his not attacking, but rather on the fact that we have made our position unassailable.”

–Goulding, a security expert wrote from the United Kingdom.

By Dan Amana 

Wonders shall never end in Rivers state. I have been receiving calls from some of my friends outside Rivers state trying to confirm the allegations of oil bunkering levelled against the Nigerian Army by the governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike. I have tried my best to explain the position of things to my folks, but the calls won't seize. At some point, I was ashamed of my state of origin and wondered how we deteriorated to this unenviable position. 

As a first, I would heap the blame on just one man, the governor of Rivers state who has institutionalized political thuggery to such a height that if care is not taken, the state might end up in flames. Governor Nyesom Wike, a supposed lawyer, has done great harm than good to the people of Rivers state since he assumed leadership in 2015. He has demonstrated an apparent lack of policy direction in the conduct of government business. And this has manifested in the cruelty with which he has carried on since 2015. 

It must be admitted that Rivers state has not witnessed the best of times under Governor Nyesom Wike. We have a youthful population that has been so disoriented and battered that they only way out of their miseries is to take to criminal behaviours to make ends meet. We are also confronted with a political class that knows nothing but how to squander public resources at the detriment of sustainable development. 

Those not conversant with the workings of Rivers state would be shocked to learn that under Nyesom Wike, the level of insecurity has degenerated to a low, so much so that it seems Armageddon has befallen the state. In the years I have spent in Rivers state, I have never seen a governor so uncouth in his actions and inactions as Nyesom Wike. 

As an indigene of Rivers state I had all my education in the state and I had followed the political journey of Nyesom Wike right from when he was the local government chairman of Obio Akpor local government area in 1999. In a way, Nyesom Wike is not new to me, and I wasn’t surprised with the way he has governed Rivers state since 2015. 

This is also sufficing to add that while he was the local government chairman, his trademark then was the patronizing of thugs who labelled him the Chief Barrister. In those days, Nyesom Wike would instead gather youths together and engage them in a drinking competition rather than do anything meaningful for the local government as a whole. 

So when the news started making the rounds that the Nigerian Army was involved in crude oil bunkering, I smiled and told close associates that the world is beginning to see the real Nyesom Wike. The governor that would do or say anything to demean you once you are not in his good books. 

The accusations by Nyesom Wike against the Nigerian Army, notably the GOC of 6 Division in Port Harcourt is at best described as uncharitable and every inch acts of ungratefulness to the sacrifices the Nigerian Army has made to ensure that Rivers state is safe and secured. 

I recall that a particular commentator had come on air to challenge the governor to substantiate his claims of the Nigerian Army involvement in crude oil bunkering. I also smiled because I know such a time will never come. That has been his stock in trade from time immemorial. And this much we all know and so we were not alarmed when he made the allegations. As a fact, the average Ikwerre or Okrika man would simply say the Chief Barrister is at work and wave it off with a hand. 

But the question is what about members of the unsuspecting public that do not know the antecedents of the governor? What about the reputation of the GOC that has been called to question with the unsubstantiated allegations? What impression does the governor want to give to the outside world about the Nigerian Army? All of these and many more are questions we must take seriously in this ugly episode in Rivers state. 

As a Rivers man, I think we owe the Nigerian Army a collective apology on behalf of the governor who has suddenly forgotten how the officers and men of the Nigerian Army have been able to restore sanity in our state that was under the verge of collapse with the activities of thugs, kidnappers, and cultists. At some point in the annals of the state, if the Nigerian Army is not present in any event, you could be assured that there would be chaos that would lead to loss of lives. 

In my opinion, the major sin of the GOC of the 6 Division is that he refused to play ball for business as usual, and he put an end to their nefarious activities. 

It is therefore expected that they would unleash their arsenal on him and the institution he represents. But in whose interest? In their selfish interest or in the interest of the generality of Rivers people that can now go about their normal lives without fear of harassment by political thugs, cultists, and even assassins. All of these, the Nigerian Army have been able to nip in the bud, but our dear governor as the chief security officer of the state, sees and thinks otherwise. 

It is indeed a shame that our governor has decided to throw caution in the wind by accusing the same institution that has helped in a great deal in the security architecture in the state. The institution that has persevered even in the face of dire challenges to ensure that the common man and woman on the streets of Rivers state are protected. 

It must be added that Nyesom Wike is governor of Rivers state today, and a time will come when he will no longer be the governor. But that is not so for the Nigerian Army. The Nigerian Army would always remain. The Nigerian Army is indeed bigger than Nyesom Wike, and so it would stay and as such the futile attempt at dragging the institution into the murky waters of politics is unbecoming of a governor and chief security officer of a state. 

It is advised the governor should tow the path of honour and apologize for his reckless statements. The Rivers people would not allow an individual to disrupt the relative peace we enjoy in the state. The average Rivers man don’t know anywhere else as a home than Rivers. And this much Governor Nyesom Wike knows. The Nigerian Army is an institution and as such respect must be accorded it.

Amana, a public affairs commentator wrote from Rumuokoro, Port Harcourt.

As the world continues to watch the progress of the BREXIT saga, popular cleric and founder of Abuja-based Divine Hand of God Prophetic Ministries International, Prophet Emmanuel Omale had already predicted that the saga will claim British Prime Minister, Theresa May.

LEADERSHIP recalls that at the turn of 2018, Prophet Omale had released 40 different utterances touching issues concerning politics, environment, and health among others at both the national and international levels.

In a recently released video, by the ministry admonished that prophesies are meant to give directions and warnings even as it enjoined Christians to pray for the fulfilment of those with positive impacts.

“On the turn of the new year in December 31, 2018, God through his servant, prophet Omale announced several prophesies for the year 2019. These prophesies were then published in some national newspapers in the first week of January.

“Several of these prophesies has since come to pass and many more are still being fulfilled. On the 24th of May, 2019, Theresa May announced her resignation as Prime Minister of Britain fulfilling prophesy number 36 which says “British Prime Minister Theresa May, may not survive as prime minister in 2019 as she will succumb to a second referendum on BREXIT”

“The reason God sends prophesies is so that the body of Christ will pray for the aversion of those ones with negative results and we are admonished as Christians to pray for the fulfilment of the prophesies with positive impact” the video said.

On May 24th, Theresa May announced she will step down as U.K. prime minister after failing to win support for her plan to withdraw from the European Union.

Speaking outside 10 Downing Street, she said it was "in the interests of the country for a new prime minister" to lead the U.K.'s Brexit process and confirmed her final day as Conservative Party leader would be June 7 — but she will continue as prime minister until a successor is chosen.

Gombe Guber: PDP Warns APC Against Violence, Intimidation Of Its Members

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign council for the 2019 general elections in Gombe state has commended the resilience of its members and the entire people of the state for their support and followership during the last Presidential and National Assembly elections, despite alleged reports of intimidation and harassment of its members before and during the elections.

The party said recent events have shown the alleged desperation of the opposition All Progressive Congress (APC) to harass, intimidate and arrest its members.A statement by the chairman Media and Publicity Committee of the PDP Campaign Council, Dahiru Hassan Kera alleged that the APC harassed and destroyed properties of its members especially campaign posters in different parts of the state during campaign rallies.

“It is regrettable that the APC and their leadership want to bring back the dark days of 'Kalare' activities which this present administration had tried so hard to eradicate. These Kalare activities are not only worrisome, but stands as a threat to our nascent democracy.“We call on our members and supporters to remain peaceful, calm, law abiding and come out en mass to vote Senator Usman Bayero Nafada and all State House of Assembly candidates during next Saturday’s Governorship and State Assembly elections.”

Kera said the PDP campaign council is assuring the people of the State that it will continue from where the present administration of Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo has stopped in developing the state in all spheres of endeavour if given the mandate.

#NigeriaElections2019: Observers Hail INEC Over Credible, Transparent Polls

Election observers under the platform of Independent Foreign Observers have commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and Nigerians for transparency and credibility of the yesterday's Presidential and National Assembly elections.

They gave this commendation at a press conference this afternoon in Abuja. The team leader, Dr. Stuart Young, an academic and diplomat spoke on behalf of other members of the team at its presentation of preliminary report.

The observers in the text entitled, "A Preliminary report on the 2019 Presidential and National Assembly Elections in Nigeria" described the conduct of the elections as as fair and an indication of non-interference by the government or any of its agents.

The text reads, "In the build-up to the 2019 General Elections in Nigeria, the Independent Foreign Observers mission, a team from the United States of America, United Kingdom, and the European Union (EU), visited Nigeria with a view to observing the elections, in line with best global practices. Consequently, more than 200 local observers were recruited and trained to monitor the polls, with a view to ascertaining if the elections were free, fair and credible.

Observations:

From the reports filed in by our observers deployed all around the country, it was recorded that the turnout of voters across the country was impressive, as supporters of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) were active in casting their ballots for their respective candidates.

The conduct of the electoral officials appeared to be consistently fair and an indication of non-interference by the government or any of its agents. There were, however, some polling units that experienced late arrival of voting materials.

In both Abuja and Nasarawa state, observers witnessed polls opening late, and voting beginning after the scheduled start. In Abuja we saw voting begin as late as 9:30am, and in a Mararaba polling station in Nassarawa voting did not begin until 1pm.

Observers in Asokoro 1, Abuja witnessed a situation where there was confusion over the exact location of a polling station, because of the previous demolition of a Total service station that had been used to identify the location for voters. INEC officials set up at the nearest Total service station where they performed their duties for citizens who had lined up there. Upon discovering there was a collection of voters in a different location, where the former service station was located, INEC officials moved their voting materials to this location. Some citizens were worried that the votes that officials brought to the new station indicated ballot box stuffing, but were eventually mollified when officials explained the confusion over the location.

There were also reports of unruly behaviour at some polling units that required the immediate deployment of security to restore order. An example was in Kaduna state where voters attempted to provoke security personnel of which a senior military officer quickly resolved the situation. There were additional reports of scattered violence in Lagos, Obu state, River state and Bayelsa state.

Incidences of votes buying were dealt with by surveillance mounted by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and other security agencies that consisted of the Army, police, and the civil defence.

The various security agencies were professional in handling incidences of ballot box snatching and other forms of electoral malpractices. Worthy of mention is the professionalism displayed by the Nigerian Army.

The security agencies were on top of the situation in areas that were hitherto known for election-related violence and the other regions as a whole.

Observers watched votes being counted at polling stations, noting that the announcement of the vote from each ballot was announced clearly, and citizens were monitoring the process along with officials and party monitors.

From reports collated from our field officers, the 2019 general elections to this point seem free, fair and credible as neither party can fault the transparent process that occasioned accreditation and voting.

In Area 10, Garki, Abuja, observers noted a disabled (blind) person, who was given assistance in entering the polling station, allowed to progress to the front of the line unimpeded by the voters present, and was able to cast his ballot with relative ease. Observers were impressed that it was common citizens, not officials, who took the initiative to help their fellow citizen exercise his democratic right.

Suggestions:

The 2019 general elections in Nigeria, though appearing to be free, fair and credible at this juncture, using our international set parameters and the feedback gathered from the over 200 observers deployed to the various states, there are a few areas that need to be looked into in the conduct of elections in the future.

The functionality of card readers must be fully tested and properly calibrated before deployment to the polling units, before the elections to reduce the use of manual voting which takes time and might be exploited.

Improvement is needed in the areas of logistics and training of electoral officials. For example a digital voting system, perhaps using mobile phones, tablets and/or voting cards embedded with codes that can be swiped to register a voter’s choice, should be explored.

A stronger effort to start voting on time would make the process more comfortable and healthy for voters, as well as improving voter turnout.

Continuing voter education beyond the election period should focus on efforts to identify and weed out Fake news in order not to mislead the public.

Nigerians should be able to vote in their current place of residence, provided they have lived there for a designated minimum amount of time. A mechanism should be put in place to cancel their registration in their home state, when they register in their new home area.

Conclusion:

The elections appear to have been free, fair and credible to this point. It is therefore advised that winners and losers should see beyond themselves and their political aspirations, to promote the unity of Nigeria as a country.

Worthy of commendation are the staffers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army and other security agencies for maintaining orderliness and contributing to a sense of calm and security which enabled domestic and foreign observers to efficiently carry out their duties, and voters to exercise their democratic right and responsibility.

We would like to congratulate the Nigerian government and Nigerian citizens for their enthusiasm, perseverance and fair play in pursuing their democratic ideals through this election.

Elections: CSOs Urge Military To Sustain High Compliance On Rules Of Engagement

A coalition of Civil Society Groups under the umbrella of Coalition of Civil Society Groups on Human Rights and Conflict Management has called on the Nigerian military to sustain high complaisance on rules of engagement before, after and during the poll.

The group said in a bid to assess the preparedness of the Nigeria military in ensuring that the 2019 general elections are hitch free security wise has commissioned a systematic monitoring of the activities of the Armed Forces by deploying men and resources across the federation.

The Coalition said it had observed the threats of violence in the polity by paid political merchants desperate to turn the tide in favour of their paymasters.

Maxwell Gowon, Esq, Executive Director of the coalition, said it also observed that there are possibilities of attacks from terrorist organizations especially in the North East region of Nigeria.

According to him, “There is also the possibility of outright provocation of military personnel in the South East region by adherents of the Indigenous People of Biafra.

“The Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) has perfected plans to attack military personnel on election duty with a view to disrupting the polls.

“It was however observed that the Armed Forces had deployed means quelling whatever uprising that may occur in line with the presidential mandate of ensuring that the human rights of every citizen of the country are safeguarded.

“After a review of the military security architecture put in place, it was observed that the military has continued to maintain a very high standard of compliance with its human rights obligations to the citizenry through the continuous engagement by the Department of Civil-Military Relations.

“There were also regular operational meetings by the Chief of Army Staff and Top Commanders of the Nigeria Army on how to curtail attempts by unscrupulous elements to infiltrate the troops.

“There is a functional situation room that is linked to all military operational bases around the country which is highly commendable and indicative of the preparedness of the Nigeria Army towards ensuring the safety of lives and properties before, during and after the elections. This is quite commendable.

“Based on the findings of the Coalition of Civil Society Groups on Human Rights and Conflict Management, the followings are recommended:

“The Nigeria Army must continue to ensure that it’s troops deployed to provide security cover for the citizens as well as to uphold the highest level of standard.

“The military authorities must put in place measures the would curb overzealousness amongst the troops and in the event of such, appropriate sanctions must be implemented to serve as a deterrent to others.

“The military authorities must ensure that the welfare of the troops is adequately taken care of to minimize any form of enticement in the line of duty, especially those mounting checkpoints in strategic places.

“The Chief of Army Staff must continue to ensure strict compliance with rules of engagement by the troops.

“In conclusion, the Coalition of Civil Society Groups on Human Rights and Conflict Management is impressed with the level of preparedness and therefore of the opinion that the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria are adequately prepared to deal with any form of violence that might erupt during and after the elections.

“The measures put in place are top-notch and in tandem with international best practices. Also, the level of coordination and cooperation between the various wings of the Armed forces (Army, Navy, and Airforce) is highly commendable.

“The Coalition of Civil Society Groups on Human Rights and Conflict Management would deploy its members to monitor the polls to measure the level of compliance by the military on the rules of engagement.”

Coalition Faults Dogara’s N400bn Claim

The recent allegation by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, that the Bauchi State Governor, Mohammed Abubakar, has defrauded the state to the tune of N400 billion since he assumed office in May 2015 has been described as not only ridiculous, spurious and malicious but also outright lies that were laden with mischief and blackmail.

In its reaction to the speaker’s claim, a group, the Youth Coalition of Bauchi, said it was high time Dogara was called to order to avoid creating rancour and acrimony through hate speech in this season of the general elections across the country and in particular Bauchi state.

In a press release in Bauchi yesterday, Chairman of the youth coalition, Malam Zakari Mohammed, said heating up the polity at this time when the people of Bauchi state were enjoying the unprecedented peace restored by their amiable and indefatigable Governor M. A. Abubakar was most uncharitable and reprehensible.

“To start with Dogara’s claim is childish, untrue, laughable and unfounded which is coming from a supposedly enlightened leader. One is therefore surprised that he is peddling fallacy around not minding his position in the polity. The total receipt from the FAAC in the years under review is nowhere close to that outrageous figure.

“Dogara also claimed no fewer than 1,200 people were employed and added into the state’s payroll from July 2015 and even one of the ghost employees by the name Bappale Adamu is said to have been born in 1899 which is 120 years ago and started work with the state government on July 24, 2015, and will retire from the service in 2023 is fake.

“The speaker should know that he was duped by his fillers with some unverifiable and unfounded facts. It is regrettable that imminent electoral loss is making speaker Yakubu Dogara lose his mind, making such unrealistic claims will not save him from the fury of voters in the forthcoming polls.

“It also good to know that transparency, accountability and open door policy is one of the cardinal objectives of Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar Esq. administration in Bauchi state with zero tolerance for corruption”, he said.

2019 Elections: Opposition Can Wrangle, But Don’t Misinterpret Buhari!

By Isaac Ikpa

Interestingly, I am getting to know more about the impressive, but silent aspects of President Muhammadu Buhari’s life and personage. I have never met him personally. But with his credentials as a retired Army officer, and given the military culture, it was safer for me to believe he is rough and unapologetically ruthless.

But I was damn wrong! He is just a leader who is blunt and plain. He hates any brazen act of trampling on laws of the land or decency in conduct.

President Buhari, as Nigeria’s incumbent President is gunning for reelection in 2019 for another term of four years, on the platform of the ruling APC. But he was enraged over INEC’s sudden postponement of the February 16, 2019 Presidential and National Assembly ballots. His party, the APC was equally angered and condemned the impromptu shift of elections, barely five hours to the commencement of the ballot. I think, the electoral umpire knows better why the decision was taken. We are sad, but what else can anybody do?

When I listened to INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu’s address to the nation on the elections postponement, I pitied him. From his facial scowls, it was clear to discerning minds that something terribly went wrong. And discontinuing with the ballot as scheduled became inevitable.

Prof. Yakubu nicely concealed his anger in these official explanation; “Following a careful review of the implementation of its logistics and operational plan, and the determination to conduct free, fair, and credible elections, the commission came to the conclusion that proceeding with the elections as scheduled is no longer feasible.”But political actors and Nigerians did not swallow this excuse lightly. And it has sparked very profound reactions from all segments of the Nigerian community. I may not bother with every view expressed by every Nigerian. But at least, we can speak to our conscience and it will certainly prick us in glaring terms that the ballot was compromised even before the vote cast. And our leaders know this; INEC knows it; critical stakeholders in the Nigerian project are aware and Nigerians know everything dubiously contrived affected the ballot in focus.

President Buhari was more disappointed. And so, at the opening session of the National Caucus meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja, the President who is not oblivious of what crooked politicians planned in dark chambers and rigged the ballot before the vote fumed;

“The security agencies have identified hot spots and flash points and should be prepared to move. We have made as much arrangement as possible for them as much as the country can afford. Anybody who decide to snatch ballot boxes or lead thugs to disturb the process, may be that will be the last unlawful action you will take.We have directed the military and other security agents to be ruthless. We are not going to be blamed that we want to rig elections.”

This innocent comment from Mr. President has provoked partisan outbursts, especially from PDP chieftains and stalwarts. These Nigerians have imputed very funny meanings into the comments, which are beyond any reasonable limits of decency. I understand the intention of antagonistic elements to spite and slight the President in order to diminish his electoral value in the eyes of Nigerians.

But in truth and to our conscience, what contents of the presidential statement alludes to an order calling for the killing of Nigerians as propagated by the opposition? There is none! An election rigger is worse than an armed robber. Accepted, we are guided by laws, which presumes every person is innocent until pronounced guilty by a competent court. But why do we think, criminals should be allowed to ply their trade unmolested by security agents?

I do not buy the arguments of the vocal PDP analysts. They have repeatedly said the President has issued a direct order to security agents to kill Nigerians. Why would any decent Nigerian think the best thing to do is to foist a regime of electoral violence on Nigerians, but gets offended when the President ask security agents to ruthlessly handle such miscreants or hoodlums? And why would anybody happily contemplate this absurdity? Is it because the potential culprits know there are elder statesmen and people who would rise up to their defence?

APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has been speaking on Buhari’s presidential statement. He has done what is humanely possibly to deflect the misconstrued interpretations. But trust Nigerians! We are more comfortable promoting evil than good. But let me leave the mischief makers and the drugged or incensed partisans that President Buhari never wished the death of any Nigerian because he wants to continue as Nigeria’s leader.

Let’s get some sense in what Tinubu said on the misinterpretations of the President’s comments. He said; “These are not his words; he is a law abiding person and he understands categorically and clearly what rule of law is and the lives of individual citizens that he is in that office to protect. Now, let me run this; he has been fighting Book Haram, kidnappers and all these before this election, did you hear him asking them to be shot and executed summarily?”

However, we cannot pretend that elections results were written before the ballot. How can Nigerians explain the pre-ballot violence, deaths and destructions in some states in Nigeria? Are we canvassing that President Buhari, as Chief Security Officer of the nation should be soft with such characters so that tomorrow, we shall gladly also blame him for a degenerative insecurity in the country? This is not wisdom from any sane mind.

Let me leave these adversaries of Nigeria with the sound advice from my friend, Alhaji Aminu Musa. His words; “Those with ears have been so blessed. I believe, the words that made up the statement of Mr. President are unambiguous. We are by it advised to stay clear of any form of malpractices in the forthcoming rescheduled election.”

So, those who have plotted violence and rigging are forewarned. Security agents would ruthlessly handle the destroyers of our nation’s democracy and the electoral process. Well done, Mr. President for this forewarning.

Ikpa is Executive Secretary, Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency (CESJET) and wrote this piece from Abuja.

Poll Shift: Plans To Unseat Goje Thickens As Six Parties Support PDP's Candidate

The Media and Publicity Committee chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign organization in Gombe state, Alhaji Dahiru Hassann Kera, says the party is not disturbed by the postponement of the Presidential and NASS election by one week.

Rather, he said, the party is gaining more support from other political parties who are coming together to support PDP candidates in the forthcoming National Assembly Elections come next Saturday.

In his reaction to the postponement by INEC just some hours to the commencement of the election, Alhaji Kera told our correspondent that “with or without the postponement of the elections, PDP will win all our elections, going by the support and alliance we are getting daily from the people and other parties in the State”.

Kera alleged that that the postponement of the election time might have been instigated by the ruling party for fear of an imminent defeat stressing that PDP has remained dogged in its struggle to rescue the country from the APC's maladministration which he said has impoverished the citizens.

"What we demand from INEC is free, fair and credible elections. PDP will not be cowed with this election postponement. We call on our supporters to remain calm and come out en mass on 23rd February, 2019 to vote for Atiku Abubakar and other PDP senatorial and House of Representatives candidates. INEC and the APC are avoiding the inevitable". He said.

Kera’s pronouncements is coming on the heels of a grand alliance by six political parties in Gombe Central Senatorial zones to support the candidature of the PDP and current Speaker of the Gombe State House of Assembly, Nasiru Abubakar Nono, who is contesting against the incumbent and former Governor of the State, Senator Muhammad Danjuma Goje of the APC.

Speaking after a meeting of the alliance, spokesman of the political parties which included ACCORD party, DA, CAP, ASD, HDP and UPN, Comrade Aliyu Danmaka, State Chairman of ASD said fourteen parties have fielded candidates for the Senate seat of Gombe Central but that six of the parties have agreed to support and vote the PDP candidate, Nasiru Abubakar Nono.

According to him, “These parties, together with their chairmen, supporters and contestants have agreed to come out en-mass to vote Nasiru Abubakar Nono. We took this stand on three grounds. We consulted our supporters, the aspirants, and we the six chairmen. We sat down and agreed among ourselves, who is the better candidate to go to the senate? We decided on Nono whom we feel will not be a bench warmer and will try his best to represent us well and bring development to Gombe State and the Northeast in general”.

Salisu S. Ahmed, the Senatorial candidate of the CAP said, “We have gathered to show our support to the PDP candidate, Honourable Abubakar Nasiru Nono. The reason for this is that all the development projects done in Gombe were executed by the PDP”.

According to him, “We feel we should withdraw our contest and support the PDP candidate so that he continues from where the party has stopped. We feel he has all it takes to ensure that our communities get the desired development. We have done this in consultation with our party leaderships. We will soon tell our supporters and we hope they will also support our moves”.

On his part, Ibrahim Sambo Adamu, the DA candidate, said his party is in the alliance because it feels Nono has more political experience, coupled with what he has been able to achieve for his constituency using his political positions.

It will be recalled that two political parties and their candidates from Yamaltu-Deba Federal Constituency, UPN and NRM had lent their support to the candidature of the PDP, Honourable Inuwa Garba, last Thursday.

You’ll Not Regret Voting PDP - Maryam Bayero

Wife of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP gubernatorial in Gombe Maryam Bayero Nafada has assured electorate that the party would protect their interests and facilitate social and infrastructural development if given the mandate.

Reacting on the impromptu postponement of the February 16 Presidential and National Assembly elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the wife of the guber candidate called on the PDP supporters in the state to remain calm, resolute and wait till the rescheduled February 23 to vote for the candidates of the party at all level assuring them that they’ll never regret voting for the PDP.

Addressing journalists in Gombe, Maryam Bayero said, it was very sad and unfortunate that a commission like INEC headed by a Professor could after having sufficient funding and time announce a postponement few hours to voting on grounds of logistical problems.

‘’It’s really sad and disappointing for INEC to postpone election few hours to the commencement of voting while the same people have at several times told Nigerians that they’re fully prepared for the polls. This is ridiculous.’’ She said.

She further said ‘’Postponing election by INEC and the APC government is just like extending the inevitable and imminent defeat because people are determined to vote for PDP whichever date elections hold and they’ll never regret doing that.’’

Hajiya Maryam Bayero has since the commencement of the campaign led the women wing and had went to all the nooks and crannies of Gombe State soliciting votes for her husabnd and other PDP candidates.

CRITICAL FACTS ABOUT THE CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF FORENSIC AND INVESTIGATIVE AUDITORS OF NIGERIA (CIFIAN), A MECHANISM FOR PREVENTION OF FRAUD , CORRUPTION AND CYBER CRIMES IN NIGERIA.

Zamfara And the Mockery of the Judiciary

By: Zubairu Abbas

Evidently, the Nigerian electorates are set to exercise their franchise beginning with the Presidential and National Assembly elections this Saturday and the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections on February 2, the snag is whether the judiciary, which is a key player in the electoral process, is ready to be seen to live above board.

The failure of the judiciary to dispense justice without fear or favour as well as assert its independence and incorruptibility will, no doubt, render the elections unacceptable as it will lack the essential element of being free and fair.
The crisis rocking the Zamfara state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) tends to lend itself amenable to a judicial abracadabra and rigmarole, calling for immediate intervention in order to save this critical arm of government, which is the last hope of the common man, from ridicule and public opprobrium.

Unfolding events since the botched primaries of the APC in September last year, particularly the pronouncements of the courts and the brazen display of contempt by Governor Abdul’Aziz Yari, tend to suggest that the judiciary has been compromised and may not be trusted to be impartial in the Zamfara imbroglio.

The matter took a dangerous dimension on Monday when the three judges of the Appeal Court in Sokoto withdraw from the case challenging the judgement of the lower court which upheld the primaries of (APC) in Zamfara state over bribery allegation to the tune of $3 million.

One of the respondents, Kabiru Marafa, alleged that there was bribery allegation against the judges which made them lose confidence in them. Counsel to Senator Marafa, Barrister Muhammad Nuhu, alleged that there was a posting on social media platform, alleging that the judges had received three million dollars from one Kabiru Kamba to compromise. “Because of that my client is not comfortable with them. I urge the president of the Court of Appeal to constitute a new panel to entertain the case”.

Responding to the allegation, the presiding judge, Justice Ahmed Belgori, said they have decided to disqualify themselves from the case over the grievous allegation in view of the present situation in the judiciary and the country.
However, the judges had before withdrawing from the case, refused the application of the appellant, Aminu Sani Jaji, who wanted to withdraw the appeal. The panel held that he (Jaji) ought to have waited for the substantive hearing date before moving the application.

Reacting, Jaji, who represents Kauran Namoda-Birnin Magaji federal constituency, expressed shock over the ruling in an interview with newsmen. “I don’t know why they rejected my application. This is my case which I have the right to withdraw at any given time in line with the 2016 Court of Appeal order 11(1) which gives me all the power to withdraw any appeal but the judges, using their own parameter of judgement, decided to dishonour my application.”
According to him, the decision to withdraw the case was necessitated by the calls he received from all over the country.

“But to my candid surprise, it is my food, I ordered for it and I said I don’t want it but they said no I don’t have that power. So it sounds strange to me. So I asked “is this the kind of judiciary we have today, that somebody cannot exercise his birth right? That was the reason our lawyers said on our behalf we don’t have confidence on the judges because of what we saw on the social media and the privileged information we heard.”

Jaji, however, said they were ready to accept the verdict of the new panel and also cooperate with President Muhammadu Buhari in resolving the matter as long as the candidates picked by Governor Yari were not adopted as the flag bearers of APC in forthcoming elections in Zamfara state.

Two judicial infractions seem to have occurred in this matter. The first borders on the legality or moral justification for the judges to deny the appellant his right of the withdrawal of the appeal. This leaves one wondering whether the judges were acting in furtherance of bribery allegations against them, otherwise it is strange to law for one to be denied his right to an action he instituted in court without any explanation founded in law or morality. The second is the hastiness with which a new panel of judges was constituted to hear the appeal, which tends to suggest a pre-determined motive. This also probably lends credence to the bribery allegation.

It is instructive that eight governorship aspirants of the APC in Zamfara state have petitioned the National Judicial Council (NJC), calling for its urgent intervention in the matter. The aspirants were specifically focused on Governor Yari's appeal on INEC's decision not to accept his faction's candidates for the polls. The aspirants, under the umbrella of G-8, are Senator Kabiru Garba Marafa; Zamfara state deputy governor, Malam Ibrahim Wakala; former governor of the state, Mahmud Aliyu Shinkafi, Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali; Hon. Aminu Sani Jaji; Engineer Abu Magaji; Dauda Lawal; and Mohammed Sagir Hamidu.

The aspirants had formed the G-8, following the crisis that trailed the APC's primaries in the state as Governor Yari has insisted on his faction being the authentic group in the party. A Court of Appeal sitting in Sokoto had adjourned the appeal on APC candidates tussle to February 19, for hearing and abridged the time for the parties to file briefs. Two courts had given conflicting judgments on the matter on January 25. While a Federal High Court presided over by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu held that INEC acted within its powers by refusing to accept list of candidates from a faction of the APC in Zamfara state, another judgement was delivered by Justice Muhammad Bello Shinkafi of the High Court in Gusau, Zamfara state, affirming that primaries were conducted and requested INEC to accept the candidates produced from the primaries.

However, INEC on January 30, after studying the two judgments, maintained its earlier position on the matter. Two sets of defendants in the case before the Zamfara state high court, Senator Marafa and Hon. Sani Jaji separately filed notices of appeal against the judgment.

This writer is in sync with members of the G-8 to the effect that it remains to be seen what course justice will take in the matter, especially in view of the decision reached by the Supreme Court on February 8, 2019, affirming that INEC was right to take a position not to allow APC field any candidates for violation of the conduct of party primaries in Zamfara state.

Abbas writes from Kaduna.

Zamfara APC: Group Calls for Justice

The actions taken by the three judges of the Appeal Court in Sokoto on Monday which withdrew from the case challenging the judgement of the lower court which upheld the primaries of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara state over bribery allegation to the tune of $3 million and the refusal of the court grant the appellant the right to withdraw the case have been condemned.

A statement in Abuja yesterday by a group, Concerned Citizens of Zamfara State, said the judges’ withdrawal from the case and the immediate constitution of a new set of judges to sit on the appeal as well as their refusal to grant the request of the appellant to withdraw the case were quite hasty, inappropriate, unfair and tended to lend credence to the $3 million bribery allegation.

The statement, which was signed by Chairman of the group, Alhaji Jibir Wakili, said events unfolding since the botched primaries of APC in Zamfara state last year, particular the improper conduct of Governor Abdulaziz Yari and certain judicial pronouncements, could jeopardise the party’s chances in the coming elections if they were not urgently resolved.  

The group, therefore, called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Judicial Council (NJC) to wade into the crisis with a view to resolving all the knotty issues in the interest of democracy and the rule of law.  

Eight governorship aspirants of the APC in Zamfara state have petitioned the NJC, calling for its urgent intervention in the matter. The aspirants were specifically focused on Governor Yari's appeal on INEC's decision not to accept his faction's candidates for the polls. The aspirants, under the umbrella of G-8, are Senator Kabir Garba Marafa; Zamfara state deputy governor, Malam Ibrahim Wakala; former governor of the state, Mahmud Aliyu Shinkafi, Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali; Hon. Aminu Sani Jaji; Engineer Abu Magaji; Dauda Lawal; and Mohammed Sagir Hamidu.

Senator Marafa recently accused Governor Yari of plotting to destabilise the 2019 elections in the state. Marafa said the governor plans to use 8,500 armed youth under guise of civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) to carry out the act. According to him, frustrated by his inability to force his preferred governorship candidate on the APC, the governor announced the recruitment of 8,500 civilian JTF members, camouflaging to end killings and kidnappings.

Zamfara APC: Group Calls for Justice

The actions taken by the three judges of the Appeal Court in Sokoto on Monday which withdrew from the case challenging the judgement of the lower court which upheld the primaries of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara state over bribery allegation to the tune of $3 million and the refusal of the court grant the appellant the right to withdraw the case have been condemned.

A statement in Abuja yesterday by a group, Concerned Citizens of Zamfara State, said the judges’ withdrawal from the case and the immediate constitution of a new set of judges to sit on the appeal as well as their refusal to grant the request of the appellant to withdraw the case were quite hasty, inappropriate, unfair and tended to lend credence to the $3 million bribery allegation.

The statement, which was signed by Chairman of the group, Alhaji Jibir Wakili, said events unfolding since the botched primaries of APC in Zamfara state last year, particular the improper conduct of Governor Abdulaziz Yari and certain judicial pronouncements, could jeopardise the party’s chances in the coming elections if they were not urgently resolved.  

The group, therefore, called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Judicial Council (NJC) to wade into the crisis with a view to resolving all the knotty issues in the interest of democracy and the rule of law.  

Eight governorship aspirants of the APC in Zamfara state have petitioned the NJC, calling for its urgent intervention in the matter. The aspirants were specifically focused on Governor Yari's appeal on INEC's decision not to accept his faction's candidates for the polls. The aspirants, under the umbrella of G-8, are Senator Kabir Garba Marafa; Zamfara state deputy governor, Malam Ibrahim Wakala; former governor of the state, Mahmud Aliyu Shinkafi, Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali; Hon. Aminu Sani Jaji; Engineer Abu Magaji; Dauda Lawal; and Mohammed Sagir Hamidu.

Senator Marafa recently accused Governor Yari of plotting to destabilise the 2019 elections in the state. Marafa said the governor plans to use 8,500 armed youth under guise of civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) to carry out the act. According to him, frustrated by his inability to force his preferred governorship candidate on the APC, the governor announced the recruitment of 8,500 civilian JTF members, camouflaging to end killings and kidnappings.

My Government Will Consolidate on Gains Of Democracy In Gombe – Sen. Nafada

Senator Bayero Usman Nafada is the gubernatorial candidate of the PDP in Gombe state in the forthcoming general elections. He was the pioneer Speaker of Gombe State House of Assembly in 1998-2003, a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and now the Senator representing Gombe North Senatorial district. In this interview with journalists, he bared his mind on the chances of the PDP in winning the general elections as well as other political issues. Excerpts:

What are chances of the PDP in the general elections?

The chances of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Gombe State and other parts of the country are very bright and the coast is very clear for the success of the party in the upcoming elections at all levels.

You see, success doesn’t come on a platter of gold or by mere rhetoric but one has to work for it and device productive means to actualize it.

In Gombe State, what our people know is the PDP as far as politics and good governance is concern, PDP is conterminous with the development of the state especially under the rein of the present Governor of the state, His Excellency, Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo in which the administration has successful transformed the state to an enviable status.

It’s an undeniable fact that, all the sectors of the economy have been overhauled; education, agriculture, heath, infrastructure and what have you.

We were all aware when the Buhari and APC’s 'tsunami' that swept all the PDP in the Northern part of the country during the 2015 general elections met a hard brick wall in Gombe State with Gov. Dankwambo and his Taraba counterpart, Darius Ishaku defied all the APC’s propaganda and emerged victorious in their respective states and what’s going to happen in 2019 is just a replica because the APC led government has failed Nigerians and if PDP could win in 2015 when the APC’s ineptitude wasn’t exposed, what more of the 2019.

But you were in the APC before?

Yes, how many people were in the APC and left when they’ve realized the party lacks implementable manifestoes? When you are in a ship and realizes that it will not take you to your destination or the captain is a novice, what you should do is to disembark for your safety. And in Gombe State, those in the APC are the problems of the state and most of them ventured into politics just to accumulate wealth to the detriment of the masses. You could see how one of their leaders stymied President Buhari’s budget in the national assembly and it sound ridiculous for that person to come down to Gombe and talk about party ideology. I can’t remain in a party that has become an individual investment in the state.

You were the pioneer Speaker of the Gombe State House of Assembly, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and now serving Senator; don't you think others deserve to be given the chance to serve?

Politics like any other meaningful ventures requires experience and familiarity and electing someone that doesn’t have a vast knowledge of the workings of government and legislation, will surely take the state back and that, we’ll never allow.

As you rightly said, I was in the State House of Assembly as the Speaker and I later moved to the National Assembly where I served as the Deputy Speaker and now serving in the Red Chambers as a Senator and can you match my credentials with someone who was only a Commissioner in the state?

If elected as the next Governor, what will you do differently?

Government is a continuous process; we came from deep-rooted democratic cycle from the state to the National Assembly, from Green to the Red Chambers and coming out with a lot of experiences and accomplishments. I will deploy such skills and experiences to further develop the state and boost its economy to more advanced and sustainable status. I’ve to continue from where my predecessor has stopped and consolidate on the gains of democracy the state has been enjoying.

Some of the people who contested the ticket with you are aggrieved with the result, what are you doing to assuage them to support you?

I’ve said it severally that as far as PDP is concern in Gombe State, there’s no looser and we are all winners. About 12 of us contested in the primaries and with deep knowledge that only one of us will emerged at the end of the process. And for those you called aggrieved, I don’t know them because PDP in the state is united and committed on winning the upcoming election.

Two of the contestants, Jamilu Gwamna and Abdulkadir Hammasaleh left the party to the APC after the primaries and alleged irregularities?

I don’t want to mention anybody’s name or join issues with anyone but since you’ve already asked me, let me tell you something. It’s normal in politics, the way they are leaving, others are equally joining the PDP and for Jamilu Gwamna, no one will tell you when he joined the party (PDP) because he was last seen or heard of in the state politics since 2007 and he all of a sudden came out from political hibernation claiming to contest for the highest seat of the land. While, I’ve overwhelmingly defeated Hammasaleh in the Senatorial contest in 2015 and you can imagine how could someone who can’t win at the Senatorial election dream of contesting gubernatorial election.

But the most important thing is that, they are all prerogative to join any party of their choice and we in PDP, we’re united as other contestants are assiduously working with us for the success of the party at various levels. I’ve been a grassroots politician and politics is also about dialogue and I will use this avenue to call on any person that felt disenchanted to come forward and resolves the gray areas for the betterment of our party and the state in general.

How do you measure your capability to be the Governor of a state like Gombe?

What do you mean by capability? If an ordinary former Commissioner in the state will feel capable of governing the state, I think a former Speaker in the State Assembly, former Deputy Speaker in the National Assembly and a serving Senator is more capable, qualified and deserving.

What is your reaction to the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria?

Though, there were different legal interpretations and divergence reactions from Nigerians but in my candid opinion, whatever we are doing as government, we should do it within the confines of the law and avoid over heating the polity unnecessarily. In this particular scenario, the hastiness of the suspension and the timing was questionable and people may smell political motives behind all the drama because for the government that failed to honour about five different court orders granting bail to the former Security Adviser to former President Jonathan, Col. Sambo Dasuki to hastily suspend the CJN on a single court order, there must be political undertone and the judiciary as the last hope of a common man should and must be allowed to operate independently without any sense of prejudice.

The APC is the ruling party in the country; can you beat it in Gombe State?

Politics is very local and voters are the determining factor in all the contest and I want to assure you that, Gombe is a PDP state and I’m very optimistic that God's willing we are going win the 2019 elections at all levels with or without the federal might. Let me tell you, during the election, everybody must be at his own local constituencies and we’re going vote and protect our votes in Gombe.

Are you comfortable with the preparations of the INEC so far to deliver a free and fair election?

So far so good and the only thing I will say here is that, INEC as an electoral umpire should as much as possible maintain its independence and provide equal opportunity for all candidates by conducting free, fair, and credible election and anything contrary to this, Nigerians will not tolerates any act of injustice and impunity.

Zamfara Politics: What People Should Know

By: Sani Bala

It’s an undeniable fact that the judiciary has been the only place to run to for justice by the common man and in the face of the glaring fight against corruption by the Buhari administration, more needs to be done to save our judicial system from abuse.

The recent and ongoing trial of the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, is an indication that there are efforts and determination to protect the sanctity of the nation's judiciary. However, there appears to be still more to be desired.

Evidently, some faithless judges conspire with politicians to influence judgement in their favour. And the ongoing legal tussle rocking the Zamfara State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is a case to watch because its outcome can either make or mar the judiciary.

It has been a known issue that the Zamfara APC has not fielded any candidate for the February 16 and March 2 elections and the cause for the embarrassing situation is the inordinate and dizzying effort by Governor Yari to impose his former Commissioner of Finance, Hon. Mukhtar Shehu Idris Koguna, to succeed him.

Instead of allowing the APC followers in the state to vote for candidates of their choice through free, fair, and credible primary elections, Gov. Yari succeeded in heating up the polity and created rancor where so many people were injured and some innocent lives were lost.

He conducted a make believe and farce primary election using the state party controlled structure and came up with an invented list of his acolytes including his Commissioner of Finance, Mukhtar Shehu, as the elected candidates. But what the desperate Yari failed to reckon with is the fact that, primary election is a process guided by the Electoral Act and other extant legislation as well as the party guidelines. Therefore, any attempt to either circumvent or contravene the laid down procedures would in any case render the process and its outcome void and consequently a nullity: the results will be unacceptable.

As expected, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has outrightly rejected the list of the candidates submitted by the Yari led faction for some obvious reasons. First is that, the commission did not at any time monitor the election held by the Yari faction and secondly, the APC National Secretariat who are responsible to conduct the primaries were not a party to the mimicry conducted by the governor.

While Governor Yari has ran to the State High Court in Zamfara where he can conspicuously use his power and influence as a governor to get a favourable judgement, other faction instituted a case at the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja. In Zamfara high court, Yari got what he wanted as the state high court danced to the tune of Yari and issued a judgement affirming the validity of the invalid primaries.

But the Abuja high court was convinced by the two witnesses, the INEC and the APC, who have testified before the court that primary elections were not conducted in Zamfara. They insisted that no candidate would be accepted until the adjudication of the pending cases at the appeal court in Sokoto and Abuja, respectively.

In compliance with the Abuja High Court judgement and its conviction that it didn't monitor any election in Zamfara, INEC had, in a press statement, said based on the provisions of Section 87 and 31 of the Electoral Act 2010, as amended, the commission does not expect that "your party will submit names of any candidate from Zamfara state.

"For clarity, our position, therefore, is that the APC will not be fielding candidates for the Governorship, National Assembly and State Assembly elections".

As desperate as he is, Yari has, instead of waiting for the judgement, flagged off campaign at Kauran Namoda and Birnin Magaji where he presented those barred by the competent law as his candidates.

It’s a brazen abuse and disrespect for the judiciary for Gov. Yari to start campaigning and canvassing support for his anointed candidate, Mukhtar Shehu Idris, and others who haven't been accepted and recognized by the INEC in spite of the pending cases before the court of competent jurisdiction. It is sheer contempt of court.

There was an outburst by Gov. Yari that, if his candidates are not cleared to contest then there will not be election in the state! This is as prejudicial as it is contemptuous. The judiciary should not allow itself to be ridiculed by this desperate politician who is bragging to bribe judges and influence judgement to the detriment of the majority.

The good people of Zamfara State are keenly watching the unfolding events and the judiciary should without prejudice do justice to the people of the state by allowing them to hold peaceful, free, and fair primaries where the candidates of their choice will emerge. We are ready to reject imposition of candidates by Gov. Yari; especially those who served in different capacities in the present regime where government watched gleefully as innocent people got killed, kidnapped for ransom and what have you. Enough is enough.

It is not that we don’t have good leaders to lead us. It’s not that we don’t have people who care about our safety. It’s because those in power are trying all they can to stop our rescuers from taking over the mantle of leadership that would bring succor and respite to the masses. And our last hope now is the judiciary; we believe it would be fair and transparent and devoid of all the external influence and the alleged enticement.

The unflinching struggle by Sen. Kabiru Marafa for the betterment of the entire people of Zamfara State should not and would never be truncated using prejudicial means. We don’t expect to live in despondency and despair under the transparent stewardship of President Muhammadu Buhari but Yari’s ineptitude has left us holding the short end of the stick in our land.

Bala write from Abuja

Zamfara APC Crisis: Group Knocks Gov Yari

Following the ongoing legal tussle rocking the Zamfara State Chapter of All Progressive Congress, a group, Concerned Zamfara Youth, has accused the state governor, Abdul’Aziz Yari, of an attempt to undermine the judiciary and subvert the rule of law.

In a press statement issued yesterday in Abuja, the Chairman of the Group, Comrade Sani Bala, said the governor is doing all he could to influence the upcoming appeal court judgement. He explained that Yari's recent release of a campaign time table and the subsequent flag off the campaign yesterday at Kauran Namoda and Birnin Magaji before the judgement and final acceptance of the candidates by the electoral umpire, National Electoral Commission (INEC), is tantamount to contempt of court by the governor and his anointed candidates.

‘’We all know that there was no primary elections held in Zamfara and both the INEC and the APC who are mandated to monitor and conduct the primaries have testified before the Federal High Court that, they did not witness any election in the state. Consequently, INEC would not accept any name submitted by the Yari’s led charade and mimicry pending the appeal court's judgments", he said.

The group said it’s a brazen abuse and disrespect for the judiciary for Gov. Yari to start campaigning and canvassing support for his candidate, Mukhtar Shehu, and others who have not been accepted and recognized by INEC.

‘’Yari has tried to use the Zamfara State high court to impose his candidates through concocted judgement and the federal high court in Abuja has passed a contradictory judgement while INEC has equally affirmed its previous position that Zamfara APC has no accepted candidates. Yet the governor has been scheming to secure or influence the judgement and his ongoing campaigns and recognition of his candidates have justified the fact that there is something fishy and shady.’’

Bala further demands the need to put an eagle eye on the prevailing happenings while warning that, the good people of the state would not in any way accept a manipulated judgement.

He called on INEC, the presidency, and the judiciary to do the needful to defend the interest of the people of Zamfara State by legally stopping any imposition of those who watch our people being massacred, kidnapped, and raped with impunity.

Presidential Rally: Why Some APC Stalwarts In Gombe Are Furious - Kera

Special Adviser to Gombe State Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo on Media and Publicity, Dahiru Hassan Kera has said that what happened during the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally in the state on Saturday indicated that the President Muhammadu Buhari ‘’is not comfortable with his party candidates and chieftains in the state and that was the reason them being fit to be tied.’’

Speaking with journalists yesterday on the APC rally, Kera said the president was with Governor Dankwambo at all the places he visited in the state except the venue of the rally and had allegedly shunned the APC Leader Senator Danjuma Goje and other APC candidates in the state and what has infuriated them was how the President publicly appreciates and acknowledged the warm reception accorded to him by Gov. Dankwambo whenever he visits the state in spite their political difference.

According to him, Buhari has more regard for Dankwambo than many of the APC chieftains in the state because most of them were his adversaries.

"There was glaring indication that Buhari was not comfortable with his party chieftains in Gombe because most of them were his adversaries particularly the self-acclaimed APC leader in the state Senator Danjuma Goje who denied Buhari access to the stadium, the same venue where the yesterday's presidential rally took place when he was governor in 2007 and at certain time, he denied him landing at Gombe airport by stationing water tank on the runway of the Lawanti Airport. He was Buhari's antagonist for a very long time ".

"So Buhari wasn't comfortable with him being the leader of the party in the state. Secondly, the same gubernatorial candidate that Buhari raised his hand in 2015 and failed to deliver is the same person Goje is bringing this time around". He said.

He added that the President however didn't mention the name of any APC candidate throughout the rally 'which was an indication that he was not comfortable with them'.

Speaking further, Kera said; “Dankwambo received the President at the airport; they went to the State University together. From there they moved to flag off oil exploration project (in Bauchi), and the came back to (Gombe) Emir's palace where the president in his address, thanked Dankwambo for his humility."

Boko Haram: Coalition Salutes Military For Repelling Attacks In Adamawa, Yobe, Benue

The Coalition Against Terrorism and Extremism (CATE) has saluted the Nigerian Army for averting what it described as ‘Black Monday’ by successfully repelling multiple terror attacks in parts of the country.

Recall that the gallant Nigerian troops had overpowered and decimated some terrorists in Adamawa, Yobe and Benue States yesterday.

CATE in a statement through its President, Gabriel Onoja, lauded the Nigerian Army and the entire military for the dedication, commitment and the sense of sacrifice that inspired them to take down the terrorists while putting others in flight with varying degrees of bullet wounds.

The statement reads below:

These locations include Shuwa town in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State, where Boko Haram terrorists where given a taste of the powers of a sovereign state and in Kanama, Yunusari Local Government Area of Yobe state, where an invasion by Boko Haram rather left several of the terrorists dead when troops intercepted them. In Tomatar community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue, three militant herdsmen were gunned down by the Army after they tried to stage a surprise attack on the community.These multiple attacks happening on the same day indicated that they were meant to plunge the nation into a sense of grief and insecurity even as the General Elections are a matter of days away.

The attacks call to mind the series of alarms that have been raised by different stakeholders that there are people that have commissioned and paid terrorists to carry out such attacks so that Nigeria’s democracy can be aborted and an interim government illegally put in place.

The Army has averted what was apparently planned to be a Black Monday of sorrow and terror on account of the number of Nigerians that would have been massacred had these terrorists not stopped in their track. This success recorded by the Army is a demonstration of the positive results that can be had when citizens trust the military enough to collaborate with them and provide vital information.

The successful thwarting of the terrorists in all the instances has affirmed that the decision the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, to launch Operation Python Dance nationwide was the right call for which he should be commended. It has turned out to be a proactive approach to the nation’s security challenges since it is now apparent that there are really those that are embittered that the country is on the way to having peaceful elections, which has made them even more desperate to destroy Nigeria’s democracy.

We also praise the troops that brought down these terrorists. The troops have remained committed to Nigeria and obedient to the military leadership even when disgruntled politicians have tried all manners of gimmicks to manipulate them into allowing terrorists gain the upper hand in the days preceding the elections. Nigerians cannot thank them enough for the valour they have shown in dealing the common enemy, which politicised terrorism.

However, it is apparent that there will be more of these kinds of attacks spread over wide geographical areas. This is because the sponsors of these attacks will adapt the “whack-a-mole” strategy, in which they will randomly chose to launch attacks in different geographical locations that are spatially incongruous in a bid to wear down the Army and to make it impossible for troops to deploy to all such locations at short notice. The desperation of those that want Nigeria to fail is such.

We therefore urge that the Army increases its collaboration with other agencies to improve on intelligence gathering with a view to nabbing some of the brains behind these attacks at the planning stage before they have time to cause their desired carnage in any part of the country. This must be closely followed by ensuring that anyone found to be complicit in planning or financing attacks against Nigeria is made to face the law without delay to serve as deterrence to others with similar plans.

1,000 Interfaith Clerics to hold Grand Rally for Buhari’s Reelection

The National Inter-faith and Religious Organizations for Peace (NIFROP) is set to hold a grand rally of 1,000 clerics and faithfuls for the reelection of President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 general elections. This was contained in a statement issued by the group in Jos recently.

It stated that since the completion of a forty days’ inter-faith fasting and prayers as part of preparations for the commencement of the 2019 general elections it was revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari is God’s choice to lead the country for the next four years.

“Recall that at the end of this forty days of fasting and prayers, God emphatically revealed the choice was for the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari. It was revealed to people of faith that President Buhari is the choice of God because of the specific assignment that was given to him. His is the assignment to end the years of locust that had made Nigeria a laughing stock among nations before his ordained first term.”

“Our faith teaches us to back prayers with good deeds and actions. What has been revealed to us after prayers about the re-elections of President Buhari must now be backed up by actions. We have resolved to between now and the election speak truth to power in a manner that is more vocal than we have ever done in the past.”

The group averred that it would scale up activities to ensure that that which has been said about President Buhari’s election will come to pass. “As the first step, we shall be holding a Grand Rally for President Buhari’s re-election, is the choice of God for the land. We are doing this to ensure that Nigerians do not sin against God by ignorantly voting against the choice ordained to take the country to a higher level.”

The statement further stated that the Grand Rally would take place in Abuja on 7 February 2019 as divinely revealed during the forty days’ prayers and fasting.

“Eight is perfection. It symbolizes material abundance and economic success. Others might have misused such opportunity to do good things for Nigeria before, but one truly ordained by God shall make the initial four years of plowing and sowing to yield great harvests in the latter years.”

“Those with an evil intention for Nigeria have seen the glory that is soon to descend on the country once President Buhari has been re-elected. They have resorted to lies, intimidation, and violence to confuse the electorate from doing God’s will, which is to vote for President Buhari. Their intention for doing this is not just because they want to win and gain power at all cost. They are trying to turn Nigerians against President Buhari so that God will be displeased with the country and visit wrath upon us.”

NIFROP also stated that the essence of the Grand Rally is to enlighten voters to this uncommon combination of danger and opportunity.

“We are in danger if we contravene God’s order to re-elect President Buhari while we have a great opportunity to be blessed and thrive as a people when we do God’s will and re-elect him as our leader. This is the message we are taking to Nigerians on the streets during the Grand Rally. Those who cannot make it to Abuja to be part of the rally can hold mini-versions in their respective cities and towns.”

It would be recalled that NIPFROP assembled over 1000 clerics from various faiths to a forty days’ prayers and fasting for President Muhammadu Buhari and the general wellbeing of the country at large.

Presidential Rally: PDP Slams APC over Destruction of Campaign Materials

Peoples Democratic Party in Gombe State has strongly condemned the destruction of its campaign materials by the APC supporters during the Presidential rally today in the state.

Chairman Media and Publicity Committee of the 2019 PDP Campaign Council in the state, Dahiru Hassan Kera condemned what he called APC’s violence incline politics by the destroying PDP’s campaigns billboards during the President Buhari’s campaign visits to the state earlier today.

‘’Remember we held a successful PDP northeast zonal rally here in Gombe and it went peacefully without violence or any reported destruction but it’s quite condemnable the unwarranted and wanton destruction of our billboards and other campaign materials in the state by the APC supporters conspicuously to falsify and hoodwink their guests that they’ve supporters.’’

‘’Let APC know that, elections is not war and free, fair, and credible polls is what we in the PDP are calling for and violence, intolerance, would not in any way change the minds and determination of the voters to vote for only credible candidates best on their track records and pedigree. Gov. Dankwambo has fulfilled his promises to the people of Gombe State and even going beyond promises to executes other laudable projects.’’ Kera has said.

Further lamenting, Kera said in 2019 history will repeat itself as PDP is determine to win the elections at all levels. Let them expect most humiliating and imminent defeat as we are ready to replicate the 2015 gesture.

Gombe State Governor Hassan Dankwambo has received thousands of defectors from some of the political parties into the fold of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) including a serving member of the state assembly, Hon. Maigari Jungudo during campaign rallies held in Dukku, Nafada and Funakaye local government areas of the State.

The governor in his address warned that security agencies have been mandated to deal with anybody plotting any act of violence during the conduct of the 2019 general elections, just as he asked women to stop using henna (lalle) until after the elections and urged that they vote for the PDP.

In a press statement signed by the Chairman Media and Publicity of the PDP Campaign Council in the State, Dahiru Hassan Kera, the Governor made this statement while addressing thousands of party's supporters at campaign rallies held in Dukku, Nafada and Funakaye local government areas.

He said; "As responsible leaders, we have obligation to ensure that citizens’ political choices are respected and that they are allowed to exercise their civic duties without any form of harassment. We therefore warn all those nursing any idea of political violence to steer clear of Bauchi state".

While commending the Independent National Electoral Commission for introducing the use of card reader in accrediting voters, Governor Dankwambo urged women who constitute the highest voting block to suspend the use of henna until after the elections because the card reader will not accredit those who use it.

The governor also used the occasion to assure that all ongoing projects in the state will be commissioned by his administration.

The State Chairman of the PDP, commended them for joining the party in the onerous task of nation building.

The PDP 2019 Campaign Council in state assured the people that the PDP candidate will continue with the laudable programs of the Dankwambo administration in order to make the state better.

The campaign council also urged the electorates to ensure that they voted for the PDP presidential candidate in order to repair what the present APC led federal government has damaged in the country.

Army Establishment of Military Base in Gembu Excites Taraba Community

By Abu Duniya

The Taraba Good Governance Council has expressed elation at the commissioning of the newly established Forward Operation Base, Gembu, Sardauna Local Government Area of Taraba State by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General TY Buratai.

The group, while commending the army chief for being responsive to the demand of the people, said the establishment of the Forward Operation Base was prayer answered for the community.

Leader of the group, Istifanus Kifasi, while addressing newsmen in Jalingo, Taraba State on Thursday, said the community was confident that the activation of this Forward Operation Base will put an end to all the ills - sectarian violence, farmers/herders conflict, kidnapping, armed robbery, economic sabotage and insurgency.

According to Kifasi, “Dealing with these crimes is strategic to providing security across Nigeria.

“It is noteworthy that the people of Taraba had given up hope that their safety and security will forever be at the whims of political prevarications but the COAS has proven that all Nigerians matter and that Taraba has a special place in the country with the establishment of the base to deal with challenges that affect the lives of our people.

“It is in this light that we recognize the step taken by the Nigerian Army as being directed at bringing lasting peace not only around the Mambila Plateau and communities ravaged by ethnic clashes in the north eastern state of Taraba but to also to ensure that the Nigerian Army continues to prove its mettle in defending the territorial integrity of Nigeria from internal and external aggression. The instability plaguing he Anglophone region of Cameroon makes the establishment of this base imperative.

“The reassuring gesture of the Nigerian Army will go a long way to prove naysayers wrong in their earlier claim that the Nigerian Army was not committed to the restoration of peace in the state and neighboring states. The Forward Operation Base will now show how much the Army cares and how far it has gone in discharging its obligations to the people of Taraba state.

“We, in similar vein, acknowledge the efforts of the state Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku for partnering with the Army and other stakeholders towards bringing about lasting peace in the state. The place of peace, security and development in bringing about a Taraba of our aspiration cannot be overemphasized and we implore Governor Ishaku to continue along this path of cooperation with the Nigerian Army as an institution with the capacity to restore security to our state. The governor should make it a point of duty to mentor other politicians that need guidance and encouragement in becoming exemplary leaders by prevailing on them not to incite or arm youths to commit crimes.

This singular decision by the Governor and the Nigerian Army will mark a new turn in the security, peace and development of our beloved state and eventually put an end to every wrong notion in the air about our cooperation with the Nigerian Army or not. It is hoped that it will further endear the efforts of both the Governor and the Nigerian Army to the hearts of our people.

“The Taraba Good Governance Council uses this opportunity to appeal to our compatriots in the state to see the launch of the base as a kind of reset button that should prompt all of us to reassess our relationship with each other and come to the realization that there can be better inter-ethnic and sectarian interaction that will reduce the tendencies for violent clashes.

"Our belief is that once we manage our affairs in Taraba state with the least incidences to require the intervention of the Army, troops can better focus on on dealing with external threats to Nigeria, like containing the separatists from Cameroon.”

APC Stalwart Lauds INEC Over its Position on Zamfara

A stalwart of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Zamfara State Alhaji Musa M. Hassan has applauded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for maintaining the status quo on its ealier decision to stop the All Progressive Congress (APC) from participating in the upcoming governorship, national and state assembly elections in the state due to alleged non conduct of primary elections in the party.

The Independent National Electoral Commission yesterday issued a Press statement affirming its earlier decision to stop the All Progressives Congress from presenting candidates for the forthcoming general elections in Zamfara state.

Recall that INEC had earlier said it would release the final list of governorship and State Assemybly candidates on Thursday, and however said the status quo remained unchanged in the state.

The commission made the clarification in a statement issued on Wednesday night by its National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye.

He said, "The Independent National Electoral Commission met on Wednesday January 30 2019 and among other things approved the final list of candidates for the governorship, State Assembly and FCT Area Council elections scheduled to hold on March 2 2019.

"On the whole, there are 1, 066 candidates for the governorship elections, 14, 583 for the State Assembly elections and 806 for the FCT Area Council elections broken down into 105 Chairmanship candidates and 701 councillorship candidates.

"The commission reviewed the situation concerning the APC fielding candidates for the governorship and State Assembly elections in Zamfara State. The commission noted that there are two court judgements on the matter one from a State High Court in Gusau and the other from a Federal High Court in Abuja.

"The former judgement clearly said that the APC conducted primaries in Zamfara State, contrary to the position of the commission. On the other hand, the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled that the party did not conduct valid primaries and therefore is ineligible to field candidates for the elections.

"The commission would like to reaffirm its commitment to obeying all court judgements, even when it disagrees with them. However, these are clearly two contradictory judgements delivered by two courts of coordinate jurisdiction on the same day.

"Consequently, the commission has decided to maintain its original position that the party in question did not conduct primaries and therefore, in line with Section 87 of the Electoral Act 20l0 (as amended), is not eligible to field candidates for the National Assembly, governorship and State Assembly elections in Zamfara State.

Speaking with newsmen, the APC stalwart said the decision by the electoral body to reject the APC candidates unilaterally nominated by Governor Abdulaziz Yari was an indication that the commission is willing to conduct free and fair election in the forthcoming elections.

He urged citizens in the state to remain dogged and resist all forms of corruption, impunity and or imposition of inept leaders by 'any self centered political God father' henceforth in the state.

Onnoghen: Protest Breaks Out in London as Nigerians Ask UK to Support Buhari Kill Corruption

By Abu Duniya

While a small chunk of Nigerians are yet to come to terms with President Muhammadu Buhari’s courageous suspension of embattled Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen, their counterparts in the diaspora have lauded the move.

In the United Kingdom, in particular, Nigerians welcomed the removal of the judicial chief as it is a clear deviation from the several years of impunity.

It is for this reason, Nigerians under the auspices of Arise For A New Nigeria, stormed the streets of London, exactly No10 Downing street, close to the Prime Minister’s Office, to show solidarity with their country's leader.

In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Theresa May, the group’s President Andrew Kobani, speaking on behalf of his countrymen, urged Britain to support the anti-corruption fight of Mr Buhari, especially concerning Mr Onnoghen's removal.

Read the full press statement below.

The Rt. Honourable Theresa May, Prime Minister
Office of the Prime Minister
10 Downing Street
London SW1A 2AA
Madam Prime Minister,

SOLICITING FOR THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE UK GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR THE MUHAMMADU BUHARI ADMINISTRATION IN THE WAR AGAINST CORRUPTION

Madam Prime Minister, may wish to note that Nigeria is experiencing a turbulent period in the fight against corruption as initiated by the administration of Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

They are sufficing to note that since 2015, the present administration has initiated measures aimed at reducing corrupt practices in the conduct of government business at all tiers of governance. This effort has yielded positive results to the admiration of the bulk of Nigerians and the consternation of a select few that have benefited from the rot in the system.

Undeterred, the government of President Muhammadu Buhari has carried on with enthusiasm and a determination to see that structural defects are fixed to curb the rot in the system for the betterment of Nigeria as a country.

Madam Prime Minister may also wish to note that the bane of underdevelopment in Nigeria is as a result of the lackadaisical attitude of previous governments in the fight against corruption that has resulted in the wanton disregard for accountability and transparency in the conduct of government businesses and by extension governance in Nigeria.

Since 2015 when the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari took over the affairs of the state in Nigeria, Nigeria has recorded tremendous progress in governance evident in the dividends of democracy trickling down the ladder.

Madam Prime Minister however, the present administration has encountered numerous challenges from individuals and organisations that have subverted the system through nefarious ways and means all in the quest to portray the Muhammadu Buhari administration in poor light in an attempt to pitch the populace against the government to fulfil their personal agenda of causing unrest and disaffection in the country.

The recent case of the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen who violated the law in declaring his assets as stipulated by the law has further emphasized the level of rot in the system.

A particular segment of the Nigerian society has cried wolf where none exist and painted a picture of political persecution, forgetting that Nigeria was on the brinks of imminent collapse due the activities of a few that have benefitted from the rot in the system.

Madam Prime Minister, we are through this medium soliciting for assistance from the United Kingdom in the war against corruption in Nigeria as initiated by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in recent times.

A vivid example can be seen in the instance where the Chief Judicial Official in Nigeria, either by omission or commission failed to declare a part of his assets running into millions of dollars.
The Chief Justice of Nigeria as the number one judicial officer in the country for inexplicable reasons did not declare a part of his assets before the Code of Conduct Bureau in Nigeria. The CJN cited “forgetfulness and mistake” as the reasons for the non-declaration.

Madam Prime Minister, the non-declared items are bank accounts with balances that runs into millions of pounds sterling and dollars. This is too much to be right in our considered opinion. As the number one judicial officer in the country, it is wholly untenable for such an excuse, unless for deliberate reasons.

This untoward display of acts inimical to the progress of Nigeria has necessitated the kind, and timely intervention of the Prime Minister and the British government is assisting Nigeria in the war against corruption. If, not, corruption will kill Nigeria at this rate. And that would not happen under the leadership of Madam Prime Minister.

Madam Prime Minister,may be aware that political jobbers and ethnic champions have given the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria ethnic and religious actions, but in truth, it was a timely intervention aimed at saving the judicial arm of government in Nigeria further embarrassment as a result of the unethical conduct of the Chief Justice of Nigeria.

This letter is an SOS, as well as a reminder to Madam Prime Minister, Theresa May and UK Secretary for African Affairs Mrs Harriett Baldwin that Nigeria would return to the brinks if steps, just like this are not taken to arrest the cankerworm of corruption that has eaten deep into governance in Nigeria.

It is our considered opinion that the United Kingdom as an ally of Nigeria cannot afford to watch as Nigeria goes to the brinks. It must render that assistance to the government of Nigeria that has made substantial inroads in the fight against corruption.

I have the honour to be, Madam, Your humble and obedient servant

CC: Mrs Harriett Baldwin
UK Secretary for African Affairs

FOI Request: HURIWA Urges Govt Agencies To Emulate Nigerian Army

A pro-democracy and Pro-transparency Non-Governmental organization- Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has tasked ministers and heads of federal government agencies to emulate the shining examples of the Chief of Army staff Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai by rapidly responding to numerous requests made by groups and individuals to them about their procurement and administration of public finances in their custody.

HURIWA which spoke against the backdrop of the emerging information that the Chief of Army staff Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai immediately sent a comprehensive and thoroughly accountable response to a Lagos based civil rights group- Socio-economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP); Enough is Enough (EIE) and BUDGIT which authored and submitted to the offices of the Chief of Army staff Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai a jointly written Freedom of information request on the disclosure of expenses made by the Army in the ongoing counter terror war in the North East of Nigeria.

HURIWA said the action of Chief of Army staff Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai in responding to this request from Non-Governmental organizations is an unprecedented act of heroism which must be celebrated and adopted as a litmus test for all other Federal Government ministries, agencies and parastatals that operate opaque finding mechanisms which lead to extensive and widening corruption. This good and remarkable example should serve as veritable standard bearer for other state entities that have so far resisted the calls and advocacy for the Freedom of information Act to be domesticated in their States.”

HURIWA recalled that the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai had responded to joint freedom of information request sent to him by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), Enough Is Enough (EIE), and BUDGIT requesting him to provide information on spending on military operations across the country, particularly in the northeast.

HURIWA’s hierarchy in a statement by the National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Media Affairs Director Miss Zainab Yusuf recalled vividly that in a statement signed on behalf of the groups, Bamisope Adeyanju of SERAP said that a bulky photographic and textual document was delivered to SERAP office by an army officer.

HURIWA quoted SERAP as disclosing that a quick look at the document shows a list of several projects reportedly implemented by the Nigerian Army, including barracks renovation and construction, operational expenditure, troops welfare, and equipment procurement even as she said the groups will study the document carefully to get details of its contents and respond appropriately.

HURIWA further recalled that the Lagos based CSO known as Serap also commended the army’s compliance with the FOI request and urged other public office holders to toe the same line to contribute to efforts at promoting accountability in the country.

HURIWA on its own said the decision of the Chief of Army staff Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai deserves a national award and appreciation by the organized civil society community just as it indicated that it has initiated a social media nomination process for credible Non-Governmental organizations around the Country to indicate interest in joining HURIWA and her 35 other affiliates including the Continental body- ASSOCIATION OF AFRICAN WRITERS ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES RIGHTS (AFRIRIGHTS) to confer a GOLD MEDAL AWARD ON the Chief of Army staff Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai for this tremendous show of solidarity and support for the total implementation and enforcement of the FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT which is a tool for the enthronement of the compliance by all government officials with the time honoured and tested principles of Accountability and Transparency.

HURIWA stated thus: “We have in the last three years sent out over two dozen FOI requests to Federal ministries including ministries of Budget and Planning; Finance; Justice and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) but got no response. “We call on President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly to jointly congratulate the hierarchy of the Nigerian Army for this show of respect for the Rule of law”.

Welcoming Operation Python Dance

By Eza Idibia

The nationwide Operation Python Dance is the military exercise by the Nigerian Army to provide additional support for the police and other security agencies for the period covering the 2019 general elections. Incidentally, Operation Python Dance has its own track record, similar exercises, although confined to the south-east geo-political zone, recorded huge successes in its first and second iteration in the area covering Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states in the south east, and stretching to Cross River and Rivers in some sessions .

For the duration of the exercise in the two consecutive years it has held in the area, even though promoted as training exercise, it has been credited with stemming some of the crimes that were once rampant in the areas covered. It was Operation Python Dance that eventually curbed the menace of kidnap for ransom and armed banditry that were the dread of the states in the south-east. These are achievements that have been hailed by Nigerians from that part of the country for making it possible for them to work up the courage to visit their home states in the Yuletide season in the years referenced when in the past they were scared of venturing home for fear of being robbed or abducted.

It is therefore in order to say that the exercise remains one of the most successful military drills in the country going by its capacity to effectively send criminal elements away from the south-east and south-south. Of note is that there were initial apprehension and rejection from these parts of the country where there was initially misconception that the troops being sent in will have run-ins with the civilian population. This fear was further heightened by the coordinated propaganda that was aimed at making the people hostile towards the exercise.

The only concern people could have had is the one about the potential for people to be brutalised by overzealous military personnel. But in an age when troops have been trained to adhere to rules of engagement that meet global standards, such concerns have no place. The civility of the previous exercise is a reference point here. The civility of the exercise with its far reaching impacts rather give one a high impression about the Nigerian Army, its officers and men.

The assurance that this would be the case derives from the repeated efforts by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Tukur Buratai, who has been consistent in discouraging soldiers and officers from meddling in politics and political activities in the country. This should banish the thoughts of those that think soldiers are being deployed to influence the elections one way or the other when in reality Operation Python Dance is about ensuring that the present wave of criminality does not jeopardize the nation’s democracy since there is every tendency that persons with questionable intents would attempt to sabotage the votes by causing security breaches.

General Buratai has demonstrated even at the most difficult of times that the Army serves to uphold the nation’s democracy. He has in the course of his work demonstrated that the military is subservient to the civilian authorities. It is a trait that must be acknowledged because it is a critical step in weaning the military to know its place in our democracy.

With the positive attributes identified with Operation Python Dance and the professionalism displayed till date by those behind the exercise, it is logical to wonder why some people are expressing morbid fear about its imminence. Do people really have something to fear from the exercise holding across the country when it has in past held successfully in some parts of the country?

The answer can be found in the criminality that the exercise will curtail and the intentions of those that promote such criminality. There are those politicians that deliberately sponsor violence in the hope that they can create an atmosphere that will not allow elections to hold so that they can in turn ask for absurdities like interim government and other aberrations that are alien to the constitution. Once the operations kicks off, troops will be able to suppress the plots to destabilize the electoral process once they ensure that all plans to cause outbreak of violence are diffused.

The operation will not give room for voters’ intimidation, gangster minded candidates will not be able to kidnap or abduct their opponents, while ballot snatching, disruption of polling units and other acts of violence meant to rig the polls. Anyone that is afraid that the deployment for the operation will not allow these to take place should be investigated as to the nature of their true intentions.

Any true lover of democracy in Nigeria will therefore welcome Operation Python Dance with zeal given the good news it means for the peaceful conduct of elections in a country where some politicians have mobilized hoodlums to compromise the polls on an industrial scale. They will not only embrace the exercise but will take the additional step of educating other citizens about the benefit of having the exercise to deal with the threats to the elections.

Idibia is a forensic psychologist based in Owerri, Imo state.

Perry Brimah’s New Low: GoFundMe Fraud

By Kolawole Anthony

Perry Brimah is raising funds on GoFundMe with the claim that the money is meant for feeding Nigerian troops fighting Boko Haram terrorists in the northeast of the country. As of the time of writing this, the page has raised $25 of the targeted $45,000 with some interesting things about the campaign started on December 31, 2018. Brimah donated $20 of the $25 so far received while only one other donor has given $5 to the campaign, “Food For Nigerian Soldiers”. The poor response does not mean the mischief that is afoot should be ignored.

Three things come to mind here. One, Brimah’s fundraising is the product of mischief, a political statement – a parody, another of his antics to irritate the military leadership. Secondly, the brain behind ‘Every Nigerian Do Something (ENDS) is broke and is stylishly extorting good natured international donors so that he can raise some money to cover his personal expenses and possibly make up for his inability to effectively join the looting class in Nigeria. Thirdly, Brimah could be frontally attempting to raise funds that he will make available to extremists, pocket the balance for his personal use, and get under the skin of the military leadership while at it.

In the first scenario, for some unexplained pervert reason, Perry Brimah had made it his life goal to oppose everything that stands for order and peace in Nigeria. The Nigerian military, as with other nation, is symbolic of the country’s ability to deal with threats and keep citizens safe from security threats. Brimah has consistently stood against this so he always finds a way to attempt irritating the military.

The GoFundMe campaign is therefore possibly a continuation of his earlier misinformation and lies about starving troops. Some accounts had it that the brain behind ENDS went as far as getting actors in military costumes to depict starving soldiers scrambling for food. His social media associates then tried their best to make these videos trend until their lie was found out and the tale of starving troops fizzled out, even though these associates of Brimah’s continue to refer to their fake news as basis to accuse authorities of not caring for troops.

The second possibility of a financially broke Brimah is equally plausible. After all, the campaign he ran for the Islamic Republic of Iran to deliver propaganda content in favour of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) has largely failed. If a disappointed Iran is not willing to fund Brimah in 2019 owing to the gross failure from the preceding year, it is only logical that he finds another revenue stream to accommodate his lifestyle of opulence. In this regard, one must credit him for being a savvy investor who trended the faked video of starving Nigerian soldiers ahead of time knowing that it will one day come in handy for defrauding unsuspecting donors. This possibility becomes even credible knowing that Brimah will not be so magnanimous to finance the same troops that subdued his IMN clients.

As for the likelihood of running the GoFundMe campaign to covertly finance terrorists and extremists, that too is not far from the truth whether the money eventually goes to IMN, Boko Haram, IPoB or any other extremist and terrorist group that Brimah is sure can help destabilize Nigeria. Like the fundraiser, IMN is by now enjoying limited goodwill from Iran after it is unable to show appreciable returns for the years of financing other than the shambolic violent protests in Abuja in the latter half of 2018; Brimah’s efforts could help deliver the needed financial lifeline that will buy IMN time before staging spectacular attacks that will revive Iran’s interest in their affairs. Boko Haram has possibly not earned much from kidnap for ransom and robberies in recent months so this overnight philanthropist may in reality be trying to collect money from the trusting public to ensure the terrorists do not run out of steam given the recent escalation in their attacks.

There is the catch-22 of how Brimah will get the raised fund to the troops. Is he going to hand over the money to the same military leadership he as severally accused of corruption without basis? Even if he were going to hand the cash over the military top brasses there are no precedents for such. He cannot buy the food and distribute to the troops since this is fraught with risk to the soldiers – Brimah could be out to poison them en-masse with such food item so that he can achieve in one fell swoop what his terrorists-clients have not achieved in ten years. The mere fact that he is raising a fund that cannot be delivered to the intended beneficiaries is a red flag that all is not right with his latest venture.

Whichever of the foregoing is true, all of them may be true, there is need for concern and certainly action to shut down the GoFundMe account with the prospect of prosecuting Brimah in any court that has jurisdiction. The first concern has to do with abusing the trust of the donating public. The Nigerian Army has denounced the campaign with proof that its troops have the logistics and welfare they need. GoFundMe should take note of this and that a fraud have been committed. A random vagrant cannot be raising funds to finance the troops of a sovereign country that has budgetary provision for the same purpose. The fundraising therefore violates GoFundMe’s provision that prohibits the use of the platform for perpetrating fraud.

Where the fundraising is proven to be actually meant as an irritant to the leadership of the Nigerian Army, to the extent that the funds are raised offshore from nationals of other countries, it will constitute an act of aggression against Nigeria. This has implications for international relations among countries so those contributing to the fund should truly understand the implications of what they are doing. They must be exceptionally cautious because of what the antic is meant to achieve, which is distract the Nigerian military from effectively tackling terrorists.

The other possibility of raising funds for extremists and terrorists goes beyond immoral into the criminal territory. It places donors at risks of violating international anti-terror conventions, violates the anti-terror legislation of the donors’ home countries and clearly runs contrary to Nigeria’s anti-terrorism legislation. It is trite to assume that GoFundMe will not be proud to be used for financing terrorism and extremism anywhere on the face of the earth. The campaign must thus be shut down before further damage is done.

It is reassuring that the Nigerian Army says it is working with Interpol to declare Brimah wanted for this global fundraising. But it should go more than declaring him wanted. Additional steps include using the tools available on GoFundMe site to report Brimah’s campaign as a fraud, following up with a detailed petition to GoFundMe and sensitizing the world as to the dangers of given their money to this individual.

The fundraiser is a reminder that one aspect being overlooked by Nigerian authorities in the fight against terrorism is the sources of financing of the terrorists. It is a really bad situation if a character like Brimah can openly source for funds to give terrorists and not much can be done about. This should be a test case in how the country stops illicit financial flow to terrorists.

Kolawole PhD, a University teacher wrote from the Keffi, Nasarawa State.

Insurgency War: Ex Army Chief Akinrinade Tasks Media On Fair Reportage

Former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant Gen. Alani Akinrinade (rtd), has cautioned the media on false reports on happenings in the war against Boko Haram insurgency.

Akinrinade gave the advice at the 81 Division West African Social Activities (WASA), at 65 Battalion parade ground, warning that, “the exaggerated and sometimes entirely fabricated falsehood on the social media and the possible repercussion on the morale of our troops are incalculable.”

He urged the military to persuade the media to go to the front lines, to have first-hand information, pointing out that, “the media can be persuaded to have some of their experienced field operators to be attached to some of the forward headquarters.”

The former army chief said this was necessary to enable such capable hands in the media “to bring us authentic information as to happenings on the front-lines, to reduce the mischief that is pervasive on the social media.”

He commended the entire armed forces for their exploits in the past few troubled times, particularly in West Africa, where the flag was hoisted with pride and valour.

“I salute you all for the efforts you have exerted.

” I believe I speak for all our citizens when I say we recognise and lament the irreparable losses in both military and civilian lives and property. That has been the hallmark of our lives in the past few years.

“Our hearts go out, especially during this festive season, to our men and women on Operation LAFIYA DOLE.

“I know the feeling, having spent three consecutive Yuletides in the swamps, mangrove and creeks of our country and the disparities then were not as stark as today.”

Earlier, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Musa Yusuf, in his opening remarks, said that WASA was aimed at celebrating the end of a successful operational year.

He said: “It is in keeping with this age-long tradition that we are here gathered today to witness yet another WASA.

“There is no doubt that 2018 was characterised by numerous security challenges, such as insurgency, farmers/herders clash, kidnappings, armed robbery, pipeline vandalism and other criminalities.

“To overcome these challenges, the division requires a high degree of professionalism by personnel which is achieved through realistic training.

“In this direction, 81 Division has conducted and implemented all training activities consistent with the vision of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and in line with the Nigerian Army Training Directives.”

He said the division would redouble it efforts toward ensuring that troops were adequately given mission and specific training.

The GOC said this was necessary, especially in anticipation of likely tasks the Division would be expected to carry out in the conduct of the 2019 general elections.

“I, therefore, urge all personnel to remain focused, professional and apolitical in carrying out their constitutional duties during the elections,”

Insurgency War: Ex Army Chief Akinrinade Tasks Media On Fair Reportage

Former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant Gen. Alani Akinrinade (rtd), has cautioned the media on false reports on happenings in the war against Boko Haram insurgency.

Akinrinade gave the advice at the 81 Division West African Social Activities (WASA), at 65 Battalion parade ground, warning that, “the exaggerated and sometimes entirely fabricated falsehood on the social media and the possible repercussion on the morale of our troops are incalculable.”

He urged the military to persuade the media to go to the front lines, to have first-hand information, pointing out that, “the media can be persuaded to have some of their experienced field operators to be attached to some of the forward headquarters.”

The former army chief said this was necessary to enable such capable hands in the media “to bring us authentic information as to happenings on the front-lines, to reduce the mischief that is pervasive on the social media.”

He commended the entire armed forces for their exploits in the past few troubled times, particularly in West Africa, where the flag was hoisted with pride and valour.

“I salute you all for the efforts you have exerted.

” I believe I speak for all our citizens when I say we recognise and lament the irreparable losses in both military and civilian lives and property. That has been the hallmark of our lives in the past few years.

“Our hearts go out, especially during this festive season, to our men and women on Operation LAFIYA DOLE.

“I know the feeling, having spent three consecutive Yuletides in the swamps, mangrove and creeks of our country and the disparities then were not as stark as today.”

Earlier, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Musa Yusuf, in his opening remarks, said that WASA was aimed at celebrating the end of a successful operational year.

He said: “It is in keeping with this age-long tradition that we are here gathered today to witness yet another WASA.

“There is no doubt that 2018 was characterised by numerous security challenges, such as insurgency, farmers/herders clash, kidnappings, armed robbery, pipeline vandalism and other criminalities.

“To overcome these challenges, the division requires a high degree of professionalism by personnel which is achieved through realistic training.

“In this direction, 81 Division has conducted and implemented all training activities consistent with the vision of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and in line with the Nigerian Army Training Directives.”

He said the division would redouble it efforts toward ensuring that troops were adequately given mission and specific training.

The GOC said this was necessary, especially in anticipation of likely tasks the Division would be expected to carry out in the conduct of the 2019 general elections.

“I, therefore, urge all personnel to remain focused, professional and apolitical in carrying out their constitutional duties during the elections,”

Appreciating Nigerian Troops @ Christmas

By Richards Murphy

Three weeks ago, I stumbled across a picture on social media, which invoked sympathy. It got me thinking for a long time. The selfie was that of a gallant soldier fighting Boko Haram terrorism in the desert of the Northeast.

It was the birthday of this soldier, a special day in his life and a day every other human being celebrates in style, pomp and pageantry. But the soldier’s case was different. He was “celebrating” the birthday on his duty post on the battlefront. What I saw displayed as spicing this special day of the soldier were a famished plate of rice, a pack of fruit juice and two sachets of pure water.

That soldier had no pleasure of listening to his wife or children or friends sing to his pleasure the sonorous song; “happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you….; how old are you now?” You can say, it is self-approved depravity for the sake of peace and security of our country.

Sadly too, he didn’t mark this special day in forlornness alone, by the absence of his wife, children, family members, friends and associates; but no one feted him with birthday gifts or some special treats peculiar with such celebrations.

Even when he invited Nigerians on social media to join him in marking his birthday, he was ignored, as there were few responses. Almost a day after he made the post on Facebook, there were only about 20 “likes” and even fewer comments. That’s our mindset and perception on troops, who have sacrificed everything, including their lives for us to have peace and security.

While I reflected over the fate of this soldier, what assailed my thoughts endlessly was a sense of guilt. His plight symbolizes the lack of concern on our troops battling insurgency in the country.

There is no external aggression on Nigeria. Boko Haram is basically an internal problem. So, i tried to find justification for the emergence and sustenance of Boko Haram insurgency, but could not find any reason to placate me.

Next, I felt empathetic; not for the soldier, but for the aloofness of some Nigerians in appreciating the grave task of quelling the Boko Haram scourge by soldiers. I was piqued more with the consistency of this collective reticent disposition for our troops who have sacrificed everything to give us peace, comfort and security in our homes.

And December 25, 2018 was another big day in the lives of Christians globally. The commemoration of the birth of our Lord and personal Saviour Jesus Christ, a feast marked with funfair. The celebrations are usually elaborate and planned overtime.

It is a season observed with the signature of visits to family members and friends, exchange of gifts, carnivals, social parties, work breaks, and other social interactions laced in leisure and relaxations. These are the comforts the rest of Nigerian Christians enjoy at every yuletide.

But on the reverse side, our gallant troops combating Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast are painfully deprived of these liberties on account of official duties. We must know that special and catchy festive days like Sallah, Christmas and New Year celebrations are auspicious days insurgents love to strike to disrupt the pleasure such days stimulate in the citizens.

Terrorists consciously plot and embark on atrocious acts that would replace the pleasure and happiness with sorrows and agonies. It has been the tradition and in the past, and insurgents had always succeeded. But today, the vigilance and combative dexterity of our troops has truncated such terrorists’ atrocities on the people.

And in the Northeast, Boko Haram terrorists were very active in the last week preceding Christmas. They schemed to overwhelm our troops with serial strikes to prepare fertile grounds to unleash the final onslaught on Nigerians on Christmas day. But our brave troops never gave them a chance.

On Christmas eve, while our mothers, wives, aunties and the likes were making last minute shopping for the Christmas or cooking favourite delicacies for us to celebrate the festivity, our troops were in the tranches battling insurgents. Back home, their wives and mothers also prepared same sumptuous meals, but the soldier was nowhere the warmth of home to savour the dishes.

And these tales are far from fiction, but reality. On Christmas eve, the hour most of us had started our Christmas holiday in cozy homes or leisure spots, our troops fought and repelled terrorists attack on Forward Operational Base at Kukareta in Damaturu LGA. It was after troops had earlier successfully overpowered insurgents who ambushed them along the Maiduguri-Damaturu highway after a fierce battle.

And our troops have continued with this vigilance. On Boxing Day, we sent gifts to our beloved ones. But the soldier on the battle front never received any gift from us and not even a word of appreciation. Many of us never remembered that these soldiers have families; we were not encouraged by the spirit of the festivity to either visit or extend a gift to these families.

I searched Facebook and there were very little Christmas goodwill messages for our troops. But we extended same to people and institutions. This is not forgetfulness, but a deliberate act of taciturnity toward our troops.

But the soldiers are there; out in the cold winds of this season, eating regimental dishes; instead of what he would have loved to eat at any given time, like we freely select our menus every day and time. Yet, we have no feeling for them even on special occasions like Christmas.

We must search ourselves inwards; we should expand our reflections and dispassionately assess the counter-insurgency operations against Boko Haram terrorists, mounted by the Nigerian military, especially the Nigerian Army. The truth about the positive impact will ceaselessly stare us in the face.

No Nigerian can convince himself sincerely that he is not excited with the Army’s stoppage of bomb explosions in Abuja or any other part of the North as obtainable before now. Even if we pretend, it is incontestable that the Army under the command of the COAS and leader of the counter-insurgency operations, Lt. Gen. TY Buratai have reduced Boko Haram operations to confined obscure areas in the Northeast.

It cannot be disputed that the Army have performed marvelously. Those in doubt should ask other countries of the world which are under the spell of terrorism. It’s tough and nightmarish. Victory against insurgency is not earned so cheaply. But the Nigerian Army has continued to prove its might against terrorists.

I have no doubt that for every day Nigeria and the citizenry enjoy peace, there are people out in the trenches working tirelessly to entrench this peace and security. The Nigerian military and other security agencies who are anchoring this great altruistic national service for peace and enhanced security in our country and for our sake, deserves our acknowledgment and appreciation.

Our spirit of togetherness is not yet broken and when we collectively support our Armed Forces, Boko Haram insurgents cannot triumph over us. Let’s re-order the direction of our perceptions and begin to look at the soldier on the battlefront as our son, brother, husband and symbol of the Christ-like motif, which has offered the plank for the peace and security of our dear country.

Murphy is a security expert and wrote this piece from Calabar.