Salkida: Between A Journalist and an Accomplice

By Charles Ibekwe

On April 14th 2014, the entire globe was greeted with the news of the abduction of over 200 girls who were preparing for an examination, from their school in Chibok, Borno- State. As expected, the barbaric act was greeted with widespread condemnation especially when the abductors were confirmed to be the deadly terrorist sect: Boko Haram.

Here in Nigeria it marked the hallmark of a new chapter in our politics and in fact our national life. Nothing was going to be the same again after that episode, it rattled the government. The military and other security agencies were criticized heavily for failing to protect the citizenry, it was chaos here.
In my opinion, the issue of the missing chibok girls was a major factor in determining the outcome of the last presidential elections. The tortuous feeling that over two hundred girls forcefully snatched up with little hope of ever seen alive again, the traumatic and extremely depressing and long-lasting negative psychological effects for their families and friends ,and what about the girls themselves? The unimaginable agony they will experience in the hands of their abductors? Any human with blood flowing through its veins will and should be terribly worried. Those who committed this heinous crime are nothing but savages. Their actions can never ever be justified by any form of sense. They cannot be considered as homo sapiens let alone humans.

Many people from across the world lent their support to the rescue of these girls , heads of governments , religious leaders , celebrities, Leaders of the United states, United Kingdom, France, Germany and many other countries pledged different forms of assistance to help get the girls back. Such was the level of uproar that the abductions generated that even pressure groups were formed in Nigeria to heap some pressure on the government to ensure that the rescue of the girls is given top priority.
It is therefore really baffling when with such International and national focus to rescue these girls off the hands of the deadly Boko Haram Sect, some individuals continue to act in ways impeding the rescue of these young girls , Whilst claiming to be journalists, such has been the behaviour of Ahmad Salkida.

I have followed with keen interest, Mr Salkida’s disposition to the entire Boko Haram issue from inception, and my perception has been of extreme discomfort, though I have always sought to give him the benefit of doubt and want to believe he is only doing his job. However, I guess there should be a line between what we call a job and what endangers other people’s lives or even takes the lives of others.

Haven read several articles by this young man criticizing the government’s approach in dealing with the Boko haram Issue, (don’t get me wrong there is absolutely nothing wrong in criticizing the government’s handling of any issue , that’s in fact quite important to keep the government on its toes.) It however becomes worrisome when you do that with the intent to malign the government and tactically endorse the actions of the terrorist group.

Salkida’s access to top leadership of the sect has been suspect to me for some time, but recent actions by this man and emerging details is beginning to confirm my suspicion that he may indeed be a Boko Haram sympathiser, a terrorist accomplice, or even perhaps the intellectual head of the deadly sect.

I was gladdened when the news broke that Mr Salkida has been declared wanted by the military authorities, following his refusal to show up and honor several invitations in the past. The declaration in my opinion is indeed long overdue.
In the world over, there have been instances of journalists’ gallantry efforts in obtaining valuable information from terrorist group and making such information available to relevant government agencies and the populace, but this is usually done to help reduce the act of terror or totally eliminating same. It however appears that Mr Salkida is not interested in gallantry journalism but rather in self-enrichment!
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If there is any man that knows the details as much as Shekau the purported leader of Boko Haram on the issue of the missing girls then it is Salkida Ahmad. Almost if not all the info he has given about Boko Haram activities has been accurate. This goes to proof that he indeed has the right links

I understand he sought to lead a negotiation between government and Boko Haram sect under the last administration of President Goodluck Jonathan which I learnt collapsed under suspicious circumstances with several millions of dollars alleged to have been swindled off the government at the time.
I hear he has also approached this new government to play the same role again, which this government is not in a hurry to indulge him due to his record with the last government.

The latest release of a video showing the Chibok girls alive should be a relief to many of us. We however have to be very strategic in digesting information released by terrorist.
Terrorist organizations mostly release info to the public that they consider will be to their advantage and will help further their course. In this case, the video shows bodies of some of the Chibok girls that were purportedly killed by airstrikes of the Nigerian air force jets.

This assertion in the video is an attempt to change the narrative and distract attention away from the progress being made by the military against the now fleeing terrorist. This narrative claims the air force are killing the girls, but rather takes away the fact that Boko Haram like many of these cowardly terrorist organizations are in the habit of using women and children as human shields and many times waste their lives out of anger.

These latest video is part of the Boko haram’s propaganda, circulated to get the public to put pressure on government to stop the successful air campaign by the Nigerian air force that has greatly decimated the Boko Haramn terrorist.

There is no doubt in my mind that there is some benefit in this abduction saga for Ahmad Salkida, the vigor with which he seeks to be the government’s negotiator , plus his self-exile in the United Arab Emirate (UAE) is suspect. Who is footing the bills of his life in Dubai? Why does he and the terrorist group come up with videos that attempt to change the narrative any time the terrorist group is getting a beating down?

All of these questions are what I think the security agencies should consider.
The UAE should as a matter of urgency deport Ahmad Salkida back to Nigeria to answer the very important questions that has been put to him. No serious country in the world would joke with its national security.

Attempting to take advantage of the democratic system of government to support terrorist activities will not stand . The security of the lives of our citizens is equally as important if not more important than the “ethics” of Salkida’s profession. We will have to navigate that thin line between national security and Journalism once again.

Ibekwe a security analyst contributed this piece from Agbani Road, Enugu.

Time to Take on Boko Haram’s Intellectual Wing

By Inuwa Suleiman

It is finally becoming clearer that Boko Haram has taken a hit from Nigeria’s military, a bad hit. Things are bad enough for the group to have gotten to the point of splitting down the middle, Jamā'at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da'wah wa'l-Jihād the old school Boko Haram led by Abubakar Shekau and al-Wilāyat al-Islāmiyya Gharb Afrīqiyyah (Islamic State West Africa Province,IWAP) for which the Islamic State (ISIS) recently announced a new leadership have become two dominant strain of the virus that once threatened or future existence.

The next bad news for the terror group was the report that its fighters were fleeing through the desert and across the Mediterranean to join ISIS in the Middle East. Tales carried by those fleeing mirrored camps that have become too chaotic in Sambisa forest to be conducive for continuing to wage an insurgency. The fleeing fighters see better prospects of survival with ISIS as opposed to remaining with a decimated group, whose members are being flushed out daily by the military. Their reasoning is possibly to disappear for a while until the intellectual arm of their struggle can again distract the Nigerian authorities long enough for them recover from their losses.

Closely on the heels of the division within Boko Haram and the flight of its members was the release of the video of some captive girls, believed to be from among those abducted from their school in Chibok in a development that drew international outrage and became bad PR for Boko Haram. International news agency, AFP quoted Ryan Cummings, director at intelligence firm Signal Risk, as saying “This (release of the video) focuses on using the girls as a bargaining chip,”. This goes to show the fighting days of Boko Haram are over except they can find a lull in the military operations to mop up their fighters and then lay dormant to await the return of their members who took flight to join ISIS. Those behind the video are apparently too known to the international security circles to attempt fleeing like their foot soldiers.

The only way to get that lull in the ongoing military operations is to dangle the girls as bait. To underscore their desire for a ceasefire there has been so much emphasis on how some of the girls have been killed in military strikes – no mention of who placed the girls in harm’s way in the course being used as human shield. The logic is that further military operations could lead to the death of those that were shown in the latest video. This thinking shows a terror group that is running short of fighters and command structure to launch the kind of spectacular attacks it needed to recruit new fanatics.

Boko Haram, or at least the faction behind the Chibok Girls video is turning to its intellectual resources to play the mind game with the Nigerian government. As would be expected the parents of the captive girls are imploring government to accede to the terror group’s request for a swap of the girls for fighters in custody.

Under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, similar strategy of shopping for a slowdown in military pursuit had seen the group able to raise money from phony negotiations to acquire more weapons. There are detailed reports about how the Federal Government representatives were hoodwinked on several occasions leading to billions of naira ending up in the pocket of terrorists. Ahmad Salkida, a journalists turned Boko Haram affiliate, has been a name in all the intellectual manoeuvre by the terror group. One Ahmed U. Bolori and Aisha Wakil are equally connected, posing as negotiator or any other title that does not directly link them with the group but rather present them as people the government cannot do without in taming terrorism.

Frighteningly, Salkida’s name has again been tied to the latest video from the Shekau’s gang. He, even from far away United Arab Emirates, correctly recounted the content of the video before it was published online having been sent an advance copy according to tweets from his verified Twitter handle. It wasn’t the first time that Salkida would be neck deep in the execution of Boko Haram strategies. He had run several content that amounted to doing propaganda for the group in the past and knowing the nature of his business with the terrorists he had the sense to have bolted from Nigeria long before the law could catch up with him.

He has offered to repeat what he did under previous administration: to be a negotiator with the flimsy claim that being a journalist meant he has contact to initiate talks. This is the intellectual wing of Boko Haram at work and the government, military and security forces must immediately counter this. If the country falls for this trick one more time, then things would definitely get ugly. One, there could be a repeat of being connected with the wrong crowd and billions of naira again ends up with the terrorists and other crises contractors. There is also the thing that any talk Salkida brokers would be surrounded by confusion and controversies that will ensure it drags on while his true masters have time to regroup, re-arm with the gotten funds and return to being a threat. Thirdly, regardless of whether the federal government falls into the trap Salkida and his team have set, he has already used the video to make the military and the government look bad, which is a long running Boko Haram objective.

There is therefore a pressing need, after defeating its militant wing, for Nigeria to defeat the intellectual wing of the Boko Haram terror group. This intellectual wing would not be defeated by constantly pandering to a culture of political correctness. It would be defeated only by marshalling the political will needed to throw the books at otherwise insulated persons like Salkida, who will hide behind his former profession as journalist – he would allege being persecuted as an investigative journalist in order to continue using this cover to work as the propaganda chief of the terror group.

As some associations are already clamouring, this man should be shipped back to Nigeria under whatever or whichever of our uncountable treaties is applicable and be made to face trial for being a terror collaborator. It is a good sign that the Nigerian Army has declared Ahmed Salkida, (Ambassador) Ahmed U. Bolori and Aisha Wakil wanted, which is a welcome development as these people’s faces should have graced that infamous poster of wanted terrorists. According to the Army, their being declared wanted ‪” …becomes necessary as a result of their link with the last two videos released by Boko Haram Terrorists and other findings of our preliminary investigations.”

From the information made available, these trio have information on the conditions and the exact location of the Chibok girls. The question we should ask is for what purpose could these people have kept this information to themselves while playing mind games with the rest of us if they are not more connected to the terror group than they are making the world believe.

The security agencies should watch out as lesser ranking members of the Boko Haram propaganda machine would unleash their full capability by whipping up public outcry against their leaders being declared wanted or eventually arrested. They would be banking on other Nigerians falling for their intellectual trick by joining what they would think is a genuine concern about rights violation while in actual fact the reverse if the case.

It is thus up to the government to properly enlighten Nigerians and the world about people who hide under journalistic privileges or posing as negotiators to run errands for terrorists. There are several journalists that have done professionally sound exclusive stories around Boko Haram just as there have been stakeholders making genuine efforts at negotiation without being sympathisers of the terror group. There should therefore be no dilly dallying on dismantling the intellectual front of these killers. The eventual arrest and prosecution of Salkida, Bolori and Wakil would send the intellectual component of Boko Haram into disarray and move Nigeria closer to being rid of these vermin.

Suleiman wrote Maiduguri, Borno State.

Boko Haram: Anti Terrorism Group Wants Salkida Extradited, Prosecuted

The Coalition Against Terrorism and Extremism (CATE) has accused a journalist, Ahmed Salkida of over stepping his journalistic privileges and turning himself into a sympathizer and propaganda tool for the terrorists Boko Haram group.

The group therefore urged the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to immediately charge Ahmad Salkida to court under the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013 even if it is in absentia.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, national coordinator of CATE, Gabriel Onoja said the Federal Government must then on the strength of the charges to be filed against Salkida apply for his extradition by the United Arab Emirates.
He said there are several international agreements that could also be leveraged to make this happen since the larger consensus in the world is to fight terrorism wherever it rears its ugly head.
According to him the offer by Salkida to mediate in the aftermath of the video release is a move to place him in the good books of the federal government knowing that he has been an accomplice to terror all along.

Quoting from the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013, he said, "We like to for emphasis mention that Section 2 (2) of the Act provides that "(2) A person or body corporate who knowingly, in or outside Nigeria, directly or indirectly, willingly - (d) assists or facilitates the activities of persons engaged in an act of terrorism or is an accessory to any offence under this Act, (e) participates as an accomplice in or contributes to the commission of any act of terrorism or offences under this Act, (f) assists, facilitates, organises or directs the activities of persons or organisations engaged in any act of terrorism, ... .commits an offence under this Act and is liable on conviction to maximum of death sentence".

"We therefore urge the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to immediately charge Ahmad Salkida to court under the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013 even if it is in absentia.

"This would send a clear message to the straggling Boko Haram fighters that Nigeria is finally onto their antics with a resolve to dismantle their propaganda and social media infrastructure, which is the last of their prowess."

Cattle Rustling And Buratai’s Magic Wand

By Anthony Kolawole

Those deluded enough to test the strength of the Nigerian state are by now learning the hard lesson of their foolhardiness. In this context the reference is to those criminal elements that rode on the coattails of Boko Haram terrorists to have their field day with other forms of crimes like the cattle rustlers that took the northern parts of the country especially the north west as a playground.

The focus on dealing with Boko Haram fighters, first all over the country and later in the northeast that was the operational axis of the terror group, had meant that resources and efforts were channeled toward that singular goal. Cattle rustlers took on a sense of invincibility in that time. These rustlers had dislocated farming and animal husbandry in the north west on scale that could have only been achieved by a terror group like Boko Haram.

At the height of their criminality farming activities have basically slowed to a halt as the farmers either pay up protection money to be left alone or face the prospect of being robbed of livestock and other valuables.The bandits make mockery of security operations that dislodged them as they simply return to communities from which they have been driven with a vengeance that usually throw the people into more misery. This must of course have been driven by the confidence among the cattle thieves that the military forces and other security agencies were occupied with flushing out Boko Haram.

The story has now changed. The bad news for the rustlers, in the words of the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar is that “The challenges in the North East have been substantially addressed, so we are not too worried now about the North East.” Bad news has thus come for the criminals in other parts of the country, which is good news for law abiding citizens.

The Nigerian Army, true to the commitment of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen. TY Buratai is already delivering this message to these misguided elements. As recently as Friday, troops of 35 Battalion, 3 Brigade, 1 Division, Nigerian Army, working with operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Katsina State smashed one of such syndicates under an operation code named Operation SHARAN DAJI.

The bandits’ encounter with the members of that operation left one of them dead and two escaping with gunshot wounds, according to the Army’s account, which revealed that an AK-47 rifle and ammunition were recovered in that exercise.

Another operation by a combined team also in Katsina State led to the arrest of a notorious cattle rustler, Abubakar Mohammed (AKA Gora) and his associates, Anas Gora and Bello Sani in addition to the recovery of 49 cattle and 25 sheep. The suspects were reportedly handed over to the police while the recovered animals were handed over to Faskari Local Government Area Council Secretary for handing over to the rightful owners.

It is noteworthy that patriotic citizens played their own roles in these operations through the timely provision of information when they noticed the suspicious gunmen. It was the information that allowed the teams quickly swing into action.

It is reassuring that General Buratai has reaffirmed a commitment to ridding the northern parts of the country of these cattle rustlers in line with the directives of President Muhammadu Buhari. For this region they represent the next level of threat that must be neutralized in the interest of national security now that Boko Haram has been decimated by the Army.

One must however call on General Buratai and the institution he represents to bring the experiences from the previous exercises against these cattle rustlers to bear in this renewed onslaught. One, inter-agencies collaborations do pay off so other services like the Air Force would add value to future operations with the benefit of aerial surveillance while an organisation like the NSCDC tends to have more of that connection with local populations as the first point of relaying information.

It is commendable that the Nigerian Army transferred jurisdiction to the police by handing over suspects to them as the civil authority that would determine what happens next. The Army must however initiate a process of tracking what happens to suspects that have been transferred to sister institutions like the police to rule out any untowards developments. It is important that these killers must not simply be allowed back into society without facing the law since this tends to create more dangerous bandits that often return to exact retributions.

The judiciary must step in to ensure the gains the military and security agencies are making in tackling cattle rustlers do not go to waste. For all intents and purposes, the courts must treat these cattle rustlers in the same manner they treat terrorists because they pose an even greater danger to the country. Their activities has greatly jeopardized food security in addition to loss of life and wanton destruction of property.
Nigerians, especially those living in areas troubled by criminals, must improve on the culture of providing information that will help improve on security in their communities. The military services cannot be everywhere even with the array of technology available to them; citizens must continue to make contributions towards improving on national security.

Criminals in other sectors and regions must wake up to the reality that the day of reckoning is at hand. The lightning speed with which the Army under General Buratai is routing cattle rustlers is a clear indication that it is a matter of time before this level of threat is neutralized like he did with Boko Haram and the troops would be available to focus on other security breaches that are in need of his magic wand.

Kolawole PhD contributed this piece from the United Arab Emirates.

Buratai: And the Eagle Perches on Africa

By Okanga Agila

He is one remarkable Nigerian soldier. Even his opponents agree that he has paid the proverbial dues in the service of the nation. No doubt, Nigeria is endowed with soldiers, who are famed in multiple ways. The United Nations amply attests to this by its uncommon extension of accolades and awards to Nigerian soldiers on international peace keeping missions.

But Gen. Tukur Buratai has remained a Nigerian soldier with a difference. His physique exudes the raw features of a typical African soldier, deeply dark and rugged. Very unassuming, but inside his tiny frame, lies abundant virtues of excellence and dogmatic adherence to military ethos. Born of parents from an obscure village in the border state of Borno, Buratai has redefined Nigeria on the map of the world, as one army officer who cannot only contain terrorism; but someone willing at all times to sacrifice his life for the peace and unity of his country and Africa.

Enlisted into the Nigerian Army decades ago, as an infantry senior officer, Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai’s 34-year career in the military advertises brilliance, both in administration and gallantry. The profile of his career in the military is richly coloured with dazzling professional accomplishments, which can inspire like minds any day.

Therefore, when the seven-member selection panel of Daily Trust Newspaper’s ‘African Man of the Year” 2016, received multiple nominations for this year’s award, Buratai’s credentials diminished equally other notable Africans personalities prodded for the award.

The selection panel chaired by an eminent African, Dr. Salim Ahmed Salim, a former Prime Minister of Tanzania and Secretary General of the Organization of African Unity (now African Union), perused the contributions of the dignities, Buratai, Nigeria’s current Chief of Army Staff (COAS) was unmistakably, the first among equals.

A member of the 29 Regular Combatant Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, Buratai was commissioned a Second Lieutenant on December 17, 1983 into the Infantry Corps of the Nigerian Army.
He has served his nation and Africa in various capacities including a stint at 26 Amphibious Battalion, Port Harcourt, Military Observer at the United Nations Verification Mission II in Angola; 26 Guards Battalion, Lagos; Lagos Garrison Command Camp.

Now a Lieutenant General, Buratai worked as administrative officer at the State House, Abuja and later, 82 Motorized Battalion; 81 Battalion, Bakassi Peninsular; Army Headquarters Garrison, Abuja.
His excellent performance elevated him to the position of Directing Staff at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji and later, at the AHQ Department of Army Policy and Plans, Abuja; Assistant Chief of Staff Administrative Matters, HQ Infantry Centre Jaji. Buratai’s career exploits cannot be fully explored in this piece, but his service as Commander, 2 Brigade, Port Harcourt, where he doubled as Commander, Sector 2 JTF Operation PULO SHIELD in the restive Niger Delta brought him to limelight, as an exceptional soldier committed to the peace and unity of his fatherland.

From Director of Procurement DHQ, Buratai was appointed Force Commander of the newly reconstituted Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) under the auspices of the Lake Chad Basin Commission and Benin Republic. He remained in this capacity until President Muhammadu Buhari figured him from the rear to appoint him COAS. Unarguably, his appointment came at a very difficult period of Nigeria’s history with terrorism.

The COAS’s professional deployments also include Military Observer at the United Nations Verification Mission II in Angola, Operation HARMONY IV in the Bakassi Peninsular, Operation MESA, Op PULO SHIELD, Op SAFE CONDUCT, MNJTF, Op ZAMAN LAFIYA and Op LAFIYA DOLE among others.
He remains one of the most decorated Nigerian soldier having bagged the Nigerian Army Medal, Forces Service Star, Meritorious Service Star, Distinguished Service Star and the Grand Service Star. Others include, Pass Staff Course Dagger (psc(+)), National Defence College (Bangladesh), Field Command Medal, Training Support Medal and the United Nations Medal for Angolan Verification Medal II.

His nomination as Daily Trust newspaper’s African Man of the Year, 2016, is apt expression of Buratai’s exemplary and significant service to Africa. The splendor of the award is better gleaned from the persona of Daily Trust itself, the initiator and sponsor of the awards. Its corporate integrity and editorial independence has placed it atop in the Nigerian media market. It is currently savouring a new medal and recognition as Nigeria’s number one newspaper as announced by Media Facts, based on the findings of a nation-wide All Media and Products Survey (AMPS) for the year 2015.

Initiated in 2008, Daily Trust’s African Man of the Year award had been serially won by Dr. Denis Mukwege, a Congolese gynaecologist; Dr. Tajudeen Abdulraheem , Mr. Danny Jordan , Justice Mrs. Fatimata Bazeye , Mr. Thabo Mbeki; Dr. Donald Kaberuka and Mr. Gregoire Ahongbonon. By Buratai’s nomination for 2016, this brave Nigerian army officer has joined the rare league of distinguished Africans who have impacted positively on their continent.

While Buratai, his family, colleagues and Africans saunter on stage with the euphoria of this award, no elation elsewhere can dwarf the feeling of fulfillment in Nigerians, who have felt the pulse of Buratai’s military service.

Appointed as COAS at a time Nigeria’s Northeast states and other parts of the country were threatened or ravaged by insurgency, Buratai led the army for the successful conquest of Boko Haram terrorists. Convinced of the indivisibility of Nigeria, Buratai, shunned the comfort of his office, and garbed his combatant attires to lead in the war front, a marked departure from disposition of his predecessors.
When he addressed displaced Nigerians at the border town of Gamboru, in 2015, Buratai’s speech restored hope for the afflicted, consoled the bereaved and tacitly reasserted that the, sovereignty, peace and unity of Nigeria cannot be compromised on the platform of anything.
He said, “Today we are hoisting our flag and we will never allow any bunch of criminals in the name of Boko Haram to come and take an inch of our territory again.”

But before eminent Africans noticed Buratai, the United States of America had spotted his commendable exploits in the fight against terrorism. America mouthed a strong worded letter to President Buhari and Nigerians for launching a successful battle against terrorists. It is therefore no surprise that Africa, his father land has rolled out drums to celebrate this unique, gallant soldier and an accomplished Nigerian. He remains the continent’s prized gift, which posterity would pleasantly remember eternally.

Okanga writes from the Agila Ad'Oba, Ado LGA, Benue State.

IPOB: Between Politics and Sovereignty

By Abiodun Israel

Separatist leader, if he can be genuinely called that, Nnamdi Kanu is finally begging for negotiations when he has, with the other elements he successfully brainwashed, failed in the sustained efforts at inflicting immeasurable damage to the country. Kanu’s Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has been at the forefront of destroying the country, which must not be confused with their false claim of seeking independence for the Ibo speaking states in the southeast of Nigeria.

Reputable media organisations quoted Kanu’s lawyers, Ifeanyi Ejiofor and Amobi Nzelu, as saying at a press briefing that their client was not opposed to negotiation to secure his freedom from detention, where he has been since being arrested when he sneaked into the country to hatch what security agencies had described as a destabilisation plot.

He is of course continuing with his comical stance with a proviso that he would not renounce his ideology. For those who are not familiar with Kanu’s ideology it consists of the belief that: Nigeria is a zoo; all other non-Igbo Nigerians are animals living in the zoo called Nigeria; the zoo and the animals in it must be bombed into oblivion to make way for the emergence of a Biafra Republic. Bombing the rest of us into oblivion was given voice at the 2015 Igbo World Congress where Kanu openly solicited for arms and bullets, which should give us a sense of what the ideology he won’t give up is.

Despite his denial, the ideology of IPOB that he canvases include teaming up with the terrorists that are destroying economic infrastructure in the Niger Delta. It extends to brainwashing mostly unemployed youths and semi-literate traders and artisans who were sent on the suicide missions like barricading national infrastructure and murdering security operatives. The ideology involves murdering Nigerians of other nationalities and burying them in shallow graves for security operatives to find. The ideology has proven not to be against blockading the economy with shut-ins even when it means loss of income to separatists businessmen.

What must not be lost on Nigerians is that this ideology, typified by Kanu, is actively pursued by a minority, albeit a vocal one that cares nothing that the real Igbo sons and daughters with enterprising spirit would rather maintain the economic prosperity they have found in the united Nigeria. Unfortunately, the so called ideology criminalise these hardworking Nigerians for not endorsing criminality for the sake of ethnic sentiments. The spiral of silence that ensures the vocal minority can continue to mislead the world while deluding themselves is a deliberate goal of those behind IPOB.

But for the well documented historical, ethnic and geographical disparities one would be forgiven for concluding Nnamdi Kanu and Boko Haram’s Abubakar Shekau share the same DNA. That would have suggested that the IPOB leader derived his name from a shortening of Shekau’s Kanuri ethnicity. Both have displayed corresponding level of schizophrenic-manic depressive manifestation that the government must be wary of. He is ready to negotiate but not willing to give up a destructive ideology, so what is the negotiation about?

Before accepting Kanu’s offer of negotiation, the Federal Government must establish his true intentions because of the duplicity of his position. It would be disastrous if he is let of without trial only for him to return into the trenches and start brainwashing misguided elements to take up arms against the country. Part of what Kanu must clarify before any negotiations is why his movement lied dormant all through the life of the previous administration.

Should things progress to a point where the government negotiate with people charged with treason, it must draw the line on what concessions to make. The fact that the unholy alliance of the IPOB and militant groups in the Niger Delta is creating economic chaos is not enough to legitimize the criminality being promoted by their likes. No nation willingly hands over its sovereignty to criminals.

Furthermore, any condition for dialogue with Kanu and IPOB must be underwritten by genuine Igbo leaders. Whatever agitation the southeast has must be legitimately tabled and not concluded with only insurrectionists since the authentic Igbo leaders could reject any decisions arising from such talks. The leaders must undertake that their ethnic nationality can pursue its ambition within the contemporary Nigeria without provoking or threatening other ethnic nationalities. They must also commit to a disavowal of all hate speech and they must prove that the destructive prescriptions of IPOB does not enjoy bloc support of southeast states or their people.

These need for such assurances is underscored that many so called Igbo leaders attended the 2015 Igbo World Congress where Kanu made threats against the Nigeria state and canvassed funds for buying weapons without any of them disowning the preparation for violence. What this means is the government must be extra cautious.

In addition to being cautious about the content of negotiations and who to have them with, we must also be careful about what precedents are set in the process. There is already proof that the government might have placed orders for goods it cannot pay for with its offer of dialogue with recalcitrant militant groups in the south-south. Instead of reassuring the region it has only gingered more criminals to form new groups to qualify for the goodies that they expect would come as sweeteners to negotiations.

The domino effect will spread beyond the southeast and the south-south: some Boko Haram terrorists want negotiation, Ombatse cultists are likely on a comeback in addition to several extremist or militia groups are simmering and could unleash violence in order to qualify for the coming negotiation bonanza.

The seeming positive indication of willingness to negotiate by Kanu and his IPOB is a positive news that must therefore be treated with caution.
Whatever the government is offering him in exchange for escaping trial must be something that can be offered to others clamouring to climb on the negotiation train. Negotiation must also not be construed as creating a precedence that allow people commit heinous crimes and get away because they have perfected how to blackmail the government.

Abiodun a public affairs commentator contributed this article from the United Arab Emirates.

David Umaru: Between Timbuktu and Agadez

ByGabriel Onoja

In the run up for the 2015 General Elections, some patriotic people of Niger state raised the alarm about the background of the then All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, David Umaru. Persons who claimed to know him placed his nationality as Mali, somewhere between Timbuktu and Agadez. A Tuareg ancestry was part of the story.

At that time, flushed with desperation to dislodge a party that holds the records for horrendous performance, several people including influential bloggers and columnists argued that it doesn’t matter whether he is from Timbuktu or Marrakesh so long as he has contributed to the growth of Niger state.
For the avoidance of doubt, this singular cross was what made Umaru a serial and professional governorship candidate until he was elected a senator, which covers just a district out of three so those acutely aware of his background from the other two districts had no say in the vote. So Senator Umaru emerged.

The whole of these amounts to unnecessary drama in the contemporary world where nations even conduct immigration lotteries to inject fresh human capital into their populations. It can be argued that nations like Canada, US and the UK are countries that grew because they are melting pots of diverse nationalities. They were built and grown by persons who migrated from other lands but have since become citizens. One must also not lose sight of foreign nationals that made other countries into burning pyres – think Jihadists that are wrecking the havoc in Syria, Yemen and Afghanistan. These too have the mental delusion that they are helping to liberate their host countries.

It is to this second category that Senator David Umaru belongs – a marauding Tuareg from Agadez, who strayed into Nigeria and settled in Bosso. It beats my imagination that he successfully hid in plain sight for this long and could have become the governor of one of the larger states in Nigeria.

If Senator Umaru hiding in plain sight was worrisome, his real objectives are even more frightening since we do not fully know them. The slightest inkling we have yet is the support he expressed for troops’ killers whom he defended as his ‘peaceful constituents’. His definition of peaceful must be relative to the measure of peace that prevails in his home country, Mali, where Azawad fighters and terrorists constantly blow people up and persistently wage an insurrection against a government that is barely fighting back.

It takes someone with that social background to describe communities that served as hubs for illegal arms fabrication and gun-running as ‘peaceful’. It takes the kind of streak dominant among Malian rebels to pitch one’s tent with criminal gun-runners against government troops that were murdered with the active participation of the ‘harmless villagers’. Furthermore, the addiction to terror must be compulsive on such scale that is only possible with someone that is genetically hardwired for terrorism.
The other explanation is that Senator Umaru, who is Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, has nothing to worry about from the proliferation of arms that can destabilize Nigeria. All he has to do when his weapon running goons bring Nigeria into meltdown is to simply flee across the borders to Mali. He doesn’t need a visa anyway and he would not arrive Agadez as a refugee.

A third, equally plausible, explanation is that Umaru rushed to the defence of the personal army he is building ahead of 2019. After tasting how violence can secure a win for him in 2015 he must be angling to finally unleash a larger scale of violence across the entire three senatorial districts.

The foregoing call for deeper investigation of what happened in Bosso local government area, where these gun-runners killed 11 troops: Nigerians need to know if they are dealing with homegrown criminality or imported terrorism from Mali. Our security services must also help verify how far Senator Umaru's backed gun-runners have spread their evil wares so that the affected states and communities can immediately start taking measures to manage the safety of their citizens.

The Senate, National Assembly, as an institution must review this senator’s assignment both in the light of emerging revelations and in the light of the comments he made in the aftermath of the military operation in Bosso local government. The Senate Committee on Judiciary and Human Rights deals with sensitive documents and one can never tell what its current chairman, given his conflicting interests, could have passed either to the government of another country or even to business partners in the gun-running business. He must therefore be kept out of that assignment and assigned to a less sensitive post.

In the meantime, Senator Umaru should please cultivate the self control to remain quiet when matters of Nigeria’s internal security are being discussed. This is not Mali.

Onoja, National Coordinator, Coalition Against Terrorism and Extremism (CATE) contributed this piece from Suleja, Niger State.

Religious Malpractices and Implication for National Security

By Anthony Kolawole

I always struggle to keep a smirk off my face each time I ruminate over how we often as a people focus on basic things while glossing over the crucial ones. Security, climate change, economy and a host of other hot issues are important but they become basic when viewed from the perspective of crucial issues like religion and healthcare.

Possibly owing to our sensitivities, we tend to take religion for granted. In a world where we now go out of our ways not to cause offence religion and those that take it to fanatical levels become the biggest beneficiaries. For instance, I had waited several times to see public outrage against religion driven violence even when life is lost but we all tend to simply heave our shoulders in a gesture that says ‘it is about religion I don’t want to blaspheme’ as we move on to discuss the next political scandal.

Take the anti-corruption crusade for example, it has indicted ex and serving public office holders, politicians, soldiers, media owners and bankers. Nothing has been said of the clergy that to whom the treasury thieves made monetary donations or even built places of worship. It is another way of saying you are above the law once you come by way of religion. I see this license extends even to the freedom to preach hatred, promote extremism and radicalize youths.

In one part of the country I have seen clerics keep youths busy studying scriptures that means they will never get a western education; I another part of the country youths that did get the western education are encouraged to wait for the divine such that they never get to contribute to the economy because they will enter retirement without once picking up paid employment and will remain dependent on society.

This is why I wonder why we must continue to prevaricate in tackling head on a disaster that has already befallen us. This unscriptural reverence for the clergy and the tainted preaching they give to the public gave us Boko Haram that bastardized the Sunni Wahabbi brand of Islam to kill even Muslim; it gave us the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) that convoluted the ideologies of the Shiite sect to send youths on suicide missions; it gave us the child killing outrage of exorcists somewhere in the south; and it is to it we must give credit for the kidnappers and robbers that usually claim they acted on the prompting from their prosperity believing pastors.

The state has taken on Boko Haram once it became clear that religion was just a cover under which some psychos were operating to satisfy their perversion. Society, including the police, is speaking and against those that brand children witches. Kidnappers and robbers meet their waterloo daily whether from security agencies on enraged mobs that is ever willing to dispense jungle justice with petrol soaked tyres for garlands. But we seem to be making excuses for entities like the IMN and other groups that are presently at the stage of indoctrinating and brainwashing followers.

This indoctrination with the attendant militarisation got to a head when members of this sect made an attempt on the life of a serving military chief. It was the climax of a reign of terror that did not get widespread media coverage for some reason or the other. Had the military not subsequently conducted that operation IMN would have by now surpassed Boko Haram in undermining the existence of the Nigerian state. This is because the doctrine its leadership preaches to followers is that of fanatical extremism with hardcore militarisation thrown in to make suicidal fanatics out of youths.

The sect’s reaction in the aftermath of the military operation remains a warning on the threat they pose to Nigeria’s security as a nation and as a secular state. In addition to the treasonable acts they had committed they also reduced Nigeria to a proxy state with the then Iranian Ambassador, Saheed Kozechi threatening destruction for the country. But for the intervention of nationalistic Nigerians that called the criminal alliance between the Ambassador and IMN to order they would have achieved the agenda of destabilising the country especially given the way they misled sections of the population into thinking that government’s efforts at preventing extremism was rights abuse.

Just months after the December IMN/military clash, as would be expected of hard-line fundamentalists, the sect’s members are at it again by threatening a breach of the peace with a trek that would be classified as criminal in most countries of the world. They are trekking from their heartland in Zaria to Abuja in a development that would potentially pitch them against security operatives. They know this and they have prepared the ground to again play the victim by claiming security agencies plan to attack them.

There is therefore need to deal with this dubious doctrine that IMN is propagating. We can find the answer on how to proceed outside our shores. Europe offers possible answers. On that continent I see countries that think tolerating extremism could make it less virulent. Petting a viper does not make its venom less potent same as being tolerant of extreme religious views would not make those radicalized by it less violent. France, Belgium, Germany and Britain can testify to this. Under the guise of freedom – of expression, movement, association and religion, they allowed youths in their country to be radicalized and today they are dealing with the consequences of that choice. France in particular will for a long time pay a huge price for its libertarian stance.

I fear this is where we are headed if we continue to give room for more extremism after Boko Haram by providing cover for IMN using human rights. We might as well say it is okay for people to accept burning children as witches as a right steeped in beliefs or for people to rob and kidnap others at will because their cleric promised them breakthrough.

As we have experienced with Boko Haram and as some countries in the Middle East and Europe have now learnt, inflammatory preaching and radicalization is a threat to any country’s security. Unlike countries that allowed the cancer of extremism to spread before waking up Nigeria, especially the 19 northern states, must act to clamp down on hate preaching, growth and spread of the Islamic State agenda through fake preaching and the attendant detrimental consequences on national security.

I think we must look to countries where extremism has not flourished to find the answers. Such countries tend to immediately curtail any tendency towards the propagation of extreme doctrines. Usually, there would be those that will protest about how rights are being trampled but then there is national security to consider. It is this implication for national security that should drive us as a people and not a poorly thought out reflex to keep religious malpractices in place at our own peril.

Kolawole PhD is a University lecturer and contributed this piece from Keffi, Nasarawa State.

The Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency (CESJET) has commended the appointment of Professor Charles Uwakwe as the new Executive Secretary of the National Examination Council (NECO), saying the appointment is well deserved.

CESJET Executive Secretary, Comrade Ikpa Isaac in a statement said it most irresponsible that some group of persons are protesting and asking for the appointment to be reversed for ethnic considerations because the new Executive Secretary is from the south and that no northerner has ever occupied the position.

He said, “it is even more depressing when the Citizens Advocacy for Equity and Educational Development further explained that the Executive Secretary should have come from the north because the council’s headquarters is located in the north. If the head of every government agency has to be appointed on the basis of geo-location, then the north would be left massively disadvantaged as many of the government establishments headed by northerners are not located in their geographical areas.

“The demand of the protesters is dangerous coming at a time when there is outcry in some quarters that the appointments under the current government tilted in favour of the north; acceding to the protesters’ demand would therefore only worsen the sense of discrimination that is already growing in some geo-political zones and cannot be in the interest of Nigeria.”

He said NECO is one of the agencies where ethnicity should not play any role in the appointment of chief executives owing to its sensitive nature as an educational agency that must be driven by competence and excellence at all times.

He said the practice must therefore remain scouting for the best brain the country can find to man such a sensitive position.

He said, “We at the Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency wish to laud the Hon Minister of Education for in ghe first place finding a man with the necessary qualities to pilot the affairs of our nation’s only senior certification agency at this point in time.”

According to Isaac, Professor Charles Uwakwe, irrespective of his ethnicity, meets these rigorous requirements over and above, saying he must therefore be allowed to settle down to the task of bringing his skills to bear in the running of the affairs of NECO, which must be brought to a level where the certificates issued would be acceptable all over the world.

He urged Uwakwe to see the protestation as testament to the awe his credential instills in those that do not want to see NECO grow, and should make him put in extra efforts at excelling in the new assignment.

Northern Youth Warn Against Attacks On PMB, Threaten Showdown

Northern youth under the auspices of Northern Youth Leaders Assembly, have threatened not to tolerate any further attack on the image of President Muhammadu Buhari, who according to them has done so much to put the nation on the path to progress.

The group made this threat in a communiqué co-signed by its Chairman, Communiqué Drafting Committee, Yakubu Danlami and Secretary, Kwuanu Terrence, said it will no longer tolerate any insults to the family and members of the president cabinet threatening to mobilize “resources to take on anyone who think they can use their image as a chess pawn in the game playing out in the media”.

“We warn that the North will no longer tolerate any further attack on the image, family and character of President Muhammadu Buhari in his quest to make Nigeria a better place for all. We take particular exception to our Service Chiefs, security personnel and their families being harassed needlessly and we will not hesitate to mobilize our resources to take on anyone who think they can use their image as a chess pawn in the game playing out in the media”. They warned.

According to them political and public office holders are being demonised and criminalised on account of what they stand for, while adding that the height of this is the rebirth of separatist movements and militant groups in the south of the country to harass the Buhari Presidency.

They said, some of those behind these aberrations have openly declared that they are doing it to express their ethnic discontent acknowledging that this does not bode well for the country as the concept of a one Nigeria.

Meanwhile the youth have set up a media team responsible for countering propaganda against the north which according to them, will regularly highlights the President’s contributions to Nigeria’s democracy.

Revisiting El Rufai's Religious Bill and Our Peace

By Philip Agbese

The legislation, "a Bill for a Law to substitute the Kaduna State Religious Preaching Law, 1984" (the 1984 Edict) or simply known as the Kaduna state Religious Activities Regulation Bill is still in the making but it has never lost its controversy since it was first introduced by that state’s governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai.

The layman’s interpretation of the bill is that is seeks to regulate the practice of Islam and Christianity – the two dominant faiths in Nigeria. This more popular understanding of the proposed legislation is perhaps responsible for the ease with which some mischief makers were able to easily demonise it as proof of their conspiracy theory that there is plan afoot to Islamize Nigeria.

To think that this understanding or street interpretation of the law is a product of limited literacy would be totally off the mark as there have been well educated persons, some I have interacted with have PhDs, who still join the raging mob against the legislation even when given the benefit of being updated with the content of the bill. For most part, many of the critics have never bothered to learn anything about it, not even the full title of the bill much less its provisions. Yet they are raucous in disowning the bill; one of Nigeria’s self-styled clergies, Apostle Johnson Suleiman of Omega Fire Ministry, even passed a death sentence on el-Rufai if he does not withdraw the bill in what would have qualified as hate speech in other countries.

If the ‘Christians’ that fear the plot to Islamize Nigeria can only quieten down a little they would hear the din also being made by their Muslim brothers who think only an infidel could have thought up what some of them stopped short of describing as ‘blasphemous’. It is inconceivable for this set of people that a man who should be one of theirs is plotting a piece of paper that will slow down the march of a religion whose time has come.

Yet in the reactions of the adherents of these two dominant faiths is proof that the Kaduna state Religious Activities Regulation Bill is sorely needed. Firstly, reactions to the bill exposes the self-centredness that makes them think theirs is the only way of worship so animists, agnostics and the rest have no say in the national life. It also confirms the satanic application of religion as a tool for brainwashing, radicalisation and building fanatical base in the country. A video from Apostle Suleiman’s church service showed his followers ecstatically chanting amen as he invoked death on a fellow human. Secondly, the half-witted criticisms confirmed that Nigerians are trying to get the best of two worlds; here are citizens who want to practice adopted religions on a scale more fanatical than the places from where the religions originated without accepting the safeguards that these countries have put in place.

If those raising dust over this matter would bother to read not just the bill but other literature they would discover that in Israel, which Nigerian Christians hold in such reverence, Gazan Christians must obtain permits to hold processions for feasts as basic as Palm Sunday and Easter Monday. Muslims who frown upon the bill should also ask themselves how it was possible that Saudi Arabia that hosts many of their holy sites is almost free of terrorism while other countries that failed to take a tough stance against hate preaching are reeling from sustained terror attacks – there are other factors definitely but the way people are allowed to preach plays a role.

I have in the past, in opinion articles and interview, outlined how this bill will be useful in curbing the recruitment and radicalisation of youths especially those of the Muslim faith. I think it is one of the key things it seeks to achieve and radicalisation is a problem that is besetting the world today as unregulated preachers abuse their position of trust to fill young people with poison. It is no less in the other faith where the clergy actively teach their followers to be intolerant of those not in their fold albeit without the call to annihilate them. There are also those who use religion to provoke materialism among their flock to a point that their followers commit acts that equally amount to terrorism in order to claim the prosperity decreed upon the congregants.

This is why I think the bill should be revisited. It should be revisited by other state(s) to see if there are areas peculiar that has been missed and that can be then incorporated into their own version of the law. It goes without saying that I am urging each state of the Federation to pass its own version of the law in order to rid the country of extremism in any form. For instance, there is a state in this country where self-style clergy men brand children witches, and consequently manipulate parents into harming or even killing their own offspring; there have also been reports of people killing their parents or relations on the strength of visions or prophesies from charlatans. We cannot continue to live this way.

At the Federal level, members of the National Assembly must rise above pettiness to harmonise resulting legislations from states that take the bull by the horn to arrive at a federal law. They must accept the reality that all religions in Nigeria are now guilty of making life uncomfortable for their neighbors by way of unruly and disruptive processions, blaring of megaphones and loud speakers outside the premises of their places of worship and often time blocking major public roads during their session, prayers or processions to disrupt the peace.

The lawmakers, knowing that many of them exploited religion is some way to win elections, must read up about how the two dominant faiths in Nigeria are practiced in other countries, including their places of origin. Worship centres are made to conform with city building codes, the buildings are soundproofed, there are no loudspeakers blaring unto the streets, it is offensive to attempt forcefully converting others, preaching cannot violate extant laws on hate speeches and the finances of religious bodies are under watch.

The issue of finances of religious organisations and their affiliates is a particularly urgent one. There must be a legislation making it mandatory for them to register as charities to enjoy a tax exempt status and their books must show that money is not diverted for other purposes other than for helping the needy. This is because we have seen how money can leave religious organisations to finance terrorism – like the loan scheme Boko Haram introduced to lure unknowing villagers into their fold.

Government or rather politicians must not allow things get worse than they are currently simply because of expediency. We have seen what radical preaching can do from our Boko Haram experience. As of today, the activities of 'men of God' in the media have not been encouraging and the earlier the governors and the Inspector General of Police wake up the better it is for our nation.
We can all embrace the Kaduna example now or spend the years ahead wondering why we allowed ourselves to be held by the religion prospectors.

Agbese contributed this piece from the United Kingdom.

Budget Padding: Jibrin and the Endless Lies

Sunday Bright Attah

The heat is on and everyone is fighting to secure their office, power and money. Abdulmumin Jibrin, former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation has been crying wolf since being relieved of his position. In other climes he would be contemplating his trial date by now.

But not in Nigeria. Jibrin has instead declared war on those who uncovered his fraud against the nation. He has engaged all the keyboard warriors he can muster - throwing the social media into war mode.

Him and his loyalists are on Twitter thrashing the reputation of the House leadership with the Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara in the crosshair. The Deputy Speaker, Hon. Sulaimon Lasun Yusuf and Chief Whip, Hon. Alhassan Ado Dogowa and the Minority Leader, Hon. Leo Ogor are not spared the mudslinging too as anyone seen as having a hand in exposing Jibrin is fair game for his army.

In what has become a circus, Jibrin’s series of accusations become more bizarre on a daily basis in what has left those not grounded in the issue too confused to know what is at stake. The former Chairman of House Appropriation Committee had earlier accused Dogara of trying to break into his office on Friday 29, July to take away documents concerning the allegations before him that could indict the House leadership. He had also said Dogara ordered that all computers at the Appropriation Secretariat be shut down and moved to his office. Jibrin also had accused the speaker of bribery and ordering the padding of the budget, which is not at the centre of the controversy.

Coming to the most outlandish of his tales yet, the embattled man alleged that the House Leadership was giving out $25,000 each to every member of the House of Representatives to buy a confidence vote for the speaker.
These absurdities were possible in the first place because of the leniency that Dogara and other principal officers showed to Jibrin, who in his craftiness has now turned the story on them. His narration was that it was him that thwarted the plans of the Speaker and others to smuggle N40billion into the budget for themselves.

Possibly trying to head off the possibility of any indictment by any investigation by the House, Jibrin sought outside help by rushing to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with a petition that was nothing short of the budget fraud according to him. He equally drove in his intimidating convoy to the headquarters of the Department of State Services (DSS) to file the same petition. If he were filing cases in court in this manner a competent judge would have slapped him down for judicial shopping – skipping from one location to the other until he gets the kind of reports he want to indict his colleagues.

He has not left anything in doubt as to his true intentions since he was able to twist even the intervention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) out of context. After being summoned by the APC disciplinary committee, which he had done his best to evade, he came out of that meeting to tweet “I am confident that the party will do the right thing by supporting our resolve to wipe out corruption in the House and direct the Speaker, Dogara; the Deputy Speaker, Lasun; the Whip, Doguwa; and the Minority Leader, Ogor, to reconvene the House immediately and step aside to face their imminent prosecution and save the House and our country from further embarrassment.”

If anyone has caused national embarrassment Nigerians know who the person is. It is the one man in the entire saga ho had raved the most. The question then becomes how true are Jibrin’s allegations since he has not calmed down enough to allow the process kick in to verify the authenticity of his accusations.

Where is the solid proof, the smoking gun that points to the House leadership as being the one that authorized his crime? Would Jibrin be crying out if he were not found out, were still in his office and is not being investigated? If the leadership did instruct him to manipulate the budget and he has complied, allow several months to go by without raising the alarm; has he come to terms with the reality that he is an accessory to the crime he is reporting? What kept him from telling us about this fraud before he was thrown out of the committee chairmanship?

These and more questions are the posers that Nigerians must confront Jibrin with. His allegations and the sudden ability to speak up against corruption is suspect and suggests a man who thinks he can stay afloat by dragging others down to use as lifeboat. We must let him know in clear terms that the anti-corruption fight needs ambassadors including reformed pilferers but such person must be truly repentant and not just someone who is pretending.

Attah is a public affairs commentator based in Abuja.

Why Jibrin should stop insulting our sensibilities

By Gabriel Onoja

Disgraced former chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumin Jibrin must think he is dealing with a clan of nincompoops. My omission of the ‘honorable’ from his name is not an error or oversight because a man with the kind of deviousness he has demonstrated in recent days has no business being so labelled.

In plain simple thinking this man is a thief that has gone to town to call everyone a thief simply lessens the fact that he was caught in the act. This kind of duplicity is insulting not only because it sought to hide the true extent of Jibrin’s involvement in what he is being accused of but also because he has concluded that our collective intellect as a people is inadequate to properly interrogate issues and come to a logical conclusion.

First, Jibrin enjoyed all that came with being the chairman of that ‘juicy’ committee for as long as the honeymoon lasted. We did not hear about how he was being coerced into doing things that run contrary to his saintly belief. The entire process that the budget must pass through him before passage, which was his responsibility, took place under his watch without as much as a whimper that something was not right with the figures. If he did not discover at this stage that the budget was padded or that things and figures that should not be in it were being inserted, then he should be held accountable for being crassly stupid. In this case he would lack the competence to be the chairman of the otherwise sensitive committee and also would be unfit to represent even a bunch of persons with learning difficulties.

Secondly, Jibrin left the country in a ‘is it a bird, is it an airplane situation’ with the drama over whether he was sacked or he resigned. Okay, I say he was sacked. He was disgraced out of office for the crimes he committed against the rest of us by improving on the strategy for stealing money when many of us are shouting hoarse that the scale of corruption that had prevailed in the past is not sustainable. Jibrin’s claim that he resigned flied in the face of the wind when one takes a critical look at the timeline: The House Speaker, Honorable Yakubu Dogara had announced the man’s sack before he hurriedly let on to journalists that he resigned. If he had resigned to be a whistle-blower as he claims he would have been able to tell the world the so called fraud he said he uncovered before his sack was announced. We would have all been singing his praises today if that was the sequence of events.

Had Jibrin been meaning to come clean and that is assuming he genuinely committed these atrocious thefts with the active participation of the leadership as he is trying make us believe, he would have been able to immediately lift the lid on the sleaze at the point when he announced his hallucinatory resignation. The number of hours it took him to start dishing out his own set of figures and naming names were crucial time during which he has had time to rehearse in from of his dressing mirror, possibly with an acting director, to ensure he sounded convincing after editing the facts to leave out his own role in the entire sordid affair.

Fourthly, upon flagging the budget padding he could have allowed other Nigerians take over from there. For this there are several NGOs and activists that would have followed up to ensure we get to the bottom of what transpired among the lawmakers such that it would have been easier to know those that abused the sacred mandate that constituents entrusted to them. What I see was a Jibrin that was eager to turn the entire issue into a media circus where there would be a lot of sensational reporting that would eventually lead nowhere. The photo ops he had at the offices of the Department of State Services, DSS as well as at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC were therefore uncalled for. The several times people embarked on as much theatrics like when Dino Melaye led a rented crowd there usually end up being wild goose chase or the case involved usually end up more as more of political differences than economic crime.

The media hype that Jibrin is working up around this matter therefore creates the impression that somewhere between when he thought to play the game spoiler for being removed from office and where we are today ,he has found some takers who are cashing in on the noise he is making to implement an agenda to which the chief accuser may not even be aware of its larger ramifications. He has caused unnecessary heating up of the policy especially where the House of Representatives is concerned.

The rest of us should do well to draw Jibrin’s attention to the yawning gaps in his account of what transpired instead of cheering him on like street kids would cheer the village idiot to make him debase himself some more for their own entertainment; oftentimes such street kids end up not being better than the idiot they mock and that is what we must not allow the former committee chairman do to our national psyche.

I cannot decide right away whether to upbraid Dogara for not exposing Jibrin’s itchy fingers earlier or if I should commend the Speaker for eventually firing him even though he initially tarried to make consultations on how to deal with the damage to the image of the House in the wake of the depressing revelation. Where the latter is the case it has proven to be cautioned and well taken as the thief eventually started calling others thieves. Even at that Nigerian are now wiser and now have a better sense of what truly happened. This is why Jibrin should stop insulting our sensibilities and prepare for when he would be charged to court.

Onoja is a staff of the National Assembly Service Commission and contributed this piece from Apo, Abuja.

EXPOSED: Shekau's Surrender Throws Boko Haram into Leadership and Tactical Confusion

By Abu Duniya, Yobe.

It is no longer gossip that the seemingly never ending North Eastern scourge called Boko Haram may have been finally pushed to near submission even as it is obvious that the Nigerian Army under the able leadership of Lt. Gen Buratai whose total commitment has led to the recorded success by the ever committed Army.

Only March 24th 2016 had the renowned and revered sect leader, Mallam Abubakar Shekau had publicly declared his surrender due to the intense offensive of the Army and the recovery of their dream republic erstwhile annexed by these secessionists.

Only about two years ago there were security reports that Shekau may have died as a result of wounds he sustained during a shoot-out with security agents. The reports suggested that he was almost captured, but his aides managed to evacuate him across the border to Cameroon.
It would be recalled that there was also a time when the media had it that he had been apprehended. Contrary to such reports the seemingly invincible Shekau resurfaced with renewed gusto and zeal to foment more trouble even as the movement grew with every regeneration.

However, worthy of mention is the ability of the Nigerian Military to end the ever regenerating powers of the once mysterious sect leader-Shekau, who for every time a statement was put out regarding his death, made it a point of duty to reassure his followers that he was still alive and that their course is a worthy one supported by God Almighty. His medium of choice being videos that many have had to wonder if it really is the terrorist leader or his clone, ironically has become the message of disillusionment.

The recent surrender of the dreaded terrorist, attributed to the intense offensive by the military has not only changed the leadership but also necessitated a significant change in the methods. This is even as the arrest of the shadow recruitment wing of the Boko Haram terrorist group, Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), Sheikh El Zakakky has significantly deflated the activities of the Nigerian subsect of Syrian ISIS which has been the major supporters of its Nigerian cell- Boko Haram.

This commendation is not complete without recognising the recent change in tactics which has announced the fear in the heart and operations of these fanatics who erstwhile had the guts and effrontery to broadcast videos with bravado exposing the face of their mystified leader, Abubakar Shekau who paraded their military might alongside threats which loquaciously flowed with accompanying braggadocios.

Today it has been announced that there is a change of leadership in the sect owing to the militarys' might and subsequent surrender of Shekau. The terrorist group which announced its change in an interview in IS's weekly Arabic magazine Al-Naba said the leadership for its West African branch, Boko Haram, has been adjusted, BBC is reporting.

This is even as Abu Musab Al-Barnawi, who was previously spokesman for the Nigerian-based Islamists did not say what has become of the group's former leader Abubakar Shekau. It is curious also that the video does not say what has become of the group's former leader Abubakar Shekau.
He was also heard from in an audio message last August, saying he was alive and had not been replaced - an IS video released in April said the same even as only yesterday he appeared to debunk Al-Barnawis claim to have changed leadership.

Abu Mus'ab Al-Barnawi, who appeared in the declaration video, wore a turban but unlike it is customary with the sect, his face was blurred out and it was filmed as a sit-down studio interview; meanwhile compared to the fearless stature presented by Abubakar Shekau, his delivery in the Hausa language was considered and softly spoken, Barnawi pulled no punches.
Mr Shekau was often filmed in the open, surrounded by fighters, loudly proclaiming his threats, victories and giving rambling ideological lectures.
This controversy is certainly not removed from the recent cowering attitude exhibited by the group due to force from the Nigerian military command since it opened base in North East, thus the now observed division in the sect leadership with Shekau surrendering and Barnawi taking shadowy control without the usual gusto cum bravado.

It has also been argued that apart from the recent fear that has been sent into the dwellings of these religious radicals, it believed that the decision to hide the face of their leader may be because of his close ties to the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Boko Harams recruitment agency in all their campaigns in the North East.

Meanwhile authorities have also suggested that the choice of an unknown and obscure commander was to still maintain the useful impact which the IMN has continued to make in furthering the activities of die hard Boko Haram terrorists that have refused to surrender, just as Al-Barnawi in his interview had declared further that his group "remained a force to be reckoned with" while emphasising a new membership drive, an obvious sign that they have been massively depleted by continuous military campaigns .

Fraud Allegations Against Bello Baseless, Malicious, Says Kogi Group

A non governmental organization under the aegis of Kogi Emancipation Network in Diaspora (KEMD) has described those accusing Kogi State Governor, Alh Yahaya Bello of fraud as faceless group, floated by "opposition elements" in the state.

The group was reacting to a story published by an online newspaper which they said was sponsored by political opposition in the state.
Reacting to the allegations against the Governor, secretary general of KEMD, Mr. Otunba Bayo said that all the issues raised were unfounded, baseless myth and should be discarded with immediate effect.

According to him, Governor Bello met an empty treasury with huge debts profile including unpaid workers salary of five months, contractors among others.
Bayo said Governor Bello was sworn in the state at a time when the state need about 50 billion naira to settle debts owed to workers in the state.

He noted that the Governor move quickly in order to ameliorate the suffering of the state workers and approached necessary authorities for bailout and was only able to accessed 20 billion naira with the help of Zenith and Access bank. Adding that since then, all genuine workers have all received their salary at both the state and the LGAs leading to the called-off of the strike embarked upon by the state union.

"This faceless oppositions group are desperate for power, resulting to pull him down syndrome, since assuming office Gov. Bello has institutionalised transparency and good governance in the running of the state affairs. The action has greatly paid off with the discovery of over 18, 000 ghost workers which cost the state over 1.3 naira monthly."

"This is one Governor who doesn't do things in a vacuum or taking unilateral decisions, Governor Bello always consults with larger stakeholders in the state including royal fathers and party leaders across board," he said.

He stressed that this same frivolous allegation has been encircled time and again, the last time it was other online newspapers that was used, by changing names and group, saying they don't know the next name or group they would come up with.
The group said, the faceless oppositions have long lost torch with the realities at home and that, the people of state are tired of their many lies and baseless propaganda.

KEMD adviced them to come and join hands with the Governor in order to move the state forward.
He stressed the need for politicians in the state to set the record straight rather than misleading the public for selfish reason, all in the name of politics.

The group advice the Governor to remain focus and continue to impacts on the life of the people rather than being distracted by any faceless, selfish group, whose inordinate aims is to create confusion in the state for cheap political gains.

One Year And Buratai Shines Even More

By Okanga Agila

“…the General is the safeguard of the state.
If the safeguard is complete, the state is surely strong.
If the safeguard is flawed, the state is surely weak...
He looks upon the troops as his children.
Thus they can venture into deep river valleys with him.
He looks upon the troops as his beloved sons.
Thus they can die together with…” Sun Tzu, The Art of War
"We must keep the promise to our nation!
We must make a difference!" Lt. Gen. TY Buratai

It has been one year since Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai quoted from world renowned war treatise, the Art of War by Chinese Warrior – Sun Tzu, also General Sun Wu. As someone who had done multiple passes of the book – reading cover to cover – my expectation was that we would be saddled with a cold calculating war machine. Forming that impression was not based on the portion of the book he quoted of course, it was based on the very fact that he quoted a book that is seen as propounding some of the most ruthless concepts ever put forward in military history. He quoted the book just the day after he was appointed.

Few weeks after this, because of the much I saw of General Buratai’s leadership as reported in the media I was compelled to research the Art of War, but my interest was not in the book but the personality of the writer. Incidentally, the Kung Fu Channel on Startimes showed a series, “Sun Wu”, which chronicled the life of the warrior author. I learned that Sun Tzu was, beyond being an accomplished general, he was equally a statesman. His intention for writing the book was not to promote wars but to minimise the need for them. He placed loyalty to the state above his own interest and he truly treated his troops as his blood as far as permissible under the cultural context in which he operated.

For General Buratai, even the culturally and socially permissible was no barrier to him bonding with the troops on the front. Not a few pessimists dismissed images of him working out with troops as cheap publicity stunt but one year down the line they were hushed when the same General broke his Ramadan fast in the trenches with the other soldiers. If he was after publicity stunt he definitely had no further need for it during the breaking of fast so it became clear that what he displayed from his first weeks in office was his true identity.

His real strength as a warrior, the kind of General Sun Tzu has in mind, was with the lightning speed with which Boko Haram terrorists were routed and territories recovered from them. This was a task that the average analyst had expected would require significant hardware donation by western powers. With the right strategy in place, it was a matter of weeks before the insurgents were forced to change tactics and the warrior in Buratai was prepared for them even ahead of when they started implementing their new mode of attacks.

The cowards that were once prancing around in armoured personnel carriers soon became vermin that were carrying out hit and run attacks on soft targets before scampering for the desert. The COAS’ quick thinking resulted in the creation of a motorcycle brigade that is able to deploy rapidly to counter the fighters wherever they are carrying out attacks.

This creative thinking would explain why troops are willing to “venture into deep river valleys with him,” and the Nigerian Army of today takes care of its own. The unit that was ambushed last week was a good example of this as the service wasted no time in deploying and mounting the operation that led to the rescue of the unit commander and some soldiers of the unit. In the past, they could have been forgotten or the incident could have been explained as another "tactical manoeuvre" but under a COAS who sees them as his ‘children’ and not just mere statistics we have seen the difference.

The troops did “venture into deep river valleys” with Buratai in the theatre of war in the northeast and the result today is that sanity has returned to where Boko Haram once held sway. The efforts of the Nigerian Army in the area is such that Borno state Governor, Kashim Shettima has now directed civil servants to immediately resume work at Mafa, Magumeri, Dikwa, Konduga, Benisheikh, Askira Uba, Kala/Balge and Kaga, Gwoza local government area councils that have been reclaimed from the Boko Haram Islamic sect.

According to the Commissioner of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Usman Zannah, who briefed the media on behalf of the governor, noted that the directive followed the return of peace to the affected liberated communities, which are now “habitable and normal life has resumed for the last two or three months now.” That some people delay returning to the liberated places is not from lack of security of the areas but for the high level of destruction of basic structures.

When Sun Tzu talked about “safeguard of the state” it goes beyond fighting to ensure territorial and corporate integrity of a country as an entity; his approach involves sometimes refraining from fighting while exploring dialogues. Some of the contemporary security breaches in the country have been handled on this basis and President Muhammadu Buhari as Commander in Chief must have had inputs from his military aides, which included the COAS. Long term, being slow to unleash military might on some troublemakers would definitely pay off.

Something else General Buratai said on the day he made the famous Sun Tzu quote, was his declaration that “We must keep the promise to our nation. We must make a difference.” So far, he has kept to this promise and appears to be well committed to keeping it for the rest of his life. Even the tone with which he made the declaration was profound to the point of galvanising the rest of us to begin renewing our faith in the country coming from a time when there had been a total loss in nationalistic spirit among citizen.

So in one year, General Buratai, right from the day he was appointed has proven the positive difference he set out to make in commanding the Nigerian Army. He approached the task with this deliberate disposition that has resulted in the gradual actualization of his vision and the road map for a better Nigerian Army. In this period, he has remained committed to his vision for the Nigerian Army, which is "To have a professionally responsive Nigerian Army in the discharge of its constitutional roles". The vision has been the pivot around which everything he does revolves.

Okanga contributed this piece from Agila Ad'Oba, Benue State.

The Unwarranted Attacks on General TY Buratai
By Max Gbanite

In the last couple of weeks, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai has become a subject of media bashing by some desperate detractors as news filtered in that the army chief and his two spouses own some kind of ‘properties’ in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Hardly has any evidence been tendered to prove that Buratai illegally acquired the said properties, yet the detractors rushed to the public glare with their unsubstantiated tale of corruption against him.

SaharaReporters an online publisher were the first to break the news of the alleged corruption based on a petition written by some retired-disaffected officers and soldiers of the Nigerian army to President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR; alleging that Buratai might have acquired the properties with funds meant for the purchase of military vehicles when he was the Director of Procurement at the Army Headquarters. Fortunately, the army has refuted the allegation.
The same petitioners under the aegis of Concerned Soldiers and Officers from the North East according to SaharaReporters, accused Buratai of executing the contract for the purchase of vehicles and motorcycles through a proxy by the name Usman Gamawa of Baggash Investment Limited.

The petition stated that rather than supply new vehicles as the contract demanded, Mr Gamawa purchased second-hand vehicles and motorcycles from Niger Republic and on arrival in Nigeria, the vehicles were then refurbished at the Mogadishu military Cantonment under the supervision of Staff Sergeant Dadan Garba. The petitioners noted that some of the vehicles and motorcycles had since broken down.
They further accused the army chief of boosting his Skye bank accounts with several cash lodgments since he became the COAS in July last year adding that he must have helped himself yet with money meant for military procurement, feeding, medicine and payment of allowances meant for soldiers fighting the war against insurgency in the north East of the country among other sundry accusations slammed on the army chief. “Another blatant lie” says the army acting DPRO.

Some newspaper houses went reckless in their misrepresentation of the issues and fed the public with fabrications, motivated by nothing but pernicious desires to disparage the army chief and denigrate the successes being recorded by the army under Buratai against the Boko Haram insurgency in the north east.

These invidious accusations may yet tempt the bemused public to believe them because the political environment in the country is already suffused with daily news of how corrupt public officials have fleeced the nation and diverted huge sums of money meant for national development.

It is however, untenable to believe such news, which has largely remained unsubstantiated by all accounts. The reports have in the last couple of days exposed the dubious quest by some media organs to sensationalize issues to score cheap popularity.

For instance, some media outfits unwisely rushed to disseminate this obviously false alarm raised by the disgruntled individuals thereby churning out these sham reports in the name of investigative journalism; and to demonstrate how gullible a section of the public has become, some so called commentators and opinion writers have employed some caustic and uncouth language against the army chief in the way they reacted to the allegation.

For instance, the respected Senior Advocate of Nigeria Mr. Femi Falana, suggested that the Army Chief should be sacked. This is uncalled for in my opinion. The same Falana in 2008, rose in defence of Nuhu Ribadu who while as Chairman of EFCC was accused of allegedly buying properties worth millions of dollars in the same Dubai, by Charles Ogboli and Ogochukwu Osuagwu of Victory & Rose Chambers based in Abuja.. Falana went all out to defend Nuhu, by saying that “the constitution does not preclude a public servant from owning investments….but they cannot operate foreign accounts.” See Nations Newspaper, 28th July, 2008.

Those who know falana well alleged that he was rewarded by Nuhu Ribadu for his loyalty; his current office in Abuja, a building seized by EFCC at the time was sold to him at below market price. It is also important to mention that Falana is the lead counsel defending Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, the embattled leader of Iranian government sponsored Islamic Movement of Nigeria (aka Hezbollah). He thinks that sacking the COAS makes his case against the Nigerian Army easier.

However, irrespective of how any one may react or how ever anybody chooses to believe the stories, the facts remain sacrosanct. It is not against the Nigerian law to legally own property in a foreign country by public servants. What is against the law of the land is to own foreign accounts, which I think the detractors have not proven against Buratai; and they failed to establish that the COAS used public funds for the said Dubai ‘properties’.

Despite this sustained campaign of calumny against the amiable general, the army, which is the authoritative source, has cleared Buratai of any wrong doing. The Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col Sani Kukasheka Usman, debunked the claims that General Buratai and his family illegally acquired the two properties in Dubai. He said in a statement that the said properties were paid for in installments from 2011 thru 2013 through the personal savings of Buratai and his wives. Col Usman also stated that General Buratai had shown integrity earlier by declaring his assets before the appropriate government agency, and wondered why anybody or group would embark on such campaign of calumny to discredit Gen. Buratai.

Furthermore, the Law office of St. Francis Xavier Solicitors and Advocates, based in Abuja through their lead counsel Ugochukwu Osuagwu wrote to Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) siting section 1 and 4 of the freedom of Information Act 2011, to clarify if Buratai did in fact declare the said property in his asset declaration form.

The CCB wrote back: “we refer to your mail dated June 29th 2016,. We wish to state here that Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai, after his appointment as the Chief of Army Staff, declared his assets as required by the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria….He was served form CCB-1 on July 21, 2015, and he returned same on August 21, 2015….we also wish to confirm that his property at Dubai was declared in his wife’s name, please accept the warmest regards of the chairman.”

To me and many Nigerians, that is a mark of one who is transparent; a man who has nothing to hide. If the Army chief is corrupt as his traducers would want us to believe, he would have used a proxy to acquire the said property. This same Buratai has compelled every officer serving Nigeria Army to declare their assets with CCB; he has of recent compelled a financial auditing of every office, and branch of Nigeria Army; this is the first since 150 years of existence. He is leading by example.

Meanwhile facts have emerged that the said properties is just a ‘single self-contained-room’ in a complex which the Buratais are not the sole owners of the building; they are only part-investors. The properties are like quoted companies; you buy into them and get dividends as profit from your investment. So it is outrageous for these despicable and disgusting elements to attack the integrity of the COAS without any facts. It is unwarranted and it is unacceptable.

The army commanders at various task-force-operations theaters in the North East have also cleared Buratai in the controversy over the procurement of sub-standard equipment as claimed by the detractors saying that at no time did the army purchase sub-standard vehicles and motorcycles. They stressed that the equipment were usually dismantled at the place of purchase for easier transportation and are assembled here in Nigeria, thereby refuting the claim that the equipment were refurbished in Nigeria. The army has also made it clear that the rugged buffalo vehicles are not only brand new but they are 2014 model that was imported from Libya.

On the allegation that General Buratai owns a huge industrial farm called Tukur and Tukur Farm Limited on Abuja-Keffi Express Way and the facilities therein, the detractors only made wild accusations and failed to convince the public as to the illegality of the said farm as they claimed. For instance the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) under the Fifth Schedule, Part 1, permits a public officer to engage in farming. Therefore Buratai did not break any law by owning a farm and there was no proof he acquired the farm with illegal funds. Many retired Public servants owned farms while in office. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo started his farm as a Colonel; Gen. TY Danjuma (rtd.), and many others did the same. Further investigations revealed that the farm is very unique, apart from the usual products like maize, bean, and vegetables, it also breads snakes. In fact, Ophiologists from around the world visit the farm to study the different species of snakes, and possibly purchase vials of venom for snake-bites-treatment.

It is Gen. Buratai who actually established the Directorate of Procurement in the Army, after 150 years of existence; facts have emerged that he was not necessarily the director in charge of the procurement. Traducers mentioned that he made money as Director Public Procurement while at Defence Headquarters under Air Chief Marshall Bade; but that is not true. The procurement of equipment under DHQ is so complex that a director cannot influence it. In fact Bade is on trial for offences allegedly committed as Chief of Air Staff (CAS), and not as Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). Gen. Buratai did not stay long at DHQ, between March 2015 and May 2015, he was sent to lead the Multinational Joint Task Force against the Boko Haram, and from there he was later appointed the COAS. So one wonders at what time he really featured as the director of procurement-Army.

The Amnesty International (AI) unfortunately also joined the crowd clamoring to bring down Buratai and, to a larger extent denigrate the efforts of the army as an institution to contain the Boko Haram insurgency in the north east. The AI since the eras of Lt. Gen. Dambazau, Lt. Gen. Ihejirika, and Lt. Gen. Minimah as COAS’s, have always accused the army of highhandedness in the way they treated captured Boko Haram insurgents. But the human rights group failed to provide evidence, which underscores the pathetic antecedents of the AI in its sham opposition against the Nigerian security forces in general. Yet, it is Lt. Gen Buratai who recently established a human rights desk at every Army unit. This desk is meant to laise with Nigerian Human Rights Commission, and Amnesty International to better address the gaps and to assist the military on this touchy issue.

I understand the vehemence with which the AI tries desperately to undermine the efforts of Nigeria in the fight against insurgency. Their sharp revulsion against Nigeria, according to International experts may be predicated on the refusal of the Nigerian government to allow gay rights and gay marriage in the country. This abominable behavior is alien to Nigerian and African cultures and Nigerians in their great numbers have rejected this obscene and rather strange phenomenon.

Lt. Gen. Buratai has proved his authenticity as a superb military commander no matter the hogwash from the hostile crowd of jesters with their misbegotten agenda to hack down the genial general. The army command has made it clear that under Buratai, in the last one year, the soldiers have been motivated and boosted with the requisite weaponry with which they have overwhelmed the terrorists. The soldiers’ morale has skyrocketed. He added confidence to his troops by visiting the various theaters of operation during the just concluded Ed-fitri; he was in the front celebrating the Sallah-break with his men. He did not have to, but he takes his job and the responsibility of protecting his men and our country very serious.

Under his charge, the army has degraded the Boko Haram insurgents, restored its dignity and rejuvenated the pride, bravery and courage of its service men and women. Other lawless elements within the Nigerian society such as the Shiite Islamic Movement have been taught a bitter lesson and they are now compliant with the rule of law. Buratai and the army have also sent a strong message to the insipid Niger Delta Avengers to desist from their attacks against oil facilities in the Niger Delta or face the full weight of the military might. This no doubt has unsettled the backers of the so called avengers and they are in haste to destroy the immense contributions of COAS.

The Nigerian public has long suspected that some vicious individuals have backed and armed the Boko Haram terrorists and have motivated them to attack the Nigerian state in order to weaken her. But the bravery of soldiers under Buratai has dislodged their evil intensions. The sponsors of Boko Haram are not happy with these achievements just as the corrupt elite squad; the economic terrorist and military chiefs who profited from the Boko Haram insurgency have failed in their efforts to scuttle the war against terrorism.

To further strengthen the resolve of the soldiers, the army command has created adequate contingency plans to treat wounded soldiers, rehabilitate and reward them contrary to the malicious reports emanating from the so called International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) and an online news medium-The Cable.

Gen Buratai cannot be deterred by these trumped up accusations neither should he be perturbed by the subversive efforts to blackmail him. The Nigerian Army and its men have marshaled out plans to unleash a massive final punch on the Boko Haram insurgents with their renowned and unrivalled professional finesse. A victory against the terrorists is bad business for the ill-fated gang that gains from such unprecedented evil and Nigerians must be aware of this.

This same Buratai, during the military era never lobbied to be a Military Administrator (MILAD); he had no Army-god father; he rose in rank by dint of hard work, and holds a Master’s degree, His two wives are graduates who have been doing their own business preparing for the eventual day their hard-working husband will leave the Army. Through-out his career in the army as a staff officer or commander, he has never been accused of any wrong doing. The records are there for the interested.

The Nigerian public should always remain vigilant and must not be hoodwinked by the antics of unpatriotic individuals bent on rolling back the successes recorded so far in the fight against terrorists and other unscrupulous elements in Nigeria. Therefore, these unwarranted attacks on Lt. Gen. TY Buratai are uncalled for; it is a distraction; and a storm in a tea cup.

Gbanite is a Counter Terrorism Expert/Defence & Security Analyst.
maxgbanite@yahoo.com

Northern Clerics Chide UN For Withdrawing Relief Aid For IDPs

Reports in the media that the UNICEF is pulling out it's aid workers from the north east region after Boko Haram reportedly ambushed their convoy has receive knocks from the Northern Inter-Faith and Religious Organizations for Peace (NIFROM), which said the world body was never ready to provide relief material to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the north east.

The group which condemned the attack in its strongest term, however said the attack was just a deliberate excuse for the U.N. to suspend its relief operations and pull out it's workers.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja, National Coordinator of NIFROM, Bishop Musa Fomson commended the military for repelling the attack and thanked the officers of the army for their sacrifice in maintaining security of lives in the north east.

He said, "It is hypocritical that the same world body that that did not do the needful to halt Boko Haram’s rise has agencies that are today making a show of providing relief to affected persons. Had there been a prompt international response to the threat of Boko Haram in the initial stage we would not be at this point now.

"It took the horror pictures that emerged from the Internally Displaced Person’s (IDPs) camps in North Eastern Nigeria to provoke the intervention for which the convoy came under attack. Interestingly, it took just that one attack for the UN to announce a suspension of the humanitarian efforts.

"The feeling we have is that the attack provided a much needed excuse for these agencies that have no interest in doing anything for the tens of thousands of people dislocated by Boko Haram. Had there been no attack it would have been a question of time before they cook up another excuse that would have still been used to suspend the so called humanitarian efforts."

The clerics also slammed the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki for not carrying out a proper assessment of the situation before reacting to it. It said had Dr Saraki and his likes done right by the country as expected of their positions we would not be here having nationals of other countries give handouts to our distressed brothers and sisters.

"The amounts allocated for the North East would have done something meaningful towards rehabilitating the population had the institution, the National Assembly, that Dr Saraki presides over as chairman performs its oversight functions diligently and curb the corruption associated with local relief efforts.

"For those who do not understand our grouse, the Senate President and the UN have been insensitive to what happens in the North East over the years. Many Nigerians have been killed and or maimed on the same road by terrorists in the past without them taking any notice neither did they show the sympathy now being shown to the aid workers. For us this is hypocrisy at work.

"We therefore urge Nigerians to accept that it is their responsibility to rise up to the challenge and support their brethren. It is now glaring that we must forget about the inadequate and often strung out humanitarian assistance that serves no purpose other than providing photo ops for those behind them," he said.

Boko Haram Ambush Humanitarian Escort Convoy

Troops returning from Bama on humanitarian escort duty, were yesterday ambushed enroute Maiduguri by suspected remnants of Boko Haram terrorists hiding in Meleri village, a few kilometres from Kawuri. The gallant troops however, successfully cleared the ambush and exploited up to Afunori.

Unfortunately, 2 soldiers and 3 civilians were wounded in the ambush, among whom were staff of United Nations agencies and other international humanitarian organizations. The wounded have been evacuated to University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri and they are in stable condition.

The Nigerian Army wishes to sympathize with our wounded colleagues, the United Nations and other Non-governmental organizations whose personnel were also injured in this sad incident. We wish to reiterate our determination and commitment to ensuring safety and security in the North East and safeguarding the lives of all persons.


http://leadership.ng/news/543734/boko-haram-attack-humanitarian-escort-convoy

South West group expresses worry over attacks on northerners

... Backs President Buhari's Administration

A south West group, The Oduduwa United Frontiers has expressed concerns over what it described as attacks on public officials of northern extraction by people from other sections of the country.

Addressing journalists in Lagos, national president of the group, Kolawole Abe decried what he said are campaign of calumny against aides of President Muhammadu Buhari that have been proven to be emanating from the south west allied coalition of civil society groups and other eminent Nigerians, saying is totally unacceptable.

According to him, if this is allowed to continue, no region in the country will again trust the Yorubas enough to want to enter into any political arrangement with the South West in the foreseeable future.

He said the region appreciates Mr. President and the youths who voted him in 2015 are ready to support his policies and therefore should consider the vituperations of a certain few minority as sponsored goons who are out to justify their payments.
Going down memory lane, he said the way the Yoruba fought against the odds to bring this government into power became the stuff of legend.

According to gim, the expectation was that the Yorubas would be adequately recognised and compensated for this noble role.

He said, "We were however forced to confront the reality that the Yoruba are one of the many ethnic configurations in the country just as the South West is one of six geo-political zones in the nation. It was therefore impossible that we will have all the position available for occupation simply because we were pivotal to the government’s emergence. The other geo-political zones, even the ones that opposed the government are equally deserving of having political appointees in the spirit of federal character, which is of course tempered by competence."

He said further, "it is therefore frightening that some of our political leaders in the south west, and surprisingly from the APC, have since launched and sustained a quiet war of attrition against our compatriots in public office from the north. The accusations against these otherwise excellent Nigerians have been made to look like they are evil men.

"As the northern public officers being so accused continually shake of such trumped up allegations, it is President Buhari’s administration that is increasingly looking bad from attacks launched against his aides from within his own political party.

From what we understand, these our south west leaders want to criminalised and demonise northern public office holders to the point where Mr President is forced to drop them and pave the way for them to send in their own loyalists.

"This will explain the reason for the intensity of the way these northerners are being maligned simply for serving the nation. They have run a consistent rota and the latest on the chopping block is the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazzau who they are desperately attempting to tarnish with the now worn out allegation of corruption. Before then it as the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai."
He therefore urged those he described as selfish leaders to desist from this their evil trade.

He said where they wish to continue attacking or demonising the north they must be bold enough to openly place disclaimers that they commit their evil without the endorsement of the Yoruba race and the consequent benefits if for their own selfish gain and not for the South West.

Tapping into NFC’s Potentials

By Terka Jam

The management of the Nigerian Film Corporation, NFC in Jos has a duty to be decisive in dealing with the tricks that its staff and students of it training arm, the Nigerian Film Institute, NFI recently pulled. The recent protest by the staff and students is symptomatic of a larger national problem whereby people resist change or simply want to maintain a status quo even when hurtful to national interest.

Prior to the leadership of Dr Danjuma Dadu as Managing Director of NFC, the perception of that corporation was that of just another government sinkhole that must be steeped in inefficiency, waste and incompetence. This national acceptance of NFC as a mere place holder or an entity whose only responsibility is keeping staff on payroll has cost the nation.

For instance, its Indian equivalent has contributed massively to that country’s economy while providing jobs for millions of its population. This is in addition to projecting the Indian culture to the world. The same can be said of the American film industry where Nollywood promoting the concept of that country’s supremacy.

If Nigeria, specifically the NFC, is ever going to develop its movie industry to the standards that will empower it to deliver on the scale available in India and the United States, then it must necessarily be subjected to high management standards as well. Herein lies the task for Dr Dadu and his team at the NFC.

For a start, he will have to make Nigerians understand the huge benefits the film industry can deliver to the economy, wealth creation, youth empowerment and the impact it can have as a vehicle to promote and preserve our rich cultural heritage. Several government officials have at different for a spoken about the potential that the film industry in Nigeria has and how this is simply amazing. But we must by now move beyond talks. Speaking about the potential is not the same as activating the potentials and this is where Dr Dadu’s touch is needed.

The commitment of the present government to diversifying the economy is an added boost for the corporation. With the NFC under the current leadership doing the much it can to ensure the industry is a leading player, joining the diversification train would ensure that the industry can join the top five sectors to emerge from the new policy direction.

Since employment creation is expected to be a spinoff from diversifying the economy, the NFC Managing Director is reportedly coming up with different training initiatives to empower Nigerian youths with skills in different areas of film production. The aim is that they are trained in such a way that they can be self-employed and self-reliant after the training thereby taking off the pressure on the employment market.

Remarkably, Dr Dadu, is championing the change agenda at the NFC. This perhaps explains the hostile reaction from those staff and some students were yet to understand the benefits. In his characteristic self, he was able to communicate the imperatives for change to these protestors such that some of them became converts of his management style.

Whatever their grievances were, the staff of NFC and students of NFI must embrace transparency in transacting government business; this includes them understanding the intricacies around promotion issues in an environment where government agencies are increasingly resorting to international best practices that are not too different from the dynamism of the private sector.

Even as one would canvass the support of Nigerians for the NFC, the parent Ministry of Information must show the way in the magnitude of support that must come the way of this corporation. Those who want to resist change at the institution will definitely try to confuse the issues by sucking up to senior ministry officials to either have their way or to disrupt the changes being implemented at their workplace. The ministry must be commended for its earlier stand of not meddling in the affairs of the NFC even when recalcitrant staff tried to force them into interfering. This shows that the current leadership of the ministry is in tune with the international best practice mentioned earlier.

With this kind of support, the coast is clear for Dr Dadu and his team to make the NFC what it should be. A corporation that can impact the film industry and make it at par with its equivalents in other countries of the world. This would be possible if all Nigerians including the staff of that organisation pitch in and allow the changes taking place in the place to take root.

Jam is a public affairs commentator based in Jos, Plateau State.

Buhari Making the Best of Civilian JTF

By Anthony Kolawole

In the early days of what was then viewed as a menace, my elder brother, who was at the time working in Borno, first told me about locals organising themselves into groups to take on Boko Haram in the face of what appeared like the helplessness of the military against the terrorists at that time. I was of course aghast then owing to the sheer horror of considering the one thousand and one things that could go wrong when citizens form themselves into positions to go after criminals. Getting killed was not the worst of them.

I had worried about the potential for the group to metamorphosize into an ugly crowd that would use the cover of fighting terror to settle long standing intra and inter-community squabbles. In this same country we have seen what happens to innocent people even in peaceful areas where people have used vigilantes to exact revenge on long standing adversaries.

My second worry was what would become of the vigilante youths once the Boko Haram terrorists were defeated or when the military picked up the slack that was present under the immediate past administration. The thing then was that I saw a future where youths who have had course to bear arms – even if they were the locally made ones, would be left to roam the north-east without employment. My theory then was that the vigilantes would simply evolve to become a new problem post Boko Haram defeat.

There was further an issue that we do not count much on in this country, mental health. I was afraid that the violent and always bloody encounters the youths were having with terrorists would create an avalanche of persons suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) on a scale that could cause major social dislocation. The idea was that while everyone in the north-eastern towns and cities was being traumatised one way or the other by the persistent terror attacks, youths that go out of their way to confront Boko Haram were specifically asking to be unwell in the head going by the encounter they always have.

The youths were however more savvy than I gave them credit for. First, they organised and branded themselves as Civilian JTF, a run on the tag ‘Joint Task Force that defined the combined military operation against the terrorists in the axis. This development ensured they did not become the psychopathic crowd I feared. Instead they have members that operated under agreed rules that ensured not much crazy news to come from their operations. They of course recorded successes in working alone under the previous administration and with the military under the current dispensation.

The present leadership of the military services turned the tide against Boko Haram and recorded massive success with the technical defeat of the insurgents. This gave rise to the second problem – what to do with the battle hardened Civilian JTF youths once the terrorists have been defeated.

The recent news that as many as 250 of them have been trained and absorbed into the Nigerian Army and many others integrated into the Department of State Services (DSS) is therefore welcomed.It is a creative solution that means the youths would have been put through formal training and made part of a structured organisation. Down the line, when it is time to hang their weapons, if they are issued some in service, they would be turning in their government issued weapons and demobilising in accordance with known regulations and not just disappearing into the others.

This move of absorbing them is like embarking on community policing and President Muhammadu Buhari must be commended for this initiative. Apart from addressing my second fear it also ensures that the military now have locals who understand the terrain as well as Boko Haram fighters understand it and should thus bring some gains for the anti-terror fight. All things being equal, it is a matter of time before the military is able to clean out the remaining terrorists and declare a conclusive end of the war on Boko Haram.

Since the Civilian JTF comprise more than the number so far accepted into the Army and DSS, the government must scale up the strategy since to incorporate more of the vigilantes. They would similarly prove useful in Immigration Service for border patrol and with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps. Beyond the inherent advantages identified I also see the compelling need for diverse operations that are not necessarily military in nature but with security implications that must be undertaken in that axis and these other agencies are the right platforms to use in exploiting the vigilantes’ unique skills in preventing the terrorists from regrouping or resurging once defeated.

My other concern however remains and must not be treated with levity. PTSD is real and must be treated as such among the former and current Civilian JTF. I think professional intervention is needed given the toll of conditions taking on the individual and the society. My suggestion is that the Army being the service that likely has the best capacity to deal with this should be strengthened and mandated to make the necessary interventions. This mandate should include assisting even the ex-vigilantes that were or would be absorbed by other services and agencies.

As crises entrepreneurs that have been dislodged from the north-east have made the south-south their new base of operations, it behoves youths in this area to learn from the Civilian JTF that rose up against Boko Haram instead of shielding them. I am of the opinion that the stories of these vigilantes have something for us all and should be taken with all seriousness.


Kolawole PhD is a University lecturer and contributed this piece from Keffi, Nasarawa State.

Nepotism in Buhari’s govt, the worst in Nigeria’s history –Junaid Mohammed

In this interview with JOHN ALECHENU, former Joint House Leader of the defunct Peoples Redemption Party and Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, as well as a member of the Defence Committee in the Second Republic, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, speaks about the Buhari administration’s anti-corruption war, the arms probe and other national issues. Excerpts:

Critics of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration have latched on to the recent arrest of former Army Chief, Azubuike Ihejerika, to accuse it of partiality. What is your take?

If Nigerians can remember, I said recently week; when one of the four service chiefs, who are being investigated, namely: General Azubuike Ihejirika was arrested by the DSS. I said while the arrest of Ihejirika was a very positive development, it was none the less, inadequate. It was partial and certainly sends a very wrong message. One, Ihejirika took over power from somebody called Lt. General (Abdulrahman) Dambazau. If Ihejirika was guilty; it stands to reason that Dambazau is equally guilty because Ihejirika took over from him. In any case, information coming out from the investigation panel set up to probe arms deals indicates clearly that Dambazau has a case to answer. In addition, Dambazau is today falsely being made to represent Kano in the government by Buhari, which is very unfair and unjust because this man was not born in Kano. He is today Minister of Interior and in addition to which, he is Minister in-Charge of Police Affairs. Under the British norms of Public Administration and Management, if you are under investigation, you are normally asked to step aside. Dambazzau has not be asked to step aside, which means he is being allowed to interfere with the investigations by the EFCC which is in fact, a police organisation. Another person who I also understand has been indicted and should be arrested like Ihejirika is Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah. Minimah was not given that job on merit, he was given that position on purely tribal consideration and in appointing him as Chief of Army Staff, several of his colleagues who are better tested and more refined and in fact, better recommended were not only shoved aside, they were also prematurely retired. He should also be arrested like Ihejirika. After Minimah, we now have Buratai. Buratai is an interesting case not because he is not guilty but because Buratai and the circumstances surrounding his appointment and the scandal he is now enmeshed in; are typical of the disastrous sense of judgement of General Muhammadu Buhari and the way he stubbornly refuses to admit when he makes a mistake.

Since you’ve brought in the alleged scandal involving Buratai, what do you make of the whole thing?



It is now clear beyond any reasonable doubt -like we see in the media – that Buratai was the Director of Procurement at Defence Headquarters. There can never be any reason why other chiefs of Army Staff who are involved in malfeasance and grand crimes in procurement should be arrested and taken to court while Buratai is allowed to remain scot-free. Secondly, his position as Chief of Army Staff is something nobody can explain; only Buhari can explain. It has now been discovered that this man is filthy rich like his cohorts. Thirdly, that he has property in Dubai among other places and that while the Army tries to cover one of their own, their Chief of Army Staff; by saying that he acquired these through the savings of his family- I don’t know what his family was earning, what about what he acquired when he became Chief of Army Staff? How does Buhari explain that? Nigerians deserve an answer and the answer must come quick because Nigerians cannot be taken for a ride by either Buhari or any army officer. The days when Nigerian Army officers can tell lies and get away with it or pretend to be messiahs in Nigeria is now gone. Every soldier must prove himself to be clean before we take them to be clean. We do not take anybody from Buhari to be clean simply because he says he is clean or his public relations men who are paid to say so, say he is clean, that day is gone and gone forever.

There has been this talk about a cabal hijacking the Presidency, a charge the Presidency has denied. We will like your thoughts on this?

Let me say straight away that whether one calls it a cabal or a mafia or some kind of cult or whatever, there is a group of people who are wielding power within the Presidency under Buhari. Whatever you say it is; it is and a lot worse. First, the most influential person in the Presidency today is one Mamman Daura whom as you know, is a nephew of the President. His father was Buhari’s elder brother. In addition, Mamman Daura was the one who single handedly brought up Abba Kyari, the current Chief of Staff to the President. In fact, Abba Kyari knows Mamman Daura more than he knows his own father. Next, the Personal Assistant to Buhari himself is the son of Mamman Daura, next is what they call SCOP, State Chief of Protocol, and is also a son-in-law to Mamman Daura because he is married to Mamman Daura’s daughter. Next, the Minister they unilaterally chose, against the interest of the party and against the wishes of Sokoto people, happens to be the daughter of the younger sister of Mamman Daura’s wife. Both of them are daughters of Sultan Dasuki, who was sacked by General Abacha. We have the Aide De Camp to Buhari himself, Colonel Abubakar. He is married to the granddaughter of one of Buhari’s elder sisters. Next we have the woman who represents Kaduna in the Federal Executive Council, she is a cousin to Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai. It is well known that el-Rufai is one of the closest governors to Muhammadu Buhari. Next, we have the Minister for the Federal Capital Territory. The Minister of the FCT is the man called Musa Bello, who used to be the Managing Director of the Northern Nigeria Development Corporation, which used to be the biggest holding company that belonged to all the northern states. His only qualification to be FCT minister is the fact that his father has been Buhari’s friend over the years. Now, there is a young man called Sabiu Yusuf, nicknamed Tunde – probably because of late General Tunde Idiagbon. He is another PA to President Buhari. He is also a grandson of another sister of Buhari. This is enough to prove to you that this is shamelessly the worst form of nepotism in the history of government in Nigeria. In fact, in the history of Africa, let me make bold to assert that I have never seen any level of nepotism that has equalled or surpassed this in my entire life – I am now in my 67th year. Another thing I also want you to know is that, Amina Zakari, who was and still a national commissioner in the Independent National Electoral Commission representing the entire seven states in the North-West. It is being claimed that Buhari knows nothing about her appointment (before he became President), it is a lie. When President Goodluck Jonathan was re-organising the INEC and he was bringing in Prof. Attahiru Jega, he reached out to Buhari and asked Buhari to nominate somebody from the North-West so that that person would be a national commissioner. Of all the people in the North-West, Buhari decided to nominate his own niece, the daughter of his elder sister- Amina Zakari. She has been there; when Jega left, Buhari was determined to make her chairman, it was because of the massive backlash that he dropped the idea like hot potatoes. As we are talking today, that woman is a national commissioner which means she is one of the principal election umpires. Throughout my reading of history, political science and social sciences generally, I have never heard of any dictator or any tyrant under any system of government whether totalitarian or fascist, appointing his own niece to conduct elections in which he was either a party or going to be a party to; Buhari has done that. The immediate younger brother to Amina Zakari is currently the Minister for Water Resources representing Jigawa State in the same Buhari government. In addition, even though they are from Kazaure, Kazaure is contiguous to Daura. The eldest sister of both of them is now the Commissioner for Education in the All Progressives Congress government in Jigawa State. If this is not nepotism, then I don’t know what is nepotism and anybody who has the guts, the brutal arrogance to appoint these relations not bothering about public opinion, about the sense of justice, about competence, then you can see that he has a very serious question to answer. There are two mysterious cases.

Which cases are you referring to?

The case of the Governor of the Central Bank, Godwin Emeifele and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu. It was Buhari himself who said that he knew when the governor of the CBN picked a piece of paper and gave an instruction that N14bn should be withdrawn from the CBN and that money was withdrawn. That was nearly a year ago and up till today, Buhari is still retaining Emefiele as CBN governor. The Buhari I know is an economic illiterate and anybody who knows anything about currency movement and foreign exchange and fluctuations knows that the Naira has been effectively devalued. It was the same Buhari who boasted that the Naira would never be devalued under him for as long as he remains President and even threatened the governor of the CBN that he was going to sack him if he devalued the Naira. He (CBN governor) is still there. In the case of Kachikwu, he is the mystery man in the cabinet. No one can actually tell you who nominated and brought in Kachikwu. We knew that he was friends with Abba Kyari when they both worked in Mobil but none of them had the influence to bring him in and make him Minister of Petroleum Resources. Forget the nonsense about him being the junior minister because he is the senior and junior minister in addition to being the Managing Director of the NNPC (until recently when he was replaced. This again confirms the arrogance of President Buhari in putting two positions together; one purely civil service and technocratic position which is the Group Managing Director of the NNPC and the other one which is purely political- a minister.

What is wrong with the President merging these portfolios in the light of the administration’s desire to cut the cost of running government…?

Since this man became minister, there has been nothing good coming out of the oil industry rather than confusion, crisis and corruption. That again is an indication of the decadence we have in this government. People who are being accused and arrested for corruption as it should be, we are also aware that some of these cases that the DSS is getting involved in are shady because they have no experience whatsoever in prosecution. That is why from the famous case of Farouk Lawal, a former member of the House of Representatives who was involved in getting money and putting it under his cap and what have you which was captured on camera. They arrested that man; it was a clear cut case long before Buhari became President. Till today, the DSS has not been able to prosecute Farouk Lawan. He is still sitting at home; his house is about 200 metres from my house. That shows you that when you hear that the DSS is arresting somebody for corruption, it is clearly political and maybe there is money or corruption involved. We also know that there are people from within the DSS from the very top who are even threatening that they will soon arrest the Chairman of the EFCC and the National Security Adviser.

These are serious allegations. Why would they want to do that?

The main reason is these people have refused to cooperate with them: Mamman Daura, Abba Kyari and the DG DSS, who is also part of the Daura cabal they want to take over the anti-corruption war so that it will be under their hand and they can cut deals and render the anti-corruption war useless. I know who they propose to take over, it didn’t work. I think Buhari resisted- which is miracle. They are now proposing somebody. The person who they proposed was a retired DIG, he, myself and Magu (current EFCC boss) had worked in Port Harcourt during my years in OMPADEC. Now they are thinking of a retired Commissioner of Police. The only qualification they are looking for is someone who can be controlled by them. This is the situation we find ourselves.

In the light of what you have said, what would you say has changed in government?

I will put it this way, we have exchanged one thoroughly corrupt government for one that pretends to be honest and is doing an honest job while in reality, it is business as usual.

…But for the first time, alleged malfeasance in the purchase of weapons is being investigated. Is this not progress?

Recently, an interim report was submitted to President Buhari. The report had to do with the on-going investigation of the Nigerian Army which is the primary consumer of the money that was used to prosecute the war on Boko Haram and of course, the Niger Delta insurgency. I have been reliably informed that the report even though partial, has already indicted the following: General Ihejirika and the current Chief of Army Staff, Buratai. What was strange about the report was the fact that it was silent about General Dambazzau who was Army Chief before all of these people. The report was silent about his own role which goes to confirm that the Mafia or the cabal in the Presidency consisting of the Chief of Staff, DG DSS and of course, their godfather, Mamman Daura, have an interest in making sure that by hook or by crook, General Dambazau is protected even though he was supposed to come first. For some reason, the Buhari administration which prides itself with its anti-corruption war has decided that the report is not going to be published because he has been persuaded by the three that publishing the report will embarrass the government. This is very strange and at best laughable because Buhari’s first administration in 1984 got into a lot of trouble with the media because of Decree 2 which makes it a crime to embarrass any public office holder. That made Buhari and his administration back then very unpopular. These characters in the Presidency, the cabal or the mafia or whatever you call them, are determined to make Buhari make the same mistake again. For Buhari to ask a report not to be published because some people in his government will be embarrassed is a very strange manifestation of the Buhari we knew and is likely to cause a lot of problems. In the case of Dambazau, it is clear that the years 2007-2010 are critical (to the arms probe) because these were the years when he was supposed to be in charge but again, he is being protected by the DG DSS and co. Nigerians demand that the interim report be made public and that there should be no sacred cows. In any case, anything they try to hide will be made public in due course because nothing remains permanently secret in Nigeria, Buhari himself knows that. Others who have been in that position also know that. In addition to what was contained in the report as it concerns uniformed persons, we are reliably informed that some permanent secretaries, civilians and civil servants have been implicated and it is important for the report to be made public for Nigerians to decide who can be trusted. When crimes are committed, it is not only soldiers that are implicated, without the collusion of Permanent Secretaries and others within the civilian administration. Nigerians are watching and watching carefully and demand that these things be made public.

Is the cabal, like you said, not working to protect the interest of the President?

No. According to very reliable sources, the cabal in fact has a problem with the National Security Adviser and the Chairman of the EFCC. The problem the cabal has with the NSA is not the same they have with the acting Chairman of the EFCC. The problem they have with the NSA has to do with what the office of the NSA and the security establishment generally determined was going to be a danger to the President himself. They found that the contractors supplying aviation fuel to the Presidential fleet were actually appointed -they are cronies to Jonathan Goodluck and his wife, Patience. And the security services felt that retaining them under the new dispensation would be dangerous, unhealthy and poses a direct danger to the President, members of his family and other members of the government. They made the determination and submitted a report to the President through the NSA recommending that a new supplier be sourced to supply fuel for the Presidential fleet. Buhari agreed with their recommendations and signed off on it. He agreed with the new contractors to supply after it was done in the process of implementation, Mamman Daura was claimed to have said the former supplier was his friend therefore nobody can take the contract away from them. All efforts to explain the implications to him failed. He raised issues first; with the NSA then with the President but he did not get his way. That was when he raised the issue with the DG DSS on what to do with the NSA. It is noteworthy that when Obasanjo was President, all the service chiefs including the Inspector General of Police and the DG DSS were reporting to Obasanjo through the NSA. That was how the system worked and no bloody civilian ever got involved with security matters. If Nigerians hear that there is a threat by a civilian to arrest the NSA, they should know the reason why. Nigerians should not underestimate the danger posed by the cabal because if Nigerians are not careful, the cabal will inadvertently bring down the government or destroy Buhari’s reputation.

Arewa Youth Fault Femi Falana's Claim On Army, Shiite Clash

Youth group under the name, The Arewa Hope Foundation has faulted what it considered as move by counsel to the Shiite sect, Femi Falana to cast aspersions on the composition and work of the Kaduna State Commission of Inquiry set up by the state governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai to launch an investigation into the clash between the Nigerian Army and Shiite sect.

The group in its reaction to a purported letter written by the human rights lawyer to Kaduna state Attorney General said Mr Falana was only trying to pre-empt the final report of the committee which may have indicted the Shiite group.

Addressing a press conference in Kaduna, president of the group, Comrade Muhammadu Ibrahim wondered why Falana would be calling for the prosecution of soldiers involved in the clash when the report of the panel is yet to be released.

Ibrahim expressed concern that no one seems to be talking about justice for families of slain and injured personnel of the Nigerian Army.

He said, "It is however well known that contrary to claims that they boycotted the commission’s sitting to protest its ability to be impartial, Mr Falana and his client were saving face as they could not have face the revelations made about the atrocities, heinous crimes and the violent reputation of their sect."

He said what Falana and his client were trying to do is that of the aggressor playing the victim.

He said, "we respect the right of every individual to be represented by a counsel of his choice irrespective of his crime. However, the attempt by Mr. Femi Falana to use clandestine means at not only defending his clients but to secure a favourable judgement through the back door is unprofessional, irresponsible and a gross abuse of the well laid down legal and judicial practice all over the world.

"His letter to the Kaduna AG is one of his recent penmanship aimed at harassing the Nigerian Army and its leadership, which tends to support the reported Iranian $100 million report. As solicitor to IMN he knows better than to also use other platforms and unconnected national issues to demonise the military if his clients sincerely have a case.

"We raise these concerns about Falana and IMN today because we know it is the right thing to do. In the early years of Boko Haram, some lawyers made windfall of cash from freeing the extremists on technicalities whenever they were arrested and charged to court. It is well known that those so released became even more vicious in their hatred of the country and in the attacks they later staged. The IMN has similarly militarised, with video evidence made by them of their fighters in training as evidence, so Nigerians should be aware of what Mr Femi Falana (SAN) is trying to unleash on the country."

Buratai: Right Group Lauds CCB For Timely Action

A Human Rights advocacy group, Advocates of Social Justice for All (ASJA) has commended the Code of Conduct Bureau (CBB) for its diligence and forthrightness in the manner it handled the Dubai property saga concerning the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja, ASJA national president, Torkuma Venatius said the timely intervention of the CCB put a quick end to any distraction that a prolonged tussle may have caused the COAS in his resolve to quickly finish the Boko Haram War.
He said his group just like other Nigerians had called for the COAS to step down, but said there were a lot of deliberate misinformation at the onset about the properties.

He said, "a lot has been unearthed since the allegation against him first surfaced. In the course of investigation, we found out that there was deliberate mischief aimed at misleading the public through misinformation and distortion of facts pushed into the public space.
"We at Advocates of Social Justice for All (ASJA), on the strength of what we knew, had resolved to occupy major Nigerian cities in protest to demand that General Buratai quits as COAS to pave way for investigations into the allegations against him. Our reasoning was that the anti-corruption fight would receive a boost by so doing.
"In line with our internal practice of doing due diligence before embarking on public actions, we decided to review the information at our disposal. What we found was that there were yawning gaps and aspects that required clarifications. In the course of getting additional information to get a clearer picture we found that like many Nigerians we were on the verge of falling for coordinated misinformation that were presented as facts to the public."
He said Nigerians that have taken the pains to ask questions and make enquiries are also finding out that things are not the way the dominant voices in this debate have painted them.
He said, "For instance, a Freedom of Information request by an Abuja-based lawyer, Ugochukwu Osuagwu, to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CBB) that was granted has basically closed the chapter on what has now been proven to be malicious claims against the COAS. The CBB confirmed that the General did actually declared the property in his Assets Declaration Form. Therefore, he has not erred and the fact that he declared the assets is partly an indication that he has no intention of hiding its ownership since only a public official that has nothing to hide would be bold to do so."

According to Venatius this confirmation by the CBB came after the Presidency ordered another round of probe into military procurement. The list of those to be probed does not include General Buratai.
He commended the COAS for his courage and honesty declaring his assets without any pressure, stressing that it showed he had nothing to hide.

He said, "instead, we are now challenging public office holders to make truthful declaration of their assets like General Buratai did. For this purpose, we are asking that there should be a sort of six weeks amnesty for wrong assets declaration so that all eligible persons can collect fresh asset forms and declare their true worth like the General did."

COAS Buratai and the levity of success

By Abiodun Israel

I was reading through the news recently and I saw a news headline “ Army repels attack kills 16 Boko Haram members”, It got me thinking that we may have forgotten just so soon where we were only a few months ago.
Just a little while ago the headlines would have read something like” Boko Haram attack Pulka, 60 dead several others missing”, but today we have the luxury to take the earlier headline casually. I am indeed happy for my dear country that we are able to turn the tide of events around in the fight against terrorism. That the Nigerian Army that hitherto fled before Boko Haram terrorist is now pursuing the terrorists to their holes is quite significant and heart-warming.

At the rate the insurgents were taking territories then, we probably might have lost almost half the country to Boko Haram by now. Not that alone, I believe the humanitarian crisis that erupted as a result of this challenge was largely under stated. Over 25,000 killed more than two million displaced. Several cities, towns and villages deserted.

Reversing the progress of the insurgents was one of the best things that has happened to this country in the last few years. The emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari as Commander in Chief of the armed forces infused new confidence in the military.

New service chiefs were appointed and they swung into action immediately, this time with the confidence that they have a Commander in Chief who is sincerely interested in combating the terrorists headlong without politicizing the issue.

The one man who has caught my fancy in this short time is Lt Gen Tukur Buratai, The Chief of Army Staff (COAS). He has been outstanding in the discharge of his duties. He has inspired confidence in the troops like no other COAS; he is mostly at the frontlines motivating the troops, encouraging them. He has made their welfare his priority and the results are evident on ground.

Buratai in the short time he has been the chief has transformed the army to a formidable force in Africa. He has shown leadership which has translated into the current peace we are witnessing in many parts of the country.

This makes me wonder what those who are after the COAS are up to. They have latched onto the report they originally planted in one online media about Buratai owning properties in Dubai. To be honest I was initially worried. I wonder why we could not just have a public servant that will be hard working and diligent yet honest. By the time the facts emerged it was a completely exaggerated story by the online media.

The facts are that the Buratais have two properties that they invested in Dubai. These types of investment are paid for over a period of time, during which you also make money on such investments during such period. Those who are familiar with investments such as timeshare properties may understand such investments more.

The truth is that General Buratai has always declared these properties in his assets declaration from as required by law and these properties were included. I tried to make a research on this kind of investments, what I found out was that with as low as 20,000 USD you can actually own one of such properties in Dubai.

Whilst not holding brief for Gen Buratai, I would imagine a general that has served for over 30 years may be able to come up with such amount without raising an eye brow. The matter has been investigated by relevant authorities and we are done with this issue except for mischief makers trying to justify their pay.

I read the comments of a Lagos based Lawyer Femi Falana asking the army chief to resign and I am wondering on what ground such a call is being made. Whereas I abhor corruption anywhere, whether in high or low places but we must also be careful about those whose intention may not be very clear.

I wonder why at this critical point especially coming a day after the army had another big success in the fight against insurgents in the north east by repelling a major attack and killing several terrorists, some people will be calling for the resignation of the army chief over allegations that have not been substantiated. I find it really suspicious. Is he not happy that Boko Haram couldn't make real their threats of invading Lagos?

At a time when we all ought to give our troops all the support they require to finish off the enemy, some people are expending energy and resources trying to shift focus away from the battlefield to the virtual world. I am more surprised that someone of the calibre of Femi Falana will make himself available for such. He himself know what the troops went through under the past mismanagement and I am sure he is aware of the massive changes that has come the way of the troops and the army as a whole, why now lend yourself to pull down all such efforts.

Another thing that is wrong in Falana dabbling into this matter is the glaring conflict of interest, being the counsel to the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), Mr Ibrahim Alzakzaky, he lacks the moral right to wade into the matter. The impression created is that the Senior Advocate is desperate to score a hurtful blow against Buratai whether in the law court or that of public opinion.

Furthermore, ever since he lost out of the chase to be appointed Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Falana appears to be bitter about almost anything. I know he is working hard towards clinching the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket for Ekiti Governorship in 2018 but all that ambition should not be at the expense of other successful programs or persons in government.

There have been reports of Iranian $100 million injected into financing this Dubai property hubbub. This raises fear about the incentives propelling Falana’s recent criticisms. Is he in his desperation for Ekiti 2018 angling to soil his name with the alleged Iranian slush fund? As a lawyer, the old man must know the implications of funding his governorship bid with foreign money especially when the foreign nation involved is a known state sponsor of terrorism.

I believe it is time we leave the army and its chief out of our daily politics and political revenue drive. Let the institution and its leadership focus on the enormous task of ridding the country of terrorists wherever they may be. The job itself is already difficult let us not make it any more difficult.

Please let’s allow the army chief to focus on the important task of completely routing out Boko Haram in Nigeria. Those of us who have not been attacked should appreciate Buratai more and not take his success for levity. We must also begin to question the intentions of some so called leaders of thoughts who have now been exposed as shams.

Abiodun Israel (PhD) contributed this piece from Ibadan, Oyo State and could be reached at: abiodunteleaviv2000@gmail.com

Finally, Evil Ones Crawl Out of the Woodwork

By Anthony Kolawole

In the past weeks Nigerians have become victims of the people that should ordinarily lead them. Instead of being shown ways to become better persons citizens are being encouraged to become believers in jungle justice as some so called leaders of thought attempt to change the laws of the land to “guilty until proven innocent”.

Since the story of Dubai property ownership by the Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) emerged, the chant for citizens to constitute themselves into a lynch mob has grown to the point of drowning reasoning. Not even the clarifications by the Army authorities that the said houses were paid for in instalment from personal savings could stop those demanding a sack from frothing in the mouth. Buratai’s ownership of a farm, which the law allows, has been completely disregarded in order to sustain the argument that the Dubai assets are way above his means.

In the initial stages, those pulling the puppet strings mostly hid in the background like the demonic spirits of a haunted house. Some so called investigative news site have been recruited to pass off the raked muck as ‘exclusive’ stories that were thoroughly investigated. Only that both sponsors and carriers of the information outdid themselves and forgot to do some basic toning down to hold back the class of information that only state resources could unlock.

Equally overlooked was the need to isolate earlier political discontents that have been ventilated in other contexts. Using Buratai to raise question marks about President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption credentials is like a giant neon sign pointing the direction from where the missiles are being fired from. Knowing where the missiles are coming from also gives a clear hint of who occupies that exact spot so the evil people after Buratai’s job are finally crawling out of the woodwork.

No, they are actually sprinting out of the woodwork if the events of the second week of July are anything to go by. In just a few hours, several NGOs, news platforms and people once regarded as conscientious seemed to have read from the same script in tying Buratai’s incumbency despite the allegations to the credibility of President Buhari’s anti-corruption fight. This is particularly so when the affiliations of the NGOs supporting this clamour are well known. They are tied to the same master that the vocal anti-Buratai commentators report to.

Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN); Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN); Second Republic House of Representatives member, Dr. Junaid Mohammed; Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, and the National Publicity Secretary of the National Advance Party, Mr. Tosin Odeyemi were among those that made demands for Buratai’s sack. The list of media organisations that made their editorial columns available for the onslaught was equally long.

A closer look would however reveal that some of those making the calls did so because they find it fashionable to align with the trend. It is their own version of intoning the hallelujah chorus so as to be seen as conforming with the nation’s mood towards corruption. Unfortunately, this has proven to be a grave mistake for they are echoing the voices of paid singers whose actual music conductors are hidden in the woodworks of the opera house.
Take for instance, Mr Femi Falana (SAN). He has been disenchanted with the Buhari administration since his name came nowhere near making the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice contrary to the street lore that projected him for the office. His disparaging the current government began within days of not making the cabinet. In the absence of that coveted post, his next likely opportunity at coming close to the public till as a political office holder is to gun for the Ekiti state governorship seat soon to be vacated by the cantankerous Ayodele Fayose, and even prematurely so if Falana can railroad anti-corruption agencies to violate the constitution as he is currently doing.

But not being a versatile politician, the human rights lawyer’s best shot is to have the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) governorship ticket allocated to him as opposed to contesting for it and the lord in charge of that needs Buratai out of office to create one more vacancy for a proxy (this should ensure his camp keep President Buhari under thumb). For something as life changing as a governorship ticket, one can then understand why Falana joined the “bring down Buratai” mob. His desperation should be pitied rather than condemned. The man has to negotiate or arrange a state pension for himself especially now that the anti-corruption fight is drying up slush funds from his clients.

If Falana typifies those calling for Buratai’s head on a platter for personal gains, the position of Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) depicts those whose good intentions are being twisted to satisfy the interest of the first group. Ozekhome wants the COAS to be sacked only if found guilty after a fair trial. For him, the Chief of Army Staff should undergo trial while still serving as ‎a military officer to prove that the government’s anti-corruption war is not targeted at profiled opponents. Another legal luminary, Mr. Yusuf Ali (SAN) and the Executive Director of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, Mr. Adetokunbo Mumumi, are of the opinion that Buratai should only be asked to resign or be sacked only after being indicted by a thorough investigation.

These bright minds have good intentions in stating these positions but they must be wary of the evil hiding in the woodworks. They must become conscious to the fact that the ultimate target is to either cripple or hijack President Buhari’s government. If the nation succumbs to this blackmail of the Army Chief it must be ready for the next victim of this evil camp, and the next and the next and infinitum.

What must happen is clear as daylight. All those that have spoken up out of genuine concern for transparency in the country must confront the paid activists to know what they really want. They must ensure that when we add our voices to demand accountability we are not unknowingly implementing the agenda of a group that is intent cornering the country for its selfish goals. If they know they genuinely have facts to prove wrong doing, the puppet masters should boldly step out of the woodworks since their puppets are already dancing shamelessly in the public square.

Kolawole is a University lecturer writing from Keffi, Nasarawa State.

Exposed: New Interest Joins Forces With Anti-Buratai Movement

The Islamic Republic of Iran may have joined forces with those seeking the removal of Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai in what is largely seen as a coup to cripple the anti-terror war.
Buratai, whose detractors acknowledged as having made commendable gains in the fight against Boko Haram in the northeast, was the target of an attack by Iranian backed Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) better known as Shiite sect in the country. The attempt on his life triggered a military operation.

Sources revealed that Iran, whose former Ambassador to Nigeria, Saheed Kozechi, actively defended IMN’s right to insurrection, is now exploiting ongoing allegations against the COAS of owning property in Dubai to seek his sack as pay back for the troops’ operation in Zaria Kaduna state late last year.

While Iran has toned down its coordinated media attacks against the Nigerian state since the departure of Kozechi, the sources revealed it has covertly joined forces with those demanding Buratai’s sack by part financing the campaign against the COAS.

One of the sources, who wants his identity protected for fear of repercussions said, “You know what is at stake for Iran is more than what you Nigerians take as your petty politics and in-fighting. The Islamic Republic is eager to see this man go so that its assets in Nigeria can start operating freely again. That clamp down by the Nigerian authorities had slowed down the anticipated rise of Shiism in the country.
“Iran has made $100 million available for this purpose. The intervention would have happened earlier but for the tighter scrutiny of how money moves. The decision was to finally pass the money through Mr Femi Falana, who is a counsel to IMN in the case against the Nigerian Army. You know the money is being released in tranches but they are able to create the impression that he is being paid for his services but he knows how to reach out to others with interest in General Buratai,” he outlined.

A second source in the anti-Buratai camp, who confirmed new funding for the campaign but denied knowledge of its source, confirmed that the camp was able to scale up its media activities as more groups and personalities were mobilised over the weekend to renew demands for Buratai’s sack.

According to the source, “One of the points unanimously agreed at the last strategy session is that even if the allegations are being twisted out of proportion people will start believing them once we keep repeating them. That is what is driving the demand for him to be sacked.

“We have also made slight changes in strategies. Instead of prevailing on the General to go we are now creating the impression that his continuing on office is a question mark on Mr President’s anti-corruption stance. Fortunately, several traditional newspapers bought this argument and you can see it already reflecting on their editorial,” the source explained.

He however insisted his camp knew nothing about Iran providing the new funding even as he countered that “it doesn’t matter” where the money is coming from when confronted with the implication for Nigeria’s sovereignty.

New Interest Joins Forces With Anti-Buratai Movement

By Ken Essien

The Islamic Republic of Iran may have joined forces with those seeking the removal of Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai in what is largely seen as a coup to cripple the anti-terror war.
Buratai, whose detractors acknowledged as having made commendable gains in the fight against Boko Haram in the northeast, was the target of an attack by Iranian backed Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) better known as Shiite sect in the country. The attempt on his life triggered a military operation.

Sources revealed that Iran, whose former Ambassador to Nigeria, Saheed Kozechi, actively defended IMN’s right to insurrection, is now exploiting ongoing allegations against the COAS of owning property in Dubai to seek his sack as pay back for the troops’ operation in Zaria Kaduna state late last year.

While Iran has toned down its coordinated media attacks against the Nigerian state since the departure of Kozechi, the sources revealed it has covertly joined forces with those demanding Buratai’s sack by part financing the campaign against the COAS.

One of the sources, who wants his identity protected for fear of repercussions said, “You know what is at stake for Iran is more than what you Nigerians take as your petty politics and in-fighting. The Islamic Republic is eager to see this man go so that its assets in Nigeria can start operating freely again. That clamp down by the Nigerian authorities had slowed down the anticipated rise of Shiism in the country.
“Iran has made $100 million available for this purpose. The intervention would have happened earlier but for the tighter scrutiny of how money moves. The decision was to finally pass the money through Mr Femi Falana, who is a counsel to IMN in the case against the Nigerian Army. You know the money is being released in tranches but they are able to create the impression that he is being paid for his services but he knows how to reach out to others with interest in General Buratai,” he outlined.

A second source in the anti-Buratai camp, who confirmed new funding for the campaign but denied knowledge of its source, confirmed that the camp was able to scale up its media activities as more groups and personalities were mobilised over the weekend to renew demands for Buratai’s sack.

According to the source, “One of the points unanimously agreed at the last strategy session is that even if the allegations are being twisted out of proportion people will start believing them once we keep repeating them. That is what is driving the demand for him to be sacked.

“We have also made slight changes in strategies. Instead of prevailing on the General to go we are now creating the impression that his continuing on office is a question mark on Mr President’s anti-corruption stance. Fortunately, several traditional newspapers bought this argument and you can see it already reflecting on their editorial,” the source explained.

He however insisted his camp knew nothing about Iran providing the new funding even as he countered that “it doesn’t matter” where the money is coming from when confronted with the implication for Nigeria’s sovereignty.

Buratai: Celebrating Sallah With a Difference

By Philip Agbese

As the Muslim faithful worldwide marked the end of Ramadan fast, two warriors in different parts of the world sent a clear message to terrorists across the globe that humanity will not be cowed by those who pervert Islam, killing in the name of the faith for which millions observed Eid prayers at end of the holy month.

In Pakistan, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif spent Eid day with the troops in the frontline of North and South Waziristan, offered his Eid prayers at Shawal and later visited troops in other areas. Prior to Sharif’s visit to troops, his Nigerian counterpart, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Tukur Buratai broke the Ramadan fast with troops of 103 Battalion at their trenches in Konduga, Borno state on Monday, July 4.

As part of his operational visits to formations and units in the North East, which was in continuation of the activities marking this year's Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) 2016, General Buratai was to later visit troops of 119 Task Force Battalion of 7 Brigade located at Kangarwa.

He was also at Konduga, Dikwa and even at the border town that connects Cameroon, Chad and Niger, where insurgents are desperately making last ditch efforts to attempt proving they are still potent, despite all the security concerns that should have stopped him since the terrorists won’t pass on an opportunity to score a hit against a senior administration official.

It is such action that confirms to Boko Haram terrorists that the day when they confront a poorly motivated army is over same way the Pakistani COAS’ visit would let the Taliban realise that the power of the state remains dominant. In the case of Nigeria, gone are the days when the war on terror was managed from air-conditioned hotel lobbies and suites. The leadership of the military is strategizing with the troops from inside the trenches. The Army leadership now has a first-hand experience of happenings on the battlefront and is able to respond faster than if it were reliant on dispatches.

The selflessness of Buratai, his officers and soldiers for the peace project of Nigeria in this regard is unquantifiable. It is therefore of note that that such qualities form part of the reason that Nigerians rise up in his defence at every point in time. Detractors who seek to tarnish his image or bring him down reckon without this leadership quality that earns respect from the troops who consequently see basis to be loyal to the fatherland. The same quality built trust for him among the civilian populace and they are thus able to easily see through any web of lies spun against the COAS.

It is instructive to note that with the trusted Army Chief, the Commander in Chief can boastfully have the kind of Eid we just had without the usual bombings. A clear hope that one day we will all also go to bed with our eyes truly closed as citizens of some parts of the world do. Of course, knowing full well that a larger part of the insurgency is politically sponsored, Boko Haram fighters staged some attacks in the aftermath of the COAS’ visit to the frontline in the desperate efforts to create the impression that things have not calmed down to the extent reported. What is noteworthy however was the efficiency with which troops were able to thwart several of the terror group’s plots to cause untold carnage.

This is one area where General Buratai must make changes. Whenever he or any senior government official visits the theatre of war, contingency plans must be made to forestall any attempt that Boko Haram fighters will make to stage daring attacks just to create the impression that they still have the upper hand.

The great Gandhi of India was right when he said, 'giving is the attitude of the strong, only the strong gives especially when he expects nothing in return'. This captures the essence of how Buratai has operated so far. Where others have taken what ordinarily belonged to troops – allowances and funds for the equipment needed to prosecute the war, the COAS has been selfless. Buratai placed himself in the same situation as the troops he commands, no giving can be greater than placing one’s life in service to one’s nation. This is a reflection of the practicality that the COAS has brought to the frontline.

Beyond his strong military posture, another side of Buratai is his philanthropic and humanitarian gesture which he constantly demonstrates without showing bias for religion or ethnicity. He is a friend of the poor, always rising up directly and indirectly for their wellbeing and he has successfully transferred the same disposition to dealing with the welfare of his soldiers, officers and their families.

It is on the strength of the COAS' mien that despite the sounds of bullets in the war front, he still took out time to visit his troops and shared their meals with them. While one may see crude and undiluted love by a general trying to inspire his officers and soldiers to quickly win and end the war on terrorism, it could also be taken further to surmise that here is a military leader that wants to be sure that the appropriate rations are served to his men while fighting for their fatherland.

One must recall that there have been concerted efforts to whip up dissension among the troops with cooked up stories about soldiers not getting rations and allowances. But with what Buratai has demonstrated, it is no wonder that stories of soldiers attempting to fire shots at their commanding officers have died a natural death since the incumbent COAS took over the reins. In him, the Nigerian Army has a symbolic reflection of President Muhammadu Buhari, whose persona inspires a willingness of the larger part of the population to embrace change even when it is certain that it comes with sacrifices.

The hope is that when it is time to mark the end of the next Ramadan, the confidence inspired by General Buratai’s disposition would have spurred our troops to rout Boko Haram from the last of the holes they are hiding in such that the thousands of displaced persons can break their fast in their ancestral homeland.

Agbese is a National Coordinator, Stand Up Nigeria (SUN), a civil rights group based in the United Kingdom.

Ex- Legislators condemn anarchy in Abia State

Nigerian Ex-Legislators Forum (NELF) has condemned what it described as the growing spate of anarchy, lawlessness and anti democratic posture being promoted by the erstwhile Governor of Abia, Okezie Ikpeazu who was recently removed by the court in Abuja.

Speaking in Abuja, Audu Bala Kuta a member of the House of Representatives from Niger State in the second republic and National Chairman of the Forum said the sheer brigandage demonstrated by the wife and son of former Governor Theodore Orji to kidnap the Chief Judge of the State and preventing her from performing her constitutional functions is an attempt to return Nigeria to the garrison politics of Amala which the late Adedibu once practiced.

He said, "it is appalling that Ikpeazu who has not been able to pay salaries could draw as huge as 2.1billion naira from the treasury of Abia State in just one Dayan the detriment of the suffering masses of Abia all in a desperate attempt to procure another judgement from a would be pliant jurist that will deliver a kangaroo judgement.

"He should be reminded that the judiciary has been properly strengthened and no amount of money is enough for anyone to buy the learned men in Nigeria. Let him return the money back to the treasury.

"That part of the desperate maneuvers to remain in power is the mobilization of IPOB, BIAM, MASSOB and some elements of Avengers to forment trouble in Abia State on Monday after declaring a state of emergency in the state at a time that he had lost the constitutional authority to do so".

He said the forum completely aligns with the position of learned legal luminaries who have dissected the judgement whose interpretations are not unambiguous, saying there is a clear distinction between a notice of appeal and stay of execution is not negotiable and any further attempt by Ikpeazu to continue to hold the people to ransoms should draw the full wrath of the law.

He said, "The forum is aware that Ikpeazu who is on the seat to cover the track record of some past officials is acting the script of a few to hold an entire state to ransom".

The Pontification of St Buratai

By Sunday Attah

Nigeria has an abundance of everything. Not just crude oil, solid minerals and agro-produce. Just watch the street corners and newsstands after a match and you realise this is a country with as many football coaches and technical advisers as there are football fans. They all have the perfect recipe that would have ensured the national teams always win their matches even as if the players of the other nations were on the pitch to solicit candies. The specialty has even extended to foreign clubs that are followed with a mass zombie obsession.

The country now even has more payroll masters, accountants, realtors, investment advisers, actuaries and just any other field of expertise rolled into one. These skills now possessed by roughly half of the population are being generously applied without demand for any requisite fees from those who have them as they ponder over the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai’s property in Dubai. Buratai and the Army made a fair disclosure that he acquired the said property with personal savings after some people hoping to make political capital out of it had twisted the fact in an online publication. It was further revealed that the said property were properly declared as expected by law.

So the buzz has been across the country – from the nosy ignorance peddling passengers in shared taxis on the streets to their more privileged relations in the blogosphere – the outrage has been typified by the question: how was he able to save that much to buy the property? Coming from the portion of the population to whom the term ‘saving’ is alien one can easily understand their perplexity that anyone can pull off the discipline to move forward where they have chosen to lavish their meagre resources on the inconsequential while further wasting precious time that could have been converted to money on deliberating on issues for which they have processing capacities that falls below their capacity as football coaches or technical advisers.

By the way, in all the ongoing national calculus about Buratai’s salary and Dubai property, few had cared to balance their imaginary books with the proceeds from the farms that the COAS reportedly has. For a people that have become addicted to a government stimulated economy that runs mostly on crude oil revenue its was to be expected that they cannot appreciate how much a trailer load of mangoes would fetch for instance or what a truckload of grains amounted to in monetary terms. To the extent that a N40000 price tag on a basket of tomatoes arising from the recent shortage could not prick their interest in farming it is easily understandable why they are fixated on crunching figures from salaries alone.

A direct consequence of this failure to be circumspect is that instead of the ‘vilification of Buratai’ that was the rallying cry of this horde they ended up singing the ‘pontification of Buratai’. They instead ended up portraying him as an epitome of a public servant who still does the right thing as his accusers continue to struggle to prove him wrong. The impression they are leaving the more rational part of the population with is that the COAS is not a public servant to be associated with only at night and therefore deserves awards and commendation.

I am thus rather seeing it that his enemies have helped him to proof his saint hood because at the very least, the numerous allegations and his ability to clear himself have earned him a good name in the society. Even in the blogosphere and on social media where the ‘tall poppy syndrome’ has it highest number of sufferers, cursory checks of aggregated comments reveals opinions are now shifting in his favor.

The comments however reveal something more troubling. The larger number of the critical comments are persons that have actively canvassed separatist positions in the past with calls to break up the country. This would suggest those attempting to criminalize a personal investment where no crime has been committed are the Biafra separatists who dread Buratai's name for refusing them the opportunity to break our country into pieces. Next are those can no longer make slush funds out of Boko Haram insurgency that has been largely degraded. There have been reports that they are the ones providing the financial backbone for what appears like serious reporting but is actually lynch mob in action.

But these pseudo specialists that have failed from their analysis of even the weather to football and more recently Buratai's solvency omitted a few details in their hurry to secure a conviction in the court of public opinion.

The COAS has been able to meet the high expectations of his boss, President Muhammadu Buhari as the Commander in Chief even when part of the same gangs beatifying him today depleted the inventory while claiming weapons were being procured. He has brought greater transparency to the running of the Army and that counts as something before our reformist president. The Minister of Defence, Alhaji Dan Ali has similarly expressed confidence in the COAS while clearing him of wrong doing.

Now that detractors have contrary to their plan make a saint of General Buratai one can only wonder what great thing they will unwittingly do for him next time. And by the way, they can do this even greater thing for him without laying claims to be experts in any field.

Attah is National Secretary, Stand Up Nigeria and contributed this piece from Abuja.