Killings Of Northerners In Abia: Nigeria Heading For Rwanda-Styled Genocide, Group Warns

Following the alleged killings of some northerners in the South-east by alleged members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a pressure group, the Conference of Minority Tribes of Nigeria has warned that Nigeria may be heading for the 1990 Rwanda styled genocide, if the perpetrators and their sponsors are not brought to justice.

Addressing a press conference on Monday in Abuja, Secretary General of the group, Comrade Samson Ayodele Babalola also threatened that it will drag the leadership of the IPOB to the International Criminal Court (ICC) at the Hague following the alleged killings of the northerners in Abia.

Babalola warned that such ethnic killing as being witnessed in Abia was what preceded the Rwanda genocide.

He said these killings mark a new low in what had been cordial relations between ethnic nationalities in Nigeria that have always accepted each other as family.

He said other ethnic groups strongly condemned government forces when it clamped down on IPOB’ protests and had even planned sympathy marches in support of IPOB and its leaders that are being detained.

He said, "However, by killing these innocent people, whose only offence is possibly that they were of a different ethnic stock from IPOB, these separatists have proven that they do not deserve and must never get the backing of other tribes and ethnic nationalities in the country."

He said further, it is also not too early to begin to monitor the online activities of IPOB members that are carrying out their own brand of radicalisation.

"They work hard to build public anger against anything Nigerian online making it difficult for their moderate sympathisers to contribute to national discourse without coming under threats. This has greatly shrunken the space for intellectual discourse and actively endorsed promotion of violence against the state as a precondition for being considered loyal to IPOB ideals," he said.

He explained that there are rules internationally set out for pursuing self-determination and this is the only acceptable option for those with the intellectual bend of mind as the murderous campaign of the paid killers running IPOB violates every known norm.

He said, "the Conference of Minority Tribes will drag those named by the DSS in these killings before the ICC. We had earlier condemned in totality the incessant herders clash with farmers which Nigerians can attest to and the principle of justice and fairness demands that every Nigerian should speak up when there is any perceived injustice in the land.

"This is an unbearable narrative that must be condemned by all irrespective of tribal or ethnic affiliations. It is a matter of time before IPOB separatists turn on the rest of us if we remain silent on this matter.
As for those sponsoring this national blight called IPOB, it is not too late to return to the path of national integration."

He called on the government and security agents to immediately take action before the killings degenerate any further.

Revisiting the three-Year Validity of JAMB Results

By Israel Abiodun

Of course, in what was clearly a case of stampede by the Upper chamber of the National Assembly, a resolution compelled the Governing Board of the Joint Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB) to approve a three-year validity life-span for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). No doubt, some students and parents/guardians’ applauded the decision without the least consideration of the dangers it posed ahead for their wards craving for higher education.

Before now, JAMB exclusively conducted exams into Nigerian universities, which it christened the Universities Matriculation Examination (UME). But in 2010, the exams body expanded its tentacles to include entrance examinations to polytechnics, colleges of education and monothecnics under the tag of UTME.

So far, JAMB has not fared badly, especially under the current Registrar, Professor Dibu Ojerinde; with yearly innovations to improve the standards, as manifest in the introduction of the Computer-Based Test (CBT) intended to gradually supplant the analogue Paper and Pencil Test (PPT) to curb exam frauds.

However, Professor Ojerinde has admitted that nearly 1.8 million candidates sat for the 2016 UTME in March and placement spaces in the about the 120 universities in Nigeria and even with a dozen polytechnics, colleges of education and monothecnics across the country, available vacancies is infinitesimal in the range of about 500, 000 (Five hundred thousand) spaces in all the institutions combined.

By implication, there is high demand for admission slots yearly from post primary school candidates angling for higher education. The scramble for these few slots is also massive and unarguably stiff competitive.

Nonetheless, it is the considered opinion of most Nigerians that these circumstances should no warrant the lowering standards for candidates, seeking for higher academic qualifications, as the three-year validity period seems to espouse.

The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which engineered the decision of the three-year validity period for UTME results never articulated any reason. And JAMB Board too, approved it without considering the repercussions and the peculiarities of the Nigerian educational system.

But from inference, it is clear the decision must have sprouted out of the pressures of parents, who perhaps, complained of repeatedly spending much money for the same admission process of their children. This is a worthy lamentation and the dilemma of parents/ sponsors of candidates is deeply appreciated.

But Nigerians should not forget that quality education liberates the individual and the nation. It gingers development in all spheres. And to provide quality education anywhere in the world is quite expensive. It explains why the United Nations has prescribed the allocation of 26 percent of annual budgets, especially of developing countries to the educational sector.

And Nigeria as a developing country has been faced with the almost insurmountable challenge of according its citizens qualitative education. The degeneration and decay in the education sector is so massive and loathsome to the extent that the craze to acquire certificates, at the expense of knowledge is propaganda mounted on Nigeria beyond its shores.

It is evident that in the past 15-20 years or more, some students who claim to be graduates would hardly spell their names correctly. To ask them to justify the certificates they flaunt in various fields is synonymous with the Biblical proverbial Camel passing through the eye of a needle.

There are instances where final-year students display helplessness in even accurately copying questions in an exam for a course they have studied. Years back, a former Director-General of the NYSC drew the country’s attention to the pathetic brand of graduands churned out yearly from the higher institutions, when he encountered some graduates who could not fill their personal data on NYSC registration forms at orientation camps. It may sound like tales from Arabian Nights, but this is the true picture of the unhealthy state of education in Nigeria.

Based on this backdrop, Nigeria as a country should be worried over this development. It is important not to leave any stone unturned in reversing the steady decline in education as manifest today. Therefore, it is incumbent on government to enforce proper checks at all levels of exams to ensure those who cross the rubicon merit the marks and grades they earn. And every segment of the educational structure in Nigeria should rather be actively supported to accomplish this feat.

JAMB has a critical role to play at this point; hence it bridges the gap between secondary education and higher education. By its status as the only legal body empowered by law to organize and regulate the conduct of entry exams into higher institutions in the country, JAMB should truly be the final bulwark of education for students who dubiously plot their academic progression.

In effect, allowing JAMB results to last for three years, after which the candidate may re-take the exams again, upon failure to secure admission, is a direct order to the candidate to “go and sleep.” In a country where, poor reading culture stares national pride in the face, coupled with the age of social media (facebook, WhatsUp, twitter or movies etc), the decision of three-year life span of JAMB results is a murderous stroke on Nigerian adolescents, especially the majority, who rather seek for certificates than knowledge.

Educational psychologists would attest that for a student who has stayed for three-years without any compelling reason (like exams) to read, returning to the same task three years after, would be so alien to him. It is inherently destructive because it would even relax the spirit of those who would have improved their performances through constant trials and the pride to level up.

Although, the three-year validity period policy is yet to fully take-off, but UTME is almost a global phenomenon and best practice observed by even other countries, including Africa. But no country has the record of incubating JAMB results for three years, as presently canvassed in Nigeria.

Besides, knowledge is dynamic. It explains why some books undergo constant reviews or fresh ones replaced old one assumed to have become outdated. It is same reason even workers frequently go for refresher courses on the job. Just imagine what trauma a student who suddenly faces new set of textbooks for exams, after three years of academic inactivity.

While not ignoring the lamentations of parents and sponsors of candidates for JAMB organized exams, the government, JAMB board and parents could dialogue over the cost implication of writing JAMB and arrive at a consensus. Cost concessions could be extended to candidates who are retaking the exams; cost of forms, scratch cards and so forth, could be slashed to very affordable rates, among multiple other options.

But to incubate UTME for three years and then exhume to use is obviously counter-productive. It is a death knell on the quality of education in the country. It is on this score that a revisit of the policy and its possible reversal is canvassed.


Abiodun is a public affairs analyst based in Abuja

Shiite Narrative: Brimah’s Half Truths, Lies and Sheer Rabidity

By Dr Anthony Kolawole

Fanatics and extremists in Nigeria have a new poster boy to manage their propaganda. He is the coordinator of the Every Nigerian Do Something project, Dr. Peregrino Brimah, who brands himself a political observer. No one should envy him his new task. It is a difficult one because lies and half truths are needed to market a bad product, which will require its peddler to be rabid because it is potentially risky for the nation’s well-being.

Brimah was apparently able to take time off as a paid gun calling for the bastardization of the Naira to champion the cause of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) or Shiite Sect. He wants all Nigerians and President Muhammadu Buhari to join him in criminalizing the Nigerian Army for taking on radicalized youths of the sect who thought they could kill the Army Chief, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai. He wants us to crucify the immediate past government and its military chiefs for preventing a new cancer from spreading with the same rapidity that Boko Haram psychos grew in number and strength.

Considering that Brimah junkets from one hotel lobby to the other and is absolutely shielded from the reality on ground, one can easily comprehend and possibly forgive his being out of touch with what IMN had subjected residents of Zaria to for several years. How convenient that the spokesperson coincidentally omitted to mention how his clients had for several years denied other Nigerians the right to public infrastructure, viz: roads that they regularly barricade for their processions. How many times have these people created gridlocks that cause delays which in turn leave hapless travelers moving into the night and into the hands of armed robbers? It will be interesting to see how this paid activist will react if radical Shiite youths had barricaded the road to one of his fancy hotels to the extent that he loses his reservation.

Expecting Brimah to be truthful would be a form of injustice to him as the concept is both alien and anathema to him. His perception of the Nigerian situation is miasmic to the extent that he shifts position without realizing it provided the incentives are right. In one of his articles “Is Nigeria’s President A Terrorist?”, he labeled the then People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur a terror suspect for saying “Boko Haram is fighting for justice; Boko Haram is another name for justice.” Applying the same logic thus qualifies him to be officially designated the spokesperson of a sect that is rapidly embracing extremism and radicalizing its youths to embark on suicide missions. His defence of the breach of national security by the Shiite Sect clearly cast him the same mould he made for Bamanga Tukur.

Nothing and absolutely nothing justifies the needless loss of any human life particularly when the situation is avoidable. But why did Brimah conveniently overlooked the fact that IMN, as evidenced by the videos it proudly shared online, is radicalizing youths to the extent that they hold military drills and practice hand to hand combat. Certainly these are not skills needed to propagate Islam and could only be meant for less than nationally accepted purposes.
Our activist’s narrative derived solely from video produced by the IMN and accounts of the victims and their lawyer. He definitely should have also asked if the Army produced its own video of the event or at least read its account of what transpired. Assuming the fees paid for his article did not cover such follow up activities, he could have, with the least of efforts, tasked his brain to answers posers like why the IMN members were with sophisticated firearms at the enclave that was razed; where they got the weapons from; and what the weapons were meant for since assault rifles and automatic firearms are not meant for hunting rabbits.

Perhaps, he was handed the right video by the radicalized Shiite Sect but somehow managed to swap that with some blockbuster Hollywood production since there has been no alternate narrative what he wrote about Zakzaky's daughter because it did not happen. The so called political observer would have done better by placing a disclaimer at the start of his article to the effect that what he recounted was but a figment of his own imagination and would have thus avoided misleading people. On the other hand, one must make allowances for the reality that his original intention was nothing short of swaying national thinking to the psychotic level of brainwashed adherents of his favourite sect.
Probably in a haste to deliver, Brimah let on that his clients hid in the basement, which translates to hid in a bunker. Like seriously, was the enclave built specifically as a hideout with bomb shelter for a group that had made up its mind to take on the Nigerian state, which it had repeatedly refused to accept or acknowledge?

From his failed attempts to demonize the Nigerian state and its operatives, one cannot help but wonder if Brimah’s nausea worthy defence of IMN were crafted for him by the Iranian Ambassador to Nigeria, Saeed Kozechi or that he was responsible for prepping Kozechi for all those anti-Nigerian rants. If this fellow actually possesses a Nigerian passport or National ID card he should shamefacedly return same to the issuing authorities since he has pitched his tent where he will.

The closest Brimah came to redeeming himself in the article “Zakzaky: Renewed Call For Sack Of Buratai For Assassination Attempt And Murder”, was his admission that letting up on the fight to crush Boko Haram in 2013 allowed the murderous group to recover. He should therefore realize by the same token that terrorism does not go full blast overnight. It grows over time like a cancer similar to the way the sect whose image he has been paid to lauder is growing. We could all play the activist game like he is doing and watch the IMN become militarized to replace Boko Haram or a process of de-radicalization can be followed to conclusion to ensure we would not be have need for the military to be on the streets a few years from now.

The natural suspicion is that Brimah must have collected something and was merely doing the bidding of the paymaster with the poorly thought out article. Tragically for him it was not making the desired impact. He definitely overrated himself and he was shocked to find out that he does not have the clout or followership, which he thought he had when he was writing to shake down former President Goodluck Jonathan for some little pocket change.

The realization of not having the clout he had erroneously ascribed to himself must be affecting the bottom line as he has tried several antics with dismal outcome; calling for COAS’ "sack" directly became symptomatic of final desperate push. It failed. He then sponsored others such one Abiodun, who was promptly put in his place. The alleged and phantom blockade of the COAS by the Mountain of Fire Church congregation became one of his other desperate lies too many to recall as he belabored himself to pin an accusation of discrimination on a fine officer.

He desperately and futilely tried to enlist or drag Nigerians of other beliefs into his activism for cash project when he disgustingly pointed fingers that rest of us (Nigerians) “allow and support this wickedness and oppression of the highest degrees against minorities in the north, Igbos, Christians, Shia and whoever else,” in what came out as the most irresponsible line in his write up. Just what does he want to achieve by stoking the fires of ethnic intolerance and persecution syndrome? No citizens (if he is one) will deliberately try to cause or promote disaffection in the name of calling attention to a supposed injustice. But coming from whom it came from it is not surprising.

It is usual for Brimah to pepper his write ups with lies and half truths since he first discovered that he could go commercial. But now that his trade is plied with rabidity, right thinking Nigerians should ask questions about his credibility, qualification and identity. For instance, he called himself 'Doctor', doctor of what? Every Nigerian has roots or ancestry home, where is he from? We cannot truly ascertain his nationality or where he came from. He has no link with any segment of the Nigerian society save for the cyber-nazis that lap up the venom he spews. One shouldn’t bother touching on credibility as he known for dressing lies to look respectable while intellectual dishonesty is not in any way repulsive to this current spokesperson for fanatical extremists.

Nigerian authorities and citizens do themselves a grave disservice should they place any stock in the merchandise that Dr. Peregrino Brimah has resorted to peddle for his new paymasters, the Shiites in Iran and their Nigerian franchise. Indeed, this character should not be dignified with silence as the popular saying goes for he is way below that. What he deserves is our collective contempt for daring to place sectarian, foreign and pecuniary interest about the existential wellbeing of Nigeria.

Kolawole PhD is a University Lecturer writing from Keffi, Nasarawa State.

Where Will Rivers Be After Wike?

By Abdul Suleiman

Nigerians are stunned to the bones about the near three-years of political genocide in River state. Port Harcourt, the once boisterous Garden City and commercial hub of the Niger Delta has been magically transformed into a nightmarish killing field overnight.

What has puzzled and continued to confound even the most critical analytical minds is failure of all stakeholders on the saddle to abate the state of anarchy in Rivers, now comically, but seriously, referred to as “Rivers of blood.” Security agencies, state and federal governments, INEC, politicians, academics, businessmen, traditional rulers, communities, NGOs and a lot more have been held spell bound by Rivers anarchic configuration currently.

What has replaced the solemnity of life and essence of existence in the once enviable state, reputed as the second wealthiest state in Nigeria after Lagos are killings, cultic gangsterism, arson, abductions and worse still, a devilry struggle for the control of the political soul of the oil-rich state.
Fear has replaced courage; courageousness leads to death; prayers in shrines have replaced the cherished prayers in churches on bended kneels, its like an enclave of Lucifer; brothers and sisters plot and mindlessly kill themselves in the most brazen manner. Nothing can be so debasing and awesome than the portrait of Rivers at the moment.

Much as a reasonable proportion of humanity knows what has besieged the fate of Rivers, a lot more Nigerians can only boast of scanty details of the scandalous fireworks in the state. But the truth remains that former President Goodluck Jonathan’s disapproval of the election of the immediate past governor of Rivers state, Rotimi Amaechi (then of the PDP) as chairman of the Nigeria’s Governors Forum (NGF) in preference for former Plateau state governor, Jonah Jang laid the template for this blossoming violence and massacre of fraternal brothers.

Amaechi’s insistence that he democratically won the election and would not opt for the “arrangee” posture of the Jonathan- led PDP pitted him against his party and former President Jonathan. The events that followed were not just scary, but worrisome.

But factually, the satanic desire of Jonathan to unseat Amaechi saw a willing ally in Barrister Nyesom Wike, then Minister of state for Education and now Rivers state governor. While it is not necessary to recount in full blast, events of that period, its important to emphasize that an ambitious Wike, eying the governorship seat of the state in 2015 perceived the presidential back-up a strong weapon to uproot Amaechi, his former boss. The stage for political violence was decorated and baptized under this atmosphere.

Not given to pretenses, Wike with presidential security backing launched his electoral onslaught on Rivers state, first as a PDP guber aspirant. He had 15 other rivals contending for the party’s governorship ticket. The first sign of Wike meanness was that he practically chased all other rival contestants for the party’s ticket at the venue of the party primary in Port Harcourt.

May be, he dreaded fair competition. So, he concretized his action by cornering and compelling officials drafted for the exercise to obey a drummed presidential order by declaring him winner of a party primary election that obviously never held. They obliged nervously. And when Wike’s opponent wailed too loud, a reconciliation meeting was convened in Abuja at Legacy House, President Jonathan’s campaign headquarters. Again, Wike invaded the venue and chased away his rivals who sought for amicable solution to the crisis and indeed, everybody at sight, who dared him. Yet, nothing happened. He flew the party’s governorship flag triumphantly.

Meanwhile, Amaechi, now Nigeria’s minister of Transport, who vowed that Wike cannot succeed him, floated a House of Reps member, Dr. Dakuku Peterside on the platform of the APC to face Wike. They understand his Gestapo style of politics.

All these events were heralded by scary acts of violence and killings sequel to the 2015 general elections, to the extent that voters were intimidated in their homes, offices, streets or roads and in public places. It laid a solid template for the face of the election. And Niger Delta famed for militancy and cultic gangs, youths found ready jobs to execute against enemies of the payer.

Consequently, governorship election in Rivers state was in every sense of the word, a theatre of war, to the extent the then out-going governor Amaechi could not even vote in his own polling unit. Election casualties evident in the number of persons killed, wounded or kidnapped alarmed every Nigerian and election observers of any hue.

Yet, Wike triumphed again. INEC declared him winner and when he finally secured his victory at the Supreme Court, which voided the decisions of the two lower court which nullified Wike’s election, the only language known to Wike and his cohorts was the Machiavellian, justice of the end justifying the means.

No doubt, hence bloodletting and barefaced intimidation of the electorate is another pattern of legalized democracy in Nigeria, exemplified in Rivers state, it railroaded itself into the March legislative elections in the state more noxiously. It recorded an unprecedented level of violence, with Wike as the Chief Security Officer of the state.

Days to the legislative re-run elections, Wike strongly admonished PDP supporters to resist any attempt by security agents to arrest them. As if this was not unlawful enough, governor Wike again shamelessly assailed Nigerians verbally that those drafted to perform the Rivers legislative re-run election should “ write their will,” a despicable statement he later recanted belatedly by explaining that he referred to those with the evil intention of manipulating the elections. No level of executive recklessness can be so provoking. He ironically got emboldened and furiously defended PDP supporters and the party, in a manner that never really exonerated them. But Nigerians watched and clapped.

But the question remains this: Wike is not just the Chief Security Officer of the state, but also a lawyer by training. It implies that he knows the letter of the law beyond the comprehension of a street urchin. Assuming APC supporters were presumed to be on the offensive in thwarting the electoral process, summary execution of them is lawful, as Wike seems to prescribe or canvass? The result of his pronouncement is the wantom killings and all manner of infamy the re-run election despoiled Nigeria’s democracy and Rivers serenity. No end in sight yet for the Rivers drama.

Now true to the Nigerian character, the brigands have taken over streets, roads, public places and even private homes of indigenes of the state, with withheld results of the re-run. The people are now so scared to the extent, to say normal business in all spheres of existence in that state is brazenly abused is grossly under expressing the Rivers narrative.

Those pulling the strings may not necessarily be just the two- the PDP and the APC, symbolized by the eggheads, Wike and Amaechi or even Dakuku. But Wike boasts with full breath that Rivers is PDP and nobody can wrestle Rivers away from PDP, but forgets easily that the onus lies on him to protect lives and property of inhabitants of the state regardless of party affiliations.

Today, Nigerians mourn the death of other Nigerians in Rivers state, the most pathetic being that of an NYSC member and INEC ad-hoc staff, Okonta Samuel, shot to death in cold blood because Wike has failed to protect him, based on his deadly conviction that Rivers is a PDP property.

Nigerians are asking this crucial question, where would Rivers be or what would be the face of Rivers after Governor Wike. No one should forget that there is a pending council elections in the same state some few months ahead and another governorship election in the next three years. So, would there be a soul to cast a vote anymore, with Wike on the saddle?


Suleiman, a public affairs commentator wrote in from Abuja.

Centre Raises The Alarm Over Fraud In NYSC, Petitions Buhari

The Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency, CESJET has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to order an immediate investigation into the finances of all National Youth Service Corps, NYSC officials and management staffs that have any connections with the online portal.

CESJET in a petition signed by its Executive Director, Sunday Attah and addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari also want a forensic audit conducted on all revenues from the online portal and remittances to the Federation account.

The NYSC had last year introduced four thousand naira (N4,000.00) fee for accessing the online portal for registration and printing of call up letter by corps members.

The petition said, "the anti-people fee was vehemently opposed by Nigerians when it was introduced because it remains exorbitant and exploitative of youths that are mobilising to serve the nation.

"Your Excellency, the NYSC management conveniently structured this extortion as a Private Public Partnership, PPP similar to the Immigration recruitment scam that led to loss of life. At inception, the claims by Brigadier-General Olawumi and his cohorts basically implied that users of the online platform must pay for the initial cost of acquiring hardware and setting up the portal. The explanation was that there would be a drop in the N4000 fee over the course of time when the cost of setting up the portal would have been recovered. Conveniently, no definite timeline for reviewing the fee was provided.

"In addition to being an extortion racket, the PPP arrangement equally implies that Your Excellency’s directive on the Treasury Single Account (TSA) for all revenues generated by government agencies is in a grey area. Whatever agreement NYSC signed with its PPP implementing partner, Sidmach Technologies Nigeria Limited, remains secretive and details of remittances to the Federal Government are unknown.

"Nigerians were also misled into thinking that using the online portal was optional while the realities on ground are totally different. Those who tried not to use the portal ultimately discovered they must revert to it or risk losing the chance to serve their fatherland.

"We resorted to writing Your Excellency after all the petitions sent to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to halt the self enrichment being carried out by the NYSC and the principal actor, the Director General and they failed to act accordingly.

" The NYSC be compelled to truly make the use of the online portal optional

"A directive be given for a full scale investigation of the finances of all other NYSC officials and management staff with connections to the portal

"A directive be given for a forensic audit of all revenues from the online portal and remittances to the Federation Account."

Kachikwu, Fuel Scarcity And The Promised Land

By Philip Agbese

If I were offered the position of the Minister of State for Petroleum at the time the current occupant, Dr Ibe Kachikwu got the job, there is almost a guarantee that I would have found a non-offensive way of turning it down and “codedly” request to serve in a different capacity. Don’t get it wrong, like all average Nigerians wishing and working for improved quality of life, the perks of that office are attractive but I dare say they are not commensurate with the associated headache. This was why I would have offered to serve in another capacity; I get some perks and still got to serve the country.

For Dr Kachikwu, the burden of that office was made heavier with the decision of his boss, President Muhammadu Buhari, to hand the additional responsibility of being the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Those who understand the workings of the industry will easily recognize the fact that he must bear the heat for two positions that used to share the barrage of hostile reactions from often angry Nigerians.

Beyond the double barrel positions he holds, Dr Kachikwu’s greatest nemesis was the electoral promises made the then opposition that is now the government of the day. The avowal by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, President Muhammadu Buhari, to end corruption, sanitize the various sectors (the oil industry got most mentions in this), stop the fraudulent subsidy payments and make petrol available and fairly priced. These promises relating to the oil industry and the APC’s other electoral promises were made in good fate, no doubts.

But they reckoned without a reality to which almost all Nigerians were blindsided: corruption had become institutionalized to the extent that it (corruption) was the main driver and largest sector of the economy and not the oil industry as was believed. Something that strong would not go away easily hence the second reality that was overlooked: that corruption and its beneficiaries would fight back and they do so now with unrivaled venom. A third overlooked variable was the glut in crude oil prices and the pressure it exerted on the naira. All these and other fundamentals combined to make the incumbent government’s electoral promises look untenable and the Promised Land a mirage.

While Dr Kachikwu is not alone, other ministers in the government face similar uphill task in their respective sectors, the sensitivity of his ministry however places him in the crosshair of the national anger spawned by a protracted fuel crisis. First, the national revenue is still heavily dependent on crude oil sales so the minister has the burden of ensuring we still get enough revenue even in the face of dwindling sales and falling prices. Also, our transport system, if it can be so called, is heavily dependent on privately operated cars so the bite of the fuel shortage is bitterly felt by Nigerians who wasted valuable man-hours on snaking fuel queues or risk buying contaminated fuel at four times the pump price. The third facet is the questionable coincidence that the nation’s electricity supply, which has been privatized anyway, collapsed at the height of the fuel crisis of all times and during a heat wave with Nigerians unable to get petrol for their generators.

But who said it would be a smooth ride to the Promised Land? Our options are clear, we could take this journey that has proven rough, torturous and unpredictable but we must not and cannot give up. The alternative is to remain the way we were and surrender our country and economy to the barons that have always run things.

To make that journey as a preferred option, Dr Kachikwu cannot be allowed to go it alone; he must know and actively see that he has the support of Nigerians. The comments, actions, reactions and everything Nigerians do should send a clear message to oil barons that something has changed and it is that we now want our country to stop operating as world renowned aberration that they had made it. That from here onward we want to see NNPC operate transparently and not the opaque entity whose books no one has ever been able to decipher.

Kahickwu’s unbundling of the monster that the NNPC grew to become is already yielding results as those that once hid in its huge shadows to loot subsidiaries are beginning to keep appointments with anti-graft agencies. The response of those who do not wish the nation well was to organize poorly articulated protests against what Nigerians had been yearning for. When these protests did not work, Nigerians cannot be fooled that easily, the next wave of attack was to drag the minister’s family into national issues. Seeing that even this will fail, they must be scheming another plan to attempt discrediting a man who is doing a good job but even this will fail like previous attempts.

This should be a lesson to discerning barons not to test the will of Nigerians anymore. Instead of mounting the attacks they are directing against Kachikwu, apparently to distract him, they should be able to psyche themselves to the realistic standard of living that legitimate ventures can afford.

If comments that one picks up on the fuel queues are anything to go by, Nigerians recognize that the obstacles to attaining the desired goals in the oil industry are real and they are willing to stick with the minister to make it work. As the obstacles are numerous so also is the joy of reaping the fruits of our collective sacrifice at the Promised Land and we are committed to getting there with Dr Kachikwu leading the way in the sector.


Agbese, a public affairs commentator, wrote in from the United Kingdom.

Arewa Youths Condemn Those Behind Latest Boko Haram Video

As the latest video clip of Boko Haram leader alleged to have surrender continue to dominate public debate, northern youth group, Arewa Youths Integrity Forum has described the latest video of Boko Haram claiming it hasn’t surrendered as the handiwork of some selfish Nigerians who are determined to ensure that the insurgency continues

Addressing a press conference in Abuja, National President of the Group, Alhaji Ibrahim Abubakar said with the recently released video, it is obvious that there a crack within the ranks of the Boko Haram terrorists.

Describing these individuals as “war entrepreneurs”, Abubakar said “the war entrepreneurs that defrauded the Goodluck Jonathan administration to the tune of billions of naira with the claims of negotiation and ceasefire are back to their game of wanting to keep exploiting Boko Haram for monetary gains”

He said it was a fortunate thing that the Nigerian Army and indeed the military dismissed the indirect call for a truce and pressed on with President Muhammadu Buhari’s orders as Commander in Chief to wipe out the terrorists.

He said, “They will use the two videos as compelling argument to draw the federal government into engaging them as brokers and will thus pocket the proceeds of the media they had carefully set up. The nation must not be led down this path again.

“Furthermore, an equally possible facet is that Boko Haram sponsors, patrons and benefactors who want to rubbish the Army and the Federal Government used paid actors for either of the videos or for both. The intention would be for the Federal Government the Army to become complacent and engage in premature celebration of a seriously battered Boko Haram and consequently slowing down the offensive against the murderers who will then have time to regroup and receive arms and logistics to take on the military.”

He appealed to the Army and the Federal Government not to be lulled into any false sense of achievement by the kind of trick that Boko Haram just pulled so that it will not repeat the mistakes of the previous administration and leaderships that were dealing with paid actors while the terrorists continued on rampage.

“The only surrender that Nigerians will recognise is that of Boko Haram members or leaders that surrender or hand themselves to our troops. Surrendering by video or any other indirect methods is not acceptable. The crimes they committed were committed in person so they should also surrender in person. Those who want to continue fighting the Nigerian state have made their choices as enemy combatants and the rules of engagement are clear,” he said.

He called on the NIA, DIA to use its wealth of expertise to review the hardware displayed in the second video with a view to establishing country of origin.

The group also drew the attention of the Nigerians to a deliberate and calculated campaign of calumny aimed at misleading the public and cause disaffection among troops.

This, according to information from the Nigerian Army is being circulated in the social media by a faceless and obviously subversive group named “EASTERN RADIO”.

The Nigerian Army said the group created and posted a story titled “Tribal War at Army Barracks, 82 Division Enugu Three Soldiers Feared Dead” on various social media platforms.

“In the write up, they alleged that there was an altercation in an unnamed barracks in 82 Division over nomination for “peacekeeping operations” which led to exchange of gunfire among imaginary troops that resulted in loss of lives. Apart from obvious flaws and inconsistency in the narration, the Nigerian Army wishes to emphatically state that no such incident occurred anywhere in the Nigerian Army, let alone 82 Division. In fact, the alleged reported incident existed only in the obviously negatively skewed minds of the authors of such fabrication.

“The intent and goals of this band of miscreants is to cause distrust amongst own troops and the country’s populace at large, which unknown to them is an exercise in futility because the Nigerian Army is cohesive. Their methodology is to employ such campaign of calumny and distortion of an established reign of peaceful, harmonious and esprit-de-corps culture in 82 Division and the entire Nigerian Army. However, the campaign is a failed one as the entire Nigerian Army remains indivisible, unprovoked and not gullible to such cheap and heinous insinuations.

“The general public is therefore please requested to discountenance the false story of EASTERN RADIO and their affiliated secessionist groups as there is no iota of truth in the story.

“We would like to inform the public that the 82 Division Nigerian Army is intact in all its locations and deployments, same goes for all the various formations, units, cantonments and barracks of the Nigerian Army.

Above all, the Nigerian Army remains committed to providing aid to civil authority as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended) and wishes to assure the public of the Chief of Army Staff’s unalloyed commitment to protect lives and property whenever called upon to do so in line with extant provisions of the law.

We wish to also reassure all well meaning Nigerians that the Nigerian Army remains a national institution which emphasizes peace, unity and mutual co-existence devoid of any sentiments or such variables as ethnic, tribe or religious differences. Any attempt by any individual or group of persons to associate the military and indeed the Nigerian Army with such will be a total waste of time, energy and resources. We are proud professionals bound by discipline, unflinching love, loyalty, espirit-de-corps and love for our colleagues and our country. We would remain focussed and would not be distracted by irritating campaigns of calumny or fabricated lies by some unscrupulous elements.

It is therefore very imperative at this point to warn all those mischief makers to desist from these unpatriotic and obviously subversive acts in any guise.

Diaspora Group Lauds JAMB Over CBT

As reactions continue to trail the adoption of Computer Based Test (CBT) by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group (NDMG) has thrown its weight behind the board saying it has aligned the nation’s tertiary entrance examination with global best practice.

A statement issued by the group on Sunday said resistance to the use of CBT by some persons should be expected but that this does not in any way diminish the benefits of adopting the system.

NDMG’s Publicity Secretary in the United Kingdom, Engr David Onmeje said criticisms of the flaws identified in this year’s examination are not enough grounds for JAMB to discontinue using CBT but should rather be treated as areas of improvement in future examinations.

The statement noted that “All innovations have early adopters and persistent opponents but advancement always have to happen in the interest of mankind. Even countries with the more advanced technologies still have citizens that kick against innovative concept and express preference for older systems but societies that are determined to progress do not allow objections to hold them back.

“We urge Nigerians to support the CBT noting that JAMB Registrar, Professor Dibu Ojerinde should be commended instead of the ingratitude that criticism over the system’s teething problems amounted to.” It said.

NDMG however asked Professor Ojerinde to unveil plans for correcting identified flaws to Nigerians to further boost confidence in the examination body.

“We believe JAMB can leverage on its successful innovations in other aspects of tertiary entrance examination to convince Nigerians that CBT is the way to since the changes it had introduced in the past are now fully accepted despite the initial opposition to them.

“Online registration, unification of all entrance examinations and e-result and other innovations of JAMB are now very popular with the population even though they earlier faced similar resistance. But for us in Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group, these are things we see in other climes regularly and we are proud that Nigeria too is getting up to speed with the application of technology to vital institutions.” The statement explained.

Obama’s Soothing Tonic on Buhari’s War on Terror

By Philip Agbese

“Under President (Muhammedu) Buhari, Nigeria has been taking the fight to Boko Haram and it has reduced Boko Haram’s capacity to launch full-scale attacks. However, the group still remains a threat, a serious threat, to the entire region.”
US Secretary of States, John Kerry, acknowledging Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari’s war on terror during a two-day nuclear security summit in Washington DC, with more than 50 world leaders in attendance, last Thursday.

Not many Nigerians have their minds fixated on anything positive the President Muhammadu Buhari administration has accomplished about the seemingly intractable, nagging national headaches inherited on assumption of power on May 29, 2015. They are bent on the ruination of his government, with vile, but worthless critiques of his government.

The bone of opposition now clipped round PDP’s neck, it appears more desperately armed to the teeth to perform the task of criticism, and even in instances their arguments defy logic. To say, the least, they have thoroughly misunderstood the concept of a rejuvenated Nigeria under a Buhari presidency of transformation.
Sometimes, listening to their passionate, but stale criticisms, one is pushed to the extent of imaging what is so difficult in twigging the change mantra or transformation agenda of the APC administration led by Buhari.

To the PDP apologists, Buhari must not be accorded the appellation of success for fixing the once obstinate, national maladies they mindlessly created for close to two decades in power. And with stolen wealth stashed in their vaults in private mansions, septic tanks, deserted graveyards, foreign accounts and such mundane places, sponsorship of media propaganda against Buhari is so cheap and generously spread. But when anti-corruption agencies, demand a return of self-confessed looted funds, to better the lot of majority of Nigerians, they cry foul and drum persecution.

But some Nigerians would admire an adage to justify the context of this expression. It is from the Tiv people of North Central Nigeria, which my teacher of oral literature taught me as undergraduate student years back. As a non-native speaker of the vernacular, it’s difficult to recreate it in traditional wordings, because of the language barrier. But translated in English, it means, “the piteous cry of the foul being laid to the slaughter slab, does not stop its knifing in the hands of its butcher.” The same fate may befall the PDP locusts, who have plundered national till for years, vowing not to see anything good in today’s Nigeria.

The PDP vermins, only look at their present shadows of a “bleak tomorrow” now and so bitterly too. And since they had unrestrictedly pillaged national resources in trillions of naira, in whatever guise, and for 16 years, the sudden snatching of the “cake” from the firm grip of their fingers, is something unpardonable to the aggressor (Buhari).

So, Buhari must be crucified and every Nigerian must see and acknowledge his “Satanic” nature in public office. They dismiss with a wave of the hand his profound achievements or successes over the same problems the PDP vermins in power created, nourished and sustained for years.
In their dreary secrets boardrooms presently, Buhari is their nemesis and full stop. They hate to hear anything about their conspired looting of the public purse and the plea to return same; needless deaths of Nigerians occasioned, by the dearth of industries, comatose state of education, poor health service delivery, poor roads, electricity, Niger Delta restiveness and even the dreadful insecurity situation, more aptly expressed in Boko Haram’s intransigence in the North East and failure of government to nip them in the bud; problems which Buhari inherited. It is the least of their problems.

But while the few evil ones, who have desecrated Nigeria’s landscape with smelly excreta, fail to hail a hero-President at home as exemplified by Buhari, America, the global security watch dogs and world’s leading light has not hesitated to applaud Buhari’s steadfast war on Boko Haram.
In faraway Washinton DC, US Secretary of States, John Kerry gave a rare recommendation of Buhari’s success in the fight against Boko Haram insurgents. If Nigeria is under the yoke of insurgency, America suffered it much earlier. They know the pains, the anguish, frustrations of the ruled when government slacks on this crucial assignment.

So, impressive was America with Buhari’s feats in suppressing the deadly activities of the extreme Islamic sect in Nigeria that it promised an increased, wholesome assistance, not just for the terror war alone, through information-sharing, equipment and training of military personnel, but to also fight corruption in the country, which hitherto and negatively, affected the psyche and performance of Nigerian troops in the battle front.

Except Buhari’s administration, no past Nigerian leader since the advent of the Boko Haram war has gotten such accolades or privileged to hear such endearing appraise about conquers and valour, from a world power like the United States. However, it warned of severe sanctions against any trace of human rights abuses in combating the guerrilla-styled insurgents in Nigeria, a cross the preceding administration could neither shoulder nor defend or completely failed its test.

The US Chief Scribe of State, Kerry proclaimed, “Now, I want to be clear, this aid is predicated on the understanding that, even when countering a group as ruthless as Boko Haram, security forces have a duty to set the standard with respect to human rights. One abuse does not excuse another.”

Like the US has proudly intoned about Nigeria’s current leadership, and perhaps, as affirmed everywhere in Nigeria, the war on terrorists in the North East particularly, has recorded awesome fruits of success. Its worthy of observation that there is no special magic the Buhari administration has contrived to tame the war that the doors were so cast in iron for the preceding administration to dismantle to flaunt the fruits Nigerians savour today. What a pity!

All Buhari’s least wisdom could do was to change the military top brass or what others would prefer to call “change of guards,” in the armed forces. With Gen. Tukur Buratai on the front seat as Chief of Army Staff (COAS), himself a practical man, with an enviable military astuteness and excellence in virtually all assignments’, many things changed overnight, especially as he trailed the image and disposition of his Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

He instantly, obeyed the presidential order to relocate the military command to the North East, where it was stationed in Borno’s most dangerous border town-Lafiya-Dole, insurgents’ major route of incursion into Nigeria. From this standpoint, Buratai personally led troops on war front to counter insurgents particularly, on their ingress routes into Nigeria.
Besides, Buratai’s soldiers successfully reclaimed about 15 hinterlands local governments hitherto captured and subjugated under the imperial command of the Boko Haramists, foisted the Nigerian flag and moved on amid loud chants of jubilations from displaced persons.

Addressing a completely demolished settlement and demoralized displaced persons in Ngala Local government, with headquarters in Gamboru-Ngala, persons who had taken refuge at the border of the Republic Cameroun, the fearless and courageous Buratai assured them of reclamation of their fatherland by Nigerian soldiers. The same chants of jubilations from displaced persons overwhelmed Buratai and his team.

Nevertheless, he proceeded to decorate military officers who displayed rare feats and gallantry in the battle against insurgents to the admiration of all. Thereafter, he led his troops, to trace the insurgents to the Cameroonian border.

In Hausa language, he told his brothers and sisters- fellow Nigerians, who had fled their home to come back, as Nigerian army is now poised not only to protect their lives and property against a resurrected band of criminals in the guise of Boko Haram, but also, Nigerian soldiers shall henceforth, defend Nigeria’s territorial boundaries.

Since this utterance, coupled with nights of sleeplessness of the COAS and his foot soldiers, Borno, the hotbed of the insurgents has experienced considerable peace. Some displaced persons have returned home already. Vestiges of Boko Haram agents, garbed as either girls or boys are also being haunted and captured in surrounding towns by Nigerian soldiers to face justice, with bombs, tied around their waist, neatly detonated off them.
And surveillance of the North East by armed soldiers has been so intense that Boko Haram’s invincible leader, Abubakar Shekau, declared in a recent recorded video type that “he is finished.” Why not, with most, if not all of his strongmen either caged in forests, battling on empty stomach, with blocked channels for fresh food supplies or outrightly killed by Nigerian soldiers in gun battle in collaboration with the Joint Task Force from Niger, Chad and Cameroonian Republics, Shekau has no hiding place.

While America appreciates Buhari, Nigerians also lap onto the ladder to appreciate Buhari, Buratai and his fearless team of soldiers, for collectively and substantially erasing the Boko Haram scourge from Nigerians, especially the North East. With Buratai, Nigerians dare the insurgents to come again and face their extinguishing fire.

Skeptics of the PDP ilk who are blind to the work of a progressive government in Nigeria and inclined to sponsorship of vile propaganda against Buhari’s government would soon harvest the fruits of their labour. But majority of Nigerians stand firmly behind America, Buhari, Buratai and the Nigerian military in this onerous task of salvaging Nigerians from the grip of Islamic extremists, garbed as Boko Haram.

Agbese is an international affairs commentator based in the United Kingdom.

Following the falling price of crude globally, and the impact it has on the nation's economy, a concerned group, The New Initiative for Credible Leadership has tasked the Nigerian Export promotion Council (NEPC) to increase its activities towards ensuring increase in non-oil export to help stabilise the economy.

It said NEPC has a crucial role to play in Nigeria’s economic recovery since there is finally a consensus that the era of depending on crude oil as the country’s major revenue source is over.

A statement issued by the group on Thursday in Abuja noted that the current economic challenge offers a unique chance for NEPC to fulfill its mandate of developing and diversifying the nation’s export trade since it can easily get the buy-in of Nigerians at this point.

The statement by the Executive Director of New Initiative for Credible Leadership, Rev Samson Onwu must also live up to its responsibility of assisting the development and promotion of export-oriented industries since the country must first have products to sell to the world before increasing its export.

It said “Now is a good time as any for the Executive Director of NEPC, Mr Olusegun Awolowo to implement all the impressive concepts and ideas he had articulated in the past. His public pronouncements have been source of hope in the past and we believe implementation of his idea will bring the much needed succor to Nigerians.

“Our observation is that Nigerians have been looking inwards since the pressure on the naira first manifested and our belief is that it is a matter of time before the small and medium scale industries that were recently re-activated will begin to produce surplus to local consumption. NEPC must prepare for this eventuality to ensure that there would be no glut and that industries are able to export such surpluses without breaking sweat.

“We equally expect that Mr Awolowo can now activate the various foreign contacts and relationships that the Council has built in the past years for the benefit of Nigerian companies that are ready to export their goods and services.” The statement stressed.

It advised the NEPC Executive Director not to shy away from exploiting the cooperation that is possible with government agencies with complementary functions to ensure that the economy is out of the woods.

Rivers Rerun: Women Group Charges FG To Question Governor Wike

A group of women under the umbrella, Women Arise for Justice has charged the federal goverment under President Muhammadu Buhari to question the Governor of Rivers state, Chief Nyesom Wike , over many lives that were lost at the just concluded re-run election in the state.

The group also want the Federal Government to probe the abduction and the eventual killing of an army Colonel, Samaila Inusa in Kaduna on Tuesday.

The over 1000 women who stormed the Presidential villa in Abuja during a peaceful protest said all the deaths, abduction ,intimidation and destruction of property were the product of the do or die politics that featured during the last Rivers state re-run election.

The National President of the group, Jummai Samuel Pukat who led the protest said the Governor should be held responsible for all the atrocities since his body language and utterance directly constitute instruction to his political killers to deal with those not on the same side as him.

According to her, “It was Governor Wike who threatened that there are areas that people from the federal level cannot access in the state. It was him who said anyone coming from outsider Rivers state for the re-run must first write their will, which implies that he was confident of how to make sure federal agents do not make it out of Rivers state alive”

She called that all that died in the Rivers state re-run must not die in vain, adding that those who lost their properties must be reassured that there is still a government and that it enforces the law.

“Our sons, brothers, husband and fathers cannot be continually cut down in their prime with the federal government remaining indifferent simply because their murder took place in Wike‘s Rivers state.

“We cannot wait until more governors join in this killing spree. We dare not contemplate what will happen if Wike’s approach to treating human life becomes the new normal. As mothers we no longer have the ability to sleep at night when our loved ones have to undertake even the most basic assignment in Rivers state,” he said.

Pukat said the deafening silence from the federal government has made Wike to continue insulting and assaulting our sensibilities with lies meant to shift the blame for the killings of others.

She said history will not be kind to them if the memory of the dead is so desecrated with lies “ Our hearts bleed Mr. President. We are worried and confused and we ask if Rivers state is still part of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”

Fuel Crisis: CSOs Cancel Proposed Protests Against Kachikwu

As the current fuel crisis in the country is about to disappear following assurance from the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, A group of 22 CSOs that had earlier planned a mass protests against the Minister has jettison the planned action.

National President of Coalition of Civil Society Organisations for Positive Change, Venatius Torkuma who spoke on behalf of the groups in Abuja on Wednesday cited the interest of Nigerians and national stability for calling off the planned protests.

Torkuma noted that the protests would be counter-productive if they end up creating instability that could further worsen the fuel crisis.

He said “We also have concerns that a mass action can be easily hi-jacked at a critical time like this since those behind the long fuel queues are desperate and would go to any length to have their way, which in this case is to ensure that they remove Dr Kachikwu as the Group Managing Director of NNPC and Minister of State for Petroleum for their own selfish reasons that have nothing to do with our desire to end the suffering of Nigerians.

“Our intention in planning the mass action is noble and we will not unwittingly play into the hands of those destroying the oil industry by helping them create a vacancy at the NNPC and Petroleum Ministry to install their puppet. If we allow this to happen then the tendency is for these heartless people to renew their hold on the oil industry in a way that will make Nigerians suffer more.” Torkuma explained.

The group however appealed to Dr Kachikwu and President Muhammadu Buhari to speed up the reforms in the oil sector to ensure that Nigerians will never again have cause to spend days and nights on fuel queues once the current shortage has been addressed.

It urged that the Federal Government strongly think of measures to immediately cushion the hardship that citizens suffer particularly in the face of poor electricity supply that is concurrent with the petrol shortage.

The leaders of other organisations that were present as Torkuma spoke were Ahmedu Usman of Middle Youth Leaders Congress (MYLC); Labake Boboye, Executive Director-Stand Up for Nigeria (SUN); Ikpa Isaac of Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency; and Khadijat Babangida from the Advocates of Social Justice for All (ASJA).

Ojerinde's Victory Over JAMB’s Most Dreaded Monster
By Best Orinya

The craze for higher education in Nigeria is almost assuming the character and temperament of the accustomed weird politicking in the country. Yearly, eligible Nigerians in millions across the country desperately enroll for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by the Joint Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB) to seek for placements in Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education.

Even though with Nigeria’s more than 100 universities, a dozen polytechnics, with numerous colleges of education, accommodating the millions of candidates, qualified for admission in the few available spaces has been an uphill task. Therefore desperate candidates over the years have deployed all manner of tricks to come out tops in the exams or at least, cross the minimum benchmark of scores pegged for admission.

This mentality has amplified and reinvented that art of cheating during UTME, as all forms of exam fraud are arrayed by candidates to be in reckoning for JAMB’s admission placements. From last -minute leakage of exam questions, hiring of exam mercenaries (expert writers) to concealment of unauthorized materials into exam halls, the monster of exam fraud has festered in the country for years. The complexity of the problem is further aggravated by the perceived active support some parents with the connivance of dubious JAMB staff avail candidates to cheat over their future.

It eroded the credibility of JAMB organized exams considerably, to the extent lamentations across the country became too trenchant to be ignored. Manifestly, Nigerians who openly complained about fallen standards in education often cited instances of some students, who could hardly defend the distinctive marks secured in UTME when they eventually secure admission into higher institutions of learning.
The credibility crisis it spurred compelled universities to adopt another initiative- the post-UTME aptitude test. It is contrived to verify UTME scores and academic competencies of prospective undergraduates based on results from JAMB. But it came with its own burden of additional costs to parents and sponsors of candidates. The exercise has been sustained for nearly 10 years now, regardless of its tacit indictment of JAMB exams.

No gainsaying, the plaque of exam fraud, especially in UTME reached epidemic dimensions and haunted the country’s educational system for years. It was street gists, education administrators marveled at its magnitude, much as newspaper headlines screamed about the ingenuity of some exam cheats, after every session of UTME.
This was the burden, Dibu Ojerinde, Nigeria’s first professor of Tests and Measurement and cerebral educational administrator inherited when appointed the Registrar of JAMB in 2007 , a position he held till date, having being accorded the rare opportunity of a reappointment in 2012.

As a seasoned educationist, who begun his teaching career as a secondary school teacher in 1965 and now, a university don, who has bestrode virtually all strata of educational administration in Nigeria, Ojerinde was no stranger to the nuances of exam malpractices in all segments of the educational system in Nigeria. Having recognized it not only as a major challenge, but a hydro-headed monster, peculiar to all segments of exams in Nigeria, the Registrar vowed to confront the problem in JAMB so as to restore dignity to the board and credibility in its exams.

After thorough brainstorming with members of his management team, Ojerinde concluded that adopting the e-testing mode of UTME would substantially reduce the incidents of exam fraud organized by the body, “kill” the anxiety of students waiting for months to obtain JAMB results for admission. He was further convinced hence e-testing was the best practice, around the globe as other countries had adopted the same approach.

In tinkering with the idea, Registrar, years back, approached the headship of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC to solicit assistance of the agency in curbing the malaise of exam frauds as it affects JAMB and to explore the possibility of a synergy in tackling the monster.
Ojerinde was apparently worried that despite JAMB’s lawful mandate to conduct credible and valid examinations devoid of any impropriety of sharp practices by candidates has overwhelmed and stained the sanctity of the outcomes. The response was positive and he set out to work.

He loudly proclaimed that “We realized that we in JAMB don’t have this special Eagle Eye to detect some of these things. We have come to solicit for your assistance on how we can work together to exterminate this problem.”

The Registrar extracted EFCC’s promise to offer the necessary assistance to sanitize the conduct of the board’s exams, handle cases referred to it as well as intervene during exam sessions as well as intensify spying on JAMB staff to detect sources of exam leakages to students.
By 2013, when Ojerinde decided to take the first step in experimenting with the idea of e-testing for UTME, a resounding success was recorded. It was optional for candidates and those who preferred the method had a smooth exam and quick release of results.

Basically, the e-testing or CBT initiative is focused on affording candidates facilities to write their exams electronically on computer and await automatic marking of the scripts by the computer, with results instantly delivered to the candidates within hours, a marked improvement as obtained under the subsisting Paper and Pencil Test (PPT) or other manual methods.

Ojerinde kick-started the e-testing experiment by launching at least one e-testing centre in each state of the federation for the 2013 UTME. By 2014, JAMB expanded the scope, by building 10 Computer-based Testing (CBT) centres, each with a minimum capacity of 250 candidates, with back-up computers in the event of the failure or malfunctioning of a system. He sustained the tempo in 2015, with more expansions and acceptability of the method by candidates.

And for the four years, the CBT has been tested, incidents of exam frauds have been suppressed remarkably. And Ojerinde’s JAMB is presently fine-tuning modalities to fully adopt the CBT approach for all candidates for the board’s exams to effectively eradicate issues of result black-outs and other forms of malpractices in any exam organized by the for students both in Nigeria and about seven foreign countries including London.

The widespread acceptance of the CBT is evident in the March 2016 UTME, as with just about 153 centers across Nigeria, over 616,000 (Six hundred and sixteen thousand) candidates willingly subscribed to it, from a total of slightly above 1.5 million candidates that registered for the exam.
With minimized or zero level of exam fraud recorded during conduct of the previous CBT, it behooves on Nigerians to encourage a system and an administrator that would perfect the university pre-entry exams. As peculiar to every method on trial, the CBT has its expected hiccups, leading to protests from a small fraction of candidates who sat for the last exams in Lagos. But Ojerinde has risen to the occasion, by explaining reasons for the mix-ups and also offered candidates who genuinely missed out another chance to write the exams. It is a prompt response, worthy of appreciation.

But the protest from the candidates has brought to the front burner the need for the Federal Government to fully support JAMB to conduct credible exams using the CBT approach. These protests were instigated mainly by failure of some computer operators contracted for the over 500 designated CBT centers to deliver on the task at the most crucial time, because of system failures.

It means JAMB needs more funding to establish its own independent computer centers for the CBT exams, as against the current practice of engaging private operators, prone to disappointments as witnessed in the March 2016 UTME. It is in this this light that the calls by the House of Reps for the suspension of the CBT exams, in favour of the PPT is misplaced.

This would imply relapsing to the analogue style and riding against the tide, when the entire globe is going digital. Candidates have embraced it, the board is perfecting it and what remains is adequate funding to overcome the obstacles. And like Professor Ojerinde himself asserted, such a move would amount to taking a step forward and two steps backwards. It would certainly be against the spirit of sanity in Nigeria, which President Muhammedu Buhari’s transformative government is sermonizing.

Orinya writes from the Federal University Wukari, Taraba State.

Fuel Crisis: Group Knocks Tinubu Over Calls For Kachikwu's Resignation

The New Initiative for Credible Leadership (NICreL ) has chided a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu saying he cannot revive his fledging political influence by attacking a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as this move has finally confirmed that he has been undermining the present government because he could not impose his will on President Muhammadu Buhari.

A statement issued by Rev Steven Onwu noted that Tinubu should have offered practical solutions for ending the fuel crisis instead of playing to the gallery with the theoretical postulations in his statement titled ‘Kachikwu Needs to Know That Respect and Good Performance Will Do What Magic Cannot’.

It said Mr Kachikwu’s frank comment that the APC chieftain reacted to were not unconnected with the rot left behind by the former administration that he sometimes related with in the past.

“Tinubu cannot in clear conscience exonerate himself from the atrocities committed by the Jonathan administration to which he was regularly ferreted to meet under the cover of darkness for nocturnal meetings to discuss his personal interests.

“It is common knowledge that the Lion of Bourdilon is no longer happy with the president since his attempt to populate the cabinet with his handpicked men was rebuffed by Mr President.

“If Kachikwu had been one of his proxies and puppets smuggled into the government would Tinubu had attempt to ridicule such official simply because he dared to speak the truth? We think the former Lagos state governor is trying to get at President Buhari by attacking the Minister of State of the ministry that Mr President deliberately supervises.

“We advise Tinubu to give strong thoughts to other options instead of his fixation on being the “shadow president”. The government that emerged from the 2015 general elections is more important than the political party that produced that government and how the country is run is now to be subjected to Tinubu’s wishes.” The statement declared.

It urged Mr Kachikwu not to reduce himself into being a liar simply to satisfy the whims of Tinubu’s likes but should do all that is necessary to ensure that Nigerians are no longer held hostage by those who see the oil industry as their birth right.

Leave Buratai And Our Military Alone

By Mohammed Ladan

Let me first of all start by acknowledging the efforts of our fallen heroes as we celebrated them last Friday and also pray for God’s protection to our troops in the front line. As a Nigerian who has seen the brutality of insurgency, and the weakness of our military during the last regime, I can say that when it comes to a true hero of our time, I think Gen Tukur Buratai will surely make the top list. Not just because he is from Borno state, but because he is a true patriotic military officer who always put our country first even before his own live.

This is a man who on resumption of office spent more time in the front line than in Abuja where his predecessors use to be. He rekindled hope for our millions of people that had to leave their ancestral homes for their safety in the last five years and are living in different IDP camps scattered across the country. The people of northeast, and particularly Borno and indeed all Nigerians will forever remain grateful to Gen Tukur Buratai and the entire armed forces for rescuing the country from the grip of Boko haram and their allies. Our future generations will surely honour him for his sacrifices and patriotism.

I remembered shedding tears when I first watch the video of the visit of Gen Tukur Buratai to Gamboru Ngala, when he was addressing the people there after his troops cleared the historic town. At a point when him and his men lift the Nigeria flag in that historic town which was followed by singing of the national anthem, The Gen broke into tears, and all the resident began to cry, they shed tears of joy, that after such a long time the town was under the control of Boko haram, our military that was chased away as a result of lack commitment from the military hierarchy and the political leadership under the previous regime, the hero of our time was able to successfully recapture the town because of the true commitment and patriotism of our own Gen Tukur Buratai.

The success recorded by general Buratai and his men is unprecedented in the history of Nigeria Army. This has send a strong signal to all terror organisations and their affiliate that it is no longer business as usual, and the Nigeria Army under the heroic general Buratai will not hesitate to deal with any form of uprising from any criminal minded people or group of people. Not only that, but the Nigeria Army is also ready to protect all Nigerians and rescue them from the hands of any criminal group.

Those civil society and the so called human rights organisation who are castigating our hero fail to do the right thing by condemning the perpetual imprisonment of the people of Zaria by Zazzaki and his people. All thanks to the Nigeria Army, the people of Zaria are now free. Whoever wants to accuse the Army of wrong doing, should first of all dig into the activities of the Islamic movement of Nigeria. For those who doesn’t know, the Shiites violates the rights of women more than any organisations in the world. The so called paid human rights groups calling for the removal of our national hero fail to condemn the Shiites who turn women into prostitutes. They allow what they call temporary marriage which is inhuman and subject many young girls to sleeping with different kinds of men by just giving them a small amount of money in the name of temporary marriage.

It is allowed by the Shiites to even borrow your wife to another man for some time. The annual trekking that they normally do attracts youths because they used the females among them as sex slaves. these innocent young girls were being brainwashed into believing that they will enter paradise by sleeping with multiple men who will give them a token as a bride price for temporary marriage which does not last more than one week or at most one month. Some of these young girls end up frustrated when they realize that there is nothing like temporary marriage in Islamic religion. Many of our Islamic scholars have been shouting and condemning this act of human right abuse on women by the Shiites, but nobody listen to them.

I expect all women rights organization to wake up and save Nigeria women from the hands of Al Zazzaki and his people. There is no any religion of God that will permit such abuse against women. Therefore, those human right groups that are making noise disturbing Nigerians and Nigeria about the Shiites whom I believe they know nothing about should rather channel their energy in knowing who these people are. Whoever knows the history of the Islamic movement of Nigeria and it’s leaders will not waste his time defending them. These worthless so called human rights groups should please leave our chief of Army Staff alone and face the Shiites who are known for their human rights abuses.

The Nigeria military have in recent times restored confidence in Nigerians who now sees them as symbols of hope and strength. Any individual or group that want to challenge the strength of our military should be dealt with accordingly. Our military are our symbol of power and authority, which The Islamic movement of Nigeria does not recognize. Their loyalty is only to Iran and not their own country Nigeria. That was why Al Zazzaki’s first point of call when the problem started was Iran instead of Nigeria authorities.

All human right groups should as a matter of urgency wake up and come to the aid of these thousands of women that are being abused by the members of the Islamic movement of Nigeria. Our women are our pride, as such they are too precious to be used as a commodity that anyone can buy it and sell them at their will. Let me reiterate that These so called human right groups as well as ignorant analysts should please leave our Army chief alone, they should go to Zaria and interact with the residents and have a clear picture of how brutal Al Zazzaki and his people have been over the years.

Mohammed Ladan write from Apo Abuja and can be reached through
ladanzaria78@gmail.com

As Nigerians continue to express concerns over the latest video footage released by Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, addressing his fighters to lay down their arms and surrender, a group of concern women under the umbrella, the Coalition for Women Advancement in Africa (COWAA) has said the development is a significant progress for country and also the military in the war against the Boko Haram insurgency.

In a press conference on Sunday, Executive Vice President of the group, Mrs Jummai Samuel Pukat said the group in its quest to authenticate the video, has recruited the services of forensic experts and can ascertain the veracity of the video by Shekau.

Pukat however, called on the Nigeria army to sustain its onslaught against the few remaining terrorists who may want to continue with their nefarious crimes.

She said, “We have authoritatively confirmed the video after subjecting it to scientific scrutiny and wish to say it is authentic and represents the reaction of the group to the ongoing merciless onslaught being carried out by the Nigerian Army. As mothers of the nation we are calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to see to an amnesty for those who are ready to lay down their arms and encourage the Nigerian Army to flush out every criminal elements or factional group that fails to utilize the opportunity of the declaration of surrender by Abubakar Shekau who has been known over the years as the leader of the group.

“In the same spirit of a new Nigeria devoid of the killings, kidnappings and terrorism that Nigerians were elated to view the video of their longest nightmare in the person of Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau almost grovelling as he declared that ‘I am finished’.

“Even without uttering those welcome words about being finished, which we believe equally applies to the terror group with which he brought this country down to its knees, the body language of the Shekau we saw in the video was that of a man who together with his minion are receiving the drubbing of their lives from the Nigerian Army ably supported by the Air Force.”

The video and proclamation by Shekau should be seen as a major breakthrough in the nation’s war against terrorism. In that video, we see and heard a Shekau who finally had the sense to admit that the end is nigh; we see a Shekau who has become gaunt ostensibly because the Army has successfully disrupted the supply routes for his terror group’s vital supplies; we see a Shekau who for the first time lost the ability to harangue the Nigerian state as he was not able to hop from one feet to the other, we see a Shekau whom the Nigerian Army has deprived of the succour and support of his devilish Amirs (commanders), who fell to the superior will of our gallant troops in quick succession; we see a Shekau that has been abandoned by the abominable Daesh (Islamic State) to which he pledged allegiance; we see a Shekau who is facing internal rebellion within the band of bloodthirsty imps that he has gathered, we see a Shekau at the end of his tethers and with the full knowledge that he deserves whatever he has coming for him; we see a Shekau that is in need of a finishing off; and we see a Shekau who must not get the mercy that he never showed his thousands victims.”

The group commended the Army for sustaining the onslaught on the terrorists in a manner that the degraded Boko Haram to the point where Shekau was flushed out to give proof of life to his own so called followers.

“However, our wish is to reiterate our resolve for lasting peace. We cannot get lasting peace by allowing Shekau and his remaining Amirs the luxury of being able to re-group and restore their ability to take on the Nigerian Army. The decision makers in the Army should let the federal government know what is needed to help these abominations called terrorists keep their appointments with their makers,” she said

She said the Army must not relent, but should get more ammunitions and artillery to further decimate the ranks of terrorists.

She said While Shekau as the head of Boko Haram deserves whatever he gets, amnesty should be handed over to all those who were forcefully indoctrinated into the terror group’s criminality as a way of further decimating whatever structure the criminal thought would survive him.

“we reiterate our position that Amnesty should be granted to those who were forcefully indoctrinated into the movement while those who wish to remain on are treated as mere criminals by the Nigerian Army.”

She said the immediate rescue of the 16 women abducted by Boko Haram should be commended by all Nigerians, stressing that the timely rescue should be a reminder that anyone abducted shall be found and set free.

Photographs showing the triumphant re-entry of troops of 22 Brigade, Nigerian Army into Rann HQ of Kala-Balge LGA of Borno State, earlier this week between 21 – 22 March, 2016. The Nigerian Army has continued to sustain efforts at restoring peace in the troubled North East as well as the nation's territorial integrity.

Bravo to our Gallant Soldiers.

Trending: Boko Haram kingpin, Abubakar Shekau who was rumoured to have been killed surface in new video advising his followers to "surrender to save themselves."
Shekau here appears to have surrendered to constant bombardments by the Nigerian Army troops.

See video footage:

https://www.facebook.com/LeadershipNGA/videos/1168805006486854/?__mref=message_bubble

https://www.facebook.com/LeadershipNGA/videos/1168805006486854/

Summit Calls For Travel Ban On Iran Over Extremism

Participants at a summit that discussed the threat of growing religious extremism in Nigeria on Wednesday in Abuja advocated outlawing travel to Iran especially for the purpose of studies, saying the country plays a key role in radicalizing youths by teaching them extreme ideologies.

The summit on “Building a Consensus against Extremism as a Catalyst for National Integration” was organised by the Coalition of Civil Society Organizations on Human Rights and Interfaith Religious Organizations for Peace.

Resource persons and participants stressed that there was need for religious tolerance in Nigeria but however noted that radicalization by way of people forming their own communities and laws within the Nigeria state should not be allowed.

They explained that formation of states within the Nigeria State like special places of worship for some selected persons should be outlawed by legislature at federal, states and local government levels.

A resource person, Mr Ayokunle Fagbemi, the Executive Director, Center for Peace-building and Socio-Economic Resources Development (CePSERD) explained that the Boko Haram phenomenon and the incidents between the Shiite Sect and the Army were cases of “security breaches” for the country.

Fagbemi identified what he described as “political correctness” as “the major obstacle to overcome in building a consensus against extremism”.

He further noted that decision makers in Nigeria must constantly be aware that “conflict and violence entrepreneurs are taking advantage” of the countries security breaches and that a management system must be in place to address these breaches.

The Executive Director of CePSERD pointed out that it was necessary to interrogate claims made by those that try to parade religion and that the Shiite issue must be viewed from the right perspective to understand why they created another community. “Thankfully, the Chief of Army Staff was of the same faith as the Shiites, the trouble would have been difficult. No group on its own would accept (admit) extremism on its own.” He said.

In his keynote to the summit, the Guest of Honour, Dr. Udenta O. Udenta, a Former Director Institute of Peace and Conflict Resolution, Abuja recommended that youths must be repositioned in the post industrial society were technology and new media have the potentials of being deployed as tools for radicalization.

Dr Udenta, who explained that this week’s terror attack in Belgium was a product of failing to deal with a festering pool of radicalization in Brussels, warned that Nigeria must limit external influences in the orientation of the youths.

He declared that “Boko Haram is the product of failed Western intervention in Libya” where outside interference led to the unexpected and undesirable outcome of that country becoming a failed state.
A communiqué issued at the end of the summit urged concerted efforts towards de-radicalization of youths that have been exposed to extreme doctrine by the Shiite Sect noting that it is not desirable to have another group replace Boko Haram when it is completely defeated.

The communiqué read at the end of the summit recommended, “That the Federal and state governments must emphasize de-radicalization as a key step towards stopping the spread of extremism and that they should use the relevant security agencies to address groups that indoctrinate youths to become extreme.

“That government must immediately take concrete steps to stop the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) from metamorphosing into Nigeria’s next terror group given the recent activities that pose existential threat to Nigeria.

“That the federal government must reassess with a view to acting on its diplomatic relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran and any other country that supports the spread of extremism on Nigerian soil. For a start, government must immediately outlaw travel to Iran especially for those going there to study since has now been established that they are easily radicalized with extremist ideology.

“That other states and the federal government should consider having their own versions of laws to regulate religious activities in view of the fact that religious extremists will seek new states to move to when they are contained elsewhere.

“That an expanded summit should hold to further expound on how to ensure religion is never again used to undermine the integrity of the nation.

“That this communiqué should be given wide publicity including being presented to the Presidency, National Assembly and the National Judicial Council that should then use policies, legislation and court pronouncement to limit foreign interference into Nigeria’s internal affairs while pushing for the outlawing of any civilian group that preaches extremism.” The communiqué read.

Participants at the event were not left out as some took out time to express their views and gains from the workshop. Mr. Yusuf Gwamna Mshelliza, North East Coalition Against Terrorism, who attended from Gwoza lamented the scourge of extremism and narrated how the Boko Haram terrorist took advantage of their extreme views to destroy life and properties within an endless spate of four years.

He further saluted the Nigerian Army under President Muhammadu Buhari for coming to the rescue of the people and warned youths at the event never to give in to extreme views in their life.

Group Hail Security Agencies On Rivers Rerun Election

A frontline socio-political group, The Advocates of Social Justice for All (ASJA), in its observation of the rerun election in Rivers State has commended the security agencies for restoring peace in the face of violence that characterised the exercise, saying that security operatives must also be praised for remaining calm in the face of provocation from sponsored thugs.

ASJA’s Executive Director, Torkuma Asong, who disclosed that his group independently monitored the Rivers re-run election, told newsmen in Abuja that it is condemnable that the real brains behind the violence are now trying to demonize the Army and other military services in attempts to blame others for their involvement in the atrocities committed.

Asongo noted that it was reassuring to know that the army arrested several persons who were impersonating military personnel without deferring to the state government appointees that were conveying the impostors around to terrorize the electorate during the polls.

He stressed that “It is commendable that the Army refrained from applying a scorched earth tactics even when desperate politicians orchestrated the killing of military men shortly before the election. They however focused on the primary task of saving the lives of Nigerians instead of being weighed down or distracted by the losses they suffered.

“The arrest of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Projects, Cyril Dum Wite by soldiers, at Kpor and Bori in Gokana and Khana Local Government Areas respectively, is clearly a pointer to where the attacks against the army were coming from. No one can correctly predict the ugly outcome that would have followed had the army allowed these men to successfully impersonate the institution’s good name.

“With what transpired in Rivers state, the Army has clearly demonstrated that the show of shame that took place in Ekiti state governorship election in 2014 was not the in line with the way it performs its constitutional duties.

“The military’s timely intervention saved democracy in not just Rivers state but in Nigeria at large since violence could have spread to other parts of the country from the rancorous way that politicians were going about the exercise.” Torkuma explained.

He demanded that all those caught in the act of committing electoral crimes, including the Rivers SSG and Governor’s aide, should be made to face the law to serve as deterrence to would be election riggers in future election since no one is above the law.

Nigerians In Diaspora Drags Islamic Group To ICC Over Army/Shiite Clash

By Abu Duniya

The Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group (UK Chapter) is set to drag the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) to the International Criminal Court of Justice over over what it described as attempt by IHRC to blackmail the Nigerian Army in its report on the Army-Shiite Clash.

The U.K. Representative of the group, Adeka Onyilo in an electronic statement said patriotic Nigerians will not sit and watch while IHRC tries to blackmail the Nigerian Army, discredit the Federal Government of Nigeria and stigmatized the citizens as people with no respect for rule of law.

Adeka who is a British-Nigerian said the group has followed the development back at home with keen interest and wondered why prominent Nigerians trained with Nigeria's resources could have become members of such groups used to blackmail the Nigerian government.

He said claims by the ICHR that at least 1000 unarmed civilians mostly IMN members were killed by gunshots attributed to soldiers shows how desperate they are to peddle lies against the Nigerian state.

The group said it is surprised that while the Shiite sect terrorized Zaria residents and flagrantly disobeyed constituted authority and while the Boko Haram terrorists killed thousands of Nigerians, the ICHR never raised a voice to condemn their actions.

He said, this is a clear sign that the group is sympathetic to the Boko Haram terrorists and also called on security agencies to keep close watch on their activities.

He said, "Nigerians in diaspora are still wondering why it took this so called ICHR this longs years of hibernation to comment on the numerous atrocities of Boko Haram which is the militant wing of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria or to visit the numerous families at the IDPs camp who have been rendered homeless, sick, helpless and begging for God to see the next day under the cruel hardship that they have been faced with.

"The Nigerians in Diapsora will challenge them and their sponsors at the International Criminal Court of Justice for the whole world to know the truth and not to give in to the criminal conspiracy to undermine the Nigerian State at any point in time"

According to him, like any responsible nation with respect for human rights and sanctity of life, the Nigerian government have dutifully instituted a Commission of inquiry to look into the altercations between the terrorists group and the Nigerian Army, a move which he said has been saluted by various international organizations.

He said " It therefore beats our imagination that these groups with a sinister motive have refused to plead their case at home rather gone to the international arena to perfect their lies in order to draw world attention into legitimizing their crimes against humanity."

JAMB: Understanding Ojerinde's Innovative Leadership

By Philip Agbese

Of all the government agencies and parastatals, the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) ranks among those that have been responsive to innovating to meeting the changes and challenges that evolved with time. Arguably, the larger part of this responsiveness took place under the watch of Professor Dibu Ojerinde as the Registrar of the examination body.

There was a time when the brochure that accompanied the application forms was large enough to constitute a course of study on its own. In those days, one would have to go through the tedious process of completing the forms with the least amount of errors as possible – too many errors and you have a form that cannot be used and the window for the sale of forms might have closed. Eraser and correcting fluid were good companions to have at hand while completing the forms at that time.

Then JAMB introduced online application. It was resisted. It was condemned. It was poorly understood. People wanted to continue applying for the examination the old way. Fears were expressed as to the risk of applicants completing the online form and still not have their names on the list of those to write the examination. Of course, there were hitches that were resolved as there was better understanding of the system over time. It must be noted that what some called hitches were errors made on the part of some applicants as they complete the online application. Today, applying online is taken for granted.

Then there was notification of result. Those who wrote JAMB in the nineties can attest to those many trips to the local post office to check for the arrival of their result slips or their none-arrival. Those were painful years when one could score high marks in the examination and lose out on admission because it took forever to know about the score. This was after it would have taken JAMB the better part of three months to release results. But in the mould of Professor Ojerinde’s penchant for innovation, advancement in technology was deployed to make it possible for candidates to get access their result using interactive platforms like SMS short codes. Again, there were hues and cries. People questioned the cost. We queried the authenticity of the results. But ultimately came to realise that it was one innovation tertiary institution applicants needed.

Talking about saving costs, we used to write Universities Matriculation Examination (UME) after buying the form for the particular examination. As a sort of insurance, prospective tertiary students will hedge their option with the Monotechnic, Polytechnic, and Colleges of Education Examination (MPCE) and also pay for another round of forms. Candidates then read for both examinations with slightly varied syllabi and possibly travel to two different locations on different dates for the tests. It takes the innovativeness of an Ojerinde to replace both tests with the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and save all stakeholders the hassles. But as usual, people kicked against the innovation that ensured candidates write one single examination and have shots at institutions across board.
The most recent is the Computer Based Test (CBT) that became universal for all UTME candidates after pilot phases of it being optional. Even at the pilot phase, people had tried to shoot down this innovation, which was no surprise given our history as a people who dread change. As Andrew Smith aptly put it, “People fear what they don't understand and hate what they can't conquer.”

Similar to the previous turning points, the CBT for 2016 had its hitches and one expects that JAMB would act on all reported cases of glitches since it has shown the needed responsiveness under other circumstances before. While JAMB as an institution is responding to these issues, Professor Ojerinde must make sure he remains unbowed as he should be used to the kind of hullabaloo that follow in the wake of the series of innovations he has brought to JAMB.

The advice became necessary given the scale of coordinated protests that have been organised to cast aspersion on the recently concluded examination in efforts to see the use of CBT dropped. When there is room for refining the process and system for efficiency it would be counterproductive to bow to the wishes of owners of miracles centres, who have been identified as being the brain behind the protests. The CBT means JAMB has in addition to other benefits been able to break the circle of cheating that the miracle centres typified.

Those who understand Professor Ojerinde’s innovative leadership at JAMB would appreciate the need to ensure that his landmark achievements are national assets that must be maintained and possibly modified for adaptation by agencies to which it will be beneficial. His true worth as a leader is thus his role as a pathfinder for other agencies that are in need of innovation. This is what those who have genuine interest in the quality of education available in Nigeria must find ways of tapping into. His creativity in managing how people get into tertiary schools could be explored for improving how students learn in our ivory towers. Then we would have put this understanding of this man’s innovative leadership to good use.

Agbese is an international affairs analyst based in the United Kingdom.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/03/jamb-understanding-ojerindes-innovative-leadership/

Group demands cancellation of Rivers re-run election
By Joshua Benson

A non-governmental organisation, the New Initiative for Credible Leadership has demanded outright cancellation of Saturday’s re-run election in Rivers state saying it falls short of all known local and international standards of acceptable elections and should have been called off when violence spiked in the hours preceding it.

In a letter to the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Rivers State, Aniedi Ikoiwak, the group said it will work with the Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency (CESJET), Africa Arise for Change Network, Nigerians United Against Terrorism, the Arewa Youth Integrity Forum and other NGOs that monitored the election to occupy the Abuja headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should it go ahead to validate controversial polls.

The letter by the New Initiative for Credible Leadership’s Rev Steven Onwu said the group of NGOs were asking that President Muhammadu Buhari should declare a state of emergency if the actors in Rivers state continue to disrespect the sanctity of human lives and not ready to give democracy a chance.

It warned the Resident Electoral Commissioner that the NGOs “are not ruling out the option of demanding that you (Ikoiwak) stand trial if you go ahead to act in ways that confirm you are complicit in the criminal conduct of the fraud that is now being passed off as an election.”
While arguing that no right thinking person will attempt to ascribe the name of election to what took place in Eleme, Gokana, Khana, Adoni, Tai and Bonny Local Government Areas, the group contended that Ikoiwak has “helped INEC to break its own record by conducting what is now the worst election in Nigeria.

“This posture of INEC in Rivers state greatly encouraged political actors to display lack of respect for the sanctity of human lives to the extent that Nigerians are now greatly worried that they have been returned to the barbaric and Hobbesian state of nature for the interest of very few Nigerians.” It noted.

The letter further stated that “While you (Ikoiwak) continue to pretend that all is well, we have cause to salute the conduct of the security agencies that made efforts to send a strong message to the perpetrators of violence that Nigeria does not belong to them alone. Their reports will form basis to legally act against you when the time is right.

“Despite the complete breakdown of law and order, your commission persisted in conducting the sham to the detriment of the electorate who have no way of expressing their true wishes under the condition in which the poll supposedly held.

“Even security operatives, who should provide cover for voters, were killed alongside citizens they should protect. There was widespread snatching of ballot boxes, results were written in obscure locations, there were escalated threats to the lives of voters, and armed militants were mobilized to disrupt polls in addition to other unspeakable atrocities that exposed the decline of INEC in the past months to the international community.” It stressed.

Buratai: A General’s War of Boots, Guns And Wits

By Best Orinya

Nigerians hardly agree or indulge themselves in collective appreciation of the performance of any public officer. It is like a cherished culture of endless criticism, the people hate to relinquish. It is worse when the matter at stake concerns a national issue and the personality at the epicenter of the heat delights more in verbal justification job than action.

But there appears to be a unanimous consensus on how the current Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai has handled the ongoing war on Boko Haram insurgents in the North eastern part of Nigeria. The war on terror is a global phenomenon, but since terrorists took a firm, offensive grip on Nigerians, the country has known no peace, manifest in all facets of national life. It was like a puzzle that can never be solved. But Gen. Buratai has given Nigerians hope of survival and dignity in their darkest hour, much as he has vibrated deadly labyrinths.

Until his appointment July 13, 2015, by President Muhammadu Buhari, as Nigeria’s COAS, Gen. Buratai was the Commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force, headquartered in the Republic of Chad. He succeeded Gen. Kenneth Tobias Jacob Minimah as COAS, whose reign diminished the once proud army which regaled in excellence on foreign assignments, anywhere in the world. Under Minimah, Nigerian soldiers were re-classified and derogatively described as worse than ragtag militias, evident in troop’s sheepish retreat in the middle of battle. Boko Haram militants held the country on its jugular, recklessly killing, abducting, conquering and annexing territories of Nigeria with their insignia boldly mounted.
Credentials of the Borno-born Army General are replete with trappings of excellence anywhere he has served the country before now. As Commander 2 Brigade covering other parts of the Niger Delta region, where he doubled as the Sector Commander Joint Task Force Operation Pulo Shield, Buratai brought respite to Nigerians in the restive Niger Delta region by significantly curtailing oil theft, piracy, kidnapping and armed robbery through relentless security surveillance and operations.

But what appears to have shot him to limelight is his new job as COAS. Many attest that upon his appointment as the Army’s helmsman, Buratai deemed it a personal mission to rescue his people. But when he vowed to confront the insurgent’s headlong; the terrorists mistook his outbursts as the same empty bragging of his predecessors.
Administering their usual baptism of fire on whoever dares them, the insurgents immediately unleashed an attack on his home town in Biu LGA of Borno, killing and destroying houses. While the action of the Islamic sect members was meant to permanently silence Gen. Buratai, it surprisingly rather emboldened him.
And with President Muhammadu Buhari’s relocation of the military command structure to the epicenter of the Boko Haram war, Buratai perceived it a rare opportunity to again excel in his military career.

Son of Alhaji Yusuf Buratai, a World War II veteran, the COAS reminisced his father’s admonishments to him at a tender age, when opted for the military. He remembered that his father, now aged told him to strive to excel and always be loyal to his superiors and constituted authority and to distance himself from any form of vice. So, he considered failing Nigeria in the insurgency war as failing his own biological father.

Therefore, having climbed the ladder in his military career to get to the peak, Gen. Buratai dammed the coziness of his office in Abuja, laced his boots, cocked his guns and personally led troops to the battle field. It was a marked departure from the disposition of COAS before his arrival on the scene. To demonstrate that he is an Army General with proper grasp and briefs of his new assignment, Buratai restructured the Nigerian Army hierarchy by deploying his subordinates to superintend on new commands stations or areas. He set out to task with a singular mission; firstly, to boost the very low morale of troops, which hitherto made them dread war and by extension, to also extract a commitment from soldiers that insurgency is a war that must be won in record time, to enable soldiers get back to their regular duties.

Thereafter, Buratai frequently toured the zone embattled by insurgency war, even to dreaded Boko Haram controlled zones. It was on one of such mission that his convoy was ambushed while travelling to Maiduguri-Gamboru-Ngala. No senior officer of his ranking or portfolio had rendered himself to be caught in the crossfire of insurgents in the past. But Buratai braved the odds and did not only deflate the potency of the terrorists who attacked his convoy, but also arrested some of them who later made useful confessions.

It is clear that the Nigerian Army under Buratai's watch have stamped their statement that the dreaded Sambisa Forest, where Chibok girls abducted by Boko Haram terrorists were held captive for months, unchallenged, was not only demystified, but also demolished. He proceeded to belittle the once fortified haven of the insurgents by establishing a military presence in Sambisa Forest.

Explaining his tactics, Buratai said, having studied the insurgency war in the North East, he decided to adopt the same guerrilla approach used by the terrorists by introducing motorbike battalion to move swiftly against terrorists anytime. No innovation, that simple with such positive impact that cannot attract world acclaim in the comity of Army Generals anywhere in the world.
He simply explained it as, “We are using the same guerrilla strategy adopted by the terrorists. We are giving them back their own strategy. We have motorbike battalion which has added more capacity as well as the ability to move quickly to wherever the terrorists are.”

Also, Buratai’s foot soldiers were constantly assured by the Army Chief himself, whether in the rain and in cold, about their welfare. He availed himself at their doorstep to personally respond to the issues confronting them to give them a psychological impetus to face the insurgency battle and come out victorious. Soldiers no longer complained of owed allowances, delayed salaries or pushed to battle front, on empty stomach and without ammunitions.

While addressing troops of the 112 battalion at Mafa, Buratai touched on their patriotism and emotions as Nigerians reminding of their sacred duty to the country thus; “We all know we have a task to clear this general area of these criminal elements once and for all so that we all can go back to our normal soldiering business. It is the commitment of the President, government, the leadership of the military, the troops and the support of Nigerians that brought the successes. We have intensified efforts to enable the military get to the insurgents before they cause any havoc or even run away from their hideouts…the most important thing is to prevent them from having the capacity to launch attacks on innocent individuals and on our troops` locations.”

In effect, when Nigerians now witness isolated incidents of Boko Haram attacks in towns and villages of the troubled North East, the world is now convinced that the remnants of terrorists who have been chased out of the forests, alienated in towns and caged in their hideouts, who are still venting their last spleen, which would soon extinguish. Confessions from some arrested terrorists now indicate that they are tired of the “business”, as against the haughty posture of some of their arrested colleagues in the past.

Buratai assures, “Terrorism is a global phenomenon. It may seem unending, but I want to assure you that here in Nigeria, we are working hard to ensure that the Boko Haram terrorists are completely eliminated. We still have some remnants of them, but we are closing up and clearing them by the day.”

Therefore, when Nigerians generally, including hardcore critics like the Comrade Governor, Adams Oshiomhole and his Oyo state counterpart,Governor Abiola Ajimobi applaud Buratai, its not unexpected and about the least laurel still awaiting this General of the people.

Oshiomhole sums it all, “We in Edo State appreciate the leadership that you are providing for the Nigerian Armed Forces and the Nigerian Army in particular. We watch you on television and we see a very senior officer going to meet his officers and men right in the battle field, sharing the dust, the sun and all the deprivations, the sort of thing you sometime see in foreign countries. I think that you are leading by example in every sense of the word.”

So, with Buratai on stage, the Nigerian Army is back from a long “sabbatical” leave, hitting and biting. There is now hope that Nigerian Army would once again regain its pride and status in the comity of the military world-wide.

Orinya is an academic staff at FUW and contributed the piece from Wukari, Taraba State.

Buratai: A General’s War of Boots, Guns And Wits

By Best Orinya

Nigerians hardly agree or indulge themselves in collective appreciation of the performance of any public officer. It is like a cherished culture of endless criticism, the people hate to relinquish. It is worse when the matter at stake concerns a national issue and the personality at the epicenter of the heat delights more in verbal justification job than action.

But there appears to be a unanimous consensus on how the current Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai has handled the ongoing war on Boko Haram insurgents in the North eastern part of Nigeria. The war on terror is a global phenomenon, but since terrorists took a firm, offensive grip on Nigerians, the country has known no peace, manifest in all facets of national life. It was like a puzzle that can never be solved. But Gen. Buratai has given Nigerians hope of survival and dignity in their darkest hour, much as he has vibrated deadly labyrinths.

Until his appointment July 13, 2015, by President Muhammadu Buhari, as Nigeria’s COAS, Gen. Buratai was the Commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force, headquartered in the Republic of Chad. He succeeded Gen. Kenneth Tobias Jacob Minimah as COAS, whose reign diminished the once proud army which regaled in excellence on foreign assignments, anywhere in the world. Under Minimah, Nigerian soldiers were re-classified and derogatively described as worse than ragtag militias, evident in troop’s sheepish retreat in the middle of battle. Boko Haram militants held the country on its jugular, recklessly killing, abducting, conquering and annexing territories of Nigeria with their insignia boldly mounted.
Credentials of the Borno-born Army General are replete with trappings of excellence anywhere he has served the country before now. As Commander 2 Brigade covering other parts of the Niger Delta region, where he doubled as the Sector Commander Joint Task Force Operation Pulo Shield, Buratai brought respite to Nigerians in the restive Niger Delta region by significantly curtailing oil theft, piracy, kidnapping and armed robbery through relentless security surveillance and operations.

But what appears to have shot him to limelight is his new job as COAS. Many attest that upon his appointment as the Army’s helmsman, Buratai deemed it a personal mission to rescue his people. But when he vowed to confront the insurgent’s headlong; the terrorists mistook his outbursts as the same empty bragging of his predecessors.
Administering their usual baptism of fire on whoever dares them, the insurgents immediately unleashed an attack on his home town in Biu LGA of Borno, killing and destroying houses. While the action of the Islamic sect members was meant to permanently silence Gen. Buratai, it surprisingly rather emboldened him.
And with President Muhammadu Buhari’s relocation of the military command structure to the epicenter of the Boko Haram war, Buratai perceived it a rare opportunity to again excel in his military career.

Son of Alhaji Yusuf Buratai, a World War II veteran, the COAS reminisced his father’s admonishments to him at a tender age, when opted for the military. He remembered that his father, now aged told him to strive to excel and always be loyal to his superiors and constituted authority and to distance himself from any form of vice. So, he considered failing Nigeria in the insurgency war as failing his own biological father.

Therefore, having climbed the ladder in his military career to get to the peak, Gen. Buratai dammed the coziness of his office in Abuja, laced his boots, cocked his guns and personally led troops to the battle field. It was a marked departure from the disposition of COAS before his arrival on the scene. To demonstrate that he is an Army General with proper grasp and briefs of his new assignment, Buratai restructured the Nigerian Army hierarchy by deploying his subordinates to superintend on new commands stations or areas. He set out to task with a singular mission; firstly, to boost the very low morale of troops, which hitherto made them dread war and by extension, to also extract a commitment from soldiers that insurgency is a war that must be won in record time, to enable soldiers get back to their regular duties.

Thereafter, Buratai frequently toured the zone embattled by insurgency war, even to dreaded Boko Haram controlled zones. It was on one of such mission that his convoy was ambushed while travelling to Maiduguri-Gamboru-Ngala. No senior officer of his ranking or portfolio had rendered himself to be caught in the crossfire of insurgents in the past. But Buratai braved the odds and did not only deflate the potency of the terrorists who attacked his convoy, but also arrested some of them who later made useful confessions.

It is clear that the Nigerian Army under Buratai's watch have stamped their statement that the dreaded Sambisa Forest, where Chibok girls abducted by Boko Haram terrorists were held captive for months, unchallenged, was not only demystified, but also demolished. He proceeded to belittle the once fortified haven of the insurgents by establishing a military presence in Sambisa Forest.

Explaining his tactics, Buratai said, having studied the insurgency war in the North East, he decided to adopt the same guerrilla approach used by the terrorists by introducing motorbike battalion to move swiftly against terrorists anytime. No innovation, that simple with such positive impact that cannot attract world acclaim in the comity of Army Generals anywhere in the world.
He simply explained it as, “We are using the same guerrilla strategy adopted by the terrorists. We are giving them back their own strategy. We have motorbike battalion which has added more capacity as well as the ability to move quickly to wherever the terrorists are.”

Also, Buratai’s foot soldiers were constantly assured by the Army Chief himself, whether in the rain and in cold, about their welfare. He availed himself at their doorstep to personally respond to the issues confronting them to give them a psychological impetus to face the insurgency battle and come out victorious. Soldiers no longer complained of owed allowances, delayed salaries or pushed to battle front, on empty stomach and without ammunitions.

While addressing troops of the 112 battalion at Mafa, Buratai touched on their patriotism and emotions as Nigerians reminding of their sacred duty to the country thus; “We all know we have a task to clear this general area of these criminal elements once and for all so that we all can go back to our normal soldiering business. It is the commitment of the President, government, the leadership of the military, the troops and the support of Nigerians that brought the successes. We have intensified efforts to enable the military get to the insurgents before they cause any havoc or even run away from their hideouts…the most important thing is to prevent them from having the capacity to launch attacks on innocent individuals and on our troops` locations.”

In effect, when Nigerians now witness isolated incidents of Boko Haram attacks in towns and villages of the troubled North East, the world is now convinced that the remnants of terrorists who have been chased out of the forests, alienated in towns and caged in their hideouts, who are still venting their last spleen, which would soon extinguish. Confessions from some arrested terrorists now indicate that they are tired of the “business”, as against the haughty posture of some of their arrested colleagues in the past.

Buratai assures, “Terrorism is a global phenomenon. It may seem unending, but I want to assure you that here in Nigeria, we are working hard to ensure that the Boko Haram terrorists are completely eliminated. We still have some remnants of them, but we are closing up and clearing them by the day.”

Therefore, when Nigerians generally, including hardcore critics like the Comrade Governor, Adams Oshiomhole and his Oyo state counterpart,Governor Abiola Ajimobi applaud Buratai, its not unexpected and about the least laurel still awaiting this General of the people.

Oshiomhole sums it all, “We in Edo State appreciate the leadership that you are providing for the Nigerian Armed Forces and the Nigerian Army in particular. We watch you on television and we see a very senior officer going to meet his officers and men right in the battle field, sharing the dust, the sun and all the deprivations, the sort of thing you sometime see in foreign countries. I think that you are leading by example in every sense of the word.”

So, with Buratai on stage, the Nigerian Army is back from a long “sabbatical” leave, hitting and biting. There is now hope that Nigerian Army would once again regain its pride and status in the comity of the military world-wide.

Orinya is an academic staff at FUW and contributed the piece from Wukari, Taraba State.

Saluting PMB's Will To Conquer Terrorism

By Abdulmalik Suleiman

One can never forget the second bombing incident in Nigeria when a terrorist attempted to bring down the Louis Edet building, the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters in the nation's capital city, Abuja. This was to be the first suicide mission in Nigeria and a new dimension in the activities of the terror group that now calls itself Wilāyat Gharb Ifrīqīyyah aka Boko Haram in its deadly operations in Nigeria.

This incident opened the door for our country's descent into despondency and a long running show of shame. It exposed Nigeria’s numerous weaknesses to the world as the other security agencies were forced to build siege walls with artificial barriers like blocks, stones and other instruments to barricade their complexes. Each security outfit became wary and were willing to do the ridiculous if only to avoid any embarrassment from Boko Haram and their suicide bombers.

If the siege mentality in the nation’s capital was troubling, then the news from the war front in the north east, the Boko Haram heartland was dismal. There were countless number of stories of soldiers fleeing battles, widespread deserting, horrendous casualty and a band of terrorists that took on invincibility. The situation was bad enough that constitutionally scheduled general elections were placed on hold for six week under the guise of fighting a group that had grown the capacity to attack any part of the country at will.

The coming of President Muhammadu Buhari, the product of the shifted elections, marked the beginning of the end of Boko Haram. The inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari and subsequent appointment of Lt. General Tukur Yusuf Buratai remains that turning point in the war against the fanatical murderers. It marked the point when the commanders of the extremists, who decorated themselves without the sophistication and training of the Nigerian Army that was proudly rated as the best in Africa sequel to the evil ascendancy of Boko Haram being addressed as mere criminals.

One can therefore not be blamed to have found the declaration by the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, six months after the inception of the administration, that Boko Haram has been technically defeated. The Minister of Information who was hitherto known for his persistent outspokenness during his days as the All Progressives Congress, APC spokesman demonstrated what he meant with a visit to Maiduguri, which until the exit of the former administration of President Goodluck Jonathan was the administrative headquarters of Boko Haram just like Washington DC is to the United States of America. Senior officials of the previous administration had technically declared the north-east a no go area, even for those who are originally from the place.

It was adequately reported, quoting multiple intelligence sources and operational reports, that the terrorists were all coordinated from this town while Sambisa Forest served as their armoury and Bite as the spiritual headquarters from where all their Imams and Alfas coordinating prayers for their success against our Army. Ironically, mere prayer warriors can only win battles when there is no army like the renewed Nigerian Army under President Buhari and his able Chief, officers and soldiers have made us to understand today.

Just as the Boko Haram black flag has been taken down and burnt in areas that were once their strongholds, making it possible for life to return to normal, the siege around military facilities and other national assets in Abuja is being lifted. The barricades have disappeared from Agura Hotel and other barricades are disappearing from around other facilities. Institutions that still have barricades in place either have exceptionally cowardly disposition or they are not in tune with the mood of the times.

Those days when we hear the then Minister of Information, Labara Maku of the Jonathan administration declare the defeat of Boko Haram, Nigerians run to Agura hotel to confirm if the double lane, which was sealed off to protect military offices in the vicinity, has been reopened to traffic or not.

It is on this note that must appreciate President Buhari’s right choice in appointing General Buratai as COAS. The events that followed showed that the General shared the same trait of decisiveness with the older General that appointed him. This explains why Buratai was able to bring on board leadership with a focus.

As opposed to when Boko Haram was fought from the comfort of air-conditioned hotel suites and the lobby of expansive duplexes and well stocked ballrooms, President Buhar’s directive as implemented by a Buratai, who demonstrated a clear understanding of guerrilla warfare yielded the quick turnaround that ensured that all the prophets of doom are put to shame as their prediction of doom for Nigeria amounted to nought. The introduction of motorbike battalion under his command, something that is comparatively cheaper but was never contemplated, soldiers are now able to move quickly to wherever the terrorists are before they can cause much havoc.

That these feats were achieved can also be situated in the anti-corruption stance of President Buhari, which Buratai has implemented as he exhibited intolerance for corruption anywhere in the Army. It must be noted that this anti-corruption component goes beyond not diverting money meant for arms purchase and personnel welfare as it also included rebuilding values to engender germane qualities not seen in any military formations anywhere in Africa.

With the benefit of hindsight, the current administration might not have made the required mark in other sectors in relation to citizens’ expectations but the fact that we can now sleep with our eyes closed is commendable as an achievement that should make any objective assessor score President Muhammadu Buhari the required first class performance. We must salute his will and determination to return Nigeria to being a stable and peaceful country.

Suleiman writes from Jos Road, Bauchi State.

Saluting PMB's Will To Conquer Terrorism

By Abdulmalik Suleiman

One can never forget the second bombing incident in Nigeria when a terrorist attempted to bring down the Louis Edet building, the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters in the nation's capital city, Abuja. This was to be the first suicide mission in Nigeria and a new dimension in the activities of the terror group that now calls itself Wilāyat Gharb Ifrīqīyyah aka Boko Haram in its deadly operations in Nigeria.


This incident opened the door for our country's descent into despondency and a long running show of shame. It exposed Nigeria’s numerous weaknesses to the world as the other security agencies were forced to build siege walls with artificial barriers like blocks, stones and other instruments to barricade their complexes. Each security outfit became wary and were willing to do the ridiculous if only to avoid any embarrassment from Boko Haram and their suicide bombers.

If the siege mentality in the nation’s capital was troubling, then the news from the war front in the north east, the Boko Haram heartland was dismal. There were countless number of stories of soldiers fleeing battles, widespread deserting, horrendous casualty and a band of terrorists that took on invincibility. The situation was bad enough that constitutionally scheduled general elections were placed on hold for six week under the guise of fighting a group that had grown the capacity to attack any part of the country at will.

The coming of President Muhammadu Buhari, the product of the shifted elections, marked the beginning of the end of Boko Haram. The inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari and subsequent appointment of Lt. General Tukur Yusuf Buratai remains that turning point in the war against the fanatical murderers. It marked the point when the commanders of the extremists, who decorated themselves without the sophistication and training of the Nigerian Army that was proudly rated as the best in Africa sequel to the evil ascendancy of Boko Haram being addressed as mere criminals.

One can therefore not be blamed to have found the declaration by the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, six months after the inception of the administration, that Boko Haram has been technically defeated. The Minister of Information who was hitherto known for his persistent outspokenness during his days as the All Progressives Congress, APC spokesman demonstrated what he meant with a visit to Maiduguri, which until the exit of the former administration of President Goodluck Jonathan was the administrative headquarters of Boko Haram just like Washington DC is to the United States of America. Senior officials of the previous administration had technically declared the north-east a no go area, even for those who are originally from the place.

It was adequately reported, quoting multiple intelligence sources and operational reports, that the terrorists were all coordinated from this town while Sambisa Forest served as their armoury and Bite as the spiritual headquarters from where all their Imams and Alfas coordinating prayers for their success against our Army. Ironically, mere prayer warriors can only win battles when there is no army like the renewed Nigerian Army under President Buhari and his able Chief, officers and soldiers have made us to understand today.

Just as the Boko Haram black flag has been taken down and burnt in areas that were once their strongholds, making it possible for life to return to normal, the siege around military facilities and other national assets in Abuja is being lifted. The barricades have disappeared from Agura Hotel and other barricades are disappearing from around other facilities. Institutions that still have barricades in place either have exceptionally cowardly disposition or they are not in tune with the mood of the times.

Those days when we hear the then Minister of Information, Labara Maku of the Jonathan administration declare the defeat of Boko Haram, Nigerians run to Agura hotel to confirm if the double lane, which was sealed off to protect military offices in the vicinity, has been reopened to traffic or not.

It is on this note that must appreciate President Buhari’s right choice in appointing General Buratai as COAS. The events that followed showed that the General shared the same trait of decisiveness with the older General that appointed him. This explains why Buratai was able to bring on board leadership with a focus.

As opposed to when Boko Haram was fought from the comfort of air-conditioned hotel suites and the lobby of expansive duplexes and well stocked ballrooms, President Buhar’s directive as implemented by a Buratai, who demonstrated a clear understanding of guerrilla warfare yielded the quick turnaround that ensured that all the prophets of doom are put to shame as their prediction of doom for Nigeria amounted to nought. The introduction of motorbike battalion under his command, something that is comparatively cheaper but was never contemplated, soldiers are now able to move quickly to wherever the terrorists are before they can cause much havoc.

That these feats were achieved can also be situated in the anti-corruption stance of President Buhari, which Buratai has implemented as he exhibited intolerance for corruption anywhere in the Army. It must be noted that this anti-corruption component goes beyond not diverting money meant for arms purchase and personnel welfare as it also included rebuilding values to engender germane qualities not seen in any military formations anywhere in Africa.

With the benefit of hindsight, the current administration might not have made the required mark in other sectors in relation to citizens’ expectations but the fact that we can now sleep with our eyes closed is commendable as an achievement that should make any objective assessor score President Muhammadu Buhari the required first class performance. We must salute his will and determination to return Nigeria to being a stable and peaceful country.

Suleiman writes from Jos Road, Bauchi State.

North Will Not Tolerate Any Extreme Group Again - Ortom

Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom today said that the North will no longer condone any extremist group which threatens the peace and unity of the region.

The Governor who made this declaration today while addressing a group of protesters led by a civil rights organisation, Conference of Minority Tribes at the Benue Peoples House also assured the people of government’s continued protection from external attacks.

Ortom also assured the protesters that the government was looking into the issue of further attacks by herdsmen even as he informed of increased security presence in the affected areas.

Meanwhile the leader of the group, Comrade Okpokwu Ogenyi in his speech accused the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), Shi'ite Islamic sect of instigating the current wave of killings by Fulani herdsmen.

Okpokwu called on the presidency to look into the matter in the same manner the Shiite uprising in the north was handled, to halt all attempts to spread extremism to other parts of the country.

He further lamented the scale of destruction caused by the crisis, describing it as an ethnic cleansing exercise labelled Fulani-Agatu crisis to desensitize the national consciousness.

“the on-going ethnic cleansing has been mischievously labelled Fulani-Agatu crisis under circumstances that are at best efforts to desensitize the national consciousness to the enormity of the scale on which Benue state people are being wiped-out on a daily basis.” Okpokwu said.

Furthermore the group has also requested the Federal Government to provide compensation and relief to the victims of the invasion, while demanding the government to come out with a definite policy to curtail extremism.

“individuals fingered in the Shiite crisis and those threatening the state as clearly seen in the published videos must be arrested and prosecuted. Government must then come out with a definite policy to curtail any form of extremism.” He said.

Fuel Scarcity: Remove Nnamdi-Ogbue Now, CSOs Order Kachikwu

By Abu Duniya, Abuja

For what it termed flagrant abuse of office and aiding in the scarcity of petroleum products in country, a frontline human rights group, The New Initiative for Credible Leadership, NICL has charged the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC within 72 hour the Minister of State for Petroleum and Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr Ibe Kachikwu to remove the former Managing Director of Petroleum Products And Marketing Company (PPMC), Mrs Esther Nnamdi-Ogbue, whom he has re-assigned to Retail Services in the recent shake up at the corporation.

A statement issued on Friday by NICL’s Executive Director, Rev Steve Onwu noted that the injustice of retaining officials and even promoting officials that are known to be corrupt could have been one of the undeclared grievances of unions that called a strike following “the so called restructuring”.

The statement said “Reassigning Mrs Esther Nnamdi-Ogbue to Retail Services despite her horrific record is like rewarding Corruption with a pat on the back. Nigerians wish to know why Dr Kachikwu has decided to punish us with this unspeakable and abominable evil when our expectations were that any structuring under his watch will rid us of the virus of corruption that has crippled the oil industry.

“We are giving a 72 hour ultimatum for Mrs Esther Nnamdi-Ogbue to be removed from her new role and possibly shown the way out of the corporation for good. Failure of Dr Kachikwu and the petroleum ministry to do this will see us leading the suffering Nigerian masses to occupy the tower with a massive protest. The Minister of State for Petroleum has our assurances that the disruptions caused by workers’ unions after his announcement will pale in significance should he refuse to hearken to Nigerians on this matter.

“We are counting on the current hardship occasioned by a needless biting fuel scarcity, to which Mrs Esther Nnamdi-Ogbue is instrumental, to swell the crowd of protesters that will besiege the NNPC Towers until the Minister rescind this.” The group warned.

It argued that Dr Kachikwu has clearly proven that he has been intimidated by those who have held Nigerians and the oil industry hostage in the past.
The statement offered to provide the Minister of State for Petroleum with the factual justification to remove Mrs Nnamdi-Ogbue from Retail Services saying “She lacks credibility and integrity going by her antecedent to be anywhere near the NNPC Towers if the partial unbundling is truly meant to serve the Nigerian masses as claimed.

“She should have been redeployed to the ministry as her service is not needed under this circumstance.”It advised.

Angry Nigerian Mothers Shutdown Lagos Over Boko Haram, Shiite Extremists

Commercial activities at Alausa, the operational headquarters and capital city of Lagos State was temporarily shut down yesterday by some angry women who were protesting against the menace of Islamic Fundamentalist Group, Boko Haram, dangerous Fulani Herdsmen and the Kaduna based pseudo terrorist group, Shiites.

The protesting women most especially demanded that Nigerian government should deliver their innocent children from the gregarious hegemony of the terrorist groups masquerading as Boko Haram and Shiites.

They alleged that over 1,000 Nigerian female children have been raped by Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen in Nigeria in this year alone.

While declaring their support for President Muhammadu Buhari, the group charged all security agencies in the nation of Nigeria to get rid of terrorism in the country by all means necessary.

The protest started by 9am in the morning but did not end until 1pm.

The protesters carried banners and placards bearing inscriptions such as “WE WANT FOOD NOT BLOOD.” “WE ARE TIRED OF BLOODSHED.” “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.” “GIVE BUHARI A CHANCE TO CHANGE NIGERIA FOR GOOD.” “STOP KILLING AND RAPING OUR CHILDREN.” “BOKO HARAM, FULANI HERDSMEN STOP RAPING OUR DAUGHTERS” and so many others.

The women were led by the Executive Director of Africa Arise for Change Network, Mrs Comfort Olunfunke Solape.

The protest started In front of Ikeja Shoping Mall at Alausa and Terminated at the Lagos State House of Assembly at exactly 12:45pm. They were addressed by the majority leader of the house, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade from Ikorodu State Constituency.

The House leader promised to deliver the protest letter of the women to the House Speaker, Hon. Mudasiru Obasa for onward transmission to President Mohamadu Buhari.

Below was the full text of the press statement delivered by the group before they started the protest;



Protocols,

Great Nigerian Women!

We thank you for taking out time to join this Peaceful Freedom Walk organised by the Africa Arise for Change Network. As concerned mothers of the nation called for the walk to draw the attention of our father, President Muhammadu Buhari and other senior government officials to the worrisome state of security we live under. It is worrisome for us that not enough is being done to proactively address what we see as a growing threat.

Just last week here, armed gunmen stormed a school in Ikorodu and abducted three female pupils in broad daylight. The abduction took place right here in Lagos, not some remote community in areas affected by the Boko Haram insurgency. This development has left all parents, especially mothers in pains as they are no longer certain of what can befall their beloved children while in school custody.

Within a few days of the girls’ abduction, hell was let loose in Mile 12 in an ethnic fueled riot that sadly led to the loss of life and property. That such ethnic oriented strife could surface in Lagos speaks volume of how an era of intolerance rapidly crept upon us without us realizing it. We condemn the Mile 12 riots in the strongest terms possible and we urge all Nigerians to do same. Our thoughts are with families that lost loved ones and businesses to the senseless carnage.

In other parts of the country, alleged herdsmen unleash terror on otherwise peaceful agrarian communities on a daily basis without being challenged in any way to be deterred from launching further attacks. We have always maintained that there are variables to these attacks that Nigerians have not been made aware of. It is reprehensible that the attacks persist at a time when a decisive defeat of terror group, Boko Haram is at hand. Another war after this hard earned victory is not worth the struggle and should not be contemplated.

The foregoing present paint a scary scenario but nothing is more frightening than the knowledge that as a country we must fight these cases of violence in addition to threat of sectarianism that came to the fore when members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) or Shiite Sect attempted to assassinate the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai in Kaduna state. The attack and its aftermath are horrifying but they are nothing compared to the realization that we are up against a sect that is sponsored by another sovereign state.

We must at this point apologize to the Nigerian Army whose entourage narrowly escaped what would have been the height of national embarrassment sometimes in December of year. This is coming because video evidence that were later made available confirmed that we, alongside other well meaning Nigerians and organizations, were hasty in passing judgment to condemn the soldiers in their actions against top members of the sect in Zaria. To confirm this we have taken pains to bring such videos to this event for all to go home and ponder on.

The unscrupulous elements behind the incident had expected only the initial reaction of Nigerians and never anticipated that the truth will surface by way of documentary evidence. They had seen our country as a fertile ground to pursue their sectarian agenda that failed in their traditional sphere of influence. We are afraid that given that this videos are in Lagos, many of their actors who ran away from the north could be hiding in Lagos and our security agencies must fish them out immediately.

Given the threatening utterances of the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Nigeria, Mr Saeed Koozechi, who repeatedly threatened that Nigeria is pouring fuel on fire by arresting and detaining those behind the attempt on General Buratai’s life, we want the Federal Government to comprehensively investigate the link behind foreign interference and the recent security incidents in several parts of the country. We feel concerned and passionate because as mothers every life matters to us.

This is why we today teamed up with other organizations and persons that share similar concerns to undertake this Peaceful Freedom March. We deemed it necessary to come out clearly as the conscience of our society to hold this national rally to sensitize Nigerians on the need for a collective resolve and response against terrorists and their affiliate franchises. We have always known the likes of the terror group, Boko Haram gets backing from the Islamic State but the others we should now let the nation know about is the Islamic Movement of Nigeria and its spokesperson, in the person of the Iranian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Saeed Kocheezi.

We may be laypersons when it comes to security matters but we see a clear pattern of deliberate attempts to destabilize Nigeria through the spread of sectarianism and terrorism to parts of the country that have hitherto remained peaceful. We believe this spread is directly connected to the activities and incitement by Mr Koozechi. He must therefore be sent away from Nigeria for us to refocus on rebuilding our nation.

This speech is being handed over to the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode for onward transmission to President Muhammadu Buhari. As we hand this letter over, we urge individuals and organizations in other states to hold similar marches and make these same demands. It is now glaring that those that want to destabilize Nigeria will not stop with Kaduna and Lagos states alone. They want the whole of the country. They want to re-colonize Nigeria for some twisted reason and it is something we must resist with the last drop of our blood and sweat.

Arise o ye compatriots, for the time to free our country is now.

Comfort Olufunke Solape
Executive Director