₦airaland Forum

A president that can't speak for himself unless he is aided, A President that doesn't know any thing that transpired in his government, A President that doesn't know the actions & inactions of his appointees.How can that same President know what an ordinary Nigerians are going through daily.

Moderator, Kadriah Ahmed , cautioned Vice- President Yemi Osinbajo, asking him to allow President Muhammadu Buhari express his personal view on the authenticity of a video depicting Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State allegedly receiving bribes from a contractor .

Osinbajo, who had interjected on several occasions , attempted to bail out his principal who was reluctant to answer the question .

“He can talk for himself , ” the moderator retorted .
Buhari later responded , “As I told you, I have seen the clip . I don ’t know how much technology was used but can Ganduje fail to trust someone to take it to him ? Does he have to take it himself ? Smiling? I honestly am overwhelmed. The system has given me some relief; it is in court. It is in the state assembly . So , let them as much as possible deal with it.
“This has received a lot of publicity and I hope by the time I visit Kano for my re -election campaign , there would be some answers from the courts and assembly in Kano State .”

https://punchng.com/ganduje-let-buhari-speak-for-himself-moderator-cautions-osinbajo/

It was the turn of Labour party (LP) and African Democratic Congress (ADC) agents to testify before the Osun State Governorship Election Tribunal Monday. The two witnesses during the course of their cross examination stood their ground and were adamant that the supplementary election was marred by series of violence. Spirited attempts by the respondent’s lawyers to throw them off balance was stoutly rebuffed by the witnesses.

However, the main drama of the day started when the All Progressives Comgress (APC) lawyers tried to prevent the tribunal from admitting picture evidence showing how one of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) supporters from Ife South was brutalised by agents of the APC whose names he subsequently gave to the tribunal. The pictures were later admitted as evidence by the tribunal.

The drama did not end there as APC lawyers in their unanimous decision again decided to stop the tribunal from allowing PDP legal team to tender and play a video evidence in support of their claims that the run-off election was marred by violence. But after series of arguments by the lawyers from both sides, the tribunal took its stand and admitted the video.

Though the petitioners were unable to play the video tape, arrangements for the video evidence to be played at tomorrow’s (today) sitting.

https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/01/15/apc-fails-to-stop-tribunal-from-admitting-pictures-video-evidence/?amp

FORMER Federal Commissioner for Information and Niger-Delta leader, Chief Edwin Clark, has warned that the people of Niger Delta would sturdily defy attempt by President Muhammadu Buhari to harass and force the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen out of office because of the plan by All Progressives Congress, APC, to rig the elections.

Chief Clark, who spoke to Vanguard on phone, said, “The people of Nigeria Delta will not accept the CJN being harassed and forced out of office because President Muhammadu Buhari and his party want someone, who will do their bidding after rigging the elections.”

“Pan-Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, which represents the traditional rulers, leaders and stakeholders of the coastal states of Niger Delta and indeed the entire Niger Delta people, will never accept it. We will go all out legally to fight this battle and will never yield to anybody. It is pure victimization,” he said.

The elder statesman, asserted, “We were all shocked on Saturday when the news came that the Chief Justice of Nigeria is being charged before the Code of Conduct Tribunal. This is clearly unnecessary harassment of the judiciary, a different arm of government that is independent.”

“First of all, we all know that before the Chief Justice was appointed, the same President Buhari delayed it, refused to appoint him until when he went on leave on health grounds and that enabled the Vice President, who was acting President to send his name to the Senate for confirmation and appointment.
“Buhari has always preferred that one of his kinsmen should be the Chief Justice of Nigeria. CJN Onnoghen has done nothing wrong, you cannot charge him to court because the court lacks jurisdiction to try him. The matter should first got the National Judicial Council, NJC.

“They just want to harass him, molest him simply because they want somebody that will be pliable after they have rigged the elections, to appoint tribunal chairmen and members for them to consolidate their rigging.

“That is all what they are looking for, not any other thing, but I want to warn that this country belongs to all of us, if some people think that they own this country , let them have it and others will have their own country.
“You cannot treat some people as if they are slaves or second-class citizens in this country, we will never allow it, not at this time, the harassment is becoming too much,” he hollered.

His words, “The same Mr. President is telling people that he believes in free and fair election, he vowed to do credible election when in the real case his plan is to rig the election and is looking for those who will rig election for him.”

“He appointed his relation as Chairman of the INEC Collation Centre despite the fact that everybody knows that he lived with this woman’s father and the woman’s younger brother is the Minister of Water Resources. What are they thinking of, this country does not belong to a group of people.

“If we want to keep this country together, we must do things to keep it united. Are we saying that the minority will not exist in this country and that northerners will hold all key positions? No and if not, if means we do not want this country,” he said.

Clark commended the South-South governors, who convened an emergency meeting today (Sunday) to deliberate on the matter, saying, “I appeal to the governors and I congratulate the Chairman of the South-South Governors’ Forum, Hon Seriake Dickson, for calling an emergency meeting to deliberate on this matter.”

“We, the leaders and people of the whole of the South-South and Niger Delta are behind the governors. They should declare our stand, Justice Onnoghen should not be harassed, will neither accept nor condone it,” he added.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/01/ndelta-will-resist-buharis-attempt-to-intimidate-cjn-onnoghen-clark/

“I’m Not Afraid Of IGP… I’ll Take Action” – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has revealed that he is not scared of Ibrahim Idris, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), stating that he’ll take action when its necessary.
Idris, who was expected to retire on January 3, after completing a mandatory 35 years in service, is still at his job.
And many have called on the president to relieve him of his duties.
However, Buhari said he has not changed the service chiefs in order to avoid “competition within the service.”
The president said this in a recorded interview that was aired by Arise TV on Monday night.
According to him, “the head [him] has to be very careful because you don’t know [the] ambition of the ones coming up.”
He said the performance of the service chiefs may be disappointing but he takes responsibility for not changing them.

His words: “My understanding of security is that, when you have a case of emergency, you have to be careful, with tampering with the head of services. This is again one of my personal experiences. I have been a governor, I have been a minister, I have been a head of state, I came back, I tried to come back to this office three times but lucky on the fourth time.”
“I am measuring the options critically, when you have a case of emergency, if you don’t wait for an appropriate time to do it, then you create competition within the service, there are so many ambitious people waiting, only one man can be chief of army staff in the army, only one man can be the inspector-general of police. Don’t forget that it was this administration that appointed all the three.”
“I didn’t know them on [a] personal basis, I followed records and thought I picked the best then, of course, their performance may be disappointing but I accept responsibility for not changing them. My reason is based on my own experience.”
When asked specifically about the IGP, the president said: “I don’t think I’m afraid of him. I will take action.”


https://www.360nobs.com/2019/01/watch-video-im-not-afraid-of-igp-ill-take-action-buhari/

myboy2111:
Life or Live ....Mr Story that touch...for you to even put the word in capital letter Na wao, you ridiculed yourself with the word you want to use to ridicule our President...

How can you compare a misspelt word to a monumental failure of a President. For your information I didn't ridicule myself cos you don't know me. Channel your frustrations to your president.

mknigeriagreat:
what's the difference between the president you are trying to ridicule and you that can't differentiate between LIVE and LIFE?

Thanks for the correction. The difference between me and President Muhammadu Buhari is that my words carry no weight and i'm not representing more than 190 million intelligent people ( The Nigerian People). If his mistakes were misspelling of words then Nobody will complain.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9b9xrFUDRY

President Buhari refuse to grant LIFE interview, instead the interview was prerecorded to avoid stories that touches the heart. It was aired yesterday 7 Jan 2019 on Arise TV.

Mr President put your words into actions. From your antecedent, your body language,actions and inactions is saying a different thing.

Battle of Baga: Army, Air Force kill over 100 Boko Haram terrorists in massive clearance operation[b][/b]

Following a massive land and air onslaught by troops of the Nigerian Military and air strikes by the Nigerian Air Force, over 100 Boko Haram terrorists have been killed in clearance operations in Baga and neighbouring towns, the Army has said.
Nigerian Air Force helicopter
A statement by Brigadier General Sank Usman, Director, Army Public Relations in their determined efforts of wiping the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists, troops of Operation Lafiya Dole have embarked on aggressive clearance operations on suspected Boko Haram terrorists hideouts and crossing points with tremendous results.
“It is in this line that they neutralised quite a number of them and recovered various calibre of arms and ammunition in such areas around Goniri in Yobe State, Damasak, Kross Kauwa and Monguno, among other locations in Borno State.
“Specifically, the 120 Battalion and the newly formed Nigerian Army Special Forces Command have neutralised over 100 Boko Haram terrorists in various encounters.
“The Nigerian Air Force Air Task Force component of Operation Lafiya Dole have been giving close air support to ground troops and also facilitating hot pursuit of fleeing infiltrating terrorists in the ongoing operations.
” Significantly, the Air Task Force have destroyed several Boko Haram terrorists gun trucks and facilities.
“The gallant troops have also been repelling attempted efforts by the terrorists to infiltrate their locations.
” Buoyed by the Chief of Army Staff’s presence and motivation, the troops in the front line are in renewed positive fighting spirit across the theatre to stop incursions and annihilate the terrorists.
The battle has now further shifted to the fringes of Lake Chad and other suspected Boko Haram terrorists enclave along the borders.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/01/battle-of-baga-army-air-force-kill-over-100-boko-haram-terrorists-in-massive-clearance-operation/

The Nigerian Army has claimed that over 100 Boko Haram elements have been neutralised in various operations in Northeast Nigeria.
A statement from the Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier-General Sani Usman said the fight continues in the Lake Chad area to clear remnant of the terrorists and deny them space to operate.
The statement reads: “In their determined efforts of wiping the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists, troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE have embarked on aggressive clearance operations on suspected Boko Haram terrorists hideouts and crossing points with tremendous results.
“It is in this line that they neutralised quite a number of them and recovered various calibre of arms and ammunition in such areas around Goniri in Yobe State, Damasak, Kross Kauwa and Monguno, among other locations in Borno State.
“Specifically, the 120 Battalion and the newly formed Nigerian Army Special Forces Command have neutralised over 100 Boko Haram terrorists in various encounters.
“The Nigerian Air Force Air Task Force component of Operation LAFIYA DOLE have been giving close air support to ground troops and also faciliating hot pursuit of fleeing infiltrating terrorists in the on going operations.
“Significantly, the Air Task Force have destroyed several Boko Haram terrorists gun trucks and facilities.
“The gallant troops have also been repelling attempted efforts by the terrorists to infiltrate their locations. Buoyed by the Chief of Army Staff’s presence and motivation, the troops in the frontline are in renewed positive fighting spirit across the theatre to stop incursions and annihilate the terrorists.
“The battle has now further shifted to the fringes of Lake Chad and other suspected Boko Haram terrorists enclave along the borders.”

dailypost.ng/2019/01/07/boko-haram-100-terrorists-killed-borno-nigerian-army/

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/01/battle-of-baga-army-air-force-kill-over-100-boko-haram-terrorists-in-massive-clearance-operation/

Despite top Presidency officials routinely flying out of the country to seek medical attention, the Federal Government allocated a total of N9.17 billion for the operations of the State House Medical Centre between 2015 and 2018, findings by New Telegraph show.
The figure could, in fact, hit N10 billion if the N823.44 million the government proposed for the operations of the facility in the 2019 budget is not slashed by the National Assembly.

The State House Medical Centre is a facility that provides healthcare for President Muhammadu Buhari, the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, their families and other employees of the Presidency.

New Telegraph’s analysis of budgetary allocations in the last four years show that N3.94 billion, N3.87 billion, N331.70 million and N1.03 billion were allocated in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 respectively, for the operations of the State House Medical Centre.
Further analysis of the details of the proposed spending on the facility for this year, which were obtained from the 2019 Appropriation Bill submitted to the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari last month, indicate that the proposed expenditure of N823.44 million for the Clinic is made up of N331.73 million total recurrent and N491.71 million total capital expenditure.

A breakdown of the figures also shows that the government is proposing to spend N208.35 million on the purchase of drugs and medical supplies for the facility while N14.26 million will be spent to buy uniforms and other clothing.

Similarly, the data shows that the maintenance of IT/office equipment for the medical centre will gulp N91.19 million while local training for personnel will cost the government N6.43 million this year.
In addition, the government is planning to spend N11.52 million on local travel and transport expenses for staff of the centre.
Interestingly, apart from the budgetary allocation for the Aso Rock Clinic, the Federal Government’s 2019 budget proposal also has N51.82 million as “medical expenses.”

Although the Aso Rock Clinic was established to provide health care for only the President, the Vice President, their families and other employees of the Presidency, analysts point out that what the facility receives in terms of budgetary allocations annually is a lot more than what is allocated to each of the 16 major teaching hospitals across the country which take care of heath needs of millions of Nigerians, train medical doctors and other health professionals for the nation.
Indeed, findings show that in 2016, the Federal Government spent more on capital projects at the State House Medical Centre than it did in the 16 teaching hospitals. Specifically, in that year, Aso Rock Clinic’s budgetary allocation of N3.87 billion was N500 million higher than the N3.33 billion appropriated for all the teaching hospitals.

Despite the huge allocations it receives, the Clinic has come under strong criticism in recent years from Nigerians including the First Lady, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, for its poor services, with the President’s wife blaming inadequate facilities at the facility for her husband’s frequent medical trips to the United Kingdom.

For instance, at the opening of a stakeholders’ meeting on Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health and Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) organised by her pet project, Future Assured, in October 2017, the First Lady slammed the management of the Aso Rock Clinic over its alleged poor services, asking the authorities to give account of the huge budgetary allocation to the hospital.

“If the budget is N100 million, we need to know how the budget is spent,” she said.
In the wake of the criticisms, the Permanent Secretary, State House, Mr. Jalal Arabi, had said at the time that there were plans to commercialise the State House Medical Centre to boost its revenue and ensure better health delivery system.

According to him, the commercialization of the clinic will enable it to offer better services to Nigerians.
He said at the time, the Aso Rock clinic was “The only health centre in Abuja where patients are not required to pay any dime before consultation. In other government hospitals in Abuja, patients are required to pay for consultation, treatment, laboratory tests and others, but that has not been the case with the State House Medical Centre.

“The centre offers free services, nobody pays a kobo for hospital card, consultations or prescriptions and this has taken a toll on the subvention the centre receives from the government.”

Continuing, he said: “We have some of the best equipment in the country. For instance, to maintain the MRI and other scan machines, we spend close to N2 million monthly. Yet we do not charge a dime for those who require MRI scans in the clinic.”

https://www.newtelegraphng.com/2019/01/aso-rock-clinic-gulps-n9-17bn-in-four-years/

BUBA GALADIMA TO FESTUS KEYAMO
"If Festus Keyamo believes what he is saying that security has improved in Nigeria under Buhari, I dare him to relocate his mother to Zamfara or Baga to stay there for even 24 hours; If he does, I will vote and campaign for Buhari".
- Buba Galadima.

Miyetti Allah Directs Members Nationwide To Campaign Massively Against Atiku

The group "called on Nigerians not to only condemn him for the hate and Unclad dance in the market place, but to totally reject him as presidential candidate". It also directed its members nationwide and other Fulani groups "to embark on massive campaign against the presidential aspiration of Atiku Abubakar, because he does not mean well for the pastoralists and the country".

The Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore Fulani Socio-Cultural Association has called on Higerians to reject the presidential candidature of Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) because he "hates" Fulani pastoralists.

The association also says the 2018 report of Amnesty International Nigeria on the clash between farmers and herders is "false and unsubstantiated".

The group disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja at a press conference at the end of an emergency meeting.
According to Abdullahi Bello Bodejo, National President of the association, after thorough review of the report, the group found that a substantial part of it "is not only false, but written to satisfy their paymasters and further stoke the conflicts".

He noted that the "hired Amnesty International researchers did not deem it fit to interview the leadership of the herders and families of herders affected by the conflicts in the areas they claimed to have visited".

Bodejo explained that the association had collaborated with security agencies to find solutions to the farmers/herders conflict, and called on government to closely monitor the activities of the organisation, particularly their source of funding.

He faulted the hasty conclusion of the report, adding that the fact that "it was quick to dismiss the efforts of the security agencies in ending the conflicts suggested clearly that Amnesty International activities in Nigeria have been hijacked by mercenaries".

Meanwhile, he condemned the "desperation of Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for feasting and capitalising on the report with the view to garnering political capital from the farmers/herders conflict" and "called on Nigerians not to only condemn him for the hate and Unclad dance in the market place, but to totally reject him as presidential candidate".
According to Boyejo, Atiku's intentions are inimical to progress, development and peaceful coexistence of the country.

He continued: "We are calling on His Royal Majesty, the Lamido of Adamawa, to strip Atiku Abubakar of his title as Waziri Adamawa for his open hatred for Fulani pastoralists, and surrounding himself with ethnic and merchants that have been profiling the Fulani race and calling for their genocide.

"We are consequently directing all our members nationwide and other Fulani groups to embark on massive campaign against the presidential aspiration of Atiku Abubakar, because he does not mean well for the pastoralists and the country."

He also appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to instruct security agencies to monitor Atiku, "considering the volatile and inciting statement he made against herders".

https://www.nairaland.com/4939137/miyetti-allah-directs-members-nationwide

http://saharareporters.com/2019/01/03/miyetti-allah-directs-members-nationwide-campaign-massively-against-atiku

Perception is key. Why always Amina Zakari.

KEVIND:
South Africa increases minimum wage to N126,480

As Nigeria struggles with N30,000 minimum wage, its counterpart, South Africa has concluded plans to pay her workers N126,480 per month.
This according to the South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, would take effect from January 1, 2019 and would benefit about six million workers that currently earn R3,700 (N97,495).

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/11/just-in-south-africa-increases-minimum-wage-to-n126480/

This is how a President who has the interest of her work force do (South Africa). Anyways, I don't blame Buhari, I blame that man who calls himself labour chairman-Ayuba Wabba and the lame duck called TUC president-Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama.

South Africa increases minimum wage to N126,480

As Nigeria struggles with N30,000 minimum wage, its counterpart, South Africa has concluded plans to pay her workers N126,480 per month.
This according to the South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, would take effect from January 1, 2019 and would benefit about six million workers that currently earn R3,700 (N97,495).

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/11/just-in-south-africa-increases-minimum-wage-to-n126480/

This is how a President that has the interest of her work force do (South Africa). Anyways, I don't blame Buhari, I blame that man who calls himself labour chairman-Ayuba Wabba and the lame duck called TUC president-Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama.

Miyetti Allah Directs Members Nationwide To Campaign Massively Against Atiku

The group "called on Nigerians not to only condemn him for the hate and Unclad dance in the market place, but to totally reject him as presidential candidate". It also directed its members nationwide and other Fulani groups "to embark on massive campaign against the presidential aspiration of Atiku Abubakar, because he does not mean well for the pastoralists and the country".

The Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore Fulani Socio-Cultural Association has called on Higerians to reject the presidential candidature of Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) because he "hates" Fulani pastoralists.

The association also says the 2018 report of Amnesty International Nigeria on the clash between farmers and herders is "false and unsubstantiated".

The group disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja at a press conference at the end of an emergency meeting.
According to Abdullahi Bello Bodejo, National President of the association, after thorough review of the report, the group found that a substantial part of it "is not only false, but written to satisfy their paymasters and further stoke the conflicts".

He noted that the "hired Amnesty International researchers did not deem it fit to interview the leadership of the herders and families of herders affected by the conflicts in the areas they claimed to have visited".

Bodejo explained that the association had collaborated with security agencies to find solutions to the farmers/herders conflict, and called on government to closely monitor the activities of the organisation, particularly their source of funding.

He faulted the hasty conclusion of the report, adding that the fact that "it was quick to dismiss the efforts of the security agencies in ending the conflicts suggested clearly that Amnesty International activities in Nigeria have been hijacked by mercenaries".

Meanwhile, he condemned the "desperation of Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for feasting and capitalising on the report with the view to garnering political capital from the farmers/herders conflict" and "called on Nigerians not to only condemn him for the hate and Unclad dance in the market place, but to totally reject him as presidential candidate".
According to Boyejo, Atiku's intentions are inimical to progress, development and peaceful coexistence of the country.

He continued: "We are calling on His Royal Majesty, the Lamido of Adamawa, to strip Atiku Abubakar of his title as Waziri Adamawa for his open hatred for Fulani pastoralists, and surrounding himself with ethnic and merchants that have been profiling the Fulani race and calling for their genocide.

"We are consequently directing all our members nationwide and other Fulani groups to embark on massive campaign against the presidential aspiration of Atiku Abubakar, because he does not mean well for the pastoralists and the country."

He also appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to instruct security agencies to monitor Atiku, "considering the volatile and inciting statement he made against herders".

http://saharareporters.com/2019/01/03/miyetti-allah-directs-members-nationwide-campaign-massively-against-atiku

We continue to blame the university system for churning out half bake graduates but we're not ready to do anything in order to revive it. What you give in is what you get in System theory.

Miyetti Allah Directs Members Nationwide To Campaign Massively Against Atiku

The group "called on Nigerians not to only condemn him for the hate and Unclad dance in the market place, but to totally reject him as presidential candidate". It also directed its members nationwide and other Fulani groups "to embark on massive campaign against the presidential aspiration of Atiku Abubakar, because he does not mean well for the pastoralists and the country".

The Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore Fulani Socio-Cultural Association has called on Higerians to reject the presidential candidature of Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) because he "hates" Fulani pastoralists.

The association also says the 2018 report of Amnesty International Nigeria on the clash between farmers and herders is "false and unsubstantiated".

The group disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja at a press conference at the end of an emergency meeting.
According to Abdullahi Bello Bodejo, National President of the association, after thorough review of the report, the group found that a substantial part of it "is not only false, but written to satisfy their paymasters and further stoke the conflicts".

He noted that the "hired Amnesty International researchers did not deem it fit to interview the leadership of the herders and families of herders affected by the conflicts in the areas they claimed to have visited".

Bodejo explained that the association had collaborated with security agencies to find solutions to the farmers/herders conflict, and called on government to closely monitor the activities of the organisation, particularly their source of funding.

He faulted the hasty conclusion of the report, adding that the fact that "it was quick to dismiss the efforts of the security agencies in ending the conflicts suggested clearly that Amnesty International activities in Nigeria have been hijacked by mercenaries".

Meanwhile, he condemned the "desperation of Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for feasting and capitalising on the report with the view to garnering political capital from the farmers/herders conflict" and "called on Nigerians not to only condemn him for the hate and Unclad dance in the market place, but to totally reject him as presidential candidate".
According to Boyejo, Atiku's intentions are inimical to progress, development and peaceful coexistence of the country.

He continued: "We are calling on His Royal Majesty, the Lamido of Adamawa, to strip Atiku Abubakar of his title as Waziri Adamawa for his open hatred for Fulani pastoralists, and surrounding himself with ethnic and merchants that have been profiling the Fulani race and calling for their genocide.

"We are consequently directing all our members nationwide and other Fulani groups to embark on massive campaign against the presidential aspiration of Atiku Abubakar, because he does not mean well for the pastoralists and the country."

He also appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to instruct security agencies to monitor Atiku, "considering the volatile and inciting statement he made against herders".

http://saharareporters.com/2019/01/03/miyetti-allah-directs-members-nationwide-campaign-massively-against-atiku

President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has told Nigerians to hold the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Federal Government responsible should anything happen to the nation’s democracy.

This is as Nwodo called on Mrs. Amina Zakari, a national commissioner in INEC to resign from the commission because of her blood relation to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Reacting to INEC’s appointment of Mrs. Zakari as head of presidential election collation committee yesterday, Nwodo said it was bad enough that Mrs. Zakari was allowed to continue to serve in INEC and worse by INEC appointing her in the new position.

“It’s like Rangers VS Kano Pillars and Kano Pillars is allowed to nominate a referee. It’s impossible for justice to be done. In a civilized clime Amina Zakari should have resigned,” he maintained.

“I expected the APC government having come to power through a free and fair election conducted by another president, they should not destroy the history.
“I call on Amina Zakari to honourably resign.

“Whatever happens to our democracy tomorrow, they (INEC and Federal Government) should hold themselves responsible.
“With continued membership of Mrs. Zakari in the commission, the corporate personality of INEC is seriously whittled down; making her head of collation committee is worse than anything anybody can imagine,” he said.

http://thenationonlineng.net/ohanaeze-protests-appointment-of-amina-zakari-as-head-of-election-collation/

Miyetti Allah Directs Members Nationwide To Campaign Massively Against Atiku

The group "called on Nigerians not to only condemn him for the hate and naked dance in the market place, but to totally reject him as presidential candidate". It also directed its members nationwide and other Fulani groups "to embark on massive campaign against the presidential aspiration of Atiku Abubakar, because he does not mean well for the pastoralists and the country".

The Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore Fulani Socio-Cultural Association has called on Higerians to reject the presidential candidature of Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) because he "hates" Fulani pastoralists.

The association also says the 2018 report of Amnesty International Nigeria on the clash between farmers and herders is "false and unsubstantiated".

The group disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja at a press conference at the end of an emergency meeting.
According to Abdullahi Bello Bodejo, National President of the association, after thorough review of the report, the group found that a substantial part of it "is not only false, but written to satisfy their paymasters and further stoke the conflicts".

He noted that the "hired Amnesty International researchers did not deem it fit to interview the leadership of the herders and families of herders affected by the conflicts in the areas they claimed to have visited".

Bodejo explained that the association had collaborated with security agencies to find solutions to the farmers/herders conflict, and called on government to closely monitor the activities of the organisation, particularly their source of funding.

He faulted the hasty conclusion of the report, adding that the fact that "it was quick to dismiss the efforts of the security agencies in ending the conflicts suggested clearly that Amnesty International activities in Nigeria have been hijacked by mercenaries".

Meanwhile, he condemned the "desperation of Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for feasting and capitalising on the report with the view to garnering political capital from the farmers/herders conflict" and "called on Nigerians not to only condemn him for the hate and naked dance in the market place, but to totally reject him as presidential candidate".
According to Boyejo, Atiku's intentions are inimical to progress, development and peaceful coexistence of the country.

He continued: "We are calling on His Royal Majesty, the Lamido of Adamawa, to strip Atiku Abubakar of his title as Waziri Adamawa for his open hatred for Fulani pastoralists, and surrounding himself with ethnic and merchants that have been profiling the Fulani race and calling for their genocide.

"We are consequently directing all our members nationwide and other Fulani groups to embark on massive campaign against the presidential aspiration of Atiku Abubakar, because he does not mean well for the pastoralists and the country."

He also appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to instruct security agencies to monitor Atiku, "considering the volatile and inciting statement he made against herders".

http://saharareporters.com/2019/01/03/miyetti-allah-directs-members-nationwide-campaign-massively-against-atiku

Excerpt:
"The insurgents are obviously riding the momentum and are motivated in manners that are completely alien to the military. According to a recent report by the AFP, in no year since the upsurge of conflicts in the North East have Nigerian troops been exposed to the level of casualties inflicted on them by the insurgents in 2018 alone. With an enlarged war chest, a strategic control of the economic mainstay of the Chad Basin cross cutting fishing, all season farming, water and control of cross border trade routes, the insurgents are looking formidable."

In the few days leading to the eclipse on 2018, reports from the warfront in North East Nigeria provoked huge concerns, fiercely stirring panic within communities in and around Maiduguri, Borno state. Governor Kashim Shettima, within this period, quickly called an emergency security meeting to receive briefs from different security commands in the state. At the Executive chambers of the Government House, Maiduguri, the seat of power in the state, the situation was grim and faces drawn.

In fact, the situation appeared so dire as Nigerian troops facing the onslaught of the combined affront of insurgency from terror groups, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram forces, beat a steady retreat, incurring monumental losses of locational facilities. Within two weeks, the Nigerian troops had retreated tactically or been overrun in strategic military bases. Out of 20 military bases in northern and central Borno where Nigerian troops were in control, 14 had been overrun or altogether shut down.

Does the recent string of losses by the military represent a momentary setback likely to be overturned swiftly by the military or is the trend a fore-test of an uncertain future? All diplomatic and international military platforms knowledgeable about the escalating conflicts in the Lake Chad Basin affirm that at no time since the surge of violence in the region have the terrorists been in command of the level of weapons available to them today. Two developments explain this.

The terror groups, in recent times, have received a flush of funds from ransom paid to them allegedly by the government. Equally, there has been a steady access to unimaginable cache of military weaponry, including hardware and ammunition from bases overran by the insurgents, remarkably bolstering their war chest. For instance, the loss of the International Military Task Force Base, headquarters of the Multinational Joint Task Force, in Baga, headed by an Army General, is reported as monumental, not merely in the loss, of location but because of the massive military hardware and ammunition only comparable to what is available to the Military Division in Maiduguri, to ISWAP.

The insurgents are obviously riding the momentum and are motivated in manners that are completely alien to the military. According to a recent report by the AFP, in no year since the upsurge of conflicts in the North East have Nigerian troops been exposed to the level of casualties inflicted on them by the insurgents in 2018 alone. With an enlarged war chest, a strategic control of the economic mainstay of the Chad Basin cross cutting fishing, all season farming, water and control of cross border trade routes, the insurgents are looking formidable.

No wonder, they have recently scaled up recruitment of new fighters across both English and French speaking countries in the surrounding countries of Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria. Information gleaned from contacts within the fold of ISWAP paint an insight that seems to have challenged the position of politicians and the military in respect of holding territory. ISWAP always considered the territories of Northern and Central Borno their Caliphate territories. The presence of the Nigerian troops and particularly military bases were considered invasion by the military.

Bidding their time until they had adequate ammunition with additional army of motivated fighters to unleash new wave of violence the group was willing to stay under the radar for a few years before drawing the line on the sand. Their long wait paid off in 2018. They have been on the offensive all of 2018. The ISWAP’s strategy is to put everything available to ensure that military presence in those territories they consider part of their caliphate is made ever untenable. ISWAP considers all parts of north and central Borno as its caliphate and territory and therefore obligated by doctrines and commandment to repel every external aggression within the territory.

This is irrespective of whatever politicians and the military claim is the situation within those territories. In fact, Boko Haram / ISWAP policy with respect to physically holding territories changed after the steady losses they suffered in the run up to general elections in Nigeria in 2014. They do not want to physically hold unto territories anymore than they are determined to ensure that the military does not have any sustainable presence in the territories. Furthermore, ISWAP is paying more premium to wooing local communities to feel more secure with them than they could ever be with the military. That is their strategy.

They have secured the economic lines in the territories they control. The Lake Chad territories have become more fertile for famers and more viable for commercial fishing activities. They have largely crippled the fish and onions markets in Maiduguri. In its stead, they have opened secured trading locations in Kinchandi, in Niger Republic and another in Kusiri, in Cameroon. Nigerian traders rely on the market in Kusiri, Cameroon through Mubi, in Adamawa. The other in Kinchandi, in Niger Republic. The Nigerian market in Hadeja, Jigawa state depend heavily on the market in Niger Republic.

Nigerian troops apparently would rather confiscate a trader’s wares, forcibly take their livestock for their feeding than device any system of commercial comfort that would help them grow their business. It therefore seems not far-fetched that several local communities appear to cooperate better with ISWAP than with the Nigerian troops. ISWAP want to primarily make it unattractive and too expensive in terms of body count and loss of hardware for the military to maintain a base in any of these territories. They calculate that as long as they continually target and attack military formations, forcing them to beat a retreat so long would it be easier for local communities to accept that they are more secure in the territories under them than under the cover of Nigerian troops.

Moreover, they envisage that for as long as they sustain the push back against the military for so long will it be difficult for the demoralized troops to muster confidence to put them at tactical disadvantage anytime soon. Is the 2018 military strategy and campaign working? The facts based on the number of military formations successfully attacked and overran by ISWAP in 2018 in the areas of its dominance is 70 percent. What this translates into is that out of 20 military bases in these territories, ISWAP have either sacked by overrunning or forced the military to shut down a total of 14 bases in 2018 alone. The only time this ratio of attacks and takeovers came close to the 2018 numbers was in 2014. By the end of 2015 it was below 50% success ratio, which further dropped in 2016 and 2017, only to witness a sharp surge in 2018.

The outlook of the map in the battle theatres is grim. The territories that constitute Northern Borno are 10 Local Government Areas lying north of Maiduguri and bearing natural land borders with three countries namely Niger Republic, Chad and Cameroon. ISWAP have full sway in these territories currently. The territories that constitute Borno Central are made up of eight Local Government Areas, and both ISWAP and Boko Haram have significant footholds in these territories. Southern Borno, made up of nine Local Government Areas, is the least affected, with the exception of flashpoints such as Gwoza, Damboa and Chibok. With barely 45 days to presidential election in Nigeria there seems to be more energy at official quarters to cover up the tragic situation than acknowledging it.

The military have rightly stated that ISWAP may not be holding most of the territories where it overran its bases, especially the town of Baga. ISWAP, on its part, is also right when it says it has sacked soldiers from the areas it attacked, including Baga. Neither the military nor the insurgents have the manpower and capacity to hold and govern over these large expanse of land sustainably. But in desisting from building visible administrative and military structures in the areas of their primary interest ISWAP have evolved in a way that is difficult for Nigerian troops to track. On the other hand, by being fixated with claim of control of territories the military have only succeeded in making its troops sitting ducks and easy targets of the enemy.

More clearly, ISWAP is no longer showing interest in taking a formidable military base such as was in Baga and staying put there. It doesn’t apparently serve their tactical and strategic interest well. They are more interested in taking over military hardware and ammunition in those bases while instilling fear on the troops and making it extremely difficult for the military to have the comfort to plan and launch attacks. For instance, two days after overrunning the military base in Baga, the ISWAP moved out of location with military hardware and ammunition. According to knowledgeable sources, the objective is not to necessarily capture and hold new territories, what is far more strategic to ISWAP is to continually “unsettle the military in their bases across the Lake Chad region.”

There is no better indication to the effectiveness of the tactical approach of ISWAP against the military than seeing that Nigerian troops in the troubled locations are unable to undertake patrol duties. Rather, they are mostly in the trenches practically waiting for the next attack. One troubling outcome of this is the escalating number of troops on desertion charge. For instance, in just one detention centre in Jos, Plateau state, there are over 20 military deserters rounded up and detained. Similarly, a growing army of deserters are being held across major military detention facilities in the country. Obviously embarrassed at this turn of events, the military authorities are zealously covering up on these.

An Army officer currently hospitalized lamented that “soldiers have become cannon fodders,” revealing:"There are more soldiers deserting their commission over Boko Haram war. I can count dozens in my unit alone that escaped after they survived an attack.” The Nigerian Police Force are embroiled in similar matter with 121 officers of the rank-and-file who reportedly deserted in protest against planned deployment to the warfront dismissed with immediate effect.

The Inspector-General Ibrahim Idris, according to a report in Premium Times (December 28, 2018), ordered their dismissal. “The Police are very kind to their officers for dismissing them, we are not that lucky because after we attempted to escape, we were arrested and detained without trial for several months,” said a soldier detained in one of Special Task Force (STF) detention centers in Jos. He was arrested after he absconded along with scores of his colleagues from the warfront.

A confident Army Captain in the frontlines who spoke with our reporter on condition of anonymity extolled the troops for their gallantry on several occasions. He said that unlike the terrorists, the military do not carry cameras into the battlefront to record gun exchanges. According to him there are far more attacks on military bases and units by the terrorists that were repelled than the ones in which the locations were overrun. “The terrorists go to battles with cameras, while we, as a matter of policy don’t.” Nevertheless, he contends that Nigerians do not care about the number of insurgents that we have killed, “the killing of soldiers that protect the country’s sovereignty constitute a source of concern, what this means is, if soldiers continue to die, Nigeria itself may fail to exist,” he concludes.

Some of these attacks were so overwhelming that the bases were overrun with hundreds of casualties. According to multiple media reports, not less than 1,000 soldiers were killed in 2018. These casualty figures do not include soldiers killed in Niger Republic, Yobe, Adamawa and in Southern Borno. “In fact, there has never been a year soldiers were killed more than in 2018; not even 2013 and 2014 did we see the kind of casualties we experienced today,” said another soldier who doubles as a medical doctor in Maiduguri. More traumatizing for soldiers, according to ISWAP sources, are the humiliating experience of scores of abducted soldiers compelled to tutor the insurgents on new weapons handling before they are enslaved or executed.

Informed sources state that the military facility in Monguno is probably the only larest operational base outside of Maiduguri presently that is unaffected. Four or five are in Gajiram, Gajiganna, Gubio, Kareto, while Damasak is manned by the Multi-National Joint Task Force at the border with Niger republic. According to a serving military officer currently hospitalized, “the soldiers in most of these bases have all taken up defensive positions to protect their turfs and can hardly venture outside to patrol or engage in any offensive attack”.

Just like the officers deserting, the Military itself has long abandoned any mentality of “no retreat, no surrender,’ having steadily been on the retreat from several military bases. Weeks ago, they shut down two bases in Gudumbali and Kukawa. “We retreated to Monguno before Baga was attacked. Now, some soldiers and residents are running away from Monguno to Maiduguri,” reported a soldier in Shagari Low Cost Housing Estate in Maiduguri. He highlights the utter helplessness of the soldiers: what is disturbing is the effrontery of “ISWAP in making sure that we are fully made aware of their plans ahead of any attack. There was never an attack that we don’t see in advance, yet we are helpless,” he lamented.

In the midst of these setbacks, military fat cats are feeding exceedingly well on account of the war. On 28, December, 2018 the Defence and Foreign Affairs of the International Strategic Studies Association (ISSA) based in the United States stated that “the conduct of the war in the North (East of Nigeria) is tied to the corruption in the military, and (President) Buhari - ring-fenced by his own team - is unable to tackle the issue". ISSA, the Washington-based non-governmental organization with a worldwide membership of professionals involved in national and international security and strategy, stated that massive corruption among top military chiefs appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari is the reason Nigeria is losing the war against Boko Haram.

According to the report, the only significant engagement which the Nigerian military leadership seems determined to fight “is to stop the leakage of information about massive corruption, running into the equivalent of several billions of dollars, in the purchase by senior military officers of major military capital goods and military consumables, including the troops’ own food.” More than anything, it is the noticeable resurgence of the Lake Chad and the commercial viability of the territories under ISWAP that present the greatest pull on individuals in the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps to return to their villages. But for others, it is their ability to put out a good fight and sometimes win with an Army that enjoys global support, that is the biggest inspiration that makes many want to join. A recent recruit and a Francophone citizen said, “ISWAP's fortunes only means one thing, Allah with us.” Another who abandoned his rich family business in Kano to become a fighter said, “I have no doubt Angels are fighting with us, otherwise there is nothing that explains our victories.”

In the light of these realities, should the Nigerian Military continue with the tactical mentality that is leading them into embarrassing losses? For a government that has made so much premium of a claim on its control of territory from the insurgents, what these developments point to is probably worse than a setback. Efforts by independent observers to point out the evidently skewed tactical mentality have been visited with official hostility. Local and international Civil Society Organizations and the media have, for these reasons, come under attack by the military. For calling the Military out on its ignoble human rights abuses, including rape and extra judicial executions, Amnesty International and other Human Rights organizations have been targeted for official harassment.

Despite a consistent stream of global ratings and reports about Nigeria’s crisis, notable among them being the 2018 Global Terrorism Index in which Nigeria emerged the third most terrorized nation globally, both the Military and politicians in government have carried on as if this was of no consequence. The index placed Nigeria behind war-torn countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan and ahead of Syria and Pakistan. However, the report also showed a 16% drop in the number of deaths linked to terrorism in 2017 from previous year.

Also, the World Economic Forum, in its biennial tourism report with the specific section focusing on safety and security, recently ranked Nigeria as one of the most dangerous countries in the world. Amid all these disturbing realities the local media generally have caved in to a new sense of self censorship promoted by the Nigerian military, which is, “stop reporting the killings to dissuade Boko Haram from further killings” instead of, prevent the insurgents from killings in the first place, so that, there wouldn’t be any death to report.

http://saharareporters.com/2019/01/02/special-report-why-troops-are-losing-ground-iswap