₦airaland Forum

The Coalition for Change and Transparency (CCT) has accused Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State of sponsoring propaganda and fake news against the Nigerian Army during the just concluded Governorship and State Assembly elections.

In a bid to undermine the military's exceptional and harmless conduct at the polls, Mr Wike and his wailing cohorts in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) resorted to cheap blackmails, going as far as bribing the UK Consulate to the tune of $1 million.

In a press conference in Abuja, Monday, CCT's President Danesi Momoh revealed that the embattled governor's latest plot isn't particularly strange, especially after his failed attempt to induce military personnel to rig the elections in favour of the PDP.

The Coalition, therefore, concluded that the motive of Mr Wike was purely to manipulate the outcome of the elections and when that wasn't possible, he resorted to propaganda.

"During the state elections, fake news was deployed as a propaganda weapon against the military by those who felt they were unable to rig or manipulate the elections because of the critical role the military was playing. Interestingly, such fake news was targeted at areas where the military had successfully prevented violence from spiraling out of control.
Considering that fake news is now recognized globally as a weapon, and knowing the damages that could result from its deployment, the Coalition for Change and Transparency (CCT) reviewed instances of the use of fake news against the Nigerian Military with a view to identifying those that deployed it, those that exploited it, those that benefit from it and possibly understand the intents of those in the fake news chain.

"We have identified that cyber operatives of the opposition, notably the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), are behind the production, distribution and promotion of misleading content using new media and social media as vehicles of delivery. In some instances, such contents get into the mainstream media, whose credibility and traditional status and believability are exploited to confer credibility on the lies being told by the propagandists. It is most unfortunate that even these cyber operatives and the opposition are being used in the fake news chain as the real culprit are foreign operatives that exploit such content. A specific culprit is the United Kingdom, which based its assessment of the election on fake news about the military beating staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), effectively exploiting the fake news that it had trained the cyber operatives of the opposition to produce.

"The Coalition for Change and Transparency (CCT) therefore condemns in the strongest terms possible the United Kingdom’s unwarranted deployment of fake news to cause disaffection among Nigerians and against the Nigerian military. We see it as a deliberate and calculated attempt to cause violence against the military such that the situation will quickly degenerate to a point where violent anti-military protests will bring down the government and cause constitutional crisis for the country.

CCT hereby by asks the United Kingdom High Commission in Nigeria to retract the offensive tweet and apologize for willfully attempting to incite violence in Nigeria through the promotion of fake news. We in the same vein demand that @UKinnigeria including the UK High Commission in Nigeria cease further comments about the election in Nigeria or be faced with deterrent actions from citizens. Nigeria does not interfere in UK elections so there is no justification for the attempts by the United Kingdom to manipulate the conduct and the outcome of the elections in Nigeria."

The CCT, however, urged the Federal Government to " explore all available diplomatic channels and options to drive home the message to the United Kingdom that the British Empire expired long ago and Nigeria is not the place to revive the antiquated concept. The Federal Government owes it a duty to Nigerians, who were unnecessarily terrorized by the fake news, to ensure that the consular staff that were behind the offensive tweet are recalled by their country. This will also show that Nigeria will not tolerate undue interference by foreigners in the country’s affairs.
In the light of the fact-checking conducted by TheCable, the Nigerian Military should assemble fact, present same to the UK High Commission in Nigeria, and demand an apology and deletion of the lie from the timeline of @UKinnigeria."

Source: http://www.streetreporters.ng/coalition-accuses-wike-of-paying-uk-consulate-officers-1m-to-lie-against-military/

There will be abundance, surplus and serenity across Nigeria in President Muhammadu Buhari's second-term, according to 100 Inter-faith Clerics.

These 100 clerics had earlier predicted Buhari’s re-election at the February 23 polls after holding a 40-day prayer and fast last year.

As forecasted, the incumbent emerged victorious, defeating Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In its usual trend of accurate and unbiased prophecies, the religious leaders have predicted enormous gains in the next four years.

The 100 clerics who are members of the National Inter- Faith and Religious Organizations for Peace made the declaration at the grand-finale of the 3- Days Thanksgiving and Salat Al- Shukur held in Abuja.

Speaking on behalf of the Islamic clerics, Sheik Ibrahim Bulama expressed that the co-inhibition of both religions is a testament of president Buhari’s impeccable personality.

“ We prayed and fasted for 40 days seeking the face of God for divine direction for Nigeria in our quest for greatness. We identified with President Muhammadu Buhari with a firm conviction that he would take Nigeria to the promised land. We also backed up our belief with prayers and supplements to Allah the most merciful and beneficent.

“ And he heard our prayers and supplication by granting unto us our heart desires by the resounding victory recorded by President Muhammadu Buhari at the elections. Consequently, I say we have all done nobly.

“ I want you all gathered her that there would indeed be a reward for the sacrifices in making supplications on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari for his success at the polls.

“ In our actions, we have exhibited a resolve that Nigeria under Muhammadu Buhari is on the path to glory. In our prayer sessions, Allah indeed made us understand the uniqueness of the personality of Muhammadu Buhari in terms of his uprightness and sincerity of heart and purpose.

“ We have so far exhibited that resolve to identify with an upright man whose integrity is unquestionable. Those who submit themselves completely to Allah and do good have grasped the Firmest Handhold. The result of all affairs is with Allah. (Surah Luqman: 22)

“ Muhammadu Buhari has submitted himself entirely to Allah, and this much has been exhibited in his words and actions since 2015. We are grateful to Allah for the rare gift of President Muhammadu Buhari to Nigeria in whom we are pleased.

“ My brethren, the uniqueness of this occasion is the fact that we have displayed a love towards one God and one nation in the interest of peace and tranquillity. And the anointing on President Muhammadu Buhari has reinforced our belief that we are on the right track on the journey towards greatness in this country.

Speaking on behalf of the Christian clerics, Arch Bishop (Dr) Julius Ediwe, added that anyone opposed to the president is challenging God's authority.

This is because Mr Buhari is the anointed choice for Nigeria as revealed during the 40-day prayer and fast.

The cleric, Provost of the South-South College of Bishops, was particularly critical of some naysayers in disguise as prophets who forecasted defeat for the incumbent.

“ Brothers and Sisters, let me make it clear here about statements coming from some supposed men of God describing the elections as rigged and not in the interest of the people. I am taken aback with such a statement, and in my capacity as the Provost of the South-South College of Bishops, I abhor such statement because God is not a man that he should lie,” he stated.

“ When it was revealed during the 40 days’ prayers and fasting that President Muhammadu Buhari would win the elections, where were they? Or are they insinuating that they have a monopoly of the Kingdom heritage?

“ My brothers and sisters, I stand before you as a servant of God to say that God is indeed on the throne and for those that think otherwise should have a rethink. I say this with all authority that President Muhammadu Buhari was indeed Gods choice for Nigeria because I prayed and heard him clearly when he stated that Buhari is the chosen one to take Nigeria to greatness.

“ I want to assume here today that one of the reasons for the display of anger because President Muhammadu Buhari won the elections might be as a result of the victory rally that was aired on the television stations across the country.

Both groups, however, enjoined other Nigerians to pray and support the president to lead the country to greatness.

The South-South Coalition for Credible Leadership has described as a welcome the deployment of military troops to the region ahead of the Saturday’s governorship and house of assembly elections.

The coalition said the action would further boost the confidence of electorate during the polls.

Briefing newsmen on Thursday, Success Timothy, the Coordinator General of the group, said the deployment is necessary following the success of the troops in some south-southern states during the national assembly and presidential election on February 23.


According to him, the presence of troops during the elections proved to be the right decision in view of the fact that acts of politically motivated violence were limited to a few instances.

Success said the he pockets of violence witnessed in some parts of Delta, Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Cross Rivers state would have been more widespread but for the presence of troops.

According to him, “Interestingly, the Niger-Delta, where political leaders clamored most against military presence for the election, recorded more of the instances of violence and ballot snatching during the exercise. It is logical that soldiers should be withdrawn from areas that were largely peaceful during the polls of two weeks ago to allow for the deployment of higher number of troops to the places that recorded violence.

“Meanwhile, we observed that the personnel of the Nigerian Army were able to maintain peace and prevent political brigandage while adhering to acceptable rules of engagement. They fear of abuse and intimidation of the civilian population, which opponents of military deployment had used to back up their argument, turned out to unjustified as law abiding citizens had nothing to be apprehensive about. Only attackers that had intended to deprive other people of their right to life were gunned down in exchange of gunfire with troops in Rivers state.
“
The South- South Coalition for Credible Leadership therefore passes a vote of confidence on the Nigerian Army and its personnel. They have the capacity to support security operations in the regions towards ensuring that elections hold without citizens being afraid for their lives or worrying that their votes will not count because ballot box snatchers. Their presence in the entire Niger-Delta region will ensure that there is no breakdown of law and order by any group of persons.

“We passed this vote of confidence cognizant of the campaign of calumny being waged against the deployment of the military for the elections. It does not take long to decipher the intent of those opposed to troops being in the Niger-Delta during this period. These people comprise of opposition political parties that lost in the presidential and National Assembly elections because they were unable to use thugs to snatch and stuff ballot boxes just as they were unable to intimidate voters.

“The other sets of people opposed to seeing troops in the Niger-Delta are the militants and sabotage economic infrastructure in the region as well as those that have their sight set on kidnap for ransom. These are backed up by separatist elements, including those that belong to groups that the courts have outlawed. They are apparently scared that the presence of the military in the area will yield credible intelligence that can be used to dismantle their non-election related criminality.

“It is most unfortunate that the criminal intentions of the aforementioned groups are being hidden behind the façade of ‘the opposition’ and for marshalling weak arguments against the deployment of troops to secure the country during the elections. The fake news they are peddling is that the Army is the region to favour particular candidates. This must rank among the greatest lies told so far in 2019.

“We note the charge by the Chief if Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Tukur Buratai, to troops and commanders to do better during their deployment for Saturday’s election. Such decisive and responsive leadership has contributed to the sterling performance that the Nigerian Army displayed during the previous elections. His acknowledgement of the few instances of violence and a commitment to correct these errors is laudable for this gives the assurance that there will be improved voters’ turn out once the electorate are reassured that they are safe.”

President Muhammadu Buhari's victory at the presidential election is divine, hence those opposed to it are challenging “God's authority” according to foremost Christian preacher Arch Bishop (Dr) Julius Ediwe.

Dr Julius spoke at the second day of the ongoing Inter-Faith Clerics for the celebration of President Buhari’s victory held at the Unity Fountain, Abuja.

Despite massive propaganda by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate Atiku Abubakar, Mr Buhari of the All Progressive Congress (APC) was re-elected in fascinating fashion.

Bishop Ediwe isn't surprised by the president’s overwhelming triumph, especially after it was revealed when some Christian and Islamic clerics met in a 40-day prayer and fast prior to the polls.

The cleric, Provost of the South-South College of Bishops, was particularly critical of some naysayers in disguise as prophets who forecasted defeat for the incumbent.

He, however, urged these critics not to oppose God's choice and instead pray for the president.

“ I won’t say I am surprised at the composition of the audience here. I would instead say I am moved to tears so much that I asked myself, could this be happening in Nigeria? Could a gathering a people from different faiths praying for a common goal happen here in Nigeria?

“ God is indeed faithful to his word and his people. When it was declared here some months ago that the Lord revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari would emerge victorious at the polls, many doubted us and called us all sort of names. But we preserved.

“ I, therefore, ask today been the 2nd day of the Thanksgiving and Salat Al-Shakur service that are we not sharing in the kingdom of light? In the same vein, in Surah Al-Baqara, 153, it is stated that “O ye who believe! seek help with patient perseverance and prayer; for Allah is with those who patiently persevere.”

“ What does this tell us? It merely tells us on the oneness of God, and that was why we have been able to assemble here together and united in one voice, spirit, body and soul.

“ Brothers and Sisters, let me make it clear here about statements coming from some supposed men of God describing the elections as rigged and not in the interest of the people. I am taken aback with such a statement, and in my capacity as the Provost of the South-South College of Bishops, I abhor such statement because God is not a man that he should lie.

“ When it was revealed during the 40 days’ prayers and fasting that President Muhammadu Buhari would win the elections, where were they? Or are they insinuating that they have a monopoly of the Kingdom heritage?

“ My brothers and sisters, I stand before you as a servant of God to say that God is indeed on the throne and for those that think otherwise should have a rethink. I say this with all authority that President Muhammadu Buhari was indeed Gods choice for Nigeria because I prayed and heard him clearly when he stated that Buhari is the chosen one to take Nigeria to greatness.

“ I want to assume here today that one of the reasons for the display of anger because President Muhammadu Buhari won the elections might be as a result of the victory rally that was aired on the television stations across the country.

“ They are also angry for lack of knowledge of the Buhari phenomenon. They also need to understand that just like God singled out Job as a man of integrity, he also singled out President Muhammadu Buhari as a man of integrity. And God always identifies with the pure in spirit.

“ Is it not funny on how some men of God prophesied that President Muhammadu Buhari was going to lose the elections? December 2018, an Anglican church prophet, Udoka Okechukwu, prophesied that Atiku Abubakar of the PDP would defeat President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 election.

“ On February 12, 2019, few days to the presidential election, the general overseer of Evangelical Bible Outreach Ministries Int’l (EBOMI), Prophet El-Buba, said President Buhari would lose the election.

“ The presiding Bishop of Divine Seed of God Chapel Ministries, Ibadan, Prophet Wale Olagunju, in October 2019, claimed that Buhari would lose to Atiku Abubakar.

“ My brothers and sisters, we can find the answers to the false prophesies in the book of Romans 8:31, “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

“ Let me once again thank you all for your constant prayers towards the success of President Muhammadu Buhari at the elections. And I am not sure anyone of us here regardless of our ethnicity or religion would ever doubt the oneness of God.”

The Coalition of Civil Society Groups on Human Rights and Conflict Resolution said it has unraveled a plot by the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) to incite violence in Nigeria over the outcome of the 2019 general election.

The coalition said HURIWA was only being used by some selfish politicians to cause anarchy in the country.

The group made this revelation in a supplementary report on the February 23, 2019 presidential/national assembly elections.

Maxwell Gowon, the Executive Director of the group, who presented the report on behalf of the group, said HURIWA, was attempting to use the outcome of the poll to reopen old ethnic crises that have no bearing with the matter under


The report below:

The Coalition of Civil Society Groups on Human Rights and Conflict Resolution had in the aftermath of the February 23, 2019 Presidential and National Assembly (Senatorial/House of Representatives) Elections issued a report on the security situation during the elections. That report found that the security and military did a good job in ensuring that security situation did not significantly degenerate in spite of the threat of violence that preceded the election.

The Coalition has further reviewed the prevailing situation in the aftermath of the declaration of the results for the elections. The findings are alarming as there are indications that some candidates that lost have been inciting their supporters to cause security breaches in their respective constituencies.
Below are the findings from a Post-Result Announcement Assessment carried out by the Coalition:

Candidates that lost in the elections have been publishing audio, pictures and videos to prove that there were incidences of vote tampering, intimidation of voters, destruction of ballot and other incidents that could be interpreted as capable of undermining the integrity of the polls. However, when extrapolated for geo-tagging it was found that these incidences were not localized to a specific part of the country. Further analysis of the multimedia content showed an even spread between the APC and PDP in terms of what political is being accused of responsibility for the infractions, which implies that neither party gained any advantage above the other from engaging in these acts.

Several groups have issued statements that are aimed at undermining the credibility of the elections. These groups are affiliated with the PDP and its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. Their statement or stated position on the election results are exact replicas of PDP’s and Atiku’s statements rejecting the Presidential Election Results. This aligns with the warning earlier issued by some groups that people are being mobilized to reject and discredit the election results irrespective of the degree of transparency attained by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

There has been several pockets of violence in several parts of the country. Like the multimedia detailing infractions, these were also spread across geo-political zones and involved supporters across political lines.

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) is one of the groups that has openly identified as a recruit in the plot to use the election result to incite violence. HURIWA issued a statement with which it intended to create the impression of ethnic persecution with the election result. While it is on record that the main contenders in the presidential election are of the same ethnic stock, HURIWA, is attempting to use the outcome of the poll to reopen old ethnic crises that have no bearing with the matter under discuss.

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the PDP has reportedly made demands on the National Peace Committee (NPC). He is yet to deny or refute reports that he made these demands. What is worrisome about these demands is that they are underpinned by an inferred threat of violence, which his supporters are already mobilizing for. It is noteworthy that one of the demands is for the military not to have any role in the states’ elections due on March 9, which is an invitation to anarchy because the military played a critical role in discouraging intending ballot box snatchers.

The threats of violence by PDP members are getting validation from some of their foreign partners that are issuing compromised reports about the elections. Atiku and the PDP are citing these questionable reports as basis for their supporters to reject the results, which these supporters have interpreted as a call to violent protests, even though Atiku had sought to insulate himself from liability by tepidly asking them to remain calm while stoking negative emotions in them with his assertions.

The conduct of the elections might have been largely peaceful but a combined interplay of the situations we have identified present a tense outlook for security in the country especially since states’ elections are holding in a matter of days. There is credible threat of violence arising from PDP supporters who are being primed to attack others by a group like HURIWA.

It is imperative that necessary actions are taken to identify areas where party supporters are likely to attempt unleashing violence and necessary steps taken to prevent this from happening since it will compromise March 9 elections.

Politicians, especially Atiku Abubakar and his party should be prevailed upon to desist from making utterances that could be interpreted by their supporters to imply a directive for them to attack those in other political parties.
The National Peace Committee must rise up to the task of holding signatories to the peace accord accountable to maintaining the peace while also cautioning groups that may be acting as proxies to incite or carry out violence on behalf of signatories.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in last Saturday's presidential election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has been urged to tow the path of ex-president Goodluck Jonathan and congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari.

This appeal was made by Two Million Women Rally for Democracy on Friday.

Mr Buhari of the All Progressive Congress (APC) was returned as president for a second-term by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

While the incumbent has continued to receive massive commendation over a free, fair and credible polls as well congratulatory messages from both local and international communities, the opposition has resolved to contest the people's mandate.

In a statement by Convener, Mary Onuche, the Two Million Women Rally for Democracy has advised Mr Atiku to quit his on-going disruptive stance on the election.

According to the group, although the PDP candidate is within his constitutional right to seek redress, such disruptive and frightful atmosphere could lead to an a anarchy.

“Fortunately for Nigeria, our democracy, though still young, has continued to evolve in ways that reassure us that things can only get better. One such leap is the development in 2015 when the then President Goodluck Jonathan called to congratulate the then winner of the presidential election, incumbent President Buhari, even before the votes’ tally was completed. That singular act of patriotism is today hailed as the benchmark of the level of statesmanship befitting of candidates in our elections. May God bless President Goodluck Jonathan, the hero of our modern democracy.


“This has become a modern democratic culture in Nigeria for which former President Jonathan will continue to receive accolades. Had he acted contrary at that time, perhaps democratic growth in Nigeria might have been stunted or even truncated.

“But thankfully he set the benchmark, a standard that we today expect from anyone that takes part in the presidential election.

“We therefore call on Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to emulate the statesmanship of President Jonathan and quit his on-going disruptive stance on the election. There has been series of calls on him to call and congratulate President Buhari as the winner of the election, which would infer that he would by consequence give up any legal challenge of the election result. We are tempted to align with the first half of this demand that Atiku calls President Buhari to offer his congratulations but we will not suggest that he forfeits his right to seeking judicial redress. He is very free to approach the courts to ventilate his grievances.

“What is unacceptable, however, is the adoption of positions and making of utterances that are being interpreted by his supporters and party members as a call to violence. We have become aware that his supporters are strategizing for violent protests that they are targeting to cause chaos nationwide and bring down the government. Some of Atiku’s lieutenants and political associates are subtly encouraging such protests through comments they have been making in the mainstream media and their social media accounts.

“The hostile environment being created by Atiku’s stance has been made even tenser by his reported demands on President Buhari, made through the National Peace Committee. Such behaviour suggests an opposition that has transmuted into a dictatorship, one that is hell-bent on blackmailing the country to impose itself on the people when it has been clearly rejected at the polls. This is not acceptable at a time when Nigerians expect that anyone that aspired to govern the country would at the very least imbibe the spirit of sportsmanship championed by former President Jonathan.

“Our democracy comes first before the personal fixations of any politician. We insist that the peace accord signed by political parties and their candidates, including Atiku must be respected .

“ Nigeria truly deserves peace and stability at this point in time, which is why we are holding this “Two Million Woman Rally for Democracy in Nigeria” to demand for national stability and peace in Nigeria.

“While we remain apolitical, we are encouraged by the assessment of international election observation missions, which in-spite of their earlier tilt in favour of Atiku prior to the election, have come out to declare that the conduct and the outcome of the poll was satisfactory to them. We suggest that Atiku takes time to slow down and listen to his foreign allies who have now concluded that even the Parallel Vote Tabulation they used as control showed that the PDP candidate was fairly defeated."

The main opposition party in Nigeria, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has decried the partisanship of the country's security forces being engaged as agents to manipulate the outcome of the presidential election held on Saturday in the country. 

According to the PPD in a statement signed by the party’s national chairman, Uche Secondus, the party hinted that it may reject the outcome if it varies from the results announced at the polling units. 

He revealed that "in full view of the watching world, and despite efforts by our great party and its agents to adhere to every laid down provision for the 2019 general elections, the APC in collusion with INEC have taken aggressive steps, mostly through inducements, manipulation and incarcerations, using the elements of state power including the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army in particular, alongside other organizations including the Department of State Security (DSS) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to silence the voices of our long suffering people; this is disheartening, considering the terms of the Peace Accord, which called for impartiality and non-partisanship by members of our security organization with constitutional roles to play during this civic exercise."

The full statement titlet "Our Democracy is Under Threat" read: 

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is forced to take a stand and make the following pronouncements at this crucial point because our democracy is under threat of derailment.

Firstly, I want to categorically state that our collation centers have all original results from every polling unit, in every ward, in every Local Government Area (LGA) in Nigeria, of which the international community is well aware, implying all results currently being announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is incorrect thus unacceptable to our party and people.

Secondly, officials of both President Buhari’s government and the All Progressive Congress (APC), working with INEC officers, have tried to alter the course of history and disenfranchise our people through the cancellation and manipulation of figures for results already announced at polling units, nationwide, in Local Government Areas (LGAs) where our party, the PDP, had commanding votes; this must now be resisted by every well meaning Nigerian.

Thirdly, the ruling party’s strategy has indeed been murderous, undignified, and disrespectful of the wishes of the electorate, our people and the international community who have been in solidarity with our nation as we attempt to strengthen our democracy and its institutions.

Fourthly, in full view of the watching world, and despite efforts by our great party and its agents to adhere to every laid down provision for the 2019 general elections, the APC in collusion with INEC have taken aggressive steps, mostly through inducements, manipulation and incarcerations, using the elements of state power including the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army in particular, alongside other organizations including the Department of State Security (DSS) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to silence the voices of our long suffering people; this is disheartening, considering the terms of the Peace Accord, which called for impartiality and non-partisanship by members of our security organization with constitutional roles to play during this civic exercise. 

Fifthly, as results trickled in on the Sunday, February 24th, 2019, clearly putting the PDP in the lead, the ruling party and President Buhari dispatched high-ranking officials to coercively influence outcomes in different geopolitical zones in the country.

For example:The minister of the interior, was dispatched to the North West of the country The Secretary of the Government of the Federation was dispatched to the North East of the country; while theThe Attorney General and Minister were dispatched to the South East and South-South regions.

7. With the INEC IT server hacked by agents of the APC to manipulate results, we can with certainty state that results from the following polling units have, for example, been tampered with, note:Sarkin Dawaki ward in Doma LGA – Nassarawa stateDoka ward in Doma LGA – Nassarawa stateAgyaragin – Tofa ward10, 000 illegal votes added to already announced results in Wurno LGA in Sokoto state.

Additionally, violent and destructive attacks have been meted out to officials while counting at Lafia St. and police barracks polling units.

8. As if these provocations are not enough, our agents and officials are constantly arrested and in many cases locked-up for complaining that Card Readers were not in use in many Northern states, implying that all results from the Northern part of the country where Card Readers were not used should be voided in accordance with INEC guidelines.

9. I also believe, the arrest of Eng. Buba Galadima, who has been a great symbol of what is courageous about our people goes to show that one man’s ambition is greater than our collective good, and most probably worth the blood of all Nigerians.

10. In that context, I call for Buba Galadima’s immediate and unconditional release, as well as that of all officials and agents of the PDP, in the Southwest, who were mostly arrested on the eve of the elections where intimidation became the APCs sole election strategy.

11. Despite these provocations, intimidation and attempts to hijack our democracy and change the course of history, I must, in fact, convey to our good people the fact that the PDP is on course to victory and the Presidency; therefore, remain resolute and steadfast, because our party shares in your uncertainty and suffering, which must decisively come to a good end for us all.

12. Finally, and once again, we appeal to the leadership of INEC to remain impartial and not become willing agents to disenfranchise our people and derail our democracy, because the world is watching, and history will indeed pass judgment.

In addition, to the international community; we welcome your support for our democracy and extend our gratitude with great hope for our democracy.

Prince Uche Secondus
Chairman,
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

A coalition of civil society organisations, under the aegis of New Initiative for Credible Leadership (NICreL) has lashed out at the Youth Initiative For Advocacy, Growth And Advancement (YIAGA) for allegedly attempting to undermine the military's efforts towards a credible, free and fair conduct at the general elections.

In what is gradually becoming a routine, YIAGA, funded by certain foreign bodies, discredited the Nigerian military and the entire electoral process in it's report released on Sunday despite massive commendation coming from all and sundry.

However, NICreL, at a press conference by Executive Director, Rev. Patrick Onyeke, opined that this is another obvious coy to cast aspersion on the conduct of the polls while manufacturing evidence to pressure the security agencies.

Read full text below:

The (Youth Initiative For Advocacy, Growth And Advancement) YIAGA Africa Watching The Vote (WTV) Group on Sunday presented what it termed its own interim report on the General Elections (for President and National Assembly) in a development that did not come as a surprise because it was well known before now that the organization exists solely to deliver on a hatchet job.

YIAGA’s ultimate delivery is to cast aspersion on the conduct of the elections, undermine its credibility and nudge Nigeria closer to chaos. A secondary goal of this questionable group is to manufacture evidence against the security and military establishments in Nigeria so that they will be under pressure and unable to effectively contain the violence that the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is orchestrating to force its declaration as the winner of the polls.

This explains why the group manufactured lies about observers being arrested and detained in Kaduna and Yobe states without specifying the details of the infractions that necessitated the security measures. For avoidance of doubts, security agencies were compelled to screen out fake observers that were being used for vote buying, voter intimidation and as couriers between dubious politicians and a few compromised electoral officials.

It also made the allegation that voters were prevented from accessing polling units to exercise their right when in reality security operatives merely ensured that persons without PVC were not allowed access to voting areas as part of proactive measures to forestall ballot snatching and undue influencing of voters by hired thugs that were out to force people to vote alongside the wishes of certain candidates.

Had YIAGA AFRICA bothered to make legitimate enquiries as opposed to putting on an air of belligerence against state officials while belittling other election observers it would have been wiser to the reality of the foregoing. It however persisted in its predetermined mission and denied itself of the benefit of enlightenment. Its ignorance of these development was responsible for its error in progressing in error by publicising lies as facts.

But we doubt that YIAGA AFRICA would have acted differently even when given the benefit of accurate information. Our assertion is based on what we have since discovered that this group is one of those on the payroll of the opposition with the sole aim of perverting Nigeria’s electoral system against the will of the people. Evidence of its being in bed with the PDP abound in the many controversial stance it took against the conduct of the election right from inception.

We also found that this group, YIAGA, is an organization that imported illegal aliens into the country for the purpose of carrying out its hatchet job. The apprehension of some of the illegal aliens it brought into the country is what it described as arrest and detention of election observers. We wonder how persons that did not meet the relevant accreditation criteria and also circumvented immigration requirements will expect to get away with such infractions without being held to account. Nigeria’s immigration requirements remain in place even during elections and they are actually heightened for such period.

There is no gainsaying the fact that an organization that can deploy illegal aliens among the observers it claimed to have sent on the field cannot come up with any report that will be credible. Its stick in trade is illegality so the report it claimed to have presented is tainted and overshadowed by the questionable way it got some of its key members into the country.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is urged to note the crimes YIAGA committed against the Nigerian state and to promptly commence the process of reviewing the accreditation it has given to members of the group and its affiliates with a view to revoking same. Even if INEC neglects to revoke the accreditation NICreL and other concerned Nigerians are not helpless in bringing the group to account for its role in trying to destabilize Nigeria. This is a condemnable act of irresponsibility.

The New Initiative for Credible Leadership (NICreL) will not stop at decrying the irresponsible activities of YIAGA AFRICA as the group has proven impervious to censure. It did nothing to correct its questionable way when they were earlier flagged as being at variance with the imperative for peace and stability in Nigeria, which confirmed it as a nuisance. NICreL hereby demands that YIAGA Africa Watching The Vote (WTV) Group and the parent body immediately pack out of Nigeria. The demand for YIAGA in all its forms move out of Nigeria must be complied with under the next 12 hours failing which NICreL will lead a coalition of patriotic Nigerian group to physically enforce its expulsion from Nigeria.

We advise groups that had allied themselves with YIAGA to immediately terminate such relationships lest they would be treated as being a contiguous part of that group. This implies that their operations too would be targeted and shut down in the interest of our country and the security if its citizens.

The Coalition of Civil Society Organizations on Human Rights and Conflict Resolution has spoken on the role of security agencies in the Saturday’s presidential and national assembly elections across the 36 states of the federation.

The human rights group specifically lauded the nation’s security agencies for being professional in discharge of their duties before, during and after the nationwide polls.

Maxwell Gowon, the Executive Director of the coalition on the security situation during the conduct of the polls commended the Nigerian Military for its efforts at ensuring peace, stability and security even though the forecast for security and life during the election had been grim.

While giving detailed accounts of what happened in some states during the polls, Gowon called on the security agencies to be at alert, considering that the prospect of violence in the aftermath of the announcement of results remains high.

The group also warned parties to caution their supporters against engaging in violence.

His statement below.

“The Coalition of Civil Society Organizations on Human Rights and Conflict Resolution deployed 4,000 observers for the Presidential and National Assembly (Senatorial/House of Representatives) Elections that held on Saturday February 23, 2019 across the country.
The coalition made the call to increase its focus on security situation, compliance with observance of human right and the general atmosphere of the elections.

“This decision was influenced by the fact that several other observer organizations were on ground to focus on issues like transparency, timeliness, openness and other fine points of the elections. The decision is consistent with the primary objectives and thematic focus of the Coalition of Civil Society Organizations on Human Rights and Conflict

“It is pertinent to point out at this stage that the observation by the coalition had incrementally being in place in the period preceding the elections, with the implication that some of the observations made on the Election Day were not done in isolation but in relation to ongoing incident tracking.

“The Coalition of Civil Society Organizations on Human Rights and Conflict Resolution observed, from the data collected by its observers, that there were incidences on the Election Day:

“In Abonnema, Akoku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers state, gunmen suspected to be thugs hired by politicians attacked troops in duty leading to six of them being killed when the personnel of the Nigerian Army repelled the attack. A lieutenant of the Nigerian Army died in the encounter while two civilians died from gunshots of the assailants.
The Army arrested 15 persons acting as political thugs in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of neighbouring Bayelsa state.

“In Delta state, the police confirmed two (2) persons dead in Sapele axis of the state.
Edo state recorded incidents of ballot box snatching but the Army stepped in to get the situation under control with perpetrators that were apprehended handed over to the police.

“In Cross River and Akwa-Ibom, the earlier warning issued by the Army with other security agencies was heeded as the situation was conducive.

"Anambra state is one of the states where the Independent National Electoral Commission was compelled to reschedule elections owing to violence while Ebonyi state recorded violence that claimed three lives on the eve of the elections. Abia, Enugu and Imo states were largely peaceful.

“Lagos state is another state where some elections were rescheduled owing to violence. There were cases of ballot snatching and destruction of ballot at the point of counting in some instances. Overall, security agencies and the support of the Nigerian Army made it possible for the situation to remain under control without escalation.

“The pockets of violence in Ondo, Ekiti, Osun, Ogun and Oyo (one person was killed in Oyo state) states were easily managed. The presence of the military ensured that things did not overly get out of hand.

“In spite of the propagate threat to mar the elections, the explosions from Boko Haram/ISWAP in Borno state did not stop citizens from exercising their rights at the polls. The Nigerian Army successfully curtailed the ability of the terrorists to cause disruptions. Similar explosions in Yobe state did not prevent voting from taking place.
Gombe, Bauchi, Taraba and Adamawa recorded limited incidents that were not significant enough to affect the elections.

“In spite of the concerns previously held and incidents of pre-election violence recorded in Kano, the presence of the Nigerian Army ensured that voters were able to carry out their civic duties without fear. Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Jigawa were largely free of major incidents to warrant concerns as the Nigerian Army’s presence in these places took away the incentive for violence while one (1) person was killed in Zamfara.

The Federal Capital Territory (Abuja) had the elections taking places peacefully while pockets of violence in Kogi state resulted in at least two deaths. Kwara, Plateau, Benue, Nasarawa and Niger states recorded lesser violence than earlier feared.

“The feedback that observers got from voters is that there are factors that mitigated the risk of violence thereby leading to fewer cases of violence, voter intimidation and ballot box snatching than anticipated. Among the factors identified are:
“Rivers state, Lagos state and other places were violence was intense happen to be home to the strong critics of the directive for the military to deal with ballot box snatchers. These are also the places where the highest number of persons attempted to delegitimize the directive to the Army.

“The recorded instances of violence, especially where they resulted in the loss of life, would have been prevented if people did not attempt to criminalize the assigned role of the Nigerian Army in their bid to score political points.

“The Coalition of Civil Society Organizations on Human Rights and Conflict Resolution has adopted interim positions pending the conclusion of state elections scheduled for March 9, 2019:

“The coalition commended the Nigerian Military for its efforts at ensuring peace, stability and security even though the forecast for security and life during the election had been grim. It is noteworthy that the military, notably the Nigerian Army, discharged this onerous responsibility with full recourse to the rules of engagement.

“The coalition condemns in the strongest terms the attack on troops on election duties. The act amounts to unnecessary provocation and aggravation that continues to make it necessary for the country to deploy troops for elections even though this is ordinarily a duty for the civil police.

“Urge all security to remain on high alert considering that the prospect of violence in the aftermath of the announcement of results remains high.”

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

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

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

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

Observations:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Suggestions:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Conclusion:

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

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

By Philip Agbese

I recall that a section of the polity has decided to drag the Nigerian Army into the murky water of politics for their selfish reasons. This arose from the charge given by the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces President Muhammadu Buhari for the Nigeria Army to deal ruthlessly with those who intend to snatch ballot boxes during the elections or engage in acts of thuggery aimed at disrupting the polls.

I must confess that I am amazed as to how the PDP bigwigs and sympathizers have blown the issue out of proportion. They forgot that for the credibility of the polls to be achieved, there ought to be a level of security in place to guard against vices such as ballot box snatching, vote buying and other evil acts associated with elections in this country.

While I am not against these folks airing their opinion on issues they have reservations, I am however taken aback with the way and manner they have so politicized the issue with the aim of misleading the unsuspecting members of the public to believe that there is indeed something sinister in the directive.

Yes, the Chief of Army Staff addressed his principal officers that included the General Officers Commanding the various divisions in the country to remind them of the task at hand which is necessary to safeguard the territorial integrity of the country and the need for the troops to respect the constituted authorities. I see nothing wrong with this. And I wonder how the PDP interpreted or is interpreting issues, especially in the build-up to the elections.

It even gets confusing when it is common knowledge that over time, the Nigerian Army in discharging its constitutionally recognized and authorized mandate, focuses on two cardinal objectives, and they are subservience to constituted authority and the respect for human rights.

This is also sufficing to add that the Nigeria Army has overtime provided that needed support to the Nigerian police in the effective discharge of its duties in times of elections and other emergencies. And if this is and has been the case, why cry wolf where none exist? I think that the members of the general public should resist the antics of some unscrupulous elements hell-bent on causing disaffection in the polity to win the sympathy of the electorates with some days left to the general elections.

There are abound instances where the Nigerian Army had ensured that voters carry out their civic responsibility without fear or favour. The Ekiti and Osun states elections are glaring examples of the invaluable role the Nigerian Army plays in entrenching and sustaining democracy in Nigeria. Ordinarily, Nigerians should not have any cause for worry or concern if they do not have ulterior motives during the elections.

But those that want to incite and cause mayhem should have every reason to be afraid because I think that any action that negates peace and tranquility would and should be resisted by the Nigerian Army. And this should give every true lover of democracy a cause for concern.

The desperation to rig the election at all cost is what has driven the PDP to begin to act towards every other citizen even worse than what Boko Haram have done in North East Nigeria.
This desperation led by Obasanjo and some Governors to return an Atiku Abubakar who has become desperate as to drag the Nigerian Army despite its apolitical nature into politics is what many today have become afraid of.

The fear of ballot box snatcher is real, and every Nigerian looks up to the Army to be able to provide the needed security for them to be able to exercise their franchise. One would, therefore, plead with the PDP to allow the Nigerian Army to focus on its role and responsibilities as those who have nothing to hide should have nothing to fear.

The Nigeria Army under Lt GenTukur Buratai is a responsive organization and one that has tremendously shown respect for the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Worthy of mention also is the fact that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai is a professional officer and one whose loyalty can never be doubted.

He is also a refined promoter of human rights as evident in his numerous interactions with the civilian populace through the Directorate of Civil-Military relations. This much has been said about him in multiple forums and how he has done so much in three years to reflect on the average soldier in the country.

It is also on record that the Nigerian Army has not unlawfully engaged any citizen in any arms’ struggle and this very much we are aware the Army has continued to imbibe. An example of the professionalism of the Nigeria Army under Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai was in 2016 in Rivers state when militants opened fire on troops during a rerun election. Guess what? The Army didn’t retaliate but instead fished out the criminals and handed to the police.

Now, that is just an example of the professionalism of the Nigerian Army under Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai in recent times. The public outcry by the PDP and its agents are in poor taste and meant to mislead. Needless I add that there is no rest for the wicked. And make no mistakes, the Nigerian Army would rise to the occasion during and after the elections in Nigeria. For those who may not want a python dance with the Army, it is simply thumb print on your ballot paper and AVOID the box itself.

Agbese is a researcher in human rights law at the Middlesex University, London.(PA542@live.mdx.ac.uk)

By Isaac Ikpa

Interestingly, I am getting to know more about the impressive, but silent aspects of President Muhammadu Buhari’s life and personage. I have never met him personally.

But with his credentials as a retired Army officer, and given the military culture, it was safer for me to believe he is rough and unapologetically ruthless.But I was damn wrong! He is just a leader who is blunt and plain. He hates any brazen act of trampling on laws of the land or decency in conduct.

President Buhari, as Nigeria’s incumbent President is gunning for reelection in 2019 for another term of four years, on the platform of the ruling APC. But he was enraged over INEC’s sudden postponement of the February 16, 2019 Presidential and National Assembly ballots.

His party, the APC was equally angered and condemned the impromptu shift of elections, barely five hours to the commencement of the ballot. I think, the electoral umpire knows better why the decision was taken. We are sad, but what else can anybody do?When I listened to INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu’s address to the nation on the elections postponement, I pitied him. From his facial scowls, it was clear to discerning minds that something terribly went wrong.

And discontinuing with the ballot as scheduled became inevitable.Prof. Yakubu nicely concealed his anger in these official explanation; “Following a careful review of the implementation of its logistics and operational plan, and the determination to conduct free, fair, and credible elections, the commission came to the conclusion that proceeding with the elections as scheduled is no longer feasible.”But political actors and Nigerians did not swallow this excuse lightly. And it has sparked very profound reactions from all segments of the Nigerian community. I may not bother with every view expressed by every Nigerian.

But at least, we can speak to our conscience and it will certainly prick us in glaring terms that the ballot was compromised even before the vote cast. And our leaders know this; INEC knows it; critical stakeholders in the Nigerian project are aware and Nigerians know everything dubiously contrived affected the ballot in focus.President Buhari was more disappointed.

And so, at the opening session of the National Caucus meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja, the President who is not oblivious of what crooked politicians planned in dark chambers and rigged the ballot before the vote fumed; “The security agencies have identified hot spots and flash points and should be prepared to move. We have made as much arrangement as possible for them as much as the country can afford. Anybody who decide to snatch ballot boxes or lead thugs to disturb the process, may be that will be the last unlawful action you will take.We have directed the military and other security agents to be ruthless. We are not going to be blamed that we want to rig elections.”

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

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

I do not buy the arguments of the vocal PDP analysts. They have repeatedly said the President has issued a direct order to security agents to kill Nigerians. Why would any decent Nigerian think the best thing to do is to foist a regime of electoral violence on Nigerians, but gets offended when the President ask security agents to ruthlessly handle such miscreants or hoodlums?

And why would anybody happily contemplate this absurdity? Is it because the potential culprits know there are elder statesmen and people who would rise up to their defence?

APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has been speaking on Buhari’s presidential statement. He has done what is humanely possibly to deflect the misconstrued interpretations. But trust Nigerians! We are more comfortable promoting evil than good.

But let me leave the mischief makers and the drugged or incensed partisans that President Buhari never wished the death of any Nigerian because he wants to continue as Nigeria’s leader.Let’s get some sense in what Tinubu said on the misinterpretations of the President’s comments.

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

However, we cannot pretend that elections results were written before the ballot. How can Nigerians explain the pre-ballot violence, deaths and destructions in some states in Nigeria?

Are we canvassing that President Buhari, as Chief Security Officer of the nation should be soft with such characters so that tomorrow, we shall gladly also blame him for a degenerative insecurity in the country? This is not wisdom from any sane mind.

Let me leave these adversaries of Nigeria with the sound advice from my friend, Alhaji Aminu Musa. His words; “Those with ears have been so blessed. I believe, the words that made up the statement of Mr. President are unambiguous. We are by it advised to stay clear of any form of malpractices in the forthcoming rescheduled election.”So, those who have plotted violence and rigging are forewarned. Security agents would ruthlessly handle the destroyers of our nation’s democracy and the electoral process. Well done, Mr. President for this forewarning.

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

The Progressive Yoruba Youths (PYY) has backed president Muhammadu Buhari over strict measures put in place against Nigerians plotting to jeopardise the forthcoming elections.

President Buhari, had yesterday, during the All Progressive Congress’ (APC) caucus meeting threatened to come hard on those with plans to rig the elections.

The president's honest warning didn't go down well with the opposition, who appear hell-bent on reclaiming power by any means whatsoever, even by snatching ballot boxes.

However, the foremost Yoruba youth group has thrown its weight behind the president's latest move to drastically halt this shameless trend.

The Progressive Yoruba Youths offered their support in a press statement released by Kola Salawu, it's National President.

According to the group, the declaration was a wake-up call to security agencies to be unrelenting and decisive in dealing with potential ballot box snatchers, an ugly practice that has been the bane of previous elections.

The PYY added that the target wasn't innocent, law-abiding Nigerians rather miscreants, hiding under the shade of IPOB, state government armed militias, armed terrorists and other scum of humanity that the PDP had mobilized for the purpose of snatching ballot boxes.



“Once these ballot boxes have been snatched the result written under the supervision of our disgraced elder, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, in Abeokuta, Ogun state would have then been substituted for the actual votes in the stolen ballots.

"As part of the scheme, the PDP has compromised some corrupt senior officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), who would have gone ahead to accept the pre-written results since they have pre-thumb printed ballot papers that match the fake results they were to declare.

“More than the angst at the prospect of their errand boys being killed in the course of snatching ballot boxes, the critics of President Buhari’s assertion are pained that their overall plans have been thrown into a shambles because the scheme to rig cannot be implemented in the absence of violence and ballot snatching. The pre-written result in custody of the compromised INEC officials will no longer tally with the vote cast once the ballot snatchers have been put out of commission.

“We therefore see no reason for law abiding citizens to be concerned over the “snatch ballot box and die” comment. Those that had earlier signed up as ballot snatchers have option of refunding the amounts they have been paid to become cannon fodder. They can also opt to hold onto the money they have been paid since it is not possible for the PDP chieftains that mobilized them to sue for breach of contract as an agreement entered into in pursuit of committing a crime is non-enforceable, especially when this particular deal is with the intention to tamper with Nigeria’s democracy.

“It is however pertinent that we point out where our position slightly differ from that held by Mr President. It is not enough to decisively deal with ballot snatchers, who are mere puppets. It is pertinent that the hands manipulating the puppets are decisively dealt with. With the benefit of technology and forensics, law enforcement agencies should track down those that issued the order for ballot snatching and make them pay for their crimes against democracy and for insulting Nigerians in the worst way possible. So we appeal to Mr President to so direct law enforcement agents.

“Those who were to validate and accept pre-written results, made possible by ballot snatching, should be treated as accessories to this nefarious election crime in Nigeria. We understand that several of them have not only been identified but the tainted money they were paid for this coup against the country have been traced to several accounts. Persons that allowed themselves to be compromised in such manners have no business around election matters. They must therefore be immediately arrested and arraigned for trial on the strength of the evidence against them.

“We expected that the directive to security agencies to be ruthless should extend to those that carry out acts of violence in and around voting venues since there are indication that PDP has also recruited thugs to prevent people from voting in areas that are not its stronghold.

"The point must be made for the PDP to understand that it does not have the monopoly of violence and that no individual, organization or political party can match the sanctity of the state and its legitimacy to protect citizens. Law enforcement agencies must therefore be ready at all times to prove everyone wrong that the sovereignty of Nigeria cannot be negotiated with any band of miscreants."

Nigerians across the globe have been asked to stand up against the alleged plots by former President Olusegun Obasanjo on his bid to retard nation from growth and progress.

AriseNigeria, a group of Concerned Nigerians in the Diaspora, which stated this on Monday, claimed that the ex-president was desperate in his bid to install a president in Nigeria through the backdoor.

The group in a communique issued at the end of an emergency meeting, to review the state of affairs in Nigeria, strongly frowned at the alleged romance between Obasanjo and leadership of the PDP.

The communiqué signed by its chairman, Dr. Philip Idaewor and endorsed by Coordinators of AriseNigeria worldwide; including: Charles Eze, Prof. Adesugun Labinjo USA, Mr. Ayoola Lawal (Sweden), Chief Balogun ( France), Mr. Chima Ibezim ( Italy), Mr. Adeayo Tella ( Spain), Mr. Bola Babarinde ( South Africa), Mr. Hammeed Adefioye ( Republic of Irleland), Mr. Marthins Sadoh ( Holland), Mr Ogunwede Lombrado (Germany), Mr. Niyi Agbelese ( Switzerland), Mr. Charles Michelleti (Ghana), Engr David Onmeje ( Scotland), Mr. Eric Ayoola (UK), Mr. Ikem Chinedu ( UK), Mr. David Abraham ( South Korea)




The group said Obasanjo, in his desperate bid to cover up his corruption and avoid being probe for his failed government between 1999 and 2007 is fighting hard to impose Atiku Abubakar on the Peoples Democratic Party on Nigeria in the rescheduled February 23 presidential election.

It further warned INEC to ensure the forthcoming coming election is free, fair and credible.

Full text of the communiqué below.

The AriseNigeria at its emergency meeting held in London United Kingdom on Monday February 18, 2019 convened to review the state of affairs in Nigeria after the postponement of the general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which considered issues of urgent National importance including but not limited to the unholy interference by former president Olusegun Obasanjo, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and a segment of the international community in the electoral process in Nigeria.

The Executive body of AriseNigeria considered the issues mentioned above and resolved as follows:

The unholy Alliance of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the People’s Democratic Party to compromise the general elections in Nigeria.

AriseNigeria notes with concern the desperation exhibited by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in active connivance with leaders of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to undermine the credibility of the presidential elections by making overtures to manipulate the outcome of the polls in favour of his erstwhile deputy and current presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party Atiku Abubakar.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo took his ill-mannered campaign of slander against President Muhammadu Buhari to astonishing heights by soliciting and getting lobbyist to pave the way for Atiku's visit to the United States of America after 10 years visa restriction due to corruption charges in the US against Atiku Abubakar and his wife, Jemilla Abubakar (Jennifer Douglas).

Impeccable information at our disposal indicates that there was a grand plot to undermine the credibility of the elections by some persons led by former president Olusegun Obasanjo in active connivance with the leadership of the People’s Democratic Party in favour of his preferred candidate.

The plan was to hack into the database of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with the help of some high ranking INEC Systems Analysts in collaboration with some hackers from the USA loyal to the Atiku's cause and have the election massively rigged to favour Atiku.

The case they proffered against President Muhammadu Buhari is his insistence that the right things must be done in the overall interest of the citizens of Nigeria which is mostly a disconnect from their way of doing things in times past where executive impunity was the order of the day.

AriseNigeria also notes with concern the statement credited to Atiku Abubakar in an interactive event in Lagos tagged "Getting Nigeria Economy Working" vowed to "enrich" his friends when elected as the president of Nigeria and sell the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) by all means even if it leads to his death.

These statements are gravely embarrassing and unbecoming of an individual aspiring to be the president of a country as important as Nigeria, and we are therefore of the opinion that the PDP and its cohorts are hell bent of subverting the will of the people at the elections to achieve their undemocratic plans for the future of Nigeria.

It is also most embarrassing that a supposed Elder statesman in the mould of former president Olusegun Obasanjo would denigrate to this unenviable level all in a bid to cover his tracks while he held sway as president from 1999 to 2007.

AriseNigeria also views with concern the soft-handedness the administration of Donald Trump of the United States of America has extended to the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party(PDP), Atiku Abubakar, in the run-up to the elections despite the avalanche of pieces of evidence that indicates that Atiku Abubakar abused office while he held sway as the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria between 1999 to 2007.

This is given the role of the United States of America in the entrenchment of democracy in the world. AriseNigeria wonders why the case of Nigeria is different even with the glaring commitment of the Muhammadu Buhari led administration in tackling the menace of corruption headlong.

Arisenigeria expect the government of the United States to support the anti corruption agenda of Muhammadu Buhari. The Trump administration could not afford to watch Nigeria pushed to the brink of possible turmoil by a greedy few, whose only interest has been, and remains, an appetite for unbridled accumulation of money/material by any means necessary from public sources. This is the time to stand with Nigeria. The USA must be unequivocal in declaring looters of the Nigerian state resources as enemies of the Nigeria people and must render the needed assistance to the government of Nigeria to continue to make inroads in the fight against corruption.

It is therefore instructive to note that previous administrations had raped Nigeria from all indices to the point of death before the advent of the administration President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015. And to think that the people who abused Nigeria blind have ganged up against the truth, justice and fairness are gearing to come back to continue from where they stopped is an anomaly that must be resisted by all and sundry in Nigeria.

AriseNigeria also wishes to inform members of the international community of the invaluable role Nigeria plays in the stability of the African continent and any attempt to take Nigeria back to the dark ages might spell doom for the African continent.

AriseNigeria arising from its emergency meeting thereby resolved that Nigerians must protect its nascent democracy from the hands of hawks that are hell-bent on seeing its disintegration. Nigerians must rise to the challenge of subduing unpatriotic, corrupt and selfish past political office holders to save Nigeria from collapsing. It must be noted that the future of over 180 million people are at stake if the wrong choices are made in this material instance.

AriseNigeria states in unequivocal terms that President Muhammadu Buhari has displayed a patriotic mien that portray hope for Nigeria in this critical point of its existence. And the forces against his re-election are propelled by selfish and personal motives that are far from National interest.

The assurances that Nigeria is on the path to greatness under President Muhammadu Buhari are bolstered by the resolve of the administration to tackle the cankerworm of corruption and insecurity.

The Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) is also urged to rise to the occasion in delivering to Nigerians a free, fair and credible election.

Fresh facts have emerged over what led to the postponement of the Presidential and National Assembly elections, earlier slated for Saturday, February 16, 2019.

Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission had shifted the poll, based on logistics.

However, indications have emerged that leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had earlier manipulated the electoral umpire, who had written a result in favour of the party’s candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike and some top shots of the PDP were fingered in the foiled move.

The National Front of Nigeria [NFN], which made this shocking revelation at a world press conference on Monday, claimed that the compromise of INEC was so bad that results have been written in favour of the PDP before the Election Day while sensitive election materials were delivered to PDP chieftains in several areas hence the failure of the materials to be delivered to the right destinations and officials at a few hours to the elections

According to the group led by Alhaji Abubakar B Tsav CP rtd, former Public Complaints Commissioner of the Federation, INEC decided to shift the polls after its plan with the PDP failed to materialize Friday night.

The group, therefore, called on the federal government and the relevant authorities not to relent as the manipulators were hell bent of achieving their aim at the rescheduled polls.

It also asked the Commission to identify, sack and hand over its compromised staff to the police for prosecution before proceeding with the election

Full text of his speech below.

In recent hours, events that were previously taken in isolation of each other have now been confirmed to not only be interconnected but they are also pieces in one big puzzle, a grand plan to force regime change on Nigeria while masking the crime as part of the democratic process, viz the general election that has now been postponed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Because most Nigerians had innocently taken events in isolation, the natural reaction has been one of condemnation of INEC, with several persons and groups accusing the electoral body of working for whatever political party they suspect. We shall come to heaping our criticism on INEC but not before we attempt to alert Nigerians to the real dangers facing them as a people.

Whatever shortcoming has been observed with INEC, its state of readiness, its troubled election logistics and battle with credibility crisis amongst others are nothing but symptoms. It is like an individual having a high fever, pale skin tone, vomiting and a host of other manifestations; the manifestations themselves are not the ailment they are merely symptoms of a deeper infection or life threatening organ damage that the body is dealing with. All efforts can be put into managing or treating the symptoms but they will amount to nought if the root causes of the problems are not addressed. Painfully, INEC is today a microcosm of Nigeria, a country grappling with contrived problems that are nowhere in the region of natural.

It is on record that the period preceding elections, prior to the postponement, witnessed unprecedented spike in the number of Boko Haram attacks that the Nigerian Army repeatedly repelled, often inflicting heavy casualty on the insurgents. In the security circle, intelligence report confirmed that these attacks were intended to produce a situation when it would become glaring that it was impossible to conduct the uct elections.

The objective was such that in the absence of elections there would be widespread uprisings and protests that would have eventually produced an interim government. The repeated defeat of the terrorists made the opposition, in this case the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), to be faced with the prospect of going into an election it is guaranteed to lose to the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari, who is seeking re-election on the platform of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Recall that prior to this, a former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, cobbled together several alliances and coalitions that failed woefully like every other thing he has ever laid hands on. Even though Chief Obasanjo had in the past invoked God’s wrath on himself if he ever returns to the PDP (he tore his membership card to seal the curse) he has since fully returned to the PDP and is now its most popular gladiator, save the party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. Obasanjo had made it appear as if certain clerics captured in photo op with him and Atiku were instrumental to brokering peace between him and his former deputy but events have proven otherwise. What they did in Otta on the day they purportedly made peace was to further perfect their scheme against democracy in Nigeria. As we speak, the denomination lead by one of the clerics at that meeting continues to abuse and desecrate the name of God by converting sermons into political campaigns.

In the aftermath of that meeting, Chief Obasanjo initiated contact with his neocon masters. The objective of that contact was to handpick the enforcers that were sent to Nigeria as election observers. Tragically, this is the one area where INEC got it wrong. They accredited these international enforcers without adequate background checks. What has now happened is that a lot of them from western country are in reality in the country to manipulate the presidential election in favour of Atiku Abubakar and the PDP.

The compromised and pre-determined position of these so called observers has been confirmed by several actions they have taken. Instead of working as independent countries, they coordinate to issue statements that are solely intended to erode the public perception INEC, criminalize the federal government and to canonize Atiku Abubakar as a president in waiting even when elections have not held. They have also taken on a belligerent attitude, in which they dictate what they want to happen and expect INEC to frog-march to their tune. All these abhorrent behaviours on the part of the foreign intruders were encouraged by Atiku and his party who wrote several letters upon which they are basing the legitimacy of their interference. Of course they continue to cite the invitation that INEC, because of the naivety of its Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, extended to them to monitor the elections.


This naivety of Professor Yakubu has hurt the country in no small measure. Right under his nose staff of the Commission were compromised by the opposition to the extent that even the final list of candidates were presented for his signature only after Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Chief Obasanjo and Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike have approved it. The compromise of INEC was so bad that results have been written in favour of the PDP before the Election Day while sensitive election materials were delivered to PDP chieftains in several areas hence the failure of the materials to be delivered to the right destinations and officials at a few hours to the elections. The logistics failure that prompted the postponement was therefore contrived by these people and not a natural occurrence.

The evil that was planned against Nigeria by Chief Obasanjo and his protégés – Atku, Wike and others is beyond imagination. It was as if he has sensed that Nigerians will vote in a way that will disgrace him with his failed alliances and lying letter so he decided the only way to save face is to manipulate the elections by compromising the umpire. A last minute realization of the crimes that have been committed in INEC is what jolted its Chairman out of his lethargy to postpone the polls in the hope that remedial actions can still be taken to reverse the damage that the PDP, Obasanjo and Atiku have done to its credibility.

Before now, there have been several calls on these men to desist from their acts that are capable of plunging the country into crisis but it is now apparent that they are not amenable to reason. Instead of retracing their steps they have approached their western allies to mount undue pressure on INEC while unfairly accusing the government of the country. They are activating their international enforcers to declare the elections as fraudulent while ignoring the capacity of this irresponsible move to cause widespread unrest. The media is also replete with fake news they are pushing to the effect that the elections would be rigged by the ruling party while in reality they, the PDP, are the ones that are desperate to win in the Obasanjo do or die style.

We call on Nigerians to shift from their indifference to become more assertive in declaring the kind of country they want, a country that faces its challenges headlong under a patriotic leaders or a colony governed by the appointee(s) of western countries. This is why citizens must rise up to the challenge of subduing unpatriotic, corrupt and selfish past political office holders if they must save Nigeria from collapse. If the progress being made under President Buhari must be reversed for any reason then it must be a decision that Nigerians make with their votes that must be cast without manipulation. Citizens should exercise their right to insist that the progress and national development under a patriotic nationalist like President Buhari is a must.


Our demand to Professor Yakubu and INEC as an institution is simple. The Commission must identify, sack and hand over its compromised staff to the police for prosecution before proceeding with the election. A failure to do this would imply that INEC has no intention of doing the right thing which would greatly undermine its credibility like the western coalition and the opposition has been trying to do. Where INEC fails to yield those indicted for prosecution, we encourage the police to arrest them before the election.


We remind the foreign observers that have been going beyond the terms of their accreditation to retrace their steps. A failure to retrace their steps will guarantee some sort of retribution in the short term and they can be guaranteed that a blend of the internet and the social media will make it possible for aggrieved parties to meddle in their own internal affairs in damaging ways. It is expected that they will not have cause to lament should matters come to that.

We warn that the postponement of the election has not discouraged these mischief makers. They will exploit their other fall back options as they continue to try to hijack power without winning election, which would cause crisis in the country. Nigerians and the Federal Government must therefore not let down their guards as the danger has not passed but has only retreated to mutate into something more evil than its previous option.

Amid controversy over a statement credited to the leader of the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, ordering Igbos to ignore his earlier call for the boycott of Nigeria's presidential election on Saturday, a member of the group has cautioned Ndigbo on the dangers of boycotting the 2019 polls. 

Kanu had in a tweet yesterday reported to had withdrawn the boycott directive.

However, the Director of Research and Strategy of the IPOB, Mazi Ebuka Mbakwe in a statement lamented the adverse effect of the call, urging the Igbos to vote everywhere they are, including Igboland.

According to him, when it seems Ndigbo are "getting it right and on the path to greatness, Nnamdi Kanu and his likes want to return us to those dark ages whereas he has secured the future of his family and family members by receiving a whopping sum of $500 million to cause confusion in Igbo land", alleged.

The full text of the statement reads:
A CLARION CALL TO ALL IGBO SONS AND DAUGHTERS TO EXERCISE THEIR ELECTORAL FRANCHISE
In my capacity as the Director of Research and Strategy of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), I wholly condemn the call to Igbo Sons and Daughters by Nnamdi Kanu and some other unscrupulous elements to boycott the presidential elections scheduled for February 16th, 2019.

At this stage of our critical existence as a people and a race, the call is not only misguided, it is also not in the interest of the Igbo race which has suffered untold hardship since the aftermath of the civil war in Nigeria.

For once, when it seems that we are getting it right and on the path to greatness, Nnamdi Kanu and his likes want to return us to those dark ages whereas he has secured the future of his family and family members by receiving a whopping sum of $500 million to cause confusion in Igbo land.

Nnamdi Kanu as we now know is acting a script orchestrated by those who do not wish the Igbo race well in the scheme of things in Nigeria. He has also set out to put the lives of innocent Sons and Daughters of Igbo extraction at risk with a possible confrontation with the security agencies.

As we all know, the era of been used and dumped by Nnamdi Kanu is over. The period of foolishness has been replaced with wisdom and this fact every wise Igbo Son and Daughter should know.

The threat by IPOB to assault any Igbo Son or Daughter that does not heed to the sit at home order is criminal and an infringement to our right to life in an era of justice and fairness. And it must be resisted by all and sundry including the international community.

Nnamdi Kanu’s action further bolsters the suspicion that he is hell-bent on destroying the Igbo race by turning the once peaceful agitation into a violent one. And this must be resisted, and he is advised to desist from any further attack on anyone for that matter.

I at this moment encourage Ndigbo to come out in their numbers to vote for candidates of their choice and those that appeal to their interest in the forthcoming elections in fulfilment of our rights and privileges.

I also urge Ndigbo to ignore the stay completely at home order by Nnamdi Kanu which is designed and orchestrated to serve his purpose and that of his paymasters that he received the humongous sum of $500 million from recently.

Nnamdi Kanu and his ilk’s want to reduce IPOB to a criminal organization so that they can continue to feed fat from the crisis that would arise eventually. But they will fail because the international community is watching as events are unfolding.

Ndigbo must rise and be counted in this critical point of our existence, and we would not allow a select few to put us in harm’s way for their selfish interest anymore.

It is time to put the enemies of Ndigbo to shame. Come out and exercise your electoral franchise. Ndigbo Kwenu!

Signed:
Ebuka Mbakwe
Director of Research and Strategy
Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)

The Democratic Coalition of Nigeria has raised the alarm over the alleged collusion with opposition parties to adopt fake result in the coming general elections.

The group claimed that the sinister move to cause problem in Nigeria has been taken to a new level with the planting of specially trained agents within the ranks of the opposition ahead of the polls.


Abraham A. Uke, National President of the group at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday warned the European Union and other international bodies against installing a proxy president in Nigeria.

He called on Nigerians to watch these interests carefully as many of them are not in the country for anything good but to destabilize the peace of the nation in order to actualize their age-long conspiracy of destroying the nation-State.

His speech below.

As you must have been aware, there has been outcry about the roles being played the foreign observers accredited by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Specifically, the United Kingdom (UK) has been abusing this accreditation to foment trouble with a view to causing insurrection against the Federal Government.

The UK is being supported in this evil enterprise by the United States (US) and also backed up by the European Union (EU).

Some of these agents that have been planted in the opposition have handlers in the UK, US and EU high commission and embassies.

The chatters between the two sides have been picked up, analyzed and confirmed to be aimed at causing widespread crisis in Nigeria.
We now have intelligence of the boasts by some of these elements that the EU, US and UK are fully in support of their plan to install a non-democratically elected government in Nigeria.

They assert that they are aware that what they are about to do amounts to treason but that they can never be held accountable for as long as they have the backing of the aforementioned countries.

Ordinarily, the Democratic Coalition of Nigeria would have ignored this intelligence as fluke or at best some sort of kite flying on the part of the opposition in order for it to test the response of the Nigerian state to their open coup plot.

But we are constrained to raise the alarm because some of the claims earlier made by certain pro-democracy groups and the Federal Government are already coming to pass:
The claim by the Federal Government that the opposition has commissioned Boko Haram terrorists, armed bandits in the northwest, mercenaries from neighboring countries and other forms of violence have been proven to be real in the last one week.

Nigeria has witnessed unprecedented escalation of violence from these parties just as the federal government feared.
Foreign observers that were accredited to witness the elections in line with global practice have become partisan and openly align with the opposition. In the last 14 days they have issued veiled threats, open threats, implied blackmail, direct blackmail and all manners of utterances that confirm their partiality against the Nigerian state. They have by their utterances implied that they will accept the elections only when the opposition wins.

The situation became suffocating to the point where the American ambassador to Nigeria, Stuart Symington, published a video that practically portrayed Nigeria as a colony of the US.

Intelligence has further confirmed that the EU, US and UK have, through their proxies, flooded Nigeria with small arms for onward delivery for opposition members. The arms are meant for attacking law enforcement agents and any Nigerians that are in support of political parties other than the one they are supporting. In this case, the safety of those that support the incumbent government cannot be guaranteed.

This is certainly not the concept of democracy that Nigerians subscribed to and it is definitely not the type of democracy practiced in these interfering countries.

To cap it all, the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has formally written the aforementioned countries to come and take over the running of Nigeria’s affairs pending when they will install him as president, in utter violation of the Constitution of Nigeria, which provides that the country’s president shall only emerge through an election and not installed by foreign powers.

It must be stated that while Atiku Abubakar is a candidate in the election, he does not have the mandate to outsource decisions about Nigeria to his international puppet masters.

We had expected that the failure of foreign interventions like the failed Arab Spring or the western meddling that created instability in a place like Ukraine would have taught these countries that the people of a country should be left alone to chart their own course as opposed to desperately trying to impose rulers on them when they desire leaders. But it is obvious that neither the US, EU nor UK have learnt any lesson in how not to interfere in the internal affairs of other nations.

The Democratic Coalition of Nigeria is alerting the world to note that the opposition with its foreign allies should be held responsible for any breach of peace arising from the conduct of the general elections in Nigeria. The United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union should be held liable and treated as occupation forces and collaborators of an opposition that has become militarized to overthrow the government.

However, let us also quickly warn that bringing this to the attention of the world does not imply that Nigeria or Nigerians are powerless or unable to defend their land. Let it be on record that Nigerians shall resist the imposition of a candidate by imperialists same way we are willing to shed the last of our blood to reject ongoing efforts to re-colonize Nigeria by countries like the United States, European Union and the United Kingdom that are trying to use the elections as an excuse to install a proxy as Nigeria’s president.

If these countries find Atiku Abubakar to be such a darling they are free to subjugate their own electoral process to make him their president or prime minister. To the extent that Nigerians are going to the polls to cast their votes the votes must be allowed to count and where they refuse to vote for Atiku such outcome must be respected.

As preparations heat up ahead of the 2019 presidential election, the Nigerian Democratic Forum, a pro-democracy group has raised the alarm over plots by the United State, United Kingdom governments and European Union to imposed Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party on the people through backdoor.

The group said the international community had perfected plans to make sure Atiku is announced winner of the presidential election slated to hold on Saturday, February 16.

NDF made the claim at a press conference held in Abuja on Wednesday.

Speaking at the press conference, the Director of Publicity for the group, Steven Chukwu, warned that any attempt to impose Atiku on Nigerians would be highly resisted.

Chukwu called on the Federal Government in liaison with INEC should to urgently convene a forum to remind the observer missions in the country of the roles they were accredited to play while advising them to desist from engaging in illegal activities that undermine the stability of Nigeria.

He also urged Nigerians to be at alert to defend their country from intruders.

Full text of his speech below.

The National Democratic Front (NDF) had in recent weeks raised the alarm on several occasions as to the manipulations being carried by countries that are abusing their accreditations to observe the elections in Nigeria.

The countries we have identified in this plot are the United States (US), the United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (EU) whose member, France has shown a disproportionate level of belligerence towards Nigeria.

These countries have been in the business of issuing coordinating statements that are intended to criminalize the incumbent President, His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari, who incidentally is the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

These countries have stepped beyond all known diplomatic bounds to the extent that they want to decide how Nigeria runs its domestic affairs, including how to run the judiciary and even what to do about its fight against corruption.

The plot of these countries was to force the government into a state of inertia following which Atiku Abubakar and the PDP will claim victory at the polls while the current government will be deemed illegitimate. This plot failed because they never expected Nigerians to catch up with their trick and kick against same.

The outpouring of condemnations from patriotic Nigerians forced the PDP, US, UK and EU to beat a hasty retreat to re-strategize. We have confirmation that their incentive will not allow them give up the plot to force their desired outcome on the elections even when this is a glaring violation of all known laws.

We were initially at a loss as to why the trio are desperate to install Atiku Abubakar as the next president of Nigeria even when he does not enjoy the support of Nigerians, who know his antecedent as a rent-seeking corrupt politician with a history of parcelling out the country’s economy to his foreign cronies. The discreet investigation we commissioned intelligence consultants and researchers to conduct have turned out the incentives for this countries.

The driving force for their support of Atiku Abubakar is worrisome and calls for any Nigerian that desires to still have a country after the elections to stand up against the re-colonization of Nigeria. What the investigation found out included:

The economies of the identified countries and regional bloc have tethered on the verge of meltdown since President Buhari came into office in 2015. There is anecdotal evidence that the High Street shops in the UK suffered a slump in December of that year simply because looters in Nigeria were unable to patronize the stores as they were unable to steal money to spend in that country, many of the shops have since folded up. Almost four years later, other sectors of all the meddling countries have taken hits from not having cash injection bankrolled with stolen funds from Nigeria.

Their situation became desperate because other African countries are beginning to follow in the examples of President Buhari, which means another four years of his leadership style will leave the US, UK and EU in dire economic situations while Africa would have made progress in truly being liberated.

The predicted dis-integration of Nigeria was meant to occur in 2015 but President Buhari has held the country together even against a foreign sponsored Boko Haram/ISIS terrorists. The proposed fragments of micro-client states that would resulted from a break-up of Nigeria were meant to be owned by these countries but this has not been possible. The actualization of this objective is what Atiku has ironically referred to as restructuring, in which he would explore pseudo legal means to splinter the country to satisfy his sponsors. The prospect of Atiku not winning to implement this destructive phase of partitioning Nigeria is something that the trio are not willing to accept.

Atiku has struck deals to sell key national assets to these countries through their nationals that will act as proxies. The assertion by Atiku that he will sell the NNPC to his friends was made in fulfilment of the requirement that he commits to selling Nigeria to these countries in exchange for their support to get him into office. It was desperation over the prospect of this deal unravelling that made Atiku wrote for the intervention of his foreign masters when a Chief Judge that would have validated the sales was suspended for corruption.

Legitimizing same sex marriage is another key deal that Atiku Abubakar has signed up to implement when the coalition of US, UK and EU forcefully install him in office. The practice, which is against the same sex marriage law, is something that these countries had wanted President Buhari to allow. But his refusal to pursue the repeal of the act is a sore point the western countries, who are concerned that their LGTBQ nationals could be caught on the wrong side of the law when in Nigeria.

The backlash against the interference in the domestic affairs of Nigeria has forced the US/UK/UE coalition to draw up a new plot that will lead to the same result of dubiously installing Atiku as president in opposition to the wishes expressed by Nigerian electorates at the polls. Details available to us show that:

1. The US, UK and EU election observers will jointly reject the result of the Presidential Election, even though there is nothing conferring such powers on them. They will issue a joint report in addition to the individual reports that will conclude that the election did not meet acceptable standards and that Atiku Abubakar of the PDP would have won if the election was transparent.

These claim would be backed up by the previous jaundiced statements they had issued about the elections. They will then recommend to their government to only recognize and transact with Atiku Abubakar as Nigeria’s president.

Representatives of the US, UK and EU have met with the Atiku Abubakar strategy team to agree on the modalities for rejecting the election or disrupting the official declaration of results. He has been coached on how to declare himself the winner of the election with a promise that correspondents of foreign media organizations from these countries are on standby to amplify this treasonable message for him. To ensure he escapes the likelihood of being arrested and tried for treason, the EU has volunteered to shelter Atiku in one of the diplomatic properties of an EU country in Abuja from where he would be spirited into a foreign country if the government adequately responds to thwart the plot.

The media organizations from these countries have been commissioned to carry reports that question the integrity of the election even before it is held.

They will report on the position to be announced by these countries while ignoring or underplaying the official votes announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). They will also violate the requirement that there shall be no exit polling of elections, which they will achieve using the social media to release misleading results that marginally place Atiku in the lead. The UK was selected to be in the lead for this being that it owns the BBC that has launched broadcast in Pidgin and other indigenous languages that are guaranteed to reach more Nigerians.

4. The international media will then promote stories that Nigerians have taken to the streets to demand that Atiku should be declared the winner. This will be followed by reports that security forces are deploying disproportionate violence to contain the protests. Under the guise of training local partners, these countries have trained several protest leaders with the objective of being able to launch simultaneous anti-government protests across the several cities of the country in order to overwhelm law enforcement agencies and make them incapable of containing the sponsored protests.

The National Democratic Front (NDF) condemns in the strongest terms possible this renewed bid by the US, UK and EU to colonize Nigeria in this age and time; it is irresponsible, racist and a calculated attempt to commit genocide against Nigeria in order to provide comfort for their own citizens. We invite all peace loving citizens of earth to do same because the plot they are trying to implement in Nigeria would prove catastrophic for the entire human race. These countries must be prevailed upon to adhere to the terms of election observation that requires that they are not seen or heard and have no business aligning with any candidate irrespective of their existing deals with the candidate or his political party.
NDF consequently demand that:

The US, UK and EU observer missions cease and desist from further implementing the plan to illegally declare Atiku Abubakar as the winner of the election. Nigeria has election legislation that define the procedures for declaring winners when polls have been conducted and we expect that these countries will cease being barbaric in their approach and respect these laws.

As things stand, the neutrality of any reports that the US, UK and EU observer mission file from their observation of the election are already in doubt so their continued presence in Nigeria is of no consequence. They must therefore immediately leave Nigeria having compromised their positions. The blood of any Nigerian that dies from the violence will be on the hands of these countries and on the conscience of their citizens that have failed to ask that the kind of interference going on in Nigeria be discontinued.

4. Nigerians and the international community should henceforth disregard any comments, statements and or utterances from the US, UK and EU observer missions as lies told in furtherance of manipulating the presidential election to declare Atiku Abubakar as the winner.

Nigerians should be at alert and be prepared to defend their country against the colonization by countries that want to resume looting their resources through the imposition of a puppet president. The preparation should involve meeting the slaves of the US, UK and EU on the streets should they persist to violating the sanctity of the ballot box.

The security and law enforcement agencies should place Atiku Abubakar with his associates under watch in order to keep track of what members of the US, UK and EU observer missions or their link persons he is plotting treason with.

The National Democratic Front (NDF) will continue to monitor the situation and keep Nigerians updated on the subversive activities of these foreign countries.

The Coalition on Conflict Resolution and Human Rights in Nigeria has described as false recent report in the media credited to Amnesty International that over 60 persons were killed in Rann area of Borno State by members of the Boko Haram insurgents.

Amnesty International had in a statement claimed that at least 60 people were killed following the 28 January devastating Boko Haram attack on Rann, a border town in Borno state, northeast Nigeria.

However, the human rights group said its investigative tour of the theatre didn’t only reveal that Amnesty International lied on its claim, it also showed that INEC’s decision to conduct elections in all the polling units across the north-east was well placed with the realities on ground.

The coalition made this known in a preliminary report presented on Monday in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

The report signed by its President/Convener, Gabriel Oche, said it was high time the Nigerian government began the process of expelling organizations such as Amnesty International from the country for its notoriety.

The full report reads in full.

The current news making the rounds on Boko Haram attacks in Rann, Damaturu road and other parts of the North East necessitated the Coalition on Conflict Resolution and Human Rights in Nigeria to activate a team of researchers to undertake an assessment tour of the above mentioned areas with a view to leaving the realm of speculation and to put things in proper perspective.

The operations of the Boko Haram terrorists in North East Nigeria have been the subject of debate across various platforms in Nigeria. While it has been stated in numerous forums that Boko Haram has been degraded, some organizations have countered the argument indicating that Boko Haram has instead intensified its operations against the Nigeria state.

The Nigerian military, on the other hand, has been in the vanguard of engaging the terrorist and this has resulted in casualties on both sides. This much has been evident in ensuring that peace is restored to North East Nigeria and the safe return of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to their homes and communities.

From previous reports on the activities of the Nigerian military in North East Nigeria, it has been revealed that the since 2015 the Nigerian military gained grounds and recovered many territories that were once under the control of Boko Haram terrorists and it has continually engaged the Boko Haram terrorist who has resorted to using Nigeria’s neighbours (Chad, Niger, and Cameroon) as retreat areas whenever they come under heavy bombardment from the Nigeria military .

The Boko Haram Terrorist have also set up training camps along the fringes and use such location to launch attacks in communities in Nigeria and after that retreat to these countries. This is despite the memorandum of understanding signed between Nigeria and the francophone countries towards forming an alliance to combat terrorism in Sub Saharan Africa.

There also have been established cases of external support towards the Boko Haram terrorist, especially with the affiliation of the Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) and other terrorist’s networks in the world.

Consequently, this report looks critically at the claims made by the Nigeria Army towards degrading the Boko Haram Terrorists and also the counterclaims made by some organizations such as Amnesty International and others.

It has been widely speculated by Amnesty International (AI) that Boko Haram launched a deadly attack in Rann, Borno State that saw to the death of over 60 people. It also stated that the Boko Haram terrorist have been terrorizing travellers on the Damaturu Road, as well as other parts of North East Nigeria, therefore puncturing the claims by the Nigerian Army that the Boko Haram terrorists have been degraded.


Amnesty International has engaged the Nigerian Military with accusations of human rights violations and their inability to protect the people of North East Nigeria from Boko Haram terrorist that has led to a wanton loss of lives and properties. It also alluded that there have been constant Boko Haram attacks in Rann and other parts of North East Nigeria in recent times that have seen the Nigerian military lose grip of its core responsibilities and with a dampened morale as a result of heavy casualties it has suffered in the battlefield.

The group of researchers deployed for on the spot assessment of the various claims as postulated by Amnesty International came up with the verdict that the bulk of the position of Amnesty International is not an accurate reflection of the issues on the ground.

The Rann Attacks was amplified and misrepresented to the general public by Amnesty International. It was also gathered that Amnesty International acted in a manner that suggested that it has foreknowledge of the activities of Boko Haram as in the case of Rann and the speed with which it went to press was suspect.

Some residents of the area that were interviewed shared the same sentiment on the possibility of Amnesty International working in cahoots with either some foreign interests or with the Boko Haram terrorists themselves. It was therefore concluded that the hype around the Rann Attack is mischievous and misleading.

The team of researcher also carried out extensive investigations on the claims that Damaturu and Maiduguri to ascertain the veracity of the claims that the area has been under constant attacks. It was realized that the claims are mostly false and based on rumours and assumptions. The proponents of the claims did not bother to verify their claims before making it public knowledge.

From the reports gathered from locals and other credible sources, the Nigerian military has been able to maintain a firm grip of the security of most communities in North East Nigeria. This is contrary to claims in the public space that some communities in North East Nigeria were under the control of Boko Haram Terrorists.
Again, it is misleading and not the exact representation of the situation on the ground. As a fact, the special force battalion has been able to sustain a high level of morale amongst the troops which have reflected positively in their various operations in the North East.

The activities of some non-governmental organizations such as Amnesty International have been misleading to members of the general public. Some NGOs have carried on their actions in such a manner that connotes espionage. They hide under cover of NGO to ask questions and demand for sensitive information especially on the operational strategies of the military.

It was also discovered that some of the NGOs have in their employ French-speaking staff from some francophone countries. This trend has further heightened the suspicion that some of the NGO s operating in North East Nigeria might be working against Nigeria’s interest.

Our researcher was able to uncover some details about some senior staffers in some of the NGOs that might suggest why they have been ferocious in their criticism of the operations of the Nigerian military in North East Nigeria.

For example, Awwal Rafsanjani who chairs the affairs of Amnesty International in Nigeria is a member of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN). He has been known for his affiliations with the IMN since his university days in Bayero University Kano. It, therefore, would not be out of place to conclude that Amnesty International would indeed show bias in its reportage of the activities of the Nigerian military in North East Nigeria.

The researchers also identified another example in Isah Sanusi, the public relations officer of Amnesty International. Isah Sanusi is a former staff BBC Hausa and also a member of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria and who is known to have promoted hate speeches, religious bigotry, and intolerance.

The research team concluded that Amnesty International and other organizations such as Transparency International (TI) and Civil Society Legislative Centre (CISLAC) carries on with an agenda that defeats objectivism in all ramification and with a penchant for spreading falsehood and half-truths to the general public.

There is relative peace in all the communities that were visited by the team of researchers at random cutting across the states and therefore corroborates the position of the Independent National Electoral Commissions’ position that elections can now take place in all the communities.

The efforts of the military are entirely laudable.



The relevant authorities must warn the populace on the dangers posed by some identified NGOs in North East Nigeria
The relevant authorities must begin a security audit of all the international NGOs operating in North East Nigeria.

The relevant authorities must begin the process of expelling organizations such as Amnesty International from Nigeria for its notoriety.

The relevant authorities must make it mandatory for all NGOs in North East Nigeria to submit a weekly report of its activities in North East Nigeria to the Nigerian Military for vetting and approval before making public.

The relevant authorities must peg the number of NGOs that can operate in North East Nigeria in a bid to curb espionage activities.

Nigerians should be more concerned about humanitarian issues and lack of infrastructure in the locality.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Save Humanity Advocacy Centre (SHAC) has accused the Amnesty International of working for the Boko Haram sect against the interest of Nigeria.

According to the group, the stories about 60 persons killed by Boko Haram in Rann was not only false but contrived by Amnesty International in its usual attack to diminish the efforts of the Federal Government as a failed state whilst dampening the moral of troops to confer advantage on the fleeing elements of Boko Haram.

SHAC said it is now evident that AI appears more desperate that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in dissemination of false information and propaganda just to whittle down the government’s efforts against insurgency.

Addressing a press conference on Saturday, SHAC, through its Executive Director, Intelligence and Investigation Bereau, Adams Odoh, called on the Federal Government to review its stance and expel Amnesty International from the country.

It also opined that the AI should be officially listed as an affiliate of Boko Haram to pave way for the organization and its staff to be treated as terrorists in view of their terrorism-supporting activities.

He said, “You may wish to note that Boko Haram’s propaganda infrastructure suffered some measure of decline as the media in Nigeria has increasingly become aware of the dangers of helping the terrorists to promote instances in which they carry out attacks. Some of the so called activists and pseudo-journalists that help Boko Haram to promote its propaganda were also identified, which has made media houses to be wary of posts and comments from such individuals.

“This lack of visibility on the part of Boko Haram must hurt the confidence of its fighters since they rely on the mainstream and social media to hype their evil deeds for them to be able to strike terror in the heart of Nigerians.

“The loss of access to these identified channels must have prompted Boko Haram to explore extreme options irrespective of whether this would expose its hidden long-term collaborators. This is exactly the risk that the terror group has taken by frontally activating Amnesty International to publicise the attack on Rann. This scenario may appear farfetched but the choice of words used in relating Boko Haram’s acts of terror in the town are consistent with an organization that is desirous of causing widespread terror and panic, which is the same objective that Boko Haram has.

“Close watchers of the unfolding situation in Nigeria’s northeast should at this point begin to question if Amnesty International is scheming to usurp the role of the Nigerian military in verifying and investigating attacks carried out by the terrorists. This development, in which Amnesty International hijacked the role of the Nigerian state, should begin to convince those in doubt that this so called NGO not only have a morbid disdain for the Nigerian state but is also concluded in doing all that is possible to lead to the demise of the country.

“Note that the only acknowledgement that Amnesty International has for Nigerian authorities was to cast aspersion on them, viz alleging that they abandoned civilians to the terrorists. The fable about troops leaving Rann before the attack has all the makings of an organization that want to corral public opinion against the military and the state.

"Yet, the same Amnesty International has on too many occasions manipulated the situation to allege that the presence of the military in civilian areas was a recipe for abuses of civilian rights. This makes it confounding how this organization wants the military to stay away from civilian areas and protect civilians while staying away at the same time.

“What makes this latest development worrisome is that the military authorities have asserted that there was no attack in Rann, which confirmed that Amnesty International has again engaged in spawning fake news. The intention for doing this is not farfetched.

Amnesty International engaged in propagating fake news as part of its efforts to influence the outcomes of the general elections in favour of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), for which it is known to be working. At this point, it is no longer possible for Amnesty International to deny that it is the liaison between Boko Haram and the PDP, which has been discovered to have recruited the terrorists to disrupt the elections.

It must also be mentioned that there had been allegations in the past that organizations like Amnesty International are in the business of passing military intelligence secret that they gather in the course of their work to Boko Haram terrorists. For the same NGO to be the one promoting the story about the attack in Rann raises concerns about what links it has to this particular attack, which it became aware of before even the residents of the community. We sincerely want to know what other shady dealing Amnesty International has been able to conclude before it began exposing its role in the persistence of Boko Haram terrorists in Borno state and environs.

“On the side line, let us quickly mention that there has been a kind of deafening silence on the part of Amnesty International whenever Nigeria’s francophone neighbours suffer Boko Hara attacks. Perhaps the explanation is that Amnesty International does not have French speaking operatives on ground in these places to carry out its questionable activities.

“The Save Humanity Advocacy Centre (SHAC) will restate its earlier position that Nigeria must reconsider the political correctness that makes it allow a subversive entity like Amnesty International to freely operate in the country in a manner that undermine the security of the entire country while putting the lives of citizens at risk. The activities of this NGO are bad enough that the work of other interventionist NGOs that are working to bring succour to displaced persons is being hampered. Staffers of these NGOs are placed at risk from the manner of operation that Amnesty International is running in Nigeria.
In reviewing this situation, it is pertinent that the wellbeing of the citizens takes precedence because each successful operation that Amnesty International carried out, whether by way of its dubious report, tipping off terrorists or clandestinely colluding with them and more recently running their propaganda, makes the quality of life of citizens compromised.

“This timely warning to the government becomes necessary to prevent a repeat of what happened in the past when aggrieved groups and Nigerians almost resorted to self-help to expel the controversial NGO from Nigeria. Nigeria cannot continue to wait for Amnesty International to commit more crimes against the people before taking steps to protect citizens from its criminal activities.”

Following his recent outburst, civil society group, National Democratic Front has called on the Police and DSS to apprehend Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national chairman, Uche Secondus for threatening national security.

Mr Secondus, in an ill-tempered rant at the party's presidential campaign rally in Asaba, Delta state, Thursday, threatened “war" should his party lose the February 16 Presidential Election.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Secretary-General Bolaji Abdukadir opined that the PDP’s desperation for power has taken an awkward direction.

He, however, urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies not to fall for such cheap threat.

“The threat by the PDP National Chairman implies that he expects that his party must be announced the winner of the election even when it loses. This is not justifiable under any circumstances in a country where there are laws. This is especially so when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured of conducting elections that are internationally acceptable while President Muhammadu Buhari has directed all the agencies with roles in the polls to abide by the rules.

“It will however seem that the PDP with its officials and chieftains are resolute on doing everything to undermine the elections, degrade their credibility even before they are conducted and reject results that they are already projected to lose. They see shadows behind every wall and have become pathetically hysterical to the point of handing the country over to foreigners.

“This hysteria on the part of the PDP and its mercenaries has put the entire country on edge with the constant sabre rattling over the election while creating the impression that it has to be a war situation of a do or die affair when the entire process is in reality about citizens exercising their right to decide who leads them. The PDP is aware of its low acceptability among Nigerian voters because of its record of wasted opportunities so it has now resorted to threats to force itself on the country.

“Constantly creating the impression that the general elections would be rigged in favour of the ruling party has therefore become the stock in trade of the PDP to the extent that not even its members take the party seriously anymore hence the ill-advised strategy of threatening war against the country. The implication of the threat from PDP is that it would unleash violence on the country when the results are announced and it loses fairly and squarely.

“Several groups with a few individuals and the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed had raised the alarm in the past that the PDP has perfected plans to cause widespread violence as part of a plot to force an interim government on the country because it knows it will lose the election. Secondus’ threat is the clearest confirmation yet that this plot is real and is now in its implementation stage.

“NDF consequently calls on the DSS and the Nigerian Police Force to immediately arrest and question Secondus to explain what he meant by declaring war. It is our belief that this matter should not be treated with levity given the earlier revelation that the PDP has positioned terrorists, extremists, separatists and foreign mercenaries to unleash violence in different parts of the country.

“A failure to arrest Secondus and any other person that threaten war against Nigeria over the elections will make these law enforcement agencies accessories to any breakdown of law and order carried out by the PDP.”

A female political activist and communal harmony advocate Elizabeth Barnabas, has described the Peoples Democratic Party senatorial candidate, Lawal Adamu Usman (Mr LA) as the most detribalized politician that could ever be found in Kaduna state today.

Elizabeth who made the observation before an all-female audience in Giwa in continuation of her peaceful election crusade across the state, said while most other politicians see the struggle for political ascendancy as a do or die affair that does not preclude the incitement of religious or tribal jealousies, Mr LA strongly commits himself to a brand of politics that solicits greater communal integration on the basis of mutual trust.

According to her, " Unlike other competitors, Mr LA's primary goal in politics is to gain acceptance through mass persuasion and to mobilize communities to function effectively and collectively as a means to resolve specific issues of practical importance without necessarily appealing to tribal or religious sentiments.

She described the LA type of politics as unique for its inclusion of extrapartisan forms like peace and communal harmony groups, youth and women cooperatives, affinity groups, multi-ethnic and cross-religious organizations. 

"He plays an organic politics that is based on grassroots education, not mass mobilization. What he primarily seeks is empowerment of the society to breed citizens who can freely associate and mutually support each other with a view toward re-empowering the public as a whole. 

"LA is solely committed to seeking to create a new political order and a meaningful public opinion oriented toward a broad vision of social change and public involvement in the problems of our time.

"I am of Katab tribe from Chikun and a Christian, yet I have no doubt that LA has a workable formula for redressing the dismal history of failures and betrayals that mark so many past efforts and exacerbated by the current APC administration of Nasir Elrufai which has in the last few years virtually frozen political life in Kaduna state," Elizabeth said.

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

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



“The Taraba Good Governance Council uses this opportunity to appeal to our compatriots in the state to see the launch of the base as a kind of reset button that should prompt all of us to reassess our relationship with each other and come to the realization that there can be better inter-ethnic and sectarian interaction that will reduce the tendencies for violent clashes. Our belief is that once we manage our affairs in Taraba state with the least incidences to require the intervention of the Army, troops can better focus on on dealing with external threats to Nigeria, like containing the separatists from Cameroon.”

By John Hosea

There has been quite an upheaval on the operations of the Nigerian Army in Taraba state in recent times. So much so that it portrayed the Nigeria army as having ulterior motives in its activities in Taraba state, especially as it concerns the farmers/herders conflict.

I recall that the Nigerian Army had on numerous occasions denied any form of favouritism in its operations in the state. But some citizens would hear none of it. They went further to allude that the Nigerian Army was taking sides with herdsmen in the state. A claim that was uncharitable and far from the truth.

There was mutual suspicion amongst the various stakeholders, which led to a very unhealthy relationship between the Nigerian Army and the Taraba state government and a large extent did affect the operations of the Nigerian Army in the state. But, all of that, is now history with the renewed partnership for peace and security in the state.

In my opinion, the Taraba state government indeed realized that the Nigerian Army under the present Chief of Army staff could not have been so unprofessional to takes sides with a section of the population, whereas it is constitutionally mandated to protect the territorial integrity of the country. I stand to be corrected, would such a scenario be ever possible in a country as plural as ours? Unless the bulk of the officers and men of the Nigerian Army are from a particular ethnicity or religion before such can be possible. but as they say, let bygone be bygone as we focus on the task ahead.

I am elated and as well of the opinion that with the renewed partnership between the Taraba state government there seems to be an excellent working relationship that has yielded positives in the operations of the Nigerian Army in the state.

The first victory for peace, security and development everywhere in the world is overcoming mutual suspicion and clear understanding of the issues at stake which in the present case is the security of lives and properties of the common masses. And this gives rise to appreciation of the efforts of the Taraba State governor, Darius Ishaku and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen. Tukur Buratai.

While this may not be news to some out there, for some of us in the know of the intricacies that greeted the operations of the Nigerian Army in the state as a result of the misinterpretation of the stance of the Army in securing lives and properties, would readily agree with me that indeed this is a welcome development and worth bringing out the drums.

The centrality of Taraba in North Central Nigeria makes it greater responsibility for the Nigerian Army to ensure a peaceful atmosphere that would bring about the needed development in the state. And this much it has strived to do in recent times, and of course, without the cooperation of the people, there would always be hitches and frictions.

But now that the various stakeholders in the state have come to terms with the invaluable contributions of the Nigerian Army in their area, they have no choice but to extend the needed support the Army needs towards the success of its operations. I am of the opinion that this partnership should not be restricted alone to Taraba state, but other states in the North East like Benue, Nasarawa, and Plateau states that experiences a similarity of security challenges.

I know for a fact the governor of Taraba state Darius Ishaka played a tremendous role in winning the confidence of the stakeholders in the state to extend their support to the Nigeria Army and I also know that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai also ensured that the activities of the Nigeria Army in the state is guided by professionalism. So much so that it was able to win the confidence of a people who were once suspicious of their operations.

That the Nigerian Army was indeed able to rise to the occasion in such an atmosphere of suspicion and all sorts of insinuations from certain quarters and citizens in the state, is a testament of the dynamic leadership of the Chief of Army staff in line with its mandate of Civil-Military relationship.

It is, therefore, sufficing to state that the role of the Nigeria Army in internal and external security in the country cannot be overemphasized given the multitude of security challenges confronting the country. The Nigerian Army has been able to rise to the occasion. However, it must be noted that it’s a product of collective responsibility for such feats to be recorded. The case of Taraba state readily suffices, and that was why I mentioned the need for other states, not just in North Central to key into this partnership because there is nowhere in the world where there can be meaningful development in a state of insecurity.

I commend the governor of Taraba state Darius Ishaku for understanding that good working relationship with the Army is a panacea for the security and lives of the people of the state. I also commend the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai for standing resolute even in the face of provocation, falsehood, and distrust of its operations in the state.

What does this tell us? It tells us that once the head is good, the body would also be useful. This is the case in the Nigeria Army. I could safely say that professionalism and a clear cut understanding of its roles and functions in democratic settings and the need to abide by international best practices were the watch words.

In as much as this is a welcome development, it behoves on the relevant stakeholders in Taraba state to see that this renewed relationship with the Nigeria Army is sustained for peace to continue to reign and which would ultimately bring about meaningful development. And at the end of the day, Taraba and indeed Tarabans would be the greatest beneficiaries.

Hosea writes from Jalingo.

Nigerians in the United States (US) are protesting against corruption in the Nigerian judiciary.

The posters who hit US streets also seek international support for President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti corruption war.

Details soon......

With the dust from the suspension of ex-Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen yet to settle, almost 1000 youth groups across the country have backed President Muhammadu Buhari’s action.

The embattled judicial chief is facing trial over non-declaration of assets.

In a statement released by Comrade Aaron Tobias Turner, Secretary of the Communique Drafting Committee, on Monday, Mr Buhari has no fault in the decision taken.

According to the group, Mr Onnoghen would have done the needful by stepping aside hence avoided such dramatic and shameful exit.

“Questions about the integrity of Justice Walter Onnoghen are not new. What is new is that there is finally an administration that is bold enough to take steps that will save the judiciary from the transactional culture that had turned the courts in Nigeria into shams where justice is bought and sold. The hesitation in naming him as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) was informed by the knowledge of his pro-corruption tendencies.

“Upon being found out, if he were a patriot and one that is conscious of his oath of office, Justice Onnoghen should have recused himself from judicial duties for the length of time it would have taken to defend himself before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) after which he could return to his post should he be able to prove himself as innocent. He would have gone down in history as a great Nigerian had he threaded this path instead of turning himself into the lead character in the unfolding drama of absurdity.

“Justice Onnoghen, in a previous ruling, had himself affirmed the independence of the CCT being a creation of the Constitution and one that cannot be challenged by other courts. It is only proper that President Muhammadu Buhari follows the order of the CCT that directed him to suspend Justice Onnoghen to answer charges of false assets declaration against him.

“The offence of failure to properly declare his assets including the secret bank accounts and operating foreign accounts in contravention of the law are now being overshadowed by the unnecessary drama that have been whipped up by his supporters. The duplicity of using the elections as blackmail has not obliterated the fact that Justice Onnoghen violated the law and this in spite of his untenable defence of mistake and forgetfulness.

“The composition of those speaking in defence of Onnoghen is suspect. Those canvassing for his reinstatement are clearly people that stand to benefit from his continued stay in office. They include leading opposition figures, the same people that have been accused of bribing him with the money found in his undeclared bank accounts. His support base include militants and separatist terrorists with members standing trial. Like the opposition politicians, their members could be handed death sentence, they have cases that would be appealed up to the Supreme Court. The nature of those that have spoken in favour of Justice Onnoghen therefore constitute a fresh crisis of interest for him.

“Justice Onnoghen supporters have recruited foreign interests and other countries to undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty in an attempt to block the country’s ability to fight corruption. The opposition and their civil society arm are now creating a precedence where Nigeria must get the approval of the United States, United Kingdom, the European Union and just any other western country before taking any action in furtherance of citizens’ interest.”

The Centre for International and Strategy Studies, has finally broken its silence on the controversy trailing the suspension of Walter Onnoghen as the Chief Justice of Nigeria.

CISS said the suspension of Onnoghen was a right step in the right direction, adding that the decision was to safeguard the integrity of the judiciary sector.

There have been mixed reactions following the suspension of Onnoghen as the CJN over issue bodering on corruption.

While some believe the suspension might have political undertones, others are of the opinion that the suspension was in order as no one is above the law.


David Bamidele, President, CISS, while addressing a press conference on Sunday, said the suspension of the CJN, Justice Onnoghen by President Buhari in compliance with the order of the CCT was not only reasonable and timely, but necessary to salvage the partly battered image of the Nigerian judiciary.

He also said the decision was to protect democracy from the class of the few bad characters in the judicial cum political system.

"In a nation-wide address, the President explained that the decision to suspend Justice Onnoghen was spurred by the wisdom of the CCT, the only court which has the lawful mandate to pry into matters of alleged breach of Code of Conduct prescribed for public officers, pending final determination of the charges against him at the CCT.

"About fortnight ago, Nigerians were assailed with the alleged breach of the Code of Conduct laws by the CJN through a petition signed by the Executive Director, Anti-Corruption and Research Based Data Initiative, Mr. Dennis Aghanya. According the petitioner, the NGO painstakingly investigated the CJN, which commenced about a year ago. The details of the alleged offences against the CJN are in public domain.

"But suffice it to say, specifically, the suspended CJN allegedly operated and failed to declare or improperly declared three domiciliary accounts in Standard Chartered Bank with about $3million stashed in them among other charges.

"The CCT chaired by Justice Danladi Umar began inquest into the allegations by dragging Justice Onnoghen before it for trial in consonance with the stipulations of the law. However, it elicited unnecessary disquiet and judicial ambush of the case, designed to frustrate the trial.

"There have been frenzied unwarranted or cynical attacks or accusations of President Buhari by ethnic champions and political shenanigans’ and accomplices in the judiciary, who have conveniently ignored the provisions of the law.

"The critics have found it more convenient to repress the fact of the suspended CJN’s own admission of committing a breach of the Code of Conduct law, which he casually explained it as “mistake or forgetfulness.”

"Anywhere, the judiciary operates on the basis of law and all operators in the temple of justice ought to thrive on an unquestionable morality and integrity.

"Where this is lacking as revealed by the preliminary findings of the Code of Conduct on the breaches by the CJN, democracy itself is threatened and it is a path to an inglorious abuse of the rule of law.


"The few antagonistic to the suspension and trial of Justice Onnoghen are directly seeking a return to the rules of the jungle, where might and position of influence was a guaranteed license to indulge in all manner of unlawful acts unchallengeable.

"But just last year, the CJN had the moral strength or authority to preside over the alleged false assets declaration by the President of the Senate, Sen. Bukola Saraki when the Senator appealed several aspects of his trial at the CCT. Yet, the CJN had skeletons in his cupboard. This is an act that cannot be tolerated in any country.

"The administration of President Buhari has made it clear from the outset that under his watch, such acts will not be condoned. And therefore, that the Head of the Nigerian judiciary is involved does not insulate him from the proper legal actions by virtue of his position as chorused by others.

"The efforts of the present government to sanitize and rid the judiciary of corrupt officers shadowed since 2016 when the DSS arrested seven judges, including two Supreme Court judges for alleged corruption during a sting operation. The case of the suspended CJN, Justice Onnoghen is therefore not exceptional.

'The ordinary Nigerian has always craved to have a dependable judiciary; a true temple of justice, where all who approach it shall be entitled to equity and fair hearing; a where judgments’ would truly reflect the merits of the dispute before the court for resolution.

"But sadly, much of the uprightness expected from the Nigerian judiciary is a mirage, as attested in the quantum of petitions against some judges to the National Judicial Commission (NJC). In 2016, in the heat of the arrest and trial of some judges, the NJC disclosed that 808 Justices in Nigeria have been petitioned by Nigerians over allegations of corrupt practices and professional misconducts.

" It exposes the level of discontent in Nigerians over the operations of the judiciary and conduct of judicial officers. And it is unfortunate to understand the Number One Judicial officer in Nigeria is also embroiled in these sordid allegations.

" Nigeria is heading to its worse moments in drifting negatively. It is surprising that some accused persons who are arraigned in court approach other courts of even concurrent jurisdiction to obtain injunctions to halt such trials. And some presiding Judges go ahead in their wisdom to grant such frivolous injunctions."

Some youths in Benye State, under the umbrella of Citizens Watch Initiative (CIWI) staged a rally in Makurdi, the state capital over the controversy trailing the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen.

The youth group described the criticisms greeting the ouster of Onnoghen as the CJN as needless and unfortunate.

Solomon Samenka, leader of the group while addressing the protesters, who were seen carrying placards while chanting solidarity songs in support of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government, frowned at the mission to destroy the country by a ‘monster political organization the PDP and the some extremely corrupt judges in the judiciary.”

According to Samenka, “Since the emergence of our Messiah President Muhammad Buhari, We have been held at ransom by this monster organization in connivance with their notorious partners in the judiciary as led and recently revealed by the Justice Walter Onoghen act, which is not only evil but sacrilegious to say the least.

“In the recent months that preceded the former CJN appointment, Judges have taken a lead in corrupt practices and yet , despite the policy direction of Mr president on corruption, the judiciary under Walter Onoghen has so proved to be uncooperative, unreliable and the most untrustworthy partner in the fight against corruption. Never in the nations history has things been this bad in the nations judiciary.

“The collective blackmail of the president and Nigerians is not only political, but it is intended to derail Nigeria on the path of prosperity and ensure that the gains of a transparent government such as provided by the Buhari leadership does not yield.

“My dear comrades and friends, the challenges stare us in the face, as the PDP wishes to privatize our common wealth and in turn demonize our President. It is incumbent on us to find a common ground to reject and disgrace this monster political organization to safeguard the future of our nation.

“You will agree with me how judges and lawyers have soiled the their hands in the deep recesses of corruption everywhere they find themselves. They have found amongst themselves thieving allies, with special courts scattered around the cities of our country, dishing out black market judgments in favor of corrupt clients against our Federation.

“We have in this country, lawyers who have billions in cash and assets that their seven lives can not account for. They are used to mobilize bribes for themselves and to the Judges ,all these are prizes taken to desecrate the temple of justice, were justice is no longer sought but sold to the highest corrupt bidder.

“It is therefore time to arise and poke their eyes , their nose and pinch their conscience using whatever extreme means possible and practicable.

“Henceforth, We will begin to mobilize for legislation that will legalize that their illegal assets be set ablaze like its done in South Africa , we are mindful of a Saraki and Dogara led National assembly and our warning goes to them too.

“We are not sworn enemies to prosperity on account of a thieving judiciary and a bankrupt bar supported by a monster political organization with a history of corruption.

“Of what connection is the suspension of PDP presidential campaign and the legitimate suspension of a thieving CJN?

Of what connection is the threat by lawyers to boycott court sessions and the suspension of a thieving CJN? Is a particular CJN indispensable? Even in the face of glaring infractions?

“Why are politicians of a particular party,_the PDP so jittery, peeved and and angry about an otherwise normal presidential decision?

“What else could be a better indictment than the CJN acceptance of guilt and now the personal expression of PDP dissatisfaction over his suspension?

“If he was arraigned, as he ought to, but deliberately refused to, and he took the plea of guilt, as he did in his press statement, feigning mistake and ignorance, would he not have been convicted almost immediately?

"If the answer is in the affirmative;
Would he have been mobilizing people from the prison walls to stage kangaroo protests in ABUJA to disrupt the normal way of living for Nigerians?

“I urge you all to continue to keep your eyes peeled for the antics of this monster political and thieving elements at the bar and bench.”

Protesters on Monday paralyzed commercial activities in Lagos State in support of President Muhammdu Buhari's decision to suspend the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen.

The protesters, who carried placards with various inscriptions, declared that Onnoghen lacks moral standing to remain in office as CJN.

Comrade Festus Akintola, Convener of the protest, said Justice must take its full course to serve as a deterrent to others that it is no longer business as usual.



He said, "We have all gathered here to express our disgust with the actions of some segment of the country that have viewed the action of the president in placing the Chief Justice of Nigeria on suspension for false declaration of assets in contravention of the Code of Conduct Bureau Act for public office holders in the country.

"Nigeria is not a country where anyone should be viewed as above the law as the law is no respecter of persons. And what an irony that the chief law officer of the country would violate the law and would still want to evade justice. If that should ever happen, then Nigeria is no longer a country but a banana republic.

"We stand in absolute solidarity with our dear and amiable president who has risen in defense of the country by suspending the Chief Justice of the country and thereby sending a strong message to all that no matter how highly placed, once you violate the law, there would be consequences.

"We are also at a loss as to what case or position some people to want to canvass in a situation as glaring as this. Are they trying to deny the fact that the Chief Justice of Nigeria did not commit any offense? Are they trying to say that the president didn’t do the right thing by asking the Chief Justice to proceed on suspension pending the determination of the suit before the Code of Conduct Tribunal?

"We wish to state that it amounts to moral bankruptcy for the Chief Justice to cite “forgetfulness” as the reason for not declaring a part of his estate. And we now wonder how someone of such high standing would think he can take over 180 million Nigerians for a ride.

"And quite ironically some ethnic and religious champions have taken turns to give the actions of the president all manners of ethnic and religious coloration at the detriment of the fact of the matter.

"But they shall be all put to shame because the majority of Nigerians are with the president and supports wholeheartedly the action of the president in the quest to rid the judiciary of corrupt elements such as the suspended Chief Justice.

"In Nigeria today, under the watch of President Muhammadu Buhari, we have indeed seen how and what it takes to fight the cancerous corruption. That is what President Muhammadu Buhari has displayed in the bold action of his.

"We are all gathered here despite our busy schedules to show solidarity to the man of the people. The man who has the interest of the country at heart. The man who has dared the path where no one dares venture. The man that has an unshaken belief in the unity of Nigeria. The man who says a yes and it is a yes. A man who would not dip his hands in government coffers and a man who has shown us what it takes to have integrity in a country like ours.

"The case of the Chief Justice of Nigeria presents us with one of such instances in which our president has risen in defense of the country.

"And it takes more than a commitment and belief in the national development agenda for such actions to protect the people from dubious and corrupt minded individuals such as the suspended Chief Justice Walter Onnoghnen.

"We are angry at the audacity if Justice Walter Onnoghnen to insult our intelligence as a people by wanting to whip up ethnic and religious sentiments through paid political jobbers.

"If Justice Walter Onnoghen has any atom of morals as the Chief Justice of the country, the rational thing for him to have done was to honorably resign from office to save the judicial arm of the country the shame and denigration that has it brought upon us.

"So bad is this case that Nigeria has become a laughing stock among countries. And the ethnic champions do not see anything wrong with it the shame Justice Walter Onnoghen has brought upon our country.

"We support President Muhammadu Buhari wholeheartedly in the fight against corruption in the judiciary. We are consequently of the firm opinion that if the judiciary is not sanitized, then we might be in for considerable trouble."

As reactions continue to trail the suspension of Justice Walter Onoghen as the Chief Justice of Nigeria by President Muhammadu Buhari-led government, some lawyers and civil society organizations have vowed to mobilize over 220 million Nigerians against the reinstatement of the embattled CJN.

The groups said any attempt to reinstate Onnoghen would bring the nation’s judiciary into ridicule before the international community.

Lawyers of Conscience, CSOS, Professionals Without Border and other group commended President Buhari for taking the anti-corruption fight to the judiciary arm of the government.

Princess Ajibola Esq, Convener of the group urged the federal government not to bow to the pressure from the opposition parties and few Nigerians who are not happy with the ouster of the billionaire CJN.

Speaking at a world press conference on Saturday in Abuja, Ajibola said the entire war against corruption would be meaningless if the judiciary continues to remain rotten since the conviction rate has remained dismal even though many suspected corrupt persons have been arraigned

His words, “Since even corruption has company, expectantly, there have been reactions to this development. The preponderance of reactions has been that the suspension of the former CJN to pave way for a fair trial of his case at the Code of Conduct Tribunal and to save the judiciary from disrepute is a step in the right direction.

“The judiciary had in the last two weeks been at its worst as those over whom Justice Onnoghen had powers were coerced into delivering one ridiculous ruling after another in the attempts to shield him from standing trial.

“However, a narrow but fierce minority has launched a campaign to muddle the issues and create the impression that the removal of a CJN that wilfully violated the laws of Nigeria is a rape of democracy.

“It is instructive that this narrow minority is led by the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), whose members have been the greatest beneficiaries of the baffling Supreme Court rulings that were procured while Onnoghen was still in office. Members of the same party had also been reported to be banking on a Justice Onnoghen-led judiciary to sell election victory to them.

“May we also note that the lynch mob that have been criticising President Buhari have added the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) as their choristers, with Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) taking on the role of back-up singers. It is simply ridiculous when we are reminded that even the current leader of the association has a case of money laundering pending before a competent court, which makes a corrupt judiciary attractive to this set of critics. The only fortunate thing is that the position being canvassed as that of the NBA is nothing but the view of a few people that are fortunate to currently be at the helms of its affairs, for we have seen many lawyers have voiced opinions that support the steps President Buhari has taken.

“Buoyed by the wrong premises advanced by the PDP and NBA, a few Nigerians have also come in their personal capacities or as groups to repeat the misleading argument that the suspension of a corrupt judge is a threat to democracy. Nothing can be farther from the truth. The real danger to democracy is allowing mobster judge continue to lead the most important arm of government, for the judiciary remains the hope of the common man.


“We are also aware that some of them that hitherto were car parks and mortuary attendants in foreign lands are posturing as professional Nigerians and making contact with foreign countries to come and help restore Justice Onnoghen, even though the breach he committed would have attracted stiff jail terms in the countries being so approached. May we educate those that have been sent on the international errand to bring opprobrium upon Nigeria that this is Nigeria addressing its internal challenges with corruption based on extant legislation. The point where other countries are being invited to come and “enforce” in Nigeria what they will not accept in their own jurisdiction.

“Had a poor civil servant or lowly officer committed this same infraction of saying they forgot to declare certain assets or bank accounts in their name they would have gotten to jail faster than it takes Justice Onnoghen to put on his wig. But a man who has lived most of his life interpreting the law is reluctant to present himself before a tribunal that has summoned him. If an everyday Nigerian behaves the same way the implications would be dire. Yet we are all clamouring for a Nigeria where we are all treated as equal before the law.


“We therefore condemn in its totality, this deliberate attempt by mischief-makers, hiding under the lie of defending democracy and in tandem with the billionaire ex-CJN to attempt criminalizing an action taken in furtherance of the anti-corruption. The dubious nature of their response to the suspension of the ex-CJN is exposed by the growing threats from these people, which border on trying to shut down the government simply because President Buhari dared to touch corruption at its very core as the judiciary had become the guaranteed for corrupt people that they can always escape the consequences of stealing from Nigerians.

“We salute the courage of President Buhari for daring to take on corruption in the judiciary even on the threshold of elections without fearing that he could lose the votes of those that may be positively disposed to keeping that arm of government corrupt. Yet we acknowledge the imperative of taking this step, which is obvious. The entire war against corruption would be meaningless if the judiciary continues to remain rotten since the conviction rate has remained dismal even though many suspected corrupt persons have been arraigned. They simply get arraigned and then initiate series of hanky-panky that means they never get convicted.

“The billionaire ex-CJN, Justice Walter was reputed to be the coordinator of sale of justice by the bench with the money found in his undeclared account said to be the proceeds of judgement procured by the likes of Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, who curiously has had a case that is not too different from Justice Onnoghen’s own before the CCT. Corrupt politicians and Nigerians are aware of this and would have preferred that the status quo remain.”