Kankara students’ release: God is faithful to Nigeria, Buhari – Interfaith group

The National Inter-Faith and Religious Organizations for Peace (NIFROP) has welcomed the release of abducted students of Government Science Secondary School in Kankara, Katsina State. 

The NIFROP, in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Bishop Sunday Garuba, on Friday, said the release is a demonstration of God’s faithfulness towards Nigeria and the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.  

Recall that the respected group, alongside other Nigerians had on Tueaday embarked on a one-day national prayer for the safe return of the schoolboys. 

Bishop Garuba had charged Nigerians to return to God in prayers to compliment the efforts of the gallant troops. 

And barely 48 hours after, the release was confirmed by the Katsina State Government without payment of any ransome. 

In reaction, Bishop Garuba described President Buhari as God’s anointed servant who can not be disgraced by those against the interest of the country in its quest towards sustainable growth and development. 

He further thanked all well-meaning Nigerians for their prayers and supplications for the safe return of the abducted boys to their families and love ones. 

On behalf of the group, Bishop Garuba also hailed the security agencies that worked tirelessly to secure the safe return of the boys.

He, however, charged all citizens to continue to pray for the administration of President Buhari against those that have constituted themselves as clogs in the wheels of the progress of the country. 

Read full statement below:

The National Interfaith and Religious Organizations for Peace welcomed the rescue of the abducted schoolboys from their dormitories in Kankara, Katsina State as a demonstration of Gods awesomeness towards Nigeria. 

We are stating in unequivocal terms that the rescue of the abducted boy is indeed an indication that God loves Nigeria and President Muhammadu Buhari. 

This is indeed a testament to the fact that President Muhammadu Buhari is Gods servant and can’t be disgraced by those that have elected to be against the interest of Nigeria in our quest towards sustainable growth and development. 

The National Interfaith and Religious Organizations for Peace is using this medium to extend its appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari for his display of sound leadership in ensuring that the various security agencies put in their best towards the rescue of the abducted boys. 

President Muhammadu Buhari has once again proved that his stewardship of Nigeria is in the overall interest of Nigerians and not a select few as has been the case with previous administrations in Nigeria. 

Nigerians must indeed come to terms with the realization that President Muhammadu Buhari is Gods anointed for Nigeria and therefore all those that have been plotting on ways to discredit his administration should have a rethink and change their ways for the bible states in the book of Psalms 105:15 “Touch not my anointed ones, do my prophets no harm!”

The National Interfaith and Religious Organizations for Peace thank all well-meaning Nigerians for their prayers and supplications for the safe return of the abducted boys to their families and love ones. 

We consequently extend our gratitude and commendation to the security agencies that worked tirelessly to secure the safe return of the boys. They have indeed displayed tremendous acts of patriotism and commitment to the Nigerian cause. 

Our security agencies are deserving of our commendation for rising to the occasion in this critical task that saw to the safe return of the abducted boys. 

It consequently behoves on all well-meaning Nigerians to continue to pray for the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari against those that have constituted themselves as clogs in the wheels of the progress of the country. 

The National Interfaith and Religious Organizations for Peace shall continue to offer intercessory prayers for President Muhammadu Buhari as he leads Nigeria towards the path of sustainable growth and development. 

We are also using this medium to call on Nigerians from all walks of life to stand on the side of truth by extending their support to the lofty plans and policies of the Muhammadu Buhari led administration. 

The safe return of the abducted boys is another testimony of Gods abounding love and faithfulness to Nigeria. 

Unveiling Kashim Shettima and his crocodile tears

By Nuhu Ali

Facts dont lie. This much we should be aware of in our everyday struggles in life. I am not a fan of the former governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, because I am one of those that felt he didn’t handle the Boko Haram situation in the state effectively while he held sway as governor.

For Kashim Shettima, his public conducts in recent times bellies a man that speaks from both sides of the mouth and a man who was unappreciative to God for the way and manner he became governor. I recall vividly at the twilight of the tenure of former governor Ali Modu Sherrif in 2011; the coast was all clear for the emergence of Modu Fannami Gubio, who was the favourite. However, in a move that has remained controversial, Modu Fannami Gubio was murdered, and that paved the way for Kashim Shettima to become the candidate of the ANPP and eventual governor of Borno state.

It is instructive to mention that for the eight years he held sway as governor, Boko Haram activities reached an alarming crescendo and the consequent maladministration that characterized the Kashim Shettima administration, Borno state was almost annihilated on several fronts.

In some quarters, it has been alleged that Kashim Shettima patronized the Boko Haram group for contributing to his emergence as governor of Borno state in the aftermath of the death of Modu Fannami Gubio. As such, his sincerity towards addressing the Boko Haram threats was questionable. This fact was buttressed with the way and manner he ran the state throughout his tenure.

Nigerians may wish to recollect the under Kashim Shettima, Boko Haram took control of local governments in the state. And instead of showing commitment, he elected to play to the gallery. He took advantage of the crisis to enrich himself in ways too numerous to mention.

As a fact, Kashim Shettima refused to conduct local government elections and therefore superintended over the allocations meant for local government areas in the state. Those in the know of situations in the state would readily tell that he never wanted to Boko Haram insurgency to come to an end so he could continue to hide under cover of insurgency to siphon resources meant for the development of the state.

And he was very successful in this regards multiple indicators suggest Kashim Shettima had a field day with local government funds in Borno state while he held sway at the helm of affairs.
To make matters worse, under Kashim Shettima there is no record anywhere where a block was laid for the construction of a primary school outside Maiduguri the state capital. He always hides under cover of Boko Haram to deprive the people of the dividends of democracy despite the huge allocations that the state received under his watch.

I challenge Kashim Shettima to swear with the Holy Koran if indeed his stewardship of Borno State for eight years was in the interest of the people or his self and that of his cronies. I also challenge him to deny the fact that in the height of the Boko Haram insurgency in the state, if he was not busy buying up numerous properties in Abuja and Lagos.

Let’s learn to tell ourselves the truth in this country. It, therefore, beats my imagination that Kashim Shettima would have the moral justification to lend his voice on issues on the insurgency in Nigeria. Since when did he realize that Borno State is under siege? How come for the eight years he was the governor of the state; he didn’t see the need to extend support to the operations of the Nigerian Military in addressing the security challenges in the state.

I am of the considered opinion that the likes of Kashim Shettima should bury their head in shame because of the atrocities they have committed against the people of Borno State. Yes, he has accumulated wealth, and he is secured in his bunkers in Abuja and elsewhere, but he should know that there is the law of karma that visits people according to their deeds and in equal proportion.

Let us rewind a bit. Imagine that Kashim Shettima had extended support to the Military by providing that political support needed in the prosecution of the war against insurgency, would we be talking about Boko Haram today? But instead, what did he do? He was more concerned about building political blocks and amassing resources for a presidential project that was dead on arrival.

He feigned ignorance of the plight of the people. He refused to show character in leadership for eight years because he could not care less about what was going on in the state. He was comfortable with the arrangement that ensured the easy flow of monies to him and without question from the appropriate authorities. That was what it was.

Nigerians must see whatever position Kashim Shettima is canvassing today with regards to the spate of insecurity in North-East Nigeria as nothing but crocodile tears and a very dishonest display in the public space. This is on the heels that there is no record anywhere where Kashim Shettima had empathized with the present governor of Borno state, Babagana Zulum when his convoy was ambushed on numerous occasions.

I am constrained to think that he is probably not happy with the sound leadership that Babagana Zulum has displayed since he assumed office, and which has also exposed the eight years he superintended over the state as the locust years for the state. This is indeed a shame. Whatever be the case, Kashim Shettima would do himself good by seeking forgiveness from the people of Borno state. He should also as a matter of urgency institute a scholarship scheme that would cater to those widows and orphans in Borno state.
That is one of the ways he can atone for his many sins. And as time goes on, we shall see what happens. This is my two cents.

Ali wrote this piece from Maiduguri.

Honours for late Kyari as dignitaries converge for book launch

Dignitaries from all works of life converged on Abuja today to extol the virtues of the late Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Abba Kyari months after his demise.

The Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Zulum  said the late Abba Kyari was not controversial as perceived. 

This is just as the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd) said the former Chief of Staff was controversial and misunderstood. 

Recall that Abba Kyari died of COVID-19 complications and was buried at Gudu Cemetery, Abuja in April.

Speaking in Abuja during the public presentation of a book titled: ‘The Man Abba Kyari’, written by Engr David Onmeje, the Group Managing Director, GMD of the Nigerian News Group, Col. Ali claimed that the late Chief-of-Staff was controversial and misunderstood by many because of his integrity and insistence on the norm.

He said, “Anyone that undertakes the challenge of passing through the road of credibility, honesty, and integrity will end up being the most controversial and misunderstood person, and that is what Mallam Abba Kyari was. 

“He passed through that path. And in the course of doing so, you would agree that, one would roughen some edges. That was happening in the course of his life as a private citizen.

“And when he found himself in government, it was rough, in the sense that when he choose to say ‘yes’ to the left and ‘no’ to the right, the chances were that he had a lot of controversies and enemies.

“Mallam Abba, whom I knew closely for 22 years, was someone who does not hold back his views. He was ready to take up a fight when you decide to deviate from the norms. He doesn’t take ‘No’ for an answer.

“The issue with regards to controversy is normal, some of us are into it and will continue to be in it. Some of us are being hated, but we would continue to do what we believe in. That was exactly what Abba did until his death.”  

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Meanwhile, the Governor of Borno, Babagana Zulum, said the late Abba Kyari was not a controversial man, instead, he discharged his duties to President Buhari with dedication and loyalty.

The Governor who was represented by his Chief-of-Staff,  Professor Isah Hussein the said, “Abba Kyari was a typical technocrat. He excelled in all the disciplines or organizations he found himself. He was a people’s person.

“Abba Kyari, some have said, was a controversial person. He was not. He was just doing his job. To be a chief-of-staff you must have certain qualities. Abba had all of those. One of them is dedicated to his job. But most importantly, is loyalty to your boss, and it must be total.

“People tried to get to Mr. President or had their own agenda found that Abba Kyari was always there. They could not bend him. That’s why a lot of people say  he was controversial. He was just doing his job.”

Reviewing the book, Prof. Udenta Udenta, said the book portrayed Kyari’s character and its contradictory assessment by the people.

“The book would open a floodgate of commentaries, and accounting about the life and times of this very complex individual (Abba Kyari),” he said.

The author of the book, David Onmeje described the late Chief-of-Staff as a patriot and committed public servant who was widely respected for his loyalty and commitment to the goals and aspirations of President Buhari

Those undermining Buhari will not go unpunished – Bishop Ogbaji

By Subomi Adejare

Northern cleric, Bishop Pinot Ogbaji, has condemned what he called the attempt by some unpatriotic elements in the northern part of the country to undermine the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari by sabotaging the efforts of the administration in the area of security.

The fiery preacher said those trying to sabotage the efforts of the government will not go unpunished as they will soon be exposed.

Bishop Ogbaji who spoke at a media chat with selected journalists in Abuja, said the punishment on those behind such plots would be devastating unless they repent as he said Nigeria has been ordained as a land where  citizens shall live in peace with one another and no arrow from the kingdom of darkness shall counter that.

While making some revelations concerning the security of the country, the renowned preacher said it has come to his notice that some politicians are working round the clock trying to undermine the efforts of the current administration despite the much achieved in the war against insurgency and banditry.

He said part of the plot involves reenacting some of the security breaches recorded during past administrations to make it look like the current one has not done anything different. 

He said, “If you look at what is going on in the country, you will see that virtually all the security issues of the past administration are being replicated with a near or worse parallel.

“The massacre at Zabarmari in Borno was reenacted to give the impression that something gory on the scale of the murder of students at Buni Yardi which happened during the last administration has also happened now while the abduction of students at Kankara in Katsina State, is to also tar the image of the Buhari administration with something as gruesome as the abduction of the Chibok girls in the last administration. “

The Bishop said while it is easy for people to latch on the infrequent security breaches to call out the current administration, there is no denying the fact that the Buhari administration has drastically reduced the level of insecurity in the country.

The Cleric said the current situation where bandits launch attacks on soft targets cannot in any way be compared with the sacking of communities and the taking over of territories by terrorists as was the case in the past. 

He said, “Nobody said that insecurity is going to be wiped out in one day as there are bound to be occasional glitches which is what we are witnessing from time to time but there is no gainsaying the fact that this administration has done so much to secure the lives and property of citizens that it should be commended.

The Bishop said both the swath of  territory the President Buhari administration has recovered from the terrorists and in terms of po is bigger than many African countries while the population of people rescued is equally.

Bishop Ogbaji said his interaction with people in Northeast Nigeria revealed deep appreciation of what President Buhari has done to secure the lives of citizens.

“Go to the epicentre of the war against insurgency which is the Northeast and hear what the people are saying about how Buhari has helped secure communities and you won’t fail to commend this administration for what it has done to improve security in the country. 

The Bishop maintained that those saying nothing has been achieved im terms of security are those colluding with saboteurs to give the current administration a bad name.

He said mischief makers seated in the comfort of their houses in areas far away from the theatres of war do not understand the gravity of the problem hence are not capable of appreciating the much that have been done.

The Bishop said it is not for  nothing that all the governors  of Borno State from Kashim Shettima to Prof. Umara Zulum are always full of praises for Mr President saying this is because they experienced first hand the difference between what was obtainable in the past and what currently obtains.

He said after the Zabarmari attack, the Borno State governor while lamenting the incident, made it clear that the current administration has achieved a lot on the area of security. 

Bishop Ogbaji blamed selfish politicians and people with narrow interest for the numerous security issues in the country. 

“These are the people behind what we are witnessing recently as they do not want people to continue commending the current administration due to their selfish agenda.

Bishop Ogbaji also commended the Service Chiefs for their relentless efforts towards keeping Nigeria safe saying the motivation passed to troops has helped in the fight against insurgency. 

He said if not for the right decision the President made in the choice of the service chiefs, the entire Northeast and many parts of Nigeria  would have been overrun by terrorists and hoodlums. 

“These set of service chiefs are the best because they have been tested and tried and have given good accounts of themselves,” he stated.

The Bishop said Nigerian troops have tried and are still trying in the war against insurgency saying it is to their credit that no Nigerian territory is under the control of the insurgents at the moment.

He recalled that immediately after the Zabarmari attack, troops were able to launch a counter and neutralised some of the terrorists.

He said it is obvious from the recent abduction of students at a secondary school in Kankara in Kastina State, that there is an orchestrated plan to paint the Buhari administration in bad light and not necessarily because it has not done much in the area of security.

He said one of the bandits involved in the Kankara attack has even confessed that theywere sponsored to carry out the acts in order to put the current administration in bad light.

The Cleric called on well meaning Nigerians to be vigilant and to expose all forms of sabotage to the relevant security agencies.

Northern group seeks Shettima’s arrest over “calls against Buhari”

The Arewa Citizens for Good Governance (ACGG) has called for the arrest of Senator Kashim Shettima for attempting to instigate mutiny against President Muhammadu Buhari.

The group made this known in a statement signed by its president, Comrade Silas Adamu, on Wednesday.

According to Adamu, the Borno Central lawmaker’s recent remarks on national security could potentially incite serving military officers to mutiny against the current government as he suggested that the current set of service chiefs are sitting on their promotion and elevation.

The group said Shettima, who flaunts zero credentials on security matters is unfit to advise President Buhari. 

The Arewa group reminded the Senator of how the intervention of the President and service chiefs stabilised his second tenure as governor of Borno State and eventual election to the National Assembly.

The group further accused Shettima of liaising with a presidential hopeful and some elements from the South to undermine the President and position himself as the most relevant politician from the North ahead of 2023. 

It, however, demanded that Shettima apologises to President Buhari and stop dabbling into security issues. 

The group called on the Police and DSS to put the lawmakerr under its surveillance to avoid a repeat while also advising the Borno Central Senator to publicly renounce his alliance with selfish politicians.

Read the full statement below:

The Arewa Citizens for Good Governance has once again deemed it fit to intervene on a matter of urgent national importance.

A few days ago, a former governor of Borno State, Senator Kashim Shettima made certain disparaging remarks about how President Muhammadu Buhari is prosecuting the war against insurgency and went overboard trying to dictate to the President how he should run his government.

The former governor did not stop at that but went ahead to delve into sensitive security issues by publicly alleging that the current set of service chiefs have overstayed and should be dropped.

He went ahead to make unintelligent comparisons with past administrations under whose watch the Boko Haram problem started and grew and urged President Buhari to borrow a leaf from this administration that Nigerians voted out due to their inability to solve the security problem in the country.

The former governor in the process tried to incite serving military officers to mutiny against the current government by suggesting that the current set of service chiefs are sitting on their promotion and elevation.

This is highly treasonable and should not be ignored.

Why Shettima is not qualified to advise Buhari

It is curious how Shettima,  who is not known to be a security expert apart from being a politician and former state governor suddenly realises his talent in that aspect and wants to coach a retired General, a war hero and three-time Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces of the most populous country in Africa how to do his job.

Shettima was probably not born when Buhari fought the civil war to keep Nigeria one.

He was probably in primary school when Buhari as GOC acted on a threat from a neighbouring Afridan country and pursued their soldiers who fled in the face of superior fighting powers of Nigerian troops under his command.

Buhari, unlike Shettima, is an internationally recognised military strategist, respected global citizen and statesman whose knowledge and experience on security matters are well known and are being sought the word over.

It is therefore baffling how someone with zero credentials on security matters like Shettima thinks he can lecture another who has attained such lofty heights in military strategy. 

The politics of Shettima’s outburst

The comments by Shettima has confirmed the suspicion that some politicians especially within the Borno axis are not interested in seeing the end of Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorism in Nigeria.

With his suggestion that the only way to end terrorism lies in the removal of the current set of service chiefs, Shettima is trying to introduce the politics of Borno at the national level.

Senator Shettima’s suggestion is not borne out of patriotism but borne out of a mindset that he must dominate every political space in Borno.

Though he has stated that he will not interfere in the running of the affairs of the state after handing over, Shettima still wants to be seen as the arrowhead in every appointment in Borno State and is trying to edge out the service chiefs to create room for his kinsman to take control of the security agencies in the country.

One cannot help but notice the inanity of his suggestion which boils down to criminal confession given the fact that the former governor had during his time as governor, commended copiously the efforts put in by the service chiefs to ensure the security of lives and property which enabled him to remain as governor till the end of his tenure last year.

Shettima had forgotten so easily the security situation in Borno State before the current set of service chiefs were appointed.

The former governor has forgotten that he was not even the one that won the governorship ticket of ANPP,  the then ruling party in Borno State and that it was because Boko Haram took advantage of the security crisis in Borno that they gunned down the initial winner of the ticket that an opening was created for him to become the party’s flag bearer from whence he moved to become the state governor.

Maybe because the killing favoured him, he wants Borno to go back to a former era.

Shettima had forgotten that it was during the reign of his godfather, who sponsored his election to become governor, that Borno became a fertile ground for Boko Haram to grow into full adulthood with the kind of support the group was receiving from the then government. 

All that while, when Boko Haram was killing people daily, nobody heard any suggestion from Shettima on how to end the Boko Haram crisis even when the then-governor appointed one of the group’s sponsors a commissioner in his cabinet. 

Shettima only found his voice when he was installed as governor.

But he has also forgotten that during the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, he had almost given up on the security situation and cried out that the terrorists had more sophisticated weapons than the Nigerian military.

He has forgotten that it was under the administration he wants President Buhari to learn from that 14 local governments in his state were taken over by the terrorists.

Shettima has forgotten too soon that it was under the current set of service chiefs that all the local governments which Shettima has been receiving allocations on their behalf and which he has nothing to show off were recovered by  Nigerians troops.

It was also under the current set of service chiefs that Shettima was able to appoint a successor and present him to the electorate in an election made peaceful through the efforts of the current set of service chiefs.

He seems not to remember that it is under the current set of service chiefs that he won his election to go the Senate.

Now that President Buhari through his service chiefs has made all that possible for him and he has relocated to Abuja as a big boy, he wants to see the back of the current stock of gallant officers.

The Real Issues 

The problem is, Shettima thinks he can dictate to President Buhari who he should appoint or work with.

This is something Shettima as governor fought his political godfather for as he did not tolerate when the latter was allegedly trying to dictate to him how he runs his government.

Now because he has found himself in the Senate and wants to position himself for possible nomination as vice president to a presidential hopeful from the Southwest, he wants to control a whole President.

He seems not to realise that President Buhari is a thorough leader who does his homework first before making an appointment and like his Spokesman Gaba Shehu has said, only him can determine the tenure of the service chiefs.

The fact is that Shettima has gone beyond decorum as it is obvious he wants to carry out the equivalent civilian coup to overthrow Buhari by instigating mutiny within the military that may lead to a putsch against the government.

This is not without reason.

Shettima’s alliance with a presidential hopeful and some elements from the South have always been to undermine the President and position himself as the most relevant politician from the North.

That was why he lobbied to be Vice President at a time the President was sick and deserving of prayers and travelled abroad for treatment. The inordinate ambition it seems has not died down.

The fact is, Shettima cannot come now and pretend he wants a solution to the Boko Haram problem as he contributed negatively to the current state of insecurity in the state by squandering all the LG funds in Borno State and refused to build rural infrastructure that would have made it possible for people to return home. 

Our Demands: 

We demand that Senator Shettima apologises to President Buhari for the caustic remark against him which is meant to ridicule the President and portray him as a weakling and lacking in intelligence to take the right action at the right time.

The former governor should stop dabbling into security issues as he is no longer the Chief Security Officer of any state and if he has any suggestion on how to improve security, he should go through the proper channel as a senator and stop trying to play on peoples’ intelligence. 

Senator Shettima should tell the people how many times he has changed cabinet when he was governor and why he had to contest the governorship position for a second time when he knew that the secret to effective administration is to keep changing those in charge.

Shettima should publicly renounce his alliance with selfish politicians who are trying to use him to pursue their 2023 agenda.

The Inspector-General of Police and Director General of the DSS should put him under surveillance to forestall further attempts to undermine the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. 

Who are the beneficiaries of Boko Haram insurgency?

By Mohammed Jubril

What is today Boko Haram started sometime in the build-up to the 2003 general elections as an assemblage of a small clan of political thugs. Desperate Nigerian politicians and power grabbers imported the clan of banditti into Borno state from Niger Republic; armed and unleashed them on the people for partisan reasons.

The main assignment handed down to Boko Haram members by their political patrons or mentors was to violently eliminate, and assassinate tenacious political rivals. Boko Haram performed the hatched job creditably by assisting their paymasters win elections by all crooked means.

On election day, Boko Haram political thugs led the squad of ballot box snatchers and perpetrated all the electoral malfeasances’ in favour of sponsors. By 2011, Boko Haram became deeply entrenched in Borno, upgraded in status and morphed from mere armed political thugs to armed insurgents; freely expanded its antennae to other states of the Northeast on same agenda.

Some Nigerian politicians have the penchant to quickly embrace evil insofar as it brings personal benefits. So, Boko Haram gained unimaginable popularity and patronage from some political elites, especially in Borno. Those seeking political offices mooned them as worthy buddies.

Former two-tenured Governor of Borno state and now a, serving Senator, representing Borno Central Senatorial district, Alhaji Kashim Shettima plotted a major political dive for the plomb position of Borno Governor to succeed Sen. Modu Ali Sherrif in 2011. Sen. Shettima served in the state cabinet of Sen. Sherrif for years and in five different ministries.

Shettima served the administration under which Boko Haram was birthed, nourished and flowered. It is mild to say, Shettima had a good bond with the insurgents in the state. But the people of Borno, particularly, delegates in the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) which governed Borno at that time rejected the choice of Shettima to fly the party’s flag for the 2011 guber ballot.

Therefore, ANPP party delegates handed over the ticket to a popular, focused and visionary leader, Engr. Modu Fannami Gubio. It was a loud statement from the ANPP to severe ties with any politician who had links with the Sherrif’s Government which conspicuously courted and patronized Boko Haram.

Eccentrically, Shettima refused to accept his defeat silently and Gubio’s choice in good faith. He instigated crisis, created deep divisions and fractions in the party.

Gubio did not live long enough to run for the governorship polls in April 2011. He was assassinated! The unfortunate incident happened at a time Boko Haram gained notoriety as hired mercenaries to eliminate political opponents. So, the assassination of Gubio was dramatic. Gubio had left his father’s house in Maiduguri city after the Friday Jamaat prayers, but was buttonholed by excited supporters who gathered outside the gate.

Gubio started addressing them and sooner, the unexpected happened. Gunmen on two motorcycles approached the scene and instantly opened fire into the crowed at the direction where Gubio stood. He was instantly felled by the assassin’s bullets; gruesomely murdered by gunmen on motorbikes believed to be Boko Haram mercenaries.

BBC’s correspondent, Bilkisu Babangida in Maiduguri succinctly reported that “…politicians and the police believe this killing was politically motivated. Borno’s police boss at that time, Mohammed Jinjiri Abubakar also endorsed this view; “Obviously it’s a political assassination.”

An Africa adage says, “if an owl howls dreadfully in the night over a roof and a child dies the next morning; need not search far for the harbinger of the bad news.” Gubio was brutally and prematurely sent to his grave by suspected political adversaries.

But who was the strongest rival stoutly against Gubio as ANPP’s guber flagbearer? It was Kashim Shettima. Who inherited the guber ticket? It was same Shettima. Is it plausibly deducible by circumstantial inferences that Shettima probably sponsored the assassination of the genuine owner of the ANPP governorship candidate in Borno State to inherit his ticket and become the Governor of Borno State?

Sen. Shettima with an overtly active backing of Boko Haram won the guber polls both in 2011 and 2015 and today he is in the Senate. That’s the new normal is Nigeria today. The worse performing State Governors retire or transit to the national parliament after the expiration of their infamous tenures.

But another African proverb says; “The axe forgets what the tree remembers.” The people of Borno have not forgotten the destructions, ruinations and retardations of the state under the leadership of Shettima.

When Sen. Shettima governed the state and under a complacent President of Nigeria, Boko Haram insurgency festered in Borno to its acme. The atrocities and horrendous crimes by Boko Haram insurgents stunned the world. Shettima did nothing or very little to take the primary responsibility of protecting lives and property of the people of Borno.

Rather, he used the Boko Haram scourge to farther his political nests at the detriment of his people. Apparently, Boko Haram brought Sen. Shettima to limelight and in consummation of political niceties. He has benefited from Boko Haram Insurgency immensely more than any other politician in Borno.

When the tempo and momentum of Boko Haram atrocities accentuated dangerously and became too loud, it diverted attention of everyone from the stewardship and accountability obligations of Shettima. All concentration of good spirited Nigerians within and outside Borno was how to extricate the people from the torments, pains, agonies and gores inflicted on them by Boko Haram terrorists.

It was much fun and excitement for Shettima as Borno Governor. Albeit, a democratic leader, Shettima governed the state on the template of a sole administrator. He administered all funds accruing to Borno from FAAC for the Local Government Councils based on his dubious discretion.

For the eight years of his leadership, Shettima never contemplated the conduct any council elections, not even in the dreamy world of fantasy. He handpicked political surrogates and cronies, appointed them overseers of the 27 councils in the state and allegedly shared council funds with the “chairmen” in Maiduguri. He was autocratic and his directives on finances of the state were held sacrosanct.

Shettima allegedly had an unbeatable appetite for diversion of public funds. Borno netted such much funds from FAAC and other statutory interventions. A financial firm, “Dataphyte” Analytics released a report in March 2019, explaining how states of the federation shared the sum of N25.03 trillion from FAAC between 2007 and 2018.

Borno ranked “…among the top 10 beneficiaries from the FAAC allocation.” It netted N601.66 billion within the period of the analysis. Shettima was Borno Governor for the greater number of years captured by the report. It means he netted funds above N300 billion for the state from 2011 to 2018.

But the same Shettima never constructed a single primary school outside Maiduguri throughout his tenure. He cleverly used the veil of Boko Haram as a cover against probity. Meanwhile, the FGN and international organizations took over almost the entire financial burden of Boko Haram insurgency in Borno; but Shettima could not deliver on capital projects from the billions earned from allocations.

Shettima knows he has disappointed himself and the people of Borno gravely in leadership. Sen. Shettima was unwittingly speaking to a troubled conscience at the public lecture organized by a Coalition of Youths Groups in Birnin Kebbi, with the innocuous confessional statement that his successor Gov. Babagana Zulum is “better than me in all ramifications.”

He is haunted by the guilt of failing to bring any seed of development to his people; but generously sowed the fruits of Boko Haram insurgency, with its multiple splinter sects now. He has no moral probity to voice out today in faults of others over resurgent Boko Haram terrorism. To the people of Borno, an African idiom again cautions; “When there is an enemy within, the enemies outside can’t hurt you.”

Jibrin PhD wrote from Federal University Kashere.

Umahi perfecting plans to jail opposition members, AESID alleges

The Association of Ebonyi State Indigenes in Diaspora (AESID) has cried out that the state government under Engr. David Nweze Umahi, was perfecting plans to jail those who refused to join him in the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The group said the recent comments made in various functions by the governor were disturbing, hence leaders across board and the federal government should prevail on the Ebonyi state governor.
In a statement released to newsmen Wednesday in Abuja by the AESID President Ambassador Paschal Oluchukwu, said the state government was plannin to frame-up and rope-in some key political actors in the Ebonyi opposition party and their supporters with a view to clamp them into illegal detention in the guise that they are cultists and sponsors of cultism in Ebonyi State. 
“It really troubles saner minds that despite all the warnings in our earlier Press releases, the Police and other security agencies in the State and indeed, their superiors in Abuja are watching Umahi play his full script of desperately clamping down on those who, operating within their constitutional rights refused to defect with him to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC on November 19, 2020. 
“His threat against PDP leaders and members and vow to collect ‘signatures’ of constituents are surprisingly coming just a few days after he deceptively called for a cease-fire in his early-orchestrated war against the leaders of opposition in Ebonyi State. All these desperate actions and comments of a man who claims to love God and humanity is capable of not only derailing governance but causing a serious political unrest in our very peaceful State.
“We condemn the Gestapo and Commando style through which the said Kingdom Heritage School was shut-down especially the role of uniformed men in the cause of the operation which saw students being whipped out of their classes in gross violation of their universal rights to education. It is even most nauseating to reasonable minds that no notice, petition or report of any form was given by the government of Umahi before this horrible and politically-motivated action was taken. 
“We therefore caution the security agencies in the state, particularly the State’s Commissioner of Police, Philip Maku to be very wary of being used to stoke and ignite the fire that could consume peaceful State. We are happy that Umahi mentioned taking the ‘alleged cult members to Abuja’. This has clearly justified our earlier positions and the claims by many of the leaders of the PDP that the Governor has perfected plans to connive and use some powerful individuals in Abuja and the Presidency to witch-hunt, silence and attack every form of opposition in Ebonyi State.”
The Ebonyi indigenes called on President Muhammadu Buhari to stop what it called “desperate moves to cause serious violence and unrest in the polity even when we are still more than 2 years to an election year. 
“Similarly, we condemn in strongest terms the statements credited to the Governor on Monday wherein he threatened to collate signatures from various constituents to recall members of the State and National Assembly. Apart from the fact that issues bothering on recall of a lawmaker is a serious constitutional matter in any democracy which any reasonable leader will never toy with, we see this as a very expensive joke taken too far and also a further confirmation of the fact that Governor Umahi is indeed, now a General without troop. He is therefore now morbidly afraid of his political future and more desperate to destabilize our peaceful State.”
The statement advised the federal government and the security agencies not to allow Ebonyi be thrown into to political crisis, adding that “Umahi obviously cannot be bigger than a State.
“AESID further expects leaders across board and party lines in Nigeria to rise to the occasion and caution the Governor against the blood-shed he is about plunging the poorest State in the entire Southern Nigeria into! A stitch in time, they say, saves nine!!”

Cleric Curses Buhari’s Saboteurs

By Subomi Adejare

Foremost Islamic cleric Sheik Abdullahi Isah has placed curses on those conspiring to undermine the Muhammadu Buhari led government, while hinting that there is a grand campaign to undermine the Muhammadu Buhari administration by some politicians across the country.

He stated this at a media parley with select journalists in Minna, Niger state on the state of the nation and the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari in addressing the myriads of challenges in the country.

“The bulk of the security challenges in the country have political undertones, and they are perpetuated by some select few that are not happy with the administrative style of President Muhammadu Buhari that has placed the interest of the ordinary Nigerians as a top priority.”

“In my opinion, this is the only sin that President Muhammadu Buhari has committed since he assumed leadership of the country in 2015. And they have consequently ganged up against him to undermine the security architecture in the country.”

The cleric further added that some politicians are not happy with the success recorded in the war against insurgency in North-East Nigeria because of what they have been benefiting over the years.

“The successes recorded in northeast Nigeria didn’t go down well with the patrons of the Boko Haram group because of what they have been befitting over the years. For them, President Muhammadu Buhari has caused their tap of honey to seize to flow, and they have consequently constituted themselves as clogs in the wheel of our progress.”

“We are all in this country, and we are witness to the fact that in less than two years all the local government areas hitherto under the control of the Boko Haram group were reclaimed by the Nigerian military, including their operational headquarters in Sambisa forest. And I am shocked that instead of these individuals to be appreciative of the efforts to keep Nigerian safe, they have been furiously promoting other acts of criminalities in the country all in the bid to discredit the president and paint a picture of incompetence.”

The cleric advised Nigerians to extend their support to the government in its efforts to keep the country safe and united.

“The task before all well-meaning Nigerians is to ensure that they support the government to defeat those that are against our peace and progress. Nigerians must see this as a collective endeavour because the country belongs to all of us and not a select few.”

“Nigerians must also resist those individuals that are promoting criminal activities in the form of bandits and kidnappers which remains the only way they can destroy the country since the incapacitation of the Boko Haram group by the Nigerian Military.”

Sheik Abdullahi also commended the Service Chiefs for their relentless efforts towards keeping Nigeria safe. “We must also appreciate the Service Chiefs in the country who have been tireless in their pursuit to keep the country safe for all despite the avalanche of conspiracies against it.”

“I pray that Allah visits all those that are against the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari with severe punishment for their evil deeds before the year 2021. If they don’t change their ways, they will meet their waterloo in very disgraceful circumstances.”

It would be recalled there has been heightened acts of criminalities across the country in recent times amid calls for the resignation of the Service Chiefs in the country.

Group seeks Shettima’s arrest over ‘plots to overthrow Buhari’

The Coalition of Buhari Supporters and Friends (CBSF) has called on security operatives to investigate, arrest and prosecute Senator Kashim Shettima over what it described as plots to overthrow President Muhammadu Buhari. 

According to the group, the Borno Central Senator has crossed into treasonable territory with his latest utterances on national security and must be immediately brought to book. 

In a statement signed by its President, Dr Shamsudeen Abu, on Wednesday, the coalition accused Shettima of being behind the security situation in the north-east. 

The Coalition of Buhari Supporters and Friends reminded the lawmaker that as governor of Borno State for eight years, he abused his office and failed to find any tangible solution before rushing off to the National Assembly.  

Instead of a document or seek the audience of the president, the group noted that Shettima has resorted to heating the polity in a bid to discredit and possibly lead a revolt against the current administration. 

The Coalition of Buhari Supporters and Friends, therefore, demanded the immediate arrest of Shettima for treason. 

It, however, urged the Federal Government to immediately direct the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force to act before Shettima does more damage. 

Read the full statement below:

The Coalition of Buhari Supporters and Friends is disappointed at the vilification of President Muhammadu Buhari by former Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, who now represents his state’s Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly. In the desperate bid to undermine President Buhari, Shettima has crossed into the treasonable territory for which he must be immediately investigated, arrested if found culpable and subsequently tried.

We find it most unfortunate that Senator Shettima is still trapped in the impish disposition of ventilating his perceived grievances in the media when he could have sought and gained an audience with President Buhari to constructively make his observations and suggestions for addressing the lingering security situation in the northeast and other parts of the country instead of deliberately heating the polity with engagements that are not meant to yield a positive result.

Shettima’s behaviour is however not surprising because it is consistent with the theatrics of someone who has nothing of substance to offer in the first place. Someone with workable solutions would have documented the same and present to the Federal Government as an asset in addressing the decade-long Boko Haram insurgency.

In other climes, a public office holder like Shettima, who abused his eight-year stay in office as governor to strengthen Boko Haram, would have been sacked from politics by the electorates to insulate the system from further contamination from his treasonable activities. The entire country is much aware of how wanted Boko Haram commanders were harboured in properties linked to Shettima and his associates, a development that enabled them to evade apprehension by law enforcement agencies.  

Our Coalition reminds Shettima that he cannot eat his cake and have it. He is a major factor in the current state of insecurity that Borno state with the entire north-east axis is facing today. He cornered all the funds meant for local government councils in Borno State and refused to build or reconstruct rural infrastructure that would have made it possible for people to return home, which would have prevented the vacuum that Boko Haram insurgent are exploiting.   

As a result, the former governor’s outburst, for us, suggests someone that wants to execute a civilian coup to overthrow President Buhari, which is why he arrogated to himself the power and capacity to determine for Mr President how many military chiefs he should fire and appoint.  Even for a man, who has on many occasions with his allies in the south-west organized prayers with marabouts for President Buhari to become medically incapacitated, this latest round of campaign of calumny has reached a new level of callousness. 

The former governor’s media interview, in which he flayed President Buhari, must not be misconstrued as something geared towards the common good but rather, it should be seen for what it is, which is a media offensive meant to inspire Boko Haram terrorists with the notion that the government is divided on the war against terrorism.

Shettima is also strategically tapping into the prevailing mood in the country in a way that will cause widespread disaffection against the person and office of the President such that there will be an orchestrated breakdown of law and order, result in aob action and physical violent attacks on the government.

The Coalition of Buhari Supporters and Friends, therefore, demands the immediate arrest of Kashim Shettima for treason. The Federal Government must, to this end, immediately direct the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force to act before Shettima does more damage. He should be put on trial for whatever indictment is found against him upon investigation.

CSO writes ICC Prosecutor, alleges misguided view on Nigerian security agencies

Some international civil society organisations have cautioned the International Criminal Court’s Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensou over misguided utterances against the Nigerian military and sister agencies . 

The International Human Rights Protection Forum (IHRPF) gave this warning in a letter to the Office of the Chief Prosecutor on Tuesday.

In the letter signed by its Director of Communication, Zakari Yinusa, the IHRPF said the ICC pre-convicted the military, adding that it was faulty and not in tandem with any known criminal court.  

The group also expressed frustration over reports that the ICC has been compromised by Amnesty International who it claims is “pumping millions of dollars into the Chief Prosecutor’s office to ensure that the military is demoralized to the extent of losing focus on the final defeat of Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist groups”. 

The CSO, though, assured that the Armed Force under the current dispensation over the years adhered strictly to the extant laws, rules of engagement and international best practices. 

“As far as we are concerned, the position you have taken is a subtle way of casting aspersions on the military while at the same time strengthening the terrorists and their sympathizers to keep unleashing mayhem on innocent citizens,” the letter stated in part. 

The group, however, advised the ICC Chief Prosecutor to retrace her steps and stop being used against Nigeria. 

It added that “we shall prevail on the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami SAN through civil actions to cease further cooperation with the International Criminal Court in terms of exchange of classified national security information or legal documents”.

Read full letter below:

As a strategic partner with the International Criminal Court (ICC), our International Human Rights Protection Forum (IHRPF) has always advocated that perpetrators of terrible crimes against the human race must be held to account. To this end, we closely monitored the recent #EndSARS Protests in Nigeria and forwarded not less than three different Criminal Complaints to your office against various individuals, groups and institutions found complicit in escalating the crises which almost ruined our dear country. We are aware that other human right organizations equally wrote and supplied avalanche of incriminating pieces of evidence against some non-state actors for fueling the ill-fated #EndSARS Protests.  

Our expectation is that as the Chief Prosecutor of the ICC, you would within this period that Nigeria is struggling to recover from the severe pains inflicted on her citizens and economy, concentrate on adequately considering the multiple Criminal Complaints piling on your table with a view to bringing the identified culprits to book. Regrettably, you seem to have abandoned the noble purpose for which the ICC was established and allowed yourself to be used by Amnesty International to complicate the precarious security situation in Nigeria. We submit that by all standards, the hasty manner in which the Nigerian Security Forces were pre-convicted through your media pronouncement on Friday, 11th December, 2020 is faulty and not in tandem with any known International Criminal Law, Instrument or Protocol. 

We are surprised that it took you over a decade to analyze the bunch of lies sold to ICC by Amnesty International before coming to the so called conclusion that there is reasonable basis to believe that “members of the Nigerian Security Forces (NSF) have committed acts constituting crimes against humanity and war crimes”. Experience should have taught you that Amnesty International had been working desperately with other foreign enemies to give the Nigerian Security Forces a bad name in order to hang them. A situation whereby you allow leaders of Boko Haram as well as notorious criminals like Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who continually rebel constituted authorities in Nigeria to move freely across the world but rather choose to declare cold legal war against the Nigerian Security Forces is rather unfortunate, wicked and suspicious. It goes to buttress the assertion in various quarters that Amnesty International has been pumping millions of dollars into your office to ensure that the military is demoralized to the extent of losing focus on the final defeat of Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist groups.

Our investigations also reveal that Nigerian Armed Forces under the current dispensation in carrying out counter terrorism operations within the North East and other parts of the country have over the years ensured that their troops do everything possible to adhere strictly to the extant laws, rules of engagement and international best practices. On no account shall we allow the ICC to dampen the morale of military troops who have been fighting tirelessly to keep Nigeria and her people safe. As far as we are concerned, the position you have taken is a subtle way of casting aspersions on the military while at the same time strengthening the terrorists and their sympathizers to keep unleashing mayhem on innocent citizens. This we condemn in its entirety and call on other sister organizations to join in the struggle to save Nigeria from another foreign oppression.

Until you retrace your steps from being used against Nigeria, we shall prevail on the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami SAN through civil actions to cease further cooperation with the International Criminal Court in terms of exchange of classified national security information or legal documents. We will equally prevail on the Federal Republic of Nigeria to opt-out of being a signatory to the Rome Statute and adopt a new policy of protecting her military personnel, officials, and nationals from your illegitimate use of the powers inherent in the ICC. After all, the core issues of when Nigeria can lawfully resort to armed force, how that force may be applied, and whether particular actions constitute serious international offences of war crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide are duly covered by local laws. 

In particular, Section 217 (1) and (2) (a) – (d) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) no doubt clothes the Armed Forces with the authority to take charge of defending Nigeria from external aggression, maintaining its territorial integrity and securing its borders from violation on land, sea or air. The Armed Forces are also empowered to suppress insurrection and act in aid of civil authorities to restore order when called upon to do so by the President, but subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly. Section 3 of the Armed Forces Act Cap A20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 fortifies the powers of the Armed Forces when it provides that they shall be charged with the defence of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by land, sea and air and with such other duties as the National Assembly may from time to time prescribe or direct by an Act.

On the whole, we urge you to always maintain neutrality in handling affairs of State parties. The need for the ICC to remain accountable to the United Nations Security Council in line with Chapter 5, Article 24 (1) of the UN Charter for purposes of maintaining international peace and security cannot be overemphasized. Massive atrocities have been committed by terrorists in Nigeria under your nose yet you kept mute, only to regain your voice where the military is mentioned. It is, therefore, our prayer that you take urgent steps to correct the erroneous impression which your publication has made concerning the hitherto highly esteemed reputation of the ICC. The best thing we envisage from your office in the coming days is to prove to the world that ICC is indeed not being subjected to undue pressure from Western Nations hiding under the cover of Amnesty International to bankroll the hatchet job of throwing Nigeria into complete anarchy through the promotion of terrorist activities.

We do hope that you will be properly guided!