General Buratai’s defiant audacity in leadership

By Philip Agbese

“Never forget that no military leader has ever become great without audacity.” -Karl von Clausewitz

In Nigeria, audacity in leadership also requires a great dosage of defiant courage. It is because in this part of the world, majority of the people are more atoned to failed leadership predominantly. It sounds odd, but such persons delight in dubiously exploiting failed leaders for personal benefits at the detriment of the whole system.

Therefore, in Nigeria, it is akin to a taboo to display positive leadership. The leader must possess enough content of courage and audacity to break even against dark forces haunting him. The few spoilers, recruit and pay campaigners’ to publicly, malign, distract and outrightly intimidate into submission, leaders with positive disposition, by deploying false narratives and malicious critiques deliberately to dwarf his verifiable good impacts.

It seems to the greatest burden and cross of Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai who has found himself in the midst of devouring wolves now. In the last five years, the Army Chief has deposited in bold imprints in leadership of the Nigerian Army (NA). A soldier gifted with audacious courage; he has repressed the darkest of forces to assert his legacies.

British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill extrapolated; “Courage is rightly esteemed the first of human qualities… because it is the quality which guarantees all others.” So, Gen. Buratai has courageously proved himself as an exceptional military strategist, tactician, reformist, innovator and a military leadership guru. He has audaciously asserted his mark of positive leadership against all odds and conquered Nigeria’s anti-development predators.

These enemies of Nigeria and foes of Gen. Buratai have stopped at nothing to ply their trade and activate such passions, the antics of distractions or demean him enough to taint his rising profile. Therefore, they hate the association of Gen. Buratai with the Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, Gen. Buratai “came; he saw and he conquered.”

But excitingly, history is an impartial arbiter. And like the printed word, history does not lie and it is permanent. Definitely, it would be fair to Gen. Buratai at the appropriate time. It is the general anticipation of the numerous admirers of Gen. Buratai.

But audaciously, the Army boss has conquered the stormy storms and subdued the volley of forces of sabotage and distractions to significantly transform the previously neglected institution of Nigerian Army within a short time. He has proved his mettle as the unconquerable warrior of the trenches in fighting Boko Haram insurgents/ and ISWAP terrorists and a development czar.

Terrorists sponsors and sympathizers have found Gen. Buratai, the hardest nut to crack in the bloody campaigns of the extremist religious sects terrorizing Nigeria. He is the nemesis of armed bandits in the country and insurrectionists like IPOB or their replicas in the configuration of armed militants. Ethnic warlords and armed militias are mesmerized or they have never encountered this dutifully obstinate Army General, who is extremely very difficult to conquer or compromise like Gen. Buratai.

Nevertheless, where Gen. Buratai has recorded confounding impacts in his leadership of the Nigerian Army is in innovations, reformations and repositioning of a once decrepit Army into a proud force and shinning star in the African continent and beyond. He is a beautiful bride whose usefulness to humanity has no end and the signs are visible.

He has launched the Nigerian Army on many fronts of firsts! Whoever believed Nigerian Army would ever upheld the dignity and human rights of Nigerians in its military operations? Whoever contemplated in even in dreams that Nigerian Army would one day subordinate itself to civil authority or “bloody civilians” to the extent of accepting court summons and appearing in civil courts to answer to allegations of professional misconduct by soldiers levelled against them by aggrieved civilians?

But Gen. Buratai has solved the problem easily by establishing the Human Rights Desks at the Nigerian Army Headquarters (AHQs). It is replicated in all major Army Divisions and most times, in locations outside the Barracks and very accessible to potential complainants. Noticeably, the loud noises by human rights organizations’, both indigenous and foreign on alleged human rights violations perpetrated by soldiers have vanished incredibly. It is just a tip of the many innovations, Gen. Buratai’s leadership has birthed in the institution of the Army

Most host communities of Nigerian Army formations and units are truly experiencing for the first time, the generosity of soldiers in discharging its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects in healthcare, electricity, roads, bridges, major culverts, water and many others. It has immensely improved Civil/Military relations. Before Gen. Buratai’s leadership, CSR policy of the Nigerian Army were only embedded in Army Laws. But he has activated and functionalized it for the first time in the history of Nigerian Army.

However, critics incurably blind to sight reality, can also be told by their trusted confidants that for the first time, Nigerian Army is a proud owner of its own university (Nigerian Army University Biu (NAUB), while Gen. Buratai is leading the Army. It has started training both security personnel and civilians in various strategic disciplines.

These baseless persecutors of Gen. Buratai would also be told that in the 157 years of the existence of Nigerian Army, the specialized first Nigerian Army War College is established under the tenure of Gen. Buratai; It is same for the Nigerian Aviation School and a similar policy, formalization of the consecration of the novel Nigerian Army Female Corps to answer to gender-based issues in operations of the Army in fighting insurgencies in the country is achieved. This unique innovation terminated the blistering reign of female bombers in Nigeria.

With two new Army Divisions, and two new Army Referral Hospitals to offer tertiary medical attention to soldiers and their families, including members of host communities, and scores of Army Forward Operations Bases (FOBs) in instant compliance with the Army’s new Order of Battle (ORBAT) as signposts of Gen. Buratai’s stewardship are beyond mindless reproach by professional haters and wailers.

Gen. Buratai’s reforms and innovations cannot be exhausted in one piece. But who has forgotten that for the first time, a Nigerian Army Chief has sourced and succeeded in using 100 percent local contents or materials and indigenous military technologists, to manufacture hi-tech, world class combat weapons, (such as MRAP Ezugwu) Army uniforms and kits, which are very useful in counter-insurgency operations? The Army Chief is the first to introduce digital Army uniforms with sensors to send signals to the nearest military base if a soldier in the frontlines is distressed.

Undeniably, Gen. Buratai is an endowed and enigmatic leader. How he has succeeding in catapulting and elevating the Nigerian Army to enviable heights, others struggled to eternity, but failed remains a mystery. Manifestly, he is an intellectual dynamite and workaholic soldier, whose appointment as COAS was not by accident. President Muhammadu Buhari knew the reasons for anointing him as both leader of the Army and counter-insurgency operations.

And he has not disappointed President Buhari by transforming the support to his leadership by Mr. President to fruits of legacies for the Army. Gen. Buratai is a soldier who came at the right time to conquer an evil against his country and humanity. He has dispensed this assignment with splendid mastery.

Gen. Buratai is known for brutal frankness. No circumstances compels him to tell a lie for any reason. When soldiers slacked at the warfront and allowed occasional Boko Haram attacks, he publicly blamed subordinate Commanders for dereliction of duty and cautioned them to sit-up.

When he relocated to the Northeast theatre of war to lead the battle from the front in April 2020, where he spent two months, Gen. Buratai who sensed a few soldiers who dread battles; and influence others with such negative thoughts to willingly chicken out of the Army because Nigerian Army of today has no room for the faint-hearted.

Gen. Buratai is described by even very senior officers of the Army as the best military strategist today. Counter-terrorism operations have yielded worthwhile progress because of the countless strategies he introduced which have nicely countered insurgents. The introduction of the Motorbike Battalions, Special Female Corps, Super Camp Strategy, cyberspace warfare and lots more have changed the negative narratives of insurgents as invincible forces in Nigeria. He is always weeks ahead of insurgents/terrorists plans. There is no doubt that leader of counter-insurgency operations has coordinated the war against insurgency perfectly so far.

Therefore, his recent statement that insurgency might last for another 20 years in Nigeria was roughly misinterpreted by a section of the society for their selfish reasons. HTe facts were generously twisted to malign Gen. Buratai and portray him as incompetent. Many alien interpretations were imputed into it and some of the perpetual critics even insinuated that the statement was Gen. Buratai’s tacit acceptance of helplessness over counter-insurgency operations and renewed the malicious calls for his sack.

But the Army Chief knows the matrix, character and intricacies of asymmetrical terrorists’ operations better than his traducers. Like the COAS asserted, terrorism has been quashed in Nigeria; what is reigning now is indeed insurgency and it will remain with Nigeria for a little longer. It’s because the massive brainwashing and indoctrination of people into the sect has a history which dates back to 50 or more years. Such phenomenon does not dissipate in a jiffy.

No matter his deliberate persecution, Gen. Buratai gathers his momentum to trudge on from Winston Churchill’s advice; “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” Indubitably, the COAS is a fearless patriot who will stop at nothing but to say the truth as it is, no matter whose ox is gored.

Agbese is a human right activist based in the United Kingdom.

Insecurity: Elders group rates Buhari over previous administrations

President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has so far outdone his predecessor in the fight against insurgency and criminal elements in the country, a group of elder statesmen led by Third Republic Senate President, Ameh Ebute has said.

This was contained in a communique released at the end of a joint meeting of the Council of Elder Statesmen and Patriotic Elders Council of Nigeria on the state of affairs of the nation under President Buhari on Monday and Tuesday in Abuja.

The group said its emergency meeting became imperative to put issues in proper perspectives in the light of the various conflicting narratives in the public domain capable of setting the country on a path of destruction and disintegration.

Recall that Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State had similarly rated President Buhari above his predecessors in handling state’s security challenges.

Mr Zulum said he based his verdict on the statewide security records on the 27 local government areas since 2011.

And in a communique signed by Senator Ebute and 20 other notable Nigerians, the elder statesmen, after almost 48-hour long deliberation, concluded that President Buhari has demonstrated an unalloyed commitment towards winning the war against terrorism and other acts of criminalities in the country.

The group also hailed the president’s dedication towards setting Nigeria on the path to sustainable growth and development through laudable interventions in critical sectors of the economy as enumerated above.

The council of elders equally saluted the Service Chiefs for their patriotism in the face of conspiracy and campaign of calumny.

The group, however, called on all well-meaning Nigerians regardless of religious and ethnic affiliations to extend support to the present administration by proffering solutions to the challenges in different sectors of the country.

It added that all hands must be on deck in the journey of sustainable growth and development in the country.

Read full communique below:

Introduction:

The Council of Elder Statesmen and Patriotic Elders Council of Nigeria convoked a joint emergency general meeting in the appraisal of the State of the Nation under President Muhammadu Buhari in critical sectors of the country such as the economy and security in the face of the global economic meltdown occasioned by the Coronavirus pandemic.

This became imperative in an attempt to put issues in proper perspectives in the light of the various conflicting narratives in the public domain that are in most instances highly misleading and capable of setting the country on a path on destruction and disintegration.

The Deliberations:

The Council of Patriotic Elder statesmen and Patriotic Elders Council of Nigeria during its joint meeting deliberated extensively on the State of the Nation with regards to the efforts of the Muhammadu Buhari led administration in addressing the various challenges in the country.

Considerable time and efforts were also channelled towards x-raying the intervention of government during the Coronavirus pandemic lockdown, which has in ways too numerous to mention impacted positively on the lives of ordinary Nigerians. There were also extensive deliberations on the security situations in the country with regards to the efforts of the various security agencies in addressing the threat posed by terrorist and militant groups.

Issues:

The State of the Economy and Impact of COVID 19:

In a bid to curtail the further spread of the Coronavirus, deliberate actions were instituted to ensure that citizens of Nigeria stayed safe. Consequently, the government imposed a nationwide lockdown in line with the recommendations of the World Health Organization. This was also cognizant of the fact that a lockdown came with its attendant socio-economic implications which were felt across the globe.

After extensive deliberations, it was unanimously agreed that the handling of the Coronavirus pandemic by the government has been quite impressive. The various initiatives introduced and implemented by the federal government through the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development through the distribution of palliatives to the vulnerable groups across the country were timely and made a positive impact in the lives of ordinary citizens across the country.

The consensus was that the efforts of the government have been outstanding but for the actions of some state governors who in their wisdom elected to store the palliatives in warehouses instead of distributing same to the people to mitigate the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic.

The joint council condemns such disposition by some state governors which by all intent and purposes is a great disservice to the efforts of the Muhammadu Buhari administration in mitigating the effect of the Coronavirus pandemic on the lives of the ordinary citizens in the country.

The current state of the economy:

The Joint Council admits that Nigeria is in recession alongside other countries which is as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic. It was also identified that the actions of successive governments in Nigeria in failing to save for the rainy days especially when crude oil sold for a higher price in the global market is somewhat responsible for some of the economic challenges in the country, which was inherited by the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

The Joint Council, after extensive deliberations, commended the Economic Team of the present administration for its steadfastness in proffering solutions to the myriads of economic challenges in the country.

It also commended President Muhammadu Buhari for retaining the services of the governor of Central Bank, Godwin Emefiele, as well as the Minister of Finance from the previous administration, which is a testament of the disposition of Mr President towards rewarding merit above every other thing. It after that solicited for understanding from the generality of Nigerians and calls for action from well-meaning Nigerians.

The spate of insecurity in the country:

The Joint Council reviewed the spate of insecurity in the country and deliberated extensively on where we were in times past, where we are now in terms of the security situation in the country. It after that acknowledges the fact that the present administration has done a lot towards addressing the myriads of security challenges in the country. It also recognises that the Nigerian Military has done tremendously well in the war against Boko Haram terrorist in North East Nigeria by liberating five states ( Adamawa, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe, Taraba) in North-East Nigeria from the claws of the Boko Haram scourge. Bit for Borno state still experiencing pockets of Boko Haram attacks in parts of the state.

The Joint Council also acknowledged the impact of the EndSARS protests on our national psyche and blamed the political actors who hijacked the protest to propagate their selfish interests against the country as responsible for the escalation of violence at the time.

The Joint Council salutes the Service Chiefs for their patriotism and call for more efforts by all citizens to support the Service Chiefs as their performances in office have been marvellous. It also backed the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to retain the services of the Service Chiefs, which remains the prerogative of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

The President has demonstrated an unalloyed commitment towards winning the war against terrorism and other acts of criminalities in the country. Consequently, the Joint Council condemns in its totality calls from certain quarters for the sack of Service Chiefs in the country as there is no basis for such demand given the exceptional performance of the security team under the present dispensation.

The fight against Corruption:

The Joint Council deliberated extensively on the fight against corruption in the country. It acknowledged the fact that there have been no sacred cows as evident in the prosecution of high profile cases, including some highly placed government officials who got their hands soiled in the discharge of their duties.

The Joint Council hailed the President’s decision to probe the suspended Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu as well as other high profile government appointees. The consensus is that the President has displayed an increased sense of patriotism towards setting the right precedence in the prosecution of the fight against Corruption and other acts of economic sabotage.

Conclusion:

The Joint Council after extensive deliberations on the State of the Nation in Nigeria under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari concludes that the President has displayed an unalloyed commitment towards setting Nigeria on the path to sustainable growth and development through laudable interventions in critical sectors of the economy as enumerated above. The Joint Council also states in unequivocal terms that under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, there have been considerable improvements in critical sectors of the economy, including the security of lives and properties across the country.

Recommendations:

The following recommendations were reached at the end of the Joint Extra-Ordinary General Meeting of the Council of Elder Statesmen and the Patriotic Elders Council of Nigeria.

That the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has displayed an unalloyed commitment towards sustainable growth and development.

That it behoves on all well-meaning Nigerians regardless of religious and ethnic affiliations to extend support to the present administration by proffering solutions to the challenges in different sectors of the country.

That Nigerians must make it a duty to desist from acts that would undermine the relative peace and tranquillity in the country.

That Nigerians must see to the fact that the plot by external forces against the socio-economic development of the country is nipped in the bud in the overall interest of the country.

That all hands must be on deck in the journey of sustainable growth and development in the country.

Poor governance, lack of accountability by states responsible for insecurity – GGI report

A special report has alleged that poor leadership and lack of accountability at state and local government levels fueled the insecurity experienced in parts of the country.

The Good Governance Index (GGI) said it came to this conclusion after systemic research on factors responsible for insecurity in Nigeria to identify the elements behind the escalation.

To achieve its goal, the non-profit organisation said it relied on primary sources of data in interviews, on the spot assessments tours, interactions with key stakeholders at the various tiers of government as well as a close review of documents and policy papers on governance in Nigeria.

At the end of its research, the GGI said it discovered that poverty is more prevalent in local areas, hence the insecurity.

The report signed by the special rapporteur, Dr Thomas Uzah, on Tuesday, also revealed that a bulk of the security challenges emanates from the state and local government levels due to failures of the elites at the helms of affair.

It also said that there is a lack of accountability and transparency by government officials, leaving the young population susceptible to criminal elements.

The GGI, through the report, however, called on the Federal Government to begin the process of demanding accountability and transparency from state and local governments.

According to the group, this will ensure that terrorist and other criminal gangs do not find the local government areas as veritable grounds for the escalation of violence in the country.

Introduction:

The Good Governance Index, a non-profit organization dedicated to the entrenchment of good governance and accountability in governance at all tiers of government in Nigeria undertook systemic research on factors responsible for insecurity in Nigeria to identify the factors responsible for the escalation of insecurity in Nigeria.

It relied on primary sources of data in interviews, on the spot assessments tours, interactions with key stakeholders at the various tiers of government as well aa s close review of documents and policy papers on governance in Nigeria.

The Issues:

Every country has her fair share of security challenges, but when the state of insecurity rises by the day, then there is a need for urgent action. This has been the situation in Nigeria in recent years. Thus, the problem of insecurity in Nigeria cannot be overemphasized.

Consequently, insecurity has taken various forms in different parts of the country. In the South-West, armed robbers have taken over, while in the North, cross-border bandits operate with ease. However, in the South-South, there are rampant cases of kidnapping. Also the continuous wave of crime and armed robbery attacks, cult killings etc all point to the fact that insecurity is fast becoming a norm in Nigeria and have somewhat suddenly become attractive to specific individuals in seeking to resolve issues that could have ordinarily been settled through due process. The end-products lead to the decimation of innocent lives, disruption of economic activities, and destruction of properties, among others.

Governance at the Local Government Areas:

Local government in Nigeria have more significant challenges than other tiers of government since they have the responsibility of ensuring equitable social and economic development at the grassroots. Cha men of the council are expected to prepare programmes of work and related financial implication, manage and supervise the allocation of financial and human resource coupled with appropriate monitoring of project execution.

Unfortunately, apart from lacking the above requirements both the elected and civil service officials at the local government lack the ability to establish excellent working relationships, ability to build the consensus, negotiation skills and the commitment to develop a partnership for improved development effectiveness throughout all the Local Government Areas.

From all indication, it was observed that local government administration as a whole is increasing in scope day to day with resulting increased responsibilities. This means that Local Government administration does not merely require people with academic paper qualification, but people with initiative ability to lead, ability to enthuse and to guide. Unfortunately, the Local Governments have fai their both their statutory powers and political will to address these issues.

The role of the state governments:

It must be stated that the role of state government as a tier of government in Nigeria cannot be overemphasized. It has been increasingly noted that the various state governments have been notorious in rendering local government areas in the states ineffective and mostly underfunded. It has also been stated in numerous forums that state governors are in the habit of depriving the bulk of the people in the local government areas the dividends of democracy, and this is somewhat responsible for the spate of agitations at the local government levels which gave rise to all sort of anomalies at the grassroots levels.

Insecurity at Local Government Areas:

The people who reside at the grassroots constitute nearly sixty per cent of the entire Nigerian population. But the economic wellbeing of the local government area councils is not sound. This means that poverty is more in local areas than it is in urban centres. And this fact has its attendant implication on the security situation in Nigeria.

According to reliable findings in the cause of the research work, it was observed that the bulk of the security challenges emanates from the state and local government levels. For example, kidnappers and other forms of criminal elements are planned in rural areas. Recruitments into terrorist groups are also carried out at the local government areas because of the level of deprivation and poverty.

Poor governance and lack of accountability:

This research indeed revealed that Local governments in Nigeria experience varying levels of interference from politicians and state governments and there have been contending views on whether interference is desirable or not considering the poor performance of local governments.

The revelations indeed portend grave danger because interference is not desirable as it has been the bane of the security challenges in the country.

Conclusion:

The Good Governance Index as a result of the above, concludes the level of insecurity in the country is fueled substantially by the ignoble role of the state and local governments in the governance structure in the country.

There is an apparent lack of accountability which is a bane in the entrenchment of good governance in the country and provided that ready market for the recruitment of willing foot soldiers by criminal elements into the web of crime and criminalities in the country.

Recommendations:

The Good Governance Index as a result of the preceding herby make the following recommendations:

The federal government should begin the process of demanding from the state governor’s accountability and transparency in the administration of local government funds. This, in our considered opinion, would bring about the much need accountability in governance at the state and local government levels.

The federal government must also do all within its powers to ensure the entrenchment of transparency and accountability at the state and local government levels in a bid to ensure that terrorist and other criminal gangs do not find the local government areas as veritable grounds for the escalation of violence in the country.

Boko Haram: Coalition hails Zulum’s appraisal of Peace under Buhari

The Coalition for Truth and Justice (CTJ) has applauded Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State for identifying with President Muhammadu Buhari’s efforts towards the war against insurgency in Nigeria.

According to the coalition, the governor displayed “exemplary leadership in governance” by admitting to improved security in his state and the entire North-East in the last six years.

Recall that Zulum had acknowledged records of the security situation in the Borno have shown that they are better off security-wise under the Buhari administration than Goodluck Jonathan.

He said records taken from 2011 from the 27 local government areas of the state indicate clearly that Buhari has still performed better in the handling of Borno’s security challenges.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday in Abuja, CTJ’s National Coordinator, Barrister Timothy Charles said Zulum’s display of rare sincerity of heart and purpose is indeed commendable and a testament to the giant strides recorded by the Nigeran Military in the fight against insurgency in Nigeria.

While hailing the governor for being “patriotic and honest on issues concerning the war against insurgency”, the coalition hoped that someday all Nigerians would appreciate the efforts of the president despite the campaign of calumny.

It also commended the efforts of officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Military that have exhibited a great sense of commitment in the past six years.

The Coalition for Truth and Justice, however, pledged its support to the efforts of the Buhari administration in the fight against insurgency in Nigeria.

Read the full statement below:

The Coalition for Truth and Justice warmly welcomes you all to this press conference put together given the recent development in the country with regards to the war against insurgency in Nigeria.

The exigencies of time require a display of sincerity of heart and of purpose by those on whose shoulders that task of leadership falls on in Nigeria.

Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State falls in this category of leaders who speak power to the truth, and this was exemplified in his recent statement wherein he stated that since the coming of President Muhammadu Buhari, there had been a substantial improvement in the fight against Boko Haram insurgency in North-East Nigeria and Borno state in particular.

The Coalition for Truth and Justice views the actions of Governor Babagana Zulum as a rare display of sincerity of heart and purpose which is indeed commendable and a testament to the giant strides recorded by the Nigeran Military in the fight against insurgency in Nigeria.

Governor Babagana Zulum in his capacity as the governor of Borno State is in a much better position to comment on the war against insurgency in North-East Nigeria and this much he has done by highlighting the fact that since the coming of the Muhammadu Buhari administration there has been a substantial improvement in the fight insurgency in North-East Nigeria.

In his words, “There were daily attacks and bomb blasts in many parts of Maiduguri, the most populated part of the state but all of these have stopped under Buhari” these words have indeed confirmed that the Boko Haram terrorist group have been decimated in North-East Nigeria, but for Borno state still experiencing pockets of Boko Haram attacks which can thus be classified as the final kick of a dying horse.

The Coalition for Truth and Justice consequently views the posture of Governor Babagana Zulum as patriotic and honest on issues concerning the war against terrorism in Nigeria. It is also laudable and a great display of sincerity of heart and purpose.

It is also our firm belief that given the revelation by Governor Babagana Zulum, Nigerians would come to appreciate the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari in addressing the security challenges in the country.

Nigerians would also realize that there have been concerted efforts by the Nigerian Military towards taking the battle to the Boko Haram insurgents and that the bulk of the news making the rounds about Boko Haram insurgents controlling some parts of North-East Nigeria is fake news and the handiwork of mischief makers and political merchants that have been rendered out of business since the coming of the Muhammadu Buhari administration in 2015.

This much the Coalition for Truth and Justice has stated in numerous forums that there is a well-orchestrated campaign to undermine the operations of the Nigerian Military in North-East Nigeria by some unscrupulous individuals and groups that are not happy with the progress recorded in the fight against insurgency in the country.

The Coalition for Truth and Justice is also aware that some vested external interest has been rendering covert logistics support to the Boko Haram group. Despite this fact, the Nigerian Military has been able to make substantial gains in the war against insurgency. This is indeed a testament of the professionalism of the Nigerian Military, which is a function of transparency and accountability in its operations since the coming of the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

The Coalition for Truth and Justice is using this medium to commend Governor Babagana Zulum for rising to the occasion and putting issues in proper perspectives with regards to the efforts of the Muhammadu Buhari led administration towards ending the Boko Haram insurgency in North-East Nigeria.

We are also commending the efforts of officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Military that have exhibited a great sense of commitment in the past six years that has seen to the many gains recorded in the theatre of operations such as the reclaiming of over 16 local government areas once under the control of the Boko Haram terrorist, the sacking of Sambisa Forest, the operational headquarters of the Boko Haram group, the clearance operations of the activities of the Boko Haram group in five states in North-East Nigeria, but for Borno state still experiencing pockets of attacks.

This is indeed noteworthy and calls for concerted efforts from Nigerians in support of the efforts of the Muhammadu Buhari administration in the fight against insurgency in North-East Nigeria.

The Coalition for Truth and Justice is using this medium to pledge its support to the efforts of the Muhammadu Buhari administration in the fight against insurgency in Nigeria.

It is hoped that other well-meaning individuals and groups would toe the same line in our quest for the final decimation of the Boko Haram terrorist group in Nigeria.

It can thus be stated that there have been considerable efforts by the Muhammadu Buhari administration in ensuring the security of lives and properties in Nigeria.

We thank you all for taking out time to attend this press conference; we desire that you take the message to your various constituencies on the efforts so far in the fight against insurgency and the need for all hands to be on deck.

Group accuses NASS, PDP of plans to undermine democracy

The March4Nigeria Movement has raised an alarm over a deliberate plot by the National Assembly and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to truncate the country’s democracy by forcing a regime change.

The group called the attention of security agents, well-meaning Nigerians and the world at large to a planned coup by these “disparate elements in Nigeria and their external collaborators”.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday in Abuja, National Coordinator, Richard Augustine- Adie, said the new tactics is to demand President Muhammadu Buhari’s resignation or face impeachment over conditions that they helped precipitate.

According to the group, among previous failed schemes by the opposition and their allies include promoting widespread insecurity, hijacking the EndSARS protests and sponsoring secessionist.

Mr Augustine-Adie said that Nigerians shouldn’t be surprised as the PDP’s presidential candidate had threatened to render the country ungovernable if he does not win the election.

The March4Nigeria Movement further warned of a plot to cause ethno-sectarian strife in the coming days targeted at the Armed Forces having failed to use the National Assembly to fraudulently sack the government.

The group, however, the challenged the Federal Government, the Armed Forces, and Police to be at alert to their responsibilities and not to allow anyone or group of persons to jeopardize our democracy.

Augustine-Adie added that they should wake up to the antics of these sore losers and not view the revived #EndSARS protests as mere agitation but should treat them as part of the coup plotters.

The group also urged Nigerians not to lend themselves out as tools for those seeking to foment trouble, noting that the #EndSARS protests have since devolved into #March4Nigeria.

Read the full statement below:

We welcome you to this all-important press conference. We say it is an all-important press conference because the issue at hand touches on the future of Nigeria, our stability as a nation and the sustenance of our democracy.

In recent days, we have observed a change in tactics by those that have been hell-bent on undermining the integrity of Nigeria.

This change in tactics manifested as a surreptitious call for President Muhammadu Buhari to resign or to be impeached over conditions that they helped precipitate.
Note that the reasons they are adducing for the so-called impeachment hover around insecurity and economic hardship.

Interestingly, the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is at the forefront of the impeachment farce.

The PDP Caucus of the House of Representatives tabled this ill-advised demand before the Green Chamber, but we thank God that there are still voices of reason in Parliament, which have rejected the warped demand.

We recall correctly that the PDP’s candidate in the 2019 Presidential Elections, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, had threatened that the country will be rendered ungovernable if he does not win the election.

Some groups had raised the alarm when the PDP made this threat then without many Nigerians paying heed. At that time, it was revealed how the opposition had perfected plans to hire foreign mercenaries to unleash violence in parts of the country and this is what we are increasingly seeing with the kidnappers and bandits spilling over from Mali, Niger and other nations whose nationals appear similar to Nigerians.

We have also seen signs of the then reported plot to use mob action or an Arab Spring styled protests to cause chaos and force the government out of office. The other option they mulled at that time was to cause a leadership change in the military and then encourage junior military officers to stage a coup citing the protests as a basis to truncate the nation’s democracy.

Gentlemen of the press, what we are witnessing today is the rolling of all the approaches into one and executing as a single killer plan. They have caused widespread insecurity, including leveraging political variables to cause the deaths of dozens of rice farmers at the hands of Boko Haram. They have hijacked what was once known as #EndSARS protests to use against the government as opposed to the original intention of demanding police reforms.

These same people are now sounding strident as they demand that there must be changes in military leadership.
We are concerned that they are now back to mobilizing Nigerians to go back on the streets to stage violent protests while the fallout of the hijacked #EndSARS protests is still being managed. The entire country is smarting from the damage done by the violent people that were mobilized to the streets to commit arson, prison breaks and murder.

These criminal attempts on the stability of Nigeria are being boosted with fake news and manipulated contents that have done much to create confusion in the mind of the people. The next few days will prove pivotal as operatives acting on the instruction of the opposition have perfected plans to launch a blitz of fake news that will make Nigerians question the future of their country and the competence of their leaders. The objective of this blitz is to make people join the revived #EndSARS protest out of misdirected anger.

There is further a plot to cause ethno-sectarian strife on a scale that law enforcement would have challenges bringing under control. Their major targets in the days ahead are the Armed Forces, which they plan to bring down by overwhelming it with crises that it cannot fully bring under control. Towards this, meetings were held in Lagos by a former president and some ethnic warlords and these strategies were discussed.

This round of #EndSARS protests, like the hijacked phases of the protests in the past, is being sponsored and promoted by losers in the last presidential elections, who want to force a regime change.

Part of the plans is to cause widespread clashes with security personnel on a scale that will cause mayhem that will result in the overthrow of the government. We have this on good authority.
Now that the attempt to use the National Assembly to fraudulently sack the government has failed, the next salvo is the efforts to infiltrate the Armed Forces of Nigeria in the hope of overthrowing the democratically elected Federal Government and then justify this by claiming that the government was going to order a devastating clampdown on protesters.

March4Nigeria consequently wants to challenge the Federal Government, the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the Nigeria Police to be at alert to their responsibilities and not to allow anyone or group of persons to jeopardize our democracy. They should wake up to the antics of these sore losers and not view the revived #EndSARS protests as mere agitation but should treat them as part of the coup plot that they are.

The Department of State Services (DSS) should rise to the challenge at hand by getting to the root of the mutated #EndSARS movement by tracing the finances and communication that is driving the attempt to visit instability on Nigeria. DSS should invite the key players of the protest for meetings to tell Nigerians all they intend to achieve that cannot wait for the 2023 General Elections.

EFCC and ICPC as anti-graft agencies should trace the illicit financial flow that was deployed as Christmas bonanza to lawmakers that have been compromised to breach the rules in the hope of forcing an impeachment that does not conform with the rules.

We warn those making contacts with the military, whether from among protesters or from the opposition, to desist from doing this forthwith. The military should be continually treated as the sacred institution that it is and not dragged into opposition politics.

We equally renew an earlier appeal to Nigerians not to lend themselves out as tools for those seeking to foment trouble. The #EndSARS protests had since devolved into #March4Nigeria Movement, which is a coalition of Nigerians that are committed to constructively engage government at all levels in a manner that produces a result as opposed to the kind of destructive looting that undermined the efforts to hold members of the police force to account

Group chides NASS, PDP over moves to impeach Buhari

… demands recall of pro-impeachment members

The National Democratic Front (NDF) says Nigerians will hold the National Assembly liable should the president be illegally impeached, thereby truncating the nation’s democracy.

The NDF said any attempt to overturn the mandate of Nigerians will be met with stern resistance.

The group made its position known in a statement signed by its Secretary-General, Dr Bolaji Abdulkadir on Tuesday.

Recall that President Buhari had last week met with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, and other principal officers of the House and agreed to address the lawmakers on the country’s security challenges on Thursday.

But a member of the House of Representatives, Kingsley Chinda, on behalf of the Peoples Democratic Party caucus, called for the impeachment of the president.

Despite distancing itself from the lawmaker, the NDF warned the House leadership to call the PDP to order against inciting a section of the population to revolt and cause a breakdown of law and order.

Dr Abdulkadir noted that the country is already reeling from security breaches that have PDP discontent written all over it and now coming up with the impeachment bid will only further inflame the situation.

According to the group, the “power-thirsty” PDP has continued to work with other opposition elements and commercial activists to force a change in the country’s leadership.

The NDF, therefore, urged that the NASS to curtail the activities of its PDP caucus as “Nigerians will hold the legislature responsible should anything happen to threaten our democracy”.

As a show of our zero tolerance for unpatriotic elements, NDF, however, called on the constituencies of the “rogue” reps members to immediately begin their recall process for pursuing sectional political interests.

Read the full statement below:

The National Democratic Front (NDF) is alarmed at the misguided calls for the impeachment of President Muhammadu Buhari particularly as demonstrated by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) caucus in the House of Representatives and the opposition’s propaganda machine. NDF has resolved that Nigerians will hold the National Assembly liable should anything happen to the nation’s democracy.

Such calls and attempt to illegally sack President Buhari’s government can only be contemplated by anti-democratic forces and those who do not wish Nigeria well. It is most unfortunate that they are hiding behind the façade of being democrats when in reality they abhor the very tenets of democracy, which is why they are keen on using crude tactics to overturn the mandate that Nigerians gave the government.

NDF is worried that the PDP caucus is exploiting its position as a vocal minority to incite a section of the population to revolt and cause a breakdown of law and order so that they will then use this as a basis to accuse the President of being autocratic. The country is already reeling from security breaches that have PDP discontent written all over it, coming up with the impeachment bid will only further inflame the situation.

The thugs that the PDP once used to snatch ballot boxes, manipulate elections and intimidate political opponents have graduated to becoming the bandits, kidnappers and robbers that the House of Representatives caucus is today complaining about. Rather than grandstanding and maligning President Buhari who is doing good work despite being constantly sabotaged by the opposition, the PDP caucus members should be brave to own up to how they created the terror machine that is now tormenting Nigerians. This would at least offer meaningful insight into dismantling it.

It is disheartening that these House of Representatives Members claimed to represent millions of youths from nooks and crannies of Nigeria, but in reality, they have made it their mission to cause division and disunity among citizens. They hired themselves out as mercenaries to the opposition to threaten Nigeria’s democracy and causing strife by hijacking what was meant to be peaceful protests held across the country.

NDF is stating this because it is now obvious that the #EndSARS protests, the degenerating state of security, the coup plot being packaged as impeachment attempt and the desperation to emasculate the military are all the grand plan of the PDP and certain elements that are out to destabilize Nigeria.

We remind Nigerians that in the runup to the 2019 General Elections NDF had severally raised the alarm about PDP’s plot to wreck Nigeria by precipitating crises that will result in the formation of an interim government populated by its members after it would have illegally ousted the President Buhari out of office. Sadly, every single scenario that NDF anticipated in those warnings is now playing out.

PDP working with other opposition elements and commercial activists has continued to attempt forcing a change in the leadership of the military, its killers are running riot across the country under different names – bandits, kidnappers, terrorists and other, it has hijacked a citizens’ movement for unleashing destructive protests in several cities of the country and it is now attempting a full-blown coup plot under the guise of an impeachment demanded by its caucus in the National Assembly.

PDF categorically demands that the National Assembly should curtail the activities of its PDP caucus as Nigerians will hold the legislature responsible should anything happen to threaten our democracy. The National Assembly has no business tolerating the excesses of people that have clearly outed themselves as enemies of the State.

As a show of our zero tolerance for unpatriotic elements, NDF is calling on the constituencies of the rogue House of Representative Members to immediately begin the process for the recall of their errant representatives, who have continued to pursue sectional political interests as part of a PDP caucus instead of providing wholesome representation to the people they represent at the National Assembly. These members must also be booted out parliament because they monetized their roles by receiving payment in hard currency to overthrow the government, an action that jeopardizes national security.

Terrorism Lasting 20 Years: Shehu Sani Should Go Back to School

By Philip Agbese

Former Senator for Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Shehu Sani, is a man to watch. He should be watched not because he is some star boy or role model that must be recommended to the upcoming generation to emulate, he should be watched closely because he has degenerated to a point where he has become a danger to himself and the society.

In the dire times the country has found herself in, at a time when the opposition has all but fizzled out from being a warming fire to become a mere heap of ash, with the best it has on offer being a career candidate who has made a habit of appearing on the ballot every other four years, Shehu Sani is exploiting the lacuna to posture as an influential voice. But far from it, if Sani’s voice is anything then it is in the league of a siren , one that will lure the unwary into ruins.

Sani plies his poison on Twitter and for good reasons. First, he knows social media in Nigeria is a space where trolls can cowardly hide behind their keyboards to malign others without repercussions; he would need to have more than the below two million followers he currently has for Twitter to consider his posts significant enough for moderation. Secondly, his tweets address an audience whose mental faculties are limited to 280 characters when processing information. Sani’s quality of intervention will not stand up to scrutiny when dissected by persons that are intellectually engaging.

This is why it is no surprise that Sani took to the same medium to unfairly castigate the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General TY Buratai, whose offence was stating that terrorism could persist another twenty years. This assertion, in Shehu Sani’s estimation is an admission of failure, one that should make Buratai resign. Of course, Sani’s band of urchins are jubilant at the barb he threw without taking time to understand the assertion beyond the limitation of 280 characters.

First, Sani’s followers failed to deconstruct their demagogue. Had they a deeper understanding of the man, they would have appreciated that the only credential he parades is that of being an activist, one that could not serve him usefully during his stint at the Senate, a position he lost because he never bothered to cultivate the needed democratic skills required for serving his constituents. His idea of democracy is limited to buying camels to slaughter for the electorates during Sallah. This should not be misconstrued as the failed senator being militarily savvy because he is not a good democrat. Far from it. Sani will fail more in the military than he failed at politics. He simply does not have the discipline to understand the nuances associated with securing a sovereign territory.

Now to the main issue. The point General Buratai made is trite. It is something that several people, a few of them experts had made in the past. It is that: the military may obliterate all Boko Haram’s members in a scorch earth campaign overnight, but the ideology already sowed by the terrorists will take a long time to wipe off just as the damages they have done will take possibly five decades to reverse, hopefully.

General Buratai’s assertion further speaks to the reality currently on ground. The Military is doing all it can to decimate and defeat Boko Haram. That assignment is like mopping water in a flooded room. Until the tap dripping water is turned off then the mopping will be eternal; even when the tap is turned off the broken and leaking pipes as well as seepages must be addressed for the mopping to work. So, as General Buratai and his troops continue to mop up Boko Haram terrorists, the tap must be turned off by way of stopping the foreign interests that prop up the terrorists, geo-strategic intervention like arming militias in Libya, Iraq and Syria must end so that arms destined for these groups do not flow into the hands of Boko Haram terrorists, countries that pay ransom for their conveniently abducted nationals simply to put money in Boko Haram’s coffers must stop.

The leaking pipes and seepages are the criminal politicians that make capital out of terrorist activities, the terrorist moles in the military and security architecture that provide credible intelligence to terrorists, the cyber warriors that unwittingly promote and publicize terrorist propaganda, the unscrupulous business men of diverse persuasions that sell arms and provide logistics to terrorists, the rogue clerics that preach extremism and indoctrinate young people, the foreign organizations that need the crisis to continue for them to sustain donor funding for their so called relief or human rights monitoring work, the war entrepreneurs that need crises to get contracts, corrupt officials that need the crisis as subheads in the budget to steal money, the perverts that finance the operations of the terrorists and a host of other undesirables.

Militarily defeating Boko Haram without attenuating these identified variables means that they will somehow interact and regroup the fighting arm of their operations within the shortest time. This is what has been happening and it is something that will continue to play on loop until Nigeria is able to identify those that fall into these categories and deal with the specific problem they constitute. It is the reality that will allow terrorism to persist for twenty more years and that is hoping that in that span of time the country somehow manages to unmask who these people are. It does not matter whether General Buratai is the one in the saddle or another commander. It is a problem that would not disappear overnight.

Perhaps one should recommend Shehu Sani to study countries that are dealing with terrorism to understand the dynamics and the life cycles of this problem, if that will not be too difficult for him. Indonesia, Malaysia, Philipines and Myamar are dealing with terrorism at a phase that is different from what Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq and Yemen are dealing while the phases in Pakistan, Bangladesh and India are also different. In each of these countries, killing the leaderships of the terrorist organizations had not translated to instant peace. They adopt long term approaches to dealing with the residual and associated components of terrorism even when the militant arms of the terrorists have been decimated or defeated.

Interestingly, in the case of Nigeria, some of these problem components could be addressed with robust legislation. Something that Shehu Sani could have initiated when he was in the Senate. But he wasted the four-year chance he had to make impact because in the entirety of that time he confused activism for governance and never truly did things that matter. It is provident that the constituents he accidentally represented realized their mistake and promptly voted him out of the Senate, lest he would have been abusing their mandate to pursue his personal bitterness.

Unfortunately, with the much we have seen of Shehu Sani, he simply does not have the intellectual capacity to decode what General Buratai has said. He would need to go back to school to learn modern tricks like critical thinking in order to understand what is being said.

Agbese is a human rights activist based in the United Kingdom.

Delta North Killings: Accused asks not to be tried in Abuja

Seven persons alleged to have been involved in the 2017 killing of indigenes of Idumuje-Ugboko Community of Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State, have challenged the decision of the Federal Government to prosecute them in Abuja.

The federal government in the charge filed by the office of Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, alleged that the Defendants, Nwochie Light, Aikhomo Omezi, Okey Ifejoku, Godwin Aniemeke, Nonso Omefe, Dennis Nwoko and Emeka Bidoku, had in May 2017, unleashed terror on the community by burning houses.

The government in the charge said one Cyprian Kumaorun was killed in the process.

On November 2, the defendants pleaded not giulty to the amended three-count charge filed against them.

During the trial, the defence lawyers, notified the court that they have filed an application for the case-file to be transferred to Asaba, Delta State.

“We have a motion for transfer of the matter from Abuja to Asaba or any other jurisdiction that is within the axis.

“We don’t even mind if the case is transferred to Benin, Bayelsa, Port Harcourt or even Anambra”, counsel to the 1st Defendant, Prof. Agbo Madaki submitted.

On his part, the Prosecution counsel, Mr. Shuaibu Labaran, sought an adjournment to enable him to respond to the transfer request dated December 1.

“The commencement of trial in this matter will depend on the outcome of the application”, Justice Abang held.

FG earlier prayed the court for an accelerated hearing of the case since it was terrorism related.

It equally informed the court that a total of 14 witnesses would be called to give evidence in the matter.

Some counts in the amended charge against the Defendants read: “That you, Nwochie Light, Aikhomo Omezi, Okey Ifejoku, Godwin Aniemeke, Nonso Omefe, Dennis Nwoko Alias Uwadiegwu and Emeka Bidoku Alias Onyeboundle of ldumuje-Ugboko community, Aniocha Norih Local Government Area of Delta between May 18 and 25, 2017 at ldumuie-Ugboko community, Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta, within the jurisdiction of this court, did conspire with others still at large to commit acts of terrorism.

“You thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 17 of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act 2013.

“That you, Nwochie Light, Aikhomo Omezi, Okey Ifejoku, Godwin Aniemeke, Nonso Omefe, Dennis Nwoko and Emeka Bidoku of ldumuje-Ugboko community, Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta between May 18 and 25, 2017 at ldumuje-Ugboko community, Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta within the jurisdiction of this court, did commit an act of terrorism, in that you and others still at large participated in an attack on members of ldumuje-Ugboko community and killed one Cyprain Kumaorun.

“You thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 1(2)(e) of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act 2013.”

Northern group cautions Shekarau over comment on Service Chiefs

The Northern Patriotic Assembly (NPA) has warned former Kano State Governor, Ibrahim Shekarau, to desist from running errands for coupists with his statements on national security and the service chiefs.

In a statement signed by its Director of Press, Muhammadu Adamu, on Thursday, the group said Shekerau’s remarks is “despicable and might be a manifestation of one of the many smear campaigns intended to discredit the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari in addressing the security threats in the country”.

Like his contemporaries, the Northern Patriotic Assembly said the Senator representing Kano Central doesn’t have the interest of the nation at heart; only playing to the gallery.

The group, therefore, warned the lawmaker to forthwith quit the politics and equally cease making unguarded and illogical statements that insult the sensibilities of Nigerians.

The NPA, however, challenged Shekarau to swear by the Holy Koran that he is not aware that the recent attacks by Boko Haram in Borno State are not the handiwork of politicians.

Read full statement below:

The Northern Patriotic Assembly views the statement by Ibrahim Shekarau, Senator representing Kano Central in the National Assembly wherein he stated that President Muhammadu is breaking the law by keeping the Service Chiefs as an act of political grandstanding and lacking in any form of objectivity.

It is indeed a statement of the fact that Senator Ibrahim Shekarau has elected to speak from an uninformed perspective and blinded by his hatred for the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari for very obvious reasons.

The Northern Patriotic Assembly is consequently taken aback that as a former governor, minister and now Senator, Ibrahim Shekarau should have been more enlightened and conversant with the powers of the Commander-in-Chief with regards to the tenure of Service Chiefs in the country.

We also wish to state that Senator Ibrahim Shekarau’s statement is despicable and might be a manifestation of one of the many smear campaigns intended to discredit the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari in addressing the security threats in the country which has assumed a politically dangerous dimension.

It is our firm belief that Senator Ibrahim Shekarau is not only out to discredit the present administration, but also to cause an unholy distraction towards giving leeway for his political associates to have their way in their puerile attempt to effect a change of government by all means.

Senator Ibrahim Shekarau just like his contemporaries has been playing to the gallery on an issue as severe as the security of lives in the country which by and large is of no interest to them because it is no longer business as usual in running the affairs of the country.

The Northern Patriotic Assembly wishes to use this medium to caution Senator Ibrahim Shekarau to desist from the puerile attempt at playing to the gallery by making unguarded and illogical statements that insult the sensibilities of Nigerians from all walks of life. He hasn’t challenged the law in court, and as a lawmaker, he is not known to have made any new law on the tenure of service chiefs in the country.

He should stop playing politics with the security of Nigerians and face the reality which is the fact that indeed the spate of insecurity in the country is as a result of the desperation by politicians to cause disaffection in the polity through the covert sponsorship of violence across the country.

The Northern Patriotic Assembly states in unequivocal terms that Senator Ibrahim Shekarau cannot feign ignorance to the fact that spate of killings in the country is politically motivated.

We consequently challenge Senator Ibrahim Shekarau to swear by the Holy Koran that he is not aware that the recent attacks by Boko Haram in Borno State are not the handiwork of politicians.

At this point, it is our considered opinion that Senator Ibrahim Shakarau should be circumspect in his public conduct and be guided by the fact that as a former governor, minister and now Senator, he is sufficiently aware of the noble efforts of the present administration in addressing the security threats in the country.

He should also do himself well to read about the tenure of Service Chiefs, which is expressly stated in the Harmonized Conditions of Service that permits the Service Chiefs to remain in office at the discretion of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Senator Ibrahim Shekarau must not take his ignorance too far as these are indeed trying times in the country with the spate of politically motivated killings and other acts of criminalities. It consequently behoves on him to quit playing to the gallery in the interest of peace and tranquillity.

NOUN VC Tussle: Youth Group Drags AGF, 12 Others To Court

The registered trustees of the Youth Global Vision for Peace in Nigeria has instituted a suit at the Federal High Court Abuja, against the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Minister of Education, and the National Universities Commission, over the process of appointment of the Vice Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN.
Other respondents in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1610/2020, are the Council, National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN, Gregory Okagbare, Mercy Ogunsola Bandele, Joy Eyisi, Femi Peters, Justus Sokefun, Francis Egbokhare, Nebath Tanglang and Peter Okebukola.
Among questions, the plaintiffs want the court to determine “Whether the process of appointment of a new vice chancellor for the NOUN as commenced by the 4th Respondent and approved by the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th Respondents, including the online examination set for the 6th to 12th Respondents is not null and void and inconsistent with the provision of Section 3(3) (1) of the Universities (miscellaneous provisions) Act 201 2 as Amended.
By the suit, the plaintiffs want a declaration that the 1st to 5th Respondents have no powers to validly set out any criteria or guideline for the appointment of a Vice Chancellor for the NOUN other than those in compliance with Section 3(3) (1) of the Universities (miscellaneous provisions) Act 2012.
“A declaration that all criteria set by the 4th Respondent and approved by the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th Respondents including but not limited to the Examination of 26th October 2020, not being in compliance with Section 3(3) (1) of the Universities (miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2012 are null and void.
“An order directing the 1st Respondent to immediately set up a new selection team (excluding all the members of the selection team, the actions of which constitute the facts of the grievance in this case) as contemplated by Section 3(3) (1) of the Universities (Miscellaneous Provision) Act 2012 (As Amended) to commence a fresh process of screening and selecting a new Vice Chancellor for the NOUN, among other reliefs.
No date has been fixed for mentioning of the case. END.