Governors responsible for insecurity, unrest in Nigeria, group alleges

Some Nigerians have blamed the failure of state governors to deliver the dividends of democracy to their people for the civil unrest and insecurity witnessed in parts of the country.

The group, under the aegis of March4Nigeria Initiative, said the governors should be held responsible for the escalation of the EndSARS protest into violence.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday in Abuja, National Coordinator, Comrade Augustine Adie said some governors have constituted themselves into demigod, leading to agitations and disenchantments in the polity.

Comrade Adie noted that the “discovery of COVID-19 palliatives stored in various warehouses across the states is indeed a vindication of the efforts of the federal government towards improving the lives of the people in ways too numerous to mention”.

Describing the attitude as “appalling and inimical to sustainable growth and development in Nigeria”, the group said it is time for citizens to hold their governors accountable.

The March4Nigeria Initiative, however, tasked the governors to do the needful in their different states with regards to delivering the dividends of democracy.

It also hoped that the governors would admit their mistakes and retrace their steps in the way and manner they govern their various states.

Read full statement below:

Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the leadership of March4Nigeria, I warmly welcome you all to this press conference put together in the wake of the aftermath of the EndSARS protest in Nigeria that resulted in quite unpleasant events across the country.

The March4Nigeria Initiative is constrained to lend its voice to bring an end to bad governance in the country, which is rife at the state and local government across the country. We must all admit that the activities of most governors and local government administrators are somewhat responsible for the various agitations and disenchantments in the polity because these governors have constituted themselves into mini gods.

The recent discovery of COVID-19 palliatives stored in various warehouses across the states is indeed a vindication of the efforts of the federal government towards improving the lives of the people in ways too numerous to mention.

However, it has become clear that most governors are not in tune with reality either by omission or commission, as it is inexcusable for food items meant for the people during the coronavirus pandemic are kept from the people for God knows why.

The March4Nigeria initiative views such actions as counter-productive and ultimately against the interest of the country in this critical point of our existence, hence the need for demonstration of responsibility in governance at the state and local government levels because they are indeed accountable to the people that voted them into office.

The hoarding of the COVID-19 palliatives is just one example of how things are going wrong at the state and local government levels, which by and large undermines the efforts of the government at the centre.

When one takes a cursory look at budget performance across the 36 states of the country, one would be confronted with tales of underperformance and a lack of commitment to uplifting the standard of living of the people.

The March4Nigeria Initiative views such disposition as appalling and inimical to sustainable growth and development in Nigeria. It is also instructive to state that not until citizens start to ask questions on accountability from state governors and local government administrators, we would be going round in a vicious circle.

Citizens must be charged to ask questions on the performance of budget across the 36 states of the federation. Citizens must also demand transparency from governors in the conduct of state business, as only this can guarantee socio-economic development at the state and local government levels.

It is thus a statement of the fact that should the governors continue in such fashion, sustainable development would elude us, and we would all bear the brunt of our actions and inactions.

The March4Nigeria initiative is using this medium to task the various state governors to go to work and do the needful in their different states with regards to delivering the dividend of democracy to the people.

We are also tasking the various state governors to display a strong commitment to complementing the efforts of the federal government in tackling the various challenges in the country. We also acknowledge the fact that some governors have been quite cooperative with the federal government in addressing security challenges in their domains.

It is thus our considered opinion that if this attitude is replicated across the 36 states of the federation, Nigeria would be steady on the path of economic growth and development. Thus, the governors and local government administrators must shun all acts of corruption in their domains.

This is on the heels that the level of corruption at the state and local government levels is indeed mindboggling and should indeed be the focus of any genuine EndSARS campaign in the country. If this trend is no curtailed, sustainable development will continue to elude us and youth restiveness would not abate.

There must be an entrenchment of transparency and accountability in the states and local government to ensure that Nigeria makes substantial gains in our quest for development.

It is also our considered view that if there are no attitudinal changes on the part of governors; Nigeria might remain a project that won’t be completed for a long time to come.

The March4Nigeria Initiative is advocating for collectiveness and synergy between the federal government and the state governors towards ensuring that the people enjoy the dividends of democracy.

We thank you all for your time, and we desire that state governors would realize their mistakes and retrace their steps in the way and manner they govern their various states. This remains the only option left towards setting Nigeria on the path of greatness.

Thank you all, and God bless

NIPROF warns against EndSARS protests being used for destabilization

The National Inter-Faith and Religious Organization for Peace ( NIPROF) has advised youths in the country not to allow themselves to be used as agents of destruction by politicians and other groupings working against the interest of Nigeria.

This was stated by the National Coordinator of NIPROF, Bishop Sunday Garuba during an interactive session with journalists recently in the aftermath of the destruction of properties and the loss of lives that occasioned the EndSARS protest across the country.

Bishop Sunday Garuba alluded to the fact that the original intent of the protest was genuine. However, the moment the youths refused all entreaties for dialogue signalled that the protest had been hijacked.

“The youths are the bedrock of any the society, and as such, they must be circumspect in their actions and inactions. The EndSARS protest was one of such avenues where they would have driven home their point for reforms in the Nigerian Police Force, but they allowed some undesirable elements that do not mean well for the country to hijack the protest.”

“It is sad that despite the handwriting on the wall, they refused to realized the dangerous dimension that protest was assuming until things escalated and led to the destruction of properties and the attendant loss of lives.”

He further stated that some demonic forces were against the peace and progress of the country and the EndSARS protest provided that opportunity to fulfil their evil desires against the country.

“It must be stated that the EndSARS protest was indeed hijacked and those evil forces almost had their way in destabilizing the country but for divine intervention. If not for divine intervention, the level of destruction would have been phenomenal, and Nigeria would have been engulfed in crisis.”

The fiery cleric lampooned those that propagated fake news that further fueled the wanton destruction of properties in Lagos and other parts of the country.

“We must realize that fake news contributed a great deal in misleading the youths during the EndSARS protest. It was indeed a sad tale as we watched how the proponents of fake news greatly misled gullible youths with the ultimate aim of setting the country on fire.”

“I am sure that with the benefit of hindsight there would be a lot of sober reflections on how a once peaceful protest turned violent with the attack on government and private properties, as well as the killing of law enforcement officers in a most barbaric and inhuman manner.”

“If it is indeed not the devil at work, how could one explain a situation where no value was placed on human lives by some agents of the devil? It is indeed despicable and should be condemned in all ramifications by all well-meaning Nigerians.”

Bishop Sunday Garuba called on Nigerians from all faiths and ethnicity to see that the plan by the agents of the devil for Nigeria does not succeed.

“Nigerians from all faiths and tribes must see the task at hand to understand that it remains our responsibility to continue to intercede for peace and unity in the country. We must continue to pray fervently for the youths so that they do not lose focus and become willing tools to be used by agents of the devil to destroy the country.”

“The youths as well must also realize that these agents of the devil are all out to destabilize the country and one of the ways they can actualize their desires is to infiltrate the youthful population in the country.”

“Our youths have indeed conducted themselves over the years in a most peaceful manner and have remained committed to building the blocks of a strong and united Nigeria of our dreams. This fact, these individuals and groups indeed want to take undue advantage of the vibrancy of the youths of the country to cause unrest in the country.”

He advised the government to continue to implement youth-oriented policies in the country that would engage the youths constructively in the task of nation-building.

“The events of the past weeks should indeed task the government to continue to implement youth-orientated policies that would give the youths their pride of place in nation-building. This would also go a long way in ensuring that those individuals and groups do not mislead the youths to destroy the country.”

The cleric consequently advised the youths to stand on the side of truth; peace and stability in the country and not allow demonic agents use them to destabilize the country.

“I want to give this charge to the youthful population in Nigeria to stand on the side of peace and stability in Nigeria. They must not under any circumstance, allow themselves to be tools for the destruction of Nigeria. The future of Nigeria rests on their shoulders, and they must see themselves as the pillars of our great country.”
It would be recalled that the EndSARS protest across the country that was once peaceful was hijacked by sponsored thugs and hoodlums to commit arson in Lagos state and other parts of the country. This was on the heels that the government accepted the five demands made by the youths. Yet, the street protest continued that led to the destruction of properties and loss of lives in the country.

#EndSARS: Group endorses FG’s actions against sponsors, promoters of violence

The Citizens Against Fake Activists (CAFA) has thrown its weight behind the move by the Federal Government to prosecute sponsors and promoters of violence during the EndSARS protests.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Executive Director, Bamidele Johnson urged relevant authorities to resist blackmail and intimidation attempts by fake activists.

The CAFA also said it is appalled by the furore raised by those whose bank accounts were frozen, especially knowing they were used for illicit activities.

According to the group, those “who financed the protests have shared responsibility for the hacking of government cites as part of the protests.”

It added that “the financiers are accessories to the murder of the dozens of policemen who were killed by the incited mobs”.

CAFA, however, urged the law to take its course.

While calling on the Central Bank of Nigeria to continue its investigation, the CAFA also urged the Inspector General of Police to identify those responsible for the violence.

It added that “Once identified, the Inspector General of Police should charge these persons for terrorism financing and any other crime they might have committed”.

Read the full statement below:

Gentlemen of the press, we will like to begin by stating that Citizens Against Fake Activists is appalled by the furore being raised by those whose bank accounts were frozen because they were used for illicit activities, to wit, acts of terrorism against the Nigerian state. We are similarly miffed that persons that instigated violence against. Nigeria is gripping about being barred from flying.

We will equally set out by making a fair disclosure that we support the demand for the reform of the Nigeria Police Force and the dismantling of any of its specialized unit found to have breached the rules of civil policing while offending officers should be tried as common criminals.

What we do not support, however, is the attempt by fake activists and their sponsors to overthrow a legitimate government using mob action as was witnessed in the aftermath of the Lekki Toll Gate incident when cities across Nigeria were gripped by criminals that looted and burnt properties during protests that were at that time no longer connected to the demands for reformed police.

But the lines must be drawn. There is a name for the use of intimidation, violence and threat of violence for coercing the state to agree to a set of demands. Those who made their bank accounts available for laundering the money that financed the violent protests need to be mindful of the implication of their action. For the avoidance of doubts, let us highlight some of the outcomes of those violent or provocative protests:

Those who obstructed the road denied other Nigerians of the right to use an infrastructure build with the commonwealth. Had the other citizens responded in similar measure there would have been widespread violence across the land. Those who instigated these blockades of public roads have cases to answer, especially when there were suggestions of mortality of persons who could not access lifesaving care at hospitals because of the resulting gridlocks.

Those who financed the protests have shared responsibility for the hacking of government cites as part of the protests. It is a cybercrime. It is terrorism.

The financiers are accessories to the murder of the dozens of policemen who were killed by the incited mobs. This is murder and the law forbids that, more so that those killed were policemen.

The torching of government buildings, websites, buses, vehicles and even private homes and businesses is arson. It is against the law. The protest sponsors and financiers have responsibility.

The looting of food banks, storehouses, food reserve and other times is theft accessioned by braking and entry. There are laws against this, and some people coordinated the attacks on these locations.

The looting of food reserves and privately held storages is an attempt at mass murder, the result which is ahead. By destroying the food storage Nigerians are at the risk of starvation in the coming months since there is nothing to bridge any shortfall in food supply having lost what was in reserve to the protesters. It is unlawful to assist someone escaping lawful correctional service’s custody; those who put down the money for staging the protests are responsible for the freeing of prisoners in several prisons in the country.

We appreciate that these people that financed the protests through their various bank accounts are enjoying the support of the public opinion, but things are not as simple as they sound. Public opinion, no matter how strident, cannot overrule the law. Those that are found culpable in the crimes listed earlier on will have to keep a date with the law and only pray that their crimes would be met with leniency that will give shorter sentences.

We are therefore demanding that the law takes it course. The Inspector-General of Police should identify more of those that were responsible for this mess while the Central Bank of Nigeria should continue investigating to unmask the enemies of Nigeria.

Once identified, the Inspector General of Police should charge these persons for terrorism financing and any other crime they might have committed. They must face charges for a treasonable felony which was their real motive. They then have the right to clear themselves in court if they can or they should willingly go in for what they have done.

Meanwhile, we appeal to news organization representatives, bloggers and genuine activists to take time to research the issue at hand to have the right perspective for objective reporting. The state has responsibility to prosecute any crime committed even if it is committed in the pursuit of a good cause.

Group says #EndSARS protesters planning another mayhem on Abuja, Lagos

Some well-meaning Nigerians, under the aegis of March4Nigeria, say some purported EndSARS protesters are mobilising hoodlums to wreak havoc in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and Lagos.

According to the group, these extremist elements will relaunch violent uprisings under the guise that their members are being hounded.

The group said they will also blame the routine law enforcement process, freezing of accounts and the placement of some persons of interest on a no-fly-list.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday in Lagos, National Secretary, Comrade Onimisi Bello said funds for the exercise has already been laundered online using cryptocurrencies.

The March4Nigeria, however, condemned the move to incite Nigerians back to the streets, as it could jeopardize the Federal Government’s proposed police reform.

While calling on parents to guide their children against being used as agents of destruction, the group urged security agencies to use all necessary force to protect the law-abiding citizens.

Read the full speech below:

Gentlemen of the press, you will recall that Nigerians took to the streets to protest against police brutality as typified by the activities of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). The protests were peaceful, and Nigerians tabled five-point demands that the Federal Government promptly accepted, which gave rise to the concept of 5for5. Part of the government’s response was the termination of the infamous SARS.

These protests were christened “#EndSARS” consistent with the demand for an end to SARS. When the protests continued even after the government has liquidated SARS and accepted the demands, some of us became worried as we had expected, logically, that there would be a retreat from the picket lines to allow the government to implement the agreed changes.

We soon found out that the protests have been hijacked by selfish and dangerous interests. It became obvious that these elements were paying celebrities, commercial activists and clout chasers to incite Nigerians on social media. The same elements hired thugs and hoodlums to disrupt the same protests they were mobilising people to be part of.

The intentions of these elements for the protests soon became obvious as they proceeded to shut down major roads and public infrastructure. They reportedly precipitated the Lekki Toll Gate incident to justify the industrial scale arson and looting that they unleashed on the country. Several major businesses will take years to recover from this attack many smaller businesses will never recover.

Upon the discovery of the insidious plan of the element, the patriots among us called a halt on protests and began the March4Nigeria movement. We shifted focus to holding the government accountable for implementing the 5for5 demands. We believe that more can be achieved through dialogue and continuous engagement as opposed to destructive confrontation.

The dangerous elements that attacked Nigeria have retained the #EndSARS label even when SARS has been terminated. This is why #March4Nigeria distanced itself from what is now #EndSARS movement. It has no relationship or connection whatsoever with the original protest against police brutality, high handedness, abuse of human rights and extra-judicial execution.

We have now uncovered plans by these extremist elements to relaunch violent protests under the brand #EndSARS to undermine the Nigerian state. The excuse they will use for these fresh rounds of protests is to allege that their members are being hounded. Specifically, they will cite the routine law enforcement process, the freezing of accounts linked to crime and the placement of some persons of interest on a no-fly-list, as the basis to spark off these violent protests.

An early indication of this plot is the withdrawal of their representatives from the Lagos State Panel of Inquiry citing the aforesaid law enforcement processes. This move by the #EndSARS elements is to undermine the panel on one hand while inciting people to rush back to protesting based on sentiments.

There has also been an escalation of inciteful social media posts to draw Nigerians back to the streets while the hoodlums that were used for arson have again been placed on standby. Funding for the payment of the hoodlums has been laundered online using cryptocurrencies that have been converted to foreign currencies, transferred to unanimous accounts and the money is being converted to Naira and held in cash to evade scrutiny of law enforcement agencies.

Furthermore, the #EndSARS protesters have reportedly drawn up a list of government and private assets and businesses to destroy to spark reprisals that will then snowball into a tit-for-tat all-out war along ethnic or sectarian lines.

What we have been made to understand is that these people will prioritize Lagos and Abuja for their provocative protests and attacks. Abuja is being targeted to cause the country the maximum international and diplomatic embarrassment since the international media focus on the city in their coverage. Lagos is being targeted as part of a strategy to crumble Nigeria’s economy on one hand and to cause ethno-sectarian strife there on the other hand because of its cosmopolitan nature. The protests will equally be launched in other states with a plot to commit further arson and looting to intensify the assault on Nigeria’s economy.

March4Nigeria condemns the plan to incite Nigerians back to the streets under any guise as this will directly interfere with what we are expecting from the Federal Government in terms of reform. The organic timeline of three months during which we want to put the government to the test will be impacted since any distraction caused by having to manage protests will hurt the long-term feasibility of the changes we have demanded from government. The focus should be on pressuring the government to perform and not distracting the entire country.

Given what the country experienced when the #EndSARS protests were hijacked by these same persons, #March4Nigeria calls on all security agencies to use all necessary force to protect the law-abiding citizens of the country, including pre-emptively taking the ringleaders of this destructive clique into custody until they no longer pose any threat to the rest of us. They are not genuine protesters just as their agitation has lost legitimacy with the carnage and murderous campaign they launched against the country.

We urge parents to warn their children and wards not to be used by agents of darkness to carry out looting of properties, burning of police stations and killing of innocent Nigerians in the name of #EndSARS. They should impress on the young people that there are laws in Nigeria and the law is either on one’s side or against one, depending on what choices the individual makes.

We equally call on the international community and NGOs to caution those in contact with them to desist from plunging Nigeria into any crisis. Affiliation or interaction with the international community should not be misconstrued as a licence to commit crimes and kill law enforcement agents without consequences.

March4Nigeria urges state governments to review their crisis response plans in other to be responsive in deploying mitigating measures to counter the national meltdown being planned by these extreme people.

It is our fervent prayer that those who had supported the extremist elements of the #EndSARS protests in error will now retrace their steps and withdraw support from them and also point the way in how to neutralize the threat they pose to other Nigerians. To continue supporting the movement when it has exposed the direction of its long-term plan will be a great disservice to the nation.

Marafa remains suspended, Zamfara APC insists

The Zamfara State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that Senator Kabiru Marafa remained suspended, insisting that the party had suspended him since 2019.

The State APC Chairman, Alhaji Lawal Liman stated this while reacting to the recent comments credited to Senator Marafa accusing National Caretaker Committee of the party.

Liman said that, “as far as we concern the APC in Zamfara, Senator Marafa remains suspended because, since 2019 we suspended him in accordance with the party’s constitution and our decision have been forward to the APC National Headquarters, Abuja”.

“We are calling on the National caretaker committee of the party to ratify his suspension.

“Therefore, members of the public should not regard him as a member of the APC.

“We don’t consider Marafa as our member because he is used by oppostion People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to distract peace and stability in the party.

“Even by disobeying the party’s National Executive Council NEC should be enough reason to know that Marafa is not wishing the APC well”, Liman said.

He described the recent comments by Senator Marafa accusing the national leadership of the party as uncalled for

“We are calling on the National caretaker committee to take appropriate action against him, therefore he should be treated as opposition.

“We condemned the statement, we distance our self from any call against National leadership of the party”, Liman explained.

He said that the Zamfara State APC is behind the National Leadership of the party, “we commend the Maimala Buni’s committee for repositioning the party”.

My Stand for Nigeria, My Beloved Country!

By Philip Agbese

I was very hesitant replying the tweeted blackmailing diatribes on my personage on social media. They were masterminded mainly by one pseudo-activist, Omoyele Sowore and Deji Adeyanju who shares bemusing activism instincts with the first.
But after deep reflections over it in the course of the night, I decided to pen a response because the Englishman echoes in a maxim that silence means acquiesce to any propaganda reeled out on someone. So, I won’t quietly dignify their spite and hateful lies on me. Moreover, a lot of people who are not acquainted with my philosophy may gulp their tissues of assumptive thoughts as true.
Back to the kernel of the matter. The duo have accused me of being sponsored by President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR and the Chief of Army Staff and leader of the counter-insurgency operations in Nigeria, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai, my most admirable Nigerian in recent times of being commissioned to spearhead the campaign against the expulsion of Amnesty International (AI) in Nigeria. AI is a foreign-based human rights organization operating in several countries of the world, including Nigeria, my beloved country.
Undoubtedly, the declaration of the duo is borne out of an over-bloated ego to hit at those they assume have affinities with these two venerable leaders of Nigeria they hate so much for reasons best known. They may have genuinely expressed their thoughts, or merely exercised artificial activism impulse, or are even mercantile politicians who have absolute conviction in the continuous disordered nature of our country. I believe the latter seems high on the table.
I am not unaware that a handful of unpatriotic Nigerians, backed by foreign destructive forces place personal interests ahead of that of our beloved country, Nigeria. To assert that such people are unpatriotic is same as casting the dais too far or putting the cart before the horse. Unfortunately, I see Sowore, Adeyanju and many others in such illumination. I beg to be spared the nightmare.
Quickly however, let me scratchily replay my background to Sowore, Adeyanju and indeed, my beloved compatriots in Nigeria. I am a proud Prince from Agilaland, Ado Local Government Area of Benue state, Northern Nigeria. I was born and started life in my obscure village. But I had the rare privilege of having caring and responsible parents who were extremely keen about western education for their children. They sent me to school!
So, very early, my parents exposed me to the quest for knowledge outside my immediate vicinity to avail me the platform to mix, culturize and socialize with other Nigerians outside the confines and comfort of ethnicity and village life. And I immensely benefitted from it.
Each time I picked my ark of Noah box to resume back to school at Federal Government College, Ugwolawo in Kogi state, my father won’t mind to howl at the driver to a halt because he forgot to tell me these words-“love, respect everyone, abide by the truth, don’t fight anybody, be loyal to your friends and be patriotic always.” He must drum it into my ears over a hundred times, again and again!
I grew up with this counsel, which resonates even unconsciously in my psyche and actions. It serves as guiding principles ever since. I have friends all over Nigeria and beyond. Even as an adult now and in spite of our fault lines as a people, I still cherish the cord of fraternity immensely, acknowledge and hard work. I have been taught and grown up to cherish the virtues of love, respect for elders and hard work anywhere I find myself. No desire on earth can compel me to do otherwise.
Anyway, let me address the Sowores and the Adeyanjus properly now. I am one of the numerous Nigerians that are ever proud of the Nigerian Army under the focused leadership of Gen. Buratai. The achievements of the COAS as the overseer of the war against Boko Haram insurgents and ISWAP terrorists in Nigeria, in my estimation, should attract his worship like a demigod or the apparition of an angel by all.
I have lived long enough to understand what happens in my country. I knew what Boko Haram caused Nigeria before President Muhammadu Buhari became President of this country and appointed Gen. Buratai to lead the counter-terrorism war in the country. I have felt and relished the impact of the counter-insurgency operations under Gen. Buratai. No partisanship can blur this reality from me. It is borne out of personal conviction over time and keen observation of his unquantifiable sacrifices and achievements that brought the much needed peace and security in the North East.
Many of us, including yours sincerely, by providence survived the horrors of bomb blasts in Abuja and elsewhere in the North. Hey! The dangers, risks and psychological tortures that we went through in the hands of Boko Haram are gory memories unworthy of recollections. I pray we should not reverse back to such frustrating degeneration on insecurity anymore, with the gains on our hands. Any dispassionate Nigerian would attest to the difference now and then!
At the risk of flattery, Gen. Buratai has brought respite to us as a people against Boko Haram insurgency in spite of challenging and difficult circumstances. I see in him a defiant spirit of a soldier horned to succeed on any given assignment. Sowore is pretty aware the number of times the insurgents have tried to kill Gen. Buratai himself. But he has remained undeterred and resilient. Rather, he is more determined and sleeping in the trenches with his troops to ensure that all of us have a peaceful night rest, including him who now either sneak in or out of Abuja to make such amusing jarring noise on Nigeria’s leadership.
By nature, I hate deliberate persecution of anybody in the pretext of politics. With due respect to Deji Adeyanju and his cohorts , I never heard their voices when Boko Haram peaked under the preceding administration in Nigeria. Frankly, I therefore need no personal relationship with President Buhari or Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, to express my opinion in favour of his stewardship at any point in time. I feel the impact personally.
In fact, the latest vituperations from Sowore and his minions would now encourage me to seek ways to reach out to these great Nigerian leaders. I think that’s what all of them wish to hear. I am therefore looking forward to an opportunity to meet with Gen. Buratai anytime soon.
However, I am not one of those publishers who will send out my reporters or go to solicit for help from anyone because I support the Nigerian Army or President Buhari’s government. I do it very honestly and from the bottom of my heart. I will never do it for all it takes in the name of the Almighty God I worship.
Perhaps, you need to know my political personage deeper. I am an ardent believer in President Muhammadu Buhari and not shy about it. And I have gone further to write a book on him which chronicled major events in his first term as our President. Yes, I published and launched the book in Abuja, sometime last year. As innately with me, the book was not the usual praise-singing or sycophantic stuff on Buhari’s administration, which is now the creed and penchant of many Nigerians who pencil down anything on public office holders.
I am a critical thinker and critique. My African traditional religion and Christianity inclination teach me good conscience. So, I don’t belong to the herds who inherit the hatred of others. Like Femi Adesina adumbrates always, I cannot emulate someone’s hate for another person.
Therefore, the launch of the book on President Buhari didn’t attract the usual fanfare peculiar with such events in our country for reasons of my objectiveness. That hasn’t in any way deterred me in pursuing my convictions on President Buhari or Gen. Buratai or even diverted my attention from seeking to see a better Nigeria, my country. It will not restrain me from proclaiming my belief in the administration and no group of persons or individuals can change it as far as my learning and exposure are concerned.
These ideologies are deeply rooted wittingly or unwittingly in my writings in the freest expression of fundamental rights as a proud citizen of Nigeria. I have no apology to anyone, least of all, the assemblage of attack dogs on my person. And it is also an established fact that I have a right to associate with any person or groups of persons within or outside the country. That same rights do not extend to associating with those whose lifestyles and convictions do not blend with mine.
I want to make it emphatically and abundantly clear that Amnesty International (AI) is one of such groups, I hate and choose not to associate with, irrespective of how much money they offer. Not even on my grave! Times without number, I have been approached to lend my expertise in human rights to AI through fronts or proxies. I always decline.
My consistent position has remained unchangeably that I totally fault AI’s attitude, modus operandi, modus operandi, methodology and ideology in Africa as an NGO concerned with the promotion and promotion of human rights in Nigeria. If I had consented, I would have been part of their congregation conspiring against my own country by now. That will never be and no amount of blackmail or propaganda against my person would change that.
The difference is; I have sworn never to be a party to anything that will negatively affect or destroy my country. My patriotic spirit won’t allow me the liberty of such generous and inglorious indulgence. We all know the malfeasances of AI against Nigeria. I can’t enlist in the deviousness of conspiring with outsiders to build enemy camps against Nigeria.
Let me make a detour slightly and recourse to yesterday’s Boko Haram history in Nigeria again! Do they recall that the United States under the leadership of former President Barrack Obama refused Nigeria’s purchase of weapons or any military hardware and technical support to the country in the fight against Boko Haram because of alleged abuse of human rights of Nigerians in the prosecution of the insurgency in the Northeast? America referenced the prohibitions as contained in the Leahy Act and persuaded other foreign countries to also deprive Nigeria of weapons. The records are there as regards those that masterminded the correspondences that formed the basis of such unfortunate decisions by the US.
President Donald Trump eventually unbanned that embargo under the Buhari Presidency having seen the truth under a new administration in Nigeria. But what led to such declassification and smear campaigns of Nigeria on human rights?
Some indigenous media in Nigeria, obviously hired by enemy foreign forces who are after the destabilization and break-up of Nigeria, aggressively played the false scripts of concocted reports of alleged human rights abuses in the fight against Boko Haram to allow terrorists triumph over Nigeria. Insurgents had sophisticated weapons to fight us; but Nigeria was deprived of same weapons by these persons.
And Amnesty International amplifies it with all venom. If I should ask, why is AI inordinately interested in the internal affairs of Nigeria? AI has transformed into daily reporters in Nigeria; pushing out news on alleged human rights abuses in a manner compelling the thought on this organization as the opposition mouthpiece in Nigeria. We are an independent nation!
We are all witnessed to how George Floyds protests and riots that rocked United States of America and parts of the world just recently. Did AI drop a word on human rights abuses in America or there was none in the course of the deployment of Federal Forces by President Trump to quell the protests which turned into deadly riots?
I am not a toddler. Therefore, I know several nations of the world as of today that are troubled or afflicted by various conflicts. But it behoves on their citizens to show patriotism by encouraging their leaders to surmount the difficulties or challenges.
I am aware that Sowore’s online publication-Sahara Reporters is funded by foreign organizations. I don’t know the interests and targets of these foreign organizations for funding his publication which exclusively focuses on Nigeria. But I leave it to his judgement of conscience, if he has any. So, everything about Nigeria is bad by his publicized judgment and thinks , it’s possible to brainwash everyone into their fold?
It is true that we are all brothers by the cord of “Nigerianity.” But the elevation of anyone to the position of a demi-god through the instrumentality of the social media is not my calling. I am aware, whenever Sowore visits a public official with his venoms of blackmail, they “shit” in their pants, running amok. Its not part of my thinking as a Nigerian.
But I have discerned the cause of the anger in them now. Only two Nigerians have had the effrontery to call-off Sowore’s bluff-(President Buhari and Gen. Buratai) and, it’s like a nightmare to him. Coincidentally, these two men who don’t care whether Sowore exists are the uncommon war Generals of our time who will not give a penny to anyone to stop press. They are after service to the motherland Nigeria.
The ever-courageous General Muhammadu Buhari and the indefatigable COAS, Gen. Buratai at whose feet the dreaded Boko Haram terrorists tremble and bow will not succumb to their evil machinations and antics.
Assertively, I am reiterating the good news I have for Mr. Sowore and his gods anywhere in the world. I will not bow to their unpatriotic ego within and outside Nigeria. The Almighty God in whom I serve, Oworitso Ad’ Om’Ofo, the one who kept my grandfather as a warrior to defeat the then Biafra soldiers at Agila in 1967, I put my trust forever, for love of our country and humanity
Therefore, it was somewhat infantile for Sowore and Deji Adeyanju to display my numbers on their twitter handles, pleading with Nigerians to call me over the blackmailing stunt on Amnesty International. Gladly, the first 20 persons who called me instantly used the opportunity to read my profile and appreciated me more deeply for standing by my patriotic acts for the country. I was moved to tears. I haven’t seen that kind of reward in serving one’s country since I was born. For that reason, I appreciate Sowore and acolytes for compelling Nigerians to understand me better.
I feel healthier not to belong to the clan of Nigerians recruited by foreign agents and interest groups to destabilize our country; but cannot stand us in an electoral popularity contest. If I contest for the Presidency of Nigeria tomorrow like many of them; Sowore to be specific, I trust God Almighty, my scores would not be as low as 38, 000 votes. It implies that even in Sowore’s home state, he was rejected because of the penchant to disrespect and desecrate the revered palaces of Obas, our royal fathers.
In a presidential election, if I perform so badly to score below one million votes, then I will congratulate the winner and life continues! The morality embedded in me would restrain any action that seeks illegitimate means to dethrone the winner in the guise of street activism.
I am sure by now, Sowore is still unaware that his less than 40,000 votes in the 2019 presidential election under the banner of African Action Congress (AAC), in a population of 200 million persons in Nigeria advertises him as detached from the ideal youths of Nigeria, except hooligans who have an inclination for violence and destructions. So, Sowore’s excited trips to America, Australia, and the UK after he snatched the AAC’s ticket never helped him? In such countries, ideal leaders and not hoodlum look at the pedigree of those seeking political leadership.
Sowore’s recent fatally failed outing to enliven the #EndSARS protests are public testimonies of his steadily waning influence and popularity amongst our focused youths today. An ideal young man should spare time to reflect, rather than cast unnecessary aspersions or midwifing imagery enemies for foreign organization’s with satanic agenda against the country he seeks to govern. I wish I could talk more on Deji Adeyanju who has no known legitimate means of livelihood.
I advise Sowore to stick to his expired #RevolutionNow agenda and revive it when time is ripe, but certainly, not now! I challenge both Sowore and Adeyanju as “good” politicians to pick up the challenge of contesting the presidential election in 2023 and kiss the dust again. For me, Nigeria is my beloved country and I will cherish it forever.

Agbese is a publisher and human rights activist.

BBC and vindication of Nigerian Army on Lekki

By Abubakar Gana

Echoes of EndSARS protests in Nigeria will continue to reverberate. It is because an amazing blitzkrieg of fake news trailed it. The masterminds skillfully crafted it to divert attention from actualities. The killers and sponsors of the riotous mayhem in the guise of expressing public grievances were bent on compromising national security and therefore, twisted the narratives and incited Nigerians to self-ruination.

The protesters never wanted the intervention of security agents in order to intensify the killings of innocent Nigerians and destructions. Therefore, the protesters conspiratorially killed and blackmailed security agents, when they were eventually deployed to maintain public peace and security. Nigeria found herself in a quagmire orchestrated by veiled forces intent on discrediting President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian Army as principal targets. But the script was poorly planned and weakened by its own deficiencies’.

Therefore, it was not surprising that DJ Switch screamed killings at Lekki Toll Gate; human rights lawyer, Femi Falana chorused Army shootings and thundered his might of prosecuting Lt. Gen. TY Buratai, the COAS at the International Criminal Court (ICC); proscribed IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu saw the protests as a platform to revive his failed violent agitation for a Biafran state; street activist Deji Adeyanju and hordes of others cursed the Army and President Buhari over the Lekki incident. They branded him a “civilian dictator” and the soldiers as siblings of a killer Army. Disparate devious interests mingled incredibly and the perpetrators went berserk.

Lagos state Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu spoke in confusing tongues about the alleged shootings and killings’ at Lekki Toll Gate.The narrations of Gov. Sanwo-Olu and DJ Switch were particularly humorous and infantile. Sanwo-Olu initially saw no one killed by soldiers at Lekki neither were any blood stains at the scene at the incident as practical evidence of the alleged mass slaughter protesters by soldiers. But Sanwo-Olu would later inform the world of dead persons from the shootings, perhaps, after he dreamed of it.

The Governor responded to public pressures by searching the Army Morgue in Lagos where sponsors of the protests claimed the corpses of the slain persons were concealed for secret burial by soldiers. But to his disappointment, he found no corpse. It is a vicious cycle of public deception.

Nothing shocks anymore in Nigeria. Some people are gifted in freely inventing and peddling lies, regardless of their status. DJ Switch who claimed the on-the-spot eyewitness to the massive murders of Nigerians by soldiers and the only sane person in a multitude of protesters, defiantly pushed forward fake narratives and hazy recollections of the incident. She personally claimed to be one of the undertakers who lifted the dead bodies of the protestors killed by the Army and placed them at the feet of the soldiers who sniffed life out of them. Obviously, a fat lie.

Human lives are important. So, since the eruption of the #EndSARS protests around and the confusion which sprouted on Lekki Toll Gate incident, considerable time has been spared to follow the unfolding events. It is not an exaggeration to say this writer has gone extra miles to carry out forensic analysis of the Lekki shootings hence it attracted national outrage.

And emerging facts consistently contradicts earlier claims that soldiers shot and killed protesters at Lekki or anywhere in Lagos state. The more one sees the videos and continues with the researches on the incident, the Nigerian Army notches a step higher in vindication.

Although, the Judicial Panel of Inquiry set up by the Lagos State Government to probe the incident, discredited as it now appears, is still sitting; but no shred of evidence so far supports the wild claims of killings by soldiers at Lekki as marketed to Nigerians and the world. It’s apparently a farce and a smear campaign against the Nigerian Army.

Interestingly, it was not only DJ Switch who was present at the Lekki Toll Gate on the day of the incident. A seasoned BBC reporter and a Nigerian of Southern ancestry, Ms Damilola Banjo stationed in Lagos was emphatic in her later accounts of the incident which also clearly vindicated soldiers.

The BBC reporter recounted that “The sight of the Army got the protesters angry and agitated…I was there with my editor and we saw the Army open fire; of course, not on the protesters, but in the air.” Ostensibly, the protesters became tensed up and panicked when they saw soldiers and probably, a stampede occurred.

There was confusion when gun were shot in the air to disperse the threatening protesters. And only one person who obviously out of shock, fainted and slumped may be, from some subsisting internal ailments. People suffered panic attack which is very possible in any outing of that magnitude. This does not translate into soldiers shooting at the protesters.

It is very normal for security agents to fire into the air to disperse obstinate protesters. On October 20, 2020, when the Lekki incident occurred, the #EndSARS protests which were initially peaceful had been hijacked by hoodlums and miscreants. Therefore, it morphed into killing of policemen, rape of women, mindless acts of arsons, destructions, looting and vandalism in many parts of Lagos.

Sometimes, it is necessary to abide by the dictates of morality. What was the motivation of protesting into the night, when the State Government had imposed a curfew? Why were the protesters angry at the sight of soldiers, if they were not on an evil mission? The greatest irony now is that none of the parents, relations or even friends of the 12-78 persons claimed to have been shot and killed by soldiers at Lekki Toll Gate is stepping forward for identification. Or the dead have no survivors?

Truth is evergreen. Soldiers under the COAS and leader of the counter-insurgency operations, Gen. Buratai are sticklers to professionalism, discipline and Rules of Engagement (ROE) consistently. In the last five years, soldiers of the Nigerian Army have excellently conducted a dozen Internal Security (IS) operations without records of human rights abuses.

The soldiers drafted at Lekki Toll Gate to maintain public peace and security, disrupted by riotous protesters could not have turned beastly overnight and opened fire on armless civilians. Time is gradually vindicating the Nigerian Army by all emerging facts on the blackmailing Lekki incident. The conspiracy of the Government of Lagos State and sponsors of the #EndSARS protests to implicate the Nigerian Army is glaring. This is indisputable in all nuances.

Therefore, public confidence in the ongoing probe panel in Lagos has eroded irredeemably. However, if the probe panel wishes, let it conduct its sittings in the house of Femi Falana or the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, the Army will still be vindicated.

Gana wrote this article from Keffi, Nassarawa State.

PGF boss, Lukman warns against complacency in APC

…Says party better than PDP, APGA, others

Director General of the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) Salihu Moh. Lukman, has warned leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) against complacency, saying the party should be ideally encouraged to consider testing political proposals meant to deepen democracy.

The APC chieftain said the governing party needs to take every necessary step to open up party structures and invite patriotic Nigerians, members and leaders of organised groups to join it.

In a statement released Sunday in Abuja, Lukman said APC is far ahead of its political peers in terms of being a liberal party with strong internal contestation.

“Emerging from a big existential leadership crisis, all our political leaders in APC should be ideally be encouraged to consider testing political proposals that should strengthen and deepen our democracy. There should be no room for complacency. In fact, as a party, we need to take every necessary step to open up our party structures and invite patriotic Nigerians, members and leaders of organised groups to join the party.

“With party’s National Caretaker Committee about to commence processes of membership registration and verification, we should aggressively mobilise Nigerians across all parts and sections of the country to join the party. This should be a necessary precondition to accelerate the process of ensuring that political negotiations in the country go beyond electoral contests.

“Part of the incentive required to encourage members and leaders of interest groups to be convinced about the APC being the go-to party for the realisation of political aspirations of diverse interests including professional and organised groups has to do with conducts of elected and appointed officials in governments controlled by the party. Are our elected and appointed officials dispose to public debates, engagements and negotiations with organised groups? Or, do they also consider demands by interest groups as expression of disagreement and therefore evidence of conspiracy against the party, governments it control and all our political leaders? For our democracy to develop to the level of producing compromises on a permanent basis, and with all Nigerians across all sectors based on corresponding respect for every interest in the country, the structures of our parties must be opened and broadened to accommodate everyone. Otherwise, our democracy will remain stagnant and limited to electoral contests with the risk of the current ugly leadership vicious circle.”

According to the PGF boss, APC is far ahead of its political peers in terms of being a liberal party with strong internal contestation. But such liberalism is yet to produce the corresponding requirement for interest representation and negotiation within the party, which is responsible for why our elected and appointed political leaders in the party estimate citizens’ demands as disagreement and subversive when it doesn’t correspond to their positions.

“It is also why fellow party leaders would appear intolerant to positions of other party leaders regarding both citizens’ demands and internal disagreements. We need to appeal to our leaders at all levels, especially in APC to liberate themselves and shed off any fear of citizens’ engagement, internal disagreements, political negotiations and the possible compromises that may emerge both within the party and in the country. Fear of citizens’ engagement and political negotiations is largely what is emboldening political opponents whose credentials on this score are anything but attractive.

Lukman said in APC, nothing is impossible.

“Our leaders have broken the country’s political ice twice. They have led us to negotiate the first successful merger of political parties in the history of the country. They have also led us to successfully negotiate a major leadership crisis of existential magnitude, which is arguably the first of its kind that has not led to breakaway and split in the party.

“As party members, we need to support our leaders and appeal to them to introduce all the required initiatives to enhance the democratic orientation of both the party and the country. At this critical point of our development, both as an emerging democracy and as a party, the catchphrase should be producing political comprises through debate and negotiations. This should be our new standards for political contests in the country, based on which we are able to command electoral advantages and assert our political superiority.”

He also believed that democratic development should be about the significant compromises brokered and the extent to which citizens, on account of the compromises, are able to feel a sense of belonging. Any democracy can be adjudged to be working well if through the different compromises it produces, citizens are able to feel a sense of belonging.

“A major requirement needed may have to do with the task of aligning the vision of political leaders with the hopes and aspirations of citizens. Interestingly, it is always much easier for citizens to align themselves with the views of political leaders. Those views may or may not necessarily equate to visions, nonetheless however, citizens can simply hope that their interests are represented in the views of leaders.”

Internal cohesion will determine National Convention, 2023 elections – APC

… Urges members to support caretaker c’ttee

The All Progressives Congress (APC) said unfortunate internal party crisis that rocked it before the emergence of the National Caretaker Committee distracted public attention from appreciating monumental strides that President Muhammadu Buhari-led government has recorded.

The party said the current administration was delivering on APC’s three critical electoral promises – fighting corruption, security and revamping the economy from 16 years Peoples Democratic party (PDP) “misrule and mismanagement.”

In statement signed by its deputy national publicity secretary Yekini Nabena, Sunday in Abuja, APC called on its members nationwide to support governor Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) to fully exposition the governing party.

The statement urged party members to ensure that the ongoing national reconciliation process being undertaken by the CECPC is sustained, successful and continue to yield results.

“It is important to take cognizance of the fact that the prior internal party crisis which was unfortunately left to fester before the advent of the CECPC distracted public attention from appreciating the monumental strides that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC government is making in delivering on APC’s three critical electoral promises – fighting corruption, security and revamping the economy from 16 years Peoples Democratic party (PDP) misrule and mismanagement.

“Ahead of the planned APC National Convention and indeed the 2023 General Elections, stakeholders should continue to support the CECPC efforts to unite the party in order to make it formidable enough to consolidate on the APC’s national governing status and landmark achievements.

“The APC must not go into a National Convention, and indeed a general election in crisis. We should take it one step at a time and ensure that the ongoing national reconciliation process being undertaken by the CECPC is sustained, successful and continue to yield results.”

Nabena said the planned nationwide registration, update, revalidation of the Party’s membership register will undoubtedly cement the APC’s political and numerical status as Nigeria’s largest political party.

“Also, the CECPC has resuscitated the Party’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms and has set up reconciliation committees for Oyo, Edo, Ondo, Imo, Ogun, Ekiti among other States chapters with reported disputes. The Committees are already meeting with the key stakeholders in the various states and has achieved substantial reconciliation in many states.

“The success stories of the ongoing reconciliation efforts abound. Case points are Cross River State where the CECPC reconciled the two factions and appointed a State Caretaker Committee led by Sen. Matthew Mbu (Jnr.) as acting State Chairman. In Ondo State, all the Governorship aspirants were brought together, campaigned and worked for the successful re-election of the APC Candidate, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN).

“In Akwa Ibom State, the CECPC brought together all the contending interests under one roof and achieved true reconciliation. Today, in Akwa Ibom, leaders such as Sen. Godswill Akpabio, Obong Nsima Ekere, Mr. Umana O. Umana, Sen. Ita Enang, Barr. Bassey Dan Abia (Snr) among others are working together and in collective pursuit of Party interests.

“At the national level and on the auspices of the CECPC, the Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva have resolved in Party interest to work together and strengthen the Party, particularly in the South South geo-political zone.”

Sowore’s Offending Noisiness

Femi Oke

Most times, it not all that glitters is gold. The 2019 general elections have come and gone. The winners have been declared, and the losers have known their fate. Four years for the next ballot is quite a long time, but quite short. Sometimes, some truths are hard to assimilate.

Saharareporters publisher, Mr. Omoleye Sowore and 2019 presidential flagbearer of the African Action Congress (AAC) has found himself in this quagmire. He is tormented by reality and illusion. He imagines himself sitting in the Presidential Villa, Abuja and reeling out orders. So, he has not really reconciled himself to believe that the aura of power has eluded him incredibly. Therefore, in his narrowed senses, no Nigerian should have peace.

But illusion is different from reality. Sometimes, dreams could haunt very strongly; but it does not necessarily mean what troubles the subconscious is the exact reality. Sowore, the former presidential candidate of the AAC is a thoroughly troubled soul; troubled by this self-inflicted malady.

After much globalized noisemaking and campaign trips to foreign lands, Sowore finished the presidential race in 2019 with a wretched 33, 000 votes. He cannot come to terms with the hatred Nigerians expressed on him with such paltry votes. Some young adults need lessons in existentialism. Life isn’t fair in all instances. Sometimes, ambitions could be truncated by mere overzealousness as demonstrated by Sowore.

But Sowore has found it difficult to swallow the hard fact that Nigerians rejected him as their leader. Perhaps, majority of the voters might have sighted in Sowore a malignant cancer, yet unknown to the handful 33,000 Nigerians who decided to identify with the god of the shrine.

Temptation comes easily. Sowore parades himself with very alluring titles. He is a politician, activist, publisher, editor and reporter, all put together. Artificial elegance welcomes him everywhere in Nigeria, a country where fake titles are worshipped.

One can appreciate his struggling spirit as an upcoming “youth”. But patience is a cherished virtue. No one frowns at Sowore for offering himself to lead Nigeria. However, this request was rejected overwhelmingly by the masses he seeks to govern.

A properly tutored “youth” would have simply accepted the verdict of the people now and waited for another time. But Sowore would take no such sermons or gibberish from anyone. Since he was frustratingly defeated at the ballot, the publisher has become crazily inured by the fragrance of power. He thinks power is necessarily acquired by brute force or other undemocratic means.

Sowore has failed to realize that politicking is quite different from student unionism. When he was an undergraduate in the University of Lagos (UniLag) shouting “aluta continua, victoria acerta,” in the public square, it could attract a multitude of hooligans, hoodlums and miscreants like him, ready to destroy, kill and create havoc.

Some of them were tagged “permanent” students, who savoured the frills and thrills of campus life and would spend 10 years reading a course of four years. But a university is quite a small community or congregation of people. Outside or larger politics is different; the tactics and strategies also vary. It is driven by ideology and responsibleness. Unfortunately, Sowore is devoid of such decent traits.

Leading a complex country like Nigeria is not for up-starters and wasted souls like the Saharareporters publisher. Patriotism, loyalty, honesty and integrity are essential ingredients. The barely literate voters look unto to these qualities on voting day from candidates who offer themselves for public service. President Muhammadu Buhari possessed them in abundance and Nigerians endorsed him again.

Contrastively, Sowore guillotined his ambition from the outset. First, his decision to contest the Presidency of Nigeria was an afterthought in all nuances. Former American President, Mr. Barrack Obama nursed the dream of ruling his country right from his High School days and prepared himself over the years until the appropriate time.

Obama exuded and marketed characters of someone in the personality of being entrusted with the destiny of Americans. Obama was not a covert agent of anti-American forces. He demonstrated loyalty and patriotism. He was an honest man with impeccable credentials. Obama was not indoctrinated into the garage mentality as popularized in Prof. Wole Soyinka’s play, “The Beatification of Area Boy.”

But to assert that Sowore is a huge mess when one puts these qualities into perspective is an understatement. Quite early, he dragged himself into disrepute by emerging as presidential candidate of his political party dubiously. He reportedly founded the AAC probably with funds from foreign allies; so, intimidated and blackmailed everyone to have it registered by INEC-the electoral body.

And no one needed a soothsayer to understand that Sowore was plainly appetizing for the statutory sumptuous grants INEC releases to political parties for campaigns. It came and it was the waited opportunity. Sowore allegedly embezzled his own party’s campaign funds. As his party’s presidential candidate, Sowore was also his campaign manager. When party members demanded account of the over N150 million in the party’s coffers, Sowore screamed and barked at everyone.

Thereafter, he fled abroad to hide and consume his loot after losing the elections. This is the character who wished to be Nigeria’s President. That’s the saint who dictates to public officers every day on what they should do and shouldn’t do in his junk publication.

A street activist by all ramifications, Sowore went a notch higher by usurping the positions of his party’s chairman, secretary, treasurer and publicity secretary. For the post of AAC’s national publicist, no one needed to drag it with Sowore, as he boasted of his international clout and prowess as the leading online publisher in Nigeria. Open the website for any edition of this publication any day, one would discover to his amazement that it stomachs every garbage in the name of Citizen journalism.

Oh, Nigeria, how unlucky are thee! But Nigerians were wiser than Sowore. Nigerians never allowed Sowore to trick them. They sighted his ambience of fraud, deceit and dishonesty. Sowore was rejected resounding at the polls.

Sowore has lived through a bad presidential dream. The anger has refused to dwindle in him. Therefore, he has become unbearably agitated. While he vaults his wife and children safely in foreign lands, he comes back to Nigeria to ignite troubles, violence and killings. He does this because of knowledge of loquacious lawyers like Mr. Femi Falana who would come to his defence in the guise of human rights.

From #RevolutionNow to #EndSARS protests, Sowore has futilely attempted to implant himself in Aso Rock, Nigeria’s seat of power through barbaric force. But at every attempt, he fumbles terribly. Sowore must be a lover of fiery fables and living in a different world entirely to think that his less than 40,000 votes out of over 30 million votes that were up for grabs in 2019, he would be allowed to unseat the winner through crude violence.

How would a normal human being contemplate that about 40, 000 votes would translate into power or the overthrow the Nigerian Government is what is hardly discernible. Its not possible even in Botswana, Africa’s smallest country, much more, Nigeria, the most populous black nation. And it must to sounded to Sowore or his assemblage miscreants or brigands that democratic power is acquired through the ballot and not by violence as they are canvassing today.

An African idiom says, there is always another day. Whilst good politicians are strategizing on how to takeover power come 2023, Sowore is on the streets, assembling vulnerable youngsters and indoctrinating them into gangsterism. Sowore can choose to be a street area boy, but he should desist from conscripting other innocent Nigerian youths into his devious acts.

Oke is a foundation member of the All Progresive Congress ( APC) and wrote from Lagos.