Insecurity: Buhari Supporters chides Zulum over allegations against troops

The Coalition of Friends and Supporters of Buhari has described as absurd several attempts by Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State and his aides to blackmail the Nigerian troops fighting Boko Haram insurgents.

The group said the two instances where Zulum tried to ridicule the Nigerian military but turned out that he was wrong on his assumptions and was compelled to eat back his words are well documented.
It also recalled another recent instance where Borno Governor accused the military of abandoning their posts at Auno, where travellers were killed, only for him to find out that the military had not abandoned the travellers to their fate, but had only gone on another operation when the incident happened.

Audu Atumeyi, Director of Media of the coalition, in a statement on Thursday, said Zulum’s aides were following his footsteps to demonize the troops with disparaging comments, a development he described as “very uncharitable.”

The statement, therefore, called on the Borno State Governor to stop all the baseless allegations and collaborate with the military to find solutions to the problem of terrorism ravaging his state

His statement read below.

His histrionics done in full public glare, however, failed to elicit the kind of attention the Governor was craving for because of the way it was poorly stage managed.

But the Borno Governor it seems was not embarrassed enough with his failed attempts to ridicule the military, and has decided to hand over the task to his deputy, aides and his other appointees to carry on from where he had failed.

For instance, the Commissioner for Information in Borno State, Alhaji Babakura Jatau, came on national television weeks after his principal made the unsubstantiated allegations against the military, to allege that Nigerian troops are now involved in fishing business in Baga, Borno State and for that purpose have refused to let the war on insurgency end.

Before the commissioner crafted that allegation, the Deputy Governor of the state, Usman Kadafur, also acted his own part of the script by engaging in an unnecessary squabble with the military over the insistence of the Covid-19 team which he heads, to screen commuters at the point of entry into Maiduguri.

To give the allegation by the commissioner a modicum of integrity, a similar claim was planted in a national daily in the guise of a news story, to say that troops have abandoned the fight against insurgency to trade in fish.

Part of the report reads, “The real problem is that some top officers and troops have turned Baga into a cash crow by engaging in fish and livestock business. It is from the business that they are getting a lot of money.

“Baga produces 45% of the dry fish being consumed in Nigeria. It also has one of the robust fertile land in the country where tomatoes and vegetables are grown.

“Some of these officers have bought all the livestock in the area.

“Directly opposite the military barracks in Baga is a huge farmland which a top military officer admitted belongs to him.”

Why the allegations do not hold water

But as the discerning could see, this is the most asinine, callous and infantile allegation that anyone can make against the military.

It is disheartening that whilst the troops are in the trenches, having sleepless nights and giving their all to secure the country, some vested interests in the comfort and luxury of their homes should be concocting wicked tales against them while trying to demonize these patriots.

To imagine that these allegations would be coming from the Borno State Government however, is the height of insenstivity, ingratitude and wickedness, as no state in Nigeria has ever benefitted from the sacrifice of the Nigerian military like Borno.

Several times, the military has come to the aid of Borno State right from the 80s, when some Chadian soldiers killed some Nigerians on the border community with Chad; to the Maitatsine uprising when soldiers moved and liberated Bulumkutu, to the Col. Buba Marwa anti-crime operation which cleansed Borno of high calibre criminals to the ongoing operation to fight Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorism in the state.

While hundreds of soldiers and their families bear the marks of these sacrifices, what has the Borno State Government done in all these years to end the terrorism on citizens?

Apart from being unable to nip the violent group in the bud, a former governor of the state even appointed a known financier of the Boko Haram as a commissioner in his cabinet.

The terrorists were also paid N100 million said to be compensation for the kiling of their leader and an unreserved apology was tendered to them by the former governor.

The Boko Haram were also used by some politicians to eliminate the governorship flag bearer of the then ruling party in the state.

The Borno State Government was also the first to deride military operations against the terrorists when the then state governor said the Boko Haram were better equipped than the Nigerian military.

The current Governor who from all indications, craves publicity more than strategic planning has however decided to push the stake in the heart of the military with fiercer meanness than his predecessors hence most of his actions seem tailored towards achieving that.

The allegation about troops engaging in fishing business is totally untrue as no military top commander control their postings and therefore cannot afford the luxury of investing in ventures like fishing when they know not when they’ll be removed from such stations.

Secondly, only a foolish officer would abandon the task of fighting Boko Haram with all the inherent danger, and engage in buying and selling when he knows that going by the callousness of the Boko Haram members and their desperation to hit at Nigerian troops, they could spring surprises at any time if guards are lowered.

Thirdly, most of the officers and military men posted to these stations are from other battalions whose knowledge of the fishing terrain are technical but not to the extent of taking over the businesses of residents and indigenes.

There are for instance, said to be about 200 permanent and semi- permanent fishing communities in Baga town and over 40,000 fishermen on the Nigerian side of the Lake Chad which is shared by Nigeria, Chad, Niger republic and Cameroon.

How the military can take over the business of dealing in not less than seven fish species with over 40,000 participating interests who have been involved in it for years remains a puzzle.

The truth that Zulum is trying to hide

That Boko Haram activities has lingered only in Borno State while it has abated in other states should serve as the worst point of curiosity.

The simple answer is that while states like Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe and Bauchi have been serious about ending the insurgency the political leaders and elites in Borno State are not sincere.

The truth is that many politicians from Borno State do not want the insurgency to end because they are making money as the terrorists activities linger and it serves their political interests to sustain their nefarious activities.

The elites, elders and stakeholders in Borno are perpetrating the violence because they are benefitting from it and that is why they never condemn the atrocities commited by these terrorists.

These elites are also involved in big time smuggling across the border and take advantage of the absence of paramilitary forces to up their games.

Rather than the military, it is this group of people that engage in the fishing business in Baga where they have supplanted both the middlemen and wholesalers.

These are some of the factors that have made it difficult to stamp out terrorists activities from Borno State.

Our demand:

We, as well as other well meaning Nigerians therefore totally reject the attempts by the Borno State Government to ridicule the military.

Boko Haram: Group thanks Buhari for eradicating terrorists from Bauchi

The Bauchi Coalition of Progressives has sent a thank you message to President Muhammadu Buhari, for completely eradicating Boko Haram terrorists from Bauchi State.

The coalition said the appreciation became imperative following the efforts of Mr. President, which led to the Complete disappearance of the terrorists from the nook and cranny of Bauchi State.

According to the group, since President Buhari took over the mantle of leadership in 2015, activities of terrorists in the country have drastically reduced.

Addressing newsmen on Wednesday, Alhaji Ismail Bala, President of the group, called on all Bauchi sons and daughters in the National Assembly, Civil Society Organizations and other stakeholders in the state to continue to work for the success of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Bala added that since PMB came on board, life has now been restored to normal with citizens going about their businesses day and night without any fear of the terror group and has indeed restored hope to the people of Bauchi state and Nigeria in general.

He, however, called on President Buhari to support the state with infrastructure as the group had displaced and destroyed so much before his messianic coming to power.

Full text of his speech below.

The leadership of the Bauchi Coalition of Progressives warmly welcomes you all to the important press conference in the wake of the relentless efforts by our security agencies with regards to the activities of the Boko Haram terrorist group in Bauchi State.

The Bauchi Coalition of Progressives has been in the vanguard of sensitizing the relevant stakeholders in the state on the need for a collective effort towards ending the menace of Boko Haram and as well as ensuring that there remains seamless cooperation between the government of Bauchi State and the Nigerian Military.

We wish to state that some might not be aware that the first violent action of the Boko Haram group started in Bauchi State. Since then, Bauchi State indeed witnessed phenomenal attacks by the Boko Haram group.

It suffices to state that, but for the coming of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, Boko Haram would have taken over the entire Bauchi State because they had their training cells spread in the forests in Bauchi State.

It was indeed a trying period for Bauchi State as well as other states in North East that came under the constant attack of the Boko Haram terror group. It was a free flow of blood with bloodied attacks on innocent women and children going about their normal businesses in markets, motor parks, churches and mosques. The quantum of destruction was phenomenal, and Bauchi State was on the brink.

The Bauchi Coalition of Progressives hereby states that since President Muhammadu Buhari came on board as the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Nigerian Military indeed rose to the occasion in neutralizing the Boko Haram threats.

We also wish to state that the Boko Haram terror group has been completely decimated in Bauchi state through the tireless efforts of the Nigerian Military as well as the active cooperation from the relevant stakeholders in the state.

The Bauchi Coalition of Progressives hereby commends Mr. President for his leadership role that saw to a renewed vigour in the operations of the Nigerian Military in their various operations in the state that decimated and completely ridden the state of all traces of the Boko Haram terror group.

We are by this full of gratitude to Mr. President who has by all yardsticks fulfilled his electoral promise to the people of Bauchi State and indeed restored hope to a once hopeless situation.

We also want to use this medium to inform Mr. President that indeed the people of Bauchi state are full of gratitude for his impeccable display of love and dedication to the overall peace and development in the state.

That the Nigerian Military was able to achieve this phenomenal feat is an indication of the level of innovations and professionalism that has been introduced into the Nigerian Military since the coming on board of President Muhammadu Buhari. The Bauchi Coalition of Progressives acknowledges and appreciates this dedication that has indeed restored hope to the people of Bauchi state and Nigeria in general.

We also wish to inform Mr. President that Bauchi State is in dire need of rapid development having lost so much to the devastation and reckless destruction which the Boko Haram crisis subjected citizens of the state to.

It is, therefore, our desire that Mr. President would in his wisdom extend the same dedication towards the rapid development of the state for the benefit of the sons and daughters of Bauchi State whose trust and belief in his administration has been resolute and an unwavering display of absolute confidence in his ability to impact on the lives of the people.

The Bauchi Coalition of Progressives wishes to remind Mr President that having kept his most significant electoral promise which was to rid the country of Boko Haram, the Coalition is as a result of this pleased to affirm that the votes of the people which was given massively to him were never in vain.

We also wish to use this medium to commend the former speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara for joining the APC to work with Mr President in delivering the dividends of democracy to the good people of Bauchi State.

We also call on all Bauchi Sons and Daughters in the National Assembly, Civil Society Organizations and other stakeholders in the state to continue to work for the success of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Bauchi Coalition of Progressives thanks Mr President immensely for his interest in the affairs of Bauchi State in its efforts to ensure the speedy development of the state.

APC Crisis: PGF boss writes Buni, sets 5-point agenda

Director General of the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) Salihu Moh. Lukman, has written the governor Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker/Extraordinary National Convention Planning Committee on steps to take to avoid the pitfalls ahead of the party’s national convention.

Lukman, in a letter to Buni, dated 11th August, 2020, however revealed what he called a plot to create situations whereby the immediate past national chairman Comrade Oshiomhole is forcefully made a contender for the position of the National Chairman at the forthcoming extra ordinary APC national convention.

Lukman said with the resolution of a very difficult leadership crisis in the APC, which began during the 2019 general elections and was only resolved at the emergency NEC of June 25, 2020, the atmosphere in the party is still held hostage by the cloud of pro and anti-Oshiomhole mindset.

“Just like before the June 25, 2020 emergency NEC, issues of Edo State are dominating public discussions and considerations of issues concerning the party. This is being foisted on the party as a strategy to weaken the initiative of the Caretaker Committee from taking steps that could facilitate the resolution of the leadership crisis through ensuring that the forthcoming Extra Ordinary National Convention to elect a new National Chairman and other members of National Working Committee for the party different from Comrade Adams Oshiomhole is blocked.

“In other words, everything is being done to ensure that the internal politics of the party is manipulated to create situations whereby Comrade Oshiomhole is forcefully made a contender for the position of the National Chairman at the Extra Ordinary APC National Convention.

“Ordinarily, this should not be a problem. However, given that unacceptable strategies are being deployed to blackmail and bully all leaders of the party to make Edo election the only priority of the party makes it very disturbing. Even more disturbing is the clear indication that Comrade Oshiomhole and section of the APC leadership that is working with Comrade Oshiomhole are not preparing to approach the Edo election based on fair contests. Not even the request of President Muhammadu Buhari for ‘a transparent process so that the confidence of the people will be strengthened’ is guiding the management of the Edo campaign.

“Everybody in the APC is being blackmailed to accept the way the Edo 2020 Governorship campaign is being organized as the best way to win the election under the control of Comrade Oshiomhole. This is wrong and in the long run it will be injurious to the electoral viability of the party. The issue of Edo election and its management therefore needs to be reviewed by our party. Unfortunately, given the way that the Edo state Governorship campaign has become a tool of blackmail in the hands of Comrade Oshiomhole, even internal party consultations to roll out initiatives towards moving the party forward seems to be slow. In the circumstance, the old crisis of leadership has continued to hunt our leaders, and everyone is forced to continue operating with the old mindset, with no end in sight. This is most unfortunate and a complete disservice to the effort of President Buhari to broker resolution of the leadership crisis facing the party.”

Lukman appealed to the committee to take every necessary step in order to achieve reconciliation and peacebuilding in the party.

According to him, some of the steps required include encouraging internal debate without intimidating members who hold divergent or dissenting views from those held by leaders, adding that leaders should be accommodating to criticism.

Other steps are; “Convening a dedicated session of the National Caucus to review 2019 General Election, including Kogi, Bayelsa elections and now preparations for Edo and Ondo Governorship elections.

“Convening a NEC meeting to consider and approve proposed activities of the Caretaker/Convention Working Committee up to the Extra Ordinary National Convention.

“Commencing processes of Membership Recruitment/Verification, leading to Reformation of Leadership of the party from Wards, Local Government, States to the Extra Ordinary National Convention; and setting up Constitutional Review/Amendment Committee, which should be able to submit proposals for review/amendment of the APC constitution.

“These are very important steps that will assist to reposition the party, so that everything is not reduced to just about electing new leadership. In the unfortunate event that everything is reduced to just electing new leadership, there will be the high probability that the party will gradually snowball into another round of leadership crisis especially as we move towards 2023.

“In fact, the business of the forthcoming Extra Ordinary National Convention risks being marred with leadership dispute as the high current of 2023, which is already rearing its heads in the debate around initiatives which should drive processes leading to Extra Ordinary Convention could undermine any attempt at consensus building leading to the emergence of the new leadership. Once efforts toward consensus building fails, the possibility of failed contest and new rounds of conflict should be expected.”

He said the caretaker committee has to do an introspection on all the fault-lines in the party, which are the cause of leadership crisis in the party especially when elections are approaching.

Other recommendations to the committee are “examining in the context of those fault-lines, how to broker minimum leadership consensus;

“Urgently engendering commitment of party leaders at all levels to implement measures to strengthen mechanisms to make structures of the party functional and effective in considering and resolving internal leadership disputes; and examining the conflict and resolution mechanisms within our party and to develop a programme that improves on the current dispute resolution processes.”

2023: Umahi’s threat provocative, AESID calls for probe

The Association of Ebonyi State Indigenes in Diaspora (AESID) has condemned in totality statement credited to the Ebonyi state governor, Engr. David Nweze Umahi in which he reportedly vowed to sponsor crisis in opposition parties to make room for a fight while he sips champagne in the comfort of his bedroom.

The governor was said to have reportedly made the statements during his ruling party’s People’s Democratic Party (PDP) state congress held recently at the party’s state secretariat in Abakaliki and yet to be refuted.

But while responding to what it considered a crisis threat comments by the governor, the AESID in a statement signed Wednesday in Abuja by its president (World-wide) Ambassador Paschal Oluchukwu, urged the Inspector General of Police, Director of State Security Service (DSS) and all other federal security agencies not to take such statement for granted.

The Ebonyi indigenous association also demanded a retraction and a public apology from the governor.

“We at AESID which to condemn in its wholeness the subtle resort to violence or any form of crisis as being preached and propagated by Governor Umahi ahead the contest by aspiring and suitably qualified individuals to succeed him in 2023. The threat is for want of more suiting adjectives obnoxious, vexatious, insensitive and highly provocative coming from the number one citizen of our beloved state which is adjudged to be one of the most peaceful in the country.

“We wish to observe that firstly; the said assertion is quite unfortunate coming from Governor Umahi who in the build up to his battle to outwit and arm-twist his erstwhile boss, elderstatesman and immediate-past Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief Martin Elechi was allowed by his peace-loving predecessor and indeed Ebonyians in general to freely declare his intention, grab the State’s governing Party, PDP’s ticket and successfully emerge the Governor of our dear State in such a time without any threat to crisis or violence.

“It baffles common sense, profound reasoning and good conscience that the State’s Chief Security Officer could sound this awful in his desperate bid to produce his successor come 2023. In our keen estimation, Governor Umahi has therefore by this unguarded assertion shown himself the common enemy of the same very people he was elected to serve.

“It is indeed, surprising to us just like the generality of Ebonyi people that Governor Umahi has continued in his absurd dictatorial tendencies without caring a hoot to understand and even appreciate the crucial constitutional roles played by opposition elements and political Parties in any democratic governance. This best explains his abhorrence for criticisms no matter how constructive and has consequently led to his constant war with the opposition elements and the media who only strive their best to hold him accountable to the people.

“But what exactly is Governor Umahi who has since his ascension to power made himself a political bully of sort by his records and antecedents afraid of, if we may ask, could he be afraid that Ebonyi workers who we understand he pays half salaries would definitely be the first constituency to mobilize against his preferred choice in 2023? Or the retirees we are reliably informed he allegedly embezzled their pensions and gratuity? Or the middle-class he has almost completely wiped out of the system?

“Is he afraid that the traders and artisans he muzzled will mass up against him in 2023? Is he also afraid that the serving and numerous sacked cum suspended aides including former political officeholders who he has made poorer by design and wicked machinations through the non-payment of their lawful entitlements will plot his humiliation and downfall? What about the Anambra, Imo, Abia and Enugu businessmen and women he forcefully confiscated their shops, intimidated and harassed? Is he also afraid of their anticipated pay-back?”

According to the statement, already, there are visible signs that the Anambra kingmakers such as money-man, Authur Eze, Cletus Ibeto and others have started deserting the governor.

The association, however demanded “a retraction of these threats and a sincere apology within 48 hours to the peace-loving people of Ebonyi State who has already seen enough under his leadership and watch. We will not sit idly and watch Umahi put a State which our fore-fathers collectively fought hard to be created destroyed or put in flames via the negative, vituperative and inflammatory comments of a supposed Chief Security Officer.

“We therefore urge the Director of DSS in Nigeria, the Inspector General of Police and indeed, all federal security agencies never to allow these boastings of Governor Umahi who is a Chief Law enforcer go without some level of scrupulous investigations to avert whatever may be the evil that such plans to engineer crisis may bring on the people. We therefore call on them to invite and question him on the import of this dreadful assertion before his aides or supporters hide under same to unleash mayhem on innocent Ebonyians all in their bid to please his motives.

“While we urge Ebonyi people to remain calm, peaceful and also very watchful, we however implore all and sundry, particularly the Nigerian government to hold governor Umahi responsible for whatever crisis that may befell the state ahead of the 2023 general elections which is still about three years ahead!”

Nigerian Army’s inroads in the South East

By Linus Okoye

I am thrilled with the inroads of the Nigerian Army in the southeastern part of the country. The recent commissioning of the Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Abakaliki explains my delight in the activities of the Nigerian Army under the leadership of Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai.

The various Nigeria Army operations in South East has also been a success and has to a large extent reduced incidences of kidnappings and other forms of criminalities that have long tormented the people so much so that our Igbo brothers and sisters live in perpetual fear whenever they visit home during the festive seasons. All of these are now history and thanks to the officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army through the various military operations such as Egwu Eke.

I am not sure that there would be sufficient words to describe the impact of the various operations of the Nigerian Army in South-East, Nigeria. If not for anything, the South East region has enjoyed relative peace and tranquillity through the invaluable efforts of the Nigerian Army in the region that has also aided development.

I won’t be wrong if I call the Chief of Army Staff a strategist. I won’t also be wrong if I describe him as a highly detribalized Nigerian that understands how to build bridges across our divide and bring all together for the common good of the people. Take it or leave Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai remains one of the best Chief of Army Staff in the history of the Nigerian Army. The numerous innovations he has introduced in operations of the Nigerian Army since he assumed leadership in 2015 are worthy.

There is not a doubt that the Chief of Army Staff indeed understands the pivotal role security plays in the developmental process of any country and little wonder he has been restless in innovations across regions in the country. It is also on record that there has never been a time such as now that the Nigerian Army is actively involved in internal security operations, as well as counter-insurgency operations. That all of these operations are ongoing simultaneously is an indication of the leadership strides of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen. Tukur Buratai.

Today, the Nigerian Army can be described as an agent of development through its various interventions in the country. Suffice to mention that aside carrying out its core function of the preservation of the territorial integrity of the country; the Nigerian Army has introduced a 3rd mandate into its operations, which is the introduction of Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives as a way of winning the heart and minds of host communities to the Army and to support the civilian population during its operations equally.

This new offering by the Nigerian Army is indeed brilliant. It has once again highlighted that commitment to ensuring a beneficial relationship between the Nigerian Army and the civilian population, which, in a way, adds to the success of the various army operations across the country.

In my opinion, the Nigerian Army has somewhat transformed into an agent of development. I recalled sometime in 2017, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai commissioned a landmark project in Enugu state, where it commissioned one million litres per day water treatment plant at 82 Division Abakpa cantonment. In the words of the Chief of Army Staff, he stated that the problem of lack of potable water supply in 82 Division of the Nigerian Army dated several years back when he was a young soldier serving in the division. He said it was unfortunate that the situation persisted for such a long time, but that with the water treatment plant, the problem was over.

I also recall that in times past, the South-East Governors had acknowledged the intervention of the Nigerian Army in land border disputes and bloody crises in several parts of Ebonyi, Enugu, Benue, Cross River, and Benue States. They also thanked the Nigerian Army for maintaining neutrality and impartiality before, and during the last general elections in Ebonyi, and across the South East.

The governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umanyi was also full of praises for the Chief of Army Staff for the various interventions of the Nigerian Army in the south-east region of the country during the commissioning of the Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.

It is, therefore, my considered opinion that the exploits of the Chief of Army Staff have somewhat won accolades and more converts for the Muhammadu Buhari administration than the core politicians. I say this because of the numerous efforts of the Nigerian Army in adding the developmental efforts of the government.

I can’t but agree with the Governor of Ebonyi State and other Governors in South-East Nigeria for their position on the invaluable role the Nigerian Army has played in the sustenance of peace and development in the region. It is thus expected those that have been critical of the operations of the Nigerian Army would have a rethink and instead lend their support for the collective growth and development of Nigeria. If not for anything, we must all be partners in progress in the Nigerian cause.

I conclude by saying that those in the south-east must admit that the Service Chiefs, particularly the Chief of Army Staff are all doing well. And the wisdom of President Muhammadu Buhari to still keep them in office can now be seen by everyone.

Okoye wrote this piece from Independent Layout, Enugu.

Banditry, Boko Haram products of failed political promises, Diaspora group says

Some Nigerians in the diaspora have blamed failed promises by politicians for sustained activities of Boko Haram terrorists and bandits despite the remarkable efforts of the military. 

The Nigeria Diaspora Community for Peace (NDCP) said it arrived at this conclusion after direct interface and interaction with community members through delegated visits to affected areas and political leaders. 

In a statement signed by its president Dr Elisha Longpet on Tuesday and issued from Scotland, the group said it discovered that politicians return to their roots only during campaigns and disappear as soon they are elected.

The statement added that Boko Haram, bandits and others criminal elements would then capitalise to recruit desperate youths abandoned by the politicians.  

“Terrorism has persisted because of the inability of politicians in Borno to fulfil their promises to the youths,” Longpet said. 

“At the point of every election in Borno State, we have discovered that the politicians usually travel to their constituencies and make promises to the youths, but immediately they win their elections, they switch off their phones and make themselves inaccessible to the youths.

“The politicians normally promise the youths jobs in choice government agencies, capital to start businesses, cars, motorcycles and even cash.

“The famished youths who have no other forms of livelihood on realising they have been ditched usually line up to be recruited by the violent sects to get back at the society which they perceive as failing them.”

To put a final end to this cycle, the Nigeria Diaspora Community for Peace, however, advised that;

“Lines of communication should be opened in communities to encourage having first-hand untraceable reports to the security agencies.

“Politicians in the affected areas should be called upon to show more patriotism and shun the urge to place personal gains over and above what is of national interest. 

“Security agencies should be encouraged to maintain a presence at the fishing routes to avoid syndicate collaboration with the insurgents and smuggling. 

“To win the peace in the north, all politicians particularly Governors, Ministers, Senators and Reps must be asked to return home to sit with the youths same way they did during the electioneering period and discuss the wellbeing of the youths whom they have abandoned. “

Recall that Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State had similarly blamed politicians for the spate of insecurity in parts of the north.

Speaking at the Special Army Super Camp 4 in Faskari town in Katsina, the governor said, “We, the politicians, are to be blamed for the intractable security challenges bedevilling our communities.”

AIR PEACE TO RECALL SOME SACKED PILOTS, AS SIRIKA INTERVENES

Respite has come the way of some of the pilots recently sacked by the management of Air Peace, as many of them would soon be recalled to their jobs.

This was the fall-out of an intervention meeting called by the Minister of Aviation Senator Hadi Sirika between the airline management and the leadership of the National Association of Airline Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) held in his office on Tuesday.

In the verbal agreement reached after a dialogue that was held in a very friendly environment, Chairman of Air Peace, Chief Allen Onyema acceded to the Minister’s appeal for the recall of the maximum number of pilots that the airline can accommodate without going under.

In their presentation, NAAPE, led by its chairman, Galadima Abednego said that some missteps could have been made in the course of the standoff between the airline and the union and appealed to the Minister to intervene in order to resolve the impasse.

He said that as a union it was a painful thing to see a large number of their members thrown into the labour market, and further appealed to employers of labour to see the union members as partners, and not adversaries.

On his own, the Chairman of Air Peace, Chief Allen Onyema expressed his sadness and disappointment over what he called the ingratitude of some of the airline’s pilots, after everything done to make them comfortable on their jobs.

He recalled how Air Peace had trained over 80 pilots and an equal number of aircraft engineers, giving its staff the best remuneration package within the sector only for them to disappoint at a time their understanding was needed.

He however commended Senator Hadi Sirika for providing the required leadership to the industry and promised his full cooperation in ensuring the growth of the aviation sector in Nigeria.

The Aviation Minister in his remarks called for the understanding of everyone, especially the Labour unions, of the prevailing situation in the aviation industry, saying it was not the time for unnecessary upheavals.

He commended Chief Onyema for his enormous contributions in developing the industry, but appealed to him to recall the maximum number of the sacked pilots that the airline can comfortably accommodate in the prevailing circumstances to which airline operator agreed.

He called on all stakeholders in the aviation industry to put all hands on deck in ensuring a rapid recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ndigbo must support Buhari govt, Nigerian Army – South East group

The South East Support Groups (SESG), a sociopolitical group, has called on all Ndigbo sons and daughters to support the President Muhammadu-led government and the Nigerian Army.

The group said the President Buhari administration is passionately pro-Igbo in words and actions, thus deserves the support of all Igbo people.
SESG said the president has demonstrated his love for the region by appointing Ndigbo sons and daughters into prominent federal positions.
Speaking through its National President, Emmanuel Ojukwu, at a press conference in Abuja, he also hailed the Nigerian Army, under the leadership of Lt. Gen. Turkur Buratai, saying it has become a blessing to the Southeast people and Nigeria as a whole in so many ways.

It specifically noted that the Southeast region are focal beneficiaries of the novel initiative of the Nigerian Army on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects in water, roads, and free health services.

The statement, therefore, called on all Ndigbo to support the current administration so as to enjoy more goodies from the Buhari-led government.

The statement reads in full.
It is a known fact to each one of us that no race or people bicker with their neighbours forever. In the past decades, we have been antagonistic, hostile, and opposed other tribes of Nigeria to assert or loud what we deemed as marginalization and injustice to the Southeast region.

This mindset has often pushed us into wrong political decisions and or; in recent times, our senses have been beclouded to the extent of making very poor political choices. The examples of our voting patterns in the 2015 presidential elections and even the 2019 presidential ballot bears ample testimony to the rejection of President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR and the All Progressives Congress (APC) because of certain grudges we nursed.

Let truth be truth boldly. Nigeria’s political system and its reward mechanism subscribes unwittingly to the patronage of regions or zones or people who have actively supported a leader during the electoral process or at the point of enthronement of a leader. We have lived with this culture for ages.

Unfortunately, Ndigbo has failed on both scores. We renounced and assiduously worked against the Presidency of President Buhari twice. It is a reality we cannot dispute. We neither supported President Buhari nor the APC at the time of laying the golden eggs; but the rest of Nigerians did and they won. And therefore, by this partisan miscalculation and misplacement of our political priorities, Ndi’gbo became susceptible to the neglect of patronage or development largesse of the present government based on our peculiar leadership culture.

But President Buhari is a different kind of leader in our midst. He is a man with a kind heart, compassionate and feels for every oppressed Nigerian or group, regardless of tribe, religion or political affinities. So, he has overlooked our shortcomings and stiff opposition to his leadership quest and embraced the Southeast, more than any other part of Nigeria.

We dare say, President Buhari is passionately pro-Ndi’gbo and those still throwing darts at him are doing it to our detriment as a region and people. It is attestable through Mr. President’s utterances and actions.

Today, and for the benefit of generations upon generations of Ndi’gbo, the Southeast has become a huge construction site. It is needless to begin to list the numerous infrastructural projects such as construction of roads, hospitals, provision of pipe borne water, renovation of schools, constructions of bridges, gully erosion control projects and other social amenities the Buhari Presidency has executed or are ongoing in the Southeast.

These are clear testimonies of Mr. President’s passion for the Southeast people. Any one of us who has cause to travel home in the last five years will attest to it.

Furthermore, our sons and daughter are appointed into prominent federal positions. No long ago, President Buhari nominated our eminent daughter, Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala for the position of Director-General, World Trade Organization (WTO). She failed to clinch the appointment because of bureaucratic impediments; but it illustrates how dear President Buhari holds Ndi’gbo people.

Igbo nation has no choice than to embrace a leader with a good heart like President Buhari who has consistently shown to us friendship and true love as an unbiased leader. He has demonstrated to us that a true leader has no enemies or foes, but serves everyone without discrimination. May his days be long!

President Buhari has also not forsaken the issue of protection of lives and property of the people of Ndi’gbo. We can grandstand or pretend not to know. But the unalterable truth is that the Southeast morphed into a region famed as a den of armed robberies, kidnappings, violent agitations, cultism, communal clashes, and multiple other weird criminal acts which threatened the peace of the Southeast region.

However, in quick response to our lamentations and a cry for help, the President deployed the Nigerian Army, which moved in swiftly and saved us from the satanic grip and calamitous insecurity situations. We may recall that there was a time before the Buhari Presidency that our sons and daughters were afraid to visit home even at special seasons such as Christmas or New Year celebrations for fear of falling victims of armed criminal gangs.

We dreaded our region and the land of our ancestors like the land of the spirits. But President Buhari stamped his foot and we are now free people; we are liberated on our lands; the Nigerian Army has unchained us from these vicious armed gangs. And indeed, today, we can breathe that refreshing air of freedom and to conduct our legitimate businesses without the phobia of molestations or strangulations to death by some gun -trotting and trigger-happy criminals.

SESG boldly declares without any cageyness that the `. And there is the need for every one of us who are direct beneficiaries of the sacrifices of the Army to appreciate Mr. President and the Nigerian Army’s leadership for its numerous roles they have played for the security, peace and development of the region.

The Nigerian Army under the able, determined and focused leadership of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and leader of counter-insurgency operations, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai is one institution in a million in Nigeria. The Southeast region are focal beneficiaries of the novel initiative of the Nigerian Army on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects in water, roads, and free health services.

The Abakpa community in Enugu state bear a resounding testimony, to the benevolence of the Nigerian Army, as the ancient community had pipe borne water for the first time in the history of its existence, courtesy of the Nigerian Army. There are also numerous other beneficial or developmental activities of the Nigerian Army in other communities of the Southeast.

But that is not all. The Nigerian Army is still planning more goodies for the people of the Southeast. Just a few days ago, we all witnessed the ground-breaking ceremony of the foundation laying ceremony of the Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Abakaliki, Ebonyi state. It is conceived as a world class referral medical facility to serve both Military personnel and the entire civilian population of the Southeast region.

The benefits of this health facility to our people are too numerous. And Gen. Buratai is a leader who is repulsive to the syndrome of abandoning projects. He has ensured, whatever project the Army has initiated under his tenure is completed. By this antecedent, the Nigerian Army Reference Hospital will also be completed in record time as he promised and commissioned for public use.

Finally, SESG wishes to reiterate that the Nigerian Army has marketed itself as not just one of the most visible presence of the Federal Government in the Southeast, but has through its numerous CSR initiatives and projects brought succour to our people. The Army has assisted tremendously to scale-up development in the region.

Ndi’gbo has no choice, much less a reason to keep withholding support for President Buhari or the Nigerian Army. Sustained antagonism is not the panacea. The earlier we realize it, the greater prospects of the advancement and development of the Southeast region for posterity.

Al-Qaeda: Anti- Terrorism Coalition tasks Police, DSS on vigilance

…warns citizens against promoting false narratives

Following a report by the United States over plans by Islamic militant group, al-Qaeda, to infiltrate Southern Nigeria and expand its network across West Africa, the Coalition Against Terrorism in Nigeria (CATN) has charged the police, Department of States Services and other security agencies to be on red alert.  

The anti-terrorism organisation also warned Nigerians to equally be vigilant and avoid promoting attempts by some individuals or groups to sow unwholesome propaganda at a time the military has shoved these terrorists to obscure parts of the north.

The Coalition Against Terrorism in Nigeria gave this charge at a press conference on Tuesday in Abuja. 

Speaking on behalf of the group, Barr. Abdulmalik Alfa said all hands must be on deck to compliment the efforts of the military. 

According to Alfa, the police, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, DSS and other stakeholders have critical roles to play to support the troops. 

“There is no doubt that the sustained offensive by the Nigerian Army against the Boko Haram terrorists and other militant groups across the country has indeed placed these nefarious groups in disarray,” he said. 

“This fact was buttressed by the exploits of the Chief of Army Staff, who had been leading the charge against the Boko Haram terror group by physically relocating to North-East Nigeria and directing the counter-insurgency operations.

“The Coalition Against Terrorism in Nigeria has, on numerous occasions encountered the Nigerian troops in operations in North-East Nigeria during some of our on the spot assessment surveys in North-East Nigeria. This is indeed commendable and mostly responsible for the abandonment of the mission of the terror group towards expanding their nefarious activities to other parts of the country.  

“We consequently wish to state that there is an urgent need for other critical stakeholders to join hands with the Nigerian Military by extending support in areas necessary towards addressing the threats posed by the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist group in the country. 

“We also state that the Nigerian Air force has a critical role to play in the war against terrorism by ensuring seamless cooperation with the ground troops in their various operations. This is the applicable norm in countries battling insurgencies. The Nigerian Airforce as a critical stakeholder should continue to sustain and weaken the terrorists through airpower while the ground troops continue to engage in clearance operations. 

“The Coalition Against Terrorism in Nigeria also states that from our preliminary reports, other security agencies such as the State Security Services, Nigerian Police, the Civil Defense, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, the Nigerian Immigration and the Nigerian Customs Service all have invaluable roles to play in addressing the various security challenges in the country.  

” We wish to state that the Nigerian Police Force, as well as the DSS, have the responsibility of ensuring that they secure areas that have been cleared of Boko Haram terrorists because the operations of the Nigerian Army is mobile and not stationary. After liberating communities of Boko Haram elements, it is expected that the security of these communities automatically rests on their shoulders. “

CATN, however, urged the international community to render genuine assistance to Nigeria due to the country’s strategic importance in the African region and among the comity of nations. 

Going forward, it advised the US and others to adopt “proper channels of sharing Intel with the security agencies in Nigeria rather than going public as this would go a long way in ensuring that Nigerian citizens do not panic unnecessarily given the sensitivity of such information and the impact it would have on the psychological wellbeing of Nigerians.

“We wish to at this point state that there is a need for the anti-terrorism wing of the Nigerian Police Force to be on alert to ensure that terrorist cells do not spring up anywhere in Nigeria. This is especially necessary with the recent Intel of the attempt by the Al-Qaeda terrorist group to set up terrorist cells in some parts of Nigeria.” 

While calling on Nigerians to avoid being used to promote terrorists’ agenda, the group urged “security agencies to be vigilant in their operations to ensure that terrorist networks across the world do not infiltrate any part of Nigeria.”

Al- Qaeda Scare: Nigerian Army’s Operation positive identification as the antidote

By Kennedy Nwaboshi

The recent scare of the infiltration of Nigeria by elements of the terror network Al-Qaeda calls for concern from critical stakeholders in Nigeria. I am convinced that this is indeed not the time to play to the gallery in the task of preserving the territorial integrity of the country.

I recall some months ago when the Nigerian Army introduced Operation Positive Identification to combat the threats of criminal insurgency, terrorism, armed banditry, kidnapping, herdsmen-farmers clashes, cultism, and communal crises in the country, some mischief makers questioned the legality of such operations without looking at it overarching benefit to the country.

In some quarters eyebrows were raised questioning the rationale for such exercise and ignoring the explanations put forward by the Nigerian Army.

In a nutshell, Operation Positive Identification is a strategy introduced by the Nigerian Army to combat crimes and threats from within and outside the country to checkmate the activities of bandits, kidnappers, armed robbers, ethnic militia, cattle rustlers, and others.

I have long stated in numerous forums that the Nigerian Army has not just been proactive, but also integrated its operations to include internal security operations that the civil police ought to be in charge of. This is a dynamic strategy that calls for commendation from stakeholders that are desirous of the entrenchment of peace and sustainable development in Nigeria.

As we all know, the role of the Nigerian Army is explicitly stated in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. However, again it must be noted that there are also provisions for the Nigerian Military to be called upon if the civil police is overwhelmed. This is the reality before us, and we must commend the Nigerian Army for its efforts in internal security operations in the country so far.

The crux of this piece is hinged in the fact that there is an urgent need for the civil police as well as the secret police to embark on the positive identification of citizens and implore all possible means to ensure that no terror component extends into the Southern parts of the country to establish terror cells. This is necessary in light of the recent revelations that some terrorist organizations are planning to establish cells across the country up south in the latest Intel by the United States of America.

I have issues with the way and manner the United States of America decided to share such Intel in the public domain rather than with security agencies in Nigeria. As an aside, I could not help but question the motive behind the stands of the United States of America, a country that ought to know better about counter-insurgency operations and the sharing of Intel amongst countries. Nevertheless, it becomes imperative for the Nigerian Military as well as the Nigerian police and other security agencies to continue to do all within its powers to ensure that Nigeria remains safe for all and that the activities of terror and militant organizations are not propagated in any part of the country.

I stand to be corrected, as stated earlier; one of such ways this could be achieved is through the Operation Positive Identification earlier introduced by the Nigerian Army across the country. The Nigerian Police must see that no terrorist cell is established in any part of the country. The reason being that the Nigerian Army has set the standard in an operation that is strictly internal security.

It must also be stated that the Military should not be responsible for chasing Boko Haram elements and ensuring that they don’t infiltrate our population. That is why we have the civil police as well as the secret police. This is what is applicable in other climes. However, unfortunately, in Nigeria, the Military is seen as the super force with magical powers to be everywhere at the same time.

I must state that if we continue in this manner, then defeating terrorism and other forms of criminalities in Nigeria would be a mirage because the ranks of these terror organizations would continue to grow. They would operate freely in the country, and Nigeria would be doomed. The Nigerian police must rise to the occasion in this critical point of our existence. They must ensure a system in place that would easily give out strangers in our midst.

They must deploy modern-day crime prevention tools that would trace criminal elements in their tracks and nip their activities in the bud before it escalates. That is how to be proactive, and that is why it must remain the collective duty of the civil police as well as the secret police to ensure that Nigeria is free from radicals that bent on inflicting terror on the people.

This inadvertently brings me to the leadership strides of the Chief of Army Staff in the operations of the Nigerian Army. As I mentioned earlier, the civil police, as well as the secret police, must take a cue from the various operations of the Nigerian Army and model theirs in such a way that would bring about the required results in internal security operations.

Operation Positive Identification remains valuable and must be built upon by the civil police and the secret police. The Nigerian Army has indeed set the foundation for its smooth takeoff. In my opinion, it would be against the interest of the country if this initiative is not expanded and utilized, especially with the recent threats posed by the Al-Qaida terrorist organizations in Nigeria.

As a people, we must also realize that we all have a role to play in addressing the Al-Qaeda scare in Nigeria. We must extend that total cooperation to the security agencies by providing information as at when necessary whenever we notice strange faces and movements in our localities. We should also form the habit of putting in place mechanisms that would ensure seamless communication with the security agencies. If this is done, it will go a long way in addressing the security issues in the country.

It is also my considered opinion that our actions are also crucial to the success of whatever security operation that would be introduced either by the police or the Military. We must ensure that wherever we are going, we must carry at least a necessary means of identification. That is essentially what the Operation Positive Identification is about before mischief-makers twisted the narrative.

I am convinced that with the right attitude, we can defeat terrorism and other acts of criminalities in Nigeria. All that is needed is the will, and once there is a will, there would be a way. There must also be a synergy between the various arms of the Armed Forces, as well as with the various paramilitary organizations.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, as well as the Nigerian Immigration Service, must be partners in this venture. They must come to terms that their operations are as critical as those of the Army, the civil police and the secret police when one uses the principle of structural functionalism is a framework that sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability.

The mistakes of the past must not be repeated. We all witnessed the consequences of our lackadaisical approach to dealing with the issues as they came up till Boko Haram and its affiliates almost grounded Nigeria. Operation Positive Identification is indeed a time tested strategy and must be put into action by all the security agencies in Nigeria without exception, and not until then; it is not yet Uhuru.

Nwaboshi is a public affairs analyst and wrote from Abuja.