21 Golden Reasons To Thank PMB

By Philip Agbese

In my proud African-ness, I subscribe to the tradition of polygamy as inherited from my fore fathers. It is not because I am unmindful of the strains or sometimes, its near fatal consequences in a family. But only a polygamous man knows and can actually vouch on who among his wives is the best in whatever nuance.

I celebrate Nigerian politicians, activists 08022226062 public affairs commentators and even antagonists for their consciousness in enlivening public discourse on Any Government in Power(AGIP). Straightforwardly, these revered personalities of different camps have tasted the previous administration in Nigeria and the current leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari. And like the proverbial two wives, they know which one is better.

And I have read some refreshing consensus verdicts a long time ago, concluding that President Buhari is indeed, the better wife, if I am permitted to adopt this euphemism in my description of his leadership of the nation. The conclusion reminds me of its blend with an American writer, Elbert Hubbard who praised the concept of polygamy as “… An endeavor to get more out of life than, there is in it.”

Personally, I have no smidgeon of doubt about the steller leadership qualities of President Buhari and his impactful outings on Nigeria’s leadership rostrum in the near five years of his sojourn in Aso Rock. He has accomplished much and really made the difference in more ways than I ever imagined. But life and security of lives is everything in the existential struggle of nations and its leaders.

Therefore, I intend to appreciate and interrogate my write-up from the perspective of President Buhari’s courage and commitment in tackling insecurity, particularly, Boko Haram insurgency. I shall concentrate on popping up salient benefits Nigerians have derived from Buhari’s suppression of infectiously toxic Boko Haram terrorism in Nigerian and the compelling need to appreciate his Presidency in superlative thankfulness.

Firstly, no one can dispute that the national capital of any country in the world is its symbol and pride. It expresses all such a country embodies. But we are all witnesses to the destructive fangs of Boko Haram terrorism on Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) before the Buhari Presidency. Bomb explosions and killings everyday submitted the country’s fate to boundless mourning.

Fear in Abuja residents replaced courage and the belief, even among ardent believers that God alone protects or that any Nigerian leader could eclipse this burden. But President Buhari has transcended this challenge, as Boko Haram bombs have ceased to explode anywhere in Abuja since he became leader of the nation. We owe him a debt of gratitude.

We should be glad that President Buhari has been able to curtail Boko Haram aggressive expansions, with bomb explosions in the ancient city of Kano and Kaduna among others, where the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as well as other top personalities, worship centers and other places were regular targets of insurgents attacks.

Mr. President deserves our collective panegyrics for enabling the release of nearly 20,000 Nigerians silently held in captivity, including almost all the abducted Chibok and Dapchi schoolgirls by Boko Haram. More families under Buhari’s reign have had respite than sorrows after years of reunification with beloved ones severed by insurgency.

We should all be indebted to President Buhari for dislodging commercial Boko Haram agents and mercantile proxies, who invaded the forests and caves of Kogi state manufacturing Improved Explosive Devices (IEDs) and other devices. It was their avowed determination to create an easy transit route to export terrorism to Southern Nigeria.

And I also think Nigerians should be grateful to the Buhari Presidency for ensuring religious and tradition leaders deposed from their fiefdoms at the peak of insurgency are back home today. They were forced to take refuge in alien lands and their domains occupied by insurgents. But these deposed leaders have been reinstated in their kingdoms.

The Shehu of Bama , Kyari Ibn Umar El-Kanemi; his Dikwa Masa II counterpart, and many others were some victims of insurgency forced to desert their communities for asylum in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital. But they have all returned to their domains because of the pervasive peace and security in the Northeast region. At the last Muslim feast of Eid-el-Kabir, the Shehu of Bama Kingdom confessed to elaborate celebration of the festival in his domain with his people, for the first time in five years.

I am also excited with President for asserting the supremacy of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the independent state of Nigeria. Under the Buhari Presidency, 18 LGAs coercively annexed and occupied by insurgents, who declared Gwoza as their “Islamic Caliphate’s” administrative headquarters have all been reclaimed by the Nigerian Army. No part of Nigeria is under Boko Haram annihilation now.

Hitherto, I observed that Boko Haram insurgents made it a favourite past time to inflict pains and sorrows on Nigerians at special festivities like Sallah, Christmas and New Year celebrations by freely visiting horrendous atrocities on celebrants. These seasons were full of apprehensions, anxieties and phobia in Nigerians. But President Buhari’s expert handling of insurgency through the Nigerian Military has vanished these tensions. For years running, insurgents have become impotent to violently disrupt such festivities with blood and tears anywhere in Nigeria.

The United Nations (UN) years back pegged the number of IDPs by insurgency at 2.4 million Nigerians. They were scattered in IDPs camps in Nigeria and neighbouring countries of Chad, Niger and Cameroun, while the number kept multiplying. We have to be thankful to Buhari for creating the enabling secured environment for the massive return of IDP to deserted communities and villages in the Northeast. The returnees have not only settled down to eke a living, but are also picking up from the ruins and devastations caused by terrorism, as populations in IDPs camps depreciate thinner and thinner.

Buhari’s administration has been able to halt the trend of Boko Haram’s free recruitment of thousands of our youths who were hypnotized and consecrated into killers for the Boko Haram sect. They served as insurgents’ foot soldiers and provided the manpower for a thriving terrorism. But this phenomenon has been extinguished, thereby saving our youths susceptible to Boko Haram recruitment and an endangered life. Buhari deserve praises.

And closely related, everyone is aware hundreds of agile youths were already victims of Boko Haram’s charmed enlistment into the evil sect. They were trained by insurgents in the art of killings through bombs detonations and other murderous acts. But through the COAS and leader of the counter-insurgency, Lt. Gen. TY Buratai’s adoption of the “stick and carrot,” hundreds of these initiated Nigerian youths voluntarily denounced Boko Haram and surrendered to the Nigerian Army. Souls have been saved under this administration.

The Army has gone a step further to de-militarize and de-radicalize repentant insurgents after months in camps specified for the purpose. Therefore, the repentant insurgents have been re-absorbed into a sane society and reunited with estranged families. It’s worthy of appreciation to President Buhari that his government has rescued some of our youths who went astray, and reoriented them, something akin to poet John Milton’s rendition in “Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained.”

It pained us that the Northeast region was completely ruined by the activities of Boko Haram insurgency. Aside gruesome killings, the quantum of destructions to public and private properties was awful. Schools, hospitals, roads, markets, banks, and offices were reduced to rubbles as Boko Harm held the Northeast region spellbound every day. But since Buhari has ensured the return of substantial peace and security, the destroyed public buildings are being rebuilt. Through the Northeast Development Commission and Presidential Initiative on the Northeast, the arrested development denied populations of the region by insurgency is gradually being restored.

I must appreciate President Buhari for ensuring the return of peace and security especially in the trilogy states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa and with it, the animation of normal life in all spheres. Markets, banks, farms, nightlife and flocks of activities have resumed in these states, where Boko Haram was an everyday experience and surviving residents or natives recoiled into their shells for the fear of terrorists. Life is sweeter for a man physically and mentally free from any inhibition of fear.

Our people have every reason to sing acclamations to President Buhari for warming his path into the hearts of Governments of Western nations who have accepted to sell combat equipment to Nigeria for the combat of Boko Haram terrorism. These previously hesitant foreign nations have also consented to extend military technical assistance to the Government of Nigeria. Such western nations declined the requests in the past citing human rights abuses by the military in the prosecution of the counter-terrorism war, against extant laws international laws.

But President Buhari’s diligent prosecution of the terrorism, with the Chief anchor officer, Gen. Buratai, dispensed it in accordance with international best practices, sacred respect for the human rights of Nigerians and strict adherence to the Rules of Engagement (ROE) by the Army has vacated the ban on arms sale restriction to the FGN. Therefore, by 2020, America which was the first country to kick against sale of military equipment to Nigeria will supply 12 Tucano fighter jets to the Nigerian military to fight Boko Haram.

And a few days back, President Buhari signed a military deal with Russia at the just concluded Russia- African Summit in Sochi for the renewal of Nigeria-Russia Military Technical Agreement. The agreement will be a springboard of Nigeria’s efforts to purchase military hardware from Russia on government-to-government basis. It will also nose at Russia’s military training of Nigerian soldiers on terrorism. Precisely, Russian President Vladimir Putin endorsed support of Nigeria with military equipment, Infrastructure and training facilities.

Its apt confirmation that as difficult as the asymmetrical counter- terrorism warfare appears, President Buhari has scaled international standards on human rights violations, without which the country would have been continued to suffer pariah status on military aid and deprived of the necessary military assistance to finally terminate Boko Haram terrorism in Nigeria.

What has gladdened my heart more jubilantly in the prevailing peace in the troubled Northeast region is the temperate environment it has created for internal development initiatives. It raised the peaceful conditions for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to work for the discovery of oil and gas in the Northeastern part of the country in commercial quantities at the Gongola Basin.

NNPC’s Acting Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Samson Makoji who broke the cheering news in a public statement said, the oil and gas discovered in Gongola Basin will attract foreign investments, generate employment and increase government revenues for Nigeria. Every Nigerian should thank Buhari for this novel accomplishment in Northern Nigeria.

Why won’t Nigerians be grateful to President Buhari when he has ensured children in schools in the Northeast displaced by Boko Haram have returned back to learning centers’, under a better and conducive atmosphere? It is a remarkable departure with the past, when a daring or vicious Boko Haram sent more and more school age children out of school into IDPs camps, thereby mortgaging their future and that of the country.

And quite surprisingly, most of us are not aware that Boko Haram has graduated from a small gang of armed political thugs to terrorists of international backing from the Republic of Iran. Boko Haram factional leaders, Abubakar Shekau and Musab Al-Barnewi have both professed affinities with Iranian-based and globally recognized terror groups in the Middle East.

These include ISIS, ISWAP, Al-Qaeda and many others who provide cash funding in foreign currencies and equipment supply to Boko Haram terrorists. It implies a strong and smoldering desire to takeover Nigeria at all cost. The desperation is palpable.

But President Buhari through the Nigerian military held have remained firm and assertive in combat of terrorism. With Gen. Buratai in the trenches, Boko Haram insurgents have spiritedly and fruitlessly attempted to retake territories reclaimed from them by the Nigerian Army, much less expansion. Nigerians should be excited with Buhari , without him Boko Haram would have overran Nigeria by now and so easily like floods.

There is no doubt in my mind that President Buhari is a leader, who knows where the nation aches deeper and how to apply the soothing balm for peace and security. He is my metaphor of a South African proverb which says, “ A clever king is the brother of peace,” or like the Ethiopians would say, “Even in the monastery, there is occasion for songs and merriments. Nigerians, let’s celebrate President Buhari, my iconic leader on counter-terrorism.

Agbese is a researcher in human rights laws and contributed this piece from the United Kingdom.

PMB’s arrival as the end of Shekau

By Gabriel Onoja

It’s over two whole years, the actions or voice of the strongest, vicious and potently atrocious Boko Haram factional leader, Abubakar Shekau has been heard nor his shadows sighted anywhere. Before the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, the cursed Boko Haram leader, Shekau was a lion and king of the Boko Haram jungle.

He straddled the Northeast and other parts of Nigeria with gusto and a panache in horrendous atrocities and gruesome of murders of anybody at sight. He maimed, committed acts of arson, abducted and killed quicker than the executioner’s noose.

Shekau was more than a deadlier and heartless devil’s incarnate. His somewhat mythical prowess in Satanism was nourished by a dozen equally ferocious commanders and thousands of incensed foot soldiers ever ready to indulge in bloodletting at the snap of the fingers.

The founder and leader of Boko Haram, Mohamad Yusuf died mysteriously in the hands of Nigeria’s security agents. Abubakar Shekau who then deputized Yusuf took over the gearshifts of leadership of the extremist religious sect.

By 2010, the sadistic Shakau prosecuted the Boko Haram senseless war on Nigeria with a viciousness that elevated its dreary image to an all -time high in the psyche of Nigerians. Shekau’s leadership of Boko Haram insurgency spared no friend nor foe; Muslims or Christians, much as security agents.

An incensed Shekau was on an unrestrained, unmolested and unchallenged killing spree, abductions and other assorted atrocities without discrimination. It soon brought him into loggerheads with other sect members, leading to the split of Boko Haram and the second faction led by Musab Al-Barnewi.

Worse still, Shekau was in the habit of frequently releasing boastful videos of his demonic exploits on YouTube and other online platforms. At such instance, he claimed responsibility for Boko Haram’s scary attacks on communities, villages, city centers, markets, shopping malls and every conceivable place, in outright braggadocio of his evil exploits. He dared security agents, including the military and promised Nigerians tougher days ahead under his supervised butcheries and destructions.

Nigerians will still recount vividly the national and international outrage which trailed the Boko Haram abduction of 276 Chibok schoolgirls on April 14, 2014. Shekau’s vexatious video appeared in the aftermath, claiming responsibility and displaying the photographs of the trapped schoolgirls. It drenched Nigerians with tears and coalesced the national spirit of collective action against Boko Haram.

But Shekau still reigned supreme and unchallengeable. Indeed, the fear of Boko Haram was the beginning of wisdom for all Nigerians, everywhere they were domiciled without exclusion. Before the Buhari Presidency in 2015, the Boko Haram sect had effectively taken firm control of the Northeast, most cities of Northern Nigeria and was already fast transiting to Southern Nigeria.

Its immediate gory reminiscences were the annexation of 18 LGAs in the Northeast, abductions of about 23,000 Nigerians held in secret camps, and displacement of over 2.4 million natives according to a United Nations report. It was the saddest moment in Nigeria’s history.

However, President Buhari’s resolve to end Boko Haram terrorism led to the appointment of new Security Chiefs. And Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai who emerged as the COAS and leader of anti-insurgency operations turned out to be Shekau, his sponsors and by implication, Boko Haram’s greatest nemesis and unresolved mystery.

Like echoed by an African proverb, Gen. Buratai and Nigerian troops have proved to Shekau that where a lion lives in the jungle, the lioness can never be king. So, Shekau was a lion of the jungle in the despicable days of the old regime. But now, he is a shadow of his old self under a new order spearheaded by Gen. Buratai.

It is quite pleasant that under the reign of Gen. Buratai, the known Shekau has been reduced to a mere rat looking for food to eat in forests, caves and mountains of distant land. Probably, he is disfigured and limping, with strength barely enough to scavenge for food in his hideous caves. His demeaning loquaciousness on Nigeria is also silenced.

Yet, Shekau was the fetish leader of insurgents, who severally led convoys on deadly missions from Damaturu to Maiduguri. Thrice, Shekau’s ragtag armed insurgents almost overran the Government Houses in Maiduguri and Damaturu, intent on converting them into the administrative seat of power for the Boko Haram “Caliphate.”

Shekau’s convoys had security sophistry envied by Nigerian State Governors. But this same formerly “super and invincible” Shekau has not been seen in any video in the last two years. Yet, some Nigerians in their usual malicious mindsets or conspiracy of silence have found no reason to appreciate the Nigerian Army.

So, Nigerian troops under Gen. Buratai vowed never to afford Shakau and his terrorists such luxury anymore. And kicking his own phase of the counter-terrorism campaigns, Gen. Buratai launched relentless assaults and offensives on insurgents’ strongholds in the Northeast; shattered their camps, massively arrested hundreds of foot soldiers and top commanders, freed thousands of Nigeria hostages and reclaimed all parts of Nigerian territories captured, and occupied by Boko Haram within months.

Next on Gen. Buratai’s agenda was puncturing the fabled myth of invincibility about Sambisa forest. It was where Shekau and top commanders found comfortable fortress to recuperate after each attack on Nigerians, plot fresh atrocities and staged out in execution.

Thus, on December 24, 2016, the Nigerian Army pulled down Sambisa forest, only akin to the manner the Biblical Joshua pulled down the walls of Jericho. It penetrated its innermost sanctuary to camp zero, an enclave which provided shelter and protection for the evil men.

Shekau was lucky to escape the onslaught by Nigerian Army on Sambisa forest. But Gen. Buratai and troops sustained the manhunt for Shekau. The Army Chief declared a military “fatwa” on Shekau, directing the Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole to capture him dead or alive, and or, precisely, “to smoke out Shekau wherever he is hiding in Nigeria”.

An ostensibly distressed Shekau who was hit below the belt began to wonder in veiled disguise in dark spots to avert the danger that awaited his fate. A clearly flustered Shekau abandoned his followers, and disguised in a woman’s hijab to escape detection by vigilant Nigerian soldiers.

Shekau’s action after the collapse of Sambisa forest was an unambiguous message to his adherents that “ to your tents, oh Israel!,” as the Army shattered insurgents unified coherence. It marked the beginning of the defeat of the once indomitable Boko Haram.

And within the ensuing weeks, Shekau and other Boko Haramists was under tight Army surveillance, and at least 10 top commanders of Shekau were neutralized by troops offensives in different locations in the Northeast.

In military operations at Alafa in Borno on Sallah day, Shekau’s top commanders like Afdu Kawuri and Abubakar Banishek bowed to the military might of the Nigerian Army. Earlier, at Magumeri Local Government Area of Borno, a Shekau top commander, Ba’Abba Ibrahim and two others were humbled; while five other key leaders of the sect and close associates of Shekau were also neutralized during a joint military bombardment.

While the Army’s heat on capturing Shekau intensified and scores of his top commanders neutralized, the Boko Haram factional leader sneaked out, obviously using bush paths to Kolofata in neighbouring Cameroun. A Boko Haram commander, Abdullahi Bello (alias Abu Zainab), whom the Army captured in Bauchi made the revelation.

And it has been the last ever heard of Shekau. The Nigerian Army has even placed a ransom of N3 million on his head to anybody who would give useful information leading to his arrest. But quite strange to the antecedents of Shekau, he has not come out to announce his presence or display his exploits in any online video. Perhaps, he has not sufficiently recovered from the injuries he obtained, preferring silent recuperation in the Cameroonian caves, a better and sensible option.

Therefore, anyone who knows Shekau’s whereabouts should voice out. The ransom has not been withdrawn. But its obvious Shekau no longer exists. In any case, Gen. Buratai has vowed to see the last of him dead or alive. If Shekau is truly still alive, let him stop hiding and come out and surrender.

It is praiseworthy that the Nigerian Army has ended the war on Boko Haram insurgency. And like the experience with other such insane extremists like the Maitatsine sect, Nigerians have also won the battle against Boko Haram insurgency. The remnants of insurgents still feigning a feeble battle with the Nigerian Army are fighting in vain. As prophesied, the end of Shekau and his demons has come to fulfilment.

Nigerians owe a debt of gratitude to the Nigerian Army and immensely appreciate Gen. Buratai and the entire Nigerian military for the big sacrifices everyone has made in the counter-terrorism battles. The joy is that Nigeria has won the war at last.

Onoja is the President, Coalition Against nts Terrorism and Extremism and wrote this piece from Abuja.

Withhold Bayelsa’s N7 Billion VAT refund for now, APC urges FG

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has cautioned the federal government not to release N7 billion VAT refund for the Bayelsa state government for now to avoid squandering the money on voter buying, as the governorship election in the state is less than a month.

Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Yekini Nabena, sounded the note of caution in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday.

The statement specifically urged the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, to delay approval of a N7 billion VAT refund to the Bayelsa state government until after the conduct of the November 16 governorship election in the state.

“There is a 7 billion Naira VAT refund to Bayelsa State awaiting the Minister of Finance approval. The Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson has committed to a commercial Bank to give him the 7 billion with an agreement that the Ministry will in turn pay the money to them.” The Bayelsa-born APC chieftain disclosed.

The APC deputy spokesman believed that if the money is released to the outgoing government in the state it will not serve the purpose it meant to achieve.

“The Minister is advised not to approve the VAT refund until after the governorship election. Governor Dickson has recently been in the news on account of several schemes to raise money through diversion of state funds to fund the election of his stooge and Bayelsa governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“Coupled with Governor Dickson illegally withdrawing and diverting N17.5 billion from bank accounts belonging to the state government to prosecute the November 16 Bayelsa governorship election in the state, Bayelsans are still smarting from the exposed plan of Governor Dickson to sell off an oil field, Atala Marginal Field (OML 46) belonging to the state, months to the his handover.

“Governor Dickson must be stopped from achieving his selfish and desperate plan to buy votes using state funds and rig the election in favour of his unpopular candidate.”

PRESIDENT BUHARI APPOINTS CAPT NUHU DG NCAA, ENGR BEN-TUKUR ICAO REP

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Captain Musa Nuhu as the new Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation authority (NCAA).

A statement Wednesday by Director Public Affairs, Ministry of Aviation, James Odaudu said he replaces Captain Muthar Usman, the erstwhile Director General of the Organization.

Capt. Nuhu who, until his appointment, was Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the International Civil Aviation organisation (ICAO), is an Airline Pilot, a Safety expert, a quality assurance Lead Auditor as well as an Artificial Intelligence expert.

He holds an MSc Degree in Aviation business and was at the Presidential Air Fleet as a Captain and a safety officer. He also worked at various times at the defunct Nigeria Airways, Aero Contractors and Petrowest among other organisations.

The new Director General was also the Chairperson Comprehensive Regional Aviation Safety Plan for Africa and Indian Ocean (AFI Plan) at the ICAO headquarters in Montreal, responsible for safety, air navigation, airports and Aviation Infrastructure development, an experience that is expected to be of great value to his new role as a regulator of the nation’s aviation industry.

In a related development, President Buhari has also approved the appointment of Engr.Mahmoud Sani Ben-Tukur as Nigeria’s new Permanent Representative to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)

With over 24 years of work in the Aviation industry, Engr Ben-Tukur possesses extensive knowledge and experience in Aviation Safety and Quality Management Systems, as well as knowledge of ICAO Standard and Recommende Practices and Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations.

He was until his appointment a Technical Adviser to the Minister of Aviation.

Court orders interim seizure of 23 properties linked to Maina

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the temporary forfeiture of 23 landed properties identified by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as belonging to ex-Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina.

The embattled former director is currently being held with his 20-year old son, Faisal.

Justice Folashade Giwa-Ogunbanjo gave the order on Tuesday in a ruling on an ex-parte motion for orders of interim forfeiture filed by the EFCC and argued by the agency’s lawyer, Mohammed Abubakar.

The affected properties were listed in a schedule attached to the motion, included houses that Maina allegedly acquired in his name and those of his late father, mother, wife and son. They are located in Abuja, Kano, Kaduna, Borno and Sokoto states.

In the ruling, Justice Giwa-Ogunbanjo also ordered the EFCC to publish the order in The Nation newspapers to enable interested parties show cause why the properties should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

Specifically, the reliefs granted by the court are: “An interim order of forfeiture to the Federal Government of Nigeria of the assets and properties listed in the schedule to this motion.

“An order of this honourable court, directing the publication of the interim order of forfeiture in The Nation newspapers, inviting any person(s) or body(ies), who may have interest in the assets and properties listed in the schedule to show cause, within 14 days of such publication, why a final order of forfeiture to the Federal Government of Nigeria of the said assets and properties should not be made.”

The judge ordered the anti-graft agency to publish the interim forfeiture order within 14 days and return to court on November 19 to report compliance.

It was also learnt on Tuesday that Maina and his son may be arraigned tomorrow before Justice Okon Abang (also of the Federal High Court, Abuja).

The EFCC plans to effect service of the charge, already filed before the court, on Maina and his son before the close of work on Tuesday to pave the way for their arraignment.

The property affected by the interim forfeiture order are:  Plot MFl9 Cadastral Zone, covered by MFCT/12/AMAC/KR/MEI9 AGIS FCT48215 (MISC6OI4), located in Karu, Abuja (allegedly acquired in his mother’s name); Plot 18 Road F Malali North East Residential Layout, in Kaduna (said to have been acquired in 2017, using his late father’s name);  Block 23 Flat 2 located at Life Camp (2 bedrooms semi-detached) in Abuja (in wife’s name); Plot No 965, Gwarimpa 1 District, Cadastral Zone: C02 covered by Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) No: lafew-fe28z-63a5r-c36eu-10 in Abuja, (in son’s name) and Flat 42C, SMC Quarters, Unguwan Dosa, Kaduna, Kaduna State (allegedly acquired in his pseudo name).

Also affected are: a duplex located at No. 16 A Katuru Road, Kaduna, Kaduna State (in son’s name); 52B, SMC Quarters, Unguwan Dosa, Lot 016 comprising 3-bedroom semi-detached bungalow, in Kaduna, Kaduna State (in wife’s name); Property at Tola Street, Badarawa.

Seized in Kaduna are 3-bedroom and an undeveloped land in Kaduna, Kaduna State (original documents said to have been found in his possession);  Plot Y12, Kano Street, Kawo New Extention, Kaduna, Kaduna State (in son’s name); A duplex at No. 21, 52 Crescent, Kubwa Phase IV Estate, Abuja (in his own name) and House 8, 211 road, A Close, FHA/EST/264/TA/O32, 3-bedroom bungalow in Abuja (in the name of a company where his relations are directors).

Others are: a farm at Dorawa, Karshi Development Area, Karu Local Government, Nasarawa State (in son’s name); another Farm at Dorawa, Karshi Development Area, Karu Local Government, Nasarawa State (acquired in son’s name);  Plot 3A, Sambo Road, Unguwan Rimi, covered by C of O No: KD15452 comprising uncompleted buildings located in Kaduna, Kaduna State (in son’s name);  Property located at 16B/BG Gombe Road, Biu, covered by C of O No: 929/88 in Biu LGA, Borno State (in the name of Cruise City Ltd, where he is allegedly a director); Plot MF-27A, New Pasali Layout, Kuje, Kuje Area Council, Abuja (in his own name) and  Plot 1B Ajayi Road, Unguwgn Rimi, covered by C of O, marked: NC24059 in Kaduna, Kaduna State (original document said to have been found in his possession).

Others are: Property at No: 62 A/C Maternity Ward, Damaturu Road, Biu, in Biu Local Government, Borno State (original documents found in his possession); Plot of C of O Bo/426 beacon B5086, 135087, B5105, B5104, B5099 Cadastral Zone, B05 Utako, in Abuja (allegedly acquired in wife’s name);  Plot 37, Kinshasa Road, Maiduguri, Borno State;  No 16 Dabai Road, off Mangoro Road, Sokoto, Sokoto State; No. 13 Korau Road, Nassarawa District, Kano, Kano State and  Plot 965 Cadastral Zone C02, Gwarimpa, Abuja. – The Nation Newspaper

Atiku vs Buhari: Stop the delay, constitute panel based on seniority, Frank tells CJN

A political activist and former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Comrade Timi Frank, has urged the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Tanko Muhammad, to stop unnecessary delay in constituting a Supreme Court panel to determine Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s case challenging the Presidential Tribunal ruling in favour of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Frank demanded that the CJN should constitute the Supreme Court panel based on the tradition of seniority and not “consulting or waiting on the advice of the presidency.”

In a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday, the political activist said it amounts to injustice for the CJN to delay the constitution of the 7-man panel more than a month after the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appealed the Presidential Tribunal’s judgement.

“We are reliably informed of an unholy alliance between the CJN and the presidency which is causing the delay in constitution of the panel, such move is dangerous for Nigeria’s democracy.

“The CJN must respect the normal tradition of following the order of seniority in selecting the justices. Even all the times Bubari himself had approached the Supreme Court in the past, order of seniority was followed.The precedent is set contrary to the ongoing shopping for judges who will be favorable to the whims and caprices of General Buhari and the APC.

“If anything contrary to the tradition of order of seniority which we all know is allowed to happen, that will confirm that the CJN has bowed to the pressure from the presidency and that will also confirm the allegation made earlier by the CUPP.

“It is obvious that the judiciary under the current administration seems to have been caged but it is high time our judiciary showed courage. The whole world witnessed the courage showed by the Supreme Court in the United Kingdom recently. Even in Africa, Kenya’s Supreme Court has also proven to be independent when it recently nullified presidential election of a sitting president, Nigeria’s judiciary must prove its worth in this case.

“A situation where the CJN has to consult the presidency or the AGF before a panel is constituted does not show an independent judiciary,” Frank stated.

While calling the attention of the international community on the matter, the Bayelsa born activist said in a democratic system once justice is not seen to be given, anarchy and chaos will be the order of the day.

Frank also called on the former CJNs to call Justice Tank to order, to avoid playing politics but adhere to precedents laid by them.

“Nigeria is greater and more important than General Buhari and his cabal. I therefore, call on the good people of Nigeria, the African Union (AU) and other International Community to ensure that the independence of the judiciary must remain sacrosanct and inalienable, and compel Justice Tanko to do the right thing,” Frank stated.

Xenophobia: In spite of Buhari’s visit, South Africans attack Nigerians again

Nigeria’s Consul-General in South Africa, Godwin Adama, has called for protection of Nigerians and their properties in South Africa.

He spoke at a meeting with the South Africa Police Command, following fresh attacks on Nigerians in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa.

About five Nigerian-owned businesses were attacked, vandalised and burnt in the attacks.

The businesses included a big spare parts dealership, two restaurants, a grocery shop and Nigerian foodstuffs shop.

Taxi drivers were blamed for taking the laws into their hands and unleashing violence on Nigerians.

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari visited South Africa during which the visitor received assurances of the protection of Nigerians by the South African government.

The leadership of Nigerian Citizens South Africa (NICASA) and the Nigeria Consul-General to South Africa were said to be on the ground gathering information on the attacks.

NICASA Chairman Ben Okoli told The Nation that the attacks were totally unprovoked and unwarranted.

But he explained that it was not another case of xenophobia attacks.

The chairman said the Nigeria Consul-General had met with the police command of the affected province and demanded protection for Nigerians.

Okoli said: “Today (yesterday), there was an attack on Nigerian-own businesses in Witbank Mpumalanga. This attack happened around 9 a.m. I drove with the CG in his car to the province where we engaged the police and the Nigerian community in a meeting inside the police conference room.

“Our meeting was very engaging and frank. We went around the affected shops and businesses and we also visited those admitted in the hospital for the injuries they sustained.

“In the meeting with the police, we informed them that it was totally uncceptable to us as a nation that people should not have been allowed to take the laws into their hands unless the country has become lawless. We demanded the protection of the lives of our people in the province and elsewhere in the country.

“This was not a xenophobic attack but criminality masterminded by the taxi drivers under the guise of fighting crime.” – with Nation Newspaper

I invest in Nigeria to tackle poverty – Dangote

The Chairman of Dangote Cement Plc, Aliko Dangote, has said that he will continue to help in alleviating poverty and spread wealth through his investments.

He also urged Nigerians not to lose hope in the country.

The richest man in Africa spoke in response to the commendation by winners in the ongoing extended Dangote Cement bag of Goodies National Consumer Promotion in Akure, Ondo State and Asaba, Delta State.

The winners lauded the gesture by the entrepreneur for the promo which they termed ‘economic life-saving promo’.

Dangote, in a statement made available to our correspondent, was quoted as saying that his joy was to touch as many lives as he could.

Represented by the Dangote Cement National Sales Director, Mr Yemi Fajobi, at the presentation of a star prize to a block moulder, a former local government councilor in Akure, Dangote said most of his businesses were driven by the desire to touch lives and improve the standard of living of Nigerians.

He said, “The ‘bag of Goodies promo’ is not just a promo. The uniqueness of it is in the choice of items being won by the people. Our company is intentionally empowering its customers through the promo. The cars, tricycles and motorcycles are items that economically lift the customers by creating additional means of livelihood and improve their economy.” – PUNCH

Why Ndume And His Ilk Dread Peace in Borno State

By Richard Murphy

I expect Nigerians to persistently and courageously interrogate their leaders who hold any mandate in public trust. This is a cliché resounded so many times to the point of boredom. But most of us ignore or prefer to overlook it for very selfish reasons.

May I not sound like a simpleton. But some of these politicians are the architects of our problems and they seek elevation to promote very personal interests, which are detrimental to us and public good. And It is not a healthy development either for the confined development of places where these leaders are anointed to lead or for the general good or progress of Nigeria.

Holding leaders accountable and answerable to us is a lawful duty, which is also flavored by religious sacredness. And sustaining the tempo of subjecting these leaders accountable for their past and present actions must not be preached before all of us understand its potency.

A nation with a complacent citizenry easily sounds its death knell irremediably! But the generality of Nigerians appears to be contented with the inglorious path of overlooking our leaders and whatever they do even in our collective degeneration.

How many of us have ever heard of Sen. Mohammed Ali Ndume? He is a national parliamentarian who makes laws that govern all of us. Ali Ndume is qualified by every touchstone of assessment to be described as the doyen of lawmaking in Nigeria and a distinguished legislator. Since 2003, Ali Ndume has been on the corridors of the National Assembly (NASS) from the green to the red chambers now. He is from Borno and currently represents Borno South senatorial district in NASS.

But I doubt if he has added value to his constituents or home state of Borno or Nigeria. Though from a region which smokes with acerbic terrorism, his actions are overtly coloured with embroideries of a leader neither enthusiastic about peace nor the security of his people, even though occupying a vintage position of leadership. His utterances about counter-insurgency operations in the Northeast are “very discouraging,” if one borrows the phrase of popular comedian Gondons.

Sen. Ali Ndume appears like someone whose only preoccupation is how to work behind the mask and scenes to ensure Nigeria is eternally tethered to the strings of Boko Haram terrorism. Ndume and his minions seems to have covenanted with the devil in ensuring distressed populations and the people devastated by years of insurgency never find consolation on account of the overriding materialistic and political gains a prolonged insurgency war berths on their doorstep!

Most annoyingly, Sen. Ali Ndume and his league of evildoers think Nigerians are unaware of their political manipulation of the Boko Haram insurgency. And in furthering this sinister plot covertly, Ali Ndume, especially carelessly undermines the military’s wakeful nights, scorching sun, unbearable downpours and sacrifices to anchor peace and security for his kith and kin. And politicians of his ilk are too many in the Northeast. There is every need for security agents to beam a search light on them before we are led to the Golgotha to the cheers and jeers of their apostates.

Despite President Buhari’s endless struggles and commitment to end Boko Haram terrorism, they still find demonic methods to puncture it. It doesn’t matter to them if the entire Northeast region is engulfed in the flames of Boko Haram insurgency, insofar as political milestones and wealth accumulation interests are secured, the Machiavellian style.

Nigerians sitting on the fence; I mean the onlookers, engaging in idle talks about the inability of President Muhammdu Buhari to completely blight the fire of terrorism within timeframes, without probing the roles of politicians in the region or cautioning them are unpardonably worse enemies of this country. An African proverb says, a man whose house is on fire should not stand aloof while neighbours converge to help him put out the fire.

But in Borno state, the reverse is the case. While President Buhari and the Nigerian military are doing everything humanly possible to completely exterminate the fire of terrorism, Ndume and his soul mates, suspiciously retire into dark shadows to enliven the fire for repulsively selfish gains.

Most politicians in the Northeast, despite publicly feigning joy over decimated and defeated Boko Haram insurgents, but still giggle in exclusive places, eternal sadness that our troops led by the COAS and punch man of the counter-terrorism operations, Lt. Gen. TY Buratai has not allowed it to smoulder anymore. More and more villages and communities in the Northeast are experiencing peace. There is mass exodus of IDPs from camps back to previously ruined and deserted villages.

It goes to say, as forlorn villages swell with populations of returnees, IDPs camps in the Northeast have depleted considerably. So, the politicians are no longer ennobled to pressurize the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for emergency contracts on relief materials supply. It’s a punch below the belt, but stunningly expresses the odiousness of some politicians in Nigeria. While anguished people suffer all forms of deprivations, they regale in profiteering over their unfortunate fate.

Again, the years of insurgency in the Northeast have opened up the vaults of states anf local governments for plundering by politicians, who nicely help themselves to public commonwealth and retire account books as monies spent on security. It’s difficult to probe security expenditures and it is their fervent prayers that Boko Haram terrorism should never end. They prefer the Northeast to be overran by insurgents and should become a ghost region, while they smile to the banks every day to service their already fat personal bank accounts.

Furthermore, it is quite a “crazy” idea that President Buhari should put his foot on ground to ensure Boko Haram becomes history in Nigeria. To these reprehensible political sons and daughters of Jezebel, a festering Boko Haram, freely visiting awful and horrendous atrocities on Nigerians, spurring national and international outrages against the government of the day would cause Presidential invitation of some prominent politicians to anchor talks with the fanatical, religious dissidents and killers. Sponsorship of negotiations with leaders of insurgents by the government swallows sumptuous sums of taxpayers’ money from security votes.

And the monetary gains are amazing. Politicians have built mansions, business empires and acquired shares in national and global companies from the proceeds of this evil acts of negotiations with terrorists. So, the beneficiaries of such scams are finding it difficult to reconcile with the reality that insurgency is no longer viral to require government’s recruitment of their services to personally enrich themselves. Sen. Ali Ndume is a living testimony because under the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, he served on the committee that anchored talks with Boko Haram.

Though, the talks with Boko Haram were fruitless, but the members benefitted from the largesse of federal sponsorship of negotiations with terrorists. I challenge Ali Ndume to publicly state how much each member of the committee received in estacodes and allowances on this lawful “national duty.” We shall be shocked, if the figures are published.

Nonetheless, there has been a trend of perpetuation of elected leaders in the age and region of Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast. I can’t just imagine that Sen. Ali Ndume has been the best brain in Borno South axis and so since 2003, he has been in NASS. He moved from House of Reps to the Senate and has remained glued to date.

The reason is that the people he represents are already distraught, distressed and dehumanized by insurgency. Naturally such constituents are more obsessed with every day survival and how to get back to their forsaken homesteads, than the psychological and mental stability /co-ordination to pry into the quality or otherwise of those elected to represent them. Therefore, year in; year out, once the politicians pick reelection tickets on a political party’s platform, victory is assured seamlessly. Why would should politicians work for Boko Harm insurgency to end?

Closely related to it too is the subsisting atmosphere of insecurity in the region, which does not give room for a robust electioneering campaigns itinerary of potential leaders vying for elections. For the years Boko Haram raged in the Northeast, constituencies most hit by the scourge, have aspiring leaders campaigning at IDPs camps only. They take a few items to IDPs camps and reel out deceptive messages, which the traumatized people have neither the energy or mental comprehension to discern.

And on election day, agents of same politicians, some of whom would purchase IDPs Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) and invade the camps with little cash as baits to sway their votes. It moderates campaign expenses. Why would such politicians want Boko Haram terrorism terminated as President Buhari and leader of the counter-insurgency operations, Gen. Buratai struggles every day?

So, Sen. Ali Ndume and his irksome lot are allegedly principal beneficiaries of this skewed system. And much against reason, they are inherently afraid of peace in Borno State and plots subversion of anti-terrorism operations every day to keep the insurgency war ferociously and menacingly raging. They commune with Angels in the day time, kicking against terrorism, but wickedly relapse into the darkest chambers of Lucifer to promote it at nights. These are questions the governed should fearlessly and consistently be asking their leaders.

Murphy is a security expert and contributed this piece from Calabar.

Boko Haram: Group asks Senate to strip Ndume of Army Committee Chair

Coalition Against Terrorism and Extremism (CATE) has called on the Senate leadership to strip Senator Ali Ndume of his role as Chairman Committee on Army over his recent flawed remarks aimed to plant terror in the heart of Nigerians.

The group said at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday that it is a “dangerous situation where a known terrorist supporter is now posturing as an expert in security matters”.

In a statement signed by National Coordinator, Comrade Gabriel Onoja, CATE revealed that the Borno South lawmaker is exploiting this sensitive position to the advantage of Boko Haram terrorists.

Mr Ndume, once linked to the radical Islamic sect, had claimed that 847 soldiers were killed by the group – a statement that has since backfired.

In order to avoid such gaffes in the future, CATE advised the Senate leadership to stop playing politics with the lives of innocent Nigerians as well as jeopardizing the amiable effort of the gallant troops on the frontline and replace Ndume.

Mr Onoja added that the lawmaker should be assigned any other committee in which he can’t directly manipulate or offer tactical support to terrorists.

Read full statement below:

The Coalition Against Terrorism and Extremism (CATE) has followed with interest the claims by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Army, Senator Ali Ndume, as they pertain to the ongoing war against terrorism in the north-east of the country.

For us, it is a tragedy that Senator Ndume unfortunately seems to have locus to speak on the matter being the Senator representing Borno South senatorial district and even more worryingly is political horse trading that landed him oversight over an institution as sensitive and crucial to national security as the Nigerian Army. The combination of these factors have created a dangerous situation where a known terrorist supporter is now posturing as an expert in security matters.

Sadly for Nigeria and dangerously for the people of Borno state and the entire north-east, Senator Ndume appears to be exploiting this sensitive position to the advantage of Boko Haram terrorists. He has deployed his position of influence to sow terror in the hearts of the people by making claims that could only be intended to make Boko Haram terrorists appear like the superior side in the battle between the forces of good and evil.

It is on record that Ndume is yet to open up on his involvement in the kidnap of Chibok girls and Dapchi girls so that Nigerians can appreciate the full extent of his involvement. We have credible information that this Senator continue sponsor Boko Haram terrorist group and supports their activities.

This is why Senator Ndume could cook up his own statistics that claimed that 847 soldiers have died fighting Boko Haram. He even stooped to the low ebb of regurgitating the claims by pro-Boko Haram foreign NGOs and media circuits that had claimed that they saw unmarked graves and mass graves holding the remains of the military casualties that he had dreamt up.

Beyond speaking to advance the interests of Boko Haram terrorists, the other intents of the senator became apparent upon a deeper analysis of his recent showmanship. His claim that one percent military budget showed lack of seriousness to fight insurgency made him appeared as someone that has the interest of the people’s security at heart but the reverse is the case. Rather than seeing the plight of a people suffering the repercussions of his sponsorship of terrorism, what the senator sees is a business opportunity. Rather than genuinely canvassing for the army to be appropriately equipped, he is keen on lining his own pocket.

Senator Ndume’ interest in asking for improved funding for the Army is driven by an interest to get his cut of the money that would be so allocated for fighting terrorism, which he plans to achieve by leveraging his position as Senate Committee Chairman on Army. He is so desperate to do this that he did not mind lying about the military casualty from the operations against Boko Haram. He is so beclouded by greed that he gave no thought to how his utterances are helping the terrorists to sow fear in the land.

This did not however come as a surprise to us in CATE considering that he is currently on trial for sponsoring terrorism. We now know that not even this trial has done enough to discourage him from continuing to be the grand merchant of death by doing those very things that strengthen Boko Haram terrorists. This latest confirmation that he continues to work for these terrorists is unacceptable and we believe that it is something that the entire country must unite and rise up against.

For this we hold the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership of the Senate responsible for. It is the party that made the mistake of given him a position as sensitive as the Chairman Senate Committee on Army in a bid to pacify him for losing out on becoming the Senate President, a position he lost because the responsible ones among his peers know that no sane country makes a terrorist supporter its third most powerful citizen.

CATE is therefore demanding that the Senate leadership without delay removes Senator Ali Ndume as Chairman of the Committee on Army based on the reality that he is exploiting the position to the detriment of the nation. The Senate is welcome to assign him any other such committee that he cannot manipulate to offer tactical support to terrorists.

Even if the Senate leadership, out of political expediency, decides to leave Senator Ndume in this sensitive post, it is our expectation that he will find it in him to seek the honour that is not found among terrorist supporters by voluntarily recusing himself from leading the Senate Committee on Army and requesting an assignment that does not conflict with his extracurricular dalliance with terrorists and child kidnappers.