Group accuses Iran, AI, others of plotting Nigeria’s destabilization

The Save Humanity Advocacy Centre (SHAC) has alleged an alliance between the Iranian government and Amnesty International to cause unrest in the country.

According to the group, Iran-backed Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) is the tool being used, evident in the various protests and marches, by some disgruntled politicians and groups on the sponsorship of IMN.

The SHAC made this known at a press conference on Friday in Abuja, raising an alarm on Iran’s renewed bid to overthrow Nigeria’s democratically elected government.

In his address, Executive Secretary, Ibrahim Abubakar said fuelling crimes and cooking reports portraying the government to have failed is Iran and IMN’s latest gimmick.

To achieve this, Mr Abubakar added that Iran lured some self-proclaimed international non-governmental organisations to do its dirty job, with Amnesty International leading the bunch.

The SHAC further revealed that Amnesty International’s role is to justify crimes committed by IMN, making their false flag operations appear like random crimes.

The Save Humanity Advocacy Centre, therefore, urged the world to pay attention to the ongoing plans by the IMN to overthrow the government and plunge Nigeria into war aided by its romance with Amnesty International and Iran.

Rear full address below:

The Save Humanity Advocacy Centre (SHAC) has become aware of the escalation of activities aimed at destabilizing the government by the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN). You must have observed that in recent days the group has continued to embark on provocative street protests and marches even when they have no right to this as a known terrorist group.

These protests are deliberately orchestrated to put the nation’s military and security organizations in bad light by creating the erroneous impression of disproportionate crack down on their members by the state. A manifestation of this is the constant claims of casualty from their protests.

The latest approach by the IMN now is to fuel crimes and then manufacture reports that claim the government is failing on account of rising crimes. A clear instance of this strategy in play is the report by SBM Intelligence titled “Rising Insecurity in Abuja” which sought to create the impression that the nation’s capital has succumbed to insecurity and that the government must be illegitimately sacked in this regard.

We are worried that the spate of crimes that had rocked some parts of the country were not unconnected with IMN’s quest to create an atmosphere of fear across the land while also raising funds from such criminal enterprises to pursue their terrorist agenda. The fact that they can now start touting Abuja, the nation’s capital as insecure speaks volume to what they had done in the past in other parts of the country and the evil they plan to unleash on the entire country.

Not to be overlooked are the partners that have worked with IMN to undermine Nigeria’s integrity. We have identified their international NGO partner, Amnesty International (AI), which has done everything possible to paint a Nigeria as a repressive state just so its client, IMN can continue to oppress and terrorize Nigerians unchallenged. We had in the past had cause to raise alarm over the unholy alliance between Amnesty International and IMN. What we have discovered is that AI has resorted to circumventing the credibility crisis our expose has brought upon it; this is being done by packaging its report and handing over to entities like SBM Intelligence to issue.

Unfortunately for this failed alliance, the patter of AI’s reporting, which dwells largely on hyperventilating on falsehood and half-truths is glaring to trace. The justification of crimes committed by IMN while making their false flag operations appear like random crimes are telltale markings of IMN-AI modus operandi, standard operating procedures that the discerning have become accustomed to seeing whenever resources have been deployed to undermine Nigeria’s interest.

The world must also be alerted that the hand of the Islamic Republic of Iran continues to move these puppets. The incentive for Iran is nothing other than its threat to deal with Nigeria for not dropping the legal process against the leader of IMN, Sheik Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, who is standing trial in Kaduna state. This escalation by the world’s major state sponsor of terror is after it had unleashed the series of protests and uprising against the Buhari administration.

Iran has earmarked a huge sum of money for this round of onslaught against Nigeria. We understand that the financing is drawn from a $5million that it first committed to this evil agenda as far back as 2018, which some CSOs and political parties have been assessing in the last few weeks. Let the world note that this fund is not for any capital investment but to destabilize the peace of Nigeria.

The Save Humanity Advocacy Centre (SHAC) is therefore drawing the attention of the world to ongoing plans by the IMN to overthrow the government and plunge Nigeria into war with the active collusion and participation of Amnesty International and Iran.

It is therefore imperative to remind Nigerians that they hold the power to tell IMN, AI and Iran off with strict warning that they should not truncate the peace of Nigeria with their extremist ideology. The government has done much to restore peace and prosperity to Nigerians so this axis of evil should not destabilize the country for whatever reason.

Insecurity: Elders group expresses confidence in Buhari, IGP, Service Chiefs

Some elders, under the auspices of Pro-Nigeria Elders Council (PRONECO) have passed a vote of confidence on President Muhammadu Buhari, urging the nation to support the Inspector General of Police and Service Chiefs to abate insurrection.

The council of elders made this known in a communique issued at the end of a one-day consultative meeting in Abuja on Thursday on the state of security in the country.

Co-signed by National Convener, Chief Simon Shango, National Chairman, Alhaji Ari Gwasko, National Secretary Honourable Sam Ode and Chief Mrs Helen Bendega, Women leader, PRONECO said its findings were made after an intensive review and deliberation on “politically-induced insecurities in parts of Nigeria and heat in the polity”.

Having reviewed the resurgence of Boko Haram/ ISWAP terrorists, banditry and other security threats confronting the nation, the group resolved that President Buhari has soared higher above the evil forces amassed on the peace and stability of the nation.

It reckoned that the president has taken the country forward in all ramifications despite artificial incitements of public resentments.

PRONECO is particularly pleased with the president’s insistence on the Service Chiefs, holding firm and refusing to succumb to pressure.

The council of elders, however, called on Nigerians to show solidity with the nation’s security heads, as only with this can the recent security challenges be subdued.

Read full communique below:

The Pro-Nigeria Elders Council) with members drawn from the 36 states of the federation, converged in Abuja today for an all-inclusive stakeholders meeting to brainstorm. We engaged in intensive deliberations as compelled by the prevailing resurgence of politically-induced insecurities in parts of Nigeria and heat in the polity intent on destabilizing the country.

Members endorsed a number of resolutions’ pursuant to matters of national security concerns and the efforts of President Muhammadu in curbing these nascent trends in Boko Haram and Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) terrorists and armed bandits renewed carnages on Nigeria: PRONECO resolved as follows:

Firstly, the Pro-Nigeria Elders Council (PRONECO) salutes the patience, understanding and courage of every Nigerian despite the deliberate and barefaced politically-instigated resurgence of insecurities in some areas in the country.

We have perceived it as an agenda hatched, crafted, manipulated and mindlessly executed by disgruntled elements in the system or anti-state actors to provoke Nigerians, engender unfounded lack of public confidence in the Nigerian military and spark distrust in the political leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari and the proven hard working Service and Security Chiefs.

PRONECO reviewed the resurgence of Boko Haram/ ISWAP terrorists and their internal collaborators’. But we came to the inevitable conclusion that despite the orchestrated actions and its seeming effects on the general security situation in the country, President Buhari has still soared higher and still triumphing against the evil forces amassed on the peace and stability of Nigeria by these evil internal and foreign forces. The artificial restlessness induced by actions of armed mercenaries would soon be tamed maximally based on Mr. President’s revaluation of the problem and actions being taken to massively arrest perpetrators and their agents to face the wrath of the law.

By whatever yardstick of assessment, we have no modicum of doubt that Mr. President has defiantly taken the country forward in all ramifications. The artificial incitements of public resentments against this progressive administration should never constitute a distraction in achieving set targets.

We also salute d the resilient leadership of President Buhari which has earned him an unbreakable trust from Nigerians and the globe. This is attested by viral international and local news reports. The meeting wholeheartedly and passionately lends its full support to the various authorities which have acknowledged Mr. President’s relentless efforts and the dogged stand of his administration against plots to return the country to the dark days of unmitigated bloodbath.

The meeting also salutes the choice of Mr. President’s appointees manning the security architecture of the country. We resolved that the Security Chiefs have not only refused to shirk in the face of all difficulties, sabotage of their gallant efforts, but have continued to determinedly tackle even renewed atrocities of insurgencies and insurrections with renewed zeal and vigor.

Therefore, we resolved that all our serving security chiefs have performed exceeding marvelous individually and collectively in the light of subsisting encumbrances’ and deserves not only to be encouraged, but maintained on their positions to sustain the winning streaks against Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist and armed bandits up again to torment the country.

We perceive the calls by the National Assembly (NASS) and some other questionable characters for the sack of the Service and Security Chiefs as exposure of their veiled conspiracy or manifestation of their insidious plans to finally sink Nigeria in internecine clashes of bloodletting. The meeting therefore resolved that Nigerians owe themselves the moral obligation to discountenanced such campaigns as cajoling Mr. President to sack Security Chiefs smacks of mischief and greasing the evil nest of these unpatriotic elements.

It is condemnable and unacceptable because the efforts of current Security Chiefs are worthy of commendation anywhere in the world. Consequently, the meeting wholeheartedly commends their efforts, as we urge Mr. President never to harken to such satanic calls for their sack, as it will create a lacuna and embolden armed enemies to freely feast on Nigeria.

The meeting noted that what Nigeria is currently experiencing is not the normal Boko Haram or farmers/herder’s crisis, but a politically -instigated crises across the country with foreign backed conspirators to make the country fail and discolour the famed integrity and strong leadership character of President Buhari.

It is no longer news that hired agents of destabilization are hovering all over Nigeria to cause possible unabated violence, nourish the break-up agenda of Nigeria masked under various opposition platforms have been on the prowl. They are working day and night to see that the change agenda of Mr. President does see the light of day or this democratic Government crumbles like previous administrations’ in the country merely to puncture President Buhari’s acclaimed sanctity to leadership excellence.

The meeting observed and unequivocally affirms that it has also come to the knowledge of this gathering of these wisemen that there are multi-layered deliberate campaigns of calumny are being sponsored by some highly placed individuals in the country. Such are backed by some renegade members of the ruling APC in order to destabilize the nation because they are personally aggrieved for falling out of favour/patronage with the present government.

The meeting called on the politicians and other disgruntled elements who are still nursing the wounds of defeat and rejection by the Nigerian masses, in the 2019 general elections; and have resorted to kick-start very early political activities ahead of 2023 should be mindful of the distractions it has implanted in the polity by the method they have employed. We see it as part of ploys, exacerbating insecurities in parts of the country backed by foreign interference and the glaring agenda to destroy Nigeria.

The PRONECO strongly frowns at the partisan attempts to demean and rubbish the campaigns’ against corruption in Nigeria by the opposition in Nigeria, who have contracted internal and foreign organizations to discredit the anti-corruption campaigns’ by all means, as reflected in the fake and dishonest recent Transparency International’s (TI) on rating and ranking of Nigeria, which untruthfully proclaimed an imagined Nigeria’s slide backwards on corruption index.

It is evident everywhere that Mr. President’s anti-corruption campaigns have drastically reduced acts of sleaze, embezzlements and mindless looting of public resources throughout the country, especially in Ministries’, Departments Agencies (MDAs). And the stiff resistance to the anti-corruption wars by the same retrogressive elements or proxies who benefits from such corrupt acts to frustrate public transparency and accountability is noted.

However, there is incontestable and empirical evidence that the Presidency is resolute and determined to outsmart the sabs constituting the cogs in the wheel of progress. And so, we rejected the recent report by TI; declared it condemnable and hollow in its totality as it bears no semblance of truth with the realities on the ground.

The meeting immensely appreciated Mr. President for standing by Nigerians since the year 2015 to get the country rid of both corruption and terrorism. These are the twine most destructive, endemic and pervasive national malaises that have tethered the progress of the country to retrogressive pillars.

The meetings therefore vehemently warned those behind the new plots of destabilizing the country using religious, political or ethnic killings as a bait to put a halt to it. Their failure to desist from such unpatriotic and evil acts against the country will incur the wrath of Nigerians generally against them.

PRONECO was extremely shocked at the disclosures from credible information on the frightening volume of amassed arms and doling out of monies acquired through illicit means to fund violence, by engaging vulnerable youths to indulge in objectionable acts of attacks, killings and arson in different parts of the country.

Nigerians must know that it is our responsibility individually and collectively to team up with security agents in our respective domains to frustrate and put a halt to these acts of evil men determined to blight their future. Like Peter McWilliams once said, Nigerian youths must; “Be willing to be uncomfortable. Be comfortable being uncomfortable. It may get tough, but it’s a small price to pay for living a dream.”

May the Almighty God continue to bless Federal Republic of Nigeria, the President, members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria; Service and Security Chiefs and Nigerian troops.

Ebonyi Airport: Group chides Ezza-Ezekuna stakeholders over plight of farmers

The Association of Ebonyi State Indigenes in Diaspora (AESID) has condemned in strong terms the content of the communique issued by those it described as apologists of the state government from Ezza extraction under the auspices of Ezza-Ezekuna Stakeholders, threatening the peasant farmers whose ancestral lands had been forcefully acquired by the Ebonyi state government for an airport project without compensating and resettling them.

The Ezza-Ezekuna Stakeholders had in the said communiqué carried as advertorial in some dailies in late January passed a vote of confidence on the state government for forcefully taking over the ancestral land of the peasant famers for the controversial Airport project.

But reacting to the communique through a statement signed Thursday in Abuja by AESID’s spokesman, Ambassador Pascal Oluchukwu, described the intervention by the Ezza-Ezekuna Stakeholders as ‘sycophantic’.

The statement expressed “dismay that some people could join the Ebonyi state government to intimidate the peasant farmers whose ancestral lands were forcefully acquired instead of following the due process of acquiring individual lands for public use.

“It is trite law that while the Land Use Act gives the governor powers to acquire any land for overiding public interest, same law provides for adequate compensation for the farmers whose farmlands and ancestral homes have been forcefully taken.

“While we do not desire to go into the desirability or otherwise of an airport now in the state because we know that this government in the state hardly does anything that benefits the people but themselves. We believe that this project is about the supply of cement and other materials by a particular family in the state.”

While expressing its unflinching support towards the displaced farmers in their trying moments, the group also commended the land owners for choosing the path of constitutionalism in seeking justice instead of resorting to self-help despite lots of intimidations and “by the government apologists to frustrate them.”

The association further admonished the state government to note that the welfare of the people is central to the mantra of governance and that “the Ebonyi state government should refrain from their wicked acts of intimidations through their proxies, apologists and agents and rather be grateful to the displaced farmers who are enriching our legal jurisprudence by being civil. In the end, governments come and go and life continues,” the group said.

Insecurity: Group kicks over Senate inclusion of Abaribe in probe panel

The Coalition for Nigeria has rejected the inclusion of the lawmaker representing Abia-South, Enyinnaya Abaribe, in the Senate’s adhoc committee on security challenges, describing it as an “abomination”.

The group alleges that there are overwhelming evidence indicting Mr Abaribe as sponsor of proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and a known ally of its fugitive leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, Convener/National President, Patriot Sabo Odeh, said it is morally unacceptable, an attempt which may jeopardise the military with the inclusion of Abaribe.

Recall that the Abia lawmaker stood in as surety for Kanu in 2017 and only recently called on President Muhammadu Buhari to resign over security concerns.

Abaribe shouldn’t be placed in such critical position, as the Coalition believes that he has openly displayed hatred, disdain and total lack of patriotism in his sponsorship of bills and motions to pull the administration down.

The group, therefore, said it totally rejects the Senator Abaribe led committee, which according to them is “ a charade, premeditated evil and a clear sign that the Senate is out to ruin the efforts of the Buhari led administration”.

Read full statement below:

Gentlemen of the press, we have cause to invite you here today because that which should not be mentioned has been named. An abomination has been committed.

What we are talking about is the inauguration of Senator Eyinaya Abaribe as a member of the Senate ad-hoc Committee on Security Challenges. This is an aberration knowing this federal lawmaker’s role in the insecurity plaguing the country.

Going by court documents that showed he stood surety for a fugitive terrorist Senator Abaribe is a known terrorist sponsor and an unrepentant one at that. He stood surety for a terrorist kingpin in the name of Nnamdi Kanu who jumped bail in Nigeria and working from abroad to destabilize the country.

For a man who could back a terrorist in court, one can only wonder at the level and nature of support he has offered members of the terrorist Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the background.

As proof that he is unrepentant, Senator Abaribe only recently abused the sanctity of a parliamentary chamber when he used the Senate call for the resignation of President Muhammadu Buhari. We later found out that rather than being a response to any security situation, the senator’s call was ploy to effect regime change to facilitate the enthronement of a pro-IPOB government.

Abaribe has shown his open hatred, disdain and total lack of patriotism in his financially induced sponsorship of bills and motions to pull the administration down.

This is the man that Senator Ahmed Lawan, the Senate President has deemed necessary to head a sensitive national assignment like the ad-hoc Committee to review security issues in Nigeria.

This is quite unfortunate and a clear sign that the Senate has failed this nation..

The nation cannot survive if such treachery is rewarded with a sensitive security appointment as the senate has done.

It is even more dangerous when Security Chiefs are to interact with the committee and make their plans known to the Senate on how they are confronting the issues of insurgency which Abaribe’s group, IPOB has contributed largely to in the country. There is every reason to think, know and believe without being told that it will be as good as the security agencies exposing her plans to IPOB and Boko Haram terrorists.

We consequently and out rightly and totally reject the Senator Abaribe led committee as inaugurated by the Senate. It is a charade, premeditated evil and a clear sign that the Senate is out to ruin the efforts of the Buhari led administration. The committee can only make pro-terrorist findings and come up with recommendations that will worsen the security situation in Nigeria in a way that favours the balkanization of the county in line with IPOB’s manifesto.

Therefore we demand that Senator Abaribe be excluded from the committee immediately.

If the Senate President fails to do that then Nigerians should not bother herself with the committee as it will yield no result but another jamboree to cover the 37 billion naira being expended on renovation of office complex by the National Assembly.

CALSER seeks investigation, apprehension of political sponsors of terrorism in Nigeria

Following the foiled bomb attack at a Living Faith Church , Kaduna, the Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights (CALSER) has called on security agencies to investigate and apprehend sponsors of terrorism in the country.

The plea was made at the periodic review of Boko Haram/ISWAP activities in Nigeria and Africa by the group.

Speaking at the press conference on Wednesday in Abuja, convener, Princess Ajibola laments attempts by religious leaders in the country to change the name of the culprit to rob on others.

According to Princess Ajibola, the insecurity in the country is beyond locally backed foreign destabilization plots as there are also insiders working against the country’s peace and tranquillity.

CALSER, therefore, called on relevant security agencies to begin the process of unravelling those behind the attempt to bomb the Living Faith Church in Kaduna State.

The group also charged the nation’s security agencies to immediately arrest and investigate all political actors connected with terrorism, banditry and other criminal activities in the country.

Read full address below:

Being the text of an address by the Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights on the attempted bombing of the Living Faith Church in Kaduna by Nathaniel Samuel

Ladies and gentlemen of the Press, you are most welcomed here today for this all-important press conference that was necessary in light of the attempt by one Nathaniel Sunday to detonate a bomb in the Living Faith Church in Kaduna State.

The Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights in the light of the revelation wishes to state that the harbingers of death have been put to shame with this botched attempt that would have heightened the suspicion between the Christians and Muslims in the country.

It consequently beats one’s imagination that a Christian will plan to bomb his fellow Christians, which is an indication that indeed the bulk of the pockets of criminal activities going on in the country are politically motivated all in an attempt to cause chaos and discredit the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

We salute the vigilance of the security agencies in foiling this devilish attempt, which to a large extent, has vindicated the security architecture in the country that has been up and doing in the onerous task of securing lives and properties in the country.

The Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights condemns in its totality this dastardly act that would have been blamed on our Muslim brethren and with the narrative that President Muhammadu Buhari has failed in the security of lives and properties in the country.

It suffices to state that from our preliminary investigations and as have been revealed before now, the insecurity in the country is beyond the locally backed foreign destabilization plots. There are also insider related plots to destabilize the country in the actualization of their despicable conspiracy against Nigeria.

These groups of persons have decided that the promotion of killings in the country is the only means to take over power through the backdoor after they have been roundly rejected at the polls.

The Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights wishes to call on the relevant security agencies in the country to begin the process of unraveling those behind the attempt by Nathaniel Samuel bomb the Living Faith Church in Kaduna State.

The Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights demand the immediate arrest and investigations of all persons connected with the action no matter how highly placed such individuals are in the country. This is necessary in the attempt to nip in the bud the nefarious activities of politicians that seem to have lost all value for human life.

The Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights deems this necessary because the conspiracy against the continued existence of Nigeria is the handiwork of some highly placed and disgruntled politicians whose stock in trade is in causing chaos and conflict in Nigeria, while they smile to the bank.

The case of Nathaniel Sunday makes the situation more ironic and an indication that some criminal elements would go any length to cause disaffection in the country, all in the attempt to discredit the efforts of the security agencies in the fight against terrorism and other criminal activities in the country.

The Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights is also using this medium to call for the investigation of all political actors and sponsors of terrorism in Nigeria by the security agencies in Nigeria. We have total belief in the ability of our security agencies to fish out the perpetrators of these despicable acts.

The case of Nathaniel Sunday, as ironic as it sounds, is the starkness of the reality confronting us as a country, especially with regards to the pockets of criminal activities across the country that have been identified as politically motivated to make the country ungovernable.

The Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights demands the immediate investigation of all persons associated with banditry, kidnappings, and cattle rustling in the country.

We also wish to state that should these despicable characters not desist from their nefarious ways, the Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights would not hesitate to lead a nationwide protest against them.

The future of over 180 million Nigerian cannot be jeopardized by a select greedy group of people that sees the resources of the country as their birthright. As such, they must do everything possible to continue to feast from our commonwealth by instigating violence and promoting conflict in the country.

The Centre for Africa Liberation has also commissioned research into some of the activities of these political fraudsters that thrive in the business of human blood in an attempt at revealing their identities to the whole world.

The Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights wishes to charge the various security agencies to continue in this fashion in our bid to rid Nigeria of criminal elements and their paymaster.

I thank you all for your time and wishes to place on record that Nigerians should indeed realize and appreciate the great efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari who is on the side of the people and one of the reasons why these highly placed politicians have ganged up against him by promoting and sponsoring violence in the country, including the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist group.

God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
God bless our security agencies
God bless President Muhammadu Buhari
God bless Nigerians

Signed:
Princess Ajibola. The Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights

Press Conference

Being the text of an address by the Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights on the attempted bombing of the Living Faith Church in Kaduna by Nathaniel Sunday

Ladies and gentlemen of the Press, you are most welcomed here today for this all-important press conference that was necessary in light of the attempt by one Nathaniel Sunday to detonate a bomb in the Living Faith Church in Kaduna State.

The Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights in the light of the revelation wishes to state that the harbingers of death have been put to shame with this botched attempt that would have heightened the suspicion between the Christians and Muslims in the country.

It consequently beats one’s imagination that a Christian will plan to bomb his fellow Christians, which is an indication that indeed the bulk of the pockets of criminal activities going on in the country are politically motivated all in an attempt to cause chaos and discredit the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

We salute the vigilance of the security agencies in foiling this devilish attempt, which to a large extent, has vindicated the security architecture in the country that has been up and doing in the onerous task of securing lives and properties in the country.

The Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights condemns in its totality this dastardly act that would have been blamed on our Muslim brethren and with the narrative that President Muhammadu Buhari has failed in the security of lives and properties in the country.

It suffices to state that from our preliminary investigations and as have been revealed before now, the insecurity in the country is beyond the locally backed foreign destabilization plots. There are also insider related plots to destabilize the country in the actualization of their despicable conspiracy against Nigeria.

These groups of persons have decided that the promotion of killings in the country is the only means to take over power through the backdoor after they have been roundly rejected at the polls.

The Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights wishes to call on the relevant security agencies in the country to begin the process of unraveling those behind the attempt by Nathaniel Sunday to bomb the Living Faith Church in Kaduna State.

The Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights demand the immediate arrest and investigations of all persons connected with the action no matter how highly placed such individuals are in the country. This is necessary in the attempt to nip in the bud the nefarious activities of politicians that seem to have lost all value for human life.

The Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights deems this necessary because the conspiracy against the continued existence of Nigeria is the handiwork of some highly placed and disgruntled politicians whose stock in trade is in causing chaos and conflict in Nigeria, while they smile to the bank.

The case of Nathaniel Sunday makes the situation more ironic and an indication that some criminal elements would go any length to cause disaffection in the country, all in the attempt to discredit the efforts of the security agencies in the fight against terrorism and other criminal activities in the country.

The Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights is also using this medium to call for the investigation of all political actors and sponsors of terrorism in Nigeria by the security agencies in Nigeria. We have total belief in the ability of our security agencies to fish out the perpetrators of these despicable acts.

The case of Nathaniel Sunday, as ironic as it sounds, is the starkness of the reality confronting us as a country, especially with regards to the pockets of criminal activities across the country that have been identified as politically motivated to make the country ungovernable.

The Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights demands the immediate investigation of all persons associated with banditry, kidnappings, and cattle rustling in the country.

We also wish to state that should these despicable characters not desist from their nefarious ways, the Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights would not hesitate to lead a nationwide protest against them.

The future of over 180 million Nigerian cannot be jeopardized by a select greedy group of people that sees the resources of the country as their birthright. As such, they must do everything possible to continue to feast from our commonwealth by instigating violence and promoting conflict in the country.

The Centre for Africa Liberation has also commissioned research into some of the activities of these political fraudsters that thrive in the business of human blood in an attempt at revealing their identities to the whole world.

The Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights wishes to charge the various security agencies to continue in this fashion in our bid to rid Nigeria of criminal elements and their paymaster.

I thank you all for your time and wishes to place on record that Nigerians should indeed realize and appreciate the great efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari who is on the side of the people and one of the reasons why these highly placed politicians have ganged up against him by promoting and sponsoring violence in the country, including the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist group.

God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
God bless our security agencies
God bless President Muhammadu Buhari
God bless Nigerians

Nigerian think tank UK lauds Buhari’s efforts towards national peace, stability

The Consultative Assembly of Arise Nigeria (UK) has expressed optimism that the menace of insecurity in Nigeria will soon become a thing of the past.
The group also lauded the efforts by the president and other security chiefs towards national peace and stability of the country.
Arise Nigeria, UK made this known after a tentative review of the governance under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari (May 29 to January 31st, 2020); current tensions generated by insecurities.
The body also passed a Vote of confidence in Mr. President stimulated by prospects of analytical economic growth parameters on Nigeria and efforts towards national peace, stability and cohesion.

This was contained in a communiqué jointly singed by Dr. Stanley Ojua, Chairman, Communiqué Drafting Committee, Arthur Chukwuemeka Jnr, Secretary and Rosemary Olarewaju, Member at the end of the meeting.

The communiqué reads below.
The Arise Nigeria, United Kingdom (UK) is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) based in the United Kingdom. It is an assemblage of Nigerians in diaspora from diverse persuasions’ including professions, technocrats, bureaucrats’, politicians and international businessmen and women resident in the United Kingdom.
Arise Nigeria (UK) functions as a platform for members to meticulously engage in impartial, robust economic analyses, assess development paradigms, and ginger mutual interactions among members of the group. It is centered on issues of leadership, governance and development as it affects our home country, Nigeria.
It is an intellectual and analytical think-tank of Nigerians in Diaspora who after consideration and painstaking deliberations national matters, offer interventions, suggestions and recommendations. This is done periodically after the interspace of six months.
However, the regularity of our assemblage in-whole is naturally and expectedly disrupted at this season by the activities of end of year and the New Year festivities, usually marked by vacations, holidays and travels by a massive number of members. It is a reality further made complex by Nigeria’s 2019 general elections and the installation of new sets of democratic leaders at all tiers of government in the fifth civilian to civilian democratic transition of Nigeria since 1999.
Despite the scenario painted above, Arise Nigeria, UK recently met in the United Kingdom under the convergence auspices of a consultative symposium, comprising eminent personalities, which is by all yardstick, is a fair representation of the full House.
The deliberations focused on some recurrent/subsisting vital and sensitive national issues. These matters, enumerated above have been the concerns of Nigerians, as President Muhammadu Buhari navigates ambitiously into the #NextLevel of his administration, having spent the first six months of his second term in office.
We also analyzed the tensions generated by resurgent insecurities around the country; the fierce interplay of bipartisan forces and the ensuing heat and tensions deposited on the polity. After deliberations, the Arise Nigeria, UK observed, recommended and adopted some resolutions, elucidated as follows;
(a) At the inception of the first tenure of President Buhari, the government was confronted with a myriad of teething national problems, which gravely threatened, national cohesion, unity, peace and progress.
These multiple challenges ranged from a very weak or recessed economy; high youth unemployment; deficit social infrastructures; the bungled privatization in unbundling of the power sector, leading to poor electricity generation and distribution; high inflation; drastic drop in crude oil exploration in the Niger Delta; unstable prices of crude oil in the international market, pervasive and endemic corruption in the system.
Nigeria was also mired in hyperbolic and multi-dimension insecurity threats, like Militancy in the Niger Delta; Boko Haram threats/insurgency in the Northeast; armed banditry in the Northwest; restiveness from separatists’ agitation movements, herdsmen/farmers clashes and internal armed conflicts from a retinue of other national challenges.
In the past four years, the President Buhari administration has either vanquished or ameliorated some of these problems/challenges or stagnated or which have formed the bedrock of current problems in the country. It is regrettable that some of these malaises have shown faint shadows in Mr. President’s the second term, much as the positives have also shadowed.
Arise Nigeria, UK , observed a resilient character in the re-emergence of some of these problems especially completely surmounting the challenges posed by armed criminalities in Nigeria by this administration.
Of particular note, Boko Harm/ Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorism; herdsmen mercenary killings, armed banditry, kidnapping, widespread armed robbery and sundry other hi-tech-crimes have continued to sporadically disrupt the peace and security of our people, in permeating continuous social and; public disorder in Nigeria.

Arise Nigeria, UK also examined the efforts and progress (preceding and present) by the administration of President Buhari in overcoming these national malaises. It has concentrated energy and enormous national resources to extinguish all manner of insecurity threats in the country, et ceteral.

The future of Nigeria, as a country is secured for prosperity. Nigeria’s external reserves today (2019) stands at US$42.5 billion from US$23 billion in October 2016. These are reflective of favourable changes.
Excitingly too, extra measures have been taken to avoid pitfalls of the past on delays in budget preparations and implementation. We have seen the timely signing of the 2020 Appropriation Bill of N10. 594 trillion into Law, on December 17, 2019 before the beginning of another fiscal year. And a back-up law, Finance Act on January 13,2020, to support its expeditious implementation. These are plausible signals of good planning for optimum results.

On insecurities, the FGN has also taken steps to intensify security for the lives and property of all Nigerians irrespective of wherever they reside in the country. The armories of the Nigerian military have been constantly replenished.

In the past three years, domestically built armoured vehicles and surveillance equipment. Mid -January 2020, Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar admitted collecting two helicopter gunships for the Nigerian Air Force to battle terrorism and other insurgencies.

The 12 Tucano fighter jets ordered from America will arrive the shores of Nigeria in 2020 or latest, early 2021. There is actually massive weaponry restocking of the Nigerian Military generally to counter threats of insecurities such as the delivery of South African Paramount Marauder vehicles etc.

Nigerian Army Vehicle Manufacturing Company (NAVMC) has formally commissioned in January 2020, prototype 4×4 armoured personnel carrier and mine roller gear and assorted other types, which requires only N1. Billion ($2.7 million) to mass produce within the shortest possible time.

Furthermore, Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), Kaduna state and similar military schools of artilleries in the country have been resuscitated and functional. These are manufacturing various small and light ammunitions to assist the military combat Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorism in Nigeria.

Surely, these are signposts of reinvigorated Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies to tackle subsisting and emerging insecurities in the country. The Government is conscious of the urgency in quenching the fires of insurgency and other security threats.

The anti-graft agencies have continued to pursue their mandate of checkmating assorted financial crimes in Nigeria. The Special Courts Bill being contemplated are some of the measures. Therefore, the 2019 Corruption Perception Index rating of Nigeria by Transparency Interventional (TI) is not a true reflection of realities on ground. The TI report is patently false, devoid of substance, but smacks of a rehearsed, influenced or induced and accordingly discountenanced as a nullity.
Thus far, Arise Nigeria, UK endorsed the following recommendations for public consumption and action by the appropriate authorities. It unanimously frowned at acts or extreme combativeness from individuals, particularly politicians and institutional leaders capable of triggering or inflaming passions of hate, discord and disunity which are likely to endanger our collective peace and progress.

Arise Nigeria, UK resolved to appeal to all Nigerians unpacified, aggrieved, dissatisfied and disenchanted with manifestations in the system to eschew bitterness. We urge all aggrieved persons to pray and support our leaders to serve the country better as another New Year begins.

There should be oneness and unity of purpose in our perceptions, interpretation and reactions to issues of national flavor, especially insecurities. Misguided, reckless and sentimental comments on such sensitive matters could aggravate the problem and blur the genuine search for solutions.

Therefore, Arise Nigeria, UK deemed the resolutions of Wednesday, January 29, 2020, by the two chambers of the National Assembly (NASS) as riled by impulsive anger and vexation.

The NASS resolution which urged Mr. President to resign because of failing security in Nigeria and or the campaign for the voluntary retirement of Service and Security Chiefs, or the canvassed sudden sack of all security Heads in Nigeria/ withdrawal of troops from the warfront on account of observable lapses or renewed insecurities in parts of the country was a decision hastily adopted by the leaders of the National Assembly and parliamentarians.

In the interim, while we urge all parties to look inward to take make an in-depth and critical scrutiny of the problems, the resolutions should be revisited, by whatever means possible. We recommended that it should be retouched or possibly, rescinded in order to enthrone a cordial atmosphere to advance a unified common front in thoughts and actions against enemies of the state.

The meeting particularly observed with great concern, the infusion of partisan sentiments in the course of the debates by parliament. We suggested that parliamentarians should be more circumspect in debating and adopting motions bothering on national security matters as done in other climes to avoid actions that would precipitate an implosion in the system.

Consequently, we implore all and sundry, to imbibe or emulate the model of patriotism and selflessness exhibited by parliamentarians of the United Kingdom’s Parliament and or, the American Congress each time issues of national insecurity crops up in the parliament. Every member of parliament supports the national cause, as against his political party logo.

For instance, in the recent debates by American House of Representatives’ to determine whether US would confront the Republic of Iran with war over the escalating tensions and counter-reactions generated by the killing of Gen. Qasem Soleimani, in the Middle East, congress placed the American agenda topmost. They added weight to the debate not as Democrats or Republican parliamentarians.

Rep. Max Rose, representing New York’s 11th District from the opposition democrats declared bluntly, that “ I refuse to play politics with questions of war and peace.” Likewise , Rep. Thomas Massie, representing Northern Kentucky district from same Republican party with President Donald Trump declared his opposition to war with Iran thus; “this vote is about exercising our constitutional authority, but more importantly, our moral obligation to decide when and where our troops are going to be asked to give their lives.” In all deliberations, the American spirit was rekindled above partisan lines.

Much more, when in December 2001, the UK Parliament approved the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act, after the 9/11 terrorists’ attacks on World Trade Towers and the Pentagon House in faraway America. It permitted the detention without trial of foreigners suspected of terrorism, which infringes on fundamental human rights, and connotes racial undertones, the parliament weighed the larger interest of the United Kingdom.

Arise Nigeria, UK resolved that it was ultra vires and counter-productive to pass a resolution calling for the resignation of the President and sack of Service and Security Chiefs. These could invoke dire consequences of uncontrollable dimensions on the counter-insurgency operations in Nigeria.

Rather, NASS should dispassionately explore their powers to ensure review/review and full implementation of Defence budgets, approve special requests by the Nigerian Army like granting approval for Nigerian Army Aviation wing and liaise with the ministry of Budget and National Planning to vacate the Army from the existing budget ceiling or allocations to enhance greater performance in their operations nationwide.

The NASS must look into, cooperate, explore areas of intervention/facilitation of the COAS, Lt.Gen. TY Buratai’s passionate pleas of sourcing for N1 billion ($2.7 million) investment into NAVMC, to build vehicles to combat terrorists and insurgents.

These remain the only antidotes to appropriately empower our military and other securities to deliver excellent results in countering insecurity threats to Nigerians. We therefore, strongly recommend the immediate submission to NASS a supplementary budget by the executive to tackle these concerns so as to reinforce /fortify our security agents with the needed equipment and combat prowess against armed criminals.

Arise Nigeria, UK encourages benign and impartially committed inclinations by Nigerian leaders at all levels when interrogating issues of national security. We objected to the overt resort to the personal prisms of ego-eccentric display of anger and exaggerated misinterpretations of germane concerns by chasing shadows, instead of substance.

Arise Nigeria, UK, convincingly passes a vote of confidence on President Muhammadu Buhari for his dedication and patriotic zeal/actions in tackling terrorism and insurrections in Nigeria.

We believe in his demonstrated abiding faith to surmount emerging insecurity threats in the country. We have total faith in the competence of Mr. President to address emerging insecurities in Nigeria, as he has repeatedly proven in the past.

Cooperation and support of Mr. President at this critical time is essential to assist him succeed in the war against enemies of Nigeria; but combative confrontations of his leadership is prone to dreary consequences on the polity and the temptation should be resisted. Mr. President remains the on only symbol and weapon the country needs to win the wars-imposed Nigerians and Nigeria by her enemies.

Also importantly, the performances of the serving Service and Security Chiefs so far, in combating the multifaceted insurgencies and insurrections in Nigeria have earned them our vote of confidence. And relevant authorities should take immediate actions towards energizing their operations, inspire courage, motivate the Nigerian military and other security agencies into greater performance to victoriously fight our battles in the trenches.

Inter- Faith group appreciates God for exposing Kaduna attempted church bomber

The National Inter-Faith and Religious Organization for Peace (NIFROP) has expressed gratitude to God over a failed explosion attempt at a Living Faith Church in Kaduna on Sunday, as an impending religious war was averted.

A potential tragedy was avoided on Sunday in Sabon Tasha, Chikun Local Government Area after a suspected suicide bomber who claimed to be Nathaniel Samuel was arrested.

The lone bomber was reportedly spotted by the Close Circuit Camera Television (CCTV) of the church, according to the security officers, was accosted and handed over to the police at the Sabon Tasha Divisional Police Station.

And NIFROP, which recently commissioned a 21-day fasting and prayer for the nation’s peaceful coexistence said the failed attempt and capture of the suspect is an evidence that God answers prayers and assurance that enemies of the country will be exposed.

In a statement signed by Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Abutu , its Coordinating Secretary General, the inter-faith group condemned the incident which would have led into national mourning and fingers pointed at wrong quarters.

According to NIFROP, the nation is indeed on the path to greatness owing to the fact that President Muhammadu Buhari is God’s anointed choice.

The group, however, advised religious leaders in the country to quit the silence over terrorism irrespective of the religious inclination of the perpetrators.

Read full statement below:

Warm Calvary Greetings to you all from the National Inter-Faith and Religious for Peace in Nigeria.

As a background, the National Inter-Faith and Religious Organization for Peace in Nigeria is a congregation of religious adherents from different religious groups in Nigeria with a common goal of uniting in our diversity to promoting peaceful coexistence and unity in Nigeria.

As an organization, we have been in the vanguard of preaching the gospel of peaceful coexistence amongst Nigerians regardless of our religious and ethnic affiliations and this much we have strived to achieve as evident in our numerous programmes and events that have brought together Christians and Muslims faithful’s under one roof in prayers and supplication for the unity and peace in Nigeria.

We are constrained to call this press conference to put issues in proper perspective concerning the unfortunate incident that was recorded in Kaduna state-Nigeria, where a man who claimed to be a Christian faithful and former member of a Church attempted to detonate an improvised explosive device in a Church with over 1000 worshipers during a Sunday service.

This act is despicable as well as condemnable in the light that had the mission been successful; Nigeria would have been thrown into mourning of phenomenal proportion, which would further heightened religious hostilities in the country. We thank God.

We are gathered here to thank God for averting such national tragedy and to state that God indeed has vindicated us as our prayers and supplication for God to continue to expose the forces of darkness that have plotted to cause a crisis in the country.

As an organization, we have consistently stated in numerous forums that no religion encourages violence and no religion encourages the taking of lives under whatever guise, and this is one of the victories that God is giving to the Church in the sense that united we can always defeat the forces of darkness that have conspired to destabilize Nigeria.

We must state that the more significant problem is not this despicable act of attempting to bomb a Church, but the fact that most religious leaders in the country are not sincere enough to condemn this act. They have elected to shy away from the bitter truth of condemning this act. However, instead they have chosen to play to the gallery and also attempt to shift blames all in a bid to change the narrative.

The National Inter-Faith and Religious Organizations for Peace is not in the habit of shying from the truth because we know for certain that the devil is neither a Christian nor a Muslim. What is evil is evil in both Christianity and Islam.

We are grateful to God almighty for indeed putting the enemies of Nigeria to shame by giving us this great victory against the evil ones that have vowed to hide under cover of religion to perpetrate evil against the people, and after that, blame the crisis they sponsored on governments inadequacies to tackle insecurity in the country.

We consequently wish to state that this revelation is just the tip of the iceberg as it has been revealed that in the fullness of time, the forces of darkness in Nigeria shall be exposed and put to shame.

As an organization, we have prayed and fasted for days and nights for God’s intervention in Nigeria. The revelations we received from these prayers and supplications are beginning to yield fruit, and we are grateful to the Most High who sits on the throne.

The National Inter-Faith and Religious Organizations for Peace wishes to state that at its recently concluded 21-day marathon fasting and prayers programme, it was revealed that the biggest victory for Nigeria against these agents of darkness would come after February 15 and the world will see the real faces of those behind Boko Haram for he would bring disgrace to their doorsteps. They shall be no hiding place for them anymore as God has declared that enough is indeed enough for these agents of darkness fighting for the soul of Nigeria.

The National Inter-Faith and Religious Organization for Peace would not relent in its prayers and supplication to God for his continued protection of Nigeria from those that plotting evil against it. We consequently wish to appreciate our numerous members that cut across the Christian and Muslim Communities from all the states in Nigeria for the great efforts in praying for Nigeria, and they should be assured that our prayers and supplications shall not be in vain.

The general public may also wish to be informed that Nigeria is indeed on that path to greatness because President Muhammadu Buhari is God’s anointed for Nigeria, and all those that have conspired against him shall be visited with shame in Jesus Name.

We thank you for your time, and may God continue to bless Nigeria.

NASS Debates: When personal interest conquered public good

By Itodo Ikongbe
 
Though America can loosely be referred to as a crazy country, with its endearing epaulet of “God’s Own country, “notwithstanding.  Some even derogatively call them “Yankees.”
But I admire the political cum leadership maturity and national patriotism of Americans in positions of authority. It is consistent with the disposition of Americans that national interest is elevated first before self-interests. American parliamentarians especially, have imbued it with canonical powers.
Except for a slight stroke of destiny, which locates Nigeria in the African geographical axis of the world, we are supposed to be like Americans and replicated their might. Our leaders would have been acting like Americans in leadership and private lives.   
It amazes me why we are so miles apart from Americans despite the similarities we share. In keep wondering, while the gulf between us and Americans in perceptions, character and conduct. It’s worth brooding because America has crude oil and we have crude oil too. What else?
If America prides itself as “God’s Own country,” we also have our own symbol of such reverence, though of a smaller scale than America. Nigeria has its own version as a state. There is “God’s Own state,” we call Abia state.  In worse case scenarios’, we shall use our small status of affinity with God to compete with Almighty America, the global policemen.  

But we are a hapless race either by divine proclamation or by our own greedy designs. Therefore, from our own state of Abia in Southeast Nigeria births some of the most repugnant and black-hearted men, who either have ordained themselves as leaders or grab leadership or are simply anointed by unsuspecting people to lead them.
It is in Abia we have encountered a debauch by the identity of Nnamdi Kanu, who regales in leading a band of outlaws under the canopy of IPOB. When they operated freely, they were like cannibals. They could devour their own kith and kin once engulfed by slight, but unrestrained furiousness.
He has an elder uncle, who has supplanted himself in the upper chamber of the National Assembly (NASS) representing Abia  South Senatorial district.   He is identified as Sen. Enyinnaya  Abaribe and Senate minority leader.
Many mistook him as matured and so, could exhibit tendencies of maturity in character and utterances. But they were disappointed when Abaribe,   while  debating  a sensitive national  issue such as renewed spate of attacks and killings in parts of the country in Senate plenary last week condescended to personal emotions and partisanship.
He is a PDP senator, so, condensed the nucleus of the debate into an emotional partisan affair.  He threw tantrums, daggers and swords at the ruling APC government of President Muhammadu Buhari under the guise of expressing anger over the resurgence of insecurities. But we alI knew, it was not from his heart.  He was only playing the partisan emotions and sentimental card of the opposition PDP against the “failed,” APC national government.  
So, Sen. Abaribe straightforwardly asked President Buhari to resign from office or be stoned by Nigerians in accordance with his promise during electioneering campaigns, since  APC pledged to be stoned on account of failure upon assumption of office. And childishly, he mouthed that “stones” should be thrown at the party, following the insecurity realities in Nigeria now. He narrowed a national debate into infantile and imbecilic vibrations.
Abaribe’s utterances nevertheless provoked the ire of some Senators. And Sen. Abdullahi  Adamu, representing Nasarawa West Senatorial district. He has to call for sanity to be restored into Sen.  Abaribe’s  thinking faculties.  Adamu bellowed “I take exemptions to the contribution by the minority leader. Abaribe should be called to order. His call for the use of stone means weapon against the ruling party”.
Such was the only fecundity Sen. Abaribe infused into a sensitive national debate on security. And he had apostates in and outside the chambers who cheered him for speaking the “truth;” a truth only known to the clan of the  Abaribes.
I expected no less or anything better from him as elder brother of the eccentric Nnamdi Kanu. Both hails from Abia state.   I think the Almighty Creator visited partiality on Nigerians when He contemplated creating the two races-Americans and Nigerians. I guess, He was fair to America; but very unfair to Nigeria, as with the existence of “God’s Own state” in our country, we are faring worse.
To my utmost surprise, the debate was sustained on such trivialities enmeshed in emotions and the aggressive pursuits of personal or regional interests.  Some Senators rebranded the insecurity problem with dictums such as  “over-personalization” of security personnel. Whatever the phrased meant, only the Senators could decode.
Sen. Mrs. Betsy Apiafi of Rivers West’s only mania was the overstayed tenure of Service and Security Chiefs (SSCs) and its “illegality.” It was unarguably the dumbest contribution on the topic.  
In the Southwest, a voice resonated. Sen.  Ibikunle Amosun, representing Ogun Central Senatorial district was a bit tactful. But at the same time, exuded such emotions and personalized regional interests. I sensed subtle campaigns for Senate’s official seal of Amotekun, private security outfit baptized as Western Nigeria Security Network.
He said;  “…the best thing to do is to allow every state to have their police but we will still have federal police.”I cannot laugh enough! The majority of Senators in this apparently deceptive games and clowning, at best  were rewarded with a decision on the motion which a Senate resolution, passed  a vote of no-confidence on the military, police and other security outfits in the country. This was their wisest panacea to the spate of renewed attacks and killings in Nigeria. Quite hilarious!
At the lower chamber, representatives played similar emotions, and personalized interests, while wittingly creeping into pretenses of debating national security interest. It was the funniest session ever, portraying lack of vision, focus and purpose, outside what the hunter caged in the hole for his personal family.
The motion sponsored by the Majority Chief Whip, Hon. Mohammed Monguno and 14 other lawmakers, very few Reps demonstrated the true Nigerian national spirit. Incidentally, Hon. Monguno is from the Northeast zone, ravaged by Boko Haram/ ISWAP terrorists.
 I couldn’t discern whether he had personal scores to settle with any of the SSCs. But he instantly dropped the bombshell, by frowning at their failure of Service Chiefs to sustain the achievements recorded in tackling the insurgents’ activities particularly in Yobe and Borno states.
 At least, he was a bit frank by his veiled insinuation that the SSCs appointed since July 13, 2015, at least harvested insurgents or did something worthwhile some time ago, in crushing insurgency. What an insightful testimony.  But the overwhelming discordant voices of his colleagues never averred his words deep contemplation on this angle because it aligned or bowed too much to truth on SSCs from minds fixated on their disparagement.
Chairman, House Committee on Defence, Hon. Jimi Benson, animated the emotions of hatred and mockery of the SSCs and Mr. President. He said, “the National Security Adviser is from the North East and cannot get to his village. The Chief of Army Staff is also from the North East and cannot get to his village. The Chief of Air staff too. That speaks volume of their ability.”
Benson irately thundered; “ I don’t know why he has kept them since 2015 when they were first appointed. He (Buhari) should decide whether to continue to keep them or not. I believe the resolution here will prick his conscience.” It never occurred to him that the issue of national security was not confined to Mr. President or the SSCs alone, but he had an active role to play as a national lawmaker for impacts.
Both Hon. Francis Waive and Hon. Abubakar Fulata flawed on same idiosyncrasies.  In their warped wisdom, since all the SSCs have overstayed and have lost efficiency, all should be withdrawn and replaced with fresh hands. It was their only antidote. I wondered whether they ever know the implication of pulling out all security personnel from a warzone simultaneously for whatever reason.
How is elongated service of SSCs affected efficiency and they explained, as “tiredness.”  How could anybody for any reason argue for a soldier’s fatigue in the frontlines and withdrawal on such lame excuse? Its unheard off. May be, the legislators had relations in the Military, whom they enlisted into the forces through the backdoor and now deployed to Northeast. Perhaps, they secretly clamoured  to their elder uncles in the corridors of power like the legislators to influence their  come back home. So, Waive and Fulata discreetly argued to push  this possibility.
 
And to Hon. Tobi Okechukwu, it was an undisguised resort to the 2019 campaign slogans of the PDP, castigating the APC. “Why invest heavily on “trader-moni” instead of adequately funding security agencies,” he seemed to whine. But the power to reverse this perceived negative indulgence also rests in the hands of the legislature, his official constituency.
Initially, Minority leader, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu staged out perfectly. He assessed the problem of insecurity from nationalist lenses, gunning for more investments in equipment for security agencies, but floundered midway.  
He thereafter, toed the footprints of the crowd of ungifted legislators, lashing out at the SSCs as devoid of good example. But a warfront is not a monastery, where the etiquettes of morality constitutes part of tutorials. What exactly was on his mind?   
Not long thereafter, he blow out his emotions thus; “the best thing for them  (SSCs)to do is to take a bow and go. If you don’t know when to leave, then you will be eased out…. People are stealing money and not doing what they are supposed to do.”
But if people are allegedly stealing money voted for counter-insurgency operations, who should be the whistle blower? It is  the same Rep and other colleagues’ through oversight functions. So, have they reneged on duty?  He craftily escaped without touching  the actual setbacks of gross underfunding of Security agencies in the age of insurgencies. And the blackmail of SSCs ricocheted on the initiator, one might say.
An overhaul of the motions, the debates and resolutions by NASS over insecurities, leading to calls for the resignation of President Buhari; voluntary retirement of SSCs or their sack by Mr. President never answered to any genuine interrogation of the insecurity quagmire.  It notoriously pandered to emotions, partisan, regional and personal interests of the national parliamentarians.    
 
It inextricably left me with a poisonous killer hole in a weakened heart already gasping for breath. The tenor on the motion on national security debates clearly indicated a perfect example of a people fighting their emotions at one end; while others fought to illuminate or deepen their pockets.
I remember sometime recently that an  Honourable member   declared being a breadwinner to a family of four wives and 27 children. That is already nearly the size of three football teams and enough to make up a federal constituency in a place like Bayelsa state. One can therefore understand that the family and neighbours definitely need money which must flow from the parliamentary chambers. 
Insinuations were rife that lawmakers were lobbied with $3,000 each to sponsor and serve Nigerians the motion. I was really shocked to watch all the  plenary gibberish on TV, as  if  some of those who made up the  majority members of the blackmailing resolutions are  not from the Northeast  or severed from this world or were not in this country in 2015. 
 But the concern of lawmakers is not with the  time a university is being built in the local government area of one of the Service Chiefs, the plots to diminish his leadership aura are thick.
 Is God really not wonderful? That under President Buhari the Police college at Gwoza is preparing to take off again after the Army renovated it? Ah! Maybe, it will be a sort of miracle to also remind these legislators that whilst many of them were chasing the mermaids in Wuse 2 at nights, and thereafter, instigating the police to arrest them for prostitution, our military were busy holding their annual sporting event in the demystified Sambisa forest hitherto dreaded by soldiers and civilians alike.
If all these are not miracles enough, let me also point out another shameful aspect of their lives as parliamentarians. Whilst they were busy calling for impeachment signatures at a lounge in Maitama, our military were busy rescuing women and children from the Boko Haram/ISWAP captivity in the Northeast, with backing from  the police, DSS and even Civilian Joint Task Force members.
I make it abundantly clear to NASS that though the debate hinged on the  ntional sensitive topic of insecurity and killings, it  still never obfuscated  the fact that parliamentarians were more emotional and  personalized interests antithetical to issues centered on national security.
 It explains why, NASS never gave attention to the ingenuity of the minority members  who constantly voiced out on poor funding of security agencies; inadequate personnel, lack of standard equipment; poor officially approved welfare packages for troops at the frontline and absence of incentives to security personnel. But with time, every one would carry his cross.

Ikongbeh is a parliamentary staff and wrote from the National Assembly.

Why PMB deserves encomia

By Idoko Ainoko

I am one of those that have expressed reservation when some supposed social commentators castigate the administration of President Muhammdu Buhari as having failed in the protection of lives and properties in Nigeria since he assumed leadership of the country.

I recall in numerous forums I have vehemently disagreed such posturing, which in my opinion cannot be substantiated because I know for a certain that the Nigerian situation of today with regards the security of lives and properties cannot be compared to what we had pre-2015, where scores of deaths were recorded in the country, where it was a routine for policemen and soldiers to be deployed to churches and mosques to protect worshippers.

We are also quick to forget that in the Federal Capital Territory, some major roads were closed to traffic because of heightened insecurity; media houses also deployed extra security measures as well as other critical government institutions within the Federal Capital Territory.

This was indeed a period of the mass exodus of people from the Federal Capital Territory for fear of the unknown because nobody was sure of when the next bomb was going to be detonated. But fast forward to today and be the objective judge.

Still using the FCT as an example, that we can go about our normal businesses is a testimony of the great effort by President Muhammadu Buhari in ensuring that the security of lives and properties takes center stage in his administration. This much has been stated in numerous forums and has also attracted accolades from wide and far.

I dare to say that in the history of the democratic dispensation in Nigeria, I do not think there has been a president that has demonstrated an unalloyed commitment to the development of the country as well as the security of lives and properties. I stand to be corrected on this because, as a historian, I have had cause to examine the various administration in the country using different indices and trust me President Muhammadu Buhari came tops in all ramifications.

Taking the example of the Nigerian Army. Some might say the noticeable changes within the operations of the Nigerian Army are simply because President Muhammadu Buhari himself was a former Army General. As such, it is expected that he would give the operations of the Nigerian Army special attention.

I somewhat agreed with this postulation and also disagreed because no right-thinking and serious-minded president would allow such a revered institution as the Nigerian Army to become politicized. And one lacking in professionalism, which has been the case in times past.

This is on the heels that the capacity of any nation to defend her territorial integrity is always a function of its military strength, manifest in professionalism, military hardware as well as the morale of the troops at all times. And interestingly, this is the case of the Nigerian Army of the present, where total and absolute professionalism has been entrenched.

If this is not the case, have we wondered why the Nigerian Army had been called upon to always provide cover for the civil police in times of crisis? Have we taken time to understand the reason why the Nigerian Army conducts military operations across the country simultaneously? Have we forgotten the invaluable contribution of the Nigerian Army in the recently held general elections in the country?

There are indeed many more instances where the Nigerian Army had indeed risen to the defense of the country, even in areas that are outside its operational purview. And they have carried on with finesse to the admiration of all and sundry.

Coming down to the Boko Haram insurgency, we must admit that before the coming of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, the Boko Haram terrorist had indeed made a feast of our troops in North-East Nigeria. Daily, scores are killed, and properties destroyed. The morale of the fighting troop was at its lowest ebb, which was mostly due to the absence of credible leadership.

In some instances, we were witness to situations where soldiers of the 7 Div. in Maiduguri opened fire on the convoy of its General Officer Commanding. That was how hopeless the situation was at the time. This is aside from the fact that over 16 local government areas were at the time under the control of Boko Haram and their quest for the establishment of their caliphate was increasingly becoming a reality.

We must admit that the coming on board of President Muhammadu Buhari changed this narrative, and our military was able to make substantial progress in the war against terrorism. Today, there is no single Nigerian territory under the control of Boko Haram. The operational headquarters of the Boko Haram group- Camp Zero in Sambisa forest was taken over by the Nigerian Army. And many more gains recorded by the Nigerian Army.

I can go on nonstop on the great commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari in this regard, and it must be stated that indeed the exploits of the Nigerian Army of today under President Muhammadu Buhari are just a tip of the iceberg. The commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari towards the Nigerian dream is unflinching. Nigerians owe him every form of encouragement in this arduous task at hand.

I believe that there is more to come from the stable of President Muhammadu Buhari, and it is advised that those detractors should allow the president to concentrate on the task at hand.

Ainoko is a public affairs analyst based in Kaduna.

Buhari Resignation: Group threatens to expose APC lawmakers behind plot

The All Progressives Congress Progressive Youth Council has vowed to reveal the identities of its members in the National Assembly behind the call for President Muhammadu Buhari’s resignation.

The group gave this warning at a press conference in Abuja on Monday on the nefarious activities of some APC members who are behind this inglorious call.

In a statement signed by group’s President, Alhaji Sanusi Sheriff, the APC youth wing cautioned those distributing monies to lawmakers in order to oust President Buhari to desist.

According to Alhaji Sheriff, those behind the plot are desperate politicians hiding in the National Assembly to pursue their dream of becoming Vice President anytime soon.

The APC youths expressed disappointment with some of its members for succumbing to betray the president and the party and even more shocked with the NASS leadership for allowing such a travesty to take place in the first place.

The APC Progressive Youth Council, therefore, vowed not to hesitate to expose those behind the call for the invitation of President Buhari to appear before the National Assembly.

The group believes the president’s achievements speaks for itself and no amount of mischief can bring him down.

The APC youths, however, advised the NASS leadership not to allow itself to be used as a wiling tool for the destabilization of Nigeria by disgruntled elements.

Read full statement below:

The APC Progressive Youth Council, the youth wing of the All Progressive Congress party wishes to bring to the attention of Nigerians of the grand plot to destabilize the country by some people who lost out of political relevance in the last general elections in the country.

These individuals, either by omission or commission, have been very puerile in their blind pursuit of power at all cost and not minding whose ox is gored. For these set of individuals, their overarching objective is to see to the impeachment of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The APC Progressive Youth Council is aware that some supposed members of the APC are also in bed with the political merchants and distractors by whose actions have indicated that their loyalty is to their pockets and not to the party with which that gained relevance and prominence.

It is most despicable that some members of the APC who are supposed to protect the interest of the party and, by extension, President Muhammadu Buhari are ironically the ones that have elected to play the devil’s advocate.

Consequently, the APC Progressive Youth Council calls on members of the party, especially those that have been fingered to be distributing money to lawmakers for the removal of Mr. President to desist from doing so.

This is in line with the fact that there is everything morally wrong by such a display of ingratitude to the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari in the arduous task of governing Nigeria by some members of the APC.

The APC Progressive Youth Council is equally disappointed with the leadership of the National Assembly for allowing such a travesty to take place under its watch unless the leadership of the National Assembly wants us to believe that it is a part of the grand plot to embarrass President Muhammadu Buhari.

We also wish to put it on record that the APC Progressive Youth Council would not hesitate to expose those behind the call for the invitation of President Muhammadu Buhari to appear before the Senate and the House of Representatives, respectively.

It must be expressly stated that hiding under cover of insecurity to promote the interest of a few members of the party is the height of disservice to our fatherland and all that we represent as a party.

The APC Progressive Youth Council is appalled at such exercise and wishes to state that the hierarchy of the party would discipline any APC member that continues in this shameful act. And Nigerians would not hesitate to block the National Assembly if caution is not taken in this despicable enterprise.

This is on the heels that the evil plot by these supposedly APC members have been exposed and Nigerians now know them as the fathers of Boko Haram. This is indeed a shame and an insult to our sensibilities as a people.

It must be also stated that no amount of blackmail would derail the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria regardless of the amount of monies been distributed to members of the National Assembly for the impeachment of President Muhammadu Buhari by these politicians that do not have the interest of the country at heart.

The leadership of the National Assembly must rise to the occasion by ensuring that the National Assembly under their watch is not used as a wiling tool for the destabilization of Nigeria by disgruntled elements.

The APC Progressive Youth Council believes that the effort of President Muhammadu Buhari in putting Nigeria on the path of socio-economic growth and development is as a result of his commitment to providing sound leadership at all times.

The APC Progressive Youth Council reckons with the numerous achievements of the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration in critical sectors of the economy and wishes to state that those that have refused to see anything good in the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, yet they parade themselves as card-carrying members of the APC should do the needful by resigning their membership of the party so they can go to bed with their paymasters.

The APC Progressive Youth Council advises those distributing monies to lawmakers for the removal of President Muhammadu Buhari must desist forthwith as Nigerians are watching.

We are thanking all members of the press here present, as well as other concerned stakeholders and loyal members of the All Progressive Party (APC).