Insecurity: Christian group rallies support for CDS, General Olonisakin

….vows to defend attempts to rubbish Service Chiefs’ performance on religious bias

The Nigerian Christian Youth Assembly (NCYA) has thrown its weight behind Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin, for fostering synergy amongst the different military components which has proven to be the catalyst in their numerous operations. 

The group made this known in a statement co-signed by Rev Philip Attah and Pastor Stephen Onwu, its President and Secretary-General respectively on Tuesday. 

According to NCYA, the appointment of Gen. Olonisakin in July 2015 is the turning point in the fight against insurgency and other criminal elements that once bedevilled the nation. 

The group revealed that this was achieved through the Defence Chief’s coordination and cooperation amongst the different units of the military as well as restructuring of its operations strategically. 

While admitting pockets of security challenges, NCYA reckoned that it is nothing compared to five years ago. 

In other to sustain the momentum, the Christian youths believes Gen. Olonisakin and the military chiefs would have to continue on the job. 

The group, however, rejected the call for their dismissal, describing it as  disservice to the place of merit, hard work and professionalism. 

It added that this is the handiwork of mischiefmakers, embarking on the campaign as a way of displaying their total disdain for Christians in leadership positions across the country.

The Christian youths, therefore, vowed to defend attempts to rubbish Service Chiefs’ performance on religious bias. 

Read full statement below:

It is abundantly clear almost to everyone that the Nigeria military is facing its most engaging moment in its history. The military aside fighting the brutal war against insurgency is also carrying out various operations in almost all the states of the federation.

At no point in the military’s history has it been tasked this much, but for the men in uniform who have staked their lives for us all perhaps the evil terrorist would have run the whole nation over.

We at The Nigerian Cristian Youth Assembly cannot forget in a hurry the attacks by insurgents in the early days of the war against Boko Haram how they over run several towns, communities and many local governments. We do not forget in a hurry in some instances where they carted away many young children with them, they hoisted flags, in some instances made laws and even set up courts for judging offenders. That was how bad the situation was then.

In 2015 when President Buhari came to power, whilst some accused him of delay in appointing ministers, one of his very early appointments was that of the service chiefs, from that action it was clear to us that the President meant business.

He went for the best of the best amongst the service men and women. The service chiefs headed by the Chief of Defense Staff General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin was obviously a smart choice by Mr. President.

Within a few weeks of their assumption of office the dynamics of the war against terror changed. Boko Haram/ISWAP were soon on the run, giving up their acclaimed conquered territories and fleeing into the deep forest of Sambisa, where the remnants of them reside till date. Nigerians are witnesses to the agony and the massive humanitarian crisis that preceded the appointment of the current service chiefs.

All these gains were made mainly through the coordination and cooperation amongst the different units of the military headed by the service chiefs under the leadership of the chief of defense staff (CDS) General Abayomi Olonisakin . When  Olonisakin was appointed in 2015 he inherited over 13 military operations across the country. He immediately moved to restructure many of the operations strategically. Part of the restructuring lead to the establishment at the Defense headquarters of the “office of campaign planning, coordinating Centre for naval component, theatre Commander and deputy in operation “Lafiya Dole”. This helped to integrate the operation of the naval forces into the operations seamlessly.  He also created the theatre media office to better coordinate the operational activities of the armed forces.

Some may want to forget in a hurry some of what the military headed by General Olonisakin has achieved over the last five years. We at the Nigerian Christian youth assembly won’t forget in a hurry the days when insurgents over ran whole towns, whole local governments, operated even in the federal capital territory, times when we could hardly celebrate any festivity or holiday without deadly attacks from insurgents.

Many would have forgotten the many challenges from groups that terrorized us like the IMN, killer herdsmen attacks, IPOB etc. Through the coordinated leadership of Gen Olonishakin the military has been able to bring all of these security challenges under control. Many of these challenges emerging pre or during a general election year, yet the military stood firm even in areas where civil mediation and enforcements had failed to bring results.

We must understand that the task before the Nigeria military transcends the borders of Nigeria. Nigeria and its military remain a very crucial factor for the stability of the west African sub region. Gen Olonisakin as head of the military has continued to earn great respect in his engagement within the security circle of the sub region. Upon assuming leadership as the head of the ECOWAS committee of chiefs of defense staff moved to tackle the issue of proliferation of arm across the various countries within ECOWAS due to the porous borders, he was very clear about the need to tackle that in order to curb activities of terrorist within the region.

He has given good direction to different multinational operations that Nigeria is involved in. This multinational intervention has helped a great deal in the stabilization of our sub region and indeed our nation.

We should not forget the calm that the military has brought to the once restive Niger Delta region. Activities such as oil bunkering, oil theft, high sea piracy, illegal refining and a host of other criminal activities in that region has largely been stemmed by the military.

One of the amazing things going on now within the military is the synergy amongst the different components. The air force providing excellent air support for ground operations in operation Lafiya Dole in the north east. The Navy and the air force working together to make our territorial waters safe with fantastic cooperation in joint operations that has led to the many successes we are witnessing now.

Though we admit there are still some pockets of security challenges here and there what we should not lose sight of quickly is where we were coming from and where we are now. There is no doubt that since the emergence of the current set of service chiefs, there has been a lot of improvement in the security of the country.

This is why as a group we have come openly to declare that we reject the call for the sack of the service chiefs. We see this call as a disservice to the place of merit, hard work and professionalism displayed by General Olonisakin and his team.

We feel that the focus of the anti-service chief campaigners is no doubt targeted at Gen  Abayomi Olonisakin who is the head of the defense architecture. These mischief makers are embarking on the campaign as a way of displaying their total disdain for Christians in leadership positions across the country and we wish to strongly condemn it.

We use this opportunity to commend President Buhari for his matured and stable leadership. We laud the decision of Mr president who in his wisdom decided to extend the tenure of the service chiefs like he did other appointees such as the NSA, the CBN Governor, many ministers and several heads of government. It is clear that President Buhari appreciates the leadership of the service chiefs, who have actually given their best and are still doing their best.

It is clear that the anti service chief campaigners are against the doctrine of reward for merit and hardworking service to ones fatherland.

The trend world over is to keep the very best of your personnel for as long as they are able to serve. That is why you see in the case of judges their retirement age was moved further to 70 years, same goes for university lecturers who were also moved to 70 years of age .

We encourage Nigerians to emulate other countries where the very best of the country’s senior personnel are retained for as long as they are ready to serve, our case should not be any different .

We fear that sacking the service chiefs now will erode the gains of all the reforms being institutionalized in the country’s armed forces.

God Bless Our Military, God bless the Federal Republic Of Nigeria.

N- Power: Group lauds Farouq, says ungrateful people behind smear campaign

The N-Power Nationwide Beneficiaries Forum has lauded the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Farouq, for her transparent, accountable and propitious handling of the scheme. 

In a statement co-signed by President 

Dr Okwu Audu James and Secretary-General, Comrade Unde Saaember Emmanuel, on Monday, the forum vowed to expose “ungrateful characters attempting to smear the minister’s image”.

Introduced in 2015, N-Power is one of four National Social Investment Program created by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to ensure a more equitable distribution of resources to vulnerable populations. 

Thousands of Nigerian youths have benefited from the program with job training and education, as well as a monthly stipend of 30,000. 

And the scheme appears to have been taken to an all-new height since Hajiya Farouq was appointed minister last year with a well-packaged transition plan into entrepreneurship. 

However, the entire exercise is already being endangered by some groups.  

According to the N-Power Forum, these persons “are not beneficiaries as they appear more like hirelings that were recruited with the objective of maligning the government.”

The group reasoned that anyone against the transition plan of the government is only lazy and addicted to freebies. 

The N-Power beneficiaries expressed gratitude to President Buhari and Hajiya Farouq, first for the programme, which they said has improved their lives and the transition plan. 

The forum said it is aware of clandestine moves by some disgruntled elements to infiltrate the laudable initiative of Mr President, sponsoring veiled and dubious propaganda against the minister. 

It, however, dissociated itself from such selfish and self-serving individuals, urging for caution for anyone transacting business in the name of N- Power.

Read full statement below:

Our attention has been drawn to a threat issued in the form of a statement by persons that called themselves ‘36 States N-Power Representatives Forum’, a body not known to law and neither known to the hundreds of thousands N-Power beneficiaries. It is curious that the people behind the said statement neglected to properly identify themselves and merely signed a statement discussing a matter of such magnitude with the words “Best Regards”.

The blackmail in the said statement included the threat to report the Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq to President Muhammadu Buhari over the disengagement of beneficiaries of the N-Power programme as directed by the Federal Executive Council. These individuals went further to imply that they will cause mayhem by embarking on nationwide protests if their blackmailing demands are not met.

N- Power Nationwide Beneficiaries Forum want to categorically state that those behind these threats are not beneficiaries as they appear more like hirelings that were recruited with the objective of maligning the government. Anyone that has benefitted from the scheme for these past few years will not go around with such misplaced sense of entitlement but will rather be appreciative of the gift of being kept out of the pangs of poverty for the duration of the programme.

It is well known among beneficiaries that those of us that have enjoyed the scheme is to be transitioned into government entrepreneurship programmes. This is a thing of joy for us because it means the government has given us the chance to expand our income and also become employers of labour as opposed to being dependent on handouts under a system that we all know is not sustainable. It is therefore absurd that anyone will be kicking against such a golden opportunity at becoming self-made, which gave us the impression that only lazy persons that are addicted to freebies would insist on remaining beneficiaries of a programme, whose monthly stipend has no prospect of ever-increasing.

We are also pressed to correct the impression created by this rouge group that N-Power beneficiaries are partisan, through the allusion that beneficiaries made President Buhari’s re-election possible. It is one thing to acknowledge that Nigerians who were impressed about how Mr President’s programmes and massively voted for him and it is another thing to imply that N-Power beneficiaries are political thugs, which is an unacceptable insult to the hundreds of thousands of apolitical Nigerian youth benefitting from this laudable programme.

N- Power Nationwide Beneficiaries Forum is pained that some people can come up with such sickening position that failed to properly understand that the economic pressure exerted by the COVID-19 pandemic is responsible for the decision to transit beneficiaries to entrepreneurship programmes. This in itself is an ingenious solution to a problem that would have stymied any other government, so the incumbent government should rather be acknowledged for its responsive thinking. 

We appreciate President Buhari, first for the N-Power programme, which many of us have used to improve on our lives and improve the lots of our families and for creating the transition arrangement, which will ensure that the diligent ones among beneficiaries will go places. We equally salute the transparency, which the Honourable Minister introduced into the system to usher in greater accountability and probity that made it possible for more Nigerians to be brought on board.

Our forum is aware of clandestine moves by some disgruntled elements to infiltrate the laudable initiative of Mr President. This they are doing by sponsoring veiled and dubious propaganda against reforms and efforts to reposition the scheme. We consequently dissociate N-Power beneficiaries from such selfish and self-serving individuals while urging for caution for anyone transacting business in the name of N- Power as many miscreants are out to ruin the gains so far made by the scheme. Mr President has our vote of confidence in his administration and the Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq.

PMB and his covenant on the war against insurgency

By Philip Agbese

Most analysts of Nigerian descent often conclude that Nigerians tend to easily forget yesterday’s history. We must know our yesterday to understand our today and grasp the future better. I dare say, Nigerians indeed have short retentive memory. We are tied to ephemeral issues and we tenaciously hold unto it.

I am an ardent apostle and student of history. But most profoundly, I am a researcher on human rights laws and currently working on the role of non-state actors in the global war against insurgency. With this research interest, I have traversed quite a number of countries, where terrorism and its variants seem to be permanent guests of the people and their countries.

I have spent years visiting some terrorism infested countries in the Middle East and Africa. I have tried to understand the character or sociological content of terrorism; what economic factors accentuate it; perception of leaders of countries under the spell of terrorism, the role of non-state actors in emboldening terrorism; its mercantilist colouration and why it festers near uncontrollably.

While in Nigeria from the United Kingdom on same mission, I visited the Northeastern states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe. It is famed as the hub of Boko Haram terrorism, from where it has extended tentacles to other parts of Northern Nigeria and almost the whole country. I am quite familiar with the Boko Haram history.

In the aforementioned enclaves, Boko Haram insurgents who made their debut in Nigeria in 2009 have killed, destroyed, abducted, ransacked and ravaged whole communities and villages. I assessed its progression over the years and the unsteady blight of its rampaging prowess.

I discovered that prior to 2015, and before the advent of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, a leader with a military background, Boko Haram had literally conquered Nigeria. It was undoubtable that no one was safe anywhere in Nigeria, including residents of the nation’s capital, Abuja. The fear of Boko Haram suppressed the courage and the boldness of men of valour.

And for about seven odd years, Nigerian Government under different leaders could not tame the monster of Boko Haram insurgency until the arrival of President Buhari. It was simply because there were many snags in the strategies, tactics adopted, in addition to a defective military structure or precisely leadership in combating Boko Haram insurgency.

Furthermore, a consuming mass poverty and wrong economic priorities, a divisive political leadership and its lack of a clear focus on tackling security challenges exacerbated the scourge of terrorism in Nigeria. It has reflected in many books, media articles/news reports, conference papers and the whole lot.

In my book titled “Integrity Vs Powerplay: Understanding The Buhari Phenomenon,” (author: Philip Agbese) and published in 2019, I attempted a chronicle of the achievements of President Buhari. As a prophet of God, I wrote the book to capture some of the lofty achievements of the Buhari administration. I authored the work for a time like this in order to avail fellow citizens of this country or those abroad the opportunity to re-write the efforts, successes and achievements of the Buhari administration, especially on security.

So, strikingly, I took a deep delve into the counter-insurgency operations under the Buhari Presidency, revealing the extent of the damage he inherited; his efforts in repositioning the country on the path of economic recovery; the reorganization of the Military leadership and the sustained focus on combating insurgency in Nigeria to berth the respite we relished.

I therefore find it necessary to refresh our minds on the achievements of Mr. President on the war against insurgency in Nigeria and to explain why even with the back-up force provided by the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), terrorism has not skyrocketed in the country to amazing levels.

President Buhari started the combat of terrorism by addressing the whammy and extreme mass poverty in the North and other parts of Nigeria. It provided cozy grounds for the recruitment of idle youths as foot soldiers for terror sects and other violent crimes.

And few months after assumption of office, President Buhari anointed a new leadership for the Nigerian Military. He appointed experienced Service Chiefs and gave them clear-cut directives to end Boko Haram insurgency and other insurrections in Nigeria. As sign of his commitment and seriousness in tackling security challenges in the country, the President directed all Security Chiefs to relocate to the Northeast, the epicenter of Boko Haram insurgency.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt. Gen. TY Buratai, who was also named leader of the counter-insurgency operations, alongside other Service Chiefs immediately complied with this Presidential order. And consequently, the Command Theatre, Operation Lafiya Dole, Maiduguri was energized and a new Order of Battle (ORBAT) came into full force.

Nigerian troops steadily gained rounds in the battle against insurgents in leaps and bounds. In a short while, soldiers reclaimed all the about 18 LGAs previously captured by insurgents; freed thousands of Boko Haram hostages, including the Chibok schoolgirls and demystified the hitherto dreaded Sambisa forest. Within two years, Nigerian troops were able to restore normalcy in the Northeast, as Boko Haram insurgents had been substantially routed out of the country.

Boko Haram top Commanders and hundreds of their foot soldiers who could not withstand the superior fire power of the Nigerian Army voluntarily surrendered in droves. Thereafter, they renounced Boko Haram terrorism to embrace a new life.

Populations in IDPs camps which littered the Northeast started to deflate; as displaced persons including traditional and religious leaders began returning to ruined, ravaged and deserted homes and villages. Schools, public places, blocked roads, markets were reopened and farming activities resumed in earnest. The current Service Chiefs accomplished these feats.

President Buhari kept and has continued to keep an eagle eye on the counter-insurgency operations. He has visited the theatre of war a number of times to personally assess the progress of the anti-terrorism combats. Most strikingly, President Buhari was once at Monguno when the Chief of Army Staff Annual Conference took place in the city.

This was a community where Boko Haram once sacked Nigerian troops. He also visited other areas in the vicinity and confirmed that the military was able to restore peace to the community at that time.

The Nigerian Army therefore launched clearance operations to get rid of the remnants of Boko Haram who had escaped into the labyrinths of Lake Chad Basin area in the last phase of the counter-insurgency operations. Every Nigerian could attest that Boko Haram insurgents had disappeared from the shores of Nigeria. They hibernated in nearby countries and intermittently, sneak into Nigeria to unleash attacks on soft targets or obscure locations.

While Nigerians regaled in the relief from Boko Haram, under the serving Service Chiefs, the 2019 general elections started knocking on the door. Partisan campaigns kicked-off discreetly or later openly. It was clear President Buhari was gunning for a second term in office. But there were also political actors who felt Buhari had no reason to seek reelection or if he runs again for the same office, he must be ousted by all means.

Then came the era of bitter, malicious and destructive campaigns against President Buhari. There was an apparent gang-up against his candidature in 2019 and his opponents went all out to diminish or rubbish his achievements in order to reduce his electoral worth before Nigerians. These opposing elements did not even spare security, which all Nigerians scored President Buhari very high. The attack on it was strong just to discredit Buhari.

And suddenly, whatever gains the Buhari Presidency and the Nigerian Army had made on counter-insurgency and allied insurgencies began to nosedive or reversed to paint his leadership as incompetent and helpless in securing the lives and property of Nigerians. So, the unanswered question is; what is responsible for the new wave of insecurity in the country?

Has the political leadership of the country changed? Has the leadership of the military vis a viz the Service Chiefs changed? The answer is a practical NO! If they could accomplish all that I have earlier mentioned, what is responsible for the resurgent and seemingly untamable insecurity in the country now?

Today, we feel more convenient to blame the President for resurgent insecurities. Others with narrow-mindedness even campaign for the removal of Service Chiefs as panacea to end the country’s insecurities. We have forgotten yesterday and interpret today based on idiosyncrasies far detached from reality.

We hate to remember our collective failure to complement the role of the military in the fight against insurgency. Many have not and are still not doing their jobs or rather clandestinely assisting the armed enemies of Nigeria to thrive over us. It includes even some persons in the lower rung of leadership. But we gleefully look elsewhere for scapegoats.

Why have we not arrested and persecuted any Boko Haram sponsor to date, even though they are in our midst? No gun runner in the international cartel of arms transactions has been apprehended as we see in other countries. Those given these responsibilities have flinched; but it is easier for us to blame the Service Chiefs or Mr. President. Our basic problem is lack of patriotism.

We delight in the wrong interpretation of what afflicts us. We must reposition ourselves and put things in the proper perspectives or else, we shall continue to revolve in circles. I don’t believe that it is the Service Chiefs who have failed us. In fact, they have not failed in their assignment of combating insecurities.

The Chief of Army Staff and the Nigerian troops haven’t failed us. President Buhari hasn’t failed in his covenant with Nigerians. Some other persons within the system must own up that they have failed in the discharge of their duties basically because we prefer to look at the interest of Nigeria from our peculiarly faulty lenses.

Its understandable that every nation has its peculiarities. But I believe, we all can still raise the game again together with the military and the Buhari administration. It is time to do more as stakeholders and discard the penchant of deliberately eroding the gains just to have sufficient grounds to discredit the administration.

Agbese LLB (UK), MBA (UK) LLM (UK) is an author, publisher and public affairs commentator and wrote this article from Abuja.

Group attacks Dalung over comments on insecurity

The Middle Belt Conscience Guard (MBCG) says immediate-past Minister of Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalung is suffering from “disengagement asymptomatic Coronavirus” following recent comments on insecurity. 

In a statement signed by its President, Prince Raymond Enero, on Monday, the group expressed disappointment with Dalung for using ” the security situation in the northern part of the country as prop for cheap propaganda”.

In a trending video on his official Facebook page, the ex-Minister attempted to downplay the achievements of the Service Chiefs in the northeast and other parts of Nigeria. 

However, MBCG, which operates in the same geopolitical zone as Dalung, accused the former Minister of chasing clout, doing so by “trampling on the graves of his own people”. 

The group which accused Dalung of being part of the crisis in his home state said it is surprised that he has suddenly become a security expert, cheerleading the call for the sack of Service Chiefs. 

According to MBCG, Dalung’s aim is to get arrested for criticizing the government so he can later allege in the future if imprisoned for corruption as persecution for speaking out against the government.

Rather than delve into a realm he has scant knowledge about, the group urged the one time Chairman of Langtang South Local Government Area to focus on allegations of fraud levelled against him during his four years as minister. 

The group, however, advised his family to “quarantine him before infecting everyone on the Plateau with this deadly disease occasioned by ignorance, foolishness and shamelessness.”

Read full statement below:

While it is not in the habit of reckoning with the activities of inconsequential persons, the Middle Belt Conscience Guard (MBCG) is compelled to express its disappointment with the immediate past Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Solomon Dalung, who has suddenly become a latter day activists in his desperation to court the attention of the government in which he once served.

But even for attention seekers, Dalung’s decision to use the security situation in the northern part of the country as prop for cheap propaganda is an unacceptable low. The decision exposed him as one without remorse and capable of trampling on the graves of his own people for the mere satisfaction of being noticed and possibly offered some sort of Federal Government rehabilitation since he is known to have fallen on hard times since leaving office as a minister. This in our view is proof that Dalung is suffering from disengagement asymptomatic Coronavirus disease. 

The Middle Belt Conscience Guard is therefore constrained to call Dalung to order even though we consider his intervention in public affairs as inconsequential as he is a lightweight to the extent that he was unceremoniously dropped from the government of President Muhammadu Buhari without consequences. His grievances at being so dropped notwithstanding, we had expected that the former Minister would have stuck to his area of competence as a commentator in drinking circuits and not join the bandwagon of those that are impracticably critical of the nation’s military chiefs.

Only such pressure to fit in with the fad would make someone of Dalung’s intellectual level attempt to become the cheerleader of the call for the sack of service chiefs, an exercise he should have engaged in only after furnishing the nation with proof that he is the actual owner of whatever academic qualifications he parades.

The Middle Belt Conscience Guard, knowing that Dalung is part of the crisis in Plateau State, is not surprised at this turn of events because he is someone who has incited youth of his ethnic Berom to become intolerant of other ethnic nationalities in Plateau State. This ethnic bigotry is now being directed at the military chiefs, not just by the youth in Dalung’s place, who killed an innocent Maj. Gen Alkali (retired), but also by the former Minister who should have been a voice of reason in times of trouble. A Dalung that is today asking for the sack of military chiefs never for once issued a statement to condemn his kinsmen killing of general.

We must admit that we are not surprised at Dalung’s video stunt, which we now understand was done with a view to provoking the authorities taking him in for questioning so that he can elevate his nuisance value to the type paraded by the likes of Shehu Sani and Dino Melaye, who hide behind activism to escape justice. We learnt that discoveries of serial misdeeds at the Ministry where Dalung once served was the main reason for his demanding for the sack of military chiefs while also insulting the government of President Buhari. 

The reality is that Dalung is expecting that he would be arrested for criticizing the government so that he can explain away his future arrest for corruption as persecution for speaking out against the government. It is our firm belief that Solomon Dalung should rather focus his efforts on answering to the allegations of corruption around him at the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development rather than delving into a realm he has scant knowledge about. 

Dalung is not a good commodity to display on the shelf, his family may do well to quarantine him before infecting everyone on the Plateau with this deadly disease occasioned by ignorance, foolishness and shamelessness. 

A word is enough for the wise. 

Why God go bless Baba Buhari for us

By Bukola Olasanmi

The outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic across the globe has indeed brought to the fore why purposeful leadership matters in governance. The case of Nigeria and most African countries has indeed tasked us to realize that what African needs at the point in time is the ability to look inwards towards addressing our various challenges.
I recall that I was one of those who feared that the worst hit would be African countries given the consequences of locking down economic and social activities. Using Nigeria as an example, it is instructive to state that though our interventions cannot be compared to those of the western world, I can say that the various interventions of government had the most of impacts on the lives of the vulnerable groupings in the country.
My position is hinged on a personal experience that almost moved me to tears. I had a chance encounter with a poor market woman whose source of livelihood is selling petty goods in one of the motor parks in the suburbs of the federal capital territory.
I would say that our paths crossed by accident when I went to cover the enforcement of the lockdown in some areas and how the people have been coping as a result of the lockdown. As a journalist, when I see a good story, I know. And she was a good story.
Madam Uchenna Obigwe (not real names) is a widow who lost her husband many years ago and was left with three kids to cater for. Nkechi, her eldest daughter has finished her secondary education and resorted to helping her mother sell her wares to take care of her two other siblings, even though John, her immediate younger brother was already engaged as an apprentice in a mechanic workshop in the famous Kugbo mechanic village in Karu axis in the FCT.
My visit coincided with the period when officials from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development distributed palliatives under the federal government conditional cash transfer to poor households across the country.
Madam Uchenna was amongst the beneficiaries that received the sum of N20, 000, a bag of rice and condiments. And her joy knew no bounds. So much so that she has turned to a songstress in her neighborhood. It was in this joyous mood that I encountered her, and one could feel her joy and appreciation for the token she has received. Upon inquiry, I was told how she has been singing the praises of President Muhammadu Buhari for the items she received.
My instincts came alive, and the result is this article on the lives of those that have been affected positively through the COVID-19 intervention of the federal government. To some, N20, 000 might seem too small an amount, but not to Madam Uchenna. Out of excitement, she was forced to call Nkechi her daughter to join her in songs and praises for President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to her, the items she received are worth more than gold. In her words “Why God no go bless Buhari for us? Na who I be wey government find me come my house come put food for my table? My brother, since dem say we no go fit commot to sell again, na so I begin to think. Even my piken John wey dey do mechanic work no fit commot and na so we come dey look ourself for house and nothing to eat”
“My brother na who you wan beg for garri wey all of us dey inside the same problem? This no be small thing oh. God go bless Buhari and im family well well. I no know wetin I wan talk again on top wetin Buhari don do for all of us here. Since wey I dey sell market I never carry N20, 000 come house before. Everyday na 2,000 or 2,500 we dey sell if market dey, from there we go go market go buy again to sell and the remaining change we take am chop.”
“My brother na wetin I dey do since my husband die oh. Now see me get bag of rice and N20, 000. God oh abeg bless Buhari for us.”
Those were the words of Madam Uchenna, and in truth, I was moved to tears and imagined the thousands of other families who have benefited from the federal government COVID-19 intervention and how indeed their lives have taken a turn for good.
This experience brings to the fore the various intervention of the federal government under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development. I can safely say that the impact of the intervention has not been adequately reported in the media and this is as a result of the fact that the beneficiaries are in the suburbs and in some instances difficult to reach areas.
I must commend the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development for the way and manner it has handled the distribution so far. The Honorable Minister, Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouq I gathered has been involved in the distribution process to ensure that indeed the items gets to those in dire need and not cornered for any other purpose.
I can only imagine the thousands of Madam Uchennas out there that are full of praises for the government during this lockdown period. It can only be imagined, and like I stated earlier these items might seem small in the eyes of people, but trust me, it is worth the while for these families that feed from hand to mouth daily.
If we must admit that programmes such as this in times past end up been a charade because of the attitude of government officials saddled with such responsibilities, I dare say not anymore because there is a new sheriff in town that has demanded transparency and accountability in the whole process.
This is where Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouq comes into the picture as the minister in charge of the sensitive ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development. It is my considered opinion that she has lived up to expectations in line with the posture of President Muhammadu Buhari, whose support base is the masses that dot the nook and cranny of the country. I am not sure Hajia Sadiya would have done otherwise. She ensured that those vulnerable families are not denied or deprived of this intervention from the government.
For once I was proud of Nigeria, if not for anything, the joy in the hearts of other Madam Uchannas out there. The story of Madam Uchenna should inspire hope in all of us that things are not as bad as it seems in the conduct of government business.
I dedicate this piece to President Muhammadu Buhari as a first for providing that purposeful leadership, and to Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouq for translating the vision of the president into tangible realities.
I know the tough stance of the honorable minister is bad business for the racketeers that are notorious for diverting public goods for personal consumption. I can only wish that others in the position of authority can emulate and learn lessons in governance from this experience and realize that they must put the interest of the people first and serve them diligently.
As we confront the challenges occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic, we must also acknowledge the various efforts of government in cushioning the effects, especially in the lives of the vulnerable group in the country.

Olasanmi is a media strategist and wrote this piece from Guzape, Abuja.

No division among APC governors, PGF DG insists

PGF boss, Lukman denies media report of division among APC governors

The Director-General of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) Salihu Lukman, has denied media report susgesting division among the serving governors of the party.

One of the Sunday Newspapers of June 21, 2020 had carried on its front page a headline “13 governors back NWC, 7 oppose.”

But in a statement signed the governors Forum’s DG in his personal capacity, described the report as false.

“This is false as there is nothing like the kind of sensational division being alluded to among Progressive Governors.

“Progressive Governors are all individually and collectively committed to the development of the party. In the context of the current challenges facing the party leadership, Progressive Governors are all working for the quick resolutions of the crisis. Although approaches and perspectives of each progressive governor may vary, they have been able to debate and reach some consensus on the problems affecting the party as contained in the resolutions of the emergency teleconference meeting of Saturday, June 13, 2020.

“Part of the resolutions, which was made public include collectively working “to ensure strengthening fair and democratic internal party mechanism for the selection of party candidates in all elections.”

According to Lukman, strengthening fair and democratic internal party mechanism means that the party will recognise and respect individual position of every leader and member.

“Debates and contestation of positions will be encouraged in the party. Anyone who seek to stifle internal debate within the party is only interested in destroying the vital progressive credential, which the party must have to be able to live up to its commitment of being a social democratic.

“Somehow, vested interests who may have been furtively peddling false allegations against some Progressive Governors for the perspectives they hold about the crisis facing the party, are doing everything possible to impose their fantasies. All other perspective outside those fantasies are being criminalised and every attempt is being made to break the ranks of Progressive Governors. This is unfortunate.

“The reality is that all Progressive Governors are guided by all the resolutions adopted at the June 13, 2020 meeting. Those trying to create imaginary divisions are enemies of the party and clearly not interested in contributing in any way to bringing about an end to the crisis facing the party.

“As part of the schema of dividing the ranks of Progressive Governors, fictitious support for and against HE Sen. Abiola Ajimobi are being raised. For the avoidance of doubt, HE Sen. Ajimobi is a respected founding member of the Forum. Any day and anytime, HE Sen. Ajimobi will enjoy the fraternal support of all Progressive Governors.

“However, given the current leadership challenges, it is not about support for or against sections of the NWC as is being projected. It is more about ensuring that the NWC function as a united organ of the party based on which it is able to make provisions of the APC constitution functional. It will be downgrading to attempt to project HE Sen. Ajimobi as a factional leader of the NWC.”

The PGF DG said those behind the Sunday, June 21, 2020 Newspaper report “are acting more like pornographic leaders, who as aptly described by Warren Bennis in his 1989 classic, Why Leaders Can’t Lead are people ‘distanced from reality, from direct experience. They are not real people but appendages … engaged in mechanical acts. These appendages are so without personalities or identifiable social characteristics’.

“They just sit down in their remote locations and attempt to simulate so called positions of leaders of the party, including Progressive Governors. They are merchants of crisis and conflicts. Every debate is reduced to conflicts based on which sections of the party are being pitched against each other.

“Once the crisis of leadership commenced in the APC, these individuals who perfectly fit the description of Warren Bennis begin to escalate the situation such that it is no longer about the party but individuals. Consequently, it become all about the supremacy of some leaders of the party. Nigerians must be wary of these crisis merchants who don’t mean well for leaders of the APC, the party – APC – and by extension the nation’s democracy.”

Lukman believe that the APC will overcome all its current leadership challenges; “Progressive Governors and all APC leaders will emerge strongly united. Every party member and leader should be committed to the resolution of the crisis as well as Nigerians who are committed to democracy based on the presence of resilient party structures that meet, take decisions and governed based on those decisions as provided by the party’s constitution, which is what defined the supremacy of the party.”

Group alleges NEF, others being paid to blackmail Buhari

…. dares Ango Abdullah’s group to swear with the Koran

The Progressive Yoruba Youths Congress (PYYC) has revealed that an ex-presidential candidate pays the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) a whopping N100m monthly to blackmail President Muhammadu Buhari. 

The Yoruba youths made this known at a press conference by its President Kola Salau on Sunday to address attempt by some groups to discredit the efforts of the Fderal Government in fighting insecurity in the country.

According to PYYC, those that sponsored widespread killings and banditry in the wake of the 2019 general elections have returned to the act. 

The southwest youth further disclosed that two other groups from the south have also been compromised, taking home N25m monthly to join NEF in the campaign of calumny against the president.

PYYF, however, challenged NEF’s chairman, Prof Ango Abdullahi to swear by the Koran that indeed he is not on the payroll of the politician and acting as agents of distraction and destabilization.

While condemning the action of these groups, the Progressive youths, however, expressed total support for President Buhari-led administration.

Read full statement below:

The Progressive Yoruba Youths, an association of progressive youths in South West Nigeria wishes to lend its voice to the raging debate on the state of insecurity in the country, as well as the attempt by some group of organizations whose contributions to the socio-economic upliftment of Nigeria has been defective.

We wish to state that it is indeed an irony that a group of questionable individuals parading themselves as Northern Elders, the Middle Belt Forum, Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and the Association of South-East Town Unions have elected to be against the interest of Nigeria by making unguarded statements with regards to the stance of President Muhammadu Buhari on the performance of Service Chiefs in the country. 

It must be stated that President Muhammadu Buhari as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has the prerogative to hire and fire Service Chiefs and as such this undeniable fact must be respected by all and sundry in the country including those groups that have taken up newspaper spaces to paint Mr. President as insensitive.

This is indeed an anomaly because it is evident that the turning point in the war against Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria has been widely linked to the unalloyed commitment displayed by President Muhammadu Buhari as evident in the quality of Service Chiefs in 2015, and with the mandate to hit the ground running.

The Progressive Yoruba Youths is therefore alarmed that such a position has been taken by the same group of persons that sponsored widespread killings and banditry in the wake of the 2019 general elections.

We state in unequivocal terms that these same individuals not resting on their oars are behind the groups that have in recent times been attempting to discredit President Muhammadu Buhari for standing with the Service Chiefs who by and large have been giving their best in the war against terrorism and other acts of criminality in the country. 

It is indeed sad that organizations such as the Afenifere and the Ohaneze Ndigbo would condescend low to the whims and caprices of the same set of politicians that are sponsors of criminality in Nigeria. 

As sad as this sound, it is indeed what it is and one wonder the amount of monies that would have exchanged hands in their futile desire to discredit the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari at all cost.

This is also on the heels of the fact that there are also those hiding under curious nomenclatures such former presidential candidate to discredit the government, by all means, necessary and destabilizing the country at the same time. 

The Progressive Yoruba Youths wishes to state that the role of Afenifere is indeed despicable and an insult to the Oduduwa race, which stands for truth, justice and fairness at all times. This much Afenifere must come to terms with and retrace its steps and save us from further disrepute.

We also wish to state that we are aware that a top politician and businessman pays the Northern Elders Forum the sum of N50,000,000.00 monthly to run a campaign of calumny against President Muhammadu Buhari in fulfillment of their desire to cause a distraction and pitch the citizenry against the president.

This same politician and businessman pay other groups in the South-South and South-East of Nigeria the sum of N25, 000,000.000 every month to run the same campaign of calumny against the president in the attempt to give their falsehood some form of credibility and national spread. 

This is unacceptable and an indication that these groups that have been carrying out the whim and caprices of disgruntled politicians at the detriment of national interest. These groups have been blinded by filthy lucre that they have elected to turn the truth on its head. 

The Progressive Yoruba Youths herby challenge these groups to swear by the Koran and the Bible that indeed they are not acting as agents of distraction and destabilization. They should also be bold to tell Nigerians that monies have indeed not also exchanged hands in return for using their platforms to discredit President Muhammadu Buhari. 

The Progressive Yoruba Youths sees the actions of these groups as against the unity and socio-economic development of Nigeria. As such, they must desist from their shameful acts. Nigerians must also do well to view with a pinch of salt statements emanating from these groups as they are self-serving and meant to suit the interest of their paymasters. 

The Progressive Yoruba Youths wishes to use this medium to extend its support to the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari for its various efforts in tackling the different politically motivated security challenges in the country.

We consequently wish to use this medium to advise these groups to channel the resources to useful endeavors that would be of utmost benefit to the teeming youths in the country. This, in our opinion, would be more useful than spreading falsehoods in the country all in their distasteful desires to bring the government down at all cost.

The Progressive Yoruba Youths disassociates itself from these groups and wishes to remind them that they do not speak on behalf of the people but behalf of their pockets.

A word is indeed enough for the wise as Nigerians can easily see through their gimmick.

President Buhari’s meeting with security chiefs and Monguno’s insensitivity

By James Giwa

Last week Thursday, President Muhammadu Buhari, had a cause to meet with top security chiefs in the country to discuss the recent security breaches in the country in which over a hundred persons lost their lives.

Nigerians were happy to see the President rise to the occasion to address the unfortunate incidents that happened in Gubio Local Government of Borno State and in Faskari Local Government of Katsina State as it is considered a step forward towards understanding the issues that led to the breaches and what could be done to avert recurrence.

As news clips of the event were being relayed however, not a few were quick to notice a slip which from all indications is capable of worsening the security situation in the country when the National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd), said President Buhari reprimanded the service  chiefs over alleged failure to curb worsening insecurity in the nation and that the President reportedly told the top military officers their “best was not good enough.”

He said: “Mr. President expressed great concern over the declining security situation in the country. He is extremely unhappy about what is happening. He feels that even though the security agencies are doing their best, their best is not good enough for him and he wants an immediate reversal of the current trend and immediate reversal of our misfortunes in all their dimensions.”

While it may not be right to say that the NSA prevaricated on the essence of what the President told the service  chiefs  at the meeting, it would not be out of place for one to point how unlikely it is for the President to make such conflicting rhetoric.

One, the President is not known to be ambiguous when making a speech.

Two, he is known as a man who doesn’t waste words to impress his audience but goes straight to the point when talking.

Three, there’s no way the President would have at one point observe that the security chiefs had already given their best and again go ahead  to charge them again to go and do more.

Four, the President is always very serious about matters of security that he would not have allowed any ambiguity in his comments at the meeting.

Finally, it seems likely and in context with the account of various sources at the meeting, that the President mentioned the service chiefs in the bid to encourage them to give in their best in light of the current challenges. 

Based on this analysis, it is obvious that what the president said at the meeting and was taken out of context in the course of transmission to the general public was that while the security chiefs are trying to put in their best, certain factors may have accounted for the recent lapses recorded and therefore asked the sevice chiefs to look into these issues and address them as appropriate.

From all indications, the President believes in the capability of the service chiefs and only told them they can do more to spur them into more action, but not to discourage them. 

This is more so because the President and majority of Nigerians appreciate the enormity of the security challenges in the country and what the service chiefs and the troops have been doing in the theaters of operation.  

Many are aware that in the last three months, Nigerian troops have raided the camps of insurgents,  neutralised over 1400 of them,  captured over 116 of their informants as well as destroy many of their weapons and bunkers.

But the NSA in conveying the message of the President clearly understated this and concentrated on a negative aspect which is capable of doing more harm than good to the already bad security situation in the country.

One would have thought that since the NSA was carefully chosen to address the press on the outcome of the meeting due to the sensitive nature of the issues involved and because his position as NSA puts him in a better place to analyse and synthesize every sensitive information to be given to the public in the most mature and appropriate way, he should have handled the briefing better.

But what one saw of the NSA at the briefing was no different from what a politician with covert ambition would have done to ridicule his opponent. 

Either the NSA lost his composure when faced with  cameras or he deliberately did not analyse the information at his disposal in a manner required of an intelligence officer of his calibre and ended up ridiculing the service chiefs by saying their best was not good enough.

To security experts, even if the President had said so, it takes a level of myopia and lack of appreciation of the relevance of information as a potent tool in the fight against insurgency and terrorism for the NSA to have revealed that because saying such a thing is akin to giving a veiled commendation to Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents that they are on the right track. 

But this is most unfair and totally uncalled for given the much the sevice chiefs have given of their time, resources, intellect and experience to turn things around not to talk of the sacrifice of troops at the battlefield. 

People are aware that the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Naval Staff and the Chief of Air Staff have at one time or the other been compelled to relocate to the theaters of operations in the Northeast.

Only last week, all three had to move to Katsina to arrest the situation in the Northwest. 

The chief of army staff had to remain in the trenches in the Northeast since March and only came to Abuja to brief the President as he has assured Nigerians that he will be going back.

For Monguno to give the impression that all these efforts were not appreciated by the President to me, is the height of mischief if done deliberately; and the height of insensitivity if said in error, as his statement will no doubt demoralize the troops who are sacrificing everything to make sure they defend the country. 

One thing I find curious also is how the NSA cleverly excluded himself from the reported reprimand by the President which he said was intended at only the service chiefs.

While it is now clear that the President could not have said the best of the service chiefs is not good enough, entertaining such a viewpoint exposes the shallow mindedness of the NSA to the overall security structure of the country because Monguno, as the National Security Adviser to the President is part of the security and intelligence network of the country and if indeed the President had in any way implied that the service chiefs are not doing enough then he cannot be excused from blame.

This is self- indicting on the part of the NSA because while one could point a finger at one or two things the service chiefs have done to halt worsening security situation in the country, one cannot point at a single thing the current NSA has done in that regard. 

He has not been seen either engaging the relevant agencies with ideas or counter strategies nor using the vast resources and information at his disposal to penetrate the ranks of the insurgents.

It is surprising that with the glaring inactivity from his side, the NSA still finds the courage to mouth disparaging remarks about other service chiefs in the country disguised cleverly as quoting the President. 

In order to avoid this kind of counter intuitive slip in future, i will advise the NSA  to begin to see himself as part of the team required to bring lasting solution to the security situation in the country rather than continue in this posture where he sees himself as an external examiner whose only function is to supervise the service chiefs. 

Giwa a concerned citizen wrote this piece from Rayfield, Jos.

Boko Haram And Our Failure To Act Right

By Andrew Idoko

The Boko Haram Insurgency in Nigeria has had its attendant effect on our socio-political life, given the wanton destructions that have been recorded in North-East Nigeria. In July 2009, the Boko Haram uprising began in Borno state. It spread to other northern states, leaving hundreds of followers, Nigerian law enforcement officers, and civilians dead. In subsequent years, attacks in the Northeast and other parts of the country, including bombings, mass shootings, and executions began to rise.
Since then, there have been an incredible number of deaths as a result of the Boko Haram Insurgency. The trademarks of the Boko Haram insurgents are wanton destruction of lives and property with reckless abandon through bombings, abduction and slaughtering of human beings, especially in Northern Nigeria. This has created palpable fear and sense of insecurity in the polity.
The Boko Haram insurgency has pitted neighbours against themselves, cost thousands of lives, displaced millions, destroyed hundreds of schools and government buildings and devastated an already ravaged economy in the North East. We must consequently agree that before now, Nigeria was on the fringe and the military at some point seemed helpless in dealing with the threats posed by Boko Haram.
I recall that at some point, the Boko Haram group was in control of over 16 local government areas spread across states in North-East, Nigeria. And even the nation’s capital was not spared of the atrocities of the Boko Haram group.
At some point, there seemed to be no solution in sight because the then political authorities treated the issue at hand with kid gloves. They politicked with the issues and gave it religious and ethnic colorations. The situation was so pathetic that soldiers were often transported in civilian vehicles, trailers and water tankers when going to the theatres of operation. The revelations on the sorry state of things in the past, which have emanated from the investigative panel so far, points clearly to the kind of legacy bequeathed to this present administration by the past government. However this is not a time for trading blames, but a time to move forward.
The tide turned from 2016 when the Nigerian military gained ascendency over the group. Of course, this was a result of a strong commitment displayed the political authorities through ways such as the quality of heads of security agencies appointed and with a mandate to ensure that the activities of the group were curtailed to the barest minimum. This trend continued, and it eventually led to many gains recorded in the theatre of operations.
While it is sufficient to give credit to President Muhammadu Buhari for providing that leadership when it was badly needed, credit must also go to the military for their display of professionalism and commitment all the years. We must agree that, but for the gallantry of the military, it would have been a different song that would have been sung today.
I can’t but agree that the Boko Haram war in Nigeria has been a one-sided one, in the sense that the bulk of the job was left in the hands of the military alone. At the same time, some other stakeholders paid lip service. Yes, the military is mandated to address security concerns in the country. However, it must be understood that the Boko Haram insurgency is not a conventional one, but an asymmetric war that only military might cannot defeat.
This position has been canvassed in numerous forums where it was stated that there must be an understanding and a synergy amongst stakeholders in addressing the threats posed by the Boko Haram group. The question thus is: has our leaders risen to the occasion to play that invaluable role in ensuring Nigeria defeats Boko Haram squarely?
The answer is an obvious one because we are all witnesses to the position of some of our leaders, who have continued to play to the gallery, through their public statements, and actions that from all intent and purpose seems to be promoting the Boko Haram cause rather than condemning it and supporting the Nigerian military in this regard.
We must also admit that this ought to be a collective endeavor because we are all victims of the fangs of the Boko Haram group. But what have we done in our little corners towards assisting the military? What about our leaders? Have they been strategic enough? Have they exhibited an undying love for the country? Have they pondered that these soldiers in the trenches have families as well that they left behind? Are they aware that some of these soldiers have left their families and never returned?
Ironically some of us would take up news pages and television stations calling for the sack of service chiefs while in our cocoon we yet give discreet support to these terrorists to continue to wreak havoc in the country.
Our leaders have indeed failed us when we come to the politics involved in the Boko Haram insurgency. I am afraid to state that it is indeed a big business for politicians that see the festering of the insurgency as an avenue to smile to the bank. And when the military makes gains, it depletes their bank accounts. Yes, this is the starkness of the reality on the ground. And for them, the insurgency must fester so they can have a comparative advantage politically and financially.
In all of these, I am consoled that we have a president that cannot be cowed by press statements and appearances on television on the efforts of the military in the fight against Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria. Mr. President knows better because that is his constituency, and he understands war strategies and the various factors that come to play in a war situation.
However, we cannot continue in this fashion as a people and as a country because if we do, Nigeria will continue to bear the brunt of our actions. And for those that see it convenient to throw stones in the village square because they and their families are holed up in their mansions should realize that one day that same stone would bounce back and shatter the glasses of their mansions and nobody would be safe anymore.
This is indeed the time for us to retrace our steps in the fight against Boko Haram insurgency. This is not an issue to play politics with because a country at war can never experience sustainable growth and development. The scars of the civil war should be fresh in our minds and consequently guide our actions and inactions.
The shutdown of countries due to the coronavirus pandemic should also remind us that there is only one place called home and we must put things in order if we must survive. For a time would come where our survival would depend on how well we have done in making our country great. With the way things are going globally, anything can happen tomorrow, and the mansions and luxury cars would mean nothing.
The time to act is now. The Boko Haram insurgency has evolved for years not because there have not been sustained efforts from the military, but because our leaders have not come to terms with reality on the ground. There must be the sincerity of heart and purpose. All hands must be on deck. That it is happening in the north now does not mean it can’t happen elsewhere.
Those trying to make political gains out of the killings in the north must desist from such endeavors as it would only serve the purpose of disintegration. I can bet that this is not the vision of our founding fathers.
I pledge to Nigeria my country, to be faithful, loyal and honest. To serve Nigeria will all my strength, to defend her unity, uphold her honor and glory, and so help me God. What about you?

Idoko is a political affairs analyst and wrote this piece from Yola.

Banditry: Kuanum blames failed politicians, hails military efforts

A security expert and public affairs commentator,  Mr Terrence Kuanum, has attributed the incessant cases of violence and bandit attacks in parts of northern Nigeria to the activities of failed politicians who want to paint the President Muhammadu Buhari administration in bad light.

He insisted that the Nigerian military is doing a good job of ridding the country of insurgency and terrorism explaining that the scourge has continued only because other critical stakeholders in the sector have not been alive to their responsibilities. 

Kuanum who spoke with a team of editors in his residence in Abuja, said information available to him as an expert in security matters indicates that most of the cases of violence and banditry in northern  Nigeria are politically motivated and sponsored by those who contested and lost against the ruling party in recent elections.

The security expert said the failed politicians believe that by sponsoring violence and other acts of criminality they would be de-marketing the Buhari presidency so as to put them in stead to contest in 2023. 

Kuanum said information at his disposal indicates that many of the failed politicians are not happy with the gains made by the military against insurgents and criminals in recent times and are hellbent on thwarting the efforts due to their 2023 ambitions 

“They are scared that if Buhari is allowed to continue with his streak of achievements especially in the area of  security, then he would have fulfilled one of the cardinal objectives of his administration to secure the nation and that would further bury their dreams of returning to power.

“They know they have nothing to offer to the people so they don’t want to allow the President deliver on his mandate as that would put the final nail on their political coffin,” he stated.

The security expert said the failed politicians were particularly angered by the accolades the Buhari administration was receiving from all over the world over its ability to neutralise terrorists operating on the fringes of the Lake Chad region so they decided to work against it.

He said, “If you have been observing developments in the Northeast, you will notice that our military have been on top of their games neutralising the insurgents and making it difficult for them the launch surprise attacks on communities and it became obvious that the total defeat of the insurgents is a matter of days.

“Encomiums started pouring in from all over including those critical of the Buhari administration, that the administration is doing well and the president was going to keep his promise about providing adequate secuirty in the country.

“So they distracted the military with banditry attacks in the Northwest and in that moment, struck in the Northeast all in the bid to paint the current administration in bad light.”

Kuanum said it is high time people are made aware of this conspiracy so they would realise that the fault is not that of the military which is doing its best to secure the nation but due to the activities of some unpatriotic elements. 

The security expert said it is curious that the Nigerian military which is one of the best in the world should be put on a negative spot light for operations carried out at home.

He asked: “Does it not strike you as curious that the same military which liberated Sierra Leone; rescued UN soldiers from terrorists in Somalia; restored democracy in Liberia and led successful joint military operations in several parts of world would be said to be failing at home?”

He said this is clearly an indication that some forces are behind the campaign to sustain the carnage.

“You cannot reconcile the fact that the Nigerian military which has such a sterling record of achievements abroad could be said to be overstretched at home,” he stated.

He maintained that on a scale of a hundred, the Nigerian military has performed at over 90 stressing that the occasional attacks used to assess the military is due to the inability of other stakeholders to perform their tasks and because some of the violence are politically induced.

He said if the other stakeholders are doing half of what the military are doing in the area of security in the last four years, Nigeria would have attained the much needed peace.

He warned the politicians who he described as agents of darkness to desist from their evil acts saying not only would they be exposed in the not too distant future but would be prosecuted and made to face the full wrath of the law.

Kuanum advised those saddled with other responsibilities in the secuiety architecture of the country to wake up to their responsibilites so as to bring an end to insurgency in Nigeria.

He said, ” A lot depends on intelligence gathering, consultation, mediation and other subtle initiatives that cannot be handled through field combat.

“These areas are seriously lacking and it forms part of my recommendation to

the government to end insurgency.

He explained that there is no war that is fought using a single approach as he said every conflict is a result of breakdown in negotiations.

“Both methods are usually deployed to speed up the process of ending conflict but in Nigeria the other stakeholders have abandoned their posts and left the entire process in the hands of the military.

This should no longer be the case and I’m calling on all stakeholders to wake up from slumber and contribute their quota so as to complement  what the military is doing,” he said and called on all to support the military to stamp out terrorism in Nigeria.