Frank accuses Gov. Ikpeazu of being an APC mole in PDP

A political activist and former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Comrade Timi Frank, has replied the Abia state governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, describing the governor as a mole in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The governor had on Sunday issued a statement attacking the former APC spokeman over his earlier statement that most PDP governors were not committed to the opposition politics in Nigeria.

But responding back to Ikeazu through another statement on Monday, Comrade Frank, said rather than apologise for the misadventure, “the Abia state governor’s shallow defence as to why he chose to jet out with the President at the expense of his party’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting buttressed the belief in some quarters that he is indeed an All Progressives Congress (APC) mole even as a PDP governor.

“In Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet, Queen Gertrude said: “The lady doth protest too much, methinks”. She did this in reference to the insincere overacting of a character in the play.

“From that day to today, nothing has changed. Insincerity is most obvious in overly dramatic denials. And this is what we see with Okezie Victor Ikpeazu’s response to my candid observation.

“The popular saying that an old woman is always uneasy at the mention of dry bones manifested itself in the reply of the incompetent Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu to my statement I criticised him for hopping off to London with President Muhammadu Buhari in the midst of a serious national and political onslaught against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Imo State.

“Playing the ostrich, Ikpeazu pinned his trip with the President to the UK-Africa Investment Summit on the quest market his proposed Enyimba Economic City Project to foreign investors.

“Does a man go on a jamboree when his house is on fire? That is the question that Ikpeazu should answer rather than play acting in his protests that represent his guilty conscience.”

The Bayelsa born activist also cleared the air over the allegagtion made by the governor that he (Framk) was used and dumped by the APC saying: “Let it be known to the indolent Governor that I resigned from the All Progressives Congress and refused to hero-worship General Buhari when the APC derailed and began to pursue anti-people agenda rather than what they promised Nigerians. How can I then be compared to an Ikpeazu, whose sycophantic laugh almost tore his mouth while he was throwing himself at General Buhari, to secure his post gubernatorial future?

“For the records, I stood my grounds while in the APC and I resigned my position as a principled person and not because of any political gain. And since the governor talks about political worth and jobbing, perhaps it is pertinent to expose him at this juncture for who he truly is.

“That Ikpeazu calls himself a national leader of the PDP is self delusional dream. Within the party, he is known for what he is, an unreliable person who would rather jamboree while there is fire at his doorstep. In case he does not know, Ikpeazu is as relevant to the PDP as the “P” in psychology.

“It is most unfortunate that in Ikpeazu’s little world and mindset, it is only with the President that he can get attention. this reflects his lack of initiative, drive and dynamism to push any project to profitability.”

On the reason why the governor traveled with the President, Frank believe that “projects such as Tinapa in Cross River state and the mechanised farm in Kwara state, sold themselves out to foreign investors on account of well-thought-out and executed marketing strategies which the governors of the states embarked on at the time and not because they carried empty brief cases on presidential trips looking for uninterrupted hours of snitching and mundane political theatrics with the President.

” One wonder the kinds of investors Ikpeazu is looking for in UK when he is one of the worst governor who doesn’t pay regular salary in his state.”

On why the governor is a mole in the PDP, Frank said Ikpeazu was among the PDP governors that gave General Buhari and the APC 25 per cent vote in return for 2nd term, “in short, Ikpeazu is a confirmed PDP by day and APC by night.

“The Abia governor capitulated when he posited in his reply that, ‘Much as Governor Ikpeazu is not responsible for Timi’s unguarded spleen, no leader would prefer to attend a party meeting to attending a Summit where his ideas and programs for his people will be beamed at the global stage.’

“If for the sake of argument we yield to this convoluted reasoning of his, is he also saying that that the PDP’s NEC was not worth the attention of his deputy? Clearly he was sending a clear message of disdain to the party to impress his pay masters.

“When I alluded to Ikpeazu as a political hatchet man and mole for the APC, no fact underscores this than the 2015 and 2019 presidential election results in Abia State.

“Can Ikpeazu who regards himself as a PDP national leader explain to Nigerians how General Buhari and the APC scored 13,394 votes against the PDP’s 368,303 in the 2015 presidential election – removing from the list of states that the APC had 25 per cent and then clearly explain to Nigerians, how in 2019 presidential elections, the APC and General Buhari scored 85,058 and PDP PDP scored a depleted 219, 698 votes?

“The simple answer to this eye popping revelation is the liability Ikpeazu is to the PDP and the reason he is all cheeks in smile with the President and perhaps while he will continue to be a sacred cow at the Supreme Court.

“May it not be the lot of Abians and the PDP in particular that tax payers money is being blown on the altar of presidential patronage and clandestine investor chase.

“Ikpeazu can catch his fun and be a political undertaker, however, the PDP and Abia people deserve more compassion.”

Imo: PDP’s allegations depressing, contemptuous – APC

The Progressives Govermors Forum (PGF) on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said the allegations of manipulation made by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after the recent Supreme Court judgement were not only depressing but disrespectful and contemptuous.

The ruling party’s forum of govermors however, warned the PDP to stop unnecessary castigation of the Judiciary.

In a statement signed Saturday in Abuja, by its Chairman and governor of Kebbi state,Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, reacting to the comments credited to the National Chairman of the PDP, Uche Secondus after the Supreme Court ruling in favour of APC, its governor forum called on Nigerians and all lovers of democracy in the country to rise to the defence of democratic institutions, especially the judiciary.

“Following the verdict of the Supreme Court in respect of Imo State election petition, which declared Sen. Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress as the winner of the March 9, 2019 Governorship election, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) proclaimed the judgement as “miscarriage of justice” and alleged that the judiciary is “heavily compromised” and has “lost credibility”.

“These are depressing allegations coming from supposedly democratic leaders who should ordinarily be in the forefront of protecting and defending the judicial institution as the sanctuary of our democracy. It is contemptuous and disrespectful to our democracy.

“This is most unfortunate and condemnable. We call on Nigerians and all lovers of democracy in the country to rise to the defence of our democratic institutions, especially the judiciary.

“We must prevail on the PDP leadership and all politicians to exercise restraint by demonstrating unalloyed loyalty and respect for our democratic institutions, particularly our judiciary, which is the most important pillar of democratic governance. To allege that a judgement delivered by Supreme Court Judges is “procured” simply because it does not favour the PDP is an invitation to anarchy.

“It is on record that President Muhammadu Buhari has at all times stated his commitment to democracy and rule of law. Our party has lost elections we thought we will win. Equally, our party has been stopped from participation in elections by the judiciary, for example in Rivers State.

“The case of Zamfara where we won the election but the Supreme Court in its wisdom nullified all our votes and declared PDP candidates as winners is another experience. In addition, our party members have lost many cases, and even though our views differ from the judgement delivered, we do not disparage the judiciary, yet our views of the judgement differ from the court.”

While assuring that the forum that APC governors will continue to work with all democrats in the country to ensure adequate protection of democratic governance by respecting all judgements from courts, the Kebbi state governor said: “As Progressive Governors, we hereby declare abiding faith in our judiciary and will at all times respect all decisions of our Judges at all levels no matter the circumstances. Our party and our members believe in the sanctity of our judicial institution as the last hope for justice for our people.”

PDP governors lobbying to travel with Buhari, Frank says planned protest inconsequential

A political activist and former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Comrade Timi Frank, has said that governors of the People Democratic Party (PDP) are the major problem of opposition party in the country even as some of them were lobbying to travel with General Muhammadu Buhari.

Frank said aside governor Wike of Rivers state, so many of other opposition party governors are daily lobbying to be in the good books of General Buhari, hence they don’t talk on national issues affecting Nigerians negatively.

Reacting to a media report that the PDP was planning to stage a nationwide protest against the Supreme Court ruling in Imo, Frank said the move is belated.

“PDP’s planned protest is medicine after death, why didn’t they protest when the former CJN Onnogen was forcefully removed from office? Why didn’t they protest when the last presidential election was rigged in favour of APC by INEC and the Army? Why didn’t they protest when Supreme Court unjustly threw out presidential election appeal? Today Nigerians are seeing the result of the forceful removal of Onnogen from office; it’s a bit late for PDP to protest.”

The Bayelsa born activist specifically condemned in strong term the Abia state governor, who was seen on Friday travelling to London with General Buhari at a time his colleague in Imo (Emeka) was removed as governor.

In a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Saturday, Frank said it is shameful that PDP has 16 governors and only one or two is committed to the cause of the party.

“Some PDP governors are the problem of Nigeria, some of them go to the extent of lobbying the cabal to travel out with the President so as to be on his good books, they are selfish, corrupt, over ambitious and shameless.

“Some of them betrayed the PDP during the last presidential election, and gave the APC 25% in their states in return for not being prosecuted after they leave office and to win their 2nd term.”

According to Frank, a sitting PDP governor said: “If you say you dey there (APC), know I am already there. If you go to APC, I am an APC member. If you go to PDP, I am there”, what did the PDP as a party say or do? The PDP as a party could not caution or penalize him and now they want to protest?

“Apart from the governor of Rivers state Nyesom Wike and sometimes, the Benue state governor Samuel Ortom, other PDP governors are PDP by the day and APC by night; they fraternize with the APC thereby rendering PDP incapacitated and unable to function properly and cannot play the role of an effective opposition.

“Nigerians are being taken for a ride by the APC administration and the PDP can’t do anything to checkmate government because most of the PDP members and especially some governors are compromised, otherwise they could have fought Buhari the same way the opposition governors fought Jonathan, whereas those governors refused to compromise during Jonathan’s tenure.

“Nigerians should observe that apart from Governor Wike and Governor Ortom, no other PDP governor dares to criticize Buhari and even make any statement about national issues. If there is any governor that Buhari and the APC would have loved to remove, it is Governor Wike; this is because he is not PDP by the day and APC by night, which is the reason why he has the support of his people and despite all the persecution by the federal government, he still stands tall.”

While urging other PDP governors to emulate Governor Wike so that posterity will judge them well, Frank said: “It is better for these governors to decamp to APC so Nigerians and the world can see them for who they truly are, after all once you decamp to APC; all your sins (Looting and corruption) are forgiven.

“To show you how incompetent some of the PDP governors are, the Abia state PDP governor Okezie Ikpeazu, flew to London with Buhari and some APC members in the presidential jet, barely 3 days after a PDP governor colleague of his from the same South-east was robbed through the Supreme Court and his seat given to APC. He was seen smiling and grinning from ear to ear like a child that just tasted chocolate for the first time in his life.

“Instead of telling APC the truth, Ikpeazu is fraternizing with them the same day the PDP was having its NEC meeting, He abandoned the meeting and flew with Buhari to London, as that is more important to him than attending PDP meeting, the party that gave him a platform to become governor.

“The wicked flee when no man pursueth, no amount of fraternizing with Buhari and the APC can save any looting governor when the day of reckoning comes.

“Nigerians are helpless today at the hands of APC because some PDP governors have compromised for their selfish interest but they should remember that they are not God, only God knows how all these will pan out tomorrow,” Timi Frank said.

US-based Nigerian celebrates soldiers with touching poem

A Nigerian based in the United States of America, Mark Bolaji, has written a poem in honour of the Nigerian Armed Forces with particular emphasis on the sacrifices of the Army in the fight against Boko Haram.

The poem titled “Gallant Nigerian Army; Our petals of daffodils” echoed the sacrifices of the gallant troops on the frontlines.

Mr Bolaji recalled the havoc-wrecking era where Boko Haram enjoyed a seamless ride in the NorthEast but thanked the gallant troops for finally ensuring “salvation came banging hard and hard”.

“As soldiers clad in vexation and armoury, gallant soldiers reclaimed Nigerian territories,” he added while describing the manner victory arrived.

The Houston Texas-based poet cheekily described the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai as “Shagaban Shoja,”who climbed atop the Limankara Hills in bold and blustery affront” to lead the assault on insurgents.

Read full poem below:

Darkness reigned, anguish and agonies,

Were crowned kings,

In the famed land of the El Kanemis,

The kingdom of ancient warriors,

And of reverence!

Deaths, and blood and destructions; mid-night

Arsons punctured the serenity of the land of promise,

As spirit of forebearers, armor bearers and multitudes alike,

Voyaged into the swamps and mesh of the hinterland,

In depressing searching for water to quench their thirst,

Food to fill empty bellies and starving souls,

Wrecked souls, begged for succor on bended kneels.

The Shekau boys visited the Northeast lands,

Oh yes! The Boko Haram demons,

Brutal campaigns of annihilation,

In satanic service of paymasters in foreign lands,

Bowing to bizarre and opaque doctrines of extremism,

With slavish and unconscionable condour,

Energized by might of swords, guns and bombs,

Caused devastating atrocities and ruinations.

In the fury of unrestrained bloodletting,

Wailing children, broke hearts of dying mothers,

Aged adults squirmed in dark tunnels and gulags,

Of Haram captors, slaving and laboring in resigned fate,

Only reminiscent of the slave trade of yore.

Survivors sought asylum in familiar and strange lands,

Starved to the marrow and slaughtered,

Like animals laid on the slaughterers slap,

As Al Barnewi armed gangs, nourished freely,

By alien paymasters, in distant lands,

From the greens and oils of the Lake Chad,

Feasted and feasted on human blood,

With sacrilegious impunity on souls and blood of kins.

Fractured social and economic lives,

Spared no foe or enemy,

All were united in grief and sorrows,

Despaired over deaths, abductions and bloodbaths;

The fisherman, crop farmer, cattle rearer,

Or student, traders and kings all soaked in misery.

Northeast forlorn enclaves, communities, villages,

Yearned for familiar faces and shadows,

As Gwoza, Bama, Mongonu and others,

Played host to unwanted hegemonic landlords,

In darkened chambers,

As extremists of the swords, regaled in undulating ambience;

Insurgents made burnfires and carnivals,

Celebrating demoniac victory,

Over children, women and the aged.

Confusion reigned, ennui amplified,

Aso Rock shuddered, and Nigerians bemoaned,

Lonely chirruping birds hovered on deserted lands,

Domestic animals’ foraged,

Empty homesteads, in vein search for Amina’s grains chaff.

But at last, salvation came banging hard and hard!

On the manacled doors of Northeast,

As soldiers clad in vexation and armoury,

Thrusted poisonous arrows and guns at terrorists,

Dispossessed many, grabbed their evil arsenals,

In weeks and months of fierce combats,

Compelling dozens of insurgents,

To forcefully transit their cursed souls into graves,

Gallant Soldiers reclaimed Nigerian territories,

Occupied by the ragtag Armies of the evil sect.

Caged Al Barnewi beckoned to his Iranian masters,

ISWAP arrived on menacingly,

On war chariots, with machine guns and bombs,

But suffered humiliating repression and defeat,

In Tens and thousands of numbers.

Fearful remnants of insurgents,

Reclined into the obscure fortified mazes,

Of the swampy Lake Chad Basin, gasping for breath,

Licking wounds of a mission unfulfilled and doomed.

Yesterday, a dove hovered on the skies,

Flapping its exciting wings in inviting radiance,

On Gwoza, Madagali, Pulka and Bama,

As “Shagaban Shoja,” Gen. Buratai,

Climbed atop the Limankara Hills,

In bold and blustery affront and assault on insurgents,

Signaling IDPs to repossess their liberated ancestral lands,

As Royal fathers walked in majestic royalty,

From palaces, to soldiers in the frontlines,

In hearty appreciation of gallant Nigerian troops.

Expectedly, scared residues of terrorists,

Recoiled and recoiled and recoiled,

At the sight of Buratai and troops,

On mountain Limankara,

Into the remotely innermost chambers of rugged Lake Chad,

A mission soldiers would have easily cracked,

With a final “kill,” and lightning speed, with handy Army helicopters.

But sadly, Army airspace approval is still,

Enmeshed and ensnared by boardroom politics;

Though, there is a season for everything;

Its time would certainly come soon!

We keep vigil on the pearly gates,

Awaiting this gracious day,’

Of soldiers’ final onslaught on terrorists,

In the land of the famous El Kanemis!

NDDC Investigation: Group threathens to expose fake contractors

A group on the platform of South-south Emerging Leaders Forum (SELF) has expressed support for the presidential directive that a forensic audit be carried out at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), adding that the recently inaugurated audit and document committee to verify projects and contracts awarded by the commission is a commendable step.

The group, however, threatened to exposed those it described as “enemies of the South-south region, who have siphoned monies meant for projects and development in the zone,” saying “all the former NDDC Managing Directors and fake contractors should be brought to book.”

The group commended Comrade Timi Frank for a recent media report credited to him on the need to rally support for the current leadership of NDDC under its acting Managing Director Dr Joi Nunieh, to achieve President Muhammadu Buhari’s objective of fixing the developmental decay in the region through the NDDC.

In a statement signed by its coordinator Barrister Preye Wilson, and made available to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday, the group, comprises of various professionals in their own right, said it “will move against all the political leaders in the region who are making efforts to frustrate the current leadership of the NDDC led by Dr Joi Nunieh, to achieve it mandate.”

While assuring that it will sensitize the youths, women and children on the need to expose corruption activities and corrupt elements that have held the NDDC hostage over the years, SELF threatened “to stage a protest against the National Assembly if the budget for the commission is not approved and released as soon as possible.”

It also called on the Senate President Ahmed Lawan to sound a note of warning to Senators from the zone not to use their offices in sabotaging the efforts of the current NDDC’s leadership as directed by President Buhari.

The group said: “We must commend President Muhammadu Buhari for the appointment of Dr Joi Nunieh, as the acting Managing Director of NDDC. We believe in her capacity to deliver and we strongly have the feeling that she will do justice to the assignment given to her. We only request that Mr. President should give the current leadership of NDDC all the necessary backing to sanitize the commission.

“We also call on the Niger Delta Minister Godswill Akpabio, to work hand in hand with Dr Joi Nunieh to achieve the mandate of the commission.

“On our party, it is high time we professionals and enlightened souls in the Niger Delta region stop sitting by the fence. We will henceforth speak out against malaise holding our region hostage and support those with good intention for the region.

“We have water in abundance but nothing to drink, we have resources to develop our region but we lack good roads, good hospitals while our qualified youths are without commensurable jobs.

“Agitations by our fore-fathers led to the establishment of the NDDC mainly to develop our region but some enemies of this region have turned the commission to a conduit pipe where money meant for the development of the region are being shared in the name of fake contracts.

“We have compiled the names of these individuals and groups (contractors), including some former MDs of the NDDC and we may make it public in due course if they fail to cooperate with the verification and audit committee led by Dr Cairo Ojougboh as Chairman and henceforth stay away from the commission,” the group stated.

It, however called on the committee to carry out the assignment without fair or favour, adding that the panel too will not be pardoned if it compromised.

The group also called on other civil society groups, human rights activists and vocal individuals to join “the cause of rescuing Niger Delta from the hands of it few enemies by stand up and speak up against the selfish interest of the few.”

Armed Forces Remembrance Day: Troops write PMB, assures of victory over Boko Haram

…..appreciates COAS, Buratai’s role in leading counter-insurgency war

In commemoration of the 2020 Armed Forces Remembrance Day, some troops in the frontlines has penned an emotional letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, assuring him of victory over the already decimated Boko Haram terrorists.

In the mail signed by Adamu Abubakar and Moses Adebanjo (Staff Sergeant and Master Sergeant respectively), the soldiers said they are motivated by the president’s “undisguised passion, zeal and honest commitment to liberate Nigeria from the manacles of Boko Haram insurgency and its latter-day variant of Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP)”.

The troops in the frontlines were full of praises for the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), describing him as the “conqueror of terrorists” for leading the counter-insurgency crusade by himself.

The constant visits of Gen. Buratai to troops especially at special festivities, according to the soldiers, “massages their ego and strengthens our resolve to coast home with victory against terrorists”.

The group added that the COAS has relentlessly ensured that terrorists in whatever guise have been correspondingly dissolved by forces of the Nigerian state.

Unlike in time past, the troops revealed that the Nigerian Army has been transformed into a responsible and responsive military force, with sparkling shadows of global best practices and adequately armed with modern warfare instruments.

The troops, however, prayed for sustained efforts and upward review of their welfare package in order to fight the insurgents more ferociously.

The gallant soldiers, therefore, assured the president and Nigerians that the end is in sight for the Islamic sect as more than ever, they committed to ending the war.

Read full letter below:

We thank God Almighty for His infinite mercies that have transited us into Year 2020 gracefully. We specially felicitate and wish our President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR an exciting and prosperous New Year.

Similarly, we identify with Mr. President on the unique occasion of the celebration of the Year 2020-Armed Forces Remembrance Day, which solemnity is embedded in the commemoration of our fallen heroes and heroines.

May the federation of Nigeria find peace and security for the ultimate price these gallant military personnel paid for our liberation; may their families find endless favours from Almighty God and may their souls be granted pardon and eternal rest.

Your Excellency, we are soldier of the Nigerian Army who have served our country for over 15 years and are currently at the frontlines in Nigeria’s Northeast. We were in the Army, when Boko Haram insurgency sprouted in 2009. And we have been actively involved in quenching the conflagrations of terrorists on Nigeria at different times and locations under various leaderships of the country till this moment.

But we are voicing out our feelings for the first time in this open letter. We dare say, we are motivated by your undisguised passion, zeal and honest commitment to liberate Nigeria from the manacles of Boko Haram insurgency and its latter-day variant of Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP).

We and millions of other Nigerians have observed over the years that you have provided purposeful and rewarding democratic leadership, not only to Nigerians; but has dispensed same to the Nigerian military, especially the Nigerian Army, which you anointed and mandated to terminate the reign of Boko Haram terrorism in Nigeria. We accepted the assignment with pride.

Under your leadership as the Commander-In-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, insurgency has not sustained or developed its famed intractable horns or migrated from bad to worse. Your leadership has proved to Nigerians and the world that with the right political will and commitment, terrorism will be repressed and finally defeated in Nigeria.

Through our interactions with our colleagues on the frontlines, we are impressed by their unanimously confessed, and evidently positive testimonies of veneration, motivation and inspiration of our troops by Mr. President through the COAS and leader of the counter-insurgency operations, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai, whom we fete as the conqueror of terrorists.

We shall be repeating the obvious, which probably must have come to your notice earlier through public testimonies. But permit us to emphasize that Mr. President’s unprecedented commitment to the welfare of Military personnel, especially Nigerian troops in the trenches and the replication of same by the COAS; the fraternal and indiscriminate inclination of Gen. Buratai in constant communion with troops have been the most potent weapons and tonic of troops in the voracious conquest of Boko Haram insurgents and the ISWAP elements.

And bolstered by you, the Army Chief has relentlessly ensured that terrorists in whatever guise who tormented Nigerians and dragged us into the Hobbesian levels of agonies, mindless violence, gruesome deaths, abductions, displacements of whole populations and destructions in connivance with non-state actors have been correspondingly dissolved by forces of the Nigerian state. Full sanity is being restored in our nation.

Furthermore, Your Excellency, Sir, your worthy vision of transforming the Nigerian Army into a responsible and responsive military force, with sparkling shadows of global best practices have seen to reforms and innovations which have elevated the performance status and rating of the Army as its endearing legacies.

The continuous acquisition of modern warfare instruments for the Army and the development of Army’s human resources base in science and technology are certitudes of reactivation of the collapsed foundation for a perfect Army in the nearest future, which only clairvoyants can sight or discern.

Our plea is that these efforts should be sustained and troops can be better equipped, in order to fight the insurgents more ferociously. We plead that whatever the country can do to help the Army with the necessary technologies in the meantime and for future use, should be done to speedily railroad the end of counter-insurgency operations in Nigeria.

Consequently Sir, we seize this unique privilege of interaction with you on the occasion of the Year 2020 Armed Forces Day to implore you to combine your military experiences and the prevailing circumstances to critically examine and consider the proposal/request by the Nigerian Army for an independent Army Aviation Wing. It is festooned on the premise that it would fasten the final termination of Boko Haram/ISWAP in Nigeria.

We passionately plead and may it be your considered opinion that the FGN under your direction should not hesitate to withhold any arsenal necessary to end terrorism in Nigeria. We need Army’s operation of its air power, to eliminate lacunas or delays in counter-insurgency operations when the need arises.

Sir, it may please you to note that this kind of technology is also used by the Armies of Asian tiger countries, in battling similar national security threats like terrorism. Nigerian Army requires its independent drones and weapons in the trenches that can be deployed at night at short notice, effortlessly and effectively.

With your kind support and foresight, the COAS, Gen. Buratai has laid a solid foundation for the Army’s airwing. The establishment of the Nigerian Army Aviation School and the Nigerian Army University, Biu (NAUB) are the COAS’s foresighted answers to the question of manpower that may arise for an Army air unit.

Therefore, we are always excited anytime your message of encouragement reaches us on the battlefield through the COAS. It is for us, messages of strength and inspiration which have always spurred troops to go the extra-mile in this unique assignment.

We are glad to inform you that your kind disposition and affection for us have been emulated and applied by the COAS.

The constant visits of Gen. Buratai to troops especially at special festivities such as Sallah and yuletide seasons massages our ego and strengthens our resolve to coast home with victory against terrorists.

Each time, we sight the COAS in midst of troops, we feel quite confident and convinced that troops are strongly and effervescently remembered by the Commander-In-Chief of Nigeria. And this simple, but worthy gesture unconsciously drags us into a stimulation to want to do more for Nigeria.

Your Excellency Sir, may we at the behest of troops thank you for the assurance that troops welfare will be further reviewed upwards again in Year 2020 as a source of morale boosting. We are not oblivious of the other special packages you have unveiled for troops and their families which are of immense benefits to them back home and relieved much burdens for us in the frontlines.

Our children now attend best Army schools in virtually all barracks, which are refurbished or renovated and equipped to taste with leaning materials by your administration. Our posterity has accessed this quality education at virtually no cost on our incomes. The multiple economic empowerment initiatives for spouses of Army personnel is another breathtaking burden you have lifted off our shoulders. We thank you tremendously.

May we assure you and Nigerians that troops of the Nigerian Army are in a hurry to return home from the warfront, but have vowed that until the terrorism war is totally won. We are confident to present the golden medal of defeat of Boko Haram insurgents and ISWAP elements to you in the nearest future.

My Commander-In-Chief, I have known you to be a listening leader for decades, right from your days as the Military Administrator of the defunct North Eastern State.

And by your open mindedness, there is no doubt that you will listen to everyone in the frontlines who has a message or suggestion to make to improve the Army. It is because you have remained an indisputable key component in the struggle for the liberation of Nigeria from terrorism, insurgencies and insurrections, as we are merely your foot soldiers.

We assure you by the prophetic voice of our colleagues that like others before us, we have chosen the patriotic duty to serve our country even at the cost of our lives. And so, in spite of our collective follies, artificial setbacks and difficulties, we are not undeterred and resolute to present to you the trophy of conquest of enemies of Nigeria.

Finally, Sir, we wish you a happy Armed Forces Day celebration; ditto for the esteemed members of the Nigerian Armed Forces; their families and the good people of Nigeria.

Wike and the integrity question

By Kenneth Esele

Perforated wisdom is man’s greatest foe right medieval times. In Nigeria, dearth of personal scruples and the commensurate eclipse of moral etiquettes have cast many into damning hell with selves. Most leaders in Nigeria today, only define virtues and values from their narrowed prisms of what is beneficial no matter how weird or even thrusted to them by the devil.

Nigerians have had to bear this burden for ages. And the trend seems to be worsening each passing day. It is reason for the commonplace and boldface reeling of lies, falsehoods and concocted “truths” even in sacred places. The proclivity to freely churn out unconscionable lies by supposed leaders is persuasively heartbroken. It is worse with some politicians or the clan of leaders bestriding the land today.

Even in church, the unrestrained proclivity to deceit, lies and mindless hoot of empty pride and integrity haunts some leaders like the putrefying smell of rotten meat. Only in Nigeria, do some clergymen and prophets fake miracles and feign spiritual powers they do not possess.

Some Nigerian politicians have “strong rooms, or shrines” which house earthly deities in the fortress of Government Houses they retreat in supplication every day before retirement to bed. But in public glare, they grasshop from one church to another in pious haughtiness and artificialized portrait of saints. But to the clairvoyants, of course, they are saints and apostle of darkness. It reflects in their thoughts, words and actions.

In this clime, it’s extremely difficult to find leaders who accurately fit into the description of upright, selfless, conscionable, honest and truthful men and women with proven emblems of integrity. That they are scarce does not presuppose their total absence. But the subsisting and insurmountable problem is that such personalities of honour and integrity are very few in this clime.

And certainly, Rivers state Gov. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike is the least option in this illumination of integrity. His records of political and public life in his home state of Rivers reeks with resentful odour and filth, the type that trails the credentials of ex-convicts. In Kenya, the great people of Masai have a proverb which says; “The night has ears.” But Wike is oblivious of this reality.

But before smuggling himself into national political limelight under the Jonathan Presidency, Gov. Wike had the reputation of a dreary and scary kingpin of armed political thug for various political masters in his home state. It was his license to prominence and ascension to leadership.

Its inexplicable, but some Nigerians believe in adorning persons with crooked backgrounds. It is Gov. Wike’s incontrovertible badge in public. He could be a saint in shrines before his earthly gods, but a valiant and an evil one in public estimation.

It was therefore, baffling where Gov. Wike got the moral strength and a conscience which bespeaks of integrity to the extent of scolding the institution of the Nigerian Military and directly, the venerated Nigerian Army in such profane diction in a church, directly or vicariously guilty, with blood stained hands.

The Ambede people of theDemocratic Republic of the Congo warned in an adage that “If you carry the egg basket do not dance.” Apparently, Gov. Wike has ignored this wisdom. So consistently, the Governor haughtily brandishes his piteously deprived integrity.

Gov. Wike mouthed on Sunday, January 12, 2019 at the Inter-denominational Church Service to mark Year 2020 this Armed Forces Day Celebration at the Saint Peter’s Anglican Church, Rumuepirikom, Port Harcourt that “It is unfortunate that the military has lost its integrity because of some unprofessional personnel. Nobody is afraid of the military because of their unprofessional conduct. Those who come to rig election or kill Rivers people, Heaven will never remember them.”

Incredible! Assuming Nigeria is not a country of polluted values, characters like Gov. Wike have no business near the corridors of power. Now for the same man to unconscionably poohpooh the professionalism and integrity of uniformed men and the Army or its leadership smacks of the proverbial pot calling the kettle black.

While delving into detailed antecedents of Gov. Wike’s pathetic past is wasteful and needless, a rewind of one or two incidents would really hint of the concealed persona in Gov. Wike. In 2015, during Wike’s permutations to grab power, he allegedly sponsored silent elimination of opponents in the state. Gov. Wike violently hijacked the 2014 PDP governorship primary in River state and crowned himself the party’s flagbearer for the 2015 guber polls.

This undemocratic act generated multi-layered controversies and crisis in the state. The then sitting President Goodluck Jonathan summoned a meeting with all the 15 rival aspirants’ to Wike, party stakeholders and chieftains at Lagacy House, Abuja, the headquarters of his 2015 Campaign Organization. Gov. Wike stunned Abuja residents when he stormed the venue of the meeting with armed thugs before the arrival of Dr. Jonathan. The seated guests were mercilessly tortured and scattered.

Wike’s struggle to grab power at all cost in 2015, orchestrated the violence and killings in 11 out of the 23 LGAs in the state. At least 19 persons were killed in Rivers state as revealed by the Prof. Chidi Odinkalu-led Rivers Commission of Inquiry set up by the then outgoing Governor, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi.

The report ranked Rivers topmost in electoral violence and killings. The same scenario played out during the National and State Assembly rerun elections in the state, with Gov. Wike now as substantive Governor. And exasperated Odinkalu remarked, “It also shows how and why Rivers State and Nigeria must end impunity for political violence.” It was a tacit reference to Wike’s barbaric actions.

The Commission of Inquiry probed a total of 275 different violations centered on killings, injuries to persons, arsons and destructions. And from the suspected 236 alleged perpetrators identified in the course of testimonies, 120 named perpetrators were Gov. Wike’s staunch political thugs/supporters.

The same scenario repeated during the 2019 general elections in Rivers state, where Gov. Wike was desperately seeking for reelection. A short dossier of that elections indicated that a soldier and five other persons were killed; several others injured in the instigated violence that trailed the Presidential and National Assembly elections at Abonnema, headquarters of Akuku Toru LGA of Rivers state.

A chieftain of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Chairman of Andoni LGA , Chief Mowan Etete, was killed alongside his elder brother and cousin in Asarama by suspected thugs of Gov. Wike; just as APC’s state Publicity Secretary, also Chris Finebone disclosed the cold blooded murder of the party’s ex-officio, Ignatius who was shot dead at Ajakaja Andoni by suspected thugs.

These are some of the many odd deals Gov. So, the Army or the APC could have masterminded the murder of their members? Wike and his supporters used every violent arsenal to either compromise or thwart the 2019 electoral process in the state. Security agents arrested top officials of Wike’s government and loyalists in possession of illegal and sensitive INEC electoral materials, as they were ferrying to secret places for massive thumbprinting.

That Gov. Wike’s mandate both in 2015 and 2019 have been confirmed by the courts based on Nigeria’s defective laws and justice system does not vitiate the fact that Gov. Wike is a serial election rigger or fraudster, who is savouring a mandate soaked in blood of the innocent. Where such a leader got the impetus to shout or feign integrity is the greatest tragedy of the democratic cum leadership experience in Nigeria.

Everyone is imagining what persuasions’ compelled Gov. Wike to mouth integrity crafted to mock the Nigerian Army. When did the word lose its genuine meaning to levels where dishonorable leaders like Gov. Wike plays basketful ball in its court? That’s why an African proverb says, “Birds sing not because they have answers but because they have songs.” Wike’s grandstanding is rooted in this African crack wisdom.

Like the Gambians say, “If your only tool is a hammer, you will see every problem as a nail.” Gov. Wike’s main problem in life is barren integrity and he feels every other person or institution suffers from his deformed morality and disfigured conscience.

What else does anybody expects from Wike who is perpetually at war with himself; at war with antigraft agencies and physically fights security agents, including the DSS? His deviation into the recent attack on the reputation of the Nigerian Army is a belated effort to salvage his battered image. It has failed and would continue to fail, unless he embarks on genuine self- reformation and internal cleansing.

And it is not something achieved by trick or such childish antics. The Ethiopians say, “You cannot build a house for last year’s summer,” and it will take Gov. Wike’s genuine efforts to erase his polluted past.

Cheryl Hugheswarns that “The truly scary thing about undiscovered lies is that they have a greater capacity to diminish us than exposed ones. They erode our strength, our self-esteem, our very foundation.” Sadly, Gov. Wike has found himself on such limiting humiliations in spite of his rise to leadership because his lies and hypocrisy are exposed. It’s an understandable nightmare for him of some sort!

But the Nigerian Army is consoled by the words of American novelist Frederick Douglass who said, “I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and to incur my own abhorrence.” The Nigerian Army prefers to be true to itself, uphold its stainless integrity because like Stephen Covey; “Moral authority comes from following universal and timeless principles like honesty, integrity, treating people with respect.”

If Gov. Wike’s antagonism to these virtues is what he terms integrity, then the Nigerian Army should stay miles away from Wike’s brand of integrity. It only exists in Wike’s thinking faculties and vocabulary.

Esele is a public affairs commentator and wrote this piece from Badagry, Lagos.

Imo: APC governors welcome Uzodinma, laud Supreme Court ruling

Governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the platform Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) has welcomed the Imo state governor-elect, Hope Uzordinma, into their fold, assuring their full support for his administration.

In a statement signed Wednesday in Abuja by the chairman of the forum and the Kebbi state governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, the governors affirmed their “commitment to work in synergy with all our APC controlled states and the federal government guided by our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari, to strengthen the capacities of our progressive states to create jobs, stimulate economic activity, reduce inequality and diminish poverty in Nigeria.”

The governors while rejoicing with President Muhammadu Bunari, the party and the leaders of the APC, said: “We welcome you to the fold of Progressive Governors as you take over the mantle of leadership in Imo state.

“We congratulates His Excellency Senator Hope Uzodinma on his victory at the Supreme Court, which affirmed his victory in the March 9, 2019 Governorship election in Imo state.

“We rejoice with you and the people of Imo state, and all lovers of democracy and justice in Nigeria in this rightly deserved victory that restored your stolen mandate.

“We in particular wish to commend your doggedness, resilience, commitment to the rule of law and abiding faith in the judiciary that culminated into this ultimate victory. It is victory at last for us all.”

Boko Haram/ISWAP attacks: CALSER mourns Nigerien troops, insists on UN sanctions against France, others

The Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights (CALSER) has grieved with the government and people of Niger Republic over the death of its troops, calling for sanctions against France and other alleged sponsors of terrorism in Africa.

The group made this known at a candlelight procession held at the Unity Fountain, Abuja, on Tuesday night in honour of the slain Nigerien soldiers.

The Niger government declared a three-day of national mourning after 89 soldiers were killed in an attack on a military base on Thursday.

Heavily armed militants invaded an army outpost in Chinagodrar in the country’s west, near the border of Mali, prompting the country’s president Mahamadou Issoufou to axe its Army Chief.

In a sober march, CALSER mourned with the Francophone nation and further raised the alarm about foreign entities backing Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists on the continent.

CALSER’s convener Princess Ajibola, in her statement, blamed the United Nations for seemingly not doing enough to stop the subversive activities of countries that are sponsoring terrorists to destabilize Nigeria and the rest of Africa.

Ajobola singled out France, which routinely have been fingered to be behind terrorism in Africa, especially owing to the Lake Chad resources.

The group, therefore, called on the European nation and others “ eager to drown West Africa in blood to heed lest they take the larger ember of the fire they are stoking to their bosom”.

The group of Nigerians further besieged on the United Nations “ to remove their heads from the sand and stop playing the proverbial ostrich”.

In a situation where the UN doesn’t take any action, CALSER advised authorities in Niger to bring the harshest repercussions yet upon the terrorists.

Read full statement below:

Lovers of humanity,
Permit us to begin this address by inviting us all to join in the observance of a moment of silence for the troops of Niger Republic who died in an operation against terrorists and over 100 persons from an attack on humanity. As we observe this moment of silence, let us also have in our thoughts the fallen heroes on our side of the border, Nigeria. Not to be left out are the innocent people that these depraved terrorists have targeted each time they are faced with the reality that the military of sovereign states shall always triumph over terrorists.

May God grant eternal rest to the departed gallant ones and give their relations the fortitude to bear the loss. As we stand with the people of Niger Republic as that nation marks a 3-day national mourning, let us be united in one prayers that evil no matter how long it takes can never overcome light.

The Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) may think they have done their worst through the attack on the troops leading to such casualty on the government side, but one is reassured that the soldiers inflicted an equally high casualty on the terrorists by killing 77 of them. All the lovers of humanity, those who abhor human suffering and the diminishing of the value of human live through acts of terrorism, see the attack as the continuation of the culture of cowardice for which the terrorists are well known. It is the strongest confirmation yet that the terrorists and their sponsors are scared stiff of the multinational alliance that has placed their ranks in disarray.

The Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights (CALSER) sees the attack as the latest proof yet that there are foreign entities that have continued to support Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists with not just logistics, medications, food and weapons but have increased their support to make the straggling remnants of the terrorists to be needlessly deadly. We fear that the foreign interests have now added training and supply of intelligence to the terrorists, which led these troops having to pay the supreme price.

For this we place the blame squarely on the United Nations for not doing enough to stop the subversive activities of countries that are sponsoring terrorists to destabilize Nigeria and the rest of Africa even now that they have lost control of the demons they created, which has resulted in countries other than Nigeria being attacked on such a massive scale. We call on the decision makers in the United Nations to remove their heads from the sand and stop playing the proverbial ostrich. The problem that geo-strategic interests of certain countries have created in the Lake Chad Basin has grown from being Nigeria’s headache to be a West African regional nightmare. It is a matter of time before it becomes the death knell of the world and humanity in general if the United Nations continues to be a slave to the political correctness that has prevented it from intervening being decisive in coordinating world action against terrorism in the region.

We call on those that are eager to drown West Africa in blood to heed lest they take the larger ember of the fire they are stoking to their bosom. Of particular note is France whose activities in the Lake Chad Basin have been geared towards ensuring ascendancy for the terrorists. That country has persistently been linked to the terrorists’ weapon acquisition and other material support that they enjoy. There have been instances where France has passed funds to the terrorists under the guise of paying ransom for its abducted nationals in clear violation of the position of respectable nations that do not negotiate with terrorists.

France sees nothing wrong with terrorist financing neither does it have qualms about the logistics it provided being used to kill the troops of a sovereign nation that happens to be its former colony.

In the face of the deliberate arms wringing and purposeful inaction on the part of the United Nations, we urge the authorities in Niger to bring the harshest repercussions yet upon the terrorists. They should be taught the lesson they have refused to learn that their being sociopath does not in any way lessen the value of the life of humans particularly those that have volunteered themselves in the service of their nation.

They should be dealt with in a way that they will refuse to lend themselves as merchant of death for immoral foreign interests.

The Republic of Niger should have also learnt it lessons now that allowing the terrorists to find safe haven in its territory after successive attacks on Nigeria is both a threat and danger to not only Nigeriens but the rest of Africa. The Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists are akin to wild animal, at best feral species, that cannot be treated as domestic breeds. The death they dealt to others must now be visited on them with an intensity that will reassure the civilian population that they will be safe from the terrorists. Also, the gallant troops that died should not be allowed to have died in vain.

CALSER appeals to the Nigerian Military to prepare a befitting reception for the terrorists that will soon be attempting to escape the consequences of their indiscretion in killing the Nigerien troops. Any terrorist attempting to escape from Niger should be made to realize the mistake of their way as such murderers should arrive into hails of bullets. We must not allow them to have one hour of rest before being dispatched to the great beyond to answer for the sins they have committed against humanity.

Group cautions Gov Wike over attempt to demonize the Nigerian Army

Following scathing remarks in the build up to the 2020 Armed Forces Remembrance Day, the Niger- Delta Change Ambassadors Forum (NDCAF) has warned Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State to desist from any further attempt to demonise the Nigerian Army.

The South-South based group gave this reprimand at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday to address what it described as “the unholy dance on the grave of Nigerian fallen heroes by Governor Wike”.

During a church service on Sunday to mark this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day, the governor downplayed the contributions of the gallant troops, especially at the last polls.

However, the Niger-Delta Change Ambassadors advised public office holders such as the Governor Wike, to desist from statements that are capable of causing disaffection in the polity.

In a statement signed by President, Comrade Asamowei Ebiakpo, the group believes Wike’s comment is a attempt to cause an unholy distraction in the fight against terrorism and other militant groups in Nigeria.

According to them, the governor is still pained by the Army’s resolute stance and timely intervention at the last general elections in Rivers state, without which the state would have erupted in violence.

The Niger- Delta Change Ambassadors Forum, therefore, advised Mr Wike to show respect for apolitical institutions such as the Nigerian Army, whose constitutional mandate requires that the territorial integrity of the country is preserved at all times.

The group added that the timing of his utterances is an indication that Mr Wike is ungrateful for the sacrifices of the gallant troops and he is indeed dancing on the graves of Nigeria’s fallen heroes .

Read full statement below:

I welcome you all to this important gathering that was occasioned by the remark by the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, labeling the Nigerian Army as an organization without integrity.

This press conference is necessary to put issues in proper perspective and to advise public office holders such as the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, to desist from statements that are capable of causing disaffection in the polity.

The Niger-Delta Change Ambassadors Forum is alarmed that a governor of a state that is meant to rise above board in national issues, has decided to condescend to an unenviable height in an attempt to score cheap political points.

We wish to state that Governor Nyesom Wike’s statement on the Nigerian Army lacking integrity is not just of poor taste, but also an attempt to cause an unholy distraction in the fight against terrorism and other militant groups in Nigeria.

Governor Nyesom Wike must admit that his major grouse with the Nigerian Army is its resolute stance and timely intervention in the 2019 general elections in Rivers state, without which the state would have erupted in violence due to the planned activities of his political thugs that were mobilized to wreak havoc on innocent and unarmed citizens in the state.

This undeniable fact is mainly responsible for the bulk of the uncomplimentary remarks on the officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army during and after the general elections of 2019 by Governor Nyesom Wike.

The Niger Delta Change Ambassadors Forum wishes to state that while it is within the constitutional provisions of the Governor to comment on national issues, it is also sacrosanct that he realizes that he ought to be guided by decorum, first as a citizen of Nigerian that is bounded by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and secondly as the Governor of a State in Nigeria.

A situation where caution is thrown into the wind is unacceptable and calls for concern from all well-meaning Nigerians that are desirous of the continued growth and development of the country.

Governor Nyesom Wike must at all times show respect for apolitical institutions such as the Nigerian Army, whose constitutional mandate requires that the territorial integrity of Nigeria is preserved at all times.

Governor Nyesom Wike must be reminded that he is also bonded by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to be circumspect in his public conduct at all times and all situations in the overall interest of the country.

To choose such an auspicious occasion as the Armed Forces Remembrance Day to vent his frustrations and his ill manners is a display of Governor Nyesom Wike’s ingratitude to the sacrifices of our fallen heroes who gave their lives for the unity of our great country.

We wish to state that this is indeed an exhibition of the deep hatred that Governor Nyesom Wike has had for the Nigerian Army from time immemorial due to his aggressive and despicable brand of politics.

The Niger Delta Change Ambassadors Forum is tempted to state that the numerous atrocities of Governor Nyesom Wike might be the driving force behind its irrationality in his public conduct in recent times. Most probably, the blood of innocent Rivers people that he sacrificed in the actualization of his political ambition is haunting him and would continue to haunt him until he desists from such despicable behaviors.

The Niger Delta Change Ambassadors Forum wishes to state that Governor Nyesom Wike’s statement against the Nigerian Army is indeed dancing on the graves of Nigeria’s fallen heroes.

We wish to, at this point, encourage members of the general public to always view with a pinch of salt statements emanating from Governor Nyesom Wike and his cronies for lacking in merit and still not in the national interest, but selfish interest.