Insecurity: APC accuses PDP, NASS of planning to overthrow Buhari

The All Progressives Congress Local Government Chairmen (APC-LGC) has has alleged that there is a plot by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to overthrow President Muhammadu Buhari with the aid of the National Assembly.

The grassroots APC chairmen made this accusation at a press conference on Thursday in Abuja, where it strongly accused the PDP of manipulating the NASS to remove the current administration from office.

Speaking on behalf of the group, National Coordinator, Adadu Alegwu revealed that the opposition has resorted to the legislative arm having failed to legitimately oust President Buhari in the Judiciary.

The recent upsurge in criminal activities across the country; from Boko Haram/ISWAP attacks to banditry and kidnappings, the group alleged, are the handiwork of the PDP, whose desperation for power isn’t strange.

However, its new-found alliance with the National Assembly, according to the APC leaders, is a cause for worry, especially after some of its disloyal members reportedly received humongous sum to betray the party.

This script, the group further revealed, is orchestrated by a top-ranking member of the PDP in the National Assembly, backed by a former president, a governor of one of the South-South state and a perpetual presidential candidate.

According to the group, having already penetrated the NASS, the PDP sought to win over the Service Chiefs to its fold.

However, their unwillingness to compromise triggered the opposition to unleash mayhem in the country.

The Forum of APC LGA Chairmen, therefore, says it considers the grand plot as a coup against democracy, and as such discerning members of the general public are placed on notice of the manifestation of the destabilization plot by the PDP.

The group further enjoined Nigerians to be steadfast and resolute in their belief in the sustenance of democracy.

Read full statement below:

The National Forum of APC Local Government Chairmen the umbrella forum of all APC local government chairmen in Nigeria is holding the press conference as a matter of national interest to intimate members of the general public of the clandestine plot by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to remove President Muhammadu Buhari from office through the National Assembly.

According to credible information reaching the National Forum of APC Local Government Chairmen has indeed revealed that the opposition PDP is the brain behind the recent upsurge of criminal activities across the country manifest in Boko Haram/ISWAP, banditry and kidnappings.

This they, the PDP, have elected to do in an attempt to pitch the people against the democratically elected government of President Muhammadu Buhari all in a bid to take the mandate freely given by the people through the backdoor and destabilize the country.

The PDP has enlisted the members of the National Assembly to carry out this nefarious act, and they have also gone a step further by soliciting the buy-in of some disloyal APC members in the National Assembly by compromising them with huge monetary inducement.

We wish to state that the plot in the National Assembly was orchestrated by a top-ranking member of the PDP in the National Assembly who have been mandated by the leadership of the PDP to see to the realization of this grand plot against democracy in Nigeria.

The general public should be informed that the PDP has mobilized humongous amount of monies for this despicable act that has seen monies exchanging hands for the actualization of their evil agenda against the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The National Forum of APC Local Government Chairmen wishes to inform the general public that credible information at our disposal indicates that a former president, a governor of one of the South-South states, a perpetual presidential candidate, who still has his gaze at the 2023 presidential elections, and a governor from one of the states in northwest Nigeria, are all behind this despicable plot.

This grand plot against democracy in Nigeria has as a component a puerile campaign against the Service Chiefs because of their loyalty to the country and the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, and also their refusal to surrender the country to them during the 2019 general elections.

We also have it on competent authority that the character and efforts of the Service Chiefs would be subjected to an inglorious slander campaign to compromise their loyalty to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The Forum of APC Local Government Chairmen have also gathered from credible sources that should the Service Chiefs refuse to buckle to their evil plots; there would be a covert sponsorship of criminal activities across the country in a bid to undermine their efforts in the fight against terrorism and other political militant groups.

Also, as part of the grand plot, the PDP has enlisted the support of a major religious group to use their platform to issue statements and carry out actions that would discredit the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and by extension to paint a picture of religious persecution, which would, in turn, set the country on a dangerous religious crisis.

The game plan is to ensure that the Supreme Court is also brought to disrepute since it failed to remove President Muhammadu Buhari from office. We consequently wish to state that the recent nationwide protest by the PDP over the Supreme Court judgment is a pointer to what to expect from the PDP and their hatchet men in the next few days.

The Forum of APC Local Government Chairmen considers the grand plot as a coup against democracy, and as such discerning members of the general public are placed on notice of the manifestation of the destabilization plot by the PDP that would be unleashed on the country in the days ahead.

The Forum of APC Local Government Chairmen wishes to put in on record that should Nigeria experience any form of religious and political upheaval in the days ahead; the PDP should be blamed squarely.

We also wish to state that Nigeria is a democratic country that is governed by laws, and any attempt by unscrupulous political elements that have refused to respect the wishes of the people would be resisted through the instrument of the law.

The Forum of APC Local Government Chairmen consequently enjoins members of the general public to be steadfast and resolute in their belief in the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria. It is our firm belief that this nefarious plot by the PDP would fail woefully because Nigerians are wiser and can see the handwriting written on the wall.

For them, it is either their way for no way. But for the generality of Nigerians, it is indeed our way because the destinies of over 180 million Nigerians cannot be truncated because of the blind and selfish ambition of a few.

We wish to state that Nigerians are indeed watching as events unfold. And it is our firm belief that their nefarious plot would fail woefully.

Thank you all for taking out time from your busy schedules to attend this press conference, and together we shall make Nigeria a viable and robust country where our hopes and aspirations would be translated to tangible realities.

May God bless Nigeria and bless us all.

Insurgency: Former Senate President writes Lawan, urges complementary strategy to military solutions

Elder statesman and former President of the Senate, Senator Ameh Ebute, has called on Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, to engage other politicians, technocrats as well as businessmen from the northeast to join hands to help in complementing roles that will solve the lingering security crises in the region.

Ebute wants the Senate President as the most senior political appointee from the north east zone to convoke and lead the Northeast reconciliation and peace to end Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorism bedeviling the area.

The ex-legislator decried a situation where everyone including some politicians who are responsible for the crisis blame President Buhari or the patriotic Service Chiefs for the problem instead of playing their roles with a view to ending it.

He was reacting to the recent call by the national assembly on president Buhari to sack his Service Chiefs over the security situation in the country.

Ebute, a former lawmaker from Benue South, in the letter addressed to Senator Lawan on Wednesday, said all hands must be on deck as the fight against insurgency should not be left alone for the Service Chiefs of Mr. President.

The letter reads below.

Your Excellency, Sir,

“It is time for you to convoke and lead the Northeast reconciliation and peace to end Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorism: Open letter.

May I specially extend compliments of the season to you and members of the Ninth National Assembly. I commend your leadership of the national parliament which is functioning on a seamless template with the executive arm of government for the development and prosperity of the country.

I need no introduction either to you or Nigerians, having earlier served my country in your present capacity. As an elder statesman, I intermittently comment on national affairs from the sidelines and offer advice where necessary, which I won’t hesitate to indulge now.

At the turn of Year 2020, I felt a pulsating urge to write an open epistle to you on the Boko Haram insurgency and Islamic State West Africa (ISWAP) terrorism ravaging Nigeria’s Northeast particularly, a region of your ancestry. It is also home to many other prominent personalities who served or are currently holding influential positions in Nigeria.

Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorism in Nigeria has cloaked 10 years plus and still counting in atrocious acts. We thank God for the emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari as our democratic leader in 2015 and the deafening commitment of his administration, which has decimated and technically defeated terrorists in Nigeria. Under his administration, many communities and LGAs in the Northeast which were in the hands of Boko Haram terrorists have been reclaimed.

Without the hard and sustained mitigation of the Buhari Presidency, Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorism would have overwhelmed and conquered Nigeria by now. Nigerian military, especially, the Nigerian Army, led by the COAS and leader of the counter-insurgency operations, Lt.Gen. TY Buratai have exhibited tremendous courage and gallantry in the confrontations and repression of terrorists. They deserve our eulogies every day.

But as known to all of us, Boko Haram insurgency is yet to be blighted completely in our land. The repressed and feeble Boko Haram has been enlivened and energized by the more vicious ISWAP terrorists from Iran. It is overstretching the Nigerian military. But they have found strength because of the receptiveness of local accomplices to their evil.

It is obvious that military solutions alone, as we seem to focus now cannot quench the fire of terrorism in the Northeast. There is every need to also apply political and economic solutions to Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorism. It is a problem which should be tackled on all fronts simultaneously.

We cannot dodge the reality that youths in these areas have not felt the impact of government these years. It is reason for their restlessness and why they are easily lured as willing tools in the hands of the Boko Haram insurgents to engage in mischief and evil against their own country.

This is where I find you and your office as the Number three citizen of Nigeria now relevant and sensitive. You have over delayed to act by convoking a parley among all political leaders and business moguls of the Northeast to deliberate and come out with a political and economic remedies to end terrorism.

Sir, you are the most senior political leader from the entire Northeast and there is every need for you act or demonstrate concern and real leadership of your people. You should be worried and sleepless over the ruination and devastation of your land of birth by bile and brutal campaigns of terrorists, imported into Nigeria and supported by indigenous non-state actors who are undeniably extending covert support for festering Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorism in Nigeria.

It is time you dust your leadership focus on legislations/approval of budgets for terrorism expenditures alone. It behooves on you to galvanize the forces in the Northeast towards finding durable political and economic solutions to terrorism in the region.

Your inability to summon a Northeast stakeholder, political appointees, business men and women and all the intellectuals parley from the region to find a lasting solution speaks more about an indifference to the plight of your people.

A roll call of personalities and political appointees currently serving the government of President Buhari from the Northeast alone is impressive. They hold high profile positions beginning with you as Senate President; Chief of Army Staff; Director General, NEMA; National Security Adviser; Director General, NOA; Group Managing Director, NNPC and Chairman, National Assembly Service Commission.

We also have the likes of Chief of Staff to the President; Chairman, Federal Character Commission; Executive Secretary, Federal Government Housing Commission; chairman Senate Committee on Army; Federal Permanent Secretaries; Director -General Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria (FAAN); APC National Secretary; Director -General FERMA and the Acting EFCC chairman.

Besides, we have ministers from each of these states; National Assembly members, States Assembly members, traditional and religious leaders and prominent multi-billionaires from the Northeast region. The list is by no means exhaustive. Why have you not deemed it necessary to lead a dialogue with these personalities to chat a course to make Boko Haram/ ISWAP terrorism ravaging the Northeast become history?

Let us not be deceived, if these respected leaders and personalities cannot do it, no one else can do it. And leaving the entire burden in the hands of President Buhari and the Nigerian military alone is not thoughtful or wise decision and can never end terrorism.

Nigerians would like to see a new commitment from the Senate President and other leaders from the region in doing more to achieve the needed results. Fortunately, Borno state Governor Babagana Zulum has shown enough zeal in this direction and you must pair with him to find the needed solutions to end Boko Haram/ ISWAP terrorism.

Peace and security, which every nation craves to enjoy is not a commodity that can be achieved in a day; just like war is not won in one day. Whilst the military can subdue and neutralize the threats posed by the insurgents, the ultimate foundation to peace lies in the hands of stakeholders from this region who are expected to navigate unconventional means to engage the youths and the people generally.

Therefore, leaving the battle to Mr. President and the military chiefs alone can only bring an end to the bombings, but not a final end to the killings which are usually perpetrated by neglected and abandoned youths who are hired by terrorist kingpins.

The Senate in particular and the national Assembly as a whole can actually do quite a lot more to support Mr. President win these anti-terrorism campaigns. You were a member of the eighth Senate which refused to grant approval for Mr. President to secure funds for arms and ammunition to fight terrorism. There is no doubt that the Senate under your leadership has been helpful to Mr. President and it is expected to do more to support him.

And as individual leaders at our personal levels, there is much we can to economically to empower unemployed youths in the region to divert their attention from evil acts of terrorists. For instance, if each member of the national assembly decides to employ 20 youths as a community development project, we would be putting a reasonable number of youths out of the reach of Boko Haram terrorists masters for engagement.

The national parliamentarians from the region could channel constituency funds to productive use to uplift the economic status of people in the region by establishing cottage industries or invest in other small-scale economic ventures.

Let me pause now. But I expect you to reflect deeply on these proposals and act accordingly to erase the tears of your people in the Northeast.

Service Chiefs: Group accuses House of Reps of working with underground forces to ruin Nigeria

The National Democratic Front (NDF) has accused the House of Representatives of working with underground forces to return Nigeria to dark and inglorious era.
NDF was reacting to a motion moved on Thursday by the Chief Whip of the House, Hon, Mohammed Tahir Mongunu and 14 others, calling on the current Service Chiefs to resign or be fired by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Addressing newsmen on Thursday, in Abuja, Dr. Abdulkadir Bolaji, National Secretary of NDF said they were shocked that some reps members have “wittingly subscribed to this hogwash using a protectively deceptive official cover to push this demonic agenda.”
He said the call for the sack of Security Chiefs is amazing to say the least clear attempt to pave way for the defeated insurgents to return Nigeria to era of blood and tears.
The group also advised that the President should be prepared to slam a state of emergency on any state that falters on securing lives and property of the citizenry
Full text of his speech below.
From time to time, we are pained by the deliberate actions or multiple commissions from our national legislators, especially the House of Representatives in the 9th National Assembly (NASS). We are vexed by their continuous wobbling in the performance of their official assignments. Naturally, we can overlook their motley of scandals, but certainly not undue interference that tends to tamper with the sanctity of the security fabrics of our country.

At plenary on Wednesday January 29, 2020, the Reps members in a resolution after debating a motion sponsored by Hon. Mohammed Monguno, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the leaders of Security agencies in Nigeria, if they fail to resign voluntarily. The Reps members attempted to justify the reason for this unthinkable and impetuous decision to the renewed spate of attacks and killings in Nigeria country.

The tenor of the resolution draped with unpardonable, abominable and suspected secret alliance/connivance with the foreign evil forces against Nigeria. There are some Nigerians who have belabored themselves to discredit Nigeria’s Security leaderships presently battling terrorism, insurrections and insurgencies in the country.

Overtime, precisely in the last few months, Nigerians have heard and assessed the campaigns for the sack of Security Chiefs. And it emanates from individuals and organizations inclined to partisanship and intolerant of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

And they echo same rehearsed reasons in attempts to disparage Nigeria’s Security leaderships, by projecting biased, irrational and self-serving reasons. Therefore, one hears the same conspiratorial voices of anti- Nigeria choristers from opposition parties like the PDP or its apostates, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Senate, the House of Reps, elder statement like Gen. Ty Danjuma (rtd) or some faceless human rights organizations such as this latest one by the identity of Human Rights organization and Social Justice (HRSJ).

They are not necessarily concerned with the voice of genuine reasoning. So, the obviously contracted HRSJ, was quick to lend its support to the position of NASS which passed a vote of no-confidence on the Military, Police and other security agencies in the country and bargained for their sack too.

It is astonishing that some Rep members have wittingly subscribed to this hogwash using a protectively deceptive official cover to push this demonic agenda. The recent baseless alarm calling for the sack of Security Chiefs is amazing to say the least.

It dawned on Nigerians clearly that the House of Reps is scheming with underground forces to return back to the dark and inglorious era when external forces reportedly bribed members of NASS to arm-twist Mr. President. This was usually done through ceaseless vitriols on his appointees to compel him into making decisions incongruent with the interest of the country. These legislators have sinister motives against Nigeria.

But both Senate President, Sen. Ahmed Lawan and House of Reps Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila have diverted attention from NASS’s scandalous controversies and atrocities at the expense of their image and interest of Nigerians. The allocation of a huge separate N37 billion for mere renovation NASS complex in 2020 budget, outside the N128 billion allocated for NASS in same fiscal year.

Expending a whooping of N5.5 billion to purchase luxury cars for lawmakers in a poverty-stricken country facing hard times have not portrayed them as lawmakers concerned with national interest. Same for racketeering[TNNP1] of federal jobs at the FIRS, budget padding and recklessness amounting to over N260 billion. Ironically though, both chambers who passed the 2020 budget failed to notice that budgets estimate of some Ministries, Agencies and Departments were excluded in the budget.

The wholesome passage of the 2020 Appropriation Act without proper inquest and shutting down of media coverage for budget defence are some of their many ills and frustration of progress of Nigeria. The House of Reps at this point should concentrate on laundering its battered image, than the preoccupation with calls for sack of Security leaderships which is indubitably outside its purview of responsibilities.

While steeped in this official profligacy designed to benefit their personal pockets, House of Reps ignored pleas from the Army leadership to increase the meagre budgetary allocation to the Nigerian Army. During the Military’s defence of its 2020 budget proposal of the military before the House of Representatives Committee on Army , the Reps members were urged them to exempt the army from the existing budget ceiling or envelope allocation system.

But they ignored it despite the cogent reasons. But is the same House of Reps which never gave a thought to it has pleasured to vilify and crucify for failing insecurity in parts of the country by calling for the sack of security chief. This is warped wisdom, official deceit and self-denial.

Therefore, we state without mincing words that the Reps call for sack or resignation of Security leadership in the country is uncharitable and deliberate mischief by a bunch of failures, in the House trying to hide their real motive.

We have no reason to doubt the superlative performance of the current crop of Security leaderships in Nigeria. NDF is proud particularly, with Service Chiefs who are doing their best in the prevailing circumstances and Nigerans are impressed with their efforts so far.

Let it be known to the House of Rep members that it is unambiguous; Mr. President is on track and will tackle the emergent issues at hand soonest. The President will accomplish this feat without sacking any of the very patriots that have been so helpful and invaluable in curbing the excesses of insurgencies and insurrections as wished by these seemingly confused agents of the same evil forces orchestrating the carnages in Nigeria.

NDF finds it repulsive and unfortunate how these disgruntled political elements discuss the Service Chiefs like aliens who have no bearing in the fate of their own country.

Consequently, the ranting of members of the House of Representatives is personalized verdict or biased opinions and infinitesimal, especially on matters they have no such lawful powers to interrogate or determine like Security leaderships as they mouthed freely.

We will only call on politicians and members of parliament inclusive to stop their unholy alliance with terrorists, bandits and kidnappers to destabilize the country. It is the first step, and secondly, approve adequate budget financing for security agencies to tackle violence and killings, as against the meaningless sermons on resignation or sacking of them.

It is foolhardy to call for the resignation of the President and sacking of security chiefs, while silent on states governors, where the renewed incidents of attacks and killings occur. Some of these Governors who are the Chief Security officers of their states and collect monthly security votes, but do not devote it to solving emerging security issues. It shows the bias and malice in the parliamentarians against President Buhari.

As President Buhari is the Chief Security officer of Nigeria, the states governors are same in their domains. The House of Reps must first call for their resignation. We call on President Buhari to take a drastic action on Governors who err on security and allow insecurity situations degenerate to raise conditions conducive to criticize and blame the Presidency.

Henceforth, we advise that the President should be prepared to slam a state of emergency on any state that falters on securing lives and property of the citizenry. We hope the House of Representative would not hesitate to grant approval when the time is ripe?

Buhari’s Resignation: Igbo group disowns Abaribe, asks him to apologise

A socio-political movement in the southeast, Igbos in Nigeria Movement (INM) has disowned the lawmaker representing Abia-South Senatorial District, Eyinaya Abaribe, over his call for President  Muhammadu Buhari to resign from office. 

The Igbo group made this known on Thursday at a press conference in Awka, Anambra State, in which it ordered the 64-year-old to resign and apologise to Nigerians.

In a statement jointly signed by Mazi Ifeanyi Igwe and Paulinus Ozoani, its President and Secretary General respectively, the Igbos in Nigeria Movement expressed utter disappointment and disapproval of Mr Abaribe’s utterances. 

According to the group, this isn’t surprising as Mr Abaribe’s stature already suffered a big blow after his hobnob with terrorist leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

INM further revealed that the lawmaker and some of his allies may infact be behind the supposed insecurity situation and are only trying to create the impression that Mr. President is not delivering on his promise.

The Igbo group, therefore, disowned Mr Abaribe who they described as a “ trader masquerading as the people’s representative in the Senate”. 

While ordering the lawmaker to resign and apologise, INM, however, urged Nigerians not to be misled by Abaribe as his position doesn’t represent that of the region. 

Read full address below:

The Igbo in Nigeria Movement is disappointed by the decision of the Senator representing Abia-South Senatorial District, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, to abuse the sacred mandate of his constituents with his call for President Muhammadu Buhari’s resignation over the security challenges the country is grappling with.

Senator Abaribe’s tirade against the president, for that was all he did, is nothing but a cheap grandstanding by a man who is desperate for political rehabilitation after his stature was diminished by his decision to hobnob with terrorist leaders, Nnamdi Kanu.

It is disingenuous of the supposedly distinguished Senator to pretend that President Buhari’s administration did not successfully chase terrorists from major cities leaving them to only operate from beyond Nigeria’s borders with the incursions they make into Nigeria’s territory.

We also challenge Senator Abaribe to deny that the other security breaches like kidnapping and banditry are not connected with the activities of his co-travellers in the opposition, who sponsor such criminality in order to create the impression that Mr. President is not delivering on his promise to keep Nigeria secured.

Our expectation was that Senator Abaribe would have used the time allotted to him in debating the motion tagged, ‘Nigerian security challenges: urgent need to restructure, review and reorganize the current security architecture’ by Senator Abdullahi Yahaya, in a better manner. He should have for instance called on his party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to cease fire in the war of attrition they are waging against Nigeria.

It is on record that while waging this war on behalf of his party, Senator Abaribe is a major contributor to the insecurity in the country through the sponsorship and arming of the designated terrorist Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) group in the south east for many years. He demonstrated his deep connection with the group when he stood surety for its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who had put the country on fire of unimaginable proportion. 

He even went as far as using his office, alongside fellow terrorist sympathizers, refused to grant approval for Mr. President to secure the loan needed for the purchase of arms and ammunition to fight remnants of  the terrorists. 

Of course, they had expected that the terrorists would have decimated Nigeria by now not knowing that the Nigerian military will rise to the challenge.

The Igbos in Nigeria Movement decided to take Senator Abaribe to task so that his misguided position will not be misconstrued by patriotic Nigerians to be the collective decision of the south-east geo-political zone or that of the Igbo nation. 

We shall never align with what is criminal or evil, so it becomes necessary to disown this trader masquerading as the people’s representative in the Senate.

We consequently demand that Senator Abaribe resigns from the Senate since he has proven himself to be a misfit who is not qualified to speak on the floor of the Senate. In addition to resigning, he should apologize to Nigerians for his unnecessary tantrum.

NDDC Probe: CESJET writes IGP, DSS, seeks Security Protection For Acting MD

Following the forensic audit of the activities of the Niger-Delta Development Commission, NDDC, the Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency (CESJET) has written the Inspector- General of Police and the Director-General of the Directorate of State Services to beef up security around the Managing Director of the commission, Dr. (Mrs.) Joi Nunieh.

The centre, in a letter dated 28th January, 2020, made available to newsmen in Abuja, said the forensic probe has made the MD of the commission a target for disgruntled element who may be found culpable during the probe.

The centre said there is no gainsaying the fact that the issue of certificate forgery is popping up at this material time mainly because Dr. Nunieh has inaugurated a 50 (Fifty) man Verification Committee headed by Dr. Cairo Ojougboh to audit and document projects and contracts awarded in the 9 (Nine) Niger Delta States to ascertain the authenticity or otherwise of certain suspicious Interim Payment Certificates (IPCs) paid to contractors, which has placed a debt burden of about N3 Trillion Naira on the Commission.

According to Barrister Abiodun Sodiq Babalola, Director of Strategic Communication of CESJET, the centre observed that the unfortunate rage trailing the inauguration of the Interim Management Committee sometime in October, 2019 by the Federal Government of Nigeria to run the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is taking an alarming dimension.

He therefore sought security protection from relevant security agencies for the NDDC boss

”We recall that the Committee under the Chairmanship of Dr. (Mrs.) Joi Nunieh who doubles as Acting Managing Director of the Commission was meant to create an enabling environment for the forensic audit of the NDDC with a view to identifying and or exposing the massive corrupt practices perceived to have disrupted the original purpose of establishing the NDDC as an interventionist agency to alleviate the sufferings of the Niger Delta people.

”The forensic audit in the wisdom of President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR who sanctioned it was meant to cover 18 (Eighteen) years of the operation of the Commission.

”We can confirm that Dr. Gbene Joi Nunieh has not disappointed the Niger Delta people and indeed the whole country in carrying out her mandate. The huge success recorded by the Committee within a very short period is there for every observer to evaluate. Only on 19th December, 2019 it was revealed that the Committee following a tip-off, discovered the components of a Power Station worth $34 Million abandoned on the premises of the Nigeria Ports Authority in Port Harcourt since 2017. The said equipment was meant for the NDDC Sub-Station in Ekparagwa and Ikot Ekpene within Akwa Ibom State but left unused by a group of politicians turned contractors who would stop at nothing to loot and cripple the Nigerian economy.

”Little wonder then that Dr. Gbene Joi Nunieh is now a target for blackmail and possible assassination by agents of those persons who are afraid that the tsunami of the forensic audit will soon consume them. There was a recent accusation against Dr. Nunieh that she parades fake NYSC certificate. We make bold to state that this accusation is nothing but a deliberate attempt at smearing her hard reputation and distracting the ongoing drive to recover funds looted from NDDC.

”It gladdens our hearts to note that right thinking citizens of this country who know Dr. Nunieh and follow her antecedents over the years have since risen to the occasion under different Civil Society platforms to clear the air. There is no gainsaying the fact that the issue of certificate forgery is popping up at this material time mainly because Dr. Nunieh has inaugurated a 50 (Fifty) man Verification Committee headed by Dr. Cairo Ojougboh to audit and document projects and contracts awarded in the 9 (Nine) Niger Delta States to ascertain the authenticity or otherwise of certain suspicious Interim Payment Certificates (IPCs) paid to contractors, which has placed a debt burden of about N3 Trillion Naira on the Commission. The Verification Committee is billed to submit its report within the next two weeks as a prelude to the proper forensic audit”, he said.

He said the worry of the centre at the moment is the security of Dr. Gbene Joi Nunieh who, had become a soft target by the very looters and economic saboteurs she is exposing.

He called on the Department of State Services (DSS) to brace up to the task of beefing up security around Dr. Nunieh in the coming days.

”Incidences of threat to lives of public officials in Nigeria are not new but must be swiftly nipped in the bud before they become realities” he also said.

Insurgency: Borno lauds Buratai, Army for re-opening Damboa- Maiduguri road

….declare total support for the military

Some indigenes of Borno State, under the aegis of Borno Peace Ambassadors Forum (BPAF) has heaped praises on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai and his gallant troops on the frontline for ensuring the reopening of Damboa-Maiduguri road in Borno State.

This singular act, according to the Borno natives, has earned the Nigerian Army its total support and that of the entire northeast in its quest to rid the region of fleeing Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists.

The Borno Peace Ambassadors made this known at a press conference on Tuesday in Maiduguri to laud the “ efforts of the Nigerian Army in the reopening of the Maiduguri-Damboa Highway to human and vehicular movement.”

In a statement signed by Abdulmalik Aliyu and Mohammed Muritala, its President and Secretary respectively, the group commended the COAS for his high display of commitment towards to restoration of peace in the country.

The Borno indigenes also hailed his loyal and courageous troops stationed in the Theater of Operations who have strived night and day towards the restoration of peace in the region.

The group, therefore, expressed total support for Lt. Gen. Buratai and his troops who have won the total confidence of the people of Borno state and the northeast region through their historic acts in the battle for the soul of Nigeria.

The group, however, encouraged the Chief of Army Staff not to relent on this laudable feat until all the remnants of Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists are decimated.

Read full statement below:

The Borno Peace Ambassadors Forum, the umbrella body of progressive Borno State Indigenes, committed to the restoration and sustenance of Peace in Borno State, lauds the leadership, officers, and soldiers of the Nigerian Army for the great feat achieved in the reopening of the Maiduguri-Damboa Highway to the general public.

The Borno Peace Ambassadors Forum sees the reopening of the Maiduguri-Damboa Highway as a massive victory in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria, given the strategic importance of the road in the economic life of Borno State.

The strategic importance of the Maiduguri-Damboa Highway cannot be overemphasized, and this much is evident in the effect the closure of the highway has had on the economic life of Borno state. This is also cognizant of the fact that thousands of commuters have been faced with tough and trying times using alternative routes in an attempt at going about their daily lives.

The Borno Peace Ambassadors wishes to commend the leadership of the Nigerian Army led by the indefatigable Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, for the high display of commitment towards to restoration of peace in North-East Nigeria.

The Borno Peace Ambassadors Forum is indeed appreciative of this effort and wishes to state with the way and manner the Nigerian Army is executing the war against terrorism in North-East Nigeria; it would be only a matter of time for absolute peace and tranquility to return to North-East Nigeria.

The Nigerian Army has indeed exhibited a high sense of patriotism and commitment to the return of peace to Borno State, and North-East Nigeria at large. This is because they have continued to push the remnants of the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist group to the fringes of the Lake Chad region.

The Borno Peace Ambassadors Forum is also appreciative of the loyal and courageous troops stationed in the Theater of Operations in North-East Nigeria who have strived night and day towards the restoration of peace in the North East region.

We consequently wish to state that the Borno Peace Ambassadors Forum is as a result of this stating that the people of North-East Nigeria are solidly behind the operations of the Nigerian Army in North-East Nigeria and it behooves on all well-meaning Nigerians to extend their support to the Nigerian Army in its final push for the decimation of the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist group.

The reopening of the Maiduguri-Damboa Highway is one of the numerous examples of how the Nigerian Army has been fighting day and night to keep our country safe and secure despite the various conspiracies against it in the war against terrorism in Nigeria.

Our joy on the reopening of the Maiduguri-Damboa Highway knows no bound as both human and vehicular movement have resumed unabated after many years of closure. It indeed a case of light at the end of the tunnel for the people of Borno State.

The Borno Peace Ambassadors Forum wishes to state that the Nigerian Army under the leadership of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai has won the total confidence of the people of Borno state and the North East region through their historic acts in the battle for the soul of Nigeria.

We consequently wish to encourage the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai not to relent on this laudable feat until all the remnants of Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists are decimated entirely from the soil of North-East Nigeria.

The Borno Peace Ambassadors Peace Forum would continue to be worthy partners with the Nigerian Army in the fight against terrorism in North-East Nigeria and Nigeria at large. We also wish to state that Nigerians shall indeed celebrate the end of the Boko Haram/ISWAP era in North-East Nigeria in no distant time.

We encourage the people of Borno State and North-East Nigeria to continue to extend their support to the activities of the Nigerian Army in this laudable quest to restore peace in Borno State and North-East Nigeria.

We want to especially thank the members of the media for their continued support of our activities over the years that have assisted in projecting our advocacy interventions to all critical stakeholders.

NDDC Audit: Women rally acting-MD, Nunieh

A group of well-meaning Nigerian women, under the aegis of Greater Nigeria Ambassador Forum (GNAF), has thrown its weight behind Acting Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Joi Nunieh, to accomplish her presidential mandate.

On resumption of office in October last year, President Muhammadu Buhari handed Dr. Nunieh the mammoth task of flushing an utterly messy oil-drunk commission, sunk in corruption since creation two decades ago through a forensic audit.

As expected, Dr. Nunieh’s quest hasn’t been anywhere near hitch-free, with different levels of calumny campaigns targeted at her and the board.

At a press conference on Monday in Abuja, GNAF backed the interim acting MD to rid the commission of corruption no matter who is affected.

In a statement by the President, Magdalene Ogwiji, the group of women made bold of the statement “What a man can do, a woman can do and is doing better in NDDC.”, adding that a “ fearless woman is more dangerous than a 100 brave men”.

Mrs Ogwiji said the recent allegations that Dr. Nunieh doesn’t possess a valid National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate is “deliberate, wicked, distractive, manipulative, destructive and borne out of malicious intent”.

The Greater Nigeria Ambassador Forum believes the acting MD is being hunted not only for being upright and uncompromising, but because she’s not a man.

The group, however, urged Dr. Nunieh not to be deterred by the campaign against her and rather concentrate on accomplishing her mandate.

The GNAF, therefore, called on First Lady, Aisha Buhari and all women across the country to support one of their own.

Read full statement below:

We welcome you all to this important press conference by the Greater Nigeria Ambassador Forum (GNAF) given the prevailing circumstances that has occasioned the smearing of the personality and character of a strong woman that has dared to do what some men who have had the opportunity could not do either by omission or commission.

We wish to state in unequivocal terms that the recent allegations against the acting Managing Director of the NDDC, Dr. Joi Nunieh is a deliberate attempt by some paid mischief makers to distract her from the wonderful and patriotic job she has embarked upon at the NDDC since her appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari as the head of the Interim Management Committee.

The Greater Nigeria Ambassador Forum wishes to inform members of the general public that the hawks that had stripped the NDDC naked since the year 2000 when it was created are indeed those behind the spurious allegations against Dr. Joi Nunieh, not because she has erred in any way, but for the fact that has vowed to clean the Augean stable at the NDDC.

These same sets of people are also after Dr. Joy Nunieh because she is a woman. As such, it is considered an affront to their ego for her to head such a sensitive agency that has been their source of livelihood and with the realization that it would not be business as usual.

The Greater Nigeria Ambassador Forum views this campaign of calumny as also the handiwork of some staffers of the NDDC that have also benefited from the heist that has been perpetuated in the NDDC that has seen the misappropriation of trillions of Naira since the year 2000.

These insiders have been heavily compromised to the extent that they have vowed to do everything possible to make the governance of the NDDC difficult for the acting MD, all in a bid to frustrate her efforts at sanitizing the agency.

The Greater Nigeria Ambassador Forum wishes to inform members of the unsuspecting general public that the spurious allegations of Dr. Joi Nunieh not possessing a valid discharge certificate of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is deliberate, wicked, distractive, manipulative, destructive and borne out of malicious intent.

The Greater Nigeria Ambassador Forum herby encourages Dr. Joy Nunieh not to be deterred by this campaign of calumny against her because it would not stand the test of time due to the emptiness of the allegations against her.

Dr. Joy Nunieh has dared to do what some men who have had the same opportunities in time past could not do out of fear and also for the fact that they were also beneficiaries of the infractions at the NDDC.

She is being haunted because she is a woman that has dared to be bold and courageous amid sharks with mouths wide open to devour whoever stands their way in the pilfering of the resources of the NDDC.

The Greater Nigeria Ambassador Forum consequently wishes to state that Nigerians and indeed Nigerian women must rise in defense of this indefatigable stallion that has been tireless in her efforts of ridding the NDDC of corrupt practices and the entrenchment of a new regime of transparency and accountability.

All Nigerian women will rise for her as a worthy ambassador and pride of the girl child in Nigeria. She has committed no offense, and no Jupiter should think he can rubbish her to take her position at the NDDC.

The Greater Nigeria Ambassadors Forum is using this medium to appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari to give this woman of great character and substance all the support she needs in carrying out the daunting task of cleansing the NDDC of corruption.

We are also calling on Her Excellency, the First Lady, Hajia Aisha Buhari, to lend her support to this great woman of Nigeria who has indeed exhibited an enviable level of courage in service to our fatherland.

We are also soliciting that given her sterling performance, she is deserving of full confirmation as the substantive Managing Director of the Niger-Delta Development Commission in a bid to encourage her and to sustain the anti-corruption drive of the present administration.

The Greater Nigeria Ambassador Forum is also calling on the security agencies to tighten security around her as these agents of darkness will go as far as attempting to assassinate her person if the attempt on her character continues to fail.

The Greater Nigeria Ambassador Forum is indeed solidly behind Dr. Joy Nunieh in her efforts at sanitizing the operations of the Niger-Delta Development Commission. This campaign of calumny would not stand.

Terrorism: It is uncharitable to diminish the sacrifices of military leadership, troops – Group

The Progressive Yoruba Youth Congress (PYYC) has reasoned that it is uncharitable for any individual or group to diminish the Nigerian Armed Forces’ leadership as well as the enormous sacrifices of officers and soldiers in the war against terrorism.

According to the Southwest socio-political group, the Nigerian Military has turned the tide against the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist since 2016 hence deserve maximum support from Nigerians.

PYYC made this known at a press conference on Monday, condemning the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for heating the polity through unguarded utterances laced with ulterior motives.

In a statement jointly signed by Elder Kola Salawu and Majekodunmi Omolola, President and Secretary respectively, PYYC commended President Muhammadu Buhari for providing the necessary succour to the military’s top shots, visible in troops’ morale.

However, the Yoruba youths were critical of some groups, CAN in particular, engaged in acts to divide the nation and demoralise the gallant troops.

PYYC accused the Christian umbrella body of partisanship, making unguided claims counter-productive in the fight against terrorism and capable pitching the Christians against the Muslims.

The Yoruba group, therefore, concluded that CAN and its likes who have failed to recognise the remarkable sacrifices of the military’s leadership and troops in the frontline does not have the interest of the country at heart.

Read full statement below:

The Progressive Yoruba Youth Congress , a socio-cultural organization, consisting of youth from southwest Nigeria, put together this press conference to shed light on some of the challenges facing the country with regards to the fight against terrorism.

We wish to state that the issue of terrorism in Nigeria has taken centre stage since the advent of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015. This much is evident in the level of commitment exhibited by the quality of appointments in the critical security sector.

As we are all aware, the Boko Haram/ISWAP agenda is indeed a politically motivated one in the sense that it has been established that there are willing collaborators that have continued to provide them with logistical support to aid their nefarious activities.

There is also another grouping that have elected to serve the interest of Boko Haram/ISWAP through the propagation of propaganda aimed towards giving the Boko Haram/ISWAP group the needed psychological support through their actions manifest in unguarded utterances in the public space.

The Progressive Yoruba Youth Congress wishes to state that despite the level of commitment displayed by the political leadership in Nigeria in the fight against terrorism, the Boko Haram/ISWAP group has continued to be emboldened to confront the Nigerian Military in the theatre of war in North-East Nigeria because of the activities of some groups.

The war against terrorism in Nigeria has received wide commendation from numerous quarters. However, some groups that ideally ought to be engaged in acts that would promote peace have been engaged in acts that divide us rather than unite us.

One of such organization is the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), whose leadership has elected to be on the other side of the divide, in defiance of its mandate of serving as the uniting organization for adherents of the Christian faith in Nigeria.

Their utterances in recent times have been counter-productive in the fight against terrorism, and concerned stakeholders in Nigeria have highlighted this much. Despite overwhelming evidence of political coloration and the involvement of the leadership of CAN in partisan politics, they have carried out with reckless abandon and bringing the Christian faith into disrepute.

The leadership of CAN have continued with their agenda of pitching the Christians against the Muslims by painting the Boko Haram/ISWAP activities as an agenda against the Christian faith in Nigeria.

The Progressive Yoruba Youth Congress is dismayed at such despicable actions despite the unfortunate fact that the leadership of CAN have sold their birthright in exchange for a plate of porridge. This is sad.

The Christian Association of Nigeria has fallen below expectations because it has instead elected to play politics at the detriment of providing sound counsel to the Christian adherents in Nigeria. If this is not the case, then one wonders how and why such an organization would label the threat posed by the Boko Haram/ISWAP group as a religious war.

The Christian Association of Nigeria has continued to disregard the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari led administration in the war against terrorism in Nigeria. They have continued to push the country to the brinks by misleading members of the unsuspecting general public with claims that cannot be substantiated.

The Progressive Yoruba Youth Congress wishes to state that anyone/group that fails to appreciate the efforts of the Muhammadu Buhari led administration in the war against terrorism is playing politics and, as such, should not be taken seriously.

Anyone/group that does not recognize the dexterity of the leadership of the Nigerian Armed Forces, as well as the enormous sacrifices of officers and soldiers in the war against terrorism, clearly do not have the interest of the country at heart.

This is cognizant of the fact that since 2016, the Nigerian Military had indeed turned the tide against the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist group with a sustained military bombardment that has seen them confined to the fringes of the Lake Chad Basin Region.

The position of the Progressive Yoruba Youth Forum is that terrorism is not a function or an attribute of any religion as no religion preaches killing of fellow humans. This much must be stated in unequivocal terms in a bid to put issues in proper perspective.

The Progressive Yoruba Youth Congress wishes to advise groups and individuals to be guarded by public decorum in their conduct on national issues. The task of defeating terrorism is a collective one, and as such, we must all be guided accordingly.

The sacrifices of our Armed Forces must be commended and appreciated by all in the quest for a secure and united Nigeria.

NDDC: Nunieh and her gritty fight for the soul of Nigeria

By Philip Agbese

President Muhammadu Buhari has a huge burden as leader of Nigeria. Buhari, a globally acclaimed upright leader with impeccable credentials consciously courted trouble when he defined the operational character of his administration tethered to the tenets of integrity, honesty and incorruptibility.

Right from his first tenure in 2015, President Buhari’s uncompromising stand on these virtues attracted the ire of Nigeria’s powerful and influential thieving elite, who have a sustained history of plundering public commonwealth. Therefore, they employ all manner of antics and blackmail to taint his leadership persona or discredit his government.

They angle to portray President Buhari as a leader who is paying lip-service to sermons of anti-corruption campaigns or he is selective or partisan. Mr. President is aware of such outings, but has remained unperturbed, as he expected it from an elite whose body and soul are irretrievably steeped in the vinegar of evil against their country and Nigerians. It is the reason which, compelled Buhari’s philosophical expression in 2016 that “When you fight corruption, it fights back.”

After failing to nail President Buhari on corruption or pin his government to it several years running, the opponents of the Buhari Presidency have resorted to targeting and raising spurious, unsubstantiated and flawed allegations of corruption on some Buhari’s key appointees. An Africa proverb says; “ When you pull the ear, the head would certainly bow.” It is the underlying force of those eager to persecute his upright, trusted and incorruptible appointees.

Anywhere an inquest is declared or a forensic audit is declared on any government establishment, appointees of the Buhari government who refuse to bend the rules, favour certain personalities or refuse to compromise face very poisonous arrows from the opposition or haters of the Buhari Presidency. They throw meaningless darts at such an appointee for failure to dubiously influence him or her to cover-up their corrupt deals.

Known victims of these vicious attacks or persecutions includes, but not restricted to the Chief of Staff to the President, Alhaji Abba Kyari; the Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Hajiya, Hadiza Bala Usman among others. The latest fish in the net of these debased and heartless Nigerians is the Acting Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Mrs. Joi Nunieh.

The annual budget of the NDDC is mouthwatering and every administration continues to fund the commission with huge allocations. It is the conviction of the federal government that a functional and performing NDDC will change the face of the impoverished people of the Niger Delta region. Ironically, NDDC is an embodiment of everything corrupt to elites of the region, except discharging its core mandate to the people.

Today, President Buhari is told, the NDDC is indebted to contractors to the whooping sum of N3 trillion. It reminds of the dubious oil subsidy claims under the Jonathan Presidency. Even the oil dealers had a conscience in thievery or plundering of public resources because NDDC claims by contractors outshines them.

Undeniably, the Interim Payment Certificates (IPCs) being claimed by contractors as debts in NDDC are suspicious. The reality on the ground in the oil-rich Niger Delta does not support such bogus claims.

How much has President Buhari’s government spent on capital projects to impact on every part of Nigeria that contractors at NDDC are flaunting N3 trillion contractual debts? It’s amazing! Therefore, President Buhari sought to get to the roots of the matter by ordering a forensic audit of NDDC accounts. And the Dr. Nunieh’s NDDC’s Interim Management Committee provoked the league of looters in the region by inaugurating a 50-Member Verification Committee (VC).

The committee chaired by Dr. Cairo Ojougboh has two weeks to submit a report on the projects/contracts awarded by the NDDC as well as the status of the claims of the Interim Payment Certificates (IPCs). The report of the VC is a preliminary step that would snowball into the concrete forensic audit as ordered by Mr. President. And the looters and plunderers of the resources of the NDDC are understandably scared to the marrow.

Unarguably, Dr. Nunieh is the stubborn fly that has refused to kowtow to their powwow. She has refused to backdown or craftily frustrate the Presidential probe of NDDC finances as a baddie. The plot is to spare nothing to pull her down or discredit her to pave way for the appointment of a pliant fellow who would either mess-up or bury the forensic audit of NDDC enmeshed in fraud and mismanagement.

Those with soiled hands and haunted by the looming danger have contracted emergency activists, who are aplenty in Nigeria’s fake Civil Society Organizations’ (CSOs). Their duty is to trumpet Dr.Nunieh’s alleged forged or fake or non-possession of NYSC discharge or exemption certificates. May be, it has just dawned on the traducers of the NDDC boss that it is daybreak since she was appointed to head the commission.

But what is the core mandate of the NDDC established in 2000? It was to develop the Niger Delta region of Nigeria through the training and education of youths of the region to curb hostilities and militancy; while developing key infrastructures to promote diversification and productivity to arrest restiveness in Niger Delta.

Within few years after its establishment, there were serious allegations of fraud and mismanagement in the magnitude of the defunct OMPADEC. The signposts of NDDC is paid, but unexecuted or abandoned projects dotting every nook and cranny of the region.

It has been reported that in the year 2015 for instance, that the NDDC started three months twin certification programme for fiber optics and oil spill management. It engulfed billions of naira, but the training sessions were abandoned two months into the programme and the 200 trainees who were camped at various hotels in Owerri were left to personally pay for their expenses.

Many past management staff of the commission have been indicted for corruption. Many more are still being tried for various financial crimes in the NDDC running into billions of naira. A certain past chief executive of the commission is for example is being tried for a N3.6 billion fraud while another has been investigated for transferring millions of dollars into his wife’s account.

It is obvious from these cases and other similar ones that the intended beneficiaries of programme and initiatives of the NDDC, mostly youths and the less privileged are being shortchanged. NDDC funds are channeled into private pockets, instead of funding its programmes. It motivated President Buhari to shop for a credible person to arrest the rot and Dr. Nunieh was anointed to clean the mess.

She introduced reforms and innovations which have reactivated the Commission. Rural communities neglected for years are also beginning to witness transformation with the provision of basic infrastructures.

And since Mrs. Nunieh assumed duty at the commission, she has her mind fixated on bringing all those who have stolen from the commission to book. So, corruption must fight Dr. Nunieh back to a standstill, by engaging hirelings to conjure all sorts of allegations against her, using the plank of phantom and non- existent CSOs.

But Nunieh has left no one in doubt that she’s an apostle of the kind of change that President Buharu promised Nigerians. The NDDC boss made good her promise to deliver by working closely with the minister of Niger Delta affairs to bring accountability and transparency to the commission.

Initially, those who had skeletons in their cupboards tried to use base sentiments by alleging that she’s being used by President Buhari to witch-hunt her fellow Niger Deltans. But it is now obvious that she is only determined to expose corruption and she is staidly committed to it in order to realize the mandate of the NDDC.

Failure to prod her conscience on the plank of reginal sentiments, they changed tactics. That was when all manners of allegations against her began to surface and the latest about the frivolous and unsubstantiated claims of her lack of an NYSC discharge or exemption certificates.

But the strongest argument of the CSO hired for the undertaker job is centered on hearsay evidence. Nigerians demand more than such peripheral outbursts from anybody or group contracted to defame a public servant.

The detractors think by so doing, Dr. Nunieh would be detracted. But they got entirely wrong. She is more determined now than ever before to clean the mess, expose corruption in the commission and reposition it to excellently discharge its core mandate to the people. Her courage stems from the fact that she has no skeleton in her cupboard and has nothing to hide.

She considers the task of bringing rapid development to the Niger Delta and helping youths in the area to rediscover themselves sacrosanct. And the NDDC boss is ready to break every barrier on her path to achieve this target. Her enemies should bury their heads in shame that at last, a focused administrator is trying to clean up the mess they created and left behind or do what they could not do.

Those sponsoring the CSOs to disparage the person of Nunieh are the same cult of Niger Deltans who have shown a lack of capacity to think beyond self and family. They have brought shame to the Niger Delta through greed and self-centeredness. The clique of kleptomaniac elites should bury their heads in shame that instead of thinking of the general or public good of the region, all that obsess them is their bellies and personal enrichment.

They are worse than thieves and betrayers. Its unimaginable that they have sold their birthright for a pot of soup and mortgaged the prosperity of their people for ages. Their cowardly acts have been exposed as the current NDDC management is set to achieve the mandate of the commission. Dr. Nunieh is urged never to relent or scared, as like President Buhari has always said; If Nigerians do not kill corruption; corruption will kill Nigeria.”

Agbese is an author, publisher and human rights activist based in London.

Gen Buratai’s leadership ingenuity and Nigeria’s silent achievements

By Andrew Granit

I have had over three decades experiences as a conflict manager and preventive researcher. In the course of my job, I have traversed most parts of the world. But my experiences are more grounded in my former country, the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

And until its disintegration, Yugoslavian six republics were enmeshed in virulent economic crises and political unrests since the 1980s. And it eventually transmuted into a break-up of this previously unified amalgam of disparate ethnic, religious and historical entities under a single federation. With the upheavals over, I am a citizen of the Republic of Kosovo. But I have seen and experienced a lot about crises or its management far and near.

The path to Kosovo’s independence was long and strewn with thorns, expressed in hate, animosities and violent conflicts. But let me not bore you with details. However, let me quickly say, in the life of every nation in the world, there comes a time minor disagreement are ballooned to major conflicts with its toll on lives, peace and progress of nations. Equally, there comes a time that nature also enthrones the right leadership to right the wrongs, and uproot the deep-seated incendiaries from national psyche.

Nigeria, the most populous nation amongst the black race on earth has found itself in this quagmire ignited by the vicious and brutal campaigns of Boko Haram insurgents. And I have confirmed the incursion of extremists terrorism from the Middle East into Nigeria and other countries in the West African sub-region.

These religious extremists or terrorists, to be precise, under the identity of Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) accentuated their bloody campaigns on the state of Nigeria at the turn of partisan campaigns for the 2019 general elections.

From observable manifest aggressions, I have sensed the eagerness and hastiness of ISWAP terrorists to quickly subdue and re-conquer Nigeria. But ISWAP elements have encountered a hard nut to crack in Nigerian military forces, particularly Nigerian soldiers in the frontlines.

The increasing sophistication of ISWAP’s weaponry and the lackluster attitude of the local population whose preference seems to tilt in the direction of shielding terrorists are problematic. And hoarding critical information from the military have been great assets to the vicious terrorism campaigners.

But I must admit that the vigilance, hard work, commitment and the undisguised patriotism of the Nigerian Chief of Army Staff, General TY Buratai have consistently frustrated the agenda of the ISWAP terrorists. Of course, flashes of terror attacks on communities, ambushes of troops in the battlefields and casualties on both sides would continue to occur because of the drowsy and aberrant character of managing terrorism combats and conflicts to its conclusive end.

However, I am impressed with the courage, bravery and tenacity of the Nigerian Army. Troops in the frontlines have displayed determination, rather than fatigue. And the counter-insurgency leaders have displayed ideal and focused leadership; it has not flinched from support to troops, which are the greatest psychological weapon a soldier needs in war.

At least, it was my experience and pulse during my recent visit to parts of the Northeast Nigeria after the country’s current leader, President Muhammadu Buhari was elected a second time in 2019. The first time I came to Nigeria for firsthand information on the rampaging and raging Boko Haram insurgency was in February 2015. Three terrorism incidents fascinated my enthusiasm. I really felt visiting the country, scenes of attacks, interacting with troops in the warfront and government’s counter measures would enrich my knowledge on conflict management and understanding towards helping the world prevent crisis and overcome existing ones.

The night of April 14-15 2014 Boko Haram’s abduction of about 276 teenage Chibok schoolgirls, in Borno state. Earlier on same April 14, 2014, terrorists exploded multiple bombs at a busy bus station in Abuja, Nigeria’s national capital, gruesomely murdering an estimated 200 persons and causing destructions.

And the tereorists’ three days serial raids and unmolested siege on Baga, a town in the Northeast Northern Borno province between January 3-7, 2015. Reports monitored on local and foreign media outlets revealed that at least 2,000 people were feared dead and insurgents captured the town, neighboring villages and a multinational military Base.

I was again in Nigeria, early January 2020, after the Sallah, Christmas and New Year festivities. I understood from my contacts that these are the most auspicious times Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists prefer to brandish their self-acclaimed might in braggadocio. They would outlandishly unleash heinous atrocities on civilian and military targets to spur international attention.
I flew into Nigeria, landed in the capital city, Abuja and rested for two days to plan my itinerary, enliven conversations with my contacts and get security cover. In war situations, no one undermines personal safety and security. I monitored local TV channels, I watched again reports of troops confrontations with ISWAP terrorists.

I proceeded to Maiduguri from Abuja on road in company of two security details and Mallam Aliyu , my driver who is also from the Northeast. At Maiduguri, we went straight to the headquarters of the Command Theatre, Operation Lafiya Dole, and met with some top commanders of the Army. I introduced myself and mission. He was receptive and hospitable. I interacted with some Nigerian soldiers in Maiduguri and spent the night in the ancient city.

The next day. my contact got me a list containing locations of Army Battalions, Military Forward Bases and Special Strike Teams as guide. We were able to get a few soldiers who provided additional security to me and everywhere I decided to visit.

I spent four days visiting military formations in the Northeast. I was at Baga, Pulka, Bama, the once dreaded Sambisa forest, Monguno, Gwoza and hordes of other locations. The places were liberated and natives returned to forlorn enclaves. I was quite excited that Gwoza, which was once captured and occupied by Boko Haram as their Islamic Caliphate administrative headquarters was also liberated. I couldn’t hide my joy and had to share pictures each day with Francois and Young who all wanted to embark on the trip with me.

In Biu, I also visited the Nigerian Army University, Biu (NAUB). The edifice was a masterpiece to behold. At each destination, I interacted with the natives and troops at the frontlines and got their heartbeat. I left Borno for a return journey to Abuja, but diverted into Postiskum in Yobe state, where I also encountered some troops. While I engaged them in mutual talks, some of them whispered to me about the presence of General Buratai whom the troops fondly refer to as ” the Chief.
” I learnt he was paying one of his usually silent, but routine personal trips to the Nigerian troops.

He was at another end of the camp, also exchanging views with some troops over recent developments in the theatre of war. I walked up to him; exchanged pleasantries and introduced myself. I was meeting Gen. Buratai personally for the first time.

Pleasantly, my first impression of him was that of a warm personality, amiable soldier and determined leader, who is optimistic in succeeding on his assignment. A good Army General constantly disguises to be in touch and brief his troops to bolster their ego of performance. It’s a rare leadership ingenuity in Gen. Buratai.

Meanwhile, soldiers I met in Borno earlier told me the Chief visits constantly. But I never believed, thinking it’s just a smart answer to shield their boss, until I ran into him personally on the field. Soldiers in the battlefield are always busy people. So, I had a few minutes with Gen. Buratai, who was very detailed on the actions and plans of President Buhari to terminate the reign of terror in Nigeria.

It is not in my position to divulge what we discussed. It was not a planned interview and might be giving out too much to the terrorists. But as I conversed with him TV images i watched on a local station, where the Minister of Defence, Gen. Bashi Magashi and Gen. Buratai who led a delegation of the European Commission to Mr. President, where both parties had talks on the counter-insurgency operations flashed my mind. I blended its veracity from what I heard from the Army Chief.

Back to Abuja in my hotel room, I reflected over my experiences on the trip. I could not help but nod in satisfaction that Nigeria has recoded unique milestones in combating Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorism. There is a lot of difference in the success of counter-insurgency operations in the country now.

Those far from the theatre of war may not understand. But it’s not easy reclaiming territories under the control of terrorists anywhere, and sustaining the victory like Nigerian soldiers have accomplished in retaking the 18 LGAS in the Northeast. Terrorists pride is usually bruised and they fight back ferociously. One should expect to see desperation by terrorists to retake reclaimed lands to lead to intermittent strikes, which is normal in terrorism combat wars.

Until I came and saw the reality before I believed the press particularly fed the world outside and Nigerians with inaccurate information about the war against terrorism in Nigeria. Each time I read the alarming and sensational news on terrorism war in Nigeria, one is tempted to believe the whole country is on inferno. And it was grave risk to visit the Northeast even with security escorts. But the reality is excitedly different.

But let me caution that most Nigerians are selling out their country to terrorists and their foreign sponsors through sensational and discreditable news on social media platforms or even traditional media. There should be patriotism and moderation for the sake of national interest. Combating terrorism is beyond politics. It is pointless churning lies that may compromise the security of your whole country.

Unfortunately, it seems all categories of Nigerians have indulged in this disservice and resentful conduct, including some highly placed leaders. They must be mindful or else, these actions can easily shatter the coherence and unity of the country. But even one day in an IDPs camp, in a foreign land is like hell on earth.

Granit is the President, Preventive Diplomacy, United Kingdom.