APC governors celebrate Ganduje at 70, describe him as their political pride

The Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) on the Platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said the Kano state governor Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, represent the political pride of the party.

The governors, however, reiterated their commitment towards the creation of jobs to the teeming population of the unemployed youths in the country.

Chairman of the forum, governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi state in a statement, Thursday in Abuja, assured that they would join hands with the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to stimulate economic activity, reduce inequality and diminish poverty in Nigeria

The forum assured that they would roll out programmes that would strengthen the capacities of the APC controlled states in the country to achieve the goal.

The forum particularly applauded governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje on the inroads so far recorded since he took the mantle of leadership in Kano state.

Congratulating Ganduje as he celebrate his 70th birthday alongside the people of Kano state, the forum noted: “We in particular wish to acknowledge and commend your leadership, vision and commitment to a united prosperous Nigeria.

“Under the leadership of our party, APC, we acknowledge your contributions to our team of Progressive Governors through your insightful and resolute inputs to the processes of managing governance in Kano state as well as at national level.

“As Governor of Kano state, through all the development initiatives being implemented by your APC-led government, you certainly represent our political pride!”

Buhari and his Media Handlers

By Jeremiah Okino

A lot has been said about the media handlers of President Muhammadu Buhari in recent times. In some quarters, it has been argued that the bulk of the negative vibes on the administration is; as a result, of lack of capacity. Some have also argued that the media handlers are engaged in in-house fighting at the detriment of constant engagement with critical stakeholders on ways and manners the present administration has impacted on governance.

While these arguments may be valid, I believe that there is more to it. I think it is a function of a lack of a clear cut communication strategy in line with the emerging best practices. I am also of the opinion that the media handlers have refused to upgrade their trade with the changes that comes with the terrain. They have continued to rely on archaic models that are not fit for purpose in the present dispensation.

It must be noted that as a first, you cannot give what you don’t have. You cannot also use a stick to fight an adversary armed with an assault rifle. That is not only suicidal; it is the height of ignorance. This is the best way to explain the disposition of the presidential media team, hence their inability to project the activities of their principal adequately. It is indeed sad. But all hope is not lost if you ask me.

There must be a rejigging of their operational strategies. They must come to terms with the realities on the ground to know that there is indeed a place for strategic communication. In case they do not know, strategic communication is an umbrella term to describe the activities of disciplines, including public relations, management communication, advertising, and crisis communication. These components must come in agreement; else, it cannot be deemed to be effective. And this is the challenge.

The emphasis has been on public relations, which is just a component. Tell me, if this is the case, would there be results? The answer is a huge no. This much the presidential media handler must know, that is, if they do not know.

Like I stated earlier, there must be a reawakening in the media team. They must understand that to whom much is given, much is expected. The tangible achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari must be adequately projected to the national and international audience. For instance, I have not seen any intervention from the media handlers as regards the classification of Nigeria as one of the countries intolerant of religion and encouraging extremism by the United States of America. I haven’t also seen any engaging response from the media handlers as regards the release from detention of Sambo Dasuki and Omoyele Sowore.

I stand to be corrected, the bulk of the rebuttals have come from third-party sources, and whenever there is any rebuttal or strategic engagement, it is always very late. And the media handlers are busy with inordinate issues at the detriment of the image of the president.

If we must admit, the level of bashing the president has received from home and abroad is indeed phenomenal. This is mainly because the media handlers are not doing enough to ensure that the image, as well as the achievements of their principal, is adequately protected and projected.

They must do more if they are desirous of retaining the confidence of the president. Funny as it might sound, this inactivity is also rubbing off on the image of the country as one where there is no regard for the rule of law. We must call a spade a spade. We must admit and make corrections in an attempt to make progress.

I can go on non-stop on this issue, but I am pretty sure I have been able to raise some valid points that, if taken seriously, would bring about some form of activity from the media handlers of the president. The achievements of the present administration are too numerous to let go of. They must be put in the public space for the benefit of all and sundry in an attempt at putting issues in proper perspectives.

This they must agree is necessary to begin to counter the negative narrative some mischievous elements have been propagating in the public space. If this is not done, the consequences might be unpleasant. As it stands, the strategy should not be about damage control but putting issues in proper perspective. It should also be about letting the whole world know about the giant strides of this present administration in critical sectors of the economy that are abounding.

This piece is a charge for greater efficiency and service delivery. This should not be misconstrued for castigation. It is a call to duty for uneasy lies the head that wears the crown. The urgency of now requires proactive steps to be taken in light of the prevailing circumstances. It is not an impossible task. If more hands are needed, they should be brought on board. All of these are necessary for posterity’s sake. President Muhammadu Buhari deserves more than what he is getting from his media handlers. This is a wakeup call.

Okino is a public affairs analyst based in Abuja.

Buhari’s achievements and the poor image gap

By Philip Agbese

This is indeed a serious topic. I choose to write on this topic for the fact that President Muhamadu Buhari has been receiving bashes from all fronts, and the media think tank appointed to rise to his defense has gone to sleep.

The slumber is so deep that one is tempted to ask if there is any sense of loyalty or urgency left in the way and manner they carry on with their duties. I will try to avoid delving into the narrative pushed by the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, even though she made some form of sense about the presidential media aides not doing enough to protect the President and project his numerous achievements since he assumed leadership of the country in 2015.

I have a verdict. My verdict is that the presidential media aides have performed below expectations in the task at their hand. They have carried on like rookies learning a new trade when in truth; most of them have seen it all in the journalism field. They have distinguished themselves before their appointments. The question thus is what went wrong?

The answer to this question lies in the apparent fact that there is a lack of either interest or commitment to the jobs they were hired for. I stand to be corrected; on a scale of 10, I would score the presidential media aides 4. This is in fairness to their years of experience over the years. However, the irony is that these individuals missed it along the line. They mistook the job for news reporting. They relegated the place of strategic communications and crisis management, either by omission or commission.

Make no mistakes; the presidential media team has performed woefully in the sense that they have allowed the many achievements of President Muhammdu Buhari to go unnoticed. They have also allowed critics of the government to dictate the narrative in the public space. And trust, this loophole has been exploited to the fullest, and at the detriment of the image of the President. Do they care?

We must come to terms with the fact that perception is the reality in this business. This much they should know with all their years of experience. This is not to say that they have been entirely lacking, but they are not in tune with the present realities. They have decided to engage in conventional strategies in a space that requires out of the box strategies and approaches. This could be deliberate or out of ignorance. If intentional, it is indeed a shame. If out of ignorance, it is indeed pathetic. And it behooves on them to brace up or leave the scene.

They must realize that this is not the era of press releases and pictorials. This is indeed the era of strategic communication intended at putting issues in proper perspective at the risk of losing the plot. I empathize with President Muhammdu Buhari with the level of bashing he has received on issues that ordinarily should not elicit harsh reactions from members of the public. But this is what you get when your media handlers are asleep.

President Muhammdu Buhari, in my opinion, has done well since he assumed leadership of this country. He has displayed a commitment to leaving Nigeria better than how he meant it. But the challenge is that those saddled with the responsibility of projecting his numerous achievements do not seem to be in tune with the urgency of now. They have left so many things to chance, and instead of being proactive, they have been reactive.

Trust the opposition; they have taken full advantage of this shortcoming to project the President as a dictator and one with little or no regard for the rule of law in Nigeria. This is indeed a sad tale. Whether we like or not, the achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari are in short supply in the public space. What we get to see are mostly press releases that are lacking in content.

I stand to be corrected; the approach deployed by the presidential media team has been lackadaisical. There is no urgency. There is no display of mastery of the game. For example, a situation where a presidential media aide would go on air to muddle issues rather than engage is most worrisome and does not speak well for the image of their principal.

I must add that the approach must change soonest. The bickering must be replaced by strategy. Their number one focus must be in the interest of their principal. And not their pockets. Those that can’t live up to expectations should tow the noble path because this is a serious business. If this approach is not embraced, then I am afraid there would be no justification for their continued stay in office.

The task at hand requires all hands to be on the deck where teamwork and cross-fertilization of ideas would rein supreme, where an avid commitment to projecting the achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari would take center stage.

The presidential media team must wake up from its slumber and live up to expectations. It is inexcusable for them to continue to rely on goodwill. There is a place for strategic communication. This much they know and his much they must admit.

Agbese is an author, publisher and human rights activist based in the United Kingdom.

Sowore, Dasuki: Timi Frank thanks USA, says America true police of the world

A political activist and former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Comrade Timi Frank has commended the senators of the United States of America and the America government for putting pressures on Nigerian government to release of Omoyele Sowore and by extension Ibrahim Dasuki.

Frank also thanks all Nigerians, especially a human right lawyer, Femi Falana, who stood up to fight for justice even in the mist of treat to their lives, posterity will judge you favorably.

Frank said if not for the pressure by the USA government and some of its senators, Sowore would still be languishing in DSS detention without charge.

The political activist, however, declared that “truly the American government is the police of the world.”

Reacting through a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, to the release of both Sowore and Dasuki, Frank asked General Buhari’s government to apologise to the duo for trampled on their rights.

He also called on the USA, EU, UN and all lovers of democracy including Nigerians in diaspora to put more pressure on Nigerian government to release other political prisoners, saying “General Buhari’s government has succeeded in oppressing its citizens, no more freedom of speech and the right to assemble, just a few days ago, General Buhari/APC thugs beat to stupor Deji Adeyanju, the activist, for protesting the continued detention of Sowore, yet the ruling party had the nerve to accuse the opposition party of masterminding the attack, indeed this government is not only clueless but shameless.

“I appeal to the USA, EU and all democratic countries where rule of law applies to issue visa ban on the government officials of this clueless government whose stock in trade is to disobey court orders that don’t favor them, oppress Nigerians by depriving them of their fundamental human right to associate and express themselves freely, this government is very powerful when it comes to oppressing innocent Nigerians but very weak when it comes to fighting corruption and insurgency.

“No government has disgraced and embarrassed Nigeria before the international community like Buhari government, it took the USA senators to speak out before sowore was released while our Nigerian senators are busy rubber stamping all Buhari’s request to the senate.

“I call on the USA government despite the blackmail to do more to ensure that other political detainees and journalists are freed.

“Sowore like Dasuki were granted bail by courts of competent jurisdiction but the tyrant General Buhari and the cabal decided to flaunt the order. Dasuki spent 4 years in DSS detention despite several bail granted by the courts while Sowore was rearrested a day after he was granted bail without charges.

“It is a shame that this government cannot put its house in order, they speak from both sides of the mouth as they are clueless.

“Just last week, the AGF Malami said he cannot order the DSS to release Sowore without recourse to the court, yet a week later, he ordered the same DSS to release Sowore.

“What has changed in a week to make the AGF order the DSS to release Sowore? It is the pressure from the international community, especially the American senators and the USA government that compelled this clueless government to release Sowore.

“A few days ago, Femi Adesina, the spokesperson of General Buhari said nobody appointed the USA the police of the world, yet a few days later, they have not only released Sowore but they also released Dasuki and the AGF suddenly remember that he can appeal their bail. The fear of the police of the world made you release Sowore,” Frank stated.

UN Security Council receives report to place US on global conflict escalation watchlist

The United Nations Security Council has been alerted to the United States of America’s (USA) alleged role in escalating and encouraging the spread of conflict and crisis across the globe.

This notice was sent to the UN by the International Centre for Global Crisis and Conflict Management (ICGCCM) in a detailed report highlighting factors fuelling global conflicts around the world.

In the document carefully signed by Andrew Young and Chris Ratzinger, ICGCCM’s chairman and co-chairman, the group said it came to this conclusion after extensive research on the trends and some of the factors that shape/influence global conflict.

According to the international centre, this research work took an estimated seven months and three weeks to undertake and complete.

Among others, the group recommended that the US should be placed on the watchlist for negligence and aggravation of global conflicts through despicable actions and inactions.

It further revealed that the US’ ban on arms procurement to counter-terrorism has led to more deaths as many countries are unable to fight terror.

The Centre added that the US has been identified to be covertly supporting extremists and terrorists through unsubstantiated allegations on home countries involved in the war against terrorism.

The International Centre for Global Crisis and Conflict Management, therefore, called on the United Nations Security Council to initiate sanctions on the United States in a bid to ensure that there is justice for all concerned.

Read full report below:

Introduction

The world has become less peaceful over the last ten years, mostly due to conflicts in the Middle East and Africa. An international index paints a dark picture, although with some brighter spots. Europe was the most peaceful region in the world in 2017, while the Middle East and North Africa were the least peaceful, the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), said in its 12th annual report. 2019 was a year of global unrest, spurred by anger at rising inequality – and 2020 is likely to be worse if urgent steps are not taken.

There is an ongoing deterioration in global peace. The conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa and the spillover effects into other areas have been the main drivers in the decline of universal peace. In a word, the world is in a mess, made more threatening by the retreat of the Trump administration from America’s traditional role as a stabilizing force.

Consequently, the International Centre for Global Crisis and Conflict Management, a think tank of crisis managers and conflict resolution experts based in Geneva-Switzerland, undertook extensive research on the trends and some of the factors that shape/influence global conflict.

This research work is a partial fulfillment of our 2019 strategic goal, which is to identify how conflicts can be mitigated around the world.

Research Findings

It must be stated that quite substantial efforts were put into making this research work worth the while. Documents were studied, conflict zones were visited, interviews were conducted, on the spot assessment tours were carried out, victims of the conflict were identified, as well as the military strategies of some select countries were examined.

The research work took an estimated seven months and three weeks to undertake, with particular emphasis on primary sources of data. The highlight of the research work was the identification of the critical factors responsible for rising global tension, which would be highlighted and discussed below.

The Factors necessitating Global Unrest

Negligence: was identified as one of the significant causes of tension and conflict around the world. This, it was also identified to have been primarily motivated by the United States of America whose military, in some instances, has been negligent in the discharge of their responsibilities.

In some instances, there were established cases of deliberate instigation of conflict in some regions/countries by agents of the United States of America in an attempt to ensure that their whims and caprices are carried out, or for the United States to control or access economic resources in such locations.

In the several locations and interviews conducted, there was always finger-pointing in the direction of the United States of America for inexplicable reasons, and that largely explains where in some cases where they have an interest, the United States is quick to assert authority. In places where they do not have an interest, they feign ignorance.

The sale of arms and ammunition: to countries in war is always at the behest of the United States of America. This factor has led to a wanton loss of lives around the world. The United States sanctions the sale of arms to some countries, where its interest is adequately protected. This tread was also identified as responsible for the proliferation of small and light weapons in most African countries.

Religion, Governance, and Politics: These issues and their allied topics of human rights, justice, have historically caused many of the world’s most significant conflicts, and continue to do so as often these issues are the most fundamental in the structure of a society.

If anything, the United States of America is a disruptor in its abandonment of international agreements. These include the Paris Agreement on climate change and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, previously the Trans-Pacific Partnership, aimed at liberalizing the Asia-Pacific trade. The US has also withdrawn from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) that froze Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

US’s defenestration of the JCPOA and its re-imposition of tough sanctions on Iran has further destabilized the world’s most volatile region. This is not helped by the administration in Washington that has yielded ground to authoritarian dictatorships at a time of global unrest in which stable Western leadership has hardly been more necessary.

Recommendations

In the light of the above revelations, it is expedient on the United Nations Security Council to impose some sanctions on the United States of America for aiding and encouraging the spread of conflict and crisis across the globe.

The United States of America should, as a matter of urgency, be placed in the watch list for negligence and aggravation of global conflicts through despicable actions and inactions.

There must be sanctions for the inglorious role of the United States of America in the covert sponsorship of violence and for making more people die, especially in instigating crises globally through the use of NGOs in espionage activities and compromising national security in most cases.

The ban by the United States of America on arms procurement to counter-terrorism leads to more deaths. Many countries are unable to fight terror because of such a ban and embargoes that are often not justifiable. They must be held accountable for the deaths that have occurred as a result of this.

The United States of America has been identified to be covertly supporting extremists and terrorists through unsubstantiated allegations on home countries involved in the war against terrorism.

The United States of America must be warned to deviate from actions that would embolden the criminals; they should stop funding NGOs, media organizations, and narratives that promote terror, extremism in foreign lands.

Conclusion

The International Centre for Global Crisis and Conflict Management concludes that the United States of America is indeed fueling conflicts in the regions of the world in his quest to dominate the socio-political landscape. In achieving this, nocturnal and covert activities are initiated and sponsored with the sole objective of causing unrest anywhere it deems to have an interest.

The United States sponsorship of humanitarian organizations in war-torn countries is also the avenue with which the spread of terrorism is sustained.

The consequences of such actions are that the world might erupt in flames in the nearest future if the relevant bodies do not begin the process of checkmating the unbearable attitude of the United States of America on the rest of the world.

The United Nations Security Council must initiate sanctions on the United States of America in a bid to ensure that there is justice for all concerned. The United Nations Security Council must set in motion a strategy that would ensure that the United States of America does not infringe upon the sovereignty of other countries under whatever guise.

Why Buhari Can’t Appoint New Service Chiefs – Ndume

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, Senator Ali Ndume, has given reasons why President Muhammadu Buhari cannot afford to change or appoint new service chiefs for now.

He told the media in an interview that Buhari could not afford to change the military leadership because Nigeria was in a complete state of war.

The Chief of the Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin; Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar; and Chief of Naval Staff,  Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas. 

Ndume told this medium that the president could not but retain the service chiefs because Nigeria is in a state of war, not only in the North-east, but all over the country with serious military deployments to quell crisis and maintain peace

He said: “We are in war. Definitely, we are in war. We are fighting the insurgents in the North-east and in the North-west.

The military is so much involved and are being deployed in so many zones of the federation. The security situation is such that that the military is involved almost in all parts of the country. So, we are in war.

“The military is so involved in so many security challenges. In fact, in almost the 36 states, in fact, this is a pointer that we are at war.

“Coincidentally, the president is a retired army general and he knows this war situation better than most Nigerians; and he knows when to change his army commanders and when not to do that. As a commander-in-chief, he understands this war situation better than we the civilians.

“I’m sure he is doing the right thing as the commander-in-chief and when he finds it necessary, he will effect changes.”

He stated that he didn’t think that changing the service chiefs would solve the insecurity in the country.

“I don’t think that changing the service chiefs will be the solution to the insecurity in the country. I don’t think that this war is not won because the service chiefs are still there and have not been changed.”

Bayelsa 2019: Nabena hails judgment reversing Deputy Governor elect disqualification

Nabena Hails Appeal Court Judgement Reversing Disqualification Of Bayelsa Deputy Governor-Elect
The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Yekini Nabena has hailed the Appeal Court judgement reversing an earlier Federal Hight Court ruling which disqualified the Deputy-Governorship-elect, Senator Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo from participating in the Bayelsa State governorship election on November 16.
Speaking to newsmen on Monday shortly after the judgemnt in Abuja, the Bayelsa-born APC chieftain thanked the people of Bayelsa state for their dogged and unflinching support for the APC and its Governorship and Deputy Governor-elects despite the PDP’s underhand tactics to steal their mandate and rubbish the Bayelsa Governorship electioneering process.
Nabena said: “Governor Seriake Dickson and the PDP tried all their dirty tricks and illegalities including frivolous court actions, violence, election rigging, vote buying and voter intimidation to manipulate the electioneering process. The Bayelsa electorate stood firm and the will of the people prevailed. 
“Going by Monday’s ruling by the three-member panel chaired by Justice Stephen Adah, the legal action undertaken by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was a clear case of abuse of court processes. The PDP abnitio knew that they had no case but insisted on taken everyone on a wild goose chase. That is the beauty of democracy and the rule of law. The PDP have had their opportunity to see through their case, however baseless.
“We can now look forward to the handover date when Bayelsa will be rescued from the failed administration of Governor Seriake Dickson and the PDP. Bayelsans can also now look forward to the administration of Governor-elect, David Lyon which will usher in pro-people programes and also support and consolidate on President Muhammadu Buhari’s developmental and Next Level agenda for Bayelsa State.”
Justice Iyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja had on November 12 disqualified the lawmaker for allegedly supplying false information to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as part of requirement for the governorship poll.

Christmas: Savouring the joy under PMB

By Nkechi Odoma

Christmas is here again. It is a season that brings people from far and near together in joy and celebration. It has been so for decades in Nigeria until some evil minded persons saw the assemblage of people occasioned by the conviviality of the season to perpetrate  their wicked plots.

In doing so,  they exerted maximum damage on an innocent and unsuspecting citizenry as they turned the soothing carols of Christmas to dirges and the gathering in social circles to hospital visits as families struggled to cater for loved ones who have  fallen  victims of the acts of evil.
This was what has been happening in Nigeria since a terrorist group invaded the erstwhile peaceful landcape by seizing certain portions of the land.

Between 2009 and 2015, the fun and fanfare of Christmas was gradually replaced with fear and trepidation as the insurgents deepened their resolve to create panic land leaving billows of  smoke almost everywhere. 
Nigerians turned captives in their homeland through no fault of theirs. They became like the proverbial Babylonian captives who sang in lamentation ‘how can we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land? Though they weren’t in any foreign land. The height of such inhuman  recklessness  was in 2011 when on Christmas Day, a day set aside for merry making and panoply, was  turned bloody and the season of happineness to a season crimson  blossom.
No fewer than 37 persons who went to worship at the Catholic Church at a small town called Madalla near Abuja were blown to their graves with 57 others left wounded in one of the most despicable and atrocious acts in recent times.

The bombs investigations later showed,  were planted near the  1,000 capacity church and its effect was felt in the whole vicinity as windows of the houses around were shattered by the explosion. As if that was not enough to shock a bewildered citizenry, another explosion hit the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Church in Jos, Plateau State,  on the same day.

The terrorists had intended worse as two other bombs were found in a  building near the church and many testified to seeing gun wielding men fleeing the vicinity shortly after an alarm was raised.
Before people could recover from the shock of the two unfortunate incidents, two major towns in Yobe State, Damaturu and Gadaka also felt the  pang of the grim reality with multiple explosions happening there. The one on Gadaka was also in a church. 

The frequency of the occurrences within the same period subsequently made people to develop a different attitude towards spending Christmas in Nigeria. Rather than see the season  as an opportunity to roll out in resplendent robes and to seek  where to catch fun as they all want to do on such occasions, people began to see Christmas as the reason to stay indoors.

Churches cancelled their night programmes and built high walls around their premises while quickly dismissing the congregation  out of fear.
But as people troop out in preparation for this year’s Christmas,  no such fears abound. Since 2015 when the current administration was inaugurated, so much effort was put in place to ensure the life of the citizenry is secured.
The first indication that it was not going to be business as usual for the terrorists was the directive by the president for the relocation of the operational headquarters of the Nigeria armed forces to the theatre of war.

Then followed the appointment of capable hands to head the armed forces.
General Tukur Yusufu   Buratai on assumption of office as chief of army staff wasted no time getting the troops ready for action.
Like Shaka, the great Zulu warrior who initiated military reforms and transformed a ragtag army to a well-organized and centralised millitary might that established the Zulu State, Buratai brought reforms that changed the orientation of the average Nigerian soldier.

Like Shaka’s transformation of the army through innovative tactics and updated weaponry, Buratai brought reforms that served to boost the morale of officers and men and the inherited complaints of lack of proper welfare became a thing of the past
The reforms and  strategy introduced gave the military upper hand as they took the insurgents by surprise in their fortress and the concentration of such onslaught saw the Boko Haram terrorists running for dear lives. Weapons were procured at speed and mobilised across the theatre of war and positive results began to pour in.

The low morale of the army gave way to high spirits as men and officers which under  the previous dispensation were quitting due to lack of confidence became charged begging to be allowed to route out the terrorists. Many of the insurgents on seeing superior fire power and war strategies began to beg for forgiveness. The heavy casualty toll on their  side  caused  a split in their ranks as the centre could no longer hold. Our military took the dreaded Sambisa forest and established a base at Camp Zero.
Gwoza a local government headquarters which was previously captured by the insurgents and designated the capital of the Caliphate was recaptured by Nigerian troops and its people liberated.

Local governments areas in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States that were under Boko Haran were  liberated and the insurgents were pursued to precincts on the fringes of the Nigerian border and began to prey on soft targets to be able to eat.
What was taking place in those territories quickly gave Nigerians a new lease of life.
The miniser of information, Lai Mohamed announced that the insurgents were technically defeated and degraded. He was right as  IDP camps no longer surged with women  and children but were steadily being depleted of displaced persons. 

More and more persons in such camps relocated to their recaptured communities living normal lives as before. 
This implies that the current administration has lived up to one of its  cardinal promises to secure  the lives of the citizenry. For this, Nigerians are grateful to the president and the military top brass especially the chief of army staff that caused this to happen. 
As we wish ourselves happy Christmas, let us not forget the military men who are still at vulnerable communities to ensure we have a peaceful and secured Christmas.  And let us wish ourselves  a happy Christmas again under Buhari. 

Odoma is President, Africa Arise for Change Network.

Watchlist: Go after Boko Haram, IMN over extremism, group urges US

The Coalition Against Terrorism and Extremism has faulted the recent report by the United States, which placed Nigeria under a special watch list of countries.

A statement by US Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo, explained that Nigeria was placed on the list for engaging in or tolerating “severe violations of religious freedom.”

However, the Coalition Against Terrorism and Extremism in Nigeria, while reacting, urged the United States of America to go after members of Boko Haram and the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, IMN, that are guilty of extremism in the country.

According to the group, such assertion is insensitive and an affront to the efforts of the relevant authorities in Nigeria towards protecting the rights and privileges of the various religious groups and associations in the country.

Gabriel Onoja, the National Coordinator of the group, in a statement called on the United States to desist from making unsubstantiated statements that are highly misleading to the international community.

The statement reads in full.
As you all may be aware, CATE, as an organization over the years, has continually engaged the relevant stakeholders in Nigeria in ways to ensure that the menace of terrorism and violent extremism are curtailed and within the ambits of the law.

The Coalition Against Terrorism and Extremism also over the years has seen to the protection of the rights and privileges of religious groups in Nigeria by continually engaging in advocacy visits, seminars and conferences that promote the unity of purpose and respect for the sanctity of religious beliefs that fosters unity and religious tolerance in Nigeria.

The Coalition Against Terrorism and Extremism is therefore alarmed by the statement credited to the US Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo, wherein he stated that “Religious freedom conditions in Nigeria trended negatively in 2018. The Nigerian government at the national and state levels continued to tolerate violence and discrimination based on religion or belief, and suppressed the freedom to manifest religion or belief.”

The Coalition Against Terrorism and Extremism views such statements as quite insensitive and an affront to the efforts of the relevant authorities in Nigeria towards protecting the rights and privileges of the various religious groups and associations in the country.

It is also a sad commentary that the United States of America has so decided to either by omission or commission feigns ignorance on the undeniable freedom of practice and association of religious groups in Nigeria.

The citation of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) is most despicable in the sense that an organization whose activities has resulted in violence in an attempt to impose its beliefs on others should not be used as an example of a worthy religious organization.

As it is common knowledge, the IMN, over the years in Nigeria through their activities, has brought sorrow and blood to innocent Nigerians in Zaria and other parts of Northern Nigeria. This much was also evident in the attempt on the life of the Chief of Army Staff in Nigeria by the IMN.

The CATE wishes to state that it would have been grossly irresponsible of the relevant authorities in Nigeria should such violent actions be allowed to thrive, which has resulted in untold hardship on innocent Nigerians going about their regular businesses.
It is expected that they should have designated the IMN as a terrorist organization due to its violent tendencies and not accuse the Nigerian government. This is rational and ought to be the case in the interest of objectivity.

This is also on the heels that Nigeria has been under the siege of terrorist groups masquerading under various religious nomenclatures to cause havoc in the polity.

A good example is the Boko Haram terrorist group that has been engaged in a violent campaign since 2009 in North-East Nigeria that has seen to the death and displacement of over 2 million Nigerians.

In the same report, it indeed confirmed that “Boko Haram and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria-West Africa continued to perpetrate attacks against civilians and the military throughout the years.”

At this point, the Coalition Against Terrorism and Extremism wishes to state that the culprits are the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, and the Boko Haram Terrorist groups are indeed responsible for religious intolerance and extremism in Nigeria.

The Coalition Against Terrorism and Extremism wishes to highlight that the efforts of the relevant authorities in Nigeria towards addressing the menace of religious intolerance and extremism are quite commendable.

This much has been evident in the continuous engagement of relevant stakeholders by the Nigerian government. Consequently, the placement of Nigeria on the Watch List as one of the seven countries with religious intolerance and extremism is highly misleading and not credible.

The United States of Nigeria must do well to call a spade and spade and desist from making unsubstantiated statements that are highly misleading to the international community.

TY Danjuma’s Appalling, Effeminate Musings

By Philip Agbese  

Military officers are men and women whose hearts are supposedly walled with hardness akin to rocks. They are usually thick and impenetrable! Like King Pharaoh, soldiers are brave, courageous and superbly, very daring specie of professionals, who flinch at nothing. This truism is even more of the badge of retired Army Generals.   Theophilus Danjuma flaunts the identity and shadows of a professional soldier.   But recently, Danjuma’s soundbites makes it extremely difficult for anyone to really address him a retired senior Army Officer and also as someone who once served as Nigeria’s minister of defence. His recent posture brings into doubt if he truly merited the rank of a General in the Nigerian Army prior to his retirement because he unswervingly displays feminine belligerency. It is more consoling to believe Danjuma never earned the prestigious rank of an Army General. But as a yeoman in the corridors of power, his masters in the military bestowed and decorated him with the rank may be as a “compensation” for being a loyal subordinate. Probably, it could be a reward for Gen. Danjuma’s sadistic, cruel and unethical murder of the former Head of State, Gen. Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi.  Outside of active service from the Army, Danjuma parrots on national issues in a manner of a child dreading a scary prey. The feeble willpower inside him severely restricts the strength to bark and bite, like the Army Generals known to Nigerians and the world.    Danjuma is howling these days like a swine under perpetual heat. He is goaded, may be by some spirits to speak the so called truth, he claims is hidden under his cloak , about the dark side of Nigeria, but also dreads his voice simultaneously. He is often emboldened and mistakes his suspiciously stupendous illicit wealth for the innate courage of an Army officer. So most times, he mouths off sheepishly and cowardly, betraying the courage of military men, at the moment of decision, like the Biblical Peter, who denied Jesus Christ three times before the cock crow.      Perhaps, pricked by an inner conscience that he cannot hold his head up proudly as a retired Army General, Danjuma  is desperately seeking for new identities in the last few years. He flaunts himself differently as religious activist and bigot, tribal warlord, a financier of evangelism and spy on his country.   A few days ago, Gen. Danjuma spoke at the University of Ibadan during the launch of a book, “70 Years of Progressive Journalism: The Story of the Nigerian Tribune and the Presentation of Tribune’s Platinum Awards.” But he made curious and laughable statements by asserting; “If I tell you what I know that is happening in Nigeria today, you will no longer sleep.” Danjuma proceeded to discourteously hurl tacit invectives at the entire Yoruba race by saying; “In Yorubaland, everybody seems to have lost their voice, scared.” But assuming anybody presumed Danjuma’s utterances had any modicum of conviction, you would be disappointed, as this retired Army General revealed his effeminate self within the same breath; “So, Chief Ayo Adebanjo’s warning and advice is very timely. If you want details, I will give it to you privately.” By any nuanced consideration, Danjuma’s outbursts have no semblance of neither dignity nor courage akin to an Army General.  He accuses others of being scared, of speaking the “truth” he hoards, but dares others to speak it in public?  He prefers to blather it into the ear of those who wish to listen or at best, morph into a gossip before revealing the wrongs he wants the whole world to know about Nigeria? Danjuma wants to be heard, but doesn’t wish to be quoted? What sort of elder statesman who perceives many “wrongs” with his country, but prefers to play the ostrich?  Even at the ceremony, Afenifere leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, a “bloody civilian” was more audacious than Gen. Danjuma. The Afenifere leader has been vociferous and boldly even at that event; “that Yorubaland was in danger…We’ve been submerged…only few governors in the southwest are responsible for us. They’ve shut down. They cannot face the head of state because of their own shortcomings….” But disappointingly, Gen. Danjuma sounded like the likes of former Imo Governor and Sen. Rochas Okoroacha. Having trapped himself in demonic political calculations to plant a stooge and in-law as successor, coupled with the tension generated by his senatorial victory, which his enemies suppressed, in consuming rage, exclaimed that if the APC pushed him to the wall, he would tell Nigerians what is in Aso Rock.  Some Nigerians are used to such tattling when their dubious intents or interests in the country are bruised. Danjuma is posturing like Sen. Okoroacha.   The former minister of defence cannot claim disenchantment with Nigeria or even feign knowledge of the “evil” allegedly “crumbling” the country. But at the sometime, maintain a very cold conspiratorial and destructive silence over the apparent ethnic cleansing agenda of his Jukun kinsmen  against the Tiv natives of  his home state of Taraba Danjuma has been variously accused by various groups , such as the Tiv Youth Organization Worldwide and some Middle Belt  NGOs as the unseen hand in the sponsorship and sustained massacres of Tiv people in Taraba. He is also alleged to have been responsible for the renaming of Tiv ancestral villages with Jukun identities. What evil surpasses this one? If  Danjuma is not afraid, he is challenged to quote one public statement aired in condemnation of the killings in Taraba since it started  mid- 2019? Danjuma claims to love Nigeria more than its founding fathers. Yet, this is a Nigerian billionaire businessman, who paired with the United Kingdom-based gas company, Process and Industrial Developments Ltd (P&ID) to pursue a dubious gas flaring contract with the Federal Government of Nigeria. Every sane person would know Danjuma  should be conversant with the conventional and business laws of Nigeria to detect a company or foreign business partners  with such suspicions links. But because of his questionable interest in shortchanging Nigeria, Danjuma even  offered P & ID assistance  of $40 million take-off fund through his company, Tita-Kuru Petrochemicals Ltd,  which executed it,  laced in underground politics ,  manipulations, conscious flouting of  laws  and  steeped in destructive operational intrigues against his own country.   When the fake P & ID contract later fetched Nigeria a whooping judgement debt of  $6.6 billion, after closed legal proceedings in a United Kingdom-based  Court, Danjuma’s exposition that the Irishman, Michael “Mick” Quinn only served as a consultant in preparing  the contract,  using Danjuma’s funds and office space  only indicates how these latter-day “patriotic” Nigerians are unconcerned about Nigeria. If the project was his original idea as he cared to explain and it latter dawned on him that “my consultant was going to steal my project,” there was no patriotic action from him to expose them. He never demonstrated patriotism to Nigeria by exposing how an incompetent P & ID company had strayed into Nigeria to dupe the country because they exhibited to him the character of dupes.    According to Danjuma’s explanation, P & ID later promised a share of P&ID in return for his initial investment, which he refused to accept it. But to any discerning mind, Danjuma’s later explanation blows hot against reason, farcical and smacks of his knowledge of a dubious deal ab intio. The EFCC’s later preliminary investigations revealed that the gas flaring contract was neither approved by the FEC nor captured by national budget. So, on what basis did Gen. Danjuma’s company, Tita-Kuru Petrochemicals Ltd contract the Irishman as a consultant?  This is the extent of Nigerian patriotism the likes of Danjuma regale in flaunting in public domain.     However, despite the heightened false sermons, raising needless tensions around the country against President Buhari’s administration by fake religious cum patriotic activists like Gen. Danjuma and co-travelers, the truth cannot be obviated.  At the peak of partisan campaigns’ in 2019, Gen. Danjuma specifically alleged President Buhari is sponsoring, a Fulani Jihadists agenda in Nigeria. He never gave details of this plot. While Nigerians should think Danjuma hates “religious recolonization” of Nigeria, by the Fulani ethnic group; but he gleefully endorses ethnic cleansing of Tiv people by his Jukun kinsmen under his nose? What manner of patriotism from a supposed elder statesman?   What the likes of Danjuma and his lonely voyagers on the path of destruction of Nigeria don’t know is that many Nigerians still believe, President Buhari is an ideal leader. Nigerians know Buhari is bad business for those ex-generals who enriched themselves through Nigeria’s oil wealth.   Undoubtedly, the phobia of President Buhari gives them nightmarish dreams. And the verbal missiles from the likes of Danjuma who dread even their shadows is merely self-consolatory and diversionary. Agbese is an author, publisher and human rights activist..