2019 Election: N90bn diverted from FIRS, Frank says not N40bn

A political activist and former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Comrade Timi Frank, has distanced himself from the report of PRNigeria claiming that only N40 billion were stolen from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to prosecute 2019 election by the ruling party.

The outspoken activist said his earlier position that about N90 billion were diverted to prosecute the 2019 general election for the government of the day has not changed.

Frank demanded an apology from the authority of the FIRS for saying that he was been used to fabricate lies against the revenue generating agency, adding that he is a man of integrity.

He, however stated that the agency and the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo have explanations to make to the world regarding the missing money.

Frank in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday, challenged the authority of FIRS to live up to its earlier threat of going to court as soon as possible.

Comrade Frank also accused the FIRS of brain behind the N40 billion claim in the media to divert attention from the original N90 billion claim to make his revelation appears incredible.

The Bayelsa born activist also lambasted the ruling party for describing the stolen money report as hogwash.

Frank said if the APC actually has the interest of the country at heart few elements who were not in the know of how its leadership mismanaged the taxpayers hard earned money ought to have been worried by the revelations.

“I don’t know where the report of N40 billion is coming from and I don’t actually have connection with the PRNigeria who released the report but it is incumbent on me to state categorically that my position on the stolen N90 billion has not changed.

“I have waited patiently for either of the parties involved in the swindling of Nigeria taxpayers’ money to sue me but up till now the shameless elements are still hiding under one finger.

“They threatened but could not live up to their own expectations. A media organisation were force to retract the report thinking it will ends there but so many courageous media houses and the social media ensured that the truth could not be hidden. I salute the courageous ones, even as history will never forget them in a hurry,” Frank said.

Reacting to the APC statement describing the report as hogwash, Comrade Frank said the judgement day for the ruling party is just by the conner.

“It is a shame for the leadership of the APC to speak on this matter now having kept quiet since the revelation was made. Understandably the party is the beneficiary, it must do everything possible to divert public attention,” he said.

He called on Nigerians, especially the rights groups and courageous individuals to defend Nigeria’s democracy by urgently rescue it from the handlers of the current government for the sake of innocent Nigerians.

SHAC asks the world to sanction France over death of aide workers, others

The Save Humanity Advocacy Centre (SHAC) has reacted to the recent killing of UN aid workers by members of the Boko Haram sect in Borno State.

The ISWAP faction of Boko Haram on Friday shared a gory video recording that detailed the execution of four out of the five abductees that remained in their captivity.

The four slain aid workers who were abducted on July 18 were staff of the Action Against Hunger (AAH).

The murder of the four aid workers has brought the number of the abducted humanitarian workers slain by Boko Haram to five this year.

Reacting to the sad development, SHAC said it is high time It is time for the world to sanctioned France, other terrorists’ promoters for crimes against humanity.

Addressing newsmen on Monday, Ibrahim Abubakar, Executive Director of the group called on the international community world to speak with one voice against those promoting terror in Nigeria and other parts of Africa.

The group also called on the Nigerian Military to scale up efforts to trace and free the fifth aid worker, Grace Taku, a female, whom the terrorists have reportedly consigned to a live of slavery.

His statement reads in full.

Gentlemen of the press, the world has again been made aware, through media reports, of Boko Haram killing of four staffers of Action Against Hunger (AAH), whom they have held captive since July 19, 2019 after they were abducted from their vehicles in the course of carrying out humanitarian work in the northeast of Nigeria.

The killing of the aid workers is condemnable, utterly uncalled for and deserving of the stiffest retribution possible from the Nigerian state and all nations on earth that truly call themselves Nigeria’s friend. Barbarism of this magnitude call for the shedding of diplomatic pretexts as it should be met with the kind of response that will remind the terrorists that humanity is not to be toyed with on the scale on which they have done.

We condemn this act of cowardice as a dastardly evil against humanity that should not have happened if the international interests propping up Boko Haram had taken the sensible step of discontinuing criminal support to the bloodthirsty monsters that they have created to torment innocent civilians.

It is of note that while Boko Haram and its Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) iteration were taken successive heavy losses from the Nigerian Armed Forces, the reported escalation of French subversive activities in the region, including clandestine delivery of logistics to the terrorists, has given the terrorists the boldness to kill captives that they had held before France decided to strengthen their hands.

The blood of the four aid workers is therefore as much on the hands of Boko Haram/ISWAP as it is on the hands of the French government and that country’s nationals, who continue to aim for the comfortable life at the expense of human loss in the Lake Chad Basin. The world must rise up in unison against these terrorists and hold their French paymasters to account.

Time is running out for the world to speak with one voice against those promoting terror in Nigeria and other parts of Africa. If a bold statement is not made by the world at this time, then the whole of humanity would be put at risk because the twisted minds of these killers and their global sponsors have been perverted to a point where reason fail them. They must therefore be told in the clearest terms yet that enough is enough. The killing of the aid workers should be treated as a red line that has been crossed for which there must be repercussions.

As for NGOs and organizations that give covert support to Boko Haram, the murder of these aid workers is a wake-up call for them to retrace their steps because a group of terrorists that kill their colleagues do not deserve any form of support irrespective how morbidly such NGOs may detest the military.

In the meantime, we urge the Nigerian Military to scale up efforts to trace and free the fifth aid worker, Grace Taku, a female, whom the terrorists have reportedly consigned to a live of slavery. She remains the one ray of hope that the authorities will always go after those that threaten the wellbeing of citizens.

This briefing will not be completed without SHAC expressing its reservation about the manner in which news of the murder of these aid workers became public knowledge. The report emanated from the Twitter account of renowned Boko Haram propagandist, Ahmad Salkida, on whose hands the blood of the dead also flow. It can be argued that Boko Haram killed these people knowing that Salkida will do the dirty job of helping them publicize their heinous crime. We therefore hold Salkida equally responsible for this development as well.

Until the likes of Salkida are held to account for their role in the killings of innocent citizens of Nigeria, the rest of the world must accept that we have failed Nigeria and her citizens.

General Buratai and the return of military innovations

By David Onmeje

“Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.”- Steve Jobs– Famous American businessman and management theorist.

From time immemorial, the military institution of the Army has been ensconced in the norms of self-reliance, self-dependence and self-preservation in all corollaries. A typical Army formation anywhere in the world, exists as an embodiment of a small nation, something akin to a fiefdom in existentialism.

Any Army formation has everything it requires to exist and function professionally in its own isolated world, but actually an elaborate one in the real sense. The Army has its own professionals of all specializations; schools and hospitals. It romances the pleasures and intricacies of science and technology, through the invention and manufacture of its own warfare weapons.

The Nigerian Army was also conceptualized along such thoughts and operational frameworks. But years of leadership decadence in Nigeria and the concomitant pervasive degeneration in the country, sadly obviated these cherished values. The Nigerian Army became a ghost of itself, very noticeable in the importation of all its arms and ammunitions. Special Army schools of military engineering or technology, with mandate to propel warfare technologies were ruined and abandoned.

However, the preachments of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, which de-emphasized a self-reliant economy, and attached premium on home-grown technology polity and the utilization of local content for goods and services. It offered a rewarding inspiration and window to the dynamic incumbent leadership of the Nigerian Army to harvest bountiful opportunities.

Nigeria has found itself in the age of bile, virulent and ravaging Boko Haram insurgency. And the current Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and chief armour bearer of counter-insurgency operations in Nigeria, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai , who faced the extraordinary task of disfiguring the rage of terrorism on Nigeria had to adopt home-grown solutions to meet soldiers’ equipment and kitting requirements for combating insurgency.

It was the famed French warlord and politician, Napoleon Bonaparte, who extrapolated that “To extraordinary circumstance, we must apply extraordinary remedies.” So, in spite of the scary and consuming insecurity condition of Nigeria, Gen. Buratai sighted a solution only in reviving the Army’s revered culture of self-sustenance in meeting its needs for professional and operational convenience.

Gratifyingly, Gen. Buratai has raised a template of confounding innovations and restored the dissipated technological endowments of the Nigerian Army within four years. He never rendered himself to excuses, in exposition of failure to curb the threats posed by monstrous Boko Haram insurgents because ab initio, he resolutely resolved to fight and defeat the terrorists hands down. In his famed speech on assumption if office, he termed this resolve as the ‘promise.’

Again, Napoleon Bonaparte once counselled that “When you have resolved to fight a battle, collect your whole force. Dispense with nothing. A single battalion sometimes decides the day.” Like the Israeli experience in the ancient era of European persecution, Gen. Buratai devised ways of arming, equipping and kitting Nigerian soldiers, exploiting the sophistry of local technologies to make battles in the trenches a seamless exercise for Nigerian troops.

At the 2019 Chief of Army Staff Conference in Kaduna, Nigerians misgivings swept off their feet, President Muhammadu Buhari inclusive as Gen. Buratai’s exemplary leadership necessitated the exhibition of innovative and cutting-edge technological breakthroughs by the Nigerian Army. Gen. Buratai blazed the trail with home-grown solutions manifest in the exhibition of certified technological innovations. And the exhibitions included light weapons, Armoured Personnel Carriers and kitting, which three decades ago were fantasies to leadership of the Army.

The 2019 COAS confab climaxed with President Buhari, personally in attendance and commissioned the first batch of Nigerian Army’s locally manufactured Mines Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) nicknamed “Ezugwu” vehicles. MRAP was manufactured by military engineers at the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria, Command Engineering Deport (DICON/CED), Kakuri, Kaduna state. Its potency and relevance in sustaining Army’s clearance operations on Boko Haram in Nigeria’s Northeast and similar operations around the country is adjudged as superb.

An impressed President Buhari remarked commendably; “I salute the gallant efforts of the Nigerian Armed Forces in routing terrorists and combating insurgency in the on-going operations in the North East. This administration will continue to support the military to achieve its goals in addition to prioritizing their welfare and that of their families. “

Visibly euphoric, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin endearingly eulogized the leadership ingenuity of Gen. Buratai, as he crooned; “The decision of Nigerian army to explore the full potential within its ranks to come up with reputable innovations would be a boost to ongoing counter insurgency operations’ It is in this regard that I wish to recognize and also commend the sterling efforts of the Nigerian army under the dynamic leadership of the COAS Lt Gen TY Buratai.”

He further enthused; “I equally make bold to state that the Nigerian Army’s giant strides have opened up a new vista of opportunities for the country to become a global competitor in the manufacture of military hardware. Therefore, the proper harnessing of these efforts would help to facilitate the commercial production and sales of defence equipment and ultimately become a source of foreign exchange earnings for the nation. I am therefore proud to identify with the R & D efforts of the NA as I encourage its leadership to remain focused on this laudable objective.”

Even the critically insatiable Nigeria’s Minister of Defence Major General Bashir Magashi doffed his cap for President Buhari and the Nigerian Army; Magashi bowed in accolades to soldiers, “l salute the President for his continuous support to the Nigerian Army. The Federal Government would continue to support the military ahead of the final onslaught on Boko Haram in 2020. the Nigerian Army has had a hectic year with a lot of operations conducted to secure the territorial integrity of Nigeria.’’

It was indeed, Gen. Buratai’s glorious day of special honour. And the torrents of eulogies poured out endlessly, applauding his focused and result-oriented leadership of the Nigerian Army. Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai thundered;

“I commend the Nigerian Army for their roles in sustaining peace and security in Kaduna State. They have restored peace and stability in Southern Kaduna; decimated the capacity of cattle rustlers and kidnappers operating in the state and its environs. The role played by the Army in confronting the menace of the outlawed ‘El-Zakzaky movement’, which had oppressed the people of Zaria for the last 30 years, as well as various corporate social responsibilities including medical outreaches and infrastructure interventions in Kaduna State is also appreciated.”

But the path to the transformation success narratives of the Nigerian Army under the leadership of Gen. Buratai have not been an easy chore. The Army boss has braved the odds because President Buhari bolstered him with words of inspiration and consistent support. Therefore, it was a uniquely rare platform for the Army Chief to extol the leadership disposition of his Commander-In-Chief, President Buhari thus;

“The current transformation of the Nigerian Army to its current status of a professional, highly-motivated, innovative and people-centric institution commenced in 2015 when the President was sworn in for his first term in office.”

Nevertheless, aside the breathtaking reality of MRAP, Gen. Buratai has registered similar successes in other sections on meeting operational requirements of the Army In November 2019, during Exercise Vulcan Glow VI of the Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery (NACA) at Kachia, Kaduna state, Nigerians were also acquainted with the giant strides in research and development by the corps.

Chinese war wizard, Sun Tzu once persuaded Army leaders to understand that “Those who are victorious, plan effectively and change decisively.” So, Gen. Buratai constantly keeps his binoculars on the future, with eyes fixated on what weapons the insurgency battle might demand the next day and leaves nothing to chance.

Therefore, NACA has also been goaded and empowered into breakthroughs in the re-modification of 105 MMObligation, 14Horwitzer and the 105 MM m56 drones and development of fire control computer applicationsequipment amongothers. These are great military fighting assets, assisting immensely in combating Boko Haram terrorism and allied insurgencies by Nigerian troops. Like in other instances, NACA Army engineers also sourced and utilized local materials for these technological innovations’, a rarity in the NA for decades.

And part of Gen. Buratai’s innovative legacies in his leadership includes deploying the use of technology to launch digitized uniforms for the Army. The security features of the uniforms includes transmitting signals to the nearest military base, anywhere the user is in distress or danger because it is inbuilt with sensors. This is enhancing the safety of troops in the frontlines battling terrorism in the rugged and complex terrains of Northeastern Nigeria.

The establishment of the Human Rights Desk in Army Headquarters’ (AHQs) to resolve unpredicted incidents of human rights violations of Nigerians in the course of special assignments by soldiers; and also, the Army’s novel response to the practice of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) invokes fond memories of Gen. Buratai’s leadership. Under Gen. Buratai, countless host communities across Nigeria are beneficiaries of the Army’s CSR projects in virtually all sectors of social/infrastructural amenities.

Collin Powell reasoned that “Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.” Gen. Buratai is optimistic of a final victory against Boko Haram. But ultimately, he believes like Albert Einstein that, “May the conscience and the common sense of the peoples be awakened, so that we may reach a new stage in the life of nations, where people will look back on war as an incomprehensible aberration of their forefathers!,” which is the underlying philosophy of his “stick and carrot,” principle, in itself, an innovative approach to counter-insurgency.

Onmeje wrote this piece from the United Kingdom.

Is France the true face of Boko Haram?

By Anthony Kolawole

I have followed the war against terrorism in Nigeria with keen attention and conclude that indeed, there is a grand conspiracy against Nigeria. I say this for various reasons, chiefly amongst them is how the Boko Haram group now ISWAP have continued to wage a war despite the fact that they have been under heavy bombardment from the Nigerian troops.

I know some won’t agree with my position on the decimation of the Boko Haram/ISWAP group for reasons best known to them. However, my reason is based on facts available for all discerning minds to verify.

As a start, it must be stated that since 2009 when the Boko Haram sect took up violence against the Nigerian state, there has never been a time like now that the Nigeria troops engaged the renegades and confined them to the fringes of the Lake Chad Basin region.

From the year 2016 to the present day, the Boko Haram group suffered heavy bombardments from the Nigeria troops that saw to the capture of its operational headquarters in Sambisa Forest as well as the takeover of the 16 local government areas it once held sway.

I believe that we celebrated too early in the day, thinking that what were left in the war against terrorism in Nigeria were clearance operations of the remnants of the Boko Haram fighters. We were wrong. We didn’t realize the international dimension in the Boko Haram war; we thought we were dealing with a group of locals blinded by an ideology that wasn’t in tune with reality.

Then came the rush by international NGOs to North East Nigeria under various nomenclatures purportedly rendering humanitarian services, but in truth engaged in espionage activities. Upon realization of this fact, the military authorities in Nigeria raised the alarm, and as usual, some segment of the populace joined forces with some hogwash human rights organizations to criticize the military authorities. It didn’t stop there.

The military authorities also raised the alarm on how some foreign interests are selling arms and ammunitions to the Boko Haram group, and there was also an unjustifiable outcry stating that the military authorities were making excuses to violate human rights. But today, with the emerging facts that Boko Haram fighters are receiving arms and ammunition, including battle tanks with which they launch attacks, from France through the francophone routes, our eyes have become clear.

This is the stark reality confronting us as it stands. Questions are begging for answers now. Questions such as the way and manner the Boko Haram group gets its supplies. And why is it that there is a great deal of terrorist activity at the fringes of the Lake Chad Basin despite the presence of a strong detachment of French troops stationed in Chad. And they are supposedly fighting terrorism in the region.

There has also been a round of intellectual debate on the French connection in bolstering the activities of Boko Haram. And all the arguments point in the direction of France. Initially, I had reservations on the postulations, but not anymore from what I was able to gather from credible intellectual and military sources.

In my curiosity, I placed all the postulations on the table, and the pieces of evidence were overwhelming, so much so that I cringed. And admitted that indeed France has something up its sleeves in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria. This is a shame and an outright affront to the independence of Nigeria by France. This is the case of the man behind the mask.

In all of these, a question keeps popping up in my head. And the question is how did we allow such a heist to thrive? I won’t blame the military authorities because the alarm had indeed been raised earlier, but we chose to ignore it and instead play to the gallery. And now that the reality has dawned on us, we are dazed.

We are dazed because we failed to see the masquerade in France and the Francophone countries surrounding us. We didn’t ask questions when Boko Haram fighters were attacking military formations with gun trucks and carrying out surveillances with sophisticated drones. We didn’t ask how they acquired the dexterity with which they operated military tanks. We didn’t also ask why they have made the Lake Chad Basin Region their safe heaven.

It is indeed ironic that France, for whatever reason, has so been sponsoring the activities of the Boko Haram terrorist group so it could continue to wreak havoc in Nigeria and continue to benefit from the heist. At this point, I would say that the role of France in promoting the activities of the Boko Haram group is indeed despicable and worthy of condemnation by all stakeholders in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria.

I believe that now that many revelations have come to the open, Nigeria must take urgent steps towards addressing this anomaly. The international community must also rise to this occasion and ensure that France is called to question. The danger of the whole scenario is that should France succeed in this plot of spreading terrorism across the African continent; the consequences might be severe for these countries to deal with.

And with regards to Nigeria, the government must begin the process of galvanizing the cooperation of other African countries to ensure that this illicit trade is nipped in the bud. The military authorities must also channel resources and efforts towards wiping the remnants of the Boko Haram terrorist from the fringes of the Lake Chad Basin Region through the cooperation of the Multinational Joint Task Force. We cannot afford to wait any longer. Time is of the essence. And for France, the game plan has come to the open, and it is an indication that an end is indeed around the corner for its nefarious activities on the African continent.

A word is indeed enough for the wise.

Kolawole PhD is a University teacher and wrote this article from Keffi.

Igbo group alleges IPOB, France behind video targeted at rubbishing Nigerian Armed Forces

The Igbos in Nigeria Movement (INM) has fingered an alliance between the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and France to be behind a video aimed at tarnishing the image of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

The group believe this was part of the pact between the proscribed sect and the European nation after the former joined list of terrorist groups allegedly receiving financial backing from President Emmanuel Macron.

The INM made this known at a press conference in Enugu on Friday to address what it described as “insurrectionists agenda by IPOB”.

In a statement signed by President, Mazi Ifeanyi Igwe, the group alleged that the alliance, among others, is aimed at partitioning Nigeria into enclaves of micro-states that will be governed by corporations from western countries.

The group said: IPOB, being a desperate and independence-demented sect don’t mind helping France achieve its mission – so long an independent state is carved out for them.

IPOB’s desperation, according to the group, reached a new level, as it has begun sabotaging the military in pursuit of Boko Haram interest.

A clear instance, the INM reckoned, is a Boko Haram video that was in reality produced by the IPOB’s propaganda wing.

According to the south-eastern body, the video was targeted at diverting attention from the atrocities being committed by IPOB members in the southeast.

The Igbos in Nigeria Movement, therefore, condemned the recent activities of IPOB in the strongest terms possible and urged all peace-loving Igbo to do likewise.

Read full address below:

Protocols,

We have watched with dismay and utmost concern the worsening terrorist tendency of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in recent weeks, particularly given the danger this pose to the stability and security of Nigeria.

In the past, we had taken the full extent of IPOB’s radicalization and militarization for granted, but we are now better informed about our error. IPOB is a full-blown terrorist organization that is driven by a desire to precipitate lawlessness that is aimed at destroying Nigeria as we know it.

Our concern stemmed from latest intelligence in the security circuits that IPOB has joined the list of terrorist organizations that are receiving financial backing from foreign countries to implement an agenda aimed at partitioning Nigeria into enclaves of micro-states that will be governed by corporations from western countries.

Among the sponsors that IPOB recently signed up to is France, which has declared itself a mortal enemy of Nigeria, one that is looking to expand its subversive activities beyond the supply of weapons and logistics to Boko Haram terrorists to begin arming groups in southern Nigeria, where economic assets of the country would be targeted. Only a group of misguided insurrectionists like IPOB will sign up as agents of destabilization to foreign interests eager for the disintegration of Nigeria.

We have discovered that the directive for IPOB members to attack visiting Nigerian dignitaries in Europe is a cover for discouraging senior government officials from visiting that continent because of their fear of what could be found out by these officials in the course of such visits. It is a ploy devised to ensure that Nigerian officials do not get to interact with the international community in European countries since this will expose the newly forged link between IPOB and France.

Worryingly, IPOB is beginning to implement its own side of the deal to sabotage Nigeria for France through the activities it is beginning to carry out in pursuit of Boko Haram interest. A clear instance of this is a purported Boko Haram video that was in reality produced by the IPOB’s propaganda wing. We have learnt that the video was targeted at diverting attention from the atrocities being committed by IPOB members in the south east where its lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, recently ordered the killing of two senior police officers and also incited attacks that injured many others.

Knowing that the law is not on their side and that they are no match to the Nigerian state to which the majority of Igbos willingly belong and thrive in, IPOB terrorists have resorted to weaponizing information and infecting the communication space with fake news. The video they doctored for Boko Haram has now been weaponized into something they are using to demand for the resignation of military heads. This development clearly indicate that IPOB’s international sponsors are desperate to get rid of the current military leadership in the hope that they can edge Nigeria into appointing pro-IPOB and pro-terrorist military leaders. This is a strategy they are eager to put to the test because these foreign interests had in past pushed for the enlistment of persons they are now hopeful will step up into leadership.

Another layer of this misguided stance is IPOB’s call on Igbos not to enlist into the Nigerian Armed Forces while calling on those already in the service to resign. This is a strategy that is targeted at depleting the number of troops available to counter IPOB’s insurgency. We are aware that IPOB was advised to this strategy by France.

The call is not only unpatriotic but also a demonic agenda for IPOB to weaken Nigeria in accordance to the dictates of the Republic of France. We are condemning this call because it is one that will undermine the interest of Igbo in future because if Igbo sons and daughters do not enlist now or leave the military enmasse, the risk to us that there will come a time in the future when we will not have senior officers and that will be a travesty.

IPOB may see benefit to crippling the military because it wants to cause mayhem and unleash terror on innocent citizens, the long-term damage is what is of concern. It may look profitable today to create the impression that our security agencies have failed but the damage from such will be all encompassing.

Igbos in Nigeria Movement therefore condemn the recent activities of IPOB in the strongest terms possible and urge all peace-loving Igbo to condemn their provocation to violence. We urge IPOB members to renounce their penchant for violence.

Author of book on Buhari gets over 1million pre-order 2 weeks before launch

The author of the soon to be launched book on President Muhammadu Buhari, Mr. Philip Agbese has received an order for over1 million copies of the book, more than two weeks to the date for the official launch. 

The book entitled, “Integrity Vs Power Play: Understanding the Buhari Phenomenon” is set for launch at the International Conference Centre , on the 30th of December, 2019.

Agbese, who is the Chief Executive Officer of TheNigerian, a news portal established in the United Kingdom, had in a widely circulated press statement announced the date and venue for the launch of the book and few hours after the news went public, inquiries about the book dominated the social media space with many asking for copies.

Public curiosity in the book has been aroused by the recent debate occasioned by a Nigerian newspaper editorial on whether President Buhari has earned his place as a democratic leader.

The author made it known in the statement that both the background and  current leadership style of the Nigerian President agree with the main point in the book that the President Buhari has earned respect as a transformational leader and an outstanding democrat.

The pungency of the view canvassed as well as the authority with which the book is written serves to whet the appetite  of the reading public that various institutions and individuals have placed orders for the book ahead of the set date for launch.

A statement  from the book launch committee called on the general public who are eager to demonstrate their love and support for President Muhammad Buhari to be patient as copies would be made available on the day of the launch and in leading book stores across the country.

The committee said there’s no doubt that the twisted  narrative about the President which some are trying to impose on the populace would be challenged with the launch of the book stating that Nigerians and the international community would soon get to know the truth about the true qualities of the Nigerian President.

Agbese, Public affairs commentator set to launch book on President Buhari

Chief Executive Officer of TheNigerian-a news portal that focuses on developmental issues within Nigeria with grip on trending global issues- Mr. Philip Agbese, is set to launch a book on President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Book, Integrity Vs Power Play: Understanding the Buhari Phenomenon is a literary document that introduces fresh perspectives into the gamut of issues surrounding the Buhari persona and goes beneath the veneer of public discourse to connect major and minor events in the life of the Nigerian President with how Nigeria is being transformed for the better since the advent of the current administration.

Written in lurid prose, the author makes no pretense about his adroitness with the subject matter as he walked through the maze of several issues right from the early days of the Nigerian President to now and explains with ease what had stood as labyrinthine contours and conjectures with lucidity and clarity.
The currency of the book against the background of its historical depth stands as one of its major selling point as it marries the past and the present in a manner that no work on the president has done that both researchers and those content with trendy news would find a common ground.
The inspiration for the book as explained by the author on its blurb,  “is the resounding victory of President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 general elections”  and the “hope that the reader would understand why President Buhari has remained an exceptional leader in the military and political firmament of Nigeria.”
The book is edited by Professor Bitrus Gwamna, a professor of political science based in the US while the forward is written by George Kieh , a political researcher and one time  presidential candidate in Liberia.
It will be unveiled at the International Conference Centre, Abuja on the 30th  December, 2019.
Agbese has been actively involved in helping to shape global narratives about the image and perception of Nigeria through his medium, TheNigerian and through media interventions as a public affairs commentator. Agbese attended Univeristy of Ilorin and Middlesex University London where he bagged a first degree in laws and recent concluded his masters in human rights laws.
His latest effort is bound to mark him as a major force in the circle of writers who desire positive changes for their countries.

Hon Okpokwu Ogenyi
Media Coordinator for the book launch  
 

Group tackles HURIWA over statement on Buhari’s commitment to peace

The National Democratic Force (NDF) has lashed out at Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) over what it called derogatory statement on President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to the nation’s peace and tranquility.

The National Security Adviser had proposed a convocation of a dialogue session amongst ethnic nationalities in order to promote national harmony and tackle the nation’s security challenges.

The group accused HURIWA of attempting to mislead Nigerians on this Federal Government’s security blueprint as published by the office of the NSA and also calling on President Buhari to deproscribe the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) and Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) despite obvious atrocities committed.

In reaction, however, the National Democratic Force described HURIWA as “cobbled assemblage of comical characters” who jumped to discredit an initiative they have no clue about.

The NDF made this known in a press conference on Thursday in Abuja.

In a statement signed by Secretary General, Dr Abdulkadir Bolajai, the group reasoned that HURIWA should be ashamed that President Buhari, whom they have labelled as a dictator, has brought a democratic solution to the problems created by their paymasters.

According to the group, HURIWA’s stance isn’t surprising as they’ve always attempted to pitch Christians against Muslims through the claim that the FG’s appointments were lopsided in favour of the latter.

While applauding President Buhari and the NSA for coming up with such initiative, the NDF dismissed HURIWA’s claim as falsehood of industrial proportion.

It added that “HURIWA and its paymasters are the agents of destabilization and the promoters of disunity, rancor and hate amongst the citizenry through their financially induced activism”.

Read full text below:

Gentlemen of the press, we thank you for honouring our invitation to this press briefing, which we must state from the onset is informed by the criminal attempt by the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) to mislead Nigerians on the Federal Government security blueprint as published by the office of the National Security Adviser. This blueprint aims to add the element of dialogue and consultation to other existing measures that have been deployed to address insecurity and crises in the country. Through the proposed intervention, the government will engage sectional and factional groups in an exercise that will deliver confidence building among the ethnic and religious divide in the country, which is expected to go a long way in addressing some of the nation’s security challenges.

But HURIWA, as we know it to be a cobbled assemblage of comical characters, who hardly ever know whether they are coming or going, have jumped on this initiative with the intention to discredit it without having first studied the merits of the plan. Rather, HURIWA contrived series of negative connotations and tenuously attempted to latch them onto a plan that right thinking citizens of the country are describing as long overdue. The proposal was for them a primer that reawakened the irrational hatred of President Muhammadu Buhari, which seems to be the only cause left for HURIWA to fight.

This perhaps explains why HURIWA express anger that a President Buhari, whom they have labelled a dictator is the one man that has come up with a democratic solution to the problems created by their paymasters. They were now compelled to create lies about how appointments were lopsided and how a particular section of the country is favoured. Interestingly, this is a tired and worn out propaganda since there have been enough statistical data crunching to dispel this lie.

It is most unfortunate that an organization that markets itself with the moniker of “Human Rights” can be callous enough to stereotype an ethnic nationality, the Fulani, even when there have been several instances of persons of other ethnic extractions being caught committing the crimes for which one ethnic group is demonized. The conclusion can only be that HURIWA is desirous of provoking a pogrom against the Fulani, which is definitely not in keeping with what an organization that tout the human rights credentials HURIWA is throwing around.

The perverted pattern favoured by HURIWA manifested even in its partisanship as it was practically blaming President Buhari for the election loss suffered by its sponsor, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi state and in just about any other place the party had a bad showing on account of voters associating it with its corrupt past. That HURIWA could descent so low to attempt passing off transactional activism as the interest of the people is sickening and must be condemned. Nigerians must not be deceived to think they are hearing from a human rights group when in reality they are being lied to by the NGO arm of political party that also moonlights for terrorists as we shall see later.

The danger posed to Nigeria by HURIWA was glaring in the manner in which it attempted to pitch Christians against Moslems through the claim that federal government appointments were lopsided in favour of the latter. It amazing that an organization that dabbles in the acclaimed field has never thought it wise to advance the rights of the animists, atheists, agnostics and other creeds that do not fall under its two preferred faiths. To its own discredit it continues to attempt deepening the Judeo-Islamic schism that has done much to destabilize Nigeria and impoverish the population. Such groups should in reality be added to the list of those to be invited to take part in the proposed dialogue session in the hope that those running it will leave the sessions enlightened.

The pettiness of HURIWA was amplified for the world to see when it claimed that it was wrong to site projects in underserved areas by inferring that it amounted to the president pushing projects to Daura. Nigerians can now see for themselves that this is an organization that does not want the rural-urban migration challenge to be addressed.

What perhaps capped HURIWA’s irresponsibility is its ethicizing the entire issue by claiming Igbo marginalization. This has been something that several groups had taken umbrage against HURIWA in the past as it is highly dangerous. Rather than promoting the “Igbo Marginalization” war chant, it should have run a campaign for the affected ethnic group to learn the art of horse trading, compromise, collaboration as opposed to the belligerence on the part of a few people from that region. But this will hardly happen since the persona behind HURIWA, Emmanuel Onwubiko is too far consumed by ethnic extremism to be able to reach such logical conclusion.

The biggest fraud in the position taken by HURIWA is the way it sought to manipulate constitutional provisions to mislead the populace. What it did with the sections of the constitution that it cited was to cherry-pick and convolute matters such that logic is stood on its head. There is no point going into the list of lies and misrepresentation here because it would be a waste of our time here.

The worst of all is HURIWA’s persistence on supporting terrorism. It could not resist the temptation to use its tirade as a terrorist manifesto through its expression of support proscribed terrorist groups, namely: the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). We hope the irony is not lost on Nigerians that the same HURIWA that was demonstrating an extreme version of Islamophobia is willing to be in bed with a terrorist IMN just as it was citing the constitution while supporting an IPOB that is working for the disintegration of the country. That HURIWA can speak against the law taking its course against those bent on destabilizing Nigeria speaks volume to its true intention for maligning the federal government, President Buhari and any entity that stands for the good of Nigeria.

We therefore dismiss HURIWA’s claim as falsehood of industrial proportion. HURIWA and its paymasters are the agents of destabilization and the promoters of disunity, rancor and hate amongst the citizenry through their financially induced activism. We invite all well-meaning Nigerians to condemn this fraudulent war mongering NGO for what it is. Brazen criminality.

France: Africa’s real enemy and its mission

By Alex Uloko

Interesting times are indeed here with the way, and manner events are unfolding in Nigeria with regards to the fight against terrorism. Some conspiracy theorists have argued that there is more than meets the eyes in the battle against the Boko Haram terrorist group in North-East Nigeria.

Some have alleged that some foreign interest has been covertly fuelling the crisis by providing logistics support to the Boko Haram terrorist group; some have also claimed that a particular European country has been selling arms and ammunition to the group. While all of these postulations are true, the main culprit in the whole debacle is indeed France.

I recall that in times past, a credible newspaper in Nigeria released an investigative report exposing how France has been fuelling the Boko Haram war in Nigeria in an attempt to cause a gradual disintegration of the country. In the said report, it was stated that “Intelligence sources stated that the possession of sophisticated weapons for insurgents, logistics and medical supplies by the Boko Haram terror group showed signs of funding by foreign interests.”

The investigative report further added that “we have seen these types of automatic weapons when they are dislodged or killed. These are not ordinary weapons; they are sophisticated machine guns and rifles, and sometimes they have tanks that are not our tanks. We have seen weapons with numbers that show that they were not just sourced through the black market but directly supplied by known arms manufacturers from France.”

If this is the case, then there is every reason to believe that, indeed, some countries are bent on seeing to the disintegration of Nigeria. Like I stated earlier, it is no other country, but France and I say this for two reasons. One is the fact that Nigeria is surrounded by the Francophone countries, whose borders these arms, ammunition, and military tanks are brought into the country. The second fact is the presence of a 4,500-strong French force, which is permanently headquartered in N’Djamena; the capital of Chad code-named Operation Barkhane, a supposed anti-insurgent operation in Africa’s Sahel region.

The question thus is, if there is the presence of a French troop in Chad, then how could one explain how and why the Boko Haram fighters were able to regroup on the fringes of the Lake Chad Basin region and launching attacks in Nigeria? How could one also explain how caches of arms and ammunitions would pass through the Chad-Nigerian border into Nigeria, and there is a French troop supposedly meant to fight terrorism.

Let us learn to call a spade a spade and understand that the French troops stationed in Chad are there to provide that logistics support to the Boko Haram group because there is no way there would be a French troop stationed in a country and a terrorist group would use the same country as their training camp and avenue for bringing in arms and ammunitions. It is also no longer news that Boko Haram’s presence in Chad has been most strongly felt around Lake Chad, which lies primarily within Chadian territory. What does this tell us?

I stand to be corrected in this regard because there have been instances where concerned stakeholders in the fight against terrorism have raised an eyebrow as regards the commitment of the French authorities. This much has led to demonstrations in Nigeria against the activities of French NGOs in operation in Nigeria. Without mincing words, it is most despicable how France has brazenly supported evil against a sovereign country.

The danger of this is that should the relevant authorities refuse to interrogate and ask critical questions; I am afraid France might succeed in its desire to recolonize Africa through the back door. The international bodies such as the United Nations must also rise to this challenge and ensure that the nefarious activities of France in Africa are curtailed in the interest of peace and tranquility.

To think that a country like France would harbor the idea of making the African continent unstable so it could achieve its desire to dominate its affairs is most unthinkable. To make matters worse, the avenue with which it intends to accomplish this is demeaning and should not be tolerated by discerning minds.

I am also appalled that the president of France, Emmanuel Macron, would harbor such disdain for the African continent by promoting terrorist activities. I recall at a press conference at the G20 summit in Hamburg, he was asked about a “Marshall Plan for Africa.” The president gave a disquisition on Africa’s “real” problems – among them, in his view, demographics and lack of “civilization,”

If the above statement does not give us a hint on how the mind of Emmanuel Macron works, then nothing else would. It is a clear case of the hand of Esau and the voice of Jacob because, in public, he appears to be advocating for a better Africa continent, but in truth, his disdain for the African continent is legendary.

I think with the avalanche of revelations as to the involvement of France in spreading terrorism in Nigeria and the African continent; it’s time for African patriots to stand in one voice to condemn France under Emmanuel Macron because this is the height of deceit and it must be resisted.

At this point, I must state clearly that Africa’s real enemy in the fight against terrorism is France. This much we now know, and this much we shall resist — enough of the deceit. And for Emmanuel Macron, it is indeed a great shame to think France can recolonize Africa by causing conflict and promoting terrorism.

Uloko is a researcher based in Lagos.

Boko Haram: Stop sponsoring terrorism in Africa, protesters tell Macron

The Movement Against Slavery and Terrorism (MAST) has alleged that France President, Emmanuel Macron is sponsoring terrorism in Nigeria and other African nations. The group asked him to stop.

The Pan-African group made their voices heard on Wednesday at the end of a one-day walk to the French embassy in Abuja, Nigeria’s federal capital city.

The protesters in their hundreds demanded that the French authorities must end ties with Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists which it has routinely armed.

Addressing the media in front of the French consulate, convener, Princess Ajibola said the mission was to get Macron’s attention that Nigeria is a sovereign nation and any attempt to compromise its territorial integrity would be resisted.

According to madam Ajibola, the group has overwhelming evidence to back its claim that the European nation is indeed behind the recent upsurge in terrorism in the country.

The group reckoned the French action is born out of greed – hinged on economic benefits owing to the avalanche of economic resources in the North-East, particularly the Lake Chad Basin region.

The Movement Against Slavery and Terrorism, therefore, warned the French authorities to desist from further mischief which has undermined the remarkable gains of the Nigerian Army.

The group also called the attention of the United Nations to the crime against humanity being perpetrated by Macron.

Read full address below:

Ladies and Gentlemen,
This is a protest for the rescue of the soul of our dear country Nigeria from the forces of evil that have attempted to cause disharmony and disintegration by covertly sponsoring the activities of terrorists in Nigeria.

We embarked on this protest march to send a powerful message to the French authorities that Nigerians are indeed aware of its nefarious activities with regards to the ongoing war against terrorism in North-East Nigeria.

The Movement Against Slavery and Terrorism as a civil society organization decided to take our protest to the French Embassy in Abuja, so the message could be relayed to the French Authorities wherever they are that Nigeria is indeed a sovereign country and as such any form or attempt to compromise our territorial integrity would be resisted wholeheartedly.

Since 2015 when the present administration assumed leadership of this country, there has been tremendous progress recorded in the fight against the Boko Haram terrorist group. So much so that Nigerian troops captured their operational headquarters (Camp Zero) in Sambisa forest to the glory of God.

It didn’t stop there; the Nigerian troops also recaptured the over 16 local government areas in North-East Nigeria that were once under the control of Boko Haram terrorists. By and large, the Boko Haram group was decimated and fled in their droves to the fringes of the Lake Chad Basin region, from where they launch an attack on soft target communities within that vicinity.

We are aware that some vested interest was not happy with the gains made by Nigeria in the fight against terrorism. As such, they began providing logistic support under humanitarian cover to the Boko Haram fighters.

They also assumed the role of the mouthpiece of the Boko Haram terrorist group. They used their state medium to promote their nefarious activities and to give them the needed psychological boost.

The Movement Against Slavery and Terrorism wishes to state in unequivocal terms that France is indeed responsible for the resurgence of Boko Haram attacks in Nigeria in recent times because there is overwhelming evidence that it has been selling arms and ammunitions to the Boko Haram terrorist group. These arms come into the country through the francophone countries.

We also wish to send this message to the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, that what France is doing under his watch is indeed a crime against humanity. As such, it must, as a matter of urgency, desist from spreading terrorism in Nigeria and the African countries.

The Movement Against Slavery and Terrorism sees the actions of France as an assault on our sovereignty as a country. This is indeed despicable and must be condemned by all and sundry.

We are also aware that the actions of France are hinged on economic benefits given the avalanche of economic resources in North-East Nigeria, particularly the Lake Chad Basin region.

This is indeed an attempt at recolonization, which by all standards is puerile and won’t stand the test of time because Nigerians would resist every move with passion.

The Movement Against Slavery and Terrorism is by this protest asking the French authorities to desist from their evil ways or face the full wrath of Nigerians who are ever ready to protect the sovereignty of the country.

The Movement Against Slavery and Terrorism is also by this protest informing the relevant authorities in Nigeria to act in the best interest of Nigeria as it would indeed be a slap on our faces should we allow France to carry on with its destabilization plot on Nigeria.

The Movement Against Slavery and Terrorism is also calling on the United Nations to investigate the role of France in the spread of terrorism in Nigeria and Africa.

France must also stop the sale of Arms and Ammunition to the Boko Haram terrorist group in the interest of peace and tranquility. This is on the heels that the bulk of the French NGOs operating in North-East Nigeria are carrying out espionage activities and passing the same to the leadership of the Boko Haram terrorist group on the instruction of French authorities.

The Movement Against Slavery and Terrorism is indeed saying enough is enough, and France must stop the distasteful support it has been extending to the Boko Haram terrorist group in Nigeria, which is aimed at making Nigeria erupt in flames.

The Movement Against Slavery and Terrorism wishes to inform the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, that the world is indeed watching closely and should the French authorities not halt the spread of terrorism in Nigeria, the day of reckoning is indeed near.