Southwest’s lingering conflagration and its political undertone
By Rotimi Akinbile
Finally, the missing link in the puzzle unfolding in Southwest Nigeria has been discovered with the recent expose by no less a person than Babafemi Ojudu, Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on political matters.
Ojudu in a widely circulated piece he wrote, narrated how a meeting was arranged between Southwest political leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and leading Southwest political thug, Sunday Igboho in order not to disrupt the Ekiti rerun election in 2009.
The story confirms what many have been saying about the real forces behind Igboho who recently issued a quit notice to Fulani in Yorubaland and has even moved to enforce the order by sacking the Sarkin Fulani and his family from Igangan community in Oyo State.
The boldness Igboho exhibited to issue the threats and the swift manner he moved to enforce his own orders coupled with the fact that he has not been arrested up till now, goes to reinforce the fact that Igboho is not a mere thug but a well equipped tool in the hands of certain politicians.
The question is, who are these powerful politicians that are using Igboho to cause confusion and mayhem in Nigeria. An analysis of the Ojudu narration exposes two things: the first is that Igboho is a political thug available to the highest bidder, the second is that, many of the top politicians in the Southwest are aware of this and they use him when the occasion demands and three, that the political godfather of the Southwest, Tinubu, does not only know Igboho but had used his services in the past to his advantage and even offered him a ‘golden handshake.’
What can be deduced from this is simple: that since 2009, there has been a relationship between Tinubu and Igboho and two, that with Tinubu’s ability to offer a ‘golden handshake,’ that the loyalty of Igboho could be and has been sustained over the years.
This, exactly is why current happenings in the Southwest cannot be dismissed as mere happenstance by some misguided elements to evict the Fulani from Yorubaland as it bears all the traits of a rehearsed plot.
The whole episode bears the mark of a script well written to draw the attention of the rest of the country to the Southwest and to pressure certain political forces into accepting certain candidates that have not been accepted as eligible to succeed Mr. President.
First, it was the governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu who asked the Fulani in certain parts of his state to vacate those places or be penalised.
Then Igboho fell into the picture and the entire country has not remained the same again.
As one tries to make meaning out of the matter, it will be apt to scrutinise the precedent scenario so as to grasp the full picture of what is going on in the Southwest with Igboho and Tinubu.
In the late 90s, when it was clear that General Sani Abacha was not ready to hand over the reins of government to anyone else, but was bent on perpetuating himself in power, politicians in the Southwest took a decision aimed at forcing the General to quit and sponsored Ganiu Adams to take over the leadership of the Odua Peoples Congress, OPC, from Dr. Federico Fasehun and the OPC under Adams began to unleash mayhem in the Southwest that made governance more difficult for Abacha.
By then, many of the NADECO leaders including Tinubu had gone on self exile and the junta could not identify the real forces behind the OPC. It was much later when Nigeria returned to democracy and most of those self exiled pro-democracy activists returned that the picture became clearer that it was just a political tool to protect and advance the cause of certain interests.
Now the whole drama is being repeated with a slight adjustment to the dramatis personae. Rather than Adams, we now have Igboho, but the people behind the plot, those directing the scenes from behind have not changed.
Clearly, what is happenings in the Southwest is the voice of Jacob but the hand of Esau. While it is Akeredolu and Igboho whose voices are being heard, it is obvious that it is Bola Ahmed Tinubu that is somewhere playing the music.
It is well known that Tinubu wants to be President of Nigeria and his quest for the coveted office has intensified in recent times because age is not in his side and this seems his best opportunity given that he belongs to the ruling party and the incumbent is serving his second term.
But Tinubu has been served sufficient notice that APC cannot hand over the presidential ticket to him as there are many issues dogging his ambition that makes him ineligible for the presidency.
The first is that he has many criminal allegations against him that it will not be good to have him succeed a President who has done much to fight corruption.
The second is that he was the one that nominated the current vice president and it will not be fair to exclude other politicians from the Southwest who have served the country well in order to please him and thirdly, it is the people that will decide their President in 2023 and not any other person.
But Tinubu appears desperate and is trying all including using the old and discarded methods of NADECO to twist the arms of the powers that be. This is why Igboho has been unleashed on us.
But Tinubu’s presidential ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian as it self serving and not based on the desires to transform the country.
Nigeria does not need people who believe in the power of money and violence. It is time the nation is freed from the grip of the old order and allowed to move ahead.
Akinbile is a public affairs analyst and wrote from Akure.
Gov Zulum’s Victory Bell at Biu
By Charles Ibekwe
Since the onset of the Boko Haram insurgency in North-East, Nigeria in 2009, Nigeria has witnessed a period classified as one of the most trying in its history. I would say that the Boko Haram insurgency was underestimated. Consequently, conventional tactics were deployed in an asymmetric war.
And the outcome of such military deployment remains a topic for another day. However, the crux of this piece is to systematically analyze the security situation in present-day North-East Nigeria and the factors that have proved to be the game-changer in the prosecution of the war against insurgency.
There have been concerted efforts that have resulted in gains and losses. There has been realignment and strategizing towards nipping the Boko Haram scourge in the mud. This is why the focus of this piece would be centered around 2016 to date when the Nigerian Military gained ascendency over the Boko Haram insurgents.
At the front of the renewed charge is the Nigerian Army, the arm of service that has received praises and bashings in equal measures from stakeholders and other segments of the Nigerian population. Despite, all the Nigerian Army has continued in a most commendable fashion.
This much was brought to bear recently by the Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum at the occasion of the formal presentation of First Class Staff of Office to the Emir of Biu Emirate in Borno State, HRH, Mai Mustafa Umar Mustapha II.
Governor Babagana Zulum indeed captured the real situation of things regarding the efforts of the Nigerian Army in the prosecution of the Boko Haram insurgency that has ravished most parts of North-East Nigeria mainly Borno State. In his words, he stated thus:
“I must commend the Chief of Army Staff, Directors and Principal Staff Officers of Army Headquarters, the Theatre Commander, the General Officer Commanding, Sector Commanders, Brigade Commanders and Commanding Officers, Men and Officers of the Nigerian Army, Men and Officers of the Nigerian Police Force and other paramilitaries, Civilian Joint Task Force, hunters and vigilante for the support they have rendered in securing the territorial integrity of our nation”.
This coming from the governor of a state that is regarded as the epicenter of the Boko Haram insurgency is an indication that the commendation that has poured in for the leadership of the Nigerian Army and other paramilitary agencies involved in the Boko Haram insurgency is indeed worth every inch of it. The statement has also quashed some of the negative narrative pushed by some segment of the population with regards to the commitment of the Nigerian Army in the preservation of the country’s territorial integrity.
I believe that no other person is competent to comment on the Boko Haram insurgency than the governor of the state that is the epicenter of the insurgency. In my opinion, the governor has demonstrated patriotism through his actions, and I expect all those hanging on the fence to come to terms with this reality.
I don’t hold brief for the Nigerian Army or any other paramilitary agency. But I am constrained to lend my voice to this debate because I am conversant with the happenings in North-East Nigeria. And I know of the tremendous sacrifices that have gone into the restoration of normalcy in the region.
I recall that on numerous occasions I had advocated that Nigerians must form the habit of appreciating the efforts of the Nigerian Army. This is especially with the fact that we were up against an ideology that is deeply rooted in mischief, politics and extremism. This is indeed what the Boko Haram insurgency is all about. Take it or leave it.
It is not a conventional war, and as such, we should not expect troops to move in and smoke out Boko Haram insurgents within a timeframe. No, that is abnormal thinking that Nigerians must avoid. And unfortunately, this has been the yardstick that has been used in measuring the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria. This is also aside from the conspiracies both internally and externally by some vested interest towards ensuring that the Boko Haram insurgents continue to perpetuate evil and cause untold hardship in North-East Nigeria.
If not for anything, when one makes a detailed comparison of the state of affairs in North-East Nigeria pre-2015 and post- 2015, we would realize that a lot has changed for good and the threats posed by the Boko Haram insurgents has been reduced tremendously. From controlling over 16 local government areas, to directly engaging the Nigerian Army in battles and many other daring acts which included the systematic spread of terror to other parts of the country including the Federal Capital Territory.
Today, the story has changed as the remnants of the Boko Haram insurgents have been confined to the fringes of the Lake Chad Basin region, with no territory under their control and largely carrying out offensives in Gestapo hit and run style. If this is not something that should elicit commendation, I wonder what else should do—my candid thoughts.
If not for anything, I am glad that such a statement from the Governor of Borno State would inspire the troops to work harder because their efforts have been noticed and commended. This psychological boost is what is indeed needed as we push towards ending the Boko Haram insurgency. I used the word push because this is an ideological war and not a conventional war. And as some of us may know, insurgencies the world over is not something that comes to an end with the snap of the fingers. Some historical accounts stated that insurgencies take a minimum of 15 years to be addressed entirely because insurgency is an evolving phenomenon.
The Boko Haram insurgency is not any different; we recall that the target was security agents initially. From there it moved to the establishment of caliphates. It also moved to abductions and attacks on soft targets in women and children and today; it is now focused on guerrilla warfare.
Having said all, I am also in awe as to why Governor Babagana Zulum chose to make this statement in Biu. In case we do not know, the Biu Emirate has remained one of the regions in Borno State that have shown outstanding commitment towards ending the Boko Haram insurgency in the state. The Civilian Joint Task Force that is in place in all parts of Borno state is an expansion of the Biu model that was effective in neutralizing Boko Haram threats.
As a fact, the Boko Haram insurgents found it difficult to recruit fighters from Biu. And it is on record that they always meet their waterloo whenever they attempt to infiltrate Biu. And this is largely why Biu has remained one of the most peaceful cities in Nigeria. With the benefit of hindsight, the governor indeed was strategic in the choice of Biu to make such a remarkable statement.
I am glad. I am elated, and I must not fail to use this medium to register my profound appreciation to the leadership style of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai who has led the Nigerian Army at this historical time. He has displayed a firm conviction towards ending the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria. His approach and strategy are topnotch, and I won’t talk about the numerous awards that have come his way for lack of space. But what I can say is that the provision of leadership in the Nigerian Army is responsible for the feats recorded in the prosecution of the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria.
I can only wonder what the story would have been if there had been a continuation of the pre-2015 era where troops’ morale was at its lowest ebb. I dare to say that if this momentum is sustained, the Boko Haram insurgency would be a thing of the past soon. But we all have a role to play; we must continue to extend our support in ways that we can as this is not a conventional war but an asymmetric one.
I doff my hat for the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai for he is indeed the soldiers’ soldier. And one that is an epitome of hard work, resilience and passion for Nigeria. What more can I say? This is indeed a victory bell in Biu.
Ibekwe is a public affairs commentator based in Enugu.
22-year-old mother sold her newly born baby for N10,000 to a Pastor in Ondo State
22-year-old mother has confessed that she sold her newly born baby for N10,000 to a pastor in Ondo State
The woman that has committed this atrocity is called Seun Oladayo. According to her statement, shortly after giving birth to her baby, sold the baby to Pastor Olawale who later reported the incident to Amotekun Corps.
According to Oladayo who has already been arrested, she took the action after she realized that she would not be able to cater for the baby.
Read also:Babatunde Fashola Stated that FG was currently executing 43 road projects within tertiary institutions across the country
She stated that the father of the baby had left her the day she informed him of the pregnancy.
Oladayo who hails from the Abejoye area of Ondo town in Ondo West Local Government Area of Ondo State was said to have cut the umbilical cord of the baby after the delivery with the motive of killing her.
“I did it because I don’t know how I am going to take care of the baby. So I told the pastor to take the baby away and bring N10,000.
“It is true I was dating a man called Tope. He asked me if I am pregnant so he could open a shop for me and I said yes. Since then, I did not see him again and I already have one child with me that I have been taking care of before I was pregnant again for Tope.”
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Narrating how he got to know about the incident, the Pastor said the woman’s brother identified as Yinka informed him to bring N10,000 in order to buy the baby as they were not interested in keeping the baby.
The Pastor also disclosed that he suspected that the baby’s birth must have been induced as they were indications that it was not yet time for the delivery.
“I was told to bring N10,000 so that they can give the doctor N5, 000 for his job and I did because if I did not, another person would come and buy the baby.
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“The baby was given to me in a sack with the placenta and I went to Amotekun’s office to explain what happened and the woman was arrested, and she was handed over to the Police at Area Commander, Yaba in Ondo.”
Babatunde Fashola Stated that FG was currently executing 43 road projects within tertiary institutions across the country
Mr. Babatunde Fashola Stated that FG was currently executing 43 road projects within tertiary institutions across the country with a view to enhancing the learning environment.
Mrs. Boade Akinola, the Director of Press and Public Relations within the ministry, in a statement to newsmen, on Sunday, quoted the minister as saying this whereas handing over a 2km internal road project, rehabilitated and reconstructed by his ministry on the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State.
Read also: Kaduna has approved Monday, January 25, 2021, as the resumption date for all tertiary institutions in the State
The Minister, who was represented at the event by the Federal Controller of Works, in Benue State, Mr. Charles Oke, stressed that it was not debatable that the quality of education would be impacted by the quality of infrastructure and learning environment.
“Those who doubt it should simply listen to some of the feedback from students in the schools, where this type of intervention had taken place,” the minister added.
Read also: Kaduna has approved Monday January 25, 2021 as resumption date for all tertiary institutions in the State
Fashola said that the students were expressing renewed enthusiasm on attending classes because some defective roads had been restored to good condition, adding that besides impacting on the condition of learning in the schools, the intervention project had also created jobs for Nigerians.
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The Minister, who was represented at the event by the Federal Controller of Works, in Benue State, Mr. Charles Oke, stressed that it was not debatable that the quality of education would be impacted by the quality of infrastructure and learning environment.
“Those who doubt it should simply listen to some of the feedback from students in the schools, where this type of intervention had taken place,” the minister added.
Fashola said that the students were expressing renewed enthusiasm on attending classes because some defective roads had been restored to good condition, adding that besides impacting on the condition of learning in the schools, the intervention project had also created jobs for Nigerians.
He also explained that the infrastructure gap in the country was steadily being bridged by a gradual process of repairs, renewal and reconstruction of major highways, which had now reached the schools.
Read also: FG owes road contractors N306b, says Fashola
Fashola urged the university management to take ownership and ensure that the road asset was properly utilized and maintained, assuring that the Federal Government would do more to the development of its institutions.
The Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Prof. Ananda Kimbir, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government and the Minister of Works and Housing, for the road intervention project, which was coming less than two months after an 8.25MW Solar Hybrid Power Plant was commissioned in the School.
” The eloquent message from these projects is that the gap in infrastructural needs of the University is being steadily bridged by the Administration of His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR.
“The University is really deficient in the quantum and quality of adjectives to convey her true feeling of gratitude and happiness,” he said.
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The VC added: “The positive impact of this project on campus life is highly invaluable, as it addresses Infrastructural needs of the University with direct bearing on the quality of learning environment, easy movement on the campus for staff, students and members of the host community.” Kimbir stated his commitment to ensuring careful use of the road and requested more of such gestures from the Federal Government.
” The commitment of the University is that the infrastructure would be protected for maximum utilization, suffice, however, to state that many more of such campus roads are crying for rehabilitation.
He added that it was imperative to say that ”these campus roads have not been maintained, since the inception of the University over the last three decades.”
Although the school was not in session, some 400 level students of the university, who attended the commissioning ceremony: Onwe Samson and Onmonya Paul, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government and the minister for the road project.
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They solicited for more of its kind, especially a road that would link the school to the town directly without going through outlying villages, as this would help to curb insecurity.
In attendance at the brief handover ceremony were traditional rulers and some members of the University Governing Council.
Kaduna has approved Monday January 25, 2021 as resumption date for all tertiary institutions in the State
Kaduna has approved Monday, January 25, 2021, as the resumption date for all tertiary institutions in the State.
It also said assessment on COVID-19 for all secondary and primary schools are ongoing while resumption will be announced once the exercise is approved.
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A statement on Sunday evening by the Ministry of Education said the approval came after an assessment team had gone round all tertiary institutions in the State to ensure their preparedness and plans for reopening are in full compliance with the State COVID-19 preventive protocols and for safe leaming environments against the pandemic.
The Ministry, in the statement by its Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Phoebe Sukai Yayi said: “Managements of all tertiary institutions must therefore ensure strict adherence to all the guidelines and protocols put in place by the State Government which includes compulsory wearing of facemasks by students, academic and non-academic staff in all the schools; temperature checks and washing facilities situated at strategic locations, with constant water supply or the use of sanitizers; avoiding overcrowding both in class size and hostel occupancy; and the availability of functional health facilities for isolation of suspected cases.
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“All the measures which have been assessed and confirmed to be in place must be sustained as any lapse or bridge will lead to the closure of the erring institution without notice.”
Fire Chief, Engr. Martin Agbili has recorded 8 fire outbreak in less than 24 hours
Fire Chief, Engr. Martin Agbili has recorded 8 fire outbreak in less than 24 hours in various parts of Anambra state.
Agbili, who confirmed the incidents in a statement, attributed majority of the inferno to the carelessness of the victims, including indiscriminate bush burning.
He enumerated the affected areas to include Awka, Nnewi, Onitsha, Awka, Ogidi, Nise and Enugwu-Agidi.
Read also:#EndSARS: How CNN dodged Lagos Panel summon on alleged Lekki shootings after biased reportage
Martin Agbili pleaded the residents to avoid anything that could cause a fire outbreak, urging them to carry out necessary safety precautions.
He said: “Just yesterday, we received and attended to five (5) distress calls which four (4) were fire outbreak at Awka, Nnewi, Onitsha and Awka while one (1) was fallen petrol at Ugwu Nwasike, Ogidi but we did not allow it to reignite.
“As at 5:30 pm today, we have received and attended to three (3) distress calls of fire outbreaks at Nise, Enugwu-Agidi and Nnewi.
“Fire outbreaks do not just happen it is caused by people for their mistakes. We need to very fire safety conscious now. We must know that fire kills but you can prevent it.”
Appreciating his men and all firefighters around the world for always at alert for all distress calls, the Fire Chief reassured the Agency’s preparedness to continue to give their best to the people of the state.
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I was fired with bullets by Fulani Herdsmen but was not harmed: Sunday Igboho
Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho has stated that he was fired with bullets by Fulani Herdsmen at the home of the Seriki of Fulani in Ibarapa, Oyo State, but was not harmed
Igboho added that suspected Fulani herdsmen killing and kidnapping people in the South-West had done enough and should leave.
Speaking in an interview with popular broadcaster, Kola Olootu, in Oyo State on the notice to quit given to herdsmen ravaging the Ibarapa area of Oke Ogun, Oyo State, Igboho said the gunshots allegedly fired at him failed to harm him.
Read also: BREAKING: Presidency warns Akeredolu over quit discover to herdsmen in Ondo
He described it as a demonstration of the efficacy of Yoruba traditional power.
He said, “This is not an issue that affects Sunday Igboho but a matter of concern to the entire Yoruba race. I am saying it pointedly that I am too strong for Fulani bandits to attack or capture, so this matter is not about me at all.
“I don’t have a child who would be kidnapped by Fulani men because my children are not even based in the country.
“When gunshots were fired at me during the visit to the Seriki in Igangan, the bullets did not penetrate (harm me). That shows the efficacy of the Yoruba traditional power.
“It would not be a hard nut for the Yoruba people to crack, rather the evil marauders killing and maiming our people would be visited with retribution as God lives.
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“The reason for that was the incessant attacks on our people in the Ibarapa and Oke Ogun areas of the (Oyo) state. Our people are no longer safe in their own land. On the contrary, Yoruba people don’t engage in such atrocious things. You cannot see a Yoruba man going about killing people in Kano.
“In the North, they can behead a Yoruba man for slapping a Hausa/Fulani let alone destroy their farmland. You will recall the case of ‘Oko Oloyun’ (a popular herbal medicine trader) who was killed during a visit to his country house. He was killed at Igbo Ora. The government said it would unravel the facts behind his killing but till now, the matter has not been unravelled. That killing would clock up a year this month.”
Igboho identified another victim as Dr Fatai Aborode, who returned from overseas and started farming in Igangan but was killed by herdsmen.
“He employed about 300 people. When his farm was plundered by cattle, he lodged a complaint with the Seriki Fulani. A few days after, killer herdsmen kidnapped him, tied him and butchered him. Nothing was done and no arrest was made.
“That was the story that we heard. After that, they also killed a woman, an Alhaja, a native of Imeko who brought the ransom. Many like that had been killed, including the son to Oba Abdulazeez Adeoye of Igangan. Before getting to Seriki’s residence, you have to pass through three local security checkpoints.
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“Now, we are determined to defend our people, but they say we don’t have the right to do so. Some people alleged that I’m doing this to gain cheap popularity; far from it. Some even said perhaps I’m trying to do it to enrich myself, but that is not also correct. The fact is that I am a rich man. I am not seeking favour from the government because I’m a contented person. I don’t need money or favour from the government, but I am from Ibarapa.”
Igboho had been in the news since last week when he gave an ultimatum to killer herdsmen to vacate Oyo State.
Days after, violence erupted in the area during which the houses and property of the Seriki Fulani, Alhaji Saliu Abdulkadir, were burnt.
Abdulkadir had told SaharaReporters that he, his wives and children were sent out of the settlement, adding that 11 vehicles and houses were burnt in the process.
The Seriki had thereafter fled the community with his family, as aggrieved youths put fire to the settlement.
Speaking with SaharaReporters, Igboho’s Personal Assistant, Salami Oladapo, had said that neither his principal nor his supporters were responsible for the arson.
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#EndSARS: How CNN dodged Lagos Panel summon on alleged Lekki shootings after biased reportage
American based Cable News Network, Inc.(CNN) has objected to a Witness Summons by the Lagos Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution of Victims of SARS Related Abuses for its Team of Reporters to appear before it to give evidence on their reportage of the #EndSARS Lekki shooting.
The international news outfit said the Panel lacks jurisdiction to summon its staff since they are not in Nigeria.
CNN’s Lawyers, Messrs. Olumide Babalola LP, filed the objection dated 4th December 2020 at the Tribunal on December 9, 2020.
In the letter, Mr Olumide Babalola said: “Since the Objectors are not “persons in Nigeria” as envisaged by the provision of section 5(c) (of Tribunals Of Inquiry Law Of Lagos State, Cap. T6), then this Honourable Tribunal is, with respect, bereft of territorial jurisdiction to compel their attendance to give evidence before it.”
According to Babalola, the panel invited him into its Private Hearing Room Saturday morning and subsequently excused CNN from further proceedings or appearing before the Panel.
CNN’s invitation followed its two-part report which claimed that soldiers shot at and killed peaceful #EndSARS protesters on the night of October 20 at the Lekki Toll Gate.