NSCIA Lambasts CAN, Provides List of Justices, their Religions over Alleged Marginalisation in Judiciary
The attention of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has been drawn to the insinuations and vituperations that trailed the shortlisting of 20 Justices-designate by the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC).
It would be noted that except it is compelled to do so, the Council has often resisted joining issues with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) as a matter of principle. This is because CAN has proved, times without number, its morbid hatred for Islam and Muslims, its remarkable capacity for destructive mischief, its dexterous use of scurrilous propaganda and its predilection for always being economical with the truth as part of the sinister strategy of heating up the polity anytime a Muslim is at the helm of affairs.
It would be recalled that not too long ago, the Council was forced to expose the marginalisation of Muslims in the successive Boards of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) after CAN made one of its wild and mendacious allegations of Christian marginalisation. It is actually a wicked strategy and unholy tactics to accuse Muslims of marginalisation though Muslims are the ones being deliberately and systemically marginalised by Christians, who continue to consolidate on the colonial agenda of emasculating Muslims.
However, NSCIA would not allow the serial falsehood of CAN and its propensity for character assassination of people on the basis of their religious identity to stand because truth is irrefragable. To wit, the intransigence of CAN is playing out again in the deliberate distortion of the issues surrounding the shortlisted 20 Justices-designate.
The grouse of CAN, as amplified by some hagiographers masquerading as opinion leaders, is that 13 of the 20 recently shortlisted Justices are from the North and are Muslims. Though the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, on her honour stated unequivocally that the procedure of the appointment followed “due and usual process” and that the recommendation “was done without any preference for tribe, creed or association”, mischief makers, ethnic jingoists and religious bigots resorted to blackmail.
In venting their spleen against the development, CAN especially and its apologists choose to ignore the fact that Muslims are a minority in the religious composition of the Court of Appeal. In a statement filled with bile and bigotry, the so-called religious body expressed its “feelings of sadness, disgust and anger at the insensitivity demonstrated by the FJSC in compiling the list.
It seems undeniable that the recklessness displayed by the FJSC suggests a steady and gradual descend (sic) to (sic) a process of Islamising the Judiciary of Nigeria.” The unassailable truth is that Justices of the Court of Appeal (JCAs) are 70 but the North with 19 States has 34 while the South with 17 States has 36.
The South thus has more JCAs than the North. Meanwhile, out of the 36 JCAs from the South West (where Muslims are a majority), South East and South South (in both of which Muslims have considerable indigenous populations), all the JCAs are Christians except for Justice Habeeb Adewale Abiru of Lagos state and Justice Mistura Bolaji-Yusuf of Oyo state.
But in the three geo-political zones of the North where Muslims are predominant, there are 34 JCAs out of which 15 are Christians. In other words, the North East has 4 Muslim JCAs and 7 Christians, the North Central has 6 Muslim JCAs and 7 Christians while the North West has 9 Muslim JCAs and 1 Christian JCA. Of the 36 from the South, only 2 are Muslims. The names and details of the Justices are as follows:
S/N Name State Geopolitical Zone Religious Affiliation
1. Joseph S. Ikyegh Benue North Central Christian
2. Patricia A. Mahmoud Benue North Central Christian
3. Stephen Jonah Adah Kogi North Central Christian
4. S. T. Hussaini Kogi North Central Muslim
5. Ahmad O. Belgore Kwara North Central Muslim
6. M. N. Oniyangi Kwara North Central Muslim
7. F. A. Ojo Kwara North Central Christian
8. Ridwan M. Abdullahi Nasarawa North Central Muslim
9. J. Abungada Nasarawa North Central Christian
10. Amina Wambai Niger North Central Muslim
11. M. B. Idris Niger North Central Muslim
12. PCA Monica Dongban- Mensem Plateau North Central Christian
13. Jummai H. Sankey Plateau North Central Christian
Total North Central: 7 Christians, 6 Muslims
14. A. M. Talba Adamawa North East Muslim
15. Hussein Mukhtar Bauchi North East Muslim
16. Haruna S.Tsammani Bauchi North East Christian
17. Bitrus G.Sanga Bauchi North East Christian
18. A. G. Mshelia Borno North East Christian
19. Ibrahim S. Bdliya Borno North East Christian
20. Hamma Barka Gombe North East Christian
21. Y. B. Nimpar Gombe North East Christian
22. Mohammed Danjuma Taraba North East Christian
23. I. A. Andenyangtso Taraba North East Christian
24 Mohammed Mustapha Borno North East Muslim
Total North East: 8 Christians, 3 Muslims
25. Ali Abubakar Gumel Jigawa North West Muslim
26. Muhammed L. Shuaibu Jigawa North West Muslim
27. Abubakar Dati Yahaya Kaduna North West Muslim
28. James S. Abiriyi Kaduna North West Christian
29. T. Y. Hassan Kano North West Muslim
30. A. M. Bayero Kano North West Muslim
31. Abubakar Sadiq Umar Kebbi North West Muslim
32. Jamilu Y. Tukur Katsina North West Muslim
33. A. M. Lamido Sokoto North West Muslim
34. B. B. Aliyu Zamfara North West Muslim
Total North West: 1 Christian, 9 Muslims Subtotal (Northern States): 16 Christians, 18
Muslims 35 Raphael C. Agbo Enugu South East Christian
36 U.I Ndukwe- Anyanwu Anambra South East Christian
37 Chidi N. Uwa Abia South East Christian
38 C. E. Nwosu-Iheme Imo South East Christian
39 T.N Orji-Abadua Imo South East Christian
40 Obande F. Ogbuinya Ebonyi South East Christian
41 Uchechukwu Onyemanam Ebonyi South East Christian
42 Onyekachi A. Otisi Abia South East Christian
43 C.I. Jombo-Ofo Abia South East Christian
44 Paul O. Elechi Ebonyi South East Christian
45 Ugochukwu A. Ogakwu Enugu South East Christian
Total South East: 11 Christians, 0 Muslim
46 Ignatius I. Agube Cross River South South Christian
47 Rita N. Pemi Delta South South Christian
48 Ita George Mbaba Akwa Ibom South South Christian
49 Moore A. A. Adumein Bayelsa South South Christian
50 O.O. Daniel-Kalio Rivers South South Christian
51 Fatima O. Akinbami Edo South South Christian
52 Biobele A. Georgewill Rivers South South Christian
53 Frederick O. Oho Delta South South Christian
54 Joseph E. Ekanem Akwa Ibom South South Christian
55 Abimbola O. Obaseki-Adejumo Edo South South Christian
56 Boloukuromo M. Ugo Bayelsa South South Christian
57 Ebiowei Tobi Delta South South Christian T
otal South South: 12 Christians, 0 Muslim
58 Jimi O. Bada Osun South West Christian
59 Oyebisi F. Omoleye Ekiti South West Christian
60 Mojeed A. Owoade Oyo South West Christian
61 A. O. Lokolo-Sodipe Ogun South West Christian
62 Isaiah O. Akeju Ekiti South West Christian
63 Tunde O. Awotoye Osun South West Christian
64 Habeeb A. O. Abiru Lagos South West Muslim
65 Peter O. Ige Oyo South West Christian
66 O. A. Adefope- Okojie Ogun South West Christian
67 Mistura O. Bolaji- Oyo South West Muslim Yusuf
68 E. O. Williams- Dawudu Lagos South West Christian
69 Joseph O. Oyewole Osun South West Christian
70 Gabriel O. Kolawole Osun South West Christian
Total South West: 11 Christians, 2 Muslims Subtotal (Southern States): 34 Christians, 2 Muslims Subtotal (Northern States plus FCT): 16 Christians, 18 Muslims Grand Total of all JCAs: 50 Christians (71.4%), 20 Muslims (28.6%) However, the three geopolitical zones of the South have only two Muslim JCAs while the three geopolitical zones of the North have 15 Christian JCAs! Who is wickedly intolerant? The cacophony of Christian marginalisation that constitutes the sing-song of CAN is a blatant lie, a deliberate distortion and a devilish strategy of shedding crocodile tears or crying while flogging Muslims with bare-faced oppression and systemic repression in Nigeria.
Though religion preaches love, honesty, sincerity, tolerance, good neighbourliness and kindness, among other virtues, CAN has succeeded in creating a Nigerian version of Christianity which is anchored on morbid hatred, undisguised dishonesty, caustic insincerity, religious intolerance, perennial hostility and outright wickedness. If CAN has its way, it would annihilate Muslims from Nigeria but one billion CANs of calumny unleashed against us cannot extinguish the light of Islam here and elsewhere, even if they try it! This is the same strategy underpinning the needless hubbub over hijab in Kwara state and elsewhere.
It is given that the right to hijab is constitutionally guaranteed. However, to CAN, constitutionality does not matter where intolerance festers and it has resorted to toe the path of violence. Section 38, Subsection 1 of the Nigerian Constitution (as amended in 2011) states categorically thus: “Every person shall be entitled to freedom of thought, conscience and religion… (either alone or in community with others, and in public and or in private) to manifest and propagate his religion or belief in worship, teaching practice and observance; and Subsection 3 states that: No person attending any place of education shall be required to receive religious instruction or to take part in or attend any religious ceremony or observance if such instruction ceremony or observance relates to a religion other than his own, or religion not approved by his parent or guardian; while subsection 4 further states that: No religious community or denomination shall be prevented from providing religious instruction for pupils of that community or denomination in any place of education maintained wholly by that community or denomination. The schools in question are public schools which are financed and administered by the state government. It is even ironical that a number of the female teachers in these schools use hijab. Would CAN also ask the state government to disengage all the ‘Hijabi teachers’ in the affected schools? The matter was put to rest in Suit CA/IL/49/2009 where the appellate court in Ilorin ruled unequivocally that the use of hijab by female Muslims qualifies as a fundamental right under Section 38 of the Constitution. Also, in AbdulKareem vs Lagos State Government (2016) 15 NWLR (Pt 1535) 177, the Court of Appeal further reaffirmed its decision in Appeal No CA/IL/49/2009 and upheld the unalloyed right of a female Muslim to wear hijab to school. However, CAN argued that the use of hijab in the affected schools will “cause discrimination and allow terrorists to easily identify our children and wards.” What a jaundiced argument! Assuming that was true, would the withdrawal of all the Hijabi students in the affected schools not make the children to be more easily identified? It therefore beats imagination that CAN can be so blinded by Islamophobia as to promote anarchy in the land by denying willing Muslim girls the right to hijab in state-funded schools in Ilorin of all towns, repaying the tolerance of the Muslim hosts with intolerance! Even in the West, willing school girls and professionals are accorded their rights to hijab and a Baptist College in Australia less than two years ago changed its dress code to accommodate its Hijabi student. However, in Nigeria, CAN leaders appear to practise a different version of Christianity and they undermine democracy by violating the lawful judgements of competent courts of law. For the purpose of hindsight, Muslims have over the years been bearing their persecution and marginalisation in Nigeria with religious patience and dignified forbearance without the NSCIA heating up the polity, occupying public spaces or inciting confrontation with constituted authorities. Right-thinking Nigerians are to ponder what CAN would have done if Christians were to be at the receiving end illustrated with just the following six instances: a. During the regime of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo between 2003 and 2007, there was not a single Muslim Minister from the entire South-West, South-South, South-East and North-Central, except one Muslim from Nasarawa state. In the period between 2010 and 2013 during Dr Goodluck Jonathan’s regime, no single Muslim Minister was appointed from the three geopolitical zones of the South. The National Conference of 2014 convened by the Government led by Dr Goodluck Jonathan was lopsidedly constituted that Muslims were just about one-third of the entire delegates. While the cross is the symbol of Christianity and the crescent is the symbol of Islam, the cross is used as the symbol of hospitals across Nigeria and the Federal Government statutorily created the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRSC). The Federal Government recognises and legitimises the Christian worship days of Saturday and Sunday as official work-free days in Nigeria. The Central Bank of Nigeria pays public funds running into hundreds of millions of Naira to CAN every year under one guise or the other. As far as those who run the affairs of CAN are concerned, Nigeria may as well descend into war since in their demonic calculations, they will dominate Muslims with the support of their foreign friends and turn Muslim lands to a vast wasteland as obtainable in some Muslim-majority countries. They fail to realise that the war they are intent on dragging Nigeria into ultimately does not decide who is right but who is left and that no soldier in the real sense ever survives a war as something dies in him while fighting. It is in this respect that Muslims in Nigeria and the South in particular are warned to be circumspect in being dragged into the ethnic debate of some phantom states to be created out of Nigeria by some irredentist agitators. It is clear to the blind and audible to the deaf that the script is a design to further repress Islam and oppress Muslims in the South and turn them into second class citizens in their own fatherland. Behind the mask of ethnicity that the propagandists wear to deceive the unwary is a religious agenda to obliterate Muslims from the socio-political life of the entire South where hijab would be criminalised and the courts of law would be disobeyed at will by the so-called elite, as being witnessed in Kwara state. Muslims who listen to the deceit of ‘those-who-wish-others-evil’ or the rants of their megaphones are bound to regret if they continue to toe their divisive ethnic and religious propaganda. Muslim opinion leaders, especially politicians, writers and journalists, are to be wary of being subliminally drawn into what will potentially destroy them. You cannot trust those who disobey rightful court orders to guarantee your basic rights when push comes to shove! It is against the backdrop of the foregoing that the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) reiterates its earlier call that the Federal Government should urgently conduct a full-scale religious census of the entire workforce of its Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). The statistics would be helpful as it would reveal the states of origin and religious affiliations of the Nigerian workforce. Muslims can no longer tolerate the psychological terrorism of those whose stock-in-trade is campaign of calumny and bigoted propaganda anytime a Muslim happens to be at the helm of affairs in Nigeria. This is the way forward at this time as the vilification of Muslims by CAN can only be redressed by publishing the statistics and letting the world know who is marginalising who. Signed: Prof. Salisu Shehu Deputy Secretary General, NSCIA For and on behalf of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) Arc. Haruna Zuberu Usman-Ugwu Ag. Director of Administration, NSCIA For and on behalf of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA)
Pastor’s wife stabbed to death in Benue
The wife of a Pastor with the Lord’s Chosen Church, who is on faith mission to Equatorial Guinea, Eunice Odoba, has been stabbed to death in Otukpo, Benue State.
The development was confirmed on Monday by the spokesperson of the Benue State Police Command, Catherine Anene.
According to available information, Odoba, who runs Verda International School, Otukpo, lives alone following the mission work of her husband and the departure from home of her grown children: two male and a female, boys and a girl.
Anene told the News Agency of Nigeria by telephone in Makurdi that the 55-year-old woman was found dead on Sunday.
She said the police had begun investigation into the matter.
She further said that the victim’s body had been taken to a mortuary.
My Vision Will Rebuild the Nigerian Army to a Formidable Force -Attahiru
The Chief of Army Staff(COAS), Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru, said his vision will rebuild the Nigerian Army into a formidable force that will defeat all adversaries.
He made this pronouncement during the opening ceremony of the combined COAS First Quarter Conference and Nigerian Army Operations Retreat 2021 held at Army Headquarters Command Officers Mess 1, Abuja.
The COAS said the event which is his maiden conference since his appointment as COAS will offer ample opportunity for participants to brainstorm and interact on the state of affairs of the Nigerian Army with a view to reviewing NA activities for the first quarter and planning for operational commitment in the second quarter of the year.
The COAS added that he took over the mantle of leadership of the NA at a very critical period when the nation is facing daunting security challenges but assured Nigerians that the Nigerian Army under his leadership will continue to decisively deal with all security challenges currently confronting the nation. “I and my colleagues took over command of our respective services at a very critical period due to daunting security challenges. In line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s directives and my intent to rebuild the Nigerian Army into a formidable force , I conceived the vision of having “A Nigerian Army that is Repositioned to Professionally Defeat all Adversaries in a Joint Environment”.
“To breathe life into this version, I released my Command Philosophy which has Readiness, Capacity, Continuous Leadership Development and duty to control as cardinal pillars ”
He promised to build on the dependability of the Nigerian Army to accomplish any mission tasked in line with norms enshrined in our values and ethics. The COAS lauded the initiative of the first ever Nigerian Army Operations Retreat as part of activities for the First Quarter Conference 2021 which according to him will provide a platform to reassess the threat environment and review ongoing operations of the NA with a view to identifying gaps that could be addressed in the planning and conduct of future operations.
Lieutenant General Attahiru further stated that Nigerian Army under his watch will remain resolute in decisively dealing with threats against the Nigerian state. He then charged commanders to key into his command philosophy in order to ensure operational and administrative deficiencies become a thing of the past in all formations and units of the NA.
He revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari will provide combat enablers to the NA that would enhance and boost operations.
”As I speak, we will soon be receiving combat enablers that would enhance and boast our operations. Concerted effort is also being made to eliminate the threat of improvised explosives devices which has been a major impediment to troops and operations in Operation LAFIYA DOLE.
I have approved the purchase of spare parts and directed all damaged and serviceable equipment in the theatre to be back-loaded for immediate repairs. I want to assure you that I am determined to rebuild the fighting skills, capacity, confidence and moral of the troops”, he said.
He thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for his unrelenting support to the Nigerian Army and pledged unalloyed loyalty to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and to the President, Commander-in-Chief, President Muhammadu Buhari.
Present at the event are the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Principal Staff Officers from Defence and Army Headquarters, Corps Commanders, General Officers Commanding, very senior officers both serving and retired among others.
War on terror: Attahiru harps on deployment of simulation technologies to combat insurgency
The Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru has said the need to extensively deploy simulation technologies for capacity building and force multiplication in modern warfare has become more urgent that ever before.
General Attahiru gave the remarks at the opening of Training Workshop on Military Simulation Exercises at the Land Forces Simulation Centre, Abuja.
Represented by the the Chief of Army Transformation and Innovations Major General BM Shafa, Attahiru noted that the Centre is living up to expectations by collaborating with relevant stakeholders to fast track development.
”In line with my vision which is ‘a Nigerian Army that is deposition to professionally defeat all adversaries in a joint environment’ I am glad to note that the Centre is living up to expectations by collaborating with relevant organizations with wealth of experience in Simulation technologies to fast track development.
”The collaboration with these organizations for technical support for this workshop is commendable and I am convinced that the desired objectives will be achieved.”
The Army Chief announced that the resources for the completion of the Centre’s permanent site has been provided, while arrangements for additional required hardware simulation equipment is being made.
Earlier in his welcome address, Acting Director General d the Centre, Brigadier General DI Salihu said the training workshop is aimed developing capacity of Nigerian Army personnel in military Simulation for operational planning and decision making.
”Just like other field training exercises used to train troops and operations commanders for operations, this training workshop seeks to help commanders at the tactical levels take key operational decisions.
” It will be focusing on training exercises in battle decision making for the selected Nigerian Army formations” he added.
The Centre is collaborating with MASA Group and Bohemia Interactive Simulations which availed it access to trial versions of the MASA Simulated Wargaming for Operational Readiness and Doctrine (SWORD) and the Virtual Battle Space Series 4 (VBS4) software.
The event featured demo-simulation warfare exercises as well as a facility tour of the Land Forces Simulation Centres permanent site complex.
TY BURATAI: A New Vista In Diplomacy
By David Onmeje
The recent appointment of the immediate past Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd) as Ambassador by President Muhammadu Buhari threw up yet the political sentiment among Nigerians who largely see things from the prism of politics instead of the bigger picture. The hues and cries over the appointment by a handful political opponent is an indication that most Nigerians are not in touch with the reality of what the appointment will bring on board.
Let me state quickly that his appointment will bring on board quite a lot as he has a global network of friends and professional affinity that cuts across borders. His wealth of experience as a war veteran, administrator and peace keeper would in no small measures rob on the nation’s diplomatic efforts, strategy and output.
Thankfully, those that are well informed on the issues at stake in Nigeria with regards to winning the war against insurgency and other acts of criminality are full of praises of Mr. president for making such a brilliant move towards ensuring that the experience of the former Service Chiefs is indeed made available for further use by the country, especially on the global stage.
Commending the appointment of the immediate past chief of army staff, Lt Gen. Tukur Buratai ( rtd), and other former service chiefs, a University Teacher, Dr. Thomas Uzah said it was a step in the right direction in galvanizing the support of the international community in the quest towards addressing the security challenges in the country.
Dr. Uzah, the Head of the Department of Mass Communications, Kwararafa University spoke during a media parley recently.
He stated that the nominations of the former service chiefs were indeed a masterstroke by President Muhammadu Buhari towards utilizing their wealth of experience in service to the country over the years.
According to him, “The appointment of Buratai and others as ambassadors is a rare display of insight by the president because of the gains that would accrue the country in the task at hand. I am glad that Mr. President has thought it wise and expedient to nominate them as ambassadors and I have no doubt with regards their ability to deliver in the critical task before them,”
He further stated that the resume of the new ambassadors is rich and replete with acts of patriotism that would make any nation green with envy.
His words “The new ambassadors are no strangers to us and they are well-positioned to render invaluable services wherever they find themselves. I commend the president in this regard because Nigeria would be the ultimate beneficiary in this trying period in the country. We must admit that they are assets that every nation would want to possess because of their penchant for delivering results in critical tasks as evident in their performance over the years.”
“For a fact, Buratai stands tall from the lot and I have no reservations in his nomination. I am aware of his commitment to the Nigerian cause in the course of the several engagements he has had with the members of the intelligentsia community in Nigeria. He has always been robust in his thoughts and engagements which somewhat culminated in the establishment of the Nigerian Army University, which greatly boosted scholarly engagement in ways to tackle insurgency in Nigeria”
He averred that the appintment of Buratai and others as ambassadors would not only be beneficial to Nigeria but to Africa at large because of the strategic leadership role that Nigeria plays in the African continent.
“The new ambassadors would indeed make Nigeria and Africa proud as they have done in times past evident in the countless recognition they have brought to the country from wide and far. They indeed redefined patriotism and commitment to the African cause in the global arena so much to the envy of other countries. The appointment is indeed credible, timely and a welcome development.”
I agree with those that have seen the bigger picture with the recent appointment of Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai ( rtd) as Ambassador for the fact that Nigeria would stand to benefit significantly from his wealth of experience and the vast network he has built while in service as the Chief of Army Staff.
Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd) is a lesson in history on what patriotism entails. His passion and energy towards the Nigerian cause cannot be questioned by any well-meaning Nigerian conversant with how he led the Nigerian Army in the prosecution of the war against insurgency and others.
Therefore, I urge Nigerians to see the appointment of Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai (rtd) as a decision that would come with its attendant benefits in our quest for building and sustaining multilateral ties with countries of the world in galvanizing international support to defeat the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria.
What this nomination brings is that Nigeria would be able to tell the story of the efforts at defeating the insurgency in the country through someone that understands the undercurrents that have sustained Boko Haram for a long time. It would also allow Nigeria to tell the story as it is in the international community because the bulk of the information that the international community has relied on is from third-party sources that have been doctored or diluted to suit certain interest.
The period Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai held sway as Chief of Army Staff has been regarded as one of the most productive moment in the annals of the Nigerian Army in the sense that he introduced institutional reforms that would position the Nigerian Army in better state to confront the security challenges in the country.
It is also instructive to state that the Nigerian Army was rated high in human rights compliance by various bodies under him. It is on record that in the Armed Forces; only the Nigerian Army has in all its units and formations Human Rights desks to address issues of human rights violations by officers and men.
Nigerians must also understand the role of diplomacy, which is neither the invention nor the pastime of some particular political system but is an essential element in any reasonable relation between nations. For functional and sustained International System, diplomacy is used in every corner of the world. Without it, many countries would not be able to conduct successful negotiations.
This fact epitomises President Muhammadu Buhari’s position in nominating individuals such as Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, and in my opinion is intended to introduce the diplomatic dimension in the war against Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria.
For some of us conversant with the dynamics in the international arena, this is indeed a welcome development in the sense that President Muhammadu Buhari has recognized the importance of bringing the international community on board in the war against insurgency and the best way to go about it is to ensure that individuals that are conversant with what Nigerian needs in galvanizing that support from the international community are identified and subsequently tasked with the responsibility for the benefit of the country at large.
For Ambassador Tukur Buratai, this is indeed a new beginning, and a continuation of service to Nigeria and all eyes are indeed on him to bring to bear his wealth of experience in galvanizing the needed international collaboration in addressing the threats posed by Boko Haram and other criminal elements in Nigeria.
Judging from Buratai’s wealth experience and massive knowledge of the insecurity situation in Nigeria, he will do all within his powers and character to be a worthy Ambassador of Nigeria, and won’t do anything to undermine National Security in Nigeria, but instead things that would boost Nigeria’s efforts to defeat the Boko Haram insurgency.
I believe very strongly that Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai deliver in this new assignment to make Nigerians proud, I must therefore commend President Muhammadu Buhari for taking this brilliant and timely action by appointing this war veteran.
Consequently, I enjoin all well-meaning Nigerians to extend their support to the new peace Ambassador.
Onmeje wrote this piece from the United Kingdom.
Service chiefs restore command structure, submit authority to Defence Headquarters
The military high command has decided to restore established command structure and yesterday agreed to subordinate themselves to the leadership of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor.
The body of service chiefs affirmed that it was, by the decision, following global military convention where the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) is responsible for the command and control of the entire Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN).
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, who made the disclosure in Makurdi, Benue State capital, said by the decision, all ongoing joint operations and joint task forces were directly subordinated to the DHQ and their commanders’ report directly to the CDS.
“The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and other sister services have agreed to subordinate themselves to the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) under the abled leadership of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor,” he said.
The last military leadership faced the challenge of disharmony and lack of coordination among them, causing the services to take independent decisions which stoked rivalry.
A statement issued by the Spokesman of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, said Air Marshal Amao made this known in Makurdi while on his maiden tour of Tactical Air Command (TAC).
The decision, he said, “is the new line the service chiefs have all agreed to tow as efforts are on to bring the various security challenges to an end.
“When we say we are members of the AFN, we mean the three services represent a single entity. When we accept the fact that we the members of the AFN constitute a united entity, the need for rivalry will not arise,” he said.
Air Marshal Amao also spoke of his administration’s resolve to revert to the military tradition of adherence to seniority and hierarchy in the appointment of officers to head command posts.
“Situations where subordinate officers are given command appointments ahead of their seniors does not augur well for the system as this breeds insubordination and indiscipline,” he said.
Speaking on discipline, Air Marshal Amao stated that there would be no sacred cows when it comes to discipline as those found wanting would be punished as prescribed in the Armed Forces Act.
He also spoke of the impending arrival of some platforms purchased for the NAF to Makurdi and urged personnel to support the 131 Engineering Group, being the hub of some of the platforms, as well as make the foreign technicians feel at home.
The air chief said the platforms, when fully operational would be deployed immediately to the theatres of operations and should hopefully be the game changers in all DHQ led operations nationwide.
The CAS also stated that efforts were underway to improve the combat efficiency of the NAF and other services to an appreciable level and these efforts have the full backing of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Amao enjoined NAF personnel to continue to support the federal government in its efforts to equip the NAF and other services.
Personnel welfare also got a boost as the CAS assured that non-promotion of NAF personnel due to inability to attend courses that should enable their upgrading would be given special consideration as soon as they meet the criteria set for the promotion. On NAF post service housing schemes, the CAS frowned at the situation where personnel were compelled and put under financial duress just to meet up with initial deposits for the houses.
According to him, “housing schemes by the NAF should be easily affordable and stress-free”.
He directed the Chief of Administration to work out modalities where payment for houses would be deducted from monthly salaries and not in lump sums that usually exert undue pressure on personnel. “These practices have proven to be effective and efficient in other developing countries and I see no reason why we can’t try it here”, he said.
The visit, which had the Chiefs of Training and Operations, Logistics, Air Intelligence and Aircraft Engineering in attendance, saw the CAS tour various units within TAC Makurdi.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Ibrahim Attahiru, yesterday received the first shot of Covid-19 vaccine in his office.
A statement issued by Army Spokesman, Brigadier-General Mohammed Yerima, said a number of principal staff officers at the Headquarters including the Chief of Policy and Plans, Chief of Army Administration and Director of Army Public Relations equally took the first dose of the vaccine.
The vaccination of Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff against the dreaded Covid-19 was witnessed by a cross-section of defence correspondents.
The army chief enjoined officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army and indeed the general public to endeavor to be vaccinated.
He thanked the federal government for making the Covid-19 vaccination possible in the country.
Insecurity: Former head of state, Abdulsalam meets Buhari at the State House
A former Head of State, Gen Abdulsalam Abubakar, and President Muhammadu Buhari, Friday met in Abuja. The reason for their meeting was not disclosed, but it will not be unconnected with the security situations, economic hardship and other social maladies affecting the country.
Bashir Ahmad, Personal Assistant on New Media to the President disclosed this on his twitter handle.
According to him: “President Muhammadu Buhari receives in audience former Head of State Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar (rtd) at the State House, Abuja.”
Meanwhile, Nigeria in the past few months has experienced spate in kidnapping.
For instance, on 11 December 2020, over 300 pupils were kidnapped from a boys’ secondary boarding school on the outskirts of Kankara, Katsina State, northern Nigeria.
Again, on February 26, 2021, about 300 female students of GSS Jangebe in Zamfara state were abducted by gunmen.
On March 12, 2021, gunmen invaded a Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation in Mando, Kaduna state, and abducted 39 students.
Most of these students have been released through the intervention of security agencies. The 39 students are still in their captive camp.
Yesterday, parents of the 39 abducted students of Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation in Mando Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, have appealed to the state governor, Nasir el-Rufai, to negotiate with the bandits and secure the release of their wards.
Recall that the governor had always insisted that his government would not negotiate with bandits, insisting that they needed to be completely routed by security agents.
