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COVID-19: Bishop Oyedepo cancels crossover night/vigil service

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COVID-19: Bishop Oyedepo cancels crossover night/vigil service

Amidst rumours that some participants at its recent annual Shiloh programme may have contracted COVID-19, the Living Faith Church aka Winners’ Chapel, has cancelled its 2020/2021 Crossover Night/Vigil Service.

The Church’s Crossover Night/Vigil Service usually lasted from around 10 pm on every 31st December to about 4 a.m. of the first day of the New Year.

But TVN learnt that the overnight Crossover Night/Vigil Service will not hold next Thursday, the last day of the year.

Pastors of Living Faith churches across the country announced to their various congregations during on Sunday that instead of the Crossover/Night Vigil Service, there will be an early evening service that will begin around 5 p.m. or 6 p.m. on Thursday and last between two and three hours.

It was learnt that in addition, there will be another service, which will include live broadcast from Faith Tabernacle Ota, Ogun State that will commence at 7 a.m. on Friday, the first day of the year.

Though no reason was given for the cancellation, it was learnt that the Church may have chosen to defer to the 12 a.m. to 4 a.m. national curfew imposed by the President Task Force on COVID-19 to control the spread of the virus.

Lagos State Government had last week also asked churches to comply with the curfew by not holding crossover service.

Reports in some online media organisations had also indicated that some Pastors of the church contracted COVID-19 at the 2020 Shiloh programme.

But the General Overseer of Living Faith Church, Bishop David Oyedepo had consistently opposed lockdown measures imposed by government to control the spread of COVID-19.

Oyedepo had during the last Shiloh programme of the church indicated that he has zero regards for COVID-19, describing it as ‘a lie from the pit of hell.’

According to him, the so-called symptoms of COVID-19 were everyday symptoms.

He said, “Somebody has a temperature and then (they say) he has COVID-19. Everybody here has a temperature. You can’t be in the tropics and not have a temperature.

He also compared COVID-19 to a graven image that is only real for those who believe it exists.

“This graven image, I refuse to bow to it. Is COVID-19 real? Yes and no. Those who believe in it, it’s real to them, those who don’t believe in it, it’s not real,” he said.

Campbell as the new face of anti-Nigeria agenda

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Campbell as the new face of anti-Nigeria agenda

By Idoko Ainoko

In the last couple of years, it is conspicuously glaring to every Nigerian that external forces, which hates unity, togetherness and peace in Nigeria are seriously struggling to destabilize and break up the country. What is however unknown to many is the actual faces and identities of the foreign agents driving the anti-Nigeria agenda through unbearable violence or bloodshed.

And these forces have co-conspirators and collaborators within the country who are clandestinely sponsored to pursue the anti-people’s agenda. They are mostly disgruntled politicians and some thieving political elites who have lost a foothold on the levers of power today. They are angry for no justifiable reasons other than that their perpetual craft of milking Nigeria has been frustrated by President Muhammadu Buhari. So, they have vowed that Nigeria will never have peace.

Therefore, in active connivance with external agents, the internal agents are collectively pulling strings of destabilization and widespread anarchy in the country. They are sponsoring all manner of internal crises in Nigeria. Never in the history of Nigeria has any Government found it expedient to deploy soldiers to virtually every street in the country to assist the overpowered civil security in maintaining peace and security as it is obtainable now.

This is peace time and not wartimes in Nigeria. Ostensibly, Nigeria is not at war with any external aggressor. But unfortunately, soldiers of the Nigerian Army are currently deployed on Internal Security (IS) operations in at least 34 states in the country. Nigeria is nation of 36 states in addition to Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.

It’s incredible; but that’s the reality today. The situation is warranted by the lethal internal security challenges, which intensifies every day, in spite Government efforts to halt the drift. There are Boko Haram insurgents, armed bandits, armed militants, ethnic militias/warlords, armed robbers and kidnappers. There is also the security challenge of herdsmen/farmers conflagrations, ethnic genocide campaigners and the hordes of other such senseless violence in Nigeria.

There is no nation facing this magnitude of internal and violent expression of grievances would have peace. And those sponsoring the crises are Nigerians who have acquired illicit wealth over the years and now nurse indefinable grudges against the incumbent administration led by President Buhari.

Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello made a striking observation in the heat of the abduction of the Kankara schoolboys in Katsina state. The Governor canvassed the view that opposition politicians in Nigeria are responsible for the consuming violence in Nigeria. He advised Mr. President to direct heads of security agencies to now concentrate on identifying and prosecuting the wealthy Nigerians responsible ceaseless violence in the country. There is a deep sense in his statement.

The internal crisis entrepreneurs are proving strong and irrepressible because they have external backers. The external influencers of the trouble with Nigeria have tried over the years to shield themselves from public detection. But time resolves all mysteries.

Consequently, the external collaborators are beginning to unwittingly expose themselves in words or utterances. An American diplomat and the country’s former Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. John Campbell has boldly stepped out as the new face of the anti-Nigeria agenda. Campbell is a member of the think-tank of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) and a Ralph Bunche Senior Fellow for Africa policy studies.

Campbell and his team in the CFR have been propagating very unsavoury lies and falsehoods on Nigeria. The tempo has apparently accentuated in the year 2020, which would roll to an end in the next few days. John Campbell has become a reckless pen activist on Nigeria.

He is an American elder statesman and supposedly, a global citizen. But his outing on Nigeria has always been steeped in controversies. In 2012, John Campbell was credited with statements predicting the break-up of Nigeria in 2015. When Nigerians challenged his position, he later profusely recanted his words. But it has not obviated the fact that it is his mindset and agenda manifest in consistent utterances canvassing this agenda.

In his latest story on the CFR blog, captioned “Darkness in Northern Nigeria,” John Campbell indulged in his favourite game of mouthing meaningless insinuations and insanities on the insecurities in Nigeria. Acting like a spy on Nigeria, Campbell accused the COAS and leader of the counter-insurgency operations in the country, Lt. Gen. TY Buratai of directing soldiers to treat every person in the dominant Boko Haran enclaves as a suspect until he identifies himself properly.

For a leader of John Campbell’s status, he resorted to unconfirmed sources to mouth the inanity on Nigeria and the Army Chief. His words that “An internal army communication obtained by the media exhorted Nigerian soldiers to treat all individuals in the region where Boko Haram is active as suspected jihadis until they are “properly identified,” pulsates with street reasoning.

Campbell cannot expect Nigeria to treat her internal security threats with the template of America or any other nation. All over the world, countries have peculiar ways or methods of treating their problems. But assuming what Campbell and his colleagues’ in CFR are vomiting is indeed, Gen. Buratai’s directive, what in their estimation is wrong with the statement?

Did the Army Chief give an untoward instruction? Did he say, anyone in the predominant Boko Haram areas should become a suspect and be extra-judicially executed by soldiers? His statement amounts to defending the jihadists against Nigeria. He has lived with this dream of the break-up of Nigeria and has now staged out openly to agitate for it.

John Campbell and his cahoots at the CFR must strive to understand the local realities in Nigeria, especially about communities embroiled in Boko Haram terrorism before making such thoughtless public comments. Everyone in Nigeria knows, an incredible number of persons in Boko Haram enclaves support the armed criminal gangs to commit the atrocities. They shield, shelter, and protect insurgents from the searchlight of security agents. Some community members are merchants of weapons, food and logistics suppliers to Boko Haram terrorists.

Therefore, if the Army decides to expand the web of identifying Boko Haram suspects, it surprising why it should become the nightmare of John Campbell and his partners in CFR. It is apparent that Campbell is deifying Boko Haram insurgents to embolden them to continue to hold Nigeria captive.

The plot is to allow these armed gangs and their agents free reign in Nigeria to the extent of provoking public revolt to cause Nigeria’s disintegration. John Campbell is the real darkness in Nigeria. That’s why himself and his job men are unleashing the darkness on Nigerians.

Ainoko is a public affairs analyst based in Kaduna.

Understanding Public Confidence in PMB on the Service Chiefs

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Understanding Public Confidence in PMB on the Service Chiefs

By David Onmeje

“For me, providing security for all residents in the country remains an article of faith…I plead with fellow compatriots to give our military and other security agencies more time, cooperation, and support by volunteering credible intelligence/information on activities of armed bandits, insurgents, and other criminal elements within their communities in order to put an end to this blight on our security landscape.”_–President Muhammadu Buhari’s Christmas day message to Nigerians.

I have tested leadership at miniature levels in Nigeria and I know, most times, leaders bear pains or the brunt of our evil actions silently. Some Nigerians are highly discontented people. The tendency to discolour or twist truth is one of our of greatest setbacks as a nation.

In our country, leaders often times face malicious criticisms. I have read severally and overtime, politicians, columnists and public affairs commentators, who against all good conscience brand President Muhammadu Buhari as a leader who is not in charge of affairs in Nigeria. Some even call him a figure head. But none of these comments bear any semblance of truth and those who delights in lampooning him also know this truth.

In the 2020 Christmas day message to Nigerians, President Buhari appealed to our conscience. He invited us to be partakers in obliterating the insecurity challenges which have engulfed the country. Indirectly, Mr. President counselled us not to be only campaigners and canvassers for the sack of the current of Service Chiefs; but rather support or assist them to succeed in this sensitive national assignment. We are invited by that presidential remark to also police our communities.

Strikingly, President Buhari told Nigerians the bare truth which most of us are more enchanted to repress by advocating for simplistic remedies to the challenges of the multiple insecurities in the country. However, we cannot run away from the truth forever and Mr. President will never flinch in telling us the truth.

Let me quote an excerpt from the President’s message which has enticed me. He said; “To be sure, the problems are beyond the simplistic options being bandied around. We shall remain focused on following the complex, multi-dimensional route to reducing the incidents of insecurity to the barest minimum.”

No doubt, President Buhari has unwavering commitment in securing the lives and property of Nigerians. He feels the agonies and psychological torture of anyone of us who falls a victim of the organized armed criminal gangsterism against the country.

But securing Nigeria is not the singular duty of anybody or persons. It is not the business of communities alone and it is not the burden of security agents alone as others have erroneously reasoned. It is our collective responsibility. We can contribute in the smallest of ways to assist in securing our country and it would have great impacts.

But the generality of us often ignores it. We hardly think about it. We think it is the duty of that unformed man or woman alone. We believe it is only Mr. President or the Service Chiefs who have the onerous task of securing us. That’s why we often perceive them as failing on security; but unfortunately exclude ourselves from the failure. But if they fail on security, we have all failed as a people and a nation. If they succeed, it is our collective glory and happiness.

We have seen the tireless efforts Mr. President is making to secure Nigeria. We are not oblivious to the sacrifices of Service Chiefs and troops in defending Nigerians. The ongoing efforts of the Buhari Presidency to continue to sustain the fire on criminal elements and terrorists that are hellbent to destabilize the country are in public domain. These are verifiable issues.

Sadly though, we are more enthusiastic in politicizing issues of national security. Some people come out in public space to claim they would have performed better had they been in the position of Mr. President or the Service Chiefs. That’s a farce! We started experiencing the rising insecurity in Nigeria, particularly, Boko Haram terrorism for over a decade before Buhari was elected President. But it rather bloomed. We cannot continue to manipulate facts and dribble ourselves.

It is my conviction that anyone is at liberty to fault President President Buhari on everything; but certainly not when it comes to managing the insecurities in the country. I stand with President Buhari on this score; our President deserves support from all of us; not vilification. He is to be encouraged rather than the mindlessly ferocious attacks on him or his security team.

Both local and international experts have all rated President Buhari’s strategies on containing insecurities as topnotch. I know it is only a few disgruntled elements, who are vociferous that Mr. President has not performed to their expectations.

The world is ashamed of us! The world is laughing at us for deliberately inflicting this pain on our country. In my reflective moments, I wonder how anyone thinks President Buhari or any leader at all can solve all the problems of insecurity in Nigeria at the superfluous rate we bolster it.

How is it possible is our security guaranteed, when the minute we think, the country is winning the war against Boko Haram, the satanic kingpins are busy arming bandits, kidnappers and other criminal gangs massively to destabilize another region? Some people against all reasonable conscience are sponsoring terrorists in the Southeast. What magic do they want from President Buhari, if we must tell ourselves the truth?

In any case, I believe, the President as a strategist and expert on security has his cards in the kitty. I am confident that he will defeat the dissidents after Nigeria. He is prepared to work with the Service Chiefs he has honed and, the top Military officers who have fully dissected the situation in the country. Mr. President understands it perfectly that all the Service Chiefs are armed with the necessary knowledge or weapons and have what is needed to extinguish the insecurity crisis in our nation.

So, in Mr. President’s Christmas message to Nigerians, he solicited for more time for the Service Chiefs and the other security agencies to do their job. Mr. President was right in all nuances. I stand with President Buhari. Therefore, let’s give our Service Chiefs a chance just like Mr. President has pleaded. And we will all win the war together as one nation.

President Buhari, the Service Chiefs and the other security agencies deserve a chance to concentrate and not all the distractions we find today heaped on them. Like President said, security “…formed a vital segment of this administration’s three-point agenda right from inception, and we must follow through with it.”

Onmeje is the author of the book, “The Man Kyari” and wrote this piece from London.

Insecurity: How opposition recruited John Campbell, CFR to run subversive agenda against Nigeria – SHAC

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Insecurity: How opposition recruited John Campbell, CFR to run subversive agenda against Nigeria – SHAC

The Save Humanity Advocacy Centre (SHAC) has accused former U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, John Campbell and the Council of Foreign Relations (CFR) of conspiring with opposition politicians to undermine President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

The group made this known at a press conference on Sunday to draw the attention of the world to Campbell and CFR’s subversive activities in Nigeria.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Executive Director, Barrister Abu Abdulkarim said Campbell and the CFR have never meant well for Nigeria, always pushing a destabilization agenda.

It added that Campbell and the CFR are promoting the rise of terrorism on the African continent to use the United States to set up military and drone bases that are then used to control countries.

According to the group, ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo and Atiku Abubakar are behind the evil alliance to destabilize Nigeria.

It, however, urged the Federal Government to take the necessary diplomatic steps to draw the attention of the United States to the subversive activities of its ex-envoy in Nigeria.

The group also urged peace-loving Nigerians to henceforth take to social media and other online platforms to flag any content emanating from Campbell as hate speech so that the relevant organizations can take them down.

Read the full statement below:

Gentlemen of the press, you will recall sometimes in July of the year 2020 that Senior Fellow for Africa Policy Studies at the Council for Foreign Relations and former Ambassador to Nigeria, John Campbell, teamed up with the opposition elements and hirelings of agents of destabilization to host a virtual town hall meeting. That town hall meeting was tagged ‘Insecurity: “State of the State” which this warmonger used to rally agents of destruction to press on with the agenda of undermining the Nigerian state.

The Save Humanity Advocacy Centre (SHAC) has at that time raised the alarm as to the propriety of that town hall meeting while questioning the motives of Campbell, knowing the toxicity that is around the Council for Foreign Relations (CFR), for which Campbell works. Our concern at the time was based on Campbell’s track record as a false flag operator who has assigned himself the task of bringing Nigeria to ruin.

Campbell’s townhall meeting turned out to have been a front for mobilizing, organizing, indoctrinating and deploying what was to be later named the #EndSARS protests, a destructive mob action that went on an industrial scale looting, arson and murder of security operatives on the instruction of Campbell and his Council on Foreign Relations.

Please, note that we had always known that Campbell did not mean well for Nigeria. He has made that much known in every one of his articles about and against Nigeria, in which he has been pushing the concept of Nigeria being a country that has already failed. Interestingly, rather than Nigeria being the failed entity, it is Campbell who is a failure as a diplomat, a greater failure as a hitman and an eternal disappointment as an expert on Nigeria as he likes to claim he is.

As for the Council for Foreign Relations (CFR), this is the one entity that fancies itself as the vehicle for world dominance by a small band of megalomaniac sociopaths. It is the entity that has decided that the only way it can counter dissent in China is by limiting the Sino-African growth, which it seeks to achieve by undermining Nigeria as a viable nation-state.

Several authorities had cited how Nigeria’s problem with terrorism is anchored on the destabilization agenda of the Council for Foreign Relations, which has promoted the rise of terrorism on the African continent so that it can use the United States to set up military and drone bases that are then used to control countries on the continent. Nigeria’s rejection of the bases, for itself and other African countries, has been the cause of the anger at CFR for which it is punishing the country by facilitating the spread of Boko Haram’s brand of terror, both as a means of coercing Nigeria to accept the bases and a strategy for gaining control of the entire region.

Whatever our anger against the evil entities of Campbell and CFR is, we realize that the damage they are seeking to do is showing the prospect of succeeding only because they have the active support of desperate opposition politicians that are cashing in on the subversive activities of Campbell and CFR in Nigeria.

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, a former President, who wants to keep calling the shot from his retirement is one of the people that are validating Campbell’s activities in Nigeria. Obasanjo has remained bitter that successors are outperforming him and are going to overshadow his achievements, if any, is at the core of inciting situations that Campbell feeds on. It is no mere coincidence that the failed diplomat’s tour of Nigeria was during Obasanjo’s tenure.

We are also aware of the unholy alliance between Obasanjo’s then number two, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Campbell. Atiku was the main opposition candidate in the 2019 Presidential Election, who lost woefully to the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari. It was well documented how Atiku threatened at that time that Nigeria will be ungovernable if the electorates do not vote him in. He ran international circuits, some brokered by Campbell at that time, during which he outlined how insecurity would become the norm in Nigeria because he was rejected by voters.

At that time, as far back as 2018, SHAC and some other groups exposed how Atiku planned to use foreign militias and imported terrorists to undermine the security situation in Nigeria while also pressuring for the sack of the top leadership of the military, he was also flagged as promoting citizens’ revolt that would have the semblance of a popular uprising to sack the popularly elected government. It is unfortunate that Atiku, with other opposition militants like Omoyele Sowore, working with Campbell, has implemented every single one of the dangerous plots he hatched in response to his election loss.

Gentlemen of the press, while it may appear on the surface that Nigeria is fighting a regular band of terrorists and other easily resolvable security breaches, the reality is that the problem is more insidious – it is a dangerous mix of Obasanjo, Atiku and Campbell’s collaboration with the Council for Foreign Relations in an evil alliance to destabilize Nigeria.

As we raise alarm on the dangerous alliance desperately working to undermine Nigerians, Campbell’s latest outing on the blogsite of CFR titled “Darkness in Northern Nigeria” is something that is now making us issue a red alert on the safety of Nigeria. Based on past modus operandi, such write-ups from Campbell are usually followed by an upsurge in terrorists’ activities, which would then be cashed in on by Atiku, who would use the attacks as a basis to attack the government in the media and the public opinion space. Obasanjo will subsequently pile on, often with unsolicited interventions that are unbefitting for a former president while Campbell will, in turn, cite the terrorists’ attacks and the assertions of Atiku and Obasanjo as justification that Nigeria is unravelling.

Even though this has been the style of this unholy alliance for the last few years now, the piece, “Darkness in Northern Nigeria” should be particularly worrisome to all of us because the implied impending intensification of the plots and activities to destroy Nigeria. The choice of words suggests that we shall soon witness worsening attacks on the country unless the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria can step in as it has been doing.

Irrespective of whether they will heed our call or not, Save Humanity Advocacy Centre (SHAC) hereby calls on Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, John Campbell and the Council for Foreign Relations that they risk collapsing the entire world if they do not give up on their inordinate agenda of destroying Nigeria. We wish to remind them that they cannot cause a crisis for 53% per cent of West Africa’s population without the entire region going into a meltdown. Should this happen, the refugee problem alone will overwhelm the entire continent and then spill over to other countries of the world. In case they are not ware, the fate of the world is tied to the peace of Nigeria and what they are toying with would be cataclysmic if they do not stop their interference with the choices Nigerians have made.

We demand that the Federal Government of Nigeria take the necessary diplomatic steps to draw the attention of the United States to the subversive activities of its ex-envoy in Nigeria. It is not likely that any country of the world would accept such persistent affront on its sovereignty by someone who had the good fortune of having served as an ambassador on its soil. The government must move beyond treating Campbell’s propaganda drive against the country as a mere rant, he has tangible links with Boko Haram and its activities and must be stopped before he does further damage to our country.

We urge peace-loving Nigerians to henceforth take to social media and other online platforms to flag any content emanating from John Campbell as hate speech so that the relevant organizations can take them down and prevent them from being used to sabotage the country. Gentlemen of the press, we urge you to do likewise.

Thank you for listening.

Zulum’s school enrollment committee registers 1,845 on first day in Monguno

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Zulum’s school enrollment committee registers 1,845 on first day in Monguno
 … Parents release kids to primary, JS and SS schools
1,845 out of school children have been admitted in primary, junior and secondary schools in Monguno on the first day of grassroots sensitization and mobilization works by a high-powered committee, set by Borno Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum.
The governor had in his effort to accelerate school enrollment especially in northern Borno, where there is gross out of school numbers, inaugurated a Committee with mandate to go round the state and sensitize parents to enroll their wards in schools.
After its inauguration back in November, the committee began work on friday begun, starting with Monguno town in the Northern part of Borno state.
The committee had on arriving Monguno started the its activities with a stakeholders meeting where the Chairman of committee Prof. Isa Hussain Marte who is also the Chief of Staff to the Borno Governor, briefed the stakeholders on their mission and thereafter had a fruitful interactive discussions with them.
On Saturday, before commencing the enrollment process, the committee inspected some of the existing primary, junior and senior secondary schools in the town to ascertain the true condition of all the exiting facilities in the town.
At the Monguno Central primary school which is the venue of enrollment programme Prof. Marte addressed parents and pupils who turned out en mass and thank the Local stakeholders for mobilizing the people despite the short notice.
Prof. Marte assured stakeholders and parents government would provide all the incentives required to keep the pupils in school.
The Chairman of Monguno local government Council Alhaji Kyari Ibrahim commended the courage and patriotism of the governor for initiating the move and thanked members of the committee for making sacrifice to visit Monguno which is considered one of the hard to reach.
An eder to the town, Alhaji Kalla Maina who is also APC State Deputy Chairman thanked Gov. Zulum for his vission and foresight towards reviving the educational sector in the state and called on the people to rsupport the Governor and orayer for him.
The District Head of Bida, Alhaji Zannah Kaumi Mustapha commended Gov. Zulum for providing visionary leadership and called on him construct more schools in the town.
Alhaji Mustapha Gambo, Chairman School Base Management Committee of Central primary school and at the same time the PTA Chairman of Monguno local government area commended Gov. Zulum for reopening schools in the town after 3 years of closure and called on him to provide them with schools buses to easy transportation problem and in return motivate pupils.
In their separate remarks, Bako Alhaji Yusuf and Kachallah Alhaji Bukar who both brought their children for enrollment, prayed for and thanked Gov. Zulum and the members of the committee for providing them with the opportunity to educate their children free of charge.
The State Advisor on Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA), Alhaji Abba Kura Mariu commended the parents for coming out massively to enrolling their wards and assured them that the government under the BESDA programme is poised to reduce out of school children and improve literacy and numeracy in the state.
Also, the committee had an interactive session with retired teachers in the local government with the view engaging some of them. The committee had after concluding their assignment for the day visited the Commander of Sector 3, Operation Lafiya Dole Maj. Gen. S.I Igbinomwanhia to create synergy and collaboration between the military and the committee to ensure success of the programme.
In his part, the Commander appreciated the members of the Committee for their visit and assured them the Army is going to work and cooperate with local government and committee to ensure success of the programme.
Other members of the Committee Hon. Bello Ayuba Commissioner of Education, Dr. Babagana Mallumbe Hon. commissioner Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Shettima Kullima Chairman (BOSUBEB), Prof. Suleiman Bello Executive Chaoam TSB, Maina Yaumi Executive Secretary ETF and other education stakeholders.

Yobe governor lauds army, pledges support to end insurgency

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Yobe governor lauds army, pledges support to end insurgency

Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni has lauded troops of Operation Lafiya Dole for fighting Boko Haram insurgency in the state. Buni praised the Army at a Christmas Day luncheon, organised for them by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, at Nigerian Army Special Forces (NASF) School, Buni/Yadi.

Buni, who was represented by his deputy, Idi Gubana, said security situation in the state had tremendously improved in 2020. He attributed it to the commitment of the military and other security agencies.

He said: “Your troops had continued to make enormous sacrifices in ensuring that our state is safe and secured.”He added that the state government was determined to support the military in smoking out terrorists from their hideouts.

He noted that efforts to put an end to indiscriminate killings of people and wanton destruction of property had achieved the desired results.

According to him, the troops’ efforts had provided an enabling environment for implementation of government policies and programmes. He, therefore, urged troops not to relent in their effort, until the state and the entire Northeast were secured.

Gubana said: “The commitment of this administration is to support troops of Operation Lafiya Dole with logistics within available resources.”

Responding, Buratai said the luncheon was to thank God for giving them good health to be part of the operation to restore security and peace in the northeast and nation.

“This Christmas luncheon was to appreciate the doggedness and resilience of all Nigerian Army officers and soldiers confronting various security challenges bedeviling the country,” he said.

He urged them not to rest on their oars because the existing and even the emerging security threats were potent; and they must continue to be ahead of terrorists hibernating in Sambisa Forest, Mandara Hills of Gwoza and Madagali councils, as well as the Lake Chad region.

 

Christmas: Human rights activist, Agbese urges Nigerians to emulate Jesus Christ by supporting President Buhari

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Christmas: Human rights activist, Agbese urges Nigerians to emulate Jesus Christ by supporting President Buhari

Renowned human rights activist, Philip Agbese, has urged Nigerians to follow the footsteps of Jesus Christ by supporting the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Agbese, a UK-trained legal practioner, made the call on Saturday in his Christmas message to Nigerians.

According to Agbese, President Buhari, like Jesus, is a redeemer and Nigerians should rally round their leader to take the country to greater heights.

“I extend very warm greetings to all Nigerians on the special day of the anniversary of the birth our of Lord and personal saviour, Jesus Christ,” he said.

“Through Him we graced redemption. We thank Almighty God for His grace in allowing us to see today. Many wished to see today, but couldn’t make it even at the last hour.

“I am very infinitesimal in every configuration of Nigerians. But I wish to say a word to my compatriots. I know a lot has gone wrong with Nigeria and Nigerians over the years and they want quick fixes to have solace. But whatever the past wrongs might have done on us as Nigerians, I think, President Muhammadu Buhari is a redemption leader.

“In President Buhari, I see a germinative hope in the regeneration of Nigeria. I have never believed that leaders anywhere in the world have no flaws and its not peculiar with our dear President. But from what I have seen from our past leaders, even at the risk of flattery, Buhari is far better than the rest”.

He, however, urged Nigerians not to lose hope in President Buhari.

His words, “As a leader of our nation, he must have taken certain decisions, which some of us find unpalatable. But I think, President Buhari dreams every day that Nigeria should be a better country for all of us. I have no reason to doubt him. He thinks more of leaving Nigeria better than he met it.

“Therefore, I am using this special season to invite and plead with every Nigerian on the menu of keeping faith in the Buhari Presidency and the security agencies in protecting us from organized, armed criminal gangs. And it is also a call to all patriots who believe in the future of Nigeria to stand up against this criminal gangsterism on Nigeria. Ours is a prosperous nation.  We should be obliged to support our leaders in all circumstances to move the nation forward.

“Once again, happy Christmas and a prosperous New year, in the hope that 2021 would bring more goodies to us under Buhari. I resoundingly salute my compatriots. Journey mercies to all who have travelled. Thank you!”

Bandits, kidnappers are ex-political thugs once armed by Governors to snatch ballot boxes— Report.

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Bandits, kidnappers are ex-political thugs once armed by Governors to snatch ballot boxes— Report.

Fresh facts have emerged on how governors’ political thugs during elections in the country have transformed into bandits and kidnappers terrorizing the country.

According to credible information at the disposal of this medium, it was reliably gathered that some governors in the country who were bent on attaining political success during the last general elections recruited young boys into their network and armed them with sophisticated weapons to do their bidding during the poll, which includes targeting perceived political opponents and the snatching of ballot boxes during elections.

In a security document seen by this medium, it was stated that some governors had armed thugs for electoral purposes. After the elections, most of the thugs felt abandoned and consequently went away with the weapons in their possession and have therefore taken to kidnapping and other forms of criminalities to make ends meet.

A top security source who did not want his name in print confirmed that some governors have been making overtures to some of the thugs to return the weapons in their possession under an amnesty deal that has not been successful.

“These governors know that they have succeeded in creating monsters in their states just for political gains. They didn’t realize that a time like this would come when they would lose the allegiance of their thugs. The bulk of the banditry cases experienced in the country are attributable to these thugs that felt used and dumped after the elections.”

“Since they have weapons in their possession, they have consequently gone berserk by engaging in acts of criminalities which pays them more compared to the peanuts that they got during the elections. We are in trouble in this country because these thugs are rampaging and are in possession of very sophisticated weapons.”

This medium also gathered that a governor from one of the states in the Northern part of the country has been sending overtures to some of his political thugs to drop their arms and embrace peace to no avail. It was also gathered that the governor in question has been most critical of the government’s efforts in addressing the security challenges in the country in a bid to cover his tracks.

A former aide of the governor who is in the know of the dealings of the governor stated that the governor has also marked some of his former thugs for elimination in a bid to cover his tracks since he got wind that security agencies are in the know of his dealings with the thugs.

“The situation is awful. I recall that some of us warned the governor on the danger of arming these boys because they would turn against us at some point, and this is exactly what is happening. Who are these bandits disturbing the peace of the country? Are they spirits? How did they get the weapons in their possession? Please, I don’t want to say anything further. Let him sort himself as most of us that advised against it in the first place were blackmailed and shown the way out of government because we saw this coming.”

Our investigations also scooped that the security agencies have compiled a list of governors involved in these notorious acts, including some former governors. They have been making overtures to some highly placed persons to nip it in the bud because some still have political ambitions. They fear that should this come to the open; they might be ruined politically and possibly face prosecution for aiding and abetting crime in the country.

It was gathered from reliable sources that one of the Service Chiefs has been under tremendous pressure to downplay the new findings, but he is not bulging. He has told his close aides to ensure that all must be done to ensure that none of the governors involved reaches him or any member of his family.

A top aide of the Service Chief confided in this medium that the boss is embarrassed that governors could be this irresponsible.

“It is a shame. Nigerians do not know some of the issues and challenges on the ground. They have been shamelessly trying to cover their tracks promising to call their boys to order, which is impossible. My boss has ensured that he is unreachable by these elements and he has put in place mechanism to ensure that the ring leaders of these thugs are captured alive which is not going down well with some of the governors, and former governors that have their hands soiled”

He further added that his boss had secured the President’s backing to go all out and unravel the level of complicity by the governors and other highly placed persons in the country.

“The President has been well briefed on the revelations and this much he hinted in his Christmas message to Nigerians when he pleaded with Nigerians to give our military and other security agencies more time, cooperation, and support by volunteering credible intelligence/information on activities of armed bandits, insurgents, and other criminal elements within their communities.”
“I can assure you that in some months from now, there would be more revelations that would shock Nigerians when they realize what is responsible for the spate of insecurity in the country.”
It would be recalled that there have been calls for the overhauling the security architecture due to heightened insecurity.

Group hails COAS Buratai, Military over sacrifices in restoring peace to Yobe State

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Group hails COAS Buratai, Military over sacrifices in restoring peace to Yobe State
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Group commends service chiefs, security agencies on another peaceful Yuletide

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Group commends service chiefs, security agencies on another peaceful Yuletide

The National Peace Project (NPP) has commended the nation’s service chiefs and security agencies over another peaceful Christmas celebrations.

In a statement signed by its President, Rev Joshua Agbaje, on Friday, the group said this year’s festivity was relatively safe and devoid of attacks.

According to Rev Agbaje, the military worked tirelessly and gallantly towards protecting the lives and properties of citizens under the leadership of the current service chiefs.

He further noted that the present tranquillity enjoyed across the country is evidence of President Muhammadu Buhari’s synergy with the Service Chiefs to deliver Nigeria.

The NPP, however, urged all Nigerians to join hands with the president to fight insecurity and discard all forms of primordial sentiments.

Read the full statement below:

The National Peace Project (NPP) President, Rev Joshua Agbaje, has commended the security chiefs, and security Agencies on the experience of tranquillity on another Yuletide.

NPP commends the Security chiefs and security agencies on their great inputs in the management of security issues, matters and problems that could impinge on the survival of democracy. NPP is very happy to have experienced such a peaceful yuletide. We are not afraid to be disheartened by breaking news of one terrorist attack or the other. We are overjoyed that the goal of the National Peace Project is gradually being accomplished thanks to the efforts of the Nigerian Military.

Travelling back in time, precisely over six years ago; we can recall how much the issue of insecurity had eroded most parts of Northern Nigeria under the watch of past administrations. If you somehow found yourself in those regions during that period, you would have experienced the carnage and anarchy propagated by insurgents and Bandits. There were bombings here and there, maiming of innocent individuals, and kidnappings were on the rise.

Back then, terrorists and bandits ran amok like no man’s business. They knew very well the weaknesses of the Nigerian military and other security agencies at that time, and they took full advantage of it. But these same evil men know quite well that, that time has long gone. They have recently faced tough opposition from the Nigerian security agencies who have been working tirelessly and gallantly towards protecting the lives and properties of Nigerian citizens under the leadership of the current service chiefs.

National Peace Project is not oblivious of the fact that this is a matter of national importance that has been of concern to all stakeholders in the Nigerian states and one that requires comprehensive and committed contribution of all groups and interests that make up Nigeria.

In addressing the challenge to the survival of democracy in Nigeria, it is pertinent to consider security issues and problems that have affected or capable of affecting the attitude, confidence and cooperation of all groups and segments that make up the Nigerian federation. It is also necessary to explore the gaps and grey areas in the national constitution that are responsible for various problems and crises and how these gaps can be addressed.

The result of consistent deliberations and meetings by President Muhammadu Buhari and Service Chiefs on the security situation of Nigeria is now evident for all to see.

We congratulate the President, Nigerians, and the service Chiefs for the successful mission in rescuing the Kankara boys. This has revealed that Nigeria is secure for all to live.

Certain critics of the current President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration have pointed out pockets of insecurity issues the country is currently facing. We know fully well that no country on this planet presently is without its security challenges. We’ve heard the same adage over and over again that Rome wasn’t built in a day, and thus, we still commend the current service chiefs in their steady efforts in ensuring that insecurity is completely defeated. It is believed we are gradually approaching that milestone as we can see how peaceful the Christmas celebration this year was.

Despite the very conspicuous bias, premeditated motives and partisan undertones expressed by many criminal elements in frustrating the citizens from enjoying the season, and to discredit the security agencies amidst the glaring recent successful records, We are a delight at the resolute of the security agencies in their determination to have resisted different insurgents attacks and premeditated ones in different regions of the country.

This Christmas celebration recorded no form of any successful attack, unlike the ones experienced in the previous administration, where it was seamlessly impossible to do so without the presence of security agents in their limited and restricted gatherings.

In the past administration, Boko Haram murdered Christian clergy and attacked churches. It primarily targeted representatives of state and federal governments, such as police officers, soldiers, politicians, and even traditional Muslim leaders during the Yuletide season.

The incident of December 25, 2011, still lingers in our heart, where the Islamist militant group Boko Haram once claimed responsibility for the bombing of St. Theresa Catholic Church in Madalla, on the outskirts of Abuja, which killed 37 people and wounded 57, in the deadliest of a series of attacks at Christmas.

The coordinated nature of these attacks suggested links between the home-grown Islamist movement and global jihadist groups operating across the Sahara.

It has become a trend for these terrorists to inflict their vile acts upon innocent people during festive celebrations as these. Both Christians and Muslims aren’t spared by these wicked men. But today, I can proudly tell you that peace has finally begun to reign in our dear country Nigeria for both Christians and Muslims alike, for both men and women alike, and both the poor and rich alike.

Unlike in the past, we did not hear of any detonation of bombs in places of worship or markets or places filled with people, or that a church or a mosque was raided by terrorists. Even the Local Governments are totally free from the control of terrorists. This has made us all aware that Nigeria is truly headed in the right direction in terms of the Peace and safety of her citizens.

NPP is convinced that the current service chiefs have achieved a lot since their assumption into office. They have done a lot in combating these insurgents and also restructuring the architecture of the military. This has ensured that the Nigerian Military regains its position as one of the best Military outfits in the world.

The military might not have been able to exceed the expectations of Nigerians and this is because most individuals have chosen to rain criticisms on them at any given opportunity rather than look for ways to join the fight. We also note that the actions of certain disgruntled elements that are sponsoring and aiding these insurgents have been rendered harmless and useless because they have failed innumerable times.

If the military is faced with all these including the task of correcting the mistakes of past administrations regarding insecurity and they have performed as much as this, then they must be commended for a job well done. NPP knows that Nigeria as a nation has suffered a lot in the past, and we cannot be deliberating now on who has overstayed his tenure or not, but we should all join hands, discard all forms of primordial sentiments and work with the President in fighting insecurity.

NPP, therefore, applauds the service Chiefs and others for their collective efforts and strategies put in place to help neutralize banditry and insurgents and to also ensure that things don’t get out of hands.

On behalf of the National Peace Project, I want to commend the efforts of The President, the service chiefs, and the Nigerian military. I call on the Nigerian Military to intensify its efforts in the fight against insecurity.

The peace we have so much enjoyed during this year’s Christmas celebration is a testament to the fact that the Nigerian Military is currently administered by one of the best leadership in the history of Nigeria. NPP once again calls on fellow Nigerians to support both President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration and the service chiefs in ensuring a peaceful Nigeria that is safe for all.

God Bless Nigeria.

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