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 Insecurity: Nigeria needs the experience of her Service Chiefs to defeat remnants of Boko Haram, bandits -Diaspora Group

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 Insecurity: Nigeria needs the experience of her Service Chiefs to defeat remnants of Boko Haram, bandits -Diaspora Group

 

The Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group (NDMG), UK Chapter, says the country needs the experience of its Service Chiefs now more than ever especially with recent successes recorded against terrorists and bandits.

In a statement signed by its President, Mark Kola, on Tuesday in London, the group said those calling for their dismissal are sponsored to promote an escalation of the crimes being committed against Nigerians by terrorists.

According to the Nigerians in the diaspora, there is an agenda to use the demand for the Service Chiefs’ sack as an excuse to cause further security breaches and those behind this act are doing so on behalf of the opposition and certain foreign interests.

After reviewing the security concerns in the country, the Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group concluded that the experience of the military heads is necessary to defeat complicated and foreign-sponsored conspiracies.

NDMG urged President Muhammadu Buhari to resist those attempting to coerce him into error as “countries do not run their defence and security on the basis of political correctness”.

The group, however, advised  Nigerians being used by foreign interests to look beyond the pittance they are being paid to run their current errand.

Read the full statement below:

The Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group has keenly followed the misplaced call for President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the Service Chiefs of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

We would have ordinarily avoided joining issues with those making these calls as we are at this point focused on providing palliatives and educational materials to enlighten our kith and kin at home about the COVID-19 Pandemic, which is life-threatening on many levels. However, it became imperative that we wade into the debate following our discovery that all is not what it seems.

The innocuous-seeming calls for the service chiefs to be sacked turned out to be tied to foreign-sponsored conspiracies that are supporting the escalation of the crimes being committed against Nigerians by terrorists. By removing the military leaders, who have expansive experience in managing the crisis, the facilitators of these conspiracies hope to use any resulting transition to wreak havoc on the country since this would be a moment of vulnerability.

Leveraging our contacts in the diaspora, we have uncovered a plot to use the demand for the sack of the service chiefs as an excuse to cause further security breaches. These plots are being managed from outside the shores of Nigeria and those behind them are exploiting video calling platforms to hold their meetings with operatives in Nigeria while funds are allegedly being electronically wired to the bank accounts of the arrowheads of the movement to force Mr President to ease the service chiefs out of office.

We are acutely concerned that the unfolding scenario excessively tallies with the projections and forecasts made by some groups in the run-up to the 2019 General Elections that there were opposition elements that are desperate to take over power by all means and that a coerced change of service chiefs would be the first step in an extensive plan that will unleash crisis of unmanageable proportion on the country.

We are further alarmed that those behind the calls for the service chiefs to be fired have been uncomfortably silent about the foreign connections of Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists, the banditry imported from Nigeria’s northern neighbours and other mutating crimes that were hitherto unknown to Nigerians. This gives credence to the summation that the people calling for the sack are doing so on behalf of the opposition and certain foreign interests.

The Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group has taken time to review the nature of security concerns in the country and we have come to the conclusion that Nigeria needs the experience of her Service Chiefs to defeat these complicated and foreign-sponsored conspiracies against its sovereignty.

We consequently urge President Buhari to be the Commander-in-Chief as enshrined in the constitution, which demands that he resists those attempting to coerce him into error. Countries the world over do not run their defence and security on the basis of political correctness; countries are secured on the strength of pragmatism.

Meanwhile, our charge to the Nigerians being used by these foreign interests to pressure the country into error is that they should look beyond the pittance they are being paid to run their current errand. In the event that they are sorely pressed for feeding money, they are welcome to contact the United Kingdom Chapter Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group for palliatives to ensure that they desist from selling their fatherland for a mess of pottage.

Hushpuppi: Group wants FBI, Interpol to question Atiku, Deji Adeyanju over links to alleged fraudster

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Hushpuppi: Group wants FBI, Interpol to question Atiku, Deji Adeyanju over links to alleged fraudster

 

The National Coalition of Democrats (NCD) has called on the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and International Police to investigate ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar and other stalwart of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over possible links to arrested suspected fraudster, Raymond Igbalode, popularly known as Hushpuppi.

Renowned for his flamboyant lifestyle, Hushpuppi and 12 others were nabbed in Dubai by Interpol on June 10 over multiple cyber crimes and money laundering to the tune of

150 million dirhams (N168 billion).

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) subsequently declared the Instagram celebrity wanted over links to several cyber frauds.

In a statement signed by its Spokesman, Garuba Nuhu, on Wednesday, the National Coalition of Democrats reasoned that there could be more to this act, especially with Hushpuppi’s known relationship with some PDP members, as seen in pictures and videos on social media.

According to the group, Hushpuppi might have actually worked discreetly with the opposition party in laundering of funds for the prosecution of the 2019 general elections.

NCD said its logic is born out of the fact that PDP’s top shots, led by its presidental candidate held several meetings in Dubai ahead of the polls and the likes of Atiku, Dino Melaye, Timi Frank and Deji Adeyanju are possibly his close associates.

The group, therefore, called on the FBI and Interpol to investigate Atiku and other PDP members who may have been first-line beneficiaries of the fraud committed by Hushpuppi.

It added that Hushpuppi could have likely “assisted these individuals to launder funds through his network because the level of fraternity between Hushpuppi and these individuals points to that direction”

Read full statement below:

The National Coalition of Democrats wishes to lend its voice to the recent arrest of Raymond Igbalode, popularly known as Hushpuppi for allegedly hacking into the United States (US) unemployed database and impersonating citizens qualified for unemployment funds of over $100 million meant for Native Americans in the battle against the coronavirus pandemic.

This is indeed a sad tale for Nigeria in the sense that the arrest effected by the Dubai Police has indeed painted Nigerians as fraudsters before the international community.

The National Coalition of Democrats has in times past alerted Nigerians to the activities of some Nigerians with no identifiable means of livelihood, yet displaying a life of affluence in the social media space.

The case of Hushpuppi further lends credence to this concern raised earlier as most of our youths have elected to tow the dishonourable path all in the quest to make money at all cost. More worrisome in this latest development is the fact that the said Hushpuppi has been severally identified with some members of the opposition party in Nigeria.

This is also on the heels that a top member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is known for travelling to the United Arab Emirates where he held several meetings in the buildup to the 2019 general elections.

It is also common knowledge that the PDP leadership turned Dubai into their strategic meeting place from where they plotted for the execution of the general elections.

The National Coalition of Democrats wishes to state in unequivocal terms that Hushpuppi indeed shared some affinity with some top members of the PDP as evident in the posting of pictures and videos of their several meetings in the social media space.

It, therefore, reckons that there is every possibility that the said Hushpuppi might have been working discreetly with the PDP stalwarts in the laundering of funds for the prosecution of the 2019 general elections.

The National Coalition of Democrats wonders why the opposition PDP would elect to see Dubai as a haven for holding strategic meetings while wining and dining with the said Hush Puppy.

The likes of Atiku Abubakar, Dino Melaye, Timi Frank and Deji Adeyanju have in numerous times posed for photographs with the said Hushpuppi . It is common sense to articulate that there must have been in a strategic business partnership with him in the area of repatriation of illicit funds for the prosecution of the general elections using his syndicate network.

The National Coalition of Democrats wonders why questions were not asked as regards his source of wealth if indeed they were genuine in their aspirations. This is not minding the fact that Hushpuppi indeed has led millions of youths into believing that hard work is not a guarantee for success.

The National Coalition of Democrats believes that these top goons of the PDP are first-line beneficiaries of the fraud committed by the said Hushpuppi. There is every need for further investigations by the International Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This is imperative in the bid to trace the root of the heist committed by Hushpuppi as well as identifying his partners in crime in Nigeria.

The National Coalition of Democrats wishes to inform members of the general public that from all indices, there seems to be a strategic linkage between Hushpuppi and some stalwarts of the opposition PDP. It will be in the interest of the generality of Nigerians if this case is further investigated.

We are convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that indeed Hushpuppi might have assisted these individuals to launder funds through his network because the level of fraternity between Hushpuppi and these individuals points to that direction.

The National Coalition of Democrats as a result of this call on the Interpol and the FBI to leave no stone unturned in unravelling the collaborators of Hushpuppi in Nigeria.

We are convinced that this is indeed necessary to put issues in proper perspectives and to serve as a deterrent to our teeming youthful population.

Inter-Society: Ignore IPOB affiliate’s call for Service Chiefs sack, group tells Nigerians

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The Network for Justice and Truth (NJT) has urged Nigerians to disregard the International Society for Civil Liberties & Rule of Law (Intersociety) and its call for the sack of the Service Chiefs.

According to NJT, Intersociety is an arm of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and like the proscribed group, it has a long history of violence, killings and unrest with an inexplicable animosity for President Muhammadu Buhari.

Intersociety had accused the military’s top shots of manipulating the Armed Forces service rules and Nigerian constitution to extend their tenure of office indefinitely.

However, in a statement signed by its President, Dr Ifeanyi Anayo Dike, on Friday, NJT described the group as “ignorant”, only carrying out the wishes of its paymasters.

It added that such insinuation in all ramification is lacking in merit, objectivity and above all against national interest.

NJT, therefore, called on the unsuspecting general public to ignore the statement from Intersociety as there is no iota of truth in the various allegations against the Service Chiefs.

While warning Intersociety and their sponsors to desist from their nefarious activities, the Network for Justice and Truth urged other security stakeholders to extend their unalloyed support to President Buhari and the Service Chiefs.

Read full statement below:

The Network for Justice and Truth wishes to draw the attention of the general public to the threats posed by the International Society for Civil Liberties & Rule of Law (Intersociety) to peace and development in Nigeria.

Intersociety, as an organization over the years, have been known to turn the truth on its head through its activities, especially with regards to issues of national interest such as sustainable peace and development.

It is a known fact that their hatred for the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has been hinged on the tough stance on the activities of terrorist and militant groups in the country.

The Network for Justice and Truth is consequently not surprised by its highly misleading statement accusing the Service Chiefs of manipulating the armed forces service rules and Nigerian constitution to extend their tenure of office indefinitely.

The statement by Intersociety is at best uncharitable and an exhibition of crass ignorance on the operations of the security sector in Nigeria. This is aside from the fact that the group, by all intent and purposes, are carrying out the wishes of their paymasters that are against the interest of Nigeria.

It is appalling as well as despicable for intersociety to attempt to insult the sensibilities of Nigerians with its diatribe on the Service Chiefs that have exhibited a high level of professionalism and dedication to preserving the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Nigeria.

The Network for Justice and Truth wishes to advise members of the unsuspecting general public to disregard the statement from Intersociety in its ramification for lacking in merit, objectivity and above all in the national interest.

We wish to state that Intersociety is playing the card of a greater plot by some disgruntled politicians that have in numerous times attempted to take over the affairs of the country through the back door having failed woefully at the general elections.

It is therefore not surprising that Intersociety has been recruited into the plot because of its cash and carry policy and as well as its avowed sympathy for separatist and militant organizations in Nigeria.

It is, therefore, a statement of the fact that their gross with the Service Chiefs is their refusal to allow the disintegration of the country into fragments for the benefit of their sponsors despite the massive amount of monies deployed for the purpose destabilizing the country by the  sponsors of acts of criminality across the country.

These dissident elements have continued to demonstrate their hatred for the Muhammadu Buhari administration and other well-meaning stakeholders who have to keep sleepless night to prevent the country from collapsing into the abyss.

It must be stated that Intersociety is indeed an affiliation of militant groups in the country. They have been known to be providing covert support to these groups and with the tough stance of the service chiefs in ensuring that their nefarious activities are curtailed to the barest minimum is giving organizations like Intersociety sleepless nights.

Consequently, their agenda is to trigger violence across the country using phantom and unnecessary allegations against the Service Chiefs in the country as in this case which the generality of Nigerians must be aware of.

We wish to use this medium to inform the members of the unsuspecting general public to disregard the statement from Intersociety as there is no iota of truth in the various allegations against the Service Chiefs.

The Network for Justice and Truth and the generality of other well-meaning stakeholders in the critical security sector in Nigeria extends their unalloyed support to the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari through its numerous efforts towards curtailing the politically instigated acts of terrorism and criminalities in the country.

The likes of Intersociety and their sponsors must desist from their nefarious ways in the interest of peace and tranquillity in the country. They must also leave the Service Chiefs to concentrate on that task at hand as this is not the time for distractions.

It is advised that this is indeed the time for all and sundry to continue to extend their support to the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in this critical point of our existence.

We will reject plot by opposition Govs to truncate our democracy, trigger anarchy across Nigeria- APC Youths

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We will reject plot by opposition Govs to truncate our democracy, trigger anarchy across Nigeria- APC Youths

The APC Youth Solidarity Network (APCYSN) has vowed to resist any attempt by some governors in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (APC) to truncate the nation’s hard-earned democracy due to their selfish taste for power.

According to the group, there is an ongoing plot to trigger a mutiny in the ranks of the military to give advantage to Boko Haram terrorists, thereby rubbishing the efforts of the Service Chiefs.

In a statement signed by Coordinator, Comrade Danesi Momoh, on Friday, APCYSN revealed that while the Federal Government was battling and winning the fight against COVID-19, these disgruntled politicians planted seeds of tribal discord in the military.

Mr Momoh said his group had intercepted hate messages sent to poison the minds of young officers from the South, so as to encourage them not to obey others from their superiors.

The mastermind of this plan is Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers with the backing of his Sokoto counterpart, Aminu Tambuwal, APCYSN disclosed.

The group, however, strongly warned: “these unpatriotic elements to stay away from this cause of action because it is not in the interest of the country”.

It added that such open invitation to overthrow the current government is a serious issue which should not be toyed with.

While commending President Muhammadu Buhari for his handling of insecurity, COVID-19 and APC crisis, the group passed a vote of confidence on the Service Chiefs and others involved in securing the lives of Nigerians.

Introduction:

Recent happenings on the political turf coupled with other challenges the country is facing have left no one in doubt that we are in a trying period of our nationhood.

The nation has been upbeat about politics and the security of its citizens lately.

But we are not alarmed because we know that these are temporary setbacks which are normal on the path to greater nationhood that can be overcome with the right counter-strategies.

We have observed that because of these hiccups, some are already sharpening their tools to cause division and strife in the country and we on our part feel it is high time we expose them before they go far with their nefarious acts.

Much as a vast majority of Nigerians are impressed with governments’ handling of the COVID 19 pandemic, the political skirmish in the APC and the threat to internal security which have been handled professionally, these naysayers want to use these avenues to instigate a major crisis in the country.

The Crux of the matter:

These unpatriotic elements are trying hard, even as the Federal  Government is doing it’s best, to make the situation worse for Nigerians by planting seeds of tribal discord within the military in order to instigate mutiny within the institution.

The plan according to what we gathered, is to poison the minds of young officers from the Southern parts of the country with hate messages, so as to encourage them not to obey others from their superiors who are not from the same region with them.

Our organisation has intercepted several messages they have sent to the young military officers from the southern part of the country calling on them to defy the orders of their superiors if they are not from the zone.

The mutiny is intended to shake the very foundation of the military and to frustrate the efforts of the service chiefs towards defeating terrorism and insurgency which they have sworn to achieve.

This attempt at anarchy, according to the details of the plan, is to further build up internal strife and chaos in the military so as to weaken the institution by giving the impression that the entire structure is unorganised and divided against itself.

If this is attained,  the next stage according to the heinous plan would be to nudge the Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists to take advantage of the division to overrun a major town in the Northeast with wanton bloodletting so as to create panic and disaffection within the civil populace to paint the current set of service chiefs and the government in bad light.

This stage would then be followed by the release of copious videos and sponsored messages from certain groups and individuals to call for the removal of the service chiefs.

The icing on the cake would be to call on the military to intervene in the political affairs of the country through a coup de’tat.

We have it on good authority that these plots were orchestrated and sponsored by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State in collaboration with Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State to get at the All Progressives Congress, APC, led administration.

Already some opposition figures and civil society activists are being sponsored by those disgruntled elements since the military and the Police were unavailable to be used as election riggers to remove President Buhari from power and having lost woefully in the last elections.

The planners are desperate about carrying out their plans to coincide with the recent crisis in the APC so as to overwhelm the system and make the country ungovernable for President Muhammadu Buhari, who is the ultimate target of the scheme.

The PDP governors who are working in cahoots with some APC leaders who have not been favoured in the recent power tussle within the party, also want to heat the polity so as to create an atmosphere of chaos and political cataclysm for the overthrow of the current administration and have indicated that they are not averse to a military coup since it has become clear that they cannot make any headway in 2023.

This, we learnt, is because they have realised that with the dwindling prospects of the PDP and waning popularity of all its leaders including Wike and Tambuwal, there is no way they can achieve their plan of getting the presidency hence are prepared to truncate the hard-earned democracy not minding the cost to the nation.

They also fear that the APC governors have been more up and doing as far as political calculations for 2023 are concerned, and may finally bury the ambitions of the PDP bigwigs who have nowhere to run to when their political boats hit the rock in 2023.

But they have failed as we have uncovered their plans and have all the details in the palms of our hands.

Our Position:

We strongly advise these unpatriotic elements to stay away from this cause of action because it is not in the interest of the country.

The open invitation to an overthrow of the government is a serious issue which should not be toyed with and fanning the embers of ethnic discord is hardly what Nigeria can afford at this time.

Let us in our ambitions be guided by the greater good of the country

We commend President Muhammadu Buhari and the service chiefs on how they are fighting terrorism and banditry in Nigeria.

We commend the President on how he has handled the crisis within the APC which shows that he is the best thing to have happened to our democracy.

The group hereby passes a vote of confidence on the Security Chiefs, the IGP, the DG NIA and all others who are doing their best to make the country better.

Borno community applauds Nigerian Army, other security agencies in the war on insurgency

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Borno community applauds Nigerian Army, other security agencies in the war on insurgency

By Capt Jauro Musa Liya (Rtd)

“It doesn’t take a hero to order men into battle, it takes a hero to be one of those men who goes into battle” – Gen. H. Norman Schwazkpof

1. The Borno community Kaduna view with grave concern the uncharitable remarks and campaign of calumny orchestrated by traducers of nation building against the globally recognized several efforts and successes of the Nigerian Army under the able command of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai. Although the Chief of Army Staff is focused and cannot be distracted by those who seek to benefit from the actual distortion of facts and negative reportage of the security situation, we as a people from Borno, having witnessed the gradual return of peace in the state through the galantry of the men of Nigerian Army and other security agencies, it would be a conspiracy to remain silent.

2. For the records, there is no nation in history that has overcome its security challenges in one swoop. Securing a large and complex ethnic nationalities such as Nigeria requires the highest level of military tactics, professionalism, discipline, innovation, galantry and bravery, of which the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai has a reputation for. Security is a process that requires the combine efforts of all security apparatus of the state, the Civil Society and the general public.

3. Prior to the coming of Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai on July 13, 2015, no part of the country was spared from the deadly attacks of Boko Haram including bombing of a UN building in the FCT where over 20 people lost their lives. People worshipped in guarded and barricaded Churches and Mosques. Road Blocks and Check Points were mounted at all the nooks and cranies of this country. Boko Haram held sway in the North East and firmly had 22 Local Government Areas under its control.

4. With the coming of Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, the much needed changes were introduced to the Nigerian Army. The COAS prioritised the welfare of the men of the Nigerian Army and ensured that all backlogs of allowances owed were cleared. Speedy and expeditious payment of salaries and allowances as at when due became the standard practice. Purchase of additional modern weapons, arms and ammunition, regular provision of Military kits, thorough recruitment and training of the Nigerian Army. Promotion of 86,199 soldiers involved in the Operation Lafiya Dole. These efforts began to yield positive results within six months that it didn’t escape the notice of the reputable Global Conflict Tracker (GCT) which stated that “after peak in Boko Haram related violence in 2014/2015, the number of casualties attributed to the group fell dramatically”

5. Early in 2016, Nigerian Army reclaimed the 22 Local Government Areas that were hitherto under the control of Boko Haram. In December 2016, Sambisa forest which used to be the stronghold of Boko Haram was taken over by the Nigerian Army, capturing 1,240 suspected associates and members of Boko Haram sects in the process. Now a befitting Nigerian Army Shooting Range where troops go for arms training, firing and testing of long range Artillery and Armoured guns named after Lt Col Abu Ali has since been constructed. Hence, the focus of having successfully decimated Boko Haram and their activities have been restricted to pockets of attacks on soft targets.

6. It is also to the credit of the Chief of Army Staff the reorganisation of the army structure to undertake the herculean tasks of modern guerillah warfare which the terrorists have resorted to. These feats earned him the “MILLENNIUM HERO” award by a coalition of over 80 Civil Society Organizations at the Army Headquarters, Abuja. On April 25, he received the Brazillian Military Order of Merit Award, the highest honor by the Brazillian Military. He was the recipient of The Nigerian (an online newspaper) “Man of The Year” award at the Westminster, England.

7. Through all these numerous recognitions and awards too many to mention here, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai is not resting on his oas and will not let complacency dull his vision and determination to rid Nigeria of the numerous security challenges such as kidnapping, banditry, communal clashes and farmers – herders clashes.

8. In line with these emerging security challenges, Gen Buratai has initiated an effective Civil – Military Relations and established the Human Rights Desk in all Army Formations and Units across the country. He launched the Operation Last Hold designed to further degrade the Boko Haram Targets and facilities and the relocation of IDPs back to their ancestral homes. Through this operation, over 5000 IDPs returned back to their respective communities.

10. The new strategy introduced by the COAS called Super Camp Concept is a noble one and has been described as one of the best war strategy ever introduced by the Nigerian Army because of the endemic advantages it offers over previous strategies. It is aimed at ensuring flexibility of the troops, concentration of forces and resources, mobility and surprise which are key principles of war. Above all, the Super Camp Concept affords the additional opportunity of force protection as troops are always on the move, on patrol and other lines of military offensive operations, thereby making it difficult for the enemy to accurately predict their location and possible/next line of action. Gen. Buratai also introduced the motor bike brigade to enable the Nigerian Army make deeper incursions into difficult terrain to access the dens of the terrorists.

11. With the directive by President Muhammadu Buhari that more needs to be done in the area of security by the service chiefs, the COAS has ordered all Commanders, General Officers Commanding, Field Commanders, all officers and men of the the Nigerian Army to intensify efforts in implementing the charge by the President. The COAS who is known for personally going into the battle field and leading troops at the war front, has called on all officers to lead the charge to flush out all criminal elements in the country. The Nigerian Army Day Celebration 2020 has been relocated to Katsina State where a major army exercise code named Ex Sahel Sanity which has since commenced and is yielding very good results. All these are geared towards ridding the region of the security threats such as kidnappings and banditry that are making life hard for the people.

12. Finally, in the light of the foregoing, the Borno Community wishes to express it profound support for the efforts so far by the COAS, and wish to call on all those whose only desire is to fan the embers of ethnicity, division and primordial sentiments to realize that such actions have grave consequences on our national cohesion and security and the much needed unity of purpose necessary to galvanize peace, security and development. The Nigerian Army under the leadership of Gen. Buratai needs the support of all Nigerians irrespective of tribe, religion, political leanings or region.

Capt. J. M. Liya (Rtd)
President
Borno Community Kaduna

Ajimobi Always Used Face Masks, Hand Sanitisers, But Caught COVID-19 – Aide

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Ajimobi Always Used Face Masks, Hand Sanitisers, But Caught COVID-19 – Aide

Bolaji Tunji, the media adviser to the late Abiola Ajimobi, has revealed that the former Oyo State governor contracted Coronavirus (COVID-19) despite using face masks and hand sanitizers at all times.

Ajimobi, who until his death was the Deputy National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), died from COVID-19 complications on Thursday.

Tunji penned a tribute to his late principal, where he revealed that the deceased may have contracted the virus after attending a meeting of the APC in Abuja.

“He (Ajimobi) had received a call to come to Abuja. It was to discuss party matters. He was not sure of who would follow him. Because it was a private flight, he had limited options. He only went with his security aide.

“A special private flight had been arranged for him. He radiated good health and we still marvelled that he still looked so good for his 70 years,” said the aide.

Tunji said he never knew that his last moments with Ajimobi before the trip to Abuja would be the last because his principal was full of health.

“I still can’t wrap my head round what happened. He was so healthy, he was neat, he took all the necessary precautions even while he sat with us in our open office he was always with his face mask, we always observe social distancing.

“We were always quick to give him hands sanitizer anytime he touched something.

“We were conscious of his age and did all we could to ensure safety. We had three spots where you had to wash hands before entering the premises. One at each of the main entrance gates and another by the entrance to our office. We observed all due protocols. So what happened? How did it happen? None of us was sick. So where did this come from? I am still trying to find answers,” he said.

According to Tunji, Ajimobi never wanted any political office after serving two terms as Oyo governor and had to be convinced to accept his appointment as deputy national chairman of the APC.

“He only wanted to take a long, due rest after serving for 8 years without break.
But another position was thrust on him. He never solicited for us and he did not want. But they convinced him to accept. I know because in his usual forthrightness, he narrated how it happened. He took the positions because he felt it would benefit his people. ‘ I have done my bit. There is nothing I set out to achieve that i did not, i cannot be governor again, but i can not leave you people ‘, he would say.

“But what went wrong? I am at a loss.

“I was so sure he would get up the sick bed. I was so sure because there were unfinished businesses. There were so many tasks that he had planned ahead to better the lot of the people.

“So I was convinced he would come to complete those tasks, those plans. I never knew it would end this way,” he said.

Insecurity: Nigerian military adopts new strategies, assures quicker end to insurgency

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Insecurity: Nigerian military adopts new strategies, assures quicker end to insurgency

The Armed Forces of Nigeria says it is working in conjunction of other security agencies with new strategies across the country with a view to ending the Boko Haram insurgency and other security challenges in the country in no distant time.

Coordinator, Defence Media Operations (DMO),Maj. Gen. John Enenche gave the assurance while addressing newsmen on the routine update of activities of military operations across the country in Abuja on Thursday.

Enenche said, sequel to the comments made by President Muhammadu Buhari regarding military operation across the country, the Chief of Defence Staff ,Gen. Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin alongside with Service Chiefs, Inspector General of Police and other heads of security agencies held a meeting to brainstorm on possible ways to ending all security threats in the country.

“You are all aware of the Commander-in-Chiefs (C-in-C) comment regarding our operations across the country.

“Our update today would dwell on our bid to re-strategize operational activities of the Armed Forces of Nigeria in conjunction with other security agencies.

“In furtherance of the efforts by the Armed Forces of Nigeria to change the tide of our various operations across the country, the Chief of Defence Staff General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin held a meeting with Service Chiefs, the Inspector General of Police, and Heads of other Security and Intelligence agencies on Monday 22 June 2020.

“The meeting was one of the series of meetings to re-strategize and enhance existing synergy among all security agencies to address the lingering security challenges bedeviling the nation.

“The meeting focused on developing and mapping out new strategies to address the untoward security situation particularly in the North West, North East and North Central parts of the country”. He explained.

He also added that, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai had earlier on 22 June, 2020, directed all the Principal Staff Officers (PSOs), General Officers Commanding (GOC) and Commanders to redouble their efforts as well change the tides of operation in ensuring the effective and speedy end of insecurity in the country.

He therefore reiterated that, the Armed Forces of Nigeria in concert with other security agencies wish to assure the populace of our determination to stamp out all forms of criminality across the country in accordance with the directives of the C-in-C. Troops deployed for various operations across the nation will remain committed and resolute in achieving the operational mandate which is to decisively curtail the activities of criminals in any part of the Nation.

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari during his meeting with the Service Chiefs and the National Security Adviser last week bordering on the prevailence of insecurity challenges in the country, expressed his desire towards ending the insecurity challenges in the country.

The Military High Command has however thanked the general public for their unwavering cooperation and enjoined them to always assist the security agents with relevant information that could effectively help to ending all the security threats in the country.

Key bandits’ leaders, killed in strikes at Doumbourou forest in Zamfara State

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Key bandits’ leaders, killed in strikes at Doumbourou forest in Zamfara State

Scores of key armed bandits’ leaders and fighters have been killed in air strikes by the Air Component of Operation HADARIN DAJI under the subsidiary Operation WUTAN DAJI in Zamfara state.

In a statement, the Coordinator Defence Media Operations Maj. Gen John Enenche said the air interdiction missions have continued to yield more positive results with the destruction of 2 camps and a cave hideout of members of the armed bandits’ gang led by Hassan Tagwaye in Doumborou Forest, Zamfara State.

“The air strikes, which also resulted in the neutralization of some key armed bandits’ leaders as well as several of their fighters, were executed on 23 June 2020, after series of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions led to the identification of the camps and a cave where the bandits store their weapons as well as hide to evade attacks.

“Consequently, the Air Component dispatched an enhanced force package of fighter jets and helicopter gunships to attack the location. At the first camp, some bandits, who had assembled for a meeting near one of the huts, were neutralized by the attack aircraft.

“At the second camp, a suspected high-value bandits’ leader along with some weapon-bearing fighters were seen in the vicinity of some huts. The attack aircraft engaged the target structures, scoring accurate hits and taking out the huts along with their occupants.

“The NAF jets also later recorded direct hits on the suspected bunker, from where some of the bandits were seen emerging, completely destroying it. Human Intelligence reports later confirmed that Hassan Tagwaye and his twin brother Hussain along with several other bandits were neutralized in the air strikes, while a few escaped with injuries.

“As a matter of security concern, people in the general area are advised to report those with sudden and suspicious injuries to the security forces. This is to ensure that the escapees are mopped up.” – he said.

While commending the Air Component of Operation HADARIN DAJI for their professionalism, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has urged them to remain resolute in the conduct of air strikes whilst continuing to provide close air support for ongoing ground operations in order to eradicate all armed bandits; thus accomplishing the directives of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) to restore normalcy in the North West and North Central Zones of the Country.

Sadiya Farouq : Where Buhari Got It Right

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Sadiya Farouq : Where Buhari Got It Right

By David Onmeje

“She’s a strong cup of black coffee in a world that is drunk on the cheap wine of shallow love.” – J.M Storm

Much regrettably, Nigeria has become a perpetual host to disasters and emergencies, which induce humanitarian interventions very constantly. From floods, insurgencies, epidemics, fire outbreaks, communal skirmishes to oil/gas pipeline explosions, Nigeria is always faced with emergencies and humanitarian situations to manage.

Therefore, the need to have a ministry to centrally co-ordinate government relief efforts, packages and assistance to distressed Nigerians in an orderly and accountable manner became imperative.

So, through an executive pronouncement, President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR created the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development (MHADM & SD) on August 21, 2019 mainly to oversee the exercise of basic human benevolence for Nigerians thrown into trauma and distress by these sudden artificial or natural disasters.

But what loudly elicited generous excitement among Nigerians was the appointment of a woman of virtue, core humanist and epitome of compassion, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq as MHADM & SD’s pioneer Minister. She is not a newcomer to the peculiar humanitarian issues of Nigerians and what it takes to make government benevolence, social welfare and poverty alleviation packages reach the doorstep of the poorest Nigerians.

Her previous experience as federal commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons ((NCFRMI)) as well as her stint as staff of the National Assembly Service Commission (NAC) adequately equipped her for the elevation and new assignment.

Author Jane Austen said in “Sense and Sensibility” that “It isn’t what we say or think that defines us, but what we do,” the Minister has demonstrated in less than one year on the saddle her competence and thorough grasp of the briefs of her office. She has unwittingly marketed herself as a caring, loving and compassionate mother, sister and Aunt to children, the aged, the poor and indeed all Nigerians in times of need.

The latest intervention of the MHADM & SD on a national emergency is the unexpected Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic and its concomitant lockdown to curb the spread of the deadly disease. Hunger came knocking in all corners and the burning desire for survival of the poor or less privileged Nigerian was not only the concern of President Buhari; but a responsibility and assignment Minister Sadiya is discharging excellently.

Novelist Isadora Duncan cautioned in this wit that “Work hard at being the best version of yourself.” The Hon. Minister is constantly reminded of this wisdom and has handled this very difficult national assignment with calm, diligence and admiration, ensuring the targets and priorities she set for the ministry were achieved.

Following President Muhammadu Buhari’s pronouncement on March 29, 2020, wherein he ordered a total lockdown of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Lagos and Ogun state to curtail the spread of coronavirus, the Minister was also tasked to undertake the continuation of School Feeding Programme.

The President’s words; “Furthermore, although schools are closed, I have instructed the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development to work with State Governments in developing a strategy on how to sustain the school feeding programme during this period without compromising our social distancing policies.”

Initial skepticism greeted the decision as most Nigerians questioned the workability of a palliative on School Feeding Programme based on the prevailing circumstances. The cynics put the ingenuity of the Hon. Minister to doubts. But as she mapped out her strategies and commenced work in response to the Presidential directive, it vacated all the misgivings.

Minister Sadiya Umar-Farouq, Minister did not only modify the scheme, but also stoutly defended the government’s action as doable at the official launch of the modified scheme in Abuja.

She trusted in her capacity and competence to conveniently and neatly execute the President’s vision, with a strong conviction that “Hunger is a serious by-product of this pandemic, which is why from the onset the ministry has been evolving strategies to facilitate humanitarian intervention. This is a globally accepted means of supporting children to continue to have access to nutrient-rich foods despite disruptions to the traditional channels of school feeding.”

And she proved her worth when the Ministry flagged off the programme on May 14, 2020 at Kuje Primary School in Abuja. She involved a wide net of actors and stakeholders in the implementation of the modified School Feeding programme, which she kick-started its pilot phase in schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the states of Lagos and Ogun where the impact of Covid-19 was tremendous before it would be expanded to other states of the country.

She adopted the model obtainable in the United States of America and the United Kingdom and tapped richly from the alliance with the World Food Programme (WFP). The Ministry also got State Governors of the respective states, PTAs, CSOs, EFCC, ICPC, Police and community leaders, including clerics and the teachers of the pupils involved in the implementation and extra-layer monitoring of the scheme.

She led the supervision to ensure the targeted 3.1 million households nationwide actually benefit from the scheme. She explained that “The Ministry in consultation and collaboration with state governments identified the distribution of Take-Home Rations (THR) to the households of the children on the programme as a feasible method of achieving this directive after exploring several options.

And Minister Sadiya simplified the complex process by issuing vouchers to the parents of participating children from households already registered in the National Social Register under the Ministry.

“The parent takes the voucher for verification by NYSC members at the school where the pupil is fed. After confirmation of all the relevant facts, the parent is issued the packaged food ration for their child or children. The parents go home with the raw foodstuff to cook for the child, which should last for four weeks.”

Philosopher R. H. Sin once stated that “Give a woman pain and she’ll turn it into power. Give that woman chaos and she’ll create peace.” Therefore, The Hon. Minister seized the opportunity of the modified School Feeding Programme to draw other benefits.

She revealed, “The ministry is using the opportunity of this modified program to collate and verify data with the support of CSOs and NGOs such as ActionAid, BudgIT, Tracka, and CMDA”.

The effective implementation of the programme excited the national body of Parents-Teacher Association (PTA) which publicly indicated their support of it. Minister Sadiya accomplished her targets; in the same manner and ease she conducted the payment of two months conditional cash transfers to the beneficiaries and deployment or relief materials to residents of satellite and commuter towns/communities around Lagos and Abuja in the period of Covid-19 lockdown in these areas.

In other spheres of the Ministry, the Minister has not failed either and as a foresighted leader thinks ahead of time. When the world celebrated the last International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Hajiya Sadiya Farouq inaugurated the Nigeria People’s Disability Parliament.

The theme; “Promoting the Participation of Persons with Disabilities and their Leadership: Taking Action on the 2030 Development Agenda,” was captivating and it pulsated the initiative of the parliament in her order to “…enhance their visibility in the scheme of affairs in the country and a voice to air their thoughts.”

Feminist poet, Audrey Hepburn envisaged Minister Sadiya in mind in the poem, “The beauty of a woman.” Some verses in it says; “The beauty of a woman/isn’t in the clothes she wears/The figure that she carries,/or the way she combs her hair./ But true beauty in a woman,/ is reflected by her soul./ It’s the caring that she cares to give,/the passion that she shows;/And the beauty of a woman with passing years only grows.”

Minister Sadiya Umar Farouq is an embodiment of the true beauty of a woman in actions and care for the needy, the poor, the vulnerable and the passion burns eternally in her. President Buhari has again proven through her appointment that another patriotic Nigerian whose obsession with selfless public service is infectious. She is a square peg in a square hole.

Critics can vent their spleen, but the Minister is neither deterred nor distracted. And like world famous author and Afro-American poet, dancer, singer, activist, and scholar, Maya Angelou echoed in the poem “Still I Rise,” “You may write me down in history/With your bitter, twisted lies,/You may trod me in the very dirt/
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.” Nothing can deviate Minister Sadiya’s attention from excellently performing her duties. She is indisputably a “strong cup of black coffee in a world that is drunk on the cheap wine of shallow love.”

Onmeje is a public affairs analyst and contributed this piece from the United Kingdom.

Insecurity: Understanding the Coalition of Northern Group as a Virus

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Insecurity: Understanding the Coalition of Northern Group as a Virus

By Adio Waziri

The biggest joke of the century is the so-called Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) which issued an ultimatum to President Muhammadu Buhari to stem the tide of insecurity in the northern part of Nigeria or face mass protest. Ironically, the group is one of the reasons insecurity persists in northern Nigeria.

A bunch of gerontocrats, who in their old age are claiming to belong to an age they have long crossed and are usurping the chances of the real youths in the society, have done more harm to the north than even some of the violent groups that have taken up arms against the Nigerian state. These mercenaries who hide under the guise of ‘youths’ to offer their services to political recidivists have again offered their discredited platform to the highest bidder to discredit the current administration. Their aim is to make the President Buhari-led administration look bad so they latched on to the recent security breaches witnessed in some northern parts of the country to make their kill. Unfortunately for them, however, this is one area people know they lack moral ground to issue any warning on as the leaders of this so-called Coalition have been the major cause of insecurity.

Apart from encouraging laziness through thuggery, they have by their over-reliance on renegade and self-serving politicians built an army of followers from among an otherwise innocent, hardworking and unsuspecting lot and have come to make them believe the only way they can make ends meet is through violence and sabotage.

This group has done the worst service to northern interests by taking away the minds of the youths from usefully engaging in productive activities like farming and another semi-skilled labour and putting them on the streets in the name of hired protesters and some times nudging them into acts of violence. They are like Boko Haram that made young and promising northern youths to abandon school and tear their certificates with a promise of an Eldorado in brigandage and opportunism.

The CNG cannot be absolved from the corollary effect of the drug abuse that is killing northern youths as they have made these young and hapless recruits believe that the only way they can do the bidding of these misguided elements is to take mind-bending substances.

The height of the chicanery of this group, however, was the ultimatum they gave citizens of Nigeria some time back to vacate the North not minding the social, economic and security implication of that statement. To them, satisfying their paymasters to have more zeros added to their cheques was more important to them than the peace and unity of this country knowing fully well that their statement would have led to a major crisis of great proportions if not for divine intervention.

It is this same set of people who want people to take them serious about the security situation in the north when it is clear to everyone that they are the problem. They cause a problem to happen and then hide behind one finger to pretend that they are doing something about it.

If that had been the only damage it would have been tolerable, but everybody knows that in this particular outing as in others, it is the voice of Jacob but the hands of Esau playing out and there’s no denying the fact that they are being sponsored by the failed presidential candidate of an opposition party, who is doing his best to discredit the current administration.

But that is not even the height of inanities. The stupidity of their position is exposed in the fact that they are issuing a threat to an administration that has done more than any other to secure Nigeria and every of its citizen wherever they find themselves.

The CNG does not know and will not appreciate the much the government has committed to ensuring peace and security in Nigeria because they have been busy going around collecting money from political opponents and making all manners of careless statements to check.

Neither would the group appreciate the much the government has done in terms of security when its leaders are busy misleading youths to abandon their lawful jobs to line up as thugs for politicians in the bid to line their pockets with filthy lucre.

However, CNG, even with its nonsensical posture and infantile pretence cannot say it did not know the efforts the current administration has put in place to ensure peace the last time it was asking certain citizens to vacate northern Nigeria.

If only they know the shuttles top government officials had to engage in to suppress the angst of people and the number of efforts by security agencies to proactively nip the threats in the bud, they would not have been opening their mouths to comment on anything concerning security in the next five decades!

To be sure, the current administration does not need any reminder, least of all from an irresponsible bunch of useless adult delinquents to show commitment to security in Nigeria. President Buhari made it clear even in his inaugural speech that security, alongside the economy and fight against corruption would form the focus of his administration. He has not disappointed.

The current administration has taken steps that dealt heavy blows on insurgency, banditry and related crimes. Troops recaptured all the local governments under the control of Boko Haram and checkmated the activities of criminal all over the country.

CNG cannot pretend not to recognize the efforts of the Inspector General of Police Special Team led by ACP Abba Kyari which busted several hideouts of criminals including that of the most notorious kidnapper in the country, Evans, and arrested him or Nigerian troops sacked the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists from Sambisa forest and established a base at camp Zairo and rescued school girls that were captured in Dapchi, Yobe State.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai to show the seriousness of the government towards curbing insecurity, relocated to the Northeast and has been fighting the insurgents with great success. Last week, when there was a security breach in Katsina, all the Service Chiefs went to reinforce their commitment which led to counter operations that destroyed the base of the criminals and many of them were captured.

The government did all these without waiting for any hired group to remind it of its responsibilities to its citizens. The Federal Government is alive to its responsibilities towards citizens and does not need a bunch of lazy adults who prefer to see themselves as ‘youths’ to remind it, hence they can keep their advice to themselves.

At the juncture, however, it is right to advice these elders who want to see themselves as youths that the best way they can help in addressing the problem of insecurity is to stop running to politicians for sponsorship on mischief and begin to seek gainful employment. They can lead the youths by example through farming and agriculture or by engaging in other skilled or semi-skilled labour.

Waziri is a development expert based in Kaduna.

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