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Anti-Corruption: Group Writes Buhari, Wants Report on Investigation of Perm-Sec Public

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Anti-Corruption: Group Writes Buhari, Wants Report on Investigation of Perm-Sec Public

Following the petition against the permanent secretary, federal ministry of mines Mr Sunday Edet Akpan over false qualifications and use of questionable academic records, the Coalition of Civil Society Groups for Justice has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to expedite actions.

Speaking to newsmen after submitting a copy of the petition at the state house Abuja, convener Kabiru Dallah called on the president to prevail on the relevant agencies to make the report public.

Comrade Dallah wondered why in spite of the variance in age as against what is obtainable in the IPPIS, Mr Akpan has continued to remain in office.

A copy of the letter reads below.

26th June, 2020
His Excellency
President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR,
President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces
Federal Republic of Nigeria,
Presidential Villa,
Three Arm Zone,
Abuja.
Your Excellency Sir,
PRESENTATION OF FALSE QUALIFICATIONS AND USE OF QUESTIONABLE ACADEMIC RECORDS BY MR. SUNDAY EDET AKPAN, PERMANENT SECRETARY OF THE MINISTRY OF MINES: AN URGENT NEED FOR INVESTIGATION AND ACTION TO PRESERVE THE INTEGRITY OF THE NIGERIAN PUBLIC SERVICE
The caption above respectfully refers.
The Coalition of Civil Society Groups for Justice is a group of likeminded civil society organizations with a clear mandate to amplify the voice of our member organizations to ensure that clear laid down standards in the conduct of government business at all levels. In executing our mandate, we scrutinize the rules and ensure that the conduct of all government officials is based on the rules and above all else in the interest of the citizens of Nigeria and the future sustainability of our country.
Our attention has been drawn to the fact that a very senior government official in the person of Mr. Sunday Edet Akpan, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, presented falsified documented information and records to perpetrate him in office beyond the legally approved limit.
According to records the said Mr. Sunday Edet Akpan, who began his public service career in the Akwa Ibom state civil service, before transferring to the Federal Civil Service in 1999:
  1. Falsified his birth records, changing same from his original birth date of 1958 to 1962, meaning that he ought to have retired in 2018 when he attained the retirement age of 60years. This in clear violation of the Public Service Rule 020108 (ii), which states inter alia “Date of birth recorded on appointment by an officer shall not be changed throughout the career of the officer. Any contravention shall be regarded as an act of serious misconduct”.
  2. Claimed to have started his educational pursuit in 1965, at the Qua Iboe Science Secondary School (Etinan Institute), even though the documentary evidence to support this claim is no longer in his file.
  3. By his claim started primary schooling at the age of 3, which cannot hold against any know logic or convention of that time period or any other in the history of Nigeria.
  4. Rose to the highest rank in the civil service and has prolonged his stay in office, while shutting out several other Nigerians who are better qualified and more suitable to progress in their careers.
  5. Has brought into question the integrity of the entire public service system, having impugned and impeached the basis of recruitment, promotion and compensation in the public service, based on honest records. The Public Service Rules state clearly, according to Rule 020701 (c), that “Promotion shall be made strictly on the basis of competitive merit from amongst all eligible candidates”, and a character that has tampered with personal records for personal gain at public expense cannot be said to be an “eligible candidate” for promotion.
Based on the above, Mr Sunday Edet Akpan, is a threat to the time honoured integrity of the civil service system of Nigeria and there is a need for action to be taken urgently to redeem this institution to align it with the new Nigeria your administration is building on probity and zero tolerance for corruption in any shape or form. We therefore call on Your Excellency to use your good offices to accede to our prayers as follows:
  1. That the said Mr. Sunday Edet Akpan be relieved of his duties in the Nigerian Civil Service, to restore public confidence in the service and to dissuade other officers from taking this disdainful course, pending a full investigation of the matter.
  2. That Your Excellency cause an independent panel of inquiry to be set up to probe the circumstances surrounding this grave infraction, with a view to uncovering all who are complicit in this grievous cover-up to hoodwink the good people of Nigeria and swindle the treasury of undeserved expenditure and influence peddling.
  3. That the said Mr. Sunday Akpan be prosecuted and caused to return all remuneration given to him beyond his legally recognized stay in office.
We have no doubt that the boasts of Mr. Akpan that he has “very powerful people in the highest levels of government”, would hold no water with your decades long reputation for confronting the most powerful elements of our society in the interest of the masses. We are indeed confident that justice will be served in this matter, to set a precedent of good conduct expected of public officers in Nigeria.
We anticipate Your Excellency’s prompt action on this national emergency so as not to provide cannon fodder for those who wish to discredit the good work being done by this administration to right the decades old ways of doing things based on the whims of a few to the detriment of the masses.
Accept, Your Excellency, the assurance of our highest esteem and continued assurance of providing support for all policies and programmes aimed at bettering the lot of the people of Nigeria.
Kabiru Ibrahim Dallah
President
CC:
  • Secretary to the Government of the Federation
  • Head of Service of the Federation
  • Director General, State Security Services
  • Inspector General, Nigeria Police Force
  • Chairman, Senate Committee on Public Petitions
  • Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions

Edo guber polls: INEC raises concerns over spate of litigations

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Edo guber polls: INEC raises concerns over spate of litigations
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday expressed concerns over the spate of pre-election litigations and the conflicting orders emanating ahead of Edo governorship election.
The commission in a statement issued by Mr Festus Okoye, INEC
National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, in Abuja said the rate of the litigations could harm the smooth conduct of primaries and the upcoming elections.
 
Okoye said that INEC met on Tuesday and deliberated on a range of issues including the ongoing conduct of Party Primaries relating to the Edo governorship election slated for Sept. 19.
He said that the commission also deliberated on the Court Orders emanating from the administration of political parties and conduct of the primaries, as well as the Code of Conduct and Rules of Engagement for Security Officials on Electoral Duty.
“The Commission notes that the conduct of party primaries, including resolution of disputes arising therefrom will end on June 27.
“The submission of the list of candidates the parties propose to sponsor at the election and affidavits of validly nominated candidates will close at 6 p.m on Monday, June 29,” he said.
Okoye advised political parties to note that the organisation and scheduling of various activities and processes leading to the conduct of elections were complex and involve extensive and careful planning.
He added that any disruption of those processes comes at a huge cost to the nation.
“The spate and tenor of pre-election litigations and the conflicting orders emanating therefrom can harm the smooth conduct of primaries and the upcoming elections.
“The Commission is closely monitoring the cases arising from the administration of political parties, the conduct of primaries and nomination of candidates.
“This notwithstanding, the Commission restates its avowed commitment to continue to obey all orders and judgments from properly constituted courts in accordance with the rule of law,” he said.
Okoye said that as part of the commission’s commitment to deepen the use of technology in elections, the commission would conduct a training programme for Liaison Officers nominated by all the registered Political Parties on the use of the INEC Portal for uploading nomination forms of candidates.
The training, according to him, will  take place at the Conference Hall of the commission on Thursday (June 26) and Friday (June 27) in two batches, to allow for physical distancing in line with the COVID-19 protocols.
Okoye disclosed that the  commission also considered the report from the meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), which recently approved a Code of Conduct and Rules of Engagement for Security Officials on Electoral Duty.
The code is signed by the Chairman of INEC, the National Security Adviser (NSA) as Co-Chairman of ICCES and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) as head of the lead agency in election security.
Okoye said that the code would be uploaded on the websites of the commission, the Office of the NSA and the Nigeria Police Force on June 25.

Lots of People in Southeast Believe COVID-19 is a Scam – PTF Coordinator

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Lots of People in Southeast Believe COVID-19 is a Scam – PTF Coordinator

The Nigerian government has revealed that most people, especially in the South-East region, do not believe in the existence of the deadly Coronavirus pandemic.

Dr. Sani Aliyu, National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force (PTF), while addressing the press on Monday, said at least 60% of the people in the region believe COVID-19 is a scam.

He also said that some states denying the existence of the virus were putting their citizens at risk.

“There’s also significant disbelief in the danger and impact of COVID-19, in parts of the southeast where we did a recent survey, 60 per cent did not believe that COVID-19 was an issue at all. We clearly are not taking the pandemic seriously enough,” he said.

The PTF called on citizens to challenge those who appear in public places without their face masks.

“There’s partial to total non-compliance with face mask and physical distance in protocols by the public as earlier mentioned by the DG NCDC,” he said.

He lamented that many people only wear their face mask either to avoid being harassed by security agents, or when they are compelled to do so.

 

Zulum Resuscitates Livestock Drugs Revolving Fund, Constructs Hatchery, Feed Mill, Diary Plants

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Zulum Resuscitates Livestock Drugs Revolving Fund, Constructs Hatchery, Feed Mill, Diary Plants

The Borno State government’s newly created Ministry of Animal and Fisheries which was saddled with the responsibility of promoting and managing veterinary, livestock and Fisheries Affairs has renovated and re-modelled the offices of the Hon. Commissioner, the Permanent Secretary and the office of the adviser which is ongoing with the state of art facilities.

Zulum also carried out resuscitation of Animal Drug, Revolving fund scheme which was dormant for almost 7 years leading to inadequate supply of basic drugs and working equipment while the Ministry was able to revitalize the domant drug revolving fund scheme, pointing out that, the Hospital procured drugs for the (DRF) with a new account at Keystone Bank and the proceeds realised from the scheme have been paid into the account.

The State Commissioner of Animal and Fisheries, Comrade Juliana Bitrus who stated this Monday at a press briefing added that the Ministry in collaboration with the Monitoring Unit repaired three (3) grounded Vehicles and two of the Vehicles that were donated to vigilante while the other one was retained in the Ministry for the day to day running.

She said the Veterinary Services Division established harmonious working relationship with all staff, NGOs and other Ministries, including the Federal Ministry of Agriculture (Department of Veterinary and Pest Control Services while for the purpose of accountability, receipt booklets, folders, ledgers, file jackets were put in place while the dispatch of drugs were daily monitored by an accountant and auditor.

The commissioner severally visited Maiduguri Central Abattoir at Kasuwan Shani on the need to improve the hygienic condition of the abattoir and even the butchers themselves leading to the ministry evacuating refuse heaps in the premises which Constituted an eyesore but could not be completed due partly to lack of support from the owners of the abattoir MMC.

“Closed cooperation was maintained with NGOs such as FAO, ICRC, MCRP, Action Against Hunger, CARE and a host of others which led to a boost in vaccination activities, upgrading of the skills of our staff through seminars and workshops.

“Also a lot of youths and women are being empowered through cash assistance and poultry, sheep, goats, fingerlings and their feeds presented to this category of people.

Similarly, as a result of the closed cooperation with NGOs, FAO has vaccinated 120,000 herds of cattle, sheep and goats in Konduga, Jere and Kaga Local Governments and also donated working equipment to the Veterinary Hospital Maiduguri crushes, vaccinators, rain boots, late coats, Coleman boxes etc. Our staff have also received allowances”, Juliana said.

She further recalled that the ICRC has also rehabilitated structures in the Veterinary Hospital which includes painting of the laboratory, admission post, post-mortem, pharmacy, stores and the three (3) clinics apart from the construction of VIP toilets and incinerator to assist in disposing carcases as well as plumbing and electrical works were also undertaken by the Red Cross.

Comrade Juliana explained that the Federal Department of Veterinary and pest control services donated to the veterinary Hospital four (4) tricycles and also graciously donated a Hilux Vehicle to be shared by our Ministry and their Maiduguri Zonal office, apart from these, buckets, disinfectants dust bin, rain boots and personal protective equipments (PPE) were received from them.

On Revenue generation, the commissioner said only three (3) control post are operational, namely: Maiduguri, Gwoza and Miringa and they have generated =N=1.3 Million to the state between September 2019 and April 2020, the major control post are closed.

She maintained that Livestock Services Division carried out installation of uncompleted battery cages and new ones installed at the (PPU) Maiduguri in which the laying birds, are housed while 8,000 point of lay pullets were procured from ROSLAC farms in Ibadan worth Millions of Naira. Complete overhauld of the feed mill at PPU, feed production in progress.

The commissioner said the ministry procured ingredients for feed formulation ranging from maize, soya beans, wheat offal, etc, which have been used for the formulation and the Ministry in collaboration with Ministry of Housing and Energy acquired a brand new transformer for the farm with all necessary logistics for the installation of the transformer, while carrying out renovation of the eastern wall of the RRR pen which was blown by windstorm last year.

Procurement of a brand new 50KVA generator.
According to her, plan has reached advanced stage to commercialise the poultry average of 65 crate of eggs are realised daily and sold at subsidised rate of =N=700 per crate while registration by NAFDAC for Dairy Plant has been completed.

She added that a new Hatchery complex established with Terrazzo Floor, ceiling of the complete unit, toilet and overhead tank was completed while the installation of hatchery machine and demarcation of office and changing will soon commence.

Comrade Bitrus noted that Fisheries Services Division from September 2019 to date was able to produce marketable fish and sale to the people at a subsidized rate while the Ministry carried out renovation of two earthen ponds located at the Zonal Fisheries office, Maiduguri in November 2019.

“Fingerlings of clarias gariepinus species were purchased and stocked into the ponds and managed for onward growth. Also, 40 bags of copew fish feed and medicament were acquired for maintenance while construction of two compartment VIP toilet for male and female at the Zonal Office in January 2020.

“Construction of integrated fish ponds and free range poultry system for recreational activities at the government house garden in December, 2020.

“Revenue generated from this sector within the period under review was worth Millions of Naira through the committee on the sales and marketing of fish in the State constituted by Governor Prof. Babagana Umar Zulum” Juliana said.

How I held Oluwatoyin Salau hostage, raped and killed her — Suspect confesses

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How I held Oluwatoyin Salau hostage, raped and killed her — Suspect confesses

Aaron Glee Jr. confessed several times that he kidnapped and killed Oluwatoyin Salau, a student and protester, and Victoria Sims, a volunteer and retired state worker, in grisly crimes that have horrified the community.

According to newly released court documents, Glee waived his right to remain silent and gave his account of events to officers with the Tallahassee Police Department and the Orlando Police Department.

They include shocking new details, including that Glee kept Salau a prisoner in his run-down home for several days, raping her and eventually deciding to kill her to avoid getting caught.

The documents also reveal that Salau, 19, and Sims, 75, apparently met each other in the last days of their lives, after Glee arranged for Sims to pick him and Salau up at a bus stop.

Salau vanished June 6, followed by Sims on June 11. On June 13, Tallahassee Police Department officers descended on his home after tracing Sims’ cellphone to the address. They found Sims’ body under a bloody sheet in a bedroom and Salau’s body under a pile of leaves in the woods behind the house.

By that time, Glee had already bought a one-way ticket to West Palm Beach, where he has family members. Orlando police, working off information from Tallahassee police, intercepted him at a Greyhound bus station and arrested him.

He complained of breathing problems and was taken to an Orlando hospital, where he openly chatted about the two murders, according to the arrest report.

“While at the hospital, Glee had made voluntary admissions to officers guarding him that he had murdered two women in Tallahassee,” the report says. “He would also place a telephone call to his mother and make these same admissions.”

Later that day, TPD officers arrived in Orlando to interview him.

“Glee would admit in detail that on different dates, he had kidnapped and murdered both (Salau) and Sims,” the report says.

Glee told investigators he struck up a conversation with Salau June 6 at a bus stop on Apalachee Parkway. She told him she had been sexually assaulted earlier in the day – something she revealed publicly on Twitter.

He offered to take her to his house to bathe and sleep. He said he called Sims, who picked them both up in her white Toyota sedan.

Video footage captured by StarMetro buses shows that Salau left a Leon County branch library on South Adams Street at 5:51 p.m. and arrived at the bus stop on Apalachee Parkway at 6:07 p.m.

“That footage also demonstrated that she and Glee did engage in an extended conversation while seated on a bench at the bus stop,” the report says. “At approximately 7:07 p.m., a white Toyota, the same make and model of the one owned by Sims, arrived in the area of the bus stop. Glee and (Salau) departed in that Toyota moments later.”

Glee told investigators that after arriving at his house, Salau took a shower. He tried to have sex with her but she said no and tried to fight him off.

“He stated that she physically resisted him, and that she bit him upon his right forearm during the struggle,” the report says.

But Glee overpowered her.

“He was asked if he would characterize his actions as rape,” the report says. “Glee responded in the affirmative.”

Glee said he kept Salau tied up and imprisoned in his home for three to five days but wasn’t sure how long because “he was heavily under the influence of alcohol.”

He said he released her at times to eat and bathe. He admitted “sexually assaulting her numerous times during those three to five days.”

Glee, who has a prison record dating back decades, worried that if he were to let her go, he’d land behind bars again.

“Glee stated that he was aware that he would be arrested and likely sentenced to prison if he allowed (Salau) to leave the residence,” the arrest report says. “Glee indicated that he determined that his only course of action was to end her life.”

He bound her with rope in a manner he thought would cause her to die and left her in a bedroom.

“Glee explained how over the course of several hours he would re-enter the bedroom multiple times to see if (Salau) was still alive,” the report says. “Ultimately, he entered into the bedroom and determined (she) was deceased.”

Police reports say Sims also was bound. Investigators believe Glee ransacked her apartment on Blair Stone Road, stole her car and kidnapped her. Her car was found stuck in mud outside his house.

Glee was arrested in Orlando but brought to Tallahassee, where he’s facing two counts each of murder and kidnapping and one count of sexual assault. He had his first court appearance on the new charges Saturday via video conference.

Chief Circuit Judge Jonathan Sjostrom ordered Glee held without bail at the request of Assistant State Attorney Callaway Scott, who called him a “danger to society.”

Glee, wearing an orange and white jumpsuit, did not speak during the brief hearing. His Miami attorney, Mauricio Padilla, advised him not to discuss the case with anyone Sjostrom agreed with Scott, noting that Glee was a flight risk given his unsuccessful attempt to escape on a bus.

“There are no conditions that can adequately protect the public, no conditions that could ensure Mr. Glee’s future appearance,” Sjostrom said. “The probable cause itself demonstrates the possibility of significant flight.” (Text, excluding headline, courtesy USA Today)

South Adams Street at 5:51 p.m. and arrived at the bus stop on Apalachee Parkway at 6:07 p.m.

“That footage also demonstrated that she and Glee did engage in an extended conversation while seated on a bench at the bus stop,” the report says. “At approximately 7:07 p.m., a white Toyota, the same make and model of the one owned by Sims, arrived in the area of the bus stop. Glee and (Salau) departed in that Toyota moments later.”

Glee told investigators that after arriving at his house, Salau took a shower. He tried to have sex with her but she said no and tried to fight him off.

“He stated that she physically resisted him, and that she bit him upon his right forearm during the struggle,” the report says.

But Glee overpowered her.

“He was asked if he would characterize his actions as rape,” the report says. “Glee responded in the affirmative.”

Glee said he kept Salau tied up and imprisoned in his home for three to five days but wasn’t sure how long because “he was heavily under the influence of alcohol.”

He said he released her at times to eat and bathe. He admitted “sexually assaulting her numerous times during those three to five days.”

Glee, who has a prison record dating back decades, worried that if he were to let her go, he’d land behind bars again.

“Glee stated that he was aware that he would be arrested and likely sentenced to prison if he allowed (Salau) to leave the residence,” the arrest report says. “Glee indicated that he determined that his only course of action was to end her life.”

He bound her with rope in a manner he thought would cause her to die and left her in a bedroom.

“Glee explained how over the course of several hours he would re-enter the bedroom multiple times to see if (Salau) was still alive,” the report says. “Ultimately, he entered into the bedroom and determined (she) was deceased.”

Police reports say Sims also was bound. Investigators believe Glee ransacked her apartment on Blair Stone Road, stole her car and kidnapped her. Her car was found stuck in mud outside his house.

Glee was arrested in Orlando but brought to Tallahassee, where he’s facing two counts each of murder and kidnapping and one count of sexual assault. He had his first court appearance on the new charges Saturday via video conference.

Chief Circuit Judge Jonathan Sjostrom ordered Glee held without bail at the request of Assistant State Attorney Callaway Scott, who called him a “danger to society.”

Glee, wearing an orange and white jumpsuit, did not speak during the brief hearing. His Miami attorney, Mauricio Padilla, advised him not to discuss the case with anyone Sjostrom agreed with Scott, noting that Glee was a flight risk given his unsuccessful attempt to escape on a bus.

“There are no conditions that can adequately protect the public, no conditions that could ensure Mr. Glee’s future appearance,” Sjostrom said. “The probable cause itself demonstrates the possibility of significant flight.”

UNHCR appoints 2Face as goodwill ambassador

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UNHCR appoints 2Face as goodwill ambassador

Nigerian Artiste, Innocent Idibia, also known as 2baba, has been appointed a regional goodwill ambassador of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

UNHCR is an agency targeted at protecting refugees, forcibly displaced communities, and stateless people by assisting their voluntary repatriation, local integration, or resettlement to a third country.

According to a statement by the agency, Innocent Idibia becomes the first Nigerian to be appointed as a UNHCR goodwill ambassador.

The award-winning singer also took to his Instagram page to break the good news, stating that it would deepen his commitment to supporting the efforts of all UNHCR personnel.

You have saved us before, do it for our country and humanity again’, Borno indigene writes Service Chiefs

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You have saved us before, do it for our country and humanity again’, Borno indigene writes Service Chiefs

Ibrahim A.A, a native of Maiduguri in Borno State has called on the Service Chiefs to come to the rescue of his people, Nigeria and humanity at large by flushing out remnants of Boko Haram terrorists like they did in time past.

Ibrahim gave this charge in a touching letter to the heads of the nation’s security architecture on Tuesday.

The Maiduguri native recalled the genesis of the Boko Haram insurgency, its transition into a national and then regional crisis and how President Muhammadu Buhari’s election in 2015 ushered in a new phase.

According to Ibrahim, the appointment of the Service Chiefs particularly triggered the turnaroud.

Among others, he recollected how troops repelled the terrorists’ attempts to take over Maiduguri with superior fire power.

He recalled how the military killed many of the radical Islamists and pushed them farther to the fringes of the Lake Chad.

Ibrahim, who is a businessman, acknowledged that “many of us have returned to our work and businesses and no longer had to be looking over our shoulders before taking a single step.”

However, following the recent attack at Zowo community in Gubio Local Government, Ibrahim urged the military chiefs to bring back their ruthlessness.

He, therefore, urged them to sustain the momentum which he said ” has restored our hope and not allow evil to triumph over us.”

Read full letter below:

Dear Service Chiefs,

I believe a little introduction of myself would suffice in the light of what I am going to say to you.

I have lived  in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital all of my life. Since the Boko Haram issue started in 2009 with a common confrontation with the police over the use of helmet, I have not stayed outside Borno State for more than two weeks.

The longest time I have stayed outside the state for the  more than 10 years that the crisis erupted was for a little over a week when I went to attend my brother’s sons wedding in Abuja and decided to extend my stay to catch up over a number of issues with my elder brother.

Prior to the crisis, I have lived in  Borno State for over 30 years and attended schools there before I started working as a businessman, though I went to do my NYSC in the Southeast.

This background I believe puts me in a good position to comment on what is happening in Maiduguri and other parts of the Northeast as regards the security situation in the country.

I was in Maiduguri when the Boko Haram insurgents attacked Giwa barracks shooting non stop until they  freed some of their members who being detained there.

I have also been around, the several times Boko Haram attempted to take down the state capital and I have come face to face and experienced the fears of residents and the height of hopelessness that at a time cuminated in us giving up completely and were only waiting for when the worst would happen.

I’m a witness to how something that started as a non issue within our homes and vicinities, with persons who we all know and relate with, galvanizing into one of  the most heinous and devastating catastrophe of our time with a death toll that is now more than 20,000.

Boys who we could call and send on errand or reprimand when they err because they are our children, nephews, cousins etc, suddenly became uncontrollable and began to look us in the face and not only dared us but attacked us in the most vicious manner at will.

We thought we had defeated  them when we began to report them to the security agencies and they removed themselves from our midst and converged in bushes amd later in the Sambisa forest and the Mandara hills, until they began to invade communities, and abduct young girls at will,  attack schools to kill innocent underage students and overun communities killing people and destroying legacies.

I have seen families separated; breadwinners killed and wives and children fleeing in different directions never to reunite. I have been to many IDP camps and I have seen hunger, fear and near hopelessness on the faces of the people.

Hopes were lost when it was reported that even our soldiers started fleeing at the sight of the terrorists, but our hopes began to be restored when shortly before the 2015 elections, our military men were mobilised to face the insurgents.

When the military in that period killed many of the terrorists and pushed the insurgents farther to the fringes of the Lake Chad, we began to realise that it was not for lack of capacity that our troops were fleeing  before the insurgents; that it must have been due to a number of factors.

Our former governor, Senator Kashim Shettima captured one of the factors when he said at one time that the Boko Haram fighters were better equipped than our military.

This is true because at that time, the weapons the Boko Haram were using were quite sophisticated.

Our military couldn’t do much partly because the resources for the purchase of equipment were being swallowed through corruption and unpatriotic acts.

We were happy when President Muhammadu Buhari won the 2015 election because we knew him as someone with adequate military background and war experience coupled with a zero tolerance for corruption persona, who has the capacity to restore the pride and dignity of our people.

The President on assumption of office did not disappoint as he launched a probe into the funds meant for fighting Boko Haram which were allegedly diverted through the office of the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, and the revelations that came from there.

Better still, the president ordered that the operational command for the fight against insurgency to relocate to the Northeast.

Shortly after that, he appointed the current set of sevice chiefs.

It was at that point that we started noticing significant changes in the fight against Boko Haram and we were not surprised when they were dislodged from their base in Sambisa and they started running helter skelter into Chad and other neighbouring countries.

I am witness to how they were repelled when they attempted to take Maiduguri several times after and forced to flee when confronted with superior fire power of our military in recent times.

The relocation of the Chief of Army Staff to Borno State since March which enabled him to visit hot spots of Boko Haram operations was good and his reported engagement of troops  one-on-one, served to boost their confidence as we could see the troops moving around with new gusto and air of confidence.

We were not surprised therefore when we began to hear about the series of victories recorded by our soldiers in Konduga, Dikwa, Bama and other places.

We were overjoyed when we heard the audio of the leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau crying shamelessly and begging for mercy.

Our happiness knew no bounds when 30 of the top Boko Haram commanders were reported to have indicated an interest in surrendering to the Nigerian authorities and when 11 of them did so.

We applauded the Chief of Army Staff when he was shown on television reporting to the President how troops killed over 1400 of the Boko Haram terrorists within four months and arrested their informants.

We clapped because not only did we know that he was reporting the factual truth, but because we have seen the positive effects of the military operations in our lives.

Many of us have returned to our work and businesses and no longer had to be looking over our shoulders before taking a single step.

Some of the terrorists that ran back to our communities confessed of the devastation they suffered through air raids and ground counter attacks by our troops.

But the last attack on Zowo community in Gubio Local Government almost eroded all the joy.

We saw ourselves in the same position we were before the coming of the current administration where communities could be attacked and humans slaughtered without a single fire in defence.

We are therefore appealing to the current set of service chiefs to sustain the good work they have been doing which has restored our hope and not allow evil to triumph over us.

We thank President Buhari who felt our pains when he summoned the security meeting in Abuja and asked the service chiefs to do more.

We join our voices to that of the President to call on the service chiefs to reenact their best which freed us from death and torture in the time past.

We appreciate what they have done in the past but wish to remind them that the battle is not over and they must not relent or relax.

Long live the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Long live President Muhammadu Buhari.

Long live Nigeria.

Boko haram killings: Senate delegation visits Zulum in Borno, commends his courage

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Boko haram killings: Senate delegation visits Zulum in Borno, commends his courage

A delegation of the Senate led by majority leader, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi, on Monday visited Maiduguri, Borno State capital, to commiserate with Governor Babagana Umara Zulum over recent killings by Boko Haram insurgents.

The delegation comprised of Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, Deputy minority whip, Senator Yahaya Alh. Yawu, Senator Kashim Shettima, Senator Mohamed Ali Ndume and Senator Abubakar Kyari.

The Senate delegation was received by Governor Zulum, at the Government House, after the Deputy Governor, Umar Usman Kadafur, led a welcoming team at the Maiduguri international airport.

Speaking on behalf of the senate, Senator Yahaya, at the council chamber of the government house in Maiduguri, assured that no stone will be left unturned in an effort to get lasting peace in the nation.

He added that the Nigerian Senate in a resolution had directed the Senate President to meet President Muhammadu Buhari to lay on his table the security situation in the country. In view of that, the Senate President had Yesterday met President Buhari in the state house, where security issues were squarely brought to the President.

“I want to assure you that very soon efforts will be seen to have been done for Nigeria to get itself off this insurgency and banditry.”, Senator Yahaya assured.

The Senate leader also said, the Nigerian Senate had pledge to support the executive, this include support in approving security budgets  to provide the administration with the necessary resources for the security agencies to secure our people.

Meanwhile, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi commended Governor Babagana Umara Zulum for his efforts in restoring peace in Borno.

Senator Yahaya said “Your Excellency, we all know and acknowledged, the whole nation is quite aware and very grateful of the kind of effort that you have made and the brave journeys of work that you have undertaken, all in an effort to secure the people of your state and the entire northeast zone. For most of us, having people with the kind of zeal and commitment in position of leadership, what you have shown, the courage that you have shown, going to the length and breadth of this state. where some of us don’t dare to go, you have gone.”

He added “Your Excellency, you have demonstrated a lot of courage, sense of purpose to uphold dignity and honour of the people of your state. We want to use this opportunity to thank you very much and encourage you to brave all odds so that all of us will be rid of this threat.”

Yahaya also led the delegation in company of Governor Zulum to pay homage to the Shehu of Borno, His Royal Highness Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai Elkanemi, at the Shehu’s palace.

On his part Governor Babagana Umara Zulum while welcoming the delegation, acknowledged the support of the national assembly towards the development of the northeast zone.

The Governor equally extends his appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari for maintaining stability in the northeast.

“Notwithstanding the recent happening in Borno, the situation can not be compared to what is obtained, particularly between the year 2011 to 2014. However, the recent spontenous attacks in Borno is a matter of great concern to all of us. The Nexus between security and peace need not to be overemphasized, if there is no peace, there is no security and if there is no security there no development.” Zulum said.

The Governor However, lamented the continuous inaccessibility of citizens to their farmlands which he said has become a serious challenge facing the state.

“In fact, the people of Borno State are facing a very serious challenge, worthy to note is that of a limited access to farmlands by our people. We have to address the root causes of the insurgency which are not limited to endemic poverty, pervasive illiteracy, unemployment, environmental degradation among others. continuous dependance on food supply from the INGOs and the UN agencies is not sustainable. The only option we have is to create an enabling environment to our people regain their means of livelihood”, Zulum said.

Insecurity: Christian group rallies support for Chief of Defence Staff, General Olonisakin

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Insecurity: Christian group rallies support for Chief of Defence Staff, General Olonisakin

….vows to defend attempts to rubbish Service Chiefs’ performance on religious bias

The Nigerian Christian Youth Assembly (NCYA) has thrown its weight behind Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin, for fostering synergy amongst the different military components which has proven to be the catalyst in their numerous operations.

The group made this known in a statement co-signed by Rev Philip Attah and Pastor Stephen Onwu, its President and Secretary-General respectively on Tuesday.

According to NCYA, the appointment of Gen. Olonisakin in July 2015 is the turning point in the fight against insurgency and other criminal elements that once bedevilled the nation.

The group revealed that this was achieved through the Defence Chief’s coordination and cooperation amongst the different units of the military as well as restructuring of its operations strategically.

While admitting pockets of security challenges, NCYA reckoned that it is nothing compared to five years ago.

In other to sustain the momentum, the Christian youths believes Gen. Olonisakin and the military chiefs would have to continue on the job.

The group, however, rejected the call for their dismissal, describing it as  disservice to the place of merit, hard work and professionalism.

It added that this is the handiwork of mischiefmakers, embarking on the campaign as a way of displaying their total disdain for Christians in leadership positions across the country.

The Christian youths, therefore, vowed to defend attempts to rubbish Service Chiefs’ performance on religious bias.

Read full statement below:

It is abundantly clear almost to everyone that the Nigeria military is facing its most engaging moment in its history. The military aside fighting the brutal war against insurgency is also carrying out various operations in almost all the states of the federation.

At no point in the military’s history has it been tasked this much, but for the men in uniform who have staked their lives for us all perhaps the evil terrorist would have run the whole nation over.

We at The Nigerian Cristian Youth Assembly cannot forget in a hurry the attacks by insurgents in the early days of the war against Boko Haram how they over run several towns, communities and many local governments. We do not forget in a hurry in some instances where they carted away many young children with them, they hoisted flags, in some instances made laws and even set up courts for judging offenders. That was how bad the situation was then.

In 2015 when President Buhari came to power, whilst some accused him of delay in appointing ministers, one of his very early appointments was that of the service chiefs, from that action it was clear to us that the President meant business.

He went for the best of the best amongst the service men and women. The service chiefs headed by the Chief of Defense Staff General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin was obviously a smart choice by Mr. President.

Within a few weeks of their assumption of office the dynamics of the war against terror changed. Boko Haram/ISWAP were soon on the run, giving up their acclaimed conquered territories and fleeing into the deep forest of Sambisa, where the remnants of them reside till date. Nigerians are witnesses to the agony and the massive humanitarian crisis that preceded the appointment of the current service chiefs.

All these gains were made mainly through the coordination and cooperation amongst the different units of the military headed by the service chiefs under the leadership of the chief of defense staff (CDS) General Abayomi Olonisakin . When  Olonisakin was appointed in 2015 he inherited over 13 military operations across the country. He immediately moved to restructure many of the operations strategically. Part of the restructuring lead to the establishment at the Defense headquarters of the “office of campaign planning, coordinating Centre for naval component, theatre Commander and deputy in operation “Lafiya Dole”. This helped to integrate the operation of the naval forces into the operations seamlessly.  He also created the theatre media office to better coordinate the operational activities of the armed forces.

Some may want to forget in a hurry some of what the military headed by General Olonisakin has achieved over the last five years. We at the Nigerian Christian youth assembly won’t forget in a hurry the days when insurgents over ran whole towns, whole local governments, operated even in the federal capital territory, times when we could hardly celebrate any festivity or holiday without deadly attacks from insurgents.

Many would have forgotten the many challenges from groups that terrorized us like the IMN, killer herdsmen attacks, IPOB etc. Through the coordinated leadership of Gen Olonishakin the military has been able to bring all of these security challenges under control. Many of these challenges emerging pre or during a general election year, yet the military stood firm even in areas where civil mediation and enforcements had failed to bring results.

We must understand that the task before the Nigeria military transcends the borders of Nigeria. Nigeria and its military remain a very crucial factor for the stability of the west African sub region. Gen Olonisakin as head of the military has continued to earn great respect in his engagement within the security circle of the sub region. Upon assuming leadership as the head of the ECOWAS committee of chiefs of defense staff moved to tackle the issue of proliferation of arm across the various countries within ECOWAS due to the porous borders, he was very clear about the need to tackle that in order to curb activities of terrorist within the region.

He has given good direction to different multinational operations that Nigeria is involved in. This multinational intervention has helped a great deal in the stabilization of our sub region and indeed our nation.

We should not forget the calm that the military has brought to the once restive Niger Delta region. Activities such as oil bunkering, oil theft, high sea piracy, illegal refining and a host of other criminal activities in that region has largely been stemmed by the military.

One of the amazing things going on now within the military is the synergy amongst the different components. The air force providing excellent air support for ground operations in operation Lafiya Dole in the north east. The Navy and the air force working together to make our territorial waters safe with fantastic cooperation in joint operations that has led to the many successes we are witnessing now.

Though we admit there are still some pockets of security challenges here and there what we should not lose sight of quickly is where we were coming from and where we are now. There is no doubt that since the emergence of the current set of service chiefs, there has been a lot of improvement in the security of the country.

This is why as a group we have come openly to declare that we reject the call for the sack of the service chiefs. We see this call as a disservice to the place of merit, hard work and professionalism displayed by General Olonisakin and his team.

We feel that the focus of the anti-service chief campaigners is no doubt targeted at Gen  Abayomi Olonisakin who is the head of the defense architecture. These mischief makers are embarking on the campaign as a way of displaying their total disdain for Christians in leadership positions across the country and we wish to strongly condemn it.

We use this opportunity to commend President Buhari for his matured and stable leadership. We laud the decision of Mr president who in his wisdom decided to extend the tenure of the service chiefs like he did other appointees such as the NSA, the CBN Governor, many ministers and several heads of government. It is clear that President Buhari appreciates the leadership of the service chiefs, who have actually given their best and are still doing their best.

It is clear that the anti service chief campaigners are against the doctrine of reward for merit and hardworking service to ones fatherland.

The trend world over is to keep the very best of your personnel for as long as they are able to serve. That is why you see in the case of judges their retirement age was moved further to 70 years, same goes for university lecturers who were also moved to 70 years of age .

We encourage Nigerians to emulate other countries where the very best of the country’s senior personnel are retained for as long as they are ready to serve, our case should not be any different .

We fear that sacking the service chiefs now will erode the gains of all the reforms being institutionalized in the country’s armed forces.

God Bless Our Military, God bless the Federal Republic Of Nigeria.

N- Power: Forum lauds Sadiya Farouq, vows to expose ungrateful characters behind the attempt to smear Minister’s image

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N- Power: Forum lauds Sadiya Farouq, vows to expose ungrateful characters behind the attempt to smear Minister’s image

The N-Power Nationwide Beneficiaries Forum has lauded the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Farouq, for her transparent, accountable and propitious handling of the scheme.

In a statement co-signed by President

Dr Okwu Audu James and Secretary-General, Comrade Unde Saaember Emmanuel, on Monday, the forum vowed to expose “ungrateful characters attempting to smear the minister’s image”.

Introduced in 2015, N-Power is one of four National Social Investment Program created by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to ensure a more equitable distribution of resources to vulnerable populations.

Thousands of Nigerian youths have benefited from the program with job training and education, as well as a monthly stipend of 30,000.

And the scheme appears to have been taken to an all-new height since Hajiya Farouq was appointed minister last year with a well-packaged transition plan into entrepreneurship.

However, the entire exercise is already being endangered by some groups.

According to the N-Power Forum, these persons “are not beneficiaries as they appear more like hirelings that were recruited with the objective of maligning the government.”

The group reasoned that anyone against the transition plan of the government is only lazy and addicted to freebies.

The N-Power beneficiaries expressed gratitude to President Buhari and Hajiya Farouq, first for the programme, which they said has improved their lives and the transition plan.

The forum said it is aware of clandestine moves by some disgruntled elements to infiltrate the laudable initiative of Mr President, sponsoring veiled and dubious propaganda against the minister.

It, however, dissociated itself from such selfish and self-serving individuals, urging for caution for anyone transacting business in the name of N- Power.

Read full statement below:

Our attention has been drawn to a threat issued in the form of a statement by persons that called themselves ‘36 States N-Power Representatives Forum’, a body not known to law and neither known to the hundreds of thousands N-Power beneficiaries. It is curious that the people behind the said statement neglected to properly identify themselves and merely signed a statement discussing a matter of such magnitude with the words “Best Regards”.

The blackmail in the said statement included the threat to report the Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq to President Muhammadu Buhari over the disengagement of beneficiaries of the N-Power programme as directed by the Federal Executive Council. These individuals went further to imply that they will cause mayhem by embarking on nationwide protests if their blackmailing demands are not met.

N- Power Nationwide Beneficiaries Forum want to categorically state that those behind these threats are not beneficiaries as they appear more like hirelings that were recruited with the objective of maligning the government. Anyone that has benefitted from the scheme for these past few years will not go around with such misplaced sense of entitlement but will rather be appreciative of the gift of being kept out of the pangs of poverty for the duration of the programme.

It is well known among beneficiaries that those of us that have enjoyed the scheme is to be transitioned into government entrepreneurship programmes. This is a thing of joy for us because it means the government has given us the chance to expand our income and also become employers of labour as opposed to being dependent on handouts under a system that we all know is not sustainable. It is therefore absurd that anyone will be kicking against such a golden opportunity at becoming self-made, which gave us the impression that only lazy persons that are addicted to freebies would insist on remaining beneficiaries of a programme, whose monthly stipend has no prospect of ever-increasing.

We are also pressed to correct the impression created by this rouge group that N-Power beneficiaries are partisan, through the allusion that beneficiaries made President Buhari’s re-election possible. It is one thing to acknowledge that Nigerians who were impressed about how Mr President’s programmes and massively voted for him and it is another thing to imply that N-Power beneficiaries are political thugs, which is an unacceptable insult to the hundreds of thousands of apolitical Nigerian youth benefitting from this laudable programme.

N- Power Nationwide Beneficiaries Forum is pained that some people can come up with such sickening position that failed to properly understand that the economic pressure exerted by the COVID-19 pandemic is responsible for the decision to transit beneficiaries to entrepreneurship programmes. This in itself is an ingenious solution to a problem that would have stymied any other government, so the incumbent government should rather be acknowledged for its responsive thinking.

We appreciate President Buhari, first for the N-Power programme, which many of us have used to improve on our lives and improve the lots of our families and for creating the transition arrangement, which will ensure that the diligent ones among beneficiaries will go places. We equally salute the transparency, which the Honourable Minister introduced into the system to usher in greater accountability and probity that made it possible for more Nigerians to be brought on board.

Our forum is aware of clandestine moves by some disgruntled elements to infiltrate the laudable initiative of Mr President. This they are doing by sponsoring veiled and dubious propaganda against reforms and efforts to reposition the scheme. We consequently dissociate N-Power beneficiaries from such selfish and self-serving individuals while urging for caution for anyone transacting business in the name of N- Power as many miscreants are out to ruin the gains so far made by the scheme. Mr President has our vote of confidence in his administration and the Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq.

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