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Boko Haram: Buratai promotes 3 soldiers for outstanding performance

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Boko Haram: Buratai promotes 3 soldiers for outstanding performance

Three soldiers of Operation Lafiya Dole (OPLD) have been rewarded with special promotion to the next rank for their outstanding performance in the ongoing war against insurgency in the North East.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, decorated the soldiers during a visit to their camp on Sunday as part of his operational visit to troops in the north east.

The three soldiers, Felix Ugwu, Kehinde Goban and Ishaq Yesif, are serving at Super Camp 3 in Buratai, Biu Local Government Area of Borno.

Ugwu was promoted from the rank of Warrant Officer to Master Warrant Officer while Goban was promoted from the rank of Corporal to Sergeant and Yesif from the rank of Private to Lance Corporal.

They were also presented each with generating sets and 32 inch plasma television sets.

The soldiers were presented to the Chief of Army Staff for the special award and decoration with their new ranks by the Commander, Col. Muhammed Adamu.

Buratai said that based on the recommendation of their commander on their gallantry, he was convinced that they deserved to be honoured in that way.

He urged other officers and soldiers to continue to work hard with discipline, and assured that everyone who deserved such promotion would be given.

On the recent innovation by the theatre command, Buratai said that the Nigerian army would continue to encourage innovation in science and technology and improve on their capabilities.

“The army is an institution on its own and it’s capable of doing a lot of things in order to make it functional and to function effectively in the discharge of our constitutional responsibility.

“We commend the initiative of the theatre commander and all the officers that are working hard to contain the security challenges in the country especially in the north east.

“That of Maiduguri is adhoc and out of necessity and it is a lot of deliberately planned initiative by the commander and we are supporting him to ensure that his troops operate confidently by providing the necessary protection through these equipment improvisation.

“But that of Kaduna is special, it is deliberate and it is part of the Defence Industrial Complex because we are collaborating with the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON).

“It is to see how we can be self sufficient in our own industrial need. So that one is budgeted and we will continue with what we are doing,” he said.

Earlier, the commander, Adamu said that the soldiers gallantry was instrumental to the recent successes so far recorded by the troops against the boko haram terrorists.

He said that the soldiers had distinguished themselves in line with the vision of COAS to have a disciplined and responsive Nigerian Army in the discharge of its constitutional duties.

The commander, who read the letter of commendation in respect of the Warrant officer, disclosed that he was instrumental to the establishment of new defence post for new deployment within their area of responsibility.

He urged them to continue to maintain the high standard that Nigerian army is known for.

One of the beneficiary, Master Warrant Officer Ugwu, said the recognition for the award and the promotion was a surprise to him.

He expressed appreciation for the special promotion and promised to do more.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Buratai who had been visiting troops locations in Borno also visited Dutsen Kura mountain troops location on Sunday night.

Gen. Buratai And A Rebranded Nigerian Army

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Gen. Buratai And A Rebranded Nigerian Army

By DAN AMOR

This year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day took place on January 15, about a month ago. It is usually an annual event during which the country and her citizens remember our fallen heroes -those who paid the supreme price to protect the territorial integrity of our beloved country. Nigerians use the date to celebrate not only members of our armed forces who died during the Nigerian Civil War (1967 – 1970), but also Nigerian soldiers who died during the Second World War or World War 2, a global war that lasted between 1939 and 1945 when the principal belligerents also known as the Axis powers – Germany, Italy and Japan – and the Allies – France, Great Britain, the United States of America, the Soviet Union, and to a lesser extent, China, fought themselves with modern weapons. It is also an event used to remember Nigerian soldiers who died during the United Nations peace-keeping operations since 1945 and peace-keeping operations in Africa like the Congo crisis of the 1960s, the Liberian and Serra Leonian civil wars in which ECOMOG soldiers led by Nigeria played a very significant role. This year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day was also used to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of the Nigerian Civil War. As a Nigerian child whose father also fought in the World War 2, I chose to use this piece to celebrate the Nigerian Army and its leadership, especially in these trying times. It is heartwarming to note that the Army, under the able leadership of Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai, has been rebranded beyond words.

Leadership is about using people and resources to achieve maximum results. A leader’s history of successes and failures makes a big difference in his credibility. To build trust, a leader must exemplify these qualities: competence, connection and character. People will forgive occasional mistakes based on ability, especially if they can see that you’re still growing as a leader. But they won’t trust someone who has slips in character. In that area, even occasional lapses are lethal. No leader can break trust with his people and expect to keep influencing them. Trust makes leadership possible. This is what the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai NAM GSS psc (+) ndc (BD) BA (Hons), MA, MPhil, exemplifies. At the emergence of the Muhammadu Buhari administration on May 29, 2015, the fear of Boko Haram, the Islamist terrorist organization which had crippled economic and social activities in the North East geopolitical zone of the the country was the beginning of wisdom. To stem the tide of this menace, President Buhari announced the relocation of Army Headquarters from Abuja to Maiduguri, the theatre of war. This was indubitably based on the necessity to intensify the fight against the terrorists. In fact, through alleged official negligence, conspiracy or collusion of previous leadership of the military, Boko Haram became a terrifying force taking tens of thousands of lives, destroying property worth billions of naira and capturing several towns and villages and even local government areas thereby rendering hundreds of thousands of Nigerians homeless.

Consequently, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, the 26th Chief of Army Staff (COAS) who was appointed on July 13, 2015, galvanized himself and swung into action. Launching his campaign on an enduring philosophy and vision of an army which could inculcate the ideals of discipline, professionalism, esprit de corps and hardwork, Buratai told his officers, rank and file that his administration would instill and imbibe the ideals of a professionally responsive army which must have respect for and be loyal to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Under him and in just four years, renewed vigour and a rare sense of direction have been introduced to the Nigerian Army. Aside from a potent manifestation of professionalism amongst the rank and file and the officers Corp, there is a high degree of human rights observance in the army. Also, there is a monumental degree of infrastructural development across all the formations of the Nigerian Army. There is, indeed, a remarkable increase in the Army equipment holdings and improved maintenance culture. The army is no more on the defensive, as the organization now defines the territory of combat and the battle taken to the doorsteps of the aggressors. Under Buratai the Nigerian Army is a consummate praetorian guard of the nation’s inviolability.

As a practical leader, Buratai travels to war fronts in the North East to pray and felicitate with his highly motivated troops during Eid-el-Fitr. During Christmas, he visits several units and formations, and personally assesses their operations. Through specific directives, he proactively addresses some of the identified challenges of the troops. This is how it should be. Using the template tagged Operation “Lafiya dole”, the Nigerian Army, under his command, has identified the challenges in the dynamics of modern warfare which requires constant innovation, research, intelligence gathering mechanism, advancement of technology and the building of local capacity. In consequence, therefore, the COAS has set in motion a deliberate programme for the immediate repair and refitting of all the abandoned and unserviceable weapons and equipment in the Army inventory. In fact, about 178 armored fighting vehicles of various types are completely refurbished by the Army electrical and mechanical engineers at various workshops across the country. This has put paid to the over-reliance on foreign equipment and spares which was a huge setback in the immediate past. In fact, what the Army could not achieve in thirty years has been achieved within just four years of Gen. Buratai in the saddle as Chief of Army Staff.

Expectedly, this feat has attracted odium from his detractors who have repeatedly tried to haul mud on him. But he has refused to be distracted by such invidious campaign of calumny and media trials. Rather, he has kept his head above waters culminating in the recent victory of our gallant troops over the Boko Haram insurgents. Indeed, fifth columnists can go to town with their verbiage and vituperation that the insurgents are still not totally defeated given their occasional strikes at targeted objects and ambush attacks. But they fail to understand that this is a nonconventional war in which the terrorists do not wear uniforms. How many times have the insurgents infiltrated Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory as was the case in the past when detonation of bombs in Abuja was almost predictable? A man of few words, Buratai blended words with actions, and by December 2015, barely five months into his appointment, Boko Haram was technically decimated leading to their total defeat in December 2016. Unarguably, the last vestiges of the Boko Haram insurgency were displaced from the Sambisa Forests at “Camp Zero”.

The gallant Nigerian troops also dismantled the official flag of the terrorists and have liberated nearly 20 local government areas hitherto seized by the anarchists. An accomplished senior infantry officer who was commissioned in 1983 and has had multiple command, administrative and institutional appointments in his illustrious military career, Buratai gained admission into the prestigious Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna as a member of the 29 Regular Combatant Course on January 3, 1981. A highly decorated senior military officer with several local and international awards, Gen. Buratai has a barrage of both military and academic qualifications and has served in various military formations in Nigeria. Under him, all information regarding the activities of the Army is known to the Nigerian public as against the past in which everything was shrouded in secrecy and cover ups leading to massive frauds. Nigerian troops are now properly motivated, all thanks to his eclectic leadership.

Amor is on the Editorial Board of TheNigerian Tabloid.

Imo guber: Supreme court to hear Ihedioha’s fresh application on Tuesday

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Imo guber: Supreme court to hear Ihedioha’s fresh application on Tuesday

By Bukola Olasanmi

The Supreme Court has fixed Tuesday, February 18 for hearing in the fresh application by erstwhile governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha challenging the judgement earlier delivered on January 14.

A message was circulated on Saturday announcing the hearing date. But one of the lawyers representing Governor Hope Uzodinma, Festus Jombo Esq said although he heard about the new date, the office has not been served the hearing notice.

The Director of Information of the Supreme Court, Dr Akande  confirmed the date for the case. Ihedioha in the application dated February 5, 2020 and brought through his counsel and former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Kanu Agabi (SAN) is praying the apex court to set aside the judgement.

Ihedioha and PDP listed five grounds which they said the apex court erred in arriving at its decision to nullify the March 9, 2019 election and declare Uzodinmma winner of the election after he presented excluded results from 388 polling

The fresh application is brought under Section 6(6) of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 and Section 22 of the Supreme Court Act, 2004. A seven-member justices had unanimously ruled that Uzodinma, who is of the APC, proved the allegation of unlawful exclusion of results in 388 polling units of the state where he scored 213,695 votes. The lead judgment read by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, held that the Court of Appeal was wrong to have ruled that the PW54, subpoenaed police deputy commissioner, who produced the documents of the results, was not the proper person to tender same as he was not at the polling units. Ihedioha of the PDP had polled 273,404 votes for the election in 27 local government areas of the state; Action Alliance candidate, Uche Nwosu, polled 190,364 votes and APGA’s Ifeanyi Ararume polled 114,676 votes. With the addition of the excluded votes, Uzodinma’s votes now rose to 310,153.

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Plot against military chiefs : PDP alleges Borno Governor, successor promoting insurgency

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Plot against military chiefs : PDP alleges Borno Governor, successor promoting insurgency

The PDP Conservative Vanguard has accused the governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, and his immediate predecessor Kashim Shetimma as being the brain behind the resurgence of the Boko Haram crisis in the state.

This was contained in a press statement signed by John Bolu, the Secretary-General of the PDP Youth Vanguard, and made available to the press in Lagos.

The group accused the government of Borno State as being the brain behind the resurgence of the activities of the Boko Haram group and advised the All Progressive Congress (APC) to look inwards to know the identity and sponsors of the Boko Haram group in Borno state.

“It must be stated in unequivocal terms that the All Progressive Congress must desist from playing to the gallery in this critical point of our existence as a country in the light of the nefarious activities of the Boko Haram terrorist group that has brought tears and sorrow to the people of Borno State and the North East in general.”

“It must be noted that the PDP as an organization would not condescend so low as to sponsor the activities of the Boko Haram group in a state controlled by the APC and an APC governor as its Chief Security Officer.”

The statement further added that the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media must desist from playing to the gallery in telling Nigerians those behind the nefarious activities of the Boko Haram terrorist group in the state.

“The allegation is quite unfortunate and an indication that the SSA on Media to the President is indeed economical with the truth in revealing those indeed behind the activities of the Boko Haram terrorist group in Borno State.”

“It must be stated in unequivocal terms that the All Progressive Congress must desist from playing to the gallery in this critical point of our existence as a country in the light of the nefarious activities of the Boko Haram terrorist group that has brought tears and sorrow to the people of Borno State and the North East in general.”

“The PDP conservative forum wishes to state that the security challenges experienced in Borno state is indeed local, and questions must be asked as to the sincerity of heart and purpose of the political leadership in Borno State. The accusations pointed in the direction of the opposition PDP is at most uncharitable and a plot to call a dog a bad name to hang it.”

The PDP Youth Vanguard further alleged that the Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, and the immediate past governor of the state, Kashim Shetimma are behind the resurgence of the activities of the Boko Haram group in the state.

“It is, therefore, our considered opinion that the actual situation of things should not be twisted when it is indeed public knowledge that the Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum and his political godfather Kashim Shetimma are the ones who are paying members of the National Assembly and other Civil Society organizations in the country to demonize their party.”

“The APC must come to terms with the starkness of reality to know that the beneficiaries of the Boko Haram war are indeed the political leadership in Borno State that has been hiding under the guise of insurgency to improvise the people.”

The group alleged that the political leadership of Borno State has been holding nocturnal meetings with the leadership of the Boko Haram group as a means of giving it tactic support in furtherance of their nefarious activities.

“It is also instructive to note that the APC in Borno State is populated by Boko Haram members from the government to the last member of the party because, as they say, politics is indeed local.”

“It is therefore expected that the rational thing to do in this circumstance is to probe those behind Boko Haram and stop making unnecessary noise in the media when its own Governor could organize a protest against President Muhammadu Buhari when he visited Borno State recently to commiserate with the people over the attack in Auno community.”

The PDP Youth Vanguard advised the APC led federal government to look within its ranks to identify the real sponsors of the Boko Haram group in sincerity and fairness to all concerned.

“The APC led federal government must look inwards to know that the sponsors of the activities of the Boko Haram group are those in high places in the state and those that had squandered the commonwealth of the people since 2009 when the Boko Haram group began its violent campaign against Nigeria.”

It further added that “the APC must do good to rid its house of those that have been grandstanding on the pages of the newspapers and yet hold nocturnal meetings with the leadership of the Boko Haram terrorist group in a bid to cover for their nefarious activities.”

“It is advised that the APC must desist from playing to the gallery and tell President Muhammadu Buhari that some members of the APC in Borno State are those behind the resurgence of the activities of the Boko Haram group.”

“The PDP should be consequently spared from the insincerity of members of the APC that loathes the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari in addressing the activities of the Boko Haram terrorist group in North-East Nigeria.”

“While it must be noted that there is a possibility that the enemies within the APC in high places are the beneficiaries of the activities of the Boko Haram terrorist group in North-East Nigeria.”

It would be recalled that that Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media, had alleged that some members of the PDP are sponsoring over 2000 youths to lead a protest in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory against the Service Chiefs in Nigeria.

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Ignore politics of hate, bitterness, embrace unity of Nigeria, Clerics tell religious leaders

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Ignore politics of hate, bitterness, embrace unity of Nigeria, Clerics tell religious leaders

 

The National Inter-Faith and Religious Organization for Peace, NIFROP has called on religious leaders leaders in the country to ignore the politics of hate and bitterness and embrace peace and unity of the country.

The interfaith group led by religious leaders from the Muslim and Christian communities in the country, at the grand finale of of a 21-day fasting and prayer session over the weekend assured that insurgency will not lead Nigeria into war.

Bishop Sunday Garuba, National Coordinator of the National Inter-Faith and Religious Organization for Peace, in his address said the coming on board of President Muhammadu Buhari was indeed an act of God because Nigeria was indeed on the brink of imminent collapse with the activities of those that have ganged up against the destinies of over 180 million Nigerians.

According to him, Nigeria was bleeding at the time, so much that there was an urgent need for a heavenly intervention by the most high God.

He said the group prayed and fasted for God’s intervention and he indeed intervened by giving the country a trustworthy and reliable leader like President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said, ”It did not end there. There were indeed revelations that the forces of darkness would rise against him in his quest to make Nigeria better and true to the revelations they indeed rose against him. And since then, we have been praying and fasting on his behalf for God to continue to protect him and give him the wisdom to lead with the fear of God and the interest of the people at heart”.

He also warned that the attempt by political agents of darkness to bring back another round of killings in the North East, especially Borno State, necessitated the need for us to come together as brethren to pray and call on God.

”The killing of the CAN President of Michika and other brethren, students and innocent souls that were instigated by some criminal elements have prompted us not to only pray in the spirit but to rise with our loud voices to heaven and call on God to rise for the sake of President Buhari to put these agents of darkness to shame.

”Brethren, on this grand finale, we can say that God is indeed on the throne with the avalanche of revelations that have reached us. We are glad we undertook this task on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigeria at large. The composition of this gathering alone is an indication that God loves Nigeria and that indeed Christians and Muslims can come together under one roof for the common good of Nigeria.

”For over 20 days, we have been praying and fasting. This period has seen countless revelations from God. By the authority of God that I represent, I announce that God is indeed rebuilding Nigeria.

”God is about descending heavily on those that have conspired in times past against Nigeria, and those plotting against President Muhammadu Buhari. God has sent destruction to their households. He has promised to bring shame to every one of them in the business of the soliciting for the destruction of Nigeria. God has promised to go after them one after the other wherever they are on this planet for the earth is the lord and its fullness thereof.

”I make bold to make the pronouncement that should those that have gathered against our President and country not repent from their sins, there is no way they would escape the wrath of God for God is with President Muhammadu Buhari, and He is going to defeat all the enemies of Nigeria before the end of the year.

”I also wish to use this medium to call on the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and other religious organizations to ignore the politics of hate and bitterness and embrace the unity of Nigeria so that God will help us to defeat the evil ones”, Garuba said.

Also at the event, a Muslim cleric, Sheik Abubakar Sadiq, who led other clerics called on Nigerians to

embrace one another and live in peace if we are desirous of experiencing peace and unity in Nigeria, adding that no human society can thrive in the absence of peace and tranquility.

He said the prayers and fasting programme came at the time when Nigeria has witnessed unprecedented politically sponsored violence across the country.

”Some religious organizations have also taken advantage of the situation to pitch Muslims and Christians against themselves.

”We are glad that this programme has indeed revealed that Christian and Muslims are the same, and this much has been exhibited throughout the duration of this programme.

”I am also using this medium to apologize to President Muhammadu Buhari on behalf of the good people of Borno State for the show of shame that was politically motivated by those whose hands have been soiled with the blood of innocent people that have lost their lives in the Boko Haram/ISWAP conflict in North-East Nigeria.

”I am standing in front of all of you here to ask President Muhammadu Buhari to forgive those that booed him as well as those that mobilized those that booed him because Allah is all merciful and he is quick to forgive”, he said.

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After two years in darkness, Garam community in Niger state cries to AEDC

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After two years in darkness, Garam community in Niger state cries to AEDC

Residents of a section of Garam community in Tafa local government area of Niger state have decried their continued stay in darkness without electricity.

The residents in their numbers including women and children stormed the chief’s palace at the weekend to demand to be connected to the existing transformer since they are due citizens of Nigerians and should not be treated otherwise.

Chairman of the community, Alhaji Nurudeen Akinwale, stated that “on two occasions our transformer has been damaged and stolen and efforts made had yielded no result. We are part of Garam, we know during elections our votes also counts. We demand that every other benefit coming to the community should also be extended to us.

“All this while, we have been pacifying our wives and children about the light that things will be fine but they have lost trust and confidence in us and we have insisted that we bring them to the district head that Its been one year after the last transformer was stolen; we cannot be living here and be seeing light across the bridge, it is very traumatic,” he said.

In his response, the district head of Garam, Isaac Gimba Gayzawu, appreciated the community for their peaceful conduct, “efforts and bearing with us for so long. “if I say I’m not aware of the problem it’s a lie because the two transformer that were taken away were just opposite my school.

“The last one they came to vandalize we reported the case even to the local government and to NEPA who said it would come and take the consuming rate of this very transformer so that they will be able to know whether the voltage will be able to carry that line and in a situation whereby it cannot carry, they will bring us another one.

“So I want to assure you that I will try my best that this problem is solved, I will keep pressurizing them.”

Residents said their transformers have been stolen on two occasions leaving them without electricity for four years now.

 

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Kano Governor, Ganduje appoints three special assistants on street lights

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Kano Governor, Ganduje appoints three special assistants on street lights

By Bukola Olasanmi

The Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, has appointed no fewer than three persons as Senior Special Assistant on Street Lights.

According to a letter to one of the appointees, Auwalu Salisu Kingdom, he was appointed as SSA, Street Lights III.

The letter, signed by the Permanent Secretary REPA, Bilkisu Shehu Maimata, on behalf of the Secretary to the Kano State Government, said the appointment was effective February 10, 2020.

The letter said in part: “Your appointment into the position of trust and confidence was made upon careful assessment of your credentials, competence, track record of performance, dedication to duty, vast experience, patriotic disposition and expressed loyalty. It is hoped that your will employ these qualities to bear towards ensuring effective discharge of your assigned roles.

“As we move the State to Next Level of development, it is my sincere hope that you will live aboard board and justify the confidence reposed in you by the Government….”

 

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Buhari warns against revenge killings, says act unacceptable

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Buhari warns against revenge killings, says act unacceptable

Toby Prince with Agency reports

President Muhammadu Buhari has warned against people taking laws into their hands, as cases of revenge killings, especially in north west, seem to be taking root.

Speaking against the backdrop of the latest round of attacks on farmers by bandits in Damkar and Tsanwa villages in Batsari Local Government Area of Katsina State, Buhari warned that “no one in the country has a right to take laws into his hands by the way of self-help or revenge”, added that ”killing people in the name of revenge is not acceptable”.

”Local communities that catch bandits should hand over the suspects to law enforcement authorities instead of meting out capital punishment, leading to a cycle of revenge and counter revenge,” he maintained.

The president gave the warnings in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Sunday.

Shehu said the president was reacting to the incident in which many homesteads were razed by fire with many people killed in the affected areas at the weekend.

Buhari urged community leaders and the local authorities to continue their efforts in partnership with law enforcement agencies that bring the surrender of bandits, leading to peace between farmers and herders.

“The authorities must be allowed to investigate and deal with any breach that occurs. There is no place for violence in a decent society,” he said.

Buhari prayed God to comfort families that had lost loved ones in the attacks and repose the souls of the victims.

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Imo: Uzodinma asks Supreme Court to dismiss Ihedioha’s motion

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Imo: Uzodinma asks Supreme Court to dismiss Ihedioha’s motion

By Toby Prince

Gov. Hope Uzodinma of Imo has asked the Supreme Court to dismiss an application filed by former governor of the state, Emeka Ihedioha.

Ihedioha had filed an appeal seeking judicial review of the apex court’s judgement which had on January 14, 2020, ordered his removal from office.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Uzodimma’s preliminary objection was against a motion on notice dated Feb. 5, filed by Ihedioha and PDP.

They prayed the Supreme Court  for an order setting aside “as a nullity the judgment delivered by it on January 14.

Uzodimma and APC’s preliminary objection against Ihedioha was brought pursuant to Section 6(6)(a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.

The objection raised and argued the competence of the motion and the jurisdiction of the court to entertain same and therefore urged the apex court to strike out the motion filed by Ihedioha.

They said that the application being a proceeding relating to or arising from election of a governor is barred by effluxion of time.

“The application constitutes an invitation to the Supreme Court to sit on appeal over its final decision” Uzodimma posited.

They submitted that having delivered its final decision, the Supreme Court has become fuctus officio and divested of jurisdiction over the same subject matter.

They said: Order 8 Rule 16 of the Supreme Court Rules 2014 prohibits the apex court from reviewing its judgment once given and delivered, save to correct clerical mistakes or accidental slip.

“The judgment sought to be set aside having been given effect by the inauguration of Uzodinma as Governor of Imo , this Honourable court lacks the jurisdiction to grant the prayer sought”.

More so, Uzodimma stated that Ihedioha’s application “constitutes an abuse of court process” and “is against public policy.

He added that the application filed by the ousted governor amounts to an invitation to the Court to indulge in academic exercise and answer hypothetical questions.

NAN reports that after the March 9, 2019 gubernatorial election in Imo state, INEC had declared Ihedioha as winner of the poll.

Aggrieved by the declaration of Ihedioha by INEC as winner of the governorship election, Uzodimma and APC challenged the said declaration by way of a petition.

The petition ultimately led to the appeal by Uzodimma and APC against the decision of the Court of Appeal which by majority decision dismissed their appeal against the decision of the Election Tribunal to apex court.

Uzodimma also reminded the Supreme Court that that amongst the orders issued in the judgment by His Lordships was Order 7 which read: “It is hereby ordered that a certificate of return shall be issued to the 1st appellant,  Uzodinma forthwith and he should be sworn in as the Governor of lmo State immediately.

He said the above order has since been made effective by his inauguration as the Governor of lmo.

However, the Supreme Court on Jan. 14, held that there was merit in the appeal filed by Uzodimma and allowed same.

Consequently, the judgment of the lower court affirming the judgment of the Governorship Election Tribunal which declared Ihedioha winner of the Imo governorship election, was set aside.

Among the orders, the Supreme Court declared that votes due to the Uzodinma and APC from 388 polling units were wrongly excluded from the score ascribed to them.

It ordered that the appellants’ votes from the 388 polling units unlawfully excluded from the Appellants’ score shall be added to the results declared by the INEC.

The Supreme Court also declared that Ihedioha was not duly elected by a majority of lawful votes cast at the said election, and that his return as the elected Governor of Imo was null and void and accordingly set aside.

The matter is coming up on Feb. 18 in the Apex court.

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South Sudan: Riek Machar rejects President Kiir’s peace offer

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South Sudan: Riek Machar rejects President Kiir’s peace offer

South Sudan’s rebels have rejected a peace offer by President Salva Kiir, which included plans to reduce the number of states but also create three administrative areas in the country.

The rejection by rebel chief Riek Machar, announced in a statement, dashes hopes of breaking a deadlock and ending a six-year conflict that has left at least 380,000 people dead and millions in dire poverty.

Kiir and Machar – who lives in exile – are under increasing international pressure to resolve their differences by a February 22 deadline.

Kiir on Saturday said the country would now be divided into the original 10 states – a key opposition demand – plus three “administrative areas” of Pibor, Ruweng and Abyei.

While Machar said he appreciated the government’s decision to “revert to ten states”, he expressed his dissatisfaction with the creation of the three administrative areas.

It “cannot be referred to as reverting to 10 states (and) as such cannot be accepted,” Machar wrote in the statement, cited by AFP news agency.

“We therefore call upon President Kiir to reconsider this idea of creating administrative areas,” he added.

Machar warned the three areas risked causing further problems, calling the issue a “Pandora’s box”.

The number of states is contentious because the borders will determine the divisions of power in the country.

When it gained independence from Sudan in 2011, South Sudan had 10 states, as set out in its constitution.

Kiir increased that in 2015 to 28, then 32 – and has now reduced them to 10, plus three administrative areas.

‘Painful decision’

On Saturday, Kiir said returning to a system of 10 states was a “painful decision but a necessary one if that is what brings peace”.

He issued an order late Saturday, relieving the governors of all 32 states of their posts.

The president had said the final matter of states would be debated once the unity government forms.

Of the three proposed areas, the most contentious is thought to be oil-rich Ruweng, in the north.

Oil provides almost all of the government’s revenue in South Sudan, making it one of the world’s most oil-dependent nations.

Ruweng has been one of the most heavily fought-over areas in the civil war and is claimed by both the Dinka people, of whom Kiir is one, and the Nuer, of whom Machar is one.

International pressure by the United States and others has been building on Kiir and Machar to meet a February 22 deadline to join forces in a transitional government.

The two rivals agreed on a peace deal in 2018, pressured by the United Nations, the US and countries in the region.

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