The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, has commissioned the newly completed office complex for the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC) in Abuja.
While inaugurating the complex, Buratai said that NARC has become a service think-tank with national and global outlook.
He commended the centre for achieving its mandate of providing research based solution to national security issues.
Buratai added that the centre collaborates with relevant agencies to organise seminars and workshops on national security as well as organise courses in different areas.
According to him, NARC is also collaborating with global institutions such as Kings College London, United Services of India and Harvard Kennedy School, US as well as Royal United Services Institute in London to carry out research.
“It is gratifying to be here to see the progress that has been made not only in the physical structure but indeed in the academic and intellectual exercise that has been carried out here at the resource centre.
“The collaboration of the centre within the short time of its establishment with both national and international institutions is highly commendable,“ he said.
Buratai pledged to handover the Nigerian Army Museum to the centre when the new one at Muhamnadu Buhari Cantonment in Giri, Abuja is completed.
Earlier, the Director General of NARC, Maj.-Gen. Garba Wahab retired, said that the centre had worked tirelessly to deliver on its mandate.
Wahab commended the Chief of Army Staff and board of trustees of the centre for their continuous support for the centre and provision of a befitting new office complex.
He said that the management and staff of the centre were committed to ensuring that the centre would be at par with other global research centres.
Wahab, however, called on Buratai to provide for support to enable NARC become a leading centre of excellence with the capacity to generate ideas toward addressing issues of defence and security.
He said the NARC complex would drive the core value of which the centre was established which is optimising Nigerian national security.
According to him, the new office complex project, which started in February, is equipped with world class facilities with capacity to provide research based solutions.
Dignitaries who graced the occasion include, former Minister of Interior and Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd), Amb. Babagana Kingigbe and Sen. Ben Bruce amongst others.
With sustained tenacity to rid the entire country of criminal elements for a safer and conducive environment, particularly as the Yuletide season approaches, troops of the Nigerian Army have continued to intensify their operations against all forms of criminality across the country.
In the North East Theatre of operations, troops of 5 Brigade in conjunction with elements of 5 Brigade Field Ambulance deployed at Damasak the administrative headquarters of Mobbar LGA of Borno State conducted a Free Medical Outreach and Immunisation Exercise on 12 December 2019 at North Wango Village of the same LGA. The Exercise is the brain child of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai under the Buratai Intervention Task Force as a non-kinetic engagement by troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE to compliment both governmental and non-governmental agencies in real – time health delivery to communities in the North East theatre of operation.
During the exercise, a total of 207 children were immunized with Polio vaccine while 122 adults equally benefitted from the Free Medical Outreach which include, medical consultations, health advisory, diagnosis, administration of drugs, eye test and distribution of free medical eye glasses among others.
In another development, troops of 68/94 Battalions deployed at Malam Fatori in Abadam LGA of Borno State conducted a successful Ambush Operation at a Boko Haram crossing point on 15 December 2019. The troops came in contact with some marauding Boko Haram criminals and instinctively engaged them with superior fire power that sent the criminals scampering in disarray, many of them with varying degrees of gunshot wounds. The unrelenting troops immediately went on a hot pursuit and recovered one body of a Boko Haram insurgent and several fragments of the criminals’ equipment shattered by the troops’ Rocket Propelled Gun fire along the criminals’ withdrawal route.
Similarly, troops of 251 Task Force Battalion deployed at Njimtilo Check Point in Konduga LGA of Borno State while conducting a Stop and Search operation on 9 December 2019 arrested one Boko Haram Logistics Supplier, Umar Rawa Gana who was conveying 300 cartons of engine oil intended for delivery to Boko Haram criminals. Equally, on 11 December 2019, troops of 195 Battalion deployed at Kadamari in Jere LGA of Borno State arrested a Boko Haram criminal, Kabiru Bana Chulu around Ladin Mbuta general area of same LG. During preliminary interrogation, the suspect confessed to being in possession of quantities of military camouflage uniforms which are criminally used by the insurgents.
In another development, on 10 December 2019, troops of 22 Brigade Garrison deployed at Dikwa in Dikwa LGA of Borno State while on a road clearance operations recovered one Rocket Propelled Gun bomb and one 36 Hand Grenade abandoned by Boko Haram criminals. However, the Unexploded Ordnance was safely detonated by the Explosive Ordnance Device Team of the Brigade.
Relatedly, troops on Operation MESA promptly responded to a distress call relating to an armed robbery incident on 8 December 2019 along Danwal – Haita in Riyom LGA of Plateau State. Unfortunately, the robbers had abandoned the location before the troops’ arrival. Nevertheless, troops exploited the general area and arrested one Pam Emmanuel. Preliminary investigation reveals that the suspect is an informant to the criminals operating in the area. Similarly, same troops in conjunction with personnel of Department of State Service conducted a successful raid operation on 9 December 2019 at a cultist hideout in a hotel at Etto Baba, Angwan Rukuba in Jos North LGA of Plateau State. During the operation, 10 suspects comprising 8 males and 2 females were arrested with some quantities of substance suspected to be Cannabis Sativa.
Additionally, on 9 December 2019, the troops conducted a sting operation based on reliable information and arrested 2 notorious armed robbers namely Eze Emema and Ifeanyi Ordu at Guralandok Junction of Rukuba in Jos North LGA of Plateau State. Suspects are believed to be part of the armed robbery gang that robbed one Mr Silas Dung and have been terrorising the general area.
In the South West and South South regions, troops on Exercise CROCODILE SMILE IV continue to emasculate criminal elements by denying them respite across the regions.
Instructively, on 8 December 2019, troops of 32 Artillery Brigade raided kidnappers hideouts at Ago – Agbede and Ago – Iba of Ilaje LGA of Ondo State. During the operation, troops recovered one Pump Action Rifle, one AK 47 Rifle magazine, 18 live cartridges and one gun case. Additionally, same troops smashed a suspected illegal oil bunkering site at Ilaje Ogoluwayo general area in Ilaje LGA of Ondo State. During the operation, one Endurance Okwudili was arrested while items recovered include 12 Dane guns, 5 live cartridges, 2 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, one binocular, quantity 9 -25 litres jerricans of diesel suspected to be stolen product, 2 boat engines, one generating set, 2 car batteries, 6 Voters Cards and 2 National Identity Cards belonging to the criminals.
In another incidence, troops of 4 Brigade Garrison under Exercise CROCODILE SMILE IV on 10 December 2019 trailed a notorious armed robbery gang who have been terrorising Oghehe Community in Ikpoba – Okha LGA of Edo State. Resulting from the operation, 3 suspects were arrested and one cut to size gun with 5 live cartridges were recovered from the criminals. Relatedly, on 9 December 2019, troops of 343 Artillery Regiment on Exercise CROCODILE SMILE IV acting on reliable information, trailed and arrested one Mrs Tiebiye Adama (a community health worker) at Oluasiri Community in Ogbia LGA of Bayelsa State. Preliminary investigation reveals that the suspect has been involved in the treatment of militants with gunshot wounds after they escape encounter with troops.
In the North Central region, troops of Guards Brigade on Exercise AYEM AKPATUMA II conducted a patrol to Majaga Village in Toto LGA of Nassarawa State where some bandits were believed to be hibernating. During the night operation, 3 suspected bandits were arrested in possession of 3 Dane guns, live cartridges and charms. Relatedly, troops of Army Headquarters Garrison conducted a raid operation on 10 December 2019 at Bannex Plaza and Wuse II in Abuja Federal Capital Territory. Accordingly, troops arrested one notorious drug dealer, Ukasha Usman along with 13 other suspects in possession of large quantities of various types of illicit drugs.
In the South East region, troops of 144 Battalion (Rear) on Exercise ATILOGU UDO 1 promptly responded to a distress call on 11 December 2019 at GLO Office, Azikwe Street in Aba North LGA of Abia State. In another classical case of superb inter-agency solidarity and cooperation, it was revealed that 4 hoodlums reportedly attacked an Inspector of the Nigeria Police from 28 Mobile Police Squadron, Umuahia who was on duty at the GLO Office and took away his AK 47 Rifle with 29 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition. The gallant troops pursued the escaping criminals, rescued the policeman and arrested one of the criminals named, Lawrence Obinna. Additionally, troops recovered the AK 47 Rifle with the 29 rounds of ammunition, a black Passat Wagon car with Registration Number GWB 547 AA ABIA and other personal belongings.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai wishes to reassure the good citizens of our country the Nigerian Army’s unwavering resolve to protect lives and properties of all law abiding citizens. He however requests for the continuous support and understanding of all Nigerians in the conduct of Nigerian Army operations across the Country.
MRS TIEBIYE ADAMA, A COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER AT OLUASIRI COMMUNITY WHO INDULGES IN THE TREATMENT OF ESCAPED MILITANTS WITH GSW SUSTAINED DURING ENCOUNTERS WITH TROOPSTROOPS OF GUARDS BRIGADE ON EXERCISE AYEM AKPATUMA II ARRESTED 3 SUSPECTED BANDITS IN POSSESSION OF 3 DANE GUNS, CHARMS AND OTHER PERSONAL EFFECTS AT MAJAGA VILLAGE IN TOTO LGA OF NASARAWA STATEITEMS RECOVERED BY TROOPS OF 32 ARTILLERY BRIGADE EXERCISE CROCODILE SMILE IV DURING RAID OPERATION AT AGO – AGBEDE AND AGO – IBA IN ILAJE LGA OF ONDO STATE2 SUSPECTED ARMED ROBBERS, EZE EMEMA AND IFEANYI ORDU ARRESTED BY TROOPS OF OPERATION MESA AT GURALANDOK JUNCTION, BUKURU IN JOS SOUTH LGA OF PLATEAU STATERECOVERED EXHIBITS FROM THE BANEX RAID
Nigerian Army Monday redeployed it’s recently-promoted Generals to various formations of the service.
Acting spokesman of the Nigerian Army, Col. Sagir Musa, in a statement, said the appointments were approves by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. TY Buratai.
He said: “Due to the recent promotion of some senior officers, it became imperative to deploy them to appropriate appointments to the new ranks.
“Consequently, the Nigerian Army has just released the postings and appointments of the affected officers.
“The posting which was approved by the Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen TY Buratai is a routine exercise carried out to reinvigorate the system for greater professional effectiveness/efficiency.”
Musa also said “The highlight of the posting includes the appointment of Maj-Gen EO Ogunkale from Command Army Record Lokoja to Defence
Headquarters as Chief of Defence Standards and Evaluation, Maj Gen AO Uthman from Nigerian Army School of Signals, Apapa, Lagos to Defence Headquarters as Director Defence Communications, Maj Gen OO Soleye from Defence Headquarters to Headquarters Command Army Record Lokoja as Commander, Maj Gen YI Shalangwa the erstwhile Director Legal Services ‘Army’ now redeployed to Defence Headquarters as Director Legal Services, Maj Gen DC Onyemulu from Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre, Oshodi, Lagos becomes Director Armed Forces Simulation Centre, while Maj Gen HI Bature is redeployed from Headquarters Training and Doctrine Command, Minna to Defence Headquarters and appointed Director Liaison.
“Others include; Maj Gen IM Obot to remain at Nigerian Army Resource Centre as Participant Senior Executive Management and Policy Course, Maj Gen BO Sawyer to remain in Army Headquarters Department of Policy and Plans as Director Plans.
“Also Maj-Gen LA Adegboye the Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division is to remain as GOC 82 Division, Maj Gen MA Masanawa from Army Central Ammunition Depot to Defence Headquarters and appointed Director Innovation and Combat Development.
Similarly, Maj-Gen G Oyefesobi from Defence Intelligence Agency to Headquarters of the recently created Nigerian Army Special Forces Corps as Commander, Maj Gen MM Bunza, the erstwhile commandant, Nigerian Military School, Zaria, is redeployed to Nigerian Army Education Corps as Corps Commander Education, Maj Gen DH Ali-Keffi from Nigerian Army School of Infantry Jaji to Defence Intelligence Agency and appointed Director of Administration, Maj Gen GO Adesina from Army Headquarters Department of Army Policy and Plans to Nigerian Army Signals School Apapa, Lagos as Commandant while Maj Gen PE Eromosele from National Defence College Abuja to Nigerian Army School of Military Engineering Makurdi as Commandant.
“Others are – Maj Gen KO Aligbe from Defence Headquarters Abuja to Nigerian Army School of Infantry Jaji and appointed Commandant, Maj Gen AB Ibrahim to remain in Army Headquarters and appointed Director Training, Maj-Gen GK Nwosu to remain in Nigerian Army Special Forces School Buniyadi as Commandant, Maj-Gen FB Fakrogha to remain in Nigerian Army Women Corps as Commander Women Corps, Maj-Gen S Idris from Defence Headquarters to Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership Peace Keeping Centre and appointed Commandant.
“Similarly, Brig-Gen JC Ogbonna from Headquarters 81 Division to Headquarters 82 Division appointed Division’s Training Officer, Brig-Gen BH Mohammed from Headquarters Nigerian Army Education Corps to Nigerian Military School, Zaria as Commandant, Brig-Gen GO Omorogbe from Headquarters 4 Brigade Benin to Headquarters Infantry Corps Centre Jaji as Chief of Staff, Brig-Gen AJ Fagge from Defence Space Agency to Ministry of Defence and appointed Principal General Staff Officer to Honourable Minister of Defence, Brig-Gen NI Najaja from 6 Military Intelligence Brigade Port Harcourt to Open Source Intelligence Command as Commander and Brig-Gen AO Quadri from Headquarters 81 Division Lagos to Headquarters Training and Doctrine Command Minna as Director Training.
“Also, Brig-Gen FG Dimlong from 105 Division’s Equipment Support (DES) to 101 DES and appointed Commander, Brig-Gen M Danmadami from Headquarters 3 Division Jos to Office of the Chief of Army Staff as Ag Director Procurement, Brig Gen OJ Akpor from 1 Division Garrison Kaduna to Nigerian Defence Academy Kaduna appointed Director Military Training, Brig-Gen BU Yahaiya from Ministry of Defence to Nigerian Army Resource Centre Abuja and appointed Subject Expert South East Asia, Brig-Gen IM Jallo from Nigerian Defence Academy Kaduna to 4 Brigade Benin as Commander, Brig-Gen HE Akpan from Army War College to Directorate of Army Recruitment, Resettlement and Reserve and appointed Commander, Brig-Gen O Nwachukwu to remain in Defence Headquarters as Ag Director Defence Information, Brig Gen MK Gara from Army Headquarters Department of Training and Operations to 8 Division Garrison as Commander and Brig-Gen MU Wambai from SI List (SEC 41) to Headquarters Directorate of Legal Services as Acting Director Legal Services among others.
“Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff Lt-Gen TY Buratai whilst wishing all the officers well in their respective appointments charges them to take their new responsibilities seriously and discharge all duties professionally with utmost loyalty to the Service and the Nation. All the appointments take immediate effect. “
Dr. Paul Enenche and his wife, Dr. Mrs. Becky Enenche, of the Dunamis International Gospel Centre, on Saturday, reached out to widows, orphans and less-privileged as part of activities to mark this year’s Christmas and New Year’s Celebrations.
The outreach took place inside the Glory Dome at the Lord’s Garden, along Airport Road, Abuja.
The ministration is done annually to reach out to people during Christmas season.
Speaking during the empowerment programme attended by several people from various denominations and across religious lines, Dr. Paul described the gesture as a way of reaching to people and as well reminds them about the love of Christ.
He said the gesture was in line with biblical injunction, which says, “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16 KJV).
Among items distributed during the ministration were: hundreds of bags of rice, tomatoes, bags of salt, Holy Bibles, noodles, tubers of yams, oil, toiletries, wrappers, and other items running into thousands of pieces each.
Earlier in October during her birthday celebration, Dr. Becky Enenche, singlehandedly sponsored an Empowerment of Outreach for women as well as the less-privileged where items such as sewing machines, grinding engines, deep freezers, bags of rice, industrial ovens and several other items worth millions of naira were distributed.
A human rights attorney, Osuagwu Ugochukwu, has alerted Finland over the conduct of a Nigerian lawyer based in the country with known affiliation to the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
This was contained in a letter addressed to the Finnish government, through its Ambassador to Nigeria.
Mr Simon Ekpa had published a video urging Southeasterners to quit the Nigerian Military following an alleged capture and execution of troops by Boko Haram terrorists.
In a press statement on Friday, however, Mr Ugochukwu described the claim as “false” aimed to “cause disaffection and destabilize the Nigerian troops”.
Having thoroughly examined the purported video, the human rights lawyer concluded that the “said soldiers are certainly not Nigerians and the location not identified as Nigeria”.
He further described Mr Ekpa as a “ misguided Nigerian lawyer in Finland who, not living in Nigeria, wants to put the country on fire”.
Mr Ugochukwu, therefore, called on the Finnish authorities to look into the activities of the lawyer while urging Nigerians to ignore the video.
Read full address below:
The video publication by SIMON EKPA on December 10 2019 claiming that the Soldiers being tied and shot in the bush by Boko Haram are Nigerians and thus urging Easterners to resign from Nigeria Army is most shocking and a threat to National Security.
I have examined the purported video and the said soldiers in the footage are certainly not Nigerians and the location not identified as Nigeria. Thus the wild claim by Simon Ekpa that Nigeria Soldiers are being killed indiscriminately by Boko Haram based on the so called video is False and malicious publication against the institution of the Nigerian Army and Nigeria as a whole. Such publications are mischievously designed by Ekpa who is a Lawyer based in Finland, to cause disaffection and destabilize the Nigerian troops.
Simon Ekpa is a misguided Nigerian Lawyer in Finland who, not living in Nigeria, wants to put the country on fire by such hate speech and hate publication.
We call on the Embassy of Finland to look into the activities of Simon Ekpa who lives in Finland and hides there to cause disaffection and aim at maligning the leadership of the Nigerian Army. We urge the Finland Ambassador to by this notice take steps in initiating action against Simon Ekpa who is based Lahti 85 km from Helsinki and operates on FINNISH MOBILE +35837800600.
Nigerians should thereby ignore the said viral video as its manipulated and never a scene involving Nigerian soldiers. Simon Ekpa surely would soon be brought to book by the relevant state security service and justice will be meted to him in no distant time for engaging in acts capable of destabilizing Nigerian troops and threatening National security.
I have followed the war against terrorism in Nigeria with keen attention and conclude that indeed, there is a grand conspiracy against Nigeria. I say this for various reasons, chiefly amongst them is how the Boko Haram group now ISWAP have continued to wage a war despite the fact that they have been under heavy bombardment from the Nigerian troops.
I know some won’t agree with my position on the decimation of the Boko Haram/ISWAP group for reasons best known to them. However, my reason is based on facts available for all discerning minds to verify.
As a start, it must be stated that since 2009 when the Boko Haram sect took up violence against the Nigerian state, there has never been a time like now that the Nigeria troops engaged the renegades and confined them to the fringes of the Lake Chad Basin region.
From the year 2016 to the present day, the Boko Haram group suffered heavy bombardments from the Nigeria troops that saw to the capture of its operational headquarters in Sambisa Forest as well as the takeover of the 16 local government areas it once held sway.
I believe that we celebrated too early in the day, thinking that what were left in the war against terrorism in Nigeria were clearance operations of the remnants of the Boko Haram fighters. We were wrong. We didn’t realize the international dimension in the Boko Haram war; we thought we were dealing with a group of locals blinded by an ideology that wasn’t in tune with reality.
Then came the rush by international NGOs to North East Nigeria under various nomenclatures purportedly rendering humanitarian services, but in truth engaged in espionage activities. Upon realization of this fact, the military authorities in Nigeria raised the alarm, and as usual, some segment of the populace joined forces with some hogwash human rights organizations to criticize the military authorities. It didn’t stop there.
The military authorities also raised the alarm on how some foreign interests are selling arms and ammunitions to the Boko Haram group, and there was also an unjustifiable outcry stating that the military authorities were making excuses to violate human rights. But today, with the emerging facts that Boko Haram fighters are receiving arms and ammunition, including battle tanks with which they launch attacks, from France through the francophone routes, our eyes have become clear.
This is the stark reality confronting us as it stands. Questions are begging for answers now. Questions such as the way and manner the Boko Haram group gets its supplies. And why is it that there is a great deal of terrorist activity at the fringes of the Lake Chad Basin despite the presence of a strong detachment of French troops stationed in Chad. And they are supposedly fighting terrorism in the region.
There has also been a round of intellectual debate on the French connection in bolstering the activities of Boko Haram. And all the arguments point in the direction of France. Initially, I had reservations on the postulations, but not anymore from what I was able to gather from credible intellectual and military sources.
In my curiosity, I placed all the postulations on the table, and the pieces of evidence were overwhelming, so much so that I cringed. And admitted that indeed France has something up its sleeves in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria. This is a shame and an outright affront to the independence of Nigeria by France. This is the case of the man behind the mask.
In all of these, a question keeps popping up in my head. And the question is how did we allow such a heist to thrive? I won’t blame the military authorities because the alarm had indeed been raised earlier, but we chose to ignore it and instead play to the gallery. And now that the reality has dawned on us, we are dazed.
We are dazed because we failed to see the masquerade in France and the Francophone countries surrounding us. We didn’t ask questions when Boko Haram fighters were attacking military formations with gun trucks and carrying out surveillances with sophisticated drones. We didn’t ask how they acquired the dexterity with which they operated military tanks. We didn’t also ask why they have made the Lake Chad Basin Region their safe heaven.
It is indeed ironic that France, for whatever reason, has so been sponsoring the activities of the Boko Haram terrorist group so it could continue to wreak havoc in Nigeria and continue to benefit from the heist. At this point, I would say that the role of France in promoting the activities of the Boko Haram group is indeed despicable and worthy of condemnation by all stakeholders in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria.
I believe that now that many revelations have come to the open, Nigeria must take urgent steps towards addressing this anomaly. The international community must also rise to this occasion and ensure that France is called to question. The danger of the whole scenario is that should France succeed in this plot of spreading terrorism across the African continent; the consequences might be severe for these countries to deal with.
And with regards to Nigeria, the government must begin the process of galvanizing the cooperation of other African countries to ensure that this illicit trade is nipped in the bud. The military authorities must also channel resources and efforts towards wiping the remnants of the Boko Haram terrorist from the fringes of the Lake Chad Basin Region through the cooperation of the Multinational Joint Task Force. We cannot afford to wait any longer. Time is of the essence. And for France, the game plan has come to the open, and it is an indication that an end is indeed around the corner for its nefarious activities on the African continent.
A word is indeed enough for the wise.
Kolawole PhD is a University teacher and wrote this article from Keffi.
The author of the soon to be launched book on President Muhammadu Buhari, Mr. Philip Agbese has received an order for over1 million copies of the book, more than two weeks to the date for the official launch.
The book entitled, “Integrity Vs Power Play: Understanding the Buhari Phenomenon” is set for launch at the International Conference Centre , on the 30th of December, 2019.
Agbese, who is the Chief Executive Officer of TheNigerian, a news portal established in the United Kingdom, had in a widely circulated press statement announced the date and venue for the launch of the book and few hours after the news went public, inquiries about the book dominated the social media space with many asking for copies.
Public curiosity in the book has been aroused by the recent debate occasioned by a Nigerian newspaper editorial on whether President Buhari has earned his place as a democratic leader.
The author made it known in the statement that both the background and current leadership style of the Nigerian President agree with the main point in the book that the President Buhari has earned respect as a transformational leader and an outstanding democrat.
The pungency of the view canvassed as well as the authority with which the book is written serves to whet the appetite of the reading public that various institutions and individuals have placed orders for the book ahead of the set date for launch.
A statement from the book launch committee called on the general public who are eager to demonstrate their love and support for President Muhammad Buhari to be patient as copies would be made available on the day of the launch and in leading book stores across the country.
The committee said there’s no doubt that the twisted narrative about the President which some are trying to impose on the populace would be challenged with the launch of the book stating that Nigerians and the international community would soon get to know the truth about the true qualities of the Nigerian President.
Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo has said the nation needs a character like Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State.
He commended El-Rufai for his pan-Nigeria character and his commitment to good governance.
The former president who was a special guest at Kaduna State Executive Council meeting on Wednesday said he was happy with El-Rufai’s approach to governance especially in giving opportunities to women.
Gov. El Rufai Welcoming Obasanjo to Kaduna
According to Obasanjo, the governor’s cabinet reflects a mini-Nigeria and has been striving to restore the past glory of Kaduna as a melting point of all Nigerians.
The former president recalled that El-Rufai, who served under his administration as Minister of FCT, was “one of the best persons to work with, he is a near-genius.”
“We need a character like this, a man that you know where you stand with him.
“Any job given to him will be well done,’’ Obasanjo said, adding that the people of Kaduna state now “have a good leader to work with.”
The former president described his visit as a homecoming, saying he built his first house at the Makera area of Kaduna when he served at the Mogadishu Army Battalion between 1959 and 1967.
Responding, El Rufai described Obasanjo as a mentor, adding that he learned many public service skills from him when he served in his government as a minister.
Interesting times are indeed here with the way, and manner events are unfolding in Nigeria with regards to the fight against terrorism. Some conspiracy theorists have argued that there is more than meets the eyes in the battle against the Boko Haram terrorist group in North-East Nigeria.
Some have alleged that some foreign interest has been covertly fuelling the crisis by providing logistics support to the Boko Haram terrorist group; some have also claimed that a particular European country has been selling arms and ammunition to the group. While all of these postulations are true, the main culprit in the whole debacle is indeed France.
I recall that in times past, a credible newspaper in Nigeria released an investigative report exposing how France has been fuelling the Boko Haram war in Nigeria in an attempt to cause a gradual disintegration of the country. In the said report, it was stated that “Intelligence sources stated that the possession of sophisticated weapons for insurgents, logistics and medical supplies by the Boko Haram terror group showed signs of funding by foreign interests.”
The investigative report further added that “we have seen these types of automatic weapons when they are dislodged or killed. These are not ordinary weapons; they are sophisticated machine guns and rifles, and sometimes they have tanks that are not our tanks. We have seen weapons with numbers that show that they were not just sourced through the black market but directly supplied by known arms manufacturers from France.”
If this is the case, then there is every reason to believe that, indeed, some countries are bent on seeing to the disintegration of Nigeria. Like I stated earlier, it is no other country, but France and I say this for two reasons. One is the fact that Nigeria is surrounded by the Francophone countries, whose borders these arms, ammunition, and military tanks are brought into the country. The second fact is the presence of a 4,500-strong French force, which is permanently headquartered in N’Djamena; the capital of Chad code-named Operation Barkhane, a supposed anti-insurgent operation in Africa’s Sahel region.
The question thus is, if there is the presence of a French troop in Chad, then how could one explain how and why the Boko Haram fighters were able to regroup on the fringes of the Lake Chad Basin region and launching attacks in Nigeria? How could one also explain how caches of arms and ammunitions would pass through the Chad-Nigerian border into Nigeria, and there is a French troop supposedly meant to fight terrorism.
Let us learn to call a spade a spade and understand that the French troops stationed in Chad are there to provide that logistics support to the Boko Haram group because there is no way there would be a French troop stationed in a country and a terrorist group would use the same country as their training camp and avenue for bringing in arms and ammunitions. It is also no longer news that Boko Haram’s presence in Chad has been most strongly felt around Lake Chad, which lies primarily within Chadian territory. What does this tell us?
I stand to be corrected in this regard because there have been instances where concerned stakeholders in the fight against terrorism have raised an eyebrow as regards the commitment of the French authorities. This much has led to demonstrations in Nigeria against the activities of French NGOs in operation in Nigeria. Without mincing words, it is most despicable how France has brazenly supported evil against a sovereign country.
The danger of this is that should the relevant authorities refuse to interrogate and ask critical questions; I am afraid France might succeed in its desire to recolonize Africa through the back door. The international bodies such as the United Nations must also rise to this challenge and ensure that the nefarious activities of France in Africa are curtailed in the interest of peace and tranquility.
To think that a country like France would harbor the idea of making the African continent unstable so it could achieve its desire to dominate its affairs is most unthinkable. To make matters worse, the avenue with which it intends to accomplish this is demeaning and should not be tolerated by discerning minds.
I am also appalled that the president of France, Emmanuel Macron, would harbor such disdain for the African continent by promoting terrorist activities. I recall at a press conference at the G20 summit in Hamburg, he was asked about a “Marshall Plan for Africa.” The president gave a disquisition on Africa’s “real” problems – among them, in his view, demographics and lack of “civilization,”
If the above statement does not give us a hint on how the mind of Emmanuel Macron works, then nothing else would. It is a clear case of the hand of Esau and the voice of Jacob because, in public, he appears to be advocating for a better Africa continent, but in truth, his disdain for the African continent is legendary.
I think with the avalanche of revelations as to the involvement of France in spreading terrorism in Nigeria and the African continent; it’s time for African patriots to stand in one voice to condemn France under Emmanuel Macron because this is the height of deceit and it must be resisted.
At this point, I must state clearly that Africa’s real enemy in the fight against terrorism is France. This much we now know, and this much we shall resist — enough of the deceit. And for Emmanuel Macron, it is indeed a great shame to think France can recolonize Africa by causing conflict and promoting terrorism.
The Nigerian Army says the viral video portraying the purported killing of some soldiers on December 10 2019 by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP insurgents is false, describing it as , ‘unsubstantiated’ and stage managed.
In a statement, the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Sagir Musa said the video was apparently fabricated and circulated on the social media to cause panic among Nigerians and dampen the morale of gallant troops who have in recent times been rooting out remnants of the insurgents hibernating on the fringes of the Lake Chad Basin.
“The Nigerian Army wishes to emphatically state that there was no incident that involved the ‘capture and killing of tens and tens of Nigerian soldiers on the 10th of December 2019” as mischievously and wickedly portrayed in the video.
“Similarly, preliminary observation of the video clip (even by the amateur) will reveal that the video was doctored and that the entire events captured in the footage was not an occurrence that took place at any point in time within the shores of Nigeria.” He said.
Col Musa called on the members of the general public and indeed personnel of the Nigerian Army especially those in the North East theatre of operation to disregard the sinister, very inciting and divisive video concocted and peddled by the outlawed IPOB members whose main objective is the disunity and fragmentation of Nigeria as clearly shown or espoused in the video.
“Accordingly, the call by one Simon Ekpa, (the principal actor in the clip), calling on soldiers of South East extraction presently serving in the North East to desert the Army and return to Biafra as well as calling on South Easterners not to join the Nigerian Army is an obvious indication of the essence and objective of the masterminds of this fake video which should be dicountenanced by the public.
“Meanwhile the leadership of the Nigerian Army wish to also reiterate its unflinching commitment to sustain the war against terrorism and shall not be deterred by the evil machinations or propagandist activities of mischievous persons whose main interest is the disunity of our beloved nation.” the statement added.
