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Nigerian Military And The Act Of Victory

Opinion

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December 12, 2018

Nigerian Military And The Act Of Victory

By Richards Murphy

Sun Tzu, the Chinese war veteran, strategist and tactician of world repute, throbs military leaders with this enriching warfare philosophy. Its catchy phrase prescribes thus; “What the ancients called a clever fighter is one who not only wins, but excels in winning with ease.”

I know some Nigerians would be surprised at what prodded me to begin the exploration of this piece with this enthralling wisdom of Gen. Sun Tzu. It’s because Sun Tzu remains the most coveted encyclopedia of war shrewdness ever exposed to mankind.

Tzu was somewhat magical, if not prodigiously extraordinary in thoughts and actions. No frustrations or setback of the enemy ever dissolved his resolve and determination to win. It is the innate inclination of a soldier.

Of course, many of us have read the military exploits and adventures of this great Chinese military celeb. All over the world, craggy military officers, who aim at victories in battles, imbibe his wisdom and style in combats. They are inspired by his combat wits, tenacity and valor. They strive to emulate him.

And for three years and more, Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen. Gabriel Abayomi Olonisakin knows, he is not just the super engine room of President Muhammadu Buhari’s counter-terrorism war in the country. But the march to terminate the reign of Boko Haram terrorism is an assignment, which must be won and splendidly.

His mien all the times, tells me, the CDS cum military strategist is less concerned by setbacks in the counter-insurgency operations. But he is a thousand times concerned with extracting the victory from terrorists, at the cost of anything.
It is indubitable that anywhere wars are fought; there are countless entrapping impediments and challenges, which can cancel even an already won victory. But careful deployment of uncommon wisdom and the utilization of every resource at your disposal earn you the victories.

And I believe, there is no military rendezvous in warfare, which victory comes easy and smooth. Despite Sun Tzu’s versatility in warfare and acclaimed expertise, not all his victories came on platter gold. To be candid to myself, I have a passion for this warrior. What he never consented was a weakened spirit at the battlefront.

At all times and in all circumstances, he was confident victory would descend at dawn undeniably and kept cracking the hardest of nuts. And truly, he got the results in his favour.

But in the course of the usually stiff struggles peculiar to the trenches, I don’t want to believe there were no depressing moments’ or the unexpected never happened, such as troops vehicle accident or death on the warfront. But Tzu’s sheer determination and the courage to succeed kept the candle burning to a victorious end.

I see a facsimile of this resilience in Gen. Olonisakin. When any of his troops is mowed down in battle by enemy forces, it gives him sleepless nights. But it has never enfeebled his determination to the point of surrendering to the enemies of his troops and the nation. Instead, it spurs more grandeur planning and deafening confrontations of the enemies more vehemently.

Throughout the time, I keenly observed the actions and dispositions of the CDS in the engagement of Boko Haram insurgents; no challenge or setback in the prosecution of the war has slackened his pace and focus even for a minute. This is reason the Nigerian military has sustained the winning streaks against terrorists. Insurgents attacks on military formations has now bubbled by a personal revenge in the hearts of troops.

That’s the lesson taught troops by the archetypal Gen. Olonisakin. As a true and inveterate Military General, coordinating and leading counter-terrorism operations in Nigeria deemed one of the world’s most difficult wars has been his passion to end a glorious career.

The CDS has conditioned the minds of his troops to have their eyes fixated on victory; and only victory, at all times, regardless of any obstacle. The CDS knows the whiff of victory is what keeps an Army or a troop going in a battle.

I am glad they have not deviated from this path of glory. And troops have lived it and appear even better at their most tormenting moments; which outsiders like me fear a possible retreat. This is the victorious side of our military, unknown to many of us.

I have observed consistently that whenever Boko Haram terrorists roar against our troops, with such gusto, reenacting their triumphant past, the insurgents deployed for the missions hardly escape unscathed.

We may not know. But many of us have not heard the voice and braggadocio of Boko Haram factional leader, Abubakar Shekau for a long time now. The last time I heard about him was six or so, months ago, when he led his rebellious sect members in tempting Nigerian troops.

The insurgents were not only munched en mass by Nigerian troops, but their Kingpin, Shekau quite possibly escaped with severe injuries. Some reports claim, Shekau has hoed himself in the Cameroonian caves and mountains recuperating. It’s possible he must have died in the course of treatment.

The only factional Boko Haram leader still flexing feeble might is the Musab Al Barnewi faction. But I am sure, fragrance of his day of reckoning have polluted everywhere in the Northeast. I know his waterloo is also near.

And it is one conviction, which has persistently obsessed Gen. Olonisakin. He knows he can do it; the troops are confident that Al Barnewi cannot escape their swords, no matter the hardness of the bulwark he erects around himself.

With ground and air troops at his effective command and control, the CDS is pretty sure, the enemies have; but little chances of survival. Only time is the dividing factor, which he also knows would soon decide in the favor of Nigerian troops and Nigerians. The CDS like the veteran Tzu is aware, “What is essential in war is victory, not prolonged operations.”

Like Sun Tzu, the CDS knows too perfectly that; “When torrential water tosses boulders, it is because of its momentum. When the strike of a hawk breaks the body of its prey, it is because of timing.”

I appeal to Nigerians to look beyond the outward when assessing our military. We are bound to see the treasures embedded in them which are envied by the world. We must be proud of our possession and our military assets in these troops.

The military gentleman and unstinting professional officer, Gen. Olonishakin is eager to handover to Nigerians the crown and medal victory over Boko Haram terrorism. I read his lips and feel the yearning of a leader who wishes to accomplish this feat as his parting gift to Nigerians before his retirement.

Gen. Olonisakin knows he has an edge over the terrorists, by leading three arms of the Nigerian military. But the insurgents can only dream of repressing or even defeating the Nigerian military.

It’s clear to me, coordinating the security operations across the country, the CDS adheres to Tzu’s caution that “Management of many is the same as management of few. It is a matter of organization.” We shall keep praying for their success fervently.

Murphy is a security consultant based in Calabar.

Anti-corruption is battle for soul of Africa

News Hour

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December 11, 2018

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Anti-corruption is battle for soul of Africa

By Timothy Aiyeku

President Muhammadu Buhari has launched the training for Anti-Corruption Agencies in the African Union where he told participants that the fight against corruption is a battle for the souls of the countries and it is one that must be won.

He made the remarks in Abuja on Monday when he welcomed delegates to the Corruption Risk Assessment training for heads and senior officials of Anti-Corruption Agencies in the African Union.

The training, he said, was at the instance of Nigeria as part of the support for the war against corruption on the continent and it is being facilitated by the Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria (ACAN) the research and training arm of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

He said that the continent has suffered from the severe consequences of corruption since independence and said it was imperative that steps be taken to reverse the trend.

“When we assumed office in May 2015, the pervasive nature and devastating impact of corruption on the Nigerian nation had become dysfunctional. The momentum for our electoral victory could not be separated from the revolt of the people against glaring endemic corruption.

“During the past several months, we have been taking steps to institute integrity and transparency in the processes of government and holding those who have plundered our commonwealth to account for their actions.

President Muhammadu Buhari (M) flanked by the ICPC Acting Chairman, Dr Musa Usman Abubakar and anti-corruption agencies in Africa

“However, the costs of recovery and sanctions are also enormous. While commendable successes have been recorded, it has become manifest that corruption fights back. With enormous stolen resources elements have attempted to compromise law enforcing institutions and pervert the course of justice,’’ he said.

Therefore, he emphasised the necessity of building a system that would focus on preventing corruption that Nigeria would continue to implement policies aimed at building resilient systems that could withstand assault by corrupt officials.

“Our steps in this direction include the full implementation of both the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and the Bank Verification Number (BVN) the Open Government Partnership, various Executive Orders, strengthening the Anti-Corruption Agencies and permitting their full autonomy.

“It is in this context of building robust preventive systems that we must understand this initiative which aims to train leaders of anti-corruption agencies in the African Union by deploying Corruption Risk Assessment Methodology for corruption prevention in our countries.

“Corruption Risk Assessment seeks to identify corruption-prone processes and procedures in organisations and recommend appropriate remedial steps. The methodology places a premium on prevention as an effective complement to enforcement in the war against corruption.’’

In 2016, through support from the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, the said that the Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria acquired the capacity to conduct training on Corruption Risk Assessment and had since been conducting trainings.

“The training starting today is an opportunity to extend the benefits of this methodology to other African countries and by which it is clear that we have not taken our appointment as Anti-Corruption Champion for the continent for the year 2018 lightly.

“It is heart-warming that most of our countries have subscribed to not only the United Nations Convention against Corruption, UNCAC, but also the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUCPCC).

“This event offers a good opportunity to encourage the few countries which are yet to ratify the African Union Convention to expedite processes to do so. No efforts can be too much as we seek to rid our societies of the evil of corruption.’’

No country can survive with grand corruption, Prof. Osinbajo

Nigeria Today

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December 11, 2018

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No country can survive with grand corruption, Prof. Osinbajo

…Calls on citizens to hold leaders accountable

…Seeks help of foreign countries for recovering stolen assets

…Says FG working with EU to address migration issues

…Negotiations with ASUU in progress

The problem with Nigeria is not about resources or planning, but the poor management of resources in the past bothering on grand corruption, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

Speaking last night with a cross section of Nigerians living in Germany, Prof. Osinbajo, while responding to questions during a town-hall meeting, said those who have made away with the nation’s resources should be made to account for it, and that going forward such corruption does not happen again.

According to him “the greatest problem Nigeria has is one of grand corruption; that is the biggest problem we have, not the problem of planning or plans; and grand corruption is the reason why we are not moving as fast as we should in our country.”

He added, “that there is no country in the world that can survive if its resources are stolen the way Nigeria’s resources are stolen.”

The Vice President noted that most of the issues raised by the Nigerians in Diaspora at the meeting around lack of energy, infrastructure, quality and extensive health care services, education and security can be traced back to the management of resources, while calling on Nigerian citizens to hold leaders accountable for the nation’s wealth.

The Vice President spoke and took over 30 questions at the town hall meeting in Berlin, described by many of the attendees as the first of its kind since 1999, when civil rule was restored in Nigeria.

Prof. Osinbajo stated that one of the key issues the Buhari administration is dealing with in partnership with European leaders now is the repatriation of the country’s stolen assets stashed abroad, adding that the Federal Government was equally having conversations with European countries on the subject of migration of Nigerians to Europe.

He told the gathering that government was concerned about whole migration issue and has started negotiating with European countries. He added that European countries can partner with Nigeria by investing in the country thereby discouraging the kind of migration of young people that is now prevalent. He was optimistic the challenge can be effectively addressed through Nigeria’s collaboration with its European partners.

Explaining Federal Government’s efforts at addressing unemployment challenges, the Vice President observed that a young population of about 60 per cent creates a yearly addition of about 1.4 million graduates to the unemployment market.

He, however, revealed that the Buhari administration is addressing the matter from several fronts such as the Federal Government employment of 500,000 graduates under the N-Power scheme, as well as through other social investment programmes like MarketMoni and TraderMoni.

Still on government efforts, he noted that, “one of the areas we are hoping to get employment is through agriculture. What we have done with agriculture is we have given 760,000 farmers direct loans under the Anchor Borrowers scheme”; generating more interests among farmers especially in the North, which is where a lot of farming is going on.

Responding to the issue about the wild insinuation that made the rounds to the effect that the President died last year, Vice President Osinbajo told the audience, which included cross sections of Nigerians in Germany, Ambassadors of Nigeria to Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland and Belgium, that it was ridiculous for anyone to suggest that the President was dead. He said it did not make sense to say the President died abroad and that no one knew.

Continuing, he said, “is it possible that anyone will die here in Germany and no one will know he died and somehow he will be flown out quietly out of a country like England? I think it is just so absurd. I think it is not something we should take half seriously. I think we should be properly informed,” he submitted.

On health care delivery services to majority of Nigerians, Prof Osinbajo agreed on the need to extend good health care to all Nigerians, but he pointed out this can only be achieved through compulsory health insurance policy.

Underscoring the urgent need to develop a functional educational system, the Vice President announced that the Buhari administration was developing a robust education policy, saying “education is the basis of all we’re doing.”

In the next number of years by 2050, “we are going to be third most populous country in the entire world. So if we don’t get education right we are in deep trouble, it means if we don’t get our education policy right, we are going to have millions of young people out there doing nothing; nothing can be more dangerous than that.

“But if you look at our education policy and what we are trying to do a lot of it is technology based. We are working on our curriculum with some technology institutions and companies like MIT, Oracle, Cisco, and quite a few, just to develop the curriculum. The educational policy is what we call STEAM; we have added Arts to STEM and we are looking at how to deliver that policy in the cheapest and quickest possible way using technology.

“Part of our plans is to reconstruct 10,000 classrooms annually; it is not just to fix the structure, it also involves technology; to put technology into those classrooms to make sure we have the model right and we have so many countries that are interested in partnering with us”.

“Technology in my view is really the way to go; to expand our capacity to train teachers and to train them quickly and this is contained in our Next Level document”, he stressed.

On the ongoing strike by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Vice President said negotiation between the Federal Government and ASUU was continuing and he expressed hope that an agreement can be reached with soon.

The Vice President is today headlining the Nigerian-German Business Dialogue in Berlin.

Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity)
Office of the Vice Presiden
10th December, 2018

New Electoral Act is recipe for chaos-BMO

Politics

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December 11, 2018

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New Electoral Act is recipe for chaos-BMO

President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to withhold assent to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill as forwarded to him by the National Assembly is in the best interest of Nigeria’s democracy, the Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) has said.

The group noted in a statement signed by its Chairman Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary Cassidy Madueke that the decision has saved the country from a chaotic electoral process.

BMO said “It is trite that the deployment of a new electoral law only two months to an election is a recipe for chaos. Introducing a new law that redefines fundamentally the processes of our elections is only setting a shaky foundation for the 2019 polls.

“Also, with such fundamental changes such as the introduction of electronic transmission of results, and the compulsion in the use of the card reader without any remedy, among others, INEC staff would have to be trained and re-trained within two months, a period that is certainly not enough for that to happen.”

The group noted further that an ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance discourages any forms of amendments or changes to electoral laws 6 months before any election, and hailed the President for complying with democratic best practices.

It added that it was no fault of President Buhari that the leadership of the National Assembly delayed the amendment since mid 2017.

“The Federal legislature had in the process of presenting the Bill for the President to sign in the last four occasions, made several unforgivable drafting errors. At every point, he identified these errors and sent them back for corrections – and he was right every time. So much that the third time the National Assembly passed on the Bill for the President’s signature, they had conspicuously and suspiciously removed the use of the card readers during elections. The President sent it back and insisted that it be included.”

The group noted that the most recent amendment that the National Assembly sent to the President was not just late, but also contained grave drafting errors that if left to proceed would give room for rigging and manipulation of the results of elections.

BMO said, “Any attempt by some desperate unpatriotic Federal lawmakers to override the President’s veto would amount to a battle line being drawn between them and the Nigerian people and their right to free and fair elections.

“We call on the sensible members of the National Assembly to prevail and ensure that the electoral processes are not toyed with for the self-serving interests of some of their colleagues; but rather ensure that the errors identified by President Buhari are looked into, rectified and sent back for his assent.”

“The President would not do anything to hurt Nigeria’s democratic and electoral processes, as the last three occasions he sent the Bills back on grounds of grave errors, he was proved right when the National Assembly effected the corrections he proposed, and this time would not be different, BMO said.”

Nigerian Army NOT Guilty of War Crimes

Defence
News

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December 11, 2018

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By Ajogwu Jerry

Another cheap fabrication authored by one Austin Oboh, published by Daily Independent newspaper, Tuesday 11th December 2018, with the headline “NIGERIAN ARMY IS GUILTY OF WAR CRIMES -ICC” has been bursted.

According to the fake reportage, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has ruled that Nigerian army is guilty of war crimes against humanity.

A statement by the Army Spokesman, Brig Gen Sani has denied claims by the said Austin Oboh classified as a “5th columnist”.

Gen Usman revealed that the Nigerian Army has not been accused of any wrong doing let alone being arraigned before any court.

He said it is wrong and a sheer mischief for any person, group or newspaper to allege that the Nigerian Army has been found guilty of war crimes.

The statement reads in part:

“For the avoidance of doubt, yesterday, Monday, 10th December 2018, the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) of the International Criminal Court (ICC) presented the 2018 Report of her activities.

“Nowhere in the 78 page report titled “Report of Preliminary Examination Activities 2018” dated 5th December 2018, did she state that the Nigerian Army is guilty of any crime let alone war crimes as the newspaper alleged. Although it is true that the OTP is currently investigating allegations of human rights violations made against the Nigerian Army, that investigation is still at its preliminary stages and does not translate to standing trial, let alone being found guilty.

“We are dismayed by the recklessness of the said newspaper in publishing such a sensationally false story and giving it undue prominence.

“A simple research on the website of the International Criminal Court would have provided clarity on the issue.

“We urge journalists and editors to consider the national security implications of this type of publications. Our nation’s security should not be jeopardised by the desire to sell publications or cause mischief.

“It is our hope that the Daily Independent newspaper will properly inform itself on the inaccuracy of its story by setting the records straight and apologise to the Nigerian Army,” it said.

ICC: GAW Offers Free Legal Service to Nigerian Army

Defence

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December 11, 2018

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…cautions against obstruction of anti-terror war

The Global Amnesty Watch (GAW) has promised to support the Nigerian military with legal representation should it have to defend the conduct of troops on the war against terrorism at the International Criminal Court (ICC), Hague saying the institution should rather be commended for doing a good job instead of being hounded.

A statement by GAW’s Africa Affairs Vice President, John Tom Lever, which was in response to statement credited the Prosecutor at the ICC over Nigerian military’s conduct, the GAW said the country’s hybrid justice system has addressed such perceived crimes and the ICC will be embarking on an academic exercise.

The GAW revealed that the team of lawyers being offered is familiar with the conduct of the war on terrorism and would prove that the military worked in the interest of humanity.

In the statement, GAW noted that there is no evidence to prove that soldiers committed the extent of abuses being implied by some non-State actors whose intervention on the war against terrorism was totally misplaced.
The ICC must therefore reevaluate its position using concrete and non-biased evidences with warning that the war on terrorism can be negatively impacted if the military is obstructed from performing its functions.

The statement reads in part, “The Global Amnesty Watch (GAW) has noted an upsurge in the number of organizations and certain individuals that are threatening the Nigerian Military, particularly the Army and its leadership with threats of escalating charges against them before the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague.
“As a matter of due diligence, GAW has again reviewed its past reports and found that the evidence of abuses that such organizations claim to have and plan to present to the ICC do not exist in reality. If such exist they should have by now presented them to the hybrid justice system put in place by the country instead of instigating trial by media reports.

“It is most condemnable that in the bid to criminalize the Nigerian military and Nigerian authorities, the atrocities committed by Boko Haram terrorists are being credited to them, including accusing the government of shielding the terrorists.

“We are worried that this trend has the capacity to blur the lines in the war against terrorism such that those that are sacrificing their lives to keep others safe end up being treated as criminals. When this happens, the danger is that soldiers are no longer able to effectively combat terrorists, which places the lives of Nigerians at risk.
“In our view, the Nigerian Military deserve commendation for defending man’s dignity in the rights to life as contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which it has done much to uphold by preventing the massacre of civilian population in terrorists’ prone areas.

“The ICC and other international bodies should commend the Nigerian Army for helping to uphold Article 3 of the Convention by protecting the rights to life, liberty and security in Nigeria, which would have been in jeopardy if Boko Haram or extremists, separatists and other terrorist groups are allowed to operate freely. Upholding the obligations on states’ military and judicial institutions to enforce and protect these rights should not be converted into a crime for which a legitimate institution should be hounded.
“Had the State failed to perform its duties it would have been a serious breach, which makes us wonder why some trumped up allegations by some non-State actors are being used to constrain Nigeria’s ability to counter terrorists.
“GAW has as a matter of safeguarding the vulnerable populations in the areas afflicted by Boko Haram resolved to visit the ICC with documentary evidences that prove the Nigerian militray has done much to stop carnage against the people contrary to the propaganda being sponsored against it by certain individuals and organizations.
“We further resolved to place our team of international lawyers at the disposal of the Nigerian military as an organization to marshal their defense should the need arise. These are seasoned lawyers, practitioners and researchers that have worked closely in the theatre of operations for many years particularly in the north east,” the statement revealed.