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Do not undermine war against Boko Haram, Gen. Akinrinade cautions media

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Do not undermine war against Boko Haram, Gen. Akinrinade cautions media

Former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant Gen. Alani Akinrinade (rtd), has cautioned the media on false reports on happenings in the war against Boko Haram insurgency.

Akinrinade gave the advice at the 81 Division West African Social Activities (WASA), at 65 Battalion parade ground, warning that, “the exaggerated and sometimes entirely fabricated falsehood on the social media and the possible repercussion on the morale of our troops are incalculable.”

He urged the military to persuade the media to go to the front lines, to have first-hand information, pointing out that, “the media can be persuaded to have some of their experienced field operators to be attached to some of the forward headquarters.”

The former army chief said this was necessary to enable such capable hands in the media “to bring us authentic information as to happenings on the front-lines, to reduce the mischief that is pervasive on the social media.”

He commended the entire armed forces for their exploits in the past few troubled times, particularly in West Africa, where the flag was hoisted with pride and valour.

“I salute you all for the efforts you have exerted.

” I believe I speak for all our citizens when I say we recognise and lament the irreparable losses in both military and civilian lives and property. That  has been the hallmark of our lives in the past few years.

“Our hearts go out, especially during this festive season, to our men and women on Operation LAFIYA DOLE.

“I know the feeling, having spent three consecutive Yuletides in the swamps, mangrove and creeks of our country and the disparities then were not as stark as today.”

Earlier, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Musa Yusuf, in his opening remarks, said that WASA was aimed at celebrating the end of a successful operational year.

He said: “It is in keeping with this age-long tradition that we are here gathered today to witness yet another WASA.

“There is no doubt that 2018 was characterised by numerous security challenges, such as insurgency, farmers/herders clash, kidnappings, armed robbery, pipeline vandalism and other criminalities.

“To overcome these challenges, the division requires a high degree of professionalism by personnel which is achieved through realistic training.

“In this direction, 81 Division has conducted and implemented all training activities consistent with the vision of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and in line with the Nigerian Army Training Directives.”

He said the division would redouble it efforts toward ensuring that troops were adequately given mission and specific training.

The GOC said this was necessary, especially in anticipation of likely tasks the Division would be expected to carry out in the conduct of the 2019 general elections.

“I, therefore, urge all personnel to remain focused, professional and apolitical in carrying out their constitutional duties during the elections,” he said.

Boko Haram: Nigerian govt never lost control in engaging terrorists- US agency counters ISSA

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Boko Haram: Nigerian govt never lost control in engaging terrorists- US agency counters ISSA

The Universal Watch Network has countered a recent report by the International Strategic Studies Association (ISSA) that the federal government of Nigeria has lost the control in engaging the Boko Haram terrorists.

It said the claim by ISSA that the government is no longer sure of what faction of the terrorist group it is fighting was a fallacy and mischievous.

The United State-based agency claimed the propaganda first surfaced as a report by Washington-based group, International Strategic Studies Association (ISSA) here in the United States, which has now been repeated by many indigenous media organizations in Nigeria as intended by the originators of the report.

Dr. Roberts Gordon, Vice President, Political Affairs in an electronic release on Monday, observed that a deeper look at the document, however, revealed it to be a treatise that is filled with rehashed information, innuendos, half-truths and outright lies.

According to Gordon, “The report pushed the lie that the Nigerian government has lost the control in engaging Boko Haram while the country’s intelligence community is no longer sure of what faction of the terrorist group it is fighting. Nothing can be further from the truth since Boko Haram has not been able to achieve what its foreign sponsors had intended for it to achieve in Nigeria.

“Nigeria is no stranger to doomsday reports like the one issued by ISSA. The United States National Intelligence Council once issued a report that Nigeria will not exist beyond 2015 as it would disintegrate into smaller enclave states along ethno-geographic fault lines.

“Even when much was done to destabilize Nigeria to achieve this evil objective, the political maturity that produced the government of President Muhammadu Buhari in the same year and the patriotic disposition of his administration with a committed Nigerian Armed Forces frustrated the projection of Nigeria’s demise.

“It is most unfortunate and condemnable that the authors of this most recent report sat in meeting rooms of some plush hotels, far away from Nigeria, to insinuate that instances of random crimes that led to the deaths of highly placed Nigerians were masterminded by the state or its agencies.

“We know for a certainty that neither ISSA nor its allies could have gotten away with such criminal claims here in their own country of origin.
The conjectures presented as definite facts by ISSA could have been ignored as the product of ignorance steeped in imperial arrogance but the political connections they brought into their propaganda has exposed this organization as being propelled by an inordinate goal to achieve regime change.

“This is a reality that was corroborated by the similarity in the language style adopted in the report and the one in use by the main opposition in Nigeria in addition to parroting the position of opposition elements. Attempts at regime change that jeopardizes the safety of citizens is totally unacceptable and have no place in this age after the fiasco resulting from many such enterprise in other countries.

“We challenge ISSA to publish an objective report that acknowledges the role being played by western powers in arming, training and funding Boko Haram and its variants in Nigeria. We further task the group to fair disclosure on the nature of its relationship with the main opposition in Nigeria while also revealing the source of its funding. A failure to do these would confirm our assertion that ISSA is a terrorists supporting group hiding behind the garb of respectability and international label.

“In the meantime, we are alerting Nigerians to beware of ‘Terrorists Politically- aided Propaganda (TP2) like the ISSA report, which is calculated to do damage to the country. We envisage that more of such reports will be released in the coming days and they bound to become tools in the hands of politicians that will cite such report to vote against a government that has laid the foundation to giving Nigeria back to Nigerians as is the norm in other democracies.

“We urge the Federal Government of Nigeria to explore diplomatic means of calling ISSA to order since that organization’s activities directly threaten the wellbeing and security of Nigerians. The government must treat the report as a threat to the country and must not treat it with indifference.”

Avoid Violence, Support the Army –Igbo Group Charges

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Avoid Violence, Support the Army –Igbo Group Charges

Igbos in Nigeria Movement has urged the people of the south-east states to be discerning in their choices in the general elections saying that strategies that have failed the region in the past must not be repeated again since they will yield the exact same results.

The movement, which spoke through its President, Maxi Ifeanyi Igwe in Abuja on Friday also urged Igbos to cooperate with the Nigerian Army and other security agencies in ensuring that the elections are not hijacked by thugs that hide under agitation to foment trouble.

Igwe called on Igbos to disregard the call by the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu for the boycott of the elections even as he noted that such demand can only be made by someone that is interested in getting the Igbos to be labelled as anti-democratic elements that did not support the entrenchment of democracy.

He stressed that “The Igbo states, being peaceful, would not have needed the Army’s nationwide Operation Python Dance had IPOB and other divisive elements not engaged in a needless sabre-rattling that created the impression that war is afoot. But this is not who we are in Igboland, we are pro-democracy any day and we will not allow history to misjudge us as a people because of a few recalcitrant renegades.

“Every other geo-political zone has been agitating for restructuring and what we have seen them doing is getting candidates across the spectrum to commit to pursuing this agenda. The people of these other geo-political zones have in essence made a strong statement that the agitation for true fiscal federalism will pick up pace once they have elected candidates that are favourably disposed to restructuring.

“The south-east cannot, in this sense, be different by trying to achieve the same objective through violence and calling for the disintegration of the country as IPOB and Kanu are doing. The region must also not make itself unnecessary enemies by being abusive of other ethnic nationals and directing hate speech against them as we have seen from Kanu since he resurfaced from hiding,” he noted.

Igbos in Nigeria Movement’s president counselled against bloc support while asking that Igbos should freely vote for candidates of their choice without feeling coerced.

According to him, “Past experience has shown that Igbos are singled out for undesirable special treatment each time they vote as a bloc for a candidate, something that the other ethnic nationalities do not do. Other geo-political zones allow their people to vote for candidates of their choice, which ensures that whoever emerges the winner will not feel than an entire geo-political zone or ethnic group voted against them.

“This is why we advise those creating the false impression that the entire Igbo nation has endorsed any one particular candidate to desist from the unwholesome act as it would be unfair for them to set up the entire south-east for victimization when a wrongly endorsed candidate loses the election as happened in the past.

“We also urge our people to shun violence and other political actions that inimical to the growth and development of Nigeria. This appeal becomes necessary given the worsening instances of threats and counter threats that politicians are issuing against each other. Our people need to read between the lines and appreciate that the ancestral homes of these candidates and cities where they have huge business investments will at no time record political violence even if we allow impassioned support for the them to ignite Igboland.

“Not only must the people refrain from violence we urge our people in Igboland to support the Nigerian Army and all security agencies that have deployed to maintain the peace during the elections. The support to the army and other agencies is to ensure that thugs that have been hired to unleash violence on the political opponents of their paymasters do not succeed. The people must also be careful of the incitement from IPOB and its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who is now clearly acting out a script that does not accommodate the interest of the Igbos,” Igwe charged.

Igbos in Nigeria Movement has urged the people of the south-east states to be discerning in their choices in the general elections saying that strategies that have failed the region in the past must not be repeated again since they will yield the exact same results.

The movement, which spoke through its President, Maxi Ifeanyi Igwe in Abuja on Friday also urged Igbos to cooperate with the Nigerian Army and other security agencies in ensuring that the elections are not hijacked by thugs that hide under agitation to foment trouble.

Igwe called on Igbos to disregard the call by the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu for the boycott of the elections even as he noted that such demand can only be made by someone that is interested in getting the Igbos to be labelled as anti-democratic elements that did not support the entrenchment of democracy.

He stressed that “The Igbo states, being peaceful, would not have needed the Army’s nationwide Operation Python Dance had IPOB and other divisive elements not engaged in a needless sabre-rattling that created the impression that war is afoot. But this is not who we are in Igboland, we are pro-democracy any day and we will not allow history to misjudge us as a people because of a few recalcitrant renegades.

“Every other geo-political zone has been agitating for restructuring and what we have seen them doing is getting candidates across the spectrum to commit to pursuing this agenda. The people of these other geo-political zones have in essence made a strong statement that the agitation for true fiscal federalism will pick up pace once they have elected candidates that are favourably disposed to restructuring.

“The south-east cannot, in this sense, be different by trying to achieve the same objective through violence and calling for the disintegration of the country as IPOB and Kanu are doing. The region must also not make itself unnecessary enemies by being abusive of other ethnic nationals and directing hate speech against them as we have seen from Kanu since he resurfaced from hiding,” he noted.

Report: How the Buhari administration gained control of the Boko Haram phenomena since 2015

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Report: How the Buhari administration gained control of the Boko Haram phenomena since 2015

The sustained efforts of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and as well as the political will exhibited by the President Muhammadu Buhari upon the assumption of office in 2015 was primarily responsible for the inroads the Nigeria military attained in the fight against Boko Haram in Nigeria. This was contained in a report by the Centre for International and Strategic Studies (CISS) titled “The Battle Against Terrorism in Nigeria 2013-2018) which was released by CISS in December as part of its annual research work on critical sectors in Nigeria.

The report which was signed by Professor Ahmed Danfulani, stated that the CISS undertook the research with a view to dissecting the trend of insurgency in Nigeria, its dynamics and sophistication of its operations and how the apparent invincibility of the sect have raised fundamental questions not only about military roles on national security but also on governance issues as well as on Nigeria’s corporate existence.

The report revealed that, in spite of the setbacks the Nigeria Military had experienced in the battlefield, the Nigeria Army had made a significant breakthrough in breaking the ranks of Boko Haram fighters from 2015 with the advent of the Muhammadu Buhari Administration.

The report stated that “The Buhari led administration has shown tremendous political will towards protecting lives and properties in Nigeria. The Nigerian Military has engaged the Boko Haram Terrorists in a battle for the soul of Nigeria. In the process, phenomenal successes have been recorded as indicated in the Global Terrorism Index. It is, therefore, sufficing to state that all the remarkable successes recorded by the Nigerian Army under Lt Gen TY Buratai occurred between 2015 to date.”

The five themed report captures the emergence, activities, mode of operation, ideology and the international dimension of Boko Haram. It also focused on the counter-insurgency attempts of the Nigerian military under former President Goodluck Jonathan and President Muhammadu Buhari. Emphasis was on Civil-Military relations in Nigerians North East, as well as the response of Buhari led administration in curtailing the Boko Hara threat.

“The state’s response to Boko Haram since 2009 has been characterized by extreme complexity, especially in regards to the relationship between federal, state, and local government levels, and the inevitable institutional tensions between security services – military, police, the State Security Service (SSS), and other governmental agencies – and civil society groups including traditional and religious institutions.”

“The turning point of the Boko Haram insurgency occurred in 2009 after a four-day battle between Nigerian security forces and Boko Haram members in Bauchi, Kano, Yobe, and Borno state, all in northern Nigeria. The confrontation led to the death of over 800 suspected Boko Haram members including its leader Mohammed Yusuf and other high profile supporters of the sect including Alhaji Buji Foi, a former commissioner in Borno State, and Baba Fugu Mohammed, the 72-year-old father-in-law of Yusuf.”

As regards government response to the Boko Haram threat under President Muhammadu Buhari, the report stated that “among his earliest acts in office was to replace the heads of the army, navy, and air force. The new army chief and the commanding officer in charge of operations against Boko Haram both hail from northern Nigeria, and by many accounts they have taken a more proactive approach than their predecessors toward countering the group. For example, they moved the army’s operational headquarters from Abuja to Maiduguri and had deployed more long-range patrols in the region. Experts suggest that the army is now conducting more strategically-focused operations, such as those that target Boko Haram’s logistics routes.”

According to the report, morale within the army has improved under the new leadership, and suitable conditions for the safe return of the more than two million people displaced by Boko Haram’s violence has been ongoing since 2015.

“the Muhammadu Buhari administration has achieved much when pitched in direct comparison with the efforts of the former regime to manage the insecurity menace in the North Eastern region of the country where the insurgency has thrived over the years.”

This is however in contrast to the defense and foreign affairs report published by the International Strategic Studies Association. The report blames “corruption among higher-ups in the military high command for the faltering war against Boko Haram, and also that the Nigerian government had completely and comprehensively lost control of the engagement with Boko Haram and could show no instance when the government presently had tactical, theatre, strategic, or information dominance of any aspect of the conflict.”

However, the CISS report counters the position of the ISIS report, which appeared hastily put together due to some factual inaccuracies and illogical conclusions noticed in its analysis. This was the case as it is evident that the present government had responded to the overwhelming activities of insurgency through soliciting international assistance to get rid of the domestic terrorism posed by the sect.

“President Buhari also sought for greater support from other friendly nations to combat the challenges posed by the sect and also calling for the support of developed countries to assist in the area of intelligence gathering on the sect’s movements, training and sources of arms and ammunition.”

The CISS report further stated that President Muhammadu Buhari’s agenda against corruption has ultimately resulted in more transparency and accountability in the persecution of the War against the Boko Haram Insurgency.

“The administration started by replacing the upper echelon of the military, investigated the misappropriation of security funds by 300 companies, military officers and security personnel and even individuals connected to corrupt practices during the former administration. This “crackdown” encouraged the US to offer military aid to the country amid reluctance due to fears of human right abuses and widespread mismanagement of the Jonathan administration.

“In a bid to strengthen trust and transparency in executing the War against terrorism between the military and the general public, the command center of Operation Lafiya Dole conducts a media briefing on the progress and setbacks of the operation.”

A top security officer who pleaded anonymity stated that ISIS report might have been a sponsored work done by some sympathizers of the terrorist network to smear the image of President Muhammadu Buhari and by extension the service chief so it can lose the international appeal it has garnered since 2015.

“Interestingly, we know where the report emanated from. For a start, the supposed organization is not based in Nigeria and could not have been privy to the details it claimed in its report. And you cannot use days to research and produce a report, as evident in the report that was supposedly released in 28th December and was quoting an incident that happened the previous day, 27th of December” the source stated.

Another top military source who didn’t want his name in print gave credence to the report by The Centre for International and Strategic Studies (CISS). He stated that though there are a few noticeable lapses, in the long run, the report conveyed facts in a most professional manner worthy of commendation.

Report: How the Buhari Administration gained control of the Boko Haram Phenomena since 2015

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Report: How the Buhari Administration gained control of the Boko Haram Phenomena since 2015

The sustained efforts of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and as well as the political will exhibited by the President Muhammadu Buhari upon the assumption of office in 2015 was primarily responsible for the inroads the Nigeria military attained in the fight against Boko Haram in Nigeria. This was contained in a report by the Centre for International and Strategic Studies (CISS) titled “The Battle Against Terrorism in Nigeria 2013-2018) which was released by CISS in December as part of its annual research work on critical sectors in Nigeria.

The report which was signed by Professor Ahmed Danfulani, stated that the CISS undertook the research with a view to dissecting the trend of insurgency in Nigeria, its dynamics and sophistication of its operations and how the apparent invincibility of the sect have raised fundamental questions not only about military roles on national security but also on governance issues as well as on Nigeria’s corporate existence.

The report revealed that, in spite of the setbacks the Nigeria Military had experienced in the battlefield, the Nigeria Army had made a significant breakthrough in breaking the ranks of Boko Haram fighters from 2015 with the advent of the Muhammadu Buhari Administration.

The report stated that “The Buhari led administration has shown tremendous political will towards protecting lives and properties in Nigeria. The Nigerian Military has engaged the Boko Haram Terrorists in a battle for the soul of Nigeria. In the process, phenomenal successes have been recorded as indicated in the Global Terrorism Index. It is, therefore, sufficing to state that all the remarkable successes recorded by the Nigerian Army under Lt Gen TY Buratai occurred between 2015 to date.”

The five themed report captures the emergence, activities, mode of operation, ideology and the international dimension of Boko Haram. It also focused on the counter-insurgency attempts of the Nigerian military under former President Goodluck Jonathan and President Muhammadu Buhari. Emphasis was on Civil-Military relations in Nigerians North East, as well as the response of Buhari led administration in curtailing the Boko Hara threat.

“The state’s response to Boko Haram since 2009 has been characterized by extreme complexity, especially in regards to the relationship between federal, state, and local government levels, and the inevitable institutional tensions between security services – military, police, the State Security Service (SSS), and other governmental agencies – and civil society groups including traditional and religious institutions.”

“The turning point of the Boko Haram insurgency occurred in 2009 after a four-day battle between Nigerian security forces and Boko Haram members in Bauchi, Kano, Yobe, and Borno state, all in northern Nigeria. The confrontation led to the death of over 800 suspected Boko Haram members including its leader Mohammed Yusuf and other high profile supporters of the sect including Alhaji Buji Foi, a former commissioner in Borno State, and Baba Fugu Mohammed, the 72-year-old father-in-law of Yusuf.”

As regards government response to the Boko Haram threat under President Muhammadu Buhari, the report stated that “among his earliest acts in office was to replace the heads of the army, navy, and air force. The new army chief and the commanding officer in charge of operations against Boko Haram both hail from northern Nigeria, and by many accounts they have taken a more proactive approach than their predecessors toward countering the group. For example, they moved the army’s operational headquarters from Abuja to Maiduguri and had deployed more long-range patrols in the region. Experts suggest that the army is now conducting more strategically-focused operations, such as those that target Boko Haram’s logistics routes.”

According to the report, morale within the army has improved under the new leadership, and suitable conditions for the safe return of the more than two million people displaced by Boko Haram’s violence has been ongoing since 2015.

“The Muhammadu Buhari administration has achieved much when pitched in direct comparison with the efforts of the former regime to manage the insecurity menace in the North Eastern region of the country where the insurgency has thrived over the years.”

This is however in contrast to the defense and foreign affairs report published by the International Strategic Studies Association. The report blames “corruption among higher-ups in the military high command for the faltering war against Boko Haram, and also that the Nigerian government had completely and comprehensively lost control of the engagement with Boko Haram and could show no instance when the government presently had tactical, theatre, strategic, or information dominance of any aspect of the conflict.”

However, the CISS report counters the position of the ISIS report, which appeared hastily put together due to some factual inaccuracies and illogical conclusions noticed in its analysis. This was the case as it is evident that the present government had responded to the overwhelming activities of insurgency through soliciting international assistance to get rid of the domestic terrorism posed by the sect.

“President Buhari also sought for greater support from other friendly nations to combat the challenges posed by the sect and also calling for the support of developed countries to assist in the area of intelligence gathering on the sect’s movements, training and sources of arms and ammunition.”

The CISS report further stated that President Muhammadu Buhari’s agenda against corruption has ultimately resulted in more transparency and accountability in the persecution of the War against the Boko Haram Insurgency.

“The administration started by replacing the upper echelon of the military, investigated the misappropriation of security funds by 300 companies, military officers and security personnel and even individuals connected to corrupt practices during the former administration. This “crackdown” encouraged the US to offer military aid to the country amid reluctance due to fears of human right abuses and widespread mismanagement of the Jonathan administration.

“In a bid to strengthen trust and transparency in executing the War against terrorism between the military and the general public, the command center of Operation Lafiya Dole conducts a media briefing on the progress and setbacks of the operation.”

A top security officer who pleaded anonymity stated that ISIS report might have been a sponsored work done by some sympathizers of the terrorist network to smear the image of President Muhammadu Buhari and by extension the service chief so it can lose the international appeal it has garnered since 2015.

“Interestingly, we know where the report emanated from. For a start, the supposed organization is not based in Nigeria and could not have been privy to the details it claimed in its report. And you cannot use days to research and produce a report, as evident in the report that was supposedly released in 28th December and was quoting an incident that happened the previous day, 27th of December” the source stated.

Another top military source who didn’t want his name in print gave credence to the report by The Centre for International and Strategic Studies (CISS). He stated that though there are a few noticeable lapses, in the long run, the report conveyed facts in a most professional manner worthy of commendation.

Bauchi: Democracy Beyond Lip Services

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Bauchi: Democracy Beyond Lip Services

 

By: Lawal Audi

One of the problems starring our democracy in the face today is the fact that many political office holders are not adequately prepared for leadership positions. Politicians in this category lack the prerequisite for the challenges of the offices they sought.

Ambition for its own sake undermines democracy. Why should a citizen seek public office without adequate preparation, or the idea of what to do if given the mandate? This phenomenon usually leads to unintended side effects, producing many rulers instead of leaders, who have no idea of what to do with power.

Taking this into consideration, a youth group, Concerned Zungur Galambi Mri Youth, has passed a vote of confidence on Governor Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi state, pledging to make sure he is returned to the Bauchi Government House in 2019 by massively supporting his re-election in imminent general elections.

The leader of the group, Usman Yelwa, made this known in a press release made available to newsmen recently.

Yelwa said the decision was arrived at, after consultation with all members of the group who unanimously agreed that the All Progressives Congress-led administration of Governor Abubakar be returned to office in 2019.

“We wish to tender our unalloyed support to Governor Mohammed Abubakar for his purposeful leadership. Our governor is not just a refined politician, he is also a leader filled with wisdom, a sense of justice and an undying love for his people.

“He has impeccable credentials which he has deployed effectively since assumption of office. At this moment, his purposeful leadership and loyalty to the electorate as well as his resolve to lift the state from backwardness are the reason we prefer him to others,” Yelwa stated.

Yelwa further stated that in the history of the state, Abubakar is the first governor to show keen interest to fight corruption and mismanagement of funds of the state.

“We are therefore calling on well-meaning citizens of the state to support the governor to continue to block leakages and thereby continue to provide the needed infrastructure to uplift the living standard of our people.

“We support this move by the governor and we called on members of the party to let bygone be bygone and work for the interest of the party to ensure that Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar is re-elected.”

This group, like all other progressive groups, has spoken the minds of the electorate in Bauchi state, thus victory, God willing, is certain for the people’s governor.

One area Abubakar stands out is the issue of civil servants’ salary. Any governor that cannot pay salaries and focuses his mind mainly on handouts from the federal government has no reason seeking the people’s mandate in the first place. A leader that lacks vision and resourcefulness should not be allowed to seek public office. Many of our governors have become a burden on their people. However, the Bauchi narrative is remarkably different.

Governor Abubakar is one of the few governors who deserve their mandates. In fact, other northern governors should emulate him. Since he was elected into office three years and seven months ago, he has demonstrated in words and actions that he deserves the mandate and trust of Bauchi people.

He has ensured and maintained the regular payment of salaries of teachers and other civil servants at a time it became a trend for other governors to reduce the minimum wage or not paying salaries altogether. Despite the fact that some of these defaulting states receive higher subventions from the federal government than Bauchi state, they are still giving excuses for not meeting their workers’ welfare.

Why are we burdened with governors that have betrayed the trust of their people? Is there any magic that makes Abubakar different from other governors? These questions are necessary in order to identify the connection between performance and competence of office holders.

Governor Abubakar is not a magician, and has never pretended to be one. The only thing that distinguishes him from other elected leaders is the fact that he is adequately prepared for public office. Without adequate preparation, an elected politician cannot perform beyond the level of his competence.

Governor Abubakar’s impressive performance has demonstrated that without competence and vision, an elected leader cannot discharge his mandate satisfactorily. The fact that he has sustained prompt and regular payment of salaries is a proof of his creativity and state prudence. He is a prudent and shrewd leader who uses limited resources to achieve results. Unlike other politicians, Abubakar is not one given to excuses in state duties.

Another interesting aspect of Abubakar’s political principle is that he doesn’t abandon relevant projects initiated by his predecessor. Since he came into office three years and 7 months ago, he has given priority to completing all important projects that are relevant to the welfare of the people and initiating new ones to justify the love of his people.

Identification of basic priorities is another area Abubakar stands out among state governors. He doesn’t waste resources on grandiose projects that have no direct benefits to the ordinary people of Bauchi state. One of the problems of state governors is the fact that they tend to give priority to white elephant projects at the expense of the basic needs of their people. As a result, they saddle their successors with heavy debt burdens.

But  Abubakar’s worst enemy cannot deny the fact that he has made prudence his watchword in governance. He has demonstrated that public office is not for those on the job training, and development is not about the size of resources, but about the qualities of leaders that we elect.

Governor Abubakar’s commitment to uniting the people of Bauchi state for common progress, regardless of political leanings, ethnic and religious backgrounds, is a testament to his statesmanship. Therefore, the choice Bauchi made in 2015 has paid off, and will pay more in 2019.

Audi, a good governance advocate, sent in this piece from Bauchi

Boko Haram: Borno Politicians accused of causing panic amongst residents

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Boko Haram: Borno Politicians accused of causing panic amongst residents

Politicians from Borno State have been fingered in spinning of fake news to cause panic among residents of the state.

The Arewa Youths Integrity Forum (AYIF) made this revelation on Sunday via a statement..

According to the youth group the brazen exhibition of acts of treachery and distortions of insecurity by some Nigerians, especially political players in Borno State is becoming worrisome, to say the least.

AYIF said some politicians were taking advantage of the ongoing unrest in the state to enrich themselves and settle political scores.

Alhaji Sani Kolo, Secretary General of the group said some politicians from the state were allegedly masterminding the renewed attacks on citizens and military bases in Borno State.

Addressing newsmen on Sunday, Kolo claimed some persons were exploiting the renewed feeble resurgence of Boko Haram attacks in the Northeast to spread unfounded rumours to cause panic and hysteria to the natives who left IDPs camps months back.

Kolo said, “We have had a flurry of text messages forwarded from our people who are residents of communities like Bama, Dikwa and Monguno. These SMS are from characters who feign close relations with the recipients or Nigerians “concerned” about their safety.

“The nauseating messages come with barefaced warnings of the natives of these communities to relocate to IDPs camps for unstated reasons; thereby promoting fear and panic in the residents. But these are overtly locals who are untroubled, by the feeble strikes of shadowy operations of remnants of insurgents far from their vicinities; but excited that they are dwelling in peaceful, secured villagers once abandoned for months or years.

“It will be recalled that AYIF has had cause in the past to frown at the covert activities of political power mongers in Nigeria and their local agents and collaborators who prefer to see the progression of Boko Haram insurgency and the triumph of the terrorists against the Nigerian state.

“It is an open secret; these gangs of awkward, odious, greedy and expired breed of politicians are masquerading as messiahs of today. But they delight more in bloodshed and insecurity. They infinitely hate to see the end of terrorism in Nigeria, which they have persistently exploited for both political and economic gains. They are less concerned about the pains and sorrows they have wrought on our people and the country.

“Credible evidence at our disposal astoundingly confirms that the current resurgence of Boko Haram attacks in the Northeast, especially in obscure parts of Borno are sponsored to dwarf and rubbish the positive records of President Muhammadu Buhari on Boko Haram terrorism counter-war and the other multifaceted insecurity challenges in the country. Buhari’s enemies and arch traditional political rivals have figured Mr. President as an unbeatable force in the 2019 elections and all manner of bloody distractions are contrived to belittle his efforts.

“AYIF is not bothered about how President Buhari’s opponents wish to tackle him in the electioneering campaigns preceding the next general elections in Nigeria. The political theatre is open for Nigerians to decide who leads them from May 2019. But what is certain and will NEVER be tolerated is the renewal of the bloodshed, pains and sufferings of our people in the Northeast, using the template of Boko Haram insurgency.

“We have resolved never to allow these Luciferic forces to play politics with the lives and security of our people again. And if they fail to heed to this caution, we know their identities and shall not hesitate to expose them for all Nigerian to know, as first point of the expression of our anger. AYIF is aware of their evil plots and will not watch them take us back to the Egyptian servitude of the days they controlled power in Nigeria.

“There is no real or imagined justification for anybody or group of persons to conspiratorially circulate frightfully damaging messages to natives of communities and villages in Borno, “advising” them to abandon their homesteads and relocate to IDPs camps for another round of bondage in their country.”

Boko Haram: Our troops are worthy sentinels of Nigeria, University Don writes COAS Buratai

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Boko Haram: Our troops are worthy sentinels of Nigeria, University Don writes COAS Buratai

A renowned professor in the Religious Affairs Department of the University of Nigeria Professor Emmanuel Ome, has written a thought-provoking letter to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratia, appreciating him and his troops for their fight against insurgency in the country.

The university don, who is also a Conflict Resolution and Peace Building expert, in his letter pointed out the troops deserve all the necessary support in the battlefield.

The letter forwarded to our reporter on Sunday insisted that the Nigerian troops have decimated, decapitated and have weakened considerably the penchant of terrorists to hold our country to ransom .

Prof Ome also paid glowing tribute to the fallen heroes and heroines in the struggle to free Nigeria.

“In fact, they are dead, but alive, as they shall forever remain evergreen in our memories. The history of our country has etched their names in the Hall of Fame in gold,” he wrote.

The letter reads below.

December 28, 2018.

The Nigerian Troops,

Through;

The COAS,

Lt Gen TY Buratai,

Army Headquarters,

Abuja.

Dear Venerated Nigerian Troops,

“I am Deeply Proud Of You, Worthy Sentinels Of Nigeria:” An Open Letter To Nigerian Troops.

Compliments of the season to the Nigerian Army leadership and our gallant troops. I wish you and your families a happy Christmas celebration in arrears and an anticipated brand New Year.

Please permit me to say, may the joy of the season and New Year tether for us a rewarding progress in our personal lives and the final victory over the tedious national assignment of the counter-insurgency operations of Nigerian troops, who have undertaken to extricate the nation from the chains of insurrections and insurgencies.

I felt a strong urge to converse with you through the written word for special reasons. This is a season of appraisals and assessments of our personal journeys, progress of the nation and other endeavors we have undertaken in the course of the year screeching to an end.

So, it stimulated the compelling need to share my feelings or perceptions on the ongoing counter-terrorism operations anchored by the Nigerian Army and other arms of the Nigerian military through this open epistle.

It has been three and a half years since the Commander-In-Chief (C-In-C) of the Nigerian Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, assigned you and your troops the sacred and noble duty of rescuing and redeeming our dear country, Nigeria, from the tusks of bile and consuming insurrections and terrorism.

I am excited that you embarked on this national assignment with a sense of pride, patriotism, loyalty and an irreversible commitment to invest your best in the protection of our national heritage, sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Nigerian Army exuded these signs from the outset.

All of us are aware of the severity and enormity of the insecurity challenges which assailed and asphyxiated Nigeria, especially in the Northeast, where Boko Haram insurgency, which later morphed into at least, four factions held our country in choking bondage.

The satanically possessed souls freely imposed assorted atrocities and heinous crimes on our people such as reckless bombings, mass massacres, abductions, ransacking of whole communities and awful destructions to valued properties of our people and the nation.

Also, several Local Government Areas in the Northeast were under the firm control of Boko Haram insurgents who concretized their hold by establishing a strange version of Islamic Caliphate. They illegally administered an independent nation within the Nigerian state.

I know schools, banks, shopping malls and businesses were shut down in the Northeast. Our farmers were chased out of farmlands’; our children could no longer attend schools, but confined in IDPs camps; while tens of thousands of Nigerians, including women, children and the aged were held in servile hostage in multiple secret camps by Boko Haram terrorists.

Everywhere, from the Northeast to the Northwest, and down to the South, our country pitiably bled in blood, sorrows and pains of terrorism, armed banditry, militancy, armed and violent separatist agitations, herders/ farmers’ bloody clashes and hordes of other national malaises. These cumulatively threatened our survival and unity as a people and a nation.

Sir, I like to confidently say, frightening and tough as the assignments appeared, and together with sister arms of the Military, you led out troops boldly, audaciously and courageously to conquer the enemies of our nation.

It is certainly irrefutably that your military exploits have posted enduring footprints and legacies in the counter-insurgency operations in Nigeria. It is not debatable that Nigeria has made tremendous progress against terrorism by breaking the bulwarks and shattering the bones of our enemies in an uncommon manner, which has stamped the sovereignty of Nigeria.

We have seen your admirable and committed battles against insurrections and terrorism, which are effective both in the trenches or the battlefield and its latest variant – Cyberspace terrorism. I am proud to be a Nigerian.

Nigerian troops have decimated and decapitated the enemy; our troops have weakened considerably the penchant of terrorists to hold our country to ransom. And the ongoing clearance operations are the final point of the extermination of these religious extremists and fanatical sects. Incontestably, Nigerians can testify that troops have considerably and significantly curtailed the devilish rampage of insurgents on Nigerians.

We know these accomplishments’ have come at a great cost to our troops and the nation. But I am excited at your firm resolution never to quiver nor shirk until the last flag or enclave of Boko Haram is pulled down to the glory of Nigeria. Nigeria is solidly behind you.

Today, when I reflect on yesterday and today in Nigeria’s battles with terrorism, it feels me with boundless joy and pride that our troops have proved their mettle as worthy soldiers and combat ambassadors of the Nigerian state.

I profoundly recollect the sacrifices every one of you has made in this sensitive struggle of liberation. I recall the excellent and cordial relationship among your teams both in the trenches and elsewhere. I am emboldened by the overt determination of troops to extract the final victory at any cost.

I am not unmindful of your enduring focus in surmounting the barriers you are encountering in the prosecution of the counter-insurgency operations. When we are soundly asleep in the comfort of our homes; you act as sentries for us to have peace and security; troops are battling in the sun and in the rain; soldiers rarely savour the pleasure or warmth of families.

When you fight through ambushes and landmines planted by the terrorists, we are working in the cozy confines of our offices. We not oblivious of these realities and indeed, share in your hardships and trauma.

But be assured of our prayers and support. I believe your labour will not be in vain. Already, I can sense the sweet scent of the final victory against terrorists like you captured Sambisa forest, which insurgents thought they could keep forever.

My dear troops, you have done this many times in the past. I remember the day you reclaimed Gambaru- Ngala, Damboa, Marte, Guzamala, Baga and several other places. It was sweet victory and Nigerians celebrated you elaborately back home.

Gen Buratai Sir, you promised Nigerians nothing less than victory against terrorists. So, today, the Nigerian entire country looks unto troops as harbingers of this victory and our Saviour. The spirit must therefore remain unbroken and stronger. From the C-in- C to the least citizen of Nigeria, all of us have placed our hopes on you and we trust, you will never disappoint us because you have never disappointed us.

Nigerians are comforted by the fact that Nigeria’s unity today is on your shoulders and we are trusting that no distraction will compel you to let us down. That’s the extent you are dear to us and our nation.

I salute Nigerian troops a million times. We are not happy celebrating another Christmas and even the New Year without you in our midst. But we are ready to set a sumptuous banquet of kings and princesses for our gallant troops any day they arrive home with the final crown and emblem of victory against terrorists. With you, we have no doubt that Nigeria must be free and soon.

Lastly, I pay glowing tribute to our fallen heroes and heroines in the struggle to free Nigeria. In fact, they are dead, but alive, as they shall forever remain evergreen in our memories. The history of our country has etched their names in the Hall of Fame in gold.

Senator Murray-Bruce’s quest to return Nigeria to Egypt

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Senator Murray-Bruce’s quest to return Nigeria to Egypt

By Philip Agbese

There is the opposition, there is misdirected anger, there is crass unpatriotic fervour and there is Senator Ben Murray-Bruce. The Senator representing Bayelsa East district fancies himself as the defacto leader of the children of anger, the amalgam of a people that see righteous justification in being miffed at society for their own shortcomings in the hope that such wrongly channelled ire will palliate their tortured souls.

Senator Ben Murray-Bruce has perfected how to tap into this anger to rationalize his self-absorption with the loss of a chance to return to the National Assembly and continue enjoying access to the fat cat allowances that he will soon stop earning when the Eight National Assembly is shuttered. Had he been serious a tad he might have made his people see sense in rewarding good representation as opposed to a counterproductive zoning arrangement.

But he was busy rehearsing his charade of ‘Common Sense’. Knowing that the last thing his people want is listening to is his request return to the Senate he simply kept himself off the ballot to stave off the disgrace of a resounding defeat even on the platform of People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which is formidable in Bayelsa state.

He wrote recently on his Facebook wall, “Baga, allegedly taken by Boko Haram, Kekenou, reportedly fell this afternoon, now the reports we are reading is that the insurgents are marching on to Monguno. How does it seem if all this is happening and our entire leadership, led by President Muhammadu Buhari is celebrating in Uyo while our soldiers are dying in Borno?”

What followed by way of comments from his followers disgraces the Murray-Bruce family name and dishonours the Senate. At the lowest ebb of irresponsibility yet, the Facebook wall of a serving senator became the platform for promoting separatists ideology, terrorists’ cheering, hate speech spewing and canvassing for the disintegration of Nigeria. Of course there are the brash comments that censured the lawmakers for tolerating and clearly promoting these unpatriotic communications.

It is interesting to note that Senator Murray-Bruce never thought it prudent to moderate his wall so that those that posted comments that are openly inciting or constitute hate speech are called to order. The reality is that the ‘Common Sense’ man is incapable of correcting even himself. The slightest check would have pointed him to the assertion of the Nigerian Army that it was chasing after the terrorists that attacked Baga town. But he refuse to acknowledge that he lied in his post.

More gut wrenching is the realization that fake news is being created, peddled, and promoted by a serving Senator, who happens to be the owner of a media house, forget that his Silverbird group is more preoccupied with parading half-nude women than reporting probing news. If he can lie about Boko Haram “taking” certain towns then we wonder if anything that comes from his media group or his contributions on the floor of the Senate should ever be taken seriously.

It is not that the Senator cannot check to verify the facts. The reality is that the correct version of the story conflicts with the intention of the Atiku campaign. Atiku Abubakar, the PDP presidential candidate is all anchored on shopping for Buhari’s failure, which he is finding difficult to find. Murray-Bruce as part of the people working for Atiku would therefore tell just any lie to make it appear like they finally found the failure they have been shopping for.

But the foregoing is assuming that Senator Murray-Bruce would behave responsibly to again use his wall to tell his followers what the true situation is in Borno state. The reality is that Boko Haram must have thought they can pull off another attack on a military base and get away with it but they were thwarted.

Secondly, a truly patriotic Senator should have interrogated what it is that is behind the latest wave of Boko Haram resurgence after they have been trounced by the Nigerian military. One would expect that a lawmaker of the Federal Republic of Nigeria would have investigated the relationship between the breaking of the Islamic State (ISIS) in Middle East and the desperation of Boko Haram to capture a territory for the fleeing ISIS commanders to find refuge.

Such thinking outside the box is alien to Ben Murray-Bruce. Again it may just be that the Senator wrongly assumed that the upsurge in Boko Haram attacks is the one the PDP paid for in order to claim that President Buhari failed to deliver on his promise to deliver on security.

In the past, the speed at which the party come out to celebrate terrorists’ attacks on military posts had triggered the suspicion that Boko Haram usually notify them ahead about the timing and location of attacks. That is why “the reports” Murray-Bruce was “reading is that the insurgents are marching on to Monguno” when no such publication was made, which implies that he was reading from the advisory sent to PDP by Boko Haram.

Even though his party, the PDP, has rejected the nationwide Operation Python Dance, it will be interesting to see how Murray-Bruce’s ‘Common Sense’ would convolute it in the bid to politicize a pressing national need.

Perhaps it is that position that will finally convince Nigerians that some aspect of the intractable terrorists’ problem Nigeria is having is tied to the likes of this senator and his party that are bent on supporting Boko Haram for their dark motives. It is what will prove to us that while he alleges misplaced priority on the part of the president, he also does not want the implementation of any steps that will crush Boko Haram.

The senator’s nostalgia is understandable. He continues to have visions of four years ago when elections had to be shifted in order to recover Nigerian territories back from terrorists that had hoisted their flags over towns and villages. That period was a cover to loot the country on an epic scale.

In the faith that Murray-Bruce practices, this is equated with desiring to return to Egypt, a reference to the children of Israel wanting to return into slavery instead of facing the difficult task of navigating hardship to arrive at the Promised Land. Egypt guarantees free food under slavery similar to the seemingly free money that was available under the PDP’s rule but under which Nigerians were slaves to corruption.

 

This return to Egypt is what Senator Ben Murray-Bruce is campaigning for. It is what is making him wish for Boko Haram to overrun parts of Nigeria so that his party can campaign with that. But even though he is desperately wishing to return the PDP to the position of a looting party it does not justify posting irresponsible updates on social media. It does not justify abusing his position to promote hate speech and divisive comments. If this is what Murray-Bruce and his co-travellers are trying to return Nigeria to then it is not worth it.

Agbese wrote from the United Kingdom.

Police launch probe into mortuary inferno where over 50 got burnt

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Police launch probe into mortuary inferno where over 50 got burnt

Anambra police command has launched an investigation to unravel the cause of the fire that burnt some corpses at the mortuary of the General Hospital in Enugwu -Ukwu in Njikoka Local Government.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the incident occurred at about 5:40 p.m. on Saturday.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Haruna Mohammed, confirmed the incident.

He said: “Police patrol team, led by the Divisional Police Officer in-charge of Nimo Police Division, CSP Benjamin Egu on arrival at the scene, contacted fire Service department, which later put out the fire with the help of local volunteers.

“However, the fire caused extensive damage in the building as almost all the corpses at the mortuary were burnt beyond recognition.

“The cause of the fire incident is still unknown but the case is under investigation to ascertain circumstances surrounding the incident,” Mohammed said.

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