A glimpse into Africa’s future

…History belongs to those willing to fight for what they desire. Either you have an agenda you’re assiduously working towards or others will use you to achieve theirs.

Over the past few months, we have discussed topics including “The Rule-Based Order” — The Ajebutter Collective, Democracy: Faults & Contradictions, and If not autocracy or democracy, then what?. We also took time to explore The right to legitimacy, in an attempt to clarify who determines what is legitimate — the people or “the international community”.

As Africans, we have always desired success but due to the tragedy of history, we have had to look outside for possible examples to emulate. Today, we desire to emulate the successes of The West which may be an extension of our trauma or a case of Stockholm syndrome. But is this a realistic endeavour to undertake?

Achieving success across the continent has been a desire we hold for generations, a desire which grows with each passing day along with the scale of effort required to achieve it. But in all this time we have not taken the time to determine if, in achieving this success replicating the west is worth it, at what cost would it be, and if there are far better examples suitable for our soul to emulate.

We cannot plunder

Previously, in the article “The Rule-Based Order” — The Ajebutter Collective, we looked into the west’s interaction with Africa over the centuries and its implication on our reality today. We also discussed how the west achieved its success at the expense of our very soul and why to this day we subsidise their lifestyle by the way trade and the international system are configured with them as its primary focus.

The secret of the west’s success is not something so enigmatic beyond our imagination. To summarise, it’s us — Africans & the Global South (GS). There is a belief that the west’s success is due to the absence of human nature, some advanced process of thought & diplomacy, or an evolution of the human itself (Homo democratia). This belief is wrong, so fundamentally wrong that much discussion must be carried out on this in the future.

The west’s success is not due to any advanced thought process, out-thinking their problem/reality, the art of diplomacy or an evolution of the indigenous European into a new form of Man. At the root of the west’s success is a very simple process of plunder.

A 500+ years worth of plunder across Africa & the GS is the very root of their prosperity. Our experience living through the Age of Discovery, the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, the institution of Settler Colonialism in South Africa, America, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, etc., and a campaign to enforce colonies on Indigenous Africans along the borders drawn in 1884, Berlin Conference where no single African was present to voice an opinion on either the act or the resulting arrangement needs to be recognised as a trauma/tragedy which still informs aspects of our reality today.

It is important to spend a few moments on the paragraph above to understand how we got to where we are, the trauma we are living and the crime against humanity still being legitimised today. This is crucial because every so often I run across Africans sometimes Yorùbá like me who take the Berlin borders as an act of god, and express desires for us to forget the past, move on and simply make things work by accepting reality as they are. I vehemently refuse such a reality.

I refuse because the past is as important as the present and as it informs the future. It allows you an expansive knowledge of your immediate environment ensuring you understand who your natural allies and likewise enemies (we all have one, to think otherwise is a fool’s errand) are. Understanding the past does not connote being trapped within it, rather, it reduces the likelihood of us repeating the same mistakes, a task we have failed at.

The absence of a self-critical analysis of our past from a perspective primary to our respective reality has led to decisions that are detrimental to our existence. Your perspective must be primary when evaluating past events because every so often people pass on European/other’s views, perspectives & analysis of history as theirs. Such inadequacies continue to lead to bad choices across all spheres of our life. These choices have ensured a regression of our society as we keep chasing European/external solutions designed to solve European/their issues without realising such are mostly inapplicable to us.

It does not apply to us because our reality, history, geography, culture, ideology and spirituality differ with zero correlations at times.

The west’s success is not due to any advanced thought process, out-thinking their problem/reality, the art of diplomacy or an evolution of the indigenous European into a new form of Man. At the root of the west’s success is a very simple process of plunder.

Absence of Human Nature?

It is far more affordable in the presence of abundance and leisure to set aside human nature. Therefore, Europeans act holier than thou due to having limited worries beyond strategising how to plunder & subjugate much of the world.

Taking France as a case study, recently, it began to experience a fuel crisis which continues to linger. As someone who has lived through this repeatedly all my life in Nigeria, it can get worse. The effect of this crisis coupled with dissatisfaction, protests and strikes preceding it on French society has led to an increase in tension across the country which has made Macron contemplate calling in the military, a drastic action for a “liberal democracy”. Of the many realities currently present in France, I would like us to consider the tweet below.

The tweet above is not an attempt to dwell on the current struggle of the French people — maybe there is a little satisfaction in having them experience a bit of the pain the rest of humanity deals with daily. Rather, to present the toll that these crises have had on the average french citizen over the years. Also, this signifies the presence of human nature in France as well.

Given equal circumstances, human actions devolve to their primal nature. For the French, human nature has begun to awaken from its long slumber. It is important to be aware that no amount of thought can overcome the frustration of queuing for hours if not days for a few litres of petrol. It’s easy to ignore human nature when there is an abundance of resources, prosperity and leisure. This state of overwhelming abundance makes some have illusions of being a better version of humanity compared to others, and postulate unrealistic idealistic concepts as to why the rest of humanity is stuck as they are. But, put them in a situation with a degree of scarcity of all things, and you’ll get this reaction — an expression of human nature.

The reveal from COVID till now is that Human Nature reigns supreme and Africa & the Global South are as human as the west. We simply lack in abundance and prosperity.

Africa’s future is regional

A glimpse into Africa’s future is not for the faint-hearted. Much has been said over the past decade about Africa’s rising status which has become a missed opportunity. Though there is some progress sprinkled around, Africa has instead regressed on many indices over the past decades. None is more obvious than the backslide of West Africa (WA) and the Sahel, and how their future becomes increasingly bleak.

We have all had that moment where we had to state Africa is not a country/monolith. This is even more true now when looking ahead to what’s coming for the continent. I have come to understand Africa’s future is regional. A focus on regional development, nuances and history will do a lot of good for the continent’s progress & future.

Firstly, Africa is used across my writing as a substitute for Sub-Sahara Africa i.e the aspects of Africa south of the Sahara inhabited by indigenous ethnicities. Africa comprises different regions each with its own regional body whose role is to mediate the geopolitical terrain and trade relations among other responsibilities. It is across this divide our future will be determined.

A glimpse into Africa’s future is not for the faint-hearted … Africa has regressed on many indices over the past decades. None is more obvious than the backslide of West Africa (WA) and the Sahel, and how their future becomes increasingly bleak.

Africa’s future as it was in the past will be determined by its different regional groupings with a degree of independence from one another. Also crucial is how they can redefine trade, movement and security of the continent in the 21st century. This is because as a continent with such expansive land & human resources coveted by all, the scale of prosperity and industrialisation is too massive to be tackled as a collective concurrent outcome.

As in the past, our road to development, its meaning and purpose, and how we will achieve it will differ between regions. Each region is required to construct a vision for the future and strive with their all towards these goals which include the need to conquer navigation within the continent for inter-regional relations.

Of course, the best outcome will be for inter-regional trade, movement and network to be developed concurrently within a mutually beneficial framework. These are not a new proposition, but a restoration of what once was which was dismantled by alien marauders who forced upon us a framework which feeds exclusively their interests. The restoration of trade lines and familiar diplomatic relations on the continent will do us much good.

On West Africa & The Sahel

History belongs to those willing to fight for what they desire. Either you have an agenda you’re assiduously working towards or others will use you to achieve theirs.

I realised that focusing my attention on West Africa (WA) & the Sahel which are my primary concern serves a better purpose. Though, my opinions may possess a degree of adaptability to other regions and serve as a point of reference.

As in the past, our road to development, its meaning and purpose, and how we will achieve it will differ between regions. Each region is required to construct a vision for the future and strive with their all towards these goals which include the need to conquer navigation within the continent for inter-regional relations.

Recently, I observed the trajectory of WA & the Sahel towards overtaking the Middle East as the forgotten region of the world. A region filled with chaos and crisis for decades to come, a black hole of media coverage, poverty-stricken, forgotten and left to its fate.

There have been a series of events in these two regions in recent years including the rising case of attempted & successful military coups, different degrees of armed struggles by different groups, the rise in terrorism, and the relocation of jihadist organisations/networks to the regions. All these, coupled with a rising case of economic and political instability in Nigeria, West Africa’s supposed hegemon, and other states in the regions.

As the global geopolitical shift continues to intensify on multiple fronts including the economy and recent semiconductor restrictions, it is unlikely that the world has much attention to spare on us. If recent events are any indication, a complete focus on Ukraine to the detriment of other issues of equal or greater importance, like the Ethiopia-Tigray war, has proven once again where the heart and attention of the world lies and for whom they are ready to dare our collective nuclear annihilation. All these are realities we can neither run away from nor hope to wish away.

Likewise, the desire of the international community or their appetite is quite irrelevant to the developing reality. The possibility that either the west or the rest of the world will have enough attention or funds to spare for us in the face of the current global recession, food shortage, geopolitical realignment and other crises is practically non-existent. The most likely scenario is for us to be caged within the African subcontinent.

Recent development has shown desperation in the west to prepare against a migrant crisis. Western Europe and North Africa have developed measures and mechanisms to “contain” the situation. In addition to this is the fact that our relationship with the west has not changed much over the more than 5 centuries we’ve related with each other.

Africa has certain demographics and internal dynamics — which will lead to certain outcomes, and neither Europe nor the USA have the interest, nor the desire to commit resources to have any impact on these outcomes in the long run.

Also, the revolt of Francophone West Africa against the French shows a forced divestment from those who are considered traditional partners in the region. The new allies moving to the region in light of current geopolitical realities point more to a coming crisis and instability as we become a node in the challenge of “The Rule-Based Order”.

Crucially, it cannot be expected of those of us who live in these regions to accept the status quo — poverty & crisis-ridden — existence simply because we want to keep the alien overlords happy. Inherent contradictions instituted by the same group are the core of the current crisis escalating through the regions and much of Africa. It’s us living within these regions who will determine our fate regardless of what is affordable, preferred or appetising to any external entity.

As it was in the past when slaves on the plantation are not expected to consider either their master’s or any other’s appetite in their struggle for freedom, emancipation and dignity, so too will the appetite of the European or any external entity be of any consideration today.

I’ll have loved to hear the speeches given to slaves on the plantations back then on why their master and America didn’t want them to be free.

I think that what is West Africa and the Sahel need to be properly defined and delineated along with other realities. Currently, the map along the 1884 Berlin borders is a tragedy to behold, a crime against humanity which requires justice and effort towards restoration even today.

West Africa needs to also be properly reconstituted along familiar lines to optimise opportunity towards a prosperous, industrialised and developed future. We must not be crippled by fear of the past, as much as there was competition, it was healthy in a lot of ways.

Like Europe, with a redrawn border informed by historic and familiar relations of different groups coupled with trade policies, diplomacy and a degree of regional integration, we can achieve the success we’ve always dreamed of.

Beyond the Berlin Border – Restoring Africa’s Nations and Civilisations

…Despite our struggles, we are still stuck in the 19th century and our souls continue to revolt in rejection of the realities carved by aliens with neither context nor consent.

By Olúwáṣèyí and Adejumo David Adebayo

This work is in collaboration with Adejumo David Adebayo. He provided the research used for this piece which is the first of many contributions to Àṣírí Ọ̀rọ̀. There are a few maps presented throughout the article, please spend a few moments digesting them.

African Nations and Civilisation were disrupted 138 years ago at an event in Berlin, Germany called the Berlin Conference, Congo Conference or West Africa Conference. Today’s boundaries, which are a legacy of the colonial era, and the resulting languages through which we express our realities also follow these colonial claims over our respective existence as Africans.

These claims continue the centuries of humiliation where even today we lack any true nation on the continent which reflects the wishes of the indigenous people, their ethnicity, culture and civilisation. Though a limited few are free of this curse, the sovereignty of Africa’s true nations which was stolen continues to be held hostage.

In most of these African countries with white settlers, colourism exists in addition to apartheid that favours white settlers against the indigenous people. In these states, creating a racial consciousness towards promoting Black/African solidarity as a common factor becomes a necessity. During this period, ethnic consciousness is jettisoned or reduced for the sake of solidarity against a common white settler threat, until such a time when the threat posed by this alien group and their hegemonic status is nullified.

But in West Africa, white settlers were unable to entrench themselves despite repeated attempts at carving a colony to settle. Therefore, the absence of a settled white population and its resultant threats has led to a more pronounced ethnic consciousness over race.

Foundations of a Nation

A nation is born from commonalities of groups that exist within its bounds. Observing the different nations of the world across different continents, a pattern emerges especially in terms of the economic success and stability of such nations. A common pattern with these nations is the homogeneity of their societies. Although, a Mono-Ethnic country is a rare find, however, the stability of nations can be observed to correlate to how homogenous they are.

To be homogeneous is to be of the same or a similar kind, it is not the absence of difference. Homogeneous countries consist of groups with shared history, roots, ideology, spirituality, culture, civilisation, etc. All this and others work together to form a binding force, a myth, and a civilisation on which a nation is built. It’s not a lack of differences but the presence of a high degree of similarities that reduce the complexity of these societies because they are more likely to agree on the fundamental principles that will guide their collective consciousness towards a shared goal. There are always others in such societies as you observed in nations across the world but one group, one identity, one ethnicity, one civilisation forms the bedrock of these nations around which others gather.

An interesting observation of note is that in most of these nations, they are named after the major ethnic block that dominates the country with their language, culture, history, spirituality and civilisation. Some examples are Finn – Finland, Russian – Russia, Indo-Aryan – India, Albanian – Albania, Lithuanian – Lithuania, and Nauruan – Nauru, just to name a few. The full list of countries and their ethnic composition can be found here.

The principle of homogeneity can be found in many nations formed by indigenous people across the world and to this day differentiates them from the colonial corporations that litter the subcontinent of Africa. In East Asia, Japan is home to the Japanese, Korea to Koreans, and China to the Chinese (over 90% of the more than 1.4 billion population belongs to the Han ethnicity).

In most African countries, a clear majority ethnic block does not exist as states are split between different groups with very little in common beyond relative geography and skin colour. At times, these groups are ancient antagonists who are still in a state of war today. This is why Africa is not known for inter-state conflict but is synonymous with intra-border wars. This pattern is not unique to Africa as the same has been observed throughout history in similar cases exemplified by the recent experience with Yugoslavia and the current Ukraine debacle. 

In Africa, the root of this is alien, external, colonial and neocolonial. The Berlin borders were conceived at the 1884/5 Berlin conference. A conference whose result didn’t consider the existing realities, identities, history, culture, animosities, ethnicities and consent of the indigenous people, language, civilisations, borders and nations that existed across Africa then.

The opportunity cost of “Beauty in Diversity”

Africa is the most diverse continent and this conference institutionalised the distrust which is inherent in human nature which borders and distance continue to be the only known remedy. Despite our struggles, we are still stuck in the 19th century and our souls continue to revolt in rejection of the realities carved by aliens with neither context nor consent.

Considering the degree of ethnic diversity in countries across the world, a pattern can be easily observed. Comparing countries, continents and their successes, it can be seen quite simply why some countries may fall behind and struggle to achieve success compared to those success stories we consider the first world.

From previous studies, Africa is the most ethnically diverse continent with its nations equally carrying the same fate. With the world’s 20 most diverse countries, we can easily correlate the degree of instability that has become synonymous with the continent to the degree of ethnic diversity of the countries found in it. Although there are many contributing factors, this is primarily a result of the colonial legacy born as a consequence of the Berlin conference.

It is important to note that our actions/inactions perpetuate this reality even today despite compounding evidence both lived and historic that point to the deficiencies and ineffectiveness of these borders. Also, it shows a lack of imagination in the leadership on the continent and how they are so intent to kick these issues down the road. It’s a keg of gunpowder that will ultimately explode as we’ve seen in Ethiopia’s case.

In total opposite to their preaching of “beauty in diversity”, the most homogenous societies are Japan and the Koreas. Likewise, European nations enjoy a high degree of ethnic homogeneity. Strong democracy, a stable society, and a peaceful region correlate with ethnic homogeneity. In contrast to their misadventures in Africa and much of the world, several now-global ideas about the nation-state, about national identity as tied to ethnicity and about nationalism itself originally came from Europe.

For centuries, Europe’s borders shifted widely and frequently, only relatively recently settling into what we see today, in which most large ethnic groups have a country of their own. Even certain small ethnic groups like a Sammarinese from the Republic of San Marino (a population of about 34, 000, became independent in year 301 from the Roman Empire), and a Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae from the Federated States of Micronesia (a population of about 105, 000, became independent in the year 1979 of living memory from the USA), both with a nation of their own. Ironically, it is the same group largely responsible for the state of confusion African countries are in, that are largely repulsed by the thought of restoring what was or realigning the borders to a state more conducive to the reduction of strife and competition between ethnicities within the Berlin borders.

From the study of ethnic diversity, internal conflicts appear to be more common in highly ethnically diverse (greener) countries. This might make some intuitive sense given that different groups with comparable “stakes” in their country’s economics and politics might be more willing or able to compete, perhaps violently, over those resources. In the case of Somalia, maybe worsening economic conditions or war make people more likely to further divide along ethnic factions. Good economic conditions and an abundance of resources may reduce these internal conflicts despite the degree of diversity, but that does not mean an absence of conflict or competition. It simply offsets the worst of it to the future at such a time when the conditions are bad enough to allow for them.

A case study of Nigeria

Nigeria, likewise many other African countries fall in the category of the state with the most ethnic diversity. In Nigeria, ethnicity and nationality are two opposing frameworks. It is a country where ethnic consciousness reigns supreme due to the reality of its history as a heterogeneous country without a clear majority ethnic/ethnolinguistic/ethnoreligious group to serve as the core. Evidenced by the realities from the days of regionalism, a major singular ethnicity with its culture, language, spirituality, ideology, and civilisation would have been more likely to create a more stable, peaceful and successful nation than what we have now.

The three largest Ethnicities in Nigeria are Yorùbá, Hausa-Fulani and Igbo, each with its unique language, culture, spirituality, ideology, and civilisation. Three opposing and conflicting fundamental principles with little to no commonalities in many aspects and an unwillingness to assimilate into the principles of the others.

In more homogeneous societies, it is easier to rule more democratically or otherwise depending on the desires of the people. This is because, despite disagreements, the threshold of disagreements morphing into conflict/violence is quite high. Such societies share a bond that can be considered similar to that of a family, with which despite the differences that may exist between them they can easily reach a compromise without the need to utilise violence. These differences at times can be fundamental but as in a family, they have a way of eventually working things out without rarely resulting in conflict. This can be observed with the predilection of the Yorùbá today to set up a table whenever a crisis rears its head, a lesson learnt in blood over the 16-year-long Kírìji war between different Yorùbá sub-ethnic kingdoms.

Identity comes with many complications regardless of how much of a social construct we hope for it to be. As is the case of Ukraine, sometimes an ethnic group can fragment with a section determined to be separate and different from the wider group. In times past, this desire is more easily respected and such groups are afforded the freedom to express themselves in all its implications. But today, the trapping of the so-called “modern states” has served as a prison to cage different groups of people with very little to no commonalities and at times with ancient animosities. They are caged within a “country” with a shared border and through a set of miracles beyond human nature/understanding, they are required by the powers that be – who institute these realities in Africa’s case, to create a success story of a nation.

It’s okay to be different

Diversity does not necessarily correlate with conflicts, but in a country like Nigeria, it is hard not to draw such direct correlations as it’s quite glaring. Nigeria’s diversity coupled with interests has led to nepotism, discrimination, supremacism, hatred, toxic political relationships and instability as evident from its incapacity to move beyond the events of 1966 and the glaring realities that accumulated till today. Although these differences existed during the era of regionalism, it was aggravated by the advent of a unitary structure which costs the constituent nations the semi-autonomy they enjoyed during that period.

It has been repeatedly noted that the regional system was bound to fail as crises were cropping up due to the absence of a clear borderline, conflicting fundamental principles, and near-total autonomy of each region. Perhaps the regional political players understood a bit of this but failed at extending regionalism to the security architecture. If such had been done, we will likely not be here today.

In Europe, states with no clear majority ethnolinguistic group like Switzerland, Belgium and in some ways the United Kingdom (UK) exists. However, the system through which they are governed is not unitary like in Nigeria and each ethnicity has a great deal of autonomy. Despite this, there are still self-determination movements in Belgium and across the UK towards achieving further autonomy from the collective. Without at least a version of these systems, Nigeria’s situation will not improve but rather worsen and eventually lead to a cataclysmic collapse as observed in its exponential slide into barbarism.

Across West Africa, a separation between what is West Africa from the Sahel is a must. From the study of Africa’s climate zones, the borders of what should be considered West Africa can be found in the humid tropical zone.

In Nigeria, the Northeast and Northwest are predominantly Sahel in geography, demography, culture, language, and civilisation. They have an unmistakable similarity to the civilisations of Niger Republic, Mali, and Burkina Faso along with their ethnoreligious values, pro-Islamic civilisation, geography, culture, language, climate, and more. The North-central or Middle-belt of Nigeria has more similarities with Southern Nigeria – the Southwest, South-south and Southeast. These similarities express themselves in their traditions, history, language, culture, civilisation, and more. Although, it must be noted similarities do not connote sameness.

Africa’s Indigenous Nation States

A restoration of what was is a reality we cannot escape. If not today, its day shall come tomorrow. The indigenous people must be afforded the freedom to express their unique identity, culture, language, spirituality, and civilisation, and to have the capacity to protect themselves from the excesses of others within a defined border that assures their self-preservation.

This freedom is theirs to take. As we cannot tell the oppressed how to react, it’s a burden we carry collectively to seek a pragmatic solution that respects the individual freedom of these civilisations which were upended and trapped within alien carved borders without their consent.

A possible reflection of the ethnolinguistic grouping (as shown in the map above) of Nigeria is a path. A realignment along the ethnolinguistic path may serve as the nearest checkpoint we could fall back to. It also provides the minimum viable nations with the most stability. Across these lines are civilisations with millennials of history that have been inherited by groups within these sections who are unwilling to assimilate into others.

To be homogeneous is to be of the same or a similar kind, it is not the absence of difference. Homogeneous countries consist of groups with shared history, roots, ideology, spirituality, culture, civilisation, etc. All this and others work together to form a binding force, a myth, and a civilisation on which a nation is built. … There are always others in such societies as you observed in nations across the world but one group, one identity, one ethnicity, one civilisation forms the bedrock of these nations around which others gather.

The wider region of West Africa can further develop along the principles of economic integration, a degree of collective political consensus for peaceful conflict resolution, and a military alliance in the spirit of NATO to serve as a collective security assurance among the parties and as a deterrence against any external aggression towards the region from either within or outside the continent.

The sham of multiculturalism

Angela Merkel once remarked on the sham of multiculturalism and its dangers. It is important to enforce once again that these experiments being carried out across Africa have been done for an eternity across Europe, America and the rest of the world. The results had always been the same inevitable fate of violence, chaos and distrust, while its solution remains to allow different groups their autonomy to exist in ways satisfactory to them.

“Multiculturalism leads to parallel societies and therefore remains a ‘life lie,’ ” or a sham, she said, before adding that Germany may be reaching its limits in terms of accepting more refugees. “The challenge is immense” she said. “We want and we will reduce the number of refugees noticeably.” 

In America, through migration and settler colonialism, the result is the near destruction of the indigenous people in the North of the continent – America and Canada, and the re-population (still ongoing through immigration) of those areas which also serve to dilute the indigenous voices. In the south of the continent, the effects of that history are still evident today.

We must not wish upon ourselves this fate nor should we through our dogmatic belief in realising the colonialist dream enforce it upon ourselves.

It’s okay to be different.

It’s okay to be you.

It’s okay to feel like, indifferent and hate towards others.

It’s okay to be as human as every other group across the world.

It’s perfectly reasonable to want to be independent of others on lands that are yours.

As an African, it’s okay to be just another human being.

Kaduna: PDP alleges unnamed guber candidate spearheaded attack on Atiku campaign 

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the violent attack on its presidential campaign rally in Kaduna by “sponsored armed hoodlums,” suggesting it was spearheaded by an unnamed governorship candidate in the state.

In a statement by its national publicity secretary, Debo Ologunagba, in Abuja on Monday, the party described the attack as unprovoked and reprehensible.

Mr Ologunagba said the perpetrator aimed to frustrate the party’s presidential rally by triggering tension, violence and bloodletting in Kaduna.

“This is contrary to the undertaking in the peace accord signed by political parties on September 28 by presidential candidates. The attack today must give well-meaning Nigerians concern as some reports allege that the vicious assault on the PDP presidential campaign was spearheaded by a governorship candidate in Kaduna,” the PDP statement alleged.

The PDP noted that the brains behind the attack were intimidated by Atiku Abubakar’s popularity and acceptance among the majority of Nigerians.

“These desperate elements should be reminded that from history, the people of Kaduna have never been cowed or subjugated and cannot now, especially in their present resolve to vote in Abubakar as the next president of Nigeria,” added the statement.

(NAN)

JUST IN: ASUU Suspends 8-Months Strike

The Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) has suspended its eight-month-old industrial action conditionally, a member of the union’s National Executive Committee told Channels TV early Friday.

The union decided to suspend the strike during a meeting of its leadership that started on Thursday night and lasted into the early hours of Friday.

The meeting was called by the union to determine its next line of action after its state branches met over the Court of Appeal ruling last week.

The Court of Appeal had ordered ASUU to suspend the strike before its appeal of the ruling ordering lecturers to resume work can be heard.

Members of the union’s National Executive Committee, which comprises the chairmen of the state chapters and members of the national executive, attended the meeting at the ASUU National Secretariat in Abuja.

ASUU has been on strike since February 14th 2022.

(Text, excluding headline: Channels TV)

The Kukah Prize For Young Innovators

THE KUKAH PRIZE FOR YOUNG INNOVATORS 

The Kukah Prize for Young Innovators is an award of recognition for outstanding innovatiors in the field of technology presented to young Africans who show exceptional promise as a developing leader in digital transformation. 

Bright young minds with creative technological solutions to developmental challenges both in their communities and in the wider world will be evaluated by judges in the startup and tech space across the continent for the most innovative digital solutions in the form of start-ups or initial concepts meeting global developmental challenges.

Eligibility and Selection Criteria:

• The nominee shall not have reached his/her 31^st birthday by the time the award is received.
• Nominees must be African
• The award will be presented to individual whose innovative work demonstrates high levels of excellence in technology.
• The award winner will be selected on the basis of the outstanding quality, novelty and significance of the candidate’s research.

Establishment and Support:

This award is sponsored by Greysoft Technologies and The Kukah Center. The award will be issued during the 70^th Birthday Ceremony of His Lordship, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah.

The winner of this award will in addition, have various opportunities to intern with organizations such as; Microsoft, Google and any other benefits the Award Committee may suggest.

Court stops APC  Convention indefinitely 

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has restrained the  All Progressives Congress (APC) from proceeding with its planned national convention until the case against the party pending before the court is heard and determined.

The plaintiff in the suit marked FHC/HC/CV/2958/2021, Salisu Umoru dragged the party (APC), the Chairman Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee and Governor of Yobe state, Mai Mala Buni and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC before the court to challenge the planned convention.In the motion number FCT/HC/M/9655/21, the plaintiff prayed the court for an order interlocutory injunction restraining the 1st and 2nd defendants, allies, agency, representative, associates or whoever is acting for them through or through them from organising, holding or conducting a National Convention of the All Progressives Congress in January and February or at any other date either before or after pending the hearing and determination of the suit. After listening to counsel.

The matter, justice Bello Kawu of the court granted the order and restrained the party from going ahead with the convention and also warned that the subject matter of the case is now subjudice and must nor be tampered with.

Already, a contempt application has been file before the court against the March 26 national convention of the party. The claimant informed the court that the mere inauguration of sub-committees for the March 26 National Convention when the order of the honourable court is in force is a demonstration of disdain for the rule of law in the country.

While 30th March, 2022 was fixed for the continuation of hearing of the substantive suit,  no date has been fixed for the commencement of contempt proceedings against the APC.The claimant also commended INEC for standing by the provisions of the law and the order of the court which is still in force.

Recall that the electoral umpire, INEC, had last week wrote to the APC, insisting that the commission does not recognize Abu Bello’s leadership, and also informed the APC that it has not performed one of the requisite requirements for a valid NEC meeting or National Convention.

In the letter signed by Rose Onaran Anthony, Secretary to the Commission, the attention of the APC was drawn to section 82(1) of the electoral act which provides, “Every registered political party shall give the Commission at least 21 days’ notice ofany convention, congress, conference or meeting convened for the purpose of “merger” and electing members of its executive committees, other governing bodies or nominating candidates for any of the elective offices specified under this Act”.

The implication of the above provision is that the APC will have to send a fresh letter of 21 Days notification to INEC the moment the Court Order is vacated in order to hold its national convention.

Senior lawyers who spoke to our correspondent also highlighted that the inability of APC to vacate the court order and send the 21days notice in fulfillment of the requisite constitutional requirements will render the party’s March 26 national convention invalid in the eyes of the law.

It was also noted that the party leadership risked imprisonment for contempt of court when they went ahead with convention plans against a subsisting court order restraining the party from doing so.

Some of the senior lawyers have also advised the APC to postpone the National Convention indefinitely and focus on the forthcoming primaries so as to produce candidates for the 2023 General Elections.

Credit: Sun

14 Vigilantes, 5 Others Killed in Terrorist Attacks in Niger

Fourteen vigilantes from Rijau local government area of Niger state who went to assist their colleagues in fighting bandits in Kebbi State have been killed.

The Nation learnt that the residents of Darin Daji in Sakaba local government area of Kebbi state were under attack of bandits and the Vigilantes sent an SOS to their colleagues in Tungan Magajiya community of Rijau local government.

The Vigilantes who went en masse to Kebbi state battled the bandits but over 52 people were said to have been killed in the attack.

The Chairman of Rijau local government area, Alhaji Bello Bako said that contrary to reports making rounds, no recent bandit attack has taken place in Rijau local government area.

“15 vigilantes were killed when they went to assist their colleagues in Kebbi state to fight the bandits who were attacking the community. The attack was nit in Rijau local government, they only went to support their colleagues and unfortunately met their death”, the Chairman told The Nation.

The Nation learnt that 52 people were killed in the attack which occurred on Monday morning in Sakaba local government area of Kebbi state which shared a boundary with Rijau local government area of Niger state.

In a related development, five people were killed and others seriously injured in  Paikpa village in Munya local government area of Niger state.

The attack which occurred at midnight on Monday saw the terrorists invade the community on motorcycles carrying sophisticated weapons and shooting into the air.

The terrorists were said to have entered the village through Luwi community.

Several cattle were rustled and unconfirmed report has it that some people were abducted.

 The attack in Munya local government area was confirmed by the Secretary to the Niger State Government, Alhaji Ahmed Ibrahim Matane but he did not give out the number of casualties.

“There was a raid of some Communities in the state a few days ago as they, (gunmen) entered Paikpa late on Monday during which they killed some people, abducted some people and rustled a lot of cattle.

“Men of the Civilian JTF and local vigilante engaged the bandits in battle which lasted hours making the gunmen escape into the bush”, the SSG said.

Credit: The Nation

Ninety Percent of Repentant Terrorists Are Truly Born Again – Zulum

Not less than 90 per cent of terrorist elements who repented from the life of crimes in Borno State have genuinely forsaken their past, Governor Babagana Zulum declared on Wednesday.

Zulum stated this while responding to questions from State House Correspondents after the inauguration of the Presidential Committee on the Repatriation, Return and Resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons by President Muhammadu Buhari.

His Kaduna counterpart, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, late 2021 argued that terrorists do not genuinely repent, advising they must be dealt with and eliminated.

However, Zulum whose State started receiving repentant elements from Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorist groups last year, said those that so far come out to surrender to the government have genuinely shown repentance.

According to him, most of the repentant terrorists are already giving the government the necessary support.

When asked if he was confident that the terrorists were truly repentant he said: “Hundred per cent confident. Yes. While no process is perfect in the entire world, so far, so good, the process has yielded positive results.

“I believe, over 90% of those that have surrendered, are doing well and have given the government the necessary support. They’re also calling their colleagues in the bush to come out and join the process of peacebuilding.”

On the inauguration of the committee to resettle the IDPs, he said: “Indeed, we are so much happy, especially those of us that are in the Northeast because thousands of people were displaced, some are taking refuge in the Republic of Chad, in the Republic of Niger, Cameroon.

“And this is the time that the Federal Government in collaboration with the State Governments of the North East, will facilitate the repatriation of the internally displaced persons that are living in our neighbouring countries to Nigeria.

“The committee is also to look into the management of the repentant Boko Haram members. So indeed, we are so grateful and the entire northeastern government will give maximum support to this committee.”

On if the refugees are ready to come back, he said: “They are over ready. They have been agitating for a return for the last two and a half years. But unfortunately, the enabling environment has not been created for that return.

“But now that the Federal Government has acted when all the necessary resources and materials needed to ensure their return in a dignified manner will be provided by the Federal Government and we remain extremely grateful.”

TG News

BREAKING: FG Declares Bandits as Terrorists, Releases Gazette

The Nigerian Government has officially proscribed banditry in Nigeria.

This development was contained in a statement sent to POLITICS NIGERIA by the Ministry of Justice on Wednesday. It can be recalled that the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) disclosed that the Federal Government was planning to officially designate bandits as terrorists because the government is following international best practices.

He said his office was in the process of gazetting a court judgement that ordered the government to declare bandits as terrorists, adding that the process would be concluded in a matter of days.

Speaking on Tuesday to NTA, Malami had stated; “Government has a responsibility to act but within the context of acting, you equally expected to operate within the confines of international best practices associated with engagement and one of such best practices is that you can only use maximum force on groups, individuals that are declared terrorists and that is where the application of the Terrorism Act comes in place.”

“With that in mind, Nigeria acted, first by proscribing IPOB, taking into consideration the threats to lives and properties they have caused in the nation. Boko Haram was proscribed.”

“The gazetting of a court order or judgement is a process but what matters fundamentally within the context of international convention is the judicial declaration and that has been obtained; the court has declared bandits, kidnappers, cattle rustlers as terrorists.”

“So, with or without the gazette, what gives effect to such declaration is a judicial pronouncement but the gazette is a mere formality and it has been on and I believe within a matter of days, it will be concluded.”

Politics Nigeria

Zamfara Police Rescue 97 Kidnapped Victims Including 19 Babies, Pregnant Women

The Zamfara State Police Command has confirmed the rescue of 97 persons abducted by bandits in Shinkafi and Tsafe Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.

Briefing newsmen at the Command Headquarters in Gusau on Tuesday January 4, the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Ayuba Elkanah, revealed that those freed included seven pregnant women, 19 babies, and 16 minors.

The CP explained that 68 people were released in Shinkafi while 29 others regained freedom in Tsafe.

“Following an extensive pressure mounted as a result of the ongoing Military operation around the camp of a notorious bandit’s kingpin known as Bello Turji that covers Shinkafi, Zurmi and Birnin Magaji Local Government areas. On 3rd January, 2022, Police Tactical operatives deployed at Shinkafi axis received an intelligence report that, some kidnapped victims were seen stranded in the bush,” the police commissioner stated.

“The Police operatives in collaboration with genuine repentant bandits and vigilante swung into action and rescued sixty eight (68) victims from the forest. The victims were in captivity for over three months and they include 33 male adult, 7 male children, 3 female children and 25 women including pregnant/nursing mothers respectively. The victims held from Magarya, Maradun, Gusau of Zamfara State and Sabon Birni LGA in Sokoto State.”

The police boss said that 29 victims were rescued from 60 days after they were abducted from three villages in Tsafe Local Government Area.

“On Monday 3rd January, 2022, Police Tactical operatives deployed in Tsafe axis acted on intelligence report and stormed Kunchin Kalgo forest in Tsafe LGA and rescued twenty nine (29) kidnapped victims unconditionally,” he said.

“The victims were abducted for over 60 days from three villages namely; Adarawa, Gana and Bayawuri in Rijiya District of Gusau LGA, they include 25 female including pregnant/nursing mothers and 4 male children. The victims were said to have been abducted by a Bandits’ kingpin Ado Aleru

“All the rescued victims are currently receiving medical treatment from the joint medical teams of the State Government and the Police. They will be debriefed, hand over to the State Government before being reunited with their families.”

IGTV