Appraising Buhari’s War on Terror

By

Emmanuel Onwubiko

Last week, the Reverend gentleman who is the Special Adviser on Media and publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari in the person of the erstwhile Managing Director of the Daily Sun newspaper Mr. Femi Adesina told his audience that within days the administration would showcase a documentary on the milestones madecin two years of the second and final constitutionally permitted term of the President. 

Most Nigerians battling with how to overcome the economic challenges foisted on them essentially by the consequences of the Covid-19 PANDEMIC did not actually take him serious. Moreso, the Spokesman of the President is a man who has consistently defended the policies of the administration some of which have adverse economic consequences on the living conditions of millions of Nigerians. However, the documentary has actually been shown. But this is not the theme of this write up which essentially represents the official position of the non governmental body that I have led since the last fourteen years known as HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA). This reflection of my group is on the positive trends made by the federal government in the area of arms procurement process that began when LIEUTENANT GENERAL TUKUR YUSUF BURATAI headed the Nigerian Army for nearly 6 years since 2015 up ubtil he voluntarily retured from active soldiering work and was tapped for another international assignment for Nigeria as the Country’s Ambassador to Benin Republic.  During his years in service as Head of the Army General Buratai established a system of transparency and accountability in all aspects and in the area of procurement of weapons,  he made the process so open and subject to public scrutiny in such a way that the media captured moments when those weapons were procured, delivered and deployed. In one of those public occasions, General Buratai said the equipment has aided military operations against bandits and Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists in the North East.

The media reported then that the Nigerian Army had inducted eight units of locally made combat vehicles Mine–Resistant, Ambush–Protected (MRAP), also called `EZUGWU’’ into Operations Lafiya Dole and Sahel Sanity.

The then Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, who made this known at the inauguration of the vehicles in Kaduna, said the equipment has aided military operations against bandits and Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists in the North East.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the vehicles, which are designed specifically to withstand improvised explosive device attacks and ambushes, were manufactured by the Command Engineering Depot, Kaduna.

General Buratai, who was represented by the Commandant Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Jamil Sarham, also inaugurated the Smart Factory also called Additive Manufacturing Technology, Vehicles Assembly shop and Officers/Soldiers accommodation at Command Engineering Depot (CED).

“The vehicles have significantly improved our capability to defeat our common adversary, Boko Haram and the Islamic State of West Africa Province,’’ he said.

The army chief said that the induction of the vehicles was a “clear testament to the unprecedented commitment of the Nigerian Army to building industrial capacity of the CED to undertake in-depth Research, Development and Innovation (RDI).’’

“Today, one of the greatest challenges facing the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) and other security agencies is an outright reliance on importation of defence logistics from allies.

“Accordingly, President Muhammadu Buhari posits that Nigeria’s dependence on other countries for critical military equipment is unacceptable, the country must evolve (a) viable mechanism for near self-sufficiency in military equipment and logistics production,’’ he said.

General Buratai said that the president’s charge, therefore, made the Nigeria Army to initiate collaboration among CED, Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria and Buffalo Engineering Technical Services Ltd., to produce the local MRAPs.

He said that additional defence logistic requirements produced through the collaboration include “Light Armoured Tactical Vehicle, Special Patrol Vehicle, Mobile Field Bakery and Mobile Borehole Drilling Machine among others.’’

“Succinctly, these platforms are aiding the Nigerian Army to perform its constitutional roles across all spectra of warfare such as the ongoing counter insurgency operations in the North East and other operations.’’

Earlier, the Commander, Engineering Depot, Sunday Araoye, said the induction of the vehicles was a clear manifestation of the Nigerian Army’s commitment to enhancing the industrial base in the country.

Araoye said that the uncommon approach was adopted in fabricating the hardware for the armed forces and other security agencies in the country.

The then Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, had also in Kachia, Kaduna State, inspected and inducted new set of artillery guns and equipment to be deployed for operations in the North East.

General Buratai also inaugurated the new Headquarters complex for the Nigerian Army School of Artillery, NASA, as well as  inspected several ongoing projects in the school and the barracks’ community.

The News Agency of Nigeria reported that the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Defence, procured the brand new artillery guns and equipment.

The guns are field artillery pieces and some of the equipment are vehicle ultra-light carriage for artillery and self propelled light gun series whose identity and specification would not be published for security reasons.

 Speaking to journalists after the commissioning ceremony, then spokesman of the Nigerian Army, Brig- Gen. Sagir Musa said the COAS was in the NASA to inspect and test fire the guns, in line with his vision of ensuring a conducive working environment for officers and men of the Nigerian Army.

“It was in this vein the COAS commissioned the ultra-modern NASA Headquarters here in Kachia today which you just witnessed.

“Given the quality of work done, that singular act is commendable and will help in enhancing the productivity of officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army School of Artillery”.

“The new artillery guns inspected by the COAS will be inducted into the Northeast Theater of Operation Lafiya Dole in the North East”, Brigadier General Musa said. 

Therefore, Appraising the progress so far recorded in the war on terror, especially with the purchase and delivery of the first batch of the Tucano Jets, the foremost pro-democracy and leading civil rights advocacy group; Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has commended the level of commitment of the current administration of His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari in the war against terror through his efforts in arms procurement since its inception in 2015.

A statement endorsed by the National Coordinator; Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko quoted HURIWA as saying that there were hitherto a number of significant difficulties for the Nigerian military in what was termed the “Long War on Boko Haram;” ranging from weapon system acquisitions and personnel drawdowns, Nigeria’s denied access to sophisticated weapons in the past and the past administration’s mismanaging and embezzling of funds meant for weapons procurement.

However, at the inception of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, one thing was clear to all, here was a soldier’s soldier coming to tackle a most difficult and daunting task of winning the war against terrorism.

Before the Buhari administration came into the office, the previous administration for the most part of its six years of existence had battled, albeit unsuccessfully the Boko Haram terror group,  adjudged as one of the deadliest, if not the deadliest in the world. Such was the enormity of this task.

Although the reins of governance fell into Buhari’s way through his victory at the 2015 elections, the task of fighting terror was given to one of Nigeria’s most loyal military officers in the person of  General Tukur Yusuf Buratai by his appointment as the Chief of Army Staff in 2015 and by extension the man upon whom the biggest responsibility yet, in recent times fell upon not only to win a most unconventional warfare against terror, but to organize a largely disillusioned, ill-equipped, low in morale army, that had so suffered on many fronts, in organization, motivation and infrastructure, more than in the fronts fighting terror”, HURIWA informed.

Highlighting the efforts the current administration has made in arms procurement right from the past Chief of Army Staff; Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (rtd.) and his counterparts held sway, HURIWA recalled that on December 14, 2017, Nigerian governors had approved the release of $1bn from the country’s excess oil account to the federal government to buy arms for the effective execution of the Boko Haram war.

The approval, which reportedly reduced the $2.3bn Excess Crude Account by half, HURIWA noted that development had generated heated debate with some analysts saying the money would be stolen just as the rights group stated that though some governors from the South rejected the approval, the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, briefed the press on the decision after the meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC), during when he assured that the money would cover the whole array of needs which included purchase of equipment, training for military personnel and logistics.

Subsequently, in April 2018, in a letter to the National Assembly, Buhari disclosed that the sum of $496m was withdrawn from the Excess Crude Account for the purchase of military aircraft. However, the money was paid to the United States for the 12 Super Tucano aircraft nation’s fight against terrorism.

On July 22nd, 2021, The Nigeria Airforce (NAF) announced it had received the first batch of six A-29 Super Tucano aircraft from the United States since its purchase in 2018, with the last batch due to arrive before the end of the year. This was disclosed in a statement by the Director of Public Relations and Information for NAF Headquarters; Edward Gabkwet in Abuja.

The aircraft represented a historic level of partnership achieved between the US and the Nigerian military. This is because, beyond the new hardware on the runway, this programme has brought the two nations’ militaries closer in formal training, professional development, air base construction, logistics planning, and negotiations. We are pleased with this partnership approach to end violent extremism and ensure a more stable, prosperous country for all Nigerians,” HURIWA added.

Also HURIWA informed that beyond the Tucano Jets, various procurements had been made for the purchase of critical equipment for the army, navy and air force, in support of the war on terror contrary to allegations.

Quoting the senior special assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on media and publicity; Garba Shehu, HURIWA revealed thus: “Various other military procurements for critical equipment have been made. These are for the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Navy, amounting to $380.5m. These procurements include money for the purchase of Navy Lynx helicopters.

The total amount spent is $876.8m. The equipment paid for has due dates of delivery of between six months to two years. Balance of the money that is unspent as at March this year is $123.1m”, HURIWA quoted Garba Shehu to have said.

Furthermore, rejecting the integration policy of the government which favours terrorists, the rights group emphasized on the need for the administration to widen the scope of the war on terror by bringing terrorists to justice adding that the policy is serving as potential recruitment grounds for terrorists since terrorists who are released mostly return to their bad ways because its ideological and the process of deradicalisation is not adequately implemented in Nigeria due to lack of expertise within Nigeria for such.

Although, for a successful counter-terrorism campaign, scholars and conflict practitioners emphasize a combination of military and non-military strategies. While a military strategy is useful to weaken the military capacity of terrorists, non-military strategies including negotiations, deradicalization, disarmament, rehabilitation, reintegration, and other soft measures are advanced to tackle the underlying problems fuelling terrorism to achieve a long-term peaceful outcome.

While within the non-military approach, deradicalization program is very significant, especially in combating religion- or ideology-motivated terrorism, given that the strategy not only aims to deconstruct extremist ideologies but also facilitates the rehabilitation and reintegration of ex-combatants and victims of violent extremism, the design and implementation of the deradicalization program of the Nigerian government towards countering Boko Haram have structural weaknesses that has further contributed to the problem of violent extremism, the rights group explained.

HURIWA therefore craved that the process of bringing suspected terrorists to justice could be fast-tracked, explaining that the criminal jurisdiction of a court is activated through a formal charge before a court of competent jurisdiction. “So, without a formal charge filed against a suspect, the machinery of justice via the judiciary has not been set in motion”.

However, HURIWA pointed out that it is important that security agencies conclude investigations before the prosecution of persons or organisations indicted, adding that those could be handled with every sense of urgency. “This cannot be done by mere lip service but by concentrated positive efforts, which is presently lacking since the Terrorism Act seems to be in abeyance and relegated to the background with the reintegration policy of the government being proposed for arrested suspected terrorists.

If the suspected terrorists are granted amnesty, it definitely would be applicable to their sponsors too. So, we are invariably back to square one, where the will to enforce existing law is lacking,” HURIWA reasoned.

Noting that terrorism is a global challenge, HURIWA warned that except suspects are prosecuted and punished for crimes against humanity with concerted global collaborations, sponsorship for terrorism would continue to evolve.

Hence, HURIWA concluded by condemning the general state of insecurity, occasioned by payment of ransom to terrorists when they abduct citizens. “What can we call our present situation where bandits kidnap people and are paid ransom by the government? Is that not a form of sponsorship for terrorism?” HURIWA asked. We urge that the wealth of experiences of past Service Chiefs including the strategic thinking of Generals such as Buratai should be tapped so the current Army Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Yahaya Faruk who has started well can be able to finish the war on terror in no time. 

*EMMANUEL ONWUBIKO is the Head of HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) and blogs @www.thenigerianinsidernews.com, www.huriwanigeria.com. 

Networks Shutdown: A Mere Charade, Terrorists Still Attack and Kill at Will

By Steven Kefas

Reactions have continued to trail the decision of the Nigerian government to shutdown telecommunications network in states affected by terrorism in the North-West region of the country. States such as Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kaduna and even neighboring Niger in the North Central have had telecommunications network shutdown in several local government areas.

The Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), the agency saddled with the responsibility of overseeing and managing all communication architectures in the country ordered the shutdown of telecommunication networks in early September 2021 citing the war against terrorists elements in the region as yardstick.

In Katsina state, the President’s home state for example, at least 13 local government areas believed to be under the control of terrorists had telecommunications network shutdown since early September. This came after initial denial from the NCC that such was going to happen.

Neighboring Zamfara state also shutdown telecommunications network in the entire state for several weeks while Sokoto state did the same for 14 local government areas.

Niger state and also Kaduna state implemented network shutdown in parts as telecommunications networks in several local government areas were also shut down all in the guise of fighting terrorists.

While the states and federal government wants Nigerians to believe that the network shutdown is actually achieving the desired results, the realities on ground prove otherwise as the terrorists have not relented in their nefarious activities since the shutdown.

Even though the shutdown may have achieved some results in terms of diminishing the terrorists’ capacity to operate, the demerits outweigh the merits as over 300 people have been killed across the five troubled states of Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara, Kaduna and Niger since the shutdown was implemented in September. A figure many like myself believe to be too high considering the fact that a much publicised military operation is ongoing in the region.

Abductions have also continued unabated as the terrorists have devised means of communication such as using satellite phones to bypass the effects of the shutdown or using network architectures in Niger Republic to carry out their operations.

In an interview with dailytrust, a popular Nigerian based newspaper, terrorists commander, Shehu Rekeb boasted that the shutdown of telecommunication networks in the area does not stop them from operating as they now use thuraya satellite phones which do not require the conventional GSM network to function. Rekeb also said that certain GSM networks still operate in some parts of the states where the shutdowns were in effect.

“There are places you can make calls if you have Glo aand Airtel lines,” he told the Daily Trust September 13. This further raises questions on the sincerity of the telecommunications network shutdowns in the area.

A resident of Zamfara who relocated to Kaduna in late September told me under the condition that his identity must be anonymous that some areas still have globacom and Airtel networks making it possible for the terrorists to still communicate and launch attacks on communities. His testimony further confirms the claim of Shehu Rekeb.

Aside from the huge negative impacts the network shutdown is having on citizens who rely on networks to carry out their daily legitimate productive activities, the shutdown has also failed to improve the security of the citizens of the region as the terrorists still carry out deadly attacks on communities almost on a daily basis. This week alone over 30 people have been killed in separate attacks in Zamfara and Katsina communities despite the ongoing military operations and network shutdown. On 26 of September, 38 people were killed by terrorists in Madamai and Abun communities in Mallagum district of Kaura local government area of Kaduna state. In the same week another 60 were killed in Sokoto and Niger communities in separate attacks.

Even the military fighting the terrorists in the North West are not exempted from the negative impacts of the network shutdown. On 11th of September 12 military personnel paid the supreme price when terrorists took advantage of the shutdown and launched a deadly attack on a forward military operation base in Mutumji, Zamfara state. Reacting to the attack, a too military source told dailytrust that the shutdown made it impossible for the troops to communicate amongst themselves when the terrorists attacked.

“While the jamming of GSM in Zamfara has gone a long way in taming the bandits, it also has a negative effect on troops because communication among them was also extremely restricted,” the source said.

“Most of the foot soldiers relied on normal phone networks instead of any of the specialised communication gadgets that should be deployed during operations such as the one going on in the North West.

“Only the top commanders have military radio or walkie-talkie, meaning those in the frontlines would only use their personal mobile phones which are no longer accessible.

“The bandits took advantage of this and attacked them at their forward operation base. As you can see, the attack was launched on Saturday but it only came to the fore days after,” he said. Another source said there was the need to deploy specialised communication gadgets for the troops.

“The ban on communication in Zamfara and parts of Katsina is not bad in its entirety but the military high command should have taken note of the adverse effect on troops.” The military source said.

In the same vein, another security source told Dailytrust in September that the telecommunications network shutdown was not ‘well-thought-out and bypassed the due process of getting clearance from the National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno, who oversees cyber security’.

In as much as some sessions of the Nigerian media would want to paint a scenario that the network shutdown and ongoing military operations in the North-West have achieved the desired results, citizens in the areas are daily counting their losses in the forms of burying their loved ones and inability to even send SOS calls when under terrorists attacks due to absence of telecommunication networks in the area.

Socioeconomic activities that rely solely on telecommunication network facilities to function have also been crippled in the region forcing many to be out of jobs in an economy where inflation is currently on an all time high.

The Federal government must as smarter of urgency and national importance review the ongoing suspension of telecommunication networks in the North-West region to ensure necessary measures are out in place to achieve maximum results.

Dealers of the so-called thuraya satellite phones in the country must be investigated and possibly prosecuted for aiding and abetting terrorists activities in the country.

Nigeria’s Hard Talks On Hard Drugs

By

Emmanuel Onwubiko

There is a new sheriff in town as far as the battles against the trafficking and wanton abuses of hard drugs in Nigeria are concerned. This sheriff as it were, is on a righteous rampage and the camps of drug barons are in trepidation.  
The new boss of the National drugs law enforcement agency used to be a military governor of Nigeria’s largest State Lagos and he is retired Brigadier General Mohammed Buba Marwa. Buba Marwa introduced the tricycle motorcycle transportation system in Lagos to bridge the gap between car owners and the large army of poor commuters who usually go through hell to move from point A to Point B daily and this novel transportation system was then named after him as KEKE MARWA. 
Since the last few months that he mounted the saddle as the Chairman, Chief executive officer, the modus operandi of that agency has witnessed revolutionary changes and if he continues with this speed for the next couple of years, he will make landmark achievements that will engrave his name on the sands of time. What he needs now are our prayers, support and for him to remain truly to his calling as a one man revolution squad.     
But there is one negative exception and that is exactly the Nigerian factor thus-: the institution which now has a proactive leader in the person of Buba Marwa and his able departmental heads, is still being grossly underfunded.
It is inconceivable that a national agency fighting billionaires who are the drug barons and their deadly foot Soldiers who are the traffickers, is being treated merely as a parastatal under the ministry of Justice and therefore gets her funds through the usually backward envelope system whereby the ministry will first of all be cash backed by federal ministry of finance and budget and then the other agencies under it will be given fractions from what accrues to the ministry. It’s like waiting for the crumbs that fall from the master’s table.
Right from my days as a journalist covering the judiciary for The Guardian in Abuja and by extension NDLEA, I have often wondered why Nigeria which is notorious and ranked as one of the most notable hard drugs transit camps in the World is waging war against such deadly menace and a hydra headed global crisis through a system of the envelope funded mechanism. 
I once asked the minister of justice as an active journalist long before now why NDLEA is not funded just like the judiciary so the funding will automatically drop to them from the main source and not being passed on through the Justice ministry.
Also why has the Country been funding NDLEA just like boys brigade even when we send them to go after billionaires who can easily bribe their way out of any charges or kill them if they stand on their war to the illicit billions? Hard drugs business is a multi-billion dollars global industry. 
I did not get any meaningful response from that minister of Justice who felt that divesting him of the control of NDLEA is like a demotion. But the issue is about our national security and the fact that hard drugs pose some of the gravest challenges to our survival as a Constitutional democracy.
Recently, my organization HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) visited the NDLEA  and we broached the idea of the agency getting direct funding from the federation accounts. But the hierarchy personified by the Executive Chairman was silent may be because they do not want to be seen fighting the minister of Justice. 
But look, the issue is about us as a nation and so getting NDLEA to enjoy independence in terms of funding and operational scope would be one of the best ways to put a check to the rapidly expanding tentacles of drug barons. 
This is because, no matter how good the chairman and his team want to be, the temptation to give up on the fight may come if they are broke and so can not take some initiatives that are capital intensive without recourse to the bureaucracy. For instance the NDLEA does not fund activities of credible groups or supporting NGOs carrying out advocacy campaigns against drugs and drugs trafficking.  At least the HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA has received no penny or one kobo in support of our vigorous and dangerous campaigns against hard drugs business in Nigeria.  
Anyway, away from the institutional impediments constituting a cog in the progress of NDLEA, we will examine some themes that have resonated from the thinking cap of the leadership of NDLEA since the new man came on board.
We are abandoning the issues of operational and funding independence because these key issues are within the reach of the National Assembly and the president to pursue if they truly wish to make good legacies for themselves.
The first issue is about the debate on whether to legalize marijuana or not. On this issue I think all sides to the debate have valid points and so none should be shoved aside. 
The likes of the Ondo State governor thinks the use of Marijuana should be legalized so as to expand the revenue scope of the nation. HURIWA thinks it’s a good idea to legalize medical consumption of Indian hemp but the time isn’t ripe yet. 
But the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu, urged the Nigerian Government to jettison traditional orientation and “archaic” sentiment that state that cannabis is a ‘devil’s plant’.
Akeredolu, who spoke at a Stakeholders’ Roundtable on the “Benefits and Opportunities of Cannabis Plant in Nigeria” held at the International Culture and Event Center, urged the Nigerian government to give legal backing to cannabis to enable its use in Nigeria, saying “cannabis is a multi-billion naira industry that can help diversify the Nigerian Economy if judiciously utilised”.
He said, “the medical and economic merits of the use of cannabis outweigh its demerits.”
Akeredolu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), stated that advanced research has shown that Cannabis has immense economic benefits if well utilized.
On public perception trailing his advocacy for controlled cultivation of the cannabis plant, the governor stated that opinions against the legalization of the plant are as a result of the ignorance of people about the numerous benefits of the plant.
“The planet earth has a constant period of darkness and light every 24 hours which we call night and day, in like manner, just like every other crop or plant, Cannabis Sativa has both CBD and THC content which we can put it to good and bad use,” Akeredolu said.
“Products with extract of Cannabis Sativa are already in our pharmaceutical sales outlets across the country. They are being imported with foreign exchange, and sold at exorbitant prices with additional, but avoidable stress on our Naira.”
Akeredolu stated that during his first term, he and other members of his cabinets made a trip to Thailand to understudy the legal reform carried out to facilitate the decriminalization of the cultivation, processing and export of Cannabis Sativa which gave him the opportunity to know the immense benefits that comes along from controlled cultivation of the plant.
“My visit to Thailand was an eye-opener. We saw forest reserve used in the past to cultivate and process hard drugs transformed to be meaningfully utilized in an environmentally friendly way for healthy ventures. We saw people previously sold to hard drugs engaged in legitimate business ventures,” Akeredolu said.
“What we are therefore advocating for in Nigeria is simply controlled cultivation of pharmaceutical standard cannabis strictly for medical purpose. I am saying necessary laws must be amended to give room for it. I am not saying it should be a free-for-all venture. Those investing in it must be licensed under strict control.
“We must find a way to legalize the cultivation of cannabis for medicinal purposes. There is nothing wrong about it. We are only shooting ourselves in the foot. It is a foreign exchange earner for people outside the country. People want this. We ourselves, even our pharmacies want to develop.”
Akeredolu further revealed that Ondo State has one of the best Cannabis in the world which is capable of creating a million dollars’ industry for the country.
He explained that in 2019, the global market of Cannabis was put at 52.8 billion dollars and that the market forecast is an average 14.5% increase from the year 2020 to reach 103.9 billion dollars by 2024.
Akeredolu urged members of the National Assembly, the NDLEA, the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria and Research Institutions to have a second and deeper thought on the issue, saying it holds great potential in solving the current economic woes in the country.
The Chief Panelist at the Roundtable, Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, member representing Bende Federal Constituency who doubles as the Spokesperson of the House of Representative, agreed with Akeredolu, stating that said it has become imperative for Nigeria to review the legislation prohibiting the farming and production of Cannabis for medicinal and industrial use in Nigeria.
While applauding Akeredolu for leading the Advocacy for the legalisation of cannabis, Kalu posited that hemp is a viable prospect for Nigeria’s diversification efforts.
The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora, Tolu Akande-Sadipe, who was also a panelist at the roundtable, expressed optimism that the passage of the Dangerous Drugs Act [Amendment] Bill 2020, currently at second reading, would usher in a new era on medicinal cannabis production and distribution in Nigeria.
Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) has explained why proponents of the legalisation of cannabis sativa cannot have their way under the prevailing security situation in Nigeria today.
 
Gen. Marwa spoke as guest speaker at the 2021 Ulefunta annual public lecture organised by the Deji of Akure kingdom, the Ondo state capital, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi and chaired by the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae.
 
Laying the basis for his argument, the NDLEA Chief Executive said, the proliferation of illicit drugs often engenders a pattern of crime, chaos and conflict. In the advanced world, it is the driver of high crime rate and violent killings in the inner cities. In developing or Third World countries, it is the escalator of strife, pogroms and civil war, and has played a big role in countries torn to pieces by tribal war, such as it is playing our in Syria, which has become the hotbed of Captagon, and Afghanistan, which controls the opium trade.
 
“We have seen narco-terrorism in countries like Colombia and Mexico where drug cartels are law unto themselves and are as powerful, if not more powerful, than the State. So, there are real cases, not scenarios, of where and how illicit substances played a role in a societys rapid descent into chaos and tettering on the brink of a failed state.
 
“So the pertinent question for us today is: Has drugs played any role in the festering insecurity in Nigeria? The answer is yes. Of this we have ample evidence.
 
 Represented by his Special Adviser on National Drug Control Master Plan, NDCMP, Otunba Lanre Ipinmisho, Gen. Marwa stated that considering the intractable burden of insecurity facing the country, “we do not have the luxury of allowing a narcotic economy to take root and thrive in our society. Africa, nay, Nigeria has enough problems without adding the burden of narco-terrorism.
 
“Of all the known illicit substances, Cannabis sativa is the only one that is native to Nigeria and it is the most abused of all illicit drugs, and from the findings of the National drug Survey of 2018, cannabis is becoming a national albatross
 
Warning that the population of Nigerians hooked on cannabis alone is more than the population of countries like Portugal, Greece or the Republic of Benin, he said as such the nation cannot afford to toy with the grim reality of the danger of legalising cannabis when all the needed infrastructure to monitor and control that are still far from being in place.
 
“Where cannabis is concerned, we should not by any argument allow ourselves to become the proverbial fool that rushed in where angels fear to tread. Countries like Canada, that are pro-cannabis have strong and efficient institutions that are way ahead of ours by long mileages.
“Given the reality of our law enforcement, controlled cultivation of cannabis is a mirage. Arent pharmaceutical opioids controlled? Tramadol, codeine, rohypnol, benzopam, they are all controlled, yet, their trafficking and abuse is causing us unquantifiable human and economic loss. And for those who point at the inherent economic benefit that could accrue from legalisation of cultivation, in accordance with our reality, would you be comfortable, if by tomorrow, your 13-year-old son can easily access marijuana, or you find some wraps of weed in his pocket, or you learnt that someone has introduced your 16-year-old daughter to smoking Igbo under the pretext that it has medicinal value?
 
Our individual answer to that question will give us a public opinion of where we should stand as a country in the cannabis debate.
 
He warned that We should stop treating cannabis like some sweet candy without any side effects. Its repercussions outweigh the vaunted benefits. And legalising its cultivation for a country like Nigeria, is a shortcut to illicit drug Armageddon. At a time we are taking a forward march in the fight against drug abuse, attempting to paint cannabis in a favourable light is akin to taking backward steps.
 
“As far as NDLEA is concerned, cannabis remains an illicit substance. The Agency shall always canvass against its cultivation, possession, trafficking and sales, and use. And offenders will face the wrath of the law. And, if I may add, our conviction rate is 90% successful.” 
Both the protagonists and the antagonists have made solid good reasons but these options should be weighed against the backdrops of our current situations. Again the call for compulsory drug test for intending couple as made by the Chairman of NDLEA to me is misplaced.  What is desirable is for NDLEA to be empowered to conduct DRUG TEST on all aspirants to public political offices so we stop drug addicts from gaining power as is the case previously and even today with the rate of corruption and all sorts of bad behaviours by political office holders. The NDLEA should rather campaign for the compulsory drug tests on politicians and they should leave intending couples alone because that’s not very important.  

 
*EMMANUEL ONWUBIKO is head of the HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) and blogs@www. theingerianinsidernews.com, www.huriwanigeria.com.

Blacker Days For Christians in Kaduna State

By

Beevan Magoni

For over twenty years, Kaduna state has been divided into two. No neutral grounds. You are either on the Christian side or Muslim side and as much as we try to be neutral, we hardly can. It gives us the joy to see the other side suffering. It gives us reasons to pray to God and say “Hallelujah” or “Allahu Akbar.”

Yesterday, last night to be precise, Graceland, a retirees settlement in Zaria was demolished by the Kaduna state government. This settlement is owned by A.B.U and other institutions’ Christian retirees who had served these schools diligently for over thirty years, made their retirement plans by buying and building on pieces of land in this popular Christian-dominated neighborhood.

The College of Aviation Technology claims to own the lands that these people invested in long ago. While the case is in court, on Saturday evening, they got the news that they have just 24 hours to vacate their houses as the government was coming to demolish them. No prior notification. Nothing. Just like that, and last night was it. Demolished.

Reaching out to a friend this morning, she said, “Daddy bought that piece of land when we were in Primary School. He served in A.B.U’s senate for 35 years, and upon retirement built that house where he and our mother stay. Two nights ago, he saw in the news that the settlement is about to be demolished.

“This morning, they had demolished our neighbors, and when they got to ours, they asked Daddy to go remove his windows, doors, and ceiling fans before demolition continues. In the next 30 minutes or so, hour beautiful home would be gone forever!’

She went on to say, “El Rufai has never added value to the common man. He hates poor people. He hates the common man. Right from Abuja to Kaduna, he respects no one, most especially if you are a Christian and a minority. Pains and sorrow everywhere!”

True, as victims of the atrocities of El Rufai, I wish everyone was able to unite like the NLC and call his bluff to his face. But you see, he is a tactician. He is good at dividing the people and pitching them against one another.

Churches, schools, houses owned by Christian minorities are being demolished in Northern Kaduna. Bandits are kidnapping school children, and ransacking homes for who to kidnap in Kaduna Central, while the rest of Southern Kaduna is under 247 continues unprovoked attacks with a forecast of famine in the coming months.

The Bible says, when the righteous rules, the people rejoice, but as unfortunate as it sounds, while the issue of polarization on the basis of ethnic and religious divides is rife in Kaduna state, everyone, who is a nobody is at the receiving end of it, because of the policies of his Excellency, Governor Nasir El Rufai of Kaduna State.

Hall Of Shame

Northern Governors Are Bunch of Retards, Do Not Speak For Me

By

Dauda Hussaini Paiko

Northern Governors are the most useless set of Governor’s in the world. They don’t meet to discuss ideas of how to improve life, add value to their states. The only time they meet is when discussing Social Media Bill or Presidency.

We have 19 Northern States. Out of that 19, only 2 are viable. Kano, maybe Kaduna. The rest are over glorified States who’s main idea of States is Federal Allocation.

This jokers did not meet to end banditry, nor did they meet to end terrorism, let alone talk economic growth and how to foster development across the regions.

But these howlers will come and be threaten everyone how power must remain in the North. When you talk they claim they have the numbers.

Yes, you have the highest numbers of out of school children, with time BH & banditry will be child’s play, because those you fail to empower and educate will have no option than to take up arms.

Yes, you have the highest number of Girl child marriage. In some states, girls within the age of 10 – 12 are married off. That is why VVF have become rampant in NW States. Because their men don’t know anyone other than raping young children in the name of marriage.

Yes, you have the lowest GDP in the country, you produce nothing of commercial value. Your land that could be use to produce large farm products that could be use for industry are tents for terrorist.

The only thing you know is Power. Power without value. Power without making a difference. Power without control.

I am a Northerner. And I speak for majority of the sane ones. Power sharing is not our problem. Our problem is lack of Peace, Progress and Prosperity.

I want industry, trade, tourism and employment. Anyone parading himself as my leader should share that common interest with us.

I want food, employment, education, roads and access to credit to establish myself. I am tired of running everywhere with no hope.

These bunch of retards don’t speak for me.

Goodbye, Dr. Obadiah Mailafia – by Farooq Kperogi

The death of Dr. Obadiah Mailafia on September 19 touched me more deeply than I thought it would. He was an exceptionally smart, conciliatory, and gracious man who, in spite of appearances to the contrary, had no space for hate and grudges in his heart.

He and I publicly clashed on at least two occasions. On both occasions, it was he, a much older person, who privately initiated reconciliation with me.

Our first clash happened in 2016 at an online forum called the USAAfrica Dialogue Series where he expressed what I thought were unfair, conspiratorial, facts-free, anti-Muslim opinions. I challenged him with counter facts.

Instead of responding to me on the forum, he reached out privately and admitted that said his thought-processes were probably distorted by the personal tragedies he had suffered in the hands of mass murderers who were Muslims.

He shared photos of his relatives who had been murdered but assured me that he had no animus toward Muslims or any ethnic group.

It was both touching and humbling.

Then in May 2018, he wrote a column that stereotyped Fulani people as inveterate aggressors whom no West African country wanted to allow into leadership positions. He made many other claims that had no basis in both historical and contemporary facts.

In my June 2, 2018 column titled “El-Rufai’s Hypocritical Xenophobia and Obadiah Mailafia’s Fulaniphobia,” I corrected his inaccuracies.

The column really incensed him, so he wrote a rejoinder that dripped with rage, which caused me to rejoin his rejoinder. Then he reached out to me privately again and, instead of anger, was full of overly flattering praises for me.

That took me aback. He said it was my associating him with El-Rufai that exasperated him and inspired his impassioned response.

He told me one of his younger brothers was a good friend of my friend Moses Ochonu and that he regretted that we had a public spat on the pages of a newspaper.

Ever since then, he would write to me to share his thoughts on my columns.

When he learned of my promotion to a full professor, he sent me one of the kindest, most delicately phrased messages of congratulations that I received from anyone. May his soul rest in peace

ANTI- OPEN GRAZING LAW: A syllogism of Erufai’s reaction.

By

Gideon Dauda

The porousity of the open grazing has led to farmers and migrant/ indigenous herders crisis.

This barbaric practice has led to infiltration and horrific insecurity in indigenous villages in Nigeria.
In the 21st century, herders, are in possession of AK 49 and other dangerous weapon, the modern herders now have the guts while pastoring to deliberately encroach and feed on farmer crops.

The indigenous Middle-belters has suffered so much excesses from the 21st herders.

They say, Drastic actions calls for Drastic measures;
Today, the South-South/South-West Governor’s has taken it upon theirselves against any personal interest but chiefly the security interest of their people to have taken such decision to enact the Anti- open grazing law, taken cognizance of Ranching as an alternative.
For me, this is all leadership is all about. “The security and well being of people first”.
I hope to see northern governor’s follow-suit.

Shamelessly and cowardly, Governor Elrufai is attacking these governor’s for taking such decision.
I mean, this is a governor of a state where insecurity has become the epicenter of the state he pilot’s. “IT IS NOW CENTRE OF INSECURITY NOT CENTRE OF LEARNING”

A state where every day citizens are grusomely killed, kidnapped, abused and butchered.

“CITIZENS IN THE STATE HAS BECOME MORE IMPOVERISHED BY CONSISTENT PAYMENT OF RAMSOM TO KIDNAPPERS”

There is no single day that goes without a recurring decimal of insecurity.

The frequency and severity of insecurity at Chukun and Zango-Kataf LGA amongst other LGA’s speaks volumes.

He hasn’t put any measures to restore peace and sanity of his state but rather poke-nosing serious minded security decisions of some governors.
Face the business of your state!

For me, Erufai’s reaction to the Anti-Open grazing Law incorporated by his colleagues is a function of his chronic sentimental jingoism and prmitive ethnic certification.
No wonder, years back he used our tax payers money to compensate them.

It’s just so sad and disheartening that we have a governor like you.

While We Slept

By

Col. Gora Albehu Dauda Rtd.

While we slept, they sneaked in from the from the Futta Djalon highgrounds and whilst we were asleep, they strategized on what to do with Nigeria. 

At Degel, they were disguised as Islamic teachers and as we all slept, they planned the coup. They slaughtered and depossed in the name of cleansing their faith while we slept. While we slept, they supplanted the Kings of Hausaland, replacing them with their kinsmen or tribesmen. They called it a jihad and soon took all the power while we all slept. While we yet were asleep, they introduced the Emirate system which is now out greatest undoing in Nigeroa. Had the Hausa Kingdoms not slumbered there is no way they could have lost out so easily. 

When the Oyinbo came knocking, they were at the door to receive him while we slept. The Oyinbo quickly adopted his administration on the Emirate system and called it Indirect Rule while we all slept. For acceptability, they came up with the name HausaFulani given that they knew they had no claim to any land here and they achieved some level of acceptability while we slept. 

They carefully set out positioning theirs into the civil.service  of the then Northern Region and the Federation whilst we were asleep. They secretly monitored the careers of their own sons and few daughters and ensured that no promotion was missed as we slept on. 

They dominated the Customs, Police, Immigration, Correctional Service while we were asleep. At first, they were never interested in the Military due to its inherent danger but when the era of coup making came around, they rushed theirs and carefully guided them to becoming Military Governors and or Administrators, this they did while we slept. They used others to execute the last Civil War but they were the first in sharing the spoils whilst we were all sleeping. 

Theirs got the best postings or occupied the best positions in the Armed Forces and the Nigeria Police whilst the rest of us slept. Most of the State Police Commissioners are from their stable and so they are able to twist policing any which way they want while we all slept. 

Technically, they have taken over the whole country while we all slept. They have foisted their own tribesman as president by blindfolding the Southwest into an alliance as the rest of us slept. The tribesman president took all the time he needed to put together a Cabinet in which almost every member from the North is from their stable while we all slept. While we all slept, they ensured that they skillfully ensured that the top 20 positions in what is called NNPC which some are sacarsticslly calling Northern Nigeria Petroleum Corporation are all from their stable even when that region does not produce even a litre of oil. 

Look around and you will find out that all the petrol stations belong to them. The dubious Ruga and Grazing Reserve Bills were rushed through to ensure that their imported tribesmen were everywhere in the territory of Nigeria while we slept. 

The imported tribesmen had AK 47s well concealed  with which they were to effect the complete takeover of the country much in the style of the Taliban in Afghanistan while we slept. Once in a while they did appoint one or two none members from outside their stable to some important appointments but such served only as their puppets whilst they were the puppeteers even as we slept on. 

They have elevated their cows well above human beings whilst we were all asleep just because their’s is president Today, they are frantically looking for a history to support their dubious claim to the territory called Nigeria. 

It is this claim that is the reason WE as bonafide ethnic nationalities of this country have to wake up from the slumber to fight for our ancestral lands. If we continue to sleep, it will be too late.

We are just waking up to find out that we are all surrounded by AK 47 wielding tribesmen. We are just waking up to discovering that our country is almost completely taken over. We are just waking up to the reality that the national security architecture is commanded by their’s. We have just woken up to discovering that death is common place everywhere in the land. The imported jihadists have introduced a new dimensions to death in Nigeria, aside death by gunshots against defenceless civilians, the old, infirmed, women and children are viciously hacked to death in cold blood mostly while they slept. 

Others are being burnt alive in their homes, any trying to escape are cut down with machetes. The terrorist jihadists derive special pleasure in slaughtering their innocent victims much in the style of Sallah rams. 

To demonstrate their level of viciousness, they go as low as cutting down crops growing up on farms without realizing that the crops will be feeding both friend as well as the enemy in due time. It has been convenient during the reign of the tribesman to mop up locally fabricated hunting dane guns, bows and arrows, cutlasses used by peasant farmers whilst the imported tribesmen were left to flaunting their AK47s with the utmost of impunity. 

We are just waking up to discovering that the strategy of disarming the local population is to ensure they cannot mount any resistance to the imported jihadists. We have also woken up to the fact that almost all the Commanders and other sensitive appointments in the ranks and file of the national security architecture are held by one of theirs. 

As Nigeria burns, the Oga whose primary responsibility is to ensure our safety pretends not to SEE or HEAR anything and so does nothing to stop the slaughter. The Oga who is dumb and deaft wants the tribesmen to pursue their cattle rearing business at the expense of other people’s businesses and on other people’s ancestral lands. 

How can that be now that we have woken up from sleep? Now that we have woken up from the long and deep sleep every part of this stranded contraption except one is earnestly asking for RESTRUCTURING but they are running rings round the issue. They must know that the game is up and that we have cracked their code and things will never be the same ever again.

Now that we have woken up from the deep  slumber as ethnic nationalities, it is for us to cleave one to the other so that no foreign Intruders and usurpers of power can Lord it over us ever again. The Hausa community whose kingdoms were surreptitiously stolen under the guise of cleaning up Islam must now stand up strong and firm to recover the loot from the thieves. 

If anything at all the Hausa people as bonafide ethnic Nigerians must now denounce the fraud in the name HausaFulani because it was designy to accommodate the foreign intruder’s interest. Whilst a peaceful arrangement can be agreed via the mechanism of RESTRUCTURING, where this is rejected, then all other means possible must be pursued. 

As ethnic nationalities in this beleaguered country, we have paid much more than an acceptable price in lives, pain and humiliation at the hands of the foreign occupiers. It is because we failed to cleave one to the other that the foreign occupiers have all along been exploiting the divisions between us. 

We can stand on the mountain top and shout it to the hearing of the entire world that the land on which our people are presently settled is our God given heritage. We did not come from elsewhere as History has recorded of the foreign occupiers.

Buhari’s Democratisation Lessons

Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko

By Emmanuel Onwubiko 

There’s no doubt that democracy is facing its toughest survival battles in Africa and the empirical facts and the unassailable body of evidence are there for all discerning and rational minds to see amidst the faltering democratisation efforts in Chad, Mali, Guinea Conakry with the resurgence of militarism and militarization. In the face of these tumultuous challenges are some hidden lessons that can be learnt from some of the actions of the President of Nigeria who has experienced the best of the two Worlds as a military ruler and now in his final term as an elected democrat. Many will doubt if President Muhammadu Buhari can be credited to be a democrat because clearly, some of his administrative approaches have questioned his abiding faith and loyalty to constitutional democracy. For instance, the government in Nigeria has bad records in the area of respect for plurality of opinions and freedoms as are clearly enshrined in many legislative and constitutional provisions and the government has had running battles attempting to moderate and muzzle the fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens. But even with these issues highlighted,  there is one area in which the Nigerian president has established himself as someone who has atleast one positivity and an enduring lesson to teach the rest of Africa in the democratisation theory and practice and if he keeps to the constitutional term limits and retire quietly to his Daura hometown in the year 2023, he would surely have cemented this as a legacy to be talked about for many centuries to come. This lesson is not seen easily by most observers because of the monumental challenges thrown on Nigerians by the economic implications of some policies of the Muhammadu Buhari’s administration but if an observer looks deeper and think philosophically, the nexus is there for all to see and this is what this article is out to demonstrate and what will resonate in this reflection isn’t so much about praising anyone but putting things in their proper perspectives. You can as well take it to the bank that this writer has no reason in this World to act the praise-singer card because obviously I’m a consummate human rights activist who has maintained consistent records of speaking truth to power. The difference is that I and my team do also make efforts to highlight some positivism and landmarks attained by any government even if that government has a lot of questions to answer in some key areas of governance.  And so the straight fact in this piece is the lesson the rest of Africa can imbibe by the way the immediate past military Chiefs and especially the immediate past Chief of army staff Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai and the others served the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari for almost six years and withstood a lot of temptation to torpedo the civilian administration so as to establish militarism and military regime. Indeed the immediate past Service Chiefs believed in constitutional democracy and by their actions in office, demonstrated their unflinching loyalty to the Nigerian constitution which says that military institutions are to remain subordinate to civilian authorities.  And at the end of their service as military Chiefs, President Muhammadu Buhari gave them further appointments as his representatives and Ambassadors to key diplomatic offices in West Africa. The former Army Chief Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai is the Ambassador of Nigeria in Benin Republic and from the few things we have seen, this military professional has started very well. So they are good examples to the rest of the military Generals in Africa on why they must resist Worldly temptations to overthrow properly constituted democratic institutions in their nations and remain subordinate to civilian authority and on the parts of the civilian heads of states, they must stick to the principles of accountability and transparency and respect their constitutional term limitations and must never do things to establish themselves as life Presidents.  

This is because there is no greater sacrifice one can render to his nation than defending its unity, togetherness and territorial integrity against external aggressions. For instance, in the United States of America where Nigeria borrows its leg of democracy, at least 29 former American Presidents who served their country in the Armed Forces are usually prouder than others.

The likes of George Ford, the famous Jimmy Carter; Richard Nixon; George H. W Bush, Ronald Reagan and hordes of others are proud to render their services to nationhood. On the contrary, in Nigeria today, the greatest gist among the country’s senior political forerunners, former leaders, and political elites is the sustained mockery of Nigeria’s immediate past Service Chiefs.

Though, the Ex-Military Chiefs posted very relieving results between 2015 and early 2021, fighting the conspiratorial or instigated insurgencies and insurrections hovering in some parts of Nigeria, but to some partisan senses, none of them deserve such prestigious national honour of Ambassadors of democracy.

That Nigeria’s Ambassador to Benin Republic; Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai, who led the counter-insurgency operations as COAS, and his colleagues in Nigeria’s Military hierarchy of Service Chiefs are intentionally uncelebrated by some Nigerians is because the hate is deep and malevolent!

No one is forcing the few discontented Nigerians to notice the difference Nigeria’s counter-insurgency operations and respect to constituted civil authorities under the commanding height of the immediate past Service Chiefs unlike what is happening to democracies in West Africa.

Particularly, when President Buhari appointed Gen. Buratai (rtd) as Nigeria’s 26th COAS, he pledged his total dedication to duty and loyalty to the Commander-In- Chief of the Nigerian Armed forces; President Buhari. Quite honestly, credit must be given to Buratai because he showed that Nigeria comes first before self-interest and must be defended at all times by every Nigerian.

Observably, his commitment to Nigeria will remain the beam of a united Nigeria, despite the conspiratorial gang-ups and upsurge of terrorist’s attacks, criminal activities, militancy and agitations. But it only conveys one message; and it is that Gen. Buratai was firmly convinced about the necessity of the defense of his dear nation; a silently saying that a regenerated Nigeria for today and tomorrow is possible.

This could explain why after his retirement, he was elevated to the strategic position of an Ambassador of Democracy to the Republic of Benin. Buratai’s appointment and that of the other ex-service chiefs couldn’t have been timelier and more strategic as it shows that it is not always the best for the military to distablize internal democracy compared to what has happened in some countries in West Africa.

Undoubtedly, Gen. Buratai (rtd) as COAS was a skillful defender of Nigeria’s democracy in the country’s most turbulent times, who tirelessly worked and supported democratic governance in Nigeria.

Even when some mischievous political elements wanted to take advantage of President Buhari’s several medical absences then to truncate democracy, by making overtures to some officers and soldiers for political reasons, Gen. Buratai (rtd) vehemently stood against it.

He warned them to be cautious of the consequences of their actions, telling the intending coup plotters not to make any attempt at truncating the nation’s democracy. The former Army Chief was emphatic, warning Army officers to steer clear of politics. He reportedly asked those interested in politics to resign from the Nigerian Army and pursue their new found ambitions.

Perharps it would be pertinent to mention that when in July, 2017, he granted interview to BBC’s Stephen Sackur, Gen. Buratai clearly stated; “there is no leadership vacuum,” explaining it as a pre-emptive caution, based on past experiences.

“There is no vacuum, it’s just a sort of pre-emptive warning in terms of what transpired before this administration came on board. Based on our own knowledge, based on our experiences, it is good once in a while to tell Officers that there are bounds that we must remain within the constitutional boundaries.

“There are constitutional provisions; there is never a vacuum. We have an Acting President there. I think whatever is happening, we should allow Mr. President to recuperate, get stronger and go back home.”

Repeatedly, Gen. Buratai (rtd.) never failed to drum it into the ears of soldiers and men of the Nigerian Army. At the opening ceremony of a seminar for Commandants, Bursars and Administrative officers of the Nigerian Army on August 1, 2019, in Abuja, he re-emphasised his preachments on politics as the non-negotiable loyalty of the Nigerian Army under his leadership to Mr. President and the country. He urged officers to remain apolitical, take right actions and show commitment to constitutionally defined obligations.

“We need to remain absolutely loyal to Mr. President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This is a non-negotiable part of our profession.”

Also, at the commissioning ceremony of the Entrepreneurial Skills Acquisition Centre, Transit Accommodation and the newly built Accident and Emergency Ward of the Nigerian Army Medical Hospital at the 23rd Armoured Brigade, Gibson Jalo Cantonment in Yola, Adamawa State on December 28th, 2019, Gen. Buratai also resounded to soldiers to be grateful to their nation, keep faith and loyalty to the Federal Government of Nigeria led by President Buhari.

His persuasive words read thus; “I want you to keep faith, be focused and loyal to the Federal Government and be grateful of the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, for his support to the Nigerian Army. Therefore, I wish to pledge the commitment and unalloyed loyalty of officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army to the President and the defence of our democracy.”

More so, speaking in Asaba, Delta State during the inauguration of six projects at the temporary headquarter of 63 Brigade of the Nigerian Army on July 2nd, 2020 as part of the activities marking the Army day under the theme: ‘Nigeria’s Territorial Defense and Integrity – Imperatives for Nigeria’s Army’ Sustained Training and Operations, Buratai charged Officers and men of the Nigerian Army to abide by their constitutional roles in the task of securing lives and property of Nigerians just as he tasked them on professionalism and responsiveness.

Furthermore, on the 26th of October, 2020, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd.), during a meeting with Principal Staff Officers (PSOs), Commanding Officers (GOCs) and Field Commanders in Abuja warned that the Army would not allow subversive elements to destabilise Nigeria and its democratic order in addition to rallying troops to defend the country, not minding threats to file complaints at International Criminal Court.

Buratai told the PSOs, GOCs and Field Commanders that there would be no room for disloyalty amongst all officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army. He directed that they must reiterate to all their subordinates that the army was determined to ensure democratic stability in Nigeria as the only panacea for development and progress.

“We will not allow any force, elements or destabilising agents in or outside our country to set our beloved country on fire. We remain resolute in doing everything possible to ensure that subversive elements, detractors and other enemies of this great nation do not achieve their aims and objectives of destabilisation”.

Likewise on December 4, 2020, during the decoration of 39 newly promoted major generals, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (as he then was) warned the newly-promoted generals against coup plots.

He said the Nigerian Army would not tolerate any plot to scuttle the current democratic dispensation noting that he was aware that “some generals were being approached and all our eyes are on them.”

He went further to reiterate: “Democracy has come to stay. We will not tolerate any agent of destabilisation. The years of military misadventure in politics have never carried us anywhere. It is over.”

Disclosing that the Army hierarchy was aware of some interests making efforts to interact with certain personnel, the Buratai expressed confidence in the discipline and loyalty of the newly decorated officers.

However, he warned: “Do not hobnob with politicians. At this rank of two-star generals, do not lobby for appointment. If you want to lobby for appointment, lobby the Chief of Army Staff and you can only do this through hard work, discipline and loyalty.

“The crop of officers decorated will never be dragged into any interest that is contrary to the sustenance of democracy in our nation. All our eyes are on you. We know there are several moves to get your attention. You must make sure that whatever you are doing, and when some persons approach you, you must act within the confines of the constitution.”

By and large, hardly in West Africa’s existential political history would a leader of a large Army such as the Nigerian Army display such fondness of loyalty to a sitting President and a passion for the defense of the country’s democracy in times of threats to national unity.

The few can doubt, but one lesson to be learnt from the constitutional purity ideology of Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd.) is that his iconic leadership and that of his colleagues in Nigeria’s Military hierarchy of Service Chiefs sensitized and strengthened the military generally as a subordinate institution to civil rule and democratic institutions of the country.

Indeed, with how democracies in some of the West African Countries are looking towards militarism, Buratai has sacredly remained a reference pillar of loyalty, love for the country and dedication to the nation’s peace and security under a democracy. Even as Nigeria’s Ambassador of Democracy in Republic of Benin, Gen. Buratai (rtd.) has continued to demonstrate loyalty and his hunger to disarm the wings of criminals and tormentors of Nigeria for a country totally freed from the strings of insecurities.

In every sense, he was indeed, the finest testimony or portrait of absolute loyalty to Nigeria and the Army’s mirror as subordinates to democratic institutions of a country. His constitutional purity will remain a great lesson for generations.

*EMMANUEL ONWUBIKO is head of the HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA and was National Commissioner of the National Human Rights commission of Nigeria.  He can be reached on www.huriwanigeria.com. 

We Are All Benue IDPs

By

Emmanuel Onwubiko

“Demagogues attack their critics in harsh and provocation terms- as enemies, as subversives, and even as terrorists.” (HOW DEMOCRACIES DIE: WHAT HISTORY REVEALS ABOUT OUR FUTURE BY STEVEN LEVITSKY & DANIEL ZIBLATT).
 
“We are all animal but all animals are not equal.”
This typical saying was one of the earliest things I had to read from some novels during my school days in the Secondary school of the 1980’s. However, when I began to read about the modern day politics in Nigeria and began working and even had a stint in a federal government’s funded agency:- the National Human Rights Commission, I came face to face with the reality that perhaps that saying that all animals are not equal was actually a depiction of who a Nigerian is.
For a fact, Nigeria is inherently and fundamentally dysfunctional and distorted because the people who govern the Country have ideologically willed that Nigeria should never work as a constitutional democracy. Those who control the different layers of political governance especially at the highest echelons of the federal administration have built the mindset that all Nigerians must never be treated equally.
This is why when the then military dictator General Sani Abacha wanted to write the constitution preparatory to the exit of the military out of governance, he loaded the committee with Northerners who actually implanted a lot of provisions that are meant to destroy the principle of equity and equality.
For instance, the 1999 constitution which was written by selected persons who were commissioned by General Abacha, decidedly gave Kano State the highest number of House of Representatives members. The Kano parliamentarians to the Federal House of Representatives are more in number than those of the entire five Igbo States put together even when the population of Igbo speaking people is not less than 60 million.
It would seem the drafters of that distorted Constitution in application at the moment, used the criterion of land mass to allocate membership to the National Assembly’s lower legislature.
 
That aside, the coming of President Muhammadu Buhari to power in 2015, has brought into focus the notoriety of nepotism and tribalism. This current administration has lowered the bar and has so made political governance to appear like the village meeting of the Fulani ethnicity. Muhammadu Buhari sleeps and wakes up thinking about cows and nothing else. He has undermined National security by failing to stop murderous gangs of Fulani people from invading Nigeria from Niger and Chad, killing, maiming and destroying lives and property of largely Christian farmers. With over 6,000 farmers murdered in cold blood by Fulani armed herdsmen but not one of these mass killers are in prison. Muhammadu Buhari has a minister of Justice Abubakar Malami who confessed to my group- HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA  that he has no case file on the killings by armed Fulani herdsmen and so is not ready to prosecute them for the genocides committed in many parts of Nigeria with Benue State having the largest chunk of the casualties.  
The current President decidedly loaded the strategic portfolios and political positions including the defence sector with his people the Moslem North of Fulani/Hausa.
But the area in which the saying that all animals are not equal is in the workings of the Federal agency that provides reliefs for victims of disasters known as National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) which is headed by a Moslem Northerners and controlled by the ministry of humanitarian affairs and disaster management headed also by a Fulani woman. 
In the distribution of relief materials, NEMA has become very notorious for diverting Ninety percent of the relief materials to the North East. Disasters affecting other parts of Nigeria are usually not treated the same way as the man made disaster of terrorists attacks of the North East of Nigeria.
Benue State is one place that terrorists made up largely of armed Fulani herders have made the most devastating negative impacts. However, NEMA is hardly noticed in the different internally displaced persons camps in Benue State.
This systemic and systematic exclusion is not just a moral crime but constitutes a crime against humanity and President Muhammadu Burai’s attention should be called to it so a fundamental redress is made.
By the way, the majority of the IDPs are farmers whose farms and housing assets were blown up by the rampaging armed Fulani militia who are above the law in the thinking of the current Federal government that is dangerously pro-Fulani.
To drive home this point, perhaps the Benue State governor saw no other way to express his angst but to use the analogy of how the problems of IDPs incapacitates him from fully playing his husband bed time role to his beautiful wife.
 
Governor Samuel Ortom recently bemoaned the perennial displacement of residents across Benue, saying the plight of people living in camps for the internally displaced has been giving him erectile dysfunction.
At a public function near the capital Makurdi, Mr Ortom said President Muhammadu Buhari and special duties minister George Akume have failed to support him in his fight against killer herdsmen, working against the interest of Benue people instead.
Mr Ortom said there was “no way as a leader” would he feel comfortable knowing that thousands of his people have been displaced from their villages by killer herdsmen who were on a conquest to take lands from indigenous Benue settlers.
“Even when I am on top of my wife and I remember the people who are in IDP camps…” Mr Ortom said with a pause for camera effect. A male voice in the audience then helped him to conclude his sentence, saying “It goes flat,” to which the governor then responded with a smile.
Mr Ortom has been locked in fierce political confrontation with Mr Buhari and his appointees following his decision to implement a ban on open grazing of cattle by herders of Mr Buhari’s ethnic Fulani stock.
The president has insisted that he would not support a ban on open grazing and tried to force states to bow to the federal government on the appropriation solution to the crisis, which has left thousands killed and untold damage caused to assets and livelihoods since Mr Buhari assumed office in 2015.
The president has faced criticism for pushing the interest of herdsmen while showing little sympathy to victims of their brutality, including from members of his ruling APC. He has vigorously denied the claims and said his administration has implemented a series of security, administrative and financial solutions to mitigate the crisis.
 
On another level we read correctly that the Benue State Government has again called on the Federal Government to return the millions of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to their ancestral homes to avert recruitment of vulnerable inmates by terrorist groups.
Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Dr. Emmanuel Shior, raised the fears recently, while briefing newsmen in Makurdi, during the distribution of food items to eight IDP camps in the state.
Shior maintained that the humanitarian crisis caused by marauding herders to communities in the state was colossal and devastating while expressing disgust that the Federal Government had not extended its gesture in the North East to Benue.
He alleged that some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were rather playing politics with the issue.
“The IDPs have been with us for the past three years and there is a need to return them to their communities. But some people, for parochial reasons, are accusing Governor Samuel Ortom of masterminding the killings, which is not true. We don’t play politics with lives.
“A group of APC members is the ones peddling this false news. They are using this gimmick to cover their failures at the national level. They are acting on the premise that Ortom is PDP and they are APC. But the governor is responsive and cannot afford to forcefully return IDPs to their ancestral homes without adequate security,” he said.
The humanitarian crisis in the camps, Shior added, is a big burden on the state, which reportedly spends hundreds of millions of naira monthly to procure food and other needs.
According to the SEMA boss, based on the governor’s directive, the activities of the agency would continue to be transparent.
The Guardian gathered that food items distributed to the various camps included bags of rice, beans as well as noodles.
On why Tse-Yandev camp has no SEMA staff managing it, Shior said, even as the camp was being managed by volunteer groups, SEMA was intervening from time to time.
At the camp, there are many weary faces – from the aged to distressed mothers; all worrying about what to eat with their families and how to educate their children, a situation that gets tougher with each passing day.
Feeding is a major challenge for the IDPs. Due to the large population at the camp, the government’s food supplies are never enough. To supplement this, some of the IDPs resort to cooking almost-spoiled or perishing food items sourced from dealers in the local market.
“For the issue of food, the government is trying,” says Camp Manager Comfort Alugah. “But the government cannot satisfy everybody.”
Mrs Alugah attributes the challenge to the population at the camp which she put at 43,344.
In terms of health care, the Mbawa IDP camp has a maternal and child health clinic operated by Medecins Sans Frontiers (MSF).
The clinic has been providing care for the babies delivered in the camp and their mothers, with assistance from the Benue State Ministry of Health, ensuring safe delivery after months of antenatal services. The HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA is indeed happy withthe Benue State governor and his administration for carrying the matter of the neglect of the IDPS on his head and heart. We call on the NATIONAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY to respect the constitutional principles of equity and equality of opportunity and rights and deliver qualitative and quantitative relief materials to the thousands of Benue IDPS or we will challenge their criminal abandonment of the Benue IDPs at the Benue State High Court so we expose this systemic and systematic crimes against BENUE IDPS.  Enough is enough! 

 
*EMMANUEL ONWUBIKO is head of the HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) and blogs@www. theingerianinsidernews.com, www.huriwanigeria.com.