EFCC ‘Enticing’ Nigerians To Protest:- HURIWA ALLEGES

Calls on EFCC to operate within legal precepts

The leading CIVIL SOCIETY GROUP- HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has condemned the illegal and gestapo operational modalities of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) which are detrimental to the enjoyment of the constitutionally guaranteed fundamental human rights recognised in chapter four, and all relevant international human rights laws just as the Rights group says the officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (HURIWA) are by their provocative and illegal actions enticing Nigerians to stage a nationwide protests similar to the #ENDSARS PROTESTS # against the misconducts of the EFCC.

“The EFCC is a creation of the law and so it must be law abiding but the modalities of operations in which the operatives armed to the teeth go into people’s houses in the dead of the night like armed robbers and kidnappers, breaking into people’s houses and climbing in through the fences  like hired assasins are antithetical to the law and the principle of the rule of law and these unlawful actions are definitely aimed as triggers to instigate the masses to stage the kinds of demonstrations that will be almost unprecedented in dimension and massive in scale. 

The Rights group through the National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko said Section 36(5) of the constitution is very clear that even persons charged for criminal offence before the courts of law are deemed as innocent in the eyes of the law until a contrary determination is reached by the competent court of law. It is therefore unlawful that the operatives of the EFCC will continue to behave like outlaws or persons who are above the laws of the land.  EFCC is subject to the law and must be seen to be operating in compliance with the precepts of the law and in strict compliance with the RULE OF LAW”. 

HURIWA said there have been over a dozen clandestine operations by the EFCC in which these officials of the law have been seen defecating on the fundamental principles of the law and have abused with reckless abandon the Rules of Engagement as if Nigeria is a Banana Republic and these kinds of crude, debased and bakward application of brute force by the operatives of the EFCC are therefore absolutely condemned as despicable, reprehensible,  outrageous and provocative and must be checked otherwise the EFCC should watch and see that in the fullness of time the masses will demonstrate to say enough is enough. 

This same EFCC is around when the President gives red carpets reception to suspected high profile politically exposed persons who jump from one political party to the All Progressives Congress but the EFCC has now become agents of witch-hunt targeting largely young offenders and this body has started operating as if it is a reckless, lawless and primitive contraption but this is not so. The EFCC must be called to order to adopt law based procedures to go after suspected offenders and observe all the tenets and precepts of the fundamental human rights and indeed must adopt clinical and professional modus operandi that will be in compliance with all the rules of Engagement. Why not use surveillance and intelligence gathering to go after suspected offenders in the day time and make lawful arrests instead of behaving like armed robbers or armed Fulani militia members?”

HURIWA recalled that Norah Okafor, a journalist, has narrated how officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), stormed her residence at an ungodly hour.

In a social media post, Okafor said masked men robed in black and armed to the teeth stormed her apartment like armed robbers, at exactly 1:36 am on Thursday.

She said they destroyed properties, assaulted residents, and forcefully collected car keys, mobile phones, and computers.

“At exactly 1:36am, I was alerted by my brother that there were armed robbers at my gate trying to make their way into the compound. Because it was an electric fence, I didn’t bother enough because I felt they can’t make their way in.

“Alas, I was wrong. 2am on the dot they made their way into the compound. They came prepared. Over 25 of them with two hilux buses, masked and dressed in black upon black.

“A huge one climbed the fence, with a plier and immediately cut off a few of the wires, jumped into the compound and with an axe, broke the gate key open and zoom they made their first entry into my apartment.

“As a nude sleeper, while they tried to make their way into the compound, I found something to wear while my brothers and I were thinking of a way of escape. The worst case scenario for me is that they will rape or take the only valuable available (a car key) so I prepared my mind.

“The next thing I realized was that about 7 of them were already in my room with shouts of “lie down, face down, on the light, where’s your phone, where’s your car key? Where’s this and that.. Confused me. Seeing over 25 hefty men with different kinds of guns, mhen, e don be, be that. I handed the phone to them with the key, before then, they have already taken hold of my laptop.

“I turned to be sure these were armed robbers, and they asked for my passwords to all the devices collected with masking tape to identify each. Still in shock, I heard someone destroying everything in the kitchen, my room, that of my brothers and all the drawers. I was still asking myself what’s happening? They asked me to stand and follow them downstairs, lo and beyond, they unmasked themselves, hmmmm… are these kind criminals? I asked. All my neighbours were already going through the same pain as I.

“They have already given my brothers a beating of their lives, carried my neighbour downstairs and tried unlocking all the cars in the compound. And after searching all the phones and laptops, three of their men walked in, lo and behold, it was EFCC. What? I screamed. Shut up, was the next thing i heard and when they couldn’t open my phone, they asked me to, I did and after a while I just asked, please where is your office so I can come pick up my things on my way to work, they asked me what I do and I said “journalist”, asked my neighbour he said “lawyer”, the other “doctor”. They looked at me, handed over the phones and said, “we just wasted our time.

“These fools, spent over one hour molesting and destroying things in this compound. I feel so pained and embarrassed right now. Is this how EFCC operate? How did we get here? Who is the informant? I am just confused right now. Thank God my mum isn’t here.”

HURIWA recalled too that the Economic and Financial crimes commission, EFCC, allegedly invaded the house of the Big brother Naija celebrity, Dorathy Bachor.

Dorathy, who emerged the 1st runner up of the Big Brother Naija, Lockdown season, condemned the act.

Expressing her anger via a post on her Instagram page, the busty Delta state indigene shared some pictures of the supposed EFCC officials.

Operatives of the EFCC on Tuesday violently seized access cards and broke into hotel rooms in an overnight raid in Lagos, Peoples Gazette has learnt.

Dozens of hotel guests were left traumatised after anti-graft agents breached their privacy at Parktonian Hotel in Lagos affluent Lekki neighbourhood, witnesses said.

Many of the guests, including couples, were passing the night at the mid-size hotel when EFCC agents broke in at about 4:00 a.m. Some of them said they were naked under the duvet when agents broke in and were not even allowed to dress up before being interrogated by the officers, who said they were on a manhunt for suspected Internet fraudsters.

“The officers broke into my hotel room as I was sleeping,” a victim told The Gazette on Tuesday afternoon. “The incident that played out was just too traumatic for me to narrate.”

The witness said the officers started breaking into rooms after collecting the master access card to open all rooms from the management at gunpoint.

“They broke into the hotel and threatened to shoot the receptionists and management if they didn’t immediately release the master access card to them,” a witness said. “So the hotel workers had to comply immediately.”

Another witness who narrated his ordeal described it as “embarrassing and traumatising,” as he was unclad when operatives barged into the room.

Many foreigners, including some potential investors who came into the country to carry out preliminary studies on a cable manufacturing project, were caught in what witnesses described as “violent and uncivilised conduct” of the operatives, who were about two dozen.

The victim pleaded strict anonymity to avoid being victimised by EFCC agents. Some witnesses had previously reported being physically attacked by EFCC operatives for providing information about illegal and corrupt raids to the media.

“They continued to search other rooms. They went away with about 13 occupants,” he said. “I was naked, and I had to beg them (for me) to put something on. I am actually hypertensive, but I put myself together because I am not a criminal in any way.”

He described the experience as “embarrassing and traumatic,” noting that “nobody wants to sleep in a hotel where their privacy and security cannot be guaranteed.”

The witness added, “I am not going back to that hotel. They won’t go to Transcorp where people who are looting Nigeria’s money are staying.”

The hotel owner, Obinna Obiora, told The Gazette that he would comment on the matter later. The Gazette could not immediately confirm whether or not the officers had a warrant to invade the hotel.

When contacted by The Gazette, the spokesperson for the anti-graft agency, Wilson Uwujaren, claimed he was unaware of the raid.

“I haven’t got any report of such, but I’ll confirm from the Lagos office if there was any raid,” Mr Uwujaren told The Gazette over the telephone.

Controversial raids of public and private spaces have become increasingly common amongst EFCC officers in recent months. The department was established to fight economic crimes, but it has recently retooled itself towards a relentless crackdown on suspected Internet thieves, widely known as Yahoo Boys.

Earlier this year, an unidentified man jumped from the seventh floor of a storey building located at 1004 estate at Victoria Island, Lagos, during a raid by EFCC officials.

Few  weeks back,  a similar incident played out at Oasis Park Estate, Osapa London, Lagos, where EFCC operatives frightened residents when they broke into homes in search of a purported Internet crook, who was not even around at the time of the raid.  

HURIWA accused the EFCC of not just violating the laws but also abusing with reckless abandon the UN declaration on adherence to the Rule of law.

HURIWA said the midnight raids by EFCC offends the Declaration adopted on 24 September 2012 by the United Nations General Assembly at the High-level Meeting on the Rule of Law at the National and International Levels reaffirmed that “human rights, the rule of law and democracy are interlinked and mutually reinforcing and that they belong to the universal and indivisible core values and principles of the United Nations”.1 Indeed, government responsiveness to the interests and needs of the greatest number of citizens is strictly associated with the capacity of democratic institutions and processes to bolster the dimensions of rights, equality and accountability.

If considered not solely an instrument of the government but as a rule to which the entire society, including the government, is bound, the rule of law is fundamental in advancing democracy. Strengthening the rule of law has to be approached not only by focusing on the application of norms and procedures. One must also emphasize its fundamental role in protecting rights and advancing inclusiveness, in this way framing the protection of rights within the broader discourse on human development.

A common feature of both democracy and the rule of law is that a purely institutional approach does not say anything about actual outcomes of processes and procedures, even if the latter are formally correct. When addressing the rule of law and democracy nexus, a fundamental distinction has to be drawn between “rule by law”, whereby law is an instrument of government and government is considered above the law, and “rule of law”, which implies that everyone in society is bound by the law, including the government. Essentially, constitutional limits on power, a key feature of democracy, require adherence to the rule of law.

BREAKING: Kaduna State Government to Demolish NUJ Secretariat

The Nasiru El-rufai led government has issued a demolition notice to the Nigerian Union of Journalist (NUJ) Kaduna state chapter over what the government tagged ‘ absence of planning/building permit’

The demolition notice was contained in a letter sighted by MBT. The letter, dated 23rd September, 2021 was written by the Kaduna state Urban Development Authority (KASUPDA) and signed by Ismail Dikko on behalf of the director general of KASUPDA.

The Nasiru El-rufai led government has had numerous battles with journalists in Kaduna since it came onboard in 2015. Some journalists in the state were jailed over their reportages and sometimes comments on social media.

Efforts to speak with the NUJ state Chairman proved abortive as at the time of filling this report.

Developing story….

Northern children in danger if we continue in the old order – Governor Masari

Governor Aminu Bello Masari of. Katsina State, has said that danger looms for northern children if northerners fail to wake up from their slumber.

According to Governor Masari, the lifestyle of citizens from the region coupled with the looming population explosion is bound to escalate the plight of children in the area if nothing is done urgently.

While drawing comparison with their southern counterparts, using two key demographic variables, marriage and birth rate, Masari said about 80 per cent of men in the south stick to one wife while the same percentage of men in the north marry two to four wives.

Governor Masari made the remarks while declaring open the “Katsina Future Summit” organised by a coalition of non-governmental organisations known as “Save Katsina Group” to orchestrate a dependable future for people of the state.

Similarly, according to the Governor, the average number of children a person from the south is likely to have is three while the average in the north is about nine.

Consequent upon this, Governor Masari warned that to continue walloping in the old order may worsen the living standard of people from the north, particularly children and by implication, the entire nation.

To that effect, Masari is calling on his fellow northerners to rise up to seek and apply the required knowledge to tame the menace of the looming population explosion.

“In 1987, when Katsina was created, the population was about 3.8 million. How many years today, we are talking about 8 million.

“That land of Katsina that was 500 years ago is still the same land. It has not increased in size but has increased in population.

“So, how do we conquer the situation, accommodate ourselves, our future children and grandchildren without the requisite educational knowledge?

“Gentlemen, we need to sit up. The challenges of the future with population explosion and with the character and nature of Hausa man which is totally different from the culture and traditions of our southern partners.

“What is the average of a person per child if you go to Lagos and other southern parts? It is an average of 3 to 1.
What is the average here in the Northwest, Northeast and others? A woman gives birth to the average of 9 here in the North.

“What is the average age of marriage? 80% marry one wife in the south while in the North, 80% percent marry from two to four. Multiply the numbers and see for yourself.

“If we continue in this way obviously out of school children and abandoned children are going to be much more,” Governor Masari queried.

In the same vein, Masari further admonished youths to “work very hard against the menace of drugs and other intoxicants” which he said is one of the major factors fuelling banditry in the north.

“Everyone of us, we owe a debt to the society that we come from: to the villages, to the communities, to the houses, to the families and even to ourselves.

“The society belongs to all of us. Leadership is about the wisdom of the old and the energy of the youths blended together that is what makes a very good progressive, enterprising, developmental community or society.

“What is fuelling banditry in our communities? What is fuelling criminality in our communities? We must stand up against the evil criminality of drugs
From the experience we have gathered within the last six years, we have seen the role of drugs influencing some of these bad behaviours and actions to the youths. We must work very hard against the misuse of drugs and other intoxicants,” Governor Masari added.

The Coordinator of Save Katsina Group in the state, Comrade Hamza Umar Saulawa speaking with Journalists at the two days summit, held at the state’s Local Government Service Commission’s Conference Hall said the summit was necessitated by the alien challenges the state is currently experiencing.

“We decided to come up with the summit after a long brainstorming discussion and identification of problems.

“You know Katsina is one of the true pillars in Nigeria when it comes to education, hospitality, peace and security.
But unfortunately, for some couple of years now, we’re at the back. That’s why we say let us all come together and identify the problems, where and how it started.”

Reps seek amendment of power sector reform Act 2005, to create renewable energy agency

The House of Representatives on Thursday in Abuja moved to amend the Power sector reform Act of 2005, to strengthen the sector for efficient service delivery; and for related matters.

Rep Magaji Aliyu, Chairman, House committee on Power, leading the debate on the general principles of the bill, told the House that the amendment sought was long overdue.

He said that the amendment was with a view to providing the legal and institutional framework for the implementation and coordination of rural electrification projects.

Aliyu said that the amendment also sought the establishment of the National Power Training Institute and Regulatory Provisions, as well as the establishment of a Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Agency.

The document in clause 32 introduced a new clause ”94A”, after the existing section 94 in the principal Act to provide stiffer penalties for crimes committed against electrical infrastructure.

Giving a background to his presentation, Aliyu reminded his colleagues that the Act was enacted as far back as 2005 as a consolidated legal framework to regulates the power sector in Nigeria.

“For about one and a half decade, the Act has not been amended until now, following increasing challenges that affect the efficiency, corporate stability and prospects of the power sector,” he said.

He said that in exercise of its powers, the Committee on Power initiated amendment of the Act aimed to overcome the challenges for a better power sector in Nigeria.

According to him, the proposal was supported by inputs from stakeholders, including the Federal Ministry of Power, Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), power generation companies, Association of Nigeria Electricity Distribution and the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria.

In the absence of any dissenting voice, the bill was passed and referred to the committee on power for further legislative actions. (NAN)

HURIWA To Governor Zulum-: You Are Committing Treason By Granting Amnesty To Boko Haram Terrorists

The leading CIVIL SOCIETY GROUP- HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has lambasted the Borno State GOVERNOR Mr. BabaGana Umara Zulum for engaging in unholy communions with terrorists of the boko haram genre who have blood in their hands and have caused the deaths of over 30,000 Nigerian citizens most of whom are Borno State indigenes.

HURIWA recalled that the Borno State Government had flagged off a public campaign programme designed to reconcile and reintegrate repentant Boko-Haram elements. The programme, funded by European Union, EU, is being executed in collaboration with UNICEF, UNDP, and IOM.

HURIWA citing media reports stated that  at the flag-off ceremony at the Shehu of Borno Palace on Wednesday in Maiduguri, the State Commissioner of Information and Culture, Babakura Abba-Jato, said there is the need to accept the repentant insurgents, particularly women and children who are also victims that were forced to stay with the insurgents.

Mr Abba-Jato said investigation showed that majority of the 6,000 that surrendered were women and children and some men in communities occupied by the insurgency who were forced to stay and farm for the insurgents.

HURIWA quoted the Bornob State government official as saying thus: “We also have those that carry arms that are being profiled by the authorities in line with International laws relating to such development,” just as the Commissioner of Women Affairs, Zuwaira Gambo, who spoke on women and children as the worst affected by the insurgency and other conflicts, urged for public support in ensuring that they are reintegrated.

HURIWA however faulted the United Nations, European Union and the Borno State Government for aiding and abetting terrorism by pretending to be organising reconciliation between terrorists and the victims of terrorism especially when these offenders of the law did not go through the standard trial permitted by the Constitution and the Counter terror law. 

The group Condemned the bizzare reconciliation and stated that what terrorists need is not reconciliation but adequate prosecutorial actions to pay for their crimes against humanity. The group therefore accused the Borno State Governor of committing treason and aiding and abetting terrorism which will inevitably be challenged in Nigerian court or the International Criminal Court in The Hague Netherlands soon.

HURIWA To Malami: You Conceal Names of Boko Haram Terrorists Sponsors Because They Are Moslem Northerners

 
Contrary to the tepid explanation offered by the Minister of Justice and Federal Attorney General Alhaji Abubakar Malami(SAN) that government won’t disclose identity of sponsors of terrorism in Nigeria because that will imperil or undermine investigation,  the CIVIL RIGHTS ADVOCACY GROUP-: HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) said he was being economical with the truth because his office had already filed the suit before the competent court of law meaning that investigations are concluded just as the Rights group said the government is heavily PRO-MOSLEM NORTH and is just protecting the interest of the region from which key players of the government came from.
 
The Rights group said assuming without conceding that the so called investigations aren’t concluded, how can the naming of sponsors of terrorism that has threatened public safety and national security destroy the investigative process? This doesn’t just make sense, HURIWA insisted just as the Rights group similarly carpeted the chief judge of Federal High Court for not allowing accredited journalists to have unfettered access to the records of the indicted persons because once a matter is filed in court it becomes a public document that can be access using official procedure for filing application and request for the information.  The Rights group said the current minister of justice is working against the spirit and the orjncipkes of the FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT that are found both in the constitution and the legislative piece if law known as the FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT OF 2015. “By the way, naming and shaming suspects already taken to court is both morally and legally permissible “. 
 
HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) RECALLED that the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, had stated that the administration will not name sponsors of terrorism at the moment so it won’t jeopardise investigations. The AGF stated this while speaking to journalists in New York, according to a statement by his spokesperson, Umar Gwandu, on Wednesday.
 
Responding to the affirmation of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice regarding the concealment of the identities of the sponsors of boko haram terrorists the HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) also told the Federal Attorney General and Minister of Justice that millions of Nigerians have seen through the government’s unimaginative and poor logic because the same government recently disclosed that 400 sponsors of boko haram terrorists are already dragged to the Federal High Court Abuja division and indeed the Chief judge of the Federal High Court had already assigned both the judge and the date for the commencement of the suit had been communicated to the members of the public. 
 
HURIWA then wonders why the Federal Attorney General is being clever by half by dishing out jaundiced, highly toxic and outrightly despicable tales by moonlight in which he thinks he can deceive even the youngest infant with such an illogical and infantile excuse he has offered for not releasing the NAMES of the sponsors of boko haram terrorists.  The truth is that 99 percent of those doing the bureau de change business in Kano where the bulk of the suspects were allegedly caught are Moslem North and so it is clear that most of the decisions of this government including granting Amnesty to boko haram terrorists that have killed over 33, 000 citizens, these decisions are highly irresponsible and are just NORTHERN SETTLEMENT FOR TERRORISTS  and nothing more. “It is unreasonable that a government is much more interested in protecting terrorists and their sponsors than the victims and indeed against the collective interests of the Nigerian public. This is absurd and comical”. 
 
HURIWA has therefore told the Federal High Court to publicise the NAMES OF THE SUDPECTED SOONSORS OF BOKO HARAM TERRORISTS BECAUSE THE COURT HAS THE JUDICIAL POWERS OF THE FEDERATION IN LINE WITH Section 6 OF THE 1999 CONSTITUTION which states thus: 6(1) The judicial powers of the Federation shall be vested in the courts to which this section relates, being courts established for the Federation. (2)  The judicial powers of a State shall be vested in the courts to which this section relates, being courts established, subject as provided by this Constitution, for a State. (3)  The courts to which this section relates, established by this Constitution for the Federation and for the States, specified in subsection (5) (a) to (1) of this section, shall be the only superior courts of record in Nigeria; and save as otherwise prescribed by the National Assembly or by the House of Assembly of a State, each court shall have all the powers of a superior court of record. (4)  Nothing in the foregoing provisions of this section shall be construed as precluding:- (a)                        the National Assembly or any House of Assembly from establishing courts, other than those to which this section relates, with subordinate jurisdiction to that of a High Court; (b)                        the National Assembly or any House of Assembly, which does not require it, from abolishing any court which it has power to establish or which it has brought into being.(5)  This section relates to:- (a)  the Supreme Court of Nigeria; (b)  the Court of Appeal; (c)   the Federal High Court; (d)  the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja; (e)   a High Court of a State(f)   the Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja;(g)   a Sharia Court of Appeal of a State; (h)  the Customary Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja; (i)    a Customary Court of Appeal of a State;(j)    such other courts as may be authorised by law to exercise jurisdiction on matters with respect to which the National Assembly may make laws; and (k)  such other court as may be authorised by law to exercise jurisdiction at first instance or on appeal on matters with respect to which a House of Assembly may make laws.(6)  The judicial powers vested in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this section – (a)  shall extend, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this constitution, to all inherent powers and sanctions of a court of law (b)  shall extend, to all matters between persons, or between government or authority and to any persons in Nigeria, and to all actions and proceedings relating thereto, for the determination of any question as to the civil rights and obligations of that person; (c)   shall not except as otherwise provided by this Constitution, extend to any issue or question as to whether any act of omission by any authority or person or as to whether any law or any judicial decision is in conformity with the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy set out in Chapter II of this Constitution; (d)  shall not, as from the date when this section comes into force, extend to any action or proceedings relating to any existing law made on or after 15th January, 1966 for determining any issue or question as to the competence of any authority or person to make any such law.  

HURIWA recalled that the Federal High Court Abuja division had fixed September 17th for arraignment of the 400 suspected sponsors of boko haram terrorists for their roles in funding terrorists in the last ten years that has killed over 33, 000 Nigerians.
HURIWA recalled that the Presidency had in March announced the arrest of the suspects, mainly Bureau De Change operators for allegedly facilitating the transfer of money to Boko Haram terrorists.
Some Nigerians were said to be transferring the funds to the sect from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in conjunction with the BDC operators.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), had announced that arrangements had been concluded to arraign the suspects who were arrested and interrogated by the State Security Service (SSS).
There have been public concerns over the delay in commencement of the trial with human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), writing to the AGF seeking fiat to the attorneys general of states for the prosecutions.
Falana expressed concerns that sponsors of terrorism arrested for taking part in the kidnapping, armed robbery and extrajudicial killing of unarmed citizens had not been prosecuted by the attorneys-general of their respective states
“It is such official impunity that has accentuated the violent attacks on innocent people by the so-called bandits and unknown gunmen. In many instances, the suspects were arrested and paraded by the police and other law enforcement agencies but released to continue their criminal activities,” he said.
 

My constituency under siege by kidnappers, bandits – Abia lawmaker Cries Out

The member representing Umunneochi constituency in Abia State House of Assembly, Hon Okey Igwe has expressed worries over the resurgence of kidnapping, banditry and armed robbery in the area.

The Abia lawmaker lamented that his constituents now live in fear as the current trend has taken a dangerous toll on Umunneochi Local Government Area of the State.

Igwe disclosed that the perpetrators of the nefarious activities in Umunneochi constituency now use Lokpanta cattle market as their den from where they unleash terror on innocent citizens and residents of the area.

He spoke while presenting a matter of urgent public importance on the floor of the Abia State House of Assembly during its plenary session on Wednesday.

The legislator called on the security heads in the area to urgently restore the security checkpoints along the vital points in Umunneochi constituency and to add more men to their patrol teams.

Igwe further urged the Abia Ministry of Homeland Security to liaise with the local vigilante groups in the area to complement other security agencies stationed at the crime prone areas.

In the same vein, the Abia State House of Assembly has directed the Clerk of the House to, as a matter of urgency send a letter of invitation to the Executive Chairman of Umunneochi Local Government Area, the permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Homeland Security and the Chain of Lokpanta Cattle Market for an interaction with the House.

The Speaker, Rt. Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji while reeling out some resolutions of the House at its sitting, said the invitation is aimed at finding lasting solutions to the menaces posed by criminal elements in the local area.

Hon Orji implored the security heads in Umunneochi Local Government Area to restore the security check-points at strategic locations in the vicinity in order to curb the activities of criminals in the area.

Meanwhile, the leadership of Abia State House of Assembly has adjourned to Monday, 27th September, 2021 for continuation of plenary.

(DAILYPOST)

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. 

BREAKING: El-Rufai Wants to Export Banditry to South -Akeredolu

The Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has berated Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State for his attack on governors within the southern region.

Akeredolu described the attack on Southern governors by his Kaduna State counterpart as devious and a hysteric ploy to externalise banditry.

El-Rufai had mocked the southern governors over their position to pass the Anti-Open Grazing Law.

Akeredolu in a statement issued by his Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Donald Ojogo, said anyone making such a statement made by the Kaduna State Governor should be classified as “unenviable ilk masquerading as leaders.”

He added that El-Rufai statement was capable of encouraging anarchy under the guise “of resentment of a Law by affected stakeholders”.

While emphasizing that the Anti-open Grazing Law has come to stay in the state, Akeredolu maintained that those without evil plots have nothing to be worried about.

The statement partly read “From all indications, Governor Nasir el-Rufai, if he was properly quoted and his views not misrepresented, is struggling hard to export banditry to the South under an expressed opinion that is laced with mischief.

“Perhaps, it is apt to state clearly that the likes of Governor El-Rufai are already in a hysteric ‘mode’ of escalating and indeed, externalising banditry, especially as the military onslaught against criminal elements and other terror variants suffices in the North.”

(DAILYPOST)