Controversy as another letter has been reported to have emanated from the camp of former Military President, Ibrahim Babaginda, saying that he denounced his initial letter where he said that President Muhammadu Buhari should not contest for 2019 election saying that ‘the next election in 2019 therefore presents us a unique opportunity to reinvent the will and provoke fresh leadership that would immediately begin the process of healing the wounds in the land and ensuring that the wishes and aspirations of the people are realized in building and sustaining national cohesion and consensus.
Former Head of State, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida during prayers to mark his 75th birthday celebration at the Hilltop, Minna, Niger State ‘I pray the Almighty Allah grant us the gift of good life to witness that glorious dawn in 2019. Amen. I have not written an open letter to the President, I have just shared my thoughts with fellow compatriots on the need to enthrone younger blood into the mainstream of our political leadership starting from 2019.’
But in the new letter Babangida denounced the initial letter saying that it is untrue, it is in its entirety, an inaccurate representation of his view of the state of our dear Nation.
Below is the new letter:
My attention has been drawn to a report making rounds especially online in which I was quoted as advising Nigerians not to vote for President Muhammadu Buhari in the coming 2019 election. Not only is the said statement untrue, it is in its entirety, an inaccurate representation of my view of the state of our dear Nation. As a former President and an elder statesman, I have existing communication channels through which I reach out to President Muhammadu Buhari on topical issues of national importance, should there be the need so to do.
The media, both online or mainstream and indeed the unsuspecting public are advised to disregard such false reports.
Thank you and God Bless you all.
Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (Rtd) (GCON) Former Military President, Federal Republic of Nigeria Hilltop Mansion Minna, Niger state. 4th February 2018. You may also like:
Former military president Ibrahim Babangida has asked Nigerians to co-operate with President Muhammadu Buhari until his tenure ends — but vote for a new generation of leaders in 2019.
In a press statement released on Sunday by Kassim Afegbua, his spokesman, Babangida said it was time to sacrifice “personal ambition” for the “national interest”.
His statement is coming on the heels of a similar intervention by former president Olusegun Obasanjo who asked Buhari not to seek re-election.
Babangida, who overthrew Buhari in 1985 and ruled till 1993, said: “In the fullness of our present realities, we need to cooperate with President Muhammadu Buhari to complete his term of office on May 29th, 2019 and collectively prepare the way for new generation leaders to assume the mantle of leadership of the country. While offering this advice, I speak as a stakeholder, former president, concerned Nigerian and a patriot who desires to see new paradigms in our shared commitment to get this country running.
“While saying this also, I do not intend to deny President Buhari his inalienable right to vote and be voted for, but there comes a time in the life of a nation, when personal ambition should not override national interest. This is the time for us to reinvent the will and tap into the resourcefulness of the younger generation, stimulate their entrepreneurial initiatives and provoke a conduce environment to grow national economy both at the micro and macro levels.”
He said the 2019 elections offer “a unique opportunity for Nigerians”.
“The next election in 2019 therefore presents us a unique opportunity to reinvent the will and provoke fresh leadership that would immediately begin the process of healing the wounds in the land and ensuring that the wishes and aspirations of the people are realized in building and sustaining national cohesion and consensus,” he said.
Babangida expressed worries about the state of the nation, pointing out incessant clashes and killings across the country.
“In the past few months also, I have taken time to reflect on a number of issues plaguing the country. I get frightened by their dimensions. I get worried by their colourations. I get perplexed by their gory themes. From Southern Kaduna to Taraba state, from Benue state to Rivers, from Edo state to Zamfara, it has been a theatre of blood with cake of crimson. In Dansadau in Zamfara state recently, North-West of Nigeria, over 200 souls were wasted for no justifiable reason. The pogrom in Benue state has left me wondering if truly this is the same country some of us fought to keep together,” he said.
“I am alarmed by the amount of blood-letting across the land. Nigeria is now being described as a land where blood flows like river, where tears have refused to dry up. Almost on a daily basis, we are both mourning and grieving, and often times left helpless by the sophistication of crimes. The Boko Haram challenge has remained unabated even though there has been commendable effort by government to maximally downgrade them. I will professionally advise that the battle be taken to the inner fortress of Sambisa Forest rather than responding to the insurgents’ ambushes from time to time.”
President Buhari and Ibrahim Babangida
THE FULL TEXT OF THE STATEMENT
TOWARDS A NATIONAL REBIRTH
In the past few months and weeks, I have played host to many concerned Nigerians who have continued to express legitimate and patriotic worry about the state of affairs in the country. Some of them have continued to agonize about the turn of events and expressly worried why we have not gotten our leadership compass right as a country with so much potential and opportunity for all. Some, out of frustration, have elected to interrogate the leadership question and wondered aloud why it has taken this long from independence till date to discover the right model on account of our peculiarities. At 57, we are still a nation in search of the right leadership to contend with the dynamics of a 21st century Nigeria.
Having been privileged to preside over this great country, interacted with all categories of persons, dissected all shades of opinions, understudied different ethnic groupings; I can rightfully conclude that our strength lies in our diversity. But exploring and exploiting that diversity as a huge potential has remained a hard nut to crack, not because we have not made efforts, but building a consensus on any national issue often has to go through the incinerator of those diverse ethnic configurations. Opinions in Nigeria are not limited to the borders of the political elite; in fact, every Nigerian no matter how young or old, has an opinion on any national issue. And it is the function of discerning leadership to understand these elemental undercurrents in the discharge of state responsibilities.
WHERE WE ARE
There is no gainsaying the fact that Nigeria is at a major crossroads at this moment in its history; the choices we are going to make as a nation regarding the leadership question of this country and the vision for our political, economic and religious future will be largely determined by the nature or kind of change that we pursue, the kind of change that we need and the kind of change that we get. A lot depends on our roles both as followers and leaders in our political undertakings. As we proceed to find the right thesis that would resolve the leadership question, we must bear in mind a formula that could engender national development and the undiluted commitment of our leaders to a resurgence of the moral and ethical foundations that brought us to where we are as a pluralistic and multi-ethnic society.
Nigeria, before now, has been on the one hand our dear native land, where tribes and tongues may differ but in brotherhood we stand, and on the other hand a nation that continues to struggle with itself and in every way stumbling and willful in its quest to become a modern state, starting from the first republic till date. With our huge investments in the African emancipation movements and the various contributions that were made by our leadership to extricate South Africa from colonial grip, Nigeria became the giant of Africa during that period. But having gone through leadership failures, we no longer possess the sobriety to claim that status. And we all are guilty.
We have experimented with Parliamentary and Presidential systems of government amid military interregnum at various times of our national history. We have made some progress, but not good enough to situate us on the pedestal we so desirously crave for. It is little wonder therefore that we need to deliberately provoke systems and models that will put paid to this recycling leadership experimentation to embrace new generational leadership evolution with the essential attributes of responsive, responsible and proactive leadership configuration to confront the several challenges that we presently face.
In 2019 and beyond, we should come to a national consensus that we need new breed leadership with requisite capacity to manage our diversities and jump-start a process of launching the country on the super highway of technology-driven leadership in line with the dynamics of modern governance. It is short of saying enough of this analogue system. Let’s give way for digital leadership orientation with all the trappings of consultative, constructive, communicative, interactive and utility-driven approach where everyone has a role to play in the process of enthroning accountability and transparency in governance.
I am particularly enamored that Nigerians are becoming more and more conscious of their rights; and their ability to speak truth to power and interrogate those elected to represent them without fear of arrest and harassment. These are part of the ennobling principles of representative democracy. As citizens in a democracy, it is our civic responsibility to demand accountability and transparency. Our elected leaders owe us that simple but remarkable accountability creed. Whenever we criticize them, it is not that we do not like their guts; it is just that as stakeholders in the political economy of the country, we also carry certain responsibilities.
In the past few months also, I have taken time to reflect on a number of issues plaguing the country. I get frightened by their dimensions. I get worried by their colourations. I get perplexed by their gory themes. From Southern Kaduna to Taraba state, from Benue state to Rivers, from Edo state to Zamfara, it has been a theatre of blood with cake of crimson. In Dansadau in Zamfara state recently, North-West of Nigeria, over 200 souls were wasted for no justifiable reason. The pogrom in Benue state has left me wondering if truly this is the same country some of us fought to keep together. I am alarmed by the amount of blood-letting across the land. Nigeria is now being described as a land where blood flows like river, where tears have refused to dry up. Almost on a daily basis, we are both mourning and grieving, and often times left helpless by the sophistication of crimes. The Boko Haram challenge has remained unabated even though there has been commendable effort by government to maximally downgrade them. I will professionally advise that the battle be taken to the inner fortress of Sambisa Forest rather than responding to the insurgents’ ambushes from time to time.
THINKING ALOUD
In the fullness of our present realities, we need to cooperate with President Muhammadu Buhari to complete his term of office on May 29th, 2019 and collectively prepare the way for new generation leaders to assume the mantle of leadership of the country. While offering this advice, I speak as a stakeholder, former president, concerned Nigerian and a patriot who desires to see new paradigms in our shared commitment to get this country running. While saying this also, I do not intend to deny President Buhari his inalienable right to vote and be voted for, but there comes a time in the life of a nation, when personal ambition should not override national interest. This is the time for us to reinvent the will and tap into the resourcefulness of the younger generation, stimulate their entrepreneurial initiatives and provoke a conduce environment to grow national economy both at the micro and macro levels.
Contemporary leadership has to be proactive and not reactive. It must factor in citizens’ participation. Its language of discourse must be persuasive not agitated and abusive. It must give room for confidence building. It must build consensus and form aggregate opinion on any issue to reflect the wishes of the people across the country. It must gauge the mood of the country at every point in time in order to send the right message. It must share in their aspirations and give them cause to have confidence in the system. Modern leadership is not just about “fighting” corruption, it is about plugging the leakages and building systems that will militate against corruption. Accountability in leadership should flow from copious examples. It goes beyond mere sloganeering. My support for a new breed leadership derives from the understanding that it will show a marked departure from recycled leadership to creating new paradigms that will breathe fresh air into our present polluted leadership actuality.
My intervention in the governance process of Nigeria wasn’t an accident of history. Even as a military government, we had a clear-cut policy agenda on what we needed to achieve. We recruited some of the best brains and introduced policies that remain some of the best in our effort to re-engineer our polity and nation. We saw the future of Nigeria but lack of continuity in government and of policies killed some of our intentions and initiatives. Even though we did not provide answers to all the developmental challenges that confronted us as at that time, we were not short of taking decisions whenever the need arose.
GROWING INSECURITY ON OUR HANDS
The unchecked activities of the herdsmen have continued to raise doubt on the capacity of this government to handle with dispatch, security concerns that continue to threaten our dear nation; suicide bombings, kidnappings, armed banditry, ethnic clashes and other divisive tendencies. We need to bring different actors to the roundtable. Government must generate platform to interact and dialogue on the issues with a view to finding permanent solutions to the crises. The festering nature of this crisis is an inelegant testimony to the sharp divisions and polarizations that exist across the country. For example, this is not the first time herdsmen engage in pastoral nomadism but the anger in the land is suggestive of the absence of mutual love and togetherness that once defined our nationality. We must collectively rise up to the occasion and do something urgently to arrest this drift. If left unchecked, it portends danger to our collective existence as one nation bound by common destiny; and may snowball into another internecine warfare that would not be good for nation-building.
We have to reorient the minds of the herdsmen or gun-men to embrace ranching as a new and modern way to herd cattle. We also need to expand the capacity of the Nigeria Police, the Nigeria Army, the Navy and Air Force to provide the necessary security for all. We need to catch up with modern sophistication in crime detection and crime fighting. Due to the peculiarity of our country, we must begin community policing to close the gaps that presently exist in our policing system. We cannot continue to use old methods and expect new results. We just have to constructively engage the people from time to time through platforms that would help them ventilate their opinions and viewpoints.
THE CHANGE MANTRA
When the ruling party campaigned with the change mantra, I had thought they would device new methods, provoke new initiatives and proffer new ways to addressing some of our developmental problems. By now, in line with her manifesto, one would have thought that the APC will give fillip to the idea of devolution of powers and tinker with processes that would strengthen and reform the various sectors of the economy. Like I did state in my previous statement late last year, devolution of power or restructuring is an idea whose time has come if we must be honest with ourselves. We need to critically address the issue and take informed positions based on the expectations of the people on how to make the union work better. Political parties should not exploit this as a decoy to woo voters because election time is here. We need to begin the process of restructuring both in the letter and spirit of it.
For example, I still cannot reconcile why my state government would not be allowed to fix the Minna-Suleja road, simply because it is called Federal Government road, or why state governments cannot run their own policing system to support the Federal Police. We are still experiencing huge infrastructural deficit across the country and one had thought the APC-led Federal Government would behave differently from their counterparts in previous administrations. I am hesitant to ask; where is the promised change?
LOOKING AHEAD
At this point of our national history, we must take some rather useful decisions that would lead to real development and promote peaceful co-existence among all the nationalities. We must be unanimous in what we desire for our country; new generation leadership, result-driven leadership, sound political foundation, demonetization of our politics, enhanced internal democracy, elimination of impunity in our politics, inclusiveness in decision-making, and promotion of citizens’ participation in our democratic process. The search for that new breed leadership must start now as we prepare for 2019 election.
I get worried when politicians visit to inform me about their aspirations and what you hear in terms of budgetary allocations for electoral contest does not cover voters’ education but very ridiculous sub-heads. A typical aspirant in Nigeria draws up budget to cover INEC, Police, Army and men and officers of the Civil Defense, instead of talking of voters’ education, mobilization and sensitization. Even where benchmarks are set for electoral expenditure, monitoring and compliance are always difficult to adhere to. We truly need to reform the political system. And we must deliberately get fresh hands involved for improved participation.
We need new ways and new approaches in our political order. We need a national rebirth. We need a rebranded Nigeria and rebranded politics. It is not so much for the people, but for the institutions that are put in place to promote our political engagements. We must strengthen the one man one vote mantra. It is often ridiculous for me when people use smaller countries in our West Africa sub-region as handy references of how democracy should be. It beggars our giant of Africa status.
The next election in 2019 therefore presents us a unique opportunity to reinvent the will and provoke fresh leadership that would immediately begin the process of healing the wounds in the land and ensuring that the wishes and aspirations of the people are realized in building and sustaining national cohesion and consensus. I pray the Almighty Allah grant us the gift of good life to witness that glorious dawn in 2019. Amen. I have not written an open letter to the President, I have just shared my thoughts with fellow compatriots on the need to enthrone younger blood into the mainstream of our political leadership starting from 2019.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Thursday revealed why he decided to write a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari.
Following his scathing letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has revealed he wrote Buhari out of his deep concern for the situation in the country.
Speaking on Thursday at the secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Oke Ilewo area of Abeokuta, shortly after the Coalition for Nigeria Movement was inaugurated in Ogun State,
Obasanjo said he was surprised that many Nigerians were worried that he had exchanged pleasantries with President Buhari at the African Unity summit at Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, few days after he wrote the open letter to him (Buhari).
He noted that he never condemned the Buhari-led administration in totality, as he explained he gave him commendation in areas where it had performed well.
Obasanjo, however, spoke in parable, hinting that big masquerades have taken the centre stage, and the small masquerades must quit the stage.
He said,:-
Quote
Last week, I issued a statement which I did not do lightly or frivolously but out of deep concern for the situation of our country.
“I wonder why some Nigerians were worried why I had to pay respect to the Nigerian President at Addis Ababa. That’s my own upbringing as a well-born and bred Yoruba boy.
“That doesn’t mean that what I have said about the President, which I did not say out of bitterness and hatred. It is evidence that the President has performed, in some areas, good enough.
” In other areas not good and a proper advice which he may take and he may not take.
“I didn’t do that out of malice or out of ‘bad belle’; I did it out of my respect for that office and my interest and I hope in your interest and the interest of Buhari in Nigeria.
The Secretary-General
January 15, 2018
United Nations
New York
Sir,
APPLICATION FOR UN DECLARATION OF MIDDLE-BELT AS REPUBLIC Of TAKURUKU
On behalf of the leadership of Sovereign Republic of Takuruku Movement and good citizens, we hereby solicit for United Nations’ (UN) declaration and support of the international community to the Middle-Belt region as an independent country out of Nigeria. The Republic of Takuruku is a country built on the foundation of the fear of God and truly democratic.
The secession of the Middle-Belt out of Nigeria has become imperative for the following reasons:
In Nigeria, Tiv are the most cheated people and taken for granted despite the fact that they are the 4th largest ethnic group in a nation of 250 tribes.
The people have sacrificed more than other tribes in the struggles to keep Nigeria as one indivisible sovereign nation, and have contributed more to the socio-economic and political development of the country without reward, rather the people are been annihilated, denied of their inalienable rights and known only when it is time to douse crisis.
Before the advent of oil boom in Nigeria, agriculture was the main source of foreign exchange and the Tiv were the major contributors of the agric produce for export without demand for any resource control or derivation on the income as it is being done today by the Niger-Delta indigenes, who insists on getting 13 percent oil derivation monthly.
The income from the Tiv sweat was used for development of the country with little federal presence in the Middle-Belt particularly Tiv land compared with the Northern states that have everything; talk of the tap running with water, good express roads, qualitative heath care and educational facilities, name them; while roads in the Middle-Belt region have become death traps and the hospitals mere consulting clinics.
The Native Authority ( NAs) created by the British colonial masters, for the North they have multiplied into more than ten states mainly occupied by the Hausa/Fulani while the NAs in the Middle-Belt region have been merge into few states and the Tiv scattered in some of the states with other hostile tribes who have been molesting them on the deception by the Fulani terrorists that they should join allied forces with them to wipe out the Tiv on earth and share their land given to them by the all mighty God as their Canaan.
The massacre of Nigerians by the Fulani terrorists dated back to 1804, when Othman Danfodio declared Jihad against the people. After that incident, over the years there has been carnage on Tiv nation across Plateau, Nasarawa, Benue and Taraba states.
Fulani have deceived Tiv’s neighbors like Jukun, Kuteb, Arago and the rest of other members of the Kwararafa confraternity to form allied forces and annihilate the Tiv and occupy their land.
One begins to wonder if the Tiv nation is not part of Nigeria as nobody cares about the heinous attack on them with impunity by the Fulani marauders; killing children, pregnant women and unborn babies, the old, raping of wives and daughters, and destruction of property.
When the Federal Government that enters into social contract with the people to protect their lives and property turn blind eyes to a group of people that has chosen to be lawless in all its dealing such as the Fulani trade union, called Miyeti Allah Kauta Hore, despite their earlier threat to cause insurrection in the Middle-Belt valley. After the fulfillment of the threat they, in various press outings, came boldly to accept responsibility of the barbaric and inhuman acts.
This is the highest degree of exhibition of sense of irresponsibility and Nebuchadnezzaric character. The Sultan of Sokoto that usually vehemently condemns attack on Fulani herdsmen and their cows keeps mute anytime his subject massacre Tiv people without any provocation.
Even though the Nigerian law prohibits the unlawful possession and carrying of arms by the citizens, the Fulani herdsmen continue to bear most sophisticated weapons such as AK47 and used them at will to kill innocent farmers without the Federal Government or law enforcement agencies raising eyebrows, since the perpetrators of the genocide on the people of Middle-Belt are not arrested and prosecuted.
In addition, the Federal Government has provided security for the herders and their cows that are not paying tax, using the tax payer’s money but none for the farmers who have been paying tax. The Federal Government has also made a policy to create cattle colonies by forcefully taking away 100 hectares of land from indigenes in the 36 states of the federation and the federal capital territory Abuja. What an injustice?
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state in his effort to bring lasting solution to ensure peace and development, enacted the Anti-Open Grazing and Ranching Establishment Law, accepted as world standard practice, has been arrogantly resisted by the terrorists who have fulfilled their threat to invade the Benue valley where they have killed over 100 persons, wounded others and caused untold destruction of property.
What else can a reliable friend do to harmoniously co-exist with a friend? In all these good friendly gesture by the Tiv to the Fulani, they have insisted on truncating the law of triangle boundary in relationship with the Tiv by attempts to forcefully Islamize them or take away their land. According to the Fulani, the vegetation of the Benue valley is more nutritious for their cows, valued more than human beings.
Basically, the law stipulates that no one should set boundary for anybody but allow people to set it for themselves so that they can take responsibility for their freedom and face the consequences that follows. Even God the creator of heaven and earth has given liberty to mankind to worship Him or the devil. The choice is yours not forgetting the perfect will of the Lord, which leads to eternal life and His permissive will, to destruction.
The people, particularly the Tiv have passed through many unpalatable historical experiences in the hands of the Sokoto caliphate despite their show of solidarity support to their suppossed Fulani, to acquire political power in control of the entire Nigeria but it is not enough for them and the only pay back to the Tiv is to annihilate them and occupy their land, which according to them, has vegetation with more nutrient for their cows. Such a display of greed and avarice!
Now, besides the series of dehumanized acts against the Tiv by the Arewa oligarchs who claim to be their historic friend (Abokin Kura) over the years, the same Hausa/Fulani set the Tiv people against Biafra (Igbo people) during the civil war of 1967-1970 and now Tiv and Ibo have become enemies.
The Tiv had supported the Sokoto caliphate to acquire political power but they are unable to manage it for the interest of the totality of Nigerians rather they have become more Nigerians than others and oppressors of the masses.
The Tiv people have been placed between the blue sea and the devil as they have no friend in the Arewa and Biafra political blocs. The fear is with the agitation for breakaway of the federating units of Nigeria.
For instance, if the Ibo realized their dream of having Biafra republic, other minority tribes in the Middle-belt region especially the Tiv definitely cannot go with them because of their antecedence of hatred and lack of accommodation for them, caused by the Hausa/Fulani who deceived the northern minorities to gang up against the Ibo who are today celebrating the nemesis against the Tiv by saying Ntoo! Meaning, serves them right, because of the pogrom of Tiv by the Fulani terrorists (Chenaka ba ka sen na gida ba) meaning, the house ant that does not know it’s roommate.
On the other hand, the dominance, marginalization and religious intolerance of the Hausa/Fulani is not palatable to the Middle-Belt nationalities who are predominantly Christians.
The Arewas pretend to be generous when they needed support but after success they dump their supporters while the Biafrans refer to anybody in the Middle-belt as Hausa and treat the person as enemy, unaware that there are other tribes in the region and the Ibo seems to be too selfish for comfort.
From the above analogy, the Middle-belt minorities will prefer to resort to the foundation already laid by Senator Joseph Tarka of blessed memory for them when he led the agitation for independence of the Middle-belt region to go to where they will be celebrated.
That is why the independence of the sovereign Republic of Takuruku for the people of Middle-Belt, Nigeria has become necessary, since no one love them in Nigeria.
Having looked at the situation from the physical side, let us take a view of the spiritual perspective.
Akin to the Jews who were massively killed during the holocaust by the Nazi Germany,now the Jews have an independent nation of Israel, the tide has changed in favour of the victims of the Fulani carnage now that they have reconciled with their God. As a reward for the Tiv who have made their path right with God He has forgiven their transgression for derailing from the original plan of God for them during their migration into the Middle-Belt valley.
According to the prophecy of Archbishop Yimam Orkwar, God has pardoned, given them comfort and taken over the battle of the Middle-Belt people and has transferred their afflictions to their enemies, in Isaiah 40:2, 51and 52:1- 2.
For the oppressors of the people of Middle-belt, they were cautioned not to celebrate their atrocities against the people but expect shame ahead. With the calamity upon the people of Middle-Belt, God has not abandoned his people as the nature of God is when He uses someone to punish His people He turns back to use them and punish the enemy, like He used Ai to punish Israel and later empowered Israel to destroy them.
God in His love and mercy has heard the cry and seen the tears of Benue people as a memorial and has forgiven them. But to their enemies, all the atrocities committed against the Middle-Belt people will return back to them and their future generations a thousandfolds, according to Act 4:23-25.
The wrath of God is going to consume the tormentors of the Benue people particularly the Fulani and their cattle, and the wealth of the heathen transferred to them and makes the enemies their slaves.
The people across Plateau, Nasarawa and Benue state have been consoled to note that God seated on His throne is laughing at the stupidity of their enemies for attacking them without committing any offence to anybody but because the Lord has given the people fertile land as their Canaan, the enemies have conspired and because of grid and envy are trying to take away what does not belong to them.
For example, Paul and his team suffered for no crime but for the gospel and God saw them through. The people have been urged to trust in God at this critical time and they will never be disappointed as He will stand for them and the atrocities against them will backfire to their oppressors in Jesus name.
Takuruku Republic is a dream which time has come as the people, particularly the children of Tiv are now sharing in the suffering with Jesus Christ, which is not in vain but they will also surely share in the comfort of Christ, who is now seated at the right hand of God who is the source of comfort.
The Lord has rewarded the people with the gift of Plateau,Nasarawa,Benue,Taraba and Cross River states as SOVEREIGN REPUBLI OF TAKURUKU, with a viable economy, which is their Canaan with a well defined boundary with international community, Cameroon.
However, in order to sustain the victory, the people have been admonished to continue to pray, praise and worship, and thank to God for the pardon and bringing them back to fellowship together with Him on earth and eternity. Unlike their oppressors, God has given them comfort to make their neighbours comfortable too, according to 2 Corinthians 1:1-12.
Prophet Ortindi Torough Baka
Leader, Sovereign Republic Of Takuruku Movement And President/founder of Awoken Gospel Culture International
#LetsContinue
Founder and leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, Chief Ralph Uwazurike, has described the Igbo as foolish.
The MASSOB founder insisted that Igbo may not become Nigeria’s president because they only fight for their pocket.
Uwazurike recalled how Igbo was pushed aside after forming the former ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in 1999.
He insisted that anyone calling for the unity of Nigeria does not mean well for the already troubled nation.
His words, “Remember, it was the Igbo man that formed this PDP but they snatched it from him. Then, it was clear that an Igbo man would be the President of Nigeria. But in Jos, it was the Igbo who robbed themselves of that opportunity. The Igbo at that political event in Jos started speaking Hausa.
“The Igbo started sponsoring (Olusegun) Obasanjo against (Alex) Ekwueme; giving N100 million and all that to another tribe to emerge. Let me tell you, the Igbo tribe is the most foolish tribe I have ever seen in the world.
“While the Yoruba embraced unity, the Igbo man was the person speaking Hausa in Jos; the Igbo man was the one donating money against his own brother in Jos to another candidate.
“Is that a wise tribe? Then, who should I apologise to for using the word ‘foolish?’ Then what have we achieved from the PDP? For how many years have the Yoruba people used the PDP? Eight years! Now, when it was the turn of the South-East, they sent it to South-South.”
The African Union Summit January 2018 in Addis Ababa Ethiopia has just been concluded with a theme “Fighting Corruption”
The newly elected African Union ‘AU’ Chairperson Paul Kagame the Rwandan President said “Africa must emulate president Buhari’s fight against corruption. It’s a canker worm that must be destroyed”
The above statement came soon after Buhari was appointed the Anti Corruption Champion by his fellow continental cronies who more or less the same with their clueless ineptitude. Just look at Kenya with two presidents for you to understand what I mean.
Quick reactions by African academics and sound professionals to the appointment of Buhari was summed up as “sense of irony”
This must be a joke, they retorted vehemently. African joke of the year they added.
You cannot have Buhari who has condoned, benefitted, encouraged and participated in corruption in Nigeria within the past two years since he has been in power. This is in addition to his response to herdsmen who brandish AK-47 assault weapons without license and have indeed murdered innocent people, raped, maimed, ravaged communities .
How can such a man be made the Anti Corruption Champion of the AU?. He must have bent his head in shame, albeit being a shameless man and a failure amongst his peers and contemporaries.
The abysmal fall of Buhari is only just beginning and deservedly so, from the tip of the African Continent. Who knows how far down he is going to fall – bottomless.
Deep-Seated illegality and abuse of financial procedures still bedevil the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) two years after a regime change, Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki declared yesterday in Abuja. Saraki said the problem had continued in spite of efforts to sanitise the oil industry.
Saraki, who was represented by the Senate leader, Ahmed Lawal, at a public hearing on the re-introduction of subsidy being conducted by the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), expressed displeasure at what he described as secret and opaque re-introduction of subsidy in the prices of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) without any budget approval by the National Assembly.
The Senate President regretted that “government has not done what we need to do to nip this problem in the bud.”He said payments amounting to some N10 trillion were hijacked to favour few individuals. “Findings have brought to light the fact that our downstream oil and gas industry needs critical reforms”, he said.
Saraki further stated that it had been exposed that “in spite of the stoppage of the fuel subsidy regime, and non-appropriation of funds for the scheme due to the fraud and maladministration going on in the scheme, fuel subsidy payments continue to be maid illegally from our commonwealth to a few quietly in order to dodge scrutiny and avoid exposure.”
Insisting that the Senate would not rest until all perpetrators of the fraud particularly those in high public offices were exposed, the Senate president stated: “But this 8th Senate is here to expose all corruption in the system irrespective of how highly placed those involved are. This unconstitutional and illegal practice must be addressed and we are not going to rest until it is fully addressed.”
Saraki charged the committee to “get to the bottom of this issue and proffer long-lasting solutions to this racketeering in the fuel market that leaves the Nigerian people poorer every year.” Other questions the committee must seek answers to, according to the Senate president, are “the actual quantity of fuel the Nigerian market consumes; the underlining reasons why the market is struggling to operate without government intervention; and the process and all those involved in signing out unbudgeted funds outside the budget passed by the National Assembly.”
Meanwhile, the NNPC has claimed that the Nigerian Federation was indebted to the corporation to the tune of N170.6 billion outstanding subsidy payments due from January 2006 to December, 2015.
Leading a team of top management of the NNPC to the ongoing investigative hearing on N5 trillion subsidy payments from 2006 to 2016, the Group Managing Director of the Corporation, Dr. Maikanti Baru, said the figure was arrived at after the deduction of N4.950.80 trillion received as payments from theN5.121.40 trillion approved subsidy claims of the corporation from January 2006 to December 2015.
Providing details of the accruals, the Chief Financial Officer of the corporation, Mr. Isiaka AbdulRazaq, traced the advent of the subsidy regime to October, 2003 when NNPC was directed by government to commence the purchase of domestic crude oil at international market price without a corresponding liberalisation of the regulated price of petroleum products.
He explained that under the subsidy regime, NNPC and other suppliers of refined petroleum products were entitled to file subsidy claims to the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA).AbdulRazaq, however, noted that unlike other oil marketers, NNPC did not receive cash payment for subsidy claims as its subsidy claims were deducted out of cost payment to the federation account after due certification by PPPRA.
‘’In summary, NNPC submits that the amount of over N5.1 Trillion was duly approved by PPPRA as subsidy claims for NNPC. Out of this sum NNPC is still being owed N170.6 billion,’’ the NNPC CFO said.
The corporation called on the Senate Downstream Committee to assist in ensuring that the outstanding debt was settled to enable the NNPC to effectively achieve its obligation as the supplier of last resort to the downstream sector.
One big problem Biafrans have is acute individualism. Nobody wants to work under others. Everybody wants to be on top. At times for fear of being labeled overambitious some will pretend they are not interested in leading, but from their body language of ‘I’ syndrome, it will be obvious.
The Customary Government of Biafra is an institution set up by elders of Biafra, to help gather Biafrans that are scattered globally unto a one-united forum or governance, so as to channel our collective efforts towards our target, which is Biafra restoration.
Unfortunately the setting up of Customary Government didn’t go down well with some Biafrans, because they claimed they were not consulted. Their understanding is that whatever they didn’t start must not succeed. That’s the bane of our Biafran people. These people with these view, also include those who were afraid to come on board and join ab initio when the idea was first muted. Yet when it seems to be coming out successful, it then becomes object of envy and jealousy. Hence the attack and refusal to support the efforts others are making for our freedom.
The structure and modus operandi of the Customary Government was done so that nobody should be seen or should regard himself or herself as Emperor. In the Customary Government we are rather buildthe institution. No office is permanent. Officer’s post is not for life. After a certain specified period the officer must leave for another to take over. Leadership is by group. That’s called colligate leadership structure. Because we are award that Biafrans are Republicans, we believe that group leadership is best for our peoples.
We have observed repeatedly that many of our people are not comfortable with this arrangement. They either must lead or the want to stay on their own. We are not against any, but we are eagerly encouraging those who agree to our modus to come on board with us.
In the Customary Government there are many offices yet to be occupied. We are therefore inviting more responsible people eager to help build this institution to come on board. In my father’s house, its said, there are many mansions there. In this Customary Government, there are many offices waiting to be occupied.
Those who want to build private estate can also join us, except they will have to agree to our official terms of relationship. The Customary Government can partner with you in your business as long as it symbiotic in relationship. It must profit the Biafran people through our Customary Government.
Not individualism. All must tend towards Democratic communism. In this system, All is for One, One is for All.
On this we can build a better society for ourselves.
Anthony Aniebue
Administraor: Customary Government of Biafra CG-B.
In line with BVI Channel 1 mission statement to bridge the communication gap and give the ordinary and indigenous people a dependable and independent voice they deserve,BVI Channel 1 has taken her media operations to the rural areas.
The project will cover areas like decaying public infrastructure in various communities , schools,hospitals, local market,water supply , rural electrification,Rural roads network , erosion menace among others. We shall always report the true position of things in our land for possible interventions and resolutions.
This exercise is not targeted to any individual /group neither is the outcome meant to score any form of political goal.Our people deserve the best and it is the intention of BVI Channel 1 to drive a revolutionary media services that would serve the interest of the majority of the oppressed people.
Finally,BVI Channel 1 Community Project does not have a commercial value but will be funded by the people whose interest are being served.
Promoters of the Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM) have unveiled its agenda, with former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola as the arrowhead.
Prince Oyinlola warned at the Abuja launch, yesterday, that Nigeria is inching towards a dangerous and helpless point and cautioned that unless a bold step is urgently taken, the country may face a conflagration that would be difficult to contain.
Dignitaries at the event, which took place at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, included former governor of Cross Rivers State, Donald Duke, former political adviser to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Akin Osuntokun .
Obasanjo had, in an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday, January 23, dismissed the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as platforms that have failed Nigerians.
The former president stressed that the two political parties have lost the trust and confidence of Nigerians.
On the basis of that, he canvassed the formation of a political coalition and charged the populace to embrace it, to help re-direct the country.
The former president was, however, not present at the formal launch of the movement, yesterday, but some of his aides and former PDP members were at the event.
Lamenting the state of affairs, Oyinlola, who is the coordinator of the Movement, contended that lack of equity and equality are responsible for the current tension and challenges facing Nigeria.
The former governor insisted that peace will continue to elude the country as long as there is discrimination against some Nigerians because of where they come from.
He said: “There cannot be peace where there is no justice, no equity.
“You will agree with me that they can not be peace where there is no justice.
“The tensions and security challenges this nation faces, today, are direct products of social and economic justice.”
The former Osun governor emphasised that the country is sitting on a keg of gun powder and that sitting aloof will spell doom for the country.
He added: “Every sensible person must know that there is trouble ahead, unless something urgent is done.
“In the absence of credible social security programmes, the vulnerable and young ones have resorted to desperate actions, such as getting sold into slavery in Europe in this 21st century.
“Failure of leadership has robbed our country of greatness.”
He said the decision to float the coalition is to galvanise Nigerians, to wrest the country from few people who have left it more divided.
“You would understand why some of us have decided to make this effort and are waking up the vast majority of our people to, for once, take their destinies in their hands, as demanded by the Constitution.”
Oyinlola maintained that insecurity and growing unemployment have made despondency and hopelessness more glaring on faces of millions of Nigerians, especially women and the youth.
On whether the movement will be registered as a political party or will affiliate with one of the existing parties Oyinlola, said the decision on what to do with the coalition was yet to be taken.
“We’re not a political party, at least, for now.
“We recognise the facts that, by the dictates of the Constitution, you can only contest on the platform of a political party.”
He also denied insinuations that the movement was formed to legitimise Obasanjo’s legacy.
Rather than that, he said the movement is determined to use the instrument of democracy to replace the the current state of affairs.
“It is a shame if we all fail to use the powers of democracy to fight and defeat this devil.
“What, then, are the specific aims and objectives of this movement?
“As stated earlier, this movement is here to promote the welfare of all citizens of a united Nigeria guarded by justice and fairness.
“In carrying out this task, we are taking into consideration the various calls for equity in political and social relationship across the various segments of the country.
“This Movement, therefore, has as its cardinal objectives, the promotion of equity and equality of opportunities for all our compatriots, in order to have a truly just and united Nigeria.
“In more specific terms, we invite our youths and women to use the window provided by this Movement to take their desired place in the leadership of their country.
“The women and youths are very vital but vulnerable segment of our population that needs special attention.
“Women in the formal sector need further encouragement while those in the informal sector desire enhanced assistance to realize their potentials,” said Oyinlola.
Meanwhile, barring any last minute change, Obasanjo will, today, launch the Ogun State chapter of the CNM.
Briefing journalists on the launch, in Abeokuta, yesterday, Obasanjo’s Media Aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, said the former president will personally perform the launch at the Ogun State Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Oke-Ilewo, in Abeokuta.
“The registration of members for the Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CMN), Ogun State chapter begins today .
“It will hold at the lwe-Irohin House, Press Centre, Oke Ilewo Abeokuta, starting from 10:00am and be presided over by the special guest and Chief Convener, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.”
Akinyemi also noted that registration is free.
Meanwhile, An advocacy group for the promotion of good governance in Enugu State, Youth Coalition for Good Governance, has raised the alarm that some politicians are trying to lure its members to deploy their platform to fabricate and dish out lies with the aim of misinforming members of the public and changing their positive opinion about the “visionary and people-oriented” administration in Enugu and the State House of Assembly.
The group in a statement by its coordinator and secretary, Hon. Ikechukwu Ibeh and Engr. Jude Onyema, stated that the alarm became necessary in view of the pressure being mounted on them by the desperate individuals to accede to their selfish request.
The body added that its leaders rejected the offer presented to them because of their conviction that the plot was immoral, mischievous and baseless.
The group disclosed that the ulterior motive of the sponsors of the planned smear campaign, in their usual tradition, revolves around their selfish political interest in 2019 general elections, adding that they had displayed similar crass desperation in the build-up to the 2015 elections, but failed woefully.
It further pointed out that the sponsors are envious of the good works of the present administration in the state in spite of the nation’s economic challenges and the goodwill, solidarity and support the government enjoys from the people as well as the undisputed status of Enugu as a peaceful and secure state.
The group stated that they also rejected the offer in appreciation of the harmonious and peaceful relationship between the state government and the House of Assembly, stressing that such devious plot should not be encouraged.
The body recalled that it is on record that the present administration had received several commendations from reputable institutions for prudent and judicious management of the finances of the state such as the federal government bailout funds to states, Paris Club refunds and monthly federal allocation, etc, to address the needs of the people, wondering why anyone would attempt to undermine these laudable feats.
It added that, “it is noteworthy that at a time most states are unable to pay workers’ salaries, the Government of Enugu State is up-to-date in payment of salaries; has recorded tremendous achievements in massive infrastructural development and even went further to pay the 13th month salary to civil servants of the state as Christmas bonus, among others, in keeping with its commitment to the wellbeing of the people”.
The group noted that those behind the plot are also uncomfortable with the harmonious working relationship between the executive and the legislative arm, which it said, was responsible for the many remarkable achievements in the state attained through due process and strict adherence to budget implementation.
While alerting the public of such mischief, the group advised that “those behind the plot should have a rethink and channel their energy and resources to useful engagements that would add value to the development of Enugu State”.
Meanwhile, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday described the report of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on restructuring of the country as deceptive.
The PDP in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, dismissed the report “as a ruse and another fresh attempt to beguile Nigerians with another round of lies, empty proposals and hollow promises, ahead of 2019 elections,” same way it did in 2015.
According to the PDP,” it amounts to outright depravity that the same APC leaders who at assumption of office, rejected restructuring will now suddenly turn around to pose as fathers of a restructured Nigeria simply because the 2019 general elections beckon.”
Besides, the opposition party said the report is a ploy the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to divert the attention of members of the public from the failings of the federal government.
The party noted that “the fact ( is) that the APC has no littlest intention of implementing any form of restructuring is completely manifest in the attitude and body language of its leaders including President Buhari, who in his 2018 new year address, rejected the idea of restructuring, by declaring that “When all the aggregates of nationwide opinions are considered, my firm view is that our problems are more to do with process than structure.
“Even Kaduna state governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, who eventually became the Chairman of the APC panel on restructuring, had also on June 29, 2017, during an interview on Channels TV, denied that the APC promised restructuring and described Nigerians, who were taking his party to task on the issue, as ‘political opportunists and irresponsible’people.
“This is in addition to declaration by the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who in a Radio Nigeria (FRCN) interview programme on June 9, 2017, stated that restructuring is not President Buhari’s priority.
“From Borno state governor, Kashim Shettima, who was quoted to have said ‘to hell with restructuring,’ to the totality of APC leaders, none believes in either true federalism or restructuring by any name called.
“As a matter of fact, it is instructive to note that the APC refused to rally its members in the National Assembly to support or vote for any amendment that dwelt on restructuring when the federal legislature voted on sections of the constitution where amendments have been proposed in the direction of restructuring.
“If anything, APC leaders have consistently criticized any amendment that spoke or have a semblance of restructuring or true federalism.
“It is therefore deceptive that in the wake of their rejection by the people, the discredited APC and its dysfunctional government have suddenly woken up to parade as champions of a restructured Nigeria. This is a callous and wicked attempt to once again take Nigerians on a trip to the land of fantasy.
“We therefore urge Nigerians to reject the new ploy by the APC to deceive them for their votes in 2019. “
