Address of CAN General Secretary-Rev. Musa Asake

January 19, 2018

Gentlemen of the Press,

On behalf of the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria and the entire Christian Community here in Nigeria, I welcome you to this press conference in the precious and wonderful name of Our Redeemer and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. Since this is our first meeting this year, permit me to say HAPPY NEW YEAR to you and wishing you a productive and prosperous 2018.

We have invited you here to express our grave concern for the insecurity challenges that have continued to face us as a nation and Christians in particular in our dear country, Nigeria. We make bold to say that Nigeria’s security system has become dysfunctional and that this fact has been exposed by the inability of the various security arms to wrestle to the ground those threatening the existence of Christians and other innocent citizens in Nigeria,

As it is, they have not been able to come up with an efficient and enduring system that can overwhelm the resurgence of Boko Haram, Gunmen and Fulani Herdsmen who are prowling villages, shooting and killing innocent Christians. Instead the IG whenever there is killings going on his men on ground in that particular area will be looking the other way and if asked they will say they are waiting for order from above. The IG will always take side and make statements that are provocative to the people of the affected area. For example, when it happened in Southern Kaduna he said it was a communal clash and refuted the number of people killed. Recently he repeated the same statement in the Benue killings. That is an insult to the Christian community from a leader who is supposed to protect our lives and property. What a shame!

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has reviewed the catalogue of horrendous and inhuman attacks on several states and mostly Benue State from 2013 – 2018. The impression has now been firmly established that the Islamists of northern Nigerian have “legalized jihad” in Nigeria.

As if the attacks on Benue, Taraba, Kaduna, Plateau, Yobe, Borno, Nasarawa, Enugu, Imo, Abia, Rivers, Ogun and Oyo States are not enough, the Islamists and their agents have extended their trail of blood and destruction to Bwari in Abuja and Ilorin in Kwara State. On Christmas Day, 2017, Christian community in Bwari, Abuja was attacked; several lives were lost while business locations were burnt down. On New Year’s Day in 2018, Christians observing “watch-night” service in Ilorin were attacked and three Churches burnt. As usual, the Security Agents did not intervene until the attackers had finished their horrendous assignment.

This pattern suggests collusion of the Security Units with the Islamists militia operating under such names as Fulani herdsmen, Boko Haram, “unknown gunmen”, and “group of vandals”. On 17th January, 2017, the Nigerian Air Force “accidentally”, in broad daylight, bombed a Christian IDP Camp and killed over 200 Christian refugees in Rann, Kala-Balge Local Government in Borno State. In December 2017, an Air Force spokes person confirmed that the Nigerian Air Force sent an Alpha Jet and an EC 135 attack Helicopter to fire “warning” shots at Islamist militia attacking Christians in Numan, Adamawa state, but not to kill them! The villagers were later to report that the Jet actually bombed the Christian villages resulting in the death of over 50 people, while, the Nigerian Air Force said it merely fired warning shots at the Islamist militia attacking the villagers. This is jihad as we cannot understand fired warning shots in the narrative of this attack.

It is clear to the discerning that President Buhari is not running Nigeria according to the dictates of the Democratic values in the Constitution and has no respect for Human Rights, Rule of Law and Democracy. It is unfortunate that a President that was sworn into office to uphold and defend the Constitution has flagrantly violated the Constitution and adopted Sharia ideology as operational standard.

Having reviewed the situation in the country, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) wishes to note that some principal entities appear responsible for the current distress in the nation.

President Muhammadu Buhari

President Buhari was elected on a wave of unprecedented public approval in 2015. Unfortunately, within a few weeks of his election, he started creating the impression that he was in power to serve the interests of his Fulani ethnic group only. Discerning people were quick to note that contrary to his electoral promises, he actually meant to pursue core Islamist agenda. Almost every vital appointment in Security and Education went to Muslims from the North. He did not hide his disdain for the indigenous ethnic nationalities and, at every opportunity, showed preferential treatment to the Muslim North.

Under President Buhari, the murderous Fulani herdsmen enjoyed unprecedented protection and favoritism to the extent that the herdsmen treat Nigeria as a conquered territory. Rather than arrest and prosecute the Fulani herdsmen, security forces usually manned by Muslims from the North offer them protection as they unleash terror with impunity on the Nigerian people.

The bottom line is that President Buhari failed woefully to protect Nigerians. He wilfully permitted the Fulani herdsmen to operate killing people, destroying communities wholesale, destroying farmlands and turning the entire Middle Belt into “killing fields”, all the while enjoying government protection from counter attack, arrest or prosecution.
By failing to curb the attacks of the Fulani herdsmen President Buhari has failed to uphold Section 14, Para. 2 (b) in the Constitution that “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government:”

Through his partial, sectional and discriminatory appointments, particularly in Security and Education, President Buhari violated Section 14, Para. 3 “The composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity, and also to command national loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few State or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in that Government or in any of its agencies.”

MIYETTI ALLAH CATTLE BREEDERS ASSOCIATION

The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association is supposed to be a business group much like many other businesses and professional groups in the country. However, the MACBAN differs from any other business group in that it combines bloodshed with enterprise.
The Fulani herdsmen are clearly associated with MACBAN and the officials of MACBAN are noted to make very inciting statements before and after the Fulani herdsmen attack vulnerable communities.

In the recent attacks on Benue State, the President of Benue Branch of Miyetti Allah, Garus Gololo said they attacked the communities because 1,000 of their cows were stolen. Even if it was true that cows were stolen, who constituted Miyetti Allah into law enforcement agency, judge and jury to commit wholesale murder?

In another account, Miyetti Allah called a Press Conference in which it stated it would not abide with the anti-open grazing law of Benue State Government. The Chief Press Secretary to the Benue State Government, Terve Akase believes that the attacks on Benue State on 1st and 2nd January, 2018 were in reaction to the grazing law enacted by the Benue State Government.

Miyetti Allah has openly rejected anti-open grazing bills in Taraba, Plateau and Benue States. In May 2017, the National President of Miyetti Allah, Alhaji Bello Abdullahi Bodejo and the National Secretary Engineer Saleh Alhassan openly declared at a Press Conference that the introduction of anti-open grazing bill in some states is a recipe for anarchy. Are we now to conclude that a business group has supremacy over State Governments?

RESOLUTIONS

1. In view of the foregoing, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) calls on all lovers of freedom and democracy in Nigeria to rise against the tyranny of the Islamists, who manipulate the religion of Islam for political and cultural domination. There is difference between Islam and Islamism. While Islam is a religion, Islamism is not a religion but a political ideology. Islamism in Nigeria is based on the Doctrine of Hate and supremacist ideology that the Fulani is superior to the other ethnic nationalities in Nigeria. This is what is at the root of the bloodshed and insecurity all over Nigeria. The clannish mentality of the Fulani places every other ethnic nationality in Nigeria as colonial subject or dhimmi (second class citizen), irrespective of religion or culture.

2. Most of the problems in the polity especially the ongoing genocide against Christians in the Northcentral are having religious and tribal undertone hence why the Islamic leaders are keeping mum to the massacre of our members in Benue, Taraba, Kaduna, and Enugu states. It is part of the grand agenda to take over our land, with this I have good news for you. “It will not work”
3.
Instead of bringing the leadership of Myetti Allah… to book for being the masterminds of the genocide, top functionaries of the Buhari government are now advocating grazing colonies with a view of granting these criminals free land and government supports.
4.
While the government has taken the battle to Boko Haram terrorists, the Indigenous People of Biafra, the Badoo boys, the Niger Delta Avengers and other groups, the government has not shown any serious willingness to checkmate the murderous Fulani Herdsmen. This to us is a betrayal of the confidence reposed in this government by Nigerians when they voted them into power.

5. We need to know why the intelligence units of all security apparatus that we have in this country has not been able to discover the sources of supply of ammunition to Fulani herdsmen living virtually in the bush.

To restore permanent peace to all the trouble spots in the country, we demand the following;

1. The Myetti Allah organisation should be tagged a terrorist organisation. Its leaders should be arrested and prosecuted for the genocide against the Christian minorities in the Middlebelt.

2. President Muhammadu Buhari should overhaul the National Security Council with a view to sharing its membership equally between Christians and Muslims and possibly those who do not belong to either. No religion has a monopoly of competency, commitment and patriotism.

3. We call for immediate replacement of the Inspector General of Police because our security can no longer be guaranteed. We also demand immediate redeployment of all the Commissioners of Police.
Every Nigerian should condemn in strong terms and resist the attempt by this pro-Fulani government that “cattle colonies” shall be established all over the country. This is an insult on all Nigerians. The idea of “cattle colony” presupposes that the Fulanis are colonial masters. How and when one ethnic group transmuted into a “colonial master” over all the other 388 ethnic nationalities in Nigeria is unknown. Besides, after Nigerians roundly rejected “grazing reserves” who are the Islamists trying to deceive with change of nomenclature?

TRUMP’S DECLARATION ON JERUSALEM AS THE CAPITAL OF ISREAL IS IN ORDER
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) is compelled once again, to draw the attention of the Buhari Administration to the non-aligned status of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in international conflicts. We have had cause to express great apprehension when in December 2015, President Buhari, without giving consideration to Section 10 of the Constitution, as well as to the sensitivity of Christians that constitute over 50% of the Nigerian population, led Nigeria to join the Saudi Arabia initiated Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC).
Since then, there have been other disturbing actions of the President internally, that borders on adoption of Islam as state religion in a Secular State. These include the promotion of Sharia Compliant Finance, using State resources, violation of Federal Character Principle in the Constitution by appointing mostly Muslims to head Security Units in the nation, and the inability of the Government to arrest and prosecute rampaging Islamic militias, amongst others.
Recently, Mr. President once again dragged Nigeria to interfere in the Israeli/Palestinian conflict by voting against the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel at the United Nations. The non-aligned status of Nigeria demanded that Nigeria should have abstained from voting, either for or against, when the issue came up at the UN.
We wish to place on record, once again, the dangerous and un-statesmanship religious discrimination and partiality that have characterized the President Buhari-led administration. Nigeria is a Secular State and the issue of religion is supposed to be an individual conviction. While the choice of a nation’s capital is a political decision, the objection of the Palestinians to Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, in this case, has a lot of religious undertones.
Nigeria should have been more circumspect before it dabbles into an issue that has been entangled over the years so that it would not compromise its non-aligned status. Mr. President, Nigeria has a lot of security challenges internally that demand immediate attention and leave no room for the nation to meddle in issues that demand our neutrality.
The Christian Association of Nigeria is placing on record that the negative vote of Nigeria over Jerusalem is not the consensus of the citizens of this country and therefore, it should not be regarded as representing the choice of Nigeria. It is a sectional and unilateral imposition of the President Buhari Administration.
Again and again, Muslim leaders from the northern part of the country have demonstrated inability to respect the secularity of the Nigerian State and leave religion as an individual conviction according to Section 38 (1) of the Nigerian Constitution.
We demand of the President holistic response to curb the horrendous menace of the Fulani herdsmen and Boko Haram, who to all intent and purpose have launched Jihad in Nigeria. These are the issues our President should focus on rather than seek to compromise our non-aligned status that serves our national interest very well.
Thank you and God bless Nigeria.
Rev. Musa Asake, PhD.

CAN National General Secretary

Benue massacre: Tag Fulani herdsmen terrorist-Senate to Buhari

Queen Madu

January 17, 2018

The Senate yesterday issued a two-week ultimatum to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Ibrahim Idris, within which to investigate the mass killings in Benue State and arrest the masterminds.

It called on the Attorney-General of Benue State, to immediately prosecute those expected to be arrested by the IGP. In the same vein, there was anger in the House of Representatives over the killings, as majority of the lawmakers berated President Muhammadu Buhari and the security agencies for failing in their duties to ensure security of lives and property in the country. The Senate sternly warned Idris not to flout its decision, vowing it would ensure that the decision was carried out.

It mandated its leadership to meet with Buhari and ensure that the recommendations were fully implemented without any delay.

A Senate ad-hoc committee on Review of National Security Infrastructure, last weekend, visited affected communities in Benue. It also met with Governor Samuel Ortom, traditional rulers and other stakeholders in the state.

Senate President Bukola Saraki insisted: “The President must act. Those responsible must be held accountable. Military all the time cannot be the solution.

“Action must begin to happen to show to Nigerians that we are not just talking. We need to ensure that this never happens again. We need to restore hope.”

His deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, who warned of a looming war also called on Buhari to declare a nationwide state of emergency. He contended that with the declaration, the Federal Government would have the leeway to deploy troops to every part of the country, close borders and take drastic actions to tackle the menace.

He declared: “The international and the intelligence community are worried that war is coming to Nigeria. We must not allow this to happen. The constitution says that the primary responsibility of government is the protection of lives and properties. Everyday, we come here to condemn the killings and observe a minute silence.

“When I talk about state of emergency, it is not removing governors. It is to protect lives. I am calling that state of emergency be declared in every part of the country. Egypt has done that. We have come to that.

“It is important for us to have a rethink of creating a state police. Every state should have the kind of police that fits into their system. Nigeria is the only democracy that still has a central police. The states that can provide for it financially should be allowed to do so.”

Former Senate President, David Mark, blamed the problem on failure of intelligence. He said the Federal Government was not proactive in responding to national crises.

He warned that if this issue was not tackled, Nigerians might resort to self-help and take up arms against the state.

Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, wondered why security agencies gave preferences to some parts of the country more than others.

He said as long as governors did not control security apparatuses in their various states, insecurity would persist in the country.

Committee chairman on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, Samuel Anyanwu, called on the Federal Government to proscribe herdsmen and tag them as terrorists.

He warned that the government must not play politics with the issue. He said if the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) could be proscribed as a terrorist organisation, despite the fact that they did not carry arms, herdsmen must also be given the same treatment.

Former governor of Kebbi State, Adamu Aliero, called on the Senate to reconsider a bill sponsored by Rabiu Kwankawso on grazing, saying its passage would solve the frequent clashes.

And in the House of Representatives, there was anger as members had a heated debate on a consolidated motion by Gabriel Kolawole and Dickson Takighi on “need for the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on security in the country over spate of deadly attacks in the country by suspected herdsmen.”

The House resolved to set up a committee to meet with heads of security agencies in the country to ascertain measures put in place to forestall future attacks.

Wale Raji said the police and other security agencies saddled with the task of providing security in the affected areas failed the people.

Afe Olowokere said Buhari did not help matters in the case of killings arising from the attacks from suspected herdsmen.

Sadiq Ibrahim said the herdsmen needed the protection of every Nigerian, noting that the herdsmen lacked the basic comfort others took for granted.

Hassan Saleh said the Federal Goverment failed the people of Benue, “what we are seeing is a big failure. We were with the President yesterday and our take home was nothing.”

Mark Gbillah said: “This administration has failed the Benue people. There is no more respect for the sanctity of human life. That is why our president choose to commission trains instead of coming to commiserate with the people of the state.”

Earlier in his welcome address, Speaker Yakubu Dogara said: “From the senseless killings in Rivers State, to the killing rampages in Benue, Taraba, Kaduna, Zamfara, Adamawa, Edo and other states; our dear country is now being painted red with the blood of the innocents on account of unremitting bedlam callously promoted by cold hearted merchants of death.

“This House has passed many resolutions on the issue of herdsmen, cattle grazing and cattle rustling. There have also been several resolutions on kidnapping, Boko Haram terrorism and sundry security matters.

“These resolutions are more of a wake-up call to the Executive on its constitutional obligations in governance. The accentuation of violent crimes is a chronic symptom of defects in our security architecture, which we must fix.

“I therefore call on Mr. President to apply maximum sanctions on public officers who are derelict in the performance of their duties.

“We cannot afford to fold our hands and pretend that all is well with our country. We have a responsibility to all Nigerians regardless of creed or ethnicity.

“We expected that with the legislative cooperation given to the Executive arm, to effect an increase in the fuel price from N87 per litre to N145, and based on their assurances, incidents of fuel scarcity would be a thing of the past. “We were also assured that fuel subsidy had come to an end. From recent developments on this subject, except the Executive adduces compelling reasons why the reverse is the case, we will be justified in feeling betrayed.

Source:sun

6 killed and several people injured in Lagos gas Explosion

Queen Madu

January 16, 2018

six persons were feared killed while several others sustained injuries in two separate gas explosions in Lagos State, yesterday.

One of the explosion that occured in Magodo, which snowballed into a massive fire, took place at a facility known as Second Coming gas plant, situated in a densely populated area.

It was gathered that two people died in the Magodo inferno. Some charred bodies found by the perimeter fence of the gas station were evacuated by officials of the Lagos State Ambulance Services (LASAMBUS) while those that had various degrees of burns received first aid there. Another set of victims with severe burns were immediately moved to the Trauma Centre, Toll Gate for further medical attention.

According to reports, the fire was allegedly caused by gas leakage from one of the trucks inside the popular gas station, which was said to be a destination spot for cooking gas users around the area. It was further disclosed that the explosion was caused when a vehicle with faulty exhaust passed by the station.

Many people were injured following the fire, which immediately spread to other properties in the neighbourhood.

As the dark smoke and flame billowed into sky, men of the Lagos State Fire Service tried frantically to curtail it from spreading further and claiming more casualties. Motorists and pedestrians were also advised to take alternative routes to avert further disaster.

Speaking on the incident, the General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Mr Adesina Tiamiyu, said they were alerted at about 7.26 am, and on arriving the scene, it was discovered that the gas plant was on fire. He disclosed that preliminary investigation by the agency revealed that three reserviour tanks used for storage of gas and one 33, 000 litre gas truck in the gas station were engulfed by fire, with a secondary explosion also taking place within the gas station.

“Officials of the Lagos State Fire Service with four fire trucks and the LRU Fire Unit with two fire trucks were able to contain the fire from spreading to adjourning buildings. Other emergency responders on ground were RRS, Federal Road Safety Corps, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps, Red Cross, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and the Federal Fire Service,” he disclosed.

He, however, assured that the situation was completely under control, adding that the perimeter of the vicinity was secured and evacuation of people from the scene effected. He also noted that the officials of Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) had also completely isolated power supply from the affected area to avoid any other incident.

He stressed that proper investigation would be conducted to ascertain the possible cause of the fire and to also prevent future reoccurrence of “this unfortunate and avoidable incident in the state.”

The Director, Lagos State Fire Service, Mr. Rasak Fadipe, also explained that the concerted efforts of his team prevented the fire from causing more damages.

Also, an explosion by leaking gas cylinder at an artisan’s shop in Ajara area of Badagry, killed four persons and left several others with severe burns. According to our correspondent, who visited the scene of the incident, three persons, two men and a woman lay dead at the spot.

Six buildings located near the workshop and six gas cylinders were destroyed by the explosion which occurred at about 9:50 am. Officials of the Federal Fire Service, Federal Road Safety Corps, Police and other security agencies were on ground to control the situation.

An official of the fire service, Mr Tunde Adeboye, said that they were able to put out the fire quickly, which helped in reducing the damage.

A senior police officer at the scene, who pleaded anonymity, said that four persons died in the explosion.

A witness, Mr Segun Adebunmi, said that the explosion was caused by a leaking gas cylinder at the artisan’s shop.

“It’s a testimony that I’m alive as I escaped the scene by the whiskers,’’ he said.

Another witness, Mr Tope Alabi, said that the explosion destroyed cars that were parked on the street.

“I heard a loud bang and the glasses of cars were shattering and the next thing I saw were human parts littered all over the place. The security agencies responded promptly and contained the situation. So, it didn’t escalate,’’ he said.

source: sun

I Will Contest For President In 2019 Unless…. – Donald Duke

bvichannel1

January 16, 2018

A former governor of Cross River state, Donald Duke has disclosed reasons why he may contest for the Presidency in the upcoming 2019 Elections.

Duke, while speaking at the 3rd mike Omotosho Annual awards on Sunday, said that he will only initiate his campaign if the circumstances were right.

He encouraged youths to participate in the electoral process adding that ‘Millenials are Protagonists’. He advised them to go and get their Permanent voters Card(PVC) rather ‘loafing around’.

“I hear young people ask why would they spend hours queuing and casting their votes when, at the end, their votes won’t count. I tell them that if when parents conceived them, they never gave up on them considering the high mortality rate; so why would they not take a chance in building this nation?

“We had young leadership at one stage or the other. Even in our first republic, besides the likes of Awolowo and Tafawa Balewa, M. T. Mbu was in his 20s when he became a minister.

“Gowon was 30 when he became the head of state. It comes back to the disaster, therein, because most of them didn’t have experience in governance, which led us into civil war. We need the combination of both.”

SOURCE : SOCIAL MEDIA

Church and the Economic Growth-

bvichannel1

January 16, 2018

“Finland has the most stable economy in world today. There are less than 20 churches in Finland.

Switzerland has the second most stable economy in the world. Switzerland has less than 30 churches.

Denmark is the third most stable economy in the world. Denmark has about 23 churches in it.

These are countries considered largely atheist in nature, yet so blessed.

Come to Owerri town, SE Nigeria, from MCC junction to Toronto junction, there are 36 churches. That stretch of about 5 km harbours 36 churches, more churches than the entire Switzerland.

Between Owerri and Mgbidi l counted 97 churches and gave up. According to CAC, Nigeria has over 23,000 registered churches.

We have more churches than schools and hospitals combined. More pastors than doctors and teachers combined. Everyone is born again. All are covered in the blood of Jesus. All are filled with the Holy Spirit.

Yet none of those claims reflects in the expected moral elevation of society. We are still one of the greediest, laziest, corrupt, deceitful, hypocritical and hateful set of beings on the planet today, with all our Christ and Holy spirit.

Our people need to draw the line between religiosity and spirituality.”

Christian Associations of Nigerian herein referred to as CAN is a confused organization who doesn’t know anything. I call them Noise makers. Imagine CAN telling us that Muslim want to islamize Nigeria just because they are giving free interest loan, free education. Why we the Christian can’t afford schools built with our offerings and tithes which we give to our denominations. Pls help me tell CAN to Christianize Nigeria by opening interest free bank, free education, reduction of their university fee per semester, Tell CAN to start free distribution of Bible all over Nigerian cities and villages, Tell CAN to abolish paying money before seen General Overseers and founders of denominations. Tell CAN to form and register a political party as it is done In Germany. Ask CAN where they were when Muslim started conducting white wedding. Ask CAN were they sleeping When Muslim started conducting Night vigils every Friday more than 10yrs ago and opened up camp grounds for their crusade? Ask CAN where were they when their sons and daughters in various offices are being used to bring anti-Christian policies; was it not a christian who was used to sack all president founders of ministries recently? was it not a Christian who chaired the committee of the merger of Christian Religious Knowledge/Civil Education?

Please tell CAN to Christianize Nigeria! Tell them to give Nigerians a better LIFE. Tell CAN that, four of their Pentecostal churches alone can establish a MEGA BANK. No! they won’t do that, their priorities are competition of Jet acquisition, building mega Cathedrals and palatial domains.

Ask CAN what is preventing them from establishing industries and farms in West Africa Whereas they only go to extend their branches to other nations for their selfish pursuits. Tell CAN to start Formulating a new strategy to Christianize Africa. Tell CAN to stop talking and doing the same things the OLD way. Enough of Traditions, we need a RADICAL Change. Blessed be the LORD JESUS CHRIST.

May His suffering on the Cross Never be in vain over Nigeria Christian.

Okonkwo ifeanyi innocent is a social analyst and commentator, Anambra state coordinator MOBIN!!

POSITIVE THINGS RESTRUCTURING NIGERIA WILL BRING!

bvichannel1

January 15, 2018

If Nigeria restructured into provinces –
1) Northern Province
2) Middle Belt Province
3) Oduduwa Province
4) Biafran Province
5) Niger Delta Province (Atlantic)
Then Central Government at FCT.

10 positive things that would happen within 5 years
(primarily due to inter-province competition)

1. The first province to experience economic explosion would obviously be the Western Province. The Oduduwua Master plan will be revealed. There would be trans-regional 4g internet fiber connection/rail/subways/highways/power grids etc. Yoruba will become the 2nd official language. They are relatively united. They have oil. They own academia. They have mega corporations. The WP would be the first to have stable 24/7 power supply! Foreign money will flood the province. More Forbes recognized billionaires will arise. Some of them will be internet billionaires. Lagos will be relieved a little from overpopulation as railway lines from other states will make living elsewhere and working in Lagos a breeze.

2. The Northern Province will have stronger islamic laws. Sharia will be entrenched and this will make the NP become the least corrupt province. The middle east (Arab) nations will move in to partner with them, bringing major development. Jaiz bank and Unity Bank will become mega banks. Arabic and Hausa will compete with English for dominance in schools. This province will generate more solar power than any other province. After the west, this province will be the 2nd to have 24/7 electricity. They will start exporting food as a major revenue generator.

3. The Middle Belt Province will have a development conference. Focus will be given to solid minerals development/
exports, tourism development and food production/exports. This will become a food hub in West Africa. They will export more food than any other province. Mega mining and food corporations will arise. This province will have foreign inflows through tourism development greater than any other province. It will host the most beautiful places to live in Nigeria.

4. The Eastern Province will transform into the Auto Industry Hub of Africa. Indigenous manufacturing of vehicles that will start competing with foreign vehicles will commence in earnest. This will grow to manufacturing of airplanes, helicopters, tractors, cranes, heavy duty construction equipment etc. Forbes recognised billionaires living in Anambra will arise. The Biafra agitation will fizzle out since formation of the EP will be seen as a Biafra success in another form. There would be so much development that villages (as we currently know them) will quickly cease to exist. This province will be the first to semi-urbanize all their rural areas as all the Igbos living abroad will rush back to take advantage of the changes.

5. The Atlantic Province will take the Uyo blueprint and run with it. An abundance of oil wealth and opening up of major sea ports at Rivers and Uyo will enable this region to revamp their infrastructure quickly. There will be more monorails here than anywhere else. This will be the 3rd province to achieve 24/7 electricity generation in Nigeria (mainly from gas turbine technology).

6. With provincial indigenous security forces in control, kidnapping, Armed robbery, Boko Haram, Fulani herdsmen and the Niger delta militancy attacks will all fizzle out. Nigeria will become the most secure and peaceful African nation; thus attracting more foreigners.

7. Each Province will have their own airline professionally managed. And with better roads/rail, air and land transport costs will crash.

8. With the rapid development occurring all over, Nigerias GDP will shoot up. Obtaining visas to travel out will become easy as more people will want to come in than go out. A worldwide immigration into Nigeria will commence, as Nigerians living abroad will be struggling with foreigners to enter the country. ”Nigeria will become the most desirable Nation to live in”.

9. The central government at the FCT will become smaller and less powerful. There will be a mini-exodus from Abuja to the provinces as the action is now elsewhere. The outskirts of Abuja will no longer be heavily overpopulated. Abuja will become awesome again.

10. The 10th positive thing that would quickly happen positive idea.

source :social media

Settings

vincent anaenugwu

endino2015@gmail.com

Break News-Herdsmen asks for compensation for members killed during crisis

bvichannel1

January 15, 2018

The overblown crisis between herdsmen and farmers in Nigeria, has taken yet another twist as the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) is now demanding for compensation for its members, killed during all forms of crisis in the country.

Herdsmen asks for compensation for members killed during crisis lailasnews 1

Baba Ngelzarma, National Secretary of MACBAN, who appealed to FG to set up a Ministry of Livestock Development to attend to the multidimensional needs of herdsmen, while briefing newsmen in Abuja, said no fewer than 1,000 of its members including women and children have been killed and 20,000 cattle rustled between June 2017 and January 2018 during crises in various states.

“We call on the government to pay compensation to victims of all crises to reduce their level of suffering.

If the government accepts that, it is left for them to establish a committee that will go and access the level of damage. We have a document of members that were affected by the pastoralists in the North-East but what we discovered is that none of them were captured in the IDPs programme because they are not sedentary.

Let the government compensate. That will help calm the situation very well,’’ he said.

Ngelzarma, who said the association had over 20 million registered members and no fewer than 50 million cattle, said that they were the most neglected farmers in the country. He further disclosed that the association welcomed the current resolve by the FG to address the lingering crises, adding that dialogue was the solution to the tackling the menace.“We submit ourselves for any positive participation to restore mutual and harmonious relationship in the country. We dissociate ourselves from any other group or individual that is out to foment trouble in the country. .

We demand for immediate disarmament of all illegally armed militias across the country in the interest of peace, security and stability,’’ he said.

source: Amibor.com

BENUE MASSACRE -THE BURIAL MASS MESSAGE FOR POSTERITY

bvichannel1

January 15, 2018

BEING A HOMILY DELIVERED ON THE OCCASION OF THE INTERDENOMINATIONAL FUNERAL SERVICE AND MASS BURIAL OF VICTIMS OF THE RECENT GENOCIDAL ATTACKS BY DIABOLIC, CRIMINAL TERRORISTS IN BENUE STATE, ON JANUARY 11, 2018 AT IBB SQUARE, MAKURDI,

MOST REVD WILLIAM A. AVENYA
(Catholic Bishop of Gboko)

1. Introduction

My dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ.

We all know the reason we have all gathered here today. It is to pay our last respect to our brothers and sisters whose remains are before us; pray for the repose of their souls; beg God for fortitude and strength to bear the irreparable loss and solicit for peace in our State. Our deceased brothers and sisters have suffered the fate of dying gruesomely, dying under intense and inhuman torture, dying in an undignified manner for no fault of theirs. We also remember not only those lying here before us today but by extension all those who have been killed since the beginning of these attacks perpetrated by diabolic, criminal terrorists. May the blood of these martyrs bring healing to our land, may their death usher in a new dawn of peace in Benue State, may the excruciating torture they experience unite the people of Benue sate more than ever, and usher in a culture of civilization of love, true justice, peace and end the culture of impunity in our land. We also in a special way remember all those who are affected directly or indirectly due to the orchestrated massacre, but particularly those who are recovering from the injuries sustained due to the unwholesome attacks. We pray for healing and spirit of forgiveness.

2. Recent Genocidal Attacks in Benue State in Brief

On this day, it is important to recall in brief, the historical antecedence of these attacks. The Benue people in different parts of the State have been under siege from armed terrorists for protracted period of time. These attacks have been unrelenting, brutal, bloody, gruesome, barbaric, and indeed unjustifiable on innocent and vulnerable peasant communities. They have gradually carried the hallmark of genocide and led to the killings of our people in their thousands; several houses and farms have been destroyed, resulting in high rate of poverty and dependency, and with many children out of school. It is on record, that out of the 23 local government areas of the State, the criminal terrorists have unleashed terror in 14 local governments. Those mostly affected in the North West Senatorial District are Katsina-Ala, Logo, Ukum and Kwande. In the North East Senatorial District, they have attacked Guma, Gwer West, Gwer East, Buruku, Tarka, and Makurdi; while in the Benue South, they have attacked Ogbadibo, Agatu, and Apa.

3. Our Collective Silence

As we gather to pay tribute to the victims both living and dead of the killing rampage in our state, killings that are really genocides against a defenseless people, we have for the most part remained silent both as individuals and groups. It will be recalled that silence was maintained by the international community in the past concerning the holocaust in Germany against the Jews in 1933, the genocide in Rwanda in 1994 against the Tutsis, the ethnic cleansing against the Armenians in 1992-1995 and until recently, the failure of the world to stand up against the Rohingya persecution in Myanmar. All these, have stained the moral conscience of the world.

Here in our country, the government has in several instances remained silent on issues involving genocide against the people in local governments like Katsina-Ala, Logo, Ukum, Kwande, Guma, Gwer West, Gwer East, Buruku, Tarka, Makurdi, Ogbadibo, Agatu and Apa as earlier mentioned.

History is replete with the sacrifices made for the nation by the people of Benue State; the sacrifices of Benue indigenes and the blood shed for the unity of the Nigerian nation. Now, it seems, our pay back for this sacrifice is the silence and sometimes seeming complicity in the senseless killings, the wanton destruction of the means of livelihood and impoverishment of our people.

4. General Elections in 2015

We had high hopes in 2015 general elections that ushered in a new government; expecting a nation that defends the weak against the powerful, a nation that will protect itself not only against terrorists in the North East, but also unarmed farmers, against vicious terrorists masquerading themselves as herdsmen whose expansionist territorial appetite seems to be insatiable and to the conquest of the Benue Valley.

What has happened recently in Benue state may be called anything except a communal clash. It will be recalled that Benue people voted overwhelmingly for the government in power, yet what we get in return are the dead that are lying here. Lack of federal presence is exemplified in the broken federal roads from Makurdi-Gboko-Katsina-Ala, and Otukpo-Enugu that cast doubts on responsible leadership or leaving one to wonder whether there is any government in this country at all.

5. Some Consoling Biblical Texts

Man’s inhumanity to man is an old phenomenon; right at the beginning of the Bible, we are told that Cain killed his brother Abel. Every normal person who reads that story is shocked by Cain’s wickedness, and each time such a brutal and vicious act is repeated, it is difficult to understand why God allows such things to happen. In 2 Maccabees 12: 43-45, Judas Maccabeus led his army in battle, and discovered afterwards that God permitted some of the Israelites to be killed.

Time and again, precious lives and property have been destroyed in innumerable numbers in Benue state. Again one will ask why God would allow such outrageous massacres to be carried out repeatedly.

Brothers and sisters, while it is proper to raise this question, we are here not to attempt to answer the question or how God might judge the moral grey areas of human acts. We are gathered here to pray for our innocent, defenseless and vulnerable brothers and sisters, including children who were brutally murdered in cold blood.

The need to pray for the dead is highlighted in 2 Maccabees 12: 43-45. The passage shows that the pious Jews believed in praying for the dead; a practice, which proves that there is life after death (cf. Lk 20:27). It shows that praying for the dead was done prior to the time of Christ, and the Letter to the Romans states categorically that “we do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s” (Rm 14:7-8). Indeed, the early Church continued the practice of praying for the dead, and hence it is praise worthy that we are gathered here in huge numbers to commend the souls of our slain beloved brothers and sisters to the Lord.

As we pray for the peaceful repose of our Benue martyrs, past and present, let us be consoled by the Maccabean text that affirms belief in life after death. This consolation is intensified in the Letter to the Romans 8:31-39, Paul is astounded by God’s unconditional love for all humankind and he offers three assurances, namely; i) that if God is for us, there is nobody or nothing that can be against us; ii) there is no condemnation of anyone, because in the death and resurrection of Christ, we are all justified (Rm 8:33-34); and iii) nothing can separate us from the love of God, be it tribulation, anguish, famine, nakedness or peril, persecution, the sword or death (Rm 8:35-39).

In this regard, death does not separate our slain beloved brothers and sisters from God’s love. We will always be led to victory in Christ because God is for us and there is no separation in our relationship with God by death. This passage should, therefore, comfort and console the immediate family members and relatives of our deceased brothers and sisters; indeed all of us.

In Jn 11:1-44, Mary and Martha separately say to Jesus “if you had been here my brother would not have died but even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him” (Jn 11:21, 32). This is our conviction and prayer too that God should grant eternal rest to our slain beloved brothers and sisters.

6. Schools of Thought

i. Fulani Pastoralist: The Fulani man that we know was at peace with his neighbour not criminal and diabolic. The Fulani man that we know used a shepherding stick but not an AK 47 riffle. Of course society is dynamic and keeps changing. So a Fulani man may not only walk on foot but move on a motor bike; he not only drinks fula de nono but drink beer and eat pepper soup. These are indices of a changing society. Hence, we call on the Fulani man to adapt to the modern world view and engage in activities that will be beneficial both to him and to society in general.

ii. Cattle Colonies: Recently, it was on the news that the Federal Government through the office of minster of agriculture desires to introduce an interim measure to forestall the regular clashes through the establishment of Cattle Colonies. We wonder if the Federal Government has blessed the anti-open bill that was recently passed into law in Benue state and assisted in providing a more sustainable measure for its implementation. While we applaud the good intention concerning the cattle colonies, we call on the Federal Government to animate the full force of the law on the anti-open grazing bill in Benue state.

iii. Anti-Open Grazing Bill: Given the changing trends of time, the Benue state Government and the Benue House of Assembly have after consultation with the Benue people passed into law the anti-grazing open bill. This Bill was received by the people of the State with a popular acclamation. We have to acknowledge that this is world best practice as far as care for our people is concerned. Unfortunately, we doubt if the bill has enjoyed the full support of the Federal Government. All we want is ranches. Let there be ranches and there will be peace in the land. This is our appeal.

7. Commendation

We commend our Holy Father Pope Francis for his singular response to the plight of Rohingya people. For our own, we commend the sons and daughters of Benue home and abroad, for their efforts to raise international awareness about the persecution of our people and their efforts towards lasting solution to this recurrent crisis. While we notice the rapid response from non-governmental organizations, and other agents, when these happen, these services regrettably most often come in the aftermath of the mishap. We are equally grateful to Nigerians who genuinely angry and have expressed solidarity with the Benue people. We call on the various governments and agencies in our nation to put in place practical measures to prevent the re-occurrence of this crisis.

We recognize the unflinching efforts of the Benue State Government under the leadership of Samuel Ortom to protecting lives and property. We commend his Amnesty program that recovered about 700 arms and ammunitions and over 800 youths giving up arms. We also acknowledge the desire of the Benue State government for her efforts towards constant peaceful-coexistence and his support in the passing into law anti-open grazing bill. On this note, we also appreciate the efforts of the traditional rulers, security agencies, nongovernmental organizations, media, relief-service providers, Church bodies, and numerous men and women of good will who are offering one service or the other towards the our sustainable peace in the land.

8. Conclusion

The people of Benue cannot be forgotten in the history of our nation. Our contribution to national growth cannot be overemphasized. In spite of all odds, we are committed in keeping the spirit of Benue alive. These attacks are nonetheless ways of crippling our economic and political force and therefore making us extinct as a people. We hereby condemn in totality the inhuman, brutal, barbaric, gruesome murders of our people. We maintain that no one has any justification to take life. We reiterate our commitment to the protection of life from the moment of conception to natural death.

All we desire is a nation, we would all be proud of, a nation where like the message of Christmas we have just celebrated reminds us the instruments of war, will become instruments of peace as prophet Isaiah says: “he shall judge among the nations and shall rebuke many people and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nations shall not lift up swords against nations neither shall they learn war anymore (Is 2:4). We were heartened to hear at the advent of our new government, the words of our President ‘he belonged to everybody and to nobody’.

In the words of a Lutheran Pastor, Martin Niemoller we call on everyone to be actively involved in the efforts for peaceful co-existence in Nigeria. He is reported to have said

“They first came for the communist and I did not speak up because its a communist, then they came for the Jew but I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew, then they came for the trade unionist and I did not speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist, then they came for the Catholics and I didn’t speak up because I was a protestant…” (let me interrupt the quote) then they came for the Tiv and I didn’t speak up because I was not a Tiv, then they came for the Idomas and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t an Idoma) “then they came for me and by that time, no one was left to speak up”

Ultimately, it is God who brings peace and we have to turn to him to bless our land with lasting peace. Amen.

1. May the Spirit of Benue arise !
2.May the spirit of Nigeria arise!
3. May the spirit of the middle belt arise!
4. The spirit of Benue must not die!

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vincent anaenugwu

endino2015@gmail.com

2347087187189

BIAFRA & THE BAKASSI BOYS :TO STOP FULANI HERDSMEN-BARR EMEKA

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January 15, 2018

In the 1990s while I lived in Aba, the crime rate became unbearable and affected most of the people including my clients who were shoemakers at Ariaria Market operating their businesses in the Shoe Line called Bakassi Line, off the Old Express Road Aba. The criminals called themselves “the mafia” and were so bold that they could enter any premises or shop and kill, maim, rape and steal any amount of money and walk away. They were little boys and youths but raped both young and old women (even women older than their mothers) and stole every money in the shops and houses in broad day light. They would just enter the shops and houses and ask the owners to surrender all the money to them. They collected the money with ease. They would not stop there but would rape every woman in the house. We continued to cry and pray, holding night vigils in prayer and calling upon God and the Police in Aba to help us.

The Police did not help us but something happened in 1998 which I realised to be an answer to our prayer. Some of my clients at the Bakassi Shoe Line held a secret meeting to kill the mafia boys by themselves without waiting for the Police anymore. They did not inform anybody. I did not know their plans. They bought the sharp head-cutting machetes and hid them in their shops. On a certain day when the mafia boys came to “collect” the money as usual, the shoemakers rose up spontaneously with their machetes and killed many of them in the Ariaria market. There was uproar in the market as many traders locked up their shops and fled before the Police could arrive. It was war between the mafia boys and the Shoemakers at Bakassi Line. The mafia boys did not expect the attacks and therefore fled. The Shoemakers pursued them to their houses. The war did not end there. They went from house to house combing out the mafia boys from their hiding places and cut off their heads, sometimes in the presence of their parents! The Shoemakers became known as Bakassi Boys named after their Shoe Line in the Ariaria Market.

What we thought was a small matter expanded in its operation when the Bakassi Boys decided to extend their war to all the evil men and evil women in authority, in government, in businesses, and in all other socio-political and economic activities in Abia State. They became a government unto themselves and set up a court in the Ariaria Market where they tried the suspects. They went from place to place arresting suspects. Many people in Abia State received them with joy and gladness as they could do what the Police failed to do. They converted the old burrow-pit along the Expressway behind the Market into an Execution Pit. Any suspect tried and condemned by their court was taken to the burrow-pit and slaughtered. To the Bakassi Boys, it appeared there was no difference between small crime and big crime. What a civil court could classify as a misdemeanour attracting 3 months’ prison sentence could become an offence under the Bakassi Boys punishable with instant death by machetes. Initially everything was going well in accordance with the original vision to sanitize the society and exterminate the menace of crime. However, as many people began to refer cases to the Bakassi Boys instead of going to the police and civil courts, the original vision was compromised. What started as a glorious revolution became a curse to us and many people began to complain.

Aba started getting worse. Politicians took over the Bakassi Boys to settle political scores with their political enemies. The whole city was left in ruins. The fear of insecurity returned. There was no government presence. The following year in 1999, Ralph Uwazuruike came up with his MASSOB, Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra. It was a big Biafran movement. He came to an uncompleted building at 175 Faulks Road Aba and declared the Republic of Biafra and hoisted the Biafran Flag. MASSOB set up its own government and targeted Petrol Stations selling fuel at exorbitant prices and also engaged in settling cases for people with civil disputes.

While the Bakassi Boys had their Court in the Ariaria Market, MASSOB had many Courts at various uncompleted Buildings in Aba. It appeared they had special interests in using uncompleted Buildings for their courts. We therefore had two functional and effective non-official governments in Aba run by Bakassi Boys for criminal matters and MASSOB for civil matters. There was failure of Government in Abia State. The Federal Government of Nigeria sent its army and police to kill the MASSOB members because they were preaching for the secession of Biafra.

Aba was destroyed again. The Bakassi Boys were unchecked. They became a law unto themselves. They engaged in unorthodox and unusual method of fighting crime by the use of “spirits”. Nobody was safe as their “spirits” could condemn any person and nobody could question the “spirits”. At this time, some of us began to think and seek for the best solution. This was when we advised some members of the Abia State House of Assembly to pass a Bill into law creating the Bakassi Boys as a Government Security organ to fight crime under proper guidance and regulation. This advice was accepted and the Bill was passed into Law creating the Abia State Vigilante Services (aka Bakassi Boys) in the year 2000. The Boys became very effective and professional in their operations. In the same year, the Anambra State Governor invited the Bakassi Boys to help in eradicating serious crimes at Onitsha. He also adopted the same law and passed the Bill into Law as Anambra Vigilante Services Law. The Imo State Government also followed afterwards.

Therefore, the Bakassi Boys is a lawfully constituted regional security organ of government to protect the lives and properties of the people of the East. It is a regional army or regional police backed up by State Law. We do not need any other law but I will recommend that other States in Biafraland which have not adopted the Bakassi Boys Vigilante Law should pass the Bill into Law in their Houses of Assembly.

I further recommend that the existing Bakassi Boys Vigilante Law should be amended so that the Boys will be given more powers to defend the Eastern Region against the aggression of the Fulani Herdsmen. The Bakassi Boys should be given more training whether locally or in foreign countries in community policing and modern security defence system. Defending the lives and properties of the Easterners also includes defending us from the menace and attacks of the Fulani Herdsmen. If the Fulani Herdsmen think that they know how to cut off people’s heads and massacre the people in their farmlands, the Bakassi Boys can cut off the heads of the Fulanis better, lawfully and professionally. They are our regional police or regional army created by our State Law. Let us make use of what we have now. The Bakassi Boys are legal and must be used now to protect the East. Every reader should forward this message to the members of the Houses of Assembly in Biafraland.

Signed:
Emeka Emekesiri, Esq., Barrister & Solicitor

Emeka Emekesiri, Esq., Chairman of MOBIN, the Vision Bearer of the Legal Methodology of Self-determination, Indigenous People of Biafra

Security: Southern Nigeria at the mercy of the North – Nwabueze

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January 15, 2018

An elder statesman, Professor Ben Nwabueze has called on Nigerians living in the South to be weary of the fact that their entire security apparatus rests in the hand of the North in what he termed President Muhammad Buhari’s Northernization agenda.

Nwabueze disclosed this in a statement entitled, “Whether the eradication of corruption is the motivating object of the on-going war against it.”

He said, “northerners are occupying the offices of the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Director- Generals of DSS, NIA, Inspector General of Police, Chief of Staff to the President, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Nigeria Ports Authority, Controller General of Customs, Immigration, Minister of Internal Affairs, National Security Adviser, Minister of Petroleum, 15 out of the 22 Assistant Inspectors General of Police among other sensitive positions.

He added: “The 15 appointments listed above are strategic appointments as they relate to the prosecution of the war against corruption.

“Ibrahim Idris, IGP, appointed over the heads of some southern officers senior to him. The IGP is heading a Police Force, the Nigeria Police Force, NPF, in which 15 out of the 22 Assistant Inspectors-General of Police, AIG, who exercise much of the function of the operational control of the Force, are northerners, while three are from the South-West and two from the South-East.

“These blatantly lopsided appointments, all of which were made since the inception of the Buhari Administration, portray the NPF as an army of occupation deliberately designed to carry into effect President Buhari’s Northernisation Aganda in furtherance of the dream of the Sardauna to reduce the South to a conquered territory and thereby prevented from having control over its future.

“The President’s implacable opposition to re-structuring which envisages the establishment of State Police should not, therefore, surprise us. He wants to be able to continue to exercise control over the internal security of the Southern States and to continue to hold them hostage. It caricatures true federalism that a constituent state in a Federation should be under the control and yoke of the Federal Government in the matter of its internal security.

“Daura, Director-General, Department of State Services, DSS, replacing Ita Ekpenyong; apart from the DG, the directors are mostly northerners. The control of the NPF and DSS by northerners must be taken together with the fact that the Minister of Interior and the Permanent Secretary of the ministry are northerners; that the Army and Air Force are headed by northerners; and, above all that President Muhammadu Buhari, a northerner, is the Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, and has the power under the Constitution to direct the operational use of the NPF for the maintenance and securing of public safety and public order; his power to direct the operational use of the DSS is even more plenary.

“The implication of the control of security by northerners is that the security of Nigeria and Nigerians is an exclusively northern affair, thereby putting the rest of us at their mercy. “Abubakar Malami SAN, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, AGF, a young SAN, who was raised to the rank in 2008, i.e. seven years before his appointment as AGF.

“Lt-Gen Abdulrahman Danbazau, rtd, Minister of Interior.

“Magaji Abubakar, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior; he has publicly admitted to have wrongfully sidetracked the Head of Service, HoS, Mrs Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita, a southerner, in the reinstatement of Abdulrasheed Maina, and has apologized to her accordingly: see the Vanguard of December 1, 2017.

“Ibrahim Magu, Acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC; still kept in office in an acting capacity since 9 November, 2015 because of repeated refusal by the Senate to confirm his appointment.

“Hamed Ibrahim Ali, Controller-General, Nigerian Customs Services; customs is the underbelly of corruption in Nigeria. “Mohammad Babandede, Controller-General Nigerian Immigration Services; immigration stands implicated in Maina’s escape out of Nigeria after his sack from the civil service and his subsequent re-entry into it.

“Amb. Muhammed Dauda, Acting Director-General National Intelligence Agency, NIA, replacing Ayo Oke, a southerner; after he was sacked, following the discovery in the NIA offices in the Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, of the sum of $43 million, £27,800 and N23 million.

“Alhaji Amed Idris, Accountant-General of the Federation, replacing Jonah Ogunniyi Otunla, a southerner. Maitanti Baru, Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, replacing Ibe Kachukwu, a southerner, who, as Minister of State for Petroleum and Chairman, NNPC Board, was sidelined by Baru in the process for the award of some NNPC contracts; earlier he has been downgraded from Minister of Petroleum to Minister of State for Petroleum, with the President taking over as his own Petroleum Minister.

“Abdulrasheed Maina, Chairman, Presidential Task Force on Pension Reform; although his initial appointment took place before the Buhari Administration, his reinstatement after he was sacked occurred during that Administration, with the President’s approval as the evidence shows…

“There are of course other lopsided strategic appointments, such as the appointment of Professor Mahmood Yakubu as Chairman, Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, and Hadiza Bala-Usman as Head of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA. The listed appointments raise critical issues as to the intention or design behind them. “They look like a swoop on the South, a jihad designed to foist Northern domination, or even subjugation, on the South in pursuance of the Sarduna’s agenda, announced as far back as 1960, to subjugate the South and reduce it to a conquered territory, with the object of preventing it from having control over its future,” an agenda which President Buhari, in a speech in May 2015 as President-elect, re-echoed and vowed to carry to a finish.

“What other reason could there be for concentrating in the North the appointments to all the positions vital to the effective prosecution of the war against corruption? We need to be told. One hopes that the order for the purchase of war planes from the U.S., ostensibly to fight Boko Haram terrorism, is not connected with the hidden agenda for a jihad.

“The 15 appointments stand uncontroverted. And yet in a futile attempt to controvert the incontrovertible, the President, responding to a newspaper report that 81 of 100 appointments made by him were from the North, published a list of 159 appointments made by him, 85 of which were from the South and 74 from the North: see the Vanguard November 6, 2017.

“We are being treated again to another irrelevancy designed to befog a critical issue and to hoodwink the Nigerian people. The President is simply preying on the gullibility of the public in anything that comes from him.

“What all this means is that corruption is being fought, not by an all-inclusive team of officials, but by officials drawn from one section of the country, the North, separated in interests, outlook and attitude from the South, which makes the war look like an exclusively Northern affair.

“Hence the increase in public cynicism about the President’s sincerity as leader. The cynicism seems to have reached its peak in the Maina case, tagged by the media as the Maina saga or Mainagate, involving several billions of naira allegedly stolen from the pension fund scheme superintended by the Presidential Task Force Reform Team of which Abdulrasheed Maina was Chairman.

“The aspect of the Maina case that aroused great public interest and heightened public cynicism about the sincerity of the President as leader of a crusade was the threat by the Chief of Staff to the President, Alhaji Abba Kyari, a northerner, to “query” the Head of Service of the Federation, HoS, Mrs Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita, a southerner, for saying that she informed the President of Maina’s reinstatement which was effected against her opposition.

“The threat was made in the view of people, including the Vice-President, arriving at the Council Chambers for the weekly meeting of the Federal Executive Council. The threat and the HoS instant but angry response triggered public reaction. Is the HoS under the authority of the Chief of Staff as to make her amenable to a query by him?

“Why should he publicly utter such a threat, except perhaps as an over-zealous show of solidarity for a master from the same section of the country, the North? Was the motive a concern to shield a fellow northerner? The public was not told anything more about this scandalous exhibition of sectionalism other than that the controversy had been settled by the President meeting privately with the two quarrelling officials.

“But the public cynicism remains. Was something being concealed from the public about the whole Maina saga? Was the President in fact privy to Maina’s return to the country and his reinstatement into the civil service, and did he authorise it? Maina’s testimony came on 29 November, 2017, as reported in the Vanguard of that day.
He said: “When this government came in, the president gave his note that go and sit down with Maina. I have given you the approval. They sat down with me… The process of my reinstatement started after the Attorney-General, Mr Malami, visited me. As soon as the present government decided to sit with me, and after sitting with me, I told them I will not leave you to go back to Nigeria without something in your pocket. I’m going to give you something in your pocket, and the Minister laughed.

“Maina’s testimony has not been countered by government. The eradication of corruption requires the concerted efforts of all Nigerians fighting together as one people under an all-inclusive government, not a government perceived to be one for one section of the country only, the North, and from which the other section feels alienated.”

source : social media

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