Boko Haram; The Propagandists; The Reality (Part 2)

By Mike A. A. Ozekhome, SAN

INTRODUCTION

Last week, we saw how this government has severally promised to
deal a death blow on the Boko Haram insurgency, but has instead
exacerbated the security situation with the addition of armed
bandits, rampaging herdsmen, vampirous kidnappers, killer squads,
etc. Nigerians are in a quagmire. What next? Many Senators and
others had waded in. Today, we shall continue the search for
solutions. However, the most recent kidnap of about 333 male
students from a secondary school, Kankara, Katsina State, right
before the very nose of President Buhari who is holidaying in his
Gusau country home, underscores Nigeria’s insecurity predicament.
The report of the release of these young innocent boys gladdens my
heart. I am not here interested in the ongoing conspiracy theories
of whether the entire kidnap and release was a mere cooked up
melodrama and simulated histronics, to give the semblance of a
performing president. With peoples’  lives? With Nigerian
lives?

THE SENATE

However, former Senate Leader, Mohammed Ali Ndume, had
contributed to the debate of insecurity at the Senate Plenary, by
saying troops lack modern arms and were hardly provided with
support. He said people in Borno State were paying ransom to Boko
Haram before being allowed to go to their farms or move around in
their villages. Indeed, Boko Haram are said to have audaciously
mounted checkpoints and road blocks in most LGAs, collecting toks
and levies. Can you believe that? Fello Nigerians, can you now see
why GEJ deserves to be garlanded? Trust Ndume. He shot from all
cylinders, when he called for the hiring of mercenaries.

“I can tell you that people fighting war are sharing
ammunitions. They have no arms or proper kits. I have a not seen a
Nigerian soldier holding a new AK47, Last week, some people came to
me in Abuja and they asked for money to help them pay their dues to
Boko Haram terrorists before they can harvest their crops. If
government is serious, this terrorism can be stopped in six
months. 

America engage mercenaries. Why can’t we get that? We
will be failing in our responsibility if we fail to do the right
thing. In his contribution, former Kebbi governor, Mohammed Adamu
Aliero, wondered why Buhari has refused to visit Borno after the
attacks. “President Buhari should have gone to Borno State and not
to send a delegation.”

RESOLUTIONS OF THE SENATE

The upper chamber later urged federal and state governments to
address issues fueling insecurity. It similarly called for massive
recruitment into the military and Nigerian police force.

President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, was blunt for once, even
against his appointers. He warned that excesses will no longer be
tolerated. He Said the resolutions of the Senate must be
implemented by the Executive.

Lawan must have shocked his benefactor when he said,
“this is not the first or second case of insecurity in the
country. We will take additional steps and insist that our
resolutions are implemented. These are recommendations the
Executive must implement because they are frivolous. This is one
thing that will gladden the hearts of Nigerians when implemented.
Enough of any excuses. Those who have nothing to offer in terms of
securing the country, should be shown the way out. We need people
who can do the job. Nothing is more important than to Nigerians
than their lives”. The security of Nigerians should take
the centre stage. Time has come to find
solution”.

This was not all. Further reactions poured in:

THE CHURCH

RESIGN NOW IF YOU CAN’T GUARANTEE SECURITY OF NIGERIANS,
CLERICS TELLS BUHARI

Two clerics, Adewale Giwa and Pastor Ebenezer Ologunowa, told
President Buhari point blank to resign if he cannot guarantee
security of lives of Nigerians.

Giwa, senior Pastor of Awaiting the Second Coming of Christ
Ministry, Akure, Ondo State, however urged Nigerians to stay strong
despite the challenges confronting them, saying “it’s unfortunate
that we have a president who doesn’t listen to the yearnings of his
people”.

He claimed the president’s highhandeness has set to Nigerian in
all ramifications.

“if they could kill a first class monarch in Ondo state,
who is now safe in this country? If the wife of Ondo state Chief of
staff could be kidnapped easily, who knows who is next? As of now,
God is our security. Even Buhari is not safe not safe in Aso rock
because the citizens are not happy”.

On his part, Pastor Ologunowa, who is the leader of Christ
Sanctuary of Praise Gospel Church, Akure, said President Buhari
should be honourable enough to resign if he cannot manage the
nation’s security:

“They never promised us that our people will be killed
like animals. Buhari’s sense of sight ought to have advised him
quit instead of staying in office without any meaningful
contribution to the development of Nigeria”.

THE MOSQUE

Sultan of Sokoto, tested General (rtd.), His Eminience Muhammad
Sa’ad Abubakar III, has twice within one week, lamented, the dire
insecurity situation of the country, and warned the government to
stop paying lip service to it. He described insecurity-ravaged
North as the worst place to live in Nigeria. He even called for
specialist prayers five times daily. He noted that bandits now rule
some communities and set rules that must be obeyed. The Sultan
noted the paradox of the common man is “now caught in
between two contending phenomena. When he goes to the farm, he gets
killed and when he stays at home, he dies of hunger”. He
urged the Buhari government to go beyond mere lip service and the
traditional condemnation and do something concrete. The Nigerian
Governors Forum (NGF) obviously alarmed, later resolved to meet
Buhari, contending that the military is overstretched.

Is this the same military that ferociously went after
#EndSARs peaceful protesters at the Lekki Toll
gate? So, President Buhari has also finally agreed to honour the
House of Representatives’ invitation over the wanton killings, the
first time ever since 2015? Ha, wonders shall never end!

THE GOVERNMENT – AS USUAL

But, trust Buhari government. Ever incorrigible, it sets its
exams, marks them, and awards mark to itself. It blames everyone,
everything and everyone, but itself.

Thus, in a swift reaction on Arise TV, Presidency spokesman,
Garba Shehu, said sacking the service chiefs was not the solution
to the security challenges. Oh, really? Even after they have since
outlived their welcome and usefulness? Hear more: “The
clamour for the sack is out of place considering that the President
is not subject to the oppositional political party which has
clamoured for this all the time.

It is entirely his (Buhari) determination; he decides
who he keeps as his service chiefs and for how long”. This
was in obvious reference to President Muhammadu Buhari who has been
under intense pressure from opposition leaders, lawmakers,
traditional Rulers, as well as civil society organisations, to
rejig the entire security architecture, starting with the sacking
of the military heads.

But, Shehu said the appointment and sack of service chiefs were
not tied to public demands. Hear his logic:

“I am not aware that the tenure of service chiefs is
subjected to any law or regulation that is clearly stated. They
serve at the pleasure of the president and (if) the president is
satisfied with their performance, he keeps them. The buck stops at
his table- with due respect to the feelings of Nigerians”.
I think Garba is not getting the point. No one is wrestling with
Buhari about his obvious powers to appoint or sack service chiefs.
But, he is being reminded to sack them since they have failed the
country. Is Garba saying the President is not answerable to the
Nigerian people? Is he Louis XIV of France? By saying “with
due respect to the feelings of Nigerians”, it means Garba
is aware that the Nigerian people want the service chiefs
out. But Buhari would not do so because he is “not
aware that the tenure of the service chiefs is subject to any law
or regulation”. Oh blomey!

NORTHERN ELDERS

MASSACRE WILL CONTINUE UNTIL BUHARI REPLACES SERVICE
CHIEFS-NORTH

Garba must be alone in a frolic of his own. This is because
concerned stakeholders from the Northern states have warned that
there may not be an end in sight if the current service chiefs
remained in the saddle.

Specifically, they called on President Buhari to replace all of
them without further delay, to remediate the worsening security
situation in the country, especially in the North.

Stakeholders who headed different groups and coalitions had made
the call at an emergency meeting in Kaduna.

Part of the 11-point communiqué read: “We say enough is
enough of these killings of innocent and unarmed civilians in Borno
State, brought about by the seeming inability of the nation’s
troops stationed in the state to hgelp avoid this kind of massive
attacks and killings.

“We categorically call on President Muhammadu Buhari to
immediately sack the service chiefs for their inability to save the
nation this tragically-embarrassing experience that has dire
consequences to our international image.

“There is also need for not only total overhaul of the
security architecture in Borno but also the out-dated
intelligence-gathering method.

It is our conviction that until a major paradigm shift
in the security architecture is promptly applied by President
Muhammadu Buhari, we will continue with this bad and alarming
rounds of a tragic and embarrassing situation.

“The time to end this madness is now; the nation can’t
afford to wait any longer.

This is good music to my ears and those of many Nigerians,
especially since the Buhari’s most ardent devotees who worship him
like a deity, have finally seen his light.

But, who is to blame when Muhammadu Buhari cannot see beyond his
nepotic enclave to rejig his security architecture? Now, read the
following by an avid reader who exposed the dangers of nepotism,
sectionalism, favouritism and tribalism in appointing people from
only ones section of the country, a most horrific scenario in a
pluralistic, multi-ethnic, multi-linguistic and multi-religious
country like Nigeria. This is how he put it.

LOOPSIDED APPONITMENTS

“INSECURITY IN NIGERIA: WHO IS TO BLAME?

President Muhammadu Buhari (Katsina); Senate President: Ahmad
Lawan (Yobe); Deputy Speaker: Ahmed Idris (Polateau); Defence
Minister: Bashir Salihi Magashi (Kano); Chief of Army Staff: 
Major-General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (Borno); Chief of Air Staff:
Sadique Abubakar (Bauchi); National Security Adviser: Babagana
Monguno (rtd.) (Borno); Director-General of DSS: Yusuf Magaji Bichi
(Kano); Minister of Police Affairs: Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi
(Sokoto); IGP: Mohammed Adamu (Nasarawa); Comptroller-General of
Customs: Hamid Ali (Bauchi); Commandant- General NSCDC: Abdullahi
Gana Muhammad (Niger); Director NIA: Ahmad Rufa’I Abubakar
(Katsina); Comptroller-General of prisons: Aloh. Ja’afaru Ahmed
(Katsina), SGF: Boss Gidahyelda Mustapha (Adamawa); Chief of Staff:
Ibrahim Agboola Gambari (Kwara)”.

“CHAIRMEN OF SENATE COMMITTEES

Army: Ali Ndume, (Borno); Airforce: Bala Ibn Na’Allah, (Kebbi);
Defence: Aliyu Wamakko, (Sokoto); National Security and
Intelligence: Abdullahi Gobir, (Sokoto); Police Affairs: Dauda
Jika, Abubakar Tambuwal (Bauchi).

CHAIRMEN OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
COMMITTEES

Army: Hon. Abdurazak Namdas (Adamawa); National Security and
Intelligence: Hon. Sha’aban Sharada, (Kano); Navy: Hon Gagdi Yusuf
(Plateau); Police Affairs: Hon. Kumo Bello (Gombe)”.

So, who is to blame? That is the big question. Nigerians, do you
know? (The end).

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

“In situations of military conflict, civil strife, lawlessness,
bad governance, and human rights violations, terrorists find it
easier to hide, train and prepare their attacks”.

(Gijs de Vries).

LAST LINE

Fellow Nigerians, synergise with me every week, to put our heads
together on how to retool Nigeria. Right here on “The
Nigerian Project”, by Chief Mike A. A. Ozekhome, SAN, OFR,
FCIArb, LL.M, Ph.D, LL.D.

By Mike A. A. Ozekhome, SAN

INTRODUCTION

Last week, we saw how this government has severally promised to
deal a death blow on the Boko Haram insurgency, but has instead
exacerbated the security situation with the addition of armed
bandits, rampaging herdsmen, vampirous kidnappers, killer squads,
etc. Nigerians are in a quagmire. What next? Many Senators and
others had waded in. Today, we shall continue the search for
solutions. However, the most recent kidnap of about 333 male
students from a secondary school, Kankara, Katsina State, right
before the very nose of President Buhari who is holidaying in his
Gusau country home, underscores Nigeria’s insecurity predicament.
The report of the release of these young innocent boys gladdens my
heart. I am not here interested in the ongoing conspiracy theories
of whether the entire kidnap and release was a mere cooked up
melodrama and simulated histronics, to give the semblance of a
performing president. With peoples’  lives? With Nigerian
lives?

THE SENATE

However, former Senate Leader, Mohammed Ali Ndume, had
contributed to the debate of insecurity at the Senate Plenary, by
saying troops lack modern arms and were hardly provided with
support. He said people in Borno State were paying ransom to Boko
Haram before being allowed to go to their farms or move around in
their villages. Indeed, Boko Haram are said to have audaciously
mounted checkpoints and road blocks in most LGAs, collecting toks
and levies. Can you believe that? Fello Nigerians, can you now see
why GEJ deserves to be garlanded? Trust Ndume. He shot from all
cylinders, when he called for the hiring of mercenaries.

“I can tell you that people fighting war are sharing
ammunitions. They have no arms or proper kits. I have a not seen a
Nigerian soldier holding a new AK47, Last week, some people came to
me in Abuja and they asked for money to help them pay their dues to
Boko Haram terrorists before they can harvest their crops. If
government is serious, this terrorism can be stopped in six
months. 

America engage mercenaries. Why can’t we get that? We
will be failing in our responsibility if we fail to do the right
thing. In his contribution, former Kebbi governor, Mohammed Adamu
Aliero, wondered why Buhari has refused to visit Borno after the
attacks. “President Buhari should have gone to Borno State and not
to send a delegation.”

RESOLUTIONS OF THE SENATE

The upper chamber later urged federal and state governments to
address issues fueling insecurity. It similarly called for massive
recruitment into the military and Nigerian police force.

President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, was blunt for once, even
against his appointers. He warned that excesses will no longer be
tolerated. He Said the resolutions of the Senate must be
implemented by the Executive.

Lawan must have shocked his benefactor when he said,
“this is not the first or second case of insecurity in the
country. We will take additional steps and insist that our
resolutions are implemented. These are recommendations the
Executive must implement because they are frivolous. This is one
thing that will gladden the hearts of Nigerians when implemented.
Enough of any excuses. Those who have nothing to offer in terms of
securing the country, should be shown the way out. We need people
who can do the job. Nothing is more important than to Nigerians
than their lives”. The security of Nigerians should take
the centre stage. Time has come to find
solution”.

This was not all. Further reactions poured in:

THE CHURCH

RESIGN NOW IF YOU CAN’T GUARANTEE SECURITY OF NIGERIANS,
CLERICS TELLS BUHARI

Two clerics, Adewale Giwa and Pastor Ebenezer Ologunowa, told
President Buhari point blank to resign if he cannot guarantee
security of lives of Nigerians.

Giwa, senior Pastor of Awaiting the Second Coming of Christ
Ministry, Akure, Ondo State, however urged Nigerians to stay strong
despite the challenges confronting them, saying “it’s unfortunate
that we have a president who doesn’t listen to the yearnings of his
people”.

He claimed the president’s highhandeness has set to Nigerian in
all ramifications.

“if they could kill a first class monarch in Ondo state,
who is now safe in this country? If the wife of Ondo state Chief of
staff could be kidnapped easily, who knows who is next? As of now,
God is our security. Even Buhari is not safe not safe in Aso rock
because the citizens are not happy”.

On his part, Pastor Ologunowa, who is the leader of Christ
Sanctuary of Praise Gospel Church, Akure, said President Buhari
should be honourable enough to resign if he cannot manage the
nation’s security:

“They never promised us that our people will be killed
like animals. Buhari’s sense of sight ought to have advised him
quit instead of staying in office without any meaningful
contribution to the development of Nigeria”.

THE MOSQUE

Sultan of Sokoto, tested General (rtd.), His Eminience Muhammad
Sa’ad Abubakar III, has twice within one week, lamented, the dire
insecurity situation of the country, and warned the government to
stop paying lip service to it. He described insecurity-ravaged
North as the worst place to live in Nigeria. He even called for
specialist prayers five times daily. He noted that bandits now rule
some communities and set rules that must be obeyed. The Sultan
noted the paradox of the common man is “now caught in
between two contending phenomena. When he goes to the farm, he gets
killed and when he stays at home, he dies of hunger”. He
urged the Buhari government to go beyond mere lip service and the
traditional condemnation and do something concrete. The Nigerian
Governors Forum (NGF) obviously alarmed, later resolved to meet
Buhari, contending that the military is overstretched.

Is this the same military that ferociously went after
#EndSARs peaceful protesters at the Lekki Toll
gate? So, President Buhari has also finally agreed to honour the
House of Representatives’ invitation over the wanton killings, the
first time ever since 2015? Ha, wonders shall never end!

THE GOVERNMENT – AS USUAL

But, trust Buhari government. Ever incorrigible, it sets its
exams, marks them, and awards mark to itself. It blames everyone,
everything and everyone, but itself.

Thus, in a swift reaction on Arise TV, Presidency spokesman,
Garba Shehu, said sacking the service chiefs was not the solution
to the security challenges. Oh, really? Even after they have since
outlived their welcome and usefulness? Hear more: “The
clamour for the sack is out of place considering that the President
is not subject to the oppositional political party which has
clamoured for this all the time.

It is entirely his (Buhari) determination; he decides
who he keeps as his service chiefs and for how long”. This
was in obvious reference to President Muhammadu Buhari who has been
under intense pressure from opposition leaders, lawmakers,
traditional Rulers, as well as civil society organisations, to
rejig the entire security architecture, starting with the sacking
of the military heads.

But, Shehu said the appointment and sack of service chiefs were
not tied to public demands. Hear his logic:

“I am not aware that the tenure of service chiefs is
subjected to any law or regulation that is clearly stated. They
serve at the pleasure of the president and (if) the president is
satisfied with their performance, he keeps them. The buck stops at
his table- with due respect to the feelings of Nigerians”.
I think Garba is not getting the point. No one is wrestling with
Buhari about his obvious powers to appoint or sack service chiefs.
But, he is being reminded to sack them since they have failed the
country. Is Garba saying the President is not answerable to the
Nigerian people? Is he Louis XIV of France? By saying “with
due respect to the feelings of Nigerians”, it means Garba
is aware that the Nigerian people want the service chiefs
out. But Buhari would not do so because he is “not
aware that the tenure of the service chiefs is subject to any law
or regulation”. Oh blomey!

NORTHERN ELDERS

MASSACRE WILL CONTINUE UNTIL BUHARI REPLACES SERVICE
CHIEFS-NORTH

Garba must be alone in a frolic of his own. This is because
concerned stakeholders from the Northern states have warned that
there may not be an end in sight if the current service chiefs
remained in the saddle.

Specifically, they called on President Buhari to replace all of
them without further delay, to remediate the worsening security
situation in the country, especially in the North.

Stakeholders who headed different groups and coalitions had made
the call at an emergency meeting in Kaduna.

Part of the 11-point communiqué read: “We say enough is
enough of these killings of innocent and unarmed civilians in Borno
State, brought about by the seeming inability of the nation’s
troops stationed in the state to hgelp avoid this kind of massive
attacks and killings.

“We categorically call on President Muhammadu Buhari to
immediately sack the service chiefs for their inability to save the
nation this tragically-embarrassing experience that has dire
consequences to our international image.

“There is also need for not only total overhaul of the
security architecture in Borno but also the out-dated
intelligence-gathering method.

It is our conviction that until a major paradigm shift
in the security architecture is promptly applied by President
Muhammadu Buhari, we will continue with this bad and alarming
rounds of a tragic and embarrassing situation.

“The time to end this madness is now; the nation can’t
afford to wait any longer.

This is good music to my ears and those of many Nigerians,
especially since the Buhari’s most ardent devotees who worship him
like a deity, have finally seen his light.

But, who is to blame when Muhammadu Buhari cannot see beyond his
nepotic enclave to rejig his security architecture? Now, read the
following by an avid reader who exposed the dangers of nepotism,
sectionalism, favouritism and tribalism in appointing people from
only ones section of the country, a most horrific scenario in a
pluralistic, multi-ethnic, multi-linguistic and multi-religious
country like Nigeria. This is how he put it.

LOOPSIDED APPONITMENTS

“INSECURITY IN NIGERIA: WHO IS TO BLAME?

President Muhammadu Buhari (Katsina); Senate President: Ahmad
Lawan (Yobe); Deputy Speaker: Ahmed Idris (Polateau); Defence
Minister: Bashir Salihi Magashi (Kano); Chief of Army Staff: 
Major-General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (Borno); Chief of Air Staff:
Sadique Abubakar (Bauchi); National Security Adviser: Babagana
Monguno (rtd.) (Borno); Director-General of DSS: Yusuf Magaji Bichi
(Kano); Minister of Police Affairs: Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi
(Sokoto); IGP: Mohammed Adamu (Nasarawa); Comptroller-General of
Customs: Hamid Ali (Bauchi); Commandant- General NSCDC: Abdullahi
Gana Muhammad (Niger); Director NIA: Ahmad Rufa’I Abubakar
(Katsina); Comptroller-General of prisons: Aloh. Ja’afaru Ahmed
(Katsina), SGF: Boss Gidahyelda Mustapha (Adamawa); Chief of Staff:
Ibrahim Agboola Gambari (Kwara)”.

“CHAIRMEN OF SENATE COMMITTEES

Army: Ali Ndume, (Borno); Airforce: Bala Ibn Na’Allah, (Kebbi);
Defence: Aliyu Wamakko, (Sokoto); National Security and
Intelligence: Abdullahi Gobir, (Sokoto); Police Affairs: Dauda
Jika, Abubakar Tambuwal (Bauchi).

CHAIRMEN OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
COMMITTEES

Army: Hon. Abdurazak Namdas (Adamawa); National Security and
Intelligence: Hon. Sha’aban Sharada, (Kano); Navy: Hon Gagdi Yusuf
(Plateau); Police Affairs: Hon. Kumo Bello (Gombe)”.

So, who is to blame? That is the big question. Nigerians, do you
know? (The end).

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

“In situations of military conflict, civil strife, lawlessness,
bad governance, and human rights violations, terrorists find it
easier to hide, train and prepare their attacks”.

(Gijs de Vries).

LAST LINE

Fellow Nigerians, synergise with me every week, to put our heads
together on how to retool Nigeria. Right here on “The
Nigerian Project”, by Chief Mike A. A. Ozekhome, SAN, OFR,
FCIArb, LL.M, Ph.D, LL.D.