Home Blog Page 1160

Who Will Rescue The North?

NOVEMBER 19, 2020.

By BARR. BULAMA BUKARTI

It’s indisputable that northern Nigeria is today one of the most dangerous places on earth. While Boko Haram continues its rampage, launching deadly attacks in the northeast literally every day, criminal gangs in the northwest are operating with impunity. Attacks have become so frequent that the massacre of dozens no longer makes the headlines, much less capture the attention of those in authority. Just when you think things can’t get any worse, another incident proves you wrong. The slide into anarchy now seems inevitable. And very few of those who claim to speak for the North seem to care.

The past fortnight has recorded many different incidents that is, even in this era that seems not to view human life with any sanctity, unique. It started with a report by BBC Hausa that bandits have imposed ‘harvest fees’ of between N300,000 to N900,000 on farmers in some communities of Zamfara State. Those who are unable to pay are prevented from harvesting their crops, which spoil in the bush while they struggle to feed their families. It then emerged that these charges are also imposed by criminal gangs in Katsina, Kaduna and Niger states. Farmers in these states were forced to pay at the onset of the season to access and cultivate their farms. Now, their crops are ripe and they’re starving, but they can’t harvest until they incur more debts to settle the same gangs. If this isn’t a sign of a failing country, I don’t know what is.

Next came the devastating story of what 26 seized women and girls went through at the hands of the bandits. The governor of Zamfara State published a photo of himself with the victims on Twitter, claiming that they had been “rescued” after only one week in captivity, indicating that no ransom had been paid and that the victims were unharmed. Thanks to the investigative journalism of this paper, the truth emerged: the victims spent over three weeks in captivity, they were serially beaten and raped, including the children, and that their relatives paid N6.6 million to get them released. Parents said they sold everything they had including their unharvested crops, and incurred debts to raise the money. That a governor will use this tragedy as a photo opportunity, drawing praise for his inaction, is a monumental national disgrace.

But the climax came last Tuesday when BBC Hausa revealed that 12 assistant superintendents of police deployed from Borno to Zamfara have been abducted by bandits in the northwest. Yes, you read it right: a dozen police officers were kidnapped on duty at once. The wife of one of the officers told the BBC that her husband had called from the kidnappers’ den and instructed her to sell off their house for ransom payment. She said she knows eight other police families working to raise N800,000 each to pay the abductors. The situation is so ugly that the police can’t even defend themselves even in a convoy. If 12 senior police officers, with their training, experience and presumably weapons, could be kidnapped on a highway, what more of ordinary Nigerians living in remote villages? Worse still, the captives know very well that their institution is incapable of rescuing them. That is why they asked their families to ransom them.

Amidst of all this, the Minister of Police Affairs, Muhammad Dingyadi, insulted us by asking us to ignore the facts and fall for their propaganda. Responding to criticisms and concerns, including in this newspaper, he claimed that the bandits have been “degraded”. This is even as they hold a dozen police officers captive! His statement came on the same day 16 people, including the district head of Zangon Kataf were killed in different spots in Kaduna, and, two days earlier, nine French language students of ABU Zaria were abducted on the Kaduna-Abuja road. Dingyadi, who is himself a northerner, said all these attacks are “small” and “normal”, an indication that government isn’t bothered, and we should expect more. One is left to wonder if the minister’s opinion would’ve been the same if the victims were his family. I would bet my bottom naira that Dingyadi can’t drive from Abuja through Kaduna, Katsina and Zamfara to his native Sokoto.

But the minister is only following the example of other northern “leaders”. Earlier this month, the Northern Governors’ Forum hosted northern political and traditional leaders including the Senate President, ministers and the chairmen of Northern State Traditional Rulers led by the Sultan of Sokoto. They dedicated more than half of their 20-paragraph communique to condemning the #EndSARS protests, praising the government for its use of live bullets against unarmed protesters and calling for censoring the social media. The “leaders” of the North did not spare a single sentence for the bandits’ and terrorists’ depredations in the North. There was not one word of even the usual ceremonial sympathises for the victims, nor any encouragement of the government to do more to help. This speaks volumes on their priorities: they are more perturbed by well-founded protests against police brutality and Nigerians’ freedom of expression than the wanton destruction of the lives and livelihoods of their supposed constituents. That is because the former threatens their power and wealth while the latter affects ordinary northerners whose lives are worth nothing in their eyes.

But the facts and data don’t lie. They show that the bandits continue to get more lethal and sophisticated by the day. They have raised and continue to launder huge sums from ransoms which they use to stockpile weapons and supplies; they have effectively taken control of swathes of land in the northwest where they levy taxes and impose their law(lessness). From Benue to Borno, from Kaduna to Kebbi, the North is bleeding so badly. Northerners are killed like rats. Women and children are captured and violated freely. A presidency dominated by northerners keeps paying lip service. Our security agencies are clearly overwhelmed. Our political leaders are more concerned with their personal parochial interests; our emirs, imams, and intellectuals are silent; most of our youths are uneducated and many of those educated have been brainwashed, blackmailed or bullied into acquiescence. In this perfect conspiracy of silence, who will rescue the north from its dangerous descent? (Daily Trust)

Hon. Justice Beatrice Iliya Petitions NJC, Says Exclusion Of Her Name From List Of Nominees For Gombe CJ Is An Injustice

Honourable Justice Beatrice Iliya has petitioned the National Judicial Council (NJC) over the alleged exclusion of her name by the Gombe State Government from among the nominees for the state’s Chief Judge (CJ).

In a petition addressed to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Ibrahim Muhammad, sighted by TheNigeriaLawyer, the judge said the re-submission of names of two judges without her name is in defiance to the directive of the NJC.

Entitled ‘RE: THE APPOINTMENT OF CHIEF OF GOMBE STATE. NON-COMPLIANCE WITH THE DIRECTIVES OF THE NATIONAL JUDICIAL COUNCIL (NJC) BY THE GOMBE STATE JUDICIAL SERVICE COMMISSION (JSC)’ dated November 13, 2020, the petitioner, among other things, described it as injustice.

It read in part: “My Lord, I humbly refer to my letter dated 22nd September, 2020 on the inaction of the Gombe State Judicial Service Commission (JSC) following the directive of the NJC for re-submission of the nomination for the appointment of substantive Chief Judge of Gombe State to do the right thing by including my name as the most senior judge of the Gombe State High Court of Justice in the list of nominees.

“I have been reliably informed that the JSC has sent a memo to the NJC re-submitting the names of Hon. Justice Muazu A. Pindiga and Hon. Justice Joseph Ahmed Awak for the appointment of the Chief Judge of Gombe State excluding my name as the most senior judge which is not in compliance with the directive of the NJC following its meeting on 11th August, 2020 and the duo of Hon. Justice Muazu A. Pindiga and Hon. Justice Joseph Ahmed Awak are now being invited for an interview by the NJC Interview Committee to be conducted on the 23rd November, 2020.

“I wish to state that the current re-nomination made by the JSC is in defiance to the directive earlier issued by the NJC on this matter.”

Furthermore, Hon. Justice Beatrice Iliya said seniority has been the accepted convention in nomination of Chief Judge and there is no basis for departure in her case.

“My Lord, the consideration of seniority as a factor to be borne in mind in appointing the substantive Heads of Court, has been the acceptable convention and in my case, there are no extenuating circumstances warranting departure from convention by the JSC except sheer injustice.”

She added that “there are no legal or moral justification justifications whatsoever for the injustice perpetrated against me nor for the flagrant disregard of the directive of the NJC under whatever guise by the Gombe State JSC steered by the Hon. Attorney-General of the state.”

The judge, therefore, called on “the just and upright intervention of the NJC to curb the excesses of the JSC and salvage system of administration of justice in Gombe State while restating my firm commitment to serve to the best of my ability.” (thenigerialawyer.)

End SARS: Gen Bello ordered soldiers to release bullets at Lekki Toll Gate – Army

The Commander of the 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Brig. Gen. Ahmed Taiwo, has disclosed the roles played by Lt.- Col. S.O. Bello and Brig.-Gen. F.O. Omata during the shooting at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos State.

Following the End SARS protest, soldiers had reportedly shot and killed protesters at Lekki toll gate on October 20, 2020.

However, Taiwo said Bello who was the Commander on ground had given the order for the soldiers to shoot in the air, NAN reports.

Taiwo who is a military witness disclosed this during cross-examined at the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry for Restitution, on Saturday in Lagos State.

He stated that Bello was the Commanding Officer of the 65 Battalion which was at the Lekki tollgate on the fateful day and Omata was also present at the scene with him.

“When I called Bello he said that while they were being deployed, they were attacked by hoodlums and they released some shots into the air.

“Bello had arrived the scene first before Omata, as the whole 81 Division Garrison had been given the mandate to secure the whole Eti-Osa corridor.

“Omata had left Obalende to meet up with Bello and patrol the whole area,” he said.(newspotng)

Inside Stuff With MARTINS OLOJA

‘The Guardian’, Sunday November 22, 2020, Back Page

‘#EndSARS-Watch: FG’s ATTACK ON CNN AND JOURNALISM’

Before the (constituted) authorities in Abuja release their curious strategy for ‘sanctioning’ the Cable News Network(CNN) as they have promised for the network’s investigative report on the conundrum surrounding the October 20-10-2020 alleged military attack on #EndSARS protesters at the lucrative Lekki tollgate, let’s deconstruct not just some of the facts of the allegations against the CNN and indeed other local media organisations the almighty National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has already arbitrarily sanctioned. I would like us to go back to open studies schools to re-examine some of our common prejudices against journalism even in global context. This has become necessary because of all the professions in the world, journalism appears to be the only profession other professionals, public officers and even business elite would like to teach even journalists – how to practise.

What is worse at the moment, the advent of social technologies that has created digital platforms has ingeniously suggested a ‘death sentence’ to journalism they have also tagged ‘citizen journalism’. Now every one that has access to the Internet and data can create a newspaper and even a radio or television channel and disseminate all sorts of material to the world through texts, sounds and videos. Yet as some experts have just noticed, why are there no ‘citizen lawyers’, ‘citizen architects’, ‘citizen doctors’, citizen ‘civil servants’, citizen pilots, etc?

This is curious but it appears that there is hardly any reference to the fact that journalism is not just a practice or a profession or a craft, it is a constitutional social responsibility. And here is the thing, journalism is a profession constitutions in most popular democracies recognise as the fourth arm of government, the ‘Fourth Estate of the Realm’. How many times will scholars and speakers quote Section 22 of Nigeria’s constitution as amended, which recognises the role of the press and mass media?
Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria States that the press, radio, television and other agencies of the mass media shall at all times be free to uphold the fundamental objectives contained in this chapter and uphold the responsibility and accountability of the government to the people.

This is not another seminal paper on journalism practice. It is just a conversation on how not to tag journalism as ‘enemies of the people’ as most leaders in the world including the embattled president the United States, have continued to portray journalists for doing the jobs the organic laws of the land assigns to them. What is more worrisome now, the creators of ‘fake news’ modules are now tagging journalists as carriers of ‘fake news’ and the same creators are crying blue murder and they want to regulate the traditional and social media they allege carry the ‘fake news’ they forge to cover up their irregularities and scandals.

Let’s come to the brass tacks, the recent attack by the federal government of Nigeria, on a global news channel, CNN for its investigative report on the cover-ups and denials of the shootings at #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki tollgate on October 20-10–2020 has again brought to the fore the danger the Nigerian media will continue to face in the course of covering rebuilding of Nigeria’s broken walls. That attack on the CNN to the extent that the global media organ should be sanctioned, is an attack on journalism, another war on truth and open government initiative Nigeria’s government has subscribed to.

‘The content and context:’

Nigeria’s Minister of Information Alhaji Lai Mohammed had last Thursday lashed out against CNN saying the network should be sanctioned over its investigation, which uncovered evidence that the Nigerian army and police opened fire on unarmed protestors on October 20. The CNN’s investigation focused on a demonstration against police brutality, led by the largely peaceful “#EndSARS” movement, which mysterious hoodlums hijacked and ended.

The Minister for Information and Culture had dismissed the CNN investigation as “fake news” and “misinformation,” repeatedly denying that the military used live rounds of bullets against protesters. His words: “Like everyone else, I watched the CNN report. I must tell you that it reinforces the disinformation that is going around, and it is blatantly irresponsible and a poor piece of journalistic work by a reputable international news organisation,” he told reporters at a press conference in Abuja, in the most significant federal government response so far to the October 20 violence.
“This is very serious and CNN should be sanctioned for that,” he noted. CNN says it stands by its investigation, as a company’s spokesperson said.
“Our reporting was carefully and meticulously researched, and we stand by it,” the spokesperson said via email. The CNN report was based on testimony from dozens of witnesses, and photos and video obtained and geo-located by CNN. The investigative report painted a picture of how members of the Nigerian army and the police shot at the crowd, killing at least one person and wounding dozens more.

The report reinforced what some local media have published too that protesters Victor Sunday Ibanga and Wisdom Okon, haven’t been located since the protest on October 20, according to members of their families. The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwoolu too earlier said two persons had died. So, whose bullets killed them?

What is at issue? CNN verified photos and videos acquired from multiple eyewitnesses and protesters using timestamps and other data from the video files. The report’s video footage shows soldiers who appear to be shooting in the direction of protesters. And accounts from eyewitnesses established that after the army withdrew, a second round of shooting happened later in the evening by the policemen who took over from soldiers.

CNN said prior to publishing the report, it tried multiple times to elicit comments from the Nigerian army and police. A Lagos State police spokesman declined to comment because of an ongoing investigation. While a statement from the Lagos State government said that there would be no comment while a judicial tribunal was underway. CNN also included comments from army representative Brigadier Ahmed Taiwo, testifying before the tribunal. The officer had denied that soldiers would shoot at Nigerian citizens.

Specifically, the CNN’s investigation, which was broadcast and published on Wednesday, cast doubt on Nigerian authorities’ shifting and changing statements over what happened at the protest at the Lekki tollgate in Lagos.

While addressing reporters last Thursday, Nigeria’s Information Minister insisted that “the military did not shoot at the protesters at the toll gate” but fired blank ammunitions into the air, blaming looters for the violence which broke out on the night of October 20. “Six soldiers and 37 policemen were killed all over the country during the crisis,” the minister said. “CNN relied heavily on unreliable and possibly doctored videos as well as information sources from questionable sources to reach these conclusions,” he continued. But the minister did not provide any evidence that the videos were doctored. Nor was there any reference to an earlier statement by the army spokesperson Major-General John Enenche that the coverage of the 20-10-2020 shooting was a ‘fake news’ item.

Meanwhile, the CNN report included evidence that bullet casings from the scene matched those used by the Nigerian army when shooting live rounds, according to current and former Nigerian military officials. In this connection, two ballistics experts also confirmed to CNN that the shape of the bullet casings indicate they used live rounds, which contradicts the army’s claim they fired blank bullets.

While the Minister for Information and Culture asserted that “not a single family” has reported the death of relatives during the protest on October 20, the Chief Coroner of Lagos State has since issued a public call for all those who have “lost loved ones between 19 October and 27 October 2020” to come forward and provide evidence which could assist in the “identification exercise.”

Strangely, the federal government’s call for sanction against the international news station, CNN also included a Nigerian exile, DJ Switch, for allegedly promoting ‘fake news’ on the Lekki EndSARS protest. The minister specifically took swipes at the popular Disc Jockey, Switch, whose real name is Obianunu Catherine Udeh, for claiming that many protesters were killed by troops. D.J Switch had earlier debunked the claim credited to her by a strange Twitter handle that about 65 died. The young lady’s digital dexterity at the tollgate scene provided the primary evidence that others have relied on. In other lands, Ms Udeh would have been hailed by authorities and the people as a major heroine of the #EndSARS struggle. Wherever she is in North America, she should take a bow. She should not be discouraged. She has been part of the struggle to reclaim Nigeria from the stranglehold of scoundrels in power at all levels. She should note that Alhaji Lai Mohammed is just discharging his responsibility to the government he serves. While the former Spokesperson of the governing party, APC, Alhaji Mohammed is doing his job, to manage government reputation, we journalists have our responsibility to present facts, yes facts, which are sacred as journalism rule empowers us.

Instead of condemning journalists, let’s share some knowledge on what news you are curious about every second is all about. Let’s share some thoughts on newsgathering, the focal point of journalism, which the CNN and others practise as the ‘Fourth Estate of the Realm’. “News is something somebody doesn’t want printed; all else is advertising.”― William Randolph Hearst. Oscar Wilde said, “Speaking the truth that somebody wants you not to publish is journalism. Everything else is marketing.” “Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed: everything else is public relations.” Yet we found another similar quote from Horacio Verbitsky (in Spanish):“Journalism is to spread what someone does not want you to know; the rest is propaganda.” A version of this quote first appeared on 30 November 1918, on page 18, column 4 of ‘The Fourth Estate: A Newspaper for the Makers of Newspapers’, Ernest F, Birmingham, Fourth Estate Publishing Company, New York. The quote is as follows: “Whatever a patron desires to get published is advertising; whatever he wants to keep out of the paper is news,” is the sentiment expressed in a little framed placard on the desk of L. E. Edwardson, day city editor of the ‘Chicago Herald’ and ‘Examiner’.

You can now see why Nigeria’s Information and Culture Minister is just doing what he is paid to do: ‘public relations and advertising’ for his employers. But the point is: no power on earth can stop the role of the press and mass media in any political system. There are enough provisions in the laws everywhere to deal with allegations against the media.

THE DUMB, KILLING FIELDS OF THE NORTH

By Mohammed Mohammed Haruna

The spectre of insecurity countinues to loom large over Northern Nigeria. Yet, the region appears unable or unwilling to call out those whose responsibility it is to ensure safety of lives and properties or even create the environment that would just allow a large chunk of her people to suffer their acute poverty peacefully.

The politicians, traditional rulers and Mullahs who led the charge of lamentations in time past have dissapeared from the scene or maybe they are blind to the current reality.

No more inciteful international radio interviews accusing the centre of incompetence or negligence or both.

No more loud sermons from the pulpits yelling out conspiracy theories accusing others of willfully trying to destroy the land of sardauna. Today, insecurity has become more rampant and devastating in impact on the region than at any other time ever in history.

Before the diminished army of status quo defenders bay for blood, let me contextualise my assertion above for clarity.

At its peak, even the lunacy of Boko Haram (the region’s greatest security challenge to date) was LARGELY a problem of Borno, Yobe then other North Eastern states felt the residual effect but not on a scale of the kanemi states and neighbouring Adamawa.

Yes, they registered a presence of Evil in Kano_ North Western Nigeria but never really got a foothold there.

However, today_ while the North East remains an unending zone of agony and misery inspite of the boasts and claims. The caliphate states plus Niger are reeling under the weight of, and bleeding from the evil of bandits and terrorists. Kaduna _Kano _Katsina’s cases need no mention again. Nassarawa, Kogi and FCT have joined the loop. Benue is a recurring decimal.

In summary, nothing represents the inexplicable, embarrassing, undeserved and unfair state of hobessian security situation in the north today more than the infamous ABUJA_KADUNA Highway.

Instead of seeing this reality as it is and shouting out to the rooftops against it, the attack men of yesterday have suddenly become mute, dumb

Or in the case of the mullahs discoverd scriptural justifications for people to be tolerant and endure the tragedy occasioned by failure of Governance as a “trial from Allah”.

Speak no ill of leaders is the new charge from the pulpits but pray what were they engaged in against yesterday’s government?

Why were the misfortunes of yesterday not acceptable also as a “divine trial”?

Religion is about justice So why is it ok to call out a leader in bowler hat under whose watch people were being needlessly murdered but the same treatment cannot be offered to another who is in BabbanRiga and the greatest beneficiary of the region’s voting strength when a worse security situation was birthed, nurtured and is raging under his watch?

Please who can lecture me a bit on hypocrisy?.

If the peoples of Northern Nigeria do not unite, create a common front and speak out LOUDLY against the gradual yet sustained SYRIA_nization, IRAQ_ification and YEMEN_isation of the region where human life is worth no more than a fly’s, I fear for what the future holds.

If the thinking is that one of our own must not be called out inspite of the glaring inadequacies of his reign, such a reasoning defies Reason.

In conclusion, I offer a warning to all of the North that if this fast slide into total anarchy in the zone is not arrested, None amongst us will escape the unfolding consequences of this ugly spectre. Either on the roads or in our homes!

If President Muhammadu Buhari, a northerner and recipient of millions of peasant Northern votes since 2003 vacates office in 2023 with this persistent reign of terror across the North unabated, let all be braced for the worst subsequently.

One, Fixing the security challenge of the Zone will not be the priority of the next government which would rightfully be headed by someone from another zone.

And secondly but even more tragic is that in the face of inaction from the next government to the region’s plight, no one dares to raise a voice of accusation because, in the failure to demand for action and accountability from PMB the morality to demand same from another person in charge has been mortgaged and forfeited.

May God gives us the wisdom to know what is right and conscientious and the Courage to act according to the demands of justice, not denials, hypocrisy or ridiculous self consuming bigotry. Ameeen!

To Gov. Kayode Fayemi: A response

By Bolanle Bolawole

[email protected] 0705 263 1058

Below are excerpts by the Egbe Omo Oduduwa to Gov. Kayode Fayemi’s Arewa lecture; enjoy it!

“As is customary of the Nigerian Post-Colonial ruling elite, Gov. Kayode Fayemi simply grafted onto the Nigerian Problematic borrowed expressions of a (United States of America) reality that is incongruent with the experiences of the Yoruba and other Peoples of Nigeria by his deployment of the historically conditioned phrase of “a more perfect Union” in his presentation at the Forum on the 50th Anniversary of the Centre for Historical Documentation and Research (Arewa House) on October 30, 2020.

“For “a more perfect Union” to be applicable to, and meaningful for Nigeria, it must mean the recognition of the EXISTENCE of the PEOPLES in their TERRITORIES, contrary to the experience of the United States; and these anchored on their historical Constitutional journeys in the process of decolonization, expressed in their pre-Independence Political Preferences, manifesting in the Regional Structure, more or less reflecting the Existential Diversity of the Peoples of Nigeria, and which would have been the basis for the pursuit of “a more perfect Union”, especially with the creation of more Regions advocated by the Action Group and which would have averted the Nigeria-Biafra War.

“This is the REALITY for Nigeria and the PEOPLES of Nigeria, which was neutralized and overthrown by the colonial military and civilian apparatus emerging from the two military coups of January and July 1966 under the guise of fighting corruption and pursuit of “Unity”, both ending up disrupting and negating the wishes and aspirations of the colonized, expressed through their pre-Independence Political Preferences.

“Since then, the Nigerian State Apparatus has embarked on a systematic Homogenization of the various Cultures resulting in consolidating a STRONGER CENTRE, now discredited as being too humongous and a drag on socio-economic development, parasitic on the natural and human resources of the Peoples of Nigeria and creating the avenue for renewed calls for “True Federalism” anchored on “devolution”, “fiscal federalism” “exclusive Legislative lists” etc, all of which Fayemi spoke glowingly about.

“Yet, Fayemi did not acknowledge the fact that the Yoruba Nation had endured and continues to endure great hardship in her existential coming into being, when, through the “DEVOLUTION” parameters of the 1947 Richards Constitution, the Yoruba Nation experienced her BALKANIZATION, consigning the Yoruba in Ilorin and Kabba Provinces to the Northern Region, and with the Eastern Region acquiescing, excising the Lagos Colony from Yorubaland, both of which ran against popular wishes and aspirations of the Yoruba.

“The Richards Constitution was replaced by the 1951 Macpherson Constitution which ushered in the era of Federalism of the Regions, reversing the excision of the Lagos Colony from Yorubaland while the NPC and NCNC refused to allow the conduct of a REFERENDUM/PLEBISCITE among the Yoruba in Ilorin and Kabba Provinces as to their preference to being part of the Western or Northern Regions, thereby ensuring their retention in the North.

“Since then, the Yoruba People of Ilorin and Kabba Provinces and the Igbomina, all now located in Kwara and Kogi states, have been fighting against this “forced, illegal and unconstitutional relocation” and are now asking for a REFERENDUM to determine whether they want to be rejoined with their kin in Yorubaland or not, echoing their demands as at the time of the Macpherson Constitution.

“All the foregoing shows clearly that “DEVOLUTION” as experienced by the Yoruba Nation have been detrimental to Yoruba emancipation and therefore cannot be an acceptable route to go in her quest for “True Federalism” in Nigeria.

“Flowing from this is the continuous denial of the various existential values of the various Peoples through the instrumentality of the Colonial State Apparatus, which was simply replaced by the Post-Colonial State, manifesting through the relentless demonization of the Action Group and the Western Region as promoters of Balkanization and “Pakistanization” of Nigeria by the authorities of the Eastern and Northern regions.

“The irony of it all was that while the latter opposed and successfully, albeit unconstitutionally, prevented the realization of the quest of the Peoples of the Middle Belt and Calabar, Ogoja and Rivers Province for their own Regions, they went ahead to secure the creation of the Midwest from the Western Region.

“The deliberate disregard of the foregoing apparently enabled Fayemi to wrongfully celebrate a supposed ability of Nigeria to manage “diversity” declaring that “It is what makes us better than even Europeans who find diversity management difficult. The Balkans had to split into Sweden, Norway, and Finland. Czechoslovakia became Czech and Slovak Nations, the Soviet Union couldn’t hold together, Yugoslavia collapsed into Serbia, Bosnia, Croatia and Herzegovina and Britain still has not found a definitive answer to the Irish, Welsh and Scottish question”

“Fayemi’s conclusion flies in the face of REALITY; for NONE of the MODEL DEVELOPED countries in Europe is a Multi-Lingual, Multinational and Multi-Cultural country existing and operating as a NATION-STATE, the NATIONS being identified by their Lingual and Cultural expressions; what happened in ALL the instances cited by the Governor were aimed at arriving at the same destination, and that is, the establishment of a country, a NATION-STATE, anchored on the expectations and aspirations of her PEOPLES within their Cultural and Lingual matrices.

“The question for Europe is therefore NOT about “diversity management” but REAFFIRMATION of diversity expressed in its form of STATE.

“When, therefore, Fayemi averred that “Our ability to live together as a diverse but unified country is something we should celebrate”, he failed to answer the pertinent question as to how such ability had been manifesting; for, the central question to be asked and answered is whether the story of Nigeria since 1966 is something to celebrate when ALL REFERENCES to the developmental paradigm experienced in Nigeria ALWAYS point to the Regional period, from 1951 to 1966, upon which “a more perfect union” ought to have been built but whose neutralization became the albatross on the neck of the Nigerian Post-Colonial State till date.

“When the Governor proceeded to ask “But imagine Nigeria with over 250 ethnic nationalities and particularly in Arewa, where no state, indeed few communities can claim to be homogeneous. Yet we are managing our diversity very well until we lose the values of tolerance, equity, fairness, and justice which we inherited from our founding fathers such as the Sardauna of Sokoto”, he also failed the REALITY TEST.

“Ignoring the Governor’s resort, once again, to abstract formularies as is the character of the Nigerian Post-Colonial elite, leading to his lamentations on the absence of values, equity, etc, he clearly forgot that the Yoruba can comfortably and conveniently make the claim to homogeneity as we have been doing since the advent of anti-colonial struggles; exemplified not only in Lingual and Cultural expressions but also manifested politically through the political motive of defending Yoruba Federalism via the Yoruba Civil Wars expressed as the “war to end all wars” in order to ensure peace in Yorubaland.

“Furthermore, and in the spirit of seeking similarities in other climes, Switzerland in Europe provides an excellent template for the pursuit of “a more perfect Union” as a reflection of the reality of the PEOPLES in their TERRITORIES, recognizing both the “INDIGENES” alongside their TERRITORIES, a recognition of the Multiplicity resulting in what is now known as the Swiss Confederation with geo-political and territorial boundaries anchored on Lingual and Cultural determinations within the Swiss Multinational State.

“Even the mono-cultural, monolingual United Arab Emirates, of which Dubai Emirate is a member and Dubai, a favourite destination of the Nigerian Post-Colonial ruling elite its capital city, has a Federal System anchored on a “Federal Supreme Council, consisting of “the Rulers of the seven Emirates constituting the Federation or their deputies in their Emirates in case of Ruler’s absence or unavailability. Each emirate has one single vote in the Council resolutions and deliberations, further recognizing the CENTRALITY of the PEOPLES in questions of Federalism.

“The only conclusion that can be reached for Fayemi’s failure is that he has abandoned the PEOPLES of Nigeria, pandering to the “Northern Script” starting from his revisionism on Nigeria’s historical experience anchored on his substitution of the Values, Cultures and Existentialism of Yoruba People, already negated by our existential experience where our Humanity became subjected to the economic and philosophical existentialism of the colonial power, such that the Governor could not situate his resolution of the Nigerian Problematic within the context of Yoruba Existentialism, itself a Federalist Project and despite his being a Yoruba.

“Furthermore, the Governor launched a violent assault on the collective memory of Yoruba People, conveniently ignoring historical facts about Ahmadu Bello but eulogizing him and immortalizing “the legacies of the great political leader and premier of the defunct Northern Nigeria…”

“The simple reality is that Ahmadu Bello was one of the major political leaders from the North who assiduously worked against the emergence of Yoruba Existentialism and thus could NOT be said to be in favour of “life, liberty, equal opportunity, blessings” and not only for the Yoruba, but also for the other Colonized Peoples of Nigeria, whose coming into being, after centuries of Colonial plunder, cannot simply be confined into the Nigerian Post-Colonial State Matrix without their consent.

“With the Nigerian Post-Colonial State defining itself as a Democracy, it must be noted that the word “Democracy” springs from the Greek word “demos”, which means “the People” by which Democracy becomes the manifestation of the aspirations and expectations of the “demos”, the Peoples, which must be expressed and dominant, either directly through a Referendum or indirectly through periodic elections, delegating power and responsibility to her elected officials.

“Utilization of such power is expected to be aimed at the deepening of the existential paradigms of the Peoples, ensuring their complete command of their environment thereby creating an enabling society for the manifestation of their God-given abilities in their relationships, first, among themselves, and then with other Peoples; therefore, the “demos” must be consulted on their aspirations and expectations through which any developmental deformities may be cured.

“Development, for the African, must therefore be anchored on a Decolonization paradigm which subjects centuries of colonial subjugation to the rebirth of their HUMANITY. This paradigm cannot simply be reduced to a reformulation of TERRITORIAL FEDERALISM that is not anchored on INDIGENEITY when the INDIGENES are yet to be wiped out. Nor could that paradigm be conceived or executed as a series of administrative measures or boundary adjustments. The PEOPLES must be recognized as the Federating Entities.

“This makes the resolution of the issues about Language, Culture and Values vital components of social, economic and political development, to be formally incorporated into any Structure of State, leading to the emergence of the “New Man” on the Continent, as had happened, and is happening in other parts of the world experiencing geometric growth in human development, further serving as a beacon to the Global African (Black) Community.

“Language as a prerequisite for social and economic development has been shown and proven by the utilization of “indigenous” Languages in the production and reproduction of knowledge in the various “developed” countries, and Nigeria cannot be different if there is seriousness in the pursuit of development. This was a fact recognized by both the Egbe Omo Oduduwa as well as the Action Group Government of the Western Region by its deliberate pursuit of the development of the Yoruba Language, Culture and History.

“The Swiss Confederation provides the classic response to Nigeria’s Multiplicity in its recognition of itself as a Multi-Nation Entity, hence requiring the establishment of a MULTINATIONAL STATE where the various issues attending to such multiplicity can be conveniently explored, realized and resolved. Nigeria cannot be any different.

“A REFERENDUM in Yorubaland is the ONLY way to determine the YORUBA RESPONSE to the current demands for “Restructuring” from various quarters, including the call for True Federalism by Yoruba leaders in their recent meeting with the FG delegation led by its Chief of Staff, Agboola Gambari”.

Zamfara: Bandits kill 5 worshippers, abduct Imam, 30 other congregants

Suspected gunmen on Friday killed five worshippers and abducted an Imam in Juma’at mosque in Dutsen Gari community of Kanoma District of Maru local government area of Zamfara State.

Residents told Daily Trust that dozens of unidentified gunmen arrived at the village on motorbikes when the Imam was delivering the sermon and they opened fire on the congregants.

“There was pandemonium as everyone was scampering for safety. They abducted the Imam and more than 30 others and dashed into the bush on motorbikes,” residents further said.

They said a military fighter jet had arrived but they were not sure whether the aircraft had attacked the positions of the criminals but it hovered for some times and flew away.

The armed criminals had earlier attacked Maje, Kunkurai and Zanau villages and rustled herds of cows and other domestic animals before they invaded Dutsen Gari. The villages are few kilometers apart.

Another resident identified as Halilu Adamu said he had earlier been informed that armed criminals on motorcycles were approaching the community and he quickly got out of the mosque and locked himself inside his house.

“I was listening to a sermon when my elder brother came closer and whispered into my ears that armed bandits are planning to invade the community. From inside my house I could here gunshots.

“My younger brother is among those kidnapped and we are yet to hear from the abductors whether they are demanding for ransom or not. Most of the surrounding villages have been attacked with people kidnapped and animals rustled,” he added.

The spokesman of the state police command SP Muhammad Shehu could not be reached for comment at the time of filing this report. (Daily Trust)

Lekki Tollgate shooting: Intersociety debunks FG claims, names 5 persons allegedly killed, bodies retrieved and buried

International Society for Civil Liberties & Rule of Law, (Intersociety) has debunked series of lies by the federal government over the Lekki Tollgate Massacre by army particularly the claim that nobody was killed by soldiers at Lekki, except blank shots fired in the air that fainted two persons’.

The group said the lies by the federal government must have been falsely premised on their belief that all the dead corpses of those they killed were taken away by soldiers whereas five dead bodies killed by the army were retrieved and buried.

Intersociety therefore went further and provided the names of at least five dead bodies of Lekki EndSARS protesters massacred, retrieved & buried by their family members.

It also commended the courage of young activist and artist – DJ-Switch’ (Obianuju Catherine Udeh) whose forensic expertise
not only gladdens their heart at Intersociety, but also offered her automatic membership including her instant elevation to a top advocacy position.

The above is the position of International Society for Civil Liberties & Rule of Law, in a statement issued today in Onitsha, Eastern Nigeria and signed by its Five Principal Officers namely: Emeka Umeagbalasi (Board Chair), Chinwe Umeche, Esq., Obianuju Igboeli, Esq., Ndidiamaka Bernard, Esq., and Comrade Sam Kamanyaoku.

The statement reads:

Although lies told by the present Government of Nigeria and the country’s serving and former security chiefs since mid 2015 have damagingly ruined the country’s local and international image and reputation and will take decades to redeem, but the best way to handle serial liars in the country’s corridors of power is to consistently slap them with forensic statistics. ‘Forensic statistics’ are the researched or investigated and documented statistics gathered through natural and scientific methods following state actor or non state actor, or state backed non state actor grisly or ‘industrial scale’ human rights abuses and violations perpetrated in Nigeria or any part thereof.

Therefore, to do the above, activist Nigerians including rights and media activists, criminologists and lawyers must reduce their level of ‘synchronous’ and ‘asynchronous’ web chats and ‘debates-outside-facts’ and pay more attention to ‘investigative activism’ to unmask and document the atrocity crimes and their perpetrators which must include where, how and when the atrocity crimes were perpetrated, who perpetrated them and who and who were the victims. To be included are the videos and photos associated with the atrocity crimes which must include time, date, month and destination as well as eyewitnesses or survivors’ accounts or testimonies.

It is only when these processes are meticulously followed and archived that culpability baggage will permanently be hung around the necks of the perpetrators and moral justice done to the dead victims and the wounded whose bloods were spilled. To morally punish the serial perpetrators of the atrocity crimes in Nigeria or any part thereof and make them to internationally and permanently wear pariah sack clothes, their atrocities must be forensically investigated and archived as in law and criminology, ‘no crime is perpetrated unless it is forensically investigated and archived or documented’. Unless a crime is properly investigated and archived, otherwise the perpetrator of the crime is technically set free forever.

Nigerian Government & Nigerian Army Are Serial Liars:

The lies told by the present Government of Nigeria and the country’s Army as well as heads of other security agencies have reached a maddening proportion, to the extent that even when the Lekki Army massacre has borne practical characteristics of incontrovertible culpability and soaked in natural and scientific facts, they are still denying. Lying against the dead is culturally abominable in Nigeria, yet they have unrepentantly lied and are still lying against them. They also parade themselves as “Honorables” and “Excellencies”, yet their common salutation is lying, to the extent that their lies have now gone to international borders.

Government Thought It Took Away All The Dead Bodies It Massacred At Lekki

Lies by the Nigerian Government and the country’s Army to the effect that ‘nobody was killed by soldiers at Lekki, except blank shots fired in the air that fainted two persons’, must have been falsely premised on their belief that all the dead corpses of those they killed were taken away by soldiers whereas contrary was the case. As a matter of fact, the Nigerian Army, Government of Lagos State and the lying expert Minister of Information have probated and reprobated repetitively on Lekki Army massacre. So far, they have told more than seven lies in connection with same massacre and are still lying.

Names of At Least Five Dead Bodies Of Lekki Massacre Retrieved & Buried

(1) Late Miss Chizoba Francisca Agu. She was a member of EndSARS protest at Lekki Tollgate and among those shot and killed in the late evening of 20th Oct 2020 by soldiers operationally commanded by Lt Col S. O. Bello (Commanding Officer of 65 Battalion, Bonny Camp). The Commanding Officer was backed in his butchery mission by Brig Gen Musa Etsu-Ndagi, Commander, 9 Brigade, Lagos and Brig Gen Ahmed Taiwo, Commander, 81 Division Intelligence, Lagos. Late Francisca Agu was buried in her family home on 4th Nov 2020 in Nkpologwu-Ibenda, Obollo Eke Community in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State.

(2) Late Miss Lucy Oghenegueke Audu was a member of Lekki Tollgate EndSARS protest and among those shot and killed by soldiers at Lekki Tollgate. She was buried on Nov 3, 2020 in her family home at Igbere Street, Okpara Inland, Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State.

(3) Late Chidiebere Umeojiako was involved in the EndSARS protest at Lekki Tollgate and among those shot and killed by soldiers. He was buried on 12th Nov 2020 in his family home at Umugama Village, Umuchu Community in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State

(4) Late Barth Ani was the son of a popular bookshop owner at Onitsha Main Market, dealing on ‘Catholic Stationeries’. His late son was also dealing on stationeries in Lagos State and was involved in EndSARS protest at Lekki Tollgate where he was among those shot and killed by soldiers. Late Barth Ani hailed from Akugo-Eze Community in Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State.

(5) Late Felix John Ormye was involved in EndSARS protest at Lekki Tollgate where he was among those shot and killed by soldiers. His remains were taken home by his family for burial on 12th Nov 2020. He hailed from Mbagun-Mbayongo in Adamgbe, Vandeikya Local Government Area of Benue State. These are just to mention but a few.

Shot & Injured Activists/Survivors:

In a 28-paragrapgh court affidavit attached to a petition she submitted to the Lagos State Judicial Commission of Enquiry on SARS atrocities & related others, Ms Kamsiyochukwu Perpetual, a survivor of Lekki Army massacre and participant in the EndSARS protest in Lagos, gave 22 names as those shot and wounded by soldiers at Lekki Tollgate. They included Abiola Esther, RFK, Lekan Williams, Felix Nandip, Adams Moses, Akinyele Damilola, Samuela lordyom, Emmanuel John, Isaac Amede, Charles Uzoma, Raymond Simon Abah, Samuel Anthony, Andrew Ugochukwu, Bobby Mmaduka, Moses Oyi, Emmanuel George, Nelson Andrew, Sheriff Akande, Chigozie Chukwujekwu, Damilola Adedayo and Bakare Michael (12 years old). For more information regarding this paragraph, see here Punch Newspaper of 16th Nov 2020:

Lekki Army Massacre-A Premeditated Mass Murder

The “hoodlum theory” used by the Nigerian Army and Federal Government to attempt to escape culpability and justify their grisly crimes is laughable and dead on arrival. The two authorities have also failed to provide Nigerians and the int’l community with credible statistics showing the number of public and other strategic properties burnt or destroyed or looted in Lagos before 20th Oct 2020. That is to say that it was the Army massacre at Lekki Tollgate on 20th Oct 2020 that triggered off the violent dimension of the protests across the country. This was in addition to mayhem caused by Government allied Islamic hoodlums who engaged in wanton destruction of properties of law abiding citizens residing in their areas as well as killing of scores of EndSARS protesters and their supporters; with the same Government looking the other side. It is therefore correct to say that the Lekki Army massacre was a premeditated mass murder.

DJ-Switch’ (Obianuju Catherine Udeh) Deserves Our Automatic Membership

Finally, the courage and forensic expertise of the above named young activist and artist not only gladdens our heart at Intersociety, but also we are ready to offer her our automatic membership including her instant elevation to a top advocacy position after she must have been tutored on the workings of our Organization. We salute her courage and urge others to emulate her. Her role is undeniably internationally award winning. (Sundiata Post)

ASUU may ratify strike suspension on Monday, disowns Twitter account

Nigeria’s university lecturers under the umbrella of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) may have decided to suspend their eight-month-long strike and will ratify the decision tomorrow, Monday, 23 November 2020, an inside source disclosed on Saturday.

“Strike has been suspended. We are only waiting for ratification on Monday,” the source said.

Another source told News Express: “I know they will address the press and call off the strike tomorrow or Monday.”

News Express had on Saturday evening reported the suspension of the strike, quoting a tweet by Official__ASUU @ASUUNGR, which claims to be the official Twitter Account of ASUU.

A tweet at the handle had said:

“BREAKING NEWS –

“ASUU STRIKE HAS BEEN SUSPENDED!

“The Union apologize for all inconvenience caused to students and parents.”

The apparently fake tweet came less than 24 hours after the Federal Government caved in and offered a cumulative sum of N65 billion to ASUU to address earned academic allowances and revitalisation of universities.

•ASUU President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi

However, reacting to the story, president of ASUU, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, told The PUNCH that the strike is still on.

He also announced that the organisation does not operate a Twitter account.

“ASUU does not have a Twitter account. Many people have been bombarding me with telephone calls and I can’t answer again. If we want to call off our strike, we will address a press conference and that is how we operate,” Prof. Ogunyemi said. (News Express)

Abducted Nasarawa APC Chairman Killed Near Residence

From Beauty John,  Lafia 


The Nasarawa state chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Philip Tatari Shekwo, who was kidnapped around 11.00PM on Saturday night has been confirmed dead.


Shekwo’s lifeless body was found around 2pm on Sunday , in a nearby bush few meters away from his residence near Dunamis Church, Bukan Sidi in Lafia, the state capital.


The commissioner of police in Nasarawa state, Bola Longe said the way and manner the victim was kidnapped  and killed points towards murder.


“The intensity of the bullet match on the house and the force effort to gain access to the house is pointing irretrievably to the fact that it was more than kidnapping,” said the CP.


Longe said it was suspicious that the body was found very close to the residence and no demands were made by the abductors.https://galleria.com.ng/pushgalleriaads?q=201&i=56&ho=dailyasset.ng


“ And then where we found his body now is too close to the house. When a kidnapping is carried out, it’s for profit making but between the twinkling of an eye the man was killed and no demand what so ever, I believe it’s assassination,” he said.


The CP stated that it was a battle royale between the abductors and joint security personnel who attempted to rescue the chairman , while assuring that investigation will be carried out to give them the necessary clue to what exactly happened.


A resident of the area who pleaded anonymity said the gun battle was intense and lasted several minutes before a sudden silence.

Several attempts to go through the main entrance of the victim’s home proved abortive as the doors were bullet proof.


However, the abductors succeeded by using an axe to break the burglary proof of the victim’s room window before taking him away.

Dailyasset

1...1,1591,1601,161...1,433Page 1,160 of 1,433

TIPS

Load more