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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

Absurdity: Man, 37, Kills His Two Children In Niger

From Dan Amasingha, Minna.


A stranger than fiction absurdity played out in  Magama local Government Area of Niger State as the state police command  arrested a 37-year old man, who allegedly  killed his two children with cutlass.


The suspect, Abubakar Maidabo  of Maidobo village in Magama was apprehended by the police operatives attached to Magama Division on November 14, 2020 while trying to escape.


DAILY ASSET gathered that  the suspect after killing his two biological children, one Umar Abubakar, 8 and Shehu Abubakar, 4 hid the corpses in the bush in separate sacks. Security operatives were still grappling with the enormity of the development as the suspect refused to disclose his motive behind the dastardly act at press time.


However, the corpse  were taken to General Hospital Nasko, the headquarters of Magama LGA for autopsy to ascertain the cause of the children’s death.


The suspect told DAILY ASSET that that he could not really say what pushed him to commit the heinous crime against his biological children.


“Honestly I don’t know what has came over me  to kill my own children God has given to me . I think something is wrong somewhere,” he explained.


Asked whether he wanted to use them (children) for ritual purposes, Maidabo said  ” that will be the last thing I will do , God forbids in fact I cannot explain how the whole thing happened.” 


Confirming the  development, Niger state Police Public Relations 0fficer, Wasiu  Abiodun  said , the suspect confessed to the crime.


Abiodun said the matter would soon be charged to court after conclusion of  investigation.

DAILY ASSET

Just In: Seven soldiers, two Civilian JTF killed as Boko Haram terrorists attack Borno Governor’s convoy

By Bode Olushegun

Boko Haram terrorists on Saturday again ambushed an advance team of Borno State governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, at Ja’alta along Gajiram to Monguno Road, killing seven soldiers and two members of Civilian-JTF.

Confirming the report, a top security source said that those in the attacked convoy were military and security officers who were to provide support for the governor who flew from Maiduguri in a helicopter to Baga.

The source said the convoy was attacked along Gajiram to Monguno road.

The security source further stated that some civilians were also in the convoy expected to join up with the governor to campaign towards the forthcoming local government election in the state scheduled for next Saturday.

The governor was also expected to distribute relief materials to people in the Baga area.

One of those in the convoy, who was lucky to escape being killed, said: “We were attacked by the gunmen who came with about six trucks and seven motorcycles. We engaged them but we lost some of our guys.”

He said: “We had no option than to abort the trip and returned back to Maiduguri with corpses of the deceased. About seven people died immediately but two of my colleagues (soldiers) died from gunshot injuries when we got back to Maiduguri. In all, nine security men were killed in the attack.”

As of the time of this report, attempts to get official confirmation from government, military and security officials were unsuccessful as the known spokespersons had yet to reply messages sent to their mobile lines.

Obasanjo, Atiku, Ekwueme, Ibori And A.K Dikibo’s Assassination

 Hey, what has happened to the panel which President Muhammadu Buhari set up in 2016 to uncover those who assassinated Chief Aminasoari Kala (A.K) Dikibo? 

Chief Dikibo succeeded the late Chief Harry Marshal as Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) Deputy National Chairman (South-South). And he succeeded him too as a victim of an unknown assassin(s). 

His assassination happened in a most interesting time. Here we go, trying to recreate it. 

Towards the end of year 2002, a bitterly fought PDP presidential primaries was just starting though only a few Nigerians knew it. And it was masterly plotted. The adroitly planned attack was two-pronged. While Atiku was on one side, fighting to be retained as Vice President, the late Dr. Alex Ekwueme, the Second Republic Vice-President to late President Shehu Shagari was campaigning too, to deny former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the chance to contest for a second term. Ekwueme had hidden his desire to contest for the presidency until just before his December 2002 world press conference where he made the announcement. The presidential ambition was so well hidden that not many believed when I wrote exclusively on 1st October 2002 (as Daily Independent went really daily and stopped being a weekly) that Ekwueme would challenge Obasanjo for the Presidency. Thus when Ekwueme jumped into contention, it was just less than 10 days to the January 6th, 2003 PDP presidential primaries. 

When the fact stared Obasanjo in the face, that a majority of the governors were keeping the support of their delegates from him, the primaries were less than 48 hours away. Obasanjo had planned to dump Vice President Atiku Abubakar as his deputy. Seeing he was on the verge of losing his fight to even be re-nominated as PDP presidential candidate for the April 2003 elections, he returned to Atiku. It was a political masterstroke. Ekwueme had kept the position of Vice President open for Atiku, and if he refused, he would ask the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’Abba to team up with him to save Nigeria. 

Fifteen then state Governors, including Delta’s Chief James Ibori, Abia’s Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, Adamawa’s Boni Haruna, and Edo’s Lucky Igbenedion, were in the forefront of the governors who wanted President Obasanjo dumped. The masterly campaign had been pursued most discretely and strategically; so strategically that Obasanjo had no chance of fighting back. 

Thus, on the Thursday preceding the Sunday of the PDP’s National Convention and primaries, the Adamawa State Governor, Haruna, was at the Delta Liaison office for lunch. 

“Would the primaries be smooth sailing for Obasanjo or would there be a fight?” I asked him. His cutlery remained midway between his mouth and the plate of food, as an up-beat Haruna answered that “a real fight is on”. As I was leaving the Lodge, Niger state’s Governor Kure was driving in. Ibori had become a rallying point, a point man really like a lead soldier in a military campaign; a standard bearer even. Yes, Ibori, more than any other governor had become an issue in Nigerian politics as at that time. He was the Governors’ Governor. 

Then, suddenly, the PDP settled the matter amicably. The battle was over. With Atiku back on the ticket with Obasanjo, it looked plausible that not only would Atiku be a natural successor to Obasanjo in 2007. 

Often, that is the story that has been told about that 2003 PDP presidential primaries, but one great man has often been left out in that intriguing story; A. K. Dikibo! 

Until he moved, the situation had remained fluid. And when he moved. He decided the matter. As Obasanjo went around that Friday evening, visiting the top delegates, there was a great man by his side; Dikibo. But before Dikibo joined Obasanjo’s corner, he had told him point blank: “President Obasanjo, I will work for you this time. But this is the last time I will support you. Next time, I will support Atiku”. It was not Akitu that won over most of the Governors to Obasanjo’s side; Dikibo did. But then, Dikibo was also on Atiku’s side! 

Hey, why would Dikibo have told Obasanjo that next time he would not work for Obasanjo but for Atiku? After all, Obasanjo was contesting for his second and final term as a President as the constitution did not envisage a third term. That implied that the Third Term was on and Dikibo knew about it and did not dance around it. He opposed it. 

Dikibo was a mover. He was a lion. He was independent-minded. His very soul was bewitched by fair play. Hon Nduese Essien, a former member of House of Representatives (1999-2007) and former Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development under former President Goodluck Jonathan’s government, told me in his house one evening that were it not because of Dikibo, most South-South Members of the House of Representatives would not have returned. The strong man of those days wanted them to be kept away from the National Assembly. He mourned greatly when Dikibo was killed. 

The late A.K. Dikibo, the then PDP Deputy Chairman, South-South, also stood solidly behind Ibori when some forces wanted to ruin his plans to re-contest to return to the Government House, Asaba, as Governor for a second term. One Thursday, according to what Dikibo related to Mr. Chuks Akunna, then a THISDAY newspaper Political Correspondent, Obasanjo called him into the Presidential Villa, Abuja and told him to go search for a new candidate to replace Ibori. When Dikibo asked why, the only answer he received was that Mr. President gave him a page of a newspaper containing an advertisement where Obasanjo was accused of sponsoring the ex-convict attacks against Ibori. Finish! 

As Mr. Femi Oshuntokun, who was in charge of Obasanjo’s campaign organization then looked on, Dikibo pointed out to Obasanjo that the advert was unsigned. So, he asked: “what if Ibori’s opponent’s placed the advertisement just so that you would react the way you are doing now”? Immediately, according to the second hand information, Obasanjo relented and handed over the page of the newspaper to Oshuntokun, telling him that what Dikibo said made sense. Within three days later, Ibori denounced the advertisement and dissociated himself from it. When I mentioned the incident years later, Mr. Sunny Areh, a Press Officer to Ibori in Asaba told me that he placed that second advert. That was the quintessential Dikibo. If he had your back, you were well protected. He and the then PDP National Chairman, Chief Audu Ogbeh saw through the ex-convict allegation against Ibori as a crude forgery, and refused Aso Rock’s pressure to use that to end Ibori’s political ascendancy. 

That PDP national Convention was held on 6/1/ 2003. On 6/2/2004, Dikibo was dead. Ibori had convened a South-South political summit in Asaba, in furtherance of South-South interests, especially that a South- South son or daughter should be President. Perhaps he was actually pushing for the Vice President position for the South-South as the presidency had been zoned to the North in line with the understanding within the PDP. So, he at least wanted to unite the South-South for that course. But would that course not be against the Third Term, which was being mulled underground by then? For some reasons, some highly placed politicians in Abuja opposed that summit. And it is on record that some of their South -South lackeys by then, supported Abuja. Not only that, that, a particular Governor had asked all invitees from his state to keep away from Ibori and his Asaba summit. 

Yes, a state Governor had requested Dikibo to stay away from that meeting. But the South-South champion, Dikibo, disdaining that stay away call, was well on his way to the summit when some people ensured he was unable to disobey that Governor’s orders. He had flown into Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, hopped into a car to make it to Asaba by road. The assassins killed more than Dikibo that day; they killed the last real push of the peoples of the Niger Delta region to peacefully speak with one voice in seeking for increased monies that accrue to the area as a percentage of the federation’s royalty. 

A day or two after Dikibo was assassinated, Obasanjo announced in Lagos that Dikibo was felled by armed robbers. That may have been the case…but the man was shot execution style; the bullet entered from beneath the right hand side of his jaw, escaped from his head and hit the roof of his car. It is curious how armed robbers could have so shot a man who refused to stop for them on the highway. They should have shot straight and hit his face. 

In a letter from Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, now a Senator, to Obasanjo, Kalu recalled: “I am further worried because the late A.K. Dikibo complained to Governor DSP Alamieyeseigha of Bayelsa State and myself at the Port Harcourt Airport three days before his brutal assassination that some powerful persons in the Presidency and a governor from one of the South- South states of the country were planning to kill him. Though he looked ruffled and agitated, we never knew his death was imminent”. Kalu wrote to inform him that some people were also after his own life. 

No wonder Ogbeh, when he was PDP National Chairman wrote that a nest of killers existed in the polity. He addressed his letter to President Obasanjo! 

Doctor, please stop crying, you did your best for the patient”

A typical operating theatre. Photo: Courtesy of www.guardian.com

By Adesida Adewumi MD

Today’s story is unique because it happened to the least expected person, a medical doctor, those mortals life-savers as some patients see us, forgetting that we are mere mortal like them, forgetting that we go through the same life trials like them, forgetting that life does not spare us its troubles because we are medical doctors. In fact I will say dedicated doctors and health workers, like a few other professionals, are more prone to psychological problems than the general population because of human sufferings, trials and frailties we see every day. If you are dedicated and compassionate as a medical doctor, then you must be very strong emotionally not to allow what I call failures to save a life, get to you. It is on this note i tell this story today. I have the permission of Dr. Victor to share this story.

I was on my way to work that morning though I was not feeling too well myself. I was on antimalaria drugs. I would have taken sick leave but many doctors had gone on leave in the department already, so if I went on leave, it would really affect the number of patients we could attend to.

I received a call from one of my patients asking if I was in the hospital so that he could come and see me because he was not feeling fine. As I answered him on phone he noticed my voice was cracking somehow so he asked me “Dr. Ade, you sound somehow like you are not feeling fine”.

“Yes, I am having malaria. I am on antimalarial drugs,” I replied.

He laughed and said, “sorry o so you doctors too fall sick? I thought you people were immune or better still the sicknesses already know you people as their bosses they don’t come near you people.”

I mustered strength to laugh and answered him “we are not gods o, neither are we immortal, doctors fall sick, doctors die,we develop cancers, we develop depression, wee have hypertension. In fact many times it is even worse as many of us forget to do check up on our health every day, every week and every year.

“We do forget our lives, busy saving other lives. We do forget to do even the basic tests until we come down with high blood pressure or stroke or high blood sugar. This is our story as medical doctors. It is unbelievable to tell you that we don’t even have enough time to do exercise and get those benefits that we counsel and educate people to keep doing and get the benefits. A typical medical doctor gets to work at 7 a.m, enters the theatre, starts operation, do like seven operations, finishes around 4 pm and if he is the same doctor on evening call that day, he continues attending to patients till 8 am the following day.

Then he rushes to take his bath in one bathroom inside the hospital and continues that day’s work without going home and no breakfast until later in the afternoon. This is the plight of so many doctors all over the world. Do you know if the call is a weekend call the doctor continues this marathon of not going home till monday evening of following week and may not even get enough good food to eat?”

The patient was really touched but jokingly again said, “wow sorry o, Dr Ade, but you people’s money is heavy alert so it will make up for all the stress.”

I laughed at the issue of medical doctors getting heavy money alerts.

“May be in some countries like Saudi Arabia, Canada or United States, medical doctors’ remuneration and conditions of service are far better than developing countries that are in a sorry state. Local government chairmen in Nigeria will buy a medical doctor with all his family and he will feed them for 10 years without stepping into any office to work. Not to talk of governors, senators or president and their appointees at local, state and federal government levels.

He was shocked. He asked in amazement “doctor, you dont mean it? I think politicians get almost the same amount of money you doctors collect.”

I laughed out loud again and still laughing as I entered the hospital that morning. I ended the discussion with him by telling him “We are like you patients in all ramifications, the only edge we have over you is our knowledge of the diseases and the cure we apply to ourselves but despite this, we still fall like all mortals sir.” The patient actually felt for me. He wished me quick recovery with compassion in his voice..

I got to my office area. Despite my not feeling too well, a considerable of patients were already sitting in the waiting area in front of my office. They were so happy to see me that I had come to save their lives whereas I was struggling to save mine, too. This is the irony of life of many medical doctors. They all heartily welcomed me. Some had even stood up to start telling me one thing or the other before I even opened my door to drop my bag. As I was listening to some of them with side complaints before I started the day work, I saw the matron arranging them, shouting at the top of her voice, same with the the medical records personnel trying to organise and control the crowd. I sighed I said God this is the situation in our various hospitals all over the nation, every day. What do you think it would be when 200 million people wait for 40,000 medical doctors to attend to them. So you can begin to imagine the health gap. It is really heart breaking and shattering.

I entered my office to drop my bag and quickly checked on my colleague who was on call overnight, his name was Dr Victor. At least, let me hear how the overnight call went with him. Hope he was able to have a little rest. As I got to the delivery room, I saw him running up and down to save the life of one pregnant woman who delivered twins at home and was rushed down to the hospital bleeding seriously. I joined him in running from pillar to post . I joined him in raising more bags of blood to transfuse to the woman. We were rushing her to the theartre, calling Anasthetists, to get ready for the emergency. Everybody was doing all they could in their own fields to save this patient’s life.

Tranfusion of blood was ongoing as we were trying to stop the bleeding. Drips were being given. Drugs to close the womb were being given. We were checking for any tears in her birth canal. Patient started losing consciousness due to the huge amount of blood she had lost after the delivery at home and on her way to hospital. The patient had nine children before this twin delivery. We tried all we could do in the ward. Then we rushed her to the theatre considering the option of removing her womb since all the ways to stop the bleeding didn’t work, our last option was to remove her womb to save her life. As we entered theatre, before we could even raise a knife,she breathed her last. The silence was loud. The sorrow was heavy.Everything came to a halt.

The long silence was broken by Dr Victor crying. He broke down in tears. Everybody’s eyes were fixed on the empathic doctor,who did all he could do to save the life of a mother of 11 but lost the battle.

“Dr. Victor, please stop crying, you did your best for the patient,” I pleaded, but he was unconsolable.

He started telling me all the efforts he made since the patient was brought in four hours earlier. How he had gone to blood bank more than 11 times. How he had run to the Pharmacy to get drips and injection drugs himself to save time. How he had called many other doctors for help for blood donation. The patient took up to six blood bags before she succumbed to death. I held his hands and took him to my consulting room.I counselled him and deeply felt for him.I pleaded with him to go home and rest. The rest of us continued the day work.

As Dr Victor stepped out of my consulting room to go home, lessons came pouring into my mind both from my feeling sick and still working; to the frustration of Dr. Victor not being able to save that woman.

Let me share the lessons with you

Lesson number 1:

Many doctors and other health workers I have met in the course of my training and practice have human feelings. They sacrifice their lives everyday in exchange for their patients. They sacrifice their family time to save other families. May God bless all the dedicated doctors and health workers worlwide, the ones who truly sacrifice daily to keep others sound and safe.

Lesson number 2:

This is my admonition to all doctors and other health workers all over the world: please do your best to save your patients and stay with them till the end if the end comes. There are some battles you will not win, learn to know and live with these. Even if you will love to save all, some will still go because destiny calls must be answered. So, please learn to accept what you can’t change. Learn to let go when the Maker says no, and do not see it as a failure on your part, as far as you have done your best. The best of doctor cannot stop death when God has said the time is up.

Lesson number 3:

Doctors and other health workers, please learn to attend to your own health in order to be alive for your patients. A dead doctor cannot save a sick patient. If you are sick, see other doctors and present yourself as a patient and stop self-treatment. Be taken care of. You also have family whose lives and livelihood depend on you.

Lesson number 4:

Patients, please stop attributing God’s status to doctors and other health workers. They are as human as you. They fall. They fail. They cry. They mourn. They are not immune to any diseases you are prone to. Doctors die of cancer, depression, and stroke, too.

Please patients, care for your doctors, too, especially when they are at their lows. Show that you too care about them.. Doctors appreciate caring patients too.

▪︎ Dr. Adewumi is a Family Medicine consultant, based in Kano. Follow him on Facebook at “FROM INSIDE MY CONSULTING ROOM “; his health page on YOUTUBE and INSTAGRAM @doctorhealtheducation; on Twitter @doctorhealthed1; and on WhatsApp at: +234 (0)806-864-9694. He gives daily education on health plus free daily consultation.

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