Buhari’s frugality and owambe politicians

BY normative Keynesian econometrics, Malthusian fiscal standards, Adam Smith’s budgetary prognosis and Jankara Market demand and supply economics, it is clear that financial prudence and perspicuous management of resources remainsthe better part of developmental valour.

That Nigeria’s economy is currently steeple-chasing and wallowing suicidal doldrums remains an unquestionable truism. This was precipitated by many years of leadership inertia,  oil glut, corruption and planlessness .

In this dire strait dungeon, the Nigerian economy has been crying for an authentic Moses, somebody with a messianic zeitgeist to salvage it from these paroxysms and pangs of a rabid placebo. IS BUHARI THE ONE? TIME WILL TELL.

Recently, President Muhammadu Buhari and his Deputy Professor  Yemi Osinbajo took some deft and prudential financial steps that are quiet fundamental exemplary and sacrificial for the benefit of the CHANGE mantra, dividends of democracy and good and ethical growth of leadership and financial welfare of Nigerians.

In furtherance and consistent with their campaign promises of reducing the cost of governance for the delivery of democracy dividends to Nigerians, President Buhari and his deputy, Professor Osinbajo reduced their salaries by 500/0.

Without slips of prolixity, this implies that Buhari and Osinbajo will earn half of what former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and former Vice President Namadi Sambo earned. The current annual remuneration of the president of Nigeria as published by the Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) is ¦ 14,058,820:00. This indeed means that Buhari will henceforth earn ¦ 7,029,410 a year or ¦ 28,117,640 in four years.

To make assurance doubly sure and to avoid splendiferous histrionics, Buhari and Osinbajo have formally written to the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to inform it of the new development. The letter detailing the presidential directive is with reference number PRES/81/SGF/17.

After this patriotic slashing of his salary by500/0, President Buhari had earlier rejected a proposal from the Aso Rock hierarchical echelon to approve the purchase of five customised armoured Mercedes Benz S-600(V222) cars at a cost of ¦ 400million. These commendable exemplary moves are already rubbing-off on some of our Governors like Senator  Okowa of Delta State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State and Dave Umalu of Ebonyi State. We hope that the remaining Laodicean Governors and our revered Legislators will follow suit to help alleviate the hideous intensity of impecuniosity and sordid poverty into which former adminitrations plunged Nigeria.

We hope these are not mere barmecidal-dish theatricals-the early morning pomade in the harmatan that cannot stand the rigorous test of the harsh weather. The legal icon Lord Denning said that “A contemptuously contemptible contempt must be contemptuously ignored”. But the vast majority of Nigerians will not ignore these great moves. They are sign post of greater (we hope) things to come.

It must be noted that before slashing his salary by 500/0, President Buhari had directed the release of ¦ 414 billion as bailout funds to States (recalcitrant debtors) to pay the backlog of salaries they owed their civil servants etc. Nobody gives banana to a monkey, fish to a cat and goat to a lion and collects it back with ease. We admonish the Governors and their political surrogates not to squander, misappropriate and misapply the bailout funds in reckless conviviality, meaningless revelry, social rascality and debaucherous Owambeism.

Finally, talking about the tenacity of power and the ambrosial nature of ambition, the English playwright William Shakespeare observed in his masterpiece ‘Julius Caesar’ that,”When Caesar was good, we loved him, but when he became ambitious we slew him. That same dagger we have for ourselves when it shall please the down trodden to call for our blood when we err in leadership” (not verbatim).

Mr. Bobson Gbinije, a social critic,  wrote from Warri, Delta State.

2015 general election was massively rigged – Prof. Azinge

By Akpokona Omafuaire

WARRI – FORMER Director General of the of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies and Member of Commonwealth Arbitral  Tribunal, Prof.
Epiphany Azinge, SAN, has declard that the 2015 general elections in Nigeria was massively rigged by politicians.

Azinge made the declaration in his keynote address delivered at the opening ceremony of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA Warri Law Week held in Warri, Delta State yesterday.

In his words, “Let the truth be told, the last election was rigged as any other we have witnessed. The difference was that political parties rigged massively in their comfort zones.”

While noting that the immediate past President of Nigeria was globally applauded and commended for conceding defeat, he noted that, “politicians and political parties spent outlandishly to win elections.

The law was honored more in the breach than observance with high cost of election, comes all sorts of electoral offences, bribery, undue influence, thuggery, violence and disorderly behaviour. We have now graduated to kidnapping, abduction and political assassination during election.”

Azinge who spoke on “Nigeria Enduring Democracy: The Challenge of Effective Electioneering and Independence of the Judiciary” noted that the 2015 electioneering campaigns was characterized by the desperation on the sides of the political parties who indulged in hate campaigns to succeed.

He blamed the Nigerian Media for playing ignoble role  in promotion of hate campaign,  indicating that all is fair in warfare, pointing out that derogatory statements were freely used during the electioneering campaigns.

Azinge posited that the police and the civil defence be used in election monitoring while the military be discarded.

According to him, “if need be, then we should train and equip our police to handle such delicate issue.”

He blamed the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC for failing to ensure compliance with constitutional limits for campaign expenditure.

He suggested better welfare conditions for Judges and Judicial Staff in the country by evaluating the salary structure of judges and how safeguard they are and

examination of the process of appointment, discipline and removal of judges and to know if the other arms of government are capable of compromising the judiciary because of financial control or lack of autonomy.

Meanwhile,  the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA Warri Branch led by the Chairman, Mr. John Aikpokpo-Martins (Esq.) has demanded a probe of the administration of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan for allegedly mortgaging the state into a debt profile of N637.22 billion.

Aikpokpo-Martins said, “It will not be acceptable to pretend that our common patrimony had not been rapaciously devoured by the past gatekeepers; doing things differently will not be enough. We
demand a probe because Deltans deserve to know.”

He also called on the Okowa led government to cancel the Bus Rapid Transit, BRT at Warri/Sapele road which was embarked upon by Uduaghan and restore same to its former state, noting that it poses great hazard to the lives, property and vehicular movement as well
as cause loss of man hours among others.

He also appealed to the governor to prevail on the

contractor handling the Warri High Court Complex Project to return to site and resume work with a view to completing the project.

Delta State Governor, Sen. Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa who was represented by the Commissioner for Housing, Arch. Joseph Ajiri Ogeh promised to tackle the menace the BRT is causing Deltans.

Rep drags Buhari to court over N413.7bn bailout

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

ABUJA – A member of the House of Representatives, Rep. Igariwey Iduma Enwo has dragged President Muhammadu Buhari to an Abuja High Court challenging the legality of the bail out of N413.7 billion for payment of backlog of salaries to civil servants.

Enwo is seeking for a declaration by the court that Buhari’s approval of the bailout funds was “unconstitutional, illegal, unlawful and null and void.”

He is seeking an order of perpetual injunction restraining the President from further allocation, distribution, and disbursement of public revenue from Nigeria’s distributable pool account to federal, state and local government without the prescription of the National Assembly.

Rep. Enwo who represents Afikpo North/South federal constituency of Ebonyi State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, faulted the action of the president without recourse to the National Assembly when he single handedly took the decision.

Also joined in the suit alongside President Buhari are the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the federal ministry of finance, the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, the Accountant General of the Federation as well as Auditor General of the Federation.

The lawmaker is praying the court to determine whether President Buhari can by way of fiat issue a lawful directive to the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th defendants to appropriate, distribute, allocate and disburse public revenue from the distributable pool account to the federal, state and local governments without prescription from the National Assembly.

He is also seeking to know whether having regards to the combined effect of section 162, 163, 164 and 168 of the 1999 constitution as amended the president can carry out such an action without National Assembly approval.

Speaking to newsmen in Abuja yesterday, he said his decision to sue Buhari was not “political” but was in defence of the constitutional provision for separation of powers.

He said the power of appropriation rests squarely with the National Assembly and that the federal government cannot appropriate public funds without recourse to the National Assembly.

According to him, “To do so will be for the federal government to act in a cavalier or perfunctory manner and I believe that that is not what the drafters of the constitution intended when the constitution of this country was predicated on the separation of powers.

“Section four of our constitution clearly vests the power of appropriation on the National Assembly. Section five vests the Executive with its own powers and Section six vests the Judiciary with its own powers. So, there is a clear separation of powers.”

Relying on the Constitution of the country, he said section 160 of the Nigerian constitution clearly made it mandatory for the National Assembly to be involved in any form of revenue distribution in the country.

He said for President Buhari to have unilaterally taken the decision on the bail out amounted to boycotting the parliament and alienating it in the scheme of things in a constitutional democracy.

He said, “I am doing this because I feel that this is a constitutional democracy. If you allow this kind of thing not matter the good intention of the federal government, the country’s democracy will be threatened.

On the likely reaction by Nigerians on the matter, the lawmaker said, “this is a country of laws. Everything the government does ought to emanate from the 1999 constitution of Nigeria. Every step the government intends to take must be backed up by the constitution.

“Any day we set ourselves away from the constitution we will be inviting anarchy. What I am saying is that you cannot sacrifice constitutionalism on the alter of political expediency.

“The constitution does not say that our president should be a Father Christmas. Our president is a democratically elected president who swore to abide by the dictates of the constitution.

“We did not elect an Ayatollah or a monarch who would sit in his office and do good to,all manner of men the way he or she desires. Every act of the president, the legislature or the judiciary must emanate from this constitution and other statutes and legal instruments.

“No matter how well intentioned the action of government may be, the moment it is not backed up by the constitution it is a nullity.”

Good bye, Ramadan: Time for self re-appraisal, repentance

As we look out for the moon today for new month of Shawwal, how much has Ramadan affected you positively and how have you adjusted to the requirements of the month? What have you been doing that you would not want to do again? Would you like to continue doing what you always do in Ramadan? It is indeed a rewarding time.

Muslims are expected to be better persons at the end of this month. That is why the Prophet advised that this month must not pass without Muslims seeking forgiveness of sins from Almighty Allah and turning out to be a better person. Therefore, a re-appraisal is necessary at this juncture.

Fasting during this month is a way to protect you from evil and learn patience, humility and control. It is also considered to be a shield against evil and allows Muslims to get rid of their sins. The Prophet (S.A.W.) said: “Whoever fasts during the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith and hoping for a reward from Allah will have all of his previous sins forgiven.” So, we can say that with some degree of certainty that we are a new born, we have been cleansed of our sins and we should henceforth refrain from sins, maintain that status, help other needy Muslims and make the society better.

One important benefit of fasting is that it helps you to understand the suffering and pain of the poor. It also allows human beings to understand how those who do not have enough money for a meal survive through the day. Therefore, it is believed that fasting makes individual a better person as it allows them to associate with the pain of others. No fasting Muslim will observe the Ramadan fast very well, keeping all the dictates and remain the same. It will no doubt leave us a better person both physically and spiritually.

Allah’s Messenger (S.A.W.) said: Allah decorates Paradise every day saying to it, ‘My righteous slaves are about to be comforted of their burdens and sufferings and enter you'; Shaytan is chained during this month and sins of the believers are forgiven by the last night of Ramadan. Those who really appreciate this cry as Ramadan winds down.

Remember to give your Zakat-ul-Fitr.   We have dealt so much on that in the last few days. Endeavour to give it in staple foods or in cash as the case may be.   A Saudi scholar’s view, Sheikh Abdullah Al-Mutlaq coroborated the payment with money a few days ago when he said: “the poor need cash more than rice in Zakat ul-Fitr. “We should not blame those who want to give Zakat al-Fitr in cash; there are considerable doctrinal views which allow it, and we must respect each other in such matters.”

Another senior scholar, Sheikh Qais Al-Mubarak backed it, saying it is permissible to take the Hanafiah model to pay the Zakat ul-Fitr in cash.

May Allah grant us the grace to observe many more Ramadan. Amin

US visit: Security, economy my top priorities – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari chairs the meeting of the Peace and Security Council at the 25th AU Summit in Johannesburg on Saturday

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

ABUJA— Ahead of his visit to the United States of America, USA, on Sunday, President Muhammadu Buhari has disclosed that core issues of security and economy would feature prominently in his talks with President Barack Obama.

A statement by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said Buhari will also hold different discussions with US Vice President, Mr. Joe Biden; Chairman of the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey and the Deputy Secretary of Defence, Robert Work.

Before leaving Washington DC, President Buhari would address the United States Chamber of Commerce and Corporate Council for Africa as well as meet with Nigerians resident in America.

The statement added that the President would spend four days in America and return to the country on July 23.

It will be recalled that President Obama had on June 25 indicated interest to host him at the White House.

Details of Buhari’s  visit to USA

Adesina’s statement read: “Topmost on the agenda of President Buhari’s talks with President Obama and United States Government officials will be measures to strengthen and intensify bilateral and international cooperation against terrorism in Nigeria and West-Africa.

“He will later hold further discussions with the Chairman of the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey and the Deputy Secretary of Defence, Robert Work on military and defence cooperation.

“The President will also meet with Vice President Joe Biden and confer with the US Attorney-General, Loretta Lynch; the US Secretary of Treasury, Jack Lew; the US Secretary of Commerce, Penny Pritzker and the US Trade representative, Michael Froman, on United States’ support for his administration’s war against corruption as well as fresh measures to boost Nigeria-United States trade relations.

“The President, who will be received by the United States Secretary of State at the State Department in Washington DC, will later hold meetings with the United States Senate and Congressional Committees on Foreign Relations as well as the Black Caucus of the United States House of Representatives.

“Before leaving Washington DC, President Buhari will address the United States Chamber of Commerce and Corporate Council for Africa.

“The President, who will be accompanied by the Governors of Imo, Nasarawa, Edo, Borno and Oyo States as well as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and Permanent Secretaries of the Federal Ministries of Defence, Foreign Affairs, Industry, Trade and Investment, will also host an interactive session with Nigerians in the American Diaspora.

“The US trip will also afford President Buhari the opportunity of a reunion with members of the American War College Class of 1980 in which he was a distinguished participant.

“He is due back in Abuja on Thursday, July 23.”

President determined to fight corruption  —Anyaoku, Momodu

Meanwhile, former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, has expressed optimism in the President Buhari-led government to rid Nigeria of corruption.

Anyaoku, who spoke to State House correspondents after a private meeting with the President in Abuja also stated that their meeting touched on Buhari’s forthcoming journey to the United States.

He said the President was very determined to correct the social anomalies in country.

He said: “I had a positive discussion with the President. We discussed international affairs including in particular his forthcoming visit to the United States on the invitation of President Obama.

“We also touched on some national issues because of the strong link between foreign policy and domestic issues. I put at his disposal the benefits of my long experience on governance matters with Heads of Government of 54-member countries of the Commonwealth and also other issues related to internal affairs.

“I can tell myself talking to a President who is very determined to effect a real change in the circumstances of our country and very determined too to bring to bear on his administration the generally perceived attributes of his character, which I believe many Nigerians would support.

“Well, I believe that before he became President, he was known as somebody who has very strong passion for anti-corruption. I believe that he is determined to fight and he would go a long way in doing so. Corruption is a very endemic issue in our society and I’m quite impressed of his determination to do something about it.

“Well, I can tell from the strong impression I got from my discussion with him that he is very determined.”

Also speaking after a meeting with the President, a foremost newspaper columnist and publisher, Mr. Dele Momodu, said that issues of corruption and security dominated their discussion.

He said: “I met with Mr. President and our conversation was very candid and I find him extremely jovial.

“We spoke about security and the efforts he is making. We spoke about anti-corruption  crusade and I must say today he reassured me that not only does he know what he is doing, he is determined to make Nigeria work.”

10 things you must know about Sunday Oliseh

Nigeria on Wednesday appointed Sunday Oliseh as coach on a three-year contract. Vanguard Online presents ten things you need to know about the Super Eagles gaffer.

Sunday Ogorchukwu Oliseh was born 14 September 1974 in Abavo, Delta State.

Oliseh played 54 international matches and scored two goals for Nigeria

He played at the Football World Cups of 1994 and 1998

Oliseh also participated in the Olympic gold medal winning team of 1996.

He is mostly remembered for scoring the winning goal in the group stage match against Spain in the 1998 World Cup, as Nigeria prevailed 3–2. A throw-in deep in the Spanish half was headed clear by a defender – Oliseh ran and fired an explosive shot from 25 yards and took Spanish goalkeeper Andoni Zubizarreta completely by surprise

Despite captaining Nigeria during the 2002 African Cup of Nations, Oliseh was omitted from the World Cup squad later that year for disciplinary reasons

Oliseh retired from international football in June 2002

In March 2004, Oliseh was sacked by Borussia Dortmund after punching team-mate Vahid Hashemian while on loan at VfL Bochum

In January 2006, at the age of 31, Oliseh retired from professional football after playing a half season for Belgian top club K.R.C. Genk

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  Oliseh stats
  

Relationship: She assured she wouldn’t tell my wife we had sex

By Bunmi Sofola

Dear Bunmi,

I am just 30 and have a high sex drive. I want it every day if I could get it, but my wife is happy with two or three times a week. Once in a while, she humours me by letting me have more, but I always have the feelings she does it for peace.

A few weeks back, her father had a stroke. He’s lived alone since he lost his wife three years ago and my wife had to go to the family house every evening from work. By the time she came back home, sex was the last thing from her mind.

In the meantime, our neighbour, who is a very good friend of ours, is a single mother of three. She’d jokingly complained of abstaining from sex due to no fault of hers. So when she called round and discovered I was alone, she went back to her place to bring me something to eat. I provided the booze.

One thing led to another and I found myself having amazing sex! She’s in her 40s but sexy and very athletic. Afterwards, she suggested I call in at her place from time to time for no-strings sex. She said it would solve both our problems and my wife needs never know.

I’ve taken her up on her offer and the nice arrangement is working for both of us. I mean what could be simpler and where’s the harm?

I love my wife and our beautiful children, but not getting enough sex is driving me up the wall. Could this be a way of solving my problem and my neighbour’s?

Donald, by e-mail.

Dear Donald,

You might think you’re on to a good thing and so is your neighbour. She might claim she’s only after no-strings sex, but don’t be fooled. Once she’s got her claws into you, she won’t let you go in a hurry.

She’s likely to start making emotional demands on you. She may even let something slip to your wife. If she doesn’t, you wife is bound to pick up tell-tale signs that you’re having it off with her so-called friend.

You’re happy with your marriage and need to talk to your wife about your sexual urges. Twice or thrice a week is okay for married couples. She even allows you to have more once in a while.

For the sake of your marriage, you need to control your sexual urges or be prepared to throw away a good marriage for cheap thrills.

PENGASSAN faults El-Rufai’s call to scrap NNPC

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

LAGOS — PETROLEUM and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, has faulted the call by Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State for the scrapping of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, saying political interference is the bane of the corporation.

Reacting to the governor’s comment in a paper he delivered during the 7th Professor Wole Soyinka’s birthday lecture on Monday,  PENGASSAN’s  Acting General Secretary, Mr. Lumumba Okugbawa, said instead of “kill the NNPC,” the governor should have called for the insulation of the corporation from undue political interference that had distracted the organisation.

PENGASSAN noted that corruption issue in the NNPC mentioned by the governor was a problem hindering Nigeria’s growth and development in the oil and gas sector as a whole, noting: “Let the government deal with the corruption in the system but not to throw away the baby with the bath water.”

It argued that instead of killing the NNPC, what the governor should have called for was the reorganisation of the corporation and its subsidiaries to function effectively with clearer mandate, empowerment and improved financial approval authority without undue political interference.

The association called on the government to instil in NNPC, the culture of corporate governance and career management, requiring a legislative review to “ensure that the board of NNPC is headed by technocrats and not politicians; infuse compliance with global best practices and competitiveness, responsibility, transparency and accountability of all accruing revenue and expenditure in the national oil company; ensure that audit of NNPC and Subsidiaries’ business and investment relationships, operations, financing, procurements are carried out and published at appropriate intervals.”

According to the association,  NNPC created by an Act of Parliament in 1977, its subsidiaries and service units had been subjected to undue political interference.

Ending The Boko Haram Prisoners Controversy

THIS was the first time that the posting of prisoners from one part of the country to another by the Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS) was causing such a fluster among a cross-section of Nigerians. But these were no ordinary prisoners. They were 47 convicted members of the murderous Islamist sect, Boko Haram, who were recently sent to the Ekwulobia Prisons in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State.

When the news was confirmed as not being a mere rumour, a series of peaceful protests and demonstrations took place all over Anambra State and other parts of the South East, with markets being shut down to show the depth of the peoples rejection of the unwanted ‘guests”.

An unhealthy touch of politics was added to it when the Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South East, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, had initially debunked the “rumour”, while Governor Willie Obiano and Chief Security Officer of Anambra State, appeared to fully  back the protests with a view to getting the Prison authorities to rescind their decision.

Ordinarily, the Nigerian Prisons Service, as the sole administrator and custodian of all correctional facilities in the country, has the authority to send prisoners within its custody to any part of the country. 

However, this issue is a bit different because the Ekwulobia Prisons is not known to be a maximum security facility able to keep these special inmates safely locked away from other prisoners and the host community. Their mere presence within the bowels of a congested local community like Ekwulobia is bound to cause the people sleepless nights, in view of the several jail breaks that their members have perpetrated in places like Koton Karfe and Lokoja in Kogi State in efforts to free their members.

We encourage the Anambra State Government to continue the engagement that has been established between it and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to find an amicable and lasting solution to the controversy. It is the only sane and patriotic thing to do.

We must desist from allowing the situation to degenerate to unhealthy politics of seeing it from ethno-religious and sectional prism, which is capable of creating unnecessary tension. The Boko Haram headache is one that we, as Nigerians, must be ready to share as citizens of one country. But it must be handled in such a way that people are not given the impression that their genuine fears are inconsequential.

The Federal Government must recognise the fact that terrorism as a violent crime is here with us. We must confront it taking into account how other more experienced countries handle such without multiplying a problem in efforts to solve it.

RCCG condemns same sex marriage; Boko Haram attacks

to test-run 3km auditorium

By Sam Eyoboka & Olayinka Latona

MOWE(Ogun State)  —Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, yesterday, confirmed that its new three kilometre square auditorium expected to host 12 million persons will be one of the venues for its 63rd annual convention slated to begin August 9.

It also condemned same sex marriage, which was recently endorsed by the American Supreme Court, saying “we don’t support it. There is no where in the Bible where God said people of the same sex can get married. The stand of the church is very clear and it states; one man, one wife.”

Similarly, the church clarified its position about Christians in politics, noting that it does not bar individual members of the church from participating in politics but “we are not accountable for their performance.

“We pray for those in power as the Bible has enjoined us to do. That is our stand but we believe that by the end of this year, Nigerians will have cause to say that all is well.”

The three kilometre by three kilometre Arena, still under construction, is located on Simawa Road, some distance from the outgoing one and half kilometre by one kilometre arena which was commissioned in 2000 with a capacity to sit one million worshippers.

Addressing newsmen at the church’s Redemption Camp, Head of Media and Public Relations, Pastor Segun Adegbiji with support from several ministers of the mission, said the new arena will host plenary sessions of a few evenings of the week long programme on an experimental basis.

According to Pastor Adegbiji adequate arrangements have been put in place to host participants from the 24 regions of the church spread across 188 countries of the world.

He quoted the General Overseer of the church, Pastor Enoch Adeboye as warning unserious persons to stay away from this year’s convention, which has a theme The All Sufficient God.

Babangida expresses confidence in Buhari’s ability to crush insurgents

By Henry Umoru

ABUJA — FORMER Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (retd), yesterday, lamented the resurgence in the murderous activities of the Boko Haram sect in the last four weeks of  President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, saying that it has struck fear in the hearts of most Nigerians.

Since May 29, Boko Haram has unleashed an avalanche of suicide bombings and attacks on religious houses, markets and public places in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Plateau and Kaduna states among other places, destroying about 700 lives and property worth billions of Naira.

Disturbed by the increasing wave of the attacks, Babangida, who expressed confidence in the ability of Buhari to nail Boko Haram’s coffin and that Nigeria can truly assume her greatness in the comity of nations, nevertheless, urged the President to hammer out new and effective ways of tackling the insurgency.

He also pleaded with  Nigerians to unite against the terrorists and asked the media to shun sensational headlines and celebration of the sect’s killings.

The former president shared his thoughts via a Sallah message he titled: “Let us be strong and unite against insurgency.”

Within the last four weeks, according to him, the country has witnessed the worst of human follies in the conduct of these avoidable carnage and bloodletting by unscrupulous persons that operate under the guise of religion and wreaking havoc on Nigeria and Nigerians’ sense of nationality.

In the Sallah message, Babangida also called on President Buhari to ensure that the welfare of military personnel waging the anti-terror war are adequately taken care of to encourage soldiers, who would be assigned such responsibilities subsequently.

According to the former president, if President Buhari must overcome the insurgency, it has become imperative to device new ways of confronting members of Boko Haram without making public such new methods.

Noting that the Islamic religion he was born into 74 years ago preaches peace and encourages everyone to cooperate with one another, he prayed that God should touch the hearts of the insurgents to end the  bloodletting.

Babangida, who noted that if Nigeria was serious about the management of information on security issues, the story of taking some Boko Haram suspects and prisoners to Anambra State would not have been public knowledge, advised that headlines and lead stories that promote activities of the insurgents should be stopped.

The Statement

The statement reads: “Let me convey my warm wishes to all Muslims home and abroad for the successful completion of the Ramadan exercise. As much as one would have appreciated our efforts as devout Muslims who have observed the obligatory month of Ramadan, the incessant killings and bloodletting by members of the Boko Haram leave a sour taste in my mouth. For want of no discernible ideology, they have continued to portray Islam in very bad light, making members of other religions to perceive us with scorn. Islam, which I was born into, some 74 years ago, is a very peaceful religion that preaches brotherliness and togetherness. It is a religion that encourages love, affection and respect for our neighbours and mankind. It is one religion that has an abiding influence on its adherents to cooperate with one another and promote peace in their respective communities. May God touch the hearts of these insurgents so that the untoward act of bloodletting will permanently cease. Happy Eid-el-Fitri to all.

“Events in the last four weeks have continued to raise our adrenaline, in a season of apprehension and utter suspicion, about our security engagements and the sum total of our collective sufferance as a nation. The heightened tension is occasioned by renewed hostilities and mindless bombings predominantly by suicide bombers who have decidedly chosen the option of death to life. We have seen the worst of human follies in the conduct of these avoidable carnage and bloodletting by unscrupulous persons under the guise of religion, doing havoc to our sense of nationality.

New ways to tackle insurgency

“At this stage of our national history, especially with the insecurity we presently experience, it is appropriate for us to device new ways and means of confronting this hydra-headed insurgency, without making such initiatives public knowledge. Media intelligence is required in helping to assemble information and distilling such information in a manner that would benefit the fight against terrorism. 

Going by the news and information we get everyday, I feel very strongly that the media has a greater role to play in the management of information. The type of headlines and lead stories that are promoted in favour of the insurgents could only help to motivate members of Boko Haram rather than demotivate them. I expect, with a deep sense of patriotism, to see a greater deal of positive news promoted in support of military efforts at confronting this menace than a celebration of Boko Haram carnage, day in and day out.

“Strategic efforts and initiatives of the military targeted at curtailing the spread of the Boko Haram should remain most often top secret within military hierarchy and the presidency. Collaborative efforts should also follow similar pattern so that little or limited information is let loose for the consumption of members of the sect. Coordinated efforts by the security agencies should be strengthened and refocused to gain new dimensions towards combating the unwholesome activities of this sect, and when such dimensions are sought and cultivated, they should remain the exclusive preserve of top military brass. Information management is very key to confronting an unconventional warfare such as the one under reference, which is further complicated by the unfashionable method of suicide bombings.

“It is a strange dimension to this whole exercise of insurgency and has further compounded our earlier strategies in helping to nip this monster in the bud. The media, it must be emphasized, has a greater role to play in this information management system where a well defined synergy is encouraged between members of the media and the military hierarchy. On a good day, as is often said, the idea of taking some Boko Haram suspects and prisoners to Anambra State, should not be public knowledge, if we are truly serious about information management.

“Each time we celebrate the dastardly acts of Boko Haram on the front pages of our newspapers and electronic platforms, it is a score for Boko Haram. We must weigh such information against our collective national interest. Do we subscribe to Boko Haram or to the Nigerian nation? Since we are of good consciences and subscribe to the Nigerian nation, military efforts and achievements in the fight against insurgency should be given primacy than what a suicide bomber has just done.

“We must make it a duty to encourage and motivate our military personnel; those who have died in the course of this struggle and those who are still there on the battle field trying to make the Nigerian society safe for all of us. The families of those who have lost their gallant fighters and bread winners must be catered for beyond the present tokenism. This initiative will serve as incentive to others who are still in the trenches battling to keep us safe.

“The President, General Muhammadu Buhari, as a military officer, understands the import of these altruistic suggestions and I trust that he will take steps to apply some of them that fit into the mainstream strategies already in place. The approach has to be a holistic one, well coordinated with full onslaught launched by the day and night to rout these insurgents to surrender.

Condolence

“Let me join millions of Nigerians home and abroad in condoling with the families of those who lost their beloved ones during this carnage. Let me also commend the efforts of the Federal Government in helping to address the plights of the Internally Displaced Persons across different locations in the country.

“The renewed interest of the international community in helping out with superior military hardware towards combating this menace is a welcome development. Our Islamic clerics should do more in their daily sermons to prevent new converts and recruits into this deadly group. Both religions preach the virtues of good and pious life tempered with the fear of God or Allah. We must continuously preach sermons that deliver the right messages to our people without ambiguity.

“I have implicit confidence in my mind that President Muhammadu Buhari, will put the final nail on the coffin of Boko Haram so that Nigeria can truly assume her greatness in the comity of nations.”