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Tinubu and 21yrs of unbroken democracy in Nigeria, By Tunde Rahman

Tinubu and 21yrs of unbroken democracy in Nigeria, By Tunde Rahman

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By Tunde Rahman

Twenty years in the life of a nation may be a short period of time. But when such a span of time embodies something meaningful and impactful, it is extremely noteworthy. And so Nigeria at present is celebrating two decades of uninterrupted democracy since the democratic restoration of 1999. Considering where the country is coming from- a long period of coups and counter coups, 30 months civil war, three previous short-lived attempts at democratic rule, military dictatorship of the worst form occasioning all kinds of experiments and fraudulent political engineering including an annulment of a free and fair election and then a brutal dictatorship during which many were either killed or maimed- having another democratic resurgence lasting 21 years, and still counting, is indeed significant.

Operating a democracy, the best form of government mankind has evolved, has never been easy anywhere, talk less in Nigeria. For our democracy to have endured all of 20 years means Nigerians have invested heavily in its success. We all deserve special congratulations for working to entrench democracy in the land. These investments have come at great costs, which, however, have not been borne in equal measure. Some Nigerians sacrificed so much for it, including paying the supreme price like business mogul Bashorun MKO Abiola, the winner of the annulled June 12 election, his wife, Kudirat and journalist, Bagauda Kalto, among others. Many were incarcerated. Thousands who suffered immense pain in diverse manners remain nameless and faceless. Some were forced on exile for a long period.

One of those who had to flee into exile to escape the death squads of the Abacha military junta over the agitation for the de-annulment of the June 12 election from where he played a leading role in continuing the struggle is Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress National Leader. In exile, Asiwaju became a critical rallying point for the opposition, making things uncomfortable for the Abacha junta back home until that regime collapsed. Following the promise of the succeeding General Abdulsalam Abubakar regime to hand over power, Asiwaju Tinubu returned to the country from exile in 1998. In no time at all, he became one of the leading lights who formed the Alliance for Democracy, one of the three main political parties of the time. Persuaded by his close associates and friends, Asiwaju threw his hat into the ring for the governorship of Lagos. Against the remonstrations of those who wanted to impose a candidate on the AD, he and his associates insisted on open primaries buoyed by support from some temperate leaders of that party. With open primaries, he emerged the governorship candidate of the party, contested for the 1999 governorship election and was elected.

If his contributions to the return of democratic rule again in 1999 after almost 16 years of military rule was remarkable, his role in nurturing and deepening democracy in the land from that period onward is even more worthy of chronicling. Saying Asiwaju is a major pillar of the nation’s democracy that seized every opportunity to deepen the practice of transparent, responsive and accountable governance, federalism and the rule of law in Nigeria both in words and deeds is stating the obvious.

As governor, he put together a team of tested technocrats and experienced managers, unrivalled in Nigeria’s history, to help him actualize his vision for the state. It is not surprising that many of them are still holding top leadership positions at different levels in the country today. Tinubu and his team laid the foundation for a modern Lagos, fashioned out a master plan and engineered most of the innovations that spurred the unprecedented ongoing development and prosperity witnessed in Lagos today. As he brought radical changes to both the economic and political landscapes of Lagos, enhancing the state’s fortunes in the process, he also made significant contributions to fiscal federalism and constitutionalism.

Under his watch, Lagos challenged the Federal Government on many constitutional issues. His government filed as many as 14 cases at the Supreme Court and won all. One of such landmark cases was the one in respect of creation of additional local councils in the state, with the Supreme Court upholding the validity of the new councils but stating that they remained inchoate until the National Assembly had done its part by listing those councils in the constitution. Nevertheless, the 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) are alive and well today. They constitute the basis for accelerated rural development in Lagos State thanks to Tinubu’s vision and courage.

At the inception of this democratic dispensation in 1999, for instance, the Federal Government routinely deducted funds as a first line charge from the Federation Account for what it called “Special Funds”. These included funding of the Joint Venture Contracts and NNPC priority projects, servicing of Federal Government’s external debt, funding of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and funding of the judiciary and other federal responsibilities. It was after the deduction of these monies that whatever was remaining was shared among the states and Local Government Councils. The robust legal challenge by Lagos State at the Supreme Court put a stop to this practice to the advantage of the states and local governments.

Again, it was the crusading legal action by Lagos State under Tinubu’s leadership that led the Supreme Court to declare that planning within the territorial jurisdiction of any state was a residual matter over which the states and not the Federal Government could exercise control. In the words of Tinubu’s Attorney General at the time, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), “The Supreme Court by a majority of four out of seven justices in a full constitutional court held that urban and regional planning as well as physical development were residual matters within the exclusive legislative and executive competence of states and that grant of approvals, permits and licences for building and physical development in Lagos State including under bridges, loops and highways set-back are the residual responsibility of the state government”.

When former President Obasanjo withheld revenue allocations to Lagos on account of the creation of those additional councils, Asiwaju was forced to look inward, devising ingenious means of funding the new councils and running the state. Such resourcefulness birthed the innovations that moved the state IGR from about N600 million monthly in 1999 to around N25billion and over N30billion monthly today. So significant was what Asiwaju and his team did in eight years that many continue to acknowledge his ingenuity.

In a tribute to the APC leader during his 67th birthday in March this year, President Muhammadu Buhari described Tinubu as one of the strong pillars of Nigeria’s democracy while also praising him for his selflessness in serving the country and contributing his quota towards making life better for our teeming people. “Asiwaju’s uncompromising posture in the face of injustice and refusal to follow the path of least resistance for personal gains stand him out today as a rare breed and one of the cornerstones of Nigeria’s democracy, especially with his track record of persistence, consistency and effective leadership,” the President said. “As the father of modern Lagos State,” Presidential Spokesman Femi Adesina quoted the President as commending “the visionary and inclusive leadership style that the Asiwaju provided for the commercial nerve centre of Nigeria for eight years, laying the foundation for a modern and technologically-driven city, and ensuring that every successive leader in the state sticks with the master plan of a greater Lagos.”

From the Alliance for Democracy (AD), Asiwaju and his associates moved to form first, the Action Congress (AC) and then the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) when the AD became polarised in the aftermath of the choice of that party’s presidential candidate for the 1999 poll among other contentious issues. In the 2003 election, Asiwaju became the only AD governor who survived the virulent onslaught of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which contrived to win the election at all cost in the South-west and credit Obasanjo with home-base support. It was to Asiwaju’s credit that he led the struggle in winning back, one by one, those South-west states illegally captured by the PDP through the courts, which upheld the cause of justice.

With the ACN now in firm control of the South-west, Asiwaju’s ACN began alliance talks towards the 2011 election with the Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) led by then General Muhammadu Buhari, but that alliance fell through. It is instructive that that merger of the South-west and North-West progressives and other like minds, once predicted by the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and which fell through in 2011, was eventually successfully and consummated in the build-up to the 2015 election, thus giving birth to the APC. For the first time in Nigeria’s political history, that rainbow coalition that is APC, unseated an incumbent president and formed government at the centre.

Since then, in a bid to get the party to wax stronger, Asiwaju and his cohorts have had to battle some undemocratic forces within the party and their underhand tactics. For instance, after the initial bright successes of the APC during which elective convention was the order of the day, some members wanted to foist dictatorship and automatic extension of tenure on the party. Asiwaju and other democrats successfully wrestled this move to the ground. Tinubu spearheaded the struggle for the adoption by APC of direct primaries as a method of picking the party’s candidates for elections, involving the generality of the party members as opposed to some small coterie of delegates. That agitation culminated in the election last year of a consummate labour activist and former governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, as APC chairman. Oshiomhole has been changing the narrative in APC to the admiration of many and discomfiture of others.

Asiwaju did much more. Which of those other onerous contributions should one highlight? Is it the crucial role he played in persuading the Federal Government to give June 12 the honour it deserved, thus bringing the matter of the annulled election to a proper close or the leadership he provided, as Co-chair of the APC presidential campaigns, in galvanising the party’s rank and file to work assiduously for the president’s re-election in March this year, knowing full well that President Buhari is a honest and patriotic leader who, in his first term, had taken concrete steps towards laying a firm foundation for a greater Nigeria?

Tinubu’s role as a leading advocate of the legitimation of June 12 has borne ample fruit with President Buhari conferring on the hero of June 12, late MKO Abiola, a post-humous Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) award while MKO’s  running mate, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, received the Grand Commander of the Order of Niger award. The icing on the cake was the pronouncing of June 12 as Democracy Day by President Buhari. Now, the National Assembly has passed the bill making June 12 a public holiday and Nigeria’s Democracy Day. In the 2019 election, President Buhari posted a resounding victory, roundly defeating the PDP, and its candidate, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, to win a second term which he began a few days ago.  

In their book-“Statesmanship and Political Leadership: Analyses of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic-A Festschrift in Honour of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu”, the authors of the book, edited by Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun (SAN) and Adewale Aderemi, Ph D, who interrogated Asiwaju’s role in Nigeria’s democracy, said of the APC leader: “At critical junctures since his emergence as a public figure in the early 1990s, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has been a pivotal figure in the equation, by a dint of political doggedness as the last line of resistance to the ruling party, which historically never ruled the South-west, not only weathered incredible political turmoil but also nurtured the dominant political platform of the region from the brink of disintegration to becoming the nucleus of the new ruling party, ousting the sixteen-year incumbency of the PDP in the process.”

Any need to add more. All that Asiwaju has accomplished hasn’t come easy. As common in the trajectories of great men like Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe and many other leaders, Asiwaju has had his own fair share of treachery, deceit and campaigns of calumny, even by some of those he trusted. He has, however, weathered the storms. He is carrying on and waxing stronger. One of the tasks he has taken upon himself at present is safeguarding and strengthening party supremacy within the governing party and ensuring adherence to the party’s position in respect of emergence of the National Assembly’s presiding officers. Asiwaju has a lot more to offer. Surely, in the fullness of time and with the gift of life and continued good health, the fullness of his robust intellect, competence, and capability will be released in the service of our country.

Rahman, former Editor Thisday on Saturday and Sunday Newspapers, is Media Adviser to Asiwaju have Tinubu.
By Tunde Rahman

Twenty years in the life of a nation may be a short period of time. But when such a span of time embodies something meaningful and impactful, it is extremely noteworthy. And so Nigeria at present is celebrating two decades of uninterrupted democracy since the democratic restoration of 1999. Considering where the country is coming from- a long period of coups and counter coups, 30 months civil war, three previous short-lived attempts at democratic rule, military dictatorship of the worst form occasioning all kinds of experiments and fraudulent political engineering including an annulment of a free and fair election and then a brutal dictatorship during which many were either killed or maimed- having another democratic resurgence lasting 21 years, and still counting, is indeed significant.

Operating a democracy, the best form of government mankind has evolved, has never been easy anywhere, talk less in Nigeria. For our democracy to have endured all of 20 years means Nigerians have invested heavily in its success. We all deserve special congratulations for working to entrench democracy in the land. These investments have come at great costs, which, however, have not been borne in equal measure. Some Nigerians sacrificed so much for it, including paying the supreme price like business mogul Bashorun MKO Abiola, the winner of the annulled June 12 election, his wife, Kudirat and journalist, Bagauda Kalto, among others. Many were incarcerated. Thousands who suffered immense pain in diverse manners remain nameless and faceless. Some were forced on exile for a long period.

One of those who had to flee into exile to escape the death squads of the Abacha military junta over the agitation for the de-annulment of the June 12 election from where he played a leading role in continuing the struggle is Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress National Leader. In exile, Asiwaju became a critical rallying point for the opposition, making things uncomfortable for the Abacha junta back home until that regime collapsed. Following the promise of the succeeding General Abdulsalam Abubakar regime to hand over power, Asiwaju Tinubu returned to the country from exile in 1998. In no time at all, he became one of the leading lights who formed the Alliance for Democracy, one of the three main political parties of the time. Persuaded by his close associates and friends, Asiwaju threw his hat into the ring for the governorship of Lagos. Against the remonstrations of those who wanted to impose a candidate on the AD, he and his associates insisted on open primaries buoyed by support from some temperate leaders of that party. With open primaries, he emerged the governorship candidate of the party, contested for the 1999 governorship election and was elected.

If his contributions to the return of democratic rule again in 1999 after almost 16 years of military rule was remarkable, his role in nurturing and deepening democracy in the land from that period onward is even more worthy of chronicling. Saying Asiwaju is a major pillar of the nation’s democracy that seized every opportunity to deepen the practice of transparent, responsive and accountable governance, federalism and the rule of law in Nigeria both in words and deeds is stating the obvious.

As governor, he put together a team of tested technocrats and experienced managers, unrivalled in Nigeria’s history, to help him actualize his vision for the state. It is not surprising that many of them are still holding top leadership positions at different levels in the country today. Tinubu and his team laid the foundation for a modern Lagos, fashioned out a master plan and engineered most of the innovations that spurred the unprecedented ongoing development and prosperity witnessed in Lagos today. As he brought radical changes to both the economic and political landscapes of Lagos, enhancing the state’s fortunes in the process, he also made significant contributions to fiscal federalism and constitutionalism.

Under his watch, Lagos challenged the Federal Government on many constitutional issues. His government filed as many as 14 cases at the Supreme Court and won all. One of such landmark cases was the one in respect of creation of additional local councils in the state, with the Supreme Court upholding the validity of the new councils but stating that they remained inchoate until the National Assembly had done its part by listing those councils in the constitution. Nevertheless, the 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) are alive and well today. They constitute the basis for accelerated rural development in Lagos State thanks to Tinubu’s vision and courage.

At the inception of this democratic dispensation in 1999, for instance, the Federal Government routinely deducted funds as a first line charge from the Federation Account for what it called “Special Funds”. These included funding of the Joint Venture Contracts and NNPC priority projects, servicing of Federal Government’s external debt, funding of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and funding of the judiciary and other federal responsibilities. It was after the deduction of these monies that whatever was remaining was shared among the states and Local Government Councils. The robust legal challenge by Lagos State at the Supreme Court put a stop to this practice to the advantage of the states and local governments.

Again, it was the crusading legal action by Lagos State under Tinubu’s leadership that led the Supreme Court to declare that planning within the territorial jurisdiction of any state was a residual matter over which the states and not the Federal Government could exercise control. In the words of Tinubu’s Attorney General at the time, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), “The Supreme Court by a majority of four out of seven justices in a full constitutional court held that urban and regional planning as well as physical development were residual matters within the exclusive legislative and executive competence of states and that grant of approvals, permits and licences for building and physical development in Lagos State including under bridges, loops and highways set-back are the residual responsibility of the state government”.

When former President Obasanjo withheld revenue allocations to Lagos on account of the creation of those additional councils, Asiwaju was forced to look inward, devising ingenious means of funding the new councils and running the state. Such resourcefulness birthed the innovations that moved the state IGR from about N600 million monthly in 1999 to around N25billion and over N30billion monthly today. So significant was what Asiwaju and his team did in eight years that many continue to acknowledge his ingenuity.

In a tribute to the APC leader during his 67th birthday in March this year, President Muhammadu Buhari described Tinubu as one of the strong pillars of Nigeria’s democracy while also praising him for his selflessness in serving the country and contributing his quota towards making life better for our teeming people. “Asiwaju’s uncompromising posture in the face of injustice and refusal to follow the path of least resistance for personal gains stand him out today as a rare breed and one of the cornerstones of Nigeria’s democracy, especially with his track record of persistence, consistency and effective leadership,” the President said. “As the father of modern Lagos State,” Presidential Spokesman Femi Adesina quoted the President as commending “the visionary and inclusive leadership style that the Asiwaju provided for the commercial nerve centre of Nigeria for eight years, laying the foundation for a modern and technologically-driven city, and ensuring that every successive leader in the state sticks with the master plan of a greater Lagos.”

From the Alliance for Democracy (AD), Asiwaju and his associates moved to form first, the Action Congress (AC) and then the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) when the AD became polarised in the aftermath of the choice of that party’s presidential candidate for the 1999 poll among other contentious issues. In the 2003 election, Asiwaju became the only AD governor who survived the virulent onslaught of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which contrived to win the election at all cost in the South-west and credit Obasanjo with home-base support. It was to Asiwaju’s credit that he led the struggle in winning back, one by one, those South-west states illegally captured by the PDP through the courts, which upheld the cause of justice.

With the ACN now in firm control of the South-west, Asiwaju’s ACN began alliance talks towards the 2011 election with the Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) led by then General Muhammadu Buhari, but that alliance fell through. It is instructive that that merger of the South-west and North-West progressives and other like minds, once predicted by the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and which fell through in 2011, was eventually successfully and consummated in the build-up to the 2015 election, thus giving birth to the APC. For the first time in Nigeria’s political history, that rainbow coalition that is APC, unseated an incumbent president and formed government at the centre.

Since then, in a bid to get the party to wax stronger, Asiwaju and his cohorts have had to battle some undemocratic forces within the party and their underhand tactics. For instance, after the initial bright successes of the APC during which elective convention was the order of the day, some members wanted to foist dictatorship and automatic extension of tenure on the party. Asiwaju and other democrats successfully wrestled this move to the ground. Tinubu spearheaded the struggle for the adoption by APC of direct primaries as a method of picking the party’s candidates for elections, involving the generality of the party members as opposed to some small coterie of delegates. That agitation culminated in the election last year of a consummate labour activist and former governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, as APC chairman. Oshiomhole has been changing the narrative in APC to the admiration of many and discomfiture of others.

Asiwaju did much more. Which of those other onerous contributions should one highlight? Is it the crucial role he played in persuading the Federal Government to give June 12 the honour it deserved, thus bringing the matter of the annulled election to a proper close or the leadership he provided, as Co-chair of the APC presidential campaigns, in galvanising the party’s rank and file to work assiduously for the president’s re-election in March this year, knowing full well that President Buhari is a honest and patriotic leader who, in his first term, had taken concrete steps towards laying a firm foundation for a greater Nigeria?

Tinubu’s role as a leading advocate of the legitimation of June 12 has borne ample fruit with President Buhari conferring on the hero of June 12, late MKO Abiola, a post-humous Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) award while MKO’s  running mate, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, received the Grand Commander of the Order of Niger award. The icing on the cake was the pronouncing of June 12 as Democracy Day by President Buhari. Now, the National Assembly has passed the bill making June 12 a public holiday and Nigeria’s Democracy Day. In the 2019 election, President Buhari posted a resounding victory, roundly defeating the PDP, and its candidate, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, to win a second term which he began a few days ago.  

In their book-“Statesmanship and Political Leadership: Analyses of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic-A Festschrift in Honour of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu”, the authors of the book, edited by Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun (SAN) and Adewale Aderemi, Ph D, who interrogated Asiwaju’s role in Nigeria’s democracy, said of the APC leader: “At critical junctures since his emergence as a public figure in the early 1990s, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has been a pivotal figure in the equation, by a dint of political doggedness as the last line of resistance to the ruling party, which historically never ruled the South-west, not only weathered incredible political turmoil but also nurtured the dominant political platform of the region from the brink of disintegration to becoming the nucleus of the new ruling party, ousting the sixteen-year incumbency of the PDP in the process.”

Any need to add more. All that Asiwaju has accomplished hasn’t come easy. As common in the trajectories of great men like Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe and many other leaders, Asiwaju has had his own fair share of treachery, deceit and campaigns of calumny, even by some of those he trusted. He has, however, weathered the storms. He is carrying on and waxing stronger. One of the tasks he has taken upon himself at present is safeguarding and strengthening party supremacy within the governing party and ensuring adherence to the party’s position in respect of emergence of the National Assembly’s presiding officers. Asiwaju has a lot more to offer. Surely, in the fullness of time and with the gift of life and continued good health, the fullness of his robust intellect, competence, and capability will be released in the service of our country.

Rahman, former Editor Thisday on Saturday and Sunday Newspapers, is Media Adviser to Asiwaju have Tinubu.
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Kuye sets new precedence with sterling stewardship in just one year as fed. legislator

Kuye sets new precedence with sterling stewardship in just one year as fed. legislator

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By Dansu Peter 

When the 9th Assembly was inaugurated on June 11, 2019, a drastic overhaul was expected. Nigerians anticipated a paradigm shift from the status quo, where lawmakers abandoned their constituencies, instead opting for the exquisite lifestyle in the Federal Capital Territory without any tangible proof of representation. 

In Somolu Federal Constituency, Lagos State, for instance, there was little or no dividends of federal presence. Hence, the coming of Hon. Prince Ademorin Aliu Kuye was beseeched to change the ills. Kuye, though, embodied the new dimension of representation; where all residents would be carried along with happenings at the green chambers. 

And quite astutely, Hon. Kuye has lived up to the billing one year into his term at the National Assembly. The soft-spoken yet charismatic legislator has infact performed way beyond expectations, shocking the naysayers.

There was a bizarre notion that first-term lawmakers are usually redundant for four years. They are believed to be idle while learning the ropes bereft of the nitty-gritty of astute legislation. Hon. Kuye, however, has already changed the narrative by hitting the ground running. 

Dogged, resilient and highly vast, Hon. Kuye, within few weeks after resumption, was able to present bills and various motions at House of Representatives. Analysts are of the view that he has made more impact than the so-called veterans.

Prior to his resumption, Hon. Kuye paid a courtesy visit to the National Orthopaedic Hospital to examine the staff's welfare and how he could use his esteemed office to bring progress to the hospital. This led to the drafting of a motion for the Federal Government to as a matter urgency, attend to the various needs of the hospital, ranging from infrastructural development, provision of medical tools, gadgets etc. 

Due to his stunning contributions and willingness to wholeheartedly serve the nation, he was immediately appointed the Deputy Chairman of Rules and Business Committee. It was a first of its kind but that wasn’t all. He was subsequently named a a member of Committees on Air Force, Police Affairs, Justice, Climate Change, Basic Education, Aids, Loans & Debt Management, Financial Crimes, Petroleum Downstream, Public Accounts and FCT. 

Buzzing with confidence, Hon. Kuye made his first official speech on the floor of the House of Reps on July 11, 2019, contributing a bill presented by a colleague to establish a Commission. He attracted massive adulation. This marked the beginning of almost a daily timeline of events. 

On July 23, during a visit by Mr. Sunday Dare, then a Ministerial Nominee, the lawmaker, instead of the usual politicking tendered the challenges of his people. Barely 24 hours later, he presented his first motion on the ‘Need to Re-equip our National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos’. 

Hon. Kuye then rose to amend a motion on the floor seeking the inclusion of Somolu Printing Industry in the installation of Industrial Power project by the FG on July 24. This was another pointer that he wasn’t carried away, already thinking about his people. 

July 25 marked his appointment as the Deputy Chairman, Rules and Business Committee. After a long recess, on October 10, Hon. Kuye presented a Bill for an act to reform certain provisions of the 2014 Pension Reform Act, which would among others grant quick access to more money from the retirement savings account after retirement. 

"We are ready to provide succor to Nigerians in general and our retirees in particular with effective legislation and this bill will ensure that pension administration in the country improves,” he said in a statement.

Due to his willingness to serve his people and his proactive nature, he emerged the Secretary General of the formidable Lagos Caucus of members of House of Representatives on October 11. At the same meeting, Hon. Dolapo Badru, became the Caucus leader.

On October 30, Hon. Kuye and other members of the Air Force Committee paid a condolence visit to Sokoto State Government regarding the unfortunate incidence that occurred between Air Force personnel and some civilian where lives were lost.

The next month, he presented a motion to amend the Pension Reform Act 2004, criminalizing diversion of pension fund by state governments and prescribes a jail term of 15 years for officials found culpable. 

Still in November 6, Hon. Kuye presented a ground breaking and lives touching motion on the need to stop Higher Institutions from organising and charging students/parents for Post JAMB/UTME exams. This caught the attention of many Nigerians as virtually every family would be financially relieved if successful.

He then represented President, Muhammadu Buhari to decorate Rear Admiral Yakubu Wambai at the adornment of newly promoted Naval Officers of the Nigerian Navy at the Naval Headquarters, Abuja towards the end of November. Before the yuletide,  Hon. Kuye presented a motion on the need to immediately investigate the incessant non-combat crashes of the Nigerian Air Force planes.

The new year came with even more focus for the Somolu lawmaker. On February 22, he was named Chairman Sub-Committee on Police Reform to reposition the Nigerian Police for an enhanced service delivery. Almost one month later, Hon. Kuye presented a bill calling for the compulsory registration of birth and death by amending Section 17 of the Principal Act placing responsibility of the mandatory registration in the hands of local government or area councils.

He said compulsory registration will “lead to accurate statistics for planning, making informed economic decisions, provision of required facilities and empowerment where necessary.

“Mandatory registration of birth will ensure that government monitors every child birth from the cradle through school and employment to the grave.”

According to him, if the amendment being sought is passed to law, every local government will have a data bank and information from the local government will go to the state data bank while federal government data bank will contain information from across the states.

Kuye subsequently chaired Ad-Hoc Committee to investigate the FG’s Abandoned Properties and Assets. Delivering his speech at the inauguration, Hon Kuye informed the general public that the committee won't succumb to any form of intimidation, noting that the committee will perform and surpass the expectations of the house.

In addition to the bills and motions already presented at the National Assembly, Hon. Kuye also raised of Points of Order aplenty. Not only has he provided immense representation for the Somolu people, he has already broken that age-long notion that comes with debutants.

 


By Dansu Peter 

When the 9th Assembly was inaugurated on June 11, 2019, a drastic overhaul was expected. Nigerians anticipated a paradigm shift from the status quo, where lawmakers abandoned their constituencies, instead opting for the exquisite lifestyle in the Federal Capital Territory without any tangible proof of representation. 

In Somolu Federal Constituency, Lagos State, for instance, there was little or no dividends of federal presence. Hence, the coming of Hon. Prince Ademorin Aliu Kuye was beseeched to change the ills. Kuye, though, embodied the new dimension of representation; where all residents would be carried along with happenings at the green chambers. 

And quite astutely, Hon. Kuye has lived up to the billing one year into his term at the National Assembly. The soft-spoken yet charismatic legislator has infact performed way beyond expectations, shocking the naysayers.

There was a bizarre notion that first-term lawmakers are usually redundant for four years. They are believed to be idle while learning the ropes bereft of the nitty-gritty of astute legislation. Hon. Kuye, however, has already changed the narrative by hitting the ground running. 

Dogged, resilient and highly vast, Hon. Kuye, within few weeks after resumption, was able to present bills and various motions at House of Representatives. Analysts are of the view that he has made more impact than the so-called veterans.

Prior to his resumption, Hon. Kuye paid a courtesy visit to the National Orthopaedic Hospital to examine the staff's welfare and how he could use his esteemed office to bring progress to the hospital. This led to the drafting of a motion for the Federal Government to as a matter urgency, attend to the various needs of the hospital, ranging from infrastructural development, provision of medical tools, gadgets etc. 

Due to his stunning contributions and willingness to wholeheartedly serve the nation, he was immediately appointed the Deputy Chairman of Rules and Business Committee. It was a first of its kind but that wasn’t all. He was subsequently named a a member of Committees on Air Force, Police Affairs, Justice, Climate Change, Basic Education, Aids, Loans & Debt Management, Financial Crimes, Petroleum Downstream, Public Accounts and FCT. 

Buzzing with confidence, Hon. Kuye made his first official speech on the floor of the House of Reps on July 11, 2019, contributing a bill presented by a colleague to establish a Commission. He attracted massive adulation. This marked the beginning of almost a daily timeline of events. 

On July 23, during a visit by Mr. Sunday Dare, then a Ministerial Nominee, the lawmaker, instead of the usual politicking tendered the challenges of his people. Barely 24 hours later, he presented his first motion on the ‘Need to Re-equip our National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos’. 

Hon. Kuye then rose to amend a motion on the floor seeking the inclusion of Somolu Printing Industry in the installation of Industrial Power project by the FG on July 24. This was another pointer that he wasn’t carried away, already thinking about his people. 

July 25 marked his appointment as the Deputy Chairman, Rules and Business Committee. After a long recess, on October 10, Hon. Kuye presented a Bill for an act to reform certain provisions of the 2014 Pension Reform Act, which would among others grant quick access to more money from the retirement savings account after retirement. 

"We are ready to provide succor to Nigerians in general and our retirees in particular with effective legislation and this bill will ensure that pension administration in the country improves,” he said in a statement.

Due to his willingness to serve his people and his proactive nature, he emerged the Secretary General of the formidable Lagos Caucus of members of House of Representatives on October 11. At the same meeting, Hon. Dolapo Badru, became the Caucus leader.

On October 30, Hon. Kuye and other members of the Air Force Committee paid a condolence visit to Sokoto State Government regarding the unfortunate incidence that occurred between Air Force personnel and some civilian where lives were lost.

The next month, he presented a motion to amend the Pension Reform Act 2004, criminalizing diversion of pension fund by state governments and prescribes a jail term of 15 years for officials found culpable. 

Still in November 6, Hon. Kuye presented a ground breaking and lives touching motion on the need to stop Higher Institutions from organising and charging students/parents for Post JAMB/UTME exams. This caught the attention of many Nigerians as virtually every family would be financially relieved if successful.

He then represented President, Muhammadu Buhari to decorate Rear Admiral Yakubu Wambai at the adornment of newly promoted Naval Officers of the Nigerian Navy at the Naval Headquarters, Abuja towards the end of November. Before the yuletide,  Hon. Kuye presented a motion on the need to immediately investigate the incessant non-combat crashes of the Nigerian Air Force planes.

The new year came with even more focus for the Somolu lawmaker. On February 22, he was named Chairman Sub-Committee on Police Reform to reposition the Nigerian Police for an enhanced service delivery. Almost one month later, Hon. Kuye presented a bill calling for the compulsory registration of birth and death by amending Section 17 of the Principal Act placing responsibility of the mandatory registration in the hands of local government or area councils.

He said compulsory registration will “lead to accurate statistics for planning, making informed economic decisions, provision of required facilities and empowerment where necessary.

“Mandatory registration of birth will ensure that government monitors every child birth from the cradle through school and employment to the grave.”

According to him, if the amendment being sought is passed to law, every local government will have a data bank and information from the local government will go to the state data bank while federal government data bank will contain information from across the states.

Kuye subsequently chaired Ad-Hoc Committee to investigate the FG’s Abandoned Properties and Assets. Delivering his speech at the inauguration, Hon Kuye informed the general public that the committee won't succumb to any form of intimidation, noting that the committee will perform and surpass the expectations of the house.

In addition to the bills and motions already presented at the National Assembly, Hon. Kuye also raised of Points of Order aplenty. Not only has he provided immense representation for the Somolu people, he has already broken that age-long notion that comes with debutants.

 


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BREAKING: University of Ibadan opens up on Obaseki's alleged fake certificate

BREAKING: University of Ibadan opens up on Obaseki's alleged fake certificate

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The University of Ibadan (UI) has confirmed Edo Governor Godwin Obaseki graduated from the institution.

The university, in a statement by its Registrar, Mrs Olubunmi Faluyi, said Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki, studied Classics.

According to the statement, the Governor gained admission to the university in 1976 and graduated in 1979 with a Second Class Honours (Lower Division)

“Records of his admission and graduation are intact in the archives of the university.” the statement said.

Some opposition leaders in the state’s chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have been accusing Obaseki of presenting a fake certificate, saying he did not graduate from the premier university. The UI statement will draw the curtain on the supposed certificate scandal crisis.

Obaseki has been in a running battle with his predecessor Adams Oshiomhole over the second term ticket. The latter, who is the National Chairman of the APC, has vowed to ensure the governor does not get a second term in office.

The University of Ibadan (UI) has confirmed Edo Governor Godwin Obaseki graduated from the institution.

The university, in a statement by its Registrar, Mrs Olubunmi Faluyi, said Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki, studied Classics.

According to the statement, the Governor gained admission to the university in 1976 and graduated in 1979 with a Second Class Honours (Lower Division)

“Records of his admission and graduation are intact in the archives of the university.” the statement said.

Some opposition leaders in the state’s chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have been accusing Obaseki of presenting a fake certificate, saying he did not graduate from the premier university. The UI statement will draw the curtain on the supposed certificate scandal crisis.

Obaseki has been in a running battle with his predecessor Adams Oshiomhole over the second term ticket. The latter, who is the National Chairman of the APC, has vowed to ensure the governor does not get a second term in office.

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Edo 2020: If I were Obaseki, By Gideon Obhakhan

Edo 2020: If I were Obaseki, By Gideon Obhakhan

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Edo poll: can Obaseki win APC primary?
Former Edo State Education Commissioner Gideon Obhakhan examines the factors that will shape the All Progressive Congress (APC) primary in the Southsouth state

By Gideon Obhakhan 

Godwin Obaseki
If I were Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State today, I will simply walk away and not participate in the race to return as governor of Edo State for a second tenure. The reason is simple. All odds are against him, he has lost the four Aces and there is no Joker in the pack.

He has neither the capacity nor the temperament to remedy the situation. As a gallant fighter, I’d rather not be disgraced out of office. I’d take solace in the popular saying that he who fights and runs away, lives to fight another day.

The open battle to oust the current governor of Edo State began over a year ago with few individuals coming together to demand that the governor retraces his steps and pulls the party together, rather than pick and choose who he talks to or works with within the political class.

The governor simply waived the idea off and continued to call politicians unprintable names, and their expressed frustrations were seen like the rantings of an ant. Little did Obaseki know that what started like a little tea party will eventually become one of his greatest nightmares as governor of Edo State.

Somehow, I am tempted to excuse Mr. Governor’s posture because as an unknown political quantity in 2016, he couldn’t have known how difficult it was for the political class to make him governor of Edo State.
To him, it was a simple command from the then governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. It is almost obvious now that he didn’t know that the seemingly easy project was as a result of long years of selfless service to the people, respect for the political class and conscious, tireless effort towards working with every Tom, Dick, and Harry.

In trying to resolve the issues that became glaring when the battle took shape, Obaseki has ended up with too mistakes and has offended too many people who cannot genuinely forgive him between now and June 22, a day fixed by the All Progressives Congress, APC, for their party primaries.
He has obviously gotten and unfair share of bad advice from his co-travelers. The list is endless but I guess a few deserve some mention here. The first shocker and I must say the most embarrassing to me as an Edo indigene was the nocturnal inauguration of nine out of 24 members-elect, which till date has continued unchanged.

Next was the State sponsored violence against the members-elect that dared to condemn their exclusion from the process that they were legally entitled having won their elections in their respective constituencies.

The battle continued and at a certain stage became violent with bombs being thrown into houses of certain leaders, as well as wanton destruction of property across the stage.

At some point there was an open and direct order (with video evidence) from the governor to deal with any person seen gathering under the platform of the now defunct Edo People’s Movement, EPM.
The order was further extended to the revered national chairman of the party who was asked to take permission from Mr. Governor each time he need to visit Edo State. The deputy governor even admonished the Inspector General of Police to arrest Comrade Oshiomhole within this same period.

When all these efforts didn’t yield the kind of results that Obaseki wanted, he decided to change the strategy a little bit. I believe he was advised that when he is able to remove the national chairman who was being accused of sponsoring the so-called greedy politicians, his problems will be over.

He threw in all he got to achieve the removal of the national chairman of the party. The support at some point transcended the borders of Edo State towards the North and other parts of the country culminating in a court judgement ordering the APC national chairman to stop parading himself as the governor of Edo State.

This became the celebrated highpoint of Obaseki’s battles. However, that order was set aside by the Appeal Court and today Comrade Adams Oshiomhole remains the chairman of the party. 

Very recently, the National Working Committee (NWC) of APC, in the discharge of their lawful duties, released the timetable for its primaries as well as the mode of primaries.

They decided that the mode of primaries shall be the direct, which means all card carrying members of APC are expected to come out to vote their preferred candidate on the 22nd of June 2020.

This decision has surprisingly sparked off some debate across the State with Obaseki and his followers vehemently opposed to it.
Even the suspended APC State chairman, Anselm Ojezua came out to say he has decided that the mode of primaries shall be indirect and the reason he gave was that it is not safe to conduct direct primaries in the face of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The reason he gave has become a source of comic relief for Edo State citizens who are wondering whether or not, INEC will also be advised to conduct indirect elections on September 19, 2020.

The same government who is talking of the risk of COVID-19 is allowing markets to open and transact their businesses in large numbers when compared to the potential number of party members that will come out for a few hours to exercise their franchise on a chosen date.

The final straw that broke the camel’s back was the recent show of statesmanship, courage, and wisdom by the aspirants under the APC platform such as Dr. Pius Odubu, Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi, Gen. Charles Airhiavbere, Chief Solomon Edebiri, Prof. Ebegue Amadasun, Hon. Saturday Uwuilekhue, and Hon. Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma – they all decided on a consensus candidate in the person of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and agreed to work with him.

You hardly find this kind of commitment anywhere in the world, where supposed opponents completely drop their personal ambition to support a single person and work together in unity for the achievement of a common purpose.

This to me, deserves some commendation. It also calls to mind, how governor Godwin Obaseki will get these people to his side if with some magic wand he gets the ticket of the party. Will it not be political suicide for the party to hand over its flag to such an unpopular candidate?

These scheming, comments, and more leave one with no option but to ask, “ain’t the game over for Obaseki?” Is the handwriting on the wall not clear enough? Does he need any more dose of the sort of advice he has enjoyed all these while? Will they urge him on to contest in the face of imminent defeat? The answers to these questions are obvious. The game is up. This may be his last chance to quit honourably. I sincerely advise him to do just that.
Edo poll: can Obaseki win APC primary?
Former Edo State Education Commissioner Gideon Obhakhan examines the factors that will shape the All Progressive Congress (APC) primary in the Southsouth state

By Gideon Obhakhan 

Godwin Obaseki
If I were Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State today, I will simply walk away and not participate in the race to return as governor of Edo State for a second tenure. The reason is simple. All odds are against him, he has lost the four Aces and there is no Joker in the pack.

He has neither the capacity nor the temperament to remedy the situation. As a gallant fighter, I’d rather not be disgraced out of office. I’d take solace in the popular saying that he who fights and runs away, lives to fight another day.

The open battle to oust the current governor of Edo State began over a year ago with few individuals coming together to demand that the governor retraces his steps and pulls the party together, rather than pick and choose who he talks to or works with within the political class.

The governor simply waived the idea off and continued to call politicians unprintable names, and their expressed frustrations were seen like the rantings of an ant. Little did Obaseki know that what started like a little tea party will eventually become one of his greatest nightmares as governor of Edo State.

Somehow, I am tempted to excuse Mr. Governor’s posture because as an unknown political quantity in 2016, he couldn’t have known how difficult it was for the political class to make him governor of Edo State.
To him, it was a simple command from the then governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. It is almost obvious now that he didn’t know that the seemingly easy project was as a result of long years of selfless service to the people, respect for the political class and conscious, tireless effort towards working with every Tom, Dick, and Harry.

In trying to resolve the issues that became glaring when the battle took shape, Obaseki has ended up with too mistakes and has offended too many people who cannot genuinely forgive him between now and June 22, a day fixed by the All Progressives Congress, APC, for their party primaries.
He has obviously gotten and unfair share of bad advice from his co-travelers. The list is endless but I guess a few deserve some mention here. The first shocker and I must say the most embarrassing to me as an Edo indigene was the nocturnal inauguration of nine out of 24 members-elect, which till date has continued unchanged.

Next was the State sponsored violence against the members-elect that dared to condemn their exclusion from the process that they were legally entitled having won their elections in their respective constituencies.

The battle continued and at a certain stage became violent with bombs being thrown into houses of certain leaders, as well as wanton destruction of property across the stage.

At some point there was an open and direct order (with video evidence) from the governor to deal with any person seen gathering under the platform of the now defunct Edo People’s Movement, EPM.
The order was further extended to the revered national chairman of the party who was asked to take permission from Mr. Governor each time he need to visit Edo State. The deputy governor even admonished the Inspector General of Police to arrest Comrade Oshiomhole within this same period.

When all these efforts didn’t yield the kind of results that Obaseki wanted, he decided to change the strategy a little bit. I believe he was advised that when he is able to remove the national chairman who was being accused of sponsoring the so-called greedy politicians, his problems will be over.

He threw in all he got to achieve the removal of the national chairman of the party. The support at some point transcended the borders of Edo State towards the North and other parts of the country culminating in a court judgement ordering the APC national chairman to stop parading himself as the governor of Edo State.

This became the celebrated highpoint of Obaseki’s battles. However, that order was set aside by the Appeal Court and today Comrade Adams Oshiomhole remains the chairman of the party. 

Very recently, the National Working Committee (NWC) of APC, in the discharge of their lawful duties, released the timetable for its primaries as well as the mode of primaries.

They decided that the mode of primaries shall be the direct, which means all card carrying members of APC are expected to come out to vote their preferred candidate on the 22nd of June 2020.

This decision has surprisingly sparked off some debate across the State with Obaseki and his followers vehemently opposed to it.
Even the suspended APC State chairman, Anselm Ojezua came out to say he has decided that the mode of primaries shall be indirect and the reason he gave was that it is not safe to conduct direct primaries in the face of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The reason he gave has become a source of comic relief for Edo State citizens who are wondering whether or not, INEC will also be advised to conduct indirect elections on September 19, 2020.

The same government who is talking of the risk of COVID-19 is allowing markets to open and transact their businesses in large numbers when compared to the potential number of party members that will come out for a few hours to exercise their franchise on a chosen date.

The final straw that broke the camel’s back was the recent show of statesmanship, courage, and wisdom by the aspirants under the APC platform such as Dr. Pius Odubu, Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi, Gen. Charles Airhiavbere, Chief Solomon Edebiri, Prof. Ebegue Amadasun, Hon. Saturday Uwuilekhue, and Hon. Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma – they all decided on a consensus candidate in the person of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and agreed to work with him.

You hardly find this kind of commitment anywhere in the world, where supposed opponents completely drop their personal ambition to support a single person and work together in unity for the achievement of a common purpose.

This to me, deserves some commendation. It also calls to mind, how governor Godwin Obaseki will get these people to his side if with some magic wand he gets the ticket of the party. Will it not be political suicide for the party to hand over its flag to such an unpopular candidate?

These scheming, comments, and more leave one with no option but to ask, “ain’t the game over for Obaseki?” Is the handwriting on the wall not clear enough? Does he need any more dose of the sort of advice he has enjoyed all these while? Will they urge him on to contest in the face of imminent defeat? The answers to these questions are obvious. The game is up. This may be his last chance to quit honourably. I sincerely advise him to do just that.
Tags:

Breaking: Oshiomhole's men pick Ize-Iyamu as Edo APC candidate

Breaking: Oshiomhole's men pick Ize-Iyamu as Edo APC candidate

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Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu has emerged the consensus candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) faction believed to be loyal to National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

Ize-Iyamu, a former Secretary to Edo State Government (SSG), emerged on Tuesday night in Abuja through consensus candidate.

He is expected to slug it out with Governor Godwin Obaseki for the direct primary of the party slated for June 22.

He was presented by chairman of the screening committee, Senator Francis Alimikhena, the representative of Edo North Senatorial District.

Other members of the screening committee were a former Edo Deputy Governor Lucky Imasuen; Gen. Cecil Esekhaigbe; ex-Edo Speaker Thomas Okosun; former Minority Whip of the House of Representatives Samson Osagie; ex-member of the House of Representatives Patrick Obahiagbon and Deputy Leader of the House of Representatives, Peter Akpatason.


Source : The Nation 

Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu has emerged the consensus candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) faction believed to be loyal to National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

Ize-Iyamu, a former Secretary to Edo State Government (SSG), emerged on Tuesday night in Abuja through consensus candidate.

He is expected to slug it out with Governor Godwin Obaseki for the direct primary of the party slated for June 22.

He was presented by chairman of the screening committee, Senator Francis Alimikhena, the representative of Edo North Senatorial District.

Other members of the screening committee were a former Edo Deputy Governor Lucky Imasuen; Gen. Cecil Esekhaigbe; ex-Edo Speaker Thomas Okosun; former Minority Whip of the House of Representatives Samson Osagie; ex-member of the House of Representatives Patrick Obahiagbon and Deputy Leader of the House of Representatives, Peter Akpatason.


Source : The Nation 

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How Buhari’s 5 years inspired the military to top form, By Richard Murphy

How Buhari’s 5 years inspired the military to top form, By Richard Murphy

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By Richard Murphy



The President Muhammadu Buhari led administration has saved Nigeria from imminent collapse, by revamping the military’s institution which image, structure and organization was at its lowest point.

Within five years of direct support, strategic planning and implementation, the Nigerian Armed Forces have been inspired back to shape and can now hold its head high, performing creditably well, stoutly defending the territorial integrity of the nation, securing the lives and property of citizens, ridding the country of subversive elements and stamping out terrorism.

This is a sharp contrast from its dismal record in the not so distant past when it lost its place as a regional leader owing to the many missteps of the past and the devastation of its ranks by the insurgents.

No doubt, one of its biggest challenges the military has faced since the Nigerian civil war is the Boko Haram crisis when some elements took up arms against the state in the Northeastern part of the country in the attempt to take over the country by force.

The more the armed forces tried to engage, the more it betrayed signs of fatigue, weakness and lack of capacity which emboldened the terrorist to push further into the country bombing towns and communities at will, attacking military bases and villages and wrecking heavy toll on both the military and civilian population.

Worse still, troops that were supposed to defend the citizens seem more in need of help. Pathetic stories of troops deserting at the slightest indication of danger rend the air with reports of whole units fleeing from battle fields for safety, known as tactical withdrawal in other countries.  

Aggrieved soldiers who had no confidence in themselves, their weapons and on the high command, protested openly by opening fire on their commanders.

Regaled with tales of how their husbands were being butchered at the battle fields, wife of soldiers could no longer keep calm and marched in the barracks with placards protesting the deployment of their spouses' to the battle front.

The situation was so bad that a Nigerian state governor lamented that the Boko Haram is "better armed and better motivated" than government forces trying to stop their attacks.

Then Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima, was quoted as saying that not only were the insurgents better equipped but that "given the present state of affairs, it is absolutely impossible for us to defeat Boko Haram."

Security experts confirmed that the terrorists were using sophisticated weapons and were receiving better allowances from their sponsors than the Nigerian troops.

No doubt, President Buhari met the worst armed forces at the time he took over the helms of affair. But quite astutely, he has been able to transform it into one of the best in the world today in just five years. 

Facts indicating that the Nigerian military has recorded significant gains since the current administration speak for itself as Nigeria has never had it better than what is going on at the theatres of operation with the insurgents.

Since March when Lt. Gen. TY Buratai moved to the theatre of war in Borno State, the gallantry of the fighting forces have become  more pronounced at every turn making many to wonder if is the same institution that was being ridiculed some back.

Within two months, no less than 500 of the Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists have been liquidated by Nigerian troops while many have been seriously wounded or arrested.

In the same March, Nigerian troops eliminated a notorious Boko Haram strategist and trainer, Abu Usamah, and killed over 100 of their fighters who were hiding in hidden communities like  Kwalaram, Ngilewa, Sabon Tumbu, Bukarmairam, Wulgo in the Marte and Gamboru Ngala and in Gorgi, Damboa local government of Borno State.

In April, Nigerian troops in another operations also killed 105 insurgents in Buni Gari and captured many of their weapons.

The terrorist group suffered much more devastation in May when troops killed 134 and arrested 28 of their informants while overrunning their camps in Durfada, Allafha, Timbuktu, Bulajibi and Gonikurmi near the Sambisa forest. 

The heat on the insurgence was so intense that the Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau in an audio message admitted to being weakened and cried for mercy seeking Allah’s protection against the firepower of the Nigerian military.

Not long after that 11 of the ISWAP members ran to the military and surrendered their weapons.

These gains have been made possible by a number of factors which the Buhari administration adopted which include reorganizing the military by dealing with those who had frittered away the resources meant for fighting insurgency.

President Buhari also appointed highly professional, well trained and disciplined officers to man each arm of the armed forces.

His appointment of Lt. Gen T.Y Buratai has been a source of huge blessing to the military as it was Chief of Army Staff that was responsible for the success of the Multinational Task Force on insurgency in the Lake Chad region.

To prove that the President hadn’t made a mistake by appointing him, Buratai began to lead insurgency operations from the front by going to the battlefield himself.

There, he is said to engage troops directly, hearing their grievances and complaint and then take immediate actions to address them, thereby motivating the fighting forces.

His presence at the theatre of operations has also been a massive boost in the application of experience and strategy as it is already paying off.
 
The Army Chief's latest innovation is said to involve moving reinforcement while troops are pressing hard against the insurgents thereby overwhelming the terrorists.

The president Buhari administration has also taken positive steps to  train and equip the military.

It has sent so many officers for coaching and has acquired some of the weapons of warfare to outwit insurgents.

This year alone, the army acquired 17 military vehicles consisting of VT-4 main battle tanks and two types of self-propelled howitzer from China.

The vehicles consist of VT-4 main battle tanks and two types of self-propelled howitzers.

The army made the purchase from the Chinese government as part of its strategies to intensify effort in the fight against Boko Haram terrorists in the Lake Chad region and the contract was signed between Nigeria and the NORINCO back in 2019.

Nigerian troops expected to operate the vehicles have already been trained in China with the Chinese government confirming that Nigeria has become the first nation in the region to own advanced tanks with the buffalo 4-Wheel vehicles numbering 55 which have been procured and commissioned.

The Defense Industrial Corporation of Nigeria, DICON, in 2015 was also revived and made to commence the production of the  7.62 x 39mm special ammunition cartridge in its facility in Kaduna in addition to the ones it is producing. 

In 2019, the Nigerian Army also  deployed four newly acquired Mine Resistant Anti-Ambush Personnel (MRAP) vehicles and inducted them in Maigumeri super camp in Maiduguri.

The MRAP vehicles are meant to offer increased firepower, enhanced force protection against small arms as well as improved capability.

The government also increased budget on defense and this time around made sure that money meant for security were not diverted but gets to its intended destination.

In 2018 for instance, the Nigerian military budgeted about N38bn for the purchase of ammunition, fighter jets and helicopters as part of its efforts to tackle the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East.

This comprised N5,281,288,780 for the “procurement of ammunition of various types and calibres,” while another N1,024,800,000 was for part payment for three light utility helicopters.

In the 2017 budget, the army had also budgeted N5bn for the procurement of weapons to prosecute the anti-terrorism war.

Meanwhile, in the breakdown of the 2018 budget, the army set aside N1bn for the purchase of armoured vehicles, and N300m for the acquisition of 25 infantry patrol vehicles and N235,697,000 for the purchase of vehicles for the  Operation Lafiya Dole.

These are indeed big strides that have made it possible for Nigeria to begin to hope that the insurgency which has ravaged the country for so many years would soon be a thing of the past and the entire villages in the Northeast would no longer live in fear.


Murphy is a security expert and wrote in from Calabar.
By Richard Murphy



The President Muhammadu Buhari led administration has saved Nigeria from imminent collapse, by revamping the military’s institution which image, structure and organization was at its lowest point.

Within five years of direct support, strategic planning and implementation, the Nigerian Armed Forces have been inspired back to shape and can now hold its head high, performing creditably well, stoutly defending the territorial integrity of the nation, securing the lives and property of citizens, ridding the country of subversive elements and stamping out terrorism.

This is a sharp contrast from its dismal record in the not so distant past when it lost its place as a regional leader owing to the many missteps of the past and the devastation of its ranks by the insurgents.

No doubt, one of its biggest challenges the military has faced since the Nigerian civil war is the Boko Haram crisis when some elements took up arms against the state in the Northeastern part of the country in the attempt to take over the country by force.

The more the armed forces tried to engage, the more it betrayed signs of fatigue, weakness and lack of capacity which emboldened the terrorist to push further into the country bombing towns and communities at will, attacking military bases and villages and wrecking heavy toll on both the military and civilian population.

Worse still, troops that were supposed to defend the citizens seem more in need of help. Pathetic stories of troops deserting at the slightest indication of danger rend the air with reports of whole units fleeing from battle fields for safety, known as tactical withdrawal in other countries.  

Aggrieved soldiers who had no confidence in themselves, their weapons and on the high command, protested openly by opening fire on their commanders.

Regaled with tales of how their husbands were being butchered at the battle fields, wife of soldiers could no longer keep calm and marched in the barracks with placards protesting the deployment of their spouses' to the battle front.

The situation was so bad that a Nigerian state governor lamented that the Boko Haram is "better armed and better motivated" than government forces trying to stop their attacks.

Then Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima, was quoted as saying that not only were the insurgents better equipped but that "given the present state of affairs, it is absolutely impossible for us to defeat Boko Haram."

Security experts confirmed that the terrorists were using sophisticated weapons and were receiving better allowances from their sponsors than the Nigerian troops.

No doubt, President Buhari met the worst armed forces at the time he took over the helms of affair. But quite astutely, he has been able to transform it into one of the best in the world today in just five years. 

Facts indicating that the Nigerian military has recorded significant gains since the current administration speak for itself as Nigeria has never had it better than what is going on at the theatres of operation with the insurgents.

Since March when Lt. Gen. TY Buratai moved to the theatre of war in Borno State, the gallantry of the fighting forces have become  more pronounced at every turn making many to wonder if is the same institution that was being ridiculed some back.

Within two months, no less than 500 of the Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists have been liquidated by Nigerian troops while many have been seriously wounded or arrested.

In the same March, Nigerian troops eliminated a notorious Boko Haram strategist and trainer, Abu Usamah, and killed over 100 of their fighters who were hiding in hidden communities like  Kwalaram, Ngilewa, Sabon Tumbu, Bukarmairam, Wulgo in the Marte and Gamboru Ngala and in Gorgi, Damboa local government of Borno State.

In April, Nigerian troops in another operations also killed 105 insurgents in Buni Gari and captured many of their weapons.

The terrorist group suffered much more devastation in May when troops killed 134 and arrested 28 of their informants while overrunning their camps in Durfada, Allafha, Timbuktu, Bulajibi and Gonikurmi near the Sambisa forest. 

The heat on the insurgence was so intense that the Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau in an audio message admitted to being weakened and cried for mercy seeking Allah’s protection against the firepower of the Nigerian military.

Not long after that 11 of the ISWAP members ran to the military and surrendered their weapons.

These gains have been made possible by a number of factors which the Buhari administration adopted which include reorganizing the military by dealing with those who had frittered away the resources meant for fighting insurgency.

President Buhari also appointed highly professional, well trained and disciplined officers to man each arm of the armed forces.

His appointment of Lt. Gen T.Y Buratai has been a source of huge blessing to the military as it was Chief of Army Staff that was responsible for the success of the Multinational Task Force on insurgency in the Lake Chad region.

To prove that the President hadn’t made a mistake by appointing him, Buratai began to lead insurgency operations from the front by going to the battlefield himself.

There, he is said to engage troops directly, hearing their grievances and complaint and then take immediate actions to address them, thereby motivating the fighting forces.

His presence at the theatre of operations has also been a massive boost in the application of experience and strategy as it is already paying off.
 
The Army Chief's latest innovation is said to involve moving reinforcement while troops are pressing hard against the insurgents thereby overwhelming the terrorists.

The president Buhari administration has also taken positive steps to  train and equip the military.

It has sent so many officers for coaching and has acquired some of the weapons of warfare to outwit insurgents.

This year alone, the army acquired 17 military vehicles consisting of VT-4 main battle tanks and two types of self-propelled howitzer from China.

The vehicles consist of VT-4 main battle tanks and two types of self-propelled howitzers.

The army made the purchase from the Chinese government as part of its strategies to intensify effort in the fight against Boko Haram terrorists in the Lake Chad region and the contract was signed between Nigeria and the NORINCO back in 2019.

Nigerian troops expected to operate the vehicles have already been trained in China with the Chinese government confirming that Nigeria has become the first nation in the region to own advanced tanks with the buffalo 4-Wheel vehicles numbering 55 which have been procured and commissioned.

The Defense Industrial Corporation of Nigeria, DICON, in 2015 was also revived and made to commence the production of the  7.62 x 39mm special ammunition cartridge in its facility in Kaduna in addition to the ones it is producing. 

In 2019, the Nigerian Army also  deployed four newly acquired Mine Resistant Anti-Ambush Personnel (MRAP) vehicles and inducted them in Maigumeri super camp in Maiduguri.

The MRAP vehicles are meant to offer increased firepower, enhanced force protection against small arms as well as improved capability.

The government also increased budget on defense and this time around made sure that money meant for security were not diverted but gets to its intended destination.

In 2018 for instance, the Nigerian military budgeted about N38bn for the purchase of ammunition, fighter jets and helicopters as part of its efforts to tackle the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East.

This comprised N5,281,288,780 for the “procurement of ammunition of various types and calibres,” while another N1,024,800,000 was for part payment for three light utility helicopters.

In the 2017 budget, the army had also budgeted N5bn for the procurement of weapons to prosecute the anti-terrorism war.

Meanwhile, in the breakdown of the 2018 budget, the army set aside N1bn for the purchase of armoured vehicles, and N300m for the acquisition of 25 infantry patrol vehicles and N235,697,000 for the purchase of vehicles for the  Operation Lafiya Dole.

These are indeed big strides that have made it possible for Nigeria to begin to hope that the insurgency which has ravaged the country for so many years would soon be a thing of the past and the entire villages in the Northeast would no longer live in fear.


Murphy is a security expert and wrote in from Calabar.
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Impeachment threat: Jittery Gbajabiamila bows, accepts NGF's conditions on IDC Bill

Impeachment threat: Jittery Gbajabiamila bows, accepts NGF's conditions on IDC Bill

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By Dansu Peter 

Following a popurted impeachment threat, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila may have cowed into accepting earlier rebuffed conditions of the Nigeria Governors Forum, the NGF on the controversial Infectious Disease Control Bill.

News Proof had yesterday reported a report culled from Nigerian Pilot newspaper alleging that there was a disagreement between the Nigerian Governors Forum and the Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila. 

The disagreement which, according to the report suggested that some governors, led by Sokoto's, Aminu Tambuwal have begun a secret move to impeach the Speaker.

After feeling the heat of the alleged impeachment threat, Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, yesterday revealed the readiness of the House to partner Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) in the bid to produce a satisfactory Control of Infectious Diseases Bill for the citizens.

A suggestion, the House of Representatives had earlier rebuffed, stating it does not legislate for the state government to have warranted the governors interference in its oversight function. 

Hon. Gbajabiamila gave the assurance via his verified Twitter handle expressed delight over the outcome of the discussion held with the Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Governor Kayode Fayemi on the NGF’s resolution on the controversial bill.

“I spoke with the Chairman NGF @kfayemi. From our discussion, it appears there was some miscommunication between NGF and @HouseNGR.

“I believe Gov. Fayemi’s narrative as I have known Gbajabiamila for many years and will convey the same to my colleagues.

“The House and the Govs irrespective of party affiliation have always and will continue to work in the best interest of our country.

“We remain committed to the Joint Task of nation-building and we will also work on the Control of Infectious diseases Bill together to produce a Bill satisfactory to all,” Gbajabiamila said via his verified Twitter handle.
By Dansu Peter 

Following a popurted impeachment threat, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila may have cowed into accepting earlier rebuffed conditions of the Nigeria Governors Forum, the NGF on the controversial Infectious Disease Control Bill.

News Proof had yesterday reported a report culled from Nigerian Pilot newspaper alleging that there was a disagreement between the Nigerian Governors Forum and the Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila. 

The disagreement which, according to the report suggested that some governors, led by Sokoto's, Aminu Tambuwal have begun a secret move to impeach the Speaker.

After feeling the heat of the alleged impeachment threat, Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, yesterday revealed the readiness of the House to partner Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) in the bid to produce a satisfactory Control of Infectious Diseases Bill for the citizens.

A suggestion, the House of Representatives had earlier rebuffed, stating it does not legislate for the state government to have warranted the governors interference in its oversight function. 

Hon. Gbajabiamila gave the assurance via his verified Twitter handle expressed delight over the outcome of the discussion held with the Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Governor Kayode Fayemi on the NGF’s resolution on the controversial bill.

“I spoke with the Chairman NGF @kfayemi. From our discussion, it appears there was some miscommunication between NGF and @HouseNGR.

“I believe Gov. Fayemi’s narrative as I have known Gbajabiamila for many years and will convey the same to my colleagues.

“The House and the Govs irrespective of party affiliation have always and will continue to work in the best interest of our country.

“We remain committed to the Joint Task of nation-building and we will also work on the Control of Infectious diseases Bill together to produce a Bill satisfactory to all,” Gbajabiamila said via his verified Twitter handle.
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EXCLUSIVE: Covid-19 IDC Bill: Plot to IMPEACH Gbajabiamila unearthed, Jittery Speaker runs to godfathers

EXCLUSIVE: Covid-19 IDC Bill: Plot to IMPEACH Gbajabiamila unearthed, Jittery Speaker runs to godfathers

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Fresh report according to Nigerian Pilot suggests that as controversy continues to trail the Infectious Disease Control Bill before the House of Representatives, the Speaker, Hon.

Femi Gbajabiamila’s seat seems to be hanging in the balance as forces not comfortable with his recent style of leadership are said to be moving against him.

According to Nigerian Pilot, it was gathered that the recent face-off between the leadership of the House led by Gbajabiamila, the state governors and former Speaker of the House and now governor of Sokoto state, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal may cause Gbajabiamila his seat if not properly handled.

According to the source, the governors who are allegedly not happy with the way the House of Representatives responded to their advice that the Infectious Disease Control Bill be “stepped down” until proper consultations are made, are mobilising against the Speaker who is the lead sponsor of the Bill.

The source further disclosed that the governors at a recent meeting in Abuja had “secretly” agreed to push for the Speaker’s impeachment through their various representatives at the green chamber.

 He said some of the governors openly accused the Speaker of being “arrogant” in his approach to “national issues” a development they said should be checked to maintain the cordial relationship between the Legislature and the Executive.

Speaking further, the source stated the governor of Sokoto state, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal’s loyalists who felt slighted that the governor was accused of misleading and misguiding other members of the Governors Forum are also “spoiling for war”.

He said some members of the House already have grudges against the Speaker over allegation of overbearing especially in handling the donation to the fight against the coronavirus also known as COVID-19.

It was also alleged that the Speaker has been making frantic efforts to get his political godfather to rally the governors to shelve their plans and create an avenue for dialogue.

 It would be recalled that the governors operating under the aegis of Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF had recently urged the National Assembly to step down the proposed Infectious Disease Control Bill, 2020 introduced by the House of Representatives until an appropriate consultative process is held.

Chairman of the Forum, Dr. Kayode Fayemi who is also the Governor of Ekiti state had in Communiqué at the end of the Forum’s eight teleconference meeting added that the consultation must include a public hearing to gather public opinion and concerns on the proposed Bill. 

However, responding to the advice by the Governor’s Forum, the House of Representatives said it does not legislate for the states and therefore should not be “cowed” from doing its Constitutional responsibility.

 The spokesman of the House, Hon. Benjamin Kalu in a statement regretted that Hon. Aminu Tambuwal who is a former Speaker of the House stood a better position to rightly inform the Governors Forum but failed to do so. Hon. Kalu went ahead to call for the disqualification of Tambuwal who is also the Governor of Sokoto state from a proposed consultative meeting with the Nigeria Governors Forum accusing him of being biased towards the Infectious Disease Control Bill insisting that Tambuwal misled and misguided the Forum into asking the House to step down the Bill.

“We assume that his position was informed by his well-known personal and partisan opposition to the emergence of the current leadership of House led by Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila considering his obvious stance in 2015 and 2019,” he stated.

He said that the House of Representatives would proceed with the legislative work on the controversial Infectious Disease Control Bill because according to him, the House of Representatives and National Assembly in general are not under the control of any state governor.

Also the House of Representatives has insisted on the consideration of the contentious Control of Infectious Diseases Bill explaining that it has not been stopped by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.

In a statement yesterday, he House regretted that a section of the media had erroneously reported that the Federal High Court in its ruling on suit no FHC/ABJ/CS/463/2020 last week had stopped the further consideration of the bill.

 The House spokesman explained that though the applicant, through a motion ex parts, had sought an order of the court suspending the consideration of the bill, the court declined to grant the reliefs sought by the applicant so as to allow the respondent to appear before it and enter a defence. When contacted, the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Mr. Lanre Lasisi asked for time to comment on the matter but never did at the time of going to press. 

Also the spokesperson of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Abdulrazaq Barkindo could not be reached.

Culled from Nigerian Pilot 

Fresh report according to Nigerian Pilot suggests that as controversy continues to trail the Infectious Disease Control Bill before the House of Representatives, the Speaker, Hon.

Femi Gbajabiamila’s seat seems to be hanging in the balance as forces not comfortable with his recent style of leadership are said to be moving against him.

According to Nigerian Pilot, it was gathered that the recent face-off between the leadership of the House led by Gbajabiamila, the state governors and former Speaker of the House and now governor of Sokoto state, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal may cause Gbajabiamila his seat if not properly handled.

According to the source, the governors who are allegedly not happy with the way the House of Representatives responded to their advice that the Infectious Disease Control Bill be “stepped down” until proper consultations are made, are mobilising against the Speaker who is the lead sponsor of the Bill.

The source further disclosed that the governors at a recent meeting in Abuja had “secretly” agreed to push for the Speaker’s impeachment through their various representatives at the green chamber.

 He said some of the governors openly accused the Speaker of being “arrogant” in his approach to “national issues” a development they said should be checked to maintain the cordial relationship between the Legislature and the Executive.

Speaking further, the source stated the governor of Sokoto state, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal’s loyalists who felt slighted that the governor was accused of misleading and misguiding other members of the Governors Forum are also “spoiling for war”.

He said some members of the House already have grudges against the Speaker over allegation of overbearing especially in handling the donation to the fight against the coronavirus also known as COVID-19.

It was also alleged that the Speaker has been making frantic efforts to get his political godfather to rally the governors to shelve their plans and create an avenue for dialogue.

 It would be recalled that the governors operating under the aegis of Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF had recently urged the National Assembly to step down the proposed Infectious Disease Control Bill, 2020 introduced by the House of Representatives until an appropriate consultative process is held.

Chairman of the Forum, Dr. Kayode Fayemi who is also the Governor of Ekiti state had in Communiqué at the end of the Forum’s eight teleconference meeting added that the consultation must include a public hearing to gather public opinion and concerns on the proposed Bill. 

However, responding to the advice by the Governor’s Forum, the House of Representatives said it does not legislate for the states and therefore should not be “cowed” from doing its Constitutional responsibility.

 The spokesman of the House, Hon. Benjamin Kalu in a statement regretted that Hon. Aminu Tambuwal who is a former Speaker of the House stood a better position to rightly inform the Governors Forum but failed to do so. Hon. Kalu went ahead to call for the disqualification of Tambuwal who is also the Governor of Sokoto state from a proposed consultative meeting with the Nigeria Governors Forum accusing him of being biased towards the Infectious Disease Control Bill insisting that Tambuwal misled and misguided the Forum into asking the House to step down the Bill.

“We assume that his position was informed by his well-known personal and partisan opposition to the emergence of the current leadership of House led by Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila considering his obvious stance in 2015 and 2019,” he stated.

He said that the House of Representatives would proceed with the legislative work on the controversial Infectious Disease Control Bill because according to him, the House of Representatives and National Assembly in general are not under the control of any state governor.

Also the House of Representatives has insisted on the consideration of the contentious Control of Infectious Diseases Bill explaining that it has not been stopped by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.

In a statement yesterday, he House regretted that a section of the media had erroneously reported that the Federal High Court in its ruling on suit no FHC/ABJ/CS/463/2020 last week had stopped the further consideration of the bill.

 The House spokesman explained that though the applicant, through a motion ex parts, had sought an order of the court suspending the consideration of the bill, the court declined to grant the reliefs sought by the applicant so as to allow the respondent to appear before it and enter a defence. When contacted, the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Mr. Lanre Lasisi asked for time to comment on the matter but never did at the time of going to press. 

Also the spokesperson of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Abdulrazaq Barkindo could not be reached.

Culled from Nigerian Pilot 

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