Effium killings: Declare state of emergency in Ebonyi to save lives, AESID urges FG

The Association of Ebonyi State Indigenes in the Diaspora (AESID) has called on the federal government to immediately declare a state of emergency in Ebonyi state to put a stop to the ongoing killings defenceless citizens in Effium community, a suburb in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the state.

According to AESID, another group of hired militia yesterday (Tuesday) stormed an Ezza-dominated village surprisingly adorning fake military uniforms.

The Ebonyi group said the world may not know that in reality "about 500 natives of the once-sleepy and peaceful community have lost their lives with properties worth several millions of naira destroyed in the man-made war ostensibly provoked by the Korri natives of the community to wipe out Ezza indigenes."

In a statement released Wednesday in Abuja by the association's president, Amb Pascal Oluchukwu, said a few surviving eyewitnesses recounted from their various hideouts that hired militants had stormed an Ezza enclave- Nwekendiagu village in Effium on Thursday last week, killing over 15 persons and burning over 200 houses, including a fuel station located in the area.

"It is most saddening to note that this attack came barely a few hours after the state government through its agents pretending to be mediating to restore peace in the area had informed the people to converge at a particular spot to receive a team of government officials on a peace mission. 

"The people had mistaken the disguised attackers for soldiers who came on a peace-keeping mission but were again stunned they opened fire on them including women and children, reportedly leading to the instant death of scores of the unarmed and defenceless residents who, again, are of Ezza origin.

"We at AESID wish to reiterate that we are incensed over the insensitivity of the Chief Security Officer of the state, Engr. David Umahi who as a sitting Governor has failed to arrest and bring one Clement Odaah and everyone suspected and reported to be the brain behind this senseless carnage to book. 

"How many more lives of particularly Ezzas does Umahi want him to take before he sits up to order his arrest and sincere trial over the genocide he is committing in Effium with public funds and government’s backing?

While condemning the latest killings, the group also expressed disappointment that the state government could not resettle the displaced people of the said community.

"Without further hesitation, we call on the Federal Government of Nigeria to immediately declare a State of Emergency in the State and deploy an unbiased and professionally-trained team of soldiers to the troubled area to maintain peace and order in the area. 

"They should remain there till lasting peace is restored. For the primary responsibility and concern of any government, we reiterate remains to protect lives and property of its citizens. This we believe will stem the tide of the killing field that Effium has now become.

"Ezzas are not cowards and mustn’t be provoked further beyond these reported cases, else, they shouldn’t be blamed if they take up arms to defend themselves against the government-backed forces!"

Ihedioha's sack: ANN faults judgement, demand credible elections

Dr. Laz Eze

As reactions continue on the decision of the Supreme Court that sacked Hon. Emeka Ihedioha as the Governor of Imo State and replaced him with Senator Hope Uzodimma of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN) in South East Zone has blamed flawed electoral process in 2019 as the root-cause of the shocking judgment.

In a statement by the National Vice Chairman South East, Dr Laz Eze, the party which also contested the Imo State Governorship Election in 2019 stated that only credible elections will ensure that the wishes of the electorates prevail. “We campaigned across states in the South East and we believe that the decision of Supreme Court does not reflect the wishes of the majority of voters in Imo State. 

“The conduct of the 2019 general election was below acceptable standards as the wealthier political parties and candidates competed in electoral malfeasance with some INEC officials and security agents as collaborators. 

“It was obvious to Nigerians that the improvement in the electoral process observed during the 2011 and 2015 elections were eroded in the 2019 elections. Continuation of flawed elections in the country shall lead to more violence and catastrophic judicial pronouncements”, he said.  

Dr. Eze called on all political stakeholders in the South East including town unions, Igbo-interest groups and civil society organisations to mobilise citizens’ action in favour of credible elections in the zone beginning from the Anambra Governorship elections in 2021. 

He also charged South East Governors to prioritise regional integration for improved security and sustainable socioeconomic development. 

Caring as Gen. Buratai's golden rule

By Peter Otene 

“Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care." ---Theodore Roosevelt

It is absolute trite repeating the visible and unassailably signposted positive impacts of the Government of President Muhammadu Buhari on combating Boko Haram insurgency and its Islamic State West Africa (ISWAP) terrorist’s booster in Nigeria. It is clear-sighted enough that despite the odds stacked against the conclusive prosecution of the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorism in Nigeria, the Nigerian Army under Lt. Gen TY Buratai has sustained its determination to defeat, rather than being defeated by the terrorists.

Anywhere one encounters  Nigerian soldiers either on the battlefield or by the roadside, in the Northeast, they exude passionate, courageous and irrevocable spirit of certainty in finally subjugating the evil  tormenting Nigerians. Sometimes, even in video clips from the Northeast theatre of the war, released intermittently on social media, Nigerians sight soldiers jubilantly displaying acts of gallantry, when they triumph over Boko Haram insurgents.  More penetrating is seeing troops fighting and caring for the old and young; children and women who are most times rescued from the terrorists and even administering oral polio vaccine as a first step to living a normal life again.
It is representatively symbolic of general excitements and the humane reflection of troops in the frontlines to show rare kindness and love. It inspires and assures of the troops’ anticipated last victory against Boko Haram at the cost of anything, including sacrificing their lives.


Today, Nigerian soldiers anxiously look forward to that hour with eagerness; the day they would be feted with garlands as heroes and heroines of counter-terrorism globally. The meekness and affection of troops towards those they fight for can only be found in rare cases and only amongst the Nigerian troops confronting the insurgents.

Leader of the counter-insurgency operations and Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. TY Buratai has effectively worked on the hedgy psyche of troops in confronting terrorists on the battlefield. Nigerian soldiers are no longer the previously known demoralized lot, which flinched in the frontlines in the face of  danger. Nigerian soldiers have no cause to again protest against lawful directives from their commanders or freely indulge in mutiny against superiors because of the injustice in the system, which also gravely affected their welfare. The narrative is discernibly not the same.

Media reports recount that from September to December 2014 alone, Nigerian soldiers, including senior officers faced Court Martial at different times on charges of mutiny over the counter-terrorism war in the Northeast. Sadly, many were convicted for mutiny and were jailed for various terms or even sentenced to death. Sometimes, expositions on such unfortunate incidents in Nigeria’s years of counter-terrorism combats preceding the Buhari Presidency are hotly disputed or challenged with a partisan flavor by some Nigerians.

But a report in the BBC News anchored by Ross Will, published on September 16,  2014 stated that 12 Nigerian soldiers “… have been sentenced to death for mutiny and attempted murder after shots were fired at their commanding officer in the north-eastern city of Maiduguri in May… Front-line troops often complain that they lack adequate weapons and equipment, while there have also been reports that they have not been paid or properly fed.”
The Guardian (online) published on same date, reported that “Demoralized soldiers have told the Associated Press that they are outgunned by the insurgents, frequently are not paid in full, and feel abandoned on the battlefield, left without enough ammunition or food. Endemic corruption in Nigeria means millions of dollars budgeted for the fight against the extremists goes missing.”


And in another report by the Independent (Online) by James Rush dated December 18, 2014 also chronicled such mutinies and convictions of 54 soldiers for refusing to battle Boko Haram insurgency. The report served the world the same nauseating narrative bordering on welfare of soldiers.
It said; “Troops regularly complain they are outgunned by the militant group, while some have also claimed they were not paid in full or were "abandoned" on the battlefield without enough ammunition or food.”
Apparently, the Nigerian Government and Military authorities of the time, probably never heard the voice of William Lyon Mackenzie King, a Canadian politician who once clamoured that;  “If I am outspoken of the dangers of intemperance to members of our armed forces, it is because we are all especially concerned for the welfare of those who are risking their lives in the cause of freedom.”

Our country was embarrassed with a dozen of such ugly incidents of mutiny or withdrawal from the battlefront in the face of menacing enemies before the Buhari Presidency. It manifested mainly because the welfare of soldiers, and even troops on the battlefield in the Northeast was largely ignored and neglected. It created the atmosphere for the expression of rampant mutinies and its damning negative effects on the counter-insurgency operations. 
But Gen. Buratai has acted differently as a leader and soldier who knows the pains of soldering and the inescapable reality  of placing premium on soldiers welfare, as Sidney Sheldon, famed American novelist contemplated thus; “My heroes are those who risk their lives every day to protect our world and make it a better place - police, firefighters and members of our armed forces.
The principle of welfare of soldiers and troops is a two-pronged approach. It is undeniably welfare, that is prompt payment of salaries /allowances and special interest in their families. And secondly, the provision of adequate and sophisticated fighting equipment for soldiers to protect the people and themselves in the battlefield.
Gen. Buratai has remedied both problems since becoming the helmsman of the Nigerian Army, by elevating soldiers’ welfare with an unbeatable attention and focus. He religiously sticks to Army’s welfare remuneration packages as stipulated by extant laws.  Salaries are paid promptly, and same for allowances, which are paid fully to soldiers and troops in the Northeast or those elsewhere within Nigeria, on special assignments.

It is a rewarding departure from the tradition of the past and reason troops on the frontlines are voluntarily goaded to extra-miles and into the deepest valleys with him in the counter-terrorism wars for the past four years. The psychologocal impact of this welfare is now being reflected in the troops. They have learnt to be humane towards those they fight with their lives to protect.
The successes recorded by the Army under Gen. Buratai are incalculable and proudly commendable because of this simple commitment.
The Army Chief frequently visits troops at various locations to either supervise or celebrate special festivities like Sallah, Christmas/New Year with troops.
An anonymous thinker hints about the secret of loyal followership by stressing that "To be kind is more important than to be right. Many times, what people need is not a brilliant mind that speaks, but a special heart that listens."  Another anonymous author espouses this same idea by saying, “Empathy is the most important leadership skill needed today!”
So, all the times, when Gen. Buratai visits troops, he dusts his toga of a boss and descends to the level of freely interacting even with the least junior Army Personnel during bonfire carnivals for the celebrations. The Army Chief has convened several open parleys with troops in the Northeast. Through such fora, he listens to personal problems of troops, even those concerning their families and instantly acts on them. No subordinates would like to disappoint a leader who exhibits such leadership empathy, mien and actions as one finds in the COAS.   

Gen. Buratai treats every soldier like his personal child. He follows them to the warfront; fights with them in the trenches and offers assistance to all indiscriminately. He ensures troops are not deprived of anything, even if it means sleeping on the open corridors of the Presidential Villa to get the attention and approval of the Commander-In- Chief, President Buhari.
It is one of the secrets of Gen. Buratai’s winning formulae against Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists, who are fruitlessly, very desperate to reverse the gains.


Buratai  is a living library of Congress on the art of asymmetric warfare and counter-terrorism. He knows the antics and how to extract his targeted results. His bag of strategies and tactics, cannot be exhausted in a single write-up. But welfare of soldiers has been a major influencer and energizer of troops for his successes as anti-terrorism Chief in Nigeria. Most importantly, an average Nigerian soldier today cares because he has a leadership that cares about him and his family.

Probably, let the rest of Nigerians ruminate about what American politician, Kirsten Gillibrand said about the Armed Forces of his country; “The brave men and women who have served - and those who continue to serve - our armed forces have selflessly sacrificed for our nation, and we owe it to them to provide the best services and protections available when they're overseas and after they return home.”.

Otene is a humanitarian worker based in Maiduguri.

Pictures: Nigerian Army fighting and caring

Impressive: Fighting and caring.

Troops of the  Nigerian Army on   top of Gwoza Hills, cleared the habitant and rescued women, children and old men from the terrorists.

Children being administered oral polio vaccine by the troops.

Oshiomhole reject Christmas gift from Obaseki

Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Governor of Edo, has rejected Christmas gifts from Edo State Government. 

Mr Crusoe Osage, the Special Adviser to Edo State Governor on Media and Communications, disclosed this in a statement in Benin on Wednesday.

 Osagie said the conventional Christmas presents reserved for former governors of the state that were sent to Oshiomhole were turned back. 

He said that messengers from the state government were dispatched to deliver the gifts on Christmas eve. 

“The messengers said they met the mother of the former governor who rejected the items, stating that her son would not accept the gifts. 

“The gift items meant for Comrade Oshiomhole include four cows and ten bags of rice”. 

He said the distribution of Christmas gifts was an annual ritual by the state government which serves as an expression of love, further strengthening the ties between the government and the people. 

He said the gifts were distributed to other government functionaries, political appointees, heads of security agencies, traditional rulers, religious leaders and heads of institutions of higher learning, among other prominent people in the society. 

Osagie said Obaseki and Comrade Oshiomhole had been locked in a political tussle over the governor’s policy choices focused on prioritising the peoples’ welfare as against pressures by a handful of politicians to share the state’s resources. 

He said the governor had set the political rift aside to perform the ritual of sending the gifts to Comrade Oshiomhole. (NAN)

Buhari's achievements and the poor image gap

By Philip Agbese 

This is indeed a serious topic. I choose to write on this topic for the fact that President Muhamadu Buhari has been receiving bashes from all fronts, and the media think tank appointed to rise to his defense has gone to sleep.

The slumber is so deep that one is tempted to ask if there is any sense of loyalty or urgency left in the way and manner they carry on with their duties. I will try to avoid delving into the narrative pushed by the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, even though she made some form of sense about the presidential media aides not doing enough to protect the President and project his numerous achievements since he assumed leadership of the country in 2015.

I have a verdict. My verdict is that the presidential media aides have performed below expectations in the task at their hand. They have carried on like rookies learning a new trade when in truth; most of them have seen it all in the journalism field. They have distinguished themselves before their appointments. The question thus is what went wrong?

The answer to this question lies in the apparent fact that there is a lack of either interest or commitment to the jobs they were hired for. I stand to be corrected; on a scale of 10, I would score the presidential media aides 4. This is in fairness to their years of experience over the years. However, the irony is that these individuals missed it along the line. They mistook the job for news reporting. They relegated the place of strategic communications and crisis management, either by omission or commission.

Make no mistakes; the presidential media team has performed woefully in the sense that they have allowed the many achievements of President Muhammdu Buhari to go unnoticed. They have also allowed critics of the government to dictate the narrative in the public space. And trust, this loophole has been exploited to the fullest, and at the detriment of the image of the President. Do they care?

We must come to terms with the fact that perception is the reality in this business. This much they should know with all their years of experience. This is not to say that they have been entirely lacking, but they are not in tune with the present realities. They have decided to engage in conventional strategies in a space that requires out of the box strategies and approaches. This could be deliberate or out of ignorance. If intentional, it is indeed a shame. If out of ignorance, it is indeed pathetic. And it behooves on them to brace up or leave the scene.

They must realize that this is not the era of press releases and pictorials. This is indeed the era of strategic communication intended at putting issues in proper perspective at the risk of losing the plot. I empathize with President Muhammdu Buhari with the level of bashing he has received on issues that ordinarily should not elicit harsh reactions from members of the public. But this is what you get when your media handlers are asleep.

President Muhammdu Buhari, in my opinion, has done well since he assumed leadership of this country. He has displayed a commitment to leaving Nigeria better than how he meant it. But the challenge is that those saddled with the responsibility of projecting his numerous achievements do not seem to be in tune with the urgency of now. They have left so many things to chance, and instead of being proactive, they have been reactive.

Trust the opposition; they have taken full advantage of this shortcoming to project the President as a dictator and one with little or no regard for the rule of law in Nigeria. This is indeed a sad tale. Whether we like or not, the achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari are in short supply in the public space. What we get to see are mostly press releases that are lacking in content.

I stand to be corrected; the approach deployed by the presidential media team has been lackadaisical. There is no urgency. There is no display of mastery of the game. For example, a situation where a presidential media aide would go on air to muddle issues rather than engage is most worrisome and does not speak well for the image of their principal.

I must add that the approach must change soonest. The bickering must be replaced by strategy. Their number one focus must be in the interest of their principal. And not their pockets. Those that can’t live up to expectations should tow the noble path because this is a serious business. If this approach is not embraced, then I am afraid there would be no justification for their continued stay in office.

The task at hand requires all hands to be on the deck where teamwork and cross-fertilization of ideas would rein supreme, where an avid commitment to projecting the achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari would take center stage. 

The presidential media team must wake up from its slumber and live up to expectations. It is inexcusable for them to continue to rely on goodwill. There is a place for strategic communication. This much they know and his much they must admit.

Agbese is an author, publisher and human rights activist based in the United Kingdom.

UN Security Council receives report to place US on global conflict escalation watchlist

The United Nations Security Council has been alerted to the United States of America's (USA) alleged role in escalating and encouraging the spread of conflict and crisis across the globe.

This notice was sent to the UN by the International Centre for Global Crisis and Conflict Management (ICGCCM) in a detailed report highlighting factors fuelling global conflicts around the world.

In the document carefully signed by Andrew Young and Chris Ratzinger, ICGCCM’s chairman and co-chairman, the group said it came to this conclusion after extensive research on the trends and some of the factors that shape/influence global conflict.

According to the international centre, this research work took an estimated seven months and three weeks to undertake and complete.

Among others, the group recommended that the US should be placed on the watchlist for negligence and aggravation of global conflicts through despicable actions and inactions.

It further revealed that the US' ban on arms procurement to counter-terrorism has led to more deaths as many countries are unable to fight terror.

The Centre added that the US has been identified to be covertly supporting extremists and terrorists through unsubstantiated allegations on home countries involved in the war against terrorism.

The International Centre for Global Crisis and Conflict Management, therefore, called on the United Nations Security Council to initiate sanctions on the United States in a bid to ensure that there is justice for all concerned.


Read full report below:

Introduction

The world has become less peaceful over the last ten years, mostly due to conflicts in the Middle East and Africa. An international index paints a dark picture, although with some brighter spots. Europe was the most peaceful region in the world in 2017, while the Middle East and North Africa were the least peaceful, the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), said in its 12th annual report. 2019 was a year of global unrest, spurred by anger at rising inequality – and 2020 is likely to be worse if urgent steps are not taken.

There is an ongoing deterioration in global peace. The conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa and the spillover effects into other areas have been the main drivers in the decline of universal peace. In a word, the world is in a mess, made more threatening by the retreat of the Trump administration from America’s traditional role as a stabilizing force.

Consequently, the International Centre for Global Crisis and Conflict Management, a think tank of crisis managers and conflict resolution experts based in Geneva-Switzerland, undertook extensive research on the trends and some of the factors that shape/influence global conflict.

This research work is a partial fulfillment of our 2019 strategic goal, which is to identify how conflicts can be mitigated around the world.   

Research Findings

It must be stated that quite substantial efforts were put into making this research work worth the while. Documents were studied, conflict zones were visited, interviews were conducted, on the spot assessment tours were carried out, victims of the conflict were identified, as well as the military strategies of some select countries were examined.

The research work took an estimated seven months and three weeks to undertake, with particular emphasis on primary sources of data. The highlight of the research work was the identification of the critical factors responsible for rising global tension, which would be highlighted and discussed below. 

The Factors necessitating Global Unrest

Negligence: was identified as one of the significant causes of tension and conflict around the world. This, it was also identified to have been primarily motivated by the United States of America whose military, in some instances, has been negligent in the discharge of their responsibilities.

In some instances, there were established cases of deliberate instigation of conflict in some regions/countries by agents of the United States of America in an attempt to ensure that their whims and caprices are carried out, or for the United States to control or access economic resources in such locations.

In the several locations and interviews conducted, there was always finger-pointing in the direction of the United States of America for inexplicable reasons, and that largely explains where in some cases where they have an interest, the United States is quick to assert authority. In places where they do not have an interest, they feign ignorance.

The sale of arms and ammunition: to countries in war is always at the behest of the United States of America. This factor has led to a wanton loss of lives around the world. The United States sanctions the sale of arms to some countries, where its interest is adequately protected. This tread was also identified as responsible for the proliferation of small and light weapons in most African countries.

Religion, Governance, and Politics: These issues and their allied topics of human rights, justice, have historically caused many of the world’s most significant conflicts, and continue to do so as often these issues are the most fundamental in the structure of a society.

If anything, the United States of America is a disruptor in its abandonment of international agreements. These include the Paris Agreement on climate change and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, previously the Trans-Pacific Partnership, aimed at liberalizing the Asia-Pacific trade. The US has also withdrawn from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) that froze Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

US’s defenestration of the JCPOA and its re-imposition of tough sanctions on Iran has further destabilized the world’s most volatile region. This is not helped by the administration in Washington that has yielded ground to authoritarian dictatorships at a time of global unrest in which stable Western leadership has hardly been more necessary.

Recommendations

In the light of the above revelations, it is expedient on the United Nations Security Council to impose some sanctions on the United States of America for aiding and encouraging the spread of conflict and crisis across the globe.

The United States of America should, as a matter of urgency, be placed in the watch list for negligence and aggravation of global conflicts through despicable actions and inactions.

There must be sanctions for the inglorious role of the United States of America in the covert sponsorship of violence and for making more people die, especially in instigating crises globally through the use of NGOs in espionage activities and compromising national security in most cases.

The ban by the United States of America on arms procurement to counter-terrorism leads to more deaths. Many countries are unable to fight terror because of such a ban and embargoes that are often not justifiable. They must be held accountable for the deaths that have occurred as a result of this.

The United States of America has been identified to be covertly supporting extremists and terrorists through unsubstantiated allegations on home countries involved in the war against terrorism.

The United States of America must be warned to deviate from actions that would embolden the criminals; they should stop funding NGOs, media organizations, and narratives that promote terror, extremism in foreign lands.

Conclusion

The International Centre for Global Crisis and Conflict Management concludes that the United States of America is indeed fueling conflicts in the regions of the world in his quest to dominate the socio-political landscape. In achieving this, nocturnal and covert activities are initiated and sponsored with the sole objective of causing unrest anywhere it deems to have an interest.

The United States sponsorship of humanitarian organizations in war-torn countries is also the avenue with which the spread of terrorism is sustained.

The consequences of such actions are that the world might erupt in flames in the nearest future if the relevant bodies do not begin the process of checkmating the unbearable attitude of the United States of America on the rest of the world.

The United Nations Security Council must initiate sanctions on the United States of America in a bid to ensure that there is justice for all concerned. The United Nations Security Council must set in motion a strategy that would ensure that the United States of America does not infringe upon the sovereignty of other countries under whatever guise.