Headline

Who Is the Boko Haram Commander?

Published

4 years ago

August 14, 2020

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

A former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Party (ADP) in the 2019 general elections, Dr Mailafia Obadiah, buzzed the Nigerian political and security landscape penultimate Tuesday, when he alleged during a live radio interview that a serving Northern governor is the commander and sponsor of the dreaded Boko Haram sect.

There are 19 known northern governors, and so the question, who is Dr. Obadiah referring to? Who is the commander of the Boko Haram sect.

Founded in Maiduguri in 2002 by Mohammed Yusuf, who was killed in 2009, Boko Haram, a deadly organisation, known for it guerrilla war-like activities has since been led by Abubakar Shekau and recently by Abu Musab Al-Barnawi after a splinter group supposedly emerged.

According to Wikipedia, when Boko Haram was first formed, their actions were nonviolent. Their main goal was to purify Islam in northern Nigeria. However, after the death of Yusuf, the group became violent and highly radicalised with increasingly sophisticated attacks, initially against soft targets, but progressing in 2011 to include suicide bombings of police buildings and the United Nations office in Abuja. The group is credited with the deaths of tens of thousands of people, displacement of about 2.3 million others, mass abductions including the Chibok saga of April 2014 where over 276 school children were taken.

Since March 2015, the group has been aligned with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, and was at one time the world’s deadliest terror group according to the Global Terrorism Index. In September of the same year, the Director of Information at the Defence Headquarters announced that all Boko Haram camps had been destroyed, much as attacks from the group continued unabated, in addition to President Muhammadu Buhari’s declaration in 2019 of the group being “technically defeated”. The attacks have not ceased however, but have escalated to a wider proportion.

In the midst the terrorism, speculations have been rife about who is behind the terror group just as accusing fingers have been pointed at some key personnel. Earlier, a former Anglican clergyman, Stephen Davis, blamed a former governor of Borno State, Ali Modu Sheriff, saying he initially supported them, but no longer needed them after the 2007 elections and stopped funding them. There is also Senator Ali Ndume, who was accused. Both men however denied the accusations.

Presently, the likes of Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, have come under fire over alleged fraternity with the terror group. The suspicion placed on Rufai was made manifest owing to his revelation in 2016 that he paid herdsmen to stop the killings in Southern Kaduna. He explained that the perpetrators of the killings foreign herdsmen who suffered losses during the post 2011 election crisis. According to him, they came back for revenge, and at the end of the day demanded compensation, for which he paid.

Fast forwarding to present, Obadiah’s allegation opened yet another can of worms. Reports did not substantiate his claims with the names of the supposed sponsor of the sect. However, he narrowed his accusation to 19 men including: Aminu Masari (Katsina), Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Simon Lalong (Plateau), Abubakar Bello (Niger), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Babagana Zulum (Borno), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq (Kwara), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), Mohammed Badaru Abubakar (Jigawa), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa) Darius Ishaku (Taraba), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Mai Mala Buni (Yobe) and Bello Matawalle.

The case, according to a human rights activist, who craved anonymity, is like the case of someone will betray the Lord, and the twelve disciples are confused among themselves, asking “Lord, is it I?”

The jittery governors, who is believed to have a Judas, have described the allegation as ‘weighty’, asking the security operatives to immediately carry out investigations.

In a statement signed by Makut Macham, Director of Press and Public Affairs to the Governor Lalong, who is the forum’s chairman, the group noted thus:

“The forum, which has been working with the federal government, security agencies, community, civil society, traditional and religious leaders as well as development partners to defeat terrorism, banditry and other forms of criminality in the region finds the allegation by Dr. Mailafia very weighty, which deserves further investigation.

“We, as Northern governors, have met severally to discuss insecurity in the region and the nation at large where we did not only condemn the activities of terrorist groups such as Boko Haram, bandits and other criminals but also engaged the President and all heads of security agencies in finding solutions to the problem.

“To now say that one of our members is leading Boko Haram is a serious allegation that cannot be swept under the carpet. We demand an immediate and thorough investigation.”

The Boss reported how Obadiah was invited by the Department of State Security, and drilled for over six hours. The former CBN executive however, did retract his statement, maintaining that he was sure that of his utterances during the live interview with Nigeria Info 95.1 FM in Abuja.

He said: “During the lock-down, the insurgents were moving and distributing arms and ammunition across the country. We have met with some of their repentant high commanders, they have sat down with us not once, not twice.”

The Federal Government, in July had reintegrated about 601 ex-Boko Haram terrorists including 14 foreign nationals from Cameroon, Chad and Niger into the society, a move that attracted condemnation more than applause.

Here are some of the 19 governors in the eye of the storm:

MALLAM NASIR EL-RUFAI

The two term Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai was born on February 16, 1960 to a Fulani family in Daudawa. He lost his father at the age of eight, and was sponsored through his early education by an uncle in Kaduna.

He was educated in Barewa College at a time when former President Umaru Yar’Adua was the house captain of his dormitory. In 1976, he graduated at the top of his class, winning the “Barewa Old Boys’ Association Academic Achievement” Trophy. El-Rufai attended Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, where he received a bachelor’s degree in Quantity Surveying with first class honours.

In 1984, he received a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School. He has since attended several professional and post-graduate programs, including the Georgetown School of Foreign Service of Georgetown University in Washington, D.C and programs on privatization and leadership.

El-Rufai has been battling albeit, unsuccessfully the one sided killings in the state where the Christian dominated Southern Kaduna has suffered casualities from Fulani herdsmen.

AMINU BELLO MASARI

A former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Bello Masari, who is serving his second term as the governor of Katsina state, was born on May 29, 1950. He is a native of Masari village of Kafur Local Government Area.

Masari’s Katsina, which incidentally is the home state of President Muhammadu Buhari, has become the centre point of banditry in recent times with many deaths recorded.

AMINU WAZIRI TAMBUWAL

The Governor of Sokoto State, who also serving his second term, was born on born January 10, 1966. He also served as the 10th Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Tambuwal is a product of the Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto, where he studied Law, graduating with an LLB (Hons) degree in 1991. He completed his one-year compulsory legal studies at the Nigerian Law School, Lagos, obtained his BL and was called to the Bar in 1992.

Besides studying for his law degree, he attended several courses abroad including: Telecoms Regulatory Master Class–Bath UK, 2004; Lawmaking for the Communications Sectors –BMIT, Johannesburg, South Africa, 2004; and Regulating a Competitive Industry-UK, Brussels, 2005.

Tambuwal has had his own fair share of skirmishes in the fight against terrorism, banditry and herdsmen.

BABAGANA UMARA ZULUM

Zulum is a first term governor of Borno State, who a cross section of stakeholders believe is making efforts at leadership. A professor of Soil and Water Engineering, Zulum was born on August 26, 1969.

He studied at the University of Maiduguri, where he obtained a degree in Agriculture Engineering. He proceeded to the University of Ibadan from 1997 to 1998, where he obtained a master’s degree in Agriculture Engineering. In 2005, he enrolled for a PhD in Soil and Water Engineering with the University of Maiduguri which he completed in 2009.

MAI MALA BUNI

Yobe State governor, Mala Buni was (born on November 11 1967. He is the current caretaker chairman of the All Progressives Congress. He was previously the national secretary of the APC.

YAHAYA ADOZA BELLO

Born on June 18, 1975, Kogi State governor, a businessman turned politician, is in his second term as governor. The youngest of six siblings, Bello studied at Kaduna State Polytechnic Zaria in 1995 and obtained an accounting degree from Ahmadu Bello University ABU Zaria in 1999. Yahaya Bello further enrolled for a Masters program in Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria where he obtained Masters in Business Administration (MBA) in 2002. Bello became a chartered fellow of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria in 2004.

He was privileged to become governor after Abubakar Audu, who originally won the election died before the results were officially announced.

ABDULLAHI UMAR GANDUJE OFR

The Kano governor was born on December 25, 1949. He served as two term deputy governor to Rabiu Kwankwaso before emerging governor in 2015.

In addition to Qur’anic education, Ganduje attended Advanced Teachers’ College, Kano between 1969 and 1972 before attending Ahmadu Bello University, where he graduated with a Bachelors in Science Education in 1975. He also obtained a master’s degree in applied educational psychology from Bayero University Kano in 1979 and later returned to Ahmadu Bello University from 1984 to 1985 for a Master of Public Administration degree. He received his doctorate in Public Administration from University of Ibadan in 1993.

With many others toeing the line, Nigerians are desirous of knowing who the Boko Haram commander is.

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Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway: Prioritize Existing Unfinished Projects, Peter Obi Tells FG

Published

23 hours ago

April 22, 2024

Eric

Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, has advised the federal government to prioritize existing unfinished projects spread across the country instead of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project.

Obi, in a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, stated that the project was a misplaced priority given the numerous unfinished roads throughout the country.

The former governor of Anambra State mentioned that the budget allocated to the Ministry of Works is insufficient for significant progress on the country’s various unfinished roads, much less their completion.

Obi therefore, advised that the government prioritize the existing infrastructural projects in the country before embarking on any new and colossal projects like the Lagos-Calabar super highway project.

“The Federal Ministry of Works 2024 capital budget of N892,461,262,656.00, additional funding from multilateral loan projects of N94,828,535,243.00, alongside other expected contributions from sources like the China-Exim Bank and the World Bank, will not be enough for serious work on all the critical roads, some of which I enumerated above, let alone their completion.

So, why embark on another huge project that will not be completed in the next 20 or 30 years?

“To do so will only exacerbate the problem of abandoned, uncompleted projects that are not contributing to economic growth and overall development.

“Therefore, while acknowledging the potential benefits of coastal superhighway infrastructure, I urge prioritization of our existing uncompleted projects. We must allocate resources towards repairing and completing existing infrastructure.

“In any development formula, the primary focus should be on completing and rehabilitating existing infrastructure rather than embarking on colossal new projects that may never reach completion within the next 30 years,” Obi said.

Back in March, the Federal Government began constructing the 700-kilometer Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, designed to extend through 9 states with two spurs leading to the Northern States.

Recall that former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, had earlier described the project as a fraud.

“Umahi had announced that Hitech would fully fund the project, and based on this, there was no competitive bidding. He (Umahi) then said that Hitech could only raise just 6% of the money for the pilot phase. This smacks of deceit,” Atiku said.

Headline

2027 Presidential Race: Opposition Parties Under Attack

Published

2 days ago

April 21, 2024

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

While it is still a whole three years before the next general election in 2027, The Boss has learnt that opposition parties in the countries are being muffled to pave the way for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to return to, and retain power.

From the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to the Labour Party (LP), and down to the New Nigerian Peoples Paty (NNPP), crises have engulfed the rank and files, in what a source told this paper was the attempt and making of the ruling party, APC, to decimate, destabilize and make redundant the machineries of the opposition parties.

It is believed that by 2027, the apparatuses holding together the various opposition parties would have weakened irredeemably to the extent the country would seemingly nosedive into the inglorious one party state that every civil right advocate and democrats abhor.

It is alleged that all the crises in all the opposition parties are being engineered by the President Bola Tinubu-led ruling APC, with the hope of getting the fibres of their system weakened, thereby luring the members of the crisis-ridden parties into the APC.

Slightly one year after the last presidential election, the two major opposition platforms, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party, have separately been embroiled in a crisis of confidence which has diminished their capacity to provide viable opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The crises in both opposition parties got to a head. The Labour Party led by its national chairman Julius Abure held its much-opposed national convention which was boycotted by its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi; its only governor, Alex Otti of Abia State; federal and state lawmakers elected on its platform, and the organised Labour.

In the Labour Labour, members have been embroiled in endless battle of supremacy with a faction led by Mr. Apapa steadily contesting the leadership of Julius Abure.

Consequently, the presidential candidate of the party in the 2023 elections, Mr. Peter Obi, reverence as a leader in the fold, noting that whatever the party faces presently, that Nigeria’s problems are far bigger than the crises in his party.

The LP has been embroiled in crises — ranging from allegations of misappropriation of funds, and leadership tussle, to calls for the resignation of the party’s national chairman.

TheCable reported that “On March 27, the LP conducted a national convention in Anambra state where Julius Abure was re-elected as its national chairman.

Obi did not attend the convention, fuelling speculations that he may be mulling over ditching the LP for another platform.

Speaking during an appearance on HaveYourSay247, an interactive online session hosted by Rudolf Okonkwo over the weekend, Obi said he is confident that the crises rocking the LP will soon be resolved amicably.

“Whatever is happening in the Labour Party is so minute compared to what is happening in the country,” Obi said.

“So, for me, it is something we will resolve amicably, and it is not anything to worry about. Let us worry about the country.

“Let us worry about how the average Nigerian would be able to have a means of livelihood to be able to eat, that should be our worry.”

Obi said he has no interest in being the party’s leader but only to make sure things are done properly.

“I don’t see what I do in politics as being the leader of any place or not. My position is that just like I always say, I am not desperate to be president of Nigeria, I am desperate to see Nigeria work because I know it can work,” he added.

“We have a more desperate situation. Parties are just a means to be able to contest elections. What is important is that being a leader of a party does not reduce the price of food.

In the PDP, the shenanigans of former Rivers State Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, has practically kept the party in constant crisis with many observers concluding that the now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is working for the APC, and is just a mole in the PDP. Wike has denied the allegation, however,

But news filtered in last week as that the immediate past Governor of Rivers State, and Minister may have concluded plans to attend the much advertised National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), billed to hold on Thursday, in Abuja.

Impeccable source, who is in the know, told The Boss that the minister, whose membership of the PDP is yet to be revoked even as he frolicks with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and serving in the President Bola Tinubu government as a minister.

The Source told The Boss that Wike’s impending presence at the NEC meeting on Thursday was not unconnected with plans, already hatched with some governors, to weaken the opposition PDP.

“Yes, we have on good authority that FCT minister, Wike is planning to attend the NEC meeting tomorrow all in a bid to weaken the fabrics of the PDP, and pave the way for the continuation of the Tinubu administration come 2027, and by extension, relapse Nigeria to a full blown one party state.

“From every indication, Wike and his co-travellers, are bent on unleashing the same crisis ravaging the third force, Labour Party, and Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso’s Nigerian National People’s Party (NNPP) on the PDP for the APC to remain the only political party in the country, and ensure that Tinubu has no challenger, come 2027,” the Source said.

It would be recalled that Wike has boasted over and again that there’s no opposition against Tinubu’s re-emergence in 2027, and that they have made sure of that. He has been compensated with the Ministerial job after he withdrew support for his party, and supported the APC and Tinubu to emerge as national government.

The Source further revealed that in the attempt to actualize the intended one party state, a lot of funding is ongoing to ensure that concerned stakeholders are ‘settled’ handsomely.

Wike, prior, during and after the 2023 general elections, has been floating in between the two major political parties; the APC and the PDP. While he claim to still be a member of the PDP, he is functioning as a minister in an APC government, mocking the inability of his party to discipline him.

While political stakeholders concluded that the outcome of the Thursday’s PDP NEC meeting will determine the path Nigeria’s political trajectory will take, and that it may portend the end of multi-party system and political democracy if Wike succeeds in his plan; every page of what finally transpired at the meeting pointed to the fact.

The much touted removal of the party chairman, who is believed to be a crony of the Abuja minister, Damagum, retained his seat, with his executives.

“It is very clear to everyone that a lot of money politics is being played to cajole many loyal members of the party, forcing them into frustration, and eventually it of the party. The option afterwards, will be the APC. This, will for all intent and purpose actualize the intended one party state as an APC agenda.

The Musa Rabiu Kwankwaso-led NNPP is not faring better either. The only governor under their ticket, Abba Kabir Yusuf, just had the confidence of their party on him withdrawn. He was fighting for his political life until suddenly it was announced the the APC in Kano has collapsed its structure into the NNPP.

“This is just another APC strategy to actualize their hidden intentions. Time will reveal the very sinister agenda they harboring,” an analyst said.

Much as 2027 is still three years away, but intrigues are in play to render Nigeria a one party state, and perpetuate the APC in power. The three other opposition parties are basically under attack to bring to pass this unpopular agenda.

Headline

Akwa Ibom Government, Governor Umo Eno Receive Top Honors at the 10th Wonders of the World Expo in Lagos

Published

2 days ago

April 21, 2024

Admin

The Akwa Ibom State Government and Governor Pastor Umo Eno were recognized with Travellers Awards at the 10th Wonders of the World Expo in Lagos for their sustained enhancement of infrastructure, support for local talent, and dedication to investment in the tourism sector. The ceremony took place at the National Museum in Onikan, Lagos.

While Akwa Ibom won the Most Active Tourism State of the Year, Governor Eno was adjudged the most Tourism-Friendly Governor of the Year at the event that had Minister of Tourism, Mrs. Lola Ade John in attendance.

According to Amb. Ikechi Uko, Founder/Publisher of ATQ Magazine, the organizers of the event which is in its tenth edition, Akwa Ibom State won the top prize “in recognition of its valiant and resourceful efforts to drive and sustain domestic tourism by promoting the industry.

‘In 2023, Akwa Ibom was one of the states that hosted World Tourism Day (WTD ) events. The state also organized the famous Christmas Unplugged, which featured music, food, and cultures from all 31 LGAs as well as ensured friendly policies.”

While hoping that the Travellers Awards would spur Akwa Ibom to do more to dominate the domestic tourism industry, the organizers hoped that the state would gradually evolve into one of Nigeria’s top international tourism destinations.

That was not all, the state Commissioner of Culture and Tourism, Sir Charles Udoh was also recognized as one of the Top 100 Tourism Personalities in Nigeria for demonstrating exceptional leadership and innovation in the travel and tourism industry, while other Akwa Ibom indigenes and entity were also celebrated: Mrs. Ime Udo, Honorary Special Adviser to the Governor( Tourism) won Tourism Promoter of the Year, Favour Udo won Tourism Photographer of the Year, Loretta Effiong and Prince Uduak Sunday (Qua Tours) were listed among the Tourism Personalities of the Year and Ibom Air won Airline of the Year International.

In his remarks, Sir Charles Udoh, who represented the Governor at the event, thanked the organizers for the awards and noted that Akwa Ibom is certainly enjoying the golden era when it comes to tourism development. He stated that Governor Umo Eno is very keen on making Akwa Ibom a leading tourism destination with his programmes and policies.

He revealed that with the new Victor Attah International Airport nearing completion, the purchase of a ferry for the Oron-Calabar route, new developments along its coastline and the restoration work that will be done at all its major tourism sites, Akwa Ibom is well on the way to becoming the number one destination for all domestic and foreign tourists.

In her speech, Tourism Minister, Mrs. Ade John hailed the organizers for hosting the Expo, where practitioners were lectured by top experts while also rewarding those who have excelled in the past year.

She affirmed that her ministry is open to partnership with public and private sector operators, adding that tourism development can only be successful through collaborative efforts.

The event, which attracted leading and budding tourism professionals, also featured interactive and entertainment sessions.

Apart from Sir Charles Udoh and Mrs. Ime Udo, the Akwa Ibom State delegation, also included: Mr. Michael Effiong James, Senior Special Assistant (Lagos Liaison) to Governor, Mrs. Eme Bassey, Special Assistant to Governor (Lagos Liaison) and Akparawa John Offiong, Deputy Director ( Culture) Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

More photos below: