An independent Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO), Foundation for Peace Professionals (FPP), has rated Osun and Kogi States as most peaceful states in Nigeria.

The group said that Ekiti, Kwara and Imo State, come 3rd, 4th and 5th respectively in the rating even as it rates Yobe, Kebbi, Bauchi, Zamfara and Sokoto State as the five least peaceful states in Nigeria.

“This is apart from Borno State that was not considered in the research due to insufficient data and the Boko Haram red light.”

The Executive Director of Foundation for Peace Professionals (FPP), Ambassador Abdulrazaq Hamzat who made the rating said that explained the methodology used in developing the index, adding that in attempting to rate the level of peace in Nigeria, NPI investigated the extent to which states experience social, economic, political and environmental factors that either hinders or promote peace.

“Five broad indicators were adopted for the index and they include, Level of Poverty, Crime Rate, Level of Education, Rate of Human Rights Abuses and Level of Incarceration.

“We collected data for year 2010-2016, an average of which gives us the result of Nigeria peace Index 2017.

“The NPI was referenced in a special report presented at the United Nations in 2017 by United Network of Young Peace builders titled ‘’Mapping a Sector: Bridging the Evidence Gap on Youth-Driven Peace building.”

At regional level, he said that South West emerged as most peaceful region in Nigeria, having two of its states, Osun and Ekiti as 1st and 3rd most peaceful states on the Nigeria Peace Index.

He said that despite the activities of militancy groups, the South South region still has more tendency of peace than South East, North Central, North West and North East region.

Abdulrazaq noted that measuring peace at the national level allows a country to assess the social, political and economic factors that create peace.

“Human attitudes, which often impede peace is a total summation of human life experiences, which if improved upon may lead to a more peaceful society, and failure of which leaves us with constant unrest.”

The representative of Statistician General of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Ichedi S.J commended the efforts of FPP, stating that the organizations effort is an attempt to begin the process of changing Nigeria’s narrative.

He asked FPP to seek collaboration and endorsement from statutory government agencies, even as assured them of the willingness of NBS to provide all necessary support in the future.

Engr. Chinedu Okpalanma, Co-Convener of Citizens Action To Take Back Nigeria (CATBAN) who unveiled the document expressed delight with the effort put into the index.

According to him, this research work came at a time when Nigeria dearly need peace in its quest for nation building, adding that it will go a long way in providing appropriate policy direction for peace building. [myad]

The Nigerian Army has vowed to continue to intervene in maintaining internal security of the country, debunking insinuation in some social media that it is in phased withdrawal of troops on Internal Security Operations in some parts of the country.

“We wish to inform the public that it’s not true. The Nigerian Army will continue to live to the expectations of Nigerians in the discharge of its constitutional duties of defending the territorial integrity of our dear nation and in aid to civil authorities.”

In a statement, Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Texas Chukwu, said that the troops on the ground will continue to intervene decisively to checkmate any form of criminality.

While appealing to the general public to give the army understanding, support and cooperation, the spokesman called on state Governors and Local Government Councils Chairmen to also be responsive to the needs of the citizens through the provision of social and developmental infrastructures.

“This will help reduce incidences of crime and criminality in our society.”

He announced that troops of 72 Battalion Special Forces, while on clearance operation in Gbajimba, Baka, Tomanyi, Iyode and Dogon Yashi in Benue State, made contact with armed herdsmen militias who engaged the troops in a fire fight.

“In the exchange of fire, one militia herdsman was killed while one other with gunshots wounds and three others were arrested. One Ak 47 assault rifle was recovered after the encounter.”

Brigadier General Texas Chukwu said that two other herdsmen who engaged in destructive activities on farmlands were arrested at Chembe community.

This was even as troops of the Battalion on patrol at Jatoaka town effected the arrest of 10 armed robbery suspects linked to an armed robbery incidence, adding that all the suspects have been handed over to the police.

“Similarly, in Taraba State, at about  0030hous to 0230hours (12:30am to 0230am), Troops of 101 Special  Battalion conducted clearance operation along road Suntai-Muji-Kungana.

“During the clearance operation,  troops encountered armed bandits who blocked the road and were harassing and dispossessing road users of their valuables. The bandits fled into  the bushes on engagement by own troops. A search of the general area led to the recovery of a dane gun. The barricade was cleared and traffic restored.” [myad]

President Muhammadu Buhari is scheduled to leave Abuja for London, tomorrow Monday on an official visit during which time he will hold discussions on Nigeria – British relations with Prime Minister Mrs. Theresa May, ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) meetings scheduled to hold between April 18 and 20.

A statement today, by the senior special assistant to the President on media and publicity, Malam Garba Shehu said that Buhari will also meet the Chief Executive Officer of Royal Dutch Plc, Mr. Ben van Beurden in connection with Shell and other partners’ plan to invest $15 billion in Nigeria’s oil industry.

The statement said that these investment ventures will lay the foundation for the next 20 years production and domestic gas supply, bringing with it all the attendant benefits both to the economy and the wider society.

It said that President Buhari will also renew discussions with the Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Rev. and Rt. Hon. Justin Welby, “a good friend of the President on inter-religious harmony in Nigeria and World-wide.”

It said that further meetings have also been scheduled for the President to see some prominent British and Nigerians residing in Britain. [myad]

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has raised the alarm over a plot by the Federal Government and her agents to frame him up by planting illegal items on him in any of his trips outside the shores of Nigeria, and have him quizzed and embarrassed by foreign security agencies.

A statement by the Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor on Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu, said that investigations by the Rivers State Governor revealed the Federal Government is using her security agencies to plan the set up anytime the governor travels abroad. The governor said: “My investigation reveals that the Federal government using her security agencies is planning to set me up anytime I am travelling outside the country. They plan to organise security to storm the hotel I am staying and say they found xyz cash in my possession; after which they would say I was arrested for currency trafficking or whatever offences outside the country.

“They will then precipitate crisis in my state and other parts of Nigeria. They will plan demonstrations to demonize me and claim I have gone outside to embarrass the country. The public odium is meant to smear me before my people and other Nigerians. It is unfortunate, wicked and unfair. What they plan is similar to what was once done to the late Chief DSP Alamieseigha.

“They are planning what they call the ‘Alams treatment’ for me. But, by the grace of Almighty God, they will fail.”

Governor Wike said, though he was neither scared nor disturbed over the plot, he felt the need to alert the nation and the world to the evil and dangerous dimension politics had degenerated in the country.

“I am using this opportunity to alert the world of the sinister plot. I am a law-abiding citizen of this country and countries I visit in the course of my work or holidays. I have never dabbled into anything illegal. So, any attempt to frame me up on trumped up charges or alleged offences is bound to fail.

“What they are doing is just cheap politics. They want to intimidate the opposition into silence as they are already doing with their so-called ‘looters’ list. It won’t work. We can’t all be intimidated. What we expect government at the centre to do is to showcase to the people their lists of achievements; why they should get a second chance. But they have nothing to show; so they are embarking on intimidation and arm-twisting tactics of the opposition.” Governor Wike said he was sure of resounding victory at the polls in 2019, because he has been serving the people diligently and efficiently.

“My works will speak for me. My projects will speak for me. The People of Rivers State will speak for me by voting me back. No shaking.” [myad]

“Just few days ago, there was the issue of providing funding for the purchase of security equipments. In a good environment, such an issue needed to have been discussed with lawmakers.

”Already, some senators are angry. They said they were not consulted by the executive before such a decision was taken. These are the issues we are talking about.”

The Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, spoke today, Saturday, at a retreat on “Strengthening Executive -Legislature Relations” organized by the Senate Press Corps held in Jos, Plateau state.

Senator Saraki, who expressed regret over the delayed passage of the 2018 budget, said that there must be collaboration and engagement between the Executive and the Legislature.

”So long as the process for the passage of the budget is not based on participation, engagement and collaboration, much will not be realized.

“The Executive and the legislature are partners. We need each other: the constitution does not allow one arm to work alone that is why there is checks and balance. There is no security architecture of this country that can work without a strong synergy between the executive and the legislature.

“When you see certain agencies, which by their actions and utterances frustrate the relationship between the two arms, you begin to wonder.

“What do we need to do? Do the police need more funding or more powers? Do they need new legislations to strengthen them? These are the issues where the executive and the legislature must work together.

“I needed to be here to speak on these issues. It is not just about today. Posterity will be here to judge us that what I am saying is true. If we do not change the way we behave, we will remain like this for many years to come.”

The Senate President said that for democracy to be strengthened, the priority of everybody should be to strengthen the legislature.

“If you do not defend the legislature, there is no way that our democracy will be strengthened because government is not built on individuals. It is built on institutions.

“That is why in developed countries, governments can change, but it does not affect the stability of their democracy because their institutions are strong.

“We decided to run a presidential system of government. By its nature of checks and balances, there are bound to be frictions. The question now is how healthy is that friction.”