The Nigerian Air Force has destroyed a new camp at Tumbum Rego where Boko Haram insurgents were trying to regroup after being chased from the notorious Sambisa Forest a fortnight ago.
Nigerian Air Force spokesman, Ayodele Famuyiwa said in a statement that air troops were able to successfully destroy the new camp of Boko Haram situated about 1 nautical mile south of Tumbum Rego in Northern Borno.
He said that a helicopter gunship and fighter jets were deployed for the onslaught in coordinated day and night operations .
The Nigerian military is currently intensifying aerial and ground patrol in the northeast, extending its offensive mission around the Green Belt Region near Niger and Chad. [myad]
Embattled President Yahya Jammeh of Gambia is fast losing out in the power play as the vital ministers in his dying government, including the ministers of Finance, Foreign Affairs, Trade and Environment have just resigned from his government.
This is coming in less than 48 hours to his official handing over of government to Adama Barro of the opposition party who won the December 1st Presidential election.
The ministers resigned just as regional forces, powered by the Economic Community Of West African State (ECOWAS) prepare to oust the veteran leader unless he steps down by Thursday.
President Jammeh, in power since a 1994 coup, has become increasingly isolated at home and abroad after he refused to accept his electoral defeat.
The surprise loss was seen as a boost to democracy in the former British colony, which has had only two presidents since it gained independence in 1965.
President Jammeh’s defiance has sent the tiny West African country into crisis, causing government defections and opening up the prospect of military intervention by other countries in the region.
A senior Nigerian military source said Nigeria and other West African nations are prepared to intervene militarily to remove him if he remains in office after Wednesday, when his presidential mandate runs out.
“The chiefs of defence staff of West African countries met on Monday to discuss strategies on the best way to get Yahya Jammeh out if he refuses to hand over power,’’ said the Nigerian source, who declined to be identified.
“Some West African countries will be contributing troops, including Nigeria, for the operation,’’ said the source, adding that the United Nations and African Union had offered support to regional body ECOWAS for the plan.
According to Gambian state television, Finance Minister, Abdou Kolley was being replaced.
Ministry sources said other government leaders including Foreign minister Neneh Macdouall-Gaye had left the government and the country. Their departures follow the resignation of communications minister Sheriff Bojang last week.
The mayor of the capital Banjul has also resigned, according to sources at the city council.
President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku who turns 84 years tomorrow, January 18, reminding him that his footprints will remain indelibile for posterity.
“You footprints as a teacher, who was renowned for being very articulate and meticulous, and diplomat, during whose stewardship as the Secretary General of the Commonwealth apartheid was peacefully replaced by non-racial democracy in South Africa, will remain indelible for posterity to cherish and emulate.”
A statement by the special adviser to the President on media and publicity, Femi Adesina today, quoted the President as describing Chief Anyaoku as a seasoned diplomat, elder statesman and administrator. He also venerated the celebrant by saying that his distinguished international career has attracted many national and international laurels, especially after serving as the third Secretary General of the Commonwealth.
President Buhari acknowledged the enduring relationship he has enjoyed with Chief Anyaoku over the years, and the many wise counsels he has received, saying that Anyaoku’s title as the Ichie Adazie of Obosi in Anambra State is most apt.
Buhari said that Chief Anayoku, has, from early age, shown a proclivity for ‘‘keeping and doing things well for his community, country and humanity.
The President who said he joined the diplomatic community, the Anglican Church, where he served many years as a chorister, and Chief Anyaoku’s family and friends in celebrating the quintessential diplomat, prayed to God to grant the elder statesman more years of grace, good health and wisdom to serve his country, and humanity. [myad]
“What do you mean happy new year, more than two weeks into the New Year. Have I not been in touch with you since January 1?”
“But for you the New Year has just started. Your January 1 was not on January 1”
“Looks like you have started taking something. I must inform your wife.”
“I say Happy New Year to you.”
“Okay, same to you.”
“You think I don’t know what you have been going through? Your wife told me you have not been yourself since those Mavrodi Mundia Moneybox people suspended their scheme. She specifically asked me to keep an eye on you. But we thank God the MMM is back, 24 hours earlier than they promised. Now, you can get your money back.”
“My brother, it is a lo-n-g story. This MMM thing has become a case of the more you hear, the less you understand. And to think I invested my children’s education savings. Everything.”
“What is the problem again? I hear you can get your money back, and MMM says they are ready to change the world.”
“I don’t know about changing the world, but let them change my sadness to joy by just returning my money, but now they say they can only pay a small amount per day and that those who invested big money like me should wait.”
“How much did you invest?”
“If I tell you the figure, you will know that the year is not new at all.”
“Tell me.”
“So you can go and tell your wife and your wife can tell my wife and the three of you can tell everybody. I just pray MMM does not mess me up, otherwise all of you won’t have anything to gossip about when you start looking for a casket.”
“Is it that bad? Please don’t let it get to that stage. But I can assure you, if they mess you up, I will sue the hell out of them. I will get lawyers and sue them to court.”
“You will defend my rights after I am dead? Now, I see you are a very good friend indeed.”
“I am just trying to help. I almost invested in the MMM myself.”
“Let me ask you something. What is a bitcoin?”
“Not too sure.”
“MMM says they will pay with bitcoins. I invested with Naira. They say they will pay me with coins, not with dollars, but coins. Ore mi, gba mi. Se kinni yi o ti fe di one chance bayi? And yet they are saying they want to change my world. Government should intervene and monitor the whole thing.”
“I won’t consider MMM the business of government.”
“Everything that has to do with the welfare of a citizen is the business of government.”
“If you decide to go and invest your money with money-doublers, why should government be bothered?”
“Government cannot allow anybody to spread frustration in any form. MMM should give me my money, not coins.”
“By the way, we should find out what a bitcoin is? We learn everyday.”
“I didn’t invest for research purposes. I invested for profit purposes.”
“But suppose the bitcoin is even better than the Naira. Somebody told me that bitcoin is a cryptocurrency, although he didn’t quite explain.”
“Ha. I am in trouble. So, I now have to carry dictionary over this MMM matter. Even a crypto something is now better than the Naira. God, pity your servants!”
“Just calm down. We have enough people dying everyday. Don’t join the list. I am sure everything will be sorted out. While you are killing yourself over MMM, are you aware that some Nigerians are already investing in another Ponzi scheme?”
“What is that one?”
“It is called Swissgolden. They offer gold or cash profit.”
“I don’t want to hear about it. And you say government should not get involved? We are almost becoming a nation of desperate money-doublers.”
“Government should worry about more serious things, except of course someone sets out to commit a crime.”
“Nothing can be more serious.”
“Like the Southern Kaduna killings, for example”
“That is sad. Ethnic and religious violence has been a source of threat to Nigeria’s corporate existence. We need to build a nation first.”
“The Catholic Church says the casualty figure in Southern Kaduna so far is about 808. Over 1, 422 houses, 16 churches, 19 shops and one primary school have been destroyed. The challenge is how to prevent these things.”
“Too much politics in everything and that is why ordinary things become big things and so much tragedy is invited. Government must be pro-active.”
“That’s like saying nothing. I have heard that cliché too many times. The root of our national crisis is much deeper. Oftentimes the people themselves are the problem.”
“I hear in the Niger Delta, the people are also threatening to resume hostilities, shut down oil installations and destroy NDDC projects.”
“It is not the people. It is the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) with their ‘Operation Walls of Jericho’ and the Niger Delta Revolutionary Crusaders (NDRC). Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has led a delegation to go and talk to them, particularly the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF). I think the resort to dialogue is wise.”
“I’ll like to see that too in Southern Kaduna, coming from the highest levels and I like the fact that the Federal Government is talking to the Bring Back our Girls Group and that for once they are willing to listen. Before May 2015, that group never wanted to listen to government. Now they are in Sambisa Forest.”
“I call it the BBOG Journey to the Sambisa Forest of a Thousand Daemons. When you go to a forest like that, you will have stories to tell.”
“I like the strategy. Get the protesters to help government sell its own story. Quite clever.”
“What if the strategy back-fires?”
“Oh, come on. It won’t.”
“You are always cynical. Thank God you are not in Tanzania where media cynicism of any sort is now a crime.”
“Under President John Magufuli, the bulldozer? Everyone has been praising him for fighting corruption and administrative opaqueness.”
“Magufuli is now bulldozing the media and free speech. Just the other day, he threatened Tanzanian journalists. According to him: ‘We will not allow Tanzania to be a dumping yard for inciting content. This will not happen under my administration”
“What?”
“They now have in Tanzania, The Media Services Act of 2016 which gives government officials the powers to shut down media houses and seize their printing machines.”
“That is even worse that that Nigerian Decree. Decree… Decree….”
“It is not from my mouth you will hear that one. Just be careful. Magufuli’s position is that journalists provoked him with their inciting content.”
“What is it with our leaders in Africa? In other words, Magufuli is saying he is a constituted authority.”
“Not a…he is the constituted authority.”
“One of these days, he too will just say, “Bring that boy here…Leave him…Who do you think you are talking to…I am the constituted authority.”
“You are quoting someone else now, not Magufuli.”
“African leaders sound alike when it comes to the use and abuse of power. You are right, I am quoting the Governor of Oyo State, Nigeria, Governor Abiola Ajimobi. Students of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) provoked him. They had the temerity to remind him that their school had been shut down for eight months. The Governor was so irritated, he sounded as if the students were disturbing him.
“The students were rude. Nigerian students don’t respect constituted authority. They don’t know how to address power.”
“Which authority? Is that why they should be tongue-lashed and shot at by the police?”
“I know the Governor. One of the students must have said something nasty to him. I got that much from his daughter’s alleged reaction.”
“Who is that?”
“The Governor’s daughter defending her dad.”
“What does she know about a university being shut down for eight months and students having to stay at home because government is suffering from a disease called lack of funds. This democracy sha.”
“Don’t worry yourself. It is not an African thing. In the United States, the President-elect’s daughter is going to be very powerful in his in-coming government. Her husband, Jared Kushner is already warming up to play a major role, and his only qualification for the job according to the father-in-law is that he is a good lad and a natural talent”
“That Donald Trump. He should stop disturbing everyone with his reckless comments.”
“I pray he doesn’t cause a Third World War.”
“With the way he has been provoking China.”
“Everything is under negotiation including One China”, says Trump.
“Nobody can negotiate that,” says China.
“And Trump picks up his phone and makes a long-distance call to the President of Taiwan, and China says that is a terrible insult”
“Trump definitely thinks his trip to the White House is one of his ‘You’re fired’ episodes. He is busy burning bridges.”
“Meanwhile, in Nicaragua…”
“What’s happening in Nicaragua?”
“The President has just been sworn in for a third term in office, with his wife as his Vice-President! A husband and wife Presidency”
“You think that can happen in Nigeria?”
“You are not aware that in some states in Nigeria, family members are the ones who run the government?”
“Which state?”
“Go and find out for yourself?”
“So, how is our friend, Jim Obazee of the Financial Reporting Council (FRCN)?
“He broke the law”
“He was trying to enforce the law”
“He broke the law of the Psalms. Psalm 105: 15 – “do not touch my anointed ones/And do my prophets no harm.” He wanted to use a Governance Code to force men of God to observe term limits.”
“You are missing the point.”
“And to think he would start implementing the Code from his own church, where he is a pastor, with Daddy G.O. of the Redeemed Church. So he means charity begins at home.”
“You don’t get it. Are you recommending nepotism? The whole point of the Code is that when religious groups become business entities, they must pay taxes and respect corporate governance rules.”
“Nigeria is a secular state. Government should not dabble into religious matters.”
“But government can dabble into the matter of El-Zakzaky and his movement. I beg.”
“The Bible says…”
“Yes, I know what the Bible says. Don’t bother.”
“We should pray for the people of Gambia and the President-elect Adama Barrow who is supposed to be inaugurated as President on January 19. Yahya Jammeh is still insisting he will not step down. The people are already fleeing the country, Ministers and other government appointees have resigned, the whole world is angry, but Jammeh is sitting tight.
“You know something?”
“What?”
“In the midst of all this, while Adama Barrow is in exile in Senegal waiting for January 19, his eight-year old son was bitten by a dog last Sunday. He was rushed to the hospital. The boy died.
Habibu Barrow, the eight-year-old son of Gambian President-elect Adama Barrow, died yesterday, Sunday after being bitten by a dog.
According to report by the BBC Africa, Barrow’s son was reportedly being transported to a hospital in Manjai when he died.
The Gambian president-elect could not attend his son’s funeral, as he was advised to remain in Senegal for his safety.
Barrow won the December 2016 presidential election in The Gambia, but outgoing President Yahya Jammeh has so far refused to hand over power, despite initially conceding defeat.
Mr. Barrow’s inauguration ceremony is slated for Thursday, January 19. Against the background of President Jammeh’s announcement that he would not recognize Mr. Barrow’s inauguration until the Supreme Court rules on his appeal contesting the election results. The court postponed the hearing due to its lack of judges eligible to hear the case. jammeh has ruled the small West African country since 1994.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in talks mediated by President Muhammadu Buhari, urged Jammeh to accept the results of the election, but he has refused to do so.
The African Union (AU) announced that it would formally recognize Barrow as president of The Gambia on January 19, regardless of whether or not Jammeh steps down. [myad]
The minister of Defence, Brigadier General Mansur Dan Ali has said the capture of Camp Zairo in Sambisa forest is not the end of the campaign against Boko Haram.
The minister spoke today, Monday, in Yola at the Command centre of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) during a briefing for members of the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) team.
The BBOG group had been invited by the minister of information, Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed on an operational visit to Sambisa forest to have a first-hand view of how the military has been fighting the war on insurgency and the efforts to rescue the abducted Chibok girls.
The BBOG team comprised the convener and former minister of education, Mrs. Oby Ezekwezili, the coordinator of BBOG, Aisha Yesufu and another official, Dr. Manaseh Allen.
The Minister was responding to questions from Ms. Ezekwezili on why the military is still conducting operations in sambisa when it claimed to have captured it.
“Camp Zairo is the spiritual headquarters of Boko Haram, it doesn’t mean when you capture that all of them will disappear but it is significant because it was thought that the place was impregnable.
“Capturing Camp Zairo is the end of the mission to capture the place, we are not saying the campaign is over but we have dominated camp Zairo,” the minister said.
Leading the briefing, the Air Officer Commanding, Tactical Air Command, Air Vice Marshal, Nurudeen Balogun said the NAF Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions over Sambisa forest have revealed sightings of women and children, many trying to flee Boko Haram.
Also present at the briefing were the minister for information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar.
The team left Abuja aboard the Air Transport Plane Hercules C-130 for Yola where a full briefing was held.
“We have intensified our ISR to ensure displaced Boko Haram members do not regroup. Since January 1 to 15, 2017, we have flown a number of sorties and there have been some sightings of abductees,” Balogun said. [myad]
Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara have condemned the attack and bombing of a mosque inside the University of Maiduguri during which a Professor of Veterinary Medicine was reportedly among the casualties.
A statement by the special adviser on media and publicly, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, the Senate President decried the loss of valuable human lives and destruction of property during the incident.
He expressed concern over the rising trend of isolated Boko Haram attacks on soft targets since the liberation of the Sambisa Forest which used to be the stronghold of the insurgents by the military.
Such attacks, Saraki said, ‘have created fears among Nigerians, that in spite of the obvious defeat of the insurgents, pockets of attacks are still being perpetrated by the fleeing remnants of the outlaws.’
He said that the attack on the university provides a cogent reason why security should be further strengthened around all educational and allied institutions to prevent re-occurrence.
“This attack calls for urgent security measures for all potential targets across the country so as to prevent the insurgents from taking undue advantage of the emerging peaceful atmosphere across the country.”
Senator Saraki prayed to God to grant repose to the souls of the departed and quick recovery for the injured, even as he called on Nigerians to be more vigilant and security conscious.
Speaker Dogara described the sad incident as the height of wickedness, barbarism, callousness and ungodliness, lamenting that in spite of the military feat which dislodged the terrorists from their enclave, the insurgents could still find the audacity to carry out such a dastardly act on the University campus.
He noted that the latest bomb attack was yet another evil dimension taken by the terrorists, and advised the Nigerian security operatives not to be deterred by the new tactics of the terrorists but to step up their operations as to consolidate on the gains so far made in the fight against terrorism. [myad]
President Muhammadu Buhari has vowed that his government would not allow terrorism to triumph over peace-loving Nigerians.
The President, who condemned the terrorist attack at a mosque in the University of Maiduguri, Borno state today, Monday, emphasized the need for Nigerians to remain more vigilant even as the security agencies continue to use all means at their disposal to combat the remnants of insurgents and their sponsors.
He said that the attack on a revered place of worship and Ivory Tower shows that the perpetrators have no true understanding of Islam, and that their despicable acts of terrorism are cowardly, criminal, unjustifiable and punishable before God Almighty and the laws of the land.
The President reassured communities in Borno and others in the North eastern part of the country that his administration will continue to ensure that terrorism never triumphs over peace-loving Nigerians.
He expressed sympathy and heartfelt condolences to the University Community, families of the victims and the government and people of Borno State even as he wished those who were injured in the attack a speedy and full recovery, and comfort for families of the dead.
It was learnt that one of the bomb blasts that killed a professor at the University of Maiduguri was caused by a seven-year-old who stormed a prayer ground as early as 5 am.
Head of media and public relations of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Sani Datti, said that one of the bombers detonated his explosion at a Mosque near Gate 1 of the institution while people were praying.
In the heat of the confusion and while people scampered, the second bomber detonated his own at the Gate 5 end of the university.
He said that 17 injured victims had been evacuated to a hospital adding that so far, four people including the two bombers had been declared dead.
Reports had it that the bombers killed a director of vetenary medicine, Professor Aliyu Mani, and four others while another 15 persons are said to be injured.
Spokesperson of the Borno state police command, Victor Isuku, said the blast happened early in the morning.
Since the beginning of January, 2017, the Boko Haram had consistently launched attacks and killed people including soldiers.
This is raising new fears, especially as the members are now believed to have fled to different parts of the country.
Some of the fleeing Boko Haram members have been caught by security officials in Lagos, Osun and Ogun states. [myad]
The embattled President of The Gambia, Yahya Jammeh has failed to induce that country’s Supreme Court to stop the inauguration of the President-elect, Adama Barrow on January 19 as the court refused to hear his application to that effect.
By the ruling of the court which came up today, Monday, President Jammeh, who has vowed to remain in power, will be illegally occupying the office of the President of the tiny West African country after January 19 when his tenure expires.
Last Thursday, the country’s ruling Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC), had filed an application for an interlocutory injunction seeking to stop the inauguration of Barrow as President on January 19.
In the application signed by its lawyer, Edward Gomez, the APRC is asking the court for an order of interlocutory injunction preventing the chief judge of the country from inaugurating or swearing in Barrow as the President of The Gambia until the determination of the election petition.
The party also sought the court’s injunction for an order “restraining the President from preparing, arranging, organizing, conducting, partaking or participating in any manner or form in the swearing-in and /or inauguration of Adama Barrow as President of the Republic of The Gambia on January 19, 2017.”
The APRC further prayed the court for an order restraining the country’s National Assembly, its members and any organ of government from partaking in the inauguration of Mr. Barrow.
The party prayed the court for an order stopping Mr. Barrow from presenting himself to the country’s Chief Judge or judiciary to be sworn-in as president of The Gambia.
But today, Monday, the country’s Chief Judge, Emmanuel Fagbenle, a Nigerian, refused to grant the prayers requested by the APRC, which would have effectively extended the tenure of the country’s President Yahya Jammeh.
The court refused to consider the application on the ground that the application listed the Chief Judge, who is the only Supreme Court Judge at the moment, as a party in the application.
Fagbenle said that he could not give an order against himself, adding that he would remove himself from the suit in the interest of fairness. He then adjourned the election petition to the time when the court is fully constituted. [myad]
Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi state has directed Ganza Engineering Ltd, the company handling the N3.98 billion Ukawu water scheme in Okawu, Onicha L.G.A to immediately return to site. Umahi, who gave the order while inspecting the water project, awarded by the immediate past administration in April 2008, expressed disappointment with the quality of work and the speed of the contractor in handling the project. “Tell Ganza to return to work immediately. We will schedule a meeting with the contractor for Friday,” he told the site Engineer. It will be recalled that the Ukawu water project was initiated by the former governor of the state, Chief Martin Elechi, together with Oferekpe water scheme. While Oferekpe water project was completed without reticulating water to serve Ebonyi people, the Ukawu water project which had a completion period of two years, has remained a ghost of itself.
It was gathered that the contractor which had received N2bn payment requested that additional N4bn be paid by the state government to enable his company continue work on the project.
Governor Umahi, who was visibly unhappy on seeing the poor quality, sat down on a concrete deck up the water scheme looking at the contract details and shaking his head intermittently.
He inspected the project in company with the Commissioner for works, Engr.Fidelis Nweze, Senior technical Assistant to the governor on projects, Engr. Oka Uchechi, chairman of Onicha LGA, Mrs Elizabeth Onwe and other top government functionaries. Umahi had earlier inspected Hilltop/Nwofe/Agbaja Road, Presco flyover, Akanu Ibiam round about flyover among other state projects. [myad]
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