A Sharia Court Judge in Basawa in Zaria, Kaduna State, Haruna Aliyu, has been arraigned before an Upper Sharia Court, for alleged attempt to rape a married woman.
The accused was brought to the Court located in GRA Zaria, by the police on a one-count charge of attempt to commit rape.
The prosecutor, Sgt. Ibrahim Hussaini told the court that the accused was apprehended by the police at about 7:00p.m on Monday with the woman.
He said that a lawyer, Aminu Adamu-Mohammed of Waff Road Sabongari, reported the case through a phone call to Sabongari Divisional Police Headquarters.
The prosecutor said that the complainant had accused Haruna of luring one Fatima Alhassan, a house wife, to a hotel on Samaru road in Zaria with the intention of committing adultery.
The prosecutor said the offence is punishable under Sections 226 and 116 of the Penal Code Law.
The accused however pleaded not guilty to the offence, and his counsel, M. G. Sadiq requested the court to grant his client bail.
The Judge, Mustapha Umar granted the accused bail in the sum of N50, 000 with two sureties in like sum.
He ordered that one of the sureties must be a civil servant on GL 10 or a Village Head.
Umar adjourned the case to June 6, for further hearing. [myad]
The Chairman of the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal for kogi State sitting in Abuja, Justice Halima Muhammad, has announced that he will soon fix a definite date for the judgment in the case.
Muhammad said the judgment date would be communicated to all parties in the matter.
This followed the completion of all the petitions as announced by Counsel to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), one of the parties in the matter, Oba Maduabuchi.
At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, the Counsel said that he had filed the party’s final written address.
Maduabuchi prayed the court to nullify the election of Governor Yahaya Bello on the grounds that he did not poll the highest majority of votes during the election.
He also told the tribunal that the election of the governor was devoid of the principle of the Electoral Act hence, should be nullified.
Counsel to Bello, Babatunde Daudu, prayed the tribunal to discountenance and dismiss the ADC petition.
“The ADC petition lacks merit and there is no standard ground for which the petition should be given victory,” Daudu said.
President Muhammadu Buhari has said that corruption in the Nigeria Army nearly made Nigeria to capitulate to Boko Haram, having rendered the once vibrant Army incapacitated and unable to quickly defeat the insurgents.
President Buhari, who spoke today at an audience with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Dr. Ahmed El-Tayeb, regretted the loss of as many as 14 local government areas of the Nigerian territory to Boko Haram, a situation which he said greatly tarnished the reputation of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
The President said that with measures taken by his Administration to curb corruption and provide better weaponry, logistics, training and welfare for soldiers on the frontlines, the Nigerian military has now almost totally incapacitated Boko Haram as a fighting force and recovered all territories that were lost to the terrorist sect.
“When we curbed corruption and removed the injustice in the military, we began to make progress.”
He solicited the support of Muslims across the world for Nigeria’s war against Boko Haram, saying that the war against terrorism is also a war against injustice, which is not condoned by Islam and all the major religions.
“You can’t kill the innocent in churches or in mosques and shout Allahu Akbar,” President Buhari said, adding that the visit of Dr. El-Tayeb and his expression of solidarity with Nigeria in the war against terrorism is a clear indication of global Muslim support for Nigeria against the unjust killing of the innocent by terrorists.
The President, who reaffirmed his Administration’s determination to resettle all persons who were displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency, thanked the Grand Imam for the donation of scholarships, educational and medical supplies to Nigeria’s Internally Displaced Persons.
Dr. El-Tayeb told President Buhari that Muslims all over the world share Nigeria’s pains from terrorism and will continue to support efforts to ensure the return of peace and unity amongst all faiths in the country. [myad]
The tone and tenor of speeches of Heads of State and government at the Regional Security Summit hosted on Saturday by President Muhammadu Buhari suggest that the countries in the Lake Chad region are looking beyond the Boko Haram terrorism.
Smart leaders they are, they didn’t present themselves back-slapping each other in a congratulatory mood over the enormous feat they have accomplished in the last ten or so months, substantially reducing the terrorist threats in the region to the point of being described as a mopping up operation.
They were conscious of the fact the the Chibok Girls have not been found. No success can be declared in this war without the girls being found and reunited with their families.
In addition, the world has come a long way since Gorge W. Bush stood there atop the ship “Abraham Lincoln” being saluted by the flight deck crew to read a speech announcing an end to the Iraq war. “The 2003 Mission Accomplished” banner dominated the background as he spoke. But with hindsight, the world knows that the war against Iraq is still work in progress.
The then American President, George Bush was to say to a CNN interviewer a few years later that he regretted the outlandish display. In November 2008 specifically, Bush indicated that he regretted the use of the banner, stating that it conveyed the wrong message.
There are many who believe that the United States isstill paying a price for that massive public relations failure.
In all probability, the world would have benefited more from the leaders if the summiteers in Abuja had to say everything on the war situation as it enters its end in their territories but they, instead, chose to dwell on the the promise of the future and what can be done to steer the economy and humanitarian situation into better times.
While acknowledging the progress so far made, the summiteers who included French President Francois Hollande, Nigeria’s Buhammadu Buhari and ten other African Presidents, prime ministers and delegates concluded that defeating Boko Haram Terrorist Group will require a sustained comprehensive approach based on clear and coordinated plans of engagementat at the regional level. Such an approach, they said, must confront challenges relating to effective security operations, providing civilian security and civil administration, restoring stability, and promoting economic development and job creation to break the cycle of violence in all countries where Boko Haram is active.
Among other things, they recommended the enlistment of local community and religious leaders as constantly hammered on by President Buhari; increased intelligence sharing; the prioritization of the public education system and sparing no effort in the continuing search for the Chibok schoolgirls and all those abducted by Boko Haram by pooling intelligence resources.
The leaders also agreed to support the victims of sexual violence or forced marriage by Boko Haram, and the need to provide them with appropriate support including reintegration to communities; that defeating the insurgency requires more than a Military solution but that it also requires government-led development action to tackle the root causes of insurgency in the Lake Chad Basin through the development of education and economic opportunities.
The summit agreed to address the humanitarian situation affecting millions of IDPs, refugees and host communities in Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger. The critical situation of the inhabitants of the newly-liberated towns and villages was also adjudged to be very pathetic. The summit agreed to provide and rehabilitate facilities in the devastated towns and villages with a view to creating conditions for citizens to live without fear of violence and return to conventional life and called for additional support from the international community. They, in addition, took special note of the 20,000 unaccompanied children (below the age of 18 years) displaced by the conflict and over 6000 minors,under the age of five years, and agreed to work together with international organisations to reunite those children with their families.
One other major step toward a lasting solution towards permanent peace in the region is identified as coming through the acceleration, specifically within three (3) years, of the implementation of the Lake Chad Development and Climate Resilience Action Plan as presented on the margins of COP21 in Paris in consultation with communitiesof the Lake Chad. It is hoped that the accelerated implementation of the Action Plan would go along way in bringing development to the Lake Chad Basin.
As a matter of fact, the summit blamed the impact of climate change for the unemployment and crime in the region and urged the LCBC and other willing partners to pursue the goal of inter-basin water transfer project with a view to restoring its normal level, mitigating drought, re-establishing fishery, irrigation and navigation.
For Nigeria in particular, the period of the summit was used to receive an important visitor described as a friend of Africa, Francois Hollande who, in a literal sense killed two birds one stone. He engaged his host, President Buhari in a bilateral meeting in the early part of the day and in the afternoon,joined the other leaders at the summit. The two presidents reviewed the activities of the Multinational Joint Task Force, MNJTF and the progress made since the Climate Change agreement, COP 21 in Paris. President Hollande gave commitment to Nigeria on the resettlement of IDPs as well as his continuing support towards the reestablishment of full security in the Lake Chad region. Five agreements were signed between the Nigerian parties and their French partners.
A cultural agreement and a scientific and technical agreement were signed by government ministers. Dangote Group’s Dansa Foods Limited signed an agreement with the French company Nutriset for the production of nutritional foods in the North East. The state development commission, AFD of France signed two credit agreements with the Ministry of Finance and one with Zenith Bank for amounts that were not disclosed.
In the margins of the security summit, the President also received in audience and at their request, Presidents Macky Sall of Senegal, Patrice Talon of Benin and Idris Deby Itno of Chad.
The President also had audiences with the British Secretary for Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Rt. Hon. Phillip Hammond, the U.S Deputy Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and the Deputy President of the European Union Ms Federica Moghereni.
President Macky Sall raised concerns about the need for the emergence of a good candidate for the Chairmanship of the soon-to-be vacant African Union Commission in view of the decision of Mrs Zuma not to run for a second term. He told President Buhari that his country has such a capable candidate.
He also raised an issue concerning the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
President Patrice Talon seemed very keen to strengthen the very warm and friendly relations he met on the ground between his country and Nigeria. He intends to pay a State visit to this country in the shortest possible time.
President Deby Itno gave important news about some Boko Haram hideouts on the border between our countries against which Chadian troops will soon to be tackling.
He was also interested in promoting a railway line linking Nigeria and Chad.
Right Hon. Philip Hammond had a lengthy time with President Buhari, their discussions spanning a wide range of issues including, of course Boko Haram, the reconstruction of the damaged infrastructure, the insecurity in the Niger Delta, corruption and the issue of population growth in the country.
Although this summit also discussed a yet-to-be fixed donors conference on the rebuilding of the LBCD areas, the EU brought the good news of the plan to spend 140 million Euros in that regards in the next five years.
The EU also announced a plan to spend 40 million Euros in the reconstruction of the Northeast. The US promised an immediate return of Nigeria’s stolen350 million Dollars held up their country. China, the African Development Bank,ADB, the Islamic Development Bank, IDB, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, IMF have all pledged various contributions they will be making.
President Muhammadu Buhari’s just-concluded Regional Security Summit, which was the second after the initial one by President Hollande in Paris two years ago, has produced a communique unprecedented in terms of the strong words used and the space devoted to fighting terrorism, post-conflict resettlement and rehabilitation as well as ways of bringing social and economic justice, growth and development to a battered part of Africa. It also unveiled an expansive security cooperation agenda that can binds the West and Central African states to their U.S., European and Asian partners towards a lasting peace, itself a prerequisite for progress and development in the region and the continent. In spite of the foot dragging by some participants, President Buhari’s key takeaways will include a benign consent to a partnership of the willing to recharge the Lake Chad with waters from rivers in Central Africa.
On account of these milestones, the leaders had no hesitation is agreeing to make the Regional Security Summit a regular one.
Garba Shehu is Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity. [myad]
The factional President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba, has said that he was not aware of any court ruling restraining the labour unions from proceeding on nation-wide strike, starting from today, Wednesday.
This was even as the NLC sister union, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) announced its backing out of the strike because its members have been duly educated on the benefits of the fuel subsidy removal.
Meanwhile, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal who late last night gave warning that the government would apply the law of no-work-no-pay for any civil servant to go on strike, has equally described the strike action as illegal and that whoever disrupt the workers from performing their lawful duty would be dealt with adequately.
The NLC factional leader, Wabba, who spoke to news men shortly after his faction had a botched meeting with the Federal Government representatives, led by the SGF, said: “we have not been put on notice and we are not aware.
“We have not been served and I can say that as we are here, we have also informed them that we are not aware of any court ruling.”
Wabba, who marched on the streets of Abuja today along with a few of his members said that the congress had not received any ruling from the Industrial Court restraining the NLC from embarking on the planned strike, emphasizing: “we are not aware of any court ruling that has been served on NLC.” He said that he was leading his team into the strike because the government had refused to reverse the N145 increase of petrol pump price, among other issues.
“The issue and the mandate we have is to the effect that the generality of Nigerian workers feel that the pump price of N145 per litre is too outrageous and out of proportion. “Therefore, it is something that with the hard economic situation, it is very difficult for them to go by, especially in the context of the quantum of the increase. “Therefore, even the attempt to try to see how this can be mitigated was not actually made possible at the meeting. We thought that we should not continue in a process where we think the end product has not been able to meet our minimum expectation and this would not bring succour to the larger Nigerian public. “It is on this decision; we thought that it is not necessary for us to continue in the process as the mandate given to us by the NEC today is the effect of reversal of the pump price especially.” also speaking to news men today, Wednesday, the SGF said: “anyone embarking on strike is doing so illegally.” Lawal also said government’s responsibility is to guarantee security of lives and property as well as freedom of movement and association, adding that anyone found in anyway trying to compel Nigerians to do otherwise, would be challenged by the laws of the land. Furthermore, Lawal said the Federal Government had taken the painful decision to liberalize the petroleum sector, knowing that there could be possible adverse consequences to the comfort of Nigerians. “But it is a decision needed to be taken at this time and it is the President’s believe that for a better future, painful decisions need to be taken now. “The government is determined to bring Nigeria out of previous rot and take bold decisions where necessary, with some expected to be painful. “There is no other choice to this matter; if the President had a choice to take other options that would be less painful than this, he would have gone for it.”
The SGF explained that the Federal Government, after two consecutive days of deliberations, had full cooperation from the TUC and the Joe Ajaero-led faction of the NLC to set aside the planned strike. According to him, a faction of the NLC completely agreed with the position of the TUC that they will participate in all the technical committees and that work continues on Wednesday as usual. He, however, noted that the elected NLC representatives had decided that unless government addressed their demands, they would have no further participation in the process. “We only received a notice from them on Saturday and it is government position that it is not humanly possible to respond to their demand within the time frame. Government is fully assured that there will be no strike. “Again, we will like to report to Nigerians that the Industrial Court has given an injunction that no strike should hold by NLC and TUC. “Government wishes to assure all Nigerians that they should report at their duty posts and go about their jobs as usual.”
This was as the President of TUC, Bobboi Kaigama, said: said: “we want to say that we have disengaged ourselves from this strike because we have been duly educated on the benefits of the fuel subsidy removal.” Kaigama pledged continued support for government policies that would benefit Nigerian workers. The Joe Ajaero-led faction of the Nigeria Labour Congress has also backed out of the planned labour strike. [myad]
Nigeria’s Federal Government has made it clear that it would invoke the provision of “no work no pay” in respect of any staff who absents him or herself from work to join the strike action from tomorrow, Wednesday.
It said that from tomorrow, heads of the departments in various government establishment have been directed to open attendance registers for the workers.
In a statement today, Tuesday, signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Engineer David Babachir Lawal, the Federal Government expressed surprise that despite the court injunction today, restraining labour unions from embarking on strike, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) still insists on embaring on an indefinite strike from Wednesday, 18th May.
“The attention of all Public Officers is drawn to the notice issued by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to embark on an indefinite strike from Wednesday, 18th May, 2016. This notice is regrettably given in spite of an Order by the Industrial Court against the strike action.
“Government, therefore, calls upon and advises all workers to respect the laws of the land and to desist from participating in an illegal strike action. Government undertakes to guarantee the safety of workers and their work places, and expects that normal work will continue in the interest of the nation. Accordingly, Security agencies have been directed to ensure unimpeded access to offices, work places and markets. Acts of intimidation, harassment, including barricading of gates, locking up of offices, blocking of roads and preventing workers from carrying out their lawful duties will be met with appropriate response by the law enforcement agencies.
“All workers, whether in public or private sector are further reminded of the Trade Dispute Act, 2004, which provides that “where any worker takes part in a strike, he shall not be entitled to any wages or remuneration for the period of the strike and any such period shall not count for the purpose of reckoning the period of continuous employment and all rights dependent on continuity of employment shall be prejudicially affected accordingly.”
“Accordingly, all Ministers, Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Government Agencies are hereby directed to invoke the provision of “no work no pay” in respect of any staff who absents him or herself from work to join the strike action. Attendance registers are required to be opened in all Ministries, Departments and Agencies.” [myad]
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has released the list of the first batch of fuel subsidy suspects to be prosecuted in court. They are altogether seven companies and 12 individual.
The companies are:
Nasaman Oil Services,
Eternal Oil and Gas Plc,
Ontario Oil & Gas Plc,
Nadabo Energy Limited,
Pacific Silver Line Limited,
Axenergy Limited, and,
Fago Petroleum and Gas Limited.
The individuals:
Mamman Nasir Ali,
Christian Taylor,
Mahmud Tukur,
Ochonogor Alex,
Walter Wagbatsoma,
Adaoha Ugo-Ngadi,
Fakuade Babafemi Ebenezer,
Ezekiel Olaleye Ejidele,
Abubakar Ali Peters,
Jude Agube Abalaka,
Abdulahi Alao and,
Oluwaseun Ogunbanbo.
Ezekiel Olaleye Ejidele is director of renowned accounting firm, Akintola Williams Delloite, while Fakuade Babafemi Ebenezer is a staff of the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulating Agency (PPPRA).
Nasaman Oil Services, Mamman Nasir and Christian Taylor are to face charges bordering on obtaining N4,460,130,797.94 from the Federal Government of Nigeria under false pretence.
The sum is alleged to have been fraudulently obtained as subsidy payments from the Petroleum Support Fund for the purported importation of 30.5m litres of Premium Motor Spirit from SEATAC Petroleum Limited of British Virgin Islands.
In the same vein, the anti-corruption agency will equally prosecute Abdulahi Alao and Axenergy Limited for allegedly obtaining the sum of N2,640,141,707.75.
They are payments received from the Petroleum Support Fund for the purported importation of 33.3million litres of Premium Motor Spirit.
Others include Mahmud Tukur, Ochonogor Alex, Abdulahi Alao and Eternal Oil And Gas Plc.
They will be docked for fraudulently obtaining the sum of N1,899,238,946.02 from the Petroleum support Fund for a purported importation of 80.3million litres of Premium Motor Spirit.
Also, Nadabo Energy Limited, Abubakar Ali Peters, Jude Agube Abalaka and Pacific Silver Line Limited are to be prosecuted for allegedly obtaining the sum of N1,464,961,978.24.
These are payments fraudulently received from the Petroleum Support Fund for a purported importation of 19.4million litres of Premium Motor Spirit.
Walter Wagbatsoma, Adaoha Ugo-Ngadi, Fakuade Babafemi Ebenezer, Ezekiel Olaleye Ejidele and Ontario Oil & Gas Nigeria Limited will be arraigned for fraudulently obtaining the sum of N1,959,377,542.63 from the Petroleum Support Fund for a purported importation of 39.2million litres of Premium Motor Spirit.
Lastly, Fago Petroleum and Gas Limited and Oluwaseun Ogunbanbo are to be docked for fraudulently obtaining the sum of N979,653,110.20 from the Petroleum Support Fund for a purported importation of 33, 627, 840 litres of Premium Motor Spirit.
According to EFCC, the suspects are among a larger list of more than 140 individuals and organizations involved in ongoing investigations into the subsidy payments, and so more suspects will be arraigned periodically as the investigation progresses.
The Commission described the investigation as massive and extensive.
It reassured Nigerians that it would do all within its powers to apprehend and punish all the people that defrauded the country under the guise of subsidy for imported fuel.
Before now, there had been widespread belief that those involved could evade justice, as a number of high-profile national figures are thought to have spearheaded the scam. [myad]
The government of Nigeria has approved six airlines and two cargo aircraft for the airlift operations in the 2016 pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. Confirming the list of the airlines in a statement today, the Head of Media Department of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Alhaji Uba Mana appealed to the Saudi Arabian authorities to accord the airlines all the necessary diplomatic cooperation. Uba Mana listed the airlines that have been approved to airlift intending pilgrims this year to Saudi Arabia as Med-view Airlines Limited, Max Air Limited, Dornia Aviation Nigeria AEP Limited, Top Brass, AZMA Air Service and Fly-nas (Saudi Arabia designated carriers.
Uba Mana said that the two companies approved to airfreight pilgrims’ excess cargo are NAHCO Aviation and Medview International Travels and Cargo.
He solicited for the support of the Saudi Arabian authorities in promptly issuing necessary visa for the workers of the airlines and that of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority for smooth operations. [myad]
The minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has said that this is not the right time for the organized labour to to embark on strike in Nigeria because the country is presently passing through economic challenges.
The Minister who spoke today, Tuesdat, in his office in Abuja said: “I will like to appeal to the labour leaders to listen to the appeals from the generality of the people that now is not the time to strike in Nigeria because we all know what our dear country is going through economically.”
“We all know what the present administration under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari is doing to ensure that we get out of the economic challenges we are facing, which really is as a result of factors that arose totally beyond the control of everyone in government now, including the citizens.”
Muhammad Bello said that the Minister of State, Petroleum during his interactive session with the members of the House of Representatives had explained the rationale behind the hike in the fuel price, saying that all such reasons were definitely very convincing as they were a reflection of reality on ground.
He therefore urged the leadership of the labour to use their position and encourage workers to support the government policy and to ensure that government organizations and individuals that are supposed to regulate and oversee the entire petroleum value chain from exploration, refining, importation, distribution and eventual retail work efficiently.
The Minister charged labour to ensure that people do not use the present situation to cut corners and charge above the true cost of bringing in this product.
“The labour leaders have to understand that for a very long time, we have not had a leader who showed genuine concern in trying to salvage our nation. So, these kind of opportunities do not come all the time. It’s an opportunity of a life time and I believe as a people, we Nigerians have to embrace this opportunity and support the government, pray for the government and ensure that these policies are effectively implemented.
“We should have faith in the President and understand that this systemic and structural problems that we are facing today are culminations of issues that occurred many years ago and I think it is good for us to be realistic and understand that they cannot just disappear overnight. It requires collective hard work for us to salvage this country and I’m very confident that by the grace of God Almighty, we’ll succeed.” [myad]
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has made it clear that President Muhammadu Buhari would be the last person in this country to have wanted to increase fuel price if he had other option, of making the supply of the product with ease.
“If there is one person in Nigeria that believes that petroleum prices should not go up by one Naira, it is President Buhari.”
Yemi Osinbajo, who spoke today, Tuesday at a public book presentation event in Abuja, said that the difficult decision announced last week by the federal government was done when it became very clear that there was, simply had no other option.
The Vice President asked: “what can we do if we don’t have foreign currency? “we have to import fuel.”
He said that even if the nation’s refineries are repaired today, “we would still be able to refine 40% of our petroleum, so we still need to import.”
The Vice President who spoke at the public presentation of Anatomy of Corruption in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges & Solutions, a collection of essays edited by Yusuf O. Ali, noted that a lot of the problems associated with the refineries are corruption related.
According to the Vice President, corruption “explains why many States are owing salaries and continue to owe salaries. When we look at corruption and its deleterious consequences, we must relate it directly to what we are experiencing at this time.
“Most of the States, since February 2016, have been owing, some up to 6 months. When we came into office, we tried to settle many of those debts but the Federation Account is lower and we are unable to find the resources to shore up the Federation Account.”
“When you consider that today, Nigeria’s reserves stands at about $27 billion and we are investigating $15 billion from one sector alone, that is over half of the entire reserves of the country.
“We are investigating cases which show that over $15 billion was lost in one type of contracts alone. We are not talking of oil contracts; we are talking of security related contracts alone. We have not talked at all about oil contracts, several billions.
“How we dimension the problem must be different. We cannot look at it the same way as if it is just petty stealing. This is not just stealing the resource of the country; it is stealing the future as well.
“Let me just state one clear example. All through the period when Nigeria was earning over 100 – 115 dollars in proceeds of oil for a period of almost 5 years, the external reserves of Nigeria remained much the same. It did not (significantly) increase at all despite the very high earnings.
“And that is why we have the situation that we find ourselves today. It is the external reserves that a country resorts to as a last resort in protecting its currency.”
“When countries were experiencing these high prices, some countries were putting money aside. Saudi Arabia saved over $700 billion (as at last year), so when their currency began to suffer, of course they were able to shore up their currency with their reserves.”
He said that in the case of Nigeria, “we are unable to do so. And the reason is because the reserves have been depleted. It is the same reason why it is difficult to do very very many other things that we should be doing as a nation.”
He declared that corruption poses an existential threat to the country.
“I want to just very quickly say that corruption has no label. It is not just a social evil; it is an existential threat to our country. There is no doubt at all that this is unlike other countries, (where) people say that there is corruption everywhere, which is true.
“But I think the one distinguishing feature for Nigeria and for many other countries like ours is that it is a threat that directly affects the lives and livelihoods of everyone.
“It is not just an evil, it is not just an immorality, it is an existential threat because it could truly destroy lives and it has destroyed many many lives and has continued to destroy the Nigerian economy.”
Professor Osinbajo stressed that unless there is a determined effort to fight corruption at all levels, unless that effort is determined, unless we have the political, the judicial, even the religious will, we would find ourselves in a continuous cycle of corruption, economic adversity, more corruption, more economic adversity.
“As I observed at another event, when you look at those who are accused of corruption in Nigeria, look at any typical case of fraud or corruption, you will never find three Igbo men (by themselves alone) or three Yoruba men or 3 Hausa speaking men, (by themselves alone) NO! You will find federal character, well-represented.
“You find the Yoruba man, you find the Igbo man, you find the Hausa man, the Fulani man. All different groups are very well-represented. Amongst them you will find Christians and you will find Muslims.
“All of the defenses that people put forward, that, oh! it is the Igbo man, oh! it is the Hausa man, it is Yorubas, and so on, none of that is demonstrated by the facts.
“That is why it is important that as a Nigerian elite, we have the special privilege of education, we have a special privilege of position. It is the responsibility of that privilege that we must fight everything that normally hinder and distorts our economy and kill our people as well.”
“That is why we must as an elite in leadership fight corruption. Some people suggest it is a matter of religion, It is not a matter of religion, I pastor a church. I pastor churches, so I know. What is important is that we must recognize corruption for what it is. Make no excuses for it and fight it with determination.
“I want to assure you that the government of President Buhari is determined to fight corruption, and that despite whatever those naysayers may say, we would fight it with everything that we have and we will leave a legacy in this nation of at least a government that chose to stand by principle and chose to stand by doing things right.” [myad]
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Abuja 2016: Turning Point For Lake Chad Region? By Garba Shehu
Smart leaders they are, they didn’t present themselves back-slapping each other in a congratulatory mood over the enormous feat they have accomplished in the last ten or so months, substantially reducing the terrorist threats in the region to the point of being described as a mopping up operation.
They were conscious of the fact the the Chibok Girls have not been found. No success can be declared in this war without the girls being found and reunited with their families.
In addition, the world has come a long way since Gorge W. Bush stood there atop the ship “Abraham Lincoln” being saluted by the flight deck crew to read a speech announcing an end to the Iraq war. “The 2003 Mission Accomplished” banner dominated the background as he spoke. But with hindsight, the world knows that the war against Iraq is still work in progress.
The then American President, George Bush was to say to a CNN interviewer a few years later that he regretted the outlandish display. In November 2008 specifically, Bush indicated that he regretted the use of the banner, stating that it conveyed the wrong message.
There are many who believe that the United States is still paying a price for that massive public relations failure.
In all probability, the world would have benefited more from the leaders if the summiteers in Abuja had to say everything on the war situation as it enters its end in their territories but they, instead, chose to dwell on the the promise of the future and what can be done to steer the economy and humanitarian situation into better times.
While acknowledging the progress so far made, the summiteers who included French President Francois Hollande, Nigeria’s Buhammadu Buhari and ten other African Presidents, prime ministers and delegates concluded that defeating Boko Haram Terrorist Group will require a sustained comprehensive approach based on clear and coordinated plans of engagementat at the regional level. Such an approach, they said, must confront challenges relating to effective security operations, providing civilian security and civil administration, restoring stability, and promoting economic development and job creation to break the cycle of violence in all countries where Boko Haram is active.
Among other things, they recommended the enlistment of local community and religious leaders as constantly hammered on by President Buhari; increased intelligence sharing; the prioritization of the public education system and sparing no effort in the continuing search for the Chibok schoolgirls and all those abducted by Boko Haram by pooling intelligence resources.
The leaders also agreed to support the victims of sexual violence or forced marriage by Boko Haram, and the need to provide them with appropriate support including reintegration to communities; that defeating the insurgency requires more than a Military solution but that it also requires government-led development action to tackle the root causes of insurgency in the Lake Chad Basin through the development of education and economic opportunities.
The summit agreed to address the humanitarian situation affecting millions of IDPs, refugees and host communities in Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger. The critical situation of the inhabitants of the newly-liberated towns and villages was also adjudged to be very pathetic. The summit agreed to provide and rehabilitate facilities in the devastated towns and villages with a view to creating conditions for citizens to live without fear of violence and return to conventional life and called for additional support from the international community. They, in addition, took special note of the 20,000 unaccompanied children (below the age of 18 years) displaced by the conflict and over 6000 minors,under the age of five years, and agreed to work together with international organisations to reunite those children with their families.
One other major step toward a lasting solution towards permanent peace in the region is identified as coming through the acceleration, specifically within three (3) years, of the implementation of the Lake Chad Development and Climate Resilience Action Plan as presented on the margins of COP21 in Paris in consultation with communitiesof the Lake Chad. It is hoped that the accelerated implementation of the Action Plan would go along way in bringing development to the Lake Chad Basin.
As a matter of fact, the summit blamed the impact of climate change for the unemployment and crime in the region and urged the LCBC and other willing partners to pursue the goal of inter-basin water transfer project with a view to restoring its normal level, mitigating drought, re-establishing fishery, irrigation and navigation.
For Nigeria in particular, the period of the summit was used to receive an important visitor described as a friend of Africa, Francois Hollande who, in a literal sense killed two birds one stone. He engaged his host, President Buhari in a bilateral meeting in the early part of the day and in the afternoon,joined the other leaders at the summit. The two presidents reviewed the activities of the Multinational Joint Task Force, MNJTF and the progress made since the Climate Change agreement, COP 21 in Paris. President Hollande gave commitment to Nigeria on the resettlement of IDPs as well as his continuing support towards the reestablishment of full security in the Lake Chad region. Five agreements were signed between the Nigerian parties and their French partners.
A cultural agreement and a scientific and technical agreement were signed by government ministers. Dangote Group’s Dansa Foods Limited signed an agreement with the French company Nutriset for the production of nutritional foods in the North East. The state development commission, AFD of France signed two credit agreements with the Ministry of Finance and one with Zenith Bank for amounts that were not disclosed.
In the margins of the security summit, the President also received in audience and at their request, Presidents Macky Sall of Senegal, Patrice Talon of Benin and Idris Deby Itno of Chad.
The President also had audiences with the British Secretary for Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Rt. Hon. Phillip Hammond, the U.S Deputy Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and the Deputy President of the European Union Ms Federica Moghereni.
President Macky Sall raised concerns about the need for the emergence of a good candidate for the Chairmanship of the soon-to-be vacant African Union Commission in view of the decision of Mrs Zuma not to run for a second term. He told President Buhari that his country has such a capable candidate.
He also raised an issue concerning the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
President Patrice Talon seemed very keen to strengthen the very warm and friendly relations he met on the ground between his country and Nigeria. He intends to pay a State visit to this country in the shortest possible time.
President Deby Itno gave important news about some Boko Haram hideouts on the border between our countries against which Chadian troops will soon to be tackling.
He was also interested in promoting a railway line linking Nigeria and Chad.
Right Hon. Philip Hammond had a lengthy time with President Buhari, their discussions spanning a wide range of issues including, of course Boko Haram, the reconstruction of the damaged infrastructure, the insecurity in the Niger Delta, corruption and the issue of population growth in the country.
Although this summit also discussed a yet-to-be fixed donors conference on the rebuilding of the LBCD areas, the EU brought the good news of the plan to spend 140 million Euros in that regards in the next five years.
The EU also announced a plan to spend 40 million Euros in the reconstruction of the Northeast. The US promised an immediate return of Nigeria’s stolen350 million Dollars held up their country. China, the African Development Bank,ADB, the Islamic Development Bank, IDB, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, IMF have all pledged various contributions they will be making.
President Muhammadu Buhari’s just-concluded Regional Security Summit, which was the second after the initial one by President Hollande in Paris two years ago, has produced a communique unprecedented in terms of the strong words used and the space devoted to fighting terrorism, post-conflict resettlement and rehabilitation as well as ways of bringing social and economic justice, growth and development to a battered part of Africa. It also unveiled an expansive security cooperation agenda that can binds the West and Central African states to their U.S., European and Asian partners towards a lasting peace, itself a prerequisite for progress and development in the region and the continent. In spite of the foot dragging by some participants, President Buhari’s key takeaways will include a benign consent to a partnership of the willing to recharge the Lake Chad with waters from rivers in Central Africa.
On account of these milestones, the leaders had no hesitation is agreeing to make the Regional Security Summit a regular one.
Garba Shehu is Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity. [myad]