Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, governors and ministers as well as other federal and state government officials managed to wriggle out of what would have been a disaster today at the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) rally in Minna, capital of Niger State. This followed the collapse of a podium on which the top government officials were addressing the supporters of the President for the second term in office, being spearheaded by TAN. The podium, hurriedly constructed at the Trade Fair ground for the North Central rally of TAN, gave way while the ceremony was underway. The podium caved in at about 11.53am, with a few minutes left for goodwill messages. Some of the victims, who sustained injuries, were rushed to the IBB Specialist Hospital, General Hospital, Minna, Bay Clinic and Top Medical centre. Among the injured included the wife of the Niger State Governor, Hajia Jumai Aliyu, and Director General, Public Affairs, Mallam Tanko Dada, who had a deep cut in his head. Also injured, according to information, were Mallam Suleiman, Special Assistant to Governor Aliyu, who tried to rescue the Governor while an operative of the State Security Service allegedly broke his leg. Several telephone sets were scattered on the floor after those who had close shave with death, fled the scene. One of the victims, Ismail Gambo, said: “I thought it was a bomb blast; so I had to jump as much as I could but I realised I was trapped in the stand as so many people were scrambling for safety.” However, Niger State Governor, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, asked TAN not to be discouraged by the incident. “This thing that happened should not deter you from doing what you came to do.” Another victim, a journalist attached to TAN, said: “I was interviewing one of the top officials when the scaffold started giving way. I quickly headed for the stairs, but before I got there, the stand collapsed. I only sustained this minor injury. “
An active player in the Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970), Brigadier-Gen Benjamin Adekunle (retd.), is dead. The war veteran, better known as Black Scorpion, died today at the age of 78 in Lagos, according to his wife, Folake. Adekunle, who was compulsorily retried from the Nigerian Army in 1974, was the first to lead the 3rd Marine Commando,that eventually spearheaded the end of the three-year war in January 1970. Olusegun Obasanjo succeeded Adekunle, who was most conspicuous and controversial figure during the war, in the 3rd Marine Commando . The Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has commiserated with his family, friends and associates describing the passing away of the civil war hero as a monumental loss to the country. The governor in a statement issued in Ibadan today by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo said that he was extremely saddened by the news of the death of Adekunle. “Although he had for some time now been facing some health challenges, his death at this material time when the country is passing through difficult times, in terms of security and national cohesion, is tragic and shocking.” The governor described the late general as a fine officer-gentleman, a nationalist and patriotic Nigerian who exploited his military expertise to rescue Nigeria from the brink of precipice and ensured that the country remained one indivisible entity. “Gen. Adekunle served the Nigerian Army with all his might and he was equally celebrated but never compromised on the need to end the agonizing civil war and bring peace back to the country. “Since death is an inevitable end for all mortals, the late Gen. Adekunle should, therefore, be celebrated for his nationalistic posturing rather than being mourned. That Nigeria still remains one today is a pointer to the fact that Black Scorpion lived a fulfilled life.”
Early years and background
The late Adekunle was born in Kaduna. His father was a native of Ogbomosho, while his mother was a member of the Bachama tribe. He underwent secondary education at the government college, Okene (in present day Kogi State). He enlisted in the Nigerian Army in 1958 shortly after completing his school certificate examinations.
He passed the army selection examinations and thereafter was despatched to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom (UK), the British Army’s initial officer entry academy. He was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant on December 15, 1960. As a platoon commander, he served in Kasai Province of Congo with the 1st Battalion, Queen’s Own Nigeria Regiment during his first ONUC UN peace keeping tour of duty.
In 1962, Lt. Adekunle became Aide-de-Camp to the governor of the eastern region, Sir Akanu Ibiam. The following year, as a Captain, he was posted back to the Congo as Staff Captain (A) to the Nigerian Brigade HQ at Luluabourg – under Brigadier B. Ogundipe. In 1964, Major Adekunle attended the Defence Services Staff College at Wellington, in India.
When he returned he was briefly appointed Adjutant General at the Army Headquarters in May 1965 to replace Lt. Col. Yakubu Gowon, who was proceeding on a course outside the country. However, he later handed over the position to Lt. Col. James Pam and was posted back to his old Battalion (1st Bn) in Enugu as a Company Commander.
The Nigerian Civil War
Adekunle later assumed command of the Lagos Garrison as a substantive Lt. Col. When the Nigerian Civil War began in July 1967, Adekunle was tasked to lead elements which included two new battalions (7th and 8th) – to conduct the historic sea borne assault on Bonny in the Bight of Benin on 26 July 1968 (carried out by Major Isaac Adaka Boro’s unit).
This happened after the Federal Government gained confidence of most south western ethnic groups as a direct result of Biafran push to mid-west state and probe into Western region. Adekunle was promoted to Colonel after the Bonny landing.
The 6th (under Major Jalo) and 8th (under Major Ochefu) battalions of the Lagos Garrison subsequently took part in operations to liberate the Midwest following the Biafran invasion of August 1967. The 7th (under Major Abubakar) stayed behind to hold Bonny. Because Major Jalo’s Unit was seconded to Lt. Col. Murtala Mohammed’s 2nd Division, Adekunle was left with only the 8th Battalion at Escravos.
He, therefore, protested to Army HQ and got the Lagos garrison upgraded to Brigade status through the creation of the 31 and 32 Battalions (under Majors Aliyu and Hamman, respectively). This formation, combined with elements of the Lagos garrison along the eastern seaboard, was officially designated the 3 Infantry Division.
However, Colonel Adekunle did not think the name “3 Infantry Division” was sensational enough nor did it project the nature of the unique terrain in which his men had to fight. Therefore, without formal approval from Army HQ, he renamed it the “3 Marine Commando (3MCDO).”
The “Black Scorpion” as he came to be known, was easily the most controversial, celebrated and mythologised figure in the war of attrition that laid the foundations for Nigeria’s contemporary crisis; and threw a wedge into the national fabric. Benjamin “Adekunle’s boys in the Midwest seized Escravos, Burutu, Urhonigbe, Owa and Aladima. They captured Bomadi and Patani, Youngtown, Koko, Sapele, Ajagbodudu, Warri, Ughelli, Orerokpe, Umutu and Itagba.”
Role after the civil war
Benjamin Adekunle was promoted to Brigadier in 1972. After the war Adekunle was put in charge of decongesting the Lagos port that was having a chronic problem of clearing imported goods. He held this position until being compulsorily retired on August 20, 1974.
He attributed his problems during and after the war to his rivals in the army. In various interviews, he said there was always a rumor of coup linked to him until the army authority felt the concern to do something about it. He had large followings in both the army and public at large and was the most popular military commander during the war, apart from Obasanjo, who succeeded him and brought the war to an end with the same 3MC.
Adekunle led the Third Marine Commando Division with such great panache and determination that the foreign media, in looking for a human angle on the Biafran war, found him a ready source of news.
War time interview
Adekunle was a key champion of the food blockade to Biafra. In a wartime interview he had with Randolph Baumann of Stern Magazine in Igweocha (published on August 18, 1968), he stated:
ADEKUNLE: In the section of the front that I rule and that is the whole south front from Lagos to the border of Kameru, I do not want to see the Red Cross, Caritas Aid, World Church delegation, Pope, Missionary, or UN delegation.
STERN: Does that mean that the many thousands of tons of food that are stored in Lagos will never get to the refugee camps in your section of the country?
ADEKUNLE: You are a sharp one, my friend. That’s exactly what I am saying.
STERN: But you said yourself that most of the refugees in the part you captured are not Ibos.
ADEKUNLE: But there could be Ibos among them. I want to avoid feeding a single Ibo as long as this whole people have not given up yet.
STERN: Do you sometimes feel sympathy for the Ibos?
ADEKUNLE: I have learned a word from the British, which is “sorry!”That’s how I want to respond to your question. I did not want this war but I want to win this war. Therefore I have to kill the Ibos. Sorry! The End.
Gen. Adekunle’s son wrote an account of his father’s military career in a biography titled The Nigeria-Biafra Letters: A Soldier’s Story.
“The United States is at war with ISIL in the same way that we are at war with Al-Qaeda and its Al-Qaeda affiliates all around the globe.” These were the words of the White House, United States spokesman, Josh Earnest today. In a series of interviews before now, the Secretary of State, John Kerry appeared to be reluctant to term the expansion of US operations against IS in Iraq and Syria as “war.” But pressed to clear up doubts about how President Barack Obama sees the conflict, the White House and Pentagon left little doubt. Pentagon spokesman, Rear Admiral John Kirby said that the US was not fighting the last Iraq war and used similar language to Earnest. “But make no mistake, we know we are at war with ISIL in the same way we’re at war and continue to be at war with Al-Qaida and its affiliates,” he said. Obama is scheduled to be in Tampa, Florida Wednesday next week to receive a briefing from top commanders at US Central Command, which oversees American forces in the Middle East. In interviews, as Kerry toured the Middle East building an anti-IS coalition, he was reluctant to use the term “war” in referring to the US campaign, telling people not to indulge in “war fever.” “We’re engaged in a major counter terrorism operation, and it’s going to be a long-term counter terrorism operation,” Kerry told CBS News. “I think ‘war’ is the wrong terminology and analogy but the fact is that we are engaged in a very significant global effort to curb terrorist activity,” Kerry said.
The past four years have been very exciting for Federal Capital Territory residents who had waited patiently over the years for development, and are now witnessing a flurry of developmental activities. The architect of such activities is no other person than Senator Bala Muhammed. The able minister had gone head long into the execution of projects aimed at providing critical infrastructure and a conducive environment for residents of the FCT. Senator Bala has been able to strategise the end product of which has been the transformation of Abuja into beautiful Capital city and a pride to the nation. Senator Bala had told a meeting of stakeholders in Abuja shortly after his second coming that he would work in tandem with President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation Agenda, and went in with massive provision of critical infrastructures in all parts of the FCT which were being implemented in phases, through collaborative efforts of stakeholders in all sectors of the economy. Senator Bala’s Public Private Programm (PPP) initiative which has generated interest among key stakeholders, has yielded positive results in the transportation and the social sectors. This has been translated into light rail and urban bus transportation projects. The light rail projects involved about $500 million worth of a loan from the Chinese government and will be completed in 2015. The minister also introduced a street parking system which helps to generate revenue for the FCTA and keeps Abuja Street – traffic flowing freely. Of course, the introduced also, land -swap system has the capacity of solving the city’s many problems, especially during the period of cash-squeeze in the country. Similarly the land swap system was also designed to accelerate the development of the city and to resettle, through compensation of the affected persons. It is on record that Senator Bala had earlier dealt with land speculators and swindlers who were involved in frauds and cheating of innocent Nigerians. The minster action on the development of satellite areas which aimed at decongesting the city center gave residents easier option of going to the city center only for very important reasons. This followed the approval by President Jonathan for the minister to re-introduce the satellite Towns Development Authority (STDA) which involves about $ 40 billion. The FCTA has been up and doing in the areas of provision of water, health facilities, schools, agricultural equipment, social facilities and had empowered youths. The Administration has completed work on major projects such as the Abuja airport and Gwagwlada/ Kubwa roads and other projects in the social sector. The involvement of the private sector in land-swap and other projects in city center is aimed at providing solutions to many outstanding developmental problems in the FCT. Many observers are of the belief that with a budget of only N306 billion naira last year, the Senator Bala administration has opened new frontiers of development in the territory, especially against the background of what was on ground at the time he was reappointed last year. His latest move to improve the Abuja master plan, mass housing, education, provision of critical engineering infrastructures in eleven districts showed that a man working to earn a fine reputation. Senator Bala’s method of developing rural areas, opening-up the territory to both foreign and local investors will impact positively on peoples’ lives. This is not to say however that it has been all a bed of roses, with work still to be done on, especially in the area of development control and resettlement. The minister himself has admitted that there exist a problem at the development control as designs of structures submitted by developers are usually unnecessarily delayed which in turn slows down development. As the minister said himself last week: “we are moving ahead; we will not be deterred in our effort to develop our capital city according to resources available, as expected by well meaning Nigerians.”
At the risk of being tagged once again as anti Igbo by rabid commissioned slave traders who see Ndigbo as easy wares to be marketed to their political masters, I write this open letter to my people. At the huge risk of being called names by my brothers and sisters, I make bold to write this piece to my people. I have been called names in the past for speaking out and I may be wrong but please forgive me. I write because I know that a story that must be told never forgives silence. I write despite all odds because I know that when a writer is silent he or she is lying. I write because I want things to be done differently because I know that the greatest part of hell will be reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of great moral crisis. I write knowing fully well that I am not the best God ever created and therefore mine cannot be the last word. Two incidents involving Mrs Stella Oduah who was removed as a Minister for corruption and General Ihejirika who just retired from the Nigerian Army necessitated this open letter. Mrs. Stella Oduah was removed as a Minister of Aviation for issues bordering on corruption. She was accused of financial recklessness. When the lid was blown open, our people went to town to defend Mrs Stella Oduah. All Igbo organizations went to town with the chorus LEAVE STELLA ODUAH ALONE. The shouts came from our people all over the world and it was loud enough and at best, deafening. When Mrs Stella Oduah was eventually eased out by the presidency, one thought our people will learn the lesson but not Igbo. Our leaders went to town with a project to honour Mrs Stella Oduah and others with awards in Lagos. In preparation for the ceremony one of the leaders spoke to the press. Hear him “we are honouring our own Mrs Stella Oduah to show the world that even when Nigeria mocks our brightest and best for doing a good job at the Aviation Industry, we must tell the world that we love and celebrate our own”. She was given an instant title of ADA IGBO. As I write this, billboards are at strategic locations in Igboland celebrating her as ADAIGBO. Now enter General Ihejirika, the former Chief of Army Staff. General Ihejirika just retired from the Army after serving for more than three decades. General Ihejirika is now eyeing the governorship seat in Abia State on the platform of PDP just few months after pulling out of the Nigerian Army. But just recently an Australian peace negotiator, Stephen Davis who was allegedly contracted by the federal government and who spent four months in Nigeria negotiating with Boko Haram to get the kidnapped Chibok girls out told the world that the former Governor of Borno State Ali Modu Sheriff and Ihejirika have hands in sponsoring Boko Haram. The moment Steven Davis statement hit the Nigerian public space, hell was let loose once again. Our people went to town with the usual mantra: LEAVE IHEJIRIKA ALONE. Almost all the Igbo organizations have issued press statement suggesting that General Ihejirika is now being persecuted for staking his life to fight Boko Haram for Nigeria. Again the noise was so loud and deafening. According to our people Ihejirika is being persecuted because he is Igbo. Even Igbo World Assembly (IWA) in far away United States was not left out in the drama. In the social media it is Igbo and other Nigerians. Now the questions are: do we need to defend Mrs. Stella Oduah and General Ihejirika? Are they not old enough or competent enough to defend themselves? Were our people with them when they were serving? Can we swear we know them very well to continue this noise? Do we really know the character of these persons? Why this prebendal politics? If we continue to defend our tribes only, who will then defend Nigeria? Who is working for Nigeria if I may ask? Is it not bad behaviour for Igbo to continue to defend what they know nothing about? Are we not making ourselves objects of ridicule in the eyes of other Nigerians? When we pour invectives on other Nigerians or people who are different from us are we not endangering the lives and businesses of Ndigbo scattered all over Nigerians? Have we forgotten that our people are the most mobile in Nigeria? Do we know how other Nigerians rate us in this predictable primitive defense? Do we consider the feelings of other Nigerians? What signals are we sending out with this improper behaviour? Don’t we have men and women who will say enough is enough in this madness of defending the indefensible? We know Igbo history, philosophy and sociology, when did it tolerate blind and unquestionable defence of someone who might have compromised his or herself while in office? When has Igbo become so ethically compromised that they do must defend even thieves from Igboland? Are these Igbo not aware that such fight, like in the case of Stella Oduah not only ridicules the Igbo but belittles them before others? What happens to the sanctimonious resolve of our fore fathers never to get involved in war of blame? When Professor Grace Grange, IG Tafa Balogun, and Speaker Patricia Etteh, were removed for corruption, did the Yoruba resort to this kind of blackmail? What is the North saying about Ali Modu Sherrif, the former Governor of Borno State implicated in Boko Haram insurgency with Ihejirika? These are just few cases I wanted to mention for empha To the best of my knowledge I do not think our people are playing better politics in Nigeria now. I do not think the way we are going now will help us politically. I do not think other Nigerians will trust us if we continue this way. I have slim hope that other Nigerians will take serious in matters of Nigerian politics. I am not led to believe that we are getting it right, rather I think we are going the wrong way. For emphasis, Ihejirika may be guilty or not but it is his to prove. I am not saying he is guilty for I do not know the details. He doesn’t need all the cahoots of persuaders now striving to show their support for him to do so. In every sane society, security is a complicated issue and every person within that society, even the president, is a suspect until proven otherwise. The best for Ihejirika is to step out and put a solid defence and shame his accusers. If he believes he will get the mob to extricate him, he is making a mistake and getting himself indicted by history and that is far more dangerous for him. I suggest that Igbo should stop creating enemies for itself in Nigeria. I suggest that Igbo should rise above ethnic preoccupation to help move Nigeria forward. If we are still one Nigeria, Igbo should consider the feelings of other Nigerians. This defeatism attitude must give way to politics of ideas. This persecution complex must stop. This leadership complex must seize to exist.
A Peoples democratic Party gubernatorial candidate in Edo state, Jarrett Tenebe has made a shocking revelation to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of how he has been provided cover by senior government officials and top politicians, including Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, a former Chief of Staff to President Goodluck Jonathan, Chief Tony Anenih, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison Madueke. The EFCC had arrested Tenebe last week for alleged theft of massive amount of crude oil. Tenebe was said to have told the EFCC investigators that his powerful political patrons and protectors enabled him to carry out lucrative crude oil theft from Nigeria under the guise of evacuating stolen crude on behalf of the federal government. The stolen crude oil was reportedly sold in Ghana. The suspect came under renewed scrutiny after US investigators informed Nigeria’s law enforcement authorities that several vessels linked to Tenebe’s Fenix Impex Nigeria Limited were involved in the ferrying of stolen crude from Nigeria to Ghana via the Saltpond oil platform in the West African country. An EFCC source said that the anti-corruption agency arrested Tenebe as a result of the involvement of US investigators, adding that since the suspect’s arrest last week, the EFCC had been under intense pressure from several quarters to muddle up the case in order to set the suspect free. It is on record that this is the second time Tenebe and his main collaborator have been in trouble this year. Earlier this year, the suspect and Peter Omoh Dunia (aka Peter Black), a close political associate of Tony Anenih in Edo state, were also arrested, but they were able to pull political strings that ensured their release without prosecution. In March 2014, Nigerian soldiers, who were under the command of Brigadier General Azinta, had arrested Tenebe and Dunia after the soldiers found fraudulent crude oil evacuation contracts in their possession. One Rear Admiral Austin Oyagha of the Nigerian Navy reportedly signed the evacuation documents on behalf of the Nigerian navy. Following their arrest by the soldiers in Benin City, Tenebe and Dunia were caught red handed when they tried to bribe Brigadier General Azinta, the brigade commander of the Nigerian Army in Benin. Both men were in possession of $65,000, which was meant to bribe General Azinta. It was gathered that the brigade commander played along with his would-be bribers for some days before arranging their arrest. The army officer handed over the bribe money to investigators as evidence against the two suspects. However, the brigade commander was told that the suspects would be moved to Bayelsa State and handed over to the Joint Task Force (JTF). The move was part of a design to ensure their smooth release without prosecution. It was learnt that James Jephthah (aka Octopus), a very close friend of President Goodluck Jonathan, used his access to Aso Rock to obtain approval for the transfer of the case to Bayelsa where he eventually influenced the JTF to release Tenebe. The EFCC officially had refused to comment on the ongoing investigation of the Saltpond scam but a top official of the agency disclosed that the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, had ordered the agency not to take any action until she return to Abuja. A source at the EFCC confirmed that Tenebe’s political contacts had helped him to get appointed as an agent who sells crude oil seized from illegal marketers. The source added, however, that Mr. Tenebe’s politically powerful sponsors also arranged for the suspect to lift additional hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil, which he sold at great profit to different European oil dealers using Ghana as the point of sale.
The Nigerian Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah has made it clear that troops from the Nigeria Army have the capacity to root out Boko Haram terrorists without recourse to recruting external forces. The army boss, who spoke today shortly after the inauguration of the Radio Diagnosis Centre of the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna, asked Nigerians to disregard such rumour. General Minimah, who would not elaborate, simply said: “It is not true. It is a blatant lie.” He spoke against the background of the statement credited to the pan-northern socio-political organization, the Arewa Consultative Forum that the authorities of the Nigerian Army are planning to enlist 10,000 ex Niger Delta militants in the fight against Boko Haram. The Forum warned the military against such move under any guise. The Forum, through its National Publicity Secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim, had yesterday in Kaduna, said that it heard it on good authority that there were plans to recall 10,000 retired soldiers into the Nigerian Army to fight the terrorists. The forum described the move as a welcome development but cautioned that the authorities should scrutinize those that would be recalled. The ACF had said: “It has been brought to the knowledge of Arewa Consultative Forum that the Federal Government has authorized the reinstatement of 10,000 retired soldiers into the Nigeria Army. This, in the wisdom of government, is to boost the strength of the military to confront insurgency that has engulfed the country.”
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara has announced the death of its General-Secretary, Mr. Yemi Afolayan. He died today. A statement by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Sulaiman Buhari, confirmed the death of Afolayan. Afolayan was once a member of Kwara House of Assembly. “It is with heavy heart of grief and loss that we announce the death of our General-Secretary, Prince Yemi Afolayan. “Prince Yemi Afolayan passed on this morning after a brief illness. Funeral arrangements will be announced later by the family. “We empathise with his immediate family in this moment of grief and we urge them to find solace in the fact that Prince Yemi Afolayan lived an impactful life. “He will be remembered for his unflinching loyalty to APC, contributions to the development of Kwara State as a parliamentarian and his huge contributions to humanity and mankind. “Indeed, Kwara has lost a worthy son. We pray for the repose of his soul and we empathise with all APC members and the people of Kwara State,” the statement said. The state’s chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has also expressed its condolences to the leadership and members of the APC in the state on the issue. The party’s condolence message was through a letter signed by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Rex Olawoye, on Friday in Ilorin. “The PDP particularly condoles with the family of late Afolayan and the good people of Isin Local Government Area where the deceased hailed from for the irreparable loss. “We hope the family will find solace in the fact that the deceased lived an eventful life. “May God grant the bereaved the fortitude to bear the loss,” the PDP said.
Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre), a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), has dragged Nigerian government to the International Criminal Court (ICC), The Hague, Netherlands, requesting it to investigate allegations of complicity against government officials in the terrorism war by Boko Haram in parts of the Northern Nigeria. In a letter addressed to Prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda of the ICC, the aggrieved group is asking for ‘Possible prosecution of culpabile Nigerian Government officials in Boko Haram terrorism and Genocidal atrocities in Northern Nigeria. The letter, signed by HEDA’s chairman, Olarenwaju Suraju, drew Bensouda’s attention “to the unfolding revelations surrounding the alleged sponsorship and conspiratorial support of certain ex-officials of the Nigerian Government to the terrorist group, Boko Haram.” The group said: “The heinous crimes against humanity being perpetuated by the terrorist group in the North-eastern and a few other parts of the country since 2009, is in clear violation of Article 7 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. “We, therefore, invite you to open a comprehensive examination of these violations. This is only in line with your office’s promise in a statement issued in response to the criminal abduction of 279 school children of Chibok community in Borno State. We equally wish to request that you investigate and prosecute any international crime that may have been committed by the Boko Haram terrorist group and their sponsors, under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.” HEDA drew attention to an earlier statement credited to Bensouda, in April 2014, in response to the abduction of 276 schoolgirls in Nigeria by the Boko Haram terrorists, which reads in part: “I am deeply troubled and alarmed by disturbing reports of alleged abduction of over 200 schoolgirls in Borno State, Nigeria, and the most recent reports that more schoolgirls have been abducted this week. Such acts shock the conscience of humanity and could constitute crimes that fall within the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC). “The situation in Nigeria has been under preliminary examination by the Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC since 2010. In August 2013, the office issued a report concluding that (there is a reasonable basis to believe that) Boko Haram has been committing crimes against humanity of murder and persecution since July 2009. Information gathered by the office indicates that there has been a sharp increase in the frequency and intensity of attacks attributed to Boko Haram since January 2014, including a significant increase in alleged abductions of women and girls and of sexual slavery. Some of Boko Haram’s alleged crimes would also amount to war crimes, as the Prosecutor has recently concluded that the situation constitutes a non international armed conflict. “As Nigeria is a state which is a party to the Rome Statute, the ICC has jurisdiction over war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide committed on the territory of Nigeria or by its nationals from July 1, 2002 onwards. Having concluded that some of the alleged crimes committed in the Nigeria situation fall within subject-matter jurisdiction of the ICC, the Office of the Prosecutor is currently assessing relevant national proceedings in conformity with the principle of complementarity. “Under the Rome Statute, the Nigerian authorities have primary responsibility to investigate and prosecute the alleged crimes. Such cases may become admissible before the ICC if there are no relevant investigations or prosecutions in Nigeria, or if the national authorities are unwilling or unable to carry out genuine investigations or prosecutions.” HEDA noted that the total number of Nigerian refugees in Cameroon now stands at some 39,000, while Niger is already hosting more than 50,000 forcibly displaced people from Nigeria since May 2013. “Another 1,500 Nigerians have sought refuge in Chad. In Nigeria, 645,000 have been displaced in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states, according to UNHCR spokesman, Adrian Edwards.” The group recalled that in July 2014, Boko Haram was reported for the first time to have taken control over a city – Damboa in Borno State – setting up road blocks and checkpoints in what would represent a major strategic victory over the military. “More than 15, 000 people fled as a consequence of the attack, increasing the number of internally displaced people (IDP), which is estimated to have surpassed 3.3 million since 2010. In fact, Nigeria has one of the highest IDP populations in the world, a pressing challenge that requires immediate response, according to UN Human Rights expert. “On a conservative estimate, the death toll arising from Boko Haram’s activities between July 2009 and July 2014 is over 22,000. This includes 2,000 deaths in 2014 alone,” the group said. HEDA continued recalled that recently, the Nigerian Government allegedly contracted Rev. Stephen Davis, the Australian international negotiator, to dialogue with the Boko Haram sect to secure the release of the abducted Chibok girls. It said that in an interesting turn of event, Rev. Davis named the country’s former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Azubuike Ihejirika, and former Governor of Borno State, Senator Ali-Modu Sheriff, as sponsors of the terrorist group. It noted that the negotiator, obviously out of frustration from the failure of government to act on his discoveries in the course of negotiation and recommendations for action, spoke to the media, specifically indicting some high-ranking security and government officials as sponsors of the terrorists. “The spread, daring nature and unchecked ferocity of the Boko Haram group supports the revelation of Stephen Davis, with respect to the involvement of security and government officials in the sponsorship of the terrorists. “With your public admittance of Boko Haram’s activities as qualifying for crimes against humanity, we shall not bother with further legal points to qualify these atrocities under the Rome Statute. It is also instructive to assert that the Nigerian government, under the current leadership lacks the political will and judicial independence to prosecute the individuals who are friends and former subordinates of the President. “It is said that an injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. HEDA is concerned that the failure of the International Criminal Court to halt the egregious affront and murderous campaigns of the Boko Haram, makes more Nigerians and citizens of neighbouring countries potential victims of their brazen murder of innocent souls. We hereby urge the ICC to urgently open immediate examination of this development by inviting Rev. Stephen Davis to provide insight into his revelations, to assist the court in its investigation and possible prosecution of those connected with the crimes.”
A popular Nollywood Actor, Desmong Elliot has done with acting and directing as he now eyes a seat in the Lagos State House of Assembly. Elliot who is also a producer and director declared his intention to contest the 2015 election into the Lagos House Assembly under the canopy of All Progressives Congress (APC). It would be recalled that another Nollywood star, Kate Henshaw recently joined APC even as most of the other entertainers turned politicians have pitched their tents with APC.
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An active player in the Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970), Brigadier-Gen Benjamin Adekunle (retd.), is dead. The war veteran, better known as Black Scorpion, died today at the age of 78 in Lagos, according to his wife, Folake.
“The United States is at war with ISIL in the same way that we are at war with Al-Qaeda and its Al-Qaeda affiliates all around the globe.” These were the words of the White House, United States spokesman, Josh Earnest today.
A popular Nollywood Actor, Desmong Elliot has done with acting and directing as he now eyes a seat in the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Senator Bala Repositioning Abuja, By Ibrahim Biu
The past four years have been very exciting for Federal Capital Territory residents who had waited patiently over the years for development, and are now witnessing a flurry of developmental activities.
The architect of such activities is no other person than Senator Bala Muhammed.
The able minister had gone head long into the execution of projects aimed at providing critical infrastructure and a conducive environment for residents of the FCT. Senator Bala has been able to strategise the end product of which has been the transformation of Abuja into beautiful Capital city and a pride to the nation.
Senator Bala had told a meeting of stakeholders in Abuja shortly after his second coming that he would work in tandem with President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation Agenda, and went in with massive provision of critical infrastructures in all parts of the FCT which were being implemented in phases, through collaborative efforts of stakeholders in all sectors of the economy.
Senator Bala’s Public Private Programm (PPP) initiative which has generated interest among key stakeholders, has yielded positive results in the transportation and the social sectors. This has been translated into light rail and urban bus transportation projects.
The light rail projects involved about $500 million worth of a loan from the Chinese government and will be completed in 2015.
The minister also introduced a street parking system which helps to generate revenue for the FCTA and keeps Abuja Street – traffic flowing freely.
Of course, the introduced also, land -swap system has the capacity of solving the city’s many problems, especially during the period of cash-squeeze in the country. Similarly the land swap system was also designed to accelerate the development of the city and to resettle, through compensation of the affected persons.
It is on record that Senator Bala had earlier dealt with land speculators and swindlers who were involved in frauds and cheating of innocent Nigerians.
The minster action on the development of satellite areas which aimed at decongesting the city center gave residents easier option of going to the city center only for very important reasons. This followed the approval by President Jonathan for the minister to re-introduce the satellite Towns Development Authority (STDA) which involves about $ 40 billion.
The FCTA has been up and doing in the areas of provision of water, health facilities, schools, agricultural equipment, social facilities and had empowered youths. The Administration has completed work on major projects such as the Abuja airport and Gwagwlada/ Kubwa roads and other projects in the social sector.
The involvement of the private sector in land-swap and other projects in city center is aimed at providing solutions to many outstanding developmental problems in the FCT.
Many observers are of the belief that with a budget of only N306 billion naira last year, the Senator Bala administration has opened new frontiers of development in the territory, especially against the background of what was on ground at the time he was reappointed last year.
His latest move to improve the Abuja master plan, mass housing, education, provision of critical engineering infrastructures in eleven districts showed that a man working to earn a fine reputation.
Senator Bala’s method of developing rural areas, opening-up the territory to both foreign and local investors will impact positively on peoples’ lives.
This is not to say however that it has been all a bed of roses, with work still to be done on, especially in the area of development control and resettlement. The minister himself has admitted that there exist a problem at the development control as designs of structures submitted by developers are usually unnecessarily delayed which in turn slows down development.
As the minister said himself last week: “we are moving ahead; we will not be deterred in our effort to develop our capital city according to resources available, as expected by well meaning Nigerians.”
Ibrahim wrote this piece from Abuja. [myad]