General Buhari, el-Rufai Have No Hand In The Boko Haram Sponsorship, Dr. Davis Clarifies

September 2, 2014

Australian hostage negotiator with members of Boko Haram, Stephen Davis, has made it clear that former Nigerian Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari and former minister of the nation’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nasiru el-Rufai have no hand in the sponsorship of the deadly Boko Haram, whose members have been on the nation’s neck, killing and maiming innocent Nigerians, especially in the North-East, as well as destroying properties.

Davis, who spoke to an online medium today, insisted that the former Governor of Borno State where the tentacle of Boko Haram is rooted, Senator Ali Modu Sherriff and a former Nigerian Chief of Army staff, General Azubuike Ihejirika (Rtd.) are among those sponsoring the sect.

He called the bluff of Modu Sherriff, who had threatened to go to Australia to sue him, insisting that Modu Sherriff enjoyed the best military protection even when he had led office.

According to the Australian, Boko Haram has about six camps in the North East region with 700 fighters in each of them, with smaller camps in Borno State where kidnapped girls are taken to.

“They are now linking with other terrorist groups in the region and will soon be very difficult to dismantle. If these political sponsors think they can turn these groups off after the 2015 elections, they are going to be surprised to find that it is out of their control. If we don’t do our utmost now to dismantle Boko Haram, then we may not be able to do so for another generation. That is a very gloomy scenario for Nigeria.”

He blamed President Goodluck Jonathan’s inability to act against disloyalty by some military men and negligence as well as corrupt politicians.

“By the time Goodluck Jonathan became president, Boko Haram had become a potent weapon with a command structure embedded in 16 northern states, fanned by support from corrupt politicians.”

Dr. Davis blamed Nigeria’s Minister of Defense, Aliyu Gusau, for not giving Jonathan any good advice on how to curb this insurgence but rather left him to carry out the work alone.

He shed light on how Aminu Ogwuche who allegedly bombed Nyanya bus station lived in the home of a CBN worker who carries out banking transaction for Boko Haram through the CBN, thus making inflow of cash to them legal and untraceable.

He also said that two of the Nyanya bomb blast planners were on the run, while Ogwuche has not been interrogated on his links with the three young men he masterminded the bombing with.

He narrated how the former Nigerian Minister of Transport under President Olusegun Obasanjo, Mr. Abiye Sekibo contracted assassins that killed Harry Marshall, but could not be brought to book by the President who feared that his trial could ruin his government.

He made a very deadly confession on how corrupt former National Security Adviser, Owoye Andrew Azazi planned to buy into the Hilton hotel chain in London to the tune of $100 million before he died in a helicopter crash on December 15, 2012.

[myad]

Embers Months And The Myths, By Kingsley Ahanonu

Greenbarge Reporters

September 2, 2014

The Ember months are the period when evils, sinister adventures skyrocket to the high heavens beyond the ordinary. It is the period when the gates of hell are flung open to emit its frosty scum as evident by the brazen rove in social and infrastructural decrepit.

We are once again, entered the month of September; the beginning in the feel of the Embers; the oft taunted period of the year. September is here. Welcome to a New month. Welcome to the Embers!

Each year, we are presented with a recycle of the months that constitute the Gregorian calendar. These are series of which we are annually inundated with. And for someone within the age of reasoning, these cycles have become clearly ingrained in our minds. So are the Embers.

This new month, like its similar kind experienced in the past, is a comeback of its latest series, having the same number of days and retaining its slot as the 9th comer.

As associated with every September, it is again a recurrence of tremorous moments that have become our fear and the expectation that is our joy. Being the primer of the Embers that also capture October, November and December, September identifies with ambivalence.

The month of September affords us the time to begin to take stock of all our efforts in the year running and to make good use of the injury time to redress for more results and make ups, as the case may be. We rejoice that providence has led us into the air of the yuletide and consequently a triumph of the year.

But however, at its knock is the apprehension and concern for the myth that has formed around it as the more precarious flap of the year. We palpitate in all our engagements, taking extra measures of carefulness because the evil times have started.

The myth associated with the Embers has left a deep impression in the minds of many. And this has slowly crept into our minds to assume a status of close fact, albeit fictitious.

The Ember months are feelingly the period when evils, sinister adventures skyrocket to the high heavens beyond the ordinary. The period when the gates of hell are flung open to emit its frowsty scums as evident by the brazen rove in social and infrastructural decrepit.

It is assumed that the sky is let loose of its hordes of antagonistic dominions who descend on man with gruesome spill during these periods. The merchants of death and blood sucking demons unabashedly prowl more preferably in this period. How true these assumptions are remains a question unanswered.

Criminality soars, as robbers of highways and the nights pounce on unsuspecting individuals to make up for the fast passing year. Ritual killings and other nefarious moves sweep across. All these believed to be the impulsions of a gushing satanic desire.

It is truthful that crime rates and ‘blood spilling and blood sucking’ accidents are on the increase this period. But these queasy occurrence are themselves not actions of a far and unreachable elements.

Thus the myths that has become associated with the embers and which has erroneously been given projection even to upcoming generations are all lies which fall short of veracity.

The evil ‘dwellers of the cosmos’ fly around seeking for who to devour; yes we know. But they by themselves don’t rein havoc without our yielding involvement. We are the ones living here; for the exertion of any observable act, it must be through us.

Little wonder when greed and the quest for inordinate ambitions drive one and they become exposed of their nefarity, they never cease to admit acting the bidding of the ‘devil’.

Virtually, every disgraceful shortcoming of man has been attributed to the ‘grandmaster’ and one wonder why the cases in the embers would appear different. Hence, we must flee from their nudges.

We must not let the delusion in the unfounded myths of the embers delude us into living everything to chance since they would be presumably out of our control. Like the others, we make the embers what we want of them.

We must be seen to retrace from the unruly conducts and irrationality that have continued to give the false myths sustaining baits to thrive on.

The ember months are days graciously granted to us; they aren’t different from the others, except in names. The onus therefore is on us to make this ember months entirely of different breeds from the stalemated predecessors by, our efforts and commitments to think and act aright.

This myth rather than enervate us must stir in us to challenge its veracity and prove it wrong. We must do this by obeying traffic rules; if you drink and don’t drive and vice versa. Don’t overspeed and never overtake mindlessly. We shouldn’t crave for what we cannot genuinely afford. This leads us to the highways.

With the right values emphasised, we make effort to flee from the impressions from the ‘demons’ and we would see how the Ember months become their exclusive preserve as often mis-asserted.

As such, the new month demands new assertions and new creation from us; creations that would strike a new feel, something different from the used-to-be life.

The new September requires a new agenda; we must set it correctly. A more secure and Happy Ember Months ahead!

Ahanonu Kingsley wrote in from Owerri.

[myad]

Namadi Sambo Commissions N84 Billion UNICEM Cement Factory In Calabar

Greenbarge Reporters

September 2, 2014

Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, today, commissioned the N84 Billion UNICEM Cement factory in Calabar, with a promise that the federal government would continue to encourage people in the private sector to help boost the nation’s economy. The project is expected to be completed in 2016 and would have its capacity increased from 2.5 million metric tons to 5 million metric tons.
Namadi Sambo, who performed the commissioning on behalf of President Goodluck Jonathan was happy that the backward Integration Policy of the Jonathan government has now led to the attainment of 39.9 million metric tonnes of cement production in the country.
“From a paltry 2 million metric tonnes of cement hitherto produced locally per annum, by 2013 we have achieved 39.5 million metric tons of installed capacity.”
He described the manufacturing industry as the backbone of the country’s growth, assuring that government would continue to formulate policies that would galvanize the industry.
According to the Vice President in order to tackle the challenges being faced by industries in Cross River State, the 550mw Calabar Power plant would soon be commissioned, even as construction work would soon commence on the rail line leading to Calabar up to Obudu Ranch.
This, even, he said, besides the dredging of the Calabar River and the construction of a deep sea port at Ibaka among other infrastructural development that are ongoing.
He sought for cooperation among all stakeholders for the purpose of attaining some levels of progress.
“Government will continue to cooperate with the relevant agencies, both public and private, to champion meaningful projects and ensure steady progress in our communities.”
Namadi Sambo commended the management of UNICEM for keying into the Transformation Agenda of the government, adding that there is need for the company to carry the communities along, saying: “improving the lives of the people in these communities remains your greatest’ business asset.”
The Vice President asked the communities to cooperate with UNICEM which he said, is the only way the project could come to fruition by the 2016 as scheduled.
Speaking, the Governor of Cross River State, represented by his Deputy, Barrister Efiok Cobham, said that the state government would continue to provide the enabling environment for businesses to thrive.
He commended President Jonathan for what he called “the people friendly polices” that have made the state a hub of industrialization, adding that the increased capacity would not only reduce the supply gap but would also reduce the market price of cement in the State.
Also, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, through the Minister of State, Dr. Samuel Ortom, said the performance of the cement industry is a testimony to the fact that Nigeria is moving in the right direction, in the area of Industrial Revolution plan.
The Chairman of UNICEM board, Mr. John Coumantaros, said the new line would cost the company N84 billion and due to be completed in 2016.
According to him, when completed, it would increase the capacity of the company from the current 2.5 million metric tons to 5 million metric tonnes and would provide millions of jobs, both directly and indirectly.
He called on the government to tackle multiple taxation, provide the necessary infrastructure in the power, and transport sectors, especially roads, water and rail.

[myad]

Big Brother Africa House in South Africa Goes Up In Flames

Greenbarge Reporters

September 2, 2014

The Big Brother Africa house in Johannesburg, South Africa, was today gutted by fire.
According to a statement by M-Net and Endemol, as well as tweets monitored on the Big Brother Africa twitter handle, the “devastating fire” has necessitated a need to postpone the September 7, 2014 launch of the Big Brother Hotshots.
It said: “The cause of the fire, at this stage, is unknown and investigations will commence as soon as it is safe to do so.
“At this stage, M-Net and Endemol are urgently looking for an alternative Big Brother house in which to film the production, however as this production has highly technical infrastructure, camera and edit requirements an alternative is not immediately available. “Every effort will be made to find a solution as quickly as possible to ensure that Africa’s biggest reality show will continue.”
No life was lost as a result of the fire, and no one was injured. The BBA house is located at the Sasani Studios in Johannesburg, South Africa.

[myad]

I Knew Tom Ikimi Will Go Back To His Sponsors, Says Bola Tinubu

Greenbarge Reporters

September 2, 2014

Former governor of Lagos state and cheiftain of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has made it clear that he had always known that the defected Chief Tom Ikimi from APC to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would sooner than later go back to his sponsors.
“I knew he would go back to his sponsors. He is back in the company he deserves. And APC is better for it.”
Tinubu who responded, in a statement, to the points raised by Ikimi for leaving APC, one of which was that he (Tinubu) took APC as his personal estate, said that Ikimi blew a blatant lie.
In the statement from his media office in Lagos, Tinubu said that he ordinarily would not have responded “to Ikimi’s lengthy chronicle of falsehoods, cheap blackmail and abuse. My only reason for this response is that I know Tom Ikimi’s style. He subscribes to the view that no matter how unbelievable a lie may sound if you brazenly assert it and repeat it often enough you may persuade many that it is in fact true. I have seen Ikimi perpetrate this deviousness in his years in public life.”
Refering to Ikimi’s bid for the Chairmanship of the Party, Tinubu said that it was clear to practically everyone who had the interest of the party at heart “that we simply could not have a man of Tom Ikimi’s antecedents as Chair of the party. As chairman of the NRC, one of the only two political parties in the country under the military transition programme, Tom Ikimi not only connived with the then military regime to annul the elections, terminate the democratic process and sell off his party, he became Abacha’s foreign minister, convincing the world that heinous state murders like the hanging of Ken Saro Wiwa were just acts!
“If Ikimi were the Chair of APC, the party would have to sleep with both eyes open lest its chairman sells off the party before the day break. No matter what anyone may say about me, it is unlikely that I can be accused of supporting incompetent or morally light-weight individuals for important political positions.
“My philosophy is to put the best forward: men and women of competence and integrity, who can stand up to us politicians to challenge us and say no when necessary.”
The APC cheiftain said that such people are not usually noisy or seeking to gain attention by being loud.
He said that his role was to do all I could to project such people, asking that who would compare the highly principled Chief Bisi Akande, or Chief Oyegun with a Tom Ikimi?
“Either of these two men are known for their no-nonsense styles, not once in their careers would you hear that they betrayed a cause or were anybody’s stooge.
“Ikimi also concocts a story of a meeting he claims I had with Deziani on the Oando/ ConocoPhillips transaction on the eve of the APC Convention.
Only a Tom Ikimi can come up with the absurd falsehood that on the eve of the APC Convention when I was in crucial meetings, practically round the clock, I was meeting with the Minister for Petroleum!
“What exactly would have been the point of such a meeting especially on the eve of the Convention? Was it to prevent Tom Ikimi from emerging as Chairman of the APC? To what end? Of what value would it be to anyone except Ikimi himself?
“Besides, if this was so why he is back to the same party that purportedly planned his down fall? What is the Oando/ConocoPhillips transaction anyway?” He said that for people that do not know this is a private sale of the assets of ConocoPhillips to Oando, it was not patronage of any kind from the Federal government.
According to him, the Federal government’s involvement was merely to formally consent to the sale.
“I was not involved and I have never been involved in any of Oando’s transactions.
“Typically he plays on the fact that Wale Tinubu of Oando is my nephew. Oando has been thoroughly investigated by South African and British authorities in the past 5 years as part of the process of listing the company on the stock exchanges of those countries. Those rigorous and comprehensive investigations conducted by the governments and risk control investigators are to discover the actual ownership of shares in the company. “Politically exposed persons like myself are prime targets for those investigations. All these investigations have shown that I have no investments in Oando. “My public position on the entire transaction is that if an indigenous Nigerian oil and gas entity run by young serious minded Nigerians raise money transparently in the international capital markets to purchase private assets of a multi-national the Federal government ought to give its consent. That it took so long is shameful. The Conoco/Phillips transaction was a $1.7 billion dollars investment in Nigeria that would create more jobs,witness the establishment of allied industries and make the Nigerian Economy more attractive. I would have been extremely proud to have made such a transaction possible.
“Regarding the nonsense about selling out on Ribadu. I think common sense should dictate that if ever such a deal were reached we would have had to inform our members in all the States. How could that have been done secretly? How do you tell hundreds of thousands of people not to vote for your own party without it becoming public knowledge?
“At the formation of the APC, a crucial debate ensued about what to do about persons like Ikimi who had done awful things in the past, but who were now minded to align with the progressive tendency in Nigerian politics. Should we forever blacklist them? “This would have been the easiest route, but it would have kept rancour alive. It would have made us slaves to the bleakest chapters of our past. Instead we opted to extend the hand of brotherhood, reconcile and put the past behind us. This would enable a broader political consensus, while also giving the likes of Ikimi an opportunity to atone for their grievous wrongs against the people and be rehabilitated.
“We recognized that many leading Nigerians had committed acts of shame. Some for private profit, others who were otherwise decent people who had become prisoners to a terrible system.
“Not surprisingly, Ikimi acting true to type abuse that magnanimity. He was never sincerely committed to the party. He was always playing out a PDP script. He only wanted the chairmanship of the party as a bargaining chip for negotiations with his benefactors. “His defection purportedly on account of the loss of the chairmanship of the party is a mere subterfuge, once his ploy failed he had no other objective within the party, I knew he would go back to his sponsors. He is back in the company he deserves. And APC is better for it.”

Bola Ahmed Tinubu‬

[myad]

African Leaders May Vote Special Fund To Fight Terrorism

Greenbarge Reporters

September 2, 2014

African leaders are thinking of establishing a special, continental fund to be used in fighting terrorism. The idea has been scehduled for the next African Union Summit to be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Fielding questions from journalists today, after the closing of the 455th African Union Peace and Security Council meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, Chairperson of the Council, President Idris Debby of Chad, flanked by President Jonathan, said that it remained the responsibility of Africa to raise funds to solve its own problems and stop the over- reliance on foreign aids.
This position had earlier been canvassed by the host, President Uhuru Kenyatta during the opening ceremony. He had argued that African governments should take the issue of anti- terrorism funding seriously to complement the support coming from partners and friends outside the continent.
Debby said that Kenyatta’s proposal would be tabled for discussion in the next AU Summit.
He emphasized the need for African leaders to give adequate attention to the issue, saying: “We are looking for African solution. We have the means and capacity to face any given situation, even terrorism. We are not refusing support from abroad, but it is supposed to be an African problem and we should stop disturbing our friends and partners. We should stop the vicious circle.”
In a communique issued after the Summit, the leaders warned African countries against payment of ransom and encouragement of financial terrorism.
The Council also urged member states to ensure that their territories are not used as recruitment grounds for terrorists.
The leader insisted that the fundamental human rights of civilians must be upheld at all times while fighting terrorism.
The communique requested member states to submit annual reports to the Council on the steps they are taking to combat terrorism within their respective territories.

[myad]

2.3 Million Workers Die Yearly From Work-Related Diseases, Accidents Worldwide

Greenbarge Reporters

September 2, 2014

The Director General of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Guy Ryder has said that about 2.3 million workers worldwide die annually as a result of occupational illnesses and accidents at work.

According to him, 860,000 occupational accidents occur every day with direct or indirect costs of occupational illnesses and accidents at work, estimated at $2.8 trillion worldwide.

Guy Ryder, who spoke at the Triennial World Congress on Safety and Health at Work (2014) co organised by ILO and the International Social Security Association (ISSA) in Frankfurt, Germany remarked: “These figures are unacceptable and yet these daily tragedies often fail to show up on the global radar. Clearly, there is still much to be done. Serious occupational accidents are, firstly, human tragedies but economies and society also pay a high price.”

The Director-General called for what he described as “culture of intolerance towards risks at work,” saying that safety and health are integral part of all ILO’s work, including a spotlight on invisible and vulnerable categories of workers in the informal economy, rural economy and migrant workers.

Speaking to occupational safety experts, politicians and scientists from 141 countries at the world’s largest occupational safety event, Ryder said the ILO would focus on producing a greater impact on the global culture related to safety and health at work and on the ground in workplaces.
“Ebola and the tragedies it is causing are in the daily headlines, which is right. But work-related deaths are not. So, the task ahead is to establish a permanent culture of consciousness,” Ryder said.
He said the failure to ensure a safe and healthy workplace constitute unacceptable form of work. “This puts safety and health alongside forced labour, child labour, freedom of association and discrimination, which were recognised in the ILO Declaration of Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.

“The challenge we face is a daunting one. Work claims more victims around the globe than war. An estimated 2.3 million workers die every year from occupational accidents and diseases.”

He pointed out that investing in occupational safety and health is good business adding that “every dollar that is invested pays in.”
Ryder also underlined the critical need for good data stressing: “We live in the Information Age where policy-makers have access to data on most issues. But in relation to occupational safety and health we lack data to design and implement evidence-based policies and programmes. That’s a failure – also of political will.” [myad]

Saudi Arrests 88 Suspected Terrorists Amidst Rumoured Plans To Destroy Prophet Muhammad’s Tomb

Greenbarge Reporters

September 2, 2014

Saudi Arabia has announced the arrest of 88 people suspected to be plotting to launch attacks both inside the country and outside, even as there are rumoured plans by terrorists to destroy the tomb of Prophet Muhammad with the intention of removing his body to an anonymous grave. These are plans that threaten to spark discord across the Muslim world.

The Saudi Arabian interior ministry said today that the suspected terrorists have been monitored for several months before their arrest and “were on the verge of carrying out operations.”

Police say three of the men are from Yemen and others, except one that is still being identified, are Saudi Arabian citizens.

Interior ministry spokesman, Mansour al-Turki did not give any details about the plots but said 59 of the men had previously served prison sentences for similar offences.

He told reporters that the arrests were made over the past few days, and that this has shown that Saudi forces were “serious in tracking down” anyone who joined extremist groups.

“It is unfortunate that some of those who had completed their sentences and were released by court orders returned to their previous ways.”

This is coming on the heels of the growing concerns thatthe tomb of the Prophet Mohamed could be destroyed and his body removed to an anonymous grave under plans which threaten to spark discord across the Muslim world.

The controversial proposals are said to be part of a consultation document by a leading Saudi academic which has been circulated among the supervisors of al-Masjid al-Nabawi mosque in Medina, where the remains of the Prophet are housed under the Green Dome, visited by millions of pilgrims and venerated as Islam’s second-holiest site. The formal custodian of the mosque is Saudi Arabia’s ageing monarch King Abdullah.

The plans, brought to light by another Saudi academic who has exposed and criticised the destruction of holy places and artefacts in Mecca – the holiest site in the Muslim world – call for the destruction of chambers around the Prophet’s grave which are particularly venerated by Shia Muslims.

The 61-page document also calls for the removal of Mohamed’s remains to the nearby al-Baqi cemetery, where they would be interred anonymously.

There is no suggestion that any decision has been taken to act upon the plans. The Saudi government has in the past insisted that it treats any changes to Islam’s holiest sites with “the utmost seriousness”.

But such is the importance of the mosque to both Sunni and Shia Muslims that Dr. Irfan al-Alawi warned that any attempt to carry out the work could spark unrest. It also runs the risk of inflaming sectarian tensions between the two branches of Islam, already running perilously high due to the conflicts in Syria and Iraq.

Hardline Saudi clerics have long preached that the country’s strict Wahhabi interpretation of Islam – an offshoot of the Sunni tradition – prohibits the worship of any object or “saint,” a practice considered “shirq” or idolatrous.

Dr. Alawi, director of the Islamic Heritage Research Foundation said: “People visit the chambers, which are the rooms where the Prophet’s family lived, and turn towards the burial chamber to pray.

“Now they want to prevent pilgrims from attending and venerating the tomb because they believe this is shirq, or idolatry. But the only way they can stop people visiting the Prophet is to get him out and into the cemetery.”

For centuries, Muslim pilgrims have made their way to Mecca in order to visit the Kaaba – a black granite cubed building said to be built by Abraham, around which al-Masjid al-Haram, or the Grand Mosque, is built, and towards which every Muslim faces when they pray.

This pilgrimage, or hajj, is a religious duty that has to be carried out at least once in a lifetime.

Many go on to make their way to the nearby city of Medina to pay their respects at the Prophet’s tomb.

Al-Nabawi mosque around the tomb has been expanded by generations of Arabian rulers, particularly the Ottomans. It includes hand-painted calligraphy documenting details of the Prophet’s life and his family. Dr Alawi said the plans also call for these to be destroyed as well as the Green Dome which covers the Prophet’s tomb.

The Prophet is venerated by both branches of Islam, Sunni and Shia. The strict Wahhabi sect is a branch of the Sunni faith, however, and removing the Prophet could further inflame tensions between the two groups .

The current crisis in Iraq has been blamed on the Shia former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s sectarianism, which alienated the Sunni, leading to the uprising. Isis, also known as Islamic State, which holds swathes of Iraq and Syria, and which murdered the American journalist James Foley, is a Sunni organisation.

Mainstream Sunni Muslims would be just as aghast at any desecration of the tomb as the Shia, Dr Alawi said.

Dr. Alawi says the consultation document for the al-Nabawi mosque in Medina, by the leading Saudi academic, Dr. Ali bin Abdulaziz al-Shabal of Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University in Riyadh, has been circulated to the Committee of the Presidency of the Two Mosques.

Several pages of the consultation document have just been published in the presidency’s journal. They call for the destruction of the rooms surrounding the tomb – used by the Prophet’s wives and daughters, and venerated by the Shia because of their association with his youngest daughter, Fatima.

The document also calls for the Green Dome, which covers the tomb and these living quarters, to be removed, and the ultimate removal of the Prophet’s body to a nearby cemetery.

The al-Baqi cemetery already contains the bodies of many of the Prophet’s family, including his father who was removed there in the 1970s, Dr. Alawi said. In 1924 all the grave markers were removed, so pilgrims would not know who was buried there, and so be unable to pray to them.

“The Prophet would be anonymous,” Dr. Alawi said, adding: “Everything around the Prophet’s mosque has already been destroyed. It is surrounded by bulldozers. Once they’ve removed everything they can move towards the mosque. The imam is likely to say there is a need to expand the mosque and do it that way, while the world’s eyes are on Iraq and Syria. The Prophet Mohamed’s grave is venerated by the mainstream Sunni, who would never do it. It is just as important for the Shia too, who venerate the Prophet’s daughter, Fatima.

“I’m sure there will be shock across the Muslim world at these revelations. It will cause outrage.”

However the Saudi Arabian embassy, had, in a statement last year said: “The development of the Holy Mosque of Makkah al-Mukarramah (Mecca) is an extremely important subject and one which the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in its capacity as custodian of the two holy mosques, takes with the utmost seriousness. This role is at the heart of the principles upon which Saudi Arabia is founded.” [myad]

Falana Wants Boko Haram Sponsors Arrested, Prosecuted

Greenbarge Reporters

September 1, 2014

Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana(SAN) has called on the federal government to arrest and prosecute those behind the nefarious civilities of the dreaded Boko Haran insurgence in the country.

Falana, in a statement issued in Lagos advised the government not to delay in the prosecution of those named in connection with the insurgence to the International Criminal Court (ICC), saying that the allegations against them are too weighty to be ignored or gloss over.
“In view of the gravity of the allegations of crimes against humanity committed by the sponsors of the Boko Haram sect, President Jonathan should refer the suspects to the Special Prosecutor of the international Criminal Court.
“Any local investigation conducted by the Federal Governnent in the circumstance may be manipulated by vested political interests.”

The lawyer recalled that the international negotiator, Rev. Stephen Davies, engaged by President Jonathan to enter into dialogue with the Boko Haram sect with a view to securing the release of the abducted 275 Chibok school girls revealed the identities of the sponsors of the terrorist organisation.

He wondered why the government is foot-dragging in taking proactive measure by prosecuting those named in criminal court.

“In a well publicised televised interview in London last week, the international negotiator disclosed that a former governor of Borno state, a former chief of army staff and a former top official of the Central Bank of Nigeria have provided funds and other logistics to the nihilist body for the terrorist attacks which had claimed the lives of hundreds of innocent people in the country.”

According to him, the disclosure was backed with some detailed accounts which confirmed some information in the domain of the security forces in the country.

Falana also recalled that the Ambassador Usman Galtimari Committeee on insurgency in the north east zone set up in 2011 by President Jonathan had recommended the prosecution of “some politicians, who sponsored, funded and used the militia groups that later metamorphosed into Boko Haram.
” In a White Paper issued on the report of the Committee the Federal Government accepted the recommendation and ditrected “the National Security Adviser to coordinate the investigation of the kingpins and sponsors to unravel the individuals and groups that are involved.

“Although the White Paper was published in May 2012 the directive of the federal government has not been carried out up till now because the
individuals involved are said to be connected to the Presidency.

“However, the special envoy of the Federal Government has just named one of the “kingpins and sponsors of the terrorist sect.

“Having regard to the report of the Oputa Panel on human rights abuse in Nigeria from 1966-1999 which indicted the Ibrahim Babangida and Sani Abacha juntas for bombing certain “subversive” individuals and extra-judicial killing of others for phantom coup de tat the alleged involvement of military officers in the terrorist activities of the Boko Haram sect cannot be dismissed with a wave of the hand.” [myad]

General Ihejirika: A Loony Biafra Fanatic Or Just Deadly Corrupt? By Dr. Peregrino Brimah

Greenbarge Reporters

September 1, 2014

The Federal Government of Nigeria has not come out to reject the incriminating statements made by its employed Chief Boko Haram negotiator, Dr. Stephen Davis, from Australia, who three days ago named former Chief of army staff, General Azubuike Ihejirika and a former governor of Borno state, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, both ruling party members, as the top sponsors of the Boko Haram deadly sect that has killed more than a hundred thousand Nigerians and displaced over four million, mostly farmers in the nation’s north.

For some reason I bet the Jonathan government will never discredit him because they know he knows much more he is not yet saying and they will not want to risk him getting bitter and telling Nigerians much more of the truth they are dying, literally dying to know.

It can be concluded that the ex-military chief is a top sponsor of Boko Haram. The inefficiency and gross sabotage of the military and military operations over the past four years of his reign are living and dead testimony of his membership role in the organization. Well noted military abandonments of post prior to Boko Haram attacks, the facilitated transfer of Nigeria’s best weapons, armored tanks and APC’s (taken up north to “combat the terrorists) by the military to Boko Haram throughout his tenure and continuing today are further evidence of his support of the group.

The question Nigerians now ask is, why? Why will a Christian army general from the southeast sponsor a group that is promoted as being radical “islamist?”

The answer must lie between or be a combination of the following:

Retired general Azubuike Ihejirika is likely a loony Biafra Zionist fanatic. His interests lie in the destruction of the north of the nation which he blames for the defeat of Ojukwu’s Biafra secessionist attempt. This will explain why the Nigerian military men drafted to protect a well respected former general, who fought valiantly on the Nigerian side against Biafra, late General Muhammed Shuwa, were described to have withdrawn and looked on as the general was assassinated at his home. Of course General Ihejirika not court-martialing these men proves his involvement.

General Azubuike Ihejirika would have been enjoying the havoc caused by Boko Haram on the north along with the handful of fellow loony fanatics like himself that always celebrate the deaths and destruction to the north and call it “pay-back,” not mindful of the fact that hundreds of thousands of innocent people who were not even born during the civil war; and millions who did not participate in any way are the majority of victims.

There are hundreds of cases worldwide where people and States act in like fashion with conspiracies to undermine others they hate. In many of these events, these mischief makers even sacrifice their own in false-flags to achieve their ulterior goal.

It is evident that General Ihejirika did not mind as Boko Haram continued to murder Nigerians in the north. He vehemently opposed the request for additional troops made by the then Chief of defense, Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim to curb Boko Haram’s onslaught. It can be recollected that by May last year, Boko Haram had taken over 2/3rds of Borno and the General still rejected the demands for the needed troops and was seen driving in convoy’s in Abuja building his multi-billion hotel.

It was later that May, after we released a high level intelligence report, alerting the world about the permitted occupation of the north by ragtag terrorists, that Nigeria’s President and the General were finally forced, reluctantly, to declare a State of emergency and finally draft the needed troops.

It can also be recollected that as soon as victory was in sight and the first “Shekau” was killed by the then Joint Task Force – in August of 2013 – that the Nigerian president and General Ihejirika stopped the successful coordinated JTF-CivilianJTF assault on Boko Haram and re-deployed all troops with knowhow of the war; and created a docile 7 division army that was now “banned” from cooperating with the CivilianJTF and would leave Boko Haram to recover and re-establish their assault on the farmers of the north.

The ex-general was fulfilling the dream of the handful of fanatics who believe self-determination can only be gotten through murder. Many of us will fight for the liberation of not only the Igbo States if the people so desire, but also every Nigerian zone that wants sovereignty and self-determination; but one must not and need not shed a drop of innocent blood to achieve this and any other goals.

Corruption is also a motive for his actions sponsoring Boko Haram. The alleged war against terror is a great source of wealth for the army chiefs. A quarter of Nigeria’s budget goes to financing this war and yet several reports, some by ENDS and others by SaharaReporters have exposed how the Nigerian army has been severely underfunded. Soldiers sleep and eat in shameful condition. They wear substandard gear and sometimes two army divisions are combined to one unit to half the cost of operations. The billions allocated to the war on terror have been swallowed by Nigeria’s executive government and the top army chiefs. Soldiers complained to us that they are given only two rounds of ammunition to defend barracks’ with instead of 10 times that, the minimum required allocation. Soldiers complained that they had to beg the armory for rounds. The former General was stuffing his mouth with money for the army beyond belief.

He has been reportedly constructing mansions and ultra-modern hotels on the money for Nigeria’s defense. Clearly the preservation and continuation of the war was in his interest and is still in the interest of Nigeria’s army chiefs as it gives them stupendous wealth under in the “democratic” era where they are out of government.

The ex-General made an inadvertent confession of the sabotaging of the needed development of the Nigerian army in his rascally diversionary attack on the person of El-Rufai when these accusations were first published. He admitted and alleged in that statement published in the Vanguard that “it was because money was not spent on the army that Boko Haram was successful.” So #WhereIsOurMoney? Is it money for the Nigerian army that he spends on Boko Haram? What wicked treachery!

If I may add a third reason- the former army Chief is a known as a PDP ruling party potential gubernatorial candidate for Abia State. The ruling PDP party has always utilized Boko Haram as a means of tarnishing the image of their opposition. It can be recollected that the former Party chairman and a best friend of the President, Bamanga Tukur, still on public salary, said, “Boko Haram is fighting for justice, Boko Haram is another name for justice.” General Ihejrika on this basis would have been doing the party’s bidding by destroying the north, most especially opposition States.

We must thank the Chibok grls for their prayers which the Lord is answering by revealing the identities of those doing this to them and their people. Davis said that it was in consideration of the abducted Angels that he decided he must speak out. The Lord Answereth. Amen, Amen, Amen to their prayers. Nigerians can bet on more revelations and more of the Lord’s Wrath to the rascals and oppressors in the coming days and months.

Meanwhile the nation waits as it expects these sponsors to be arrested in the coming days; else the Jonathan government will be again more seriously implicated in Boko Haram sponsorship. [myad]

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