We Fear That Nigeria Soldiers Are Not Capable Of Using The War Arsenals –The US

November 13, 2014

The United States has said that it refused to sell its Cobra helicopters to Nigeria due to concerns about the Nigeria’s military ability to use and maintain them.

The cobra attack helicopter is a combat aircraft used by the US marines with the ability to climb at the rate of 8.2meters per second. It is equipped with a 20 mm M197 3-barreled Gatling cannon in the A/A49E-7 turret (750 rounds ammo capacity).

America however said that it had provided and approved sales of military equipment to Nigerian armed forces.

The US State Department spokeswoman, Jen Psaki, said this in Washington when she was reacting allegations made by the Nigerian ambassador to US, Professor Adebowale Adefuye that America has not been helping Nigeria in its fight against Boko Haram.

Adefuye had told members of the Council on Foreign Relations on Monday that the US refused to sell lethal arms to Nigeria, adding that America was not doing enough to assist in combating the Boko Haram insurgency in North-Eastern part of the country.

The ambassador said: “The U.S. government has up till today refused to grant Nigeria’s request to purchase lethal equipment that would have brought down the terrorists within a short time on the basis of the allegations that Nigeria’s defence forces have been violating human rights of Boko Haram suspects when captured or arrested.

“We find it difficult to understand how and why, in spite of the U.S. presence in Nigeria, with their sophisticated military technology, Boko Haram should be expanding and becoming more deadly.”

Adefuye said that Washington had refused Nigeria’s requests to buy heavy weaponry because of allegations the defense forces have violated the human rights of Boko Haram suspects.

He said allegations of human rights abuses by the military were “rumors, hearsays and exaggerated accounts put about by rivals of President Goodluck Jonathan and rights groups.”

But Psaki in reaction to Adefuye’s allegations, claimed there had been “a great deal” of US aid to Nigeria.

She said there were ongoing concerns about the Nigerian military’s protection of civilians when conducting military operations, adding that these had been discussed with the Nigerian authorities. [myad]

Nigerian Recovers Mubi, Maiha From Boko Haram

Greenbarge Reporters

November 13, 2014

The Nigerian army, aided by local hunters and civilian vigilantes, has recaptured Mubi and Maiha towns in Adamawa state from Boko Haram whose members had earlier over-ran. They took control of Mubi in Adamawa State on Oct. 28, killing dozens of people, burning houses and forcing thousands to flee. The group seized Maiha, some 30 km to the south, on Monday.

Adamawa State Governor, Bala Ngilari said today that an alliance including local hunters and vigilante groups known as the Civilian Joint Task Force had helped the army chase the militants out.

People in the region often complain of feeling abandoned by the state and some have taken up whatever weapons they have to hand – such as hunting rifles – to defend themselves.

“The insurgents have been flushed out of Mubi and are on the run,” Ngilari said.

An official of the Mubi local government, who fled to the state capital Yola following Boko Haram’s seizure of the town, said he had spoken by phone with people in Mubi who confirmed the town had been retaken. He asked to remain anonymous.

The Nigerian army could not immediately comment but a senior officer in the capital, who also asked to remain anonymous, told Reuters the army was “on the verge of recapturing Mubi and other towns and villages taken over by the insurgents”.

Local hunter James Tutu said over 75 militants had been killed in Maiha and several wounded. Officials could not confirm the account.

Nigeria announced last month it had agreed a ceasefire with Boko Haram, which aims to carve out an Islamic caliphate in northern Nigeria. But the group’s leader denied there was a truce and it has stepped up its attacks since.

The taking of the towns was a further embarrassment for the government of President Goodluck Jonathan, who announced his intention to seek another term in office on Tuesday, promising to defeat the insurgents and free some 200 schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram in April. [myad]

Boko Haram: Nigeria Catholic Bishops Storm Aso Rock To Make A Wake Up Call On Jonathan

Greenbarge Reporters

November 13, 2014

Leaders of the Catholic Bishop Conference of Nigeria today, stormed the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to remind President Goodluck Jonathan of the grave danger the nation is facing in the hands of Boko Haram, whose members they said, are fast taking over many Nigerian territories.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation which comprised, among others, Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah, Cardinal John Oneiyakan and a dozen others, the group’s President, Bishop Ignatius Kaigama said: “we are here (in Presidential Villa) on behalf of the Catholic Bishop Conference of Nigeria not to wish the President a bad day but to talk about our nation. We have some concerns about the situation of security in the nation as well as political developments. “So, in general terms.
“We just wanted to remind him of things he already knows; there was nothing we said that was new. We just wanted to lay emphasis and we wanted him to know we are concerned.”
Bishop Ignatius, who spoke to newsmen shortly after the meeting of the Bishops with President Jonathan added: “we feel that things are not right. Territorially, our land is being taken away (by Boko Haram). The people we look after are being displaced. Their homes, their villages, towns are being captured and they are internally displaced. They are refugees in their own land.
“We thought this is not right. We have families that are just stranded.
We thought that the President should know.” The Bishops acknowledged that President Jonathan has been doing his bit and has assured Nigerians that he is on top of the situation but regrtted that the principal aim and concern of Boko Haram has always been to eliminate
Christianity and pave the way for total Islamisation of the country.
“The Boko Haram agenda is very clear: they want to destroy what is not, according
to them, authentic Islam and the Christians fall into that category and so we are the major target. Just like the government is a target, the Christians too are a major target. Other Nigerians are also targets, but we suffer more.
“For instance, the Bishop of Maidugiri will tell you how many of his parishes have all been destroyed. His minor seminary, his convent and clinics where sisters work, have all been destroyed. then the priests are on the run. Reverend sisters have all abandoned their homes. They
are all on the run.
“In Yola, you find that many people are distressed and displaced. When we admit that some muslims are also targeted, we want to believe that concern of Boko Haram is to eliminate Christianity and pave the way for total Islamisation of the country.”
He commended the relief measures for Boko Haram victims but questioned the effectiveness of the distribution of the materials.

The Bishops called on the government to involve them, adding: “as a Catholic, we have laid a good structure for relief and taking care of such situation. We want the government to collaborate with us. We have what we call the Catholic Peace and Justice Commission. We respond when there is an emergency. We know how to technically do registration of displaced people.
“The little funds we gather we buy clothings and materials and are able to reach out very effectively. You would almost say that scientifically, every victim gets something.
“We have many years of experience: as a Catholic church, we don’t discriminate. In fact, 90% of the people we give relief to are not Christians or even Catholics, so we should be brought on board.
“We should combine the skill of registering adequately displaced people and then know the right approach to give them relief so that they can feel the impact. What is being done now is not effective and that is the truth.” [myad]

Eagles Players Need To Work As A Team, Returnee Ikechukwu Uche Says

Greenbarge Reporters

November 13, 2014

Returnee Super Eagles striker, Ikechukwu Uche, has advised his colleagues to work hard together as a team to bring the glory of the Eagles back.

“We have to be together and work together for the team because the interest of our nation is what is very important. “I’m happy to be back to do my work. I’m a professional, this is what I do. We have to work hard to win the remaining games. This is a team game; we have to work as a team. I will do my best, likewise my colleagues; we just have to work as a team.”

Uche, who spoke to newsmen in Abuja shortly after he rejoining the team expressed delight at being recalled to the team almost two years on the sidelines.

“I’m happy I’m here again, so that I can contribute to the team success. It feels good to be back. There is nothing much to say. I just hope we all work together to ensure that we win the remaining games.”

Uche, who made brief appearance in the Bolton White hotel arena said that all is now settled between him coach Stephen Keshi, adding that his main focus now is how to help the team out of its present predicament. [myad]

Nigeria Rolls In Debt Again With Total Stock At $10 Trillion

Greenbarge Reporters

November 13, 2014

The federal and state governments have in the last one year borrowed no less than N2.52 trillion, the latest data released by the Debt Management Of¬fice (DMO) has shown.

This value excludes the $1billion debt recently approved for the federal government for the purchase of arms to fight terrorism.

On a year-on-year basis, the nation’s total debt stock rose to $10.84 trillion as at September 30, 2014, compared to N8.32 trillion in September 2013.

Data on external and domestic debt profile for the country, obtained from the agency’s website yesterday, indicate that external debt for federal and state government’s rose from N1.28 trillion in 2013 to N1.48 trillion in 2014.

However, the federal government’s domestic debt remained on the same level of N7.65 trillion, bringing the sub-total to N9.13 trillion in 2013, compared to N8.32 trillion a year earlier.

The domestic debt profile of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), which was not captured in 2013, accounted for the difference of N1.7 trillion in 2014 which saw the total debt profile rising to N10.84 trillion.

According to the DMO, the actual domestic debt stock for 34 states and the FCT, and the estimated stock for Ekiti and Bayelsa states as at end December, 2013, were used to arrive at the September 2014 figure, an indication that actual figures at the end date are higher than the N1.7 trillion, since some states had accessed the capital market for bonds between January and September.

On a quarterly basis, the total debt has increased by over N800 billion in nine months, compared to N10.04 trillion recorded at the end of December 2013, and over N400 billion compared to the N10.43 trillion recorded as at June 30, 2014.

With the continuous fall in oil prices, which the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) official figures said stood at $83.12 per barrel as at end of October, $112.75 by end of December 2013, analysts have predicted that government would still borrow more in the last quarter of this year and first quarter of next year, more so as 2015 is an election year.

However, the federal government has maintained that the country’s debt profile is highly sustainable, particularly in view of the rebased gross domestic product which led to Nigeria emerging as the largest economy in Africa and the 26th largest in the world.

The minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said that following the rebasing, the country’s debt-to-GDP ratio declined from 19 per cent to 11 per cent while the tax revenue-to-GDP ratio dropped from 20 per cent to 12 per cent. [myad]

Police Arrest 5 Leaders Of National Assembly Staff For Protesting None Payment Of October Salaries

Greenbarge Reporters

November 12, 2014

Five leaders of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), including their Caretaker Chairman, Mr. Gobina Idrisu, and the spokesperson, Chris Odoh, were today, arrested and detained by the police within the National Assembly complex.

Leaders of the parliamentary workers were arrested for protesting within the complex over none payment of their October salary.

The PASAN, whose members staged the protest during plenary, marched round some of the offices and were heading to the lobby, chanting solidarity song before they were confronted and stopped by the security operatives within the complex.

The protesting PASAN members had put up resistance when the security operatives stopped them from marching towards the floor of the Senate.

A senior Police officer, who was said to have been angered by the action of the union leaders, ordered their arrest.

Drisu, in a statement which he distributed to journalists before he was whisked away, complained about the harsh working condition that his members were being subjected to.

He alleged that National Assembly staff had not been paid their October salary and that the management of the National Assembly had refused to pay them the approved Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure.

He added that both chambers of the National Assembly had passed payment of the CONLESS.

He said that apart from the none payment of one month salary, they were also protesting against what they described as mismanagement, maladministration, misappropriation, corruption and gross insensitivity to the plight of staff by the management of the National Assembly.

“The National Assembly administration has become so bad to the extent that injustice, deprivation and oppression are the order of the day.”

Attempts to speak with the Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikashuwa, was however unsuccessful as he could not be reached on the telephone. [myad]

PDP May Not Have Presidential Candidate For 2015 As Mrs. MKO Abiola Wants Court To Disqualify Jonathan

Greenbarge Reporters

November 12, 2014

If the wish of Mrs. (Professor) Akosoba Duke Abiola, wife of the late Chief M.K.O Abiola is granted by the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may go into the 2015 elections without a Presidential candidate.
Mrs. Akosoba Abiola filed a suit in the court seeking the disqualification of President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting for the 2015 Presidential election.
Through her lawyer, she is seeking a perpetual injunction restraining the PDP and the Independent Electoral Commission, (INEC) from accepting any candidate fielded by the party for the purposes of the 2015 Presidential Elections. In the originating summon filed at the Abuja Federal High Court, she is asking PDP to stop President Jonathan from seeking re-election. She seeks a declaration that in view of Section 87 (1), (7) and (9) of the Electoral Act, 2010, the 1st defendant cannot lawfully hold a valid primaries to nominate a Presidential candidate for the purpose of 2015 general elections. The suit is being led by Lagos lawyer, Mr. Festus Keyamo.
Mrs. Abiola wants a declaration that by virtue of Article 3 (1) (a) and (b), “Electoral Guidelines for Primary Elections, 2014 of the PDP” the Plaintiff is entitled to obtain the Expression of Interest Form in relation to Presidential Primaries of the 1st Defendant (PDP), having paid the mandatory sum of N2,000,000.00 (Two Million Naira) to the 1st Defendant.
According to her, the failure, refusal or neglect of the 1st Defendant (PDP) to make available to the Plaintiff the Expression of Interest Form code no PD 002/P, despite repeated demands and upon payment of the mandatory N2,000,000.00 (Two Million Naira) is a breach of Article 3(1)(a) and (b) of the “Electoral Guidelines for Primary Elections 2014 of the PDP”
She argued that having failed to comply with the “Electoral Guidelines for Primary Elections 2014 of the PDP” and in view of the provision of section 87(9) of the Electoral Act, 2010, the 1st Defendant (PDP) cannot validly field any candidate for the Presidential Election in 2015.
She argues that the 2nd Defendant cannot accept any candidate fielded by the 1st Defendant for purposes of the Presidential Election in 2015, by reason of the provisions of Section 87 (9) of the Electoral Act, 2010. [myad]

This Is Blackmail, Ekiti House Speaker Accuses Governor Fayose

Greenbarge Reporters

November 12, 2014

Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Dr. Adewale Omirin of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the state governor Ayodele Fayose of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of blackmailing and intimidating the State House of Assembly because of the APC’s members refusal to defect to PDP.
He said such blackmail and intimidation are going beyond approved standards of modern governance.
A statement by the Speaker’s Special Adviser on Media, Wole Olujobi, said the latest allegation that the lawmakers demanded N135 million ‎for them to screen governor Fayose’s commissioner-nominees was a propaganda taken too far, adding that it was against the grains of decency in a fledgling democracy.
Omirin, who said he would not have reacted if not for the gullible public that would be deceived by the Executive lies, expressed worry over media reports in which the executive accused the House of Assembly as a stumbling block to governor‎ Fayose’s bid to constitute his cabinet.
The speaker described the reports as misleading even as he stressed that the House would not be distracted from its record of integrity in making quality laws for Ekiti people as done in the last four years.
The House, he added, had made 74 laws without demanding for money, saying: “the standard practice is to present the list of the nominees for commissionership in the plenary while the nominees will follow with the submission of their credentials.
“They will be screened before confirmation.
“The governor sent three nominees on Monday and the list was read in the Parliamentary that day. Since it is a public document, we read the letter‎ second day in the plenary. Nobody submitted any credential. We don’t know the nominees. They have not submitted their credentials for the appropriate committees to screen them. It is surprising that the governor expects the House to confirm the nominees as sent. This is strange in parliamentary conduct.”
Omirin regretted that the governor responded by freezing the bank accounts of the House of Assembly, even as he insisted that one arm of government has no right and power to close down the activities of the other.
“How can you elevate ‎intimidation and blackmail to an art of governance? The Chief Judge was blackmailed that he took bribes of N20m to stall hearing on local council development areas case and another alleged N200m to reassign the E-Eleven’s perjury case to Justice Olusegun Ogunyemi to return guilty verdict on the governor.
“After the judiciary had been blackmailed to submission, it is now the turn of the parliament to be brought to its knees by the executive blackmailing members and freezing the accounts of the House as if the House is a department in the Governor’s Office.”
The Speaker said that the governor would have himself to blame if he continues in his anti-democratic conducts, making it clear that all members that have been mentioned in the bribery scandal would go to court to seek justice.
He said that Ekiti radio and television managements would account for libel contained in their broadcasts, saying also that all those involved in these damaging acts would be made to account for their actions.
The Speaker assured that the House would soon meet over reckless use of the state media to blackmail its members, adding that the Nigeria Broadcasting Commission would be put on notice on the reckless and unprofessional use of the state media to haunt the opposition. [myad]

PDP’s Monarchy And Challenges Within, By Garba Shehu

Greenbarge Reporters

November 11, 2014

There is the joke about the parts of the body debating each other as to which of them is the most important.
The eyes said without me, you can’t see or know where you are going. The ear said, if I don’t hear, there is no way by which the body can react to danger. Brain said I am the processor of all information; without me doing my work, the coordination of the body will be in disarray. The hands said, wait-a-minute, if I don’t move things, including food into the mouth, how would energy be supplied to the other parts? The legs played up their role in motioning the body. The heart, liver, kidneys, the blood stream, all body parts celebrated their role but the one that won the debate was the arse-hole. Yet, it was the one that every body part derided. To show how important it was, the arse-hole shut down the discharge of body waste. It began as a simple joke until it got to the point that every other part couldn’t stand it. All was in a turmoil. In unison, all the contending parts said “okay, arse-hole, you have won, you are the most important”. No sooner had the waste been discharged than did relief come to the entire body. Normalcy resumed.
Seen in this context, it is not at all surprising that even in the developed countries, there are times when the least remunerated set of workers comes to the top of that which is most needed in the order of the normal running of the society. When refuse collectors go on strike, the whole place rots and stinks and all are pushed to the limits. Nothing seems okay until the garbage is cleared.
The decision of the top command of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to issue automatic tickets to 75% of their sitting Senators highlights the growing civil war within the ruling party as we inch towards the 2015 general elections.
The automatic nomination has come as a setback to the implacable might of the state governors. It is also a clear indication, that the PDP which handed the President, Dr. Jonathan Goodluck, an automatic ticket to run in the coming election is now in no mood to oblige any “outsider” into the governing class.
The PDP Senators had earlier led the upper chamber into the first-ever legislative boycott. They forced the Senate to continually suspend its normal business, not to protest the rising tide of terror, or impose pressure on the President and the Generals to step up their war against the
Boko Haram or be swept as the opposition All Progressives Congress has demanded. They did not hide the fact that the protest was based on enlightened self-interest.
With the so-called resolution, the Senate is set to resume discussions on outstanding business of government from today, Wednesday.
The Vanguard newspaper reported a Senator, present at the meeting at which the President and the National leadership of the party addressed the legislators as saying that “after listening to our grievances, President Jonathan showed understanding of our plight and assured that the Senators would be allowed automatic tickets in 2015 general elections.”Added he: “This is a welcome development; a situation whereby about seventy-five percent of serving Senators are given automatic tickets to return after elections will strengthen our democracy.”
But let us see the other side of the battle. Automatic ticket raises both political moral issues for both the party and the President. If it is right for the President to seize the party’s ticket for the presidential contest, because he has the power to do so, there is obviously nothing that should make it wrong for the Senators to flex their muscle by sitting on government business in order to press the case for their’s. That’s how the arse-hole proved to all body parts that it is ranks the highest.
The Senate’s gains didn’t therefore come as a surprise even as the horse-trading for the automatic tickets puts the upper chamber under the scanner yet again.
The constitution envisages a Senate, which is a House of Elders representing the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory on an equal footing, carrying out more nuanced debates reflecting national interest and ensuring stability and the well-being of the federation.
While there are many Distinguished Senators who are indeed distinguishing themselves by the sheer commitment to duty they are putting in, it is hard to say if by this alone, there is anything going on to change the increasing perception of the upper chamber as a safe haven or protective cocoon. The Senate has become a cherished destination of governors and anyone who wants to avoid investigation and trial, a key reason why nomination has become much sought after.
That Dr. Jonathan and the Senators have floated a common front against the governors does not also in any way tell you that the crisis is all over.
As reported by the
Sunday Punch, the Governors, who got the short end of the stick have since rejected the so-called agreement. The Governor of Niger State, himself a Senatorial aspirant boasted in a statement that “no agreement reached anywhere with anybody can in anyway threaten governors’ ambition for the Senate.”
Aliyu stated that the clash of interest between the governors and Senators in the PDP would only be resolved by the electorate.
In Cross-Rivers State, the party leadership has recommended the Senate leader, Ndoma-Egba to the National Headquarters for suspension since they lacked the powers to sanction him. Fourteen of his staunch followers have since however been handed theirs. State party chairman, Nkufor John Okon said these men had ridiculed the party and gone against party rules. “Some” he added, “have gone to court against the party. Some have been induced to compromise the system.”
The race to enter the Senate for some of the governors is a do-or-die contest and all must understand what it means. To be free from possible prosecution or persecution if you will call it one, they just have to win. And a cursory look at history will show that no President has ever won against the PDP Governors.
President Obasanjo, who won a few bouts against some, used his international connections to cage them abroad.
A man called Norman Cousins said something interesting of the former American President Richard Nixon: Nixon’s Motto, he said was : if two wrongs don’t make a right, try three! There goes the PDP!! [myad]

Nigeria’s Opposition Party Describes Jonathan’s Declaration For 2015 As Callous

Greenbarge Reporters

November 11, 2014

The main Nigeria’s opposition political party, All Progressives Congress (APC) has described as “utterly insensitive and absolutely callous” the decision by President Goodluck Jonathan to declare his second term ambition a day after almost 50 students were killed and about 80 injured in a suicide bombing in Potiskum, Yobe State.
In a statement today by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, APC accused the President of “dancing on the graves of the students” as well as of all the victims of the Boko Haram insurgency in the country.
”Since this President has chosen to celebrate a national tragedy, Nigerians should also be ready to celebrate his electoral failure next year.
”Today, the three North-East states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe are in danger of being overrun by Boko Haram and over 650,000 Nigerians are internally displaced in those states by the insurgency. Yet, President Jonathan says he puts Nigerians first. Lies have never worn a bolder face. The truth is that for President Jonathan, it is Jonathan first, Jonathan second, Jonathan third, Jonathan always!”
The opposition party said that with the latest “act of blatant hard-heartedness, Jonathan was only continuing along his well-trodden path of acting without deep introspection.
”When about 60 students were killed in the terror attack on the Federal Government College, Buni Yadi, in February 2014, President Jonathan never visited the scene to commiserate with the families of the victims. When over 80 people were killed in the first Nyanya bombing in April 2014, President Jonathan went dancing ‘Azonto’ in Kano less than 48 hours later. And when almost 300 girls were freshly abducted in Chibok, President Jonathan neither acted fast enough to rescue the girls nor visited the village. His Administration even denied anyone was abducted, until 19 days after.
”This President has therefore established a pattern of putting his political interest above the security and welfare of Nigerians who voted him into office. This President has trampled upon the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which makes the security and welfare of the citizenry the raison d’etre of the government’s existence.
“It is time for Nigerians to respond in kind by trampling on his political ambition and sending him back to Otuoke.”
The party queried the logic behind the Safe Schools Initiative of the Federal Government when over 70 students were killed and more than 100 maimed within a week in two separate attacks targeting a religious procession and schools in Potiskum alone.
“The Safe Schools Initiative will remain a mere tokenism until the fundamental problem of insurgency, which has claimed thousands of lives, is conclusively addressed. Mr. President, what Nigerians want is not an isolated Safe Schools Initiative, but a Safe Nigeria Initiative.” [myad]

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