“In a civil war, you know the battle line … you know where to run to. But this one (Boko Haram), the enemies are in your pocket.”
These were the words of President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday, just a few hours before the bomb explosion occurred at Emab Plaza in Wuse 11, Abuja. He addressed a delegation of African bishops at the Aso Presidential Villa shortly before he flew to Equatorial to attend African Union summit.
Boko Haram, the President said: “is even worse than the civil war” against Biafran secessionists that killed a million people In the 1960s.
The Wednesday bomb blast by suspected Boko Haram, made the President to cut his trip to Equatorial Guinea short.
Visiting the scene of the bomb blast today, Jonathan regretted that Nigeria has entered one of the darkest phases of its history.
“This is one of the darkest phases in the history of our nation but surely we will get over it,” Jonathan said in front of the cordoned area, still littered by rubble and charred cars.
“It is extremely painful that when some Nigerians are … working hard to take care of their families and train their children, others are busy planning to kill people, and intimidate others.”
Wednesday’s bomb attack was the third on the capital since April, but the other two – car bombings of a bus station and street both in the suburb of Nyanya that killed about 90 people between them – did not strike at the heart of the city. [myad]
In about a week from last Sunday, it has been death, death, death in Nigeria. Of course, nearly 90 percent of such deaths are through bomb and gun attacks by members of Boko Haram, suspected Fulani herdsmen and other unidentified gunmen in that order. No one is even talking now about deaths from road accidents, home accidents and natural causes, including old age, diseases, such as HIV/AIDS, fever, cholera, cardiac arrests, stroke, etc, etc. Just within days, the nation’s security officials confirmed that a total of 151 people were killed in seven Kaduna state villages in staccato attacks by gunmen, even as 21 people died horribly in the Wednesday Emab plaza, Abuja bombing by suspected Boko Haram members, one of who was reported to have been gunned down by the security operatives. It was also confirmed that Boko Haram massacred 16 Nigerian soldiers in Borno state village on Wednesday while five people died in Lagos from an attack by unknown bombers. Scores of innocent Nigerians have been confirmed killed by those that should better be referred to as ‘sadists,’ in Plateau state, Benue state, Adamawa state, Kano state, Yobe state and other places around Nigeria. Death is clearly walking menacingly tall in all spheres of Nigerian life now so much that a frightened Nigerian was, on Wednesday, forced to ask: where are we heading? President Goodluck Jonathan made an obvious statement in the week, to the effect that the confusing situation in Nigeria now, especially, Boko Haram scourge, is almost like a civil war. That is true! In deed, when Nigerians are no longer safe in their offices, in the markets, on the streets as they walk or drive pass and even in the comfort of their homes from the sadists masquerading in religious garbs, ethnic and other forms of darkness, nothing can be farther from the picture President Jonathan painted. Human life has become so cheap now that death of a few people no longer makes a good news for newspaper editors unless they are in tens or hundreds. As a matter of fact, the rate of deaths are becoming so frequent that one does not know which ones are fresh cases and which occurred a few days back. How would one know when, in a day, like Wednesday alone, deaths were reported from Kaduna, Lagos, Abuja, Maiduguri and other villages around those states. And in great quantum. That was just in a day!!! The excitement with which editors received news item about Boko Haram’s exploits in the past has given way to fear, uncertainty and hopelessness. Not even the security operatives are now at rest. Amidst all the sound of death that is threatening not only to deafen us but consume us was still a tiny voice from the nation’s Vice President, Mohammed Namadi Sambo on Thursday afternoon when he visited the scene of Wednesday bomb blast at Wuse II, Abuja, that terrorism will not survive for long in Nigeria, and elsewhere in the world. This, of course, should have been a word to soothe our collective apprehension about what this country is turning into, but for the fact that Nigerians had earlier been fed with “we are on top of the situation” by President Jonathan in the past, even when the situation gets worse daily; more than two years after such soothing word. When a confusing, frightening and devastating situation continue to unsettle us, and we turn left, right and centre without a clear-cut solution in sight, the only body that we can, by constitution, turn to, is government. Unfortunately, the government has shown its resolve not to engage the insurgents in dialogue, even when it is clear that they (the insurgents) are becoming more daring, devastating and even killing soldiers on whom the rest of us should ordinarily depend for security. It is instructive to know that elders, elites, leaders of Yobe and Borno states, who knew where the ‘shoe’ pinched, seized the opportunity offered by the first and last visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to articulate a well-packaged position on how to dialogue with members of Boko Haram to end its onslaught. This was as far back as early last year. But, after all the grammar, even by some professors, President Jonathan outrightly bluffed them, with even a veiled sarcasm that those who wanted a dialogue or amnesty for Boko Haram should step forward and sign an agreement with the government. An elder statesman and former chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur re-echoed the dialogue option on Thursday, with emphasis that even the world war ended through dialogue. And so also Nigeria civil war between 1967 and 1970. It amounts to speaking from both sides of the mouth for, especially, President Jonathan to say that his being elected into office in the last election did not worth the blood of a single Nigerian while, in another breath, he is shying away from necessary things that need to be done to save hundreds of lives that are daily being taking away due to “playing hard to get” or putting up tough posture or simply playing the game of obstinacy! Does any Nigerian blood worth sacrificing on the alter of obstinacy and careless regard of certain section of the country, even in passing, as “it is their business?” President Jonathan and his government need to search in all corners of the country, and the world, for all forms of pragmatic measures that will stop the flow of blood in a country that should be in peace-time, even if such measures would come from devil. Except of course, if we are being told that the government is enjoying the sound of avoidable death, death and death that is staring all of us in the face right now! Or that the government is operating, in the context of providing security for the citizenry, with purposelessness.
National Security Adviser (NSA), Colone Sambo Dasuki (rtd), has apologized to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, over the incident in Kaduna where soldiers embarrassed him by subjecting his official car to security checks.
The NSA’s apology came on the heels of the House of Representatives’ move to investigate the incident.
In a letter to the Speaker, Colonel Dasuki tendered an “unreserved apology” to Tambuwal, assuring him that such an incident would not happen again and that his office held Tambuwal in “high esteem.”
The Speaker’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Imam Imam, confirmed that his boss indeed received a letter of apology from Dasuki.
“Yes, the NSA truly apologized to the Speaker. The Speaker has received a letter from him.”
Though Tambuwal on Wednesday said he was not above the law and not “averse to security checks,” the lawmakers and some Nigerians had described the incident as embarrassing and disrespecting to the office of the Speaker.
The soldiers had stopped Tambuwal and insisted on searching his car as his convoy made to drive into Hotel 17, the venue of an international conference on security in Africa.
After a brief altercation between his security details and the soldiers, Tambuwal was said to have left the vehicle in anger and walked down to the venue.
However, speaking on the matter, Tambuwal said he was not above the law contrary to the impression created in some quarters.
He recalled that, recently while on a “private” trip to France, his luggage and person were subjected to security checks by the personnel of Air France.
Tambuwal explained that the instance he gave above showed that as an individual, he was not above the law.
But he clarified that the difference with the Kaduna incident was that he expected to enjoy some privileges accorded his office as the “Speaker of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Tambuwal noted that if he could be accorded such a privilege outside the shores of Nigeria, he should enjoy such concession in the country.
The Speaker, who addressed lawmakers on the incident inside the chambers of the House, added, “I want to tell you that I am not above the law. As recently as last week Wednesday when I was travelling to Paris, I subjected myself to screening by members of staff of the Air France here at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
“My luggage was requested to be searched, and I obliged them; I gave them my luggage. My physical person was frisked, and I allowed that happened without any resistance.
“That is to show everyone that I am not averse to being subjected to scrutiny or screening by constituted authorities.
“The difference between that and what happened in Kaduna is the fact that I was expected to enjoy some protocol and privileges as the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria.
“Moreso, from the authorities established by law, several times that I go out of this country, I have been extended courtesies and privileges whereby even my own luggage were not subjected to that because I am the Speaker of the House.
”No one out there should have any impression that any of us here in the House of Representatives or in the National Assembly is above the law; that is not the message we are sending. What we are talking about is the institution of the legislature and not the individuals that are constituted in the Nigerian legislature.”
Tambuwal spoke shortly after the House rose from a closed-door session, where he briefed members on “what actually transpired in Kaduna.”
A motion on urgent national importance had been moved by a Peoples Democratic Party lawmaker from Enugu State, Mr. Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi, and seconded by an All Progressives Grand Alliance lawmaker from Anambra State, Mrs. Uche Ekwunife.
Ozomgbachi had observed that the search conducted on the Speaker’s car by soldiers was “embarrassing” to his office and institution of the legislature.
His original prayer was that heads of security agencies should investigate the incident and tender an apology to Tambuwal.
He, however, noted that, in spite of the soldiers claiming that they acted on “orders from above,” he believed that President Goodluck Jonathan had no prior knowledge of some of the actions of security forces in the country.
“We should do everything to ensure that the legislature is not undermined by the excesses of security operatives”, Ozomgbachi stated.
But, on resumption from the closed-door session, the prayer was amended, transferring the probe to the House.
The new prayer, unanimously endorsed by members, was that the Joint Committees on Defence, Army, Police, Interior, Public Safety and National Security should investigate the matter within one week and report back to the House.
Meanwhile, Tambuwal has condemned the latest resort of the military to clamping down on the media by impounding newspapers and restricting the movement of Nigerians.
In an address to welcome members back from their end of session break, the Speaker advised the military to uphold democratic virtues. [myad]
Former national Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur has made it clear that the Boko Haram insurgency can only come to an end through dialogue even as he asked the Federal Government to engage the sect in such dialogue.
Tukur who spoke in an interview with newsmen in Abuja today said that even the World War crisis was brought to an end through dialogue.
“Dialogue is the answer; let us make it faster to save the lives of our people. We must do all we can to ensure that our nation is safe. Wars that were fought in the past ended up in dialogue, insurgencies one way or the other must end up in dialogue.”
Tukur, who is also the Chairman of the Board of Nigerian Railway Corporation (NCR), advised the Federal Government not to rule out dialogue even as it continued its offensive against the insurgents in the country.
The ex PDP chairman who was also recently made Ambassador-At- Large and honoured with Zik award, called for the strengthening of the nation’s defence system even as he advised Nigerians to remain alert and report suspicious movements to security agencies.
Tukur, who is also the Chairman of the African Business Roundtable, called on the Federal Government to intensify its collaboration with neighbouring countries in order to boost its capacity to win the war against terror.
He prayed to God to touch the hearts of the insurgents in order to stop their nefarious activities, even as he cautioned politicians against overheating the polity ahead of the 2015 general elections.
He said that elections should not be seen as a do-or-die affair, adding that the electorates should be allowed to make their own choice.
Tukur warned against the imposition of candidates by the various political parties, adding that ”election not selection and consensus not imposition should be emphasised always”.
He urged political parties to work towards ensuring peaceful elections in 2015 and beyond, adding that the 2015 election would not be the first nor the last as erroneously being peddled in some quarters.
He advised politicians in the country to learn to improve on the quality of the polity, adding that opposition in every democracy was normal, but must be constructive and not confrontational.
Tukur has condoled with the media for the death of a journalist in the June 25 bomb blast at Emab plaza in Abuja.
He said that Journalism is a challenging profession that required the practitioners to file reports even in the most dangerous situations. [myad]
A High Court sitting in Yola, the Adamawa state capital, has thrown out the application by the state House of Assembly seeking to impeach Governor Murtala Nyako and his deputy.
The acting Chief Judge of the state, Justice Ambrose Mamadi, who presided over the case also barred the legislators from going ahead with the impeachment process thus bringing to an end the impeachment moves made by the lawmakers.
The Federal High court sitting in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital has ruled that the defection of the Speaker of Kwara State House of Assembly, Mr. Razak Atunwa and 21 other members of the state House of Assembly from the People Democratic Party (PDP) to All Progressives Congress (APC) was legal and constitutional.
The presided judge, Justice Olayinka Faji held today that the defendants cannot lose their seats simply on account of defecting from PDP to APC, adding that there is an established case of crisis in PDP which prompted their defection.
A PDP member of the assembly who did not defect to APC, Mr. Ibrahim illiyasu, had dragged the defected law makers before court.
The suit Number Is FHC/IL/CS/6/2014,PDP, Illiasu Ibrahim Vs Razaq Atunwa and twenty others and the Independent Electoral Commission.
Illiasu had prayed the court to declare that they should vacate their seats and stand another election having defected to APC.
The plaintiff’s counsel, Salman Jawondo a had urged the court to declare the seats of Atunwa and 20 others vacant because they were elected on the platform of PDP, but had defected to APC. One of the defected law makers is dead.
Jawondo argued that having left PDP for APC, the seats of the defendants should be declared vacant. He further argued that they must stand another election for them to retain their seats.
But the counsel for the defendants, Wahab Bamidele, Tosho Yakubu, led by Bola Gold, argued that because of the claimed crisis in PDP, the defendants had the rights to defect to any other party.
In his judgement, Faji ruled that the defection of the lawmakers was legal and constitutional, relying heavily on the judgment which restrained Alhaji Kawu Baraje from parading himself as the INEC recognised Chairman of PDP.
According to Faji, the ruling that Bamagar Tukur was recognized as the official chairman of PDP and a restraining order was filed for Baraje not to parade himself as the INEC recognized chairman showed indeed that there was a faction.
He stated that at the time of the defection by the defendants, there was indeed a faction in PDP which made their defection legal and constitutional.
A member of the House of Representatives, representing Ilorin East/Ilorin south,Dr Ahmad Ali said that Faji’s judgement has laid to rest the constitutionality of defection by the legislators.
“It is a landmark judgment on the issue of defection. This is the first final judgment, compared to various conflicting interlocutory orders, by the Federal High court in Nigeria.
“It supercedes all other previous non-judicial gratuitous statements. I urge PDP to quickly appeal this sound judgment if they so wish.
“We are comforted that in the Federal High Court there are still many judges who are bold and still stand as a bulwark between the dregs of the society and the powerful forces.
“The judgment for the first time answered the question: was there a division in PDC when the legislators defected? The court said yes. If it is yes(as any reasonable man already acknowledges) then any member can constitutionally defect.” [myad]
Nigeria’s Federal House of Representatives has resolved to probe the level of operational strength of the nation’s security forces, including the regular army, police and para-military personnel.
This is coming on the heels of the two simultaneous bomb blasts, by suspected members of the dreaded Boko Haram, which claimed the lives of 21 people and wounded 52 others yesterday at a busy shopping mall in Abuja.
The House which made the resolution at the today sitting, also urged the police to quickly mobilise reinforcement of mobile policemen to troubled communities in Sanga local government area of Kaduna state where more than hundred lives have been lost from Tuesday till today.
The House also endorsed motions moved by Hon. Haruna Musa Fatahi (APC, Kano) and Uche Ekwunife (APGA, Anambra) for the immortalization of late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero and erstwhile Director General of the National Administration for Foods, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC). Details later. [myad]
The world football ruling body, FIFA has finally sent the Uruguay striker, Luis Suarez out of ongoing world cup tournament in Brazil having been banned from all football activities for four months for biting an opponent at the World Cup. With the ban, Suarez has also been ruled out of the start of the upcoming Premier League season.
The ban also covers Uruguay’s next nine international games, which goes beyond the next four months and rules him out of next year’s Copa America. It will likely carry over to qualifying matches for the 2018 World Cup.
FIFA also fined the Liverpool striker 100,000 Swiss francs ($112,000).
Uruguay’s football federation said it plans an appeal to FIFA before the team’s round-of-16 game against Colombia on Saturday in Rio de Janeiro.
Suarez bit the shoulder of Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini during Uruguay’s 1-0 win in the group stage on Tuesday, but escaped unpunished as the referee did not see the incident.
“Such behavior cannot be tolerated on any football pitch and in particular not at a FIFA World Cup, when the eyes of millions of people are on the stars on the field,” Claudio Sulser, chairman of the FIFA disciplinary committee, said in a statement.
Uruguay federation president Wilmar Valdez said it was “a severe punishment.”
“It feels like Uruguay has been thrown out of the World Cup,” Valdez said in Rio.
This is the third time Suarez has been banned for biting an opponent after similar incidents with Ajax in the Dutch league and Liverpool. He was given a 10-match ban by the Premier League for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic in April 2013.
“Hopefully he will realize now that behavior of this type will not be tolerated under any circumstances,” said FIFA vice president Jim Boyce of Northern Ireland.
In Uruguay, even fans who agreed Suarez’s action was “stupid” did not agree with the sanction.
“Uruguay is a small country that eliminated two big nations like Italy and England and it’s not for FIFA’s benefit to let Uruguay continue playing,” supporter Juan Jose Monzillo said in Montevideo.
By banning Suarez from all football activities, FIFA also prohibited Suarez from entering a stadium or team hotel at the World Cup. It also stops him from even training with Liverpool until the ban ends in late October.
“He cannot be actively involved” with a club, FIFA spokeswoman Delia Fischer said.
Suarez and the Uruguay football federation can appeal the sanctions, though Liverpool could not be formally involved in any legal challenge, Fischer said.
The four-month ban includes Liverpool’s first three Champions League group-stage games in the five-time European champion’s return after a five-year absence. Suarez will also miss the first nine matches of the Premier League.
Suarez would still be allowed transfer to a different club during the ban, but would not be able to play for a new club until the sanction ends, Fischer said. He has been linked to a move to Barcelona.
Sports manufacturer adidas, which sponsors both Suarez and the World Cup, said it agreed with the ruling. The company said it will not use Suarez for “additional marketing” during the World Cup but would not immediately drop him as a client.
“We will again be reminding him of the high standards we expect from our players,” adidas said in a statement.
Any appeal by Uruguay must first go to the FIFA appeal committee, Fischer said. If rejected, Suarez and Uruguay could take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland.
At CAS, Suarez could first appeal to have the sanctions frozen during the process which would clear him to return early for Liverpool.
In a statement, Liverpool chief executive Ian Ayre said the club “will wait until we have seen and had time to review the FIFA Disciplinary Committee report before making any further comment.” [myad]
Minister of Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed has described the slain Managing Editor, Northern operations, of the New Telegraph Newspaper, Mallam Suleiman Bisalla as an outstanding journalist who practiced the journalism profession in line with its guiding ethics and principles. Suleiman Bisala was identified as one of the victims of the bomb blast, by suspected members of the dreaded Boko Haram, which occured at the Emab Plaza, Wuse II, Abuja yesterday. His elder brother, Mohammed Bisala, who confirmed the death and said that Suleiman’s corpse was found at the Maitama Hospital mortuary. In a statement by his special assistant on media and publicity, Nosike Ogbuenyi, the minister noted that there are valuable lessons to be learnt from the life of Suleiman Bisalla. According to him, humility, hard work, honesty and integrity were the guiding principles of the deceased, even as he advised the younger generation of journalists to emulate his sterling qualities by shunning blackmail and sensationalism. Senator Bala said he was greatly saddened by the news of the death of the Editor who he described as a humble and thorough-bred journalist. “From the information I gathered about the late Suleiman Bisalla, I can confidently state that he was an exceptional professional journalist who always stood for the truth and objectivity in the discharge of his duties. He certainly left positive imprints, which will make his memory to endure for many years to come.” He said that the late Editor did not die in vain as his dedication to the unity of the country and peace would triumph over the dark activities of his killers and their collaborators, adding that although those who took away Suleiman Bisalla could kill the flesh, but they cannot kill his spirit. Earlier, the minister had condemned the bomb blast and said that it was a savagery act even as he directed free medical services for all those injured. The minister who spoke when he visited the scene of the bombing immediately it occured, as well as the Maitama District Hospital, Abuja where most of the injured were receiving treatment, restated his directive for stricter security in all public places and other soft targets which usually witness large gathering within the FCT. He said that the security plans of action are being developed to forestall any attack by insurgents, describing the incident as most unfortunate. He commended the security agencies for their efforts in combating terror in the FCT and pledged more support by the FCT Administration. Senator Bala also praised the emergency services, especially the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the FCT Hospital and Human Services Secretariat for rising promptly to the occasion. The Secretary of FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat, Dr. Demola Onakomaiya told the minister that the injured ones were rushed to Maitama, Asokoro, Wuse and National Hospital by emergency workers. He added that the victims of those who died had also been deposited at the various morgues in these hospitals. The Nigeria Police Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Frank Mba said that arrests have been made by the security forces in connection with the bombing. The FCT Minister of State, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, the FCT Permanent Secretary, Engr. John Chukwu, the Force PRO, Mr. Frank Mba, the Director of State Security Services (DSSS) in FCT, Mr. John Okojie and other officials were with the minister during the visits.
Hearing in a case of corruption against the Ekiti state Governor-elect under Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ayodele Fayose, comes up for hearing at the Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti on July 15. The Head of Media and Publicity for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, in a statement, said that Fayose or his representative is expected to be present in the court. He explained that the governor-elect, who will be sworn-in in October, has not started to enjoy immunity because the clause in the Constitution only applied to the President, the Vice President, sitting governors and their deputies, and not governors- elect. He said that the media reports that EFCC had dropped corruption case against Fayose is untrue, explaining that his being elected as governor cannot affect his trial at the Federal High Court. “The EFCC has not dropped the case against the former Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose. “The trial is still going on; it is continuing at the Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti. In fact, further hearing comes up on July 15, 2014. “As you know, immunity from prosecution applies only to the President, the Vice President, sitting governors and their deputies.” Uwujaren added that the case against Fayose has made substantial progress as the commission had called two witnesses to testify in the case. Uwujaren said that the issue of whether the case against the governor-elect would be withdrawn or not when he takes over as governor is a matter for the court to decide. “It is the court that would decide whether the case would be discontinued or not; all arguments will be canvassed in court and it is the court that would decide.”
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Minister of Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed has described the slain Managing Editor, Northern operations, of the New Telegraph Newspaper, Mallam Suleiman Bisalla as an outstanding journalist who practiced the journalism profession in line with its guiding ethics and principles.
