When AmericanHawk Decides To Devour Nigerien Chick, By Owei Lakemfa

August 12, 2023

The threat of the mighty United States of America, USA, on Tuesday, August 7, 2023 to invade little Niger Republic is not for its love of democracy, Nigeriens or Africans. It is basically in the nature of hawks to circle the sky looking for prey, especially chicks.

There were American and French troops in Niger before the coup because it is in the nature of black vultures, not only to target and kill small live animals, but also to have the patience to wait and devour carcases.

So, the July 26 military coup in Niger Republic is a pretext. The USA Acting Deputy Secretary, Victoria Nuland, in threatening to invade Niger, declared in the usual American arrogant manner: “So we’ll be watching the situation, but we understand our legal responsibilities and I explained those very clearly to the guys (the new Nigerien leaders) who were responsible for this and that it is not our desire to go there, but they may push us to that point, and we asked them to be prudent in that regard and to hear our offer to try to work with them to solve this diplomatically and return to constitutional order.”

When the USA brags it has “legal responsibilities”, I ask: under what law, convention or agreement? Does it intend to engineer another bogus United Nations Resolution under which along with its Western allies, they destroyed Iraq, turning it into a basket case? Does it intend as it did with the birds of prey of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, NATO, to invade Niger as it did Libya under Ghadaffi, turning one of the richest and most promising African countries into a another basket case?

The Western actions in Libya were so destructive that it resulted in the free flow of arms and terrorists into West Africa. They so dislocated Libya that, today, a dozen years later, that country remains a failed state with rival governments in Tripoli, Tobruk, Sirte and Benghazi where the Libyan-American ‘Field Marshall’ Khalifa Haftar holds sway.

If the USA were truly opposed to coups, then it won’t be a supporter of the coup plotter in Chad, General Mehmet Deby or his older coup plotter in Egypt, General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. No! If the USA were for democracy and against coups, it would not have overthrown democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh of Iran in 1953 and imposed a monarch, Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, in his place. The Americans would not have overthrown elected Presidents Jacobo Arbenz of Guatemala in 1954 and Salvador Allende on September 11, 1973. If the American establishment were for elected leaders, it would not have teamed up with Belgium and the United Kingdom to overthrow newly elected Congo Democratic Republic Prime Minister, Patrice Lumumba, in January 1961 who they subsequently captured and executed on January 17, 1961.

If in deed the USA were for human rights, freedom or democracy, it would not have been the greatest supporter of apartheid South Africa. It would not have designated African freedom fighters like Walter Sisulu, Oliver Thambo and Joe Slovo as terrorists. It is to the eternal shame of the USA that despite Nelson Mandela spending 27 years in apartheid prison, leading South Africa to freedom and serving as the first democratically elected President of his country, America continued to officially designate him a terrorist!

In fact, it was not until July 2008 President George W. Bush signed a bill into law removing Mandela and other African National Congress, ANC, leaders from the list of persons the USA categorise as people who engage in “terrorist or criminal activities.”

If the USA were opposed to colonialism, it would not continue to colonise Puerto Rico for 125 years now after seizing that country from colonial Spain on October 18, 1898. With America illegally occupying their homeland, Puerto Ricans are not allowed any voting representation in the American Federal Government. As I write, where African Americans, American Indians and migrants can vote in midterm or American presidential elections, Puerto Ricans have no such right.

If the USA were law abiding, it would not, like bandits, have seized by force, Mexican territories, including New Mexico, California, Nevada, Utah and parts of Kansas, Wyoming and Oklahoma. If it were peace loving, it would not have invaded Mexico 10 times and Southern American countries over 70 times! The countries so invaded include Haiti from 1915 to 1934, Guatemala in 1954, Cuba at the Bay of Pigs in 1961, Dominican Republic in 1965 and Grenada in 1983.

The Americans invaded Nicaragua so many times that I am not sure either side continued counting. This includes the USA occupation of that country from 1912 to 1933 and its 1980 and 1984 invasions. The USA rape of Nicaragua was so routine and criminal that even a private American physician and lawyer called William Walker raised a private army in 1855 to invade Nicaragua. In July 1856, Walker declared himself President of Nicaragua and his illegal regime was recognised by USA under President Franklin Pierce as the legitimate government of Nicaragua! Given the US backing of his terrorist regime, Walker re-introduced slave trade and threatened the re-colonisation of some Central American countries.

The USA did not call its citizen to order; it was a coalition of Latin American countries led by Costa Rica that defeated the Walker mercenaries and forced him to resign as Nicaraguan President on May 1, 1857.

When the Vietnamese defeated the French colonialists in the historic Battle of Dien Bien Phu which raged from March 13 to May 7, 1954, and declared independence, the USA was enraged. It thought it was a bad precedence for a Third World people to roundly defeat a Western power. It was a battle in which the Vietnamese lost over 3,000 men and the French lost over 8,000 men with 10,300 soldiers taken prisoner. The US in March, 1965 invaded Vietnam to reverse the Vietnamese independence and allegedly, to stop the country going socialist.

The USA invaded Afghanistan in 2001 following the 9/11 attack, and was forced into a disgraceful and disorganised withdrawal in August 2021 which the Washington Post of August 10, 2022 headlined, “Two weeks of chaos: A timeline of the US pull out of Afghanistan.”

If the USA claims it is supporting Ukraine because it believes every country should have a right to sovereignty, why does it want to invade Niger; that it has no right to sovereignty?

The USA threat of invading Niger is not in the interest of the African people. An African saying advises that we should first chase away the hawk before reverting to the chick. Let us first protect Niger from vultures before using diplomacy to address the coup question.

The Imperative Of Presidential Think-Tank For Nigeria, By Deen Adavize

Deen adavize

August 12, 2023

Nigeria’s remarkable resilience has been both a blessing and a curse. Across various governments, this trait has been exploited to foster, mainly unpopular policies, thereby exacerbating the nation’s problem. As a matter of fact, many government decisions are taken based on some kind of sentiment and emotion rather than facts. Such sentiment attached to policy formulation often leads to perpetual policy failures in addressing the nation’s lingering challenges.

There is no doubt that Nigeria possesses the resources and potentials for success, but the determination to address our existential problems is lacking. Nigerian leaders have often promised to transform the country into a developed and thriving place with faint minds, hence a continuous quest for the right leader with requisite knowledge and zeal to drive the process in reversing the ugly trend is imperative. While we cannot disregard the external factors in reflecting on Nigeria’s woes, the problems and solutions lie within us.

Against this backdrop, Nigeria’s President, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, celebrated as one of Nigeria’s most well-prepared leaders of our time, had pledged to introduce an era of governance that is grounded in knowledge and informed decision-making. While it is too early to judge the barely three-month old Tinubu’s presidency, it is safe to say that the government is showing a trait that raised doubts about the commitment to the fulfillment of good governance that benefits the majority.

While many Nigerians applauded the President for the removal of fuel subsidy and harmonization of the exchange rate, the pressing concerns arise from the fact that the delayed and initially announced government response to cushion the effects of subsidy removal with a monthly stipend of N8,000 for vulnerable Nigerians appears crass. Also, a significant majority of his ministerial nominees put forth so far have not received unanimous endorsement of Nigerians; a development that has been described by some patriotic Nigerians as mere political patronage rather than a pursuit of excellence as earlier pledged.

Furthermore, the hasty presidential letter to the National Assembly for approval to deploy our already strained military personnel to Niger Republic for the purpose of dislodging the new military junta, despite the mountain of our internal challenges is shocking. These, among other things, evoke uncertainty about the Administration’s readiness to confront the complex array of challenges currently gripping the nation.

In the light of these circumstances, a prudent step for President Tinubu would be to quickly consider establishing a Presidential Think Tank. This advisory body could serve as a wellspring of facts and pragmatic solutions for the pressing challenges. To maximize effectiveness, the members of this Think Tank should possess astute and cultivated minds, drawing from extensive experience across various domains of human endeavor.

The Think Tank must not be placed on a fixed salary, and should not occupy a physical office. And they should operate outside the government circle but work discreetly behind the scenes. They would be directly answerable to the president, providing a pool of diverse and independent expertise for innovative solutions. This modus operandi of their operation will significantly free them from external influence and distraction from the public.

Through this approach, President Tinubu could steer the nation towards a more enlightened and effective governance strategy. By creating a conduit for evidence-based decision-making, he could bridge the gap between policy and reality, ensuring that the aspirations of a more informed Nigeria are met. The establishment of a Presidential Think Tank could well mark the turning point in the nation’s trajectory, propelling it from a history of misinformed policies to a future of calculated governance, driven by a deep understanding of its challenges and opportunities. As the saying goes, “Decisions rooted in facts are seeds of prosperity.”

Adavize, a researcher and concerned Nigerian writes from Abuja and can be reached via: deenadavize@gmail.com

Nigeria Resident Doctors Suspend 20-Day Nationwide Strike

Greenbarge Reporters

August 11, 2023

Resident doctors under the aegis of Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) have suspended the indefinite strike which they embarked on since July 26.
Its National President, Dr. Innocent Orji, in a Whatsapp message to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said that a review will be made in two weeks.
He said “we just suspended the strike. Work to resume by 8 a.m. tomorrow (Saturday, Aug. 12).
“We will review progress made in two weeks.”
This is coming after series of interventions by various stakeholders for the association to either embark on the industrial action in the first place or to suspend it earlier.
To avert the industrial action, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas on July 24, called on the resident doctors to suspend the strike.
At a meeting between the leadership of the House and NARD in Abuja, Abbas said: “I would urge you to suspend the industrial action while we intervene, and seek your understanding of the fact that a new administration just came on board.”
He said that the adminsitration was still in the process of settling down as ministers had yet to assume office.
In addition to the strike, the association had planned to stage protests and picket tertiary health institutions and the Federal Ministry of Health.
However, following the intervention of the Presidency and the Senate President, the protests were suspended.
NAN reports that members of the association embarked on indefinite strike to press home their demands.
The demands include the immediate payment of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), immediate release of the circular on one-for-one replacement and payment of skipping arrears.

I Am Determined To Stimulate Nigeria Economy, Tinubu Vows

Greenbarge Reporters

August 11, 2023

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has vowed to do everything possible to stimulate the economy and make it work for the greatest good of all Nigerians.
The President spoke today, August 11, at a meeting held at the State House with the Board of Trustees of the All Progressives’ Congress (APC) Professionals Forum led by former Bauchi State Governor, Mallam Isa Yuguda.
“This economy must recover for the good and greatest number of Nigerians, and we are seriously committed to seeing through a change for the better.”
President Tinubu emphasized that every effort across sectors will be documented and periodically reviewed for performance verification and public presentation.
This, he said, will aim at ensuring measured growth and enhanced public enlightenment on policy outcomes.
“So far, we have taken some baby steps and pushed some aggressive positions,” the President told the APC professionals, who had earlier pledged their support for the reforms.
While thanking President Tinubu for his bold interventions on the economy, the former Bauchi State Governor said that more than two million people have been registered as professionals in different fields since 2018 and is ready to provide structures for mobilisation and sensitization on government policies.
“Foreign capital is a coward that does not move into unsafe areas, so with your successful interventions so far, we look forward to better security that will attract investors,” Yuguda added.

Zaria Central Mosque Collapes, Kills Worshippers

Greenbarge Reporters

August 11, 2023

Many worshippers are feared dead while a dozen others sustained injuries as the Zaria Central Mosque in Kaduna state collapsed today, August 11.
Reacting to the incidence, Emir of Zazzau, Mallam Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, said that the victims were observing the Asr prayer around 4pm when the incident occurred.
“We had earlier observed a crack on the wall of the mosque yesterday, and was planning to deploy team of civil engineers to effect repairs, when this unfortunate incident happened.”
While condoling the family of the deceased, the Emir directed that people should pray outside the mosque pending the repairs.
The Emir directed that funeral prayer of all the corpses will be observed today at 8.30pm at the emir’s palace.

Aso Rock Permsec Bows Out At 60, Promises To Write Memoir

Greenbarge Reporters

August 11, 2023

Permanent Secretary in the State House, Aso Rock Presidential villa, Alhaji Tijjani Umar has retired from service after clicking 60 years.
In an interaction with State House media chieftains today, August 11, the outgoing Permanent Secretary said that having clocked 60 years yesterday, August 10, he had to bow out to go and rest.
“Some people came to me yesterday with a birthday card, wishing me 60th birthday. I was like, who’s 60? How time flies?”
Alhaji Tijjani, who said that he had served in various capacities in the same State House, promised that he would write a memoir on his sojourn in the civil service, particularly, the Presidency.
He said that he served two Presidents, Muhammadu Buhari and Bola Ahmed Tinubu up to the time he retired.
He expressed satisfaction with the service he had rendered over the years, adding that as Permanent Secretary, he used to work 24 hours for seven days of week.

Dr. Mariya Bunkure, Minister Designate, And A Date With History, By Shehu Salisu

Greenbarge Reporters

August 11, 2023

Her name may not ring any bell in the political chess boat of Nigeria’s polity. She is also not genealogically tied to either the super-rich clan or any royal dynasty in northern Nigeria. She is like any other imaginative young girls from the so called conservative north but with strong grassroots attribute.
However, divine providence has rewarded her enduring services to humanity with a ministerial slot. She is Dr Mariya Mahmoud Bunkure, one of the two ministerial nominees from Kano State successfully screened and confirmed by the Senate on Monday.
Dr. Bunkure was born to a middle class family from a moderately rustic Bunkure Local Government Areas of Kano. But, unlike many of her ilk in a rural northern Nigeria, she braced herself and successful navigated the doorsill of life to fame. This unwavering lady has today carved a niche for herself, her family and her community as an accomplished medical doctor and an advocate of women empowerment.
Her incredible credentials, fascinating achievements and grassroots tie could have been the rationale why President Bola Ahmed Tinubu pencilled her down to serve in the Federal Executive Council. Surely, she is bringing to the table 18-year experience in medicine, administration, advocacy for women empowerment and girl-child education; variables needed to bring the traction for the successful implementation of the bold agenda of the new administration.
Indeed, her nomination is not because she is lonely highly competent and trustworthy feminine from Kano, but because of her strong connection with her community. Her footprints in her community and Kano State are incredibly remarkable.
The story of her life goes back four decades, having been born in Bunkure Local Government Area of Kano State in 1976; she attended Bunkure Gari Primary School, Girls Science College, Garko and subsequently obtained her MBBS from Bayero University, Kano in 2005. She was then deployed to Plateau State for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
True to a determined young girl with strong desire to reach the pinnacle of her chosen profession, she braced the storm to become a consultant in family medicine at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital.
Unknown to many, traces of her commitment and innovative skills at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital were covertly noticed and admired by the administration of former governor Abdullahi Ganduje and that earned her appointment as commissioner for Higher Education and she performed wonderfully well in reinvigorating the state’s tertiary education system which provided opportunity for many young people to continue with their education in the state.
In addition to her stint with the administration of Ganduje, who is by providence the newly elected National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), she ventured into politics at the grassroots and soon rose to become women leader and a model to many girls in Bunkure.
Dr. Bunkure is a strong advocate for women empowerment and education. She is a member of several women organizations and has been an advocate for girl-child education. Her passion for girl-child education earned her enormous respect in Kano. This could be the reasons why her nomination elicited massive jubilation in Bunkure and Kano.
The elation was extended to the red chamber where Dr Bunkure further proved her mettle before the 10th Senate thereby debasing doubting Thomases and merchants of lies whose stock in trade is to manufacture falsehood against rising stars from kinfolk other than theirs. Her sterling composure at the ministerial screening further reinforced her competence in assisting the President to deliver on his bold reform agenda.
While praising her nomination, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano North), described the lady as one of Kano’s best who despite family socio-economic status was able to become a doctor from the so-called conservative north.
He noted that Dr Bunkure earned the position due to her commitment to democracy at the grassroots and dedication to work. He also prayed for his children to emulate her and we all do.
In addition to the accolade, she has proved her worth and the hallowed chambers had no option on that fateful Monday but allow her take a bow and go into the Federal Executive Council. Congratulations!
Now with the unanimous confirmation as a minister designate, I urge our amazon to remain a good ambassador of Kano and north in general and should not rest on her oars for there would be more serious tasks ahead.
Salisu Shehu wrote from Hotoro, Kano State via salisums@gmail.com , 08035988761.

Niger Republic: It Is Purely An ECOWAS Affairs, By Temitope Ajayi

Greenbarge Reporters

August 11, 2023

There is no doubt that the Northern region, especially the people of Fulani ethnic stock share filial, cultural and religious affiliations with the Republic of Niger.
The attempt by some religious and political leaders from the North to make the current political impasse in Republic of Niger a President Tinubu and Nigeria vs Niger affair is a very wrong narrative. Nigeria is not starting a war with Niger. Nigeria as a member of ECOWAS is under obligation to stand by ECOWAS Resolutions on any member state and this is not the first time this will happen. ECOWAS passed similar Resolutions in Gambia not too long ago. That resolution in Gambia made it possible for President Adama Barrow to assume power in 2017.
It must be said again that this is not a Nigeria/Tinubu vs Republic of Niger matter. Like President Alassane Quattara of Ivory Coast said, this is purely an ECOWAS affairs and a subject of regional interest to the whole of West Africa.
ECOWAS, AU, and UN Protocols are against unconstitutional takeover of government in any country. Democracy is receding in West Africa with Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea under military usurpation. Peace, security, political and economic stability of West Africa will remain a pipe dream when soldiers can take power at will. And what is happening in Niger is not about a fight for good governance.
Like venerable journalist, Dan Agbese wrote in his Guardian Newspaper backpage column, “most of the nine countries in the Sahel region are not just poor; they are wretched. Military rule has not changed their economic and social circumstances and the attraction for it ought to have waned below remembrance. The sentiment that Military rule is a magic wand has repeatedly proved itself a sickening fiction. The Nigeriens need no one to tell them that khaki uniform carries no magic in political, and socio-economic management and development.”
If Military rule offers any silver bullet in social and economic transformation, we should have seen the magic in Mali and Burkina Faso in the last three years.

Ajayi is senior special assistant to President Bola Tinubu (media and publicity)

ECOWAS Orders Deployment Of Standby Force To Niger Republic

Greenbarge Reporters

August 10, 2023

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has ordered the deployment of its standby force to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger.
Leaders of the sudregional body, at its extraordinary Summit in Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, Abuja today, August 10, also directed the Committee of the chief of defense staff to activate the ECOWAS standby force with all its elements immediately.
A communique issued at the end of the Summit, read by the President of ECOWAS, Omar Alieu Touray, the body directed the President of the Commission to monitor the implementation of the sanctions.
It said it would uphold all measures and principles agreed upon by the extra ordinary Summit held on Niger on 30th July 2023.
It underscored the determination of the ECOWAS authority to keep all options on the table for the peaceful resolution of the crisis, even as it resolved to nforce all measures, in particular, border closures and strict travel bans and assets freeze on all persons or groups of individuals whose actions hinder all peaceful efforts aimed at ensuring the smooth and complete restoration of constitutional order.
It warned member states who by their action directly or indirectly, hindered the peaceful resolution of the crisis in Niger about the consequences for their action before the community.
It called on the African Union to endorse all the decisions taken by the ECOWAS authority on the situation in Niger.
It further called on all partner countries and institutions, including the United Nations to support ECOWAS, in its effort to ensure a quick restoration of constitutional order, in conformity with its normative instruments.
All these, it said underscored its continued commitment for the restoration of constitutional order through peaceful means
In the pre-emble of the communique, ECOWAS said that it considered the memorandum presented by the President of the ECOWAS commission on the current situation in the Republic of Niger, as well as ECOWAS engagement since the last extraordinary summit.
“And having considered the reports of the envoys of the chair, to Niger and various other places;
“Carefully considered the report and recommendations of the ECOWAS committee of chiefs of defense staff;
“extensively discussed the latest development in Niger since the last extra ordinary Summit held on 30th July 2023.
“Noted that all diplomatic efforts made by ECOWAS, in resolving the crisis have been defiantly repelled by the military leadership of the Republic of Niger;
“taking note of the expiration of the one week ultimatum given for the restoration of constitutional order in the Republic of Niger decide as follows:
“Reiterates its strong condemnation of the attempted coup d’etat and the continued illegal detention of President Mohammed Bazoam, his family and members of his government
“B. Further condemns the condition in which President Bazoum is being detained and hold the CNSP fully and solely responsible for the safety, security and physical integrity of President Bazoum, members of his family and government.”

Niger Coup: President Tinubu Recommends Diplomatic Dialogue To ECOWAS

Greenbarge Reporters

August 10, 2023

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has recommended what he described as “diplomatic negotiation and dialogue towards resolving the challenges thrown up by the coup in Niger Republic.
Addressing members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) special emergency Summit ongoing now, August 10, in Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, President Tinubu, said that the Summit provides a significant opportunity to meticulously review and assess the progress made since the last one.
“It is essential to evaluate the effectiveness of our interventions and identify any gaps or challenges that may have hindered progress. Only through this comprehensive assessment can we collectively chart a sustainable path towards lasting peace, stability, and prosperity in Niger. “Moreso, in reaffirming our relentless commitment to democracy, human rights, and the well-being of the people of Niger, it is crucial that we prioritize diplomatic negotiations and dialogue as the bedrock of our approach.
“We must engage all parties involved, including the coup leaders, in earnest discussions to convince them to relinquish power and reinstate President Bazoum.
“It is our duty to exhaust all avenues of engagement to ensure a swift return to constitutional governance in Niger.
“More specifically, as leaders of our respective nations, we must recognize that the political crisis in Niger not only poses a threat to the stability of the nation but also has far-reaching implications for the entire West African region.
“By remaining steadfast in our adherence to the principles of democracy, good governance, and the rule of law, we can restore peace, stability, and prosperity in the Republic of Niger, thereby fostering an environment conducive to growth and development for all.”
The Nigerian leader is confident that the 2nd ECOWAS Extraordinary Summit on the Socio-Political Situation in the Republic of Niger will be a defining moment in the ourney towards a stronger, more resilient, and integrated West Africa.
He on the leaders to seize this opportunity to make a lasting impact on the lives of fellow Africans by striving to build a future that is defined by peace, progress, and prosperity.
“I trust that our deliberations will be productive and fruitful, leading us to find an amicable solution to the political crisis in Niger. “As we continue to work together in solidarity and harmony, we can ensure a prosperous future for the entire West African region.”

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