21 Chibo girls excited to visits home

b:Months after release from years of Boko Haram captivity, 21 girls eat dinner at a hotel in Yola before leaving on a four-hour journey to spend Christmas with family in ChibokMonths after release from years of Boko Haram captivity, 21 girls eat dinner at a hotel in Yola before leaving on a

Welcome to John Kantiyok's Blog.: MOST INDEBTED STATES IN NIGERIA

Welcome to John Kantiyok's Blog.: MOST INDEBTED STATES IN NIGERIA: Lagos, Kaduna and Edo State are the most indebted states of the federation. Lagos, Kaduna and Edo State are the most indebted states...

MOST INDEBTED STATES IN NIGERIA

Lagos, Kaduna and Edo State are the most indebted states of the federation.

Lagos, Kaduna and Edo State are the most indebted states of the federation with a combined profile of $1.84bn.

The three states are under the control of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

According to statistics from the Debt Management Office in Abuja on Wednesday, the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory owe $3.65bn in foreign debts as against the $7.61bn owed by the Federal Government as of June 30, 2016; bringing the country’s total foreign debt to $11.26bn.

Lagos, which is the nation’s commercial hub, retained its topmost position as the most indebted state of the federation with a total of $1.43bn in foreign debts. Thus, the state holds 39.17 per cent of the country’s total subnational foreign debts.

Kaduna State, with total foreign debt of $225.28m, comes in the second position. It holds 6.16 per cent of the subnational foreign debts.

Edo State, with a total of $179.52m as of June 30, holds 4.91 per cent of the country’s subnational foreign debts.

Other owing states in the subnational foreign debts include Cross River, $141.47m or 3.87 per cent; and Ogun, $103.55m or 2.83 per cent.

Bauchi owes $97.23m or 2.66 per cent; Osun, $78.93m or 2.16 per cent; Adamawa, $77.14m or 2.11 per cent; Enugu, $74.46m or 2.04 per cent; Katsina, $68.99m or 1.89 per cent; and Oyo, $67.56m or 1.85 per cent.

Some of the least indebted states of the federation are Borno, $21.89m; Taraba, $23.01m; Plateau, $29.24m; Yobe, $29.28m; Jigawa, $32.62m; Kogi, $33.56m; Benue, $34.26; FCT, $34.8m; Zamfara, $35.07m; and Delta, $42.21m.

Punch reports that the 36 states of the federation and the FCT grew their external debts by $1.37tn in five years.

The external indebtedness of the subnational governments as of December 31, 2010 stood at $2bn. However, by December 2015, it had risen to $3.37tn.

Earlier, DMO revealed that the nation’s current debt profile stands at N16.29tn.

MULTIPLE BOMB BLASTS ROCK MAIDUGURI, SCORES KILLED

Many people are feared dead following two bomb blast in the early hours of Saturday in Maiduguri, Borno State, Daily Trust newspaper correspondent in Maiduguri reports. The first bomb exploded in front of the Bakkasi Internally Displaced People (IDP) Camp along Maiduguri-Damboa road killing at least five people
The second bomb exploded in front of the NNPC depot also along the same route. Daily Trust correspondent reports that efforts to get to the scene of the second blast were thwarted as security men had cordoned off the area. Ambulances were seen moving out of the area. The blasts occurred around 7.24 am this morning.

A LETTER TO MY PEOPLE OF SOUTHERN KADUNA, BY JUBAL FREE-MAN DABO.

                 

Dear Brother/Sisters

 It would be recalled that early this year Southern Kaduna Signed a peace pact, as was reported in page 14 of the Splendor of Truth News Paper Vol. 6 No 4 of April, 2016. The pact was tagged ‘Kafanchan Peace Declaration’ which the center for humanitarian dialogue facilitated as sponsored by the Canadian government subject to the inter-communal dialogue process initiated by her last year in areas affected by the 2015 communal clashes. In the report, Five Local Government areas were said to have been covered in this pact to include as reported; Sanga, Kachia, Kaura, Zangon Kataf and Jama’a. This pact was signed by Christian and Islam representatives within the areas covered. But just after this drama and what could be better described as a day dream, the next we heard was yet another attack much more terrible in Jama’a Local Government Area.
To this regard many commented for and against the pact. In my last epistle titled “An Open Letter to My Leaders: I Hear Gurara Cry We No Longer need Peace But Justice” I rised some fundamental questions regarding that pact. I attempt bringing to our consciences the fact that we are not ready for no peace pact now. And I gave my reasons which I shall still repeat here.
This morning again we woke up from our little one eye sleep only to be greeted with yet another news of a peace pact and this time with a larger number of over 29 communities involved in the signing. This particular pact is reported in today (26/10/2016)’s print and electronic media. It is reported as being lead by a Swiss Humanitarian Body.
Dear Traditional, Religious and Political Leaders, Dear Elders, Parents, brothers and Sisters I seek to know:
1. What peace pact could be signed in southern Kaduna now?
2. With whom are we signing the peace Pact?
3. What knowledge of grievances against us as held by our attackers do we have?
4. Who in fact is the attacker?
5. To what extend can we say the attacker is truly ready to lay down arms?
6. Before the signing ot at the venue of the signing how many weapons were surrendered and by who?
If we cannot positively answer this questions raised and many others, I stand to say without fear of contradiction that Southern Kaduna is dancing yet into another trap.
In the last letter I asked and I am still asking, for how long shall we be fooled and distracted into this ventures of signing for peace and entering into dialogues that never yields any thing fruitful as far as the desired goal is concern? why should we keep signing a document with the very wrong fellows?
I call it signing with the wrong fellows because both those who signed the last peace pact and those who signed the present from our attackers side will surely tell us they do not know who the culprits of the last and present attacks are. Those we keep signing with are those who will better prove that they are in total ignorance of the attacks and those behind it than they would prove it is those we suspect are.
Once again I still see a painted picture of a father who has a very stubborn child, he knows this child will never listen to his words that is in fact if he is even able to set eyes on this stubborn child. But while the child is busy planning for his next crime the father is in bed and at the moment of the child’s execution of is planned crime, the father will be at the oath desk taking an oath and signing documents ordinarily his son should.
In my little wisdom, I feel the need for reconciliation arises only after we truly know who is attacking us, why the attack, and after we have accepted the solutions we arrive at together with our attacker and then after meeting all we require of each other then the signing can come in which case it will be but the seal of our reconciliation.
But what do I see? we are signing for peace over a problem we have no grasp of let alone talk of reconciliation about, we are signing with who we know will forever claim he is not aware of the problem and at a time we should be busy building our defense. This is a fruitless venture, it is fruitless and only a distraction to the victims in waiting. We are always the victims and always it is to us the plea for peace, calm, and tolerance is addressed.
I wish to call us to order, SOKAPU cannot be making a press release that is laying unanswered and in another angle signing a peace pact. We know how localities in Jama’a Local Government are laying cold with no sound of humans but the Fulani who are grazing on the peoples Farms at a time Government are calling for the revival of the Agricultural sector. We are all aware of the situation in Pasakori and Gidan Waya axis as at this moment. Bearing these facts in mind one would want to ask, What is the Peace Pact addressing?
To this regard I humbly make these prayers:
1. That Southern Kaduna should clearly defined who is speaking for her at this moment.
2. That southern Kaduna should come up with conditions that must me met before signing any Pact.
3. That among those conditions in 2, above southern Kaduna should clearly seek to know;
a. Who is attacking her.
b. For what purpose is she attacked.
c. Have the purpose for the attack been achieved?
c. Who sues for the peace?
d. Have the attackers truly lay their arms?
e. Where are the arms.
f. Why are the attackers in fact laying the arms?
For unless and until these are favorably answered there is no need for entering into any agreement.
4. That SOKAPU should stage out a global protest against this issues.
5. That Southern Kaduna should agree and walk as a group than fighting this as individuals.
We appreciate the international bodies for their interventions, but I will better appreciate our leaders to seek the help of this international bodies more on trying to know what really the problem is because we cannot solve a problem without knowing what the problem is. The problem with southern Kaduna is not that she is attacked. The attack is just a result of the problem. So we must seek to know why we are attacked, what our attackers need.
Fellow comrades, I want you to bear this fact in mind that there are only two reasons that could make our attackers lay down there arms. These reason would be:
1. That they (they attackers) have achieved the aim of attacking us, or
2. That they are forced or over powered that they have no way but to lay down their arms.
Clearly you would see a peace pact is not part of this.
Lastly, dear Comrades, My leaders, brothers and Sisters, we must never forget that signing for peace should be the last thing in the process. We would only sign for peace after reconciliation. Get me very clearly on this. A peace pact is a seal of reconciliation and not a reconciliation process. Signing pacts as these would only distract us to our attackers gain.
This I Humbly Submit.
Yours Ever.
Jubal Free-man Dabo B.
Jubalfreemandabo@gmail.com

Buhari has lost chance to reform Nigeria- Chimamanda Adichie.

*Delay in the appointment of ministers, failure to check the marauding Fulani herdsmen and flawed monetary policies are all hallmark of President Muhammadu Buhari’s failure, according to award-winning novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

“He had an opportunity to make real reforms early on, to boldly reshape Nigeria’s path. He wasted it,” Adichie said in an op-ed published by the New York Times on Wednesday.
In spite of her admission that Nigeria, as the most populous nation in Africa, is difficult to govern, and that falling oil prices were beyond the president, Adichie noted that certain policies the present government had implemented were anti-development.
“After an ostensible search for the very best, he presented many recycled figures with whom Nigerians were disenchanted. But the real test of his presidency came with the continued fall in oil prices, which had begun the year before his inauguration,” she continued.
“Nigeria’s economy is unwholesomely dependent on oil, and while the plunge in prices was bound to be catastrophic, Mr. Buhari’s actions made it even more so.
“He adopted a policy of ‘defending’ the naira, Nigeria’s currency. The official exchange rate was kept artificially low. On the black market, the exchange rate ballooned. Prices for everything rose: rice, bread, cooking oil. Fruit sellers and car sellers blamed ‘the price of dollars’. Complaints of hardship cut across class. Some businesses fired employees; others folded.
“The government decided who would have access to the central bank’s now-reduced foreign currency reserves, and drew up an arbitrary list of worthy and unworthy goods — importers of toothpicks cannot, for example, but importers of oil can. Predictably, this policy spawned corruption: The exclusive few who were able to buy dollars at official rates could sell them on the black market and earn large, riskless profits — transactions that contribute nothing to the economy.”
She said certain presidential actions or inaction are contributing to Nigerians’ declining hope which is precipitated by an economy in a downward slide. These include a selective anti-corruption drive, insecurity occasioned, largely, by activities of Fulani herdsmen, the invasion of judges’ residences by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), and the perceived promotion of ‘northern Sunni Muslim agenda’.
Though Adichie acknowledged the difficulty in solving the malaise she highlighted in the op-ed, she insisted the government could have done more to make the situation better.
“There are no easy answers to Nigeria’s malaise, but the government’s intervention could be more salutary — by prioritising infrastructure, creating a business-friendly environment and communicating to a populace mired in disappointment,” she said.

Credit : The Guardian.

Aisha Buhari facing divorce threat over Insurgents (BBC interview)

Wife of Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari, Aisha Buhari has warned him that she may not back him at the next election unless he shakes up his government, even as sources informed about the development told Signal, an online newspaper on Friday, October 14, 2016 Aisha may be divorced and “separated” from her husband, the president.
According to the source who did not want to be named, not only does Aisha’s vocal outbursts go against the expectations of her tradition and religion, her choice of a foreign media platform to air her “grievances” lend credence to claims that she is now actually separated from the President and has chosen the United Kingdom as a possible place of exile barring any attempts to reconcile her differences with President Buhari.
“It’s a delicate situation. There have been issues on ground for some time now which were being managed carefully but the BBC interview seems to be the last straw that has broken the camel’s back. All of this is closely related to the Mamman Daura power tussle which Aisha Buhari is very unhappy about. She believes she has lost her husband to forces and circumstances beyond her control. This is a woman crying for help”, the source said.
In an interview with the BBC, Aisha Buhari said the president “does not know” most of the top officials he has appointed.
She suggested the government had been hijacked, saying a “few people” were behind presidential appointments.
Buhari was elected last year with a promise to tackle corruption and nepotism in government.
His wife’s decision to go public with her concerns will shock many people, but it reflects the level of discontent with the president’s leadership, says the BBC’s Naziru Mikailu in the capital, Abuja.
The president famously remarked at his inauguration that he “belongs to nobody and belongs to everybody”.
In the interview with Naziru Mikailu, Mrs Buhari said: “The president does not know 45 out of 50, for example, of the people he appointed and I don’t know them either, despite being his wife of 27 years.”
She said people who did not share the vision of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) were now appointed to top posts because of the influence a “few people” wield.

Credit : Hope for Nigeria.

pictures of the 21 released Chibok girls

May God bring back the rest of them in one piece.

Chibok girls were exchanged for four Boko Haram commanders.

 

"The Chibok girls were exchanged for four Boko Haram prisoners in Banki, an officail of the Ministry of Information said. The girls were exchanged for four Boko Haram prisoners in Banki, northeast Nigeria, said a local source.-Vanguard

Following Thursday’s release of 21 out of the 218 Chibok school girls abducted by the terrorist Boko Haram group in Nigeria, the former minister of Education, and leading voice on the global #Bring Back Our Girls campaign, #BBOG, Oby Ezekwesili has expressed gratitude to God and equally thanked both the President Muhammadu Buhari and the gallant Nigerian soldiers for seeing to the safe release of the girls.
Dr Oby Ezekwesili
Oby who took to the social media to express her joy over the release of the girls said her mood was that of weeping, a cry that is an admixture of multiple emotions.
Calling on all Nigerians and the world to join voices with the Psalmist’s song of 126 in thanking God, she said at 4am in California, she could not sleep again because of joy.
“I can only weep, right now. You know that kind of cry that is a mix of multiple emotions. Lord. Some of OUR Girls ARE BACK!!! B. A. C. K.!!”
“As WE @ BBOG_Nigeria wait for FG and
# ChibokParents identification of OUR 21
# ChibokGirls , THANK YOU, LORD. THANK YOU, @ MBuhari .Thank you.”
“It is 4am in California and I can no longer sleep. Join me in singing the words of Psalm126… “When the Lord turned again the CAPTIVITY…”
She also said it was a thing of joy that the number of the abducted girls has now reduced from 218 to 197.
“On this DAY913 of OUR # ChibokGirls : President @ MBuhari What Are We Demanding?
# BringBackOurGirlsNowAndAlive How many? 197 no longer 218!!!”
“DAY913 of OUR # ChibokGirls . WE,
@ BBOG_Nigeria so thank our soldiers in the frontline of battle. You’ve given &keep giving so much SACRIFICE,” She concluded.
The released girls were among the 219 students stolen from their dormitory bed in Chibok community, Borno State on April 14, 2014.
The Chibok girls were exchanged for four Boko Haram prisoners in Banki, an officail of the Ministry of Information said. The girls were exchanged for four Boko Haram prisoners in Banki, northeast Nigeria, said a local source.
A government official said the ‘insurgents released the 21 Chibok girls to the Nigerian government’
Other sources revealed that the Chibok girls were rescued in Banki area of Borno state where Boko Haram militants had left them Thursday by military helicopter."

Credit: Vanguard.

EFCC operative arrested for collecting N15m bribe.

Abuja – For demanding and collecting a bribe of N15 million from a Nigerian lawmaker under investigation for undisclosed financial crime, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested and detained one of its operatives, whose name was given as Uzodinma Kingsley Agbazue.
Agbazue, a Deputy Detective Superintendent, DDS, was disarmed and detained on Thursday following a complaint lodged by the Nigerian lawmaker that he collected the cash with a promised to kill the case involving him or at least, give him a ‘”soft landing” in his matter with the anti-graft agency by compromising the investigation.
According to the complainant, Agbazue had approached him, claiming he had been mandated by the officer handling the case to discuss and reach an agreement on how to “kill the case”.
“Following the approach, a sum of N15 million was given to Agbazue whose game plan collapsed after the Investigating officer, who was ignorant of his scheme, refused to do his bidding.
“With the investigation gathering momentum after parting with the hefty sum, the complainant became uncomfortable and demanded a refund.
“The complainant stated that, when he requested for the refund of his money, Agbazue only returned N5million claiming that the balance of N10 million had been given to someone “to kill the case from the top”.
“The complainant also alleged that the operative had earlier collected N1 million at a different time as assistance for settlement of his wife’s medical bill.
A statement by the EFCC Spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said Agbazue’s action was in contravention of the commission’s mandate and ideals as the EFCC will not solicit or accept gratification from a suspect to compromise a case under investigation.
“The suspect will be subjected to administrative action as precursor to possible prosecution at the end of the investigation,”the spokesman said.


Credit : Vanguard

Second tremor hits Kaduna in 24 hours.

Residents of Sambang Dagi in Jaba Local Government of Kaduna State witnessed another earth tremor in the early hours of Monday.
The incident occurred barely 24-hours after the first tremor was reported at Nok village about 20km away from Sambang.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the second vibration occurred around 4a.m Monday, leaving shocked residents scampering for safety.
It was not immediately clear whether there were casualties.
Earlier, the Kaduna State government had in a press statement, urged residents of the affected communities to remain calm.
The government on Sunday appealed for calm, and sympathised with the residents of kwoi in Jaba Local Government Area, following the first tremor.
The government said in a statement signed by Samuel Aruwan, Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Governor Nasir El-Rufai, that it had made a formal report to the appropriate authorities to investigate the development.
The statement said Mr. El-Rufai, had notified the geological and emergency agencies of the incident.
“The governor sympathises with the people in the Kwoi area over the reported earth tremor,” the statement said.
“He has directed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to mobilise to the area and comfort the citizens.
“The National Geological Agency has also been notified, and has been invited to investigate the tremor in the Kwoi area and provide appropriate guidance.
“The Kaduna State Government is receiving updates from the area and relevant government agencies have been directed to take steps to comfort the residents and to assuage their unease as they come to terms with an unusual event.
“The Kaduna State Government wishes to appeal for calm, and urges everyone not to spread unverified information, or create panic,” the statement said.
NAN reports that the first incident, which occurred at about 1p.m, shook the community and created some panic among the people. (NAN)

Second tremor hits Kaduna in 24 hours.

Residents of Sambang Dagi in Jaba Local Government of Kaduna State witnessed another earth tremor in the early hours of Monday.
The incident occurred barely 24-hours after the first tremor was reported at Nok village about 20km away from Sambang.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the second vibration occurred around 4a.m Monday, leaving shocked residents scampering for safety.
It was not immediately clear whether there were casualties.
Earlier, the Kaduna State government had in a press statement, urged residents of the affected communities to remain calm.
The government on Sunday appealed for calm, and sympathised with the residents of kwoi in Jaba Local Government Area, following the first tremor.
The government said in a statement signed by Samuel Aruwan, Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Governor Nasir El-Rufai, that it had made a formal report to the appropriate authorities to investigate the development.
The statement said Mr. El-Rufai, had notified the geological and emergency agencies of the incident.
“The governor sympathises with the people in the Kwoi area over the reported earth tremor,” the statement said.
“He has directed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to mobilise to the area and comfort the citizens.
“The National Geological Agency has also been notified, and has been invited to investigate the tremor in the Kwoi area and provide appropriate guidance.
“The Kaduna State Government is receiving updates from the area and relevant government agencies have been directed to take steps to comfort the residents and to assuage their unease as they come to terms with an unusual event.
“The Kaduna State Government wishes to appeal for calm, and urges everyone not to spread unverified information, or create panic,” the statement said.
NAN reports that the first incident, which occurred at about 1p.m, shook the community and created some panic among the people. (NAN)

Second tremor hits Kaduna in 24 hours.

Residents of Sambang Dagi in Jaba Local Government of Kaduna State witnessed another earth tremor in the early hours of Monday.
The incident occurred barely 24-hours after the first tremor was reported at Nok village about 20km away from Sambang.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the second vibration occurred around 4a.m Monday, leaving shocked residents scampering for safety.
It was not immediately clear whether there were casualties.
Earlier, the Kaduna State government had in a press statement, urged residents of the affected communities to remain calm.
The government on Sunday appealed for calm, and sympathised with the residents of kwoi in Jaba Local Government Area, following the first tremor.
The government said in a statement signed by Samuel Aruwan, Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Governor Nasir El-Rufai, that it had made a formal report to the appropriate authorities to investigate the development.
The statement said Mr. El-Rufai, had notified the geological and emergency agencies of the incident.
“The governor sympathises with the people in the Kwoi area over the reported earth tremor,” the statement said.
“He has directed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to mobilise to the area and comfort the citizens.
“The National Geological Agency has also been notified, and has been invited to investigate the tremor in the Kwoi area and provide appropriate guidance.
“The Kaduna State Government is receiving updates from the area and relevant government agencies have been directed to take steps to comfort the residents and to assuage their unease as they come to terms with an unusual event.
“The Kaduna State Government wishes to appeal for calm, and urges everyone not to spread unverified information, or create panic,” the statement said.
NAN reports that the first incident, which occurred at about 1p.m, shook the community and created some panic among the people. (NAN)

Second tremor hits Kaduna in 24 hours.

Residents of Sambang Dagi in Jaba Local Government of Kaduna State witnessed another earth tremor in the early hours of Monday.
The incident occurred barely 24-hours after the first tremor was reported at Nok village about 20km away from Sambang.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the second vibration occurred around 4a.m Monday, leaving shocked residents scampering for safety.
It was not immediately clear whether there were casualties.
Earlier, the Kaduna State government had in a press statement, urged residents of the affected communities to remain calm.
The government on Sunday appealed for calm, and sympathised with the residents of kwoi in Jaba Local Government Area, following the first tremor.
The government said in a statement signed by Samuel Aruwan, Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Governor Nasir El-Rufai, that it had made a formal report to the appropriate authorities to investigate the development.
The statement said Mr. El-Rufai, had notified the geological and emergency agencies of the incident.
“The governor sympathises with the people in the Kwoi area over the reported earth tremor,” the statement said.
“He has directed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to mobilise to the area and comfort the citizens.
“The National Geological Agency has also been notified, and has been invited to investigate the tremor in the Kwoi area and provide appropriate guidance.
“The Kaduna State Government is receiving updates from the area and relevant government agencies have been directed to take steps to comfort the residents and to assuage their unease as they come to terms with an unusual event.
“The Kaduna State Government wishes to appeal for calm, and urges everyone not to spread unverified information, or create panic,” the statement said.
NAN reports that the first incident, which occurred at about 1p.m, shook the community and created some panic among the people. (NAN)

Second tremor hits Kaduna in 24 hours.

Residents of Sambang Dagi in Jaba Local Government of Kaduna State witnessed another earth tremor in the early hours of Monday.
The incident occurred barely 24-hours after the first tremor was reported at Nok village about 20km away from Sambang.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the second vibration occurred around 4a.m Monday, leaving shocked residents scampering for safety.
It was not immediately clear whether there were casualties.
Earlier, the Kaduna State government had in a press statement, urged residents of the affected communities to remain calm.
The government on Sunday appealed for calm, and sympathised with the residents of kwoi in Jaba Local Government Area, following the first tremor.
The government said in a statement signed by Samuel Aruwan, Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Governor Nasir El-Rufai, that it had made a formal report to the appropriate authorities to investigate the development.
The statement said Mr. El-Rufai, had notified the geological and emergency agencies of the incident.
“The governor sympathises with the people in the Kwoi area over the reported earth tremor,” the statement said.
“He has directed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to mobilise to the area and comfort the citizens.
“The National Geological Agency has also been notified, and has been invited to investigate the tremor in the Kwoi area and provide appropriate guidance.
“The Kaduna State Government is receiving updates from the area and relevant government agencies have been directed to take steps to comfort the residents and to assuage their unease as they come to terms with an unusual event.
“The Kaduna State Government wishes to appeal for calm, and urges everyone not to spread unverified information, or create panic,” the statement said.
NAN reports that the first incident, which occurred at about 1p.m, shook the community and created some panic among the people. (NAN)

An Open Letter to Edison Daminabo of Deeper Life church, Port Harcourt - By Mark Jacob

Dear Minister Daminabo,

A few months ago the Nigerian media was awash with the story of the brutal murder of a female evangelist, Mrs. Eunice Elisha in Kubwa, a suburb in Abuja. This was scary news as it was a swift follow-up to the brutal murder of a Christian woman at a market in Kano.

Expectedly the uproar died down with each passing day and yes; and life goes on as though nothing has happened.

It is not the fact of this occurrences that matters much, rather it is the aftermath thereof – whether lessons have been learnt, whether there are measures put in place either by the Church or the government to prevent a reoccurrence of such hideous crimes.

To a large extent, I don’t expect much from the government of the day as events have shown that the security and liberty of Christians to live and practice their religion is not a priority. However, I am deeply concerned about the posture, body language, and yes, the loud silence of the big time church leaders in Nigeria.

I like the teachings of Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the general overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, and I see him as a warrior of the gospel. But, truth be told, I was let down by his veiled gentle and “nice” reaction to the killing of that woman evangelist of his church in Kubwa. Was Daddy GO, as he is fondly called, just being politically correct or what?

I don’t know which church that woman slaughtered in Kano attends but whatever church it is, it failed to raise any eyebrows over the gruesome murder. Predictably, the results of this whimsical approach are coming out loud and clear for anyone to see.

Whatever the reasons for the pathetic reaction of our church leaders to these murders it is important to inform them that the brutal slaughter of Christians has increased in tempo, intensity, and magnitude especially in the North.

I woke up this morning and was upset by a story in the media credited to one Edison Daminabo, an “overseer of the Deeper Life Christian Ministry in Rivers State.

In the statement to the press, Daminabo “warned” Christians in the North not to revenge killings by herdsmen or other terrorists that have been slaughtering them in the past few months. He went further to say that the “killing of Christians in the North is a blessing to the faith.”

God, where art thou, I recall a scripture that says something like….. a time shall come when they shall kill you and say it is a service to God….. A man of God opens his mouth not to warn those who are killing the Christians but the poor Christians. A man of God looks at the brutal pictures and reads the true life stories of men, women and children slaughtered in their churches and houses and says it is a blessing? A man of God feels no pain for hundreds who are now widows and orphans because their husbands and fathers were slaughtered simply because they ascribe to Christianity? I am angry, yes angry with the church and very very angry with these church leaders who say peace, peace, and peace when murder and wickedness stare us in the eye.

My prayer this morning is simply that God should allow our church leaders especially those “hiding” in the South to just have a little taste of what we are talking about. May Edison Daminabo experience what the Pastors in the North have seen. Have a church locked up with members and set on fire with members roasting to death, have a pastor slaughtered like a ram while a jubilant crowd celebrates. As an Overseer I am sure he has not overseen the mass burial of 200 Christians murdered in one night in their houses. When he has passed through these I would like him to come out and proclaim that the killings are a blessing to the faith.

People have lost and are losing parents, siblings and relations everyday, not through natural disasters or accidents but deliberate designs of man. The least we expect from those in comfort is either to speak comfort or SHUT UP.

My name is Mark Jacob and I just want to make serious commonsense.

Mark Jacob is a barrister-at-law, a Christian from Southern Kaduna in Nigeria. He has lost family members to the terrorist attacks by Boko Haram and the Fulani herdsmen militia. He can be reached by email HERE.

Addressing the Issues of our collective existence - Captain Solomon Musa, SOKAPU President.

Speech By The National President Of Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) At The Mass Peaceful Protest in Gwantu, Sanga Local Government Area Of Kaduna State, Organised BY SOUTHERN KADUNA PEOPLES UNION   - Thursday 25/8/2016

The great and peace loving people of Sanga and indeed, Southern Kaduna, I send you warm greetings from our brothers and sisters from other places in Nigeria and other parts of the world.

Today, we have come here, irrespective of our religion, political affiliations and ethnic groups, to inform you that we are sad witnesses to all the evil that has come over Sanga and many parts of Southern Kaduna and that we share your pains, anger and frustration.

We have come to this ancient land of civilised and accommodating people to demonstrate our solidarity with you and to insist that you have a right to live in peace and dignity as you pursue your livelihood, like any other persons in a free society as guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

We are together joining our brothers and sisters all over the world, and all men of goodwill and conscience to say that enough of the bloodshed of our harmless and armless people in Sanga and other parts of Southern Kaduna. Enough of blood shedding and kidnapping in Kaduna state. Let it Stop!
SOKAPU stand with you in demanding that the energy, commitment and funds with which the present government of Kaduna state is spending in co-funding a joint military operations in the forests and bushes of Birnin Gwari to rescue rustled cows and goats, should be extended to Southern Kaduna to safe human lives and secure properties.

While we appreciate and thank Governor Nasir el-Rufai for visiting some of our communities that were ravaged by herdsmen in Sanga and Jema’a LGAs, we are very unhappy that his promise to end the killings and wanton destruction of our homes and crops, and to fish out the culprits, was just a political statement.

As if to spite the governor, two days after his much celebrated visit around here, a cleric, Pastor Luka Ubangari, of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Unguwan Anjo near Godogodo, was killed by people suspected to be armed herdsmen. Two days later, the same herdsmen, came to Ningon Community and shot dead Gambo Sule, 38 leaving his wife a widow and his five children fatherless. They also killed Benjamin Auta, 35 and father of two little children. A girl who survived that attack is presently receiving treatment at the Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa hospital in Kafanchan as a result of bullet wounds on her abdomen.

These are just very recent of all the undeserved evil that has enveloped the people of Sanga and many communities of Southern Kaduna - too numerous and painful to be recalled.

Indeed, it has been estimated that not less than 10,000 Southern Kaduna natives from 24 villages have been killed since the invasions of our communities started in 2011. In 2014, there were about 30,000 refugees fleeing killings and arson from Sanga areas alone. Today, majority of these natives are yet to return as herdsmen have converted their farmlands to grazing grounds under arms.
But, it was for the poor security situation in Southern Kaduna, that the people of these areas gave an opposition political party unprecedented number of votes since 1999 helping it to decisively defeat a sitting government.

We are sad to say that the situation is no better today, with a worse dimension added – Kidnapping and destruction of crops. While, almost every day someone is kidnapped in Southern Kaduna for a ransomed, growing crops are being ravaged by herdsmen.

In Godogodo, seven young men who dared to venture to their farms were found shot death, and the corpse of one is still missing. They were all said to have been killed by armed herdsmen.
Yet, with these nefarious acts, we are yet to hear that one single herdsman has been arrested and charged with murder. Instead, it is our youths who are putting their lives at stake to protect their communities that are always arrested by the Police and Soldiers and locked up in Kafanchan.

Could this weak law enforcement attitude, and selective arrest be linked with the thinking of Mallam Nasir el-Rufai in a tweet that later went viral, on the 15th July 2012, when he tweeted that:“ Anyone, soldier or not that kills the Fulani takes a loan repayable one day no matter how long it takes.” https://twitter.com/elrufai/status/224577000218689537
SOKAPU has no choice than to conclude that our governor may have been convinced by the well publicised statement of Kaduna State Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, MCBA, Dr Haruna Usman after the Gada Biyu, Akwa’a, Anjoh and Godogodo killings two weeks back. He had said that the Fulani had carried out the killings and destructions of some of these villagers in retaliation to the killing of a Fulani chieftain around there.
The seeming lack of interest by the governor in bringing the herdsman king-pin to prosecution would look like he already has a mindset that the herdsmen have natural tendency and right to take the law into their hands and kill anyone and cause havoc on any property he suspects of killing his own.
This is also buttressed by the desperation with which this government is doing everything to please the Fulani herdsmen, including the annexation of our lands into Grazing Reserve and Ranches despite its clear constitutional illegality and total rejection of the policy by Southern Kaduna Communities.
It is also evident that in Kaduna state there are two kinds of law for two different citizens. Today, Mr. Nasir Jagaba, SOKAPU youth wing President has been arrested, detained and charged to Court by the Governor over an innocuous statement in which he caution the governor on the grave consequence of demolishing Gbagyi villa.

But, Haruna Usman is still going about his business despite making a very incriminating assertion on the reasons behind the heinous crimes committed by his kinsmen.

In view of the above, on behalf of all the 67 tribal grouping of Southern Kaduna, SOKAPU wish to demand that:

1. The government of Mallam Nasir el-Rufai keeps his campaign promise of safe guarding our lives and property by also funding a formidable joint military operation to flush our murderers and restore ‘captured’ lands to their owners.

2. We demand for the release of all our youths unjustly detained in Kafanchan and restitution paid them over the haranguing experience they have been put through.

3. SOKAPU calls for the arrest and interrogation of Haruna Usman of MCBA. He should be made to produce or identify the Fulani that were “on vengeance” mission.

4. With all the seriousness we can muster, SOKAPU rejects completely the confiscation of 120,000 hectares of our ancestral lands as Cattle Grazing Reserves or ranches. Even when the constitution entrusts all lands in the hands of state governors, it was clear that no land should be taken from a community and allocated to another entity for the exclusive use for profit.

5. We call on both the state and Federal government to assist our Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, with shelter, food and roofs over their heads as they now live under sub-human conditions in public schools and private places they could find.
6. SOKAPU is also using this occasion to appeal to all our members, their friends, Churches, mosques, corporate organisations, NGOs and every willing person to generously donate to our IDPS.
Finally, SOKAPU calls on its members never to take the law into their hands no matter the provocation. However, we encourage all our communities to take every available legal means of defending themselves, their property and dignity against anyone set out to terrorise them, should government renege on that cardinal responsibility it owes them.
Thank you and May God guide you as make your ways back home.

Sign: Barr. Kaptain Solomon Musa
President of SOKAPU

Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai on Twitter
“We will write this for all to read. Anyone, soldier or not that kills the Fulani takes a loan repayable one day no matter how long it takes.”
twitter.com

Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau fatally wounded ,commanders killed during aerial operation- Nigeria Army

The Nigerian Military, on Tuesday, disclosed that an aerial operation on Boko Haram enclave in Sambisa Forest, has left some members of the insurgent group, including its factional leader, Abubakar Shekau fatally wounded.
A statement by Army’s acting spokesman, Col Sani Usman, said Shekau was believed to have been injured on his shoulders, while some commanders of the group were killed in an aerial operation by the Nigerian Air Force.
According to the Army spokesman, the operation was carried out on August 19, 2016 as the terrorists were performing Fridayrituals at Taye village, Gombale general area, within Sambisa forest, Borno State.
Usman said, “In what one could describe as the most unprecedented and spectacular air raid, we have just confirmed that as a result of the interdiction efforts of the Nigerian Air Force, some key leaders of the Boko Haram terrorists have been killed while others were fatally wounded.
“The air interdiction took place last week Friday 19th August 2016, while the terrorists were performing Friday rituals at Taye village, Gombale general area within Sambisa forest, Borno State.
“Those Boko Haram terrorists commanders confirmed dead include Abubakar Mubi, Malam Nuhu and Malam Hamman, amongst others, while their leader, the so-called ‘Abubakar Shekau’, is believed to be fatally wounded on his shoulders. Several other terrorists were also wounded.”

Herdsmen Kill Redeemed pastor in Kaduna.

Gunmen suspected to be herdsmen on Sunday night killed one Pastor Luka Ubangari of Redeemed Christian Church of God at Shawa village, near Godogodo, in Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Ubangari was said to have been ambushed, shot and killed while returning from evangelism to Golkofa village.
The incident occurred few days after Governor Nasir El-Rufai condemned incessant herdsmen killings during his visit to the area.
El-Rufai had described the killings as ‘senseless’ and promised that perpetrators are arrested and punished.
A source, who craved anonymity, noted that despite the governor’s promise herdsmen, “who are out to remove us from our ancestral lands, continue to kill our people.”
“We were happy that the Governor (Nasir El-Rufai) had visited and assured us of improved security and that the killers would be found and punished.
“To our shock, Pastor Luka Ubangari was ambushed, shot and killed as he was riding his motorcycle home after an evangelical visit to Golkofa.”

RESTRuCTUrING:WHY IS THE NORTH RELUCTANT? - BY JOHN DANFULANI

RESTRUCTURING: WHY IS THE NORTH RELUCTANT?

                                 By

                         John Danfulani, Ph.D
                         Johndanfulani@gmail.com

So far, major pan cultural clusters of Southern Nigeria like Afenifere, Ohaneze Ndi Ibgo et al  have added their receptive voices to the quest of restructuring the dysfunctional and poorly designed political structures of Nigeria. These groups and individuals are aggressively pressing their positions and prescribing how Nigeria political structure and power vested on each layer of authority should be  . All their discussions are littered with the usual concepts like; true or fiscal federalism, resource control, regionalism, weak centre,state police, and revenue sharing formula.

Whilst  Southern Nigeria groups and political juggernauts are patriotically adding fuel to the flame of restructuring discourses, two reactionary and retrogressive  northern Nigeria groups called Arewa Consultative Forum( ACF) and Arewa Elders Forum(AEF) are singing a discordant tune. And hatching sundry conspiracy theories on a very popular advocacy that its time is at hand. To these groups peopled by elements that killed the mission of Nigeria's founding father on their alter of greed and corruption, southern Nigeria groups orchestrating the project of restructuring have a short gun in their sleeves. In a plainer  language, ACF/AEF kingpins and their docile followers believe the South had made all necessary preparations to stage the final mass for Nigeria. And ready to use any national dialogue or discussion forum to actualize their mission of ending the British colonial masters 1914 contraption called Nigeria.

On a separate front, northern Nigeria self appointed ultraconservative ideologues in the media are busy diverting attention with their doomsday predictions and parochial narratives that the problem isn't with  political structures and allocation of powers thereof  but poor leadership and corruption. Leading this cream of ethno-religious jingoist is an old Nupe journalist turned Hausa-Fulani Mr. Mohammed Haruna who in recent times wrote two discouraging articles in his syndicated columns titled "Atiku Abubaka's Formula For A "True Federation, and In Defense Of Osinbajo". Other lightweighted  Northern Nigeria tusks like Bala Mohammed(On Restructuring:Another View), Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed( Beginner's Guide on Restructuring) and Sani Abubakar (Restructuring Nigeria: Be Careful What You Wish For, Or How You Demand For It) joined the fray. Because of their biases and outdated mentality of we-are-born-to-rule,they tactically supported the status quo. Their concomitant insincerity denied their discourses the intellectual depth capable of engineering further ding dongs on this matter of national importance.

These ultraconservative northern elements shackling on the myths and realities of yesteryears opposing calls for restructuring knows the quantum of injustice their political and military cabals meted on other Nigerians, right from time immemorial. That accounted for a bull headed resistance to any advocacy that seeks a redress to the present lopsided and terribly skewed  political structures of Nigeria.

If the North is not hiding something or unduly benefiting from what all can see is holding the nation back, why the resistance? We have read and seen them talk on how the former Northern Region built its economy from groundnut and cotton pyramids. Is their lands no longer arable enough to stage a repeat of building an economy on proceeds of pyramids? We all know that they are afraid of a likely resolution that will allow states control resources found in their domains. They are afraid of questions that will inquire the formula used in creating 44 LGAs in Kano while Lagos has less despite surpassing the later in population.The north is afraid of others rejecting the anachronistic system of creating grazing reserves in other place instead of ranching by those who owns the cattle. We know, as well as they do, that they are afraid to answer questions bordering whether the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or some holy books that will guide our actions as a people in country called Nigeria.

ACF/AEF and their corrosive penman sandwiched in a single news outlet that  its mission is spreading ethno-religious sentiment and supremacy and their young recruits can run but they can't hide. Their negative disposition to this raging quest for restructuring  is a waste of time because they are only postponing the evil day. The momentum is too good, because  all well meaning Nigerians are fire up. And had already rolled up their sleeves in readiness for the show. No amount of diversionary machanism will quench this blazing fire of restructuring.

Mr. Atiku Abubakar told his northern kith and kins the truth and the whole truth  by saying they better agree to talk about the future of Nigeria on a round table to avoid talking in some unpredictable situations. I totally agree with Mr. Abubakar's take.