NewStats: 3,259,671 , 8,170,670 topics. Date: Sunday, 25 May 2025 at 06:40 PM 4xe28

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The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to make a way for the Republic of Biafra so that there can be peace in the country.

Armed gangs suspected to be of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) have been wreaking havoc across the South East region.

Daily Trust reports that while receiving the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Yakubu Mahmood, and electoral commissioners at the State House in Abuja on Tuesday, Buhari said those attacking INEC facilities in the South East will be ‘treated in the language they understand’.

However, the president’s comments have been widely criticised, with microblogging and social networking service, Twitter, deleting a portion of the tweets posted on his verified handle @MBuhari.

Reacting to the comments and tweets, the CNG in a statement by its spokesman, Abdul-Azeez Sulaiman, said the presidential tweet merely amounts to ission of failure and loss of capacity.

The CNG described the president’s comment on criminal gangs that kill, maim and displace tens of thousands of citizens as a clear indictment on the istration and abdication of Buhari’s primary responsibility of securing the lives and properties of Nigerians.

“We find it ridiculous that most parts of the President’s tweet concentrated more attention to infrastructure than on the lives of citizens that are wasted daily with virtually no response from the authorities.

“The President’s revelation that most of those involved in the current agitation for secession are those who have not witnessed the 1967 civil war is a vindication of our position that the only reasonable option to ensure a more secure future is for the Igbo to be allowed to have their wish for a Biafran nation.

“The fact that the strength of the Igbo agitation rests on youth who are mainly below the ages of 50, with diseased mindset, encouraged by their political, cultural and religious leaders to take up arms against the Nigerian state and Northerners, has rendered the nation’s unity negotiable.

“It is therefore unreasonable for those older Nigerians who are mostly above 70 to insist that the unity of Nigeria is sacrosanct whereas the people executing the dangerous Southeast secession agenda are almost entirely below 50.

“It is time for the Nigerian state and all stakeholders to wake to the reality that the only remaining option to avoid a civil war is for the Igbo to be allowed to have the Biafra they have used intermittently for decades to destabilize the nation and deny peace to other components of the country,” Sulaiman said in the statement.

The group urged the people of the North in any part of the country to remain calm and resolute, with the assurance that they are taking steps to ensure the actualization of Biafra so the rest of the country would know peace.

“We hereby make allowance of the next 30 days to see how Buhari would make true his threat to deal with insurgency, banditry and above all, the greater threat posed by IPOB or how he will handle the entire Igbo leadership that openly back and embolden them,” he said.

https://dailytrust.com/allow-igbos-have-biafra-so-peace-can-reign-northern-coalition-tells-buhari

The Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Farouk Yahaya, on Wednesday said only the land forces in the military can not contain enormous security challenges ravaging the country.

The COAS stated this when he paid a courtesy visit to his counterpart at Air Force, the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, at the Nigerian Air Force Headquarters, Abuja.

According to him, the war against insurgency and armed banditry cannot be won by a single Service but rather, through a synergistic approach.

He added that the centrality of air power to the success of the ongoing fight against insurgency, armed banditry and other forms of criminality in the country is very key.

”The earlier we all recognized that no Service can do it alone, the better for us as an armed forces and a Nation to surmount the current security challenges,” the COAS said.

The COAS stressed that he has always been an advocate of air power employment as a critical requirement of a fighting force having witnessed its formidable influence in various theatres of operations.

On his part, the CAS, Amao congratulated the COAS on his appointment and urged him to sustain synergy of efforts by the Nigerian Army and the NAF, in conjunction with other security agencies to rid the country of all criminal activities.

https://dailytrust.com/army-alone-cant-solve-nigerias-security-threats-coas

The Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, has said the Nigerian national airliner will become operational by the first quarter of 2022.

Sirika said this Wednesday while fielding questions from State House reporters after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The minister explained that the outbreak of COVID-19 delayed the conclusion of plans as well as the take-off of the project which he said the federal government is still committed to.

He said his ministry would be submitting a fine-tuned proposal for the project to the Council in two weeks as the take-off of the national carrier was very vital to Nigeria’s economy.

Sirika said the national carrier, expected to take off initially this year, was an economic necessity for the country with the size of the population, the vantage geographical location and other natural factors.

Sirika said: “In this 2021, we will try to do all the needful and probably we intend to start operations somewhere around first quarter 2022.

“It is still in top gear, we are coming back to Council, hopefully within the next two weeks, to present the memo on the national carrier.

“We went to Council to approve the outline business case for the carrier and then the Council raised some questions and asked us to go and file the memo again and bring it back.

“So, once it comes back and the outline business case is approved by Council, then, of course, we will now go to the full business case, which is now going to the market and then establishing the national carrier.

“It was our intention to have a national carrier running in 2021, which is this year. Unfortunately due to COVID, which took the greater part of last year, since March last year, activities are almost impossible.

“Of course, for obvious reasons, we now have access to equipment, that they will come faster to us, deliveries of the aircraft will be faster, perhaps even the rates might be cheaper and so on, and so forth.

https://dailytrust.com/new-national-airliner-to-take-off-in-2022-fg

The Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has vowed that Comrade Ayuba Wabba and other labour leaders will never return to Kaduna by the time his government is done with them.

The protest of the organised labour in Kaduna is in its third day.

Governor El-Rufai, who stated this while addressing the 23rd Annual Tax Conference organised by the The Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) in Kaduna on Wednesday, described the labour leaders as “criminals”.

He said actions of the labour union under the auspices of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), which prevented businesses like banks, petrol stations and others from opening is criminal, illegal and the government will deal with “the criminals”.

The Governor pointed out that his government was not against the right of workers to embark on strike, but such workers must walk out of their work place and allow it to function without them.

While he emphasized that workers or their unions do not have the right to stop any business or government establishment from opening, El-Rufai said those responsible for such were liable to be convicted on the Miscellaneous Offences Act, which attracts a minimum penalty of 21 years imprisonment.

He then apologised to the gathering on any inconvenience suffered due to the strike, saying, “All those that have broken the law to the fullest extent will never come back to the state again by the time we are done with them.”

According to him, “There are efforts to prevent legitimate business to open, there are efforts to prevent banks from opening and also preventing petrol stations from dispensing fuel, this is totally criminal and illegal and we are going to take action.

“We are making efforts to provide security for all businesses that will wish to remain open.

“We are not against the right to strike, you are free to strike, but walk away from your institution and allow it to function without you.

“You have no right to stop any business from remaining open and we are going to take very strict measures against people that have tried to do that.

“What this strike is about is to answer fundamental questions, the first of which is this; should an employer, keep person of poor education, inadequate skills, qualifications and bad work attitude in employment, whether he likes it or not? Our answer in Kaduna state is in the negative.

“We, as the employer, are in a contract of employment with the employee and if he is not up to scratch, we will let him go and that is included in our of service.

“The second question is this, is the right to protest or to withdraw your services of an employee equivalent to the right to destroy the institution in which you work; shut it down or attack public infrastructure?

“Our position is very clear, law is very clear, you can walk out, you can strike, but you cannot shut anything down.

“Public infrastructure is a public asset belonging to the federation which belongs to all the people in Nigeria and you have no right to shut it down and if you do, you are liable to be convicted on either the Miscellaneous Offences Act which attracts a minimum penalty of 21 years imprisonment.”

According to him, “I want to assure you that we will break the strike and deal with the criminals, prosecute all those that have broken the law to the fullest extent and I assure you that they will never come back to the state again by the time we are done with them.”

https://dailytrust.com/wabba-will-never-return-to-kaduna-when-im-done-with-him-el-rufai

The Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has said it is not yet ready to organise the national convention of the party.

There were reports that the committee planned to release timetable for congresses and convention this week.

But in a statement on Monday, Secretary of the Caretaker Committee, Sen. John James Akpanudoedehe, described the reports as handiwork of political jobbers parading themselves as media sources

The party asked the general public to completely disregard the “misinformation, antics and schemes of these fifth columnists.”

“Our attention has been drawn to obviously coordinated and syndicated misinformation being circulated in some sections of the media on purported plans and timetable for Congresses and the National Convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC).”

“We have never lied on our party activities and we simply have no reason to. The consultative party leadership style instituted by Governor Mai Mala Buni as Chairman of the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CEC) has institutionalised the APC as a party of processes and internal democracy.

“The CEC is focused and is delivering its mandate to recover, rebuild and reposition the APC as well as achieve peace-building, true reconciliation and to give a sense of belonging to every member of the Party.

“On Monday 17th May 2021, the APC National Secretariat resumed from the Sallah break and will also resume work on several ongoing and important party activities. As usual, we will promptly communicate outcomes of these activities through official channels when available.”

https://dailytrust.com/breaking-were-not-yet-ready-for-convention-buni-committee

The British Broadcasting Corporation’s Africa Eye has gained behind-the-scenes access to Ahmed Isah, Nigeria’s foremost radio host and human rights campaigner, Daily Trust reports.

In its latest undercover investigation video, exclusively obtained by Daily Trust, BBC Reporter Peter Nkanga spent one-month filming with Ahmed Isah at his Human Rights Radio and TV studios in the capital city Abuja uncovers another side to the popular Radio/TV host, popularly known as Ordinary President.

Even though the reporter said he witnessed firsthand the huge impact of Ahmed’s work on the lives of many ordinary Nigerians, “his often-controversial methods raise serious questions.”

The about thirty minute’s video revealed how the ‘Ordinary President’ violates the rights of some persons brought before him for investigation, including the case of a woman that was physically assaulted on camera by Isa.

Although, the video showed the graphic image of a six-year-old girl with severe burns, who received funding for much-needed hospital treatment after appearing on his show it also showed how Ahmed struck an interviewee across the face on camera as well as refusing to pursue the apparently deserving case of eight disappeared children.

As the investigation reveals critical voices have emerged from the human rights community in Nigeria, including claims that Ahmed has become a law unto himself.

By not affording those who are accused of wrongdoing an opportunity to respond, he is breaching their rights, the report quotes Nigeria’s Human Rights Commissioner as saying.

According to the report, Nigeria’s media regulator, the National Broadcasting Commission, also stated that Ahmed Isah has been the subject of numerous complaints and his programming “frequently violates ethical standards.”

Peter Nkanga who spent one month filming for BBC’s Africa Eye with Ahmed Isah at his Human Rights Radio and TV studios in the capital city Abuja said his investigation made him understand how one can be doing good and at the same time be doing wrong.

Speaking on the one-month long investigative work, Nkanga said while many Nigerians have embraced the works Ahmed Isa does in bringing to the fore many human rights issues, the process is somehow flawed.

According to him, the foremost Radio host saw a gap and a society where people were yearning for justice and he is filling that void.

“I think the major discovery for me was how you can be doing well and at the same time be doing wrong. It is about understanding why and how people like Ahmed Isah use the power that they have, what they do with it. It is about responsibility; it is about giving what you can take and not engaging in double-standard.

“I think the major discovery was that every human being has flaws no matter how much of a hero you might be. You are just human. I saw a huge disappointment as well because when you see an opportunity for a situation to change or improve, let’s see the impact of what you do.”

The journalist stated that despite the impact of his programme and the wide acceptability it has garnered, Isa’s failure to make case for the eight missing children was a major flaw.

He said non-state actors like Ahmed Isa is filling a void because the state has abdicated its responsibility.

“There is a gap which Ahmed Isah has filled and that tells us that we are in a society where people are looking for solutions anywhere. The truth is that you and I, every human that is looking for solutions to their problem, you don’t really care how far you have to go as long as you will get that solution.”

Asked whether he felt the radio host should be prosecuted for human rights violations, he said he would not advocate that but he said, “Let the game be played according to the rule.”

But Nkanga ultimately concluded that until they feel protected by the state, many Nigerians may not care about Ahmed’s methods.

“Instead, they’ll keep tuning their radios into his station, hoping to hear someone like themselves getting justice, for once.”

How Brekete Family started

According to its mission statement, the Brekete Family programme is to advocate for the rights of the oppressed and ordinary citizens in Nigeria. The motto of the program is “voice for the voiceless.”

The programme is said to be focused on protecting the rights of the downtrodden, helping to provide justice for the voiceless and stimulating Nigerians to care for the oppressed. It prides itself in providing justice to oppressed, investigation, human rights promotion & protection, broadcasting.

According to its Facebook page, Brekete Family is a reality radio and television program focused on human rights. It airs on radio and cable television and streams online through social media platform and Human Rights Radio 101.1 in Abuja.

Brekete Family was founded by Ahmed Isah. The program first aired on Kiss FM Abuja in 2009, and then later on Crowther Love FM. Following its initial success, the program’s headquarters, Human Rights Radio Abuja, was established. Brekete Family is known by Nigerians for seeking justice for the helpless.

Beneficiaries of the broadcast have praised Brekete Family for empowering people in various ways, which include securing financial assistance. The program has blossomed into several other areas such as the Brekete Academy, where certified instructors offer courses in professional development in various fields.

The program is listened to, by millions of ordinary Nigerians, government officials, politicians, law enforcement, and even foreigners. It is a place where people obtain public redress, facilitate arbitration and has been used to raise funds for scholarship program for the poor, sick, or hungry.

The program is conducted in Pidgin English and features real-life issues and events concerning human rights. It has gained a wide acceptance and mass appeal, especially due to its nature of operation, similar to a community network. Hence, they reach out to the underprivileged, and intervene on behalf of the victims of daily human rights abuse.

https://dailytrust.com/brekete-family-bbc-unmasks-the-true-face-of-ordinary-president

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), on Wednesday, said state governors have the right to ignore Executive Order 10 in their implementation of judicial and legislative autonomy in their states.

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) had on Tuesday faulted the Executive Order 10, President Muhammadu Buhari signed into law last year for the implementation of the autonomy of state legislature and judiciary.

The NGF, through the Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, however, said they were not opposed to financial autonomy for the judiciary and the legislature.

Falana said: “the governors have the right to discountenance Executive Order 10 and proceed to comply with the provisions of the constitution. They don’t need the order,” he said.

“In fact, before now they had persuaded the president to suspend the implementation of the order on the grounds that they were going to comply with the law on their own.”

Similarly, Adeniyi Akintola (SAN) said the governors were “right in their position that you don’t need an executive order to enforce the provision of the constitution”, adding that, Nigeria being a federation, workers should not expect uniform salaries or policies.

While calling for a proper federal system for Nigeria to resolve legal issues such as that created by Executive Order 10, he said the constitution is clear on the order.

“The constitution is very clear as to the mode of disbursement of revenues in the states. The judiciary should be independent. You don’t need an executive order. For me it is just an addendum,” he said.

Also, Murtala Abdulrasheed Esq described the statement of the governors as hypocritical, and not on any legal footing because they were part of the recommendation of the Attorney General of the Federation leading to the Presidential Executive Order 10.

“With what the constitution has said, do you need an executive order to comply with that? There are court pronouncements on this. The Federal High Court judge, Justice Kolawole (as he was then), ruled in their favour to the extent that it is a constitutional matter which they have no reason to disobey,” he said.

“The president g the executive order is just giving teeth to what the constitution has provided. So, they cannot say they will not comply or that they have to negotiate with the unions in their states and all that when the constitution has already stipulated that this is the way to disburse.”

Also reacting, Tawo Eja Tawo (SAN) said since the high courts in the states and Federal High Court are the same creations of the constitution, the funds standing to the credit of the judiciary should be sent to the National Judicial Council to be disbursed to heads of courts.

“The situation where the NJC would ask governors to provide courtrooms, judges’ residential quarters and cars before the appointment of judges should not be so,” he said.

https://dailytrust.com/judiciary-legislature-autonomy-falana-akintola-back-govs-rejection-of-executive-order-10

No fewer than 100,000 people from Damasak town in Borno State fled into neighbouring Niger Republic on Wednesday following multiple attacks by Boko Haram fighters.

Government sources said at least 10 people were killed on Wednesday, many wounded and thousands of others wandering in the bush.

It was also learnt that hundreds of houses of the civilian population, their shops and government buildings including police divisional headquarters have been burnt to ashes by the invaders.

Wednesday’s attack on Damasak, headquarters of Mobbar LGA made it the sixth time in the last two weeks; and in the last four days, Nigerian ground troops ed by the air component have been battling for the control of the agrarian community.

There was no official statement from the military on the status of the town, which had hitherto survived nearly 11 years of intermittent onslaught by terrorists.

But credible sources said the terrorists finally hoisted their flags on Wednesday, and were still in the town at the time of filing this report.

Damasak, situated 188 kilometres from Maiduguri, is a strategic town in the northern part of Borno, bordering Niger Republic and other LGAs in the shores of Lake Chad.

The latest incursion was carried out less than 24 hours after a similar one on Tuesday.

During Tuesday’s attack, the terrorists were reportedly repelled by the troops but not after they inflicted serious damage on the town.

There was another attack on Saturday, April 10, during which 6 people including two women, a man and three soldiers were reportedly killed.

Witnesses said a fighter jet had also mistakenly dropped a bomb on a naming ceremony gathering, which led to the death of the newborn baby, its parents and some guests. Authorities have not yet confirmed this.

Some locals, security sources and government officials said during yesterday’s siege after they were chased away on Tuesday, the terrorists, firing from all directions of the town, forced distressed families to flee and also took the troops by surprise.

The fighters, who are loyal to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), reportedly drove in gun trucks in the afternoon while others rode in threes on motorcycles wielding Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs).

Completely confused, some of the residents headed for relatively safer villages in Nigeria and others crossed over to neighbouring towns in Niger Republic and ading villages.

Women, some of them pregnant and others carrying babies on their backs, with smaller children trailing them were reportedly the worst affected as they left their homes completely unprepared and trekked many kilometres in search of safety.

It was learnt that as the victims flee, the Nigerian troops redeployed to take charge in Damasak engaged the invading terrorists to no avail.


Our people under siege – Senator Kyari

Confirming the anguish in Damasak, the Senator representing Borno North in the National Assembly, Abubakar Kyari, told reporters that the town had been overrun by the insurgents who stormed the area around 1 pm.

Kyari, who led a delegation of both from the national and state assemblies from the area to the Maiduguri Government House where they met with Governor Babagana Zulum behind-closed-doors, later told reporters that the terrorists were in Damasak.

“We are aware of the attack last night, they (Boko Haram) burnt several houses and some people lost their lives. Some people sustained bullet wounds and many properties set on fire.

“But most disturbing reports that we received this afternoon is that they are back in Damasak now, from about 1 pm and they are still there as of 1745hrs, so this is the latest reports. There is a brigade there but the town was sacked yesterday.

“The reports we received was that they have buried 10 people and 20 people have been wounded, so the people have fled the town.

“The people are desirous of staying in Damasak but because of the insecurity, some have fled to the bush and others to neighbouring Niger for safety but we came here to meet with the governor with all of the House of Representatives.

“Our major concern is the safety and welfare of our people…We feel their pain, we feel their hardship and we want to give them the assurance that the government is up and doing.

Development in Damasak worrisome – NEDC

The Managing Director of North East Development Commission, Dr Mohammed Alkali, who also led another delegation and met with Governor Zulum expressed worry over the reports emerging from Damasak town.

“We are here over the sad incident that is happening in Damasak. Two days ago, Damasak was under attacked and today it is under attacks; so we came here to commiserate with the governor and our people. We want to see how we can come in and synergise to provide succour to the affected people.

“The military is doing well but they should enhance their activities so that we see things ending as quickly as possible,” he said.

Historic town in ruins

Daily Trust reports that hours after the devastating attacks on Damasak on Saturday, the United Nations condemned the development saying thousands of people would face serious humanitarian challenges.

During the attack, the terrorists destroyed the United Nations Hub housing all the workers of the international organisation.

It was meant to take to the door-step of victims of Boko Haram insurgency, which has ravaged almost all the local government areas of Borno North in the last 11 years. Apart from the UN hub, the terrorists had destroyed the Norwegian Refugees Commission (NRC) facilities at Fulatari Ward.

They also ransacked the warehouse of the World Food Programme (WFP), which was filled with assorted food items.

They stole the drugs and other equipment at the general hospital in the town, in addition to taking away many vehicles belonging to all the humanitarian agencies in the town and set the rest on fire.

https://dailytrust.com/over-100000-flee-to-niger-republic-after-b-haram-attacks-borno-town

[quote author=micheal34 post=96202133]
Application Deadline:
21st December, 2020.

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Arms-wielding hoodlums suspected to be political thugs yesterday invaded the secretariat of Ado-Ekiti Local Government Area of Ekiti State, beating up workers.

Investigation revealed that some councillors had arrived the secretariat to commence impeachment process on the council chairperson, Mrs Omotunde Fajuyi, over alleged high-handedness, incompetence, and gross misconduct before the incident occurred.

https://dailytrust.com/hoodlums-invade-ekiti-lg-beat-up-workers

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has obtained an interim forfeiture order in respect of eight properties linked to Brigadier-General Jafaru Mohammed.

Justice Folashade Ogunbanjo granted an ex parte application for interim forfeiture of the assets and property by the chairman of the EFCC, made on March 9.

The court ordered the publication of the interim forfeiture of the assets and invited people “who may have interest in the assets and properties listed in the schedule to show cause, within 14 days of such publication, why a final order of forfeiture to the Federal Government of Nigeria of the said assets and properties should not be made.”

The assets traced to the proxies and associates of the General include: House on Plot 7, God’s Own Estate, Road 1, Wamna District, Abuja; a fencer plot at No 1 Jubril Aminu Crescent, Katampe Extension, Abuja; plot at Kubwa Express, Directly opposite Abuja Model City Gate, Abuja; and a house on Block SD 22 House 2, Road 5, Kabusa Garden Estate, Abuja.

Others are: No 15, 21 Crescent, 2nd Avenue, Gwarinpa Estate, Abuja; No 3 Liverpool Close, Sun City Estate, Abuja; No 52 Mainstreet, Sun City Estate, Abuja; and No 25 Osaka Street, Sun City Estate, Abuja.

https://dailytrust.com/efcc-gets-order-for-forfeiture-of-army-generals-property

Some Borno elders, leaders of thought and security experts have countered the National Security Adviser, retired Major General Babagana Monguno, who said Nigeria will not seek the services of mercenaries to fight the Boko Haram terrorists.

They said it would be difficult to end the almost 12-year-old insurgency without engaging mercenaries as was done ahead of the 2015 general elections.

General Monguno on Thursday ruled out negotiation with bandits and engagement of mercenaries in the fight against insurgents and other security breaches in the country, saying Nigeria had enough military power to address its security challenges.

He stated this during the third edition of the Villa media briefing at the State House, Abuja.

Monguno, while reacting to a question on renewed calls by the North East governors on the federal government to engage mercenaries to defeat the Boko Haram terrorists, said: “The president’s view and the directive is that we will not engage mercenaries when we have our own people to deal with these problems.

“We have the personnel and resources, and the president has given a new lease of life to the armed forces.”

Daily Trust reports that Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State, who doubles as the chairman of North East Governors Forum, had on Wednesday, March 3, called on the federal government to bring in mercenaries to help end the Boko Haram menace.

According to Zulum, “As it is now, especially in Borno State, violence being perpetrated by the insurgents seems to be on the increase, both in scope and viciousness, and it has become a matter of tactical necessity for the new service chiefs to devise new offensive strategies to counter the current attacks and forestall any future attacks.

“Undoubtedly, the commitment of our military to the war against the insurgency is unquestionable and their determination to succeed is undeniable, as they have considered and acted upon a full range of options to deal with the insurgency.

“However, with the current escalation of deadly attacks by the terrorists, the various courses of action being pursued seem to have some limitations in of the expected impact; hence the need for a new set of pragmatic and result-oriented initiatives to completely subdue the terrorists and ultimately end the insurgency.

“The government should also seek from neighbouring countries such as the Republic of Chad, Cameroon and Niger with a view to providing a t action that will look into the possibility of ending this crisis.

“The federal government has to look into the possibility of involving mercenaries with a view to ending this insurgency because it seems that the commitment is not there.

“Therefore, for us to end this insurgency, we must be committed enough, we must bring in external to ensure that mercenaries are hired to end this insurgency,” he said.

‘No Negotiation with bandits’

Monguno also said any form of negotiation with bandits would portray the government as weak and incapable of dealing with the challenges of insecurity across the country.

The NSA, who said the government will deploy all necessary force to eliminate terrorists and bandits, stressed that the government would not succumb to blackmail.

He said: “The government is tackling the problem of insecurity. We have said many times that there are two phases in solving this problem – the soft approach, talking, negotiating and so on and so forth.

“While the government is not averse to talking to these entities, these human beings, I have to be very honest the government has to apply its full weight – that force that is required – because you can’t even talk with people who are unreliable, who will turn around to do a different thing and people who will continue to hurt society.

“So, basically, what the government wants to rely upon is to deal with this issue by using all the assets – military assets, intelligence assets – to eliminate these people.

“The new direction of the government is to come out with its full force. Government is not going to allow itself to be blackmailed by any group or individual who thinks he can hide under the surface and then use proxies to deal a bitter blow on innocent people.”

He also said: “We are also focusing on the associated dimensions of the banditry and terrorism: illegal drugs, the flow of small arms and light weapons, and illegal mining in places like Zamfara.

“These are some of the scenarios fuelling the violence and we are already tackling them decisively.”



Mercenaries not new to Boko Haram fight

Our correspondents recall that few days to the February 14 presidential election of 2015 which was moved to March 28, the then federal government under the leadership of Goodluck Jonathan deployed hundreds of mercenaries to reclaim territories in the North East.

It was learnt that at the time, Nigeria brought in hundreds of mercenaries from South Africa and the former Soviet Union to help Nigerian troops reclaim many local government areas in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states that had been seized by the Boko Haram under the leadership of Abubakar Shekau.

The mercenaries reportedly came in with a new strategy and fighting equipment, a development that turned the tide against the Boko Haram terrorists within just six weeks, paving the way for a peaceful election that saw Muhammadu Buhari emerging as president.

Though the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) condemned the postponement of the presidential election in 2015, the decision gave the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) tactical successes in the war front but not at the polls as many states and National Assembly seats moved to the APC.

Though there was no official confirmation then that mercenaries had been deployed, those living in the North East, especially in Maiduguri, confirmed their presence.

In an interview with the Voice of America (VOA), President Goodluck Jonathan said two companies were providing “trainers and technicians” to help Nigerian forces. He did not name the firms, or the nationalities, or gave numbers.

However, though Boko Haram was unable to continue with its territorial conquests after the change of government, its fighters have continued to give Nigerian troops sleepless nights to date.

Analysts attribute the “setbacks” to the departure of the mercenaries and the near-collapse of the Multi-National t Task Force (MNJTF) few months after the new government took over.



‘We can’t exit insecurity without mercenaries’

A Borno State elder has faulted the decision by the federal government that mercenaries would be not be engaged to fight the Boko Haram insurgents.

He advised those in the position of authority to forget about public outburst and do the needful.

The elder, who does not want to be named, said the success recorded in the fight against insurgency was recorded when the South African mercenaries were engaged.

In a phone interview, he said President Buhari should not renege in his promise to end the insurgency.

“When you send our soldiers abroad, who are those training them?

“Are they not the same people that were brought as mercenaries?

“What we are saying is that they should bring these people to forces with our men to finish the insurgents.

“We are not saying that they should compromise the interest of this country. What he (Monguno) said was his personal opinion and not the position of the government, I think.

“When the mercenaries were brought in 2014, we all witnessed what they did within the shortest time.

“Before the South African mercenaries were brought, the insurgents were everywhere in Maiduguri after hoisting their flags in many towns.

“But when they (mercenaries) came, they worked with our security agents and the JTF operatives and that was why we had successes then,” he said.

He added: “There is nothing wrong with this. Countries are engaging mercenaries.

“It is not a sign of weakness or incapacitation. There is nothing demeaning in engaging foreign mercenaries to help us. What we want is for the war to finish.

“Why did we engage the Chinese to revive our railway transport?” he asked, wondering why Nigeria did not engage the countless engineers in the country for the projects if it believes in self-sufficiency.

On his part, a public affairs analyst, Abubakar Mohammed Kareto, urged the federal government to do the needful and engage foreign mercenaries so as to curtail the rampaging deadly groups.

“Nigeria has been fighting this war for over a decade now but the strength of Boko Haram keeps growing like a wildfire. We still have towns and villages believed to be strongholds of the insurgents.

“These places have neither civilian population nor a military presence, and allowing terrorists to stay long freely in a defined location will further endanger safe places.

“Nigeria needs to have fighting forces with extensive experience in conducting mobile operations in hostile environments like the North East; those who can also provide immediate access to airpower.

“These services can only be rendered by mercenaries. We need a quick and immediate solution to curtail the violence if the Boko Haram,” he said.

Also speaking, a security expert, Salihu Bakhari, said it is time to end Boko Haram and other security problems so that Nigeria would focus on human development.

“It would be difficult to ascertain how much was expended in the last 12 years or thereabouts in of human and material resources.

“Therefore, I think it would not be wrong to seek foreign . Of course, it would be suicidal for the NSA to come out openly and it that they would bring in foreign mercenaries but then, I pray they are doing something underground.

“We have good soldiers and commanders in Nigeria and there is no doubt about it; but going by the theory of exhaustion and fatigue, it will not be wrong to get a helping hand for them,” he said.



NSA speaks our minds – Officers

An officer, who did not want his name in print, said NSA Monguno spoke the minds of all serving military personnel.

According to him, Nigerian troops had the capacity to handle the terrorists and other criminal elements disturbing the country.

He said instead of bringing foreign mercenaries, the federal government should address some of the challenges confronting the troops.

When asked to mention the challenges, he said the military authorities were aware.

Another officer said, “Government should stop paying ransom to terrorists.

“You can see how heavily these criminal elements are being paid by these same government officials any time they kidnap.

“This is not the way to go. This is not how to defeat banditry and terrorism but I know we can defeat them.”

By Ismail Mudashir, Muideen Olaniyi, Idowu Isamotu (Abuja) & Tunji Omirin (Maiduguri)

The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) Thursday clarified that Air Peace’s recent tyre burst incident was experienced during taxiing at the Murtala Muhammed Airport.

The clarification also aligns with the explanation offered by the airline, which dismissed a report that one of its aircrafts, a B737 plane with registration number 5N-BUQ, had a tyre burst on landing in Lagos on Monday night.

The airline explained that contrary to insinuation, the aircraft landed safely at the International Wing of the airport, but while taxiing to the domestic wing, the aircraft had a tyre puncture which cause is yet to be ascertained.

The explanation was contained in a statement issued by the spokesman of the airline, Stanley Olisa.

https://dailytrust.com/air-peaces-burst-tyre-incident-was-after-landing-aib

The Nigerian Army on Wednesday said it would crush terrorists, bandits and other criminals disturbing the peace of the country as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, stated this at the Army Headquarters in Abuja while hosting the new permanent secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Musa Istifanus, who was on a familiarization visit to Defence Headquarters.

Attahiru solicited continuous of the ministry in the areas of manpower efficiencies, capacity development as well as provision of adequate equipment and weapon system for operational efficiency.

“Let me assure you that the Nigerian army, under my leadership, will continue to defend the territorial integrity of the country, including advancing our national interest in line with our constitutional responsibility despite attendant constraints.

https://dailytrust.com/well-crush-terrorists-bandits-others-army

The Kaduna State Governor, Nasiru El-Rufai, and his deputy, Hadiza Balarabe, have received the first dose of the Astrazeneca COVID vaccine jab.

The governor disclosed this on his Twitter page shortly after receiving the vaccine in Kaduna on Wednesday.

Using his experience as instance, El-Rufai urged residents of the state to dismiss rumoured claims that the vaccine has side effects.

He wrote: “Astrazeneca vaccine is safe: Just had my first meal some 5 hours after taking my first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. No pain. No headache. No side effects. Excellent appetite.”

El-Rufai stretches the list of governors, who have been vaccinated against the novel disease so far.

Nigeria had received 3.92 million doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine last weekend, delivered under the international COVAX scheme.

https://dailytrust.com/el-rufai-deputy-get-astrazno-pain-no-headache-el-rufai-speaks-after-after-taking-covid-vaccineeneca-covid-19-vaccine-jab

Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State has appealed to the Federal Government to re-open the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano to allow for the resumption of international flight operations.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Abba Anwar, in Kano.

The governor spoke when he led a delegation of legislators, business, traditional and civic leaders to pay a courtesy visit to the Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, in Abuja.

He lamented that the continued closure of the airport is causing hardship to international travelers from the Northern part of the country, as the action is severely impacting on ease of doing business in Kano.

“The closure of MAKIA has impacted negatively on the business environment in Kano, which is the commercial nerve center of Northern Nigeria and even some West African Countries.

“We appreciate President Muhammadu Buhari for the completion of the international wing of the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport because it will further facilitate commercial activities, and we fervently appeal for the resumption of international flight operations at the airport,” he explained.

The governor expressed concern over the effect of the continued suspension of international flights to and from the airport by engers and service providers.

According to him, the Kano State government has put in place all that is necessary to make the state healthy for flights, including mobilisation of the populace for the COVID-19 vaccinations.

‘Huge revenue loss’

On his part, the minister assured that his ministry was favorably disposed to re-opening the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, for international flight operations, lamenting that the continued suspension of international flights to and from the airport was causing the ministry and its agencies huge revenue loss.

“It does not make economic sense for the government to spend so much money, as it has done in the airport, and just decide to leave it dormant, with the attendant degeneration on infrastructure, staff redundancy, revenue losses and hardship to travellers, amongst others,” he said.

He, however, told the delegation that the decision to suspend international flights to and from the airport, like the ones in Enugu and Port Harcourt, was for health and security reasons.

The Minister acknowledged the hardship faced by engers and service providers patronizing the airport, promising that everything that was necessary for the resumption of international flight operations at the airport would be fast-tracked to ensure that it resumes soon.

He, however, challenged Kano indigenes to create activities that would make the airport more viable through increased enger traffic. (NAN)

https://dailytrust.com/ganduje-begs-fg-to-re-open-kano-airport-for-international-flight

Four ministers from the Republic of Benin along with other officials are in Nigeria for talks with Nigerian rice farmers under the aegis of Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) to fine-tune a memorandum of understanding.

The ministers were Alimatau Shadiya, Minister of Industry and Trade, Cossi Gaston Dossouhoui, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Samon Seidou Adambi, Minister of Mine and Water Resources and Romuald Wadagni, Minister of Finance and the Economy and head of the delegation.

Mr Wadagni stated that because of the new vision of cooperation between the two countries, President Patrice Talon decided to send four ministers to Nigeria to chart the way forward for a robust cooperation on rice production.

“We want to put in place a partnership between the rice producers of Nigeria, and the rice producers in the Republic of Benin,” he said.

Earlier, the national president of RIFAN, Alhaji Aminu Goronyo, who led a delegation to the Benin Republic president in Cotonou, last week, said the Abuja meeting would look at the technical areas for learning and the way forward.

He said “the team was in Nigeria to see what we are doing right under the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Anchor Borrowers’ Programme launched by President Muhammadu Buhari which made Nigeria today to record huge success in the rice revolution.”

In a related development, Benin Republic has approached President Muhammadu Buhari to seek Nigeria’s help for rice production.

The country sent in a delegation of officials who met with the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday to tap from Nigeria’s experience in reviving rice production.

The delegation was led by the country’s Minister of Agriculture, Gaston Cossi Dossouhoui. They were led to the Villa by Kebbi State Governor Atiku Bagudu and the Nigerian Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed.

Bagudu later told reporters that the delegation and the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria met with Gambari to advance ongoing talks between both countries on how to replicate Nigeria’s rice farming programme in Benin Republic.

“This is partnership within the framework of ECOWAS agreement and the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement and our brotherly relationship between President Muhammadu Buhari and President Patrice Tallon who have the safe vision that we can be greater together,” he said.

https://dailytrust.com/4-benin-republic-ministers-meet-nigerian-rice-farmers

* Directs deployment of 6,000 troops

* Emirs kick against no-fly zone order

* ‘Banditry, mining not related’

* ACF commends move, Masari wants coordinated approach in N/West

President Muhammadu Buhari has given bandits in Zamfara two months to surrender, Governor Bello Muhammad Matawalle said in a state-wide broadcast Tuesday evening.

Matawalle said the president also ordered the deployment of 6,000 troops to crush the bandits if they failed to surrender their arms.

The governor made the statement a few hours after traditional rulers in the state told the service chiefs, who were visiting in the state, that there were over 30,000 bandits in Zamfara forests, a number that far outweighs the less than 10,000 troops deployed to the state to tackle the age-long insecurity.

The directive by President Buhari came about a week after he declared Zamfara a no-fly zone and halted mining activities to stem what presidency officials described as “arms-for-gold swap” activities in the state.

In his broadcast last night, the Zamfara governor said he undertook a four-day working visit to Abuja to brief President Buhari and other critical stakeholders on the security situation in his state.

“In my discussion with President Muhammadu Buhari and the security higher commands in Abuja, it was resolved that 6,000 additional troops will be deployed to complement the effort of other security forces in tackling the security challenges in the state.

“The troops will soon arrive in the state for their operations and we are grateful to the federal government.

“The president has agreed to a time frame within which the recalcitrant bandits should surrender their weapons and key into our peace initiative…The peace deal initiated by my istration has recorded successes including the disarmament, securing the release of hundreds of kidnapped persons, reopening of markets and the resumption of other economic activities across the state.

“Even though we are enjoying relative peace as a result of this dialogue and reconciliation programme, some armed bandits refused to key into the programme and they sustain their attacks on our communities. The government has equally observed that there is sabotage by some unscrupulous elements within and outside the state,” he said.

The governor also directed traditional rulers and local council s to remain in their domains to monitor the movement or influx of suspicious characters.

“Conveyance of more than two persons on a motorbike is hereby banned with immediate effect. No movement of motorcycles in groups in all the nooks and crannies of the state and security operatives are directed to apprehend the violators of this order,” he said.

Governor Matawalle further reaffirmed the ban on the activities of Yan Sakai (local self-help groups) in the state, adding that whoever was found with a gun would be dealt with accordingly.

Emirs reject no-fly zone order

Emirs in Zamfara said on Tuesday that the state was being unjustly treated as evident in declaring it a no-fly zone.

They spoke through their chairman and Emir of Anka, Alhaji Attahiru Muhammad Ahmad, while addressing the new service chiefs led by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, who were on an official visit to the state.

The emirs said Zamfara had no airport to warrant the declaration, insisting that there were states worst hit by armed banditry but that were not declared no-fly zones.

According to the Anka emir, “There is no connection between mining and armed banditry. We have no evidence that aircraft are coming to provide weapons to bandits or that miners are giving arms to bandits. On two occasions, bandits had attacked mining companies, abducted staff and policemen and confiscated their guns.

“In the same vein, on the very day Jangebe schoolgirls were abducted, armed men attacked Sabuwar Tunga, a village located on the border between Maru and Anka, killed 10 people and kidnapped more than 100 persons. This happened at a mining site.

“So we can see that there is no connection between mining and armed banditry,” he told the service chiefs while the other emirs nodded their heads in affirmation.

The emirs said artisanal mining activities in Zamfara had helped many jobless people, especially the IDP’s, adding that banning the activities would amount to inviting more problems for the communities.

“The people that matter in the defence of this nation are here. The state government had initiated dialogue with the bandits and it has greatly reduced the bloodshed in the state. Many markets that were hitherto closed are now open.

“We see dialogue as the way to go because if we make a comparison between the number of deployed troops to the state and the armed criminals in the forest, there is a problem. There is no way the deployed troops can handle the number of armed bandits in our forests.

“We don’t think the soldiers in the state, including the police are up to 10,000, but I can tell you that these criminals are more than 30,000 in the forests and have sophisticated weapons.

“I am not a soldier, but I sympathise with our armed forces because they are lacking the modern warfare gadgets,” the emir said on behalf of his colleagues.

Governor Matawalle also sided with the emirs and reaffirmed that there was no empirical evidence to prove there was a connection between armed banditry and mining in the state.

“The theory that armed banditry is aimed at controlling Zamfara gold resource does not hold water. My istration has facilitated the arrest of many foreign nationals, especially Chinese, engaged in illegal mining activities,” he said.

He said his government would any move that would end armed banditry not just in Zamfara but in the whole of the North West, adding that the troops should go out and hunt armed men not willing to surrender.

Earlier, General Irabor said the service chiefs were in Zamfara to assess the security situation and meet the troops of Operation Hadarin Daji.

https://dailytrust.com/buhari-gives-bandits-2-months-to-surrender-zamfara-governor

Oh God! may soul rest peace

Some gunmen suspected to be bandits have abducted the sister in-law and brother of the Commissioner for Youth and Sport Development in Sokoto state, Bashir Gorau.

Gorau broke the news of the abduction on his verified Facebook on Wednesday.

The message read, ” Innalillahi wa Inna wa innalillahi Rajiuun!!!.

“It’s about 12:45am that, Bandits attacked our House in Gorau Town, Goronyo local government area and abducted wife of our elder brother Alhaji Lawali Gorau and one of our brother Hassan Manya.

“May God protect and return them to Us safely, Amin. In need of your prayers fellow Muslim.”

While speaking to our correspondent over the phone, the Commissioner said the bandits shot into the air when they stormed the house.

He said it could have been a targeted crime because apart from his sister in-law and brother, they didn’t take anybody in the village.

When asked if the kidnappers had ed the family, he said, “We are still waiting for their call to know their demands.”

Banditry is one of the major challenges confronting the current istration.

President Muhammadu Buhari has repeatedly charged security agencies to check the high wave of crime but attacks have been on the rise.

https://dailytrust.com/gunmen-break-into-residence-of-sokoto-commissioner-abduct-family-

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has called on the leadership of the Amalgamated Union of Foodstuff and Cattle Dealers in Nigeria (AUFCDN) to put a halt to the blockage of foodstuff from the North going to the South.

The Chairman of ACF, Chief Audu Ogbe, in a statement issued in Kaduna, said: “Nigeria is not at war with itself and such a drastic action is not necessary, but will only further complicate the socio-economic and political problems facing our country today.

“ACF shares the concerns of Nigerians over the decision of the AUFCDN to stop movements of needed food from the North to the South.

“We call on the leadership of the union to put a halt to their so-called embargo and blockade.”

Ogbeh further said, “The of the union were said to have suffered severe losses during the #EndSARS riots and the recent violence in Sasha in Oyo State targeted against Northerners.

“But we believe that whatever may be the difficulties of their in operating in other parts of the country, ACF leadership led by me is willing to help them solve these by talking to security agencies and the government.

“There is no need to mount a blockade by one section of the country against the other.

“Whatever may be our differences, the ACF as an ardent believer in free trade believes that goods should be allowed to move freely. This extreme measure is not progressive and is even counter-productive. This is not the way to go.”

https://dailytrust.com/acf-asks-union-to-lift-ban-on-south-bound-food

Senate President Ahmad Lawan says kidnapping is now becoming an industry, urging the new service chiefs to take the fight to bandits and other criminals terrorizing Nigerians.

He described a situation where bandits attack schools and kidnap hundreds of students as unacceptable.

He spoke during the confirmation of the nominations of Maj. Gen. Lucky lrabor as Chief of Defence Staff, Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru as Chief of Army Staff, Rear iral Awwal Zubairu Gambo as Chief of Naval Staff and Air Vice Marshal Isiaka O. Amao as Chief of Air Staff.

Lawan said: “A situation whereby a group of people will go to a school and take over 300 students away on motorcycles is not accepted.

“Kidnapping without a trace is not acceptable. Something has to be done because apparently, this is becoming an industry. Some people are benefiting from this and we’ve to unravel who these people are, and fight bandits and insurgents until we rescue our country.”

https://dailytrust.com/its-becoming-an-industry-lawan

A 14-year-old freed student of Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe, Zamfara State, has narrated how she met her father and elder sister in the kidnappers’ den.

In an exclusive chat with Daily Trust, the teenager who gave her name as Habiba (surname) withdrawn, said immediately her father saw her, he recognised her.

The girl, who is from Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara, narrated how bandits invaded their residence three months ago.

Habiba said her father warned her not to disclose his identity to avoid being killed by the gunmen.

He said: “Habiba, are you?”

“Yes daddy, I replied”

“Is every one at home fine,” he asked and I replied too.

He then warned me not to identify him or my sister or else we would all be killed.

“My colleagues who got to understand that he is my father also asked to heed his warning.

“They were kidnapped more than three months ago following a nocturnal raid at our house. They killed my uncle. All efforts to secure the release of my father and sister failed because of the demand for huge amount of money as ransom.

“They inflicted injury on him by cutting him with machete and beatings. When ever I saw them them beating him, I would cry. It was really disturbing. They said they would kill them if ransom is not paid.”

The students were released after four days in captivity.

https://dailytrust.com/what-my-father-told-me-jangebe-schoolgirl-narrates-encounter-with-family--abducted-3-months-ago

Thousands of civilians are trapped in Dikwa after Boko Harm insurgents took control of the town Monday night.

Soldiers had on Monday evening repelled an attack on the town.

But the insurgents returned hours later and overpowered the troops.

Residents say the insurgents are roaming the streets and preaching to locals not to flee the town.

Residents are being told the insurgents are on their side, correspondents in Maiduguri say.

It comes as troops reinforce to retake the town.

Dikwa town is about 90km from Maiduguri, the Borno State capital and has experienced several attacks from the insurgents since the liberation of the town in 2016.

The town also hosts the military Super Camp 9 where the Army Chief visited last week and ordered the retaking of Marte, which is about 20km away.

Bukar Ahmed, a resident of Dikwa, wept as he related how insurgents told his neighbourhood to stay on.

“They said we should stay, ‘we are not here to harm you but the soldiers’. Their motorcycles and gun trucks are in the town.

“Boko Haram are in control of Dikwa as I speak with you, they are roaming the streets; help us talk to President Buhari to save our soul,” he said, weeping in a phone call.

A humanitarian worker said insurgents went to the United Nations hub in Dikwa.

Details are not clear as troops engage insurgents.

“The situation in Dikwa is scary, thousands of civilians are trapped, we need a quick response from troops to save lives,” the worker said.

“The town is under siege; the government must mobilise resource to salvage the situation as soon as possible.”

https://dailytrust.com/thousands-trapped-as-boko-haram-takes-dikwa-in-midnight-raid

Former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, has said Salihu Tanko Yakasai, former media aide of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano state, has more courage that Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu, presidential spokesmen.

Salihu was arrested on Saturday over his call for President Muhammadu Buhari to resign due to widespread insecurity.

News of his arrest was making the round when Ganduje announced his sack.

Reacting in a statement on Monday, Lamido said Salihu is as brave as his father who stood up to tough leaders.

“The Government and its Security Agencies need to be more circumspect in dealing with minor political irritations from irritant youths. Those dealing with security management should have done some background checks to understand the political DNA of Salihu Tanko and device better means dealing with his perceived irritation.

“The father of Salihu, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai had all his life been talking to power right from the time of colonial masters to the feudal Emirs through to all our post Independence Governments be they civilian or military, he has said as much or even more about APC Government. Alhaji Tanko Snr had been in and out of jail/detention more than he can care to . What this means is that Tanko Jnr political DNA is in the family lineage and his cannot be expected to be different at his birth!

“We only need to reflect not too far away to find that what Tanko Jnr is saying is no different from what those now in power have said before their ascendency to Government. If any thing the hordes of APC people in this Government are bigger culprits. President Buhari should take pride in Tanko Jnr for emulating his courage.

“Tanko Jnr has lost his job and pay for the courage of his convictions. But his background of honor will not allow him to be like Adesina or Garba Shehu to keep quiet on the face of injustice just for the pay.

“I know you stand the import what Hillary Clinton said about people with very thin skin. If tyranny, persecution, harassment, intimidation, detention and jailing could not conquer Tanko Snr, I don’t see how it will on Tanko Jnr!”

https://dailytrust.com/sule-lamido-salihu-tanko-yakasai-more-courageous-than-adesina-and-shehu