Tuesday, September 1, 2015
Nigerian President or King of the North? By Femi Fani Kayode
"In 418 B.C. Herodotus, the Greek philosopher who is known as the ‘’father of history’’, said "a man who does not know anything about the events that took place before he or she was born will remain forever a child.’’ Not only was he right but one must go a step further by saying that those who refuse to learn from their history are condemned to repeating its mistakes.
In 1957, Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Saurdana of Sokoto and the Premier of the North, said the following: "We the people of the north will continue our stated intention to conquer the south and to dip the koran in the Atlantic ocean after the British leave our shores."
Three years later, on 12 th October 1960, he went a step further by saying the following words to the Parrot Newspaper: “The new nation called Nigeria should be an estate of our great grandfather Uthman Dan Fodio. We must ruthlessly prevent a change of power. We must use the minorities in the North as willing tools and the South as a conquered territory and never allow them to rule over us and never allow them to have control over their future”.That same year he said: "I will allow Sir Tafawa Balewa to go and become Prime Minister and lead the unbelievers of the south whilst I will stay in the north and lead the faithful".One year later, in a television interview with the BBC (which can still be viewed on Youtube) he was asked whether his ''northernisation policy'' would be a temporary or permanent feature. His response was as follows. ''In actual fact the policy is a northerner first. If you cannot get a northerner then you get an expatriate like yourself on contract. If we cannot get that then we will employ another Nigerian from the south on contract too. This is going to be a permanent policy as far as I forsee''.Not to be outdone, in January 1947 on the floor of the Northern House of Assembly, Sir Tafawa Balewa, a man that was to become the first Prime Minister of Nigeria 13 years later, said the following words:“We do not want our Southern neighbours to interfere in our development. We have never associated ourselves with the activities of these people. We do not know them, we do not recognise them, and we share no responsibility in their actions. We shall demand our rights when the time is ripe. If the British quit Nigeria now at this stage, the Northern people would continue their uninterrupted conquest to the sea”.The passion for the total domination of the Nigerian state by the north has not in any way diminished over the years. As a matter of fact it appears to have become even more pronounced and, for some, it has become an obsession. Consider the following.On 2nd October 2014, one Aliyu Gwarzo said the following to Pointblanknews:”When I say that the Presidency must come to the north next year I am referring to the Hausa-Fulani core north and not any northern christian or minority tribe. The Christians in the north are nothing and the minorities know that when we are talking about leadership in the north and in Nigeria, Allah has given it to us, the Hausa-Fulani. They owe us everything. This is because we gave them Islam through the great Jihad waged by Sheik Usman Dan Fodio. We liberated all these places and all these people by imposing islam on them by force. It was either the Koran or the sword and most of them chose the Koran. In return for the good works of our forefathers Allah, through the British, gave us Nigeria to rule and to do with as we please. Since 1960 we have been doing that and we intend to continue. No Goodluck or anyone else will stop us from taking back our power next year. We will kill, maim, destroy and turn this country into Africa’s biggest war zone and refugee camp if they try it. Many say we are behind Boko Haram. My answer is what do you expect? We do not have economic power or intellectual power. All we have is political power and they want to take even that from us. If they don’t want an ISIS in Nigeria then they must give us back the Presidency and our political power. Their soldiers are killing our warriors and our people every day but mark this: even if it takes one hundred years we will have our revenge. Every Fulani man that they kill is a debt that will be repaid even if it takes 100 years. The Fulani have very long memories”.The full text of Gwarzo's contribution can be read on Pointblanknews or elsewhere. His words are self-explanatory and they need no further analysis. Thankfully his views do not represent the thinking of the majority of Hausa Fulani people but he does speak for a dangerous and vocal minority and his words constitute a clear statement of intent. Simply put, it is his desire to conquer and subjugate southern Nigeria and to restore northern domination and supremacy in the affairs of our nation in perpetuity.The quest for northern domination in the affairs of our country is as old as the hills. It led to a brutal civil war between 1967 and 1970 in which millions were killed. It led to pogrom after pogrom and slaughter after slaughter in the north. It led to a series of military coups and counter coups. In 1991 it led to a coup by Major Gideon Orkar which, if it had been successful, would have resulted in the excision of the core northern states from our country. It led to the annulement of Chief MKO Abiola’s presidential election of June 12th 1993 which almost resulted in a second civil war.It led to the brutal suppression of the south by General Sani Abacha and the murder, torture, incarceration and exile of many southern leaders. It led to stiff opposition to the government of President Olusegun Obasanjo in the north which came in the guise ''political sharia''. And finally it led to it’s most barbaric and hideous expression in the relentless opposition to the regime of President Goodluck Jonathan which came in the form of Boko Haram.Judging from recent events, with President Buhari now in power it appears that those that have been lusting for total northern domination for the last 55 years have finally had their way.The inability to think deeply or profoundly is a curse. The inability to read widely and learn from others is a pitiful and costly affliction. If there were ever a time for profound thinking and deep and sober reflection when it comes to the affairs of our nation it is now. I say this because only three months after President Buhari has been sworn into office the power configuration, vis a vis north and south, has resulted in the following mess.1. President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria - north. 2.Senate President- north. 3. Speaker of the House of Representatives- north. 4. Chief Justice of the Federation- north. 5. President of the Court of Appeal- north. 6. Chief Justice of the Federal High Court- north. 7. Secretary to the Federal Government- north. 8. Chief of Staff to the President- north. 9. Chief of Army Staff- north. 10. Chief of Air Staff- north. 11. Comptroller General of Customs- north. 12. Director-General of State Security Services (SSS)- north. 13. National Security Advisor- north. 14. Director General NIMASA- north. 15. Chairperson of the Independant Electoral Commission (INEC)- north. 16. Comptroller-General Immigration- north. 17. Accountant-General of the Federation - north. 18. Commander of Civil Defence Corps- north. 19. Chief Security Officer to the President- north. 20. ADC to the President- north. 21. Principal Secretary to the President- north. 22. Senior Special Assistant to the President on media- north. 23. Chairman of the EFCC- north. 24. MD Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA)- north. 25. Head of Service north. 26. DG National Communication Commission (NCC)- north. 27. Chairman NDLEA- north. 28. CEO AMCON- north..There is no gainsaying that this is unacceptable. Some of us warned that this would happen but we were insulted and lampooned for doing so. These appointments are not only lopsided but they are also a manifestation of the fact that in just three months southern Nigeria has finally been relegated to being little more than an occupied region and a vassal state. The people of the south appear to have been placed in servitude and bondage. Our chains may be invisible but they are very much there.The question must be asked: is Buhari the President of Nigeria or is he the King of the north? Some have argued that the federal character formula has no place in our affairs anymore and that merit ought to be the only criteria for government appointments. Permit me to qoute a young man from twitter who responded to that absurd logic rather well by saying ‘’if federal character isn't important, why is the Vice President also not from Daura? Educated people should not speak like illiterates’’.Others have said that we should wait for the ministerial list and that after that things would balance out. Again this is absurd logic and those that spout such convoluted thrash appear to have forgotten the fact that the President is compelled by law and the constitution to appoint a Minister from every state of the federation, including each of the southern states.Whether he is President of Nigeria or King of the north Buhari would do well to retrace his steps. The consequences of not doing so for both his government and the unity of our country will be grave and costly. The south cannot be subjugated and treated with contempt and the people of the south will never be slaves. Fairness and equity in the distribution of national resources and key government appointments are a fundamental pre-requisite for peace, security and national unity in our country.
It has served our collective interest well for many years. Those that seek to upset the applecart and jettison it today are not considering the inevitable and monumental consequences of their actions. Power may have returned to the north but the people of the south must be treated with respect, sensitivity, dignity, fairness and decency. Those that refuse to accept this counsel and that insist on charting a different course do so at their own peril.
Oshiomole defends Buhari's appointments
In the statement signed by his chief Press secretary, Peter Okhiria, Oshiomole said the appointments made so far have been based on merits. According to him, the time has come for Nigeria to use unusual methods to solve her unusual problems. The statement in part reads;
"The Nigerian nation has come to a point where we have to use the best hands to confront the peculiarity of our problems. It is not all the time we descend to the level of geopolitical balancing; we need to employ unusual methods to solve an unusual problem. The level of decay in the country at present requires very seasoned hands and incorruptible Nigerians that will help translate the APC agenda of change for the benefit of all Nigerians. We must not reduce governance to political patronage of bread and butter. The governor congratulates the Chief of Staff, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Comptroller General of Customs, all of who he had very close relationship with and whose credentials stand tall among their compeers. He wishes them well in their new jobs of helping to sanitize a system that has become so rotten and corrupt as a result of manifest incompetence and mismanagement.”
Group commends police IG over appointment of first female force PRO
IGP, Solomon Arase
The Beyond Boundaries Legacy Leadership Iniative (BBLLI), a civil society organisation, has commended the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase over the recent appointment of Ag. ACP Olabisi Alofe Kolawole as the new Force Public Relations Officer.
In a statement made available by the Chairman/Executive Director of the organisation, Comrade Omaga E. Daniel, the organisation described the IGP as “an Icon of greater Nigeria, who is passionate in his quest to transform the Nigerian Police Force for enhanced service delivery and greater achievements”.
Comrade Omaga also said the Police Chief was an unbiased leader, administrative guru and an achiever, within the extinct iconoclastic colony of genuine Nigerian patriotic leaders”.
He stressed that the appointment was very timely, as this will further harness the enormous potentials of Nigerian Female Police officers especially at this critical era of change in our nation’s democracy.
Speaking further, Comrade Omaga described the IGP as “a reformist and societal emancipation crusader, whose policing vision is based on the engagement of intelligence-led policing strategies, community relations, application of cutting-edge technology to policing functions at all levels, prevention of abuse of pre-trial detention powers, human development initiatives towards the enhancement of the intelligence and operational capacity of the Nigeria Police Force and a gender sensitive officer, as epitomised by the establishment of the Gender Unit, during his time as the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in-charge of the Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB).
He urged the new Police spokesperson to use her vast experience and expertise as a former Force Gender Adviser and a lawyer, to ensure she delivers upon her mandate to the Force and Nigeria in general.
“Our organization is also using this medium to call on well meaning Nigerians, especially those at the grassroots, to support the Police Force and other security agencies with relevant informations that will make the fight against insurgency and other criminality a successful one” he said.
N338bn Bailout, State by state breakdown
Cash-strapped workers who are being owed salaries are set to smile again, with the disbursement of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) – backed bailout loans for states.
Fourteen banks are disbursing N338 billion “to stimulate the economy”. Kwara and Zamfara have received their loans and have begun the payment of salary arrears to workers.
A CBN source confirmed that the other states will get the cash this week.
A breakdown of the loans repayable at an interest rate of nine per cent over 20 years is as follows:
Abia- N14.152b;
Adamawa- N2.378b;
Bauchi- N8.60b;
Bayelsa – N1.285b;
Benue – N28.013b;
Borno – N7.680b;
Cross River – N7.856b;
Delta – N10.036b;
Ebonyi – N4.063b;
Edo – N3.167b;
Ekiti – N9.604b;
Enugu – 4.207b;
Gombe – N16.459b;
Imo – N26.806b;
Katsina – N3.304b;
Kebbi – N0.690b;
Kogi – N50.842b;
Kwara – N4.320b;
Nasarawa – N8.317b;
Niger – N4.306b;
Ogun – N20.00b;
Ondo – N14.686b;
Osun – N34.988b;
Oyo – N26.606b;
Plateau – N5.357b;
Sokoto – N10.093b;
Zamfara – N10.020b.
Enugu Police command faults DSS claims, says no Boko haram member was arrested in Enugu
The Enugu state police command has faulted claims by the Department of State Security DSS that some Boko Haram members were arrested in Enugu state recently.
DSS had released a statement on Sunday August 30th, stating that it had arrested some frontline Boko Haram members in Lagos, Plateau, Gombe, Kano and Enugu state.
DSS in the statement said 12 Boko haram members were arrested in Lagos state while three were arrested in Enugu, Gombe and Kano.
However, spokesman of the Enugu State Police Command, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, says no investigation nor arrest of any member of Boko haram sect has been carried out by the command
“There is no case of Boko Haram investigated by the command, neither was there any arrest by the command. Meanwhile, the command is relying on the already established proactive measures which have so far kept the state and its environs safe,” he told Punch
Ortom grants amnesty to notorious gang leader, extends amnesty deadline
Governor Samuel Ortom today granted amnesty to a notorious criminal gang leader, Mr. Terwase Akwaza, popularly known as Ghana even as he extended the amnesty period for surrender of illegal weapons to end of September, 2015.
Addressing journalists at the end of a Security Council meeting he said Mr. Akwaza had responded to his call to surrender the weapons he possessed illegally and also desist from his activities which constituted a security threat to individuals and communities in Benue and Taraba States.
The Governor stated that the extension became necessary following a plea by the gang leader that he needed time to persuade some of his friends in the underworld to also surrender.
He expressed appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari, his Taraba State counterpart, Darius Ishiaku, the Catholic Bishop of Katsina-Ala Diocese, Bishop Peter Adoboh, and others for their support for the amnesty program.
According to him it had become imperative to secure the state so that a conducive environment would be created to attract investors into the state as well as boost its economic fortunes.
He said at the end of the extension security agencies would go after possessors of illegal arms in a concerted matter so as to put an end to crimes including armed robbery, kidnapping, and cultism.
Speaking earlier, Special Adviser on Security, Colonel Edwin Jando, retired, disclosed that he received 135 assorted rifles and 770 rounds of ammunition from those who voluntarily surrendered with 84 rifles from Mr. Akwaza, since the beginning of the program.
In his remarks Mr. Akwaza stated that he became a militia leader in order to secure his community but has responded genuinely to calls from Governor Ortom to lay down arms and embrace peace.
Thugs Break into High Court in Benue
Gunmen numbering about 20 suspected to be thugs, Sunday morning, broke into a Benue State High Court premises making away with a 60 KVA Marapco generator.
The men were also reported to have beaten the security guard on duty, Mr Francis Ataa to a pulp and tied him up with ropes as they drove off in a hilux van.
Narrating his ordeal to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Ataa who had since been rushed to the hospital, said that the men came in SARS uniforms and started asking him for a file.
He said that he did not answer them since he did not know where files were kept so they pounced on him and started beating him, while some of them were breaking the door of Court 2 registry.
He stated further that they succeeded in breaking into the Court 2 and scattered everywhere, adding however that he did not know if they took any file before they zoomed off with the generator.
NAN reports that the two National and State Houses of Assembly Election Petition Tribunals are also situated in the premises attacked by the hoodlums.
When contacted, the Tribunal Secretary, Mr Surajo Gusau told NAN that the Tribunal Secretariat was not tampered with, saying that all documents in their possession were intact.
Also speaking to NAN, the Chief Registrar of High Court, Mrs Josephine Ayua declined comments on the matter, saying that she was not ready to speak on the incident yet.
However, the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Austin Ezeani said that he had not been briefed on the matter but promised that the police would always take appropriate actions if any case is reported.
Huh? Adamawa Gov. appoints man as Commissioner for Women Affairs?
According to the journalist Bashir Ahmad
Chris Brown sued by fan shot during club appearance
Chris Brown is being sued by a man who was shot at a party that the singer hosted in January. Paul Briley was one of five people struck at the Fiesta Nightclub in San Jose, Calif. during the “Chris Brown Capricorn Bash,” and filed suit against Breezy, and the venue, for “negligence and carelessness.”
Briley, 22, argues that the club should have had proper security measures in place, such as metal detectors, and searching “bags and/or guns,” due to similar incidents at events hosted by Brown.
“This shooting should never have happened,” Briley’s attorney, Richard Alexander, said in a statement. “Brown’s managers and the concert promoters know that violence follows in Brown's wake.”
None of the shooting victims sustained life-threatening injuries, however, Briley suffered “permanent injury” to his foot, the suit claims. He's suing for loss of income, and medical expenses. The suit also requests damages for “past, present, and future physical, mental and emotional pain and suffering, including fright, shock, terror, and post-traumatic stress of being shot.”
Source: BET
Photo of ex governor Akpabio's car after the accident yesterday
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