Politics
FG Plotting To Disrupt 2019 Elections – Expert … Says Military Hierarchy Benefitting From Boko Haram
A security expert and retired Army Colonel, Chinedu Ohunda has alleged that the military hierarchy are benefiting from the Boko Haram insurgency, adding that there was a plot by the federal government for the 2019 general elections not to hold because of their failure to perform in all areas.
Ohunda stated this during a live Radio programme while reacting to the latest Global Terrorism Index (GTI) which ranked Nigeria as third most terrorized nation worldwide, monitored by the Tide in Port Harcourt.
He questioned the federal government’s claim of releasing one billion dollars to fight insurgency in the North East, saying, “Our bases are being routed, overrun by this same insurgents and you say you have released one billion dollars.
“Where is the money? This is translated to N365 billion which means one billion naira is being spent on a daily basis. And you are telling me to keep quiet. I will not keep quiet at my age and level, at my status, I will not keep quiet.
“When I speak I try make Nigerians know what is really happening because the government, the military are economical with the true. They do not want to tell people what is happening because they are using the Boko Haram war as a monetary venture running into billions of dollars.
“It has been alleged by the United Nations, by Sahara Reports, by Amnesty International that the government is paying huge sums of money to Boko Haram to release the so called Chibok girls, to release the Dapchi girls and so on.
“It is an allegation by some of these international organizations. If they are paying money why will they not tell Nigerians that they are paying money? Anytime they pay money that is when this people (Boko Haram) will restructure, come back with new equipment, come back with fully loaded with equipment and so to rout our troops.
“So why are they lying to Nigerians. Whatever they are saying, are they truthful with what they telling Nigerians? These things happen both in Liberia and Seraleone and Bakkasi where I fought wars,” he said.
The security expert however said if they are applying dialogue, that option should be exhausted, saying, “Not all wars are won by the barrel of the gun. So whatever the case is let Nigerians know what is happening.
“Look at the Srilanka case, look at the Afghanistan case, when a government tells you they have won, they have defeated the insurgents, you have defeated the terrorists and at the end of the day you are not arming your men which you have translate one billion dollars to purchase weapons, missiles and equipment and nothing is happening.
Asked how the insurgency connects with next years’ general election, he said, “Let me tell you something. It is plot by the present government not to hold elections because in the coming days and so many areas in Adamawa, Yobe and Borno may not have the chance of carrying out elections and that is just the truth,” Ohunda alleged.
He further said there were other problems “that are accruing that will make this election not to hold because they have made a clandestine plan not to hold an election because they have failed in all ramifications.
“But let us watch out for how the insurgency will rise or slow down because the men on the ground are under strength, they (the troops) do not have equipment, their equipment are obsolete,” he stated, noting that the troops must be properly equipped to contain the dreaded sect members and boost the morale of the soldiers.
“It is not a conventional warfare. Let them (the federal government) purchase the right equipment. Invest in intelligence. Let them also make sure that the moral of the troops are raised. They should pay them their allowances as at when due. Because their morale is so dampened. It is so low that they cannot not fight any war.
“The army should be proactive, not being reactive. They should carry the war to Boko Haram. It is not just sitting down and wait for Boko Haram to attack you. Most times the cooperation between the Army and the Air Force is not been coordinated. There must be synergy,” he said.
The security expert further said that calls by stakeholders to change the security chiefs have met deaf ears, adding that there was a lack of cooperation between the Army and the Air Force, making it difficult to tackle the sect.
According to him, “Then there has been calls by international organizations, by stakeholders in Nigeria to change those in power. That is essentially those at the higher ranking in the military. Because there is no synergy, no cooperation, no collaboration between the army and the air force, the army and the Navy to see how they can forestall the situation,” he said.
Ohunda however expressed happiness that Federal Government has directed both service chiefs to go to Borno together. “That is the chief of army staff and the chief of air staff. There is a deliberate plan not to support each other,” Ohunda alleges.
By: Dennis Naku
In a statement issued on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Obiora Ifoh, the party said it had taken note of Mr Obi’s defection alongside some of his supporters, as well as what it called a “lacklustre speech” delivered by the former Anambra State governor at the defection event.
“We wondered what new he intends to sell to Nigerians,” the party said, adding that it was not surprised by the move, having “since September 2024, parted ways with Peter Obi and some of his blind supporters in the National Assembly.”
According to the statement, the faction said it had patiently awaited Mr Obi’s exit, describing it as a blessing.
“The party is finally liberated by this defection and as party leaders, we count it as a blessing,” the party said.
The faction further disclosed that it had previously urged Mr Obi and his supporters to leave if they were unable to work with the party leadership.
It claimed that several lawmakers had been suspended for anti-party activities and that similar action would have been taken against Mr Obi but for the intervention of “some well-meaning Nigerians.”
It also blamed its internal crisis on Mr Obi and Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, accusing them of sponsoring what it described as an insurrection against the Julius Abure-led leadership.
“The crisis we had in the Labour Party was caused by Peter Obi and the Abia State governor, Alex Otti,” the statement alleged, adding that it was surprising Dr Otti had not followed Mr Obi out of the party despite his suspension.
Reacting to Mr Obi’s defection event in Enugu, the faction claimed the gathering was largely boycotted by prominent political and traditional institutions in the South East, insisting that those present were “political spent forces who cannot win in their wards should there be an election today.”
It warned that this development signalled the failure of any future Mr Obi presidential or vice-presidential ambition, claiming he had “clearly lost the charm that had endeared him to the people prior to 2023.”
The faction also accused Mr Obi of misleading the South East during the 2023 elections, alleging that the region suffers political marginalisation under President Bola Tinubu’s administration as a result.
“He must be told that the South East lost out completely in President Ahmed Tinubu’s government because they trusted and believed in him in 2023,” the statement said, alleging disparities in ministerial appointments and infrastructure allocation to the zone.
The Abure-Led LP apologised to Nigerians for its decision in the last election.
“We gave Nigerians a candidate we thought was good for the nation in 2023, but time has since proved that we made the greatest political mistake. We plead for forgiveness from Nigerians,” the party said.
It urged Nigerians to watch out for a rebranded Labour Party, promising to present “the best prospect” capable of returning Nigeria to what it described as its “glorious days.”
steadily toward unity, justice, and shared prosperity”, he said.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday at his country home in Ikere-Ekiti, Dr Oluyede said the development came as a shock, stressing that INEC supervised and monitored the PDP governorship primary that produced him as the party’s candidate.
According to him, INEC officials documented the process, completed all required forms, and even affirmed his candidacy in court through sworn affidavits arising from cases linked to the primary election.
He maintained that no court order or injunction currently restrains INEC from listing his name as the PDP candidate, arguing that the electoral body lacks the constitutional power to determine who emerges as a party’s nominee.
Dr Oluyede described such decisions as the exclusive responsibility of political parties, not the electoral umpire.
While playing down panic over the released list, Dr Oluyede noted that electoral processes often involve reviews and corrections.
He disclosed that he had commenced wide consultations, including engagements with PDP leadership and formal correspondence with INEC, to seek clarification on the omission and determine the next line of action.
The PDP candidate assured his supporters across Ekiti State that he would appear on the ballot, expressing confidence that the situation would be resolved in his favour.
He described attempts to exclude candidates from elections as dangerous and undemocratic, warning that such tactics undermine the people’s right to freely choose their leaders.
Dr Oluyede called on the people of Ekiti to reject any form of disenfranchisement, insisting that elections should be contests of ideas, records, and acceptance by the electorate rather than exclusionary maneuvers.
He also declared that the PDP in Ekiti had resolved its past internal crises and was now united, focused, and ready to win the forthcoming governorship election.
He urged party members and supporters to remain calm and focused, expressing optimism that, with divine grace and the will of the people, the PDP would emerge victorious at the polls.
Mr Obi spoke while formally declaring for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) at a well-attended event in Enugu on Wednesday, where he outlined what he described as a fresh roadmap for rescuing the country from its socio-economic challenges.
Addressing party members, supporters and other stakeholders, the former governor stressed that leadership must be driven by integrity and accountability, warning against the culture of double standards in public office.
“We cannot continue to deceive our people. Leadership is about telling the truth and leading by example. You cannot promise one thing in public and do another in private. That is not leadership, and that is not the change Nigeria needs”, Mr Obi said.
He maintained that genuine national rebirth would only be possible if entrenched wrongs were corrected, adding that governance must be guided by competence, discipline and a clear sense of purpose.
Mr Obi also underscored the need for fresh thinking in the nation’s political space, urging political actors to move away from recycled ideas that have failed to deliver sustainable development.
“We must come with new ideas,” he said, adding that “Nigeria’s problems are not mysterious; what has been lacking is the courage and competence to address them differently. We need a new approach that puts people first and focuses on production, not consumption.”
Calling for a broad based political collaboration, Mr Obi appealed to parties and stakeholders across ideological divides to work together in the national interest.
“This country is bigger than any party or individual. All parties must come together to change the present trend. What matters is not the platform, but the future of Nigeria and the wellbeing of its citizens”, he declared.
Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, Mr Obi challenged aspirants seeking elective offices to ensure transparency in their credentials, warning that the era of falsified certificates was drawing to a close.
“Anyone contesting for any position in 2027 must come with genuine certificates. All the machinery is now in place to verify what is genuine and what is not. Integrity must start from the very foundation of leadership”, he stated.
Drawing lessons from international development models, Mr Obi cited Rwanda and Indonesia as examples of countries that rose from difficult beginnings to become thriving economies through disciplined leadership and sound policies.
“These countries were once behind us,” he noted, adding that “Today, they are moving ahead because they chose competent leadership, clear vision and policies that support local production and human capital development.”
He also criticised the economic policies of the present administration, particularly the continued importation of food items that can be produced locally, describing such practices as inimical to national development.
“You cannot grow an economy by killing local production. Importing food that we can produce in Nigeria destroys jobs, weakens our farmers and drains our foreign exchange. A serious country must produce what it consumes”, he argued.
The event featured renewed calls from ADC supporters for sustained engagement and mobilisation, as Mr Obi reiterated his belief that Nigeria remains redeemable if led with honesty, competence and a commitment to shared national progress.
In his remarks, the National Chairman of the ADC, Senator David Mark, expressed confidence in the emerging coalition, assuring Nigerians that the party would deliver good governance at all levels of administration if entrusted with power.
The gathering also witnessed the defection of several prominent politicians from different political parties across the South-East and beyond.
The motion endorsing the defection was moved by a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, and seconded by former economic adviser to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, Prof. Osita Ogbu.
Goodwill messages from notable political figures, including Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Mrs. Aisha Yesufu, Chief Sam Egwu, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, Chief Achike Udenwa, Mr Onyema Ugochukwu and Senator Gilbert Nnaji among others, further underscored the growing momentum within the ADC.
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