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
Politics
2024 Budget: Funds Were Shared Among Senators -Abaribe
The lawmaker representing Abia South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, has explained how the Zonal Intervention Project funds were shared among senators.
Recall that the senator representing Cross River North, Agom Jarigbe on Tuesday revealed that ranking senators got N500 million each while he got nothing.
Senator Jarigbe made the revelation on the floor of the Senate while speaking on allegations of budget padding raised by the lawmaker representing Bauchi Central, Senator Abdul Ningi.
The lawmakers who have spent at least four years in the Senate are regarded as ranking senators.
Speaking on the development on a live television interview on Wednesday, Senator Abaribe denied receiving N500 million as alleged by Senator Jarigbe.
Senator Abaribe said he got N266 million from the money allocated to lawmakers in the six geo-political zones.
According to him, lawmakers from some zones, like the Northwest, which has seven states, would expect to get less than what he got, as his Southeast zone has only five states.
He said, “I have been saying that all fingers are not equal and by privilege of office, certain people will get but not every Senator gets an equal amount.
“These are six zones in the country, and every zone gets its own N10 billion in intervention. Now, if you are from the Northwest zone, because you have seven states, the senator will get less than me who comes from the five-state zone.
“My state, Abia, gets N2 billion and if we break it down for both the Senate and the representatives, the Senate is getting 40% and the House gets 60%.
“I got about N266 million as zonal intervention. The person in the Northwest who has seven states, will necessarily get less, about a hundred million and something.
“So it’s not correct when we say every constituency must get an equal amount.”
Politics
Dump PDP, Enhance Your Value, APC Woos Gov Mutfwang
Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State has been advised to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) so that his good works and value can appreciate more.
The call was made on Wednesday by the North Central APC Forum in Jos, the Plateau State capital, during the forum’s first quarter of the year meeting.
Speaking at the meeting, the APC Forum Chairman, Saleh Zazzaga, said they were meeting to review the state of the party in the region as well as the region’s economic and security situation, adding that the position of the Plateau State Governor was vital in the overall development of the region.
Zazzaga, who was also a member of the APC Presidential Campaign Council in the last election, commended Governor Mutfwang for carrying the citizenry along in his developmental efforts, noting that his approach to boost peace and security of the state as well as his calm personality was impressive.
However, he said for the governor to attain a robust and exhaustive achievement of his agenda, policies and the development of Plateau State, he should defect to the APC.
He said the governor’s defection would not amount to relegating his former party to the background, but would rather strengthen him more to develop Plateau State.
According to the Chairman, the FCT Minister, Chief Nyesom Wike, is a good example of someone who seeks development for his people and the nation at large, using any vital and handy platform or party to advance his cause.
“Governor Caleb Mutfwang has so far shown that he is a progressive governor through his works, words and deeds since assuming office. But for him to advance more, he should consider joining the APC.
“This is because joining the APC will put him on the same page with President Ahmed Bola Tinubu who has the interest of Plateau in his heart and has been doing his best to advance it.
“Besides, Governor Mutfwang will be on the same page with his other counterparts in the North Central who are of the APC, and together they will have a common ground and work for the interest and development of the region in general and their specific states in particular.
“Also, most of the legislators from the state are in APC, and they can work hand-in-hand to move the state forward, because the relationship between the executive and the legislature cannot be overemphasized in the pursuance of progress and development.
Politics
Step Aside Over Alleged Budget Padding, PDP Urges Akpabio
The Peoples DemocraticParty (PDP) on Wednesday demanded that the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, immediately steps aside and allow for an independent investigation into the allegation that a staggering N3.7 trillion was discreetly inserted into the 2024 budget for alleged non-existent projects.
In a statement released by Debo Ologunagba, National Publicity Secretary, the main opposition party also demanded that Akpabio immediately report to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the pending case relating to N108 billion belonging to the people of Akwa Ibom State, allegedly looted under his watch as the governor.
The party similarly told the Senate President to speak out on the reported N86 billion contract scam that allegedly occurred in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) during his tenure as the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs.
The PDP condemned the suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi by the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership in the Senate “without a detailed inquest into the issue of budget padding which he raised.”
Recall that Ningi blew the whistle on the alleged unexplained N3.7 trillion inserted into the budget, leading to his suspension from the chamber for allegedly disparaging the legislature.
-
News4 days ago
IMF Board Begins Selection Process For New Managing Director
-
Agriculture4 days ago
Nigeria’s Agric Exports Face Rejections Overseas
-
Letters5 days ago
Obi Should Do More, Discordant Tunes On Minimum Wage, Akpabio’s Unguarded Comment
-
News4 days ago
Fubara Directs New Council To Recommence Employment Process At IAUE
-
News1 day ago
Don’t Take Fubara’s Quietness For Granted, Cleric Warns
-
Niger Delta5 days ago
Gov Otu Tasks Nigerians On Religious Tolerance
-
Politics4 days ago
Dump PDP, Enhance Your Value, APC Woos Gov Mutfwang
-
Rivers4 hours ago
No Going Back In The War Against Cultists In Rivers -CP